(pay same with the (argo)meter or not).", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk061", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Get around", "text": "In every major city in Indonesia, taxis are abundant even in rush hours. Nowadays with abundant taxis and traffic jams, the taxi drivers prefer to wait order by phone calling through call centre or receive order directly from a customer through **EasyTaxi** or **GrabTaxi** apps using their smartphones and are known as online taxis. The nearest driver will pick you up. Only qualified taxi companies and drivers are allowed in the system and all is monitored by GPS from their HQ.\n\nMost conventional taxis are sedans or multipurpose vehicles with 1.5L engines. Most online taxis use city cars or multipurpose vehicles with smaller engines. As a result, regular taxis are more comfortable, have more leg room and are more spacious. However, online taxis charge only 2/3 of the tariff of a regular taxi tariff; their drivers are usually more educated than regular taxi drivers, and many online taxi drives own the cars they drive. And they're much less likely to behave inappropriately than regular taxi drivers.\n\n### By angkot\n\n*Angkot* (acronym for *angkutan perkotaan* or 'city transport') is a type of public minivan that is available in all cities and large towns, and often in rural areas (then sometimes called *angdes*, 'village transport'). They follow a fixed route (usually marked by a colour or number), but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, simply shout \"Kiri!\" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: *kiri*) side of the road. The price within a city is usually Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.\n\n### By bajaj\n\nthumb|A ''bajaj'' in Jakarta", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk062", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Less common than the *becak*, and found only practically in Jakarta city is the Indian-style ***bajaj*** (BAH-jai) three-wheeler auto rickshaw, now upgraded to run on CNG and thus quieter than the old petrol rattletraps. The driver sits in front and the passengers (up to 3 small adults) in the back. The cabin is covered by a canvas roof and there is a windshield and, while doors don't have windows and are half-height, the sides and back of the roof may have soft plastic windows. You may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra fee, and they may be willing to take you on a viewing and/or shopping tour for even more money. If you take a shopping tour, they will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchases, or perhaps a free meal.\n\nAs with most small forms of transport, communication and haggling skills are important, and it is best to know the price before talking to a driver.\n\n### By motorcycle taxi\n\nthumb|Ojeks in [[Salatiga]]", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk063", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Get around", "text": "***Ojek*** (OH-jeck) are motorcycle taxis. They're dangerous, often uncomfortable, can only take one passenger and not much luggage, but they're cheap and can weave through traffic, making them very popular. Traditional ojek that wait at a fixed point (*ojek pangkalan*) outside a market or station have a negotiated fare system. Communication and haggling skills are important, and it is best to know the going rate for a trip before you talk to a driver. The price is Rp10,000 to Rp15,000 for four kilometres, but negotiating is important. Some drivers will agree to a price but then try to extort additional money at the end of the journey by claiming it is common to pay more than the agreed price, and acting angrily. The threat of violence is low, the aim is more to humiliate, but do be wary.\n\nIn some areas, ojek may be the only public transportation available. Getting off the main road into rural villages, for example, if the road condition is too poor for cars or buses. You do not have to go too far out of the big cities to experience this. Prices may be a little high due to the monopoly, but rural drivers may be more honest than in big cities.\n\nRide-sharing apps have revolutionised the ojek industry, starting with Go-jek and now adopted by other providers such as Grab. Easily spotted by their green vests, prices are competitive, fares are transparent and there is an opportunity to complain if service is poor. The minimum charge is between Rp 7,000 and Rp 12,500 and additional charges are no more than Rp3,000 per kilometre. One effort to fight back has been **ojek argo** which uses taxi meters.\n\n### By becak", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk064", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|240px|''Becak'' in [[Bandung]]\nThe ***becak*** (\"BEH-chahk\") is a colourfully decorated tricycle (pedicab) transportation mode for short distances such as residential areas in many cities. The passengers' seat can be covered by a convertible-style canvas or plastic roof, and they sometimes add a sheet of clear plastic in front during rainstorms. In some areas, the driver is sitting behind the passenger, but in some areas (like Medan) the driver sits to the side . Some drivers have started to outfit their *becak* with small motors.\n\nGood communication and haggling skills are important to assure you get to your destination and to prevent getting overcharged on these rides. Some sly drivers try to get some more money out of you after you've reached your destination, ensure you know how much it costs beforehand. You can hire a group of *becak* if you're in a group, or you can even hire them to transport belongings, blocks of ice, groceries, building materials etc. You may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra fee, and they may be willing to take you on a viewing and/or shopping tour for even more money. If you take a shopping tour, they will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchases, or perhaps a free meal.\n\nThere are no *becak* in Jakarta or Bali. Instead, the motorised *bajaj* (BAH-jai), somewhat similar to the Thai tuk-tuk, serves the same function. In other provinces (e.g. North Sumatra, Aceh, Gorontalo) you can also find motorbikes with sidecars, known as **bentor** or **bemo** (short for *becak bermotor*). The latter can be called on-demand the same way as the *ride-sharing* apps (see above).", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk065", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Becak is the most expensive form of public transport, and nowadays, it's rarely used except by elderly women who are carrying goods from traditional markets; the younger would take ojek if they are carrying fish or other smelly products, or otherwise use angkot. In some cities such as Yogyakarta, the use of the becak has diminished so much, they are used almost exclusively by tourists.\n\n### On foot\n\nIndonesia's larger cities are remarkably pedestrian-hostile, so travel on foot is best avoided except for short distances. Proper sidewalks are rare and often packed with obstacles, while walking on the road means constantly dodging crazy traffic. Follow the crowd at marked crosswalks or use overhead bridges when possible.\n\n### By horsecart\n\nHorsecarts are called ***delman*** (DEL-mahn), ***dokar*** (DOE-car) or ***andong*** (AHN-dong) depending on where in Indonesia you are, and the shape of the vehicle. Not available everywhere, but are more common than one might think. In some places, such as Gili Air (Lombok) where motorised vehicles are both impractical and forbidden, they are the only form of transport, but you can also find them in large cities like Jogjakarta. They generally follow a specific route but you may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra fee, and they may be willing to take you on a sightseeing or shopping trip for even more money.\n\nIf you take a shopping trip, they will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchases, or perhaps a free meal.\n\nAs with most small forms of transport, communication and haggling skills are important, and it is best to know the price before talking to a driver.\n\nThe horses are not always very well cared-for and may be in poor physical condition.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk066", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "### Natural attractions\n\nthumb|right|250px|The Tengger Massif consists of Mount Bromo on the left, and Mount Semeru at the far centre spewing smoke.\nIndonesia is home to 167 **active volcanoes**, far more than any other country. Don't let this fact scare you, though, as most are dormant and what you see is most often their topography rather than spewing smoke. Some of the more accessible mountains for visitors are in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and the Ijen Crater in East Java, Mount Rinjani in Lombok and perhaps easiest of all, Mount Batur, and Mount Agung, its neighbour in Bali.\n\nHardly surprisingly in the world's largest archipelago, **beaches** are significant attractions. Aside from the obvious like Bali and Lombok, there are wonderful beaches in off-the-beaten-track locations, especially in Maluku, Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi. In a nation of 18,000+ islands, the options are almost endless.\n\nthumb|right|250px|An endemic Sumatran orangutan in the Gunung Leuser National Park\n\nIndonesia is within two wildlife regions; the west is part of the Indomalayan region, and the east is within the Australasian region. The country has some of the largest remaining tracts of **tropical forest** anywhere in the world, and these support an incredibly diverse wildlife from orangutans and other primates to critically endangered Javan rhinoceros and Sumatran tigers, and an extraordinarily wide range of bird species. Forest areas recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites are Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java, and three huge parks in Sumatra, which together constitute the *Tropical Rain Forest Heritage of Sumatra*: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Gunung Leuser National Park and Kerinci Seblat National Park. Sadly, the forests of Kalimantan are disappearing at an alarming clip due to illegal logging.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk067", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "Unfortunately, in more populated areas, even nearby forests, such as much of Java, bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate due to the bird trade. Birds are a major source of income for poor trappers, and the birds are sold to people in cities, most of which spend the rest of their days in individual cages. Most commonly seen are finches, sparrows, swallows and certain other birds that are of lesser interest to pet bird owners. The various species of *burung Cendrawasih* (bird of paradise) of Papua are mostly endangered. Snakes are also in serious decline in many places due to a knee-jerk reaction to any snake: \"Kill it!\" Yet, you can see scorpions, whip scorpions, spiders, mole crickets (which make a terribly loud, droning sound at night), many butterflies and moths, the elusive and rare squirrel, certain types of monkeys, geckos, including the *Tokek* (TOE-kay: Tokay gecko) and a variety of *cicak* (geckos), as well as the undesirable mice, rats, shrews, cockroaches, termites, and, in numbers that may boggle your mind, ants of various sizes and shapes and personalities. Indonesia is paradise for those who want to study arachnids and insects. Bali sports a nice butterfly park, as well as Turtle Island. 6 of 7 kinds of turtles can be found in Indonesia sea water and even 4 kinds of turtles can be found only in Kampung Penyu (Turtle Village) in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi.\n\nFurther east, Komodo Island is the home of the remarkable Komodo dragon and a very diverse marine life. Close to the very eastern limit of Indonesia, the remote Lorentz National Park in Papua has a permanent glacier, and is the single largest national park anywhere in Southeast Asia.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk068", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "Indonesia is home to several beautiful scuba diving and snorkelling spots in many different places, such as Bali, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara, the Thousand Islands north of Jakarta, Bunaken, Selayar Islands, and Raja Ampat. Indonesia is also famous for surfing, notably Bali, the south coast of Java including Cimaja and Pangandaran, and the Mentawai Islands.\n\n### Historical, religious and cultural attractions\n\nthumb|right|200px|A Buddha statue at the Borobudur temple with the hand position of dharmachakra mudra\nIndonesia is particularly rich with places to visit, some of which are quite old and many still have significant importance for locals. You could spend your life exploring Indonesia and still not see them all!\n\nBorobudur in Central Java is the world's largest Buddhist monument, dating from the 8th century, and nearby Prambanan within Yogyakarta is a remarkable Hindu monument dating from just a few years later. You'll notice how the architecture is very different compared to the shrines at where the religions come from, mainly because of the assimilation with the Javanese culture. Those two, together with the charm of Yogyakarta and Solo, former kingdoms, make for a popular cultural combination in Central Java. It is said that if you can touch a Buddha's hand within one of the \"*stupa*\" near the top of the temple, it will give you luck, although such action is frowned upon by the park authorities. Prambanan, sadly, was damaged by an earthquake some years ago and repairs have been stalled by lack of funds. Many sites in Indonesia suffer from this problem and are damaged by graffiti and littering, generally by locals.\n\nthumb|right|200 px|Part of Pura Ulun Danau Bratan temple complex in Bali", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk069", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "Demak on the north coast of Central Java, is the home of one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, *Masjid Agung* (lit. \"Great Mosque\"), as well as *Sunan Kalijaga Cemetery*. Nearby Semarang is home to several Buddhist, Hindu and Confucian temples, as well as mosques and churches, and nearby Bandungan offers the historic Gedung Songo (lit. \"9 Buildings\") temple complex, which has 9 Hindu shrines in it, as well as various activities for families and hikers to enjoy. In addition, it offers Old Semarang, the original part of town with many Dutch-era buildings; Lawang Sewu (lit. \"1,000 doors\"), is located at the Tugu Muda roundabout intersection (which is also home to a museum and a government office), is a large complex of Dutch buildings featuring stain glass windows and numerous doors which was used by the military, the Japanese during their World War II occupation of Indonesia, and prior to that the Dutch as the office of the railway system, prison, hospital and barracks. Supposedly, Lawang Sewu is haunted with over 30 different supernatural beings but you must be very talented to see even one after surveying the entire grounds from the foundation to attics and water towers!\n\nStill in Central Java, the Dieng Plateau is home to the oldest extant temples in Indonesia, predating Borobudur by some 100 years and, just north of Solo, the Pithecanthropus Erectus aka \"Java Man\" archaeological excavation at Sangiran, Trinil - Ngawi Regency is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk070", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|200px|The Sundanese Wayang Golek is noticeably different than the Javanese shadow puppets.\nIn such a vast archipelago it is hardly surprising that there are some very distinct and unique cultures, often contained in relatively small areas. Sumatra has noticeably distinct differences between the patriarchal *Batak* and the matrirchal *Minangkabau* or the *Sundanese* and *Javanese* wayangs in Java, despite both being separated less than 200 kilometres away! Bali has a unique Hindu culture, adorned by beautifully kept temples (*pura*), and a seemingly endless procession of colourful ceremonies. Some of the better known are the mother temple at Besakih, Pura Ulun Danau Bratan, and Pura Uluwatu. A unique temple, Tanah Lot, is situated on an island right off the coast and is reached by an elevated land bridge. In the north of Bali, you can find small villages of the original Balinese, the Bali Aga (A-geh), as well as Trunyan island where the dead are buried above ground yet the smell of corpses is absent.\n\nFurther east, Sumba is home to one of the few remaining megalithic cultures anywhere on earth. Many of the tribes there still live in small kingdoms, although this practice is starting to disappear. In Sulawesi, the Tana Toraja region is famous for spectacular animist burial rites. Visiting the vast hinterland of Papua in the far east of the country requires considerable planning, an awful lot of money, and a tolerance for extremely challenging conditions. However, for those who want a true wilderness experience and the opportunity to witness first-hand cultures that have had very little contact with the outside world, it is hard to think of a better option anywhere on earth.\n\nIndonesia is largely Muslim, but across the archipelagic country, it includes a collection of sites from many sultanates dating to pre-Dutch colonial rule.\n\n### Itineraries", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk071", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "See", "text": "Pontianak to Kuching\n Great Post Road — route across Java Island form west to east, built in the early 19th century.\n Gunung Semeru — a demanding trek up an active volcano\n\n### Ten new Balis\n\nThe ten new Balis program was launched by the Indonesian government in 2016. With the goal to further increase tourist arrivals while attempting to stem the overdevelopment and environmental degradation on the island of Bali, these ten locations are receiving special infrastructure projects to boost their tourist potential. They are:\n\nBelitung\n Borobudur\n Labuan Bajo\n Lake Toba\n Mandalika\n Morotai\n Mount Bromo\n Tanjung Lesung\n Thousand Islands\n Wakatobi", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk072", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Do", "text": "### Diving\n\n*See: Diving in Indonesia*\nthumb|right|250px|Bunaken National Marine Park, [[Manado]]\nIndonesia has **some of the best scuba diving spots in the world**. Indonesia is at the centre of the so-called Coral Triangle which is home to 5,000 species of fish and hosts 20% of the world's reefs. The beautiful reef formations are a major draw for tourists to places like Bunaken in Northern Sulawesi, Wakatobi in South East Sulawesi, the Alor Archipelago (Nusa Tenggara) and Raja Ampat in Papua. While diving off Bali can be a little mediocre, Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands just to the east of the island offer excellent recreational diving, as well as being important teaching centres. Pulau Weh in the Indian Ocean has the best diving in Sumatra.\n\n### Spa treatments\n\nIndonesia is one of the best places to pamper or rejuvenate yourself. Visiting a spa is a very popular activity for all types of visitors. The soothing natural ingredients and graceful massages are a perfect combination for detoxification. These vary from simply constructed huts to lavish so-called \"wellness centres\" in the grandest of five star hotels. There is usually an option to suit just about every budget. Bali's beaches and pristine nature is the centre of this activity.\n\nIf massage is your thing, there are few places anywhere which offer such high quality for such low prices. Again this could be at a five star hotel or it could be under coconut tree on a quiet beach.\n\n### Surfing\n\n*See: Surfing in Indonesia*\nIndonesia is a premier destination for travelling surfers.\n\nThe Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra feature dozens of world class surf spots. Chartering a private boat for up to two weeks is the most popular way to access the island chain, however there is a public ferry from Padang. Just to the north Nias is equally popular amongst hard-core surfers.\n\nFurther east, Bali and tiny Nusa Lembongan have some great waves, the south of Lombok likewise, and for the more adventurous, Sumbawa offers world class surfing.\n\nAll Indonesia's surf beaches are described in the beautifully photographed \"Indo Surf and Lingo\" surfing guidebook http://www.indosurf.com.au together with comprehensive listings of the best surf camps and surf charter yachts.\n\n### Hiking and climbing\n\nIndonesia has more than 100 volcanoes in all areas, except Borneo and Papua. Many of them can be climbed, conditions allowing, but go with a guide, take appropriate clothing for temperatures that may range between 0 and 30°C, and exercise due caution. \nPuncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) in Lorentz National Park has become a part of the World Seven Summits.\n\n### Karaoke\n\nIf the spa treatment doesn't help you unwind enough, you are never more than a stone's throw away from karaoke in Indonesia. An hour or two unleashing your inner Tom Jones or Mariah Carey will help you cope with anything life can throw at you. Karaoke joints vary according to seediness and selection of songs. There are a number of national chains — Inul Vizta, Happy Puppy, Masterpiece — that are found in malls and city centres. Patronising those will help you avoid those that are borderline brothels. You'll get a private room with a bell to call someone to take your orders for fried snacks, and a sound system with enough reverb to make anyone sound great.", "word_count": 552}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk073", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|Indonesian rupiah (IDR) banknotes, 2023 series\n\nIndonesia's currency is the **rupiah**, abbreviated **Rp** (ISO code: **IDR**).\n\n**Bills**: Rp1,000 (yellow), Rp2,000 (gray), Rp5,000 (brown), Rp10,000 (purple), Rp20,000 (green), Rp50,000 (blue), and Rp100,000 (red). Three banknote series are in circulation in Indonesia, the 2004 series, the 2016 and 2023 series featuring Indonesian national heroes.\n\nWhile the new, colorful large-denomination notes are easy to tell apart, the smaller notes are all confusingly similar pale pastel shades of yellow, green and brown and often filthy and mangled to boot. Banknotes issued before 2000 are no longer legal tender.\n\n**Coins**: Rp100, Rp200, Rp500, and Rp1,000. Three series of coins are in circulation, the 2003 series featuring birds, the 2010 Rp1,000 coin and the 2016 series featuring Indonesian national heroes.\n\nCoins have never really caught on, partly because inflation keeps chewing away their value: the largest, Rp1,000, is worth only around US$0.06. You're only likely to encounter these at supermarkets and similar \"exact change\" places, and even then coins below Rp500 are now rarely seen.\n\nIn restaurant menus and casual speech, it's not uncommon to drop the final three zeroes, so *Nasi goreng - Rp 25* actually means 25,000 rupiah.\n\n#### Acceptance of other currencies\n\n**U.S. dollars** are the *de facto* second currency of Indonesia but are typically used as an investment and for larger purchases and not for buying a bowl of noodles on the street. By law, however, all goods and services in Indonesia are required to be priced in rupiah, and all business transactions must be conducted in rupiah. Vendors in the main tourist areas may accept U.S. dollars for cash payments (at poor exchange rates), but this is actually illegal. Credit card payments by law must be charged in rupiah.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk074", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Aside from the U.S. dollar, Singapore dollars, Malaysian ringgit, and other major international currencies are also widely accepted for a cash settlement, especially in border areas and major tourist areas. But again, the rates are generally exorbitant.\n\n#### Acceptance of payment cards\n\nVisa, MasterCard and JCB debit/credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and larger restaurants and stores, but American Express can be problematic. At smaller operations, surcharges of 2-5% over cash are common. Some credit card terminals may offer the choice between the charge being made in rupiah, or in the currency of the card-issuing country. Beware when using cards with magnetic strips, as they may be subject to cloning and fraud in Indonesia, but the newest cards with chips are relatively safe from cloning and fraud.\n\nAlternately, if you wish not to hold too much cash, ask for a **stored value card** issued by multiple banks across the country; you do not need to open an account at the respective bank. They are very useful for shopping at convenience stores, as it also helps the cashier with them not having to look for coins. In addition, all toll roads, public transportation fare in major cities, and parking inside buildings can only be paid using this card.\n\n#### Exchange", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk075", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Banks and money exchange are widely available on Java, Bali and Lombok, but can be a major headache anywhere else, so load up with Rupiah before heading off to any outer islands. While most major currencies of the world are readily accepted in large cities with tourists & business hotspots like Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali, many small money exchange kiosks outside these cities are only ready to convert to rupiah from US dollars or to some extent: Singapore dollar, Malaysian ringgit, and Saudi Arabian riyal. Money exchanges are **very** picky about bill condition, and pre-2006 dollars or any imperfect bills or (ripped, wrinkled, stained, or marked in any way) will normally be rejected. Banks will most likely reject any pre-2006 US currency. Counterfeit US dollars are a huge problem in the country and as a result the older your dollars are, the lower the exchange rate. You will get the highest exchange rate for dollars issued in 2006 or later and the exchange rate drops for dollars for currency outside a very narrow range of perceived acceptability. There are even different exchange rates according to the serial number for dollars from 1996. Banks and money exchanges on outer islands are sparse and will charge commissions of 10-20% if you can find them.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk076", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "In the reverse direction, money changers will be happy to turn your rupiah into dollars, but the spread is often considerable (10% is not unusual). Be very careful dealing with money changers, who are very adept at distracting your attention during the counting process and short-changing you as a result. As a precaution, consider bringing a friend along to watch over the transaction very carefully. Be aware of money changers who offer great rates. They will quote you one price, and start counting stacks of Rp20,000 notes, and ask you to count along with them. This is a ploy to confuse and shortchange you. If they realize you are onto them, they will tell you that they have to subtract 6-8% for \"commission\" or \"taxes\".\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs (pronounced *ah-teh-em* in Indonesia) on the international Plus/Cirrus or Alto networks are common in all major Indonesian cities and tourist destinations. You can typically withdraw only 25-30 banknotes at a time, and withdrawal limits of Rp 10-15 million per day may also apply. Machines are loaded with Rp50,000 or Rp100,000 banknotes as indicated on the machine; the bigger notes can be harder to split, especially in rural non-tourist areas. Nonetheless, have a stash of cash with you, especially outside large towns, as the ATM may occasionally run out of cash.\n\n#### Mobile payment\n\nMobile payments are making inroads to shops and restaurants across the country. Two of the popular ones are **GoPay** by Go-Jek and **Ovo**, which can be used to pay for a Grab ride. You don't necessarily need an Indonesian bank account to use them, but without it you'll need to use an ATM or visit a convenience store (Alfamart) to top up your balance.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk077", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "As of 2024, NFC based payments like Apple Pay or Google Wallet are supported by a few merchants, but it is not very reliable.\n\n### Costs\n\nthumb|A row of shops in [[Purwokerto]]\nLiving in Indonesia is cheap, as long as you're willing to live like an Indonesian. For example, Rp20,000 (roughly US$1.50) will get you a meal on the street or a packet of cigarettes, 3 km in a taxi, or three liters of drinking water. A Rp300,000 (US$20) per night hotel room may already include breakfast while Rp8,500 (65 US cents) can get you a liter of gasoline. Prices in larger cities and tourist areas like Jakarta and Bali are often more expensive than smaller ones like Yogyakarta or Bandung; eastern Indonesia tends to be the most expensive because of the difficult and long shipping times. Fuel prices are the same and products sold at supermarkets & department stores do not differ too much.\n\nFancy restaurants, hotels and the like will charge 10% government sales tax plus a variable service charge. This may be denoted with \"++\" after the price or just written in tiny print on the bottom of the menu.\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk078", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not a universal practice in Indonesia. You will find some areas and businesses discourage it while others encourage it or there may be a neutral viewpoint about it. In popular tourist areas, in particular on Java and Bali, tipping is often hoped for. Tipping is certainly not a requirement in Indonesia, but if you feel you'd like to reward the person who helped you because they did a great job, or they made an extra effort then give it consideration if it is not openly discouraged. You can try asking people but you may not get a very clear answer. It is up to your discretion how much you give, Rp10,000 can buy a meal here, and in many occupations people may often struggle to make ends meet. In general, Indonesians themselves do not tip unless the service was exemplary. If you do tip, then ensure you give it directly to the person concerned, normally it is done by passing the money folded and in a slightly cupped right hand and placing directly into their own. This is done without flourish as though it were a quick light handshake, and normally without announcement, watch the locals, it is normally a quite discreet exchange.\n\nAlso, in some cultures it is traditional to refuse something a few times (3 is a common number) before accepting it, but there are cultural nuances that can let you know whether it's politeness or a rejection of a tip.\n\nFinally, keep in mind that some people deliberately tell stories about how hard their life is in order to get a tip. If the person has offered these tales with little or no prompting, and has been quite detailed, you may wish to be cautious.\n\n### Shopping\n\n#### Shopping times", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk079", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "While most stores close on Sunday in the West, the inverse is true in Indonesia. The weekends (and national holidays) tend to be the busiest times. Midnight shopping with discounts are also common in a few of Jakarta's more than 100 shopping malls/plazas, one of the world's most populous shopping mall city. Almost all of original high branded items can be found in luxury and big shopping malls with prices comparable to Singapore. Tanah Abang is the biggest textile and garment in Southeast Asia which lure Africans and Middle Eastern come to buy in bulks (such as 20 pieces of a kind). ITC in Mangga Dua, Jakarta has more quality garment and you can buy either in one piece or in package. Malaysians would flock to Bandung to look for various Islamic attires and colorful hijab patterns.\n\nMalls generally open at 10:00, and high street shops open as early as 06:00; both closing at around 21:00-22:00, 7 days a week. Traditional markets are usually bustling straight after dawn prayers, if not before, and many will have stopped by midday, but also open daily. There will usually be at least one market in a big town or city that is open all day. Ask around. Twenty-four hour mini-marts are now common in cities and larger towns.\n\nDuring *Idul-Fitri* (*Lebaran*, the celebration at the end of the *Ramadan* fasting month), shops may close altogether for some days, or open late. This is less likely in non-Muslim majority areas like North Sulawesi and Bali). To a lesser extent, the same goes for Christmas, particularly in Christian-majority areas (North Sulawesi and parts of North Sumatra) and in Chinese trading areas (like *Glodok* in West Jakarta or *Mangga Dua* in North Jakarta), as a large number of Indonesian Chinese are Christian.\n\n#### Convenience stores", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk080", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Chains such as **Alfamart** and **Indomaret** can be found on virtually every city in the country while foreign brands like **Circle K** and Japanese imports like **FamilyMart** and **Lawson** may be found at the bigger cities. Non-chain brands might be found on cities where the aforementioned products do not exist (such as Padang in West Sumatra) or even banned to allow local entrepreneurs to flourish; they are typically easily spotted with the word *mart* on their sign. Those in the villages can look for *toko kelontong* or *warung* where similar offerings are made available though their store are not as lavish or even air-conditioned, however these kind of stores are still available in big cities such as Jakarta, because the prices are cheaper than mini markets for same items. Most stores open from about 06:00 to 21:00, though some busier locations may be open around the clock.\n\nTheir range of products typically include packaged snacks and cold drinks that for most of them cost less than Rp15,000. They also sell assorted breads and even a few of them offer ready-to-eat food and coffee dispensers.\n\nIn a country where non-cash payment is not yet the norm for many, customers can also come here to pay using cash for various purposes, from cellphone package top-up, online shopping purchases, to even transportation tickets!\n\n### Bargaining", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk081", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Bargaining (tawar-menawar) is the norm in most places, even in what appear to be nice stores, so be prepared to negotiate. This is also a way to socialize with the locals, so relax, enjoy the process and get some local insights and tips. If you think you're getting a good price based on what you'd pay back home - you're probably paying too much. Try an initial counter-offer of 50-70% off what they offer, and then work from there. Clever vendors will ask you to start the bidding, which puts you at a disadvantage. You can always try walking away to see if they'll cooperate and give you a better price. However, supermarkets and malls don't usually allow haggling unless you're buying something very expensive, such as electronics or a car.\n\n### Oleh-oleh\n\n300px|thumb|right|Smoked milkfish, the oleh-oleh of choice from [[Semarang]]\nIndonesia has a strong tradition of taking a little something back with you, for family and friends and colleagues, if you have been travelling. This is *oleh-oleh* (OH-lay OH-lay). It is usually the local specialty food or produces. In Medan, it is syrup made from the local passion fruit. In Bali, it has traditionally been *salak* or snakefruit.\n\nMore modern oleh-oleh is also provided, like in Surabaya, they have super-crispy \"almond crispy cheese\" cookies. Also, in Bogor, there is *lapis talas* cake.\n\nMany places that have not had a specific product to offer have generated one, in order to cash in. As a result, there are a lot of fried crackers and chips on offer.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk082", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "300px|thumb|Spiced ''nasi kuning'' (rice coloured yellow with turmeric) shaped into the ceremonial ''tumpeng'' (cone) and topped with dried beef ''abon''\n\nWith 17,000 islands to choose from, Indonesian food is an umbrella term covering a vast variety of regional cuisines found across the nation. But, if used without further qualifiers, the term tends to mean the food originally from the central and eastern parts of the main island Java. Now widely available throughout the archipelago, Javanese cuisine features an array of simply seasoned dishes, the predominant flavorings the Javanese favor being peanuts, chillies, sugar (especially Javanese coconut sugar) and various aromatic spices.\n\nAll too often, many backpackers seem to fall into a rut of eating nothing but *nasi goreng* (fried rice), and perhaps commonly available Javanese dishes, but there are much more interesting options lurking about if you're adventurous enough to seek them out. In West Java, Sundanese dishes composed of many fresh vegetables and herbs are commonly eaten raw. Padang is famous for the spicy and richly-seasoned Minangkabau cuisine, which shares some similarities to cooking in parts of neighboring Malaysia, and eateries specializing in the buffet-style *nasi padang* are now ubiquitous across the nation. The Christian Batak people and the Hindu Balinese are great fans of pork, while the Minahasa of North Sulawesi are well known for eating almost everything, including dog and fruit bat, and a very liberal usage of chillies even by Indonesian standards. Tamed Muslim-friendly versions of all three can be found in the malls and food courts of many Indonesian cities, but it's worth it to seek out the real thing especially if you happen to be in these regions. And by the time you get to Papua in the extreme east of the country, you're looking at a Melanesian diet of boar, taro and sago.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk083", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Chillies** (*cabai/cabe*, CHA-beh) are used widely in Indonesian cuisine, most commonly as *sambal* sauces. Watch out for the small but extra spicy bird's eye chilli (*cabe rawit*). *Terasi* (tuh-RAH-see), dried shrimp paste, is used much like fish sauce and while it blends into the background in cooked dishes, on its own or in large quantities it has a powerful fishy taste. *Petai/pete* (puh-TAY), known as the \"stink bean\" in English for a reason, is an occasional seasonal ingredient in stir-fries. A Sundanese favorite is *oncom* (OHN-chohm) and is composed of peanuts that have been fermented in a block until they are colourfully covered with certain types of fungus; this food doesn't just look moldy but also **tastes** moldy and is an acquired taste.\n\nIn Jakarta, Bali and some other big cities, franchises of Asian, European and American restaurant chains are common, with Kentucky Fried Chicken as the pioneer, following by McDonald's. You can also find modest to expensive restaurants with specialties of Thai, Korean, Middle Eastern, African, Spanish, Russian foods and so on.\n\n### Dietary restrictions", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk084", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "The vast majority of Indonesian restaurants serve only *halal* (comply with Muslim restrictions) food. This means no pork, rat, toad or bats, among others. This includes Western fast food chains like McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Wendy's, and ethnic restaurants such as Padangese restaurants. The main exception is ethnic restaurants catering to Indonesia's non-Muslim minorities, especially those serving Batak, Manadonese (Minahasan), Balinese and Chinese cuisine, so enquire if unsure. Although Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, Muslims do not form the majority everywhere. If you are in areas mainly populated by other religious groups such as Christians or Hindus, most of the local restaurants and stalls will not be halal, and you will need to spend some effort seeking out a halal establishment. A safe bet is to seek out *nasi padang* restaurants, which can be found in virtually every Indonesian city, and are almost always halal. Beef is shunned in Balinese cuisine due to the fact that the cow is a holy animal in Hinduism.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk085", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Strict vegetarians and vegans will have a tough time in Indonesia, as the concept is poorly understood and avoiding fish and shrimp-based condiments is a challenge. ***Tahu*** (tofu aka soybean curd) and its chunkier, indigenous cousin ***tempe*** (soybean cake) are an essential part of the diet, but they are often served with non-vegetarian condiments. For example, the ubiquitous *sambal* chili pastes very often contain shrimp, and *kerupuk* crackers with a spongy appearance, including those always served with *nasi goreng*, nearly always contain shrimp or fish. (Those that resemble potato chips, on the other hand, are usually fine.) You can, however, ask them to make something without meat or seafood, which can be indicated by asking for *vegetarian* (\"ve-GEH-tah-rian\") or *tanpa daging atau hasil laut*. Restaurants are usually willing to take special orders. Cities with large Indonesian-Chinese communities like Medan, Pontianak and Singkawang will often have **Buddhist vegetarian** restaurants, and these are usually a safe bet. Chinese Buddhist vegetarian food traditionally does not include dairy products, so most non-dessert dishes are essentially **vegan**, but make sure your dish does not contain eggs.\n\n*Kosher* food is virtually unknown in Indonesia, and there are no kosher eateries.\n\n### Eating etiquette\n\nEating with your hand (instead of utensils like forks and spoons) is very common. The basic idea is to use four of your fingers to pack together a little ball of rice and other things, which can then be dipped into sauces before you pop it in your mouth by pushing it with your thumb. There's one basic rule of etiquette to observe: **Use only your right hand**, as the left hand is reserved for handling dirty things. Don't stick either hand into communal serving dishes: instead, use the left hand to serve yourself with utensils and then dig in.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk086", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "However, eating by hand is frowned upon in \"classier\" places. If you are provided with cutlery and everybody else seems to be using them, then take the hint.\n\nChopsticks, forks and spoons are equally common, although knives are somewhat rare, except for upscale restaurants.\n\nIt is considered polite and a sign of enjoyment to eat quickly, and some people view burping as a compliment.\n\n### Places to eat\n\nthumb|A ''gerobak'' mobile stall serving up ''batagor'' stuffed tofu fritters, [[Jakarta]]\nEating on the cheap in Indonesia is cheap indeed, and a complete street side meal can be had for only Rp5,000. However, the level of hygiene may not be up to Western standards, so you may wish to steer clear for the first few days and patronize only visibly popular establishments. If the food is served buffet style without heat, or is left out in dishes or pans, it is best to ask how long ago the food was prepared, or just avoid it. It's usually up to you to get the attention of the staff if you want to order, need something or want the bill — even in some expensive restaurants. You can motion them over to your table, and this is not considered rude.\n\nThere are travelling vendors who carry a basket of pre-prepared food (usually women), or who carry two small wooden cabinets on a bamboo stick (usually men), who may serve light snacks or even simple meals, some of which are very cheap and enjoyable, but hygiene is questionable.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk087", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "The fastest way to grab a bite is to visit a ***kaki lima***, literally \"five feet\". Depending on whom you ask, they're named either after the mobile stalls' three wheels plus the owner's two feet, or the \"five-foot way\" pavements. These can be found by the side of the road in any Indonesian city, town or village, usually offering up simple fare like fried rice, noodles, meatball soup (*bakso*), *siomay* (dimsum) and porridge. At night, a kaki lima can turn into a *lesehan* eatery simply by providing some bamboo mats for customers to sit on and chat, but they may provide plastic stools or even benches, and tables.\n\nA step up from the kaki lima is the ***warung*** (or the old spelling *waroeng*), a slightly less mobile stall offering much the same food, but perhaps a few plastic stools and a tarp for shelter. Some warung are permanent structures.\n\nOne of the big questions for the above three choices is hygiene: where do they get clean water to wash dishes, where do they go to use a toilet (a nearby river or ditch), where do they wash their hands and just how clean are they. Typhoid fever is a common problem for eaters here, as are hepatitis and food poisoning. Indonesians have been exposed to poorly prepared/spoiled food for most of their lives, so they are rarely affected by diarrhea and food poisoning.\n\nthumb|Stacks of dishes at a ''nasi padang'' restaurant", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk088", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "A rather more comfortable option is the ***rumah makan*** (lit: eating house), a basic restaurant more often than not specializes in a certain cuisine. *Nasi padang* restaurants, easily identified by their soaring Minangkabau roofs, typically offer rice and an array of curries and dishes to go along with it. Ordering is particularly easy: just sit down, and your table will promptly fill up with countless small plates of dishes. Eat what you want and pay for what you eat.\n\nThe other way to order, particularly in smaller *Padang warung*, is to order ***nasi campur*** (mixed rice), which is a plate of rice, and an accompaniment of other dishes displayed at the counter or in the window, which you choose from depending on what you would like to eat. Usually served with the in-house *sambal olek* (chili condiment). You only pay for what you have ordered.\n\nBuffets (*prasmanan* or *buffet*) and steam-boat restaurants are self-service choices, but the former should be approached warily (see above).\n\nAnother easy mid-range option in larger cities is to look out for food courts (known there as **Pujasera**, short for **Pusat Jajanan Serba Ada**, which translates to **All-in-one snack center** in English) and Indonesian restaurants in shopping malls, which combine air conditioning with hygienic if rather predictable/boring food.\n\nA ***restoran*** indicates more of a Western-style eating experience, with air conditioners, tablecloths, table service and prices to match. Especially in Jakarta and Bali, it's possible to find very good restaurants offering authentic fare from around the world, but you'll be lucky to escape for under Rp100,000 a head.\n\n### Chain outlets", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk089", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most chain restaurants in Indonesia have ample seating area. Most offer meals set, so it is one of the cheapest (and most often, also the cleanest) option. Famous chains to look for:\n**Hoka Hoka Bento** (also known as Hokben) offers Japanese style fast food. (And no, there is no Hoka Hoka Bento in Japan!). You can get rice with teriyaki and fried chicken, egg roll, or shrimp for about Rp50,000 or less, plus a drink, salad, and miso soup.\n**Bakmi GM** is famous for its ubiquitous types of noodle entrées (including its very own special version of noodle dish) and its fried wontons (pangsit goreng), although it also offers dishes of rice. A good meal usually costs Rp50,000 or less.\n**Es Teler 77** is one of the oldest fast food chains in Indonesia, in business since 1982, and has more than 200 outlets throughout Indonesia. Offers Indonesian dishes such as **bakso**, and as its name suggests, **es teler**. Dishes cost about Rp50,000 (incl. Food + Drinks).\nIndonesia's **Pizza Hut** restaurants look like more of a fine dining option rather than a fast food franchise like its original location, the United States. The pizzas have more generous types of toppings and crust, and also more options for sides & pasta. It is also famous for their waitresses or waiters who would make miniatures from balloons to children. In addition, it operates a separate business unit called **PHD** (Pizza Hut Delivery) with its own menu exclusive for delivery in selected cities.\n**Kebab Turki Baba Rafi** is the world's largest kebab restaurant chain. The kebabs, shawarma, hot dogs, and fries are very affordable for a quick meal. It can usually be found as food court stalls.\nMost imported minimart stores such as **FamilyMart**, **Circle K** and **Lawson** provide prepared meals that the staff can heat for you, in addition to the usual groceries you typically find, for less than Rp30,000. Local chains such as **Indomaret** and **Alfamart** have a lot more branches but is more like a typical minimart. At best it provides bread or salad as a prepared meal, though nowadays both Indomaret and Alfamart are stepping up their quality to provide similar services as the imported convenience stores.\n**Transmart** or **Lotte Mart** supermarkets have area for produce such as bakery & snacks, but most people will do a take-away instead of a dine-in although some seating is available.", "word_count": 397}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk090", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "American fast food franchises McDonalds, KFC, Wendy's, Burger King, or A&W also maintain their presence in just about every mall in Indonesia. Other chains from around the globe, such as the world-famous **Yoshinoya**, can be found in more upscale malls.\n\n### Order in\n\nIn the same way that the transport sector has been revolutionized by ride-hailing services run through smartphone apps, the way Indonesians eat has also changed, thanks to the same apps. Almost any food can be ordered in through the apps, down to some of the smallest warungs.\n\nThis negates the point of travelling, so it might not be your first choice of how to choose dinner, but there will always be times when the effort to get up and out is just too much.\n\n### Caution", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk091", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Aside from the warnings above, there have been instances where foods, beverages, and other items (such as baby products and massage oils) are in violation of relevant laws. These violations include the use of forbidden chemicals, such as formaldehyde or borax as preservatives, textile dyes to improve color, plastic bags in hot oil to make fried food crispier; the use of expired or even rotten food (such as vegetables or milk) \"rehabilitated\" through reheating and maybe application of chemicals, or as a filler to improve the weight/volume; the filtration of used cooking oil and subsequent use of forbidden chemicals to make it look clean; the contamination of food that is not *halal* meats (against Muslim food regulations); the injection of water (sometimes with formaldehyde) into meat to make it heavier; harvesting water vegetables from heavily polluted waterways; and the sale of animals without slaughtering (which is illegal). Typically, such foods and beverages are sold by hawkers, wandering vendors and lower-class restaurants, although there have been isolated cases in better establishments and even stores and supermarkets.\n\nAlways wash raw produce with safe water before eating or cooking it. It is better to buy them from well-known and clean supermarket chains.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk092", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Avocado juice (''jus alpukat'') with a squirt of chocolate syrup or condensed chocolate milk\n\nQuite a few Indonesians believe that cold drinks are unhealthy, so specify *dingin* when ordering if you prefer your water, bottled tea or beer cold, rather than at room temperature.\n\n### Juices\n\nFruit juices — prefixed by *jus* for plain juice, *panas* for heated (usually only citrus drinks), or *es* if served with ice (not to be confused with the dessert *es buah*); are popular with Indonesians and visitors alike. Just about any Indonesian tropical fruit can be juiced. *Jus alpukat*, found only in Indonesia, is a tasty drink made from avocados, usually with some condensed chocolate milk or, at more expensive places, chocolate syrup poured around the inside of the glass prior to filling it. For a total refreshment, you can try *air kelapa* (coconut water), easily found at virtually every beach in the country. Some juices have become special region beverages like Medan's *Jus martabe* made from tamarillo and passion fruit also Ambon's *Jus gandaria* made from plum-mango. Still, in Depok, there are juices for food souvenirs that are *jus belimbing* (starfruit juice), *jus lidah buaya* (aloe vera juice), and *jus rumput laut* (seaweed juice).\n\nIt is very common to mix some fruits and vegetables into a single drink.\n\n### Coffee and tea\n\nthumb|Tehbotol Sosro, Indonesia's answer to Coca-Cola", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk093", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Indonesians drink both *kopi* (coffee) and *teh* (tea), at least as long as they have had vast quantities of sugar added in. An authentic cup of coffee, known as *kopi tubruk*, is strong and sweet, but let the grounds settle to the bottom of the cup before you drink it. Some coffees are named after areas, like kopi Aceh and Lampung. No travel guide would be complete without mentioning the infamous *kopi luwak*, coffee made from coffee fruit which have been eaten, the beans partially digested and then excreted by the *luwak* (palm civet), but even in Indonesia this is an exotic delicacy costing upwards of Rp200,000 for a small pot of brew. However, conservationists advise against this drink due to the cruel conditions in which many of the civet cats are kept. But now many stalls in the shopping malls serve up to 20 combinations of coffee beans and produce with grinding and coffee maker for less than Rp20,000, but be ready to stand when you drink it.\n\nTea (*teh*) is also quite popular, as is *es teh* (iced tea), and the Coke-like glass bottles of the **Sosro** brand of sweet bottled tea and cartons and bottles of *Fruit Tea* are ubiquitous, as is *Tebs*, a carbonated tea. In shopping areas, you can often find vendors selling freshly poured large cups of tea, often jasmine, such as 2Tang or the stronger Tong Tji jasmine, fruit and lemon teas for as little as Rp2,000.\n\n### ''Jamu''", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk094", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "The label ***jamu*** covers a vast range of local medicinal drinks for various diseases. Jamu is available in the ready-to-drink form, in powder sachets or capsules, or sold by women walking around with a basket of bottles wrapped to them by a large colorful length of Batik *kain* (cloth). Most of them are bitter or sour and drunk for the supposed effect, not the taste. Famous brands of jamu include **Iboe**, **Sido Muncul**, **Jago**, and **Nyonya Meneer**; avoid buying jamu from the street as the water quality is dubious. Some well-known jamu include:\n\n*galian singset* — weight reduction\n *beras kencur* (rice, sand ginger and brown sugar) — cough, fatigue\n *temulawak* (turmeric) — for liver disease\n *gula asem* (tamarind and brown sugar) — rich in vitamin C\n *kunyit asam* (tamarind, turmeric) — for skin care, canker sores\n\nChase a sour or bitter jamu with beras kencur, which has a taste slightly reminiscent of anise. If you'd like a *semeriwing* (cooling) effect, request *kapu laga* (cardamom) or, for heating, add ginger.\n\n### Traditional drinks", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk095", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "*Wedang Serbat* - made from star anise, cardamom, tamarind, ginger, and sugar. Wedang means \"hot water\".\n *Ronde* - made from ginger, powdered glutinous rice, peanut, salt, sugar, food coloring additives.\n *Wedang Sekoteng* - made from ginger, green pea, peanut, pomegranate, milk, sugar, salt and mixed with ronde (see above).\n *Bajigur* - made from coffee, salt, brown sugar, coconut milk, sugar palm fruit, vanillin.\n *Bandrek* - made from brown sugar, ginger, pandanus (aka screwpine) leaf, coconut meat, clove bud, salt, cinnamon, coffee.\n *Cinna-Ale* - made from cinnamon, ginger, tamarind, sand ginger and 13 other spices.\n *Cendol*/Dawet - made from rice flour, sago palm flour, pandanus leaf, salt, food coloring additives in a coconut milk and Javanese sugar liquid.\n *Talua Tea*/Teh Telur (West Sumatra) - made from tea powder, raw egg, sugar and limau nipis (a fragrant lime).\n *Lidah Buaya Ice* (West Kalimantan) - made from aloe vera, French basil, Javanese black jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar, pandanus leaf, sugar.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|right|250px|Bintang Beer is Indonesia's most famous beer brand.\nAlthough Islam is the religion of the majority of Indonesians, there are no laws against alcohol consumption in most of the country. Alcohol is widely available in most areas, especially in upscale restaurants and bars. Public displays of drunkenness are strongly frowned upon and in the larger cities are likely to make you a victim of crime or get you arrested by police. Do not drive if you are drunk. The legal drinking age is 21 and supermarkets have begun enforcing ID checks for alcohol purchases.\n\nThe exception is Aceh, in which alcohol is banned and those caught with alcohol can be publicly caned.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk096", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Indonesia's most popular tipple is **Bintang** *bir* (beer), a standard-issue lager available more or less everywhere, although the locals like theirs lukewarm. Other popular beers include **Bali Hai** and **Anker**. From 2015, convenience stores and small shops no longer sell alcoholic drinks. However, cafes, bars and restaurants with appropriate licenses can continue to sell alcoholic drinks, including hard liquor. Tourist areas are exempted at the discretion of each regent and mayor, who can decide which area with small vendors or 'warung' can serve/sell 1-5% alcohol drinks. They can cost as much as Rp50,000 in a fancy bar, but a more usual bar/restaurant price for Bintang is Rp25,000-35,000 for a big 0.65 liter bottle.\n\nWine is expensive and only available in expensive restaurants and bars in large hotels. Although you can still find some wines in the big supermarkets within some big malls in big cities. Almost all of it is imported, but there are a few local vintners of varying quality on Bali whose wine is cheaper. 30 percent of alcohol drinks are imported and new taxation scheme of imported alcohol drinks are 150 percent of base price and 90 percent of base price for imported beers.\n\nVarious traditional alcoholic drinks are also available:\n **Tuak** — sugar palm wine (15% alcohol)\n **Arak** — the distilled version of *tuak*, up to 40%\n **Brem** — Balinese style sweet glutinous rice wine", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk097", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Exercise some caution in choosing what and where to buy — homemade moonshine may contain all sorts of nasty impurities. In May 2009, 23 people, including four tourists, were killed by adulterated, or possibly inadvertently contaminated illicitly-supplied arak distributed in Java, Bali and Lombok. In many other cases, tourists have been blinded or killed by methanol in drinks. If you want to save money in Indonesia, don't do it by buying the cheapest alcohol you can find. Buying them at supermarkets would usually be the safest option.\n\n### Tobacco\n\nthumb|Djarum Black, a popular brand of ''kretek''\n\nMany Indonesians smoke like chimneys and the concepts of \"no smoking\" and \"second-hand smoke\" have yet to make much headway in most of the country; however, some TV channels are now blotting out cigarettes in TV programs and movies they show. Western-style cigarettes are known as *rokok putih* (\"white smokes\") but the cigarette of choice is the ubiquitous ***kretek***, a clove-tobacco cigarette that has become something of a national symbol and whose scent you will likely first encounter the moment you step out of the airport. Popular brands of *kretek* include **Djarum**, **Gudang Garam**, **Bentoel** and **Sampoerna**. A pack of decent *kretek* will cost you on the order of Rp17,000. Some brands don't have filters because traditionally kretek cigarette have no filter and the taste is different with the kretek filter cigarette. Indonesia's **legal smoking age is 18**. By law, all packs of cigarettes bear a label with pictures containing the effect of smoking. Kretek are lower in nicotine but higher in tar than normal cigarettes; an unfiltered Dji Sam Soe has 39 mg tar and 2.3 mg nicotine. Most studies indicate that the overall health effects are roughly the same as for traditional western-style cigarettes.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk098", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Drink", "text": "A **ban on smoking** has been instituted for public places in Jakarta. Anyone violating this ban can be fined up to US$5,000. Although \"vaping\" – smoking e-cigarettes, which basically emits vapor clouds instead of burning smoke – is now popular in Jakarta and other big cities, always ask for permission to smoke. If you want to smoke, check with the locals by asking: \"Boleh merokok di sini?\". With increasing cigarette taxes and more AC areas, cigarette sales have been decreasing as of the mid-2010s.\n\nAll big restaurants outside the malls in big cities usually provide smoking and non smoking areas in different rooms (sometimes the smoking area is at the terrace of the restaurant). Sometimes the waiter or waitress will ask for your seating preferences, *\"Merokok atau Tidak Merokok?\"* (smoking or non-smoking).", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk099", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|A guesthouse in South Sulawesi\nAccommodation options at popular travel destinations like Bali and Jakarta run the gamut from cheap backpacker guesthouses to some of the most opulent (and expensive) five-star hotels and resorts imaginable. Off the beaten track, though, your options will be more limited. Probably the most common lodging choice for backpackers is the ***losmen***, or guesthouse, which also go by the names *wisma* or *pondok*. Often under US$15/night, basic losmen are fan-cooled and have shared bathroom facilities, usually meaning Asian-style squat toilets and *bak mandi* (water storage tank) baths, from which you ladle water over yourself (do *not* enter one or use it as a sink.) Very small losmen, essentially homestays or rented rooms, are known as *penginapan*. For a longer stay, try a *kost* (boardinghouse) with similar facilities, if not better - though many only accept a specific gender with *perempuan/wanita/cewek* for ladies and *pria/laki-laki/cowok* for gents.\n\nThe next step up on the scale are cheap or budget hotels, usually found even in the smallest towns and cities, typically near transport terminals and tourist areas. These may have some more little luxuries like air-conditioning, hot water, wi-fi and even a mini breakfast, but a few are often depressing otherwise, with tiny, often windowless rooms. Prices can be quite competitive with losmen and kost, starting at US$20/night. Some reliable local chains include *POP!*, *Amaris by Santika* and *Favehotel*.\n\nHotels of sufficient quality and facilities are *berbintang* (starred), a room can cost as little as US$30 to US$45 in big cities, 5 star hotel rooms can hover around US$70 per night. Prices fluctuate depending on the season; the high season is typically during the June & July and December school holidays and long weekends, while the low season is ironically during the Idul Fitri period where most went to their family homes instead of staying in a hotel (this is an exception in tourist areas). Hotels that do not qualify for a star (*melati*) can charge you for less than US$30, with of course more inferior amenities.\n\nBy law, all hotels have to display a price list (*daftar harga*). You should never have to pay more than the list says, but discounts are often negotiable, especially in the off season, on weekdays, longer stays, etc. If possible, book in advance as walk-in prices are often higher.\n\n### Unmarried couples\n\nUnder the 2022 criminal code, it is **illegal** for unmarried couples to cohabit (live together) or have sex. However, only relatives of either party can press charges, and most hotels geared towards foreign tourists, including virtually all in Bali, have indicated that they do not intend to enforce the law.\n\nIf you are staying at Sharia (Muslim) hotels or small establishments in religiously conservative areas such as Aceh and West Sumatra, be aware that you may be asked to produce a marriage certificate, which you can show on your smartphone. This is because of the local customs that only people of the same gender otherwise can occupy one room. The words \"Syariah\" (Sharia) or \"Halal\" in a hotel advert are clear flags that unmarried couples will be turned away.", "word_count": 520}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk100", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Learn", "text": "Foreign students from many countries study various majors in certain universities in a number of cities (mainly Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar). The cost of studying at Indonesian higher learning institutes is generally much lower than in the west, but you'll need to be fluent in Indonesian for many topics, and some topics also require knowledge of English (such as medicine and IT) or another language.\n\nThe Darmasiswa Program is a scholarship program funded by the government of Indonesia. It is open to all foreign students from countries with which Indonesia has diplomatic relations to study Indonesian languages, arts, music and crafts, and even some other subjects, including IT, science and photography. Participants can choose to study at any of the state universities and colleges participating in the program. There are over 50 participating locations.\n\nFor university education in English, one can consider studying at, among others, Swiss-German University, Universitas Pelita Harapan or President University. Some famous Indonesian institutes include University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology and Gajah Mada University.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk101", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|Skyscrapers in Jakarta\n\nIndonesia is a developing country and work opportunities for foreigners are limited. An average Indonesian monthly salary is around US$175/month, while an expat English teacher may earn around $700-1500/month: quite comfortable by Indonesian standards, less so by global ones.\n\nTo legally earn income in Indonesia, unless you have married an Indonesian or hold a long-term resident card (KITAS/KITAP), you must have a work visa (VITAS, *Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas*). Obtaining one requires both you and your employer to run a notoriously complex bureaucratic gauntlet involving both Immigration and the Ministry of Manpower. By law, a foreigner can only work at a company in a particular capacity for 5 years, and they are required to train a local to replace them but, in reality, this doesn't often happen. Also, foreigners may not work in any job, including CEO, that is related to personnel and human resources. Working a second job without your employer's permission, or working in a position that is different from your stated position, is considered illegal, too, and penalties can range from fines and/or imprisonment to deportation, and even blacklisting is possible (but that is generally only for six months).\n\nIn 2024, Indonesia introduced the **Remote Worker Visa** (E33G) visa targeted at digital nomads, allowing them to work legally in Indonesia for up to a year, as long as they can demonstrate income of at least US$60,000/year which is all sourced from overseas.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk102", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|[[Mount Semeru]], a popular tourist attraction in [[East Java]], erupting in 2004\n\nIndonesia has been and continues to be wracked by every pestilence known to man: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, terrorism, civil strife, plane crashes, sinking boats, and corruption make the headlines on a depressingly regular basis. However, it is important to retain a **sense of proportion** and remember Indonesia's **vast size**: a tsunami in Aceh will not cause the slightest ripple on the beaches of Bali, and street battles in troubled Papua are irrelevant in the jungles of Borneo.\n\nScams are rare in the less touristy areas, though be more cautious in Bali.\n\n### Crime\n\nThe **crime rate** in Indonesia is generally considered **moderate**. Violent crime is rare, and the risk of getting shot is almost nil (guns are strictly controlled), but opportunistic theft and pickpocketing are common. Stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundings, particularly in densely-populated areas like markets, public transport and pedestrian overpasses. Due to the increasing popularity of e-payments, criminals are increasingly snatching smartphones rather than wallets and purses. Avoid flashing jewellery, cameras, or any valuables. Thieves have been known to snatch laptops and cellphones from Internet hotspot areas.\n\nLocal and long-distance public transport (buses, trains, ships) is often targeted by thieves. Do not place valuable items in checked baggage, as they may be stolen by baggage handlers. Do not accept drinks from strangers, as they may be laced with drugs. Choose your taxis carefully in cities (hotel taxis are often best), lock doors when inside and avoid using your phone or camera at traffic lights or in traffic jams.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk103", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not leave valuable items in an empty hotel room, and use the hotel's safe deposit box instead of the in-room safe. Do not draw large amounts of cash from banks or ATMs. Guard your belongings carefully and consider carrying a money clip instead of a wallet.\n\nThere are incidents of cards being skimmed or cloned at ATMs. 'Gallery ATMs' are where there are a number of ATMs in one room, often attached to larger branch of a bank. They sometimes have a security guard on duty, so there is a lower chance of someone being able to install a card skimmer into a machine. Cover your hand when entering the PIN. Pretty much all Indonesian ATM booths have a CCTV camera, supposedly for customer security, but who knows? If your card has a chip, there's a much lower chance of trouble.\n\n### Corruption", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk104", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Indonesia is notorious for corruption. Officials may ask for *uang suap* (bribes), tips or \"gifts\" — the Indonesian terms are *uang kopi* or *uang rokok*, literally \"coffee money\" and \"cigarette money\" — to supplement their meager salaries; pretending you do not understand may work. Some officials have been known to ask for furniture or whatever your company sells, or adult films. Even members of the Department of Religion have been known to extort money from mixed-nationality newlyweds. Generally, being polite, smiling, asking for an official receipt for any 'fees' you are asked to pay, more politeness and more smiling, will avoid any problems. Keep your cool and be patient. If you feel you've been overcharged, be sure to write a polite letter of complaint or inquiry to the person's boss. Many expatriates have done so with positive results, including a formal apology and refund of money, and some offices will expedite matters in the future for you just to avoid any more loss of face. Also, if you are dealing with, say, immigration or the police, it is best to be aware of any laws that affect you and bring a photocopy with you. It is not uncommon for them to be unaware of the laws that directly affect them, or at least pretend to be, and some are so brazen as to thump a big book of laws down on the table and demand that you show them the law you are referring to.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk105", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The going rate for paying your way out of small offences (not carrying your passport, losing the departure card, minor or imaginary traffic violation) is Rp50,000. It's common for police to initially demand silly amounts or threaten you with going to the station, but keep cool and they'll be more reasonable. If your taxi, bus or car driver is stopped, any fine or bribe is not your problem and it's best not to get involved. (If it's clear that the police were out of line, your driver certainly won't object if you compensate him afterwards though.)\n\nGiving one bribe can lead to a seemingly never-ending chain of demands, even if you were just giving a gift of thanks. Many government officials still feel it is their **right** to receive such money and feel not one lick of shame or guilt; they can be, in fact, outrageously brazen if you're on their hook. Just say no.\n\nCarrying identity documents on your person is important. However, it is recommended that if an official on the street asks for your passport, for example, you instead provide a photocopy. Some officials have been known to hold documents hostage to ensure compliance with what they want from you.\n - Corruption Eradication Commission\n\n### Civil strife and terrorism\n\nCivil strife continues to affect some far-flung parts of Indonesia, notably Papua, which has an active separatist movement that sometimes kidnaps foreigners, and the Maluku Islands (Ambon), where Muslim-Christian tensions continue to simmer and occasionally flare into violence. Once troubled Aceh and Central Sulawesi, on the other hand, have been calm since peace agreements were brokered in 2004 and 2002 respectively.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk106", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "While the great majority of civil strife in Indonesia is a strictly local affair, there have been terrorist bombings targeting Western interests in Bali and Jakarta, most notably the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings and the 2009 JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton bombing. The group behind these, Jemaah Islamiyah, has been mercilessly crushed and the increasingly few attacks since have targeted the police and state institutions, not tourists.\n\nElections in Indonesia frequently involve rowdy demonstrations that have on occasion spiralled into violence, and the Indonesian military has also been known to employ violent measures to control or disperse protesting crowds. Although most demonstrations and strife occur in Jakarta, provincial capitals and even smaller places aren't immune. Watch the latest news for updates if a conflict is erupting and don't get involved, even as a spectator.\n\n### Drugs\n\nVisitors are greeted with cheery **\"Death to Drug Traffickers\"** signs at airports, and offenders have received long jail terms for mere possession of even \"soft\" drugs like marijuana. In a high-profile case, nine Australian heroin traffickers (known as the \"Bali 9\") were caught and two of them were executed while the other seven spent nearly two decades in prison. Entrapment and drug busts are common and you really, **really** don't want to get involved with the Indonesian justice system; thanks to the anti-corruption drive, you cannot count on being able to bribe your way out anymore and escape a harsh or even far worse sentence.\n\n### Natural disasters", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk107", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Indonesia is a chain of highly volcanic islands located along the Ring of Fire, so **earthquakes** occur often and **tsunamis** and **volcano eruptions** are all too common. On 26 December 2004, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake shook the coast of Aceh, sending tsunami waves up to 30 metres high across the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of thousands perished and many more were displaced. Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta spews ash nearly every year or so. In some years, the ash can reach far into the Yogyakarta city and deadly hot smoke cascades down into the villages, as happened in 2010. Most of the country is, unfortunately, prone to these kinds of disasters, with the exception of Sumatra's east coast, Java's north coast, Kalimantan, southern Sulawesi, and southern Papua.\n\nRealistically, there is little you can do to avoid these risks. You need to brace yourself in the event of an earthquake. But volcanoes, unlike earthquakes, are much more predictable. The local media & authority usually has good warning of how active the volcano is and will be. Steer clear of the areas around the volcano and change your travel plans if the situation is imminent.\n\nIn the event of being near a volcanic activity - take note of what media reports say about where things are dangerous, check warning signs and fire escape routes in hotels. Always be aware of areas experiencing volcanic activity and evacuate when prompted. However, should you be caught in a cloud of volcanic ash from a far-away eruption, cover your mouth and nose immediately, then seek shelter in an enclosed place with a strong roof.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk108", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In the event of earthquakes, hide under sturdy objects if indoors or run outside if near the door, and stay away from tall objects if outdoors. Any earthquake bigger than a 6.5 magnitude that lasts a long time usually triggers a tsunami warning (usually by siren or loudspeaker). Even if you don't hear a warning, if you feel a persistent & violent shaking, get away from the coast and seek higher land immediately.\n\nIndonesia is not prone to organised tropical systems, yet the rain can be heavy with thunderstorms and (sometimes swirling) winds, especially during the rainy season when it happens pretty frequent. Landslides occur in mountain slopes or cliffs, and flooding in lowlands or former deltas can be serious and ongoing. While there are rarely weather reports in any form of media, it's a good idea to pack an umbrella if it is said to rain or be vigilant for any signs of incoming storm, such as dark, towering and puffy clouds.\n\nIn heavy rain when there is an accumulation of volcanic ash in recently erupted volcanoes, it can result in *lahar dingin* (a very dangerous of slurry with stones and boulders).\n\n### Wildlife\n\n**Crocodiles** and **venomous snakes** are present throughout Indonesia, although they are uncommon in most areas. Cobras and green tree snakes are generally the most common. Since most locals don't know the difference between venomous and harmless snakes, snakes are aggressively slaughtered in many places, and some places sell them as food, especially cobra and python meat.\n\n**Komodo dragons** can be very dangerous if harassed, but are only found on Komodo National Park islands and in the neighbouring island of Flores.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk109", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Scorpions, whip scorpions, crabs, spiders and certain other critters, among them rove beetles can be found around the country and, while an encounter can produce unpleasant results, they are generally not fatal. Despite this, seek professional help if you are bitten or develop a mysterious rash.\n\nLarge predators are increasingly rare, with Sumatran tigers being seriously endangered along with most other large animals, and even small jungle felines are hard to find now. Birds, excepting certain types that have little commercial value, are absent in areas once flush with a variety of species.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nAttitudes toward homosexuality vary vastly. There are no laws against homosexuality in most of Indonesia, with the notable exception of Aceh. Cosmopolitan Jakarta and Bali boast gay nightclubs, and *bencong* or *banci* (transvestites and transsexuals) seem to have a special place in Indonesian culture, even as far as being hosts and MCs of TV programs, as well as special districts where these types of Pekerja Seks Komersial (prostitute or gigolo) offer services — albeit illegally. In Aceh, however, homosexuals can legally be caned. As a general rule, gay visitors should err on the side of discretion; while violence against homosexuals is a rarity, they may be met with nasty comments and unwanted attention.\n\n### Directions\n\nIndonesians like to try to be helpful when you are lost — even when they don't really know where your destination is — but be careful to check directions received with at least one other person, and this problem extends to drivers of private transportation, such as taxis. You may find yourself in the general area you want to be in before the driver will admit they don't know where to go.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk110", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The bad news is that every disease known to humans can be found somewhere in Indonesia — the good news is that you most probably will not go there.\n\nMalaria prophylaxis is not necessary for Java or Bali, but is wise if travelling for extended periods in remote areas of Sumatra, Borneo, Lombok or points east.\n\nDengue fever can be contracted anywhere, so using insect repellents (DEET) and mosquito nets is highly advisable. The common advice to turn your air-con to its lowest setting to deter mosquitoes doesn't work - they simply fly under the covers and enjoy your body heat while sucking up a bloody cocktail; a fan on medium or high is much more effective. Dengue can take up to 10 days to manifest, and early symptoms resemble a bad flu with headache and muscle pains. If you get a **red rash** on your back or sides, particularly one that temporarily goes away when pressed, head to a doctor immediately.\n\n**Hepatitis** B is also common, mainly in Lombok and Lesser Sunda Islands, and getting vaccinated before arriving in Indonesia is wise, but Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted by foods. Food hygiene is often questionable, and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and possibly typhoid fever is a wise precaution. Both kinds of hepatitis vaccines should be administered 6 months before your itinerary. See a doctor if what seems like travellers' diarrhoea does not clear up within a few days, or is accompanied by a fever.\n\n**Oralit** is a cheap, widely-available brand of rehydration salts, you should be able to find the sachets in even the smallest *apotek*. The usual advice - one dose after every bowel movement or every time you vomit. It tastes pretty lousy but is effective in making you feel a bit better.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk111", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The air quality in major cities, especially Jakarta and Surabaya, is poor, and the seasonal haze (June–October) from forest fires on Borneo and northern Sumatra can also cause respiratory problems. If you have asthma, bring your medicine and nebuliser/inhaler.\n\nPolio has been eradicated from Indonesia now. **Avian influenza** (bird flu) has also made headlines, but outbreaks are sporadic and limited to people who deal with live or dead poultry in rural areas. Eating cooked chicken appears to be safe.\n\nThere is **rabies** in Indonesia, and it can be carried by any warm-blooded animal. Many are asymptomatic and appear healthy while being infectious. Bali has a known problem with its dog population. Cats and monkeys are still risky. If your travel involves handling animals in any way, you might want to get the shots first. Otherwise, try not to get too close.\n\n### Health care", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk112", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The local Indonesian health care system is, in many cases, **not up to western standards**. While a short-term stay in an Indonesian hospital or medical centre for simple health problems is probably not markedly different to a western facility, serious and critical medical emergencies will stretch the system to the limit. However, some private hospitals in big cities (like SOS Medika klinik) — such as in Java and Bali — have an international accreditation, though you will be paying a steep premium for their services. In any case, travel health insurance that includes **medical evacuation** back to a home country is highly recommended. Many rich Indonesians often choose to travel to neighbouring Singapore to receive more serious health care, and you should consider that option too. Before going to a hospital for non-emergency cases, it is advisable to ask which hospitals are good and which aren't. In some cases, hospitals have refused to treat uninsured patients.\nthumb|Pharmacy in Ubud\nIf you need a specific medicine, bring the medicine in its container/bottle, if possible, with the doctor's prescription. Indonesian custom inspectors may ask about the medicine. If you need additional medicine in Indonesia, bring the container to an *apotek* (pharmacy) and if possible mention the active ingredients of the medicine. Drugs are usually manufactured locally under different brand names but contain the same ingredients, the ingredients are always accompanied by the brand names in smaller letters. Be careful about the proper dosage of the medicine and be aware that small toko obat (not apotek) knowingly sell \"recycled\" (expired) medicine at low prices.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk113", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "For routine traveller complaints, one can often find *dokter* (medical doctors) in towns. These small clinics are usually walk-in, although you may face a long wait. Most clinics open in the afternoon (from 16:00). The emergency room (UGD/IGD) in hospitals are always open (24 hr). There are *poliklinik* (clinics) in most hospitals (08:00-16:00). Advance payment, incremental payments or some amount of credit card blocked are expected for treatment in some of the hospitals.\n\nBe warned that the doctors/nurses may not speak English well enough to describe an appropriate diagnosis or may be reluctant to provide one, be patient and take a good phrasebook or a translator with you. Ask about the name and dosage of the prescription medicine, as a few doctors may oversubscribe to inflate their own commission, antibiotics are often inappropriately prescribed, and vitamins are often provided liberally.\n\nThere are several different pharmacies (Apotek) in Indonesia, and the level of service varies widely. Some pharmacies belong to larger chains and generally have a good selection. It is advisable to check in advance the availability of specialised medicines. Make sure you have the necessary vaccines and medication well in advance of your trip.\n\nIn large cities, pharmacies can be found, for example, in shops or shopping centres, with the same opening hours as shops, from around 10 am to 9 pm.\n\n### HIV\n\nIndonesia has a high **HIV** prevalence rate (0.5% of the population in 2014). However, most infections are among **injecting of same syringe drug users** and followed by **sex workers**. Be careful and always protect yourself before engaging in risky activities.\n\n### Water", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk114", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tap water** is generally not potable in Indonesia. Water or ice served to you in restaurants may have been purified and/or boiled (*air minum* or *air putih*), but do ask. *Air mineral* (bottled water), usually known as *Aqua* after the best-known brand, is cheap and available everywhere, but check that the seals are intact. Also, be wary of buying from wandering vendors near public transport, as there are occasional reports of people being drugged with a bottle that has been injected with a drug and robbed.\n\nMost hotels provide free drinking water (generally, 2 small bottles, or a water heater) because tap water is rarely potable. Beware of ice, which may not have been prepared with potable water or transported and kept in hygienic conditions.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk115", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|The Torajan symbol used in parts of Indonesia resembles a Swastika but has nothing to do with Nazism\n\nDo not be surprised if a few locals interact with foreigners, especially those of European descent, in a way that may be taken as \"rude and overreacting\". They may refer to you as a \"bule\" (literally, albino) and do things such as constant staring, taking pictures with you, greeting you with laughter, and then asking questions to some extent. You might also see some form of astonishment or amusement for doing what they do that they assume you don't. This is not meant to be an insult, but a form of curiosity.\n A few Buddhist and Hindu temples and homes may have a Swastika placed somewhere. They are religious symbols, *not* a form of anti-Semitism or support of Nazism, which they pre-date.\n\n### Dress\n\nBy and large, Indonesia is a conservative country and modest dress is advisable. At most of the beaches on Bali and Lombok the locals are used to foreigners prancing around in bikinis (*never* topless or nude), but elsewhere women are advised to keep legs and necklines covered and to match the locals when bathing. Women are not legally required to wear the hijab, except Muslim women in Aceh. Wearing shorts or miniskirts is unlikely to cause actual offence, but clothing like this is sometimes associated with sex workers. Men, too, can gain respect by wearing collared, long-sleeve shirts and trousers if dealing with bureaucracy; a tie is not normally worn in Indonesia.\n\n### Manners\n\nBy and large, except for hawkers and touts, Indonesians are polite people and adopting a few local conventions will go a long way toward smoothing your stay.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk116", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Saving face** is extremely important in Indonesian culture. If you should get into a dispute with anybody, don't try to 'win' or argue and accuse the person at fault. Better results will be gained by remaining polite and humble at all times, never raising your voice, and smiling, asking the person to seek a solution to the problem. However, if someone is clearly corrupt or obstructive, a letter or call to, or a meeting with, a higher up may remedy the problem. How high up you may have to go is variable.\n Do smile and nod your head or **greet people as you walk** around. A very Indonesian way to wave off **hawkers and touts** is to thank them: *terima kasih* in this case is short for *tidak, terima kasih*, \"No, thank you\".\n When meeting someone, be it for the first time ever or just the first time that day, it is common to shake hands – but in Indonesia this is no knuckle-crusher, just a **light touching of the palms**, often followed by bringing your hand to your chest. Meetings often start and end with everybody shaking hands with everybody. However, don't try to shake hands with a Muslims woman unless she offers her hand first. It is respectful to bend slightly (not a complete bow) when greeting someone older or in a position of authority.\n**Never use your left hand!** It is considered very rude as one uses one's left hand to wash one's privates after using the toilet. This is especially true when you are shaking hands or handing something to someone. It can be hard to get used to, especially if you are left-handed. However, sometimes special greetings are given with both hands. If you are, out of necessity, to hand someone something with your left hand, you should apologise: \"Maaf, tangan kiri,\" (Sorry for using my left hand).\n Avoid touching the **top of anyone's head** as some cultures here consider it as a holy part of their body. Do not point at someone with your finger; instead with your right thumb, or a fully opened hand. Do not stand or sit with your arms crossed or on your hips as this a sign of anger or hostility.\n **Remove your footwear** outside before entering a house, unless the owner explicitly allows you to keep them on. Even then, it might be more polite to remove them. Do not put your feet up while sitting and try not to show the bottom of **your feet** to someone – it is considered rude.\n Don't walk in front of people, instead **walk behind** them. When others are sitting, while walking around them, it is customary to bow slightly and lower a hand to \"cut\" through the crowd; avoid standing upright.", "word_count": 461}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk117", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Respect", "text": "If all this seems terribly complex, don't worry about it too much – Indonesians are an easygoing bunch and don't expect foreigners to know or understand the intricacies of local etiquette. If you're wondering about a person's reaction or you see any peculiar gesture you don't understand, they will appreciate it if you ask them directly (casually later, in a friendly and humble manner), rather than ignoring it. In general, such a question is more than an apology; it shows trust.\n\n### Sensitive topics\n\nDo not assume that everyone will have the same opinion as you regarding the **Suharto** regime. While a lot of people criticise this era for corruption, dictatorship, and racism, especially towards Chinese Indonesians, many still praise this era for economic growth, stability, and cheap prices of produce. It is better to assess the speaker's opinion before approaching the topic.\n **Communism** is a very sensitive topic, since in the Suharto regime, there was a mass killing of Indonesian Communist Party members. Communism, as well as communist symbolism, is banned in Indonesia; promoting communism or displaying communist symbols is punishable with imprisonment.\n Some Islamic institutions or clerics in Indonesia have promoted anti-Semitic views in the past, often conflating Judaism with political Zionism. However, these views are not representative of the general Muslim population, and Jewish people are not a prominent topic in daily public discourse.\n **Anti-Zionism** is pretty strong in the Muslim communities; it's best to not discuss about Israel. Many Indonesian Muslims are vocal in their support for Palestine and Palestinians.\n **Nazism** is not really a sensitive topic. There are even several small groups of *Wehraboo* (those who take an interest in Nazi Germany) in big cities.\n\n### Unmarried couples", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk118", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Indonesian criminal code of 2022 made **sex or cohabiting between unmarried people** a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in jail. However, charges can *only* be pressed by the couple's relatives, meaning that foreign visitors are effectively off the hook. Exercise caution if dating locals, and if things get serious, try to keep on the good side of any future in-laws! As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has a negative attitude towards children born out of wedlock.\n\nSharia-compliant hotels as well as those in conservative regions like Aceh may ask for marriage certificates, but the vast majority of regular hotels (including those in Bali) will not. See Sleep above for details.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk119", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Keeping in touch with the outside world from Indonesia is rarely a problem, at least if you stay anywhere close to the beaten track.\n\n### Phone calls\n\nthumb|Cell phone mast in Java\n\nIn the past the locals would go to *wartel* (short for *warung telekomunikasi* or telecommunication booth) to make phone call, but nowadays it is hardly to be found as many Indonesians can now afford mobile phones.\n\nPhone numbers in Indonesia are of the form +62 12 345-6789 where \"62\" is the country code for Indonesia, followed by the area code without the prefix 0, and the phone number. If you omit the +62 prefix, you will need to punch the \"0\" area code prefix for calls to another area code. Omit the prefix \"0\" if calling with a +62 prefix. Mobile numbers start with the prefix 08xx (or +62 8xx), in which \"xx\" denote the original mobile network assigned; this prefix must always be dialed.\n\nMaking local calls Dial *(telephone number)*\n Making long-distance calls Dial 0-*(area code)*-*(telephone number)*\n Making international calls Dial 017-*(country code)*-*(area code, if any)*-*(telephone number)*. You can use the \"001\", \"007\" or \"008\" prefix (real fixed line), but the tariffs are 3 times than using prefix 017 (through internet).\n You can make International calls through operator dial 101 or 102.\n Making long distance collect calls Dial 0871-*(area code)*\n Telkom Calling Card access number Dial 168\n\n### Mobile phones\n\nWhen dialing from mobile phones, always include the operator or area code, prefixed by +62 or 0: +62 812-3456-7890 or 0812-3456-7890.\n\nThere are legal requirements on registration of you and your device, the latter before entering the country, for using an Indonesian SIM card, see below.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk120", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "The Indonesian mobile phone market is very competitive and prices are low: you can pick up a prepaid SIM card for less than Rp10,000 and calls cost as little as Rp300 a minute to some other countries using certain carriers (subject to the usual host of restrictions). SMS (text message) service is cheap, with local SMS about Rp300, and international SMS for Rp600, but not all providers allow international SMS and also only to and from certain countries. For easier communication, the providers encourage using WhatsApp. Indonesia is also the world's largest market for used phones, which can be bought for as little as Rp80,000, whereas basic feature phones with dual SIM slots start from Rp120,000, and smartphones with 4G (LTE) support from Rp700,000. Using a 4G smartphone is sufficient, because not all Indonesian tourist areas have 5G coverage, even in Bali.\n\nThe country has multiple service providers, in the order of the largest coverage, **Telkomsel**, **3**/**Indosat Ooredoo** (they actually merged into IOH in 2023, but operate as separate providers sharing the same combined network), '''XL Axiata''' and **Smartfren**. Each has sub-brands that are either a pre-paid or a post-paid service. In major cities, any will work just fine, but if you are travelling beyond the major cities (as you should do), Telkomsel is often the most reliable and in many cases the only one operating. By law, all phone numbers in Indonesia must be registered using a national ID Card and a Family Card. While this practically renders foreigners ineligible to use an Indonesian phone number, it can often however be worked around by activating it at the respective provider's office (for example, Telkomsel's GraPari, Galeri Indosat or XL Center).", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk121", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "A new device registration law came into effect in 2020, intended to control the long-term importation of untaxed devices from outside of Indonesia. Unless your device has been used in Indonesia before 15 April 2020, it must be declared at customs, to be used with an Indonesian SIM card; see Customs above. If you do not complete this procedure, you will be limited to purchasing special \"tourist SIMs\" or roaming from your home country. The latter may still be cheaper if your phone is particularly expensive or you forgot to declare your phone before arrival; if so, also consider bringing or buying a cheaper phone for this use.\n\nThe tourist SIMs cost significantly more than local plans – Telkomsel's tourist plan is Rp 100,000 for 300 minutes, 300 SMS, and 10 GB for 14 days. The validity periods cannot be extended, so you may have to buy a new one even if you have minutes and GBs left.\n\nMaking international calls from mobile phone: Telkomsel: Dial 01017-*, Smartfren: Dial 01033 and then (country code)*-*(area code, if any)*-*(telephone number)*. For other providers can check the prefix at envelope of the SIM card or ask to its call centre. Most of the tariff is Rp 1,000/minutes to Rp 1,500/minutes call to phone line, and about double tariff call to mobile phone. Call to Africa is expensive about Rp 4,000/minutes call to phone line.\n\n### Internet", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk122", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Similar to *wartel,* in the past the locals would go to **warnet** (internet cafes) to use internet. These are now hard to be found except in small towns. Prices vary considerably, and as usual, you tend to get what you pay for, but you'll usually be looking for prices around Rp 5,000 per hour with faster access than from your own mobile phone. In large cities, there are free **Wi-Fi** hotspots in some restaurants, stores, and in many parks and public utility areas. Some hotels also provide free hotspots in the lobby, in their restaurants and in the rooms; these may be free or incur an additional charge.\n\nIndonesia practices **Internet censorship** and some 70,000 sites are blocked. The vast majority of these are porn, but some common Western sites like Reddit and many LGBTQ+ targeted dating apps are also blocked, and social messaging systems like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram have been temporarily blocked as recently as 2019 during riots and other sensitive events. Set up a VPN to ensure uninterrupted access, and have a backup plan for reaching friends and family; so far email services like Gmail have not been targeted.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk123", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "If you are staying for longer than a week and need to browse the **Internet on mobile**, it is recommended to buy a local SIM card as the price is much cheaper compared to roaming with your own operator; Rp 20,000 can give you at least 2GB of data for the majority of networks. If you have GSM/WCDMA mobile phones, you can easily use them for internet connections with most prepaid cards from the major operators. Monthly, weekly and daily packages are available both as quota-based and unlimited (the latter becoming more popular), and the available deals and combinations change constantly. The best way to know the current deals is to visit the operators' websites (generally in Indonesian only) or to ask the dealers selling SIM cards. Despite the claims of various dodgy airport shops, you do *not* need to buy a modem bundle to use these packages with your phone. Also, the package price in the airport is often considerably inflated so it's a good idea to buy it later in the city, or visit a chosen operator's local (official) office, or easily at street or mall vendors.\n\n**4G-LTE** coverage in Java and Bali is widespread, as in cities and some rural areas elsewhere. However, it may not be there if you're in a remote place or in parts of eastern Indonesia. **5G** is rolling out, but so far only in a few cities. As the frequency may be different from other countries, you are advised to check for your device's compatibility.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk124", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Registering for a new SIM card is a must for Indonesian citizens, who need to show their ID card and Family Card. Foreigners will have the passport photographed by the vendor, but not all vendors are familiar with this procedure; visiting a service provider's shop is the best. Most plans require that your phone was declared at customs.\n\n### Telephone directories and information services\n\n- Current time\n\n- Information about Telkom services\n\n- Phone directory\n\n- Hello Yellow Phone Directory\n\nCode area of large cities in Indonesia: Balikpapan (0542), Banda Aceh (0651), Bandung (022), Batam (0778), Betung (022), Bintan (0770), Bogor (025), Cirebon (023), Demak (029), Denpasar (0361), Jakarta (021), Jember (033), Jogyakarta (0274), Kupang (0380), Makassar (0411), Malang (034), Manado (0431), Mataram (0370), Medan (061), Palembang (0711), Pekanbaru (0761), Semarang (024), Solo (0271), Surabaya (031)\n\n### Postal service\n\nthumb|Postal office in Yogyakarta\n\nPostal service is provided by the state-owned '''Pos Indonesia''', which will deliver to even the remotest areas. JNE and Tiki are also reliable enough to send packages to anywhere in Indonesia for less than $15 in up to 10 business days, depending on the origin and destination. FedEx, DHL, and UPS sends package internationally, and FedEx as well as its local affiliation RPX have drop box offices. Intra-city deliveries, especially in Jakarta, can be easily done in hours using a courier service from the same smartphone app that you can call for an ojek (see *by ojek* section).\n\n### Tourism Promotion Centre\n\n- Ministry of Tourism and Culture\n\n- Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board\n\n### Emergency", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk125", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Connect", "text": "In most major cities, all emergency services can be called at **112** free of charge from any telephone, and will deploy services based on the type of emergency; calling that number everywhere else will usually be redirected to police, which will in turn also tries to deploy the necessary services, although it will take a little longer. For a specific service, have the numbers below in hand.\n - Police\n\n- Indonesian Police HQ\n\n- Fire department\n\n- Ambulance\n\n- Search and rescue team\n\n- National Search and Rescue agency\n\n- Red Cross HQ\n\nEnglish-speaking operators are **not** available even in major cities, as operators will typically speak Indonesian as their primary language.\n\n### Media\n\nEnglish publications in Indonesia have sprung up, albeit very slowly. '''The Jakarta Post''' is Indonesia's largest circulating English newspaper; you can grab a copy in some of Indonesia's biggest cities. '''The Jakarta Globe''' is in a tabloid format and usually has richer content. Both newspapers provide good online content too.\n\n'''Tempo Media''' maintains an online presence in English, even publishing its own English weekly magazine, but it is mostly filled with hard news.\n\n'''Antara News''' also provides some news in English as well.\n\nState-owned TV network, TVRI, has its own English news service at 18:00 WIB (West Indonesian time) daily. Indonesia's pioneer news channel, MetroTV, also has an English news program at 01:00 WIB Tuesdays through Saturdays. Berita Satu World is an English news channel that can be watched on selected cable TV providers.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "indonesia::chunk126", "doc_id": "indonesia", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nthumb|A typical Indonesian wall socket.\n\nIndonesia uses 220 volt and 50 Hz system. Outlets are European standard two round pins, either the CEE-7/7 \"Schukostecker\" or \"Schuko\" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 \"Europlug\" types. Power adapters are easily found.\n\nElectricity within Java and Bali is on 24 hours a day. This is also generally true in most populated areas outside the two islands, although they may be more prone to blackouts. The remote or less populated villages may have electricity on for a few hours per day only or even none at all.\n\n### Laundry\n\nAlmost all hotels offer laundry service. If you want to save some money, look for a public laundry service called \"Laundry Kiloan\" (in Indonesian) and usually charged by weight. For standard service, your clothes will be washed, dried, ironed, folded, and usually packed in plastic. It may take as long as up to three days to get your clothes back, so plan in advance. The tariff is Rp 7,000-12,000 per kilo and the price is doubled if you wish to use an express service.\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\nThe *Kementerian Luar Negeri* or Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a complete searchable database of diplomatic institutions. All embassies are located in Jakarta (see that article for listings), but a few countries maintain consulates and honorary consulates elsewhere, mostly in Surabaya, Bali, and some cities (e.g. Malaysia in Pekanbaru, the Philippines in Manado, Papua New Guinea in Jayapura and so on).", "word_count": 246}
diff --git a/corpus/indonesia/metadata.json b/corpus/indonesia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f16e82d33b2d5a6117ab13d57ef941e8ee419d87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/indonesia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "indonesia",
+ "title": "Indonesia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Indonesia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 31482,
+ "listing_count": 14,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 127,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/iran/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/iran/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4b0846fbb951d219d9a235c66e76edfc8dce7b1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/iran/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk000", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Iran** (Persian: **ایران**), formerly **Persia**, can be considered part of the Middle East or Central Asia; indeed the Persian Empire was the dominant Central Asian power for many centuries. The wellspring of one of the world's great civilizations, Iran is a country of striking natural beauty and gorgeous tiled mosques. Once the centre of a pro-Western monarchy, it became an Islamic Republic in 1979, a modern Islamic theocracy whose laws are based on Ja'fari Shia Islam, and since then, its history has been tumultuous. \n\nIran is a melting pot of different cultures, with Persians, Azerbaijanis, and Kurds constituting the largest ethnic groups. Shia Islam is the state religion, although there is a sizeable portion of Sunnis, as well as long-established Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian minorities.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk001", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Cities", "text": "Nine of the most notable cities are:\n (Persian: **تهران**) – the vibrant capital and a beautiful city \n (Persian: **همدان**) – one of the oldest cities in Iran\n (Persian: **اصفهان**) – a former capital with stunning architecture, great bazaar, and tree-lined boulevards. Most popular tourist destination in the country. There's a Persian saying that \"Isfahan is half the world.\"\n (Persian: **کرمان**) – this south-eastern city is one of the five historical cities of Iran.\n (Persian: **مشهد**) – the greatest city of eastern Iran, with an important Shi'a pilgrimage site, the shrine of the Imam Reza\n (Persian: **قم**) – one of the holiest cities in the Middle East, considered the Jewel of Iran\n (Persian: **شیراز**) – a former capital, home of famous Persian poets such as Hafiz and Sa'di; known for gardens, especially roses. Very close to the famous ruins of Persepolis.\n (Persian: **تبریز**) – a former capital with a great historical bazaar, now a provincial capital in western Iran; it's been suggested that this is the site of the Biblical \"Garden of Eden\"\n (Persian: **یزد**) – a remote desert city – circumstance influenced special architectural themes where water streams run in underground rooms in houses and wind-towers to keep them cool, and the main center for the Iranian Zoroastrians.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk002", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "(Persian: **الموت**), near Qazvin – castle of the legendary Assassins.\n (Persian: **دیزین**) – one of the highest ski resorts in the world, two hours north of Tehran. Great powder snow, cheap prices and few international visitors makes this a great place for a ski holiday.\n (Persian: **کیش**) – a free trade zone in the Persian Gulf, it is regarded as a consumer's 'paradise', with numerous malls, shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. There is also Iran's first marina on the east side of the island.\n (Persian: **قشم**) – Iran's largest and the Persian Gulf's largest island. Qeshm island is famous for its wide range of ecotourist attractions such as the Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5% of the world birds and 25% of Iran's native birds annually migrate to Hara forests which is the first national geo park.\n (Persian: **پاسارگاد**) – the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and home to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.\n – impressive ruins of a vast city-like complex built over 2,500 years ago, near the modern city of Shiraz. It was set on fire by Alexander the Great and further ruined by Arab invaders. Called TakhteJamshid in Persian, Persepolis is the symbol of Iranian nationality.\n (Persian: **شوش**) – 200 km north of Ahvaz, was Iran's most ancient city. The Ziggurat of Chughazanbil, Darius the Great's palace, the Jewish prophet Daniel's temple and Artaxerxes II's palace are among the historical sites.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk003", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "### People\n\nHumans have inhabited the area that makes up modern Iran since the Stone Age. There are paintings in Dusheh cave that date back to 15,000 BC.\n\nThe ancient Persians arrived about 1500 BC, one branch of the great movement of people that also brought northern India and most of Europe their modern populations. The name Iran is from the same root as \"Aryan\" which, until Hitler perverted it, was just an ancient name for those arriving peoples. Persian (natively known as Farsi) is an Indo-European language; ancient Persian was related to Sanskrit, ancient Greek, and all the others in that family. Persians are ethnically and linguistically unrelated to their neighbours on the west, the Arabs and Turks, but are related to various groups to the east and north.\n\nIran has many people other than ethnic Persians; there are substantial minorities with their own languages, Minorities with Indo-European languages related to Persian include Kurds in parts of the west and northwest, Baluchis in parts of the southeast, and Armenians in the north and in Isfahan where one of the Shahs transported them a few centuries back. Minorities with Turkic languages include the Azeris who make up much of the population of Iranian Azerbaijan in the northwest and the Qashqai, a nomadic people in the region around Shiraz. There are also Arabs, who are mostly concentrated Khuzestan province, Assyrians and, last but not least, Jews, who have been living in Iran peacefully for centuries. Despite being a minority, Iran's Azeri population is larger than that of independent Azerbaijan.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk004", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are also two substantial communities of people of Iranian descent in India and Pakistan - Parsis who have been there for over 1,000 years, and Iranis who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries - both Zoroastrians who fled religious persecution in Iran.\n\n### History\n\nPersia has always exerted a large cultural influence on its neighbors, especially Afghanistan, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Persian influence can be seen in the art, architecture and languages of these areas, and in the Indian Subcontinent.\nthumb|Yazd\nThe Persian Empire existed over most of the time period from about 500 BCE until the revolution of 1979, but its fortunes varied enormously over the centuries. During the Achaemenid Empire, Persia controlled most of what we now call the Middle East, and after Cyrus the Great's conquest of Ionia, Persia came close to conquering Greece in the Greco-Persian Wars of 499-449 BC. In the 330s BCE, Alexander the Great conquered (among other places) the entire Persian Empire.\n\nSassanid rule from 205 AD to 651 AD is considered to be the most influential period of ancient Persia. In 651 AD, immediately after the death of Muhammad, the brutal conquest of Persia by the Arabs brought an end to the Sasanian Empire. Persian and other languages of the region are still written with the Arabic alphabet. In 1221 AD, Persia was overrun by Genghis Khan and the Mongols. Marco Polo passed through later in that century, learned Persian, and wrote extensively of the region. Tamerlane conquered Persia in 1383, and after a revolt in 1387, killed hundreds of thousands of people and built a tower with their skulls.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk005", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Safavid dynasty re-united Persia as an independent state in 1501, established Shi'a Islam as the official religion, and ushered in a golden age of Persian culture. The dynasty was overthrown in 1736 by Nader Shah, the last great Asian conqueror, who expanded the empire to again include Afghanistan and much of India. His short-lived dynasty and its successor, the Zand dynasty, lasted until 1795.\n\nThe Qajar dynasty ruled from 1795-1925. While many of the historic buildings in Iran are from this period, this era is considered to be one of decline for Iran, as the rulers were more interested in building their collections of art and jewels and succumbed to heavy pressure from foreign powers, notably the United Kingdom and Russia, which jointly occupied Iran during World War I. In 1906, Qajar rule became a constitutional monarchy and the Majlis (Persian for parliament) was established.\n\n#### The last dynasty\n\nIn 1921, a military coup by Reza Shah established a new \"Pahlavi\" dynasty, named for the most ancient Persian dynasty around 500 BC. His rule was quite nationalistic; he changed the country's name from Persia to Iran, and built a strong military. He was also quite authoritarian; he built a powerful secret police and a propaganda apparatus, and did not hesitate to crush dissent. He also made considerable efforts toward modernization, and came into conflict with conservatives over some of it.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk006", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "When World War II came, he refused Allied demands for guarantees that Iran would resist if German forces got that far. Iran was then invaded by British Indian forces from the south and the Soviets from the north, and a railway was built (largely by US Army engineers) to bring supplies from the Persian Gulf across Iran to the beleaguered Soviet Union. Reza Shah went off to exile in South Africa, abdicating on the steps of the aircraft in favour of his son.\n\nThe son, Mohammad Reza Shah, continued his father's nationalistic, authoritarian and modernising tendencies. No Persian ruler could choose Britain or the Soviet Union as allies. Being pro-German had not worked out well for his father and France wasn't strong enough at the time. That left the Americans, and he became one of America's most important allies in the region, seen as a \"bulwark against Communism\", a constitutional monarch, in some ways progressive — modernising, sometimes comparing himself to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who led Turkey's modernisation — and a protector of US and other Western interests. He was one of very few Middle Eastern rulers to extend diplomatic recognition to Israel and helped prevent Iranian nationalisation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. On the other hand, he was quite capable of putting Iranian interests before Western ones, as when he was one of the key players in creating OPEC.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk007", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "While in some ways progressive, the Shah was also very much an oriental despot. When the Soviets left Northwestern Iran after the war, they left behind something that claimed to be an independent socialist government of Azerbaijan. The first major conflict of the Cold War came as the Shah, advised by the CIA, brought in troops who crushed that government and the Communist Party (*Tudeh* in Farsi). Throughout his reign, his Savak secret police stomped hard on any opposition. His regime was also massively corrupt, with cronyism being widespread among ruling elites when much of the country was very poor. On the other hand, he did invest in infrastructure and initiate social welfare projects, including a program that sent new university graduates into the countryside as teachers.\n\nIn theory, Iran under the Shah was a constitutional monarchy. Mohammed Mosaddeq was elected Prime Minister in 1951 and instituted reforms that included nationalizing the oil companies and a land reform program, and also limited the power of the Shah. He was overthrown in a 1953 coup backed by the CIA, the British (who had large oil interests at stake), and the Shah. The Shah and the new Prime Minister reversed the oil nationalization, but continued with the land reform program. However, as well as giving land to the peasants, it worked out that the Shah's family and others with connections got a lot. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini went into exile at this time because of his objections to land reform taking land from the mosques.\n\nIn 1971, the Shah organised an expensive celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire at Persepolis. The extravagant party resulted in harsh criticism and his popularity ratings never recovered.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk008", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1979, the Shah was overthrown and went into exile, dying a year later. The revolution involved many groups - Mosaddeq-style secular reformers, the *tudeh* communists, and various Islamic factions - but came to be led and dominated by a conservative Islamic faction under Ayatollah Khomeini. Partly in reaction to the Shah's policies and partly as rejection of non-Islamic influences, they were also strongly anti-Western and in particular anti-American.\n\nReligious conservatives subsequently crushed Europeanization and also any liberal or left-wing influences. Iranian student protesters seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held hostages for 444 days - until 20 January 1981. Noticing the upheaval in Iran, Saddam Hussein seized Iranian oil fields in the south of the country and from 1980 to 1988, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq and in the end, the borders were turned back to their pre-war locations.\nthumb|Azadi Square, [[Tehran]]\n\n#### Current issues\n\nKey current issues affecting the country include the pace of accepting outside modernising influences and reconciliation between clerical control of the regime and popular government participation and widespread demands for reform. Inflation and unemployment (particularly among youth) are major economic challenges.\n\nRelations between Iran and the rest of the world, particularly Western countries, improved considerably with the 2015 nuclear agreement, which started a gradual lift of economic sanctions against the country. The United States pulled out of the nuclear agreement and proceeded to impose more punitive sanctions on Iran after a new president came to power in 2017, and relations between the two have deteriorated rapidly since then, with both countries often threatening to go to war with each other. This has certain consequences for visitors to both countries (see ).", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk009", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have also drastically deteriorated: the two countries are on opposite sides of the war in Yemen, and they support different factions in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Nevertheless, there has been a thaw in relations in the early 2020s, and both countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies in a deal brokered by China in 2023.\n\nAll Iranian presidents since 1979 as well as both \"spiritual leaders\", Khomeini and Khamenei, have engaged in anti-Israel rhetoric (often refusing even to use the word \"Israel\", instead calling it the \"Zionist entity\"), though there continues to exist an Iranian Jewish community that is guaranteed representation in parliament. Perhaps the case most noticed in the west was when President Ahmadinejad was translated (among other sources on his own English language website) as calling for Israel to be \"wiped off the map\" garnering notable controversy and allegations of mistranslation. However, as Ahmadinejad himself pointed out, he was only paraphrasing a statement often made by Khomeini and Khamenei in various forms which is nigh-consensus among the highest echelons of the Iranian political and religious elite.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk010", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "Sex segregation in Iran is practiced strictly. After revolution, sex segregation was increased and it was embraced in different ways during different decades. As a general rule, individuals from opposite sexes and bachelors can not walk or talk with each other except inside family groups. In the early years after the revolution, public places like cinemas, restaurants, beaches — basically, anyplace other than shrines, mosques and other holy places — were segregated by sex. In succeeding decades, some places were no longer segregated by sex, but some female-only places were established, such as women's parks, beauty salons, female schools and female-only universities. As of 2020, many places are still sex segregated, such as transport vehicles (inter-city buses, inner-city buses, subways, trains, etc.). People from opposite sexes are not allowed to shake hands and men are not allowed to touch women, which is said to be for the sake of women's safety. Exceptions exist especially in regard to non-Muslim tourists.\n\n### Religion\n\nthumbnail|[[Mashhad]] is a destination of Shi'a pilgrims to Iran.\nThe main divisions of Islam are Shi'a and Sunni. The split goes back to a time just after the Prophet's death; would the movement be controlled by some of his leading followers (Sunni), in particular his father-in-law Abu Bakr, or by his family, in particular by his son-in-law Ali? (Shi'a comes from *Shīʻatu ʻAlī*, i.e. the faction/party of Ali). There was a long, complex and bloody struggle over this. Today, Iran is one of a few countries that are predominantly Shi'a, and the only one where Shi'a Islam is the official religion. The Iranian government supports the Shi'a Hezbollah movement among others, and is therefore accused by America of fomenting terrorism.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk011", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "One of the major events of Shi'a religious life is the Day of Ashura on the 10th of the month of Moharram; \"ashura\" means \"10th\". It commemorates the death of Ali's son Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 AD). This is not a joyful celebration, but a very sober day of atonement. Travellers should not play music or act remarkably cheerful in public at this time.\n\nTraditional activities include parades in which people do 'matham' — chest-beating, self-flagellation, sometimes even hitting oneself with a sword — which is a way of remembering Imam Hussein who was martyred along with his half brother, cousins, friends, and two young sons. Dramatic re-enactments of the battle are also sometimes done.", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk012", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "While Shi'a Islam is without a doubt the dominant religion in Iran, there are several religious minorities. Sunni Islam in Iran is mainly practiced by ethnic minorities such as the Arabs, Kurds, Baluchis, and Turkmens. Non-Islamic faiths also exist in smaller numbers, the most notable being Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Judaism, all three of which are recognized as minority religions by the Iranian constitution, and guaranteed representation in parliament. Despite Iran being an Islamic republic, fire temples, churches, and synagogues continue to operate legally in the country. Most Iranian Christians follow Oriental Orthodoxy or the Assyrian Church of the East, and are of Armenian and Assyrian ethnicity respectively. Iran has had a Jewish community since Biblical times, but the vast majority of Iranian Jews fled to Israel following the Islamic Revolution, and only a small community remains in Iran today. Nevertheless, the remaining Jewish community in Iran is the largest one in the Middle East outside Israel, and the largest one in a Muslim-majority country. While there are also a significant number of Baha'is in Iran, they are not recognized by the constitution and are instead branded as heretics of Islam, meaning that they continue to be persecuted to this day in spite of being Iran's numerically largest non-Muslim religion. One unique practice among Iranian men and women is the encounter of wedleases (temporary marriages) which locally are known as mut'ah.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk013", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "Iran has a diverse climate. In the northwest, winters are cold with heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures during December and January. Spring and fall are relatively mild, while summers are dry and hot. In the south, winters are mild and the summers are very hot, having average daily temperatures in July exceeding 38° C (100° F) and can hit 50° C in parts of the desert. On the Khuzestan plain, summer heat is accompanied by high humidity.\n\nIn general, Iran has an arid climate in which most of the relatively scant annual precipitation falls from October to April. In most of the country, yearly precipitation averages 25 cm or less. The major exceptions are the higher mountain valleys of the Zagros and the Caspian coastal plain, where precipitation averages at least 50 cm annually. In the western part of the Caspian, rainfall exceeds 100 cm annually and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.\n\n### Landscape\n\nRugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts with humid unique jungles by Caspian sea. The highest point is Mount Damavand (5,610 m).\n\nDesert: two great deserts extend over much of central Iran: the Dasht-e Lut is covered largely with sand and rocks, and the Dasht-e Kavir is covered mainly with salt. Both deserts are inhospitable and virtually uninhabited.\n\nMountain: the Zagros range stretches from the border with the Republic of Armenia in the north-west to the Persian Gulf, and then eastward into Baluchistan. Zagros is extremely hard, difficult to access, and populated largely by pastoral nomads. The Alborz mountain range, narrower than the Zagros, runs along the southern shore of the Caspian to meet the border ranges of Khorasan to the east.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk014", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Understand", "text": "Forest: approximately 11% of Iran is forested, most extensively in the Caspian region, and is densely populated. Here one finds the broad-leafed, vigorous deciduous trees, usually oak, beech, linden, elm, walnut, ash, and hornbeam, as well as a few broad-leafed evergreens. Thorny shrubs and fern also abound. The narrow Caspian coastal plain, in contrast, is covered with rich brown forest soil.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Iran website", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk015", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Dual citizens of Iran** and a second country may only enter Iran on their Iranian passport, as the country does not normally recognize dual citizenships.\n\nYour bags probably will not be searched for **salacious material**, but if any is found, it will be confiscated and will complicate your arrival. Don't try to bring in any magazines or books that might offend strict Islamic sensibilities or criticise the government.\n\n### Visa-free entry\n\nCitizens of the following countries do not need a visa to visit Iran provided their stay does not exceed a certain number of days:\n90 days: Armenia, Oman, Syria, Turkey\n45 days: Georgia\n30 days: Bolivia, Lebanon, Iraq\n21 days: China (mainland), Hong Kong, Macau\n20 days: Egypt\n15 days: Malaysia, Venezuela\n14 days: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan\n\nIn addition, citizens of Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, India (for entry *by air* only), Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Tanzania, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe may visit Iran without a visa for up to 15 days, but are limited to a maximum of one visit every six months.\n\nCitizens of Russia may visit Iran without a visa for up to 15 days provided they join an approved group tour, with a minimum group size of 5, and a maximum group size of 50.\n\nEveryone else needs to apply for a visa from an Iranian diplomatic mission.\n\n### Visa\n\nthumb|450px|Visa policy of Iran {{legend|", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk016", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Normally, all tourist visas issued by Iranian consulates have a \"3-month\" validity. The visa allows you to stay in Iran for up to 30 days (sometimes you can get the tourist visa up to 90 days), although the duration of your visa is at the discretion of the MFA. All tourist visas will be issued as a single entry, unless you request the approval from Tehran. Tourist visas must be used within 14 days from issue, but the maximum duration of your stay is still 30 days.\n\nRarely, you may be asked to provide a letter from your employer or proof of funds. Visas are generally valid for three months, so you must enter Iran within three months of issue.\n\nDepending on your nationality, issuing a visa may take 30 days or more.\n\nCitizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Somalia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Afghanistan and Pakistan must have their visa stamped in their passport in advance of their arrival in Iran.\n\nAs a notable exception, nationals of all countries are allowed to travel to the free economic zones of Kish, Qeshm and Chabahar without a visa for stays of 14 days or less. Kish and Qeshm are easily accessible from Dubai. See the Kish Island article for details.\n\n#### Main procedures\n\nThe Iran tourist visa is issued for up to 30 days and is extendable. It must be obtained before travelling to Iran and valid to enter for 90 days from the issue date. Approved Iranian travel agents can apply and get visas for all foreign nationals (except Israeli and Afghanistan passport holders).", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk017", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "To apply and get your visa you must contact an approved Iranian travel agent, or go to an Iranian consulate. After receiving your personal data, they apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your visa will then be authorised by the MFA and faxed to the Iranian consulate near you. Your travel agent gives you a visa authorisation number with which you can refer to the consulate to get your visa. The visa authorisation number, however, is valid only in the consulate you have asked them your visa to be issued in. The number they give you is just an \"authorisation\". This reference number means that your visa has been authorised and approved by the MFA but is not the visa. However, there is a new rule for getting an Iran visa. After applying for e-visa and receiving the authorization code online, you are going to have two options while receiving your visa in embassies or other places of visa issue. If you need an urgent visa, one-day visa applications are available for an extra 50% fee. It means if the visa fee costs you 50 Euro, you should pay 75 Euro to collect it there. Otherwise wait 4 to 7 Iranian business days, (Saturday to Wednesday) to receive your visa.\n\nDepending on your nationality, you may be required to present at the Iranian consulate in your country to have your fingerprints taken. British and American passport holders will be fingerprinted upon arrival.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk018", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "After your travel agent tells you your visa authorisation number you should first get a visa application from the consulate and follow the requirements of the application form (you may either personally go to the consulate to get the application forms or, if the service available, download it from the web site of the Iranian embassy in your country). Then, you should refer to the consulate to lodge your passports and application forms with the visa number they gave you (it can be either a physical presence or by post). Then it might take from 1-5 days for the consulate to issue your visa.\n\nYou may also need to provide a letter of recommendation from your embassy if you are applying outside your home country, a photocopy of your air tickets in and out of Iran and any student or press card.\n\nThere are several types of visa: Entry, Transit, Business, Tourist and Journalist. Fee varies according to nationality of applicant, type of visa and the existing regulation between countries.\n\nA visa cannot be issued for passports which have a validity of less than 6 months. Exit permits required by all (often included with visa).\n\n#### Transit visa\n\nTransit visas have a maximum of 10 days.\n\nTransit visas are usually easier to get than tourist visas (usually for one or two weeks) and very useful for people travelling between Europe and South Asia. Various travel agents inside Iran help you obtain visas, often through their home pages.\n\nYou can get an extension for your transit visa usually valid for five or ten days, inside Iran easily but once for the same number of days as the original visa.\n\nFor foreign drivers carrying cargo to Iran or other countries, it's necessary to co-ordinate in advance with the diplomatic missions of Iran.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk019", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### Tourist visa\n\nTourist visas require a passport, an application form, four passport-sized photos, and a special authorisation in the form of a reference number issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.\n\nExtending a tourist visa is very easy and can be done in most cities. Some travel guides say not to do this in Tehran as it is very time consuming. This is no longer the case and the process of extending a visa in Tehran can be done in just 1 hour (including tea offerings and being the object of curiosity in the office). Extending a visa a second time requires the passport to be sent to a department in Tehran (no matter where you extend your visa from) and thus takes longer time than doing this the first time. The tourist visa can be extended once or twice at most, each time you can get 15 days more. The price of extending a visa is fixed rate 300,000 rials.\n\nTo extend your visa in Tehran, the first or second time, you should go to the Passport and Immigration office situated on Parvin Street, at the crossing with 150 East Street and 123 Khovat Street, very close to Tehranpars metro station. Here is the OSM link: http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=35.72822&mlon=51.53174#map=17/35.72822/51.53174&layers=N", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk020", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Although it has become easier to get a tourist visa, whether the process takes one day or one month depends largely on your nationality and the staff of the embassy you are applying to. Your best bet is to apply to the Iranian embassy in your own country at least three months before your departure, but it is possible to obtain one while travelling in other countries, with varying degrees of difficulty. Women need to make sure they are wearing the hijab or a head scarf in their submitted passport-sized photos.\n\n#### Business visa\n\nBusiness visas require a passport, an application form, 4 passport-sized photos, a special authorisation in the form of a reference number issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, and a business letter. Business visas are extendable once, sometimes twice up to two weeks each without difficulty. One extension of one month may also be possible in some cases.\n\nVisitors from the Persian Gulf States need no visa to enter Iran. These states are: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. People from North Macedonia and Turkey can get a three-month tourist visa on arrival. People from Japan can get a three-month tourist visa at an Iranian embassy with no difficulty.\n\nPlaces known to extend visas happily in Iran are Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Esfahan, Shiraz, Kerman and Zahedan. The extension process is normally handled at provincial police headquarters.\n\n#### eVisa", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk021", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Citizens of most nationalities can get an **eVisa**, but you will have specify which airport you will be landing at as part of the application. You may not enter Iran through an entry point other than the one specified in your visa application. Processing usually takes about 2 days, though you may be asked to attend an interview at the nearest Iranian consulate should the authorities suspect something. The previous visa-on-arrival scheme has been scrapped. Citizens of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States are not eligible for an eVisa.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|right|200px|Imam Khomeini International Airport\nthumb|right|200px|Due to sanctions, many vintage airliners are still operated in Iran.\nAll international flights to Tehran land at the new () based 37 km southwest of Tehran. Pilgrimage flights to Saudi Arabia still fly from Mehrabad airport. There are 70 smaller regional airports, for example those in Shiraz, Mashhad, and Isfahan, and these have daily flights to many international destinations.\n\nDubai has scheduled flights to many Iranian cities, including Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kerman, Lar, Mashhad, Tabriz, Kish Island, Bandar Abbas, Bushher, Zahedan, Kermanshah, Chah Bahar and is therefore worth considering travelling to Iran from. Flights are operated by Iran Air, Emirates (for Tehran), Iran Aseman Airlines, Mahan Air and other Iranian companies. Fares are relatively cheap on Iranian carriers, ranging from US$100-250 for a return trip depending on your destination and time of booking.\n\nIran Air and Mahan Air connect Tehran with some of the major European cities as well as destinations in Asia and Middle East. European companies landing in Tehran include Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Aeroflot and Middle-Eastern airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad. There are also frequent flights to Armenia's capital of Yerevan. So finding a flight to Iran should not be hard.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk022", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Qatar airlines offers several flights to Iran and provides non-stop service to Doha from to many US cities.\n\n**Low-cost carriers (LCC)** also operate flights to Tehran or other cities in Iran.\n\n**Pegasus Airlines** has flights to Tehran via Istanbul.\n **Air Arabia** has flights to Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz via Sharjah.\n **Jazeera Airways** has flights to Mashhad via Kuwait.\n **Turkish Airlines** has flights to Tehran, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz via Istanbul.\n **Air Asia** has flights to Tehran from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.\n\nIf you are not staying in Tehran and planning to get to any city other than Tehran upon your arrival, you would have to change airports, from Imam Khomeini to Mehrabad, 40 km away, to get to your domestic flight. Allow at least 3-4 hr between the flights. If going to Mashhad, you may be able to avoid the plane change in Iran using Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, or Qatar Airways. If going to Shiraz, several flights from Persian Gulf States are available. For Tabriz, you can try travelling via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines or via Baku on Iran Air.\n\nSanctions have prevented airlines from buying new planes and the fleets of all airlines are mostly old.\n\nDue to sanctions there are no direct flights from Canada or the United States, but you could travel via either Europe or Persian Gulf States. Non-stop flights from Dubai via Chicago - O'Hare (ORD,) DFW, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston or Toronto are good bets. Visitors from Australia or New Zealand can consider travelling via Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or can use a combination of Iran Air and Malaysian Airlines to get from any major city in Australia to Tehran, via Kuala Lumpur.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk023", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are weekly flights from Sulamaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan to Sanandaj and from Arbil to Urmia.\n\nFrom Damascus in Syria there are charter flights to Tabriz, Tehran, Yazd, Isfahan, Mashhad. There are agencies in Seyyedeh-Zeinab district (a popular place with Iranian pilgrimages) that can sell you empty seats of these charter flights for less than US$100. *Please refer to the article on Syria for information about safety and service disruptions.*\n\n### By train\n\n#### Turkey\n\nThe train from Turkey resumed in March 2025. Eastbound it leaves Van on Monday and Thursday at 20:00, reaching Tabriz about 06:15 next morning and Tehran 12 hours later. Westbound it leaves Tehran around 12:30 on Wednesday and Sunday, calling at Tabriz at 01:30 and reaching Van at 11:00 next morning. Buses run from Van to Ankara and Istanbul, or cross the lake to Tatvan for the train to Ankara. Coming from Istanbul by train, you'll need an overnight stop in Ankara, the onward train takes 24 hours to Tatvan, stay overnight there or in Van, so it's a four day journey.\n\n#### Syria\n\n*All trains between Iran and Syria are suspended indefinitely. See also the article on Syria.*\n\n#### Afghanistan\n\nThe Mashad-Herat railway which is under construction is completed until the city of Khaf near the Afghanistan border. The cheap daily service from Tehran to Khaf is about US$5.\n\n#### Iraq\n\nThe Khorramshar-Basra railway will connect Iranian railways to Iraq. There will be special train routes for Iranians going as pilgrims to Najaf and Karbala. There is another project that will be completed later going through Kermanshah to Khanaqin in Iraq.\n\n#### Pakistan", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk024", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "The **Quetta-Zahedan** line connects Pakistan and Iran by rail, but as of Jan 2025 it is used by freight traffic only. The previous passenger train was suspended around 2014. \n There is also no passenger service on the Bam-Zahedan link, so you have to take a bus or taxi.\n\n#### Azerbaijan\n\nThe **Nakhchivan-Tabriz** service connects Nakhchivan (city) with Tabriz and crosses from the Jolfa border. Train continues until Mashdad and goes trough Tehran. The route used to be a part of Tehran-Moscow railway line which is closed due to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflicts.\n There is a railway from Baku to the border city of Astara. From there you can walk through the border to Iran. The railway is going to be joined to Tehran via Rasht and Qazvin.\n\n#### Turkmenistan\n\nThere is a daily service between Mashad and Sarakhs border every day. The train does not go further because of the gauge changes. At the other side of the border there is train to Merv and Ashgabat.\n A railway from Gorgan has been built up to the Inche Borun border which will continue to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.\n\n### By car\n\nIran has border crossings with all its neighboring countries. Many people drive a car to Iran via Turkey.\n\nThis requires a Carnet de Passage unless you wish to pay import duty.\nA carnet can be acquired from your local drivers association (such as the RAC in the UK). An international driver's license is highly recommended, with a translation into Persian very beneficial. There are also some car rental agencies in Iran that take online bookings.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk025", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Foreigners with vehicles coming from Pakistan will require permission to travel through Balochistan from Pakistani authorities. You will receive a police escort from arrival in Quetta, and subsequently an escort from Pakistani paramilitaries called Levies from the Quetta to the border. There is a stop for the night in Dalbandin. This journey can frequently result in multi-day delays depending on paperwork, days of the week, etc.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Armenia\n\nFrom Armenia there are daily, modern buses from Yerevan to Tabriz and even further to Tehran. Tickets can be bought around Republic square in Yerevan, check Tigran Mets Street for signs in Persian. Tatev Travel on Nalbandyan also sells the tickets - 12,000 Armenian dram to Tabriz or 15,000 dram to Tehran.\n\nThe only Iran/Armenia land border at Nuduz/Agarak is poorly served by public transport. On the Armenian side you can get as far as Meghri by one marshrutka a day from Yerevan. In both directions the Marshrutka leaves quite early in the morning. From Meghri it is around 8 km to the border and hitching or a taxi is the only option. On the Iranian side the closest public transport can be found around 50 km to the west in Jolfa, so a taxi for around US$10-15 is the again only commercial choice. Expect to be asked a lot for all taxi rides, so hard bargaining is essential. Make clear, or at least pretending that you have other choices may assist you to get fairer prices.\n\nThe border is not busy at all, so when hitching you have to mainly stick with the truck drivers and Russian or Persian helps a lot here. Consider for yourself whether this is a safe option.\n\n#### Turkey", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk026", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Flags and barbed wire at the border between Turkey and Iran\nYou can find Seir-o-Safar agencies in Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara to buy cheap bus tickets for Tehran. A one-way ticket between Istanbul or Ankara and Tehran costs US$35.\nDogubeyazit/Bazergan This Turkey/Iran border crossing is easily (and fast) done by public transport. Take a bus to Dogubeyazit and a frequent minibus (~5 Turkish lira, 15 min) to the border. Cross the border stretch per pedes, take the customs taxi (give the driver some 1,000 rials bakschis) to the next village and take a taxi (US$3-4) to the bus terminal in Bazergan. There could also be buses to Bazergan, but the taxi drivers approaching you at the border are not the right people to ask for that. From there you can easily get buses to major destinations in Iran. Check the security situation in the region, due to the unsolved Kurdish conflict. Make sure you get a clear idea about exchange rates if you want to change Turkish lira or rials as the official bank at the border does not exchange these currencies and you have to deal with the plentiful black market.\n There are also buses from Van to Urmia crossing from the Esendere-Sero border. The buses cost €13 and takes more than 6 hr to finish the 300-km route because of poor roads on the Turkish side and the many checkpoints on the Turkish side (more than 5) because of the Kurdish (PKK) insurrection.\n You can also take mini buses to the town of Yüksekova near the border and ask for taxis to bring you to the border. Cross the border check point on your own since the taxis won't cross into Iran.\n\n#### Pakistan", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk027", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Quetta-Zahedan route:** You can also (depending on the political situation) enter from Pakistan via the border crossing between Taftan (on the Pakistani side) and Zahedan (on the Iranian side) as long as you have a valid visa for Iran. You can **not** get a visa on the border. Overnight buses leave from Quetta arriving in Taftan in the early morning, from there you can either hire a taxi to the border or walk a couple of kilometres. Once across the border (which can take some time on the Iranian side, you need to organise transport to Zahedan (the local town) where buses depart for destinations in Eastern Iran such as Bam, Kerman and Yazd. See the Istanbul to New Delhi over land 3.9 Iran-Pakistan border, for more details on the crossing.\n\nForeigners will be met in Quetta by police and once you have completed relevant paperwork (NOC), you may be able to get the bus to Taftan, or you may be asked to ride in the beds of trucks operated by Levies (Pakistani paramilitary police) to the border. On the Iranian side, you will be picked up by an escort and taken to Zahedan.\n\n**Gwadar-Rimdan route:** Since 2022 there have been a few sporadic reports of travellers without vehicles managing to cross via the Gabd-Kumb border crossing, which so far as of early 2025 does not result in the same time-consuming escort process as the Taftan crossing. A bus departs from Karachi to the border, which is closed on Fridays. Note that travellers with vehicles cannot cross. Taxis are available on the other side.\n\nIn theory there is a third crossing that could be used on the Mand-Pishin route for those without transport, but no reports of attempts to do so have yet been received as of early 2025.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk028", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### Iraq\n\nThere are daily buses from Arbil to Urmia, also there are daily buses from Sanandaj and Kermanshah to Sulaymaniyah. From Tehran, there are also buses to Sulaymaniyah and Arbil.\n\n#### Afghanistan\n\nThere are daily buses between Herat and Mashad. The buses go through Dogharoun border. The road has been built by Iran and is reported safe.\n\n#### Turkmenistan\n\nA bus service also runs between Ashgabat and Mashhad.\n\n### By boat\n\nIt is not possible to get a Visa on Arrival if arriving by boat. Therefore if you wish to enter Iran by this method you must get a visa in advance.\n\nThere are some scheduled services from Baku to Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea and from cities on the Persian Gulf to cities on the Iranian coast. They are usually of low quality.\n\n#### From UAE\n\nHigh quality semi-luxurious ferry service is available between Kish Island and Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This service costs US$50, and the journey across one of the busiest stretches of water is sure to entertain. You should confirm what the Customs and Entry Visa process is like using this service however as the boats do not enter via the airport. While the entry/exit process at the airport is fairly well established, it is unknown if the process is as well managed when entering via the docks. It is likely to be more chaotic and visas may not be issued on the spot as is the case at the airport.\n\nThere are ferries from Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Bandar Abbas.\n\n#### From Qatar\n\nFrom Qatar to Bushehr.\n\n#### From Kuwait", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk029", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get in", "text": "Ferries from Kuwait are operated by Valfajr Shipping Company.\nRates depend on your exact journey, but as of June 2011, Bandar Abbas-Sharjah (UAE) was sold for 795,000 rials (about US$80). Boats run twice a week (Monday & Wednesday), departing Bandar Abbas around 20:00. Tickets can be bought from one of the agencies listed on the website. Expect to be the only non-Iranian on board. Plan loosely around the boat trip, as schedules are not strictly enforced.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk030", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Iranian transport is of high quality, and is very affordable. There are few places the very cheap buses don't travel to, the train network is limited but comfortable and reasonably priced and travel by air is not expensive. The ticket prices are always fixed and you don't have benefits of early bookings.\n\nHowever, train stations and bus terminals are often located on the outskirts of their cities. As an extreme example, Shiraz Station is located farther away from the city center than Shiraz International Airport. Since city transport is notably underdeveloped, the cost of an intercity trip could mostly consist of taxi fares.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Iran Aseman Airlines aircraft\nFor anyone on a tight deadline, affordable domestic air services are a blessing. The major national carrier **Iran Air**, and its semi-private competitors such as **Iran Aseman Airlines** - Aseman meaning \"sky\" in Persian, **Mahan Air** and **Kish Air** link Tehran with most regional capitals and offer inter-regional flights for no more than US$60.\n\nTheir services are frequent, reliable and are definitely worth considering to skip the large distances within Iran. Planes may be old as American sanctions have restricted the airlines' ability to renew fleets, and maintenance and safety procedures are sometimes well below western standards, but flying remains the safest way to get around Iran, given the huge death toll on the roads.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk031", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tickets can be bought at airports or travel agents dotted through the most major cities. **Book early** during the summer months of August and September since finding seats at short notice is virtually impossible. It is possible to pay extra to get onto a booked flight by bribing someone or paying them to take their seat on the plane. Some flights will auction off the last few seats to the highest bidder. For westerners, the conversion makes it easy to outbid everyone.\n\nYou can also find domestic tickets in some Iran Air offices abroad, such as in Dubai. Expect to pay a little more due to the exchange rate applied. Domestic tickets for other companies must be bought inside Iran.\n\nIf you are from a \"western\" country, some agencies are reluctant to let you book a domestic flight.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Bus in [[Mashhad]]\nThe Iranian **domestic bus network** is extensive and thanks to the low cost of fuel, very **cheap**. In fact the only drawback is speed: the government has limited buses to 80 km/h to combat lead-footed bus drivers so long haul trips such as Shiraz to Mashhad can take up to 20 hours.\n\nThere is little difference between the various bus companies, and most offer two **classes**: 'lux' or 'Mercedes' (2nd class) and 'super' or 'Volvo' (1st class). First class buses are air-conditioned and you will be provided with a small snack during your trip, while second class services are more frequent. Given the affordability of first class tickets (for example 70,000 rials from Esfehan to Shiraz), there's little financial incentive to choose the second class services, especially in summer.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk032", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses start (and usually end) their journeys at sprawling bus stations, called \"terminal\" (ترمینال) in Persian. On important routes such as Tehran–Esfahan they don't stop along the route except at toll booths and rest areas. This probably shouldn't discourage you from leaving a bus before its destination because most travellers would take a taxi from the terminal anyway.\n\nYou can buy tickets from the bus terminals or ticket offices up to a week in advance, but you shouldn't have a problem finding a seat if you turn up to the terminal an hour or so before your intended departure time.\n\nMost cities operate comprehensive **local bus services**, but given the low cost of taxis and the difficulties of reading Persian-language signs (which, unlike road signs, do not have English counterparts) and route numbers, they are of little use to the casual travellers. If you're cash strapped and brave enough to try, however, remember that the buses are segregated. Men enter via the front or rear door and hand their ticket to the driver before taking a seat in the front half of the bus. Women and children should hand their ticket to the driver via the front doors (without actually getting on) before entering via the rear door to take a seat at the back. Tickets, usually around 500 rials, are sold from booths near most bus stops. Private buses accept cash instead of tickets. There is also rechargeable credit ticket cards accepted in buses and metro stations (in Tehran, paper tickets are not accepted in buses).\n\n### By train", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk033", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Raja Passenger Trains (Raja website not accessible outside of Iran, link provided is to unofficial version) manages passenger services for the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR). Travelling by train through Iran is generally more comfortable and faster than speed-limited buses. Sleeper berths in overnight trains are especially good value as they allow you to get a good night's sleep while saving on a night's accommodation.\n\nThe rail network is comprised of three main routes. The first stretches east to west across the north of the country linking the Turkish and Turkmenistan borders via Tabriz, Tehran and Mashhad. The second and third extend south of Tehran but split at Qom. One line connects to the Persian Gulf via Ahvaz and Arak, while the other traverses the country's centre linking Kashan, Yazd, Kerman and Bandar Abbas.\n\nDepartures along main routes are frequent. 6 to 7 daily trains leave Tehran for Kerman and Yazd, with additional three bound for Yazd and Bandar Abbas. Mashhad and Tehran are linked by some ten direct overnight trains, not counting services to Karaj, Qom, Kashan, etc. Direct services between main lines are rare, if any. For example, Esfahan and Yazd are connected by one train running every second day. Tickets can be bought from train stations up to one month before the date of departure, and it is wise to book at least a couple of days in advance during the peak domestic holiday months. First class tickets cost roughly twice the comparable bus fare.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk034", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Known as a \"ghatar\" in Persian; trains are probably the cheapest, safest, most reliable and easiest way to travel around the country. As an added benefit; you'll get to meet the people, sample food and see other tourists. You also avoid all the checkpoints you will encounter driving on the road. Trains are frequently delayed so leave plenty of time between destinations.\n\nA high-speed line connecting Tehran, Imam Khomeini Airport, Qom and Isfahan is under construction, and is expected to be complete by 2025.\n\n#### By metro (subway)\n\n**Tehran** has 7 metro lines. One of these is essentially a suburban line going to Karaj and beyond.\n **Mashhad** has 2 underground lines.\n **Shiraz** has one metro line.\n **Isfahan** has one metro line that connects Terminal-e Kaveh with northern parts of the city.\n **Tabriz** has one metro line.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|View of the central bus station of Amol; a couple of buses and many more taxis\nLow fuel costs have made **inter-city travel** by taxi a great value option in Iran. When travelling between cities up to 250 km apart, you may be able to hire one of the shared *savāri* taxis that loiter around bus terminals and train stations. Taxis are faster than buses and taxis will only leave when four paying passengers have been found, so if you're in a hurry you can offer to pay for an extra seat.\n\nOfficial **shared local taxis** or **Savari**, also ply the major roads of most cities. The taxis are generally yellow, and on busy routes there are green vans with a capacity of 11 passengers. They offer a lower fare for each passenger. They usually run straight lines between major squares and landmarks, and their set rates between 2,000-10,000 rials are dictated by the local governments.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk035", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hailing one of these taxis is an art you'll soon master. Stand on the side of the road with traffic flowing in your intended direction and flag down a passing cab. It will slow down fractionally, giving you about one second to shout your destination--pick a major nearby landmark instead of the full address--through the open passenger window. If the driver is interested, he'll slow down enough for you to negotiate the details or simply accepts your route.\n\nIf you're in a hurry, you can rent the taxi privately. Just shout the destination followed by the phrase *dar bast* (literally 'closed door') and the driver will almost be sure to stop. Negotiate the price before departure, but since you are paying for all the empty seats expect to pay four times the normal shared taxi fare.\n\nYou can also rent these taxis by the hour to visit a number of sites, but you can expect to pay from 40,000-70,000 rials/hr, depending on your bargaining skills.\n\nMost of the taxis have \"taximeters\" but only 'closed door' green taxis use it.\n\nThere are several popular ride hailing services available in the major cities similar to Uber. Snapp and Tap30 are the major applications which can be installed on iOS and Android devices for free. You can pay in cash or if you have an Iranian debit card, you may pay in the app as well.\n\n### By car\n\nA large road network and low fuel costs (10,000 rials/L for Iranians in Oct 2017) have historically made Iran an attractive country for exploring with your own car. However a government **fuel tax** on foreigners entering Iran by private car has somewhat dimmed the allure.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk036", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "Foreigners arriving in Iran with their own car must have a Carnet de passage and a valid international drivers' license. You can also rent a car, usually for US$20–50 a day. Insurance and legal liability may make you think twice about renting a car, especially considering the fact that renting a car with a driver usually costs the same.\n\nDo not underestimate the sheer chaos of Iran's **traffic**. The often ignored road rules state that you must drive on the right unless overtaking and give way to traffic coming on to a roundabout. Watch out for motorcyclists or moped riders joining traffic from the pavement after having passed (part of) a traffic jam. Iranian roads and major streets usually feature traffic enforcement cameras, but drivers still frequently top 160 km/h (100 mph) on intercity highways.\n\nWatch out for large rocks in the middle of highways. These are often placed there in an attempt to burst your tires. Afterwards a passerby will offer to replace your tire for US$50. This is of course a scam that occurs mostly at nighttime but has diminished due to aggressive policing.\n\nWhen driving outside cities, caution is advised, especially in the vicinity of military or other sensitive sites. Travelling by car at night should be avoided everywhere in Iran. The risk of accidents increases in the night, as there are many vehicles on the roads without headlights.\n\nPeople are not allowed to carry their pet even in their private car and will receive driving penalties if caught by the Police. Laws requiring car occupants to wear seat belts for rear passengers are not always complied with.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk037", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are involved in a road accident, wait for the police to arrive and do not leave the scene. If you are a foreign driver, you must have an international driving licence.\n\nPetrol stations can be found on the outskirts of all cities and towns and in car-filled Iran, a mechanic is never far away.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk038", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Talk", "text": "*See also:* **Persian phrasebook**\n\n**Persian** (called ***fārsi*** in Persian, فارسی), an Indo-European language, is Iran's national and official language. Although Persian is written with a modified Arabic alphabet, the two languages are not related; however, Persian does contain a very large number of Arabic loanwords (that may differ in meaning), many of which are part of basic Persian vocabulary (see section on \"Iranian nationality\" under \"Respect\" ).\n\nMany young Iranians in major cities, and almost certainly those working at international travel agencies and high-end hotels will know conversational English, but for the tourist knowing basic Persian phrases will definitely be useful, particularly in rural areas.\n\nRoad **signs** are often double signed in English, but few other signs are. As an extra challenge, most Persian signage uses an ornate calligraphic script that bears little resemblance to its typed form. This can make comparing typed words in phrase books--such as 'bank' and 'hotel'--to signs on buildings quite difficult. However it is still worth memorising the Persian script for a few key words such as restaurant, guesthouse, and hotel (see relevant sections below for the script).\n\nBeing able to recognise **Persian numerals** is extremely helpful in situations where one needs to deal with directions (e.g. finding a bus at a bus station) and sums (e.g. understanding what is written on a restaurant bill). The numerals are:\n\n Persian\n ۰\n ۱\n ۲\n ۳\n ۴\n ۵\n ۶\n ۷\n ۸\n ۹\n Latin\n 0\n 1\n 2\n 3\n 4\n 5\n 6\n 7\n 8\n 9\n\nKurdish, Azeri and Arabic are also spoken in areas of large Kurdish, Azeri and Arab populations respectively. Iranian Arabs generally speak the Iraqi dialect of Arabic. There are also Armenians and Assyrians scattered around the country, who speak Armenian and Aramaic respectively. Most of these people are also able to speak Persian in addition to their native languages.", "word_count": 303}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk039", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "See", "text": "### Ancient cities\n\nthumb|Persepolis - Marvdasht - Fars\nthumb|Pol-e Dokhtar Bridge, Miyaneh, East Azerbijan\n**Hegmatane** (or Ekbatana) - The capital of the ancient Medes. In modern-day Hamedan.\n**Persepolis** - Probably the most important historical site in Iran. The capital of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire built by Darius. Near Shiraz.\n**Pasargad** (or Pasargadae) - The initial capital of the Persian Empire built by Cyrus the Great. Near Shiraz.\n**Susa** - Built by Elamites and then adopted by the Persian Achaemenid and Sasanid empires, it has three layers of civilisation within it. Located in the modern-day town of Shush in the Khuzestan province.\n**Chogha Zanbil**- A ziggurat built by Elamites. Near Shush.\n **Na'in** or '''Naeen''' or **Naein** is a small pre-Islamic city in central Iran with over 2000 years of history. It's a small pattern of an ancient desert town. The locals in Na’in still speak in ancient Zoroastrian dialect.\n**Sialk Mount** (Tappeh Sialk) - More than 7,000 years old, this is world's oldest ziggurat. In suburbs of Kashan.\n**Jiroft**\n The World Heritage listed **Persian Qanat**; ancient underground aqueducts of which 11 have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.\n\n### Tombs of some famous people\n\n**Cyrus the Great** in Pasargad near Shiraz.\n**Avicenna** in Hamedan.\n**Khayyam** in Neyshaboor (near Mashhad).\n**Prophet Daniel** in Susa (Shush).\n**Mordechai and Esther** in Hamedan.\n**Saadi ** and **Hafez ** famous Persian poets in Shiraz.\n**Imam Reza** an ornate shrine to the eighth of the Shiite imams (the only one buried in Iran) in Mashhad.\n\n### Museums", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk040", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "See", "text": "**Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art**. Amassed by the former Shah and his wife who were avid and ostentatious collectors, the museums collection, conservatively valued at US$2.5 billion, is one of the most important modern and contemporary art collections in the world. It includes collections from Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp, Francis Bacon, David Hockney and Jackson Pollock among many others. Much of it remains un-catalogued, officially because it is so numerous but also because it is taboo. No western works have been on display for many years although in late 2013 staff expressed hope that the authorities may grant permission for specific pieces to be displayed as part of a tourist drive. In the meantime art lovers can sigh as they leaf through a reference copy of some of the collection, available for viewing at reception. Nevertheless, the museum warrants a visit for a rare opportunity to explore contemporary Iranian art which although inventive and progressive in its execution, remains nonetheless true to established morals.\n\n### Palaces", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk041", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Falak-ol-Aflak castle, Khorramabad, Lorestan\n**Sadabad**. A palace complex where Mohammad-Reza Shah and his family used to live. Some palaces converted to museums now. In Tehran.\n**Falak-ol-aflak** - Falak-ol-Aflak Castle is among the most important structures built during the Sassanid era.\n**Shamsolemare**\nright|thumb|Chehel Sotoon Palace\n**Forty Pillar Palace** (Chehel Sotoun) literally: “Forty Columns”) is a pavilion in the middle of a park at the far end of a long pool, in Isfahan, Iran, built by Shah Abbas II to be used for his entertainment and receptions. In this palace, Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive dignitaries and ambassadors, either on the terrace or in one of the stately reception halls. The name, meaning \"Forty Columns\" in Persian, was inspired by the twenty slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the waters of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty.\nthumb|Ali Qapu Palace\n **Ālī Qāpū** (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th century. It is 48 meters high and there are seven floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor music room, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic. It is rich in naturalistic wall paintings by Reza Abbassi, the court painter of Shah Abbas I, and his pupils. There are floral, animal, and bird motifs.\n\n### Squares and streets\n\n**Naqsh-e Jahan Square** also known as shah square or imam square-1602. With two mosques and the bazaar. It is an important historical site, and one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era.\n\n### Armenian churches\n\n**Vank Cathedral** in Isfahan.\n **Saint Thaddeus Monastery** in West Azerbaijan Province.\n **Saint Stepanos Monastery** in West Azerbaijan Province.\n\n### Parks and gardens", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk042", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "See", "text": "The world heritage listed **Persian Gardens**; designer paradise gardens of which 9 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk043", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Do", "text": "- Meymand\n\n### Desert trekking and desert excursions\n\nthumb|250px|Moving sand dunes\nThough the northern part of Iran is covered by dense rain forests called Shomal or the Jungles of Iran. The eastern parts consists mostly of desert basins such as the Dasht-e Kavir, Iran's largest desert, in the north-central portion of the country, and the Dasht-e Lut, in the east, and some salt lakes. There is also the Central desert which as can be understood from its name is located in the central regions. This is because the mountain ranges are too high for rain clouds to reach these regions.\n\nThere are a lot of activities that can be done in the desert areas including; desert tracking, camel riding, bicycle riding and 4x4 driving excursions.\n\nIn some parts of the deserts there are some camping sites available. The easiest budget-priced desert tours can be organised in Na'in and Kashan.\n\n### Festivals", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk044", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Do", "text": "**Norouz Eve**, The beginning of Iranian New Year and the start of the Spring. On the 20th or 21st of March. It is rooted in the Zoroastrian religion.\n **Chahar-shanbe Suri** (Wednesday festival) - On the last Wednesday before Nowruz. People set up fires. The traditional festival involves jumping over the fire while saying a specific sentence. Nowadays it involves a lot of firecrackers although the government is against it and police usually disperse the young people's gathering!\n **Shab-e Yalda**, the last night of autumn, which is the longest night of the year, is celebrated in Iran, and has a history from long ago (Mithraism age). Families have traditional gatherings to communicate and eat the last remaining fresh fruits from summer. They read traditional Persian poems or stories.\n **Ashura-Tasua** is the most interesting and amazing days for tourists. Shia Muslims believe that Hussein, their popular leader and the grandson of their prophet Muhammad, was killed in the year 61 AH along with his family and 72 Muslims in the so-called battle of Karbala. He fought a king that he believed did not follow the real Islamic values. For Shia Muslims this was a very sad event and a period of intense grief and mourning. Therefore, Iranians throughout the country wear black clothes during the grieving month of Muharram and hoist black flags everywhere. On Ashura people do public carnival-like 'theater plays' in mosques (with horses, sometimes huge fires) in memorial of Husseins sacrifice. So far the city of Yazd is probably the best place to observe Ashura as a large group of volunteers organise several days of 'spiritual tourism': free shuttle buses bring tourists to the sides, catering and English speaking volunteers who explain everything - for free. During that time pretty much everything is closed including shops and tourist sites.\n **Golabgiri**, of Kashan city near Isfahan. During the spring some people go there to obtain the local rose water. It has very nice smell and many use it in traditional drinks.", "word_count": 330}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk045", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Do", "text": "### Ski\n\nThere are 12 ski resorts in Iran, but the most famous are Tochal, Dizin, and Shemshak, all within one to three hours of Tehran. In some glaciers and year-round snow fields near Tehran, skiing began in 1938, thanks to the efforts of two German railway engineers. See Tehran (province).\n\n### Swim\n\nthumb|Beach on Kish Island\nIran has coastline along the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. A popular place for its beaches is Kish Island in the Persian Gulf that men can enjoy it all the year & women are limited to use only covered beaches.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nItineraries that are entirely in Iran:\n Mount Damavand Trek\n Trans-Iranian Railway \nThere are also several for routes that pass through the country:\n Silk Road\n On the trail of Marco Polo\n Istanbul to New Delhi over land", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk046", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe **rial**, denoted by the symbol \"**﷼**\", \"**IR**\" or \"**R**\" (ISO code: **IRR**) is the currency of Iran. Wikivoyage articles will use *rials* to denote the currency. In Iran, prices may be shown in *toman* (تومان), where 1 toman = 10 rials.\n\nCoins, which are rarely if ever used, are issued in values of 50-, 100-, 250-, 500-, 1,000-, 2,000, and 5,000 rials. Banknotes are produced in denominations of 500-, 1,000-, 2,000-, 5,000-, 10,000-, 20,000-, 50,000, and 100,000 rials and banknotes called \"Iran Cheques\" are produced in denominations of 500,000-, 1,000,000-, 2,000,000-, 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 rials. The current series of banknotes of the Iranian rial are dual denominated in rials and in tomans (1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500 and 1,000 tomans).\n\nBe sure to understand the risks of black market trading if you decide to exchange money this way.\n\nIn March 2019, the exchange offices at Tehran Airport first floor (departures) were offering the best rates in that city.\n\nDue to western sanctions against Iran, Western credit and debit cards *do not work* in Iran. Using a foreign debit or credit card or checking your account online can get the card or account blocked.\n\n### Banks\n\nAll banks were nationalized after the revolution. However, during the past decade, the following private (non-governmental) banks have been founded, which usually provide better service:\n Mellat\n Parsian\n Saman\n Eghtesad Novin\n Pasargad\nBanks are generally open Sa Su M–W 07:30–13:30, and Th 07:30–12:00. Main branches are usually open to 15:00 (closed on Fridays). International airports have a bank open whenever international flights arrive or depart. All banks have boards in English and Persian.\n\n### Toman", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk047", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "Confusion with the currency is standard for a visitor, not just because of the large numbers but because of the shorthand routinely used. Prices of goods may be verbally communicated or written in **toman** (تومان) (sometimes denoted \"T\") instead of in rial. One toman is equal to ten rials. There are no toman notes - prices are quoted as such just as a shortcut. If it is not obvious, be sure to clarify in which currency the price is quoted. For larger amounts, toman means 10,000 rials, so if asked for 100 Tomans you should hand over a 1 million rial note (cheque).\n\n### Debit card and ATM\n\nIf you get a local ATM card, withdraw your leftover money in cards a few days before leaving Iran to avoid any problem which may be caused by a very rare network failure. ATMs often do not work 00:00–and 01:00 due to a database update. Be alert when using an ATM. Better to use it in not very quiet areas.\n\nATMs and merchants in Iran generally **do not accept** foreign (non-Iranian) cards due to the sanctions, so bring all the money you might need in cash, preferably in US dollars or euros. Debit cards and credit cards issued by an Iranian bank are widely accepted in most places, and most of stores and ticket offices have a point-of-sale machine, without any commission. If you don't want to carry a lot of cash, and feel panic about so many zeros in the prices, you can apply for a tourism debit card. Iranian banks cannot issue a debit card or tourism debit card to a foreign without a resident card. You should choose a tourism card company which cooperates with a bank to get a debit card.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk048", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "IntravelCard: You can receive your card at Imam Khomeini International Airport or any hotels in any city in Iran. You can convert your euros or dollars in some large cities of Iran, they will send a clerk to your hotel for that. The currency rate is based on the average price of black market which is much better than the official rate.\n Daripay: You can receive your card at Imam Khomeini International Airport or any hotels in Tehran. You can convert your euros or dollars in some large cities of Iran, they will send a clerk to you hotel for that. The currency rate is based on the average price of black market which is much better than the official rate.\n Mah Card: You can receive your card at Imam Khomeini International Airport or any hotels in Tehran. You can only convert your euros or dollars in Tehran, they will send a clerk to you hotel for that. The currency rate is based on the average price of black market which is much better than the official rate.\n\nAnother way to avoid carrying a lot of cash is to go to the nearest bank and get a gift card (Kart-e Hadiyeh کارت هدیه). They are exactly like ordinary ATM debit cards, but once they are emptied, they cannot be recharged. However, the two methods mentioned above are more recommended. A list of permitted Iranian banks can be found here. Most banks now don't sell gift cards, and foreigners must have a resident card in order to be able to buy them.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk049", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is no surcharge or service fee for purchasing gift cards, and you can withdraw or spend all the money you put on your gift card. Some of the gift cards have no ATM withdrawal feature and are only for use at point-of-sale in shops and stores, so make sure yours will be ATM enabled. There is a 2,000,000 rials daily withdrawal limit for most of the Iranian bank cards; purchasing several card lets you withdraw more money from ATMs per day. Gift cards are usually non-reloadable. Some are pre-loaded with a designated amount but some banks let you load them for your desired amount. As they are anonymous, there is almost no way to report a stolen card and get a duplicate. Always keep passwords and cards in a safe place. Having a couple of used empty cards with passwords written on them may help you in case of being mugged for money! There is no cash-back feature in Iranian points of sale, but in case of an emergency and having no access to ATMs you may ask a shop owner to give you cash-back. They may charge you a bank service fee (1–5%).\n\nDue to Western sanctions, it is **not possible** to wire transfer money to or from Iranian bank accounts.\n\n### Exchanging money\n\nBills in good condition and large bills (US$100 or €100) tend to be preferred at currency exchange offices. Small denominations can be useful for small purchases before you get to an exchange office, although many exchange shops will not exchange small bills. On arrival at Tehran International Airport, the maximum amount that may be exchanged per day is €50 per person.\n\nthumb|Iranian banknotes", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk050", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "The best places to exchange money are the **private exchange offices** (*sarāfi*) scattered around most large cities and major tourist centres. Their rates are usually 20% better than the official rate offered by the banks, they are far quicker and don't require any paperwork, and unlike their black market colleagues, they can be traced later on if something goes wrong. Exchange offices can be found in major cities, their opening times are usually Sunday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:00. Most are closed on Fridays and on holidays. There is little point in risking the use of **black market moneychangers** who loiter outside of major banks and only offer marginally better rates than the banks.\n\nThe most widely-accepted currencies are US dollar and euros. Other major currencies such as the British pound, Australian or Canadian dollars and Japanese yen are accepted at a lot of money changers. Non-major currencies usually cannot be exchanged. US$100 and large euro unfolded notes tend to attract the best exchange rate, and you may be quoted lower rates or turned down for any old or ripped notes or small denomination notes.\n\nForeign **credit/debit cards** are only accepted by select stores with foreign bank accounts such as Persian rugs stores but they will almost always charge an additional fee for paying by credit card rather than with cash. Most of these stores will be happy to forward you some cash on your credit card at the same time as your purchase. If you are desperate for cash, you can also try asking these shops to extend you the same favour without buying a rug or souvenir, but expect to pay a fee of around 10%.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk051", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Travellers' cheques**: Cashing travellers' cheques can be hit-or-miss and it is advised not to rely on travellers' cheques issued by American or European companies.\n\n**Prepaid** debit cards can be bought at Iranian banks and serve as a good alternative to carrying a large wad of cash around the country. Make sure that the card you buy has ATM withdrawal privileges and be aware of the daily withdrawal limit. The ATM network in Iran is subject to outages so make sure that you withdraw the entire balance well before you leave the country.\n\nLarge Iranian banks, like Bank-e Melli-ye Iran (BMI, National Bank of Iran), Bank -e- Sepah, Bank Mellat, Bank-e Saaderaat-e Iran (BSI), Bank-e Paasaargad and Bank-e Saamaan (Saamaan Bank), and Beank-e Paarsiaan all have branches outside the country that can be found at their websites. You can open a bank account abroad before arrival. This might be possible even in some European countries. You can find the addresses of these banks' websites using famous search engines; then you need to click the link to the English section of their sites which is usually shown using the word *English* or the abbreviation *En*.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk052", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Exchange rate** given by most western servers is false (or somehow official but very bad). For example as of September 2025 the Google rate is about 50,000 rials to 1 EUR, however the real rate you should seek for within Iran is about 1,200,000 rials to 1 EUR (yes, 24 times more). Be prepared for receiving large packs of rial banknotes, but when exchanging check them first, as sometimes local money changers tend to put some 500,000 notes instead inside the pack, effectively reducing the value of a pack from 100 million to 97-ish millions. The best way to check the current exchange rate is to visit server Bonbast.com.\n\n### Bazaars\n\nthumb|Mats at the bazaar in [[Kerman]]\nWhile the shops offer a wide selection of quality goods, local items can be bought in the many bazaars. Purchases include hand-carved, inlaid woodwork, painted and molded copper, carpets, rugs, silks, leather goods, mats, tablecloths, gold, silver, glass, and ceramics. There are restrictions on which items may be taken out of the country and many countries restrict the amount of goods you can bring in due to sanctions.\n\n**Bargain** ruthlessly when buying handcrafts, rugs or big ticket items and modestly when hailing private taxis. In most other aspects of life prices are fixed.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is generally not expected, but locals will generally round up the bill in taxis and add around 10% in restaurants. Porters and bellboys will expect 20,000 rials. A discreet gift of a few thousand *tomāns* may help grease the wheels of Iranian society and serve to thank an extraordinarily helpful local.\n\n### Foreigner surcharges", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk053", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Buy", "text": "You won't be able to escape the government-sanctioned **dual pricing system** that applies to accommodation and some tourist attractions in Iran; foreigners often pay up to five times the price quoted to locals. However, prices tend to be very reasonable by Western standards.\n\n### Budgeting\n\nDue to an extremely volatile exchange rate and high inflation, the prices estimated by many guidebooks and travel agencies are outdated immediately.\n\nThe \"official\" exchange rate is also much worse than the rate you will get in the country, so prices may seem higher than they actually are.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk054", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Meal times** in Iran vary considerably from those in Europe and the US. Lunch can be served from 12:00-15:00. and dinner is often eaten after 20:00. These and other social occasions in Iran are often long, drawn-out affairs conducted in a relatively relaxed tempo, often involving pastries, fruit and possibly nuts. As it is considered rude to refuse what is served, visitors should accept the items offered, even if they do not intend to consume them.\n\nAs in most Muslim-majority countries, **pork** and pig meat products are illegal, though shops serving the Christian community are allowed to sell pork.\n\nThe good news for travellers is that Iranian cuisine is superb. A wide range of influences from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, Europe and the Middle East have created a diverse, relatively healthy range of dishes that focus on fresh produce and aromatic herbs. The bad news, however, is that Iranians prefer to eat at home, rather than in restaurants, so decent eateries are scarce and stick to a repetitive selection of dishes (mainly kebabs). An invitation to an Iranian home for dinner will be a definite highlight of your stay. When visiting an Iranian household for the first time or on a special occasion it is customary for Iranians to bring a **small gift**. Flowers, sweets or pastries are popular gift choices.\n\n### Traditional cuisine\n\nIranian cuisine is related to the cuisines of neighbouring Middle Eastern and South Asian countries but is in important ways highly distinctive.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk055", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Eat", "text": "Fragrant **rice** (برنج, *berenj*) is the staple of Iranian food. Boiled and then steamed, it is often coloured with saffron or flavoured with a variety of spices. When served plain as an accompaniment it is known as *chelo* (چلو). The two most common meat and chelo combinations are kebab variations (*chelo kabāb*, چلو کباب) or rotisserie chicken (*chelo morgh*, چلو مرغ). Flavoured rice, known as *polo*, is often served as a main course or as an accompaniment to a meat dish. Examples include *shirin polo* flavoured with orange zest, young cherries and honey glazed carrots, the broad-bean and herb heavy *bāghli polo* and *sabzi polo* laced with parsley, dill and mint.\n\nright|thumb|The ubiquitous Persian Kabab is often served with plain rice and sometimes with special (yellow cake) rice called tah-chin.\nThe rice and kebab dish ***chelo kabāb*** (چلو کباب) and its half-dozen variations are the most common (and often the only) items on Iranian restaurant menus. A grilled skewer of meat is served on a bed of fluffy rice, and accompanied by an array of condiments. You can add butter, grilled tomatoes and a sour spice known as *somāgh* to your rice, while some restaurants also provide a raw egg yolk. Raw onion and fresh basil are used to clear your palate between mouthfuls. Variations in *kabāb* dishes come from the meats they are served with. You will commonly see:\n\n*Kabāb koobideh* (كباب كوبيده) - a kebab of minced beef, shredded onion and spices.\n *Kabāb barg* (كباب برگ) - pieces of lamb sometimes marinated in lemon juice and shredded onion.\n *Joojeh kabāb* (جوجه كباب) - a skewer of chicken pieces sometimes marinated in lemon juice and saffron.\n *Kabāb bakhtiāri* (كباب بختیارِی) - great for the indecisive eater, this is a skewer of alternating chicken and lamb pieces.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk056", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Eat", "text": "At home people most often eat rice with a **thick stew** (*khoresht*, خورشت) containing a modest amount of meat. There are dozens of *khoresht* variations such as the sweet and sour *fessenjān* made from ground walnuts and pomegranate syrup, most popular *ghormeh-sabzi* is based on fresh herbs, dried limes and kidney beans, *gheimeh* flavoured with split-peas and often garnished with French fries.\n\nHearty Iranian **soups** (*āsh*, آش) are meals in themselves. The most popular is the vegetarian *āsh reshteh* (آش رشته) made from herbs, chickpeas and thick noodles, and garnished with *kashk* (which looks like yoghurt but is another thing) and fried onions.\n\nFlat **bread** (*nān*, نان) is another pillar of Iranian food. It is served at breakfast with herbs, feta cheese and a variety of jams, or as an accompaniment to meals. *Sangak* (سنگك) is a dimpled variety cooked on a pebbled oven while *lavāsh* (لواش) is a thin and bland staple .\n\n### International cuisine\n\nThere are several good international restaurants which offer Chinese, Japanese, Italian and French food as well as vegetarian menus in Tehran and other major cities.\n\n### Fast food and snacks\n\nthumb|Abgusht\nMost food outlets in Iran are either kabābis or fast food outlets serving a standard fare of burgers, sandwiches, felafels or pizza (پیتزا). As of May 2021, a burger and a soft drink at a regular snack shop will fill you up at lunchtime for around 500,000 rials; pizzas also start at 500,000 rials.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk057", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Eat", "text": "Many teahouses (see **Drink** below) also serve traditional snacks and light meals. The most common of these is ***ābgusht*** (آبگوشت) a hot pot made from lamb, chickpeas and dried limes that is also known as *dizi*, also the name of the dish in which its served. You will be given a bowl (the *dizi*) containing the *ābgusht* and another, smaller one. Drain the broth into the smaller bowl and eat it like a soup with the bread provided. Then pound the remaining meat and vegetables into a paste with the pestle provided and eat with even more bread, pieces of raw onion and wads of fresh herbs.\n\n### Sweets and desserts\n\nThe never-ending demand for dentists in Iran lies testament to the country's obsession with sweets and pastries, known collectively as ***shirini*** (شیرینی).\n\nIranian *baghlava* tends to be harder and more crystalline than its Turkish equivalent while the pistachio noughat called *gaz* (گز) is an Isfahan speciality. *Sohan* is a rich pistachio brittle popular in Qom, and freshly-baked pastries are often taken as gifts to people's houses. *Lavāshak* fruit leathers are delicious fruit leathers made from dried plums.\n\nHoney-saffron and pistachio are just two local flavours of ice cream, while *fāloodeh* (فالوده) is a deliciously refreshing sorbet made from rosewater and vermicelli noodles made from starch, served with lashings of lemon juice.\n\n### Special needs", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk058", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Eat", "text": "Given that most travellers are stuck eating kebabs for much of their trip, **vegetarians** will have a particularly difficult time in Iran, but there are ways around the problem. Most snack shops sell falafels (فلافل) and garden salads (*sālād-e-fassl*, سالاد فصل) and greengrocers are common. Most *āsh* varieties are meat-free and filling, as are most variations of *kookoo* (کوکو), the Iranian take on the frittata. Also some restaurants make spaghetti with soya (soy). You can find pizzas like vegetarian pizza (*Pitzā Sabzijāt*, پیتزا سبزیجات), cheese pizza (*Pitzā Panir*, پیتزا پنیر), or mushroom pizza (*Pitzā Ghārch*, پیتزا قارچ) almost everywhere, and Margherita pizza in some restaurants, which all are meat-free. Due to the increasing trend of vegetarianism, you may also be able to find some meat-free canned and ready-to-eat foods in grocery stores. The phrases *man giaah-khaar hastam* (I am vegetarian) and *bedoon-e goosht* (without meat) will come in handy.\n\nIt's a safe bet that most food in Iran is **halal** (حلال, ḥalāl, halaal) and will conform with Islamic dietary laws as specified in the Qur'an, the exceptions being some shops in districts with large Christian communities. Those seeking a strict **kosher** diet will have to concentrate their efforts in the areas with large concentrations of Jewish inhabitants. If in Tehran, look in areas such as older parts in the south of the city, like Udlajan or the Yusef Abad neighbourhood.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk059", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumbnail|right|Black Tea (chāi) is the national drink of Iran.\n**Black Tea** (*chāi*, چای) is the national drink of Iran. It is served strong and with crystallised or cubed sugar (*ghand*, قند) which is held artfully between the teeth while tea is sipped through. You can try asking for milk in your tea, but expect nothing but strange looks or a long delay in return. Tea houses (*chāi khāneh*, چای خانه) are a favourite local haunt for men (and less commonly families) to drink tea and puff away on a water pipe.\n\n**Coffee** (*ghahveh*, قهوه) has become popular among millennials and these days and can be found in every city. It is served Turkish style, French coffee or espresso. Imported instant coffee (*nescāfe*, نسكافه) and instant Cappuccino are available also. Coffee shops (called \"coffeeshop\" in Persian, versus \"ghaveh-khane\" (literally, coffee house) which instead means a tea house) are more popular in affluent and young areas.\n\n**Herbal waters** (*araghiat*, عرقیات) are widely found in traditional form as well as packaged in bottle. Herbal waters have been traditionally used in different parts of Iran and some places are famous for herbal waters like Shiraz and Kashan.\n\n**Fruit juices** (*āb miveh*, آب ميوه) are available from shops and street vendors. Also available are cherry cordial (*sharbat ālbāloo*, شربت آلبالو) and banana milkshakes (*shir moz*, شير موز).\n\n**Soft drinks** are widely available. International products such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and their brand names including 7Up, Sprite and Fanta have sold alongside local brands such as *Zam Zam* Cola ( زم زم كولا , Zam Zam Kola). The local cola has a taste not unlike \"Coca-Cola Original\" or \"Pepsi Original\". Coca-Cola and PepsiCo's concentrates entered Iran via Irish subsidiaries and circumvented the US trade embargoes. Zam Zam was launched in 1954 as a subsidiary of the Pepsi Cola company. As an intriguing outcome of the Iranian cola wars the *real* coke was generally sold in plastic bottles and the non-genuine coke, using a substitute syrup devised to overcome earlier Clinton-era U.S. embargoes, was distributed in the *real thing* bottles that the then syrup-less bottler was left stuck with at the time.\n\n**Doogh** (دوغ) is a sour drink made from yoghurt, salt, and water (sometimes gaseous) and sometimes flavoured with mint or other plants. It takes some getting used to, but will rehydrate you quickly in the heat of Iran's summer. It is the same as Turkish *Ayran*. It can be purchased at almost any establishment and is often consumed in the afternoon while eating kababs. It comes in two main varieties fizzy (gaz-daar) and non-fizzy (bigaz).\n\n**Alcohol** is illegal to drink for Muslims, and if seen by police may be met with punishment. Import is strictly banned. Penalties are severe. Therefore, you will rarely find places in Iran that openly sell alcohol – but drinking is common among some people, especially during weddings and other parties, and alcohol is tolerated in a few rural and poorly regulated areas. Registered religious minorities, such as the small Christian and Jewish communities, are allowed to produce small quantities of wine for sacramental use. There is no legal drinking/purchasing age for non-Muslims.", "word_count": 522}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk060", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumbnail|right| A modern-day Hotel in [[Tehran]].\nAccommodations in Iran range from luxurious, if a little weary, five star hotels (هتل) in major cities to the small, cheap *mosāferkhaneh* (مسافرخانه) and *mehmānpazir* (مهماﻧپذیر) guesthouses that are littered about most centres. Moreover, staff in *mosāferkhuneh* often are so happy to provide room for non-Iranians, as these facilities have a recommendation from local governments to serve all tourists. For longer stays, villas with all facilities (including central air conditioning, pool and Internet connection) can be rented in Tehran and all other major cities at reasonable prices.\n\nA man and woman cannot share the same hotel room unless they can prove their relationship (as a married couple or siblings). Foreign tourists are usually excepted from this law.\n\nAlso, you can find traditional hotels in central Iran including Isfahan, Shiraz and in particular Yazd.\n\nSee also The Persian Caravanserai, a composed of a few dozen historic inns in various parts of Iran.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk061", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Learn", "text": "Education is taken *extremely seriously* in Iran, and is highly valued and accessible.\n\nAs a result of the high value placed on education, Iran has a high literacy rate and a large number of highly educated individuals. However, there's a downside to this: there is an oversupply of skilled labor. \n\nIran has a large network of private, public, and state affiliated **universities**. State-run universities of Iran are under the direct supervision of Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, or, for medical schools, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk062", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Work", "text": "Employment opportunities remain a highly sensitive matter in Iran. An oversupply of educated labour, insufficient investment in Iran's economy, low salaries, the nature of Iran's government, and the effects of international sanctions against the country have prompted many Iranians to seek opportunities abroad.\n\nForeigners with special expertise and skills have little difficulty in obtaining permits. **Work permits** are issued, extended or renewed for a period of one year. In special cases, temporary work permits valid for a maximum period of three months may be issued. An exit permit must be obtained for a stay longer than three months.\n\nThe maximum working week is 44 hours, with no more than eight hours any single day unless overtime compensation is provided. Overtime could not exceed four hours per day. Friday is the weekly day of rest. Overtime is payable at 40% above the normal hourly wage. There are allowances for shift work equivalent to 10, 15 or 22.5 per cent of a worker's wage, depending on working shift (e.g. evening, morning and night)\n\nWorkers are entitled to public holidays and a paid annual one-month leave. For workers with less than a year of employment, annual leaves are calculated in proportion to the actual length of service. Furthermore, every worker is entitled to take one full month of paid leave or one month of unpaid leave (if no leave is available) once during his or her working life in order to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca.\n\nThe employment of workers less than 15 years of age is prohibited. Young workers between 15 and 18 years of age must undergo a medical examination by the Social Security Organisation prior to commencing employment. Women are entitled to a 9-month maternity leave.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk063", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Work", "text": "There is a minimum national wage applicable to each sector of activity fixed by the Supreme Labour Council. Workers and employers have the right to establish guilds. Collective bargaining is allowed. Membership in the social security system for all employees is compulsory.\n\nTo have a valid **contract** concluded under the law, the following provisions must be included:\n\n1. Type of work, vocation or duty that must be undertaken by the worker;\n2. Basic compensation and supplements thereto;\n3. Working hours, holidays and leaves;\n4. Place of performance of duties;\n5. Probationary period, if any;\n6. Date of conclusion of contract;\n7. Duration of employment; and\n8. Other terms and conditions required may vary according to the nature of employment. An employer may require the employee to be subject to a probationary period. However, the probation time may not exceed one month for unskilled workers and three months for skilled and professional workers. During the probation period, either party may immediately terminate the employment relationship without cause or payment of severance pay. The only caveat being that if the employer terminates the relationship, he must pay the employee for the entire duration of the probation period.\n\n### Business customs", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk064", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Work", "text": "Iranians are very formal and it will take several meetings before a more personal relationship can be established. This is particularly true for government officials, representatives of state controlled companies and foundations. You will need that relation before being able to get deals.\n Negotiations will be long, detailed and protracted.\n Exchange of gifts is a tradition among private sector business people.\n Proper business attire need not include a tie in Iran and officials of the Islamic Republic are not allowed to wear one. It is still very common for visiting foreigners to do so. \n Women must adhere to the Islamic dress code referred to below. Most officials will not shake hands with a member of the opposite sex, especially in public. It is highly recommended not to create an awkward situation by extending one's hand.\n Along with the social customs, certain additional **business etiquette** should be realised prior to interaction with Iranian businessmen.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk065", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Iran is still a relatively **low-crime** country, although thefts and muggings occur. Keep your wits about you, and take the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded bazaars and buses.\n\nAlthough its strict Islamic moral code is well known, Iranian laws are not as strict as those of Saudi Arabia. Respecting the dozens of unspoken rules and regulations of Iranian life can be a daunting prospect for travellers, but don't be intimidated. As a foreigner you will be given leeway and it doesn't take long to acclimatise yourself.\n\n### Perceptions of outsiders\n\nThe chances of a Westerner facing **anti-Western sentiment** as a traveller are slim. Even hardline Iranians make a clear distinction between the Western governments they distrust and individual travellers who visit their country. Americans may receive the odd jibe about their government's policies, but usually nothing more serious than that. However, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid politically-oriented conversations, particularly in taxi cabs.\n\nSome Iranian-Americans have been detained and accused of espionage, as were three American hikers in 2009 who allegedly strayed across into Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan. These kinds of incidents are rare, but still the broader implications are worth considering and bearing in mind.\n\n### Photography\n\n250px|thumbnail|The best time for photography in Iran is during festivals, like Mourning of Muharram.\n\nThere are a lot of military and other sensitive facilities in Iran. Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited. Any transgression may result in detention and serious criminal charges, including espionage, which can carry the death penalty. Do not photograph any military object, jails, harbours, or telecommunication devices, airports or other objects and facilities which you suspect are military in nature. Be aware that this rule is taken very seriously in Iran.\n\n### Women", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk066", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Female travellers should not encounter any major problems when visiting Iran, as long as they obey the local laws – including those on dressing. You will undoubtedly be the subject of at least some unwanted attention.\n\nIf you have married an Iranian, you are subject to **Iranian marital laws**: you cannot leave the country unless your (former) husband approves. Divorces that have taken place in other countries are not recognised by Iran.\n\n### Relationships\n\nAdultery carries the **death penalty** in Iran.\n\nRelations between non-Muslim men and Muslim women are illegal. The penalty for a Muslim woman being in a relationship with a non-Muslim man is **whipping**, and the man will receive the death penalty.\n\nIf you happen to find romance here (which is highly unlikely), you and your partner should be discreet at all times.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nIran is notorious for its extreme intolerance of the LGBT community and LGBT solidarity. Iran's cultural and legal systems view homosexuality with **absolute abhorrence** and consider it immoral.\n\nNo political party in the country is allowed to support or promote LGBT rights and anti-LGBT vigilante executions are not uncommon.\n\n### Iranian dual citizens\n\nIf Iran considers you a citizen – which may result from being married to an Iranian man, having a non-Iranian parent who was born in Iran, or having an Iranian father – possessing another passport will not protect you from being treated as a citizen. You will not have consular access in the event you get detained or arrested.\n\nIf you haven't completed mandatory **military service** (which normally lasts 21 months), or if you are thought to be a **critic of the government**, you may not be allowed to leave the country. The Iranian government, without prior warning, often revokes passports of and restricts the movement of political dissidents.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk067", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Emergency numbers\n\nEmergency services are extensive in Iran, and response times are very good.\n\nYou might want to call the police in most cases, as they have direct contact with other emergency services, and will probably be the only number with English-speaking operators.\n\n- Local police control centre\n\n- Ambulance\n\n- Fire and Rescue team\n\n- Ambulance\n\n- Rescue and Relief Hotline of the Iranian Red Crescent Society\n\n- Road status information\n\n### Natural disasters\n\n#### Earthquakes\n\nIran is prone to earthquakes. Since the whole country is situated on major fault lines, earthquakes regularly occur and they can be destructive. Do not despair though; most of these earthquakes have magnitudes less than four. Iranian building standards are far below Western building standards, and many buildings are ill-equipped to deal with the aftershocks of a huge earthquake.\n\n### Other safety issues\n\nIn particular, the tourist centre of Isfahan has had problems with muggings of foreigners in unlicensed taxis, and fake police making random checks of tourists' passports. Only use official taxis, and never allow 'officials' to make impromptu searches of your belongings.\n\nIranian **traffic** is congested and chaotic. Guidelines are lax and rarely followed. Pedestrians are advised to exercise caution when crossing the roads, and even greater care when driving on them – Iranian drivers tend to overtake along pavements (especially moped and motorcycle drivers) and any section of the road where there is space. In general, it is not recommended for inexperienced foreigners to drive in Iran. Watch out for ***joobs*** (جوب), the open storm water drains that shoulder every road and are easy to miss when walking in the dark.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk068", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Travellers should avoid the **southeastern** area of Iran, particularly the province of Sistan va Baluchistan. The drug trade thrives based on smuggling heroin from Afghanistan. There is plenty of associated robbery, kidnapping and murder. Some cities, such as Zahedan, Zabol and Mirjaveh are particularly dangerous, while some others are quite safe. Chahbahar, which is close to the Pakistani border, is a very calm and friendly city.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk069", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumbnail|Pharmacies (drug stores) are called \"daru-khaneh\" in Persian. They sell prescription and non-prescription drugs.\nIran has state-of-the-art medical facilities in all its major cities. However, due to U.S. sanctions, there is a severe shortage of medical supplies, and you may need to be evacuated to another country in order to get satisfactory treatment for more serious cases; ensure that your travel insurance covers this.\n\nApart from being up to date with your usual travel vaccinations (tetanus, polio, etc.) no special preparation is needed for travel to Iran. For minor ailments, your hotel can contact an **English-speaking** doctor. In case of serious illness or accident, you can ask to be taken to a hospital with English-speaking staff (such as Milad Hospital, Atiyeh Hospital, Mehrad Hospital, Day Hospital or Khatam ol-Anbia Hospital in Tehran). Make sure that your travel insurance is appropriate.\n\n**Tap water** is safe to drink in most of the country (and especially the cities), although you may find the chalkiness and taste off-putting in some areas (mainly Qom, Yazd, Hormozgan and Boushehr provinces). Bottled mineral water (*āb ma'dani*) is widely available. Also, on many streets and sites, public water fridges are installed to provide drinking water.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk070", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "While you may have heard a lot of negative stories about Iran in the media, Iranians are **warm**, **friendly** and **generous** individuals with a strong interest in foreigners and other cultures.\n\nIranian culture, like most other Islamic cultures, has a strong tradition of hospitality. Guests are often treated extremely well. On the other hand, there is some insularity; any foreigner may be regarded with suspicion.\n\nIn Persian for Mr, Ms they say “Aghaye [name], Khanoome [name]” and out of respect they use plural verbs and pronouns. They often greet by raising hand to shake or/and give a hug which is a common Middle Eastern tradition. And they will tell you: Kheili Khosh Amadid. (Welcome! for greeting.) But if you are a man, do not attempt to shake hands with a woman unless she voluntarily raises her hand. When you greet someone sitting, they will stand up.\n\n### Dress\n\nthumb|Street scene in Tehran\n\nPerhaps the most visible mark of Iran's Islamic leanings is the conservative dress expected of its citizens.\n\nAlthough normal Western-style clothing is acceptable in private homes, when in public **women** are expected to cover everything but their face, hands and feet. More tolerance tends to be shown towards foreigners over the detail of the dress code than towards Iranian women. In the more affluent neighbourhoods of Tehran, you will often see local women walking around with their hair uncovered, but this is not without risk; enforcement comes and goes in waves. Not covering one's hair was part of the Mahsa Amini protest, so is a politically sensitive statement. Make sure you at least bring a headscarf with you just in case.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk071", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "The most common uniform consists of a *head scarf* (*roo-sari*, روسری) to conceal one's head and neck, a formless, knee-length coat known as a *manteau* (مانتو) and a *long dress* or pair of pants. In holy sites, you will be expected to dress even more modestly in a *chādor*, a full-length swathe of black cloth designed to cloak everything but your face from view. In Tehran and several bigger cities Western clothing is accepted, but more conservative dress codes are expected in rural areas.\n\n\"Acceptable\" outfits may include a long, loose dress or shirt worn over loose skirt or trousers and a scarf in the summer, and a full-length woollen coat and scarf in the winter (calf-length is acceptable if worn over trousers). All colours and modest designs are acceptable. Even when undertaking sporting activity in public (such as tennis or jogging), the dress code described above must be maintained. In Tehran and several bigger cities Western clothing is accepted, but more conservative dress codes are expected in rural areas.\n\n**Men** are required to abide by the following dress code: Short-sleeved shirts and t-shirts are acceptable for daily wear. *Shorts* and three-quarter length trousers are only acceptable on the beach. Dress attire for men is similar to that in Europe. Neckties are better to be avoided when visiting one of the more conservative government bodies, as they are regarded as a sign of imperialism and a reminder of the pro-Western kingdom era by the authorities. It is quite acceptable in the areas outside, though it denotes indifference toward or opposition against state regulations and values. Jogging in tracksuits (not shorts) is acceptable for men.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk072", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "Iran is routinely regarded as one of the **most authoritarian countries** in the world. Thousands of Iranians have faced persecution, harassment, and mistreatment by the Islamic government. Regardless of what opinions you hold, criticism of former and current Supreme Leaders (Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali and his son Mojtaba Khamenei) and the government is **dangerous** and can quickly put you in legal hot water; people have been imprisoned for criticising them. Avoid bringing material critical of the Iranian government to Iran. Those who have fled Iran are more likely to be open to having political discussions.\n\n### Conduct\n\n**Greet people** of the same sex with a handshake, three kisses or both, but avoid physical contact with people of the opposite sex in public. Wait for them to introduce themselves instead; or just introduce yourself normally. Bowing with a hand over your heart may be seen occasionally. In private, only shake hands with a member of the opposite sex when he or she holds out their hand first.\n\n### Tarof\n\n*Tarof* (Persian: **تعارف** ) is a genuine Persian form of **civility** emphasising both self-deference and social rank. The term encompasses a range of social behaviours, from a man displaying **etiquette** by opening the door for another person, to a group of colleagues standing on ceremony in front of a door that can permit the entry of only one at time, earnestly *imploring* the most senior to break the deadlock.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk073", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "The prevalence of *tarof* often gives rise to different styles of negotiation than one would see in a European or North American culture. For example, a worker negotiating a salary might begin with a eulogy of the employer, followed by a lengthy bargaining session consisting entirely of indirect, **polite** language -- both parties are expected to understand the **implied** topic of discussion. It is quite common for an Iranian worker (even one employed in an Iranian neighbourhood within Europe) to work unpaid for a week or two before the issue of wages is finally broached. Likewise, a shopkeeper may initially refuse to quote a price for an item, suggesting that it is worthless. *Tarof* obliges the customer to insist on paying, possibly several times, before a shopkeeper finally quotes a price and real negotiation can begin.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk074", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "*Tarof* also governs the rules of **hospitality**: a host is obliged to offer anything a guest might want, and a guest is equally obliged to refuse it. This ritual may repeat itself several times before the host and guest finally determine whether the host's offer and the guest's refusal are real or simply polite. It is possible to ask someone not to *tarof* (*tarof näkonid*), but that raises new difficulties, since the request itself might be a devious type of *tarof*. The best approach to handle Tarof is to be politely direct. Accept or reject as soon as you wish to, and be sure that Iranians will not be offended. Even though Tarof is *purely* about the art of civility, your engagement in Tarof might enter you into a vicious cycle of hypocrisy that may ruin your entire stay. The exception to this may be with food; as mentioned above, guests are expected to accept food they are offered at dinner, regardless of whether they intend to eat it.\n\n### Obscene gestures\n\nThe **thumbs up** gesture is **rude** in traditional and rural parts of Iran, almost equivalent to raising the middle finger in Western countries. However, it is becoming more and more acceptable, especially among the youth and in the big cities. Try to accompany it with a smile and you'll be fine.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk075", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "Hitchhiking is rare in Iran, and the country has a good public transportation system. If you do hitchhike, **do not** use a thumbs up signal. Instead, hold your hand outstretched, palm downwards and, using a stiff arm, move it up and down below the waist in a motion similar to a British driver hand signaling that he is slowing for a pedestrian crossing. Like in Japan, if you are an obvious occidental you are likely to make rapid and friendly progress. Also, be aware that drivers will generally expect to be paid and, unless you are an expert haggler, hitchhiking will often be more expensive than taking a bus.\n\n### Religion\n\nthumb|The Mashhad shrine of the martyred Imam Reza (the 8th Imam)\n\nContrary to popular belief, public observance of other religions, except the Baha'i faith and Ahmadiyyah, which are considered heretical, is officially tolerated in Iran.\n\nThere is a sizable Christian community, most of whom are ethnic Armenians or Assyrians/Chaldean, and a small Jewish community (which is nevertheless, the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside Israel). In addition to the Abrahamic faiths, there are also significant numbers of Zoroastrians who are basically free to practise their own religion.\n\nRemember that this is an **Islamic theocracy** — speaking negatively about Islam is illegal and can close many doors for you. Islamic dress codes also apply to non-Muslims.\n\n#### Religious site etiquette", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk076", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "Some mosques and most holy sites require women to wear a *chādor*. If you don't have one, a kiosk by the door of the site may provide you with one. Although it's not mandatory, it is recommended for men to wear long-sleeved shirts before entering. The following shows other etiquettes that should be respected in religious premises:\nDo not bring your shoes to prayer areas; it is considered disrespectful. Leave your shoes outside. \nDo not take photographs inside a mosque; many will find it disrespectful.\nTry to avoid mosques on the holy day of Friday as they will usually be packed and busy during Friday prayers.\nSome holy sites are closed to non-Muslims. If you're in doubt, always ask.\nIn Zoroastrian fire temples, the innermost sanctum is closed to non-Zoroastrians.\n\n### Music\n\nWestern **music** and dancing in public is banned. However, the visitors may notice that even shared taxis openly play the music of their choice. Still, customs may confiscate any music tapes or CDs brought in as some western music is considered un-Islamic, degrading towards women and corrupting for the minds of the youth. However, many Iranian youth have widespread access to all kinds of music. Women are not allowed to sing in public (even the traditional music); they may sing indoors for other women only.\n\n### Miscellaneous\n\n**Do not assume that all Iranians dislike the West**. The vast majority of Iranians have nothing negative to say about the West and other countries. Only a small handful of people (ardent supporters of the Iranian government) have negative things to say about other countries, and even they acknowledge the difference between inhabitants of those countries and the governments. Remember that there's a big difference between Iranian people and those in power.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk077", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Most Iranians are not Arabs**. Referring to Iranians – other than the Arab minority – as \"Arabs\" may result in puzzled looks.\n\nNever refer to the Persian Gulf as the \"Arabian Gulf\"; Iranians are particularly sensitive about this. Publications that use the latter term are illegal to possess in Iran.\n\nAlso do not assume that all Iranians are religious fundamentalists. Levels of conservatism vary between different parts of the country, with Mashhad being particularly conservative and the more affluent neighbourhoods of Tehran being relatively liberal by Iranian standards.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk078", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Landline phone\n\nAn Iranian phone number is of the form +98-XXX-XXX-XXXX where \"98\" is the country code for Iran, the next 3 digits (or 2 in the case of Tehran and some big cities) is the area code and the remaining 7 digits (eight in the case of Tehran and some big cities) are the \"local\" part of the subscriber number that can be called from within that particular code area using abbreviated dialing. From other areas within Iran You will need to dial \"0\" in front of the area code.\n\nMobile numbers in Iran must always be dialed with all 11 digits (including a \"0\" prefixing the \"9nn\" within Iran), no matter where they are being called from. The **9nn** is a mobile prefix, not an \"area code\"; the second and third digits denote the original mobile network assigned.\n\nThese are the area codes for major cities:\nTehran (021) - Kashan (0361) - Isfahan (031) - Ahwaz (061) - Shiraz (071) - Tabriz (041) - Mashad (051) - Kerman (034) - Gorgan (0171) - Na'in (0323) - Hamadan (081) - Kermanshah (083) - Sari (011)\n\nWhen making international calls from Iran, the prefix to be dialled prior to country code is **00**.\n\n### Cell phones", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk079", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Connect", "text": "Irancell (MTN), MCI, Iran Taliya, and Rightel offer pre-paid SIM cards for international travelers at a very modest cost. It is possible to buy recharge cards from all newsstands and supermarkets for 20,000 rials. 3G and 4G coverage is very good and services are also available at very low prices, specially at night, for surfing the web or checking your email. With a copy of the information page of your passport and a copy of the page with Iranian visa and entrance seal, you can buy SIM cards and access the internet with GPRS, EDGE, 3G and 4G technologies. SIM cards are available in places like post and government e-services offices (Persian: singular: Daftar-e Pishkhan-e Khadamat-e Dowlat دفتر پیشخوان خدمات دولت; plural: Dafater-e Pishkhan-e Khadamat-e Dowlat دفاتر پیشخوان خدمات دولت), in big shops and at the Imam Khomeini airport.\n\nIn September 2016 at IKIA an Irancell SIM card cost 100,000 rials and a 3 Gb Internet plan cost 200,000 rials. Some shops refuse to sell SIM cards to British nationals.\n\n### Post\n\nThe Islamic Republic of Iran Post Company runs the 275 urban and 1,153 rural post offices. The company provides many of the internationally available post services. Parcel sending is very cheap and reliable. Bring your items unpacked to the post office. International courier companies such as **DHL**, Skypak etc. have offices in Tehran and accept documents for foreign destinations.\n\n### Internet\n\nYou can readily access Wi-Fi internet services (depending upon network availability) in many areas, and in all provinces. However, some websites, including Facebook and YouTube, are blocked in Iran.\n\nIranians commonly use VPNs to get around blocks, even though Iran is among the few countries that ban VPN use.\n\n### Internet cafes", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "iran::chunk080", "doc_id": "iran", "section": "Connect", "text": "You can expect to pay 150,000 rials per hour to access a computer and an Internet connection in these places. Despite their name, no food or drinks get served there. Internet speeds range from acceptable in small cities to very good in major ones.\n\n### Working hours\n\n**Bus company**. Offices at the terminals in larger cities open daily from early morning until the evening more or less without a break. In smaller cities they may keep smaller or less regular hours.\n**Foreign embassies**. Consulates and Embassies follow the Iranian working week, closing on Friday and often on one other day of the week, usually Saturday, as well as their own national holidays. However, to make sure in all cases, it is advisable to call first before visiting.\n**Government offices**. Generally open Sa-W 08:00-14:00. Some offices, especially ministries in Tehran, are closed completely on Thursday and others open only 08:00-11:30 or 12:00. In general, Thursday is not a good day for conducting official business.\n**Principal businesses**. Open from 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-21:00 weekdays and closed on Fridays. The bazaar and some shops close on Thursday afternoon, too.\n**Museums**. Each museum has its own visiting hours. It is better to check the timings before visiting.\n\nHours may change during **Ramadan**, the month of fasting. During that month, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink while the sun is in the sky. Restaurants are closed all day, opening at sundown and perhaps remaining open very late. Other businesses may adjust their hours as well.", "word_count": 251}
diff --git a/corpus/iran/metadata.json b/corpus/iran/metadata.json
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+{
+ "doc_id": "iran",
+ "title": "Iran",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Iran",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Middle East"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 18928,
+ "listing_count": 7,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 81,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/ireland/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/ireland/chunks.jsonl
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+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk000", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ireland** (Irish: *Éire*), also known as the **Republic of Ireland** (Irish: *Poblacht na hÉireann*), has a rich culture that, along with its people, has been exported around the world. Some Irish history has been very dark indeed, but it remains a land of poets, story-tellers, and musicians, with marvellous scenery, an advanced knowledge economy, first-rate infrastructure, and leading industries, with a high gross domestic product and standard of living.\n\nGaelic culture is alive and well; one way to experience it is to go to a pub which has a traditional music session on. The Irish language has declined and English is now the most common language, though there are still certain areas where Irish is frequently spoken. It can be worth your while to dig a little deeper before visiting Ireland to discover something about the older world that lies beneath. It is still living, though not always visible.\n\nIreland.com is the website of the tourism bureau.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk001", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Regions", "text": "Northern Ireland, a home nation of the United Kingdom, is covered in its own separate article.", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk002", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Cities", "text": "is the lively capital, the most cosmopolitan city of Ireland, with a great array of sights and visitor facilities.\n — the country's second biggest city — on the banks of the River Lee. Founded c.600 by St Finbarre and known for great food (especially seafood), pubs, shopping and festivals. If you venture outside of the city along the coastline which borders the Atlantic Ocean, you will find long windy beaches, beautiful villages with history, castles and an array of outdoor activities.\n is a colourful party town: lots of great food, trad music and ales. Just west is the haunting mountain scenery of Connemara.\n — Possibly, the most popular tourist destination in Ireland. A pleasant town in its own right, it is also the start of most Ring of Kerry trips.\n — attractive medieval town, known as the Marble City — home to the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, held annually in early June.\n — Main town in County Donegal, designated gateway status and reputed to be the fastest growing town in Europe. Good base for travelling in Donegal.\n is a miniature Dublin, with its Georgian street pattern and sombre castle. Nearby are yet more castles, a prehistoric complex, and a museum for the transatlantic flying boats.\n — the poet WB Yeats was inspired by its landscape of limestone scarps, prehistoric megaliths and ancient legends, and so will you.\n , Ireland's oldest city, has a rich mix of Viking, medieval and Georgian heritage.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk003", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "in County Meath are impressive neolithic monuments, the oldest dating back to 3100 BC.\n in County Wicklow is a remarkable medieval monastic complex in a deep scenic valley.\n has a long rugged coast, with Malin Head the north tip of the entire island of Ireland.\n in County Galway is an Irish-speaking region with stark scenery of granite, bog and small islands.\n is a haunting, barren limestone upland in County Clare, ending in the great Cliffs of Moher.\n are the seaward continuation of the Burren. They're inhabited, and dotted with prehistoric and early Christian sites.\n is the circuit of a scenic peninsula, usually starting from Killarney.\n in County Kerry is the former home of Fungi the dolphin and a lovely seaside town.\n is an astonishing monastery in the Atlantic off County Kerry.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk004", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nUntil 13,000 BCE Ireland and Great Britain were covered by a single ice sheet. Mountains which were already very old and weathered were further ground down into rounded hills with scenic U-shaped valleys. Glacial debris piled up at the edge of the ice, forming ridges which blocked river outflow: lakes backed up which infilled into wetland then peat bog, and Ireland's soggy lowlands emerged. European species driven out by the Ice Age, including humans, now returned across the ice bridge - the snakes didn't care to, and unlike the rabbits no-one saw fit to re-introduce them. The hunting of a bear in 10,500 BCE shows that Ireland by then had hunter-gatherer inhabitants, and the earliest \"village\" is from 7000 BCE. Some time before 4000 BCE a Neolithic culture emerged with settled agriculture - some of their field systems have been preserved beneath peat bog. Their wooden or wattle-and-daub secular structures have not survived, but what endures is their remarkable ritual landscape of great stone monuments with precise astronomical alignments. At Brú na Bóinne the midwinter sunrise briefly shines upon the inscriptions deep in an underground funeral chamber, but it's simply the best known of many such monuments.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk005", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Bronze Age from 2500 BCE brought wedge tombs, hill forts and metal weaponry, but its finest legacy is the intricate working of gold into jewellery, on display in the National Museum in Dublin. Several fabulous hoards were sacrifices, deliberately lost within the bogs which in that era were rising and engulfing the land. If this was intended to propitiate the gods of climate change, it didn't work, and poor climate, ritual bog causeways and gold sacrifices continued into the Iron Age from 800 BCE. For \"iron\" read \"steel\", forged into much stronger weapons and agricultural implements - you could plough new ground or fell timber or set about your neighbours to better effect, and this sparked population shifts across Europe. A Celtic language and culture emerged in Ireland, though it's unclear whether a genetically distinct Celtic people arrived. Great Britain came under Roman rule and its tribes spoke P-Celtic languages forerunners to Welsh and Cornish, while Ireland spoke the Q-Celtic forerunners to Gaelic, which much later spread to Scotland.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk006", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Ireland was Christianised from the 5th century, bringing literacy and a connection to Latin culture. Monastic towns were established, becoming centres of learning and literature. The monks composed poetry, wrote down Ireland’s legends and invented several of their own, to give the Irish a bogus back-story in the Biblical lands. The monasteries were attacked by the Norsemen from the late 8th century, but the Norse in turn became Christian and established major settlements in Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. Ireland in this era spread its culture and Christianity to Great Britain and across Europe. \n thumb | Trim Castle, built by the Normans \nIn 1169 a southern chief invited the Anglo-Normans to help with his local feuds, which was like inviting locusts to rid your garden of greenfly. Norman eyes lit up at what they saw, and a land-grab began. This was mostly in the south and east, so these regions have the richest heritage of medieval stone castles and monasteries built over earlier timber and earthworks. The Normans made fewer inroads elsewhere, and indeed were repulsed from the midlands to cower behind the Dublin palisade. \"Beyond the Pale\" ruled the Gaelic chiefs, until the Tudors under Elizabeth I resumed the take-over project. The Ulster chiefs held out until 1603, when their power was broken and their lands seized, to be colonised by loyal \"Plantations\" - as had been done in earlier times, with the crucial difference that the colonists in Ulster were Protestant (often Scots) in a land whose natives were Catholic. This created a sectarian fault line in the north, the tremors of which are felt to this day.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk007", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "17th century Great Britain was convulsed by the Civil War, creating a power vacuum which enabled a quasi-independent Irish Confederation to emerge, centred on Kilkenny. It lasted six turbulent years then Oliver Cromwell arrived in Drogheda, to destroy that town and massacre its inhabitants. He acquired a taste for both pastimes and marched on to subdue all of Ireland. Britain later restored the monarchy but ousted the Catholic King James II. James had more support in Ireland but lost the Battle of the Boyne and fled to France. It was the cue for more confiscation of lands, and of legal strictures against Catholics, the Penal Laws.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk008", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "The next great upheaval was the 1798 rebellion, centred on Wexford but with French military landings in Mayo. A rattled London government sought to tighten its grip further and in 1801 created the United Kingdom, henceforth ruling Ireland as a collection of provincial counties or shires with no pretensions to be an independent country. Ireland began to industrialise but remained mostly agricultural, and Irish-speaking outside the cities. Its main grievances were the Penal Laws, harsh land tenure and labour laws, suppression of Irish language (eg in school) and minority rule by a Protestant clique. Those that could leave got out, to the industrial cities of England, Scotland and North America, or joined the army. And then the worst of several famines struck in the 1840s, and the country was eviscerated. The Irish Potato Famine (known in Ireland as just the Great Famine) from 1845-1852 was so devastating that even in the 21st century, the population of Ireland has yet to recover to pre-famine levels.\n thumb | Cromwell began his Irish campaign in Drogheda \nPolitical agitation after the Great Famine saw English rule as the root cause of Irish hardships - at least in the south. Irish language, culture, sports, religion and ownership of its own land could only flourish if this yoke was cast off. Central reforms came too little, too late, and the land was roiled by \"The Troubles\". Meanwhile in the north, Belfast and its hinterland were staunchly British, Protestant and industrial. After several failed attempts, a Home Rule bill was passed by parliament in 1914, nicely in time to be stalled by the outbreak of the First World War. Hundreds of thousands of Irishmen marched away behind the Union Jack to the trenches of Flanders and the Somme.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk009", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "An armed insurrection broke out in Dublin at Easter 1916, when nationalists seized the main post office and read a proclamation of independence. They had little support and were soon bombarded into surrender, but their trials and executions by firing squad swung sentiment behind them. After the 1918 Armistice, resistance to Britain escalated into a war of independence, but the north was adamantly against Dublin rule. The price of peace in 1921 was partition, with 26 counties joining the Irish Free State (precursor to the present Republic) while six counties in the northeast remained in the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland.\n\nIreland still had to fight a civil war against those who resisted partition as a betrayal, but \"The Troubles\" then faded. From the 1960s resentment escalated into another round of \"Troubles\" in Northern Ireland and its border regions - that story is told on that page, it had little impact on the south, and appears to have been resolved by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The Republic remained a poor, agricultural country, neutral during the Second World War. It began to attract tourists in the post-war 20th century, and in 1973 joined the European Community, as did the United Kingdom. From the 1990s Ireland enjoyed an economic boom, and was called The Celtic Tiger, when a low-tax pro-business environment attracted global investment. Much of this was unsustainable; the bubble burst with the recession of 2008.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk010", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Along with other Western economies, Ireland has recovered since. More importantly for the traveller it has improved visitor amenities and broadened its image, which for too long was a hackneyed offering of Guinness in Dublin, fishing in the lakes and buying a tea-towel at Blarney Castle. Together with the north, Ireland now portrays itself as the culturally rich, fascinating country that it has been all along.\n\n### The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland\n\nthumb | Book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin\n\nThe term \"Ireland\" refers both to the large island 300 km west of Great Britain, and to the independent nation that comprises most of it. It's usually clear from context which is meant, and any reference to before 1921 means one and the same thing. The nation is known as the Republic of Ireland (abbreviated RoI) and it was formed from 26 of the 32 counties on the island. The other six formed Northern Ireland and they remain to this day a part of the United Kingdom. People on both sides informally speak of \"the south\" and \"the north\", though County Donegal in the Republic stretches further north than anywhere in Northern Ireland. The term \"all-Ireland\" is especially used for sports such as rugby union, hockey and cricket where north and south play as a single unified team.\n\nThe border is nowadays as unobtrusive as county boundaries or city limits. There are no checks, and the main difference you'll notice is the switch from kilometres to miles when crossing into Northern Ireland. Nevertheless it's your responsibility to ensure that your own and your car documentation is valid, see \"Get in\" below. The currency of the Republic of Ireland is the euro, and the currency of Northern Ireland, like the rest of the UK, is the pound.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk011", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Overall, Ireland has a mild but changeable oceanic climate with few extremes. In Ireland you may indeed experience 'four seasons in one day', so pack accordingly and keep up-to-date with the latest weather forecast. No matter the weather, expect it to be a topic of conversation amongst the locals.\n\nYou may notice slight differences in temperature between the north and south of the country, and more rain in the west compared with the east.\n\nMean daily winter temperatures vary from 4 °C to 7 °C, and mean daily summer temperatures vary from 14.5 °C to 16 °C.\nTemperatures will rarely exceed 25 °C and will rarely fall below -5 °C.\n\nRegardless of when you visit Ireland, even in the middle of the summer, you will more than likely experience rain, so if you intend being outdoors, a waterproof coat is recommended.\n\n### Holidays\n\nThe Irish names are parenthesised.\n\n**1 January**: New Year's Day *(Lá Caille)* or *(Lá na Bliana Nua)*\n **First Monday of February (or 1 February if it falls on Friday)**: Imbolc or Saint Brigid's Day *(Lá Fhéile Bríde)*\n **17 March**: Saint Patrick's Day *(Lá Fhéile Pádraig)*\n **March or April according to the Gregorian calendar**: Easter *(An Cháisc)*\n **First Mondays of May, June and August**: May holiday, June holiday, August holiday *(Lá Saoire i mí Bealtaine, Lá Saoire i mí Mheithimh, Lá Saoire i mí Lúnasa)*\n **Last Monday of October**: October Holiday *(Lá Saoire i mí Dheireadh Fómhair)* or *(Lá Saoire Oíche Shamhna)*\n **31 October**: Halloween (Oiche Shamhna)\n **25 December**: Christmas *(Lá Nollag)*\n **26 December**: St Stephen's Day *(Lá Fhéile Stiofáin)*", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk012", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official languages of Ireland are English and **Irish**.\n\nthumb|Typical Irish road sign showing place names in both Irish and EnglishAlmost everyone speaks English as their first language, though often in a way that reflects the influence of Irish. Irish or *Irish Gaelic* (*Gaeilge*) is the first official language according to the constitution. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of the Celtic family of languages and is strikingly different to English.\n\nThe main dialects of Irish are those of the provinces of Ulster, Munster and Connacht (with the last being historically a central dialect which stretched eastwards into Leinster). The Ulster dialect has most in common with Scottish Gaelic. Some Irish people may take offence if you call Irish \"Gaelic,\" as this really refers to an entire branch of the Celtic languages including Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic. Refer to it simply as \"Irish\" or “the Irish language”.\n\nThere are still thousands of fluent Irish speakers, all of them bilingual. Some of them are traditional native speakers in remote (and usually scenic) rural areas known as *Gaeltachtaí*. They are now outnumbered by urban Irish speakers, who are especially numerous in Dublin, and are often young, middle-class and well educated. Irish speakers are served by a number of radio stations, an online newspaper, numerous blogs and an innovative television station (TG4). They have an impressive modern literature and a popular annual arts festival known as the *Oireachtas*.\n\nIrish is a compulsory language in mainstream English-speaking schools in the Republic, and is required in order to enter certain Irish universities. About 40% (c. 1,800,000) of people in the Republic claim some knowledge of the language as a result, but the real number of proficient speakers is probably closer to 200,000 (about 5% of the population).", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk013", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Talk", "text": "Despite this, English is the only language you are likely to encounter while travelling in Ireland. This means that visitors are often unaware that habitual Irish speakers can be found throughout the country, with a thriving (though not so obvious) culture of their own. Such speakers usually use English in the presence of strangers, but most Irish people see the language as an integral part of their culture.\n\nAs many place names and personal names are in Irish, some knowledge of Irish pronunciation can be useful for foreigners, and even locals who are not fluent in Irish typically know how to pronounce Irish words.\n\nTourists keen to learn a few words of the Irish language can fall for a prank whereby they are taught to swear while being assured that they are learning a greeting or similar phrase.\n\nBoth Irish and English are spoken in Ireland with several different accents, and it is easy to distinguish the accent of someone from Northern Ireland from that of someone from the Republic. You can often even distinguish between different cities within the Republic of Ireland (e.g. Dublin vs Cork). Accents also vary by social class, and in the city of Dublin in particular you will notice distinct upper-class and working-class accents.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk014", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Talk", "text": "It is important to remember that many Irish speak English quite rapidly compared to speakers from the UK or North America. In Ireland some words are different, and may have different meanings. For example, \"deadly\" in Irish English usually means \"cool\" or \"awesome\", (e.g. \"That's deadly\" means \"That's wonderful\") instead of \"dangerous\". Colloquial Irish English also has a few grammatical quirks not present in standard English; many Irish people use the pronoun \"youse\" as the plural form of \"you\". Irish people also tend not to distinguish between the \"t\" and \"th\" sounds, so the word \"three\" would be pronounced the same way as \"tree\". Irish loanwords and idioms are also common in Irish English.\n\nIn everyday interactions Irish friends and relations engage in a style of conversation surprising (if not alarming) to unprepared tourists. The insult, putdown or sideswipe, known as 'banter,' is a highly nuanced art-form aimed at showing affection. It's all in the timing and tone and not to be attempted unless you are visibly in a good mood. High-spirited and friendly teasing is also known as *craic* and is generally inseparable from the consumption of alcohol.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk015", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa requirements\n\nthumb|300px|Visa policy of Ireland. Countries in blue, green, and yellow can enter the country without a visa.\n\n> Be advised my passport's green. No glass of ours was ever raised to toast the Queen.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk016", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "Citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland only require a valid national identity card or passport and don't need a visa. In most cases, they hold unlimited rights to employment and residence in Ireland.\n Citizens of the \"Common Travel Area\" in theory don't even need a passport to enter Ireland, but in practice they must show one to board a flight or ferry; there are no routine checks on the land border. The CTA is Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man, and the arrangements are reciprocal. But citizens of other countries don't escape their obligations by entering Britain then crossing the unguarded land border — you must still be eligible to enter Ireland, same as if you'd flown in direct, including having an Irish visa if required for your nationality. British Citizens may live and work freely in Ireland.\n Citizens of many countries may enter without a visa for visits up to 90 days. As of Oct 2020, these countries are Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Macao SAR, Malawi, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, the Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, the United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, the Vatican City and Venezuela, plus holders of British National (Overseas) passports. The period of admission is determined by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry, but can be extended up to the full 90 days if required. Foreigners who enter without a visa can also extend this stay after entry, but within the initial period of admission and with a valid purpose. Longer stays, employment and citizens of other countries normally require advance visas.\n Citizens of other countries should check the visas lists at the Irish Dept. of Foreign Affairs. The application process for tourist visas is reasonably straightforward and is detailed on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website. Tourist visas cannot be extended past 90 days under any circumstances.\n If travelling with a pet, check the rules. Some diseases common on the European mainland are absent from Ireland.", "word_count": 394}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk017", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|Aer Lingus has a budget model for short-haul\nIreland has three major international airports: Dublin (), Shannon () in County Clare, and Cork (). Dublin is by far the largest and best connected, with flights to many cities in the US, Canada, the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East. Shannon, close to the city of Limerick, also has flights to the US, Canada, Middle East, the UK and Europe. Cork has flights to most UK destinations and a wide variety of European cities. In summer they all have additional flights to holiday destinations around Europe.\n\nThere are also three minor airports with less frequent domestic and UK flights: Donegal (), Kerry (), and Ireland West Knock () in County Mayo. Others such as Sligo and Waterford had a brief flowering then closed.\n\nThe three airports of Northern Ireland are close to the border with the Republic. Those are City of Derry Airport (), and the two Belfast airports, City () and International ().\n\nIreland's two major airlines are Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Although it's Ryanair that has the budget reputation, their competition has forced traditional flag-carrier Aer Lingus towards similar pricing (eg charges for baggage), especially for short-haul flights. So check on booking whether your ostensibly cheap flight will charge you for extras.\n\n### By train\n\nThe Enterprise Train runs every hour or two between Belfast Lanyon Place (aka Central) and Dublin Connolly, via Portadown, Newry, Dundalk and Drogheda, taking 2 hr 15 min, booking essential.\n\nSee below for ferry routes; sailings to Rosslare connect with trains to Dublin Connolly.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk018", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses run hourly between Belfast, Dublin Airport and Dublin Busáras the main bus station, taking about 3 hours. Other cross-border routes are between Dublin and Derry, Belfast and Monaghan, and Belfast and Enniskillen with connections to Sligo and Galway. See individual cities for local cross-border buses, such as the 7-mile trip from Derry to the splendidly-named village of Muff.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries ply to Ireland from Great Britain, France and Spain. They all take vehicles, as trucking is a major part of their business, and offer cabin accommodation. By public transport, always look for through-tickets by rail / bus and ferry, as these are considerably cheaper than separate tickets, and take care of the connection.\n\nDublin has ferries from Holyhead in North Wales by Stena Line and Irish Ferries (3 hr 30 min), from Bootle near Liverpool by P&O (8 hr) and in summer from Douglas, Isle of Man by IOM Steam Packet Company (3 hr 30 min). Direct ferries from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge are only for freight and their truckers.\n Rosslare has ferries from south Wales taking 3 hr 30 min: from Fishguard by Stena Line and from Pembroke by Irish Ferries. Stena also sail from Cherbourg in northwest France (18 hr). In summer, Brittany Ferries sail from Bilbao. Trains and buses to Dublin connect with the ferries at Rosslare.\n Cork has ferries from Cherbourg in summer.\n It might also be convenient to sail to Northern Ireland: Belfast and Larne have ferries from Cairnryan near Stranraer in Scotland.\n Two ferries sail from Northern Ireland: across Carlingford Lough near Dundalk, and across Lough Foyle in County Donegal. See \"Get around\" below as they're effectively short-cuts on the road network.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk019", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Republic of Ireland has an open border with Northern Ireland, and there are no customs or immigration checks when crossing between the two areas. Pay attention to the units though, as road signs in Northern Ireland are in miles, while those in the Republic are in kilometres.\n\n### Common Travel Area\n\nThere is a long-standing informal arrangement that citizens of the UK can travel freely without any passport to Ireland and to those islands around Britain that are not in the UK; and vice versa. This was enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which meant no controls whatsoever on the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. All sides have consistently declared that this must continue even though the Republic is part of the EU and Northern Ireland is not. There is also mutual recognition of some visas. These arrangements are known as the Common Travel Area (CTA) and apply to the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom (which includes Northern Ireland), the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey (which includes Alderney and Sark). It doesn't apply to British overseas territories such as Gibraltar.\n\nIn practice, security checks mean that you must show a passport or equivalent national ID to board a flight to Ireland (including to Northern Ireland) even from within the CTA. Ferries are less consistent, but you have to assume it'll be required. Other photo ID such as a driving licence won't do, even though it may be acceptable to Irish immigration; airlines face such stiff fines for landing ineligible passengers that it's safer to bump you off the flight if they're in any doubt. The nub of it is, you have to show your passport to prove that you're eligible to travel without showing your passport. Welcome to Ireland!", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk020", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you cross the unguarded land border, it's your responsibility to check that you are eligible to do so, and carry any relevant documents with you. (And check that your car insurance and rental agreement are valid.) If you were later found to be ineligible, you risk being fined and deported.\n\nSome visitors eligible to enter Britain are eligible to enter Ireland on the same terms, and in some ways the CTA is a \"mini-Schengen\". If your 90 days stay is coming to an end, then moving back and forth between the two countries won't re-start the clock. (Indeed, a short trip elsewhere might not do so: immigration are wearily familiar with such tricks, and won't extend your original stay if they reckon that was your game.) Travellers to Ireland can usually transit airside at UK airports without needing UK eligibility, but there are restrictions on who may do so land-side, e.g., to transfer between Heathrow and Stansted airports (similar to Schengen, you could transit airside in Paris but might need an EU visa to go overland to fly out of Amsterdam). But while a Schengen visa or eligibility applies equally through all those countries, that isn't the case for the CTA. Thus, there is mutual recognition of visas issued to Chinese and Indian nationals, but not comprehensively to others; likewise of those who hold a UK visit visa but not those holding a UK residence permit. One key difference from Schengen is that the CTA is an informal collection of political agreements not written into law, so it's difficult to keep track of evolving rules and exceptions, and you have very limited recourse if some snippy check-in clerk has a different interpretation.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk021", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nFile:IE road sign W-001.svg|Crossroads\nFile:IE road sign W-140A.svg|Pedestrian crossing\nFile:IE road sign RUS-006.svg|Turn Left\nFile:M18-IE.svg|Motorway\nIE road sign RUS-027.svg|Stop\nFile:IE road sign RUS-026.svg|Yield\nFile:IE road sign RUS-014.svg|No overtaking\nFile:IE road sign RUS-019-L-R.svg|No parking\nFile:IE road sign RUS-044.svg|Speed limit\n\n**Think:** do you need one? If you'll be primarily in the cities, probably not, and you should actively avoid using a car in Dublin. To see the city then tour the country, ride into Dublin on the bus then return to the airport later to pick up a car. But out in the countryside there's limited public transport and lashings of rain, so yes you do need one, especially with small children or piles of sports gear.\n\nMany visitors bring their own car by ferry. For rental, the airports have the best selection - book ahead for the best deals and to ensure availability of their limited fleets. There's healthy price competition, but one-way rentals are expensive. You also need to check their rental requirements: these are typically to hold a full licence for at least 2 years, and to have no current \"red flag\" endorsements. There is no minimum age but the weasel words are \"eligibility to hold a licence\" for at least 8 years, and drivers over 75 face additional checks.\n\nThe big cities and ferry ports have rental offices but surprisingly few. Good luck trying to hire a car in, say, Tipperary, but what you might find is a taxi driver to take you round the local sights for a few hours, while blarneying about how his grandmother played Gaelic football for the county back in the day.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk022", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorhomes can also be rented at Dublin airport, Cork and Limerick, though most tourers bring their own. You need to factor in extra ferry charges, narrow twisty roads, and availability of sites, which are often closed Oct-March. Many inland places are short on sites because their population heads to the coast, while those on the coast may be for long-term leases or static units with nothing for short-stay tourers and campers. See Camping Ireland and individual city pages for sites. Overnight wayside parking is generally prohibited, and you'll be fined and moved on by the police.\n\nFor taxis see individual cities, but there's a national rate. They're required to use the meter and issue a receipt, but are genetically hard-wired to be forgetful about this. Uber is only slowly gaining ground and outside the cities there's multiple small operators. As everywhere else, you do best when your accommodation books for you. Taxis are distinctively marked, and an unmarked car that stops for you on the street is up to no good.\n\n#### Roads and routes\n\nRoads are classed as M motorway, N national, R regional and L local.\n\nSign\nSign colour\nPrefix\nClass\nSpeed limit\n100px\nWhite on blue\nM\nMotorways\n**120 km/h**\n100px\nWhite/yellow on green\nN\nNational routes\n**100 km/h**\n100px\nBlack on white\nR\nRegional roads\n**80 km/h**\n100px\nBlack on white\nL\nLocal roads\n**60 km/h**", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk023", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "**The principal routes** radiate from Dublin: \n M50 from Dublin dockland via tunnel (toll) north to airport then a semi-circle west of the city (toll) linking all other routes.\n M1 from M50 at airport to Drogheda (toll), Dundalk, Newry and Belfast.\n M2 / N2 from M50 to Ashbourne. Historically this was the road to Monaghan, Donegal and Derry, but other routes are now faster.\n M3 / N3 from M50 to Navan (tolls), Kells and Cavan.\n M4 from M50 to Maynooth (toll), Kinnegad (for M6), Mullingar, Longford (for N5), Boyle and Sligo.\n N5 from N4 at Longford to Strokestown, Castlebar and Westport.\n M6 from M4 at Kinnegad to Athlone (toll), Athenry (for M17/18) and Galway.\n M7 / N7 from M50 to Naas (for M9), Portlaoise (for M8) (toll), Roscrea, Nenagh and Limerick.\n M8 from M7 near Portlaoise to Thurles, Cashel, Cahir, Fermoy (toll) and Cork.\n M9 from M7 at Naas to Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford.\n M11 / N11 from M50 to Wicklow, Arklow, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford.\n\n**Tolls** for private cars range from €1.70 to €3.70. The Dublin Port tunnel is €3.50 off-peak and €12 in rush-hour (06:00 to 10:00 southbound, and 16:00 to 19:00 northbound). There are no cash kiosks on some routes, you must pay online either in advance or before 20:00 next day, after which there are penalty charges. Check with car rental companies if an e-tag is included.\n\nSome major cross-country routes include:\n M18 / 17 from Limerick to Athenry (for M6), Tuam and Sligo.\n N24 from Waterford to Clonmel, Cahir (for M8), Tipperary and Limerick.\n N25 along the south coast from Rosslare to Wexford, Waterford and Cork.\n N52 from Nenagh (for M7) to Birr, Tullamore, Mullingar, Kells and Dundalk.\n\n#### Rules of the road", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk024", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb | Kilometres per hour or ''ciliméadar san uair,'' take your pick. This sign appears on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
'''Note:''' The symbol \"km/h\" is used in both English and Gaelic.\n\nDrive on the left, and yield to the right at roundabouts, same as in the United Kingdom; above all relax and take your time.\n\nRoad signage follows the pattern found in most European countries apart from certain warning signs which use a yellow diamond, similar to that found in the United States. Speed limits are in kilometres per hour or, if you prefer, *ciliméadar san uair* (but the symbol is \"km/h\" regardless of language). In the northern counties, a sign announcing limits in miles per hour may be the only indication that you've crossed the border into Northern Ireland.\n\nPlacenames are in both English and Irish, except in the Gaeltacht areas (mostly in the west), where they're only in Irish, so you need to know those versions. Information in English generally uses upper-case upright text while information in Gaelic generally in italic mixed-case text.\n\nThe M and N roads are like main highways anywhere. R or regional roads may be broad and fast, especially where they were the main road until bypassed. Others are narrow and twisty, and demand all your attention. L roads might be \"life in your hands\" – they're very narrow, often with no room for vehicles to pass, poorly signposted and in poor repair. Always keep a mental note of the previous passing place: they're none too common. And always assume that around the next corner will be an oncoming tractor, and you'll have to reverse most of the way to Killarney. A cheery wave or blip of headlights acknowledges courtesy.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk025", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb | An intercity train \nRail travel in Ireland is quick, comfortable and inexpensive, but the network is limited. Trains radiate from Dublin Heuston to Kilkenny and Waterford, to Cork with a branch for Kerry, to Tipperary and Limerick, to Athlone and Galway, and to Westport and Ballina. Branch lines link Tipperary, Clonmel and Waterford, Limerick and Nenagh, and Limerick with Galway. Trains from Dublin Connolly run to Wicklow, Wexford and Rosslare ferry port, to Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo, and to Drogheda, Dundalk and Belfast. There are suburban networks sharing the same track around Dublin, Cork and Belfast, which has mainline trains to Derry. Travel times seldom exceed 2-3 hours and there are no night trains. There are no separate metro systems, but Dublin has trams.\n\nAll trains are run by the state-owned Irish Rail or *Iarnród Éireann*, with the Dublin-Belfast \"Enterprise train\" shared with Northern Ireland Railways. Fares are inexpensive: in 2021 a walk-up single fare from Dublin to Kilkenny was €15, so there's limited scope for discounts. If your travel plans are definite, then booking ahead saves you a few euro, ensures your seat, and saves queuing at the station as you can collect your ticket from the machines. Booking is important around big events such as rugby internationals, when transport to the capital is mobbed.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk026", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb | Bus Éireann run buses in Cork city \nBus is the predominant form of public transport across Ireland. Long distance routes radiate from Dublin, and crucially they run via Dublin airport, so it's easier to take a bus to, say, Galway, than to drag into the city for the train. Bus Éireann are the principal inter-city operator, branded as Expressway, but their competitors include Dublin Coach, Aircoach, GoBus, Citylink, JJ Kavanagh and Wexford Bus. Bus Éireann are also a leading operator of bus tours.\n\nSee individual city pages for details, but the main intercity routes from Dublin (working anti-clockwise) are:\n Dublin - Belfast; a few stop at Newry. A separate service links Dublin, Drogheda and Dundalk. \n Dublin - Derry, either via Monaghan and Omagh or via Armagh, Dungannon and Cookstown.\n Dublin - Cavan - Enniskillen - Donegal, with others to Letterkenny.\n Dublin - Mullingar - Longford, where they branch either for Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo, or for Ballina.\n Dublin - Athlone - Galway.\n Dublin - Nenagh - Limerick: some stop at Kildare, and some continue to Tralee or Killarney.\n Dublin - Cork. \n Dublin - Waterford via Kilkenny or Carlow.\n Dublin - Wexford: these bypass Wicklow and don't continue to Rosslare.\n\nThe main cross-country routes are:\n Derry - Letterkenny - Donegal - Sligo - Knock - Tuam - Galway. \n Ballina - Castlebar - Tuam - Galway. \n Galway - Ennis - Shannon Airport - Limerick - Mallow - Cork.\n Rosslare port - Wexford - New Ross - Waterford - Dungarvan - Youghal - Cork - Killarney - Tralee.\n Waterford - Thomastown - Kilkenny - Carlow - Portlaoise - Tullamore - Athlone. \n \nThe main towns all have local services, with an extensive network around Dublin including some night buses.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk027", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Transport for Ireland has comprehensive timetables, journey planners, train-to-bus connections, and the Local Link buses to smaller places along the back roads. They quote fares but don't themselves issue tickets, pointing you to the relevant operator website.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries ply to the inhabited islands: they carry islanders' vehicles but visitors should avoid bringing one. Boat trips visit many other islands at sea or in the lakes - some even venture out as far as Fastnet.\n Car ferries cross several large estuaries: the Shannon, Cork Harbour, Waterford Harbour, and the Liffey between Howth and Dún Laoghaire. Two ferries are international: across Carlingford Lough between Dundalk and the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, and across Lough Foyle between Greencastle in County Donegal and MacGilligan Point north of Derry. Both carry vehicles but only sail in summer. \n Inland waterways: Ireland has an extensive navigable network, rehabilitated since its 19th / 20th century decline. The principal routes are from Dublin to the Shannon by either the Grand Canal or (further north) the Royal Canal, up the length of the Shannon from the Atlantic at Limerick to Leitrim, its principal tributaries such as the Boyle, and along the Shannon-Erne Canal to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland. Another branch connects Grand Canal to Athy, Carlow and Waterford. There are no ferries on these routes, so you either hire a boat or bring your own: hire companies place limits on how far you can go. For an extended Shannon cruise, you might start from Dromineer near Nenagh, Athlone or Carrick-on-Shannon. See Waterways Ireland for current navigation and lock status, moorings and so on\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk028", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are nationally regulated and you pay the same fare stuck in Dublin traffic trying to reach the airport as you do up a back lane in Connemara. Rates were last hiked in Dec 2024, see TFI for these. However you may be able to negotiate a flat rate for an excursion to some outlying sight.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb | Carrowmore, County Sligo \nIreland is beautiful for biking, but use a good touring bike with solid tyres as road conditions are not always excellent. Biking along the south and west coasts you should be prepared for variable terrain, lots of hills and frequent strong headwinds. There are plenty of camp grounds along the way for long distance cyclists.\n\nThe planned Eurovelo cycle route in Ireland will connect Belfast to Dublin via Galway, and Dublin to Rosslare via Galway and Cork. Visit their website for updates on the status of the path.\n\nDublin has some marked bicycle lanes and a few non-road cycle tracks. Traffic is fairly busy, but a cyclist confident with road cycling in other countries should have no special difficulties (except maybe for getting used to riding on the left). Cyclists have no special right of way over cars, particularly when using shared use paths by the side of a road, but share and get equal priority when in traffic lanes. Helmets are not legally required, but widely available for those who wish to use them. Dublin Bikes has 400 bikes available to the public in around 40 stations across the city centre. The bikes are free to take for the first half hour, although a payment of €150 is required in case of the bike being stolen or damaged. When finished, return the bike back to any station and get your payment refunded.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk029", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ireland is small enough to be traversed by road and rail in a few hours, so there are few flights within the Republic, and none to Northern Ireland.\n\nAer Lingus fly from Dublin (DUB) to Donegal (CFN) near Carrickfinn in northwest County Donegal, twice a day taking an hour. Fares start at €24 each way (2024).\n\nRyanair fly from Dublin (DUB) to Kerry (KIR) near Farranfore, midway between Tralee and Killarney, once a day taking an hour. Fares start at €20 each way (2024).\n\nAer Arann Islands fly from Connemara Airport (NNR) near Galway to the three Arann Islands of Inis Mór (IOR), Inis Meain (IIA) and Inis Oírr (INQ). There are at least three flights to each island year-round M-F and two at weekends; more in summer. The flights use rinky-dinky BNF Islanders and are ten minute there-and-back turnarounds with no inter-island flights. Adult fares are €35 one way or €63 return, with discounts for seniors, students and children. Connemara has no other flights so it's disconnected from the global network.\n\n### Only in Ireland", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk030", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Cable-car** is how you reach Dursey Island in County Cork, a ten minute ride over the restless Atlantic. Ireland's low mountains and mild winters aren't conducive to winter sports, so if they had to install a ski lift anywhere, it pretty much had to be here.\n **Walk on water** at Acres Lake near Drumshanbo in County Leitrim. Ireland has many long-distance hiking trails, mostly described on the relevant County pages. Shannon Blueway near the head of the navigable river starts with a floating boardwalk, before continuing with conventional trails. It's the spiritual descendant of Ireland's baffling Bog Trackways, floating Neolithic or Iron Age walkways across bogs: their purpose seems not to be transport, but to enter the bog for some ceremonial purpose.\n **Horse-drawn caravans:** the traditional Romany kind. You'll be among the last of the breed, because the Republic nowadays discourages \"travelling folk\", and those still around use modern vehicles and caravans. Extended horse-drawn trips are best suited to areas where the gradients are mild, the road traffic isn't too frenetic, and the distance between sights and amenities is minor. See County Mayo and County Wicklow for examples. They were formerly common around the Ring of Kerry. \n **Jaunting cars** are four seater open carts with a single horse and a driver known as a \"jarvey\". Once common, they're nowadays only found in Killarney in County Kerry.\n **Irish railway gauge** of 1600 mm is almost unique to this country but coincides with the Diolkos (*Δίολκος*) of 600 BC, the haulway by which ancient Greeks dragged ships across the Corinth isthmus.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk031", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "See", "text": "thumb | The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare \n **Scenery** in Ireland is the stuff of knights' tales. It's best where you meet a contrast: a stern crag rearing up from green fields, or a plateau ending in sea-cliffs. Ireland's mountains are old and long-weathered so they're of no great height - the highest MacGillycuddy's Reeks only reach 1038 m but rise abruptly behind the lake at Killarney. The Atlantic coast has a series of dramatic peninsulas, with the best-known at Mizen Head in Cork, Ring of Kerry, Loop Head in Clare and Connemara. Several in Mayo and Donegal are blighted by an eczema of second-home cottages, but the upland views are improving as commercial conifer forests are re-wilded with mixed native woodland. \n **Prehistoric Ireland:** Brú na Bóinne in Meath is the best known, built around 3000 BC. Trouble is, it's mobbed with tourists, with very limited access slots, and you lose the atmosphere. But Ireland is studded with equally fascinating sites, often in out-of-the-way places so they were never built over or the stone re-used, and with small risk of you having to share them with a babbling tour group. Just a few examples are Loughcrew Cairns in Meath, Ballymote in Sligo, Ahenny in Tipperary or on the wild Burren of Clare. And between the stones were the bogs. Several have boardwalks and visitor centres, but start exploring their fascinating discoveries at the National Museum - Archaeology in Dublin: ornate gold jewellery and contorted bodies. thumb | Cells and wells, the Rock of Cashel\n **Cells and wells**, the forerunner to \"Bells 'n Smells\". A series of major religious leaders appeared in Ireland following 5th century St Patrick. Any place name prefixed \"Kil\" or \"Cill\", or \"Kells\" by itself, indicates their hermit cell or abode. They needed to live near a water source, which would become venerated as a holy or healing well. There was a second wave of monasteries in Norman times, built on the same sites, and ruins of these grander buildings are common though they were smashed after the 16th century Dissolution. Clonmacnoise, Glendalough and Rock of Cashel are fine examples. After they were ejected from their former churches, the Roman Catholics were only allowed to re-establish from the Victorian era, with a wave of church and cathedral building mostly in neo-Gothic style: every major town has one.\n thumb | Round tower at Kilmacduagh \n **Round towers** are to Ireland what minarets are to Turkey. Pencil-thin and dating from 9th to 12th century, the best intact examples are 30 m tall with a conical cap; they have only one or two windows and a doorway several metres above ground. These were bell-towers for adjacent churches, and the high doorway was simply to avoid weakening the tower base. Some 20 are in good condition, with the best at Clondalkin (Dublin), Ardmore (Waterford), Glendalough (Wicklow), Kells (Meath), Killala (Mayo), Kilmacduagh (Galway), Rattoo (Kerry), Swords (Dublin), Timahoe (Laois) and Turlough (Mayo).\n **Castles** sprang up under the Normans, and were variously besieged, repaired, dismantled or re-purposed over the next 400 years. Limerick has a fine example, while Dublin Castle reflects multiple eras: what you see there now is mostly Victorian. Many medieval cities had walls, such as Waterford and Kilkenny - the best of all is Derry in the north. The lowlands are also dotted with turrets or tower-houses from 15th / 16th century, effectively fortified dwellings: Blarney Castle near Cork is typical. \n **Mansions**, often with fine gardens, appeared when dwellings no longer needed to be stoutly defended. Lots and lots: those within an easy day-trip from Dublin are Malahide, Powerscourt at Enniskerry, and Russborough House at Blessington. \n **Islands:** a historic handful lie off the east coast (Dalkey near Dublin was a slave market) but most are off the fractal west coast. Some are nowadays connected by road or are tidal, but substantial places where you have to fly or take a ferry to include the three Aran Islands, with a remarkable cluster of prehistoric sites. Not to neglect freshwater islands in the rivers (eg Cahir castle, and it's best to draw a veil over Lady Blessington's ablutions at Clonmel Tipperary) and in the lakes. Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg above Killaloe in Clare has a cluster of medieval sites, and Innisfree on Lough Gill near Sligo is where WB Yeats yearned to be.\n **Graceful townscapes:** the 18th and 19th centuries saw great rebuilding of Ireland's medieval towns. Provincial places were re-laid along a single wide, long High Street, lined with colourful low-rise. Dublin and Limerick were extensively re-modelled, with Georgian terraces along a broad grid pattern interspersed by leafy squares, such as Dublin's Merrion Square.", "word_count": 774}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk032", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Do", "text": "### Sport", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk033", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb | Gaelic football at Croke Park **Gaelic games** are unique to Ireland and a few diaspora communities beyond. They're played March-Oct, organised on a county basis, and Gaelic football is the dominant sport - every little village has a GAA club. It's sort of a cross between rugby and soccer . . . probably best if you get an Irish supporter to sit down and explain it, and by the way you're buying the rounds. Hurling is the furious game somewhat resembling field hockey as played during tribal warfare - it's the minority sport except in County Kilkenny. Getting tickets for either won't be a problem except for the national finals at Croke Park in Dublin in September; these are sure to be televised. The other GAA sports of shinty and camogie have lapsed in much of the country and are no longer played on an organised basis.\n **Horse racing:** there are some three dozen race tracks around the country, almost every county has one or two, with Curragh and Punchestown the big two near Dublin. These tracks have both flat racing in summer and National Hunt (jumps / chases) in winter. There are stud farms and racehorse training stables on the lush pastures of the Irish midlands, some of which you can visit, eg Kildare.\n **Golf:** the best-known course is Adare, which stages the Ryder Cup in 2026. (Royal Portrush in the north also hosts the Open.) All the populated areas have courses, and golf has been the saving of many a dilapidated old castle, made-over into a swish hotel with spa and golf resort. \n **Rugby Union** (15 a side): Ireland plays as a united island, with Northern Ireland included. Four professional teams representing the traditional provinces play in the United Rugby Championship (formerly Pro14), the top European (predominantly Celtic) league: Leinster Rugby in Dublin, Ulster Rugby in Belfast, Munster Rugby mostly in Limerick with some games in Cork, and Connacht Rugby in Galway. Internationals are played in Dublin: those for the annual \"Six Nations\" tournament sell out. Rugby League (13 a side) isn't played in Ireland. \n **Soccer** or Association Football: the Republic's national team play at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, faring respectably enough in tournaments such as the UEFA Euros, and occasionally qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. The domestic club playing season is Feb-Nov: ten teams compete in the top tier, the League of Ireland Premier Division, with the \"big three\" being Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers in Dublin, and Dundalk. However, enthusiasm for domestic club games is low but increasing as nearly all the top Irish footballers play for English clubs.\n **Water sports:** the Atlantic coast has big seas and surf. Less exposed waters are good for wind-surfing and sailing, and there are many sheltered, sandy beaches good for kiddy-paddling. There is kayaking and SUP-boarding on the coast and on the many inland loughs.", "word_count": 478}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk034", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Do", "text": "### Other\n\n**Folk music:** Ireland has a bustling scene, see Music in Britain and Ireland.\n **Bus tours** include city hop-on hop-off tours, day trips to outlying places like Glendalough that might be difficult to do without your own car, and extended tours of the country. See \"Get around by bus\" above - the national company Bus Éireann has a good selection. \n **Look up your Irish ancestors.** From 1864 all births, marriages and deaths in Ireland (and Protestant marriages from 1845) were recorded by the General Register Office in Dublin, which you can search online free. Before then, those events were recorded only in parish church registers, of variable completeness. Many records have been lost, but others are well-preserved and digitised - County Clare is one good example. Tracing events pre-1864 is more difficult, especially along the female line. Sources include the parish church registers, property records, newspaper \"hatches matches & dispatches\" columns, Wills, trial verdicts, workhouse denizens, tombstone epitaphs, and emigrant passenger lists. Try enquiring at the County Library in the relevant county town. \n **Learn Irish** beyond the standard courtesies. There's a lack of resources for outsiders to do so, see \"Talk\" above for some you might use. \n **St Patrick's Day** is on 17 March whenever that falls in the week. It's celebrated worldwide and especially here, with an extended event in Dublin.\n **Observe centenaries:** after the Great War ended, the Anglo-Irish conflict intensified as described above, leading to the partition of Ireland in 1921 and a civil war, all against the backdrop of a deadly pandemic. This means that many events are reaching their centenary and in normal circumstances would be publicly marked. Ceremonies and recognition were inevitably subdued in 2020 / 21 but visitors (especially British) should be aware of upcoming anniversaries.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk035", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nright|thumb|200px|Euro banknotes\n\nIreland uses the euro, the plural of which is also \"euro\", thus for €2, say \"two euro\".\n\nStand-alone cash machines (ATMs) are widely available in every city and town in the country and credit cards are accepted most outlets. Fees are not generally charged by Irish ATMs (but beware that your bank may charge a fee).\n\nAlong border areas, as the UK pound sterling is currency in Northern Ireland, it is common for UK pounds to be accepted as payment, with change given in euro. Some outlets, notably border petrol stations will give change in sterling if requested.\n\nThere's a lot of cross-border shopping. It's partly driven by differences in VAT or other tax, for instance fuel has usually been cheaper in the Republic, so Northern Ireland motorists fill up south of the border. It also reflects swings in exchange rate, so Republic shoppers cross to Derry or Newry whenever their euro goes further against the UK pound.\n\nYou may hear the slang term **quid** used by Irish people when referring to euro prices, e.g. \"three quid\" to mean €3.\n\n### ATMs\n\nATMs are widely available throughout Ireland. Even in small towns it is unlikely that you will be unable to find an ATM. Many shops and pubs will have an ATM in store, and unlike the UK, they cost the same to use as 'regular' ATMs on the street. Though in-shop ATMs are slightly more likely to run out of cash and be 'Out of Service'.\n\n### Credit cards", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk036", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Buy", "text": "MasterCard, Maestro and Visa are accepted everywhere. American Express and Diners Club are now also fairly widely accepted. Discover card is very rarely accepted and it would not be wise to rely on this alone. Most ATMs allow cash withdrawals on major credit cards and internationally branded debit cards.\n\nIn common with most of Europe, Ireland uses \"chip and PIN\" credit cards. Signature-only credit cards, such as those used in the US, should be accepted anywhere a chip and PIN card with the same brand logo is accepted. The staff will have a handheld device and will be expecting to hold the card next to it and then have you input your PIN. Instead, they will need to swipe the card and get your signature on the paper receipt it prints out. Usually this goes smoothly but you may find some staff in areas that serve few foreigners are confused or assume the card cannot be processed without a chip. It is helpful to have cash on hand to avoid unpleasant hassle even in situations where you might have been able to eventually pay by card.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is not a general habit in Ireland. The same general rules apply as in the United Kingdom. It is usually not customary to tip a percentage of the total bill, a few small coins is generally considered quite polite. Like most of Europe it is common to round up to the nearest note, (i.e. paying €30 for a bill of €28).", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk037", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Buy", "text": "In restaurants tipping 10-15% is standard and for large groups or special occasions (wedding/anniversary/conference with banquet) tipping becomes part of the exuberance of the overall event and can be higher, indeed substantial. Tipping is not expected in bars or pubs and unnecessary in the rare bar or 'Superpub' that has toilet attendants. In taxis the fare is rounded off to the next euro for short city wide journeys, however this is more discretionary than in restaurants. In hotels a tip may be added to the bill on check out, however some guests prefer to tip individual waiters or room attendants either directly or leaving a nominal amount in the room.\n\nIn all cases, the tip should express satisfaction with the level of service.\n\n### Tax-free shopping\n\nthumb|Charleville Castle, [[Tullamore]]\nIf you are a tourist from a non-EU country, you may be able to receive a partial refund of VAT tax (which is 23%.) However, unlike some other countries, there is no unified scheme under which a tourist can claim this refund back. The method of refund depends solely on the particular retailer and so tourists should ask the retailer before they make a purchase if they wish to receive a VAT refund.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk038", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Buy", "text": "One scheme retailers who are popular with tourists operate is private (i.e. non-governmental) VAT refund agents. Using this scheme, the shopper receives a magnetic stripe card which records the amount of purchases and VAT paid every time a purchase is made and then claims the VAT back at the airport, minus commission to the VAT refund agent, which is often quite substantial. There are multiple such VAT refund agents and so you may need to carry multiple cards and make multiple claims at the airport. However, there may *not* be a VAT refund agent representative at the airport or specific terminal where you will be departing from, or it may not be open at the time you depart. In which case, getting a refund back could become more cumbersome as you may need to communicate with the VAT refund agent from your home country.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk039", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Buy", "text": "If the retailer does not operate the VAT refund agent scheme, they may tell you that all you have to do is take the receipt they produce to the airport and claim the refund at the VAT refund office at the airport. However, this is incorrect. Irish Revenue does not make any VAT refunds directly to tourists. Tourists are responsible for having receipts stamped by customs, either in Ireland upon departure or at their home country upon arrival and then send these receipts as proof of export directly to the Irish retailer which is obligated to make a VAT refund directly to the tourist. Therefore, for example, if you have made 10 different purchases at 10 different retailers, you will need to make 10 separate claims for refunds with every single retailer. However, some retailers do not participate in the scheme all together and so you may not be able to get any VAT refund from some retailers. Therefore, if you plan on receiving VAT tourist refund on your purchases in Ireland, you should be careful where you shop and which refund scheme they operate, if any.\n\nFurther details on VAT tourist refunds can be found in the document Retail Export Scheme (Tax-Free Shopping for Tourists) .", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk040", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Eat", "text": "Food is expensive in Ireland, although quality has improved enormously in the last ten years. Most small towns will have a supermarket and many have a weekly farmers' market. The cheapest option for eating out is either fast food or pubs. Many pubs offer a **carvery** lunch consisting of roasted meat, vegetables and the ubiquitous potatoes, which is usually good value. Selection for vegetarians is limited outside the main cities. The small town of Kinsale near Cork has become internationally famous for its many excellent restaurants, especially fish restaurants. In the northwest of the country Donegal Town is fast becoming the seafood capital of Ireland.\n\n### Cuisine\n\nthumb|Irish stew and a pint of Guinness\n\nTraditional Irish cuisine could charitably be described as **hearty**: many *traditional* meals involved meat (beef, lamb, and pork), potatoes, and cabbage. Long cooking times were the norm in the past, and spices were limited to salt and pepper. The Irish diet has broadened remarkably in the past fifty years and dining is now very cosmopolitan.\n\nSeafood chowder, Guinness Bread, Oysters, and Boxty vary regionally, and are not common throughout the entire country.\n\nHowever the days when potatoes were the only thing on the menu are long gone, and modern Irish cuisine emphasizes fresh local ingredients, simply prepared and presented (sometimes with some Mediterranean-style twists). Meat (especially lamb), seafood and dairy produce is mostly of an extremely high quality.\n\nTry some gorgeous brown soda bread, made with buttermilk and leavened with bicarbonate of soda rather than yeast. It is heavy, tasty and almost a meal in itself.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nOnly basic table manners are considered necessary when eating out, unless you're with company that has a more specific definition of what is appropriate. As a general rule, so long as you don't make a show of yourself by disturbing other diners there's little else to worry about. It's common to see other customers using their mobile phones — this sometimes attracts the odd frown or two but goes largely ignored. If you do need to take a call, keep it short and try not to raise your voice. The only other issue to be concerned about is noise — a baby crying might be forgivable if it's resolved fairly quickly, a contingent of adults laughing very loudly every couple of minutes or continuously talking out loud may attract negative attention. However, these rules are largely ignored in fast-food restaurants, pubs and some more informal restaurants.\n\n#### Finishing your meal\n\nAt restaurants with table service, some diners might expect the bill to be presented automatically after the last course, but in Ireland you may need to ask for it to be delivered. Usually coffee and tea are offered at the end of the meal when removing dishes, and if you don't want any, the best response would be \"No thank you, just the bill, please.\" Otherwise the staff will assume you wish to linger until you specifically ask for the bill.", "word_count": 493}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk041", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Drink", "text": "### [[Beer (beverage)|Beer]]\n\nthumb | Matt Molloy's pub in Westport, Mayo \nPints (just over half a litre) of Guinness start at around €4.20 per pint, and can get as high as €7.00 in tourist hotspots in Dublin.\n\nOne of Ireland's most famous exports is stout (although the beer style was invented in England): a dark, creamy beer, the most popular being Guinness which is brewed in Dublin. Murphy's and Beamish stout are brewed in Cork and available mainly in the south of the country. Murphy's is slightly sweeter and creamier-tasting than Guinness, while Beamish, although lighter, has a subtle, almost burnt, taste. Opting for a Beamish or Murphy's while in Cork is sure to be a conversation starter and likely the start of a long conversation if you say you prefer it to Guinness.\n\nSeveral micro-breweries are now producing their own interesting varieties of stout, including O'Hara's in Carlow, the Porter House in Dublin and the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork. Ales such as Smithwick's are also popular, particularly in rural areas. Bulmers Cider (known outside the Republic as 'Magners Cider') is also a popular and widely available drink.\n\n### Whiskey", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk042", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Drink", "text": "That \"e\" in the name is as important as the barley and the sparkling waters in the distillery promotional video, the bit before they ask you to confirm your age. Whiskey / whisky is a distilled spirit of 40% alcohol, and a protected trade name - products so described may only be produced by specific methods and regionally-sourced ingredients, justifying their price premium. Ireland has several big-name brands such as Jameson and Tullamore, and very drinkable they are too: *sláinte!* But what's been lacking is the character of single malt whisky as found in Scotland, though Ireland certainly has the ingredients and know-how to make these. These are gradually coming to market (bearing in mind the minimum 3-year sojourn in cask) from, for example, Teeling in Dublin and Athru in Sligo.\n\n### Pubs\n\nNearly all pubs in Ireland are 'free houses', i.e. they can sell drink from any brewery and are not tied to one brewery (unlike the UK). You can get the same brands of drink in all pubs in Ireland across the country.\n\nAlcohol can be relatively expensive in Ireland, particularly in tourist areas. Some bars may offer pitchers of beer which typically hold just over three pints, for €10-11.\n\nBars must serve their last drinks at 23:30 Sunday to Thursday and 00:30 on Friday and Saturday, usually followed by a half hour 'drinking up' time. Nightclubs serve until 02:00.\n\nIt is illegal to smoke in all pubs in Ireland. Some pubs have beer gardens, usually a heated outdoor area where smoking is allowed.\n\n### Only in Ireland", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk043", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Drink", "text": "McCarthys the Undertaker and Bar in Fethard, County Tipperary will see you sorted one way or another.\n Shoot the Crows in Sligo alas no longer accepts dead crows as payment, though you could always try swiping one across the contactless machine.\n Carroll Auctioneers in Kilmallock, County Limerick have somehow got their business listed as a pub, just be careful how you signal for another round.\n In Donovan's Hotel in Clonakilty, County Cork, raise a glass to the only USAF crew member to survive a crash landing but then be drunk to death by overwhelming Irish hospitality. He was Tojo, a monkey. He may have been navigating, as the crew thought they were over Norway. They buried him under the dance hall floor. \n On Ring Peninsula near Dungarvan in County Waterford, there were so many famine victims to be buried in the mass graveyard, they had to build a pub for all the grave-diggers and wagoners. It's called *An Seanachai* and is still serving. \n McHales in Castlebar, County Mayo, is the only place that still serves Guinness by the \"meejum\". This obscure measure is somewhat less than a pint but nowhere precisely defined, and indeed cannot be, thanks to a woozy collision between trading legislation and quantum uncertainty.\n Sean's Bar in Athlone, County Westmeath, is Ireland's oldest pub, reliably dated to 900 AD when its publican was also the fellow who guided you across the Shannon ford.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk044", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are hotels of all standards including some very luxurious. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations are widely available. These are usually very friendly, quite often family-run and good value. There are independent hostels which are marketed as Independent Holiday Hostels of Ireland, which are all tourist board approved. There is also an official youth hostel association, An Óige (Irish for *The Youth*). These hostels are often in remote and beautiful places, designed mainly for the outdoors. There are official campsites although fewer than many countries (given the climate). Wild camping is tolerated but try to seek permission—especially where you'll be visible from the landowner's house. Never camp in a field in which livestock are present. There are also specialist places to stay such as lighthouses, castles and ring forts.\n\nFor self-catering options, Cottages of Ireland is a directory of holiday cottages across the country, including seaside, countryside, and pet-friendly stays.", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk045", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Learn", "text": "It is fun to learn a few phrases of Irish, but it is not necessary as everyone speaks English. Visitors who want to learn Irish can take advantage of language courses specifically designed for them. The best known are provided by Oideas Gael in Donegal and the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge), which is based in Dublin. They employ experienced teachers whose aim is to equip you with basic fluency and give you an introduction to the culture. You will often find yourself sitting with people from a surprising variety of countries - perhaps as far away as Japan. Even a short course can reveal aspects of Ireland which more casual tourists may miss. But you are strongly advised to check the dates and book beforehand.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk046", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Work", "text": "Ireland is part of the European Union/European Economic Area and, as such, any EU/EEA/Swiss national has an automatic right to take up employment in Ireland. British citizens are also allowed to work in Ireland without any additional permits under the auspices of the Common Travel Area. Citizens of other countries will require a work permit and visa. Further information can be found on Citizens Information, the Irish government's public services information website.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk047", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|A garda car.\n\nThe police force is known as *An Garda Síochána*, (literally, 'Guards of the Peace'), or just \"Garda\", and police officers as *Garda* (singular) and *Gardaí* (plural, pronounced *Gar-dee*), though informally the English term Guard(s) is usual. The term police is rarely used, but is of course understood. Regardless of what you call them, they are courteous and approachable. Uniformed members of the Garda Síochána do not carry firearms, but the police in Northern Ireland do. Firearms are, however, carried by detectives and officers assigned to special police units. Police security checks at Shannon Airport can be tough if you are a solo traveller.\n\nCrime is relatively low by most European standards, but not so different in kind from crime in other countries. Late-night streets in larger towns and cities can be dangerous, as anywhere. Don't walk alone after sunset in deserted areas in Dublin or Cork, and be sure to plan getting back home, preferably in a taxi. Fortunately, most violent crime is drink- or drug-related, so simply avoiding the visibly inebriated can keep you out of most potential difficulties. If you need Gardaí, ambulance, fire service, coast guard or mountain rescue dial 999 or 112 as the emergency number; both work from landline phones and mobile phones.\n\nIn the unlikely event that you are confronted by a thief, be aware that Irish criminals in general are not afraid to resort to violence. Surrender any valuables they ask for and do not resist, as hooligans are bound to have sharp or blunt weapons with them (gun crime is relatively rare). If you are the victim of a crime, report it immediately. CCTV camera coverage in towns and cities is quite extensive, and a timely phone call could help retrieve your lost belongings.\n\nMany roads in the country are narrow and winding, and there has been an increase in traffic density. Ireland is improving its roads, but due to financial constraints many potholes do not get mended in a timely manner. If using a rented car, keep your eyes peeled for any potholes in the road as even the smallest of them could precipitate a rollover or a collision. Donegal in particular is known for its high rate of crashes, due to the prevalence of speeding and the narrow roads, so take extra precaution there.", "word_count": 387}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk048", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Water\n\n**Tap water** is generally drinkable. In some buildings you should avoid drinking water from bathroom sinks, which may be recycled or drawn from cisterns.\n\n### Smoking\n\nAlmost all enclosed places of work in Ireland, including bars, restaurants, cafés, are designated as smoke-free. Ireland was the first European country to implement the smoking ban in pubs. Rooms in hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments are not *required* by law to be smoke-free. Even though they are not obliged to enforce the ban, owners of these establishments can do so if they wish. Most hotels have some bedrooms or floors designated as smoking and some as non-smoking, so you should specify at the time of booking if you have a preference either way. The smoking ban also applies to common areas within buildings. This means for example that corridors, lobby areas and reception areas of buildings such as apartment blocks and hotels are also covered by the law.\n\nMost larger bars and cafés will have a (covered) outdoor smoking area, often with heating. This is a great way to meet up with locals. A new concept called \"smirting\" has been developed: \"smoking\" and \"flirting\". If an outdoor smoking area does not exist, be aware that it is illegal to consume alcohol on the street, so you may have to leave your drink at the bar.\n\nAny person found guilty of breaching the ban on smoking in the workplace may be subject to a fine of up to €3,000.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk049", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb | Ruined windmill in County Offaly\n\nIn general, the Irish are incredibly welcoming, friendly, upbeat, and approachable. Telling stories, jokes or being witty is very common. You can freely approach the locals for advice and you can ask them specific directions on where to go somewhere.\n\nIn smaller towns and villages, especially on a country road, if you walk past somebody it is customary to exchange pleasantries. They may also ask you \"how are you?\", or another similar variation. A simple hello or \"how are you?\" or a simple comment on the weather will suffice.\n\nThe Irish have a relaxed and flexible view of time; it's not uncommon for them to be a few minutes late to something. However, when visiting a home or going to a business invitation, it's advisable to reach on time.\n\nThe Irish are renowned for their sense of humour, but it can be difficult to understand for tourists not familiar with it. The Irish joke about themselves or other cultures, and may accidentally cause offence, but they are generally well-intentioned.\n\n**Family** is one of the pillars of Irish culture. Irish families tend to be close-knit. Children may be included in social activities. Criticising or joking about someone's family members is not appreciated.\n\nThe Irish are notorious for the amount of cursing they do. Don't be put off by this as people don't intend to make you uncomfortable in any way.\n\nWhen accepting gifts, a polite refusal is common after the first offer of the item. Usually, this is followed with an insistence that the gift or offer be accepted, at which point a refusal will be taken more seriously. However, some people can be very persuasive — this isn't meant to be overbearing, just courteous.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk050", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Respect", "text": "People in Ireland usually respond to a \"thank you\" with \"It was nothing\" or \"not at all\" (*\"Níl a bhuíochas ort\"* in Irish). This does not mean that they didn't try hard to please; rather, it is meant to suggest \"I was happy to do it for you, so it wasn't a problem\", even though it may have been. This can often also mean that they expect that they can ask for a favour from you at some point or that you are in some way indebted to the person who did something for you. There is a significant amount of \"you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours\" entrenched in the culture. thumb | Cross at Clonmacnoise Discussions about **religion and politics** are generally avoided by locals. Opinions between individuals are so vastly divided and unyielding, that most Irish people of moderate views have grown accustomed to simply avoiding the topics in polite conversation, especially since almost everyone in small towns knows each other.\n\n**National identity** is a sensitive issue for some. If you are of Irish descent or have Irish ancestors, claiming that you're 'Irish' will likely be met with amusement or incomprehension.\n\n**Try to avoid having a discussion about the Troubles**. It is an incredibly sensitive and complex topic that may trigger strong emotions and opinions among people who lived through it or have family ties to it.\n\nAlso tread carefully when discussing the history of British rule in Ireland, and be aware that most Irish people blame the British government for exacerbating the potato famine in the 1850s. Irish people bear no animosity against individual British citizens, and many Irish people have relatives living and working in the United Kingdom.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk051", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Respect", "text": "Any discussions about **abuse scandals** associated with the institutions of the Catholic Church must be approached with extreme tact and caution. Simply avoid this topic if you can. It is a very recent and painful chapter of the country's history, affecting a sizeable portion of the population. Insensitive comments will not be received well, and you never know if you are talking to someone who was directly or indirectly affected by it.\n\nLGBT visitors will find most Irish people to be accepting of same-sex couples. Ireland introduced civil partnerships in 2011 and voted to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015. Conservative values can still be found in Ireland, especially with the older generations, although they are becoming increasingly rare. As in many other countries, the younger generations are generally more accepting. Ireland has anti-discrimination laws that are predominately for the workplace, though few cases have been brought forward. In 2015, opinion polls leading up to the marriage equality referendum repeatedly showed, almost without variation, that about 75% of Irish people supported gay marriage rights.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk052", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Connect", "text": "Phone numbers in this guide are given in the form that you would dial them from outside Ireland. When using a landline within Ireland, the international dial prefix and country code of +353 should be substituted by a single 0. However, most landlines and mobile phones will accept the prefix 00353 or +353 to call Ireland numbers.\n\n### By mobile phone\n\nThere are more mobile phones than people in Ireland, and the majority of these are pre-paid. Phone credit is available in very many retailers, usually in denominations from €5 to €40. Some retailers charge a small commission on this credit, most don't.\n\nAfter a series of mergers, as of 2020 there are three mobile networks in Ireland:\n Eirmobile (incorporating Meteor): 085\n Three (incorporating O2, BlueFace, Lycamobile, iD mobile, Virgin Mobile, 48 and Tesco mobile): 083, 086 and 089\n Vodafone (incorporating Postfone): 087\n\nDublin has great coverage including 5G. Check other individual towns for network coverage - all but the smallest places have a signal, but it may not cover the approach roads or surrounding countryside. Close to the border with Northern Ireland, your mobile might latch onto a UK network, which could incur extra charges.\n\nPhones from anywhere in the EU plus UK are covered by a roaming agreement - this continues even though the UK has left the EU. Owners of phones from elsewhere should estimate their likely usage and bill through using their usual phone in Ireland, and decide whether to stick with that, or buy an Irish SIM card, or buy an Irish phone outright - this might be cheaper for stays over 2 months.\n\nIreland uses the same voltage and plugs as the United Kingdom; see Electrical systems. The airports and big cities sell adapters.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk053", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Connect", "text": "If you do not have a chip and PIN bank card and permanent contact information in Ireland (landline, address) then in some cases you may have problems paying for phone service. You might need to pay cash, in euros.\n\n### Non-geographic numbers\n\nNon-geographic numbers are those which are not specific to a geographical region and are charged at the same rate regardless of where the caller is located.\n\nCall type\n Description\n Dialling Prefix\n **Freephone**\n Free from all phonelines\n *1800*\n **Universal Access**\n Cost the same as a non-local/trunk dialling call\n *0818*\n **Premium Rate**\n Generally more expensive than other calls\n *15XX*\n**SMS/text short codes**\nGenerally more expensive than other texts\n5XXXX\n\n### Calling home\n\nPay phones have become quite rare, but they are still available in limited numbers. Most take euro coins, prepaid calling cards and major credit cards. You can also reverse the charges/call collect or use your calling card by following the instructions on the display.\n\n**To dial outwith Ireland:** 00 + country code + area code + local number. For example, to call a Spanish mobile, it would be 00 34 6 12345678.\n\n**To dial Northern Ireland from Ireland** a special code exists; drop the 028 area code from the local Northern Ireland and replace it with 048. This is then charged at the cheaper National Irish rate, instead of an international rate. Some providers accept +44 28 as a national rate when calling to Northern Ireland.\n\n**To dial an Irish number from within Ireland:** Simply dial all of the digits including the area code. You can drop the area code if you're calling from within that area and on a landline phone, but it makes no difference to the cost or routing. The area code is always required for calls from mobiles.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk054", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Connect", "text": "Fixed line numbers have the following area codes:\n01 (Dublin and parts of surrounding counties)\n02x (Cork)\n04xx (parts of Wicklow and North-East Midlands, excluding 048)\n048 (Northern Ireland)\n05x (Midlands and South-East)\n06x (South-West and Mid-West)\n07x (North-West)\n08x (Pagers and mobile phones)\n09xx (Midlands and West)\n\nOperator service is unavailable from pay phones or mobile phones.\n\n**Emergency services** dial 999 or 112 (Pan European code that runs in parallel). This is the equivalent of 911 in the US/Canada and is free from any phone.\n\n**Directory information** is provided by competing operators through the following codes (call charges vary depending on what they're offering and you'll see 118 codes advertised heavily):\n\n118 11 (Eir)\n118 50 (conduit)\n118 90\n\nThese companies will usually offer call completion, but at a very high price, and all of them will send the number by SMS to your mobile if you're calling from it.\n\n### Postal rates\n\nPostal services are provided by **An Post**. The costs of sending postcards and letters are:\n\nInland mail (island of Ireland): **€1.40** (up to 100 g)\nInternational mail (all other destinations): **€2.20** (up to 100 g)\n\nThese rates are correct as of February 2024.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "ireland::chunk055", "doc_id": "ireland", "section": "Go next", "text": "Northern Ireland — scenery and unique culture \n England — green landscapes, coastline, rolling hills, castles, and stately homes\n Wales — rugged landscapes and castles\n Scotland — highlands, scenery, and castles", "word_count": 30}
diff --git a/corpus/ireland/metadata.json b/corpus/ireland/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2a9bd0a9a931cbe2cf5bc495d8f8cfbd4a812eb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ireland/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "ireland",
+ "title": "Ireland",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ireland",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q22890",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 53,
+ -8
+ ],
+ "summary": "Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland – a sovereign state covering five-sixths of the island) and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom – covering the remaining sixth). It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest in the world. As of 2022, the population of the entire island is just over 7 million, with 5.1 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.9 million in Northern Ireland, ranking it the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain.\nThe geography of Ireland comprises relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain, with several navigable rivers extending inland. Much of Ireland was woodland until the end of the Middle Ages. Today, woodland makes ",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Britain and Ireland"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Northern Ireland",
+ "England",
+ "Wales",
+ "Scotland"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13541,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 56,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/isfahan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/isfahan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..73cc77fd4198e9c309809f1f57a2767dd2740091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/isfahan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk000", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Isfahan** (Persian: اصفهان, also known as Esfahan) is a city in central Iran, south of Tehran and is the capital of Isfahan Province. Due to its beautiful hand-painted tiling and magnificent public square, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.\n> ''Isfahan nesf-e jahan'', Isfahan is half the world\n\nAn ancient town and capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722, it has long been noted for carpets and for fine metal work. Today, textile and steel mills are also important. Its architecture, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed pace make it one of the highlights of Iran.", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk001", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city is 430 km south of Tehran at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range, and enjoys a temperate climate and regular seasons. Isfahan sits on the main north–south and east–west routes crossing Iran.\n\nMuch of the splendor of the city, including most of its finest monuments, date back to the Safavid era (1501-1736), for most of which the city was the imperial capital of Persia.\n\nThe city has an Armenian quarter called New Jolfa established by Shah Abbas I in the 1600s. The district is named after the town of Julfa, still existing along the Aras river, from where Armenians were forcefully relocated during the development of Isfahan. They were allocated land south of the Zayandeh river, and built a prosperous community thanks to international trade networks. Today the quarter still has many Armenian churches and institutions.", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk002", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Isfahan is well-connected by all modes of transport.\n\n### By plane\n\n*Getting there:* From the airport taxi costs 350,000 rials to the city centre (as of 2016).\n\nBesides, there are direct buses to Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport leave from Terminal-e Kaveh at 13:00, 18:00, 20:30 (and possibly other times as well). A trip costs 275,000 rials and takes under 6 hours (as of Sep 2016).\n\n### By train\n\nThere is a night-train to Tehran and a daily train to Mashhad. There are no trains to Shiraz. The night train from Tehran to Isfahan costs 240,000 rials for sleeping in a comfortable 6-bed compartment.\n\n*Getting there:* take bus #37 from the train station to Soffe Bus Terminal (ترمینال صفه;), where you can change for bus #91 to old town. The best place to get off is Chaharbaq street, where there are many hostels, hotels, cafés and things to see.\n\n \n\n### By car\n\nIsfahan is well-served by highways. There are good routes to the capital Tehran, Kashan, Shiraz, Yazd and Ahvaz.\n\n### By bus\n\nIsfahan is well connected to most parts of Iran by bus. There are several bus terminals in Isfahan and you should note which one is more suitable for you.\n\nFrom Tehran the busiest and most comfortable bus terminal to get to Isfahan is Beyhaghi terminal (known also as Argentina terminal) and Southern Terminal. Also there are a few luxury buses with a so-called \"European standard\" (very comfortable seats, open mini-bar, etc.)\n\nRoyal Safar Iranian is one a few luxury bus operators. Seats are extremely comfortable with lots of leg room. Water and snacks are provided and movies are shown. The ticket to Tehran costs 300,000 rials, and takes around 5 hours.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk003", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By metro\n\nA metro opened in October 2015\n\n### By bus\n\nThe easiest and the cheapest way of traveling inside of Isfahan is buying Isfahan card which is a multi-journey contactless card sold at certain bus stop booths. A single journey costs 5,000 rials when using Isfahan card or 10,000 rials if paid directly to a bus driver (as of 2017). There are separate sections in a bus: front - for men and rear - for women.\n\n### By taxi\n\nShort rides cost 50,000 rials, longer ones to Soffeh mountain and bus terminals - 100,000 rials (as of 2007). Taxi drivers will try to demand at least double of those prices at the beginning.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk004", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "See", "text": "### Squares and streets\n\nthumb|Naqsh-e Jahan Square\nthumb|Ceiling in one of the rooms of Hasht Behesht Palace\n\n - Naqsh-e Jahan Square\n\n - Chaharbagh Boulevard\n\n - Meydan Kohne\n\n - Shahshahan Square\n\n### Mosques\n\nthumb|Shah Mosque\nthumb|Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, interior of the dome\nthumb|Intricate vault in the Jameh Mosque\n\nThe stunning mosques of Isfahan are among the most beautiful and interesting in the world. see Islam for background.\n\n - Imam Mosque\n\n - Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque\n\n - Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan\n\n - Hakim Mosque\n\n### Palaces\n\nthumb|350px|Ali Qapu Palace\nthumbnail|Chehel Sotoun\n\n - Ālī Qāpū\n\n - Hasht Behesht Palace\n\n - Chehel Sotoun Palace\n\n - Talar Ashraf\n\n - Moshir\n\n### Schools\n\n **Madreseye Madar Shah** (Imam Jafar Sadegh after revolution). The compound was built during Soltan Hossein, a Safavid king, to serve as a theological and clerical school to train those who were interested in such sciences.The dome and the greater part of the walls are covered in bright yellow bricks which give a feeling of lightness. The entrance gate decorated with gold façade and silver, and the tile-works inside the building are masterpieces of fine art and industry. The central court, with its pool and garden, are surrounded by arcades on two levels, each giving access to a student's room.\n **Madreseye Khajoo**\n - Sadr Madrasa\n\n### Bridges\n\n300px|thumb|Si-o-se Pol, one of the 11 bridges\nWalk along the Zayanderud River beside the ancient bridges. You see many locals doing this everyday. However, as a result of a drought and badly planned dam, there is usually no water in the river.\n\n - Si-o-Seh Pol\n\n - Pol-e Shahrestan\n\n - Pol-e Khaju\n\n - Pol-e Joui\n\n - Pol-e Maarnaan\n\n### Jolfa\n\n**Jolfa** - The Armenian Quarter, it includes one of the most beautiful churches in Iran.\n - Vank Armenian Cathedral\n\n - Bedkhem Armenian Church\n\n### Gardens\n\n - Flowers Garden\n\n - Birds Garden\n\n### Others\n\n - Atashgah\n\n **Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina** (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th century.\n **The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah** - 12th & 18th century.\n **Pigeon Towers** - Built in the 17th century to attract pigeons, whose feces were then used as fertilizer.\n - Shaykh Bahai hammam\n\n - Ali Gholi Agha hammam", "word_count": 354}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk005", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Do", "text": "- Soffeh Mountain", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk006", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Learn", "text": "**Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University** - Foreign students can learn Persian here as part of tailor-made courses to suit their needs. Contact: Foreign Student Coordinator Ghaem Blv., Sepahan Shahr, Tel: 98-311-6502820-28", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk007", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Isfahan bazaar\nthumb|Cloth printing\nShops in the main square must pay an additional 8% tax on sales, which is passed on to the customer. Unless the item that you are purchasing is unique or inexpensive, you may be better off shopping outside of the main square.\n\nFor a real treasure trove, visit the famous bazaar. As for many things in Iran, you usually have to haggle for a reasonable price.\n\n**Isfahan carpets** are world-famous, being among the most finely woven of the Persian carpets; they are also often extremely expensive. Carpets from the nearby town of Na'in are similar in style, also well-known, and are expensive too. Top-grade Isfahan or Na'in carpets have over 600 knots per square inch, about one knot per square mm.\n The carpet shops in the bazaar have a fine selection of other carpets as well, including moderately-priced lower-grade Isfahans and carpets from all over Iran. These include all the other major Persian carpet-weaving cities, plus some fine rugs from minority ethnic groups such as Turkomans in the north and Baluchis in the east. Rugs from outside Iran are less common. \n For those who are interested, it is possible to buy the highly decorative and brightly coloured traditional dress of Isfahan, but such clothing can be expensive.\n**Miniatures** These exquisite miniature paintings are painted on camel bone. Most of them are sold framed, and prices start from about 15,000 rials. It can be more costly if the artwork is done by a miniature master. Shop and look at various shops before making your decision.\n - Metalwork\n\n **Isfahan cloth** is hand-printed with elaborate designs, usually on a beige background.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk008", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Eat", "text": "In some parks, you can simply obtain a carpet and tea from the park warden, and have a picnic on the grass! You will find families gather in these parks, and bring barbecues and cook freshly made kebabs, which smell (and taste) delicious.\n\n*Na'an* is Persian for bread and the word is used in various Indian languages for their version of Persian-style bread. That can be excellent, but some prefer the Persian original. Arguably the best of the lot is found in Isfahan's Armenian quarter, Jolfa.\n\n### Local foods\n\n**Chelo kebab** (kebab with rice) is a must; there are regional variations in Isfahan.\n**Beryani** is a popular lunch dish in Isfahan. It is made with sheep meat and lung. Although Iranians love this meal, it is very fatty. Therefore, some westerners may dislike Beryani.\n**Fereni** (a concoction of rice flour, water and milk) at Fereni Hafez, which is along Hafez Street near Imam Square. It costs 3,000 rials for a small bowl or 5,000 rials for a bigger one.\n**Safran ice cream**\n\n### Restaurants\n\n - Shem Shad Restaurant\n\n - Naqsh-e Jahan Traditional Restaurant\n\n - Shahrzad restaurant", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk009", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Visit one of the tea-houses in the bazaar or under one of the bridges.\n\n - Behesht Cafe\n\n - Cafe Ax\n\n### Coffee\n\nThere are lots of coffee shops in Isfahan.\n\n - Feel Cafe\n\n - Pasio Cafe", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk010", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Ceiling of the Vank Cathedral\n\n - Narcis B&B\n\n### Budget\n\n- Howzak House\n\n- Annie Hostel\n\n- Hi Hostel\n\n - Khalvat House Hostel\n\n- Mahbibi Hostel\n\n- Amir Kabir Hostel\n\n - Chilla Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Dibai House\n\n - Hasht Behesht Apartment Hotel\n\n - Bekhradi Historial Residence\n\n - Safir Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Abbasi Hotel\n\n - Kowsar International Hotel\n\n - Ali-Qapu Hotel\n\n - Aseman Hotel", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk011", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are various Internet cafés in Isfahan. The best place which has the fastest connection and also cheapest in the city is the Central Library of Esfahan. It is accessible from Naghshe-Jahan Square by five minutes walk.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk012", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Consulates\n\n - Russian consulate", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk013", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "*See the warnings at Iran.*", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "isfahan::chunk014", "doc_id": "isfahan", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Dasht-e-Kavir** (central desert of Iran) is reached by a 6-hour bus journey from Isfahan. You'll find oases, salt lakes, etc.\n **Kashan** is famous for its beautiful mansions from the 1800s and its gardens. Also carpets.\n **Na’in** is the first desert town toward the east, a small and quiet town at the edge of the desert. A perfect pattern of a desert town. It is famous for carpets; the style and quality are similar to those of Isfahan.\n **Qom** is a holy city on the highway north toward Tehran.\n **Shiraz** is around 6 hours south of Isfahan by bus.\n **Toudeshk-Cho** is 100 km from Isfahan, on the way to Yazd. It is a quaint traditional desert village and it is easy to get to from the Jey Minibus terminal. It is well known among backpackers as the location of the Tak-Taku Homestay.", "word_count": 141}
diff --git a/corpus/isfahan/metadata.json b/corpus/isfahan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..eafec1ed7d9235a315c7d2845ff4b063d4cf810e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/isfahan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "isfahan",
+ "title": "Isfahan",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Isfahan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "shopping",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Isfahan_(province)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kashan",
+ "Na’in",
+ "Qom",
+ "Shiraz",
+ "Toudeshk-Cho",
+ "Yazd"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1774,
+ "listing_count": 52,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/isla-mujeres/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/isla-mujeres/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..55006c5ab757b54a5c3afe4f855f4d6519c9dcf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/isla-mujeres/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk000", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Isla Mujeres** (Spanish for \"Island of Women\") is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea, 13 km (8 miles) off of the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, near Cancún. Isla Mujeres has an enticing small-town vibe and is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk001", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Understand", "text": "300px|thumb|Sleepy Playa Norte\n300px|thumb|Aerial of Isla Mujeres, Mexico\nIsla Mujeres was a Mayan sanctuary to the goddess Ixchel (goddess of fertility and childbirth) for about a thousand years. In the early 19th century, the island was a haven for several notorious pirates, including Mundaca, who lived on the islands for quite a few years and built the *Hacienda Mundaca*. Around 1850 local settlers established the village of Dolores.\n\nPeak season is during the winter months when temperatures are cooler. Summer temperatures are sweltering, with blazing sun and highs well over , although summer visitors (from mid-May through September) have the opportunity to see whale sharks which gather in nearby waters in groups that can contain up to 400 sharks.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk002", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By boat\n\n \n\nYou can depart from these ports in Cancun:\n\n Puerto Juarez/Gran Puerto. Puerto Juarez every half hour from about 5AM until 9PM, and hourly until 11PM. Schedules vary by time of year (check the website for the current schedule). 18 minute smooth ride in modern air conditioned ferries. M$258/468 one-way/return (pesos) (Feb 2022). Puerto Juarez is used by locals and the ferries tend to be full, but there are always comfortable seats. The port is quite close to downtown Cancun, but not within a walking distance. Taxis from Las Americas cost M$100 (if you hail them from the street) to M$150 if you leave from popular spots.\n Playa Caracol in the middle of the Hotel Zone. It departs 6-7 times per day. Prices are M$378/518 one-way/round-trip (Feb 2022).\n Playa Tortugas in the west of the hotel zone. It has 8-9 departures per day. It costs M$378/518 one-way/round-trip (Feb 2022).\n Punta Sam. Here you can get a car-ferry. It's M$170 (Jan 2022) one-way for pedestrians. There are four daily departures on week-days, and three daily departures during the week-end. You can see the schedules and fares on the website of **Ultramar Cargo**\n\nPuerto Juarez and Punta Sam can be reached by colectivos starting opposite the ADO bus station (in front of the McDonald's) in downtown within a few minutes for M$10 (Jan 2022). A bus route to Puerto Juarez also picks up there and is M$10.50.\n\n### By plane\n\nIf you're in a hurry and have cash to spare, you can charter a Cessna from **Aerobanana** (+52 998 87-25040). Or, if you are the adventurous type, try hitching a ride with a local in their plane. You will never forget the look on the Mexican's face when he sees an opportunity to acquire a new friend.\n\nCancún International Airport is the nearest airport with scheduled domestic and international flights.", "word_count": 310}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk003", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres Mexico\nThe island is about 7 km in length, but the main town area is extremely compact and very walkable. Taxis from the ferry terminal will take you anywhere in town for M$30, but for excursions to the far side of the island the best option is to rent a scooter or golf cart. Like everything in Mexico, you should be able to haggle a decent price - assume M$25 a day as a starting price for a moped rental. There are two main roads that run from end to end of the island. Be aware that when driving on the Caribbean side of the island, there are occasional strong gusts of wind that can really take you by surprise on a scooter, as can the many *topes*, or speed bumps.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk004", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "See", "text": "Note that *Tortugranja*, the former sea turtle hatchery on the island, has closed as of September 2021. \n - Hacienda Mundaca\n\n - North Beach\n\n - Playa Sol\n\n - Punta Sur\n\n - Museo Subacuático de Arte", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk005", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Fish watching season at Garafon Park\n\n### Water activities\n\n - Whale Shark Tours\n\n - Garafon Reef Park\n\n - Scuba diving and snorkeling\n\n- Mexico Divers PADI / SDI Resort\n\n - Squalo Adventures\n\n - Aqua Adventures\n\n - Go Fishing\n\n### Land activities\n\n - Beach Volleyball\n\n - The town and townsfolk\n\n - Rent a golf cart/bike/etc.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk006", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Buy", "text": "You have the typical items available for purchase (blankets, jewellery, stone carvings, pipes). Silver is the item to look for and good prices can be found, especially if buying in quantity. The majority of shops and restaurants accept the US dollar but may give you your change in pesos.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk007", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Eat", "text": "Hidalgo Street is full of restaurants catering to the tourist crowd and tends to be the most lively and also the priciest, while the central portion of the island is where the locals tend to eat and has slightly lower prices. Beach restaurants are also plentiful, with options near the ferry terminal being more lively while those on Playa Norte and other beaches featuring a more relaxed atmosphere.\n\nFish is fresh and bountiful, and dishes like ceviche are popular and delicious. A signature island dish is Tik-n-chik, which is a whole fish marinated in achiote and grilled. Dining options include everything from an exquisite lobster dinner to a slice of pizza. Some of the best food on the island comes from carts: taco stands and vendors selling corn on the cob and tamales in the town square. Be aware that eggs, corn, or milk is rarely refrigerated here because of local tradition.\n\n### Budget\n\n#### in the centro:\n\n - Picus\n\n#### in the middle of the island:\n\n - Taqueria El Cachirul\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Amigos\n\n- Asia Caribe\n\n - Bally Hoo\n\n - Fredy's Bar And Restaurant\n\n - Miguel's Moonlight\n\n - Minino's\n\n - Sunset Grill\n\n- Qubanos\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Rolandi's", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk008", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Drink", "text": "Isla's nightlife is a lot more laid back than Cancun's but there are still good options. The livelier nightlife seems to be found on Hidalgo Street, while the beach bars are more relaxed. Also, like all beach towns in Mexico, it is usually \"Happy Hour\" someplace, and beer is 2 for about US$3, mixed drinks, 2 for US$5. The \"beach bars\" on the north end have rotating happy hours. Try a michelada, which is a beer mixed with fresh lime juice and a variety of other sauces - the perfect delicious island drink. If you want a dosage of Cancun nightlife, jump on an express ferry heading to Cancun in the evening, party the night away and take the first ferry back to Isla at 5AM.\n\n - La Adelita\n\n - Buho's\n\n - Chi-Chi & Charlies\n\n - Pocna Hostel Bar\n\n - Romi's Bar", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk009", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\n - Selina Isla Mujeres Pocna\n\n - XS Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Belmar\n\n - Ixchel Beach hotel\n\n - Hotel Las Palmas\n\n- Maria’s Kankin\n\n - Playa la Media Luna Hotel\n\n - Seahawk Rooms\n\n### Splurge\n\nThe private homes on Punta Sur make great options if your budget is greater. These homes overlook the bay towards Cancun.\n**Casa Vaya Vida**. This 3-bedroom home has a piano-shaped infinity pool overlooking the bay. The master suite has an ocean view. The *palapa* on the roof provides 360-degree ocean views.", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk010", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Cope", "text": "There are not too many ATMs on the island. One is right across the port, and the next one in a supermarket just a few meters north. The Xpress Supermarket by the town square also has an ATM.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "isla-mujeres::chunk011", "doc_id": "isla-mujeres", "section": "Go next", "text": "Isla Contoy\nCancún\nCozumel\nPlaya del Carmen", "word_count": 7}
diff --git a/corpus/isla-mujeres/metadata.json b/corpus/isla-mujeres/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fdddda71f93cda5bd0c90e5fbdb5d719cc0cb507
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/isla-mujeres/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "isla-mujeres",
+ "title": "Isla Mujeres",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Isla_Mujeres",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_Mujeres",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q1020769",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 21.23333333,
+ -86.73333333
+ ],
+ "summary": "Isla Mujeres (Spanish pronunciation: ['isla mu'xeɾes], Spanish for \"Women Island\", formally \"Isla de Mujeres\") is an island where the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet, about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) off the Yucatán Peninsula coast in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long and 650 metres (2,130 ft) wide. To the east is the Caribbean Sea with a strong surf and rocky coast, and to the west the skyline of Cancún can be seen across the water. In the 2010 census, the namesake town on the island had a population of 12,642. The town is the seat of Isla Mujeres Municipality. It is located within the Eastern Standard Time Zone, which is UTC-5.",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "fishing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Yucatán"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Isla Contoy",
+ "Cancún",
+ "Cozumel",
+ "Playa del Carmen"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1221,
+ "listing_count": 39,
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+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk000", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Israel** (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל *Medinat Yisra'el*; Arabic: دولة إسرائيل *dawlat ʔisrāʔīl*) is a small yet diverse Middle Eastern country. The modern State of Israel was established in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people, but the region contains thousands of years of history for many peoples and religions in addition to the Jews. Israel is considered part of the **Holy Land** (together with areas of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian territories), and of the Levant and in ancient history of the Fertile Crescent. The three major Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as the Baha'i Faith, have strong ties to this land, and their holy and historic sites are major destinations for pilgrims and tourists from around the world. The Israeli population is about 74% Jews, 21% Arabs, and 5% non-Arab Christians and others. Most of the Jews are descended from Olim (returnees from the Jewish Diaspora), and their diverse origins (Russian, German, Moroccan, Yemeni, and Ethiopian, to name a few of the prominent ones) can be seen in various aspects of modern Israeli culture.\n\nIn contrast to its long ancient history, Israel is a highly urbanized, economically developed, first-world society. It remains in conflict with the Palestinians and some of its other Arab neighbors. \n\nSince 1967, Israel has controlled most of the West Bank (often called \"Judea and Samaria\" in Israel) as well as the Golan Heights. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan, but most other countries, except the United States, reject the annexation, and consider these areas and the West Bank (which Israel did not annex, and Israeli law does not apply to the area) to be occupied Arab territories. Wikivoyage takes no stance on these political issues, but notes that in practice, current visitors to these areas will need Israeli visas and permits.", "word_count": 302}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk001", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Regions", "text": "Israel possesses a number of diverse regions, with landscapes varying between coast, mountain, forest, and desert, with just about everything in between. On a single winter day, for example, you could go skiing at the Hermon mountain on the Golan Heights, and then sunbathe next to the Dead Sea. The metropolitan areas of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv form very much their own regions; from north to south, however, Israel's regions are as follows:\n\n### Disputed territories", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk002", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Cities", "text": "320px|right|thumb|[[Jerusalem/Old City|The Old City of Jerusalem]]\n\n – the capital and largest city of Israel; a diverse city sacred for millennia to the three Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims). It has an abundance of historic sites from five millennia.\n – the center of Israel's economy and modern culture, this vibrant city is known as the \"White City\" for its Bauhaus architecture. It is home to beautiful historic architecture in its Old Jaffa district, and towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, bustling markets, a vibrant LGBT scene and the largest nightclub scene of the Middle East.\n (Acre) – an ancient town with a historic port and the most sacred Baha'i site. Its coastal old town is particularly beautiful\n – the de facto capital of the Negev region\n – the 'Goa of the Middle East', Israel's window on the Red Sea, a vibrant resort city\n – the largest city in northern Israel, this city possesses beautiful seaside views from its peak on Mount Carmel, as well as a rich heritage as a major port city. The city is home to historic Ottoman and Mediterranean-style architecture, with red rooftops, cobbled streets and palm trees. It is home to the ornate Baha'i World Center (a ), and its picturesque gardens, which are considered the city’s major attraction.\n – the hometown of Jesus, now the largest Arab city in Israel\n (Tzfat) – a fascinating mountaintop city filled with artists and mystics, home to ARI school of Kabbalah\n – a modern resort town with an ancient background, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk003", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "250px|right|thumb|[[Masada]]\nthumb|Front of the Bahàì World Center, in the northern city of [[Haifa]]\nthumbnail|[[Mount Hermon|Hermon]] Ski resort (operating only during the winter)\n\n – a historic walled area within the modern city of Jerusalem split into four quarters: the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian. Tourists of different religions and nations come from around the world to visit its holy sites, which include the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. A UNESCO World Heritage site.\n – One of the oldest port cities in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site\n – the home of Jesus of Nazareth and the largest freshwater lake in the country\n – a sea of hypersalinated water that keeps people afloat and the lowest point on Earth\n – an extensive inland valley, largely rural, extending inland from east of Haifa to the Jordan Valley\n – an arid landscape with an array of hills, canyons, and hidden historic sites\n – center of the Bahá'í Faith, home to the Shrine of the Báb and Terraces, in the northern city of Haifa\n\n### Prominent national parks\n\n – high on a plateau above the Dead Sea, the scene of the Zealots' last stand against the might of Rome. A UNESCO World Heritage site.\n – beautiful steep canyon and a popular hiking spot\n – an ancient Roman and Crusader city with well-preserved remains\n – the core of the north Jordan River valley\n – a Crusader fortress on a ridge in the eastern edge of the Galilee.\n – remains of a medieval fortress in the northern Golan Heights, 800 meters above sea level.\n – spectacular caverns on Israel's Mediterranean coast in the Western Galilee in the north of Israel, near the northern border with Lebanon.\n\n### Prominent nature reserves\n\n – 40 km long crater-like landform in the middle of the Negev desert, the largest of three similar craters found in Israel. Offers breathtaking desert vistas.\n – The mountain is partly in Israel and partly in Syria and Lebanon. The Israeli summit of the mountain is 2,224m above sea level and is the highest location in the country. The total area of the Hermon nature reserve is 76,250 hectares. Most of the nature reserve is in a restricted military area (except for Hermon Ski resort and the Banias springs area at the slopes of the mountain which are popular visited destination).\n – a forested hilly region along the Mediterranean coast, southeast of Haifa\n\nSee also for parks and reserves.", "word_count": 411}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk004", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "alt=A Roman siege camp on the mountain next to Masada|thumb|329x329px|A Roman siege camp on the mountain next to [[Masada]]\n\n### History\n\n#### Until the Middle Ages\n\n180px|thumb|right|The Tel Dan Stele, dating from circa the 9th century BCE, was discovered in Tel Dan and is the oldest archaeological artifact to mention the House of David outside of the Bible\n\nWhile the current **state** of Israel is a relatively new country founded in 1948, the \"**land** of Israel\" has a long, complex history stretching back thousands of years to the beginnings of human civilization. It's been invaded by virtually every Old World empire including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Ottomans, French (with Napoleon as general), and British. It is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, and also contains sacred sites of Islam and the Baha'i Faith.\n\n290px|thumb|The model of the Second Temple at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk005", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "Israel has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, with Neanderthal remains from the region dating back 50,000 years. Its strategic location serving as a land bridge from Asia to Egypt and the rest of Africa made Israel an ideal target for conquerors through the ages. The first nation to conquer the land was Egypt, in the 16th century BC. In the Fifth Year of Pharaoh Merenptah (roughly 1208 BC) Israel is mentioned on a stele as having been \"laid waste\" (likely a propaganda exaggeration), which constitutes the first mention of Israel known to history. Incidentally that same year is also the date of an inscription on behalf of the same Pharaoh mentioning the \"Sea Peoples\" who are often blamed for the virtual collapse of urban and writing society in the eastern Mediterranean of the time, ushering in - among other things - the \"Greek Dark Ages\" and the collapse of the Hittite Empire. In approximately 1000 BC, an Israelite kingdom was set up under King Saul. According to the Biblical account, King Saul was succeeded by kings David and Solomon, but after Solomon's death the kingdom split in two (though many historians contend that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were never united but instead were always rival kingdoms). The northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC, and the southern kingdom by Babylonia in 586 BC. Both conquests were accompanied by an exile of the Israelites from their land.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk006", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "Several decades later, the Persian empire conquered Babylonia, and allowed the Jewish exiles to return and reestablish a province centered around Jerusalem. The Persian empire was in turn conquered in ~330 BC by Alexander the Great. In ~166 BC, the Maccabees rebelled against the Seleucid Greeks and established an independent Jewish state, but this state was conquered in 63 BC by the Roman Empire. Around 30 CE, Jesus of Nazareth began his ministry in the Galilee.\n\nPeriodic Jewish revolts against the Romans had some temporary success, but eventually led to destruction and exile for the Jews. The Roman/Byzantine Empire continued to rule the area until the 7th century, when the area was conquered (very briefly) by the Persians, and then by the Muslim Arabs. In the Crusades (11th-13th centuries), Christians were temporarily able to conquer the Holy Land from the Muslims. After 1290, when the Crusaders were expelled by Saladin, the land was ruled by different Muslim rulers. The last of those Muslim rulers was Ottoman Turkey, which was defeated in the First World War. After the war, the area that is now Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan became the \"League of Nations Mandate for Palestine\", intended in part as a homeland for Jewish people.\n\n#### Since World War I\n\nDuring the 1920s, the British were handed a mandate to prepare the region for a future Jewish state. Arab pressure led to the eastern part of the mandate being split off into the Arab kingdom of Transjordan (now Jordan) and declared off-limits for Jews.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk007", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "The first two major waves of modern Jewish immigration were in 1882 and the early 1900s, under Ottoman rule, followed by refugees from Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. Before 1948, immigration was almost exclusively by Ashkenazi Jews, who spoke mostly Yiddish and/or the national languages of their countries of residence. Initially, religious Jews were largely opposed to the idea of Zionism, and as such the first waves of immigrants were dominated by idealistic but secular Jews.\n\nWhile several Arab leaders and individuals welcomed Jewish immigration to develop the largely agricultural land, starting in the 1920s the Arab majority was vocally hostile to Zionism. Both Zionist and non-Zionist Jews were attacked during the riots of 1929 and the later Arab revolt of 1936-1939. During World War II, Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, openly allied with Nazi Germany and called for an Arab state with no Jews in it. The Jewish population formed several armed groups to defend themselves – the Haganah (precursor to the modern Israeli army) was the largest and most important, but there were also more violent and extremist offshoots like the Irgun. In 1939 the British decided to appease Arab radicals with the \"White Paper\", which severely limited Jewish immigration just as the Nazis were about to begin World War II. This was bitterly opposed by Zionists. When the British continued to prevent the immigration of Holocaust survivors after the war, Jewish underground groups became heavily involved in illegal immigration, and the more radical groups conducted violent attacks on the British government.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk008", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "After two years of growing violence between Jews, Arabs, and the British government, in the fall of 1947 the British decided to withdraw from the area. The UN recommended that the territory of Palestine be partitioned into separate Jewish and Arab states, which was agreed to by both the United States and the Soviet Union. The Jews accepted the plan, but the Arabs firmly rejected it. Nonetheless, on 14 May 1948, the Jews declared independence as the State of Israel. The Arabs responded with a military invasion. The Israelis won a decisive victory. As a result of the war, approximately 600,000 Arabs were displaced from the territory of the newly-proclaimed Jewish state. This event is known as the *Nakba* (lit. catastrophe) to Palestinians, and to Israelis as their War of Independence. A comparable number of Jews were displaced from Arab nations in the late 1940s and 1950s, and many of them settled in Israel.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk009", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "At first, France was Israel's most important ally and arms supplier, though Czechoslovakia had also been an important supplier of weapons up till 1949. Israel would participate in the Suez Crisis on the side of France and the United Kingdom in 1956, during which it would gain control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. However, under American and Soviet pressure, Israel would be forced to withdraw from Sinai in 1957, though the agreement would also guarantee Israeli ships free passage through the Straits of Tiran. Further fighting continued over the next few decades, and in the Six-Day War of 1967 the Israelis won another decisive victory against the Arabs, during which it regained control of Sinai from Egypt, and also gained control of the Golan Heights from Syria. Despite urgent pleas by Israel asking Jordan not to attack (Israel had enjoyed a less belligerent relationship with Jordan than other Arab neighbors), King Hussein was ultimately convinced by Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to do so. The Jordanian attack led to Israel quickly capturing East Jerusalem and the West Bank, leading to the ongoing and controversial situation in both places.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk010", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1973, Anwar Sadat, who had succeeded the deceased Nasser as leader of Egypt, decided to launch a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, one of the highest holidays in Judaism. While the Israeli secret service had hints of an impending attack, Prime Minister Golda Meir decided not to launch a pre-emptive strike for fear of a negative reaction by other countries, particularly the U.S. Despite early gains by the Arab side, Israel ultimately gained the upper hand, aided by U.S. arms shipments which helped cement what is seen today as one of both countries' strongest and longest-lasting alliances. In 1979, a peace treaty was concluded between Israel and Egypt (with Sinai returned to Egypt) with American mediation, and in 1994, a similar peace treaty was signed with Jordan again with American mediation. Both agreements have held to this day. However, a peace process with Palestinian Arabs that began in the early 1990s failed in 2000, and little progress has been seen since then. In the 21st century, other actors than the U.S. have tried to mediate in the conflict, but neither the EU nor the Arab League have had more luck than U.S. mediation. Israel normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020 with U.S. mediation, making them the first Gulf states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. In the same year, Israel also normalized relations with Sudan with U.S. mediation - the first peace deal with a country that had actually fought a war with Israel since the Jordan peace deal. In December 2020, Morocco became the sixth Arab nation, and second North African nation to normalise ties with Israel.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk011", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "Israel remains officially at war with neighboring Syria and Lebanon, and has similar hostilities with the Hamas organization which controls the Gaza Strip. However, these borders are usually quiet – infrequently shells or rockets will be fired across them, and on rare occasions a full-scale conflict will break out (for example, in 2014 and 2023–2024). There are also occasional cases of individual violent attacks between Israelis and West Bank Palestinians, who have significant interaction in the West Bank and Jerusalem.\n\nIsrael is in Asia but, due to hostility from the Arab countries, it participates in European rather than Asian regional bodies.\n\n### Economy\n\nthumb|300px|upright|Downtown Haifa, including the port and the sail tower\n\nIsrael has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors since the 1980s. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, aircraft, high-tech defense systems, chemicals and chemical products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, rubber, plastics, textiles and services in various fields are the leading exports. Large reserves of offshore natural gas have been discovered since 2009.\n\nFor many years Israel posted sizable current account deficits, which were covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. However, tight fiscal policy and high growth rates led Israel to a budget surplus. Roughly half of the government's foreign debt is owed to the U.S., which is its major source of economic and military aid.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk012", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "Israel's economy grew rapidly in the 1990s due to immigration from the former USSR, the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, the optimism of the peace process, and the dot-com boom. However, in 2000 the combination of a second intifada and the dot-com bust led to a severe recession. Since 2004 the economy has resumed growing, and Israel was one of the world's most resilient economies during the 2008 \"Great Recession\". From the 2010s, Israel’s economy has grown rapidly, largely due to the country’s high-tech industries. Today, Israel is a developed country and in 2022 has a GDP per capita similar to the European Union average. The cost of living – especially in big cities like Tel Aviv – is surprisingly high and there is a long-standing debate about the problem of economic emigration.\n\n### Society\n\nThe most obvious division in Israel's society is between Jews – who make up 75% of the population in Israel proper and 15%–40% in areas captured by Israel during the Six-Day War (West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights) – and non-Jews (mostly Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel), who make up nearly all of the rest. In addition, some 350,000 people who emigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union are not considered Jews according to the standards of *halakha* (Jewish law), though most have some Jewish ancestry and they largely identify with the Jewish mainstream. In terms of religious affiliation, 77% of Israelis are Jewish, 16% are Muslim, 4% are Christian Arabs, and 2% are Druze (a Muslim offshoot considered heretical by mainstream Islam).", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk013", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are also deep divisions within Jewish society. First is the cultural division between the 'Ashkenazim', whose ancestors came from communities that developed over hundreds of years in Central and Eastern Europe, who dominated statebuilding in Israel's first decades as a state, and were traditionally considered wealthier and better connected politically (particularly those from Germany and other central or northern European countries), and the 'Sephardim' and 'Mizrahim', who immigrated from the Balkans, Middle East, Yemen and North Africa. Sephardi and Mizrahi immigrants from Europe tend to match the socioeconomic profile of Ashkenazim. However, the divide between these ethnic groups has greatly narrowed, and intermarriage has become common. Massive immigration of Ethiopian Jews in the 1980s and Russian-speaking Jews in the 1990s has added additional notable demographics to Israel's population. Despite the majority of the world's Jews being Ashkenazim and despite Zionism initially being largely an Ashkenazi phenomenon, these days there are more Mizrahim/Sephardim in Israel than Ashkenazim, and Mizrahi/Sephardi culture is by far culturally dominant in today’s Israel. Further, marriage between Jewish ethnic groups has increased year-over-year in Israel, and a plurality of Israeli Jews today are of mixed Jewish backgrounds (for example, it's common for someone to be descended from Polish Jews on one side of their family, and Tunisian Jews on the other).", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk014", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "While ethnic divisions have weakened as the native-born population has increased, religious tensions between 'secular' and 'Orthodox' Jews have increased. The spectrum ranges from the stringently Orthodox 'Haredim' (who form only 9% of the population but wield a disproportionate amount of power, thanks to Israel's fractious coalition politics), through 10% who are 'religious' (similar to 'Modern Orthodox' outside Israel), 15% 'traditional-religious' and 23% 'traditional' to 43% 'secular'. While secular and traditional Jews are widespread throughout all of Israel, Orthodox Jews tend to be concentrated in some cities, such as Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and Ashdod, while Tel Aviv is known for being one of the most socially liberal cities in the world, on par with major American and Western European cities. Despite the common perception of religious Jews being more ardent Zionists and secular Jews being more open to \"land for peace\" deals with the Palestinians, *Ultra*-Orthodox Jews (a term rejected as pejorative by many) are actually largely opposed to the current Israeli state and some consider Zionism blasphemous as they believe that only the Messiah can restore Israeli statehood. On the other hand, large groups of Russian-speaking or Mizrachi Jews are relatively secular but vote for parties generally considered to fall into the \"hawkish\" camp and are opposed to the principle of \"land for peace\" and highly skeptical of negotiations with Hamas, Fatah or those neighbors with whom Israel does not maintain official diplomatic relations.\n\nJewish travellers from the English-speaking world may affiliate with non-Orthodox Jewish religious movements such as Reform/Liberal, Reconstructionist, and Masorti/Conservative. However, travellers should be aware that while these movements do have a presence in Israel, they are dwarfed by secular Jews and the Orthodox; institutional support for organized non-Orthodox religious life is minimal.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk015", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "In any case, if a traveller wishes to (e.g.) attend Shabbat services at a synagogue or at a family’s house, they should do advance planning and research, or at least join a local contact person to help with the little details (where to sit, when to come, what’s expected etc).\n\n### Holidays\n\nthumb|Cyclists ride down a deserted motorway in Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur\nthumb|Fireworks celebrating Independence day\n\n#### Shabbat\n\nIn Israel, the workweek is from **Sunday to Thursday**. Friday is a day when most Israelis don't work, and the street and the markets in the Jewish cities during Friday will be more crowded than usual. On Friday, shops, markets, and Kosher restaurants close between 14:00 and 16:00, and public transportation (except East Jerusalem and Nazareth) usually ends on Fridays around 16:00 and restarts on Saturday around 18:00 in the winter or 21:00 in the summer. This is because of Shabbat (the sabbath), which begins Friday afternoon around sunset, and ends Saturday around sunset, though many places do not reopen/renew service until Sunday morning. The same holds true for major Jewish or national holidays. This is critical if you rely on the bus or train to explore the country or go to/from the airport (planes do fly on Shabbat, except for El Al airline). So plan your itinerary accordingly. Sherut (shared minibus taxis) will often operate on Shabbat, and can be used for intercity travel if you must travel between Friday evening and Saturday evening.\n\n#### Public holidays", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk016", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "Different levels of activity stop in Israel depending on the festival or holiday, and different areas will see different levels of activity on these days. Public transportation usually stops completely on most holidays. Holidays in Israel follow the Jewish calendar, which means that the Gregorian date will vary from year to year although tending to fall within the same 6-week period. In the Jewish tradition, a new day begins at sunset, meaning that Jewish holidays begin on the eve of the official date (not at midnight). A list of Gregorian dates matched with the National holidays and Jewish holidays can be found at the holidays section of the \"GoIsrael\" site or at Hebcal. A more elaborate list of Jewish holidays and dates can be found at the Jewish holidays section of the Chabad site, although some of the holidays mentioned there are scarcely celebrated or have no influence on day-to-day activities.\n\nHolidays on which stores and public transportation are closed (similar to Shabbat) are marked with a plus sign (+):\n\n+ - Rosh Hashanah\n\n+ - Yom Kippur\n\n+ - Sukkot\n\n+ - Shemini Atzeret\n\n- Yitzhak Rabin's Remembrance Day\n\n- Hanukkah\n\n- Purim\n\n+ - Pesach\n\n- Yom HaShoah\n\n- Yom HaZikaron\n\n+ - Yom Ha-Atzmaut\n\n- Lag Ba'Omer\n\n- Yom Yerushalayim\n\n+ - Shavuot\n\n- Tisha B'Av\n\n### Electricity\n\nthumb|Israeli type plugs. Old type (flat prongs) on the left, new type (round prongs) on the right, and a ubiquitous hybrid socket that also accepts type C plugs", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk017", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Understand", "text": "The voltage in Israel is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. The electric outlets used are type H and rarely Type C. Type H is a three-pronged standard unique to Israel, but most modern type H outlets can also accept type C European two-pronged plugs. In fact, most electronic devices in Israel use type C plugs. For more information on plug types, please see our Electrical systems article.\n\n### Climate\n\nSummer in Israel (mid-June to mid-October) is characterized by high temperatures throughout the country, which will make staying outside unbearable, and you will only want to find yourself in the water, or in an air-conditioned place. It is very hot in the coastal areas even during the night.\n\nWinter (December, January, February), can be characterized by beautiful days with 20 degrees Celsius, or days of heavy rain. Mountainous areas, especially Jerusalem, are common with temperatures of less than 10 degrees Celsius. And on average, once a year it can snow in Jerusalem. Traveling to the desert on rainy days is dangerous due to the risk of flash floods.\n\nFor these reasons, the months with the most travelers (excluding periods with security problems) are April, May, October and November.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nGo Israel tourism information\n\n### See also", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk018", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|upright|Multilingual sign on an Israeli beach\n\nThe official language of Israel is **Hebrew**, a language that was revived in the early 20th century, after having had a status similar to that of Latin among Catholics for over 2,000 years. Because the modern language is relatively new, it has no regional dialects. Hebrew is a relatively difficult language to learn and it is not necessary to learn it to get by. \n\nNevertheless, here are some words and phrases worth knowing in Hebrew:\n\n Shalom - Hello\n Toda - Thank you. or \"Toda Raba\" for Thank you very much.\n \"Ani Lo Medaber (Medaberet for women) Ivrit\" - I don't speak Hebrew.\n\nIsrael has a significant **Arab** minority, comprising 20% of the population. Some areas have Arab majorities; in the cities of Nazareth and Kafr Kanna, the entire population is Arab. Most Arabs speak a dialect similar to that of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the West Bank, with the exception of the Bedouins in the Negev Desert who speak a dialect similar to the population in the Sinai Peninsula.\n\n**English** is the most popular foreign language, and Israelis learn it in school from a young age. Almost everyone you meet on the street will be able to communicate with you in English. The main exception is Hasidic (\"Haredi\") Jews, who rarely learn English. English proficiency varies greatly; most university-educated Israelis can speak fairly good English, while working-class Israelis usually only speak basic English. But in general, almost everywhere in Israel there will be an English speaker nearby, who can help if the service provider does not know English. Most street and road signs (and many others) have English, in addition to Hebrew and Arabic names.\n\nMass immigration from the former Soviet Union since the 1990s brought a large number of immigrants who speak **Russian**, and it is the most widely spoken non-official language in Israel. There are approximately 1 million Russian speakers in Israel.", "word_count": 320}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk019", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are Jewish and aged 18 to 26, you are entitled to a free 10-day all expenses paid trip to Israel run by Birthright Israel. As part of this trip, you will be taken to the various cultural, religious, and natural sites around Israel, and may get a chance to interact with university students or with soldiers of the IDF.\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nthumb|450px|Citizens of countries in green are eligible for an ETA (except for German citizens born before 1928). Citizens of countries in gray need a visa (except for Egyptian citizens entering through [[Taba]]).\nthumb|Ben Gurion International Airport is the main entry point for most visitors to Israel.\n\nAll foreign nationals entering Israel must have a visa or an electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL). Electronic travel authorization is available to citizens of certain countries and allows to visit Israel for tourism for up to 90 days. Travelers can check eligibility and apply for an ETA on the official website, the cost is ₪25.\n\nCitizens of the following countries/territories are eligible for an ETA (official list here): all **European Union** member states, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Vanuatu.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk020", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "If, however, you are suspected of illegal or anti-Israeli activities, being of Arab descent or Muslim, there is a possibility of you being subject to additional questioning, searches and/or denied entry, if they are not satisfied after questioning, according to the US Department of State. Having a visa or an ETA does not guarantee entry. Decisions are left to the discretion of immigration officers.\n\nA visa or residence permit will be denied if you or the organization you're part of have knowingly and publicly boycotted the state of Israel or pledged to take part in such a boycott.\n\n**German** citizens born before 1 Jan 1928 have to apply for a visa in advance. This visa will be given if you were not heavily involved in persecution during the Nazi era and will be valid for the whole time your passport is valid.\n\nEgyptian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 14 days if entering through Taba and visiting up to Beer Sheva only.\nthumb|If your passport has this, you're reading the wrong article\nEntering Israel is a crime *per se* in some Muslim states. Even if you're a Muslim-born citizen of a European or North American country, having entered Israel may have consequences when going to your (other) country of citizenship.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk021", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "Israeli Customs and Immigration officers may take a dim view of travelers arriving from countries that do not recognize the State of Israel, but you are unlikely to face anything worse than very time-consuming and repetitive but polite questioning. Depending on the situation, if you have stamps from countries hostile to Israel in your passport, you should expect to be taken to one side (without any explanation) and eventually questioned. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. The key thing to remember is this: if you have nothing to hide, then, other than the inconvenience of questioning, you should have nothing to be worried about. If you are a young backpacker, especially if you travel alone, it is much more likely you will be detained for questioning in Ben Gurion Airport. There is a \"selection committee\" of 2 security guards waiting when you go up the escalators from your flight, and if you seem suspicious they will not hesitate to stop you. If you dress up nicely or seem a part of another group or a family they are less likely to bother you.\n\nIf you're in Israel on a tourist visa (B2) and decide to renew your visa for a longer term, you may do so at the Ministry of the Interior Visa office for a small fee. Just call Ministry of Interior Call center at to find out where is the office near you. Alternately, citizens from most European and North American countries can renew their visas by crossing into Jordan and back at the Arava border crossing near Eilat or by crossing into Egypt and back at Taba.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk022", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are three international airports in Israel, though only one of them receives a significant number of international flights.\n \n \n \nFlights to Israel on Israeli airlines are subject to additional security measures at their points of departure. This means that you will be subject to intensive questioning at check-in, and you will undergo additional security screening at the boarding gate. During the questioning, you will be asked about the purposes of your visit to the country. Expect to be questioned further if you have Arab-Muslim names, or evidence of visiting countries that do not recognize the State of Israel.\n\n### By boat\n\nIt is difficult for the individual traveler to reach Israel by boat, and there are no regular ferries. \nWith your own yacht or other small craft, from abroad you may land in Israel at Haifa, Herzliya, Tel Aviv or Ashkelon. Call ahead before entering Israeli waters to arrange immigration and customs clearance. Eilat does not specifically list marina arrival facilities, but it is of course a 24-hour commercial port of entry.\n\n### By road\n\nThere are land routes from Egypt and Jordan to Israel; these border crossings have security measures similar to the airports. There are no land routes to either Syria or Lebanon, owing to the fact that these countries do not officially recognize Israel's existence.\n\nthumb|The Allenby Bridge", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk023", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "Jordan has three crossings with Israel: the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge (the shortest way between Amman and Jerusalem, the busiest crossing); the Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein Bridge (in the north); and Arava/Yitshak Rabin (2 km from Eilat). It's fairly straightforward to cross using a series of buses, though pay attention to the *childish* Aqaba border taxi Mafia. If you cross the King Hussein Bridge you will not be given an exit stamp for Jordan, and you will not be stamped on re-entry if you choose to return. Mentioning West Bank destinations in your itinerary will arise suspicion – it is just best to avoid mentioning the Palestinian Territories at all while passing the border.\n\nFrom Egypt you can cross the border at the Taba Border Terminal, near Eilat. From the terminal to Eilat, take bus number 16, 30, or a taxi. The terminal is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the exception of the Jewish Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and the Muslim Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).\n\nIsraeli rental cars are not generally permitted across the borders for insurance reasons; in addition, it may not be advisable to travel in Arab countries while displaying an Israeli number plate.\n\nTravelers leaving Israel by land will need to pay an exit fee at the border. (No fee needs to be paid at the airport – it may be included in the ticket cost.) As of 2021, the fee is ₪176 for Allenby Bridge, and ₪101 for all other border terminals.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### From [[Amman]]", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk024", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are weekly buses to Nazareth via the Sheikh Hussein bridge (near Beit Shean), call the operator (+972 4 657-3984) for details. From Nazareth there are buses to Haifa, Tel Aviv, and other destinations.\n Alternatively, you can take a bus to the Sheikh Hussein bridge, cross the border on foot, and get to Israeli destinations by taxi/bus.\n If you don't have Israeli citizenship, you can also use the King Hussein border crossing near Jericho—see link for more details.\n\n#### From [[Cairo]]\n\nThere are twice-weekly buses to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (USD90 one way) via Eilat, operated by Mazada tours (Tel +972 2 623-5777). You still have to change buses at the border. (Use Mazada tours at your own risk! They subcontract the Egyptian side of the journey and do little to nothing to help if there is any mix up. At least one Mazada group from Tel Aviv/Jerusalem reportedly was held at the Taba Border - Egyptian side for 7 hours because the Israeli company failed to pay the Egyptian company.)\n Alternatively, you can take a bus to Taba, then cross the border to Eilat on foot.", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk025", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Israel generally has a modern, sophisticated travel network, although public transit service is not as good as in Europe or East Asia. It is safe and easy to get around the country, although it can be slow (due to traffic, or slow or infrequent buses). Israelis are always willing to help a lost tourist, so never be afraid to ask people for directions or advice.\n\nTravelers should also be aware of Shabbat (Hebrew: שבָּת), the Hebrew word often spelled \"Sabbath\" in English. From Friday at 16:00 until Saturday at 18:00 (November to March) or 21:00 (April to October), With the exception of Nazareth, Haifa, East Jerusalem and Eilat, public transport services are completely stopped. Included to Tel Aviv airport. In Tel Aviv during the Shabat the municipality operates shuttles with a frequency of every 20 minutes, information about which is available at the bus stations, and in the Google Maps and moovit applications. There will be limited taxi service, and a weekend surcharge applies.\n\nPublic transport is used heavily by soldiers traveling to/from their bases, so a bus or train packed full of soldiers (some armed) is a common occasion and does not indicate any special occurrence. There is a particularly large number of soldiers mainly in the intercity transport on Thursday afternoon and on Sunday morning.\n\nThe official national call center for public transportation information (available in English as well) is on *8787 or 072-2588787 (for phone with no access to *star numbers). There is no fee except for regular call-charge. Public transit planning mobile apps are helpful, see Public transit in Israel .", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk026", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jerusalem has a single light rail line with more planned and under construction, while Tel Aviv has a light rail system under construction. The oldest subway in the Middle East is \"Carmelit\" in Haifa, which is worth taking for the novelty, but of limited use otherwise, as it only serves one rather short line.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses are the most common form of public transportation for Israelis and travelers alike. Bus travel is the cheapest way to get around Israel, and is safe and reliable. Israeli soldiers travel for free on most public bus routes, so travelers will often see armed soldiers on buses. The largest bus company in Israel is Egged (Hebrew: אגד), which was formed in 1933. Egged operates 30% of the country's public transportation service lines.\n\nIntercity buses typically begin and end their routes at central bus stations, and also pick up and drop off passengers along the route. Buses do not have toilets on them, But on journeys lasting more than three hours, the driver stops to refreshing for about 15 minutes at a gas station. Except of the buses to Eilat, there is no need and it is not possible to purchase tickets in advance.\n\nThe signage at the bus stops and buses in languages other than Hebrew is limited. Ask people around you for help or use mobile apps. If you are unsure where to get off the bus, sit near the front and ask the bus driver to help you. Most drivers are willing to help, as are most passengers.\n\nGoogle Maps or Moovit apps offer directions for travel in Israel based on bus schedules.\n\n### By Sherut\n\nthumb|Sherut taxis", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk027", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "A sherut (Hebrew for service) or servees (Arabic) is a shared taxi that seats more than four people (the usual occupancy is ten). Depending on the circumstances, a driver will either follow a predetermined route like a bus, or will transport a group of people from place to place according to demand. Reforms made to the taxi service industry alongside COVID that hit revenue have almost completely eliminated these vehicles, and therefore these vehicles can no longer be relied upon for mobility.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|A subway style map of Israeli railway lines\nTrains are generally quicker and more comfortable than buses. Except in the Galilee, the Dead Sea and the Negev Desert. Israel's train network reaches most of the main cities as well as Ben Gurion Airport, the main entry point for foreign visitors. The main destinations reached by the train are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Acre and Beit Shean. Unlike the train stations in Europe, the train stations are usually not within walking distance of the urban attractions and require the use of an additional means of transportation.", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk028", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trains run 2-3 times per hour in peak travel times and at least once an hour at off peak hours. Trains on the Nahariya-Haifa-Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion Airport-Be'er Sheva line run through the night too. However, after midnight, trains stop in Haifa at the Hof Hacarmel station only, in Tel Aviv at Merkaz (Central) only, and in Be'er Sheva at Merkaz (Central) only. All other Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv and Haifa stations close after midnight. One must also remember that trains operate only on weekdays (there are no trains from Friday afternoon till Saturday evening). In fact, the trains stop several hours earlier on Friday than buses do. The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line via Ben Gurion Airport is the first electrified line in the country and trains reach up to . You'll find a lot of double decker trains reminiscent of those found in Germany and IC3 multiple units like those found in Denmark. Most of the rolling stock has been bought in the 21st century and is therefore modern and comfortable.\n\nIsrael Railways runs intercity lines from Nahariya to Be'er Sheva via Haifa, Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion airport, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and suburban lines radiating from Tel Aviv to Binyamina, Ashkelon, Kfar Sava, Raanana, Rishon LeZion, Modiin and Bet Shemesh. There is also a suburban line between Be'er Sheva and Dimona.\n\nTel Aviv has 4 train stations, Haifa (including its eastern suburban neighborhoods) has 6, and Be'er Sheva has 2, providing easy access to many parts of those cities.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk029", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "To differentiate from a shared taxi (*sherut*), a regular Israel taxi is sometimes called *special* (using the English word). The driver should use the meter both inside and outside cities (in Hebrew, *moneh*), unless the passenger agrees to a fixed price (a fixed price is almost universally in the driver's favor). There are surcharges; for calling a taxi by phone (₪5 as of January 2013), for luggage (₪4.20 a piece), for more than 2 passengers (₪4.70 (fixed), passengers that are children under the age of 5 are not taken into account), for taking toll-routes and for hailing a taxi at airports or seaports (Ben Gurion airport - ₪5, Haifa seaport - ₪2).\n\nDrivers are known to try to scam tourists by not turning on the meter to begin with and then fighting about the cost at the end of the ride. It is best to specify that you absolutely require the 'moneh' to be activated before you leave unless you know how much the trip should cost, in which case you can make a deal. However, if you are caught off guard some drivers will become extremely rude or even violent if you refuse to pay despite the meter never having been switched on. It is best to try to avoid this situation, but it is better to avoid any conflict with the driver by paying and learning rather than saving your money and risking an unpredictable escalation. Noting the taxi's number (clearly visible on the outside of the cab) and contacting the local taxi authority is an efficient form of redress.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk030", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "A good way of avoiding scams is to order taxis with the Gett/GetTaxi smartphone app. Gett use only licensed taxi drivers and the same fare structure as any other taxi ride. It gives the fixed price or meter price directly to you, allows for credit card payment (none of the \"I have no change\" nonsense), and you can put in your specific destination and see that the driver isn't taking a roundabout route to run the meter up.\n\nIsraeli taxi drivers do not expect a tip, and neither should you generally offer one. In addition, they are more likely to round the fare down to the nearest shekel than up.\n\nAll Israeli taxis are numbered, and all print out an official receipt on printers attached to their meters (if you request), useful if you are traveling on business.\n\nRidehailing is available in Israel. Gett is a local option, Uber works also in Tel Aviv and Yango works in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Haifa, Herzliya, Hod HaSharon, Petah Tikva, Rishon Le-Zion and Tel Aviv.\n\n### By thumb\n\nMost major junctions have a shelter and are well lit throughout the night.\n\nHitchhiking is more accepted in rural areas, particularly sparsely populated areas like the Golan Heights or between smaller towns in the West Bank that have little bus service, than in cities. Local West Bank settlers rely heavily on hitch-hiking for transportation. Almost every car will stop and suggest a lift if you stand in any settlement's gate as most of them are defended by IDF soldiers. Nevertheless, inside the West Bank you should never hitchhike from Jewish settlements/cities to Palestinian areas (or vice-versa); this is dangerous.\n\nDo not hitchhike in a car that stopped for you unprompted.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk031", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Read through Wikivoyage general guide, which provides a lot of good advice on the how, where and when of Hitchhiking.\n\n### By car\n\n#### Road system\n\nIsrael has a modern highway network that connects all destinations throughout the country. In general, intercity roads are generally of a quality similar to those in Western Europe. Traveling within urban areas and between cities is not recommended by car, as roads in Israel are congested most of the day. Places where driving is necessary are places outside urban settlements. Tourist areas where public transportation is limited or non-existent are around the Dead Sea, the holy sites for Christianity around the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea, and Beit Guvrin.\n\nRoad signs often follow city names (rather than compass directions). That means that you will see signs to Road 1 Jerusalem and Road 1 Tel Aviv, rather than Road 1 West and Road 1 East, so generally you must follow the name of the largest city at the direction of your destination, even if it is not marked. For example, when traveling from Haifa to Be'er Sheva, you will need to travel southwards which means to follow signs directing you to Tel Aviv. When approaching Tel Aviv, you will start to see directions to Be'er Sheva. When getting directions, it's best to ask for the name of an exit as well as the exit just before it.\n\nRoads are numbered according to orientation and significance. In general, east-west roads are given odd numbers, and north-south roads are given even numbers. Numbers generally increase from south to north, and east to west. The most significant national highways are numbered using one or two digits, while the least significant local roads are numbered using four digits. Exceptions to these rules do exist.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk032", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "50px50px\nRoads with single-digit numbers are important, nationally significant roads. Most of them are at least partly motorways (freeways). The motorway parts are colored blue, the non-motorway parts are colored red.\n50px\nRoads with two-digit numbers have regional significance. They are normally colored red, but in a few cases they are motorways and colored blue.\n50px\nRoads with three-digit numbers usually have lower importance and are short (under 20 km). They are colored green, except for a few motorways which are blue.\n50px\nRoads with four-digit numbers are least important, often only a few km long, and sometimes dead ends. Their signs are colored brown.\n\n#### Driving regulations\n\nthumb|Traffic light controlling left turn\nthumb|Road marking:
\n* yellow - outer edges of the road
\n* white -traffic in the same direction and in opposite directions
\nRoad signs:
\n* straight: road \nthumb|On the right, Bus parked at a Red-Yellow curb marking. On the left, a no parking area marked Red and White", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk033", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic in Israel drives on the right. Traffic signs and regulations are standard and resemble those of Western Europe. Highway signage is usually in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, although sometimes just in Hebrew and English. Having signs in 3 languages (Hebrew, English, Arabic) usually makes signs overloaded with text, thus only the name of the destination is written in text and a pictogram is used for the type of destination. Usually, each traffic light has an arrow on top, and the traffic light then controls travel to the indicated direction, with a green light guaranteeing that all conflicting traffic faces a red light. Lights without arrows above them control all directions. Red light always means stop. Turning right or left at a red light is strictly forbidden. There is no turning left or right while yielding to opposite traffic, since conflicting traffic always faces a red light, even in the absence of arrows (however, this is not always the case with pedestrians, particularly when turning right). As in several other countries, the green phase is preceded by a red+yellow combination phase. A flashing green light indicates that the yellow light is about to appear, but can usually be found only on roads with speed limits of at least 60 km/h.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk034", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "White road markings are used to separate both traffic travelling in the same direction and in opposite directions. Yellow lines are used to mark the outer edges of the road (do not cross these, except if stopping at a shoulder), and orange or red lines are used in road works zones or following a change in road signs. Traffic circles (roundabouts) are very common; one gives way to cars already in the circle. There are no all-way stop signs like the ones the USA, Canada, and South Africa. All stop signs require drivers to yield to all conflicting traffic after coming to a complete stop.\n\nHeadlights must be turned on (even during the day) on intercity highways from November to March. Motorcyclists have to have their headlights on in all months of the year. Seat belts must be worn at all times in all seats. Using a mobile phone without a hands-free system is forbidden. If one must exit the vehicle on the shoulder of a highway, it is required to put on a reflective vest in order to promote visibility. It is required to keep the reflective vest at all times within the passenger's cabin of the vehicle, and not in the trunk. Car rental companies are required to supply such a vest and it is usually inside the glove compartment.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk035", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Parking regulations are indicated by curb markings:\n Red and white — Parking is prohibited, although this rule is often flouted outside weekday daytimes. However, just because others are doing so, doesn't mean your car won't be fined or towed.\n Red and yellow — Reserved for certain vehicles, such as buses at bus stops.\n Blue and white — Parking only with a parking permit purchased at a machine. There is not always a machine nearby, if so, cellphone payment system must be used. In some areas, such as in parts of Tel Aviv, blue and white markings are restricted even at night to residents only. A sign at the beginning of the street, usually in Hebrew only, will detail the specific restrictions.\n Red and Grey — Reserved for residents, but might only be reserved at specific times as stated in signs.\n Grey — Areas are free to park at, unless a parking sign at the beginning of the street requires payment or restricts it.\n Black and White — Marked for curb visibility, when no other coloring apply.\n\nIsrael uses the metric system of measurements. Default speed limits are 50 km/h in residential zones, 80 km/h on intercity roads without a physical separation median between opposing lanes, and 90 km/h on intercity roads with a physical separation median. By default, all major freeways (identified by the standard blue European motorway sign) have a speed limit of 110 km/h; however, in practice, speed limit signs bearing a lower limit (usually 90 km/h or 100 km/h) limit the speed on these roads.\n\nPolice presence on the roads is generally very significant, and speed and red light cameras are common. Both radar (mostly stationary) and LIDAR (laser, hand-held) are in use for speeding enforcement.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk036", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Police vehicles in active duty may have their blue lights turned on for the duration of their trip. Unlike most countries in the \"First World\", in Israel this is not a sign that they want to pull you over. If they do, they would either turn on their siren or use a loudspeaker to instruct you to stop on the shoulder. A verbal request, although usually made in Hebrew, will usually include the make of the car. It is advisable to comply.\n\n##### Toll highways\n\nthumb|Toll Highway sign\n\n- Highway 6\n\n- 6 North\n\n- Carmel Tunnels\n\n- Fast Lane to Tel-Aviv\n\n#### Licensing information\n\nAll drivers in Israel must carry a driver's license or ID. International driver permits, as well as licenses from foreign countries are accepted. Drivers of motor vehicles must be at least 17 years old, while insurance is mandatory. Driving a motorcycle or a moped is permitted starting at age 16. A driver's license is mandatory for two wheel vehicles as well! All cars in Israel must undergo an annual safety inspection, and a sticker bearing the month and year of the next inspection should appear on the front windshield. Every car is required to carry a yellow reflective vest at all times. Theoretically, the police could stop you at any time and ask to see it. If you stop on the edge of the road, and have to get out, you are required by law to wear the vest. All rental cars should have one, so it is a good idea to check before you leave. In Israel while you are driving, the police are allowed to stop you for any reason whatsoever; mostly they do so for license checkups. Shabby-looking vehicles get stopped far more often.\n\n#### Safety issues", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk037", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Car accident fatalities in Israel are on par with most European countries and less than half that of the US. However, Israeli drivers are known to be aggressive and impatient. Take this into consideration if you decide to drive in Israel, and use caution - be prepared for other drivers not to yield when they normally should and not to respect your right of way. Be especially cautious on two-lane intercity roads, especially when passing other vehicles. While most major highways have a physical separation median, many lower-traffic intercity roads do not. Also be particularly cautious when driving in the Negev desert, since most roads in that region have only two lanes carrying fast-moving traffic, and trips tend to last hours in the heat. Take care while traveling on Friday night and Saturday, the Jewish Shabbat, as roads tend to be emptier and invite faster, and occasionally more reckless, drivers. Also be more cautious in winter when it rains, as roads will be unusually slick. The first rainy days in fall are particularly dangerous, since the oil/grease and other substances that accumulated on the road all summer are released.\n\n#### Car rental\n\nMost major international car rental companies as well as many Israeli ones provide car rental services.\n\nYou will be charged VAT for your car rental if you do not produce a visa (for example, if you entered via Allenby and avoided the stamps, although the paper will do).\n\nIf you are going to Palestinian areas in the West Bank, your rental insurance may not cover the trip. Clarify exactly where you plan to go with the company before renting.\n\nCompanies:\n - Hertz\n\n- Avis\n\n- Budget\n\n- Sixt (Shlomo)\n\n- Europcar (Albar)\n\n- Eldan\n\n- Tamir\n\n- GoTo\n\n- Sun Car\n\n- PaapmPaapm\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk038", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport to Eilat Ramon airport (or return) is the only active domestic air route. The flight time is between 30 and 45 minutes. Expect 4-8 daily flights during wintertime and roughly hourly during the peak vacation times in July and August. The twp operators are Arkia and Israir. Despite its popularity, the Haifa-Eilat route is inactive since the previous decade.\n\nPrivate operators can arrange charter flights to one of the many airfields in the country (Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, Meggido, Fik, Rishon LeTzion, Be'er Sheva, and Herzliya).\n\nFor aviation adventurers check **Bar Yehuda Airfield** (), at **below** mean sea level the lowest airport in the world can be quite an experience.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nWhile there are some areas with a bikeshare system and even something of a cycling culture, Tel Aviv chief among them, and while you can see kids in secular cities fill the streets on their bikes on Yom Kippur, in general Israel is not a cycling country. Still, distances are short and some roads have not much traffic. Unfortunately there's not really any awareness of the tourism benefits of bikes and on some routes a four lane highway with no shoulder in the scorching desert sun are all your options. Bike carriage on Israel Railways is free outside of rush hour, however.\n\n### On foot and navigation", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk039", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Get around", "text": "Israel is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, providing many interesting trails. However, due to the often remote nature of these trails (like the Ramon Crater or the Negev), it is important that you are well prepared and have a proper and reliable map with you. In addition, using GPS adds an extra layer of safety, both in cities as well as the countryside. For reliable (offline) maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd and Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download additional GPX or KML files through the same link.)", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk040", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "See", "text": "### Religious sites\n\nthumb|The Western Wall\n\nIsrael is the core of the **Holy Land**, and both its land and its main sights are holy to billions of people of different faiths. Some of the world's most famous religious monuments are found here. Israel's capital **Jerusalem** is the holiest city in Judaism, and one of the holiest in Christianity and Islam. Jerusalem's walled **Old City** holds famous religious sites including the gold-plated **Dome of the Rock**, the **Western Wall**, the **Church of the Holy Sepulchre**, and the **al-Aqsa Mosque**. Bordering Jerusalem (but administratively part of the Palestinian Territories) is **Bethlehem**, sacred in Christianity as the birthplace of Jesus. The **Galilee** region is also full of religious sites, including major Christian sites like **Nazareth** and the **Sea of Galilee**, as well as notable Jewish sites like the kabbalistic city of **Tzfat** and the pilgrimage site **Meron**. Along the Mediterranean coast are holy sites of the Bahai religion - the beautiful **Bahá'í Gardens** in Haifa with the golden-domed **Shrine of the Báb**, and the **Shrine of Baha'u'llah** in Akko. The main pilgrimage site of the Druze religion, **Nabi Shu'ayb**, is also in the Lower Galilee.\n\n### Historic sites", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk041", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "See", "text": "In addition, Israel contain numerous fascinating historic sites from across its thousands of years of recorded history. The **City of David** in Jerusalem contains remains from when King David conquered the city and made it his capital (around 1000 BCE), and even earlier. In Jerusalem, **Megiddo**, and **Hatzor**, you can explore underground water supply systems, tunneled through rock, from the Israelite period. Some of the most impressive ruins in Israel are from the Roman period. **Masada**, a stunning mountaintop fortress surrounded by cliffs near the Dead Sea, was used by Jewish rebels against Rome, and in modern times has become a symbol of Jewish heroism. **Caesarea** and **Beit Shean** are among the Roman cities in Israel, where you can see well-preserved commercial streets and amphitheaters. Later on, the Crusaders left castles in places like **Akko** (a beautiful seaside walled city) and **Belvoir**. Meanwhile, the equally impressive **Nimrod** fortress in the Golan Heights was built by their Muslim rivals. Other ruins from the Muslim period included the iconic walls of Jerusalem, and the underground cistern of **Ramla**, which you can explore by boat.\n\nthumb|343x343px|A view from Masada on the Dead Sea\n\n### The people", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk042", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "See", "text": "Lively and modern **Tel Aviv** has a completely different atmosphere from Israel's historic sites, with a bustling nightlife (it is known as \"the city that never stops\") and young atmosphere. But try to get a glimpse of Israel's other different cultures too. Go to the Negev and partake in the hospitality of **Bedouin** Arab nomads, or go north and see a **Druze** village. And perhaps visit **Meah Shearim** in Jerusalem, where Haredi (\"Ultra-Orthodox\") Jews live as if they were still in a European shtetl. Whatever city you go to, be sure to see the local market - Jerusalem's **Machaneh Yehudah** and Tel Aviv's **Carmel market** might represent the Israeli people better than anything.\n\n### Natural sites", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk043", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "See", "text": "Despite its small size, Israel contains a wide variety of beautiful and sometimes-unique natural sites. The **Dead Sea** is the lowest place on earth, and its extremely salty water allows you to float on top while reading a newspaper. Israel has a long Mediterranean **coastline**, much of it consisting of relaxing beaches, some of it made of rock formations or lined with sandstone cliffs. The Red Sea coastline in **Eilat** is much shorter, but gives you the chance to scuba dive around coral reefs, or swim with dolphins. The Galilee is full of scenic forested mountains (with the bright blue **Sea of Galilee** nestled between them), while the Negev desert contains stark canyons and beautiful oases, including the **Ramon crater** which is the world's largest erosion crater. As the only way to get between Africa and Eurasia without crossing oceans, Israel is one of the world's best places for bird watching. The **Soreq Cave** with its stalagmites and stalactites is much like Israel as a whole - small compared to its peers elsewhere in the world, but packed with features in comparison to its size.\n\n### Museums\n\nJerusalem is home to the excellent **Israel Museum**, with a collection that includes the **Dead Sea Scrolls** and other archaeological treasures as well as works from artists such as Picasso, Rodin and Matisse. Equally impressive despite its sad theme is **Yad Vashem**, the largest Holocaust museum in the world. In Tel Aviv, **Beit HaTefutsot** is the best place to learn about the Jewish diaspora.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk044", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Hiking near the [[Sea of Galilee region|Sea of Galilee]]", "word_count": 9}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk045", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hiking** — Israel is a great place for wilderness backpacking, hiking and camping. A large variety of forest, desert, mountain, and coastline landscapes are all close together, close to cities and historic sites. Keep in mind the important guidelines.\n Israel National Trail – a marked leisure trail (hiking or cycling) covering 940 km from north to south.\n Jesus Trail – a hiking trail from Nazareth to Capernaum covering 65 km that connects major Christian sites in the Galilee.\n The *Nativity Trail*, The path that Joseph and Mary followed to get to from the Sea of Galilee to Bethlehem\n **National parks and Reserves**. Well maintained, brimming with beauty and history, these sites often come with interpretive material and maps in English and other foreign languages.\n There are about 75 national parks and nature reserves in Israel. The entrance fees are between ₪20 and 40 and most of the time are discounted for international students.\n Historic sites in Israel are heavily dotted with informational signs in Hebrew, English, and Arabic. This, in addition to the pamphlet you are given upon entering national parks, makes it easy to understand the significance of everything you see. In contrast to many other countries (Italy comes to mind) where signs are rare and you need to hire a tour guide to understand what you are seeing, here the sites are much more self-explanatory.\n Israeli National Parks are usually closed before 8 and after 16/17:00 (winter/summer), which gives the opportunity for a free and spectacular sunrise or sunset (like the recommended one in Masada).\n **Archaeological digs** – given how much history took place here, archaeology has been a national pastime of modern Israel (though less now than a generation ago). In the early years of the state, archaeologists like Yigael Yadin became political leaders, while leaders like Moshe Dayan tried their hand as amateur archaeologists. There are still plenty of things left to find in the ground, and visitors to Israel can take part in a current archaeological dig. The shortest option is two hours long, in the Temple Mount Sifting Project in Jerusalem. For a longer dig, try Dig for a Day in Beit Guvrin. There are also many organized archaeological digs where you can volunteer for a period of weeks or a semester – for a list, see here.\n **Rafting** on the northern Jordan River.\n **Rappelling** or off-roading in the Negev.\n **Diving:** Israel has three seas: Red, Med and Dead. You only want to dive in the Red. Locals dive along the Mediterranean coast, and important marine archaeological finds are being made in those waters, but conditions are more challenging and there's far less to see than in the Red Sea. The Dead Sea has actually been dived, in the sort of kit you'd need to explore Venus, but there's no coral or fish. And then there's the freshwater Sea of Galilee: simply no reason to dive it. The Red Sea coast is all of 4 km in the city of Eilat, sandwiched between the Egyptian and Jordanian borders. It's easy reef diving and snorkeling, and the highlight is the Marine Park around Moses Rock. But it's a small coastline to absorb a lot of floundering bodies. It's good for learning, but experienced divers will probably only want a couple of days diving there as part of a broader tour of Israel.thumb|Dance club in Tel Aviv\n **Clubbing** in Tel Aviv\n **Skiing** at the Hermon snow resort (open only in mid-winter)", "word_count": 573}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk046", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Do", "text": "Many Israeli website guides have an English version and can be used for making plans:\n Tiuli — hiking and field trips\n Israel National Trail — Maps and other resources\n KKL-JNF\n Timeout - Digital edition\n TripAdvisor\n\n### Backpacking\n\nIsrael is not a big backpacking/hosteling country. In addition, hitchhiking is not that common anymore (though still possible), which makes it hard and time-consuming for a traveler on a shoestring to save money.\n\nWhereas in the West Bank or Jordan it is common to get a discount when turning up at an accommodation directly, in Israel only a few hostels appreciate such or direct bookings without using *the monopolistic middle man*. And you might even end up paying more when turning up out of the blue.\n\nMany beautiful nature sites in Israel have been converted into national parks, which demand an entrance fee of ₪20-40. There is a combined park ticket available, which might save you some money if you plan to visit 10 or more over a couple of weeks. This makes it even harder for backpackers who are out in the open very often and just want to let themselves drift through the country.\n\nHowever, besides those troubles, there are some great hikes and nature spots in Israel (even for free), and many free camping options if you bring a tent.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk047", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Costs\n\nIsrael is expensive. Prices are similar to the upper end prices of western and northern Europe.\n\n### Money and payments\n\nIsrael's currency is the **New Israeli Shekel** (שקל חדש or ש\"ח), which is often known simply as the **Shekel**. It is shortened in English to ILS or NIS. It's denoted by the symbol ₪. One shekel is 100 agorot. The plural of \"shekel\" in Hebrew is \"shkalim\".\n\nThe coins in use are 10 agorot, ₪1/2 (copper), ₪1, ₪2, ₪5 (nickel) and ₪10 (bi-metallic; copper core, nickel rim). Banknotes in use are ₪20, ₪50, ₪100 and ₪200.\n\nContactless mobile/card payments with Google Pay, Apple Pay, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are widely accepted and commonly used. Card payments (but not mobile payments) over 300 shekels require PIN code verification.\n\nSmaller shops may not accept mobile/card payments, but it's okay to ask. Self-service at fuel pumps requires a physical card.\n\nOnly some taxi drivers accept mobile/card payments. If you prefer not paying drivers directly, Uber and Gett apps operate in Israel.\n\nIf using cash, avoid using large bills for small charges. Avoid using foreign currencies, it will be at a rip-off exchange rate.\n\nATMs are available everywhere. Some ATMs have usage fees (they are displayed).thumb|right|Israeli Banknotes since 2017\n\n### VAT return", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk048", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Buy", "text": "The Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in most prices. The tax increased to 18% on January 1, 2025. You can get VAT refunds when leaving the country, though be prepared to queue at the airport. VAT refunds are only granted for individual receipts in excess of ₪400 and subject to a few other conditions. Eilat is a VAT-free city for citizens as well as for foreigners, but being a resort city it is often more expensive to begin with. See VAT refund guidelines at the Israel government services portal and consult the Israel Post website, which provides the refund.\n\n### Tipping\n\nOutside of the food industry, tipping is not common. The norm for waiters is a 15% tip unless the service was horribly disrespectful. In bars where you sit down at the bar, tip 15%. In fast food restaurants, food stands, and in bars where you order your drink and go, don't tip.\n\nIn some fine-dining restaurants or when large groups are involved, it's possible for the service charge to be included in the bill. If this is the case, don't tip.\n\nFood delivery tip is commonly 10 shekels if service is good. For food app deliveries (e.g. Wolt) and restaurants that add a delivery charge, it's becoming less common to tip.\n\nIsraelis do not tip taxi drivers. Some taxi drivers attempt to guilt tourists to tip.\n\nSimilarly to the US, inappropriate tip solicitation has become widespread (tip jars, tipping screens, etc.). It's always okay not to tip when being solicited for tips. Never tip at tipping screens.\n\n### Business hours\n\nthumb|The Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv\n\nIsraelis work five days a week, Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday are considered the weekend, though schools are open Friday morning.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk049", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Buy", "text": "In Jewish areas, most shops are closed on the Sabbath (Shabbat), from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. Shops are open Friday, but typically will close at about 14:30–15:00 with some shops closing as early as 12:00. Many shops, especially in malls, will re-open on Saturday evening, at about 19:00 in winter, and 20:30 in summer. Some shops, especially in Tel Aviv or outside city limits or in tourist areas, as well as 24-hour convenience stores (mostly found in fuel stations), remain open on Saturdays. In Arab towns, shops are generally open 7 days a week.\n\nShops in malls and on major shopping streets are generally open 09:30–21:00 daily. Banks, post offices, and some smaller shops follow unusual opening hours, so it's best to check.\n\nMarkets usually open and close early.\n\n### Bargaining\n\nBargaining in Israel is relatively common. A general guideline: sales agents, exaggerated prices, or no displayed prices – bargain. Anything that looks established or corporate – don't. In shops with displayed prices where you are not dealing with a sales agent – don't.\n\nBargaining in bazaars and rural markets is common yet subtle. Vigorous bargaining which is common in some countries will likely get you nowhere and is improper. If you are given a fair price, don't bargain for sport – it is frowned upon. Prices in tourist traps such as the Old City of Jerusalem can routinely be haggled down to as low as 25% of the asking price. Be sure to go shopping on your own, as some guides receive a commission for bringing in business.\n\nPrice comparison sites are Zap or Ret.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk050", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Buy", "text": "If you are bringing a large group of people to a club or a bar, it may be possible to negotiate a discount before arriving with the group. If you are already there, bargaining won't get you anything substantial.\n\nBargaining with taxi drivers over fare is possible, though rarely to your advantage. It is best to instruct them to use the meter (\"moneh\") if they don't already do so as required by law.320px|right|thumb|Bargaining, Tourists & Guides", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk051", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "While many popular dishes in Israel are typical of Middle Eastern cuisine, its cuisine is as diverse as the population. Food is generally of a very high standard, and immigrants from around the world brought almost every genre and type of food to Israel. **Kosher food** is widely available. Even restaurants without Kosher certificates follow some guidelines of Kashrut to some extent. Tipping is very common in sit-in places that have waiters – not tipping in sit-in restaurants is frowned upon, but is accepted for signaling atrocious service. It is standard to give 10%–15% (or more for exceptional service). A 20% tip is considered generous. Including a service charge in the bill is no longer legal in Israel and should not be paid. Restaurants may charge a \"security fee\" – roughly ₪1–2 per person. However, this fee is not mandatory, and it is common to ask for the fee to be removed from the bill, as well you should. Most restaurants accept credit cards, but do not accept personal checks. If you wish to include the tip in your credit card charge, state this before paying. Restaurants are required to allow this.\n\nPerhaps surprisingly, most culinary items that are typically associated with Jewish cuisine in much of the English-speaking world, such as bagels and pastrami, are not widespread in Israel, though they can still be found in eateries operated by American or Canadian immigrants.\n\n### Fast and popular", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk052", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Israelis tend to consider falafel and hummus as national dishes, although these dishes do not originate in Israel and are eaten throughout the Levant region. A serving of Falafel includes falafel balls, which are small fried balls of mashed chickpeas and/or fava beans, usually served inside a pita bread (or its larger cousin, the *lafa* bread) with *hummus-chips-salat* (hummus, French fries and vegetable salad) and tahini. A selection of more salads is usually available, and you can fill your pita with as much as it can take. This is usually the cheapest lunch available (₪10–15), and it's vegetarian (and often vegan). You can also order half a serving (\"hatzi mana\"). If you don't know which falafel joint to go to, pick one with a good flow of customers, because falafel balls are tastiest when extremely fresh. Hummus is a popular dip made of chickpea granules and various additions (such as olive oil, fresh garlic, lemon juice and tahini) and usually eaten with pieces of pita. At places that specialize in Hummus (commonly referred to as \"hummusiot\"), you can find the dish topped with chopped lamb, fried chicken breast, and many other different toppings, such as cooked masabacha grains, shakshuka, ground beef, pine nuts, fried onions, mushrooms, etc.\n\nAnother popular option is *shawarma* – sliced turkey or lamb meat, also served inside a pita/lafa with *hummus-chips-salat* toppings. Many other things can fit your pita: for example, Me'orav Yerushalemi (Jerusalemite mix), which contain several types of offal meat, or perhaps even schnitzel, a batter fried chicken breast which is somewhat inspired by the Viennese original.\n\nAnother street food gaining popularity is the Iraqi-origin *sabikh*: a pita bread stuffed with a hard boiled egg, batter-dipped deep fried eggplant, hummus, tehini, potatoes, and salad.\n\n### Dietary restrictions", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk053", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Due to the taboo against pork in Judaism and Islam, pork is rare in Israel, and the import of live pigs and pork products is illegal. That said, exceptions are made for Russian-speaking immigrants and the Christian minority to rear pigs and produce pork products domestically, so pork can be found at shops and restaurants catering to those communities, but expect to pay a steep premium for it.\n\n#### Kosher food\n\nthumb|Kosher logos, as usually found on food products\nthumb|Kosher McDonald's sign\n\nIsraeli cuisine is heavily influenced by the ancient Jewish laws of kosher food. The word *kosher* means anything that is allowed by Jewish religious laws, in this case food laws. Among other things *kashrut* requires complete segregation of meat and dairy foods, dishes and utensils; select types of fish are **kosher** but most 'sea foods' are not; meat must undergo a ritual slaughter process; and all foods must be prepared under controlled and monitored conditions. Kosher restaurants and hotels display a valid, dated certificate issued by local rabbinical authorities; kosher restaurants close for the Shabbat. Because of the meat-and-milk restrictions, kosher restaurants bill themselves as either בשרי (*b'sari*, \"meat\") or חלבי (*chalavi*, dairy). Dairy restaurants will also serve fish (as Jewish law does not consider fish to be meat), and egg products. If you find cheeseburgers or pizzas with meat toppings in a kosher restaurant, they are made from soy or other substitutes for either the meat or the cheese.\n\nDue to the secular nature of much of Israel, both kosher and non-kosher foods and restaurants can be found. Restaurants in Arab areas rarely follow kosher laws, though they often follow halal laws (the Muslim equivalent).", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk054", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Except some boutique hotels, all the hotels in Israel observe kosher rules. Breakfast is dairy: meat at breakfast – especially bacon and sausages – is impossible to find in hotels and cafes in Israel. On the other hand, during lunch and dinner you'll not be able to get milk for your coffee or butter for your bread (although soy milk and spread are common substitutes). The additional meaning of the kashrut rules is that because of the prohibitions on cooking and operating electrical appliances during the Sabbath and Jewish holidays, on Saturday, even in luxury hotels, food will not be served fresh, but food prepared on Friday afternoon, and coffee machines will be turned off.\n\nMost big supermarkets sell only kosher products, but more and more non-kosher supermarkets and convenience stores have appeared, due in part to the many secular Jews who have immigrated from the former USSR. With restaurants, things vary by location: in Tel Aviv a large proportion of restaurants are non-kosher, while in West Jerusalem nearly all restaurants are kosher. Restaurants that remain open on Shabbat cannot receive kosher certification. So some restaurants serve kosher food while not being certified, but not every restaurant that claims this is strict about the other kosher rules.\n\nOne attraction for practicing Jewish (and other) tourists is the kosher McDonald's restaurants. Most of the branches are not kosher, Kosher McDonald's branches are marked with a blue background, as opposed to the familiar red background.. Burger Ranch, an Israeli burger chain, is kosher. Pizza Hut branches in Israel are kosher, and thus will not serve pizzas with meat toppings, while Domino's chains are not kosher, and serve a toppings selection similar to their Western branches.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk055", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "The word for kosher is pronounced ***kasher*** (כָּשֵר) in Modern Hebrew, while the Hebrew word for \"fitness\" is **Kosher** (in Israel, gyms are known as *kheder kosher*, i.e. *fitness room*). The words have the same root – kosher food is food that is \"fit\" to eat for religious Jews.\n\n#### Dietary restrictions during Passover\n\nAnother series of strict restrictions come into force during the seven days of Passover, when **leavened bread** (*Hametz*) — taken to include *any* grain product that may have come into contact with moisture and thus started fermenting — is banned. The religiously defined limit is 18 minutes. Any grain product that's come into contact with water for more than 18 minutes is considered \"hametz\". Some Jews even widen the ban to cover rice and legumes. The main substitute for the bread is *matza*, the famously dry and tasteless flatbread, and you can even get a matzoburger from McDonald's during Passover.\n\nthumb|Hametz products in supermarkets are hidden during Passover\n\nReligious sectors will completely remove Hametz from their properties. Because the restriction is only for 7 days, many shops don't remove Hametz from shelves and vending machines, but only cover them or visually hide them. In more observant shops, cashier machines will not recognize the Hametz products during Passover, so it'd be hard to purchase them even after they are un-hidden.\n\n### Prominent local snacks\n\nthumb|Krembo\n\n- Krembo\n\n- Bamba\n\n- Bissli\n\n### Ethnic food", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk056", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Jews immigrating to Israel from different parts of the world brought with them many different cooking traditions. Most of these are now served in a handful of specialty restaurants, so check the individual chapters and ask around. Among the selection: Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish), Bulgarian, Turkish, North African, Iraqi, Iranian, Indian and Ethiopian. One can also enjoy excellent local Arab cuisine served in areas with large Arab populations, mostly in the north of the country and in the vicinity of Jerusalem.\n\nthumb|\"Chamin\" or \"Cholent\"\n\nOne dish, however, is known across nearly the entire Jewish Diaspora. Known in Europe as *Cholent* and in the Middle East and North Africa as *Chamin*, it is a sort of stew that has simmered for many hours over a low fire. It is traditionally a Shabbat dish, originating from the prohibition on lighting fire and cooking on Shabbat. The exact ingredients vary, but it usually contains meat (usually beef or chicken), legumes (chickpeas or beans) and\\or rice, eggs, and vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and carrots. Chamin is served in some restaurants on Saturday, and can be bought in delicatessens on Friday.", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk057", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most Israelis enjoy instant coffee and will order it in restaurants and shops. The quality of this coffee is often quite high. However, Israelis also appreciate a **café culture**. While concoctions such as \"botz\" (mud) coffee, also known as \"cafe turki\" or Turkish coffee (an inexpensive extra-finely ground coffee, often spiced with cardamom, that is cooked on a stove and served unfiltered/unstrained) are popular, the coffee culture in Israel has become refined and the quality has drastically increased in the last couple of decades. High quality espresso has replaced instant coffee as the base of most coffee drinks. There are several highly popular local coffee chains and numerous independent coffee shops. Many Israelis like to just spend time sipping their café latté (the most popular coffee in cafés) and chatting with friends. You can also have a light meal with sandwiches and salads. **Aroma** is Israel's largest coffee chain that has good coffee. You can order sandwiches there in three sizes and choose from three types of bread. **Arcaffé** is slightly more expensive, but their coffee is a little better. Other chains include **Elite Coffee**, **cafe cafe**, **Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf**, and **Cafe Hillel** (of which some branches are Kosher dairy). Israelis frown upon US-style coffee, and Starbucks failed miserably in Israel because their coffee was considered inferior by the locals.\n\n### Vegetarians and vegans\n\nthumbnail|Israeli salad", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk058", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vegetarians and vegans should have a relatively easy time eating in Israel. Due to the kosher law against mixing meat and milk, there are many \"dairy\" restaurants that serve no meat, which makes them popular with vegetarians. Be aware that these often serve fish. In some parts of the country you can also find vegan restaurants. Amirim is a vegetarian/vegan village in the Upper Galilee with several restaurants. \"Israeli Salad\" (sometimes called Arab or Chopped salad) is a chopped salad of finely diced tomato and cucumber. It is very common and can be found virtually in every food-serving establishment. It is common for sit-down restaurants to indicate on their menus which dishes are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk059", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Alcoholic beverages\n\nThe drinking age in Israel is **18**. Drinking and driving is illegal and actively prosecuted. Also, sale of alcohol outside of bars and restaurants and public drinking are prohibited between 23:00 and 05:00.\n\nThe most active nightlife can be found in Tel Aviv and Eilat. Tel Aviv, \"the city that never sleeps\", is Israel's party capital with a vast number of bars and clubs. Compared to much of Europe, drinking is rather expensive and the steep prices in Tel Aviv in particular are sometimes cited as a reason for the rather large community of young Israeli expats in Berlin.\n\n#### Beer\n\nthumb|Maccabee and Goldstar - Israeli beers\n\nThere are three main brands of Israeli beer:\n **Goldstar** — a Munich-style dark draught, it is the most popular Israeli beer in Israel. Can be found in bottles and cans of 0.5 and 0.3 liters (1 pint and half a pint, respectively), or חצי *KHE-tsi* and שליש *shlish* (Hebrew for \"half\" and \"third\". Referring to the amount based on litres, as Israel uses SI units). It is also available from tap (מהחבית *meh ha-kha-VIT*, Hebrew for \"from the barrel\"). Some say it pairs deliciously with Bissli, a snack food indigenous to the area.\n **Maccabee** — a pilsner, lighter and smoother than Goldstar. Comes in bottles, cans or from tap. This beer has a bad reputation in Israel as being of foul taste. Its recipe has been changed and the beer has been regaining popularity in Israel. Still, due to its bad reputation many bars do not serve it. The local variety of *Maccabee* tastes differently than the exported one.\n **Nesher** — comes in bottles, mostly malt.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk060", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Drink", "text": "Palestinian beers are also available:\n **Taybeh** — made in the first micro-brewery in the Middle East, \"Taybeh Beer Brewery\" is from Taybeh village, a short taxi ride distance from Ramallah, an extremely fresh and delicious beer that is popular with many Palestinians, Israelis and tourists alike. It is mainly found in Israeli Arab communities, Jerusalem, and Palestinian cities. Taybeh Brewery offers free tours of the facilities and has ₪5 beers for sale at the brewery. Taybeh village also hosts its very own Oktoberfest-style beer festival held annually during the first week of October. The festival well-attended with foreign tourists and is growing in popularity.\n\nLately, several brands of micro-breweries have established themselves, and a wide selection of boutique beers such as Sins-Brewery, Bazelet, Golda, Laughing Buddha, Asif, Dancing Camel and many others can be found in selected alcohol houses and in some chain retail stores.\n\nIn addition, a wide variety of international brands are available throughout Israel, some of which are locally brewed. Among the most popular are Heineken, Carlsberg and Tuborg.\n\n#### Liqueurs\n\nA common liqueur in Israel is **Arak**. It is clear, and anise-flavored, quite similar to Pastis or the Colombian Aguardiente. It is usually served in a glass of about 0.3 L, mixed with equal amount of water and ice leading to a characteristic milk-like opaqueness. Some like to drink it mixed with grapefruit juice. Arak is usually kept in the freezer. A common brand is called Aluf Ha-Arak and Elit Ha-Arak (both of the same distillery) with the former of higher alcohol per volume and the latter of stronger anise flavor. They are of slightly different volume although the price is accordingly different.\n\n#### Wines\n\nthumb|Barkan Winery, Israel", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk061", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are several local big vineyards and a growing selection of boutique ones, some of them of high quality. Wine is mentioned in the Torah and Israeli winemaking tradition goes back to before the Roman conquest. Much of Israeli wine is kosher. Kosher wine has historically had a terrible reputation that is mostly unjustified in the 21st century and has been fading due to the good quality of many kosher wines becoming more widely known among connoisseurs and the wider public alike. The Golan Heights are among the premier wine growing regions under Israeli control.\n\n### Soft drinks\n\nMost of the regular Western soft drinks are available, and many have local variants that aren't very different in taste. The Coca-Cola Company, RC Cola, and PepsiCo fight for the soft drink market aggressively. Israeli Coca-Cola is thought by Cola connoisseurs to be tastier and more authentic than elsewhere, because it is made with sugar, not with high-fructose corn syrup. Tempo (not to be confused with Tempo Industries, Ltd. which is the brewer of most Israeli beer and bottler of most soft drinks including the local Pepsi) and Super Drink are dirt-cheap local variants, at times sporting very weird tastes.\n\nThe generic name for Coke or Pepsi is \"cola\", and it usually implies Coca-Cola; if the place serves Pepsi, they will usually ask if it's fine. \"Soda\" generally means \"soda water\", and is not a generic name for carbonated soft drinks.\n\nThere are several more authentic soft drinks:", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk062", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Tropit** — cheap fruit flavor drink which is usually grape. Comes in a tough aluminum-like bag with a straw. The bag is poked using the straw to make a hole through which you drink. A very portable drink (until holed), which has become very popular in summer camps. In the newer varieties there is a marked area where the straw should be inserted. Even then it can sometimes take practice to insert the straw without the juice squirting out, it's similar to \"Capri Sun.\"\n **Chocolate milk** — there are a number of brands of sterilized chocolate milk (SHO-ko) which comes in plastic bags and small cartons. The tip of the bag is bitten or clipped off, and the milk is sucked out. As with Tropit, it is very portable (although due to its milky nature, not as much) until opened, after which it is impractical to reseal. Chocolate milk in a bag is usually served cold, and it would be a very bad idea to warm it.\n **Spring Nectar** — fruit flavored drinks that come in cans or 1.5L bottles. Sold in most supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations, as well as many take-away stands. Comes in a number of flavors such as peach, mango, and strawberry.\n **Prigat** — fruit flavored drink that comes in plastic bottles. Is sold at pretty much every supermarket, petrol station and corner-store around Israel. Comes in many flavors including grape, orange, apple, tomato and a few more exotic options as well.\n **Primor** — fruit juice in plastic bottles. Sold pretty much everywhere. Comes in many flavors, mostly citrus and apples.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk063", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Major western hotel groups have properties in Israel\n\nIsrael is host to a huge variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels through to 5-star luxury hotels. Accommodation in Israel is similar to Western standards in general both in terms of price and what you can expect as service. Hotels in Israel do not have star ratings, so beware that where these are seen, they are awarded by the hotels themselves.\n\nHostel/hotel owners in Israel do not appreciate it when you turn up onsite and ask for the best price leaving out the monopolistic middle man. Hence, you should instead book online (through their website, or one of the many commercial websites) or by phone, and take the best price you can get. Also, accommodations seem to use confusing US$ quotes and then demand shekels on purpose to prevent comparability. Make sure to always get the shekel (NIS) quote and demand to pay what was agreed on in shekels.\n\nThere are many **free camp grounds** available in Israel, especially in the Negev, which offer a great alternative to save some money. Most of the time you won't even need a tent, because rain and mosquitoes (and such) are sparse in the Negev.\n\nFurther remarks:\n Israel Hostels ('''ILH'''), a network of 40 independent hostels, guest houses and lodges designed for independent travellers. They hand out *visiting cards* you can use at the next ILH to get 5% discount, so ask for them. Even so, make sure to confirm the price beforehand by calling or online, the quoted prices from their website/flyers do not always seem to be reliable.\n Israel Youth Hostel Association ('''IYHA''') runs a thriving network of youth hostels, but is generally more expensive than the former one.\n The Israel Hotel Association (IHA) is the umbrella organization for Israel's hotels and also represents them. About 350 hotels, from Metulla in the North to Eilat in the South, are members of the IHA.\n A large number of kibbutzim now include bed and breakfast accommodation among their activities.\n A number of private residencies (popular in northern communities) offer a room to let (commonly known as \"zimmer\", from the German word for room).\n Israel has a number of 3–4 star hotel chains.\n Israel has a large number of boutique hotels and one large chain of boutique hotels, Atlas Hotels\n In the Negev Desert, there are multiple Bedouin camps that offer shelter and an unforgettable desert experience. You may be able to ride a camel, depending on the camp.\n Due to a Jewish religious prohibition on couples sharing a bed during certain periods in the woman's menstrual cycle, most king-sized beds at hotels are actually two smaller beds pushed together, which can be separated if necessary. It is therefore possible for two travellers who are not in a romantic relationship to book a room with one king bed if nothing else is available, then separate it into two separate beds.", "word_count": 486}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk064", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Learn", "text": "Traditional Jewish culture places a strong emphasis on education and scholarship, and the country has many well-regarded universities. Special programs for students from abroad are offered by the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Lowy School for Overseas Students at Tel-Aviv University and the Ginsburg-Ingerman Center for International Student Programs at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva. Also the Technion in Haifa and Recanati International School in the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya offer international programmes for foreign students.\n\nThe International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem in West Jerusalem also offers a variety of educational options relating to the Holocaust or you could also use your time in Israel to study Hebrew. Hebrew school is called *Ulpan* (pl. *Ulpanim*).\n\nThere are even ways to learn Hebrew online from outside Israel - try Hebrew Online Guide, or Virtual Ulpan if you want some basic background for free.\nA good starting point for finding more information on study and volunteering programs, can be found on the website of the World Zionist Organization.\n\nIf you are interested in learning firsthand about the social, political and cultural aspects of life in Israel, there are several programs and organizations offering courses, workshops or learning tours, such as: The All Nations Café in the Jerusalem - Bethlehem area.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk065", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Work", "text": "If you are Jewish and plan on moving to Israel (*aliyah*), you will have more help finding a job. Generally speaking, it is close to impossible to immigrate to Israel unless you are Jewish or married to an Israeli citizen. Non-Jewish foreigners are typically restricted to working in Israel for no more than 5 years.\n\nOne of the iconic activities in Israel is working (\"volunteering\") on a collective farm: a *kibbutz* or a *moshav*.\n\nAnother popular option is to volunteer for work on an archaeological excavation, mostly conducted in summer at a variety of locations. Most Israeli excavations offer college/degree credit for international students.\n\nWorking on a tourist visa is illegal.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk066", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Emergency phone numbers:\n Police (mish-ta-RA) — 100\n Ambulance Service (\"Magen David Adom\"-MADA, literally \"Red Star of David\") — 101\n Fire department (me-kha-BEY ESH) — 102\n Home Front Command (civil defense) — 104\n A list of rights for people who have been harmed during 2024 fighting, along with physical and mental support centers, is provided at the National Insurance website.\n\nThere is a constant threat of rocket and missile attacks on Israel and terrorist attacks can occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to personal safety risks. There continues to be a high threat of military and terrorist attacks against Israel. The security situation can deteriorate rapidly, without prior notice.\nTherefore, it is recommended to check your country’s travel advisories a few hours before your trip. As conditions can change rapidly.\n\nEven in relatively calm times, driving a car with Israeli license plates (yellow plates) to Palestinian cities in the West Bank can pose a significant risk to your life. The Palestinian population is unaware that there are tourists in the vehicle. Therefore, pay attention to red signs on roads in the West Bank indicating areas under Palestinian control that are prohibited from entry with Israeli vehicles. An exception is the road from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, which is safe and should not pose a risk to travelers.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk067", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In terms of typical crime, in tourist areas, crime rates are similar to those in European cities, and the centers of large cities are safe at night. The exception is Tel Aviv's central bus station and its surrounding, which are not safe, especially at night. Otherwise, Israel is safe for women traveling alone. For added safety, it is recommended not to walk around in tank tops and shorts in cities where the majority of the population is conservative, such as Jerusalem, Nazareth and Safed.\n\n### Rocket attacks\n\nWhen a rocket attack is detected as being fired towards Israel, alerts are provided in several means:\n A rising-and-falling audible siren alarm\n Notification messages on smartphone apps\n TV notification – major TV channels show an overlay with an orange colored notification\n\nthumb|Rocket attack alert, as shown as an overlay in major TV channels\n\nSmartphone apps that provide such an alarm work either by GPS location, or pre-defined alert location. Some of these apps are:\n - Home Front Command - Official App\n\n- Tzofar-Red Alert\n\nRed Alert:Israel\nPlease note that due to the need to stay online 24/7 these apps may prevent devices from going into energy-saving and data-saving modes (depends on device and capabilities), so they may drain faster than usual.\n\nUpon receiving an alert for a rocket attack, the time you have to defend yourself may vary. As a general rule, the closer you are to the launch site the less time you have following the start of the alert. If you are in a border town, for example, you only have fifteen seconds before the rocket lands.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk068", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "When an alarm sounds, you must take cover according to these instructions:\n Enter a nearby Shelter. Depending on the building the shelter can be inside apartments, a shared shelter for every floor in the building, or a shared basement shelter for the entire building. About half of all buildings in Israel have a shelter, and there are public shelters available in many common areas within Israeli cities. If you are in public, look for where other people go.\n In a building without a shelter, enter the most protected room. This may be the inner-most room, or a staircase (when it is not external). If you are in a building, be sure to note where your nearest shelter is. \n when outside head for a building, and place yourself as far as you can from windows, or other fragile objects near the windows.\n When no building is nearby, lie down on your belly and put your hands on your head.\n When in a vehicle and there is not enough time to leave it, bend down below the windows height, and use your hand or knees to protect the head.\nThe full and updated list of instructions is available on HFC's website.\n\nYou should remain in the safe place for 10 minutes from the moment the alarm sounds, for fear of falling shrapnel.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk069", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The most powerful rockets are capable of hitting nearly anywhere in the country, but most of the rockets impact:\n In case of a conflict with the Gaza Strip, within a radius between Ashkelon in the west, Jerusalem in the east, Beersheba in the south, and Tel Aviv in the north.\n In case of a conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah, the area near or north of Haifa.\nIf you are within these areas, be alert, and outside of these areas still be vigilant, as rockets from Gaza have hit Haifa, the Negev desert, and even the West Bank in the past.\n\nIsrael's \"Iron Dome\" launches missiles to intercept incoming rockets, but only when they are headed toward populated areas. Also, it is not 100% effective, and even when it registers a \"hit\" it creates shrapnel which eventually reaches the ground.\n\nMake sure to check the calendar for memorial days (around April or May), when a commemoration siren is heard at 10:00 for 2 minutes during Holocaust Remembrance Day, and on Yom-Hazikaron at 20:00 for one minute and at 11:00 for two more minutes. Commemoration sirens don't rise and fall. In general, behave the way others around you do.\n\n### LGBT\n\nthumbnail|Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade 2014\n\nUnlike in much of the Middle East, homosexuality is legal in Israel. In fact, some gay rights advances happened in Israel earlier than in Western countries such as the U.S.A. Attitudes towards homosexuality will vary depending on where you go, but in general, Israel is considered safe for gays and lesbians, as violence is rare and open disapproval is mostly confined to certain parts of Jerusalem and religious neighborhoods. Same-sex marriages are legally recognized, although they are not performed in Israel.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk070", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "All three major cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa) have an annual \"Pride\" parade, and the annual *Love Parade* in Tel Aviv gets cheering spectators too. Though Jerusalem has an annual pride parade (although due to the city's conservatism, it is more of a demonstration than a parade) it is not very common to see openly gay people in Jerusalem, and you should avoid openly showing your sexual orientation in most public places in Jerusalem or other visibly religious places. In general just try to avoid public displays of homosexual affection or conversation in a direct or suggestive manner in Jerusalem. While nothing serious is likely to happen to you, it will draw stares and identify you as a \"tourist\" at the very least.\n\nOn the other hand, Tel Aviv is very liberal and gay friendly. It is common to see same-sex couples show affection in public areas. Tel Aviv was declared as the world's best gay travel destination for 2012 in a survey carried out by American Airlines and GayCities.com – for good reason: there are many gay friendly places around the city, considered a stronghold of the gay community in Israel. Tel Aviv's nights are full of hundreds of passionate, energetic pubs, bars and dance clubs that are open till dawn. The city is active in all areas of entertainment, and is highly recommended for tourists looking for exciting nightlife in general, and exciting gay nightlife in particular.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk071", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Emergency phone numbers:\n - Ambulance Service\n\n - Eran\n\nThere are no special medical issues in Israel, and no immunizations are required for entry. A hepatitis A vaccine is recommended, though. Travelers to West Bank and Gaza should strongly consider getting a typhoid vaccine and Hepatitis B vaccine as well.\n\nPharmacies and hospitals are available in all major cities and emergency and health care is to a very high Western standard. Pharmacists and all medical personnel speak adequate English. In Israeli pharmacies, the \"over-the-counter\" stuff is in fact over the counter. Ask the pharmacist if you need anything. Travel health insurance is highly recommended; although all Israelis are covered under the national health insurance system, foreigners will be expected to pay for any treatment received in the public hospitals or at a clinic.\n\n**Tap water** is potable and perfectly safe for drinking all throughout Israel (but not in the West Bank or Gaza), big cities and rural parts alike. However, avoid taps that you might find within cultivated fields (e.g. while hiking); they may use recycled water which is only good for irrigation. Tap water near the Dead Sea is heavily salinated and hotels will typically provide bottles of water for guests. \n\nStreet food is safe and clean, including fried dishes, fish and different salads. It's still wise to use common sense and avoid anything suspicious.\n\nThe hot climate in Israel is a major issue, especially in summer. Use sunscreen throughout your stay and drink a lot of water. See also sunburn and sun protection.\n\n### In desert and rural areas\n\nThe southern Israel desert region offers amazing hiking trails in a beautiful landscape that possesses some unique geographical features not available anywhere else in the world. However, if you are inexperienced in hiking in the desert, do not hike there without an experienced hiker, proper equipment and clothes, plenty of water, and taking the necessary precautions. Dehydration on hot days, hypothermia on cold nights, and flash floods on rainy days are serious dangers!", "word_count": 333}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk072", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Media\n\nthumb|Newspaper stand in Jerusalem\n\nIsrael has numerous newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, and magazines.\n\n#### Newspapers\n\nIn English:\n - The Jerusalem Post\n\n - The Times of Israel\n\nOther major Israeli newspapers that have an English language section to their websites include:\n - Ynet\n\n - Israel Hayom\n\n - Globes\n\n - Haaretz\n\nOther languages:\n - Vesti\n\n - Makan\n\n - Panorama\n\n - Al-Sinnara\n\n - Ynet Español\n\nLocal newspapers in other languages may be available where demand exists.\n\n#### Radio and TV\n\n - Kan English news\n\n - Reka\n\n - i24news\n\n - AudioVersity\n\n Virtually all TV stations present all TV shows in their original language, along with Hebrew subtitles (sometimes with additional Russian or Arabic subtitles). The common exceptions are shows for young kids, which are dubbed to Hebrew.\n It is common to randomly find other Israeli radio stations broadcasting interviews and complete radio shows in English.\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\nMost foreign embassies are situated in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, largely because the status of the capital city, Jerusalem, is disputed. Only five countries have embassies in Jerusalem: the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo and Papua New Guinea.\n\nFrom a practical standpoint, consulates often offer similar services for travelers as embassies, and most first world countries have a consulate in Jerusalem in addition to their embassy in Tel Aviv.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk073", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Respect", "text": "In general, Israelis are friendly, hospitable, and welcoming. The country as a whole has a Western-oriented outlook on life. Foreign visitors are deeply appreciated by the locals and they will do just about anything to make you feel comfortable and welcome in the country. Strangers will be more than happy to assist you, help you with anything you need, inquire about you and your background, and give you advice on anything. If you manage to make some friends here, they will do their best to take care of you here.\n\nThere's no way to sugarcoat it, so let's cut to the chase: yes, Israelis in general are **direct communicators**. This style of communication (known as 'dugriut') is a feature of the Israeli cultural ethos and can be construed as rude, abrupt, or confrontational in many parts of the world. Try not to be offended or annoyed by the way Israelis speak to you; in most cases, Israelis *rarely intend* to offend you in any way, shape, or form. Directness and honesty are often valued over projections of niceness.\n\nIsrael is an egalitarian society. Because it's a society that thrives on transparent communication, it's not uncommon for subordinates to disagree with their superiors. It's perfectly normal, and is expected. \nLoud and heated debates and arguments are socially acceptable and should not be taken as a sign of hostility. Israelis are typically careful not to be perceived as a *fraier*, often translated as \"sucker\", meaning someone who pays too much, stands in line quietly as others jostle past, and is generally taken advantage of instead of standing up for himself.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk074", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Respect", "text": "In religious settings, appropriate attitudes and prohibitions should be in order. Entry to most religious sites will be refused to those who aren't dressed appropriately (e.g. wearing shorts, short skirts, tank tops, and so on). When visiting a synagogue or the prayers section of the Western Wall, men should cover their heads. If you don't have one, a kiosk by the door of the site you are visiting may provide you with one. Mosques will also require you to take off your shoes before entry. Outside locations significant to religion, dress is very casual and free. Israeli women dress to impress. Similar to other Mediterranean countries, business wear is not accepted, and locals in most business sectors, including finance, do not wear business wear but business casual.\n\n### Sensitive issues\n\n**The Arab-Israeli conflict**\n\nMost Israelis will be happy to talk to foreigners about the conflict, especially because of the feeling that your home country does not present the conflict properly and does not understand its complexity. However, try to listen and not argue. Israelis live the conflict, and expressing disagreement with their words may lead to angry reactions. In general, with most Jewish Israelis, expressing sympathy or understanding for the Palestinian struggle will not be accepted, since it has many victims on the Israeli side. Among other things, try to use the term Palestinian Authority rather than the State of Palestine, because most Israelis do not recognize the Palestinian territories as a state.\n\n**Haredi Jews**", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk075", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Respect", "text": "Many of you are probably familiar with the closed, devout Jewish communities with traditional dress that are found in large numbers in Brooklyn and North London. In Israel, they can be seen mainly in Jerusalem, where they make up half of all Jews. These populations are more likely to expect you to behave according to their lifestyle in Israel, and will be less tolerant of foreigners than in English-speaking countries. Especially if you are in their neighborhoods—the entire area north of Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, for example—it is recommended not to enter with shorts or sleeveless shirts (especially for women). During the Jewish Sabbath, it is forbidden to enter their neighborhoods with vehicles at all, and it is recommended not to take pictures there. Although if you are not Jewish, you can be considered a Shabbat goy: that is, they will ask you for help in doing things that Jews are forbidden to do on Shabbat.\n\n**Other Politics**\n\nIsraeli politics is a sensitive subject, and the government is a major point of contention, mainly between upper-middle-class liberal secularists and generally lower-class Orthodox Jews regarding the nature of the State of Israel and the balance between Jewish law and democratic values. Talking about politics is therefore very emotional among Israelis. In general, older people are more enthusiastic about talking about domestic politics than younger people, who often shy away from it.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk076", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By mail\n\n- Surface and sea mail\n\n- Air mail\n\n### By phone\n\n+972 is the international country code for Israel.\n\nWhen calling inside Israel, you can either dial the number exactly as listed in Wikivoyage from mobiles and many landlines **or** replace the \"+972\" part with a single leading 0. (In the first form, you dial the number without spaces and hyphens, optionally replacing the \"+\" symbol with the international access code; when the party being called is in the same country as the caller, internationally-dialed numbers are looped back at the base station.) For example, when calling +972 2 345 6789 inside Israel, dial 02 345 6789 or +97223456789 as-is, or 0097223456789.\n\nThe type of call influences its price. Types can be international (with different price per each destination country in each service provider), local landline, landline - mobile, and mobile. Except for international calls, all other calls are usually priced the same, but you might find minor differences. Other than that, identifying the carrier of your call destination is irrelevant, as the allocation of dialing codes to particular companies may be inaccurate, since subscribers may keep their phone number even if leaving or changing their phone company. For example, new 050 codes are allocated by Pelephone company, but users can switch carriers and keep their 050 number even when receiving service from the Cellcom company which is usually identified with the 052 code.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk077", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Connect", "text": "Landline area codes:\n 0x - Area codes – the 0x area codes are used for land lines operated by the national phone company - Bezeq. Other landline operators have distinctive area codes\n 02 - Jerusalem area\n 03 - Tel Aviv-Yafo and the center\n 04 - North\n 08 - South & Shfela\n 09 - Sharon\n 0x2 - Paltel (Palestinian operator)\n 07x - landlines operated by VoB and VoIP technologies with no distinction to a particular region. These may be assigned anywhere.\n 072 - 012 Smile\n 073-2/3/7 - Cellcom / Netvision\n 074-7 - Partner\n 076-5 - 014 Bezeq International\n 077 - HOT\n\nInternational access codes:\n 01x - International access codes – If you want to call abroad from Israel, you need to choose which company you want to use for your international call first.\n The '00' and '+' access codes for international calls are available only on phone lines that chose, in advance, one of the long distance carriers as their preferred provider. It is not available on pay phones.\n 011 - 011Global\n 013 - Cellcom / Netvision\n 014 - Bezeq International\n 015 - Hallo\n 017 - Hot Mobile\n 018 - Xfone, a VOIP operator. Thus, it has the cheapest rate but a somewhat lower line quality.\n 019 - Telzar", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk078", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Connect", "text": "Cellular:\n 05x - Cellular carriers\n 050 - Pelephone (literally \"miracle phone\", the first cellular operator in Israel. \"Pelephone\" has become a generic name for cellular phone in Israel).\n 052 - Cellcom\n 053 - HOT mobile\n 054 - Partner\n 055 - MVNO (Mobile virtual network operators)\n 056 - Wataniya Mobile (Palestinian operator)\n 057 - Mirs. This was the old network of \"HOT mobile\". All those numbers replaced their prefix to 053 with the rest of the number unchanged. So if you try to reach an old 057 number, try dialing 053 instead.\n 058 - Golan Telecom\n 059 - Jawwal (Palestinian operator)\n\nSome Israeli numbers have only 3, 4, or 5 digits and starting with a *. To dial those numbers you actually dial the number on the phone pad, including the *. For example, the number *8787 is used by the national public transportation information call center. These * numbers work depending on your operator, with most of the numbers supported in landlines, and partial support in cellular networks. Usually when a * number is published, a longer number is mentioned somewhere in the footnotes. The longer number is also the way to dial the number when calling from a foreign international line.\n\n#### Cellphone rentals and prepaid phone service\n\nYou can rent a cellphone for use in Israel either before your trip or once you arrive, from several firms.\n\nYou can also rent smartphones with SIM cards included sometimes for lower than the cost of renting just a SIM card. This offers the advantages of a SIM card rental without having to worry about bringing your own phone to Israel.\n\nIf you have a cellphone without a SIM-lock, you can buy a SIM-card.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk079", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Connect", "text": "Prepaid SIM cards are available at Pelephone (Talk&Go), Cellcom (Talk Man), Partner (Bigtalk), HotMobile, Golan Telecom (GolanTalk), Rami-Levi, and 019 Telzar phone stores throughout Israel. Almost all shopping malls will have a Pelephone, Cellcom or Partner kiosk or store. Local prepaid packages valid for a month with 300G of data and 2,000 minutes of local calls should cost less than ₪100.\n\nPrepaid websites in English:\n - Partner (bigtalk)\n\n- Golan (GolanTalk)\n\n- Hallo 015\n\n- 019\n\n#### Roaming with your own device\n\nIsrael is mostly covered with 4G and 5G. Other networks like CDMA2000 and iDen were shut down. Previous generation 2G and 3G networks have very limited coverage, and all of them are planned to be completely shut down by the end of 2024.\n\nIn any case, you must check with your carrier about the roaming option and the compatibility of your device in advance.\n\nA valid suggestion otherwise is to turn *off* data services, especially any automatic update/download of your email. Otherwise you might get an unpleasant surprise on your next phone bill!\n\nBuying a local SIM card is easy from many phone kiosks near popular tourist sites, perhaps even your hotel.\n\neSim is also available through SkyCall and other providers. Subscription packages in Israel can be cancelled at any time. You'd have to pay only for the relative time the subscription was active, without additional cancellation costs. There is no minimum time frame for any subsciption package.\n\n### By net\n\nCellular internet is cheaper than in countries like the US, and it is recommended to use it along with your cell phone plan.\n\nFree WiFi on buses and in cafes is common but not universal.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "israel::chunk080", "doc_id": "israel", "section": "Go next", "text": "Many travelers take day trips or longer trips to places in Jordan, such as Petra. It is easy to get into Jordan by crossing from Eilat to Aqaba, but also the King Hussein \"Allenby\" Bridge and the **Sheikh Hussein bridge** are options.\n Many Israelis visit the Sinai to scuba dive, but the area can be susceptible to terrorism, so check current conditions before you go. Other areas of Egypt can also be included in combined tours with Israel.\n The nearby island of Cyprus is also a favorite vacation spot for Israelis.", "word_count": 91}
diff --git a/corpus/israel/metadata.json b/corpus/israel/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..99b4aadeb31d3fd84b09f87fe4b6fe5218e381d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/israel/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "israel",
+ "title": "Israel",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Israel",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Middle East"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Jordan",
+ "Petra",
+ "Eilat",
+ "Aqaba",
+ "Jordan",
+ "Sinai",
+ "Egypt",
+ "Cyprus"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 19482,
+ "listing_count": 57,
+ "marker_count": 26,
+ "chunk_count": 81,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/italy/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/italy/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4adf0cc4711573555c56a7c9f41fe51d1008be2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/italy/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk000", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Italy** (Italian: *Italia*) was once the core of the mighty Roman Empire, and the cradle of the Renaissance. Along with Greece, it is regarded as the \"birthplace\" of Western culture, and it is also home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, including high art and monuments.\n\nItaly is famous for its delicious cuisine, trendy designer brands, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, diverse regional cultures and dialects, as well as for its various landscapes from the seas to the Alps and Apennines, which makes reason for its nickname *Il Bel Paese* (the Beautiful Country).\n\nIn the shape of a boot, the country continues to be one of the world's most influential countries. It is a member of the European Union and shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. There are thousands of things to do in this mesmerising country, and if you want to experience what living the life feels like, you're bound to find it in Italy.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk001", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Regions", "text": "**San Marino** and the **Vatican City** are two microstates surrounded by Italy. As they use the euro, the Italian language and have no border controls, they are easy to visit.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk002", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Cities", "text": "250px|thumb|right|Rome (seen from Trinità dei Monti)\nthumb|250px|right|Florence (River Arno, with Ponte Vecchio in the foreground)\nThere are hundreds of Italian cities. Here are **nine** of its most famous:\n\n (*Roma*) — The Eternal City has shrugged off sacks and fascists, urban planning disasters and traffic snarls and is as impressive to the visitor now as two thousand years ago\n — one of the world's great university cities that is filled with history, culture, technology and food\n (*Firenze*) — the Renaissance city known for its architecture and art that had a major impact throughout the world\n (*Genova*) — an important medieval maritime republic; it's a port city with art and architecture\n (*Milano*) — one of the main fashion cities of the world, but also Italy's most important centre of trade and business, sits in the middle of Italy's largest metropolitan area\n (*Napoli*) — one of the oldest cities of the Western world, the birthplace of pizza, with a historic city centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site\n — one of the medieval maritime republics, it is home to the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa\n (*Torino*) — a well-known industrial city, home of FIAT, other automobiles and the aerospace industry. Le Corbusier defined Turin as \"the city with the most beautiful natural location in the world\"\n (*Venezia*) — one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, known for its history, art, and of course its world-famous canals", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk003", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "(*Costiera Amalfitana*) — stunningly beautiful rocky coastline, so popular that private cars are banned in the summer months\n — the famed island in the Bay of Naples, which was a favored resort of the Roman emperors\n — five tiny, scenic, towns strung along the steep vineyard-laced coast of Liguria\n (*Alpi*) — some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, including Mont Blanc and Mount Rosa\n (*Lago di Como*) — its atmosphere has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness since Roman times\n (*Lago di Garda*) — a beautiful lake in Northern Italy surrounded by many small villages\n and (*Ercolano*) — two suburbs of Naples covered by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, now excavated to reveal life as it was in Roman times\n — a charming hillside town on the east coast of Sicily\n (*Monte Vesuvio*) — the famous volcano with a stunning view of the Bay of Naples", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk004", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "Italy, officially the Italian Republic (*Repubblica italiana*), is largely a peninsula situated on the Mediterranean Sea, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia in the north. The boot-shaped country is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian and Ionian Sea in the South, and Adriatic Sea in the East. Italian is the official language spoken by the majority of the population, but as you travel throughout the country, you will find there are distinct Italian dialects corresponding to the region you are in. Italy has a diverse landscape, but it is primarily mountainous, with the Alps and the Apennines. Italy has two major islands: Sardinia, off the west coast of Italy, and Sicily, just off the southern tip (the \"toe\") of the boot. Italy has a population of around 60 million. The capital is Rome.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|The Pantheon, a huge Roman temple, which is a symbol of the Roman civilization in Italy.\n\n#### Prehistory\n\nThere have been humans on the Italian peninsula for at least 200,000 years. The Etruscan civilization lasted from prehistory to the 2nd century BC. The Etruscans flourished in the centre and north of what is now Italy, particularly in areas now represented by northern Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany. Rome was dominated by the Etruscans until the Romans sacked the nearby Etruscan city of Veii in 396 BC. In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Greek colonies were established in Sicily and the southern part of the Italy and the Etruscan culture rapidly became influenced by that of Greece. This is well illustrated at some excellent Etruscan museums; Etruscan burial sites are also well worth visiting.\n\n#### The Roman Empire", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk005", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "Ancient Rome was at first a small village founded around the 8th century BC. In time, it grew into one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen, surrounding the whole Mediterranean, extending from north Africa to as far north as the southern part of Scotland. The Roman Empire greatly influenced Western civilisation. Its steady decline began in the 2nd century AD, with the military and economical Crisis of the Third Century hitting particularly hard, bringing leaders who mostly relied on the military, and were often deposed after just a few years of rule. The empire finally broke into two parts in 395 AD: the Western Roman Empire with its capital in Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire with its capital in Constantinople. The western part, under attack from the Goths, Vandals, Huns and numerous other groups finally collapsed in the late 5th century AD, leaving the Italian Peninsula divided. The city itself was sacked by Saracens in 846. Rome went from a city of 1,000,000 people in the first century AD to barely a dot on the map by the seventh century AD, and the stones of many ancient monuments were used for new buildings.\n\n#### From independent city states to unification\n\nFollowing the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Italian Peninsula was divided into many independent city states, and remained so for centuries thereafter.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk006", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the 6th century AD, a Germanic tribe, the Lombards, arrived from the north; hence the present-day northern region of Lombardy. The balance of power between them and other invaders such as the Byzantines, Arabs, and Muslim Saracens, with the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy meant that it was not possible to unify Italy, although later arrivals such as the Carolingians and the Hohenstaufens managed to impose some control. Thus Northern Italy was under the tenuous control of dynasties from what is now Germany and many cities vying for independence challenged the rule of both pope and emperor, siding with either against the other from time to time. In the south, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, a result of unification of the Kingdom of Sicily with the Kingdom of Naples in 1442, had its capital in Naples. In the north, Italy remained a collection of small independent city states and kingdoms until the 19th century. One of the most influential city states was the Republic of Venice, considered one of the most progressive of its time. The first public opera house opened there in 1637, and for the first time allowed paying members of the general public to enjoy what had been court entertainment reserved for the aristocracy, thus allowing the arts to flourish. Italians turned to strongmen to bring order to the cities, leading to the development of dynasties such as the Medici in Florence. Their patronage of the arts allowed Florence to become the birthplace of the Renaissance and helped to enable men of genius such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to emerge. Rome and its surrounding areas became the Papal States, where the Pope had both religious and political authority.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk007", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "From 1494 onwards, Italy suffered a series of invasions by the Austrians, the French and the Spanish; the latter ultimately emerged victorious.\n\nAfter Vasco da Gama sailed the Cape Route around Africa, and Christopher Columbus (who was from Genoa but working for the king and queen of Spain) sailed to the Americas, much of the Mediterranean commerce — especially with Asia through the Middle East — was displaced, making Italian merchants less important. While foreign empires such as Austria, France and Spain came to dominate the Italian peninsula, it remained a centre of the fine arts, and was from the 17th to the 19th century the main destination for the Grand Tour of wealthy young people from Britain and Europe.\n\nThe Kingdom of Sardinia began to unify Italy in 1815. Giuseppe Garibaldi led a drive for unification in southern Italy, while the north wanted to establish a united Italian state under its rule. The northern kingdom successfully challenged the Austrians and established Turin as capital of the newly formed state. In 1866, King Victor Emmanuel II annexed Venice. In 1870, shortly after France abandoned it (because they were preoccupied in a war against Prussia that would lead to German unification by 1871), Italy's capital was moved to Rome. The Pope lost much of his influence, with his political authority now being confined to the Vatican City, itself a result of a political compromise between the Pope and Benito Mussolini in the 1920s.\n\n#### The Kingdom of Italy\n\nAfter unification, the Kingdom of Italy occupied parts of Eastern and Northern Africa. This included the occupation of Libya, during which Italy scored a decisive victory over the Ottoman Empire.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk008", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "At the outbreak of World War I, despite being in alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, Italy refused to participate in the war. Eventually, Italy entered the war, but as allies of the United Kingdom and France. As a result of the victory of Italy and its allies, Italy annexed former Austro-Hungarian land. However, Italy was not able to obtain much of what it desired, and this, in addition to the high cost of the war, led to popular discontent. This was manipulated by the nationalists, who evolved into the Fascist movement.\n\nIn October 1922, the National Fascist Party, led by Benito Mussolini, a former socialist who was thrown out of the party for his pro-war stance, attempted a coup with its \"March on Rome\", which resulted in the King forming an alliance with Mussolini. A pact with Germany (by that time fascist as well) was concluded by Mussolini in 1936, and a second in 1938. During the Second World War, Italy was invaded by the Allies in June 1943, leading to the collapse of the fascist regime and the arrest, escape, re-capture and execution of Mussolini. In September 1943, Italy surrendered and fought with the Allies. However, fighting continued on its territory for the rest of the war, with the Allies and Italian partisans fighting fascists who did not surrender, as well as German forces.\n\n#### Italian Republic", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk009", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1946, King Umberto II was forced to abdicate and Italy became a republic after a referendum. In the 1950s, Italy became a member of NATO. The Marshall Plan helped revive the Italian economy which, until the 1960s, enjoyed a period of sustained economic growth. Cities such as Rome returned to being popular tourist destinations, expressed in both American and Italian films such as *Roman Holiday* or *La Dolce Vita*. In 1957, Italy became a founding member of the European Economic Community. Beginning with the *Wirtschaftswunder* (German for \"economic miracle\") of the 1950s, many Germans invested their new-found wealth in vacations in Italy and Northern Italy has been particularly popular with Germans ever since. Even to the point that the spread of pizza (a speciality from the South) to Northern Italy is said to have originated with German tourists demanding what they thought to be \"Italian food\".\nalt=|thumb|250x250px|The Trevi Fountain, symbol of 18th-century Baroque Italy\nFrom the late 1960s till the late 1980s, however, the country experienced an economic and political crisis. There was a constant fear, inside and outside Italy, that the Communist Party, which regularly polled over 20% of the vote, would one day form a government. Many machinations by the parties of the establishment prevented this. Italy suffered terrorism from the right and the left, including the shocking kidnapping and murder of Prime Minister Aldo Moro, who shortly before had forged the \"historic compromise\" with the Communists. Some attacks thought to have been perpetrated by leftist groups are now known to have originated with right wing groups trying to discredit the Communist Party or with the Mafia. An involvement by the NATO \"stay behind\" organisation (supposed to function as a guerrilla force in the instance of a Soviet occupation), Gladio, that included many right-wing extremists has been alleged in several cases. This turbulent period is remembered as the Years of Lead, or *anni di piombo*.", "word_count": 318}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk010", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since 1992, Italy has faced massive government debt and extensive corruption. Scandals have involved all major parties, but especially the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, which were both dissolved, after having dominated politics since the end of the war. The 1994 elections led to media magnate Silvio Berlusconi's tenure as Prime Minister; his allies were defeated in 1996, but emerged victorious in 2001. They lost the election in 2006, but won again in 2008, and lost in 2013. Berlusconi is a controversial figure inside and outside of Italy, and has found himself in court numerous times. Some people even say his political career began as an attempt to escape legal repercussions through parliamentary immunity. Following the 2018 elections, two populist parties agreed to form a government with a majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies. This has resulted in an uneasy arrangement, with the anti-establishment *Movimento Cinque Stelle* (Five Star Movement, M5S) and the far-right *Lega* (League) uniting to form an unprecedented populist coalition government. This coalition broke down in 2019 over disagreements on the treatment of refugees from Africa, and a new coaliton government comprised of M5S with and the centre-left *Partito Democratico* (Democratic Party, PD) was sworn in after that, but that government too didn't last long either.\n\nIn the last elections, a new right-wing government was formed, which for the first time has a woman as prime minister (and it is also the first time that the prime minister belongs to a party that, in some way, was linked ideologically to fascism, even if now she condemns the mistakes of fascism).\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk011", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "The climate of Italy varies and often differs from the stereotypical Mediterranean climate it is known for. Most of Italy has hot, dry summers, with July and August being the hottest months of the year. Winters are cold and damp in the north, and mild and sunny in the south. The temperature differences across the country are more extreme in winter. For instance, on a typical winter day, you may very well have 6°C in Milan (north), 15°C in Rome (centre), and 21°C in Palermo (south). On the other hand, a typical summer day might bring similar temperatures to all three cities. Conditions on the peninsula's coastal areas can be very different from the higher ground and valleys of the interior; during the winter months, the higher altitudes tend to be cold, and during the summer months the heat is oppressive in the valleys. The Alps have a mountain climate, with mild summers and very cold winters. Below is a climate chart depicting the climate of Naples, Italy, which well represents a typical Italian coastal climate.\n\n### Read\n\nNon-Guidebooks about Italy or by Italian writers.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk012", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Italian Journey* (original German title: Italienische Reise) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; a report on his travels to Italy via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass. He visited Lake Garda, Verona, Vicenza, Venice, Bologna, Assisi, Rome and Alban Hills, Naples and Sicily from 1786–7, published in 1816–7.\n *The Agony and the Ecstasy* by Irving Stone — a biography of Michelangelo that also paints a lovely portrait of Tuscany and Rome.\n *Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture* by Ross King — a compelling story of one of the greatest structural engineering achievements of the Renaissance. The story of the building of the immense dome on top of the basilica in Florence, Italy.\n *Under the Tuscan Sun* by Frances Mayes — an account of a woman who buys and restores a holiday home in Cortona, Italy. Full of local flavour and a true taste of Tuscany.\n *The Sea and Sardinia* by D.H. Lawrence — describes a brief excursion undertaken by Lawrence and Frieda, his wife aka Queen Bee, from Taormina in Sicily to the interior of Sardinia. They visited Cagliari, Mandas, Sorgono and Nuoro. Despite the brevity of his visit, Lawrence distills an essence of the island and its people that is still recognisable today. Also by D.H. Lawrence is *Etruscan Places*, recording his impressions of Cerveteri, Tarquinia, Vulci and Volterra.\n *Italian Neighbours* and *A Season with Verona* by Tim Parks. Two portraits of contemporary life in Italy as seen by an English writer who lived just outside Verona.\n *Neapolitan Quartet Series* by Elena Ferrante. A series of novels that explores the intense friendship of two Italian women during the 1950s-1970s. Primarily set in Naples and Florence, this series of novels has received international attention for its depiction of Naples and the rich friendship between these two fictional characters.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk013", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Italian names are parenthesised.\n**1 January**: New Year's Day (*Capodanno*)\n**6 January**: Epiphany (*Epifania*)\n**March or April according to the Gregorian calendar**: Easter (*Pasqua*) and Easter Monday (*Pasquetta*)\n**25 April**: Liberation Day (*la Festa della Liberazione*)\n**1 May**: Labor Day (*la Festa del Lavoro*)\n**2 June**: Republic Day (*la Festa della Repubblica*)\n**15 August**: Ferragosto\n**1 November**: All Saints' Day (*Ognissanti*)\n**8 December**: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (*Immacolata Concezione*)\n**25 December**: Christmas (*Natale*)\n**26 December**: St. Stephen's Day (*Santo Stefano*)\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMinistry of Tourism", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk014", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Italian** (*italiano*) is the language spoken natively by most Italians. Standard Italian is largely based on the dialect of Tuscan spoken in Florence. Every region in Italy has a distinct native Italic language in addition to Italian that may or may not be spoken by locals, depending on the area. In Rome or Milan, the spoken language is nowadays usually Italian with some local influence, whereas in rural areas the local language is more common; though people usually speak *italiano*, too. Even though Italians call the native languages \"dialects\", they are separate languages, much like Chinese languages; they even have their own way of writing. Some of these languages also have their own rich literary traditions, the most important ones being Neapolitan, Venetian and Milanese.\n\n**German** is the co-official language of South Tyrol, an autonomous region of the country. Many of South Tyrol's residents (68.6% according to the 2024 census) have German as their first language, but the use of German is gradually declining. \n\nIn northern Italy, there are small pockets of other Romance languages like Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language related to Switzerland's Romansh. Friulano, another Rhaeto-Romance language, is still spoken by an important minority in the border region near Austria and Slovenia. There are several Greek-speaking enclaves in the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia and there are an estimated 100,000 Albanian speakers in Apulia, Calabria and Sicily—some of whom have ancestors who migrated in the Middle Ages and thus speak the rather medieval-sounding Arberesh language. Some regions have additional official languages: German in Alto Adige/ South Tyrol, Slovene and German in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and French in Valle d'Aosta. Slovene is spoken near the Slovenian border and in Gorizia and Trieste. Most speakers of these minority languages also speak Italian.\n\n**English** is spoken by shopkeepers and tour operators in tourist areas. Outside of the tourism industry, you are not guaranteed to find locals who are conversant in English, though if you haven't been to Italy since the 1990s or so, you'll find that much more English is spoken in cities like Rome and Florence as of 2024 than used to be the case. That said, efforts to speak Italian are often appreciated and likely to smoothen your visit considerably. Before speaking English, begin the conversation in Italian and ask in Italian if the person understands English. Always simplify and speak slowly when using English, especially if you are outside the touristy cities. Most people above 50 never studied English at school and they are very unlikely to know a single word in English. Younger people are more likely to know basic English, though often with a strong accent. Realistically, the only people who are likely to speak fluent English are the students who study foreign languages at university, and those who have lived abroad or travel abroad regularly for work. However, most people will make gestures to make themselves understood.\n\nThe **Romance** languages Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanian are not widely spoken but are similar to Italian, so some words will be understood, especially in written form. In the northwesternmost region (Valle d'Aosta) there are French- and Franco-Provençal-speaking minorities. In neighboring Piedmont, it's not uncommon to find people who speak French as well. Italian is somewhat similar to Spanish, so if you speak Spanish, locals will generally be able to puzzle you out with some difficulty, and you should also find it easy to pick up Italian.", "word_count": 568}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk015", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Pisa (the Piazza dei Miracoli, with the cathedral and the leaning tower)\nthumb|250px|right|Naples (a view over the city, showing Vesuvius)\nthumb|250px|right|Venice (the grand canal)\n\nIn addition, citizens of San Marino may enter and reside in Italy indefinitely without a visa.\n\nForeign military entering Italy under a Status of Forces Agreement do not require a passport and need only show their valid military identification card and travel orders. Their dependents, however, are not exempt from visa requirements.\n\nAll **non**-EU, EEA or Swiss citizens staying in Italy for 90 days or less have to declare their presence in Italy within 8 days of arrival. If your passport was stamped on arrival *in Italy*, the stamp counts as such a declaration. Generally, a copy of your hotel registration will suffice if you are staying at a hotel. Otherwise, however, you will have to go to a police office to complete the form (**dichiarazione di presenza**). Failing to do so may result in expulsion. Travellers staying longer than 90 days do not need to complete this declaration, but must instead have an appropriate visa and must obtain a residence permit (**permesso di soggiorno**).\n\n### By plane\n\nLarger airports are served by the major European airlines. Intercontinental flights mainly arrive in Milan and Rome, the main gateways into the country.\n\nMost mid-range international flights arrive in the following Italian cities:\n\n Rome - with two airports: Fiumicino ( - Leonardo da Vinci) and Ciampino () for budget airlines\n Milan - with two airports: Malpensa () and Linate (); in addition, Bergamo ( - Orio al Serio) is sometimes referred to as \"Milan Bergamo\"\n Bologna ( – Guglielmo Marconi)\n Naples ( - Capodichino)\n Pisa ( - Galileo Galilei)\n Venice ( – Marco Polo); in addition, Treviso (TSF - Antonio Canova) is sometimes referred to as \"Venice Treviso\"\n Turin ( – Sandro Pertini)\n Catania ( - Vincenzo Bellini)\n Bari ( - Palese)\n Genoa ( - Cristoforo Colombo)\n\n#### Prominent airlines in Italy\n\n- ITA Airways\n\n- Ryanair\n\n- easyjet\n\n- Wizz Air\n\n### By train\n\nFrom Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck and Villach\nFrom France via Nice, Lyon and Paris\nFrom Germany via Munich\nFrom Spain via Barcelona\nFrom Switzerland via Basel, Geneva and Zürich\nFrom Slovenia via Ljubljana to Opicina, a small village above Trieste or via Nova Gorica and a short walk to Gorizia, Italy\n\n### By car\n\nItaly borders on France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. All borders are open (without passport/customs checks), but cars can be stopped behind the border for random checks.\n\n### By bus\n\nFlixbus offers domestic and international routes. There are regular buses between Ljubljana, Slovenian coastal towns and Istria (Croatia) and Trieste (Italy). These services are cheap and from Trieste onward connections with the rest of Italy are plentiful. There is also a bus that goes from Malmö, Sweden via Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and then goes through the country and then back to Sweden.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries arrive from Greece, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Most of them arrive at Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi.\n\nRegular ferry services connect the island of Corsica in France to Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and Northern Sardinia. Barcelona is connected to Civitavecchia and to Genoa.\n\nRegular ferry services connect Sicily and Naples to North African harbours.\n\nA hydrofoil service connects Pozzallo on the south-eastern coast of Sicily and Malta.\n\nThere is a year-round service between Trieste and Albania and summer services between Trieste and Piran (Slovenia) and Porec and Rovinj in Croatian Istria. The service between Trieste and Rovinj takes less than 2 hours, which is quicker than the bus service.", "word_count": 596}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk016", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Bologna (the red terracotta roofs and brick towers of the city's skyline)\n\nthumb|250px|right|Milan (the Piazza del Duomo, with the city's stunning medieval cathedral)\n\n### By train\n\n*Main article: Rail travel in Italy*\nthumb|Italy's [[high speed rail]] network\nTrains in Italy are generally a good value, somewhat frequent, and of uneven reliability. On some high-speed routes there is a choice between \".italo\" (privately owned) and \"Trenitalia\" (state owned). On other routes, either Trenitalia or a regional operator provides the service.\n\n- Italo\n\n- Trenitalia\n\n#### Train types\n\nOn long-distance trains there are 1st and 2nd classes. A 2nd class ticket costs about 80% the price of a 1st class ticket. On high-speed trains you can also choose between basic, standard and flexible tickets. Basic tickets are of course the cheapest. During commuter hours, on major north-south routes during the holidays, or before and after large political demonstrations, trains on the lower train types are often overcrowded.\n\nAlthough between Milan and Naples (including Bologna, Florence and Rome), high-speed trains cut travel times in half, on other routes, such as between Rome and Genoa, Naples and Reggio Calabria, Venice and Trieste, they travel on the traditional line, with only marginally shorter travel times compared to Intercity trains.\n\nOn long routes, such as Milan - Rome or Milan - Reggio di Calabria, Trenitalia operates special night trains: *Intercity notte*. They depart around 22.00 and arrive in the morning.\n\n#### Getting tickets\n\nThe lines to buy tickets are often long and slow, so get to the station early. There are efficient, multilingual, touch-screen ticket machines, but the lines for them are often long, too, because there are few of them.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk017", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can also buy tickets online on the Trenitalia website; you will receive a code (codice di prenotatione (PNR)) that is used to pick up the ticket from a ticket machine in the station (\"Self Service\"). The site will show the \"best\" (usually more expensive) connections - you may select to \"show all connections\" (or \"Regional trains\") to see if there are slower but cheaper connections available.\n\nFor high-speed and intercity trains you can also choose a *ticketless* option. You get a PNR code via email and board the train directly. On board you must tell the conductor your PNR code.\n\nHigh-speed trains can fill up, so if you're on a tight schedule, buy the tickets in advance. In general, you should buy the tickets *before* boarding the train. Fines start at €50. If you're running late and have no ticket, it's probably best to talk directly with the conductor (*il controllore* or *il capotreno*) outside the train before boarding.\n\n**Trenitalia Pass**: you buy a number of days of travel to be used within 2 months, however you still have to pay a supplement on the compulsory reservation services, i.e. TBiz, Eurostar Italia, and Intercity which will be €5-25, depending on the train type. Details are on the Trenitalia website, and also on the International Rail website.\n\n#### Rules\n\nYou **must** validate the ticket before boarding most trains, by stamping it in one of the white boxes (marked *Convalida*). Tickets that specify the day and time of travel do not need to be validated.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk018", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "The cheapest way to travel in a region is to buy a **zone ticket card**. A chart displayed near the validating machine tells you how many zones you must *pay* between stations. To buy a zone card for the next region, get off the train at the last station, buy the ticket, and board the next train (usually departing in about an hour).\n\nA **smoking ban** in public places is in effect in Italy. Smoking on any Italian train is subject to a fine.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe advent of low-cost carriers made domestic air travel cheaper. When booked in advance, plane tickets for long trips are often cheaper than train fares.\nITA Airways, Ryanair, Easyjet and Blue Express operate domestic flights while small, new airlines appear and disappear often.\n\n### By car\n\n*Main article: Driving in Italy*\n\nItaly has a well-developed system of motorways (*autostrade*) in the North, while in the South it's a bit worse for quality and extent. Most motorways are toll roads. The *autostrade* are marked with green signs, while general highways are marked with blue signs. Speeding on the *autostrade* is nowadays less common than in the past. There are automatic systems to punish speeding and hazardous driving. Italian Highway Patrol (*Polizia Stradale*) operates unmarked cars equipped with advanced speed radars and camera systems.\n\nThe tolerated alcohol limit is **0.50g/L** (0.05%) in blood, or **zero** for drivers under 21 years of age or with less than 3 years of driving experience.\n\nFuel prices are in line with those in western Europe and more expensive than in North America and Japan. As of December 2016, prices were about €1.65/L for petrol and €1.53/L for diesel (they probably rose in 2022).", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk019", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic in large Italian cities is heavy and finding a parking spot ranges from a challenging to an impossible enterprise at times. Park your vehicle at a park-and-ride facility or somewhere in the outskirts and use public transport. Be careful with *Zone a Traffico Limitato* or '''ZTL'''s (Limited Traffic Zones). They are restricted areas in the historical centres of many cities, where only authorised vehicles are permitted. Many tourists are fined (about €100) for entering a ZTL unknowingly.\n\nEU licences are automatically recognised. If you don't have an EU driving licence, you need an International Driving Permit in addition to your home driver's license in order to drive. To obtain a recognition of your driving licence (*adeguamento* or *tagliando di riconoscimento*) you will need to pass a medical examination.\n\nAll motor vehicles in Italy must have insurance (*assicurazione*) for at least third party liability.\n\nFrom November 15 to April 15, you must carry snow chains in your car legally, even if there is no snow on the road.\n\nthumb|250px|right|Palermo (cathedral)\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Local\n\nBuy town bus tickets from corner shops, bus-company offices or automated machines before boarding (on *some* systems, tickets *might* be bought on-board from an automated machine). Buying tickets from the bus driver is generally not possible.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk020", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "The payment system for most mass transit in Italy (urban trains, city buses, subway) is based on voluntary payment combined with variable enforcement. Tickets are bought before boarding and validated on an on-board machine; inspectors may board the vehicle to check the passengers' tickets and issue fines to those lacking a validated ticket. The inspectors are generally recognizable by some item displaying the company's logo. When issuing a fine, inspectors are allowed to ask to see your documents, and they have to give some sort of receipt with date, time and location. They are never allowed to directly collect the fine (which generally can be paid at a post office). Assaulting an inspector during his work is a serious offense.\n\nDaily, weekly, monthly and year-round tickets are generally available, in addition to multi-use tickets. These may or may not need to be validated. In almost every city there's a different pricing scheme, so check ticket formulas and availability in advance. For tourists it may be very convenient to buy daily (or multi-day) tickets that allow unlimited travel within a single day or period. Major cities have some type of **City Card**, a fixed-fee card allowing travel on local public transportation, visits to a number of museums, and discounts in shops, hotels and restaurants.\n\nCheck for these possibilities at local tourist offices or on the city's website (which is often of the form www.comune.*cityname*.it as for example www.comune.roma.it).\n\n#### Intercity\n\nIntercity buses used to be a niche market in Italy. The main intercity bus operator in Italy is Flixbus, which operates a vast network of routes connecting cities across the country. Other bus companies in Italy include Saj, MarinoBus and Itabus.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk021", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "The prices of intercity bus tickets in Italy are usually lower than train tickets, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious travellers. However, the travel time for buses can be longer than trains, and the comfort level may be lower.\n\nThe buses in Italy are generally modern and well-maintained, with air conditioning and comfortable seating. Some buses also offer onboard amenities such as free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and toilets.\n\nIt's worth noting that some cities in Italy have restricted access to vehicles, and it may not be possible to reach certain areas by bus. Therefore, it's essential to plan your journey carefully and check the bus routes and schedules in advance.\n\nTickets for intercity buses in Italy can be purchased online, at bus stations, or from ticket agents. It's advisable to book your tickets in advance, especially during peak travel periods, as seats can fill up quickly.\n\n### By e-hailing\n\nMost commonly used are Uber, AppTaxi and FreeNow followed by InTaxi, ItTaxi and DigiTaxi\n\n### By thumb\n\nHitchhiking in Italy is associated with the 1960s hippies and \"on the road\" kind of culture. Therefore, it is considered out-dated and useless. You will almost never find Italians hitchhiking unless there's a serious problem with the bus or other means of transportation. Also, it is nowadays common to spot prostitutes by the side of the road pretending to hitchhike to attract clientele so it's advisable to avoid being mistaken for one.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk022", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking in the summer in touristy areas works well because you'll get rides from Northern European tourists, and it works well in rural areas as long as there is consistent traffic (because you're still playing the odds), but hitchhiking near large cities or along busy routes is **frustrating**. Hitchhiking along expressways and highways is forbidden by law and off the Autostrade, Italians are unlikely to pick up hitchhikers.\n\n### By bike\n\nBy default, Trenitalia allows anyone to bring bikes that are \"disassembled and contained in a bag or a fully closed folding bike\" as long the size doesn't exceed 80×110×45 cm (Just a tiny smaller than most cardboard boxes). This applies to Frecciarossa, Intercity and Regionale trains. The international trains that have a specific ruleset for each destination.\n\n### By boat\n\nApproaching Italy by sea can be a great experience and is a good alternative to traditional onshore “tours”.\nA yacht charter to Italy is a fulfilling way to experience the country. Although the yacht charter industry is smaller than one would expect for this incredibly popular tourist destination, there are many reasons to choose a yacht over a more conventional onshore approach. The Italian coast, like the French coast, attracts luxury yacht charters of the highest standards. “Touring” Italy from a private yacht is surprisingly convenient and comfortable. Italy’s dramatic coastline is best appreciated from the sea. You may take a swim whenever you like, and many famous sights are near the seashore. Cruising on a private yacht shields one from the crowds and traffic infesting popular destinations.\n\nTuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and Sicily are the main nautical regions. Each has its own flavor and is rewarding in its own particular way.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk023", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "See", "text": "There is so much to see in Italy that it is difficult to know where to begin. Virtually every village has some sights.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk024", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "See", "text": "**Etruscan Italy.** If you have limited time and no potential to travel outside the main cities, then don't miss the amazing collection at the Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome. Hiring a car gives access to the painted tombs and museum of Tarquinia or the enormous burial complex at Cerveteri and those are just the sites within easy reach of Rome.thumb|right|250px|Roman bikinis. Mosaic from the Villa Romana at [[Piazza Armerina]], Sicily.\n **The Greek influence.** Well-preserved Greek temples at Agrigento in the south-west of Sicily and at Paestum, just south of Naples, give a good understanding of the extent of Greek influence on Italy.\n **Roman ruins.** From the south, in Sicily, to the north of the country, Italy is full of reminders of the Roman empire. In Taormina, Sicily check out the Roman theatre, with excellent views of Mt. Etna on a clear day. Also in Sicily, don't miss the well-preserved mosaics at Piazza Armerina. Moving north to just south of Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum were covered in lava by Mt. Vesuvius and, as a result, are well preserved. To Rome and every street in the centre seems to have a few pieces of inscribed Roman stone built into more recent buildings. Don't miss the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Aqueducts, the Appian Way, and a dozen or so museums devoted to Roman ruins. Further north, the Roman amphitheatre at Verona is definitely not to be missed.thumb|right|250px|Florence's cathedral; bell tower by Giotto to the left and the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio in front\n **Christian Italy.** The Vatican is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Although inside Rome it is officially a separate country. Don't miss St Peter's and the Vatican Museum. Rome, itself, has over 900 churches; many of these are worth a quick visit. Throughout Italy there is amazing Christian architecture covering the Romanesque (700–1200); Gothic (1100–1450); Renaissance (1400–1600); and ornate Baroque (1600–1830) styles. Although theft of artwork has been a problem, major city churches and cathedrals retain many paintings and sculptures, while others have been moved to city and Church museums. Frescoes and mosaics are everywhere, and quite stunning. Don't just look for churches: in rural areas there are some fascinating monasteries to be discovered. All but the largest churches are usually closed between 12:30 and 15:30.\n **The Byzantine cities.** The Byzantines controlled northern Italy until kicked out by the Lombards in 751. Venice is of course world famous and nearby Chioggia, also in the Lagoon, is a smaller version. Ravenna's churches have some incredible mosaics. Visiting Ravenna requires a bit of a detour, but it is well worth it.\n **The Renaissance.** Start with a visit to Piazza Michelangelo in Florence to admire the famous view. Then explore the museums, both inside and outside Florence, that house Renaissance masterpieces. The Renaissance, or Rebirth, (*Rinascimento* in Italian) lasted from the 15th to the 17th century and is generally seen as having begun in Florence. The list of famous names is endless: in architecture Ghiberti (the cathedral's bronze doors), Brunelleschi (the dome), and Giotto (the bell tower). In literature: Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli. In painting and sculpture: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Masaccio and Botticelli.\n **Streets and squares.** You could visit Italy's cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from the Po and Adige valleys, most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and ice cream shops (*gelaterie*). Above all, enjoy the atmosphere.\n **Operas**. If you are interested in famous Italian operas, they are performed in Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Turin, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo and Genoa.\n **Medieval hilltop towns**. Hundreds of these offer a backdrop of scenic landscapes.\n **Landscapes**. Italy, shaped a like a peninsular boot, provides natural beauty with a variety of breathtaking landscapes, ranging from mountains, rural valleys, warm Mediterranean waters and three active volcanoes.", "word_count": 689}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk025", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "See", "text": "### Monuments\n\nUNESCO World Heritage\n\n### Islands\n\nthumb|250px|Stromboli\n\nSicily\n Sardinia\n Capri\n Ischia\n Elba\n Procida\n Aeolian Islands\n Ustica\n Pantelleria\n Aegadi Islands\n Pelagie Islands\n\n### Museums\n\nright|250px|thumb|The Uffizi gallery in Florence, considered one of the most prestigious art museums in the world.\n\nEvery major city has museums, but some of them have national and international relevance.\n\nThese are some of the most important permanent collections.\n\n- Uffizi Museum\n\n- Galleria dell'Accademia\n\n- Brera Art Gallery\n\n- The Etruscan Academy Museum of the City of Cortona\n\n- Egyptian Museum\n\n- The Aquarium\n\n- Science and Technology Museum\n\n- Roman Civilization Museum\n\n- National Cinema Museum\n\n- Automobile Museum\n\n- Capitoline Museums\n\n- The Vatican Museums\n\n- Etruscan Museum", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk026", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Do", "text": "### Beaches and swimming\n\nOne of the great things about Italy is that its long thin shape means that when you get fed up with sightseeing, you are often near a beach. In many of the more popular areas, large sections of beach are reserved as paid beaches. In the season they cover almost the entire beach with rows and rows of sunbeds (lettini) and umbrellas (ombrelloni). You have the right to pass through these establishments without being charged to get to the sea, and should be able to walk along the sea in front of them. More affordable are the beaches in Calabria: Many are free, so you will only need to pay for equipment if you choose to rent any.\n\nSouth of Rome there are 20 km of free beach at the Circeo National Park. This is thanks to **Dr. Mario Valeriani**, who was in charge of that area after World War II and never gave permits to build anything, in spite of the very generous bribes offered by a multitude of would-be investors and millionaires, as he thought this was a natural marvel that should remain as it was intended. So today we can all enjoy this stretch of nature. You can bring your own chair and sun cover and you will only be charged a parking fee on the main road.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk027", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Do", "text": "While renting *lettini* for the day is not particularly expensive at establishments, they can fill up very quickly. There are some free beaches everywhere: they are easily identifiable by the absence of regimented rows of *lettini*. They are often crowded: on a Saturday or Sunday in the summer you won’t find an empty stretch of beach anywhere. Most establishments offer full services including entertainment, bar and restaurant, gym classes and kindergarten. Close to urban areas you will never be far from a fish restaurant on the beach or, at the very least, a bar. On the beach, topless women are more or less accepted everywhere, however provinces and municipalities are allowed to restrict the practice if they choose. Beginning in the mid-2010s, some regions have slowly begun to establish a few naturist beaches, where full nudity is tolerated. However, unless on a beach where complete nudity is explicitly allowed, violators run the risk of a hefty fine and/or arrest.\n\n### Classical music", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk028", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Do", "text": "Italy was the birthplace of Western opera during the late 16th century and, unsurprisingly, Italy is home to some of the world's most famous opera houses, the best known of which is the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The first-ever opera was Jacopo Peri's *Dafne* (now lost), which was premiered at the Palazzo Corsi in Florence in 1598, though the oldest surviving opera that is still regularly performed today is *L'Orfeo* by Claudio Monteverdi, which was premiered at the court of Mantua in 1607. Yet another important city in the history of opera is Venice, in which the first public opera house was built, allowing paying members of the general public access to what was once court entertainment for the aristocracy. In fact, in the early 18th century, Italian opera was the most popular form of entertainment among the aristocracy in every European country except France, and even operas that premiered in non-Italian speaking areas such as London and Vienna were written in Italian. Many Italian composers, such as Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini continue to be revered by classical music enthusiasts, and some of their pieces have even found their way into modern pop culture. In addition to the locals, many foreign composers such as Handel and Mozart also composed several critically acclaimed Italian operas which continue to enchant audiences to this day.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk029", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Do", "text": "Besides opera, Italy has also been a key player in the development of other genres of Western classical music. The concerto was first popularised by the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli during the Baroque period, and the symphony can trace its origins to the overtures of Italian Baroque opera. Ballet, despite its French name and terminology, and being more commonly associated with France or Russia, actually originated in Italy during the Renaissance. In fact, it was *de rigueur* for European composers, regardless of their origin, to spend some time in Italy studying music, and to this day, most terminology used in Western music scores continues to be in Italian.\n\n### Visit the vineyards\n\nthumb|250px|Wine-growing holding in the Chianti region\nItaly is famous for its wine. And its vineyards tend to be in the middle of some beautiful scenery. Taking an organised tour is probably best. Day trips can usually be organised through hotels in major wine areas such as Chianti or through the local tourism office. There are several companies offering longer tours that include meals and accommodation. A simple web search for “Italian vineyard tours” or “wine tour Italy” will find them. These longer tours emphasise good food, great wine and a high standard of accommodation and are thus expensive.\nIf you rent a car and want to organise your own trips, a helpful website is that of the Movimento Turismo del Vino. The Italian page has a link to *itinerari* which is not available in English. Even if you don’t read Italian you can still find addresses and opening hours of some interesting wine producers. “Su prenotazione” means \"By Appointment Only\".\n\n### Cycling tours", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk030", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Do", "text": "Several companies offer cycling tours of the Italian countryside. They provide cycles, a guide and transportation for your suitcase, and for you if it all gets a bit too tiring. Tours vary to accommodate different interests. Normally you change city and hotel every day. If you like cycling this is an excellent way of seeing Italy off-the-beaten-track. Search Google, etc. for \"Cycle Tours Italy\" for companies.\n\n### Sailing\n\nSailing is one of the best ways to see the Italian islands such as Sardinia and Sicily. Most charter companies offer options from bareboat to crewed and cabin charter, with all types of the boats.\n\n### Spectator sports\n\nItaly is sports crazy and as such soccer, Rugby Union and several other sports enjoy a devout, if sometimes violent, following. In the 1980s Italy was one of the most notable first adopters of American Football in Europe, though corruption in the national federation and scandals have greatly reduced interest in this sport since.\n\n**Cycling:** Giro d'Italia is one of the world's top races, held over three weeks in May. There are lots of smaller events, which you may be forced to watch when they cause road closures.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk031", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nItaly phased out the one- and two-cent coins in 2018, rounding prices to the nearest five-cent increment.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTips (*la mancia*) are not customary in Italy but are offered when a special service is given or to recognise high quality service. Most restaurants, except those in Rome, have a price for the service *coperto* and waiters do not expect a tip; however, they will not refuse one. In cafés, bars, and pubs it's not uncommon to leave the change, saying to the waiter or to the cashier *tenga il resto* - \"keep the change\". Tip jars near the cash register are becoming widespread, but in public toilets, they are often forbidden. Leaving the change is also quite common with taxi drivers, and hotel porters may expect a little something. It is not possible to add tips manually to a credit card bill, so you'll need cash.\n\n### Shopping\n\nItaly's economy and therefore prices change significantly depending on the place: Northern Italy, especially Milan, is considered expensive, with prices similar to Germany or France, while the South, economically underdeveloped, is cheaper, with prices similar to Greece. Cities in general are more expensive than the countryside. Also, the mentality and attitude of shopkeepers varies across the country: the common stereotype is that in the North people are cold and business oriented, giving impeccable but emotionally distant service; while in the South people are friendly, keep prices low and might give you a discount if they like you. This of course is a stereotype, but you'll find it is somewhat true.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk032", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "Keep in mind that many touristy locations might have bloated prices: an espresso, for instance, in Italy as of September 2025 costs between 1€ in Southern regions and 1,50€ in Northern regions; in piazza del Duomo in Milan or piazza San Marco in Venice that same coffe is 3€. Amalfi, while it is located in the South, has high prices.\n\nMeals can be had for 5€, in street food shops or panetterie (bakeries, depending on where you are they might have some delicious meals for very cheap, think of focaccia in Liguria for example), but in restaurants, taking a primo (first course), water and coperto into account, the prices range between 15€ and 25€.\n\nUnless otherwise stated, prices are inclusive of IVA sales tax (same as **VAT**), which is 22% for most goods, and 10% in restaurants and hotels. On some products, such as books, IVA is 4%. In practice, you can forget about it since it is universally included in the display price. Non-EU residents are entitled to a VAT refund on purchases of goods that will be taken out of the European Union. Shops offering this scheme have a **Tax Free** sticker outside. Ask for a tax-free voucher before leaving the store and bring your passport. These goods have to be unused and unopened when passing the customs checkpoint upon leaving the EU.\n\nWhile travelling through the countryside, do not rely on **credit cards**; in small towns they're accepted by only a few shops and restaurants. Cash is king around the country.\n\n### Opening hours\n\nOpening hours in Italy are very complicated and they change from place to place. **Do not expect** stores to be open all day and always check opening times before going to a particular place. To simplify, generally the situation is as follows:", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk033", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most shops are closed for lunch (between 12:30 and 15:30)\nBarber shops are closed on Mondays\nBanks are open to the public for about only 4 hours in the morning and barely an hour in the afternoon\nRestaurants will not open before 11:30 for lunch and 19:00 for dinner\nMany shops are closed on Sunday and some are closed on Monday, but don't take the rest of the week for granted: many will close on a specific day of the week\n\n### What to buy\n\nItaly is a great place for all forms of shopping. Most cities, villages and towns, are crammed to the brim with many different forms of shops, from glitzy boutiques and huge shopping malls, to tiny art galleries, small food stores, antique dealers and general newsagents.\n\n**Food** is definitely one of the best souvenirs you can get in Italy. There are thousands of different shapes of pasta (not only spaghetti or macaroni). Then every Italian region has its local speciality like cheese, wine, ham, salami, oil and vinegar. Don't forget to buy Nutella. Note that some non-EU countries (notably, the United States, Australia and New Zealand) have strict rules about what food items can be brought into the country from outside. Cured meats (and other uncooked produce) that you purchase in Italy may not be allowed into your country - check with your embassy or your customs agency to be sure, before you spend a large amount of money on something that may get confiscated.\n\nthumb|250px|Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan\n\nItalian **fashion** is renowned worldwide. Many of the world's most famous international brands have their headquarters or were founded in Italy.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk034", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "Milan is Italy's fashion and design capital. In the city one can find virtually every major brand in the world, not only Italian, but also French, English, American, Swedish and Spanish. Your main place for la-crème-de-la-crème shopping is the Via Montenapoleone, but the Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant'Andrea and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele are equally luxurious, if less-prominent shopping streets. The Corso Buenos Aires is the place to go for mass-scale or outlet shopping. And, the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the centre and Via Dante boast some designer boutiques, too. Virtually every street in central Milan has clothing stores of some kind.\n\nRome and Florence are also fashion centres, and boast being the birthplace of some of the oldest fashion and jewellery houses in Italy. When in Rome, the chic and beautiful Via dei Condotti, leading to the Spanish Steps, will be your primary point of shopping reference, with boutiques, but subsidiary streets such as Via dei Babuino, Via Borgognona, Via Frattina, Via del Corso and the Piazza di Spagna. In Florence, Via de' Tornabuoni is the main high-fashion shopping street, and there you'll find loads of designer brands. However, in both cities, you'll be able to find a plethora of chic boutiques, designer or not, scattered around the centre.\n\nPrestigious brands such as Armani, Gucci and Prada can of course be found in Italian cities; since their pricing is set internationally, they will likely not be much cheaper than they are in your homeland.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk035", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Jewellery and accessory** shops can be found in abundance in Italy. There are many jewellery and accessory stores which hail from Italy. Vicenza and Valenza are considered the country's jewellery capitals, which are also famous for their silverware and goldware shops. All over Italy, notably Vicenza, Milan, Valenza, Rome, Naples, Florence and Venice, but also several other cities, you can find hundreds of jewellery or silverware boutiques. Apart from the famous ones, there are some great quirky and funky jewellery stores scattered around the country.\n\n**Design and furniture** is something Italy is proudly and justifiably famous for. Excellent quality furniture stores can be found all over, but the best deals are in Milan. Milan contains among the top design rooms and emporia in the world. Many Italian cities have great antique furniture stores. So, you can choose between cutting-edge, avant-garde furniture, or old world antiques to buy in this country, which are, by average, of good quality.\n\n**Glassware** is something which Venice makes uniquely but which is spread around the whole of the country. Venice is famously the capital of Murano (not the island), or glassware made in different colours. Here, you can get goblets, crystal chandeliers, candlesticks and decorations made in multi-coloured blown glass, which can be designed in modern, funky arrangements, or the classical style.\n\n**Books** can be found in bookshops in any city. The main book and publishing companies/stores in Italy include Mondadori, Feltrinelli, Hoepli or Rizzoli. Most big bookstores are found in Milan, Turin and nearby Monza, which are the capitals of Italy's publishing trade (Turin was made World Book Capital in 2006), however other cities such as Rome have many book shops. 99% of the books sold are in Italian.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk036", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Art** shops are found throughout Italy, notably in Florence, Rome and Venice. In Florence, the best place to buy art is the Oltrarno, where there are numerous ateliers selling replicas of famous paintings. Usually, depending on what city you're in, you get replicas of notable works of art found there, but also, you can find rare art shops, sculpture shops, or funky, modern/old stores in several cities.\n\n### How to buy\n\nIn a small or medium-sized shop, it's standard to greet the staff as you enter, not when you approach the counter to pay. A friendly 'Buongiorno' or 'Buonasera' warms the atmosphere. When paying, the staff usually expect you to put coins down on the surface or dish provided, rather than placing money directly into their hands (old money-handling etiquette to avoid messy coin droppings), and they will do the same when giving you your change ('il resto'). This is normal practice and is not intended to be rude.\n\nHaggling is very rare and only ever takes place when dealing with hawkers. They will generally ask for an initial price that is much higher than what they are willing to sell for, and going for the asking price is a sure way to get ripped off. Hawkers often sell counterfeit merchandise (in some cases, very believable counterfeits), and that hoping to buy a Gucci purse for €30 off the street might not be in your best interest.\n\nIn all other situations, haggling will get you nowhere. Always be careful about counterfeit merchandise: Italian laws can apply fines up to €3000 to people who buy it (this mostly applies to luxury brand clothing or accessories).", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk037", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Trofie with pesto alla Genovese.\nthumb|250px|right|A traditional Italian meal, with beef with sauce and dark red wine.\n\nAs one of the world's most renowned culinary traditions, it is unsurprising that Italian cuisine can be very good. Unfortunately, there are also many tourist traps that serve overpriced and mediocre food. Finding the right place to eat, preferably the ones patronised by Italians, is therefore important; ask locals for their recommendations if possible, or perhaps even ask your hotel or look at online review sites for recommendations. The downside is that it is rare to find English-speaking waiters in the non-tourist-trap restaurants, so be prepared to have to speak some Italian. Restaurants often charge a cover fee called **Coperto** (usually €1–3 per person), which is separate from tipping.\n\n### Dining Etiquette\n\nItalians, in general, have an **intricate relationship with food**. While table manners in Italy generally follow standard European norms, there are several rules specific to Italy that you should be mindful of during your stay. Since the country receives so many visitors, cultural blunders are tolerated, but still, you should keep the following in mind if you want to get on locals' good sides and adapt to the Italian way of life.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk038", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most Italians drink **cappuccino** during breakfast. Ordering cappuccino after breakfast is considered awkward by most Italians and servers. If you want to sip on some coffee, consider ordering a **macchiato**.\n **Never criticise someone's food**; it is considered extremely rude. \n **Never criticise the food that is served to you at a restaurant**; it is considered extremely rude and staff members won't hesitate to defend the quality of food that is served to you. Also, do not expect waiters and staff members to dance to your tune. \n **Do not tell someone how to improve their cooking**. Italians would be **incredibly offended** by this.\n Don't confuse Italian food with Italian-American food. They are different cuisines and should be treated as such.\n Don't rush your meal. A meal with your Italian colleagues and/or friends can last for several hours. Savour it!\n **Do not decline an invitation to a business meal**; it is considered extremely rude and insulting to your Italian counterparts.\n When arriving at a restaurant, make sure you **greet the waitstaff** with a *buongiorno* (in the day) or *buonasera* (at night). At formal restaurants, you should always wait to be seated, though at more informal cafes and bars, you may ask for permission to seat yourself by asking \"*Posso sedermi?*\".\n\n### Cuisine", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk039", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "In Italy, cuisine is considered a *kind of art*. Great chefs such as Gualtiero Marchesi and Gianfranco Vissani are seen as half-way between TV stars and magicians. Italians are extremely proud of their culinary tradition and generally love food and talking about it. However, they are not so fond of common preconceptions, such as that Italian food is only pizza and spaghetti. They also have a distaste for \"bastardised\" versions of their dishes that are popular elsewhere, and many Italians have a hard time believing that the average foreigner can't get even a basic pasta dish \"right\".\n\nItalian food in Italy is different from food marketed as \"Italian\" overseas. It is truly one of the most diverse in the world, and in any region, or even city and village you go, there are different specialities. For instance, it could be only misleading to say that Northern Italian cuisine is based on hearty, potato and rice-rich meals, Central Italian cuisine is mainly on pastas, roasts and meat, and Southern Italian cuisine on vegetables, pizza, pasta and seafood: there are so many cross-influences that you'd only get confused trying to categorise. And in any case, Italian cuisine is not just based on pasta and tomato sauce: that's only a tiny snippet of the nation's food; rice, potatoes, lentils, soups and similar meals are very common in some parts of the country. Italian food is based upon so many ingredients and Italians often have very discriminating tastes that may seem strange to visitors.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk040", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "For instance, a **sandwich** stand might sell 4 different types of ham sandwiches that in each case contain ham, mayonnaise, and cheese. The only thing that may be different between the sandwiches is the type of ham or cheese used in them. Rustichella and panzerotti are two examples of sandwiches well-liked by Italians and tourists alike. Rather than large sandwiches with a piling of meat, vegetables, and cheese, sandwiches in Italy are often quite small, very flat (made even more so when they are quickly heated and pressed on a panini grill), and contain a few simple ingredients and often without lettuce or mayonnaise. Getting your meal on the run can save money – many sandwich shops charge an additional fee if you want to sit to eat your meal.\n\nThe term **panini** may be somewhat confusing to travellers from Northern Europe where it has erroneously come to mean a flat, heated sandwich on a grill. In Italy the term is equivalent to \"bread rolls\" (plural — the singular is **panino**) which can be simple rolls or sometimes with basic filling. However instead of a sandwich why not try a **piadina**, which is a flat folded bread with filling, served warm and typical of the coast of Romagna?\n\nItalian pasta is usually available with a myriad of sauces rather than simply tomato or Alfredo. Also, Italian pasta is often served a small amount of sauce. This is, in part, because pasta in a restaurant is usually regarded as the first course of a three- or four-course meal, not a meal in itself.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk041", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Structure of a traditional meal:** Usually Italian meals for working days are: small breakfast, one-dish lunch, one-dish dinner. Coffee is welcomed at nearly every hour, especially around 10:00 and at the end of a meal. At the weekends and in restaurants (for other occasions), a meal typically consists of: *antipasti* (appetisers: marinated vegetables, mixed coldcuts, seafood, etc.), *primo* (pasta or rice dish or soup), *secondo* (meat or fish course) often with a side dish known as a *contorno*, and *dolce* (dessert).\n\nLike the language and culture, food in Italy **differs region by region**. Local ingredients are also very important. In warm Naples, citrus and other fresh fruit play a prominent role in both food and liquor, while in Venice fish is obviously an important traditional ingredient.\n\n**Breakfast** in Italy: this is very light, often just a cappuccino or coffee with a pastry (*cappuccino e cornetto*) or a piece of bread and fruit jam. Unless you know for certain otherwise, you should not expect a large breakfast. It is not customary in Italy to eat eggs and bacon and the like at breakfast — just the thought of it is revolting to most Italians. In fact, no salty foods are consumed at breakfast, generally speaking. Additionally, cappuccino is a breakfast drink; ordering one after lunch or dinner is considered strange and considered a typical \"tourist thing\". A small **espresso** coffee is considered more appropriate for digestion.\n\nAnother enjoyable Italian breakfast item is **cornetto** (pl. cornetti): a croissant or light pastry often filled with jam, cream or chocolate.\n\nLunch and dinner times may be very different from the ones outside of southern Europe, and most restaurant will be closed outside the usual Italian lunch and dinner times.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk042", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Lunch** is seen as the most important part of the day, so much that Italians have one hour reserved for eating (and in the past, another hour was reserved for napping). All shops close down and resume after the two-hour break period. To compensate for this, businesses stay open later than in most other European towns, often until 20:00. Good luck trying to find a place open during the so-called \"pausa pranzo\" (lunch break ), when visiting a small town, but this is not the case in the city centres of the biggest cities or in shopping malls.\n\n**Dinner** time varies by region: in the north it is usually around 20:00 (even 19:00 in the homes), but it gets progressively later the further south one goes, up to 22:00.\n\nDo not expect the kind of dedicated, focused service you will find in e.g. American restaurants. In Italy this is considered somewhat annoying and people generally prefer to be left alone when consuming their meal. You should expect the waiter to come and check on you after your first course, maybe to order something as second course.\n\nItaly's most famous dishes like pizza or spaghetti are quite lame for some Italians, and eating in different areas can be an interesting opportunity to taste some less well known local specialities. Even for something as simple as pizza there are significant regional variations. That of Naples has a relatively thick, soft crust while that of Rome is considerably thinner and crustier. Both styles are thin-crust compared to American-style pizza, however.\n\nWhen dining out with Italians, read the menu: almost every restaurant has a typical dish and some towns have centuries-old traditions that you are invited to learn. People will appreciate when you ask for local specialities and will gladly advise you.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk043", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "In Northern Italy, at around 17:00, most bars prepare an **aperitivo**, especially in cosmopolitan Milan, with a series of plates of nibbles, cheese, olives, meat, bruschetta, etc. This is not considered a meal and it is considered gauche to indulge oneself in eating it as if it were dinner. All this food is typically free to anyone who purchases a drink but it is intended to be a pre-meal snack.\n\n### Regional specialities\n\nCities and regions have their own specialities, including:", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk044", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Risotto** – Carnaroli or Arborio or Vialone Nano (etc.) rice that has been sautéed and cooked in a shallow pan with stock. The result is a creamy and hearty dish. Meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and cheeses are almost always added depending on the recipe and the locale. Many restaurants, families, towns, and regions will have a signature risotto or at least style of risotto, in addition or in place of a signature pasta dish (risotto alla Milanese is a famous Italian classic). Risotto is a typical dish in Lombardy and Piedmont.\n**Arancini** – Balls of rice with tomato sauce, eggs, peas and mozzarella cheese that are deep fried. A Sicilian speciality, they are now common nationwide.\n**Polenta** – Yellow cornmeal (yellow grits) that has been cooked with stock. It is normally served either creamy, or allowed to set up and then cut into shapes and fried or roasted. It is common in northern mountain restaurants, usually eaten with deer or boar. In the Veneto region, the best polenta is \"polenta bianca\", a special, tasty, and white cornmeal called \"biancoperla\".\n**Gelato** – This is the Italian word for ice cream. The non-fruit flavors are usually made only with milk. Gelato made with water and without dairy ingredients is also known as sorbetto. It's as fresh as a sorbet, but tastier. There are many flavors, including coffee, chocolate, fruit, and tiramisù. When buying at a gelateria, you have the choice of having it served in a wafer cone or a tub; in northern Italy you'll pay for every single flavour \"ball\", and the panna (the milk cream) counts as a flavour; in Rome you can buy a small wafer cone (around €2.50) a medium one (€3) or a large one (€3.50, 2020) without limit of flavours, and the panna is free.\n**Tiramisù** – Italian cake made with coffee, mascarpone, and ladyfingers (sometimes rum) with cocoa powder on the top. The name means \"pick-me-up\".", "word_count": 321}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk045", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "#### Pizza\n\nthumb|250px|Pizza Rucola\n\nPizza is a quick and convenient meal. The traditional, round pizza is found in many restaurants and *pizzerie*. It is rare to find a restaurant that serves pizza at lunchtime, however. In many parts of the country pizzas have a thin base of bread and not much cheese. Also, in sit-down restaurants, each person orders their own individual pizza, and it is not cut into slices as is common in American-style pizzerias; diners are expected to eat it with a fork and knife, and cut the pizza themselves. The most authentic, original pizza is found in Naples – often containing quite a few ingredients, but most commonly *pizza margherita* (tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella di bufala) or margherita with prosciutto. Another popular variant is Roman pizza, with a thinner base, crispier crust and larger diameter than the Neapolitan original.\n\nTake-away pizzerias (*pizzerie da asporto*), not to be confused with the pizza al taglio described below, are becoming ubiquitous in many cities and towns. These are often run by North African immigrants and quality may vary, though they are almost always cheaper than restaurants (€4–5 for a margherita on average, though sometimes as low as €3) and are also open at lunchtime (a few are also open all day long). Some will also serve kebab, which may also vary in quality. Though take-away pizzas are considered \"second-class pizza\" by most Italians, they are quite popular among the vast population of university students and are usually located in residential areas.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk046", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "Originating and most popular in Rome, but now found in most other large cities as well, ***pizza al taglio*** shops sell pizza by the gram. When ordering, point to the display or tell the attendant the type of pizza you would like (e.g. pizza margherita, pizza con patate (roasted or french fries), pizza al prosciutto (ham), etc.) and how much (\"Vorrei (due fette – two slices) or (due etti – two-tenths of a kilogram) or simply say \"di più – more\" or \"di meno – less, per favore\"). They will cut it with a pair of scissors, warm it in the oven, fold it in half, and wrap it in paper. Where available, this is usually among the cheapest options. Italians also consider this a sort of second-class pizza, chosen only when you cannot eat at a real pizzeria, but it is popular among office workers looking for quick bite without breaking the bank.\n\nthumb|180px|[[Cheese]] - Formaggi misti\n\n#### Cheese and sausages\n\nIn Italy there are nearly 800 types of cheese, including the famous Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano, and over 400 types of sausages.\n\nOpen-air markets offer a variety of cheeses and meats and are always open on Saturdays and usually other days, except Sunday, as well.\n\n### Restaurants and bars", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk047", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|right|180px|the menu\nItalian bars in the centre of major cities charge more (typically double whatever the final bill is) if you drink or eat seated at a table outside rather than standing at the bar or taking your order to go. This is because bars are charged a very high tax to place tables and chairs outside, so since most people do not use tables anyway, they had decided long ago to only charge those who do. The further away you are from the centre streets, the less this rule is applied. When calling into a bar for a coffee or other drink you first go to the cash register and pay for what you want. You then give the receipt to the barman, who will serve you.\n\nRestaurants always used to charge a small *coperto* (cover charge). Some years ago attempts were made to outlaw the practice, with limited success. The rule now seems to be that if you have bread a coperto can be charged but if you specifically say that you don't want bread then no coperto can be levied. This has happened mainly because of backpackers who sat at a table, occupied it for an hour by just ordering a drink or a salad and consuming enormous amounts of bread.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk048", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "When dining at restaurants, always wait to be seated by a waiter as attempting to seat yourself is considered to be very rude. Table manners in restaurants also tend to be formal; always keep your hands visible by resting your forearms on the table. You should never rest your elbows on the table, or put your hands on your lap. Also always be sure to hold the fork in your left hand, and the knife in your right. Also note that it is rude to ask for extra cheese to go with your pasta; it will be offered to you spontaneously when appropriate. Bread is meant to be eaten with the meal and not as an appetiser; it is either eaten with the main course, put in your soup or dipped in the sauce after you finish your pasta. Also be sure to ask for the bill when you're done; it is considered rude for a waiter to clear your table and bring you the bill before you ask for it.\n\nSome restaurants now levy a service charge, but this is far from common. In Italian restaurants a large tip is never expected; just leave a euro or two and they will be more than happy.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk049", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "The traditional meal can include (in order) *antipasto* (starter of cold seafood, gratinated vegetables or ham and salami), *primo* (first dish - pasta or rice dishes), *secondo* (second dish - meat or fish dishes), served together with *contorno* (mostly vegetables), cheeses/fruit, *dessert*, coffee, and spirits. Upmarket restaurants usually refuse to make changes to proposed dishes (exceptions warmly granted for babies or people on special diets). Mid-range restaurants are usually more accommodating. For example, a simple pasta with tomato sauce may not be on the menu but a restaurant will nearly always be willing to cook one for kids who turn their noses up at everything else on the menu.\n\nIf you are in a large group, say four or more, then it is appreciated if you **don't all order a totally different pasta**. While the sauces are pre-cooked, the pasta is cooked fresh and it is difficult for the restaurant if one person wants spaghetti, another fettuccine, a third rigatoni, a fourth penne and a fifth farfalle (butterfly shaped pasta). If you attempt such an order you will invariably be told that you will have a long wait (because the time required for cooking isn't the same for all the types of pasta)!\n\nWhen pizza is ordered, it is served as a *primo* (even if formally it is not considered as such), together with other *primi*. If you order a pasta or pizza and your friend has a steak you will get your pasta dish, and probably when you've finished eating the steak will arrive. If you want *primo* and *secondo* dishes to be brought at the same time you have to ask.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk050", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most restaurants do not offer **diet food**. The few that do usually write it clearly in menus and even outside. \nTo avoid cover charges, and if you are on a strict budget, many Italian railway stations have a buffet or self-service restaurant (Termini station in Rome is a great example of the latter). These are reasonably priced and generally the food is of a high quality.\n\n### Gastronomia\n\nA gastronomia is a kind of self-service restaurant (normally you tell the staff what you want rather than serving yourself) that also offers take-aways. This can give a good opportunity to sample traditional Italian dishes at fairly low cost. These are not buffet restaurants. The food is sold by weight.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk051", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "Bars, like restaurants, are non-smoking.\n\nItalians enjoy going out during the evenings, so it's common to have a drink in a bar before dinner. It is called **Aperitivo**.\n\nWithin the last couple years, started by Milan, a lot of bars have started offering fixed-price cocktails at aperitivo hours (18 - 21) with a free, and often a very good, buffet meal. It's now widely considered stylish to have this kind of aperitivo (called **Happy Hour**) instead of a structured meal before going out to dance or whatever.\n\n### Wine\n\nItalian wine is exported all over the world, and names like Barolo, Brunello, Prosecco, Valpolicella and Chianti are known everywhere. In Italy wine is a substantial topic, a sort of test which can ensure either respect or lack of attention from an entire restaurant staff. Doing your homework ensures that you will get better service, better wine and in the end may even pay less.\n\nSo before reaching Italy, try to learn a little about the most important wines of the region you are planning to visit. This will greatly increase you enjoyment. Italian cuisine varies greatly from region to region (sometimes also from town to town), and wine reflects this variety. Italians have a long tradition of matching wines with dishes and often every dish has an appropriate wine. The popular \"colour rule\" (red wines with meat dishes, white wines with fish) can be happily broken: Italy has many strong white wines to serve with meat (e.g. Sicilian or Tuscan chardonnays), as well as delicate red wines for fish (perhaps an Alto Adige pinot noir).", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk052", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "The price mark-ups charged by restaurants for wines on their wine list are not usually excessive, giving you a chance to experiment. In the big cities, there are also many wine bars, where you can taste different wines by the glass, at the same time as eating some delicious snacks. Unlike in many other countries, it is unusual for restaurants to serve wine by the glass.\n\nThe *vino della casa* (house wine) can be an excellent drinking opportunity in small villages far from towns (especially in Tuscany), where it could be what the patron would really personally drink or could even be the restaurant's own product. It tends to be a safe choice in decent restaurants in cities as well. Vino della casa may come bottled but in lower-priced restaurants it is still just as likely to be available in a carafe of one quarter, one half or one litre. As a general rule, if the restaurant seems honest and not too geared for tourists, the house wine is usually not too bad. That said, some house wines can be dreadful and give you a nasty head the next morning. If it doesn't taste too good it probably won't do you much good, so send it back and order from the wine list.\n\nItalians are justly proud of their wines and foreign wines are rarely served, but many foreign grapes like *cabernet sauvignon* and *chardonnay* are increasingly being used.\n\n### Beer", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk053", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "Although wine is a traditional everyday product, beer is very common as well. Beer did not belong to the Italian tradition in the way that wine does, but in the last 30-odd years there has been an explosion of English-style pubs in every town, big or small, with usually a huge selection of any kind of beer, ale, stout and cider, from every country in the world.\n\nMajor Italian beers include Peroni and Moretti and these are usually the ones offered by daytime cafes. If you are serious about beer drinking, there are many bars that specialise in serving a wide range of bottled beers (see city articles for more details), as well as Irish pubs and similar establishments. There is an increasing number of micro-breweries around the country. They often are run by local beer enthusiasts turned brewers, running small breweries with a pub attached. Their association is called Unionbirrai.\n\nIn the Trieste region it is far more common to drink Slovenian beers and the most popular brands are 'Union' and 'Zlatorog'. Surprisingly it is often cheaper to buy Slovenian beer in Italy (Trieste) than in Slovenia itself.\n\n### Other drinks", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk054", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A cold limoncello on a warm night\n **Limoncello**. A liquor made of alcohol, lemon peels, and sugar. Limoncello can be considered a \"moonshine\" type of product (although usually made with legally obtained alcohol) as every Italian family, especially in the middle-south (near Naples) and southern part of the country, has its own recipe for limoncello. Because lemon trees adapt so well to the Mediterranean climate, and they produce a large amount of fruit continually throughout their long fruit-bearing season, it is not unusual to find many villa's yards filled with lemon trees bending under the weight of their crop. You can make a lot of lemonade, or better yet, brew your own limoncello. It is mainly considered a dessert liqueur, served after a heavy meal (similar to amaretto), and used for different celebrations. The taste can be compared to a very strong and slightly thick lemonade flavor with an alcohol tinge to it. Best served chilled in the freezer in small glasses that have been in the freezer. It is better sipped than treated as a shooter. A derived beverage is **Crema di Limoncello**, a mix of limoncello and heavy cream, giving it a milder flavour.\n**Grappa** is a highly alcoholic drink made by distilling grape skins after the juice has been squeezed from them for winemaking, so you could imagine how it might taste. If you're going to drink it, then make sure you get a bottle having been distilled multiple times.\n**San Pellegrino** is the most famous sparkling water in Italy and considered among the best. It can be found throughout Europe and beyond, but the best place to enjoy its distinct experience is in Italy itself. San Pellegrino can be found in almost every Italian supermarket or grocery store, and is also served in many restaurants. It can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled.", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk055", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "Limoncello and grappa and other similar drinks are usually served after a meal as an aid to digestion. If you are a good customer restaurants will offer a drink to you free of charge, and may even leave the bottle on your table for you to help yourself. Beware that these are very strong drinks.\n\n### Coffee\n\nBars in Italy offer an enormous number of possible permutations for a way of having a cup of coffee. What you won't get, however, is 100 different types of bean; nor will you find \"gourmet\" coffees. If you like that kind of stuff, better take your own. A bar will make coffee from a commercial blend of beans supplied by just one roaster. There are many companies who supply roast beans and the brand used is usually prominently displayed both inside and outside of the bar.\n\nThe following are the most basic preparations of coffee:\n *Caffè* or *Caffè Normale* or *Espresso* – This is the basic unit of coffee, normally consumed after a meal.\n *Caffè ristretto* – This has the same amount of coffee, but less water, thus making it stronger.\n *Caffè lungo* – This is the basic unit of coffee but additional water is allowed to go through the ground coffee beans in the machine.\n *Caffè americano* – This has much more water and is served in a cappuccino cup. It is more like an American breakfast coffee but the quantity is still far less than you would get in the States. It started as an attempt to replicate the type of coffee preferred by occupying American soldiers during World War II, hence its name.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk056", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "So far so good. But here the permutations begin. For the same price as a normal coffee, you can ask for a dash of milk to be added to any of the above. This is called *macchiato*. Hence, *caffè lungo macchiato* or *caffè americano macchiato*. But that dash of milk can be either hot (*caldo*) or cold (*freddo*). So you can ask, without the barman batting an eye, for a *caffè lungo macchiato freddo* or a *caffè Americano macchiato caldo*. Any one of these options can also be had decaffeinated. Ask for *caffè decaffeinato*. The most popular brand of decaffeinated coffee is HAG and it is quite usual to ask for *caffè HAG* even if the bar does not use that particular brand.\n\nIf you are really in need of a pick-me-up you can ask for a double dose of coffee, or a *doppio*. You have to specify this when you pay at the cash register and it costs twice as much as a normal coffee. All the above permutations still apply, although a *caffè doppio ristretto* may be a bit strange.\n\nAdditionally, if you need a shot of alcohol, you can ask for a *caffè corretto*. This usually involves adding grappa, brandy or sambuca; \"corrected\" being the Italian expression corresponding to \"spiked\". Normally it is only a plain coffee that is corrected but there is no reason why you could not \"correct\" any of the above combinations.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk057", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Drink", "text": "Then there are coffee drinks with milk, as follows:\n *Cappuccino* – Needs no introduction. If you don’t like the froth you can ask for *cappuccino senza schiuma*.\n *Caffè latte* (*not* latte, which means \"milk\" in Italian) – Often served in a glass, this is a small amount of coffee with the cup/glass filled up with hot milk. \n *Latte macchiato* – This is a glass of milk with a dash of coffee in the top. The milk can be hot or cold.\n\nFinally, in the summer you can have *caffè freddo*, which is basically plain coffee with ice, *caffè freddo \"shakerato\"* (shaked ice coffee) or *cappuccino freddo*, which is a cold milky coffee without the froth.\n\nThis list is by no means exhaustive. With a vivid imagination and a desire to experiment you should be able to find many more permutations. Enjoy!", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk058", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In major cities and tourist areas, you can find a good variety of accommodations, from world-class brand hotels to family-managed bed & breakfasts and room rentals, but hostels are really few.\n\nCamping is a good way to save money and camping sites are usually well-managed, but especially during summer, managers tend not to accept last-minute groups of young people (given the high chance of problems that such groups of Italian guys tend to cause), so you'd better book in advance. Farmstays are an increasingly popular way to experience Italy, particularly in rural areas of Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sardinia and Apulia. They provide a great combination of good and healthy food, wonderful sights and not-so-expensive prices. If you prefer self-catering accommodations, it's quite simple to find them on the wonderful Amalfi Coast or the less commercial and more genuine Calabria coast. An Italian specialty in small villages are scattered hotels for those who love participating in local lifestyle it is a balance between a hotel and a house. \n\nHotel star ratings can only be taken as a broad indication of what you will get for your money. There are many marvellous 2-star hotels that you will want to return to every year and many 5-star hotels that you will never want to set foot in again. The star rating, as in all countries, is based on a bureaucratic assessment of the facilities provided and does not necessarily relate to comfort. Often the only difference between a 3-star and 4-star hotel is that the latter offers all meals while the former only offers breakfast.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk059", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nItaly uses 220 V, 50 Hz. It has its own electrical plug design. The standard \"European\" flat two-prong plugs will fit, but most other plugs from abroad will not, or not fit safely, in the standard sockets. Sockets accepting French unearthed and German-type \"Schuko\" plugs (used in much of mainland Europe) can also be found quite often, especially in the north, and you'll find adapters for Schuko plugs in virtually all supermarkets. Adapters for other systems are not that ubiquitous but can be found at airports or in specialised shops. In private apartments or hotels you will often find all three types of electric sockets in one room so if your device won't fit in one socket keep trying.\n\nPower surges and power failures are virtually unknown in Italy; the energy, water and gas systems are state-run and very well equipped and maintained since even before WW2; the electrical system is fully updated to the latest tech specs and every household is required to comply when renovating. That includes the remote villages in the South, too.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk060", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Learn", "text": "For a country that was the birthplace of the Renaissance period, Italians value education and learning and the country is home to several prestigious universities. Many of the world's oldest operating universities are situated in Italy and many of the world's greatest minds (e.g. *Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Niccolo Machiavelli*) were from Italy. \n\nAlthough this all sounds impressive, Italy isn't a popular destination for foreign students yet. This is probably (emphasis on probably) because most university classes are conducted in Italian and a limited selection of courses is conducted entirely in English. It all depends on the university you wish to study at. Italian universities charge low tuition fees for all students, including international students.\n\nAs you may or may not expect, there is a wide gap between schools in Northern Italy and schools in Southern Italy. Education standards in Southern Italy are much lower than that of Northern Italy. \n\nThe province of Emilia-Romagna has some of the oldest universities in the world; the **University of Modena and Reggio Emilia** was founded in 1175 and the **University of Bologna** (*Università di Bologna*), founded in 1088, is the oldest operating university in the world, unless you count Al Azhar in Cairo. It also happens to be the country's most prestigious university. \n\nThe **University of Naples Federico II** (founded in 1224) and **University of Palermo** (founded in 1806) are Southern Italy's most prestigious universities. \n\nThe **Polytechnic University of Milan** (*Politecnico di Milano*) is the oldest university in Milan and the country's largest and most prestigious technical university. To get admission into the university, you have to pass a competitive entrance exam. One may consider the Polytechnic University of Milan as the \"MIT\" of Italy.\n\nSome American universities have satellite campuses in the country. **New York University** for example offers a study-abroad program in Florence and maintains its own campus in the country.", "word_count": 310}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk061", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Work", "text": "If you are a citizen of an EEA country, Switzerland or San Marino, you may work in Italy without any restrictions whatsoever. Everyone else requires a work permit to work in Italy. Obtaining a work permit requires you to deal with Italian bureaucracy, which has a reputation for being slow, complicated, and inefficient. \n\n### Overview\n\nWith an unemployment rate of 7.8% (as of 2023), finding a job in Italy can be difficult. Further, the country's economy is notoriously sluggish and there's a huge economic divide between Northern Italy and Southern Italy. An excellent knowledge of Italian will enhance your job prospects in Italy. \n\nItaly is not usually thought of a top destination for career advancement. An increasing number of Italians have moved abroad for work, and they often express discontent over the lack of opportunities in Italy. Some blame the Italian education system for failing to adequately prepare Italians for a competitive job market. \n\nThe Italian labour market tends to operate through personal contacts — it's not unusual for Italians to hire their close friends and family members. If you know someone that works somewhere, you can probably figure out quite an easy way to work there, too. It always helps to know people living in the area where you want to work, i.e., network! \n\nStarting salaries range from €800 to €1,400 a month. There's a huge underground black market, though. This doesn't mean working in some kind of obscure crime syndicate: it simply means not being book-regulated. Most \"black\" workers can be found in small businesses such as bars, pubs and small shops, or as construction workers.\n\n### Important pointers\n\nHierarchy is very important in Italian companies and businesses, which means that you are expected to show respect to people much senior than you. There's absolutely nothing wrong with disagreeing with your superiors so long as you do it tactfully and respectfully.", "word_count": 313}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk062", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Mounted Carabinieri in Milan.\nFor emergencies, call **113** (Polizia di Stato - State Police), **112** (Carabinieri - Gendarmerie), **117** (Guardia di Finanza - Financial police force), **115** (Fire Department), **118** (Medical Rescue), **1515** (State Forestry Department), **1530** (Coast Guard), **1528** (Traffic reports).\n\nIf you're not sure which number to call, you can call **112** and explain the emergency. The operator will forward your call directly to the relevant department.\n\nAlternatively, you can download the WhereAreU App through which you can call 112 (even if you can't talk) and they will know your exact position through your phone's GPS.\n\nItaly is a safe country to travel in like most developed countries. There are few incidents of terrorism/serious violence and these episodes have been almost exclusively motivated by internal politics. Almost every major incident is attributed to organised crime or anarchist movements and rarely, if ever, directed at travellers or foreigners.\n\n### Crime\n\nViolent crime rates in Italy are low compared to most European countries. If you're reasonably careful and use common sense you won't encounter personal safety risks even in the less affluent neighborhoods of large cities. However, petty crime can be a problem for unwary travellers. Pickpockets often work in pairs or teams, occasionally in conjunction with street vendors; take the usual precautions against pickpockets. Instances of rape and robbery are increasing slightly.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk063", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "You should exercise the usual caution when going out at night alone, although it remains reasonably safe even for single women to walk alone at night. Italians will often offer to accompany female friends back home for safety, even though crime statistics show that sexual violence against women is rare compared to most other Western countries. In a survey by United Nations, 14% of Italian women had experienced attempted rape and 2.3% had experienced rape in their lifetimes.\n\nThe mafia, camorra, and other crime syndicates generally operate in southern Italy and not the whole country, and although infamous are usually not involved in street crime. As a tourist, you are unlikely to encounter them unless go looking for them.\n\nProstitution is rife in city and suburban streets at night. Prostitution in Italy is not exactly illegal, though authorities are taking a firmer stance against it than before. Brothels are illegal, though, and pimping is a serious offence, considered by the law similar to slavery. In some areas, it is an offence even to stop your car in front of a prostitute although the rows of prostitutes at the side of many roads, particularly in the suburbs, suggest that the law is not zealously enforced. In general, being the client of a prostitute falls in an area of questionable legality and is inadvisable. Being the client of a prostitute under 18 is a criminal offence. It is estimated that a high percentage of prostitutes working in Italy are victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk064", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are four types of police forces a tourist might encounter in Italy. The Polizia di Stato (State Police) is the national police force and stationed mostly in the larger towns and cities, and by train stations; they wear blue shirts and grey pants and drive light-blue-painted cars with \"POLIZIA\" written on the side. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie, and are found in the smaller communities, as well as in the cities; they wear very dark blue uniforms with fiery red vertical stripes on their trousers and drive similarly-coloured cars. There is no real distinction between the roles of these two major police forces: both can intervene, investigate, and prosecute in the same way.\n\nThe Guardia di Finanza is a police force charged with border controls and fiscal matters; although not a patrolling police force, they sometime aid the other forces in territory control. They dress fully in light grey and drive blue or gray cars with yellow markings. All these police forces are generally professional and trustworthy, corruption being virtually unheard of. Finally, municipalities have local police, with names such as \"Polizia municipale\" or \"Polizia locale\" (previously, they were labelled \"Vigili urbani\"). Their style of dressing varies among the cities, but they will always wear some type of blue uniform with white piping and details, and drive similarly marked cars, which should be easy to spot. These local police forces are not trained for major policing interventions, as in the past they have mostly been treated as traffic police, employed for minor tasks; in the event of major crimes, the Polizia or Carabinieri will be summoned instead.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk065", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "After leaving a restaurant or other commercial facility, it is possible, though unlikely, that you will be asked to show your bill and your documents to Guardia di Finanza agents. This is perfectly legitimate (they are checking to see if the facility has printed a proper receipt and will thus pay taxes on what was sold).\n\nFor all practical matters, including reporting a crime or asking for information, you may ask any police. The Italian Army has also been directly tasked with protecting key locations, including some city landmarks you may want to visit that might be target for terrorist attacks; in case of emergency you can, by all means, ask them for help, but they are not police officers and will have to call the police for you to report a crime and so on.\n\nPolice officers in Italy are not authorised to collect fines of any kind and have no authority to ask you for money for any reason (unless you are pulled over in your foreign vehicle and fined, see \"Get around/By car\" above).\n\nPossession of drugs is always illegal, but it is a criminal offence only above a certain amount.\n\nThe main emergency number, handled by the State Police, used to be 113. The medical emergency number is 118, but personnel of the 113 call centre are trained to handle mistakes and will immediately hook you up with actual medical emergency services. Some regions (e.g. Lombardy) have adopted or are adopting the common European emergency number 112.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk066", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are many bars in Italy that cater to tourists and foreigners with \"home country\" themes, calling themselves such things as \"American bars\" or \"Irish pubs\". In addition to travellers, these bars attract a large number of Italians who, among other reasons, go there specifically to meet travellers and other foreigners. While the motivation for the vast majority of these Italians is simply to have a good time with new friends, there may be one or two petty criminals who loiter in and out of these establishments hoping to take advantage of travellers who are disoriented or drunk. Travelling to these places in groups is a simple solution to this problem. Alternatively, if you are alone, avoid getting drunk!\n\nWhen entering with a car into a city, avoid restricted, pedestrian-only areas (ZTL) or you could be fined about €100.\n\nAs in other countries, there are gangs known for tampering with ATMs by placing \"skimmers\" in front of the card slot and get a clone of your card. Check the machine carefully and, if unsure, use a different one.\n\nNaples and Rome are the cities with the highest rates of crime towards tourists. These two cities are riddled with beggars and criminals and special care must be taken especially near such locations as the main historical monuments (the Colosseum for example) and the popular gathering places for tourists (Campo de' Fiori Square in Rome for example). It must be stated also that every train station in the country attracts lowlifes, and in general train stations, at night, are not places where one might want to linger too long.\n\n### Tourist scams\n\nRead up on the legends concerning tourist scams. Most of them occur regularly in bigger cities such as Rome, Milan, or Naples.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk067", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Around popular tourist sites, there are people trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their 'gift' they demand money. They are very insistent, pleading and pesty and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their \"gifts\" as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying \"no\" or \"vai via\" (\"go away\") will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you.\n\nAnother typical encounter throughout tourist spots is the fake 'deaf and dumbs' who enter restaurants or bars, leaving small objects (lighters, keychains, or small toys) on tables with a note asking for financial help. Do not examine their wares; leave them down and they will come back and collect it then leave.\n\nA particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for \"drug money\" or to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk068", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Another scam involves men approaching you, asking where you are from, and beginning to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that €1 or €2 is all you have.\n\nYet another scam involves being approached by a man, asking you to help break a large bill - usually €20 or €50. Do not give him your money. The bill he is giving you is fake, but at first glance it might seem real.\n\nThe best advice to avoid scams is to get away from anyone you have never seen before who starts talking to you.\n\nWhen taking a taxi, be sure to remember the license number written on the car door. In seconds, people have had a taxi bill increased by €10 or even more.\n\n### Racism\n\nRacially-motivated violence is rare but it does make the news a few times a year.\n\nItalians may assume a person with prominent \"foreign\" features to be an immigrant and, regrettably, treat them with some measure of contempt or condescension.\n\nTourists can generally expect not to be insulted to their face, but unfortunately casual racism and bigotry is not absent from conversation (especially bar talk, and especially if sports games featuring non-white players are on).", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk069", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Sports-induced attacks (hooliganism) on foreigners are not unknown, and supporters of foreign teams playing in Italy should exercise extra care not to wear their colours openly on the day of the game, outside of the sports ground.\n\n### Road safety\n\nDriving in Italy is *fast-paced* and widely considered to be *wild*, especially when compared to other European countries. Drivers tend to change lanes quickly and tend to make hasty, irrational driving decisions. It's common for drivers to drive on the wrong side of the roads just to beat the traffic and get ahead of everyone else.\n\nAs a pedestrian, be careful when crossing roads, as not all vehicles will stop at marked crossings.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk070", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|250px|Careggi hospital in Florence.\nItalian hospitals are public and offer completely free high-standard treatment for travellers in possession of an EHIC (EU/EEA citizens) or GHIC (UK citizens). As in other countries with universal healthcare, you may have to wait some hours to be treated unless you're in a serious condition. Emergency rooms are called \"Pronto Soccorso\". Emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travellers. For non-emergency assistance, non-EHIC/GHIC-holders are required to pay out-of-pocket, there is no convention with US health insurances (although some insurance companies might later reimburse these expenses).\n\nItaly has a four-colour code of urgency, red being the most immediate (assistance is given without any delay) and white being the lowest (anyone with a red, yellow and green code will pass before you). With a white code, meaning the treatment is not urgent and does not necessitate emergency personnel, you are also required to pay for the full consultation, so do not go to the Pronto Soccorso just to check your knee after last year's fall.\n\n### Water\n\nWhile safe to drink, the tap water (*acqua del rubinetto*) in some peninsular parts of Italy can be cloudy with a slight off taste. With the exception of certain towns that use mountain water for their municipal supplies, such as Spoleto, most Italians prefer bottled water, which is served in restaurants. Make sure you let the waiter/waitress know you want still water (*acqua naturale* or *acqua senza gas*) or else you could get water with either natural gas or with added carbonation (*frizzante* or *con gas*).\n\nRome, in particular, has exceptional pride in the quality of its water. This goes right back to the building of aqueducts channelling pure mountain water to all the citizens of Rome during Roman times. Don't waste plastic bottles. You can refill your drinking containers and bottles at any of the constant running taps and fountains dotted around the city, safe in the knowledge that you are getting excellent quality cool spring water - try it!\n\nWater in southern Italy might come from desalination plants and sometimes may have a strange taste, due to extended droughts, but it is always perfectly safe as the state runs continuous tests. If in doubt use bottled water. Elsewhere tap water is perfectly drinkable and very well maintained. If not, a \"non potabile\" warning is posted.\n\nMany towns have fountains with tap water that you can use to refill your container, but do not use water from fountains with an \"Acqua non potabile\" sign on them.", "word_count": 417}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk071", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "Italy has a reputation for being a welcoming country and Italians are friendly and courteous, as well as **very** used to small talk and interacting with foreigners.\n\n#### Culture and identity\n\nAlthough this is a very broad generalisation, Italians in the North are perceived to be much more reserved compared to Italians in the South.\n\nDespite stereotypes, it is uncommon for Italians to strike up conversations with strangers. Acting too familiar with someone can cause someone to be uncomfortable.\n\nItalians are generally **neutral communicators**. They make efforts to be polite and respectful, but they are quite comfortable with speaking their minds. Sure, Italians are known for being sociable and talkative, but you should make every effort to be tactful with your words. Just because they seem confident does not mean that they are difficult to offend.\n\nIt is common for Italians to ask people personal questions and give people advice on all kinds of things. You can expect to be showered with lots of advice on what you're doing, what you're wearing, how to take care of your home, asked questions about your life story and background, what to see and not see, and so on. Try not to get upset or annoyed at this because the information that Italians convey is meant to help you in a good way, not a bad way. As a foreigner, you may not fully experience this, but know that this is common.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk072", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "Italian society is less formal compared to other countries around Europe, especially when it comes to introductions. For instance, it's common for Italians to introduce people to friends in a casual manner. That said, when entering a business establishment like a shop or restaurant, you must always greet the staff with a *buongiorno* (in the day) or *buonasera* (at night). To not do so is considered to be very rude.\n\nIn conversational settings, it is **very common** for people to interrupt or talk over one another. Shouting to make oneself heard is common, as is the use of animated hand gestures and swear words. What may seem like a shouting match in public may actually be a passionate conversation!\n\nItalians are very proud of their language and people will become noticeably more aloof if you approach them speaking English. Immediately conversing in English with someone may be seen as rude, but since the country receives so many visitors, Italians have gradually gotten used to being spoken to in English and are grudgingly tolerant of this. To get on someone's good side, you should **ask someone if they speak English** before communicating. If you wish to leave a lasting impression on someone, say *Parla inglese?* (pron. Par-Lah-Ing-Lay-Zay) to someone.\n\nIf you're looking to practice your Italian skills, do not worry if you're not fluent in or if you think you're bad at Italian; any knowledge of Italian (even if you just know two words) is bound to impress the locals.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk073", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "Once a foreigner has mastered the language sufficiently, though, he/she will be required to start using polite forms of speech when addressing older folk, people who are not in their circle of friends, and any office/store clerk they come in contact with. In fact, using familiar verb and pronoun forms is rather rare except among friends, family, and sometimes peers. The Italian polite form of speech form uses the third singular person instead of the second person singular: \"Lei\" (also the word for \"she\", but used for both male and female as a formal way of saying \"you\") instead of \"tu\" (you [familiar]).\n\nItalians greet family and close friends with two light kisses on the cheek. Males do, too. To avoid ending up kissing on the lips, first move to the right (kiss the other person on their left cheek) and then to the left. Other than that, the hand-shaking rules are the same as anywhere else in the western world.\n\n#### Clothing\n\nYou will notice that in general Italians are quite obsessed with fashion and they **dress well** even in informal situations (this is particularly true in big cities, especially Milan, being one of the world's fashion capitals). After all, Italian fashion is famous worldwide.\n\nHowever, this doesn't mean that Italians wear a suit and expensive clothes all the time, but if you dress in the 'whatever is comfortable' kind of way (like flip-flops outside the beach, sneakers outside sport activities, pajamas-like sweatshirts etc.) you will be considered 'strange'. Even if most tourists in Italy wear **sandals with socks** and large short-sleeved shirts, most Italians make fun of them (but almost never will they insult people to their face).", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk074", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "Whole essays can be written about the Italians' relationships with clothes. Three of the most important observations:\n Most Italians (especially young ones from the upper and upper-middle social class) are very appearance-conscious; don't be surprised or insulted if you are looked at askance for your 'eccentricity' in not wearing the latest customised jeans or boots.\n It's important not to judge people in return by their choice of clothing. Styles do not necessarily carry the same connotations in Italy that they would in Britain or some other countries. A woman in stilettos, miniskirt and full makeup at eight in the morning is probably just going to work in a bank. Almost all youths lounge about in skin-tight tee-shirts and casually knotted knitwear (and are very perplexed by the response they get when they take their sense of style and grooming to a less 'sophisticated' climate).\n Sometimes, clothing rules are written. To visit a church or religious site you will need to cover yourself up; no bare backs, chests, shoulders and sometimes no knees, either. Sometimes museums and other attractions can also be strict; no bathing costumes, for example. If you want to visit a church or religious site it's a good idea to take something to cover yourself up with; for example a jumper or large scarf. Some churches supply cover-ups, such as sarongs are loaned to men with shorts so that they can modestly conceal their legs. Even where there are no written rules, bare chests and large expanses of sunburnt skin are unacceptable away from beaches or sunbathing areas, whatever the temperature is. It is considered impolite for a man to wear a hat in a Catholic church. Many women will opt to cover their hair with a veil or shawl when going to church, as it used to be mandatory up until the 1960s, but these days it is completely optional.", "word_count": 313}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk075", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "#### Sensitive issues\n\nHistorically, Italians have shown frustration with their government due to reasons such as corruption, inefficiency, economic challenges, and political instability. It is not a societal taboo to discuss politics, but political discourse tends to be quite polarising.\n\nItalians in general are modest about the role their country plays (or has played) in the world. This said, some aspects of Italian history (Benito Mussolini's fascist regime being one of them) are regarded with shame and dismay. Younger Italians may be more open about discussing such subjects, but the same cannot be said for older Italians. Fascism is out of mainstream Italian politics and is viewed with contempt and scorn.\n\nUnlike in other parts of Europe, communism has no negative connotations in Italy. For several decades of the 20th century, Italy had the largest communist party in the western world. The Communist Party of Italy was independent of the Soviet Union and associated with good government, many cities have a piazza or major street named after its most important founding figure, Antonio Gramsci, and there are some people in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany (two communist strongholds) who are nostalgic towards the party.\n\nItalians are often portrayed as \"mobsters\" in popular culture. It's **rude** to perpetuate this stereotype and Italians often get tired of hearing of such stereotypes. Generally speaking, the mafia is a rather sensitive issue and many Italians prefer to not talk about it.\n\n**The North/South divide** is a sensitive issue for some. Unless you have a heart for lengthy, prolonged debates, it would be wise to refrain from comparing the North and the South or bringing the subject up. It's a lot more sensitive in the South than it is in the North.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk076", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "Italy has twenty provinces and some people in some provinces (for example, Veneto, South Tyrol, and Sicily) are sympathetic to full autonomy or secession from Italy. If anything regarding regional politics has been brought up, it's best to stay neutral unless you have a heart for lengthy, passionate debates.\n\nDon't compare one city/region to another; doing so is quite crass and Italians may think you are trying to start an argument. Italians are quite proud of their home cities/regions.\n\n#### LGBT rights in Italy\n\nGay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in Italy may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Italy, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.\n\nItalian opinions have changed and people are now more supportive of LGBT rights, but tend to be more conservative than other European nations. Tolerance of others is part of the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, which, at the same time, holds generally negative views of gay sex. Nevertheless, there is a significant liberal tradition, particularly in the North and in Rome. Conservative Italian politicians such as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have expressed opposition to increasing gay rights. A Eurobarometer survey published in December 2006 showed that 31% of Italians surveyed support same-sex marriage and 24% recognise same-sex couple's right to adopt (EU-wide average 44% and 33%). A 2007 poll found 45% support, 47% opposition and 8% unsure on the question of support for a civil partnership law for gays. Civil unions for same-sex couples were recognised in 2016, and public opinion on the acceptance of LGBT people as a whole remains fairly positive, with 70-80% of Italians believing homosexuality should be accepted by society.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk077", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Respect", "text": "While more information can be found on LGBT-specific websites, a brief summary of the situation is as follows: while violence is uncommon against openly gay people, some Italians are disturbed by public displays of affection from same-sex couples and stares are very possible. Some same-sex couples prefer to avoid public attention. As is the case elsewhere, the younger generations tend to be more tolerant than older folks, but assumptions should not be made in either direction.\n\n#### Religion\n\nAlthough most Italians are nominally Roman Catholic, contemporary Italy is in general a secular society, and most Italians are rather relaxed in their religious observances. Atheism and agnosticism are also not uncommon, particularly in traditionally left-wing areas in Central and Northern Italy. While not all Italians respect Catholic religious traditions, even many atheists do, and as a visitor, you should, especially in the South. Many Italian nationalists see Roman Catholicism as an integral part of the Italian national identity regardless of their own religiosity.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk078", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet access\n\n#### WiFi\n\nBy law all public-access internet points must keep records of web sites viewed by customers, and even the customer's ID: expect to be refused access if you don't provide identification. Hotels providing Internet access are not required to record IDs if the connection is provided in the guest's room, although if the connection is offered in the main public hall then IDs are required.\n\nPublicly available **wireless access** without user identification is illegal, so open Wi-Fi hotspots (like the ones you might expect to find in a mall or café) all have some form of (generally one-time) registration.\n\nCertain internet activities are illegal. Beside the obvious (child pornography, trading in illegal products like drugs and weapons), copyright infringement is illegal even if no profit is made. However enforcement of copyright laws against P2P users is lax and cease&desist letters from providers are unheard of, *unless* using a University's WiFi. Certain websites (mostly related to online gambling and copyrighted material) have been blocked in Italy following court rulings.\n\nThere is a free, government run, public, nation-wide WiFi network called WiFi Italia, accessible through an app.\n\n#### Mobile\n\nThe mobile phone market developed in Italy as early as 1993, so reception is guaranteed in the whole of the country, including far off the coast, the tallest mountains, and the smallest villages. 4G internet connectivity is available from all major Italian carriers.\n\nMost carriers offer relatively cheap internet plans with plenty of traffic with unlimited calls and text messages.\n\nThere are three main carriers: TIM, Vodafone and Wind Tre. However, it might be best to also check out smaller and \"virtual\" operators, that often charge less.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk079", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "Generally speaking, internet plans only include connectivity when under a specific carrier's coverage. Coverage of major carriers is widespread, but it would be wise to check whether your carrier covers your area.\n\nWhen roaming (especially from a non-EU provider), internet costs can be very high.\n\n### Telephone\n\nthumb|Pay phones in Milan\nBoth the fixed and mobile phone systems are available throughout Italy.\n\nTelephone numbers of the fixed system used to have separate prefixes (area codes) and a local number. In the 1990s the numbers were unified and nowadays, when calling Italian phones you must **always dial the full number**. For example you start numbers for Rome with 06 even if you are calling from Rome. All land line numbers start with 0. Mobile numbers start with 3. Numbers starting with 89 are high-fee services. If you don't know somebody's phone number you can dial a variety of phone services, the most used being 1240, 892424, 892892, but most of them have high fees.\n\nTo call abroad from Italy you have to dial **00** + *country code* + *local part* where the syntax of the *local part* depends on the country called.\n\nTo call Italy from abroad you have to dial *international prefix* + **39** + *local part*.\nUnlike calls to most countries, you should *not* skip the starting zero of the local part if you are calling an Italian land line.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk080", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "In case of emergency call the appropriate number from the list below. Such calls are usually free and calls to 112, 113, 115, 118 can be made from payphones for free without the need of inserting coins. 112 (standard emergency number in GSM specification) can be dialed in any case for free from any mobile phone (even if your credit is empty or if you are in an area covered by a different operator)\n *112* EU emergency telephone number - Carabinieri emergency number - general emergency\n *113* Police emergency number\n *114* Blue Phone emergency number - children-related emergency (especially various forms of violence)\n *115* Fire Brigade emergency number\n *117* Guardia di Finanza - for customs, commercial and tax issues\n *118* Health emergency number - use this if you need an ambulance, otherwise ask for the local Guardia Medica number and they'll send you a doctor.\n *1515* State Forestry Department\n *1518* Traffic Information\n *1530* Coast Guard\n *803116* A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club) This provides assistance if your car breaks down (if you have a rented car then call the number they provide), This is a service provided to subscribers to ACI or to other Automobile Clubs associated to ARC Europe. If you're not associated to any of them you'll be asked to pay a fee (approx. €80).\n\nAlways carry with you a note about the address and the number of your embassy.\n\nIf you are in an emergency and do not know who to call dial 112 or 113 (out of major towns, better to call **113** for English-speaking operators).", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk081", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "A few payphones remain in train stations and airports. Some of them work only with coins, some only with phone cards and just a very few with both coins and phone cards. Only a limited number of payphones (in main airports) directly accept credit cards.\n\nMany companies are shifting their customer service numbers to fixed-rate number (prefix 199). These numbers are at the local rate, no matter where they are called from.\n\nAccording to national regulations, hotels cannot apply a surcharge on calls made from hotels (as the switchboard service should already be included as a service paid in the room cost) but, to be sure, check it before you use.\n\nCalls between landlines are charged at either the local rate or the national rate depending on the originating and destination area codes; if they are the same then the call will be local rate. Local calls are not free.\n\n#### Mobile\n\nItalians use mobile phones extensively, some might say excessively. The main networks are TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile, part of Telecom Italia, formerly state controlled), Vodafone, WindTre and Iliad.\n\nBest advice is to buy a prepaid SIM card (€10 upwards) and a cheap mobile phone (€19 upwards) to put it in (if you don't have a cellphone already that you can use). It will be much more practical.\n\nMobile phones from Korea, Japan and North America will not work in Italy unless they are Tri-band.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk082", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "Nearly all of Italy has GSM, GPRS, UMTS/HDSPA and LTE coverage, 5G technology is being rolled-out only in major cities as of Mar 2021. You must provide a valid form of identification, such as a passport or other official identity, to be able to purchase a SIM card. Unless you already have one, you will also be required to obtain a *Codice Fiscale* (a tax number) - or the vendor may generate one for you from your form of identification. Subscription-based mobile telephony accounts are subject to a government tax, to which *prepaid* SIM cards are not subject. Sometimes hotels have mobile phones for customer to borrow or rent.\n\nMobile tariffs used to be very complicated but nowadays most mobile operators offer contracts with unlimited calls and messages to all operators and at least a few tens of gigabytes of internet traffic for about €10/month. Usually there is a difference in cost even for incoming calls from abroad. If you can choose, calling the other party's land line could be even 40% cheaper than mobile.\n\n### Post\n\nIf at all possible, wait until you leave Italy before posting postcards, greeting cards and other items to friends and family back home. The Italian post is notorious for being slow, expensive and unreliable. In border towns and cities near the borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia it may be best to cross the border to post - postcards from Slovenia to Britain can take just 2 days compared with over a week when posted across the border in Trieste, Italy.\n\nWhen you do decide to send mail from Italy, there are two services: Poste Italiane (red post boxes, available everywhere) and Globe Postal Service (GPS) (yellow post-boxes, available in some shops).", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk083", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Connect", "text": "Poste Italiane offices can be found in every town and most villages - look for the *PT* symbol. When entering the post office you will usually have to take a ticket and wait for your number to appear on the screen when it's your turn. There will be different tickets for different services but for posting a parcel look for the yellow symbol with the icon of an envelope. Most post offices close at around 13:00 or 14:00 and only a central post office in most towns will re-open in the late afternoon.\n\nGlobe Postal Service (GPS) sells stamps in tobacco/postcard shops, which also have their dedicated post boxes. Rates as of September 2018 are: €1.30 within Europe, and €2.50 for international mail. Delivery times are \"slightly longer than national service\", being: Europe: 14 days, international: 18 days. GPS has a feature where one can add videos/photos to a stamp via a QR-code, and allow tracking of the postcard.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "italy::chunk084", "doc_id": "italy", "section": "Go next", "text": "The land border can be crossed to France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City. Ferry service is provided to surrounding countries.", "word_count": 23}
diff --git a/corpus/italy/metadata.json b/corpus/italy/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..38799796bd081da747559d904cacede63fd3359b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/italy/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "italy",
+ "title": "Italy",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Italy",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Europe"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "France",
+ "Switzerland",
+ "Austria",
+ "Slovenia",
+ "San Marino",
+ "Vatican City"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 21086,
+ "listing_count": 19,
+ "marker_count": 19,
+ "chunk_count": 85,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jakarta/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jakarta/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2610d90f471e2b96c9434c759d8585c2601333b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jakarta/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk000", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jakarta** is Indonesia's capital and largest city, with about 10 million inhabitants, and a total 41.9 million in Greater Jakarta on the Java island, making it the largest city in Southeast Asia and, by some measures, the largest city in the world. Dubbed *The Big Durian*, an equivalent to New York's Big Apple, its concrete jungle, traffic frenzy, and hot polluted air may tempt you to skip the city as fast as possible, but what awaits inside will change your perspective! One of the most bustling and cosmopolitan cities in Asia, the *J-Town* has cheerful nightlife, vibrant shopping malls, a variety of foods, refreshing greenery, cultural diversity and a rich history, that caters to all levels of budget and how much fun you want to have.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk001", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Districts", "text": "Administratively, Jakarta is a province called the Jakarta Special Capital Region (*Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta*). It is administratively divided into 5 municipalities and 1 regency (the Thousand Islands in the Jakarta Bay):\n\n \n \n \n \n\n**Satellite cities**: The Jakarta megalopolis of 30 million inhabitants includes Jakarta and the following satellite cities:\n\n Bogor - One of the primary destinations to escape from Jakarta, with well-kept natural habitats, world class botany garden, resorts, and multiple golf courses\n Tangerang - The airport, many large commercial centres and clustered homes\n Bekasi - Mostly industrial parks\n Depok - Home to the University of Indonesia\n\nA common abbreviation to describe the megalopolitan area is *Jabodetabek* (*Ja*karta, *Bo*gor, *De*pok, *Ta*ngerang, *Bek*asi).\n\n### Orientation\n\nFinding places in Jakarta, especially smaller buildings not on the main arteries, is easier said than done. Sometimes, the same name is used for different streets in different parts of the city, and it's often difficult to find the correct street or address without the postal code/region. A sign with a street name facing you indicates the name of the street you are about to enter, not that of the cross street. Alleys off a main road are often simply notated by Roman numerals, hence a street address like \"Jl. Mangga Besar VIII/21\" means house number 21 on alley number 8 (VIII) off the main road of Jl. Mangga Besar.\n\nFortunately, there is a logic to the name of the street. Outside of the corridors of high rise offices, you basically can find out on what branch of the street you're on by looking at the name of the streets without the Roman numerals. Most often the name of the area is the same as the name of the street, especially if it also bears the phrase *Jalan Raya* or avenues. Knowing this almost takes you there, but gated clusters of houses have their own main roads that do not follow the convention, even though they are branches of a specific street. In that case, knowing the name of the housing cluster would be the best option in addition to the above rules. Conveniently, most navigation apps such as Google Maps or Waze are useful for finding addresses and places throughout Jakarta due to regular updates from users.\n\nIf you don't want to waste time, ask for the description or name of nearby landmarks or buildings, billboards, color of the building or fence, or the postal code. If you still cannot find the address, start asking people on the street, especially *ojek* (motorcycle taxi drivers).", "word_count": 418}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk002", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|400px|Jakarta Skyline\n\nJakarta's nickname among expats is the **Big Durian**, and like the fruit itself, it's a shock at first sight (and smell): a sweltering, steaming, heaving mass of some 30 million people packed into a vast urban sprawl. The metropolitan area is a magnet for Indonesians, both as a business and a government centre, and the most developed city in the country. But all of this comes at a cost: the city has been struggling *very* hard to keep up with the urban growth. Major roads are packed up during rush hours and weekends, sometimes all day during rainy season due to motorcyclists sheltering under the fly-over or the tunnel when it's raining heavily, thus causing additional congestion, while the growth of the public transportation system has been unable to keep up.\n\nAll that said, while initially a bit overwhelming, if you can withstand the pollution and can afford to indulge in Jakarta's charms, you can discover what is also one of Asia's most exciting, most lively global cities. There is plenty to do in Jakarta, from green parks and historical centres, to cosmopolitan shopping, diverse gourmet choices, and some of the hippest nightlife in Southeast Asia!\n\n### History\n\nthumb|The colonial building that is now the Jakarta History Museum, in West Jakarta.\nThe port of dates to the 12th century, when it served the Sundanese kingdom of Pajajaran near present-day Bogor. The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, who were given permission by the Hindu Kingdom of Pakuan Pajajaran to erect a godown (warehouse) in 1522. Control was still firmly in local hands, and in 1527 the city was conquered by **Prince Fatahillah**, a Muslim prince from Cirebon, who changed the name to **Jayakarta**.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk003", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Understand", "text": "By the early 17th century, however, the **Dutch** had pretty much taken over the port city, and the razing of a competing English fort in 1619 secured their hold on the island. Under the name **Batavia**, the new Dutch town became the capital of the Dutch East Indies and was known as the *Queen of the East*.\n\nHowever, the Dutch made the mistake of attempting to replicate Holland by digging canals throughout the malarial swamps in the area, resulting in shockingly high death rates and earning the town the epithet *White Man's Graveyard*. In the early 1800s most canals were filled in, the town was shifted 4 km inland and the *Pearl of the Orient* flourished once again.\n\nIn 1740, Chinese slaves rebelled against the Dutch. The rebellion was put down harshly with the massacre of thousands of Chinese slaves. The survivors were exiled to Sri Lanka.\n\nIn 1795, the Netherlands were invaded and occupied by France, and on March 17, 1798, the **Batavian Republic**, a satellite state of France, took over the VOC's debts and assets. But on August 26, 1811, a British expedition led by Lord Minto defeated the French/Dutch troops in Jakarta, leading to a brief liberation and subsequent administration of Indonesia by the British (led by Sir Stamford Raffles of Singapore fame) in 1811-1816. In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna, Indonesia was handed over from the British to the Dutch government.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk004", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Understand", "text": "The name **Jakarta** was adopted as a short form of Jayakarta when the city was conquered by the Japanese in 1942. After the war, the Indonesian war of independence followed, with the capital briefly shifted to Yogyakarta after the Dutch attacked. The war lasted until 1949, four years after Indonesian Independence, when the Dutch accepted the independence and handed back the town, which became Indonesia's capital again.\n\nSince independence, Jakarta's population has skyrocketed, thanks to migrants coming to the city from across the Indonesian archipelago. The entire **Jabodetabek** (Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi) metropolitan region is estimated to have a population of about 30 million. In 2019, President Joko Widodo announced that the Indonesian capital will be moved to a new purpose-built city in Kalimantan known as Nusantara, though Jakarta will remain Indonesia's main commercial and financial hub.\n\n### Climate\n\nJakarta, like the rest of Indonesia, is under the tropical climate classification. It has two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. It is hot and usually humid with little fluctuation in temperature throughout the year. The average temperature is about 28°C (82°F), hot compared to other cities across Indonesia, especially because of the absence of trees in many areas.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk005", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Understand", "text": "November to March is the peak of the rainy season, and floods and traffic chaos on many of the streets usually occur. At its worst, floods can result in standstill on the prone spots and takes a few days to subside; canal-widening and cleanings have mitigated the effect substantially and for most major roads, a couple hours is all it takes for the standing water to be wiped out. Even in rainy seasons, the sun usually appears for hours each day. During the transition from rainy to dry season or vice versa (April-May & September-October), there is occasional rain. Sometimes it pours; other times it's not a washout. The good thing is that it cools down the air after a sweltering hot day. The rain is almost always absent from June through August.\n\n### Tourism information\n\n- \"Enjoy Jakarta\" Tourism Information Centre\n\n- \"Enjoy Jakarta\" Tourism Information Service", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk006", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Talk", "text": "As the capital of Indonesia, it is unsurprising that nearly all residents of Jakarta are able to speak Indonesian. However, Jakarta also has its own local language that is known as **Betawi**, which has a Malay base but incorporates many loan words from Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and Hokkien.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk007", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nJakarta () has two airports with scheduled flights:\n\n() is 20 km northwest of the city in the neighboring city of Tangerang, and handles most commercial flights. This airport, along with transportation options to and from the airport, is covered in a separate article. KAI Commuter's Soekarno–Hatta Airport Commuter Line runs between the airport and downtown for Rp70,000. DAMRI operates bus services to various major transportation hubs (trains & other buses) routinely, while the JAConnexion buses serves a number of hotels and shopping malls within the metro area for up to Rp50,000. Many hotels are generous enough to offer shuttles from the airport. There is a dedicated tollway that takes you to the city, which should take 45 to 90 minutes. Avoid taking conventional or online taxi in rush hour as it may charge you more than Rp300.000.\n\n() is smaller and much closer to the city (in East Jakarta), is served by a range of domestic scheduled flights, in addition to its use by the military, VIP flights, charter flights, helicopter leasing companies, and private jets. DAMRI operates bus services to Rawamangun Bus Terminal; to Pulogebang, Gambir Station, and Bekasi; and to Depok, Bogor's Botany Square, and Soekarno Hatta Airport. There are also taxi services operating here, but avoid taking them inside the airport area.\n\nPreviously, flying into Bandung (130 km away) was occasionally a reasonable alternative, but the relocation of Bandung's airport to distant Kertajati in 2023 makes this quite impractical now.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk008", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|Inter-city train\nthumb|300px|High-speed train\nJakarta is well-served by trains from all over Java. National operator '''Kereta Api''' runs multiple daily trains from other cities such as Bandung, Surabaya and Yogyakarta. A newly-built high-speed train called '''Whoosh''' serves Jakarta and Bandung, which runs every hour and takes 35-40 minutes. Commuter trains connects with outlying suburbs and cities in Greater Jakarta such as Bekasi, Depok, Tangerang as well as some more remote cities such as Bogor and Rangkasbitung.\n\nThere are several major railway stations in Jakarta, with **Gambir** and **Pasar Senen** being the main stations for long-distance passenger service. Both are located in Central Jakarta and are well connected with public transport including the TransJakarta system. The historic **Jakarta Kota** terminus station in heart of old colonial Batavia is now mainly served by local and regional trains. High-speed trains terminate at **Halim** in East Jakarta from where it's possible to continue by Jabodebek LRT trains to the city centre.\n\nNotice that commuter trains generally don't call at neither Gambir nor Pasar Senen. If travelling from Eastern Java it might be better to get off at **Jatinegara** in East Jakarta and change to a commuter train to Jakarta Kota railway station.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe national ferry companies, '''ASDP Indonesia Ferry''' and '''Pelni''', operate passenger services from a large number of destinations across the Indonesian archipelago. The main ferry terminal is port in North Jakarta. Smaller speedboats, particularly to and from the Thousand Islands (*Pulau Seribu*), depart from **Ancol** and **Muara Angke**, also on Jakarta's north shore. There are no international passenger ferries besides a weekly 45-minute ferry ride across the strait from Singapore to Batam.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk009", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get in", "text": "When buying tickets for buses out of Jakarta, you're better off **buying them at each bus company's booth**. Do not buy from anywhere outside the booth as the prices are more expensive and the bus they will take you to is questionable. Jakarta has many bus terminals, but not all of them have inter-city services. Look for the sign **AKAP** (Antar Kota Antar Provinsi or Inter-city and Inter-Province).\n\nFortunately these terminals are easy to reach. City bus services, as well as airport shuttles, start and end at bus terminals, and busway services stop there too. Even though the listing says the destination the terminal mainly serves, some services may be available to other parts of Java.\n\nIf you are arriving from Sumatra or taking DAMRI buses from the Soekarno-Hatta airport, you will most likely arrive at one of these two terminals:\n\nBesides above if you are taking DAMRI buses from the Soekarno-Hatta airport, you can arrive at terminals:\n Tanjung Priok Bus Terminal and then can use TransJakarta Corridor 10 or 12\n Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal and then can use TransJakarta Corridor 7\n Lebak Bulus Bus Terminal and then can use TransJakarta Corridor 8\n\n### By van\n\nVans with seats for 8-10 passengers have taken over short-distance intercity coach services. Most van companies such as **CitiTrans** and **XTrans** will take you from Bandung to Jakarta or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. One-way fares from Bandung to Jakarta or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport are typically Rp150,000. The vans will most often drop you off at their own offices or other specific locations. You can bargain with the driver to drop you off at your desired location for an additional price.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk010", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get in", "text": "While travelling by car may not be a good idea, it remains perhaps the most convenient way to enter Jakarta. Congestion can extend well past rush hours and a hesitation at any ring road tollway in Jakarta can have a domino effect on other tolls. There are four tollways that terminate in Jakarta:\n**Jakarta-Merak** cuts through Tangerang and leads to the western edge of Java, the Merak port for connections to Sumatra Island.\n**Jagorawi** tollway goes south to Bogor and the Puncak holiday resorts.\n**Jakarta-Cikampek** goes east via Bekasi and Karawang and continues to Bandung or all the way towards Central Java.\nThe short **Jakarta-Serpong** toll road connects Jakarta to South Tangerang.\n\nAn **odd-even license plate scheme** is in effect for the first three tollways inbound towards Jakarta on weekdays 06:00-10:00, but is enforced only at selected on-ramps. Under the system, only odd-numbered plates may enter the road on odd dates, and even-numbered plates on even dates. Only an electronic payment card is accepted.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk011", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around Jakarta can be a challenge: traffic slows to a crawl for most of the day, the heat and chaotic streets make walking long distances impractical, and the public transport system has not kept up with the city's explosive growth.\n\n### Fares\n\nJakarta's public transport network features integrated ticketing. This means you only need to use one payment method to travel on all trains and buses. Fares range from Rp2,000 to Rp20,000 depending on mode and distance.\n\nThere are three ways to pay for your journey:\n\n**Kartu Multi Trip**, issued by KAI Commuter. The card can be purchased and topped up at KAI Commuter ticket counters and ticket machines. The card costs Rp30,000, including an initial balance of Rp10,000.\n **Contactless prepaid card**, such as Bank Mandiri's e-money, BCA's Flazz, BNI's tap-cash, BRI's BRIZZI, or Bank DKI's JakCard. The cards can be purchased and topped up at the respective banks, convenience stores such as Alfamart and Indomaret, and Transjakarta ticket counters and ticket machines. The cards cost Rp40,000, all of which is credited toward purchases. The cards can also be used for payment at major retailers, convenience stores, toll roads and parking lots.\n **Contactless credit or debit card**, such as Mastercard or Visa. The cards are accepted for travel on Jakarta MRT. Simply tap your card on the fare gates and away you go, no ticket required. The cards are not yet accepted for travel on any other trains or buses as of 2026.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk012", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ensure you tap in at your origin and tap out at your destination to calculate the correct fare. Transferring between lines owned by the same company is free, but be careful not to exit the network until your journey is completed. If your balance is not high enough to tap out at your destination, you can pay the remaining balance at ticket counters and ticket machines. You will be charged Rp50,000 if you lose your card.\n\n### By train\n\n#### KAI Commuter\n\nthumb|300px|KAI Commuter\nKAI Commuter (colloquially called KRL Commuterline) connects the city centre with the suburbs and satellite cities, namely Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, South Tangerang, and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. It's worth trying as it is much faster than most motor vehicles on the road, but the late arrival of trains (usually by 10 to 15 minutes) might be bothersome. The trains can get very crowded, especially during rush hours. Trains do not stop at Gambir and Pasar Senen stations, the starting stations for long-distance trains in Jakarta; transfer at Jatinegara station in the east instead. Major stations are adjacent to TransJakarta stations, though you often have to walk or use a feeder bus service to transfer.\n\nTrains run between 04:30 and midnight. Trains operate every 15-30 minutes, depending on the line.\n\n#### Jakarta MRT\n\nthumb|300px|Jakarta MRT", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk013", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jakarta MRT connects Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta with Bundaran HI in Central Jakarta. It follows the main business street of MH Thamrin, continuing south along the mixed-use areas of South Jakarta before ending near the southern city limits in Lebak Bulus. It primarily links a number of business centres in the city, as well as being pedestrian-accessible to several malls. It's less convenient to access other parts of the city, and passes through few tourist attractions. A northern extension to Kota is under construction and may open around 2027.\n\nUnlike the more utilitarian and dated design of the city's other transportation services, the MRT contains modern, spacious stations designed for heavier use. North of Senayan, stations are underground and can be accessed through descending passageways on the pedestrian path. Southern stations are elevated and can't be missed. Some of the entrances have upwards escalators, but each station has at least one wheelchair-accessible elevator. Convenience stores and snacks are available outside the paid area of stations, but eating and drinking is forbidden on the platforms or within the train.\n\nTrains run between 05:00 and midnight. Trains operate every 5 minutes during rush hour (07:00-09:00 and 17:00–19:00), and every 10 minutes during the rest of the day.\n\n#### Jabodebek LRT", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk014", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|300px|Jabodebek LRT\nJabodebek LRT connects Jatimulya in Bekasi, West Java and Harjamukti in Depok, West Java with Dukuh Atas (interchange with MRT and Commuter Line) in Central Jakarta. It follows the main business street of Sudirman-MH Thamrin, continuing south along the mixed-use areas of South Jakarta and Central Jakarta. It primarily links a number of business centres in the city, as well as being pedestrian-accessible to several malls. It's less convenient to access other parts of the city, and passes through few tourist attractions. The Whoosh high speed railway to Bandung is accessible via Halim station.\n\nTrains run between 06:00 and 22:00. Trains operate every 10 minutes during rush hour (06:00-09:00 and 16:00–20:00), and every 20 minutes during the rest of the day.\n\n#### Jakarta LRT\n\nthumb|300px|Jakarta LRT\nJakarta LRT connects Pegangsaan Dua in North Jakarta to Velodrome in Rawamangun district in East Jakarta. It runs the main street of Velodrome, along Kayu Putih (Pulomas Equestrian Park), through Kelapa Gading's Boulevard Raya main road.\n\nTrains run between 05:30 and 23:00. Trains operate every 10 minutes.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### TransJakarta\n\nthumb|300px|TransJakarta\nTransJakarta is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network that runs on fully dedicated lanes. There are 14 mainlines in operation, in addition to a number of feeder routes that operate between them. Passengers use dedicated stations usually found in the middle of large thoroughfares connected to both sides by overhead bridges. The network is remarkably user-friendly by Jakarta standards, with comfortable amenities at stations and announcements inside the purpose-built vehicles. The buses can get very crowded, especially during rush hours.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk015", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "The buses have separate seating for women at the front, an attendant who stands by the door announcing stops and providing security, and CCTV. There are priority seats for the elderly, disabled, and expectant mothers, but the wide gap between the platforms and buses can be a hindrance. Grab onto a handle as soon as you enter the bus, as they move away from the stop suddenly and quickly.\n\nBuses run between 05:00 and 23:00, extending to 24:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Buses operate every 5-15 minutes, depending on the line.\n\n*TransJakarta Pengumpan* is a feeder bus service between selected mainline stations and train stations or neighborhoods where the mainline does not run. Wait for them under the blue sign of the same name.\n\n*TransJakarta Cares* is a feeder bus service for disabled people to reach the nearest TransJakarta station. They can be requested by calling 1500 102.\n\n#### Public bus\n\nA multitude of public bus companies prowl the streets of Jakarta. However, buses do not run on schedule or even have one. Most maps bought outside Indonesia do not show bus routes, so Google Maps would be the best method to figure out what bus you should take. Most bus stops also post what route numbers and destinations stop there, but they *do not always stop there*! They make for a good adventure if you're not in a rush and don't mind being the centre of attention.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk016", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "These are the bus companies, ranked from best to worst:\n**Transjabodetabek** feeds between the Transjakarta stops and the outskirts of town. Look for the routes that has a letter preceding the line number. In case of no shelter, wait under the blue bus sign.\n**Kopaja AC** (not to be confused with Kopaja non-AC) has introduced a similar service on selected routes. Some of the lines are reachable from the Transjakarta bus stops. Look for the metallic grey and green colour bus. These buses offer Wi-Fi connectivity.\n**Mayasari Bakti** has a combination of an air conditioned and non-air conditioned fleet. Air conditioned buses bear the letters AC on the bus number. These buses usually have a light & dark blue body, but some are green and orange. Inquire if in doubt.\n**PPD** also has a combination of an air conditioned and non-air conditioned fleet. They have fewer buses and noticeably a lower tier of service than Mayasari Bakti. Look for the white & black strip, with the Monas icon; the buses may be branded as \"PATAS\", which means express.\n\nBe prepared for on-board \"entertainment\" and other distractions. On a typical day, you may find street musicians singing unplugged versions of Indonesian and Western pop songs and asking for donations at the end of the performance. Street vendors may also try to sell almost anything from ballpoint pens and candies to boxed doughnuts and health goods.\n\nAvoid sitting or standing in the back of the bus, as this is where muggers find their prey. Always keep an eye on your belongings and be alert at all times for pickpockets and do not wear any valuable. The best seat is in the front, next to the driver.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk017", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses do not run according to any schedule or timetable. Sometimes a bus may take a while to come, other times two buses of the same route may come together and the drivers will steer aggressively to get more passengers. They do not stop at any particular bus stop, but anywhere they like. If you want to get off, simply say \"kiri\" (to the left) to the \"kondektur\" or just knock on the ceiling of the bus three times (be sure that the driver hears your thumping, best to use a coin), and the bus driver will find a place to drop you. An additional tip to alight from these buses is to use your left foot first to maintain balance and try to get down as quickly as possible and move the body in line with bus direction, as they do not fully stop the bus.\n\nAlso, seats in these buses are built for Indonesians, who are typically shorter and more slender and agile than people with a larger build such as Europeans and Africans. Non-Indonesians might find the seats in these buses confining and uncomfortable. TransJabodetabek, APTB and BKTB are not so crowded and the seats are more comfortable for non-Indonesians.\n\nWhile most bus routes are from one bus terminal to another, not all of them have connections to long-distance bus services.\n\nThe city government provides tour buses. Dubbed the City Tour Jakarta, the buses are double-decker and you can ride them for free! There are four loop routes that are sorted by the genre: Historical, Modern, Art & Culinary and Jakarta Skyscrapers. The Historical and Modern routes run Monday-Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00, while the Art & Culinary and Jakarta Skyscrapers routes only run Saturday from 17:00 to 23:00.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk018", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By van\n\nthumb|300px|Mikrotrans\nMikrotrans, mikrolets and angkots are vans that serve fixed stops around the city. You can use the Moovit website or app to trace available stops. Make sure the prefix JAK (e.g. JAK-01, JAK-02) is displayed on the front of the van so you don't go wrong taking an older van with cash payments.\n\n### By taxi\n\nMost visitors opt to travel by taxi, which is very cheap by Western standards, abundant and occasionally fast. There is a multitude of taxi companies of varying degrees of dependability.\n\n- Blue Bird Group\n\nThe popularity of online taxis (GrabCar and GoCar), due to cheaper fares, safer and more polite drivers, means that nowadays it can be more difficult or time-consuming to get conventional/regular taxis; out of 32 taxi companies that used to operating in Jakarta, there are only 4 now. Besides Blue Bird, these are the remaining companies:\n - Express\n\n- Gamya\n\n- Green SM\n\nHowever, English is **not** widely spoken in Indonesia, so if you want to take the taxi, ask your hotel staff to write down the destination in Indonesian to give it to the taxi driver. You can generally determine a good cabbie by asking \"*Pakai argo?*\" (\"meter?\") - if they say no or \"tidak\", get another taxi. Taxis parked near airport, train/bus stations, tourist attractions, and hotels often refuse to use the meter and quote silly prices (especially to foreigners) - in this case, it's a good idea to walk away a bit, then hail a passing taxi from the above companies.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk019", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tipping is not necessary, but rounding the meter up to the nearest Rp5,000 is expected, although rounding the meter up to the nearest Rp1,000 is also OK. So prepare some change if you want, or else you may be rounded up to the nearest Rp5,000.\n\nIf the taxi takes a toll road, the added cost is **not** reflected on the meter. The driver will tap their contactless card to the toll booth, receive a receipt, and you can see the cost shown on a large display next to the payment machine. Drivers may run out of their card's credits and require a short stop at a convenience store to top up; this is normal. At the end of the trip, your driver will sum up the meter price with any toll receipts, and you can always pay in cash, while some taxis accept cards. A taxi receipt is available on request and is not standard.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk020", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Blue Bird, Gojek and Grab apps can be downloaded for free to help you order taxis via smartphone. Fill in the departure and arrival points and Google Maps will show the map with the taxis and also the estimated cost displayed in a range. Blue Bird Taxi has the same fare regardless of whether you hire them online or by phone (with minimum payment applied). GoCar and GrabCar have prices fixed in advance, regardless of any traffic jams. Choose the taxi that will be used and the taxi will usually come in five minutes. Only qualified taxis and qualified drivers can join the apps, so this is one of the safest ways to get a taxi. Taxis have been abundant since online ride-hailing started operating in Jakarta. Online taxis rate is only about two-thirds that of a conventional taxi, or at most the same as a conventional one during peak hours. Since the price is preset, drivers have no incentive to take an unnecessarily roundabout route, which used to be common with conventional taxis.\n\n### By bajaj\n\nthumb|300px|Bajaj\nThe Jakartan equivalent to Thailand's tuk-tuk is the **bajaj** (pronounced \"bahdge-eye\"), orange mutant scooters souped up in India into little three-wheeled vehicles that carry passengers in a small cabin at the back. Besides the usual orange bajaj, there is blue bajaj, which use gas as fuel.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk021", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "They're a popular way to get around town since they can weave through Jakarta's interminable traffic jams much like motorbikes can. Although slow, boneshaking (they have no suspension), hot and windy (locals joke about the \"natural A/C\"), and a great way to breathe in more exhaust fumes than you ever thought possible (maybe less if you ride the blue bajaj), riding around in these little motor-bugs can really grow on you. Blue gas-fueled bajaj are quieter than the orange 2-cycle bajaj.\n\nThere are no set prices, but a short hop of a few city blocks shouldn't cost much more than Rp5,000. Be sure to agree to (read: haggle) a price before you set off. Bajaj drivers are happy to overcharge visitors, and often ask double or even more than what you would pay by a meter in a more comfortable Blue Bird taxi. Locals who regularly use the bajaj know what a typical fare should be and are happy to tell you. Also, since bajaj aren't allowed on some of the larger roads in Jakarta, your route may well take you through the bewildering warren of backstreets. Try to keep an eye on what direction you're going, because some unscrupulous bajaj drivers see nothing wrong with taking the \"scenic\" route and then charging you double or triple the price.\n\nThere are Grab bajaj that use the Grab application. The tariff is Rp 3,000 per kilometre and minimum payment Rp 9,000. It is intermediate between GrabBike and GrabCar due to Bajaj can accommodate 2 passengers and baggage.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk022", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are Qute bajaj that have 4 wheels instead of 3. Qute are much quieter than bemo and have air conditioning. These 'new bemo' operate throughout Central Jakarta towards North Jakarta via Mangga Dua to Ancol. The price is quite the same as for ordinary bajaj (about Rp5,000 for a short hop). Make sure to haggle a price before you ride the vehicle.\n\n### By ojek\n\nthumb|200px|Ojek\nIf you're poking around narrow back streets, or in such a hurry that you're willing to lose a limb or more to get there, then Jakarta's motorcycle taxis (*ojek*) might be the ticket for you. Jakarta's ojek services consist of guys with bikes lounging around street corners, who usually shuttle short distances down alleys and roads but will also do longer trips for a price. Agree on the fare before you set off. Insist on a helmet and wear it properly—no need to make it more insanely dangerous than it already is. The ojek drivers will insist you're safe with them and that they'll drive carefully—some are telling the truth, some lying. Before you choose a driver, pay attention to their motorcycle's appearance and their helmet; sometimes it shows their character. Locals normally pay Rp5,000 for a short ride (one kilometre) and Rp7,000-10,000 for a longer (roughly more than a kilometre or a 15-minute walk). Foreigners are likely to be asked for more, but generally, ojek drivers will accept the proper fare if you insist on it, unless they see you really need their service.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk023", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "On-demand (online) ojek services such as **Go-Jek** and **Grab** are ubiquitous can be booked through their respective smartphone apps and offer generally cheaper fares which are stated in advance, although for Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi area are more expensive than other area Rp 2,250 to Rp 2,650 per kilometer with minimum payment Rp 9,000 to Rp 10,500. Payments can be made by cash or stored value (akin to prepaid mobile phone service). You may chat or call the driver for help with finding each other, although some knowledge of Indonesian would be helpful. Go-Jek as a pioneer has more widespread availability; those who travel here alongside other Southeast Asian countries may find it useful to keep using Grab. The other more expensive on-demand ojek service is Lady Jek with female drivers. Unlike conventional ojeks, which typically only operate dawn to dusk, they are available at all times and relatively safe for both passengers and drivers as they are monitored by GPS. While it seems cheap, those who travel in groups of at least three may be better off taking a taxi for convenience and the unnoticeable difference in fares.\n\nThe aforementioned brands also offer taxi service that are either private cars akin to Uber elsewhere in the world or with taxi companies so that you can hail them from the same app. Other services include food or groceries delivery and shipping between residents or from online businesses.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|300px|Jalan Jendral Sudirman, one of Jakarta's business avenues and frequent spots for stop-and-go traffic", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk024", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around Jakarta is, more often than not, problematic. The city layout is bewildering with horrendous traffic jams (*macet* \"MAH-chet\"), slowing the city to a crawl during rush hour. To make things worse, the traffic jams are worse during the rainy season despite no real flooding, mainly due to motorcyclists sheltering under tunnels. Various areas of the city have different levels of chaotic traffic. But while the better-organised traffic is mainly in the business districts (MH Thamrin, Jendral Sudirman, and H.R. Rasuna Said), they remain one of the most congested spots in Jakarta! It can even go beyond business hours because of the area's mixed-use as both office and commercial space, as well as the domino effect from other streets' stop-and-go traffic.\n\nRental cars are available, but unless you are familiar with local driving practices or lack thereof, take reputable taxis. Foreigners are recommended not to rent cars and drive on their own, as the chaotic traffic can give you a headache; renting with a driver is more than advisable. That being said, safety and road rules are enforced much more rigorously than in other parts of the country—obey the traffic laws and **do not be tempted to disobey** like many of the locals do, even when it seems convenient. Police regularly patrol the major roadways, and many rules are poorly marked, such as which lanes exactly are reserved for the TransJakarta service.\n\nTwo toll roads circle the city: the **Lingkar Dalam** (\"inner ring road\", bisecting the downtown core) and **Lingkar Luar** (**JORR**, Jakarta Outer Ring Road, encircling the outskirts). Using these toll roads is faster when the traffic is good, but are very often jammed themselves, particularly during rush hours. They generally only accept payment using prepaid bank cards.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk025", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Outside of the toll roads, road quality differs heavily between the wide downtown avenues and thin alleyways in the residential districts. Road types may be poorly marked in maps. Flooding is common in certain areas during the rainy season, with even large roads being completely inaccessible.\n\nFinding parking places in residential areas can be difficult due to the narrow roads. Paid parking is easy to find in shopping malls, offices and the like for a shockingly cheap rate: Rp4,000-6,000 per hour. Street parking often requires payment of up to Rp3,000-5,000 to an illegal parking 'attendant' for one hour. For 41 areas with street electronic parking posts, the fee is Rp5,000 per hour paid by 7 certain debit cards, and don't pay anything to a formal attendant (monitoring by CCTV) such as you would in Sabang and Kelapa Gading Boulevards. If you park on a street, do so only at the designated areas and in a way that does not block the traffic. Otherwise, your car will be towed and ticketed, in which case you will need some paperwork to get it back!", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk026", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "An **odd-even traffic control system called GAGE (GAnjil-GEnap, *literally translated to odd-even*)** is enforced along select main streets Mondays to Fridays from 06:00-10:00 and 16:00-21:00, except public holidays. Under the system, only vehicles with odd license plate numbers are permitted to travel on odd-numbered calendar dates, and even-numbered license plates on even-numbered dates. The fine for violations is Rp500,000, but electric vehicles (with blue stripe plate number), taxis and public transportation (vehicles with yellow-black plate number) are exempt. Look for the sign above the road that indicates if the rule is enforced at the adjacent street; generally speaking they are valid on roads along the Inner Ring Road from Tomang Raya to MT. Haryono in the south, Rasuna Said district, along Jenderal Ahmad Yani section of the ring road in the east, and the main road from Kota Tua (Old Town) down to Medan Merdeka Barat, Thamrin, Sudirman, Sisingamangaraja (ASEAN Headquarters), Panglima Polim, to Fatmawati.\n\nIf you wish to rent a car, consider these companies:\n - RentalMobil.com\n\n- Golden Bird\n\n### By scooter\n\nGrab (the online transport service provider stated in the 'Ojek' section) offers eScooter services with the 'GrabWheels' brand and a fare of Rp 5,000 per 30 minutes (Nov 2019). There are hundreds of parking lots for GrabWheels in Jakarta, mainly in the Sudirman Street area, so one can depart from a GrabWheels parking lot and deposit their eScooter in another. Despite the service's relative newness, many people rent it.\n\nHowever, after a car accident involving GrabWheels, in which 2 persons were killed and 4 others were injured, regulations were enacted: eScooters can be used only at bicycle lanes (no usage allowed along pavements, regular streets, or pedestrian overhead bridges).\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk027", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|300px|Car Free Day in HI Roundabout\nCycling provisions are lacking in Jakarta, but the first signs of a cycling culture are emerging. Every Sunday from 06:00-11:00 during the **Car Free Day (CFD)** in Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin (and every month in other places in each city in Jakarta) are emptied of motorised vehicles, except TransJakarta. The atmosphere can be festive, as events are held in some places (especially in Hotel Indonesia Roundabout). As of late 2023, 314 km of new bicycle lanes have been opened, and are targeted to reach 535 km by 2026**.** The Pemuda Pramuka is the most used bicycle lane, mainly to commute between work and home. New rules mention that bicycle lanes can be used by bicycle, electric bicycle, otopet, electric scooter, hoverboard and unicycle. Whoever violates the rule will be penalised up to Rp500,000.\n\nBeyond that, there are dedicated mountain biking paths in Cihuni and along the Jalur Gas Pipa, both in Tangerang. Or you could head to Salak Mountain or other parts of the region beyond Bogor.\n\n### By foot\n\nJakarta is hot and humid year-round, discouraging pedestrians, while what sidewalk is left is often quickly occupied by pushcart vendors. Crosswalks are not always available, and not always respected even when present. Many locals will simply walk across a busy street, holding up a palm to request vehicles slow down for them.\n\nEven then, walking can sometimes be faster than using a vehicle, especially when the maze of streets results in a winding, roundabout, and congested route.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk028", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jakarta is rapidly revamping its pedestrian facilities on its main roads, with clean and accessible wide sidewalks already in place along the Sudirman-Thamrin corridor and adjacent districts, with continuous construction work outwards. The paths remain hot and are very quiet during the day, but are more pleasant and busy during the afternoons. Still expect to clamber around mismatched concrete blocks and step on asphalt in the residential areas of the city.\n\nA few other neighbourhoods can be explored on foot:\n Kota Tua (West Jakarta): a pedestrian-friendly square, a walk in this area explores the sights of Dutch colonial charm that was once central to the colonial administration.\n Glodok (West Jakarta): the Jakarta's Chinatown district with Konghucu temples (*kelenteng*), vibrant market, and Chinese-Indonesian delicacies.\n Pasar Baru (Central Jakarta): a pedestrian-friendly market that has been in existence since the colonial era. Be sure to check Lapangan Banteng nearby, especially during the weekends.\n Blok M (South Jakarta): a vibrant hangout and shopping spots with hundreds of hip local and international delicacies, along with its Little Tokyo district offering authentic Japanese restaurants.\n Rasuna Said, Kuningan District (South Jakarta): another business district along Jl. HR Rasuna Said with many embassies and office buildings.\n Monas and Kebon Sirih area (Central Jakarta): the city square is a pedestrian-friendly zone, and the surrounding area has several attractions such as the presidential palace and old colonial churches.\n Kanal Banjir Timur (Jakarta Timur), a nice river view in the morning with special bicycle and walking/running lane.\n Jatinegara (Jakarta Timur), full of vintage stalls, building, train station, and river view of Ciliwung.\n Kemang (Jakarta Selatan), full of coffee stalls, restaurants and bars. The best place to walk at night.\n Cikini (Jakarta Pusat), for coffee stalls, art spaces, and performances.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk029", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Get around", "text": "On Car-Free Day (CFD), every Sunday from 06:00 to 11:00 in the morning, the Sudirman-Thamrin thoroughfares are closed to motor vehicles, except for the Transjakarta buses. Locals crowd the streets to walk, jog, bike, enjoy performance arts and generally have some fun on the streets. While crowded, this is a good time to get in touch with the locals and see a different side of the city.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk030", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "See", "text": "300px|thumb|Jakarta History Museum, Kota\nThe heart of tourist attractions is to the north and centre of Jakarta. Visitors typically start exploring Jakarta from this part of the town, called the **Kota Tua**, where the old buildings of Jakarta are preserved within a dedicated walking area. Jakarta has 47 museums, which are spread across the city.\n\nThe **Jakarta History Museum**, formerly a city hall (*Stadhuis*), covers Jakarta's history from 400 AD to the present day, with photos, replicas, and maps. Do not miss the **Jagur cannon** in the back yard.\n\n**The Bank Indonesia Museum** tells about the economy and currency system then and now using modern technology while the **Museum Bahari** takes you to the old glory of Jakarta's port, and Indonesia's as a whole. If you are into arts & crafts, the **Museum Wayang** has a collection of different puppets (Wayang) from all across the country and the world, and the **Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik** allows you to admire Indonesia's art in paintings and sculptures. **Museum Prasasti** for historical and scripture.\n\nA few kilometres down south, you'll find the legacy of the Dutch and the first years of the Indonesian government, such as the iconic landmark of Jakarta, **the National Monument** park standing right at the centre of the court, and the **Presidential Palace** on its north side. And where else in the world could you find the **Istiqlal Mosque**, Southeast Asia's biggest mosque, and a 113-year-old **gothic cathedral** standing mightily across from each other? On the western side of the court, the elephant statue welcomes you to the **Museum Nasional**, one of the better designed museums out there. Or **Gallery Nasional** for art and sculpture.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk031", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "See", "text": "Statues and monuments are ubiquitous in Jakarta and many stand prominently in major points across the city. Most of these icons were erected during Soekarno's rule in 1960, and thus still represent the old glory of independence. Start your trip from the **Tugu Tani** statue in Menteng that has a figure of a farmer going out to war. Across the Monas Park is **Arjuna Wijaya**, an eight-horse carriage statue near Monas. Going south at Jalan MH Thamrin, the iconic **Selamat Datang** statue waves at you, with a fountain that signifies its importance as the city centre of Jakarta. Passing through that is the **Jenderal Sudirman** statue giving a salute, that gives the street its name. Going further until the end of the straight street, is the **Pemuda Membangun** or Youth Developing statue that looks like a man holding up a burning bowl. The **Dirgantara** statue is visible in its glory if you are using the inner tollway in South Jakarta.\n\n### Parks", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk032", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "See", "text": "Green spaces are often overlooked in Jakarta. While the city has nearly 1,000 public parks big and small, very few are well maintained including even the National Monument Park (**Monas**). **Menteng** is large and perhaps the best and **Taman Suropati** hosts regular violin shows. **Pantai Indah Kapuk**, while inundated by housing projects, still leaves a space for mangrove swamps and monkeys' habitats in the two parks there. For parks with lakes, **Pluit Park** is one option, and a smaller one is **Pulo Mas Park**. **Ragunan**, the official zoo of Jakarta, is the second largest zoo in the world (140 hectares), offering diverse Indonesian and international flora & fauna, including a dedicated centre that houses primates, especially the endemic orangutans. **Kalijodo Park** is open 24 hours a day with green and child-friendly public space and an international skate park. For community park, look for **Ruang Publik Terpadu Ramah Anak (RPTRA).** Although smaller, it usually offers a small library with A/C and a futsal field. The newest is **Lapangan Banteng Park** which is also open 24 hours and has good illumination for playing football.\n\nHowever metropolitan Jakarta has 3 small forests in the city at Muara Angke, Srengseng and Tebet.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk033", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "See", "text": "Jakarta also hosts two amusement parks. **Taman Impian Jaya Ancol** at the North, that is for pure fun plus a sea world aquarium, and **Taman Mini Indonesia Indah** (Indonesia in miniature) in East Jakarta, which celebrates the culture of all 34 provinces of Indonesia, a bird park containing multiple endemic species, and multiple museums. Escape to **Kepulauan Seribu** to see wild birds and eagles, and island resorts not too far away from the city. The **Setu Babakan** down south is the centre of the indigenous Betawi culture. If you are looking for lake scene, go to **Taman Waduk Pluit** or **Taman Waduk Ria Rio**. For river scene, go to **Taman Kanal Banjir Timur** or **RPTRA Mawar.**", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk034", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "### Betawi culture\n\nthumbnail|250px|Traditional male & female ondel-ondel in Wayang Museum, Jakarta\nDespite being the melting pot of Indonesia, Jakarta's indigenous tribe called the **Betawi** still stays proud of its culture. They are actually a unique assimilation of various domestic and international races from the Chinese to the Portuguese, which makes it distinct from other parts of Indonesia. The **Lenong** theatre performance is accompanied by the **Gambang Kromong** orchestra that consists of the Sundanese *Gendang*, the Javanese *Gamelan*, and the Chinese *Kongahyan* (its own version of violin). The **Tanjidor** trumpets are an influence from the Dutch, while the Portuguese bequeathed the **Keroncong** orchestra. At the anniversary of the city's founding every 22 June, a distinctive piece of culture can be seen in hotels, the infamous pair of **Ondel-ondel** puppets. The complete experience of the culture can be found at **Setu Babakan**, the village of Betawi culture (and fishing at its lake).\n\n### Cinema", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk035", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "Cinemas are a more affordable escape at around Rp30,000 - 45,000 for a plush seat (Rp40,000 - 70,000 on the weekend, up to Rp150,000 if you watch in Premiere Class *at XXI* or Velvet Class at *CGV* ) in any of the capital's shopping malls. Beware of the heavy hand of the Indonesian censor though. The price of popcorn and drinks are exorbitant so you may wish to sneak your own coming in. CGV cinemas will typically show movies in any foreign language other than English and the lesser ones also exhibit Indonesian B-Movies with erotic themes (still heavily censored). The largest chain of cinemas in Indonesia are the '''21 Cineplex''' (branded as XXI in premium shopping malls) and '''CGV''' . IMAX theaters are only available at Gandaria City's XXI theatre, Mal Kelapa Gading III's theatre and Keong Mas in TMII, although the latter more often shows documentary than blockbuster films.\n\n### Performing arts festivals", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk036", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "Jakarta boasts some of the world's largest music events, which may surprise you, and the many young fans have attracted artists all around the world to regularly stop by Jakarta as part of their world tour, from rock concerts to Korean pop. Perhaps the best known event is the annual '''Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival''' that takes place each March for 3 days, filled with over 40 international and local artists performing jazz, R&B and reggae songs. The '''Hammersonic''' is an annual metal music concert, while '''We The Fest''' boasts some of the performances from indie/pop artists in August since its first inception in 2014, **Road to Soundrenaline** takes you to the popular local indie/major label bands showcases, before it ends up in Bali for the main event with some of international artists performing there and the **Djakarta Warehouse Project** hosts world famous DJs to jam the start of the year-end holiday. For a street performance, the Sudirman-Thamrin strip is closed at night on **22 June and New Year's Eve**, when stages for musical performances are erected and cultural parades set up to usher in Jakarta's founding anniversary and the New Year, respectively.\n\nFor some traditional and classical stuff, there are performances at **Gedung Kesenian Jakarta**, by indie, jazz, dance, and classical music orchestras. **Taman Ismail Marzuki** hosts mainly theatrical shows, although English shows might be rare. **Erasmus Huis Hall** by the Dutch embassy also regularly hosts classical music shows and photography exhibitions.\n\n### Café hopping", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk037", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "150px|thumbnail|Es Kopi Susu Gula Aren (Ice coffee with milk and palm sugar), popular amongst Indonesian youth, is a refreshing treat during a hot day\nCoffee culture is prevalent in Jakarta and is often a pre- or post-work activity centered around the local term ***nongkrong*** *(nohng-KROHNG)*, which means \"hanging out\" in Indonesian. As the number of coffee shops increases, so does the pool of aspiring baristas and coffee aficionados. This trend has established Jakarta as one of the key places in the world to experience a vibrant specialty coffee scene and local coffee drinks such as *kopi susu gula aren*, which is made with espresso, milk, and palm sugar, typically served cold with ice.\n\nThe '''Jakarta Coffee Week (Jacoweek)''' is one of the most anticipated annual events, held since 2016, typically in October or November. It serves as a major gathering point for coffee enthusiasts, roasters, and competitive baristas, where many come to compete for a chance to represent Indonesia in the world championships. Visitors can try various coffee drinks, buy freshly roasted beans from local and international roasters (some of which offer special editions just for the event), and browse or try the latest coffee gadgets and equipment.\n\n### Sport\n\nThe sport scene in Jakarta is perhaps one of the most vibrant you'll ever see in Asia. The Senayan sports complex still lives up to its name since the 1962 Asian Games, where archery and indoor shooting range are also publicly available to try. Soemantri-Brodjonegoro in Kuningan district also offers you many kinds of sport activities. If you like skateboarding, **Kalijodo Skatepark** is the best place to meet others.\n\n#### Golf", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk038", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "Jakarta is perhaps the best city to play golf in Asia, thanks to the abundance of courses close to or even in the middle of the city, and relatively cheap prices compared to Western standards. Green fees can go as low as Rp70,000 on weekdays, although the better courses are twice that, and weekend rates are considerably steeper at Rp300,000 and more. Many golf courses are at South and East within the immediate suburbs of the city, much better in quality and quantity at the satellite cities.\n\n#### Football\n\nIndonesia is one of the few Asian countries where European soccer teams, including from the prestigious British Premier League or the Italian League, play friendlies against the national team when the game itself is at break in Europe. The supporters between the national team and the Europeans at the **Gelora Bung Karno Stadium** are even, yet even though for the most part Indonesia's national team post losses, clashes do not seem to occur. When the European leagues are in season, numerous cafés and bars around town put up gigantic TV screens to let the enthusiasm erupt while having a drink at dawn.\n\n**Futsal** is the indoor version of football, which has 5 players per team and more lax rules of play. Anytime after work or on the weekends, you can easily find crowds at the many indoor courts across the city. Outdoors, the dirt and grass makeshift fields are abundant in residential areas, crowded with players, spectators and vendors, typically on weekend afternoons. In these casual games, anyone can simply ask to jump in.\n\n#### Badminton", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk039", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "As a badminton powerhouse, Jakarta has a multitude of badminton courts, ranging from the national venues at the Senayan Complex to the suburban halls which cater to both futsal and badminton. Most of them have wood-panel flooring and are maintained in reasonably good condition. Lighting is strictly functional and is below par in comparison with standard badminton halls. People play almost every evening - so, walk in, strike up a conversation with the group's captain, and expect to blend in with their group for the session. If the captain refuses payment (usually less than Rp20,000), it is polite to buy the players a round of soft-drinks (Teh-botol is a good choice). Be warned that it is common for Indonesians to eat, smoke, drink and nap by the side of the court: so watch your step.\n\nIf you want to watch rather than to play, the **Istora Senayan** is packed in the middle of January for Indonesia Masters Super 500 and early June during the Indonesia Open Super 1000 (a Grand Slam equivalent in badminton), when the world's top badminton players compete. The deafening cheers are chanted even beyond when the players hit the shuttlecock, an enthusiasm unmatched elsewhere in the world. It is advised to buy tickets online (especially for the weekend matches), otherwise you may be relegated to watching it on the big screen outside the venue.\n\n### Karaoke", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk040", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "You are in one of Asia's big cities—karaoke is the norm, so sing your heart out! Most chain brands such as **Inul Vizta**, **NAV**, or **DIVA** can be found at the upscale shopping malls where the youngsters play. You'll have your own lavish room with a wide span of libraries containing local, English, and East Asian songs, on a wide-screen TV while you can order a drink or food to be enjoyed while you wait your turn to sing. Rates can start from as low as Rp70,000 per room for a minimum of 6 people.\n\n### Books and Library", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk041", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Do", "text": "The '''Jakarta Library''' is government-run libraries that were renovated in July 2022. The architecture is now more modern and Instagram-friendly. These libraries are located within the same complex as Taman Ismail Marzuki and can be accessed via the Cikini Commuter Line Station . Entrance is free.\n The '''National Library of Indonesia''' The '''National Library of Indonesia''' is located in Gambir, on the south side of Merdaka Square, Jakarta. The new building, at 127 meters (417 feet) tall, is claimed to be the tallest library building in the world. Visitors can enjoy views of Jakarta and Monas from the 24th floor. It is accessible via the TransJakarta bus, Balai Kota stop . Entrance is free.\n '''Baca Di Tebet''' Perpustakaan dan Ruang Temu (Read In Tebet Library and Meeting Room) is located on Jl. Tebet Barat Dalam Raya, Tebet Subdistrict, South Jakarta. This place combines a cozy reading space with a café featuring classic interiors. The daily entrance fee is Rp 35,000, not including food and drinks.\n '''Freedom Institute''' is located on Jalan Rasuna Said, on the ground floor of Wisma Bakrie 1. This library houses a collection of 10,000 books, mostly in English, from various genres. It is accessible via the Setiabudi LRT Station. Entrance is free.\n **Taman Literasi** (Literacy Park) Martha Christina Tiahahu is an open space park and reading area with a collection of books. The park also features many cafes and restaurants and is located in the Blok M area. It can be accessed via the Blok M MRT Station. Entrance is free.\n **Bursa Buku** (Book Exchange) Blok M is a marketplace for both new and used books located in the basement of Blok M Square. Blok M was a popular cultural icon in Jakarta during the 1990s. It can be accessed via the Blok M Station.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk042", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Learn", "text": "There are a few locations for **cooking classes** along Jalan Kemang (South Jakarta) that specifically cater to expats. Most offer pastry cooking classes.\n\nInterestingly, you can learn about cultures from around the world in Jakarta. Many embassies have set up cultural centres where you can take **world culture & language classes**. Check these cultural centres for information: Korean Culture Centre, Institut Francais, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Japan Foundation, Goethe Institut.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk043", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Work", "text": "Casual work in Jakarta is difficult to come by and Indonesian bureaucracy does not readily facilitate foreigners undertaking employment in Indonesia. As in the rest of Asia, teaching English is the best option, although salaries are poor (US$700–3000/month is typical, although accommodation may be provided) and the government only allows citizens of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA to work as teachers. Formal work visas, residency permits and registration with several government offices is necessary. Formal approval from the Department of Manpower and the provision of documentation and guarantees from an employing sponsor is required to engage in any form of employment in Jakarta or elsewhere in Indonesia. Business visas are available for the purposes of conducting business related activities in Jakarta or elsewhere in Indonesia, this class of visa has strict conditions and requires a local business to sponsor the applicant. A business visa does not permit the holder to undertake any form of employment.\n\nJakarta caters to a growing class of remote workers and visitors on business trips with a large selection of **coworking spaces**. Mostly spread around Central and South Jakarta, day passes can be as low as Rp100,000, with hourly passes even lower. These spaces typically share buildings with offices and provide internet, drinks, and sometimes extra services like printing and meeting rooms. Some spaces are directly connected to shopping malls or public transit, making them very useful alternatives to spending hours in a cafe for work. Available desks may be limited in popular areas; call ahead to reserve a spot if necessary.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk044", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Buy", "text": "More than 2.5 million foreign tourists and more than 30 million domestic tourists visit Jakarta every year. It's a paradise for buying international brand-name garments (both genuine and fake).\n\nIf you're stopping in Jakarta, consider buying an extra suitcase, because there are **lots of good shopping** opportunities. Good used suitcases can be bought at Surabaya street and vendors also sell antiques. However, although quality can be excellent, genuine branded goods or quality products are expensive.\n\nEvery year, the Provincial Government of Jakarta holds an annual **Festival Jakarta Great Sale** that takes place from Mid-June to Mid-July. Most markets, shopping malls, and department stores attend it and will give discounts on selected items, although the event itself might be barely noticeable aside from some banners. Some stores also run Midnight Sales, usually in the weekend. And most of the malls are open from 10:00-20:00 every day, except on Ied Day when they're open 13:30-22:00.\n\n### Shopping malls\n\nthumb|Inside of Grand Indonesia Mall\n\nAn escape from Jakarta's sweltering heat, hundreds of **shopping malls** serve as social hotspots and are where the city congregate on weekends to shop, buy groceries, and hang out. They range from grand top-end luxury malls to smaller trade centers and shopping complexes, with new buildings constantly under construction, so you can probably find a suitably stocked mall (or three) for what you're looking for close to you. Genuinely imported goods from official retailers are priced to international standards, but Jakarta also offers local and lesser-known designer alternatives. A vast selection of cafes and social spots are also attached to malls, so if you're planning to meet up with an Indonesian acquaintance, brunch or dinner at a mall is a popular affair.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk045", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Buy", "text": "As a convention, most Jakarta malls will have a supermarket in the basement, alongside utilities such as ATMs, office goods, barber shops, pharmacies, personal health, and budget eating options. Shopping options are on the middle floors, followed by a selection of higher-end restaurants and potentially a movie theater at the top floors. Expect each location to have one or more lobbies at which you can be dropped off, and one of these lobbies will usually include a taxi stand. If calling in your own taxi (or rideshare) be sure to specify which lobby you're waiting at. Most malls open at 10:00, though breakfast dining spaces on the ground floor may open sooner, and lunch options may only fully open at 11:00.\n\nSome of the most well known shopping complexes are at the heart of the city. **Grand Indonesia** and **Plaza Indonesia** are massive upper-class malls next to each other on Jakarta's busy Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, easily accessible via MRT. To the south, **Plaza Senayan & Senayan City** are popular chic hangouts across from each other, also accessible by MRT. **Mal Taman Anggrek** and **Central Park** to the west at Jalan Letjen S. Parman are for all rounders.\n\n**Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio** is Jakarta's answer to the famed Orchard Road in Singapore, Ginza in Tokyo and Fifth Avenue in New York. Four malls (namely ITC Mal Ambassador, Kuningan City, Lotte Shopping Avenue, and a bit further off, Kota Kasablanka) and counting, catering to visitors of all budget levels. **Kelapa Gading** has a street with four malls on its side, and two other giant malls are located elsewhere in the region. **Pluit** and **Pondok Indah** hosts three malls located along a single strip.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk046", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Buy", "text": "Every shopping mall has at least one department store, alongside brands that have their own shops. **Sogo** has the most branches, followed by Metro & Centro. Galeries Lafayette can be found at Pacific Place while Seibu and Central are located at Grand Indonesia. **Matahari** also provides similar fashion usually for a lower price.\n\n### Markets\n\nIn addition to malls, there are also numerous extremely large **shopping centres**, most of them within a complex, so if you are unable to find what you need at one mall, you can try again at the mall next door. **Mangga Dua**, **Tanah Abang**, and **Pasar Baru** are the best places in Jakarta to shop for fashion. In Mangga Dua area there are at least 3 shopping centres connected by bridges: **ITC** is for middle and upper middle class fashion, while the lower class is served by **Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua**, and **Mangga Dua Mall** is for gadget enthuasiasts. Tanah Abang is a wholesale market and the biggest in Southeast Asia, with delivery to Africa and other parts of the world. Tanah Abang is overcrowded, so Thamrin city next to Grand Indonesia (500 m from Tanah Abang) can serve as an alternative, mainly for Muslim wear and batik. Pasar Baru is not a shopping centre, but more like a street with old retail shops; stamp collectors will be able to find Indonesian stamps at the front of many of these shops. **Mangga Dua Square**, as well as Glodok and Roxy, are places to find gadgets. WTC (Wholesale Trade Centre) Mangga Dua is now specialised in selling used cars, with more than 100 sold per day.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk047", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Buy", "text": "If you are looking for antique products such as local handicrafts, Indonesian traditional batik or wayang golek (Sundanese puppets), you can go to **Jalan Surabaya** in Central Jakarta. If you are looking for rare maps, prints or paintings, you can go to Kemang Raya, where there are many galleries including Bartele gallery and Hadi Prana. **Pasaraya Grande** shopping mall at Blok M, South Jakarta has one dedicated floor for Indonesian antiques and handicrafts. **Pasar Seni** at Ancol is the centre of paintings and sculpture, including portrait pictures you can have done on the spot. **Sarinah** department store also has a vast section of traditional gifts.\n\nShopping at traditional markets may also be an exciting experience, where you can find exotic tropical fruits, traditional snacks, cheap fashion and novelty items. While most of them are far from tourist hot spots, **Pasar Gondangdia** across the namesake train station and the **Fresh Market Pantai Indah Kapuk** are the places that still offer such experience in a modern building while easily accessible.\n\nCash is still the most effective payment system for all transactions. A few established shops may accept payment with debit/credit card and electronic money.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk048", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|500px|Interior of Cafe Batavia near Museum Fatahillah\n\nJakarta has a vast range of food available at hundreds of eating complexes located all over the huge city. In addition to selections from all over the country, you can also find excellent Chinese, Japanese, Western, and many other international foods thanks to the cosmopolitan population.\n\nIf you want to go local Jakarta, the indigenous Betawi has its own dishes to offer:\n **Asinan Betawi**: assorted pickled vegetables, served with peanut sauce (and sometimes chili) and chips.\n **Bubur ase/dingin**, literally cold porridge with beef sweet soup.\n **Gabus pucung**, snakehead fish soup.\n **Gado-gado** is like ketoprak, but all of it is vegetables.\n **Kerak telor**, omelette cooked with glutinous rice and served with shredded coconut and a dried shrimp topping.\n **Ketoprak**, *lontong* (rice cake), tofu, bean sprout, and shrimp crackers in peanut sauce.\n **Mie kangkung**: noodles with water spinach in savoury thick gravy sauce.\n **Nasi kebuli**: a Betawi pilaf influenced by Arab culture.\n **Nasi uduk**, rice cooked in coconut milk similar to nasi lemak, served with choices of various toppings, such as fried chicken, beef, fried shallots, and sambal (chili sauce).\n **Nasi ulam**, rice cooked in coconut milk served with fried minced beef, sweet fried tempeh, many other toppings, cucumber, and sambal.\n **Rujak/Mie juhi**: noodles with vegetables and dried squid in peanut sauce.\n **Sop iga sapi**, beef spare rib soup that takes a simple Dutch dish and piles on Indonesian spices.\n **Soto Betawi**, coconut milk broth with beef tendons, intestines, tripe.\nFood at malls and brick-and-mortar restaurants are by and large of hygiene standards. Street vendors (*kaki lima*) or carts can be questionable, though it is still wise to use discretion as some of the best or well-known food can actually be from them.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk049", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Eat", "text": "The online ride-hailing apps Gojek and Grab also offer food delivery service (such as Gojek's GO-FOOD) to virtually all restaurants, for a small fee. Furthermore, it can increase your convenience when you only want to rest at your hotel.\n\nThough tipping is not customary in restaurants, it has become more common. In fact, a few automatically charge a service fee (typically 5%), which may surprise some patrons. Eating at restaurants are almost always subject to a 10% general tax.\n\n### Budget\n\nFood courts at just about every shopping mall in Jakarta offer cheap but filling meals. Prices range from Rp35,000 to Rp60,000. While street vendors (*kaki lima*) are cheap with questionable hygiene standards, some items are unfortunately offered *only* by street vendors, so use good judgment when shopping around. Look for those that have lines at least a couple people long, as that means it's reputable and indisputably delicious. Steer clear from vendors that offer are pushy or suspiciously cheap, as their hygiene or food quality may be poor.\n\nFor cleaner alternatives with decent price, you can look for **Lokbin** (lokasi binaan), **Loksem** (Lokasi sementara), or **Lenggang Jakarta,** which serve same affordable food but with better hygiene standards. Practically the sellers there are relocated street vendors. Price in Lenggang Jakarta and Lokbin will be around Rp10.000 to Rp30.000.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk050", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Eat", "text": "Franchise fast food chains are also a good choice for eating as the hygiene is more likely to be up to standards. American fast food chains such as KFC and McDonald's have ample seating. Local chain **Bakmi GM** is famous for its noodles and its fried wanton. **Hoka-hoka Bento** (locally known as HokBen), also a local chain, provides Japanese buffet with a complete meal set for an affordable price. Also consider **Es Teler 77** & **Solaria**. You will find one or all of them at major malls across the city. Department store or mini market food items can be an alternative should you need to eat on the go or at work.\n\nFor some exquisite Indonesian snacks, head to the traditional markets or street vendors. The infamous **jajanan pasar** (lit. market snacks) or **bakpao** (Chinese meat buns) should cost around Rp10,000 to Rp35,000 per box or piece. Assorted fritters (**gorengan**) are ubiquitous throughout and should cost Rp10,000 to Rp20,000 for up to a dozen pieces of fried tofu, tempeh, cassava, yam, and even banana. **Siomay** and **batagor** will be available for around Rp5.000-Rp10.000. **Instant ramen noodle** for around Rp5.000-Rp10.000, **ketoprak** Rp10.000-Rp20.000, **pecel lele** Rp12.000-Rp20.000, or **nasi uduk** Rp5.000-Rp12.000.\n\nMore substantial meals such as **martabak**, **satay**, chicken noodle (**mi ayam**) or porridge (**bubur ayam**), and **nasi goreng** are typically on the upper end of budget dining. The Indonesian **soto** soup can be enjoyed for Rp45,000 with rice and a drink of your choice and a bowl of meatball (**bakso**) soup with a side of noodles or vermicelli should cost no more than Rp50,000 per bowl. Bakeries also have buns that you can consume for breakfast, starting from Rp10,000. **Roti Lauw** and **Tan Ek Tjoan** is the most popular choice in Jakarta.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk051", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Eat", "text": "As some traditional Indonesian cuisine may be too hot and spicy for many foreign tourist, you can usually ask for just a little chili or none at all: *\"pedas sedikit\"* and *\"tidak pedas\"*, respectively. It also better to know that you can say *\"bungkus\"* for take away order, or *\"makan di sini\"* for dine in. And be careful as red ketchup usually means hot chilli sauce, not tomato.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nFine dining restaurants offer main courses for a range of prices and can be found at just about every mall in Jakarta or better yet outside the malls.\n\nSome of the restaurants in this category include pizza franchises **Pizza Hut** and **Domino's,** or **A&W, Wendy's, and** **Burger King** for fast food chain. Mains in shopping mall restaurants typically range between Rp40,000 and Rp75,000; many even provide lunch set menus for just about Rp50,000 that entitles you to rice, one or two main platters and a glass of drink which can be an impressive deal. Seafood restaurants north of the city centre falls on the borderline between mid-range to expensive depending on your preference, with shrimp & fish on the cheaper side, followed by scallop, and lastly crab & lobster.\n\nFor middle class traditional cuisine, go to the Menteng area and look for **Gado-Gado Boplo, Daun Muda, Bumbu Desa, Dapur Sunda, Bungarampai** or **Sate Khas Senayan**. Or try to look around **Sabang** area. **Garuda, Natrabu**, **Sederhana,** **Penang Bistro,** or **Pagi Sore** will offer you the best value over price.\n\n### Splurge\n\nThe best gourmet splurges in Jakarta are the **opulent buffet spreads** in the 5-star hotels such as the JW Marriott, Hotel Mulia, Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La, which offer amazing value by international standards. Expect to pay upwards of Rp150,000 per person.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk052", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Eat", "text": "Chinese roundtable restaurants, such as **Angke**, **Din Tai Fung**, **Imperial Duck**, **Jun Njan**, or **Imperial Shanghai**, among other small enterprises, offer considerably expensive dishes, but these are mostly meant to be communal rather than for individuals.\n\nSteakhouses also fall into this category, especially if the beef is imported from Australia or a USDA certified. For pizza, look for **Pizza Marzano**, **Pizzeria Cavalese** or **Pizza e Birra**, which are available in most of the big malls.\n\nFor premium traditional cuisine, **Plataran**, **Lara Djonggrang**, **Remboelan** and **Tugu Kunstkring Paleis** will serve you the highest standard.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk053", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Drink", "text": "Jakarta may be the capital of the world's largest Muslim-majority country, but it has an underground life of its own. If you're the clubbing type, its nightlife is arguably among the best in Asia, except during fasting months when some venues are closed or have limited hours. From the upscale **Kemang** to the seedy **Mangga Besar**, nightlife is there for all levels of loudness, but bring a friend if you decide to brave the seedier places (though they tend to have the best DJs). Fans of live music, on the other hand, are largely out of luck if they go to budget bars, at least unless they're into Indonesian pop.\n\nSince 2015 alcoholic drinks are no longer available in convenience stores to discourage underage drinking. Malls and supermarkets are exempt from this rule. In addition, there are specialist imported wine and liquor shops.\n\nJakarta has a fairly large number of **prostitutes**, known in local parlance as *ayam* (lit. \"chicken\"), so much so that much of the female clientele of some respectable bars (operated by five-star hotels, etc.) is on the take.\n\nThe Kota area in northern Jakarta is the oldest part of town with numerous colonial buildings still dominating the area. It is also considered to be the seediest part of town after midnight. Most karaoke bars and 'health' clubs there are in fact brothels who mostly cater to local Jakartans. Even regular discos such as Golden Crown have special areas designated for prostitutes. Other notable establishments in this area are Malioboro and Club 36 which should not be missed. This part of town has a large ethnic Chinese population who also dominate the clubbing scene there.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk054", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Drink", "text": "The bulk of the clubbing scene is spread throughout Jakarta but usually found in office buildings or hotels. The help of an experienced local with finding these places is recommended. Nightlife in Jakarta tends to be pricey by local standards.\n\nDue to Jakarta's freedom, there is no specific dress code that should be worn unless you are in a religious area. However, it is best not to dress too openly to avoid awkward stares or giving the impression (especially for women) that you are a prostitute since most of them in Jakarta wear very short dresses or skirts. Sandals are fine to wear if you're heading for North Jakarta since it is near the beach. During the month of Ramadan, most nightlife ends at midnight, while some venues *do not open* all month.\n\nA nightlife district popular among expats is **Blok M** in South Jakarta, or more specifically the single lane of Jl. Palatehan 1 just north of the bus terminal, packed with pubs and bars geared squarely towards single male Western visitors. While lacking the bikini-clad go-go dancers of Patpong, the meat market atmosphere is much the same with poor country girls turned prostitute. Blok M is easily accessible as the southern terminus of BRT Line 1. For a more off-the-beaten track experience, head a few blocks south to Jl. Melawai 6 (*opposite Plaza Blok M*), Jakarta's de-facto **Little Japan** with lots of Japanese restaurants, bars and karaoke bars. If you prefer to mingle with Koreans, go south to Jalan Wijaya.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk055", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Drink", "text": "Plaza Senayan's **Arcadia** annex attempts to duplicate the concept, but with more of an emphasis on fine dining. The Kemang area in southern Jakarta is popular with expats and locals alike so it has numerous places to eat, drink and dance. Or if you want to keep it sober, **bubble tea cafes** and **coffee shops** are popping up sporadically, especially in North and West Jakarta, and most major malls. No jamming music and (mostly) no alcohol, but still a good place to hang out.\n\n**Coffee** aficionados can rejoice as some of the best beans in the world hail from Indonesia, and they can easily be found from stands on the street to dedicated coffee shops and even the sachets at the supermarket. They are usually priced from Rp30,000 per cup while powdered coffee are sold from Rp15,000. Co-working spaces are also starting to expand their business into making a coffee shop which caters mostly for workers in the city.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk056", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The travel agencies at Jakarta's airport can have surprisingly good rates for mid-range and above hotels. Star ratings are reserved for midrange and better hotels, while budget places have \"Melati\" rankings from 1-3 (best). Tax and service charges of 21% are usually added to the bill.\n\n **Budget**, hostels (*losmen*) can be found around **Jalan Jaksa**, which is close to the Gambir station, for as low as Rp30,000 per night! Or **Kwitang** area offer low cost but filthy hotel for Rp50,000 to Rp150,000. Hotels around **Cikini** has better room to offer for Rp300,000 to Rp 400,000. Another choice is hotels around **Mangga Besar**, a street with a wide variety of hotels, clubs, restaurants and low class spas. Elsewhere, look for brands such as **favehotel**, **amaris**, and **ibis budget**.\n **Mid-range** are easily found at all parts of Jakarta, from independents to chain brands such as all Accor Group hotels but Pullman.\n **Splurge**, Jakarta has more than its fair share of luxury hotels, and after the prolonged post-crash hangover new ones are now going up again. Many remain good value by world prices, but opulent lobbies do not always correspond to the same quality in the room. Mostly found within the business strips of **Sudirman-Thamrin** and **Rasuna Said**.\n\nJakarta is a business destination, so rates are often lower on the weekends. During the Eid holiday season, Jakarta empties out and there are some great deals to be had.\n\nFor stays longer than 2½–3 weeks, monthly rental rooms (called *kost*) and apartments are a good alternative to budget and mid-range hotels, respectively. Fully-furnished rooms (with TV, air-con, large bed, hot shower, kitchen outside) can be rented for 1½-4 million rupiah per month. In most cases, the rental fee already includes electricity and water usage, and often there are additional services included like laundry, Internet access, breakfast, etc. There are cheaper rooms as well (starting from Rp500,000-700,000), but those are usually small, windowless, and the furniture includes just a bed or even nothing at all. Also, some cheaper places are exclusively for either men or women (no opposite-sex tenants or visitors allowed); many others allow couples to stay together only if they're legally married.\n\nFor apartments (one or more rooms + private kitchen + often balcony), prices are Rp3-4 million and up. Cheaper rates can be obtained in some places which are oriented to the long-term rental (3, 6 months or 1 year minimum); however, there may be same limitations as for cheaper rooms. Short term room rentals services such as *Airbnb* can be an option for those on the budget.", "word_count": 426}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk057", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A number of high-profile terror attacks in 2003, 2004, and 2009 have led to the city beefing up its security presence. An attack in 2016 specifically targeted foreigners, killing four. However, given the scale and population of the city, terror attacks are exceedingly rare and wayward traffic is a much more realistic threat. Security continues to be highly visible in the city, although checks are generally light and act more as a first layer of defense (that actively helped save lives in the 2016 attack). You'll spot many x-ray machines and people waving metal-detection wands in offices, malls and transportation infrastructure.\n\nBy and large, your stay in Jakarta should not be problematic as long as you use common sense. While theft and robbery seem common, they are highly unlikely to happen in the crowded Sudirman streets, but much more likely at night in the less economically fortunate areas such as in the East, or in residential areas in the suburbs. It is generally better to use a car, or the Transjakarta and commuter trains if you opt for public transit. Women are even entitled to a dedicated seating area or car on these routes!", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk058", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Strict gun control laws make Jakarta safer, leaving **theft** and **robbery** as day-to-day concerns. Violence is low, and most criminal acts are done by stealth or intimidation rather than lethal force. It is rare for serious injuries to occur during these situations, although there are exceptions. If the theft is done by stealth, simply catching the thief in the act will cause him to run away. For intimidation such as robberies, simply giving them an object of value will usually satisfy the thief, who will leave without further ado. Most Indonesians are also very protective of their neighbors and friends; in many neighborhoods, a thief caught by the local residents will be punished \"traditionally\" before being taken to police. Shout for help (\"Tolong!\") or robber (\"Maling!\") to get yourself away from this.\n\nBe on your guard in crowded places such as markets, because pickpockets often steal wallets and cellular phones. Carry your backpack on your chest when you see others do the same. Business travelers need to keep a close eye on laptops, which have been known to disappear even from within co-working spaces. For all-night party excursions, it may be wise to keep your cab waiting; the extra cost is cheap and it's worth it for the security. Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. Organised criminals sometimes operate on the streets (especially at traffic lights) without fearing crowds.\n\n### Protests\n\nIndonesians are fiercely protective of their right to protest, which proved critical in establishing its democracy in 1998, when citizens (particularly students) descended upon the streets, with significant damage to the city and killing thousands in the process.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk059", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Today, as a dense concentration of 30 million citizens in its metro area representing one of the world's largest democracies, Jakarta sees regular protests of all sorts. Most protests are rowdy yet organised events, taking place around government offices. Visitors will see their impact from miles away as they cause congestion in the already congested traffic, but they're also decorated with large banners, flags and posters. Protesters generally don't interact with others around them, although given the tight streets and sidewalks, beware of getting swept away or separated in a march. During larger protests, entire roads or areas may be cordoned off by police.\n\nThere is always a police presence of some sort at these events, so follow their directions. Transjakarta, rail and metro services will also know in advance and announcements may be displayed in stations. Taxi companies also broadcast this information to their drivers. When in doubt, do like an Indonesian and simply ask a nearby uniformed person and ask if there's a disruption going on.\n\nProtests tend to take a turn for the chaotic once night falls and the bulk of protesters leave to return to their families. Most protests end right around nightfall (about 18:00), but if a one extends into the night, it would be prudent to give it a wide berth.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk060", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Tap water in Jakarta is **not** drinkable, unless it's boiled or purified. It is generally fine for a bathing or brushing teeth. Bottled water is cheap, up to Rp5,000, but for safety reasons it is better to **buy it from minimarts**, rather than from street vendors who may refill empty bottles with tap water. If you're staying for extended periods, you can also obtain gallon-sized water containers. Ensure the tamper-proof seal is intact.\n\nJakarta's air quality is poor, especially during the dry season. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors near the streets (especially in less central areas, where you may be meters from passing cars and motorbikes, without a proper sidewalk) it's wise to do like many Indonesians and wear a mask. You can obtain masks from pharmacies or convenience stores; ask for a \"motorbike mask\" if necessary. Keep an eye on air quality through weather apps if you're sensitive to air quality, as it may vary depending on where you are in the city.\n\nThere is a law against smoking in public places in Jakarta, and the smoker can (in theory) be fined up to US$5,000. You may see the signs threatening a fine (*denda*) of Rp50 million or 6 months jail for smoking, although that law seems not to be enforced, as locals still smoke everywhere on the street and even in local buses, as anywhere in Indonesia. It's generally prohibited to smoke, however, inside shops, offices, hotel, and air-conditioned buildings generally. If in doubt, you can ask locals: *Boleh merokok*?\n\nDiarrhea, food poisoning, and typhoid fever is common in Jakarta, so it's wise to prepare yourself with antidiarrheal medication and activated carbon, and always bring hand sanitizer. A visit to general practitioner will roughly cost you Rp50.000 to Rp150.000. Seeing a specialist or going to hospital will cost you around Rp200.000-Rp500.000.", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk061", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nThe area code for Jakarta and the metropolitan area is **021**. You do not need to dial the area code if you are calling another number within the same area using a landline. Drop the 0 prefix when calling from elsewhere in Indonesia.\n\n*Wartel* or telephone shops and public telephones were used to be ubiquitous on the streets of Jakarta but are gradually disappearing because of the booming of mobile phones. Obtaining Indonesian SIM cards require a valid ID card, so you may need to register for one at the airport or at the mobile provider's service center. Bring your passport. Cellular coverage is generally good.\n\n### Internet\n\nIf you have your own laptop you may be able to access Wi-Fi networks in shopping malls, parks, and government building. Ask at the information desk for access codes, be mindful sometimes the speed is unreliable. Free hotspots are also available at restaurants, coffee shops, and convenience stores. Most hotels also provide Wi-Fi hotspots in their public area or in their rooms, either free or paid—inquire before booking.\n\nAll providers in Jakarta have 5G and 4G LTE coverage, the signals are generally good especially in business areas and city centers; However, in some areas, the signal may flips between 4G LTE, HSDPA, and 3G, or is mostly 3G. For more general information, see Internet in Indonesia. For alternative, try to find **wifi.id** for reliable connection in public space or big building. They will charge you Rp5.000 from your mobile phone credit for full day connectivity.\n\n### Post\n\nPost is provided by the state-owned **Pos Indonesia**, open during business hours only. They do not have mailboxes but have mobile counters in vans, or you can just go to the post office. Major freight companies such as FedEx, DHL, and UPS also offer drop by package delivery, albeit through a third-party service. Gojek and Grab also offer door-to-door delivery service within their app if you only need to send something light and quick (maximum 5 kg), for which the price depends on distance rather than weight. TIKI, JNE, or J&T are reliable for bulk or inter-city delivery.\n\n### Emergency\n\nJakarta's emergency services are the best in Indonesia. Many hospitals have 24-hour emergency rooms, but equipment may not be as advanced as their international counterparts. The international emergency number does work and will channel you to the respective services you need.\n - Fire\n\n - Ambulance\n\n - Police\n\n - Search and rescue team\n\n - Indonesian Police HQ\n\n - Jakarta Police HQ\n\n - Child abuse\n\n Hospitals with 24-hour emergency room UGD (ER): see the Jakarta district pages.", "word_count": 432}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk062", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Media\n\nJakarta is the centre of Indonesia's media. Most news is actually sourced from Jakarta. Foreign-language publications are starting to make their way into newsstands.\n**The Jakarta Post**. Indonesia's English-language paper of record.\n**The Jakarta Globe** An online publication, formerly newspaper in a tabloid format. Provides more lifestyle content.\n**Tempo English Edition** Weekly hard news magazine.\n**What's New Jakarta** is a lifestyle website full of food and event listings. Suitable for long-term visitors.\n**Indonesia Shang Bao**. Mandarin-language news outlet.\n'''Jakarta Shimbun'''. Indonesia's only Japanese-language news outlet.\n\nState-owned TV station TVRI has an English news broadcast every day at 17:00, and MetroTV Tuesday-Saturday at 01:00. MetroTV has Metro XinWen for news in Mandarin Chinese.\n\n### Immigration office\n\nThe General Directorate of Immigration (Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said Kav.X-6 Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan) provides visas, re-entry permits and many other immigration services.\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\nThe *Kementerian Luar Negeri* (Kemlu) or Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a complete searchable database of diplomatic institutions. The embassies are located in Jakarta; some consulates general and honorary consulates are located in other cities such as Surabaya and Denpasar. This list may not be complete.\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Armenia\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Azerbaijan\n\n - Bangladesh\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Brunei\n\n - Cambodia\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Hungary\n\n - India\n\n - Iran\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Jordan\n\n - Democratic People's Republic of Korea\n\n - Republic of Korea\n\n - Laos\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Myanmar\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Norway\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Papua New Guinea\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Singapore\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sri Lanka\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Syria\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Timor Leste\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Arab Emirates\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States of America\n\n - Venezuela\n\n - Vietnam", "word_count": 338}
+{"chunk_id": "jakarta::chunk063", "doc_id": "jakarta", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Within the metropolitan area:\n\nThe fun does not end in Jakarta, but well beyond its satellite cities!\nThousand Islands — administratively a part of Jakarta, but it is the complete opposite of the hectic mainland: an island escape with sprawling resorts and nature reserves.\nBogor — a sense of nature one hour away, where you can tuck yourself away in its botanic gardens or golf courses.\nPuncak — cooler climate, beautiful view of the mountains and tea plantations, restaurants, as well as the Taman Safari Wildlife Park.\nTangerang — a thriving area for premium residents and opulent malls, especially to its south.\nDepok — a budget style city with adequate facilities because of the nearby University of Indonesia.\nBekasi — home to Jakarta's big companies and an increasingly bustling city.\n\n### A bit further off\n\n A 3-hour drive using the tollway leads into the Merak Port at the western end of Java, where you can continue your journey by ferry to Sumatra island for 1½ hours.\n Anyer is an upscale resort beach 4 hours away from Jakarta, but if you want a less crowded option, the Carita Beach is just a short drive away from there.\n Pulau Umang, an island resort to itself, is midway between Carita Beach and Ujung Kulon National Park.\n Ujung Kulon National Park — a beautiful national park 5 hours away, featuring the endangered *single-horn rhinoceros*.\n Bandung — 3 hours away from Jakarta, it's a budget style city famous for both food and bargain fashions.\n For a tropical island hype (without the resorts) and an instant escape from the hectic city, head to Belitung Island, less than 1 hour away by air.", "word_count": 277}
diff --git a/corpus/jakarta/metadata.json b/corpus/jakarta/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..05ad85f8dfe01216553fb19f3944c9307a3cabb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jakarta/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jakarta",
+ "title": "Jakarta",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jakarta",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Greater Jakarta"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Thousand Islands (Indonesia)",
+ "Bogor",
+ "Puncak",
+ "Tangerang",
+ "Depok",
+ "Bekasi",
+ "Merak",
+ "Sumatra",
+ "Anyer",
+ "Carita Beach",
+ "Ujung Kulon National Park",
+ "Bandung",
+ "Belitung"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 15100,
+ "listing_count": 79,
+ "marker_count": 4,
+ "chunk_count": 64,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jamaica/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jamaica/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f3b84ee05eb630c64ebad48f7e4d03f42cc8a9a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jamaica/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk000", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jamaica** is an island nation in the Caribbean that attracts sunseekers for its laid-back beach culture, and music fans on the trail of Jamaica's most famous son, reggae legend Bob Marley. Tourists flock to the island's northern coast, including the communities of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Port Antonio, and in Negril on the island's western tip. Dynamic in its African heritage, Jamaica offers a lively atmosphere in its tropical feel.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk001", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Understand", "text": "With 2.8 million people, Jamaica is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Like Canada, New Zealand and Australia, Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm (the British monarch is the head of state), but it is an independent sovereign nation.\n\nJamaica exports coffee, papaya, bauxite, gypsum, limestone and sugar cane.\n\nIts motto and nickname for the country is \"Out of Many, One People\".\n\nthumbnail|Sunny Lodge at Waldersston was built in 1892 by missionaries.\n\n### History\n\nThe Arawak and Taino indigenous people originating from South America settled on the island between 4000 and 1000 BC.\n\nChristopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494. Columbus' probable landing point was Dry Harbour, now called Discovery Bay. St. Ann's Bay was the \"Saint Gloria\" of Columbus who first sighted Jamaica at this point. The Spanish were forcibly evicted by the British at Ocho Rios in St. Ann and in 1655 the British took over the last Spanish fort in Jamaica. The Spanish colonists fled leaving a large number of African slaves. Rather than be re-enslaved by the English, they escaped into the hilly, mountainous regions of the island, joining those who had previously escaped from the Spanish to live with the Taínos. These runaway slaves, who became known as the Jamaican Maroons, fought the British during the 18th century. During the long years of slavery Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior of Jamaica, maintaining their freedom and independence for generations.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk002", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Understand", "text": "During its first 200 years of British rule, Jamaica became one of the world's leading sugar-exporting, slave-dependent nations. After the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, the British imported Indian and Chinese workers as indentured servants to supplement the labour pool. Descendants of indentured servants of Indian and Chinese origin continue to reside in Jamaica.\n\nBy the beginning of the 19th century, Jamaica's heavy reliance on slavery resulted in black people outnumbering white people by a ratio of almost 20 to 1. Even though the United Kingdom had outlawed the importation of slaves, some were still smuggled into the colonies.\n\nIn the 1800s, the British established a number of botanical gardens. These included the Castleton Garden, set up in 1862 to replace the Bath Garden (created in 1779) which was subject to flooding. Bath Garden was the site for planting breadfruit brought to Jamaica from the Pacific by Captain William Bligh. Other gardens were the Cinchona Plantation founded in 1868 and the Hope Garden founded in 1874. In 1872, Kingston became the island's capital.\n\nJamaica slowly gained increasing independence from the United Kingdom and in 1958, it became a province in the Federation of the West Indies before attaining full independence by leaving the federation in 1962. However, the British monarch, King Charles III, remains the nominal head of state, with an appointed Governor-General representing the King in Jamaica in his absence. Since fellow Caribbean nation Barbados forwent the British monarch as their head of state and became a republic in 2021, there is talk of Jamaica following in their footsteps. While both major parties in principle agree on transitioning to republicanism, disagreements remain as to whether Jamaica should become a parliamentary republic or a presidential republic.\n\n### People", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk003", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Understand", "text": "The majority of Jamaicans are descended at least partially from the many Africans who were enslaved and transported to the island. Jamaica also has sizeable numbers of Whites, people of Syrian/Lebanese descent, and a large population of Chinese and East Indians, many of whom have intermixed throughout the generations. Mixed-race Jamaicans are the second largest racial group after Black Jamaicans.\n\nChristianity is the majority religion on the island, and the Rasta community, which Jamaica is known for internationally, has also featured prominently in its history. As in other Caribbean areas, West African religion and folk beliefs (locally called Obeah among other terms) are sometimes practised by some while being completely taboo for others. There are communities of Muslims and Hindus, together with a small but quite ancient Jewish community.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some regions on the south coast are relatively dry rain-shadow areas. Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean; as a result, the island sometimes experiences significant storm damage.\n\n### Flora\n\nthumb|upright=1.3|The edge of the Blue Mountains, just north of Kingston.\nJamaica supports diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals.\n\nJamaica's plant life has changed considerably over the centuries. When the Spanish came here in 1494, except for small agricultural clearings, the country was deeply forested, but the European settlers cut down the great timber trees for building purposes and cleared the plains, savannahs, and mountain slopes for cultivation. Many new plants were introduced including sugar cane, bananas and citrus trees.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk004", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the areas of heavy rainfall are stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large grasslands, with scattered stands of trees.\n\n### Fauna\n\nJamaican animal life is diverse and includes many endemic species found nowhere else on earth. As with other islands, non-human land mammals are made up almost entirely of bats. The only non-bat native mammal extant in Jamaica is the Jamaican hutia, locally known as the coney. Introduced mammals such as wild boar and the small Asian mongoose are also common. Jamaica is also home to many reptiles, the largest of which is the American crocodile (although it is found only in the Black River and a few other areas). Lizards from the colourful *Anolis* genus, iguanas and snakes such as racers and the Jamaica boa (the largest snake on the island) are common. None of Jamaica's native snakes is dangerously venomous. Beautiful and exotic birds such as the Jamaican tody and the doctor bird (the national bird) can be found, among a large number of others. Insects and other invertebrates are abundant, including the world's largest centipede, the Amazonian giant centipede and the homerus swallowtail, the Western Hemisphere's largest butterfly.\n\nJamaican waters contain considerable resources of fresh- and saltwater fish. The chief varieties of saltwater fish are kingfish, jack, mackerel, whiting, bonito, and tuna. Fish that occasionally enter freshwater include snook, jewfish, grey and black snapper, and mullet. Fish that spend the majority of their lives in Jamaica's fresh waters include many species of live-bearers, killifish, freshwater gobies, the mountain mullet, and the American eel. Tilapia have been introduced from Africa for aquaculture, and are very common.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk005", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are coral reefs offshore in some areas.\n\n### Protected areas\n\nThe authorities have designated some of the more fertile areas as 'protected', including the Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica's first marine park, covering nearly 6 square miles (about 1 km²), was established in Montego Bay. The following year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created on roughly 300 square miles (780 km²) of wilderness that supports thousands of tree and fern species and rare animals.\n\n### Holidays\n\n1 January: New Year's Day\n Easter (moveable)\n 23 May: Labour Day\n 6 August: Independence Day\n 17 October: Heroes Day\n 25 December: Christmas\n 26 December: Boxing Day\n\n### Read\n\n*Here Comes the Sun* by Nicole Dennis-Benn. A dark novel about social issues in contemporary Jamaica, including a grim look at the exploitation and displacement – and opportunities – brought about by the resort industry.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Jamaica website", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk006", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the capital and largest city in Jamaica.\n – filled with historical sites and monuments, Montego Bay is the *second city* of Jamaica.\n – white sandy beaches, countless resorts; Negril is near the western tip of the island", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk007", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Visa policy of Jamaica{{legend|\nExcept for Canada, citizens of **Commonwealth** countries require a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return ticket, and sufficient funds. Canadian citizens require a passport or a birth certificate and ID card. No visa is required except for citizens of Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone.\n\nCitizens of the **USA**, including those visiting by cruise ship, require a passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to six months. Passports can have expired, as long as they expired less than a year ago.\n\n**German** citizens can stay for 90 days without a visa. Similar terms probably apply to other countries in the Schengen area.\n\n**Japanese** citizens can stay for 30 days without a visa.\n\nSince 27 May 2014, **Chinese** citizens (including Macau) can also stay for 30 days without a visa. However, it's *for tourist purposes only*; to travel to Jamaica for any other reason, they still need a visa.\n\nMost other nationalities need visas.\n\nthumb|Planes at Sangster International Airport\n\n### By plane\n\n**Norman Manley International Airport** () in Kingston.\n**Donald Sangster International Airport** () in Montego Bay.\nBoth airports receive vast numbers of international flights daily. There are smaller airports in Negril and Ocho Rios as well as another smaller one in Kingston, which can be accessed by smaller, private aircraft.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are cruises to Jamaica from the United States and other locations in the Caribbean.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk008", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By train\n\nJamaica has about 250 route miles of railways, of which 77 are in service to Windalco to handle privately operated bauxite (aluminium ore) trains. Passenger and public freight service ceased in 1992, but increasing road congestion and poor highway conditions have caused the government to re-examine the commercial feasibility of rail operations. A passenger train was designed for citizens (mostly for children on the Government's Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education Progamme) in 2022.\n\n**Clarendon Express**. A tourist railway in Clarendon, on Windalco railway tracks using Jamaica Railway corporation coaches, with American-built diesel-electric locomotives for motive power.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving as a tourist in Jamaica is an adventure in and of itself.\nthumb|Arriving in Hanover (in northwestern Jamaica)\nJamaican roads are not renowned for their upkeep nor are their drivers renowned for their caution. Roads in and around major cities and towns are generally congested, and rural roads tend to be narrow and somewhat dangerous, especially in inclement weather. Alert and courteous driving is advised at all times. There are very few north-south routes as well, so travel from the north to the south can involve treks on mountain roads. These trips can induce nausea in the more weak of stomach, so it is advisable that if you suffer from motion sickness to bring Dramamine or similar medication. Roads can be very narrow, and be especially alert when going around bends. Jamaican drivers do not slow down because of these twists and turns, so beware.\n\nJamaica, as a former British colony, **drives on the left**. Make note of this when driving, especially when turning, crossing the street, and yielding right of way.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk009", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are relatively few traffic lights outside of urban centres; they are generally found in major city centres, such as Montego Bay, Falmouth, Kingston, Mandeville, Spanish Town and Ocho Rios. For towns where traffic lights are not installed, roundabouts are used.\n\nRenting a car is easily done, and it is advised to go through an established major car rental company such as Island Car Rental, Hertz or Avis. Do your research before renting and driving.\n\nAvis rents GPS units for J$12 per day with a J$200 deposit.\n\n### By boat\n\nIt is not advised to travel by boat unless the service is operated by a hotel or tourism company. It is not a quick way to get around unless you want to tour the coastline. Many fishermen may offer this service to willing tourists but they may overcharge.\n\n### By bus\n\nDon't be afraid to take Jamaican local buses—they're cheap and they'll save you the headache of negotiating with tourist taxis. Be prepared to offer a tip to the luggage handlers that load your luggage into the bus. The ride is very different from what you are probably used to. Many resorts offer excursions by bus. Check with the resort's office that is in charge of planning day trips for more information. Excursions by bus from Ocho Rios to Kingston and Blue mountain, can turn into a long bus ride without many stops. A visit to Kingston might consist of a stop at a shopping centre for lunch, a visit to Bob Marley's home and a 2 minute stop in the Beverly Hills of Jamaica. The guided tour at the Blue Mountain coffee factory can be interesting and informative.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk010", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Get around", "text": "Local taxis (called \"route taxis\") are an interesting way to get around and far cheaper than tourist taxis. For instance, it may cost J$50 to travel 20 miles (32 km). It will just look like a local's car, which is precisely what it is. The licensed ones usually have the taxi signs spray painted on their front fenders, although there seems to be little enforcement of things like business licenses in Jamaica. Seldom you will find one with a taxi sign on the top, because not many do this. The colour of the license plate will tell you. A red plate will tell you that it is for transportation, while a white plate will tell you it is a private vehicle. The yellow plate indicates a government vehicle (like a police car or ambulance) and the list continues. Although the route taxis generally run from the centre of one town to the centre of the next town, you can flag a taxi anywhere along the highway. Walk or stand on the side of the road and wave at passing cars and you'll be surprised how quickly you get one.\n\nRoute taxis are often packed with people, but they are friendly folk and glad to have you with them. Route taxis are the primary mode of transportation for Jamaicans and serve the purpose that a bus system would in a large metropolitan city. This is how people get to work, children get to school, etc.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk011", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Get around", "text": "Route taxis generally run between specific places, but if you're in the central taxi hub for a town you'll be able to find taxis going in any of the directions you need to go. Route taxis don't run very far, so if you need to get half way across the island you'll need to take it in stages. If worst comes to worst, just keep repeating your final destination to all the people who ask where you're going and they'll put you in the right car and send you on your way. You may have to wait until the taxi has enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile for the driver, and many route taxis travel with far more people in them than a Westerner would ever guess was possible. If you have luggage with you, you may have to pay an extra fare for your luggage since you're taking up space that would otherwise be sold to another passenger.\n\n### By plane\n\nIf money is no object, you can fly between the minor airports on the island on a small charter plane. There are a couple of companies that provide this service and you need to make an appointment at least a day in advance. A flight across the entire island (from Negril to Port Antonio, for instance) costs about USD600.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk012", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Talk", "text": "Jamaicans mainly speak Jamaican Creole, also known locally as Patois (pronounced \"patwa\"). Its pronunciation and vocabulary are significantly different from English, despite it being based on English. Despite not being official, much of the population uses slang such as \"Everyting is irie\" to mean \"Everything is all right.\"\n\nAlthough most Jamaicans can also speak standard **English**, which is also the official language, they often have a very thick accent and foreigners may have trouble understanding them because of this.\n\nYou will usually hear Jamaicans say \"Waah gwaan?\", \"Waah appn'?\", or \"What a gwaan?\", the Creole variation of \"What's up?\" or \"What's going on?\" More formal greetings are usually \"Good morning\" or \"Good evening.\"", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk013", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Bob Marley mausoleum in Nine Mile\n **Nine Mile** - where Bob Marley was born and now buried. The journey up into the mountains lets you experience the heart of the country.\nSpend a day at Negril 7-Mile Beach and finish off at Rick's Cafe for a spectacular sunset and watch even more fantastic cliff diving.\n\n### Beaches\n\nThere are more than 50 beaches around Jamaica.\n\n### Sites\n\nDunn's River Falls\nRose Hall Great House\nTurtle River Park\nDevon House\nBlue Mountains", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk014", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Do", "text": "Hiking, camping, snorkelling, zip-lining, horse back riding, backpacking, swimming, jet skiing, sleeping, scuba diving, kite surfing, visiting the Giddy house, drinking and swimming with dolphins.\n\nDunn's River Falls is a must see and do if visiting Jamaica. It is located in Ocho Rios. The cascading falls are gorgeous. You can actually climb right up the falls. It’s an amazing experience! Give it a try if you're up for a breathtaking challenge.\n\nMystic Mountain has a bob-sledding ride combined with options for zip-lining, a water slide and an aerial tram. The aerial tram is slower method to learn about the rainforest canopy.\n\nGoing zip-lining in the Jamaican jungle is incredibly exhilarating. Most touring companies as well as cruise liners will have companies that they work with regularly.\n\n### Marriage\n\nOver the past several decades, with the rapid growth of the tourism industry, \"hotel marriages\" have become a significant contributor to the total number of marriages occurring in the island.\n\n*The following is what you need to know or provide for your marriage in Jamaica:*\n\n Proof of citizenship – certified copy of Birth Certificate, which includes father’s name.\n Parental consent (written) if under 18 years of age.\n Proof of divorce (if applicable) – original Certificate of Divorce.\n Certified copy of Death Certificate for widow or widower.\n French Canadians need a notarised, translated English copy of all documents and a photocopy of the original French documents. The same may be true of most people with documents in other languages than English.\n Italian nationals celebrating their marriage in Jamaica must notify their embassy for legalization and translation.\n\n### Sports\n\nThe most popular spectator sports in Jamaica are football (soccer) and cricket. Jamaica is also one of the top performers in the sprint events in athletics at the Olympics. Netball is the most popular women's sport, and Jamaica is one of powerhouses in international netball. Jamaica is home to the Sabina Park cricket ground in Kingston. It is home to the Jamaica Kings in the Caribbean Premier League.", "word_count": 333}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk015", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar, denoted by the symbol \"**$**\" (or J$, JA$) (ISO code: **JMD**). It comes in notes of J$50, 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. Coins in circulation are J$20, 10, and 5 (with smaller coins being almost worthless). Two series of banknotes are in circulation in Jamaica, the paper issues and the new polymer issues that includes the $2000 note.\n\nJamaica's economy has not been well run and the Jamaican dollar has steadily depreciated from the rate of USD1 = J$0.77 in 1968.\n\nThe US dollar is widely accepted in places most tourists visit. Indeed, all hotels, most restaurants, most shops, and almost all attractions in major cities will accept the US dollar. However, be aware that some places accept US dollars at a reduced rate (although it still may be a better rate than exchanging money beforehand). While it is possible for someone visiting only touristy places or for a few hours to not see the Jamaican currency at all, US dollars won't be accepted at a lot of local shops on the outskirts of cities and in rural areas.\n\nAlways stay up-to-date on the exchange rate and carry a calculator. Some places might try to make you pay ten times as much if you pay in US dollars. The cost of living in Jamaica is comparable to the United States.\n\nUS dollars, Canadian dollars, UK pounds, and euros are easily converted to Jamaican dollars at forex cambios and commercial banks island wide.\n\n### Shopping\n\nBuy products made on the island as they are cheap and you are supporting the local economy.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk016", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Buy", "text": "Prices are usually higher in tourist areas like Negril and Ocho Rios. Shops in \"tourist traps\" usually have higher prices than native ones, and you'll see the same items on offer in them.\n\n### Credit cards\n\n**Credit cards** such as Visa, MasterCard and to a lesser extent American Express and Discover are accepted in many business establishments, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and restaurants in Kingston, Montego Bay, Portmore, Ocho Rios and Negril and most other major towns. A curious exception is petrol stations which mostly require cash. There are a few petrol stations in uptown Kingston that will accept a credit card, but most will not\n\nCash advances from your MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express credit card will be quickly available at commercial banks, credit unions or building societies during normal banking hours. For cash advances on a non-Jamaican bank issued MasterCard or Visa cards or any American Express or Discover card, be prepared to show your foreign issued passport or overseas drivers license.\n\nA bit of advice if you are paying for \"fully inclusive\" when you arrive or any other big ticket item such as tours, when you are there, take travellers cheques in US dollars. There is something like a 4% additional charge on a Visa or MasterCard transaction. Hotels and resorts usually charge the highest exchange rates.\n\n### ATMs", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk017", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATMs are called ABMs in Jamaica and are widely available in every parish and almost all ABMs in Jamaica are linked to at least one overseas network such as Cirrus or Plus and sometimes both. Indeed, the safest way for a visitor to transact business in Jamaica is to use an ABM to withdraw your daily cash requirement directly from your overseas account in local currency, as flashing foreign currency, foreign credit cards or large quantities of cash might draw unwanted attention, and will almost certainly be disadvantageous when bargaining for the best price.\n\nDon't be alarmed if you go to an ATM and you find an armed guard as he is there to protect you.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk018", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Jerk stands along Highway A1 in central Jamaica.\nJamaican food is a mixture of Caribbean dishes with local dishes. Although Jamaican food gets a reputation for being spicy, local trends lean towards more versatile food variety. Some of the Caribbean dishes that you'll see in other countries around the region are **rice and peas** (which is cooked with coconut milk) and patties (which are called empanadas in Spanish speaking countries). The national dish is **Ackee and saltfish**, and *must* be tried by anyone visiting the island. It is made with the local fruit called Ackee, which looks like scrambled eggs, but has a unique taste of its own and dried codfish mixed with onions and tomatoes. You probably won't get a chance to try this food anywhere else, and if you really want to say that you did something uniquely Jamaican, then this is your chance. Freshly picked and prepared ackee is 100 times better than tinned ackee, but must be harvested only when the ackee fruits have ripened and their pods opened naturally on the large evergreen tree on which they grow: unripe ackee contains a potent toxin (hypoglycin A) which causes vomiting and hypoglycemia. Don't worry, locals are expert at preparing ackee and will know how to pick it safely.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk019", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Eat", "text": "Another local food is called **bammy**, which was actually invented by the Arawak (Taino) Indigenous peoples. It is a flat floury cassava pancake normally eaten during breakfast hours that kind of tastes like corn bread. There is also hard-dough bread (locally called hard dough bread), which comes in both sliced and unsliced varieties. Try toasting it, for when it is toasted, it tastes better than most bread you'll ever eat. If you are looking for dishes with more meat in them, you can try the jerk flavoured foods. The most popular is **jerk chicken**, although jerk pork and jerk conch are also common. The **jerk seasoning** is a spice that is spread on the meat on the grill like barbecue sauce. Keep in mind that most Jamaicans eat their food well done, so expect the food to be a bit drier than you are accustomed to. There are also **curries** such as curried chicken and curried goat which are very popular in Jamaica. The best curried goat is made with male goats and if you see a menu with curried fish, try it.\n\nthumb|Traditional Jamaican patty\nThe well-known **meat patty** is typically filled with seasoned ground beef or other kinds of meat wrapped in a crusty pastry shell.\n\nYou may even want to pick up a piece of **sugar cane**, slice off some pieces and suck on them.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk020", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Eat", "text": "Fruit and vegetables in Jamaica are plentiful, particularly between April and September, when most local fruits are in season. The many mango varieties are a 'must have' if you are visiting during the summer months. If you have not tasted the fruit ripened on the tree, then you are missing out. Fruit picked green and exported to other countries does not compare. Try drinking 'coconut water' straight out of the coconut. This is not the same as coconut milk. Coconut water is clear and refreshing, not to mention the fact that it has numerous health benefits. Pawpaws, star apples, guineps, pineapples, jackfruit, oranges, tangerines, ugli fruit, ortaniques are just some of the wonderful varieties of fruit available here.\n\nLocally grown fruits and vegetables are inexpensive. Visitors may well find that imported produce such as American apples, strawberries, plums, etc., tend to be more expensive than in their home country. Grapes in particular tend to be very expensive on the island.\n\nChinese food (chow mein and fried rice) is available in many places from Chinese takeaway stores and has a distinct Jamaican taste.\n\nIt is recommended to sample the local fruit and vegetables. If unfamiliar with a particular fruit it can pay to ask a local about which parts can be eaten. Local and imported fruits are available from road-side vendors. If the fruit is to be eaten immediately the vendors can generally wash the fruit for you on request.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk021", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Eat", "text": "Finally, there is the category of **\"ital\" food** (pronounced and sometimes spelled \"I-tal\"), the domain of practising Rastafarians, who abide by strict dietary principles. Ital food is vegetarian and prepared from ingredients that are as natural as possible: no additives, preservatives, pesticides, etc. At its strictest, no preserved food is used and even rock salt is avoided (sea salt is OK), but it can still be tasty due to the creative use of other spices. Ital food is not generally on the printed menus in the upmarket tourist restaurants and can only be found by going to speciality restaurants. You may have to ask around to find an establishment that serves Ital food as it is not very common.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk022", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Jamaican rum\nThere are many drinks in Jamaica. Standards such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola can be found, but if you want to drink local soda, you can try Bigga Cola, Champagne cola or grapefruit soda called \"Ting\" and also Ginger beer. Also, try any soda by Desnoes & Geddes, typically labelled as \"D&G.\" \"Cola champagne\" and \"pineapple\" are popular flavours. Since the turn of the century, the majority of soft drinks are bottled in plastic instead of glass.\n\nYou can try the local lager called Red Stripe (which is exported to many countries in the west, so there is a good chance you have already tasted it) and Dragon Stout. Many types of beers are sold in Jamaican pubs and hotels. Guinness is popular and the export 7% has a kick.\n\nJamaican **rum**, which is made from sugar cane, is common and is normally drunk with cola or fruit juice. **Drink with caution!** Most countries have a legal limit for the strength of liquor, usually around 40% alcohol (80 proof). In Jamaica, rum with 50 to 60% alcohol is common and 75% is not unheard of. If you are not used to it and/or misjudge the dosage, this can quickly lead to problems.\n\nSince Jamaica was colonised by Britain, the drinking laws are 18 and over, but they don't generally enforce it as strictly as it would be in the US.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk023", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Sleep", "text": "When you speak about accommodation, Jamaica is the right place for great hospitality, staff and a well kept environment. There are many hotels or small inns that can accommodate our tourists and visitors.", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk024", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Work", "text": "Employment in Jamaica varies, depending on one's level of qualification, experience and workmanship. The legal working age in Jamaica is 16 years old (provided that you are a possessor of a valid Tax Registration Number (TRN)); unfortunately, very few businesses accept applicants less than 18, with requirements varying from proof of High School tenure to qualifications gained while attending high school. Most call centres accept 18 and over, with pardon for those acquiring 18 years of age. Lengthy periods of experience and at least a Master's or Bachelor's degree are the requirements for landing a job that pays at working class standard. Menial tasks, such as factory packaging, require less tardy application requirements, and there is a high probability of 16-year-olds being employed. Jamaica's hotel industry is calling for individuals with standard requirements, notably a TRN, NIS (National Insurance Number; provided by the government for working age people acquiring 18 years old), proof of Secondary/tertiary school attendance and a little experience.\n\nThere is limited chance of volunteer work, and, in some rare cases, conditions of living may not be of standard.\n\nEmployment in Jamaica hasn't reached its prime, but is a work in progress. Also, having a sponsor in the country or having permanent residence status grants one the ability to work in Jamaica.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk025", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Beware of rapists at resorts**, as advised by travel advisories.\nJamaica has the 2nd highest murder rate in the world. As in any other country, should any emergency situation arise, after calling 119 for the police or 110 for the fire brigade or ambulance, you might want to contact your government's embassy or consulate. Governments usually advise travellers staying in Jamaica for an extended period of time to notify their embassy or consulate so they can be contacted in the case of emergency.\n\nIf in need of police, dial **119**, just don't expect them to show up on the spot.\n\nDrugs and alcohol are prevalent. Armed men may pose a threat to women in some areas. Inner-city parts of the island such as Spanish Town and some neighbourhoods in Kingston (Trench Town, etc.) should be avoided even during the day. However, those who are interested in visiting the Culture Yard in Trench Town should be safe if they go during daylight hours and with a hired local guide, which should not be terribly expensive. Be sure to ask for advice from locals before going, and avoid going there around elections, when violence flares up.\n\nSeptember, October, and November have fewer tourists as this is hurricane season. As a result, the police are encouraged to take their vacation during this time. This reduction in the police force can cause areas like Montego Bay's hip strip to be less safe than they normally are.\n\nWearing clothing with a camouflage design or otherwise looking like a military uniform is illegal in Jamaica.\n\n### Crime\n\n**Jamaica has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world**. Reports of gang violence, sexual assault, robberies, homicide, and the like are not uncommon, especially in Kingston.\n\nBeing a tourist will, undoubtedly, make you an \"easy\" target for criminals. Applying a modicum of common sense can reduce your chances of being a crime victim — do not display signs of opulence, do not trust or be too friendly to people you are not familiar with, and keep your valuables and belongings out of reach.\n\nIf you are approached by someone trying to sell you drugs or something you're not interested in, calmly, but firmly tell them that you're not interested; telling them that you're visiting Jamaica for the first time may prompt them to heckle you even more.\n\nAlthough Jamaica is often stereotyped as a 'marijuana hub' in popular culture, smoking marijuana (locally known as **ganja**) is actually illegal. Foreigners can be arrested and jailed for drug use. Jamaican prisons are very basic and uncomfortable.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nJamaica is **not at all a safe** destination for gay and lesbian travellers; Jamaica's cultural and legal systems abhor homosexuality.\n\nViolence against LGBT individuals is not uncommon and Jamaican law enforcement authorities are normally indifferent to victims of anti-LGBT violence. **Corrective rape** is depressingly common.\n\nIn other words, if you are LGBT, it is strongly recommended that you stay out of Jamaica. If you plan to visit, be very discreet about your sexuality.", "word_count": 505}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk026", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Medical facilities** on the island are not always up to par with European or American health care standards. Falling ill can sometimes result in major medical fees. Therefore, buy **travel insurance**, as this will ensure peace of mind in emergency situations.\nthumb|James Bond Beach, Oracabessa\nThe **tap water** is generally good and safe to drink. All piped water in Jamaica is treated to international standards, and will be of the same quality you could expect to find in North America or Europe. Water service in rural areas can sometimes go out for several hours at a time. People in rural areas have their own water tanks, which catch water when it rains, so be ready to draw from a tank instead of turning a pipe. Water from these sources should be boiled before being consumed. Bottled water such as Wata (a local brand), Aquafina and Deer Park are widely available.\n\nBe cautious of the water quality at public swimming beaches, such as \"Walter Fletcher Beach\" in Montego Bay, which some locals call \"dump-up beach\", situated near the north gully. Large amounts of solid and human waste flush down the gully during storm events. The water flowing down Dunn's River Falls has also been said to contain high amounts of coliform bacteria, indicating faecal contamination.\n\nThe country's adult HIV/AIDS prevalence is at nearly **1.6%**. This is **more than 2½ times** that of the USA and **16** times higher than the UK. So while Jamaica has a relatively low infection rate compared to some other developing nations, you would be wise to abstain or practice safe sex and avoid risky intravenous drug use.\n\nA 2006 malaria outbreak in Kingston was identified and controlled and Jamaica has now returned to the malaria-free status it had for decades before this localised and isolated incident.\n\nAs in much of the Caribbean, dengue fever is an increasing risk. This normally manifests as a flu-like illness with severe joint and muscle pain, vomiting and a rash which may be complicated by haemorrhagic shock. It's transmitted by *Aedes* mosquitoes, which bite in the daytime and love densely populated areas like Kingston, though they also inhabit rural environments. No vaccine or other prophylactics are available so use insect repellent if you can not stand to be covered head to toe in the tropical humid heat.", "word_count": 386}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk027", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Respect", "text": "Jamaicans are known for their warmth, laid-back attitude to life, and generosity. It is customary to greet people, including complete strangers, wherever you may go. A simple *Hello* or *Good morning* would do just fine.\n\n**Religion** is a huge deal to many Jamaicans. A church can be found in every nook and corner of the country, and Jamaicans love to talk about it. Criticising religion, speaking about it from an agnostic point of view, or stating that you do not believe in God will most likely be met with bewildered looks.\n\nJamaicans tend to value their privacy and they generally do not invite people they do not know well to their homes. If you have been invited to a Jamaican home, remove your shoes before entering.\n\nIt must also be noted that any person of East Asian descent will almost always be called \"Missa/Miss Chin\"; this is a common stereotype based on prominent locals bearing the surname. This should not be taken seriously, as it is a form of endearment existing among locals. Caucasians will also be met by stares from numerous people in the less touristy areas. But don't worry. Just smile!\n\nAlthough most (90-92%) Jamaicans are Afro-Jamaicans, Jamaica is a diverse country and there are long-established communities of Europeans, Chinese, and Indians. It is considered rude to express doubt if someone is truly Jamaican just because they are not black.\n\nShow respect to elders and authority figures. Use the terms \"sir\" and \"ma'am\" with them and behave appropriately in front of them. \n\nAttempting to speak the local dialect will earn you favour and high regards in any social setting.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "jamaica::chunk028", "doc_id": "jamaica", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nJamaica has two mobile network operators, Digicel and Flow (formerly Lime). Jamaican numbers are based off the North American Numbering Plan and consist of an area code followed by 7 digits. The calling code is +1 (876) then follows the numbers, e.g +1 (876) ***-****.\n\n### By Internet\n\nIn almost every area you go in Jamaica there are Wi-Fi hotspots to connect to the net. Data plans, which most Jamaicans call 'service', offer a certain amount of bytes which can easily be accessed on your mobile phone without worrying about Wi-Fi (this is the variation of Wi-Fi for most people in local areas).", "word_count": 106}
diff --git a/corpus/jamaica/metadata.json b/corpus/jamaica/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..41098a5066973ca64a922046d75f607d5c44f07c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jamaica/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jamaica",
+ "title": "Jamaica",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jamaica",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Caribbean"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 6304,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 29,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/japan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/japan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..804aadaba5529b31a386468abdc3bb864cc2d8c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/japan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk000", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Japan**, known as *Nihon* or *Nippon* (日本) in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Its insular character has allowed it to develop a unique and very intricate culture, while its closeness to other ancient East Asian cultures, in particular China, has left lasting influence. Despite belonging to a nation long at war, Japan's people have always placed emphasis on inner balance, tranquility and natural beauty. These traditional values have become increasingly important now that Japan has grown to be one of the world's most densely-populated countries, and its legendary work ethic makes life in its cities quite hectic.\nthumb|Cherry blossoms in [[Kichijoji|Kichijōji]]|310x310px\nJapan's sophisticated cuisine has spread to all corners of the world, but it is only in the country of its birth where you can appreciate its true form. Japanese pop culture is enormously popular around the world, especially anime, manga and video games, driving tourism to this country. \n\nIn the 19th and 20th centuries, Japan enjoyed impressive economic growth, putting it among the world's most affluent nations today. This was mostly driven by rapid modernization and specialization in high technology. Japan is full of contrasts between the living tradition and much cherished heritage, and its ultra-modern infrastructure, buildings and facilities. \n\nWhile the Japanese are known to be reserved and their English language skills are not their strongest asset, they will go out of their way to make you feel a welcome visitor. Japanese retail businesses are also known for their legendary customer service, and visitors from overseas are often surprised at the lengths service staff will go to satisfy the demands of customers.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk001", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Regions", "text": "Japan is administratively divided into 47 prefectures. These are conventionally grouped into nine regions, listed here from north to south:", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk002", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Cities", "text": "Japan has about 800 cities; these are nine of the most important to the traveller.\n\n — the capital and main financial center, modern and densely populated\n — large port city with a formal ancient garden, Hiroshima Castle, and the famous Atomic Bomb Dome\n — historic city on the west coast\n — ancient capital of Japan, considered the cultural heart of the country, with many ancient Buddhist temples and gardens\n — ancient port city with a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, and European influences\n — first capital of a united Japan, with many Buddhist shrines and historical buildings\n — large and dynamic city located in the Kansai region\n — largest city in Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival\n — largest city in the Tohoku region, known as the city of forests due to its tree-lined avenues and wooded hills", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk003", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "See Japan's Top 3 for some sights and places held in high esteem by the Japanese themselves, and Off the beaten track in Japan for a selection of fascinating but less well known destinations throughout the country.\n\n — just off Hiroshima, site of the iconic floating *torii* gate\n — iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776m)\n — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect\n — \"Art Island\" with many museums and installations off the coast of Shikoku\n — island off Niigata, former home to exiles and prisoners, now a brilliant summer getaway\n — one of the most well-preserved and picturesque historic villages in the nation\n — unspoiled wilderness in northeastern Hokkaido\n — the farthest-flung bit of Okinawa, with spectacular diving, beaches and jungle cruising\n — UNESCO World Heritage site with enormous cedars and misty primeval forests", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk004", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Often called the \"Land of the Rising Sun\", Japanese culture stretches back millennia, yet it has also adopted (and created) the latest modern fashions and trends.\n\nJapan is a study in contrasts and contradictions. Many Japanese corporations dominate their industries, yet Japan has suffered a prolonged economic slowdown since 1989. Cities are some of the most modern and high tech in the world, but tumbledown wooden shacks can still be spotted next to glass-fronted designer condominiums. Japan has beautiful temples and gardens which are often surrounded by garish signs and ugly concrete buildings. In the middle of a modern skyscraper you might discover a sliding wooden door which leads to a traditional room with tatami mats, calligraphy, and tea ceremony. These juxtapositions mean you may often be surprised and rarely bored in Japan.\n\nAlthough Japan is seen in the West as a land combining tradition and modernity, and juxtapositions definitely exist, part of this idea is obsolete, and is a product of Japan being the first major Asian power to modernize as well as Western patronization and heavy promotion by the travel industry. Continued demolition of some of Japan's historic landmarks goes on apace. Still, with the proper planning, and with expectations held in check, a trip to Japan can be incredibly enjoyable and definitely worthwhile.\n\n### History\n\nJapan's location on islands at the outermost edge of Asia has had a profound influence on its history. Close to mainland Asia, yet far enough to keep itself separate, Japan has experienced alternating periods of closure and openness. Until the mid-19th century, Japan was able to turn on or off its connection to the rest of the world, accepting foreign cultural influences in fits and starts.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk005", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Recorded Japanese history begins in the 5th century, although archeological evidence of settlement stretches back 50,000 years. The mythical Emperor Jimmu is said to have founded the current Imperial line in the 7th century BCE. Archeological evidence, however, has only managed to trace the Imperial line back to the **Kofun Period** during the 3rd to 7th centuries CE, which was also when the Japanese first had significant contact with China and Korea. Japan then gradually became a centralized state during the **Asuka Period**, during which Japan extensively absorbed many aspects of Chinese culture, and saw the introduction of Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism. During that period, Prince Shotoku, the regent of Japan, sent envoys to Tang China to learn more about Chinese culture and practices and introduce them to Japan.\n\nthumb|The Great Buddha of [[Kamakura]]\n\nThe first strong Japanese state was centered in Nara (Heijo-kyo), which was built to model the then Chinese capital Chang'an. This period, dubbed the **Nara Period** was the last time the emperor held political power. Power fell into the hands of the Fujiwara clan of court nobles (*kuge*) during the **Heian Period**, when the capital was moved to Kyoto (Heian-kyo), also modeled after the Chinese capital Chang'an. It remained the Japanese imperial residence until the 19th century. Chinese influence reached its peak during the early Heian Period, during which Buddhism became a popular religion among the masses. This was followed by the **Kamakura Period**, when the samurai warrior class gained political power. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the most powerful of them, was dubbed *shogun* by the emperor, and ruled from his base in Kamakura. In the **Muromachi Period**, the **Ashikaga shogunate** came to power, ruling from their base in Ashikaga. Japan descended into the chaos of the **Warring States Period** in the 15th century.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk006", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Japan was unified towards the end of the Warring States Period, known as the **Azuchi-Momoyama Period**, under the influence of the powerful warlords Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, ruling from their bases in Kiyosu and Osaka respectively. Tokugawa Ieyasu completed unification of the country in 1600 through his victory at the **Battle of Sekigahara**, and founded the **Tokugawa Shogunate**, a feudal state ruled from Edo, or modern-day Tokyo. Although the Emperor and his court nobles continued to rule in name from the imperial capital in Kyoto, in practice, absolute power was concentrated in the hands of the Shogun. A strict caste system was imposed, with the Shogun and his *samurai* warriors at the top of the heap and no social mobility permitted.", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk007", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "During this **Edo Period**, Tokugawa rule kept the country stable but stagnant with a policy of strict isolationism while the West rushed ahead. U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's Black Ships arrived in Yokohama in 1854, forcing the country to open up to trade with the West. This resulted in the signing of unequal treaties, leading to the collapse of the shogunate, and power being returned to the emperor in the **Meiji Restoration** of 1868. The imperial capital was relocated from Kyoto to Edo, now renamed Tokyo. Japan observed Western colonization in Southeast Asia and the division and weakening of China, which they had for so long considered to be the world's greatest superpower. Vowing not to be overtaken by the West, Japan launched itself headlong into a drive to modernize at frantic speed, and became the first non-Western country to industrialize. Adopting Western technology and culture wholesale, Japan's cities soon sprouted railways, brick buildings and factories. The disastrous Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which flattened large parts of Tokyo and killed over 100,000 people, was barely a bump in the road.\n\n#### Expansion and war\n\nthumb|Nuclear devastation in [[Hiroshima]] (1945)", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk008", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "From day one, resource-poor Japan had looked elsewhere for the supplies it needed, and this soon turned into a drive to **expand and colonize** its neighbors. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95, Japan took control of Taiwan, Korea and parts of Manchuria, and its victory against Russia in the 1904–05 Russo-Japanese War cemented its position of strength. With an increasingly totalitarian government controlled by the military, Japan overthrew the Korean monarchy and annexed Korea in 1910. During World War I, Japan participated in the war as part of the Allies and subsequently gained control of the German concessions in China. Japan then staged the Mukden Incident as a pretext to occupy Manchuria in 1931, and launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937. Japan invaded British Hong Kong and Southeast Asia in 1941, and by the middle of 1942, had an empire stretching across much of eastern Asia and the Pacific. In 1941, Japan attacked **Pearl Harbor**, destroying a small portion of the U.S. Pacific fleet but drawing the U.S. into the war, whose tide soon started to turn against Japan. Japan was forced to surrender in 1945 after the **nuclear attacks** on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 1.86 million Japanese civilians and military personnel had died, well over 10 million Chinese and other Asians, and Japan was occupied for the first time in its history. The Japanese government has been lukewarm at best in apologizing for or even acknowledging the atrocities committed during World War II, which remains a major bone of contention in diplomatic relations with other Asian countries, in particular its neighbors China and South Korea.\n\n#### Post-war Japan", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk009", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Emperor kept his throne but was turned into a constitutional monarch. Thus converted to pacifism and democracy, with the U.S. taking care of defense, Japan now directed its prodigious energies into peaceful technology, and re-emerged from poverty to conquer the world's marketplaces with an endless stream of cars and consumer electronics, attaining the second-largest GDP in the world after the United States.\n\nBut frenzied growth could not last forever, and in 1989, the bubble well and truly burst. In the 1990s, Japan's **lost decade**, the real estate bubbles deflated, the stock market fell by half, and the **Great Hanshin Earthquake** of 1995 leveled parts of Kobe and killed over 6,000 people. The economy has yet to fully recover from its doldrums, with deflation driving down prices, an unsupportable burden of government debt, and a polarization of Japanese society into \"haves\" with permanent jobs and \"have-not\" *freeters* drifting between temporary jobs. National anxiety has also increased because neighboring China is taking a more assertive regional stance, and has overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy. Nevertheless, Japan continues to be home to many of the world's leading high technology corporations, and the Japanese maintain one of the highest standards of living in the world.\n\nTragedy struck again in March 2011 with the **Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami**. Japan's worst disaster since World War II claimed the lives of over 15,000 people with another 2,500 missing. Many cities and towns in northern Tohoku located along the Pacific coast were severely damaged or destroyed.\n\nIn May 2019, Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne after the abdication of his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito. This marked the first Imperial succession from a living emperor since Emperor Kōkaku abdicated the throne in 1817.\n\n### Government and politics", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk010", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Japan is a constitutional monarchy, modeled after the British parliamentary system. The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy house in the world, traditionally said to have begun in 660 BC. The constitution enacted after World War II redefined the emperor's role to be entirely ceremonial; unlike European monarchs, he is not even the source of sovereign power, nor is it \"his\" government. The few government functions he performs are always done following instructions from the Cabinet.\n\nThe legislative branch is the National Diet, consisting of the upper House of Councillors and the larger and more powerful lower House of Representatives. Both are popularly elected under a parallel system, where some seats are filled by individual candidates and others are filled from a party list. The Cabinet forms the executive branch of government. It is led by the prime minister, who is elected by the Diet; the prime minister appoints ministers to the Cabinet, a majority of whom must be members of the Diet. The Supreme Court and three tiers of lower courts form the judicial branch.\n\nJapan has several major political parties, which have shifted, merged, and split over time. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is generally conservative and pro-business, has been in power almost continuously since 1955. Led by geriatric bureaucrats, mired in factional politics and endless minor scandals, the LDP as of 2025 continues to govern with no compelling alternatives in sight.\n\n### People", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk011", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Japan is not always crowded — like this beach in [[Taketomi]], [[Okinawa]]\nAs an island nation shut off from the rest of the world for a very long time (with only some contact with China and Korea), Japan is very **homogeneous**, and over 99% of the population is of Yamato (i.e. Japanese) ethnicity. The largest minority are Koreans, around 1 million strong, many in their 3rd or 4th generations. There are also sizable populations of Chinese, Filipinos and Brazilians, although many of the latter are of Japanese descent. Though largely assimilated, the resident Chinese population maintains a presence in Japan's three Chinatowns in Kobe, Nagasaki and Yokohama. Indigenous ethnic minorities include the **Ainu** on Hokkaido, gradually driven north over the centuries and now numbering around 50,000, and the **Ryukyuan** people of Okinawa.\n\nJapan's population started shrinking in 2008, and since efforts to increase the birth rate have largely fallen flat, immigration is increasingly being used to fill in the gaps. Particularly in Tokyo quite a few service industry workers now hail from China, Vietnam or Nepal.\n\nThe Japanese are well known for their politeness. Many Japanese are thrilled to have visitors to their country and are incredibly helpful to lost and bewildered-looking foreigners. Younger Japanese people are often extremely interested in meeting and becoming friends with foreigners as well. Do not be surprised if a young Japanese person (usually of the opposite gender) approaches you in a public place and tries to initiate a conversation with you in English. On the other hand, many are not used to dealing with foreigners (外人 *gaijin*, or 外国人 *gaikokujin*) and are more reserved and reluctant to communicate.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk012", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Foreign visitors are rarer outside the major cities, and you may encounter moments when entering a shop causes the staff to seemingly panic and scurry off into the back. They're just afraid that you'll try to address them in English and they'll be embarrassed because they can't understand or reply. A smile and a *konnichiwa* (\"Hello\") often helps.\n\n### Culture\n\nHaving been in the Chinese cultural sphere for much of its history, substantial Chinese influences can be seen in Japanese culture. They have been seamlessly blended with native Japanese customs to give rise to a culture that is distinctly Japanese.\n\nDuring the Edo Period, Japanese culture was strongly influenced by Confucianism. The Tokugawa Shogunate instituted a rigid class system, with the Shogun at the apex, a small group of feudal lords called *daimyō* below him, and the other samurai below that, followed by a vast population of commoners below them. At the bottom below even the commoners was a group of outcastes called the *burakumin*, who took on jobs considered \"unclean\" such as undertakers, butchers and executioners. Commoners were expected to pay respect to samurai (at the risk of being killed if they didn't), and women were expected to be subservient to men. Samurai were expected to adopt a \"Death before dishonor\" attitude, and would typically commit suicide by self-disembowelment (*harakiri/seppuku*) rather than live in shame. Although the Edo Period ended with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, its legacy lives on in Japanese society. Honor remains an important concept in Japanese society, employees are still expected to be unquestioningly obedient to their bosses, and women continue to struggle for equal treatment.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk013", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Japanese people are fiercely proud of their heritage and culture, and hold on to many ancient traditions that go back hundreds of years. At the same time, they also seem to be obsessed with the latest technology, and consumer technology in Japan is often several years ahead of the rest of the world. This paradox of being traditional yet ultramodern often serves to intrigue visitors.\n\nIt is customary to remove your shoes before entering a private home, and often in certain traditional accommodations or temples.\n\n#### Holidays\n\nthumb|The Awa Odori, a famous Obon Festival in [[Tokushima]] \nThe most important holiday in Japan is the **New Year** (お正月 *Oshōgatsu*), which pretty much shuts down the country from 30 December to 3 January. Japanese head home to their families (which means massive transport congestion), eat festive foods, and head out to the neighborhood temple at the stroke of midnight to wish in the New Year. Many Japanese travel to other countries as well, and prices for airfares are very high.\n\nIn March or April, Japanese head out en masse for *hanami* (花見, lit. \"flower viewing\"), a festival of outdoors picnics and drunken revelry in parks, cleverly disguised as **cherry blossom** (桜 *sakura*) viewing. The exact timing of the famously fleeting blossoms varies from year to year and Japan's TV channels follow the progress of the cherry blossom front from south to north obsessively. Top ''sakura'' spots like Kyoto are packed with tourists. Peak *hanami* often coincides with the start of the new school & financial year on April 1, which means lots of people on the move and full hotels in major cities.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk014", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Japan's longest holiday is **Golden Week** (29 April to 5 May), when there are four public holidays within a week and people go on an extended vacation. Trains become crowded and flight and hotel prices are jacked up to multiples of normal prices, making this a bad time to travel in Japan, but the weeks immediately before or after Golden Week are excellent choices.\n\nSummer brings a spate of festivals designed to distract people from the intolerable heat and humidity. There are local festivals (祭 *matsuri*) and impressive fireworks competitions (花火 *hanabi*) throughout the country. **Tanabata** (七夕), on 7 July (or early August in some places), commemorates a story of star-crossed lovers who could only meet on this day.\n\nThe largest summer festival is **Obon** (お盆), held in mid-July in eastern Japan (Kanto) and mid-August in western Japan (Kansai), which honors departed ancestral spirits. Everybody heads home to visit village graveyards, and transport is packed.\n\n**Christmas Day** (25 December) is not a public holiday in Japan, but most Japanese people nevertheless celebrate it by ordering fried chicken from KFC for their Christmas meal. If you wish to partake in this tradition, be sure to place your orders well in advance, as the high volume of orders received for this day means that you're not guaranteed to snag a meal by just showing up on the day. **Christmas Eve** is considered to be one of the most romantic days of the year in Japan, and restaurants will be fully booked by young couples looking to have a romantic night out, so be sure to make your dinner reservations well in advance.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk015", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Valentine's Day** (14 February) is typically celebrated in Japan by women giving chocolates to men, of which there are two types: *giri-choco* (, lit. \"obligation chocolate\") is given as a courtesy to male colleagues, classmates, acquaintances etc., while *honmei-choco* (, lit. \"true feelings chocolate\") is given to a man the woman has romantic feelings for. Men will reciprocate the favor by giving *giri-choco* to their female colleagues, classmates, etc., or *honmei-choco* to their romantic partners, on **White Day** (14 March), so-named because white chocolate was traditionally given on this day, though in modern times all kinds of chocolate, including dark chocolate may be given.\n\n#### National holidays", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk016", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "**1 January** — New Year's Day (*ganjitsu* 元日, *gantan* 元旦 or *o-shōgatsu* お正月)\n **2 and 3 January** — New Year's Bank Holidays\n **Second Monday in January** — Coming-of-Age Day (*seijin no hi* 成人の日)\n **11 February** — National Foundation Day (*kenkoku kinen no hi* 建国記念の日)\n **23 February** — The Emperor's Birthday (*tennō tanjōbi* 天皇誕生日)\n **21 March** — Vernal Equinox Day (*shunbun no hi* 春分の日)\n **29 April** — Showa Day (*shōwa no hi* 昭和の日)\n **3 May** — Constitution Day (*kenpō kinnenbi* 憲法記念日)\n **4 May** — Greenery Day (*midori no hi* みどりの日) - some gardens and zoos admit free entrance for all\n **5 May** — Children's Day (*kodomo no hi* こどもの日) - Some museums, gardens etc. admit free entrance for children\n **Third Monday in July** — Marine Day (*umi no hi* 海の日)\n **11 August** - Mountain Day (*yama no hi* 山の日)\n **Third Monday in September**— Respect-for-the-Aged Day (*keirō no hi* 敬老の日) - Many museums and gardens admit free entrance for the aged, typically 60 or older\n **23 September** — Autumnal Equinox Day (*shūbun no hi* 秋分の日)\n **Second Monday in October** — Sports Day (*supōtsu no hi* スポーツの日)\n **3 November** — Culture Day (*bunka no hi* 文化の日) - Many museums and gardens admit free entrance for all\n **23 November** — Labor Thanksgiving Day (*kinrō kansha no hi* 勤労感謝の日) - Some museums and gardens admit free entrance for all\n **31 December** — New Year's Bank Holiday\n\nHolidays based on the seasons, such as equinoxes, may vary by a day or two. Additional bank holidays, also known as compensation holidays, are usually added if any holiday falls on a Sunday, and in cases when two dates for holidays are close together.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk017", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Most Japanese people take additional time off around New Year's, during Golden Week, and during Obon. The most important festival is New Year's Day, and many shops and restaurants close for at least 2 days during this period. However, convenience stores remain open, and many temples conduct New Year's Day fairs, so it's still not difficult to find food to eat.\n\n#### The Japanese calendar\n\nThe Imperial era year, which counts from the year of ascension of the Emperor, is often used for reckoning dates in Japan, including transportation timetables and store receipts.\n\nThe current era is **Reiwa** (令和), which began on 1 May 2019 with the ascension of Emperor Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Reiwa corresponds to ; the year may be written as \"R\" or just \"\". You may see dates written down in the format of year/month/day; for example, \"/4/1\" is 1 April .\n\nThe Western Gregorian calendar is commonly used. Japan has celebrated its festivals according to the Gregorian calendar since 1873 and no longer uses the Chinese calendar, with the exception of some festivals in the Ryukyu Islands.\n\n#### Religion\n\nthumb|Chomeiji, a Buddhist temple in [[Omihachiman]]\nthumb|Shinto ''torii'' gate to [[Dewa Sanzan]] area, at Yudonosan shrine\nJapan has two dominant religious traditions: **Shinto** (神道 *Shintō*) is the ancient animist religion of traditional Japan. At just over 1,200 years in Japan, **Buddhism** (仏教 *Bukkyō*) is the more recent imported faith. **Christianity** (キリスト教 *Kirisutokyō*), introduced by European missionaries, was widely persecuted during the feudal era but is now accepted, and a small percentage of Japanese are Christian, concentrated in western Japan.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk018", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Generally speaking, the Japanese are not a particularly religious people. While they are strongly influenced by Buddhist philosophies and regularly visit shrines and temples to offer coins and make silent prayers, religious faith and doctrine play a small role (if any) in the life of the average Japanese. Thus it would be impossible to try to represent what percentage of the population is Shinto versus Buddhist, or even Christian. According to a famous poll, Japan is 80% Shinto *and* 80% Buddhist, and another oft-quoted dictum states that Japanese are Shinto when they live, as weddings and festivals are typically Shinto, but Buddhist when they die, since funerals usually use Buddhist rites. Neither Buddhism nor Shinto demand exclusivity, so most Japanese practice a mix of both religions.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk019", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "At the same time, Shinto and Buddhism have had an enormous influence on the country's history and cultural life. The Shinto religion focuses on the spirit of the land, and is reflected in the country's exquisite gardens and peaceful shrines deep in ancient forests. When you visit a shrine (神社 *jinja*) with its simple *torii* (鳥居) gate, you are seeing Shinto customs and styles. If you see an empty plot of land with some white paper suspended in a square, that's a Shinto ceremony to dedicate the land for a new building. Buddhism in Japan has branched out in numerous directions over the centuries. Westerners are probably most familiar with Zen (禅) Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan in the 14th and 15th centuries. Zen fit the aesthetic and moral sensibilities of medieval Japan, influencing arts such as flower-arranging (生け花 *ikebana*), tea ceremony (茶道 *sadō*), ceramics, painting, calligraphy, poetry, and the martial arts. Over the years, Shinto and Buddhism have intertwined considerably. You will find them side by side in cities, towns, and people's lives. It's not at all unusual to find a sparse Shinto *torii* standing before an elaborate Buddhist temple (お寺 *o-tera*).", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk020", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Christianity is evident almost exclusively in a commercial sense. In season, variations of Santa Claus, Christmas trees and other non-religious Christmas symbols are on display in malls and shopping centers throughout metropolitan areas. A Christian minority exists in Japan, and there was historically a group called *Kakure Kirishitan* (隠れキリシタン) or \"hidden Christians\" who went underground when Japan persecuted Christianity. However, this group is all but extinct nowadays, having become mainstream Christians or Shinto/Buddhist for the most part. At 1-2% of the Japanese population, Christianity is not very visible and most Japanese people will have wrong or no knowledge of even basic tenets of Christianity. Conversely, a lot of Christian imagery (mainly Gothic cathedral architecture styles) is used in *anime*, *manga* and video games; this is less so due to religious reasons or undertones in the works, but rather due to the fact that a lot of Japanese think that imagery is asthetically pleasing.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Autumn colors in [[Kofu]], [[Yamanashi (prefecture)|Yamanashi]]\n\nThe Japanese are proud of their four seasons, but the tourist with a flexible travel schedule should aim for spring or autumn.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk021", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Spring** is one of the best times of year to be in Japan. The temperatures are warm but not hot, there's not too much rain, and March–April brings the justly famous **cherry blossoms** (*sakura*) and is a time of revelry and festivals.\n **Summer** starts with a dreary **rainy season** (known as *tsuyu* or *baiu*) in June and turns into a steam bath in July–August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 40 °C. Avoid summer, or head to northern Hokkaido or the mountains of Chubu and Tohoku to escape. The upside, though, is a slew of fireworks shows (花火大会 *hanabi taikai*) and festivals big and small.\n **Autumn**, starting in September, is also an excellent time to be in Japan. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and fall colors can be just as impressive as cherry blossoms. However, in early autumn **typhoons** often hit the southern parts of Japan and bring everything to a standstill.\n **Winter** is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, but as some buildings lack central heating, it's often miserably cold indoors. Heading south to Okinawa provides some relief. There is usually heavy snow in Hokkaido and northeast Japan due to the cold wind blasts from Siberia. The Pacific coast of Honshu (where most major cities are located) has milder winters than the Sea of Japan coast: it may be snowing in Kyoto while it is cloudy or sprinkling rain in Osaka, an hour away.\n\n### Read\n\nThere are multitudes of books written on Japan. A good place to begin is one of the many recommended reading lists such as sites like **The Crazy Japan Times** or **Japan Visitor**. Some recommended books include:", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk022", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Untangling My Chopsticks* (), by Victoria Abbott Riccardi. Set mainly in Kyoto.\n *My Mother is a Tractor* (), by Nicholas Klar. A former English teacher with a witty and informative take on Japanese society. Written from the depths of the Japanese countryside.\n *Hitching Rides with Buddha* (), by Will Ferguson, is about a Canadian English teacher who hitches rides across the country, following the blooming cherry blossoms. It is a funny, serious, and honest evaluation of all sorts of aspects of Japanese culture.\n *Culture Shock: Japan* (). A part of the \"Culture Shock\" series, this is an excellent overview of the culture and lifestyle of the Japanese. A good resource for a long or work-related stay in Japan or even for interaction with Japanese people.\n *All-You-Can Japan* (), by Josh Shulman, is a travel guide that offers a wise and economical travel strategy. The author was born and raised in Japan, and writes this short guide in a casual, easy-to-read language.\n\n### Watch\n\nTelevision shows about Japan:\n\n*Japanology Plus* (and its prior incarnation *Begin Japanology*) – Produced by NHK World-Japan, these long-running series explore a plethora of topics in Japanese culture and customs, from arts and foods to robots and refrigerators, as well as some unexpected topics like batteries or scissors.\n Travel-oriented shows produced by NHK World-Japan include *Journeys in Japan* and *Train Cruise*.\n\n### Visitor information", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk023", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Much of the government's travel information is available in English.\n Travel Japan multilingual website is run by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Good for an overview by prefecture or topic.\n Japan47Go is a bilingual database site by Japan Travel and Tourism Association. More than 110,000 spots and events can be searched by date, topic, region etc. \n Most prefectures' official guide sites are multilingual. See respective prefecture articles.\n Guidoor is a digital platform for smaller municipalities' official tourist information. As of 2023, about a quarter of all municipalities provide information on the platform in Japanese, English, and other languages.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk024", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Japanese writing on a temple lantern, [[Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa]], [[Tokyo]]\n\nThe native language of Japan is **Japanese** ( *nihongo*). Very different from English and not known to be related to any other language group, it's nevertheless worthwhile to try to pick up at least basic greetings and thank yous to put people at ease. The Japanese writing system is arguably the most complex in the world, since it incorporates three different scripts including Chinese characters, but the native *katakana* and *hiragana* syllabaries of 46 characters each are reasonably tractable and will come in handy for longer visits.\n\nAlthough **English** is a compulsory subject in Japanese schools, the focus is entirely on formal writing and grammar. Outside of major tourist attractions and large international hotels, it is *rare* to find people who are conversant in English. If you travel beyond Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you may find that even hotel reception and tourist attraction staff are unable to converse in English. Reading and writing tends to come a lot better though, and many Japanese are able to understand written English well despite not being able to speak it. If you are lost, it can be practical to write out a question in simple words and someone will likely be able to point you in the right direction. You should carry your hotel's business card with you, to show a taxi driver or someone if you lose your way.\n\nPublic facilities like trains almost universally include English signage, and the Shinkansen and other commonly-used trains also announce upcoming stops in English. Tourist attractions and large businesses also usually have at least some English signage, but as you get farther off the beaten path, English becomes more spotty (and the translations more questionable).\n\nSome of the major tourist attractions and large international hotels in Tokyo have staff who can speak **Mandarin** or **Korean**, and many major airports and railway stations also have signs in Chinese and Korean as well. In Hokkaido, a few people who live in ports frequented by Russian sailors may know some **Russian**.\n\n**Japanese Sign Language** (JSL, 日本手話 *nihon shuwa*) is the dominant sign language. Its adoption has been slow. It is mutually intelligible with Korean and Taiwanese Sign Languages, but not with any others.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk025", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|450px|Visa policy of Japan{{legend|\n\nCitizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, UK and EU, can obtain entry permission on arrival without a visa. This is usually valid for a stay of up to 90 days, although Mexicans and some Europeans are permitted to stay for 180 days if they ask for a longer stay upon entry. All others must obtain a \"temporary visitor\" visa prior to arrival, which is generally valid for a stay of 90 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains an on-line Guide to Japanese Visas.\n\n### Transit without a visa (TWOV)\n\nNo visa is required for a same-day transit between international flights at the same airport, so long as you do not leave the secured area.\n\nVisitors with tickets for onward travel to a third country may be granted a **Shore Pass** for a maximum of 72 hours with their permitted stay area limited to the vicinity of the port of entry. The port of departure does not have to be the same as the port of entry. Instead, it only needs to be in its vicinity.\n\nShore Passes are granted at immigration discretion and airlines may hesitate to allow you to board if you have a multi-day layover and are relying on getting on. Getting a transit visa in advance is always a safer option.\n\n### Residence Card\n\nTravellers entering Japan with anything other than a temporary visitor visa are required to obtain a \"Residence Card\" (在留カード), colloquially known as a *gaijin card*, within 90 days of arrival and carry it at all times in lieu of their passport. Those staying for 90 days or less may complete this registration, but they are not obligated to. This will be invalidated upon exit from Japan, unless a re-entry permit is held.\n\n### Customs", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk026", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Foreigners must typically fill out a **disembarkation form** for immigration, a **declaration form** for customs, and a **quarantine form** if required. The **Visit Japan Web service** can be used to electronically submit all required forms in advance. After completing the forms, present the QR code to the immigration and customs stations.\n\n**Drug laws** are stricter in Japan than in many other countries. Some over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are legal in other countries are not allowed in Japan. Ignorance is not considered an excuse, and you can expect to be jailed and deported if caught. See the Japan Customs website for details, or check with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. (See also *§ Drugs*.)\n Some **over-the-counter medications**, notably pseudoephedrine (Actifed, Claritin-D, Sudafed, Vicks inhalers) and codeine (some cough medications), cannot be brought into Japan.\n Some items that may not be brought in can be found locally with restrictions: for example, Benza-Block L, a common cold medicine in Japan, contains pseudoephedrine, with the restriction that one person may only buy one box from one pharmacy at a time.\n Some **prescription medicines** (mostly strong painkillers) are also banned even if you have a prescription, unless you get a *yunyu kakuninsho* (輸入確認書, \"import confirmation document\"), which typically takes 1-2 weeks to obtain. Some drugs may need additional import/export certificates.\n You may also require permission in order to import drug-filled syringes, such as **EpiPens**.\n Drugs used to treat **ADHD** are restricted: amphetamine (Adderall) is completely illegal, while methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) and atomoxetine (Strattera) may require permission depending on the amount.\n **Cannabis** and **CBD/THC** products, though trending towards legalization in the West, are *illegal* in Japan.\n\nBy law, Japan also forbids the importation of most **meat, fruit, vegetable and plant products,** in some cases punishable by imprisonment and/or fines of up to ¥3 million.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk027", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Once in Japan, you must carry your **passport or trusted traveler card** (see below) with you at all times. If caught in a random check without it (and nightclub raids are not uncommon), you'll be detained until somebody can fetch it for you. First offenders who apologize are usually let off with a warning, although you could be fined up to ¥200,000. You are also required to show the latest entry sticker if availing of products that are not available to Japanese residents (e.g. JR Pass, special train fares for foreigners).\n\nAll foreigners (except those on government business and certain permanent residents) age 16 and older are electronically fingerprinted and photographed as part of immigration entry procedures. This may be followed by a short interview conducted by the immigration officer. Entry will be denied if any of these procedures are refused.\n\n#### Trusted Traveler Program\n\nForeigners who travel frequently to Japan may be able to take advantage of Japan's Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) to expedite arrival procedures. Among the requirements in order to use the service, you must possess a passport from a country that has visa-free arrangements with Japan, have never been deported, and have never been criminally convicted.\n\nTourists that qualify for the TTP include those holding premium credit cards issued by a global brand (such as Mastercard, Visa or American Express) that have visited Japan at least once within the last 12 months. United States citizens enrolled in Global Entry (the US Trusted Traveler Program) are also eligible under the same travel requirements.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk028", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get in", "text": "The fee to apply for the program is ¥4000. Upon approval, you will receive a registered user card valid for either 3 years or until the expiration date of your passport, whichever is sooner. The card will allow you to use the automated immigration kiosks at most international airports, bypassing the staffed immigration counters. You can also carry the card on you in place of your passport, and it will suffice as identification if requested by authorities; the main exception is for tax-exempt shopping, for which both passport and card are required.\n\nIt is important to note that TTP travelers **do not receive the \"temporary visitor\" landing permission stamp on their passport**, which is required to receive travel passes or tickets restricted to foreigners such as the Japan Rail Pass. In these instances, you will have to undergo standard immigration procedures to receive the stamp.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Foreign aircraft at Narita Airport\nMost international flights arrive at Narita Airport () or Haneda Airport () near Tokyo, or Kansai Airport () near Osaka. Many flights from major Asian cities also serve Chubu Centrair Airport () near Nagoya, Fukuoka Airport () on Kyushu Island, and Chitose Airport () near Sapporo, Hokkaido Island.\n\nJust about every sizable city has an airport although most only offer domestic flights and a few services to China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Depending on the destination, transiting via a neighboring country can sometimes be cheaper and/or faster than via a major Japanese hub. For example, travelling to Okinawa from Taipei takes 1.5 hours, compared to three hours from Tokyo.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk029", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Airports are generally easy to get through and not particularly crowded assuming you avoid the main holiday periods — namely New Year's (end of December – beginning of January), Golden Week (end of April – beginning of May), and Obon (mid-August), when things are more hectic and expensive.\n\nJapan's two major airlines are flag carrier **Japan Airlines** (**JAL**, 日本航空 *nihon kōkū*) and **All Nippon Airways** (**ANA**, 全日本空輸 *zen nippon kūyu*, or just 全日空 *zennikkū*). Low-cost carriers have become popular with cheap domestic and international flights, and Narita is now a hub for low cost carriers, including Jetstar Japan, Skymark, and Peach.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are international ferries to Japan from South Korea, and China. These are not always price competitive with air tickets, and also often have long travel times. As of January 2024, there are no regular ferries between Russia and Japan.\n\n#### South Korea\n\nFerries from South Korea's second city Busan offer an alternative to flying. To Fukuoka, Camellia Line operates a ferry service that takes 8 hours. To Shimonoseki, Kanbu Ferry has daily service. To Osaka, Pan Star Line offers thrice-weekly service. Tsushima Island is the closest part of Japan to South Korea, and day trips from Busan are practical.\n\n#### China\n\nShanghai-Osaka/Kobe: Japan-China Ferry, weekly service from China that alternates between Kobe and Osaka.\n Tianjin-Kobe: China Express Line, weekly service.\n Suzhou-Shimonoseki: Shanghai-Shimonoseki Ferry, 3 per week", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk030", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|[[Tokyo/Tama|Tama]] Monorail in [[Tokyo]], one of the country's many futuristic transport systemsJapan has one of the world's best transport systems, and getting around is usually a breeze, with the train being overwhelmingly the most popular option. Trains are generally very punctual except during inclement weather or natural disasters. Travelling around Japan can be expensive, but there is a variety of passes that can be used to limit the damage.\n\n### Plan\n\nFor sorting through transport schedules and fares, '''Navitime''' and **Hyperdia** are useful companions, although some features are limited to subscribers. Google Maps and Apple Maps can give detailed train and bus directions including platform numbers, but given the plethora of choices on popular routes it can be hard to filter results. You'll often have better results using apps like Jorudan's **Japan Transit Planner** to navigate the train system, then use Google or Apple for walking from the stations.\n\nEnglish timetables for long-distance trains are available on the websites of JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central and JR Kyushu. Timetables for the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen can also be viewed in English at '''Tabi-o-ji'''.\n\nNavitime and Tabi-o-ji offer options to exclude the **Nozomi** and **Mizuho** trains from search results, which will benefit holders of the Japan Rail Pass. On Navitime, select the Japan Rail Pass option under Tourist Pass; on Tabi-o-ji, select to exclude Nozomi and Mizuho trains.\n\n### Navigate\n\nthumb|A town block indicator plate in [[Nagoya]] displaying the address ''Nakamura-ku, Meieki 4-chōme, 5-banchi''. That's Nakamura ward, Meieki neighborhood, district 4, block 5. As is common on indicator plates, this sign uses [[Japanese phrasebook", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk031", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "In most of Japan, addresses use a hierarchical scheme that's quite different from Western addresses. Most **roads** have no name; instead, cities are split into neighborhoods with names, which are divided into numbered districts (丁目 *chōme*), which are subdivided into numbered street blocks. Addresses are written in order from largest to smallest; an example address ending in 名駅4丁目5-6 or 名駅4-5-6 would be the neighborhood of Meieki (名駅), district 4, block 5, house 6. (Addresses are usually written in English as \"Meieki 4-5-6\" or \"4-5-6 Meieki\", although the post office recommends the confusing \"5-6 Meieki 4-chome\".) Additional numbers may be appended for the floor or room number.\n\nNumbering for **districts, blocks, and houses** is often *not* sequential; numbers are usually assigned *chronologically* as buildings are built, or based on distance from the city center. Small signs near street corners display the ward/neighborhood and district in Japanese (such as 名駅4丁目, *Meieki 4-chōme*); they often include the block number, but sometimes not, in which case the signs are very unhelpful since a district could be a dozen or more blocks. A building's entrance will usually show the block and house number (such as 5-6, sometimes written 5番6号), but not the district.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk032", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The lack of road names makes it difficult to give directions; **maps** and especially **navigation apps** are a blessing in Japan. A minute spent checking a map can save you half an hour of aimlessly walking.\n Most places are described in terms of the walking distance from the nearest train station, and relative to local landmarks. Business cards very often have little maps printed on the back to make navigation easier (at least if you can read Japanese).\n Many **train stations** have maps of the local area that can help you find a destination if it is reasonably close to the station.\n **Police boxes** (交番 *kōban*) also have detailed maps of the area. Going to a *kōban* to ask for directions is perfectly normal (it's why they're there), although the policemen usually don't speak much English.\n **Google Maps** and **Apple Maps** in Japan are very accurate, even showing the insides of buildings. However, it may occasionally misinterpret an address and lead you to the wrong location.\n\n### IC cards\n\n*See also: Japan*\n\nOne of the first things any visitor to Japan should do is purchase a transportation **IC card** (交通系ICカード *koutsūkei ai shī kādo*). IC cards can be used to pay for public transport and at convenience stores, vending machines and restaurants in all the major cities.\n\nPublic transport fares are calculated automatically no matter how complicated your journey or how often you transfer; just tap on and off at the start and end of your trip. IC cards are also accepted in lieu of paper tickets for some bullet trains when journeys are purchased online in advance.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk033", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most railways support IC cards; simply tap your card on the turnstile as you go in, and do the same as you go out. Most buses support IC cards as well, but their usage depends on the bus; you either board via the front door and tap once to pay a flat fee, or you board via the back door and tap in and then alight via the front door and tap out.\n\nIC cards sometimes give a small discount over cash payments. Children under 6 travel for free. Children between 6 and 11 are eligible for child (子供用 *kodomo-yō*) cards entitling holders to half fares. Buying one requires ID, so bring the child's passport to a commuter pass office (定期券売り場) in any larger station.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|The ''N700'' Shinkansen train\nthumb|Coin lockers at Kyoto Station\nJapan offers one of the most efficient rail transportation systems in the world, the crowning jewel of which is the ***Shinkansen*** (新幹線), popularly known in English as the **bullet train**, the world's first high-speed rail line.\n\nThe **Japan Rail Pass** offers — with a few exceptions — unlimited travel on all Japan Railway (JR) services including bullet trains, limited express and regular commuter trains. This used to be an incredible bargain, but you need to travel a *lot* to make this pay off now. See Rail travel in Japan for the pros and cons, and some sample computations on whether it's worth it.\n\nThere are also regional and local rail passes offered by the various JR companies (such as the JR East Rail Pass), as well as by the subway and private rail companies. Discount tickets are also sold, such as the Seishun 18 Ticket.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk034", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|An aircraft departing Osaka International Airport, commonly known as Itami Airport. The airport serves as Osaka's main domestic airport.\nJapan's excellent *Shinkansen* network means that flying is usually more of a luxury than a necessity. Flying remains, however, the most practical mode of reaching Japan's outlying islands, most notably for connections from the mainland to Hokkaido and/or Okinawa. Flying is also useful for getting around sparsely-populated Hokkaido, as the Shinkansen network there is limited.\n\nTokyo's Narita Airport handles a few domestic flights, but most domestic flights leave from **Haneda** () to the south of the city. Similarly, while there are some domestic flights from Kansai International Airport, more use **Itami** () to the north of Osaka, and Kobe's airport also fields some flights. Narita–Haneda or Kansai–Itami is quite a trek, so allow 3-4 hr to transfer. Chubu, on the other hand, has many domestic flights and was built for easy interchange.\n\nList prices for domestic flights are very expensive, but significant discounts are available if purchased in advance. Japan's largest carriers, **Japan Airlines** (**JAL**, 日本航空 *Nihon Kōkū*) and **All Nippon Airways** (**ANA**, 全日空 *Zennikkū*) offer special fares where international visitors can fly domestic segments anywhere in the country at reduced rates. The most common discount ticket is called the Japan Explorer Pass (JAL) or the Experience Japan Fare (ANA), offer discounted economy fares. This is a particularly good deal for travel to Hokkaido or the remote southern islands of Okinawa. Alternatively, the airlines offer a Welcome to Japan Fare (JAL) or Visit Japan Fare (ANA). If you reserve on the airlines' respective international websites, the offers for international travelers may be displayed as the cheapest ones, but if you try on the Japan website (in English and in yen), the regular discounts for a purchase in advance may be cheaper.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk035", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Low-cost carriers in Japan's domestic air market include **Jetstar Japan**, **Peach Aviation**, **Fuji Dream Airlines**, **Skymark Airlines**, **StarFlyer** and **Air DO**. Some of these airlines offer online bookings in English (Fuji Dream and StarFlyer do not). StarFlyer offers a discounted fare to foreigners on select routes. Their most basic offers may not include a checked baggage (which is sold as an option), and if you reserve via a third-party web site you may not be able to purchase the option.\n\nANA, JAL, and their subsidiaries offer a special standby card, the *Skymate Card*, to young passengers (up to the age of 22). With the card, passengers can fly standby at half of the full published fare, which is usually less than the equivalent express train fare. The card can be obtained from any JAL or ANA ticket counter with a passport-sized photo and a one-time fee.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Second class sleeping section on ''Ferry Akebono'' between [[Kagoshima]] and [[Naha]]\nthumb|Four C-Class accommodation berths aboard the Taiheiyo Kitakami\n\nBoats are a surprisingly uncommon means of transport for the island, as all the major islands are linked together by bridges and tunnels. The fares are generally fixed (some promotions may be applicable) regardless of purchase date although they can be comparable to or higher than discounted airline tickets.\n\nLuggage is practically limited only by what you're able to carry, there are generally no size or weight checks. It's not uncommon to see school groups, sports teams, or military traveling in groups in shared accommodations with all their gear although truckers traveling with cargo are sometimes segregated to their own floors and facilities. You can also pay extra to bring a vehicle.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk036", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Booking is typically done by phone although tickets for some long distance ferries can be bought online through the operators' websites or sometimes third party agencies. The booking platforms are not necessarily very sophisticated but can be translated and used to book tickets with reasonable success. Otherwise, it's entirely possible to purchase tickets at the pier (leave some time before departure, especially if you need to navigate language barriers, but passengers can usually board up until minutes before the scheduled departure time--this is not an airplane).\n\nLong-distance overnight ferries like those linking Okinawa and Hokkaido are booked with accommodations divided into classes that range from a mat on the floor of an expansive shared tatami room to hostel-style bunk rooms with privacy curtains/shutters to cruise ship style private hotel rooms and suites with their own en suite toilet, sink, and bathtub.\n\nFood and purchasing options on board are relatively competitively priced and may include vending machines, a small shop/convenience store, and restaurant service ranging from a small cafe to a large buffet spread for specified mealtimes. Passengers are also welcome to bring their own food and drink (including alcohol) for consumption on board. On longer trips (particularly in second class) the primary means of entertainment is alcoholic — this can be fun if you're invited in, but less so if you're trying to sleep. Select lines have entertainment on board (performances/shows) and most have gender segregated bathhouse facilities available to all (bring your own or buy a towel on board for a couple hundred yen if traveling without room accommodations as they are not otherwise provided by the ferry).", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk037", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "For some smaller islands, boats may well be the only practical option. Hovercrafts and jet ferries are fast but expensive, with prices varying between ¥2000-5000 for an hour-long trip. Slow cargo boats are more affordable, a rule of thumb being ¥1000 per hour in second class, but departures are infrequent. There are also some inexpensive and convenient short-distance intercity ferries such as the Aomori-Hakodate ferry.\n\n### By bus\n\n**Local buses** (路線バス *rosen basu*) are the norm in big cities and small towns. Bus fares are either fixed (you pay once, when entering or exiting the bus) or distance-based (you board the rear of the bus, grab a numbered ticket, and match the number with the fare displayed on a board at the front of the bus when it's time to get off). Many buses accept IC cards. Buses are indispensable in less-populated areas, and in cities such as Kyoto where there is not much local rail transit. The electronic board almost always includes a display and recorded voice announcements of the next stop — usually only in Japanese, although some cities (like Kyoto) make a welcome exception. However, if asked most drivers will be glad to tell you when you've reached your destination.\n\n**Highway buses** (高速バス *kōsoku basu*; ハイウェイバス *haiwei basu*) are plentiful in Japan, and are a major mode of intercity transportation and cheap alternative to rail travel, especially for overnight travel. Many companies have adopted a dynamic pricing model, where fares are based on the time of day, the type of seating on the bus, and how far in advance the ticket is purchased.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk038", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Major operators of highway buses include the **Willer Express**, **Japan Bus Lines**, **Keio Bus**, and the **JR Group**. Regional transit operators also operate long-distance buses. Tickets for such buses can be purchased online (probably the cheapest option), at the point of departure (at a surcharge), or, with a command of some Japanese, at convenience stores. Most companies offer online reservations in English and several other languages.\n\n**Airport buses** aka limousine buses (リムジンバス *rimujin basu*) travel from major train stations and hotels to airports. Such buses also travel frequently to their own terminals in the city.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|A Taxi in Tokyo\nYou will find taxis everywhere in Japan, not only in the city but also in the country. Taxis are clean and completely safe, though a bit expensive. But sometimes, they are the only way to get where you are going. Taxi meters are strictly regulated and clearly visible to the passenger. If you are not sure if you have enough money for the trip, your driver may be able to guess the approximate cost of a trip beforehand. If you get a cost estimate beforehand, some taxi drivers will stop the meter at the estimated price regardless of how much further the destination may be. Taxi fares are higher at night. Tipping is not customary and would most likely be refused.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk039", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "In the city, you can hail a taxi just about anywhere, but outside train stations and other transfer points you should board at a taxi stand. (The taxi stand will usually either have a long line of patient passengers, or a long line of idle taxis.) If the destination is a well-known location, such as a hotel, train station, or public facility, the name alone should be enough. Even in the major cities, you are very unlikely to encounter a taxi driver who can speak English, so carrying a pamphlet or card of your hotel or destination with the address on it can be very helpful. Likewise, have staff at your hotel write down the names and addresses of places you want to visit in Japanese to show your taxi driver.\n\nIn Japanese taxis, the driver controls the opening and closing of the rear left passenger door. Try to avoid closing your door when you board the taxi. Taxi drivers have a reputation for speeding and aggressive driving, but there are very few accidents involving bad drivers.\n\nAll licensed taxis in Japan have green license plates. Illegal cabs will have standard white or yellow plates and should be avoided.\n\n### By rideshare\n\nCalling for a taxi using a **smartphone app** is available in many cities, but as of 2025 actual rideshare services are limited to small trials. The largest player is GO, which has an English-language app. Some alternatives available in major cities and accessible in English include Uber and Didi.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk040", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "These apps will provide the approximate fare, although trips are still charged by the meter and can fluctuate. The main benefit is that you can specify your exact pickup/dropoff location, avoiding communication hassles. Many taxi companies will add a fee for immediate phone or app hails; this booking charge is higher for taxis reserved in advance. Some taxi companies offer fixed-fare rides for smartphone hails.\n\nBeware that if you hail a taxi with an app, you cannot board it at or near a regular taxi stand and will often need to walk a block away to escape the geofence.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|[[Bihoro]] Pass and Highway 243, [[Akan National Park]], [[Hokkaido]]\nRental cars and driving in Japan are rare in or around the major cities, as public transport is generally excellent and gets you almost everywhere. In addition, the roads of major cities like Tokyo are plagued with massive traffic jams and parking is expensive and difficult to find, so driving there is more of a hindrance than anything else. However, many rural areas can really only be explored with your own transport, so driving should certainly not be dismissed out of hand, especially on Hokkaido. Often the most feasible option is to combine the two: take the train out to the countryside and then pick up a rental car at a station. JR's **Ekiren** has outlets at most larger train stations and often has discounted train & car packages.\n\nAn international driver's license, Japanese license or translated national license will be required if you wish to rent a car or drive in Japan, and must be carried at all times. See the main article for details. Driving is on the left.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk041", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Japan has many great **cycling routes**. Rentals can be found throughout the country, especially near popular routes like the Shimanami Kaido Bikeway. Even very rural roads are well paved, but as Japan is quite mountainous, you will need your lowest climbing gear a lot.\n\nIn cities, it is a great idea to use a bicycle to get around, explore the city and see your sights.\n\n### By thumb\n\nJapan is an excellent country for hitchhiking, although some Japanese language ability is highly recommended. See Hitchhiking in Japan for a more detail and practical tips for this.\n\n### Accessibility\n\nThough the cramped cities and older buildings present many barriers to those with disabilities and other mobility issues, Japan is a very **wheelchair accessible** country. Japan has switched into high-gear to create a \"barrier-free\" society.\n\nThe vast majority of train and subway stations are wheelchair accessible. Anyone who needs special assistance can inform station staff at the ticketing gates and will be guided to the train and helped off the train at a station. Most trains and local buses (but not long-distance buses) have priority seats (優先席 *yūsenseki*). The Shinkansen generally does not, but you can always reserve a seat (for a fee, or for free with a Japan Rail Pass). On a wheelchair, you can park in the hallway between cars, reserve a wheelchair seat (which are limited; JR recommends booking 2 days in advance, and you should keep your travel times flexible), or reserve a private room.\n\nThe major tourist attractions are partially adapted generally provide some sort of accessible route. While discounts are available for those with disabilities, disability identification cards not issued in Japan may not be accepted.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk042", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hotels with wheelchair-accessible rooms can be hard to find and are often labeled \"barrier free\" (バリアフリー *baria furii*) or \"universal\" (ユニバーサル *yunibāsaru*) instead of \"accessible\". Even if an accessible room is available, most hotels require booking via phone or email.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk043", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "### Castles\n\nthumb|Matsue Castle, [[Matsue]]\nThe Japanese were also a nation of castle-builders. In the feudal days, you could find several castles in nearly every prefecture. Because of bombings in World War II, fires, edicts to tear down castles, etc. only 12 of Japan's castles are original, meaning that their main keeps or donjons (天守閣 *tenshukaku*) date back to the Edo Period or earlier. Four of them are on the island of Shikoku, two just north in the Chugoku region, two in Kansai, three in the Chubu region, and one in the northern Tohoku region.\n\nThe **original castles** are:\n\nHirosaki Castle\n Matsumoto Castle\n Maruoka Castle\n Inuyama Castle\n Hikone Castle\n Himeji Castle\n Bitchu Matsuyama Castle\n Matsue Castle\n Marugame Castle\n Kochi Castle\n Matsuyama Castle\n Uwajima Castle\n\nJapan also has many **reconstructed castles**, many of which receive more visitors than the originals. The donjons of these castles have been rebuilt in modern times. However, other structures may be original. For example, Nagoya Castle's southeast, southwest, and northwest turrets all date back to the castle's original construction. Okinawa's Shuri Castle is unique among Japan's castles, because it is not a Japanese castle; it was the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and built in a distinctive Ryukyuan architectural style, with a much stronger Chinese influence than Japanese-style castles.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk044", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "**Ruins** typically feature only the castle walls or parts of the original layout are visible. Although they lack the structures of reconstructed castles, ruins often feel more authentic without the concrete reconstructions that sometimes feel too commercial and touristy. Many ruins maintain historical significance, and some have original structures that are still standing. One of the most notable ones is Kyoto's Nijo Castle, which is not listed as an original because its main keep burnt down and was not reconstructed, but the palace buildings that served as the lord's residence are among the finest and best preserved in all of Japan.\n\n### Gardens\n\nthumb|Korakuen Garden, [[Okayama]]\n\nJapan is famous for its gardens, known for its unique aesthetics both in landscape gardens and Zen rock/sand gardens. The nation has designated an official \"Top Three Gardens\", based on their beauty, size, authenticity (gardens that have not been drastically altered), and historical significance. Those gardens are **Kairakuen** in Mito, **Kenrokuen** in Kanazawa, and **Korakuen** in Okayama. The largest garden, and the favorite of many travellers, is actually **Ritsurin Park** in Takamatsu.\n\nRock and sand gardens can typically be found in temples, specifically those of Zen Buddhism. The most famous of these is **Ryoanji Temple** in Kyoto, but such temples can be found throughout Japan. Moss gardens are also popular in Japan and **Koke-dera**, also in Kyoto, has one of the nation's best.", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk045", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "Pure Land gardens dating back to the Heian Period were built to represent the Buddhist Paradise. They all feature a large central pond in front of the Amida Hall. They're simplistic to such an extent that those who are unaware would not likely even view them as gardens at all. The Byodoin Temple in Uji, Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, and Joruriji Temple in Kizugawa are among the most famous of those that remain.\n\n### Spiritual sites\n\nRegardless of your travel interests, it's difficult to visit Japan without at least seeing a few shrines and temples. Buddhist and Shinto sites are the most common, although there are some noteworthy spiritual sites of other religions, as well.\n\n#### Buddhist\n\nthumb|Horyuji Temple, [[Horyuji]]\nBuddhism has had a profound impact on Japan ever since it was introduced in the 6th century. Like shrines, temples can be found in every city, and many different sects exist. Some temples also offer meditation classes in English.\n\nSome of the holiest sites are made up of large complexes on mountaintops and include Mount Koya (Japan's most prestigious place to be buried and head temple of Shingon Buddhism), Mount Hiei (set here when Kyoto became the capital to remove Buddhism from politics, the head of the Tendai sect of Buddhism), and Mount Osore (considered to be the \"Gateway to Hell\", it features many monuments and graves in a volcanic wasteland).", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk046", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "Many of the nation's head temples are located in Kyoto, like the Honganji Temples and Chion-in Temple. Kyoto also has five of the top Zen temples named in the \"Five Mountain System\" (Tenryuji, Shokokuji, Kenninji, Tofukuji, and Manjuji), along with **Nanzenji Temple**, which sits above all the temples outside of the mountain system. Kamakura also has its own five: Kenchoji, Engakuji, Jufukuji, Jochiji, and Jomyoji Temples. Eiheiji Temple is also a prominent Zen temple, although it was never part of the mountain system.\n\nNara's **Todaiji Temple** and Kamakura's **Kotokuin Temple** are famous for their large Buddhist statues. Todaiji's is the largest in the nation, while the Kamakura Daibutsu is the second largest, meditating outside in the open air.\n\n**Horyuji Temple** in Horyuji, just south of Nara, is the world's oldest wooden structure. The beautiful **Phoenix Hall** in Uji is seen on the back of the ¥10 coin.\n\n#### Shinto\n\nShinto is the \"native\" religion of Japan, so those looking to experience things that are \"wholly Japanese\" should particularly enjoy Shinto shrines as they truly embody the Japanese aesthetic. The holiest Shinto shrine is the Grand Ise Shrine, while the second holiest is Izumo Shrine, where the gods gather annually for a meeting. Other famous holy shrines include **Itsukushima Shrine** in Miyajima, **Toshogu Shrine** in Nikko, the Kumano Sanzan, and the Dewa Sanzan, **Meiji Shrine** in Tokyo, and **Shimogamo Shrine**, **Kamigamo Shrine**, and **Fushimi Inari Shrine** in Kyoto.\n\n#### Christian", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk047", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|150px|Saint Francis Xavier Memorial Church in [[Hirado]]\nJapan's introduction to Christianity came in 1549 by way of the Portuguese and Saint Francis Xavier. He established the first Christian church in Yamaguchi at Daidoji Temple, whose ruins are now part of **Xavier Memorial Park**, and the Xavier Memorial Church was built in his honor. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi came into power, Christianity was banned and Christians were persecuted. In Nagasaki, 26 Japanese Christians were crucified. There is a memorial for these martyrs in the city, and the **Oura Church**, the oldest church left in the nation, built in 1864.\n\nThe **Shimabara Rebellion**, a Christian uprising, led to the ousting of the Portuguese and Catholic practices from Japan, along with approximately 37,000 beheadings of Christians and peasants. In Shimabara, you can visit the ruins of Hara Castle, where the Christians gathered and were attacked. Oyano's **Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall** explains the Shimabara Rebellion and the persecution of Christians. When the nation reopened, Christianity was still not legal and Christians were tortured. You can see one of these sites at **Maria Cathedral** in Tsuwano.\n\nYou can often find Christian objects in temples and shrines because many of these objects were hidden there when Christianity was forbidden.\n\n#### Other", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk048", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "Japan has a handful of well-known Confucian temples. As Japan's gateway to the world for many centuries, Nagasaki's Confucian Temple is the only one in the world to be built by Chinese outside of China. **Yushima Seido** in Tokyo was a Confucian school and one of the nation's first institutes of higher education. The first integrated school in the nation, the **Shizutani School** in Bizen also taught based on Confucian teachings and principles. The schoolhouse was modeled after Chinese architectural styles. The first public school in Okinawa was a Confucian school given to the Ryukyuan Kingdom along with the **Shiseibyo Confucian Temple**.\n\n### World War II sites\n\nthumb|Ground Zero, [[Nagasaki]]\n\nThe three must-visit places for World War II buffs are Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the main island of Okinawa. Okinawa is where some of the most brutal battles occurred between Japan and the United States, and the area is crawling with remnants from its dark past. The Peace Park, Prefectural Peace Museum, Himeyuri Peace Museum, and the Peace Memorial Hall in Itoman are some of the best places to learn more, see artifacts, and hear accounts of the battles that took place here.\n\nHiroshima and Nagasaki are important sites in many ways. Hiroshima is the first city ever to be attacked by an atomic bomb, as well as the deadliest. After Hiroshima was devastated, the bombing of Nagasaki days later led the Japanese to surrender, ending the war. Even those who are not particularly interested in World War II may find the atomic bomb sites interesting, as issues surrounding nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war remain a concern. Fifty-eight other places (including Tokyo, of course) were bombed, as well, so there are lesser-known memorials in those cities.\n\nU.S. citizens (only) can take a tour to visit Iwo Jima.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk049", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "See", "text": "### Pilgrimage routes\n\n88 Temple Pilgrimage — an arduous 1,647-km trail around the island of Shikoku\n Chugoku 33 Kannon Temple Pilgrimage\n Narrow Road to the Deep North — a route around northern Japan immortalized by Japan's most famous *haiku* poet\n\n### Industrial heritage\n\nThe UNESCO World Heritage site \"Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining\" is made up of 23 sites around the country, most of them in Chugoku and Kyushu. These are places like mines, railways, ironworks and ports from the Meiji era, which are among the most notable of Japan's first Western-style industrial sites. Separately listed is the silk mill of Tomioka.\n\n### Feudal heritage\n\nJapan, during feudal times, was dominated by a system of clans, including the **samurai**, a hereditary warrior caste. Sites of nobility dating to the pre-industrial era can be found across the island country.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk050", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "### Winter sports\n\nthumb|Snowboarding in deep powder\n\nWith its snowy mountainous terrain, Japan is an excellent destination for **skiing and snowboarding**. Japan's climate means that many ski resorts get *excellent* powder, and a lot of it: on average, resorts in the **Japanese Alps** get and **Hokkaido** slopes get a whopping or more! Skiing in Japan can be inexpensive compared to other countries, with cheaper lift tickets, budget accommodation, and cheap meals. Rental gear is reasonably priced, but as Japanese on average have smaller feet, you should consider bringing your own boots. The easiest way to get to many slopes is to take public transit (rail and buses), and ship your ski/snowboard gear to the slopes (see *§ Courier services*).\n\n### Outdoors\n\nthumb|Hiking trails in [[Iya Valley]], [[Shikoku]]\n\nIt shouldn't be surprising that in a country where more than 70% of the terrain is forests and mountains, **outdoor activities** abound. **Hiking** is very traditional and popular in Japan. You can find many small trails across the country, and plenty of rugged terrain in Japan's many national parks. Hikes can also be part of a spiritual experience, such as climbing the 2446 stone steps of the holy Haguro mountain through an amazing primeval forest.\n\nAscending one of Japan's many **mountains** is within the capabilities of any traveller. You can reach the summit of some mountains almost entirely by car, or with only a short easy walk. **Mount Aso** is one of the world's largest volcanic calderas, and a paved road brings cars and pedestrians right up to the summit. Or, you can take the ropeway, which was promoted as the world's first ropeway over an active volcano.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk051", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "Around 300,000 people every year climb **Mount Fuji**, a mountain famous as an icon of Japan. On the most popular route, you will need to use your hands for support, but no actual climbing is required; you can easily climb Fuji with just adequate clothing, some basic gear (sunscreen, headlamp, etc.), and 1–2 days in your itinerary. It's easily doable if you're not too out of shape.\n\n**Golf** is popular with the Japanese. Golf courses are typically 1–2 hours' drive outside the city. (Shuttles from the nearest train station are often available with a reservation.) Midweek prices can be found starting at ¥6,000. Expect it to take the whole day, with travel time, a round of golf, and relaxing in a hot bath afterwards. Since most players are local businessmen, singles are not allowed on most courses (so make sure you have at least two players), and rental equipment will have a limited selection (you can ship your clubs and shoes to the range cheaply; see *§ Courier services*).\n\nthumb|right|Aharen Beach, [[Tokashiki]]", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk052", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "Japan is not really known for its **beaches**, with the notable exception of subtropical Okinawa. Japanese cities (many of which are coastal) often expand right up to the coast line. Where there are beaches, they tend to only be visited in summer; as soon as September comes, lifeguards stop patrolling the beaches, and Japanese beachgoers disappear as a result. **Surfing** is somewhat popular, as the surf can be very good on both coasts during typhoon season (Aug-Oct) on the Pacific coast, and during winter on the Sea of Japan coast. There are also some excellent spots for **snorkeling** and **diving**, with the manta rays and hammerheads of Okinawa at the top of the list. Aside from marine life, corals, and World War II wrecks, you can also visit Susami, outside Kushimoto, and send your friends a postcard from one of the world's deepest underwater mailbox, 10 meters underwater.\n\nWhile boating and river sports are not very common, a few fun activities can be found, such as going river rafting in some of the last wild rivers in Japan in the Iya Valley.\n\n### Spectator sports\n\n**Baseball** (野球 *yakyū*) is hugely popular, and is played in many high schools and by professionals. See Baseball for details.\n\n**Soccer** (サッカー *sakkā*) plays second fiddle to baseball. The top men's league is the Japan Professional Football League, and there is a professional women's league, the Japan Women's Professional Football League.\n\n**Basketball** (バスケットボール, *basuketto bōru* or バスケ *basuke*). The professional league, \"B-league\", has 24 teams in B1 division and 14 teams in B2 division as of 2024.\n\nthumb|Sumo wrestling in Japan is steeped in tradition.\n**Sumo wrestling** (相撲 *sumō*) is a popular Japanese sport. The biggest events are the six *honbasho* (本場所, \"main tournaments\") throughout the year. **Professional wrestling** (プロレス *puroresu*) is also very popular.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk053", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Horse racing** (競馬 *keiba*) is a big business in Japan, and one of the few forms of legal gambling. The *Japan Cup*, held annually at Fuchu's Tokyo Racecourse, is one of the premier events on the international horse racing calendar.\n\nThe **Formula One Japanese Grand Prix** is a big draw in Japan. The circuit is in Suzuka. Japanese Grand Prix is the only circuit to have an overhead racing bridge that is a part of the circuit.\n\nThe **Japan Golf Tour** tournaments are played on numerous courses throughout Japan.\n\n### Games and entertainment\n\n***Karaoke*** (カラオケ) was invented in Japan and can be found in virtually every Japanese city. Pronounced *kah-rah-oh-keh*, it is abbreviated from the words \"empty orchestra\" in Japanese; most locals won't have any idea what you're talking about if you use the English *carry-oh-kee*. Most karaoke places occupy several floors of a building. You and your friends have a room to yourself — no strangers involved — and the standard hourly rate often includes all-you-can-drink alcohol, with refills ordered through a phone on the wall or through the karaoke machine. The major chains all have excellent English-language song selections. Old folks prefer singing *enka* ballads at small neighborhood bars.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk054", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "You operate the karaoke machine yourself. It lets you queue up songs to be played in order. (At 4 minutes per song, 15 songs would keep you singing for an hour.) These days, many machines use a tablet or touchscreen which you can use to search for songs by a variety of criteria; if you can get one of these set to English, great. You can also look up songs in the phonebook-sized catalogs, which is what you'll have to do if you can't get a tablet in English, or at older places that just have a large remote control. Once you find the song's 4- to 6-digit number, aim the remote at the karaoke machine like a TV remote, type in the number (it will appear on the screen, so you can check that it was entered correctly; if not press 戻る to go back), and press 転送 or \"send\" to confirm and add it to the queue.\n\nAlso ubiquitous are ***pachinko* parlors**. Pachinko (パチンコ) is a form of gambling that involves dropping little steel balls into a machine; more balls are awarded depending on where they land. The air inside most pachinko parlors is hot and sweaty, with ear-splitting noise. (Legally you can only trade the balls for prizes, but gamblers always opt for \"special prize\" (特殊景品 *tokushu keihin*) tokens which they sell back for cash at a separate booth elsewhere in the building or in a nearby alley. Because the booth is off-site, it's a separate business and therefore not illegal.) Even in a declining market, nearly 10% of all Japanese — mostly middle-age businessmen — play at least once a week, and pachinko generates more gambling revenue than Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore combined.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk055", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Video arcades** (ゲームセンター *gēmu sentā*, or ビデオ・アーケード *bideo ākēdo*; don't confuse with a regular *ākēdo* which means \"shopping arcade/street\"), though sometimes difficult to distinguish from pachinko parlors from the outside, have arcade games rather than gambling, and are often several floors high. Video games are the norm here, although you may be surprised at the variety of games. Aside from the usual action and fighting games, there are also rhythm games such as *Dance Dance Revolution* or the much easier for beginners *Taiko Drum Master* (太鼓の達人 *Taiko no Tatsujin*), difficult-to-define oddities such as *Derby Owners Club* (which can only be described as a \"multiplayer online card-collecting role-playing horse-racing simulator\"), and bizarre inventions like *Chō Chabudai-Gaeshi!* (超・ちゃぶ台返し! \"*Super Table-Flip!*\") where you literally bang on a table and flip it over angrily to relieve stress while racking up points. Game centers usually also have non-video games, which almost always include *claw crane games* (クレーンゲーム *kurēn gēmu*) where you can win anything from stuffed animals and trinkets to expensive smartphones and jewelry, and sophisticated *photo sticker booths* (プリクラ *puri-kura*, shortened from the brand name Print Club).\nthumb|Playing Go in [[Osaka]]\nJapan's national game is **Go** (囲碁 *igo*, or just 碁 *go*), a strategy board game. While the rules are simple, the strategy and tactics are very complex. On a sunny day, the Tennoji ward of Osaka is a good place to join a crowd watching two Go masters go at it.\n\nAnother popular board game in Japan is **shogi** (将棋 *shōgi*) or Japanese chess. The general mechanics are similar to Western chess, but shogi a much more complex and dynamic game than Western chess.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk056", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Mahjong** (麻雀 or マージャン, *mājan*) is also relatively popular in Japan, and frequently features in Japanese video and arcade games, although it's associated with illegal gambling, and mahjong parlors can be quite seedy. Mahjong uses tiles with a variety of Chinese symbols and characters. Players draw and discard tiles trying to complete a hand with particular sets of tiles (typically, four sets of either three identical tiles or three in a straight flush, plus one identical pair). While gameplay is similar, scoring is drastically different from the various Chinese versions.\n\n### Music\n\nThe Japanese love **music** (音楽 *ongaku*) in all styles.\n\nthumb|Taiko performance\n**Traditional Japanese music** (邦楽 *hōgaku*) uses a variety of instruments, many of which originated in China, but developed into unique forms after being introduced to Japan. The most common instruments are the *shamisen* (三味線, a 3-string picked or plucked instrument), the *shakuhachi* (尺八, a bamboo flute), and the *koto* (箏, a 13-string picked zither). ***Taiko*** (太鼓) are drums that are unique to Japan, and range in size from small handheld drums to enormous stationary drums. *Taiko* also refers to the performances, which are very common at festivals. Outside of traditional Japanese music, these instruments are not frequently used.\n\n**Western classical music** (クラシック[音楽] *kurashikku [ongaku]*) is moderately popular in Japan with people of all ages. There are 1,600 professional and amateur orchestras (オーケストラ *ōkesutora*) in Japan; Tokyo is home to nearly half of them, including *eight* full-time professional orchestras. There are also well over 10,000 choirs (合唱 *gasshō*, コーラス *kōrasu* or クワイア *kuwaia*); the Japan Choral Association has more information.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk057", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "With the arrival of Western pop music in the 20th century, Japan created its own forms of pop music. These have largely died out except for ***enka*** (演歌), sentimental ballads in Western pop styles composed to resemble traditional Japanese music, typically sung in an exaggerated emotional style.\n\n**Jazz** (ジャズ *jazu*) has been very popular in Japan since the 1930s. Jazz coffee shops are a common way to listen to jazz.\n\n**J-pop** and **J-rock** flood the airwaves. Punk, heavy metal, hip hop, electronic, and many other genres also find niches in Japan where they get their own Japanese interpretation. J-pop is often associated with **idols** (アイドル *aidoru*), young music stars manufactured by talent agencies. Although many are one-hit wonders, quite a few idol groups turn into long-lasting acts: SMAP and Morning Musume have been popular for decades, while AKB48 has rocketed to the top to become the best-selling female group in Japan, with offshoots in other Asian countries as well. However, these are also controversial as aspiring singers are made to sign contracts that give them little control over their personal lives, including a ban on dating to maintain the illusion of \"availability\" to their fans.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk058", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Concerts** (ライブ *raibu*, \"live\") are easy to find. Depending on the event, you may be able to buy tickets at convenience stores (using a numeric code to identify the right concert), online, at record stores, or in various pre-sale lotteries. (Some sellers may require you to have a Japanese credit card with a Japanese billing address, so you may need to try multiple methods to find one you can use.) You can buy day-of tickets at the venue, assuming the concert isn't sold out, but large venues may not even sell tickets at the door. Rather than doing general admission, tickets may be numbered to divide the audience into smaller groups which are admitted in order. **Music festivals** (ロック・フェスティバル *rokku fesutibaru*, shortened to ロックフェス *rokku fesu* or just フェス *fesu*) are also popular, drawing tens of thousands of people. Fuji Rock Festival is Japan's largest festival, and covers many genres. Rock In Japan Festival is the biggest festival where only Japanese artists are allowed to perform.\n\n### Performing arts\n\nthumb|Bunraku doll in the National theatre, [[Osaka]]\n\nThe most well-known types of traditional Japanese performing arts originated in medieval or pre-modern Japan, and feature melodramatic period stories of historical events, romance, or moral conflicts. While the old Japanese language they use can be off-putting, an important part of these art forms is the **intricate visual aspects** of their traditional costumes and emotional expressiveness.\n\n***Bunraku*** (文楽) is a type of puppet theater. An actor and two stagehands precisely control each puppet, while a narrator performs the exposition and all dialogue with improvised *shamisen* accompaniment.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk059", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "***Kabuki*** (歌舞伎) is a popular type of dance-drama. It's known for the elaborate costumes and makeup that performers wear. *Kabuki* tells its stories through the expressions and dances. Actors fly above the audience on wires and make dramatic entrances and exits via aisles down the middle of the audience, complex revolving stages, and trap doors.\n\n**Noh** (能 *nō* or 能楽 *nōgaku*) is an older type of musical drama. Minimalist and probably boring for the average visitor, noh uses wooden masks and stark movements on identical bare sets, and tells its emotional stories through the lyrics, which are in an old form of Japanese (difficult for even native speakers to understand). It's sometimes described as \"Japanese opera\", although it's closer to chanted poetry rather than actual singing.\n\nTraditionally used as comic intermission between acts in a noh play, ***kyōgen*** (狂言) consists of short (10 minute) plays, often using stock characters such as servants and their master, or a farmer and his son.\n\nMuch less well-known is ***taishū engeki*** (大衆演劇), a vague term meaning \"theater for the masses\" or \"popular theater\". Superficially, it's similar to kabuki, with elaborate Edo-period costumes, but the melodrama is turned all the way up. Every performance is a new tale, as these plays are *not* scripted, but invented during the morning's rehearsal; the simple stories are easy to understand even without a translation, with the good guys obviously triumphing over the bad guys. The second half showcases actors mostly solo performing traditional dances with modern flashing stage lights and fog machines. You may find these accessible shows to have cultural similarities to variety shows, revues, or even drag shows.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk060", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Comedy** in Japan is markedly different from the Western style. Japanese are very sensitive about making jokes at the expense of others, so Western-style stand-up comedy isn't very common. Most Japanese comedy relies on absurdity, non sequiturs, and breaking the strict social expectations. Most Japanese also love puns and wordplay (駄洒落 *dajare*), although these can cross the line into groan-inducing *oyaji gyagu* (親父ギャグ \"old man jokes\"). Don't bother attempting irony or sarcasm; Japanese rarely use these, and they're likely to take your statement at face value instead.\n\nJapan is also home to various types of minimalist solo storytelling such as ***rakugo*** (落語), ***kōdan*** (講談) and ***rōkyoku*** (浪曲). All these, as well as numerous other genres, are often performed at traditional vaudeville-like theatres called ***yose*** (寄席).\n\n### Japanese cultural arts\n\nthumb|Preparing tea\nJapan is famous for **geisha**, although they're often misunderstood by the West. Literally translated, the word 芸者 (*geisha*) means \"artist\" or \"artisan\". Geisha are **entertainers**, whether you're looking for song and dance, party games, or just some nice company and conversation. Geisha train from a young age to be exquisite, high-class entertainers. They're often employed today by businesses for parties and banquets. Although traditionally expensive and exclusive, you may be able to see geisha perform for as little as ¥3,000, or for free at a festival. In the largest Japanese cities, it's easy to spot a geisha if you look in the right part of town.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk061", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Tea ceremony** (茶道 *sadō* or *chadō*) is not unique to Japan, or even to Asia, but the Japanese version stands out for its deep connection to Japanese aesthetics. The focus of a Japanese tea ceremony is not so much the tea as making guests feel welcome and appreciating the season. Due to the influence of Zen Buddhism, Japanese tea ceremony emphasizes a uniquely Japanese aesthetic called *wabi-sabi* (侘寂). A very rough translation might be that *wabi* is \"rustic simplicity\" and *sabi* is \"beauty that comes with age and wear\". There are **tea houses** across Japan where you can be a guest at a tea ceremony. The most common type of \"informal\" ceremony usually takes 30 minutes to an hour; a \"formal\" ceremony can take up to 4 hours.\n\nJapan is also well-known for its **martial arts**, with judo (柔道 *jūdō*) and karate (空手) being the best known ones internationally. There are opportunities to spar with Japanese opponents while you are visiting, but you may need to make arrangements through your home dojo, and you may also watch competitions and performances. There are also other internationally lesser-known martial arts you might want to explore while in Japan such as aikido (合気道) and kendo (剣道).\n\n### Pop culture\n\nJapanese pop culture is famous the world over, with anime, manga and video games in particular having been exported to the West with great success. However, while you are visiting, it is worth checking out some genres that are not as well-known outside Japan. One such genre is called *tokusatsu* (特撮), which are live action films or television series that make heavy use of special effects. Famous examples of *tokusatsu* include Godzilla, Ultraman, Super Sentai (which served as the inspiration for Power Rangers in the U.S.) and the less internationally known Kamen Rider.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk062", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "### Festivals\n\nthumb|right|Kanto Festival in [[Akita]] \nJapan has an estimated 200,000 **festivals** (祭 *matsuri*) throughout the year. Festivals are held for a variety of reasons, the most common being to give thanks (e.g. for a successful rice harvest) and bring good fortune. Although most festivals are small events sponsored by local shrines or temples, there are hundreds that are large city-wide affairs, any of which would be a nice addition to your itinerary if they overlap your schedule.\n\nThe main event at many large festivals is a **parade of floats**, which are usually lifted and carried by hand by several dozen men. Often a shrine's *kami* (spirit/deity) will be ritually put in a portable shrine (*mikoshi*) and carried around the neighborhood as part of the parade. At some festivals, anyone can take a turn helping to carry a float for a few minutes. **Fireworks** (花火 *hanabi*) are also a common event at festivals, particularly in the summer; in Japan, this is the most common use of fireworks. The rest of the time is spent enjoying the booths and entertainment. Food stalls have **traditional festival foods** like *takoyaki*, shaved ice (かき氷 *kakigōri*), and skewered hot dogs. A traditional game at festivals is **goldfish scooping** (金魚すくい *kingyo sukui*): if you can catch a goldfish using the flimsy paper scoop, you get to keep it. Other common games include ring toss and cork guns.\n\nFestivals are a time for the neighborhood and community to come out and celebrate together, whether it's a family, young couples making a date of it, or just a group of friends. Nearly everyone will put on a colorful ***yukata*** (浴衣) robe, while many of the people working at the festival wear *happi* (法被) coats. (Street clothes are perfectly fine, too.)", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk063", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "The JNTO website has a list of several dozen festivals throughout the year in English. Some of the most well-known festivals are:\n\n**Sapporo Snow Festival** (さっぽろ雪まつり *Sapporo Yuki-matsuri*) in Sapporo (February, 7 days starting the second week) — elaborate snow and ice sculptures\n **Hakata Dontaku** (博多どんたく) in Fukuoka (May 3–4) — Japan's largest festival, drawing over 2 million people during the Golden Week holidays\n **Kanda** (神田) in Tokyo (May, Sa-Su closest to May 15 in odd-numbered years)\n **Hakata Gion Yamakasa** (博多祇園山笠) in Fukuoka (July 1–15) — famous for racing one-ton floats\n **Gion** (祇園) in Kyoto (July, the whole month but particularly 14-17 and 21-24)\n **Nebuta** (ねぶた) in Aomori (August 2–7)\n **Awa-Odori** (阿波踊り) in Tokushima (August 12–15) — folk dance festival\n\nThere are also several nationwide festivals:\n **New Year's** (正月 *Shōgatsu*) (December 31 - January 3)\n ***Hina matsuri*** (雛祭り) (March 3) — during the \"Doll festival\", families pray for their girls, and arrange displays of dolls of the emperor and his court\n ***Tanabata*** (七夕) (around July 7; in Sendai, August 5–8; some places based on lunar calendar) — sometimes called the \"Star Festival\", celebrates the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (the stars Vega and Altair) who could only meet on this day each year\n ***Obon*** (お盆) or ***Bon*** (盆) (three days usually around August 15, but date varies by region) — when spirits of the deceased return to this world; families have reunions, and visit and clean ancestors' graves\n ***Shichi-Go-San*** (七五三, \"Seven-Five-Three\") (November 15) — for girls age 3 and 7 and boys age 3 and 5", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk064", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "Some local festivals are more eccentric. ***Hari Kuyō*** (\"needle memorial\") festivals are held throughout Japan to express thanks to old or broken needles and pins. ***Hadaka*** (\"naked\") festivals are actually common throughout Japan, but the most well-known one is the ***Eyō Hadaka*** matsuri (会陽裸祭り) at Saidai-ji in Okayama. Thousands of men wearing just loincloths scramble to catch lucky sacred items thrown into the crowd, which will bring them a year of happiness. ***Naki Zumō*** (泣き相撲, \"crying sumo\") festivals throughout Japan have competitions where two sumo wrestlers holding babies see which baby will cry first as priests provoke them by making faces and putting on masks. And the ***Kanamara*** matsuri (かなまら祭り) in Kawasaki is famous for celebrating the male genitalia.\n\n### Hot springs and public baths\n\nAs a nation made of volcanic islands, it's not surprising that in Japan **hot springs** (温泉 *onsen*) are commonplace. Japanese have pondered for centuries what the best hot springs in the country are, and they've come up with quite a few. Bathing is a big deal in Japan, and be it a scenic *onsen* hot spring, a neighborhood *sentō* bath or just an ordinary household tub, bathing Japanese style is a pleasure. Whereas a Western \"bath\" is used for washing in, \"baths\" in Japan are for soaking and relaxing, more like a hot tub. Washing is done first outside the tub.\n\nthumb|When it gets too hot at these springs in [[Kawazu]], you can jump into the waterfall to cool off!\n\n*Onsen* are the pinnacle of the Japanese bathing experience. Clusters of hot spring **inns** pop up wherever there's a suitable source of hot water. The most memorable onsen experience is often the ***rotenburo*** (露天風呂): **outdoor baths** with views of the surrounding natural scenery.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk065", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "While most onsen are run commercially and charge fees for entry, especially in remote areas there are free publicly maintained baths that offer minimal facilities, but, more often than not, stunning views to make up for it. To find those off the beaten track inns, check out the **Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns** (日本秘湯を守る会 *Nihon hitō o mamoru kai*), which has 185 independent lodges throughout the country.\n\n*Sentō* (銭湯) are public bath houses found in any large city. Intended for people without their own home tub, they are typically quite utilitarian and are slowly dying out. Some, however, have gone upmarket and turned into \"spas\" (スパ *supa*), which are public baths for stressed-out salarymen, often with a capsule hotel (see *§ Sleep*) bolted on the side. As you might expect, these come in varying degrees of legitimacy — beware any place advertising \"esthe\", \"health\", or \"soap\" — but most are surprisingly decent.\n\nForeign visitors typically visit hot springs by stopping at a ***ryokan***, a traditional Japanese inn, some of which feature hot springs as one of their main attractions (the other main attraction usually being the elaborate *kaiseki* meals). This requires some research and planning to decide where you want to go (most ryokan are in small towns in the country) and to fit it into your schedule. But don't focus exclusively on inns; many onsen have no lodging, making them cheap and quick to stop at, although many are hard to get to without a car or bicycle.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk066", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Do", "text": "Many onsen and sento prohibit the entry of visitors with **tattoos**. Intended to keep out *yakuza* gangsters (who often sport full-back tattoos), the rule is usually applied with a modicum of common sense, but heavily tattooed visitors will, at the very least, receive curious looks and may be asked to leave.\n\nJapanese are understanding of the funny ways of foreigners, but there's one rule where no exceptions are made: you have to **wash yourself** and rinse off all foam *before* entering the bath. Baths in Japan are generally used **naked**, although you can instead use private baths (by reservation or attached to your room, usually at an extra cost) or stay clothed in a foot bath. It is a major faux pas to let your towel touch the bath water, so you cannot use one to cover your privates for modesty; either leave it to the side or do as the locals do and wrap it around your hair. If you have long hair, make sure you tie it up neatly before entering the bath.\n\n**Super sentōs** are sentos that offer additional services beyond regular sentōs, often similar to spa treatments. They often have multiple baths, saunas, relaxation rooms and sometimes even a restaurant. Most establishments open until 23:00–01:00, while some stay open until 02:30, and there are even a few that open for 24 hours.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk067", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "The Japanese currency is the **Japanese yen**, abbreviated ¥ (or **JPY** in foreign exchange contexts). The symbol 円 (pronounced *en*) is used in the Japanese language.\nCash is available in the following forms:\n\n**Coins**: ¥1 (silver), ¥5 (gold with a center hole), ¥10 (copper), ¥50 (silver with a center hole), ¥100 (silver), and ¥500. There are three ¥500 coins in circulation, distinguishable by their color. The new ones have a gold ring and a silver center.\n **Bills**: ¥1,000 (blue), ¥2,000 (green), ¥5,000 (purple), and ¥10,000 (brown). ¥2,000 bills are rare except in Okinawa. Two series of Japanese yen banknotes are in circulation, the 2004 series and the new 2024 series. All older notes remain legal tender, and remain more widely accepted in vending machines.\n\nPrices in Japan are almost always listed using Western numerals, with Japanese numerals only occasionally spotted in places like high-end restaurants. The main exception is that large sums are sometimes abbreviated with 万 (*man*, 10,000), so 5万円 is 50,000 yen.\n\n### ATMs\n\nFor easy cash withdrawal, **ATMs** (*ē tī emu*), also known as \"cash corners\" (キャッシュコーナー *kyasshu kōnā*), are ubiquitous in Japan and can be found at most convenience stores and train stations. Oddly, some close at night or on weekends, although this restriction is slowly going away. Also, at night the additionally charged fee might be higher. While not all banks accept foreign cards, most of the large banks including Japan Post, Mizuho, SMBC and Aeon do. See Shopping in Japan for the full list. A particularly convenient option for travelers is **7-Eleven Bank** ATMs, which can be found in every branch of 7-Eleven and are usually open 24/7.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk068", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most ATMs charge ¥110 or ¥220 for withdrawals, which is added on top of the amount you withdraw when invoicing the final amount to your bank. Aeon Bank is the only one that doesn't charge a fee for any Visa/MasterCard withdrawals. E-net (found in most FamilyMarts) has started charging ¥660, so try to avoid them. If you can, withdraw ¥50,000 or ¥100,000 at a time to minimize the fee impact.\n\n### Banks\n\nDealing with physical bank branches is notoriously cumbersome and best avoided. If you need to exchange cash, dedicated money changers are faster and offer better rates, but can be hard to find outside major airports and the like. If you need a locally-issued credit card (for an online service that performs region checks, for instance), there are a multitude of online-only virtual Visa cards available, and prepaid Visa gift cards can be purchased from major convenience store chains. If you're actually living in Japan and need to set up a bank account or get a Japanese credit card, see Working in Japan.\n\n### Cash\n\nQuite a few restaurants, small shops, and even some lodgings only accept cash, particularly in smaller towns and more isolated areas. You should carry enough cash or check that your preferred payment method is accepted in advance.\n\nSome coin lockers, laundries and beach showers only accept ¥100 coins and some change machines may only accept ¥1,000 bills. Additionally, some machines have not been calibrated to support the new bills introduced in 2024. If you see a sign with phrasing like \"新1000円未対応\" (\"new ¥1,000 bill not yet supported\"), \"新紙幣は使えません\" (\"new bills can not be used\") or an image of the new bills crossed out, you will need to change your bills for old ones.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk069", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Always keep a sizable stack of reserve money. If you run out for any reason (wallet stolen, credit card blocked, etc.) it can be difficult to have any wired to you. Western Union has a very limited presence even in the larger metropolitan areas. American Express cardholders have more emergency options: the AmEx office in Tokyo can print replacement cards for same-day pickup, and have the ability to send emergency funds to certain locations around the country if needed.\n\n### Credit/debit cards\n\nCredit and debit cards are widely accepted, but some cafes, bars, and restaurants may still only accept cash and/or IC card. Visa, MasterCard and JCB are widely accepted. Discover and American Express are usable where JCB credit cards are accepted.\n\nThere are two types of payment machine in Japan:\n EMV/FeliCa machines are compatible with Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as Japan-specific IC cards such as Suica.\n FeliCa machines are compatible with Japan-specific IC cards such as Suica only.\n\nLook for the EMV/FeliCa machines displaying the international contactless logo and say \"touch\" (タッチ *tacchi*) to pay with your foreign credit card.\n\n### IC cards\n\nSmart cards are a popular means of payment and are locally known as \"IC\" cards (meaning \"integrated circuit\"). IC cards can be used to pay for public transport, and for goods and services at convenience stores, vending machines and numerous restaurants in all the major cities. There are many different brands of IC card to choose from.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk070", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "The most common cards are JR East's **Suica** and the Tokyo area **PASMO**, both of which can be purchased for ¥500 at train stations in Tokyo. The cards are completely interchangeable, but Suica charges a small fee for a refund (¥220), while PASMO does not. The cards can be recharged at train stations and convenience stores. The cards can store up to ¥20,000 worth of value. **Welcome Suica** is a Suica card targeted at tourists. The card is available at Narita and Haneda airports and major train stations in Tokyo, no deposit required. The card can be recharged at the same places as the regular Suica but expires after 28 days and cannot be refunded. Avoid using these for storage lockers close to expiration; because your card is also your key, when the card expires you will not be able to re-open the locker.\n\nIC cards of other regions, such as Kansai's **ICOCA** or Chubu's **TOICA**, can be used interchangeably with Suica and PASMO. However, IC cards can only be refunded in the same region from which they were purchased. An exception is TOICA, which can be refunded at JR Central's shinkansen ticket offices in Tokyo (Tokyo station or Shinagawa station), Yokohama (Shin-Yokohama station), Odawara, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka.\n\nDigital Suica, PASMO and ICOCA cards are available on Apple devices with NFC functionality. This means you can travel and pay throughout the country using only your iPhone or Watch. The cards are available via the **Apple Wallet** app, no deposit required. Tap your device at the train station ticket gate or store payment machine for validation. The cards are not available on Android devices sold outside Japan. Digital IC cards *cannot* be refunded to a non-Japanese bank account.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk071", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Should you still have **leftover balance** on your card by the time you are leaving Japan or the card is about to expire, you can spend the money at restaurants, convenience stores, or at the duty-free shops at the airport.\n\n### Money exchange\n\nMany banks no longer handle foreign cash exchange or outsource it to Travelex. Specialized currency exchange shops provide better rates than banks (for example, the Access Ticket chain of shops in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka often has rates within 1% of mid-market for US dollars, euros, and British pounds) and generally work more quickly. They also often sell discounted train and bus tickets and restaurant vouchers. These shops can usually be recognized by displays of foreign banknotes at their windows or with the words \"money exchange\" or similar. US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, British pounds, and Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand dollars can be easily exchanged at these shops. Singapore dollars are the most widely accepted Asian currency, followed by the South Korean won, Chinese yuan, Hong Kong dollars, and New Taiwan dollars. Less-used Asian currencies like Philippine pesos, Vietnamese dong, Malaysian ringgit, and Thai baht are now accepted at currency exchanges in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. There are also foreign currency exchange machines in many shopping centers in large and medium-sized cities; they offer a rate 5-10% below the mid-market rate even for US dollars so avoid them if you can, but outside the largest cities, they may be the only option.\n\nIf you are exchanging amounts over ¥200,000 (whether cash or traveller's checks), you will be required to provide identification that includes your name, address, and date of birth. Since passports usually do not show your address, bring along another form of ID such as a driver's license that shows your address.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk072", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Shopping\n\nRetail hours are surprisingly limited, typically 10:00-20:00, though most shops are open on weekends and public holidays except New Year, and close on one day a week. However, you will always find something you could need to buy at any time of day. **Convenience stores** like 7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson are ubiquitous and often operate 24/7.\n\nThanks to a tradition of *omiyage* (souvenirs given to friends, family, and colleagues), a history of regions specializing in particular crafts, as well as development programs like One Village One Product, Japan has nearly perfected the art of **local products** (名物 *meibutsu*). Pretty much every dot on the map, no matter how small the town, has some product it's known for. The most common ones are food; some are fresh foods such as fish or cooked dishes you would have to eat while there, but many others are packaged foods, beverages, or ingredients that can be brought home. Local products also include arts and crafts; while some are mere trinkets, others would serve well as decorative keepsakes or practical items to use at home. Local products are a large part of Japan's domestic tourism market, so they're generally easy to find; you can almost always find shops near major train stations and roadside stations selling them, although prices may be slightly better if you shop around town.\n\nJapan is known for its upscale **department stores** (デパート *depāto*), the nicest of which feature beautiful interior architectural ornamentation and still employ uniformed women to operate the elevators while informing customers where to find items. *Depāto* typically have a food court and groceries in the basement, while the roof often has a garden (which doubles as a beer garden during the summer) and some affordable eateries.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk073", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Night in [[Shinjuku]]\n**¥100 shops** (百円ショップ *hyaku-en shoppu*) are a Japanese institution: they sell household goods, packaged food, gag gifts and much more, and everything costs ¥108 (food and soft drinks) or ¥110 (all others) after tax. These are a good option for finding cheap gifts or even travel adapters. Major chains include Daiso, Can Do (キャンドゥ), Seria (セリア), and Silk (シルク). There are also convenience-store-like ¥100 shops such as Lawson Store 100 which carry a limited range of fresh food like sandwiches, drinks and vegetables. Another popular discount store chain called Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ), often abbreviated to Donki (ドンキ), carries a wider range of price points.\n\n**Second hand** is very popular in Japan, and the quality of 2nd-hand products in Japan is really worth considering this an option, e.g. for electronics, music equipment, clothes, or outdoor and camping equipment. See Shopping in Japan for famous shops.\n\nMany Westerners come to Japan in search of ***anime*** (animation), ***manga*** (comics), ***hentai*** (erotic manga), and **video games**. One of the best places to shop is Akihabara in Tokyo.\n\nBattery-powered **small electronics and still cameras** made for sale in Japan will work anywhere in the world. There are no great bargains to be found, but the selection is unparalleled. However, if you are buying other electronics to take home, it's best to shop at stores that specialize in \"overseas\" configurations, many of which can be found in Tokyo's Akihabara. Japanese AC runs at 100 volts, so check devices' ratings; if it's not rated for 100–120 V, using it without a step-down transformer can be dangerous.\n\nWhen it comes to casual **fashion**, Japan is hard to beat. Tokyo and Osaka in particular are home to many shopping districts, and there is an abundance of stores selling the latest fashion, particularly those catering to youths.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk074", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Japan's main contribution to jewelry is the **cultured pearl**, developed by Mikimoto Kōkichi. The pearls are widely available, although there is little if any price difference to buying them outside Japan. For those who insist on getting their hands on the \"authentic\" stuff, Mikimoto's flagship store is in the Ginza district of Tokyo, while the small town of Toba still hosts Mikimoto's Pearl Island.\n\nThen of course there is **kimono**, the classic Japanese garment. While very expensive new, second-hand kimono can be had at a fraction of the price, or you can opt for a much cheaper and easier to wear casual *yukata* robe. See purchasing a kimono for buying your own. When wearing a kimono, it should always be wrapped left over right; doing the reverse is a major faux pas as that is only done when dressing the dead.\n\n### Tax\n\nThere is a **10% consumption tax** on most sales in Japan. The only exceptions are take-away food and non-alcoholic beverages, which are subject to a lower 8% tax. Foreign visitors can claim a refund on the consumption tax if they spend at least ¥5,000 (before tax) per day per participating shop, and they bring the items out of Japan with them.\n\nThere is no clear rule if tax is included or not in a displayed price. Supermarkets will mostly always show both prices. Budget restaurants will most likely display tax-included prices. Fancy eateries on the other hand may often leave the tax out of their quoted prices, so not to appear too expensive.\n\nThe word *zeinuki* (税抜) means tax-excluded, *zeikomi* (税込) means tax-included. If you cannot find out any words in the price card, most of them are tax-included.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk075", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tax-free shopping is available for tourists spending over ¥5,000. You must present your actual passport (not a copy) at the counter.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is not a part of Japanese culture. Japanese people are uncomfortable with being tipped and are likely to be confused, amused or possibly even offended if tipped. The Japanese pride themselves on the service given to customers, and a further financial incentive is unnecessary. If you leave a tip in a restaurant, the staff will probably come running after you to return the money you 'forgot'. Many Westernised hotels and restaurants may add a 10% service charge, and family restaurants may add a 10% late-night charge after midnight.\n\nOccasionally the hotel or inn will leave a small gratuity envelope for you to tip the maids, though it is completely optional. *Never* leave a cash tip on a table or hotel bed, because the Japanese consider it impolite if it is not concealed in an envelope. Exceptions to the no-tipping culture are high-end ryokan (see *§ Sleep*) and interpreters or tour guides.\n\n### Vending machines\n\nthumb|The dilemma of choice: a typical row of drink vending machines\nKnown for their pervasiveness and the (notorious) variety of products they sell. Most will take ¥1,000 bills, and some types, such as train ticket machines, will take up to ¥10,000; none accept ¥1 or ¥5 coins, and only some accept ¥2,000 notes. Some vending machines refuse the \"new\" (2024) notes, while some still refuse the new ¥500 coin (in occasional cases). Have a double-check before using.\n\nWith exceptions such as some train ticket vending machines, those in airports or tourist sites, credit cards are *not* accepted. However, IC cards like Suica and PASMO are often accepted for payment, particularly in train stations.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk076", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Vending machine drinks are a fun only-in-Japan indulgence, but at ¥120-190 per drink, they can add up, and will generally cost less at a supermarket or drugstore (but not so from a convenience store). Machines that stock drinks from smaller companies, like Cheerio or Two-Down, charge less, starting at ¥100.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk077", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Fancy Japanese ''kaiseki'' (会席) multi-course dinner\n\nJapanese cuisine, renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, has taken the world by storm. The key ingredient of most meals is **white rice**, usually served steamed. **Soybeans** are a key source of protein and take many forms, notably the *miso* soup (味噌汁 *miso shiru*) served with many meals, but also tofu (豆腐 *tōfu*) bean curd and the ubiquitous **soy sauce** (醤油 *shōyu*). **Seafood** features heavily in Japanese cuisine, including creatures of the sea and many varieties of **seaweed**. A complete meal is always rounded out by some **pickles** (漬物 *tsukemono*).\n\nOne of the joys of getting out of Tokyo and travelling within Japan is to discover the local specialties. Every region within the country has a number of delightful dishes, based on locally available crops and fish. In Hokkaido try the fresh sashimi and crab. In Osaka don't miss the *okonomiyaki* (お好み焼き) stuffed with green onions and the octopus balls (たこ焼き *takoyaki*).\n\n### Etiquette\n\nMost Japanese food is eaten with **chopsticks** (箸 *hashi*). Eating with chopsticks is a surprisingly easy skill to pick up, although mastering them takes a while.\n *Never* place or leave chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice; You can rest chopsticks across the edge of your bowl, plate or chopstick rest.\n Never pass something from your chopsticks to another person's chopsticks.\n Licking the ends of your chopsticks is considered low-class.\n Using chopsticks to move plates or bowls is rude.\n Pointing at things with your chopsticks is rude. (Pointing at people in general is rude; with chopsticks, doubly so.)\n Spearing food with your chopsticks is generally rude and should be used as only a last resort.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk078", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "You shouldn't \"whittle\" your disposable chopsticks after breaking them apart (which would imply you think they're cheap), but for cleanliness it *is* good manners to put them back in their paper wrapper when you're finished eating.\n\nMost soups and broths, especially *miso*, are drunk directly out of the bowl after you've chopsticked out the larger bits, and it's also normal to pick up a bowl of rice for easier eating. For main-dish soups like *rāmen* you will be given a spoon. Curry rice and fried rice are also eaten with spoons.\n\nMany restaurants give you a hot towel (*o-shibori*) to wipe your hands with (not your face) as soon as you sit down.\n\nJapanese never put **soy sauce** on a bowl of rice. Japanese don't like to waste food (including soy sauce, so don't pour more than you need), but it's fine in most restaurants if you leave some food on your plates.\n\nIn all types of Japanese restaurants, staff generally ignore you until you ask for something. Say \"*sumimasen*\" (\"excuse me\") and maybe raise your hand at a large restaurant. Restaurants will present you with the bill after the meal. Pay at the counter when leaving — do not leave payment on the table and walk out. **Tipping** is not customary in Japan, although many sit-down restaurants apply 10% service charges and 24-hour \"family restaurants\" usually have a 10% late-night surcharge.\n\n### Restaurants", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk079", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Sushi breakfast in [[Tokyo/Chuo|Tsukiji]], [[Tokyo]]\nThe number of restaurants (レストラン *resutoran*) in Japan is stupendous, and you will never run out of places to go. Japanese almost never invite guests to their homes, so socializing nearly always involves eating out. Eating out is generally cheaper than in Western countries, though still expensive by Asian standards, if you stick to a basic rice or noodles meal at a local joint. At the other end of the spectrum, fine dining can be very expensive indeed.\n\nSome restaurants have implemented a dual pricing system to account for the extra effort it takes to serve foreigners. If you can speak and read Japanese, you might be able to get the local price by asking for the Japanese menu.\n\nMenus will, for most establishments, be in Japanese only; however, many restaurants have models (many in exquisite detail) of their meals in their front window, and if you can't read the menu it may be better to take the waiter or waitress outside and point at what you would like. There may be photographs of the food labeled with names and prices.\n\nMany cheap chain eateries have **vending machines** where you buy a ticket and give it to the server. At many of these restaurants, you'll have to be able to read Japanese or match the price from models or picture menus, along with some of the kana (characters) to the choices at the machine. Some other places have all-you-can-eat meals called *tabehōdai* (食べ放題), *byuffe* (ビュッフェ, \"buffet\"), or *baikingu* (バイキング \"Viking\", because \"smorgasbord\" would be too hard to pronounce in Japanese).", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk080", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Michelin Guide is considered by many Western visitors to be the benchmark of good restaurants in Japan, but there are plenty of equally good eats to be had without the Michelin price tag, and many top restaurants are left out by choice. **Tabelog** (食べログ) is the go-to directory for Japanese people looking at restaurant reviews, with famously tough ratings: a 3.5 out of 5 is considered extraordinarily high. While the interface is available in English, most reviews are only in Japanese.\n\n#### Fine dining\n\nJapan is considered by many to be one of the world's centers of fine dining. Japan is tied with France for first place as the country with the most Michelin-star restaurants. Unfortunately, Japanese fine dining can be somewhat inaccessible to foreign visitors; online bookings are typically not an option, staff typically speak little to no English, and some fine dining establishments do not accept reservations from new customers without an introduction from one of their regular diners (although Michelin-listed places will). If you are staying in a top-end luxury hotel, the concierge may be able to score you a reservation at one of these places provided you make the request well in advance, and there is also a cottage industry of online reservation brokers that can arranges tables — for a fee, of course. Unlike in other countries, most Japanese fine dining restaurants do not accept credit cards, and you will be expected to pay for your meal *in cash*.\n\nTraditional Japanese inns *(see § Ryokan)* are a common way for travellers to enjoy a fine *kaiseki* meal. The elaborate meals featuring local seasonal ingredients are considered an essential part of a visit to a ryokan, and factor heavily into many people's choice of inn.\n\n#### Noodles", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk081", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|''Bukkake udon'' with ''tempura'', [[Kurashiki]]\nPractically every town and hamlet in Japan boasts its own \"famous\" noodle (麺 *men*) dish.\n\nThere are two major noodle types native to Japan: thin buckwheat ***soba*** (そば) and thick wheat ***udon*** (うどん). Chinese egg noodles or ***rāmen*** (ラーメン) are also very popular but more expensive (¥500 and up) and typically include a slice of grilled pork and a variety of vegetables. Slurping your noodles is acceptable and even expected. According to the Japanese, it cools them down and makes them taste better. Any remaining broth can be drunk directly from the bowl.\n\n#### Sushi and sashimi\n\nPerhaps Japan's most famous culinary exports are ***sushi*** (寿司 or 鮨), usually raw fish over vinegared rice, and ***sashimi*** (刺身), plain raw fish. Most sushi restaurants keep a handy multilingual decoding key on hand or on the wall. However, sushi in Japan often bears little similarity to what Western visitors may be used to back home; do not expect to find California rolls or volcano rolls in Japan. Sushi in Japan tends to be simple, just fish and rice, with an emphasis on freshness.\n\nAt the finest sushi restaurants, the chef puts a dab of fiery ***wasabi*** radish into the sushi, and glazes the fish with soy sauce for you. Thus, such sushi restaurants don't have individual bowls of soy sauce or wasabi. Most restaurants, though, provide them at the table. (Turn nigiri sushi upside down before dipping, as the soy sauce is to flavor the fish, not to drown the rice.) Slices of pickled ginger (*gari*) refresh the palate.\n\nWhen eating sushi, it's perfectly acceptable to use your fingers. Good sushi is always made such that you can put the entire piece into your mouth at once.\n\n#### Grilled and fried dishes", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk082", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) in [[Hiroshima]]\nThe *teppanyaki* (鉄板焼き, confusingly known in the U.S. as \"hibachi\") and self-grill *yakiniku* (焼肉, Japanese-style \"Korean barbecue\") cooking methods, as well as the deep fried *tempura* (天ぷら) battered shrimp and vegetables originate here. Meat (especially beef) can be fiercely expensive, like the famous marbled **Kobe beef**, which can cost thousands per serving. Tempura has entered the Japanese fine dining repertoire, and there are numerous fine tempura omakase restaurants in which the chef deep-fries the dish in front of you and puts it directly on your plate to be eaten immediately.\n\nOther uniquely Japanese foods include *okonomiyaki* (お好み焼き, \"cook it how you like it\", a batter with cabbage, meat, seafood, and vegetable fillings of your choice, often self-cooked at your table) and *yakitori* (焼き鳥, grilled skewers of every chicken part imaginable).\n\n#### Curry\n\nJapanese curry (カレー *karē*) is very distinct from Indian curry. Curry powder was introduced to Japan in the late 19th century by the British. The Indian curry brought by the British was too spicy for Japanese tastes, but they altered the recipe to make it sweeter and thicker. Curry restaurants can be found throughout the country, but there are also localized versions, such as Kanazawa Curry, Bizen Curry, and Kuwana Curry. Soup curry is a famous dish in Hokkaido. Curry udon and other curry combinations are also quite popular.\n\nHowever, homesick Indians need not fret. Indian curry (インドカレー *indo karē*), which in Japan is primarily based on North Indian styles, has exploded in popularity in Japan in the 21st century, and in the major cities, there are many restaurants operated by Indian and Nepali immigrants that serve it.\n\n#### All-around eateries", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk083", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|A typical ''o-bentō''. Clockwise from top: ''kara-age'' fried chicken with a ''korokke'' potato croquet and cocktail wieners, salad, rice with an ''umeboshi'' plum, ''harusame'' noodles and ''tsukemono'' pickles.\n\n*Shokudō* (食堂 \"cafeteria\" or \"dining hall\") serve up simple, popular dishes and *teishoku* sets at affordable prices (¥500-1,000). When in doubt, go for the daily special or *kyō no teishoku* (今日の定食), which nearly always consists of a main course, rice, soup and pickles. A staple of the *shokudō* is the *donburi* (丼), meaning a bowl of rice with a topping.\n\nA closely related variant is the *bentō-ya* (弁当屋), which serves takeout boxes known as *o-bentō* (お弁当). While travelling on long-distance trains, don't forget to sample the vast array of *ekiben* (駅弁) or \"station bento\".\n\nDepartment store basements are often huge spaces filled with expansive amounts of fresh food from throughout the country and local dishes. You can get bento boxes, take out food on a stick, bowls of soup, and often find samples of treats to try. You can also find restaurants in department stores, often on the top floors.\n\n#### Others\n\nVarious types of **hot pot** (鍋 *nabe*), as well as a number of stewed food items known as *oden* (おでん) are popular in Japan during the winter. You can often find **pseudo-Western dishes**, which were adapted from European and American cuisines, but often heavily Japanized. See the Japanese cuisine and Western food in Asia articles for more details.\n\n#### Beer gardens", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk084", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "During the summer months when it's not raining, many buildings and hotels have restaurants on their rooftops and serve dishes like fried chicken and french fries, as well as light snacks. The specialty is, of course, **draft beer** (生ビール *nama-biiru*). You can order large mugs of beer or pay a fixed price for an all-you-can-drink (飲み放題 *nomihōdai*) course lasting for a set period of time (usually up to 2 hours). Cocktails and other drinks are also often available as part of all-you-can-drink sets.\n\n### Fast food\n\nJapanese fast food restaurants offer decent quality at reasonable prices. Many chains offer interesting seasonal choices that are quite tasty. Fast food chains offer the range from classic Japanese food through to modern American junk food.\n\nThere are also a number of Japanese **family restaurants** (ファミレス *famiresu* or ファミリーレストラン *famirii resutoran*), serving a wide variety of dishes, including steak, pasta, Chinese style dishes, sandwiches, and other foods. Though their food is relatively uninteresting, these restaurants usually have illustrated menus, so travellers who cannot read Japanese can use the photos to choose and communicate their orders.\n\n### Convenience stores\n\nIf you're travelling on the cheap, Japan's numerous convenience stores (コンビニ *konbini*) can be a great place to grab a bite to eat; they are everywhere and almost always open 24/7. Major chains include 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart. You can find instant noodles, sandwiches, meat buns, and some small prepared meals, which can be heated up in a microwave in the store. An excellent option for food on the go is *onigiri* (or *omusubi*), which is a large ball of rice stuffed with (say) fish or pickled plum and wrapped in seaweed, and usually cost ¥100-150 each (as of Mar 2019).\n\n### Supermarkets", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk085", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "For those really on a budget, most supermarkets (*sūpā*) have a wide variety of ready-to-eat meals, bentos, sandwiches, snacks and the like, generally cheaper than convenience stores. Some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. Supermarkets and greengrocers (八百屋 *yaoya*) are also the best place to buy fruit, which tends to be expensive in Japan.\n\nOne Japanese institution worth checking out is the *depachika* (デパ地下) or department store basement food court, featuring dozens of tiny specialist stalls dishing up local specialties ranging from exquisitely packed tea ceremony candies and $100 melons to fresh sushi and Chinese takeaway. They're often a little upmarket pricewise, but discount heavily towards the end of the day: look for little red half price (半額 *hangaku*) and X% off signs (eg. 2割, read *ni-wari*, means 20% off).\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\n#### Eating vegetarian\n\nthumb|Appetizer course of a vegan ''shōjin ryōri'' dinner, [[Mount Koya]]\n\nAlthough the situation is improving in major cities, strict vegetarians (much less vegans) may have serious difficulty finding a meal that does not include animal products, particularly as the near-ubiquitous Japanese soup stock *dashi* is usually prepared with fish and often pops up in unexpected places like *miso*, rice crackers, curry, omelettes (including *tamago* sushi), instant noodles and pretty much anywhere salt would be used in Western cuisine. *Soba* and *udon* noodle soups virtually always use bonito-based *katsuodashi*, and typically the only vegetarian-safe item on the menu in a noodle shop is *zarusoba*, or plain cold noodles — but even for this the dipping sauce typically contains *dashi*.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk086", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Your best bet for finding vegetarian food is Indian and Italian restaurants, which are quite common even in smaller towns. Other options include temples serving Buddhist cuisine (Mount Koya is particularly famous for this), *kaiten* (conveyor belt) sushi shops and, in larger towns, dedicated vegetarian or macrobiotic (自然食 *shizenshoku*) restaurants.\n\n#### Allergies\n\nTravelling in Japan with food allergies (アレルギー *arerugī*) is **very difficult**. Awareness of severe allergies is low and restaurant staff are rarely aware of trace ingredients in their menu items.\n\nA serious **soy** (大豆 *daizu*) allergy is basically incompatible with Japanese food. The bean is used everywhere, including soybean oil for cooking. Keeping a *strict* **gluten-free diet** while eating out is also close to impossible. Most common brands of soy sauce and mirin contain wheat, while miso is often made with barley or wheat. Commercially prepared sushi vinegar and wasabi may both contain gluten.\n\nOn the upside, avoiding **dairy **products is straightforward, as they are uncommon in traditional Japanese cuisine. **Peanuts** and other tree nuts are basically not used in Japanese cooking, with the exception of a few snacks and desserts. Peanut oil is rarely used.\n\n#### Religious diets\n\nDue to the very small size of the Muslim and Jewish communities, finding halal or kosher food is *very difficult* in Japan, and you will need to do some advanced planning before your trip. Muslim visitors can contact the Japan Islamic Trust, while Jewish visitors can contact the Jewish Community of Japan for more information.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk087", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Izakaya with red lanterns\nThe Japanese drink a lot: not only green tea in the office, at meetings and with meals, but also all types of alcoholic beverages in the evening with friends and colleagues. The drinking age is 20. However, ID verification is almost never requested at restaurants, bars, or convenience stores, so long as the purchaser does not appear obviously underage. The main exception is in the large clubs in Shibuya, Tokyo, which during busy times will ID everyone entering the club.\n\n**Drinking in public is legal** in Japan, as is public intoxication. It's especially common to drink at festivals and *hanami*. It's also not unusual to have a small drinking party on the bullet trains.\n\n### Where to drink\n\nIf you're looking for an evening of food and drink in a relaxed traditional atmosphere, go to an ***izakaya*** (居酒屋, Japanese-style pub), easily identified by red lanterns with the character 酒 (\"alcohol\") hanging out front. Many of them have an all-you-can-drink (飲み放題 *nomihōdai*) deals at about ¥1,000 for 90 minutes (on average), although you will be limited to certain types of drinks. Food is invariably good and reasonably priced. Most izakaya have a compulsory cover charge, with a complimentary snack to go with it.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk088", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "A common Japanese institution is the **snack** (スナック *sunakku*). These small neighborhood bars are usually run by an aging woman addressed as *mama-san* (\"Ms. Mom\"); besides serving food and a limited selection of drinks (often just beer and whiskey), she's a surrogate mother for patrons to converse with and get advice and even an occasional scolding from. Many are dive bars filled with cigarette-smoking regulars; an occasional visit from foreigners may be welcomed, but if you don't speak some Japanese you're undoubtedly missing some of the appeal. Somewhat related are **hostess clubs** (キャバクラ *kyaba-kura*, short for \"cabaret club\"), where attractive female hostesses will provide conversation, pour drinks, entertain, and to some degree flirt with male clients, and charge upwards of ¥3,000/hour for the service, Tourists will probably feel out of place and may even be denied entry altogether. The hostesses are professional flirts, not prostitutes, and most hostess clubs prohibit physical intimacy or sexual conversation topics. There are also **host clubs** (ホストクラブ *hosuto kurabu* or ホスクラ *hosu kura*) where the roles are reversed, and female customers pay for attractive male company instead. In both of these, you will generally be expected to buy drinks for your host/hostess, and not doing so will greatly upset them as these make up a significant part of their income. A **girls bar** (ガールズバー *gāruzu bā* or ガルバ *garuba*) is similar to a hostess club, except that the attractive women are bartenders and stay behind the bar when chatting with customers. These are typically cheaper than hostess clubs, but just like in hostess clubs, you will be expected to buy drinks for your bartender. A *seku kyaba* (セクキャバ) is the erotic version of the hostess club, in which limited physical intimacy is allowed.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk089", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Unlike in the Anglosphere, a **club** (クラブ *kurabu*) is not a nightclub, but instead is the posh equivalent of the hostess club, with a much more private experience. These are typically patronized by the who's who of Japanese society such as politicians, celebrities, company presidents or elite professional athletes, and the hostesses are expected to be more polished and well-educated in a wide range of \"high class\" conversational topics like current affairs and business news. These are typically very expensive, and require you to be introduced by one of their regular customers, meaning that you will not be admitted if you just show up at the door.\n\nDedicated **gay bars** are comparatively rare in Japan, but the districts of Shinjuku ni-chome in Tokyo and Doyama-cho in Osaka have busy gay scenes. Most gay/lesbian bars serve a small niche (muscular men, etc.) and will not permit those who do not fit the mold, including the opposite sex, to enter. While a few are Japanese only, foreigners are welcome at most bars.\n\nIzakaya, bars and snacks typically have cover charges (カバーチャージ *kabā chāji*), usually around ¥500 but on rare occasions more, so ask if the place looks really swish. In izakayas this often takes the form of being served some little nibble (お通し *otōshi*) as you sit down, and no, you can't refuse it and not pay. Some bars also charge a cover charge *and* an additional fee for any peanuts you're served with your beer.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk090", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Karaoke parlors serve drinks and snacks. Orders are placed via a phone on the wall, by pressing a button to summon staff, or in high-tech ones using the karaoke machine's tablet or remote control.\nthumb|Beer vending machines at an onsen in Hokkaidoi\nIf you're just looking for a jolt of caffeine, go to Starbucks or one of its Japanese competitors such as Doutor or Excelsior. But for a more calm and unique experience, the Japanese coffee shop, ***kissaten*** (喫茶店), has a long history. Most are one-of-a-kind affairs and reflect the tastes of their clientele. A peculiar kind of kissaten is the **jazz coffee shop**; these moody joints for jazz buffs are strictly for quiet listening, and *not* for conversation.\n\n**Maid cafés** (メイド喫茶 *meido kissa* or メイドカフェ *meido kafe*) and other cosplay restaurants have employees dressed as French maids pamper their clients while serving them non-alcoholic beverages and food.\n\n**Vending machines** (自動販売機 *jidōhanbaiki*, or *jihanki* in slang) are omnipresent in Japan and serve up drinks 24 hours a day at the price of ¥120-150 a can/bottle. In addition to cans of soft drinks, tea and coffee, you can find vending machines that sell beer, sake and hard liquor. In winter, some machines will also dispense hot drinks — look for a red label with the writing あたたかい (*atatakai*) instead of the usual blue つめたい (*tsumetai*). Vending machines that sell alcoholic beverages are usually switched off at 23:00.\n\n### Beverages", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk091", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Flat ''sakazuki'' tray, a small ''choko'' cup and a wooden ''masu'' box\n**Sake** is a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from rice. The Japanese word *sake* (酒) can mean any kind of alcoholic drink, and in Japan the word ***nihonshu*** (日本酒) is used to refer to what Westerners call \"sake\". Sake is around 15% alcohol, and contrary to popular belief, is usually not served hot, but often chilled; defaulting to room temperature is in most cases safe. Bottles and menus often show the ***nihonshu-do*** (日本酒度), a \"sake level\" that measures the sweetness or dryness of the brew, the average today being around +3 (slightly dry). When making a purchase, price is often a fair indicator of quality.\n\n***Shōchū*** (焼酎) is the big brother of sake, a stronger-tasting distilled type of alcohol. Traditional *shōchū* are most commonly made of rice, yam, or grain, but can be made of other materials like potatoes, too. Typically around 25% alcohol and often cheap at less than ¥1000 for a big 1L bottle, these can be served straight, on the rocks, or mixed with hot or cold water. *Shōchū* industrially made out of sugar is often used and served as a kind of cooler mixed with juice or soda known as a *chū-hai*, short for \"*shōchū* highball\".\n\n***Umeshu*** (梅酒), inaccurately called \"plum wine\", is prepared by soaking Japanese *ume* plums (actually a type of apricot) in white liquor so it absorbs the flavor, and the distinctive, penetrating nose of sour dark plum and sweet brown sugar is a hit with many visitors. Typically about 10-15% alcohol, it can be taken straight, on the rocks (ロック *rokku*) or mixed with soda (ソダ割り *soda-wari*).", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk092", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Japanese **whisky** ([ジャパニーズ] ウイスキー *[japanīzu] uisukī*), popular domestically for over 150 years, has also come to international attention and won numerous awards. It can be had neat/straight (ストレート *sutorēto*) or on the rocks (オン・ザ・ロック *on za rokku* or simply ロック *rokku*), but it's much more common to dilute it, the same as with *shōchū*. The most common preparation is a highball (ハイボール *haibōru*), 1 part whisky and 2 parts soda water over ice. Another common drink uses cold mineral water (水割り *mizu-wari*) in the same proportions, or in the winter, hot water (お湯割り *o-yu-wari*).\n\nThere are several large brands of Japanese **beer** (ビール *biiru*), including Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory. Yebisu is also a popular beer brewed by Sapporo. In Japanese restaurants, beer is typically served in various sizes of bottles (瓶 *bin*), or draft (生 *nama* meaning \"fresh\"). Most Japanese beers are dry pilsners, with strengths averaging 5%, which pair well with Japanese food but are definitely light in flavor. Even the few dark beers like Asahi Super Dry Black are actually dark *lagers*, so despite their color they're still not very full-bodied. **Microbreweries** are quickly picking up steam, and their *kurafuto biiru* (クラフトビール \"craft beer\") or *ji-biiru* (地ビール \"local beer\") bring some welcome diversity to the market. They haven't caught on in most restaurants yet, but they're not too difficult to find; besides brewpubs and good liquor stores like the widespread Yamaya (店舗 or やまや), other good places to look are department store basements and shops near train stations selling local specialties.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk093", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Japanese **wine** (ワイン *wain*) is actually quite nice but costs about twice as much as comparable wine from other countries. Several varieties exist, and imported wine at various prices is available nationwide. Specialized stores and large department stores offer the most extensive offerings. Most wine, red and white, is served chilled and you may find it hard obtaining room-temperature (常温 *jō-on*) wine when dining out. Japan's best known wine region is the Katsunuma region in Yamanashi prefecture.\n\nthumb|''Matcha'' and traditional sweets, [[Kyoto]]\n\nThe most popular beverage by far is **tea** (お茶 *o-cha*), provided free of charge with almost every meal, hot in winter and cold in summer. There is a huge variety of tea in bottles and cans in convenience-store fridges and vending machines. Unless specified, tea is usually Japanese green tea; Western-style black tea is called *kōcha* (紅茶), and Chinese oolong tea (ウーロン茶 *ūron cha*) is also popular. Traditional Japanese teas are always drunk neat, without the use of milk or sugar. Japan also has its own adaptation of Western milk tea, often labelled \"royal milk tea\", which is widely available at most convenience stores, supermarkets, vending machines, cafes and Western restaurants. Compared to traditional English tea, Japanese royal milk tea uses more milk and less water, making giving it a creamier texture.\n\n**Coffee** (コーヒー *kōhī*) is quite popular in Japan. It's usually brewed to the same strength as European coffee; weaker, watered down coffee is called *American*. Canned coffee (hot and cold) is a bit of a curiosity, and widely available in vending machines for about ¥120 per can. Most canned coffee is sweet, so look for brands with the English word \"Black\" or the kanji 無糖 (\"no sugar\") if you want it unsweetened.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk094", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are many uniquely Japanese **soft drinks** and trying random drinks from vending machines is one of the little traveller's joys of Japan. Calpis (カルピス *Karupisu*) is a kind of yogurt-based soft drink that tastes better than it sounds. The famous Pocari Sweat (ポカリスエット *Pokari Suetto*) is a Gatorade-style isotonic drink. A more traditional Japanese soft drink is Ramune (ラムネ), nearly the same as Sprite or 7-Up but noteworthy for its unusual bottle, where one pushes down a marble into an open space below the spout instead of using a bottle opener.\n\nAmerican soft drink brands are widely available. The only choices for diet soda will be Diet Coke, Coke Zero, or Diet Pepsi. In Japan, the term \"**juice**\" (ジュース *jūsu*) is a catch-all term for any kind of soft drink — including even Coca-Cola and the like — so if it's fruit squeezings you want, ask for *kajū* (果汁). Extremely few are 100% juice. **Water** is commonly encountered in the form of plastic bottles of water. The tap water is safe to drink, and you can find filling stations for water bottles through Refill Japan, or by asking for water at a friendly restaurant.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk095", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Room with a view, [[Oboke and Koboke]]\n\nIn addition to the usual youth hostels and business hotels, you can find several kinds of uniquely Japanese accommodation, ranging from rarefied ***ryokan*** inns to strictly functional **capsule hotels** and utterly over-the-top **love hotels**.\n\nWhen reserving any Japanese accommodation, bear in mind that many smaller operations may hesitate to accept foreigners, fearing language difficulties or other cultural misunderstandings. Many Western hotel booking sites also have only a small selection of Japanese hotels available; to explore the full gamut, use local companies Rakuten Travel or Jalan, which have good English sites.\n\nPricing for Japanese inns is often *per person*, not per room. Bizarrely, some Japanese hotel chains also charge per person. Read the fine print, and check what meals are included at inns since this can make a big difference in the price (and the experience).\n\nAll accommodations are required by law to make a copy of your passport unless you are a resident of Japan. You can speed up check-in by giving the clerk a **photo copy of your passport**, especially if you are travelling in groups. While larger hotels and major chains are fine with credit cards, many smaller places and *ryokan* remain **cash only**.\n\nTraditional Japanese houses are designed to be cool in summer, which all too often means that they are **freezing cold inside** in winter. Bulk up on clothing and make good use of the bathing facilities to stay warm. *Futon* bedding is usually quite warm and getting a good night's sleep is rarely a problem.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk096", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Japanese beds** are small: cheaper hotels offer 120cm wide \"semi-doubles\" only slightly larger than single beds. Doubles are only 140cm, queen beds (150cm) are rare and king beds unheard of outside Western-branded luxury hotels. Consider booking a twin room if there are two of you and you need space, and expect to pay extra for the privilege. Tatami bedding (see ) is also very spacious.\n\nSizes of Japanese rooms are often measured in *jō* (畳), the number of *tatami* (straw floor) mats that would cover the floor, regardless of the room's actual flooring material. Sizes vary by region, with 1 *jō* ranging from , but a commonly used value is . A typical room in a Japanese apartment is 6 *jō* (about ), big enough to sleep two people with their luggage spread out.\n\nWhile accommodation is expensive, you may find that you can comfortably use a lower standard of hotel than you would in other countries. Shared baths will usually be spotless, and theft is very unusual in Japan. Just don't expect to sleep in late: **check-out time** is invariably 10:00, and any extensions to this will have to be paid for.\n\nYou may have difficulty finding rooms at the busiest holiday times, such as Golden Week at the beginning of May. However, many Japanese hotels and third-party booking sites do not accept online bookings more than **3 to 6 months in advance**, so if it's more than 3 months before your trip and you're not finding anything available, either contact the hotel directly or try again later.\n\n### Hotels", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk097", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "While Western-branded hotels (ホテル *hoteru*) can be found in Japan's larger cities, it is Japanese brands that rule the roost. Some of the Japanese hotel chains include:\n **ANA IHG Hotels** - the only Western-branded hotel chain with widespread Japanese presence, it operates Intercontinental Hotels, Crowne Plazas and Holiday Inns across Japan.\n **Okura Hotels & Resorts** is a brand of upscale and luxury hotels. They also own the midscale chains Hotel Nikko and JAL Hotels.\n **Rihga Royal**\n **Prince Hotels**\n\nFull-service five-star hotels can turn pampering into an artform, but tend to be rather bland and generic in appearance, despite steep prices starting from ¥20,000 *per person* (not per room). On the other hand, three- and four-star business hotels are relatively reasonably priced when compared to prices in major European or North American cities, and even two-star hotels provide impeccable cleanliness and features rarely found in the West in that price range.\n\nHowever, there are several types of uniquely Japanese and far more affordable hotels:\n\n#### Capsule hotels\n\nthumb|Space-efficient sleeping in [[Sapporo]]\n\nCapsule hotels (カプセルホテル *kapuseru hoteru*) are the ultimate in space-efficient sleeping: for a small fee (normally ¥3,000–4,000), the guest rents a **capsule**, sized about 2 x 1 x 1 m and stacked in two rows inside a hall containing tens if not hundreds of capsules. Capsule hotels are segregated by sex, and only a few cater to women.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk098", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "On entry to a capsule hotel, take off your shoes, place them in a locker and put on a pair of slippers. You will often have to surrender your locker key at check-in to ensure that you do not slip out without paying! On checking in you will be given a second locker for placing your belongings, as there is no space for them in the capsule and little security as most capsules have simply a curtain, not a door. Beware though if there is a curtain, since probing hands may enter it.\n\nMany capsule hotels are attached to a spa of varying degrees of luxury and/or legitimacy, often so that entry to the spa costs perhaps ¥2,000 but the capsule is only an additional ¥1,000. The cheapest capsule hotels will require feeding in ¥100 coins to use the shower. This being Japan, there are always vending machines on hand to dispense toothpaste, underwear and sundries.\n\nOnce you retire into your capsule, you will usually find a simple control panel for operating the lights, the alarm clock and the inevitable built-in TV. If you oversleep, you may be hit with another day's charge.\n\nIn Tokyo's Shinjuku and Shibuya districts the capsule hotels run at least ¥3,500, but have excellent free massage chairs, saunas, public baths, disposable razors and shampoo, magazines, and coffee in the morning. Your capsule \"door\" is just a curtain that keeps light out. You will likely hear a steady stream of drunk and sleepy business men crawling into their capsules above and across from you before falling into a mild snore.\n\n#### Love hotels", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk099", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Love hotel (ラブホテル *rabu hoteru*) is a euphemism; a more accurate term would be \"sex hotel\". They can be found in and near red light districts, but most are not in those areas. Many of them are often clustered around highway interchanges or main train stations. The entrance is usually quite discreet, and the exit is separated from the entrance (to avoid running into someone one might know). You rent a room by the night (listed as \"Stay\" or 宿泊 *shukuhaku* on the rate card, usually ¥6,000-10,000), a couple of hours (\"Rest\" or 休憩 *kyūkei*, around ¥3,000), or off hours (\"No Time Service\"), which are usually weekday afternoons. Service charges, peak hour surcharges, and taxes can push your bill up by 25%. Some will accept single guests, but most will not allow same-sex couples or obviously underaged guests.\n\nThey are generally clean, safe, and very private. Some have exotic themes: aquatics, sports, or Hello Kitty. As a traveller, rather than a typical client, you (usually) cannot check in, drop your bags, and go out exploring. Once you leave, that is it, so they are not as convenient as proper hotels. \"Stay\" rates also tend to start only after 22:00, and overstaying may incur hefty additional \"Rest\" charges. Many rooms have simple food and drinks in a refrigerator, and often have high prices. Take some food and drinks with you instead. The rooms often feature amenities such as jacuzzis, wild theme decoration, costumes, karaoke machines, vibrating beds, sex toy vending machines, and in some cases, video games. Most often, all toiletries (including condoms) are included. Sometimes the rooms have a book that acts as a log, where people record their tales and adventures for posterity. Popular love hotels may be entirely booked up in the cities on weekends.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk100", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Hidden cameras have been found in love hotels, planted by other guests or even occasionally the hotel management. Videos of these supposed *tousatsu* (hidden camera) are popular in adult video stores, although many such videos are staged.\n\n#### Business hotels\n\nBusiness hotels (ビジネスホテル *bijinesu hoteru*) are usually around ¥10,000 per night and have a convenient location (often near major train stations) as their major selling point, but rooms are usually unbelievably cramped. On the upside, you will get a (tiny) en suite bathroom. Some major chains of cheaper business hotels include **Tokyu REI Hotels**, known for its generously sized rooms, **Sunroute Hotels** and **Toyoko Inn**.\n\nLocal business hotels, farther from major stations, can be significantly cheaper (double room from ¥5,000/night). English is rarely spoken, so pre-book online. For two or more, the price can often compete with youth hostels if you share a twin or double room. Full payment is often expected on check-in, and check-out times are early (usually 10:00) and non-negotiable unless you are willing to pay extra. At the very bottom end are dirt-cheap hotels in the labourers' districts of the major cities, such as Kamagasaki in Osaka, or San'ya in Tokyo, where prices start from as little as ¥1,500 for a tiny three-mat room that literally has only enough room to sleep. Designed for homeless day laborers who earn just barely enough to pay the accommodation fee, walls and futons can be thin, and their hygiene standards are often not up to scratch.\n\n### Inns\n\n#### ''Ryokan''\n\nthumb|A typical guest room in a ryokan\nthumb|Japanese breakfast at a ryokan. Clockwise from top left: miso soup, rice, cold grilled fish, vegetables, pickles, ''nattō'' fermented soybeans, ''nori'' seaweed, a raw egg (stir it into your rice), and more vegetables.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk101", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "*Ryokan* (旅館) are **traditional Japanese inns**, and a visit to one is the highlight of a trip to Japan for many. A night at a ryokan *for one* with two meals starts at about ¥8,000 and goes up into the stratosphere. ¥50,000 a night *per person* is not uncommon for some of the posher ones.\n\nRyokan usually operate on a **fairly strict schedule** and you will be expected to arrive by 17:00. Before dinner you will be encouraged to take a **bath** — see *Public baths in Japan* for the full scoop. But first, you should change into your ***yukata*** robe, which you wear during your whole stay. For **dinner**, ryokan typically serve *kaiseki* cuisine, traditional meals that consist of a dozen or more small dishes, elaborately prepared and presented from carefully chosen seasonal ingredients. The food in a good ryokan is a substantial part of the experience (and the bill), and is an excellent way to try some high-class Japanese cuisine. While some ryokan have a few rooms with Western beds, usually you sleep on ***futon* bedding**, which is not a convertible couch but a comfortable mattress rolled out for you on the tatami. **Breakfast** in the morning is more likely to be served communally in a dining hall at a fixed time. A Japanese breakfast is the norm, meaning rice, miso soup and cold fish.\n\nA last word of warning: some establishments with the word \"ryokan\" in their name are not the luxurious variety at all but guesthouse-like inns (some minshuku are included). The price will tell you the type of lodging it is.\n\n#### ''Minshuku''", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk102", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "*Minshuku* (民宿) are the **budget version of ryokan**, and similar in concept to a B&B. At these family-run houses, the overall experience is similar to ryokan but the food is simpler, dining is communal, bathrooms are shared, and guests are expected to lay out their own futon (although an exception is often made for foreigners). Consequently minshuku rates are lower, hovering around ¥5,000 to ¥10,000 with two meals (一泊二食 *ippaku-nishoku*). Cheaper yet is a stay with no meals (素泊まり *sudomari*), which can go as low as ¥3,000.\n\nMinshuku are more often found in the countryside, where virtually every hamlet or island, no matter how small or obscure, will have one. The hardest part is often finding them, as they rarely advertise or show up in online booking engines, so asking the local tourist office is often the best way.\n\n**Pensions** (ペンション *penshon*) are similar to minshuku but have Western-style rooms, just like their European namesake.\n\n#### ''Kokuminshukusha''\n\n*Kokuminshukusha* (国民宿舎), a mouthful that translates quite literally into \"people's lodges\", are **government-run guest houses**. They primarily provide subsidized holidays for government employees in remote scenic spots, but they are usually happy to accept paying guests. Both facilities and prices are usually more comparable to ryokan than minshuku standards; however, they are almost invariably large in size and can be rather impersonal. Popular ones need to be booked well in advance for peak seasons: sometimes almost a year in advance for New Year's and the like.\n\n### Hostels and camping\n\n#### Hostels", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk103", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Youth hostels (ユースホステル *yūsu hosuteru*, often just called *yūsu* or abbreviated \"YH\") are another cheap option in Japan. Hostels can be found throughout the country, so they are popular among budget travellers, especially students. Regular hostels (independent if HI or not) are typically ¥2,000–4,000. It can become more expensive with the official HI youth hostels if you opt for dinner and breakfast and are not a Hostelling International (HI) member, in which case the price for a single night may be over ¥5,000. For HI members, a simple stay can cost as little as ¥1,500 depending on location and season. As elsewhere, some are concrete cell blocks run like reform schools, while others are wonderful cottages in scenic spots. There are even a number of temples that run hostels as a sideline.\n\nDo some groundwork before choosing where to go, the Japan Youth Hostel page is a good place to start. Many have curfews (and sometimes a lock-out period during the day when all guests must leave), and dorm rooms are often gender segregated.\n\nRegular hostels can easily be found on the common hotel reservation websites.\n\n#### Riders' houses\n\nthumb|A riders' house in [[Ishikari (Ishikari)|Ishikari]], [[Hokkaido]]", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk104", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Riders' houses** (ライダーハウス *raidā hausu*) are super-budget dorms intended primarily for bikers, both motorized and pedal-powered. While anybody is generally welcome, these are generally located deep in the countryside and access by public transport is impractical or impossible. Generally run as a hobby, riders' houses are very cheap (¥300/night is typical, free is not unheard of), but facilities are minimal; you're expected to bring your own sleeping bag and there may not even be a kitchen or a bath. Long stays are also discouraged and some ban stays of more than one night. These are particularly common in Hokkaido, but can be found here and there around the country. The definitive directory is Hatinosu (Japanese only).\n\n#### Camping\n\nthumb|Camping in scenic [[Iya Valley]]\nCamping is (after *nojuku*, see below) *the* cheapest way to get a night's sleep in Japan. There is an extensive network of camping grounds throughout the country; naturally, most are away from the big cities. Transportation to them can also be problematic, as few buses may go there. Prices may vary from nominal fees (¥500) to large bungalows that cost more than many hotel rooms (¥13,000 or more).\n\nCamping wild is illegal in most of Japan, although you can always try asking for permission, or simply pitch your tent late and leave early. Many larger city parks may in fact have large numbers of blue, plastic tarpaulin \"tents\" with homeless in them.\n\nCampsites in Japan are known as *kyanpu-jo* (キャンプ場), while sites designed for cars are known as *ōto-kyanpu-jo*. The latter tend to be far more expensive than the former (¥5,000 or so) and should be avoided by those setting out on foot unless they also have lower-key accommodation available. Campsites are often located near *onsen*, which can be quite convenient.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk105", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The **National Camping Association of Japan** helps maintain **Campjo**, a Japanese-only database of nearly all campsites in Japan. The **JNTO** website has an English-language list with a smattering of camp grounds, and local tourist offices are often well informed.\n\n#### ''Nojuku''\n\nFor the real budget traveller wanting to get by on the cheap in Japan is the option of *nojuku* (野宿). This is Japanese for \"**sleeping outside**\". Some young Japanese do this when they travel. Thanks to a low crime rate and relatively stable climate, *nojuku* is a genuinely viable option if you're travelling in a group or feel confident doing it on your own. Common *nojuku* places are basically anywhere that has some kind of shelter and public toilets nearby.\n\nJapan is blessed with cheap public bathing facilities pretty much everywhere: notably *onsen* or hot springs. Even if you cannot find an onsen, *sentō* (public bath), or sauna is also an option. See Public baths in Japan.\n\nNojuku is really viable only in the summer months, although in the northern island of Hokkaido, even in summer the temperature may dip during the night. On the other hand, there's much more scope for nojuku on Okinawa (although public facilities on the smaller islands are lacking).\n\nNojuku is not really recommended for first-time travellers to Japan, but for those with some experience, it can be a great way to get into the *onsen* culture, meet other fellow *nojuku* travellers, and most of all travel very cheaply when coupled with hitchhiking.\n\n### Temples and shrines\n\nthumb|One of many friendly ''shukubō'' in [[Mount Koya]]\n *See also:* Meditation in Japan", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk106", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "*Shukubō* (宿坊) are **lodgings for pilgrims**, usually located within a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. The experience is broadly similar to a ryokan, but the food will be vegetarian, toilets and showers will usually be shared, and you may be required to participate in the temple's activities, which includes waking up *really* early to join the monks for morning prayers (which can begin as early as 05:00). Some Zen temples offer meditation lessons and courses. Shukubo can be reluctant to accept foreign guests, but one place where that will not be a problem is the major Buddhist center of Mt. Koya near Osaka. Check the web-site of the Koyasan Shukubo Association for more details. Prices generally range from ¥9,000 to ¥15,000 per night.\n\n### Private accommodation\n\n#### Guest houses\n\nThere are a number of **guest houses** (ゲストハウス) in Japan. Sometimes this is just a synonym for \"hostel\", but other guest houses are run from someone's private home. Whereas a minshuku is a destination unto itself, guest houses are simply places to stay, and often have convenient locations in cities or nearby suburbs. They may have shared dormitory-style accommodation, and unlike a minshuku or B&B usually don't offer meals. Most will have a curfew as well. Some cater to foreign visitors, although some Japanese language ability will be helpful for finding, booking, and staying at one.\n\n#### [[Hospitality exchange]]\n\nParticularly in Japan's dense cities, hospitality exchange (民泊 *minpaku*) through sites like AirBnB has become very popular. This can be a good way to find a great deal on premium lodging and experience what a typical home is like for many Japanese.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk107", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Many of the listings will be for \"**mansions**\" (マンション *manshon*), which in Japanese is a common marketing term that really means \"condominium\". Mansions are typically in high-rise buildings with many amenities, unlike apartments (アパート *apaato*) which are usually inexpensive flats.\n\n*Minpaku* is a great boon for rural areas with few hotels, but in cities they are strictly regulated. Hosts must register with the government, display a license number on their listing, and comply with limits on when they can be rented out. To get around this, some hosts may attempt tricks like asking you to make a one-night reservation and pay under the table for the additional nights; this is illegal, and would leave you with no recourse if you have problems with your rental.\n\n### Long-term\n\nIf you're staying for a longer period, you might be able to drastically reduce your living costs by staying in a **gaijin house**. **Weekly mansions** (short-term apartments) have become popular for residents (typically businessmen on long-term assignment or young singles) and are accessible even to visitors. Renting an apartment is a ridiculously complex and expensive process. See Working in Japan for more information.\n\n### Last resorts\n\nEven in Tokyo, the trains completely stop running around 01:00, so if you are out after then and want to avoid paying for a cab or even a capsule hotel, there are a few options for killing the hours until the first morning train. If you need to find one of these options fast, station attendants will typically be able to point you in the right direction. Conveniently, many of these facilities are usually clustered around train stations, and they are used to accepting people who have missed the last train home.\n\n#### Internet and manga cafés", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk108", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|A typical ''manga kissa'' in Tokyo's [[Tokyo/Chiyoda|Chiyoda Ward]]\nIn bigger cities, especially around the major stations you can find Internet or Manga cafés. Membership costs around ¥300 one time. Here you can also watch TV, play video games, read comics and enjoy the free drink bar. Prices vary but usually are around ¥400/hour. They often have a special night rate for the period when no trains are running (from around midnight until 05:00 for ¥1,500). Customers are typically given the choice between a computer-equipped or TV-equipped but separated cubicle, while others offer amenities such as a massage chair, a mat to sleep on or even a shower. Some even have private rooms. The cubicles are open towards the top and light can shine in or you might hear the other guests. Expect to pay around ¥2,500–3,000 for 9 h in a cubicle or private room, in case you are looking for a proper sleep.\n\nIt is not an especially comfortable option, but it is perfect for checking the next day's train schedule, downloading pictures from your digital camera, writing home, and resting a bit. Often, you may be surrounded by snoring locals who have missed the last train home.\n\n#### Karaoke bar\n\nThis is only an emergency option if you cannot find anything else and you are freezing outside. Karaoke bars offer entertainment rooms until 05:00 (\"free time\") for ¥1,500-2,500. Works only with at least 3 people.\n\n#### Public baths", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk109", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Some onsen or sentos stay open all night, especially the ones inside some hotels. You don't necessarily have to have a room at such a hotel, but may still spend the night in the bath and resting areas. These onsen or sentos are known as \"super\" sentos, and have a 'relaxing area' with amenities such as tatami mats, TV, vending machines and books. Often, for a reasonable fee (on top of the bathing cost), you will be allowed to crash the night on the tatami or in a room with large reclining chairs.\n\nPrices for such overnight onsen or sentos start are ¥1,000–1,500. However, they sometimes have a cutoff time, after which you have to pay for the \"next day\", often in the middle of the night when you least will want to have it.\n\n#### Outside\n\nIn the warmer months, people sleeping or napping on streetsides outside the bigger train stations is a common sight. Many of them just missed their last trains and prefer spending three or four hours waiting for the first train on the asphalt rather than three or four thousand yen for a short-term stay in a hotel or public bath.\n\nWhile this is definitely the least comfortable way to sleep through the night, it is especially popular with college students (who have no money), and absolutely tolerated by police and station staff; even drunkards sleeping next to their own puke will not be disturbed in their booze-induced sleep.\n\n## Learn\n\nthumb|The main campus of the [[Tokyo/Bunkyo", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk110", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Education is taken *very seriously* in Japan, often to the point of obsession, and the country is home to several world-class universities and institutions. As citizens of a country with few natural resources, the Japanese believe that absorbing knowledge is the best way to stay competitive in a dynamic and changing world. This drive for success is exactly why Japan became an economic powerhouse in less than a century.\n\nThe Japanese educational system emphasises model citizenship — students are taught how to be responsible and productive members of society. Students in Japanese schools are normally expected to clean up their classrooms after school hours, arrive at their classes on time, and be respectful to their teachers.\n\nHundreds of thousands of foreigners are studying in Japan, either in language schools (to learn Japanese), in universities, or to study Japanese martial arts, or arts and crafts.\n\nMany exchange programs bring foreigners to Japan, including at the university level. Students from many countries are exempt for obtaining a visa if they are coming to study the Japanese language for up to 90 days, while visas sponsored by educational institutions are required for other students.\n\n## Work\n\nPeople from all over the world live and work in Japan.\n\nTo work in Japan, a foreigner who is not already a permanent resident must receive a job offer from a guarantor in Japan, and then apply for a working visa at an immigration office (if already in Japan) or an embassy or consulate (if abroad).", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk111", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The work culture is extremely **hierarchical and formal**, much more so than in Western countries. See the Working and studying in Japan article for details. Workers are also expected to go out with their colleagues for food and drinks multiple times a week, which means only getting home when its *really* late. Women might also face some additional challenges.\n\nThe **Working Holiday** program is open to young citizens (between 18 and 30) from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, Ireland and the UK. Those eligible may apply for working holiday visas without having a prior job offer.\n\nA popular form of employment among foreigners from English speaking countries is **teaching English**, especially in after-hours English conversation schools known as *eikaiwa* (英会話). Pay is fairly good for young adults, but rather poor compared to a qualified educator in most Western countries. An undergraduate degree or ESL accreditation is essential for most desirable positions. North American accents are preferred, and there is unspoken preference for white people.\n\nThe **JET Programme** (Japan Exchange and Teaching) offers young university graduates a chance to teach in Japan. The program is run by the Japanese government but your employer would typically be a local Board of Education who assigns you to one or more public schools, often deep in the countryside. No Japanese skills or formal teaching qualifications are required and your airfare is provided. Pay is somewhat better than the language schools, as are the working conditions.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk112", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Quite a few young women choose to work in the **hostess** industry, where they entertain Japanese men over drinks and are paid for their time. While pay can be good, visas for this line of work are difficult if not impossible to obtain and most work illegally. The nature of the work also carries risks, notably groping, harassment or worse.\n\n## Stay healthy\n\nJapan is a country **obsessed with cleanliness** and health hazards are few and far between. Food hygiene standards are very high and there are no communicable diseases of significance.\n\n**Tap water** is safe and of good quality throughout the country. Domestic and foreign brands of bottled water are available for ¥100-200 everywhere (at least in tourist destinations). Most restaurants serve filtered tap water for free. Unless specifically labeled \"mineral water\" (ミネラルウォーター *mineraru wōtā*), water in Japan has a low mineral concentration in general. Radioactivity levels in the water supply have been closely monitored in some areas since the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster, but found negligible as far as water used by civilians is concerned; also see the Tokyo government's daily reports.\n\nIf you do **become ill** with a cold or other sickness, purchase a mouth-covering, cloth surgical mask. You will find that people frequently wear these out on trains and on the job. This filters your sneezing and coughing so you do not transmit to others.\n\n**Second-hand smoke** used to be a massive issue in Japan, but public transport, public buildings and most offices are now smoke-free, with increasing numbers of cities banning smoking entirely outside designated smoking areas. Since 2020, even restaurants in Tokyo only allow smoking in dedicated, separately ventilated smoking sections.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk113", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Despite the name, **Japanese encephalitis** has been virtually eradicated from Japan. The main reservoir of the virus is pigs, so vaccination is unnecessary unless you plan on spending time at rural hog farms.\n\n### Healthcare\n\nMedical facilities in Japan are on par with the West, and the better known hospitals are usually equipped with the most cutting edge medical technology. For Japanese citizens and residents, the cost of medical treatment is made affordable by the government's national health insurance system. However, for those not covered by it, the cost of medical treatment is expensive. While foreigners in Japan for an extended period (eg. those on Work or Student visas) are allowed access to the national health insurance system on the same terms as citizens, it is not available to tourists on short visits, so be sure to have your travel insurance in order before your trip. However, if you have not made arrangements prior to arrival for any reason, Sompo Japan sells travel insurance for visitors that can be applied for online after arrival.\n\nMost Japanese doctors and nurses are unable to communicate in English. The website of the US embassy maintains a list of hospitals and clinics which have English-speaking staff available.\n\nJapan: the official guide (Japan National Tourist Organization). A guide for when you are feeling ill in Japan. List of medical institutions with English-speaking staff and how to use medical institutions is available.\nJapan Visitor Hotline . The Japan National Tourism Organization has a 24/7 visitor hotline. Also respond to inquiries related to the COVID-19. Information about COVID-19\n\n## Stay safe\n\nthumb|Police boxes (交番 kōban)\n\nJapan is one of the safest countries in the world, with crime rates significantly lower than that of most countries.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk114", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "***Kōban*** (交番), usually translated as **police boxes**, can be found in nearly every neighborhood, identified by a flashing red light. The police are generally helpful (although they rarely speak English), so ask if you get lost or have any trouble. They usually have a detailed map of the area around showing the difficult-to-understand numbering system and the names of major buildings to help to find your way. You can report accidents and petty crimes at a *kōban*, but for serious crimes or other police services, go to a police station (警察署 *keisatsusho*).\n\nReport any thefts or lost items at the *kōban*. They have forms in English and Japanese, often referred to as the \"Blue Form\". For lost items, even cash, filling out this form is not wasted effort, as Japanese people will very often take lost items, even a wallet full of cash, to the *kōban*. If you happen to find such an item, take it to the *kōban*. If the item is not claimed within six months, it is yours. If it is claimed, you may be due a reward of 5-15%.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk115", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "To call the **police** in an emergency, dial **110** (110番 *hyakutoban*). To call for an **ambulance** or the **fire services**, dial **119**. Some Japanese public phones have a red emergency button on the lower panel; press this and then dial. In Tokyo, operators proficient in English and other languages are available; elsewhere, they should usually be able to reach an English translator who will have a three-way conversation with you and the dispatcher. In Tokyo, you can report non-emergencies and get translation in English, Korean, and Chinese from the General Advisory Center at ; it is available M-F 08:30-17:15 except on holidays. Similar services are available from any prefecture's police headquarters by calling **#9110** (although in some locations you may need to use a local phone number instead), although fewer foreign languages may be available.\n\n### Crimes and scams\n\nStreet crime is extremely rare, even for female travellers roaming the streets alone late at night, but it is still no excuse to ditch your common sense. Women travelling alone should take care as they would in their home countries and never hitchhike alone, though taxis are usually safe.\n\nPickpocketing does sometimes happen: be sure to take the usual precautions in crowded places such as trains and at Narita Airport.\n\nWomen on crowded rush-hour trains may be targeted by molesters (痴漢 *chikan*). Some trains have female-only carriages during rush hour in an effort to combat sexual harassment and upskirting.\n\nA lot of heavy drinking goes on in the evenings and occasionally drunks may be a nuisance, although alcohol-related violence is extremely rare.\n\nThe infamous *yakuza* (ヤクザ), the Japanese gangsters, do not target people not already involved in organized crime. Don't bother them and they will not bother you.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk116", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Red-light districts in large cities can be seedy, but are rarely dangerous for visitors. However, some smaller backstreet bars and shops that tout themselves on the street have been known to lay down exorbitant cover charges or drink prices. In some extreme cases, foreigners have reported being drugged at such establishments and then charged as much as ¥700,000 for drinks that they do not remember ordering (notably in the Roppongi and Kabukichō districts of Tokyo). Never go into a place that is suggested by someone that you just met. This goes especially for the street touts in places like Kabukichō. Touting is illegal in Japan.\n\n#### Fake Buddhist monks\n\nBogus monks often wait outside touristy shrines and temples and approach you to ask for donations or sell you religious trinkets; you should *not* give any money to them. Japanese Buddhism is part of the Mahayana school: monks and nuns do not go on alms rounds, and instead prepare their own food in the monastery. If you wish to make a donation, you should do it at the offering box or the office in the temple; genuine temples will never use high-pressure tactics to solicit donations. Genuine monks and nuns will also never sell you religious items in the street; if you want to buy some Buddhist trinkets, do so at the temple shop.\n\n### Prostitution\n\nthumb|alt=優良無料案內所 Free information、団体様なら最初の１セット¥0、団体様0円セク、ギャバクラ|Do not go anywhere just because you see someone offer ''something'' free\nProstitution is illegal in Japan, but creative interpretation of the letter of the law combined with lenient policing means that Japan still has a large and vibrant sex industry, mostly geared towards the domestic market. Foreign customers are by and large not welcome, and even establishments that accept them often tack on a hefty \"foreigner tax\".", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk117", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "HIV remains a concern, and infection rates for syphilis have been surging in the 2020s, particularly in Tokyo.\n\nIn large cities, especially in red-light districts, there are some kiosks labeled \"free information centers\" (無料案内所); these provide information for **sex-related businesses**. If you need general visitors' information, look for a Tourist Information Center (観光案内所) instead. Also be aware that in Japan, the term \"health\" is often used as a euphemism for prostitution that stops short of actual coitus, but you can tell what type of service is being offered from the Japanese name: the pseudo-English term ヘルス (*herusu*) is only used to refer to sexual services, while legitimate health establishments will use the Sino-Japanese term 健康 (*kenkō*).\n\n### Traffic\n\nContrary to its reputation for very efficient and comprehensive public transport, outside of Tokyo, Japan is a very car-centric culture. Street patterns in much of the country have remained unchanged for centuries, so many roads are small and full of blind corners.\n\nJapanese drivers treat traffic lights differently than other drivers. When the light is green at a pedestrian crossing near an intersection, Japanese drivers will often turn onto you. Usually, they will turn halfway and then stop, allowing you to cross, though it is not unheard of for them to charge forwards at full speed, ignoring people who are crossing. Crossing the street when the light is red is illegal, and this is sometimes enforced.\n\n### Gay and lesbian travellers", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk118", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Japan is considered to be very safe for gay and lesbian travellers, and violence against homosexuals is quite rare. There are no laws against homosexuality in Japan, and major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka have a large gay scene, but same-sex relationships are not recognized by the government, and open displays of your orientation are still likely to draw stares and whispers.\n\n### Discrimination\n\nthumb|Japanese only\n\nJapan is one of the world's most ethnically homogeneous countries, and many Japanese continue to have insular attitudes towards foreigners. Although Article 14 of the Japanese constitution promotes equality and discourages discrimination, the reality is that there are no specific laws against racial or ethnic discrimination. Immigrants and half-Japanese people are sometimes subjected to abuse and discrimination. The tourism boom since the end of COVID has led to a spike in anti-foreigner, in particular anti-Chinese sentiment, and many Japanese politicians and activists are riding this wave into high office.\n\nThe average tourist is *unlikely* to experience racist abuse in any way, shape, or form, and violent attacks against foreigners are virtually unheard of. A few establishments, particularly in the nightlife/sex industry, will refuse entry to all foreigners. Many Japanese claim that the prohibitions are due to language barriers or perceived social incompatibility (for example, foreigners may not understand proper etiquette) and not racism, and indeed some (but not all) places that usually refuse service to foreigners may make an exception if you are able to speak Japanese or bring a Japanese friend. Some establishments may ban foreigners of specific nationalities, with Chinese citizens being the most common targets.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk119", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Banks are often reluctant or unwilling to give cash advances to foreigners, stemming mainly from stereotypes of untrustworthiness. If you need to get a cash advance from your bank then Japanese language proficiency, or a Japanese friend to vouch for you, will strongly help your case.\n\nJapanese people in general are quite self-conscious about their English skills and fear that their English ability might be evaluated by others. For that reason, some may be hesitant to talk to you. Communicating with them in Japanese or complimenting their English might help put them at ease.\n\n### Earthquakes and tsunamis\n\nthumb|[[Mount Aso]], one of the world's largest volcanic calderas\nthumb|In towns neighbouring frequently erupting volcanoes, there are shelters to protect yourself from volcanic bombs\n\nJapan is **prone to earthquakes** (地震, *jishin*). The entire country is situated on four converging tectonic plates that constantly rub against together. Earthquakes in Japan can be very destructive and violent.\n\nEvery few days, somewhere in Japan is rattled by a quake large enough to be felt, but most of them are completely harmless. Japan is well-prepared for such disasters, though, and has very strict building codes that require buildings to be engineered to withstand major earthquakes. Japan has an early warning system that detects earthquakes and notifies areas that will be affected, giving from a few seconds up to a minute's notice. Use this invaluable time to cover up before the actual jolt.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk120", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you are by the sea and experience even a moderate quake, look for **tsunami** warnings (also in English) on NHK TV (channel 1) and Radio 2 (693 kHz). Most tremors and small quakes will merit only a scrolling announcement in Japanese at the top of the screen. If you are near the sea and experience a major earthquake, **evacuate to high ground immediately**; do not wait for a warning.\n\nEvery neighborhood has an evacuation area, most often the local playground. Many schools are set up as temporary shelters. They will be labeled in English. If you are travelling with others, plan to meet there and be aware that portable telephones will likely not work.\n\nThere are lots of resources to learn about and prepare for disasters. It almost goes without saying, but this should be done **in advance**. Once a disaster strikes, you may have neither the time nor the ability to go online and read a lengthy document.\n '''Disaster Prevention Portal Site''' – From the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism\n '''Japan Official Travel App''' – The Japan National Tourist Organization's app includes safety information\n **Disaster Preparedness Tokyo** – Handbook from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Hundreds of pages about earthquake safety, disaster preparation, and survival.\n\n### Drugs\n\n**Drug laws** in Japan are stricter than those in many Western countries, particularly for smuggling, and there is a strong stigma against drug consumption in Japanese society. Laws **do not distinguish between hard and soft drugs**, so possession of even personal-use quantities of cannabis can land you a prison sentence of several years. Drug trafficking is punishable by up to **life imprisonment**.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk121", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you have **prescription drugs**, check with the Japanese Embassy prior to your departure to find out whether your medicine is allowed in Japan. If it is illegal, they should also be able to give you information regarding what medicines you can buy in Japan to use in place of your prescription while you are there.\n\nMedicines containing stimulants (like Adderall or Vicks inhalers with pseudoephedrine) are strictly banned under the Stimulants Control Law. Do not bring them.\n\n### Animals\n\nthumb|Asian Giant Hornet\nThere are **venomous snakes** called *habu* (ハブ) in Okinawa, although not in unusual numbers. You are unlikely to be bitten by one, but if you are, seek medical help immediately, as anti-venoms are available.\n\n**Bears** have become an issue in Japan. Besides general information about bears, check if your destination has any bear incidents. Attacks are rare, but if you are hiking in Hokkaido or Honshu, especially in mountainous areas or the Shiretoko Peninsula in autumn, consider buying a *bear bell* (熊鈴 kuma-suzu) and attaching it to your backpack to scare them away.\n\nEspecially in the countryside, be aware of the **Japanese giant hornet** (大雀蜂 or 大スズメバチ *ōsuzumebachi*), a subspecies of the Asian giant hornet; it is about long and can sting repeatedly and painfully. Every year, 20–40 people die in Japan after being stung by giant hornets. A hornet defending its nest or feeding spot will make a clicking sound to warn away intruders; if you encounter one, retreat. If you are stung, receive prompt medical attention, as prolonged exposure to the venom could cause *permanent injury* or even *death*.\n\n### Other", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk122", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Volcanoes, storms and typhoons are primarily a potential issue if you are mountain-climbing or sailing, so check the latest information before heading out. Stick to designated footpaths in volcanic areas as volcanic gas may be an issue. Typhoons are rarely physically dangerous, but they still wreak havoc with the schedules of planes, ferries and, if there are landslides, trains and buses.", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk123", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nthumb|Japanese sockets\n\nJapan uses the same Type A two-pin and Type B three-pin electrical sockets as North America. The two-pin socket is much more common even in new construction, and older ones are unpolarized meaning they won't accept plugs where one blade is wider than the other. To deal with these, if you don't already own travel adapters, you can instead get a \"grounding adapter\" at your local hardware store. Electricity is delivered at 100V (somewhat lower than the 120V used in North America), and at 50 Hz (eastern half of Japan) or 60 Hz (western half). These only make a difference for large items like household appliances; the vast majority of overseas electronic devices like phone chargers and laptops will work fine in Japan.\n\n### Media\n\nThe Japanese-language national newspapers *Yomiuri Shimbun* (読売新聞) and *Asahi Shimbun* (朝日新聞) are the two most widely circulated newspapers in the world. Other major national newspapers include the *Mainichi Shimbun* (毎日新聞) and *Sankei Shimbun* (産経新聞). *The Nikkei* (日本経済新聞) is Japan's main financial newspaper, and the most widely-circulated financial newspaper in the world.\n\n***The Japan Times*** (¥200 daily, ¥250 Sunday) from Tokyo is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper, and is sold bundled with *The New York Times International Weekly*. *Yomirui Shimbun* also prints English-language ***The Japan News*** daily, and *The Nikkei Weekly* (日経ウィークリー) covers business news from Japan every Monday. Many other English publications have gone online-only.\n\n### Noise\n\nUrban areas in Japan can be incredibly noisy, with a cacophony of clattering pachinko parlors, jingles playing on repeat at discount stores, and machines looping recorded messages warning you that the traffic light is green or the truck is reversing. If you're sensitive to noise, bring headphones to block out some of the noise.\n\n### Toilets", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk124", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Cope", "text": "Public toilets can be found in railway and metro stations, larger supermarkets, shopping complexes, department stores, and parks. Public toilets in Japan are free. Convenience stores and fast food outlets may not welcome use of their toilets by non-customers. Public toilets in Japan are generally quite clean and often include disinfectant for cleaning the seat. A lack of toilet paper seems to be a problem of the past.\n\nYou will find both Western-style porcelain thrones for sitting and floor-level units for squatting. (If you're unfamiliar with these, it's simple: pull your pants down to your knees, and squat facing the curved hood of the toilet. Get closer to the hood than it looks like you need to, or else you might miss.)\n\nIn private homes and home-style accommodations, you will often find **toilet slippers**, which are to be worn inside the toilet and *only* inside the toilet.\n\n### Washlets\n\nMost visitors come away impressed by the undeniable fact that Japan is the world's leader in **toilet technology**. High-tech devices known as **washlets** (ウォシュレット) incorporate features like seat warmers, hot air dryers and tiny robotic arms that squirt water. The device is operated via a control panel and may incorporate over 30 buttons (all labeled in Japanese) at first glance bearing more resemblance to a Space Shuttle navigation panel than your average WC.\n\nthumb|A typical washlet control panel. The five large controls are \"stop\", \"buttocks\" (normal and soft), \"bidet\", and \"dry\". The buttons below control the \"move\" and \"massage\" features, while to the right are \"water force\" (strong or weak) and \"nozzle position\" (forwards or back).", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk125", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Cope", "text": "The first key to solving the puzzle is that the actual flush mechanism is usually *not* operated by the control panel: instead, there is a lever, switch, button, or knob somewhere and it is thus entirely possible to take care of your business without using the washlet features. (In rare cases, mostly with very high-end gear, flushing is integrated; if lifting your bottom off the seat doesn't do the trick, look for buttons labeled 大 or 小, meaning a big or small flush respectively, on a wireless control panel on the wall.) Otherwise, the button for flushing will always be at the far end of the panel and have a large \"whirlpool\" picture on it.\n\nThe second key to exploration is that there is always a big red button labeled 止 with the standard \"stop button\" symbol ⏹ on the panel — pressing this will instantly *stop everything*. Older models have a lever nearby that controls the flow of a sprayer.\n\nTypical additional controls include the following:\n *Oshiri* (おしり) - \"buttocks\", for spraying your rear - typically shown in blue with a stylized butt icon; this action can be unnerving, but travelers should not be afraid - by the second or third attempt it will seem normal\n *Bidet* (ビデ) - for spraying your front - typically shown in pink with a female icon\n *Kansō* (乾燥) - \"dry\", for drying off when finished - typically yellow with a wavy air icon\n\nOther, smaller buttons can be used to adjust the exact pressure, angle, location and pulsation of the jet of water. Sometimes the seat of the toilet is heated, and this can also be regulated. To be polite and save energy, you should leave the cover down on heated toilet seats.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk126", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Cope", "text": "Some washlets have built-in *scent removers/cover-uppers*, which may or may not have a button that allows for manual control. If there is no button that allows you to control it, it will (hopefully) turn off when the toilet senses that the lid is down.\n\n### Rubbish bins\n\nNo, it isn't just your imagination! There are almost no rubbish bins in Japan, anywhere. You are supposed to take your trash home with you.\n\nAbout 30% of the vending machines have bins for the bottles they sell. You are supposed to take off the lid and throw it in a separate place. Also supermarkets mostly have recycle bins for bottles, milk cartons, food packaging, but not for general waste.\n\nThough, some 7-Elevens have a bin for general waste and in public toilets you might be lucky and find a general waste bin.\n\n### Laundry\n\nCoin laundries are common in Japan.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk127", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Most Japanese are very understanding of a foreigner not conforming instantly to their culture; indeed, many believe that their language and culture are among the most difficult to understand in the world, so they are generally quite happy to assist you if you appear to be struggling. However, Japanese will appreciate it if you follow at least the rules below, many of which boil down to social norms of strict cleanliness and avoiding intruding on others (*meiwaku*).\n\nThe post-COVID tourism boom has led to a spike in anti-foreigner sentiment in heavily-touristed areas like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, due to the misbehavior of many foreign tourists. Follow the law, be polite, be considerate and try your best to adhere to Japanese cultural norms.\n\n### Things to avoid\n\nJapanese people tend to be tolerant of blunders in this regard by foreigners. There are a few serious etiquette breaches that will meet with universal disapproval (even when demonstrated by foreigners) and should be avoided if at all possible:\n\nNever walk on a **tatami mat** wearing shoes or even slippers, as it would damage the tatami.\n Never leave your **chopsticks** standing upright in a bowl of rice (this is how rice is offered to the dead).\n Never enter a **bathtub** without washing yourself thoroughly first. (See *Public baths in Japan* for details.)\n\n### Things to do", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk128", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Learn a little of the **language**, and try to use it. They will be complimentary if you try, and there is no reason to be embarrassed. They realize that Japanese is very difficult for foreigners and are tolerant about your mistakes; on the contrary, they will like you more for trying.\n The average Japanese person **bows** over 100 times a day; this ubiquitous gesture of respect is used for greeting, saying farewell, thanking, accepting thanks, apologizing, accepting apologies, etc. Men bow with their hands to their sides. Women bow with their hands together in front. Women's hands look like they are settled in their lap when bowing (not in a prayer position). The exact degree of the bow depends on your position in society relative to the receiver of the bow and on the occasion: the largely unwritten rules are complex, but for foreigners, a \"token bow\" is fine, and better than accidentally performing a deep formal bow. Many Japanese will gladly offer a handshake instead or in addition; just be careful that you don't bump heads when trying to do both at the same time.\n When you are **handing something to someone**, especially a business card, it is considered polite to present it holding it with both hands.\n **Business cards** in particular are treated very respectfully and formally. How you treat someone's card is seen as representing how you will treat the person. When accepting a card, use both hands to pick it up by the corners, and take the time to read the card and confirm how to pronounce the person's name. It's disrespectful to write on a card, fold it, or place it in your back pocket (where you'll sit on it!).\n Registers often have a small dish used to give your payment and receive change.\n When giving money as a gift (such as a tip at a ryokan), you should get pristine unused bills from the bank, and present them in a formal envelope.\n When you are **drinking sake or beer in a group**, it is polite not to fill your own glass but to allow someone else to do it. Typically, glasses are refilled well before they are empty. To be especially polite, hold up your own glass with both hands while one of your companions fills it. (It's fine to refuse, but you have to do so frequently; otherwise, a senior person at your table might fill your glass when you're not looking.)\n **Gift-giving** is big in Japan. If you'll be meeting friends, relatives, colleagues or business partners, it'll be appreciated if you give them a souvenir (*omiyage*), ideally something small, consumable and representative of your home country: candy, cookies, alcohol, soap and stationery are popular options. The wrapping of the gift is at least as important as the contents, and if you're giving the gift to a group like a family or office, it should be shareable and individually portioned. Don't be surprised to get return gifts to balance out the obligation they incurred by receiving gifts from you!\n In the unlikely event you are invited to a Japanese home, a gift is basically mandatory. An easy option is to visit a department store basement, which has beautifully packed gift boxes of food for this purpose. Flowers work too, but consult a florist to avoid accidentally giving a funeral or romantic bouquet.\n Gifts of money are expected for major events like weddings and funerals. Numerous rules of etiquette too complex to cover here apply, so consult a local for guidance regarding amounts, proper presentation, etc.\n **Expressing gratitude** is slightly different from obligatory gift-giving. Even if you brought a gift for your Japanese host, once you return, it is a sign of good etiquette to send a handwritten thank-you card: it will be much appreciated. Japanese guests always exchange photos that they have taken with their hosts so you should expect to receive some snapshots and should prepare to send yours (of you and your hosts together) back to them. Depending on their age and the nature of your relationship (business or personal), an online exchange may suffice.\n **Humility** is highly valued in Japan, and bragging about your achievements will not be well-received. It is also customary to politely turn down any compliments you receive from others. Don't say \"thank you\" to a compliment, as that will come across as arrogant.\n It's obligatory to show respect for **the elderly and authority figures** in Japan. If you're on public transportation, give up your seat for them. If someone in a position of authority requests you to do something, you are expected do it. Japanese authority figures take a very dim view of people who challenge or undermine them. Some priority seats (優先席 *yūsenseki*, or シルバーシート *shirubā shīto*, \"silver seats\") on many trains are set aside for the disabled, elderly, pregnant women, and people with infants.\n There are not many **trash cans** in public; you may have to carry around your trash for a while before finding one. Japan is very conscious of **recycling**. Most disposable containers are labelled with a recycling symbol in Japanese indicating what type of material it is. Some types of recycling bins you'll often see are:\n Paper (紙 *kami*)\n PET/Plastic (ペット *petto* or プラ *pura*)\n Glass bottles (ビン *bin*)\n Metal cans (カン *kan*)\n Burnable trash (もえるゴミ *moeru gomi*)\n Non-burnable trash (もえないゴミ *moenai gomi*)\n **Punctuality** is highly valued, and generally expected thanks to Japan's reliable public transit. If you're meeting someone and it looks like you'll arrive even a few minutes late, Japanese prefer the reassurance of a phone call or message if you can send one. Being on time (which really means being early) is even more important in business; Japanese employees might get scolded for arriving even one minute late to work in the morning.\n When riding on Shinkansen and limited express trains, it is considered good manners to ask for permission from the person behind you before reclining your seat (*\"Isu o taoshite mo ii desu ka?\"*), to which they will almost always oblige. Likewise, the passenger sitting in front of you would often do the same to you, and you should respond with a nod of your head.", "word_count": 1030}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk129", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Other things", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk130", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Please take off your shoes\n Hospitality in Japan means giving visitors and guests the very best, no matter how much it inconveniences the host. For example, asking for directions on the street can sometimes prompt the stranger to go out of their way to walk you all the way to your destination. You'll particularly notice this during a homestay, where you'll be offered use of the bath before the rest of the family, and may be given the host's bed while they sleep on the couch. In Western culture it would be polite to refuse such accommodation, but in Japanese culture you should apologize for inconveniencing them, which serves as acceptance of their generosity. Similarly, while entertaining guests it's common for the host to putter around busily in the kitchen and elsewhere, which is meant to create an air of \"all your needs are being met\"; rather than offering to help them, you should just sit and enjoy the peaceful moment they're offering for you.\n **Shoes** (and feet in general) are considered very dirty by the Japanese. Avoid pointing your soles at anybody (such as resting your foot on the opposite knee when seated) and try to restrain children from standing up on seats. Brushing your feet against somebody's clothing, even by accident, is very rude.\n In many buildings, you're expected to **take your shoes off** when you enter, leaving them in a lowered entryway or a shoe locker. You can borrow slippers if any are available (although they are usually only in sizes for typically smaller Japanese feet), wear socks or go bare foot.\n Wearing shoes inside such a building is seen as disrespectful, as it brings dirt and/or evil spirits inside the building. For related reasons, it's preferred if you can both remove and put on your shoes using your hands as little as possible.\n In some traditional settings, you may be expected to sit in *seiza* posture, **kneeling** on the floor. This is the traditional way to sit on tatami mats, with or without a cushion. However, today even most younger Japanese can't sit this way for more than a few minutes without their legs going numb, so most foreigners have no hope. Give it a try to be respectful, but when your legs start aching, say *\"Sumimasen\"* (\"Excuse me\") and change your posture to something less formal but still polite: men may sit cross-legged, and women usually sit with both legs to one side.\n The Japanese consider **back slaps** rude, especially if they're coming from someone they just met. **Hugging** is typically reserved only for romantic couples.\n Point with an **open hand**, not a finger, and tell people to come by waving your hand facing **down**, not up.\n Avoid shouting or talking **loudly** in public. Talking on a mobile phone on a train is considered rude, and many trains have signs advising you not to use them. (Sending text messages, however, is considered *de rigueur*.)\n **Blowing your nose** in public is considered rude, much like flatulence. (Quietly dabbing at a runny nose with a tissue is fine.)\n **Smoking** is increasingly banned in public. Most smokers will be found huddled around designated smoking areas.\n **Saving face** is a very important concept in Japanese culture. Particularly in business settings, Japanese people will rarely say \"no\" if they are not interested in a deal, and would instead say something more indirect such as \"I'll think about it\" or \"maybe\" instead. Body language is also used for this in place of words; if your question is met by someone **loudly breathing in through their teeth**, sometimes accompanied by scratching the back of the head (a gesture that conveys embarrassment), the answer is actually \"no\". Unless it is by a boss or someone from a position of seniority, mistakes are typically not pointed out, and doing so will likely cause major embarrassment.\n **Privacy** is highly valued in Japan. Always ask for permission before photographing people, even in public.\n The word **four** (四 *shi*) sounds like \"death\" (死 *shi*), so many Japanese buildings skip floor 4 entirely.", "word_count": 675}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk131", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Sensitive issues\n\nJapanese people generally do not discuss their country's **politics** openly and freely. Initiating political discussions might come across as awkward or even rude. \n Japan's territorial disputes and complicated relationships with Russia, China, and the two Koreas are sensitive issues that are best not discussed.\n **World War II** — a touchy and complicated topic, especially with older people. While it is generally best avoided, the vast majority of Japanese people bear no animosity against the United States, and American visitors will get a particularly warm welcome, as most Japanese admire American culture.\n Try not to discuss the inappropriate behavior of some American soldiers stationed in Japan.\n Avoid talking about Japan's historical marginalization of the Ainu and Ryukyuan people, as well as the Burakumin, as these can engender strong reactions from some locals.\n\n### Dress\n\nFor most tourists, dressing for daily sightseeing in Japan puts you at a disadvantage: you will most likely stand out, no matter how you dress, next to the throngs of *salarymen* (male office workers) in suits and children in school uniforms. Japan is known for being very fashionable, whether dressing in kimono, tailored suits, or the latest trends from Harajuku.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk132", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "First and foremost: **wear shoes that can easily slip off and on, and keep a pair of socks handy as needed**. Athletic shoes are acceptable, but keep them tied loosely so you can slip them off and on. Dress shoes are acceptable as well, as are quality walking sandals (not flip-flops), although sandals are not common outdoor wear for locals. Japanese culture sees shoes as being dirty, and before entering someone's house, certain restaurants, dressing rooms, and temples (to name a few), you *must* remove your shoes. The older generation of Japanese tend to group steps into two types: wooden (\"clean\") and concrete or stone (\"dirty\"). If you are going to be stepping on to wood, take your shoes off and place them to the side; there might even be a cubby hole for you to put your shoes in.\n\nAnd **don't forget socks,** as it's generally more common to wear socks when in temples and houses, if you don't have slippers available. Japanese people are known for their love of socks, and sock stores selling high quality and colorful socks are found in most cities. Many of the socks sold in Japan are made there. So, bring a pair of socks in your bag while you're sightseeing, if you aren't wearing them. Tights are acceptable for women. Footsies and under the ankle socks are handy, especially if you're going for the \"no socks\" look.\n\nShorts are uncommon, and generally only worn by children and teens. Though a common item in tourist summer apparel, instead try stylish jeans or slacks, or capri pants for keeping cool in warm weather. In the summer, women wear sun dresses from trendy stores and breathable slacks made of fabrics like linen. Keep it stylish and comfortable.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk133", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "In business situations, suits are standard; companies will let you know if you can or should wear casual dress. Suits are worn out for after work drinks and entertainment.\n\nFor clubbing and nights out, dress casual cool. Japanese women generally do not wear skin tight, super short dresses and cleavage is rarely shown, unless at the beach. Women dressed in tight short dresses and very sexy looks are often stereotyped as sex workers or escorts. When visiting Tokyo, for example, you will see young women and men dressed in subculture styles, such as Harajuku, Lolita, and punk.\n\nIf you plan on visiting a hot spring or public bath, they're almost always used nude (except for rare mixed-gender baths). For men, speedos or trunks are fine at a bath that allows bathing suits; for the beach, boardshorts are also okay. For women, a modest swimsuit is better than a skimpy bikini if you're visiting a bath that allows bathing suits; for the beach, bikinis are okay. At public or private pools, you may have to wear a swimming cap; they may be provided for you, or you can bring your own.\n\n#### Accessories", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk134", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Japan in the summer can be extremely warm and humid. The Japanese frequently wipe sweat from their face with a colorful **handkerchief** (ハンカチ *hankachi*), use a **fan** (扇子 *sensu* for a folding fan, 団扇 *uchiwa* for a flat fan) to keep themselves cool, or (for women) use **umbrellas** (傘 *kasa*) to shade themselves. Purchasing one or all of these items is not only a smart way to stay cool, but can provide a lasting memento from your visit. In historic and tourism areas you will find shops selling beautiful fans and umbrellas. Both are affordable investments, though they can be pricey if you wish to have a real work of art. However, most Japanese use cheap but beautiful fans – many made in China – in their every day life, only to replace them when they become hard to close or worn. Cheap flat paper fans are often distributed for free at festivals and events.\n\nTraditional umbrellas can be bought at gift shops, and stylish umbrellas for rain and shine can be purchased at women's accessory and clothing stores throughout the country. Handkerchiefs are popular for both men or women. Some look like traditional cotton handkerchiefs you'd use to blow your nose, others are small towels. Japan's fabulous *depāto* (department stores) carry all colors, makes and models of these necessities. It's an affordable luxury – you can find men's and women's handkerchiefs from high end designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry for ¥1,500 or less. You'll also find locally made versions in gift shops and stores throughout the country. Keep them in your purse or pocket, and wipe your brow when necessary.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk135", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Rain umbrellas** are often cheap plastic, and available at every convenience store for about ¥500. Since they all look alike, they're sometimes treated as a communal resource. When you go in a store, you leave yours at the door, and when you leave, you simply grab an identical one, whether or not it was the one you brought. Some stores instead have bags to keep your umbrella from dripping on the floor. Hostels usually have umbrellas to lend, as do some other lodgings and businesses. Rather than toting your own umbrella around, you may find it more convenient to buy a cheap one (if you even need to), \"donate\" it to your hostel, and buy a new one in your next city.\n\n### Religion\n\nReligious freedom is respected by most Japanese, and people of all faiths are generally able to practise their religion without any major problems. You are expected to dress and behave in a respectful manner whenever you visit religious sites.\n\nAs in many other Asian countries, swastikas are Buddhist symbols representing peace and do not represent Nazism or antisemitism in any way, and you will notice the symbol is actually pointing in the opposite direction. Swastikas are often used on maps to mark the locations of Buddhist temples and monasteries.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk136", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Respect", "text": "When visiting a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple, follow the appropriate **cleansing procedure** at the *chōzuya* or *temizuya* before you enter. Using your right hand, fill the dipper with water. Rinse your left hand, then your right hand. Then, cup your left hand and fill it with water, using it to rinse your mouth. *Do not* touch the dipper directly with your mouth. Spit the water onto the rocks. After that, rinse your left hand one more time. Finally, turn the dipper upright so the remaining water spills down to rinse the handle before returning the dipper.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk137", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nInternational dialing prefixes vary from company to company. Check with your operator for more details. For international calls to Japan, the country code is **81**. Phone numbers in Japan have the format +81 3 1234-5678 where \"81\" is the country code for Japan, the next digits are the dialing zone where the local number is located (can contain from one to three digits) and the remaining digits (six to eight digits) are the \"local\" part. When calling within Japan, the long-distance prefix (trunk code) is **0**, and this is usually written in the number, like 03-1234-5678; when calling Japan from abroad, leave off the \"0\". Phone numbers starting with 0120 or 0800 are \"free-dial\" numbers, and are free to call from any landline (payphones included), while phone numbers starting with 0570 are \"navi-dial\" numbers, which are variable-rate numbers used by businesses (one number works nationwide, but you are charged based on the distance between your phone and the closest call center operated by the company).\n\nTo dial abroad from Japan, the **international access code** is **010** (or \"+\" on mobile phones). You may also need to dial a carrier code before the access code, either 001 (KDDI) or 0033 (NTT).\n\n#### Emergency call\n\nEmergency calls can be made from any phone (except VoIP phones) free of charge: call **110** for police or call **119** for fire and ambulance.\n\n#### Pay telephones\n\nA skeletal network of **payphones** (公衆電話 *kōshū denwa*) is kept as backup for emergencies. Train stations are usually the best place to find one. In the unlikely event that the mobile phone network is down due to some disaster and you need to call overseas, look for gray phones (they allow international calls), dial 0033-010-*number* and have plenty of ¥100 coins on hand.\n\n#### Mobile phones", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk138", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Connect", "text": "Modern Japanese **mobile phones** (携帯電話 *keitai denwa* or just *keitai*) use the global standards for 4G and newer. In a nutshell:\n\n**5G** phones should work in large cities.\n **4G**/**LTE** phones should work, but check your device's compatibility: your device may not support the frequency bands used in Japan.\n **3G** phones *will not work* in Japan after April 2026. \n **2G** phones *do not work* in Japan.\n\nIf your phone is up to spec, your operator will almost certainly have a roaming agreement with one of the major Japanese carriers: NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank, or Rakuten Mobile. Purchasing a roaming plan will likely cut costs significantly, especially if you plan on using lots of data. Coverage is generally excellent, unless you are heading to a remote mountainous area.\n\nIf you will be staying in Japan for a long time, consider buying a local SIM card. Data-only plans for visitors are easily available, getting a local phone number is possible but requires jumping through a few more hoops. The phone shops just outside Customs at all major Japanese airports are the easiest place to sort this out. For more information, please see Working and studying in Japan.\n\n#### Messaging\n\nAs much as anywhere else, Japanese use their phones more for messaging than phone calls. By far the most popular messaging app is **LINE**.\n\n### By mail\n\nthumb|Replica of the first Japanese mailbox, in exceptional black color\nPostal services are provided by **Japan Post**.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "japan::chunk139", "doc_id": "japan", "section": "Connect", "text": "You can send postcards to anywhere in the world for ¥100 (some postcards are sold with domestic postage of ¥85 included, so you may only have to pay for a supplemental ¥15 stamp when mailing). Red public **mail** deposit boxes (simply called *posuto* ポスト) are found throughout Japan. They usually have two slots, one for postcards and small letters, and the other for larger envelopes and overseas and express mail. (Slots are to help them sort mails - it doesn't matter if you choose the wrong slot.)\n\n#### Courier services\n\n**Courier services** (宅配便 *takuhaibin*) cannot carry letters, but are useful for sending packages, documents, and even luggage to/from airports, cities, and hotels. Golf clubs and skis/snowboards can be sent directly to the sporting destination. Couriers guarantee next-day delivery to practically all locations in Japan, excluding Okinawa and other far-flung islands, but including remote rural locations like ski resorts. You can send and receive items at most **convenience stores**, as well as hotels and airports.\n\nThe largest courier is Yamato Transport (ヤマト運輸 *Yamato Un'yū*), often called ***Kuro Neko*** (黒ねこ \"black cat\") after their logo, with their service known as TA-Q-BIN (宅急便 ''takkyūbin'' ), to the point that their trademark is often used colloquially to refer to all courier services in general. Other couriers include **Sagawa Express** and **Nittsu** (Nippon Express).\n\n### By internet\n\n**Public Wi-Fi** is reasonably common but almost always requires going through an annoying registration process. A simple way of getting around the registration process is the Japan Free Wi-Fi app by NTT, which will allow you to connect without having to register every time.\n\nIf you need access to a full computer, your best bet is Internet and manga cafés.", "word_count": 282}
diff --git a/corpus/japan/metadata.json b/corpus/japan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4793aa91c760022b14c5ac467757c366d28dbbdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/japan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "japan",
+ "title": "Japan",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Japan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Asia"
+ ],
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\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/japanese-alps/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/japanese-alps/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..542fbfa25b16f22fcdb25136805b4bf07bbbd8ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/japanese-alps/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk000", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|right|[[Tateyama]]'s Snow Corridor\n**Chūbu** (中部) is the central region of Japan's Honshu island, located at the border between West Japan and East Japan. There are many high-altitude mountains, such as Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The food culture is different for each region.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk001", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Chubu* means \"middle region\", reflecting its position straddling the two Japanese poles of Kansai and Kanto. Often ignored by foreign tourists, many of Chubu's best attractions are in the mountains, particularly Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps.\n\n### Tourist Information\n\nGo! Central Japan is a bilingual (English/Japanese) tourist guide site for the Chubu region, focusing on topics spanning more than one prefecture.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk002", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Prefectures", "text": "The Chūbu region covers a large and geographically diverse area of Honshū, which leads to it generally being divided into three distinct subregions: Tōkai, Kōshin'etsu, and Hokuriku.\n\n### Tōkai (東海)\n\n\"East Sea\" area, on the southern Pacific coast\n\n### Hokuriku (北陸)\n\n\"North Land\" area, the northwest part of the Chubu region\n\n### Kōshin'etsu (甲信越)\n\nThe eastern part of the Chubu region. The name is a kanji abbreviation of old province names: **甲**斐 (kai = Yamanashi), **信**濃 (shinano = Nagano) and **越**後 (echigo = Niigata)", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk003", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|240px|[[Kanazawa]]'s historic Higashi-Chayamachi teahouse district\n\n - Chubu's largest city by far\n - Castle ruins and historical gardens in this under-visited city \n - stylish historic city\n - famous for its historic castle\n - Japan's winter sports capital\n - Major port city on the northern coast\n - Medium sized city dating back to the Nara period\n - attractively preserved town and a good starting point for trips to the Japan Alps\n - Former castle town and centre for traditional medicine", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk004", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|240px|Open-air hot spring in the Oku-Hida Onsen Villages\n - one of Japan's Three Famous Hot Springs\n - Area with hotsprings and beaches near Tokyo\n - Beautiful mountainous resort that's closed in the winter\n - Valley with well-preserved post-towns\n - the world's most photographed mountain with great views from the Fuji Five Lakes\n - 5 remote hamlets full of stunning scenery and some of Japan's best hot springs\n - place of exile home to gold mines and the yearly Earth Celebration\n - a well-preserved historic village and World Heritage Site\n - popular ski and hot spring resort, the setting of *Snow Country* by Yasunari Kawabata, a Nobel laureate.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk005", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Talk", "text": "There are many people who speak in each dialect in this area. For example, some Niigata people use *ra* instead of standard copula *da* such as *～raro* instead of *～daro* (\"isn't it?\"). Shizuoka people use *～dara* instead of *～daro*. In Ishikawa and Toyama, people use *dara* as an abuse word meaning \"idiot\".", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk006", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n**Chubu Centrair International Airport** (), Japan's third major international gateway, is located on an artificial island 30 minutes south of Nagoya. Other airports that serve international routes are in Komatsu (), Shizuoka (), and Toyama (). They mostly fly to East Asian countries, mostly Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, and Shanghai. The other larger cities around the region generally only serve domestic flights.\n\n### By train\n\nTrue to the name, the Tokaido Shinkansen bisects the southern Tokai region and connects Shizuoka and Aichi with Tokyo and Kyoto by High-speed rail. Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa and Fukui can be reached from Tokyo by the Hokuriku Shinkansen. If accessing Niigata prefecture from Tokyo the Joetsu Shinkansen is your best bet. A couple non-bullet trains can be used to access Chubu. The most common non-shinkansen route is on the Thunderbird, limited express train connecting Osaka and Kyoto to Hokuriku Shinkansen terminus Tsuruga. If coming from Ise, Kintetsu Railway connects Ise with Nagoya by limited express train in 80 minutes. The Kumano region is connected with Nagoya by the Nanki limited express train. If accessing Niigata from the north the Uetsu line, connecting Niigata and Akita is your best bet.\n\n### By ferry", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk007", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Get in", "text": "A car ferry operated by Shin Nihonkai Ferry connects Tsuruga and Niigata to Akita in Tohoku and Tomakomai in Hokkaido runs once a week, along with that they also operate a ferry connecting Niigata to Otaru just east of Sapporo. Taiheiyo ferry connects Nagoya with Sendai and Tomakomai. Long Distance Journeys by ferry are much less efficient than the shinkansen and all of these routes take more than 18 hours however one may find them more comfortable and enjoyable than a train. Smaller ferries connect Toba in Mie prefecture with Tahara on the Atsumi Peninuesla. Tsu is also connected with Chubu Centrair International Airport by direct ferry. For those shorter routes the ferries are usually faster due to the indirect route that must be taken to travel overland and the slower trains in these areas. Ferries operate 4 times a day between Atami in Shizouka Prefecture and Izu Oshima, the largest of the Izu Islands.\n\n### By bus\n\nFor budget-conscious travellers, long-distance buses can function as cheaper alternative to trains and provide overnight accommodation for longer journeys to Chubu. Willer Express and Jr buses are the largest long-distance bus companies. The JR pass is not available on long-distance buses, but Willer Express offers a Japan Bus Pass that lasts for 3, 5 or 7 non-consecutive days. All major cities are served by long-distance buses from Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Kanazawa, Toyama and Niigata also are served by direct buses from Sendai. Nagoya is the city in the region best connected by long-distance buses, these buses connect cities like Matsuyama, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Izumo and Sendai directly with Nagoya.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk008", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Get in", "text": "**E1** and **1EA** are the numbers you should bear in mind when accessing the Tokai subregion. E1 consists of two expressways: one is the **Tomei Expressway** (東名高速道路) from the Tokyo end, the other one is the **Meishin Expressway** (名神高速道路) from the Osaka and Kobe end. While 1EA consists of the **Shin-Tomei Expressway** (新東名高速道路), the **Shin-Meishin Expressway** (新名神高速道路), and the **Isewangan Expressway** (伊勢湾岸自動車道). Both E1 and 1EA serve Tokai, but with different routes. Their notional route equivalent is the National Route 1 (国道1号). For Hokuriku and Koshinetsu, the Ban-etsu Expressway (磐越自動車道, E49) from the Fukushima can enter Niigata, while the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway (舞鶴若狭自動車道, E27) can enter Tsuruga. In addition, the **Kan-etsu Expressway** (関越自動車道, E17) from Kanto can also enter Nagaoka.\n\nHowever, given the traffic conditions in Tokyo and Osaka, it is better to rent a car from Nagoya (or Chubu Airport) directly.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk009", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\n### By train\n\nLike the rest of Japan, trains are the primary method of travel around Chubu. There are three Shinkansen routes in Chubu, the Tokaido Shinkansen connects Aichi and Shizuoka, the Joetsu Shinkansen provides access to Niigata but the Hokuriku Shinkansen is probably the most useful for travelling around Chubu as it connects Nagano to Kanazawa via Toyama. One should be aware that the Hokuriku Shinkansen's faster class, the *Kagayaki* requires reservations. The most useful non-Shinkansen route for travelling around Chubu is probably the Takayama main line, which connects Nagoya to Toyama, bisecting the region and serving Takayama, Gero and other tourist attractions. The largest private rail company in Chubu is Meitetsu, which operates trains around Nagoya to various destinations such as Nagoya's Airport and Inuyama.\n\n### By ferry\n\nThe main use of ferries in the Chubu region is access to Sado Island. Boats depart every three hours from Niigata to Ryotsu Port on the island's eastern side, and from Joetsu, boats depart to Ogi Port on the western side of the Island twice daily. All ferries to Sado are operated by Sado Kisen. Also in Niigata prefecture, Awashima is connected to Murakami. Shin Nihonkai Ferry offers a car ferry from Tsuruga to Niigata (and continues to Akita and Hokkaido). There are also many ferries around the Izu Peninsula. Suruga ferries connect Shizuoka and Toi, and Tokai Kisen connects Atami to Itō and Inatori.\n\n### By car\n\nIt makes sense to drive in Chubu, given its mountainous terrain. Some places are more convenient to drive to, such as the Noto Peninsula. Chubu is good for driving. It is unlikely to see heavy traffic in the region, even in Nagoya. Read details on Road Trip Adventures hosted by Chubu Airport.\n\nYou usually start your car trip from Nagoya, or use the Isewangan Expressway to enter Nagoya from Chubu airport. The E1 and 1EA expressways connect the cities of Tokai subregion, including Nagoya, Toyohashi, Hamamatsu, and Shizuoka. The **Hokuriku Expressway** (北陸自動車道, E8) connect the cities of Hokuriku and Koshinetsu subregions, including Kanazawa, Toyama, and Niigata. Other expressways connecting the subregions are the **Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway** (東海北陸自動車道, E41), **Chuo Expressway** (中央自動車道, E19 and E20), and the **Chubu-Odan Expressway** (中部横断自動車道, E52).\n\nThere are also many national routes available between cities. Be extra careful when using national routes in the mountains. Some of the most dangerous national routes in Japan are located in Chubu. Also, don't forget snow tires in winter.", "word_count": 409}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk010", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "See", "text": "### World heritage sites\n\n **Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace** - Part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining, Izunokuni\n **Shirakawa-go and Gokayama** - old farm houses that have been preserved, Shirakawa-go is the largest of the villages. Gokayama actually consists of two separate villages, Ainokura and Suganuma in Nanto, Toyama\n **Mount Fuji** While the mountain itself is included, the site is actually registered as a \"cultural\" listing consisting of more than 20 sites, including each of the Sengen Shrines around the mountain.\n\n### Castles\n\nthumb|250px|right|Matsumoto Castle\n\n#### Original castles\n\nThe Chubu region is home to 3 of the 12 original castles remaining in the country.\n **Inuyama Castle** Designated a National Treasure and one of the oldest castles in the nation\n **Maruoka Castle** Located in Sakai, it's a famous cherry blossom spot\n **Matsumoto Castle** An impressive black castle that sits in Matsumoto to the backdrop of the Japan Alps\n\n#### Reconstructed castles\n\n Nagoya Castle, Nagoya\n Okazaki Castle, Okazaki\n Kakegawa Castle, Kakegawa\n Hamamatsu Castle, Hamamatsu\n Gifu Castle, Gifu\n Ogaki Castle, Ogaki\n Gujo Hachiman Castle, Gujo\n Echizen Ono Castle, Ono\n Toyama Castle, Toyama\n Takada Castle, Joetsu\n Shibata Castle, Shibata\n\n#### Castle ruins\n\n Iwamura Castle, Ena\n Fukui Castle, Fukui\n Takaoka Castle, Takaoka\n Takato Castle, Ina\n Kasugayama Castle, Joetsu\n\n### Gardens\n\n **Kenrokuen Garden** - One of the official Top 3 gardens in the nation, it has been a favorite for decades. (Kanazawa)\n **Yokokan Garden** - Part of the Matsudaira Clan's second home (Fukui)\n **Shimizuen Garden** (Shibata)\n **Shiratori Garden** - An oft-forgotten gem in the region's largest city (Nagoya)\n\n### Temples\n\n **Zenkōji** National Treasure, Nagano\n **Eiheiji** a quiet mountain temple where visitors can meditate Eiheiji\n **Natadera** a secluded temple in Komatsu\n **Eihoji** A National Treasure with a scenic garden (Tajimi)\n\n### Shrines\n\nthumb|right|250px|Hundreds of fox statues at Toyokawa Inari in [[Toyokawa]] \n**Sengen Shrines** are shrines associated with Mount Fuji, and although there are Sengen Shrines outside of the Chubu area, the top are only here in Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture around the mountain.\n\n Atsuta Shrine, home to one of Japan's three Imperial Regalia Nagoya\n Togakushi Shrine in Nagano\n Toyokawa Inari Shrine, one of that top Inari shrines Toyokawa\n **Kunozan Toshogu Shrine**, Shizuoka\n\n### Museums\n\nChubu is home to many of Japan's top museums, most notable is Kanazawa's **21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art,** the most visited museum in Japan but the **D.T. Suzuki Museum** and the **Kaga Honda Museum** are also worthwhile museums in Kanazawa. As the largest city in the region Nagoya has many museums mostly relating to its industrial history, the **Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology** tells the story of Toyota's growth into the largest car company on earth and **SCMAGLEV and Railway Park** is one of Japan's top railway museums. The '''Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum''' in Katsuyama is the largest dinosaur museum in Japan and a must-visit for any dino lover. The remote **Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall** in Yaotsu commemorates Sugihara Chiune and the story of how he saved hundreds of Jews from the Holocaust.", "word_count": 501}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk011", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Do", "text": "### Winter sports\n\nthumb|Japow! There's a snowboarder somewhere in there\n\nIn the winter, cold, dry air from the Asian continent meets moist Pacific air, the result is a large amount of snow that falls in the Koshin'etsu district, also known as **Snow Country** (雪国 *Yukiguni*), since it receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan. This makes Chubu Japan's undisputed winter sports capital with attractions like Hakuba, main stage of the 1998 Winter Olympics; Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort; Myoko, Nozawa Onsen, Yuzawa and many more, all easily reached from Tokyo.\n\n### Hiking\n\nThe Japan Alps have some great hiking. Mount Fuji in Shizuoka is a symbol of Japan and a popular tourist attraction, both for viewing and climbing.\n\n### Amusement parks\n\nChubu has a couple amusement parks but they are mostly centred around Nagoya, **Legoland Japan** serves as Nagoya's biggest theme park, despite not falling in Chubu '''Nagashima Spa Land''' serves as a popular day-trip from Nagoya and is home to the Steel Dragon 2000, the longest rollercoaster in the world. Chubu's most visited amusement park is **Fuji-Q Highland** in Fujiyoshida and one can view Mt. Fuji while riding a rollercoaster there. Most medium-sized cities will have their own amusement park and the theming can vary wildly from park to park.\n\n### Onsens\n\nthumb|Snow monkeys, [[Yamanouchi]]\n\nChubu has a wide variety of Onsens ranging from Onsens in the mountains of the Japanese Alps to those found in multi-story bathouses. The most famous Onsen in Chubu is probably **Yamanouchi** where the hot-springs are not meant for humans but for monkeys instead, there is **Shibu Onsen** near the Monkey Park where humans can Bathe. The Japan alps is full of onsens with the '''Oku-hida''' **region** providing stunning views of the Japan Alps from an onsen. The **Fuji Five Lakes** are perhaps the best place to view **Mt. Fuji** from an onsen yet it is overshadowed by Hakone in Kanto. There are also many urban onsen resorts like Gero Onsen, one of Japan's top 3 onsens and Kaga Onsen outside of Kanazawa.", "word_count": 341}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk012", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Hatchō miso udon\nChubu's regions all have their local specialities, with the coastal regions specializing in seafood while the inland prefectures are renowned for their meat such as *Hida Beef* in Takayama, J*ibuni* (治部煮), duck stew in Kanazawa or *Inago no Tsukudami* (いなごの佃煮), grasshoppers grilled with sweet soy sauce in Nagano. Niigata is known for its high quality, Koshihikari rice. Some of the better known seafood dishes of the region are *Hotaru ika* (蛍烏賊. lit. \"firefly squid\") found in Toyama and Sushi is a staple of Kanazawa. Most areas in Chubu will have their speciality noodle, Nagano is famous for *Togakushi Soba,* one of Japan's top 3 sobas and Fukui specializes in *Oroshi Soba.* Yamanashi specializes in *Udon*, the two most famous style of udon in Yamanashi are *Yoshida no Udon* and *Houtou*, a stewed udon (though locals consider it a dumpling). Aichi is famous for its *red miso* which is placed on everything from *Katsu* to *Udon,* Okazaki outside of Nagoya produces *Hatchō miso* (八丁味噌) which was once served to Japan's emperors. Due to the large numbers of Ryokans in the region, high-class cuisine can be found in most towns, and they are also the best place to experience a traditional Japanese breakfast. In smaller towns a ryokan may be one of your only options for food.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk013", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Hakkaisan sake barrels\nChubu is *sake* country and Niigata, renowned for its *koshihikari* rice, produces some of the best in the country including famous labels like **Kubota** (久保田), **Koshinokanbai** (越乃寒梅) and **Hakkaisan** (八海山). Nagano has over 80 sake breweries and Miyamanishiki rice which was first grown in Nagano now is the third most common type of rice for sake production. Tea is also popular in the region with Shizouka producing more the half of Japan's green tea, Kakegawa serves as the centre of tea in Shizouka. Despite not producing much tea, the traditional tea ceremony has long been integral to the culture of Ishikawa with it existing in the region since 1666 and Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya district has many operating teahouses. Like in most Japanese regions vending machines are common in Chubu and one can find a variety of Sodas in them. Major cities like Kanazawa and Nagoya will have many nightlife options but nightlife will be lacking in rural areas.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "japanese-alps::chunk014", "doc_id": "japanese-alps", "section": "Go next", "text": "Kansai\nKanto\nTohoku", "word_count": 3}
diff --git a/corpus/japanese-alps/metadata.json b/corpus/japanese-alps/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..848c5b8c262c441960e1b8f0033fd13bcba1e3ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/japanese-alps/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "japanese-alps",
+ "title": "Chubu",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chubu",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chūbu_region",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q134638",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 35.88333333,
+ 137.95
+ ],
+ "summary": "The Chūbu region (中部地方, Chūbu-chihō), Central region, or Central Japan (中部日本, Chūbu-nihon) is a large and diverse region in the middle of Honshū, Japan's main island. In a wide, classical definition, it encompasses nine prefectures (ken): Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi.\nIt is located directly between the Kantō region and the Kansai region and includes the major city of Nagoya as well as Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan coastlines, extensive mountain resorts, and Mount Fuji.\nThe region is the widest part of Honshū and the central part is characterized by high, rugged mountains. The Japanese Alps divide the country into the Pacific side, sunny in winter, and the Sea of Japan side, snowy in winter.\nAlthough Mie is part of Kinki/Kansai/Western Japan in traditional geographical regional divisions, Northern Mie is part of the metropolitan area around Nagoya, and Mie is in many practical contexts considered to be part of Tōkai/Chūbu/Central Japan.",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Japan"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kansai",
+ "Kanto",
+ "Tohoku"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2671,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jasper/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jasper/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d95331619433765c4ff0642e5eeb0f4a0c6241b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jasper/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk000", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jasper** is a town of about 5,200 people (2016) in Jasper National Park in the Alberta Rockies region. It is a small tourist town that serves as a base for exploring the park, and for outdoor sports such as skiing, hiking, climbing, canyoning, rafting, canoeing, golfing and fat biking.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk001", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nthumb|right|Jasper from Whistler's Mountain.\nthumb|right|Jasper National Park Information Centre.\nJasper House was a North West Company fur trade outpost established in 1813 on the York Factory Express trade route to what was then called \"New Caledonia\" (now British Columbia), and Fort Vancouver in Columbia District on the lower Columbia River. It was later taken oven by the Hudson's Bay Company.\n\nJasper National Park was established in 1907. The railway siding at the location of the future townsite was established by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911 and called named Fitzhugh after a Grand Trunk vice president (along the Grand Trunk's \"alphabet\" line). The Canadian Northern Railway began service to Fitzhugh in 1912. The townsite was surveyed in 1913 by H. Matheson. It was renamed Jasper after the former fur trade post. An internment camp was set up at Dominion Park in Jasper from February 1916 to August 1916.\n\nBy 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton, and in 1940 the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper.\n\n### Climate\n\nSummers in Jasper are pleasant, with daily highs usually around 21 °C (70 °F) and lows around 7 °C (45 °F). Winters are cold, though may be considered mild by Canadian standards, with daily highs around -2 °C (28 °F) and lows around -12 °C (11 °F), with some nights dipping below zero.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n - Tourism Jasper", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk002", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Get in", "text": "On the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, Jasper is the shy cousin to bold, brassy Banff and offers a more serene experience. Approximately four hours north of Banff and four hours west of Edmonton, capital of the province of Alberta. Most people enter the park via Edmonton.\n\n### By car\n\nHighway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), connects Jasper to Edmonton (via Hinton and Edson), which has an international airport and is served by many major airlines. It also connects to Kamloops, B.C. and Prince George, B.C. to the west. \n\nHighway 93, the Icefields Parkway, connects north through the Rockies from Lake Louise and Banff. \n\nDrivers will have to pay for a park admission pass as the town of Jasper is in Jasper National Park.\n\n### By bus\n\n - Brewster Express\n\n - SunDog Tours\n Operates the following routes to Jasper:\n Daily between Edmonton International Airport and Jasper including stops in downtown Edmonton, Hinton, and Edson. Travel time to Japser from Edson is 1 hr 45 min, from downtown Edmonton is 4 hours, and from Edmonton International Airport is 4 hours and 45 minutes.\n During the winter between Banff and Jasper including a stop in Lake Louise. Travel time to Jasper from Banff is 4 hr 15 min and from Lake Louise is 3 hours. Same day connecting service between Calgary and Banff is available from Brewster Express.\n\n### By train\n\n . The following train operators stop in Jasper:\n - VIA Rail Canada\n\n *The Canadian* has trips up to three trips per week between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops. This route can offer a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies, depending on the train schedule, as the train operates day and night. Travel time to Jasper from Toronto is 3 days, from Sudbury is 2 days 18 hr, from Winnipeg is 1 day 10 hours, from Saskatoon is 19 hr 45 min, from Edmonton is 6½ hours, from Kamloops is 10 hours, and from Vancouver is 19 hours.\n The route between Jasper and Prince Rupert with stops in McBride, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, and Terrace. The train travels during the daytime, taking two days in each direction. There is an overnight stop in Prince George, where passengers will need to book sleeping accommodations. Travel time to Prince George from Prince Rupert is 12½ hours, from Terrace is 10 hours, from Smithers is 6 hours, from Burns Lake is 4 hours, and from Vanderhoof is 2 hours. Travel time to Jasper from Prince George is 7 hr 45 min.\n \n\nThere is no direct train route between Jasper and Banff.\n\n### By plane\n\n \n\n### Park entry fees\n\nAll visitors stopping in Jasper Park (even just in the town) require a park permit. If you are driving through non-stop, the pass is not required. Day passes and annual passes are available, see Jasper National Park for details.", "word_count": 500}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk003", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is no public transit. A few taxis and rental cars are available, and bikes can be rented in the summer.\n\nHitchhikers report that getting a lift in Jasper is very easy.\n\nThe town of Jasper is small enough that most places are easily accessed by foot. The surrounding national park will require a car, or taking a tour. Tour companies offer bus service to most of the major tourist destinations including Maligne Lake, The Columbia Icefields and Miette Hot Springs. The two major companies in town are Brewster and SunDog. Both these companies offer similar tours at the same price. The only difference is the size of the tour group: Brewster uses large buses (seating approx. 50) and SunDog has smaller vehicles (seating approx. 12).\n\n### By taxi\n\n - Caribou Cabs", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk004", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "See", "text": "Many attractions in Jasper National Park are a short drive away.\n - Jasper Information Centre", "word_count": 15}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk005", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Do", "text": "- Marmot Basin\n\n **Rent a bike**. Plenty of sport shops offer bikes, which are a great way to see the area.\n - Jasper Tramway\n\n - Jasper Pride", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk006", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Connaught Drive\n\n - Patricia Street", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk007", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most of the hotels in or near Jasper have restaurants that will meet or beat your expectations for dining in a small community. Some are higher-toned than others, but across the board food is generally very good and portions tend to be hearty. In addition to the hotel restaurants, the town has several noteworthy dining spots as well as numerous restaurants catering to the hungry but penny-pinching skiers and other visiting outdoors-folk.\n\n - Becker's Gourmet Restaurant\n\n - Dead Dog Bar & Grill\n\n - Earls\n\n - Jasper Brewing Company\n\n - Kimchi House\n\n - Patricia Street Deli\n\n - North Face Pizza\n\n - Something Else", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk008", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Hearthstone Lounge and Champs Sports Lounge", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk009", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\nIn the summer, there is excellent camping in the campgrounds operated by Parks Canada. Throughout the year, it is possible to stay in private home accommodation - rooms or suites in residents' homes. Prices vary, but standards are high - full details of what is available can be found in the tourist office in town, or at the Stay in Jasper website. Hostelling International runs a series of hostels throughout Jasper National Park. Jasper International is the closest to town (7 km south-west from Jasper on Whistlers Road, and is open all year), and four Wilderness Hostels which cater more towards trekkers and those people who \"enjoy getting in touch with nature.\"\n - Pine Bungalows\n\n - Whistlers Campground\n\n - Wapiti Campground\n\n - Wabasso Campground\n\n### Mid-range\n\nThere are numerous motels and inns within the town, as well as in Hinton, just outside the eastern entrance to the park.\n - The Crimson\n\n - Château Jasper\n\n - Jasper Inn & Suites\n\n - Lobstick Lodge\n\n - Marmot Lodge\n\n - Patricia Lake Bungalows\n\n - Forest Park Hotel\n\n - Tonquin Inn\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Jasper Park Lodge", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk010", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|left|250px|Bear-proof dumpsterthumb|right|250px|Bear-proof dumpster instructions\n\nBears looking for food are a potential problem. The city has installed bear-proof garbage cans and business use bear-proof dumpsters.", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "jasper::chunk011", "doc_id": "jasper", "section": "Go next", "text": "Travel by train to Vancouver or Edmonton, see \"By train\" above under \"Get in.\"\nIt is also popular to travel down to Columbia Icefield, Banff National Park, Lake Louise and Banff along the very scenic Icefields Parkway, making stops at Athabasca Falls, Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, and Bow Lake.\n Mount Robson Provincial Park. The park's namesake peak is the highest in the Canadian Rockies at 3954 metres. Mount Robson Provincial Park is 217,200 hectares of stunning mountains, valleys, and waterways. Forests of spruce, fir, balsam, cedar and alder are home to an abundant array of wildlife including mountain goats, moose, deer, elk, marmot and squirrels and chipmunks. The Rearguard Falls of the Fraser River is the furthest migration point of the Pacific salmon.", "word_count": 123}
diff --git a/corpus/jasper/metadata.json b/corpus/jasper/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fab8d6b41bbd01df58d03666ae383450f8c65f8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jasper/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jasper",
+ "title": "Jasper",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jasper",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Jasper National Park"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Columbia Icefield",
+ "Banff National Park",
+ "Lake Louise",
+ "Banff",
+ "Icefields Parkway",
+ "Mount Robson Provincial Park",
+ "Vancouver",
+ "Valemount",
+ "Edmonton",
+ "Hinton",
+ "Prince Rupert",
+ "McBride",
+ "Prince George",
+ "Kamloops",
+ "Mount Robson Provincial Park",
+ "Edmonton",
+ "Hinton",
+ "Banff",
+ "Columbia Icefield"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1402,
+ "listing_count": 33,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 12,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jeju/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jeju/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..73aeaf90a3143845c3948b1c3c36ec8d25b5501c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jeju/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk000", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jeju Island** (제주도,濟州島 and *formerly romanized as Cheju*) is an island off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korea Strait. Korea's largest island and a popular vacation spot and honeymoon destination for Koreans and Chinese, it is crowded with tourists all-year round. The main town and capital is Jeju City.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk001", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Cities", "text": "Jeju Island has two major settlements:\n\n – the largest and capital city of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Jeju-Si district, which covers the northern part of the island, and also where the international airport is. The city does not have many tourist attractions, although it has a few bars and restaurants.\n – large town, capital of Seogwipo-Si district that covers the southern part of the island, and close to a wide range of the island's tourist sites. Home to a World Cup Stadium and the **Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex**.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk002", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "– South Korea's highest mountain and popular hiking destination.\n – The southernmost point of South Korea.\n – Island between Jeju and Marado.\n – Small island off the east coast of Jeju that is popular with day-trippers.\n – Remote islands half way between Jeju and the mainland.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk003", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Understand", "text": "150px|thumb|Administratively, Jeju is divied into two regions, each of which is a city: Jeju City in the north, and Seogwipo in the south\n150px|thumb|Jeju is to the south of the Korean mainland\n15 million people visit each year an island of 700,000 residents, and Seoul-Jeju is the most-used flight route in the world. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities including hiking on Halla-san (*South Korea's highest peak*), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, horseback riding, visiting the sets of Korean television dramas or just lying around on the sandy beaches. It lies southwest of Jeollanam-do Province of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. In 2006, it was granted self-government as South Korea's only Special Autonomous Province.\n\nSouth Korean nationals were not allowed to travel internationally without government permission until the late 1980s and, therefore, Jeju Island was heavily developed as a domestic vacation destination. It has also been traditional for Koreans to spend their honeymoon there (look out for couples wearing the same clothes). The island also happens to be South Korea's main location for unusual theme parks and niche commercial attractions with eccentric museums for sex, glass, and teddy bears.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk004", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Understand", "text": "The name Jeju means “a huge village across the sea”, reflecting its distance from the Korean mainland, notably Mokpo, Kyushu of Japan and southern China. Its original and beloved nickname is Tamna (탐라) meaning “island nation”, which supposedly lasted till its complete seizure in the 12th century. Consisting of 8 inhabited islands and 82 uninhabited islands (as of 2010), Jeju has a sub-tropical to temperate climate. Inarguably the top tourist destination in South Korea, it attracts more than 8 million tourists worldwide every year. And thanks to an increasing number of low-cost airlines, more tourists can come.\n158x158px|thumb|Jeju ''dol hareubang'' aka the \"grandfather statue\".\n\n### History\n\nPrehistoric relics from Tamna (in Hangul: 탐라국, in Hanja: 耽羅國), when Jeju was an independent entity, date from early as 38 BC. The island enjoyed sea-route trades with Baekje, Silla and far-northern Goguryeo of Three Kingdoms of Korea. When Baekje collapsed after the alliance of Tang-Silla, Tamna maintained independent trade routes, connecting Chinese Tang, Korean kingdoms and Japanese people and also diplomacy as a tributary state with Imperial China.\n\nIn the early 12th century of Sukjong of Goryeo (1105), Tamna lost its independent status, and was brought under mainland control under the name Jeju later. During the invasion of Yuan Mongolia, Jeju functioned as the last outpost for anti-Yuan protests. However, the Yuan thwarted further resistance, controlling the mountainous island with a view to breeding horses for its planned invasion of Japan. (At this time, the huge forests area of Hallasan Mountain (300-800 m) were transformed into savanna.) During the Joseon Dynasty, (1392-1910) Jeju was largely used as the place of exiles.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk005", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Understand", "text": "Depending on its strategic location, Japanese colonialists took advantage of Jeju Island as a military base, recruiting Jeju people into forced labor and building underground tunnels in case America attacked. Some of the tunnels can be visited on the island (Sanbangsan, Geomeunoreum, etc.) Right after independence, in the Jeju Uprising of 1948–1949, communist rebels rose against the US-backed government and the separation of Korea as two countries. 14,000-30,000 people (10% of the population) were killed as government forces massacred entire villages, and rebels forced villagers to move to mountain caves to hide from the police. In 2006, the government apologized and now endorses Jeju as 'the island of peace'. Yearly commemorations take place on April 3 (the date of the start of the uprising) at the 4.3 peace park in Bonggae-dong, Jeju City.\n\n### Climate\n\nJeju Island is on the border between the temperate and subtropical zones, with average daily highs ranging from 3°C in January to 30°C in August. The climate is milder than that of the Korean mainland owing to the surrounding warm currents, although the island experiences a good deal of wind throughout the year. Rainfall is heaviest between June and September.\n\n### Culture\n\nThe name *Samdado* (in Hangul:삼다도, 三多島) characterizes its uniqueness, which incorporates three principal features: women, rocks and wind. Actually, its foundation myth is featured in a goddess. The local traditional culture stands in stark contrast to the mainland (*and much of Asia*) as being matriarchal. Along the coast of Jeju you can still observe the \"haenyeo\" who are professional female divers gathering seafood throughout the year, and who have a well deserved reputation for strength and stamina.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk006", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Understand", "text": "Even more iconic, the \"dol hareubang\" or \"stone grandfather statues\" are part of Jeju's distinct shamanistic tradition being carved from the local basalt rock, often seen outside restaurants and anywhere else on the island. According to local legend, touching the nose of a \"dol hareubang\" is believed to bring the birth of a son.\n\nDifferent from most urban sceneries of South Korean cities, anyone easily finds out stone-piled brick walls. These walls made of rocks have been conserved throughout the coastline with its presumed length of 36,000 km. Since it is prone to tropical typhoons with massive wind powers, Jeju is famous for its wind, and it is one of the highest wind energy congested areas in South Korea.\n\n### People\n\nThe population (665,953 in 25.08) has been increasing steadily and has doubled since 1970. There were 665,953 Koreans and 28,000 foreigners. Out of the island's two administrative areas, Jeju City has 485,783 people and Seogwipo City has 180,170 people. Koreans from the mainland have been moving to Jeju for a more pleasant lifestyle, its natural environment, and to work in the tourism industry.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nVisit Jeju Island website", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk007", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Talk", "text": "Korean is the standard language on Jeju island, spoken with a distinctive accent. For example, the most common greeting in Korean is Eo-seo-o-se-yo (어서오세요), while the counterpart in Jeju dialect is Honjeo opseo-ye (), with a clear difference. The local dialect of Korean is nearly incomprehensible to Koreans from other provinces, though all locals are able to speak standard Korean as well.\n\nThe island's long history as a domestic holiday destination means that the majority of service and tourist industry workers can still only speak Korean. More visitors are coming from China and Japan, and therefore tourist services are becoming more available in Japanese and Mandarin. English is not widely spoken, although as elsewhere in South Korea it is part of the education system.", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk008", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nJeju has implemented the **Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)** requirement for travelers from visa-waiver nations. Eligible travelers must apply for a K-ETA within 72 hours of departure, even if flying directly to Jeju without stopping on the South Korea mainland. The electronic travel authorization costs ₩10,000 and is valid for two years. If you enter Jeju without requiring a K-ETA and subsequently leave for the mainland, you will need to have a valid visa for the rest of South Korea. If admission is approved, one may stay in Jeju for a maximum of 30 days.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|A Jeju Air aircraft\n**Jeju International Airport** (제주 국제공항) is the main gateway to the island. The vast majority of flights to Jeju are from Gimpo (Seoul's domestic airport) and Busan's Gimhae International Airport. Most Korean domestic airports have scheduled flights to Jeju. There are international flights from Japan including Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai. From China there are flights from Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong, Shenyang and Dalian.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerry access from the mainland is also available, although the increasingly low price of flying means that fewer people are using this. Services are comparatively infrequent and slow but are reasonable value after factoring in accommodation savings made on overnight ferries. There are daily services from a number of ports:\n\nNokdong New Port Coastal Ferry Terminal: this terminal in Goheung has ferries to Jeju Island as well as Jeollanam-do islands including Heuksando, Hongdo and Gageodo. Ferries leave every day at 9:00 for a journey time to Jeju of 3.5 hours. Ferries do not run on the first and third Sundays of each month.\nWando: 3 hours\nThe car ferry from Yeosu to Jeju. The journey takes 5 hours and runs daily except Mondays.\nNote that ferries from Busan, Incheon and Mokpo no longer run as of 2024.thumb|Jeju Air bus|208x208pxthumb|Columnar basalts in Jungmun and Daepo Cliff at Jeju|184x184pxthumb|Seongsan Ilchubong, aka \"Sunrise Peak\". Also pretty at sunset.|184x184px", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk009", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "### On foot\n\nNothing in downtown Jeju is more than approximately 2 km from anywhere else so whilst not convenient, walking is quite feasible, and sometimes even faster than the bus. This includes the areas of Yongdam, Tapdong, Jungangno and the inter-city bus terminal. If you want to go on a longer walk, you can try the Jeju Olle Trail course.\n **Jeju Olle Trail course** – There are 27 Jeju Olle Trail courses, which are 437 kilometers long. The Olle Trail completion course has 23 courses in Jeju Island, and if the Udo Island, Gapado, and Chujado courses are included, there will be a total of 27 courses. This is the Dulle-gil of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province managed by the Jeju Olle Corporation. For the purpose of \"walking travel,\" it is really good for walking as it consists of various roads such as village roads, coastal roads, and forest trails.\n\n### By bus\n\nWith Jeju's excellent bus system, it is feasible to travel cheaply to practically anywhere on the island, but you will have to pay close attention to timetables outside of the main cities. Google Maps integrates up-to-date bus route information and timetables, as do the ubiquitous Naver and Kakao Map apps. Jeju Bus Information System's website offers information about the available lines in Jeju Island. You can use your T-money card just like anywhere else in Korea. Cash may not be accepted. Also buses in Jeju now have free Wi-Fi available for passengers. Look for the network starting with 'Public WiFi'.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk010", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bus maps are not available from tourism centers, but some basic information is outlined here:\n+\nJeju bus stops\nBus numbers\nJeju International Airport\n36, 37, 100, 200, 300, 500\nJeju Ferry Terminal\n92\nInter-city Bus Terminal\n26, 31, 63, 100, 200, 300, 502\nHalla Arboretum\n63, 300\nNational Jeju Museum\n100\nCulture and Art Center\n300\nTapdong\n92\nYongdam Junction\n36, 37, 63, 300, 500\nFifth-day Folk Market\n36, 37, 63\nJungangno\n36, 37, 92, 100, 500\nDongmun Market\n100, 300\nShin-jeju Junction\n26, 31, 36, 37, 92, 100, 200, 300, 500, 502\nHalla Hospital (Medical Center)\n26, 31, 37, 92, 200, 300, 500, 502", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk011", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are four major bus networks on the island:\nA good network of inner-city (*shi-nae*) buses run around Jeju City for a flat fee.\nSimilarly, a second network of inner-city buses run in Seogwipo, spanning out to some of the surrounding tourist locations on the southern end of the island, such as **Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex**.\nFurthermore, an extensive series of inter-city (*shi-wei*) buses run between the inter-city bus terminals of Jeju City and Seogwipo by one of a number of different routes. All buses servicing western Jeju pass by Halla Medical Center in Jeju City and most by Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex in Seogwipo making these alternate departure points. Prices for the bus vary by distance between ₩1000 for a short trip and ₩3,000 to go between the two end points. The ones cutting the center of the island (primarily feeding the start points of the Hallasan hiking trails) tend to cease operation around sundown, but the coastal routes run until late. As such it is easy to jump on and off, although the cost can mount up. Note that the English information on the island often erroneously translate *shi-wei* buses as \"local bus\" so don't be too concerned if you're directed to the \"local bus terminal\" when traversing the island end to end.\nThere are 16 express and trunk bus routes on Jeju. Click here for a PDF map of these in English.\nThe **Airport Limousine** (route #600) bus runs every 18-20 minutes between Seogwipo and the airport in Jeju City express, stopping only at a few stops, including Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex (and International Convention Center), World Cup Stadium and terminating at the Seogwipo KAL Hotel.\nFrom August 2025, Jeju provides free bus rides for teenagers aged 13 to 18.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk012", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jeju provincial office has been operating Jeju global taxi brand with English, Chinese and Japanese services. Call 1899-4314+1 (English). While the taxi rates are reasonable, the island is large enough that the fares can add up. The initial meter charge is ₩2,800. Hiring a taxi for the day will cost at least ₩170,000 as of mid-2024. Your hotel can organise this for you. The driver will likely not speak English, so you should have the hotel write down the itinerary ahead of time. It is typically expected that you will also pay for your driver's lunch at a local restaurant, but this cost is small. Tipping is not expected.\n\nThe Jeju provincial government runs a taxi booking service for tourists wanting day tours with English, Chinese, or Japanese-speaking drivers. As of mid-2024, the cost for a day tour is ₩220,000-250,000. If the trip takes over 8 hours, an additional ₩30,000 per hour will be charged. The taxi booking service can be contacted on Whatsapp on +82 1024633399.\n\nRainbow Taxi also offers day tours for ₩250,000 per day, all-inclusive as of mid-2024. Their Whatsapp is +82 1098786991.\n\n### By car\n\nYou can hire a car from the airport with either local or international car hire firms. This is a good option to see the island's many sights if you don't want to be on an organized tour and want to see as much as possible. An International Driving Permit is needed. Insurance is offered as an optional extra with the local companies, but they may mandate it for foreigners. Many cars can come with an English-speaking GPS unit.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk013", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "Outside Jeju city traffic can be quiet. You will notice that local drivers do not use their indicators and tend to go over the posted speed limit. In the evening the lights change to a flashing amber, which basically means 'use your own judgment'.\n\n### Car-sharing\n\nFor more flexible and short-term options, **car-sharing services** are also widely available on Jeju Island. Major providers like **Socar** and **Green Car** operate through a mobile app, allowing you to find, book, and unlock cars parked in designated zones across the island. This can be a more affordable and convenient choice for quick trips or short-term sightseeing without committing to a full-day rental. However, note that a Korean driver's license is typically required to register and use these services, and they may not be easily accessible for all international travelers without a local SIM card and a verified account.\n\n### By motorcycle\n\nDespite the frequent high winds and rain, many people enjoy getting around the island by motorcycle. There are a number of places that offer this, including Mr Lee's bike shop, although the legalities of a foreigner driving a motorcycle on Jeju are unclear. In theory, an international driving license for a car should be enough to rent a motorcycle with a very small engine. Note that, *if you are not licensed to ride a motorcycle, your travel insurance will not cover you if you are involved in an accident*. In Seogwipo, there is a motorbike rental shop on the same road as the Little France Hotel (exit the hotel and turn right).\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk014", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Get around", "text": "Since Jeju is equipped with 182-km-long coastal roads, it is quite popular among Korean university students to rent a bike. Cycling in Jeju is more doable than in the rest of Korea, although it is weather-dependent. There is less traffic, wider roads and it really is possible to travel the island entirely by bicycle. Some locals prefer bicycles to cars especially in areas outside of the Jeju-city metropolitan area. Bike rental is available.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk015", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "See", "text": "### Famous attractions\n\n- Lava tubes and other volcanic sights\n\n **Jeju Old Government Offices**. A comparably nice set of Joseon-era historical buildings in central downtown Jeju City. What's unusual is the existence of a nicely landscaped square pond in the complex, and its tumultuous history of getting built in lieu of a well, destroyed due to an irrational hatred of noisy frogs and then rebuilt.thumb|200x200px|Jeju Manjanggul Cave\n\n### Natural landscapes\n\n **Manjanggul Cave**, in Jeju City, is a UNESCO-listed world natural heritage site. The interior, which looks like an underground palace, has a magnificent and profound atmosphere, especially stone turtles like elaborate sculptures. As such, the inside of the cave is accompanied by lava stalactites on the ceiling and lava wings on the wall, creating the mystery of the underground world. The 7.6-meter-high lava stone pillar at the end of the open section is the largest in the world. \nthumb|297x297px|Jeju Suwolbong Peakthumb|Jeju Stone Culture Park|230x230px\n**Suwolbong Peak** is a view peak in the western part of Jeju City, 77 m above sea level, and the scenery from the top cools the chest. In particular, the coastal cliff of Suwolbong Peak, which seems to be carved, extends up to 2 km to the east. Under Suwolbong Peak, there is a geological trail along the coastline. At the top of Suwolbong Peak, there is Suwoljeong Pavilion. The sunset falling to Chagwido Island while sitting on Suwoljeong Pavilion is one of the most beautiful sunset in Jeju Island.\n\n### Landmarks\n\n**Kimnyeong Miro Park** in Jeju City is Korea's first maze park built in 1987. The mazes symbolise the history and geography of Jeju Island, surrounded by green Ralandi trees and Jeju pine trees. About 50 cats live here too, and are part of the attraction.}}\n **Jeju Stone Culture Park** in Jeju City is a museum and ecological park that shows the whole body and systematic stone culture of Jeju Island, the hometown of stones. It is so large that all the stone statues of Jeju Island are displayed, and the entire park is built under the theme of Seolmundae Halmang and 500 General, the birth myth of Jeju Island.", "word_count": 355}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk016", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|247x247px|A Jeju Olle Trail \n\n### Hiking\n\nThere are many hiking trails in the Hallasan National Park.\n\n **Iho Tewoo Beach** in Jeju City is close to Jeju Airport, and it is enough distance to ride a bicycle. There are white and red pony lighthouses, the slope of the beach is gentle, and there is a pine forest nearby, so it is a good place to enjoy the scenery and take a walk.}}\n **Songaksan Mountain** in Seogwipo is a good path to walk while looking at the scenery as the mountains and the sea are harmonized. You can see \"Brothers Island, Gapado Island, and Marado Island\" the closest, and it is a great place to walk along the promenade while enjoying rape flowers in spring and reeds in autumn. The slope of the road is gentle, and there is also an artificial cave, which can lead to interesting steps.\n\n### Climbing\n\n **Seongsan Ilchulbong** in Seogwipo is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Jeju Island and is a good place to climb. It also gives a similar feeling to Hallasan Baeknokdam. It lies at the end of Seongsan Peninsula, at the eastern tip of Jeju. Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is a water-based volcano created by magma erupting from the water, unlike other oreum on Jeju Island. As the hot magma emitted during volcanic activity met with cold seawater, volcanic ash contained a lot of moisture and became sticky, and Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak was piled up in layers.\n\n### Temple stay\n\nthumb|Yaekcheonsa temple.\nIn Jeju, there are mainly three temples operating temple stay program for foreigners. Buddhism culture has also unique features in Jeju, mainly owing to its geographical isolation and mixture with other strands of religious and shamanistic characteristics. Temple stay program normally involves meditation, Korean tea ceremony and lantern designs. Visit here.\n\n### Festivals\n\nThroughout the regions, there are variety of festivals.\n\nIn Jeju City:\nThe **Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival** originates from the traditional harvesting of the grasses found in the local domestic farm animal pastures, which were annually set in fire each winter by the villagers as a way to exterminate harmful insects. It has been held annually since 1997. It is held during the holiday of Daeboreum (which is the 15th day of the first lunar month of the year, typically February). \n\nIn Seogwipo:\n**Seogwipo Winter Sea International Penguin Swimming Competition** on January 1: Every January, half-naked swimmers dive into local beaches. \n**Jeju Canola Festival** in the middle of April every year: When spring comes, yellow rape flowers bloom all over Jeju Island. The rape flower festival, designed to praise the beauty of rape flowers, combines the three colors of Jeju's blue sea, stone walls next to the road, and yellow rape flowers to deliver love to lovers and dreams to families.\n **Bangeo Festival** from late November to late December 25, 2022 is a local specialty festival with the theme of defense held in Moseulpo Port, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do. Raw fish is provided free of charge, and you can participate in the fishing event according to the schedule.\n\n### Sports\n\nWatch the local football team (Jeju United FC) at the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.", "word_count": 526}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk017", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|277x277px|Comfort food from Jeju for those times when you're feeling... ''orange''.\nCards are useful, however there may still be many places that are cash only. In Seogwipo, there's a BK Star bank, East of Jeunghang Rotary which accepts foreign cards. Most Family Mart convenience stores which have an ATM inside work with foreign cards too.\n\n One Jeju specialty is brown colored clothing. These have been dyed via juice from the persimmon fruit, which is the traditional way of dying clothing.\n The iconic stone statues, usually in pairs, are called grandfather statues and are for protection. Many places sell small stone replicas of them made of Jeju basalt (volcanic stone). If aircraft weight restrictions are a concern, check the back of the statue for vugs (cavities) as it's entirely possible to find the odd one as light as a feather.\n Citrus fruit (hallabong and mandarines). The specialty citrus of Jeju is the hallabong (*dekopon* in Japanese) something akin to an over-sized tangerine which has a very distinctive bump bulge on its top. Its fame comes from its sweet taste and peelability. Do not be at all surprised if, when arriving back on the mainland, you find your bag in the baggage claim tucked between many crates of hallabong. Mandarin oranges are also a major Jeju product.\n Jeju hallabong chocolate. These come in varieties. The first is a plain flat chocolate with a layer of hallabong flavor sandwiched in the middle. The second however is shaped like a little grandfather statue and is primarily the \"flavor\" component of the first with a tiny slither of chocolate on the back. The latter tend to be a little less flavorsome (ironically) but are cute enough to make nice gifts. If hallabongs aren't your thing, fear not, for they also come in orange, kiwi, green tea and purple cactus fruit (somewhat a mixed berry flavor) varieties. There are crunch chocolates too, less unique but very tasty.\n Jeju *kamgyul* (citrus) wine. Similar to Japanese sake but with a fresh citrus finish. At only ₩5,000 for an entire 750-mL bottle though, honestly, you can't complain even if it isn't quite your thing.\n Green tea. Although perhaps not as famed as Boseong, the entire Western end tip of the island is littered with tea plantations.\n *Ganse* dolls. A souvenir of the Olle hiking coastal trails, they are cute little (15 cm) plush ponies on mobile phone straps handmade out of used clothing (and thus individually unique) by the women of Jeju. Profits go to developing and maintaining the island's hiking trails and they're available from tourist information centers and many budget accommodation. ₩15,000.\n Shop at **Jeju Folk Arts Complex**. This place is practically a big gift shop of beautiful traditional art. Prices of items at the Jeju Folk Arts Complex are cheaper than those you find elsewhere.\n\nSouvenir shops, craft stores and fruit stands exist almost everywhere on the island, but if you are looking for more mundane daily goods, your best bet is to head into Jeju City or Seogwipoi which have the usual array of Korean conveniences including some **Lotte**s and an unusually high proportion of **E-marts** (both of which also contain large souvenir shops).", "word_count": 529}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk018", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Regional products\n\nThe people of Jeju have evolved various lifestyles, depending on whether they live in fishing villages, farm villages, or mountain villages so specialties vary within the region. Life in the farm villages was centered on farming, as it did around fishing or diving fishery in fishing villages, and did around dry-field farming or mushroom/mountain-green gathering in the mountain areas. As for agriculture, the production of rice is surprisingly low. Instead, beans, barley, millet, buckwheat, and dry-field (upland) rice are the major items.\n\nFoods from Jeju mainly made with saltwater fish, vegetables, and seaweed, and are usually seasoned with soybean paste. Salt water fish is used to make soup, and pork and chicken are used to make *pyeonyuk* (sliced boiled meat). The number of dishes set on a table is small and few seasonings are used. And usually, small numbers of ingredients are required to make dishes native to Jeju.\n\nThe key to making Jeju-style foods is to keep the ingredient's natural flavor. The taste of the food is generally a bit salty, probably because foods are easily spoiled due to the warm temperature. In Jeju, there is no need to prepare large amounts of Kimchi for the winter as in mainland Korea. It is quite warm during the winter and Chinese cabbages are left in the field.\n\nRestaurants are scattered across the entire island, usually near highway intersections, but the majority naturally lie around the coast and particularly in the urban centers of Jeju City and Jungmun/Seogwipo.\n\nAs more young people move to Jeju Island these days, the number of cafes is increasing.\n\nWell-known Jeju food includes:", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk019", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Eat", "text": "Jeju black pork (흑돼지) among Korean domestic tourists, this is the most well-known dish from Jeju. Due to the high demand, restaurants charge a premium for this dish.\n Umu pudding (우무 푸딩) is a pudding made by boiling agar for a long time. Agar, rich in dietary fiber and low in calories, has a somewhat watery texture, less dense than regular pudding, so you can drink it.\n Silver hairtail (은갈치) is a fish well known as a Jeju product which Korean domestic tourists all want to eat. Accordingly, prices are high.\n Jeju citrus (제주 감귤) refers to all citrus fruits, a specialty of Jeju Island. It can be largely divided into Jeju Island traditional citrus fruits and Jeju Island cultivated citrus fruits. \n Jeju Hallabong (한라봉) has been cultivated in Jeju Island in earnest since the 1990s, and it has established itself as a representative specialty of Jeju Island, and in 2015, \"Jeju Hallabong\" was registered in the geographical labeling system. It is so sweet and refreshing that it is called a honeyed orange. The texture of the pulp is a little hard like an orange, but it is juicier than a tangerine, best eaten cold on a hot day. Hallabong-like fruits such as Redhyang and Cheonhyehyang are also delicious.\n Cucumber Cold Soup (오이냉국) is Jeju-style cold soup made with shredded cucumber in a broth seasoned with soybean paste (doenjang) and chilli, giving it a characteristic reddish colour. Unlike other regions’ cucumber soups, the Jeju version uses doenjang and offers a refreshing yet savoury flavour.\n Hairtail Soup (갈치국) is a local speciality soup made with fresh hairtail (galchi) and often winter squash or pumpkin. Light but flavourful, the soup emphasises a clear fish broth and clean taste. It is a traditional dish found only on Jeju Island, reflecting the island’s coastal lifestyle and fishing heritage.\n Jack mackerel Soup (각재기국) is a regional Jeju specialty made with jack mackerel, known locally in the Jeju dialect as “gakjaegi.” The fish is simmered with napa cabbage in a clear broth seasoned with soy sauce, salt, and garlic, sometimes with Cheongyang chili peppers added for a hint of spice. The combination of soft cabbage and fresh mackerel creates a refreshing, clean-tasting soup that highlights the island’s seafood tradition. It is one of Jeju’s representative local dishes, enjoyed especially for its light and savory flavor.\n Sea Snail Noodle Soup (보말칼국수) is made from Jeju’s sea snails (bom-al), this hearty noodle dish features a rich seafood broth and thick wheat noodles. Very popular among locals and tourists alike.\n Sea Snail Porridge (보말죽) is a comforting porridge made with the same sea snails (bom-al) used in the noodle soup. Smooth in texture and rich in umami flavour, it’s especially enjoyed for breakfast or a light meal.\nSome other dishes worth trying:\nJaradom Mulhoe (자라돔 물회) is Jeju-style cold fish soup. Traditionally, it has been a summer specialty in Jeju.\nSeongge guk (성게국) is mustard soup which is served in the ancestral ceremony or to welcome guests.\nBangeo Hoe (방어회) is a raw fish dish of yellowtail fish. Every November, the Bangeo Festival is held.", "word_count": 516}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk020", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Eat", "text": "File:Jeju food ramyun with ginseng+coastalfood.jpg|''Insam ramyun'' (인삼라면). Korean dish of ramyun with ginseng and a variety of coastal ingredients such as clams, shrimp, squid and abalone.\nFile:KOCIS Trip to Jeju Island and Seoul (6279217698).jpg|''Jeju black pig stir-fried spicy pork'' (제주흑돼지 제육볶음)\nFile:KOCIS Trip to Jeju Island and Seoul (6278755261).jpg|''Grilled Cutlassfish'' (제주갈치구이). Cutlassfish is one of the best-known coastal ingredients which were sent to the royal palace during Joseon dynasty.\nFile:Jeju gogi noodle.jpg|''Gogi guksu''. Jeju-style pork noodle in deep essence. The dish has been served in village gatherings and local festivals.\nFor non-Korean dining, the best option is Gecko's near Seogwipo (see details in the drinking section). In Jeju city there are some options. There is a Mexican restaurant near City Hall/Sinsan Park named El Paso that apparently serves up mediocre but passable Mexican fare. In Shin-jeju there is also an Indian restaurant named Rajmahal that serves up quality spicy Indian dishes. There is also another place with Pakistani/Indian cuisine called Baghdad Cafe around the City Hall/Sinsan Park area.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk021", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|195x195px|''Hallasan soju'' (한라산 소주). This is a soju brand from Jeju which is famed for its unique flavor.\nThe local specialty soju is **Hallasan Soju** and runs from ₩1,000 to ₩3,000 a bottle.\n\nExcept for Gecko's in the South, there aren't any other genuine Western pubs on the island, but there are some good options. In Jeju City, all the real partying establishments are in Shin-Jeju, about a ₩5,000 taxi ride from Jeju city proper. Some of the establishments in this area rumored to be worthwhile are La Vie, Boris Brewery, Modern Time, Blue Agave, and GP.\n\nThere is also Led Zeppelin, a vinyl bar which as the name suggests is focused on album-oriented rock, and has a massive selection of records, CDs, tapes, and DVDs. Song requests are the main pastime and the sound-system rules. Off the main drag in Shin-jeju next to the Indian restaurant.\n\nYou'll see various types of Hallabong ades, which are drinks made from hallabong juice.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk022", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you are not looking for luxury, *minbak* (guesthouses) abound on Jeju, and due to its reputation as a honeymoon getaway, there is a wide variety of other accommodation. Outside of the peak tourist seasons (such as Korean national holidays and July–August summer holiday season), and as long as all you're looking for is a clean affordable room, don't be afraid to come to Jeju and find accommodation as you travel. In Jeju City, Seogwipo and the smaller towns there is an abundance of rooms in small guesthouses with character.\n\nThere are several motels next to the bus terminal in Jeju City at around ₩30,000 a night. They are fairly obvious to find as all three are in a row with lit signs and the ubiquitous motel logo of South Korea and are called You-cheong, Oh-cheon, and Nam-san.\n\nFor larger hotels, the majority are in the urban centers of Jeju City and Seogwipo with the most luxurious 5-star options on the entire island within Seogwipo's Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex. Refer to the individual city pages for listings.\n\nFor budget travellers, *jjimjillbangs*, Korean public bathhouses with sleeping facilities, are pretty ubiquitous in Jeju City but outside of the capital city's limits, the only other *jjimjillbang* options exist under the World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.\n\n### Hotel\n\nThere are thirteen five-star hotels on Jeju.\n\nExamples include Grand Hyatt Jeju, Maison Glad Jeju, Ramada Plaza Jeju, Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju, Marriott Hall Jeju Shinhwa World Hotel & Resort, Howard Johnson Jeju Hotel, Sweet Hotel Jeju, Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino (postponement of reopening), Lotte Hotel Jeju, Jeju Shilla Hotel, Grand Chosun Jeju, CS Hotel & Resort, and Lotte Jeju Resort Art Villas.\n\n### Work\n\n*See the main South Korean article for more information*\nJobs are available as English teachers throughout the year in private institutes (*hagwons*). However, whilst public school jobs exist via the official EPIK programme, the reality on Jeju is that no more than a couple of positions open per year, as it is by far the most requested and lowest turnover region in the entire country, above both Seoul and Busan.", "word_count": 352}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk023", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|173x173px|Warning sign in the Bijarim nutmeg forest\nWhile South Korea in general is remarkably safe, Jeju has the lowest crime rate in the country. Violent crime is almost non-existent, although just like in all tourist hubs, there are a number of pickpockets, so you should still remain vigilant.\n\nThere are two police forces operating in Jeju. The Jeju Municipal Police is delegated some police functions, such as traffic and tourist policing. Other serious crimes are dealt by the Jeju Provincial Police.\n\nOther parts around the south coast, even near Jungmun are **rockfall regions**. The signs are often not in English, so if you're near a cliff or cave and see a Korean warning sign, it is probably warning of rockfalls from the cliffs above.\n\nSnakes live on Jeju, so be aware of this when out on a hike.", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "jeju::chunk024", "doc_id": "jeju", "section": "Go next", "text": "Mainland South Korea – flights to most major cities. Within South Korea there are also ferries to and from Jeju. Ferries to Wando leave daily at 7:20 and 19:30 for a 3-hour journey. The ferry to Nokdong leaves daily at 16:30. The ferry to Yeosu leaves every afternoon.\n Japan – flights to Fukuoka (the nearest), Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya\n China – flights to Shanghai (the nearest), Beijing, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Dalian, Yangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Harbin, Ningbo, Xi'an, Changsha, and Changchun\nThere are also flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Hanoi.", "word_count": 93}
diff --git a/corpus/jeju/metadata.json b/corpus/jeju/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bad9d6ab38a6ba721050a4093b5922c25b3a95b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jeju/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jeju",
+ "title": "Jeju",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jeju",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South Korea"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "South Korea",
+ "Yeosu",
+ "Japan",
+ "Fukuoka",
+ "Osaka",
+ "Tokyo",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "China",
+ "Shanghai",
+ "Beijing",
+ "Hong Kong",
+ "Tianjin",
+ "Hangzhou",
+ "Shenyang",
+ "Dalian",
+ "Yangzhou",
+ "Kunming",
+ "Nanjing",
+ "Harbin",
+ "Ningbo",
+ "Xi'an",
+ "Changsha",
+ "Changchun",
+ "Bangkok",
+ "Kuala Lumpur",
+ "Taipei",
+ "Hanoi"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5940,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 7,
+ "chunk_count": 25,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jerusalem-old-city/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jerusalem-old-city/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d9434290bb36ae1ed64eaacc517c6bf487446251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jerusalem-old-city/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk000", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|right|110px|Location of the Old City in Jerusalem\nThe **Old City of Jerusalem** (Hebrew: העיר העתיקה, *Ha'Ir Ha'Atiqah*, Arabic: البلدة القديمة, *al-Balda al-Qadimah*) is that part of Jerusalem surrounded by the impressive 16th-century Ottoman city walls and representing the heart of the city both historically and spiritually. In a city already divided, the Old City is further divided culturally and historically into four residential Quarters: (clockwise from the southeast) the Jewish, Armenian, Christian, and Muslim Quarters. A fifth area, the Temple Mount/Haram esh-Sharif, contains the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and other Muslim religious sites, and was once the site of the Jewish Temple. The whole Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk001", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Districts", "text": "In clockwise order, starting in the south:", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk002", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "The core of Jerusalem, the Old City, has a history that stretches back more than 3,000 years. The present street plan dates largely from Byzantine times, with the walls and ramparts dating back to the 16th century. The crossroad of three continents, Jerusalem has been one of the most fought over cities in human history. Within the walls, the Old City is divided into four vaguely defined quarters: Christian, Armenian, Jewish and Muslim.\n\nYou do not need to be Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, or even be overly concerned with religion, to be overwhelmed. With archaeology dating back to the time of the Bible, anyone with a sense of history, spirituality or the human species should be absorbed by the tremendous weight of human civilization that cloaks nearly every part of the city. It is an inhabited, living city - not a deserted museum or monument. Humanity's passion play has been constant revival at this location for most of the length of recorded history.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk003", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Old City is surrounded by a wall built in the first half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Turk, Suleyman the Magnificent. The 4-km (2.5-mile) circuit is accessed by eight gates, of which seven remain in current use. The gates are, in clockwise order starting in the west:\n - Jaffa Gate\n\n - New Gate\n\n - Damascus Gate\n\n - Herod's Gate\n\n - Lions' Gate\n\n - Golden Gate\n\n - Dung Gate\n\n - Zion Gate\n\n### By light rail\n\nThe Jerusalem Municipality usually recommends light rail as the best way to get to the Old City, particularly on holidays when there are many visitors. Each station is about a two-minute walk from the Old City walls.\n\n (העיריה) is the closest station to Jaffa Gate and the New Gate. It should be used for the Christian, Armenian and Jewish Quarters.\n (שער שכם) station is the closest to the Damascus Gate. It should be used for the Muslim and Christian quarters.\n\n### By bus\n\n1: Central Bus Station - Sarei Yisrael - Malchei Yisrael (Geulah) - Meah Shearim - Damascus Gate - Western Wall\n2: Mamilla - Jewish Quarter Parking lot - Western Wall - Mamilla. A \"Touristic\" bus with a circular route that serves the tourist spots in the Old City and nearby it.\n3: Central Bus Station - Kiryat Mattersdorf - Sorotzkin - Kiryat Tzanz - Ezrat Torah - Shmuel HaNavi - Damascus Gate - Western Wall\n38: Jewish Quarter Parking lot - First Station - King George St - Davidka Square - Mamilla - Jewish Quarter Parking lot.\n83: Western Wall - Mount Olives neighbourhood\n218: Ramallah/Al-Bireh - Qalandia - Beit Hanina - (almost) Herod's Gate\n231: Bethlehem/Beit Jala - Talpiot - Jaffa Gate - Damascus Gate\nOther East Jerusalem - buses with blue stripes all terminate near the Damascus Gate; buses with green stripes all terminate 2 minutes walk from Herod's Gate.\n\n### By car\n\nIf you arrive by car, be aware of the limited parking space. The streets outside the Old City walls are usually reserved for buses and taxicabs; parking of private cars is prohibited.\n\n \n \n\n### With a private guide\n\nThere's no doubt that Jerusalem is overwhelming not to mention scattered. If you only have a day or two to see the city and you'd like to visit many places in a short time, hiring a local private guide that has his own van might be the right thing for you instead of dealing with a rented car & parking for those days. (Note that there is virtually no vehicular access to the Old City, which is most conveniently accessed on foot and is within walking distance of many hotels in the New City.) However, when choosing a guide, try to ask the right questions and advise him/her with a plan that will fit your interest. You'll know the person is a good private tour guide if they will tailor a tour according to your needs.", "word_count": 489}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk004", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|An Old City street\nThe Old City is fairly diminutive in size compared to modern-day Jerusalem. Despite its small size, or perhaps because of it, the Old City is amazing. Much of the Old City is accessible only by walking because of very narrow streets and steps in the road. This is not a great inconvenience because the Old City is only about 1 kilometer across. The Old City is a maze of twisty alleyways and it's difficult to keep your bearings even with a map. Then again, getting lost is half the fun—you can't get *too* lost due to its size. Thought should be given to footwear, as the roads and paths are uneven stone and thin-soled shoes or spike heels could become uncomfortable.\n\nNote: The Old City contains many small alleys and tiny streets that often do not appear in guidebooks and street maps. Major roads are almost always signed, so do not simply rely on the map and take the next left/right as it may not be the road you are looking for.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk005", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "See", "text": "### Jewish Quarter\n\nthumb|200px|Jewish Quarter Map\nThe Jewish Quarter feels distinctly different from the rest of the Old City. Razed by the Jordanians after the partition of the former British Mandate of Palestine in 1948, most buildings in it have been rebuilt from scratch since Israel assumed control of the Old City in 1967. Despite strict laws mandating the use of Jerusalem limestone in all façades in order to maintain uniformity, the buildings look and feel new.\nthumb|Procession at the Western Wall\n - The Western Wall\n\n- Western Wall Tunnel Tour\n\n- Saint Mary's Hospice\n\n- The Cardo\n\n- Hurva Square\n\n- The Broad Wall\n\n- Burnt House\n\n- Davidson Center\n\n- Karaite Synagogue\n\n- Little Western Wall\n\n- Mughrabi Gate\n\n#### Museums\n\n- Wohl Archaeological Museum\n\n- Temple Institute\n\n- Old Yishuv Court Museum\n\n- One Last Day Museum\n\n- The Chain of Generations Center\n\n- Museum of Psalms\n\n### Armenian Quarter\n\nthumb|200px|Armenian Quarter Map\nThe Armenian Quarter is the smallest and quietest of the four. The quarter runs itself as a city within a city (within a city...), shutting the gates of its courtyards when night falls.\n\n- Tower of David/Citadel\n\n- St. James Cathedral\n\n- Saint Mark's Syriac Church and Monastery\n\n- Church of the Holy Archangels\n\n- Maronite Convent\n\n- Christ Church\n\n- Armenian Museum\n\n### Christian Quarter\n\nthumb|200px|Christian Quarter Map\nthumb|200px|Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre\n\nThe Christian Quarter, the result of rapid expansion under Byzantine rule, is in the northwest corner of the city and is home to a bewildering array of churches, patriarchates and hospices of the city's many Christian denominations. The quarter is served by the Jaffa Gate and the New Gate.\n\n- Church of the Holy Sepulchre\n\n- Lutheran Church of the Redeemer\n\n- Christian Quarter Road\n\n- Muristan", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk006", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "See", "text": "- Church of St John the Baptist\n\n- A Walk on the Roofs\n\n- St. Saviors Convent\n\n### Muslim Quarter\n\nthumb|200px|Muslim Quarter Map\nThe **Muslim Quarter** is the largest and most densely populated quarter of the Old City. The quarter has changed hands many times from the 12th through 15th centuries, resulting in decay since the 16th century. It is one of the most fascinating and least explored parts of Jerusalem. The **Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif** is described separately (below).\n - St. Anne's Church\n\n- Monastery of the Flagellation\n\n- Ecce Homo Arch\n\n- Gate of Bath\n\n- White Mosque\n\n- Lady Tunshuq Palace and Tomb\n\n- Zedekiah's Cave\n\n- Monastery of St. Nicodemus\n\n### Temple Mount/Haram esh-Sharif\n\nthumb|Dome of the Rock.\n\nThe **Temple Mount** (Hebrew *Har HaBayit*, הר הבית) or **Haram al-Sharif** (Arabic: حارم الشريف, literally *Noble Sanctuary*) is the most important site in Judaism and the third most important site in Islam. It is the site of the First and Second Temples from the Jewish and Christian Bible. The site's massive rectangular platform (of which the Western Wall is one wall) was built by Herod the Great. Now the site is a showcase for Islamic architecture and design from the Umayyad to Ottoman times, and is an important religious and educational center for Muslims to the present. Encompassing over 35 acres of fountains, gardens, buildings and domes, it is crowned by the magnificent Dome of the Rock, which stands on the site of the ancient Jewish Temples.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk007", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "See", "text": "Entering the Temple Mount (Haram esh-Sharif) for non-Muslims is through an elevated wooden walkway leading to a gate called Mughrabi Gate (Moor's Gate), on the south-eastern corner of the Western Wall Plaza in the Jewish Quarter. The entry to the Temple Mount itself (not the mosques) is allowed to non-Muslims only at certain hours and is free of charge (see the caution note above).\n\nSome rabbis consider it forbidden or at the very least religiously unadvisable to enter the Temple Mount as the Holy of Holies is/was *somewhere* on the Mount. While the Temple stood, this area was off-limits to anybody not a priest of the Temple (and even they could only enter it at certain periods). As the protection of the Holy of Holies was – according to that view – never revoked, one could accidentally blaspheme by standing in the wrong place. However, there are also Jews who disagree with that view or who claim to know where the Holy of Holies is/was or who do not care about the religious implications. Nevertheless, it is better to know and make an informed choice.\n\nIt is hard to see the majestic buildings on the Temple Mount from the rest of the Old City (unless you know a local inhabitant who lets you onto their roof). An alternative is to look across from the Mount of Olives.\n\nThe sights of the Temple Mount (Haram esh-Sharif) which are permitted only to Muslims:\n\n- Dome of the Rock\n\n- al-Aqsa Mosque\n\n- Museum of Islamic Art\n\n- Solomon's Stables\n\n- Golden Gate Interior", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk008", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Do", "text": "- Ramparts Walk\n\n### Jewish Quarter\n\n - A look into the past\n\n### Christian Quarter\n\nthumb|Via Dolorosa\n Walk the **Via Dolorosa** - the \"way of sorrows\" traditionally traces the last steps of Christ from where he was tried to Calvary, where he was crucified, and the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where he is said to have been buried. There is no historical basis for the 0.25 km (0.16 miles) route, which has changed over the centuries. Nevertheless, pilgrims traditionally walk the route, identifying with Jesus' suffering. Along the route are 14 Stations of the Cross, each connected with a particular story or event. \"Guides\" hanging around the beginning of the Via will give you a tour for a small fee, accompanied by informed commentary, but this is not necessarily the best plan. Paying a token amount to get yourself started is not a bad plan, but if you have a guide book you can likely handle it better on your own from there, due to the crowded and winding nature of the Via through the Old City's narrow streets. Not all the guides are as respectful of the religious sites along the Via Dolorosa as they could be, sometimes walking headlong into occupied churches mid-service.\n *First Station* - Jesus is condemned to death. The traditional site of the Roman fortress where this took place lies inside a Muslim college.\n *Second Station* - Jesus takes up his cross after his flagellation and coronation of thorns. This takes place in front of the Monastery of Flagellation.\n *Third Station* - Jesus falls beneath the weight of his cross. This is commemorated by a small chapel with a marble relief above the door.\n *Fourth Station* - Jesus meets his mother Mary. A sculpture above the door of the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm represents this.\n *Fifth Station* - Simon of Cyrene is ordered to help carry the cross of Christ. This point at the start of the ascent to Calvary is marked by a Franciscan oratory.\n *Sixth Station* - Veronica wipes away Jesus' blood and sweat and her handkerchief reveals an impression of his face. This story, not recorded in the Bible, is commemorated by The Chapel of St Veronica.\n *Seventh Station* - Jesus falls for the second time, as indicated by a large Roman column in a Franciscan chapel.\n *Eighth Station* - Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:28), and is marked by a Latin cross on the wall of a Greek Orthodox Monastery.\n *Ninth Station* - Jesus falls for the third time. This place is marked on a Roman column at the entrance to the Ethiopian Monastery.\n *Tenth to Thirteenth Stations* - These four stations (Jesus is stripped of his clothes, nailed to the cross, dies, and is taken down from the cross) are all in the place identified as Golgotha (Calvary) within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.\n *Fourteenth Station* - the Holy Sepulchre itself, the purported tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea who asked Pilate for Jesus' body.\n Attend a church service, if you're that way inclined.... For Christian services and addresses of churches (most denominations are represented in Jerusalem), call the **Christian Information Centre**, Jaffa Gate, , open M-Sa 08:30–13:00", "word_count": 538}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk009", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "- David street\n\n - Cardo\n\nSouk Khan al-Zeit and El-Wad streets are the main arteries of the Muslim Quarter. Souk Khan al-Zeit begins just east of the Muristan while El-Wad begins at the outlet of the tunnel to the Western Wall Plaza, with both leading north towards the Damascus gate. While these streets contain numerous souvenir shops and cafes catering to tourists, the majority of shops serve the local population. Butchers, Western clothing stores, hardware shops, and groceries can be found throughout the area.\nThe **Suq El Attaria** is the primary shopping area in the Arab quarters of the Old City. You will find shops ranging from souvenirs to greengrocers to traditional clothing.\n The lanes and alleys in and near the Christian quarter abound in shops displaying icons and other churchy items. The quality ranges from kitsch to alright - and prices are mostly grossly inflated. Credit card scams are not unknown. Shop proprietors are seasoned masters at gentle but effective commercial manipulation - inviting bypassing tourists into their shops, involving them in innocuous conversation and directing them into 'you must buy this' situations.\n The Old City of Jerusalem is known for its Armenian ceramics. With white and a rich blue as the base colors, and bright paintings on them, they are a distinct souvenir. The street signs throughout the old quarter are made of Armenian ceramics, and a few shops will produce custom nameplates and tile signs with a short turnaround time. Ceramics from Hebron are also popular with tourists.\n\nPrices for snacks, water, and other drinks are inflated in the Jewish Quarter and near the Jaffa gate and the Muristan. As you move closer to Damascus Gate you can find 1.5-liter bottles of water for ₪5, while a 0.5-liter bottle may cost you as much as ₪9 in the more touristy areas.", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk010", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Old City tempts the taste buds with Arabic, Jewish, Mediterranean and International fare. Visitors on the go can grab food from street vendors, while those desiring a more formal meal can find numerous restaurants scattered throughout each quarter.\n\nCommon appetizers and quick treats may include Kibbe, an oval-shaped croquette of cracked wheat filled with meat and onions; Hummos, a chickpea paste with olive oil; Tabuleh, finely-chopped parsley with tomato and cucumber; and Tahini, a sesame seed paste with parsley, oil and garlic.\n\nMain dishes usually consist of lamb or chicken meat with occasional beef, but never pork. Meats can be cooked in a variety of ways, but is most often cooked on a spit. Take-away restaurants offer favorites like falafel (deep-fried balls of mashed chickpeas) and shwarma (lamb grilled on a spit and eaten in flat bread).\n\nDessert options range from exotic or citrus fruits to sticky, sweet Middle Eastern confections. Baklava is a layered pastry filled with powdered pistachio and covered in honey or syrup. Kanafeh, a recipe that differs throughout the Middle East, is served in Jerusalem as pistachios in a crisp coating of pastry threads.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk011", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "An issue that may be confusing to many travelers is the issue of Jewish dietary laws, or *Kashrut*. These laws state that certain meat is considered impure (anything that does not chew the cud and have a split hoof, including pork and rabbit), as well as certain types of seafood (anything without scales or fins). Animals that are permitted for consumption have been slaughtered according to Jewish religious practices and cleansed of all traces of blood before cooking, allowing the food to be declared *kosher*. Other complications revolve around the fact that meat and dairy products can never be eaten together in the same meal. In Jerusalem you will find that all types of restaurants can be kosher, not just Jewish ones.\n\n### Jewish Quarter\n\nAsk if there is a discount or ask for the 'harova' discount. This is for people who are living or staying inside the Old City, but merchants don't know where you are staying or how long you have been here. If you are feeling cautious, say you are staying at the Heritage House. You can ask for the discount in English as there are many Anglophone guests and residents.\n\nBe careful where you sit. There are dairy and meat only eating areas.\n\n- Quarter Cafe\n\n- Bonkers Bagels\n\n- Tzaddik's Deli\n\n- Rami's Pizza\n\n- Menorah Cafe\n\n- CoffeeBagel\n\n- Burgers Bar\n\n- Joseph Kohen\n\n- Mehadrin\n\n- Ne'eman Pastries\n\n- Papàs\n\n- Pizza Cardo Café\n\n### Christian Quarter\n\n- Amigo Emil\n\n- Grand Shisha Bar & Cafe\n\n- Lina Hummus\n\n- Versavee Bistro Bar & Cafe\n\n### Armenian Quarter\n\n- Armenian Tavern\n\n### Muslim Quarter", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk012", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Some of the best and cheapest falafel and shwarma joints can found on Saladin Street, just outside Damascus Gate. In addition to the restaurant listed below, there are numerous of pushcarts and stands right outside the gate serving fresh off the grill (and into a pita) food for around ₪6 a serving (usually not kosher).\n\nThere are plenty of small Arab restaurants in the Old City but in January many closed at nightfall. (They are of course Halal.)\n\nThe restaurant in the Austrian Hospice is reputed to be poor and pricey. (It has a nice garden though.)\n The Arabic restaurant at the Jerusalem Hotel, and the little upstairs restaurant just round the corner from there, on Nablus Road just outside Damascus Gate, are recommended.\n - Abu Shukri\n\n- BASTI Restaurant\n\n- Jerusalem Star\n\n- Nasr Restaurant\n\n- Al-Baghdadi Restaurant\n\n- Ja'far Sweets", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk013", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "Coffee and tea are the two most common drinks among Jews and Arabs, although each has a preferred way of making it. In Jewish areas, coffee and tea are drunk in European or American-style cafés. Espresso is offered, but is weak compared to *katzar*, a stronger coffee. In Arab areas, coffee (*qahweh*) is served thick and strong and is meant to be consumed in small sips. If Western-style coffee is preferred, ask for *Nescafé* or filtered coffee. Tea (*shay*) is stronger than Western-style tea and is drunk with lots of sugar. If Western-style tea is preferred, ask for *shay Libton* (Lipton tea).\n\nFresh pomegranate (and grapefruit) juice is available all over the Old City. Prices start from around ₪10 (October 2018) for a 0.3 liter cup, any price beyond ₪15 (October 2018) for 0.3 liters (not 0.2) is a rip-off. The price in Hebron, by contrast, is ₪2.\n\nBottled water is inexpensive (usually, be careful where you buy) and readily available throughout the Old City. Carrying an extra bottle of water is recommended due to the dry, dusty climate.\n\nSome restaurants serve alcohol. The main beers are Israeli Maccabee/Goldstar and Arab Taybeh beer. Spirits are less widely available but are commonly sold in hotel bars.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem-old-city::chunk014", "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation within the Old City itself is distinctly downmarket. Be sure to investigate people renting out private residences.\n\n### Budget\n\nFor those on a tight budget, youth hostels are ideal (although occasionally somewhat dodgy), and often the cheapest places to stay in Jerusalem. Religiously-based hospices and guest houses, located mainly near the holy sites, is a popular and inexpensive alternative to hotels. Hospices and guest houses tend to maintain stricter rules than hostels.\n\n - Chain Gate Hostel\n\n - New Petra Hostel\n\n - Citadel Hostel\n\n - Golden Gate Inn\n\n - New Swedish Hostel\n\n - Heritage House\n\n - Hebron Hostel (formerly known as 'Tabasco Hostel')\n\n - New Palm Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Austrian Hospice\n\n - Casa Nova Hospice\n\n - Christ Church Guest House\n\n - Al Hashimi Hotel and Hostel\n\n - Lutheran Guest House\n\n - Our Lady of Zion\n\n - The Sephardic House\n\n - New Imperial Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\nThe facilities in the Old City are recommended for those on a tight or mid-range travel budget. For those looking to splurge on accommodations, there are quite a few recommended locations in modern parts of the city, particularly West Jerusalem.", "word_count": 186}
diff --git a/corpus/jerusalem-old-city/metadata.json b/corpus/jerusalem-old-city/metadata.json
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+{
+ "doc_id": "jerusalem-old-city",
+ "title": "Jerusalem/Old City",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jerusalem/Old_City",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Jerusalem"
+ ],
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+ "go_next": [],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jerusalem/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jerusalem/chunks.jsonl
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index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0aee5b1b2437b550021ff4b2cf3e6ebe56cdb9ef
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+++ b/corpus/jerusalem/chunks.jsonl
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+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk000", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jerusalem** (Hebrew: ירושלים *Yerushalayim*, Arabic: القدس *al-Quds*) is the largest city of Israel. Israel claims it as its capital and a few countries including the United States recognize that claim, but most other countries and the United Nations do not.\n\nThe ancient city in the Judean Hills has a fascinating history spanning thousands of years. The city is holy to the three monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and serves as a spiritual, religious, and cultural center. Due to the religious significance of the city, and in particular the many sites of the Old City area, Jerusalem is one of the main tourist destinations in Israel. Jerusalem has many historic, archeological and cultural sites, along with vibrant and crowded shopping centers, cafes, and restaurants.\n\n*Jerusalem of Gold*, as it has come to be known in Hebrew, is a fascinatingly unique place where the first century rubs shoulders with the twenty-first century, each jostling for legitimacy and space, and where picturesque \"old\" neighborhoods nestle against glistening office towers and high-rise apartments. It is one of those places that have to be seen to be believed.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk001", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|300px|The Dome of the Rock\n> It is the land of the Resurrection and the Gathering. Go and pray there, for one prayer there is like one thousand prayers elsewhere.\n\nLocated in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, Jerusalem is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is the holiest city in Judaism and Christianity, having been the spiritual center of the Jewish people since the 10th century BCE, and the third-holiest in Islam. It has a history of nearly 4000 years, and has been fought over and conquered countless times in that period. While the city began to have a Jewish plurality in the late 19th century, today a wide range of national, religious, and socioeconomic groups are represented here. During the Jordanian occupation 1949-1967 all Jews in East Jerusalem were expelled and entry was barred for Israeli citizens of any faith and even today there tend to be more Muslims in east Jerusalem and more Jews in West Jerusalem.\n\nThe walled area of Jerusalem, which until the 1860s formed the entire city, is now called the Old City, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. It consists of four ethnic and religious sections—the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters. Barely one square kilometer, the Old City is home to Jerusalem's most important and contested religious sites - the Western Wall and Temple Mount for Jews, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians.\nthumb|right|300px|The Western Wall", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk002", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "Surrounding the Old City are more modern areas of Jerusalem. The civic and cultural center of modern Israel is in western Jerusalem, while Arab neighborhoods can be found in the east. Jerusalem became Israel's capital upon its independence. The city was reunited after the 1967 War when Israel captured East Jerusalem. Nowadays there is no visible sign of the pre-1967 border, but Jewish and Arab neighborhoods are still generally separate.\n\n### History\n\n> If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.\n\nArchaeological findings show development within present-day Jerusalem as far back as the 4th millennium BCE, but the earliest written records of the city come in the Execration Texts (c. 19th century BCE) and the Amarna letters (c. 14th century BCE). According to Biblical accounts, the Jebusites (a Canaanite tribe) inhabited Jerusalem until c. 1000 BCE, at which point the Israelites (led by King David) conquered the city, establishing it as the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Throughout this period, Jerusalem was located in what is now known as the \"City of David\", just outside the current Old City walls to the southeast, where a large natural spring is located.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk003", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to the Bible, after David died, his son Solomon built the first of two Holy Temples. The temples were north of the City of David, on a site underneath or very close to the current Dome of the Rock. Upon Solomon's death the kingdom split in two (though many historians contend that the two Israelite kingdoms were never united to begin with). The ten northern tribes became known as the Kingdom of Israel, while Jerusalem remained the capital of the southern Kingdom of Judah, ruled by David and Solomon's descendants. After the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, Jerusalem was the center of the only remaining Israelite/Jewish kingdom. In 586 BCE, the Babylonians conquered the Kingdom of Judah including Jerusalem, destroying the temple and exiling many of the inhabitants.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk004", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 538 BCE, the Persian King Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return to Judah and Jerusalem. The rebuilt (Second) Temple was completed in 516 BCE. Jerusalem regained its status as capital of Judah and center of Jewish worship for nearly six centuries. Jerusalem would remain under Persian control until the conquest by Alexander when it would come under Greek (first Ptolemaic, later Seleucid) control. In the second century BCE, the Hasmonean family led a successful rebellion against the Seleucid Greek rulers of Judea, establishing an independent Jewish state which lasted over 100 years. This era is described in the deuterocanonical book of Maccabbees and an event during the recapture of Jerusalem is the basis of the celebration of Hannukkah. In about 19 BCE, Herod the Great (a Jewish client king under Roman rule) vastly expanded the temple area by building retaining walls to support a flat rectangular platform around the temple site. One of these retaining walls survives to this day as the Western Wall, and the platform survives as the Temple Mount.\n\nThe Great Jewish Revolt against Roman rule broke out in 66 CE. Its failure resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. A second failed revolt (132-136 CE, led by Simon Bar Kochba) led to Jews being banned from entering Jerusalem, a policy which continued for most of the time until the Muslim conquest.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk005", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Temple Mount and part of the old city\nFor the following five centuries, the city remained under Roman/Byzantine rule. Under Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century, Jerusalem became a center for Christianity, with the construction of sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Muslim forces conquered Jerusalem in the year 638. According to tradition, their leader Caliph Umar visited Jerusalem and established the Temple site as a place of prayer. By the end of the 7th century, a subsequent caliph, Abd al-Malik, had commissioned the construction of the Dome of the Rock on this spot, as well as al-Aqsa Mosque on the southern edge of the Temple Mount. Muslim traditions vary about whether Muhammad's flight to heaven was from the Dome of the Rock or from al-Aqsa.\n\nIn the four hundred years that followed, Jerusalem's prominence diminished as Muslim powers in the region jockeyed for control. In 1099 the First Crusade captured Jerusalem. The crusaders killed almost all Jews still living in the Holy Land as well as a large portion of the Muslims. Immigration from Europe only partially compensated for this loss in population as many crusaders left after the fighting was over. The Knights Templar were established in Jerusalem and had their official headquarters on the Temple Mount. The Muslim ruler Saladin reconquered Jerusalem in 1187, but between 1228 and 1244, it was given by Saladin's descendant al-Kamil to the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Jerusalem fell again in 1244 to the Khawarizmi Turks, who in 1260 were replaced by the Egyptian Mamelukes. In 1517, Jerusalem fell to the Ottoman Turks, who then controlled the Holy Land until the First World War. The current Old City walls were built by the Ottomans shortly after 1517.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk006", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the 1860s, new neighborhoods were built outside the walls for the first time. This expansion of Jerusalem was fueled both by general urbanization and by immigration, as Jews and Muslims and to a lesser extent Christians came to Jerusalem for its spiritual and cultural significance. By the late 19th century, Jerusalem had a Jewish plurality. The 19th century also saw a weakening of the Ottoman Empire, and major European powers like France and Russia tried to play the role of \"Guardian of the Holy Sites\" and protector of both the local Christians and pilgrimage. One consequence of those power struggles was the Crimean War, another a seemingly fragile \"status quo\" regarding the Christian Holy Sites that while sometimes seemingly ridiculous (one stipulation is that a certain ladder must not be moved) has nonetheless kept conflicts to a minimum and allowed pilgrimages to occur surprisingly smoothly despite all the political turmoil the region experiences.\nthumb|300px|View of [[Jerusalem/Ein Kerem|Ein Kerem]]\n\nIn 1917, the British Army captured the city. The League of Nations, through its 1922 ratification of the Balfour Declaration, entrusted the United Kingdom to administer the Mandate of Palestine as a Jewish national home. The period of the Mandate saw the construction of new garden suburbs in the western and northern parts of the city, and the establishment of institutions of higher learning such as the Hebrew University.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk007", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "As the British Mandate of Palestine was expiring, the 1947 UN Partition Plan recommended \"the creation of a special international regime in the City of Jerusalem, constituting it as a corpus separatum under the administration of the United Nations.\" However, this plan was rejected by the Arabs. At the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jerusalem found itself divided between Israel and Jordan (then known as Transjordan). The ceasefire line established through the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and Jordan cut through the center of the city. In 1949, west Jerusalem became Israel's capital. After the 1967 war, all of Jerusalem was claimed by Israel as its capital. Israel has since annexed the entirety of East Jerusalem and treats it as part of its territory and distinct from the West Bank (though few other countries accept this annexation). Arab residents of East Jerusalem can apply for Israeli citizenship, but for various reasons few have actually made use of that option.\n\n### Demographics\n\nJerusalem's population of around 800,000 is about 62% Jewish, 35% Muslim, 2% Christian, and 1% other. Neighborhoods tend to be overwhelmingly Jewish or Muslim; there are few really mixed neighborhoods, though many neighborhoods have a small minority of people from other religions. However, it is common for people of all religions to meet in the workplace. The Jewish population is a mix of cultures, with many immigrants from the former USSR, North Africa, Iraq, Eastern Europe, the US, and other places. Due to Jerusalem's religious significance, clergy and laypeople from many groups have moved to Jerusalem and continue to do so. A notable past example were the Temple Society, a group of German Pietists who were expelled before World War II but whose \"German colony\" still stands.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk008", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "Jerusalem is generally regarded by Israelis to be a conservative and religious city, in contrast to liberal Tel Aviv. Compared especially to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem is noted for its large number of religious Jews, ranging from Conservative Jews to the Haredim ('ultra-Orthodox'). Haredim also tend to self-segregate for various reasons and you'll find most of them in a few overwhelmingly Haredi neighborhoods.\n\nThe demographic history of Jerusalem over the last two hundred years is interesting and somewhat contentious. Jerusalem became a plurality Jewish city in the 19th century, and was a majority Jewish city throughout the British Mandate. However, then as now many Jerusalem Jews were Haredi and rejected Zionism. The 1948 war led to the forced displacement of all Jews (Zionist or not, immigrant or rooted in the area for centuries) from East Jerusalem and the Old City, including the historic Jewish quarter. From 1948-1967 the Jordanian government prohibited Jews from living in East Jerusalem and tried to erase traces of the Jewish past. Some Jews who have settled in East Jerusalem since 1967 see their actions thus as nothing but a \"return\" after the forced absence under Jordanian control. Arabs (whether Chrisitian or Muslim) living in East Jerusalem in 1967 were given a status as permanent residents and an option to acquire Israeli citizenship should they want it. However, most have rejected Israeli citizenship for various reasons.\n\n### Climate\n\nLocated near the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Jerusalem has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Due to its relatively high elevation (600 m-800 m above sea level) Jerusalem's air is less humid and more pleasant than in most other parts of Israel.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk009", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Understand", "text": "Winters are often wet, with nearly all of Jerusalem's annual 590 mm (23 in) of precipitation occurring between October and April. However, in between the rainy days there are numerous clear and sunny days. The coldest month is January, with an average high of 12 °C (53 °F) and an average low of 4 °C (39 °F). Sub-freezing temperatures are rare, but do happen, and the city will get occasional snowfall during the winter, though it usually only lasts a matter of hours rather than days. Once every few years, the city will experience significant accumulating snow.\n\nSummers are hot and dry as a bone with virtually no rainfall between the months of May and September. Temperatures will generally approach around 30 °C (88 °F) during the day and cool to around 15 °C (59 °F) at night. Being near the desert, there is often a big difference between the day and night temperatures, and even the hottest days can turn into chilly nights. Spring and fall are mild, with minimal rainfall and pleasant temperatures, though heat-waves are not unheard of. Most evenings and nights are quite windy and long pants and a shirt are recommended.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk010", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Talk", "text": "The main languages spoken in Jerusalem are Hebrew in West Jerusalem and Arabic in East Jerusalem. Remember that Hebrew and Arabic are written from right to left. Some Haredi (ultra Orthodox) Jews speak Yiddish in daily life, in part because they see using Hebrew for mundane things as blasphemous.\n\nThere is a significant number of Jews speaking Russian or French. Smaller groups of Jews speak Dutch and Spanish. It is not uncommon to see signs in Russian or hear Russian language radio.\n\nMost people in the tourist areas of the city speak English that is sufficient for communication. In particular, English is widely spoken in the areas most visited by tourists, especially in the Old City. Usually, even if you don't find an English speaker on your first try, there will be one nearby. There is also a relatively large number of Jews who have immigrated to Jerusalem from English-speaking countries, and in the tourist areas of Jewish Jerusalem they make up about a quarter of the population.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk011", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|Jerusalem Central Bus Station\n\n### By plane\n\n#### Ben Gurion Airport\n\nIsrael's main entry point for the international traveler, (), is next to the highway linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (Highway 1). Travel from the airport to the center of Jerusalem takes 40–50 minutes, or more if there is traffic.\n\n**By train** - A train line from the airport to Jerusalem opened in 2018. See \"By train\" below.\n\n**By bus** - Route 485 (Afikim) runs between the airport terminal and Jerusalem. As of November 2022, it only runs on late Thursday nights/Friday mornings (previously it ran 24/6 excluding Shabbat), and one can expect that the 485 will be eliminated entirely once the current train construction project finishes. The 485 runs nonstop from the airport to the Jerusalem central bus station, then makes a few more stops in the Knesset/museums area. It departs hourly, on the hour, in both directions, and costs ₪16 (you pay the driver when boarding). After getting off in Jerusalem, you can take the local bus, light rail, or taxi to your final destination. The bus stop towards the airport is on , just outside the central bus station, 100–150 m east of the main bus station exit.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk012", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "**By taxi** - The official Jerusalem-airport taxi price is around ₪250 during the day, ₪300 late at night. You might be able to find a driver for somewhat cheaper, but chances are they will drive recklessly. If you order in advance, companies like Daka 99 may offer rates as low as ₪160. Your taxi driver may either take Highway 1 or road 443 (which goes through the West Bank).\n **By shuttle** - The 'Nesher' shared taxi service (+972 2 623 1231 - Hebrew and English) is a 10-seat minibus that runs approximately hourly services to/from the airport, 24/7. Fare is around ₪70 one way per person. From the airport, the shuttle waits on the curb outside the Terminal 3 arrival hall - follow signage to the Jerusalem shuttle. The shuttle departs when full, and will take you to the address of your choice in Jerusalem. Going to the airport, you must reserve your seat in advance by phone. Be on time for the pickup — they don't wait. Nesher is known for rude customer service, and for a long nauseating ride as the other 9 passengers are dropped off at their addresses before you (you always seem to be last!). Keep in mind that it is quicker, more comfortable, and usually cheaper to take the 485 bus, and a local taxi between the bus station and your hotel.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk013", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Notes**:\nSome Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem are seen as \"no go zones\" by Israeli Jews, and some taxi drivers, including shared taxis, may hesitate or even refuse to take you to these destinations. You should understand that it is only because they genuinely fear for their own safety. If you have a hard time finding a taxi to East Jerusalem, take a taxi from the airport to the Jerusalem central bus station, and there switch to a local taxi.\nTaxi drivers, including shared taxis, have been known to overcharge or shortchange, so check the price before boarding, and check your change when it is handed back to you.\nBuses and trains do not run from Friday after 4 PM to 8 PM on Saturday. Taxis and the Nesher shuttle operate, but might charge you extra due to Shabbat time.\n\nIf you see **Atarot Airport** on old maps, it is a small airport 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of the Old City, which has not been used for international flights since the Six-Day War, and has been closed since 2001 and is about to be demolished.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Rail track to JerusalemIn general, see rail.co.il for fares and timetables.\n\n#### From Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk014", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "Since its launch in 2018, the train has been the most convenient way to get to the city from Tel Aviv and the airport. The train journey time from Tel Aviv is 35 minutes, and 20 minutes from Tel Aviv Airport. The train to Jerusalem runs every 30 minutes Sunday to Thursday. Except for the night trains between midnight and 6AM which run every hour. (Except for the nights between Tuesday and Wednesday and between Friday and Saturday when there are no night trains) On Friday, the train runs every hour until 2PM in winter or until 4PM in summer, and on Saturday from 8PM time in winter or 10PM in summer.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### From Israel\n\nFrom Jerusalem there are buses from all over Israel. Since the high-speed train was launched, arriving by bus to the city is not recommended from Tel Aviv as its travel time is double. Except on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. Then the buses finish operating on Friday evening two hours after the train and on Saturday evening two hours before. Egged is almost the only operator of intercity buses to and from Jerusalem, as well as the entire urban network. To check on these services look at its website or dial *2800 from any phone. The 485 bus from the airport is operated by Afikim.\n\nTwo Egged bus routes connect Tel Aviv to the Jerusalem CBS. Route 405 leaves the Tel Aviv CBS about every 40 min from 05:40–00:00. Route 480 leaves the Arlozorov station (the central train station) about every 30 minutes from 05:20–00:30. Each route takes about an hour and costs ₪16.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk015", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "From the CBS it is a long but enjoyable walk (or short light rail ride) along Jaffa Road to the center of West Jerusalem and further on to the Old City. When exiting the CBS, turn *left* to walk towards the city, or turn right to find the city buses. (Finding your way when you leave the CBS for the first time can be a confusing experience, since there are almost no city maps around. There should be maps of the area within each bus shelter outside the station.)\n\n#### From the West Bank\n\nThe main bus station connecting Jerusalem to the Palestinian cities in the West Bank is just north of the Damascus Gate of the Old City, in East Jerusalem. There are three different bus terminals there: **HaNeviim station**, **Nablus Road station** and **Sultan Suleiman station**.\n\nRegular regional buses from/to Ramallah (bus 218, ₪8, 45 min) and Bethlehem (bus 231 or 124, ₪6.80, 30 min) go via HaNeviim station, as well as buses from/to Hebron. For Jericho, Bus 36 or 63 (₪6.80, 20 min) to/from HaNeviim station go through east of Jerusalem, a town also identified with **Bethany** (from the New Testament). Here you interchange from/to a sherut van from/to Jericho (₪10-12, 30 min). Alternatively, bus 263 (₪6.80) to/from the Sultan Sulliman Terminal will stop at this interchange junction too. For more information on the Arab bus stations, see the East Jerusalem article. These buses are colored mostly in blue strips.\n\nAll buses from the Israeli parts of the West Bank (e.g., the Dead Sea, Judaean Desert, Shiloh and the Jewish Quarter of Hebron) go to the central bus station in West Jerusalem.\n\n### By shared taxi", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk016", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get in", "text": "On the Sabbath, and very late at night, your only option other than a private taxi is a *sherut* (shared taxi). These depart from Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station and Ben Gurion Airport, and charge a small surcharge on top of the normal bus fare. As of mid-2012 a *sherut* costs ₪23 (₪28 at night, ₪33 at Shabbat) and drops you off downtown, not far from Zion Square. There are no Israeli sherut lines within Jerusalem (unlike most Israeli cities). But there are sherut lines to Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh as well as the airport.\n\nShared taxis are also the best option if travelling between Jerusalem and Palestinian cities in the West Bank, especially Ramallah and Bethlehem. These leave from near the East Jerusalem bus terminals outside the Damascus Gate. There is a shared taxi direct to/from the Allenby bridge (The border crossing with Jordan), for (Feb 2019) ₪42 plus ₪5 per luggage or 10 JD for 1 seat plus 1 luggage (picking up from Al-Souq Al-Tijaree \"The commercial souq\" not far away from the main bus station). All Palestinian shared taxis are very cheap, ₪5.00 for the surrounding villages, ₪5.50 for Abu-Dis and ₪6.50 for Ramallah.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk017", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|300px|Jerusalem Light Rail\nGetting around Jerusalem used to be tricky, time-consuming, and frustrating as the terrain and age of the city left clogged roads unable to handle modern population numbers. The building of the light rail line has mitigated this but where the light rail doesn't go the going may still be slow.\n\n### By taxi\n\nCabs are plentiful in the city of gold. You can probably flag one down quickly by walking to the nearest busy street. Just in case this doesn't work, it is good to have the number of a cab company ready, or to install the Gett smartphone app.\n\nBe warned as the drivers may try to rip you off by \"taking the scenic route\" or charging a fixed price instead of on the meter. Insist that the driver turns on the meter (*moneh*) and you should have no problems. If the driver will not activate the meter, get out and take a different one. If you have the meter on, cabs are relatively cheap.\n\nNote that a private taxi is called \"moneet\" in Hebrew, and \"taxi\" by Arabs. Both differ from the shared taxi (\"sherut\" or \"servees\"), which runs fixed routes for many people like a bus. However, unlike buses sherut do not take rav-kav.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk018", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving a car in Jerusalem is not recommended. In the central areas (roughly between the Central Bus Station and the Old City), the main streets are mostly reserved for public transportation, and the streets cars can go on are narrow and very confusing to navigate. Then, when you reach your destination, there will be no place to park your car. Elsewhere in the city, it is easy to drive, but still hard to find parking. If you can't use public transportation, taxis are probably a better option than cars.\n\nIf you insist on visiting the Old City by car, park in the Karta garage in Mamilla, close to Jaffa Gate. Only Old City residents are allowed to drive into the Old City.\n\n### By light rail\n\nthumb|Light rail map\n\nThe Jerusalem Light Rail line opened in 2011. It links the north-eastern neighborhoods to the south-western neighborhoods, runs along the western side of the Old City, and passes through the city center. There are plans to construct additional lines. Its opening after long delays and controversy (not least because it crosses the 1949 armistice line) was a godsend for transportation in the city and where it does go, it is easily the best option.\n\nThe light rail runs past many areas of interest to tourists. Listed from east to west:\n the Old City (Damascus Gate and City Hall stations)\n the West Jerusalem city center - King George and Ben Yehuda streets (Jaffa Center station)\n the Mahaneh Yehuda market (Mahane Yehuda station)\n the Central Bus Station (Central Station)\n Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem (Mount Herzl station)\n\nThe ticket price is the same as bus fare (₪5.9) with free transfers between them. When you get on, tap your Rav-kav card against the reader and make sure a green light is displayed.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk019", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get around", "text": "The light rail runs from about 05:30 to midnight. Its frequency is every 6 minutes during the day and less often at night. Like buses, it does not run on the Sabbath.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses are the main form of public transportation in areas not served by the light rail. Jewish and Arab bus companies run separate bus networks in Jerusalem, serving Jewish and Arab neighborhoods respectively, although there is some overlap.\n\nThe Arab bus network, in East Jerusalem, is run by *Al-Safariat Al-Mowahadda* (\"The united traveling service\"). It mainly consists of lines running radially to Arab neighborhoods from two bus stations near Damascus Gate.\n\nThe Jewish bus network is run by three bus companies, which are:\n\n\"Egged\", which serves the southern parts Jerusalem along with some lines in the northern parts of Jerusalem,\n \"Superbus\", which operates the trunk lines, and\n \"Extra\", which serves the northern parts of Jerusalem.\n\nIt serves everywhere in West Jerusalem, as well as the Old City and Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. It is more useful for tourists, and also easier to get information about. Unlike Arab buses, its fare is integrated with the light rail (one ticket will get you unlimited rides on bus and light rail for 90 minutes after your first boarding). Also unlike Arab buses, Jewish buses do not operate on the Sabbath.\n\nMost routes run every 15–20 minutes or better. City buses have a fixed fare of ₪5.9, paid upon boarding. Keep your receipt as proof of payment in case of inspection.\n\nYou must use \"Rav Kav\" for payment. Note, you can't pay the driver.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk020", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Get around", "text": "While Jerusalem is built in a mountainous area, the central areas of the city are rather flat and very walkable. Due to the altitude, the humidity level of Jerusalem is much lower than most cities in Israel, making walking quite pleasant. The Old City has to be toured by foot, not only because it is more impressive this way, but also because its narrow lanes and alleyways are mostly inaccessible to cars.\n\n### By bike\n\nJerusalem has bike paths, but the rights of cyclists are not always respected: you will frequently find bike paths blocked, and drivers will expect cyclists to give right of way, though they will not intentionally harm you if you force the right of way.\n\nBike rentals are available at the Abraham Hostel (67 Hanevi'im, Davidka square), as well as at Bilu Bikes (7 Bilu), among other places.\n\nA bike sharing program called Jerufun, including both regular and e-bikes, exists in the city. There are various subscription options as well as one-time rental. The program has fairly good coverage in Western Jerusalem.\n\n- Bike Jerusalem", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk021", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "See", "text": "Jerusalem has an amazing array of attractions for the traveler to see. The following are some of the must-sees. For more attractions see individual district articles.\n\n### Old City\n\nThe Old City is the atmospheric historical core of Jerusalem, surrounded by Ottoman period walls, filled with sites of massive religious significance and a bustling approach to life. (Please note that some sites, particularly Islamic ones, may bar members of other religions from entry or praying on the grounds.)\n\nThe most iconic site in Jerusalem is the **Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary**, which is holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. Jews all around the world usually face the Temple Mount when they pray. It is crowned by the magnificent gold-and-blue **Dome of the Rock**, which stands on the site of the ancient Jewish Temples. It also includes the **Al-Aqsa Mosque** (The Far Mosque), from where the Muslim prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk022", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "See", "text": "The **Western Wall** *(Jewish)* is a retaining wall of the Temple Mount, built 2000 years ago. It is the closest place Jews can go to the site of the Temple, so for hundreds of years it has been a destination for prayer, and for placing notes with prayers in the cracks between the wall's stones.\n **Church of the Holy Sepulchre** *(Christian)*. At the end of the Via Dolorosa (Way of the sorrows) in the Christian quarter of the Old City. It is the holiest site in the world for Christians. The first church on the site was built by Queen Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, the Holy Sepulchre is Jerusalem's number 1 site for Christian pilgrims and is consequently horribly crowded. Expect to queue for an hour or more to enter the tiny tomb chamber.\n The **Jewish Quarter** was completely re-built in 1969 after it came under Israeli control in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It still holds many ancient masterpieces such as the Hezekiah's wall (700 BCE), Burnt House (70 CE), Cardo (550 CE), and Western Wall. At the Western Wall plaza you will find **The Western Wall Tunnel** and the **Chain of Generations center**. The nearby archaeological park **Davidson Centre** (the Ophel) is also interesting. Inside the quarter are **The Hurba Synagogue**, the largest synagogue in the old city, and **The Herodian Quarter** museum.\n **Via Dolorosa** - passing through **Bethesda** (crusader church and Roman excavations), **Franciscan Archaeological Museum** and **Les Seurs de Sion** Monastery with its underground Roman Street\n **Damascus Gate** is the most elaborate gate. The vegetable market borders it. It is also near Jaafar, a renowned Jerusalem sweets store. Just outside Damascus Gate you can visit the **Rockefeller Archaeological Museum** as well as **The Garden Tomb** and **The Tomb of the Kings**\n **Murestan Square** with the Lutheran **Church of the Redeemer**\n **The Armenian Cathedral and Museum**\n **Maronite Church**", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk023", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "See", "text": "### East Jerusalem\n\nJerusalem's exact boundaries have varied over the ages. Some of the most historic important sites are located just outside the current city walls in East Jerusalem, including all sites from the time of King David and earlier.\n\n**City of David** – On the south-east corner of the old city, is an archeological site from the time of King David. The water **Hezekiah's Tunnel** was built by the Biblical King Hezekiah which you can now walk through, is accessed from here.\n **The Garden Tomb** on Nablus Road, East Jerusalem marks what many believe is the location of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. The tomb is located in a lush big garden which is a good break away from the hustle and bustle of East Jerusalem. Must do, but only open in the afternoons.\n **Mount of Olives** with numerous monuments including: **Kidron Valley Monuments**, **Maria's Tomb**, **The Ascension Chapel**, **Domini Flevit Church**, **Church of All Nations**, **Tombs of the Prophets**, **Jewish Cemetery**, **Pater Noster Church**, **The Muscoviya**. The Mount of Olives also has probably the best view of the Old City from the outside. Christians believe that this was where Jesus ascended to Heaven, and where he will return to Earth during the End Times.\n **Mount Zion** with several monuments including: **Hagia Maria Sion Abbey (Dormition Church)**, **Schindler's Tomb**, **Chamber of the Holocaust (Martef HaShoah)**, **David's Tomb** and **Room of the Last Supper**\n\n### West Jerusalem", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk024", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "See", "text": "**Mount Herzl**, the burial place of Theodor Herzl and four of Israel's prime ministers, with a museum about Herzl's life; national ceremonies are held here.\n **Mahane Yehuda** is a great market with locals and tourist blending together to enjoy the local specialties, fruits and atmosphere. Great for shopping and eating around randomly.\n **The Biblical Zoo**\n Visit the Belzer Rebbe's tish on Friday night in Charedi Jerusalem (men only!) or just wander around Ultra Orthodox neighborhood of **Mea Shearim** in decent attires\n **Mishkenot Sha'ananim** the first modern neighborhood outside the Old City, a beautiful cluster of small cobbled streets\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|The Art Gallery Building of the Israel Museum\nJerusalem is full of museums; here are a few of the most important ones.\n\nThe **Israel Museum** is the largest and most famous museum in Israel, particularly noted for its historic treasures including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Codex.\n **Yad Vashem** is Israel's Holocaust museum.\nThe **Tower of David (Citadel)** is the famous tower at Jaffa Gate, now a museum of Jerusalem history. The museum uses the chambers and room of the Jerusalem citadel as exhibition rooms, each exhibition is dedicated to a specific period in the history of Jerusalem. The exhibitions are chronologically ordered. At nights, the museum present a spectacular night-show of lights and sounds, screened on the citadel, telling the story of the history of Jerusalem (this must be pre-ordered).\n The Museum For Islamic Art - The museum includes several exhibitions including ancient clocks exhibition.\n Bible Lands Museum - Next to the Israel Museum, this museum provides a detailed look at the ancient societies of the Middle East.\n - Rockefeller Museum", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk025", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "See", "text": "**The Friends of Zion Museum**- Located in the city center the museum tells the stories of the friends of Zion - non-Jewish people that have helped the Jews establish a state. http://www.fozmuseum.com/", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk026", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Hezekiah's tunnel\n\n'''Ramparts Walk''' - view the city from atop of the Old City walls. There are two different routes: the northern route starts from inside the old city by the Jaffa gate and circles the Christian quarter and the Muslim quarter. The southern route starts from outside the Jaffa gate and circles the Armenian quarter and the Jewish quarter.\n **Western Wall Tunnels** is a tour that is well worth your time. The guides there are well versed in the history of the wall and the explanation of the first two temples and the subsequent construction of the Dome of the Rock will create a great picture of the conflict between relevant cultures. Reservations are recommended, but individual walk-ins can sometimes be squeezed in.\n **The City of David water tunnels tour** is interesting. It is located down the road from the Dung Gate (near the Western Wall), follow the signs. The tour lasts around 2 hours and starts with a description of the City of David. It culminates in a 25 minute walk through the water channel cut to bring fresh water into Jerusalem from a nearby spring. Sandals and a torch are required! The water is ankle deep for most of the tour.\n **Mahane Yehuda** is the main outdoor market of West Jerusalem. Large, loud, and labyrinthine, the market boasts a huge number of stalls, generally open Sunday to Thursday 08:00-20:00, and F 08:00-15:00, closed Shabbat. Fresh produce, pastries, spices, salads abound. Definitely the place for a bargain and a unique insight into traditional Israeli culture. When the shops close in the evening, the night life opens up - in the last few years the Shuk has become a destination for bars, restaurants, and music at night.\n Jerusalem is an amazing city for **children** and children's events. Each museum runs special child programs during the summer including Recycle workshops at the Israel Museum, Costumed tours of the Bible Lands Museum and the Museum of the Underground Prisoner. The Jerusalem Theater has a full schedule of children's theater and even opera. For a full list of children's events and attractions see www.funinjerusalem.com For teens there is mini golf, segway tours, bowling, go karting, extreme sports, carpentry workshop and Kad V'Chomer (paint your own ceramics). Fun In Jerusalem also has a full list of swimming pools open to the public which come in handy during the hot summer months.\n The **Jerusalem Trail**\n\n### Tours\n\n**Free Walking Tours** run by Sandeman's New Europe Tours start at the Jaffa gate and run twice every day. They visit all four quarters of the old city, and are an excellent way to get a first impression of the old city. The guides can be easily recognized by their red shirts and expect a tip at the end of the tour.\n - Jerusalem Segway Tours\n\n - Eco Israel Tours\n\n - Jerusalem Studies Tour\n\n### Events\n\n - Lights in Jerusalem Festival\n\n - Hutzot HaYotzer - International Arts and Crafts Festival\n\n - Jerusalem March\n\n - Jerusalem International Oud Festival\n\n - Palm Sunday", "word_count": 504}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk027", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Learn", "text": "Jerusalem offers a wide range of educational programs, which include:\n\nThe **Rothberg International School** – part of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.\n**Yad Vashem** runs a number of educational courses treating the subject of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies.\n**Al Quds University** offers many different programs to foreign students, as well as special summer courses to improve your Arabic skills.\n**All Nations Cafe** organizes summer caravans where internationals can learn about the social, political and cultural aspects of life in and around Jerusalem.\n**AISH Hatorah** Offers walk-in interactive discussions and lectures that cover topics such as: Being Jewish in today's world, defining the major tenents in Jewish thought from a rational perspective, and exploring major themes and practices in Jewish spirituality.\n**Yeshiva Machon Meir** Address: 2 Hameiri Ave., Kiryat Moshe: Shiurim in weekly Torah portion (parasha), religious rules (halacha), Jewish ethics (mussar). Jewish outreach. Instruction languages are Hebrew, English and Russian.\n**Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies** is a campus of Brigham Young University (owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for study abroad programs. The center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). The campus offers tours of the main building, and hosts weekly concerts.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk028", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Buy", "text": "If shopping in the Old City's markets, where almost anything can be found, be prepared to haggle. You will find beautiful and unique gifts here including jewelry, bed covers, statues, and spices, as well as more touristy goods like T-shirts with memorably funny designs.\n\nFor Judaica, the Old City's Jewish Quarter, Mea Shearim (dress modestly), Ben Yehudah St, and Emek Refaim are good places to look.\n\nThe new city center, around the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, is a great place to buy things and just hang out.\n\nThe Mamilla pedestrian mall just outside Jaffa Gate is a picturesque place to walk, and has a good selection of upscale international clothing stores.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk029", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Kosher McDonalds in Jerusalem\nJerusalem, being a multicultural city, has food from all countries, cultures and tastes. Besides the ubiquitous falafel stands, there is European, Ethiopian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern food. There is also a large range of prices, from the ritzy Mamilla and Emek Refaim, to falafel stands surrounding Machaneh Yehuda and the Central Bus Station. A good rule of thumb is to look for restaurants filled with Hebrew or Arabic speaking locals. For falafel, the busiest place is probably the best, because falafel balls become less tasty the longer they are waiting out of the deep fryer.\n\nIf you keep kosher, Jerusalem is a wonderful place to visit. In the Jewish sections of the city almost everything is kosher. However you should still check for the kashrut certificate on the wall. If you don't see it and the staff cannot show it to you, it's a good sign to move along. The certificate is stamped בשרי (\"basari\", meat) or חלבי (\"halavi\", dairy). The current Jerusalem certificates are cream colored for normal certification, light purple for stricter certification (\"mehuderet\"), and marbled brown colored for strictest supervision (\"mehadrin\"). Certificates are valid for 6 or 12 months at a time (typically until Pesach or Rosh Hashana) with the expiration date prominently marked. Note it is not unusual for it to take a few days to get the new certificate up. In Haredi areas, the municipal kashrut certificate may be missing, but a certificate from a local Haredi organization will be provided. Also note that only some branches of McDonalds in Jerusalem are kosher. Kosher branches have yellow arches on a blue background, rather than the usual red background.\n\nDespite its name, the \"Jerusalem artichoke\" has no connection to Jerusalem, and you won't find it used more widely here than elsewhere.\n\nHowever, there is an authentic Jerusalem food - the Jerusalem mixed grill (**me'orav yerushalmi**), which was invented in the 1960s at one of the steakhouses near the Mahaneh Yehuda market and has since spread widely across Israel. It consists of a mixture of spicy grilled meat chunks including chicken breasts, hearts, and livers, and pieces of lamb. Nowadays you can get it as fast food wrapped in pita or laffa bread, or as a main course in sit-down restaurants. One famous place is *Steakiyat Hatzot*, Agrippas street; check out the photos on the wall.", "word_count": 393}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk030", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Drink", "text": "Most of the nightclubs and bars are in West Jerusalem, mostly in the city center or Talpiyot district. Consult the district article for specifics.\n\nIf you are looking for alcohol stores, there is one right by the Jaffa gate and several on Jaffa Rd. One of the stores by the Generali building (located on the right side on Jaffa when you're facing the building) stocks a wide variety of different beers and also has great prices, lower than that of other stores.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk031", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The Old City has a diverse mix of small hotels, religious hospices and cheap hostels. The cheapest accommodation is found here.\n\nWest Jerusalem has a blend of B&Bs, guesthouses, small hotels and large hotels up to 5-star accommodation, including the famous King David Hotel, which is worth visiting for its architecture even if you don't stay there.\n\nEast Jerusalem contains a similar mix.", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk032", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Connect\n\n#### Phone\n\nThe area code prefix for Jerusalem is: 02.\n\nWith the rise of cell phones, public telephones hardly exist but they take prepaid phone cards which can be purchased at post offices, shops and lottery kiosks. They are available in the following denominations: 20 units (₪13), 50 units (₪29), or 120 units (₪60). Calls made on Saturdays and Friday evenings are 25% cheaper than the standard rate.\n\nCoin-phones (usually ₪1) are also available. Those are private \"public phones\", owned and operated by shop owners.\n\n#### Mail\n\nIsraeli Post offices are available for service from 08:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00 (Su-Th) though hours may vary per branch.\n\nThe central post office for West Jerusalem is located near the head of Jaffa Road, close to the municipality offices. Open until 19:00.\n In the Old City, post offices can be found in the Armenian Quarter near the Jaffa Gate, diagonally opposite the Tower of David Museum, as well as the Jewish Quarter on Plugat Ha-Kotel near the Broad Wall.\n A post office is in a small shopping mall on King George Street, immediately south of Jaffa street.\n\nIsrael uses the red British \"pillar\" post boxes in some areas of Jerusalem, a reminder of the previous British Mandate.\n\n#### WiFi\n\nYou will find free WiFi in buses and cafes.\n\nAlternatively, most inexpensive cell phone plans include a few GB per month of internet data.\n\n### Stay safe\n\nIn the case of injury or other emergency incidents, **Police** services can be reached by dialing 100, **Ambulance** services can be reached by dialing 101, and the **Fire Department** can be reached by dialing 102. All emergency services employ English-speaking operators.\n\n#### Israeli-Palestinian conflict", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk033", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Cope", "text": "Despite alarming news headlines, Jerusalem is relatively safe for tourists. Nonetheless, Palestinians have attacked Israeli police officers and Jewish civilians, primarily with knives. Jews have committed similar attacks on Arabs, and in one case even on Gay Pride Parade participants — so check on current conditions before you go.\n\nNon-rigorous security checks can be frequent, especially when entering hotels, cinemas/theaters and shopping areas. It is wise to carry some identification.\n\nLike anywhere in Israel, you may notice large numbers of soldiers carrying weapons. These are generally off-duty soldiers going to and from their bases, so they have nothing to do with the security situation. However, in and around the Old City there will probably be many on-duty armed police. Also, educational tours for soldiers are often conducted in the Old City, and the IDF's \"swearing in ceremony\" is held near the Western Wall.\n\nTourists are not usually targeted in terror attacks, and most have occurred well away from tourist sites. Naturally it is important to remain vigilant and alert.\n\n#### Religion\n\nThere are a few areas in the city where it is important to be mindful of one's dress, religion, and time period visiting. Here are some guidelines:", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk034", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Cope", "text": "**Dress**. When visiting any holy site or religious neighborhood one should dress modestly. For men this means long pants, a closed shirt with sleeves, and a head covering. For women, it means a skirt that falls below the knee, a shirt with elbow-length sleeves and no exposed cleavage or stomach. This applies to churches, mosques, and synagogues, as well as the Temple Mount (Noble Sanctuary) and Western Wall (the plaza by the Wall is essentially an open-air synagogue, and there are mosques on the Temple Mount), and Haredi neighborhoods such as Mea Shearim.\n**Religion**. It is not safe for noticeably Jewish people (e.g. wearing a kippah or speaking Hebrew) to enter Muslim neighborhoods. This includes the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, though the heavy police presence there makes it safer. It is also somewhat unsafe for Arabs to enter Haredi neighborhoods, or to enter the Jewish city center very late at night when Jewish youth have been drinking.\n**Time**. Non-Muslims are not allowed on the Temple Mount (Noble Sanctuary) during times of Muslim prayer. During Shabbat and Jewish holidays, one should not publicly use electronic devices or smoke in any synagogue, at the Western Wall, or in any Haredi neighborhood. (Smoking is, otherwise, rather common in Israel, so nonsmokers should also be forewarned.) Driving in Haredi neighborhoods on Shabbat and Jewish holidays is not allowed, and roads may be closed off. During Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in the streets of Muslim areas is culturally insensitive, although tourists are rarely interfered with.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk035", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Cope", "text": "Due to the mixture of religions, and the mixture of cultures within religions, tensions can sometimes be high. Avoid any confrontations between locals. Although extremely rare, some locals may carry xenophobic attitudes and ask foreigners to leave the area near their home. You have the right to see all of Jerusalem, but moving along to another area will resolve the situation.\n\n#### Street crime\n\nStreet crime is nearly nonexistent, although pickpockets may work in the Old City.\n\nOn the whole, theft is not a large-scale problem. To minimize risk, however, normal precautions apply. Do not leave valuable objects inside a car or in full view in your hotel room. There are many ATMs throughout the city and credit cards are widely accepted, so there is no need to carry large amounts of cash.\n\n### Consulates and embassies\n\nDue to the disputed status of Jerusalem, most countries maintaining embassies in Israel keep them in nearby Tel Aviv, with the notable exception of the United States. However, they often maintain a consulate in Jerusalem as well. The U.S. embassy moved here in 2018, and some US allies have announced an intention to either move an existing embassy to Jerusalem or open a new one here.\n\n- Greece (Consulate)\n\n- Guatemala (Embassy)\n\n- United States (Embassy)\n\n- UK (Consulate)", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "jerusalem::chunk036", "doc_id": "jerusalem", "section": "Go next", "text": "One of the three Arab bus stations near Damascus gate will serve the Palestinian city you want to go to next. If you are heading towards an Israeli city in the west, start at the CBS in West Jerusalem. See above.\n\n Abu Gosh\n Bethlehem – The Biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park.\n Ramallah – Not so exciting, but a good starting point going further north in the West Bank. *De facto* seat of government of the Palestinian authority.\n Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/knafeh. If you are on a tight schedule and planning to go to Ramallah, you might want to skip the latter for this more exciting Palestinian city.\n Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea, which is famous in the region.\n Tel Aviv – A big and the most cosmopolitan city in Israel, well known for its club culture.\n\nThere are direct shared taxis to King Hussein \"Allenby\" Bridge for Jordan, for ₪38 plus ₪4 per luggage – pick up from Al-Souq Al-Tijaree \"The commercial souq\" not far away from the main bus station. Regarding visa regulation see Palestinian territories.", "word_count": 221}
diff --git a/corpus/jerusalem/metadata.json b/corpus/jerusalem/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8df0e079026e7ca11a2a03bc5a43e23f10462a6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jerusalem/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jerusalem",
+ "title": "Jerusalem",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jerusalem",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Jerusalem Hills"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Abu Gosh",
+ "Bethlehem",
+ "Ramallah",
+ "Nablus",
+ "Jericho",
+ "Dead Sea (Israel and the West Bank)",
+ "Tel Aviv",
+ "Jordan",
+ "Palestinian territories",
+ "Tel Aviv",
+ "Ben Gurion airport",
+ "Abu Gosh",
+ "Dead Sea (Israel and the West Bank)",
+ "Ma'ale Adumim",
+ "Lod",
+ "Modiin",
+ "Tel Aviv",
+ "Lod",
+ "Ramla"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 8337,
+ "listing_count": 14,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 37,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jiuzhaigou/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jiuzhaigou/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d910d5324861012b8c24dc5cea4c8f29fbe276f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jiuzhaigou/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk000", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jiuzhaigou** (Chinese: 九寨沟 *Jiǔzhàigōu*, Tibetan: གཟི་རྩ་སྡེ་དགུ།) is a nature reserve in the north of Sichuan province in southwestern China. It is officially known as Jiuzhai Valley in English. It is known as the habitat of giant pandas and for its many multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. \n\nAfter closing for two years due to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2017, the park reopened to visitors in late 2019.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk001", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Giant Pandas at the Wolong Sanctuary\nJiuzhai Valley (Jiuzhaigou) is a major feature of the Sichuan Scenic Area, 350 km north of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Jiuzhaigou is at the northeastern end of this scenic area in the Min Shan mountains. It is part of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The main scenic area stretches 80 km (50 mi) long in the form of a letter Y comprising of three main valleys - Shuzheng, Rize and Zechawa covering 720 km² (278 mi²) and offering stunning views of lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. The name means \"Valley of Nine Villages\", derived from the 9 ancient Tibetan villages that call it home. Today, 7 of those 9 villages are still inhabited by ethnic Tibetans, while the remaining 2 have been abandoned. Its highest point is 4,700 m (15,420 ft) above sea level, with the main sightseeing areas between 1,980 m and 3,100 m (6,500-10,170 ft).\n\n### History\n\nThe remote region was inhabited by various Tibetan and Qiang peoples for centuries, having been part of Kham province of the former Tibetan Empire, but was not officially discovered by the government until 1972. Extensive logging took place until 1979, when the Chinese government banned such activities. The area was made into a national park in 1982. An Administration Bureau was established and the site was opened to tourism in 1984. Layout of facilities and regulations were completed in 1987. The site was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997.\n\nThe desire to balance environmental protection and mass tourism has become an increasingly acute challenge for park management. Exploitation of natural resources for financial gain in the form of mass tourism is the utmost priority.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk002", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Understand", "text": "Most of the lakes in Jiuzhaigou were formed due to the calcium carbonate contained in the water. During the Ice Age in ancient times, the calcium carbonate in the water could not solidify and would simply flow along with the water. Around 12,000 years ago, as the climate warmed, the calcium carbonate in the flowing water became active. When encountering obstacles, it adhered to them and gradually accumulated, forming the milky-white calcium carbonate dikes seen in Jiuzhaigou today. These dikes eventually piled up to create dammed lakes, known as \"Haizi.\" The mountains and waters of Jiuzhaigou are believed to have formed during the Quaternary glaciation period, and the area still preserves numerous remnants of Quaternary glaciers. Due to the abundance of calcium carbonate, the lake bottoms, dikes, and shores display crystalline formations of milky-white calcium carbonate. The water, sourced from snowmelt, is naturally clear, and the terraced lakes filter it layer by layer, making the water appear even more transparent.\n\n### landscape", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk003", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Understand", "text": "The climate in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area is pleasant, with no harsh winter winds and cool summers. It is beautiful in all four seasons, making it one of the best tourist environments in the world. The pristine and picturesque landscapes of Jiuzhaigou are mainly distributed along the main Shuzheng Valley and its two branches, Zechawa and Rize Valleys. The natural scenery is characterized by alpine lakes and waterfalls, combining lakes, waterfalls, riverbeds, streams, snow-capped peaks, forests, and Tibetan cultural elements. Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1992, included in the World Biosphere Reserve Network in 1997, and designated as one of China’s first AAAA-rated scenic areas in 2000. In February 2001, it received the \"Green Globe 21\" certification. Jiuzhaigou is recognized as a National Excellent Scenic Area and is ranked among the \"Top 40 Scenic Spots in China.\"\n\n#### Travel Time\n\nJiuzhaigou has different scenery in each season, and autumn is the most beautiful, with the whole valley colorful and beautiful. The best time in autumn is from October 15th to 30th every year, when the whole Jiuzhaigou is the most gorgeous. However, you can see snow scenery and spectacular ice waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou in winter.\n\n### Landscape, geology and hydrology\n\nthumb|300px|Pearl Waterfall\n\nJiuzhaigou's landscape is made up of high-altitude karsts shaped by glacial, hydrological and tectonic activity. It lies on major fault lines on the diverging belt between the Tibetan Plateau and the Yangtze Plate, and earthquakes have also shaped the landscape. The rock strata is mostly made up of carbonate rocks such dolomite and tufa, as well as some sandstone and shales.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk004", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Understand", "text": "The valley includes the catchment area of three gullies (which due to their large size are often called valleys themselves), and is one of the sources of the Jialing River, part of the Yangtze River system. The area covering 720 km² (278 mi²) of the Minshan mountains provides the catchment for the water system of Jiuzhaigou.\n\nJiuzhaigou's best-known feature is its dozens of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes. Originating in glacial activity, they were dammed by rockfalls and other natural phenomena, then solidified by processes of carbonate deposition (travertine). Jiuzhaigou's water has a high concentration of calcium carbonate, making it so clear that the bottom is often visible even at high depths. The lakes vary in color and aspect according to their depths, residues, and surroundings.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nThe park is the natural habitat for two of China’s most treasured endangered species – the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey (金丝猴). However, due to the park's size and the number of tourists, the chances of seeing them are slim. About 20 pandas reportedly live within the boundaries of the park. There is probably higher chance of seeing them in Zaru Valley, the valley dedicated to eco-tourism. In the main valleys you are more likely to see other creatures including birds (140 species have been recorded here), insects and fish.\n\nDespite all the lakes in the park, Jiuzhaigou is amazingly free of mosquitoes.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk005", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Understand", "text": "Nearly 300 km² (115 mi²) of the core scenic area is covered by virgin mixed forests. The flora changes greatly with altitude. In the lower regions of the valley, grasses and reeds abound. These are quickly replaced by bamboo forests which in turn give way to deciduous trees and conifers at the upper end of the valley. Beyond them the rocky slopes and snow-capped peaks of the Min Shan range dominate the view.\n\n### Climate\n\nSeason\nAverage temperature\nNotes\nSpring\n9 degrees - 18 degrees\nThere is frozen soil and residual snow\nSummer\n19 degrees - 22 degrees\nThe night is cooler, July and August are the rainy season\nAutumn\n7 degrees - 18 degrees\nThe weather is clear and cool in autumn, with a large temperature difference between day and night\nWinter\nAround 0 degrees\nIt is colder\n\nThe scenic area of the park is at a height of between 2,000 and 3,000 m (6,562-9,843 ft). In summer the winds blow predominantly from the south and in the winter from the north. The summer months are most pleasant time to visit the park. Umbrellas and wet weather clothing as well as sun protection and hats are highly recommended as the weather at these altitudes can be fickle.\n\nJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec\n Average temperature (°C) 1.7° 4.4° 9.3° 14° 17.2° 19.7° 22° 21.8° 17.5° 13.2° 7.7° 3°\n Average precipitation (mm) 15 24 36 43 87 96 104 82 76 54 26 18", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk006", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is 435 kilometers away from Chengdu and 88 kilometers away from Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport, a drive of about 90 minutes.\n\n### By road\n\nThe main departure points for a visit to Jiuzhaigou are Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an. Although Jiuzhaigou is only around 350km from Mianyang, and 460 km from Chengdu (as the crow flies), the journey takes between 8 and 11 hours due to the winding mountain roads through some spectacular scenery along the valleys of the Fu or Min rivers. Many tour companies break the journey into two components with overnight stops either at Mianyang or Maoxian.\n\nThe bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou can take 7-11 hours.\n\nIf the area has experienced heavy rain, the mountain road to Jiuzhaigou may be closed. This can mean that there may be a delay as traffic backs up to wait for the road to reopen. In extreme cases, the road may not reopen at all, meaning that the bus and its passengers will have to spend the night in Dujiangyan, trying again in the morning. If you are travelling during these conditions, you may have to be very flexible with your itinerary.\n\nFrom Mianyang an early morning start gets you to Jiuzhaigou township in time for dinner and the Tibetan cultural show (¥120-320). The route initially follows the deep valley of the Fu river then over Longmen shan (Dragon gate mountain) to Qingchuan and Wenxian before reaching Jiuzhaigou County Town nestled in the valley of the Baishui river. The mountain and river views make even the journey a worthwhile tourist experience.\n\nPublic Bus services are available from the Xinnanmen and Chadianzi bus stations in Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, with 2 or 3 departures from each station daily depending on demand. Ticket price is approximately ¥110-145.\n\nThere are daily buses to the park from Songpan, and Huanglongsi National Park.\n\nTaxi: if there are a few people, it may make sense to charter a taxi. Fares of ¥600-700 to Langmusi have been reported. It is also reportedly possible to take a taxi from Chengdu for around ¥1200, which is probably cheaper than flying for 3 people and much more comfortable than a bus.\n\n### By train\n\nHigh speed trains run from Chengdudong (east) Railway Station to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station in about 2 hours. From there, it takes another 2 hours by bus to reach Jiuzhaigou.\n\n### By plane\n\nFlights between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Huanglong airport () are available on Air China, Sichuan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, South China Airways and China Eastern. As of 2013 direct flights are also available from Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Hangzhou on various airlines. Jiuhuang airport is about a 1.5-hour drive from the park entrance. This can be done by taxi or mini-bus. Taxis charge a fixed rate of ¥260 during the day, and ¥360 at night. The airport shuttle bus costs ¥50 per person, with a counter right after the baggage reclaim, but stops running around 18:00. Minimum number of passengers for the bus is 10, but if there are at least 4 passengers turning up at the same time, they might pool all of them into a single taxi for the price of the shuttle bus.\n\nMost visitors access Juizhaigou by road.\n \n\n### Car Rental\n\nIf you rent a private car from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, the cost is approximately ¥500-2000 per day. For shared rides, the one-way cost is around ¥250-300 per person.", "word_count": 566}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk007", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Time\n Tickets (RMB)\n Tickets\n Total\n Peak season (April 1st - November 15th)\n ￥220.00/person\n ￥90.00/person\n ￥310.00/person\n Off-season (November 16th - March 31st of the following year)\n ￥80.00/person\n ￥80.00/person\n ￥160.00/person\n\nthumb|Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area Gate\nthumb|Ticket\n\nThe Jiuzhaigou Administration centre contains the Ticket Office. \n\nThe park is open May 1 – November 15: 07:00-19:00, and November 16 – April 30: 08:00-18:00. \n\nPeak season is from April 1 to November 15, and off-peak is from November 16 to March 31.\n\nEntrance ticket (Sep 2022):\n Adult: Peak ¥220, off-peak ¥80\n 60 to 69 year olds: Peak ¥110, off-peak ¥40\n Over 70 year olds: free\n Student (school or undergraduate) with ID and Handicapped: peak ¥110, off-peak ¥40 \n Children under 6 years old or under 1.2 m: free\n\nSecond day ticket:\nDuring the off-peak season the second day ticket costs ¥20 if purchased on the first day. \n\nOne-day bus ticket:\n Peak ¥90, off-peak ¥80, children under 6 years old or under 1.2 m free. Children must get a free ticket from the ticket office.\nBus tickets are not mandatory. Many people choose to buy one as it is over 30 km from the entrance to the top of the park. There is a sign inside the park saying that if you then decide you want to buy a bus ticket inside you have to pay ¥140.\n\nIt takes around three hours to walk from the park entrance to Nurilong waterfalls if you are fit and healthy. Two days in the park, one day on the bus to see the upper parts and one to walk to the lower parts is a good compromise if you have the time.\n\nIn the dry season (February) many of the wooden trails in the park are closed and marked as fire hazards. It is possible to walk on the roads in the park although there are some signs saying this also isn't allowed. The only other option is to bus around the park.", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk008", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are plenty of taxis in Jiuzhaigou. There are also mini-buses (they really are minivans) to the most popular tourist destinations in the Jiuzhaigou region. Car rentals are also available and range from ¥500-900 per day.\n\nPerhaps the easiest way to get around without a tour guide is using one of the \"self service travel websites\" that are really popular with young Chinese tourists who are not looking to travel with a tour group. Unfortunately for people who cannot search the web using Chinese characters (pinyin does not work very well) these sites are near impossible to find. On these sites you can buy tickets to local cultural events, arrange for pick up service, rent cars, arrange for tour guides, and finding Tibetan local host families for a cultural experience. However, they are extremely hard to find with names that are usually just strings of letters and numbers like cq966.com. The mentioned website is actually ran by locals attached to Chang Qing (长青) hotel - one of the two hotels (other is the Sheraton) with the most credibility among tour guides within Jiuzhaigou proper. You can email these websites in English or contact them through MSN and they will be able to respond. Most local hotels are also good sources for advice on how to get around Jiuzhaigou but only a few speak languages other than Tibetan and Chinese\n\n### Inside the park\n\nFor environmental protection reasons, no personal transport, not even bicycles, are permitted within the park. However, with a bus pass you can take a bus to all of the sites within the park. Your pass gives you access to an efficient hop-on hop-off bus transport system. Every few minutes a bus will come to a site to pick up passengers. The buses are frequent and sometimes crowded during the peak season, running from early morning until the park closes. Don’t miss the last bus or you must walk out! When entering the park you will be herded effectively and politely into one of the many queues waiting for transport. Once in the system you are a free to move within the park and see whatever you want. An effective way to use the system is to take the bus to the head of Rize valley and walk back towards the entrance and Administration building. Walking is a great option in the park, as wooden-plank trails wind through the lakes and forests. It is best to combine walking with taking the bus as the park is quite large and you won't be able to cover enough ground on foot. The park officials herd people out from the upper parts of the park well before the official closure time (from about 16:30).\n\n### Around the local area\n\nPublic buses run from the centre of the town to Chengdu, Huanglong, Chadianzi,\nJiangyou and Songpan. For up-to-date bus schedules and travel options from Jiuzhaigou the best place to check is the Jiuzhaigou official website\n\nFrom Chengdu the public bus costs between ¥110-145 and takes around 10-13 hours.\nJiuzhaigou Plank Road\nDistance from the main sightseeing spots in Jiuzhaigou\nEntrance of the valley - Nuorilang\n14.6 km\nNorilang - Changhai\n17.8 km\nNorilang - Rize\n9 km\nEntrance of the valley - Zhangza Town\n5 km\nEntrance of the valley - Jiuzhaigou County\n39 km\nEntrance of the valley - Huanglong Temple\n128 km", "word_count": 562}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk009", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "See and do", "text": "thumb|250px|Mirror Lake\n\nJiuzhaigou is all about seeing! The colours of its lakes, trees and mountains are breathtaking and defy adequate description. The altitude changes within the valley to create continual variations of flora, which give each lake and waterfall a unique quality.\n\nAlthough Jiuzhaigou is a great place to visit at any time of the year Spring and autumn are best. Winter provides many magnificent sights with frozen lakes and waterfalls, but the day temperatures are very low and accessibility by road is neither easy nor guarantee-able. Summers can be slightly crowded with beautiful sunshine in the early parts and it often rains in July and August. The fresh air and lack of humidity make it a great break from the city. Autumn is, in many opinions, the pick of the seasons. From late September through October to early November the colour contrasts of red and gold leaves set against the greys of the Bamboo forest and the dark greens of the conifers provide the perfect backdrop to the blue, cyan and vivid greens lakes.\n\nJiuzhaigou has some 114 Lakes and waterfalls. Here are a selection of scenic locations to visit:", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk010", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "See and do", "text": "**Long Lake** is at the head of the Zechawa valley. At an altitude of 3,060 m (10,039 ft) this is the biggest and deepest lake in Jiuzhaigou. The lake has a surface area of approximately 30 km² (12 mi) and an average depth of 44 m (144 ft). On clear days its dark wooded hillsides and blue waters are viewed against the backdrop of the 5,000 m (16,404 ft) snow capped Min Shan mountains. This lake has no major inflow and receives its water from underground sources. The local Tibetans have their own name for this lake, which translates, to “The Lake that never dries out.” Take the bus to the Long Lake and Jade Colored Pool because it is too far to walk to.\n **Five Color Pool** also known as the Jade pool, is a small lake of 5,600 m² (60,000 sq ft) at an altitude of 2,995 m (9,826 ft) and with an average depth of 6.6 m (21.5 ft). It is fed by underground streams from Long lake. Although small this lake must be rated as having one of the most varied and intense colour ranges of Jiuzhaigou and should not be missed. The lake systems in the lower parts of Zechawa valley are seasonal and are often dry in summer. Walkways are provided from Long Lake to a bus pickup point just passed the lower seasonal lake.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk011", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "See and do", "text": "thumb|250px|Grass Lake\n**Grass Lake** at 2,910 m (9,547 ft) is the highest lake in the Rize Valley. The valley here is narrow and steep. The lake was formed as a result of an ancient mudflow about 10,000 years ago and travertine sedimentation. The lake is shallow with large evergreen grassy beds.\nAt an elevation of 2,905 m (9,530 ft) **Swan Lake** is surrounded by high rocky cliffs that drop vertically into the lake. The lake takes is name from large numbers of migratory swans that visit it each year.\n**Arrow Bamboo Lake** is the first of the deep lakes. Set at an altitude of 2,680 m (8,793 ft) and 6 m (20 ft) deep it has a surface area of 170,000 m² (1,830,000 sq ft). An unusual characteristic of this lake is that it never freezes even when the Panda Lake 100 m (328 ft) lower is completely covered in snow and ice. The lake is surrounded by Bamboo groves and together with the Panda Lake.\n**Panda Lake** has an average depth of 14 m (46 ft) and as its name implies is in the heart of panda country. This 90,000 m² (969,000 sq ft) lake at 2,590 m (8,500 ft) altitude is surrounded by bamboo forests and a mix of deciduous and coniferous woodland. This vivid green lake becomes a feast of colour in the autumn. The lake is home to many small and curious Songpan Naked Carp that gather in large numbers when a leaf or pebble falls into the lake. The fish are protected and must not be fed by visitors.\nWater exits Panda Lake via the spectacular ** Panda Falls**. These narrow falls have a drop height of 120 m (393 ft) and cascade down to the “Five Flower Lake” over a series of travertine terraces. A well-maintained wooden walkway allows visitors to descend beside the falls providing a unique way of seeing the spectacle.\n**Five Flower Lake** at 2,472 m (8,110 ft) and just 5 m (54 ft) deep is referred to as the soul of Jiuzhaigou. Its shallow cyan coloured waters provide the visitor with an outstanding display of is bottom sediments containing trees, bushes, and leaves in great array. Its waters drain via the peacock riverbed, claimed locally to be the shortest and most beautiful river in the world, to one of Jiuzhaigou’s most appealing waterfalls. The “Pearl Shoal Falls”\n**Pearl Shoal and Pearl Shoal Falls** are best viewed by taking the walkway. This takes visitors across the “Golden Bell Lake” and “Pearl Shoal” down the left side of the falls then across the base of the Falls to “Mirror Lake”. The shallow waters rush over the 160-m (525 ft) wide travertine shelf called” Pearl Shoal” creating a noisy bubbling cascade which from a distance looks like a shawl of pearls draped across the hillside. The falls have a drop height of 21 m (69 ft) and are 162 m (532 ft) wide providing a spectacular display.\n**Mirror Lake** is so named because of its ability to reflect the images of the surrounding mountains and forests. The lake at an altitude of 2,410 m (7,907 ft) is in a sheltered section of the valley running east west which produces its glassy reflective surface.The Lake was featured in the Zhang Yimou movie *Hero*. The outflow of “Mirror Lake” is through the “Rize Gully” a travertine ramp of small ponds and natural bonsai trees and bushes that lead directly to one of the great sights of Jiuzhaigou. The Nuorilang waterfall.", "word_count": 585}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk012", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "See and do", "text": "thumb|250 px|Nuorilang Falls\nThe **Nuorilang Falls** are situated, at an altitude of 2,365 m (7,760 ft), at the junction of the Zechawa, Rize and Shuzheng valleys. Best viewed from the Shuzheng valley road the 250-m (820 ft) wide veil of water flows out of the thick shrubs and bushes of Rize Gully to drop 24 m (79 ft) into a small ravine below the road.\n**Rhinoceros Lake** at 2,315 m (7,696 ft) and with a surface area of some 200,000 m² (2,153,000 sq ft) is the largest lake in the Shuzheng valley, and also the deepest with an average depth of 12 m (39 ft). The lake derives its name from a legend that tells of a monk from Tibet riding a rhinoceros. When the monk came to this lake he was so entranced with the local scenery that he accidentally rode his rhinoceros directly into the lake.\n**Shuzheng Village** bedecked with prayer flags, is one of the nine Tibetan villages that give Jiuzhaigou its name. Situated above the Shuzheng Lakes it is easily accessed from the roadway. Here you can visit a traditional Tibetan home and drink “Yak Butter tea“. The steep main street is lined with shops selling trinkets, Tibetan artifacts and souvenirs.\nthumb|centre|800px|Panorama of Shuzheng Village, the busiest Tibetan village in the valley\n\n**Shuzheng Lakes** and waterfalls are at 2,215 m (7,268 ft) the lowest series of lakes in Jiuzhaigou; Spread across the valley this series of small lakes and waterfalls cascade down the lower valley and drain directly into Baishui Jiang.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk013", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "See and do", "text": "The last three features are the Sleeping Dragon Lake, Reed Lake and Bonsai beach.\nSleeping Dragon Lake contains a large travertine shelf that extends across the floor of the lake. Locals say it looks like a sleeping dragon and that the head and tail seem to move as the wind ripples the lake surface.\n\nTo make the most out of your one day in the valley, buy the ticket at 07:00 and take the bus up the right fork to Primeval Forest. Walk the trail around the forest then walk the forest path down to Swan Lake. It is advisable then to bus down to Arrow Bamboo Lake and then walk all the way down to Nuorilang. Have your lunch and bus up the left fork to Long Lake and walk down to Five Colour Pool. Subsequently, bus down to Nuorilang and walk till the Bonsai beach before taking the bus to the entrance.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk014", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|250px|Shuzheng Village\n\nThere are lots of Tibetan trinkets sold as souvenirs. There is a shop next to the entrance which sells a good collection of postcards and reading materials about the park itself.\n\nThere are many ethnic minorities near Jiuzhaigou, and there are many special things worth buying. The largest market is the Jiuzhaigou Goukou Market, which is a good place to buy specialties. You can also shop at the border of the Goukou (North Gate).\n\n### Specialties\n\n Qiang embroidery, popular in the Qiang settlements in Wenchuan and Maowen, mostly uses geometric patterns, with rough lines, vivid composition, full images, and distinct ethnic characteristics.\n Maowen apples\n Yak meat\n Tibetan handicrafts, Tibetan knives, silver products, and ox horn combs. Tibetan knives are divided into three types: long knives, short knives, and small knives. The longest is more than 1 meter long, and the shortest is only a dozen centimeters long. Tibetan knives are forged with steel, with a clean blade and a sharp blade. The handle is made of ox horn or wood, and is wrapped with silver wire, copper wire, or iron wire. The top of the handle is hooped with copper or iron, and some are also inlaid with silver ornaments. The scabbard is also quite exquisite, carved with surnames or various animals, flowers and other patterns. The price ranges from a few yuan to hundreds of yuan.\n Jiuzhaigou Morel", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk015", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Eat", "text": "Being a UNESCO World Heritage Park in China does not mean it is fully decked out for non-Chinese visitors. There is a centrally located, sort of a HQ area with a restaurant serving buffet lunch. Typically Chinese stir-fry dishes. At the entrance, there is a Chinese fast food outlet serving fried chicken, and vendors selling ramen and other types of instant noodles.\n\nAs the local residents are predominantly ethnic Tibetans, Tibetan cuisine is widely available in the villages. Look out for Tibetan specialities such as butter tea and yak meat.\n\nA one-day stock of muesli bars and a flask of tea or coffee would help, especially if you plan to take in all the heavenly sights on foot, through the wooden planked pathways. In autumn and spring, the temperature is suitable for resting along the wooden plank path while having a nice warm drink while you wait for the lighting to be just right for your next photo shoot.\n\nThe food and drink in the reserve is very expensive (dish of rice about ¥30, noodles ¥15, small bottle of water ¥5) so it's a good idea to obtain supplies in the shops outside before you enter.\n\nJiuzhai dried persimmon\nBuckwheat noodles\nYak beef\nRoasted whole lamb\nCordyceps duck\nPotato rice cake\nHighland barley wine\nButter tea\n\n### Specialty restaurants\n\n - Xiaobu snacks", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk016", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are many areas to drink. You will find one of the best local Tibetan tradition is to drink Tibetan butter tea. There is a surprising amount of bars available on bian bian jie (边边街) which is one of the most famous cobblestone roads in China.\n\n- 6868 bar", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk017", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|250px|Five Flower Lake\n\nDespite whatever they tell you, lodging in the park is illegal.\n\n### Evening Activities\n\n - Tibetan and Qiang dance performance\n\n - Roast Lamb Party\n\n### Lodging\n\nThere are no hotels or commercial accommodation within the park. It used to be possible to stay at the home of a local villager for a small fee. The authorities however do not approve of the practice and as such it is not recommended.\n\nThere are now a number of 5-star, 4-star and 3-star hotels and cheap hostels just outside the park.\n\nThe price for a 5-star hotel such as the **Jiuzhaigou Xilaideng International (Sheraton)** is from ¥600-1,000.\n\nFor 4-star hotels like **Chang Qing binguan** (长青宾馆), the **Geshang hotel**, the **Chinese Travel hotel**, and the **Golden Harbour Hotel** room prices are from ¥400-900.\n\nA 3-star hotel such as the **Xing Long binguan** (鑫隆宾馆), **Qianhe Hotel**, is from ¥300-800.\n\nA lot of the hotels have different level \"rooms\" within the hotel which are priced accordingly. Thus you see a great deal of price ranges within the same hotel.\n\nPrices vary according to the season and booking in advance is essential.\n\nThere is one authentic homestay (others are \"Tibetan themed\" often outside owned) run by a local family a 15 mins drive from the park entrance. They do not have a website but they can be contacted by emailing . There are also two hostels in the immediate area.\n\nThere are a number of cheap hostels to the west of the park entrance. You should be able to get dorm rooms for around ¥35 and double bedrooms for ¥100.\n\n**Angelie Hotel** in Peng Fend Village, about 15 minutes from the park entrance is recommended (Wi-Fi, hot water, nice English-speaking staff, tours, car sharing).\n\n**Uncle Jiang's family house**, Peng Feng Village, Jiuzhaigou Park Entrance. They have free pick-up and offer packed lunches (sandwiches) for ¥20.\n\nUsing the local travel websites will allow you to purchase price for cheaper, kind of how the aggregate websites will allow you to get a room for cheaper. However, they are pretty hard to find unless you search with Chinese characters.\n\nThere is lodging in the villages along the street outside the park entrance. For budget travelers the best option is the **Jiutong Bingguan** (九通兵官) next to the bus station. Touts crowd around arriving buses and can lead you to alternative budget options.\n\n### Camping\n\nHiking and camping are available within the Zaru Valley of the national park. Zaru Valley has an amazing 40% of all the plant species in the whole of China and if you are to see any of the wildlife of the national park, this represents the best chance. The main hike is a 3-day hike, following the pilgrimage of the local Bebbo Tibetan Buddhists around the 4,500-m (14,764-ft) Zhayizha Ga Mountain.", "word_count": 467}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk018", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The highest tourist destinations reach heights above 3,100 m (10,170 ft) and altitude sickness is a possibility.\n\nIn the winter months the park is extremely cold and it is necessary to dress warmly. In the bright winter sunshine, though you can strip down to a t-shirt, but in the shade you'll need to layer up again.\n\nChinese tourists dread standing in line and there is a lot of pushing and shoving getting on and off buses. Make sure you don't get pushed in front of an oncoming bus. Crowded trails can also be dangerous and if you walk on the edge of a path it is likely a shoulder or elbow with push you off. To really enjoy your time in the park you should walk on the trails on the opposite side of the lakes from the roads. These trails have considerable less tourists and you can really experience the serenity of the national park there.\n\nEnglish is not widely spoken in Jiuzhaigou.\n\n### Emergency phone\n\n Jiuzhaigou scenic area consultation phone: +86 0837-7739753\n Jiuzhaigou scenic area tourism complaint phone: +86 0837-7739309\n Aba Prefecture tourism complaint phone: +86 0837-96927 (24-hour duty)\n Sichuan Tourism Law Enforcement Corps: +86 028-86657308\n Jiuzhaigou Tourism Co., Ltd. (responsible for sightseeing bus services in the scenic area): +86 0837-7766016\n Jiuzhaigou County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-7732483\n Wenchuan County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-6222729\n Mao County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-7422187\n Songpan County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-7232339\nHongyuan County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-2662013\nRuoergai County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-2298081\nJinchuan County Tourism Bureau: +86 0837-2523587", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "jiuzhaigou::chunk019", "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou", "section": "Go next", "text": "Every day buses go to Songpan at 07:20 and take two hours, Chengdu (10 hours) and Huanglong National Park. Bus times vary from time to time. It is best to keep an eye on the Jiuzhaigou website for up-to-date times.\n\n### Getting to Jiuzhaigou and Nearby Areas\n\nThe transportation in Jiuzhaigou and its surrounding areas is not very convenient. Tourists who have the conditions can choose to charter or share a car. Be sure to negotiate the price with the driver before chartering a car. Charter reference:\nJiuzhaigou-Huanglong, charter is about ￥250, the journey takes 2 hours. Round trip is ￥350-400\nJiuzhaigou-Munigou, charter round trip is about ￥360-420, round trip is about 4 hours\nJiuzhaigou-Shenxianchi, one-way is about ￥50, 20 minutes drive\nJiuzhaigou-Songpan, ￥190-200, 1.5 hours drive\nSongpan-Huanglong, about ￥200\nSongpan-Chuanzhusi, ￥30-50\nThere are many cars in Chuanzhusi that solicit passengers to share a car to Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong, about ￥50, but you need to gather enough people", "word_count": 158}
diff --git a/corpus/jiuzhaigou/metadata.json b/corpus/jiuzhaigou/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6b8c2da3fad8766beea3a0b29bb7c5b4ae106a17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jiuzhaigou/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jiuzhaigou",
+ "title": "Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jiuzhaigou_Nature_Reserve",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
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+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk000", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Johannesburg** (also *Jo'burg*, *Egoli* or *Jozi*) is a large metropolis and South Africa's largest city. Once regarded as South Africa's crime capital in the turbulent nineties, the city has shaken off that reputation led by its youthful exuberant population and a growing black middle class, not to mention the omnipresent soundtrack of Amapiano and house music.\n\nWith a wealth of historic sights and neighbourhoods to explore, there's enough to fill a visit of days, weeks, or even months before getting a true feel for the city. Jo'burg is a city on the move where the most ambitious of South Africans (and Africans more broadly) come to seek opportunity in the big city.", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk001", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Districts", "text": "Johannesburg is split into eight administrative regions. These exclude the city of Ekurhuleni which traditionally was considered part of Johannesburg but has been split for administrative purposes. Although this list is not exhaustive, the main areas in Joburg are:\n\nInner City (which encompasses the tourist areas of Braamfontein, Maboneng, Newtown and Fordsburg)\nOld Joburg (which encompasses Melville, Greenside, Killarney, Emmarentia, Parktown, Houghton and others)\nSandton (the new city centre including Rivonia, Fourways and Sunninghill)\nRandburg (which encompasses Northcliff, Linden, Weltevreden Park, Bordeaux, Greymont)\nSoweto — home of the Nelson Mandela National Museum\nAlexandra\nMidrand (which encompasses Waterfall City and Kyalami)\nRoodepoort (the West, which encompasses the Cradle of Humankind, Muldersdrift and Lanseria Airport)\nSouth Johannesburg — Alberton, Rosettenville, Brackendowns, Turfontein, etc.", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk002", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Understand", "text": "Johannesburg has a population of about 5.6 million people in the urban area (2023), half of whom live in Soweto and adjacent suburbs. Three quarters of the population is formed by South Africa's black residents who mostly live in Soweto, while white residents amount to about 12% (2019). The remaining 11% are of other descent, including Africa's largest ethnic Chinese community. The city is home to two Chinatowns; the original one on Commissioner Street has shrunk dramatically since its heyday, but still has a few shops and business run by the small community of South African Chinese, while a newer and larger Chinatown in the suburb of Cyrildene is largely populated by immigrants and expatriates from China. Unlike other South African cities, no language group dominates, although English is the established lingua franca.\n\nThe city is the economic hub of South Africa, and to some extent, the rest of Africa. Yet the city's wealth is unequally distributed among its inhabitants, causing the city to have living conditions varying from first world to third world conditions. The contrast between rich and poor has led to one of the highest crime rates in the world. The more affluent tend to live in houses with high security by western standards, whilst the less affluent live in less desirable housing conditions. That said, crime rarely deters from daily life, especially for visitors who have little reason to visit the city's rough areas. Many South Africans choose to live here over other, safer parts of the country.\n\nThere are many things that are unique to Johannesburg. It features a distinct street entrepreneurship, and motorists can buy things from vendors selling goods at traffic lights, as in many other developing-world cities. This includes food, umbrellas, soccer balls, cellular phone accessories and many other goods. Barber shops consisting of nothing but a chair and an enthusiastic barber can be found on the sides of roads, although they tend to specialize in African rather than Caucasian hair. Mine dumps can also be seen throughout the city and are a reminder of the city's legacy of gold mining. These dumps are fast disappearing as new gold extraction techniques have made it profitable for mining companies to reprocess them.\n\nWith around 6 million trees, Johannesburg is most likely the world's largest man-made urban forest. The city is certainly one of the greenest in the world, considering that the natural landscape is savannah.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe weather is generally regarded as excellent; temperatures reach the mid-30s Celsius (95°F) in the summer months (Dec-Feb) with little to no wind and with occasional, spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures in winter can drop below freezing but snow is extremely rare. The city is at an altitude of 1750 metres above sea level so newcomers can easily get out of breath.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Explore Johannesburg website", "word_count": 471}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk003", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Orientation", "text": "thumb|175px|Johannesburg towers\n\nBy far the easiest way to find your bearings in Johannesburg is by finding the two telecommunication towers on the horizon. The Hillbrow tower is located near the city centre while the Brixton tower (*also called the Sentech tower*) is located out to the west of the city. Since they are both tall towers located on high ground and easily distinguishable from other structures and each other, they make excellent landmarks.\n If the Hillbrow tower is to the left of the Brixton tower, then you are in the north\n If the Hillbrow tower is closer than the Brixton tower, then you are in the east\n If the Brixton tower is to the left of the Hillbrow tower, then you are in the south\n If the Brixton tower is closer than the Hillbrow tower, then you are in the west\nDepending on your location, you may also see a cylindrical building (*Ponte City Apartments*) located close to the Hillbrow tower.\n\nThere is a *ring road* system of freeways, with the city centre located at the centre of the ring. The ring is formed by the N1 on the north and west, the N3 on the east and the N12 on the south. The ring is dissected north/south by the M1 freeway and partially dissected east/west by the M2 freeway.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk004", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By car\n\nA number of highways from everywhere in South Africa go to Johannesburg, the *N1* from Cape Town and Bloemfontein or the *N3* from Durban making it an easy to reach destination, including:\nN1 from Cape Town and Harare in Zimbabwe\nN3 from Durban\nN4 from Mbombela and the Kruger National Park, as well as Botswana\nN12 from Kimberley and Potchefstroom\nN14 from Upington and Namibia\n\nTraffic can be particularly bad during peak hours (M-F 06:30-09:00 and 15:30–18:30) so plan your journey accordingly. Accidents are frequent and can cause delays at any time of the day and night. Take extra care if you are taking a car to OR Tambo airport as accidents are frequent on at the Gillooly's Interchange and on the R24 towards the airport.\n\nTraffic has been getting worse, and traffic jams may delay your journey. As the city is large and spread out, getting around may require covering large distances e.g. from Midrand to Soweto is over 45 km (28 mi).\n\n### By plane\n\nTerminal A is for international flights, and B domestic. When flying out some international flights may have their check-in in Terminal B, but will still leave from Terminal A. The two terminals are adjacent to each other and a 5-minute indoor walk apart.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk005", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get in", "text": "The airport is 24 km (15 mi) east from the city centre. There is a highspeed train to Sandton and Pretoria (see below) from the airport. If you are taking a taxi, keep walking straight until you exit the building and then turn left until you see a long line of taxis (mainly Mercedes) with yellow taxi signs on their roof. These are licensed taxis with meters (tell the driver the address and insist on using the meter before you get in the car). Do *not* go with anyone who approaches you offering a taxi while you are inside the airport building, these are unlicensed touts, and you'll end up paying more. If you are staying in a hotel, try to get the hotel to send a shuttle to pick you up.\n\nFor getting money try to avoid the many banks and money changers on the left of the arrivals door: They display the exchange rates but don't indicate their excessive \"commissions\" that can reduce what you actually get by 10% or more — this is the case at all banks and bureaux de change in South Africa. Better to use the ATMs to withdraw cash. The ATMs are located one floor higher up in the airport, in the retail mall where there are many shops and restaurants.\n\nThe airport is mainly for smaller charter, cargo and classic airline flights; it is in fact busier than Johannesburg International and sees more air traffic.\n\nFor more information see Discount airlines in Africa.\n\n**Rand Airport** () is primarily a business and general aviation airport.\n**Grand Central Airport** () - Located just off the N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria this airport is primarily a business and general aviation airport.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk006", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get in", "text": "Johannesburg is South Africa's hub for rail travel. While the national network is rather small, there are extensive rail services from nearby cities within the Gauteng region.\n\n**Shosholoza Meyl** is the national passenger rail service. As of November 2025, Shosholoza Meyl only operates on route two routes: Johannesburg – Bloemfontein – Queenstown – East London & Johannesburg – Durban. However, trains are really rare and departures occur a few times a year. Check their website for more information. If you are lucky, maybe you will find a train.\n\n'''Gautrain''' is the new high-speed train between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo airport. A fantastic, first-world-quality train service takes just 15 minutes from airport to Sandton. From Marlboro or Sandton stations you can connect to Pretoria or Park station. It's very secure: there are lots of cameras and guards on the trains and platforms. Fares are reasonable, except if going to or from the airport, where, depending on the destination, an additional R155 to R185 (2025) is slapped on the fare. Gautrain to and from OR Tambo airport is often more expensive than taking Bolt or Uber, especially if you are traveling with others. Don't try to walk to the nearby Rhodesfield Gautrain station to avoid this surcharge; it's dangerous and a gauntlet of freeways and flyovers. There is also an additional once off fee of R21 (2025) for a Gautrain Card, unless you use a contactless bank card or credit card.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk007", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get in", "text": "'''MetroRail''' operates frequent commuter trains to many suburbs and outlying towns. As Metrorail operates services in several separate cities, for operational purposes it is subdivided into five regions. The Witwatersrand region is the region that covers the greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area. Trains run from Johannesburg and Germiston outwards to Springs, Pretoria, Soweto and Krugersdorp. Metrorail is much cheaper than Gautrain but not as safe; as a tourist you should choose the more expensive Gautrain option.\n\n### By bus\n\nLong-distance buses arrive at **Park Station** or at the new **Johannesburg International Transport Interchange**, located a few blocks west of Park station. All major bus companies provide a service to and from Johannesburg. A few of these include:\n Greyhound the bus service is offering services to destinations all over South Africa.\n Intercape, a major carrier in Southern Africa with routes from most major cities within SA and neighboring countries.\n Translux, their route network extends to many South African destinations and major cities in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.\n Magic Bus, Focuses on short distance transportation, i.e. scheduled airport shuttling.\n S.A Roadlink has coaches travelling to and from major major city centers in South Africa.\n The Baz Bus offers a hop-on, hop-off service aimed at backpackers. It runs from Johannesburg to Durban via the Drakensberg, and then continues along South Africa's coast to Cape Town.\nEldo Coaches have buses from Johannesburg to East London for R300. and Johannesburg to Cape town from R450.\nEagle Liner have buses from Johannesburg to Bulawayo Zimbabwe for R330.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk008", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get around", "text": "Johannesburg was a city built for the car and so public transport is in the development process. The Gautrain (a speed train not part of the metro system) is a good, clean and safe way to jump fast between the airport, Malboro, Midrand, Rosebank, Pretoria and Centurion. There are buses and minicabs on the streets, but there tends to be no designated stops, so buses may be flagged down on main roads such as Oxford street and Jan Smuts. They can be unsafe, but larger double decker metro bus are easy to use all along Oxford, starting in Gandhi Square, going through Killarney, Rosebank, Illovo, Sandton, Rivonia and Sunninghill (bus no. 5C and 5D). Generally, it is a bad idea to make use of minibus taxis unless accompanied by locals. The other bus alternatives, are orange putco buses, coming more regularly than the metro buses and it's slightly more expensive. Lastly there are the Gautrain feeder buses connected to the Gautrain, these have quite extensive routes from each station - these can be found easily on the gautrain website or mobi site. The problem is that buses are quite problematic on weekends and public holidays, Gautrain buses do not run, Metro buses have two route runs, and putco buses are at a complete halt. This is when the train would be a good alternative, or rent a car.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk009", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting a car will give you the best flexibility and opportunity to tour the city, however driving is fast paced, but by no means difficult as long as you stay alert. Heavy traffic into Sandton in the morning (06:30 to 09:00) from all directions leading towards Sandton and in the afternoon all routes leading out of Sandton (15:30 to 18:30) in all directions could delay your journey by up to 2 hours, so plan accordingly.\n\n### Car rental\n\nRenting a car is your best option if you are a confident driver, as the city's public transport is very, very limited. It is worth buying a good road map of Johannesburg, using a GPS (available when you rent a car) and planning your trips carefully before setting out. The city is large and somewhat poorly signposted. Make sure to be exceptionally clear with your rental agency what types of things are covered by their insurance plans. The phrase \"full coverage\" doesn't necessarily mean full coverage. Traffic can be aggressive, and minibus taxis in particular often defy the rules of the road.\n\nLike any big city, there are some areas of Johannesburg that you don't want to stray into if you look like a tourist or don't have enough fuel to get out of. Many areas have high rates of violent crime, and carjacking is a real risk; it is therefore often advised that you should not stop at traffic lights after dark. Ask advice. Local numberplates start with \"GP\" (Gauteng Province). If your car has any other numberplate, then you will advertise yourself as being from \"out-of-area\". If in doubt, stop at a police station and ask them for directions.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk010", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get around", "text": "From the airport: stay on the freeway between the airport and Sandton, and don't divert through the townships and Alexandra on London Road. A GPS following the fastest route will usually divert around the townships, but it pays to know where you are going. (If you are coming from the airport and you are afraid of getting this wrong, carry on past Marlboro Drive with the N3 (which becomes the N1) until you reach Rivonia road. Then turn left/south and this will take you straight into Sandton, bypassing any townships.)\n\n- Europcar Car Hire\n\n- Pace Car Rental\n\n- Rent a Wreck\n\n- Exeque Car Rental\n\n- Xtreme Car Rental\n\n**Parking** (on the roadside) is often free in the sense that there is no meters, however there is often a local car guard that well keep an eye on your car for a few rand. Try to park in a well-lit space and always plan ahead, it's not a good idea to park far away from your destination. When available, use a secure parking area. All Gautrain stations have safe and secure parking, although a tad expensive.\n\n### By bus\n\nPublic transport in Johannesburg is provided by city buses and informal minibus services. Bus (other than Gautrain buses and the City Sightseeing ones) is *not* a viable option if you are a foreign tourist/business visitor unfamiliar with South Africa and Johannesburg in particular. Large blue city buses run up and down the main roads and mini buses can be flagged down on the side of the street although they are not the best mode of transport as they are unreliable and often associated with crime. These should not be used unless you are very familiar with the way of life in South Africa and the basic geography of Johannesburg.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk011", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get around", "text": "- Rea Vaya\n\n- Metrobus\n\n- Minibus taxis\n\n- City Sightseeing\n\n- Gautrain\n\n### By taxi\n\nForeigners are advised to use only normal sedan taxis (metered or fixed-price taxes that transport only you and your travel partners), as minibus taxis have a reputation for being rather unsafe. The minibus taxis, however, are very cheap and are the quickest way between two points. It provides an authentic experience but if you are using these, you must understand the risks. Using these relies mostly on a variety of local hand signals, and should only ever be used if travelling with a local. Metered taxis are not as abundant as many big cities but are available and in most cases, need to be called before hand. This could incur long delays as you wait for the taxi. Unless you are visiting for a very short time, it would be worth your while to rent a car. Bolt and Uber, ride hailing apps, are also a viable alternative for getting around, although these companies is highly unpopular with local taxi companies, with reports of violence against both drivers and passengers.\n\nIn general all the taxi operators collude with one another and fix prices, so taxis are not cheap or metered. Haggling is usual so it is best to agree a price when you phone. Do not rely on taxi ranks in shopping malls as often there are none. Always have a few taxi telephone numbers and cash with you so you avoid being stranded anywhere. If you have a local SIM, Uber offers better pricing and service than taxis.\n\n- Sandton Taxi Cabs (Pty) Ltd\n\n- Airport Link\n\n- Elias\n\n- Magicbus\n\n- Maxi Taxi\n\n- Roses Taxi\n\n- Zebra Cabs\n\n#### Ride hailing apps\n\n**Bolt**\n **Uber**\n\n### By train", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk012", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Get around", "text": "Metrorail Gauteng runs an extensive commuter train network with stations in most districts, however trains are often crowded and has a reputation of being unsafe. The high-speed '''Gautrain''' can be used for travel between the Inner city and Sandton.", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk013", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "See", "text": "### [[Johannesburg/Inner City|Inner City]]\n\nThe poor reputation of the **Central Business District (CBD)** is no longer deserved. There are numerous galleries and art spaces popping up across the CBD. The city centre is the most-visited part of Johannesburg for African tourists, particularly the traders who come to shop at Johannesburg's wholesale outlets.\n\nNewtown and the **Market Theatre area** (the city's cultural precinct) is now easily accessible from the highway and Mandela Bridge and very fun; here you will find live music venues and bars too.\n\n**Braamfontein**, the university area, has a great Saturday market, lively night life, is very artsy. By day there's nothing here.\n\nOn the **east side** of the city, Main Street Life, Maboneng Precinct and Arts on Main (especially the Sunday market and The Bioscope independent cinema). The Maboneng area has 24-hr security so you can freely walk around the streets, just be sure not to stray away too far. Troyeville has a fantastic restaurant at the Troyeville Hotel, an art centre and all the main sport stadiums (football, tennis, athletics, rugby).\n\nOn the **west side**, Fordsburg is the formerly-Indian now known as “little Somilia” and “ Eithiopia Town” part of central Joburg and has some Indian and Pakistani restaurants as well as African street food, shops and markets. Good food is to be found in this neighbourhood, which, by Johannesburg's standards, shows signs of street life in the evenings, and more so on Friday and Saturday. Most places are halal, and so no alcohol is served. The Oriental Plaza shopping mall is here and has good bargains.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk014", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "See", "text": "In the centre of town, between Jeppe St and Bree Street at Delvers Street, look up and see the Amharic script which denotes that you are in the Ethiopian/Somali part of town. There are Ethiopian restaurants and coffee shops in the Africa Mall and Johannesburg Mall. Best to arrive before 14:00.\n\nTo the north east, **Yeoville** is known as Le Petit Kinshasa and is home to many of the Francophone African diaspora in Johannesburg. Lots of Camerounian restaurants and Congolese bars.\n\n**Hillbrow** has a bad reputation for drug dealing, sex bars, crime, etc., but is slowly improving. If you visit Constitution Hill, or Johannesburg Art Gallery, Hillbrow is right across the street, not that scary. Empty your pockets and go for a walk to the base of the Hillbrow Tower on a Sunday morning. Stay on the main streets and keep your wits about you, and don't carry anything that is worth stealing. It is certainly an interesting experience. Worth watching Louis Theroux's *Law and Disorder in Johannesburg* before your visit.\n\n#### Points of interest", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk015", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "See", "text": "The Top of Africa on the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre, gives you a panoramic view of the city from the top of Africa's tallest building. \n The Johannesburg Art Gallery is the biggest gallery on the African continent. It has a good collection of local and international work on display. \n Standard Bank Gallery is a corporate-owned gallery that hosts South African and international exhibitions.\nThe Sci-Bono Discovery Centre offers dynamic learning experiences in maths, science and technology.\n Origins Centre has an excellent multimedia display of the rock art and the origins of humankind. \n WITS Anglo American Digital Dome, formerly Johannesburg Planetarium, uses high-resolution projectors and surround-sound technology create an immersive environment for educational experiences about the wonders of the universe and the richness of human creativity. \nthumb|Have a seat and relax at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens\n Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Roodepoort is one of the last green areas remaining within Johannesburg.\n Constitution Hill is the site of the notorious Old Fort prison complex. It is a fascinating place well worth a visit: part courtroom, part museum and part art gallery. \n The Workers Museum tells the story of Migrant Labourers who came to Johannesburg to find work. Having left their homes and families, black migrant workers faced slave-like conditions shown by the original dormitories, concrete bunks and punishment room at the old compound building.\n\n### [[Johannesburg/Sandton|Sandton and the northern suburbs]]\n\nIn the plush north, the suburbs of Greenside, Houghton, Parktown North, Parkhurst, Killarney, Rosebank, Illovo, Melrose North, Atholl, Sandown, Sandton, Morningside, Fourways and Randburg are green, leafy and pleasant, and safe and comforting to first-world visitors, most have large shopping malls of some description, and some have a walkeable main street with cafes, boutiques and grocery shops.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk016", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "See", "text": "The South African Lipizzaners in Sandton is the only place you will ever get to see performing Lipizzaners recognized by the Spanish Riding School, outside of Vienna. \nthumb|Parrots at the Montecasino bird gardens\nThe Montecasino Bird Gardens in Sandton is home to many birds and other small wildlife. Also look out for the 2500-year-old tree near the parrots. \nthumb|275px|Outdoor area at the Military History Museum\nThe South African National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold has a good collection of military hardware, including one of the very few ME 262 jet fighters from World War II still in existence. There is also a huge South African-built G6 self-propelled, 155mm howitzer on show.\n\nThe Sophiatown Heritage & Cultural Centre tells the story of a thriving multi-racial neighbourhood that was razed in 1955 to create a new whites-only town.\n\n### [[Johannesburg/South Johannesburg|South Johannesburg]]\n\nthumb|275px|Apartheid Museum\nSouth Jo'burg is home to the Apartheid Museum, a very moving and informative trip through South Africa's turbulent past and present.\n\nThe James Hall Museum of Transport is the largest museum dedicated to transport in South Africa.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk017", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Do", "text": "- City Sightseeing\n\n '''Soweto''' is a popular destination for travellers from around the world. Take a tour or drive in yourself using GPS set to Vilakazi Street: the road infrastructure and signs are excellent. You can stop off at Maponya Mall and join the Sowetan middle classes as they entertain themselves with retail and movies. A township tour that will take you around the densely populated but vibrant town. Use only official operators, and do not go on your own.\n **Gold Reef City** in South Johannesburg is an amusement park with a casino. The visitor can also learn about gold mining and go into a mine here.\n **Cricket:** Wanderers Stadium in Illovo near Sandton hosts international and domestic matches. \n **Golf:** the premier course is Glendower in Edenvale to the east. It often hosts the South African Open.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk018", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Learn", "text": "- University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)\n\n - University of Johannesburg", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk019", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Work", "text": "Due to South Africa's negotiated settlement which heralded the dawn of South Africa's democracy in 1994, South Africans have gained a reputation for holding meetings or lekgotlas (the Tswana word meaning \"meeting place\") to resolve their concerns, and plan for the future.\n\nThis desire to meet, discuss and strategise is also found among South Africa's business leaders, and Johannesburg as Africa and South Africa's economic hub is filled with conferencing venues and meeting places which can host a wide range of events for small or large groups.\n\nPopular conference areas include the Rosebank and Sandton areas where conferences tend to be held in and around some of the city's top hotels. The Muldersdrift area and western region of Johannesburg has developed a reputation for outstanding function venues, particularly weddings and private events. While the midrand area located halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria is also a popular conferencing and events area.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk020", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are *many* craft markets in Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. You will also find plenty of beautifully crafted beadwork and wirework being sold on the roadside and at intersections. Though you will be able to bargain with the locals, give a thought to the crafters who are often unemployed and rely on sales to support themselves and their family.\n\nCraftsmen and women from all over Africa sell their goods at the Rosebank flea market on Sundays and in a bazaar type shop in the Rosebank mall on week days. Johannesburg has no specific artwork, which you can't get in other parts of the country. But you will find very good quality shops for this. Don't forget to buy the 2 ft giraffe which you get all over and at the airport.\n\n### Shopping malls\n\nShopping malls are very popular in Johannesburg, due to their convenience, safety and the fact that there are few alternatives. Although, thankfully, Jozi is one of the few cities in the country that still has some street life. A typical shopping mall has all the usual chain stores (for clothes, books, music, chemists, etc.), a food hall (KFC, Mugg & Bean), and a big western-style supermarket in the basement. Many also have a multiplex cinema. They can be comfortable but soulless refuges that can trap the tourist with their familiar, air conditioned surrounds, so beware. There are many shopping malls throughout Johannesburg. Most have free secure parking, although you have to pay for parking in the more popular malls (Rosebank & Sandton). \n\nYou will also find many smaller shopping malls close to residential areas. Usually with one or two of the larger retail stores, a number of smaller chain stores, fast food and possibly a restaurant or coffee shop.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk021", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Eat", "text": "Johannesburg has a wide variety of places to eat and you'll be sure to find something to suit your taste buds, be it local delicacies or international cuisines. In addition to standard South African shopping mall restaurants Johannesburg is one of the few cities with various 'restaurant streets' scattered around the suburbs offering a more European dining experience.\n\n**Restaurant streets**\n\n**7th Street, Melville** - Traditionally Melville has been where most people head to for an evening meal - however, it now caters to students more than the moneyed middle classes. Melville offers a small pocket of culture, with street vendors often selling their own artworks, and charity shops abound.\n**Gleneagles Road, Greenside** makes a good destination (north of Melville - head to where the M71 crosses the M20, Green Way) and there is a good collection of cafes and restaurants which won't be full of tourists.\n**Grant Avenue, Norwood** is becoming more popular since Melville started catering more to students. A collection of uncomplicated restaurants, including numerous sushi places and simple pizza and pasta Italian restaurants. Pick of the crop is probably Sharwarma, with serves South African flavored Lebanese food, and also serves good steak and fish.\n**Tyrone Avenue, Parkview** has a collection of coffee shops and restaurants\n**4th Avenue, Parkhurst** boosts a handful of restaurants and shops along the street. The area is very safe so you can walk the street without any problems.\n**Queen's Street, Kensington** to the east of the CBD has a handful of restaurants near the crossing with Northumberland.\n**Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene** near Eastgate is a local Chinatown, and has numerous excellent Asian restaurants.\n\nDon't ignore the CBD either, there are a handful of nice restaurants near the Market Theatre, and they are cheaper than their northern suburb cousins. Of course the northern suburb shopping malls are brimming with South African chain restaurants, of which the more expensive ones are also quite good, if a little soulless. South African cuisine features many varieties of sauces, and your food may be drowned in said sauce if you don't ask for it on the side\n\n**Melville** is neighbourhood where you can find many bars and mediocre restaurants. It is close to the national broadcaster (SABC) headquarters, all the universities and many artists, academics and students live in this community.\n**Fordsburg** has many Indian restaurants with authentic Indian cuisine as well as conventional franchise stores (Wimpy, Nandos, Fishmonger, Nescafe, etc.). Fordsburg is close to the Oriental Plaza and can be combined with your shopping expedition. Fordsburg is one of the few (if any) areas of Johannesburg that has a thriving outdoor street market and pedestrian traffic at night, in a relative sense. It's a small area and pedestrian traffic is light, but at least present. The area is more busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.", "word_count": 468}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk022", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Drink", "text": "Good pubs and clubs are available in the **Melville student district**, Braamfontein, Rosebank and the Newtown cultural precinct. Posh and upmarket clubbing happens in the **Rivonia** and Sandton area.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk023", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Sandton and the northern suburbs offer a wide range of accommodation.\n\nFor accommodations near O.R. Tambo International Airport, see the sleep sections for Kempton Park and Benoni.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk024", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Johannesburg has stubbornly high crime levels. Armed security guards (not necessarily the police) are a common sight in the city. Ask local people, such as your hotel staff, on what to do and when to do it.\n\nJohannesburg earned its lawless reputation during the 1980s when the apartheid regime was collapsing. However things have improved enormously since those days with in large part all communities residing peacefully and in unity, although the advice you may receive from some Johannesburg residents may not match today’s reality. Nevertheless you should keep security in mind and tourists must remain alert at all times when in unfamiliar surroundings.\n\nWhen on the street (this doesn’t apply to shopping malls and other secure environments) best general advice is to try your best to look like a local and to avoid displaying any form of wealth. Keep your cellphone hidden, leave your jewellery at the hotel and avoid carrying backpacks, daypacks, cameras or purses. Use a cheap plastic bag, keep your valuables at the hotel and take only the amount of money that you really need. Never use a purse, but put loose coins or notes in your pockets. Limit the credit and debit cards you carry to ones with low limits/balances and set appropriate withdrawal limits in case you are robbed at gunpoint at ATMs. Be mindful of your shoes - you may be able to dress down, but if you only have a new pair of sneakers, don't be surprised if you're still a target.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk025", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Should you be a victim of robbery, it is best to cooperate with your assailants, surrender your valuables, do not attempt to negotiate, do not look them in the eye. More importantly, do **not** resist, as the assailants may be armed. You should then report the robbery to the police immediately.\n\nAbove all, use your common sense! If someone insists that you follow them to get somewhere or do something, approach with extreme caution. Don't pay someone for something unless you have the goods in hand. When approached by beggars, it is generally a good idea to politely but firmly deny them.\n\nFinally, keep things in perspective. Johannesburg has a partly-deserved bad reputation for crime, but most victims are local residents living in the townships. The overwhelming majority of visitors have a trouble-free stay.\n\n### Shopping malls\n\nShopping malls in Johannesburg are as safe as shopping malls anywhere else in the world, with pick-pocketing being the only risk, though a small one.\n\n### Central Business District\n\nThe central business district is busy during the day, and parts of it are pretty scruffy, but there are lots of police and private security around. The area is largely deserted at night, during weekends, and on holidays. There are many interesting things to do in the CBD; just plan where you are going to park and what you are going to visit beforehand, and never wander around aimlessly.\n\n### Northern suburbs", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk026", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Walking and cycling in the Northern Suburbs is popular for both the residents and workers there, so you should be fine walking from your guesthouse to a local restaurant or shopping mall; however, distances can be large, which makes driving or taking a taxi better options. If you want to go jogging (not recommended for lone women) or for a long walk then carry a map and as few valuables as possible, and make sure you are home before it gets dark.\n\n### Townships\n\nAlexandra is a very poor and dangerous township that deserves particular attention for the foreign visitor because it is next to the road that you would drive on from the airport to Sandton and is therefore easy to land up in if you get lost or take the wrong off-ramp.\n\n*Never* take the London Road off-ramp from the N3 highway to get to Sandton, (which you will see on the horizon and London Road may look like a shortcut even when reading a map or using GPS) unless you are travelling with a local who knows where they are going, as this road goes right through the heart of Alexandra and you could easily get lost.\n\nTo get to Sandton when coming from the airport, take **Marlboro Drive** from the N3 and drive straight until you reach the M1 highway (this is also called the Marlboro offramp). Do not turn south/left (if you are coming from the N3) or right/south (if you are coming from the M1/Sandton side) anywhere between the N3 and the M1, including Louis Botha Avenue (which may be dangerous unless you know the area).", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk027", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Alternatively, if you want to avoid the risk of getting this wrong, you can drive a bit further (the N3 becomes the N1) and take **Rivonia Road** to the south, which will take you straight into central Sandton passing through only affluent areas for the entire length of this road, so if you go the wrong way, you are still in safe areas.\n\nAlso, when taking the Gautrain (very safe and nauseatingly well-guarded) between central Sandton and the airport, one of the stations it will stop at is **Marlboro Station**. This station is the interchange to Pretoria and is right on the edge of Alexandra. *Do not* exit at this station.\n\nOther townships surround the city and don’t offer much for the tourist except for Soweto, the middle class parts of which (Orlando West) can be visited independently, although most choose to go with a tour.\n\n### Night-time\n\nIt is prudent to plan night-time journeys and to use a reputable taxi. If you must walk at night, make sure to remain in populated, well-lit areas, and walk confidently with a purpose so that you at least pretend that you know where you are going. Avoid giving the impression that you are lost, and ask directions only from shops and not random people on the streets.\n\n### Driving\n\nIt is best to use a GPS when driving so that you do not get lost. Also be aware that more South Africans die from road accidents than from violence. There is a great deal of aggression on the roads, and many accidents are fuelled by alcohol.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk028", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not leave any valuables on the seats as it is possible that your window could be smashed and your belongings grabbed. At night, do not stop at red traffic lights if you see people lingering there, as they may be up to no good. Slow down and go through the red traffic lights, even if you have to pay a fine (very small chance).\n\nThe risk of being hijacked is high in the Gauteng province, and therefore you need to be vigilant at all times. Watch out for vehicles following you or road blocks (stones, wood) on the roads. Keep in mind that most hijackings occur when the driver waits at a gate (usually at home), try to minimize that time by opening the gate (electronically) while still driving slowly towards it. If there is traffic behind, pull a side and let them pass first. If you have parked in a quiet area, be particularly careful when you go to and from your car as thieves can wait for victims to exit/enter their vehicle. If you are faced with a suspicious or dangerous encounter, drive to the nearest police station or well-lit populated area.\n\n### Public transport\n\nThe Gautrain is totally safe and provides frequent rides from Park Station stopping in Rosebank, Sandton, Malboro, Midrand, Centurion, Pretoria and Hatfield. From the station, Uber is accessible to reach other destinations in the different neighbourhoods. The new Rea Vaya buses are too a viable, safe and cheap option unlike the city's Metrobus service that can be safe to ride although it is often late and far too unreliable and confusing for a short-term foreign visitor to figure out.\n\n### Women", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk029", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Rape and sexual assault levels are exceptionally high. However, most sexual assault and rape cases involve alcohol and take place between people who know each other. Care should be taken in sexual encounters due to the high HIV levels in Johannesburg; insist on using condoms. Females should always avoid walking alone and should try, if possible, to remain in groups.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk030", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Tap water is completely safe to drink, Johannesburg's water has one of the highest ratings in the world.\n\nThere is a Travel Clinic at OR Tambo International Airport\n\n - Kloof Road Travel Clinic\n\n - Airport Clinic & Travel Vaccination Centre\n\n### Hospitals\n\nIt is best to avoid public hospitals as standards have declined, but private hospitals are of world class standard.\n\nThe following hospitals cater for 24-hour accident and emergency treatment:\n - Sunninghill Hospital\n\n - Milpark Hospital\n\n**Netcare Garden City Hospital,** 35 Bartlett Rd, Mayfair West, Johannesburg, 2092. +27 11 495 5000\n**Life Flora Hospital**, William Nicol St, Florida Park, Roodepoort, 1709. +27 11 470 7777\n**Life Brenthurst Clinic**, 4 Park Ln, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193. +27 11 647 9000\n**Clinix Lesedi Private Hospital**, 7948 Chris Hani Road, Diepkloof Zone 6, Diepkloof, 1862. +27 11 933 5001\nHelen Joseph Hospital +27 11 489 1011\nCoronation Hospital for women and children; +27 11 470-9000\nChris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, 26 Chris Hani Rd, Diepkloof 319-Iq, Johannesburg, 1864. +27 11 933 8000", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk031", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Wi-Fi\n\nAlways-On, +27 11 575-2505, provides prepaid Wi-Fi access in a number of locations in and around Johannesburg. Simply connect to the access point and you will be given the opportunity to pay for access by credit card. Pricing starts at around R15 for 10 minutes or R60 for 100MB.\n\nCoverage areas include:\n\n - City Lodge\n\n - The Baron\n\n - Mugg&Bean\n\n - McDonald's\n\n - Nand\n\n - OR Tambo Airport\n\n - Protea Balalaika Hotel\n\n - Wimpy\n\n - Highland View Executive Guesthouse", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk032", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Consulates\n\nOperating hours differ for each consulate; call prior to visiting.\n\n - China\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n**U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg**, 1 Sandton Dr, Sandhurst, Johannesburg, 2146, \n - France\n\n**Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg**, 37 1st Ave (entrance on, 2nd St, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2198, \n**Consulate General of Portugal**,15 Ernest Oppenheimer Ave, Bruma, Johannesburg, 2198> {{phone|+27 11 622 0645\n**Lesotho Consulate General**, 222 Smit St, Johannesburg, 2001\n**Argentine Consulate General,** Fredman Towers, 13 Fredman Dr, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2146, \n**Consulate General of Greece**, 261 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Sandton, 2196, \n - Nigeria", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "johannesburg::chunk033", "doc_id": "johannesburg", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Pretoria** is only a short while away from Johannesburg and has a lot to offer visitors with historic architecture and a more laidback atmosphere than its bigger sister \n **Sun City** is a two-hour drive away and offers world class golf courses and entertainment. The **Pilanesberg Game Reserve** is adjacent to Sun City and offers visitors a taste of an African Game Reserve. However it is no comparison to the world famous Kruger Park which is about 350 km from Johannesburg.\n **Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend**\n **Rietvlei Nature Reserve** next to the R21 in Tshwane gives one the opportunity to forget about the city for a while.\n **Cradle of Humankind** is a World Heritage Site comprising a number of attractions including the Sterkfontein Caves, the Wonder Caves and Maropeng visitor education centre. Explore fossil-filled caves where important palaeoanthropologist discoveries such as Mrs Ples and Little Foot were found. +27 14 577-9000\n **Thaba Ya Batswana** is a rare and valuable jewel surrounded by the southern Johannesburg metropolis, which captures the spirit of the African renaissance. It is situated in the Klipriversberg Nature Reserve area and has an abundance of indigenous trees, plants, birds and wildlife.\n **Gaborone** is the capital city of Botswana, has a very low crime rate but is much more relaxed than Johannesburg. It is just an hour away by plane and about five hours away by car. The drive there is quite scenic.\n **Limpopo** is a four hour drive from Johannesburg and has some of the most beautiful game reserves in South Africa.", "word_count": 253}
diff --git a/corpus/johannesburg/metadata.json b/corpus/johannesburg/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..538fbeaf87a413992707df3171e0225fda2c9f17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/johannesburg/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "johannesburg",
+ "title": "Johannesburg",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Johannesburg",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Gauteng"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Pretoria",
+ "Sun City (South Africa)",
+ "Pilanesberg National Park",
+ "Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend",
+ "Rietvlei Nature Reserve",
+ "Cradle of Humankind",
+ "Gaborone",
+ "Limpopo"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 7030,
+ "listing_count": 37,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 34,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jordan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jordan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..95fcada57720181fcc14d5b9322325d8a35ffece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jordan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk000", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jordan** (Arabic: الأردنّ, *al-Urdunn*) is an Arab kingdom in the Middle East, at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe. It has been repeatedly called an \"oasis of stability\" in the Middle East. Since the 1940s, millions have immigrated to Jordan for a better life. With an extensive collection of tourist attractions, ranging from biblical sites to seaside sites, there is a lot to see and do in Jordan.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk001", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Regions", "text": "Jordan can be divided into four regions:", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk002", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Cities", "text": "(Arabic: **عَمَّان**) — the country's economic, political, and cultural centre.\n — located on the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat), with links to the Sinai and the Red Sea\n — second largest metropolitan area in the north of the kingdom\n — one of the largest Roman ruins in the Middle East\n — site of a once-mighty Crusader castle\n — known for its mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land\n — ancient town which was once the capital of Jordan", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk003", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "The following destinations are the most popular ones in Jordan. For less popular destinations, look at the regional pages.\n Castle — impressive ruins of a 12th-century castle\n — oasis in the desert, an illustration of how water brings life even at places like a desert\n — stay in a traditional village and enjoy unforgettable hiking in an offshoot of the Great Rift\n — the lowest point on earth and the most saline sea\n — Jordan's top attraction, an ancient city carved out of sandstone and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World\n — a Roman-era settlement, close to the ruins of the ancient Gadara\n — barren, isolated and beautiful, granite cliffs contrasting with desert sand\n\n — once getaways for caliphs from the Umayyad period.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk004", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nIn antiquity, the area of what is now Jordan was home to ancient kingdoms. Among them were Ammon, Edom and Moab. It was part of the Persian Empire and the Roman Empire.\nthumb|As Salt castle\nJordan was also home to civilizations such as the Nabataean Kingdom. Its rock art and architecture can be found in a few places across the country.\n\nBefore World War I, the entire Levant was part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1916, during World War I, the Arab Revolt was launched against the Ottomans. It was led by Sharif Hussein, assisted by British intelligence officer T. E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia). The revolt was successful in gaining control of most of the Hejaz and the Levant. However, it failed to gain international recognition as an independent state, due mainly to the secret Sykes–Picot Agreement between the United Kingdom and France in 1916 (dividing up the Middle East between the two colonial powers) and the UK's Balfour Declaration of 1917 (promising a national home for the Jews on a small piece of land in the Middle East). The region was divided and Abdullah I, the second son of Sharif Hussein, arrived from Hejaz by train and established the Emirate of Transjordan, which then became a British protectorate.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk005", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1922, the Council of the League of Nations recognized Transjordan as a state under the British Mandate for Palestine, and the Trans-Jordan memorandum clarified that the territories east of the Jordan River were excluded from provisions that allowed Jewish settlement in the Mandate. The Treaty of London, signed by the British Government and the Emir of Transjordan in March 1946, recognised the independence of Transjordan. In May 1946 the Emirate of Transjordan became \"the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan\", as the ruling Emir was re-designated as \"King\" by the parliament of Transjordan.\n\nIn 1948 Jordan joined other Arab states in attacking the fledgling state of Israel. The Jordanian Army, armed and trained by the British, was almost the only Arab force that had any success in that endeavor. Following the war, Jordan occupied the West Bank including East Jerusalem and many Muslim, Christian and Jewish Holy Sites and declared that the annexation was a \"temporary, practical measure\" and that Jordan was holding the territory as a \"trustee\" pending a future settlement. During Jordanian occupation, Jews had to leave the West Bank and access to Jewish Holy Sites was severely restricted. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel during the Six Day War in 1967, and renounced its claims to the area in 1988.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk006", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1968, an attack by Israeli forces on the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Karameh was met by resistance by a joint Jordanian-PLO force. In the aftermath of the resulting 15-hour battle, the Jordanian government permitted the Palestinians to take credit for Israeli casualties. Following the Battle of Karameh there was an upsurge of support for Palestinian paramilitary elements (the fedayeen) within Jordan from other Arab countries, leading to the fedayeen becoming a \"state within a state\", threatening Jordan's rule of law. In September 1970, the Jordanian army targeted the fedayeen and the resultant fighting led to the expulsion of Palestinian fighters from various PLO groups into Lebanon, in a civil war that became known as Black September.\n\nThe Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace was signed in 1994. In 1999, Abdullah II ascended the throne upon the death of his father Hussein. Jordan's economy has improved since then. Abdullah II has been credited with increasing foreign investment, improving public-private partnerships and providing the foundation for Aqaba's free-trade zone and Jordan's flourishing information and communication technology (ICT) sector. As a result of these reforms, Jordan's economic growth has doubled to 6% annually compared to the latter half of the 1990s. However, the Great Recession and regional turmoil in the 2010s severely crippled the Jordanian economy and its growth, making it increasingly reliant on foreign aid.\n\nThe Arab Spring began sweeping the Arab world in 2011, with large-scale protests erupting and demands for economic and political reforms. In Jordan, Abdullah II responded to protests by replacing his prime minister and introducing various reforms, thereby satisfying the people sufficiently to avoid the civil conflict, regime change or chaos that broke out in some other Arab countries.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk007", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Understand", "text": "There is no hostility between Muslims and Christians in Jordan, which is one of the most liberal nations in the region. Jordan is considered to be among the safest of Arab countries in the Middle East, and has historically managed to keep itself away from terrorism and instability. In the midst of surrounding turmoil, it has been greatly hospitable, accepting refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts since 1948, including the estimated 2 million Palestinians and the 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country. The kingdom is also a refuge to thousands of Iraqi Christians and Yazidis who fled the Islamic State. While the Jordanian royal house holds much less power than the Saudi royal family, they aren't ceremonial figures like in most of Europe, either. However, relations with the West - including Israel - are usually quite friendly and domestic policies also tend to be moderate by the standards of the region.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Wadi Hammad\nThe climate in Jordan varies greatly. Generally, the further inland from the Mediterranean, greater contrasts in temperature occur and the less rainfall there is. The country's average elevation is 812 m (2,664 ft) above sea level. The highlands above the Jordan Valley, mountains of the Dead Sea and Wadi Araba and as far south as Ras Al-Naqab are dominated by a Mediterranean climate, while the eastern and northeastern areas of the country are arid desert. Although the desert parts of the kingdom reach high temperatures, the heat is usually moderated by low humidity and a daytime breeze, while the nights are cool.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk008", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Summers, lasting from May to September, are hot and dry, with temperatures averaging around 32 °C (90 °F) and sometimes exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) between July and August. The winter, lasting from November to March, is relatively cool, with temperatures averaging around 13 °C (55 °F). Winter also sees frequent showers and occasional snowfall in some western elevated areas.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisitor Jordan website.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk009", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|450px|Visa policy of Jordan\n\n### Entry requirements\n\n#### Visa\n\nFor the latest, up-to-date and complete information, please check out the Jordan Tourism Board.\n\nNationals from Arab countries can enter Jordan without a visa and for free.\nthumb|Entry stamp\nJordan's visa regulations are rather confusing and often change. Moreover, the rules vary depending on the border point where you cross the border.\n\nVisitors from most other countries (even **Israeli citizens** and Israeli passport holders) can easily obtain a visa on arrival at the border point directly, except for the King Hussein (\"Allenby\") Bridge, where a visa is not issued on spot and must be obtained in advance through the Embassy of Jordan.\n\nSome nationalities may require a visa before arrival (many African countries, Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Belize, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Yemen).\n\nThe visa prices are:\n 40 JD for one month & single entry (easily extended – up to twice – at the nearest police station)\n 60 JD for three months & double entries\n 120 JD for six months & multiple entries (not extendible)\n\nFor the single entry visa the fee of 40 JD is waived if you have purchased a Jordan Pass before arrival, see details below.\n\nFurthermore, there are extra fees involved if you stay only a couple of days in Jordan (1-3 days). The regular single entry visa through Jordan Pass, for example, is not waived – see for details.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk010", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is a departure fee of 10 JD when exiting Jordan by land or sea, if one stayed in the country for 2 nights or less. There is no tax if in the country for longer than two nights. At the Aqaba/Eilat border crossing, the border police will now not give the exit stamp without paying this tax first, if applicable (June 2022).\n\n#### Free ASEZA visa\n\nYou can receive a **free, one-month ASEZA visa** if you arrive at Aqaba (aka *Aqaba Economic Zone*) by land (from Eilat in Israel or Saudi Arabia), by sea (ferry from Egypt at Nuweiba), or by air (at Aqaba International Airport). You can check here whether you are entitled with your nationality to get the free visa.\n\nIf you receive a free ASEZA visa, you will have to exit the country through the same entry point. It's important to keep in mind that if you enter Jordan through Aqaba Free zone with the free visa, but leave Jordan via another border crossing (for example fly out from Amman, or enter Israel through the northern border), you must pay 40 JD for a visa that you did not pay entering through Aqaba.\n\nThe ASEZA visa allows free travel throughout Jordan. There is no tax for leaving the Aqaba Economic Zone and crossing into the rest of the country. There are road checkpoints when leaving ASEZA, but these are no concern for foreigners. Usually, the control is either waived for tourists or minimally done (just show your passport; if driving, show also your driving license, car registration and open the trunk).", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk011", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "The free ASEZA visa can also be obtained at almost all other crossings (except King Hussein \"Allenby\" Bridge), by stating that you are going to Aqaba. There will be no 40 JD charge for the entry visa, but you are obliged to arrive in Aqaba in maximum 48 hours and get a stamp from a police station in Aqaba or from the , go to window #18: \"Residency permit renewal\". If the Aqaba late-arrival stamp is not in your passport, at departure you will pay the 40 JD charge for the entry visa plus a fine of 1.50 JD/day, for each day non-registered (the day you entered Jordan is counted as day 1, even if you entered at 23:59).\n\nIf you want to enter through Aqaba and do not want to get the ASEZA visa, you must ask the customs officer to put the normal visa in your passport and pay the normal visa fee.\n\n### King Hussein \"Allenby\" Bridge\n\nThis border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan is called *King Hussein Bridge* on the Jordanian and *Allenby Bridge* on the Israeli side, but using the latter in Amman is likely to cause perplexion or even hostility.\n\nThe Allenby Bridge is an Israeli-managed crossing mainly used by Palestinians to travel internationally because Palestinians are required by Israel to use the airport in Amman in Jordan rather than the airport in Tel Aviv.\n\nThis crossing does not allow private vehicles of any kind, but relies solely on public transport.\n\n#### Visa\n\nThis border crossing does not offer visa on-arrival for Jordan. So, you need to obtain yours beforehand, e.g. at the Jordanian Embassies in Ramallah or Tel Aviv/Ramat Gan (40/60/120 JD single, double, multi). See Jordan for more details.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk012", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Also, this is the only border crossing point where entry to Jordan (and exit) is not allowed on an Israeli passport because it connects directly to the West Bank.\n\nFor entering the West Bank from Jordan, the usual visa-free entrance rules for Israel apply, since the checkpoint on the western side is operated by Israel. Hence, plan your travel documents accordingly.\n\nIf leaving Jordan through this border crossing, you can return to Jordan through the same crossing point on the same visa you got when entering Jordan in the first place (except for ASEZA visas) if its validity has not expired.\n\nYou will not receive an exit stamp from Jordan here, and you will not be stamped on re-entry if you choose to return through the same border crossing (this one).\n\n#### Fees\n\nThe exit fee to leave the West Bank and Israel through this border crossing is ₪176. (In Aqaba and Sheikh Hussein the exit fee is just ₪113.)\n\nThe exit fee into the opposite way to leave Jordan is 10 JD, payable in cash and JD only, as of 2023.\n\n#### Opening hours\n\nJordanian side: Sa–Th 07:10-00:00, F 07:10-03:00\n Israeli side: Daily until 20:00; F and Sa until 12:00 (but some say 15:30).\n\nBear in mind that the border can be closed with relatively little warning, especially if the security situation in the West Bank escalates.\n\n#### Israeli / western side", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk013", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are direct shared taxi between Jerusalem (Al-Souq Al-Tijaree (the commercial souq) not far from the main bus station) and this checkpoint for ₪38 (or 11 JD) plus ₪4 per piece of luggage. Also, the Palestinian bus company (outside the checkpoint to the right, red buses) offers connections to/from Jericho and Ramallah—Ramallah and Jerusalem are connected by sherut. Note, you are not allowed to walk away from this checkpoint to catch a regular bus into Israel from the bus stop 2.7 km away.\n\nAt the checkpoint Israeli officials process passport control and customs, including exit fees for exit from Israel. Inside you'll go through a security check (bag scans and metal detector) and proceed to passport control. Be warned, there is no queuing system, and people tend to shove their way to the front. Additionally, there is some VIP service that seems some varying level of formal/informal but allows some passengers to skip queues and move straight to the front for a fee.\n\nWhen proceeding to passport control into Israel, you will be given a small blue and white card with your photo on it that says B2 visa. This is your entry proof in effect and must be kept with your passport at all times (and will be asked for when you check into hotels, etc). They will not stamp your passport entering Israel.\n\n#### No man's land\n\nThe land between the Israeli and the Jordanian checkpoints consists of an open road of a few kilometers that must be crossed by (*JETT*) bus. While online guides will note that passengers with a JETT ticket from Amman will have this bus included, this seems to no longer be the case as of April 2023.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk014", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Either way, the bus is 7 JD, plus 1.5 JD for each of your bags. This payment must be made in cash, though they will also accept US dollars or euros (at a terrible rate). Even though the *no man's land* stretch is only a few kilometers, it includes two check points and can often taken hours of waiting, and sometimes only takes a few minutes—often with no real rhyme or reason on why it will be one or the other.\n\nThis will eventually take you to the other checkpoint, where you will de-board the bus with all of your belongings and proceed to the next checkpoint.\n\n#### Jordanian / eastern side\n\nWhen entering Jordan, since all your visa and Jordan Pass requirements needed to be sorted out beforehand, there is nothing more to do than passing the checkpoint. Also, here no need to pay any fee this way.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk015", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "The other way around, when leaving Jordan, you will take all of your belonging with you, go through a quick security scan, and then find yourself in a small room with four windows. There is very little signage but you will need to go to three windows in total. The first is a customs window, where you'll fill out a small slip of paper with your full name, nationality, date of birth, and exit date. The first window will stamp this slip and send you to a payment window, where you will pay the exit fee—Jordanian dinars in cash only, as of April 2023. Once you paid, you will be given a slip with two perforated slips that are then stamped. You will then move to the last window, where you will hand the officer your passport, and both slips (the two perforated slips and the slip with your name/nationality/birth date/exit date). They will then take your passport and keep it in a stack with the ones of the other travellers. You will then be directed to wait in a small seating area until you are directed to board the bus to the Israeli checkpoint. On the bus, the driver will come around and redistribute all passports, and a border control agent will come to double check your exit visa slips.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk016", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "At least one ''JETT'' bus connects the Jordanian checkpoint with Amman: JETT office at Abdali, 11 JD, 06:30–07:15 from Amman, takes about 1 hr. The other way around, the bus stop near the Jordanian checkpoint is not immediately visible (when getting out of the border office). Thus, many taxi drivers will pretend that there are no buses, which is untrue. (Nevertheless, they should be no more than 20–25 JD per ride.) Also, there are shared (white) taxis between here and the Tabarbour / Northern Bus Terminal in Amman (5–9 JD per person for up to four people, 20 JD per ride), but also other destinations.\n\n#### Cope\n\nExpect travel between Amman and the old city of Jerusalem to take at least 3 hr. Travellers regularly experience waits that can vary anywhere between 2–12 hr. Hence, it's a good idea to try to get to the border as early as possible, especially in the busy summer season.\n\nIf you mention any West Bank destinations in your itinerary to the Israeli border guards, this will arouse suspicion and potentially additional scrutiny and waiting time. Thus, it is just best to avoid mentioning Palestine at all while passing the border.\n\n### By car\n\nJordan shares borders with four countries: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iraq. For very obvious reasons, entering Jordan from Israel or Saudi Arabia is strongly recommended and advisable.\n\n#### From Israel\n\nthumb|A Jordan border post\nBesides the King Hussein \"Allenby\" Bridge, the **Sheikh Hussein Bridge** (aka Jordan River crossing near Beit Shean) allows entry into Jordan from Northern Israel, and the **Eilat/Aqaba crossing** (aka Wadi Araba aka Yitzhak Rabin) from Southern Israel (see on-arrival visa limitations above).", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk017", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "For both you will have to pay an Israeli departure tax of ₪113, plus a processing fee of ₪6. For all details including a complete fee catalogue and opening hours (which should consequently also apply to the Jordanian side) see the Israel Airports Authority website.\n\nThere are daily buses from Nazareth via the Sheikh Hussein bridge, call the operator () for details. A fare is ₪80 one way. Alternatively, you can take a regular bus/taxi to the Sheikh Hussein bridge, cross the border on foot, and get into Irbid or Amman by bus.\n\nTo get to the southern crossing by bus take one to Eilat. Several buses run here, including the 444 which follows a route along the Dead Sea. From Eilat Bus Station, the border is around 3 km, reachable by taxi for around ₪45-50. Alternatively, you can exit the bus at the second last stop at \"Yitzhak Rabin Crossing / Highway 90\" and walk the last 1.5 km to the border. When on the Jordanian side, pay attention to the Aqaba border taxi cartel, and only use a taxi from there for the shortest distance possible, and swap into a cheaper taxi or even bus afterwards.\n\nIf you cross by car, border formalities are time-consuming and expensive as a Jordanian insurance is required, and you will even have to change your number plates, since it is not advisable to travel in Arab countries while displaying an Israeli number plate. Israeli rental cars are not permitted across the borders for insurance reasons.\n\n#### From Syria\n\nGiven the ongoing civil war, entering Jordan from Syria is not advisable at this time.\n\n#### From Iraq", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk018", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is possible to enter Jordan from Iraq depending on your nationality, but because of the current situation in Iraq, it is not advisable, and you will be looked at a lot more closely than if entering from elsewhere.\n\n#### From Saudi Arabia\n\nEntry from Saudi Arabia is by bus. Jordan-bound buses can be taken from almost any point in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf. Most of these are used by Arabs. The border crossing, called Al-Haditha on the Saudi side, and Al-Omari on the Jordanian side, has been rebuilt. Waiting time at customs and passport control is not too long by Middle Eastern standards, but allow for up to 5 hours on the Saudi side. As the crossing is in the middle of the desert, be absolutely sure that all paper work is in order before attempting the journey, otherwise you might be lost in a maze of Arab bureaucracy. The trip from the border to Amman is 3 hr and up to 20 hr to Dammam, Riyadh or Jeddah on the Saudi side. The trip can be uncomfortable but is cheap.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Inside Queen Alia International Airport\nJordan's national airline is Royal Jordanian Airlines. In addition, Jordan is served by foreign carriers including Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, Emirates and Delta Air Lines. Low-cost airline Air Arabia serves the Middle East, and Aegean Airlines and TAROM serve Europe. Ryanair also offers direct flights to Amman from Belgium, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic and Lithuania.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk019", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Jordan can be entered at the port of Aqaba (ASEZA) via the Egyptian port of Nuweiba. There are two services, ferry and speedboat. Expect to pay around US$60 for the ferry or around US$70 for the speedboat (both one way + US$10 or LE50 departure tax from Egypt) if you are a non-Egyptian national (Egyptians are not required to pay the prices inflated by the authorities). The slow ferry might take up to 8 hr, and can be a nightmare in bad weather. The speedboat consistently makes the crossing in about an hour, though boarding and disembarking delays can add many hours, especially since there are no fixed hours for departures. You cannot buy the ticket in advance and the ticket office does not know the time of departure. You can lose an entire afternoon or even a day waiting for the boat to leave.\n\nAlso see Aqaba and Ferries in the Red Sea for more details and options.\n\n### By train\n\nAs of January 2026, there are no international trains to Jordan. However, Saudi Arabia Railways operates a weekly night train from Riyadh to the border town of Al Qurayyat every Thursday (arriving Friday morning). From there, you can continue your journey to Jordan by bus or taxi. nAt Al Qurayyat train station, you will find taxis and ride-hailing services like Careem or Uber, but no buses. Here are your options for crossing into Jordan:", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk020", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Take a taxi or Uber/Careem directly to Al Azraq in Jordan**, where you can catch a bus to Amman. This option can be expensive, so make sure to confirm with the driver that they are authorized to cross the border (i.e., they have the necessary insurance).\n **Take a taxi or Uber/Careem to the border**, then hitchhike to find a car that can take you across. Be aware that there are no facilities or services near the border, and crossing on foot is not recommended.\n **Hitchhike directly from the train station**. The train also transports vehicles, so some travelers load their cars onto the train, sleep during the journey, and then drive into Jordan. To find a potential ride, wait at the station after most passengers have left. Those who remain are likely waiting for their cars to be unloaded (this process takes about an hour). Ask around—you might get lucky and find a driver willing to take you.\n **Book a private shuttle from Al Qurayyat to Amman**. Some companies offer regular shuttle services between the two cities. Amer Kazali is one such provider; you can contact them via WhatsApp at +962 786 447 412. As of January 2026, the fare is approximately SAR 300, though prices may be negotiable.\n **Check for buses from Al Qurayyat bus station to Amman**. Companies like Roya Bus or Hakaya Bus may operate cross-border services. However, as of January 2026, there is no clear information on how to book a seat or whether it is possible to board from Al Qurayyat.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk021", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By thumb\n\nJordan is one of the easiest countries to hitch-hike in. It is not uncommon to wait less than 5-10 min before getting picked up. Especially if you are not from the US or such, people are happy to take you along the way and immediately will raise topics like FCB, Paris, Bayern Munich, or pizza depending on your nationality. In addition, hitch-hiking is made even easier by the fact that many tourists with guides or rental cars will pick you up if they see you are not from around the region. Although Jordan is targeted by extremists, hitch-hiking is not more dangerous than in other countries taking into account the high likelihood of getting picked up by someone. Even on a holiday in off season you will barely wait more than 10 min for someone to stop.\n\nTo get a ride just let your arm hang and use your hand to wave towards you, or point down towards the road with your index and middle finger. Don't put up the hitch-hiking thumb, this seems to be impolite. In some countries, it is common to pay even for hitch-hikes. Here it is not. Though, for example along the hotel promenade of the Dead Sea, locals might demand a small amount, but anything beyond 2 JD for 10 km is too much – take bus prices as an orientation, just in case.\n\nCombining this with local (mini) buses (which ever comes first) is an efficient and inexpensive way to discover and experience Jordan, and meet interesting and friendly locals.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk022", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Buses at the bus station in [[Zarqa]]\nThe JETT bus company has services connecting Amman to Aqaba, the King Hussein Bridge (to cross into Israel), and Hammamat Ma'in. Private buses (mainly operated by the Hijazi company) run from Amman to Irbid and Aqaba. Minibus services connect smaller towns on a much more irregular service basis – usually they leave once they're full.\n\nThe Abdali transport station near Downtown Amman served as a bus/taxi hub to locations throughout Jordan, but many of its services (especially microbus and service taxi) have been relocated to the new Northern bus station (also called Tarbarboor, or Tareq). Here you can find buses into Israel,1 JD bus to Jerash/Dead sea and a 3.50 JD bus to Queen Alia airport.\n\nBe aware that drivers at the Northern bus station can lie about ticket price, so pay together with other people - buses are departing as soon as they are getting full and special man will collect money from everyone before departure.\n\n### By servees\n\nService taxis or so called *servees* cover much the same routes as buses. They are definitely more expensive than minibuses, but a lot faster and more convenient.\n\nServees only leave when full so there is no set timetable. You may also be approached by private cars operating as service taxis. If you use one of these, it is important to agree the price in advance.\n\nServees are generally white or cream in colour. They can sometimes be persuaded to deviate from their standard route if they are not already carrying passengers. It is quite likely that you would be asked to wait for a yellow taxi though.\n\n### By taxi\n\nRegular taxis are abundant in most cities. They are bright yellow and are generally in good condition. A 10 km trip should cost around 2 JD.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk023", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "All yellow taxis should be metered, however most drivers outside Amman do not use them. If you do get picked up by such or even unmetered taxi, make sure you agree on the price before departing – **per drive and not per person**! If you do not agree on a price, you will most likely pay double the going rate. Using the meter is almost always cheaper than negotiating a price. So, it is best to insist that the driver uses it before you depart. Keep your luggage with you – it's not uncommon for unmetered taxis to charge a ridiculous rate (30 JD for a 10-min ride) and then refuse to open the trunk to give you your bags back until you pay up.\n\nStandardised but inflated taxi prices from the Eilat/Aqaba border crossing are:\n Wadi Rum (one way) 39 JD\n Wadi Rum (round trip including waiting time) 55 JD\n Petra (one way) 55 JD\n Petra (round trip including waiting time) 88 JD\n Amman (and suburbs) 109 JD\n Dead Sea 99 JD\nAlthough, it might be a better idea to take a taxi into Aqaba and from there take a different taxi and renegotiate the price.\n\nDay rates for taxis can be negotiated. These are usually through specific taxi drivers that have offered the service to friends or colleagues before. If you are staying at a hotel, the reception desk should be able to find you a reliable driver. It is also quite common in quiet times to be approached (politely) by taxi drivers on the street looking for business. There are plenty of good English speakers so it pays to wait until you find one you like. Do not use taxi drivers as guides, though — see below.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk024", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "A full-day taxi fare should cost around 20-25 JD. An afternoon taxi fare would be around 15 JD. For this price the taxi driver will drop you off at local shopping areas and wait for you to return. You can then go to the next shopping location. You can leave your purchases in the vehicle as the driver will remain in the taxi at all times, but it is not recommended to do so.\n\nIf you are planning a trip outside of Amman, the day rates will increase to offset the fuel costs. For day trips within 1–3 hours of Amman, a taxi is by far the easiest method of transport. A trip to Petra in a taxi would cost approximately 75 JD for 3 people. This would get you there and back with about 6 hours to look around and see the sights.\n\nIf travelling a long way, try to use buses or coaches rather than taxis. Some taxi drivers are not averse to driving people into the middle of the desert and threatening to leave them there unless they hand over all their money. This is very unlikely if you stick to recommended drivers however. Jordan is generally very protective of its tourists and while overcharging is common (if not agreed in advance), threats and cheating are rare.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Donkeys on a highway\nYou can easily reach major cities by car in Jordan.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk025", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jordan's highways are generally in very good shape, but the same cannot be said about its drivers or its vehicles. Many trucks and buses drive with worn or defective tires and brakes and in the southern and more rural parts of the country there is the tendency for some people to drive at night without headlights (in the belief that they can see better and that this is therefore safer!).\n\n**Avoid driving outside the capital, Amman, after dark.**\n\nRenting a car should be inexpensive and not too time-consuming. Fuel prices are all fixed by the government, so don't bother looking for cheaper gas stations. Expect to pay around 0.825 JD per litre (unleaded 90 octane), 1 JD per litre (unleaded 95 octane), of 0.625 JD for diesel (Oct 2018). They're reviewed on a monthly basis to reflect international gas prices on the local prices.\n\nThe main route is the **Desert Highway**, which connects Aqaba, Ma'an and Amman and then continues all the way to Damascus in neighbouring Syria. **Radar speed traps are plentiful and well positioned** to catch drivers who do not heed the frequently changing speed limits. Traffic Police are stationed regularly at turns and curves, well hidden, with speed guns. If you are **even 10% over** the speed limit, you will be stopped and made to pay a steep fine.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk026", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "One particular stretch, where the road rapidly descends from the highlands of Amman to the valley that leads into Aqaba through a series of steep hairpin curves, is infamous for the number of badly maintained oil trucks that lose their brakes and careen off the road into the ravine, destroying all in their path. This stretch of the road has been made into a dual carriageway and is now a little safer. However, exercise caution on this stretch of the road.\n\nThe other route of interest to travellers is the **King's Highway**, a meandering track to the west of the Desert Highway that starts south of Amman and links Kerak, Madaba, Wadi Mujib and Petra before joining the Desert Highway south of Ma'an.\n\n**Uber** is available in Amman.\n\n### By plane\n\nConsidering there are only two airports in the country, there's only one domestic air route: Amman to Aqaba and back.\n\nA flight to Aqaba from Amman will take about 50-55 minutes.\n\n### By tour operator\n\nMuch of Jordan's more dramatic scenery (Wadi Rum, the Dana Reserve and Iben Hamam) is best seen on 4x4 vehicles with drivers or guides familiar with the territory.\n\nMost people visiting Jordan opt for organised tours, although it is possible to use local guides from the various visitors' centres at Jordan's eco-nature reserves. The majority of tourists crossing into Jordan from Israel are on one-day Petra tours or in organised tour groups. They make up a significant percent of the daily visitors in Petra and Jordan's natural attractions.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk027", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Jordan Hejaz Railway is the only rail line operating passenger services. It is mostly a tourist attraction and not a means of practical transportation. In the 2010s Jordan has made some noise towards building new rail lines and neighboring Israel has built numerous new rail lines in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s and has announced an intention to cooperate with Jordanian and/or Palestinian partners for cross-border services but as of 2018 nothing concrete has come of this.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk028", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Talk", "text": "The national language of Jordan is **Arabic**.\n\nThe local vernacular is **Jordanian Arabic**. If you don't know the local dialect, don't worry; Modern Standard Arabic is learned by everyone.\n\n**English** is widely spoken throughout the country. Almost all university-level classes are held in English, and it is the *de facto* language of banking and commerce. If you don't know any Arabic, don't worry, as you can get around easily communicating in only English.\n\nFrench and German are the two most popular foreign languages. This said, do not expect to find speakers of the two languages outside Amman.\n\nYou might encounter speakers of Caucasian languages as Jordan is home to a large number of immigrants from the Caucasus.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk029", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "See", "text": "### ''Jordan Pass''\n\nThe Jordan Pass provides free entrance to more than 40 sites in Jordan within a two-week period, and the cost of your tourist visa is waived if you stay at least 3 nights in the country. It offers a great saving compared to purchasing tickets (and visa) separately.\n\nThe pass costs 70 JD if you want spend one day at Petra, 75 JD for two days, or 80 JD for 3 days in Petra (as of August 2025). The pass must be used within 12 months after purchase. Entrance to the Bethany, baptism site can be purchased as an addon to the pass for an extra 8 JD. Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea museum, and many of the Madaba churches (Including the St. George Church with the famous Mosaic) are notably not included in the pass (~1-3 JD).\n\nThe single-entry tourist visa fee (40 JD) is waived (at the airport). If you leave Jordan before completing these 3 nights, you will have to pay the visa fee at the border when you leave.\n For non-on-arrival-visas, e.g. when using the Allenby Bridge, travelers can use the Tel-Aviv embassy (and possibly in Ramallah?) to get a free tourist visa by bringing their passport, Jordan pass, and explaining that they must use the Allenby crossing. The embassy staff however expects that the visa is used for entry soon, preferably within a month.\n The visa fee is 10 JD for tourists entering Jordan by land.\n You might not have to pay any visa fee in certain circumstances, e.g. for the free, one-month ASEZA visa (see above). Then, the visa waiver does not really do anything for you.\nConsidering the regular entrance fees to Petra of 50/55/60 JD (90 JD for single-day Jordan visitors), to Jerash of 10 JD and to Wadi Rum of 5 JD, it is hard not to take advantage of this great offer.\n\nChildren under the age of 12 can enter the tourist sites for free when accompanied by their parents.\n\nthumb|Arch of Hadrian in Jerash\nthumb|Mosaic of the Holy Land\nthumb|Fun at the Dead Sea\nthumb|Petra\nthumb|Wadi Rum\n\n### Northern Jordan\n\nNorth of Amman is the ancient city of **Jerash**, where you can see some of the most impressive Roman ruins in the Eastern Mediterranean world.\n\nOther sites include **Umm Quais**, **Ajlun Castle** and Pella (north-west of Amman). **Madaba** and its Archaeological Park include some of the finest mosaics in the world.\n\n### King's Highway\n\nParts of the western edge of Jordan's border are the Jordan River, and the **Dead Sea** to experience floating without the fear of drowning. Close to the Dead Sea is also **Bethany** (Jesus's baptismal site).\n\nIn addition, a visit to **Kerak** and **Dana Nature Reserve** are worth while.\n\n### Eastern Desert\n\nClose to Amman the most interesting sights of this region are the **Desert Castles** around Azraq.\n\n### Southern Desert\n\n**Wadi Rum** is an astonishing desert landscape that leaves no one untouched.\n\nThe archaeological ruins at **Petra** are Jordan's biggest tourist draw and a must-see for anyone travelling in Jordan. A vast site, and at least two days are needed to really see the entire area.\n\n### Other attractions\n\nJordan, during World War I, was home to intelligence officers such as T. E. Lawrence, (aka Lawrence of Arabia). Some of its sites from the military expedition can be seen in parts of the country.", "word_count": 553}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk030", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Do", "text": "Go **diving** or snorkelling in the Red Sea by Aqaba. The Red Sea has some of the world's most famous coral reefs and is a popular place for diving and snorkelling. Turtles, squids, clownfish and a sunken tank are a few of the underwater sights. Equipment can be rented at diving centres, and if you contact them they are happy to come pick you up by car and take you to a good beach spot and back.\n Floating and \"swimming\" in the Dead Sea is one of the highlights.\n Explore the country's desert landscapes, experienced through guided Bedouin tours. \n\n### Itineraries\n\n **8-9 days** of hitch-hiking and bus: Amman – Jerash – Madaba – Dead Sea – Dana Nature Reserve – Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba (including potential stops at Ajlun, Mount Nebo, Dead Sea Panorama complex, and Shoubak Castle). Add one day for each of the following: Desert Castles, Madaba surrounding area, Wadi Mujib, Kerak\n **4-5 days**: Aqaba – Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba\n\n### Hiking\n\nWhile not immediately intuitive, Jordan is perfect for hiking. It is one of the best ways to experience the Jordanian culture since one frequently meets nice Bedouins who will try to invite you to a cup of tea.\n\nGreat places to hike are Dana Nature Reserve, Wadi Rum, Wadi Mujib, Wadi Bin Hammad (northwest of Kerak), some canyons, other Wadis, along the Dead Sea, and various routes in the North of Jordan. The north is also a popular place since it is the greenest part of Jordan.\n\nThe North has many oak tree forest reserves (Umm Qais, Ajloun), which provide a stark contrast to the rest of Jordan. Around Amman, urban sprawl has made many hilltops unfit for hiking, but certain valleys, especially towards the west and far south of Amman are nice hiking destinations. Further south, near the Dead sea, numerous unique canyons (such as Wadi Mujib), which often have little streams, are a popular hiking destination with a bit of climbing involved, depending on the Canyon (also known as Wadi). It is strongly advised, though, to not hike in Wadis during raining season, as flash floods can and do occur. Wadi Bin Hammad, is longer Wadi with a fairly \"big\" stream. The Dana Reserve is less green than the destinations further north, but still has a unique landscape due to its rock structures. There are several RSCN managed Eco accommodations in the reserve and it has a unique flora and fauna. Several hikes with varying lengths are possible here. Around Petra, there exist also numerous hiking trails, which provide a good mix of interesting rock formations, nature, and historical structures. For example, a popular trail is going from Petra to Little Petra (Another Nabataean settlement). Wadi Rum can also be nice to hike due to its unique landscape. Temperatures are high, though, and one always walks on sand.\n\nThere is also a 675-km trail running through all of Jordan—from Umm Qais in the North to Aqaba in the South. It is called \"The Jordan Trail\" with adequate lodging along the route. It runs through many areas mentioned above, such as Wadi Rum.\n\n### Climbing\n\nClimbing is frequently done in Wadi Rum. The rock is relatively soft, though. Around Amman, Climbat is a popular indoor climbing place. \n\n### Turkish bath (hammam)\n\nGo to one of these baths. They're segregated by sex, and you'll enjoy it more if you go with someone of the same sex. It's a completely non-sexual experience.", "word_count": 579}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk031", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Learn", "text": "Jordan has one of the best educational systems in the Middle East and has one of the highest literacy rates in the region.\n\nFor long stays, it is possible to take Arabic courses at the University of Jordan and at other private educational centres in Amman. The British Council in Amman occasionally runs courses in Arabic for foreigners.\n\nIn Amman, the starting cost for apartments is 350–1,400 JD monthly. Proprietors prefer you pay up front and commit for at least a half year stay.\n\nAn alternative is Zarqa Private University. It is a 35-minute drive due east of Amman and can save you a fortune, because it costs 1/3 less to stay in an apartment there than in Amman.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk032", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Work", "text": "Finding employment in Jordan as a foreigner is close to impossible, even though it has been historically known for its high intake of refugees and immigrants.\n\nWith an unemployment rate of **21.9%** – a remarkably high rate − as of 2023, there are not enough jobs for people, and the government isn't keen on letting non-Jordanians compete with Jordanians for employment opportunities. An oversupply of educated labour, lack of creation of employment opportunities, and regional instability all contribute to the poor state of the Jordanian labour market.\n\nA Jordanian work permit **will not** be granted to you unless you intend to work in agriculture, as a domestic worker, or in the industrial sector.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk033", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the **Jordanian dinar**, locally denoted by the symbol \"**JD**\" before or after the amount or in Arabic as دينار, or sometimes \"**£**\" (ISO currency code: **JOD**). It is divided into 1000 fils and 100 piastres (or qirsh). Coins come in denominations of 1 (almost non existent), 5 and piastres and ¼ JD (seven-sided), ½ JD (seven-sided with a yellow ring and silver center). Banknotes are found in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 JD. Two sets of banknotes are in circulation in Jordan, the 2002 issues and the new 2022 issues. The currency rate is effectively fixed to the US dollar at an artificially high rate (about $1.41 ≈ 1.00 JD) that makes Jordan poorer value than it would otherwise be. Most upper scale restaurants and shops at shopping malls also accept US dollars.\n\nMany places have limited change so it is important to keep a quantity of 1 JD and 5 notes JD. As bank machines give 20 JD and 50 JD notes for large transactions, this can be difficult.\n\n**Cards** are accepted in a limited (and seemingly random) way. Most hotels and hostels take cards including Petra entry fees (50 JD and more) and at camps in Wadi Rum.\n\n**ATMs** are commonly available, but might charge a fee of up to 7 JD, especially the ATM at the airport right before the visa counter which you have to use to withdraw money to pay for the visa(-on-arrival), except for when you have a Jordan Pass. Try several machines to find one with the lowest or without any fee, and remember the bank. However, in case of Visa, sometimes these additional fees will not get collected back home. Probably mostly only ever if it states more on your receipt than you have received.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk034", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Stalls in Amman\nA subsistence budget would be around 15 JD per day, but this means you'll be eating falafel every day. 25 JD will allow slightly better accommodations, basic restaurant meals and even the occasional beer. It is best to check accommodation prices online – most Jordan hostels and hotels have their rooms on the common hotel websites.\n\nIf you prefer to eat what the locals eat, it should only cost 1-2 JD for which you can buy a falafel/shwerma sandwich with any can of soda pop (most common is Coke, Sprite and Fanta). If you want to buy a chicken sandwich it will cost (0.50-0.80 JD).\n\nTo try real Jordanian food and don't stay at starred hotels all the time; eating there is expensive for an average Jordanian. Unless the meal came with the hotel accommodation, don't eat here. It may look like the people inside can afford the meal and make it look and sound like this is an average way to eat. Go into the city or local markets or restaurants and find out what the people there are buying – you will save a lot of money on your trip. If not and you want to save the trip of seeing the country's true people then stay where you are and enjoy whatever the travel guide wants you to see, do and pay.\n\nNon-Jordanians can get a **VAT refund** at the airport when they are returning home. The VAT amount must be more than 50 JD on anything except for: food, hotel expenses, gold, mobile phones.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk035", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Summary** (common prices and costs):\n Bus – 1 JD per 40 km; taxi – 1 JD per 5 km; camel, donkey or horse – 12-15 JD/hr\n Falafel roll – 0.5 JD; falafel & hummus – 2-3 JD; beer (in the shop) – 0.5-1 JD\n Hotel room – JOD8-15 JD; dorm – 5 JD; mattress – 1-2 JD\n Wadi Rum camp – 20-30 JD; Dead Sea hotels – 50-60 JD (off-season)\n Dead Sea (tourist) beach – 20 JD; Jordan Pass – 70-80 JD\n\nThe average monthly salary for Jordanians is 450 JD, while the official poverty line is 70 JD per month (2018).\n\n### Bargaining\n\nBargaining is accepted, especially at markets, but some prices might already be final, e.g. in restaurants, the bus, or the museum. Since also rich locals will get fair and inexpensive local prices, there is no reason why tourists should pay more, though as a tourist, it might be hard to find out whether the price you got is fair or inflated because you are considered wealthy. It is best to ask at several different locations to get a feeling for what the price should be. Remember to always thank the merchant for stating the price, even if not buying anything.\n\nA working approach for hotels is to look up the price on one of the big hotel reservation sites and to walk straight into the chosen hotel stating that seen price. You might get some discount, if not, just trying the next one might convince the person at the reception to give you a better price. This however will only work when and where accommodation options are vast, i.e. probably not during high season in Petra or at the Dead Sea.\n\n### Touting & guides", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk036", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Buy", "text": "320px|right|thumb|Very true also for Jordan\nTourism is a big income generator. While this must be appreciated and respected in the wake of troublesome times, many tourists are just fast cash cows for tourist guides and taxi drivers who carry them from one overpriced venue, shop, hotel or restaurant to the next one, collecting their share of 30-50% from the owner when leaving. So, do not rely on them too much, otherwise they will cash in on you twice, once for their service and once taking commission. This means, either the restaurant will be a tourist trap with very inflated prices or the hotel will add a surcharge when you ask them for the price, especially if the guide or taxi driver stands right next to you. Instead, choose the restaurant and hotel by yourself without them following you, and just use taxi drivers for transport, not as a guide. Always only rely on the bare minimum of such help, and spend your money arbitrarily and widely, and not just at the hotel you are staying or the place your guide drops you off.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk037", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Also, do not believe in the common *my cousin (or friend) offers/has got it (something that you are looking for) and I can get it cheaper for you* – the opposite will mostly be the truth, neither will it be their cousin nor will it be cheaper. Always get several independent quotes for things or tours you are interested in, and never get convinced that there is only one option available and you have to stick with that one telling you so, even if they say *this or that is not available, does not work or is not in this direction*, e.g. taxi drivers pretending that there are no buses from the Allenby Bridge into Jordan. The variety of such examples is vast.\n\n### Souvenirs\n\nDo not buy souvenirs in the tourism centres of the country, like Petra, Jerash or Amman – the prices here are inflated 2- or 3-fold. Madaba or Irbid might be good opportunities to get souvenirs.\n\nBuying and exporting archaeological artefacts might be prohibited, like ancient coins. So, do not get into thinking you can make a good deal here. If you are not an expert, you might even end up buying fake genuine goods – just because they look old and the merchant talks lovely does not make them real.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk038", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Jordanian cuisine is quite similar to fare served elsewhere in the region. The daily staple being *khobez*, a large, flat bread sold in bakeries across the country for a few hundred fils. Delicious when freshly baked.\n\nFor breakfast, the traditional breakfast is usually fried eggs, *labaneh*, cheese, *zaatar* and olive oil along with bread and a cup of tea. Falafel and hummus are eaten on the weekends by some and more often by others. There's no convention for when you should or should not eat any type of food. It's up to you. This is the most popular breakfast. Manousheh and pastries come in as the second most popular breakfast item. All of the hotels offer American breakfast.\nthumb|Making mansaf\nThe national dish of Jordan is the *mansaf*, prepared with jameed, a sun-dried yogurt. Grumpygourmet.com describes the *mansaf* as \"an enormous platter layered with crêpe-like traditional \"shraak\" bread, mounds of glistening rice and chunks of lamb that have been cooked in a unique sauce made from reconstituted jameed and spices, sprinkled with golden pine nuts.\" In actuality more people use fried almonds instead of pine nuts because of the cheaper price tag. The best mansaf can be found in Kerak.\n\nWhile mansaf is the national dish, most people in urban areas eat it on special occasions and not every day. Other popular dishes include Maklouba, stuffed vegetables, freekeh.\n\nLevantine-style *mezza* are served in \"Lebanese-style\" - which is typical to Jordanian style - restaurants around the country, and you can easily find international fast food chains. Some local businesses such ate:\n Abu Jbarah: falafel restaurants\n Al kalha: falafel and homous restaurant\n Al-Daya'a and Reem: places to get shawerma sandwiches and dishes.\n\nAs for foreign style restaurants, there is no shortage of them. The best ones are usually found in 5-star hotels, but the price tag is high. Italian restaurants and pizza places are somewhat abundant in Amman, Madaba, and Aqaba, but are very hard to find in other cities.\n\nMore and more cafes now serve food. There is an abundance of Middle Eastern-style cafes serving Argeelleh in addition to the full complement of Western and Middle Eastern coffee drinks. There is also a good number of Western-style cafes which usually serve Western-style desserts, salads and sandwiches.", "word_count": 375}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk039", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Although Jordan is an Islamic state, the locally brewed Amstel beer is available in the better restaurants. Guinness, Becks and Heineken are served in bars catering for westerners. Jordanian wine, mostly from Mount Nebo, is also quite good. A few shops, especially in the tourism centres also sell harder alcohol. Liquor stores are generally identifiable by the Amstel logo. In touristy areas it is easy to find them, and only during Ramadan they might be closed. One exception is Wadi Rum, because there are no shops here, just camps, but the more luxurious ones will cater for such needs.\n\nFor more details on alcohol in Jordan, also see the Amman article.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk040", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Amman has an abundance of 5- and 4-star hotels. In addition there is a good number of 3-star hotels and there are plenty of 2-star and 1-star hotels in downtown Amman which are very cheap, and there are plenty of tourists, especially those that are passing by stay in these hotels.\n\nThere are two scales of rating the hotels in Jordan. There are the standard, Western-style 5-star hotels such as the Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, etc., and then there are the local 5-star establishments. The local establishments that are considered '5-star' in Jordan would be more like 3-star hotels in the West. A traveller will pay top dollar for a Western brand-name 5-star hotel in Amman or Petra and less for the local 5-star hotel.\n\nFurthermore, for longer stays it is possible to get furnished apartments for 200-600 JD a month.\n\nSeems like it is illegal to camp next to the Dead sea, locals warn that police will take you if they see your tent next to the shore during evening or night, but camping right next to some building or shop is fine for police.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk041", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "right|thumb|Tourist police kiosk at Petra\nJordan is a relatively safe country, however there are some precautions you need to take, to ensure your safety. \n\n### Middle Eastern tensions and terrorism threat\n\nJordan may be affected during times of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and there is often a heightened risk when travelling to or being within Jordan, during times of crisis. It is important to keep up to date with the latest news and updates from local authorities. \n\nTerrorist attacks are considered likely in Jordan, particularly targeting foreign nationals.\n\n### Emergency numbers\n\n**911** is Jordan’s centralised emergency (police, paramedics, firefighting) line. \n\n### Authorities\n\nCompared to other countries in the Middle East, Jordanian police is well-trained, effective, and professional.\n\n### Women\n\nForeign women may often attract the attention of Jordanian men. For the most part, they are simply curious about you, and hopefully nothing will go further than that. You should be careful when making direct eye contact with and being overly cheerful in front of Jordanian men as those things could get them to think that you are \"interested\" in them. Don't be afraid to create a scene and don't feel the need to be polite if a Jordanian man makes unwanted advances towards you; nobody should tolerate or put up with that kind of behaviour.\n\n### Society\n\nJordan is a Muslim nation, so western norms, such as public displays of affection, may not be accepted even by Jordan's western-educated elite. Jordan is not a place where homosexuality is taken as lightly as in the West, although it is not illegal as is the case in most other Arab nations. Though, the LGBT scene, especially in Amman, prefers the *don't ask, don't tell* approach to this topic. Adultery, including consensual sex between unmarried couples, is illegal and can be punished by a maximum 3-year jail term. However, this does in general not concern western couples, but will only be a problem when engaging with local people.", "word_count": 327}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk042", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Hospitals in Jordan, especially Amman, are abundant, Jordan's health care system is advanced and the country takes great pride in being a hub for medical tourism.\n\nThe biggest risk to your health in Jordan is being involved in a road traffic accident.\n\nTake caution with buying food from vendors; the vendors usually have no bad intentions, but the food might be unclean.\n\nAggressive dogs can be a problem in remote areas of Jordan, although they are far less numerous than in many other parts of Asia. If they get too close to you, (pretend to) pick up a stone. They will remember this gesture from the last painful experience. Carrying a large stick might also help.\n\nRabies is endemic in Jordan, and promptly seeking post-exposure prophylaxis after an animal bite is recommended. Receiving a vaccine booster before travel isn't completely necessary, but it's recommended if engaging in activities with a high risk of animal contact, such as caving. In other words, you can be protected before, and you have a very limited amount of time to get treated after a bite. If you start showing symptoms of rabies, death is 100% certain. It's better to err on the side of assuming the animal was rabid.\n\n**Tap water** is said to be potable, at least in some areas, but most people drink bottled water, which is the safest choice for visitors.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk043", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Jordan is a majority-Muslim country with a large Christian minority. It is one of the most liberal nations in the region and very hospitable to tourists, and locals will be happy to help you if asked.\n\nWomen may wear regular clothing without harassment in any part of Jordan. Western fashions are popular among young Jordanian women. However, modest clothing should be worn in religious and old historical sites.\n\n### Things to avoid\n\nJordanians understand that visitors are usually not aware of Jordanian culture and customs, and will be tolerant of most cultural blunders. However, some blunders will be met with universal disapproval.\n\n#### Politics\n\nThe Jordanian royal family is highly popular and enjoys strong support. They are protected by lese-majesté laws; therefore, it is illegal to publicly criticise, shame, or insult them. This being said, the monarchy has a rather forgiving approach to those convicted of lese-majesté.\n Avoid discussing Israel. Like their counterparts in the Arab world, many Jordanians express feelings of hatred, anger, and bitterness towards Israel. Jordan has a large Palestinian population, many of whom are refugees.\n\n#### Religion\n\nAlthough Islam is the dominant religion, Jordan is, to a large and significant extent, tolerant of other faiths. You won't offend a Jordanian by discussing religion; it's a popular conversational topic. You should, however, bear the following in mind during your stay:\n During Ramadan, you should avoid smoking, drinking, eating, or chewing in public.\n Try not to discuss religion from an agnostic or atheistic point of view; even highly educated Jordanians may be puzzled by the suggestion that you might not believe in God.\n Religious conversion is highly controversial in Jordan. Jordanian Muslims who have converted to other faiths are ostracised by society.\n\n#### Drugs", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk044", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Respect", "text": "The use of illicit substances is a very taboo topic in Jordan. Cannabis, in all forms, is illegal. Your guide may tolerate you talking about it, but it will definitely make them uncomfortable.\n Alcohol is tolerated, but only in a relatively small number of bars/restaurants. If you order beer, it will be non-alcoholic beer unless you're at a specific restaurant that serves alcohol. Don't talk about getting intoxicated in public.\n Cigarettes are everywhere in Jordan. It's a place where there are still \"smoking\" and \"non-smoking\" areas in restaurants.\n Shisha (flavored tobacco) is extremely common and a common pastime in Jordan. Visiting a shisha lounge with friends can be a fun experience.\n\n#### Photography\n\nTaking a photo of a landmark or vista is generally okay, even if (relatively) far away people are in it, but do not photograph people without asking their permission. Photographing women in particular can result in harassment by police. Do not photograph police under any circumstances.\n\n#### Ramadan\n\nDuring Ramadan, and particularly on the Eid al-Fitr holiday, schedules will change. Many restaurants, particularly those outside Amman, are closed during the daylight hours of Ramadan, only opening at sunset. This does not affect major restaurants near tourist destinations, however. Also, during Eid al-Fitr it is impossible to get a servees (minibus) in the late afternoon or evening in many parts of the country. Plan in advance if you are taking a servees to an outlying area; you may need to get a taxi back. However, JETT and Trust International Transport usually add more buses to their schedules during this time period, especially those going from Amman to Aqaba.\n\n### Public holidays", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk045", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Some holidays are based on the Gregorian calendar:\nDate\nName\nJanuary 1st*New Year*\nJanuary 30th*Birthday of King Abdullah*\nMay 25th*Independence day*\nJune 9th*King Abdullah Accession Day*\nDecember 25th*Christmas*\n\nReligious holidays are based on the Islamic calendar, which has 11 days fewer than the Gregorian one. Therefore, they fall on different Gregorian dates every year. The important holidays are:\nName\nMeaning\n *Muharram* (مُحَرَّم) Islamic New Year\n *Ashura* (عاشوراء) Fasting and liberation day of the Prophet\n *Mawlid an-Nabī* (النَّبِي) Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed\n *1st Ramadan* (رمضان) Beginning of the fasting month\n *Eid al-Fitr* (عيد الفطر) Festival of the end of the fast\n *Eid al-Adha* (الأضحى) Feast of the Sacrifice of Ishmael\n\n### Standing in queues\n\nJordanians have a notable issue with standing in queues for service. Often those near the rear of a queue will try to sidle forwards and pass those in front of them. Rather than objecting to this tactic, the people being passed will often employ this same trick themselves on those in front of them. The end result is often a raucous crowd jostling for service at the kiosk in question.\n\nNo one, including the person manning the kiosk, is happy when this situation develops, and often tensions in the jostling crowd seem high enough that violent disagreements feel moments away. However, there is no violence and the sense is that Jordanians recognise common distinct limits as to what was reasonable jostling.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk046", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Nonetheless, due to this common Jordanian phenomenon, several strategies are suggested:\n Arrive early, allow for time, and be patient. Since a degenerate queue is rarely an efficient, allow in your travel plans for the fact that it will invariably take longer than expected to deal with any service booth arrangements, whether that means customs, buying tickets, waiting to get on a bus, etc.\n Don't get upset about the queue or get caught up in the emotions of the crowd. You will keep moving forward, even if a few people sneak in front of you. No one in the crowd is entirely unreasonable, and you will not keep getting pushed back indefinitely. Often, at most, you will end up being served at the kiosk three or four turns later than expected. Just try to relax and take it in stride.\n Avoid the queue entirely when possible. Often, kiosks handle groups in bursts, such as a customs kiosk that deals with a busload of people at a time. In these cases, if you do not start already at the front of the line, find a comfortable spot away from the crowd, and wait for the rest of the group to make their fractious way through before you. Then, make your way up to the kiosk once it's clear. The advantage of being last is that often the kiosk attendant will appreciate your patience and be happy to deal with you now that they do not have a clamoring crowd jostling for their attention.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk047", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\nMost embassies can be found in Amman (see article).\n\n### Electricity\n\nThe electricity supply in Jordan is 230 V/50 Hz. But several types of plugs and outlets are in common use, i.e., European with round pins, British standard, Indian and combination outlets that can take multiple types.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk048", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Connect", "text": "WiFi is commonly available in restaurants, cafés, hostels and hotels.\n\nMost of Jordan has mobile coverage. There are three mobile operators:\n Zain - the largest mobile provider\n Orange\n Umniah\n\nCard-based temporary numbers can be purchased at the airport or any mobile shop for 5 JD. These numbers can be subsequently recharged with a prepaid card starting at only 1 JD. Temporary \"throw away\" phones can be bought at many mobile phone shops across the country for around 20-30 JD, but a Jordanian must buy the phone before possession can be transferred to you.\n\nWhen buying prepaid cards in Jordan, foreign travelers may be required to provide a passport, even for prepaid cards. This is in contrast to the practice in Europe.\n\nDue to geographical features near the Dead Sea, there is a possibility that Jordanian SIM cards might attempt to connect to cell networks in The Palestinian Territories. To avoid unintended roaming, which is usually disabled on prepaid cards by default, it is advisable to explicitly select the network of the operator from which the SIM card was purchased, instead of relying on the \"Automatically select network\" option in your phone settings.\n\nIn 2024, there were many reports that GPS was not working reliably in the Gulf of Aqaba and the general area near the city of Aqaba due to the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine. Although the city is safe, be prepared for your GPS device to show an incorrect location or no location at all.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "jordan::chunk049", "doc_id": "jordan", "section": "Go next", "text": "There are border crossings to Israel, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria, but most travellers will want to keep well clear of the latter two for reasons of safety. There are also ferries from Aqaba to several locations in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula; see Aqaba for additional information.", "word_count": 49}
diff --git a/corpus/jordan/metadata.json b/corpus/jordan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..76e118fcd38f76e7d48b4f995067acbbf05331d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jordan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jordan",
+ "title": "Jordan",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jordan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "wildlife",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Middle East"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Israel",
+ "West Bank",
+ "Saudi Arabia",
+ "Iraq",
+ "Syria",
+ "Egypt",
+ "Sinai",
+ "Aqaba"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 11233,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 16,
+ "chunk_count": 50,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/jotunheimen/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/jotunheimen/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..545c50740716bef33dc79b6b79f10014c8b264f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jotunheimen/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk000", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Jotunheimen** is one of Norway's most popular mountain areas, most of which is protected as a national park. This mountain range includes the highest summits in Norway (and Northern Europe) and some of the wildest alpine areas in Norway. While a few summits are only accessible for skilled climbers, most of the area can easily be hiked by most visitors with proper boots and fitness. Glaciers can only be traversed with a guide and proper equipment. Jotunheimen is a prime area for back-country skiing in late winter, spring and early summer.\n\nJotunheimen belongs to Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane counties.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk001", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Norway's highest summits are in Jotunheimen. Some for expert mountaineers only. Galdhøpiggen (Norway's highest) is relatively easy, but guide is needed across the glacier.\nthumb|Besseggen ridge at Jotunheimen\n\nThe name \"Jotunheimen\" has its roots in Norse mythology, being descended from the Old Norse name Jǫtunheimr, meaning \"The home of the giants\" (the mountain range used to be referred to as \"Giant Mountains\"). Jotunheimen is part of a long, virtually continuous line of mountains separating East Norway from coastal and fjord districts of Trøndelag and West Norway. Hardangervidda and Dovrefjell are other important parts of this great barrier. The western most part of Jotunheimen sits at the intersection with the great Sognefjord and the fjord's adjacent valleys. The eastern part of Jotunheimen rises gradually above the mountain plateau west of road 51. Road 55 (Sognefjellet road) marks the northern limit of Jotunheimen, while roads E16 and 53 mark the southern limit. Summits are visible from these roads.\n\nTo the north-west Jotunheimen merges seamlessly with Breheimen along road 55 (Sognefjellet road). Hikes in Jotunheimen can be combined with Breheimen without any transport. Around Beitostølen there are more moderate elevations and less wild landscape that is not part of Jotunheimen proper, this more mellow terrain continues almost to Lillehammer and hikes east of road 51 can be combined with Jotunheimen. North of Ottadalen valley (beyond road 15) is Reinheimen national park that stretches from the mellow mountains in the east the wild west.\n\n### Names", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk002", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Understand", "text": "Placenames often reveal shapes and landscape. Many summits in Jotunheimen have \"-tind\" as the last part of the name. The word \"tind\" indicates that the summits is sharp and pointed. \"Pigg\" is also a distinct summit, but less sharp/pointed than a \"tind\". Edges/ridges often have names like \"-egg\" and \"-rygg\". More rounded and less pronounced mountains are often called \"-hø(e)\". Glaciers are usually called \"-bre(en)\" and shown clearly as white-blue areas on the map. \"Fjell\" means mountain and can be used as names of individual summits or wider areas. Lodges or small settlements often have suffix \"-bu\", \"-heim\", \"-hytte\", or \"sæter\" and \"-støl/stul\". Lakes are often called \"-vatnet\" or \"-vannet\", and some (usually smaller) lakes are called \"-tjern\", \"-tjønn\" or \"-tjørn\", and some are even called \"-fjord\" according to naming tradition in east Norway. The big lakes in the south are Gjende, Bygdin and Tyin.\n\n### History", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk003", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Understand", "text": "Several English and German noblemen used to visit Jotunheimen in late 1800s and early 1900s to explore the mountain area, and climb the mountains. The Norwegian poet Vinje named many of the peaks in the western part of the park and is justly celebrated with a monument near Fondsbu DNT Hut. The Norwegian national playwright Ibsen set one of the most famous scenes in his classic Peer Gynt on the dramatic Besseggen Ridge in the eastern part of the park. The Besseggen Ridge has become one of the most visited natural attractions in Norway with 1–2 people passing any given point every 2–3 minutes in high summer – not a place for solitude! The eccentric Englishman HC Slingsby popularised the area through his trip reports published in the *Scottish Mountaineering Journal* in the 1880s and 1890s. He also published a classic book-length account entitled *Norway: the northern playground*. *Three in Norway (by two of them)* (written by Lees and Clutterbuck, 1882) is a classic travelogue about a long summer and early autumn spent mostly around Gjende lake.\n\n### Landscape\n\nJotunheimen has alpine mountains, glaciers with lakes and small rivers. Utladalen canyon, the deepest valley in Norway, runs like a deep crack between Western and Eastern Jotunheimen.\n\nthumb|Vettisfossen waterfall plunges 300 meters into Utladalen valley\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nThis is a high mountain area with very few trees, mostly heathery terrain with some bushes.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk004", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Understand", "text": "Rapid weather changes can occur, there are lots of snow in the winter due to the high altitude, the summer is nice with up to over when there is good and sunny weather. Note that at higher altitudes deep snow can remain from winter until midsummer. The hiking season varies, but usually starts in late June, while July–August are the best months. Visitors should obtain specific information about snow conditions if they plan to hike in June. Utladalen valley is largely lowland and can be visited in May.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nvisitjotunheimen.com", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk005", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Location of Jotunheimen (\n\nJotunheimen can be accessed from north, south and west. Roads 51, 53 and 55 runs around the perimeter of Jotunheimen. From Oslo it is about 380 km to the north (Lom) and about 230 km to the south (Beitostølen) or 265 km to Tyinkrysset.\n\n### By car\n\nThere are no roads within the boundaries of the national park. \n Road E16 (Filefjell mountain pass) runs on the south edge of area.\n Road 51 (Valdresflye pass) runs on the eastern side, this road climbs to about 1400 m and allows a high starting point.\n Road 55 (Sognefjellet pass) runs on the western/northern edge, this road climbs to almost 1500 meters and allows a high starting point. Close to Galdhøpiggen and the great summits in Hurrungane.\n The private road to Juvasshytta climbs to 1800 m and gives a relatively short walk to Galdhøpiggen, there is also a summer skiing resort.\n Road 53 (Årdal-Tyin road) offers good access from low starting point in Årdal (Utladalen valley in particular) and from Tyin lake a high starting point.\n Road 252 to Eidsbugarden, summer only, no asphalt. One of the departure points deepest within Jotunheimen.\n\n### By train\n\nTrain from Oslo and Gardermoen Airport to Otta 300 km north of Oslo and take bus 80km west to Lom. \n\n### By bus\n\n - Nor-Way Bussekspress\n. \n - Valdresekspressen\n. \n - Øst-Vest Xpressen\n.\n- Snowmobile\n.\nBus through the Sognefjellet mountain pass from Sogndal and Luster to Otta and Lom, operated by Nettbuss (updated 2016).", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk006", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "If you want to fish, there is a small fee. Contact the local tourist information for more details. Hiking, skiing etc. is free, but in many cases you will want to join a tour or hire a guide.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk007", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Topographical map of Jotunheimen\nThe only way to travel within Jotunheimen national park is by foot or by cross-country skis. The DNT (the Norwegian Trekking Association) has a network of hiking routes with accommodation in Jotunheimen.\n\nRoads 51, 55 and 53 run around the perimeter of the national park. The full circle takes several hours by car. Outside the boundaries of the park there are roads partly into area, for instance the private tollroad to Juvasshytta (dead end), the public road to Eidsbugarden (along Tyin lake), the private Tindevegen between Årdal and Turtagrø (in Luster), and the roads to Spiterstulen lodge and Leirvassbu lodge (both dead end).\n\nIn summer season there are passenger boat services on Gjende and Bygdin lakes.\nthumb|Alpine summits in Western Jotunheimen.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk008", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Hurrungane summits with Turtagrø hotel, road 55 and junction with Tindevegen private (toll) road\n\nA fabulous alpine mountain area; probably the best in the whole of Scandinavia. There are countless glaciers, emerald lakes, summits and steep cliffs. Most of the area is protected as national park or landscape park.\n\nWhile the national park itself is not available by car or bus, mountain ranges can be seen from roads at the perimeter: E16 and county roads 51 (Valdresflya) and 55 (Sognefjellet). The private road Tindevegen between Turtagrø and Årdal perhaps offers the best view as it runs on the western edge of the Hurrungane group (western Jotunheimen).", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk009", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Back-country skiing in late April. The sun can be dangerously strong on clear days in late spring.\n \nHere you can go hiking both on foot in summer and by cross country skiing in the winter. There are several possibilities of guided glacier hiking and guided climbing in the high mountains.\n\nIn Jotunheimen you can hike or climb several alpine mountains. Many visitors hike from lodge to lodge and include the odd summit along, or scramble to summits as a day hike from a lodge. Because of remaining snow the hiking season begins relatively late, typically from mid June. In some years and some areas hiking is best postponed to July. The cross-country or back-country skiing lasts into May and often into June, depending on weather and on how much snow remains. A summer ski resorts at Juvasshytta beneath Galdhøpiggen operates from late spring and into summer until snow is gone.\n\nThe most complete online resource is UT.no, some popular hikes and climbs are mentioned below.\n- Bitihorn\n\n### Skiing\n\n- Galdhøpiggen sommerski\n\n### Hikes\n\n - Galdhøpiggen\n \n Second highest is with 2452m. A technically easy but demanding hike from the Glitterheim lodge. Glittertind has long been recognized by some 20-30 m of permanent hard snow or glacier on the summit. Exact height was not known until 2020 when the snow cap had receded and the highest point of rock emerged. When the snow cap was included, Glittertind was a few meters higher than Galdhøpiggen.\n is a narrow edge with steep drops on both sides. It is one of the most popular day hiking routes in Jotunheimen. Many striking photos of Jotunheimen are from Besseggen. The full circle includes a boat ride and takes 8–10 hr. Available from mid June to early October.\n waterfall has Norway's highest undisturbed drop at about . The waterfall was protected by law in 1924. Vettisfossen can be visited by hiking through the Utladalen valley. Utladalen is Norway's deepest valley as it cuts deep into the bedrock south of Hurrungane. There are several other fine waterfalls along the route.\n - Fannaråki\n\n### Climbs\n\n at 2405 meters is the third highest summit and reachable by climbing only. Part of Hurrungane group in western Jotunheimen, the wildest part of Jotunheimen at the inner end of Sognefjordn.\n in the western end of Hurrungane group is one of the finest summits i Jotunheimen. Relatively easy as a climb but exposed, so climber's gear is needed.\n\nthumb|Visdalen valley near Spiterstulen in the middle of Jotunheimen", "word_count": 413}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk010", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Eat", "text": "What you bring with you, or buy at the local hotels in the park. Try elk burgers or reindeer steak.", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk011", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Drink", "text": "Water from rivers and streams is generally safe and of high quality. Rivers lower than settlements and farms should be avoided. Streams flowing from barren high mountains have good water. Glacial melt water may irritate some stomachs.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk012", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Some accommodations in Spiterstulen, Jotunheimen\nThere are several places where you can get accommodation in the mountain, both full service mountain hotels and self service cabins.\nVisit DNT (the Norwegian Trekking Association) for more information.\n\n### Backcountry\n\nWild camp. Not more than three days in a row on the same spot and at least 150 meters from buildings.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk013", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Characteristic snow drift on Glittertind (photo from 1910, most of the snow cap had receded by 2020 and left bare rock on the summit). Caution is needed on snow and around glaciers.\n\nAlways bring a map (1:50,000 or 1:75,000) and a compass – even if you have a satellite navigator (GPS) – and pay attention to the local weather forecasts. Always remember to tell where you go and when you expect to arrive there, to someone who has enough info to summon help if you do not show up. Talk to locals if you are in doubt. While a national park, there are generally no guards or fences, visitors are expected to take care of themselves. Jotunheimen is mostly above the treeline and the surface is rugged with rocks, boulders, snow and glaciers; sturdy boots are needed to walk safely and weather can be cold and rough even in midsummer.\n\nFor hiking over glaciers you need a guide unless you are experienced enough yourselves. The same applies if you are going on other types of demanding hikes or do not know what to expect. Note the risk for avalanches", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "jotunheimen::chunk014", "doc_id": "jotunheimen", "section": "Go next", "text": "Luster\nValdres\nHardangervidda\nGudbrandsdalen\nRondane\nGeiranger-Åndalsnes/Romsdalen\n Stryn", "word_count": 7}
diff --git a/corpus/jotunheimen/metadata.json b/corpus/jotunheimen/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6119283655065bfab0b9fedbbbae1a235642cf1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/jotunheimen/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "jotunheimen",
+ "title": "Jotunheimen",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jotunheimen",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "glacier"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Norway"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Luster",
+ "Valdres",
+ "Hardangervidda",
+ "Gudbrandsdalen",
+ "Rondane",
+ "Geiranger",
+ "Åndalsnes",
+ "Stryn"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2061,
+ "listing_count": 8,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kakadu/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kakadu/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7e8a167a323db2a8af6134056feea65b339da6fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kakadu/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk000", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|right|350px|Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park\n\nA trip to the north of Australia is never complete without visiting **Kakadu National Park**. Sometimes colloquially called \"Australia's national park\", the park is in the Northern Territory, 171 km east of Darwin and the national park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The park is one of the few listed spots both natural and cultural listed, one of only four in Australia and one of 39 anywhere in the world.\n\nKakadu is two very different parks, depending on the season. During the dry season, the park's known for its many rock art, hiking trails and waterfalls are accessible, but during the wet season, the crocodiles and seeing the park via a private plane provide views of waterfalls you've probably never imagined.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk001", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Understand", "text": "The origins of the name \"Kakadu\" come from Gagudju, an Aboriginal floodplain language which was one of the languages spoken in the north of the park at the beginning of the 20th century. Gagudju is no longer regularly spoken day-to-day but descendants of this language group are still living in Kakadu.\n\nKakadu National Park and Arnhem Land comprise more than in the northeast corner of the Northern Territory. The landscapes are diverse and set the scene for outback adventure travel, Aboriginal culture and nature activities.\n\nKakadu National Park is the second largest national park in Australia only behind Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park in South Australia. It contains one of the highest concentrated areas of Aboriginal rock art sites in the world; the most famous examples are at Nourlangie Rock and Ubirr.\n\nThe secret to discovering Kakadu is taking your time. You'll find stories, secrets and sights never imagined. It is impossible to appreciate the full breadth and beauty of the park in a fleeting visit – if you can afford the time, spend a week or more.\n\nNature and wildlife abound in this area, which is known for its level of biodiversity. Wholly Aboriginal owned land, Arnhem Land is known for its strong Aboriginal culture, towering escarpments, wild coastline, savannah woodlands, lush wetlands and prolific wildlife. Closer to Darwin is the Mary River region, home to millions of birds, saltwater crocodiles and fish, including the mighty barramundi, which makes it a fishing hot spot.\n\n### History\n\nThe park was established in 1981. It is governed by Environment Australia/Parks Australia and Aboriginal traditional land owners (the Gun-djeihmi, Kunwinjku, Krakeourtinnie and Jawoyn peoples).\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe park contains 1,980,400 hectares of wetlands and other terrain. It is Australia's second largest National Park and is approximately the size of Israel or Wales.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk002", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Biodiversity\n\nKakadu is home to 68 mammals (almost one-fifth of Australia’s mammals), more than 120 reptiles, 26 frogs, over 300 tidal and freshwater fish species, more than 2 000 plants and over 10 000 species of insects. It provides habitat for more than 290 bird species (over one-third of Australia’s birds). Its internationally important wetlands are a major staging point for migratory birds. Some of these species are threatened or endangered. Many are found nowhere else in the world and there are still others yet to be discovered. The Creation Ancestors gave Bininj/Mungguy a kinship system linking people to all things and the cultural responsibility to look after them all. They have always understood the biodiversity of country and their traditional ancestral knowledge is a vital part of managing Kakadu’s rich environment.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nThe park's wetlands provide the greatest visual pleasure. The freshwater and estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles sleep on the banks of all rivers and the many billabongs for most of the day but can also be seen floating or swimming in the water. Birdlife abounds from the stately **Jabiru** to the amusing \"Jesus\" bird (Jacana) as it steps from lily pad to lily pad. At dusk on the Yellow Water billabong (Ngurrungurrudjba), hundred of herons circle overhead landing and taking of from half-submerged trees. Ospreys sit on termite mounds or soar on high looking for prey beneath the still waters. The billabongs of the Kakadu national park are anything but \"stagnant pools of water\". Wallabies are very common and are often, unfortunately, seen as roadkill. Feral horses, pigs and water buffalo also roam the park. Frilled Lizards are also present but are only regularly seen during the wet season when the park is nearly inaccessible.\n\n### Climate\n\n#### Six seasons of Kakadu", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk003", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|250px|The six seasons of Kakadu\n\nThroughout the year, Kakadu’s landscapes undergo spectacular changes. Bininj/Mungguy recognise six different seasons, as well as subtle variations that signpost the transition from one season to another. This knowledge of nature is fundamental to the culture of Kakadu and its people. Bininj/Mungguy have lived with the changing landscape for tens of thousands of years, adapting and using the land for food, shelter and general well−being.\n\n**Yegge**\n\nCool weather time, May to June. The wetlands are carpeted with water lilies. Drying winds and flowering Darwin woolly butt tell Bininj/Mungguy to patchwork burn the woodlands to encourage new growth.\n\n**Wurrgeng**\n\nEarly dry season, June to August Most creeks stop flowing and the floodplains quickly dry out. Magpie geese, fat and heavy after weeks of abundant food crowd the shrinking billabongs.\n\n**Gurrung**\n\nHot dry season, August to October Hunting time for file snakes and long-necked turtles. White-breasted wood swallows arrive as thunderclouds build, signalling the return of Gunumeleng.\n\n**Gunumeleng**\n\nPre-monsoon, October to December Streams begin to run, water birds spread out as surface water and new growth becomes widespread. Barramundi move from the waterholes downstream to the estuaries to breed.\n\n**Gudjewg**\n\nMonsoon, December to March. The heat and humidity generate an explosion of plant and animal life. Spear grass grows to over two metres tall and creates a silvery-green hue throughout the woodlands.\n\n**Banggerreng** Harvest time, April. Clear skies prevail, the vast expanses of floodwater recede and streams start to run clear. Most plants are fruiting and animals are caring for their young.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk004", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|right|Map of Kakadu National Park\n\nAccess from Darwin to Jabiru is via the Arnhem Highway. This is a good road with a speed limit on 130 km/h that is usually open all year round. Access from the south to Jabiru is via the Kakadu Highway, again usually open all year round. Check road conditions before setting off. It is around 3-4 hours drive from Darwin to Jabiru.\n\nYou can rent 2WD and 4WD cars in Darwin, with daily distance limits. Campervan rentals often don't have distance limits. A variety of coach and small group tours are also available from Darwin.\n\nDuring the wet seasons, some parts of the park are not accessible by 2WD vehicles, or even not accessible at all. Check road conditions and closures in advance. This is generally not a problem during the dry season though.", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk005", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Unlike most national parks, fees are per person, not per vehicle. Fees in Kakadu National Park are also heavily seasonal, with different fees for the dry season, and a slightly lower fee in the wet season. The dry season is from May 15 to October 31 while the wet season is from November 1 to May 14. Passes are valid for seven days.\n\nAs of January 2022, the fees are as follows. See the park's website for up-to-date information:\n For adults (16 and over), a pass costs $40 during the dry season, and $25 during the wet season\n For children aged 5-15 years, a pass costs $20 during the dry season and $12.50 during the wet season\n For families with 2 adults and 2 or more children, a pass costs $100 during the dry season, and during the wet season\n For concession holders, a pass costs $30 during the dry season, and $19 during the wet season.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk006", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Get around", "text": "Kakadu is massive (the size of Wales), more than double the size of Yellowstone and larger than all national parks in the US. 4WD vehicles are required to enter some areas. However many spectacular and popular sites are readily accessible via good roads.\n\n### By car\n\nHaving your own vehicle is the easiest and most pleasurable option. The main tourist route is east from Darwin to Jabiru, then south-west to Cooinda, then continuing on as far as Pine Creek, with a possible deviation south to Katherine, before returning north to Darwin. Such an itinerary could be easily be covered in a few days with longer time if wanting to see things off-road.\n\n### By tour\n\nTours inside the park are available with the popular destinations being a day trip to Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls. The pick-up points for these tours are typically from Jabiru and Cooinda.\n\n - bigNT Tours\n\n - Travelwild Kakadu Tours\n\n - Territory Expeditions\n\n - Lost in Australia\n\n - Gagudju Dreaming in Kakadu\n\n - Top End Explorer Tours\n\n### Scenic flights\n\nScenic flights in either small, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter are available. Air strips are at Jabiru and Cooinda.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk007", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|The Yellow Water Billabong in July\n\nthumb|right|Twin falls, Kakadu National Park\n\n**Yellow Water**, a stunning \"billabong\" (which is an arm of the East Alligator River) brimming with native flora and fauna. It's one of Kakadu National Park’s best known landmarks. Near the small settlement of Cooinda, Yellow Water is home to crocodiles, wild horses, buffalo and other wildlife. The billabong, which floods to join other waterways during the tropical season, also attracts millions of migratory birds each year, including jacana, egrets, jabiru, sea eagles, magpie geese and many other native species. Daily boat tours can be booked via Cooinda Lodge. For a real treat, the dawn trip is the best for bird watching and seeing the sun come up. Make sure you bring mosquito repellent.\n**Koolpin Gorge** - available only through 4WD tours with a permit, but well worth it.\n- Bardedjilidji Walk\n\n- Gunlom Plunge Pool\n\n- Gubara\n\n### Rock art\n\nthumb|right|Ubirr rock art\n - Nanguluwur\n\n - Ubirr\n\n - Nourlangie Rock\n\n### Visitor and cultural centres\n\n - Bowali Visitor Centre\n\n - Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre\n\n### Waterfalls\n\n - Twin Falls\n\n thumb | 300px | Jim Jim Creek \n - Jim Jim Falls\n\n - Gunlom Falls\n\n - Maguk\n\n - Motor Car Falls", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk008", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Do", "text": "Walking is a great way to experience Kakadu. There are many walks throughout the park, including a wide variety of short and easy day walks as well as some longer, more challenging full day walks for those who are fit. Check seasonal access.\n\nA permit is required for overnight bushwalks. Planning is essential, as is the ability to navigate using a topographic map and a compass. The routes are unmarked, and extend through remote and rugged country with variable climatic conditions.\n\nA small, private cruise on the **Corroboree** or **Yellow Water Billabongs** is the best way to get a very close, safe and eco-friendly look at the biggest crocodiles in the world. Most tours include an activity like this. **Shady Camp**, near Corroboree, is home to one of the biggest crocodiles in the park at 6 meters in length.\n\nBoating on Kakadu’s waterways can be dangerous due to strong currents, sand bars, submerged logs and crocodiles. For this reason use of non-motorised vessels (canoes) is prohibited.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk009", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Do", "text": "**Yurmikmik Walks** This series of interconnected walking tracks in the southern part of the park take walkers to waterfalls and swimming holes. Many walks are open all year round including the Boulder Creek Walk, Yurmikmik Lookout Walks and Motor Car Falls.\n**Mirrai Lookout Walk** This moderately difficult 3.6-km return walk departs from the Mirrai carpark, 30 km south of the Bowali Visitor Centre. The walk goes to the Mount Cahill lookout and after a steep climb you'll be rewarded with unparalleled views of the Kakadu escarpment. Allow 1.5 hours.\n**Barrk Sandstone Walk** This challenging, 12-km walk branches off the Nourlangie Rock lookout track, past the Main Gallery of Aboriginal rock art. It takes in the beautiful sandstone country of Nourlangie Rock and past the Nanguluwur Art Gallery. Walkers should allow 6-8 hours.\n**Merl** This site in northern Kakadu is perfect for campers who want to enjoy a famous sunrise or sunset at Ubirr. It's also an ideal base for bushwalking along the East Alligator River. There are showers, toilets and a generator zone. Camping fees are collected on site.\n**Gunlom** is one of Kakadu's best known attractions thanks to a superb vista across the Park from the natural swimming pools at the top of the waterfall. There is a caravan park and campsite at the bottom of the Falls with a generator area, showers and barbecues.\n**Koolpin Gorge** at the southern end of Kakadu National Park, is renowned for its spectacular scenery. Spend a day exploring the endless span of gorges, crystal rock pools and white sandy beaches. Camp alongside Koolpin Creek and, in the morning, take a refreshing dip in a plunge pool. Permits are necessary.\n**Jabiru Mahbilil Festival** held in early September, is named for the region's seasonal winds. It includes a mixture of white Australian and Aboriginal culture through live music, dance performances, art workshops, clothing and food and craft appreciation. After sunset a fireworks display is mirrored on Lake Jabiru.\n**Gunbalanya Open Day** Usually held on the second Saturday in August, this festival in the community of Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) is an opportunity to experience a weekend of sports, art and culture in a beautiful area of Arnhem Land. The program includes art sales at Injalak Art Centre, cultural performances and a spectacular firework display.\n- Yellow Water Cruise", "word_count": 382}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk010", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Do", "text": "### Photography\n\nPhotography in the park might seem like a nice thing to do, particularly something you might want to take home, however, Australian law states that images and film captured in a Commonwealth reserve cannot be used to derive commercial gain unless at least one of the exemptions listed here in section 12.06 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 with examples of exemptions include capture and use of images and film as allowed by the management plan for the Commonwealth reserve, and requesting and being granted a permit.\n\n### Scenic flights\n\nKakadu Air has a range of scenic flights from different locations. It's particularly a useful way of seeing the waterfalls during the wet season (summer), as many of them are inaccessible.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk011", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Buy", "text": "Kakadu is an almost completely unpopulated landscape the size of a small country. There are, however, regular service stations, camping grounds, and outposts along the way with assorted small gifts as well as Aboriginal goods.\n\nIn Jabiru there is a service station, supermarket, newsagent and post office (Commonwealth Bank agency), Westpac Bank, travel agent, medical centre and chemist (), police, public telephones, swimming pool, library (internet), hairdresser, golf course, restaurant, café and bakery.\n\n - The Border Store\n\n - Gagudju Lodge Cooinda store\n\n - Gunlom Kiosk\n\n - Goymarr Interpretive Centre", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk012", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Eat", "text": "Jabiru has a supermarket where you will find all the basic necessities. There are also a few nice little restaurants and cafes.\n\nBasic food is available at the sporadic rest stops and museums throughout the park.\n\nThe lodge at Cooinda serves food until about 9PM and drinks later (whenever things slow down, it seems). The food is really good and includes dishes like the wild goose and kangaroo pie, but it' not cheap and neither are the drinks .\n\nKakadu Bakery (close to Lakeview as well as Kakadu Lodge) serves pastries, sandwiches and pizza at reasonable prices.", "word_count": 97}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk013", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Drink", "text": "It is vital that you carry plenty of water with you at all times, especially during the dry season. Some of the upper rock pools are safe to drink from, but lower level rivers are not.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk014", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nthumb|right|An aerial view of Gagudju Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru\n- Aurora Kakadu Resort\n\n- Anbinik Kakadu Resort\n\n - Gagudju Crocodile Hotel\n\n - Cooinda Lodge\n\n - Hawk Dreaming Wilderness Lodge\n\n### Camping\n\nThere are many camping grounds dotted through the park. **Jabiru, Cooinda** and **South Alligator** all have commercial camping areas and are in proximity to most of the important natural attractions in these areas.\n\nCamping with basic or no toilet facilities is available at **Two Mile, Four Mile Hole**, **Red Lily Billabong, Bucket Billabong, Alligator Billabong** and **Waldak Irrmbal (West Alligator Head)**. Drinking water is not available. Rubbish bins are not provided, so please bring rubbish out with you. Check wet season access.\n\nCamping with basic toilet facilities available at **Malabanjbanjdju** and **Burdulba**. Drinking water is not available.\n\n**Merl Camping Area**: Showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site. Check wet season access.\n\n**Muirella Park Camping Area** (Check wet season access). Has showers, toilets and is a no generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site during the dry season.\n\nSafari camp accommodation and night time spot light boat tour on **Djarradjin Billabong (Muirella Park)** provided by Kakadu Culture Camp.\n\n**Mardugal Camping Area** (Check wet season access). Has showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site during the dry season.\n\nCamping with basic toilet facilities is available at** Jim Jim Billabong**. Drinking water not available.\n\n**Garnamarr Camping Area** (Dry season only, 4WD). Showers, toilets, camping fees (adults only) are collected on site. No generators.\n\n**Gunlom Camping Area** (Gravel road; dry season only). Gunlom plunge pool is located nearby. Has showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site. Gas BBQ in day use area.\nCamping with basic toilet facilities, BBQ areas and picnic tables is available at **Maguk**, **Gungurul** and **Kambolgie**. Drinking water is not available. Please check wet season access for Maguk and Kambolgie.\n\n### Backcountry\n\n**Park Laws** Kakadu National Park is established and managed as a Commonwealth Reserve under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Act sets out rules for Commonwealth reserves.\n\nFor example you must:\n Stay on public roads and marked walking tracks.\n Camp only in designated camping areas. Other park rules and guidelines include:\n Stay behind the barriers to protect Aboriginal rock paintings.\n Protect plants — do not use tree branches as fly swats.\n Do not feed or disturb wildlife.\n Light fires only in fireplaces provided or use fuel stoves. Keep use of firewood to a minimum.\n Do not bring pets into Kakadu.\n\nCamping is widely done throughout the park but great care should be taken when camping near water (always at least 200 metres from the water), particularly at the popular camping site **Sandy Billabong**.\n\nWhen dealing with Aboriginal people, there are some cultural considerations to remember:\n\nSome Aboriginal people have beliefs that mean they don't like having their photo taken. It is courteous to ask for permission first.\nFamily business and ceremonies are an important part of life for Aboriginal people and these matters take priority, which can interrupt scheduled tours.\nAccess to some sites with spiritual significance may be restricted\n\n**Please observe all rules on park signs and brochures.** For details call the Bowali Visitor Centre on .", "word_count": 546}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk015", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Swimming** Due to the risk of estuarine crocodiles in the park, the only public place you should swim is in the Jabiru swimming pool. Some visitors choose to swim at their own risk, in selected natural plunge pools and gorge areas such as Gubara, Maguk, Jim Jim Falls, Gunlom, Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) and in creeks on the plateau above Twin Falls, Jim Jim Falls and Gunlom. These areas are surveyed for estuarine crocodiles prior to opening each dry season. There remains some risk that estuarine crocodiles may move into gorges and plunge pools during the dry season. Read the crocodile warning signs in each plunge pool and gorge area and consider their information carefully.\nSome of the most venomous snakes in the world inhabit Kakadu, but luckily for visitors they are all very shy and are very rarely seen, let alone confronted. These species include the **Taipan**, **Death Adder**, and **King Brown**. They are seldom active during the day, hunting at night. **Do not** hike off any trails after dark.\n**Cliffs** Climbing rock ledges and cliffs and walking or standing near cliff edges can lead to serious injury or death, especially when rock surfaces are wet. Keep well away from all cliff edges.\n**What to wear** During the heat of the day, you will be most comfortable in loose covering clothing which is cool but protects you from sunburn and insect bites. Use sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. Mosquitoes can carry viruses such as the Ross River virus, so if they are biting, use a repellent.\n**Dehydration** Symptoms include feeling thirsty, excess sweating, headache, dizziness and nausea. If dehydration continues, it can result in seizures, a loss of consciousness and even death.\n**Preventing dehydration** Limit your activity to the cooler parts of the day (mornings and late afternoons) and drink plenty of water. Most people need between 4 and 8 litres of water per day so start drinking water early (coffee, tea and alcohol don’t count!). For every hour you walk, carry at least one litre of water per person.\n**First aid** Lie the person down in a cool shaded area. Give them water in small quantities at a time (creek water is alright if you have no other water). If the person cannot keep the water down, or does not recover quickly, seek medical assistance. Contact the medical centre at Jabiru on +61 8 8979 2018.\n**Emergency Call Devices** [ECD] are available in remote locations throughout the park. Instructions on use are written on the ECD. These are for emergency calls only. See maps for locations.\n**Flash flooding** Possible sudden rises in the levels of waterways can quickly cut off the return route from the top of waterfalls such as Gunlom and Jim Jim. Fast-flowing water can be deceptive, creating strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions.\n**Driving hints** Top End roads can be hazardous. Plan ahead and allow sufficient time for travel. Slow down! Roads can become slippery in the wet. During the dry, dust from other vehicles can obscure your vision. When using 4WD tracks, put your vehicle into 4WD. Read your vehicle instructions: many vehicles need their front wheel hubs physically locked, before engaging 4WD from the driver’s seat. At flooded crossings read the signs, look at depth markers and observe how quickly the water is flowing, before deciding whether to cross. Sometimes it is safer to wait until the water recedes. Remember crocodiles may be present. In the event of fires, make sure you park your vehicle in cleared areas rather than in flammable long grass. Use vehicle headlights if driving through heavy smoke, and drive slowly. If stopping, park well off the road and use hazard lights. Do not park on bridges or causeways at any time. Always check road access, by contacting the Bowali Visitor Centre on +61 8 8938 1120 or visit the park website. Watch out for wildlife. Every year hundreds of our native animals are killed or injured on our roads. Drive slowly, look well ahead for animals on the road, and try to avoid driving at night. Toot your horn to alert wildlife on the road. Look carefully for large feral animals such as horses, pigs and buffalo.", "word_count": 702}
+{"chunk_id": "kakadu::chunk016", "doc_id": "kakadu", "section": "Go next", "text": "Darwin is the tropical capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory.\nArnhem land is in the middle of Australia's northern coast and bounded by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria. This Aboriginal-owned expanse is made up of wild coastlines, deserted islands, rivers teeming with fish, lush rainforests, soaring escarpments and savannah woodland.\n**Mary River National Park** Just over an hour’s drive from Darwin, the Mary River is an unspoiled landscape with wetlands full of birds and wildlife.\nAlice Springs - Australia’s most famous outback town\nKatherine - Nature and culture, history and heritage, and gateway to the spectacular Katherine Gorge\nTennant Creek - Aboriginal culture, gold mining and pastoralism\n Litchfield National Park\nSavannah Way - The Savannah Way is a collection of linked outback roads and highways that form a spectacular touring route traversing northern Australia from Cairns to Broome. Along the way it passes many national parks and reserves including several that have World Heritage status. It crosses the Northern Territory's vast Katherine Region, which is the focus of the itinerary below. Whilst the majority of the Savannah Way is sealed there are large sections of unsealed, but well maintained gravel highways. A large four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended to fully appreciate this epic touring route.\nNature's Way - Nature's Way winds through a wetland wilderness steeped in Aboriginal culture and pioneering history. The triangular drive begins in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, and meanders through the Adelaide and Mary River wetlands to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park - owned and jointly managed by a number of Aboriginal clans. Then it's on to Litchfield National Park with its stunning waterfalls and return to Darwin. For photographic, wildlife and bird watching enthusiasts, this is a dream drive on a fully sealed road - suitable for a two-wheel-drive vehicle.", "word_count": 304}
diff --git a/corpus/kakadu/metadata.json b/corpus/kakadu/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7e79fbd0e24b4dac0a8b6b3737414b793e6df4b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kakadu/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kakadu",
+ "title": "Kakadu National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kakadu_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Top End"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Darwin",
+ "Arnhem land",
+ "Alice Springs",
+ "Katherine",
+ "Katherine",
+ "Tennant Creek",
+ "Litchfield National Park"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4119,
+ "listing_count": 29,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 17,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kathmandu/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kathmandu/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8233336fc425841186b3263b067d5d5576f20d9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kathmandu/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk000", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|Durbar Square, the spiritual heart of the city\n**Kathmandu** (Nepali: काठमाडौं *Kāthmāḍaun*) is the largest city and capital of Nepal, and the namesake of the Kathmandu Valley. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is a fast-growing spot catering to a wide range of holiday types and budgets. As a result of considerable urban growth in recent decades, it is now part of one continuous urban area together with Patan to the south.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk001", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to a census conducted in 2011, Kathmandu metropolis has 2.5 million inhabitants, and the agglomeration has a population of more than 3 million inhabitants. The metropolitan city area is 50.67 km² (19.56 sq mi) and has a population density of 3000 per km² and 17,000 per km square in the city proper.\n\nThe city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. It is surrounded by four major mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. Kathmandu Valley is part of three districts (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur), has the highest population density in the country, and is home to about a twelfth of Nepal's population.\n\nHistorically, the Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas were known as Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, were established. During the Rana and Shah eras, British historians called the valley \"Nepal Proper\". Today, Kathmandu is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and also the headquarters of the Central Development Region of Nepal. The Central Region comprises three zones: Bagmati, Narayani, and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.\n\nKathmandu is the gateway to tourism in Nepal. It is also the nerve center of the country's economy. It has the most advanced infrastructure of any urban area in Nepal, and its economy is focused on tourism, which accounted for around 7% of Nepal's GDP in 2023. Tourism in Kathmandu declined thereafter during a period of political unrest, but since then has improved. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top 10 travel destinations on the rise in the world by TripAdvisor, and ranked first in Asia.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk002", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city has a rich history, spanning nearly 2000 years, as inferred from inscriptions found in the valley. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Most of Kathmandu's people follow Hinduism and many others follow Buddhism. There are people of other religious beliefs as well, giving Kathmandu a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the most commonly spoken language in the city. English is understood by Kathmandu's educated residents.\n\nKathmandu's sister cities (Lalitpur Patan) and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu's cultural heritage, tourism industry, and economy; therefore UNESCO's World Heritage Site lists all three cities' monuments and attractions together under one heading, \"Kathmandu Valley-UNESCO World Heritage Site\".\n\n### Climate\n\nKathmandu Valley is in the Warm Temperate Zone of Nepal (elevation ranging from 1,200–2,300 metres (3,900–7,500 ft)), where the climate is fairly temperate, atypical for the region. This zone is followed by the Cool Temperate Zone with elevation varying between 2,100–3,300 metres (6,900–10,800 ft). Portions of the city with lower elevations have a humid subtropical climate, while portions of the city with higher elevations generally have a subtropical highland climate. In the Kathmandu Valley the average summer temperature varies from 28–30 °C (82–86 °F). The average winter temperature is 10.1 °C (50.2 °F).", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk003", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city generally has a climate with warm days followed by cool nights and mornings. Unpredictable weather is expected given temperatures can drop to 3 °C (37 °F) during the winter. During a 2013 cold front, the winter temperatures of Kathmandu dropped to −4 °C (25 °F), and the coldest temperature was recorded on January 10, 2013 at −9.2 °C (15.4 °F). Rainfall is mostly monsoon-based (about 65% of the total concentrated during the monsoon months of June to August), and decreases substantially (100 to 200 cm (39 to 79 in)) from eastern Nepal to western Nepal. Rainfall has been recorded at about 1,400 millimetres (55.1 in) for the Kathmandu valley, and averages 1,407 millimetres (55.4 in) for the city of Kathmandu. On average humidity is 75%.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Nepal Tourism Board\n\nLocal information from the city government.", "word_count": 140}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk004", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nTourist SIM cards are available at two counters, which are located between immigration and customs.\n\n#### International flights\n\nMost international flights to Kathmandu arrive from Delhi, UAE, Qatar, or Bangkok.\n\nInternational airlines serving Kathmandu include:\n\n**Biman Bangladesh Airlines** - Dhaka\n**Air Arabia** - Sharjah.\n**Air China** - Chengdu.\n**Air Asia** - Kuala Lumpur.\n**Fly Dubai** - Dubai.\n**Druk Air** - Paro and Delhi\n**Etihad Airways** - Abu Dhabi.\n**Gulf Air** - Bahrain.\n**Air India** - Delhi and Kolkata.\n**Korean Air** - Seoul.\n\n**Nepal Airlines** - Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Singapore and Shanghai.\n**Singapore Airlines** - Singapore.\n**Thai Airways** - Bangkok.\n**Qatar Airways** - Doha.\n**China Southern Airlines** - Guangzhou.\n**China Eastern Airlines** - Kunming.\n**Turkish Airlines** - Istanbul.\n**Malaysian Airlines**- Kuala Lumpur.\n**Himalaya Airlines -** Doha, Colombo\n\nthumb|Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu\n\n#### Visa application process", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk005", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are three simple steps to apply for a visitor visa at the airport:\n Using one of the flat screen monitors (located near the windows facing the immigration counters), type in personal details, operate camera for facial photograph, and scan passport. The system is a bit buggy, it asks you to fill in the LPC (Last Port of Call) and the phone number of your contact (e.g. hotel), but in the confirmation page these two fields will just display \"N/A\". However, you can click the \"Next\" button on the confirmation page to finish the application. You can avoid this procedure by applying for the visa online prior to boarding (https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/onlinevisa-mission/application). The accepted application is downloaded and shown at the cashier (see step two below) and immigration counters in either hard or soft copy format. \n Take the receipt (issued by the monitor) to the cashier and pay visa fees (convertible currencies only).\n Along with passport, submit receipts from monitor and cashier at the immigration counter. The entire process usually does not take longer than ten minutes.\n\nVisa fees can be paid at the airport in most major currencies, with US dollars preferred.\n\nVisa on Arrival is free for citizens in certain countries. You still need to fill in the form in the flat screen monitor. After finishing the application form, you can take a screenshot of the application form with your mobile phone and show it to the immigration officer.\n\nDeparture cards are not provided on arrival but only when you leave Nepal. You will need your passport with your entry visa to complete the departure card.\n\nFor more general information on visas in Nepal see Nepal.\n\n#### Domestic flights", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk006", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "Commercial domestic flights are available to/from Bhadrapur, Bhairawa, Bharatpur, Biratnagar, Dhangarhi, Janakpur, Nepalganj, Pokhara, Simara and Tumling Tar. Domestic flights take about an hour and cost US$100-175. The primary domestic airlines are air viva, Yeti, Nepal Airlines, and Buddha Air. Domestic flights are almost always delayed and afternoon flights run the risk of cancellation as delays from the morning compound.\n\n#### Baggage safety, handlers and transport\n\nYour luggage is vulnerable entering and leaving this airport. Do not keep anything of value in checked bags, and if you lock the bag, the zip may be forced open and broken. There is little to no security for your bags. You should also be aware that most luggage is treated quite poorly in Nepalese airports. It is recommended that all fragile and valuable items are kept in your carry on luggage.\n\nOutside the airport, all \"representatives\" of the tourist industry are required to remain 10 m from the front door. Many will be waving large signs and yelling in an attempt to encourage you to choose them as your guide/taxi/hotel/luggage carrier. Make your choice **before** crossing the line. Be aware that as you leave the immigration section of the airport and collect your luggage, someone with a luggage trolley is very likely to approach and assist you. Unless you insist on handling your own bags and luggage trolley, this person will accompany you to the exit doors from the terminal and to your transportation and will then expect a tip. It's useful to have some small denomination bills or coins, even in a foreign currency, that you can use for a tip. Many visitors might arrive with only travellers cheques or large denomination bills, making tipping difficult.\n\n#### Money exchange at the airport", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk007", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "Try not to exchange money at the airport as there are service charges and lower rates offered than what you can get in Thamel, which has many currency exchange booths where rates are competitive and the service is quick and efficient, or elsewhere in the city. If you want to get some cash before leaving the airport, it is better to cash out via ATMs, with better rates and usually faster than via those currency exchange shops. It is illegal to bring in Indian banknotes in denominations of greater than Rs 100, and any found will be confiscated.\n\n#### Getting to and from the airport", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk008", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "**By bus** – Local buses pickup and drop-off at the airport gate, 0.5 km from the terminal. The buses generally do not have fixed schedules and are often crowded and painful but cost only Rs10. Ask the cashier about where the bus stops.\n **By taxi** – Regular taxis are an easy way to get to the city but be prepared to negotiate the price beforehand. The rate to Thamel and Boudha is around Nrs650 and Nrs450 respectively, but it is difficult for foreigners to get that price at the airport, and so expect to pay at least another Nrs150 \n **By prepaid taxi** – Get your prepaid \"receipt\" at the airport (e.g. Nrs900 to Thamel or Boudha) before exiting the building. (However, you may get a cheaper fare if you are willing to negotiate outside.) Don't give the receipt to the driver until you are at your destination and you are satisfied, as this serves as the driver's payment. If the driver asks for more money, don't give it. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected.\n **By pre-arranged transfers** – Available from most hotels and included in most trekking/touring packages. If possible, arrange your first night's accommodation before you arrive, since many hotels and guest houses offer complimentary airport transportation. Representatives will be standing outside the arrivals doors behind a barricade and will hold a sign identifying themselves. This form of transport is particularly helpful if you are a novice to Nepal, arriving late at night and unfamiliar with how things work in the country. However, some hotels may charge a higher price than prepaid taxi.\n\nThere are no trains in Kathmandu and renting a car without a driver is not possible.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk009", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "When you're leaving Nepal, it's a good idea to be aware if any strikes have been called and try to make arrangements. An early morning or evening trip to the airport may be a possible solution. Your hotel or trekking company may also be able to help.\n\n### By bus\n\nFor more information, see Nepal 'Get in' section.\n\nThere is frequent and cheap bus service between Kathmandu and nearly all parts of Nepal. However, due to poor roads and frequent delays the buses are some of the slowest and least comfortable in South Asia.\n\n#### From [[Pokhara]]\n\nTourist buses (Rs800, 6-7 hr) and crowded local buses/microbuses (Rs400-600, 6-7 hr) travel the 200 km journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara almost every 15 minutes starting at 07:30 until late afternoon. Night buses are available, but the ride is painful. Greenline operates a convenient bus every morning between the popular tourist areas of Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara (US$20, lunch included). The road is winding and includes many hairpin bends and offers wonderful views of hills and rural Nepalese lifestyle. The drivers will generally not drive too fast, but some will calmly weave in and out of the stream of opposing traffic and brake hard, making for a scary ride if you look out the front window. During the rainy season, there may be problems with the roads and flying may make more sense.\n\n#### From [[Tibet]]", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk010", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses and minivans run between Kathmandu and the Nepalese border town of Kodari, across the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge from the Tibetan city of Zhangmu. The 123-km journey takes at least 6 hours and costs Rs500. Buses depart until the early afternoon. Private jeeps (US$60 for up to 4 people) are a quicker option, and can make this journey in 4 hours. However, foreigners need special permits from government of PRC to travel in Tibet legally and must travel in groups arranged by travel agents.\n\n#### From [[India]]\n\nIndian bus from India terminate at the Swayambu Bus Stand\n\n**Delhi** - Numerous buses ply this route daily. The journey time is between 25 to 28 hours. Fare varies from between ₹2,100- ₹2,300\n\n**Siliguri** — Green Line operates a daily overnight A/C Volvo bus service from Siliguri (Tenzing Norgay Bus Station) , departing at 3PM and arriving at 8:30AM. ₹2,000. The Nepal-Indian border at Siliguri, which was only open to Bhutanese, Indian, and Nepalese passport holders since the pandemic, is now open to all passport holders with valid visas. (updated May 2025).\n**Sunauli** — rickshaw to the Nepalese border city of Bhairahawa (ten minutes from Sunauli). Bus to Kathmandu (around 8-9 hours). Flight to Kathmandu (around 45 minutes)", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk011", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you fly in, be sure to pick up a free Kathmandu Valley map at the airport. The first thing some visitors notice about Kathmandu is the general lack of house numbers and street names except for major roads such as Tri Devi & Ring Road (loops around the city). In most cases directions are given relative to the nearest **chowk** or **tole** (an intersection or square, often with a market) or a noteworthy location or building (such as a temple or restaurant). In the tourist district of Thamel, the Kathmandu Guest House is the main landmark.\n\nMost of the sites of interest are near the stupa and can easily be reached on foot. Taxis are available on the main road by the main stupa gate, until around 9PM.\n\nThe alleys around the stupa are packed with small shops and cafes, and the best way to explore them is on foot. However, be aware of two-wheelers. Like every other city in South Asia, the two-wheelers in Kathmandu not only destroys an enjoyable stroll but also creates a dangerous situation for pedestrians. So, always stay close to the edge of the roads and check for two-wheelers before crossing to the other side.\n\n- Bagamati Tripureswor Bridge\n\n- Bagamati Bridge, Kupondole Rd\n\n- Bijeshwori Bridge\n\n- Bhimsen paakhaa Bishnumati Bridge\n\n- Shankhadhar Bridge\n\n- Shova Bhagawati Bridge\n\n- Park Ln Bridge\n\n- Sankhamul Bridge\n\n- Teku Bagamati Bridge\n\n- Tripura Marg Bridge\n\n- Vishnumati Bridge\n\n### On foot\n\nIt is possible to get around Kathmandu **by foot**, but walking around town is not always pleasant. It's worth considering, however, whether any form of public transport would be easier or more convenient than walking when you consider the crowds, the narrow streets and lanes, the traffic and everything you might want to see.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk012", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By taxi\n\nTaxis can be hailed on the street or called through app. If you hail a taxi, negotiate the fare before starting off. Fares are higher after dark and in less busy areas. Taxis are easy to find; they park near all major streets & have fare-meters. After 22:00 it can be very difficult to find taxis away from central tourist areas or major hotels. It should be possible to hire a taxi from Thamel for Nrs500 one-way to Patan and around Nrs1,500 to Bakhtapur from Thamel or the airport. For longer trips and to hire a taxi by the day negotiate with the driver. Haggle hard and you will easily find another driver if you are not satisfied. The meter is your best bet if you are not confident enough to negotiate, however very few drivers will agree to using them. Sometimes the proper operation of meters can be suspect so if you know exactly where you're going, it might be better to negotiate a suitable price in advance.\n\nRide-hailing apps such as Pathao, and Tootle also work in Kathmandu and Pokhara. To use Pathao and Tootle, you need to have a Nepali mobile number, while inDrive supports international numbers. Sometimes the location displayed in inDrive is not correct and some drivers may keep waiting at the wrong spot displayed in inDrive and are reluctant to go to the right place based on third party map apps like Google Maps. Therefore, if the pick up point is not a famous landmark, it is recommended to make sure that the pickup point is displayed correctly in the inDrive app. If the pickup point is displayed incorrectly, it would be better to choose another place as the pickup point.\n\n### By microbus", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk013", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Tempos, small three-wheeled buses, and microbuses are a very cheap (Nrs20-30) way to get around the city. The Tempos come in two varieties - green (electric) and blue (petrol) and run on predefined routes through the city. These routes are numbered, sometimes with both Nepali and European numerals. There does not seem to be a map of the routes, but you can get the hang of their paths quite quickly by asking and observing what numbers go on which road. Microbuses are typically minivans with a surprising number of seats crammed in - they have a \"conductor\" who leans out of the door and shouts the destinations, which are also often written on the front in Nepali. If you have time, you can ask if they are going your way and hop on. These also typically cost NRs20-30.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|upright=2|Map of central Kathmandu\nThere is government bus service with online route map showing bus position in real time. Application for Android: Sajha Plus\n\nThere are also **buses** for longer trips within the valley, i.e. Patan, Bakhtapur, Boudha, etc. that can be used for trips in and around the city. See below for tips on travelling outside of the valley. Blue **buses** & green buses constantly drive in circles/loops around the city on the \"Ring Road\" - for Rs20 -30 depending on the distance. Every bus has a cashier/attendant who can tell you where it stops & alert you upon arrival. Riding the buses with the local people can be very pleasant & interesting. The buses are typically very old and rough.\n\n### By motorbike taxi\n\nMotorbike taxis congregate at certain popular junctions or can be hailed through Tootle app. These are more expensive than buses or microbuses, but pick up and drop door to door.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk014", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "See", "text": "Kathmandu has several excellent museums and galleries, which are mostly located in the central area of the city. The city is also home to a large number of Buddhist and Hindu temples, monasteries, and sacred sites. In particular, Boudha and Swayambu are famous for Buddhist monasteries, while Durbar Square is the center of Hindu culture.", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk015", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The Pashupatinath Hindu temple to Shiva\nKathmandu city itself has limited activities for visitors beyond the amazing sightseeing and general experience of *being there*.\n\n### Flightseeing\n\n **Mountain Flights**. Most local airlines offer one hour flights over the Himalayas departing 06:30-09:00 from Kathmandu airport, costing US$197. Book in advance during the popular tourist season.\n\n### Connecting with locals\n\n - Future Nepal\n\n- Hidden Journeys Nepal\n\n - Volunteer Society Nepal\n\n### Festivals\n\nthumb|A Lakhe (demon) dancer during the Yenya festival.\nKathmandu and Dubar Square is the centre for many of Nepal's festivals. Note that many businesses are closed for all of these holidays—and often a few days before and after. Dasain in particular tend to shut down much of the city for October.\n**Dashain (Dasain)** Dashain, the most important of Nepal's religious festivals takes place over fifteen days, between September and October each year. Dashain celebrates all of the manifestations of the goddess Durga, it is marked by animal sacrifices and feasting. It serves to renew family and community ties. Due to many residents of Kathmandu returning home to their villages during Dashain, the city takes on a more peaceful atmosphere.\n**Tihar, Festival of Lights (Also called Deepawali)** A five-day festival which takes place each year on the fifteenth day of *Kartika*, around the end of **October**/start of **November**, celebrated by all Hindus with ritual house-cleaning, lanterns, candles, and fireworks. The Nepali version tends to be more picturesque and less explosive than those celebrated in India.\n**Holi** is celebrated in **March** with splashes of water and colored powder that is both good luck and very messy.\n**Bikram Sambat's New Year's** (April) A day of pilgrimages (often from Kathmandu to the holy Bagamati river that separates it from Patan)\n**Teej**, the most important women's festival, is celebrated in **September** with married women dressed in their red marriage saris visiting male relatives and unmarried women and girls staying up all night to celebrate and pray for their future husbands.\n**Indra Jatra** Harvest festival held in Kathmandu's Dubar Square for 8 days each **September**. The **Goddess Kumari** is paraded in her sacred chariot.\n\n### Indigenous Festivals\n\nThe indigenous Newa population of Kathmandu have many festivals going on around the whole year.\n\n **Mohani Nakha,** analogous to Dashain but celebrated by the Newar people.\n **Sakimana Punhi,** celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik month (mid-October to mid-November) in Vikrami calendar.\n **Bala Chahre,** also called Bala Chaturdashi, on the Chaturdashi day (the day prior to new moon (*amavasya*) or full moon (*purnima*)) of Magh month (mid-January to mid-February). \n **Yomari Punhi,** a Newari festival marking the end of the rice harvest.\n **Disi Chahre**\n **Yenya Punhi**\n **Lhuti Punhi**\n **Sithi Nakha**\n **Sasuma Puja**\n **Swonti Nakha**", "word_count": 445}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk016", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Learn", "text": "There are many courses available to tourists and long-term students in Kathmandu. In particular, Boudha is good for Buddhist studies, while Thamel is a centre for yoga and massage.\n\n### Languages\n\n**The Bisho Bhasa Campus,** (Campus of International Language) located at Exhibition Road, Kathmandu, offers Nepal Bhasa, Tibetan, Sanskrit and Nepali languages courses. You can find many local institutes that teach Nepal Bhasa, the indigenous language of Kathmandu.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk017", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are many ATMs in Thamel; however, not all accept foreign cards. Most that do implement a charge of Rs650 per transaction; the only fee-free ATMs are (1) at the airport before immigration and (2) inside the gates of Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel. **Standard Chartered Bank** and **Nabil Bank** ATMs have the highest withdrawal limit, Rs35,000 per transaction. All shops accept Nepali rupees and many will also accept USD and Indian rupees.\n\nShopping malls are mostly found in the central area of the city, whereas Thamel is the home of bookshops. Traditional shops selling T-shirts, bags, and clothes are located between New Road and Chhetrapati, while shops selling religious items are mostly concentrated around Boudha.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk018", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Market on Asan Tol\n**Thanka Buddhist paintings** - Thanka are traditional Buddhist paintings available all over Nepal. Prices and quality can vary a great deal. Good sellers will be able to describe the provenance, meaning and history of your chosen thanka. You may also be able to watch thanka being created at some galleries. For example, one gallery near the Boudnath Stupa often has thanka trainees at work so you can see the kind of detail that goes into each painting.\n**Statues** - Hand crafted statues from Nepal are famous all over the world, especially metal statues of god and goddess such as Buddha and Tara. You can easily find various statue shops in Thamel, although the statues are mainly manufactured in the Patan area. If you want to get closer to the source, Patan is a good place to buy such items. Be aware of items that might be antiques. The Nepalese government does not permit real antiques older than 100 years to leave the country, so if you are unsure of the age of the item you're interested in it is advisable to get it checked and certified by the Department of Archaeology to avoid problems on your departure.\n**Silver** - Jewellers from Bangkok come to Kathmandu to buy wholesale silver with Indian-processed semiprecious gemstones. The wholesale price of silver is published on the front page of the \"Himalayan\" newspaper (1 tola= 11.6 g) so buyers know the cost of the metal in piece, apart from the labor cost. Silver is almost invariably near the stamped \"92.5%\" sterling, as claimed.\n**Clothing** - Kathmandu is a great place to shop for clothes or have existing clothes repaired or tailored. Flowing hippie gauzes, Monk's robes in saffrons and maroons, funky neon trance-wear, hemp clothing, dozens of elegant silks and 'suiting and shirting' are available in all qualities and prices. Tailors can be hired at reasonable fees and the quality of work is high. Handwoven Nepali fabrics cost Rs100-300/m and are available in endless patterns and colours. Anything, from bags to mountaineering equipment to cocktail dresses can be made to order and tailored to perfection. The alleys around Indra Chowk, between Thamel and Durbar Square, have dozens of fabric shops and tailors, much more dedicated to customer satisfaction than the hurried and expensive shops in Thamel. Bishal Bazaar near the corner of New Road and Durbar Square is a mall-like experience which also boasts several fabric shops and tailors. It is acceptable to buy fabric from one place and get it stitched in another. Expect to pay around Rs250 to stitch a Western-style men's/ladies' shirt. Feel free to take an existing item of clothing with you for the tailor to copy. Warning: if having clothes made to wear later at home, get measured before trekking if you want them to fit when you return to your normal size after your privations on the trekking trail!\n**Carpets and rugs** - Thamel has many carpet shops that have quality silk and wool carpets. Royal Collection (Shop 13, L.P. Jyoti Line) has a nice selection and good prices, after some aggressive price negotiations. Some places will charge a service fee on a purchase with a credit card, so make sure to clarify this during price negotiations.\n**Cultural Artifacts** - Beware that there are lots of counterfeits, sly salesmen, and plastics presented as wood. Most real antiques are illegal to export. Genuine antiquities may have been looted from temples. Patan is known for the quality of bronzes. Read the book \"Shopping for Buddhas\" by Jeff Greenwald for more information.\n**Pashmina** - Scarves and shawls can be purchased for a fraction of the price of those in Europe or North America. Look for those produced by charitable organisations such as the Tibetan refugee camp just outside Patan but be aware fakes are common and \"pashmina\" is not \"cashmere\".\n**Electronics** - Many people find Kathmandu a good place to buy a camera or other electronic device due to the lack of sales tax and import duty on electronics. There are shops in Thamel and around New Road.\n - Bhat-Bhateni Supermarkets & Department Stores", "word_count": 686}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk019", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Banks\n\nATMs often suffer from malfunctions and cash shortages, try to make withdrawals from ATMs attached to banks which are open.\n\n- Bank of Asia\n\n- Century Commercial Bank\n\n- Himalayan Bank\n\n- Nepal Bank Limited Central Office\n\n- Nepal Rastra Bank, Central Office", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk020", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Momo, a type of dumpling\nThe most important food in Kathmandu could be the indigenous Newa food. There are hundreds of traditional Newa delicacies, which can be found in *bhatti* (local restaurants) or cafes.\n\nThe most popular food in Kathmandu could be the momo, a dumpling which has its roots in Tibet and China. They are available fried or steamed and stuffed with buffalo, chicken, or veggies. Prices can vary depending on the location and what they are filled with, but expect to pay between Rs150-250 for a dozen. Kathmandu is also a good place to sample traditional Newari and Tibetan dishes.\n\nA Nepali set meal will usually include rice, daal, vegetable/meat curry, a vegetable dish, pickle (*achar*) and curd. Expect to pay around NPR140-280 at a tourist place, much less at local places. Chiya, a milky spiced tea similar to the Indian chai, is ubiquitous and good for a break to calm one's nerves.\n\nNote that most restaurants that cater to tourists will add a 10% service charge and then a 13% VAT charge (total of 24.5%) to the prices stated on the menu. These additional charges must be clearly stated on the menu.thumb|Sel roti. A popular Nepali traditional home-made, sweet, ring-shaped rice bread/doughnut\nThere are dozens of tourist restaurants clustered in **Thamel** serving everything from Middle Eastern to Mexican food. Indian and Nepali dishes are always the most authentic and economically priced.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk021", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee\n\nIn recent times, coffee culture has made major inroads into Kathmandu and cafes offering espresso based coffees are no longer limited to tourist areas, but can be found throughout the city. Himalayan Java is a major player in the coffee world in Nepal, and their chic cafes are popular with tourists and locals alike.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nThe indigenous Newa rice wine '*thon'* and alcohol *'ayelaa** is available in local restro. Beer and mixed drinks are available at almost every bar and restaurant. For a quick drink and cheap cultural experience, try the local 'Nepali wine' (*raksi*) or 'Nepali Beer' (*chang*) neither of which taste anything like their namesakes. Gorkha Beer, Everest Beer, Nepal Ice, San Miguel, Carlsberg, and Tuborg beer are the principal conventional beers served in Kathmandu. Local beers tend to be more reliable than the imports.\n\n## Sleep\n\nCheck the \"district\" articles for accommodation listings in Kathmandu.\n\nVirtually all tourist accommodation is in Thamel, though there are some good deals to be had around Boudha. Upmarket hotels tend to be in central Kathmandu. There are also a few guest houses on Freak Street, which tend to be cheaper, though more tired looking than those in Thamel.\n\nYou can find many homestays in historical Newa towns, where you can live in a traditional Newa houses.\n\nRemember anyone on the street who takes you to a hotel will be receiving a commission from the hotel and that will be included in the price you pay. It is better to find a place on your own.\n\n## Stay safe", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk022", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "Canadian Consular Affairs, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth office, and the US State Department provide travel advice. Nepal is safe to visit but caution must be taken. After the Maoists joined the government in about 2006, Nepal become relatively peaceful and more stable. However, visitors should avoid public demonstrations and may want to register with their consulate on arrival. Although tourists haven't been directly targeted by politically motivated violence, it is possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The frequent strikes, locally known as bandh or banda, that are still held on occasion, are a major inconvenience for most tourists as all transportation stops, and many shops and restaurants close. In the 10-day period leading up to the Constituent Assembly Elections in November 2013. During most of that time, very few public buses were operating so getting to the beginning of a trekking route immediately became very difficult.\n\nFollowing the news and government warnings is important. Be sure to check on current road conditions before leaving Kathmandu. As of April 2010, long-haul bus trips through the Eastern Terai were to be avoided as there was a risk of Maoist activity in this area. That seems to have improved but there were problems before and after the elections in November 2013 that could indicate a return to some degree of instability. Time will tell. There used to be reports of Maoists stopping buses and setting them alight, although allowing passengers to disembark first. Check daily newspapers for advance warning of planned strikes (*bandh*) when it may be better to stay away from the main roads in town.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk023", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "While in Kathmandu, always keep an eye on belongings. Violent crime is rare; pickpockets are not, especially in crowded places. If your hotel room door doesn't have a good lock or safe windows, store valuables on your person or in a hotel safety deposit box at all times. As with any large city, avoid walking alone in unlit areas.\n\nAvoid seeking help from random individuals on the streets who offer taking you to dance bars. There have been several cases of tourists ripped off once inside these dance bars.\n\n## Stay healthy", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk024", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Air quality** in Kathmandu has been very poor since the 2015 earthquake, particularly around the ring road. Buying a dust mask is advisable.\n**Water** in Kathmandu borders on being lethal, and water borne diseases are rife. Do not, under any circumstances, drink from taps or consume salads and ice unless you are confident that the water used in their preparation has been filtered and boiled. Also, use boiled and filtered water for brushing teeth and avoid swallowing water when taking a shower. Circumstances may differ in private houses and the better hotels in Kathmandu. More concerning there have been a number of instances of bottled water companies not meeting minimum safety standards, purchase water in larger shops. Large gallon bottles of water are used in most local restaurants but there is no guarantee they haven't been re-filled.\n**Food** can be contaminated and some people suggest that you should eat only at larger restaurants. Counterfeit and out of date food and cigarettes are very common in local shops, check use-by dates before purchasing products.\n**Homemade Alcohol** (chang, roxi, three panni roxi, toongba) may contain methanol and is not recommended, drinking large amounts would be extremely unwise.\n**Vaccinations** for rabies, tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis are recommended prior to arriving in Kathmandu, and can take several months to complete. Tropical diseases such as Japanese encephalitis should be vaccinated against if you plan to travel outside of the Kathmandu Valley, towards the lowlands in the Terai. You may wish to take a malarial prophylaxis. See Immunization advice for Nepal\n**Animals**, such as bats and monkeys (including those at Swayambhunath), may be carriers of rabies and other diseases. Even if you've had the foresight to be vaccinated for rabies prior arrival, treatment following possible exposure is still necessary to prevent infection. If you are bitten, you should go to a clinic immediately for treatment. No cases of avian influenza have been documented in Nepal, but it has been confirmed in nearby countries. Birds live in extremely close proximity to humans, both in the market and the home.", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk025", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Hospitals\n\n**Ciwec Clinic Travel Medicine Center** caters to western visitors and the ex-pat community. It is one of the few places you can get health care at par with western countries in Kathmandu. Located centrally in Lazimpat, across from the British embassy. It is well equipped, but it costs US$50 just to be seen by a doctor.\n Shechen Clinic, located in the overcrowded suburb of Baudha, is a hygienic and efficient place to receive medical attention. They have some very potent Tibetan medicine that is effective in the treatment of diarrhoea.\n **National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences**, run by Dr Upendra Devkota, and is on par with some western hospitals.\n **Dent Inn** offers international-standard service for dental problems at good prices.\n**Aashas Health Care** provides finest dental and physiotherapy services at a very reasonable price.\n**Patan Hospital** is definitely the best public hospital in Nepal. It also has a private clinic.\n**Kathmandu Cancer Center** Nepal's first private cancer hospital with modern treatment facilities.\n**Bir Hospital** has one of the few ENT departments in the country, but should otherwise be avoided. It is a government hospital, and is run down and chaotic at best.\n **Stupa Community Hospital,** Mahankal Road (*five minute walk from Boudhanath Sadak Road*) http://hospital.stupahealth.org.np/{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} Polite, efficient, and professional. A number of departments, including cardiology and urology. 24hr emergency.\n\n## Respect\n\nIn the vicinity of sacred sites:\n Wear clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site.\n Take your shoes off before entering temple buildings and some shops. Follow the lead of the locals.\n Circumambulate the stupa & other sacred objects in a clock-wise direction.\n Preserve the peace and tranquility.\n Do not climb onto statues or other sacred objects.\n\n## Connect", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk026", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "Most cafes & restaurants in tourist areas have free Wi-Fi for customers.\n - Ncell\n\n- General Post Office\n\n- Nepal Telecom\n\n- Nepal Telecom Central Office\n\n## Cope\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\n- Austria (Honorary Consulate General)\n\n- Australia\n\n- Bangladesh\n\n- Belgium (Honorary)\n\n- British\n\n- China\n\n- Denmark\n\n- European Union\n\n- Finland\n\n- Germany\n\n- Greece\n\n- India\n\n- Israel\n\n- Japan\n\n- Romania\n\n- Russia\n\n- United States\n\n- Switzerland\n\n### Airline offices\n\nMany airline companies have their offices on Hatisser road, about 20 min from north Thamel/Jyatha on foot, if you need to buy or change a ticket.\n\n### Visas and trekking permits\n\nTo extend your Nepal tourist visa, up to a maximum of 150 days per year, you need to visit the Nepal Immigration Office. Bring your passport, a passport photocopy and one passport sized photo (even though you've already given these details to get your original visa!). Visa extensions can only be bought per day, at a rate of US$2 a day (and minimum 15 days), and you can pay in local currency. If you have questions, they speak quite good English .\n\nTIMS card - to register for a Green TIMS card for independent hiking, you need to visit the Nepal Tourism Board. As well, you will need to buy a permit to enter most of the different national parks (you can also get most of them at the NTB). More information about TIMS, permits and entrance fees is described in Trekking in Nepal.\n\n## Go next\n\n### Nearby", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk027", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Changunarayan** - small village and home to the ancient temple of Changu Narayan which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kathmandu Valley. It's possible to catch a public bus to the beginning of the ascend to Changunarayan and then just hike it towards the top of the hill for half an hour.\n**Pharping**. A sacred site one hour from Kathmandu.\n**Kathmandu Valley** (**Nepa Valley**) is home to a number of sacred sites and historical cities.\n**Patan aka Lalitpur, Yala (native name)**, 7 km south of Thamel, across the Bagmati river, is one of the largest cities in Nepal. Patan Durbar Square is a UNESCO world heritage site, full of temples, statues, palaces & the must-see attraction of Patan Museum.\n**Kirtipur, aka Kipoo (native name),** is one of the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley. Located next to Patan.\n**Bhaktapur, Khwopa (native name)**\n**Madhyapur Thimi**\nKhona is a Newa town in South of the valley. You can get a bus from Lagankhyo (native name) aka Lagankhel.\nBunga is a Newa town in South of the valley, near to Khona. You can get a bus from Lagankhyo (native name) aka Lagankhel.\n **Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites**\n**Swayambu** (7 km NE of Kathmandu) is home to at least 29 Buddhist Monasteries & Nunneries & one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, the Boudha Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built during the 5th century CE.\n **Namo Buddha** is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and one of the holiest in the world. It is known as the place where the Buddha, in a previous life as a prince, gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs.\n **Pharping '** a Buddhist sacred site - cave and other relics.\n **Shivapuri Hill** and the **Bishnu Muhan** (20 km N of Kathmandu) is a small spring from where river Bishnumati originates. Stay for a night at the Shivapuri Heights Cottage.\n**Nagarkot** (30 km E from Kathmandu, altitude: 2,000 m) is just the place for a quick getaway from the bustling capital for some relaxation and outdoor activities. It's an ideal location to watch the sunrise, The last 5 km of the trip is narrow, with *lots* of curves in the road, making car-sickness a possibility if you are sensitive.\n**Dhulikhel** (30 km SE of Kathmandu) is a village that offers a nice quiet setting to wander the streets and see the 'non-tourist' side of Nepali life. Dhulikhel Lodge Resort and Sky Garden Resort are nice places for lunch and a view of the mountains.\n**Changunarayan** (20 km E of Kathmandu) is a small village and home to the ancient temple of Changu Narayan which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kathmandu Valley.\n**Panauti** (32 km SE of Kathmandu) is one of the oldest towns in Nepal, consisting of many temples dating back to the 15th century or earlier.\n**Kakani** (30 km SE of Kathmandu) is a settlement of 8,000 people famous for its strawberry farms.", "word_count": 489}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk028", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Further away\n\nCommercial domestic flights are available to/from Bhadrapur, Bhairawa, Bharatpur, Biratnagar, Dhangarhi, Janakpur, Nepalganj, Pokhara, Simara, and Tumling Tar. Domestic flights take about an hour and cost US$100-175. The primary domestic airlines are air viva, Yeti, Nepal Airlines, and Buddha Air. Buddha Air has a reputation among local expatriates as the safest domestic airline. Flights are typically delayed more later in the day and therefore it is better to take an early morning flight.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "kathmandu::chunk029", "doc_id": "kathmandu", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Pokhara**. (5–8 hours by bus, 40 minutes flight), is a pleasant little city on Phewa Lake. Many visitors use it as a hub for treks and adventure sports. The city is a popular destination for travelers and also features a bustling live music scene. Many daily 'tourist' buses depart 07:00 (be there at 06:00) from Jamal bus station, ticket ₹600 from driver, arrive Pokhara by 14:00, time varies depending on traffic. There are always seats available and you do not need to book beforehand at travel agents, who normally charge at least ₹700.\n**Chitwan National Park** is a popular place for safaris, complete with Elephant rides, rhino and tiger spotting, and jungle walks.\n**Khumbu**, near Mount Everest, is reached after a 30 mins flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The region offers snow-capped peaks, mountain villages, and yak caravans carrying goods over mountain passes from Tibet.\n**Siliguri'*, Green Line Bus Service operates a daily overnight A/C Volvo bus service from Kathmandu (Swayambhu) to Siliguri (Tenzing Norgay Bus Station), departing at 3PM and arriving at 8:30AM. Nrs3,200. The Swayambhu Bus Stand is around 100 meters to the left of the stairs (when facing towards the ringroad) at the back of Swayambhu. The bus departs from in front of the ticket office. The Nepal-Indian border at Siliguri, which was only open to Bhutanese, Indian, and Nepalese passport holders since the pandemic, is now open to all passport holders with valid visas. (updated May 2025)", "word_count": 241}
diff --git a/corpus/kathmandu/metadata.json b/corpus/kathmandu/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..16552ef0850b7ef2559a4aa81de787d09c1a5ef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kathmandu/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kathmandu",
+ "title": "Kathmandu",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kathmandu",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "safari",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Kathmandu_Valley"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 7101,
+ "listing_count": 43,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 30,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kauai/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kauai/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..845d9480b4d164d668b7542e28e8a252be802bfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kauai/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk000", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Kauai** is the most northwestern of Hawaii's major islands and is the 4th largest by size and population. Nicknamed the Garden Island, it is covered with lush greenery and tropical plants, watered regularly by abundant rainfall. As the oldest of the islands, it has been changed the most by the forces of erosion, and this has resulted in natural wonders such as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. As a consequence of its age, Kauai also has more miles of sandy coastline than the other Hawaiian islands.\nthumb|400px|Wailua River State Park", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk001", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "The major regions of Kauai can be defined by their location on the island relative to the prevailing trade winds. The north and east sides of the island are on the \"windward\" side of the island, where the winds blow onto the shore. These parts of the island tend to get the most rain, and as a result, are the greenest and most tropical parts of the island. The south and west sides of the island are on the \"leeward\" side of the island, which receive less rain since most clouds have already dropped their rain on the windward side of the island.\n\nThe word \"city\" might be an exaggeration for an island of almost 70,000 people, but here's some information on the towns of Kauai.\n\n### Windward side (north and east)\n\n**Lihue**, on the island's southeast side, is the civic and commercial center of the island, host to the island's main airport, county offices, and largest shopping mall (Kukui Grove Center). The Kauai Museum, in the old part of Lihue, is the island's best museum on the history, geography, and people of Kauai.\n\n**Kapaa**, on the east side, about a 20-minute drive north of Lihue, is the largest population center on the island. It anchors what is known as the **Coconut Coast**, which hosts many inexpensive to moderately priced resorts and much commercial activity with many strip malls along the highway. The corridor between Lihue and Kapaa is the island's most congested.\n\nthumb|Anahola Bay is a snorkeling and swimming beach with clear pools and a long coral reef. Driving directions in the Kauai Trailblazer guide.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk002", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Anahola Beach** is on the east shore of Kauai and is dominated by Kalalea mountain. Ironwoods, coco palms and broadleaf trees shade widely spaced beach cottages. The beach is patrolled by a lifeguard and is a good destination for families.\n\n**Kilauea** is a small village that most people pass on the way to the Kilauea Lighthouse. The **Kong Lung Center** offers a few unique stores and restaurants. There is also a large fruit stand, **Banana Joe's,** north of Kilauea on the mountain side of the highway.\n\n**Princeville** is a master-planned resort community on the north shore, consisting of homes, condo developments, the St. Regis hotel, and 2 golf courses. Kauai's impressive north shore mountains form the backdrop. There are several small beaches in Princeville, and many more a short drive away.\n\n**Hanalei**, on the north shore, is home to a quaint little beach town and famous Hanalei Bay, a crescent-shaped bay known for its sandy white beaches and world class surf. The center of town provides a young, relaxed vibe perfect for the young traveler. The center of town provides amazing views of one of Kauai's biggest mountains with a visible waterfall in the center.\n\n**Lumahai Beach** is a very-well photographed beach but is only accessible by a short hike through a tropical path. Located between Hanalei and Haena beaches, this secluded beach is perfect for people who want a more private experience. There are lava formations and caves to explore and low wake perfect for snorkeling. For the more adventurous traveler, there is the opportunity to cliff jump into the ocean from one of the protruding lava rock formations. Lumahai beach is a place many locals go so it gives tourists to see the special opportunity of the \"real\" Hawaii", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk003", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Hāena** lies just beyond Hanalei. It is mostly made up of residential homes, but is also is the gateway to Na Pali Coast and the location of Limahuli Valley, another National Tropical Botanical Garden of the Pacific.\n\n### Leeward side (south and west)\n\nthumb|Surfers at Poipu Beach\n\n**Poipu**, on the south side, branded \"the sunny side of paradise\", is the major visitor destination for the island. Poipu features beautiful beaches, including the beautiful Poipu Beach swimming, snorkeling and surfing, boogie boarding, sea turtles, whales, monk seals, trade winds, palm trees, and spectacular sunsets. The Allerton and McBryde National Tropical Botanical Gardens of the Pacific are located in Poipu. The Grand Hyatt Kauai, Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club and Coastline Cottages Kauai lead the area's accommodation choices.\n\n**Hanapepe** on the south shore has a quaint downtown filled with artists' galleries and craft shops. There is also a swinging footbridge over the Hanapepe River. Be sure to check out the Banana Patch Studio for wonderful hand-painted tiles and other locally made items.\n\n**Waimea**, on the west side, is a small town with a flavor of old Kauai. Most visitors pass through town on the way to Waimea Canyon and Kokee, but the town is worth a relaxing visit.\n\n### An older, quieter island", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk004", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Kauai North Shore\nthumb|Wild chickens on Kauai are prevalent and fearless wherever they find food\nIn many ways, Kauai is different from the rest of the islands. It's almost as if you've stepped into a separate kingdom, and for many years Kauai was just that in relation to Hawaii. Kamehameha I was able to conquer all the islands by force, except Kauai. Two separate campaigns to take the island ended in failure. In the end, it took diplomacy, a royal kidnapping, and an arranged marriage to bring Kauai into the kingdom of Hawaii.\n\nKauai is also known as the place where the sugar cane industry in Hawaii was born. Sugar was once the industrial mainstay of the Kauai economy, but has been replaced by tourism. In October 2009, Gay & Robinson harvested the last sugar crop in Kauai, ending 117 years of the sugar business in Kauai.\n\nIn short, compared to Oahu, Maui or the Big Island, Kauai is smaller, less populated, more rural, and more laid back. That's why it's the favorite destination for many visitors to Hawaii, and for many Hawaii residents as well. Visitors come to explore the island's beaches and natural wonders, but the multitude of resorts on white sand beaches provide ample opportunity to sit and do nothing if you're so inclined.\n\nBecause tourist development reached Kauai considerably later than the other islands, the island has a larger proportion of timeshares, condominiums, and bed and breakfasts. Also, a strict cap on building heights (hotels can be no more than 40 feet high) prevent the development of the mega-resorts and towering skyscrapers found on the other islands. The local rule is that nothing can be built taller than a coconut tree.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk005", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "One look at a map will show you an important difference between Kauai and the more populous islands of Hawaii: due to the massive Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast, no roads circle the island. Once you've made the drive along the south shore to Waimea and seen the canyon, the only options are to go west on dirt roads to Polihale Beach or turn around and go back the way you came. Same story for Princeville and Na Pali on the north shore. However, the island is compact enough that both ends of the road can be seen in the same day. But the Garden Island cannot be enjoyed or appreciated if you are pressed for time.\n\nKauai offers a unique experience also—from the western coast of the island on one of its piers, in the far distance, travelers can see the island of Niihau, which is the forbidden island—forbidden, that is, to all but residents (about 130 mostly Native Hawaiians), U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and invited guests. It is often forgotten about because of its privacy so seeing its outline in the far distance is an amazing and majestic experience!", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk006", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kauai is a place where many famous people go to get away. Since it is much less drastic of a plane ride from L.A. in California than it is from the East Coast, this island which is the most secluded, private and relaxing provides getaway homes to many stars, although the normal traveler won't see these celebrities out on the beach, probably because their beach-front properties provide their own beaches. However, all beaches in Hawaii are public and accessible by everyone. To get a glimpse of one of these stars, check a nook in the wall bistro. Celebrities like Beau Bridges can be found relaxing with his wife in the island's countryside restaurants.\n\nAlong many of Kauai's streets -- in particular the main highway -- there are wild roosters and chickens! It is almost like the equivalent of seeing squirrels in more eastern parts of the United States. Also quite surprisingly, stray cats are everywhere as well.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk007", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n \n\n### By boat\n\nThere is now also a deep water port at Nawiliwili for cruise ships. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers cruises year-round between the islands that start and end in Honolulu. Princess Cruises also offers occasional cruises from Long Beach.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk008", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nDespite the island's relatively small size and the fact that most traffic and sites to visit are concentrated along one main highway, motorized private vehicles are the most common form of transportation on Kauai. If you don't mind traffic (especially in Lihue, Wailua and Kapa'a) and driving yourself, **rental cars** are a convenient way to visit the island. Most major rental car companies have offices at the Lihue airport or nearby by shuttle bus. Car rentals are available in a large variety of makes and models and provide travelers flexibility and freedom to explore the island and crowd the roads. While there are numerous rental car locations right outside of the Lihue airport, some hotels also offer onsite car rental services which can be used as needed. Most rental car companies have restricted areas, notably Polihale beach. Check before you go, or take the risk of paying yourself out of trouble if your rental car breaks down or gets stuck. The red dirt that Kauai is so famous for is also highly concentrated around this area and adventurous travelers could track this stain-able substance into their rental cars.\n\nMany tour companies offer alternatives to rental cars with hotel pick-up in more adequate vehicles such as mini-vans, four-wheel drive vehicles or even tour buses to access more remote parts of the island.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe Kaua{{okina}}i bus is perhaps the only other way to get around, but will not go to some rural attractions, such as Kokee. Still, if you are on a budget, this bus will get you around and between the major population centers, such as Lihue and Kapaa, and the major resort/beach areas. The bus does *not* stop at \"Donkey Beach,\" although the bike path (see below) does go there.\n\n### By taxi\n\nPono Taxi and Taxi Hanalei are one of the few authorized airport taxi companies that are allowed to do pre-arranged pickups at Lihue Airport and take you to any destination on the island. They also offer personalized Kauai tours in one of the most comfortable taxi rides on the garden isle. A standard two-hour tour is $120, and taxi fare is $3 per mile.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nOne other option for transport on the island is bicycle. A 17-mile bike path is planned to eventually connect the entire east coast of the island, running from Anahola to Lihue, but as of 2019 only about an 8-mile stretch of path between Lydgate Park and Donkey Beach (a few miles north of Kapa'a) was complete. Still, the path offers scenic views of the ocean not available by car and possible whale sightings. Several bike rental shops are located along the trail in Kapa'a.\n\n### Highways and traffic\n\nThere are two main highways on Kauai, both starting in Lihue. **Kaumualii Highway** (state route 50) heads to the west, through the towns of Kalaheo, Hanapepe, Waimea, and Kekaha before ending at the Na Pali Coast. **Kuhio Highway** (state route 56) heads north from Lihue, through Kapaa, Kilauea, Princeville, and Hanalei, ending at the other side of Na Pali.\n\nTraffic in Kauai can be slow, particularly between Lihue and Kapaa. Give yourself extra time and be patient when traveling through this area.\n\nTailgaiting is a very common and dangerous practice on Kauai's windy and often slippery roads. Because of the lack of convenient alternatives and of any control many drunk and stoned drivers populate the roads, especially after noon. Feral dogs, cats and wild pigs are common sightings on the road; drive cautiously and respect security distances.", "word_count": 591}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk009", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|Kilauea Point Lighthouse\nthumb|Papahanaumokuakea marine National Monument, Coconut Island, Moku o Loʻe\n - Lydgate State Park\n\n- Old Koloa town\n\n- Huleia National Wildlife Refuge\n\n- Wailua Falls\n\n- Opaekaa Falls\n\n- Hanalei Valley and Bay\n\n- Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge\n\n- National Tropical Botanical Gardens\n\n- Princeville Botanical Garden\n\n- Poipu Beach\n\n- Kauai Museum\n\n- Kaua'i Ocean Discovery Center\n\n- Kilohana\n\n- Fort Elizabeth\n\n### Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park\n\nAbove Waimea on state route 550. From Lihue, take state route 50 west to Waimea. From there, you can take Waimea Canyon Drive (550) or coThe most popular viewing point of the canyon is just past mile 11 on route 550. Koke'e is located about 4 miles further. (808)245-6001 for weather information in the canyon.\nthumb|400px|Waimea Canyon Panorama\nAt over 10 miles (16 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and 3,567 feet (1,087 m) deep, **Waimea Canyon** has been called the \"Grand Canyon of the Pacific.\" Indeed, its colors rival that of its Arizona counterpart, except that Waimea Canyon also adds touches of green that would be absent in the desert. Carved and formed over hundreds of thousands of years by runoff from Mount Waialeale at the center of the island, the canyon shows millions of years of geological history.\n\nCamping and hiking are available above the canyon at **Koke'e State Park**.\n\nThe best time to go is on a relatively clear day, and then after mid-morning (from about 9:30AM-on). Otherwise, clouds and fog may obscure the view.\n\n### Na Pali Coast", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk010", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|650px|Na Pali Coast from the ocean\nThe Nā Pali coast (Hawaiian for \"the slopes\") , featured in the film *Jurassic Park* and many other movies, is one of the most distinctive geological features of Kauai and consists of sheer cliffs thousands of feet high that drop directly onto pristine secluded beaches. The beaches are reachable only by boat, helicopter, or foot for very experienced hikers, but the cliffs may be viewed from the top by driving to the end of Route 550.\n\nNa Pali Coast State Park provides adventurous travelers to hike along the coast with several options: they can either hike a round-trip 5 miles (in and out from Ke'e beach to Hanakapia'i beach) or the longest, most strenuous option, with the proper overnight equipment, permit and hiking gear, and do the 12 mile one-way hike into Kalalau Beach. You can also travel the Na Pali coast by boat or kayak with many different outfitters.\n\nBy kayak, it's a 17.5 mile all day trip (unless one makes a special point to camp half way on the coast) done by two outfitters out of Hanalei. It's been called the Everest of Sea Kayaking and much like the hiking, is not for the faint of heart. Both are strenuous and difficult. Travelers will get to see beaches only accessible by foot or kayak and only visible by the highly expensive boat and helicopter tours. The caves along this hike/paddle are absolutely marvelous as well. Tourists will get the rare chance to marvel at Kauai's natural splendor and ocean life.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk011", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "See", "text": "By foot, a permit is only required if you continue any further than Hanakapia'i beach on the Na Pali Coast. You may travel there and an additional 4 mile round trip hike to Hanakapia'i Falls with no permit. By kayak, if you use one of the guide companies in Hanalei you will not need a permit. If you do camp over on your own or with a company, you will need to gather a landing permit. While kayaking, there are a few beaches, like Honopu beach, directly next to Kalalau, that do not allow any landing vessel whatsoever. You can not land a kayak, surfboard, or anything else. The only way to access it is by swimming from an anchored boat off shore or from Kalalau Beach; both should only be done when the ocean permits as it can be very dangerous.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk012", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Do", "text": "People come to Kauai primarily for one thing: **the beaches** with their great snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and sunning. But Kauai also boasts more navigable rivers than the other Hawaiian Islands making kayaking very popular as well as the cool, higher elevation of Koke'e. If the surf is calm you can even combine a river run with time paddling the bays and ocean shoreline. You'll find kayak rentals near the mouth of the most popular rivers. Many will also rent roof-top strap-on kayaks for travelers interested in trying one of the several smaller river runs.\n\nKauai has great hiking and mountain biking trails as well. Outdoor adventurers will find the guidebook *Kauai Trailblazer* to be helpful for comparing various locations for hiking and biking (as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing). The Waimea Canyon area has extensive hiking trails both into the canyon itself as well as great overlooks of the Na Pali cliffs. Check with the park office on trail conditions and weather before starting your hike. The Koke'e Museum has a listing of trails .\n **Warning**: Kauai's famous **red dirt** is very **slippery** when wet, as it often is, making some trails too slippery to use, particularly those along steep drop offs.\n\nThere are many commercial tour guides that offer various land and sea adventures such as guided hikes, downhill bike tours, back-country ATV trips, river tubing adventures, and more, but hiking areas and water access are free. There are no private beaches anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands.\n\nOther recommended activities are listed below by region.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk013", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Do", "text": "North: **Hanalei** is a charming Hawaiian village in beautiful country on the north of the island. Hanalei has a nostalgic, romantic quality of simpler times on the Islands. An easy drive to the northwest of Hanalei provides access to the **Na Pali coast**. See more about the Na Pali coast above, but to get a taste and requiring no permit, you can hike 2 miles in to the first beach (Hanakapi'ai). Day hikes are unrestricted, but camping requires a permit from the parks department. There is a long waiting list, so signing up a year in advance is a good idea. **Tour boats** can also access the coast; they may be chartered out of Hanalei or other outfits on the south of the island. Snorkeling is very good. The area is effectively closed to boats in the winter due to the intense Pacific weather hitting that part of Kaua'i.\n East: Kapa'a is a small, cute, tourist-friendly town on the east side. It's the town with the largest population on Kaua'i. It features a movie theater, an internet cafe, many restaurants, and a Birkenstock outlet. Look up from Anahola and see the mountain that faded in from the Paramount logo at the beginning of \"Raiders of the Lost Ark.\"\n South: The **South Shore** has a number of great beaches such as Maha'ulepu Beach with its ancient petroglyphs and the rocky Shipwreck Beach, both perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. Check out Poipu Beach, often ranked as one of the world's top beaches by travel surveys. Venture to Kipu Falls, where the opening sequences for Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed. Kauai is a leading destination for scuba divers, with many beautiful, relatively unspoiled coral reefs and a variety of fish not found anywhere outside the Hawaiian archipelago. Dive boats leave daily from Po'ipu. Shorter trips typically involve two dives at locations off the south shore. For a once-in-a-lifetime dive choose a dive off the coast of Ni'ihau, the privately-owned island to the west of Kauai. Expect to pay from $120 and up depending on the dive-boat operator and the length of the dive. Kauai is also a destination for whale watchers; humpbacks winter in the coast off Hawaii. Dolphin pods are also a very common sight. Whale watching boats leave multiple times a day from Po'ipu and the dock at Nawiliwili in Kalapaki Bay.\n - Kauai Coffee Company", "word_count": 398}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk014", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Do", "text": "An amazing service the east side provides is Kayak rentals on their Wailua river. It is a very hidden location but this family-owned kayak rental is run by native Hawaiians who are very friendly. The kayak rental is on a historically re-created Hawaiian village ground where adventurous travelers can walk around, go inside huts and their small buildings and see live peacocks wandering the grounds. There are recreated traditional family huts like the Ancient Hawaiians used to live in and also medicine huts where you can see how medicine was made. Kayak rentals are moderately expensive but very much worth it. You also get great exercise because to go to an actual stop or island there is around 20 straight minutes of paddling! A popular place for tourists and locals alike to stop at on their kayak tour is a little cove where a rope swing was built! There is also a cliff perfect for jumping off of into the deep water, but caution must be advised. The rope swing is very safe. Kayaking through the Wailua river is an amazing experience where one can truly be at peace with nature. There is lush greenery completely surrounding the river and fresh, clear water in the river. Another popular spot for kayaking is about a mile down the river. Kayak tours are available, but tourists can also discover this spot themselves and at their own pace. This spot provides around a two mile hike to one of Kauai's most beautiful waterfalls. The rocks are treacherous but once the traveler gets past them, they can even swim under the waterfall! It is truly an experience unlike any other. Kauai is clearly a place for the hiking enthusiast. Another spot is a garden tour through the fern grotto. This river makes a loop so once you've been to the waterfall and fern grotto it is only a short paddle back to the base. The fern grotto is a large bolder-looking formation covered in fern. Deeper in is a cave. The garden area is mysteriously covered with stray cats but is nonetheless beautiful and stunning. This historically education and adventurous experience is definitely a must when traveling to Kauai.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk015", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Do", "text": "West: A drive up to the **Waimea Canyon** is highly recommended or explore the Canyon and surrounding areas on a breathtaking tour.\n\nIf you rent a jeep make sure you take a trek out to **Polihale Beach**. It is located at the southern end of the Na Pali coast. This wide sprawling beach is the longest on the major islands, at just over 17 miles long. The sunsets here are truly awesome and with a permit you can camp there, as it is a State Park. During the winter and early spring you can also see the whales from the beach. However, the last couple of miles of the road to get to Polihale, run through an old sugar cane field. As of Jul 2011 the road was still not maintained and is in poor condition to drive, with many large and deep potholes riddling the entire narrow road. If you have a rental car recognize that all rental car companies on the island expressly prohibit the use of their vehicles (including Jeeps!) on Polihale road.\n\n#### Luaus\n\nThere are many luaus on Kauai, which feature Polynesian singing and dancing. Most feature buffet dinners. Here are some of the best known.\n\n**Smith Family Garden Luau ($140/adult)**\n **Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau ($175/adult)**\n **Aulii Luau ($190/adult)**\n **Luau Kalamaku ($171/adult)**\n **Hawaii Alive Luau Show ($160/adult)**\nthumb|The verdant taro fields of Hanalei Valley, Kauai, Hawaii as seen from the overlook on the north shore's Kuhio Highway.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk016", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Buy", "text": "- The Country Store\n\n- Kukui Grove Center\n\n - Hanalei Farmers Market\n\n - Waipa Farmers Market\n\n - Kauai Nut Roasters\n\n - Infinite Arts Gallery\n\n - The General Store of Hanalei\n\n**Warehouse 3540** 3540 Koloa Rd. (near Lawai Trading Post). This trendy warehouse is home to many local boutiques and food trucks. They also offer free community events.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk017", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Like the rest of Hawaii, the plate lunch is ubiquitous in Kauai (see the Eat section in the main Hawaii article for more information). However, many of Kauai's beaches and natural attractions (like Waimea Canyon) have no amenities nearby. Pack a lunch and bring enough water for the day - then stop at the restaurants for dinner. For a tasty snack, pick up some red lychees from a roadside stand or a farmer's market. Waimea Canyon visitors can drive a few miles further up the road to the **Koke'e Lodge**, located in the **Koke'e State Park** next to the museum. It serves breakfast and lunch.\n\nFor foodies visiting Kauai, the **Tasting Kauai Food Tour** is an easy way to sample some of the island's most popular dishes.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Hamura's Saimin Stand\n\n- Mariachi's Authentic Mexican Grill\n\n- Pho Kauai\n\n - Bubba Burger\n\n - Duane's Ono Burger\n\n - Kalaheo Cafe and Coffee\n\n - Kilauea Bakery & Pizza\n\n- Pacific Pizza & Deli\n\n - Puka Dog\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Aloha Kauai Pizza\n\n - Koloa Fish Market\n\n- Mema Thai Chinese Cuisine\n\n- Monicos Taqueria\n\n - Pizzetta\n\n - Paniolo Santa Maria Style BBQ\n\n### Splurge\n\n - BarAcuda\n\n- Beach House Restaurant\n\n- Brennecke's Beach Broiler\n\n### Sweet tooth\n\n- Jojo's Clubhouse\n\n - Lappert's Ice Cream and Coffee\n\n - Wishing Well\n\n**Wailua Shave Ice**. Made with fresh fruit. Located in Old Kapaa Town.\n**The Fresh Shave**. Located at Warehouse 3540. Made with fresh fruit and organic syrups.\n- Jo-Jo's Anuenue\n\n - Holey Grail Donuts", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk018", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Drink", "text": "A great place to watch the sun set behind Bali Hai at cocktail hour is the \"Library\" at the St. Regis Hotel, in the Princeville Resort on the North Shore. At the end of Ka Haku Road.\n Sunset from The Point bar at the Sheraton Poipu--sit on the patio and nosh some bar food, sip a Lilikoi Lemonade, and watch the sun set behind Niihau and Spounting Horn.\n- Nani Moon Meadery and Tasting Room\n\n - Kauai Beer Co\n\n - Kauai Island Brewing Co", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk019", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Before making lodging reservations it's best to review a map of the island and plan ahead. Think about the activities and sightseeing you want to do. While it's true that you can drive to any part of the island within an hour or two you'll spend less time in the car if you book your lodging in a spot that's closest to the places you'll spend most of your time. The one main highway is only two lanes *one each way* and tends to get fairly congested at times.\n\nThe \"windward\" side, especially the north coast can get up to twice rain than the sunny south coast. If you come from a cold and rainy region looking for a sunny Hawaiian vacation you could be disappointed if you stay on the lush, green, tropical - and wetter - north coast. Yes, it will still be warm but more with more cloud cover and showers.\n\nLocation and setting also affects lodging prices. There can be a sizable price difference between ocean view and non-ocean view units - the so-called 'garden' or 'mountain' view rooms - all within the same resort. Also, resorts or condo properties set inland - even a block or two - can sometimes be 10-20% cheaper than properties that front or connect directly with the beach. Yes, you'll have to walk a bit or bike or even make a short drive but if helps to fit Kauai into your budget it may be worth the walk.\n\nMake your reservations early to get the best choices for unit type, location, and price. Larger condo resorts often have multiple owners so search the Web by resort name and compare prices. \"By owner\" listings for condos usually offer rates that a little lower than what the big agencies will charge for the same complex - although selection will be narrower (e.g. one to four units). Get a complete written quote of all expense plus the cancellation and refund policy before sending a deposit.\n\nAnother option is camping. There are many county and a state park where camping is allowed. Permits are cheap but required.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Kauai Beach House Hostel\n\n - Honu'ea International Hostel\n\n - Koke'e State Park\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Aston Islander Resort\n\n - Hanalei Bay Resort\n\n - Kauai Beach Resort\n\n - Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy\n\n - Kauai Country Inn\n\n- Kiahuna Plantations Kauai\n\n - Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club\n\n - Poipu Kai Resort\n\n### Splurge\n\n- Coastline Cottages Kauai\n\n - Grand Hyatt Kauai\n\n- Sheraton Kauai Resort\n\n - St. Regis Princeville Resort\n\n- Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas\n\n - Whalers Cove Resort\n\n - Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay\n\n - Waipouli Beach Resort and Spa", "word_count": 448}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk020", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Leptospirosis** - a serious bacterial infection. The bacteria is spread by the waste of animals and is found in all fresh water outlets as well as the muddy trails. It is more common on Kauai than other islands, and should be treated promptly with antibiotics. Symptoms are flu-like, and mainland doctors may not recognize the disease as readily. It is very important to treat any water you gather while camping or backpacking with pills or a filter to ensure you kill all bacteria found in it, not just leptospirosis.\n\nRip tides, currents, and high surf - Rip tides and ocean currents on Kauai can be treacherous. Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Kauai can be especially dangerous because of the lack of a protective reef around many beaches. Many popular swimming areas can be extremely dangerous. Visitors are especially cautioned to not enter the sea from any beach on the Na Pali Coast, which has been the site of multiple drownings.\n\nSunburn - The UV index in Hawaii often exceeds 12 in the summer. People with lighter complexions can receive serious sunburns in as little as 15 minutes. Always wear a good sunblock and/or UV-blocking clothes. Sunburn can easily ruin a vacation. If you get a bad sunburn, however, the Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue can prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms.\n\nPrepare for the area you are visiting. Kaua'i has a few different climates in its boundary, so you will visit many different areas. For instance, you may wear flip flops and bikinis at Poipu; however, you would want a jacket, boots and long pants while up in Koke'e.\n\nKaua'i is an ever-changing, adapting part of an island chain. It is constantly eroding and changing. Beware of drop offs, sharp edges, water safety and the land and ocean around you in general.", "word_count": 302}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk021", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Respect", "text": "Remember that as much as you need to keep yourself safe, you need to keep Hawai'i safe as well. Please practice the ***Leave No Trace*** principles to make sure everyone can enjoy the islands. It's not only illegal to do things like feed or hassle wildlife, take rocks, sand or plants, but it's also immoral and detrimental to the Hawaiian Islands. They are the most isolated land mass on the globe and have many species and landscapes that are struggling to survive under the pressures of tourism. Respect the 'aina the best you can. Do not litter, cut trails, or desecrate natural or man made sites.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "kauai::chunk022", "doc_id": "kauai", "section": "Go next", "text": "Oahu", "word_count": 1}
diff --git a/corpus/kauai/metadata.json b/corpus/kauai/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..10ae7f6724e720d6c050ba8274a45126cf1dd86e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kauai/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kauai",
+ "title": "Kauai",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kauai",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauaʻi",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q201026",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 22.07,
+ -159.4975
+ ],
+ "summary": "Kauaʻi, sometimes written Kauai, is one of the main Hawaiian Islands. It has an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), making it the fourth-largest of the islands and the 21st-largest island in the United States. Kauaʻi is 73 miles (117 km) northwest of Oʻahu, across the Kauaʻi Channel. The island's 2020 population was 73,298.\nStyling itself the \"Garden Isle\", Kauaʻi is the site of Waimea Canyon State Park and Nā Pali Coast State Park. It forms the bulk of Kauaʻi County, which includes Niʻihau as well as the small nearby islands of Kaʻula and Lehua.\n\n",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "food-tour",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Hawaii"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Oahu"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5297,
+ "listing_count": 67,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 23,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "high"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kenya/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kenya/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bccf50d731f06859eb2e3047a587c0d39fa7c153
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kenya/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk000", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Kenya** in East Africa is a pearl in sub-Saharan Africa. From the scenic sandy beaches at the coast, to the Nairobi National Park, to the majestic Rift Valley, the bird life in Lake Naivasha, the hot boiling springs of Lake Baringo, Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria, Kenya is a very beautiful country with lots of wildlife and scenic features, and is one of the major economic hubs in Africa. Fondly referred to as the \"Jewel of Africa\", Kenya is a dream destination for its Swahili heritage and the home of humankind and Safari industry.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk001", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Regions", "text": "Kenya is divided into several different regions, each with its own unique characteristics and differences in terms of culture, landscape, climate, and economy:", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk002", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Cities and major towns", "text": "Kenya has 3 major cities:\n — the cosmopolitan capital city and economic centre of Kenya and most vibrant in the East African region.\n — historic port on the Indian Ocean seafront and probably Africa's longest continuously settled town.\n — the major city to the west, on the shore of Lake Victoria.\n\nMajor towns based on size and popularity as tourist destination include:\n — main town of the Lamu Archipelago, renowned internationally for its annual cultural festival.\n — in the north on the main route to South Sudan with access to Lake Turkana\n — the landing point of Vasco Da Gama in Kenya with a large Italian population\n — town near the base of Mount Kenya. It is the crossroads for travel to Nairobi\n — near lake Nakuru National Park and an extinct volcano (Menengai)\n - the small town near Mombasa has become a preferred place of residence for European pensioners and is a centre of night life", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk003", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "National parks", "text": "thumb|Mount Kenya landscape\n\n**North of Nairobi:**\nThese parks, although very interesting and worth visiting, with fewer visitors than the southern parks.\n - last primeval rainforest in the country and home to various monkeys and hundreds of bird species\n — a cool and cloudy national park with lots of large game, and over 250 species of bird recorded\n — a stunning 400 species of bird have been recorded here including the largest flocks of flamingos anywhere on earth\n — challenging trekking on high peaks\n\n**South of Nairobi:**\nThe southern parks are the most visited, especially by those who divide their holidays between a safari and time on the beach.\n — probably the most popular reserve in Kenya due to the high concentration of big cats\n — virtually *in* Nairobi and a great option to see large game for those on a tight schedule\n — major game park for short safari trips from the coast\n — no. 2 game park for short safari trips from the coast\n — a swampy lowland Maasai park that is one of the best places anywhere in Africa to view large mammals, especially elephants\n\nSee also Kenyan national parks.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk004", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Nairobi skyline\n\nKenya is one of Africa's most visited countries by tourists, and rightfully so - it boasts a diversity of attractions and a well-developed hospitality and tourism sector that most of its neighbors envy. The relative ease of travel, the abundance of tour operators, pleasant year-round climate, natural sights and friendly people all contribute to its relative popularity by African standards.\n\nAlthough made up of many diverse ethnic groups and tribes, Kenyans have a strong sense of national pride. This may be due in part to their unity in the struggle for *Uhuru* (Kiswahili: \"freedom\") – independence from British colonial rule, achieved in 1963. While Kenyans can spot ethnic differences among themselves quite easily, to most foreigners these will not be distinguishable. Outsiders on the whole tend to find Kenyans to be relaxed, hospitable, and joyous. Hostility towards foreigners is uncommon; if anything, some visitors may be uncomfortable with the timidity that comes with a perceived dependence on tourist dollars.\n\nLake Turkana and the area around is also known as the cradle of mankind as many prehistoric fossils have been discovered. Hominid fossils of significant scientific interest have been found in Rift Valley areas such as Olorgesaille, and it is often believed that this area of Africa is where the human species originated from (although recent discoveries in Ethiopia contest that theory).", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk005", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Economically, the Kenyan story is one of two steps forward, one step back, and so on. The country is one of the more developed in East Africa, and the tourism sector has made it easy for visitors to ignore the prevalence of poverty with all-in luxury safari packages – or commoditize it into a quick and questionable slum tour. The success story of the local startup scene contrasts with the persistent struggles of the underclass and pervasive corruption. In urban Nairobi and Mombasa, chic hotels, golf courses and shopping malls coexist alongside anarchic shantytowns. Rural economies in Kenya are still predominantly agricultural, but with real progress in the 21st century. All this offers an opportunity for travellers of all budgets to mix and match experiences. For a general overview read the Wikivoyage article on travel in developing countries.\n\n### Climate\n\nKenya experiences a wide range of tropical climates. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland, and very dry in the north and northeast. It receives a great deal of sunshine all year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning. Nairobi is at high altitude and can be quite cold, even during the day, between June and August.\n\nThe long rain season is from April to June, and the short rain season October to December. Rain is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is February to March, and the coldest July to August.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk006", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Game viewing is best in the dry seasons, which are from mid-June to October, and from late-December to mid-March. The annual animal migration – especially migration of the wildebeest – occurs between June and September, with millions of animals taking part. It has been a popular event for film-makers to capture.\n\n### History\n\nKenya has been inhabited by people since the beginnings of humanity's existence as a species.\n\nthumb|The Santo Mathias bastion and the main entrance to Fort Jesus, Mombasa\n\nArab traders began frequenting the coast of Kenya around the 1st century. Kenya's proximity to the Arabian peninsula invited colonisation, and Arab and Persian settlements spread along the coast in the 8th century. Throughout the centuries, Kenya has played host to many different merchants and explorers (Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, et al.) Coastal Kenya formed part of the **Swahili Coast**, which comprised of numerous wealthy city-states that engaged in trade across the Indian Ocean and Sahara Desert, one of the most prominent being the city of Mombasa.\n\nKenya became part of the British Empire in the late 19th century. In the 1950s, a brutal war took place between independence fighters called the Mau Mau and the British, with horrendous abuses of human rights on both sides. Kenyan nationalist Jomo Kenyatta was arrested in 1952 and with little evidence, tried and imprisoned for supposed management of the Mau Mau Society, eventually being detained for almost 9 years. Considered a national hero, he led the country after it declared independence on 12 December 1963. Through popularity, moderation and shrewd power politics, the Founding Father turned the country into a de facto dictatorship (whether benevolent or malevolent depends on who you talk to).", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk007", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "When President Kenyatta died in 1978, Daniel arap Moi became president and, for better or worse, ruled as a dictator for over two decades. Moi did not hesitate to rough up his political opponents, and a key administrative building in Nairobi, Nyayo House, became infamous for the rumoured torture that occurred in its basement. However, some Kenyans do look back at this time more fondly as a period of stability. Following a wave of popular protests, stepped down more or less voluntarily in 2002 to make way for freely contested elections.\n\nThose elections were won by Mwai Kibaki, who stayed in office until 2013. Despite genuine economic progress, Kibaki's turn in office was marred by a sense that Kibaki's Gikuyu ethnic group, the country's largest, was consolidating power. This ultimately led to a widespread outbreak of violence in 2007, when his opponent Raila Odinga alleged Kibaki stuffed the ballot boxes to win election. Over 1000 died in the ensuing clashes. Kibaki retained power amidst evidence of tampering on both sides, and with the pre-election polls indicating a razor-thin election, it's impossible to know who the real victor should have been.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk008", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Relations with Kenya's neighbours are generally stable and friendly – except for Somalia, whose disintegration has prompted security concerns in Kenya. Kenya participates in international military missions attempting to defeat fundamentalist group al-Shabab; as a result, al-Shabab has launched several high-profile terrorist attacks in various locations around the country. Kenyans are therefore sometimes mistrustful or hostile towards Somalis, although there are many Kenyans of Somali heritage throughout the country and many others are refugees who fled the country's civil war. Kenya's relations with other neighbors are generally much smoother, and Kenya is a member of the East African Community (along with Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) which aims to foster cooperation within the region.\n\n### Geography\n\nBisected by the equator, Kenya features a highly diverse geography ranging from tropical Indian Ocean beaches and mangrove swamps to central highlands and arid northern deserts. The central region consists of high-altitude terrain (1,500–3,000 m), offering a temperate climate and fertile agricultural land, divided by the Great Rift Valley. A 402-km coastline bordering the Indian Ocean in the southeast, characterized by sandy beaches, coral reefs, and tropical mangrove swamps.\n\nThe north and northeast are predominantly arid and semi-arid deserts, comprising roughly 80% of the country's land area. Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain at , provides glaciers and water sources for surrounding areas. Major water bodies include Lake Victoria to the west (Africa's largest lake) and the Tana River, flowing into the Indian Ocean.\n\n### People and culture", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk009", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kenya has a diverse population that comprises 47 ethnic communities with a combination of 67% **Bantus** (Kikuyu, Swahili, Kamba, Luhya, Meru, Abagusii) and 30% **Nilotes** (Maasai, Luo, Samburu, Turkana and Kalenjin). An important non-indigenous ethnic group are the **Indians**, who were largely brought over by the British as indentured servants during the colonial period and settled around major cities, and are predominantly business people. There is also a small but prominent white community that dates back to the colonial era, mostly of British descent.\n\nNotable peoples include the Swahili on the coast, pastoralist communities in the north, farmers in central and western and fishermen around the Lake Victoria basin. The Maasai culture is well known to tourists, despite their being a minor percentage of the Kenyan population. They are renowned for their elaborate upper body adornment and jewellery.\n\n#### Swahili culture\n\nSwahili culture is a blend of various influences from the East African coast, including African, Arab, and Indian cultures. It is predominantly found in Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Uganda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here are some of the key aspects of Swahili culture:", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk010", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Language – Swahili is the most widely spoken language in East Africa, and is a key marker of Swahili culture. It is a Bantu language with significant Arabic, Persian, and Indian loanwords.\n Religion – Swahili culture has a strong Islamic influence, with many Swahili people being Muslims. However, there is also a significant Christian population.\n Food – Swahili cuisine is a fusion of African, Arab, and Indian influences, with dishes such as pilau (spiced rice), biryani, samosas, and chapati being popular. Coconut milk and spices such as cardamom, cumin, and cinnamon are often used to flavour dishes.\n Music and dance – Swahili music is diverse and includes taarab, a form of music that originated in Zanzibar and blends African, Arab, and Indian styles. Traditional Swahili dances include the chakacha, a sensual dance performed by women, and the ngoma, a high-energy dance performed by both men and women.\n Art and architecture – Swahili art includes intricately carved wooden doors and furniture, colourful textiles, and woven baskets. Swahili architecture is known for its ornate designs and the use of coral stone and lime mortar in building structures.\n Traditional dress – Swahili traditional dress includes the kanga, a colorful piece of cloth worn by women, and the kanzu, a long tunic worn by men.\n Hospitality and community – Swahili culture places a strong emphasis on hospitality and community, with extended families and neighbors often playing a key role in daily life. Social gatherings such as weddings, funerals, and religious celebrations are important events that bring people together.\n\n#### Maasai culture\n\nMaasai culture is a distinctive and traditional culture of semi-nomadic people who live in parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Here are some of the key aspects of Maasai culture:", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk011", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Language – The Maasai people speak Maa, a Nilotic language.\n Dress – The traditional dress of the Maasai people includes brightly coloured shukas (cloths) and beaded jewellery. Men typically wear a red shuka while women wear more colourful shukas. The Maasai are known for their distinctive style of beadwork, which is used to make intricate jewelry, belts, and other items.\n Livelihood – The Maasai people are primarily pastoralists, who rely on their cattle for food, milk, and income. They are known for their ability to live harmoniously with wildlife and have a deep respect for nature.\n Social organization – The Maasai are organized into age-sets, which are groups of people who are born within a specific time period. These age-sets play an important role in Maasai social and political life, and each age-set has its own duties and responsibilities.\n Religion and beliefs – The Maasai have a monotheistic religion that revolves around a single god named Enkai or Engai. They also have a strong belief in spirits and the power of diviners and medicine men.\n Initiation – Initiation is an important rite of passage for Maasai boys and girls. Boys undergo a circumcision ceremony and then spend several years in warrior training, while girls undergo female genital mutilation and are then considered ready for marriage.\n Music and dance – Maasai music and dance is an important part of their culture, and is often performed at social gatherings and ceremonies. Maasai music is characterized by high-pitched chanting and vocal harmonies, accompanied by percussion instruments such as drums and rattles.\n\nDespite the challenges faced by Maasai people in adapting to modernization and globalization, they have managed to maintain their distinctive cultural identity and way of life.\n\n### Economy", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk012", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kenya is a developing country, with an emerging market economy mostly from its sources of transport infrastructure. Its major agricultural exports are coffee, tea, roses and vegetables. In recent times, Kenya has generated its electricity on renewable resources, mainly geothermal energy.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nKenya is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, thanks to its varied geography and climate. Here are some of the notable examples of flora and fauna found in Kenya:\n\n**Flora**:\n *Acacia trees*: These trees are a common sight in Kenya's savannahs and are an important food source for giraffes, elephants, and other herbivores.\n *Baobab trees*: These iconic trees can be found throughout Kenya and are known for their distinctive shape and large size.\n *Mount Kenya Afro-alpine zone*: This high-altitude region is home to a variety of unique plant species, including giant lobelias and groundsel trees.\n *Mangrove forests*: These coastal forests provide important habitat for a variety of marine life, including crabs, fish, and birds.\n\n**Fauna**:\n *The Big Five*: Kenya is known for its large mammals, which include elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalo. These animals are considered the \"Big Five\" and are a major draw for tourists.\n *Wildebeest migration*: Each year, millions of wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti plains, crossing into Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve.\n *Endangered species*: Kenya is home to a number of endangered species, including the Grevy's zebra, the black rhino, and the African wild dog.\n *Birdlife*: Kenya is a paradise for bird lovers, with over 1,000 bird species found in the country. Notable species include flamingos, ostriches, and the African fish eagle.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk013", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Understand", "text": "**New Year's Day** (January 1)\n **Easter** (Good Friday and Easter Monday)\n **Labour Day** (May 1)\n **Madaraka Day** (June 1)\n **Eid al-Fitr** (variable) Islamic religious observances\n **Mashujaa Day** (October 20)\n **Jamhuri Day** (December 12)\n **Christmas** (December 25)\n **Boxing Day** (December 26)\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMagical Kenya website", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk014", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Talk", "text": "**English** and **Swahili** are the two official languages. As a diverse country with over 40 ethnic groups and 60 languages between them, most Kenyans are multilingual, speaking their native ethnic language along with Swahili, which is the preferred language for interethnic communication. Most people, particularly in urban areas, also have a working knowledge of English, though this will vary depending on their level of education. Efforts to communicate in Swahili are generally greatly appreciated by Kenyans and can become increasingly useful in more rural areas where English speakers are less prevalent.", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk015", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa\n\n̈From 1 January 2024, Kenya abolished visa requirements for all foreign visitors and instead moved to single entry Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). All countries apart from the countries of the East African Community will need to apply for a ETA to enter Kenya. The ETA costs US$34.09. A few countries will get the ETA for free.\n\nthumb|375px|Those from countries in dark green don't need a visa, those from countries in light green need an ETA.\n\nHolders of single-entry ETA can re-enter Kenya without a new ETA if they have only gone to EAC Partner States: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda and declare it upon re-entry to Kenya with proof of passport stamps. When you re-enter, make sure to do it within the time frame you were given on arrival in Kenya. Ask for the full 90 days on arrival.\n\n**Plastic bags are forbidden in Kenya**. The ban on the import of plastic bags also applies to tourists. There are strict penalties. Plastic bags in your baggage are to be handed in upon arrival in Kenya.\n\n### By plane\n\n'''Kenya Airways''' (KQ) is the national airline, and one of the largest airlines in Africa. KQ has extensive regional (e.g. to Capetown, Johannesburg, Harare, Cairo, Entebbe, Accra) and international connections (e.g. to Bangkok, Dubai, London, Amsterdam, New York City, Mumbai). It is also a SkyTeam associate member.\n\nKenya has three international airports:\n Jomo Kenyatta International Airport () in Nairobi. Approximately twenty minutes from the main business district.\n Moi International Airport in Mombasa.\n Eldoret International Airport (local flights and cargo only).\n\nJomo Kenyatta is the primary arrival point for visitors flying into Kenya. There are excellent flight connections provided by KQ to major tourist destinations such as Mombasa, Kisumu and Malindi.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk016", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get in", "text": "Airlines that serve NBO are: Air Arabia, African Express Airways, Air Mauritius, Lufthansa, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Condor Airlines, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fly Sax, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch, LAM Mozambique airlines, Jubba airways, Precision Air Tanzania, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, South African Airways, RwandAir, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Jambo Jet.\n\nMore airlines are flying to Kenya, and Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has become a hub for East and Central Africa. Kenya Airways (among others) also provides direct flights from Nairobi to several West African countries, e.g., Lagos in Nigeria, Bamako in Mali, as well as direct flights to Bangkok and connections to Hong Kong and China.\n\n### By train\n\nIt is not possible to enter or leave Kenya by train as of 2024. Kenya Railways have however stated their intent to revive the existing colonial network to the border of Uganda and Tanzania, opening the possibilities of international travel in the near future.\n\n### By car\n\nMajor roads are typically paved with various states of maintenance though secondary roads outside of urban areas are typically unpaved. All neighbouring countries can be accessed by road, including Ethiopia via the border town of Moyale, Uganda via Busia or Malaba, and Tanzania via Namanga or Lungalunga. Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo, and some parts of Ijara are considered insecure and prone to banditry and terrorist attacks from Somalia. Before driving to the northern region, ensure you check whether there are any security advisories or whether you need to prearrange security escort.\n\n### By bus\n\nRegular bus services operate between:\n\nNairobi (Kenya) & Arusha (Tanzania);\nNairobi (Kenya) & Kampala (Uganda);\nMombasa (Kenya) & Dar es Salaam (Tanzania);\nKisumu (Kenya) & Kampala (Uganda);", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk017", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Modern coast express** has buses from\nNairobi to Dar es Salaam. \nNairobi to Kampala. \nNairobi to Jinja. \nNairobi to Kigali. \nNairobi to Arusha. \nNairobi to Moshi. \nNairobi to Mwanza.\nMombasa to Dar es Salaam. \nMombasa to Tanga.\nKisumu to Kampala.\n\n### By boat\n\nThis is limited to the coastal area, e.g. cruises from Zanzibar to Mombasa.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk018", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nMost international visitors will arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi (NBO). If you are already in Nairobi and need to get to the airport, plan at least two hours to get there as the main road to the airport is subject to heavy traffic jams, and security checks are tedious.\n\n**Kenya Airways** (KQ) offers the most scheduled connections from JKIA and regular daily flights to the following destinations: Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and Kisumu. Check in is 45 minutes before departure for local flights and two hours for international. Pay attention to the announcements while in Unit 3 of JKIA as passengers on different flights are put in the same waiting area. If you are flying from another destination to Nairobi and using Kenya Airways in the tourist high season (July–September, December–February), KQ flights are frequently delayed and preference is given to international connecting passengers, platinum frequent-flyer card holders, and first-class passengers. Domestic flights operated on Embraer E190 Aircraft.\n\n**Jambojet** is a low-cost, no-frills airline also flies from JKIA and offers scheduled connections to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu, Eldoret, Ukunda (Diani). Plans to extend the service to the East African region are underway. Jambojet now fly from Uganda. A one-way flight to Mombasa from Nairobi can cost as little as Ksh 3500 depending on the timing (checked luggage requires an additional fee). Tickets can be booked online and paid for with Visa and Mastercard. The airline's Domestic flights operated on Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 Turboprop Aircraft.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk019", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Airkenya, Safarilink, Skyward Express** have fights from **Wilson Airport** Nairobi to Ukunda/Diani, Malindi, Lamu, Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara, Meru, Nanyuki and Samburu. The lounge features a Dormans cafe. Check in can be done up to 15 minutes before departure. Wilson Airport was once the busiest airport in Africa outside South Africa and remains a major hub for local flights to the nature reserves in Kenya and to cities in neighbouring countries. Anyone using Airkenya is advised to lock their checked-in bags. Things have been known to go missing from luggage while in the care of Airkenya.\n\nMost charter tourists fly directly to either of the coastal airports of Mombasa or Malindi.\n\n### By bus\n\nKenya has a network of long-distance bus lines. Speed is limited to 80 km/h, and the highways can be very bumpy and dusty, so be sure to pick a comfortable and reputable coach company such as Modern Coast for the long journeys.\n\nLocal buses in town are run by private companies, such as the green and yellow Citi Hoppa, which provide transportation along various routes for Ksh 50–100. They have regular services in and out of the Nairobi city suburbs. They usually seat 20–35 passengers (no standing passengers are allowed by law) and are a cleaner and less hectic mode of transport than matatus, while still plying many of the same routes.\n Guardian Coach\n Modern Coast\n\n### By matatu\n\nthumb|A matatu in Mombasa", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk020", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "Matatus are privately operated minibuses, typically for 14 or 25 passengers and operating over short and medium distances. They provide a very cheap and quick method of transport in all the major towns and many rural areas. The name matatu comes from the Kiswahili word for the number three – *tatu* – because some time ago the standard fare was three ten-cent coins. Matatus operate along set routes, picking and dropping off passengers at any point along the way. Most rides within cities cost Ksh 40–100.\n\nMany matatus are poorly maintained and many are to be found with a fascinating and colourful décor — usually global icons in sports and music, designer brands, et al. — which is a major feature of Kenyan urban culture. Travel by matatu can be risky as the vehicles are often extremely badly driven, with matatu drivers swerving in and out of traffic and stopping at a moment's notice by the side of the road for passengers. Matatus used to be usually packed to well over capacity – up to 25 people in a 14-seater vehicle. It is strongly advised not to take matatus at night, as they are known targets for robberies, in addition to the increased risks of reckless night driving.\n\n### By train\n\nPassenger trains are making a comeback in Kenya with the new railway line, often referred to **SGR** (short for standard-gauge railway), linking the capital Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa. The line is fully operational with three trains in each direction every day, journey time is about five hours. There is also an SGR line from Nairobi to Naivasha.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk021", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trains are branded as *Madaraka Express* and are operated by '''Kenya Railways'''. There is one *Express* train and two *Inter-Country*, with the latter making more stops along the route. As of 2024, tickets for the full journey are Ksh 4,500 for first class and Ksh 1,500 for second. Tickets can be bought at their dedicated website. While the trains operate at semi-high speed, stations are often far from the city centre. In Nairobi and Mombasa, travel time from the city centre to the station is up to one hour.\n\nThe old colonial metre-gauge railway network (often referred to as **MGR**) is being rehabilitated too. While this network is considerable slower compared to SGR (and even intercity buses!), fares are very cheap and the routes are scenic. There's a 2x weekly train between Nairobi and Nanyuki via Nyeri, departing from Nairobi on Tuesday and Fridays and from Nanyuki on Wednesday and Sundays. Journey time of about six hours. the 3rd class ticket is now 400. Also, there are 1x weekly trains between Nairobi and Kisumu, departs Nairobi Friday. departs Kisumu Sunday on the shores of Lake Victoria. A 3rd class ticket costs Ksh 900.\n\nKenya Railways have stated their intent to revive the network to the border of Uganda and Tanzania too, opening the possibilities of international travel in the near future.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk022", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Regular taxis** are safer than matatus, and some think they should always be used, especially at night. Always negotiate the price before the trip. You can calculate about €1/km. \n **Driving services** have overtaken traditional taxis for tourists as they are cheaper and you can see the fare beforehand in the app. The following are the most anticipated providers:\n \n \n **Little** Provide services related to food, transportation etc.\n **Tuktuk**: They run everywhere in the city centres (except Nairobi) or hotel areas on the coast. These are motorized tricycles or rickshaws like in India, cheap, comfortable and airy, fun and the best way to get around the city centre. Just stretch out your arm and one of what feels like a million tuktuks will stop. Also the best way to get to know a city, every driver will like to \"take a lap\". Negotiate price! Price approx. €0.5/km\n **Motorbike taxi**: There are also *Boda-Boda*, that is, young men with their small motorbikes, mostly by the dozen waiting for customers on the coast or at intersections, hotel driveways, shopping streets, in front of bars and restaurants. An alternative to taxi for short trips and during the day, not recommended at night or over longer distances. You should be aware that this is by far the most dangerous type of transport. Avarice can easily end here in the hospital. If you are staying in Kenya for a longer period of time, it is worthwhile to have one or two permanent Boda drivers you can trust and whom you can always fall back on. Price approx. €0.25/km\n\n### By rental car", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk023", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most worldwide rental agencies have offices in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, and these offer reliable cars with a full back-up network. One can also rent cheaper cars from local distributors who are mostly reliable. However it is always good to do a background check before sending in a deposit. When you hire a car, no matter the brand name, always take note of the various dents, or states of the car as it may prove contentious especially when a \"refundable\" deposit was involved.\n\nWhen it comes to renting a car for a safari, consider booking a customized vehicle driven by a local tour driver-guide, provided by a Kenya-based tour operator. The reason is that the road conditions in Kenya will pose a major challenge to anyone used to the high standards of quality roads and standards of driving in the West or parts of Asia as well. Roads, even national highways in some cases are in a state of disrepair, may have potholes, unmarked speed breakers (particularly dangerous) and a lack of road signs or directions. It is the general consensus even among Kenyans that standards of driving and road safety in Kenya are deficient and the country has a high rate of serious accidents. Renting a safari vehicle with a trained driver~guide is often not that expensive and this service is offered by companies in Kenya such as Shoor Car Rental and Market Hire. There are two types of safari vehicles: the less costly minibus (tour vans) and the 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser models which cost more but are larger and have four wheel drive. Both vehicle types have game viewing roofs and the minibus is suitable for travel to most destinations except those that may have involve rough or muddy road travel.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk024", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is quite convenient to hire a car online and pick it up at the airport once you arrive. The minimum driving age in Kenya is 18 years and for you to hire a vehicle, you may be required to be at least 23 years and have a minimum of 2 years driving experience. Other rules to comply with are: drive on the left side of the road, talking on a hand-held phone is prohibited, seat belts are mandatory and drivers must always carry a valid driver's license. Make sure that the car you are hiring has up-to-date comprehensive and PSV insurance which are normally displayed on the top left side of the windscreen. When hiring a car for cross-border travel you might need to purchase additional insurance and carry the motor vehicle original log book.\n\nThe Nairobi CBD is traffic prone and it is difficult to find parking on working hours. If you can, avoid going to the CBD on weekdays. However, roads out of the city are relatively easy to navigate and pleasant. Kenya has a lovely countryside and most of the roads linking the major towns are in good condition. Smaller roads however may be dilapidated and you might need to rent a 4X4 to get you there. A good map is essential, and if you are self driving to game parks and the like, a GPS would be very useful - sign posts are rare and you are never quite sure if you are on the correct road, leading to many wrong turnings and backtracking.\n\nSome car rental companies provide free extras like a mobile phone with a local number. Other extras that are available at a cost are additional GPS, child seats, camping equipment, rooftop tent and a driver.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk025", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most car rental companies offer cars of all sizes with Japanese models being dominant. All reservations can be made in English with some rental companies providing reservations in French, German, Chinese and Spanish. International car rental companies such as Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Avis and Hertz offer car rental in Kenya. Local car rental companies like Hire N' Drive & Elite Car Rental Kenya are usually very competitive and professional.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk026", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Zebras are among animals you may see in Kenya\n\nIn Kenya, nature is the main attraction. The cities offer little really worth seeing, apart from the lively and chaotic city life.\n\nKenya has some of the world's best **game reserves** where you can go for a safari, and see some of the finest African flora and fauna. The parks are famous for lions, giraffes, elephants and huge herds of zebras, wildebeests and buffaloes. It's wise to shop around for tour operators before picking one, to see what's on offer, who you vibe with, and to get a competitive price.\n\nThe annual wildebeest migration (from Maasai Mara to the Serengeti) is an awesome sight and best experienced in a balloon safari. Bookings to watch the migration are best done months in advance due to the high demand and limited lodging available in the Mara. Migration is during August and September.\n\nKenya also is a great destination for **beach holidays**, with several located along the coastal regions and the city of Mombasa, especially Diani Beach. Other coastal towns worth visiting include Lamu and Malindi.\n\nKenya is also becoming a **golf holiday** destination, thanks to the many beautiful lush courses around the major urban areas including some which have hosted international Golf tournaments such as Muthaiga and Karen Golf Courses. Outside of Nairobi there is the well known Limuru Golf Club and the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort close to Lake Naivasha. Green fees range from US$15–60 per round, plus a US$5–7 caddy fee for 18 holes.\n\nThe northern parts of Kenya are home to some **spectacular tribes** living very traditional lifestyles - you can start to encounter these remarkable societies near to and around the main road north into Ethiopia (the A2 which runs through Marsabit and into Moyale at the Ethopian border), as well as west of this in places such as Wamba, Maralal, Baragoi, Korr, Kargi, and South Horr.\n\nKenya has sites from the independence era and the Nairobi National Museum is a good place to learn about the country's rich heritage and recent events in history.", "word_count": 347}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk027", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "**Beaches**: Travel organizations usually offer beach holidays at **South Coast** or **North Coast**, which simply means south or north of Mombasa. While the *South Coast* (Tiwi Beach, Diani Beach, Galu Beach, Gazi Beach, Msambweni Beach, Mwazaro Beach) has the nicer beaches and more primordial nature the *North Coast* near Mombasa (Njali Beach, Bamburi Beach, Shandzu Beach, Mtwapa Beaches, Kikambala Beach) offers much more activities. The beaches further north (Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi) are like South Coast, primordial and tranquil, not as long and broad as Diani Beach but even more photogenic.\nthumb|Maasai warriors guiding tourists in the Maasai Mara game park\n If you want to spend some time in the urban social scene, you might consider attending music and cultural events such as Blankets and Wine, which features international and local artists performing in a picnic-like setting for families and friends looking to enjoy African talent. The event happens on the first Sunday of every month in Nairobi.\n Rift Valley Festival, which incorporates a camping experience with a sample of cultural and musical tastes from around the country and internationally.\n Samosa Festival is an event set up to integrate the Asian and African cultures in the country. A significant percentage of the urban population is of Asian (Indian) ancestry and has existed since before independence. Their immigration was brought on by the construction of the railway. This event features cuisine from both cultures, poetry and literature (spoken and written), music and games.\n Maulid festival is a one-week event that can only be enjoyed in the Coastal region, specifically in the ageless town of Lamu, which has the majority of the population of Muslim faith. It is the one event which everyone from the region looks forward.\n The three major cities have an array of nightclubs that play local and international music. Though the experience may be thrilling, it would be wise to visit in the company of a guide or a trusted local, as like any other country with a nightlife, nightclubs may attract untrustworthy party-goers and \"clubbers\", but this shouldn't ruin your experience as nightclubs are also great places to meet singles and new friends.\n **Be respectful to local communities**. Carry a consent form to take and publish pictures, always ask before taking pictures.\n **Haggle, but do not over-haggle**.", "word_count": 379}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk028", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "### Safaris\n\n**Safari**: Watch a wildlife migration in one of the national parks. Go for a game drive in many parks and reserves found in the country. If you are on a tight schedule take a game drive in the Nairobi National Park, less than 20 minutes drive from Nairobi's central business district. Major attractions: big cats including lions and leopards, buffaloes, a variety of antelope species, baboons, and monkeys, among others.\n\nMost vacationers who come to Kenya want to combine the beach with a safari tour. Safaris are never cheap, as the entry fees are high and the camps are usually luxurious. Cheap mass tourism is also undesirable as it would endanger the animals. You shouldn't visit too many parks in a short time, otherwise too much time is wasted on transportation. Less is more here.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk029", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "**Best travel time** for safaris: The time of the great animal migration depends on the annual rainfall and can be subject to large fluctuations. The best chances to experience the great migration are in the months of July to September. In the off-season after the rainy season (May - June) the grass is tall and the animals are sometimes more difficult to see, except for elephants and giraffes. On the other hand, nature has fresh colours and the safaris are cheaper. In the high season August–September the grass is short and the sight of animals is easier, but also more expensive.\n **Getting there**: If you want to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve, it is financially worthwhile to travel to Kenya via Nairobi to save the high costs of the flight from the coast to Masai Mara and back. Or, if you have enough time and want to keep costs down, you can start the safari tour from the coast by car to Tsavo, Amboseli, Nairobi, Naivasha, Masai Mara and then back to the coast by plane or train from Nairobi. The best combination of a beach holiday with a safari when arriving via Mombasa are the Tsavo Parks, which can be reached inexpensively by safari vehicle.\n **Clothing on safari**: Maasai Mara is cooler than Tsavo Parks and Amboseli, sometimes below 10 °C in the morning and safari vehicles are usually open. From 9AM, it gets very warm, so a T-shirt and shorts are enough. That is why the \"onion look\" is recommended, for example zip-off pants, T-shirt and fleece jacket and a \"multifunctional scarf\" (as a headband against blowing hair when the jeep is open, as a hat when it is cool in the morning, as a scarf when it is too windy in the open car or because of the air conditioning and as sun protection for the head), possibly also hat or cap and gloves for sensitive people. It is also important to have sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellents and enough batteries, as the electricity in the lodges is sometimes switched off overnight. Light shoes or flip-flops (to get on the seat). Getting out of the car is only possible for a short time, if at all, and not wandering around anyway. In the evenings at camp, a fleece jacket and a jogging suit are comfortable. In Tsavo and Amboseli, short clothing plus a windbreaker, multifunctional cloth, mosquito and sun protection, sunglasses and spare batteries are sufficient. In the evening, if you want to stay seated a little longer, a jogging suit and windbreaker are sufficient.", "word_count": 428}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk030", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "#### Booked safaris", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk031", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "There are a number of reputable travel agencies on the coast or in Nairobi who organize safaris and have great experience. \n There are also illegal providers who work without a license and are cheaper. For your own safety you should give preference to the legal ones. For personal safety, the company should properly maintain and insure its vehicles and have an operating license. Good companies usually have their own office and the vehicles have a company logo that clearly identifies the minibuses and off-road vehicles as company vehicles. For such safari operators, scams are much more difficult because they are easy to track. Company signs on the vehicles should be firmly mounted and not be interchangeable with a handle for the next car, as illegal providers like to do. \n If you want to book via the Internet with the local safari providers, e.g. at Diani Beach (which is advisable because of the good local knowledge), you should inquire about several providers, because each company either works with different hotels or receives different conditions at the respective hotel . The prices depend heavily on the time of year, the hotel and the means of transport to the game drive. Camps in the park are more expensive than those outside. A lot of time is lost for the arrival and departure, and there are fewer opportunities to see animals on the game drive. Safaris in which you are accommodated in a minivan with 6 others are cheaper than if you are traveling with a few in an off-road vehicle. Individual trips are significantly better than group trips in a narrow minivan. During animal migration, prices are at the highest level. For good offers, it is necessary to choose the travel time, the number of people, the accommodation in the respective park, the number of days you want to stay in the respective park and the type of transport jeep or minivan.", "word_count": 319}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk032", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "#### Safaris on your own\n\nSafaris are traditionally always expensive. Anyone who is not in good financial shape or is not a fan of organized tours will consider going on a safari on their own. There are a few things to consider.", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk033", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Do", "text": "**Important**: Basically, you should only consider this if you have experience in Africa, can cope with the chaotic traffic and the often ailing technology of the rental vehicles. Experience with the behaviour of the very dangerous large game animals is also essential.\n **Transport and rental cars**: You should start from Nairobi if you can. The distances to the parks are shorter than from Mombasa. It is easy to drive north especially and you save yourself the dangerous Mombasa – Nairobi Highway. In addition, the range of reasonably suitable rental vehicles in Nairobi is better than on the coast. The top rule on the Mombasa Highway is: Give in and think along. If necessary, there are run-off areas that you can use if someone overtakes without paying attention to oncoming traffic. But it should be clear that it is quite exhausting for the driver. You have to like driving a car and see it as an adventure. And: something always breaks on the car on a safari. You always get help, but you have to have the nerve to deal with that. You are allowed to drive yourself in all national parks! Likewise in the Mara Reserve, not in some Mara Conservancies.\n **Orientation**: Google Maps works generally quite good in cities and on country roads. It's almost useless in the parks themselves.\n **Animal sightings**: As a self-drive, it will take significantly longer to find the animals. You have to pay the considerable fees per day for the park also as a self-driver. If you want to see a lot in a short period of time, you should hire a local guide who is knowledgeable about the area and who is often even better than a driver from the coast.\n **Guides**: For the Tsavo Parks, Nakuru and Amboseli you don't need a guide, in the Samburo Park you might need a local guide and in the Masai Mara it is essential. You ask about this directly when booking the accommodation. Good guides don't just stand at the park entrances.\n **Safari Card**: You have to organize entry to the park. It's not difficult, but you need some information. You can't just go there, as most gates have to be paid in advance or only via Mpesa.\n **Camping**: Almost all camps are not fenced and some live monkeys and baboons who like to help themselves and have no respect for whites. Most of the campsites there are need to be pre-booked and prepaid. There is almost no infrastructure. You should have the right people with you when camping. The wrong treatment of wild animals can quickly result in disaster.", "word_count": 435}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk034", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the **Kenyan shilling**, denoted \"**Ksh**\" or by \"**/-**\" following the number (ISO code: **KES**). It can be divided into 100 cents, though the smallest denomination in circulation is the 1 shilling coin.\n\nCoins in Kenya come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10 and 20 shillings. Two series of coins are in circulation, one featuring an image of President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the current issue featuring Africa's recognisable animals. Banknotes in Kenya come in denominations of 50-, 100-, 200-, 500 and 1,000 shillings.\n\nNext to cash, Mpesa (phone transactions) is the most popular payment method and much more common than debit or credit cards. Cash can be topped up or withdrawn in various shops.\n\nATM networks in Kenya with no withdrawal fee (January 2024): Ecobank, Co-operative Bank, NCBA, GT Bank, Sidian Bank, DTB, I&M, National Bank.\nATM networks in Kenya with withdrawal fees of Ksh 400–700: Standard Chartered, ABSA, Stanbic, Equity, Bank of Africa, KCB, Family bank.\nATMs accept Mastercard, visa card, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Union Pay and Discover cards.\n\n### Shopping\n\nKenya is famous for many handicrafts, which are often the signature of a particular tribe or region. Look for Kisii stone (soap stone) carvings, Maasai jewellery, Mkonde wood carvings, Lamu chairs and batiks. The largest selection of handicrafts can probably be found at the Maasai Market which rotates and can be found at different locations within Nairobi. For example, on Sundays, they are located at Yaya Centre near Hurlingham, and on Saturdays, they can be found at the central business district near the law courts parking space.\n\nOn Fridays, they are at the Village Market in Gigiri, near the UN headquarters. Gigiri, like Yaya Centre, is a plush suburb, so vendors price their goods accordingly. There is also a fine selection of stores selling craft goods in Mombasa, where the atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed. However, the best prices can be found by buying directly from the artisans in their villages in the countryside.\n\nApart from the typical souvenirs such as wood carvings, it may be a good idea to buy one of the large books with photos of wildlife, nature, or culture. Do listen to and buy some local Kenyan music. Reggae is a very popular genre of music here.\n\nDo note that merchants are open to bargaining. They will most often raise the price significantly for foreigners, so do not be afraid to haggle.", "word_count": 405}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk035", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Eat", "text": "The cuisine of Kenya is influenced by the country's geography, climate, and diverse cultural heritage. Here are some key features of Kenyan cuisine:\n\n *Staple foods*: Ugali, a maize-based porridge, is the most common staple food in Kenya. It is often served with stews or sauces made from meat, vegetables, or beans. Other popular staples include rice, chapati (a type of flatbread), and sukuma wiki (a leafy green vegetable).\n *Meat dishes*: Beef, chicken, and goat are the most commonly consumed meats in Kenya. Popular meat dishes include nyama choma (grilled meat), samosas (deep-fried pastry filled with meat or vegetables), and biryani (a spiced rice dish with meat or vegetables).\n *Seafood*: Kenya's long coastline means that seafood is also an important part of the cuisine. Popular seafood dishes include grilled fish, prawn curry, and seafood stew.\n *Vegetables*: Kenya's fertile soil means that vegetables are plentiful and varied. Common vegetables used in Kenyan cuisine include kale, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and onions.\n *Spices*: Kenyan cuisine is known for its use of spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and turmeric. These spices are often used to flavor meat dishes and stews.\n *Tea and coffee*: Kenya is a major producer of tea and coffee, and both beverages are an important part of Kenyan culture. Kenyan tea is typically strong and sweet, while Kenyan coffee is known for its rich, fruity flavor.\n\nUgali with beef and sauce.JPG|Ugali served with beef and sauce\nMenu of a typical Kenyan restaurant.jpg|Menu of a typical Kenyan restaurant\n\nthumb|Drinking Tusker", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk036", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Drink", "text": "Kenya has several local beer brands, the most popular being Tusker. Imported beers are generally available in higher-end establishments.\n\nImported and local wines and spirits are widely available, though it is advisable to avoid local brews such as \"changaa\" and \"busaa\", which are often illegal, unhygienically brewed, and whose consumption has led to deaths on many occasions.\n\nSoft drinks, especially from Coca-Cola, are widely available, and the strong, locally produced Stoney \"Tangawizi\" ginger ale is fantastic.\n\nMost bars and small shops will expect you to leave behind your glass bottles so they can return them to their distributors.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk037", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|View from a resort at the Indian Ocean\n\nNairobi has a wide variety of tourist **hotels**, from backpackers hostels to five-star establishments such as the Norfolk Hotel. As long as you don't mind basic accommodations, there is no need to spend more than US$100 per night on a hotel or hostel. In addition, the international Intercontinental and Hilton chains are also represented as well as a number of very highly regarded local chains (Serena and Sarova Hotels). Small boarding and lodging establishments are ubiquitous in central urban areas for low cost, although these are rarely safe as they are located in high crime areas.\n\nthumb|Simple room in guest house\n\n**Guest houses** often offer the best value for *budget minded travellers*. In small towns or villages, lodging can be found for less than Ksh 1,000. The most simple guest houses have shared bathrooms and start at as little as Ksh 500/night--though often of questionable cleanliness and not entirely bug-free. Private, 'self-contained' rooms go for Ksh 500-1000 and often can be rented at bars or clubs (expect a noisy night).\n\n**Homestays** are increasingly gaining popularity. Part of the reason is that one can experience Kenyan culture in a deeper and more meaningful way. Most homes charge about US$20 per night inclusive of meals. Some may include laundry on that price.\n\nPeople staying **longer-term** may rent accommodation; prices range from estate-agent 'international style' rentals US$150 per week, to privately arranged furnished apartments, US$50–100 pw, to 'local' style accommodation, usually unfurnished, in a price range from Ksh 5,000-7,000 per month with windows, water, electricity, down to Ksh 500 per month with no windows, no electricity, loud neighbours, mosquitoes, and shared access to a tap. To arrange privately rented accommodation, you'll need to ask around – cab drivers, shopkeepers, market traders, could all save you the estate agents' fees.", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk038", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Learn", "text": "There are many colleges offering secretarial and computer courses in the CBDs of Nairobi and Mombasa.\n\nThere are also many universities, both public and private, and some participate in student exchange programs with international universities.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk039", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Work", "text": "A high unemployment rate means work permits are required. These can be difficult to obtain unless you have specialized skills that are lacking in the workforce. You are best off being appointed abroad, as local employment opportunities are low-paying and few.\n\nThere are many international expatriates who work for non-profit agencies such as the UN and other affiliated agencies. Their pay is very high in relation to local living standards, and as a result their employees can afford to live in luxury.\n\nThere are numerous opportunities for volunteering in Kenya, whatever skills you have. Websites such as Idealist carry details of many of these placements, which could be centred on education, conservation, community development, or a number of similar areas. Kenya's English-speaking history and relative stability make it extremely well suited for this kind of work. In most cases, volunteering can be undertaken with a standard tourist visa, although it is worth checking with your host organization before travelling as the authorities may not always take this view.\n\nIf you have specialised skills, there are a number of more focused volunteering programs available. These range from opportunities for medical and engineering placements (for example, with MSF or VSO), to short sabbaticals for people with generic business experience, spent mentoring local businesses, with Skills Venture.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk040", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although Kenya is generally safe, it has had bouts of jihadist activities and occasional post-election violence.\n\nHomosexuality is against the law but is practised secretly. Overt displays of homosexuality (especially male to male relationships) may, at times, result in open hostility. Although violent reactions are quite uncommon, it is best to be discreet if engaging in any such activities with travel mates or locals. However, it is common to see people of the same gender hold hands while engaged in conversation. A new law, with penalties of 10 years of jail for many acts of homosexuality or discussing homosexuality is proposed in the spring of 2023, similar to ones in Ghana and Uganda.\n\nStay alert when walking or driving through Nairobi. You should always be careful to be aware of your surroundings and, if possible, ensure that you have a guide with you. Even daylight muggings on crowded streets are not uncommon. Infrequently, violent and sometimes fatal criminal attacks, including armed carjackings and home invasions/burglaries can occur at any time and in any location, particularly in Nairobi. Particularly avoid walking after dark. Take a taxi if you can afford it, or a bus if you cannot, but care should be taken as most buses, even modern ones, tend to be overcrowded and can pose dangers from pickpocketing.\n\nAvoid ostentatious displays of wealth. Objects most tempting to thieves are cameras, phones and electronics. The bus from the airport to downtown Nairobi is a notorious target for pickpockets.\n\nDo not ask for prices in English when buying anything, especially from hawkers and bodabodas. Chances are you will pay at least twice normal prices, no matter how good you are at haggling. Use the little Swahili you know so as not to overpay.\n\nIf you are unlucky and get mugged, a good tactic is to wave your arms and start screaming at the would-be mugger. Confrontations with armed robbers, however, should be avoided – in this instance, remember that your possessions are far less important than your life. Most criminals in Nairobi are more interested in a quick grab and dash than they are in a prolonged encounter. Since robbery is frequently punished by lengthy prison terms or even death, most muggers can be dissuaded by a good show of force. Like in any other city, it is perfectly possible to see, and enjoy, much of Nairobi without incident if you take sensible precautions.\n\nThe north of the country has a reputation for lawlessness, becoming more dangerous the closer you get to the South Sudanese, Ethiopian and Somali borders. Armed robberies and abductions by *shiftas* (bandits) on the roads in these areas are frequent. Avoid travelling to this part of the country if possible, and take special precautions if travelling by road. Armed convoys are normal for this part of the country. Visitors to Lake Turkana (indicated on the map as Lake Rudolf) in the northwest and Lamu in the northern end of the coast should travel there by air. Lodwar, Lokichokio ('Loki') and Moyale are towns best avoided by the casual traveller, unless you have business with the humanitarian organizations based there. In other information, Bringing single-use plastic bags into the country is strictly illegal. Offenders can face severe fines or imprisonment.", "word_count": 540}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk041", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Protect yourself from **mosquitoes**, as they carry numerous diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever. Get expert advice on malaria preventatives. Guard against mosquito bites. Wear long sleeves and long trousers and apply an effective insect repellent. If arriving from or travelling to other African countries, having a yellow fever vaccination certificate is typically mandatory. The vaccine can be administered at an affordable price at most reliable Nairobi clinics and hospitals.\n\n**Malaria** medications are recommended if you are travelling to rural areas (Nairobi is not within the malaria zone). The prophylactics most commonly used in this region are doxycycline (an antibiotic) and malarone (a combination of atovaquone and proguanil, also sold locally as malanil). Chloroquine is not as useful because of the high incidence of resistance and Mefloquine, also known as lariam, mefliam, and mephaquin, is associated with various side effects, including a high incidence of mood disturbances and a lower risk of severe neurological disturbance. Consult your physician and government health advisories for current advice.\n\nIf you get flu-like symptoms, including fever, joint aches and vomiting, consult a doctor immediately. If no doctor is available, take a treatment dose of an appropriate anti-malarial and go immediately to a hospital. While the public hospitals are slightly cheaper, long waits and poor conditions and care at these facilities may make it worthwhile to go to a private clinic. Costs will vary, but a typical trip to the hospital for malaria testing, doctor's consultation, and medication will cost US$12-30 depending on the clinic. As malaria can become serious, a trip to the hospital is recommended at the first symptoms of malaria.\n\nIf you get such symptoms within twelve months of returning home, seek a doctor's advice very quickly and immediately tell them where you have been in the last year. Delayed treatment, even by just a few hours, can lead to permanent brain and liver damage or death.\n\nDo not have unprotected sex as **HIV/AIDS** and other sexually transmitted diseases are a risk. The country's Adult HIV Prevalence rate (15th in the world) is over **6.1%** or **1 in 16** adults. Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) clinics offer free testing and counselling for HIV/AIDS.\n\nCholera is another danger. When in affected areas, see a doctor immediately and drink plenty of water.\n\nAll **water** should be treated, either by boiling or through purifying tablets or filters. This includes Nairobi as well as rural areas. Typhoid fever is a risk and, like malaria prophylactics, the vaccination is not 100% effective. It is advisable to buy bottled water for drinking. It is available countrywide. All fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed. While eating from the roadside kiosks is part of the cultural experience that one should not miss, such places do not always have the highest sanitary conditions and stomach illnesses can result.", "word_count": 471}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk042", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Respect", "text": "Although Kenya is predominantly Christian and somewhat liberal, there are areas with major Muslim influence, such at the Coastal regions, where it is considered indecent to wear short dresses. This is true in rural Christian areas as well. The locals, however, are extremely friendly.\n\nBeachwear is acceptable on the beach but not while strolling around town. Nudism and topless bathing are prohibited in Kenya. Even though some hotels allow topless or nude sunbathing, these are in restricted areas and not in public.\n\nKissing or heavy petting is frowned upon in public, even though Kenyan youth engage in both liberally in night clubs.\n\nthumb|Homosexuality is against the law\n\nPermission is required in order to take pictures of people, as a matter of etiquette. Photos of military and public facilities such as police stations, banks, ferries, etc. are typically prohibited.\n\nIf you are invited to a Kenyan home, it is proper to bring a small gift according to the occasion. If you are a white man and go out with Kenyans, you are expected to pay the bills. If you invite a Kenyan out to a pub or restaurant, you are also expected to pay their transport costs, especially if you are a man inviting a woman.\n\nIt is disrespectful to reject food offered to you. Always accept tea and chapati, or mandazi, which is very commonly offered to visitors.\n\nThe legacy of **British colonial rule** in Kenya is a sensitive subject, with the violent suppression of the 1950-62 **Mau Mau uprising** by the British government being a particularly sore spot among Kenyans. Tread carefully when discussing this with locals, and try to do more listening than talking. That being said, most Kenyans bear no animosity against regular British tourists, and you are unlikely to run into any problems so long as you are respectful and avoid political debates.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "kenya::chunk043", "doc_id": "kenya", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\nInternet cafés are common throughout Kenya and usually offer decent link quality. Expect prices of Ksh 0.50-1.00 per minute. Most cyber cafes now charge Ksh 1 per minute (2020).\n\n#### Mobile providers\n\n**Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom**: After purchasing a starter SIM card you may access the net instantly, if you have an Internet-capable handset or a modem. However, when using your account balance to pay for access, the prices are steep. It is much cheaper to purchase a data bundle, and the more expensive ones offer much better price/limit ratio. For example, in 2023, a 5GB data bundle good for one month costs Ksh 500 from Airtel, while a 5GB from Safaricom costs Ksh 1,000. A SIM card costs between Ksh 50-100.\n\nIn 2021, a sim card from **Telkom** was available for free from any of the Telkom promoters on the streets. A good data package from the same provider goes by the name of \"Mambo\" (Ksh 100 for 3GB, or Ksh 200 for 7.5 GB, valid for 30 days). Be aware that the reliability of Telkom is often poor and network coverage in rural areas non-existent.\n\nYou will be required to provide valid identification as it is required by law that all SIM cards be registered.\n\nYou may purchase the bundles by charging your account with scratch top-up cards and then dialing *100# or *544# (Safaricom and Airtel), *124# (Telkom). Once the data bundle is finished, continuing Internet access will consume your account balance (this behavior can be switched off for all providers).\n\n### Wi-Fi hotspots\n\nAs of 2020, there's been an emergence in Wi-Fi hostspots in Kenya. These include Surf WiFi by Facebook and Moja WiFi that offer cheap internet connection in public places.\n\nMoja WiFi uses points that could be redeemed to access internet. A new user is awarded 50 points on registering on the network. A user gains points by watching video ads, one ad is equivalent to one point. For 5 points a user gets 24 hours of internet access.\n\nSurf WiFi offers cheap internet access. A new user is awarded free 1GB of internet bundle on registration. After that the user receives free 100MB daily by watching a video ad. When a person invites a new user using a referral link both receive 1GB of internet bundle upon registration of the new user. It also offers an app that has an inbuilt map that shows surf WiFi hostspots in the country and recharge shops to buy new bundles.", "word_count": 415}
diff --git a/corpus/kenya/metadata.json b/corpus/kenya/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5f0403d60883a6fd36c170199213c4cf62edff67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kenya/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kenya",
+ "title": "Kenya",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kenya",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "geothermal",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East_Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 10495,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 44,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kerala/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kerala/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8fb55ac2de9dfda75dc196a651349655ed1222e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kerala/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk000", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Kerala**, officially **Keralam** (Malayalam: കേരളം *Kēraḷaṁ*, keh-ruh-lluhm), is known as a tropical paradise of waving palms and wide, sandy beaches. The South Indian state is also known as **God's own Country**. It is a strip of coastal territory that slopes down the Western Ghats in a cascade of lush, green vegetation and reaches the Arabian Sea. Kerala borders the states of Tamil Nadu to the east and Karnataka to the north. It is also known for its backwaters, mountains, coconuts, spices and art forms like Kathakali and Mohini Attam. \n\n350px|thumb|A typical houseboat floating down the backwaters near Alappuzha\n\nIt is one of India's most prosperous states, and a land of diverse religions, boasting Hindu temples, mosques, churches, and even synagogues. With world-class sporting options, Ayurvedic spas and treatments, eco-tourism initiatives, beautiful tall blue mountains, pristine rainforests, golden beaches and an enormous range of accommodation, Kerala has much to offer the visitor.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk001", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|right|Kerala in the map of India\nHere are nine of the most notable cities.\n\n (Trivandrum) — the capital city, famous for its beaches, historical monuments, parks and temples\n (Alleppey) — heartland of Kerala Backwaters with a natural maze of canals criss-crossing the city, leading to it being called the *Venice of the East*\n — capital of Wayanad district, which is home to three wildlife sanctuaries and hill stations\n (Cannanore) — a historical town famous for its 'Kalaripayattu' martial arts, 'Theyyam' temple dance, political movements, forts, folklore, hand looms, beaches, coffee-growing hills and spices\n (Cochin) — a port city and the largest urban agglomeration, known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' and featuring the ancient cities of Fort Kochi and Mattanchery\n (Calicut) — heart of the Malabar region and one of the world's oldest thriving trade centres, with many pretty beaches, waterfalls and trekking possibilities, where Vasco da Gama first landed in India\n — endless array of rolling tea estates, *Eravikulam National Park*\n — beautiful mountain temple that attracts 50 million devotees annually\n — wildlife and boating are the main attractions; scenic place", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk002", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a massive coastal fort in north Kerala from the mediaeval era with picture-postcard beauty\n — the largest waterfall in Kerala, 80 feet tall and situated in Thrissur district. The famous movie *Bahubali* was shot here.\n — grasslands, forest and shrublands are criss-crossed by several streams, this provides a habitat for many birds, grazing animals, predators such as the leopard, butterflies unique to the area, amphibians, and sometimes elephants\n — stretching across central Kerala; no one should miss a boat journey from Kollam to Alappuzha\n — world-famous beach near Thiruvananthapuram\n — home to one of India's largest tiger populations\n — rain forest with several endangered, protected species\n — caves, waterfalls and pristine forests", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk003", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "250px|thumb|The [[Athirappilly Falls]]\nthumb|250px|right|The Chinese fishing nets of [[Kochi]]\n\nKerala is blessed with natural beauty – so much so that it is (rightly) called *God's Own Country* by the tourism department. The state is also considered one of the safest regions in India. Incidents of local people cheating tourists are almost non-existent. Kerala has high standards of living compared to its neighbours and other Indian states, and has indices such as education and healthcare on par with developed countries. Therefore, tourists can relax without being pursued by taxi drivers, touts or guides, though there are some beggars who have migrated from poorer states.\n\nAbundant rainfall means that lush greenery lingers pretty much throughout the year. A holiday here is an opportunity for rejuvenation. You can get an Ayurvedic oil massage, spend a day or two on a houseboat with nothing to do but watch coconut trees pass by, or just laze around on Kovalam or Varkala beaches. Thus, tourism is more experiential here, rather than being devoted to seeing highly touristed sights. Kerala was named as one of the \"ten paradises of the world\" and \"50 places of a lifetime\" by the *National Geographic Traveler* magazine.\n\n### History", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk004", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "The ancient period saw the rise and fall of the first and second Chera empires, which were the only two periods when Kerala was united under a monarch. Kerala is mentioned in the writings of many Greek, Roman, Arabic, European and Jewish travelers and merchants from the 1st millennium BCE. It was known for the spices that were grown in the lush hills of the Western Ghats. During the Middle Ages, there were three powerful kingdoms – Kolathiri/Cherakal in the far north, Samuthiri/Zamorin in Calicut (north and central), Travancore in the south. The Portuguese were the first to discover a direct sea route between Lisbon and Calicut in Kerala, and this marked the beginning of European colonisation in the country. Soon the Dutch, French, Venetians and British were all lured by the wealth of spices and silk, and came to establish colonies. The defeat of the Dutch by the Travancore Army at the Battle of Colachel, and the decline of Portuguese Empire and French problems in Europe, resulted in the British gaining the full influence in India, and the annexation of the Malabar region (Kolathiri and Samuthiri) into the British Madras Presidency.\n\nHowever, the Kingdoms of Tiruvithamkoor (Travancore) and Kochi (Cochin) enjoyed some autonomy under the British. After Indian independence, the kingdoms chose to accede into the Indian Union, and were later merged into the State of Travancore-Cochin. With the linguistic reorganisation of states, the Malayalam-speaking regions of Malabar and Travancore-Cochin were integrated into the State of Kerala on 1 November 1956. This realised a united Kerala, a dream held since the partition of the ancient Kerala empire of Cheras in the eighth century. Today, people in Kerala live a largely traditional lifestyle, and much of the rich culture and heritage of the region is well-preserved.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk005", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "November 1 is celebrated as Keralappiravi (Birth of Kerala) Day (also observed as Malayalam Divasam or Malayalam Day).\n\nKerala also played host to the first **Jewish**, **Christian** and **Muslim** communities of India. While the Jewish population declined following the establishment of Israel, Kerala still has a synagogue in Kochi. Kerala is known for its secularism and peaceful co-existence and brotherhood of the three major religions - Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.\n\n### Geography\n\nKerala is wedged between the Western Ghats on the eastern side and the Arabian Sea on the west, thus having a wide range of topography from high altitude mountains to golden beaches, and is criss-crossed by 44 rivers. The tributaries, unique backwaters, lagoons and numerous small islands provide scenic attractions.\n\n### Climate\n\nKerala, being close to the equator, has a tropical climate. Kerala experiences heavy rains almost throughout the year, and is one of the wettest areas on Earth.\n\nKerala has three distinct seasons:\n Summer lasts from mid-February to mid-May. The tropical sun is hot and temperatures can reach in the afternoons.\n The South-East monsoon is in place from mid-May until early September. Also the North-East Monsoon winds bring heavy showers.\n Winter is mild and lasts from about mid-October to early February. Heavy rains occur from the last week of September until early November, due to the retreat of the South-East monsoon. There is no snow in Kerala, although it is quite cold and misty in the mountain regions.\nWhen in Kerala, carry an umbrella no matter what time of the year it is. A sudden shower in summer will leave you drenched if you are unprepared. The Kerala sun coupled with the high rate of humidity can be unforgiving in the summer months.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk006", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "The temperature averages around:\n 28°C–36°C daytime, 24°C–28°C at night in summer seasons of March, April\n 20°C–28°C daytime, 18°C–25°C at night for the rest of the year\n\nTemperatures may drop to or lower during November and December in hilly areas of the Western Ghats, especially at popular hill stations like Munnar and Wynad. This results in misty days and freezing nights coupled with light cold showers. However, in other places, the temperatures never drop below 15°C.\n\nSummers have become hotter: though the maximum temperature has never risen higher than 36°C, the rising humidity has made summers difficult. The height of the Kerala summer is normally between mid-March and May. Wear only light, loose cotton clothes during this season. Consider a trip to hilly areas, where the temperatures never exceed 26°C.\n\nKerala experiences mild winds throughout most of the year.\n\nThe most pleasant time to visit is from September to March, when the weather is ideal for sightseeing, trekking and boating.\n\n### Religion\n\n**Hinduism** is the largest religion in the state. Hinduism in Kerala differs from that elsewhere in India, due to assimilation of traditional Dravidian culture, and later due to the unique practice of Marumakathyam (matrilineal system), which made the society highly matriarchal unlike patriarchal values found elsewhere in India. This also helped the society to be tolerant to cross-caste/religious marriages and co-living systems. Also, Kerala is the last place in the world where ancient Vedic tantric rites are still practiced widely.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk007", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kerala's **Islam** is also unique. Kerala's trading relations with West Asia brought Islam to its shores around 600 CE soon after its formation in Arabia, through Arab traders. Islam entered Kerala with an official fanfare and patronage from the ruling Hindu Chera Emperor and since then, Islam has become one of the most popular religions in the state. Unlike other parts of India, Kerala Muslims are mainly descended from Arabs through inter-religious marriages between fisherman families, who are thus called Mappillas (meaning sons-in-law). Unlike other parts of India, Muslims were given high-profile rankings in Kerala society by ruling Hindu Rajas and many of them are placed as close companions of ruling elite. Kerala's Islam follows the Shafi'i School of Islam like many Arab countries such as Yemen, and unlike the Hanafi school elsewhere in India.\n\n**Christianity**, too, has made a unique mark in Kerala's history. St Thomas the Apostle came in 52 CE and spread the message of Christ. This resulted in a large influx of Syrian immigrants who soon assimilated with the locals. Kerala has the largest number of churches in India. In terms of denominations, Kerala is home to Roman Catholic Latin Rite, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara denominations, two major Orthodox denominations, two major Protestant denominations and one Nestorian church, apart from innumerable Charismatic/Independent congregations.\n\nFor thousands of years, **Buddhism** was the most influential religion in Kerala. It was only in the 11th and 12th centuries that Brahmanism took hold in the state and Buddhism waned. Today the state has a small Buddhist population and almost all famous Buddhist temples in Kerala has been converted into large Hindu temples, some still having Buddhist saints worshiped. The famed Vadakkumnath Temple in Thrissur was a large Buddhist Vihara, which was converted into a Hindu temple.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk008", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Jainism** is a smaller minority religion, with followers mainly in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kochi. Jainism reached Kerala during the Maurya period, when the Great Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya retired to Shravanabelagola near Mysore in 3rd century BCE, though many Jain monks accompanied him. Jainism became popular in Kerala, with many Jain temples, until 6th century CE when there was a revival of Hinduism in Kerala. The decline of Jains resulted in many Jain temples being converted into large Hindu temples. The classic example is the famous Irinjalakoda Bharatha Temple which originally was a Jain temple dedicated to Saint Bharatheswara, a Jain monk, which was converted into a Hindu temple in 5th century CE as Lord Bharatha (Brother of Sree Rama). Many Jain temples were later demolished during Tipu Sultan's raid.\n\n**Sikhism** also has many followers in the state, mainly those who have migrated from the Indian state of Punjab.\n\nthumb|Interior of Paradesi Synagogue, Kochi", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk009", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Judaism** has existed in Kerala for about 2,000 years, and today a minority of Jews live around Kochi, although there was a mass migration in the 1950s following the founding of Israel. Jews arrived in Kerala during the Crusades when the fall of Jerusalem caused many Jewish immigrants to take refuge in Kerala. The Chera Kulashekara Emperor invited Jews to settle in Kochi and Kollam areas and issued them various grants and privileges. Unlike elsewhere, Kerala is one of the few places in the world where Jews lived peacefully with Muslims and Christians. Cochini Jews became the largest segment of Jews and several famous synagogues were established, though the first Jewish synagogue, which was established in the 15th century (the Commonwealth's oldest synagogue), is the only remaining one. During Portuguese rule, several synagogues were raided and many were demolished, until the Kochi Kingdom officially asked the Portuguese to stop attacking Cochini Jews. Following the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948, most of the Cochin Jews moved to Israel, and few remain in Kerala today. This resulted in the existence of only two synagogues in Kerala: **the Paradesi Synagogue** of Mattachery (a must-see while in Kochi) and a small one in **Paravur**. Synagogues are off-limits to tourists on Saturdays as it is the Sabbath.\n\nDue to its strong socialist values and history of several communist movements, there are many **atheists** in the state.\n\nHindus constitute about 56% of the population, Muslims 24% and Christians account for about 19%. Communal and sectarian tensions are rare. Kerala is considered the most peaceful place in South Asia.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk010", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "Unique to Kerala, the Malayali culture is derived from ancient Tamil-Dravidian practices combined with Indo-Aryan culture, with influences from China, Japan, Arab countries, Portugal, Holland and even from the British. There are many Tamil-Sanskrit elements, resulting in many unique practices and customs. Each community in Kerala has its own unique version of Malayali culture which will not be found outside Kerala.\n\nHindu influence brought **Ayurveda** (traditional medicine) into prominence. **Kalaripayattu** (Kerala's traditional martial art) adopted many Hindu practices. While religious beliefs and their associated myths and legends are well rooted in the Malayali psyche, the influence of communism and the Kerala renaissance has resulted in separation of religion from the daily routine of life.\n\nKerala architecture has much Tibetan-Chinese influence, due to its seclusion from other parts of India when the Western Ghats precluded Tamil influence. Most of the buildings have gabled, tiled roofs and a heavy use of wood with prominent slanting windows and ornamental flora designs. The Sree Padmanabhapuram Palace near Thiruvananthapuram is a classic example of this.\n\nDance, music and drama all have distinctive styles and attract large crowds.\n\nTo experience the entire spectrum of arts and culture of Kerala in one place, try the **Annual Kerala State School Art Festival**, normally held in December or January. The location rotates between various district headquarters. This was constituted by the government as a competition amongst school children to promote Kerala arts and culture. This is Asia's largest festival according to the Guinness Book of records, with more than 82 art forms show-cased during its ten-day duration.\n\n#### Dance\n\nthumb|300px|right|Kathakali, the lone Indian classical dance drama, originated in Kerala\n\nKerala has numerous indigenous dance forms:", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk011", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Chavittu Nadakam** (Malayalam: ചവിട്ടുനാടകം) – This is a highly colourful Christian classical art form that originated in Gothuruth village, North Paravur. It is noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the rhythmic playback music and complementary percussion. This art form highly resembles European opera. Chavittu Nadakam is believed to have originated during the 16th century AD. This form of play is prevalent among the Christian community in the districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur.\n **Kathakali** – Kerala's celebrated classical ballad with use of large costumes and elaborate make-up. It is a dance drama, noted for wide range of characters. Each character has a special kind of costume and make-up, special movements, particularly extensive expressions, refined gestures, and innovative themes. The dance is accompanied by anchor music and precise drumming. The Kathakali Music is unique as it varies in accordance to expressions and reactions. Whilst traditional Indian epics, mainly the Ramayan and Gita Puran, constitute the main story-boards for the dance drama, many international versions like Shakespearian-Homer-Biblical works are now taken as themes. A glimpse of Kathakali can be seen in shows organised by cultural centres across Kerala (including those at Thekkady), which showcase the art and educate people about it.\n **Koodiyattom** – An ancient form of theatre with a legacy of more than 2,000 years. This is very stylised Sanskrit theatre and recognised by UNESCO as a *Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity*. Most of the characters are noted for Sanskrit recitations and highly stylised movement, particularly eye expressions. Some parts of the stories are expressed only using the eyes.\n **Margam Kali** (Malayalam: മാര്ഗ്ഗംകളി) – One of the ancient group dances of Kerala practised by Saint Thomas Christians. The Margamkali is a ritual folk dance in which twelve people dance around a traditional oil lamp (Nilavilakku). They represent the 12 apostles, and Christ is represented by the lamp. They perform the dance wearing the traditional white dhoti and a peacock feather on the turban. Margamkali is essentially famous among the Syrian Christians of Kottayam and Thrissur districts.\n **Mohiniyattom** – This classical artform of Kerala is a subtle and graceful dance performed by women in traditional costume. Most of the themes are poems, unlike other classical dances which have an emphasis on Hindu mythology.\n **Theyyam** – This ritualistic rite is performed in the temples of Malabar. It is an ancient tradition, whereby worship takes the form of performance, rather than formal worship. While dressed in Theyyam costume, performers are considered gods and goddesses. There are nearly 41 various types of Theyyam, each noted for its own legend and stories. A visit to any Malabar temples during Theyyam season (Dec-Mar) is advised.", "word_count": 456}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk012", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "#### Music\n\nKerala has its own indigenous music and orchestration.\n\n**Melam** – This is a percussion ensemble, with several variants differing in the number of percussive instruments used, as well as the style of playing them. Melam is popular and is mostly used during temple festivals, when more than six hours of continuous playing is the norm. Melam attracts large crowds and creates wonderful notes. The Thrissur Pooram has the largest Melam, with more than 300 musicians in the ensemble.\n **Sopanam** – Kerala's unique classical music has slow, graceful rhythms. Most of the original versions are poems, and the music is coupled with poetic expression and style. Sopanam is now limited to regular performances at temple events.\n **Mappila songs** – This music is associated with the local Muslim community. Traditionally, the songs were performed in Mappila Malayalam – a mixture of Arabic and Malayalam - and most tell stories of social systems and customs. Today, Mappila songs are popular amongst youngsters, using Malayalam lyrics. Their tunes sound a mix of the ethos and culture of Kerala as well as West Asia.\n **Poems**: play a pivotal role in Malayali music. Kerala is well known for its poetic traditions, and the many poems of high literary value. **Aksharaslokam** (Poem recitations) is a common sight in many village temple platforms and during festival times, where poets recite poems and challenge other poets to start their recitation with the phrase, the former has ended his recitation.\n **Film Music** – As elsewhere in India, film music is popular, and Malayalam songs can be heard everywhere.\n\n#### Martial arts", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk013", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Kalarippayattu** (Kalari) is believed to be one of the oldest martial arts in the world. Kalaripayattu has many styles, the best known being Northern Style and Southern Style. While the former is focused on using various weapons, the Southern style uses powerful strokes with the bare hand. The knowledge of vital spots, known as Marma, on the human body helped Kalaripayattu warriors make blows that could freeze or kill opponents.\n\nBodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, mastered Kalaripayattu while in Kerala, and later took it with him to China while he was spreading Buddhism. He taught it to the Buddhist monks in China, which gave rise to Shaolin Kung Fu, which in turn, gave rise to all other forms of Kung Fu, as well as Karate.\n\nThe British Government passed legislation banning Kalari, considering it a potential danger, causing a brief decline. Today, it is a popular sport and exercise option which gets international attention. Many cultural centres showcase Kalari techniques, one of them being the Kalari Centre at Thekkady, as well as schools in Thiruvanathapuram, Kottayam and locations in north Malabar.\n\n#### Drama\n\nDrama was once a very popular medium in Kerala, and played a large role in the spread of Communist ideology and the social renaissance of the region. Due to the popularity of television soaps and cinema, the popularity of live drama has waned. However, some high-end dramas involving technology and innovative themes are gaining popularity in major metropolitan areas. **Thrissur** is the hub of Kerala drama, with many theatres hosting regular shows. Thrissur also hosts the annual **International Drama Festival of Kerala**, attracting prominent dramatists from around the world. Most Kerala dramas are performed in Malayalam, and the stories based on social realities. Some temples offer dramas as part of their temple festival programs.\n\n#### Cinema", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk014", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "Malayalam cinema tends to focus on social realities, and avoids the glitz and glamour prevalent in the Bollywood and Tamil movie industries. For Malayalam movies shown in local theatres, there is no sub-titling, except for those movies nominated for out of state awards. Thiruvananthapuram hosts the annual **International Film Festival of Kerala** which focuses on Asian and Latin movies.\n\n#### Mythology\n\nKerala is steeped in the mythology of the supreme god Ganesha, who Shiva decapitates He later becomes Gajanana before replacing the head with that of an elephant, and the tale of Daksha, who is decapitated by Shiva's forces after his disrespectful behavior towards Shiva and his wife Sati. This event led to the creation of the Shakti Peehas.\n\n### Traditional dress\n\nthumb|100px| Kerala Mundu style\n\nThe traditional costumes of Kerala are called *mundu* and *neriyathu*, for both men and women. Sarees and blouses form the traditional costume of Kerala women. Kerala Mundu is popular in the state and is worn by many men. It's a special white/cream-coloured dhoti worn across the waist. The dhothi has a golden threadwork as a strip running down from the waist to the bottom, and the width of the gold thread determines the cost. It is an elegant costume, mostly used for ceremonial purposes. The women's Mundu Neriyathu is similar and has an upper shawl of same material. White is one of the most preferred colour of clothing in the state. Today, different versions of Mundu and Neriyathu with different colours and motifs are available.\n\n### Government", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk015", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kerala is a traditionally socialist-leaning state and both the major parties, Indian National Congress and CPI(M), are socialist parties. It also has a strong communist movement and is one of the few places in the world where a communist-led government was democratically elected to power. Kerala's communism today resembles the Chinese way in that it focuses on a market economy and reforms, although officially they oppose capitalism. Kerala has a tradition of two major alliances: one led by the Communist Party called LDF (Left Democrats) and another led by the Indian National Congress called UDF (United Democrats). These tend to alternate in power every five years.\n\n### Economy\n\nKerala has been through a period of strong growth with one of the highest per capita incomes in the country, and poverty levels are very low compared to elsewhere in India. Most households have family members working outside the state, typically the Middle East, and their remittances make up approximately 20% of the economy. Agriculture focuses on cash-crop cultivation such as rubber, tea, coffee, spices and coconut plantations. Tourism now accounts for a significant part of the state's economy.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nOfficial websites:\n Government of Keralam\n Keralam Tourism", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk016", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Talk", "text": "150px|thumbnail|A bi-lingual sign board in a Kerala street\n\n**Malayalam** is the official language of the state and is understood by virtually all of the state's residents. Given its unique script, complex grammar, difficult pronunciation, and agglutinative morphology, Malayalam is regarded by many, also in India, as the most difficult language to learn in India, a fact which almost all Keralites take great pride in.\n\nIn urban areas, '''Tamil''', '''Hindi''' and **English** are widely spoken. As in the rest of Southern India, Hindi is not as widely understood in the countryside and people are more likely to readily respond in English than Hindi. As Tamil and Malayalam are closely related, locals may understand spoken Tamil, albeit with some difficulty.\n\nKeralites are typically proficient in 3-4 languages. One may argue that the Keralites are the polyglots of India.\n\nAlmost all bus routes and other important signs, including name boards, are written in Malayalam and some are also in English. Most city bus destinations are prominently written in Malayalam, some having English signage represented in small fonts which are often difficult to read, though all bus conductors and ticket checkers understand basic English. Most Kerala government offices use only Malayalam signage and most Kerala government documents such as receipts and bills are in Malayalam, though there will usually be English-speaking staff on duty.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk017", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nThere are four airports in Kerala, with flights to domestic and international destinations: Kannur Kochi (Cochin), Kozhikode (Calicut), and Thiruvananthapuram. The airports have several carriers operating international flights.\n\n**Cochin International Airport** () is the largest airport in the state, as well as the first Indian airport with solar-powered operations, with regular flight connections to most parts of India, of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Europe- and U.S.-bound passengers need to transit in the Middle East, Delhi or Mumbai.\n**Thiruvananthapuram International Airport** () has regular connections to major cities of India, and to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Charter flights for tourism from London, New York and Moscow operate to Thiruvananthapuram.\n**Calicut International Airport** () is a new airport with limited international flights other than to the Middle East.\n\n20 to 25 international carriers offer flights to Kerala. Apart from international carriers, Air India offers international connections from the three airports. Domestic destinations accessible by direct flights from these airports include Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Agatti, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Goa and Delhi. There are daily, and some bi-daily flights, to most Indian cities from Calicut, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram. Many of the major Indian low-cost carriers (LCC) such as SpiceJet and IndiGo offer daily flights from major Indian cities.\n\n### By train\n\nIndian Railways operates several trains to, from and within Kerala. Trains into Kerala start from neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Long-haul direct train services from cities like Delhi and Mumbai are also available.\n\nLog on to the Indian Railways booking site to book tickets online or walk up to any railway station to book tickets between any two destinations in India.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk018", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get in", "text": "Trains are the most popular method of transport and almost all trains in Kerala originate or terminate in Thiruvananthapuram or Ernakulam, and are usually heavily booked. Buy your tickets as early as possible. Another option is using Tatkal. You need to pay more depending on the class of accommodation, but have a chance of getting a seat. Tatkal is an emergency service, hence its booking is open just 24 hours before departure. The Tatkal booking starts at 10AM on the previous day of travel for AC classes, and 11AM on the previous day of travel for non AC sleeper class. Make sure that you have an Indian railway website login and valid identification card with you during booking. Some travel agents have authorised booking quotas for certain trains.\n\nThe luxury tourist train **The Golden Chariot** offers a South Indian Rail Tour, which includes many parts of Kerala. This is a good way to visit the South Indian states on a tight schedule. The train starts from Bangalore and covers Chennai, Pondicherry, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kochi and back to Bangalore. The 7 night/8 day package tour costs US$3,000-7,000 depending upon the class taken.\n\n### By bus\n\nalt=|thumb|230px|KSRTC Volvo bus at [[Kochi]].\n\nInter-state private and government buses operate between neighbouring states. Usually, the journey is performed at night to escape the heat of the day. The most common inter-state bus is Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC-Karnataka) with daily buses from most major cities of Kerala to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. Tamil Nadu State Bus like SETC also operates regularly from Kerala. Kerala's state bus- KRSTC-Kerala do have regular buses to most nearby cities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. KRSTC-Kerala also operates a few Volvo AC buses to Bangalore and Coimbatore.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk019", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get in", "text": "However private bus companies operate more buses than government options. Most of them are well maintained. Kallada, Shama, and KPN are the major players. Raj National and a few others offer pan-India operations. Kallada, KPN and Shama have regular buses to Bangalore, Chennai and many other places in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.\n\nIt is recommended to consider booking long-distance bus tickets on air-conditioned Volvo buses operated by all operators as the quality of the other buses varies significantly.\n\n### By road\n\nKerala is well connected by national highways:\n\n**NH 17** (connecting Mumbai to Kochi via Western coastal side of Goa, Karnataka and almost all towns of Malabar like Kannur, and Kozhikode),\n**NH 47** (connecting Salem with Kanyakumari via Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram\n**NH 212** (connecting Kozhikode to Mysore via Wayanad),\n**NH 49** (connecting Kochi to Rameswaram via Munnar and Madurai),\n**NH 220** (connecting Kollam to Theni in Tamil Nadu via Kottayam, Kanjirapally, Kumily and enters Tamil Nadu at Kumily),\n**NH 208** (connecting Kollam with Madurai via Punalur, Shenkottai, Tenkasi) and\n**NH 213** (connecting Palakkad with Kozhikode)\n**NH 212** is a national highway in Southern India, which connects Kozhikode in Kerala with Kollegal in Karnataka via Mysore\n\nMost of the NH roads are dual carriageways. As vehicle density is high in Kerala, accidents are common. Be cautious while driving here.\n\nAs Kerala receives heavy rainfall throughout the year, road conditions are inconsistent. Therefore, expect delays, especially in monsoon season and afterwards (June–October) even on the National Highways.\n\n### By boat\n\nKochi is a major cruise port and a large international cruise terminal is under construction. Once completed, regular cruises will operate from Kochi. A regular luxury cruise between Colombo, Male and Kochi is now operational. All Lakshadweep-bound cruises originate in Kochi and make return trips.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk020", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get in", "text": "Private yachts and other sea-going boats regularly call at Kochi.", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk021", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get around", "text": "Kerala is connected by many modes of transport. The flat southern side is better connected than mountainous north.\n\n### By train\n\nTrains are good for long-distance travel within the state. Most trains are long-distance trains with stops at many of Kerala's stations. Short-distance trains are mainly intercity passenger trains, connecting only major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur.\n\nThere are two Vande Bharat Express trains that run the length of the state, from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. They are identified by their distinct colours. The blue and white Vande Bharat Express train runs through Kottayam, while the orange and white one runs through Alappuzha.\n\n#### Train fares\n\nThe average fare for a **200 km distance** for different classes is:\n First Class AC: ₹1,200\n Two Tier AC: ₹617\n Three Tier AC: ₹430\n AC Chair Car: ₹203\n Sleeper Class: ₹120\n Second class seat in Express train: ₹70\n Second class seat in Passenger train: ₹30\n\n### By car\n\nRoads remain the primary mode of transport. The primary roads are NH 47, NH 49, NH 17 and NH 212 and are all National Highways. The NH 47 is one of the busiest as it connects Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The traditional primary road is MC Road, which covers some of the most scenic places in south Kerala. However, travel on the NH 47 cuts the time between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram by at least half an hour.\n\nState Highways connect almost all parts of Kerala. Most of the state highways are two-lane roads. Due to heavy rains, potholes are common. Some of the wettest areas, like Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Iddukki, have badly damaged roads.\n\n### By bus\n\n250px|thumb|Nadapuram Bus stand featuring a variety of buses", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk022", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get around", "text": "There two kinds of state-owned KSRTC buses: KSRTC (Kerala) and KSRTC (Karnataka) from the neighboring state, which buses drive into Kerala. Take care, on the website of KSRTC (Kerala) many bus routes and bus departures are not shown. The website only shows the few buses in which seats can be reserved. Generally KSRTC (Kerala) serves just about every town and many villages. So there is big chance that you can reach your destination by bus, possibly with one or two transfers. If you want to know certain bus routes or timetables, ask in a central bus station.\n\nKerala has a good network of private and KSRTC buses. Bus fare is usually ₹7 for 3 km with the Fast Passenger and Super-fast services of KSRTC charging a marginally higher price. The air-conditioned Volvo service operated by KSRTC charges around 250% the cost of ordinary fares. In every city of Kerala, there are separate private and KSRTC bus stations. In some cities, KSRTC buses service private bus stations, but never vice versa. Minibuses are more popular because they move slowly and the crew are courteous.\n\nFor distances exceeding 100 km, night services are better because daytime traffic is slow.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk023", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are a good but expensive way to cover short distances. Negotiate the price before entering a taxi. Ambassador and Indica Taxis are the most common services. Ambassador Taxis are rarely air-conditioned and are most commonly used in Thiruvananthapuram. Indica is more common in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kottayam areas. Most of the Indica taxis are air-conditioned. The normal rate is ₹ 50 as the minimum rate for 2 km and ₹20 per km later. A/C cabs charge normally 10 to 15% more. In Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, day cabs are available and charge ₹ 450 for a four-hour trip within city limits or ₹850 for an eight-hour trip within city limits. Most these will be Indica.\n\nTerrain vehicles and four-wheel SUVs are the most common form of taxi in hilly areas.\n\n### By auto-rickshaw\n\nAuto-rickshaws, also called autos, are a convenient mode of transport for short-distance travel. By law the auto driver must start a meter for every journey. However, at times this law is ignored. So politely ask the driver to start the meter at the start of the journey, to avoid arguments at the end of the trip. Most of the larger railway stations and all the airports have pre-paid auto-rickshaw and/or taxi stands. Just tell them your destination and you will get a slip of paper with the destination and amount written on it. Pay the printed price and nothing more.\n\n### By ferry\n\nKerala's rivers, backwaters and lagoons making travel by ferry an effective service. In some places, ferries are more popular and easier than road transport. Most of the places in the Alappuzha-Kuttanad area are connected by regular ferry services.\n\nThe main waterways route, served by Kerala Water Transport Department boats, are as follows", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk024", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Get around", "text": "(1) Vembanad Lake - 52 km², connecting between districts of Alappuzha and Kottayam and numerous of canals in Kuttanad\n(2) Ashtamudi Lake - 200 km², connecting points in Kollam district\n(3) Ernakulam - Vypeen - Fort Cochin ferry (Cochin port & harbour)\n(4) Muhamma - Kumarakom, connecting islands within Kottayam district\n(5) Vaikom - Thavanakkadavu, connecting Kottayam with Ernakulam districts\n(6) Payyannur - Parassinikkadavu, connecting various parts of Kannur district\n\nIn addition, National Waterway NW 3 runs from Kollam in south Kerala to Kottapuram in Thrissur district, and is served by large boats.\n\n### By plane\n\nHelicopter and air-taxi services are available between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. These services connect the two major metros with District Headquarters and are expensive.\n\nThere are no intra-city train/metro services in any Kerala city. Kochi has its own metro services, operating within the city limits. A dedicated Inter-city Rail called MEMU is under construction between Kochi and Kollam.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk025", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "See", "text": "250px|thumb|Kerala backwater near Punnamada Lake\nKerala gets rain for at least 7-8 months annually and the forests are classified as rainforests. There are many opportunities to trek, camp and see wildlife.\n\n### Scenic attractions\n\nThe **Backwaters of Kerala** are a maze of lagoons criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools and canals, all separated from the sea by sand banks. Backwaters are present throughout the state but Alappuzha and Kottayam are most notable in this regard.\n\n250px|thumb|Munnar hill station\nThe **Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats**, popularly known as Nilgiris, are close to Thiruvananthapuram and there are numerous hill stations in this area. The most popular is Munnar, the honeymoon capital of the state. The highest peak of the Western Ghats is Anamudi (2,695 metres), which is good for trekking. The area is also home to several sanctuaries and forest reserve areas. There are more than two dozen **waterfalls**, both large and small, with numerous rapids and springs. The largest waterfalls are at Athirampally, where three milky waterfalls fall at great speed.\n\nthumb|right|250px| The world-famous Kovalam beach\nKerala has 650 km of coastline and numerous **beaches**. Popular recreational beaches include Alappuzha Beach, Kollam Beach, Cherai Beach, Muzhappilangadu beach and Varkala Beach. Some of these beaches also have historical significance such as Kozhikode Beach where Vasco da Gama first landed in India and Kovalam Beach near Thiruvananthapuram, a centre of Hippy counter-culture in the 1960s.\n\n### Historical monuments\n\nKerala offers numerous historical monuments that can be found in many cities. It hosts the **Cherman Perumal Mosque** in Kodungallor which is the world's second oldest intact mosque and is home to many rare artefacts. There are forts in Bekal, Palakkad and Thalassery from the pre-British Raj era that are worth exploring. The state's most palaces are the **Hill Palace** in Kochi and the **Palaces at Sree Padmanabhapuram**, 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram.\n\n### Eco-tourism villages\n\nKerala was the first state to formally embrace the eco-tourism concept in South Asia, and has made considerable strides in this respect. The **Akkalum Tourist Village** in Thiruvananthapuram has a floating bridge and beautiful, landscaped gardens and many famous statues and sculptures dot the area. **Kumbalangi Model Village for Sustainable Tourism** near Kochi was a once sleepy fishing village, and now popular visitor attraction with a planned focus on sustainability. **Thenmala Eco-Tourist Village** in Kollam is the first such place in India and focusses on the natural environment. Its numerous exhibits include 27 rare trees, many sculptures, and a large musical fountain.\n\n### Religious attractions\n\nKerala is famous for its pilgrimage options. Most of the religious sites are rooted in myths and legends, and many have historical tales of more than 1,000 years to tell. Finding a temple, church or mosque is easy, as houses of worship are almost omnipresent. Kerala is famous for its religious harmony. Keralites are religious and religious functions dominate all walks of life. This does not mean that Keralites are close-minded; it's an open society that accepts respectful debate and discussions about religion.\n\nThere are often Hindu temples, Christian churches, Muslim mosques, and even Jain temples in the same city. While in Kerala, note the interesting architecture of many Muslim mosques. Unlike other parts of India, Islamic architecture in Kerala resembles Kerala temple architecture without much Persian influence. However, many new mosques are built in Arab style due to the growing Arab influence in Kerala society.\n\nNormally in Kerala, mosques and churches are referred as *palli*, not masjids as they are elsewhere in India.", "word_count": 579}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk026", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "### Ayurveda\n\nDue to increasing tourism, Ayurvedic spas have become popular for light *massages* and *pleasure* treatments. However, this practice is not evidence-based, so for medical treatment, prefer \"allopathic\" hospitals (i.e. hospitals that provide evidence-based treatments) over Ayurvedic ones.\n\n### Cruises\n\nA cruise on the Backwaters of Kerala is a popular visitor pastime. Rent a houseboat from either Kumarakom or Alappuzha. An individual houseboat can be rented in 24-hour and 12-hour blocks. Rates differ according to the season and duration.\n\nMany tourist villages offer boating opportunities which are excellent for sightseeing. In general, most villages on or near water will offer a means of transport on their respective body of water.\n\n### Festivals\n\nKerala is considered a land of festivals, with numerous festivals falling throughout the year. The national festival of Kerala is **Onam**, marking ten-day-long festivities across the state, between August and September. The second biggest festival is Christmas due to the many Christians in the state, celebrated in grand zest in many cities, particularly in Kochi and Kottayam. All Muslim festivals are celebrated among the community in grand way, throughout the state. Apart from major religious festivals, most temples host annual festivals as part of anniversary celebrations, famous for parades of decorated elephants, temple orchestration and fireworks. The most famous is **Thrissur Pooram**, celebrated in the Thrissur city during April–May.\n\nOther major festivals are **Vishu** (Malayalam New Year's day, mostly on April 14th), **Thiruvathira** (considered sacred for Hindu women, celebrated during December) and Holy Easter Week. National secular holidays like Independence Day (August 15th), Republic Day (January 26th), Naval Week (December 1st week), and **Nehru Trophy Vallam Kalli** (Snake-boat race in Alappuzha on 2nd Saturdays of August) are grandly celebrated in various cities.\n\n#### Onam", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk027", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**Onam** is the biggest festival in Kerala. It is the **National Festival of Kerala** with State holidays on 4 days, from Onam Eve (Uthardom) to the 4rd Onam Day. It is also one of the most secular festivals. Onam Festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of mythical King Mahabali, whom Malayalees consider their king. Onam recalls Kerala's agrarian past, as it's considered a harvest festival.\n\nOnam festivities last for ten days and showcase Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam (floral carpets), the mammoth Onasadya (the festival feast), breathtaking Snake Boat Race and the exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam, Kerala's harvest festival. Though the festive mood is spread everywhere in Kerala, the focal point of Onam celebrations is Kochi. The ten-day festival begins with Aathachamayam (The Royal Parade on Aatham Day) in Thripunithara (a suburb of Kochi City). The colourful parade depicts all the elements of Kerala culture with more than 50 floats and 100 tableaux. The main center of festival is at Thrikakkara temple within Kochi City, believed to be the ancient capital of King Mahabali. The temple festival also marks the start of Onam.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk028", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "The festival is celebrated in memory of the mythical King Mahabali and his reign, during which perfect harmony and prosperity prevailed. King Mahabali's popularity was at its height and led to the envy of the gods. This golden age ended when Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, expelled him from his throne to the netherworld. On account of his virtue, Mahabali was allowed to visit his subjects once a year, during Onam. Though the myth behind Onam is a Hindu tradition, the festival is fervently celebrated by Christians, Muslims and others. There are special Masses for Onam day in churches and get-togethers among Muslim families.\n\nOnam is considered the biggest shopping festival in urban areas, particularly Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. Most of the shops give huge discounts and special promotions happen for white goods as well as electronic items, making an ideal time for shopping. Dress and fabrics receive special attention during this season. Onam's Eve, Uthradom, is the biggest day for shopping, as it's the final day for Onam shopping, and is nicknamed Uthradom Pachil (Uthradom Rush).", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk029", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**Onam day (Thiruvonam)** is a silent day, with most of the festivities limited to homes. In major metros, Onam Special Sadhya (Onam buffets) are arranged in many hotels. Onam feast is the largest feast in Kerala and a minimum 25 to 30 curries and 4 to 5 desserts are served. Normally Onam is a purely vegetarian festival and people of all religions eat vegetarian food on Thiruvonam day, considering its traditional Hindu origin. However, in Malabar side, its compulsory to have non-vegetarian food alongside Onam Sadhya. Onam evening is marked with village games and cultural programs, mainly limited to rural areas. Thiruvananthapuram city has the biggest official celebrations with 10 days and nights of dance, music and events along with heavy illumination and fireworks. Official celebrations have been extended to Kochi and Kozhikode, though not of the scale as in Thiruvananthapuram. However, many private functions and events mark these Onam Days.\n\n#### Vishu\n\nThe second most important festival in Kerala is **Vishu**. Vishu falls on Malayalam month of Medam 1st (normally April 14, 15 or 16). It's considered the Astronomic New Year, as it's the day when the Sun enters the Tropic of Cancer. It is considered to be the most auspicious day to start anything new. Though it has less glitz than Onam has, Vishu is important in Kerala, more famous for its Vishu Sadhya (Vishu feast), Kainettam (First Gift by elders to young at the start of the new year) and, of course, shopping.\n\n#### Christmas", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk030", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**Christmas** is one of the biggest festivals in Kerala. Today Christmas has become a more secular than religious festival. The days from 23 Dec to 2 Jan are considered the most festive days in a year, with terrific shopping, parties, parades and festivities. Parades on Christmas eves in major churches are worth watching and special masses in churches as well as Christmas feasts are memorable. Today most large hotels in the state offer Gala X'mas buffet feasts, good opportunities to taste Kerala Nasarani (Christian) food specialties.\n\n### New Year's Eve\n\n**New Year's Eve** on 31 Dec is a major festival in many Kerala cities. The famous **Cochin Carnival** and Lighting of Papanai (a tradition inherited from the Portuguese). At Kochi, a huge effigy of a Santa-like figure called Papanai is lit at the stroke of midnight, believed to bid adieu to the past year and light to welcome the new year. This is followed by an all-night gala party with dance and music. These festivities happen in Fort Cochin. Today many clubs and hotels offer a New Year's Eve bash, also a good way to celebrate. Kovalam Beach in Thiruvananthapuram hosts one of the largest beach parties in India to welcome New Year. Beware of intoxicated locals at the party. DJ dance parties are common in Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.\n\n#### Muslim festivals", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk031", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "Muslim festivals like Eid Al Fithur (popularly known in Kerala as **Cheriya Perunal**) and Eid Al Adha (**Valiya Perunal**) are also celebrated. There are public holidays on these days and special Id prayers are held in large grounds in morning, followed by a public festival. The celebration is statewide. Sample the special Kerala Biriyani and other unique food (mostly chicken and mutton-based). Also, Id days are known for shopping in these regions, particularly dress and sweets. On Ramadan, special evening bazaars are common in many cities and famous for the unique snacks taken to break fast. Public drinking and consuming food openly during Ramadan season, for Muslims, is frowned upon. Try Ramadan special sweets and snacks during fast-breaking time in Fort Cochin as well as Chala Bazaar in Thiruvananthapuram.\n\n#### Temple festivals\n\nMost temples have annual **temple festivals** starting from the end of November to mid-May, which varies according to each temple's annual calendar. Most of the temple festivals are celebrated as part of temple's anniversary or presiding deity's birthday or other major event associated with the temple. Kerala's temple festivals have regular processions of decorated elephants, temple orchestra and other festivities. Most temples have 9 days of festivals and normally the 8th night is celebrated with fireworks and special orchestration of the temple orchestra and a parade of usually 3 to 9 decorated elephants.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk032", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**Revathy Pattathanam** is a famous festival in Kozhikode as part of Zamorin heritage. The Calicut Grandhavari (Kozhikode Chronicles) state that the Zamorin Raja, when he was the Naduvazhi (chieftain) of Ernad earlier, confiscated the Tali Siva temple and evicted sixty Saivite Brahmin trustees. Some of the trustees who resisted were executed. Tradition has it that Revathi Pattathanam, a competition for scholars, came to be organized in the 14th century as a Prayaschitta for this Brahmanahatya (murder of Brahmins, described as one of the five great sins in Dharmashastras). Following the takeover of the temple, the royal family came to the verge of extinction due to the absence of progeny. This was interpreted as the consequence of the Brahmin curse. To remove this curse, the Shaiva saint Kolkunnattu Savankal, a contemporary of poet Raghavananda towards the end of the thirteenth century, advised the Zamorin to institute the competition annually on the latter's birth asterism of Revati. The competition was conducted annually and gifts were distributed to winners in four fields of knowledge- Tarka, Vyakarana, Mimamsa and Vedanta. More subjects were later added. Pisharikavu kaliyattam festival is also conducted in Koyilandi in Kozhikode District.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk033", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "The most famous temple festival is **Thrissur Pooram** in Thrissur happening between the last week of April and mid-May. Thrissur Pooram is called the Festivals of Festivals, marking the biggest and most gala temple festival. It is actually a competition of festivities between two temples and parades of 30 to 50 decorated elephants along with huge temple orchestration by 150 to 200 musicians, a visual and auditory extravaganza. Apart from that, heavy temple decors and special lighting are erected across the city and the most famous part is its heavy fireworks is normally considered one of the world's longest fireworks. The fireworks display is also a competition between two temples and lasts 4 to 5 hours, till early morning. The most interesting fact, none of the fireworks are made using help of any computer technology or other electronic gadgets and all are still fired using the traditional means of lighting by hand. A word of caution: the festival is graced by more than 300,000 people from across the state, leading to extreme crowding. Prior booking in hotels as well as on terrace tops is necessary to view the amazing fireworks and parade.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk034", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "Other festivals include **Navarathiri** during Sept-Oct and the semiannual Sree **Padmanabha's Arattu**. Both are celebrated in Thiruvananthapuram and its focal point is Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. **Navarathiri** is considered a major festival across India and in Kerala it is related to worship of the Goddess Saraswathi (Goddess of Learning and Knowledge). In Thiruvananthapuram, Navarathiri season is marked with the Parade of Kerala Police from the city to nearby Sree Padmanabhapuram Palace in Nagerkovil district of Tamil Nadu to bring the royal idols of the Goddess (Goddess Durga is the family god of Travancore Royal family and these are still the continuation of royal tradition as practiced in Travancore Kingdom). With the Parade of Armed Police, Mounted Police Battalions, Palace Guards, Members of Royal Family, the idols are brought to Thiruvanathapuram city and placed in Ramanar Palace near Sree Padmanabha temple for the nine nights. The nine nights are then marked with special musical programs, particularly the famous classical music festival.\n\n#### The Sree Padmanbha's Arattu", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk035", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**The Sree Padmanbha's Arattu** is again a semiannual royal procession of Lord Sree Padmanabha, the presiding deity of the temple. As Lord Sree Padmanabha was the national deity of the Travancore kingdom who adored the title of Emperor of the Erstwhile Kingdom, the procession is considered one of the last legacies of royal heritage, with Kerala Police, Indian Army, Air Force making its obligation to the Lord. This was part of the British tradition, when Royal Indian Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy saluted the lord with a 21-gun salute, which continues today. The procession is considered the biggest in the city with the Maharaja of Travancore leading the procession with a golden sword followed by Palace Guards, Kerala Armed police, Sree Padmanabha's Mounted Guards and Royal Elephants, parading the idols of lords through the city, to the nearby seashore at Shanumugham Beach for a bath. Arattu is a public holiday in Thiruvananthapuram and during the bath at the seashore in Shangumugham beach, no aircraft are allowed to fly over as the Thiruvananthapuram Airport is nearby, as a respect to the lord. This is held during Nov-Dec time and agaom during Mar-Apr time. Also, once every 12 years, the biggest festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple happens, which marks lighting of 100,000 oil lamps, a world record, called *Lakshamdeepam.*\n\n### Adventure sports\n\nKerala's many waterways allow catamaran-sailing (a small often wooden vessel with twin hulls joined together), canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing, and para-sailing.\n\nFor less wet sports, Kerala offers mountain biking, mountain hiking, rock and tree climbing, and paragliding, in the hill and mountain regions.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk036", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "There is also **Oxen Racing**. A racer drives two oxen tied to wooden boards and makes 5 circles around the paddy field. This is a popular village sport, done before sowing season, to make soil easier to plough, while providing entertainment. Traditionally tourists are not encouraged to participate in this sport, as it requires skill and expertise, though many tour companies provide this option for adventurous guests.\n\nKozhikode is famous for kayaking in rivers and near waterfalls. The annual international kayaking festival is conducted at Kodenchery.\n\n### Sports\n\n200px|thumb|Children playing cricket in Kochi, Kerala\nSport options in Kerala include football, cricket, volleyball, and athletics. Malayalees are well known for their passion for volleyball and athletics. The majority of great Indian **volleyball** players and famous athletes, of which many are Olympians, are from Kerala. To participate in a volleyball game, \"bring your A game\" as the locals excel!\n\n**Golfing** is good but limited. Traditionally golf was considered a game for the rich in Kerala, hence one can only find good golf-courses in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The Trivandrum Golf Course is the oldest golf-course in the Commonwealth and a good place to play. The Bolgatty Palace Hotel in Cochin has a private golf-course for its guests, which was the traditional golf-course once used by British residents and nobles of Royal English residency of Cochin. Cochin Airport has a state-of-the-art 18-hole golf course and it is good place to play, as well as learn, golf. Munnar's scenic golf course is called High-Range Golf Club. There are some small golf clubs in Iddukki and Kottayam districts, which are mainly limited to their members, though tourists may be allowed to play at slightly higher fees.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk037", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Do", "text": "**Cricket** is a craze among the younger generations. They play in large, open spaces and fields. Regular cricket tournaments are held in Kerala.\n\n**Indoor stadiums** are common in most of the large metros and district headquarters. Many indoor games are played at clubs and tourist recreation centres. Popular indoor games include table tennis, badminton and cards. Most hotels have large swimming pools. There is also the Kerala Water sports complex in Thiruvananthapuram and the Indoor Sports Centre in Kochi, that provide Olympic-sized pools for various water games.\n\n### Safaris\n\n**Elephant safaris** can be fantastic and memorable. They are common in Thenmala Eco-tourist Village and at Kodanadu Elephant Training centre near Kochi, as well as in Periyar Tiger reserve area.\n\n**Jungle safari**. Kerala has many natural rain forests, with much unique flora and fauna. Many forests are protected and entry requires permission from the Forest Office. Guards from the Forest Office may be required to accompany you due to presence of wild animals and to liaise with local tribespeople in some forests such as the **Periyar Tiger Reserve**, **Malayatoor Forest Division**, **Silent Valley Rain forest** in the Nilgiri Hills of Palakkad district, **Wayanad forest division** and **Nilambur Teak forests**. Do not offer anything to local tribespeople or disturb them in any way. Entering forests that require permission without permission is punishable with charges of trespassing. Hunting and environmental disturbances are also an offence. Kerala tourism, in association with the Forest Office have organised some deep-jungle safaris. Jungle lodges are available in outer areas of some of the forests. Check with KTDC or DTPC for more details.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk038", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nIn Kerala, credit and debit cards are accepted in some places. Banks, money exchange facilities and ATMs are widespread. Traveller's cheques are accepted in almost all banks. Rural areas traditionally have a cash-based society. The cash limit that can be drawn per day is ₹10,000 when drawn from ATMs. A surcharge of ₹50 is charged for transactions beyond the first ten transactions in a month. Foreign currency can be converted into Indian rupees (₹) at any authorised money changers or nationalised banks up to ₹50,000 in value per transaction and any amount above this requires a bank account and Indian PAN Card. Foreign currencies are not accepted anywhere in Kerala, except in airports and authorised money exchange centers (available in all cities).\n\n### Banking\n\nThe largest Kerala bank is **Federal Bank** with its headquarters in Aluva, Kochi, with branches across the state. Major Kerala banks include, **State Bank of Travancore, South Indian Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, and Dhanalakshmi bank**, apart from almost all national bank brands. International banks such as HSBC, Standard Chartered and Citibank mainly operate in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.\n\n### Tipping\n\nService charges are common in hotels and restaurants which will be normally included in the bill (the standard is 10%, which varies depending upon the status and rankings, but not beyond 15%). Additionally, tipping is common everywhere and it's a social norm to tip in hotels and restaurants, normally ₹10-20. In larger five-star hotels or similar large restaurants, the tipping norm is normally 10% or 12% of the bill value. No tip is given for auto or taxi drivers, though over-night taxi drivers have to be pay bata (official tip) which shall be charged separately in the taxi bill.\n\n### Costs\n\nKerala is generally more expensive than the rest of India.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk039", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Buy", "text": "Budget tourists normally require ₹1,000 per day for a decent stay including food. A day may include patronage of ordinary restaurants or road-side hawkers (called Thattukadas) for their food which costs less than ₹40. Mid-range tourists can expect daily expenses of ₹1,400-₹2,000 per day with a stay in moderate hotel and for food in standard restaurants. To luxuriate, Kerala normally costs beyond ₹4,000.\n\n### Shopping\n\nShopping is a national hobby in Kerala, with vast options in all metropolitan areas.\nThe best time to shop is during the Onam or Christmas seasons, when there are deep discounts. The best shopping during Onam are white goods and electronics, whereas apparel and jewellery are discounted more during Christmas. Many items are discounted in these seasons.\n\nMost of the leading foreign brands and products are available (from apparel to automobiles) across Kerala. Consider the following for *made in Kerala* items.\n\n### Souvenirs", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk040", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Aranmula mirror: a unique souvenir\n A wide range of **coconut shell products** can be found in Alappuzha, most of them hand-made.\n While visiting Aranmula, a small town in Pathanamthitta, the famous **Aranmula Mirror** is sold - a mirror made of metal instead of glass, using a metallurgic formula which is a closely guarded secret. It is an expensive, but unique souvenir.\n A typical emporium sells handicrafts, such as Kerala's famous **wooden crafts**, **brass models** of cultural icons like vallam (snake boats), urus (sailboats), elephants in temple-festival style, and **traditional jewelry boxes**.\n Showcase pieces like **Nettipattam** (the Caparison used for elephants), molded of plastic and adorned with decorations like peacock quill, are popular. The God's Own Craft, an organization based in Kochi, has popularised the sale of these plastic pieces, helping visitors bring them home, while retaining the traditional look and charm.\n **Coir wall hangings** with beautiful pictures and **fans made out of Lemongrass** that disperses a natural scent while fanning.\n\n### Fabric\n\nKerala's traditional handloom cloth, **Mundu and Neriyathu**, can be purchased directly from weavers mainly in Chendamangalam, near Kochi, and Balaramapuram, near Thiruvananthapuram.\n Large stores in the cities sell worked sarees, Churidars, dress materials, salwar suits, and Indian men's wear like Kurtha-Pyjama.\n\n### Oils and spices", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk041", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Buy", "text": "Kerala is well known for spices. Cardamom, pepper, cloves, turmeric, saffron and many others are sold in Kerala's bazaars. Some of the recommended spice markets are *Broadway* in Kochi and *Chalai in Trivandrum*. At Wayanad, Idukki, Pathanamtitta, Kottayam and Kozhikode there are premium spices from *authorised* spice centres. These places are famous for value-added spice products like curry masala powders, ready-to-use spice powders, spice essences, extracts, spiced teas and coffee. Rare spice oils and concentrates used as bases for perfume and scents can also be found.\n Many outlets sell unique natural cosmetic powders like mango, orange and papaya peel powder and turmeric powder. These and other spices, herbal powders and natural extracts are good for making face and body cleansing powders and soaps.\n Lemongrass oil has a rare scent. It can also be used on the skin to discourage mosquitoes. There are more than a dozen oils in Kerala, famous for maintaining a healthy skin glow and reducing blemishes and acne.\n Coconut oil reduces hair loss, nurtures hair growth, and promotes healthy, glowing skin. Keralites use coconut as a high-temperature cooking oil and scrapped powder and coconut milk is used in many local cooking styles. Roasted oil and virgin coconut oil reduce cholesterol and promote good health. It is also used by expecting mothers for keeping their baby healthy.\n\n### Murals and paintings\n\nKerala is home to many famous national and international painters. There are the celebrated Kerala murals and oil paintings of legendary Raja Ravi Varma and many others. There are murals and paintings of many sizes, styles, and prices, which are comparatively lower in Kerala.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk042", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "Kerala cuisine differs from other Indian cuisines. For example, there are the dominance of rice as a staple food and the popularity of non-vegetarian dishes. Kerala is known for its incredibly long-standing, and liberal consumption of meat, fish and alcohol, unlike the rest of India.\n\nIn stark contrast to other Indian states, beef is commonly eaten in Kerala by members of all religions. Beef, fish and other types of meat have been regularly consumed in Kerala since at least the Chera Dynasty in 500 BCE. Seafood gets a lion's share in typical Kerala's cuisine and lavish use of coconut (in form of coconut oil, coconut milk, powder or paste) gives a distinct taste. Food in Kerala tends to include a variety of spices and most of them are fiery. Kerala also offers famous vegetarian cuisines and normally only vegetarian foods are taken during festival days, particularly Onam.\n\nKerala's cuisine is divided into four basic regional styles, according to ingredient availability and historical influence: Malabar, Central Travancore, Southern Travancore, and Central Kerala. Although all four styles can be found throughout the state, the food will be most authentic within each given region.\n\n### Sadhya\n\n350px|thumb|An example of a Sadhya meal\nA favourite is Kerala's traditional buffet, the **sadhya**. It is served especially during festive occasions and normally presented upon a plaintain leaf. It generally has up to 24 items and is accompanied by various desserts and savories.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk043", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "A typical sadhya consists of piping hot parboiled rice with popular Kerala vegetarian dishes like **olan** (a dish of pumpkin), **avial** (an assorted mix of all vegetables), **injipulee** (a ginger and tamarind flavouring), **kaalan** (made of yam and yogurt), **thoran** (pan-fried vegetables sprinkled with grated coconut), **kichiadi** (roasted cucumber in yogurt), **pachadi** (a sweet dish made from pineapple or grapes mixed with sour yogurt), and **kottukari** (a mixture of few vegetables like raw bananas or pumpkin or potatoes, pan fried mixed with a spicy tomato puree curry base). In some sadhyas, options like **potato stew** and **masala curry** are served. The **sambar** (a watery all-vegetable curry) and **parippu** (lentils, either mashed or in curry form) along with ghee are served as the main appetiser. Normally 2 to 3 spicy pickles called **achar** are served.\n\nOther assortments include **pappadam** (fried lentil-flour paper-thin bread), along with banana chips and jaggery sweet, served as main appetisers. Towards the end of sadhya, **rasam** (similar to mulligatawny soup made out of pepper and tomato water is served, which is facilitates digestion) and **mooru or sambharam** (spiced buttermilk) are served. Bananas are also taken as a final note to end the elaborate sadhya's main course. The desserts includes **payasam** (a sweet porridge-like, made of jaggery or sugar along with rice, cereals, fruits depending on the type of payasam) as well as **boli**, a sweet flour bread, which looks similar to an omelet, along with a banana and sometimes **unniappam** (sweet fried rice flour dumpling).", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk044", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "Normally sadyas are served at lunch and normally are purely vegetarian. **Onasadhya** (served on the Onam day) is the most famous, due to having more than 30 curries and an elaborate range of special payasams. Many leading hotels and restaurants now serve smaller versions of sadhya as part of a regular lunch offering. In Malabar, sometimes, fried-fish or chicken curry constitute part of the sadhya, as the Malabar sadhya has no vegetarian tradition.\n\n#### Thalis/fixed-price meals\n\nMost hotels offer a smaller version of sadhya called **thali** (fixed or unlimited serving) as part of regular lunch. A thali normally has around 8-10 curries along with 2 pickles and pappadams and a payasam. Small hotels and regular lunch homes offer a small, popular option called **meals**. A typical lunch meal consists of 3 to 4 curries and 1 pickle and pappadam. Fish curry or fried fish are part of fish-meals.\n\n### Seafood\n\nSeafood is available throughout Kerala. In regions bordering the backwaters and lakes, traditional cuisine includes fresh-water fish such as karimeen (black pearlspot), prawns, shrimps, kanava (squid) and more. In most of Kerala, a variety of sea fishes are popular and consumed regularly in afternoon lunch. Also popular is fiery hot fish curry served with 'kappa' (tapioca) or rice. Steamed and mashed tapioca flavoured with turmeric served along with spicy fish curry or mashed chilly gravy is a favorite among Malayalees, particularly those in rural areas.\n\n### Breakfast\n\n275px|thumb|Breakfast in Kerala: puttu and kadala with pappadam and coffee\nKerala is famed for its elaborate breakfasts. It has been adjourned as one of the best breakfasts in the world, partly due to its high nutritional value and low oil content. Unlike elsewhere in India, few non-vegetarian items are available on Kerala breakfast menus. Some of the popular breakfast items are:", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk045", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Dosas** (crispy fried ricebread), flavoured with butter, ghee, or masala or plain\n **Idiyappam** (string hoppers, also known as noolputtu and nool-appam), taken with spicy egg curry or tomato curry\n **Idli** (steamed rice pancake) a soft fluffy cake taken alone with chutney (spicy chilly/coconut paste) and sambar\n **Kadala**, a curry of black garbanzo beans chana and bananas\n **Paal-Appam**, a circular, fluffy, crisp-edged pancake made of rice flour, sometimes fermented with toddy or wine or yeast, is taken with chicken stew (mild-spiced coconut-milk-based gravy) egg curry or vegetable kurma (a mixed vegetable curry in coconut-milk gravy).\n **Pidiyan** (dumplings made of rice and jaggery)\n **Puttu** (made of rice powder and grated coconut, steamed in a metal or bamboo holder), taken along with *kadala*. Varieties of puttu made with carrot, raggi, and with fillings of chicken, mutton, and prawn, are available in some places.\n **Malabar parotta**, a type of flatbread made by repeatedly flipping the dough against a flat and smooth surface until thin, then layering it onto itself, before frying in ghee. Malaysia's *roti canai* and Singapore's *roti prata* was derived from this.\n\n### Dinner\n\nDinner traditionally resembles lunch in Kerala, though instead of rice, **congee or kanzhi** (rice porridge) is served along with spicy raw chillies and roasted pappadams. Today, dinner resembles the North Indian-style dinner, with chappathis and parathas dominating the main course along with vegetable or non-vegetable curries.\n\n### Breads & rice\n\n175px|thumb|Palappam\nKerala has no indigenous wheat breads in its traditional recipes, though most of the North Indian breads like naans and parathas are now popular. There are many rice-flour-based breads which are rarely seen outside Kerala.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk046", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "Rice breads - palappams (milk mixed in normal appam batter) and kallappams (palm toddy mixed in normal appam batter)\n Rice flour breads - pathiris (a fried rice flour bread), ghee pathiri (pathiri baked in ghee), poricha pathiri (fried, rather than baked, pathiri) and stuffed pathiris (fillings include vegetables, fish or chicken)\n Malabar paratha (porotta) - a milled wheat woven fried (or toasted) bread originated from Malabar, popular throughout Kerala\n Rice - Kerala's favourite rice is matta (a nutritious indigenous variety of rice grown in Palakkad district of Kerala). Normal boiled rice, served piping hot is a regular staple for lunch and dinner. Other popular options are ghee rice, fried rice, saffron rice, turmeric rice and biryani rice.\n\n### Sweets\n\n175px|thumb|One preparation variation of Payasam\nDue to the lesser influence of Arab and Central Asian food on Kerala, the use of sweets is less widespread than in North India. Kerala has no indigenous cold desserts, but hot and warm desserts are popular. The most popular is undoubtedly the **payasam**: a preparation of milk, coconut extract, sugar, cashews and dry grapes. There are more than 18 varieties of payasam, all having same base constituents and differ from others due to the main ingredient. Popular variants include paal payasam (made with rice grains), Ada payasam (with beaten rice flakes), Paripu payasam (made from lentils), pazham pradhamam (made from banana), gothambu payasam (made from wheat grain) or semiya (made with vermicelli).\n\nOther popular indigenous sweets are:\n\nUnniappam, a fluffy deep-fried rice-bread mixed with ripe bananas similar to the Danish Æbleskiver.\n Pazham-pori, plantain slices covered with a fried crust made of sweetened flour\n Kozhukkatta, rice dumplings stuffed with a sweet mixture of molasses and coconut", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk047", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Eat", "text": "Savories are popular in Kerala, with fried banana chips preferred. Jack-fruit chips, chips made of rice flour in forms such as achappam, kozhalappam, paka-vada, and hard balls made of rice flour with jaggery such as avilose unda are popular.\n\n### Ethnic food\n\nSeveral restaurants sport signboards **Nadan Hotel** which is Malayalam for traditional food. This indicates the ancient Keralite style of eating on plantain leaves. Sometimes the spices are ground in the old way instead of using commercially available spice mixes. On the whole, the main difference is the presence of a village cook in place of an urban chef.\n\n### Cost of food\n\nFood prices vary greatly, but Indian Coffee House outlets charge as followsː\n Vegetarian meals ₹40\n Nonvegetarian meals ₹70\n Ghee rice, single ₹37\n Chicken curry ₹65\n Fish curry ₹47\n Fish fry ₹110\n Egg masala ₹35\n Beef biriyani ₹110\n Chicken biriyani, single ₹95\n Mutton biriyani, single ₹125", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk048", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Water**. Tap water is usually unsafe to drink. Mineral water is available at almost all shops and is the safest option.\nthumb|Tender coconut vendor\n **Tender coconut water**, (karikku) is available in even the smallest towns. It is sweet and creamy and contains an ice-cream like cream which can be drunk, housed in a delicious pulp that can be eaten. It's healthy, too.\n**Coffee** (kapi) and **tea** (chaya): unlike elsewhere in South India, in Kerala tea is more popular than coffee. Stalls selling tea are common. The famous tea of Kerala is the Kannan Devan brand. In Kerala there are Milma (a milk brand) booths selling tea with milk and snacks. Coffee is more popular in urban areas. Popular national brands like Cafe Coffee Day and many local cafes offer various flavours of coffee with western/oriental snacks. Kerala's traditional cafe is *Indian Coffee House*, which are old-fashioned pre-1970s-style coffee shops offering Kerala coffee along with Kerala foods. From the new generation of cafe, comes Kerala's widespread *Coffee Beanz*. They offer various innovative coffee flavours and traditional Kerala snacks along with lite burgers.\n**Juices and shakes**, Kerala, being a tropical state, offers many tropical juices. Almost everywhere one can find juice stalls selling mango, orange, pineapple, lemon, watermelon and other juices. Milk shakes mixed with ice-cream are popular and the best way to beat the Kerala summer heat. *Sharja shake* and *chikoos* are popular milkshakes mixed with various fruits and fruit-flavoured ice-creams.\n **Alcohol**, Kerala tops in per capita alcohol consumption in India, despite the high rate of government taxation. There is a bar in most hotels serving anything from 'kallu' (Kerala traditional palm toddy) to Scotch whisky. Alcohol consumption in public is frowned upon, and the bars, except in expensive hotels, tend to be seedy. Bars in urban areas nowadays are more upscale and hence more expensive or carry additional service charges. For budget travellers who wish to have liquors in private, most of the liquor brands along with beer can be bought from Government-run Kerala State Beverage Corporations Limited (popularly known as Beverage Shop or Bevco) stores and drunk in private. However, there is usually a long queue in front of these stores. Additionally, they are closed on the 1st of every month. Kerala has many posh bars and pubs in which to drink. Several restaurants in cities like Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kollam serve alcohol along with food. Cocktails are popular.\n Locally made **palm toddy**, called kallu, is tempting, but some people become sick due to bad brews. If you do try it, stick to the license-made brew, and not local moonshine. However, on the Alappuzha-Changaserry route, there are good toddy shops which offer authorised toddy in addition to tasty, unique Kerala specialties. Even if you don't try toddy, the food from these toddy shops is an excellent way to experience Kerala's distinctive cuisine.", "word_count": 475}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk049", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Sleep", "text": "With tourism being an important source for the state's coffers, a variety of accommodation is available for various tastes and budgets. Almost all major cities have hotels ranging from tourist lodges to 5-star hotels and theme resorts. There are also youth hostels, home-stays, travel dormitories and small lodges catering to smaller budgets.\n\nFor a smoother, more peaceful visit, stay in beach properties as the rest of Kerala suffers from traffic issues. Traffic jams are a daily phenomenon in most of Kerala. Since the railway line isolates the beach side from the rest of the downtown areas, the beach areas are more peaceful. On the other hand, the hill districts of Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki and Pathanamthitta rarely experience traffic snarls.\n\n### Homestays\n\nKerala was one of the first states in India to pioneer the concept of homestays and make it a successful industry. Under the homestay concept, you stay with a family who can show you around and help you experience Kerala. Your accommodation and food come at a nominal cost. The host family probably speaks English. All the people offering homestays are vetted by the government and will have to register themselves as such.\n\nMost home-stays are in the Fort Cochin area, where traditional large colonial bungalows and Jewish houses have been converted into homestays. Alappuzha and Kottayam have many large homestays catering to both rich and budget tourists. Kollam also has its own share of home-stays which are mostly traditional Portuguese bungalows in addition to those owned by the town's industrialists. There are many small-scale backpacker-oriented homestays in Kannur and other Malabar towns.\n\nThe government has strict guidelines for homestays, so they are generally safe and well-maintained. These homestays range between ₹300 and ₹3,500 per night, depending upon the property and its profile.\n\n### Budget", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk050", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Sleep", "text": "₹322.50 and ₹700 are magic numbers when looking for budget non-AC and AC rooms respectively. Expect basic amenities: a bed, a TV and an attached bathroom. Most of the budget hotels call themselves tourist lodges, tourist homes or, sometimes, hotels. They are rarely star-rated. Most hotels near railway stations in cities are cheap. Kerala has many Brahmin's tourist homes with rooms for families and couples. If available, choose this option as they are safe and quiet. Cheap, extended-stay options with an attached kitchenette, are rare in Kerala.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nExpect to pay above ₹700 (~US$14) for a non-air-conditioned room or more than ₹1,200 (~US$26) for one with air-conditioning. This category includes many 3-star hotels. Expect spacious rooms, English-proficient concierges, and airport or railway station pick-up and drop-off.\n\nThemed resorts also may also fall in this category. Expect ₹3,000 and above. It is possible to rent an entire cottage in an idyllic location. These cottages are equipped with kitchens.\n\n### Splurge\n\nAlmost all 3-star and above hotels and resorts are in this category. Star-rated hotels in India are not cheap. Most of them throw in a complimentary guided or packaged tour. Most five-star hotels provide an attached kitchenette. If you tire of Indian food, this would be a good option. Most of these hotels offer only air-conditioned rooms. Average costs can be ₹5,000 and above for a night. These are generally safe and provide a sound holiday.\n\n### Extended stay\n\nIf planning to stay more than 2 weeks, monthly stay options are better than hotels. Housing in Kerala is not expensive, though it may be on the higher side in major metros. But elsewhere, housing is cheaper, even by Indian standards.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk051", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Serviced apartments are common in Kochi, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kollam, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. There are popular service apartments, which offer hotel-like facilities for an extended stay, in Kochi city. Most of these apartments are well furnished with kitchenette facilities. Keep in mind more amenities usually mean higher costs.\n\nFor budget tourists, lodges are the best option. In most of the places, lodges or tourist homes offer single or double rooms on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Most of them have standard facilities, including attached toilets. Cheaper ones may not have TVs or personal landlines in each room. There are also men's and ladies' hostels, where single travellers can stay on a monthly basis.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk052", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Kerala is considered a safe region of India, with functional police and state institutions. However, one must not do without caution.\n\n### Crime\n\nKerala has its share of criminals. Pickpockets frequent crowded areas like buses, festival grounds and city shopping areas. Don't trust hotel cleaning staff with your costly belongings. Also, women are advised not to walk around in tight or revealing clothing. Do not wander late at night, especially alone.\n In trains and buses, it is absolutely vital not to eat or drink anything offered by a fellow traveller, due to risks of sedation and robbery. A smile and a soft \"No, thank you\" will suffice to avoid offending the genuine traveller. Be firm, yet polite. This especially holds true for interactions with a lone or a couple of fellow passengers. However, interactions with families are considered safer.\n\n### Hartals\n\nThe most likely problems are **strikes, protest processions and hartals** (which are called \"voluntary closure of activities\" as protests, but are enforced on everyone by the organisers) which are common in Kerala, considering its highly politicised and socialist leanings. Hartals or road blockades due to protests may strand tourists in airports or railway stations. They can be avoided because all political parties announce the date and details of major protests far in advance in leading dailies. Regularly follow leading English dailies, speak to your hotel reception desk staff/restaurant staff (smaller towns sometimes have \"hartals\" called with a day's notice) and keep buffer days for all travel.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk053", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "On hartal days, normally all forms of transport keep off roads from morning till evening. So be prepared to walk to your hotel or wait in the airport or railway station till evening. Kerala Police normally operate free buses under police convoy to transport tourists and urgent passengers to important areas in major towns and cities; these can be used as a last resort.\n\n### \"Moral Police\"\n\nMany people in Kerala complained of \"Moral Policing\" or vigilante groups that attack unmarried couples for making out in public. These vigilante groups never target foreigners, but if you look like an Indian, it is advisable to restrict your movements to the cities and tourist centres. If you remember these rules of thumb, Kerala will be fine for you.\n\n### Other issues\n\nWhile boating insist on being offered life jackets. Many boat operators ignore the statutory issuance of life jackets while boating, which could prove risky, as most of the Kerala's water bodies are deep.\n Though Kerala has few touts or so-called \"guides,\" a few people from outside the state do encounter this problem at some tourist centres, especially hill stations like Munnar. Avoid them completely, as many nowadays are thieves seeking prey. A firm \"no\" suffices.\n\n### Emergency assistance\n\n#### Police\n\nThe Kerala Police force is one of the most efficient police units in India and the least corrupt. Most of the police officials are well versed in English and Malayalam. Most of the cities do have a strong police network and it's easy to find a police station. Normal *law and order* police force wear khaki uniforms. Traffic Police wear a uniform of a white shirt with khaki pants.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk054", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There is a specialised police section for tourist protection: the Tourist Police. This force is stationed at prominent tourist places, beaches, monuments, trekking areas and other tourist attractions. They wear a light blue shirt with khaki pants and have an aid post marked **Tourist Police**. They can be helpful. The International Tourist Police Station in Mattancherry-Fort, Kochi should be the primary tourist assistance point for any complaints and may also be used for information on any immigration and passport or visa matter.\n\n- Highway police\n\n#### Fire and public rescue\n\n- Kerala's Fire and Rescue Services\n\n#### Medical emergency\n\nKerala hospitals, first aid centres and select primary health-care centres across the state are all equipped for emergency admissions and treatment. Most ambulances have a Red Cross on a white background, but members of the Rapid Medical Action Force (RMAF) have a yellow and green livery ambulance with a Red Cross sign.\n\nFor any urgent medical attention or ambulance services, call . Kerala Healthcare Department has unified with and emergency providers. 108 Emergency is an advanced life-saving ambulance even equipped to carry out minor operations operating mainly in urban areas, while 1298 provides comprehensive services across all parts of Kerala.\n In event of an accident, use only hospitals marked \"'Casualty'\" outside, as they have a suitable licence to admit a road-accident case.\n In event of any accident on a roadway, call for police or , as many times common citizens do not come to rescue, especially in large cities, fearing involvement in a police case. The police maintain fast and effective accident identification and recovery service; thus, in the event of any accident, even a distress call from your mobile can help them to identify your position and assist in expediting medical attention.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk055", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tap water** is generally safe for drinking, though tourists are advised to buy bottled water for drinking or boil the tap water. As a tropical country, Kerala is hot and humid so stay hydrated.\n\nMost toilets do not have **toilet paper**, so always carry your own. A hose delivers water instead (somewhat like, but not equivalent to, the Japanese *bidet* toilets).\n\nMalaria, dengue fever, cholera and viral fever are endemic to the region. Moonsoon time is considered one of the major epidemic seasons, due to the wet atmosphere, which provides breeding grounds for water-borne viruses. Mosquito repellents should be applied regularly, or use of mosquito coils or mosquito repellent mats in your room and mosquito nets over beds. Various local spice extracts and oils repel mosquitoes.\n\nWhile touring during summer days, always wear a cap or have an umbrella to avoid the harshness of the tropical sun, and wear only cotton. Drinking *sharbath*, a popular road-side stall drink made of carbonated lemon juice mixed with sugar syrup with a little salt, can stave off dehydration.\n\n### Medical care\n\nThe standard of medical care in Kerala is excellent and this is a popular destination for medical tourism and medical research. Many hospitals in Kerala are of international standards. Government-run clinics and hospitals are free for all but can be crowded and not the best option for visitors. Private hospitals offer good treatment at comparatively low prices.\n\nFor minor ailments, almost any private hospital or clinic suffices. Most of the private-care hospitals are well equipped and have good physicians and specialists. Out-patients are required to have an appointment to avoid large queues and most of them have pharmacies nearby.\n\nLarge, super-specialty hospitals are available in major metro cities. These are major research centres, and are expensive by Indian standards. Most of the hospitals in large towns and metros do accept foreign medical insurance cards, mainly issued in the U.S., Europe and Middle East, apart from almost all national medical insurance covers, which need to be presented at hospital reception.\n\nKerala also has prestigious, large Ayurvedic hospitals and super-specialty Ayurvedic research centres, some even equipped to conduct surgeries and cancer treatments. Generally, Ayurvedic healthcare centres are more expensive than the \"allopathic\" ones. However, always prefer hospitals that provide evidence-based treatment for serious illness.\n\n### Stray-dog menace\n\nTourists should avoid walking in lonely streets of Kerala as stray dog menace has increased lately. One woman was killed in 2016 when she was attacked by a pack of dogs. Many dogs can be seen wandering in a violent pack formation during the night.", "word_count": 428}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk056", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Places of worship\n\nIn Kerala, the religions coexist in harmony. This is achieved by respecting each religion's customs and rituals. A visit to their shrines reveals the breadth of their cultural influence.\n\n#### Hindu temples\n\nSome Hindu temples in Kerala do not admit non-Hindus inside, in which case a sign board to that effect is prominently displayed outside the temple premises. The only exceptions are the Muthappan Temples, which do not have these restrictions. It is best to ask someone at the temple if unsure. Photography inside the temple is forbidden. The Sabarimala temple did not allow women aged between 10 and 50 and even though this rule was abolished by India's Supreme Court, it is still considered very taboo and women in this category should not enter under any circumstance.\n\nBecause tidiness and personal hygiene are important, a bath in the morning is required for those entering a temple.\n\nFor male visitors at many places inside a temple, the dress code is traditional *mundu* without a shirt - the no-shirt rule will be enforced even if the *mundu* rule is not. Watch what others are doing and follow. Remove your footwear outside the temple. Usually there are no locker facilities, so cheap footwear is best.\n\nWomen should wear a long dress, preferably not shirts and trousers, and are forbidden from entering temples for 7 days after the start of their menstrual period.\n\nThere are exceptions to some of these rules, though, so when in doubt, check.\n\n#### Mosques", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk057", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Respect", "text": "Some mosques do not allow women inside. For those that do, women must dress modestly by wearing a dress that covers their entire torso, legs and arms, and cover their head with a shawl or scarf. No photography or any electronic equipment is allowed inside, and all who enter must remove their shoes.\n\n#### Churches\n\nThe churches in Kerala admit non-Christians inside. Men usually sit to the left of the aisle and women to the right. Some of the more traditional churches don't even have pews; you'll have to stand. Ladies do cover their head with a shawl or scarf during the mass.\n\n#### Synagogues\n\nThe synagogue at Kochi is not open to non-Jews on Saturdays. Visitors need to dress with modesty. Sleeveless tops and short trousers are not permitted.\n\n#### Jain temples\n\nMany Jain temples no longer function, though the Kochi and Kozhikode temples remain active. When visiting an active Jain temple, modest dress is required, including a head covering and something to cover the nose and mouth since Jains believe in utmost non-violence and do not like even to kill a small insect that might be inhaled. Do not take any pictures of Jain monks, as some Jain monks believe in nudity and photographing them is considered offensive.\n\n### Customs and social etiquette\n\nSome customs and social etiquette should be understood to be respectful and respected as a visitor.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk058", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Respect", "text": "Kerala is traditionally a matriarchal society, with ladies given more preferences and priority. They receive priorities in queue, seating in public transport, priority or separate reservations in public transport waiting lists, etc.\n Ladies are expected to conform to traditional standards of modesty. For example, ladies smoking and drinking are considered a social taboo (so be discreet if you partake). Ladies should wear shorts that at least cover the knee. They will fit in better if they wear full-length dresses and skirts.\n Though Kerala ranks highest in alcohol consumption inside India, including wine or beer, public consumption is frowned upon. Women consuming alcohol are especially frowned upon; it would be unwise for a woman visiting the state to enter a bar, with the exception of lounges and bars in premium hotels in cities such as Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.\n Nudity in any form is frowned upon for both genders, especially for women. It's OK for men to be bare-chested in public, though it's little appreciated except at the beach or rural areas. In public beaches or rivers, women can wear swim-suits or covering towels around the body, but bikinis are generally frowned upon and only invite trouble. It is safest to confirm with a female hotel receptionist if a private hotel pool will allow bikinis. Though there is no gender segregation at beaches, rivers, ghats or swimming pools, gender segregation is maintained in temple ponds and certain public ghats.\n In any public transport like buses, the front rows are reserved for ladies, and men are expected to not sit there, even if the seats are unoccupied.\n If you have Kerala sadya (traditional Kerala buffet) in places other than large hotels, you are expected to discard any leftovers (called echil) by folding the leaf upon which you ate into two and putting it where others do. You must not leave it at the serving place and leave.", "word_count": 315}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk059", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Connect", "text": "Kerala is almost covered by 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G mobile network connectivity. From 2023 onwards, the 5G services began in Kerala, and all major locations are covered by high-speed connectivity. Major hotels offer free Wi-Fi and there are Internet cafes in leading cities. Major places and railway stations also provide free Wi-Fi in association with Google and BSNL.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "kerala::chunk060", "doc_id": "kerala", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bangalore (Bengaluru) — the garden city, once the sleepy home of pensioners now transformed into a city of pubs and technology companies\n Courtallam — famous for its waterfalls and oil therapy, near Kollam\n Kanyakumari — a Hindu religious place, lies on the southern tip of the Indian mainland and the Vivekananda rock.\n Kodagu (Coorg) — a popular hill-station, known as the Scotland of India. Famous for its exotic coffee plantations, Tibetan settlements, forest safaris and woods party.\n Lakshadweep — the pristine coral reef islands, small archipelagos, white sand beaches famous for scuba diving\n Madurai — city famous for its Meenakshi Amman Temple, it was among the nominees for the new list of 7 wonders of the world for its architecture.\n The Maldives — an island-nation, well connected by flights from Thiruvananthapuram, famous for its water sports and beach tourism\n Mysore (Mysuru) — the cultural capital of neighboring Karnataka state, famous for its large palaces and festivals\n Sri Lanka — this wonderful island, now recovering from years of civil war, is an easy flight from Kochi.", "word_count": 175}
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kerala/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kerala",
+ "title": "Kerala",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kerala",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern India"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bangalore",
+ "Courtallam",
+ "Kollam",
+ "Kanyakumari",
+ "Kodagu",
+ "Lakshadweep",
+ "Madurai",
+ "Maldives",
+ "Thiruvananthapuram",
+ "Mysore",
+ "Sri Lanka",
+ "Kochi"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 15096,
+ "listing_count": 12,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 61,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/khao-sok/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/khao-sok/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2bcbd924db6de7b56e4a0e7cca497bd01d44bdcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/khao-sok/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk000", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Khao Sok National Park** *(pronounced \"cow soak\")* is a jungle reserve in Southern Thailand. It is one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Thailand.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk001", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are 2 main sections of Khao Sok National Park. The west entrance is where Park HQ is located along with the main hiking trails. The east entrance is where Ratchaprapha Pier is located where you go to get to the floating rafthouses. The 2 entrances are 65 km apart and over 1 hour of driving, so please take that into consideration when planning your trip.\n\n“Khao Sok” is used as a catch-all term to describe the general area where the park is located. This usually includes the area from Ratchaprapha Pier west to the Surat Thani -Phangnga border, along Highway 401. “Khao Sok Village” is the 2km stretch of road from Highway 401 to Park HQ. “Khlong Sok” is both the name of the river in the area as well at the administrative subdistrict (ตำบล คลองศก).\n\n- Khao Sok National Park HQ\n\n- Rajjaprabha Dam Pier\n\n### History\n\nThe Royal Forest Department declared Khao Sok the 22nd national park of Thailand on 22 Dec 1980.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe park has a total area of , which covers parts of the Khlong Yee and Khlong Pra Sang forests as well as portions of the Krai Son and the Khao Pung sub-districts in the district of Ban Ta Khun and the Khlong Sok and Panom sub–districts in the province of Surat Thani.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk002", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nThe closest airport is Surat Thani International Airport (URT). There are multiple flights daily from **Bangkok** ( and ) and **Chiang Mai** ().\n\n - Surat Thani International Airport\n\nOnce you arrive in Surat Thani, there are buses or minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel. Only buy the tickets directly from operator you are using. There is a Tourism kiosk at the airport, but they sell bus, minivan, and ferry tickets at inflated prices.\n\n - Phantip Office - Surat Thani Airport Branch\n\n *Surat Thani (Airport) – Ratchaprapha Dam (1.3 hrs, 250 baht)*\n *Surat Thani (Airport) – Khao Sok (2 hrs, 250 baht)*\n\nCar rentals are also available at the airport. See the Surat Thani wikivoyage page for more information.\n\n### By train\n\nThe closest major train station is the Surat Thani Railway Station in Phunphin district.\n\n - Surat Thani Railway Station\n\nOnce you arrive in Surat Thani, there are minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel.\n\n - Phantip Office - Surat Thani Train Station Branch\n\n *Surat Thani (Train Station) – Khao Sok (3 hrs, 200 baht)*\n *Surat Thani (Train Station) – Ratchaprapha Dam (3.3 hrs, 200 baht)*\n\n### By bus\n\n**From Surat Thani:**\n\nMinibus service: departure every hour from 07:30 till 17:30 (but the last one can be cancelled).\n\n - Phantip Office - Suratthani Town Branch\n\n *Surat Thani (Town) – Ratchaprapha Dam (2 hrs, 250 baht)*\n *Surat Thani (Town) – Khao Sok (2.5 hrs, 250 baht)*\n\nBus running approximately every hour. Transit time is about 2.5 hours. Price: about 120 baht.\n\n - Talad Kaset 2\n\n Terminal 22: Suratthani – Khao Sok\n\n**From Bangkok:**\n\n*By night bus:* There is only one night bus from Bangkok per day stopping at Khao Sok. In Bangkok, it seems that the only way to book and buy it is to go directly to the southern bus station in Bangkok (booking any other night bus sold by agencies is not recommended). In Khao Sok, it is possible to book and buy it in the local agency or at your hotel (ask for the real VIP bus, direct from Khao Sok to Bangkok).\n\n**From Ko Lanta, Ko Jum or Ko Phi Phi:**\n650-700 baht for Ko Lanta or Ko Jum;\n550-600 baht for Ko Phi Phi.\n\n**From Krabi:**\nOnly one minibus per day, starting from Krabi at about 11:00; starting from Khao Sok at 08:30. Transit time is 3 hours. Price: 300-350 baht.\n\n**From Phuket or Khao Lak:**\nThere is a bus service (approximately one bus per hour; the last one starts from Phuket around 14:00). Transit time is 4 hours from Phuket and 2 hours from Khao Lak (including a 20 min stop in Takua Pa that you may use to visit the local market). Price: about 160 baht from Phuket and from Khao Lak about 120 baht. The same bus service can be used when leaving the park but sometimes they switch to one bus per two hours without prior notice so you might end up waiting longer than you expected.", "word_count": 499}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk003", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "thumb|Lakeside accommodation\nForeigners: 300 baht for adults, 150 baht for children; Thais: 40 baht for adults, 20 baht for children.\n\nUpon presentation of a Pink Thai ID Card/Yellow Tabien Baan or Thai Work Permit, the fee may be reduced to the Thai rate at the gatekeeper's discretion. A Thai Driver’s Licence is no longer valid ID at national parks but you may still be able to get the Thai rate with it.\n\nBuy your admission at the park entrance. Tickets are valid for 24 hours only. If you plan on visiting Park HQ and the lake on the same day, keep your admission ticket so you don’t have to pay the entrance fee again. Some tours will include the park entrance fee in the tour package, something to take into consideration when choosing a tour.", "word_count": 135}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk004", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Walking is the primary mode of transportation, as the road to the park is 2 km and the farthest one can walk into the park is about 20 km.\n\nThere are motorbike and bicycle rentals available near Park HQ if you want to explore the surrounding area.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk005", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "See", "text": "- Rafflesia Flower\n\n### Inside Park HQ\n\n- Khao Sok National Park Visitor Center\n\n#### Western Track\n\nThe *Western Track* is also known as *Route 1: Bang Hua Rat Waterfall - Ton Kloi Waterfall Nature Trail* or the *Wide Trail*. The route covers 9 km which visitors can walk on their own. The trail is usually closed past Wang Yao, yearly from 1 June - 14 December, due to the rainy season (ie. dangerous conditions). You may be able to hire a guide to go further.\n\n - Wing Hin Waterfall\n\n - Bang Hua Rat Waterfall\n\n - Wang Yao\n\n - Bang Leiap Nam Waterfall\n\n - Than Sawan Waterfall\n\n - Tang Nam\n\n - Ton Kloi Waterfall\n\n#### Northern Track\n\nThe trail is usually closed past San Yang Roi, yearly from 1 June - 14 December, due to the rainy season (ie. dangerous conditions). You may be able to hire a guide to go further.\n\n - Sip Et Chan Waterfall\n\nthumb|Karst formations on the lake\n\n### Cheow Lan Lake\n\n - Temple Cave\n\n - Pakarang Cave\n\n - Diamond Glitter Cave\n\n - Nam Talu Cave\n\n### Nearby area\n\n - Sok Temple & Phanthurat Cave\n\n - Luk Nam Cave", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk006", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The entrance of the national park\nTours can include tubing down the river, caving, kayaking, and zipline riding in the forest canopy. Many tours will include drinks, food, and/or basic accommodation. Ask your guide in advance about dietary concerns (vegetarian or in Thai, \"*jay*\", for example), if lunch is to be provided for you on the tour.\n\nDoing any 2-4 day tour in the national park will easily please any traveler. Your guesthouse or local tour company can easily help set you up. Choosing a tour that involves at least one night in a floating raft house in the national park lake is an unforgettable experience.\n\n**Suggested itinerary**\n\nKhao Sok 4 Days/3 Nights\n\nDay 1: Leave for the area around Khao Sok National Park headquarters in the morning from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, or Surat Thani. Visit the elephant camp and explore nature by canoeing down the Sok River. In the evening, enjoy the sounds of the rain forest.\n\nDay 2: Visit the jungle cave temple. Go hiking in the national park by yourself or by hiring a local guide. The trails inside the park are well marked and there are several waterfalls on the way. In Jan-Feb it's possible to find the world's biggest flower, the Rafflesia blossom.\n\nDay 3: Continue to Chiew Lan Lake about 70 km away and depart from the Rajjabrapa pier. On the way to the raft houses, sail amidst spectacular rock formations and make a detour for Gulin of Khao Sok, a scenic place on the lake. Check into a simple bamboo raft house. Paddle a canoe to explore the lake and look for wildlife. Take a bamboo raft to a newly discovered drip stone cave. This tour can also be arranged from your resort. Morning Mist Resort offers a lodging discount when you book an activity.\n\nDay 4: Value your stay in the wilderness. Get up with the sun. Take a canoe or arrange with the boat driver to go for a safari to scan the banks. Morning is the time of day when the animals are most active and if a branch in the canopy flicks from one side to the other, it is often a group of monkeys searching for their first meal of the day. Take a swim in the lake and head back to the pier by longtail boat. Transfer to ongoing destinations can be arranged.\n\n - Sonchana Farm & Elephant Sanctuary\n\n - Rajjaprabha Dam Golf Course\n\n - Jungle Camping in the National Park\n\n - Diving in Rajjaprabha Dam", "word_count": 420}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk007", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Buy", "text": "Souvenirs are limited to the gift shop at the park entrance and a few items at convenience stores. Sundries, snack foods, soy milk, and cold drinks can be found in the shops as well.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk008", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most guesthouses have a restaurant. Meals are usually 70-100 baht; cuisines are limited to Thai and European dishes. The standard of hygiene across all establishments is high, however if you are concerned look for places displaying the *Clean Food, Good Taste* sign. This appellation is bestowed by the government on restaurants that maintain a high standard of cleanliness and food preparation.\n\nAll restaurants have fresh fruit and fruit juices or shakes (fruit blended with ice). Convenience stores often sell bananas and other fresh fruit outside their establishments. Depending on the season, you will see in the trees and for sale a variety of fruit, including rambutan, longan, pomelo, mango, mangosteen, a few varieties of banana, papaya, and guava.\n\n - The Misty Restaurant at Morning Mist Resort", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk009", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Drink", "text": "There is one main road in Khao Sok where all of the guesthouses and bars are located. They all serve similar cocktails and drinks at similar prices, so just pick the one that has the best atmosphere for you.\n\n- Chill Out Bar\n\n - Rasta Bar\n\n - Jumamji Bar", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk010", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Sai Chon Raft houses\n\n### Inside Park HQ\n\nThere are several kinds of accommodations through the National Park available at Park Headquarters. You can book via the Visitor Center onsite or through the DNP website.\n\n Bungalow rentals: 800-1,000 baht per unit\n Tent rentals: 150 - 600 baht per tent\n Youth Hostel: 100 baht per person\n Campsite Rental: 50 baht per person (bring your own tent - 30 baht for campsite + 20 baht for overnight fee = 50฿ baht)\n\n### Near Park HQ\n\nThere is one main road in Khao Sok where all of the guesthouses are located. They all offer similar style accommodation (mainly bungalows). Price: 200-2,500 baht. Most have restaurants, bars, Internet, and a travel agency. Even in peak season it shouldn't be difficult to find accommodation.\n\n- Art's Riverview Lodge\n\n- The Cliff and River Jungle Resort\n\n- Khao Sok Nature Resort\n\n - Khao Sok Paradise Resort\n\n- Khao Sok Rainforest Resort\n\n- Khao Sok River Lodge\n\n - Khao Sok Riverside Cottages\n\n- Morning Mist Resort\n\n- Las Orquideas Resort\n\n- Palm View\n\n - Smiley's Bungalows\n\n- Khaosok Boutique Camps\n\n### Cheow Lan Lake\n\nThere are also many floating raft houses which offer accommodation on the lake. This ranges from simple bamboo and thatched roof accommodation provided by the Thailand Department of National Parks, to luxurious floating wooden cottages. Reservations can be made through tour companies, but it is also possible to hire a longtail.\n\n#### Owned by the National Park\n\n - Klong Ka Rafthouse\n\n - Kraisorn Rafthouse\n\n - Klong Yah Rafthouse\n\n - Nang Prai Rafthouse\n\n - Ton Toey Rafthouse\n\n#### Privately owned\n\n##### Budget\n\n - Sai Chon Rafthouse\n\n - Smiley Rafthouse\n\n - Praiwan Rafthouse\n\n - Chiew Larn Rafthouse\n\n##### Mid-range\n\n - Phutawan Rafthouse\n\n - Keereewarin Rafthouse\n\n - Ploenprai Rafthouse\n\n - Phupa Waree Rafthouse\n\n##### Splurge\n\n - Panvaree Rafthouse\n\n- 500 Rai Rafthouse\n\n - Elephant Hills Rafthouse", "word_count": 310}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk011", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Don't go off trail without a local guide or a ranger.\n\nDo not explore the \"Namtaloo\" or \"Through\" Cave (a cave with a river running through) if it is raining or if you think it is going to rain. Rain is frequent and can come on fast. Unfortunately people have died as a result of this. If you are with an experienced guide he will not take you if he even suspects a chance of rain.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk012", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Connect", "text": "Several places in town have Internet for 1-2 baht/minute. Some have headphones and Skype.", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "khao-sok::chunk013", "doc_id": "khao-sok", "section": "Go next", "text": "Walk to the main highway (opposite end is the park entrance). Mini buses on the corner head left to Surat Thani. Across the street and to the right, a giant \"Bus Stop\" sign serves as a stopping point for buses heading to Khao Lak and Phuket. Tickets in advance are not needed. Buses come by every hour during the day.", "word_count": 60}
diff --git a/corpus/khao-sok/metadata.json b/corpus/khao-sok/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d48e3cfd68a437cc7f7473a83361f90ff605026f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/khao-sok/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "khao-sok",
+ "title": "Khao Sok National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Khao_Sok_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "temples",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Gulf Coast"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Khao Lak",
+ "Phuket"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2215,
+ "listing_count": 60,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 14,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/killarney/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/killarney/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2bac7e097533cbbc72e42f113809494a81873c53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/killarney/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk000", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Killarney** is a town in County Kerry in southwest Ireland. It has a resident population of about 14,000 (as of 2022) but in summer they're outnumbered by tourists, because this is one of the most scenic areas of Ireland, firmly on the tourist circuit for over 150 years. Its lakes command great views of Ireland's highest mountains, and the landscape is protected as Killarney National Park. It's the usual starting point for the **Ring of Kerry**, the 214-km circuit along the coast of Iveragh Peninsula.\n\nKillarney in Irish is *Cill Airne*, \"church of sloes\" or blackthorns. The origin of this is obscure, but other suggested derivations are even more obscure, so sloes it is.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk001", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Ross Castle\nThe area around Killarney had industry from metal ores in prehistoric times, and from the 7th century became a centre for religious learning, with monasteries on Inisfallen and elsewhere. From 1747 it became one of the first places to try to promote a tourist trade, as part of Viscount Kenmare's efforts to improve his estate. This didn't get very far in an era when very few people could enjoy the luxury of leisure travel, and travel within Ireland was especially tedious. That changed with the arrival of the railway in 1853, encouraged by Henry Arthur Herbert who now owned the estate. Hotels popped up, and tourists flocked to enjoy the antiquities and scenery around the three lakes, and the longer circuit of the Ring of Kerry.\n\nMuckross House and the estate changed hands a couple of times then in 1932 were gifted to the nation, to become Ireland's first national park. The park has expanded considerably since then, and now ranges from genteel municipal gardens at the edge of town to forest with herds of red deer and wild mountain terrain. (There are no fees or gates, but you might pay for parking or other activities.) There are also large tracts of mountain that are beyond the park but protected in similar ways: this larger area is also described here. \n\nBus tours of the Ring of Kerry start from Killarney and always go anti-clockwise, to Killorglin, Caherciveen, Portmagee, Waterville, Derrynane, Kenmare and back to Killarney. Independent travellers starting from Tralee, Killarney or Kenmare will probably do best to go clockwise. Starting from other towns on the circuit, go anti-clockwise as you've a few hours start and should always be able to keep ahead of the wagon train. \n\nThe tourist information centre is **Visit Killarney** on Scott's St, the alley off College St. It's open M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM.", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk002", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Get in", "text": "You might prefer to fly into Dublin, which has a much greater range of flights and onward transport, or into Shannon two hours drive away.\n\nTrains run to Killarney every couple of hours from Mallow (some starting from Cork), and continue north to Farranfore (for Kerry Airport) and Tralee. There's one direct train daily from Dublin Heuston, but usually you change at Mallow, with journey time 3 hr 20 min and a walk-up single fare of €43. Change also at Mallow for Limerick and Galway. See Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets. \n thumb | 300px | A jaunting car at Muckross\nDublin Coach M7 runs six times a day from Dublin Burgh Quay and Red Cow Luas station via Limerick, Adare, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale to Killarney, taking 4 hr 20 min. From Dublin airport take their bus for Portlaoise, Waterford or Dundrum and change at Red Cow. Bus M7 runs 6:15AM-11:45PM; it starts every 30 min but most buses either branch north at Limerick for Bunratty and Ennis, or at Abbeyfeale for Tralee. \n\nBus Éireann 40 treks cross-country every hour or so, from Rosslare ferry port via Wexford, New Ross, Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom and Ballyvourney to Killarney, continuing to Farranfore and Tralee. \n\nBus 14 runs 4 or 5 times a day from Limerick via Adare, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, Castleisland, Kerry Airport and Farranfore. \n\nBus 271 runs 3 or 4 times a day from Tralee via Castleisland, Kerry Airport and Farranfore to Killarney. \n\nBus 270 runs 2 or 3 times a day from Kenmare. It swings east of the park so you don't get the scenic route. \n\n are adjacent in town centre. The railway ticket office is open M Sa 7AM-1:45PM, Tu-F 7AM-5:45PM and there are ticket machines and toilets.\n\nBy car from Dublin follow M7 to Limerick, N21 to Castleisland then N22 / 23 into Killarney, say 4 hours.", "word_count": 314}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk003", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Get around", "text": "*It is a common and wise custom of those who make this tour, and are not pressed for time, to hire the carriage at the hotel in Killarney and continue with it \"all the way round.\" It is absolutely marvellous what these mountain bred horses can get through \"thinking nothing\" of thirty miles for days together or even fifty miles in a single day.* - Travelogue of 1858\n\nTown is compact, but you need horsepower or wheels for Killarney National Park - a bike works well.\n\nBike hire is available at Killarney Rent a Bike (three locations, aka O' Sullivan's), Lyne's and Killarney Bike Rental. \n\nBudget Car Rental have a desk within Hannigan's Hotel, open M-Sa 9AM-6PM. \n\nBus KY03 runs every hour or so between the railway station and the Brehon and Gleneagles hotels south edge of town. \n\nBus KY02 to Ross Castle and the boat jetty is only running once or twice a day in early 2021.\n\nFor bus tours around the Ring of Kerry, see County Kerry. \n\nTaxis are usually waiting at the railway station and outside McSorley's Bar on College St. Operators include Taxi Killarney +353 87 191 1955, Shane's +353 86 202 7212 and Sage Taxis +353 64 770 8995.\n\n**Jaunting Cars** were once a common tourist conveyance but are now almost confined to Killarney. They come in various configurations but typically seat four, with a single horse and a driver known as a \"jarvey\". They'll trot you round town and out to Ross Castle and Muckross; tours of Dunloe Gap involve a transfer from town by boat or conventional car then the jaunting car takes you up the lane.\n\n**TFI Anseo** (\"anseo\" is Irish for \"here\") is a new bus service being rolled out in Killarney on a trial basis. You download an app which you use to summon a minibus which will take you wherever you want to go within the town. The adult fare is €2. Website:", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk004", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|Muckross Abbey\n **Town centre** along High St is typical 19th-century low-rise, pleasant enough but always busy with traffic. St Mary's RC Cathedral, west along New St, is a grand neo-gothic structure completed in 1855. \n - Franciscan Friary\n\n - Killarney National Park\n\n - Killarney House\n\n - Ross Castle\n\n - Ross Island\n\n **Lakes** or loughs: the one next to town is Lough Leane, the largest and lowest of the three. The name means \"lake of learning\" probably referring to its monasteries. For the visitor it's the lake of viewing, as it creates an unbroken vista west towards the mountains. South is or Middle Lake, smaller but 75 m deep, as it fills a glacial scour. A pleasant hike circles it, crossing by old stone bridges. Further southwest is : the fall on the river is only 2 m so small boats can travel between the lakes; perhaps the supposed lake monster does likewise. The river flows into Muckross Lake at , where there's a weir and a back-channel direct into Lough Leane. \n is the largest island in Lough Leane: boat trips often visit. The ruined abbey dates from 640 AD, though what you see is from the 12th and 13th centuries. The Annals of Inisfallen were compiled here from 1092 and are now in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. \n - Muckross Abbey\n\n - Killegy Chapel\n\n - Muckross House, Gardens and Traditional Farms\n\n is the 110-m cascade of the Owengarriff Rive. It descends 20 m but not in a clean drop. The river flows out of the Devil's Punchbowl, a corrie lake beneath Mangerton Mountain, following the fault line that underlies this area. There are several walking trails, and after you've slogged up them for a while, you'll probably guess how the \"Cardiac Steps\" got their name.\n is a viewpoint on N71 climbing out of Killarney towards Kenmare. Coaches and motorists often make a stop here, and there's a cafe and gift shop. \nthumb|upright=1.3|The Gap of Dunloe\n is a scenic mountain gorge west of the lough, created when a glacier broke through and bruised its way north. It's flanked by Macgillycuddy's Reeks to the west and the Purple Mountains east. Tour groups transfer to pony carts for the ride up. The lane traversing the gorge is a public road so you may drive it, but it's very narrow, and cars come into conflict with other cars, bikes, more cars, pony carts and yet more cars.\n stand near the north end of the gap: they're from the 5th or 6th century though their present position and arrangement is modern. They're burial markers, naming various *maci mocoi toicaki* (sons of the Tóecraige tribe).\n at 1038 m (3407 ft )is Ireland's highest mountain, midway along the ridge of Macgillycuddy's Reeks. The ascent is a strenuous hike, hazardous in poor weather, usually 5-6 hours there and back via Devil's Ladder trail. If you're hard enough walk the whole ridge, with some half a dozen peaks of around 900 m. If you only want a Sunday stroll, or the weather's iffy and you prefer a low-altitude Plan B, park at Cronin's Yard and make your way up Hag's Glen.\n is a straggling village north of the lough, partly bypassed by N71. It has the cylindrical stump of 13th-century Parkavonear Castle and Aghadoe Cathedral, built 1158 over an earlier monastery church and falling into ruin in the 17th century. But the main attraction is the sweeping view over the lough towards the mountains, so there's a cluster of hotels here.", "word_count": 581}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk005", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Do", "text": "**What's on?** Listen to Radio Kerry on 96.2 - 97.6 FM, or read The Kerryman or Kerry's Eye. \n **Boat trips** in summer start from the jetty by Ross Castle. Operators are Lily of Killarney Watercoach, Killarney Lake Tours and Gap of Dunloe Tours which are small open boats. \n **Gaelic games:** Kerry GAA the county football team usually play home games at (capacity 38,000), 1 km north of town centre along Lewis Rd. Don't try to park around here on match days! The county hurling team play at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.\n has a gym, pool and fitness classes. It's 2 km east of town centre on the bypass N22, and open M-F 7AM-10PM, Sa Su 8AM-4PM. \n **Cinema:** and are both central.\n - Killarney Races\n\n **Horse and pony riding:** and are east of the main road near the abbey. \n **Golf:** there are courses at within the racetrack, northwest, on the north lake shore, and further west.", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk006", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|300px|Meeting of the Waters\n - Killarney Outlet Centre\n\n There's a east edge of town, with Tesco and Aldi.", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk007", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Eat", "text": "*The first glance shows the traveller in the midst of what a Golgotha he stands. In the wretched corner set apart for the paupers the earth is covered with deal planks and fresh remnants of coffins in shocking profusion.* - Famine scenes at Aghadoe in 1849\n - so eat up all your dinner and be grateful, and less of those snarky online comments about how inexpertly they seared your monkfish.\n\n - The Laurels\n\n - Cronin's\n\n thumb | 300px | \"Ladies View\": this is what they saw \n - Scéal Éile\n\n - Stonechat\n\n - Treyvaud's\n\n - Bricín\n\n - Kate Kearney's Cottage\n\n - The Kerryway", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk008", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Courtneys Bar\n\n - The Grand Killarney\n\n - Scott's Bar\n\n - Celtic Whiskey Bar\n\n - O'Connor's", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk009", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb | 300px | Carrauntoohil seen from Hag's Glen \n\n### Budget\n\n - Black Sheep Hostel\n\n - Neptune's Hostel\n\n - Railway Hostel\n\n - Killarney International Hostel\n\n - Killarney Flesk Caravan & Camping Park\n\n - Fossa Caravan & Camping Park\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Sunnybank\n\n - Countess House\n\n - Elyod House\n\n - Failte Hotel\n\n - Arbutus Hotel\n\n - The Ross\n\n - Fairview\n\n - Friars Glen Country House\n\n - Hillcrest Farmhouse\n\n - Inveraray Farm\n\n### Splurge\n\n \n thumb | 300px | Red deer in the National Park \n - Great Southern Killarney\n\n - Killarney Park\n\n - Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa\n\n - The Dunloe\n\n - Europe Hotel\n\n - Cahernane House Hotel\n\n - The Brehon\n\n - Coolclogher House", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk010", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "As in most places, traffic is your main hazard. Take usual care of valuables and avoid idiot drunks.\n\nThe hills demand suitable clothing, footwear, stamina, and the ability to read map and compass - even when the weather is fine, and it can sour suddenly.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk011", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of May 2021, Killarney has 4G from all Irish carriers, and close to the railway and bus stations there's 5G with Eir. There is mobile coverage on the main roads around town but not along the back lanes far side of the lough.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "killarney::chunk012", "doc_id": "killarney", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ring of Kerry by car can easily be done in a day. If as suggested you go clockwise against the buses, the first stretch is over Moll's Gap to Kenmare. But if you decide to follow them, take N72 west via Aghadoe to Killorglin, where the main attraction is Kerry Bog Village. \n The Dingle Peninsula lies to the north. Go that way for boat trips to the Blasket Islands.\n The peninsula south is Beara, with a portion in Kerry but mostly in County Cork; a road tunnel drills through it to Glengarriff.", "word_count": 92}
diff --git a/corpus/killarney/metadata.json b/corpus/killarney/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b346740c24167093d698434ddce2f0f98e410fac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/killarney/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "killarney",
+ "title": "Killarney",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Killarney",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "County_Kerry"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kenmare",
+ "Killorglin",
+ "Dingle",
+ "County Cork",
+ "Glengarriff"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2225,
+ "listing_count": 47,
+ "marker_count": 22,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/koh-phi-phi/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/koh-phi-phi/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7130917dcab766284701ed770c0093f1331287c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/koh-phi-phi/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk000", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ko Phi Phi** (หมู่เกาะพีพี) is a small archipelago in Krabi Province, Southern Thailand. It makes up much of the **Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park**.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk001", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|350px|Aerial photo of Ko Phi Phi Don\n\nThe named islands are:\n\n - Ko Phi Phi Don\n\n - Ko Phi Phi Leh\n\n - Ko Bi Da Nok and Ko Bi Da Nai\n\n - Ko Mai Phai\n\n - Ko Yung\n\nMost of the development of Phi Phi Don is in or around Ton Sai Village, which is on the low, sandy isthmus that joins the two hilly spurs that comprise the rest of the island. There are also other, quieter resorts on Long Beach, Laem (Cape) Thong, and at other less accessible areas of the island.\n\nKo Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when the island's entire infrastructure was nearly wiped out. Redevelopment was, however, swift, and building regulations in place to limit the height of new buildings to preserve the island's stunning views.\n\nWhile very laid back, many of the local islanders are Muslim. You will lose considerable respect if you walk around town in your skimpies (this applies to Buddhist areas of Thailand too!). While many thoughtless tourists do parade down Main Street in their Speedos or thong bikinis, to avoid offending your hosts, it's best just to throw on a pair of shorts or a sarong. Similarly, going topless on the beach, while grudgingly tolerated by most locals, is also best avoided.\n\n### Climate\n\nWeather in the region is tropical. There are only two seasons: the hot season from Jan-Apr, and the rainy season from May-Dec. Temperatures during the year average 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 89.6°F) and the yearly rainfall averages 2569 mm. Unlike in, say, Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily over short periods.\n\n### History\n\nFrom archaeological evidence, it is believed that the area was one of the oldest communities in Thailand, dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this province may have taken its name after the meaning of \"Krabi\", which means \"sword\". This may have arisen from a legend that an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city’s founding.\n\nThe name Phi Phi (pronounced \"pee pee\") originates from Malay, the original name for the islands were \"Pulao Pi ah Pi\". The name refers to the mangrove wood found here.\n\n### Geography\n\nKo Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world (in fact, there are six islands in Phi Phi). They lie 50 km southeast of Phuket and are part of Had Nopparattara-Ko Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and long white sandy beaches. The national park covers a total area of 242,437 rai (about 39,000 hectares; 97,000 acres).\n\nPhi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the largest and most well-known islands. The islands are surrounded by the Andaman Sea.\n\nThere are two villages on Ko Phi Phi under the administration of Ao Nang sub-district, Muang district, Krabi Province.", "word_count": 491}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk002", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n**Krabi International Airport** (), or , is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre, 40 km from Ao Nang, and 23 km from Had Yao.\n\nThai Airways operates daily direct flights from Bangkok, likewise Air Asia from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok Airways flies direct from Krabi and Ko Samui nearly every day of the week. Nok Air operates daily flights to Krabi from Bangkok (Don Mueang).\n\nAir Asia has a special “Island Transfer” offering that includes a flight from Bangkok to Phuket, surface transport, and a ferry to Ko Phi Phi. It can be booked at their website.\n\nAir Asia, .\n Bangkok Airways, , .\n Nok Air, \n Thai Airways, , , , .\n\nThe international departure tax surcharge is 700 baht but is included in most ticket prices. Domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight.\n\nNational Car Rental and Budget Car Rental have branches at the airport. Motorcycle taxis are available outside the terminal.\n\nKrabi Limousine () has a desk inside the terminal and provides \"limousine taxi\" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht, Phuket for 2,500 baht.\n\nAir-conditioned airport bus service is 90 baht to Krabi. The bus service meets all incoming flights and serves most outgoing flights. A songthaew to Krabi town is 40 baht from the road near the airport. Going to the airport they will drop you right at the departure terminal.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk003", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get in", "text": "Travelling to Ko Phi Phi by boat is how almost everyone arrives. Ferries leave from Phuket and Mainland Krabi daily (from Krabi, two ferries a day, 09:00, and 14:30, and from Phuket at 09:00, 11:00, and 14:30 (11:00 during high season only). Sailing time from Phuket or Krabi is 1.5-2 hours. Tickets can be purchased on the dock, from tourist offices, most local guesthouses and hotels or online at Phi Phi Ferry, Phi Phi Island Ferry. There is a 20-baht per person fee on the pier for \"keeping Ko Phi Phi clean\". There is still plenty of rubbish on the beaches.\n\nTicket prices:\nFrom Ko Lanta: 350 baht.\nFrom Krabi Town: 300 baht from **PP Family**, office right by the pier in town. Includes songthaew to the pier outside town. The normal passenger ferry does not leave from the centre of town any more, but from a new passenger port (Klong Jilard Pier ) about 3 km outside Krabi Town. Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. Many times they'll take you to a travel agent near the Chao Fah Pier and sell you additional accommodations or services. Only ever buy the ticket you need. Additional ferries are added during peak season.\nFrom Ao Nang: 400 baht one way (including transfer from hotel to Noppharat Peir) 0930 and 1530.\nFrom Phuket Airport: To Rassada Pier (Phuket) by meter taxi for around 500 baht. It's about a 30 km drive and takes 45 minutes depending on traffic and weather.\nFrom Phuket Pier (Rassada): 600 baht one-way/1,000 baht round trip when bought at the pier. It's possible to get 300-350 baht one-way tickets as part of a deal with a guesthouse stay.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk004", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get in", "text": "Ferries are all not of equal quality. Despite reports to the contrary, Andaman Wave Master will no longer take you for free to north Ko Phi Phi after the stop at Ton Sai pier (expect another 200 baht per person). Andaman Wave Master's customer service has decreased significantly. Watch out for their Krabi representatives, who will offer to sell round-trip tickets at a discount with the option of changing the return destination to Phuket if you decide to take a different way back to the mainland. Representatives at both Ko Phi Phi and Phuket will refuse to refund or alter the tickets.\n\nThe Sea Angel ferries are quite nice with big flat screen TVs and refreshments. These are sold online as first class ferries.\n\nThe ferries run by Chao Koh group, particularly the smallest \"Pichamon IV\" are often overcrowded and appear to be very poorly maintained, which does not inspire confidence.\nThe ferries run by PP Family are larger and seem more suited to the task.\n\nThe ferries run by Phi Phi Cruiser may take a little longer but they include a movie, complimentary breakfast (if taking the morning crossing) and complimentary beverage service. For an additional fee, you can purchase a \"VIP ticket\" which also includes snorkelling and a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don.\n\nOther tour vessels visit the island from several Phuket-based resorts, usually on day trips. The price for a speedboat from Rawai Beach was quoted at 15,000 baht return (or one way) for up to 6 people. There are many speedboats operating directly from the beach but it may be best to book the day before as most seem to be away on trips during the day. Speedboats can also be chartered from other nearby locations, but at a very high price.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk005", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By all-inclusive tours from Phi Phi Island\n\nThere are many speedboat tours of Phi Phi island for people staying on Phi Phi Island. Speedboats are generally small for groups of 4-12 people. They can be more flexible with the time you wish to depart and also the length of time you can take. Organised tours usually cover mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket, tour guide, Coke, water, lunch, fruit. Small speedboats from 1,600 baht per person.\n\nPrivate companies providing small group tours are few:\n - Arisa Speedboats\n\n### By all-inclusive tour from Phuket\n\nAgencies selling all-inclusive day trips from Phuket are all over Patong town, and most everywhere else on Phuket Island. Typical is a lengthier \"half-day\" hour tour via speedboat negotiated to 1,400 baht/person (down from the pamphlet's printed price of 3,000 baht). The tour includes 6 stops, a buffet lunch on Phi Phi Don, snorkel usage, and minibus transport to and from the Patong Beach hotel. This offering seems incredibly common, and one should be able to find similar deals sold anywhere on Phuket that tourists frequent.\n\nThings to keep in mind:\n\nThe lower end priced speedboat tours (what most people book, including the above description) take approximately 30-35 passengers per 2 engine speedboat and 50-60 passengers on 3 engine speedboats.\nThe higher-end tours take up to 18 passengers on 2 engine speedboats.\nTour desks will tell you anything to get your money. It would be best to contact the tour company directly to check prices/services, though 99.9% of tourists go through agencies.\n\nPrivate companies providing small group tours are few:\n - Five Star Thailand Tours\n\n- Simba Sea Trips\n\n- La Moet Phuket\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk006", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get in", "text": "As Ko Phi Phi is an island, the bus will get you close but you'll still need to cross by boat or plane at the end. Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal () to Krabi take about 12 hours and depart as follows:\n\nVIP bus: 07:20 (1,055 baht)\nFirst class bus: 19:00 (680 baht)\nSecond class bus: 07:30, 19:00, 19:30, 21:00 (378 baht)\n\nShuttle buses run between Krabi airport and Phuket airport several times a day. There are also regular buses that make the 2 hour run.\n\nThere are buses to Krabi from every provincial town in the south.\n\n### By car\n\nFrom Bangkok:\n\nTake Hwy 4, passing Phetchaburi–Prachuap Khiri Khan–Chumphon–Ranong–Phang Nga-Krabi. The total distance is 946 km.\nTravel Hwy 4 to Hwy 41 at Chumphon via Lang Suan-Chaiya-Surat Thani. Proceed towards Wiang Sa, change to Hwy 4035 for Baan Ao Luek, and switch back to Hwy 4 again to Krabi. This route is 814 km.\nFrom Phuket: Take Hwy 402 and Hwy 4. The total distance is 176 km.\n\n### By train\n\nThe nearest train station to Krabi is in Surat Thani Province which is a 1 hour drive east of Krabi. This may be a useful connection if you intend to travel north to Chumphon, Hua Hin, or Bangkok, or south to Hat Yai or Malaysia.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk007", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Development on Ko Phi Phi Don\nPhi Phi is supposed to have no motorised transport, though there are a few motorcycles with sidecars, usually used for goods and construction material transport. Transport on land is by foot or bicycle, but in the populated areas of Ton Sai, nowhere is more than about a ten minutes walk from anywhere else. Longtail boats sail between all beaches. On Phi Phi Don, you can also walk to any beach. From Ton Sai to Long Beach, expect to pay 40 baht/person in the afternoon, at least 80 baht at night. To have a complete boat to yourself, expect to pay at least 100 baht.\n\nWheelbarrows are used to transport goods, including your luggage if you like. Expect free transport from the pier to your room, but not necessarily in the opposite direction.\n\nThe most common ways to get around on Ko Phi Phi are by foot and by longtail. As with most everything in an area like this, the price for longtail boats is a negotiation. Take some foam earplugs for the longtail boat rides. It's a fun ride but the engines are loud and after 45 minutes it can get to you. Negotiating for longtail boats is usually done according to where you want to go and how many hours you want the trip to last. As an example, 1,200 baht for a 6-hour outing to Ko Phi Phi Leh and Ton Sai Bay from the Holiday Inn Resort.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk008", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "See", "text": "### Phi Phi Don\n\nthumb|360px|Ton Sai Bay\n\nThis island is the largest of the 6 Phi Phi islands and consists of two main sections. It is on Ton Sai where the original inhabitants settled and is now the site of most accommodations. Phi Phi Don is quite stunning and has earned the title of one of the most fantastic islands in the world. Nowadays though, with development, the beaches have paid the price, so they're not quite as spectacular as they were in the past.\n\n - Fire Show\n\n - Hin Khao Beach\n\n - Laem Thong\n\n - Lanti Beach\n\n - Monkey Beach\n\n - Ton Sai Bay\n\n - Tsunami Memorial Garden\n\n - Viewpoint\n\n - Yao Beach\n\n### Phi Phi Leh\n\nThe second largest of the Phi Phi Islands is extremely beautiful, and near-pristine, but is uninhabited because it is a national park.\n\n - Loh Samah Bay\n\n - Maya Bay\n\n - Phaya Naak Cave\n\n - Pi Ley\n\n### Other islands\n\n - Ko Pai\n\n - Ko Yung", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk009", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|A long-tail boat on the bay off Ko Phi Phi\n - Bird Watching\n\n### Diving\n\nThere are many dive shops on Ton Sai Bay within walking distance of each other. They can organize all diving and accommodations. Expect to pay the same everywhere. A PADI open water course is 13,800 baht, with SSI being 900 baht less. There are a few different trips offered by Phi Phi dive operators, the typical trip is a two-tank local dive in the Phi Phi Marine Park which will run about 2,500 baht, or 2,000 baht if you bring your own gear. They also do 2-3 tank trips to the King Cruiser wreck with your follow-up dives at both Shark Point and Anemone Reef. This trip usually runs between 3,200-3,900 baht depending on the number of dives you do. Further away, Hin Daeng has some of the steepest drops in Thailand (over 60 m) as well as being the place you are most likely to see manta rays and whale sharks, and can be a great dive trip, but it only runs if sea conditions are good.\n\n- Dive Thailand\n\n- Long Beach Divers\n\n- Sea Bees Diving\n\n#### Dive sites", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk010", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Do", "text": "**Anemone Reef** Between Ko Phi Phi and Phuket, a massive limestone pinnacle which soars 30 m from the seabed to just 4 m beneath the surface. The site is well known for the abundance of anemones that cling to every surface while attracting enormous schools of fish. Different types of fish to be seen include: tropicals, snappers, groupers and colorful clown fish, along with larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda as well as the occasional leopard shark.\n **Garang Heng** Garang Heng is a small submerged reef just east of Phi Phi Leh. A healthy reef with anemones, soft corals, and an abundance of leopard sharks.\n **Hin Daeng and Hin Muang** From Ko Phi Phi, it is possible to dive Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, world-class dive sites, for around 5,500 baht. See Diving in Thailand.\n **Hin Dot** These submerged pinnacles, often called Chimney Rock, are just to the south of Phi Phi Don. The formation drops to a depth of 30 m and has several coral shelves for exploration upon your gradual ascent. Nurse sharks can occasionally be found here.\n **Hin Pae** This is a relatively shallow dive site, 10–15 m deep. Its shallow depth offers excellent snorkelling. Its soft and hard coral provide shelter for a rich variety of coral fish. Crabs, lobsters, angelfish, groupers, snappers, and surgeon fish are also residents of this area.\n **King Cruiser Wreck** A popular site off Ko Phi Phi and Phuket is King Cruiser, remnants of a passenger ship which sunk in 1997 after it hit the Anemone Reef.\n **Ko Bida Nai** Just up from Bida Nok is Bida Nai. Like its sister island, it is a good place for diving with good chance of black tip reef sharks sighting.\n **Ko Bida Nok** Besides an abundance of pretty coral, this island is home to plentiful marine life including: leopard sharks, turtles and moray eels. This island is popular with divers.\n **Shark Point (Hin Bida)** Shark Point is a marine sanctuary with a reef that made up of three pinnacles, the largest of which actually breaks the surface, appearing as a barren rock outcropping. The reef is home to a delightful abundance of tropical, colourful soft corals and vibrant sea fans that decorate the limestone pinnacles.\n **Shark Point Phuket** Another submerged reef very close to Anemone Reef and often dived together with Anemone Reef and King Cruiser Wreck as part of a 3 dive package from Ko Phi Phi.\n **Wang Long** This site is well known for its underwater cave systems and is only recommended for experienced divers. The caves tunnel into the rock face in two places and open out into a larger cave where surfacing is possible.\n **Loh Samah Bay** The bay is popular for night-time divers. It has a sandy bottom with oysters and clams and patches of brain coral for nocturnal reef critters to hide amongst. There is a spectacular 15 m deep canyon just wide enough for single file swimming on the east side.", "word_count": 495}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk011", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Do", "text": "#### Sailing and cruising\n\nKrabi has plenty of anchorages, usually deserted and all so beautiful. There are many charter sailing boats available and some even offer \"join-in\" day trips for two or more people. Phi Phi offers a variety of ways for sailing and cruising. Longtails can be hired for sunset tours and island excursions. They can be found on any beach.\n\n- DragonHeart\n\n#### Snorkelling\n\nThere are two rocks within swimming distance of Long Beach known as \"Shark Point\" where harmless blacktip reef sharks can be seen. Many dive schools take snorkellers on their dive boats, but expect to see only a hint of the underwater marvels visible to scuba divers. The snorkelling off Bamboo and Mosquito Islands is quite good although the reefs are a long way below you at high tide. If you arrive on Bamboo Island in a longtail boat you will be asked to pay 200 baht/person to stay on the beach, or 400 baht/person to stay on the beach and further afield. Always ask for the ticket. With it, you do not have to pay 400 baht/person, just the 200 baht/person.\n\n- The Adventure Club\n\n- Paradise Diving\n\n### Swimming\n\n#### Ko Phi Phi Don\n\n- Ao Ton Sai\n\n- Ao Lo Da Lam\n\n- Ao Yong Ka Sem\n\n- Had Ling Noi\n\n- Ao Tham Wang Long\n\n- Hin Khom Beach\n\n- Yao Beach\n\n- Laem Po Beach\n\n- Ao Lo Mu Di\n\n- Ao To Ko\n\n- Ao Ran Ti\n\n- Ao Phaknam\n\n- Ao Lo Ba Kao\n\n- Ao Lo La Na\n\n- Ao Noi\n\n- Laem Tong Beach\n\n### Ko Phi Phi Le\n\n- Ao Ma Ya Yai\n\n- Ao Ma Ya Noi\n\n- Ao Lo Sa Ma\n\n- Ao Pi Le\n\n- Ao Ma Long\n\n- Ao Pa Long", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk012", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Do", "text": "- Ao Ling\n\n- Ao Het\n\n#### Ko Yung\n\nThere are two bays at Ko Yung: **West** and **East**. Both two have no beaches, except in very low tide times. Idyllic to swim and dive between the karst mountains.\n\n#### Ko Mai Phai\n\nKo Mai Phai Beach is the only bay where you can swim in Bamboo Island. Is a pointed beach with pristine white sand, turquoise waters and some rock bands. Usually, speedboats docks the beach.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk013", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most stuff is brought in by boat, so most things are less original and more expensive than on the mainland. However, there are a few shops that manufacture their goods on the island. Prices for commodities vary widely between shops.\n\nMost of the items sold here are either made by local fishermen or they are brought to the island from Phuket town. Rising commercialization and inflow of tourists throughout the year seems to be a big bonus for these locals. Remember to haggle.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk014", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Eat", "text": "In general, Southern Thai food is known for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (khanom jeen) and chicken with yellow rice.\n\n - Ae Fish BBQ\n\n - Calamero Resto\n\n - Cosmic\n\n - Papaya\n\n - The Pirate's House\n\n - Unni's\n\n - Khun Niyom", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk015", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Ton Sai Bay party\nTon Sai Bay has a variety of nightlife, something for everyone’s taste. Jazz, blues, and classics can be found at the leading hotels. Or, if it's romance you're after, you and your loved one can relax in one of the outside hotel bars and sip a cocktail under the stars. Regulations on the island force all bars and clubs to close at 01:00. Local bars owners are petitioning to extend the closing time until 02:00. Until then, there is a silent disco on Loh Dalum Bay from 01:00 until 04:00 each morning.\n\n - Breakers\n\n - Carlitos Bar\n\n - Hippies Bar\n\n - Ibiza Bar\n\n - Reggae Bar\n\n - Rolling Stoned Bar\n\n - The Only Bar\n\n - Slinkys Bar", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk016", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation is relatively expensive. Doubles range from 400 baht up into the thousands the closer you get to the beach. If you are on a budget expect to work hard to find a decent price. If you get really desperate, a couple of places rent out tents for about 200–300 baht. Prices double during the high season of Oct/Nov-May. Other times of the year you can find relatively cheap accommodation for around 200-300 baht.\n\nTo have the best choice for accommodation, arrive on Phi Phi just before the full moon party, when most people will be on Ko Pha Ngan. Since a lot of people move from Ko Pha Ngan to Ko Phi Phi after the party, accommodation may be very hard to find on Phi Phi around this time. It is not uncommon to see people arrive on the morning ferry only to leave in the afternoon because they have been unsuccessful in finding accommodation.\n\nBackpackers need only to look further east on the main street for relatively cheap accommodation. Certain guesthouses have dorms, and some have reputations for being good sources of camaraderie and parties. Compare. All the dorms are different.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Coco's\n\n - Oasis Guesthouse\n\n - Phi Phi Hill Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Rimlay\n\n - The Rock Backpacker\n\n - View Garden Resort\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Chao Koh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort\n\n - Holiday Inn Resort\n\n - Kinnaree House\n\n - Phi Phi Andaman Legacy\n\n - Phi Phi Banyan Villa\n\n - Phi Phi Casita\n\n - Phi Phi Charlie Beach Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Lagoon Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Viewpoint\n\n - Pong Pan House\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Phi Phi Erawan Palms Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Island Cabana\n\n - Phi Phi Island Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Natural Resort\n\n - Phi Phi Palm Tree\n\n - Viking Natures Resort\n\n - Phi Phi The Beach Resort", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk017", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Ko Phi Phi has a couple of pharmacies and a hospital. For serious illnesses, go back to Krabi or even better, Phuket.", "word_count": 22}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-phi-phi::chunk018", "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ao Nang\n Krabi Town\n Phuket\n Rai Leh", "word_count": 7}
diff --git a/corpus/koh-phi-phi/metadata.json b/corpus/koh-phi-phi/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..45d3316db46679e68184232e710df7c9516989f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/koh-phi-phi/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "koh-phi-phi",
+ "title": "Ko Phi Phi",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ko_Phi_Phi",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Phi_Islands",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q511957",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 7.73333333,
+ 98.76666667
+ ],
+ "summary": "The Phi Phi Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี, RTGS: Mu Ko Phiphi, pronounced [mùː kɔ̀ʔ pʰīː.pʰīː]) are an island group in Thailand located in the Strait of Malacca between the large island of Phuket and the Straitscoast in the Krabi Province The islands are administratively part of Krabi Province. Ko Phi Phi Don (Thai: เกาะพีพีดอน, RTGS: Ko Phiphi Don) (ko Thai: เกาะ 'island') is the largest and most populated island of the group, although the beaches of the second largest island, Ko Phi Phi Le (Thai: เกาะพีพีเล, RTGS: Ko Phiphi Le) are visited by many people as well. The rest of the islands in the group, including Bida Nok, Bida Nai, and Ko Mai Phai, are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea. The islands are reachable by ferries, speedboats or long-tail boats, most often from Krabi town or from ports in Phuket Province.\nPhi Phi Don was initially populated by Thai Malay fishermen during the late-1940s, and later became a coconut plantation. The resident Thai popula",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Krabi Province"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ao Nang",
+ "Krabi Town",
+ "Phuket",
+ "Rai Leh"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3919,
+ "listing_count": 93,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 19,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/koh-samui/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/koh-samui/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9aa196cb904ea1a8c59a74564e6b37fb19c0f1a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/koh-samui/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk000", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ko Samui** (เกาะสมุย), often called just **Samui** (สมุย) is an island of great natural beauty and variety in the Gulf of Thailand. The palm-fringed shoreline and coconut and fruit cultivation of the coastal lowlands rise to a central granite massif, the slopes of which are cloaked in virgin rainforest.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk001", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Orientation", "text": "Ko Samui is the second biggest island in Thailand after Phuket. It is about south of Bangkok and from the eastern coastline of Southern Thailand. The most popular and commercialised beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Choeng Mon are more peaceful choices, and the west coast beaches are still (comparatively) quiet.\n\n**Clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are:**\n — Samui's port and administrative centre.\n — set on the northwest tip of the island, a secluded beach overlooking the islands of Ang Thong\n — a quiet and beautiful beach on the northern coast\n — known for its Fisherman's Village, laid-back but growing fast\n — at the northeastern tip, home of the Big Buddha\n — quiet, family-friendly north shore beach\n — the largest and most-developed beach, with a curious mix of luxury hotels and backpacker guesthouses and a hopping nightlife\n — Samui's \"second\" beach south of Chaweng, is shifting to more of a biker, go go bar, and beach lounge sort of environment. Money has been spent.\n Samui South Coast — the small beaches of Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Thong Krut\n – an upcoming beach area south of Nathon\n Lem Hin Khom Coast – set on the southwest tip of the island", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk002", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Even the sun rests in paradise\nAt 247 km², Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and the largest island in an archipelago of over 80 (mostly uninhabited) islands which form the Ang Thong National Marine Park, a kayaking and snorkelling paradise. At long and wide, Samui is big enough for serious exploration by the adventurous and fit, but can be circumnavigated in just a couple of hours by motorbike or car.\n\nSamui is home to some 50,000 full-time inhabitants, 90% of whom are Buddhist. The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and south China. The origin of the name Samui is unknown.\n\nUntil the late 20th century, Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland. The island was even without roads until the early 1970s, and the journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through mountainous jungle.\n\nIn the early 1970s the first backpackers travelling on the back of a coconut boat arrived on Ko Samui. For years after that the island just had a few bungalows and a trickle of travelers. Things started to change in the early 1990s when tourists started arriving in full boats and since then the place has grown substantially. Samui is now the second most popular island destination in Thailand (after Phuket). Ko Samui may not be the country’s most beautiful island but it is still an oasis of natural beauty with its white sandy beaches, dazzling coral, luscious lagoons, picturesque waterfalls, swaying coconut trees, and crystal clear water. The water at Bophut Beach, though, is often murky, especially around December.\n\nDevelopment on Ko Samui has taken its toll and, before COVID, the island saw an average of 2.3 million visitors per year and the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai were overcrowded in the high season. However, the pandemic and the resulting border closures hit the local economy hard, with many hotels, restaurants and other businesses closing. If you can navigate the considerable bureaucracy to get to Thailand, the time to visit is now — it's unlikely the island will ever be this quiet again.\n\n### Climate\n\nSamui's weather patterns are a little different from the rest of Thailand. In Apr-Sep, when most of the country has its monsoon, Samui stays fairly dry, but from Oct-Dec, it's wet in Samui and drier elsewhere. The best time to visit is January and February, when it's dry and slightly cooler.\n\n### Tides\n\nKo Samui, like other places on the Gulf of Thailand, has an unusual 12-hour tide pattern. During summer the tide is low at daytime and high at night time, while in winter it is always high at daytime. Beaches are much wider at low tide, and the difference can be huge in places with shallow water. In some places the beach may be very narrow during high tide.", "word_count": 486}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk003", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### Direct flights\n\nthumb|Samui airport has a unique open design\n\n**Visa-on-arrival** and **visa-free** entry are available at Samui Airport for some nationalities. See Thailand for more information. If flying out of the airport, one nice feature is a courtesy corner which provides food and drinks for all passengers in a cosy sitting area. Awaiting boarding becomes rather more comfortable with food, drinks, and Wi-Fi provided free.\n\n**Ground transportation** from the airport is readily available, but prices tend to be inflated. There's a minibus service at a fixed price per person, with booking at counter in arrival hall. The 20-minute minibus ride to Chaweng costs around 200 baht/person, but may take longer if it shuttles to multiple hotels. A faster taxi directly to your destination may cost 500 baht. Be sure to negotiate the rate to your destination before you get into the taxi as many drivers refuse to use their meters. Many larger hotels and resorts have free airport transfers included in their service, but you need to book in advance. NaviGo and Grab (see By ridehailing) are also available, with fixed prices.\n\nIf you're a couple or a family, you may be approached in the airport by some young women holding signs of some of the higher-end hotels. They will ask you where you're staying, and based on the answer, offer you a free taxi ride if you promise to attend a presentation for their hotel's timeshare during your stay.\n\n#### Flight and ferry\n\nInstead of flying directly to Samui, it's cheaper but less convenient to fly to a nearby airport on the mainland and connect to a ferry. There are three options:", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk004", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get in", "text": "Fly to Surat Thani (), which has frequent flights to both Bangkok airports and limited service direct to Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia. Seatran Ferry offers a bus & ferry service from the airport to Nathon Pier on Ko Samui for 400 baht. Travel time is three hours. Buses leave the airport six times per day.\n\nFly to Nakhon Si Thammarat () from Bangkok-Don Mueang with Nok Air, then take a bus and catamaran with the Lomprayah Company.\n\nFly to Chumphon () from Bangkok-Don Mueang with Nok Air, then take a high-speed Lomprayah catamaran. This is a particularly good option if you'd like to do some island hopping, since the ferries stop at Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan along the way. Nok Air offer a combined flight and ferry ticket on their website.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Ferries are a popular way to travel to and from Ko Samui\nFrom Surat Thani train station and Surat Thani Airport (URT), there are combined bus/ferry services to Ko Samui costing 200-300 baht. Some entail a 60 minute bus ride to Don Sak pier followed by a 90-minute ferry crossing, others a 30-minute bus ride with a longer ferry crossing. Tickets are sold by numerous agents who meet each train and airplane. Should cost certainly less than 300 baht even if bought this way (return combo boat + bus ticket on a more comfortable Seatran Ferry bought on the Nathon Pier on Samui officially costs 230 baht).", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk005", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Don Sak Pier, there are 2 ferry companies (each line has a departure every 60 min) and a smaller passenger boat. Songserm Travel and Seatran arrive at Nathon pier only. Raja Ferry goes serves both Nathon and Lipa Noi pier (9km south of Nathon). Raja ferries are cheaper, smaller and less comfortable. \nthumb|Seatran ferries at Don Sak pier, Surat Thani\nIf you choose for the Raja or Seatran ferry (\"high speed\") but book it as part of a package deal that includes pickup instead of directly with the company, insist that the name of the ferry company and departure times are written on your receipt and pay attention to where you're taken. Otherwise, the agent that picks you up might just as well drop you at a Songserm transfer \"terminal\" at a remote location outside town where you have little other options than to accept the slower Songserm ferry instead.\n\nRaja Ferries also transport cars, so can be used should you decide to come with your own transport. Without a car, however, there are fewer options for transportation there, and songthaew/taxi drivers may be more reluctant to bargain. Songthaew transfer from the pier at Lipa Noi on Samui to either Chaweng or Lamai will cost 100 baht per person. Taxis will be more expensive, with initial asking prices of up to 1,000 baht.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk006", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get in", "text": "Numerous ferry services are direct from mainland Surat Thani including Lomprayah catamarans and an express boat (3 departures daily, taking around 3 hours and costing 150 baht) and slow night boats (taking 6–7 hours).\nthumb|Nathon Pier on Samui's west coast has services to Surat Thani and Ko Pha Ngan\nLomprayah offers a combined bus/high speed catamaran ferry service from Bangkok to Ko Samui which takes about 11 hours (5.5 of them by boat) and costs 1450 baht (or 1650 baht for a “VIP” bus, as of May 2022). The bus pauses in Hua Hin and then stops at Chumphon, where it connects with the ferry, which calls at Ko Nang Yuan, Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan on its way to Ko Samui. While the route may be more scenic (as it includes the long boat trip via 2 islands), and the ferry is comparable to Seatran, the entire route to Samui will take more time, and will cost more too.\n\nLomprayah, however, is a good (if not exactly cheap) option to get to Samui from Ko Tao or Ko Pha Ngan, as well as a reasonable one to get to those islands from Bangkok. Prices and departure times are available on their website. There are also regular speedboats and ferries of other operators.\n\nRegardless of what port you are departing from the mainland or arriving on Samui, you will be offered a minibus transfer service to any place on the island for 150 baht. This seems to be a good option to avoid hassles especially when arriving late and in light of inflated taxi prices (May 2019).", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk007", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Lomprayah passengers can often be enough of a deterrent to make a repeat traveler choose the less expensive ferry, regardless of cost. Seatran is as likely to have hawkers and pushers aboard, but in fewer numbers.\n\nMotorcycle taxis are always available for a comparable or slightly lower price to shared minibus down the arrivals pier. This can be a quick escape from shared transportation when exiting the ferry.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk008", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Part of the Samui Ring Road in the south of the island\nAs on many islands in Thailand, small motorbikes are available for rental. Compared to other nearby islands, Samui's road system is very developed and there are plenty of taxis cruising about, although it's a challenge to get them to use their meters.\n\n### By taxi\n\nBy day, Ko Samui's public transport is provided by songthaew, pick-up trucks with two rows of seats. They drive fixed routes at fixed prices per person until 18:00, ranging from 20-80 baht depending on distance. After 18:00, songthaews serve as normal taxis and prices must be negotiated first. Even if you pay for a trip, however, the songthaew may stop and pick-up more passengers on the way. Metered taxi service is operated by private taxi companies. The drivers, however, are very reluctant to use their meters, and, especially on popular beaches or entry points to the island, tend to ask foreigners much more than normal fare. Some, say, on Nathon pier, will even show you official-looking papers with \"fixed\" prices like 600-800 baht for a 25–30 km trip to Chaweng or Lamai Beach. This is not true, and once they know you're aware of that, it's usually possible to bargain (for this distance, you should bargain to at least 400 baht, or even better 300 baht (outdated bargain prices, in 2013 more likely prices around 500 to 600 baht from Nathon to Chaweng or Lamai), which is still higher than the Bangkok metered taxi price). On the popular beaches it may be impossible at all to get a reasonable fare sometimes. If so, just walk around to an area which is quieter and further away from luxurious hotels.\n\n### By ridehailing\n\nGrab is available.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk009", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A typical songthaew\nPickup trucks/public passenger pick-up vehicles (songthaews) also serve as group taxis.\n\nTo get from the Nathon Pier to Bophut/Chaweng take a brown one which runs at regular intervals and will cost 50 baht to or from Bophut (Just ask the driver if the taxi is going that way and get on board. Pay when you get off.\n\nIf you want to go to a particular place, then you hire a taxi or songthaew, and negotiate the price with them first.\n\n### By motorbike\n\nMotorbikes can be rented virtually anywhere on Ko Samui for between 120-700 baht per day depending on the size and season (small 125 cc bikes should cost no more than 200 baht even during New Year). It is recommended to hire only from a reputable company as there have been reports of scams. Some places have been known to steal bikes that they have rented out. Also, rental motorbikes are not insured. If they tell you they have insurance, it's not true. If something happens, you can't claim for it. Read the rental agreement extra carefully, as too many (it's *not* typical for other parts of Thailand e.g. Chiang Mai) will state that you may not replace any broken/damaged parts yourself. This is a scam, as instead they will replace it for you for a price several times higher (sometimes also stated in the agreement) than it actually costs. They *will* check any old scratches and/or serial numbers, if noted in the agreement, and demand that price even if you have already replaced that part yourself! For the same reason, inspect the motorbike carefully and be sure any existing scratches/damages are written in the agreement before you have taken the motorbike. Take photographs of the bike.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk010", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorbike shops will likely want you to leave your passport as collateral. This is a common practice in Thailand, and, by itself, shouldn't raise much concern, however most government travel advisory services advise against leaving your passport anywhere as a deposit for obvious reasons. Combined with the scams and bad practices mentioned above, however, it may lead to a situation where your passport is held as a hostage until you pay what they want. For this reason, it's unwise to return your motorbike immediately before your departure. Leave at least several hours, or perhaps a day, to settle any problems if they arise. If the shop's demands are clearly illegitimate (the agreement you have signed has silly conditions and prices, the price they ask for damages is unreasonable, or the damage was clearly done before you rented the motorbike) - call Tourist Police. They will help your cause, although shop owners will try to convince you otherwise.\n\nIf hiring a motorbike doesn't appeal to you, then there are motorbike-taxis willing to take you around for a (negotiable in advance, as foreigners are commonly asked an exorbitant price) fee, as well as other modes of transportation.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nBicycles can be hired very cheaply on Ko Samui. One shouldn't cost any more than 50-100 baht per day.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk011", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are many car hire options on Ko Samui, including the local arms of international companies such as Budget and Avis. Prices are fairly expensive (1,200-1,500 baht per day for a small car), but the convenience of a small, air-conditioned car may be worth it. You can pick up and drop off at the airport or some other locations. Driving is easy on the island as long as you are not in a hurry and having a car gives you easy access to almost all areas of the island. An international driving license is nominally required, although they will accept any valid driver’s license. But you may have issues in case of accident without the international license.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk012", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|350px|Grandfather and grandmother stones Ko Samui\n\nThe major reason people come to Samui is, quite simply, to enjoy the beaches. Even though the two main beaches of Chaweng and Lamai have generally suffered due to mass development, they are still relatively impressive. Development has been thwarted slightly because of the island’s building height restriction, but this has caused sprawl.\n\nWhile the island offers plenty of opportunities to relax on the beach with a cold drink in hand, there's not much else to see beyond soaking in the laid-back atmosphere and people-watching as visitors stroll by. A certain pair of rocks on Lamai amuses some visitors, Bang Rak has a large but nondescript Buddha statue, and there are some waterfalls (notably **Na Muang**) of minor interest.\n\n### Beaches and places\n\n - Ban Lipa Yai\n\n - [[Bang Rak]] Beach\n\n - [[Bophut]] Beach\n\n - [[Chaweng]] Beach\n\n - [[Choeng Mon]] Beach\n\n - Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks\n\n - Hin Lat Waterfall\n\n - [[Lamai]] Beach\nthumb|Night market in Mae Nam\n - [[Mae Nam]] Beach\n\n - Na Mueang Waterfall\n\n - Old House\n\n - Silver Beach\n\n### Diversions\n\n - Monkey Shows\n\n - Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo\n\n - Samui Butterfly Garden / Insect Museum\n\n**Buffalo Fighting Festival**: One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is the Buffalo Fighting Festival which is held on special occasions such as New Year's Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are beautifully decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest, which lasts just two rounds, monks spray the buffalos with holy water. The winning owner typically takes home millions of baht in prize money.\n**Ten Stars Samui Art Party**: A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their new, original artworks. The annual event, hosted at various high-end resorts and other high-end venues on the island, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists.\n**Samui Triathlon**: The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world.\n\n### Temples\n\nthumb|Big Budha statue\n\n - Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui\n\n - Wat Khunaram Ko Samui\n\n - Wat Phra Yai", "word_count": 379}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk013", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Do", "text": "The usual panoply of water sports are available.\n\n### Snorkeling and diving\n\nSnorkeling or diving directly off Ko Samui itself is generally mediocre, since the shallow bays and sandy beaches tend to lead to silt in the water and poor visibility. However, the islands *around* Samui, notably Ko Tao (~1 hr away) and Ang Thong National Marine Park, offer some of the best diving in the world, surrounded by crystal clear water (distances of up to 10–30 m) and stunning coral. The best time year of the year to dive in the Ko Samui is between Jun-Aug, it is still perfectly possible to dive virtually all year round.\n\nIf you're a serious diver, you're probably better basing yourself in Ko Tao itself or going on a liveaboard tour, but if you just want a casual day trip, there are many dive shops on the island offering them in Chaweng. The dive boats tend to leave from the pier at Bophut and Bang Rak.\n\n**Freediving** has become increasingly popular on Ko Samui, with several schools offering Apnea Total, PADI, and SSI freediving courses. The main draw for freedivers is **Sail Rock** (Hin Bai), a granite pinnacle roughly between Ko Samui and Ko Tao featuring a famous vertical chimney swim-through and regular whale shark encounters between March and May. **Chumphon Pinnacle** and **Southwest Pinnacle** are also popular freediving destinations accessible by speedboat from Samui. Closer to the island, **Ang Thong Marine Park** offers shallow freediving around its 42 limestone islands, while **Koh Tan** and **Koh Madsum** provide easy shore-accessible spots just 15 minutes south.\n\n**Ko Kra & Ko Losin:** These two small islands to the southeast of Samui don't get too many divers due to their remoteness. Blacktip sharks, manta rays and hard to find loggerhead turtles can be seen.\n\n**Samran Pinnacles:** Since the currents in this area are often quite strong, this site is recommended for experienced divers only. Due to the currents, the site is a haven for larger pelagics such as barracuda and jacks.\n\n### Water parks\n\n### Other\n\n - Ten Stars Samui Art Party\n\n - Koh Samui THA Midnight Run\n\n - Samui Regatta\n\n - Samui Triathlon", "word_count": 358}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk014", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Eat", "text": "*Individual listings can be found in Ko Samui's district articles*\n\nSamui is well known for its **coconuts**, which are available everywhere and quite tasty. Being an island, seafood is generally a good choice although in high season demand often exceeds local supply. The larger beaches have a number of international restaurants as well (often run by Thai-farang couples) with Bophut having a particularly good reputation.\nSouthern Thai food in general is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian, and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (khanom jeen) and chicken biryani. Popular local foods are salted eggs and rambutan.\n\nDual pricing is common: some restaurants have two menus, one for tourists and the other for Thai people, at about a quarter of the tourist prices. Main courses in a standard, low-key Thai restaurant should be under 100 baht (except some seafood dishes), so if prices seem unreasonably steep, head elsewhere. Always check prices and menu first so you don't have to argue when the bill is served.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk015", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Drink", "text": "*Individual listings can be found in Ko Samui's district articles*\n\nThere are innumerable options for a drink, ranging from the loud and brash tourist pubs and girlie bars of Chaweng to the candle-lit romantic bars of Bophut. The local beers of Singha, Tiger, Chang and Leo are around 90 baht, with imported beers up to twice that. Wine is especially expensive and usually costs over 2,000 baht per bottle.\n\n### Beer bars\n\nChaweng Beach has a lively bar scene, with beer bars found all over the area. Most bars offer pool, Connect 4 and other popular bar games, and many have hostesses. Note that local law enforcement is strict about closing times — the official closing time in entertainment zones is 01:00, though in practice this is usually somewhere between 01:00 and 02:00.\n\n### Karaoke\n\nAt karaoke bars customers can either choose a private room or sing in the main lounge for everyone to hear. There are Thai songs and international songs. There may be pretty hostesses available to sit for a pleasant chat. These bars are especially popular with Asian tourists.\n\n### Nightclubs\n\nChaweng Beach is packed out with nightclubs playing mostly commercial pop and electronic music and serving exotic cocktails.\n\n### Rum distillery\n\nThere is a distillery that brews 5 flavours of rum on one of the side roads on the South Coast of the island, which offers tours during the sugar cane season and free samples any time. The flavours are natural (sugar cane), lemon, orange, pineapple and coconut. Natural and coconut are quite tasty, lemon has a very strong pleasant citrus flavour, and you won't miss anything if you don't try the other two. They also have a delicious mixer to serve with consisting of lime juice, cinnamon and other spices. Worth heading to if you're in the area or just for the novelty of sampling authentic Thai rum. Very friendly staff.", "word_count": 316}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk016", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Sleep", "text": "*Individual listings can be found in Ko Samui's district articles*\n\nWith only an estimated 25,000 rooms, accommodation may be a problem in high season. If you're into nightlife, Chaweng is definitely the place to be, but also Lamai offers some late entertainment. If you're into a quieter beach experience, try the northern beaches like Mae Nam, Bophut, or Choeng Mon. Also the South Coast and west coast are good compromises. Nathon is in the centre part of the island, and offers reasonably priced accommodation with hotel rooms from around 400 baht.\n\nThere are plenty of luxury private villas on Ko Samui. The villas usually have dedicated staff on hand to offer customised services such as breakfast, dinner and in-villa spas. You can also arrange for them to pick you up at the airport.", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk017", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Do not drink the offerings to the spirits\nTap water is not potable. Liquids from sealed bottles nearly always are, and should be used wherever possible. Restaurants buy ice made from purified water, so don’t worry about ice. Tap water in most hotels should not be used for drinking or brushing teeth unless explicitly labelled as safe.\n\nMotorbikes are somewhat risky, but Jeeps, trucks, and other cars for rent are readily available at very reasonable rates, and are considerably safer. If you must use a motorbike always wear a helmet and never drive drunk. Make sure you have a travel insurance, as most vehicles comes with the compulsory insurance only, that covers nearly nothing and the driver may be personal responsible for damage. Rental cars from major companies however, may have a full insurance. Roads are hazardous with many large potholes.\n\nAfter a good time drinking in the party areas of Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai taxis and motorbike-taxis are readily available to take you home. However, be careful: Generally, taxi and motorbike-taxi drivers tend to rip you off.\n\nAll-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are available to rent, but are not be registered for road use and are not allowed in most areas.\n\nBe careful at beaches at night as crimes sometimes occur there.\n\nIf travelling to Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, or Ko Tao by bus, do not store any valuables in your checked luggage. Sometimes there are thefts from people's belongings stored in the hold. They will pick the lock and steal valuables and then reseal the luggage, and when you realise it they will be long gone. Do not let valuables out of your sight when transferring from the train to the islands.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk018", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Connect", "text": "Thailand also has more than its fair share of Internet cafes. The hourly charge is about 30 baht. For those in rural areas, hooking up to the Internet can be done via broadband satellite.\nGSM networks of all major Thai mobile operators cover the island quite well. While roaming is an option, purchasing local SIM card will save you a lot on international calls. Even more, GPRS/EDGE/3G service is a cheap and convenient way to access Internet from virtually anywhere. See the main article for details.\n\nMost resorts, and also many restaurants, cafés, and shopping centres offer free Wi-Fi.", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk019", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Medical facilities\n\nFor those who are just a little sick there are countless clinics and pharmacies in all major tourist areas. Emergency calls for ambulance service can be direct to a hospital or to Samui Rescue Foundation (077 42 1444) or Samui Tourist Police (077 42 1281) or 1155. The public hospital is in Nathon (077 42 1230). There are four private hospitals in the Chaweng area.\n\n - Bandon Hospital Samui\n\n - Bangkok Hospital Samui\n\n - Samui International Hospital\n\n - Thai International Hospital Samui", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "koh-samui::chunk020", "doc_id": "koh-samui", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ang Thong National Marine Park — scuba and snorkelling within striking distance\n Khao Lak – Resort region and diving centre, gateway to the Similan and Surin Islands\n Ko Pha Ngan — home of the infamous Full Moon Party in Haad Rin, but there are also near-untouched landscapes—and detox centers\n Ko Tao — among the best places in Thailand to learn to dive.\n Krabi Province for more beaches and islands.\n Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai — a short hop away on Bangkok Airways\n Surat Thani — the mainland's closest big city", "word_count": 90}
diff --git a/corpus/koh-samui/metadata.json b/corpus/koh-samui/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..287358bd2b32f37732f866a05c2f96d0cde2e4b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/koh-samui/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "koh-samui",
+ "title": "Ko Samui",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ko_Samui",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Samui",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q270375",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 9.5,
+ 100
+ ],
+ "summary": "Ko Samui or Koh Samui (Thai: เกาะสมุย, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ sāmǔj]), often locally shortened to Samui, is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko Samui was granted municipal status and thus is now locally self-governing. Ko Samui, with an area of 228.7 square kilometres (88.3 sq mi), is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. In 2018, it was visited by 2.7 million tourists.\n\n",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 1,
+ 2
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Gulf Coast"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ang Thong National Marine Park",
+ "Khao Lak",
+ "Ko Pha Ngan",
+ "Haad Rin",
+ "Ko Tao",
+ "Krabi Province",
+ "Pattaya",
+ "Phuket",
+ "Chiang Mai",
+ "Surat Thani"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4693,
+ "listing_count": 26,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 21,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "high"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/komodo/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/komodo/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ab7288d3424b15a071c3371158b9fc5bc73ec1ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/komodo/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk000", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Komodo National Park** is in the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores.", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk001", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Here be dragons\n\nIt's on the rise as a tourist site in Indonesia, with more than 150,000 foreign tourist visits in 2018, an increase of more than 25% from the previous year.\n\nKomodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of more than . The boundaries include part of the island of Flores, where there are actually even more dragons than on Komodo itself. As well as being home to the Komodo Dragon, also known as the Komodo Monitor, or Ora (to Indonesians), the park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments.\n\n### History\n\nKomodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986, both indications of the park's biological importance. It lies in Wallacea, a transitional ecosystem between the East Asian and Australasian ones, identified by both the WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area, in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago.\n\nThe park was established to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon and its habitat, first known to people outside the region in 1910 when Lieutenant Van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch Infantry visited as a result of hearing tantalising rumours of their heroic size. Since then, conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.\n\nThe majority of the people in and around the park are fishermen originally from Bima on the island of Sumbawa, and from Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi were nomadic people: they moved from place to place in the region of Sulawesi to make their livelihoods.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk002", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Descendants of the original people of Komodo still live in Komodo, but their culture and language is slowly being integrated with that of recent migrants.\n\nLittle is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island's remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.\n\n### Landscape\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nthumb|Komodo dragons fighting\nThe number of terrestrial animal species found in the park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin. Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.\n\nThe most famous of Komodo National Park's animals is the Komodo Dragon (*Varanus komodoensis*). It is the world's largest living lizard and can reach 3 m or more in length and weigh over 70 kg.\n\nOther animals include the Timor deer, the main prey of the Komodo dragon, wild horses (kuda liar), water buffalo, wild boar (babi liar), long-tailed macaques, palm civets, the endemic Rinca rat (*Tikus besar rinca*), and fruit bats.\n\nAlso beware of the snakes inhabiting the island, including the cobra and Russel's pit viper, both of which are extremely dangerous.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk003", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|A manta ray in the park\nAs far as the marine fauna is concerned, Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of over 260 species of reef building coral, 70 species of sponges, crustaceans, cartilaginous (including manta ray and sharks) over 1,000 species of bony fishes, marine reptiles (including sea turtles), and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). In some spots, it is possible to see a number of huge manta rays both snorkeling and scuba diving, although the currents are strong.\n\n### Climate\n\nTropical all year round, and both extremely hot and dry (over 40 °C) during August and September.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk004", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|One of the smaller islands in the park\nThe ferry service (to and from the cities of Sape, on the eastern tip of Sumbawa, and Labuan Bajo, on Flores) drops off passengers on Komodo once or twice every week. There is no port on the island, so passengers are unloaded onto small vessels which take them into the island's only village. (Some departures do not provide this service - check beforehand.)\n\nSeveral daily flights are available between Denpasar Ngurah Rai airport () and the Komodo airport () at Labuan Bajo.\n\nTravellers coming in from Sape to the west (those travelling overland through Sumbawa and also those arriving at Bima airport) should note that the once-daily ferries from Sape can be suspended *indefinitely* due to bad weather, so if you want to be sure of your travel arrangements, flying to Labuanbajo is a much safer bet. (If you get stranded at Sape, the best Bima airport will be able to offer is a flight back to Denpasar on Bali.)\n\nSailing boat trip 4 days 3 nights to Komodo island from Lombok. This trip will give you more chances to explore the beauty of Lombok island sea, Sumbawa, and All the famous place in komodo national park such as Rinca island, Pink beach, Padar island, Kelor island, Majarinta island and many more. You also could have a chances to swim with whale shark on Sumbawa island.\n\nThe boat trip from Lombok depart 2x a week, in Wednesday and Saturday. This trip will end in Labuan bajo port at the fourth day.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk005", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "You need to buy the appropriate fees and permits at one of the park headquarters when you arrive on Rinca island or Komodo island. They are supposed to be valid for three days, even though the ticket might state otherwise. For foreign visitors, the entrance fee will be Rp 315,000 for weekdays or Rp 390,000 for weekends and public holiday (as of Nov 2018). Tickets are purchased in the islands itself, and you will be receiving different tickets:\n\n Entrance fee\n Conservation fee\n Photo camera fee\n Video camera fee\n Ranger/guide for each island: Rp 80,000 (per group)\nAdditional fees include activities (e.g. diving is Rp 75,000, snorkelling Rp 60,000), research and documentation for commercial purposes.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk006", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A Komodo dragon in the park walking and sampling air with his tongue\n\n### On land\n\nOn foot, only, as there are neither roads nor motor transport.\n\nYou may wish to wear long pants, sunglasses and a hat as you walk in the interior.\n\n### On sea\n\nBy chartered boat, only, as there are no regular connections. Common price for two days boat charter to Rinca island and Komodo island is Rp 2,000,000 (as of Jan 2014), always negotiate with the boat captain. The small boat can accommodate 4 people. There are also more luxurious cruises from Bali.", "word_count": 97}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk007", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "See", "text": "The main reasons to travel to Komodo National Park are the **Komodo Dragons**, the superb beaches and the unspoilt corals.\n\nThere are also wild pigs, monkeys and horses on Pulau Rinca, one of the two largest islands in the park.\n\nIf you return by sea at night, you can also see legions of flying foxes (fruit bats whose wing span may exceed 4 feet) flying in the twilight sky.\n\nAt night on the Flores Sea, you also have a magnificent view of the stars.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk008", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Sea squirt in Komodo National Park\nDepending on the time you have available, one or more guided tours on the islands of Rinca and Komodo.\n\nIt is neither permitted nor advisable to do any tours without local guides, as the Komodo Dragons are dangerous when they attack.\n\nThis area is inhabited by more than a thousand different fish species, making it one of the world's richest marine habitats. You may also swim in the Flores Sea on your incoming or outgoing boat trip to one of the islands. Beware of sharp corals on the sea floor near some of the small islands.\n- Komodo Liveaboards\n\n- Sea Kayaking and SUP'ing Komodo Islands\n\n- Wicked Diving, Komodo\n\n - Uber Scuba Komodo\n\n - The Seven Seas Liveaboard", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk009", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Buy", "text": "On Pulau Rinca near the park headquarters you may buy hand carved wooden komodo dragons along with park stickers and park t-shirts. Prices may be cheaper in Labuan Bajo, Flores than on Pulau Rinca.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk010", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Eat", "text": "A limited selection of food is available near the park headquarters on Pulau Rinca, and the prices are not high by Western standards.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk011", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Drink", "text": "Under no circumstances drink any tap water. The tap water is not potable. Near park headquarters on Pulau Rinca, you may purchase water and soft drinks. If you go trekking into the island's interior be sure to take a large bottle of water with you. You will need it!", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk012", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Nudibranch in Komodo National Park\n\n### Lodging\n\nThere is a US$7 a night losmen in Labuan Bajo, Flores.\nBackpacker hostel in a dorm room starts from Rp 50,000.\n\n### Kayaking and camping\n\nThe Komodo Islands are made famous by the greatest lizard on the planet, the Komodo Dragon. But the Komodo chain of islands offers so much more than this. Pristine reefs, uninhabited islands, white sandy beaches, marine life second to none and land life as fascinating as the Dragon itself.\n\nMany of the islands in the chain are either inaccessible to large boats or difficult to access. However, with a sea kayak, you can travel anywhere you like, such as into small grottos and bays, around rocky points and slowly above shallow reefs brimming with fish.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk013", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Komodo Dragon has a history of attacking humans. Beware of getting too close, and if you are visiting via the park's office (which you should), ask for a guide and stick close to him. Do not wander off or do anything without his consent. Komodos may approach the guest rest area during daily feeding time, but in this time, find a building (which are usually elevated) and stay clear from the railings. Komodos can and will jump to obtain food if necessary. Park rangers are usually present at these events and will deflect any Komodos trying to get in (which they can do).\n\nYou may be given a large pole with a split on the end, forming a \"Y\" shape. This can be used as a walking pole or for moving things on your path - however, if wild animals threaten, it can be used as a last form of defence (despite being hardly useful against Komodos). Overall, try keeping a watchful eye and steer clear of any wildlife.\n\nKomodos are extremely dangerous if close enough. They can run faster than humans (and accelerate very quickly), so best not approach if necessary. Jumping into water (as Komodos are often found near the beach too) doesn't help either, as they can swim faster than humans, can dive, and can also swim against strong currents (in fact, sometimes Komodos are found on neighbouring islands, suspected of swimming there).\n\nZoologists used to believe that the main problem with the dragon's bite might be some rampant septic bacteria residing in their mouth. Actually, the Komodo Dragon's saliva is venomous, full of toxic proteins, now known to induce inhibition of blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis and hypothermia, which lead to shock and loss of consciousness.\n\nYounger Komodos may live in trees. While not as dangerous as their parents, they can still jump off suddenly and cause panic. Snakes, monitor lizards, and other animals are also present and may cause minor problems.\n\nSaltwater crocodiles are not present on Komodo Island, but they may be present on the surrounding islands and in the ocean. Their absence (due in part to a lack of suitable habitat) leaves the Komodo dragons at the top of the island's food chain, with no natural predators. Take extra caution in any area with estuaries and river mouths, because the islands are within the natural range of that species of crocodile. It was once believed by Indonesian natives that monitor lizards (including the Komodo dragon) were capable of warning humans of a crocodile's presence, but don't count on this for your safety.", "word_count": 433}
+{"chunk_id": "komodo::chunk014", "doc_id": "komodo", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bali - the Island of the Gods is one or two hour's flying time away from Flores, depending on the airport, and is a popular combination trip with Komodo.\n Flores island", "word_count": 31}
diff --git a/corpus/komodo/metadata.json b/corpus/komodo/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..aee1c834681c84ed0fa1553fbacb64dea1bbb66d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/komodo/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "komodo",
+ "title": "Komodo National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Komodo_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Flores (Indonesia)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bali",
+ "Flores (Indonesia)",
+ "Flores (Indonesia)"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2022,
+ "listing_count": 5,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kruger/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kruger/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..79797edabd56e06d44cf6acce1d816beae117205
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kruger/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk000", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Overview", "text": "right|thumb|240px|Kruger monument in front of the Paul Kruger Gate\n\nThe **Kruger National Park** (KNP) lies in the north-east of South Africa and runs along the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the southern border is the Crocodile River. The park covers and is divided in 14 different ecozones, each supporting different wildlife. It is one of the main attractions of South Africa and it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks (SANParks).", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk001", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kruger National Park is one of the biggest protected areas in South Africa and is widely considered to be one of the best national parks in the world. The park is similar in size to El Salvador, Israel, Slovenia, and Fiji, or to the US state of New Jersey. With over 1.5 million visitors annually, Kruger National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Africa.\n\n### History\n\nThe park was established in 1898 with the help and blessing of the South African Republic's president Paul Kruger as a protected area for wildlife and it first opened its gates to the general public in 1927.\n\nThe park is run by SANParks and is probably the best managed South African national park. Wildlife conservation, education and tourism are the main objectives of the KNP. Effective measures to prevent poaching are in place and as a result of this cars are generally inspected upon entering and leaving the park.\n\nKruger National Park is part of a larger transnational park initiative called **the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.** KNP alongside Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, the Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary, and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe forms a continuous conservation area across the three countries. However, border restrictions at crossings still apply and border posts are not open all day.\n\n### Landscape\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nThe southern part of the park along the Sabie and Crocodile river is rich in water and has a lot of game viewing opportunities. Here you can see the best of African flora and fauna such as lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, often referred to as the **big five**, but there are plenty of others to see as well. Driving around the Sabie River will always result in seeing some interesting animals. The vegetation around the Sabie River can be very dense forest and thicket and it gets a little bit more open driving down south to the Crocodile River. The northern part of the park supports less flora and fauna and is often referred to as the birding paradise.\n\nIf you choose to drive yourself, and aren't experienced in African animal tracking, you will still inevitably see elephant and buffalo, and a big variety of antelope. Impala are ubiquitous. Rhino are less common, but big enough to be seen by the untrained eye. Leopard are commonly seen by the experts, but are camouflaged and in trees, so to present a challenge to the untrained. Everything else is down to your luck of the day.\n\nIf you have limited time, and want to *do Kruger*, go in the dry season, stay at a camp like Olifants, and confine yourself to the south of the park along the southern rivers.\n\n### Climate\n\nSouth Africa is located south of the equator and has therefore a reverse order of summer and winter than Europe and North America.\n\nGenerally the KNP boasts a dry and hot area, regardless of summer or winter. The South African summer (September -April) in the KNP is hot and sunny with occasional showers and temperature in the shadows range from 18-30°C. The winter (May–August) is warm and dry with temperatures ranging from 8-22°C. September–April: Hot and sunny with sporadic thunder showers. Average temperature 18-30°C. The climate chart to the right represents the climate in Skukuza, in the southern part of the park. The northern part of the park is generally about 2-3°C warmer.", "word_count": 572}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk002", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Map of the Kruger National Park\nKruger is quite accessible by car and by air. Most visitors drive to Kruger or rent a car to take around the park, as cars allow more freedom in the park. However, many of the luxury camps offer all-inclusive packages which make renting a car unnecessary. The park also offers park-and-ride facilities for day visitors at Phabeni, Numbi and Paul Kruger gates.\n\n### By car\n\nKruger National Park has nine gates within South Africa and two international border crossings: one at Pafuri in the very north of the park and one at Giryondo in the north-central section of the park. The more established southern section of the park has five gates, whilst the central and northern sections only have two each. There is a significant gap between Phalaborwa gate and Punda Maria gate, making the Shingwedzi camp very remote. The park's gates are closed after sunset and visitors are not permitted to drive at night in the park. Driving in darkness is considered to be dangerous outside the park especially if you are not used to driving in Africa. Pedestrians walk along the roads and there are local taxi/minibus services. Both are difficult to spot at night. The area of the Numbi Gate has had incidents involving barriers on roads.\n\n### Gates", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk003", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get in", "text": "+ Approximate road distances and drive times to Kruger Park gates\n Gate Distance from Drive time from\n Johannesburg Mbombela Polokwane Johannesburg Mbombela Polokwane\n Paul Kruger\n 450 km 100 km 340 km 5h 1h 30m 4h 20m\n Phabeni\n 415 km 80 km 320 km 4h 40m 1h 10m 4h\n Numbi\n 390 km 55 km 325 km 4h 30m 1h 4h 10m\n Malelane\n 405 km 65 km 370 km 4h 20m 55m 5h\n Crocodile Bridge\n450 km 110 km 410 km 5h 1h 30m 5h 30m\n Orpen\n 505 km 180 km 275 km 5h 40m 2h 30m 3h 30m\n Phalaborwa\n 500 km 235 km 210 km 5h 30m 3h 2h 40m\n Punda Maria\n 550 km 400 km 240 km 6h 10m 5h 3h\n Pafuri\n 617 km 470 km 290 km 6h 45m 6h 30m 3h 30m\n\nthumb|Malelane gate to the park\n\n#### Gate Hours\n\nIt is **not allowed** to enter, walk or drive in the park unaccompanied at night, and entry gate and camp gate opening and closing times are strictly enforced.\n\n+ Table of gate hours by month\n Month Entrance Gates Open Camp Gates Open Gates Close\n Jan\n 05:30 04:30 18:30\n Feb\n 05:30 05:30 18:30\n Mar\n 05:30 05:30 18:00\n Apr\n 06:00 06:00 18:00\n May-Jul\n 06:00 06:00 17:30\n Aug-Sep\n 06:00 06:00 18:00\n Oct\n 05:30 05:30 18:00\n Nov-Dec\n 05:30 04:30 18:30\n\nIf you are late on returning to the camp or found driving around at night,** you will be fined very heavily**. So make sure to be out or back in the camp before closing time!\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Safari style shuttle service at Eastgate Airport\nThere are three airports with commercial scheduled flights near Kruger National Park. From south to north, they are Kruger Mpumalanga at Mbombela, Hoedspruit Airport, and Phalaborwa Airport.\n\n### From Mozambique", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk004", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get in", "text": "While most visitors to Kruger come from South Africa, given the park's substantial border with Mozambique there are several entry points convenient for tourists coming via Mozambique. Crocodile Bridge gate is near the town of Komatipoort, which borders the Mozambican town of Ressano Garcia. It is 110 km (and a roughly 1 hr 45 min drive) from Maputo. If coming from Maputo province, this is likely the fastest entry to the park. Malelane gate is also fairly close along the N4.\n\nKruger also has two border crossings which give access to Mozambique's Limpopo National Park as part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, one at Giriyondo and another in the very north at Pafuri.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk005", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Fees", "text": "As with all South African National Parks, there are daily conservation and entry fees for the park. It may also be beneficial for one to buy a Wild Card, which provides entry to either selections of parks in South Africa or all of the South African National Parks. If you are not a resident of South Africa, you can choose to either pay daily conservation fees or buy an international visitors wildcard (valid for entry to all SANParks parks). The break even point is about 4-days conservation fees equal to a wildcard. You can purchase a wildcard or pay conservation fees when you are booking your accommodation, or you pay on admission (if you are not staying in the park) or at your camp. If you are visiting other parts of South Africa, you may want to consider the discounts available for Table Mountain and other parks before making your calculation.\n\nWhen you enter the park you will be given an admission permit. It is very important to retain this, as you have to present it on the way out of the park to be permitted to exit.\n\nThe following conservation fees apply for Kruger National Park as of April 2025:\n\n+ Daily conservation fees by nationality\n Nationality Adults Children (under 12)\n South African citizens or residents R128 R64\n SADC Nationals R257 R128\n Standard Fee (international tourists) R535 R257\n\nAnyone without a South African ID or Southern African Development Community passport will be charged the standard conservation fees. Up to date tariff information can be found on the SANParks website.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk006", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nthumb|Animals have the right of way!\nThe infrastructure of the park is outstanding by African standards and roads inside the park are of very good quality and potholes on the main roads are rare. Smaller side tracks are close to the original landscape, but manageable with a normal car, although a 4x4 offers probably a better comfort on this type of terrain. KNP roads have speed limits, ranging from 20 to 50 km/h and it is not wise to go much faster, because game tend to cross the roads out of nowhere. Driving off road is not allowed.\n\n**Take care when approaching animals**. They are wild and unpredictable. If you have the feeling that animals get angry, leave! Elephant and rhino can be very dangerous to you and your car, especially a mother who is protecting her calf!\n\nIt is custom to share information about animal sightings with other park visitors. This happens casually and information is exchanged when two cars from the opposite direction meet and stop for a short chit-chat, there are also sightings boards at all the camps, showing where recent sightings were made. However, it is **strongly discouraged** to share wildlife locations on social media, due to poaching concerns.\n\n*Avis* is the only car rental company with an office inside the park at Skukuza Camp, but other companies from Mbombela and at the two above mentioned airports are happy to provide you with a car as well. You may want to consider an air-conditioned car in the hot climate of the KNP.\n\nPetrol stations within the park **do accept payment by most bank cards**.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk007", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get around", "text": "The maximum speed limit is 50 km/h on tarred roads, 40 km/h on gravel roads and 20 km/h in rest camps, and is generally obeyed. However lower speeds afford greater safety and better sightings. It takes roughly 10 hours to cross the KNP in south - north direction. Distances between camps sites are on average 1-2 hours in the south and a little bit more in the north. Consider the distances between camps when planning your trip and remember that you are not allowed to leave your car once you left a camp site. Toilets are present at all the camps and picnic areas, but not at the hides. A road can be blocked by buffalo or elephant crossing, adding 20 minutes unexpected journey time to your trip. Leave some slack in your travel time calculations to enjoy the scenery.\n\nDuring the summer rainy season, there is the possibility of gravel roads and bridges being closed due to flooding. Certain areas of the park may be inaccessible. Exercise caution if driving on these secondary roads during and after heavy rainfall.\n\nAlways allow plenty of time to reach your destination campsite before the curfew. One of the hazards when driving at dusk is birds who settle on the warm tarmac for the night.\n\n#### Navigation\n\nMake sure you have an up-to-date map, enough to eat and drink, cameras and binoculars, reference books and a litter bag with you, a litter bag is normally issued by the park's staff when you enter the park, but feel free to ask at camps and picnic spots. Maps can be purchased in all main camps at each gate. It is not advisable to rely solely on directions from satnav, as most satnav apps or devices will attempt to navigate you via private roads.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk008", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get around", "text": "South African National Parks publishes a medium detail map on their website which can be used to supplement your GPS to prevent you from taking the wrong roads, but it is still recommended to buy a guide book when you get there, as the maps in the guidebooks are more detailed. OpenStreetMap also tends to have better, more up to date information than Google or Apple maps, but still has a tendency to send you along private roads sometimes. It is recommended that you use the table of travel times provided by SANParks in the Kruger Park guidebooks or on their website when calculating travel times especially, as the GPS will typically use the speed limit to calculate travel times, which can be highly unreliable in the park since it's not unusual to have to stop and wait for a herd of elephants or zebra to cross the road before proceeding.\n\n#### Filling stations\n\nGiven the size of the park, it is often a source of anxiety for first-time visitors to find petrol. Fortunately, this is not as big a concern as it first appears, as most of the main camps have petrol. The camps with petrol stations are:\n\nBerg-en-Dal\n Crocodile Bridge\n Letaba\n Lower Sabie\n Mopani\n Orpen\n Olifants\n Pretoriuskop\n Punda Maria\n Satara\n Shingwedzi\n Skukuza\n\nVisitors to the far northern region should be aware that there are no petrol stations in the Makuleke contract park and the closest petrol station is at the Punda Maria rest camp.\n\n### By foot", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk009", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is possible to go on guided walking tours, which you can arrange through the camp reception, or in advance with SANParks. However, the rangers in Kruger National Park have a policy of not surprising animals, which means you are going to be walking briskly through bushland with a couple of armed guides ahead of you, rather than stealthily moving through the bush to get a glimpse of an animal that hasn't seen you. The reality of this is that most animals will well have truly gone from the area before you get there, and the chances of wildlife spotting are dramatically reduced over what you might see by game vehicle or by car. Still, you might be lucky.\n\nUnauthorised walking is not allowed and also extremely foolish.\n\n### Park and Ride\n\nKruger Park offers day visitors an option to do a park and ride tour at Numbi, Phabeni, or Paul Kruger gates. They have daily tours starting at 07:00 for morning drives and 14:00 (in summer) or 13:30 (in winter) for afternoon drives. Information about bookings can be found on the SANParks website.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk010", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Sabie river is the place with the most abundant wildlife in the Kruger National Park\nthumb|Leopard in a tree\nAlthough the main attraction of Kruger is the wildlife, this just barely scratches the surface of what the park offers. From archaeological sites to memorial plaques, from baobab trees to some of the oldest rocks on the planet, Kruger offers a spectacular variety of attractions.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nThe main attraction of the park is wildlife viewing, and most of the camps have boards for reporting sightings of some of the most popular animals in the park. Due to poaching concerns, rhino sightings have been removed, and guests are asked not to report the locations of any animal sightings on social media.\n\nThe best times for sightings are during sunrise right when the gates open and sunset right before the gates close when animals are the most active. Sightings are also likely easier during the dry winter season when veld foliage is less dense and animals are likely to congregate around water sources. During the wet summer, there is a multitude of birds with summer seasonal visitors and a key time for birdwatchers.\n\nIf you're new to wildlife viewing, it's worthwhile to get one of the park's animal guidebooks to help you out. There are also a few lists to check off of what you've seen:\n\n - Big Five game\n\n - Little Five\n\n - Big Six birds\n\n - Five Trees\n\n### Marula Region (South)\n\nThe southernmost region of the park, and the most visited, is the Marula region. It is the most densely populated with wildlife as well.\n\n - Albasini Ruins\n\n - James Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library and Museum\n\n - Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial\n\n - Lake Panic Bird Hide\n\n - Nthandanyathi Hide\n\n - Gardenia Hide\n\n### Nkayeni Region (Central)\n\nNorth of Skukuza is the Nkayeni region of the park, with Satara rest camp centrally located in the region and the Orpen gate is the only gate in the area. It is bordered to the north by the Olifants River.\n - Kruger Tablets\n\n - Kumana Baobab\n\n - Orpen Boulders\n\n - Sweni Hide and Viewpoint\n\n - Ratel Pan\n\n### Nxanatseni Region (North)\n\nThe Nxanatseni region is by far the largest region of the park, with almost half the land in the park being in this region.\n\n - Letaba Elephant Hall\n\n - Masorini\n\n - Thulamela\n\n - Sable Dam hide\n\n - Matambeni Bird hide\n\n - Anna Ledeboer Plaque\n\n - Longwe Lookout\n\n - Shipandani\n\n - Pioneer Dam hide\n\n - Nyawutsi Hide\n\n - Kanniedood hide", "word_count": 414}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk011", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Do", "text": "The biggest draw of Kruger is the nature. Flora, fauna, and beautiful landscapes all combine to make a generally pleasant and relaxing experience. It's possible to spend weeks in Kruger slowly driving around looking for animals, stopping at the various hides and other waypoints to see what's there, and just generally taking life at a snail's pace. However, Kruger offers a variety of ways to see things you wouldn't otherwise see with guided drives and walks, as well as a variety of other experiences both in and out of camp.\n\n### Wildlife experiences\n\nthumb|Bush drive vehicles commonly used in the park\nThe basic way to see the wildlife is to tour the park by car during the daylight hours when the park is open. This is a very effective way of seeing wildlife, even for first timers. There are many other wildlife experiences on offer.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk012", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Do", "text": "**Bush drives** First-time visitors may want to consider to book a guided tour through the KNP with local park guides. Bush drives are available from Berg-en-Dal, Letaba and Skukuza camps and some other camps, and cost R380-490 per adult (50% less for children) (Mar 2023). Experienced rangers will take you in a 4x4 car to the KNP either for a sunrise or a sunset drive and explain to you and your party the finer details of game spotting.\n**Night drives** Discovering the KNP on your own is a great adventure, but there are a few things that you can not do without a ranger. One of them is to have a night drive through the park to see nocturnal creatures such as lions, leopards and hyenas. Tours take a couple of hours and leave usually shortly before the main gates close at night.\n **Landrover Lebombo Eco-Trail**\n **The 3 brand new 'Transfrontier Trails do Limpopo'**\n *The Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail*\n *The Machampane Wilderness Trail*\n *The Massingir Hiking Trail*\n **Wildlife films** Several rest camps show wildlife films 6 days a week in the evenings. These camps are: Berg-en-Dal, Letaba, Mopani, Satara, Shingwedzi and Skukuza.\n\n### Hiking Trails", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk013", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Do", "text": "Discovering African flora and fauna on foot is an unforgettable lifetime experience and only few places in Africa offer such tours. Groups consist of up to 8 hikers plus 2 rangers on a hiking tour that lasts for 3 days, and you learn a lot of things about South African wildlife. There is no way that you could see animals closer than on this tour. Imagine seeing lion, elephant or rhino only a few meters from you. This is a breathtaking experience. Trails follow circular routes and you return each evening to the safety of your camp where dinner awaits. The duration of the trails is three nights and two days, either from Sunday to Wednesday, or from Wednesday to Saturday. Hikers meet at the designated rest camp at 15:30 on Sundays or Wednesdays from where they leave by vehicle for their trail camp after a short briefing.\n\n- Bushmans Trail\n\n**Metsimetsi trail** is best enjoyed during the South African winter, check in at Skukuza camp and you will travel north to the N’waswitsontso river nearby the Satara camp.\n - Napi trail", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk014", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Do", "text": "**Nyalaland trail** Check in Punda Maria camp in the north of the KNP to spot crocodile, elephant and hippo as well as bird watching is going to be on your agenda. Buffalo also frequent the area. Birdlife is prolific.\n**Olifants Trail** Check in at Letaba Camp. The trail crosses the Olifants River as well as the Letaba River which supports a variety of wildlife, including large predators, elephant and buffalo. Also listen out for the call of the African fish eagle.\n**Sweni Trail** Check in at Satara Camp. The Sweni area is popular, in that, there is a high density of both predator and prey, and a trail experience here give hikers the opportunity to observe lion and even cheetah.\n**Wolhuter Trail** In the southern part of the park (*white rhino country*), between the Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop.\n - Olifants River Back Pack Trail\n\n- Mathikithi trail\n\n### Other than wildlife\n\n- Skukuza Golf Club\n\n- AM Spa Kruger", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk015", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Buy", "text": "Bigger camp sites such as Lower Sabie and Skukuza have comfortable shopping facilities and you can buy drinks, foodstuffs, souvenirs, as well as some other travel items you may have forgotten. The range is more limited at the smaller or more remote camps. It is easy for them to run out of particular items, so you have to make do with what is available. Fresh milk particularly can be in short supply.\n\nArtistic wood carvings can be bought as well and is usually of reasonable quality and cheaper than in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Carvings can be found in and around the gates to the Kruger National Park as well.\n\nAnimal skins and rugs are available as well.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk016", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Pafuri picnic area in the far northern part of the park\n\nMost of the main camps have shops where you can buy raw food to cook, as well as wood or charcoal for fires. All accommodations have areas for cooking. Campsites tend to have communal kitchens, but most rondavels, bungalows or cottages will have private kitchens or kitchenettes. There are also picnic areas out in the wild. Some of these areas, such as Tshokwane, will sell cooked food on site. Others only have braai facilities for you to cook for yourself. Many of the camps have cafeterias and restaurants, but in general there's not too much variety (see below). The menu is the same at each camp, with a range of only 10 or so dishes. Most visitors familiar with the park are self-catering in their lodges or at the picnic areas.\n\nLodges in the private areas of the park and outside the park will cater food, often arranged in well-sheltered outdoor restaurants with open fireplace, and barbecue South African specialties such as:\nwart hog sausage\nspringbok tenderloin\nostrich steak\nbiltong (dried meat) made of game, like kudu, impala or zebra.\n\n### Restaurants at camps\n\nMost of the main camps have a single restaurant each, which are franchised with various chains popular in South Africa. An official listing of restaurants at camps in Kruger is available on the SANParks website.\n\n- Mugg & Bean Lower Sabie\n\n- Wimpy Pretoriuskop\n\n#### Cattle Baron", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk017", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Eat", "text": "As the biggest camp, Skukuza has luxuries most other camps don't get. One of these is the Cattle Baron, one of a chain of steak restaurants founded in 1987. Their Skukuza restaurant is one of two restaurants in South Africa's national parks (the other one being in Addo Elephont Park. The menu at Skukuza is somewhat different from the other Cattle Baron restaurants, but the menu on their website can give you a good idea what's available. The Cattle Baron will often (though not always) also serve various local foods such as mielie pap, boerewors, kudu steaks and malva pudding. Be sure to check their specials menu.\n - Cattle Baron Skukuza\n\n#### Tindlovu\n\nTindlovu is perhaps the most common restaurant in Kruger National Park. The first restaurant was opened in 2012 after decades of the founder dreaming of pursuing hospitality as a career. Tindlovu is mostly based in Kruger Park, but they also have two restaurants in Mbombela (Nelspruit).\n - Tindlovu Berg-en-Dal\n\n- Tindlovu Letaba\n\n- Tindlovu Mopani\n\n- Tindlovu Olifants\n\n- Tindlovu Punda Maria\n\n- Tindlovu Satara\n\n- Tindlovu Shingwedzi\n\n### Bush Braai and Bush Breakfast\n\nMost camps offer Bush Braais and Bush Breakfasts, which are a wonderful way to have a dinner whilst experiencing the real bush. Bush braais begin with a roughly hour-long game drive in the afternoon, leading to the site of the meal, with preparation already underway. This meal typically lasts about 90 minutes and typically includes mielie pap, boerewors, game meat, a variety of vegetables and salad. Desserts and tea are also offered, and a cash bar is available. The braai will be followed by a 30-minute night drive back to camp. Bush breakfasts are fairly similar.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk018", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Eat", "text": "Prices vary, but can be confirmed by contacting the camp from which you'd like to do the bush braai. Note that you must be staying in the camp in order to do a bush braai or bush breakfast, as the breakfast leaves very early and the braai comes back after the gates close. More information is available on the SANParks website.\n\nThe following camps offer Bush braais:\n\n### Boma Braai\n\nA Boma braai is an open fire barbecue in an open air boma in the camp. Boma braais are generally managed through the camp's restaurant and should be booked ahead. They are a nice trade-off for people who are either unable or unwilling to do a bush braai, but still want the feeling of being out in the wild rather than sitting at a restaurant. Bush braais often will not accommodate children (or will only accommodate a limited number of children, so groups with children may consider a boma braai instead.\n\nBoma braais can be booked at the following camps:\n\n### Picnic sites\n\nThere are quite a few picnic sites of various size throughout the park. Some of the larger ones such as Afsaal and Tshokwane have kitchens where you can buy premade meals. The smaller ones (such as the Albasini ruins) might have no facilities directly available, requiring a short drive to nearby facilities. Many (but not all) picnic sites offer either skottels (gas-fired standalone cast iron frying pans) or braais with an option to buy firewood. Most of the main camps also have a day visitors area which serves as a picnic site. The Skukuza day visitors area is not within the main camp, but is a short drive downriver.\n\n#### Marula region", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk019", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Marula region of the park between the Crocodile and Sabie rivers doesn't contain many picnic spots, as it is quite dense with camps. However, with the exception of the Albasini Ruins these spots are some of the best-stocked picnic sites in the park.\n\n- Afsaal Traders Rest\n\n- Albasini Ruins\n\n- Nkuhlu\n\n#### Nkayeni Region\n\nThe Nkanyeni region (between the Sabie river and the Olifants river) is home to the biggest picnic area in the park, Tshokwane. It also has a collection of other areas serving people driving up the less-used western roads and in the area around Satara.\n\n- Mlondozi\n\n- Muzandzeni\n\n- Nhlanguleni\n\n- N'wanetsi\n\n- Timbavati\n\n- Tshokwane Trading Post\n\n#### Nxanatseni Region\n\nThe northernmost region of the park and in many ways the least developed, Nxanatseni has only a few picnic spots scattered around.\n\n- Babablala\n\n- Makhadzi\n\n- Masorini\n\n- Mooiplaas\n\n- Pafuri", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk020", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Drink", "text": "South African alcohol laws apply within the park. However, South African National Parks have some additional regulations regarding alcohol. There is a blanket ban on alcohol for day visitors - it is not allowed at picnic spots, in the day visitor areas at rest camps, and you are not allowed to drink alcohol whilst driving. (South African road law still applies in Kruger.) Day visitors are also not allowed to enter the park with any alcohol.\n\nOvernight visitors may bring alcohol in their cars for consumption at their accommodation, and the restaurants in Kruger do serve alcoholic beverages to overnight visitors. Overnight visitors are also allowed to purchase alcohol at the Parks Shops in the main camps.\n\nThe bars in camp are visited in the evening by guests recalling tales of wildlife seen during the day. Generally people aren't visiting Kruger for the nightlife, but are more likely to spend the early evening with a braai, and retiring to bed for an early start the following day.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk021", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Within Kruger there are a fair number of camps operated by SANParks, as well as some private camps operated on concessions. There are also several hotels and lodges outside of the park but near to a gate. Further, there are several private nature reserves that border Kruger and have agreements with the park for limited amounts of travel for their members.\n\n### SANParks camps\n\nMost of the camps within the park are operated by South African National Parks. They are categorised by their size and facilities. The largest, Skukuza, has the most facilities, including a shop (selling food, drinks and curios), multiple restaurants, a library and museum, a swimming pool, a petrol station and a golf course. The smallest, Tzendze, is purely a tented campsite with communal ablutions and cooking facilities. The SANParks website allows bookings online for all parks, with instant confirmation and availability checks. You will need to register before you commence your booking, and the registration process can take around half an hour to be confirmed before you can commence booking. The SANParks site is not the first site returned by most search engines when searching for accommodation in Kruger, but **it is the only site where you can book accommodation directly.** All other sites will only take \"provisional bookings\", and are just agencies.\n\n- Bookings at SANParks\n\nGetting a response from email sent to the reservations email address seems next to impossible. There are options to book activities (such as drives) online when booking accommodation, but your accommodation is booked the website does allow you to add or incorporate additional activities with your reservation. However, you can book them on arrival in camp (subject to availability) or in advance by phone.\n\n#### Main camps", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk022", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Zebras near Lower Sabie\nthumb|Accommodation at Skukuza\nthumb|The old railway bridge near Skukuza\nThe main camps in Kruger are:\n\n- Berg-en-Dal\n\n- Crocodile Bridge\n\n- Letaba\n\n- Lower Sabie\n\n- Mopani\n\n- Olifants\n\n- Orpen\n\n- Pretoriuskop\n\n- Punda Maria\n\n- Satara\n\n- Shingwedzi\n\n- Skukuza\n\n#### Satellite camps\n\nEach satellite camp is attached to a main camp, and check-in is generally done at the related main camp. In some cases, check-in can be done from multiple main camps.\n\n- Balule\n\n- Malelane\n\n- Maroela\n\n- Tamboti\n\n- Tsendze\n\n#### Bushveld camps\n\nBush camps provide smaller accommodation varieties than the main camps. They do not have full shops or restaurants in them and only some (Talamati, Biyamiti and Bateleur) will allow you to use electrical equipment like hair dryers. All units in these camps have private toilets, but kitchen facilities may be on open verandas.\n\n- Bateleur\n\n- Biyamiti\n\n- Shimuwini\n\n- Sirheni\n\n- Talamati\n\n#### Overnight hides\n\nKruger offers overnight hides, which provide an exciting and different way to see the park by night. These buildings are publicly accessible bird hides by day, but transform overnight into primitive accommodations for a small number of guests. As with all hides in Kruger, these are in good spots for wildlife viewing. However, these are some of the few spots in Kruger where you can go to sleep only to be awoken after midnight by hippos right outside your window or get a dawn awakening as a giraffe munches on the thatch roof. No electricity or water is provided at the sleepover hides, and as they act as regular hides during the day you must be packed up and ready to leave fairly early. However, given the unique experience provided, this is considered worthwhile for many a guest.\n\n- Sable Sleepover Hide", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk023", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Sleep", "text": "- Shipandani\n\n#### Bush Lodges\n\nBush lodges are private lodges that offer complete privacy to guests, as only those booked in the bush lodge are allowed in the camp and only one booking is allowed at a time. Bush lodges have their own kitchens with gas stoves, ovens, fridges, freezers, cutlery and crockery. They also have gas braais and wood fires (provide your own wood - you can buy wood at any gate or main camp shop).\n\n- Boulders Bush Lodge\n\n- Pafuri Border Camp\n\n- Roodewal Bush Lodge\n\n### Private camps within the park\n\nSeveral camps within the park are run by private companies. The camps provide different accommodations and are nowhere near as uniform as the SANParks camps. In most cases, the camps provide packages that include transportation, so one may not have to hire a car.\n\n- Lukimbi Safari Lodge\n\n- Tinga Private Game Lodge\n\n- Jock Safari Lodge\n\n- Singita Private Game Lodges\n\n- Imbali Safari Lodge\n\n- Rhino Walking Safaris\n\n- Viva Safaris\n\n- Shishangeni Lodge\n\n- Camp Shawu\n\n- Camp Shonga\n\n- Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge\n\n- Hamilton's Tented Camp\n\n- Rhino Post Safari Lodge\n\n### Outside the park\n\nThere are several hotels along the borders of the park, mostly congregated around the park gates. These hotels are especially useful to tourists who may not be able to arrive on their first day before the gates close.\n\n- Pestana Kruger Lodge\n\n- Malelane Sun Lodge\n\n- Protea Kruger Gate\n\n- Mvuradona Game Lodge\n\n- Khaya Umdani Kruger", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk024", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Many people also prefer to sleep at nearby towns, such as Komatipoort (8 km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate), Mbombela (for Numbi Gate), Malelane (for Numbi Gate), Sabie and Hazyview (for the Phabeni Gate) and Hoedspruit (for the Orpen gate). All of these have a wealth of accommodation of every standards, are easily accessible for the park for self-drive guests and tours in can be arranged via private tour operators.\n - Masodini Private Game Lodge\n\n### Nearby private game reserves and lodges\n\nthumb|Signboards to private camps\nThese are mainly found in the northeast of the Mpumalanga Province and often sharing a border with the south-western part of the KNP. Most fences between the KNP and private game parks have been dismantled and animals can freely move about. As per their name, private game reserves are not part of the state-owned SANParks system and are owned by private individuals or organizations. The private reserves that border KNP form what is called \"Greater Kruger National Park\". Examples of private reserves by KNP include Klaserie, Sabi Sands, Timbavati, and others.\n\nLodges within private reserves usually offer a more luxurious all-inclusive experience than within KNP with guided game drives, meals, and other activities. Safari drives within private reserves are less crowded and offer up close sightings of animals as they go off-road into the brush.\n\n- Idube Safari Lodge\n\n- Mala Mala", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk025", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Main Camp** is a luxurious place in the middle of Mpumalanga with elegant rooms. Each room has two bathrooms, a telephone and things you would expect in an upper class hotel, but not in the middle of the bush. Other parts of the hotel demonstrate its history as a hunting camp as was the fashion some time ago by presenting animal skins, heads and massive elephant tusks.\n **Harry’s Camp** is the budget version of Mala Mala and shares the same wildlife experience as the main camp for less money. Facilities include bar, swimming pool and of course a private air-strip.\n **Kirkman’s Camp** is an ex-cattle farm in a colonial style house near the sand river. Decoration reminds the visitor of past times and the reception looks like an exposition of old weapons, animal skins and other hunting trophies. Facilities include swimming pool, bar and private airstrip.\n - Sabi Sabi\n\n**Selati Lodge** is a charming place decorated in colonial style from the 19th century and has therefore no electricity and receives a maximum of 16 guests in 8 rooms and has bar and pool facilities.\n **Bush Lodge** is close to a water hole and some of the rooms overlook it. The lodge is tastefully decorated with African art and accommodates 54 guests in chalets and 5 suits. Facilities include bar and pool.\n - Timbavati River Lodge\n\n- Singita\n\n**Ebony Lodge**\n **Boulders Lodge**\n **Lebombo Lodge**\n **Sweni Lodge**\n **Castleton Camp**", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk026", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|100px|Animals are dangerous and unpredictable\nIn general, Kruger National Park is one of the safest areas of South Africa. However, there are still safety concerns visiting Kruger.\n\n### Malaria\n\nThe entirety of Kruger Park is a breeding ground for malaria-carrying anopheles mosquitoes. As such, it is important to take precautions against malaria. While the best advice for you will come from a doctor, you can use the Wikivoyage page about malaria as a starting guide. Avoiding mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent, covering your skin and using mosquito nets is especially helpful, but not sufficient on its own. Pharmacies in South Africa offer a wide variety of effective malaria tablets, often for cheaper than available elsewhere, but it is important to check with your doctor especially if you are taking any other medications, as there may be drug-drug interactions.\n\n### Animals\n\nWhen entering Kruger National Park, you are entering the home of the animals in the park. It is important to be respectful, as harming the animals in the park comes with a stiff fine, potentially prison time, and in some cases an immediate death penalty enforced by elephant, rhino, lion or hippo. None of these are particularly positive outcomes, so you are encouraged to avoid such scenarios. **Do not leave your vehicle** except in camp or where there are signs allowing it. Even when there are signs noting that you may leave your vehicle, be sure to check the area around you before exiting.\n\nDo not feed the animals. Animals who are fed by humans tend to come back for more food and can end up becoming pests or even violent. You feeding an animal might be a step on the path to it having to be killed, and wildlife management hates to have to kill the animals.\n\n### Driving\n\nRespecting speed limits inside the KNP is crucial. Big game crosses the roads in the park without any warning and an upset elephant is not easy to deal with - the same applies for rhinos and giraffe bulls. Speed limits are 50 km/h on tarred roads and 40 km/h on dirt roads. Even so, going close to the speed limit is not recommended, as it makes it more difficult to spot animals near the road. Additionally, it is important to leave plenty of time to get back to camp or to a park gate before the gates close. Not only are there fines for those caught in the park after closing time, but lights seen in unexpected locations must be investigated, as poachers often camp in the park.\n\nPlease be careful when driving outside the park at night, especially in rural areas. While the area is generally safer than parts of South Africa like Johannesburg, the roads are still quite dangerous.\n\nDuring rainy season, exercise caution on gravel roads and low bridges during and after heavy rainfall due to flooding and risk of roads being washed out. \n\n### Other rules\n\nSome other rules that are important to know before visiting Kruger are:\n\n Firearms must be declared and sealed at the entrance gate.\n No pets of any kind are permitted in the KNP\n Driving vehicles off road is not allowed", "word_count": 530}
+{"chunk_id": "kruger::chunk027", "doc_id": "kruger", "section": "Go next", "text": "Pilgrim's Rest and the Blyde River Canyon are often visited in the same trip as Kruger.\nJohannesburg (the biggest city south of the Sahara) and Pretoria in the Gauteng Province are busy cities of banks and government institutions and are 4 hours drive from the park.\nCape Town is one of the largest cities in South Africa and is in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town is a stone's throw from South Africa's world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl.\nDurban is primarily a holiday/resort city at the Indian Ocean but also boasts South Africa's busiest container port.\nDrakensberg -- Massive and spectacular mountain range. Peaks exceed 3000 meters above sea level. Climbing, hiking, wilderness trails, mountain biking, fly fishing, and more.\nLesotho -- *real* Africa right on South Africa's doorstep.\n\nThe border crossing into Mozambique within the greater park isn't really practical for overseas visitors. Rental cars are not permitted across the border and there is no transport to or from the border post to speak of. There are no facilities, apart from customs and immigration, at the border post. The customs, immigration and (Mozambique) tourism officials at the crossing are busy doing a range of activities, none of which actually involve processing people across the border.", "word_count": 216}
diff --git a/corpus/kruger/metadata.json b/corpus/kruger/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c039758ff8625e8b2d0437c4a4f7b79346d76a76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kruger/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kruger",
+ "title": "Kruger National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kruger_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Mpumalanga",
+ "Limpopo"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Pilgrim's Rest",
+ "Blyde River Canyon",
+ "Johannesburg",
+ "Pretoria",
+ "Gauteng",
+ "Cape Town",
+ "Cape Town",
+ "Cape Winelands",
+ "Stellenbosch",
+ "Paarl",
+ "Durban",
+ "Lesotho"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 6927,
+ "listing_count": 108,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 28,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/kuala-lumpur/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kuala-lumpur/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..606f01c514c77ada10d5d2d58d15d5b9915fd1ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kuala-lumpur/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk000", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Kuala Lumpur**, called **KL** by locals, is Malaysia's federal capital and largest city at 6.5 million (city-proper population of 1.8 million). Kuala Lumpur is a cultural melting pot with some of the world's cheapest 5-star hotels, impressive shopping districts, food from all parts of the world, and natural wonders within day-trip distance.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk001", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Districts", "text": "Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city with residential suburbs that seem to go on forever. The city proper is a 243 km2 (94 sq mi) Federal Territory managed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and comprising eight divisions which are further split into 42 local areas, mainly for administrative purposes. The following districts have been conceptualised for visitors to Kuala Lumpur.\n\nthumb|350px|Kuala Lumpur skyline at dusk\n\nThe combination of Old City Centre, Botanical Garden, North of City Centre and Kuala Lumpur/North, which has a rich history, is also known as the Diamond Triangle.\n\nBeyond the Kuala Lumpur city proper are the adjacent satellite cities of Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Port Klang, Ampang, Puchong, Selayang/Rawang, Kajang and Sepang, all in the state of Selangor, which enclaves Kuala Lumpur. Within the same conurbation, also surrounded by Selangor, is the federal territory of Putrajaya, which is Malaysia's *de facto* administrative and judiciary capital. These cities all merge such that it can be hard to know where Kuala Lumpur ends and Selangor begins. The culmination of these cities is a huge metropolis known as Greater Kuala Lumpur or more commonly, *Klang Valley*.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk002", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Understand", "text": "As in most of Malaysia’s larger cities, Malaysian Chinese form a majority of the population, at 55%, in Kuala Lumpur. Malays (who form the majority of Malaysia's population, overall), Malaysian Indians and Eurasians (people of mixed European and Asian descent) are also present in large numbers in the city. There is also a substantial number of foreign residents, including more recent immigrants and workers from South and Southeast Asia and expatriates from Western countries and the Middle East. The result is a mix of cultures that meld together to make Kuala Lumpur a modern and cosmopolitan capital.\n\nleft|thumb|300px|After ''Merdeka'' (Independence), the offices of the Colonial Secretariat on the Selangor Club ''Padang'' (field) became the '''Sultan Abdul Samad Building''' on ''Dataran Merdeka'' (Independence Square)", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk003", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Understand", "text": "Kuala Lumpur is said to be locked in an unofficial rivalry with nearby city-state Singapore. The ethnic Chinese-dominated Singapore was expelled from the indigenous Malay-majority Federation due primarily to irreconcilable ideological differences. Singapore strove to become a viable independent state and spurred rapid development, which the Malaysians sought to keep up with by investing in Kuala Lumpur. If Singapore has a first class airport, so does KL. When Singapore got an efficient urban transport system, so did KL. As Singapore becomes clean and green, so does KL. Everywhere you go, there are swats and strips of manicured public lawns and refreshing jungle-like parks - just like Singapore. If Singapore has an aquatic park and a bird park, so does KL. Same thing with an orchid park and butterfly park. If Singapore renovates and paints its colonial shop houses with tutti frutti colours, so does KL. If Singapore builds theme parks, so does KL. And if Singapore aims to be a shopping mecca with a plethora of shopping malls and all sorts of gimmicks, so does KL. What Singapore has, KL matches, often on an even grander scale. So if you've been to Singapore, you will have seen it all in KL, a bit of *déjà vu*, or vice versa.\n\nBoth cities' locations on the geographically, economically and politically important Bangkok-Jakarta corridor have favoured their growth. The two cities are built from the same cultural ingredients, though in different proportions: Chinese culture is more dominant in Singapore.\n\nElectricity is 230V using Type G plugs. Visitors from countries with different plugs will need an adapter.\n\n### History", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk004", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Understand", "text": "Founded in 1857 under British rule as a tin mining outpost, Kuala Lumpur is fairly new as far as Malaysian cities go and lacks the rich history of George Town or Malacca. Due to the success of tin mining, Kuala Lumpur began to flourish but had problems with gang fighting in the late 1800s. Following this, Kuala Lumpur faced further misfortune after much of the city burnt down in a large fire as most buildings were built from wood and thatch. As a result buildings in Kuala Lumpur were required to be built with brick and tile. After these rough early years, Kuala Lumpur began to prosper and was made capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896.\n\nDuring World War II, Kuala Lumpur and the Federated Malay States were occupied by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945. During this time the economy was virtually halted. Soon after the British regained power it was declared that the Federated Malay States were to become the Malayan Union and work toward independence began. In 1952, Kuala Lumpur was one of the first cities in the Union to hold elections. Malaya's independence was declared in 1957 in front of huge crowds at what was later named *Stadium Merdeka* (Independence Stadium), and Kuala Lumpur continued as the new nation's capital.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk005", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1972, Kuala Lumpur was given city status and by 1974 became a Federal Territory of Malaysia in its own right, hence losing the title as capital city of Selangor. The economic boom of the 1990s brought Kuala Lumpur the standard trappings of a modern city, but it was severely hit by the Asian financial crisis of 1997, which stalled the Malaysian economy and led to the abandonment or delay of many construction projects, some of the partially-built structures remaining till today. Today, Kuala Lumpur has become a modern city, bristling with skyscrapers and with a modern transportation system, and is one of the world's major centres for Islamic banking. Despite this, Kuala Lumpur has still kept some of its historical charm.\n\n### Climate\n\nAs Kuala Lumpur is only 3 degrees north of the Equator, you can expect tropical weather all year round. Shielded by the Titiwangsa Mountains to the east and Sumatra to the west, temperatures are relatively cooler than other cities within Peninsular Malaysia. Expect sunny days with temperatures above 30°C (86°F) and slightly cooler evenings, particularly when afternoon showers occur and humidity is high. Rainfall can be sporadic and quite torrential at times, but usually does not last very long. During the **wet season**, around October to March, the northeast monsoon brings heavy rainfall that can occasionally flood some areas of Kuala Lumpur. The months around June and July could be classed as the **dry season**, but even then it can frequently rain.\n\nOccasionally, due to forest fires from Sumatra around May to October, haze can blanket the city and surrounding regions, and it is best to remain indoors if you suffer from asthma.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk006", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Understand", "text": "As the weather can be hot and humid during the day, try to **dress lightly** if you expect to be outside and, while it may seem obvious, don't forget to remain hydrated. Also keep in mind that mosques and some temples have **strict dress codes**, although many do supply gowns to cover you if you are inadequately dressed. If you do find it too hot to be outside, consider going to a shopping mall to relax and work that credit card in air conditioned comfort.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk007", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Talk", "text": "As befitting the nation's capital, **Malay** is universally spoken and understood by locals in Kuala Lumpur.\n\nHowever, as Malaysia's largest city, Kuala Lumpur is also home to Malaysians of many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and this is often reflected in the number of languages that are used by locals in daily life. The *lingua franca* of the Chinese community is **Cantonese**, and most of the ethnic Chinese can speak Cantonese regardless of their native dialect, with a significant number also able to speak Mandarin. Cantonese in Kuala Lumpur has diverged somewhat from the varieties spoken in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, incorporating loan words from Malay and other Chinese dialects such as Hokkien and Hakka which are not used in the Cantonese varieties outside Malaysia (for instance you will often hear 箍 *kāu* instead of 蚊 *mān* being used to refer to the ringgit as a unit of currency). Nevertheless, all Cantonese speakers from Kuala Lumpur can understand Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong and Guangzhou without any problems, and people are usually happy to adjust their speech to a more standard form when talking to foreigners.\n\nKuala Lumpur is also home to many ethnic Indians, most of whom are native speakers of **Tamil**.\n\n**English** is also widely spoken, and English-speaking tourists generally should not have a problem getting around.\n\nOther European languages, like French, Spanish, and German, are rarely spoken, and you may be lucky if someone is fluent in these languages in Kuala Lumpur.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk008", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get in", "text": "Malaysia's transportation systems function well, by regional standards. Planes, trains, buses, and taxis are linked in a system conceived and constructed by, if not an order-loving person, at least a dedicated amateur. The planners' aims are an ultra-modern, chic, European-style system that are a far cry from the city's humble barrio beginnings. The reality is a sound B+ with still a long way to go before hitting the top. A bewildering jumble of initials and acronyms assault any first time journey planner in KL, and it will take at least a day to decipher the scheme of things.\n\n### By plane\n\nKuala Lumpur is served by two airports: **Kuala Lumpur International Airport** is the main airport and served by all long-distance jet flights, whilst **Subang Airport** is limited to regional flights.\n\nthumb|300px|Kuala Lumpur International Airport\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|320px|The Anglo-Indian-style Kuala Lumpur Railway Station\nThe government owned ***Keretapi Tanah Melayu*** (Malayan Railway or KTM) operates modern electric trains, called the **Electric Train Service** (ETS), along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The service stretches from Johor Bahru at the border with Singapore up to Butterworth in Penang (with a ferry connection to George Town) or Padang Besar at the border with Thailand. All trains call at Kuala Lumpur's , a modern transportation hub in Brickfields, just south of the city centre. From Singapore, you will need to catch the Shuttle Tebrau train to Johor Bahru in Malaysia and transfer onto an ETS train. From Thailand, you will need to catch a Thai train to Padang Besar in Malaysia (not the Thai station of the same name) and transfer onto an ETS train. There are no direct services from the east coast; you will need to make a major detour via Gemas.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk009", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Kuala Lumpur** railway station is the old, British-built transport hub, convenient for Chinatown. It has direct rail connections to the Seremban and Port Klang lines. It also has indirect rail connections to the Kajang and Kelana Jaya lines. **KL Sentral** railway station is the new, purpose-built transport hub, convenient for Brickfields. It has direct rail connections to the Kelana Jaya, Seremban, Port Klang, Skypark Link, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit lines. It also has indirect rail connections to the Kajang and KL Monorail lines.\n\nTaxi services are available at both stations, but you will find more at KL Sentral and can purchase a taxi coupon when there so that drivers cannot overcharge. See the Get Around section for more information.\n\n**Tickets** for KTM Komuter and ETS trains can be purchased at the KTM Intercity ticket office on level two of KL Sentral or other stations which trains call at. You can also purchase your ticket online at the KTM e-booking site up to two months in advance, but remember to print out the e-ticket or download the mobticket app. Additionally, timetables and seat availability can be found on the main KTM website.\n\n**Belmond** runs its luxury excursion train *Eastern & Oriental Express* two to three times per month between Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The price of a ticket matches the on-board extravaganza, starting at US$3,000.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk010", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get in", "text": "Kuala Lumpur is not by the sea, so it is not possible to get in directly by boat. The nearby Port Klang, about 40 km west of Kuala Lumpur, serves as the main port for this region. **Ferries** operate international services from Sumatra, Indonesia and a domestic service to Pulau Ketam. **Cruise ships** also call at Port Klang, usually on the way to other destinations in Asia, allowing for a day trip to Kuala Lumpur. For more information refer to the Port Klang article.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses are a cheap, comfortable and popular transport option for Malaysians, with services reaching virtually all corners of Peninsular Malaysia and also to Thailand and Singapore. So it is no wonder that Kuala Lumpur has several **bus stations** (*stesen bas* or *hentian*) to handle long distance bus services. Despite the complexity of the network there is *some* pattern to the madness, with buses departing from particular stations depending on the region they travel to or from. To top that off, some buses may arrive at other locations including Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Bangsar LRT Station, Corus Hotel and the Malaysian Tourist Centre (MTC). **Always** confirm with the bus company where your bus will depart so that you do not miss your bus. In some cases you may need to exchange your ticket for a *boarding pass*, so try to arrive at the bus terminal 10–15 minutes before the departure time, although bus companies suggest 30 minutes.\n\n#### Bus terminals\n\n#### Bus companies\n\nThere are quite a few bus companies that arrive and depart from Kuala Lumpur. Below is a list of the major companies. This is by no means an exhaustive list.\n - Transnasional\n\n- Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung\n\n- Alisan Golden Coach Express\n\n- StarMart Express\n\n### By car", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk011", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most important roads in Peninsular Malaysia lead to/from Kuala Lumpur. The city lies about midway along the **North-South Expressway (Motorway)** (NSE; route numbers E1 and E2) which runs from the Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru in the south, on the Malaysian side of the Causeway to Singapore. The main expressway exits for Kuala Lumpur on the NSE are **Jalan Duta** (from the north) and **Sungai Besi** (from the south).\nThe **Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway** (E8), which later turns into the **East Coast Expressway**, links Kuala Lumpur with the East Coast cities Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu. For those who do not want to pay toll, Kuala Lumpur is on Federal Route One (the \"Trunk Road\") which, like the NSE, runs through all West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia from Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru. Those travelling along the West Coast Road (Federal Route Five) should leave the road at Klang and get to Kuala Lumpur via the Federal Highway.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk012", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "Kuala Lumpur's public transport system is fairly efficient and convenient, but much room for improvement lies in its integration. The city suffers from paralysing traffic jams throughout the day. Consider combining various methods of public transport to avoid this.\n\n### Fares\n\n**Touch 'n Go** is a reloadable smart card that can be used to pay for all public transport throughout the city. The card costs RM10 plus the amount you wish to load. The card can be purchased at all RapidKL ticket counters (lines 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12), some convenience stores (FamilyMart, MyNews), some gas stations, or at the Touch 'n Go service centre in Nu Sentral shopping mall (KL Sentral station). Self service reload machines are available at some RapidKL stations. There is a discounted rate on travel if one uses the card instead of a token.\nMastercard, Visa, AMEX, JCB and UnionPay contactless cards are accepted for travel on KTM and ERL lines (lines 1, 2, 6, 7, 10). Simply tap your card on the fare gates and away you go, no ticket required. Contactless cards are not yet accepted for travel on RapidKL lines (lines 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12) as of 2026.thumb|Kuala Lumpur transit map\n\n### By train\n\nThe rail network is operated by **RapidKL** (lines 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12), **KTM** (lines 1, 2, 10) and **ERL** (lines 6, 7).\n\nThe lines follow intervals that change with the time of the day and the day of the week. Line frequencies are typically 4-7 minutes on weekends, and 2-3 minutes at peak hours. Expect a slightly longer wait for the monorail. Service disruptions on rapid transit are relatively rare.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk013", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "Signposts and announcements are your friend; they are normally extremely clear and are in both Malay and English. The Kajang, Seremban and Port Klang lines have special women-only carriages; male passengers will be fined for riding in them. The system can take a while to get familiar with, due to sometimes illogical design decisions e.g. some interchanges. Don't hesitate to ask a member of the station staff (most will be able to speak English decently) for directions, or a fellow commuter (those who are smartly dressed are most likely to speak English fluently).\n\nMost lines travel through Kuala Lumpur's main transport hub, **KL Sentral**.thumb|right|Kelana Jaya Line\n\n#### RapidKL lines", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk014", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **Kajang** **line** (line 9) runs between Kwasa Damansara and Kajang. There are interchange stations at Muzium Negara (many lines, KL Monorail is a particularly long transfer), Pasar Seni (with Kelana Jaya), Bukit Bintang (with KL Monorail), Maluri (with Ampang Line) and Kajang (with Seremban). The Kajang line stops at Muzium Negara which is physically linked to KL Sentral.\n The **Putrajaya line** (line 12) runs between Kwasa Damansara and Putrajaya. There are interchange stations at Kampung Batu (with Seremban), Titiwangsa (with Ampang, Sri Petaling, KL Monorail), and Tun Razak Exchange (with Kajang).\n The **Ampang line** (line 3) can be used for access to Chinatown and Pudu Sentral Bus Station at Plaza Rakyat station. There are relatively simple interchanges at Titiwangsa (with Putrajaya, KL Monorail), Masjid Jamek (with Kelana Jaya), and Hang Tuah (with KL Monorail). The interchanges at PWTC, Bandaraya and Sultan Ismail require exiting the paid area of the station and walking a long distance with no escalators or lifts.\n The **Sri Petaling line** (line 4) merges with the Ampang line at Chan Sow Lin station.\n The **Kelana Jaya line** (line 5) travels through several key tourist areas including Pasar Seni station for Chinatown and the central market, KLCC station for the Petronas Towers and Suria KLCC shopping centre. It also stops by the shopping and foodie areas of Subang Jaya, which are worth a stop. Additionally you can alight at Masjid Jamek station (this station can be confusing, please make sure of which direction you are heading in, which is indicated by terminus instead of compass direction) and transfer to the Ampang/Sri Petaling lines without leaving the ticketed area. Important interchange stations are at KL Sentral and Masjid Jamek.\n The **Shah Alam line** (line 11) travels between Bandar Utama and Johan Setia.\n The **KL Monorail line** (line 8) is an entirely elevated line that loops through the Golden Triangle in a semi-circle. Use this line for access to Bukit Bintang, a major shopping area, or Bukit Nanas, for clubbing at Jalan P. Ramlee. The monorail gets extremely congested at peak hours, and an 8-12 minute wait for a train does happen occasionally. The line provides a transfer at KL Sentral station but be aware this entails a 200-m walk under a sheltered walkway. The way between the two is signposted and generally has a steady stream of people you can follow. There is a bank of escalators leading up to a shopping mall, Nu Sentral, at the eastern end of the KL Sentral concourse. Take the escalator. Follow the signposts and the metal tactile marking on the floor until you reach another escalator. Descend this escalator. The monorail station will be visible through the glass doors. The line provides a transfer at Bukit Nanas station but be aware this also entails a 200-m walk under a sheltered walkway. The line provides a transfer at Bukit Bintang, although exiting and re-entering the system is required.", "word_count": 486}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk015", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### KTM lines\n\nThe **Seremban**, **Port Klang**, and **Skypark Link lines** (lines 1, 2 and 10) run between the city centre and the suburbs. These lines are not as frequent or as efficient as the others in Kuala Lumpur and it is not odd for trains to be running late either. Despite this, the rolling stock is quite modern and it's a great way to travel to the Batu Caves and Mid Valley Mega Mall.\nthumb|KL Monorail Line\n\n#### ERL lines\n\nThe **KLIA Ekspres line** (line 6) runs non-stop between KL Sentral and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, taking 28 minutes. The fare is RM55.\n The **KLIA Transit line** (line 7) runs all stops between KL Sentral and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, taking 36 minutes. Stops include Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya and Bandar Tasik Selatan.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|right|'''[http://www.myhoponhopoff.com KL Hop-on Hop-off]'''\nDouble-decker **KL Hop-on Hop-off** sightseeing tour buses serve 42 notable places. There is free Wi-Fi on board. An information commentary is given through headphones. Tickets (valid for 24 or 48 hr) give unlimited use during their validity. Children under 5 ride free.\nThe buses are scheduled every half hour but waits may be as long as two hours due to traffic jams, so try to maximize use of the service outside rush hours.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk016", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|GO KL buses\nCentral Business District (CBD) has free bus services known as Go KL City Bus with four circular bus routes. The Purple Line starts at Pasar Seni and travels to the shopping area of Bukit Bintang, where it links up with the Green Line looping around KLCC. The Red Line connects the North of CBD with the South, linking KL Sentral to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman through the Chow Kit area. At Medan Mara it meets the Blue Line, which goes on from there to join the per-existing lines at Bukit Bintang. The buses get very crowded during peak hours, but are efficient and clearly signposted. There are announcements in Malay and English.\nthumb|right|RapidKL bus\n**RapidKL** operates a cheap and comprehensive public bus network in and around Kuala Lumpur, but **low frequencies** (2-3 per hour on most routes) and the **near-total lack of signs** makes this a poor option for the casual visitor. The buses have clear destination information so if you happen upon one heading in the right direction, jump on board, though be prepared for cramped waits in rush hour traffic.\n\nRapidKL buses are broadly divided into two categories:\n*Utama* (no letter) buses travel to outlying suburbs\n*Tempatan* (T) buses are feeder services for train stations\nYou must use a Touch 'n Go card, there is no option to pay by bank card or cash for RapidKL routes. Tap in at the reader near the driver (you may need to hold the card for 2-3 seconds until it beeps). Tap out at the reader near the middle doors, so the system will calculate your exact fare when you exit, or you will be charged the highest possible fare.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk017", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **BRT Sunway line** is an elevated bus rapid transit line (part of the RapidKL network) and is useful for visiting attractions like Sunway Lagoon and Sunway Pyramid. It interchanges with RapidKL at **USJ7** and KTM at **Setia Jaya**. Frequency is similar to that of the rapid transit networks.\n\nBET (Bus Expressway Transit) services use the highways and cost a flat RM3.80.\n\nBuses run from 6AM-11PM or so, with no night services.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumbnail|right|Red and White taxi (budget)\nthumb|right|Blue taxi (executive)\n\nThe best way to get around Kuala Lumpur is by **Grab**, originally a Malaysian company and now the Southeast Asia equivalent to Uber. With up-front fares, an English interface and easy, traffic-aware navigation, it's much simpler than relying on taxis and usually cheaper too. (Surge pricing exists in KL as well, but typically at times when taxis also ask for inflated fares.) You'll need to download the app, but Grab allows passengers to pay fares in cash, so you do not need to register a credit card.\n\n**Normal red and white taxis** (RM3 first 2 km, then around RM0.90/km) and **bright blue executive taxis** (RM6 flagfall + a slightly higher per kilometre rate) can also be reasonable options if you can get them to use the meter. There are also various small surcharges for radio call (RM2), baggage (RM1 per piece), etc. After midnight, meter prices are increased by 50% (e.g. at 1AM, if the meter shows RM12, you pay RM12+6).", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk018", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "Drivers are less likely to use the meter when demand exceeds supply, such as during the rush hour or when it rains. Prices then become negotiable (before setting off) and inflated (2-10 times the meter price). This is illegal but realistically the only thing you can do is walk away and find a different driver (by law they are required to use the meter). A cab hailed off the street is more likely to use the meter than one that stalks tourist spots. If stuck with a driver that won't use the meter, negotiate hard: RM5 should cover most cross town trips of 15min or so, even with traffic. If you are staying in an expensive hotel, hide your affluence and give a nearby shopping mall as your destination instead.\n\nDuring rush hour it's generally best to combine public transport with taxis.\n\nA few popular places (notably both airports, KL Sentral, Menara KL and Sunway Pyramid Megamall) enforce a prepaid coupon systems, which generally work out more expensive than using the meter, but cheaper than bargaining. Taxis from Pavilion Shopping Mall's taxi counter cost the meter with a RM2 surcharge.\n\nSome taxi drivers will hang around near hotels offering tours similar to those offered by established companies. Some of these drivers are quite knowledgeable and you may end up with a specially tailored, private tour for less than the cost of an official tour. Know the going rates before driving a bargain!\n\nIf you get so off the beaten track that you need to call a cab, here are some telephone numbers:\n - Comfort Cabs\n\n- Sunlight Taxi Unicablink\n\n- Public Cab\n\n- Uptown Ace\n\n- Keeganlam Executive Taxi services\n\n- Executive Taxi Tour Service\n\n### By car", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk019", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "Kuala Lumpur has good quality roads, but driving in the city can be a nightmare with massive traffic jams, a convoluted web of expressways and often-confusing road signage. If driving, be especially aware of sudden lane changes by cars and reckless motorcyclists who tend to weave in and out of traffic.\n\nDo not park in the road in busy districts such as Bangsar or Bukit Bintang because other cars might block you by parking next to you in the 2nd or 3rd lane. Use covered car parks or park a bit off the beaten path, and then walk back.\n\nRenting a car is an option for travelling in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia.\n\n### On foot\n\nWalking in Kuala Lumpur is a distinctly mixed bag. The old centre of Kuala Lumpur fairly compact and the old buildings in various state of repair are great for exploring on foot. Even plodding between the colonial area and the new glass and steel sector (see walking tour below) is enjoyable outside the hottest hours of 11AM-4PM. Major roads are well lit, making evening strolling undaunting and pleasant. Signs are clear and well placed and pavements are wide and uncluttered, but slippery in the rain. Shady tree-lined walkways provide shade on some of the larger roads.\n\nThat said, crossing major roads can be a pain, traffic light cycles are very long and outside them drivers rarely yield to pedestrians. Then, especially outside of the centre, you have a lot of gated communities, making it hard to take straight routes on foot. The suburban parts of Kuala Lumpur tend to assume everyone has a car and are quite pedestrian-hostile, not even having sidewalks. Jaywalking is illegal (on-the-spot fine: RM20/30 for tourists/locals if unlucky) but is generally overlooked.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk020", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "A nice sightseeing walk through downtown KL can be found in the itinerary KL Sightseeing Walk.\n\n### Accessibility\n\nLike many cities in South East Asia, Kuala Lumpur presents a great challenge for travellers with mobility impairments. Sidewalks are often in disrepair, curbs are high, and curb cuts are often missing or inadequate. Wheelchair users will frequently find their path of travel obstructed by poorly designed or narrow sidewalks, parked cars, motorcycles, fences, stairs, trees, etc., and will rarely be able to travel more than 50 meters without having to backtrack or divert to the road. In many areas of the city, it is virtually impossible to travel without an assistant. Crossing the road or having to wheel on the road (in case the sidewalk is obstructed) can be very dangerous, as many drivers do not expect, nor yield to, wheelchair users. You will occasionally find accessibility features like ramps or elevators obstructed or unserviceable. A notable exception are the KLCC and Bukit Bintang areas, where shopping malls and pedestrian areas are built to modern accessibility standards. Public buildings, hotels and malls provide an adequate supply of handicap bathrooms. Many locals will not be used to seeing travelers in wheelchairs, but will generally be helpful.", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk021", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Get around", "text": "Accessibility for the disabled varies between public transport modes. The Kajang, Putrajaya, KLIA Ekspres, and KLIA Transit lines are fully accessible, and even have facilities for the hearing impaired to pipe announcements through their hearing aids. The Ampang, Sri Petaling, Kelana Jaya, Shah Alam, and KL Monorail lines are mostly accessible to the blind and wheelchair-bound, though once out of the station it may be difficult getting around without an assistant. The Seremban, Port Klang, and Skypark Link lines are sometimes accessible to the blind and wheelchair-bound, but accessibility varies by station and should not be relied upon as a given. The BRT Sunway line is accessible. Additionally, some regular buses are equipped with ramps, but they are assigned haphazardly and do not run on a fixed schedule.", "word_count": 128}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk022", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|KL Tower (''Menara KL'')\n\nWhen people think of Kuala Lumpur the first thing that comes to mind is probably the **Petronas Towers**, which is in the Golden Triangle. Whilst they most certainly are an architectural delight (particularly at night), there is much more to be discovered in Kuala Lumpur. Competing with the Petronas Towers is **KL Tower** (*Menara KL*), which looks oddly similar to other famous skyscrapers. The real joy of Kuala Lumpur lies in wandering randomly, seeing, shopping and eating your way through it.\n\nBeing part of a former British colony, many **colonial buildings** are scattered throughout, with many borrowing themes from British, Indian and North African architecture. The grandest colonial buildings lie in the city centre including the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the charming Masjid Jamek at the confluence on the Klang River and the former offices of the Colonial Secretariat (now the Sultan Abdul Samad Building) on Merdeka Square (*Dataran Merdeka*). To top it off on Merdeka Square's west side, you will find the Royal Selangor Club, looking like a rejected transplant straight from Stratford-upon-Avon.\n\nThe National Mosque, **Masjid Negara**, (1965) celebrates the bold ambitions of the newly independent Malaysia. The **National Monument** in the pretty **Botanical Garden** is inspired by the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Also in the Botanical Garden is Carcosa Seri Negara, the **former residence of the British High Commissioner**, which now houses an upmarket hotel and colonial-style tea rooms.\n\nWithin the city centre is also the fascinating narrow streets of **Chinatown**, Kuala Lumpur's traditional commercial district, with its many Chinese shops and places to eat.\n\n### Nature and wildlife\n\nWhile Kuala Lumpur is more of a concrete jungle compared to other parts of the country, it is still easy enough to delve into nature. The **Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia** (FRIM) is a great escape from the busy life of Kuala Lumpur for RM5.30. The hikes are easy and you can go up a canopy walkway for RM10.60 to get a good view of KL on a clear day. There is a nice tea house in the FRIM compound where you can sample various types of local teas and snacks. Get there early as it is more likely to rain later in the day. You can get to FRIM via KTM Komuter. Stop at Kepong or Kepong Sentral and grab a short taxi ride.\n\nFor something more centrally located try the **Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve**, located at the base of Menara KL. The forest provides for an easy trek that you can enjoy on your own; but the many specimens are likely more appreciated through guided tours which are free and can be arranged from KL Tower. The massive **Perdana Botanical Garden** (formerly **Lake Garden)**, located in the western part of the Old City Centre is another great option and you could literally spend a whole day venturing around the park. Within the Botanical Garden are many attractions and various parks including the KL Bird Park, Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Mouse Deer Park and a Butterfly Park. An indoor alternative is the **Aquaria KLCC**, in the Golden Triangle near the KL Convention Centre. The aquarium contains some 5,000 varieties of tropical fish.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n **KL Sightseeing Walk**", "word_count": 537}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk023", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Looking up at the Petronas Towers\nKuala Lumpur is well known for its wide range of shopping and eating options, which are adequately covered in the Eat and Buy sections of this article and listings within the district articles. **Skyscraper Gazing** is the obvious option, with glass and steel abound and excellent views available from the **Petronas Towers** or the **KL Tower** (*Menara KL*) viewing decks, both located in the Golden Triangle.\n\n### Arts & Culture\n\nLike much of Kuala Lumpur, there is an interesting mix of arts and culture to experience, ranging from traditional Malay to Islamic to modern. Several good theatres and performance halls have emerged as part of Malaysia's drive to encourage greater cultural expression. These include the **National Theatre** (*Istana Budaya*) and the **Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre** in the northern part of the city, the **Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra** (*Dewan Filharmonik*) in the Twin Towers, and the **Actors Studio** at Lot 10. **Leading museums** in the Old City Centre are the **National Museum**, which covers the region's history, and the well-regarded **Islamic Arts Museum**, which houses a small but captivating collection.\n\n### Pampering\n\n**Pampering and spas** can be found in several five-star hotels and independent centres in the Golden Triangle. There's also nail parlours and beauty salons, which are generally good value, there's also high-end ones offering similar services for a premium. Reflexology and foot massage places are everywhere, especially in Bukit Bintang in the Golden Triangle and in Chinatown.\n\nFor those who are willing to be a bit more adventurous, try hunting down a **fish foot spa** and relax whilst fish nibble away at your feet. However do be careful which one you go to as some are of low standard and you may get an infection or even a blood borne disease. Try a fish spa in a tourist area as these tend to be better maintained.\n\n### Sports\n\n**Urban sports** such as golfing, cycling, running, jogging and horse riding are common in Kuala Lumpur. If you’re into rock climbing, the Batu Caves in the Northern suburbs is popular. However, given Malaysia's stunning terrain, you’re better off heading to other places for anything more strenuous or challenging.\n\nYou can also watch the local football match at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras. Kuala Lumpur FA is a football team based in Kuala Lumpur and plays in the top division of football in Malaysia, the Malaysia Super League. Match schedule and fixture can be seen at the KLFA website.\n\n### Volunteer\n\n**Volunteering** is not often the first thing you may considering doing when in Kuala Lumpur, however there are various projects to give your time and help out the community. Regardless of spending one day or even a week or more volunteering for a cause, you will probably find something that you are interested in. Below are some volunteering options available within Kuala Lumpur.\n\n - Nur Salam\n\n - SPCA Selangor\n\n - Zoo Negara", "word_count": 487}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk024", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Buy", "text": "250px|thumb|Berjaya Times Square, a shopping mall so big it also has an amusement park.\n\nBeing the retail and fashion hub of Malaysia it is no surprise that **shopping** is one of Kuala Lumpur’s greatest pleasures. From the local *pasar pagi* (morning market) and *pasar malam* (night market) to top end shopping malls and everything in between, you will be sure to find something to suit your budget and style. Many shopping options also exist beyond the city proper in the adjacent satellite cities of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. For more information on shopping in these areas please refer to the buy section of these articles.\n\n### Shopping malls\n\n**Suria KLCC** is one of Malaysia's premier shopping destinations due to its location beneath the Petronas Twin Towers.\n\nKuala Lumpur's premier shopping district, the **Bukit Bintang** area in the **Golden Triangle**, resembles Tokyo's Ginza, New York's Fifth Avenue and Singapore's Orchard Road and has the highest concentration of shopping outlets in Kuala Lumpur, which cater to varying budgets. Bukit Bintang, which is part of the Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, spans over 3 roads, namely Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail. It houses various cafes, alfresco (open air) dining outlets and shopping complexes such as Berjaya Times Square, Imbi Plaza, Fahrenheit88, Lot 10, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion KL, The Starhill, Sungei Wang Plaza and LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk025", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Pavilion Kuala Lumpur** houses a wide range of international retail brands in an ultra-modern complex, and the adjacent **The Starhill** is also home to a number of luxury watch and jewellery retailers, and the Malaysian flagship of Taiwanese bookstore chain eslite. Fans of electronic gadgets would delight in the multitude of choices at **Low Yat Plaza**, whilst shoppers hunting for the latest in affordable Asian style should definitely check out **Berjaya Times Square** and **Sungei Wang Plaza**. It is also the location of the largest single department store in Malaysia, SOGO Kuala Lumpur which is located at a landmark site on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, one of the best known shopping streets for locals in Kuala Lumpur. Just outside the Bukit Bintang Area, near Tun Razak Exchange MRT station, is **The Exchange TRX**, another luxury shopping mall with both top end and mid-ranged international brand, as well as a rooftop park and numerous alfresco dining options.\n\nSeveral popular malls lie outside the Golden Triangle. The **Bangsar and Midvalley** areas are home to some of the best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, namely the **MidValley Megamall** and the adjacent upmarket **The Gardens**, the more cozy **Bangsar Village** and **Bangsar Shopping Centre** in Bangsar. Nearby **Subang Jaya** is home to **Sunway Pyramid Megamall**, known for its Egyptian-themed architecture.\n\n### Markets", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk026", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Buy", "text": "Despite the onslaught of malls, Kuala Lumpur still offers some Asian tradition with traditional shopping streets and markets. An area for such shopping mostly aimed at tourists is **Chinatown** (aka Petaling Street) in the **City Centre**. This district is the best place to hunt for souvenirs, fake brands, watches, snacks and meals. Bargain hard! Nearby you can also find the **Central Market**, a former produce market which has been converted into an art and craft market. It is also known as Pasar Seni in Malay.\n\nThe Little India near Jalan Masjid India offers various fabric for use. Most of the fabrics are imported from countries like Indonesia, India and China while some are locally produced. Indonesian traditional **batik** and **songket** are traditional fabric commonly found in Central Market. For greater satisfaction choose the hand made ones. You may be interested to buy ready made **baju kurung** or **baju kebaya** (the traditional Malay blouse). For peace of mind, buy from the bigger stores. Some Thai handicrafts are also sold here, alongside handmade Malaysian wooden souvenirs.\n\nIf you are looking for an authentic produce market to get the best variety of fruits at the lowest prices, head to **Chow Kit Wet Market**. There are also many eateries around.\n\nSince 2000, the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia has kick-started the mega sale event for all shopping in Malaysia. The mega sale event is held thrice in a year—in March, May and December—where all shopping malls are encouraged to participate to boost Kuala Lumpur as a leading shopping destination.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk027", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Eat", "text": "Malaysian food is amazing, making Kuala Lumpur an excellent place to eat as it hosts cuisine from all around the country and beyond. Most restaurants close by 10PM, but in the city centre, there are always a few 24-hr *kedai mamak* (curry houses) or fast food places if you get stuck.\n\nDelicious food can be very cheap too: just head to the ubiquitous roadside stalls or *kedai kopi* (literally coffee shop, but these are all about the food). These shops operate like a food court with many stalls selling a variety of food. Some coffee shops have tables and chairs by the roadside. **Chinatown** (especially Jalan Sultan, Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Petaling) in the city centre and Jalan Alor in the Golden Triangle have some of the greatest concentrations of coffee shops and stalls. They mostly open only at night. **Pudu** is also a famous area among locals for its street food stalls, though tourists typically do not go there.\n\nOne famous collection of streetside Mamak stalls is at Jalan Doraisamy near the Heritage Row in Chow Kit. Along with full-blown curries, these places also serve *roti canai* (generally RM1 each), a filling snack that is almost half chapati, half pancake but certainly wholly delicious. It is served with dhal and curry sauce.\n\nShopping malls' food courts provide cheap Malaysian food in more comfortable and hygienic conditions, although the prices will be a little higher. However, most Malaysians consider the quality of dishes at a food court to be inferior to those at roadside stalls.\n\nThe Golden Triangle, Bangsar and Midvalley, Heritage Row and some areas in Damansara and Hartamas are the usual places for people looking to dine out with a bit of flair.\n\nEthnic generalizations: **Malay** food can be found in the Jalan Masjid India and Kampung Baru district. Chinatown is the best place for **Chinese** (especially Cantonese) food, although all kinds of Chinese cuisine, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, can be found all over Kuala Lumpur. Head to Lebuh Ampang in the city centre and Brickfields for **Indian** food. Bangsar has many high-end restaurants offering **Western** food. If you are dying for **Korean** food, head to Ampang Jaya. A lot of **Arab and Middle Eastern** restaurants have mushroomed in Bukit Bintang, Cyberjaya and Damai.", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk028", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Drink", "text": "Kuala Lumpur has quite a vibrant night-life and the **Golden Triangle** is the epicentre of most of the partying which goes on in the city. **Jalan P. Ramlee**, just south of KLCC, is Kuala Lumpur's central clubbing area, while the action also spills onto Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Pinang and Jalan Perak. Nearby **Bukit Bintang** also throbs with action, and its neon-lit nightclubs, many of them with hostesses, certainly have a more Asian feel to them.\n\n**Heritage Row**, in the **Chow Kit** district, is fast catching up as a popular nightspot. It occupies a row of refurbished colonial-era shop houses and is now home to one of Kuala Lumpur's swankiest clubs and trendy bars; strictly for well heeled visitors and locals. **Bangsar** has long been one of the busiest places in Kuala Lumpur after the sun goes down. The action is around **Jalan Telawi** and its side streets, and is definitely the place to go for drinks and deafening music.\n\n**Sri Hartamas** and **Mont Kiara** in the **Damansara and Hartamas** district have popular pubs and some clubs as well as nice coffee places. You may be able to find live performances in some of the outlets.\nAfter a tiring night out, Malaysians like to head to **Mamak stalls** - street side stalls or shops operated by Indian Muslims - which offer a range of non-alcoholic beverages like *teh tarik* (frothed tea) and light food. In fact, these stalls have also become night hangouts in their own right, and many outlets have installed wide-screen projectors and TV where they screen football matches. Most outlets are open 24 hours. They are found all over the city and are a wonderful part of the Malaysian night scene.\n\nAnother trend that has hit Malaysia is the **kopitiam** fad, a more upmarket version of the traditional Chinese coffee shop. These mostly open during the day and offer some of the best tea and coffee and light meals and snacks like *nasi lemak* (coconut flavoured rice with fried anchovies and peanut) and the ever popular toast with *kaya* (coconut curd, used as a spread). If you prefer Western style coffee, there are many coffee outlets in Kuala Lumpur: most of them are part of international and local chains like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and San Francisco Coffee. Most of them can be found in shopping malls.\n\nBesides this usual league of highly commercialised venues for the majority of flat minds, check out fono, Cry Room, JAO TIM, Triptyk.my, Couch Potato, and their connected pears for a sense of **subculture like known from Europe**. All are on IG as well, and sometimes have free or low-cost entrance. Besides that there are several Jazz places around the city (like UP KL), but their prices often cater for a more wealthy set of customers — find them on Google Maps.", "word_count": 475}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk029", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\nBudget accommodation can be found everywhere; dormitory beds can cost as little as RM25 per night. Find the cheap ones online if cost is an issue. Increasingly, newer & better ones are opening in the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman/Chow Kit, Jalan Ipoh areas, the so-called growth areas in the city centre. If you are willing to take the 10-minute LRT to the main attractions, then hotels can be found for as little as RM49 per night (sometimes below) with free Wi-Fi. Another area with low-cost accommodation is in Brickfields close to the KL Sentral monorail station.\n\n### Mid-range and splurge\n\nMid-range hotels are comparatively poor value in Kuala Lumpur, and it is worth it to spend a little extra (or look a little harder) for a true luxury hotel on the cheap. Kuala Lumpur is similar in price to Bangkok for **5-star** luxury hotels, with rooms available for as little as RM400 or even less. Prices vary seasonally.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk030", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Crime is not rampant in Kuala Lumpur. The perception of crime is high, but the Malaysian police have managed to reduce crime significantly in and around urban Kuala Lumpur. Reports of violent crime against foreigners are uncommon but instances of pickpocketing and bag snatching have risen.\n\nKuala Lumpur is generally very safe for travellers (it is locals who are often the targets of crime), but be wary of over-friendly locals trying to con you. Police presence, particularly around tourist areas and at night has increased.\n\nWalking in the city is usually fine but, as anywhere, caution must be exercised, especially if alone. Indeed, your greatest danger whilst walking will be sidewalks that end abruptly in massive holes, or impassable 6-lane roads that you must cross. Snatch thieves can be rather ruthless: women have been knocked unconscious by bag snatchers on motorbikes. If this happens to you, let go of the bag rather than be dragged several metres and risk injury. Hold your bag away from the street side and try not to appear flashy if possible. Be wary in alleyways or parking grounds that appear dark and deserted, as petty thieves with knives or firearms might mug you.\n\nDuring the rains, pavements and streets become small rivers and crossing a street can be an adventure. Pavements become as slippery as ice so wear proper footwear.\n\nBe careful of a poker scam that involves friendly locals. They normally target lone tourists in popular tourist places. It starts with a friendly approach and an invitation to their home to chat and learn about your country. Then comes poker, accumulated losses and the loss of your cash and jewellery. Such scams can also happen through couchsurfing.\n\nThe bogus cop scam is usually run by Middle-Easterners. You will be stopped by \"plain-clothed police officers\" on the pretext of checking your travel documents. You will be brought to a secluded area in the process and made to hand over your wallet. Should you be stopped, you have the right to insist that you be taken to the nearest police station before saying/showing anything.\n\nMalaysian law requires that visitors **carry their passport at all times**, and both police and \"RELA\" (civil volunteers) carry out spot checks for illegal immigrants.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk031", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Haze is a serious health hazard\nTap water in Kuala Lumpur is heavily chlorinated and thus safe, but unfortunately the pipes that carry it may not be. Most locals boil or filter it before use; alternatively, bottled water is cheap and ubiquitous.\nThere is no malaria in the city, but dengue fever can be a problem at times, so take precautions against mosquitoes.\nBetween May and October, Kuala Lumpur is occasionally affected by dense **haze** caused by forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo. This air pollution poses significant health risks to everyone, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions. However, the haze comes and goes, and varies greatly from year to year.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk032", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Respect", "text": "Kuala Lumpur is ostensibly a liberal city by Malaysian standards and wearing revealing clothes will rarely cause major problems. However, avoiding overly revealing clothes goes a long way towards blending in.\n\nMany mosques and temples require covering up, and you will get more respect from officialdom if you dress up a little. Many places of worship including all mosques will require you to take your shoes off before entering.\n\nWhen eating with hands rather than cutlery, do not touch the food with your left hand, as it is reserved for handling dirty things.\n\nIf you can speak just a few words of the four main local languages, namely Malay, Chinese (especially Cantonese), Tamil and English, it will ingratiate you a lot with the locals.\n\nWhile alcohol consumption is legal for non-Muslims, public drunkenness is not tolerated.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk033", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Connect", "text": "Internet cafés are quite plentiful in Kuala Lumpur and you can find them in most shopping centres. If you have your own laptop, Maxis' WLAN service is the best deal around, a prepaid RM15 card gets you unlimited use for 2 weeks. Many hotels provide free internet access and connections. Free Wi-Fi is also available in many cafes, restaurants and shopping centres. A few examples:\n **Malaysia Tourism Centre** (MTC), 109 Jalan Ampang (*between KLCC and Dang Wangi*). Formerly *MATIC*, this tourist information centre has a wealth of information on Malaysia, occasional cultural shows, surly staff and semi-crippled but free PCs for browsing the Net.\n **Starbucks**, **Coffeebean**, **Burger King** and **McDonalds** - offer free Wi-Fi\n **Air Asia Counter in KL Sentral** Several computers with internet access are available for you to check out the Air Asia website (and maybe glance at your e-mail or the news quickly)", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk034", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Cope", "text": "Locals are very friendly to the tourists, and many in Kuala Lumpur can speak decent English. Communication with the locals is almost as easy as it is in Singapore and significantly better than in Bangkok or many other Asian cities. Greet people with a warm smile and they will be happy to show you around. Be friendly: if you are lost, just ask anyone smartly dressed on the street.\n\nWatch out when sending **postal packages** (gifts, clothes, ...) as the employees from the Malaysian post frequently overcharge tourists. Make sure to get a printed receipt with the tracking number, and verify the price at the receipt.\n\n### Embassies and High Commissions\n\nThe Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains an up to date list of foreign missions within Malaysia, many present in Kuala Lumpur. For some countries, where a foreign mission is not present within Malaysia, it lists a nearby mission within other countries.\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Azerbaijan\n\n - Bangladesh\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Brunei Darussalam\n\n - Cambodia\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Eswatini (Swaziland)\n\n - Fiji\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Ghana\n\n - Greece\n\n - Guinea\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iran\n\n - Iraq\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Jordan\n\n - Kazakhstan\n\n - Kenya\n\n - Republic of Korea\n\n - Kuwait\n\n - Kyrgyzstan\n\n - Laos\n\n - Lebanon\n\n - Lesotho\n\n - Laos\n\n - Maldives\n\n - Malta\n\n - Mauritius\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Morocco\n\n - Myanmar\n\n - Namibia\n\n - Nepal\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Norway\n\n - Oman\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Palestine\n\n - Papua New Guinea\n\n - Peru\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Qatar\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Senegal\n\n - Singapore\n\n - Slovakia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sri Lanka\n\n - Sudan\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Syria\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Tanzania\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Timor-Leste\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United Arab Emirates\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Uzbekistan\n\n - Venezuela\n\n - Vietnam\n\n - Yemen\n\n - Zambia\n\n - Zimbabwe", "word_count": 356}
+{"chunk_id": "kuala-lumpur::chunk035", "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Day or weekend trips\n\n Genting Highlands - 40 min by road on the East Coast Highway, has cooler weather, theme parks for the kids and a casino for the adults. Easily accessible by buses from KL Sentral.\n Fraser's Hill - a bit further than Genting. Beautiful nature and fresh climate. Great for hikes and cycling tours.\n Ipoh - Around 90 minutes by train, Ipoh is well known for its food and colonial buildings. Relax in the local hot springs, hunt down the famous Rafflesia flower, shop in the local night markets or even try out white water rafting. Venture out from the main city area to one of several caves and cave temples.\n Kuala Selangor - 1 hr north-west of Kuala Lumpur, is notable for its fireflies that flash in unison, and seafood restaurants.\n Klang - Royal capital of Selangor state with a few interesting old buildings and restaurants.\nMalacca - if you have more days to spend in Malaysia, a must-visit is the historical town of Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Steeped with history of its Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial period, you will find this town to be rich in culture and history.\n Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) - at the mouth of the River Klang and its Chinese fishing villages make for an interesting day trip. Take the train to Port Klang (RM5, 1hr 30min) then the boat to the island (RM7, 45 min).\n Putrajaya - Malaysia's megalomanic new federal administrative centre is 30 km to the south (20 min by KLIA Transit train).\n\n### Further afield\n\n Cameron Highlands - About 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands offers cooler weather and lovely highland landscapes. You will be able to visit tea plantations, vegetable farms, strawberry farms and nurseries, as well as soak in the colonial history of this plateau. Colonial cottages and bungalows as well as modern hotels, resorts and luxurious hilltop retreats can be found here. Bird-watching, jungle trekking and other outdoor activities are also available.\n Langkawi - Officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah. About an hour from KL by plane, Langkawi is a popular tourist resort destination that has tax-free status and plenty of sun, sand & surf. Scuba diving, snorkelling, Kayaking and jungle trekking are just some of the many activities to do in Langkawi.\n Penang - Penang Island is also a must-visit destination well known as the 'food paradise' of Malaysia. The state capital, Georgetown, is protected as UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich Chinese culture, century-old clan houses, majestic temples and historical colonial monuments. Penang is a very popular destination for Malaysians and going there during the local holidays could be hectic.\n Sumatra - One of the many islands of Indonesia, the primary attraction of Sumatra is nature. The island is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and named *The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra*. Filled with jungles, volcanoes and lakes there is lots to see and do for the adventurous traveller. Reach Sumatra by boat from Port Klang, near KL, or by plane.\n Taman Negara - The largest National Park on Peninsular Malaysia with plenty of activities for those wanting to connect with nature include bird watching, cave exploring, Jungle trekking and night safaris. For something to eat try out one of the floating restaurants and relax while time goes by after a long day in the park.", "word_count": 562}
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+++ b/corpus/kuala-lumpur/metadata.json
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+{
+ "doc_id": "kuala-lumpur",
+ "title": "Kuala Lumpur",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "West Coast (Malaysia)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Genting Highlands",
+ "Fraser's Hill",
+ "Ipoh",
+ "Kuala Selangor",
+ "Klang",
+ "Malacca",
+ "Pulau Ketam",
+ "Port Klang",
+ "Putrajaya",
+ "Cameron Highlands",
+ "Langkawi",
+ "Penang",
+ "Georgetown (Malaysia)",
+ "Sumatra",
+ "Indonesia",
+ "Port Klang",
+ "Taman Negara",
+ "Peninsular Malaysia",
+ "Ipoh",
+ "Putrajaya"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 9393,
+ "listing_count": 106,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 36,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
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diff --git a/corpus/kyoto/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/kyoto/chunks.jsonl
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index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d4f85be4083538b14eceddb3fb561218f7c02a60
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@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk000", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|320px|Kiyomizu-dera Temple with its famous large veranda\n**Kyōto** () was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as the nation's most beautiful city and its cultural capital - even the national government's Agency for Cultural Affairs moved there in 2023. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto's beautiful side. Most first impressions of the city will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.\n\nNonetheless, the persistent visitor will soon discover Kyoto's hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has much more to offer than immediately meets the eye.\n\nThe city has a multi-lingual Official Travel Guide site.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk001", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Districts", "text": "thumb|350px|Kyoto's districts\nthumb|320px|The Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji\n\nThough dwarfed in size by other major Japanese cities, Kyoto is vast in terms of its rich cultural heritage - the material endowment of over a thousand years as the country's imperial capital. The city's numerous palaces, shrines, temples and other landmarks are spread out over the following districts:", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk002", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Understand", "text": "Nestled among the mountains of the Kansai region of Western Honshu, Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. During its millennium at the center of Japanese power, culture, tradition, and religion, it accumulated an unparalleled collection of palaces, temples and shrines, built for emperors, shoguns, and monks. Kyoto was among the few Japanese cities that escaped the allied bombings of World War II and so still has an abundance of prewar buildings, such as the traditional townhouses known as *machiya*. However, the city is continuously undergoing modernization with some of the traditional Kyoto buildings being replaced by newer architecture, such as the Kyoto Station complex. Kyoto is home to Japan's second most prestigious university, Kyoto University.\n\n### Orientation\n\nKyoto's city planners way back in 794 decided to copy the Chinese capital Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) and adopt a **grid pattern**, which persists to this day in the city core. West-east streets are numbered, with Ichijō-dōri (一条通, \"First Street\") up north and Jūjō-dōri (十条通, \"Tenth Street\") down south, but there is no obvious pattern to the names of north-south streets.\n\n### Climate\n\nKyoto truly exhibits the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter, with many flowers in spring and changing leaves in the fall attracting hordes of tourists. Kyoto is particularly humid in summer, as the city is flanked by mountains. From about mid-June to the end of July is the rainy season, so most travelers avoid this time. The type of rain ranges from drizzles to off-and-on showers to downpours. There is another typhoon season in late August and September. Winters are generally cold but without snowfall. They usually don't start until the end of December and last until March when the plum blossoms begin to open, followed by cherry blossoms.", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk003", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nKyoto does not have its own airport, but is served by Osaka's two airports, Kansai International and Itami. There is an excellent road and railway network between the two cities.\n\n#### Through Kansai International Airport\n\n##### By train\n\nYou can fly into Kansai International Airport () in Osaka Bay and then get a train to Kyoto. Kansai Airport Station is opposite the arrival lobby where the *Haruka* limited express train, operated by West Japan Railway (JR West), can be caught. The *Haruka* runs to Kyoto in 75–80 minutes and a one-way ticket costs ¥2,900 for an open (non-reserved) seat or ¥3,430 for a reserved seat.\n\nThere are a few ways that foreign tourists can use the *Haruka* at a discount. One way is to buy a one-day **Kansai Area Pass**. At a cost of only ¥2,400 (¥2,350 if you book online), this pass costs ¥500 less than a regular ticket. You will need to show a passport issued by a foreign country with Japanese temporary visitor visa on it when purchasing a ticket. Note that you are limited to purchasing one pass per trip, so if you return to Kansai Airport on the *Haruka* you will have to pay the regular fare.\n\nThe above ticket can be purchased online or at the Kansai Airport train station. Some other, more expensive JR West passes where trips on the *Haruka* are valid include the **Kansai Wide Area Pass** and the **Sanyo Area Pass**.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk004", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "The other train company operating out of Kansai Airport is the Nankai Railway. They offer a discounted ticket if you are interested in traveling to Central Kyoto, called the **Kyoto Access Ticket**. For ¥1250 this ticket includes a journey on the Nankai Railway Airport service to Tengachaya (天下茶屋) station in Osaka, followed by a trip on the Osaka Sakaisuji Subway Line. With a second transfer at Awaji station you can travel to Kyoto on the Hankyu Main Line. Under this plan you can reach Central Kyoto in approximately 1 hr 45 min. You have the option to upgrade to the fastest Nankai train service, the Rapi:t, for an additional charge.\n\n##### By bus\n\nComfortable limousine buses run from the airport to Kyoto Station twice an hour. The ticket costs ¥2,600 one-way or ¥4,260 round-trip. Buses discharge at the south end of Kyoto Station; return tickets are sold from a vending machine on the first floor of the Hotel Keihan Kyoto. The ride from Terminal 1 takes 88 minutes, but can take longer when there is traffic (90 – 135 min).\n\n#### Through Itami Airport\n\nItami Airport (), also called Osaka International Airport although it no longer has international flights, is Kansai region's largest domestic airport and the closest airport to Kyoto. Travelers flying from other areas in Japan will most likely arrive here. The easiest way to get to Kyoto from Itami Airport is by Limousine Bus, which generally runs every 20 min throughout the day. The trip takes about 50 min and costs ¥1,340.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk005", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Alternatively, you can take a combination of monorail and train, which requires one or two changes:\nTake the Osaka Monorail to Hotarugaike, the Hankyu Takarazuka Line to Juso, and the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Kyoto (1 hr, ¥670)\nTake the Osaka Monorail to Minami-Ibaraki and change to the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Kyoto (1 hr, ¥760)\n\nWhereas the Limousine Bus will leave you at Kyoto Station in the *southern* part of Kyoto, the Hankyu Railway runs to Shijō Street in *central* Kyoto.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|250px|A shinkansen service entering Kyoto station.\nMost visitors arrive at JR Kyoto Station by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. *Nozomi* trains take approximately 2 hr 15 min to Kyoto and cost ¥14170 one-way. Travel agencies in Tokyo and Kyoto sell *Nozomi* tickets with ¥700-1,000 discount. If you buy a ticket in an agency, it is \"open date\" - you can board any train as long as it is not full. All you have to do is show up at the train station, register your agency ticket and then you will be reserved a seat.\n\n*Hikari* trains, which run less frequently and make a few more stops, cover the trip in around 2 hr 45 min, while all-stopping *Kodama* trains take around 3 hr 40 min. Only the *Hikari* and *Kodama* trains can be used by Japan Rail Pass holders unless a Nozomi supplement is paid.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk006", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Tickets can be purchased in advance through Japan Railways' official **SmartEX App**, available in English and other languages, with a ¥200 discount. Look for ***hayatoku*** fares, which can offer big savings on trips purchased at least three days in advance. For example, two passengers from Tokyo could travel for ¥12020 each in ordinary class on the *Nozomi* or for ¥11200 each in the Green Car (first class) if willing to take the all-stations *Kodama* service.\n\nTravelers can also take advantage of the '''Puratto (Platt) Kodama Ticket''' (Japanese), which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a coupon for a free drink (including beer) which can be redeemed at a \"Kiosk\" convenience counter inside the station. With this ticket a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto costs ¥10500. There is only one Kodama service per hour from Tokyo, and a few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket. Travel from Nagoya with this ticket costs ¥4400.\n\nDuring travel periods when the Seishun 18 Ticket is valid, you can go from Tokyo to Kyoto during the day in about 8½ hours using all-local trains. Traveling in a group is the best way to get discounts. The usual fare is ¥8360, however a party of three costs around ¥4000 per person, and a group of five traveling together drops the price down to ¥2410 per person.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk007", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "For travel in the Kansai region, a cheaper and almost as fast alternative is the JR *shinkaisoku* (新快速) rapid service, which connects to Osaka, Kobe and Himeji at the price of a local train. For a slightly cheaper price you can use the private Hankyu or Keihan lines to Osaka and Kobe, or the Kintetsu line to Nara. The Kansai Thru Pass includes travel on the private lines through to Kyoto, and this may prove cheaper that a JR Pass if you are staying a few days in the area.\n\nThose travelling from the Hokuriku region can use *Thunderbird* (サンダーバード) limited express trains from Tsuruga. From Tsuruga, you can catch the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Fukui, Komatsu, Kanazawa and beyond.\n\n#### Hokuriku Arch Pass\n\nThe '''Hokuriku Arch Pass''' allows unlimited travel between Tokyo and the Kansai area via the Hokuriku region, using the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa and the *Thunderbird* from Kanazawa to Kyoto and Osaka. At a cost of ¥30,000 for seven consecutive days of travel (¥35,000 starting on March 14, 2026), the Arch Pass is a little more than half the cost of the national Japan Rail Pass. On the other hand, a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto is over twice as long via Kanazawa (4 hr 50 min) compared to the more popular Tokaido Shinkansen (2 hr 10 min).\n\n#### Overnight travel\n\nDirect overnight train service between Tokyo and Kyoto were plentiful in the past decades, but as time went on services were pretty much eliminated. As a result, taking the bus is now the easiest way to travel between these two cities at night.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk008", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Overnight travel between Tokyo and Kyoto is still possible with a stopover in another city along the way, which is easy to do with a Japan Rail Pass or a basic long-distance ticket that is valid over a period of several days.\n\n### By car\n\nKyoto is easily reached by car via the Meishin Expressway between Nagoya and Osaka, but you'll definitely want to park your car on the outskirts of the city and use public transport to get around. Most attractions are in places built well before the existence of automobiles, and the availability of parking varies between extremely limited and non-existent. Furthermore, what little parking is available might be outrageously expensive.\n\n### By bus\n\n250px|thumb|JR Highway Buses are among many companies that make daily bus runs between Tokyo and Kyoto.\nAs Kyoto is a major city, there are many day and overnight buses which run between Kyoto and other locations throughout Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative than shinkansen fares. As the cultural center of Japan, Kyoto's bus connections are almost as numerous as Tokyo's. There are bus operators with night buses from Yamagata, Sendai, Koriyama, Fukushima, Tochigi, Utsunomiya, Saitama (Omiya), Yokohama, Niigata, Karuizawa, Toyama, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Numazu, Mishima, Matsue, Izumo, Tokuyama, Yamaguchi, Imabari, Matsuyama, Kochi, Fukuoka (Hakata), Takeo, Sasebo (Huis Ten Bosch). Same-day highway buses depart from Tsu, Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Toyokawa, Toyohashi, Takayama, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama, Fukuyama, Onomichi, and Hiroshima.\n\nMost highway buses will pick up and drop off passengers at **Kyoto Station**. JR Buses congregate at the **Karasuma Exit** (烏丸口) at the north side of the station. Other companies will use the **Hachijo Exit** (八条口) on the south side, either at the station or at one of the nearby hotels.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk009", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Another bus stop is called **Kyoto Fukakusa** (京都深草). This stop is nowhere close to Kyoto station, but rather is 4.5 km to the south on the Meishin Expressway. Some JR Buses heading to and from Osaka will use this stop instead of calling at Kyoto Station. The closest train stations are Fujinomori on the Keihan Line (5-10 min walk) and Takeda on the Kintetsu Line and Kyoto Subway (10-15 min walk); all can be used to reach central Kyoto. Local city buses also runs to Kyoto station from the nearby Youth Science Center a few times per hour.\n\n#### From Tokyo\n\nThe run between Tokyo and the Kansai region is the busiest in Japan. Buses use the Tomei or Chuo Expressway from Tokyo to Nagoya, then the Meishin Expressway to Kyoto. Trips take between 7 and 9 hours depending on the route and stops.\n\nFierce competition between operators has led to better amenities and lower prices. Part of this strategy is the adoption of dynamic pricing on many bus routes. This generally means that daytime trips, weekday trips, tickets bought in advance and buses carrying more passengers are cheaper, while night trips, weekend/holiday trips, walk-up fares and buses with fewer (and more comfortable) seats will be more expensive.\n\nAs a rule of thumb, fares for a weekday trip between Tokyo and Kyoto go for ¥4000-6000 per person during the daytime, and ¥5000-8000 per person for overnight trips. Children usually pay half the adult fare.\n\nTwo of the major bus operators between Tokyo and Kyoto are **Willer Express** and **JR Bus**. Tickets for all carriers can generally be purchased at major departure points, and can also be purchased (with some Japanese language help) at kiosks inside convenience stores.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk010", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Willer Express** runs daytime and overnight trips with a variety of seating options ranging from standard seats to luxurious shell seats. Bus journeys can be booked online in English, and Willer's **Japan Bus Pass** is valid on all of their routes with some exceptions. Willer's buses in Tokyo leave from the **Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal** (*Busta Shinjuku*), above the JR tracks at Shinjuku Station, which is served by many of Japan's highway bus operators. Willer also sells tickets for other bus operators on their website, but these trips are not valid with Willer's Japan Bus Pass.\n\n**JR Bus** reservations can be made in English through their **Kousoku Bus Net** web site. You can also make reservations in train stations at the same \"Midori-no-Madoguchi\" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. Buses depart from **Tokyo Station** - Yaesu Exit (八重洲口) and from *Busta Shinjuku*.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk011", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "The sheer size of the city of Kyoto, and the distribution of tourist attractions around the periphery of the city, make the city's public transport system invaluable.\n\nOne of the easiest ways to plan a route is through **Navitime**. This website contains station-to-station route plans, which reference public and private trains and subways as well as buses throughout Japan.\n\nIf you are planning to travel beyond city limits you might consider using the tickets from '''Surutto Kansai'''. For use in west Japan, including Kyoto, there are some other useful tickets: a rechargeable smart card, **ICOCA**, can be used on rail, subway and bus networks in the Kansai area and also Okayama, Hiroshima, Nagoya (Kintetsu trains) and Tokyo (JR East trains). These cards are available at vending machines at these rail stations, and cost ¥2000, which includes a ¥500 deposit that will be refunded when the card is returned at JR West Station. For use in Kyoto only there are some other useful tickets:\n\nThe **Kyoto Sightseeing Card** can be purchased as a one-day (adults ¥900/children ¥450) or two-day pass (¥1700/¥850). It can be used for unlimited travel on the subway and city buses as well as a part of the Kyoto bus route. The two-day pass has to be used on two consecutive days.\n The ** Traffica Kyo Card** is a stored-value card in denominations of ¥1000 or ¥3000. It can be conveniently used up to face value on all subways and buses by simply sliding it through the ticket gate. They offer a 10% bonus value.\n\nCheck the Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide for more information on how to use these cards.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk012", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|420px|Map of railway lines in most of the Kyoto municipality\nKyoto is criss-crossed by several train lines, all of which are clearly sign-posted in English. Although the lines are run independently and prices vary slightly between them, transfers can be purchased at most of the ticket machines. The **Keihan** train line can be useful for traveling in eastern Kyoto, while the two **Keifuku** (aka Randen) tram lines are an attractive way of traveling in the northwest. Across the street from the northern terminus of the Keihan Line is the **Eiden** line, which runs to Mount Hiei and Kurama. The **Hankyu** Line starts at *Shijo-Kawaramachi* downtown, and connects to the Karasuma Line one stop later at *Karasuma*. It's useful for reaching *Arashiyama* and the *Katsura Rikyu*; it runs all the way to Osaka and Kobe. **JR** lines run from Kyoto station to the northwest (JR Sagano line), to the southwest (JR Kyoto line) and to the southeast (JR Nara line). There are local and express trains so check if they stop at your station before you get on.\n\n### By subway\n\n270px|thumb|Baggage lockers in the underground part of Kyoto Station.\nThere are two subway lines which only serve a rather small part of the city. The north-south running **Karasuma Line** runs under Kyoto Station, and the west-east running **Tozai Line** links up with it near the city center. Both are useful for travel in the city center but not really suitable for temple-hopping. The Tozai Line does connect with the Keihan Line, however, which runs parallel to the Kamo-gawa, and is convenient for reaching *Gion* and southern Kyoto; it also gets you within a short walk of many of the sights in eastern Kyoto.\n\nA one-day pass for the subway costs ¥800.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk013", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "270px|thumb|Buses like this are part of Kyoto's vast public transit system.\n\nThe bus network is the only practical way of reaching some attractions, particularly those in north-western Kyoto. Fortunately the system is geared toward tourists, with destinations electronically displayed/announced in English as well as Japanese. Unlike other Japanese cities, a tourist probably is advised to use the buses here. Tourists with large luggage are strongly discouraged (and sometimes refused) from using city buses. Use the subway or 'Hands-Free Travel' luggage delivery services.\n\nConfusingly however, there are two different bus companies in Kyoto, which occasionally even have overlapping line numbers. **Green-and-white** Kyoto City Buses (市バス *shi-basu*) travel within the city, and are the most useful for visitors; unless otherwise noted, all buses listed in this guide are city buses. **Red-and-white** Kyoto Buses travel to the suburbs and are generally much less useful.\n\nMany buses depart from Kyoto Station, but there are well-served bus stations closer to the city center at Sanjō-Kawabata just outside the Sanjō Keihan subway line, and in the northern part of the city at the Kitaōji subway station. Most city buses and some Kyoto Buses have a fixed fare of ¥230, but you can also purchase a one day Kyoto bus and subway pass (¥1100 for adults and ¥550 for children under 12) with which you can ride an unlimited number of times within a one day period. The day passes can be bought from subway stations or from the bus information center just outside Kyoto Station. This is especially useful if you plan on visiting many different points of interest within Kyoto. **Note that the ¥700 bus-only day pass was discontinued at the end of September 2023.**", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk014", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "The municipal transport company publishes a very useful leaflet called '''Bus Navi'''. It contains a route map for the bus lines to most sights and information. You can pick it up at the information center in front of the main station.\n\n**Raku Bus** - The city has three routes (100, 101, and 102) which are specifically designed for foreign tourists wishing to hit the tourist spots quickly. The buses skip many of the non-tourist stops and are thus a faster way to get from one sight to the next. The Raku Bus #100 and #101 leave from platform D1 and B2 at Kyoto Station. The cost is ¥230 per ride, but the day passes are accepted as well.\n **Keihan Loop Bus** - Keihan operates a loop bus (300) that offers a convenient connection between Kyoto Station and the Keihan Railway. The nonstop, direct buses run every 15 minutes between the Hotel Thousand Kyoto (near Kyoto Station's Central Exit) and the Shichijo Station on the Keihan Main Line. The regular fare is ¥230, but if you take the bus from the Keihan Line to Kyoto Station the fare is just ¥100 if you buy a transfer ticket before exiting through the ticket barriers at Shichijo Station. If you are staying at the Hotel Thousand Kyoto or the adjacent Kyoto Century Hotel, you can buy a ¥100 ticket for the bus from your hotel. Note that several Kyoto City buses also offer a similar service (including the 206 and 208 routes) but the ¥100 discounted fare is only valid on the Keihan Loop Bus.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk015", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Particularly in spring and fall, but at any time of year, getting around by bicycle is an excellent option. Cycling forms a major form of personal transport year-round for locals. The city's grid layout makes navigation easy. The city is essentially flat, excepting a few places in the lower parts of the surrounding hills where you may have to climb a bit or park you bike to visit on foot. You can rent bicycles in many places in Japan for a reasonable price. During the peak tourist seasons, when roads are busy and buses tend to be crammed beyond capacity, bicycles are probably the best way to navigate Kyoto. Bike rentals are widely available. Be mindful of local traffic rules and stick to the bike paths.\n\nKyoto's wide, straight roads make for heavy traffic in many parts of the city, but it is possible to find back alleys that are quieter and offer better chances to happen upon all sorts of sightseeing/cultural gems. Riding on major roads is OK, especially if you are confident and used to riding with traffic on the road, rather than on the sidewalk and especially again if you are used to riding/driving on the LEFT-HAND side of the road.\n\nBe aware that it is forbidden to park your bike where it is not explicitly authorized, in which case it could get towed and you would have to pay a fine to get it back. So you will have to find a legal bike park near the place you want to visit and pay for it. It will not be the preferred transportation mean if you have planned to go to a district and visit it by foot along a non-circular route (like the Philosopher's Path in Higashiyama).\n\n- Kyoto Cycling Tour Project (KCTP)", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk016", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is a friendly bicycle rental shop across the street from the Keihan Demachiyanagi station, behind the taxi rank. ¥500 for a day, ¥750 for a day and night, and ¥3000 for a month. ¥3000 deposit (¥2000 when showing ID). Has 22\" children's bikes which come with a free helmet. Opens early (<9AM) - 7PM.\n There is a small rental shop just north of Sanjo Keihan station on Kawabata Dori that rents bicycles, which doesn't have \"tourist signs\" attached. On the downside, they do not speak English. ¥1000 per day.\n For those staying more than a week or so, purchasing a used bicycle may be economical. Most bicycle shops in Kyoto offer used town bicycles with lights, bell, basket, and lock for around ¥5000 — ¥10,000 (plus a ¥500 registration fee). At least some of this cost can be made back by re-selling the bicycle just prior to departure. Cycle Eirin, a chain found throughout the city, is a good place to start.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk017", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Talk", "text": "As Kyoto is a very tourist-friendly city, staff at most of the major hotels and tourist attractions have a functional command of English, and English menus and signage are common along the tourist trail. Outside of that, English is generally rarely spoken. Other foreign languages such as Italian, French, Korean or Mandarin may be spoken by some staff at the main tourist attractions.\n\nThe Japanese spoken in Kyoto is a version of the Kansai dialect spoken across Western Japan, which may be a little difficult to understand if you have just started learning Japanese. Two stereotypically Kyoto phrases are *oideyasu* (おいでやす), meaning \"welcome\", and *ookini* (おおきに) for \"thank you\". While standard Japanese is universally understood, it is not uncommon for locals to reply in dialect even when spoken to in standard Japanese. If you don't understand, just politely ask the person to repeat what they say in standard Japanese (標準語 *hyōjungo*) and they will usually oblige.\n\nKyoto people are also famous for their mastery of *tatemae*, the \"front\" used to hide their actual feelings, and you will likely be told the story of how an invitation to have some *bubuzuke* rice porridge is the Kyoto way of saying you've overstayed your welcome. The good news is that unless you intend to spend a couple of years working your way into Kyoto high society, you won't need to worry about this kind of thing.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk018", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "See", "text": "Kyoto offers an incredible number of attractions for tourists, and visitors will probably need to plan an itinerary in advance in order to visit as many as possible.\n\nJapan National Tourist Organization's self-guided \"Kyoto Walks\" pamphlet enables first time visitors to tour the city with ease and with minimum fuss by providing bus numbers, names of bus stops and clearly marked walking routes. There are a variety of self-guided walks in different districts to sample Kyoto's various sites. If you see the browser's dialog box popping up, just click on it till the entire PDF document opens.\n\nthumb|right|300px|Tatezuna at Kamigamo Shrine\n\n### World Heritage Sites\n\nIn 1994, 17 historic sites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the group designation **Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto**. Fourteen of the listed sites are in Kyoto itself, two are in the neighbouring city of Uji and one is in Ōtsu.\n\nListed by location, the fourteen World Heritage Sites in the city of Kyoto are:\nNorthern Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji, Ninna-ji, Kōzan-ji, Shimogamo Shrine, Kamigamo Shrine\nCentral Kyoto: Nijō Castle, Nishi Hongan-ji, Tō-ji\nEastern Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji\nWestern Kyoto: Tenryū-ji, Koke-dera\nSouthern Kyoto: Daigo-ji\n\n### Imperial Palaces and Villas", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk019", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "See", "text": "Stroll through the regal retreats of the Imperial Palace or one of the two Imperial villas with gardens and teahouses managed by the Imperial Household Agency. These are the **Imperial Palace** (京都御所 *Kyōto-gosho*) and **Sentō Imperial Palace** (仙洞御所 *Sentō-gosho*) in Central Kyoto, **Katsura Imperial Villa** (桂離宮 *Katsura-rikyū*) in Western Kyoto, and **Shūgakuin Imperial Villa** (修学院離宮 *Shugaku-in-rikyū*) in Northern Kyoto. All four of these sites are open to the public by reservation through the Imperial Household Agency. The gardens located within the precincts of each palace and villa are at their most scenic during spring cherry blossom season and autumn where a riot of colors enchant visitors. Each property is still used from time to time for official state functions or for private visits by the current royal family members.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk020", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "See", "text": "The Imperial Household Agency maintains a quota on the number of visitors to each site per tour. Admission is free. English guides are available at the Imperial Palace; however, tours of the Sento Imperial Palace, Katsura Villa, and Shūgakuin Villa are conducted in Japanese only (English pamphlets are given at each destination upon entry and books are available for purchase if you'd like to know more). Overseas visitors can apply online to the Imperial Household Agency in English here. On its website are write ups and videos in English for interested visitors to gauge which ones they would like to visit before making an online application. Please note that advanced applications first become available on the first day of the month, three months in advance of the applicant's preferred touring month. For example, if your preferred date of visit falls in the month of April, you can begin applying on January 1. As these visits are over subscribed by the Japanese and overseas visitors, the Imperial Household Agency has to draw lots to pick the successful applicants. All applicants are notified on the status of their applications whether they are successful or otherwise within a week after closing date. Most applicants to the Imperial Palace are accepted, and early reservation is not usually necessary; however, those planning to visit the Sentō Imperial Palace, or either of the Imperial Villas should apply on the first available day of application as they are highly competitive and entire months of tours often become full within the first few days. Winter tours are typically much less competitive, but be aware that the gardens will not be as beautiful as other times of the year.\n - Imperial household Agency Kyoto Office,", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk021", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Do", "text": "### Public baths\n\nPublic baths have been a cornerstone of the society for centuries in Kyoto. The first public baths, or sentō (銭湯), were documented in the 13th century. Soon they became one of the few places in society where social status was irrelevant. Noblemen shared baths with commoners and warriors. Today over 140 bath houses remain in Kyoto. Funaoka Onsen is the oldest of these and dubbed \"king of sentō\", but newer bath houses and super sentō are just as much part of the Japanese bathing culture. If you have the time, make your way to one of the many public bath houses Kyoto has to offer.\n\n- Funaoka Onsen\n\n### Film industry\n\nKyoto is the traditional home of the Japanese film industry and while it has declined since its heyday in the 1950s, to this day, the majority of Japanese period dramas (時代劇 *jidaigeki*) continue to be produced in Kyoto.\n\n- Toei Kyoto Studio Park\n\n### Meditation\n\nWell known for its abundance of historical sites, Kyoto often draws visitors eager to experience traditional Japanese culture. Buddhist meditation sessions are one of the most popular of these activities, and multiple options are available. In Northern Kyoto, **Taizo-in** and **Shunko-in** (both sub-temples of Myoshin-ji) offer authentic Zen meditation sessions, complete with explanations of the meaning and significance of such meditation. Reservations are necessary.\n\n### Blossom viewing\n\n#### Cherry blossoms\n\nthumb|300px|Cherry blossoms at Kyoto's Maruyama Park\nKyoto is arguably the most well known place in the country to view cherry blossoms, and there are certainly no lack of options. On the Official Top 100 cherry blossom spots list, three are in Kyoto (Arashiyama, Daigoji, Ninnaji).", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk022", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Do", "text": "Eastern Kyoto is particularly popular during the cherry blossom season. A walk from Nanzen-ji to Ginkaku-ji along the Philosopher's Path, lined with cherry trees, is enjoyable, as there are a variety of temples and shrines to stop at along the way. The garden of the Heian Shrine, not far from the Philosopher's Path, features colorful pink blossoms, which is a nice contrast to the white blossoms you'll see on the Philosopher's Path. The famous cherry tree in Maruyama Park is often the center of attention in the evenings when it is lit up. Vendors line the pathway leading up to it, creating a festive atmosphere. Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji have extended hours during the first few days of this season offering visitors the opportunity to view them at night, lit up against the blossoms. Blossoms can also be seen along the Kamogawa River. The entire area literally blossoms in the spring!\n\nIn Central Kyoto the northern section of the Imperial Park is home to a variety of different types of cherry blossoms. Nijo Castle hosts its own Nijo Light-Up, in which visitors can walk the grounds of the castle at night among the cherry blossoms (typically for 10–14 days). You cannot enter the castle during the light-up, so those who want to enter should visit during the day to see the castle and the blossoms. Just south of Kyoto station, the grounds of Toji Temple bloom beautifully below the towering pagoda.\n\nIn Arashiyama, a large portion of the mountainside is bright with cherry blossoms, along with the area around Hankyu Arashiyama Station. During the day, many people enjoy viewing the blossoms on the mountainside from the \"Romantic Train\" that travels through Arashiyama. At night, the area is lit up and food stalls are set up with a variety of delicious snacks.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk023", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Do", "text": "Northern Kyoto offers cherry-blossom scouts worthwhile experiences at Hirano Shrine and Kyoto Botanical Gardens, and a walk inside the large grounds of Daigo-ji in Southern Kyoto is certainly made memorable when all the blossoms are in full bloom.\n\n#### Plum blossoms\n\nAlthough they are less well-known to foreign tourists, who tend only to focus their attentions on seeing cherry blossoms, for those with plans to visit Kyoto from mid-February through mid-March, plum blossom viewing makes for a great alternative. Kyoto has two popular plum blossom locations; Kitano Tenmangu and the Kyoto Botanical Gardens, both in northern Kyoto. Kitano Tenmangu has a large grove of plum trees just outside the shrine entrance that, with a ¥600 fee, you can stroll about. Within the shrine grounds, there are many more trees (viewable for free). The shrine even hosts annual performances by geisha amidst the plum blossoms. Plum blossoms have a very pleasantly distinct fragrance. These Japanese ume trees are actually more closely related to apricot trees. However an early mistranslation by the Japanese resulted in these trees being called \"plum\" trees instead.\n\n### Festivals and events\n\n**Setsubun** (February 3 or 4) A large bonfire and Shinto ceremony is held at Yoshida Shrine.\n **Cherry Blossom Season** (April 1–15; days vary depending upon the weather) Although viewing the blossoms is enough for many, special events are often held throughout the city. (See \"Cherry Blossoms\" above)\n\nThe following are generally called Three Great Festivals of Kyoto (京都三大祭り *Kyoto Sandai Matsuri*)", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk024", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Do", "text": "**Aoi Matsuri** (葵祭, May 15) Beginning at Kyoto Imperial palace, a large procession dressed in Heian Period garbs walks to Shimogamo Shrine and finishes at Kamigamo Shrine.\n **Gion Matsuri** (祇園祭, July 17) Many Mikoshi are paraded through the streets. It is considered to be one of the top three festivals in Japan.\n **Jidai Matsuri** (時代祭, October 22) People dressed in traditional garbs parade to Heian Shrine.\n\nAnother famous event is:\n **Daimonji Gozan Okuribi** (大文字五山送り火, August 16) The hillside in Northwestern Kyoto is lit aflame in this festival honoring one's ancestors. Candle lanterns are floated out in Hirosawa Pond.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk025", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Learn", "text": "- Kyoto University", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk026", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is a nice selection of reassuringly non-tacky traditional souvenir shops around Arashiyama station in Western Kyoto, selling fans and traditional sweets. More tacky stores can be found in Gion and the approach to Kiyomizu Temple, selling keyrings, cuddly toys, and garish ornaments. Other traditional souvenirs from Kyoto include parasols and carved wooden dolls.\n\nMore unconventional but colorful (and relatively cheap) souvenirs are the wooden votive tablets produced by Shinto shrines, which bear an image relevant to the shrine on the reverse. Visitors write their prayers on the tablets and hang them up, but there's no rule that says you can't take it with you.\n\nManga and anime enthusiasts should visit Teramachi Street, a covered shopping street off the main Shijo-dori, which boasts a large manga store on two floors, as well as a two-story branch of Gamers (a chain of anime stores), and a small two-story anime and collectables store.\n\nMany ATMs in Kyoto do not allow non-domestic credit cards to be used, but ATMs in post offices and Seven-Eleven usually do. So if you find your card rejected or invalid in an ATM then try to get to a post office (郵便局 / *yuubinkyoku* or JP (in orange letters)) to use their ATMs instead. Look for the PLUS or Cirrus logos, whichever you find printed on the back of your ATM card. Another option is Citibank, which should work, too. There is an old standby international ATM at the top floor of Takashimaya Department Store at Shijo/Kawaramachi in the \"Cash Corner.\" The bank of ATMs in the basement of the Kyoto Tower shopping center (across the street from JR Kyoto Station) also includes one machine where international cards may be used.\n\n### Splurge\n\nIn the shopping areas adjacent to Kiyomizudera (on the other side of the Kamo River), it is possible to purchase samurai swords and top-of-the-line kimono - though don't be surprised if the prices for either item exceed ¥3,000,000. A brand new kimono can cost as much as a small car - and you may be able to find something just as good at a fraction of the price in one of Kyoto's second-hand kimono stores.\n\nKyoto incense is also famous. It usually has a very delicate yet fragrant bouquet. Incense is relatively agreeable in price (¥400-2000). You will be able to find it between Nishi and Higashi Hongwanji.\n\n### Damascene\n\nDamascene, a special metal created by imbedding other metals, originated in Damascus, Syria over 2000 years ago and was introduced to Japan in the 8th century. Since then, it has ceased production worldwide with the exception of Kyoto city, which continues producing it today. The technique used to create Kyoto's damascene is quite complex, as it must be corroded, rusted, and boiled in tea, along with inlaying many layers of metal to produce the final product. Visitors can purchase a variety of jewelry, vases, tea utensils, lighters, and other accessories made using this technique.", "word_count": 489}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk027", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Restaurants along the Kamo River at dusk\nIf you've just stepped off the train and the first thing on your mind is a bite to eat, there are several restaurants on the tenth and eleventh floors of the Isetan department store attached to Kyoto station. Most of the offerings are Japanese, including a veritable Ramen village, and there are a few casual Italian cafes.\n\n### Fine dining\n\nIf you have a lot of money, Kyoto is considered by most Japanese to be the spiritual home of *kaiseki* (懐石 or 会席), which is a meal of many small courses and a quintessential type of Japanese fine dining; in Kyoto this will typically entail a private room with traditional Japanese architecture. Unfortunately, most kaiseki establishments do not accept reservations directly from foreigners, and many require new customers to be introduced by one of their regular diners in order to be allowed to dine there. Your hotel concierge may be able to make a reservation for you if you contact them well in advance, though only the most expensive luxury hotels have the necessary clout to do this. As with anywhere else in Japan, most fine dining establishments do not accept credit cards, and you will have to pay for your meal *in cash*.\n\nConsider staying at one of Kyoto's top *ryokan*; elaborate *kaiseki* dinners are an essential part of a stay in a ryokan, and there are numerous ryokan that are just as well known for their food as their lodging experience. The downside is that most ryokan only accept reservations by phone, so at least conversational Japanese-language ability is essential for you to be able to do so by yourself.\n\n### Matcha", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk028", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Kyoto and the nearby city of Uji are well known for *matcha* (抹茶 maccha) or green tea, but visitors don't just come to *drink* the tea; there are a wide variety of matcha-flavored treats. Matcha ice cream is particularly popular, and most places selling ice cream will have it as an option. It also shows up in a variety of snacks and gifts. There is also the traditional Japanese tea ceremony (茶道 *sadō*) for those who want a unique experience.\n\n### Yatsuhashi\n\nthumb|200px| peach-flavored type of yatsuhashi\n**Yatsuhashi** (八ツ橋 or 八つ橋) is a delicious Kyoto snack, made from rice flour and sugar. There are three types of *yatsuhashi*: baked, raw, and raw with paste inside. The traditional hard *yatsuhashi* was originally made using cinnamon, and tastes like a crunchy biscuit. This is *yatsuhashi* in its narrowest sense. Today, while the biscuits remain the same, you can also buy hard *yatsuhashi* dipped in *maccha* and strawberry-flavored glazes. The simple raw type (*nama-yatsuhashi*) appeared in the 1960s.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk029", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Soon after came the final evolution: raw yatsuhashi sandwiching sweet red bean paste. The explanatory name, (あん入り生八つ橋, *an-iri nama-yatsuhashi*), was too long for marketing purposes, so manufacturers began to call it in various trade names. The first to market was Otabe (おたべ). Other shops followed with Hijiri (聖), Yuko (夕子) etc. This type is also made with cinnamon, but the cinnamon is mixed with bean paste and then folded into a triangle shape, somewhat like a *gyoza*. Today, you can buy a wide variety of flavors, including *maccha*, chocolate and banana, and black poppyseed. Many of the flavors are seasonal, such as the *sakura* (cherry blossom) yatsuhashi available in the spring and mango, peach, blueberry, and strawberry, available from May to October. This sandwich type became immensely popular and today the word *yatsuhashi* may well mean this type.\n\nAlthough yatsuhashi can be purchased at most souvenir shops, the best place to purchase raw yatsuhashi is the famous **Honkenishio Yatsuhashi**. While other stores may carry yatsuhashi, this is the place to find all of the seasonal flavors, as well as free samples. Most of these shops are in Higashiyama. The most convenient for tourists is probably the one on Kiyomizu-zaka, just below the entrance to Kiyomizu-dera.\n\nMany tourists find raw yatsuhashi to be a delicious (and very affordable) souvenir, but it only lasts for one week after purchase. Baked yatsuhashi on the other hand, will last for about three months.\n\n### Other specialties", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk030", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Other Kyoto specialties include *hamo* (a white fish served with ume as sushi), tofu (try places around Nanzenji temple), *suppon* (an expensive turtle dish), *kaiseki-ryori* (multi-course chef's choice that can be extremely good and expensive), and vegetarian dishes (thanks to the abundance of temples), particularly the vegan *shōjin ryōri*, which isn't cheap, but has a great reputation for quality.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk031", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Drink", "text": "Kyoto's night scene is dominated by bars catering for local needs, most of which are located in Central Kyoto around Kiyamachi, between Shijo and Sanjo. This area offers a wide variety of drinking options for all types of people. You'll also have no trouble finding the host and hostess bars, courtesy of the staff pacing around out front trying to entice visitors. There are plenty of options beyond this street in other regions, but with such a large concentration of bars along in the same area, it's easy to find a place where you feel most at home to relax for the night.\n\nIf you're looking for nightclubs, Kyoto has a few options, but it is not a city known for its thriving dance clubs. Those hoping to experience that part of Japanese nightlife should consider taking a train to Osaka where many of the clubs are hip and wild enough to rival any Tokyo club. (Alternately, instead of staying in Kyoto and making trips to Osaka, it may make more sense to stay in Osaka and make day trips to Kyoto.)\n\nThe tap water here is potable and safe. You can refill your water bottle at public fountains found throughout the city.\n\n### Sake\n\nSome of Kyoto's most famous sake comes from **Gekkeikan Brewery** in the Fushimi area of Southern Kyoto. A 400-year-old brewery that still produces great sake, Gekkeikan also offers tours of its facilities.\n\n### Whisky\n\nJapan's oldest whisky distillery, Yamazaki, is just across the prefectural border in Takatsuki, Osaka. Book ahead for factory and tasting tours.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk032", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Kyoto has a wide range of accommodation, much of it geared towards foreign visitors. Since Kyoto is a major tourist destination, demand is high and prices follow suit. During peak seasons, such as the cherry blossoms in April or during Golden Week when accommodation is difficult to get, consider staying in Osaka or satellite towns like Takatsuki and Hirakata. A 30-minute train ride from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station will cost you ¥540 one way.\n\nMost of the lodging in the city is clustered near the central city, especially around Kyoto Station and the downtown area near Karasuma-Oike. The outer areas have a scattering of their own, tending towards inexpensive but often much further from train or subway stations.\n\nFor those who would like to experience traditional Japanese accommodation, Kyoto is home to some of Japan's most luxurious *ryokan*, though prices are generally very expensive and would make economy-class plane tickets look cheap.\n\nThe city of Kyoto charges a hotel tax: for lodging that's less than ¥20,000 per night, the tax is ¥200 per night. It may not be included in the listed rates. **Starting in March 2026** the tax will be increasing under a multi-tiered system: Rooms under ¥20,000 per night will be taxed at ¥400 per night (¥200 for stays under ¥6,000 per night), while more expensive accommodations will be charged a higher tax (up to ¥10,000 per night for rooms costing at least ¥100,000 per night).\n\n### Budget\n\nthumb|300px|Japanese Style Ryokan", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk033", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Sleep", "text": "At the bottom of the price scale, many temples in Kyoto own and run their own lodging complex known as *shukubō* (宿坊), usually on or near temple grounds. Guests are often invited to participate in morning prayer service (*otsutome*) held at the temple. Unfortunately, most temple lodgings do not have English-speaking receptions, and curfews and check-in/out times tend to be strict. Most are in the northern region of the city.\n\nHostels are common and popular with students. Inexpensive hotels lack amenities but compensate with prices surprisingly low for Japan; both can be found in all regions of the city, and may be the only options available if you need to stay in an outlying ward.\n\nThe majority of self-named ryokan in this range are actually minshuku. Most are small family-run operations and accustomed to dealing with foreigners. Be prepared to pay for the full stay in advance.\n\n#### Internet and manga cafés\n\nDon't fear these places. There is nothing bad about staying in these so-called \"last resorts.\" Remember, though, that most of the time people stay at such places only for a few nights at the most.\n\nAs in other Japanese cities, Internet cafés and capsule hotels are available for those truly looking to stay on the cheap. Please expect to pay around ¥2000 for a night's stay in an Internet café. You get a computer, a comfortable chair, and all the tea and hot chocolate you want.\n\nMost places have no separate space for smokers vis-à-vis non-smokers. Manga is usually only in Japanese. These places provide cushions, blankets, and free unlimited soft drinks. Showers are often available. However, there might be an additional charge for using a shower.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk034", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Cafés don't keep luggage during the day so either carry it with you every day, find free storage, or use a coin locker (which costs ¥300–600 per use depending on the location and time duration). As a result, the cost of a night in a café could be similar to a bed in a hostel but without identical amenities.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nThe boundary between budget and midrange is often unclear, particularly among ryokan. Hotels in this category are concentrated in Central Kyoto, serving the business market with the typical amenities and close proximity to transportation.\n\n### Splurge\n\nSplit between the downtown and Higashiyama areas on each side of the Kamogawa River, these top-of-the-line lodgings can make your airfare look cheap. Western-style hotels dominate in this category; unlike the midrange options, very few of the high end ryokan can be booked without a functional command of Japanese.\n\n#### Machiyas\n\nIn Kyoto, there are traditional wooden townhouses called Kyo-Machiya or Machiya. Kyo-Machiya defined the architectural atmosphere of downtown Kyoto for centuries, and represents the standard defining form of Machiya throughout the country.\n\nThere are several facilities offers those Machiya to the travellers to stay privately, and can experience the traditional living in Kyoto.\nMost of those facilities are located in central Kyoto that easy to access to any sightseeing spot.\nHowever, generally those facilities don’t offer any meals, but in Kyoto, there is a delivery system from the Japanese restaurant that customer can order and eat in the Kyo-Machiya.\nDuring the guest stay, it is completely private that guests can feel like staying at their home.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk035", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The size of the facilities are average 80㎡, can stay from 2 people but it is better to use with group of 4 to 6, or with family.\nThere is a facility that guests can stay together in the same Machiya for up to 14 people.\n\nThe price starts at ¥25,000.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk036", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Connect", "text": "Free public Wi-Fi is available in many parts of Kyoto.", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "kyoto::chunk037", "doc_id": "kyoto", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Uji** - the best tea in Japan, the Byodo-in temple and the Nintendo Museum.\n **Lake Biwa** - if the summer humidity has drained your will to sightsee, take a day swimming at the underrated beaches of western Lake Biwa. Popular choices include Omi Maiko and Shiga Beach, each about 40 minutes from Kyoto on the JR Kosei Line.\n **Mount Hiei** - an ancient hilltop temple complex that traditionally guarded (and occasionally raided) Kyoto.\n **Otsu** - home to some great historical temples, Mount Hiei, and one of Lake Biwa's ports.\n **Koka** - home of ninjas, and there is the Miho Museum.\n **Nara** - less than an hour's journey by train on the JR Nara line from Kyoto station, Nara is an even older capital than Kyoto and has a stunning collection of temples in a giant landscaped park.\n **Osaka** - about half an hour from Kyoto by JR rapid train, this bustling city offers more retail opportunities and a central castle.\n **Amanohashidate** - literally \"the bridge to heaven\", it is considered one of Japan's top three scenic views (along with Matsushima in Miyagi prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima prefecture). It forms a thin strip of land straddling the Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture, hence the name. Visitors are asked to turn their backs toward the view, bend over, and look at it between their legs.\n **Himeji** - about an hour by Shinkansen west of Kyoto, Himeji boasts a spectacular traditional castle.\n **Sekigahara** - about an hour northeast of Kyoto by train, Sekigahara is a small rural town of immense importance to the Japanese history buff, as this was the site of the battle that allowed Tokugawa Ieyasu to consolidate control of Japan and establish the Shogunate.", "word_count": 286}
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new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..405afab59ef7f444fd61f3dbbb7e6446a7373657
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+++ b/corpus/kyoto/metadata.json
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+ "doc_id": "kyoto",
+ "title": "Kyoto",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kyoto",
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+ "cycling",
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+ "temples",
+ "beach"
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+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Kyoto (prefecture)"
+ ],
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+ "Lake Biwa",
+ "Mount Hiei",
+ "Otsu",
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+ "Lake Biwa",
+ "Koka",
+ "Nara",
+ "Osaka",
+ "Amanohashidate",
+ "Japan's Top 3",
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+ "Miyagi prefecture",
+ "Miyajima",
+ "Hiroshima prefecture",
+ "Himeji",
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+ "Nagoya",
+ "Maibara",
+ "Tottori",
+ "Toyooka",
+ "Kobe",
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@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk000", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Kyrgyzstan** (in Kyrgyz and Russian: Кыргызстан), is a Central Asian country. Due to its mountainous terrain, it is often called as the \"Switzerland\" of Central Asia. The country offers breathtaking landscapes, including the Tien Shan Mountains, crystal-clear lakes such as Issyk-Kul and Song Kol, and beautiful valleys like the Ala-Archa National Park. These areas provide excellent hiking, trekking, horseback riding, and camping opportunities. \n\nYou can experience the hospitality of Kyrgyz nomads by staying in yurts, sample Kyrgyz cuisine, featuring hearty dishes like beshbarmak and manti, and sip on fragrant tea while listening to traditional music and folklore. The country celebrates cultural events and festivals throughout the year which showcase the country's traditions, arts, and sports.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk001", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|300px|Bishkek\n — The capital and cosmopolitan centre of the country, beautiful and interesting.\n — An Islamic village popular with local pilgrims and famous for its picturesque walnut tree forest.\n — The gateway to Issyk Kul lake. A small, dying industrial centre on the western shore, and a former fishing town, with a train service from Bishkek through a beautiful passant Chui Valley.\n — A good bet for visiting a Ferghana Valley town, as it is significantly safer and easier to get to than Osh or destinations further southwest.\n — One of the gems of Issyk Kul, this was originally a Slavic settlement with a wealth of hiking, outdoor and sports available, including the **Altyn Arashan** hot springs, **Karakol Canyon**, and the beautiful **Ala Kul** glacier lake.\n — A small village with a park containing various Soviet structures, and a local animal bazaar, as well as an entry of point for Song Kul and launch pad for treks up into the Tian Shan Mountains.\n — A city in the Tian Shan, near Lake Song Kul, the gateway to the entire southeastern region, its ruins, mountains, and high alpine lakes.\n — Kyrgyzstan's second largest city, a fascinating, 3,000 years old, wildly diverse, Ferghana Valley market town home to Central Asia's biggest and busiest outdoor market.\n — A modern far off town with the popular *Manar Ordo* pilgrimage complex nearby, just north of Besh-Tash National Park.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk002", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|300px|Tash Rabat\n — Lake and pearl of Central Asia, an enormous, crystal blue high alpine lake up in the Tian Shan Mountains.\n — Issyk Kul's little cousin, far more remote, and many would say more beautiful as well.\n — A picturesque mountain lake 20 km from Kochkor.\n — A former well-preserved 15th century stone caravanserai near Naryn and must see.\n — One of the highlights of Kyrgyzstan with a beautiful lake, excellent hiking, diverse flora and fauna, picturesque mountains and much more.\n — All that remains of the ancient Silk Road capital of Balasagun, a massive minaret standing alone on the step.\n — Gorgeous Tian Shan high alpine landscapes within easy striking distance of Bishkek, hiking and skiing.\n — A picturesque valley with yurts, beautiful colours, and impressive mountains around it.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk003", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Annexed by Russia in 1876, Kyrgyzstan, formally the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyz: Кыргыз Республикасы, Russian: Кыргызская Республика), became an independent nation in 1991. Long hobbled by political instability, Kyrgyzstan is now one of the most progressive post-Soviet countries.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Ancient stone statues (''bal-bal'') outside of Burana Tower\nThe ancient Scyths inhabited much of present-day Kyrgyzstan. With their disappearance the Kyrgyz people moved from Siberia. The Kyrgyz are descendants of tribes from the Tuvan region of Russia, which migrated to the area now known as Kyrgyzstan in the 13th century, during the rise of the Mongol empire.\n\nIn 1876, with the destruction of the Khanate of Kokand, the area of today's Kyrgyzstan was incorporated into the Russian Empire. The natives of the region were known to the Russians (and, through them, to the Westerners) as the \"Kara Kirghiz\", the name \"Kirghiz\" being used to refer to the people who are now known as the Kazakhs. At about the same time, a widespread Muslim Rebellion against the Qing rule failed in the northwestern China, and a number of Uighur and Dungan people (Chinese Muslims) fled to the Russian Empire, finding new homes in what is now Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.\n\nWith the tsarist annexation came numerous Slavic immigrants that displaced many of the Kyrgyz and planted crops on their pasture lands. During World War I, many Kyrgyz refused to support the tsarist troops and many were massacred.\n\nFollowing the creation of the Soviet Union, the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was established within the Russian Soviet Federative Republic. A small town, earlier known as Pishkek, was chosen as the capital of the republic, and renamed Frunze in honor of a Red Army commander. (This was not a name easy to pronounce, as there is no “f” sound in native Kyrgyz words)", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk004", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Two years later (1926), the Soviets tried to sort out the names of their ethnic groups: the Kara-Kirghiz Republic became the Kirghiz Republic (and the erstwhile Kirghiz Republic became the Kazakh Republic). In 1936, the Kirghiz Republic was split off from the Russian republic, and became one of the member states of the USSR, as the Kirghiz SSR.\n\nthumb|Although Lenin had never visited Kyrgyzstan, Soviet-era Frunze had a Lenin Museum, with a locally produced Lenin carpet among its exhibits. This is now the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan\nKyrgyzstan changed dramatically as industrialization took over and brought factories, mines, and universities. A Latin- and, later, Cyrillic-based alphabet was developed to elevate the Kyrgyz language to written form; compulsory schooling was introduced, and the famous Epic of Manas was written down and published in a book form.\n\nThe Soviet influence on Kyrgyzstan was strongly felt and many of the pre-Soviet traditions and cultures were lost and have been rediscovered since independence. In addition, ethnic minorities were deported to Kyrgyzstan, including Germans, Kurds, Chechens, Poles and Jews. This mix of populations makes Kyrgyzstan one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Asia.\n\nOn 31 August 1991, after unrest in various regions throughout the Soviet Union, a coup in Moscow against the regime of Mikhail Gorbachev failed. This move against the central government motivated the Kyrgyz power structure to declare independence from the Soviet Union. Also during that time a physicist named Askar Akayev was elected president of Kyrgyzstan, the only one in Central Asia not backed by the local communist party.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk005", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Understand", "text": "To assert its independence, the new country changed the spelling of its name in Russian and English (from \"Kirghizstan Киргизстан\" or \"Kirghizia Киргизия\" to \"Kyrgyzstan Кыргызстан\", to be more in line with the Kyrgyz spelling), and returned (sort of) the indigenous name to the capital (although it now became Bishkek, rather than Pishpek).\n\nAs for President Akayev, it became evident that non-party affiliation did not guarantee honesty. The executive branch’s power increased through suppression of opposition, and the President secured immunity from prosecution for himself and his family. After several years of questionable elections, in March 2005, massive groups of protesters from around the country converged on the capital, causing Akayev to flee into exile in Russia.\n\nThe leader of the Tulip Revolution, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, formed an interim government and served as president and prime minister until later that July when emergency elections were held. Bakiyev ran for the office of President and won, but was unable to gain parliamentary approval of his cabinet until five months later. After several attempts to resolve a constitution, Bakiyev declared in 2007 that all previous versions of the constitution were illegal, and instituted a modified constitution from the Akayev era. He then dissolved parliament and called for an early election to reform the parliamentary structure. The President’s own party gained the majority and the U.S. State Department expressed deep concern about the conduct of the elections, citing several issues including widespread vote count irregularities and exaggerations in voter turnout. Some of the problems that Kyrgyzstan faces today are universal throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States, namely lack of political freedom, widespread corruption and negative influences on democracy.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk006", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|On the Issyk Kul's shore near Kosh Köl\nThe climate varies regionally. The south-western Fergana Valley is subtropical and extremely hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F). The northern foothills are temperate and the Tian Shan varies from dry continental to polar climate, depending on elevation. In the coldest areas temperatures are sub-zero for around 40 days in winter, and even some desert areas experience constant snowfall in this period. The best time to visit northern Kyrgyzstan is from June to September, though the foothill cities like Bishkek are very hot (up to 35°C). Most beautiful for hiking in the low mountain areas is between April and June, when the mountain slopes are flushed with blooming flowers. March to October is ideal for southern Kyrgyzstan. From October high mountains passes can be closed.\n\n### Landscape\n\nEntirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes. Highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m. The mountains are beautiful for hiking.\n\n### Culture\n\nKyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and traditional cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is considered there are 40 clans that represent the 40 rays symbolized by the 40-rayed sun on its national flag. The traditional poem is the Epic of Manas, the name of the epic's eponymous hero, and is longer with 500,000 lines. The Kyrgyz share close cultural ties with the Kazakhs, being a traditionally nomadic people living on horseback, and with the tradition of hunting with eagles and carpet weaving.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nDiscover Kyrgyzstan website", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk007", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|A village mosque\nThe official languages of Kyrgyzstan are Russian and Kyrgyz, which is closely related to Uzbek, Kazakh, and Turkish. Kyrgyz is more common in rural areas whereas Russian is the urban language of choice, and it's not uncommon to meet ethnic Kyrgyz people in Bishkek who cannot speak Kyrgyz. English, while becoming more popular, is still rarely spoken, so in order to effectively communicate one must at the very least learn a few basic words (yes, no, please, thank you, etc.) in Russian or Kyrgyz, depending on the location. If you are lost completely, try to ask young people, especially students.\n\nLike most of the rest of the former Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which can present a problem for Western travellers. However, the characters are not too hard to learn and once that is done you'll find that many of the words are familiar. For example, \"ресторан\" transliterated into the Latin alphabet is \"restoran,\" which means \"restaurant.\" But be careful as Cyrillic is used for Kyrgyz as well as Russian.\n\nOne interesting minority language is Dungan. A Chinese dialect influenced by Turkic languages and Russian, it is spoken by the descendants of Muslim Chinese (Hui) rebels who fled from the Qing China to the Russian Empire in the late 1870s, after the defeat of the Muslim rebellion. Kyrgyzstan's Dungans live in a few villages, and are also active in commerce and restaurant business throughout the country. The Dungan language has an official writing system based on the Cyrillic alphabet (instead of using Chinese characters), but, in practice, is written fairly rarely.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk008", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Map showing the visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan, with countries in dark blue or green having visa free travel, and countries in light blue having visa on arrival\nthumb|Entering Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan at the Korday border crossing, north of Bishkek\n\nCitizens of all countries, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, may apply for tourism, business and group tourist types of visa for 30 or 90 days online through the Kyrgyz Republic eVisa system.http://evisa.e-gov.kg/ Evisa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport, Osh International Airport or the Ak-jol checkpoint on the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe main hub for Kyrgyzstan is the Manas airport in Bishkek (), but Osh Airport () is increasingly well linked with great flight offers. Both airports have regular services to the international hubs in Istanbul and Moscow. In addition there are several flights a week to regional hubs in Tashkent, Ürümqi and a weekly service to Dubai. Other destinations close to border include Almaty in Kazakhstan or Tashkent in Uzbekistan, each a 5-hour drive away.\n\nNote that since 2018, a Russian transit visa is needed if changing plane in Russia, when traveling to or from Kyrgyzstan.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk009", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|The entire long-distance train schedule at Bishkek Station can fit in one screen. (The commuter train schedule is even shorter)\nTrains to Bishkek depart from Moscow and other stations in Russia a few times a week (3714 km, trip takes more than 3 days). This train goes through western Kazakhstan (Kazakh transit visa is required for those who need it), and is useful as such, as you can use it to get Turkestan or Aral. Details can be found at poezda.net http://www.poezda.net/en/index or rzd.ru http://pass.rzd.ru/ (you can also buy the tickets on the latter). The journey all the way from Moscow cost around 150€ in the third class. On the train it is forbidden to carry portable stove fuel cans.\n\n### By car\n\nThe highway from Osh to the Chinese border at Irkeshtam and from the village of Sary Tash to the Tajikistan border is being reconstructed in stages to international standards. Many other highways are likewise being rehabilitated as funding permits.\n\nFrom Kazakhstan, the road from Almaty to Bishkek is the busiest. The border at Kegen may be more difficult to get across. Frequent and obvious smuggling happens in this border, and it's quite obvious that the immigration and the border guards are in cahoots with the smugglers. Visa on arrival is not possible here, and if coming from Kazakhstan, make sure you have a double-entry or multiple entry visa for Kazakhstan in case of troubles with Kyrgyz border officials.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk010", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Journey times**:\n From Kazakhstan to Bishkek - from Almaty which takes 5 hours, and from Taraz which takes 5 hours.\n From Uzbekistan to Bishkek, the road goes through Kazakhstan and drive would take more than 10 hours, and to Osh in the south\n From Tajikistan to Osh the road from Khujand (Tajikistan) and through Batken (Kyrgyzstan) further to Osh. The main road goes through the Uzbek enclaves but there is also an alternative way around the enclaves. If taking a taxi, remind the driver to go around the small bit of Uzbekistan. The road from Khorugh to Osh, when open, is one of the world's great drives. The Pamir Highway snakes through steep river valleys and high-altitude plateaus over a 14-hour drive between the cities.\n From China there are two passes - Irkeshtam leading to Osh and Torugart leading further to Naryn.\n\n### By bus\n\nFrom **Kazakhstan** there are frequent marshrutkas between Bishkek and Almaty (4-5 hr) —see Bishkek. Furthermore, there are regular connections between Kegen in Kazakhstan and Karakol. The Kegen border crossing is open during summer (May to Sep/Oct)—see Karakol. Also, some connections exist from Taraz.\n\nFrom **China** there is a regular bus between Osh and Kashgar (18 hr)—see Osh.\n\nFrom **Tajikistan** There are shared taxis (jeeps) between Osh and Murghab—see Osh.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk011", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Monuments in an old rural cemetery combine Muslim crescents and Communist stars\n\n### By bus or marshrutka\n\nMinibuses, called *marshrutka*, in Kyrgyzstan are basically cargo vans (like Mercedes Sprinter) converted into buses with windows and seats. They are amazingly inexpensive and congregate at every village center or bus station. The prices for them are set and straightforward, but sometimes they will not leave until full. However, nowadays it seems that timetable are much more reliable and enforced than in the past.\n\nAlways get your ticket at the *kassa* (if possible), where you will pay a fixed and pre-determined fare independently of the season, mood of the driver, or fact that you are a tourist. If there is no kassa, ask some (uninvolved) locals to determine the proper fare for your destination and hand the driver the exact amount when paying. Often the drivers stack up the price a little when they see you are a tourist. Sometimes they say that it is extra for the luggage and so on. Do not believe them, just pay the normal fare and say *njet* or *jok*. Also, always demand your change right away. Sometimes they take your money, believing you do not know the right fare, or pretend to give the change later, just to make you forget about asking for it. Either way, if not starting from a bus station with kassa, always give the fare to the driver directly and no intermediate pretending to \"help\" you.\n\nMarshrutkas can be hailed anywhere but in Bishkek it makes sense to stick to the bus stop where everyone is waiting.\n\nFor connections checkout the '''2GIS''' app and website, which is great for finding the right marshrutka or bus number in Bishkek and all over Kyrgyzstan. The service is used extensively by locals.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk012", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By autostop\n\nthumb|300px|The road to Song-Köl\nHitch-hiking, commonly called *autostop* in Kyrgyzstan, is the most undervalued form of travel in this country. It is the most efficient and authentic way to see Kyrgyzstan, equally popular with locals and visitors. You can see many locals, often traditionally clothed *babushkas* hitch-hiking without any fear. Almost everyone who has free space in his car will pick you up, even if you are a group which would never be picked up in western country, like four guys. Truck drivers will even try to fit up to five people in their cars, just for the sake of helping out. It shows the great attitude and friendliness of the Kyrgyz people. Also, it is faster and more economical than any other kind of land transport.\n\nContrary to Europe or other western countries, in Kyrgyzstan one does not hold up the thumb, which apparently has a different and less friendly meaning. Instead, you straighten your arm and point towards the road with 2 or 3 fingers, at about an angle of 45 degrees.\n\nOften the concept melds with that of shared taxis. Thus, the fare (if required) is generally what you would pay for a marshrutka or shared taxi, depending on the region and the general availability of marshrutkas. Nevertheless, many locals are happy with taking a tourist for free. But it is always customary to offer to pay for the ride, which they will decline in case they are happy with taking you for free. Truck drivers for instance seem to often reject this offer. Thus, about 50% of the time, you will not have to pay for a ride. Either way, always have lots of 20 notes ready, especially for shorter distances.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk013", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Drivers negotiating at the start of the trip will most likely overcharge you, trying to make money out of the fact that you are a tourist. Bargain hard, or avoid them. If you feel you a being ripped off (at the end of a ride), stand your ground—other locals will most likely help you if you explain the situation. Any demanded price 50% beyond the marshrutka or shared taxi fare is a rip-off, and you should not pay it.\n\nIf you really intend to go completely free, you can try to explain that you do not want to pay; the Russian phrase *Bez deneg* can be used. This will cause the taxi drivers to go away. Otherwise, taxi drivers will tell you how much they want—you have to haggle this price down, especially if there is someone already in the car. When haggling, it is often sufficient just to say *ochen mnogo* (too much), so the driver will see you are not stupid and will offer you a better price. Because of this, it is better to reject offers to places that are only on your way and wait for a car that will take you directly to your destination instead. This does not apply to more deserted roads, which see only a few cars in a day.\n\n### By shared taxi", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk014", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Where marshrutkas become scarce due to region or time of day, shared taxis are the preferred mode of transport for locals. With shared taxis you will be quoted a price for one seat. If you have significant luggage you should expect to pay for an extra or partial seat. Nevertheless, you should always negotiate prices, as a foreigner you will likely be asked to pay more than a local. But of course, there is never the need to go with anyone. Just take a different driver or mode of transport if unsatisfied.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are abundant all over Kyrgyzstan, and are especially keen to transport tourists, due to high margins involved. They are relatively expensive for Kyrgyz standards, and if you are travelling on a light budget, they are mostly never worth the money—marshrutka and autostop are the better and more authentic options.\n\nAs in most other countries, if relying on the service of a taxi, never trust any taxi driver, solely use them for their taxi service, and always agree on a price (all incl.) upon entering. Taxi drivers will overcharge tourists without hesitation. It might not seem like much money, but you would not do the same thing at home, and it also corrupts the local system.\n\nYou can also purchasing all the seats of a shared taxi at the bus station for a specific destination, in case you do not want to wait for the taxi to fill up with people before leaving.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk015", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The only domestic rail link is the summer-only train between Balykchy (Western edge of Issyk Kul) to Tokmok through to Bishkek. It's a scenic route but the train takes at least twice as long as a taxi and it's half the price. You may meet a lot of interesting folks, mostly pensioners, that need the 40-80 soms they would save by taking a mini-bus or taxi. Otherwise, there is ca one train per day to the Kazakh border (and onward to Russia).\n\n### By plane\n\nThere are several daily flights between Bishkek and Osh. There are also a few flights a week between Bishkek and Jalal-abad and Batken. The flights are operated on local airlines using 30- to 40-year-old Soviet planes. On the other hand, the mechanics and pilots are well trained how to operate these old beasts.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nKyrgyzstan is popular with long distance bike treks, particularly around Issyk Kul and passes through the southern mountains to Tajikistan.\n\nThe tunnel at the Too Ashuu (*Тео-Ашуу*) pass on the highway between Bishkek and Osh isn't at 2,500 m as it is mentioned on most maps—the tunnel is at 3,100 m.\n\n#### Bicycle on buses\n\nUnfortunately the public transport in Kyrgyzstan consists mostly of marshrutkas. However, it's usually possible to fit two bicycles inside the luggage compartment in the back of the bus if you remove front wheel, pedals and turn the handlebar. You may have to pay an extra fee of 100 som per each bicycle while transporting them by buses between Karakol and Bishkek, and travellers paying 500 som for each are not unheard of. The nightbuses are usually big buses with enough space for bicycles.\n\n### By (rental) car", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk016", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tourists renting a private car and driving in Kyrgyzstan is virtually unheard of and not recommended. The roads are in poor shape, police is highly corrupt (If you are stopped by the police, it's likely to cost some money.), auto insurance doesn't exist, and hitch-hiking or hiring a taxi is too easy and cheap to make rental an option. Long-term foreign residents frequently drive, but many opt to use a driver.\n\nIf you do opt to drive in Kyrgyzstan as a private tourist, you can also rent from a local instead of a private company. While this does come with risks involving insurance and other problems, you are far less likely to be pulled over by police due to the nature of your license plate.\n\nThe traffic culture is very different from that in the West. Traffic is dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers. Overall, there are many road accidents in Kyrgyzstan, especially in the summer on the Bishkek-Issyk-Kul road.\n\nMost Kyrgyz people have bought their driving licences without attending driving school, which explains the chaotic traffic culture. Traffic rules are not always respected and speeding is common. Cars, including public transport buses, are often in poor condition and may not be insured. In many cases, cars are not equipped with seat belts (at least in the back seat) or are not used.\n\nRoads are in fairly poor condition, but some have been renewed. For example, the motorway from Bishkek to Lake Issyk-Kul was partially rehabilitated in the late 2010s/early 2020s. Also, the principal highway from Bishkek to Osh is an engineering marvel through the mountainous region.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk017", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is best to avoid driving after dark. In general, only the main streets in urban areas are lit and street drains may be missing covers on both pavements and roads. Urban areas, street lights and traffic lights may also be without electricity from time to time.\n\nWatch out for mini buses pulling out too.\n\nIn winter, roads are often unploughed and in spring, roads may be blocked by snow and landslides. Pedestrians and animals, including herds of cattle and horses, may be on the roads.\n\nWhen driving, please note that there are few petrol stations outside the towns of Bishkek and Osh. It is advisable to fill up only at known petrol stations and to use spare cisterns, as petrol from unknown stations is often of poor quality.\n\nThe official legal limit in the country is zero. However, driving under the influence of alcohol is an unfortunate occurrence. The same applies to fleeing from a car accident.\n\n### On foot and navigation\n\nKyrgyzstan is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, providing many interesting and picturesque trails in the mountains or around its lakes. However, due to the often remote nature of these trails, it is important that you are well prepared and have a proper and reliable map with you. In addition, using GPS navigation adds an extra layer of safety, both in cities as well as the countryside. For reliable (offline) maps and comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk018", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|Holy Trinity Church, [[Karakol]]\n The capital **Bishkek** is buzzing with busy people, infinite traffic, bazaars, Soviet monuments, large plazas and a growing cosmopolitan population.\n The city of **Osh** boasts the famous bazaar, mosques and a distinct Soviet architecture.\n **Issyk Kul** in eastern Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by mountains, the world's second largest alpine lake and a popular summer destinations for guests from all surrounding countries.\n **Tash Rabat**, the ruins of an ancient caravansarai in the Naryn Region.\n **Al-Archa National Park** with mountain peaks of over 4,000 m is a half-hour drive from Bishkek.\n **Arslanbob**, nestled in a beautiful valley and famous for its walnut forest, balancing effortlessly between pastoral life and a popular destination with Kyrgyz and Uzbek families.\n Kyrgyzstan's only World Heritage Site is the **Sulaiman-Too mountain** in Osh.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk019", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Do", "text": "Wander around **Osh Bazaar** – Traditional Eastern market in Bishkek selling everything from spices to dishwashers.\n Buy cheap Chinese goods in **Dor Doi Bazaar** – The largest market in Central Asia; it's mostly constructed out of empty shipping containers and 20 minutes north of Bishkek.\n **Swim**, sail and sunbathe in Issyk Kul – The world's second biggest high-altitude mountain lake.\n **Stay in a yurt** near Tash Rabat – Ruins of a Caravansarai in Naryn Oblast.\n **Live like a nomad** in Song Kul – High altitude mountain lake less visited than Issyk Kul and ideal for seeing traditional semi-nomadic Kyrgyz life in action.\n **Fishing** is popular with locals and if you are into it, there are many rivers where it is possible and successful.\n **Heli-skiing** – Try Eurosolutions, or look for other operators.\n\n### Hiking\n\nThere are many great hiking opportunities in Kyrgyzstan, ranging from easy walks to proper mountain climbing. The most popular destinations are **Ala Kul** near Karakol, peak **Lenin** (7,134 m) south of Osh, the **Grigorievskoe Trail** near Cholpon-Ata, the '''Alamedin Gorge''' high routes, the '''Kyzyl Suu River Valley''' high routes, and the eastern border region towards Kazakhstan near **Jyrgalan**.\n\nThe Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan organizes one day or longer public treks or hikes, e.g. in the mountains around Bishkek, for just few hundreds som a day, including transport to/from the start of the trek and guide. Usually size of the group is 10 people or more, both locals and expats. They mostly have treks on weekends or holidays. Sometimes they have other outdoor activities like rafting. Their website has events schedule in English.\n\nLikewise the Community Based Tourism (CBT) office will also gladly organise guides and treks for you. But you can also just rely on them for information. The maps of CBT are not very detailed and often out of date. So, it is important that you have a good map like OpenStreetMap, which has up to date trails and supports contour-lines, hillshades and GPS—see .\n\nSometimes, in more isolated areas, CBTs will advise you to just \"wander\". Much of Kyrgyzstan is public land unlike the west, and no one will bat an eye if you just wander throughout the mountains. It can be quite a great way to experience feelings of remoteness and adventure.\n\n### Horseback riding\n\nThe classic way to see Kyrgyzstan is on the saddle of a horse, as the Kyrgyz are famous horsemen dating back to the days of Genghis Khan. There are several tourist agencies that arrange horse trekking. It is said that all Kyrgyz are born on a horse, although with growing urbanisation that seems to be less common. If you are hiking some trail which is also frequented by horseback riding tours and tired of walking, you can easily \"hitch-hike\" guides with empty horses for much less money that a tour costs. Before paying for a ten days horseback riding tour, it is better to try it for a few hours or a day—if you are not used to ride a horse, a longer ride might cause your body to be in pain for several days during and after a long ride. Many people complain about a painful experience even after just one day of riding.\n\nPopular destinations include Toktogul for 3 days of adventure on a horseback, or Kochkor for a several day ride to Song Kul lake.", "word_count": 560}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk020", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|KGS200 banknote issued in 2010.\nThe national currency is the **Kyrgyzstani som** (written as 'сом' in the Kyrgyz Cyrillic alphabet or sometimes abbreviated as **с**). The ISO international symbolisation is **KGS**. Wikivoyage articles will use *som* to denote the currency.\n\nBanknotes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 5,000 som. There is also a 2,000 som banknote, but it is worth more as a numismatic piece than as circulating money. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 3, 5 and 10 som.\n\n#### Credit cards and ATMs\n\nLike other countries in Central Asia, cash economy is still quite prevalent in Kyrgyzstan while cards are now widely accepted in Bishkek where you can expect to be able to pay by card in most restaurants and shops. But in the southern regions of the country cards are not accepted everywhere, so you should stock up on cash.\n\nMany merchants only accept Visa. For Mastercard, Cirrus or Maestro you have to search for ATMs from Kyrgyzkommerts or PCK. You can withdraw US dollars or Kyrgyz som at many ATMs, which are common in Bishkek, and there are a scattering of ATMs in other towns. \n\nSome ATMs charge a **fee** locally for withdrawals, like PCK 150 som. Kyrgyzkommerts does not. Just try a few and you will find one without fee.\n\n#### Currency exchange\n\nChanging money is relatively straightforward. Banks will accept a variety of major currencies, while the money-changing booths that are ubiquitous in urban areas will typically only deal with US dollars, UK pounds, euros, Russian rubles, and Kazakh tenges. Neither banks nor money changers will accept any foreign currency that is torn, marked, excessively crumpled, or defaced in any way, so be sure to carefully check any notes you intend to bring into the country for defects.\n\nMany larger cities have currency exchange booths in the center. However, the best rates can be obtained in Bishkek around the corner of Kievskaya St. and Manas Av., or on Abdrakhmanov Sr. between Moskovskaya St. and Bokonbaev St. Exchange rates are barely 1% off the inter bank rates for US dollars and euros. But also tenge can be exchanged for good rates, it is probably good to obtain some here before heading to the Kazakh border (to pay the bus on the other side).\n\nYou may have a quite difficult time exchanging som outside of central Asia. Your best bet is to exchange only the money you need while in Kyrgyzstan, and change the remainder back before you leave.\n\n### Bargaining\n\nBargaining in markets or for food is neither necessary nor common. Prices are often fixed and signposted. Only in places where mostly tourists shop or are around, you should be cautious, especially with taxi drivers. Either way, it is always best to have an approximate feeling for the prices and fares (see ).", "word_count": 477}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk021", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|The flat ''naan'', bread, a staple food in the region\nthumb|300px|A local dish in [[Karakol]]\nKyrgyz food is the product of a long history of pastoral nomadism and is overwhelmingly meat-based, which means that virtually all of the traditional dishes contain meat. If you are vegetarian you can, however, ask for vegetarian food and in many cases will receive a tasty vegetarian meal without much hassle, or you can purchase your own fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh bread from one of the many small stands or food bazaars that are ubiquitous in every city. While some people from the West think of large vegetables as desirable, small and flavourful is the rule. The same approach is valid for pistachios and almonds as well. Washing vegetables before consumption is recommended.\n\n**Besh barmak** (literally: five fingers, because the dish is eaten with one's hands) is the national soupy dish of Kyrgyzstan (Kazakhs would probably disagree). For preparation, a sheep or horse is slaughtered and boiled in a large pot. The resulting broth is served as a first course. The meat is then divided up between those at the table. Each person in attendance receives the piece of meat appropriate to their social status. The head and eyes are reserved for guests of honour. The remaining meat is mixed in with noodles and, sometimes with onions, and is traditionally eaten from a large common dish with the hands, although nowadays more often with a fork or spoon. If you can land an invitation to a wedding, you'll most likely get a chance to eat besh barmak, although you can also find it in traditional restaurants. Kyrgyz people like soupy food in general, those foods that are served as a kind of pasta in Russia such as pelmene, they prefer as soup.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk022", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most other dishes encountered in Kyrgyzstan are common to the other countries of Central Asia as well. **Plov** or osh is a pilaf dish that at a minimum includes julienne carrots, onion, beef or mutton, and plenty of oil, sometimes raisins. **Manti** are steamed dumplings that normally contain either mutton or beef, but occasionally pumpkin. **Samsa** are meat (although sometimes vegetable or cheese) pies that come in two varieties: flaky and tandoori. Flaky somsa are made with a phyllo dough while tandoori somsa have a tougher crust, the bottom of which is meant to be cut off and discarded, not eaten. **Lagman** is a noodle dish associated with Uyghur cuisine, but you can find everywhere from Crimea to Ujgurs. Most of the time it is served as soup, sometimes as pasta. The basic ingredients of lagman (plain noodles and spiced vegetables mixed with mutton or beef) can be fried together, served one on top of the other, or served separately. **Shashlik** (shish kebabs) can be made of beef, mutton, or pork and are normally served with fresh onions, vinegar and bread\n\nAlmost all Kyrgyz meals are accompanied by tea (either green or black) and a circular loaf of bread known as a lepeshka. The bread is traditionally torn apart for everyone by one person at the table. In the south of Kyrgyzstan, this duty is reserved for men, but in the north it is more frequently performed by women. Similarly, tea in the north is usually poured by women, while in the south it is usually poured by men.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk023", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Eat", "text": "At the end of a meal, Kyrgyz will in some cases perform a prayer. Sometimes some words are said, but more often the prayer takes the form of a perfunctory swipe of the hands over the face. Follow the lead of your host or hostess to avoid making any cultural missteps.\n\nIn almost any restaurant/teahouse in Kyrgyzstan a 10-15% service fee will be added to the bill.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk024", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Laghman, salad, and green tea, a simple café meal\n\nDrinking is one of the great Kyrgyz social traditions. No matter if you are served tea, kymys, or vodka, if you have been invited to a Kyrgyz person's table to drink, you have been shown warm and friendly hospitality. Plan to sit awhile and drink your fill as you and your host attempt to learn about each other.\n\n### Drinking tea\n\nWhen offered tea, you might be asked how strong you want it. Traditionally, Kyrgyz tea is brewed strong in a small pot and mixed with boiling hot water to your desired taste. If you want light tea, say 'jengil chai'. If you want your tea strong and red, 'kyzyl chai'. You might notice that they don't fill the tea cup all the way. This is so that they can be hospitable and serve you lots of tea. To ask for more tea, 'Daga chai, beringizchi' (Please give tea again). Your host will happily serve you tea until you burst. So once you've truly had your fill and don't want to drink any more, cover your cup and say, 'Ichtym' (I've drunk). Your host will offer a few more times (and sometimes will pout if you say no), this is to make sure that you are truly satisfied. Once everyone at table has finished drinking tea, it is time to say, 'Omen', and hold your hands out palms up and then brush the open palms down your face.\n\nRestaurants and cafés give free refills of hot water if you want to drain your tea bag once more. You usually pay per tea bag.\n\n### Vodka", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk025", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Drink", "text": "When entering a local shop, you might goggle at the amount of vodka on display. Introduced by the Russians, vodka has brought much joy and sorrow to the Kyrgyz over the years. Most vodka for sale is made in Kyrgyzstan and can provide one of the worst hangovers known, mainly if you stupidly buy one of the cheaper ones. But for approx. €2 you can have good Kyrgyz vodka, e.g. Ak-sai. Some experienced vodka drinkers say that this is because foreigners don't know how to properly drink vodka. To drink vodka in the right way, you need to have zakuskas (Russian for the meal you eat with vodka). This can consist of anything from simple loaves of bread to full spreads of delicious appetizers. Quite common are sour or fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and meat.\n\nFirst, find someone to drink with. Second, choose your vodka: the more you spend, the less painful your hangover. Third, choose your zakuska, something salty, dried, or fatty. This is so that the vodka is either absorbed by the food or repelled by the fat. Fourth, open your bottle... but be careful, once you open it you must drink it all (a good vodka bottle doesn't have a cap that can be replaced). Now, pour your shots. Fifth, make a toast: toast your friends, toast their futures, toast their sheep, toast their cars. Sixth, drink! Now chase it with a zakuska and repeat until you can't see the bottle or it is empty.\n\nIf you are drinking with locals it's not a problem to skip a round. They would just pour you a symbolic drop and when they are clinking glasses you have to use your right hand and slap sparing partners' glasses slightly instead of your glass.\n\n### Traditional drinks", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk026", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumbnail|A bottle and glass of kumys\nThe Kyrgyz for generations have made their own variety of beverages. At first, these drinks might seem a bit strange, but after a few tries they become quite tasty. Most are mildly alcoholic, but this is just a by-product from their fermentation processes.\n\nIn the winter, Kyrgyz wives brew up *bozo*, a brew made of millet. Best served at room temperature, this drink has a taste somewhere between yogurt and beer. On cold winter days, when you are snowed in, five or six cups gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.\n\nIn the spring, it is time to make either *jarma* or *maxim*. Jarma, a wheat based brew, has a yeasty beerlike quality but with a gritty finish (it is made from whole grains after all). Maxim, a combination of corn and wheat, has a very sharp and zesty taste. It is best served ice cold and is a great pick me up on hot days.\n\nSummer sees yurts lining the main street selling *kumys* (Кумыс), fermented mares milk. Ladled out of barrels brought down from the mountains, this traditional drink is one of more difficult to get used to. It has a very strong and pungent foretaste and a smoky finish. Kumys starts off as fresh horses milk (known as samal), the samal is then mixed with a starter made from last year's kumys and heated in a pot. The mixture is brought to just before boiling and then poured into a horse's stomach to ferment for a period. A local grass called 'chi' is then roasted over a fire and cut into small pieces. Once the milk is finished fermenting, the roasted chi and milk are mixed in a barrel and will keep for the summer if kept cool.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk027", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Drink", "text": "*Tang* is another drink thought to be useful for the health and good for hangovers. It is made from gassed spring water that is mixed with a salted creamy yogurt called *souzmu*.\n\n### Other drinks\n\nKyrgyz have their own cognac distiller, which produces excellent, albeit highly sweet cognac, with the preferred brand being \"Kyrgyzstan Cognac\", which the locals sometimes call *Nashe Cognac*, meaning \"our cognac\".\n\nYou can also find an excellent selection of not so excellent local and imported beers as many Kyrgyz have been taking to drinking beer versus harder spirits. Locally produced beers include Arpa, Nashe Pivo and Karabalta. Arpa is highly recommended by beer connoisseurs. While being considered a common person's beer, its style is somewhat similar to Pale Ale (although less hoppy than IPA). As Kyrgyz prefer more vodka than beer (half litre of each costs the same), beer remains in tubes for longer time, and regular cleaning is uncommon, so bottled beers are better, except their strange habit to pour all the beer into the glass at once.\n\nThere are also a multitude of bottled waters (carbonated or still) from various regions of the country. Especially popular with southerners is the slightly saline \"Jalalabad Water\".", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk028", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|300px|A nicer guesthouse\nMany private citizens rent out their **flats** to foreigners and a fairly luxurious flat could be agreed for quite low price a week. Noting that the average salary is US$200-300 in 2014, now it could twice as big, you may think you are paying excessively. Look for cable TV, toilet and bath and clean quarters. More adventurous visitors may wish to stay in a \"yurta,\" for example in Bishkek it costs from US$8 a night in \"yurtadorm\". It is not that special to stay in a **yurt** in Bishkek, but it can be more interesting to do so in more rural areas. These are boiled wool tents used by nomads. Some tourist agencies in Bishkek will arrange this sort of stay, but be prepared to truly live the lifestyle of the nomad which includes culinary delicacies which may seem foreign to the western palette.\n\nFor those wishing to have **home stays** arranged in advance there with the Community Based Tourism (CBT). They can organize home stays in most cities and villages in Kyrgyzstan. They can also arrange yurt stays and trekking. While many such organizations keep the majority of payment for themselves, CBT Kyrgyzstan claims that 80–90% of payment will go to your host family. Amenities will vary between homes and locals, but overall some great travel experiences can be had such as, being invited to an impromptu goat feast, or enjoying fermented mare's milk with nomads.\n\n**Camping** is possible virtually everywhere and anywhere. Just make sure to stay away far enough from any settlement or village, otherwise you will not get a good night's sleep due to the constantly barking dogs. It is also possible to put up tents at many yurts for a few som, where you sometimes have a shower and mostly a toilet. Also, they will be happy to prepare meals and dinner for you. If you want to camp wild but stick to the proven ones, checkout OpenStreetMap which has many camp sites for Kyrgyzstan in its database.\n\n**Hostels** are beginning to open in the country, but many are still overpriced for what they are and might not meet your expectations. Of course, **hotels** can be found in most cities. Their comfort though can vary widely, especially where there are not many tourists, and you might be confronted with a 1-star Soviet \"luxury\" room with missing toilet seats and cheap Chinese synthetic and coloured bed covers.\n\nIf you intend to couchsurf, be aware many Kyrgyz are unaware what **Couchsurfing** is and may expect you to pay (why would a rich foreigner get anything for free?). Don't assume, ask.", "word_count": 436}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk029", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Learn", "text": "For those who are interested in learning Kyrgyz or Russian languages, there are universities you can go and there is a private school called the London School. The London School in Bishkek offers reasonably priced individual lessons for about US$4/hour and home stay/cultural programmes.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk030", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Work", "text": "Kyrgyzstan's greatest export is its people departing for Russia, Kazakhstan, and even Europe for better opportunities. There are few opportunities for foreigners, except with development organizations, that generally hire off-shore. There are also few opportunities to teach European languages, as many Kyrgyz that studied abroad have returned with near fluency and will charge much less than you.\n\nIf you wish to volunteer, there is a very active and diverse NGO community that would appreciate your assistance.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk031", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|300px|National Horse Games, Lenin Peak\nKyrgyzstan is in general a safe country for tourists. However, petty street crime, such as pickpocketing or muggings, has increased over the past decade as of 2022, especially at night. It is recommended that you do not walk around at night alone, especially in downtown areas of Bishkek.\n\nFights and assaults generally only focus around **nightclubs** and bars, just as in any other large city. There is to date no indication that Bishkek is particularly dangerous to foreigners. As for other cities in the Kyrgyz Republic, there is little evidence.\n\n**Corruption** is a serious issue in Kyrgyzstan, and the locals are ultimately convinced that the police are not to be trusted. In the past there have been occasional reports of corrupt policemen searching tourists' bags in order to steal money. These incidents should be reported to the embassy. Since citizens of many countries do not need a visa anymore, tourists cannot legally be bothered by corrupt policemen stating that something is wrong with their visa or registration.\n\n**Bride kidnappings**, or Ala Kachuu, are a common and traditional practice in Kyrgyzstan's countryside, whereby a woman is kidnapped and forced to get married. In 2007, the American Embassy reported that two American women were bride kidnapped in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan.\n\nThe **political situation** can deteriorate from time to time with mass protests and even stand-off with weapons by former presidents. It is best to be up to date about the current situation and avoid being near any such tensions, especially in Bishkek. Also, near Tajikistan there are some territorial struggles where parts of Tajikistan lie within the Kyrgys territory (see map), sometimes causing armed conflict between the two countries, especially around those regions (southwest of Osh) — best to also avoid these minor regions.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk032", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|A village drug store in [[Tamchy]]\nYour biggest risk in Kyrgyzstan are car wrecks and accidents while crossing the street, or falling into a hole in the sidewalk.\n\nYou should also exercise caution around **stray animals** and avoid approaching dogs. If dogs get too close, (pretend to) pick up a rock—most will understand this gesture and shy away. Please read the general article on Aggressive dogs how to handle situations correctly.\n\n**Healthcare** in Kyrgyzstan is generally of low quality, and treatment is not up to Western standards even at private clinics. Kyrgyz people who can afford it will seek treatment in Russia (or in Western Europe), rather than Kyrgyzstan, for most procedures. If you need treatment, your best chance is to evacuate to a larger country with better facilities and medical staff. It is highly recommended that you obtain travel insurance that covers medical costs and the costs of emergency evacuation before traveling to Kyrgyzstan.\n\nFood and **drinking water** safety vary substantially by region. Water is mostly potable, especially in the mountains where it comes from clean rivers—just ask the locals.\n\nNote that in some villages they don't have **electricity** all the day. Therefore restaurants there might serve you quick-heated, pre-cooked meals or the meat was not stored in a fridge before it was prepared. The latter can cause food poisoning or parasite-borne illnesses because they don't always cook the meat long enough. Therefore try to eat only meals that were prepared the same day.\n\nKyrgyz claim the national drink, Kumys, is extremely healthy and will cure you of innumerable ailments. However, it is not recommended you rely on it to cure you of anything.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk033", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Cope", "text": "**Tourism**: More and more locals cater for tourists with horse treks, yurt sleeping, organized tours, etc. But it needs to be doubted whether this is actually authentic Kyrgyzstan, or just for tourists' provided convenience. If you are looking for the true nature and feel of this country, putting down €100 for a 1-2-day tour will not get you closer to this goal. Kyrgyzstan is a poor country, and the more money you pay, the less authentic your experience will be.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk034", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Western norms of respect are standard. Though nominally a Muslim country the Kyrgyz people are highly westernized. No special dress codes are in effect. Although standards of dress in Bishkek are Western and often revealing, in the south of the country women should dress more conservatively or risk attracting unwanted male attention. Evenings can be charged as alcohol intoxication can be quite prevalent at this time. Proceed with caution.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "kyrgyzstan::chunk035", "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan", "section": "Connect", "text": "See the *Connect* section of the Bishkek article.", "word_count": 8}
diff --git a/corpus/kyrgyzstan/metadata.json b/corpus/kyrgyzstan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..efb1d3b4d7192e18c95bd06125ed46656b6a97bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/kyrgyzstan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "kyrgyzstan",
+ "title": "Kyrgyzstan",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 6,
+ 9
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 8534,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 36,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/ladakh/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/ladakh/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7c12c211330737212db5bebcbff899d8896a7e4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ladakh/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk000", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ladakh** is a mountainous region in South Asia. Due to its geographical and cultural similarity with Tibet, Ladakh is sometimes described as \"Little Tibet\". However, unlike Tibet, only a bit over half of the population are Buddhists, with the rest Muslims. The settled population lives between 2,700 m and 4,500 m, and in nomadic encampments even higher.\n\nThe Aksai Chin Plateau and Trans Karakoram Tract is claimed by India as part of Ladakh, but administered by China as part of Xinjiang.\n\nLadakh was a part of the union territory Jammu and Kashmir; however, since 2019, it is its own union territory.\n\nOne branch of the ancient Silk Road ran through Ladakh and was a fairly important trade route at one time, for example when Marco Polo crossed it. A pass leads north from Leh to Khotan in what is now Xinjiang. From Leh there are several routes south; the main one involved following the Indus down to Srinagar, and in antiquity to Taxila.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk001", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Cities", "text": "— main capital of Ladakh a medium-sized town, very picturesque, an excellent base for exploring Ladakh, good guest houses and restaurants\n\n — a small village with a gompa or Buddhist monastic complex, 4 km off the road between Kargil and Leh\n\n — a tourist village with many homestays famous for its nearby hot springs.\n\n — the main town in Nubra Valley, famous for its apricot plantations and a 350 year-old monastery. \n\n — a small village in the far east of Ladakh, known as the \"Dark Sky Reserve\" of India and one of the most-visited sites of astronomy. The clear sky and zero light pollution in Hanle provide a crystal-clear view of the universe, thus making it a good destination for astronomy in India.\n\n — a tourist village that owes its growth to the nearby sand dunes. The gardens of the village are filled with delicious apricot and apple trees, and lots of green vegetable fields.\n\n — secondary capital of Ladakh, key for access to Zanskar area, and a necessary stop on the way from Leh to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley\n\n — the largest village southeast of Ladakh at the banks of Tso Moriri.\n\n — a small village with a Buddhist gompa, on the road between Kargil and Leh", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk002", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Frozen Nerak Falls, Zanskar River, February 2013\n — If you thought Leh was impressive, head to Nubra Valley, Diskit, Hundar and Turkut, one of the greenest part of the cold desert region of Ladakh, and the only place in India where Bactrian Camels are found. Memories of the old trade routes connecting India with Central Asia.\n\n — A very popular 64 km long soda lake of picturesque colours situated between India and China.\n\n — An impressive lake region close to the border with China and a convenient side tour from the Leh-Manali Highway.\n\n - Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary\n\n - Hemis National Park\n\n — One of the remotest areas in Ladakh, only accessible through high passes.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk003", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|A yak in the Markha Valley of Ladakh\n\n### History\n\nLadakh’s history is inseparable from its dramatic geography. For thousands of years, its high‑altitude valleys and passes formed a natural bridge between the cultures of **Tibet, Central Asia, Kashmir, and the Indian plains**. Archaeological finds—including petroglyphs, burial sites, and early settlements—suggest human presence as far back as the Neolithic period. These early inhabitants adapted to the harsh climate through pastoralism, cultivating hardy crops like barley, and developing trade networks that would eventually place Ladakh on some of Asia’s most important caravan routes.\n\nBy the first millennium CE, Ladakh had become a thriving corridor for merchants, monks, and travellers moving between the Silk Route cities of **Yarkand, Kashgar, Khotan**, and the Buddhist centres of **Tibet and Kashmir**. Caravans carried pashmina wool, salt, turquoise, spices, and textiles across the region’s high passes. These exchanges brought not only wealth but also religious and artistic influences that shaped Ladakh’s emerging identity. Buddhism spread widely during this period, and early monasteries began to appear, laying the foundation for the region’s deep spiritual traditions.\n\nFrom the 9th century onward, Ladakh developed into a distinct Himalayan kingdom with strong cultural ties to Tibet. Tibetan settlers, scholars, and artisans played a major role in shaping local society, and the region adopted Tibetan script, architecture, and monastic traditions. Over time, Ladakh became known as **“Little Tibet”**, a reflection of its close cultural and religious affinity with the Tibetan world. Monasteries such as **Alchi**, **Lamayuru**, **Hemis**, and **Thiksey** became centres of learning, preserving Buddhist philosophy, art, and ritual practices. The murals and sculptures at Alchi, dating back nearly a thousand years, remain among the finest examples of Indo‑Tibetan art.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk004", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Understand", "text": "Ladakh reached the height of its political power under the **Namgyal dynasty**, which rose to prominence in the 15th century. The Namgyal kings expanded their territory, strengthened trade links, and built iconic structures such as **Leh Palace**, inspired by the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and **Stok Palace**, which still houses the royal family. They also patronized the arts, commissioning monasteries, stupas, and public works that shaped the region’s cultural landscape. Despite its isolation, Ladakh was far from cut off; it maintained diplomatic and commercial ties with Tibet, Kashmir, Baltistan, and Central Asia, acting as a crossroads of cultures.\n\nThe kingdom’s strategic location, however, also made it vulnerable to conflict. Ladakh faced invasions from neighbouring Himalayan states and occasional interventions from Tibet and Central Asian powers. In the mid‑19th century, after a series of regional conflicts, Ladakh was incorporated into the princely state of **Jammu and Kashmir** under the Dogra rulers. Although political control shifted, Ladakh retained considerable cultural autonomy, and its monasteries, trade routes, and traditional lifestyles continued largely unchanged. The Dogra period also brought new administrative structures and increased contact with the wider Indian subcontinent.\n\nAfter India gained independence in 1947, Ladakh became part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its high‑altitude terrain and proximity to international borders made it strategically important, and the region saw periods of military activity in the decades that followed. Despite these challenges, Ladakh’s cultural traditions remained resilient, with its monasteries, festivals, and village communities preserving a way of life that had evolved over centuries.\n\nA major administrative change came in **2019**, when Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and established as a **Union Territory**. This marked a new chapter in its governance and development, bringing increased national attention and investment while also raising discussions about cultural preservation and environmental sustainability.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk005", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Geography and climate\n\nLadakh is one of the highest inhabited regions on Earth, shaped by the stark beauty of the Himalayas and the vast, windswept expanses of the **Tibetan Plateau**. Much of the territory lies above 3,000 metres, with several passes rising well over 5,000 metres. The landscape is dominated by rugged mountains, deep valleys, and broad, barren plateaus carved by ancient glaciers and the powerful forces of wind and erosion. **The Indus River** flows through the heart of Ladakh, creating a narrow but fertile corridor where most settlements are located. Away from the riverbanks, the terrain becomes increasingly arid, with dramatic rock formations, **high‑altitude deserts**, and isolated oases that support small villages and monasteries.\n\nDespite its harsh environment, Ladakh supports a surprising variety of flora. Vegetation is sparse at higher elevations, but hardy species such as **seabuckthorn, wild roses, poplars, and willows** thrive along river valleys and irrigated fields. In summer, the short growing season brings bursts of colour to the landscape, with wildflowers carpeting alpine meadows and barley fields turning golden under the clear mountain sun. Traditional agriculture relies on crops that can withstand the altitude and cold, including barley, buckwheat, peas, and hardy vegetables grown in terraced fields.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk006", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Understand", "text": "The fauna of Ladakh is equally remarkable, adapted to survive in extreme conditions. The region is home to iconic high‑altitude species such as the snow leopard, **Himalayan ibex, blue sheep (bharal), and Tibetan wild ass (kiang)**. Smaller mammals like **marmots and pikas** are commonly seen near villages and trekking routes. Birdlife is abundant in summer, when migratory species arrive to breed in the wetlands and lakes. **Black‑necked cranes, bar‑headed geese, golden eagles, and lammergeiers** are among the notable species that attract wildlife enthusiasts. The high‑altitude **lakes**, including Pangong and Tso Moriri, serve as important habitats for both resident and migratory birds.\n\nLadakh’s climate is shaped by its altitude and its position in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. The region receives very little rainfall, making it one of the driest parts of India. **Summers** are short but pleasant, with warm days, cool nights, and clear skies that offer excellent visibility for trekking and sightseeing. **Winters**, however, are long and extremely cold, with temperatures in many areas dropping far below freezing. Snowfall is common at higher elevations, and many remote villages become inaccessible for months at a time. The dramatic temperature swings, intense sunlight, and thin air are characteristic features of Ladakh’s climate, and travellers often need time to acclimatize to the altitude.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk007", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Talk", "text": "The main language of Ladakh is **Ladakhi**, a Tibetan dialect, with written Ladakhi being the same as Tibetan. Tibetans can learn Ladakhi easily but Tibetan is difficult to speak for Ladakhis. Spoken Ladakhi is closer to the Tibetan spoken in Western Tibet. The Ladakhi language is a shared culture platform which brings the Muslims and Buddhists together as one people of the union territory.\n\nLadakhis usually know Hindi and often English, but in villages without road access, neither can be expected. A high-quality Ladakhi phrasebook, *Getting Started in Ladakhi*, by Melong Publications, is available in Leh and well worth getting. Not only will any attempts you make to speak the language be appreciated, they will be useful.\n\n**Julley** is the most commonly used word for greeting, saying bye and thank you.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk008", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Get in", "text": "Since most people will head towards Leh, find all the information on how to get in there.\n\n### By road\n\nBy bus, by taxi, by motorbike, or by hitch-hiking are the options by road.\n\n### By plane\n\nLeh's **Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport** () has at least 4-6 connections from Delhi into Ladakh daily.\n\n### On foot\n\nHiking in might be possible via Zanskar, and there is the 100-km trail from Kibber (Spiti Valley) to Karzok (at Tso Moriri).", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk009", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Non-Ladakhi visitors will need a permit to visit remote areas close to the Chinese or Pakistani border, like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Tso Moriri. Indians can apply for these online. For non-Indians these permits are easily issued via any of the many travel agencies in Leh, which might force you to also book a tour with them, or directly via the DC aka Magistrate Office in Leh. You will need your passport and ₹600 (Sept 2023)—passport copies needed in the past were done on the fly by the DC office in 2023. With the DC aka Magistrate Office in Leh, you will have to prepare a written application towards the Magistrate pointing out all intended destinations, but they will hand you other examples to create this application. It is a good idea to put as many destinations as possible onto the application, just in case you decide to stay longer or visit more sites—the permit is valid for 14 days from the intended date of entry into these regions. Before setting off, prepare a few photocopies of the permit, as the checkpoints might ask you to deposit a photocopy with them, especially when applying for several detinations.\n\nAs of 2023, the permit was not check or demanded when moving around on local transport like local buses and when hitchhiking. You might check for the check-posts on various online maps to find out if they are on your route. It is expected that current access limitations are relaxed in the coming years, due to high influx of tourists in the last couple of years and the general opening of the region to the rest of India.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk010", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Ladakh Highway No. 3\nFor activities like **hiking** and **cycling** see below. In case you go **by (rental) car**, also read the advices under .\n\n### By bus\n\nLadakhi buses run from Leh to the surrounding villages. They are often overcrowded and generally disorganised and poorly run. Daily buses or mini buses run to Alchi, Basgo, Dha-Hanu, Likir, Nimmu, and Saspul; twice daily to Chemray, Hemis, Matho, Stok, and Tak Tok; hourly or more often to Choglamsar, Phyang, Shey, Spituk, Stakna, Thiksay.\n\n### By thumb\n\nHitch-hiking in Ladakh is considerably easy, especially where there is a lot of local traffic, i.e. between non-tourist villages. (Forget about hitchhiking between Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake—there run mostly tourist vehicles that \"cannot\" take you along for the ride, especially if the rest are paying passengers.) Also, Ladakhi people are very friendly and have no issues taking people on a ride, especially since one of the mottos of the Dalai Lama is: *You have to start giving first and expect absolutely nothing.* You will even encounter Ladakhi women inviting you for a ride—a much different situation to the rest of India.\n\nFrom Leh it is best to move out of the city a little first by local bus or to walk a little towards one of the main roads leaving the city before trying to catch a ride, since there is a lot of local traffic that remains within Leh.\n\nAlso see India for more general information and which vehicles to look out for.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk011", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Trucks** often stop for hitchhikers and expected a payment of about half the bus fare, bargaining may be necessary. For shorter distances they will also take you for free. They are slower than the buses and sometimes stop for long periods to unload cargo, especially on the Leh-Manali and Leh-Srinagar highways. They are however mostly relevant for getting into or out of Ladakh, not so much for getting around—but a ride is a ride, right?\n\n### By taxi\n\nThere are loads of taxis that will take you to any of the surrounding sights. While they are much faster and more comfortable than public transport, their rates are fairly steep compared to elsewhere in India.\n\n### By motorcycle\n\nExploring the region by motorbike seems to be the new trend among the emerging Indian middle class. Most will book an organised tour with many bikes going at once, exploring the region's highlights, followed by a technical support car and potentially a bus for family members not riding a bike. However, you can also rent a motorbike and explore the region on your own.\n \nIn Leh there are a number of shops that will rent motorbikes, mostly the Royal Enfield, still made in India today (350 and 500 cc model). Rentals are fairly cheap, and can be good way to travel around and far cheaper than local taxis. Check your rented bike before you leave so that you don't find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk012", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Things to note**:\n Carry enough spares and all the required tools.\n Try to learn basic vehicle maintenance before you start on the trip.\n Carry spare fuel. (There is a 380 km stretch on the Leh–Manali highway that has no petrol pumps.)\n You will need to get permits to visit certain places (for example, Khardung La).\n In some sections of the journey the roads are in a bad condition and you will have to handle gravel or even severe, but the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has done a good job, with whatever little resources that are available, in making the difficult terrain accessible to vehicular traffic.\n Though there are many mechanics in Leh who deal with many bikes, the availability of spares is limited. So before leaving be sure to get your bike serviced (get all cables checked/ changed, set chain, get oil topped up, brakes inspected etc.) and also carry all necessary spares (cables, chain link, bulbs etc.)\n Make sure to carry the originals of all your bike's documents.\n Especially on early summer, glaciers tend to melt as the day progresses and flow across roads at some places. Be sure to plan to reach and cross these glacier melts, commonly known as Nalas (for example Pagal nala, Khooni nala, Whisky nala, Brandy nala etc.), during the earlier part of the day, when the flow is low and the depth of the water is still easily passable.\n When you encounter a military convoy, always pull over and let them pass. It might be a good idea to find out from the locals as to when the convoy goes uphill and downhill and try to time your trip accordingly.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk013", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|330px|Wall painting of Chanme Zang, one of the four Cardinal Kings, at Lamayuru Monastery\nThe main tourist sites relate to Tibetan Buddhism, mainly gompas (Buddhist monasteries), and to the stunning landscape. Ladakh is not only home to some of the most beautiful and serene monasteries you will ever see, but it also a land of rich natural beauty: and it is this natural beauty that is impressive because it is a barren beauty. Many find themselves at loss to understand how something so barren can yet be so beautiful. Be respectful, these are holy places with monks in most of them.\n\nMany of the monasteries in the area can be visited from Leh, including the impressive Thiksey monastery. Also, many of the villages in the area are worth a visit, including some close to Leh and some in Nubra Valley or Zanskar.\n\nPopular landscapes include the Moon-land-view in the area around Lamayuru on the Leh-Kargil highway, and Pangong Lake which is a 64 km long soda lake of an attractive colour.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk014", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "**Volunteering** – There are numerous NGOs in Ladakh, most notably 17000 ft Foundation which has a very well structured Voluntourism Program where you can read stories and help students of remote schools with learning\n**Meditate** – There is a Buddhist meditation centre in Choglamsar (Vipassana), with an office in Leh, that offers meditation courses and retreats for various levels of experience.\n**Festivals** – In late June and early July, the whole Ladakh region comes alive with festivals. Some are held at the local cricket and polo club in Leh, while others are held at the monasteries. Reserve a place well in advance as they get very crowded. Some of the festivals are only held every 12 years, (such as one at Hemis) and at that time the monastery will display its greatest treasure, such as a huge *thangka* (a religious icon painted or embroidered on cloth).\n **Hot springs** – There are at least 4 hot spring areas in Ladakh; Panamik (good for bath), Chumathang (good for bath), Puga (good for pictures), and Demchock (right at the Chinese border).\n\n### Itinerares\n\nNote that many of the places near the Pakistani and Chinese border require a permit.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk015", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "**Leh-K(h)aru-Chang La-Tangtse-Pangong Lake** and back – This is a popular trip to Pangong Lake and can be done by taxi or motorbike. Most people do it as a day trip starting early in the morning and come back by the evening. However, there is accommodation near the lake in Lukung & Spangmik to enjoy this place at a slower pace. Camping is also possible.\n **Leh-Khardung La-Nubra Valley** – This is another popular trip. Nubra Valley is the second favourite to tourists as a trip from Leh. Some people return directly from Khardung La (5,300 m), which is (falsely) claimed to be the highest motorable pass in the world. It provides excellent views of Ladakh Range as well as Karakoram Range on the other side. Accommodation is available along the way and countless all over Nubra Valley.\n **Leh-Lamayuru-Leh** – This is an easier drive along Indus river towards Kargil. One can also see the confluence of Indus and Zanskar on the way. Lamayuru is a beautiful place and is home to the oldest monastery and one of the most important ones in Ladakh. One can stay in the monastery or in the surrounding village.\n **Leh-Upshi-Tso Kar-Tso Moriri** – This is another trip, which covers two picturesque lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri, besides two smaller ones and two hot springs. There is accommodation available in Korzok (Tso Moriri), Thukje (Tso Kar) and Chumathang. Camping near Tso Moriri is apparently not allowed.\n **Various monasteries around Leh** – There are 4 or 5 big monasteries around Leh and can be covered in one day. The most important are Thiksey, Phyang, Spituk, Stok and Shey.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk016", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "Some tour operators will organise trips that cover all three of the main hotspots in Ladakh, but you can also do them on your own; by bus and thumb, by motorbike or on foot:\n **Leh - Nubra Valley - Pangong Lake - Tso Moriri and Tso Kar** – It would take you approximately one week if you have your own transport, and 1½ weeks if hitch-hiking. See the according articles for more information.\n\n### Cycling\n\nThe scenery is magnificent viewed at the pace of a bicycle, however one would need to be well prepared with full camping equipment if going into more remote places. However, there are many homestays and guesthouses all over Ladakh. It is also important to identify the road conditions, since you don't want to cycle on gravel or worse for long. OsmAnd has the ability to display the surface of the road, which would help you to better plan your trip.\n\nAlso, consider that drivers in India are reckless and going along a highly trafficked road can spoil all the fun. However, cycling in a remote place like Pangong Lake or the Changthang Western Lakes can be rewarding.\n\nIn addition to the paved roads there are some trekking routes that are possible to ride a lightly loaded, sturdy mountain bike on, perhaps hiring a horse and handler to take your baggage. Padam to Darcha, via Shingo La (pass) would be a good route for this, though you would still need to push your bike over the pass itself. Ask trekkers in Ladakh for more options.\n\n### Trekking", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk017", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Tso Kar\nLadakh is an excellent trekking area for experienced trekkers. For the traveler with a number of months, it is possible to **trek** from one end of Ladakh to the other, or even from places in Himachal Pradesh. The large number of trails and the limited number of roads allows you to string together routes that have road access often enough to restock supplies, but almost entirely avoid walking on motor roads. The infrastructure is nowhere near as developed as in Nepal, necessitating greater preparedness on the part of the trekker.\n\nMost trekkers go with a guide and some pack horses, which is easy to organise and, if arranged in Leh, quite affordable. You can also trek independently, but this should not be undertaken lightly and without much consultation with locals, especially when on your own. People do go missing and die on these trails.\n\n#### Trails\n\n- Kang Yatze\n\n- Parang La Trek\n\n- The Baby Trek\n\n- [[Markha Valley Trek]]\n\n- [[Zanskar#Q8066266|The Chadar Trek]]\n\n#### Maps\n\nThe best quality trekking maps are nowhere near the quality of maps covering trekking areas of Europe or North America. Note that high-quality maps of the border regions of India/Pakistan/China are illegal in India for security reasons, and your map may be confiscated if you allow security personnel to see it (despite very high quality maps of Indian J&K and the LoC being available from the Survey of Pakistan in Islamabad).\n\nFor reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. These apps support many special features like hillshades, elevation lines, satellite pictures, route estimation, and so on; all necessary when trekking in remote areas—read more here.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk018", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "To identify and (GPS) export official hiking trails within Ladakh, head over to Waymarked Trails. These are the same (OpenStreetMap) trails that you will be able to identify with the help of OsmAnd and Mapy.cz. However, they come with no information on trail status and frequency of use whatsoever. Hence, you might be better off using a commercial service like Wikiloc to identify adequate and manageable trails with rating and status information—after registering for free, you should be able to (GPS) export your chosen trails for free and import them into OsmAnd, Mapy.cz, or any other map and navigation app.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk019", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Do", "text": "In the past this travel guide recommended the following maps for trekking, but they might not be of any better use than the latter app approach:\n **Survey of India** – They produce a very out of date (early 1980s) trekking map of J&K; it's cheap, and could be useful for planning a route with an experienced guide.\n **US Army Map Service** (1:250,000) – Produces out-of-date (1950s and 60s) topographic maps of the whole of India, easily available on the Internet.\n **Soviet Military Topographic Maps** (1:200,000 & 1:100,000) – Maps produced in the 1970s and 1980s which are now easily available on the internet but are expensive. They provide good information but all the labels are in Cyrillic script.\n **Artou** (1:300,000) – Based on satellite imagery. In the early 2000s the best available, it is satisfactory for pre-trek route planning, but not good for navigation. A pirated print version has been available in Leh.\n **Trekking Map of Ladakh** (1:600,000) – By Sonam Tsetan, it is very accurate for what it shows: the trails, village names, and water courses. It lacks topography but has the most accurate place names of all the maps, making it a very useful planning tool. It's available in Leh for about ₹200.\n **Leomann** (1:200,000) – It may have better scale than the Artou, but it contains less information and is less accurate; however, the series does cover a lot more of Ladakh and elsewhere in the Himalayas.\n **Ladakh Zanskar Trekking Map Series** (1:150,000) – By Editions Olizane, it is an excellent topographic map, with lots of detail.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk020", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nContrary to the rest of India, in Ladakh restaurants and shops generally seem to have change for larger notes—it may be due to the higher security of this area or the mentality of Ladakhi people.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk021", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Eat", "text": "Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being:\n **Momos** – Another favorite of the Ladakhis. While here, make sure to relish a steamy plate of momos with spicy chutney.\n\n **Thukpa** – Ladakh's staple food and can be availed very easily. It is a noodle soup dish served with pieces of mutton and boiled vegetables. Furthermore, it is served with a flavored chutney.\n\n **Chowmein** – Due to the closeness to China, this pasta dish can be found everywhere; *veg*, *egg* or *mutton*.\n\n **Tsampa** (Ladakhi: *ngamphe*) – Roasted barley flour, which is edible without cooking and therefore it makes useful, if dull, trekking food. Sometimes prepared with hot salt tea and hard cheese added. \n\n **Skyu** – A heavy pasta dish with root vegetables.\n\n **Ladakhi Pulao** – Raw rice is cooked with mutton stock and seasonings. Further, it is layered with caramelized onions, carrots, and nuts. You might not get it on the streets but you can head to one of the restaurants for trying it.\n\n **Tigmo** – This is a vegetarian dish that one might consume as a meal or even a snack at any time of the day. It is a flavored stew with vegetables served with bread. However, even though it is a vegetarian dish, there is also a non-vegetarian version available.\n\nAs Ladakh moves toward a less sustainable, cash-based economy, imported Indian foods are becoming more important. You are likely to be served rice and dal (lentils) with veggies even in villages without road access, and it's standard in Leh.\n\nIn Leh you can taste a wide range of cuisines, which include north Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Italian and even Korean. Bakeries imitating Western bakeries are plentiful in Leh. As in other heavily touristed areas of the Himalaya, they often claim to be **German bakeries**, but their freshness is doubtable—just review the assortment from one to the other day and you will see that they barely sell anything.", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk022", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Tea** – traditionally made with strong black tea, butter and **salt**, and sometimes milk. It is mixed in a large churn and known as gurgur cha, due to the sound of mixing it. Similar to tea traditionally drunk elsewhere in Central Asia, it's more like soup than tea elsewhere; it can be refreshing and invigorating if you can get used to it.\nThere is often also just a plain black tea with salt version.\n **Chai** – Sweet tea (cha ngarmo) is common now, made Indian style with lots of milk and sugar.\n**Beer** (chang) – Traditionally made from barley; it has a lighter flavour than a Western-type, bottled beer.", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk023", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Ladakh is one of the safest parts of India, and the most basic precautions against petty theft are enough to keep you and your possessions safe. Most of the union territory is dotted with military cantonments every 50-80 km, but mainly because of its strategic position on international border between India and China. The army plays a major part in rescue and aid efforts, and that is why you will be required to produce identification documents or written permission from local authorities before entering some remote places.\n\nPerhaps the biggest danger travellers face is altitude sickness; give your body enough time to acclimatise before going higher. Leh is above 3,500 m (over 11,000 feet) and other parts of Ladakh are higher yet. Wear protective clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, and sunscreen, especially if it gets very hot.\n\nBe cautious if you are driving on your own. Though roads are fine, the constant melting of snow tends to damage the road conditions. There are always a chances of landslides, so don’t venture at the edge of the road.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk024", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Acclimatisation\n\nThose arriving by air are strongly advised to rest for at least a few days and nights in order to adjust to the high altitude over 3,000 m before venturing to higher altitudes. See article on altitude sickness.\n\nIf you feel breathlessness after some exercise, scared of height or any heart problem then avoid visiting Leh. But if you are still desperate to be in Leh then drink lots of water or eat in frequent times while in this beautiful place. Be extra careful while visiting Leh in winter. It is stunningly beautiful but extreme cold weather means a little discomfort for visitors.\n\nThis also means not heading directly for the tent camps at Sarchu (4,300 m) or Pang (4,500 m) from Manali, i.e. no longer than Darcha the first night. Consider visiting Alchi first since it is lower than Leh.\n\nAll overnight stays cannot be planned—in September 2008 the Air Force had to evacuate those with altitude sickness from Sarchu in after massive snowfall, and landslides are not uncommon. Not allowing your body to acclimatise can result in altitude sickness, which has only one cure: turning back. Stay a minimum of two nights after flying in before going higher, so as both to give your body time to acclimatise and to explore the city.\n\nIf you are travelling from Delhi to Leh by road, the route which enables better acclimatisation is via Shimla, and then towards Kinnaur and Spiti, which gives several acclimatisation nights between 2,000 to 3,000 m: Sarahan (2,134 m), Kalpa (2,800 m), Tabo (3,265 m). After Kaza (3,600 m) and the Kunzum La (4,550 m) the road connects with the Manali-Leh highway just north of the Rothang pass.\n\nDiamox is available over the counter in India which can help, with varying success, to speed up acclimatisation. Those that are allergic to sulfa medication can not use Diamox, and it can have side effects: this needs to be discussed with a doctor beforehand.", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk025", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Respect", "text": "Travellers to Ladakh usually find Ladakhis to be friendly and humble, especially in the Buddhist-majority areas. Equality between sexes doesn't seem to be an issue, and you will often see Ladakhi women on their own, in shops or restaurants—contrary to the rest of India.\n\n**The Ladakhis are not Kashmiris; they are their own ethnic group**. Referring to them as \"Kashmiris\" may irritate them, especially now that Ladakh is not part of Jammu and Kashmir anymore.\n\nMany Ladakhis express feelings of antipathy towards Kashmiris and Pakistanis and are generally supportive of their inclusion in India. They feel they were unjustly treated and discriminated against when Ladakh was a part of Jammu and Kashmir. \n\nDo not take photographs of the military installations in Ladakh or you will be in serious trouble.\n\n### Read\n\nLeh's many excellent bookshops offer a wide variety of books on Ladakh, Buddhism and Islamic history; general reading. They are worth visiting, and have many titles not available outside India. Some recommended titles on Ladakh are:\n\n *Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia*, by Janet Rizvi. An entirely enjoyable, meticulously researched overview of Ladakhi culture, history, economy and geography. Its precision and accuracy do not hinder its approachability and personalness.\n *Ancient Futures*, by Helena Norberg-Hodge. A passionate explanation of, and plea for, the preservation of the traditional values of Ladakh. Impressive and influential, despite its occasional lack of balance.\n\n### Handy help\n\nOfficial websites:\n Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh\n Leh District\n Kargil District", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "ladakh::chunk026", "doc_id": "ladakh", "section": "Go next", "text": "Many people will head to either of the two, depending on where they came from in the first place:\n Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar as the capital\n Himachal Pradesh with Manali as its first major stop", "word_count": 36}
diff --git a/corpus/ladakh/metadata.json b/corpus/ladakh/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..95bf4e9bfbeac16d3a7a2728f87c788979bf083f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ladakh/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "ladakh",
+ "title": "Ladakh",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ladakh",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Himalayan North"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Jammu and Kashmir",
+ "Srinagar",
+ "Himachal Pradesh",
+ "Manali"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5536,
+ "listing_count": 7,
+ "marker_count": 13,
+ "chunk_count": 27,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/lake-district-chile/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/lake-district-chile/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..22e2125dfb3517222986148efdc1bd57612d7c35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lake-district-chile/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk000", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Overview", "text": "right|thumb|250px|The centre of Pucon\n**Pucón** is a small touristy town in the middle of the southern lake district in Chile. Pucón is extremely popular with Chileans and foreigners for the beautiful views of Volcano Villarrica and for mountain-climbing. The night-life is quite active.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk001", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city center is a backpacker's Disneyland, filled with travel agencies offering a wide range of day trips. If you don't like it crowded, you'll be better off in the nearby town of Villarrica. January and February are the busiest months.\n\nThe climbing of Volcano Villarrica, which is the highest and most-active climbable volcano in South America, is highly commercialised. You must take a guided tour unless you are a professional climber with a certification. Tour prices sky-rocketed in the mid-2010s. The trail is easy, though. Local tour guides will admit that the only reason for these rules are to force tourists into expensive guided tours.\n\n - CONAF (Administration Parque National Villarica)", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk002", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\nBuses travel between Santiago and Pucón daily, many overnight. Tickets are scarce in summer, buy yours sufficiently ahead of your intended departure time.\n - Turbus\n\n - Jac\n\nYou can also take the bus from Valdivia, it takes 3 hr.\n\n### By plane\n\nPucón's airport operates only during summer (for regular flights); the flights from Santiago are expensive. The closest airport for the remainder of the year is Temuco, to which airlines do the flight in about one hour from Santiago or Puerto Montt. Temuco is about 1½ hours away by road.\n\n### By train\n\nTrains run to Temuco in summer (Dec-Feb), and only to Chillan at the rest of the year. Buses are better value.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving from Santiago takes approximately 8 hours and involves the passing of seven road tolls on the ruta 5, 1,600 pesos each. The road from the turnoff to Pucón is paved and in good shape.\n\nMainly taxis to places out of town; the town is small enough to walk. Cycling is easy as they have put in cycle lanes along the main road. There are plenty of collectivo buses too and small public buses.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk003", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "See", "text": "From Pucon's center there are stunning views of Volcan Villarrica, one of the most active volcanoes in Chile.", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk004", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|250px|Carburgua beach.\n - Climbing Volcano Villarrica\n\n - Climbing Volcano Quetrupillan\n\n - Huerquehue National Park\n\n - Huerquehue North Trail (green)\n\n - Eco Termas Rio Blanca\n\n - Termas San Sebastian\n\n- Thermal Springs Los Pozones\n\n **Skiing and snowboarding**. The skiing area on Villarrica is open May until the beginning of October. Rent equipment in Pucón, or on the drive up to the ski slope. The highlight of the resort is its amazing views over the lake. It has 4 chairs and 3 T-bar lifts. The resort area goes from 4,527 ft to 5,314 ft, making a total drop of approximately 800 feet. The backcountry possibilities of the resort are great: with the help of a local guide you can ski to the Villarrica Volcano's summit, 9200 feet above sea level. The volcano often has good snow conditions up until November and the duration of the climb and descent is approximately 9 hours, for advance skiers in good shape, but it's really worth the effort.\n **Golf**. In \"Peninsula\", a residencial area downtown, there is a well maintained golf course with views of the Villarrica volcano and the lake surrounding the course. The course is officially for members only.\n **Horse back riding**. This is a popular way to see the Mapuche settlements like Quelhue in the area. Tour agencies selling these tours are located all over the town. Check the conditions of the horses, as not all of them in good shape. Rides to \"Salto el Claro\" are in parts beside paved roads. Trustfull agencies are at Ecole and Politur.\n **Hike** past the waterfalls and gurgling brooks in the Huerquehue National Park. Doing this will enable you to get to know the strange Araucaria (monkey puzzle) tree, and other native vegetation such as Coigües and Lingues. The trails pass view points where you can while away the time namedropping volcanoes and Andean peaks. Bring food and water because you might want to stay the whole day.\n **White water rafting and kayaking** is a possibility in the glacier-fed Trancura River. Trancura Bajo offers third-degree rapids, good for beginners. Trancura Alto offers fourth-degree rapids and might require a little more courage. Tour agencies in the town will take you there.\n **Fishing**. Guided fly-fishing excursions are held on the tranquil Río Liucura and the more turbulent Río Trancura. Both rivers offer scenery and trout.\n Visit the **volcanic caves** at Villarrica Volcan.\n - Antilco Horse Farm\n\n - Jack Trout Fly Fishing\n\nthumb|250px|Río Trancura.\n - Rumbo Sur 360 Montañismo\n\n - Amity Tours\n\n### Tour prices\n\nSome official guided tour prices as of Mar 2018:\n Climbing Volcan Villarrica: US$130-165\n Rafting Alto (i.e. higher level): US$38-46\n Termas Geométricas: US$63\n Termas Los Pozones: US$38\n Parque National Huerquehue: US$74\n Canyoning: US$46", "word_count": 451}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk005", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\n - BancoEstado", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk006", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|250px|Caburgua waterfalls.\n - Ecole\n\n - La Maga\n\n - Pizza Cala\n\n - Restaurant Parque Antumalal\n\n - Viva Peru", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk007", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Mamas and Tapas Bar Restaurant", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk008", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Due to being extremely popular for its volcano, there do exist many accommodation options in Pucón and prices are considerably lower than elsewhere.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Gecko Hostel\n\n - Hostal El Refugio\n\n - Alma Nativa Hostel\n\n - Paradise Pucon Hostel\n\n### Mid-range and splurge\n\n - Cabañas Akubra Pucon\n\n - Gran Hotel Pucon\n\n - Hotel Antumalal\n\n - Hotel y Cabañas Kernayel\n\n - Portal Pucon", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "lake-district-chile::chunk009", "doc_id": "lake-district-chile", "section": "Go next", "text": "Should Pucon start to feel a bit too touristy, hop on a mini bus and make the 20 minute trip to the little city of Villarrica. It has a population of about 46,000 and escapes the tourist trappings of Pucon.\n\nHowever, most people will probably decide to head further to either Concepción or Valdivia.", "word_count": 54}
diff --git a/corpus/lake-district-chile/metadata.json b/corpus/lake-district-chile/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1c7776b0d91b5d16c886d453f52eb152477ef519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lake-district-chile/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lake-district-chile",
+ "title": "Pucon",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pucon",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Araucanía"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Villarrica",
+ "Concepción",
+ "Valdivia"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 963,
+ "listing_count": 30,
+ "marker_count": 7,
+ "chunk_count": 10,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/lalibela/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/lalibela/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2c45be84324fdb19a0c1439422cc0bfb061fcd3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lalibela/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk000", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Lalibela** is a rural town of 15,000 people in a stunning setting at an elevation of 2,600 m (8,500 ft) in the midst of the Lasta mountains in the eastern highlands of Northern Ethiopia. Its unique and remarkable monolithic churches hewn from living rock, most built more than 900 years ago, are one of Ethiopia's leading attractions and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk001", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Bet Giyorgis – one of 11 rock-hewn churches in Lalibela\nLalibela is a great little town to visit. Its complex of churches chiselled from pink volcanic rock have been called the \"eighth wonder of the world\". In addition, the wonderful year-round climate and exhilarating mountain views, combined with some of the finest lodgings outside of the capital, are reason to spend a few days soaking up the fine vistas. Lalibela's relative isolation and small size means you will get to understand more intimately and thoroughly the innate piety and hard lives of the rural poor.\n\nTo the north of Lalibela, **Dewosach**, where much of the decorating and illumination of holy books was done in the time of King Lalibela, rises more than another 1,000 m (3,280 ft) above Lalibela to 3,670 m (12,040 ft) while the much nearer and slightly lower **Asheten** with its distinctive flat top lies to the east. *Asheten* means *smell* in Amharic and this mesa was named during the reign of King Lalibela's nephew, King Neakutoleab, who burned frankincense while building Saint Mary's church on its summit – visiting monks said they found it by following the smell.\n\nThis is not to say that everything in the garden is rosy. Women here bear an unfair workload, and you may wince when you see little girls of five and six bent double and almost hidden from view by the immense load of firewood on their backs while their elder brothers play outside table tennis. Sanitation and public cleanliness is a bit haphazard so there are more flies here than in Tigray to the north.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk002", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Understand", "text": "To the south of the north-west complex of churches you can still see some older dwellings built in the style peculiar to Lalibela, neat round two storey dwellings built out of stone with conical, thatched roofs, but most other buildings are either wattle and daub structures or improvised buildings with corrugated roofs patched with thatch. There could hardly be more of a contrast with the ancient craftsmanship of the ecclesiastical buildings – which must surely be unique in all the world for having been built from the top down rather than from the ground up.\n\nGuides in Ethiopia are licensed in different ways for different areas and sites by the Ethiopian government. The guides for the rock hewn churches are specialised-licensed for the 11 churches. The federally licensed tour guides can operate all around Ethiopia but cannot take you into the churches in Lalibela town.\n\n### History\n\nSince the town, first called **Roha**, was founded by the eponymous King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty more than 900 years ago as the \"new Jerusalem\", the later-renamed Lalibela has been a major ecclesiastical centre of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and a place of pilgrimage to its amazing concentration of rock-hewn churches. Pious Ethiopians often walk hundreds of kilometres in bare feet from all over Ethiopia to receive blessings.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk003", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although all the church exteriors and interiors are carved from soft volcanic tufa, their architecture is extremely diverse: some stand as isolated monoliths in deep pits, while others have been cut into the face of a cliff. Establishing a sequence or chronology for a rock-hewn building is much more difficult than for a conventional one, especially when the churches in Lalibela are all in daily use for services. Consequently, there have been long running academic disputes as to both the time period and duration of construction.\n\nThe Ethiopian Orthodox tradition unequivocally recognises the huge task represented by the cutting of these churches and their associated trenches, passages and tunnels. It explains the completion of the excavation during the reign of a single saintly king by attributing much of the work to angels who, after the workmen had downed tools for the day, came in on a night shift and worked twice as fast as the human day shift had done. In this way, work proceeded so fast that all the churches are said to have been completed within King Lalibela’s quarter-century rule.", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk004", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some argue that the oldest of the rock-hewn features at Lalibela may date to the 7th or 8th centuries CE – about 500 years earlier than the traditional dating. These first monuments were not built as churches, although they were later extended in a different architectural style and converted to ecclesiastical use. Later – perhaps around the 12th or 11th century – the finest and most sophisticated churches were added, carved as three- or five-aisled basilicas and retaining many architectural features derived from those of ancient Aksum, which had flourished some 400–800 years previously. It is the last phase of Lalibela’s development which may, Phillipson believes, be dated to the reign of King Lalibela. The complex of churches was extended and elaborated. Several of the features attributed to this last phase bear names like the Tomb of Adam or the Church of Golgotha, which mirror those of places visited by pilgrims to Jerusalem and its environs. This naming has extended to natural features: the seasonal river which flows though the site is known as *Yordanos* (Jordan) and a nearby hill is *Debra Zeit* (Mount of Olives). It seems that it was King Lalibela who gave the place its present complexity and form: a substitute for Jerusalem as a place of pilgrimage. It may be significant that early in King Lalibela’s reign the Muslim Salah-ad-Din (Saladin) had captured Jerusalem, and for this reason Ethiopians may have felt excluded from making their traditional pilgrimage to the Holy Land across the Red Sea. Today, a cloth-draped feature in the Church of Golgotha is pointed out as the Tomb of King Lalibela.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk005", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n \n\n### By car\n\nThe roads to the small town of Gashena, south of Lalibela, are asphalted from Bahir Dar and Gondar to the west, and Woldia to the east. From there it is 1-2 hours over a road that is unsealed except for the last part from Lalibela Airport to the town. From Bahir Dar the drive takes about 7-8 hours and from Gondar about 10-11 hours. It is possible to get private drivers in both Bahir Dar and Gondar and would cost about 2,000-4,000 birr depending on negotiations, location and driver. There is also an unsealed road to Lalibela from the north, but even if coming from Axum and Adwa, it is quicker and easier to take the sealed road via Adigrat and Woldia.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is a daily bus from Addis Ababa. It is a two-day journey with an overnight stop at Dessie. The bus passes through Woldia mid-morning and will pick up passengers from the bus station if it has room. Another bus runs daily from Woldia, leaving at dawn. Both the Woldia and Addis Ababa buses depart Lalibela at 06:00.\n\nIt is usually possible to get to/from Bahir Dar by bus in one day by changing buses at Gashena, about one or two bumpy hours from Lalibela depending on traffic and weather. If you are travelling to or from Gondar by bus, you will usually have to spend the night somewhere.\n\nComing from Axum the most plausible way would take about two nights with stopovers in Mekele and Woldia. However, if you are lucky you might be able to catch a shared taxi in Mekele which brings you along highway 1 to Woldia. The next day you can catch a bus heading towards Bahir Dar with a stop at the Gashena junction to Lalibela where you have to wait for another bus/car to bring you to Lalibela. This might take a few hours.", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk006", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Get around", "text": "You may lose a few kilos walking up and down the streets (some cobbled, some dirt). You can rent bajajis/tuktuks or minibuses to drive you around town for about 25 birr per person (minimum 50 birr). Unlike bigger towns and cities in Ethiopia, no blue and white minibuses regularly run through Lalibela.\n\nYou can walk safely around town (and people will greet with many wanting to practice their English or offer their services or wares). School children may try to befriend you, and follow you around, perhaps beg. From 2010 onwards the government has tried to forbid begging, and the situation is now much better than before, but many people still beg after a long conversation or invite you to their homes where more successful begging can be done.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk007", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Map of Lalibela churches\nthumb|Inside Bet Medhane Alem\nThis town is known around the world for its churches hewn from the top down into living rock, most of which were built during the reign of the eponymous Lalibela, king of Ethiopia, when he moved his capital here in the Zagwe period. Contrary to certain spurious myths, they were not built with the help of the Knights Templar; rather, they were produced solely by **medieval Ethiopian civilization**. However, there is controversy as to when the churches were constructed. Some scholars believe that the churches were built well before Lalibela and that Lalibela simply named them after himself. They were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.\n\nThe churches are open 06:00-12:00, and 14:00-17:00. In practice, they open about half an hour late and close half an hour early. Admission to all costs US$50 for adults, and USD25 for children aged 9-13 (ticket valid for 5 days). You must carry your passport with your ticket. You can pay in birr at the official exchange rate, so it is cheaper to pay in birr if you have changed your money on the black market. Entry is free for children under 9 and Ethiopians without a foreign passport. Licensed guides are available from the tourist office in Lalibela for 200 birr per day. These guides are well trained and have an excellent working knowledge of the churches and good relationships with the priests. Unlicensed guides will approach you all over the village, but they often know very little about the churches and are best avoided.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk008", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "See", "text": "You must take your shoes off before entering the churches. As there are numerous churches, you will do this a number of times. You may find it easier to wear slip-on footwear, such as flip-flops. The rock between churches in each cluster, although uneven, has been worn smooth over the centuries, so you might even take a plastic bag to pop your footwear into, and walk barefoot between the churches as many pilgrims do.\n\nIt is well worth it to attend a dawn service. Arrive by 05:45 to hear the bass drums of the call to prayer. Services start at 05:50. There are also fewer flies and wanna-be guides pestering you. Ethiopian birds are colourful and more of them are about just after dawn. A great time to visit is on Sunday mornings, when hundreds of people descend on the churches for traditional Ethiopian Orthodox worship. If your alarm clock lets you down, don't fret – looking inside the churches is less intrusive after 10:00, and what you lose in birdlife is compensated by red, yellow and blue headed lizards scampering over the rough terrain.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk009", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "See", "text": "The 11 churches are in three clusters, all within easy walking distance of each other:\nThe **north-western group** of 6 churches includes: (House of the Saviour of the World), home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of Saint Mary of Zion in Axum. It is linked to Bet Maryam (St Mary's, possibly the oldest of the churches), Bet Golgotha (known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela), the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam.\nThe **north-eastern group** of 4 churches includes: (possibly the former royal chapel), Bet Merkorios (which may be a former prison), Bet Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufael (possibly a former royal palace), linked to a holy bakery.\n (St George's Church), unique in all the world in its cruciform style, is very well preserved and on its own 500 m to the south.\n\nFarther afield lie the monasteries of **Na’akuto La’ab** (4 km south) and , and **Yimrehane Kristos** church (possibly 11th century, built in the Axumite fashion but within a cave).", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk010", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Do", "text": "Visit the **weekly market** on Saturday. There's not much you would want to buy, some local weaving possibly, but it's an invaluable insight into local life. Make sure you visit the donkey park.\n- Holidays\n\n- Hike to Mount Abuna Yosef\n\n - Walk to Ashetan Maryam and Hudad Lodge and back to Lalibela", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk011", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Learn", "text": "- Public Library\n\n- Ethiopia Cookery School", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk012", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is an ATM at Dashen Bank on the ground floor of the Aman Hotel close to the Ethiopian Airlines office, and another next door at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. The Dashen one permits up to 2000 birr in one transaction with multiple daily transactions possible up to your daily card limit. Only Visa is accepted. For other card holders the only option besides having an acquaintance send money via Western Union is to go to the Mountain View Hotel. They will charge MasterCard plus a 10% surcharge and give you birr.\n\nEven in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian \"supermarkets\" are only glorified \"sari sari\" shops and the range of goods carried by even the tiniest village shop in the highlands of Scotland would put them to shame. The best stocked place in Lalibela is the \"WOW Supermarket\" on the west side of the steep Sebat Woyra Road about 200 m before it joins Adebabay Street by the Seven Olives Hotel.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk013", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|Ben Abeba, one of the most distinctive pieces of modern architecture in Ethiopia, yet it's in the isolated little town of Lalibela\nthumb|Habtamu tending the fire close to dining tables at Ben Abeba, January 2018\n- Ben Abeba\n\n**Hotel Lalibela** (*in the south downhill, on the main street with the souvenir shops opposite Tukul Village Lodge*). Excellent food in the attached restaurant for reasonable rates. 30-100 birr (Sep 2016).\n - John Cafe\n\nThe restaurant at the **Seven Olives Hotel** (listed in the '''''Sleep''''' section below) serves some of the largest and tastiest helpings in Lalibela. Their steak stuffed with rice and vegetables and served with a most delicious *kita* made from *aga* is delicious and large enough to feed two at less than 110 birr (June 2013). This delightful restaurant set in a mature garden in the commercial centre of town is circular, with a giant 10m diameter weaving forming the ceiling and making you feel like you are under the giant traditional cover of a *mittad* cooking *injera*!", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk014", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Drink", "text": "In addition to the places below, there are cheaper local places with *tej* (honey wine) for 5-10 birr per bottle.\n - Torpido Tejbet\n\n - Mar Telo Bar\n\n - Sora Lodge\n\nthumb|Entertainment in Torpido Tej, January 2018", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk015", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Lalibela has an extremely high proportion of *faranji* seeking accommodation, as opposed to locals; consequently budget accommodation is scarce and overpriced.\n\nThere are many \"tourist class\" hotels whose owners and managers have often never visited Addis Ababa – never mind travelled outside Ethiopia – and seem to suffer the delusion that guests from Europe, Asia and Australasia will not understand prices in birr. Consequently they invariably will quote a laughably high price in US dollars at first.\n\nPrices quoted below are for the low season of June-August and hoteliers will try to extort a much higher price during festivals and other busy times.\n\nMost tourist class lodgings are concentrated in two areas:\n**Shimbrima** at the *north*-western end of Adebabay St, many with stunning escarpment views and a gentle climb to the economic centre of town and a steeper descent to the church complexes\n**Getergie** at the *south*-western end of town, on and off Getergie Rd and without the stunning escarpment views (but still with fine views of the surrounding buttes and mesas) but still a long way to the bus station on the eastern side of town. Hotels in this district have both a steep climb to the church complexes and then an equally steep climb to the economic centre of town. However, maybe it's better to stagger downhill to your bed after a day's sightseeing?\n\nFor those arriving by bus, this very basic hotel may save them both some dosh and a long uphill hike to the town proper:\n- Tena Adam Hotel\n\n### North\n\n - Top Twelve Hotel\n\n - Cliff Edge Hotel\n\n- Mountain View Hotel\n\n - Panoramic View Hotel\n\n **Mar Telo Bar**, (*on the main road opposite Red Rock Hotel, easy to miss due to the small sign*). Has cheap rooms for backpackers paired with a scenic view and cheap food and tej. The old lady running it may not understand English – you may need a translator. 250 birr single (Sep 2016).\n\n### Central\n\n - Asheten Hotel\n\n - Seven Olives Hotel\n\n### South\n\n - Helen Hotel\n\n - Lalibela Hotel\n\n - Roha Hotel\n\n- Tukul Village Lodge\n\n - Selam Guest House\n\n### Hinterland\n\n - Hudad Lalibela Eco-Lodge & Retreat", "word_count": 362}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk016", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Cope", "text": "Enterprising local children might ask you to buy schoolbooks and pens for them. Some say don't bother contributing to their education in this way, as they will return the books and keep the money.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "lalibela::chunk017", "doc_id": "lalibela", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bahir Dar – to the west\n Mekele – to the north\nSimien Mountains. Lalibela is at 2,600 m, and so is good acclimatisation for the higher mountains, especially if you do some day walks in the hills surrounding the town.", "word_count": 40}
diff --git a/corpus/lalibela/metadata.json b/corpus/lalibela/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d8cc3bb06845d736955771fdd109113c92470f73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lalibela/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lalibela",
+ "title": "Lalibela",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lalibela",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northern Ethiopia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bahir Dar",
+ "Mekele"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2934,
+ "listing_count": 23,
+ "marker_count": 4,
+ "chunk_count": 18,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/langkawi/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/langkawi/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5b48f09b41dbe4bd2a9ccca9976d3e22c3d121cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/langkawi/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk000", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|right|240px|Sun, sand and sea on the beach\nthumb|right|300px|Sunrise over Langkawi\n**Langkawi** (Jawi: لانكاوي), officially known as \"Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah\" (Malay: *Langkawi Permata Kedah*) is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide) in the Andaman Sea, 30 km off the mainland coast of Kedah. It is a popular destination due to its natural white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage, craggy mountain peaks and duty-free status, where alcohol is affordable.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk001", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Politics and demographics\n\nThe islands are a part of the state of Kedah, adjacent to the border with Thailand. The total population of the islands is 99,000; however only two islands are inhabited: Pulau Langkawi, the largest island, with a population of 65,000 and Pulau Tuba. Langkawi is also an administrative district, with the town of Kuah as the capital and largest town. \n\n### Etymology\n\nThe name \"Langkawi\" has two possible origins. First, it is believed to be related to the kingdom of Langkasuka, itself a version of the Malay *negari alang-kah suka* (\"the land of all one's wishes\"), centered in modern-day Kedah. The historical record is sparse, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom of \"Langgasu\" as being founded in the 1st century AD. Second, it could be a combination of the Malay words 'helang', meaning \"eagle\" and 'kawi', meaning \"reddish-brown\" or \"strong\", in old Malay.\n\n### History\n\nLangkawi was long under the influence of the Kedah Sultanate, founded in 1136 AD upon the introduction of Islam. Kedah, including Langkawi, was conquered in 1821 by the State of Siam (now Thailand). During the invasion by the Siamese, the leaders were killed, many islanders were taken as slaves, and most of the population fled. In the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, the Siamese ceded control of the island to the British, who held the state until Malaysian independence in 1957, except for a brief period of Thai rule under the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. Thai influences remain visible in the culture and food of Langkawi.\n\nLangkawi remained a sleepy backwater island until 1987, when the island was granted tax-free status with the intention of promoting tourism to improve the lives of the islanders.\n\n### Climate\n\nSheltered by the mountainous backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi is not affected by the northeastern winter monsoon and enjoys sunny skies in winter when the eastern provinces are flooded.\n\n### Preservation\n\nThe 10,000 hectares of Langkawi and its 99 islands were declared a geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2007.", "word_count": 351}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk002", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n \n\n### By boat\n\n **Langkawi Ferry Line** operates fast air-con ferries from Kuala Perlis (RM35 foreigners, 60 min, 6-8 trips each way daily between 7am and 6pm) and Kuala Kedah (RM45 foreigners, 105 min, same or slightly higher frequency) (the ferry is freezing cold, so bring warm clothes). **Langkawi Andaman Ferry** operates a similar ferry daily to Satun (RM55 / 450 baht, 75 min, departure time is 9:30am from Langkawi, 11:30am (Thai time) from Tammalang pier just near Satun). As of 2025, the tickets can be purchased online through **Cuti Cuti Langkawi** website or in their app, along with numerous activities in Langkawi.\n\n **Tropical Charters** https://tropicalcharters.com.my/ operates ferries between Kuah Jetty in Langkawi and Ko Lipe. The price is RM118 one way (RM100 if you book online), including the longtail boat transfer and Thai customs fees. Check-in is at the inner entrance of the Jetty Point Food Court, opposite 7/11, 1 hour before departure. The trip takes 90 minutes. Arrival in Ko Lipe is at the Bundhaya Resort.\n\n **Telaga Terminal** operates speedboats between Langkawi and Ko Lipe (RM128 1-way, RM248 return, 75 min). These boats dock at a pontoon in Pattaya Bay from where there are longtail transfers to immigration on Pattaya Beach.\n\n **Tigerline Ferry** operates between Langkawi and Ko Lipe.\n\n **Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club Company** operates between Langkawi and Ko Lipe.\n\n **Bundhaya Speed Boat** operates between Langkawi and Ko Lipe. Choose the Ferry (not Speedboat) tab on their website.\n\nTo get to the public ferries overland, if you are coming from Alor Setar, Penang or anywhere further south in Malaysia, **Kuala Kedah** is less than 10 kilometers from Alor Setar and it's railway station. If you are coming from Thailand by train (also it's the most convenient budget-friendly route from/to Hat Yai), you can take the Malaysian Komuter train from Padang Besar border station, where Thai trains arrive, to Arau (two stops, 20 minutes, RM3.20, ticket can be paid by credit card at the station), then travel 15 km by Grab (~RM15-18), taxi (flat rate RM26) or bus (cheaper, but very infrequent and with a transfer in Kangar) through some very beautiful countryside to **Kuala Perlis**. The route via Satun can be convenient if you are traveling by bus along Thailand's Andaman coast and/or to the islands there.", "word_count": 382}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk003", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is effectively no public transport on the island, so your choices are to use taxis or to rent a car, motorbike/scooter, or bicycle.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis and the Grab mobile app operate on a fixed price system. A taxi from the airport to Pantai Cenang costs RM20 or less with Grab. You can buy a coupon at the taxi desk at the airport. From the ferry terminal to Pantai Cenang, the price is RM24. For those arriving at the Kuah Jetty and going into Kuah Town, the price is RM8.\n\n### By car or motorbike/scooter\n\nRenting a car or motorbike/scooter is highly recommended due to the lack of public transport. This can be done at the airport, the port complex, or from shops on Pantai Cenang. Refrain from renting from touts, as many are operating illegally without permits and usually without insurance. Accidents happen to tourists on motorbikes/scooters regularly, so be careful although the traffic is not as chaotic as in Penang and other areas. The roads are in good condition. Most rental agencies will not provide full insurance coverage and you have to cover the damage up to RM3000 if there is any accident.\n\nRenting an air-conditioned mid-sized sedan costs RM70-RM150 per day depending on model, condition and length of stay and a 150cc motorbike/scooter costs RM40-45 per day. Cheaper but usually very used and older are the semi-automatic 115cc bikes for RM25 a day. A tired Proton within Pantai Cenang costs RM60-90/day.\n\nCheck your fuel level regularly because petrol pump stations (gas stations) are far from one another. Most rental agencies do not care how much fuel is in the tank when the vehicle is returned, although some may do so and mark it on the receipt. Fuel costs are cheap and are fixed by the government and you should return the bikes with the same filling level as you picked it up.\n\nThe first time at a gas/petrol station will confuse you. You will need to guess how much fuel you need and pay first. Most saloon cars, if empty, are RM50 to fill up and motorbikes are approximately RM5. Sometimes you fill up your car/bike and you haven't used what you have paid for; not to worry, as you can claim this back at the counter.\n\nRemember to drive safely and slowly on the island and on the left side of the road. There are tourists, children and animals like chickens, cows and even buffaloes crossing. Take care not to run over the beautiful snakes or monitors. Cattle and snakes like to lie on the road at night; the blacktop radiates heat.\n\nDriving laws:\n Your driver's licence needs to be with you at all times. An international driver's licence is not necessary but licences must have text in English.\n Seat belts are mandatory in all vehicles. Fines are given ranging from RM50 if not wearing one.\n Helmets are mandatory. Fines are the same as above but more importantly, the hospital does not have facilities to treat head injuries, so you will have to get a medivac out to Penang, which takes 45 minutes or more — if the helicopter is available.\n\nRoadblocks are commonplace in Langkawi; they are mainly interested in locals with no licence. Make sure you have the above items and your seat belt fastened, and you will have no problems.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nSome hotels offer bicycle rentals. Expect to pay between RM10-30 per day.", "word_count": 574}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk004", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "See", "text": "- Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls aka Seven Wells\n\n - Gunung Raya\n\n - Crocodile Adventureland\n\n - Laman Padi Rice Garden\n\n - Taman Lagenda\n\nthumb|right|200px|Underwater World\n - Underwater World\n\n - Eagle Square\n\n - Oriental Village\n\n - Langkawi Wildlife Park\n\n - Galeria Perdana", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk005", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Do", "text": "Organized activities in Langkawi include cruises via yacht or sailboat, mangrove tours, island hopping tours, jet ski tours, birdwatching tours, nature walks, kayak tours, scuba diving & snorkelling, helicopter tours, and jungle trekking tours.\n\nthumb|Sky Bridge\n - Panorama Langkawi: SkyCab Cable Car Ride & Sky Bridge\n\n - Morac Adventure Park - Go-Karting\n\n - Golf at The Els Club Teluk Datai\n\n### Beaches\n\n - Pantai Cenang\n\n - Pantai Tengah\n\n - Pantai Kok\n\n - Tanjung Rhu\n\n - Datai Bay Beach\n\n - Burau Bay\n\n - Pantai Pasir Hitam\n\n - Pantai Pasir Tengkorak", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk006", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATMs and money exchange booths are available at the Langkawi Airport, at Langkawi Parade Shopping Complex, next to Underwater World at Pantai Cenang and at Cenang Mall. Beware of Euronet ATMs (there are many in Pantai Cenang), not only do they charge RM22 for cash withdrawal from a foreign card (free at most Malaysian banks, such as Maybank, CIMB, etc.), but they will also try more than once to trick you into using their currency conversion (DCC) at a very lousy rate.\n\nLangkawi is a duty-free island, and alcohol is significantly cheaper here than in the rest of Malaysia.\n\nHotel tariffs and retail goods are exempt from government duty. Visitors with more than 48 hr stay in Langkawi are exempt on items like wines and liquor (1 liter), tobacco (200 cigarettes), apparel, cosmetics, souvenirs and gifts, food and food preparations and portable electronic items (one item).\n\nShop around before buying: the airport is probably the most expensive place to buy anything. Shop in Kuah town for batik, tobacco products and chocolate confectioneries.\n\n - Langkawi Parade Megamall\n\n - The Zon Duty-Free Shopping Complex\n\n - Kompleks Budaya Kraf\n\n - KV Tobacco", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk007", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are food stalls and restaurants all over Langkawi. Try one of the many seafood restaurants. Langkawi people like their food hot and spicy, and even if they tone things down at your request, you may still find your food challenging to eat.\n\nSeafood or fish may be priced by weight or by a set price for the dish - clarify before ordering.\n\n### Budget\n\nFor a taste of simple Malay-style breakfast, just walk up to a small stall opposite the Underwater World in the mornings and feast on the famous freshly-prepared banana leaf-wrapped *nasi lemak* (steamed rice in coconut milk). The price is most affordable at less than RM 2 for a pack. Go local and enjoy this with a glass of hot teh tarik or really good local coffee. This very unassuming stall is just simple and great (clean too!). The nasi lemak comes with curried beef, squid in chili, fried salted fish or chicken.\n - AddaMaya Café\n\n - Rafi's Place\n\n - Tomato Nasi Kandar\n\n - Restoran Fatimah\n\n - Restoran Almaz\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Artisans Pizza Cafe\n\n - Babylon Mat Lounge & BBQ\n\n - Cenang Boat Quay\n\n - Champor Champur\n\n - Fat Mum Restaurant\n\n - Hole in the Wall Fishfarm & Restaurant\n\n - Mimi\n\n - Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant\n\n - Rasa Restaurant\n\n - Red Tomato Restaurant and Lounge\n\n - Rose Tea 2\n\n - Sun Cafe\n\n - Taj Mahal\n\n - T. Jay's Italian Bistro & Pizzeria\n\n - Telaga Arabic Cafe and Restaurant\n\n - Wonderland Food Store\n\n### Splurge\n\n - La Sal at Casa del Mar\n\n - The Lighthouse Restaurant\n\n - The Loaf\n\n - Papadam Indian Cuisine\n\n - Sunsutra Restaurant\n\n - Unkaizan Japanese Restaurant", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk008", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Drink", "text": "Because of Langkawi's tax-free status, alcohol is much cheaper than in the rest of Malaysia. Religious Muslims do not consume alcoholic drinks, and while they do tolerate non Muslims who do, try not to behave in a rowdy imbibed manner near them, their houses, mosques, and please respect local culture and communal sensitivities. For those living on a budget, you can obtain alcohol at cheap prices from the local duty-free shops: the larger the outlets, the lower the prices. Expect to pay RM35 for 1 L Absolut Vodka, RM37 for 1 L of Johnny Walker Red Label, RM45 for 1 L Kahlua, RM60 for 1 L Bailey's, and RM70 for 1 L Chivas Regal 12 years. Small cans of beer: RM2.30 for Tiger Beer 330 ml and RM1.80 for some cheap Dutch beer. Small quantities? 500 ml of some random gin per RM15.\n\nSome of those prices can be as cheap as a half of the price of the same product on the Duty Free Shop of the International Airport at Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).\n\nDespite low alcohol prices, Langkawi is predominantly popular with couples and families. Single travelers and backpackers may therefore be disappointed with the lack of nightlife. The liveliest part of the island is the part around Cenang.\n\nMost bars remain empty, particularly in the low season, and the 1-2 nightclubs may only seem worthwhile in the peak season, and even then only on Friday or Saturday nights. Overall, Langkawi provides a family-friendly alternative to Thai locations such as Phuket and Koh Samui.\n\n - Bam-Boo-Ba\n\n - OMG Restaurant at Paradise 101\n\n - Raffi's Cafe\n\n - Sunba Retro Bar\n\n - Yellow Cafe\n\n**Bars in Kuah** (Aug 2024)\n\nDespite being the islands \"capital\", the town of Kuah has a lot less going for it than Cenang in terms of bars. The following are the best/only places for a drink:\n\n Cappuccino House Bistro ( BAR & CAFE ) \n Cellar Bank Langkawi\n The Blarney Stone Langkawi\n Bottle & Glass Garden Cafe", "word_count": 329}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk009", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\nBoth luxury and eccentric hostels are common on Langkawi. If you are looking for budget accommodation, your best bet would be to walk along the beach and adjacent road at Pantai Cenang. It is hard to find budget accommodation in other beaches in Langkawi, except Pantai Cenang and Kuah town. Prices there normally range from RM50 to RM150 per room per night, on or next to the beach. \n\n - Rainbow Lodge\n\n - AB Motel\n\n - Cenang Beach Motel\n\n - Chandek Kura Hotel\n\n - Gecko Guesthouse\n\n - GeoPark Hotel & Dormitory\n\n - Melati Tanjung Motel\n\n - The Palms Guest House\n\n - Senari Bay Resort\n\n - Bumi Langkawi Homestay\n\n - Bougainvillea Holiday Homes\n\n - Rumours Guesthouse and Cafe\n\n - Eylizar Homestay Langkawi\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Awana Porto Malai\n\n - Bayview Langkawi\n\n - Best Star Resort\n\n - Charlie Motel\n\n - Citin Hotel Langkawi by Compass Hospitality\n\n - CoCoTop Hotel\n\n - Eaglebay Hotel Langkawi\n\n - Helang Hotel\n\n - Holiday Villa Resort\n\n - Hotel Langkasuka Langkawi\n\n - Kampung Tok Senik Resort\n\n - Kondo Istana Langkawi\n\n - Langkawi Seaview Hotel\n\n - Mutiara Burau Bay\n\n - Sandy Beach Resort\n\n - Shirin Villa\n\n - Tropical Resort\n\n - Azio Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\n - The Andaman\n\n - Berjaya Langkawi Resort\n\n - Bon Ton\n\n - Casa del Mar\n\n - Century Langkawi Beach Resort\n\n - Century Suria Suites\n\n - The Danna Langkawi\n\n - Four Seasons Resort\n\n - Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa\n\n - Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa\n\n - Rebak Island Resort - Vivanta by Taj Langkawi\n\n - Sang Ria\n\n - Tanjung Rhu Resort\n\n - The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa\n\n - Temple Tree Resort Langkawi Malaysia", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk010", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nMobile phone coverage is very good in all built up areas of Langkawi. Many affordable pre-paid phone and data plans are available. Recharge cards are readily available except for the very cheap TuneTalk which is harder to find and SIM cards almost non existent. It is best to buy this back in LLCT where no commission is charged on the SIM. Full reception and reasonable data speeds can be achieved on the beach and inside the resorts on Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah.\n\n### Post\n\nThe main post office in located in Kuah Town. Mini post offices can be found in Padang Mat Sirat. There is no post office in Pantai Cenang, but you can buy stamps and send postcards in T Shoppe on the main road. Courier service, Poslaju shop can be found at Taman Berlian, Kuah.\n\n### Internet\n\nBroadband is available and some Internet cafés can be found along Pantai Tengah, Pantai Cenang and Kuah. In addition, many of the upscale hotels, resorts, and restaurants provide free WiFi.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk011", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The biggest health risk on Langkawi is from jellyfish stings, especially during January - June season. Uninformed visitors are stung every day and the lifeguards on Pantai Cenang and the hospital treat more or less severe cases of jellyfish stings most days. There are several species of jellyfish in Langkawi's waters, while most will give you a nasty sting or a burn, there are some that will cause partial paralysis or even kill, in case of the lethal box jellyfish. If you have been stung badly, don't exert yourself physically as this will pump the toxins around the bloodstream and aggravate the symptoms. Vinegar is the only scientifically proven treatment for tropical jellyfish stings, apply it for 30 seconds to block toxin which has not yet been absorbed into the blood. To stay safe, swim only in stinger suit.\n\nLangkawi can have a lot of **mosquitoes** depending on the time of year and location (i.e. Mangrove areas), so don't forget to use mosquito repellent. \"Off\" spray and various citronella or DEET based products are available in most supermarkets.\n\nAverage temperatures are hot or hotter; it's the tropics. Be sure to stay **hydrated**. You will need to drink about 3 litres a day and don't wait till you are thirsty to drink. Room temperature water preferably. De-hydration accounts for a large percentage of dodgy tummy holiday illnesses.\n\nSee also Tropical diseases.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk012", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Speedboats can often bounce off the waves at very high speeds and passengers can get quite strong jolts into the non-sprung seats, so persons with back or neck problems should not travel on the speedboats, but on the ferry. There have been reports of serious back injuries happening on the speedboats. They are also known as 'vomit comets' due to the number of people succumbing to sea sickness. Bring lots of water and be prepared for a bumpy ride! Also be very careful while swimming. At times, tides and currents can be very aggressive and not easy to spot.\n\nBe careful driving around Langkawi at night. Although main roads are well-lit, some of the more minor roads are not very well lit and may pass through Kampungs (traditional Malay villages) or rural areas where the locals seem to take a very casual approach to **road safety**. Drive slow and watch out for erratically piloted motorbikes, pedestrians and livestock. Inside Kuah Town, watch out for errors in the road arrows - they may lead you into wrong lanes or into barricades. at night, watch out for water buffalo sleeping in the road.\n\n**Crime** is generally not a problem on Langkawi, especially compared to the larger cities in Malaysia. In theory, you don't even have to lock your car, because it cannot get off the island without customs knowing about it!\n\nBeware of **smart wild monkeys**. Those at Tengkorak beach attack humans who have food. If attacked, pick up stones (or just pretend to do so) and throw them at the monkeys, this will scare them away. Also, do not carry plastic bags as the monkeys associate these with food. Don't let them get too close to you or they will steal your glasses.\n\nPlease read up on rip tides before you go; learn to recognise and to avoid them.", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk013", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Respect", "text": "Langkawi is a Geopark but still needs to improve its environmental friendliness. Don't participate in certain activities such as eagle feeding and monkey feeding as this harms the animals by encouraging them to become reliant on tourists and you may give them the wrong food.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "langkawi::chunk014", "doc_id": "langkawi", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ko Lipe — Great diving and snorkeling at the only inhabited island in Tarutao National Marine Park, a short speedboat ride (1½ hr) away on the Thai side of the border.\n Ko Tarutao — Another island in Tarutao National Marine Park, however does not suffer from the rapid development issues faced by Ko Lipe.\n Penang", "word_count": 55}
diff --git a/corpus/langkawi/metadata.json b/corpus/langkawi/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3d92fccbfc9df16fc688202a3d342628bf45e6e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/langkawi/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "langkawi",
+ "title": "Langkawi",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Langkawi",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkawi",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q273303",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 6.35,
+ 99.8
+ ],
+ "summary": "Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (Malay: Langkawi Permata Kedah), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) located some 30 kilometres (19 mi) off the coast of northwestern Malaysia and a few kilometres south of Ko Tarutao, adjacent to the Thai border. Politically, it is an administrative district of Kedah, with Kuah as its largest town. Langkawi was developed as a tourist destination in the 1980s, and Pantai Cenang is the island's most popular beach and tourist area.\n\n",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Kedah"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ko Lipe",
+ "Ko Tarutao",
+ "Penang"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3384,
+ "listing_count": 103,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/laos/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/laos/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3c51b27da9a279a586dd01808f9c613ebcf500d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/laos/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk000", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Laos** (ເມືອງລາວ *mư̄ang lāo* or ປະເທດລາວ *pa thēt lāo*) is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. Laos is rich in both the diversity of its people and its landscapes.\n\nWhile the country lacks the mass tourism of neighbours like Thailand and Vietnam, the sector has been on the rise since the 1990s, and the country hosted five million tourists in 2024. In general, Laos' government has attempted to build Laos into a counterpoint to the tourist industries of Thailand and Vietnam, oriented around a slower pace and more wholesome vibe, although there is an increasing presence of Chinese capital and expansion of rail lines that connect Laos with Yunnan Province.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk001", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the increasingly busy capital on the banks of the Mekong River\n — in the north, on the Mekong and the border with Thailand\n — capital of the north, known for its trekking\n — a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples, colonial era architecture, and vibrant night market\n — also known as Oudomxay, the capital of the multi-ethnic province of Oudomxay\n — halfway point on the overnight slow boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang\n — gateway to the Wat Phu ruins and the \"four thousand islands\" (Si Phan Don)\n — in the south on the Mekong, connected by bridge to Mukdahan in Thailand\n — a popular base for exploring Phou Hin Boun National Park including the famous Konglor Cave", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk002", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a two-day ecotourism trek in the north of Laos\n — highland with waterfalls, jungles and farmland\n — Wat Phu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Angkor-style Khmer temples\n — beautiful karst cliffs where you can discover hilltribe villages, kayak, bike ride or just hang out\n — Iron Age cemetery sites near Phonsavan; also one of the main locations to learn about the \"Secret War\".\n — the \"four thousand islands\" are nestled within the Mekong near the Cambodian border\n — backpacker hangout for exploring limestone caves and tubing on the Nam Song river\n — remote cultural oasis and symbolic cradle of Marxism; see the caves where the Pathet Lao leaders ran their operations in defiance of the West", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk003", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Understand", "text": "The **Lao People's Democratic Republic** (ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ) (**Lao PDR**) is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and the most sparsely populated. Once the center of the powerful kingdom of Lan Xang, Laos was reduced to a vassal state of Siam (modern-day Thailand) by the end of the 18th century. It was freed from Siamese fiefdom in 1893 upon becoming a French protectorate and gained its independence in 1953 amidst the backdrop of the chaotic Indochina Wars. Since the end of the civil war in 1975, Laos is a one-party communist state under a presidential system. Unlike most countries in Asia, the country has not undergone a major industrialisation and modernisation period; as a result, its lifestyle remains mostly rural, with strong Buddhist traditional culture, and the only large city is Vientiane.\n\nAn adjective often applied to Laos is \"forgotten\", but travelers lured by the prospect of visiting an untouched \"Shangri-la\" are likely to be disappointed. The country now draws five million visitors per year, nearly as many as the Philippines, and Chinese-led investment is rapidly transforming swathes of the country. But while backpackers may crowd a few tourist hubs like Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, it's not hard to get off the beaten path and enjoy a laid-back lifestyle and the opportunity to knock back a few cold Beerlao while watching the sunsets on the Mekong. Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of Laos is the famous \"Lao PDR\" - *Lao-Please Don't Rush*.\n\n### History", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk004", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Understand", "text": "Squeezed between vastly larger neighbors, the modern Lao state was created as an entity in 1353, when warlord Fa Ngum declared himself the king of **Lan Xang** (\"Million Elephants\"). Initially a Khmer vassal state, the kingdom emerged as one of the more powerful ones in Southeast Asia by the early 15th century after fending off a Vietnamese invasion and asserting control over a large part of the remnants of the declining Khmer Empire. After a succession dispute, the kingdom split in three in 1707, and was eventually devoured piece by piece by the Siamese, the last fragments agreeing to Siamese protection in 1885.\n\nThe area east of the Mekong, however, was soon wrenched back from Siam by the French in 1893, who wanted a buffer state to protect Vietnam. The three Laotian states were reunified as a single territory in 1907. In contrast to Vietnam, Laos remained a backwater of French Indochina and did not see much investment and Western influence with the exception of infrastructure projects mostly concentrated in Vientiane, schools in urban centers, and cuisine (especially baguettes and café culture). It was briefly occupied by Japan in 1945, and was then brought into a more or less continual three-decade-long conflict that first spilled over from North Vietnam when France moved in to reassert its colonial rule. After Laos was granted full independence in 1953, the war continued between a variety of factions, with the Communist and North Vietnam-allied **Pathet Lao** struggling to overthrow the French-aligned monarchy. During the Vietnam War (1964-1973), this alliance led the United States to dump 1.9 million tons of bombs on Laos, mostly in the northeast stronghold of the Pathet Lao: as a comparison 2.2 million tonnes were dropped on Europe by all sides during World War II.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk005", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1975, after the fall of Saigon, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of Vientiane and ended a six-century-old monarchy. Interestingly, one of the leaders of the Pathet Lao was Souphanouvong, who was prince of Laos. Most of the royal family was arrested and sent to reeducation camps and died by the 1980s. Some remnants of the royals managed to escape to France and establish a government-in-exile, where they remain to this day. Closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, an easing of foreign investment laws and admission into ASEAN in 1997.\n\nDue to its landlocked location and difficult terrain, Laos has long been deeply impoverished due to the difficulty of building infrastructure. However, in the 21st century, Laos has developed a close relationship with China, who have invested substantially in infrastructure projects in the country. This improvement in infrastructure has led to tremendous economic growth, with more than 80% of the Lao people living above the poverty line as of 2024.\n\nDespite being just one hour by air from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, life in Laos has continued in much the same way it has for hundreds of years, although things have been changing since the 1990s. In the mid-1990s the government reversed its stance on tourism, and then declared 1998 \"Visit Laos Year\". Since then, tourist numbers in Laos have been on a steep upward trend.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk006", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 2021, Laos and China completed the construction of a semi-high-speed railway line linking Kunming to Vientiane, with an extension to Bangkok already under construction, and talks of extending the line possibly all the way to Singapore. The rail connection is expected to have a dramatic impact on the country, as it facilitates much cross-border trade and tourism. There has been a large boost in foreign tourists visiting Laos, and the word \"forgotten\" used to describe Laos will soon become a forgotten memory itself.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|400px|Pha That Luang in [[Vientiane]] is the national symbol of Laos\n\nDespite its small population, Laos has over 160 ethnic groups, from which Lao, Khmer, and Hmong constitute approximately three-quarters of the population. Most groups are small, with some having just a few hundred members. The 49 major ethnic groups are divided into four linguistic branches: Lao-Tai language represented by 8 tribes, Mone-Khmer language with 32 tribes, Hmoung-Loumien language with 2 tribes, and Tibeto-Chinese language represented by 7 tribes. Because of this diversity, the demonym for a person from Laos is **Laotian**, and not Lao, which refers merely to the largest ethnic group.\n\nBefore 1981, the Laos government recognised only three ethnic groups, which were based on geographic and agricultural differences, rather than actual ethnic differences. Despite these groups no longer being officially recognised, many guidebooks and tourist references still break up Lao society into the **Lao Loum** (lowland dwellers – these were in the majority), the **Lao Theung** (people who live in the mid-altitude levels), and the **Lao Soung** (who inhabit the uplands)", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk007", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Understand", "text": "Laos is officially Buddhist, and the national symbol, the gilded stupa of Pha That Luang, has replaced the hammer and sickle even on the state seal. Still, there is a good deal of animism mixed in, particularly in the **baci** (also *baasi*) ceremony conducted to bind the 32 guardian spirits to the participant's body before a long journey, after serious illness, the birth of a baby, or other significant events.\n\nLao custom dictates that women must wear the distinctive *phaa sin*, a long sarong available in many regional patterns; however, many ethnic minorities have their own clothing styles. The conical Vietnamese-style hat is also a common sight. These days men dress Western-style and only don the *phaa biang* sash on ceremonial occasions. Nowadays women often wear Western-style clothing, though the \"phaa sin\" is still the mandatory attire in government offices, not only for those who work there but also for Lao women who are visiting.\n\n### Climate\n\nLaos has three distinct seasons. The **hot season** is from Mar-May, when temperatures can soar as high as 40°C and the humidity makes it feel like 50°C. The slightly cooler **wet season** is from May-Oct, when temperatures are around 30°C, tropical downpours are frequent (especially Jul-Aug), and some years the Mekong floods.\n\nThe **dry season** from Nov-Mar, which has low rainfall and temperatures as low as 15°C (or even to zero in the mountains at night), is \"high season\". However, towards the end of the dry season, the northern parts of Laos — basically everything north of Luang Prabang — can become very **hazy** due to farmers burning fields and fires in the forests.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nLaos Tourism website", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk008", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|right|300px|Lao script\n\nThe official language of Laos is **Lao** (ພາສາລາວ *pháa-sǎa láo*), a tonal language closely related to Thai. The Thai dialect spoken in the northeastern Isaan region of Thailand, historically a part of greater Laos, is in fact very similar to Lao.\n\n**French**, a legacy of the colonial days, is often used in government and commerce. It is taught in schools and is a working language in many professional sectors such as law and health. For instance, the state electricity generator is called Électricité du Laos. French is also often used to transliterate Lao words and is featured on a lot of public signage.\n\n**English** is gradually becoming popular, but proficiency in the language is generally poor. Try to speak slowly and carefully so that people can understand you. In some tourist areas, you can expect to come across school children who are eager to practice their English skills with you. They may even ask you to sign a form or pose for a photo with you as proof that this conversation took place! There are community English-language education centres in various cities around the country that are in need of supplies and volunteers, so spending an afternoon letting some learners practice their English skills with you is a great way to meet people in an authentic environment.\n\n**Thai** is widely understood by Laotians, largely because Thai media is popular in the country. If you speak Thai, you should have no problems getting around independently and picking up the language easily.\n\nThere are two main ways to turn the Lao script into the Latin alphabet: either **French-style** spellings like *Houeisay*, or **English-style** spellings like *Huay Xai*. While government documents seem to prefer the French style, the English spellings are becoming more common and are used on Wikivoyage. Two quick pronunciation tips: Vientiane is actually pronounced \"Wiang Chan\", and the letter *x* is *always* read as an \"s\".\n\nHill tribes in the northern third of the country speak a plethora of local languages, the largest ethnic group being the Hmong who speak their own language unrelated to Lao.\n\nLike in neighboring Thailand, local pronunciation of the English word \"twenty\" often causes confusion by sounding a lot like \"seventy\".", "word_count": 368}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk009", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Laos is one of the easiest countries in the world to visit — virtually everyone, save for citizens of a few countries, can enter the country visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival.\n\n### Visas\n\nCitizens of the following countries may enter Laos for tourism purposes without a visa. The maximum permitted stay is:\n\n14 days: Myanmar\n15 days: Japan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria\n30 days: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam\n\nSee the **Lao Immigration** website for more details.\n\nIf you are a dual national and want to use the passport of a visa-waived country, make sure to use the same passport to exit the previous country of your trip, especially when using land crossings. The immigration officers will look for an exit stamp to put their entry stamp next to it (which is hard to justify by anything other than aesthetic considerations) and thus insist on using the same passport, which in turn will require paying for a visa-on-arrival (see below).\n\nAs of September 1, 2025, all nationalities are required to fill out an online arrival form prior to entering Laos: https://immigration.gov.la/en/registration/arrival/arrival-info\n\nVisitors of all other nationalities require a visa.\nthumb|Lao entry and exit stamps\n\n#### Visa on arrival\n\nLaos immigration provides a list of border checkpoints where a visa on arrival is available.\nA visa on arrival is available to most nationalities entering at the airports in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet. Some (but not all) land border crossings also offer a visa on arrival, see below for listings. One passport photo is required although you may be able to pay a US$1 fee for your passport photo to be scanned upon arrival.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk010", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "As of Jan 2025, the price of a visa on arrival is US$40 for all except the following nationalities (this excludes countries not eligible for visa on arrival and those with a visa exemption for 30 days):\n\nChina, Vietnam: US$20\n All other Nationals: US$40\n\nIf you do not have any US dollars, as of Jan 2025 the immigration officer will quote you a price in kip that is 50% higher than paying in USD. This is because the government is desperate for foreign currency due to the rampant inflation of the kip. Paying in Thai baht (1,500 baht ~ US$47 in Jan 2019) is possible too, but the mark-up means that travellers should try to bring US dollars.\n\nAdditionally, a service fee \"out of office hours/overtime\" surcharge at the Friendship Bridge in Vientiane or Huay Xai may be applicable. This should be US$1 / 20 Thai Baht / 10k Kip (as of Jan 2025).\n\n#### e-Visa\n\nAll visitors eligible for visa on arrival can alternatively apply for an **e-Visa** in advance online. The eVisa website has its own list of border checkpoints that accept eVisas for entry into Laos.\nThe website requires you to submit a scan of your passport and a passport photo, and processing time is 3 business days. However, e-Visas are around *US$15 more expensive* than visa on arrival, and can only be used at a *limited number of border crossings* (as of 2023, only 8 border crossings accept eVisas, including all 3 international airports and the Boten railway station for those taking the train from Kunming). The only benefit of the e-Visa is convenience, since you can head straight to the special immigration counter set aside for those with eVisas, and you don't need to queue up, sort out passport photos and pay cash on arrival.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk011", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### Visa from the embassy\n\nFinally, visas can be obtained in advance from Lao embassies or consulates. The fee varies by nationality and by embassy; US$40 is common, although can be as high as US$63 (in Kuala Lumpur). Processing times also vary; 2-3 days is typical, though you may be able to pay an extra small amount (around US$5) to receive the visa in as little as one hour. In Phnom Penh the travel agencies can arrange the visa the same day (but may charge as much as US$58) while getting it from the embassy takes a few days. Getting a visa from the embassy in Bangkok costs around 1,400 baht for most nationalities, plus 200 baht more for \"same day\" processing. *It's cheaper and quicker to get a visa at the border*, but if you're not eligible for VOA, going via an embassy is the only option.\n\n#### Visa extension\n\nEntry permit extensions (sometimes referred to as \"visa extensions\") are available from the Immigration Department in Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Tha Khaek, the police station in Pakse, and possibly other cities. Extensions are not possible in Laos' second city, Savannakhet, although you can do a border run from there to Thailand to get a new 30-day visa. The cost is US$2.50 per day plus a small \"form fee\" ranging between 5,000 kip (Pakse) to 30,000 kip (Vientiane). The process is very easy; turn up in the early morning with your passport and one photo; fill in a form (in Luang Prabang they do this for you) and come back in the afternoon to collect your passport with an extension stamp in it. If you do this in the late morning or later in the day, your passport will be ready the following day.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk012", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you want to extend for longer than two weeks and are near the Thai border, it can be more cost effective to nip over the border (entry to Thailand is free for most Western nationalities) and return immediately to get a new 30-day Lao visa since *a 30-day visa extension costs US$75*.\n\n### By plane\n\nDirect flights to Laos are limited and often expensive. As of early 2025, the country has three airports with international flights. There are other airports which have the title of 'international airport' but which do not have any international flights, and are not listed here.\n\nThose two international airports are served by national carrier Lao Airlines and a few others, including Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways (Luang Prabang only) and Vietnam Airlines. Some seats on flights of Vietnam Airlines are reserved for Lao Airlines (codesharing/better price).\n - [[Pakse]] International Airport\n\nSingapore Airlines's low-cost subsidiary Scoot has regular service from Singapore to Vientiane, with prices usually starting from 100 USD if you buy tickets a month in advance and going to almost 500 USD for economy class as of the beginning of 2025. There are also regular round trip flights from Vientiane to Kunming, China and Incheon, South Korea on Lao Airlines and other carriers. Low-cost carrier AirAsia flies to Vientiane from Kuala Lumpur three times a week, and offers daily flights from Bangkok to Luang Prabang. Another cheap option for getting to Vientiane is to fly to Udon Thani in Thailand with discount airlines Nok Air or Air Asia and connect to Nong Khai and the Friendship Bridge via shuttle service directly from the airport (40 minutes); from here, Vientiane is away.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk013", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Tickets sell out quick and should be purchased as early as possible, but as of 2025 they are only released for sale 3 days in advance and even then there might be few tickets still available. You might have to book a late train after dark, so missing the view. You can buy via an agent such as your accommodation (for a fee), at rail ticket offices in bigger cities ($1 fee), or directly using the LCR Ticket mobile app and no fee (provided you have a Lao, Thai or Chinese mobile number that is needed to register).\n\nTrain security is very strict, sharp items such as knives, scissors or razor blades, aerosol sprays, are strictly banned. Liquids over 100ml may also be a problem, water can be taken if you drink some to prove its drinking water. To avoid loosing such items at check-in security, you can cheaply send such items to your next destination using a logistics delivery service.\n\n#### From China\n\nA railway line from Kunming, China to Vientiane opened in December 2021. Passing through Pu'er, Jinghong, Mengla and crossing the Chinese border at Mohan/Boten, the line serves Luang Namtha, Muang Xay, Muang Nga, Luang Prabang, Muang Kasi, Vang Vieng, Phonhong and Vientiane on the Laotian side.\n\nCross-border passenger services began operating in April 2023. The train runs at speeds of up to 160 km/h, covering the distance from Kunming to Vientiane in 10 hr 30 min, though you will have to get off the train at Mohan and Boten to complete Chinese and Lao border formalities respectively. Note that Boten railway station does *not* provide visas on arrival, though eVisas are accepted for entry.\nthumb|Khamsavath station ticket office\n\n#### From Thailand", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk014", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Direct ovenight sleeper train services from Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat station to the Vientiane's new, more centrally located Khamsavath station started on July 19, 2024. There is also a second, shorter day train from Udon Thani to Vientiane. All passengers have to alight at Nong Khai to complete Thai customs and immigration formalities, while Lao border inspections take place on arrival Khamsavath station. Note that eVisas are *not* accepted for entry at Khamsavath station, but you can obtain a visa-on-arrival here.\n\nThe old station at Thanaleng no longer operates and the cross-border shuttles from Nong Khai have been terminated.\n\nAn extension of the aforementioned Kunming-Vientiane high-speed railway line onward to Bangkok is under construction, but completion is still years away.\n\n### By land\n\nMost border crossings open for foreigners, with an indication where visas on arrival can be issued, are listed on the web site of the National Tourism Administration. This list is unfortunately incomplete.\n\n#### [[Cambodia]]\n\nVisa on arrival for Laos is available when entering from Cambodia overland, with an official \"Visa on Arrival\" office incorporated into the checkpoint (note: as of August 2025, this does not seem to be the case any more, at least with Vireak Buntham buses all fees appear to be official, and the facilitator does not ask for anything on top of the ticket price). The nearest Cambodian town is Stung Treng, and the border is a 60- to 90-minute bus ride away. The border is lightly used, with almost no onward public transport available once you passed through immigration, therefore it may be wise to book transport all the way to Ban Nakasang or Pakse depending on your destination.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk015", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you're buying a ticket from a destination in Cambodia to one in Laos (the most common being Siem Reap/Phnom Penh to Don Det) and you want the border crossing to be as trouble-free as possible, accept that you will have to additional bribes that usually add up to at least US$5 on top of the visa-on-arrival fee applicable to your nationality, current as of 2019. Not including possible mark-ups for the visa, the charge consists of:\n\n$2 \"stamp fee\" on the Lao side\n $2 \"stamp fee\" on the Cambodian side\n $1 \"assistance fee\" for the facilitator as he gets the Lao visa and entry stamp for you\n\nThis is the best case scenario: the \"assistance fee\" may also be $2 depending on the bus company used, and/or the facilitator will demand a higher total to account for the inflated visa price. While you can decline to use a facilitator, you will nevertheless be asked for the unofficial fees by the immigration officials, as the facilitator merely collects them on their behalf to \"speed up the process\".\n\n**It is possible to at least circumvent the unofficial fees on the Cambodian side** – several reports suggest that the Cambodian officials are quick to give in if you refuse to pay the fee; it seems easiest if you can convince them that you simply don't have any dollars left.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk016", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Little public information exists for the Lao side. The officials may or may not try to overcharge you for the visa on arrival. For Canadians, this can oddly result in paying *less* than the official price of US$42. One traveller reported that officials, at least on one occasion, seemed to use US$30 (the official price for most eligible nationalities) as the baseline for passports from Western countries, but then asked a Canadian citizen for US$35 instead. Whatever your nationality, do make sure you know what visa price applies to your passport before you hop on the bus to this border.\n\nFurthermore, it is unknown whether one can refuse to pay the inflated visa fee (if applicable), the unofficial stamp fee, be successful *and* be still able to find onward transport to Ban Nakasang, although this definitely works the other way round (coming from Laos, going to Cambodia). Getting held up by not paying will likely see your bus leave without you.\n\nFor those who want to stand their ground and don't mind possibly having to wait for a few hours in order to beat corruption, there is an option worth trying: Book your transport with any operator to the border only, ideally from Stung Treng with a departure in the morning to have time on your side. Enquire with travel agencies or online to book your *separate* onward transport from the border going North, and make sure it only leaves two to three hours after your arrival at the border. Alternatively, if you're feeling the stars are aligned in your favour, you may be able to catch a minivan or tuk-tuk that some travellers use to get independently to the border from the Lao side; it's unlikely to happen after lunchtime though.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk017", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Another pitfall of the journey to the border is that you will often have four changes of bus (number depending on your origin – some vehicles are small minibuses where passengers have to sit on each other's laps), and hours spent driving to remote guesthouses to pick up backpackers. Asia Van Transfer (AVT) was set up by a foreign expat and has built a good reputation for not letting passengers wait unnecessarily, not letting them change vehicles and also not overbooking seats, but this means they're also a bit pricier; also, they cannot drive into Laos.\n\nIf your luggage has been sent in a bus you are not on, because of \"lack of space\", it will sometimes disappear. The \"King of Bus Company\" is known to do this.\nthumb|Boten immigration office\n\n#### [[China]]\n\nThe land crossing between Mengla (Yunnan) and Boten (Laos) is open to foreigners and visa on arrival is possible or you can get in advance at the Lao consulate in Kunming. In addition to the train (above), a daily bus service operates from Mengla to Luang Namtha and Udomxai. Buses from Mengla to Luang Namtha leave from the North bus station. The first bus leaves around 08:00 and costs about ¥40.\n\nGenerally speaking, it is not possible for independent travellers to cross from China to Laos via the Mekong River, not least because there's a chunk of Myanmar in the middle and the Lao checkpoint at Xieng Kok does not issue visas on arrival. Travel agents in China run irregular cruises from Jinghong (China) via Chiang Saen (Thailand) to Huay Xai (Laos), but schedules are erratic and prices expensive.\n\n#### [[Myanmar]]", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk018", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge is the sole official border crossing between Myanmar and Laos. The bridge connects Shan State in Myanmar with Luang Namtha Province in Laos, in a *very* remote region for both countries, and information on when (or whether) the crossing is operating is hard to find. The official Laos immigration website indicates that a Laotian visa on arrival is available at the border, though Laotian eVisas are not accepted for entry.\n\n#### [[Thailand]]", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk019", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are eight border crossings open to all between Thailand and Laos. From north to south:\nthumb|The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge\n Huay Xai/Chiang Khong: Using the fourth Friendship Bridge is the usual overland route to Luang Prabang, easy bus connections to Chiang Rai and points beyond on the Thai side.\n Ban Pangmon/Ban Huak: Located on a remote mountainous road. If you want to travel overland from Chiang Mai to Hanoi overland via Laos, this is one possible route. **No visa on arrival**.\n Muang Ngeun/Huay Kon: At 152 km, the nearest to Nan, a worthwhile destination in Northern Thailand. Also, 40 km away from Pak Beng in Laos. Walking distance between checkposts, and very friendly officers due apparently to very low tourist use.\n Nam Hueng/Tha Li: Easily reached via Loei on the Thai side, but 378 km of poorly sealed road away from Luang Prabang. **No visa on arrival**. The 'mandatory' tuktuk service, charging 30 baht for a several minutes' ride across the bridge, can be avoided with some assertiveness.\n Vientiane/Nong Khai: The first Friendship Bridge and the busiest of crossing of them all. Direct trains from Bangkok now available. Bring 100 THB per person to get the paper arrival form (this is probably a scam, but still necessary).\n Paksan/Bueng Kan: **No visa on arrival**.\n Tha Khaek/Nakhon Phanom: The third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.\n Savannakhet/Mukdahan: The second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.\n Vang Tao/Chong Mek: On the route from Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani.\n**Note:** if crossing from Thailand into Laos by motorcycle, it is necessary to hire a customs agent to expedite the process. Individuals or groups trying to cross the border with motorcycles will be refused entry by customs if they do not use an agent.\n\n#### [[Vietnam]]\n\nThere are several border crossings that can be used by foreigners. These include:", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk020", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get in", "text": "Donsavanh - Lao Bao - to Savannakhet\n Keo Nua Pass\n Lak Sao - to Khammouan Province\n Nam Can - to Plain of Jars\n Na Meo - to Sam Neua\n Pang Hok - Tay Trang (close to Dien Bien Phu, the site of a famous battle where the French were defeated by Vietnamese independence fighters)\n Bo Y (nearest town on Vietnamese side being Ngoc Hoi and on Lao side Attapeu)\n Nam Phao - Cau Treo\nTravellers have reported a 10,000 kip \"weekend fee\" being charged by Lao border officials for crossing on the weekend. No receipt is given.\n\n#### By motorbike from Vietnam\n\nThe border crossing on a Vietnamese motorbike at Tay Trang is very easy and straightforward. You arrive after going over some hills at the Vietnamese border where very friendly guys handle your case easily and with no hassle. You fill out the form for \"temporary export of a vehicle\", show them the Vietnamese registration card for the bike (which is usually in the owners name) and pay US$10. Then you proceed to the police, show the papers to them and get the exit stamp.\n\nYou then have to drive for 6 km over the mountains to get to the Lao checkpoint. There some not-so-friendly border guards there who expect you to pay 5,000 kip for general fees and 25,000 kip for importing a vehicle. They fill out the form themselves.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk021", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Travel within Laos has historically been slow, often painful and sometimes dangerous, but the 2021 opening of a railway spanning the northern half of the country and the ongoing construction of a parallel expressway is set to shake things up. Nevertheless, if travelling off the beaten track, allow plenty of leeway in your schedule for the near-inevitable delays, cancellations and breakdowns.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|A Lao Airlines ATR 72 aircraft\nIn addition to the three international airports mentioned in the Get In section (Vientiane, Luang Prabang & Pakse), there are domestic airports with scheduled flights to Vientiane in Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomsay, Xieng Khouang (flights to/from Luang Prabang too), Sam Neua & Sayaboury.\n\nState carrier Lao Airlines and private company Lao Skyway have a near-duopoly on domestic flights. Lao Airlines managed a 13-year accident-free streak until an October 2013 crash near Pakse resulted in 49 fatalities, the country's deadliest air disaster. The fairly comprehensive network is by far the fastest and, relatively speaking, the safest way of reaching many parts of the country, although the new train line (see below) offers real competition.\n\nAs of 2024, tickets for the popular Vientiane-Luang Prabang route (40 minutes) can be had for as little as US$34 (Lao Skyway), but the new high-speed train connects these two places for only US$12, and takes 2 hours. Otherwise, the third option is 10 hours on a bus.\n\nLao Skyway flies the Xian MA60, a Chinese copy of the Soviet An-24, and these flights are frequently cancelled without warning if the weather is bad or not enough passengers show up. Lao Skyway also flies 14-passenger Cessnas from Vientiane to Phongsali and Sainyabuli (*Xayabouly*) most days. These airfields are rudimentary and flights are cancelled at the drop of a hat if weather is less than perfect.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk022", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "New airline Lanexang Airways flies ATR 72s between Vientiane and Xieng Khouang (serving Phonsavan).\n\nThe air transport situation in Laos is ever-changing, with scheduled routes and airports opening and closing with little to no notice, especially in the more remote regions. Flights on light aircraft are often cancelled without notice if flying conditions are not good. The best way to contact airlines in Laos is via WhatsApp. Lao Airlines can be contacted via WhatsApp on +856 20 55 541 626 during business hours for the latest schedule information.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|EMU high-speed train at Vang Vieng station\nthumb|First-class seating\n\nThe first railway in Laos, the Chinese-built **Lao-China Railway** crossing the northern half of the country from the Chinese border at Mohan/Boten via Muang Xay, Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng to Vientiane opened in December 2021.\n\nBoth electric/high-speed (EMU) and ordinary trains operate, with the EMU services at up to 160 km/h per hour, making this by far the fastest and most comfortable way to travel in Laos. As of April 2023, there is one high-speed \"C\" train and one normal \"K\" train per daily running the length of the line, with one additional high-speed \"C\" service between Vientiane and Luang Prabang only, and two additional \"C\" trains running between Vientiane and Muang Xai only. The international \"D\" train between Vientiane and Kunming may also be ridden by domestic passengers, but skips the stop at Muang Xai. that Sample travel times and fares in kip as of October 2022:\n\nFrom To Travel time EMU1st class EMU2nd class Ordinary\n Vientiane Vang Vieng 1 hour 200,000 (US$12) 128,000 (US$7) 90,000 (US$5)\n Vientiane Luang Prabang 2 hours 381,000 (US$22) 241,000 (US$14) 170,000 (US$10)\n Vientiane Boten 3.5 hours 645,000 (US$38) 406,000 (US$24) 290,000 (US$17)", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk023", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "The railway is *very* popular, and demand always exceeds capacity. The easiest way to buy tickets is to go through a travel agency, who will handle all the paperwork for a service charge of around US$4 per ticket. Discover Laos has a good reputation and can deliver tickets to your hotel in advance. Baolau offers fully self-service online ticketing, but you will still have to pick up paper tickets in person. First class gets you wider seats (2+2 seating instead of 2+3) but very little else; however, it often has better availability than second class.\n\nIf you wish to try your luck, a new ticket office opened in Vientiane Center in February 2022, where you can purchase tickets for trains up to 3 days in advance. As of February 2022, only tickets to Boten, Muang Xai and Luang Prabang can be bought at the Vientiane Center office, while tickets for all other destinations can only be bought at the station. The Vientiane Center office also does not accept cash payments, and payments can only be made using a UnionPay credit card, Chinese mobile payment apps WeChat Pay or Alipay, or the OnePay mobile payment platform of Lao bank BCEL. You can use the Loca app to pay with OnePay, but will pay a large commission, or you can try using the LCR Tickets app which allegedly accepts Visa cards. Despite all this hassle, you may still end up empty-handed, as scalpers frequently buy up all the tickets. If you're in a pinch, try your luck at the train station, as unsold same day tickets may reappear in the inventory.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk024", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "The trains operate on the same model as Chinese high-speed railways, with strict ID and security checks at the entrance to train stations. Baggage will be scanned and while liquids are OK, pressurized sprays or alcohol will be confiscated. Facilities at stations are minimal to non-existent, and so bring everything you'll need with you, including food and drink. Some trains have trolleys hawking banana chips and sandwiches, but you can't count on these either. More info here.\n\nOne final quirk: **be sure to hold onto your ticket**, as you'll need to show it again on leaving the station or risk getting fined the price of a new one!\n\n### By road\n\n#### By public transport\n\nThe main routes connecting Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet are sealed, and the transport options on these roads include bus, minibus, and converted truck. The first expressway in Laos now connects Vientiane to Vang Vieng and is slowly being extended north towards Luang Prabang, but the full length to the Chinese border will not be ready until the 2030s.\n\nA good source of bus timetables, including some basic town maps, can be found at hobomaps.com\n\nSome common routes through Laos include:", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk025", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Vientiane to Vang Vieng – now connected by a direct 113 km expressway, less than 1.5 hours by direct VIP bus\n Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang – amazing scenery through the mountains, at the cost of 8 hours on a windy road in poor condition\n Luang Prabang to Phonsavan - minibus: a cramped 7-hour trip, so arrive early to get good seats as near the front as possible; beautiful views so secure a window seat if possible. Bus is 8 hours.\n Phonsavan to Sam Neua - converted pickup truck: beautiful views but lots of hills and bends, hence possible nausea\n Sam Neua to Muang Ngoi - minivan: a 12-hour trip along a horrible road; good views and a necessary evil, but fun if you're prepared to get a few knocks and talk to some Lao people who are, after all, in the same boat\n Muang Ngoi to Luang Namtha - Minivan: 10-hour trip (Oudomxay); OK road, much travelled by backpackers\n Luang Namtha to Huay Xai - once a muddy nightmare, now rebuilt and one of the best roads in Laos, 3-4 hours\n Paksan to Phonsavan - there is a new road between Borikham and Tha Thom. In Tha Thom there is a guesthouse with 8 rooms. The forest between Borikham and Tha Thom is still in a very good condition, but it's a dirt road. Since most of the forest in Laos has gone this is one of the last roads surrounded by primary forest. There are substantial road works being undertaken by the Vietnamese between Paksan and Phonsavan and there can be some fairly long delays along the way. Even though the trip is only a couple of hundred kilometres it can take 16-20 hr to traverse this section.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk026", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Local transport (less than 20 km) in Laos consists of tuk-tuks, jumbos, and sky labs, motorised three or four wheelers. A jumbo should cost no more than 20,000 kip for short journeys of 1-5 km.\n\n**Women** should be aware that often during lengthy bus or minibus trips there is no opportunity to go to the toilet during breaks, so it may be advisable to wear a wide skirt.\n\nGenerally, it is best to ask your accommodation to organise bus tickets for you. That way, you'll know what type of bus you're going be on. Touts at bus stations rarely speak English so confusion reigns there. Overnight bus seats are quite narrow, so if you want a bit of space, just buy two tickets. They're cheap! Finally, much of the information online about buses in Laos is incorrect or out of date. This includes listings on 12go. It is best to assess the situation on the ground once you arrive. A good rule for Laos is **do** **not buy bus tickets online.** The information is either incorrect, missing, or the prices are vastly inflated!\n\n#### By ride-hailing\n\nThe main ride-hailing app in Laos is **Loca**. You can pay by cash or use a credit card to pay through the Loca app. Other useful apps include **Xanh** for EV taxis, **Kokkok** for EV taxis and tuktuks, and **InDrive** for petrol taxis. Well-known ride-hailing apps found elsewhere in Southeast Asia, such as Grab, **do not** operate in Laos.\n\n#### By songthaew", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk027", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "A **songthaew** (ສອງແຖວ) is a truck-based vehicle with a pair of bench seats in the back, one on either side — hence the name, which means \"two rows\" in Lao. In English tourist literature, they're occasionally called \"minibuses\". By far the most common type is based on a pick-up truck and has a roof and open sides. If coming from Thailand, you'll already be familiar with these. Larger types start life as small lorries, and may have windows, and an additional central bench; smaller types are converted micro-vans, with a front bench facing backwards and a rear bench facing forwards.\n\nSongthaews are operated extensively as local buses, and generally are the most economical way to travel shorter distances. There also as taxis; sometimes the same vehicle will be used for both. Be careful if asking a songthaew to take you to someplace if there is nobody in the back, the driver might charge you the taxi price. In this case, check the price before embarking.\n\nthumb|right|300px|Jumbo in [[Vientiane]]\n\n#### By tuk-tuk/jumbo\n\nThe names **tuk-tuk** and **jumbo** are used to describe a wide variety of small/lightweight vehicles. The vast majority have three wheels; some are entirely purpose-built, others are partially based on motorcycles. A tuk-tuk organisation in Vientiane controls the prices that tourists are expected to pay for point to point destinations. The rates are negotiable, and you should agree on the price prior to getting on the tuk tuk.\n\n#### By motorbike", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk028", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorbike travel in Laos is not without risks but the rewards of truly independent travel are great. There are several rental shops in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Thakhek, but bike rentals in other parts of the country may be scarce. The quality of machines varies from shop to shop so you need to fully inspect it before you head out on the road.\n\nThere are a variety of bikes available in Laos, depending on which town and rental shop you go to. Some available include the Honda Baja or XR 250 dual-purpose bikes, Ko Lao 110 cc and the usual Honda Win/Dream 110 cc. Helmets are not only mandatory in the country but a valuable item in a place where traffic rules are made up by the minute. Police have been cracking down on people who do not have a motorcycle licence, so expect to pay a fine if caught without one.\n\n**Google Maps** is not good for navigation in Laos. Many roads are not shown. Use a free app based on OpenStreetMap, such as Maps.me (iPhone/Android), OsmAnd (iPhone/Android) or OrganicMaps (iPhone/Android). Magic Earth (Android) is also good.\n\nStandard petrol costs 24,000 kip/L as of Nov 2025. Keep up to date with prices here.\n\n#### By bicycle", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk029", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycling is a great option with quiet roads. Laos offers wonderful remote areas to discover, little traveled roads, friendly people and even some companies providing cycling tours with the help of professional guides all over the country. The more time people seem to spend in Laos the more they seem to like the quiet travel mood and the opportunity to actually be in contact with the people along the way. Good maps are available about the roads in Laos and all major routes are with good roads. In normal distances you find simple guest houses and in all major towns better choices and restaurant. Food is not a problem as long as you remember to carry some stuff with you. Tropical fruits and noodle soup are the standards.\n\nThere are a number of local operators running a wide selection of guided mountain biking tours through Laos. If you travel on your own, there are very few proper bike shops outside of Vientiane. Cycling enthusiasts will want to bring their bicycle and gear with them, as the quality of bicycles and gear available in Laos will not be up to your standards.\n\n### By boat\n\nBoats along the Mekong and its tributaries are useful shortcuts for the horrible roads, although as the road network improves river services are slowly drying up, and many of the remaining services only run in the wet season, when the Mekong floods and becomes more navigable. Huay Xai on the border with Thailand to Luang Prabang and travel south of Pakse are the main routes still in use.\n\nThere are so-called *slow boats* and **speedboats** - the latter being tiny lightweight craft equipped with powerful motors that literally skid across the water at high speeds.\n\n#### By slow boat", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk030", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many people go from Chiang Khong in Thailand via the border town of Huay Xai down the Mekong to the marvelous city of Luang Prabang. The ride takes two days and is very scenic. However, it is also a floating backpacker ghetto, cramped, hot, and with only bad food available. On the second day, the novelty wears off. Recommended to bring a good (long) read, something soft for the wooden benches and plenty of patience. More recent reports indicate that the slow boats now have used car seats, and serve pre-fab food, which is not great, but certainly sufficient.\n\nSlow boats generally stop in the village of Pakbeng for the night. Some boat packages will include accommodation, although this is usually at an inflated rate. Save money by arranging a hotel in the town, there are plenty. Do not listen to the touts that say they are all full. Most shops in Pakbeng shut down at about 22:00, so expect to get a good sleep before the second day's boat ride. This is also a good place to stock up on supplies.\n\n#### By speedboat\n\nthumb|300 px|right|Speedboat barreling down the Nam Ou river", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk031", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "An attractive choice for some, with a 6-hour ride from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, as compared to the two-day trip on the slow boat, but not for the faint of heart. Expect to be crammed into a modified canoe made for 4, with 10 other people, along with all the luggage somehow packed in. Expect to sit on the floor of the canoe, as there are no seats, with your knees against your chin for the full 6 hours. Expect an incredibly loud engine inches behind your head. Expect the engine to break a few times, and stops for delays to fix it. That being said, when this ride finally ends, if you make it with no trouble, you will never be happier to get to Luang Prabang. Stories of small, overloaded speedboats sinking or hitting driftwood are common, but if you are a good swimmer, take comfort in the fact that you can see both shores throughout the entire trip. So, as you see, choosing between the slow boat and the speedboat is a hard call, based mostly upon your comfort level; would you prefer a slow unpleasant trip, or a much faster, but more dangerous unpleasant trip. Either way, the scenery along the way is gorgeous and unexploited, and Luang Prabang is an incredible city, worth a thousand of these journeys.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk032", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "Though helpful in saving time, speedboats are not without danger: built to carry 8 passengers, they are often overloaded; the engine noise is well above a healthy level, which could be a serious hazard to your ears, especially if you are on the boat for a long time. It also causes considerable noise pollution, scaring wildlife and spoiling the peaceful river life. Fatalities resulting from capsize due to incautious maneuvering, or hitting floating logs or hidden rocks, have been reported but some claim and are exaggerated by competing slow boat owners. However, the vast majority of speedboat users have no serious problems. If you are taller than the average Laotian are a bit claustrophobic and/or have inflexible leg muscles you are guaranteed an extremely uncomfortable experience for several endless hours.\n\nSuggestions for those who decide to take the risk:\n get one of the front seats as they allow you to stretch your legs and are far from the noisy motor\n wear helmets and life jackets; reconsider your journey if these are not provided\n bring a coat in the cold season, the strong wind can make you feel cold even at temperatures of 25 °C.\n bring earplugs\n protect water-sensitive equipment as you might get wet.\n\n### By car\n\nRoad accidents are common. The main causes are poor vehicle maintenance and careless driving. Road conditions vary and some roads are in very poor condition. A large proportion of road accident victims were travelling on a tuk-tuk, motorcycle or scooter. Driving at night is particularly dangerous because of the lack of street lights, speeding drivers and disregard for traffic rules. Heavy traffic at night can be downright dangerous.\n\nBe vigilant when travelling on motorways because of the occasional robbery of vehicles, especially in rural areas.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk033", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Get around", "text": "When hiring a vehicle, remember that they are rarely insured. Check the condition of the vehicle at the time of rental with the rental company. The hirer is responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle. Damage claims in the event of an accident are often high. Do not leave your passport as a deposit, but a copy of your passport.", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk034", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "See", "text": "Unlike neighboring Thailand or Vietnam, Laos never underwent a massive economic development, neither during colonisation nor even after the liberalisation of the communist economy. As result, one key attraction of Laos is that most of the country, with the increasing exception of capital Vientiane, retains a relaxed, laid back feel with minimal presence of modern architecture or international brands and food chains. How much longer this will last is open to much speculation, especially with Chinese investment flooding in the 2020s, but meanwhile, it makes it a truly special and unique country to visit.\n\n### Natural attractions\n\nthumb|right|300px|The mountains of Oudomxay Province in Northern Laos\n\nThe term wilderness is much misused, but it can truly be applied to much of Laos. The mighty Mekong River and its tributaries together create perhaps the single most important geographic feature of the country. Its meandering path in the North has created some of the most stunning limestone karsts anywhere on earth. The backpacker-central town of Vang Vieng is a commonly used base for exploring the karsts. Further north, the terrain becomes more hilly, and the jungle less explored. Luang Namtha is the far-northern town which makes the best base for those visitors who really want to see the truly remote Lao wilderness, and directly experience the lifestyles of the various hill tribes in this region.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk035", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "See", "text": "In direct contrast to Northern Laos, the Mekong delta lowlands in the South are perfectly flat. Si Phan Don (*four thousand islands*) is a great base for experiencing what is surely the most chilled and relaxed region anywhere in Asia. Experiencing local village life, taking it all in and doing absolutely nothing should be the aim here. There are though some wonderful river-based sights, including the largest falls anywhere in Southeast Asia. If you are lucky you might get a close-up view of a Mekong pink dolphin.\n\n### Cultural attractions\n\nthumb|300px|right|Wat Sen at [[Luang Prabang]]\n\nIn this most Buddhist of nations, it is no surprise that temples are a key attraction. In the capital city of Vientiane, the three-layered gilded stupa of Pha That Luang is the national symbol and most important religious monument in the country, dating from the 16th century. There are numerous other beautiful temples which on their own make a stay in the capital city vital for any visitor to Laos.\n\nThe *whole* of the ancient capital of Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Befitting that status, it is a unique city. Beautifully preserved gilded temples with their attendant orange-robed monks mold almost seamlessly with traditional wooden Lao houses and grand properties from the French colonial era. Spotlessly clean streets with a thriving café culture on the banks of the Mekong and the Nam Khan, complete the picture of a city which is almost too pleasant to be true.\n\nthumb|right|300px|The [[Plain of Jars]] near [[Phonsavan]]", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk036", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "See", "text": "The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape dating from the Iron Age. Thousands of stone jars are scattered over a large area of the low foothills near Phonsavan. The main archaeological theory is that the jars formed part of Iron Age burial rituals in the area, but this is by no means proven, and a great deal of mystery remains. The American air force extensively bombed the area during the Secret War of the 1960s, and much unexploded ordinance from that period remains uncleared, leaving large sections of the site closed to the public. When that process is complete it is very likely this will be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even so, enough information has been lost in the destruction that we may likely never know the purpose of the jars.\n\nVat Phu (Wat Phu) is a ruined Hindu Khmer temple complex in Champasak province. It dates from the 12th century and visitors who have been to Angkor Wat will notice the similarities.\n\nthumb|right|300px|Vat Phu, [[Champasak]]\n\n### Recent history", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk037", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "See", "text": "The town of Vieng Xai provides a striking insight in the recent history of not only Laos, but the whole of Indochina. In 1964, the US began intensive bombing of the Lao communist movement – Pathet Lao – bases in Xieng Khouang. Under much bombardment, the Pathet Lao moved east to Vieng Xai and established their headquarters in the limestone karst cave networks around the town. A whole 'Hidden City' was established which supported around 20,000 people. During nine years of almost constant American bombing, the Pathet Lao sheltered in these caves, and lived in a largely subterranean environment. Schools, hospitals and markets as well as government ministries, a radio station, a theatre and military barracks were all hidden in the caves. After the 1973 ceasefire, Vieng Xai briefly became the capital of Laos, before that function was moved to Vientiane in 1975. There are formal daily tours of the caves, as well as other evidence of that era in the town.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk038", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Do", "text": "- Herbal Sauna\n\n - Hiking\n\n - Kayaking\n\n - Rock Climbing\n\n - Tubing\n\n **Self-guided journeys by road**. The most common trips travellers do in Laos, usually on a motorbike, are the **Bolaven Loop** and the **Thakhek Loop**, both in Southern Laos.\n+Comparing the Bolaven and Thakhek loops\n\nBolaven Loop\nThakhek Loop\n**Attractions**\nWaterfalls, hiking trails, scenic vistas, and coffee plantations\nCaves, cold rivers and pools, scenic drives, and rock climbing opportunities.\n**Duration**\nTypically 3-8 days (most commonly 4 days)\nTypically 4-10 days (most commonly 7 days)\n**Activities**\nHiking, exploring scenic spots, visiting coffee plantations. Great for amateur photographers and lovers of coffee. The loop offers a variety of dining options and accommodation, with guesthouses and motels ranging from 100k-150k kip (Jan 2025). The route is relatively easy, although some dirt roads may pose challenges for novice riders on motorbikes or motor scooters.\nPicturesque riding, cave exploration, swimming, wild camping opportunities, and passing through friendly local villages. The improved roads facilitate easy access to destinations such as Xe Bang Fai Cave. The region is also renowned for world-class rock climbing.\n**Example route**\nPDF map link\nGoogle Maps link\n\nBoth loops feature areas that are very much on the tourist trail, particularly in the south-western sections, making them suitable for short-term visitors. Day trips are feasible.\n\nFor individuals with only two days available, a three-day visit may be rushed and less enjoyable, especially for those preferring a relaxed pace.\n\nShorter driving intervals (20-80 minutes) with frequent breaks are recommended due to varying road conditions and personal comfort. Poorer road conditions can be mentally taxing and necessitate more frequent rest stops. If you are not experienced on a motorbike, take a course or get plenty of practice because you do not want to have an accident out here. Overall, either loop offers numerous appealing stopping points, particularly during the dry season (November-February), although shorter days and cold nights may reduce driving enjoyment.", "word_count": 318}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk039", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Lao currency is the **kip** (ກີບ), pronounced *kiip* and officially denoted by the symbol \"**₭**\" (ISO code: **LAK**). Wikivoyage articles use *kip* to denote the currency.\n\nthumb|100,000 kip note\n\nThe largest note is 100,000 kip (less than US$5). Other notes in common circulation are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 kip. Withdrawing the maximum of 2,500,000 kip from an ATM could result in 25 100,000-kip notes. This makes carrying large quantities of kip quite inconvenient. In speech, it's common to drop the final three zeroes, so \"20\" means 20,000.\n\nThe Lao kip is a **non-convertible** currency, meaning that outside border towns, it's very hard to exchange kip in other countries, and rates can be poor even in Laos. It's best to exchange any excess kip before leaving the country. There are currency exchange counters at both Vientiane Airport and the Nong Khai-Vientiane land border (straight and right of the Visa on Arrival desk).\n\nLaos experienced a **currency crisis** between 2020 and 2024, with annual inflation of 25% and the kip crashing from 9000 to 21000 to the US dollar. Prices leveled off in 2025, but expect most prices in kip listed online to be out of date.\n\n#### Foreign currencies\n\nThe only official currency of Laos is the kip, but foreign currencies are commonly used. Some hotels and tour agencies request payment in US dollars, and many touristy shops will also happily accept the euro. If you use a credit card, payment will often be in US dollars. In remote places, only kip is accepted and no ATMs will be available, so plan ahead. As of 2024, the vast majority of shops will accept Thai baht, however they will give you a poor exchange rate. Convert your baht into kip to make it go further.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk040", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "#### ATMs\n\nThere are ATMs in Vientiane and other major cities including Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Savannakhet, Tha Khaek, Pakse and Luang Namtha. BCEL is the largest bank in the country, accepts Visa/Cirrus and MasterCard/Maestro. BCEL ATMs are more or less everywhere and are marked on Google Maps. They will always give you the current interbank exchange rate. This bank is also the best at returning you your card if the machine eats it!\nthumb|LDB ATM in Savannakhet\n\n**ATM withdrawal limits and withdrawal fees** for foreign cards of major banks as of Jan 2025:\n BCEL – withdrawal fee 30,000 kip, maximum limit 2,000,000 kip (fee works out to 1.5% of maximum withdrawal)\n Phonsavan Bank – withdrawal fee 20,000 kip, maximum limit 1,000,000 kip (fee works out to 2% of maximum withdrawal)\n LDB – withdrawal fee 30,000 kip\n JDB – withdrawal fee 15,000 kip plus 3% of the transaction\n Indochina Bank – withdrawal fee 40,000 kip, maximum limit 3,000,000 kip (fee works out to 1.3% of maximum withdrawal)\n Laoviet Bank – withdrawal fee 3% of the transaction, maximum limit 2,000,000 kip\n\nExpats living in Vientiane routinely get cash from ATMs in Nong Khai or Udon Thani in Thailand, where the maximum per transaction is around 20,000 baht, or ten times what you'll get in Laos.\n\nThe foreign conversion rate at ATMs is usually about 5-7% worse than the market rate. So, it may make sense to exchange cash instead considering that at some border crossings from Thailand you get Lao kip at the market rate.\n\n#### Cash advance", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk041", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "Getting a cash advance from your credit card is a bad deal in Laos. Many banks, travel agents and guest houses will allow you to take out cash from a credit card as a cash advance. This usually occurs by withdrawing the money in US dollars from the card as a cash advance; the card issuer will usually charge a fee (about 3%), the Lao bank involved will charge about 3%, and then the agent providing the cash advance might or might not charge another 3%, and then the amount is converted from US dollars to kip at an unfavourable rate, costing another 5% or so (6-10% for Visa card holders). Thus, these transactions are much more expensive than the typical charge for withdrawing cash from ATMs in other countries. Getting a cash advance in US dollars and changing it to kip might save money compared to bringing euros with you to Laos.\n\n#### Cash\n\nThe use of ATMs and credit cards in banks is subject to computer operation, staff computer skills, power cuts, telephone network breakdowns, holidays, etc. A few visitors have been forced out of the country prematurely as they couldn't withdraw funds to continue their travels. Always bring some cash. Changing money can be next to impossible outside major towns.\n\n#### Money exchange", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk042", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "Banks give good rates, and private exchange booths are common in the major tourist areas. The **US dollar** is by far the best currency to exchange, with tight spreads and competitive rates. Thai baht and other hard currencies like euros and Canadian dollars are accepted, but the rates will be worse. If you need to change money on a Sunday, look for jewellery shops. Nearly all of these act as money-changers, although the rates will not be as good as banks. For example, in November 2024 Phongsavanh Bank offered 15,000 kip for 1 CAD while other banks and money-changers offered 14,000 kip or less. However, don't be surprised if your country's currency cannot be exchanged in Laos.\n\nTry to bring the newest and shiniest notes you can, since money changers will reject bills that have even small marks and tears. If this happens, try a different money changer. Only change money at well-lit, reputable-looking establishments. US banknotes must be dated 2009 or newer.\n\n### Mobile payment apps\n\nApps such as BCEL One, Ezykip and LocaPay are popular throughout Laos, the latter two not requiring a local bank account or residency. As of 2025, even food stalls at night markets accept payment via these apps – scan their QR code.\n\nEzykip is indeed easy to use and has no transaction fees, just a top-up fee (2.1–2.8% depending on the card, clearly displayed before charging) when adding funds to your account, which makes it competitive with getting cash from ATMs, depending on the ATM’s fees and your bank’s withdrawal fees. It allows you to transfer any remaining balance back into your account. This is very convenient since leftover Lao kip is difficult to change back into other currencies at the end of your trip.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk043", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "LocaPay, as of August 2025, does not allow top-ups but charges the card directly for each transaction, adding a 3% + 5,000 kip fee, which is atrocious, especially for small transactions. Moreover, it charges your card in USD, converting from kip using some fictional rate, so the actual commission can get to double digits. This option should only be used as a fallback.\n\nBCEL One seems to have a relatively low 1.5% fee but appears to require a local bank account, which most tourists won’t be able to open. The app itself requests multiple unnecessary permissions like making phone calls.\n\n### Shopping hours\n\nMany shops start an hour's lunch break at noon, and some maintain the (now abolished) official French two-hour break. Nearly everything is closed on Sundays, except restaurants and many shops.\n\n### Costs\n\nPrices tend to be lower in Laos than in neighboring countries, though standards might be lower as well. Prices are lower in smaller towns and villages than in tourist centers like Luang Prabang and Vientiane. For some products Laos is more expensive than Thailand and Cambodia as most goods, petrol, and food is imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Unlike in Thailand, temples in Luang Prabang are not free, but typically cost US$1-2 to visit. In Vientiane only the more famous temples charge an entry fee.\n\nA budget of US$40 a day is a good rule of thumb, though it's possible to get by on far less. Excluding transport costs, living on US$15/day isn't difficult.\n\nAs of early 2025, travellers can expect to pay the following prices:\n+Accommodation prices (2025, US$)\nType\nPrice per night\nBed in hostel dorm\n$5-10\nPrivate room in hostel\n$20-30\nMid-range hotel room, fan\nUp to $30\nMid-range hotel room, A/C\nUp to $50", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk044", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "+Food and drink prices (2025, US$)\nItem\nDescription\nPrice\nStreet food\nMeal\n$1-2\nRestaurant meal\nTwo courses + drink\n$10\nCheap daily food budget\nMostly street food\n$7 per day\nMixed daily food budget\nMixture of street food and restaurants\n$15 per day\nHigh-end daily food budget\nNice restaurants only\n$50 per day\nCooking your own food\nNot worth it!\n$10 per meal\nSmall Beerlao\nCheaper in shops\n$1\n\n+Transport prices (2025, US$)\nRoute\nMode\nPrice\nVientiane - Pakse\nSleeper bus\n$21\nVientiane - Luang Prabang\nTrain\n$29\nVientiane - Luang Prabang\nMinivan (not recommended)\n$16\nVang Vieng - Luang Prabang\nTrain\n$18\nVang Vieng - Luang Prabang\nBus (not recommended)\n$18\nPakse - Si Phan Don\nBus & boat combined ticket\n$11\nHuay Xai - Luang Prabang\n2 day slow boat\n$30\nPakse - Savannakhet\nMinivan\n$15\nLuang Prabang - Pakse\nFlight\n$60\nLocal transport\nTuk-tuk\n$1-5\n\n### What to buy\n\nTypical Lao dresses in cheap machine-made fabric can be made to order. Expect to pay around US$5 for the fabric and US$2 for labour. Handmade Lao silk is one of the most attractive things to buy. The talat sao (Morning Market) in Vientiane has dozens of small shops selling handmade silk scarves or wall hangings from US$5 upwards depending on quality, intricacy of design and size. Beware cheap synthetic fabrics sold as silk imported from China and Vietnam. Be skeptical when shopping for items made from \"antique silk\". They are usually fake, but still attractive, but don't pay more than US$30-50. In markets, bargaining is always expected. Do not lose your cool: just keep smiling.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk045", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Buy", "text": "You will notice a lot of single-use plastic waste in Laos. Bring a reusable bag for your shopping, and say \"*bor torn nyang*\" (no plastic bag), otherwise the shopkeeper will automatically put anything you buy in a single-use plastic bag.\n\nSmokers will note the prices for tobacco in Laos are among the very cheapest in the entire Asia-Pacific region. This is due to an excise agreement that is set to expire in 2026.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk046", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Clockwise from top right: ''Tam maak hung'' papaya salad, sticky rice in a ''tip khao'' basket and fresh lettuce leaves\n\nLao food is one of the underappreciated cuisines of the world and can be a real highlight' of your trip. It's very similar to the Isaan food of northeastern Thailand: very spicy, more often bitter than sweet, and using lots of fresh herbs and raw vegetables. These cool your mouth when the chilli gets too intense.\n\nRice is the staple carbohydrate. The standard kind is **sticky rice** (ເຂົ້າໜຽວ *khao niaow*), eaten by hand from small baskets called *tip khao*. Using your right hand, never your left, pinch off a bit, roll into flat disk, dip or wrap and munch away. Sticky rice is so important culturally that it's the standard offering to monks and the Lao even call themselves \"children of sticky rice\" (*luk khao niaow*).\n\nThe national dish is ***laap*** (ລາບ, also *larb*), a \"salad\" of minced meat or fish mixed with herbs, spices, lime juice and, more often than not, blistering amounts of chili. Unlike Thai *larb*, the Lao version can use raw meat (*dip*) instead of cooked meat (*suk*), and if prepared with seafood makes a tasty, if spicy, carpaccio.\n\nAnother Lao invention is ***tam maak hung*** (ຕໍາຫມາກຫຸ່ງ), the spicy green papaya salad known as *som tam* in Thailand, but which the Lao like to dress with fermented crab (ປູດອງ *pudem*) and a chunky, intense fish sauce called ***pa daek*** (ປາແດກ), resulting in a stronger flavour than the milder, sweeter Thai style. Other popular dishes include *ping kai*, spicy grilled chicken, and *mok pa*, fish steamed in a banana leaf.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk047", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Sausages** are very popular in Laos. The most common is *sai oua* (ໄສ້ອັ່ວ), a grilled sausage made from pork, sticky rice and herbs, which pairs beautifully with the local beer and is a fixture at drinking holes. More challenging to the Western palate are *sai gork* (ໄສ້ກອກ) and *naem* (ແໜມ), both prepared by fermenting raw pork and thus quite sour in taste. Liver sausages, known as *mam*, are also popular.\n\nLaos also boasts a range of local desserts. ***Kanom kok*** is a small, spherical pudding made from coconut milk, tapioca and rice flour. ***Sang kaya mayru*** is a pumpkin filled with a sweet custard and then steamed. The pumpkin itself is also sweet and this delicious dessert is worth seeking out. Sticky rice with mango or durian is also a popular snack.\n\nIn addition to purely Lao food, culinary imports from other countries are common. *Khao chī pate* (ເຂົ້າຈີ່ປາເຕ້), French baguettes stuffed with pâté, and *foe* (pho) noodles from China are both ubiquitous snacks particularly popular at breakfast. *Foe* can refer to both thin rice noodles (Vietnamese pho), and to the wide flat noodles that would be called *guay tiow* in Thailand.\n\nLao green papaya salad.jpg|Lao-style ''tam mak hung'' green papaya salad\nLaoFood LarbNeua.JPG|Minty, chilli-laden goodness: ''laap neua'' beef salad\nLao sausage with dip.jpg|Grilled ''sai oua'' sausage with a chilli-garlic-fish sauce dip\nKhao ji patte breakfast.jpg|Khao chi pâté (Lao-style banh mi) with a spicy sauce on the side\n\n### Where to eat\n\nthumb|Colorful buffet at the Luang Prabang night market", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk048", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vientiane and Luang Prabang have many Western-style restaurants serving up classy versions of Lao food and international favorites. **French food** is well represented, with bakeries particularly common. The influx of Chinese investment has also brought along many authentic **Chinese restaurants**, although navigating the menus in these can be a challenge if you speak neither Chinese nor Lao.\n\nAny Lao town of size has a **night market** (ຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ *talat kangkhun*) operating from sunset until 22:00 or so, serving up cheap and easy meals, with lots of barbecued stuff on a stick and beer. Much of this food is prepared and kept in less than hygienic conditions though, so use some caution when choosing what to eat. **Morning markets** (ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ *talat sao*) have lighter fare, with noodles and stuffed baguettes particularly common.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nLaos is a **tough place** if you have any sort of dietary restrictions. Outside a few dedicated vegan places in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, fish and shrimp based sauces are ubiquitous and even Buddhist monks typically eat meat. Dairy is easily avoided though, since it's never used in traditional Lao cooking.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk049", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|You can't visit Laos without having a Beerlao\nThe national drink of Laos is the ubiquitous and tasty **Beerlao**, made with Laotian jasmine rice and one of the few Lao exports. It maintains an almost mythical status among travellers and beer aficionados. The yellow logo with its tiger-head silhouette can be seen everywhere, and a large 640 ml bottle shouldn't cost more than US$1-2 in restaurants. In addition to the original, it's now available in a constellation of flavors: light, dark, white (wheat), even an IPA!\n\nRice spirit, known as **lao-lao**, is everywhere and at less than US$0.30 per 750 ml bottle is the cheapest way to get drunk. Beware, as quality and distilling standards vary wildly: in 2024, six backpackers died from methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. It's best to stick to commercially produced and sealed stuff.\n\nLao **coffee** (*kaafeh*) is recognised to be of very high quality. It's grown on the Bolaven Plateau in the south; the best brand is *Lao Mountain Coffee*. Unlike Thai coffees, Lao coffee is not flavoured with ground tamarind seed. To make sure you aren't fed overpriced Nescafé instead, be sure to ask for *kaafeh thung*. By default in lower end establishments, *kaafeh lao* comes with sugar and condensed milk; black coffee is *kaafeh dam*, coffee with milk (but often non-dairy creamer) is *kaafeh nom*.\n\nFresh **coconut juice** is delicious, and **soymilk** at convenience stores is surprisingly tasty, nutritious, and inexpensive.\n\nThere is not much nightlife outside of Vientiane and Vang Vieng, although nearly all restaurants serve beer. Some places may be so laid-back that they will expect you to keep track of what you have drunk, with the odd guest house asking how much you have drunk during your stay upon check out. Due to the nation-wide curfew, bars will close by 23:00.", "word_count": 301}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk050", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Guesthouses on [[Don Det]]\nAccommodation options outside the Mekong Valley's main tourist spots are limited to basic hotels and guesthouses, but there are many budget and mid-priced hotels and guesthouses and quite a few fancy hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Pakse has the Champasak Palace. Rooms usually start from 60,000 kip (Jan 2023).\n\n**There are very few hotels that can be booked online**. This may lead those about the visit for the first time to conclude that there is very little accommodation in Laos, but this is not the case. The vast majority of accommodation simply has no online presence beyond a Google Maps listing, if that. Booking.com and Agoda (in that order) seem to have the most listings for Laos, but these will be on the soulless corporate-owned end of the spectrum, with prices to match. The best way to find accommodation is to do it once you arrive. If you are concerned about not having anywhere to stay, make a booking online for your first night only, and find a nice guesthouse for a nice price once you arrive.\n\nIt is worth noting that wild camping (public areas / riverbanks / forests) is not legal in Laos.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk051", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Work", "text": "Lao work permits are difficult to obtain, unless you can secure employment with one of the numerous NGOs. English teaching is possible but poorly paid (US$5-8/hour).\n\nOne of the most interesting ways to get to know a country, and which has become increasingly popular, is to **volunteer**.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk052", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|225x225px|Laos traffic police are known to pull over tourists riding scooters and demand cash payments for road rules allegedly broken\nLaos in general is a safe country, in part because violent crime is punished to a significant extent by the government. This said, petty crime remains a concern.\n\nIn accordance with the law, you are required to have an identification document on you at all times, and the police have the legal right to ask you for it. What this means: a copy of your national identity card or your passport. If they ask you for it, just give it to them. Failing to produce an identity document on request will result in a fine.\n\n### Corruption", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk053", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Laos is one of the **most corrupt countries** in the world. Bribery, cronyism, and nepotism are not unheard of and have become accepted practices. Most government employees (policemen, border officials, etc.) do not earn much more than minimum wage. Their low wages are compounded by the ongoing inflation of the Laos kip (23% in 2024 alone) which means imported goods are rapidly rising in price. Foreign tourists are most exposed to corruption when entering or exiting Laos through a land border, and when driving a scooter or motorbike through a built-up area. To avoid being made to pay a bribe, watch what the locals do at border checkpoints. Owing to the volumes of people, bribes at land crossings tend to be small (a few USD). When you rent a scooter, ask at the rental shop which intersections are known to be favoured by corrupt police who lie in wait to pull over foreigners and accuse them of a made-up infraction of the road rules. Traffic police bribes seem to be around 200,000-400,000 kip as of 2026. If it happens to you, it is an expense which you can easily afford but it represents a windfall to the corrupt official. Try not to let it ruin your day.\n\n### Crime\n\nLaos is generally a safe low-crime country.\n\nIf you are the victim of a crime in Laos, do not expect to be taken seriously; the Laotian justice system is inefficient, lacks accountability, corrupt, and is susceptible to political interference. Government officials, high-profile individuals (VIPs), and those with political connections generally enjoy impunity in Laos.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk054", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not expect any kind of reliable assistance from Laotian law enforcement authorities and do not expect them to solve your problems; their response to crimes is severely limited by bureaucracy, inadequate training, corruption, low salaries, and a lack of accountability. In addition, expect little to no help if you're not fluent in Lao.\n\nAs obvious as it may sound, always behave respectfully to law enforcement authorities, even if they happen to be rude or corrupt. Rudeness will only be responded to with rudeness.\n\n### Relationships\n\nForeigners are not allowed to stay in the homes of Laotian nationals or family members based in Laos without prior permission from the government. It is illegal to invite someone of the opposite sex to your hotel room. Hotel staff may call the police on you if you attempt to break this law. That said, you may notice foreigners with Lao partners while in Laos. If you find yourself in the same position, be discreet.\n\nRelationships between Laotian nationals and foreigners are not illegal, however, if you happen to find romance in Laos (which is highly unlikely for most people) you are supposed to submit a formal application to the authorities. Not doing so can result in legal penalties. Foreigners married to Laotians are required to have their marriage certificate authenticated at a Laotian embassy before travelling to Laos.\n\nAdultery is punishable by up to a year of imprisonment and a fine. If you've been accused of adultery, you and your partner will be prosecuted.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\n**Homosexuality** is legal in Laos. Public displays of affection between same-sex couples may be tolerated in large cities like Vientiane, but in smaller towns, homosexuality remains taboo, especially among the Hmong people.\n\n### Illegal substances", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk055", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Laos is at the center of the illegal drug trade; therefore, the country has a *huge problem* with illegal substances. At some point during the 1990s, it was believed the country was the largest opium producer in the world. Although the government has done a lot to stamp out the illegal drug trade, the country's remote geography, struggling and weak economy, and high level of corruption mean that the issue is very difficult to keep under control.\n\nThe following tips will come in handy:\n\nNever leave your food or drinks unattended, and always be careful when someone gives you food or a drink.\n Be wary of \"special\" or \"happy items\" in restaurants; such dishes may contain opiates.\n Be aware of your surroundings at all times; do not allow anyone to reach for your pockets or belongings.\n Never leave your belongings unattended, and always pay close attention.\n\n### Traffic conditions\n\nAlthough Laotian traffic laws are strict (at least on paper), driving by the majority of Laotians is *wild and reckless*.\n\nSpeeding, reckless passing, and failure to obey traffic laws are common, as is driving under the influence. In the event you end up in a car accident, do not attempt to flee the scene. It is punishable by up to *three years* in prison and a *fine up to 10,000,000 kip*.\n\n### Miscellaneous", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk056", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Landmines and unexploded ordnance** left over from the Vietnam War kills and maims hundreds of people every year. Laos is the most bombed country in history. Almost all of these occur in the eastern and northern parts of the country, especially near the border with Vietnam; there is no unexploded ordnance along the Mekong Valley tourist trail. Never enter areas marked as minefields and travel only on paved roads and well-worn paths. If you are unsure of which areas are safe, ask the locals.\n **Fake products** are very common. Laos is one place where Chinese or Thai companies dump sub-standard products. Similar to Myanmar, there are few if any laws preventing such trade.\n **Vaping is illegal** in Laos, so do not bring any e-cigarettes with you.\n **Methanol poisoning** kills and injures locals and foreign tourists alike every year in Southeast Asia, including in Laos. In November 2024, six foreign tourists died from methanol poisoning from drinking contaminated local spirits in Vang Vieng, with other tourists requiring hospitalisation in Bangkok. Do not trust opened bottles of spirits in a bar; the stuff in the Smirnoff bottle may not be Smirnoff at all. Commercially-prepared local spirits from a sealed bottle are safe.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk057", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Laos is on track to hit its goal of eliminating **malaria** by 2030, but there are still occasional outbreaks, particularly in the south (Savannakhet and beyond). Anti-malarials are recommended if visiting those areas for an extended period, but check with health professionals: there is also a high incidence of drug-resistant parasites in Laos. Other mosquito-borne diseases, such as **dengue**, can be life-threatening, so make sure you bring at least 25% DEET insect repellent and ensure that you sleep with mosquito protection like nets or at least a fan. Vientiane seems to be malaria-free but not dengue-free. The mosquitoes that are active during the day carry dengue and those that are active in the evening carry malaria. 25% DEET insect repellents are almost impossible to find in Laos, so bring some from your home country.\nthumb|A display of Tiger Head water and Beerlao in a shop in Vientiane. Note the similar logos\nThe usual precautions regarding food and water are needed. **Tap water** is not drinkable anywhere in Laos, but bottled water is cheap and widely available. In Laos, most bottled water is simply treated tap water, but quality can vary between brands. Tiger Head is recommended, which is made by the Laos Brewing Company (of Beerlao fame), and costing 5,000-6,000 kip. Thai-style roadside water kiosks that let you cheaply fill your own bottle with filtered water are not present in Laos. However, the communal water jars in temples, hotels and certain public buildings contain safe drinking water. Ask first.\n\nMedical care in Laos is limited owing to a lack of resources. Vientiane has several medical clinics are associated with European embassies, and there are several private hospitals in Vientiane that are run to Western standards. Otherwise, you probably have to go to Thailand for treatment of serious injuries and illnesses. Udon Thani and Chiang Mai are recommended if you are nearby. Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai might have suitable clinics, as well, and you can always fly to Bangkok direct from Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Pakse. Basically, if you are injured or get severely ill in Laos, and you are near the Thai border, get to Thailand as soon as possible.\n\nTravel insurance that includes cover for medical evacuation is strongly recommended. Remember: if you can't afford travel insurance, then you can't afford to travel.\n\n### HIV\n\nLaos had a population HIV rate of 0.4% in 2024. This low percentage does not equal low risk to you, so take the usual precautions against blood-borne illness.", "word_count": 415}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk058", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Wat Sainyaphum temple, [[Savannakhet]]\n\nDress respectfully (long trousers, sleeved shirts) when visiting temples and take your shoes off before entering temple buildings and private houses.\n\nAs with other Buddhist countries, showing the soles of your feet is very poor manners. Never touch any person on the head. Despite the prevalence of cheap alcohol, public drunkenness is considered disrespectful and a loss of face.\n\nThings in Laos happen slowly and rarely as scheduled. Keep your cool, as Lao people will find humour in any tourist showing anger. They will remain calm, and venting your anger will make everybody involved lose face and is certainly not going to expedite things, particularly if dealing with government bureaucracy.\n\n**Swastikas** are commonly seen at Buddhist temples. They are regarded as a sacred symbol, and have no connection to Nazism or anti-Semitism whatsoever, predating fascism in this part of the world by centuries. \n\n### Religion\n\nTheravada Buddhism is the dominant religion in Laos, and it plays an important role in Laotian society. Laotian men are generally expected to spend a certain amount of time living as a monk at least once in their lifetime.\n\nTry not to show any form of disrespect to Buddhism—inappropriately presenting Buddha or inappropriately behaving in a Buddhist temple is no laughing matter and will offend many.\n\nBuddhist monks are accorded a great deal of respect in Laos, so behave accordingly when you come face to face with a monk.\n\nWhen interacting with monks, keep the following rules in mind:\n\n Do not touch a monk if you are a woman. Monks are forbidden from touching women. \n Offer your seat to monks on public transport. Not doing so is considered extremely disrespectful. \n Do not offer a monk money; it is considered disrespectful. Monks are not allowed to accept, or even touch money. You should only offer food to a monk, and only in the morning, as monks are not allowed to eat after noon. If you want to donate money, go to a temple and put it into the donation box. \"Monks\" that accept money are fakes.\n Do not take a photograph of a monk unless they've given permission.\n If you are a woman, do not give anything directly to a monk. Put down what you want to give to a monk to let him pick it up, or give it to a man to pass to the monk on your behalf.\n Do not sit above a monk. Sit below them or kneel before them.\n\n### Politics\n\nDo not criticise, insult, or show any kind of disrespect to the government; this is punishable by up to *five years in prison* and a *very hefty fine*. Also, you should know that if the authorities feel you have \"disgraced or disgraced\" the country, you will *not be allowed* to leave. Being a foreigner will not exempt you from this law.", "word_count": 475}
+{"chunk_id": "laos::chunk059", "doc_id": "laos", "section": "Connect", "text": "Laos phone numbers have the format +856 20 654 321 where \"856\" is the country code for Laos. Numbers starting with 20 are mobile numbers, while all others are landlines.\n\nLaos Country Code is \"+856\".\nInternational Call Prefix is \"00\".\nLaos Call Prefix is \"0\".\nLaos articles here use the convention \"+856 xx xxxxxx\" except for emergency numbers which use local format with leading zero, \"0xx xxxxxx\"\n\n**Internet cafés** can be found in larger towns, however access speeds are usually painfully slow and cafe staffs have less knowledge. The most reliable connections are in Vientiane, and usually cost around 100 kip/minute, with the cheapest offering 4,000 kip/hour. However, Internet security is not guaranteed and computer viruses are abundant.\n\nIn most cases, **Wi-Fi** is the best option. Most Western-style cafés offer free Wi-Fi-access for customers. Most accommodations, even budget places in Vientiane, offer free Wi-Fi.\n\n**Mobile phone** usage in Laos has mushroomed, with four competing GSM operators. Two of these offer roaming services. Calling people on the same network is always cheaper than calling another network, but there is no clear market leader. Tourist and expats tend to prefer TPlus or M-phone (Laotel), while locals use any of the four networks.\n\n **Lao Telecom** has agreements with some 30 international networks. See roaming with Lao Telecom.\n **TPlus (formerly known as Beeline)** has agreements with over 100 International phone networks. Another popular choice, they also have low-cost international rate of 2,000 kip/minute to many countries, if you buy their SIM card and dial \"177\" instead of \"+\".\n **ETL Mobile** is known to have better coverage in rural and remote parts of Laos. However, in Laos \"better\" certainly does not mean \"everywhere\".\n **Unitel** is also available. It offers 5GB/30 day plans for 50,000 kip plus 30,000 kip for the SIM card (Mar 2020).\n\nLocal prepaid SIM cards can be purchased in various shops and stores, including at the airport in Vientiane (walk through to the Domestic Terminal to find a shop selling snacks and Unitel SIMs), without any paperwork.\n\n **Tourist SIM:** Since 2022, travellers can order a Laos tourist SIM card prior to their trip and get it delivered to their accommodation in Vientiane.\n\nAs another option, there is Thai coverage close to the Thai border (including a significant part of Vientiane), and Thai SIM cards and top-up cards can be bought in Laos; in addition, DeeDial International Call Cards are available. Thus, if you already have a Thai number, you can use the generally cheaper Thai network and/or avoid buying one more SIM. In addition, the advent of cheap \"neighboring country\" roaming packages from the \"big three\" carriers in Thailand (AIS, dtac, and True all have 99 baht/2GB data roaming packages for Laos valid for varying periods) means that Thai SIMs are cheap to use even away from the Thai coverage area. In addition, a True SIM will roam on Unitel, TPlus, and Lao Telecom, while a dtac SIM will roam on *all four* Lao networks, which given the lower roaming pricing these days, can be worth the premium over a local SIM limited to one network. However, if you do not have a Laos SIM, then you cannot sign up for the useful Laos apps that require a Laos phone number.\n\n**Postal service** in Laos is slow, but generally reliable. More reliable, but pricier options such as FedEx, DHL, and EMS exist in some areas.", "word_count": 563}
diff --git a/corpus/laos/metadata.json b/corpus/laos/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..497fc0f575222d85a80c2855f32557353fd79466
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/laos/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "laos",
+ "title": "Laos",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Laos",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 14880,
+ "listing_count": 6,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 60,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/lima/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/lima/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2e196305510c2cf56e42b6592e8b58fd47a45b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lima/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk000", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Lima** is the capital of Peru and its largest city. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the modern city is a curious mix of the modern mega city with some 'islands of modernity', large but orderly slum areas and colonial architecture in downtown. Lima was the seat of Spanish rule for 300 years, and as such it has wonderful churches, cloisters and monasteries.\n\nLima is the best place to try Peruvian cuisine, which has a huge variety of ingredients from the coast, mountain and Amazon regions. The cold sea current that passes Peru's long coast makes the sea very rich in fish and seafood.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk001", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Districts", "text": "The following pages include the province of Callao and the province of Lima and their districts", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk002", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Understand", "text": "Lima is a growing metropolis of about 11 million people. Many of these people have migrated from the highlands to find work in Lima, without success, leading to widespread poverty and unemployment, and sprawling shanty towns on the outskirts of the city.\n\nLima's pre-Hispanic and colonial architecture is beautiful and the city has several museums (such as the Museo Larco) that tells the story of a country with a long history that produced a large number of coastal and Andean civilizations (such as the Moche, Chavin, and the Incas) and many local cultures. There are several archaeological sites in and around the city (locally known as *huaca*).\n\n### Climate\n\nThe city is in a valley surrounded by an extremely arid desert, receiving on average no more than 3 cm of rain per year. The city is surprisingly green with many parks and trees, but all of them are artificially watered by the municipality! In the summer months, December to February, the weather is usually sunny and hot, with a UV index that is invariably extreme. Even a layer of factor 50 sun block won't offer protection for long, and it's recommended to stick to shaded areas as much as possible, which is problematic when visiting archaeological sites in the scorching sun. The rest of the year, the weather in Lima is overcast, and temperatures are between 20 - 30 C° during day time, which seems chillier when combined with the general dampness. Air pollution in the streets of Lima can be very bad due to a combination of weather and older poorly-maintained vehicles.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk003", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|A view of the main terminal at Jorge Chávez\n\n### By plane\n\nThe airport is well connected with most cities in South America, and with some North American and European cities. Flights arrive daily from Amsterdam Schiphol (), Bogotá, Madrid Barajas (), Medellín, Miami Airport (), Quito, Santiago and Toronto. There are also regular flights from Atlanta Airport (), Fort Lauderdale, Houston George Bush Airport (), Newark Liberty Airport () and London Gatwick ().\n\nLima is the hub for many national domestic flights and is served by LATAM, Jetsmart Perú, Sky Perú, and Star Perú (see below).\n\nThe airport has Wi-Fi (WIGO) for a fee.\n\n#### Airlines and destinations", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk004", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "**LATAM** *(formerly LAN & TAM Airlines)* - offers many international and domestic routes throughout the region, and to/from North America and Spain. It serves Antofagasta, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Barcelona, Bogotá, Brasília, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Cajamarca, Calama, Cali, Cancún, Cartagena, Chiclayo, Concepción, Córdoba, Cuzco, Foz do Iguaçu, Guayaquil, Havana, Ilo, Iquitos, Jaén, Jauja, Juliaca, La Paz, Los Angeles, Madrid, Medellín–JMC, Mendoza, Mexico City, Miami, Montego Bay, Montevideo, New York–JFK, Orlando, Piura, Porto Alegre, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Punta Cana, Quito, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Rosario, Salta, San José (CR), San Miguel de Tucumán, Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru, Santiago, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Tacna, Talara, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes\n **Avianca** *(formerly Taca Peru)* serves Bogota.\n Europe is served by Air Europa, British Airways, Air France, Iberia, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines\n USA is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and LATAM\n Canada is served by Air Canada\n Other Latin American airlines include Avianca (Bogota); Copa Airlines and Wingo (Panama City); and Aeroméxico (Mexico City)); Gol (São Paulo–Guarulhos); JetSmart (Antofagasta, Concepción, and Santiago); Sky Airlines/Sky Peru (Cancun, Miami, Santiago); Avior Airlines and Estelar Latinoamerica (Caracas); and Aerolíneas Argentinas (Buenos Aires)\n\nOther domestic carriers include:\n **ATSA** (Atalaya, Chachapoyas, Huánuco, Tingo María)\n **Jetsmart Peru** (Arequipa, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Piura, Tarapoto, Trujillo)\n **Star Peru** (Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Huanuco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Tarapoto)\n **SKY Peru** (Arequipa, Cuzco, Iquitos, Juliaca, Jauja, Piura, Pucallpa, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes)\n\n#### Arrival\n\nArrival at the airport can be chaotic. Most flights from overseas arrive in clumps either early in the morning or very late at night, which means that getting through immigration and customs can be tremendously time consuming; the time between arrival at the gate and exiting customs can range from 20-90 minutes.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk005", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "The area immediately outside of customs is typically crowded, full of people waiting for arriving passengers. It's not uncommon for entire families to show up to greet a returning family member and the crowd is further swelled by pre-booked car and taxi service drivers holding up signs with passengers' names; a large area where passengers can stand freely and scan the crowd to look for people and not be accosted has been cordoned off in front of the customs exit.\n\nAs soon as you go outside, you will be accosted by numerous aggressive taxi drivers. They are persistent and will keep bothering you as long as you are there. If you are looking for a bus or shuttle, figure out in advance where you need to go, and do not allow the taxi drivers to \"help\" you find it. If you have booked a rideshare (e.g. Uber), be aware that some taxi drivers may pretend to be your Uber driver, even holding up an Uber app on their phone. Ask for their name and verify it is the actual driver you booked, and check the license plate.\n\n#### Transit\n\nIf you are transiting through Lima, the airport has a separate hall for connecting international passengers, who need not pass through Peruvian immigration or customs, but will have to pass through a security checkpoint dedicated to screening connecting passengers before they can enter the secure area of the terminal where the international gates are located. Due to congestion, the airport often does not assign gates to flights until less than two hours before departure.\n\n#### Taxis\n\nBe wary of taxi drivers at the airport: if you need transportation from the airport you should avoid using the informal taxis outside that will accost you.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk006", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can hire a taxi and pay for it at the desks Green Taxi, Taxi365 and others inside the customs reception area at somewhat inflated fees, or book one ahead of time online with a reputable company. A trip to the Centro Historico from Green Taxi is S/55 (soles) (Feb 2018), or S/65 to Miraflores (Feb 2024). These certified companies are safe.\n\nOnce you leave the grounds of the airport, things get much cheaper rather rapidly and a trip to Miraflores shouldn't cost you any more than S/25-30, but it is not as safe. The area around the airport is unsafe in general and taxi drivers can be dangerous. The taxis waiting right outside the terminal but within the grounds are more safe than the ones outside and cheaper than the ones inside. Check out the tips for taking the taxi safely underneath.\n\nAlways make sure in which currency they are giving the price. 25 soles and 25 dollars is a *big* difference.\n\n#### Express airport bus\n\nThere is an hourly express bus between the airport and four stops in Miraflores. A one-way ticket costs 20 Soles. The last bus leaves at 10:00 PM.\n\n#### Car rentals\n\nCar rental is available at the airport via Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Sixt, as well as local car rental companies. Car rental booths for all companies (except Sixt, where a representative will meet you at the arrivals hall and will then take you to your vehicle) are located after baggage claim and customs but before the exit to the arrivals hall if arriving on an international flight, or right at the arrivals hall if arriving on a domestic flight.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk007", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "The AeroDirecto bus stops are on the airport grounds. This is a service of public buses to connect the city with its airport. As of July 2025, there are six routes available. To get closer to Miraflores you can take the \"Sur\" route bus. The area surrounding the airport is a bit dodgy. If travelling with all or any valuables and especially at night, it is recommended to take the Airport Express Lima bus instead, which will cost you US$12 for a return ticket or a taxi within the airport grounds, which costs about US$20 one way. The public bus to Miraflores takes 1-3 hours depending on traffic, while a taxi or Airport Express Lima should take under an hour.\n\nMost companies have their terminals lined up along Paseo de la Republica (north & south) in La Victoria, not Lima's nicest district. However. Other stations are in the outskirts of La Victoria (Av. Javier Prado and along Paseo de la Republica), which is better. There you find some of the more reputable companies like Cruz del Sur, Tepsa, Ormeño, Linea, ITTSA, Movil Tours, Flores and Civa. Some of the same companies have multiple terminals in La Victoria, service to Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte in Túpac Amaru in the northern part of town; and in/around Acotongo in the southern part of town.\n\nIf you are staying in the North Lima area or close to the airport, there is a modern bus terminal: Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte, which is very convenient. It should take you around 50 minutes to get there by AeroDirecto (which is the only public bus transportation that connects the airport with the city through six different routes). Take the \"Terminal Norte\" route to arrive in Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk008", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get in", "text": "Regular buses run up and down the roads *Panamericana Sur/Norte* (the local name for the Panamerican Highway), *Carretera Central*, *Interoceánica Sur*, *Interoceánica Norte*, amongst others:\n\nSouth: Pisco, Ica, Nazca, Arequipa, Tacna, Cuzco, Puerto Maldonado, Juliaca, Puno, Moquegua, Ilo.\n North: Huaraz, Chimbote, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Cajamarca & Tumbes.\n East: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco, Huánuco and Pucallpa.\n\n#### Companies and terminals\n\nSome of the major bus companies and their terminal locations:\n - Airport Express Lima\n\n- Caracol SA\n\n- Cial\n\n- Civa\n\n- Cromotex\n\n- Cruz del Sur\n\n- Excluciva\n\n- Transportes Flores\n\n- ITTSA\n\n- Linea\n\n- Movil Tours\n\n- Oltursa\n\n- Ormeño\n\n- Peru Hop\n\n- TEPSA\n\n### By train\n\nThe Peruvian rail network has been neglected for a long time and it is now used for freight and as a tourist attraction first and foremost. ferrocarril central runs the occasional passenger train from Huancayo.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk009", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transit\n\nthumb|The metro station Villa el Salvador\nLima's public transport network consists of a single metro line, modern buses, coasters and combis (which are called \"micros\" by the locals). The system can be confusing for foreign tourists.\n\n#### Metro\n\nThe - Lima Metro\n is a newish subway system that is being developed. As of 2022, only Line 1 exists; it serves 33 stations through 11 districts. It is an elevated line, which runs in the general north-south direction in the eastern part of the Lima metropolitan areas (2-3 km east of Lima's historical center and Miraflores), and, as such, does not serve many locations where tourists are likely to stay of visit.\n\nLine 2, to run in the east-west direction toward Callao, is under construction, and is expected to open in 2024; once it's opened, the attractiveness of the metro system for the visitors is likely to significantly increase.\n\n#### Bus rapid transit (Metropolitano)\n\nThe - Metropolitano\n is a modern rapid transport bus system, operated with fully wheelchair-accessible articulated (\"bendy\") buses. The stations are spaced at 1 km or so, and the buses mostly travel on their own dedicated lanes on expressways, which means that traveling on this system is indeed much faster than on regular buses.\n\nIt operates similarly to a subway system: you enter a station through a card-operated turnstile, travel as you wish within the system, and exit your destination system via a turnstile as well. (A card is not needed for exit, as the fare is flat is not distance-based).", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk010", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is basically one route, running from the northern suburbs to Lima's city center to the southern suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores, although it splits in two for a short stretch in the city center. There are different \"services\", however, which differ primarily at which stations they stop (express vs. limited stops vs. local), and at which branch they take around the downtown.\n\nRechargeable cards are used as tickets; as of February 2022, one pays S/4.5 for the card (non-refundable), and S/2.50 for an adult fare. The minimum initial purchase price of a card is S/5 (S/4.50 for the card, and S/0.50 toward fares).\n\nIf you only need to ride the system once or twice during your trip, and don't want to buy a card, you can try to offer S/2.50 to some passenger who's not to busy (e.g. walking out of the system) so that he or she puts the money on his or her card and then lets you into the station with his/her card. You don't need a card to leave the system.\n\nWhile some of the stations of the system have a single platform for northbound and southbound buses, some stations are physically split into two, one for northbound and the other for southbound buses; so make sure to read the signs before paying your fare to enter a station!\n\nAdditionally, the Metropolitano operates several \"feeder rutes\" (rutas alimentadoras) that run on local streets in the vicinity of the northern and southern terminals of the main line, bringing passengers to those terminals. Those routes are numbered started with AN- and AS-, respectively.\n\nThe public transport authority (Autoridad de Transporte Urbano) has a smartphone app on its web site with information about both the BRT routes and other municipal buses (see below).\n\n#### Municipal buses", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk011", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "Besides the BRT, the city also operates large modern buses along at least a couple of \"trunk routes\" (ruta troncal) or \"corridors\" (corredores). Known as **Corredores Complementarios**, they form part of an integrated transport system with the BRT. There are at 4 corridores, including:\n Blue (*corredor azul*): along avenues Tacna, Garcilaso, and Arequipa. Particularly useful for traveling between downtown Lima and San Isidro and Miraflores); routes 301 ... 306.\n Red (*corredor rojo*): along Javier Prado - La Marina - red). (routes 201 ... 257)\n Purple (*corredor morado*) (routes 404 ... 412)\n Yellow (*corredor amarillo*) (route 107)\n\nThe municipal buses have clearly labeled stops (paraderos), with signs and benches, at least along the main corridors. The bus route number are usually made out of three digits (e.g. 301). The fare is around S/1.5, and is supposed to be paid with a card as well. However, is a passenger does not have a card, the driver will take your cash and will scan his card as well.\n\nThere is more information on these buses in the Spanish Wikipedia page Corredores complementarios.\n\n#### Private buses\n\nUnfortunately, municipal buses run far from everywhere; they don't go anywhere near the airport. Thus, most of Lima is still served primarily by small private buses, provided by a variety of companies, whose numbers usually consist of one or two letters and some digits. For example, to go from the airport to Magdalena, Miraflores or Surco, you can take the big blue bus called \"Las Flores 18\" (IM-18). The fare is S/2 (Miraflores) or S/2.50 (Surco).", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk012", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "On the side of every bus or van you will see the names of the major avenues it travels along. While Google Maps will show you where bus stops are, this is merely a suggestion; stops are not physically marked, and a bus, in general, can stop anywhere the driver feels reasonable, based on the desires of the passengers inside and the apparent existence of potential passengers outside.\n\nConductors generally lean out the door of the bus (which typically never closes) yelling the destinations. If this doesn't make sense, ask the conductor. Also here be aware of pickpockets.\n\nWhile no \"official\" system map for the private buses seems to exist, a reasonably good directory of them is maintained at the\nWikiroutes site. There is also a smartphone app, Tu Ruta.\n\n### By taxi\n\nIf going further, a taxi ride between adjacent neighbourhoods costs about S/7-10 (US$2-3), if you speak Spanish well enough. A longer ride may cost from S/24-34 (US$7–10). A reasonable price for a taxi service between the airport and Miraflores is about S/65 (US$25), but may cost more from within the airport. By custom, taxis do not have meters; rather, the fare should be negotiated before boarding the taxi, or, if you order by phone, at booking time. If asking for a ride on the street, don't be fooled into getting into the cab before a rate is negotiated. Be very discerning about which taxi you choose and avoid hailing random cabs off the street as much as possible.\n\nCaution is advised when using taxis in Lima. In Lima the shared taxis are prohibited, but there are some *taxis colectivos pirata*, and it might not hurt to look if there's someone hiding on the back seat or the trunk before entering.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk013", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "First-time travellers to Peru need nerves of steel with regard to the traffic. Lima harbours the most lunatic drivers in the world and taxi drivers are among the worst.\n\nMaintenance of any mechanical object in Peru, (including taxis) is only performed once it has already ceased to function. Many cars are in very poor, even unsafe, condition. It's very common to see cars and taxis with missing windows or body parts.\n\nIf you don't know a trusted taxi, it's wise to use the public transport.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk014", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "*Tips for taking the taxi safely:*\n Do not show any valuables (including jewelry) and try to look a bit shabby.\n Speaking Spanish with confidence to your driver helps.\n Before asking for a taxi, ask several people (not taxi drivers) for the regular price. If the driver you talk to goes under that price, he might be looking to make money some other way.\n Tuck away your phone and passport where they will not look for it or see it.\n Know where you are going, know the route or at least pretend you know. Always look like you are paying attention but stay calm.\n If they start talking to you, mention that people are waiting for you, that you know local people and this is not your first time in Lima.\n Keep an eye on whether the driver is communicating with you.\n When in doubt, do not get in! There are literally a hundred others waiting for you. If you have doubts after entering the taxi, just get out somewhere it seems kind of safe and pay him full price. You can also ask him to take a different route that you choose.\n Never show the address or directions on your phone. Remember the address or write it down.\nThe taxi driver might take you to a location different from your destination where others are waiting and/or threaten you with a gun or knife. By the time you get to your hotel or hostel you will not have your passport, money, backpack or anything else for that matter. Even though most of the taxis in the center of the city are quite safe, be extra careful around the airport, in bad neighbourhoods and especially the bus stations.\n\n#### Rideshare", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk015", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "Both Cabify and Uber are available in Lima, although you may have to wait a few minutes at rush hour, or if your trip is too short. Rideshare is not allowed to the airport, however.\n\n### By bike\n\nBicycling is fairly popular in the Greater Lima. While the authorities of the region and those of some districts encourage bicycling, e.g. by creating bike lanes (cyclovia) on some streets, this activity remains somewhat dangerous due to the chaotic nature of the traffic throughout most of the metro area. Some of the routes, such as the one along the ocean shore, are quite pleasant though.\n\nThe service with a rather misleading name, City Bike Lima exists for renting bicycles from the bike parking stations. Unfortunately, it should be more properly named \"City Bike Miraflores\": as of early 2022 it only covers the single district of Miraflores. Plans exists for extending the service to the neighboring San Isidro.\n\nBike shops are fairly numerous, and are spread throughout the metro area. The greatest concentration of them appears to exist a few blocks east of downtown, in Jiron Luna Pizarro between Avenida Miguel Grau and Jiron Antonio Raimondi, and adjacent blocks. \n(For the map location, see, e.g., https://goo.gl/maps/vw6MnDUpGiQkREcw8 ). So this may be not a bad area to shop for spare parts, etc. This area is very busy though, as it also has a lot of bus stations; so watch out for pickpockets and other annoyances.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk016", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|The Avenida Paseo de la República, with the Metropolitano occupying the center median\nUnless you have experience driving in extremely challenging environments it is normally not recommended to drive around Lima. Traffic jams are common everywhere, the street network is sprawling and confusingly laid out, road quality in many parts of the city is poor, and Peruvians' reputation for being some of the world's worst drivers can precede them, even in the capital. However, having a car does give the flexibility to effectively go around the city's confusing public transit system, as well as access to harder-to-reach sites like Pachacamac and points further from the city.\n\nSome parts of Lima are easier to drive around than others. Navigating around central Lima with its colonial-era narrow streets, heavy pedestrian traffic (including several pedestrianized streets around the Centro Histórico and the many street vendors in the Barrio Chino) and lack of parking can be stressful, whereas driving around newer areas of the city like Miraflores, Barranco, San Borja or Santiago de Surco with their wider streets and segregated pedestrian traffic can be somewhat easier on the nerves. Conditions can change rapidly depending on where you are driving to and which part of Lima you find yourself in. Generally, if you are staying in an area with easy access to public transit and are going somewhere that is similarly accessible, it is advisable to ditch the car and take public transit instead.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk017", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Get around", "text": "Lima is the center of Peru's highway network, with key routes like the **Panamericana** (Norte and Sur) converging here. Other important routes include the **Costa Verde** which runs along the coast, **Avenida Paseo de la República** (nicknamed *El Zanjón*, or the Big Ditch) on which the Metropolitano runs, and the **Anillo Periférico** which runs around the city. Most highways are tolled along several stretches, and while tolls may be paid with credit cards they mostly don't work with foreign cards, so make sure to have cash handy. GPS navigation is generally accurate and can be very useful for navigating around Lima.\n\nPaid parking is available but expensive, usually around S/5-7 an hour, but many establishments (including tourist hotspots like the Museo Larco and Pachacamac) have free parking for guests, especially outside the city center. Designated street parking is common and usually free (exceptions include the area around the entrance to the Fortaleza del Real Felipe in Callao, where street parking is S/5 but is good for the whole day), but it is generally recommended to park in an enclosed parking garage to avoid any possible damage to your car. Despite the availability of street parking Lima drivers are notorious for parking on the street in no-parking zones, which are marked with yellow curbs and no parking signs. Even if there are cars parked on the street illegally and you see locals parking there, **don't do it**. Parking enforcement may be uneven, but it does happen and you risk your car being towed.\n\nExercise caution when driving around Lima late at night, as drivers are much more likely to violate traffic rules, including running red lights.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk018", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Plaza del Armas in the Historical Center of Lima\n The **historic downtown**, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n The **Circuito Mágico del Agua** (Magic Water Tour), a fountain and light display in the Parque de la Reserva and Parque Fermín Tangüis.\n The **Parque del Amor** (Lovers' Park) in Miraflores.\n The **Costa Verde**, Lima's impressive green coast stretches between San Miguel and Chorrillos.\n The tourist-friendly districts of **Barranco**, **Miraflores** and **Santiago de Surco**.\n The historical sites of **Pueblo Libre**, including the **Cruz del Viajero**, a monumental Christian cross dating from the era of the Conquistadores.\n Lima's best **shopping malls**: Plaza Norte, Jockey Plaza, Larcomar, Mall Aventura Plaza, Real Plaza Salaverry.\n **Historical churches**: Lima´s Cathedral, Santo Domingo (San Martín de Porres), Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa de Lima), Nazarenas (Señor de los Milagros), San Francisco.\n **Museums**: **Museo nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia** (Pueblo Libre), **Museo de Arte** (Paseo Colón), **Museo Pedro de Osma** (Barranco), **Museo Rafael Larco** (Pueblo Libre).\n **Parque Kennedy** in the center of Miraflores. This park is right in the entertainment district and is famous for the large number of cats that used to live there.\n**Huaca Pucllana** : Pre-Inca temple of the Lima culture (around 500 AD). This archaeological site is located in the Miraflores district, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Open every day except Tuesday and Sunday, from 09:00 to 15:30. Guided tour required. 15 soles / person.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk019", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The Temple of the Sun at Pachacamac\n\n - Bike Tours of Lima\n\n- The Lima Gourmet Company\n\n- Exquisito Perú\n\n - Folkloric dance shows\n\n - Mirabus bus and road train tours\n\n Surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean in Miraflores Beach\n Paragliding over the reefs of Miraflores Beach\n Visit Pachacamac in Lurin (1/2 hour from Miraflores), a sacred pre-Inca citadel.\n Go to Mamacona (Lurin, behind Pachacamac) and live the emotion of a live show with Caballo Peruano de paso and the beautiful dance Marinera. Tickets in Mirabus, central park of Miraflores.\n Visit Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, a pre-Inca ruins.", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk020", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Exchange\n\nIt is very hard to change money other than euros and U.S. dollars in Lima. You can't even change the currency from neighbouring countries (besides Chile) in normal money exchanges and banks. You might find more flexible exchange offices at the airport, but they often charge ridiculous service fees and exchange rates.\n\nChanging money in Miraflores can be done safely with cambistas on the street, but you must follow a few simple rules to avoid being cheated. First, make sure that the cambista is wearing the vest-uniform indicating that he or she is an authorized, licensed cambista. Always ask for the exchange rate (\"tipo de cambio\"). It is worth it to compare with several cambistas, especially if you are changing a significant amount of money. Some scammers do tricks with their calculators in your face and you won't notice, so the best way to know how much you should be getting is to bring a calculator yourself or use the one in your cellphone. Finally, make sure that the bills the cambista gives you have his or her seal (\"sello\") stamped on them - that way, if by chance one of them turns out to be counterfeit you can come back and complain. It is rare to get counterfeit notes from a cambista, but asking for the seal helps maintain the incentive for honesty and acts as insurance for you.\n\n### Withdraw\n\nAs anywhere, your best bet is usually to draw soles from an ATM. There are banks dotted all over Lima and some of them have guarded ATMs. Chances are the bank will charge you a fortune every time you withdraw money so it is better value to get as much as possible when making a withdrawal. BCP *cajeros* generally allow withdrawals up to S/700. Interbank has been known to charge insane fees (around US$18 for a US$50 transaction).\n\nAlways be cautious when using an ATM, as you may be followed and targeted for a robbery.\n\n### Shop\n\n#### Musical instruments\n\nIf you are interested in purchasing Peruvian folk musical instruments, there are stores selling charangos, quenas, antaras, etc., on Ca. Cantuarias. If you have the time, a number of these stores can help you find a teacher to learn how to play your purchase.\n\n#### Handicrafts\n\nYour best bet is to head for Av. Petit Thouars in Miraflores, which is full of handicrafts stores. Or, go to Av. La Marina in Pueblo Libre.\n\n#### Supermarkets\n\nThe main supermarkets are Wong, Metro, Plaza Vea, Vivanda and Tottus. These can be found all over.", "word_count": 426}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk021", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|250px|Ceviche de pulpo (Octopus ceviche) as prepared in the port of Callao, in Lima's coast.\n\nGastronomy has been, since the days of the Spanish vice royalty, an essential aspect of life in Lima. During the last few years, the city's dining reputation has experienced a huge leap in the eyes of the world, due in part to the International Summit of Gastronomy (Madrid Fusión) in 2006, which declared Lima to be the \"Gastronomy Capital of the Americas\". The offerings in Lima are nowadays more varied and cover a wide range of types and cuisines, both regional and international.\n\nDespite the wide range of choice in Lima's many restaurants, **ceviche** is surely number one on the list of dishes you must get to know, not only because it happens to be the Peruvian national dish, but because of its unparalleled delicious taste. With the increasing interest in the Peruvian cuisine, ceviche is quickly making its way onto tables all over the world. But if you want to enjoy the real thing, don't miss it during your stay here in ceviche's mecca. There is at least one cevichería in every neighbourhood. Moreover, most criollo restaurants include ceviche on their menus; indeed the dish is so popular that it is even offered at many of the more upscale *nouvelle-cuisine* restaurants.\n\nIn some places, Peruvian food tend to be spicy and heavy. Try it and ask if any dish is *picante* (spicy), which usually means it is going to be *very spicy*! A full meal may be really heavy even if it's perfectly nice and well-prepared with fresh ingredients.\n\nA second must goes to Chinese and Japanese cuisines, which predictably, have a strong Peruvian influence. Chifas - that is, Chinese restaurants- - which can be counted by the hundreds if not thousands, are usually down-to-earth neighbourhood eateries, offering a fare rich in seafood and chicken. Japanese restaurants, on the contrary, are less widespread, and more upscale and expensive. Their forte is, of course, a year-round supply of the freshest and most varied seafood.\n\nTravellers longing for a delicious falafel or shwarma sandwich will be pleased to learn there is an excellent café in Parque Kennedy that serves these types of Middle Eastern foods at reasonable prices.\n\nThere is a heavy presence of fast-food chains such as KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, Papa John's and local chain Bembos all over the city. Places such as Burger King, Chili's and TGI Friday's are scarce, but can be found around Miraflores. Also, you shouldn't miss Peruvian-style hamburgers at Bembos, and traditional Peruvian sandwiches in if you want to give your everyday fast-food a local twist.", "word_count": 438}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk022", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Pisco Sour** is the national drink of Peru, made with Pisco, a brandy made of grapes. It is highly recommended that all visitors to Peru try this drink at least once. Visitors might be amused to learn that Chileans claim Pisco Sour is their own, but it isn't true. There are some variations that are offered in several bars around town. Just be careful; the fresh and sweet flavour makes it very easy to drink too much, and you can so easily get drunk on it.\n**Inca Kola** is the most popular soft drink in Peru, one of few sodas that Coca Cola couldn't defeat (until they bought the company). It's a yellow-fruit flavored drink that tastes like *hierba luisa*.\n**Jugos** You can find great fresh fruit drinks all over Lima. Starting from S/0.50 for a fresh orange juice at the market to some more expensive ones. *Surtidos*, containing several different fruits, are quite tasty.\n**Chicha Morada** A refreshing, purple, non-alcoholic drink high in antioxidants. It's made by boiling purple corn with pineapple, cinnamon, clove, and sugar.\n**Emoliente** is a hot drink prepared with barley, herbs, sugar and lemon juice. It's often sold by street vendors at night for around S/1. It's especially great in winter.\n**Starbucks Coffee** is predictably widespread if you really need your daily caffeine fix.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk023", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Surco, Miraflores, San Borja and San Isidro are some of the nicest and safest areas in the city. Although they sometimes come a bit pricier than the old city center and other parts, some budget accommodation options do exist.\n\nKeep in mind that the old city may not be safe for tourists at night.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk024", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you witness a crime being committed, **do not** intervene unless you are really sure of what you are doing: many criminals, even pickpockets, carry guns, knives, etc., and may use them if feeling threatened.\n\nIn general, a tried-and-true technique for staying safe in Lima is to maintain a low profile. Leave your fancy watch at home, don't wear a fine suit and don't carry a laptop when hailing taxis on the street, and keep a relaxed, friendly, smiling attitude. If you do need to go out dressed like a tourist, call a taxi rather than hire one in the moment - the few moments you wait and the few extra soles you pay will be worth it.\n\n### Thieves\n\nWhile there is not much violent crime against tourists, opportunistic theft is rampant. Watch out for pickpockets constantly. If you carry a purse, a camera, a backpack or just a pair of sunglasses hang on to them at all times. In crowded areas, put your back pack on your front and hold shopping close to you. Just keep your eyes open and be aware of people around you. In any case, if someone extremely friendly approaches (even wanting to stretch your hand), just try not to talk that much, and they'll go away. It's normal to find polite people around trying to help tourists, but stay away from the extremely friendly ones.\n\n### Football violence", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk025", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Avoid the surroundings of football (soccer) stadiums before and after big matches, since \"barras bravas\" (hooligans) can be very violent. Ask for advice if you plan to go there or thereabouts. Very infrequently, but occasionally even in nicer tourist areas, gangs of young supporters of rival football clubs, or strikers involved in a labor dispute may brawl. If you find yourself caught in the middle of such a confrontation, just try to move out of the way, preferably behind a closed door. These youths generally do not carry lethal weapons, and the worst that is likely to happen is that someone will get hit with a rock before the police arrive to break it up.\n\n### Districts of note\n\nSome areas of Lima are safer than others: Miraflores and San Isidro have large populations of well-to-do and wealthy Peruvians, not to mention large tourist groups, so they have a large police presence to protect the population. Other districts, such as La Victoria, are much more dangerous. Visitors would be well advised to stay out of these areas unless accompanied by an experienced native or visiting busy areas during daylight hours. Downtown Lima is normally well patrolled but be careful anyway. Callao (the port is a separate city) is rather rough: ask for advice before going there if you plan to. The area around the airport is generally safe and well guarded but use common sense while carrying your luggage outside the airport.\n\n### Sex", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk026", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Staying safe for adults can also require an understanding of the sexual climate of Peru. In general Peru is a relatively conservative country in the sense of male and female roles, but at the same time Peruvians are extremely open to friendships with foreigners. Thus, some men can find themselves suddenly the object of flirtation by attractive young Peruvian women, but then be suddenly rejected for having violated some unwritten line of conduct in, say, discussion topics. Women can find themselves the object of unwanted looks and stares, but at the same time the risk of violence and rape is probably not as high as in many other countries.\n\nA problem that can arise is the Peruvian concept of the *pepera*, found at certain night clubs or pubs. Peperas are usually attractive women aged 16–25 that deliberately entice foreign tourists and then spike their drinks with sleeping pills and rob them once they're unconscious. Usually peperas work in groups of two, although smaller and larger groups exist as well. Male \"peperos\" also spike the drinks of women but robbery is often accompanied by rape. Peperas in general are found in dense tourist areas, such as Parque Kennedy in Miraflores as well as the Plaza de Armas in central Lima. One locale in particular that is notorious for dangerous peperas is the Tequila Rock discoteca in Miraflores and its sister in Pueblo Libre (La Marina). In July 2013 cases of drink spiking, working with bar staff, occurred in Albazos Restaurant y Pisco Bar (Berlin 172 in Miraflores).", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk027", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Another cultural concept worth learning is the \"brichera\" (or \"brichero\"). There are two types of bricheras: the first type are women that are genuinely looking to meet foreign men in the hopes of dating or marriage or even a quick fling. The second type are women that search for foreign men with the implicit purpose of exchanging sex for small gifts or money. This second type of brichera is risky, especially for foreigners lacking local sensibilities, since it involves prostitution. These bricheras do not use contraception reliably, and therefore pose a higher risk for transmitting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). If you decide to have a fling, make sure to use a condom.\n\n### Taxis\n\nAnother important point to be taken into consideration is that you should not pick up just any taxi, especially when you are leaving the airport. It is not unusual to hear news of taxi drivers cheating tourists by charging them S/100 or even S/200 for normal rides, which is well in excess of the maximum fare limit of S/50. Even though Peruvian taxi drivers normally increase their fares for gringos, it is not usually such a massive difference. It is most advisable to use one of the official taxi companies inside the airport with set fares to ensure your safety.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk028", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taxi drivers have also been known to participate in robberies, express kidnappings or serve as get away vehicles. While the overwhelming majority of Lima's taxistas are honest hard working people trying to make a living, you should be alert if you are going to hail a taxi on the street, especially if you appear to be wealthy or a foreigner. Your safest bet is to have your hotel call a taxi for you or keep the numbers of official taxi companies (\"radio taxis\", which are marked with registered numbers) handy. Lima's tourist information centers will be willing to call one for you as well.\n\nUber (largest presence), Cabify, InDrive, Beat and Easy (smallest presence) ride share apps are available in Lima, and almost always cheaper than taxis, they're also safer, and with Beat/InDrive you get a recommended rate, but you can negotiate over the app as well. Most Peruvians use ride share apps, as even they don't enjoy negotiating with taxi drivers (there are no taxi-meters).\n\n### Corrupt police\n\nWhile highly unlikely, some corrupt policemen might insist on seeing your passport to ‘verify when you entered the country’. Peru doesn't stamp passports anymore, so the victim shows the passport (if they are even carrying it on them) and of course, there will be no stamp from border control on the passport. The police will then threaten to take you to the police station or ‘fine’ you on the spot. They just want money, make sure you are nice but stand your ground. Ideally show a picture of your passport on your phone but don't show them your real passport.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk029", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\nThe majority of embassies are clustered in San Isidro with some located in the adjacent Jesús María, La Victoria, Miraflores and Lima Districts:\n - Argentina\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Belgium (''Bélgica'')\n\n - Bolivia\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Chile\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - Finland (''Finlandia'')\n\n - France (''Francia'')\n\n - Germany (''Alemania'')\n\n - Greece (''Grecia'')\n\n - Italy (''Italia'')\n\n - Japan (''Japón'')\n\n - Mexico\n\n - The Netherlands (''Países Bajos'')\n\n - New Zealand (''Nueva Zelandia'')\n\n - Paraguay\n\n - Romania\n\n - Spain (''España'')\n\n - Sweden (''Suecia'')\n\n - Switzerland (''Suiza'')\n\n - United Kingdom (''Reino Unido'')\n\n - United States (''Estados Unidos'')\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Venezuela", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "lima::chunk030", "doc_id": "lima", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|Machu Picchu\nthumb|The Nazca lines\nIf you are flying out of Lima internationally, the airport tax is US$31, or US$7.40 for domestic flights, which is rolled into the purchase price of tickets at the airport. Ensure you receive a sticker on the back of each ticket from the check-in counter as proof you have already paid the tax at the security checkpoint.\n\nThe surrounding residential towns of Lima in the foothills of the mountains offer spectacular views and are ideal day-trips from central Lima.\n\nIf you are flying to your next destination, you can take the \"Las Flores 18\" (IM-18) bus to the airport (from Miraflores/Magdalena/Surco) or any micro bus that says \"Todo Faucett/Aeropuerto\" on its side. The trip from Miraflores takes about an hour and costs S/2 .\n\nIf you wish to take a long distance bus, see the Get In section above for bus companies, the various locations of their terminals and their destinations.\n\nSome popular destinations from Lima are:\n\n**Arequipa** — the \"White City\", in the southern highlands.\n**Cajamarca** — hosts an exciting *carnaval* every February.\n**Cuzco** — The center of the Inca civilization. Luxury tourist buses run twice daily with *Cruz del Sur*. One of South America's most iconic sights, **Machu Picchu**, is just a 4-hours train ride away from Cuzco.\n**Huancayo** — can be reached by taking a scenic train trip through the Andes.\n**Huaraz** — a mountaineering center.\n**Iquitos** — a northern city of the *selva* (jungle)\n**Ica** — a desert city with an oasis called **Huacachina**.\n**Matucana** — and the Antankallo waterfall.\n**Nazca** — home of the ancient and mysterious **Nazca Lines**.\n**Piura** — a city on the northern coast.\n**Pucallpa** — can be reached by bus or plane and is the only major river port linked by road to Lima. It's possible to travel by boat to Iquitos.\n**Tarma** — the \"Pearl of the Andes\".\n**Trujillo** — a beautiful city on the northern coast.\n**Tumbes** — a northern coastal city with a heavenly beach.", "word_count": 332}
diff --git a/corpus/lima/metadata.json b/corpus/lima/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e279502cc13cd563e1909de94e5357c319b65554
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lima/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lima",
+ "title": "Lima",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lima",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "climbing",
+ "surfing",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Coast (Peru)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Arequipa",
+ "Cajamarca",
+ "Cuzco",
+ "Machu Picchu",
+ "Huancayo",
+ "Huaraz",
+ "Iquitos",
+ "Ica",
+ "Matucana",
+ "Nazca",
+ "Piura",
+ "Pucallpa",
+ "Tarma",
+ "Trujillo (Peru)",
+ "Tumbes"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 7158,
+ "listing_count": 51,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 31,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/lisbon/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/lisbon/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f6634c1e9a040e4a78c73fcfd0488e3f4e5410b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lisbon/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk000", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Lisbon** (Portuguese: *Lisboa*) is the capital of Portugal situated on seven hills at the wide mouth of the river Tagus (*Tejo*) where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. With 545,000 residents in the city and 3.0 million in the Lisbon Region (2024) and a thriving mix of Portugal's rich history and vivid contemporary culture, Lisbon enchants travellers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy going charm that makes it a popular year round destination.\n\nGreater Lisbon comprises many other splendid tourist destinations such as the of Sintra, the seaside resorts of Estoril, Cascais, the world class museums, or Almada famous for its hilltop Cristo Rei statue, all of which are connected with Lisbon by excellent public transportation links.", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk001", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Districts", "text": "thumb|320px|Map of the 24 Freguesias (municipal subdivisions of the Lisbon) which are grouped on the map according to the six main regions of the city", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk002", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|Central Lisbon seen from a plane landing at Portela, looking south; the green strip is Parque Eduardo VII terminating at Praça Marquês de Pombal.\nLisbon is built on seven hills, so getting around Lisbon can be a workout. Many slopes and few really flat areas is one of Lisbon's trademarks. This is also a city of enchanting contrasts: The elegant squares, broad avenues, monumental buildings and rectangular layout of the lower areas quickly gives way to the hilly, narrow, winding, unpredictable and cramped streets of districts such as Alfama and Bairro Alto. The elegant dining rooms and smart rooftop bars of expensive hotels seems like a different world compared to the excellent restaurants disguised behind an inconspicuous façade in a modest Bairro Alto street. Quality patisseries and restaurants thrive side by side with late night bars and noisy discos. The old, tiny squeaky trams (one of the city's trademarks) are no less of a contrast to the efficient metro network.\n\nThe Portuguese capital is often perceived as less frantic than other million cities, and traffic and barkers are less aggressive than in many other tourist destinations.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|The Castle of São Jorge, constructed in the 10th century, crowns the historical Alfama district.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk003", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to legend, Lisbon was founded by the mythical Greek hero Odysseus, during his travels home from Troy. However, most historians believe that the city was founded around 1200 BC by Phoenician settlers, utilizing the calm and fresh waters of Tagus river and the proximity to the sea. The Phoenician name of the city is *Alis-Ubo*, meaning \"safe harbour\". Eventually it became part of the Carthaginian Empire. After the Punic Wars, it became the main trading hub of the Roman province **Lusitania**, under the name **Felicitas Julia Olisipo**, later **Olisipona**. During the decline and fall of the western Roman Empire, the Iberian peninsula was invaded by Vandal and Visigothic tribes.\n\nIn 711, Lisbon was captured by Muslim forces. During this period, the Castle of São Jorge was expanded. Much of the Moorish heritage is preserved in the nearby Alfama, the oldest standing district of the city. In 1147, a Crusader army en route to the Holy Land helped King Afonso I conquer Lisbon and return it to Christian rule. After the completion of the Portuguese Reconquista some hundred years later, Lisbon was made the capital of Portugal.\n\n### Golden Age", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk004", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Golden Age of Portugal, and consequently Lisbon's history, started in the 15th century. In 1415, the young prince Henry \"the Navigator\" conquered Ceuta, thereby establishing the first European overseas colony. He later founded the Sagres school of navigation in the Algarve region and thereby sparked the age of discovery. During the reign of King Manuel I \"the Fortunate\" (1495–1521), Portuguese navigators found a way around the Cape of Good Hope, and Vasco da Gama eventually found the Cape Route to India, thereby ending the Venetian monopoly over European-Far Eastern trade. King Manuel gave his name to the **\"Manueline\" architectural style**, of which the Tower of Belém in western Lisbon is probably the most well-known example. On marrying princess Isabella of Aragon, Manuel I ordered the conversion or expulsion of the Jewish and Muslim populations. The Portuguese colonial empire grew steadily through the centuries, and eventually came to include the Azores and Madeira in the Atlantic; Brazil in South America; Angola, Cape Verde, Ceuta, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mombasa, Mozambique, São Tomé e Príncipe and Zanzibar in Africa; Ceylon, Timor-Leste, Flores, Formosa, Goa, Hormuz, Macau, Malacca and Moluccas in Asia. The Portuguese Oriental trade led to the establishment of the Japanese port city of Nagasaki in 1571.\n\n### Decline", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk005", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "With the loss of heirless young King Sebastião in 1578, Portugal entered into a period of succession crisis. By 1580 the Portuguese nobility, keen to avoid a civil war that would disrupt the empire, agreed to enter into an Iberian Union under king Philip II of Spain, cousin of Dom Sebastião which becomes Philip I of Portugal. Due to the Spanish disinterest in Portuguese empire matters and belligerence against the English, the union brings deep discontent within Portugal while the Windsor Treaty with England was suspended due to the Spanish Crown's commissioning of Portuguese maritime assets and resources towards the Great Armada's failed invasion of England. The aftermath caused serious setbacks to Portugal's capacity of maintaining such a vast empire. By 1640 the restoration of Portuguese sovereignty is re-established and the marriage of king Charles II of England with Princess Catherine of Braganza was celebrated as a means of reasserting independence and surety.\n\nthumb|Following the Great Earthquake, Marquis Pombal led the effort to redesign and rebuild the lower town in an organized fashion", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk006", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "The darkest known natural catastrophe in the history of Lisbon occurred on All Saints Day (1 November) 1755, when one of the most **powerful earthquakes** in history destroyed two thirds of the city. The earthquake was powerful enough to break windows as far away as London, and may have killed as many as 100,000 people in the Lisbon area. The catastrophe led to disillusion with the optimism in contemporary enlightenment thought, inspiring the French philosopher Voltaire to write \"Poem on the Lisbon Disaster\" and *Candide*. However, the reconstruction of the city, organised by the Prime Minister Marquis of Pombal, became an expression of the enlightenment architectural ideal, with broad streets in rectangular street patterns. The reconstructed areas in Baixa are therefore sometimes called \"Baixa Pombalina\" and the new buildings were designed with an innovative built-in earthquake resistance framework system. Alfama, in the eastern part of the city, was the only part of the city centre which survived the destruction, and is consequently the only area which has preserved its medieval irregular street pattern.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk007", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the early 19th century after being invaded by France, Portugal fought in the Napoleonic Wars on the anti-Napoleonic coalition side. Although on the winning side of the war, the exiled king João VI and his government decided to set up permanent court in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1808. In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal. A few years later, the sons of João VI vied to rule Portugal by hook or by crook, eventually going into a civil war between the two brothers, autocratic prince Miguel and his more liberal brother Pedro IV. Pedro IV won the war, but died only a few months after the victory, thereby leaving the throne to his teenage daughter Maria da Glória. During her reign, the nearby palaces in Sintra were constructed. During this era, **fado** music was developed in the Lisbon region.\n\n### 1900 to today", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk008", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1908 King Carlos I of Portugal and his heir, Luís Filipe, were assassinated by republicans on Praça do Comércio. The young prince Manuel was also wounded, but survived and assumed the throne. However, only two years later, in 1910, he was dethroned and exiled to England in a republican coup. In 1916 the Portuguese republic entered World War I on the Allied side. The Portuguese democracy didn't last long. In 1926 General Óscar Carmona seized power and imposed a dictatorship. He appointed Prof. António de Oliveira Salazar as finance minister who later became prime minister; he then implemented a corporatist governing style known as *Estado Novo* (New State), under which the state reorganized all aspects of life from an economic perspective while ignoring civil liberties. During World War II Portugal asserted a neutral position, but ceded the Azores to the Allied cause. After WWII Portugal was one of the NATO founding members. During the Cold War, Portugal enjoyed record levels of economic growth. In 1961 the Indian Union unilaterally annexed Goa and by 1960 the African colonies demanded independence but Salazar refused and plunged Portugal into lengthy anti-independence wars while in metropolitan Portugal, civil discontent rose due to the suppression of democracy and civil liberties. The state security apparatus PIDE/DGS, arrested, tortured, exiled and sometimes killed dissidents and pro-democracy activists. In the early hours of April 25th 1974, a military coup led by leftist junior army officers followed by massive civilian support on the streets of Lisbon, ousted the dictatorial government. Soon after the revolutionary period, Portugal became a democracy and independence was hastily and haphazardly granted to the remaining overseas colonies (except Macau, which was restored to China in 1999). Approximately one million overseas, mostly destitute Portuguese, returned to Portugal and become known as *retornados* (returnees). Economically, the country faced ruin but international loans kept it afloat. The new \"Constituição\" enshrined democracy and everyone's human rights. By 1986 Portugal was accepted into the EEC, later EU, and gradually began recovering. In 1998 Lisbon hosted the International World Fair, Expo 98. As part of the fair, the new \"Parque das Nações\" neighborhood in eastern Lisbon was built, while in the same year the **Vasco da Gama Bridge** across the Tagus, was inaugurated as the longest bridge in Europe and Lisbon native José Saramago won the Nobel prize in literature.", "word_count": 390}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk009", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Climate\n\nthumb|Portugal may be a Southern European country, but Lisbon is a port on the Atlantic coast, so be prepared for wind and rain\nLisbon enjoys a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and very warm summers. Strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream it is one of the mildest climates in Europe. Among all the metropolises in Europe, here are amongst the warmest winters on the continent, with average temperatures above 15.2°C (59.4°F) during the day and 8.9°C (48.0°F) at night in the period from December to February. Snow and frost are nearly unknown. The typical summer's season lasts about 6 months, from May to October, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) during the day and 16.2°C (61.2°F) at night, although also in November, March and April sometimes there are temperature above 20°C (68.0°F) with an average temperature of 18.5°C (65°F) during the day and 11.2°C (52.2°F) at night. Rain occurs mainly in winter, the summer is very dry.\n\nLisbon is very close to the ocean and that brings windy and fast-changing weather, so you'd better bring a jacket or an umbrella with you, at least in winter, spring and autumn.\n\n### Orientation", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk010", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city stretches along the northern bank of the river Tejo as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. As the terrain rises north away from the water, steep streets and stairways form the old tangled neighbourhoods or give way to green parks in the western suburbs. Basic navigation is easy by learning the main axis from the Praça do Comércio (the waterfront) through Rossio (main square) and Avenida da Liberdade (main street) to Praça de Marquês de Pombal and Parque Eduardo VII on the top. Each neighbourhood (such as Alfama or Bairro Alto) is distinct and easy to recognize. The hilltop castle and the waterfront are clear reference points, and landmarks such as the Santa Justa elevator, the Rossio station façade, the massive Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa), the white dome of Santa Engrácia and Augusta street arch (Arco da rua Augusta) also add to the sense of direction. Also look out for the two huge bridges across the Tejo. Navigating the winding, hilly and narrow streets can be challenging however, only the most detailed map give the precise location.\n\nIt's often said that Lisbon lacks a defined \"downtown\", but tourists will find most of their points of interest in the relatively compact area centered around the vast Praça do Comércio, facing the river. This is the starting point of the pedestrianized grid of **Baixa** (lower town), which immediately borders other historic quarters of **Alfama**, **Chiado** and **Bairro Alto**. Further northwest from Baixa stretches **Avenida da Liberdade** (Liberty Avenue), a broad boulevard resplendent in leafy trees, chic hotels and upmarket shops, terminating at the circular Praça de Marquês de Pombal. The financial centre, however, is further removed (hence the notion of \"no downtown\") up north towards the hills, and not directly connected to the historic districts.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk011", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Understand", "text": "Other districts of interest to the tourists are generally those by the riverside - the historic Belém in the southwest, the modern Parque de Nações in the northeast and the gentrifying Alcântara by the Bridge of April 25.\nthumb|''Baixa'' (lower town) of Lisbon\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Lisboa Ask Me Centre\n\nThe **Lisboa Card**, which can be purchased from tourist information outlets, offers free use of all public transport in the city and free or reduced price tickets to many museums, galleries and tourist attractions. They can be purchased in 24-hour (€17), 48-hour (€27) and 72-hour (€33) denominations. They are not very good value unless you plan to visit a lot of museums, especially so if you are a holder of a student identification card (international or national) since the student discounts to these attractions are often the same as for the **Lisboa Card**.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk012", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|As one can see when landing, Portela Airport is basically inside the city of Lisbon and minutes from the shores of the river Tagus\n\n### By plane\n\nThe Lisbon Airport serves the city. If no flight fits, you can take a plane to **Porto** or **Faro**. Both cities have direct trains and buses to Lisbon.\nthumbnail|Main check-in area at Terminal 1\n\n#### Connections\n\nThe airport is a major European hub connection for South America (especially Brazil) and is dominated by Portuguese national carrier TAP Portugal, a Star Alliance member airline that covers an extensive network throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas, usually in codeshare with local Star Alliance partners. This is complemented by SATA International, the airline of the Azores, who connect Lisbon not only to the archipelago but also the East Coast of North America. Canadian and US-based carriers also offer seasonal and year-round direct flights to Lisbon.\n\nOther European flag carriers, especially those allied in SkyTeam and Oneworld, as well as independent, also operate direct flights from major European cities to Lisbon. Portela airport is well served by low-fare European carriers EasyJet and Ryanair, for whom Lisbon is a base, and by others such as Norwegian, Transavia and Vueling.\n\nOn balance, TAP has no Asian destinations and Lisbon Airport has few direct connections to Asia. That said, getting in from major Asian and Oceanian destinations requires just one stop in Dubai, Beijing or a major European airport.\n\n#### Landing approach", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk013", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "The approach to the airport most often used for landings takes the plane on a majestic sweep over the city. If you come in from North America, grab a window seat on the **right** side for a free show as you float over the Tagus and both bridges, the statue of Cristo Rei in Almada, the old aqueduct and the football stadium of Benfica; further out you'll easily be able to discern the castle, the streets of Baixa, the old quarters of Alfama and Mouraria, and right before touchdown - the Oriente train station and Parque das Nações.\n\n#### Getting from/to the airport\n\nthumbnail|With the station directly underneath Terminal 1, the {{rint|lisbon|vermelha}} (red) line of the Lisbon metro offers a direct underground connection to many destinations in Lisbon, but getting to the historic centre requires at least one transfer\nLisbon's efficient and dense public transportation network provides links form the Portela airport to almost every point in the city, so unless you have heavy luggage or some other reason not to, do take advantage of the public transit options. They're not only cheaper, but taxi drivers in Lisbon also have a somewhat tarnished reputation for poor service and frequent overcharging attempts, even among the locals.\n\n**Metro** - Lisbon Airport metro station is the final destination of the red line of the metro. The journey to the central Saldanha station takes about 16 minutes and less than 25 minutes are enough to get from the Airport to with a change to the green or blue lines. A single journey can cost as little as €1.75 using the *zapping* functionality of the *navegante* card (see below).", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk014", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Bus** lines 22, 44, 83, 705, 708, 744, 745, or night bus line 208. Bus 44 takes you to the Oriente railway station in about 10 minutes, where you can change for metro and continue to the city centre. Board fare is €2. *7 Colinas* transport card (see \"Get around\" section) can be used which can be bought at the airport post office. You are not allowed to take large pieces of luggage on these buses.\n **Taxis** cost about €16.00 from the airport to the city centre (Feb 2024). Charge is according to the meter, adding €1.20 per item of luggage. Taxis are required to have working meters (it is illegal to drive without one) and fares posted to the window in the rear seat. Be sure to ask the taxi driver if he has a working meter before getting into the taxi, and be careful of drivers trying to grab your bags and usher you into the taxi before you can make these inquiries. As with many cities, watch out for dishonesty and if you think you are being charged significantly more ask for their number and a receipt, and make it clear you plan to complain.\n **Ride-hailing:** Uber and Bolt serve the airport for about €13 to the city centre (Feb 2024). There is a designated area for \"pre-reserved rides\". You can hail a ride when you get there. All ride-hailing services must have a visible sign on the outside of the vehicle with the acronym \"TVDE\" and the request must be made via the mobile application. Unlicensed cars won't be cheaper.\n **Bike** - It is quite easy to cycle from the airport to the centre, and could be recommended if you arrive for a cycling trip. After leaving the airport and negotiating a roundabout, merge onto the long and straight dual-carriageway Av. Almirante Gago Coutinho (you should be able to follow the \"Centro\" signs.) After merging, the route to Baixa is simple and straight. This street later turns into Av. Almirante Reis, and then Rua de Palma, at the end of which you will be right in Baixa.", "word_count": 351}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk015", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By train\n\nthumb|The unmistakable roof of Gare do Oriente is a sight to behold\nthumb|''Santa Apolonia'' is Lisbon's historic train station right at the riverside\nThere are two main stations, in the city centre and the , a bit further out and used by the high-speed trains. However, if you are entering Lisbon from the south, you may want to get off at the smaller stations of Entrecampos or Sete Rios. Their metro stations are closer to the historic centre than Oriente (you need to change metro lines to get to the centre from there).\n\nThe domestic high-speed line **Alfa Pendular** connects Braga, Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra with Lisbon from the north and Faro from the south. Prices between the major cities starts at €40 in second class. All trains call at Oriente, only some in Apolonia. The travel times on Alfa Pendular from Lisbon are around 1 hr 45 min to Coimbra, 2 hr 45 min to Porto, 3 hr 25 min to Braga and 3 hr sharp to Faro. Regular *Intercidade* trains are also available, and by stopping at intermediate stations they add 20 to 40 minutes to each route. Train tickets may be booked directly with the train company, **Comboios de Portugal**.\n\nPortugal in general has notoriously poor international train services. The overnight *Sud Express* from Irun/Hendaye on the French-Spanish border to Lisbon, and the Madrid-Lisbon *Lusitania* were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic and never restored. The only current train options are a three or four train journey (only two possibilities per day) from Madrid via Badajoz, or a more comfortable and frequent but more circuitous journey via Vigo and Porto.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk016", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Vasco da Gama Bridge\nLisbon can be accessed from six main highways. Coming from the south (A2) or east (A6 - the main route from Madrid), there are the two bridges:\n\n**From/to south:** The A2 goes all the way to the (*Ponte 25 de Abril*), which usually has lots of traffic getting into Lisbon, especially on weekday mornings. This is the best option if you want to go to the centre of Lisbon or to the west (A5 - Estoril, Cascais, Sintra).\n\n**To north / to east:** If you branch from the A2 into the A12, you'll get to the (*Ponte Vasco da Gama*), the longest bridge in Europe, it usually has less traffic than the older 25 de Abril Bridge (but a more expensive toll). This is the best option to go to the eastern/northern section of Lisbon (to the airport and to the Parque das Nações - the former Expo 98 site), and also to take the A1 or A8 going north.\n\n**From/to north and the airport:** Coming from the north, there is the A1, that connects Lisbon to Santarém, Fátima, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Porto. The A1 ends near the airport. There's also the A8, which goes to Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça, Leiria.\n\n**From the west**, there is the A5, which connects to Estoril, Cascais, and the IC19 that crosses all the suburbs and ends near Sintra.\n\nLisbon has three ring roads: The 2ª circular, which connects the A1 to the IC19; the CRIL IC17 (still incomplete), which connects the Vasco da Gama Bridge with the A1 and A8; and the CREL A9, which connects the A1 with the A8, IC19, A5, and goes all the way to the Estoril coast.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk017", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get in", "text": "All nearby cities and most major cities in Portugal have direct buses to Lisbon. The main bus terminal is at *(Metro: Jardim Zoológico)*. The main operator for long-haul buses is Rede Nacional de Expressos.\n\n### By boat\n\nLisbon is a major port on the Atlantic coast both for cargo and cruise traffic. Most major cruise ship operators include Lisbon in their itineraries, so it should be reasonably easy to find a cruise route that would take you there. That said, regular shuttle ferry traffic is limited to joining the banks of the Tagus river, i.e. there are no ferries to Lisbon other than the small ones from neighbouring municipalities.\n\nThe cruise terminals are at:\n - Estação Marítima de Alcântara\n\n- Estação Marítima de Santa Apolónia\n\n- Novo Terminal de Cruzeiros de Lisboa\n\nFor those coming in by smaller boats, the Port of Lisbon operates four marinas - Alcantara, Belem, Bom Successo and Santo Amaro. You can find all the details at the Port of Lisbon website. Alternatively, you may moor at , which is operated as a separate entity.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nCycling **outside Lisbon** can be a challenge, as Lisbon offers far easier cycling than what you may find outside of the city. The further you get from Lisbon however, the easier the cycling gets. You may wish to take advantage of certain regional trains that take bicycles in a separate luggage carriage, allowing you to start your cycling some 50 or 100 km outside of the city.\n\nRead more below under 'Getting around by bicycle'.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk018", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transport\n\nLisbon has a very efficient public transport network that covers the entire city in addition to the surrounding areas. It consists of a bus and tram network operated by Carris, the separately-run Lisbon Metro underground rail, as well as commuter trains and ferries which connect Lisbon to its neighbouring suburbs. Additionally, Carris operates three unique funiculars and one public elevator that function as parts of the public transportation system.\n\n#### Fares and tickets\n\nMost public transport in Lisbon uses an integrated ticketing system, allowing the same smartcard to be used across metro, buses, trams, suburban trains and many ferries. However, coverage and pricing depend on the operator and the type of ticket loaded onto the card, so it is important to understand the differences before travelling.thumb|The Navegante® occasional transport smartcard\nThe best and, in many cases, the sole way to pay for city transport is by buying the rechargeable yellow \"Navegante\" smartcard. It's valid on the metro, trams (electricos), urban trains, most buses and ferries. The exception is buses not run by Carris—other bus companies have their own tickets. The card can be purchased for €0.50 (this price doesn't include any trips), and remains valid for a year.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk019", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Navegante card can be charged in *two different modes*.\n **Day pass** costs €7 for metro, buses and trams within 24 hours from the time of purchase (May 2025). A pass for €11 also includes the suburban rail service to Ajambuda, Estoril, Sintra, and Sado, while a pass for €10 includes the ferry service from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas.\n **Zapping** or top up. You fill up the card as you need at the ticket office or machine and every journey will be deducted from your balance. A ride with the bus, metro, and tram costs €1.66 (May 2025).\n\nThere are ticketing machines at the train or metro stations, which also provide instructions in English. You can also buy the ticket from the driver or machines on board (the latter only available in some new trams). Tickets purchased from a driver will not include a Navegante card, and will cost more (€2.20 for bus and €3.20 for trams (May 2025)), so it makes more sense to buy the ticket before starting the trip.\n\nWhen using suburban trains, your tickets are charged onto the same kind of *Navegante* cards. You cannot have more than one kind of ticket on one card, however, so you will probably need at least two of them, one for *zapping* (regular bus and metro use), one for suburban travel. The TransTejo (TT) ferries can make you buy yet another *Viva* card with white stripe in the bottom. You can however use \"zapping\" for all transit and then get away with a single Navegante card.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk020", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you plan to be in Lisbon for an extended time (1 week and more), you can purchase an **unlimited pass**, called Navegante Municipal, that covers buses, metro, and funiculars. It takes 10 days, or if you need it quicker you can pay an extra €5 for next-day delivery at the Carris station in Santo Amaro or at the subway stations in Marques de Pombal, Alameda and Campo Grande. The base price is €7 (Jan 2021) for a hard plastic Lisboa Viva card, plus €30 (Oct 2022) for a one-month unlimited pass in the limits of the city of Lisbon. For $40 (Oct 2022) you can buy a one-month unlimited pass that also includes buses, trains, and other means of transportation across the entire greater Lisbon area, including Setúbal, Cascais, Estoril, Sintra, and Mafra. To obtain either of the mentioned passes, bring a photo ID (passport), passport photos (the stations also have photo vending machines that take passport photos), and cash.\n\n#### Tram", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk021", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|An ''elétrico'' climbing the streets of ''Ribeira''\nWhile numbering may suggest otherwise, Lisbon retains only six of the 28 tram lines it became famous for.\n – the shortest line does a loop between Praça de Comércio in Baixa and Alfama\n – the longest line connects the Centro Histórico to Belém and beyond\n – follows the route of line 15 along the coast until Santo Amaro, where it goes uphill to Ajuda\n – connects Chiado to Campolide via Príncipe Real and Rato\n – goes from Praça de Comércio through Chiado, along the foot of the Bairro Alto hill and then to Estrela\n – takes you on a veritable tour of the hills of Lisbon, starting at Campo Ourique, then going through Estrela, Bairro Alto, Chiado, Rua da Conceição in Baixa, then all the way around the hills of Alfama up north to Graça while ending in Praça Martim Moniz.\n\nAt stops and on timetables, the six tram lines are marked with an \"E\" for *elétrico* (which stands for \"tram\" in Portuguese) i.e. 12E, 15E, 18E, 24E, 25E, and 28E to distinguish them from bus services. Buses and trams generally use the same stops.\n\nThe \"Remodelado\" tram cars, built in the 1930s and extensively modernised in the 90s, are used on all lines. The modern low-floor trams are only used on line 15.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk022", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "Instead of paying for a ride on one of the costly tourist buses, try line 28, which winds its way through the \"Old Town\" of Lisbon beginning in Graça then down to the Alfama and to the Baixa then up through Chiado to Bairro Alto, and then down to Campo Ourique, taking you by many of Lisbon's most famous and interesting sites including monuments, churches and gardens. The trip is hilly, noisy and hectic but it affords many beautiful glimpses of the city. And, although the tram can sometimes be overrun with tourists, you will definitely get a flavour of the locals, as many *Lisboetas* commute daily on these historical trams. Tickets cost €1.30 if paid by \"Navegante\" card and €2.90 if purchased on-board or at a vending machine (these machines do not accept bills, and are sometime even out of change, so make sure you have the correct change!). From start to finish the ride takes around 30 minutes. Beware of pickpockets!\n\n#### Funiculars and a lift\n\nthumb|A trip on one of the ''ascensores'' should be on your list when planning your Lisbon trip.\nthumb|Elevador de Santa Justa {{rint|lisbon|54e}}\n\nOr ''ascensores e elevador'' as they call them. The Navegante card is accepted on these routes as well. In 2002 all three funiculars and the lift were classified as National Monuments. Time tables for the lifts in pdf format can be downloaded from the website.\n\n#### Metro", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk023", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Lisbon Metro Map\nLisbon's **metro** system (Portuguese: *Metropolitano de Lisboa*) is clean, quick, and efficient. While metro announcements are made only in Portuguese, signs and ticketing machines are generally bilingual in Portuguese and English. Every line shares at least one station with each of the other lines, so once you are in the system, you can go pretty much everywhere the system reaches to, which is most of the important locations in Lisbon.\n The **blue line** has perhaps the most tourist-friendly route, starting at the Santa Apólonia train station and stopping at Terreiro do Paço, Baixa/Chiado, (Praça dos) Restauradores, Avenida (da Liberdade), (Praça do) Marquês de Pombal, Parque (Eduardo VII) and Jardim Zoológico.\n The **green line** stops at Baixa/Chiado as well, and goes to Cais do Sodré, from where you can take trains to Belém, Cascais and Estoril or the ferry to Almada, as well as at Rossio, from where you can take a train to Sintra\n The **red line** starts directly at Lisbon Airport and stops at Oriente (for long-distance trains and the *Parque das Nações*). That said, one needs to change to another metro line to get to the historic centre.\n The **yellow line** is of perhaps least use to tourists as it mostly connects the northern residential districts with the city.\n\nNo metro line goes to Belém. You need to take a train from Cais do Sodré, tram line 15E or a bus to get there.\n\nMost of the metro system is a free art gallery. You'll find art by contemporary artists inspired by the stations' surrounding area. Check the subway webpage for more details on this curiosity. The red line is the newest one and has the best pieces of art.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk024", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "The first metro of each line leaves the terminal stations at 06:30 daily, the last metro leaves the terminal stations at 01:00 daily. Some ''secondary'' station halls close earlier, some are closed completely on weekends.\n\n#### Bus\n\nthumb|Public buses, just like trams and ''ascensores'', are all painted in the yellow Carris livery\nCarris operates a dense network of buses. Bus lines operating in the day start with a \"7\" (save for the \"400\" line that runs within the *Parque das Nações*), and those starting with \"2\" operate at night (00:01-05:00) when no daytime lines operate.\n\nOn the maps and in publications, bus and tram lines are colour-coded with reference to the directions they go to. Orange lines stay within the central area, pink go to the east (Belém and Ajuda), red to the north (Parque das Nações and Portela), while blue and green to the northeast. This is more or less where each of the corresponding metro lines (red, green and blue) go. Grey-coded buses move between the outer districts and do not stop in the historic centre. The buses are all in standard yellow Carris livery and do not carry such indications.\n\nTwo of the popular bus lines now offer complimentary NetBus Wi-Fi service - line 736 from Cais do Sodré via Avenida da Liberdade and Avenida da República (stops at Campo Grande, Campo Pequeno and Entrecampos), and line 783 from Portela Airport to Amoreiras shopping and office centre via Avenida da República and Praça Marquês de Pombal. Using those two bus lines you can get to most of the important tourist attractions while enjoying Wi-Fi – simply log in to the \"CARRIS-TMN\" network while on the bus.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk025", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hop-On, Hop-Off Tours are also a good option to get to know Lisbon. Carristur is operating with the brand Yellow Bus Sightseeing Tours and have tours in double-decker buses and old tramcars.\n\n#### Ferries\n\nthumb|Numerous ferries cross the river Tagus to help commuters and travellers get to Lisbon\nFerries connect Lisbon to the suburbs across the Tejo river in the south. Taking a ferry to Cacilhas is a good opportunity to see Lisbon from the water. A ferry is paid for just like a metro trip; you can even use your *zapping* (using this system will give you a €0.05 to €0.10 discount on the single ticket) Navegante card.\n\nThe ferry boat takes you to Cacilhas (€1.20) (the journey takes 10 minutes) or Trafaria (Almada) (€1.15), Seixal (€2.30), Montijo (€2.70) or Barreiro (this journey takes half an hour) (€2.30). The boats are operated by Transtejo.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|alt=Gira|Gira\nthumb|alt=Scooters, jump, voi, lime etc.|Scooters, jump, voi, lime etc.\nCycling **within the city** is now much easier because of the work the municipality has been putting in with bike lanes, slowing car traffic, changing car traffic patterns and adding speed bumps. Parts of the town will always be surprisingly hilly, however. Some of these streets have tram lines, potholes and an absence of designated bicycle lanes, so if you plan to cycle, you should be used to urban riding. Car drivers are now more often weekend cyclists and careful with cyclists, more than before. Riding on the footpaths is not recommended. Get advice at local bike shops.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk026", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are nice and safe stretches from Baixa to Belem along the beautiful river Tejo water front known as the **Poetry Bike Lane**.\nGood spots for anyone to cycle safe are along the flat riverfront area stretching from Parque das Nações, to the central area of Cais Sodre, where you can rent bikes. There is a scenic and safe bike ride on bike lane from Baixa along waterfront to the historical area of Descobertas-Belem-Jerónimos.\n\nLisbon has a bike sharing program called Gira. Bicycles can be rented using the Gira app for €2 for 45 minutes, or cheaper if with a membership. Electric bicycles are also available.\n\nJust outside of Lisbon, you can take a free bike (but often in poor condition and limited offer) on trains or ferries along the coast from Estoril towards the beautiful beach of Guincho, reach Sintra, Cascais or Costa da Caparica. If travelling from Lisbon (and back) you should consider renting a bike there as there are no restrictions, nor additional charges, on travelling with bicycles on commuting trains.\n\nIf you take a bicycle in public transportation:\n Metro: During working days you are allowed to carry bicycles in the metro only after 20:00. On weekends, it's allowed and it's free of charge.\n Commuting trains: You are allowed to carry bicycles in the trains for free, everyday of the week just be reasonable and avoid rush hour passenger patterns.\n Ferries: Bicycles travel for free, you are allowed but there are strict limitations on the number of bikes allowed depending on ferry lines and ferry boat type, arrive early and you shall avoid disappointment.\n Bike Buses: There are 6 lines of the public bus company \"Carris\" in which you can put your bike inside.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk027", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Bike shops** in Lisbon town center are rare. You can find a SportZone or Decathlon in major shopping malls. Ask there for specialist shops, shop assistants are usually very helpful.\n\n### By car\n\nThink twice before using a car in the city unless you are prepared to spend hours in traffic jams and looking for parking space. The busy traffic and narrow streets with blind corners can be overwhelming to tourists. Also, due to lack of space and overcrowding, parking is difficult and annoying, as well as potentially dangerous - check the \"Stay Safe\" section below, regarding potential problems with criminals and homeless people who stand near parking spaces to \"help\" you park your car and then attempt to extort money from you.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk028", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "In case you decide to travel around Portugal by car, it makes life easier to obtain a prepaid **via verde** vehicle transponder device, to avoid the hassle and delays of paying for toll charges every time. The procedure to become a **via verde** \"utilizador\" is straight forward if one speaks Portuguese; if not, get a local friend to tag along. You need to bring the vehicle's papers, drivers licence and ID. Via Verde offices are in the **Loja do Cidadão** (Citizen Shop). Local people should be able to direct you to the nearest one; if not, try the internet. On entering the Citizen Shop, be sure to get, from the machines by the doors, a numbered next-in-line ticket for the correct service provider. Without it, you'll not be attended to. When inside with ticket in hand, find out where the Via Verde help desk is, and keep your eye on the TV monitors to see where you are in the queue. Once you are given a device, it must be attached to the interior of the windscreen. Easy-to-follow instructions and a special double sided tape are provided in the kit.\n\n### By foot", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk029", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Just walking up the hills of Lisbon is a delightful experience, but bear in mind the steep grade of many of the streets\nIf your accommodation is in the center of the city, **walking** is a great alternative. Many of the attractions of the city, such as the Castelo and the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts, are within easy walking distance of the Baixa. Central Lisbon is very intimate and walking is very nice way to get around. However, the city is very hilly, a constant up and down everywhere, and streets and sidewalks are largely covered in cobblestone (some slippery when wet). For visitors with mobility issues, central Lisbon can be challenging.\n\nIf you become lost or cannot find the location you are looking for, try to locate the nearest Carris bus or tram stop. Most of these stops (not all) have a very good map of the city with your current location clearly marked on the map. All the prominent tourist sites in Lisbon are also shown along with an index at the bottom of the map. A quick consultation with one of these Carris maps should point you back in the right direction.\n\nYou may also use the **funiculars** and **elevadores**. Day passes for public transportation are also valid for those.\n\nExploring on foot is the best way to see the sights, but be prepared for uneven surfaces and cobblestones.\n\n### Other\n\nTuk tuks are becoming a popular alternative to visit Lisbon. The hills and the narrow streets make them a good option to explore the city. They're easy to find near the points of interest but booking is advisable. Some of the operators are: Tuk Tuk Lisboa, Tuk On Me and Tejo Tourism (which also provides segway tours).", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk030", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|The grand Praça do Marquês de Pombal is perhaps the most central place in Lisbon, where three major ''Avenidas'' meet.\nthumb|Cathedral of Lisbon and Mouraria\nthumb|Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), one of Lisbon's most famous landmarks, with Ponte 25 de Abril in the background.\nthumb|The modern Parque de Nações is in the east of Lisbon\n\nLisbon is a city on the water—the River Tagus (*Rio Tejo*)—built on seven hills that are traversed by trams. This has led to comparisons with San Francisco. To provide access from the southern suburbs, Lisbon has two spectacular bridges. The 25th of April Bridge (*Ponte 25 de Abril*) combines the design of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge with the color of the Golden Gate Bridge, and it's often mistaken for the latter. The Vasco da Gama Bridge (*Ponte Vasco da Gama*), Europe's longest, was built in the 1990s for Expo '98. One of Lisbon's great landmarks, ''Cristo Rei'', a statue of Christ the King on an pedestal, isn't even in Lisbon itself, but across the river in Almada, big enough to be easily seen from the capital.\n\n### [[Lisbon/Alfama|Alfama]]\n\nBuilt on the hills east of the Baixa, Alfama survived the Great 1755 Earthquake largely intact. Climbing the narrow ancient lanes provides an excellent workout. You can spare your legs by taking the little historic yellow trams that serve the neighborhood. Major sights include Lisbon Cathedral and St. George's Castle.\n\n### [[Lisbon/Bairro Alto|Bairro Alto]]\n\nThe Bairro Alto, or \"Upper District\" (dare we say \"High Neighbourhood\"), has become Lisbon's youthful, trendy quarter. The district includes the Chiado neighbourhood, known for its numerous historic landmarks and theatres. Among the district's many sights are the São Bento Palace (where the Portuguese parliament meets), the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (a museum of antique art), and the Lisbon Botanical Gardens.\n\n### [[Lisbon/Baixa|Baixa]]\n\nLisbon's \"downtown\" was rebuilt in a grid street pattern following the destruction of a 1755 earthquake. The magnificent Praça do Comércio lies on the river, has a tall equestrian statue and is surrounded by lovely yellow buildings. The Baixa has several other noteworthy squares: Praça dos Restauradores, Praça Dom Pedro IV, and Praça da Figueira. The Santa Justa Lift connects the Baixa with Chiado.\n\n### [[Lisbon/Belém|Belém]]\n\nLisbon's western district is packed with famous monuments, especially along the riverbank. These include the Torre de Belém, the Monument to the Discoveries, and Jerónimos Monastery. Museums include the Navy Museum, the Museu Colecção Berardo, and the National Coach Museum.\n\n### [[Lisbon/North|Northern Lisbon]]\n\nThis large expanse of Lisbon has a few sights of interest, including Parque Eduardo VII, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, and the zoo.\n\n### [[Lisbon/Parque das Nações|Parque das Nações]]\n\nThe Expo '98 site and its surroundings are now modern residential and commercial areas, maintaining many of the sights from the World Exposition. The Oceanarium is a huge aquarium popular with both kids and adults. The Pavilion of Knowledge features many fun and educational exhibits. The riverside esplanade makes for a lovely stroll, or hop on the aerial cable cars for magnificent views.", "word_count": 502}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk031", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Do", "text": "Go out at night to the central Bairro Alto, or 'High Neighbourhood'. Just up the hill from Chiado, this is the place to go out in town. In the early evening, go to a fado-themed restaurant near the Praca Camoes, and head upwards as the evening goes on. If you're in Lisbon on the night preceding a Feriado or public holiday, you have to check this out. Tiny little streets which are empty in the daytime become crammed walkways which are difficult to get through. For more of a clubbing or disco experience, try the Docas district along the marina overlooking the Ponte 25 de Abril.\n\n### Stages\n\nThe Lisbon stage events calendar is a full one all year round. The city presents good quality productions in ballet, modern dance, chamber music, opera and theatre. The *Teatro Nacional de São Carlos* is a magnificent opera house in the La Scala tradition.\n\nOn a light note, there's also \"Teatro de Revista\", a kind of social/political satire theatre that was born in Lisbon. English-language productions are staged. It's one of the local culture favourite live entertainment shows to see when you visit the city but you can only find it in the *Parque Mayer*. Due to high demand, you should buy tickets in advance. To do so for any of the shows, *ABEP* \"Agência de Bilhetes para Espétaculos Públicos\" (Ticket Agency) is the place to contact.\n\n### Recurring events\n\n - Moda Lisboa\n\n - English Comedy Showcase\n\n - Peixe em Lisboa\n\n - Dias da Música em Belém\n\n - IndieLisboa\n\n - Rock in Rio Lisboa\n\n - Festas dos Santos\n\n - Jazz em Agosto\n\n### Sport\n\n**Football:** three city teams play soccer in Primeira Liga, the men's top tier: \n SL Benfica play in Estádio da Luz, capacity 64,600, 3 km north of the centre, metro Luz.\n - the women's team play in their top tier at Benfica Campus, the training complex at Seixal south of the river. \n Sporting CP play in Estádio José Alvalade, capacity 50,000, 4 km north of the centre towards the airport, metro Campo Grande. \n - The women's team also play there in their top tier. \n Casa Pia play at Estádio Pina Manique, capacity 2500, to the northwest.\n\n**Autódromo do Estoril** hosts motor racing. For details contact the ACP *Automóvel Clube de Portugal* (Portugal Auto Club).\n\n**Estoril Open** is an ATP sanctioned tennis event played every April/May.", "word_count": 395}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk032", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumbnail|right|The pedestrianized Rua Augusta may be touristy, but nonetheless can be a good start for a shopping trip of Lisbon\n\nShops are open a little later than other places in Europe, usually around 09:30-22:00, and the lunch breaks can be quite long, usually from 13:00 to 15:00.\n\nYou can buy a **Lisbon Shopping Card**, which gives you 5% to 20% discounts at about 200 major stores in Baixa, Chiado and Av. Liberdade for a period of 24 hours (card costs €3.70) or 72 hours (card costs €5.70).\n\n### Shopping streets\n\n **Baixa**: From Praça do Comércio (aka Terreiro do Paço) to the Restauradores, the Baixa is the old shopping district in the city. It includes pedestrian Rua Augusta which has the most boring and mass-visitor tourist stores, and several European chain clothing stores like Zara, H&M, Campers.\n **Chiado**: a number of independent shops and services and well known brands such as Hugo Boss, Vista Alegre, Tony & Guy, Benetton, Sisley, Pepe Jeans, Levi's and Colcci, which makes Chiado, together with Avenida da Liberdade, one of the Top 10 places to shop in the world. Some informal brands like Crumpler are also there. The Portuguese perfume and beauty products house *Claus Porto* has a shop in Rua da Misericórdia, well worth it dropping by.\n **Avenida da Liberdade**: Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Timberland, Massimo Dutti, Armani, Burberrys and Adolfo Dominguez are just some of the shops you'll find across this avenue, which is not just one of the most beautiful and wide in the city, but also one of the fanciest with splurge hotels and restaurants.\n\n### Malls and markets\n\nthumbnail|right|The rectangular street grid of Baixa is full of elegant shop fronts\n\nWhile most stores are closed on Sundays, many malls are open 7 days a week. They usually open around 09:30 and close by 23:00 or 24:00, although the film theaters within them usually run a late session starting after 24:00. Grocery stores are closed on Sundays after 13:00, except (a) those smaller than 2000 m2 or (b) from November 1 to December 31.\n\n### Souvenirs and notable stores\n\nPortugal is the largest producer of cork in the world, and there is a vast range of souvenir cork items for sale in Lisbon. Another typical Lisbon item is the \"Azulejo\" glazed tile, which dresses many local buildings to protect them from fires.\n\nLocals advise against buying old azulejo tiles at flea markets, as they may have been stolen from buildings across the city.", "word_count": 411}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk033", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Time Out Market, in the Mercado da Ribeira\n\nPortuguese dining rituals tend to follow the Mediterranean siesta body clock. Most restaurants are very small, family-run and generally inexpensive. Some of them have a sheet on the door with the *pratos do dia* (dishes of the day) written on it – these dishes are usually cheaper and fresher than the rest of menu there, and unless you're looking for something specific, they're the right choice. During the dinner the waiter will probably bring you some unrequested starter dishes (called *couvert*); as those are not free, don't feel obliged to touch them and they will not be charged on your bill (but check it!).\n\nTraditional Portuguese restaurants are in **Bairro Alto**, scattered abundantly through its quirky narrow streets, and for Portuguese traditional cuisine at its finest, head to the area of **Chiado**. Tour groups primarily feel at home in **Alfama**. Tourist traps with laminated menus and meal deals are mostly concentrated in the **Baixa** area; one exception to this is the **Rua das Portas de Santo Antão**, a 'seafood strip' northeast from and parallel to Praça dos Restauradores. If you feel like eating with the local people, try the **Castelo** neighborhood, the smaller family run places serve a fixed daily menu and are not expensive, getting up there by foot will open an appetite, or else go in the *elétrico*. For a familiar taste at one of the many chain eateries, head to **Doca de Santo Amaro** (*train/tram 15 station Alcantara-Mar*) and **Parque das Nações** (*metro Oriental*). All the culinary and clubbing kudos is right now concentrated in **Doca de Jardim de Tabaco** (*piece of river waterfront right under Castelo de Sao Jorge*). Quality dishes for a high price are in well-to-do **Lapa**. The Pastel De Nata is one of Portugal's most well known foods, with this delightful custard egg tart best found in **Belem**.\n\nTry the magnificent *pastéis de nata* at any pastry shop.\n\nNever ask a taxi driver about which restaurant you should go to – they will take you to an expensive tourist-oriented restaurant, where they will receive a commission.\n\nYou will find traditional meals served in small coffee shops and restaurants, especially in the old parts of town. Some will be better than others, just check if there are a lot of locals eating there! They will be very cheap (as little as €5 for a full meal) and home-style cooking. The owners probably won't speak English and the menu will probably be in Portuguese only!", "word_count": 418}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk034", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|For an (expensive) cup of coffee in the heart of Lisbon, head to the pedestrianized Rua Augusta\nthumb|Fado performance.\n\nLisbon is known for its lively nightlife. For going out, stroll around the old neighborhood of **Bairro Alto** for an after-dinner *caipirinha* or *ginjinha* and people-watching. Its small streets, full of people, are packed with a high variety of bars. On weeknights bars close at 02:00, weekends at 03:00. The party continues in a night-club after that. Just follow the hordes of people down the hill - people have been doing that for hundreds of years.\n\nAlcântara, Santos, Parque das Nações, and the castle area are all neighborhoods with a thriving nightlife. The whole area near the river/Atlantic, known as the *docas*, is a huge hub for nightlife, as Lisbon has never lost its ties to the sea.\n\nFado *(fate)* is a type of folk music which developed in Lisbon during the 19th century. The music is often melancholic, capturing the nostalgic feeling of *\"Saudade\"*. In 2011 fado was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritages. It's usually sung by a woman in a black dress, accompanied by mandolin and guitar. However, it is not uncommon with male singers or additional instruments. There are plenty of fado bars around Lisbon, offering foods and drinks. They are especially common in the Bairro Alto and Alfama districts, and in Alfama you can also find a Fado museum. Beware that you'll pay more than in normal restaurants, and the food and drink quality may not be up to the price, you're paying for the music experience.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk035", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Câmara Municipal (City Hall)\n\nFinding a decent sleeping place in the centre should not be a big problem. There is a tourist service centre in the airport, where a room can be booked for you. Expect to pay between at least €55 for a double room. If you are in Lisbon for sightseeing (especially for your first visit), the best location is along the route of tram #28 (see official map of the route). This especially works if you are with a baby stroller, as it will save from huge part of hill-climbing.\n\nLisbon sets high standards for budget accommodation, with numerous clean and active hostels around the city. Prices in the historical center start around €30, and can get cheaper farther out.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk036", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Lisbon is generally safe, but use common sense precautions, especially at train stations and on public transport.\n\nSome areas are best avoided late at night because of the risk of mugging: Bairro Alto, the alleys, Cais do Sodre. Some night clubs in Lisboa have a poor reputation.\n\n### Crime\n\nThe most common crime against tourists is **pickpocketing and theft** from rental cars or on public transport. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them.\n\n#### Violent crimes\n\nThere are some instances of violent crimes (e.g. robberies) and some drug related crimes in places such as *Bairro Alto* and *Santos*, especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached. Also, due to soaring house prices, the Baixa area is not inhabited by a lot of people - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area sometimes becomes fair ground for muggers - caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well.\n\nIt's also encouraged to be wary of the Intendente-Martim Moniz area. Intendente is a well known area for prostitution and drug trafficking, and even though the situation has changed in the past couple of years (police now regularly patrol the area), it is still problematic. Martim Moniz is also notorious, at night the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, Martim-Moniz is quite safe and pleasant.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk037", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Also be careful with bank machines in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the multibanco and wait until you have entered your pin. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount from the machine (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodre station.\n\n#### Scams\n\nCriminals in Lisbon are very quick and witty and think of scams about how to get money from you (like pretending that they need to \"borrow\" money from you promising to pay you back in a few hours). In cases they might work in pairs, one offers drugs, while a second approaches you and the first pretending to be a cop, and asking you to pay a \"fine\" if you don't want to go to jail. Just walk away and avoid any interaction from the first moment, if you are approached. Young tourists will likely be approached by many people especially near the Chiado Plaza. A firm 'no thank-you' (\"não, obrigado\" - if you're a male, \"não, obrigada\", if you're female) should be enough to deter them.\n\n#### Arrumadores", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk038", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Also, if you are driving a car, you should be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: \"arrumadores\" (\"ushers\"). These are drug addicts, petty thieves or homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and \"help\" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the \"arrumador\" will try to extort money from you as payment for the \"service\". They might also pretend to be \"official\" parking space guards or security and promise to keep an eye on your car - obviously they will leave as soon as you give them money and walk away. If you ignore them or don't pay them, there is a slight risk of having your car robbed or damaged (scratched, windows broken, etc.).\n\nAlthough \"arrumadores\" are not excessively dangerous, caution is always needed: many have been known to use this scam to attack or rob people, and instances of carjacking have been reported, specially when unescorted female drivers are concerned. Generally, you should always avoid \"arrumadores\" and simply look for another parking space (preferably in an area where more people are around) or just park in a private parking lot, which is a bit more expensive but a sure way to avoid this hassle.\n\n### Walking and driving\n\nLisbon has one of the highest rates of car accidents in the European Union, so be extra careful when crossing the streets. Drivers don't usually respect pedestrian crossings unless there is a red light for them to stop.\n\nDriving can be tricky without a GPS system as there is poor signalling in the streets. Drivers overall are not too aggressive compared to other European capitals, although this is disputed by (mostly Spanish) tourists.\n\n### In case of emergency", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk039", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Ambulance, fire brigade, police: call **112**.\n\nSame number is used with both landline and mobile phone. The number works on any mobile phone, whether it is key locked or not and with or without SIM card.\n\nPortugal has two main police forces - the Republican National Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP). Both can be contacted, but the PSP is the main urban police force.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk040", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Connect", "text": "All of Lisbon has 4G from all Portuguese carriers. As of Jan 2023, 5G coverage is quite broad in most popular areas. Deep inside some older buildings, or underground you might find coverage to be spotty.\n\nPrivate **international call centres** and **public telephone booths** are common throughout Lisbon. Be warned, however, public phones can be less generous than slot machines: many times they'll swallow your change and give you no credit. You're better off purchasing a Portugal Telecom pre-paid card you can insert into the phone, or even a discount calling card which connects you via a toll-free number. These can be purchased from street kiosks and convenience stores. Most payphones also allow you to pay by credit card, although support for this feature is somewhat expensive.\n\n**Internet cafes** are also abundant in the Rossio and Restauradores districts as well as in the Bairro Alto (opening late there). Expect to pay between €2-3 per hour.\n\nMany of the **municipal libraries** of Lisbon offer free wifi.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk041", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\n - Australia\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Greece\n\n - Holy See\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iraq\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kosovo\n\n - Macau\n\n - Monaco\n\n - Morocco\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Palestinian Authority\n \n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - San Marino\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Timor Leste\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United Arab Emirates\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "lisbon::chunk042", "doc_id": "lisbon", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumbnail|right|Vasco da Gama bridge in the morning mist\n\n### North\n\n Fátima — the city and the Marian shrine of the worldwide famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary\n Nazaré — a lovely village that became an international surf spot and entered the Guinness Book of Records for its gigantic sea waves\n Tomar — the city of the Knights Templar: it is highly recommended to visit the medieval castle and the Convent of Christ\n Óbidos — a beautiful village dominated by an old medieval castle\n\n### North-west\n\n Mafra — A charming town with a monastery.\n Ericeira — A gorgeous seaside resort near Mafra, well known to surfers worldwide.\n Sintra — A beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site town 40 minutes by car/train from Lisbon.\n Praia das Maçãs — A small and surprisingly calm seaside resort about to the west of Lisbon, near the towns of Colares & Sintra.\n\n### West\n\n Paço de Arcos — A fishing village, where you can find also the Marquis of Pombal Palace and Estate.\n Cascais — A pretty town on the bay of the same name, on the Estoril coast, 40 minutes by train from Lisbon (Cais do Sodre Station).\n\n### South\n\n Almada — A city connected to/from Lisbon via ferry boats at Cacilhas and connected by train at Pragal and roadway via 25 Abril bridge/ponte 25 de Abril. The monument of Christ-King (Cristo-Rei) is in Pragal, Almada.\n Costa da Caparica — beautiful beaches, easily reachable by bus\n Setúbal — Capital of the district, and starting point for visits to Arrábida Nature Park, Troia, and the Sado river. Dolphins can be spotted on the bay.\n Palmela — A hill town with a castle, with amazing views, near the city of Setúbal.\n Sesimbra — A fisherman's village near the Arrábida mountain, good for scuba diving and fresh seafood, and starting point to visit the Espichel cape and sanctuary.\n Azeitão — near Setubal, some south of Lisbon, this small region consists of a series of lovely villages, of which Vila Nogueira de Azeitão and Vila Fresca de Azeitão are the most well known. Azeitão stands between the Arrábida Nature Park and the coast. In the park you'll meet the last remains of the original Mediterranean flora. Also, there is the famous Convent of Arrábida to visit and the stunning views from its hills and at its peak.\n Vila Nogueira de Azeitão — Visit the beautiful Winery and palace \"Quinta da Bacalhoa\". Also check out the grand estate and winery of \"José Maria da Fonseca\". Igreja de São Lourenço with hand painted tile panels, gilded wood chapels and a Lucca Della Robbia medallion. Convent of S. Domingos.\n Tróia — A lovely peninsula gifted with kilometres of wild unexplored beaches, and with a tourist resort being developed on one of its edges.", "word_count": 460}
diff --git a/corpus/lisbon/metadata.json b/corpus/lisbon/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b60153dba2fd8ba93e36fbde0cb4bd4175798f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lisbon/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lisbon",
+ "title": "Lisbon",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lisbon",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q597",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 38.72527778,
+ -9.15
+ ],
+ "summary": "Lisbon ( LIZ-bən; Portuguese: Lisboa [liʒˈβoɐ] ) is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city (second overall after Reykjavík), and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others (Reykjavík and Dublin) being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus. The western portion of its metro area, the Portuguese Riviera, hosts the westernmost point of Continental Europe, culminating at Cabo da Roca.\nLisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and the second-oldest European capital city (after Athens), predating other modern European capitals by centuries. Settled by pre-Celtic tribes and later founded and civilized by the Phoenicians, Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding the term to the name Olis",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Greater Lisbon"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Fátima",
+ "Nazaré",
+ "Tomar",
+ "Óbidos",
+ "Mafra",
+ "Ericeira",
+ "Sintra",
+ "UNESCO World Heritage site",
+ "Praia das Maçãs",
+ "Paço de Arcos",
+ "Cascais",
+ "Almada",
+ "Cacilhas",
+ "Pragal",
+ "Costa da Caparica",
+ "Setúbal",
+ "Palmela",
+ "Sesimbra",
+ "Azeitão",
+ "Vila Nogueira de Azeitão",
+ "Tróia",
+ "Porto",
+ "Coimbra",
+ "Fátima",
+ "Almada",
+ "Setúbal",
+ "Faro"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 10449,
+ "listing_count": 51,
+ "marker_count": 6,
+ "chunk_count": 43,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/lofoten/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/lofoten/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..13e15c18f48b48c3dcd98fcfaf67af06efaa9b8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lofoten/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk000", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|Reine, a village in the Lofoten Islands, viewed from above|alt=\n\n**Lofoten** is a group of islands in the northern part of Norway. With its postcard-looking small fishing villages nestled in fjords dotting a very rugged coast with abrupt peaks rising directly from the ocean, the archipelago is often described as one of the most scenic parts of Norway.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk001", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Towns", "text": "— a town of 4,500 citizens, and is the largest settlement in the Lofoten archipelago off the coast of northern Norway. Numerous hotels, rorbu, restaurants, hiking opportunities, galleries, museums guided boat trips to see seabirds and the Trollfjord, etc. And a good base to explore the rest of the Lofoten archipelago.\n \n — a compulsory crossroads and stopover when travelling by bus in the Lofoten. Otherwise of little interest to tourists.\n — pronounced \"Oh\", this is the southernmost town on the island of Moskenesøya in the Lofoten archipelago of Norway. The name means simply \"river\" or \"stream\", and the town is also known as **Å i Lofoten** to distinguish it from other places called Å. A ferry to the Moskenesoya maelstrom (a swirling circular current off the coast of the island), and the fishing museum are the two main attractions of the village, which sits between a picturesque lake and the North Sea, with many of the wooden buildings being built over water on stilts. There are bikes for hire at the **Youth Hostel** and at **Lofoten Bed and Boat** (150 kr a day) and some hiking paths are dotted around the surrounding area. Nice walks include going around the Ågvatnet lake, crossing the island towards the North-West and the Stokkvikvatnet lake, or going further on the main road (e.g., to Reine). Several ferries a day from the mainland (Bodø) arrive at Moskenes. From Moskenes, you can either walk following the road (4.8 km, 1 hour) or take a bus (several times a day, kr 40). It is best to book accommodation well ahead of your travel in Å, as everything may be fully booked during the peak season. (There is no ATM in Å. However, major credit cards are accepted virtually anywhere, including on the bus.)\n — this fishing village is known for its incredible scenery.\n — a small fishing village on the island, with no tourist information or a supermarket; however, there is a camping location and a car rental option near the ferry terminal.\n - a very pleasant village reached by a short bus ride or long painful walk from Svolvær.250px|thumbnail|Henningsvaer \n - Lofoten's oldest fishing village. Great food and small shops. It lies a little to the south-west of Svolvær, the administrative centre of Vågan municipality. The village was founded as Vågan in the early 12th century by King Øystein Magnusson, who built a church and a fishermen's hostel there. According to Heimskringla, there was something resembling a town there several centuries earlier — the first known town in North Norway, known as Vågar. The Lofoten Museum, as well as the Lofoten Aquarium and the Espolin Gallery, are all in Kabelvåg.", "word_count": 443}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk002", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "The **Moskstraumen**, popularly known as the **Maelstrom** is a very powerful tidal current forming twice a day between Vaeroy and Meskenesoy. It has been featured in many works, usually in an exaggerated form (for instance Edgar Allan Poe's *Descent into the Maelstrom*). Captain Ahab in Hermann Melville's famous *Moby-Dick* mentions the maelstrom. In Jules Verne's *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea* the submarine encounters the whirlpool. It is unusual because it occurs in open sea. Simply do not go there and expect giant whirlpools...\n **Trollfjord** – a fjord so narrow that the Hurtigrute boats, except for the very newest, have to do a three point turn. Navigation banned in spring because of falling rock, but otherwise visited on the southbound voyage of the **Hurtigruten**. Alternatively reached by a boat trip from Svolvær.\n\n### Islands\n\n Hinnøya (southwestern part)\n Austvågøy (southern part)\n Gimsøy\n Vestvågøy – a municipality and island with a population of 10,764 people, making it the most populated area in the regions of Lofoten and Vesterålen.\n Flakstadøy\n Moskenesøya\n Røst – the southernmost island in the Lofoten archipelago. The island is inhabited by about 600 inhabitants. As Værøy, Røst is known for its puffins colonies. Contrarily to Værøy and its scenic cliffs, Røst is very flat, with the highest point being only 12 m above sea level.\n **Værøy** is a small island around six hours from Bodø by ferry (via Moskenes) and around 2 hours by ferry from Moskenes. The island has a mountainous ridge running through the centre and flat farmland below the mountains. It is famous both for its scenery and the abundance of puffins who nest here over the summer.\n\n250px|thumbnail|Trollfjord", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk003", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Understand", "text": "At 68°N, the Lofoten archipelago is **well above the Arctic Circle**, and at the same latitude as Greenland or the northern parts of Alaska. However, it enjoys a relatively mild climate due to the circulation of the Gulf Stream, and temperatures up to 23°C in the summer are not uncommon. Still, it remains a subarctic destination, the weather changes fast, and even in the summer it may get cold. When the sun is not shining a sweater is recommended.\n\nThe winter is cold, but remains bearable. At this extreme latitude – the same as northern Siberia and northern Alaska – winters should be very cold, but instead of -40°C/F, Lofoten temperatures hover around freezing in winter, and start to climb in April.\n\nthumb|Drying racks for stockfish", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk004", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Understand", "text": "Before becoming a popular tourist retreat, Lofoten was and still is a very important **fishing centre**, especially for the special type of cod (*skrei* in Norwegian), attracted by the rich food brought by the Gulf Stream. At the end of the spring, thousands of tons of cod are hung to dry on wooden racks. For at least a thousand years the very rich Lofoten cod fisheries was a key factor in the Norwegian economy. Thousands gathered from all along the coast to take part in the winter-spring fisheries. The key to Lofoten’s fishery economy was the natural outdoor drying without the use of salt. Low temperatures and constant wind is necessary for this process to be successful, further north it is too cold and further south too warm and humid, while the Lofoten islands have the right conditions. This slow drying process creates the characteristic *stockfish* (Norwegian: *tørrfisk*, literally dry fish). The dry cod was transported to and traded at the harbour of Bergen a thousand kilometres down the coast; the cod trade effectively created Bergen as Norway's (and partly Scandinavia's) largest and most important city. The famous waterfront warehouses in Bergen were mostly used to store dry cod. Still today the stockfish is exported to Italy, Croatia, Nigeria and Sweden (the similar dry-salted cod, the *klippfisk*, is particularly exported to Portugal and Spain).", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk005", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Understand", "text": "Dry cod is recorded as an important business from the Viking age, but may be older. Long before Tromsø and Bodø existed as towns, Vågar (Kabelvåg) in *Lofotr* (today Vestvågøy island) was a major trading post and for centuries the only town north of Trondheim. Bergen, Trondheim and Lofoten were the 3 business centres on Norway's rich coast. For centuries dry cod was Norway's main export, up to 80% of the trade (as measured in currency) was cod. Vågar may have been Norway's most important town until the Black Death around 1400 and the *Hansa* in Bergen seized monopoly in cod export. The original town or trading post was abandoned and turned in to farmland, while nearby Kabelvåg became the new town.\n\nThe light varies very much over the seasons. From 24 hours of daylight from May to early August to just a bluish twilight lasting three hours around noon in December and January. In March and September, there are normal daylight hours: 12 hr day and 12 hr night.\n\nIn 1432 the Venetian merchant Pietro Querini and his crew shipwrecked at Røst island after drifting for several weeks from the English Channel. Querini supposedly introduced stockfish to the Italian cuisine. The Venetians spent 3 months with the locals and then returned to Venice where Querini produced a report for the senate there. Querini's unique and legendary written report was called *The first circuit of paradise*. Despite the cold and dark winter, he described life in Lofoten as paradise (\"we spent 3 months in the first circuit of paradise, to the shame and disgrace of Italy\").", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk006", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Talk", "text": "Norwegian... but as usual for tourist destinations in Scandinavia, English should get you everywhere.", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk007", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|350px|Evening view of Austnesfjorden and Sildpollnes Church, Austvågøya\n\n### By plane\n\nYou can arrive from Bodø () by air to Røst, Værøy, Leknes or Svolvær (20–30 min flight time). The former airport at Værøy was closed following a plane crash in 1990. However, a helicopter company serves the route Bodø–Værøy, offering several flights per day (2008). If you arrive from the Vesterålen archipelago (located North of Lofoten), a ferry still services the sea route between Melbu and Fiskebøl, the latter located along highway E10 (see above).\n\nFor getting out via Bodø Airport, your special baggage must not exceed a size limit, which means removing the front wheel of most bikes!\nAirport in the Lofoten islands:\n \n \n \nAirports nearby in Nordland county:\n \n \n\n### By car\n\nA new section of highway E10 was opened in 2007, giving Lofoten ferry-free road connection with the mainland for the first time.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe journey takes about 3½ hours. The bus ride from Narvik to Svolvær takes 4 hours 15 minutes, with two daily services in each direction. The bus ride from Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes to Svolvær takes about 3 hours (just over 2 hours by car), crossing through a very rugged and scenic terrain and bordering the Møysalen National Park.\n\nFrom the Moskenesøya island (Reine, Moskenes, Å), there are several buses a day through Leknes.\n\nThere are several buses a day from Narvik (mainland Norway) to Moskenes. The main bus stop is right in front of the ferry waiting room. There is scheduled bus from Narvik (stops at Evenes Airport; no ferry on the new road).\n\n### By ferry\n\nAnother alternative is to arrive by sea, e.g. using the 'Hurtigruten', the coastal steamer, or a common ferry, from Bodø to Svolvær (6 hours), Stamsund, Moskenes, Værøy and Røst. The ferry to Svolvær operates on all days except Sundays. There is no ferry terminal as such in Svolvær, but only a very small waiting room, and free toilets outside.\n\nThere is also one ferry a day to the islands of Værøy and Røst, southwest of Moskenesøya.\n\nThere are several ferries a day from Bodø to Moskenes (187 kr for passengers; tickets are sold on board only, without reservation). Travel time: 3 hr 15 min.\n\nVærøy is around 3 hr 15 min by ferry from Moskenes (via Værøy) and 3 hr 45 min from Bodø (when using a direct ferry not stopping in Værøy).\nFerries are operated by Torghatten Nord.\n\nFrom August 2015 to February 2016 (winter schedule), schedules change every day of the week. Ferries do not stop daily in Røst.\n\nIt is possible to do a (long!) one-day visit of Røst on Wednesdays only:\n departure 04:45 from Bodø, arrival 09:45 in Røst.\n departure 22:30 from Røst, arrival 02:00 in Bodø.\n\n - Moskenes ferry arrival\n\nIn addition, the coastal steamer Hurtigruten arrives at 19:00 (southbound) and departs at 22:00 (northbound) daily.", "word_count": 476}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk008", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Afternoon at Tennfjorden, Raftsundet, Hinnøya\n\n### By car\n\nThe main islands are easily covered by car. The E10 route links Hanøy in the extreme north-east of Austvagøy island and Å at the south-western tip of Moskenesøy through a series of bridges. Although the archipelago may look small on the map, the full crossing is a good 180 km along the E10 on a very windy road, with the usual Norwegian speed limits. However due to the state of the roads, don't expect to average much more than 50 km/h. At the south-eastern tip, around Reine, the road furthermore becomes very narrow, so take your time along the way.\n\nAll the other secondary roads radiate from the E10, but note that some are even windier and narrower.\n\nPetrol is available only in the larger towns, so make sure you fill up when you get a chance.\n\n### By bus\n\nMost places can be reached by bus. Students get a 50% discount on long trips. Most buses from the south (Å, Reine) stop at Lofoten, and you should change to another bus to go further north (Svolvær).\n\n### By boat\n\nIf you plan to visit the southernmost islands of Lofoten, i.e. Værøy or Røst, you will need to take a ferry from Moskenes. Værøy is about 1½ hr from Moskenes, and another approx. 2 hours to Røst.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nThere are (fairly expensive) bikes for hire at various points around the islands and the E10, as a usually relatively unpopulated highway makes a good cycle path for short trips. In addition there are occasional cycle lanes, usually on bridges or around the outside of the many tunnels.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk009", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "See", "text": "250px|thumbnail|Moskenes from the ferry\n\nThe main attraction of the archipelago is its **majestic scenery**. The coastline is dominated by high mountains cut by fjords, as well as sandy white beaches.\n\nApart from the scenery, the fishing history of the archipelago is visible in several **little villages** all around the coast. Nusfjord and the lovely Å are prime examples. The Lofoten has many traditional fishermen red cabins built on the sea shore or over stilts (the *rorbu*), and it is even possible to stay in one.\n\nIn the summer, you can enjoy the **midnight sun**. In Leknes, the sun remains above the horizon from May 26 to July 17. The midnight sun is best viewed from the western beaches, such as the Vestvågøy Island beaches Utakleiv and Eggum.\n\nWhen there is midnight sun, there is a **polar night**, and in winter the sun does not rise from December 9 to January 4. The archipelago is at a good latitude to admire the **Northern lights**, but from the end of April to September, the nights might be a little too bright.\n\nThe **beaches** of Lofoten are also quite renowned. Utakleiv was ranked as the number one most romantic beach in Europe by the British newspaper *The Times*, and the neighbouring Hauklandsstranden is ranked by the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet as the best beach in Norway. Eggum was chosen to be the millennial spot in Vestvågøy and in 2007 an amphitheater was created here (designed by Norwegian architects Snøhetta, designers of the library in Alexandria).\n\n - Kollhellaren\n\n - Lofotr Viking Museum\n\n - Reine Fishing village\n\n - Reine Kultursenter\n\n - Galleri Espolin\n\n - Galleri Lille Kabelvåg\n\n - Langåsen Sculpture Park\n\n - Lofotakvariet\n\n - Lofotmuseet\n\n - Svolvær tourist information\n\n - Lofoten War Memorial Museum\n\n### Itineraries\n\n Rando Lofoten, a 200 km trek from Delp to Å.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk010", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|400x400px|A view from Austvågøya to Gimsøystraumen in Lofoten. The bridge on the right is the Gimsøystraumen Bridge.\n\nActivities include whale watching, mountain climbing, mountain hiking, diving, fishing, and sleeping in traditional fisherman cabins called \"rorbu\".\n\n - Reinebringen\n\nOuttt maintains a list of **hiking trails** in Lofoten with descriptions in English.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk011", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Buy", "text": "It's not so easy to keep to the budget here. In Svolvær, **Narvesen kiosk** is a good place to buy things such as drinks, food and v-bucks, and there's a bookshop in the town; art is sold in the town and overpriced souvenirs are easy to find. All of Svolvær's supermarkets are in the same part of town.\n\n - Rema 1000 Svolvær\n\n - Fru Soleng\n\n - Mettes Rom", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk012", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Cod drying near [[Å]]\n\nLofoten being a traditional cod fishing area, local delicacies are as one would expect taken from the sea. If you appreciate dried stockfish or cod, you will probably love the food.\nThe stockfish of Lofoten is a prime source of revenue for the islands, it is exported to several southern European countries (especially Italy and Spain) where it is known as *Baccalao* or *Stoccafisso*. Several restaurants in Lofoten have Baccalao on the menu.\n\nDue to the limited choice and the high prices, particularly on Værøy, you should bring your own food.\n\n - Blomster bringen\n\n - Bakery\n\n - Du Verden", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk013", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Cafe & Bar Nicolina\n\n - Kringla Bakeri & Konditori\n\n - Magic Ice", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk014", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There's lots of different kinds of accommodation. There are hotels, camping options, or you can even get a rorbu (a traditional fisherman's cabin). Sleeping outside is possible as it is quiet, but the temperatures can be near freezing even in the summer and the cold wind from the sea doesn't help at all.\n\nSeveral accommodations are available in Reine. Be sure to book in advance if you come during the peak season (winter and summer).\nthumb|Port in Svolvær\n\n - Lofoten Hostel Å\n\n - Brygga hotel and restaurant\n\n - Lofoten bed and boat\n\n - Moskenesstraumen camping\n\n - Moskenes camping\n\n - Kabelvåg Hotell\n\n - Kabelvåg Feriehus & Camping\n\n - Lofoten Rorbusuiter\n\n - Lofoten Summerhotell\n\n - Thon Hotel Svolvær\n\n - Svinøya Rorbuer\n\n - Kabelvåg Youth Hostel", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk015", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Cope", "text": "There are churches in the Moskenes, Reine, and Kabelvåg villages. (The church in Kabelvåg is known as Lofotkatedralen.)", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk016", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Lofoten has little crime and island hopping by hitch-hiking is safe and not unusual. The most likely undesired event is to fall while hiking, or to catch a cold due to the bad weather. Other than that, you should be perfectly safe.", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "lofoten::chunk017", "doc_id": "lofoten", "section": "Go next", "text": "Mainland Norway", "word_count": 2}
diff --git a/corpus/lofoten/metadata.json b/corpus/lofoten/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..684cfa7e9b108ab10fa6e75717cb5cd36a9afc3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lofoten/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lofoten",
+ "title": "Lofoten",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lofoten",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "northern-lights",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Nordland"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Norway",
+ "Narvik"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2875,
+ "listing_count": 34,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 18,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
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@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk000", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Lombok** is an island in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk001", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Regions", "text": "The regions below are presented for the convenience of travellers, but the regencies in Lombok are significantly different: West Lombok Regency, North Lombok Regency, Central Lombok Regency, East Lombok Regency and Mataram City.\n\nright|thumb|350px|Mount Rinjani looms large over Lombok", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk002", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the capital city of the West Lombok Regency.\n — the capital city of the Central Lombok Regency, Lombok's second city and nearby to the site of the islands international airport, Bandara Internasional Lombok.\n — the capital city of the East Lombok Regency\n — the capital of the North Lombok Regency, small city in the northwest, lies at the foot of Mount Rinjai's slopes, the two nearby peninsulas of Medana and Sire are home to some of the best resort and luxury villa destinations on the island", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk003", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— off the beaten path in West Lombok, this area is fast becoming a tourist destination.\n — almost impossibly beautiful isolated bay in the southeast which is earmarked for high end resort development\n — village on the southern edge of the Mount Rinjani National Park with wonderful scenery\n\nthumb|400px|The crater of Mount Rinjani", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk004", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|200px|Lush resort garden, Senggigi, Lombok.\n\nJust east of Bali, Lombok in many ways lives up to or exceeds the promotional term, \"an unspoiled Bali\", although culturally they are quite different. With beautiful beaches, enchanting waterfalls, the large, looming volcano of Mount Rinjani combined with relatively few tourists, Lombok is indeed the paradisical tropical island that many people still mistakenly imagine Bali to be now. Some people also mention that you can see Bali from Lombok, but you can't see Lombok from Bali.\n\nLombok and Bali are separated by the Lombok Strait. It is also part of the bio-geographical boundary between the fauna of Indo-Malaysia and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia. The boundary is known as the Wallacean Line, after Alfred Russell Wallace, who first remarked upon the striking difference between animals of Indo-Malaysia and those of Australasia, and how abrupt the boundary was between the two biomes.\n\nCalling Lombok paradise does not mean it is all things for all people. With a few exceptions, the natural landscape and the traditional way of life have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Virtually all small to medium size businesses are run by local families. Many of these businesses sell a wide variety of merchandise, where villagers can find food, hardware, and toys all in a single small store. While it is possible to find five-star hotels run by global corporations, this is the exception, not the rule. The ubiquitous global fast-food franchises are restricted to two outlets in the precincts of Mataram Mall in the main City of Lombok and are well sign-posted.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk005", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the indigenous language of the Sasak people of Lombok, the word *Lombok* \"(luum-book)\" literally translates into Indonesian as *lurus* (en: *straight ahead*). A common misunderstanding (by many visitors and some non-local Indonesians) is that the name of the island Lombok is derived from Indonesian, where *Lombok*means *chilli*.\n\nLombok has been awarded as one of the world's Best Halal Tourism Destination in 2016 and is still expanding its tourism section to gain more visitors from all around the world. Newer hotels, resorts and an international circuit are being built.\n\n### History of tourism\n\nThe dominant Sasak culture in Lombok and the very restrained and quiet nature of its people may help explain why Lombok is less popular in terms of shopping, cuisine, and nightlife than Bali. Lombok is however becoming increasingly popular with tourists and honeymooners who want to relax in an inexpensive, tropical, un-crowded atmosphere, with many natural treasures and majestic scenery. Nothing happens quickly in Lombok and visitors who are stressed from their daily lives find Lombok a delightful place to unwind.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk006", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "The anticipated tourism boom has been halted on several occasions. In 2000, mobs of the ethnic Sasak people, ostensibly provoked by fundamentalist Muslim agitators, diverted from a trip to Maluku, looted and burned churches as well as homes and businesses owned by Hindus and ethnic Chinese. These actions were actively resisted by many of the Sasak people and brought on a swift response from the authorities to protect the tourism precincts of the island. The bombing of nightclubs in Bali in 2002 and the further explosions in 2005 further exacerbated the fears held by foreign tourists. For many years the embassies of several countries have issued stern travel advisory warnings against travel to Indonesia. The ensuing years have remained very peaceful in Lombok. In the years 2010–2017 tourists steadily gained confidence that travel to the island is safe, and the travel economy was really starting to gain steam. Sadly, in 2018, Lombok was struck by two severe earthquakes that caused widespread destruction of property and loss of life. After a concerted recovery effort, the island was finally ready to begin welcoming tourists back again when Covid-19 hit.\n\nAside from minor and very isolated incidents of petty theft and the normal dangers of travelling on the roads in Indonesia, the island remains a quiet, peaceful and safe destination for visitors. Lombok is a relaxing place, the warm tropical sun can slowly melt a sense of urgency and a hurried pace off most visitors.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk007", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "Lombok has a rich and enduring indigenous culture that has withstood the pressures of modernity remarkably well. The strong remnant culture and history of the Sasak people are one of the many unique attractions of the island. The island has of a total population of three million (as of 2010 Census), 85% are indigenous Sasak people whose origins are thought to have arisen from Java in the first millennium BC. Other residents include an estimated 10–15% Balinese, with the small remainder being Tionghoa-Peranakan, Javanese, Sumbawanese and Arab Indonesians. The Sasak people are culturally and linguistically closely related to the Balinese, but unlike the Hindu Balinese, the majority practice local Muslim faith and traditions.\n\nSome have described Islam as being first brought to Lombok by traders arriving from Sumbawa in the 17th century, who then established a following in eastern Lombok. Other accounts describe the first influences arriving in the first half of the 16th century. The palm leaf manuscript *Babad Lombok* contains the history of Lombok and describes how *Sunan Prapen* was sent by his father, *The Susuhunan Ratu of Giri*, on a military expedition to Lombok and Sumbawa in order to convert the population and propagate the new religion. However, the new religion took on a highly syncretistic character, frequently mixing animist and Hindu-Buddhist beliefs and practices with Islam. This remained so until a more orthodox Sunni-characterised version of Islam slowly began to become popular at the beginning of the 20th century. The Indonesian government agamaization programs (acquiring of a religion) in Lombok during 1967 and 1968 led to a period of some considerable confusion in religious allegiances and practices. These agamaization programs later led to the emergence of more conformity in religious practices in Lombok.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk008", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|450px|A historic group portrait of Sasak chiefs of the island of Lombok, late 1800s\n\nA notable non-orthodox Islamic group found only on Lombok are the **Wektu Telu** (\"Three Prayers\"), who as the name suggests pray only 3 times daily, instead of the 5 times stipulated in the Quran. Many of the Waktu Telu beliefs are entwined with animism. Waktu Telu has influenced not only Islam but also Hinduism and pantheistic beliefs. There are also remnants of Boda (people \"without a religion\") who maintain Pagan Sasak beliefs.\n\nBefore the arrival of Islam, Lombok experienced a long period of Hindu and Buddhist influence that reached the island through Java. To this day, a minority Balinese Hindu culture remains strong in Lombok. Hinduism is followed by the many ethnic Balinese, as well as some people of indigenous Sasak origin.\n\nAll the main Hindu religious ceremonies are celebrated in Lombok and there are many villages throughout Lombok that have a Hindu majority population. According to local legends two of the oldest villages on the island, Bayan and Sembalun, were founded by a prince of Majapahit.\n\nThe Nagarakertagama, the 14th-century palm leaf poem that was found on Lombok, places the island as one of the vassals of the Majapahit empire. This manuscript contained detailed descriptions of the Majapahit Kingdom and also affirmed the importance of Hindu-Buddhism in the Majapahit empire by describing temple, palaces and several ceremonial observances.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk009", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "Lombok experienced a period of Balinese occupation until the Dutch colonial government reinstated the Sasak rulers in the early 1890s following a direct appeal from the deposed Sasak rulers to the Dutch colonialists asking them to assist in driving out the Balinese occupiers. After a protracted, costly and destructive military campaign, the Dutch eventually overwhelmed the Balinese with a bloody battle fought around Ampernan and Mataram. The Dutch took the Nagarakretagama manuscript as part of the valuable Lombok treasure taken as war-booty from the destroyed palace of Mataram-Cakranagara in Lombok in 1894. Following the defeat of the Balinese occupiers, the people of Lombok remained under Dutch colonial control of the Netherlands East Indies until the Japanese occupied Lombok in the 1940s.\n\nThe Christian minority religion is actively practised in Lombok by some of the Chinese ethnicity and other Indonesians especially those from East Nusa Tenggara.\n\nThere is also a small Arab community in Lombok whose history dates back to early settlement by traders from Yemen. The small community is still evident mainly in Ampenan, the old port of Mataram and retains many of their own traditions.\n\nA UNHCR refugee centre was established some years ago in Lombok. People of Iraqi origin have arrived in Lombok under the provisions of this UNHCR program. Many of the displaced have remained in a state of limbo in Lombok whilst trying to seek immigration to nearby Australia or elsewhere. Some of these refugees have intermarried with Lombok residents, adding their own subtle cultural influence to Lombok.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk010", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are also a small number of people predominantly of European, Australian and New Zealand origins who are resident or semi-permanent residents of Lombok. Some are retirees, others have business activities in Lombok or nearby or they are employed in the mining industries of Nusa Tenggara Barat (*NTB*). Most are living in the coastal areas of West Lombok.\n\nLombok has individual settlers and small communities of Indonesian people from other areas, including Bali,Jawa, Sumbawa, and Timor, as well as other areas of Indonesia, but the prevailing and dominant culture remains that of the Sasak people.\n\nMany influences of animist belief still prevail within the Sasak community. Traditional magic is widely practised to ward off evil and illness, to seek good fortune or to assist with the resolution of disputations and personal antipathy. There is a range of outcomes sought from local Dukun (*traditional healer and magician*) ranging from love spells to death. Thieves will often have magic used upon them so that their bodies will become 'hot' leading to a confession, a frequent trespasser may become disoriented and become 'lost' or a boy may fall under a girl's spell of desire and fall in love with her. Magic may be practised by an individual alone but normally a person experienced in such things is sought out to render a service. Normally money or gifts are made to this person in return for their services and the most powerful practitioners are treated with considerable respect.\n\n### Climate\n\nWhile tropical, hot and humid, Lombok is drier than neighbouring Bali, which makes it a particularly attractive option during the Oct-Apr rainy season (it rains on Lombok too, but rarely for more than an hour or two). The peak of the tourist season, though, is May-August.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk011", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Talk", "text": "The main local language is Bahasa Sasak, the language of the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok. Bahasa Sasak is normally spoken throughout Lombok and has dialectal variations across the island. Indonesian is also spoken or at least understood by most local people and will normally be used in government offices, larger shops and businesses. In the more remote and undeveloped areas of Lombok however, Indonesian is not frequently used and often cannot be understood by the local people, especially the elderly and those who have missed out on formal schooling.\n\nEnglish is reasonably common in the resort areas and occasionally some other European languages are spoken by people involved in the tourism sector.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk012", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nright|200px\n\nA Passenger Service Charge (PJP2U), often referred to as an *airport departure tax*, is normally levied upon departing passengers by Indonesian airport operators. A small sticker or coupon is attached to your boarding pass after paying the fee at a dedicated counter following the completion of check-in and after you have been issued with a boarding pass. The Passenger Service Charge counter is situated at the bottom of the stairs and escalators leading up to the departures level.\n\nThe Passenger Service Charge at Lombok's airport is Rp 45,000 for domestic flights and Rp 150,000 for international flights, payable only in Indonesian Rupiah.\n\nThe **Ngurah Rai International Airport** on nearby Bali is a short distance by air (flight time 25 minutes), with several daily flights by both turboprop and jet powered aircraft. Tickets normally cost about Rp 900,000 for a single journey (July 2024).\n\n#### Domestic\n\nDomestic flights are provided by several airlines. There are connections from Java including Jakarta CGK (*flight time 1 hr 50 minutes-2 hr*) and Surabaya SUB (*flight time 55-60 minutes*). The direct flights from either Jakarta or Surabaya are a much faster option than the long overland and sea route via Bali. Air services between Bali and Lombok are a very good alternative to the much more drawn out sea journeys on the public slow ferries, or the fast boats that operate across the Lombok Strait.\n\nAs domestic flight options are subject to regular change, check the Lombok Praya International airport website for current airline listings and domestic arrivals instructions.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk013", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "Flights from the east include services to and from Sumbawa () and Bima (). Eastward services are often disrupted and scheduled flights may change or be cancelled at short notice. Some of the eastward destinations may offer slightly better flight frequencies if you fly to Bali first.\n\nBe alert that passengers bags may be offloaded without notice by the airlines operating smaller aircraft types if the aircraft is potentially over-weight. The airline may overlook advising the passengers until they have arrived at their destination without the bags on-board. Smaller turbo-prop aircraft are often operated eastward of Lombok may have lower baggage allowances, check your ticketing for details.\n\nWings (LionAir) and Garuda may sometimes add extra flights at peak times or if the boat services to and from Bali are temporarily suspended due to inclement weather conditions in the Lombok Strait. Always check online schedules for updates.\n\n#### International\n\nInternational flights are limited to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (LCCT).", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk014", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "Garuda offer one-stop (single ticket) daily connections from Kuala Lumpur KUL and Singapore SIN. The Garuda Airlines service is code shared with Malaysian Airlines and is operated via Jakarta. These flights arrive and depart at the domestic section of the terminal. Garuda also have single issue ticketing available for flights to Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, and Australian destinations including Brisbane, Melbourne Perth and Sydney. Through route and code sharing arrangements connecting with Etihad Airways flights via Jakarta and Denpasar up to 31 destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Levant, Africa, Europe and North America may be available on a single ticket issue. If the destinations do not appear in the Garuda Indonesia on-line booking system then contact Garuda direct or speak with a travel agent.\n Scoot operate service between Singapore and Lombok\n Lion Air offer one-stop (single ticket) daily connections from Kuala Lumpur KUL and Singapore SIN. These flights arrive and depart at the domestic section of the terminal.\n\nDomestic flights operating to and from Lombok are sometimes delayed or re-scheduled, especially on the routes to the east of Lombok. Allow generous time in transit between flights most especially those connecting with international connections.\n\n#### Immigration and customs clearance\n\nImmigration clearance facilities are available for incoming International passengers arriving at the airport's international terminal. If you intend to get a visa on arrival, exact change in US dollars is recommended, although a selection of other major currencies including Rupiah are accepted, and any change will usually be given in Rupiah. Both the day of arrival and the day of departure are counted towards the 30 days. Entry is processed through separate channels if the visa has been obtained prior to the time of departure arrival. There is a separate channel for Indonesian passport holders.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk015", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "Arriving passengers of eligible nationalities first purchase the VoA (*Visa on Arrival*) voucher at a dedicated counter, they are subsequently processed through immigration clearance channels for processing their VoA and a visa stamp is placed into their passport.\n The VoA may be extended later at the local Immigration office for a further (once only) period of up to 30 days, the cost for the extension is Rp 250,000.\n\nA further processing channel is provided for Indonesian passport holders. Those who are carrying a pre-issued visa should proceed straight to the indicated immigration processing channel and present their passport.\n\nBaggage retrieval is followed by customs and quarantine examinations including baggage X-ray checkpoints.\n\n#### Airport bus\n\nThe DAMRI public bus provides scheduled services from *Bandara Internasional Lombok* to Mataram, Senggigi and Selong, East Lombok. The buses serving the route have a capacity of up to 40 passengers, depending upon the bus used. The fare from/to Mataram’s Mandalika Bus Terminal is Rp 30,000 and from/to Senggigi it is Rp 40,000 and from/to Selong Rp 35,000. A stop at Mandalika Bus Terminal on the eastern outskirts of Mataram and a transfer to a different bus may be required on a limited number of the services.\n\nThere may be some daily variation in the schedules providing services from Senggigi. The bus departs for the airport from near the *Art Market* at intervals of 1.5 hours. The first bus leaves at 03:30 and the last service departs from Senggigi at 20:00. It will stop at several designated stops on the route as well as a number of other informal or pre-arranged stops.\n\nAllow a generous margin for delays if using the service toward the airport to ensure that you arrive at the airport in sufficient time to check-in for your departing flight.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk016", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "Services departing from Mandalika bus terminal on the eastern outskirts of Mataram leave every hour. The first service to the airport departs at 04:00 and the last one departs at 19:00. The bus terminal is provided with an air-conditioned waiting room for the DAMRI passengers arriving from or departing to the airport.\n\nBluebird taxis are normally readily available in Senggigi and in Mataram to fulfil any requirements for travel onward to other destinations.\n\nAt the airport, the DAMRI bus counter may be found toward the far end of the terminal forecourt. Turn right as you leave the terminal central forecourt.\n\nThe DAMRI counter is a free-standing structure near the main terminal roadway and is normally staffed by uniformed DAMRI employees. The DAMRI staff will assist you with departure times and boarding the appropriate vehicle. If not wearing a readily identifiable DAMRI uniform then the person is not a DAMRI employee. Payment for tickets is in cash only using Indonesian Rupiah.\n\n#### Airport taxi\n\nPassengers arriving at the airport by air and wishing to depart from the airport by taxi are required to purchase an Airport Taxi Service coupon. Pay the surcharge at the Airport Taxi Service desk inside the main hall of the terminal. Take this coupon provided and proceed to the taxi rank. Journeys are charged by time and distance travelled using a standard taxi meter.\n\nCentral Lombok destinations (*those within the Regency of Central Lombok*) are Rp 10,000, all other areas on the island are Rp 17,500. Payment is in cash only using Indonesian Rupiah.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk017", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some taxi drivers may well be happy to drive you around and help you to find somewhere to stay when you first arrive; sometimes they may gain a commission from the hotel you choose.\n No parking fee should be payable if exiting the Lombok Airport in a taxi.\n\nA metered taxi to or from the Bandara Internasional Lombok location to Senggigi cost will be approximately Rp 125,000–155,000, to the city of Mataram/Ampenan maybe around Rp 75,000–100,000. For journeys to or from the new airport to the principal tourism precinct of Senggigi allow 70-90 minutes depending upon traffic with a *normal* travel time to Senggigi of 1 hr 15 minutes.\n\n#### Taxi to the airport\n\nLombok has two principal companies providing radio dispatched taxi services, both use meters (*taksi berargo*).\n\nThe passenger is generally considered to be responsible for paying the airport parking fee if their taxi is entering the airport. Provide an extra Rp 4,000 to the driver to get them out of the airport after dropping you at the terminal if it appears that parking charges are being levied.\n\n##### Taxi touts and 'private' taxis\n\nPlease do not be mislead by *taxi touts*. Use only official taxis and ignore any advice or encouragement to use informal operators. The official taxis are clearly identifiable and marked with either Airport Taksi, Bluebird taxi, or Express taxi markings and rooftop signs. If it is a taxi it will have a yellow coloured (\"public transport vehicle\") number plate. Regular cars have a black plate with white alpha-numerals.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk018", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is best to be cautious concerning any proposals to use a private transport service unless it is something you have pre-arranged. Some of the local private operators are fine, although they are generally operating without either official sanction or a tourism services permit and will most likely cost more than a taxi. If any arrangements are made with a private operator, then ensure they are clearly unambiguous and not *rushed* by either party. Ensure that you see the vehicle and scrutinise the driver before making a final agreement on either the driver or the vehicle.\n\nIt is also possible to pre-book private transfer services to and from Lombok Airport online, through Gili-islandtransfers.\n\n##### Private vehicle access\n\nPrivate vehicles including cars, shuttle buses, buses and motorbikes may access the airport's public parking area and terminal drop off zones by entering through the main terminal gate.\n\nSome of the larger hotels offer to pick up transfers to and from the airport. You will need to book ahead for this.\n Private operators often offer transport services at the airport and any such transactions should be approached with caution to ensure that their fees and vehicle are appropriate. It should also be understood that many of the private *transport* operators are very likely to discreetly seek a commission from the hotel they take you to. These payments are sometimes sought even if you have already made a prior booking at the destination hotel. Often these operators offer a sincere and valuable service and work hard using their local knowledge to assist in finding their *guest* suitable accommodation to their needs. Some, however, just tout and opportunists, accordingly discretion and common sense should be used in becoming involved with one of these *guides* or private *transport* operators.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk019", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get in", "text": "A timed parking fee may be payable at the exit gate. This fee is payable by all vehicles including taxi, cars and motorbikes if it is being applied then a time-stamped ticket is provided at the entrance gate booth. Sometimes parking fees are not levied, the policy appears to change from time to time.\n\nAn arriving passenger should not be expecting to pay a parking fee on exit from the Lombok Airport unless a private transfer has been pre-booked and a waiting time has been accrued. Charges are displayed on an information board at the booth.\n\n##### By rental car\n\nLombok International Airport is in the centre of Lombok Island. There are no tourist sites near the airport. To exit from the airport, it is better if you wish to rent a car without a driver. An international driving license is not necessary, please show the passport and flight ticket and car rental persons will photo you and your identity in their handphone. To rent a car at the airport and back the rental car at the airport will cut the transportation cost and also time-consuming. Just phone the car rental as soon as arrive at the airport, although contact them several days before is also possible, if the flight ticket has been issued. The tariff for rent Toyota Avanza in the airport is Rp 275.000 to Rp 350.000 (depends on year car issued) per 24 hours and not much different tariff with rent a car at Mataram or Senggigi. Unlike in Bali which all car rentals can deliver the car at the airport, there are only three operators can deliver the car at the Lombok International Airport, but usually, the cars are always available, except in Idulfitri (Eid-Al-Fitr) Holiday Season.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk020", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Bali", "text": "### Safety\n\n Slow ferries are the safest and best value option and are used extensively by locals as passengers, with vehicles, and goods;\n Fast boats accidents are more likely than on slow ferries especially during heavy seas when they have been swamped by waves leading to loss of life. \n\n### Slow Ferry Services\n\n**Slow ferries** run from Padang Bai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok) approximately every hour, 24 hours a day: \n\n Duration: approx 5.5 hours (may vary due to weather or docking delays)\n Fare: Rp 46,000 (children Rp 29,000)\n tickets are readily available in person from ticket sellers at the shops in Padang Bai (Bali) or Lembar (Lombok)\n avoid buying slow ferry tickets on internet services as you will overpay.\n\nThese ferries are large and some are very good eg. Dharma Ferry IX, but others well-worn. It is recommended to bring food and water for the journey. \n\nThe schedule for the slow ferry crossing from Lembar (Lombok) to Padang Bai (Bali): \n\n Time Vessel\n 00:00 Dharma Ferry IX\n 01:30 Rhama Giri Nusa\n 04:00 Salindo Mutiara I\n 06:30 Sindu Dwitama\n 09:00 Surya Ship 777\n 11:30 Marina Segunda\n 13:30 Portlink II\n 15:00 Wihan Bahari\n 16:30 Nawasena\n 18:00 Dharma Ferry VIII\n 19:30 Sindu Tritama\n 21:00 Nusa Bhakti\n 22:30 Munic I\n\nThe schedule for the slow ferry crossing from Padang Bai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok):\n\n Time Vessel\n 00:00 Marina Primera\n 01:30 Naraya\n 04:00 PBK Muryati\n 06:30 Gemilang VIII\n 09:00 Dharma Ferry IX\n 11:30 Rhama Giri Nusa\n 13:30 Sindu Dwitama\n 15:00 Salindo Mutiara I\n 16:30 Surya Ship 777\n 18:00 Marina Segunda\n 19:30 Wihan Bahari\n 21:00 Portlink II\n 22:30 Nawasena\n\n### Fast Boat Services\n\nThere are numerous direct **fast boat** services from Bali and speed boat services from Lombok to the Gili Islands. Most also stop at Lombok, and some pass by Nusa Lembongan. These fast boats travel at speeds of 20–30 knots due to their powerful engines. \n\nTo compare prices and services, search online for \"Bali to Lombok fast boat\".\n\n **Bali Eka Jaya**: Transfers among Bali, Gili, and Lombok\n **Wahana Gili Ocean**: Transfers among Bali (via Padangbai harbor), Lombok (via Teluk Nara harbor), and Gili Trawangan\n **Scoot Fast Cruise**: Comfortable and safe travel from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan, Lombok, and the Gili Islands\n **Marina Srikandi**: Departs from Padangbai; the first fast boat service with docking rights at Senggigi\n **Bluewater Express**: Cruises from Bali to Lombok and Gili Trawangan, departing from Serangan harbor \n\n### Travel Tips\n\n Be cautious of booking via internet services and unreliable booking agents\n For motorbike travelers: If your rental shop allows travel outside Bali, you can take the motorbike on the slow ferry (Rp 101,000 per bike and rider). Required documents: passport, International Driving License, local license, and vehicle registration (STNK). Contact the rental owner in advance\n Generally, it is better to rent vehicles locally in Bali, and travel with your vehicle on the slow ferry.", "word_count": 472}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk021", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|240px|''Perahu'' fishing boats, [[Gili Islands|Gili Trawangan]]\n\n### By bemo\n\nBemos (converted passenger-carrying minivans) are the main means of short and medium distance transport on Lombok. They can be hailed down on all larger streets and will happily take you even short hops down the road. Fares are inexpensive.\nAn approximate fare (mid 2009) from Ampenan to Senggigi is Rp 4,500-5,500/person.\nSometimes tourists get charged extra and drivers of empty bemos may try to get you to charter them for a higher price, often more than an equivalent taxi ride over the same distance.\nIf you are chartering be careful that the price and expectations are clear, if unresolved just seek a different Bemo.\n\nPrices for set distances vary at times and if the price of fuel has risen or it is in short supply causing roadside price fluctuations then the Bemo prices will often follow. Try to watch what local customers are paying for a similar distance to your own and if really in doubt just include Rp 1,000-2,000 extra. It is prudent to have enough small notes to be able to pay the correct fare without needing change.\n\nIf you are carrying large bags of shopping or other items more than a day pack or small hand items then expect to pay a little more. For a large amount of shopping or a really large single item such as a bicycle, luggage or similar maybe double the charge for a single person or a bit more if the driver is missing out on business from other people because you have taken a lot of space in the vehicle or if the driver needs to assist with the loading and unloading.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk022", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Senggigi to Mataram will require a change at the Pasar Ampenan from the more utilitarian Suzuki Carry 'box back' style of bemo popular used in the rural areas across to a yellow and red Suzuki bemo of the enclosed van body style that runs about in the city areas, unless of course you have chartered the vehicle to your required destination.\n\nBemo are often used to carry produce either on charter or with passengers on board and occasionally a small cow, or some goats might be moved in one, normally not when there are people in there but nothing is out of the question with a bemo in the rural areas, even if it does not fit inside.\n\nBemos have normally stopped running by dusk on the west coast of Lombok and most other rural locations unless under charter. A taxi or other means of transport may need to be called to your location to pick you up if you leave your return to a time approaching dusk.\n\nTravel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbors of Lembar for Bali and Bangsal for the Gilis.\n\n### By taxi\n\nMetered taxis are common in Mataram, Cakranegara and Ampenan and readily operate to the Bangsal, Sira and Medana area and along the west coast tourism strip including Senggigi as well as to Lembar.\n\n- Bluebird\n\n- Express Taksi", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk023", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Both the more prolific Bluebird Taksi and also the white coloured Express Taksi have a radio dispatch system and both companies cars are equipped with meters (*argo*) which should be used by their drivers at all times. Taxis may be hailed down on the roadside with the exception of the dark blue Airport Taksi, the use of which is limited to arriving airport passengers only. Taxis can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel.\n\n- Airport Taksi\n\nThere are also some other taxi operators. With this development there is now a small number of light blue coloured Toyota Vios taxis that look very much like a Bluebird taxi unless viewed with some scrutiny.\n\n- Lendang Express Taxi\n\nOther minor operators are:\n\n- KSU Attic\n\n- Narmada Taxi\n\nFlag fall for taxis on Lombok is approximately Rp 4,250 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every 100 m past 2 km. As a rough guide figure on Rp 10,000 for hops around town and around Rp 60,000-65,000 from Senggigi to Mataram/Cakranegara.\n\n### By car\n\n#### Car rental\n\nRenting a car is also an option and there are several places in Senggigi, Mangsit and Mataram to rent from. Expect to pay Rp 150,000-175,000 (low end mid-late 1980-90s Suzuki mini jeep-Jimmy (2x4) 4 seats, Rp 250,000-300,000 for a Toyota Avanza/Daihatsu Xenia (2x4) 6-7 seats, Rp 300,000-450,000 for a Toyota Kijang or later model Kijang-Innova (2x4) 7-8 seats.\nAge and condition of car will effect price as will high rental demand in the peak tourism period around the June-August and local holidays.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk024", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Petrol (gasoline) (*benzine*) is set at as international price, except Premium-Octane88 Rp 6,450/litre with small subsidy from official outlets. Non-subsidy petrol is Pertalite-Octane90 Rp 7,800 and Pertamax-Octane92 Rp 9,500. Petrol is available both through official Pertamina outlets and also in roadside stalls where a 1 litre bottle of Premium will sell Rp 1,500 to Rp 2,000 higher than at the official outlets. The price at the roadside vendors varies upon both the time of day and the remoteness of the location. Suggested is to use at least petrol with Octane90 as newer vehicles need it, especially city car 1000cc for maximum 4 persons likes Toyota Agya or Daihatsu Ayla which can be hired less (or same) than Rp 200,000 per day.\n\nDiesel fuel (Solar) is normally only available at Pertamina outlets throughout Lombok.\n\nDriving yourself around Lombok is not for the uninitiated. The chances of having an accident are probably much higher than when driving in your home country. Street signs are infrequent and ambiguous in the more remote areas of the island. If you are not familiar with the road system you may spend more time looking for an attraction than actually spending time enjoying it.\n\nGreat care must be exercised at all times when driving a car anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair and large potholes and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury. The greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules. Road users are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic behaviour on the road.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk025", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "If renting a car or motor bike always check thoroughly for previous damage and ensure that you discuss and document any such damage to the vehicle, with the renter, prior to taking delivery. Also check the working order of the brakes and tyre condition (including tyre inflation) prior to accepting the vehicle. It is best to try driving the car on the road before finalising the agreement, especially if renting an older model Suzuki Jimmy, Kijang (Toyota) car. Ensure the current STNK – (*Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan*) (Certificate of car registration) is with the vehicle and that it is a current and original copy.\n\n#### Car with driver\n\nA good alternative to renting a car is to rent a car with a local driver. The price range is normally Rp 350,000-700,000/day and will vary upward with the destinations required. Rp 350,000 will normally only cover a very basic trip with a limited distance. This type of service is normally offered as an all inclusive package of rental car, driver and fuel. The driver can take you effortlessly to all the local attractions, plus some places that are never shown in the guide books. A suitable driver will take responsibility for whatever happens during the trip and will be happy to accommodate your travelling schedule. If you want to take a 2-3 day trip around the island, the driver will accompany you, eat low priced meals, and find low price places to stay at night. Normally the renter is responsible for the drivers meals and the costs of accommodation if an overnight stay is required at a location distant from their home.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk026", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is sometimes worthwhile enquiring at the hotel where you are staying as some of them offer their own car and driver at a very good price. Often though they may just add to the cost of the rental and driver fees with high service fees or commission payments to themselves.\n\nDriving in Lombok requires an International Driving Permit (IDP), **plus** your own home country of residence Drivers Licence|Both these documents must correctly match the type and class of vehicle being driven or they are invalid. Both must be carried and are often required to be presented in roadside police stops. This requirement is actively enforced by the police throughout Lombok.\n\nIf riding a motorbike then a full motor bike endorsement appropriate to that class of motorbike is required on both the IDP and the home country issued drivers licence. Do not under any circumstances ride a motorbike or drive a car without a proper licence. A car licence alone is not sufficient to ride a motorbike; the licence must clearly permit you to ride a motorbike in the country of issue and the appropriate section of the IDP must be endorsed as well.\n\nInsurance is not provided by the motorbike renters so you are responsible for any damage. If you do hit a local person, either on foot, on motorcycle, or in a car, you can expect to pay a very large sum of money to make restitution. Street signs are infrequent and ambiguous. If you are not familiar with the road system and comfortable riding a motorbike at home then this may be ill advised and dangerous to learn.\n\nThoroughly check your travel insurance policy to ensure that your cover is still in place whilst operating or riding upon a motor bike or scooter or driving a car.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk027", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By motorbike\n\nRenting a motorbike or scooter is also an option and there are many places in Senggigi, Mangsit, Mataram, Cakranegara and elsewhere to rent from. Expect to pay around Rp 80,000 for most models and possibly more in peak season or local holidays when demand for motorbike rentals can be very high. Late model full-automatic and semi-automatic motorbikes are available in Lombok and they normally have engine size in the range 110-125cc. Several motorbike rentals can also deliver and pick up the bike at the airport, though the service would be more expensive.\n\nGreat care must be exercised at all times when riding a motorbike anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair. Loose sand, rocks, and gravel may be found upon the road. Large potholes and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury to motorbike riders. Riding after the onset of dusk should be avoided in the southern or remote areas of Lombok and undertaken with great caution elsewhere. Always wear protective gear; at the very least, closed shoes and helmet.\n\nTraveling at night in the rural areas is ill-advised and most local people are very wary of doing it.\n\nIt must be understood that the greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules. Road users are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic behaviour on the road and will frequently cross onto, or travel on the wrong side of the road without warning. Overtaking maneuvers and turns are also often executed in a highly dangerous manner.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk028", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Always thoroughly check the motorbike you are renting for any previous damage. Check especially for correct brake function and tyre condition (including tyre inflation). It is normally best to try the motorbike before finalising the agreement. Ensure the current STNK – (*Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan*) (Certificate of Registration) is current and the original copy and is with the motorbike. Care should be exercised to always lock a motorbike and to secure your possessions.\n\n### By ojek\n\nAn ojek is a motorbike taxi service. Prices are negotiable but a rule of thumb is Rp 5,000 if the destination is nearby, Rp 10,000 for a few kilometres, Rp 20,000 for a longer trip like a run from Senggigi to Ampenan to pick up an airline ticket or go to the market and Rp 35,000-Rp 40,000 for a full day. If considerable distances are involved the hirer should offer to buy some fuel. Traditionally an ojek rider will wait for the hirer to complete their business at their destination/s and take them back home again. If you are out for the day you should consider providing modest food and refreshments. Make sure you have your own helmet or that one is supplied. If you forget to do this you may find that a local policeman needs to reminds you of this and payment of a 'fine' to him may be required to continue on your way.\n\n### By horse cart", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk029", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Horse-pulled carts, known as *cidomo*, are very common on Lombok. They are a good method of transportation for short distances e.g, from your hotel to a restaurant. Make sure to agree on the price before the journey - Rp 10,000 is the maximum price to pay for a short journey. In the Gilis there are no cars, so horse carts or a bicycle are the only way to get around besides on foot.\n\n### By boat\n\nTraditional fishing boats known as *perahu* ply the waters around Lombok, and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers, two lengths of extra large bamboo sealed at either end and attached by timber outrigger bars on both sides creating a configuration similar to a catamaran and affording greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will of course take an often generous commission. English speaking guides on the beaches will be eager to assist with this if you wish. You will most likely be expected to pay for this service if the negotiation is successful either by 'hiring' the guide or by a commission paid to him by the boat operator.\n\nFishing charters and speedboat trips can be arranged in Lombok and professional operators will be able to supply suitable services including on-board safety equipment.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk030", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so cycling is quite possible and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. You may wish to bring your own touring bike, as most local bikes are of a very basic quality. There is one biking tour operator (Lombok Biking) that has decent bikes and guides.\nBicycles of reasonable quality may be purchased in Indonesia and may offer an alternative to the costs and complexities of shipping your own bike in from overseas.\nBicycle sales outlets are situated in Cakranegara with several shops on Jalan Jl. Umarmaya near the rear of the Cakranegara markets and at the Tiara Department Store in Mataram Mall.\n\nGreat care must be exercised at all times when riding a bike anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair and large potholes, loose sand, gravel and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury. The greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules, are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic road behaviour.\n\nRiding a bicycle after dusk should be avoided throughout Lombok due to the hazardous road conditions.\n\nLombok has a bicycle tour operator situated in Senggigi. See the Senggigi article for further information.\n\nPlease refer to the \"By car\" and \"By motorbike\" sections above for further information on riding conditions.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk031", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|Tiu Kelep Waterfall\n - [[Mount Rinjani]]\n\n - Tanjung A'an\n\n - Sukarare\n\n - Air Terjun Sindang gila\n\n - Air Terjun Tiu Kelep\n\n - Air Terjun Betara Lenjang", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk032", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Do", "text": "- Traditional massage\n\n - Snorkelling\n\n - Surfing\n\n - Scuba diving\n\nthumb|300px|Volcano Rinjani\n\n - Trekking\n\n - Fishing charters\n\n - Biking tours\n\n - Narmada water park", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk033", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|''Ayam Taliwang''\nIn 2015, Lombok was voted \"World's Best Honeymoon Destination Halal\" and \"Halal World's Best Tourism Destination\" by a panel representing most Muslim countries. 90 percent of the population is Muslim, so halal food can be found almost everywhere in Lombok, except in the western part of Lombok such as in Gilis and Senggigi, where the population is more heterogeneous. Non-halal food (including alcohol drinks) can be found also at hotels with 4 or more stars.\n\nThe word *lombok* means \"chili pepper\" (*cabe*) in Bahasa Indonesia and although the local cuisine is quite spicy, it might not always be as hot as the island's name suggests. The local word describing chilli is *sebie* in Bahasa Sasak, and the name of the island of Lombok is actually derived from the word *lomboq*, meaning *straight* in the local Sasak language and not from any connection at all with the local chili as many people believe.\n\nProbably the best known local dish is **ayam taliwang**, although nobody seems to be able to agree on the exact recipe: most interpretations involve chicken coated with a rich red sauce flavored with galangal, turmeric and tomato, which can be either mild or searingly hot. **Pelecing** is a spicy sauce used in many dishes made with chilli, shrimp paste, and tomato. A local shrimp paste called **lengkare** is used on the island of Lombok. **Sares** is made from chilli, coconut juice and banana palm pith and is sometimes mixed with meat. Non meat dishes include **kelor** (hot soup with vegetables), **serebuk** (vegetables mixed with coconut), and **timun urap** (cucumber with coconut, onion and garlic).\n\nGenerally the least expensive and most popular item on the menu is *nasi campur* or mixed rice. This dish is a complete meal served on a single plate, usually consisting of rice and vegetable ingredients often incorporating either tofu (tahu), tempeh (tempe), chicken (ayam), beef (sapi), fish (ikan), peanuts (kacang), together with a wide variation of cooked vegetables. As the name suggests, the meal can be a mixture of many different items, at times some may be a little difficult to accurately identify and the style and ingredients will vary from place to place. A dab of spicy red paste called sambal (basically stone ground red chilli peppers) is placed somewhere near the side of the plate. Sambal is the universal condiment served on Lombok and is extremely hot to the palate of most tourists, so use with care.\n\nThe price of food varies dramatically depending on the location on Lombok. The restaurants in the popular tourist destinations of Senggigi and the Gili Islands command the highest prices but also offer the largest variety of international foods including banana pancakes, pizza, beef steak and other travellers favorites. In most other areas of the island numerous small restaurants, called *warung*, cater primarily to the local population. The savvy traveller will discover these small restaurants serve a variety of delicious local food at a very low price.", "word_count": 493}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk034", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Drink", "text": "Alcoholic drinks are generally available throughout the island including all tourist destinations. However, since Lombok is predominantly Muslim, some areas (notably Praya) prohibit the service of alcohol at bars and restaurants. Local supermarkets offer a variety of local as well as international beers. Note that alcohol is heavily taxed in all of Indonesia: a small bottle may be the most expensive item you can order when served a full meal in a \"local\" eatery.\n\nThe island's most touristic township, Senggigi, has numerous bars and clubs with the usual international favourites including the ubiquitous Indonesian *seksi dancers* often found in nightclubs. A favourite local drink, is *tuak*, a red or white fermented palm wine with 2-5% alc. volume. Please see the *Stay safe* section for caution on methyl alcohol adulteration.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk035", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Most of Lombok's better-quality accommodation can be found within the Senggigi strip to the north of the airport. The Gili Islands have become increasingly popular with the younger crowd and now offer a full range of accommodations. Kuta is popular with surfers and eco-travelers seeking the more serene, traditional village environment. The area around Sira and Medana on the north western coast near Tanjung has 4 resort style hotels. The main city of Mataram, on the other hand, has very little tourist oriented accommodation with a couple of larger full service hotels on offer. There are many smaller and lower priced hotels situated in the Cakranegara/Sweta area and others throughout the city.\n\nDetailed information about accommodations in each of these respective areas can be found by following the destination links listed at the top of this page.\n\nBe aware that if your hotel room is near a mosque your sleep may be interrupted by calls to worship for morning prayers.\n\n### Villas\n\nOne accommodation option which is becoming more popular, emulating what has happened on its sister island of Bali, is renting a **private villa** complete with staff. However not every place sold as a \"villa\" actually fits the bill. Prices vary widely: some operators claim to go as low as US$30/ night, but realistically you will be looking at upwards of US$200/night for anything with a decent location and a private pool. At the top of the price range rents can easily go to US$1,000/night or higher. Villas can be found in Senggigi, at Sire beach near Tanjung and, increasingly, the Gili Islands; see those articles for more detail.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk036", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although Lombok is a safe and stable place, these tips may help you along the way:", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk037", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Because Lombok is not engulfed with tourists, is always prudent to travel in groups of two or more. This is especially true for women and visitors who cannot speak Bahasa Indonesia. Even a minor incident can be difficult to resolve when there is a language barrier especially in the rural areas of Lombok where many people are not fluent in Bahasa Indonesian and only speak Bahasa Sasak.\n Most tourist areas and many villages are busy with activity at night. Often street vendors sell food until 21:00 at night or later in some areas. Tourists and locals will often walk the streets when the bars and restaurants are open. However when traveling in rural villages or non-tourist areas after dark there may be very few people found on the streets. In these situations it is generally more prudent to stay indoors after dark. People in rural Lombok and many of the quieter Kampung areas are often in bed by 20:00, rising again at 05:00.\n Put locks on the zips of your bags. This makes it more difficult for your luggage to be pilfered or tampered with. Be prepared to quickly lock and unlock when passing though customs.\n Try not to display conspicuous wealth such as large amounts of cash or expensive cameras, mobile phones and other items as it may tempt thieves including children and may also encourage requests for financial assistance in some circumstances.\n Dress modestly in rural villages, religious sites and government buildings; long pants for men and a shirt, a modest skirt, full or calf length pants, dress or sarongs are suggested and a conservative blouse is recommended for women. This may save you or onlookers from embarrassment. If more revealing clothing is worn it is good to have a sarong handy as it can effect a quick and easy adaptation to prevailing circumstances. Naked or semi-naked bathing and very skimpy swimwear on the beach will most likely create considerable controversy and possibly some alarm amongst the local people even in the areas of concentrated tourism activity in front of the hotels. This may not be immediately apparent to the visitor at the time. Carry a sarong if you only have revealing swimwear available and wear it especially when you are nearby or talking with local people as it will place everyone more at ease and create considerably less controversy. Take along a sarong when travelling about as they are a good all purpose item that can come in handy to keep off the sun or wind and can be called into service to avoid any awkward moments.\n Footwear must always be removed when entering a person's home and occasionally even some business premises. This is the case in even the most primitive and basic living structures.\n In Lombok it is normally considered to be quite rude or disrespectful to offer or hand something to someone with your left hand unless they are a very close and intimate friend or family member, and even then it is best avoided if possible.\n Caution should be exercised when consuming locally made alcoholic drinks such as Arak as methanol poisoning has occurred in parts of Indonesia including, Bali, Lombok and the nearby Gili islands. During 2009-2013 a number of locals and tourists in Java, Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands were poisoned by consuming drinks containing methyl alcohol resulting in fatalities. Methyl alcohol (methanol) is highly toxic and ingestion can result in death, although the lethal dose depends on the individual. It can find its way into alcoholic spirits by either poor distilling practices or by deliberate adulteration. The initial symptoms of methanol intoxication include euphoria, headache, vision problems such as 'snow' vision and 'black' areas in the visual field, dizziness, nausea, lack of co-ordination and confusion. These symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from a bad hangover, however with methanol poisoning the affected person does not recover the next day. If methyl alcohol poisoning is suspected seek medical assistance immediately.\n**Dengue fever** and the more serious complication of **Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever** (DHF) is present in Lombok. During 2009-early 2011 there was an outbreak effecting the island including the nearby Gili islands. If symptoms of dengue or DHF appear medical assistance should be sought without delay from one of Lombok's major hospitals. Both dengue and DHF is readily treated by competent medical professionals in Lombok and intervention should not be delayed or postponed for any reason if symptoms are present or suspected. Dengue outbreaks are a common seasonal occurrence throughout the tropics and during the wet season sensible precautions should always be taken by visitors to avoid exposure to mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever. This applies to Lombok, including the Gili Islands, and to other similar areas throughout Southeast Asia. Two fifths of the world's population are now at risk from dengue and it is estimated that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries. Dengue is transmitted by the *Aedes* *aegypti* species of mosquito. They are typical small and usually have black and white stripe markings on their body and legs. They are typically active between dawn and dusk.\n**Malaria** has also been present in areas nearby to the tourism precincts of Lombok. Malaria infections were occurring in the local population in 2010 and early 2011, they have not been apparent since. The outbreaks were more common amongst those local people who live or work nearby the lushly vegetated forest areas and who are living in primitive conditions. If spending the majority of your visit in the built up tourism areas where mosquito control measures such as 'fogging' are in place and if personal awareness and sensible precautions are practised the risk of contracting malaria remains minimal. Malaria is readily treated by competent medical professionals in Lombok and as with dengue fever intervention should not be delayed or postponed for any reason if symptoms are present or suspected. Parts of Lombok are susceptible to at different times, some areas are seasonal and some other areas do not provide evidence of seasonal transmission peaks. Malarial transmission peaks may occur in the dryer months in some areas or Lombok. The *Anopheles* mosquito is responsible for transmission, it is active from dusk to dawn.\nThe use of mosquito nets and repellants is advisable especially when sleeping and when spending time in lushly vegetated areas during the wet season or at any time when mosquitos are breeding. If a suitable insect repellent cannot be obtained locally supplied minyak sereh (sitronela) contains citronella and is derived from the lemongrass (*sereh*) plant. Minyak Tawon also has some (lesser) insect repellent properties and is also not considered poisonous. Indeed it is used medicinally and for treating cuts, abrasions and insect bites. It has a Citronella type aroma. Minyak Sereh is also good for use on stings and bites. With either of these products do not expose to mucous membranes or use near the eyes and please skin test prior to use to ensure there is no adverse reaction.\nIf concerned about the risks of mosquito borne diseases please seek the advice of a suitable qualified medical practitioner or *Travellers Health Centre* prior to your departure to any destination in the tropics.", "word_count": 1212}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk038", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Cope", "text": "#### Hospitals\n\nThere are no international hospitals in Lombok. The nearest one can be found in Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, Bali. Mataram Public Hospital and Harapan Keluarga Hospital have staffs with limited to fluent English skill.\n\n - Mataram Public Hospital\n\n - RS Harapan Keluarga\n\n - Rumah Sakit Risa\n\n - Siti Fajar Moslem Hospital\n\n - Anthonius Catholic Hospital\n\n - Rumah Sakit Polda\n\n - Army Hospital\n\n **Payment guarantee**, Please note many hospital service providers may demand a guarantee of payment before rendering treatment even in an obvious and clear emergency. Incremental payments may also be demanded for individual services including the supply of professional services such as laboratory services, pharmacuticals and medical consumables. Travel insurance providers are sometimes very slow to provide these payment guarantees and may demand extensive documentation of costs and full receipts or they may later decline payment or reimbursement or delay these payments for an extended time. Diagnosis may also be disputed by travel insurers and treatment or admission authorisations delayed for extended times whilst they deliberate over authorising treatment and payment guarantees.\n\n#### Medical clinics\n\n - Klinik Risa\n\n - Clinic Senggigi Centre\n\n - Laboratorium Klinik Prodia\n\n#### Emergency service\n\n - Ambulance\n\n - International SOS Medika\n\n - Bali:24 hr Emergencies\n\n - Jakarta: 24 hr emergencies", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk039", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Connect", "text": "- Lombok Regional Police (National)\n\n - Tourism Police Senggigi\n\n - Pelni Shipping Lines\n\n - Department of Immigration\n\n - Post Office\n\n#### Embassies and consulates\n\nThere are no consular services available in Lombok. The nearest consular services are in Bali and Jakarta has embassies representing a wide range of nationalities.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "lombok::chunk040", "doc_id": "lombok", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bali — a very popular Indonesian island\n Sumbawa — an island off the beaten track. World-class surfing.\n Komodo — fierce dragons and great diving\n Flores\n Java — including Surabaya and Jakarta\n Makassar in Sulawesi\n Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia\n Singapore", "word_count": 39}
diff --git a/corpus/lombok/metadata.json b/corpus/lombok/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a1fd3a1e548b1de2fe1d659fb071c5bddb20c9c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/lombok/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "lombok",
+ "title": "Lombok",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lombok",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombok",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q7564",
+ "coordinates": [
+ -8.565,
+ 116.351
+ ],
+ "summary": "Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a \"tail\" (Sekotong Peninsula) to the southwest, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) across and a total area of about 4,566.54 square kilometres (1,763.15 square miles) including smaller offshore islands. The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.\nLombok is somewhat similar in size and density, and shares some cultural heritage with the neighboring island of Bali to the west. However, it is administratively part of West Nusa Tenggara, along with the larger but less densely populated island of Sumbawa to the east. Lombok is surrounded by a number of smaller islands locally called Gili.\nThe island was home to some 3,168,692 people as recorded in the decennial 2010 census and 3,758,631 in the 2020 Census; the off",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Nusa Tenggara"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bali",
+ "Sumbawa",
+ "Komodo",
+ "Flores (Indonesia)",
+ "Java",
+ "Surabaya",
+ "Jakarta",
+ "Makassar",
+ "Sulawesi",
+ "Kuala Lumpur",
+ "Malaysia",
+ "Singapore"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 9726,
+ "listing_count": 39,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 41,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/london/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/london/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b184fdb90ee6f76076534d2216fb119ebca0f692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/london/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk000", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|260x260px|London is home some of the best architecture in the world\nVibrant and truly multicultural, **London** is a megalopolis of people, ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of the United Kingdom sits on the River Thames in South-East England. **Greater London** has a population of a little over 9 million. Considered one of the world's leading \"global cities\", London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade. \n\nFor the visitor, there is a seemingly endless choice of historical sites, shopping, museums, food, art galleries, nightlife, and activities. Once a Celtic settlement, London is a bustling city, where visitors come to experience the urban heritage and see its specific royal-themed attractions.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk001", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Districts", "text": "The name \"London\" used to refer only to the once-walled \"Square Mile\" of the original Roman and later medieval city; this is now confusingly called the \"City of London\" or just \"The City\". Today, London has taken on a much larger meaning to include all of the vast central parts of the modern metropolis, with the city having absorbed numerous surrounding towns and villages over the centuries, including large portions of the surrounding \"home counties\", one of which - Middlesex - being completely consumed by the growing metropolis. The term Greater London embraces Central London together with all the outlying suburbs that lie in one continuous urban sprawl within the lower Thames Valley. Though densely populated, London retains large swathes of green parkland and open space, even within the city centre.\n\n**Greater London** is most of the area surrounded by the M25 orbital motorway, and consists of 32 London Boroughs and the City of London that, together with the office of the Mayor of London, form the basis for London's local government. The Mayor of London is elected by London residents and should not be confused with the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The names of several boroughs, such as Westminster and Camden, are well-known, others less so, such as Wandsworth and Lewisham. This traveller's guide to London recognises cultural, functional and social districts of varying type and size:\n\n### Central London\n\n### Inner London\n\n### Outer London", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk002", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "> When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford\n\n### History\n\nthumb|300px|The Tower of London\nSettlements have existed on the site of London since well before Roman times, with evidence of Bronze Age and Celtic inhabitants. The Roman city of *Londinium*, established just after the Roman conquest of Britannia in the year 43, formed the basis for the modern city (some isolated Roman period remains are still to be seen within the City). After the end of Roman rule in 410 and a short-lived decline, London experienced a gradual revival under the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the Norsemen, and emerged as a great medieval trading city, eventually replacing Winchester as the royal capital of England. This paramount status for London was confirmed when William the Conqueror, a Norman, built the Tower of London after the conquest in 1066 and was crowned King of England in Westminster.\n\nLondon went from strength to strength with the rise of England to first European then global prominence, and the city became a great centre of culture, government and industry. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English Renaissance (witness the Rose Theatre and great playwrights like Shakespeare who made London their home). With the rise of Britain to supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries (see Industrial Britain) and the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital and drew people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk003", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "England's royal family has, over the centuries, added much to the London scene for today's traveller: the Albert Memorial, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Tower of London, Kew Palace and Westminster Abbey being prominent examples.\n\nDespite the decline of the British Empire, and suffering during the Second World War when London was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe in the Blitz, the city remains a top-tier world city: a global centre of culture, finance, and learning. London is easily the largest city in the United Kingdom, eight times larger than the second largest, Birmingham, and ten times larger than the third, Glasgow, and dominates the economic, political and social life of the nation. It's full of excellent bars, galleries, museums, parks and theatres. It is also the most culturally and ethnically diverse part of the country, and arguably of the whole of Europe as well, making it a great multicultural city to visit. Samuel Johnson famously said, \"when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life\". Whether you are interested in ancient history, modern art, opera or underground raves, London has it all.\n\n### The City and Westminster\n\nthumb|The Elizabeth Tower is the iconic tower that is home to the bell known as 'Big Ben'\nHistorically London was two cities: a commercial city and a separate government capital.\n\nThe commercial capital was the City of London. This had a dense population and all the other pre-requisites of a medieval city: walls, a castle (The Tower of London), a cathedral (St Paul's), a semi-independent City government, a port and a bridge across which all trade was routed so Londoners could make money (London Bridge).", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk004", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "About an hour upstream (on foot or by boat) around a bend in the river was the government capital (Westminster). This had a church for crowning the monarch (Westminster Abbey) and palaces. As each palace was replaced by a larger one, the previous one was used for government, first the Palace of Westminster (better known as the Houses of Parliament), then Whitehall, then Buckingham Palace. The two were linked by a road called The \"Strand\", the old English word for \"riverbank\".\n\nLondon grew both west and east. The land to the west of the City (part of the parish of Westminster) was prime farming land (Covent Garden and Soho for example) and made good building land. The land to the east was flat, marshy and cheap, good for cheap housing and industry, and later for docks. Also the wind blows 3 days out of 4 from west to east, and the Thames (into which the sewage went) flows from west to east. So the West End was up-wind and up-market, the East End was where people worked for a living.\n\nModern-day London in these terms is a two-centre city, with the area in between known confusingly as the West End.\n\n### Climate\n\nDespite having perhaps a fair reputation for being unsettled, London enjoys a mild climate on average. As much as one in three days on average will bring rain, though sometimes for only a short period. In some years, 2012 and 2018 being examples, there was no rain for a number of weeks. The fact that Londoners would find this remarkable should be an indication to visitors from drier climates of what they may be in for!", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk005", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "Extreme weather is rare. Occasionally there may be heavy rain that can bring localised flooding or strong winds that may down trees and damage roofs, but overall you are unlikely to encounter anything too lively.\n\n##### Winter\n\nWinter in London is mild compared to nearby continental European cities due to both the presence of the Gulf Stream and the urban heat effect. The average daily maximum temperature is in December and January. The coldest temperature recorded in London stands at and was recorded at Northolt during January 1962, but this occurred during one of the coldest winters ever experienced in the UK.\n\nDaylight hours are very short, especially around winter, with darkness falling at 3:45PM in the afternoon in December. Sunrise is not until after 8AM around the end of December.\n\nSnow does occur, usually a few times a year but rarely heavily (a few years being exceptions such as the winters of 2009 and 2010, with temperatures dipping down to sub-zeros regularly). Snow in London can be crippling, as seen at the end of 2010. Just 7 centimetres (2 ¾ inches) of snow will cause trains to stop running, airports to see significant delays, and the postal service to come to a halt. London is a city which does not cope well with snow; walkways, stairs, and streets will not be cleared by shovels or ploughs. The streets will be salted/gritted, but will remain slick and snow/slush-covered until the sun melts it away. This is due to a lack of widespread snow-clearing infrastructure as the city does not often see snow.\n\n##### Spring", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk006", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "Spring in the capital can be something of a weather rollercoaster with big variations in temperature day by day. It can be a very wet time of year, but the increases in day length from March onwards and steady temperature increases as the season progresses can make it a pleasant time to visit.\n\nDays can be mild and warm, but the temperature will often dip at night as the sun's warmth dissipates.\n\nThe beginning of spring in March can be as cold as winter, so be sure to bring something warm to wear!\n\n##### Summer\n\nSummer is perhaps the best season for tourists, as it has long daylight hours as well as mild to warm temperatures. The average daily high temperatures in July and August are around with average daily lows around . On particularly hot days, the temperature can climb up to around and not go below at night, but these aren't particularly common. The highest temperature ever seen in London stands at which was recorded at Heathrow on 19 July 2022. Daylight hours run from 4:45AM to 9:15PM, but begin to shorten as the summer goes on.\n\nHumidity across the city can increase and stay high over the course of several days and nights, leading to muggy conditions. Also, upon occasion, clouds of dust from storms in the Sahara desert can be blown across Europe and lead to increases in pollution levels.\n\nDespite the increased warmth, the weather in summer can be variable. Occasional prolonged instances of rain and unexpected dips in temperature can occur. If you're coming during the summer it is still advised to dress in layers and bring some waterproofs!\nthumb|The view over the River Thames towards Westminster from the London Eye\n\n##### Autumn", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk007", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Understand", "text": "Autumn in London can vary from year to year: in some years September and October can see temperatures similar to those seen in summer due to a phenomenon known as an \"Indian summer\", but in other years the temperature can decrease rapidly to winter levels and stay there. Autumn tends to be the wettest and windiest season but, again, this can vary from year to year. Day length at the beginning of autumn is near that of summer, meaning that a September trip can still be as easy to plan as an August one as there's plenty of daylight to work with.\n\nMid-autumn is a wonderful time to wander one of London's many tree-filled parks as the leaves fade from green to gold. Another benefit of a September trip is that children return to school at the beginning of the month, meaning that some tourist attractions are quieter.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Visit London\n \n - City of London Information Centre\n\nThere is no office for tourist information for the UK or for England. However, as of 2022, Transport for London maintains four small visitor centres at certain arrival points (see TfL website) which offer advice on key attractions, how to travel on the TfL network, buying tickets, etc.\n\n- Piccadilly Circus\n\n- Victoria Station\n\n- King's Cross & St Pancras International\n\n- Liverpool Street", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk008", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Talk", "text": "English is the main language spoken in London. Accents, however, do vary from **Standard Southern English**, a middle class accent that pervades the south of England to **Multicultural London English** (MLE), which has developed among younger Londoners who grew up with its cultural diversity. MLE has a Cockney base, but incorporates noticeable influences from South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, and is often regarded as the most representative accent of modern British society.\n\nMany languages are spoken by first-generation immigrants in London. For example, Mandarin and Cantonese are commonly spoken in Chinatown and other neighbourhoods with many ethnic Chinese residents, and South Asian languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Bengali are spoken among the South Asian communities.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk009", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|Summary map of rail connections to London airports\nLondon receives more flights than any other city in the world. It is served by six airports ( for all airports)ː\n\nLondon Heathrow Airport ()\n London Gatwick Airport ()\n London Stansted Airport ()\n London Luton Airport ()\n London City Airport ()\n London Southend Airport ()\n\nThere are direct public transport connections between all London airports and the city centre. The quickest travel option is usually by train, tube or coach. When planning your trip, leave plenty of time to get to your destination from the airport.\n\nIf you arrive into a London airport and must catch a connecting flight from another airport, leave plenty of time to travel through London. This can be quite time consuming and you may need to catch two or more trains.\n\n#### London Heathrow\n\nthumb|220px|Rail and Tube lines go to different terminals at HeathrowThere are several ways to get from London Heathrow Airport to central Londonː", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk010", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Heathrow Express -** Non-stop trains to London Paddington. Departures every 15 minutes from Heathrow Terminal 2 and 3, and Heathrow Terminal 5. Journey time is 15-20 minutes. \n ** Elizabeth Line -** Stopping trains through London. Regular departures from all terminals. Journey time to Tottenham Court Road is approximately 35-40 minutes.\n **** **Piccadilly Line -** London Underground \"metro\" trains through London. Regular departures from all terminals.\n **Coaches -** You can book a coach into London with Megabus or National Express. Most coaches arrive into London Victoria. Transfers to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports using National Express. You can also book a coach transfer to Gatwick Airport using The Airline.\n **Taxi -** Taxi fares are regulated by Transport for London (TfL). Tariffs to central London from £64.\n **Pre-booked minicab -** Check with your preferred provider.\n **Car hire-** Several companies on-site. There are car hire desks in all terminals. Check Heathrow Airport's website for details.\n The connects Heathrow Airport with Hammersmith and central London. The connects Heathrow Airport with areas of south, north and east London. If you are using a private car to travel to London City Airport, Ultra Low Emission Zone charges may apply to a small number of vehicles.\n\n#### London Gatwick\n\nThere are several ways to get from London Gatwick Airport to London destinationsː", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk011", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Gatwick Express -** Non-stop trains to London Victoria. Departures every 15 minutes. Journey time is 30-35 minutes. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment cards. The Oyster and contactless fare is £24. Change at Victoria for London Underground and other National Rail services.\n **Southern -** Stopping trains towards East Croydon, Clapham Junction and London Victoria. Regular departures. Expect journey times around 40 minutes to central London. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment cards. Oyster and contactless fares to Zone 1 from £10.70 off-peak.\n **Thameslink -** Stopping trains through London. Regular departures. Expect journey times around 40 minutes to central London. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment cards. Oyster and contactless fares to Zone 1 from £10.70 off-peak. Destinations include East Croydon, London Bridge, Farringdon (in The City), King's Cross St Pancras, Finsbury Park and Luton Airport .\n **Coaches -** You can book a coach transfer to London Victoria with several coach operators, including National Express. Transfers to Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports using National Express. You can also book a coach transfer to Heathrow Airport using The Airline.\n **Pre-booked minicab -** Check with your preferred provider.\n **Car hire -** Several companies on-site. Check Gatwick Airport's website for details. The connects Gatwick Airport with Croydon. Use for south and central London destinations or for other outer London areas.\n\n#### London Stansted\n\nthumb|The terminal at Stansted Airport", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk012", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "As of March 2026, it is possible to touch-in and touch-out with contactless payment cards, but still not Oyster cards, to travel between Stansted and London by train. Buying a separate ticket will still be cheaper if you have any discount cards. There are several ways to get from London Stansted Airport to London destinationsː\n\n**Stansted Express -** Fast trains to Tottenham Hale and London Liverpool Street. Departures every 15 minutes. Journey time is around 50 minutes. Change at Tottenham Hale for London Underground . Change at Liverpool Street for London Underground and other National Rail services.\n **Coaches -** There are several National Express coach routes into destinations in London, including Bow, Finchley Road, Golders Green, Marble Arch, Paddington, Stratford and Waterloo. You can also use a direct shuttle Airport Bus Express to Stratford and Liverpool Street. **Flibco** operates a direct shuttle service from London Stansted Airport to Stratford, with easy connections to central London. Buses are modern, equipped with Wi-Fi, and run frequently throughout the day. \n **Essex Airlink X30 -** Bus to London Southend Airport.\n **Pre-booked minicab -** Check with your preferred provider.\n **Car hire -** Several companies on-site in the Car Rental Village. Check Stansted Airport's website for details. The connects Stansted Airport with east and central London. Use for areas of north, west and south London.\n\n#### London Luton\n\nThere are several ways to get from London Luton Airport to London destinationsː", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk013", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Luton Airport Express -** Non-stop trains to London St Pancras International, operated by East Midlands Railway. Departures every 30 minutes from Luton Airport Parkway. Journey time is 32 minutes. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment cards. Change at St Pancras for London Underground , other National Rail services and Eurostar services to mainland Europe. To get to Luton Airport Parkway from the terminal, you can use the Luton DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit) 24/7, with departures every 7 minutes during the daytimes.\n **Thameslink -** Stopping trains through London. Regular departures from Luton Airport Parkway including overnight services. Expect journey times around 45 minutes to central London. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment cards. Destinations include Brent Cross West, King's Cross St Pancras, Farringdon (in The City), London Bridge, East Croydon and Gatwick Airport . To get to Luton Airport Parkway from the terminal, you can use the Luton DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit) 24/7, with departures every 7 minutes during the daytimes.\n **Coaches -** National Express operates coaches into Golders Green, Finchley Road, Baker Street, Paddington, and Victoria. Green Line 757 operates coaches into Brent Cross, Finchley Road and Victoria with cheaper fares than most other operators\n **Pre-booked minicab -** Check with your preferred provider.\n **Car hire -** Several companies on-site. Check Luton Airport's website for details. The connects Luton Airport with Brent Cross and central London. Use for areas of west, south and east London.\n\n#### London City\n\nthumb|London City Airport\n.\n\nPlane tickets at London City tend to be more expensive than at other airports. London City Airport lies in east London. Onward travel is viaː", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk014", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**** **Docklands Light Railway -** London City Airport has its own station in London fare zone 3. There are direct trains to Woolwich Arsenal, Canning Town, Stratford and Bank. Change at Poplar for DLR services to Canary Wharf and Greenwich. You can pay for your journey using \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless payment cards.\n **Local buses -** Route 473 to Stratford and 474 to Canning Town and Manor Park. You can plan a journey using the Transport for London website or apps like Google Maps and Citymapper.\n **Taxi -** Fares vary.\n **Pre-booked minicab -** Check with your preferred provider.\n **Car hire -** Car hire firms near London City Airport include Avis, Europcar and Hertz. After leaving London City Airport, follow then for Canary Wharf and The City (westbound) or for the (eastbound). Follow then North Circular Road for destinations in east, north and west London. Use Woolwich Ferry then for destinations in south London.\n If you are using a private car to travel to London City Airport, Ultra Low Emission Zone charges may apply to a small number of vehicles.\n\n#### London Southend\n\nJourneys into central London can take more than an hour. There is a railway station at Southend Airport, but you cannot use \"touch in, touch out\" Oyster and Contactless cards to travel between Southend and London. There are limited bus links with London. Options for travel into London includeː\n\n**Greater Anglia -** Stopping trains into London Liverpool Street and London Stratford. Regular departures. Expect journey times around 55 minutes to central London. Change at Stratford for London Underground , and other National Rail services. Change at Liverpool Street for London Underground and other National Rail services.\n **Essex Airlink X30 -** Bus to London Stansted Airport.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk015", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "*Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain*\n\nLondon is a major destination on the British rail network and every major city has a regular connection with the capital.\n\n#### By National Rail\n\nPrices vary depending on ticket type. These include:\n\n**Anytime** - travel at any time of day. Return tickets may usually be used within one month of your outbound journey. This is the most expensive ticket type and can be well in excess of £200 for some journeys.\n **Off-peak** - travel at off-peak times only. As a rule of thumb, you cannot travel on trains arriving into London between 6.30am and 10am on weekdays, or trains departing London between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays - although times vary by operator. Be sure to check with the retailer before you travel.\n **Super off-peak** - travel at the very quietest times of day. Super off-peak times vary by operator. Be sure to check with the retailer before you travel.\n **Advance** - travel on a specific service. You may only travel on your booked train. This is generally the cheapest ticket type, with prices cheaper the further in advance you book.\n\nNational Rail () is the umbrella brand for the rail network in Great Britain. It does not include London Underground (), Tramlink or DLR (), but some vendors sell London Travelcards which are valid for travel across the Transport for London networks. Some through tickets are also valid on London services.\n\nYou can buy tickets at ticket offices, via individual train companies or online:\n\n**National Rail Enquiries** - https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or by phone \n **Trainline** - https://www.thetrainline.com/\n **Trainsplit** - It can be cheaper to buy lots of tickets for different portions of your route. Trainsplit finds the best value fares at https://trainsplit.com/", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk016", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "You may not have to buy a ticket from destinations within London's sphere of influence. Instead, you may be able to \"touch in, touch out\" using an Oyster or Contactless alt=Contactless indicator|24x24px|A1 (M) payment card, on yellow-coloured readers at ticket gates or station entrances. Destinations within the Oyster and Contactless area include Amersham, Dartford, Gatwick Airport (), Heathrow Airport (), Hertford, Redhill and Watford (including Warner Bros Studio Tour London). Destinations within the Contactless area include St Albans, Hatfield, Reading, Slough and Welwyn Garden City.\n\nHolidaymakers travelling between London and destinations further afield might be able to use a ranger or rover ticket. These include:", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk017", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Interrail Global Pass** - Various conditions depending on pass type. Valid for travel across Europe. Seat reservation fees apply on Eurostar services from mainland Europe. Book online: https://www.interrail.eu/. Visitors from outside of Europe can use Eurail passes instead, also with online booking: https://www.eurail.com/.\n **Interrail One Country Pass (Great Britain)** - Various conditions and not available to Great Britain residents. Book online: https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/one-country-pass/great-britain.\n **BritRail** - Hop-on, hop-off trains throughout Great Britain, England or the South East. Various conditions depending on pass type. BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass must not be used in the London area. Passes do not include travel on London Underground, other Transport for London services or Eurostar services from mainland Europe. Book online: https://www.britrail.com/\n **Great West Way** - Conditions apply. Costs up to for seven days. Valid on Great Western Railway between London Paddington and Windsor and Eton Central, Reading, Westbury, Bath and Bristol, and on South Western Railway between London Waterloo and Salisbury. More information: https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/choosing-your-ticket/rangers-and-rovers\n **Thames Branches Day Ranger** - Conditions apply. Costs for adults. Valid for one day on Great Western Railway routes between London Paddington and Reading, plus branch lines including routes to Windsor and Eton Central and Henley-on-Thames. More information: https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/choosing-your-ticket/rangers-and-rovers.\n **Thames Rover** - Conditions apply. Seven-day pass costs . Three-day pass costs . Valid on Great Western Railway routes between London Paddington and the Cotswolds, Oxford, Banbury and Bedwyn, and also between Reading and Redhill via Guildford. More information: https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/choosing-your-ticket/rangers-and-rovers.\n\n#### By Eurostar\n\nTravel direct into **London St Pancras International** () from:\n\nLille-Europe (around 1 hr 22 min)\n Paris Nord (around 2 hr 15 min)\n Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid (around 1 hr 55 min)\n Rotterdam Centraal (around 3 hr 15 min)\n Amsterdam Centraal (around 4 hr)\n\nHigh-speed trains pass beneath the English Channel in a tunnel between Calais, Hauts-de-France and Folkestone, Kent.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk018", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "Book in advance for the cheapest fares (at https://www.eurostar.com/). Passengers using an Interrail or Eurail ticket will need to book a seat at an additional cost.\n\nYou may be able to combine your Eurostar journey with connections from other cities in Europe. Find tickets with third-party websites such as Trainline (https://www.thetrainline.com/) and Deutsche Bahn (https://www.international-bahn.de/).\n\nPassengers with standard or standard premier tickets should arrive around **90 min** before their departure time (up to **120 min** at Paris Nord or **60 min** at Lille-Europe). You will need a passport for cross-channel travel, and will need to have your luggage checked at the station, before you get on the train. Gates close **30 min** before departure.\n\nEurostar trains boast an on-board café serving sandwiches, hot food, and hot and cold drinks. There are also food and drink outlets in the departure lounges, in most cases both before and after passport checks.\n\nLondon St Pancras International is close to Camden Town - famous for its markets, pubs and music scene - and Bloomsbury - which is home to the British Museum, several universities, and independent bookshops and cafés.\n\n#### London terminals\n\nThere are several major National Rail () stations in London. Clockwise from Paddington, these are:\n\n### By coach\n\nthumb|Terminal stations of London.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk019", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most international and domestic long distance coach (U.S. English: bus) services arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road in Westminster close to London Victoria rail station. Virtually all services operate from , which has separate arrival and departure buildings. Some services by smaller operators may use the nearby. Listed below are the main coach operators. It is strongly recommended to book your travel in advance: fares can be much cheaper (even a day or two can make all the difference) and you avoid ticket office queues and potentially sold-out coaches. All large and many smaller coach operators allow passengers to show tickets on their mobile phone, and all will allow passengers to print tickets at home.\n\n#### Domestic\n\n- National Express\n\n- Megabus\n\n#### International\n\n- Eurolines\n\n- Flixbus\n\n- BlaBlaCar Bus\n\n- Sindbad\n\n- RegioJet\n\n### By car\n\nLondon is signposted on major routes in southern England, The Midlands and parts of Wales. Driving in London can prove expensive or - in heavy traffic - time consuming. You can park at railway stations further afield to catch the train into London if you would prefer not to drive.\n\nRemember to drive on the **left** in the UK, including London.\n\n#### Roads\n\nIntercity road routes in the UK are called \"motorways\" with blue signs. Other major routes are known as \"A roads\". Main routes into London includeː\n\n**From Scotland, The North and The Midlandsː**", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk020", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**into north London** **-** from The North and The Midlands, including Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Watford. Also from London Luton Airport.\n alt=A1(M)|45x45px|A1 (M)/ **into north London -** from Scotland, The North and The East Midlands, including Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne and Peterborough.\n /**** **into west London -** from Birmingham and Oxford.\n **into north-west London -** from Bicester, Aylesbury and Watford.\n\n**From the East of Englandː**\n\n**into north-east London -** from Norwich (via A11), Cambridge and Harlow. Also from London Stansted Airport.\n **into north London -** from Hertford.\n **into east London -** from Ipswich, Colchester and Chelmsford. Also from Harwich (via A120, ferries from Hook of Holland, Netherlands).\n **into east London -** from Southend and Tilbury.\n **into east London -** from Southend and Basildon. Also from London Southend Airport.\n\n**From Kent and Franceː**\n\n/**** **into south-east London -** from Kent, including Ashford and Dover, a port town. Also from Channel Tunnel (car shuttle trains from Calais, France).\n **into south-east London -** from Kent, including Dartford, Gravesend, Canterbury and Dover, a port town.\n\n**From The South, The South West and Walesː**\n\n/**** **into south-west London -** from Southampton, a port city.\n /**** **into west London -** from Wales and The South West, including Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol and Reading. Fastest route from Fishguard (ferries from Rosslare, Ireland).\n /**** **into south London -** from Brighton and Crawley. Also from London Gatwick Airport.\n ** into south-west London -** from Portsmouth, a port city, the South Downs National Park and Guildford.\n ** into south-west London -** from Hastings.\n\nYou can use several orbital routes and ring roads to get into different parts of London once you are on the city's edges. These areː", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk021", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get in", "text": "**London Orbital -** Sometimes known as \"Britain's biggest car park\", the M25 can bet busy. All major routes from other UK cities intersect with the London Orbital. The M25 runs around the outermost edge of London and some of the surrounding towns. There is a charge to cross the Dartford Crossing to the east of London. You can find out more about the Dart Charge on the UK Government website.\n **South Circular Road -** Intersects with all major routes south of the River Thames. Passes through Kew, Putney, Clapham, Dulwich, Eltham and Woolwich.\n **North Circular Road -** Intersects with all major routes north of the River Thames. Mostly dual-carriageway. Passes through Ealing, Wembley, Brent Cross, Finchley, Tottenham and Ilford.\n **London Inner Ring Road -** Connects Paddington, Marylebone, King's Cross, Angel, Shoreditch, Tower Bridge, Elephant and Castle, Kennington, Vauxhall, Victoria and Park Lane.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk022", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The main travel options in summary are:\n**By bus**: Running by iconic red double-decker buses, this is the cheapest and usually the best way to get around London as a tourist: on most of the Underground, you won't see anything!\n**By Tube / Underground**: As world's oldest rapid transit system, there're 11 lines cover the central area and northern suburbs, run by TfL.\n**By Overground** and the **Elizabeth Line**: Urban communter rail systems run between central area and suburbs, part of National Rail network but run by TfL.\n**By National Rail**: A complex network of suburban rail services mainly covering southern suburbs, privately run and not part of the TfL network, although all operators now accept Oyster payments within Greater London.\n**By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)**: An automatic metro system running from the City to East London via the Docklands, run by TfL.\n**By foot**: In central London, walking to the next Tube station often takes around 10 minutes, and is a more scenic choice than going underground. The street layout can be confusing, so a street map is essential; map and travel apps for smartphones and tablets are incredibly useful and many stations have central London printed maps for £2.\n**By boat**: Both commuter ferries run by TfL and pleasure cruises ply along the River Thames. Some services accept Oyster cards, but special fares apply, so check before you travel.\n**By bicycle**: There are hire bicycles (known to Londoners as \"Boris Bikes\" after former London mayor Boris Johnson) operated by TfL available for pick up in inner London. You will need a credit or debit card with a PIN. If you bring your own bike, there are plenty of cycle lanes and traffic is normally considerate.\n**By tram**: A tram service that operates only in southern suburbs around Croydon, Wimbledon and Bromley. Run by TfL and charges the same fares as buses.", "word_count": 313}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk023", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transport\n\nthumb|1100px|Transport for London's rail network: the Tube, Overground, DLR, Trams, and Elizabeth line. The non-TfL National Rail network is not shown\n\nLondon has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents' perpetual (and sometimes justified) grumbling about unreliability, public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere for visitors and residents alike. In central London use a combination of the transport options listed below - and check your map: in many cases, you can easily walk from one place to another or use the buses. Public transportation shuts down early on Christmas Eve, and all day on Christmas Day.\n\n**Transport for London (TfL)** is a government organisation responsible for all public transport. Their website contains maps plus an excellent **journey planner**. TfL publishes a useful 'coping guide' specially designed for travellers who wish to use public transport during their visit to London. TfL also offers a 24-hour travel information line, charged at a premium rate: tel +44 843 222 1234 (or text 60835) for suggestions on getting from A to B, and for up to the minute information on how services are running. Fortunately for visitors (and indeed residents) there is a single ticketing system, Oyster, which enables travellers to switch between modes of transport on one ticket.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk024", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "You must have a **valid ticket** at all times when travelling by bus, tram or train in London. If you can't show a valid ticket or a validated Oyster card you will have to pay a Penalty Fare, which is usually £40 (increased to £80 if it isn't paid within 21 days). *Always* buy your ticket before you get on the train. If using an Oyster Card, ensure that you touch in and out on a yellow reader before and after travelling by Tube or train, even if there are no barriers or they are left open.\n\nThere are four types of tickets you can buy: the Oyster card (a contactless electronic smartcard), Travelcards (which exist both in paper form or can be loaded on your Oyster card), contactless debit or credit cards, and paper tickets. Paper tickets are significantly more expensive than paying by Oyster card or contactless card.\n\n#### Oyster cards", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk025", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Oyster** is a contactless electronic smartcard run by Transport for London. Oyster can be a cost-effective option in combination with a Travelcard, or for children aged 11–15 to access the Young Visitor discount, which entails 50% off adult-rate pay as you go fares. However, because of the cost of a new Oyster card, and because contactless debit/credit card are charged the same fares as Oyster, using a contactless credit or debit card would be a simpler alternative for most travelers. You can buy an Oyster card from any Tube station for £10 and the cost is *not refundable*. However, your Oyster card, and the credit on it, never expires, so you can keep it as a souvenir and reuse it in case you return to London.\nthumb|Oyster Card\nYou can \"top up\" an Oyster card with electronic funds at ticket machines or shops displaying the \"Oyster\" logo. This money is then deducted according to where you travel. The cost of a single trip using the Oyster card is considerably less than buying a single paper ticket with cash. Prices vary depending on the distance travelled, whether by bus or Tube, and on the time of day. You can also add various electronic seven-day, 1 month and longer-period Travelcards onto an Oyster, and the card is simply validated each time you use it.\n\nYou can sign up for contactless and Oyster account. This will allow you to track your journeys and make refund claims for incomplete journeys.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk026", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Visitor Oyster card** is a version of the normal Oyster card targeted to travellers. This version of the Oyster card can be purchased from some travel agents outside London and overseas or ordered by mail. This card can also be sent back to TfL by mail after a trip to London to claim a refund for the unused balance. Visitor Oyster cards come pre-charged with pay-as-you-go credit: in increments from £10 to £50. The card itself costs £10 non refundable fee plus postage. With a Visitor Oyster card you can also get some discounts in various venues across the city. The Visitor Oyster cards are for pay as you go use only and cannot be registered to provide protection against loss or topped up from the Oyster smart-phone app.\n\nIf you have a **National Railcard**, such as the 16-25 Railcard or the Senior Railcard, you can register this with your Oyster card at a Tube station (members of staff near ticket machines can do this) to receive a 33% discount on off-peak pay-as-you-go fares on rail & tube.\n\n##### Validity of your Oyster\n\nOyster is valid on all red London buses, and almost all trains in London: a list of destinations is available on the London Rail and Tube Services map. Oyster is *not* valid on buses or trains outside London: if you need to travel beyond the stations on the map, you will have to pay for a paper ticket. Oyster is also not accepted on long-distance coaches, tour buses, or charter buses. Despite being shown on the Tube map, Elizabeth line services from Iver to Reading don't accept Oyster.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk027", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The following table summarises the validity of the different tickets you can use on Oyster. For most tourists, the Tube, trains, and buses are the only transport you will use. Although Oyster can be used to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports, peak fares are charged at all times.\n\nBus\n Tram\n London Underground\n London Overground\n National Rail(within London)\n DLR\n Heathrow Express / Gatwick Express\n Stansted Express / Luton Airport Express / trains to Southend Airport\n Pay-as-you-go\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes; special fares apply\nno\n Travelcard\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nyes\nno\nno\n Bus & Tram Pass\nyes\nyes\nno\nno\nno\nno\nno\nno\n\n##### Using your Oyster card\n\nWhen using your Oyster card to travel, make sure the reader is displaying an orange light, then place it flat against the reader. A single beep and a green light mean your card has been accepted, and you can proceed. Two beeps and a red light mean your card has not been accepted. Take the card off the reader, wait for the orange light, and try again; if this continues to happen, ask for help from a member of staff. Don't try to insert your Oyster card into the slot at the ticket gates!", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk028", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "When getting on **any kind of train**, you must touch your Oyster card on the yellow circular reader *at the start and end of your journey*. At stations with ticket gates, these readers will be on the right-hand side of the gates. In the outlying parts of the city there are no entry or exit gates at some stations. In this case, the readers are on free-standing cabinets next to entrances/exits. Failing to touch out when you leave a station will result in you being charged a **maximum fare** for your journey, since the system doesn't know which station you left from. The maximum fare is between £5.40 and £14.20, and depends on the station where you started your journey.\n\nUsually you will not need to touch your Oyster card on a reader when **changing trains**. However, some stations have *pink Oyster* \"route validators\" on the platforms: if you are getting off one train and getting onto another at one of these stations, touch your Oyster on the pink reader so that the system charges you the right fare for the route you have taken. There are a few other situations where you might have to touch out when changing trains (usually when changing between Tube, DLR and/or National Rail) - in these cases make sure you **touch back in** before getting on your next train.\n\nWhen using a London **bus or a tram**, touch in *once* when getting on. *Don't* touch out when you get off the bus or you will be charged twice. Most buses have their Oyster reader next to the driver. Trams and some buses have Oyster readers on poles next to the doors.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk029", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can make a **change to another bus or a tram** free of charge during one hour. You'll still have to touch your Oyster on the 2nd bus or tram, but no money will be deducted then.\n\nContactless credit or debit cards or other RFID identity **cards may interfere with your Oyster** if you keep them in the same wallet. This usually results in an error message but may mean you get charged the full fare from your contactless credit or debit card instead. Be careful standing near the readers on some buses - they are often quite sensitive and may read your card from several centimetres away, even if you did not intend this. It is best to remove the card from the wallet or purse it is in.\n\n##### Pay-as-you-go (PrePay) with your Oyster\n\nYou can top up your Oyster card with cash at any Tube station ticket machine or ticket office (you can use a credit card if it has a PIN) with Oyster pay-as-you-go, also known as PrePay. Money is then deducted from your Oyster card each time you travel. When travelling by train, the fare is calculated based on where you started and ended your journey. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying by cash for each journey, especially if you make multiple trips. Bus fares are flat and you will be charged the same fare every time you get on the bus, regardless of distance.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk030", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The amount of Oyster credit deducted from your card in one day is capped to a daily limit. This means that on a day-to-day basis, you will always get the best fares when using Oyster pay-as-you-go. Even if you travel by bus only, your total fares are also capped, this makes bus travel very good value in central London if you are making lots of journeys.\n\n#### Travelcards\n\nA Travelcard gives you unlimited travel on trains within the relevant zones, and on red London buses. A Travelcard is typically loaded onto your Oyster, but for periods longer than 7 days, you will usually need to register your Oyster card or provide some form of photographic I.D.\n\nFor an up-to-date and comprehensive list of fares, see TfL's website.\n\nIf you are using Oyster and travel beyond the zones of your Travelcard, you will be charged an extension fare from your pay-as-you-go credit when you touch out at your destination.\n\n#### Contactless payment cards\n\nContactless credit/debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be used to pay fares anywhere Oyster is accepted. Most Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus or American Express cards issued outside the UK are accepted. Some pre-paid cards may work as well. Some cards such as Visa contactless cards issued in the United States will not work.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk031", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "When you enter or leave a station or get on the bus, **touch the card against the yellow validation reader as if it were an Oyster card**. The price is the same as with an Oyster card. The price per day is automatically capped at the price of a day ticket. You also avoid the queues at ticket machines, the £5 deposit for an Oyster card, and you never have to top it up. A Travelcard can not be loaded onto a contactless card. The same card cannot be used by two or more different passengers. **You must use the same device to touch in and out**, otherwise you may get charged for two journeys - for example, if you touch in using your smartphone but touch out using your physical card, the system may get confused and charge you twice, even if the phone is linked to the same card.\n\nYou may notice a charge of £0.10 on your bank statement shortly after you touch in for the first time - this is normal. This will change to the price of all your travel for that day, usually overnight but sometimes it can take a few days.\n\nUsing a contactless card as a visitor from abroad may be tricky though. Your bank may ask for additional confirmations, so TfL may suspend accepting a card until you release a pending payment. Also sometimes you may end up with an unfinished journey even though you've touched an exit gate probably because a card may require a bit longer to process after a gate is opened. Keep your card at a reader until the gate opens fully. You can sign up for a contactless and Oyster account to check for these issues.\n\n#### Fares", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk032", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Every station where you can use Oyster or contactless payment is in a \"fare zone\" from 1 to 9 - you can see what zone a station is in on the Tube Map (look for the shaded areas and numbers in the background). Some stations on the boundary of two zones have their name written in a white box, which means they're considered to be in both zones (for example Earl's Court is in zones 1 and 2). If your journey starts or ends at one of these stations, the system will work out which zone would result in the cheapest fare and charge that.\n\nThe price of a journey is determined by how many zones it passes through. In general, the more zones you travel through, the higher the fare, with journeys passing through Zone 1 (most stations in Central London) being more expensive than ones going around it. TfL's website has a single fare finder tool that can be used to work out the price of a journey between any two stations. Most journeys have both a **peak and off-peak** fare - a peak journey is one starting between 06:30 and 09:30 and between 16:00 and 19:00 on working days (excluding public holidays).", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk033", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Pay as you go fares are **capped**: once the fares for all your journeys on the same day add up to a certain amount (which varies depending on all the zones travelled), any further travel that day will be free. There are also weekly caps, covering all travel within a calendar week. Caps are calculated separately for peak and off-peak travel. Note that, even once you have reached a daily or weekly cap, **you still need to touch in and out** for each journey, otherwise you are traveling without a valid ticket - though you won't be charged anything for it. If you use a combination of Tube, zone 1-6 railway, and bus journeys, the Tube's fare caps (based on the farthest zone you travelled to) will apply to all your journeys for that day.\n\n#### Paper tickets\n\nIt's still possible to pay for a journey by a paper single or return ticket. However, this only makes sense if you take perhaps two to three journeys on public transport during your trip to London as they cost significantly more (roughly double the cost) in comparison with the other means of payment.\n\nSeason tickets can also be purchased in paper.\n\n### Accessibility\n\nIf you have a physical disability, you might find it harder to travel around London. The oldest parts of the Underground date from the middle of the 19th century, and some of the surface rail network is even older. Therefore, much of the transport system wasn't built to cater for people with disabilities; narrow, winding passageways, steep staircases, and cavernous gaps between some platforms and trains are all barriers for certain passengers.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk034", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "However, times and attitudes have changed: all stations, lines and trains built since the 1990s are accessible and many older stations have been retrofitted with lifts and ramps. In addition, all London buses and trams have low-floor doors, access ramps and space onboard for at least one wheelchair user; most black cabs (taxis) are also accessible. That said, there are still significant gaps in accessibility, particularly on the Tube in Central London.\n\nTo help you navigate, TfL publish several maps to cater for different needs:\n The standard Tube map marks all stations that are step-free from either street to platform (white wheelchair symbol) or street to train (blue wheelchair symbol).\n The Step-free Tube map goes into more detail, indicating the height difference between platform and train floor-level.\n The Large-print Tube map and Black-and-white Tube map serve travellers with visual impairments.\n The Audio Tube map is available to stream or download, however as of early 2023 it was last updated in 2016.\n\nFor more info, visit the transport accessibility portal on the TfL website.\n\n### By Underground\n\nthumb|Geographic Central London Underground map\nThe **London Underground**, known popularly as **the Tube** due to its tube-like tunnels drilled through the London clay, is a network of 11 lines which criss-cross London in one of the largest underground rail networks in the world. It was also the first: the oldest section, from Paddington to Farringdon, opened as the Metropolitan Railway in 1863. The Tube is an easy method of transport even for new visitors to London and is equivalent to subway and metro systems in other world cities.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk035", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The routes operated by the London Underground fall into 2 broad types: the older \"sub-surface\" lines, encompassing the Metropolitan, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, date from the 19th century. The \"deep level\" routes were largely constructed in the early-to-mid-20th century. The sub-surface lines are usually accessed by walking down a short set of stairs, whereas the deep-level lines are accessed by a complicated network of escalators or lifts.\n\nThe sub-surface lines use larger trains thanks to their larger tunnel size. The deep-level tube lines are served by the iconic tube-shaped trains which, despite their small size, can only just fit through the tunnels. The deep-level trains do not have air conditioning, which can make them unbearably hot in the summer. Yet the situation will be improved in the future, as TfL will gradually introduce new trains that have air conditioning.thumb|London Underground stations are identified with signs like these, and Overground stations have a similar symbol with an orange circle. [[Rail travel in the United Kingdom|National Rail]] stations have a different \"double-arrow\" symbol.Each line has stations with interesting architectural and artistic features typical of the era they were opened. As you travel around the network, look out for Victorian finery, Edwardian glazed tiles, smooth Art Deco symmetry, and striking modern masterpieces. Various conservation pieces are also present, such as the heritage 1900s station name roundel sign at Caledonian Road on the westbound platform.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk036", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trains on most days and on most lines run from around 5:30AM to around 1AM. They are usually the fastest way to travel in London, the only problem being the relative expense and the fact that they can get extremely crowded during rush hours (7:30-10AM and 4:30-7PM). There is no air conditioning on the deep-level trains, which can make them unbearably hot in the summer. TfL's website has a page notifying of tracking delays, closures, and planned engineering works, which you should check if you plan to travel on a Saturday or a Sunday, when entire lines may be shut down due to engineering works.\n\nIf you're travelling around central London then taking the Tube for just one stop can be a waste of time. For example, to travel between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations takes over 10 minutes on the Tube, despite the two stations being only a few minutes walk apart. This is especially true since the walk from a Tube station entrance to the platform at some central stations can be extensive. The Tube map also gives no information on London's extensive bus network, or any of its National Rail network except for Thameslink. For more information see the 'By foot' section.\n\n#### Night Tube\n\nThe '''Night Tube''' is a limited 24-hour Tube service that operates on certain lines on Fridays and Saturdays.\n\nNight Tube fares are the same as the off-peak fares during the day. Day Travelcards are valid on the day they were issued (using the date printed on the card) and for journeys starting before 4:30AM the following day. For example, if you buy a Day Travelcard at 11AM on Friday, you can use it until 4:29AM on the following Saturday. Daily capping on Oyster cards and contactless payment cards also applies.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk037", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "As of 2024, the Night Tube services run on the following lines:\n\n**Central line**: Trains run approximately every 10 minutes between White City and Leytonstone, and approximately every 20 minutes on the Ealing Broadway to White City, and Leytonstone to Loughton/Hainault sections. There is no service between North Acton and West Ruislip, Loughton and Epping, and Woodford and Hainault.\n **Jubilee line**: Trains run every 10 minutes on average along the entire line.\n **Northern line**: Trains run every 15 minutes on average, between High Barnet or Edgware and Morden, via the Charing Cross branch (so every 7-8 minutes between Camden Town and Morden). No service on the Bank branch, or to Battersea Power Station or Mill Hill East.\n **Piccadilly line**: Trains run every 10 minutes on average, between Heathrow Terminals 5 and 2&3 and Cockfosters. No service to Terminal 4, or between Uxbridge and Acton Town.\n **Victoria line**: Trains run every 10 minutes on average along the entire line.\n **London Overground**: Trains run every 15-20 minutes on average along the **Windrush line** between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate. No service on other Overground lines.\n\n#### Ticketing\n\nTravel on the Tube system will always require the purchase of a ticket or the use of an Oyster card or contactless payment card if you have one; fare evasion is treated as a serious matter and will get you a fine.\n\nSingle tickets are charged at two rates, depending on the payment method. Cash fares and single Oyster fares are zonal, meaning that the price of a journey is determined by the zones you travelled through. There are additional fares payable for zones beyond 9, but these are mostly outside what is considered London.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk038", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Paper travelcards valid for 1 day or 7 days are also available and can also be used on buses, National Rail trains, the DLR and trams - however there is a capping feature for contactless and Oyster cards (which guarantees a strict upper bound on the fare you pay for a day and a week) which means that a paper travelcard is unnecessary and costlier.\n\nAlmost all stations have automatic ticket barriers. If you pay by Oyster card or a contactless payment card, just tap your card against the yellow pad to open the barriers (ensure that you do this upon both entrance and exit). If you have a paper ticket, insert it face-up into the slot on the front of the machine, and remove it from the top to enter the station. If you have a single ticket it will be retained at the exit gate. If you have luggage or if your ticket is rejected there is normally a staffed gate as well.\n\nPaper tickets can be purchased from vending machines in the station's ticket hall. The touchscreen machines have instructions in multiple languages, offer a greater choice of ticket and accept bills and credit/debit cards (if your card has no embedded microchip, you cannot use these machines; these machines do not support contactless). You can also add Oyster pay-as-you-go credit on many mainline ticket vending machines in London.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk039", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you have a national train ticket, which involves travelling across London (e.g. Brighton to Darlington), you may be able to travel on the Tube across London, from one London terminus to another. If your train ticket has \"Any permitted †\" (with the dagger symbol) written in the \"Route\" section (at the bottom of the ticket), then you are able to travel on the Tube without buying another ticket. These can be used at the ticket barriers in the same way as the paper tickets described above.\n\n#### Navigation\n\nThe Tube is made up of 11 lines each bearing a traditional name and a standard colour on the Tube map (e.g. the Circle line in yellow, Central line in red, Piccadilly line in dark blue). Since the Tube map is well designed it is very easy to work out how to get between any two stations, and since each station is clearly signed it is easy to work out when to exit your train. The Tube map is a diagram and not a scaled map, making it misleading for determining the relative distance between stations as it makes central stations appear further apart and somewhat out of place - the most distant reaches of the Metropolitan Line for example are almost 64 km (40 mi) from the centre of the city. Tube maps are freely available from any station, most tourist offices, and are prominently displayed in stations. The National Rail map showing National Rail services is displayed as a large poster at most Tube stations.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk040", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are many lines with multiple branches rather than running point-to-point, and it's also possible that some trains will not run the full line, so always check the train's destination, which is shown on the front of the train and the platform indicator screens, and will be broadcast on the train's PA. A typical announcement will be like: \"This is a Piccadilly line service to Cockforsters.\"\n\nMost branches are only served by specific services; from the eastern end of the District line at Upminster, for instance, you can only catch trains for Ealing Broadway and Richmond - if you want to go to Wimbledon, you will have to change trains later down the line, like at Earl's Court.\n\nNormally trains stop at all stations with the exception of the Metropolitan line, which have *semi-fast* and *fast* service patterns from Amersham and Chesham, that skip all stations between Moor Park and Harrow-on-the-Hill (fast only), and between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Wembley Park. It's also possible that some stations may closed due to some reason, and trains will not stop there, so please pay attention on announcements for any service changes.\n\nThere are several sections where more than one line will **share tracks** with others, or even other services (like Overground and National Rail services), which they may stop at the same platform, so you should pay extra attention for the right train. Mostly you can differentiate the different services by the type of train, though this is not possible on the **Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines**, since all four use the same rolling stock on shared lines. Here you will need to pay attention to announcements and signs on the platform and trains.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk041", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Signs can be vague, especially if you are unfamiliar with what compass point direction (e.g. northbound) you're travelling in, as these are most often given rather than destinations. A person new to the Tube can become very frustrated trying to work out where a particular connection at a particular station is found. Central and busy stations are staffed by at least two members of staff at all times who can advise you on your route and full system maps are on the walls of every platform and ticket office. Additionally, on every platform, there are individual line maps showing all the stations served by trains calling at that platform. It is always advisable to carry a pocket Tube map to help you with this; the TfL Go and Citymapper apps are also handy tools.\n\nThe **Northern line** has two routes through central London which split at Euston and rejoin at Kennington. The Charing Cross branch runs through the West End, while the Bank branch runs through the City of London. To work out which way your train is going, check the signs above the platform, and on the front of the train. The train's destination and central branch will also be announced on board, for example \"This is a Northern line train via Charing Cross, terminating at Edgware.\" A similar announcement will also appear on the **Hainault Loop** section on the **Central line** in North East London.\n\nThe London Underground has connections to all terminals at Heathrow and most major London rail termini, with the exception of Fenchurch Street (although this is walking distance from Tower Hill and Aldgate). Interchange hubs are also served, such as Farringdon, Elephant & Castle, Harrow & Wealdstone and Stratford.\n\n#### Onboard", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk042", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be considerate of your fellow passengers as best you can. Pushing and rushing are seen as extremely rude - there's not much need to run for a Tube train unless it's the very last one of the day! Also, trying to strike up a conversation with strangers is seen as peculiar and will instantly mark you out as a tourist. Despite having a reputation as being aloof Londoners are usually happy to help out if you have a problem, but otherwise they'd rather you didn't try to be overly familiar.\n\nIn some cases (particularly for the sub-surface lines), the tube doors have buttons on the outside. They normally come to use if a train is waiting for over 45 seconds, as the doors will automatically close to conserve energy. *If* the train isn't ready to depart (which is easy to check - if the button isn't illuminated, the train is ready to depart), pressing the button will open the doors.\n\n#### Crime, safety, and accidents\n\nWhen using the escalators, **always stand on the right** to allow people in a hurry to pass. Drinking alcohol or smoking anywhere on the London Underground is illegal.\n\nCrime levels on the Tube are comparable to but typically lower than in many other subway systems, and traveller advice about watching luggage and valuables is reasonable. The Tube system is covered by an extensive CCTV system, although it is not advised to be reliant on this fact when travelling.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk043", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The London Underground considers its safety record to be a matter of professional honour, major incidents being incredibly rare (despite the media attention they generate). Front-line staff are well trained for emergencies and will follow well-rehearsed procedures. In addition, front-line staff are generally appreciative of traveller vigilance, if concerns are politely expressed. If you notice something that concerns you please speak to a member of staff or a British Transport Police officer.\n\n##### Getting help\n\nOn the wall of the platforms (or freestanding on outdoor platforms) there will be a round, white device labelled \"Help Point\" with one or two buttons and a fire alarm. Press the green button to alert staff to an emergency and press the blue button to ask for non-urgent assistance. If you see smoke or fire always use the fire alarm first.\n\n###### On the train\n\nOn Tube trains you will notice that there is a red handle you can pull to alert the driver to a serious incident or accident occurring on the train. If the train is in a tunnel the alarm should only be used in dire emergencies that require immediate attention, as pulling the alarm will activate the train's brakes. In practice, when the alarm is activated, a driver will move the train forward into the next station where help can be obtained. Therefore, the alarms should only be used in stations if possible as passengers will then be able to escape the train quickly if needed.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk044", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "TfL advise travellers to carefully consider their usage of the passenger alarm and, if suitable, leave the train at the next station and seek help from station staff instead. Because trains on the London Underground are run close together any delays can have serious knock-on effects for the rest of the service. In contrast, train drivers vary in their opinion as to when the alarm should be used: Consensus tends to be that if it's something you would run down the train to tell the driver then the alarm should definitely be used.\n\n##### Lost items\n\nOwing to a heightened security climate, and a history of political violence targeting the Tube, unattended baggage may be treated as a suspect or explosive device and may be destroyed. Lost items (if not destroyed) will end up at the **Lost Property Office** and will be stored for 3 months. You will need to fill in a form online describing your lost item and TfL will contact you if it is found. There is a charge for recovery of most items, however some items (e.g. Laptops) have higher fees.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Classic London bus, perfect for sightseeing \nLondon's iconic red **Routemaster** buses, which are recognised the world over, were withdrawn from regular service in 2005. Although a heritage service was continued on portions of two routes, this ceased in 2019. Routemasters are still used for tours and private parties.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk045", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for shorter (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a Tube station. Most buses in London are very frequent (at least every ten minutes) and are accessible for buggies and wheelchairs. Buses also have a flat rate fare which stays the same no matter how far you travel. You will need to pay the fare again if you board a different bus, although the Hopper fare allows you to take as many buses as you like in 62 minutes and only pay for the first one.\n\nOver 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing the routes that stop there and bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters. Buses have very clear *blinds* on the front, with their route number and their destination. Transport for London produces all Bus route maps.\n\n\"Superloop\" express buses operate mainly in the suburbs and have numbers beginning with an SL prefix. Some of them are operated using specially branded buses with a red and cream livery. There is no difference in fare between them and ordinary buses, but you need to check that they will stop at the place you want to get off. They are \"express\" in the sense that they only stop at major locations along their routes, but they can still be slowed down by traffic. There is also the unique \"Bakerloop\" express route BL1 which runs along the route of a proposed extension of the Bakerloo Line in South-East London.\n\n#### Using the bus", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk046", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "When you see your bus approaching, **signal clearly to the driver** that you intend to get on their bus: the way to do this is to stick your hand out, with an open palm. The driver will indicate and pull into the stop. Always wait for people to get off the bus before you enter.\n\nMost buses have **two doors**. Form an orderly queue at the front door: when you reach the driver, touch your Oyster or contactless payment card on the reader or show them your Travelcard or pass (importantly, cash is *not* accepted). Some buses are worked by the \"New Routemaster\" which has three doors, the front door being the entrance and the middle and rear doors the exits. It should be noted that unlike the Tube, you are allowed to use an Oyster card which has zero (but not negative) or insufficient balance - this will cause the balance to be negative (the machines will flash an \"Emergency fare charged\" message which is the same as the normal fare); however, you must then recharge before the card can be used again.\n\nIf you are a wheelchair user, you should indicate as normal, and wait by the second door from the front. The driver will activate the wheelchair ramp for you to use.\n\nMost buses have a system that provides visual and audible announcements of the bus's destination at every stop, the stops, and nearby landmarks.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk047", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "When you are nearing your stop, press one of the red \"STOP\" buttons on the handrails **once only**. You'll hear a bell, or a buzzer, and the words \"Bus Stopping\" will appear on the destination screen. Get off the bus using the middle or rear door. There is also a blue \"stop\" button by the wheelchair space - this indicates to the driver that the wheelchair ramp is required at the next stop.\n\nFinally, **always watch out for moving traffic**, cyclists and pedestrians, when you get off the bus.\n\n#### Fares\n\nIt is **not possible to buy tickets on the bus** so you must have a valid Travelcard, Oyster card or contactless credit or debit card before you get on. Alternatively, tickets may be purchased from most newsagents in London, or from ticket machines at certain central London stops. The adult bus fare is £1.75; discounts are available to holders of certain cards that must be applied for in advance.\n\nUnlike on the Tube, you are charged for each bus you travel on. If you change buses then you will normally be charged a new bus fare up to the daily/weekly price cap. However, the '''Hopper fare''' allows you to make unlimited bus or tram journeys for the price of one if you use an Oyster card or contactless payment method. All of your journeys must be made within an hour of touching in on the first bus or tram you are travelling on and you must also use the same Oyster or contactless card for the other journeys. There is no need to tell the driver you want this, it will happen automatically.\n\n##### Oyster", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk048", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you have a seven-day, monthly or yearly Travelcard or Bus and Tram Pass on your Oyster, that includes free bus travel across all of London, even outside the zones of your Travelcard (buses aren't subject to zones). You still must touch in when you get on the bus, but you won't be charged.\n\nIf you do not have a Travelcard, the fare is taken from your Oyster pay as you go credit as soon as you touch in when you get on the bus. Daily bus and tram travel is \"capped\", so you generally won't pay more than an equivalent travelcard.\n\nUnlike the Tube, you are allowed to use an Oyster card which has zero (but not negative) or insufficient balance - this will cause the balance to be negative (the machines will flash an \"Emergency fare charged\" message which is the same as the normal fare); however, you must then recharge before the card can be used again.\n\nTouch your Oyster on the reader as soon as you get on the bus or you may be liable to a Penalty Fare or prosecution.\n\n##### Contactless credit, debit or prepaid cards\n\nYou can also pay for with most contactless debit, credit or prepaid Visa, MasterCard/Maestro or American Express cards. You touch the card flat against the reader, like you would with an Oyster card, but your account is charged instead. Some foreign-issued cards will not work for contactless payment.\n\nThe total charges for that day are calculated and taken out of your account overnight. As with Oyster, you are charged for each bus fare, up to a cap each day. In addition, a weekly price cap applies from Monday to Sunday.\n\nSee above for further information on contactless payment.\n\n##### Concessions", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk049", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Children aged 10 and under travel for free on the bus when accompanied by an adult. Children between the ages of 11 and 15 must touch in using a Zip card, yet journeys are still free on buses. If they do not have a Zip card they must pay the full fare using an adult Oyster or contactless card. 16-18 Student Oyster cards (only available to students studying in London) go up to age 18 and journeys are still free. Residents of England who have an ENCTS free bus pass (for the elderly or disabled) also get free travel: simply show your pass to the driver or conductor.\n\n#### Night buses\n\nStandard bus services run from around 6AM-12:30AM. Around half past midnight the network changes to the vast night bus network of well over 100 routes stretching all over the city. There are two types of night buses: 24-hour routes and N-prefixed routes.\n\n24-hour services keep the same number as during the day and will run exactly the same route, such as the number 88, for example. N-prefixed routes are generally very similar to their day-route, but may take a slightly different route or are extended to serve areas that are further out. For example, the 29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green during the day; however, the N29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green and then continues to Enfield.\n\nNight buses run at a 30-minute frequency at minimum, with many routes at much higher frequencies up to every 5 minutes.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk050", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Prices stay the same, and daily Travelcards are valid until 04:29 the day after they were issued, so can be used on night buses. Most bus stops will have night bus maps with all the buses to and from that local area on it, although it is good to check on the TfL website beforehand, which also has all those maps easily available.\n\n### By DLR\n\n**Docklands Light Railway (DLR)** is a dedicated light rail network operating in East London, connecting with the Tube network at Bank, Tower Gateway (close to Tower Hill station), Canning Town, Heron Quays (close to Canary Wharf Tube station), and Stratford. As the trains operate automatically, it can be quite exciting – especially for children – to sit at the front and look out through the window, whilst feeling as though one is driving the train oneself. The DLR runs above ground on much of its route, and travels through many scenic parts of London, including the Docklands area where most of London's skyscrapers are located.\n\nThe DLR can be a little confusing as the routes are not easily distinguished, however there are network maps on the train and the platform. Check the displays on the platform which will show you the destination and the wait for the next three trains, and also check the destination displays on the front and side of the train and listen for announcements. At busy times, some trains do not run the full length of the route. In this instance, you should take the first train, listen for announcements, and change where necessary.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk051", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be extra careful at **Canning Town** station, as it is very busy and four different DLR lines run through it. Use station signage to work out which platform you need; for example all services towards Stratford International use platform 2. Always check the destination on the front of the train and related announcements before getting on, especially at off-peak times, when there may not be a train taking you back on track for a good few minutes, if you end up on the wrong branch.\n\n#### Ticketing\n\nUnlike on the Tube, most DLR stations do not have ticket gates (except for Bank and Stratford) as they are unstaffed. Also, unlike the Tube, you *do* need to push the buttons to open the doors.\n\nYou can top up an Oyster card, buy a Travelcard or buy a paper ticket (at a substantial premium) from the ticket machines at the station. Most stations are unstaffed, so if you want to pay by cash then make sure you have plenty of change! As there are no gates, when travelling by Oyster you must always remember to touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. Even if you are changing to the Underground at Canary Wharf/Heron Quays, you must still touch in/out at the DLR station: the system will recognise that you have made an interchange between the two stations and treat it as part of the same journey.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk052", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "*Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain, with information applicable to the National Rail system within London.*\nthumb|St Pancras Railway Station, one of the grandest in Europe\nThe British railway system is known as **National Rail** (although some older signs still refer to it as \"British Rail\"). London's suburban rail services are operated by several private companies under tightly-written government contracts, and mostly run in the south of the city away from the main tourist sights. Only one line (Thameslink) runs through central London - on a north-south axis between London Bridge or Blackfriars stations, and the underground level of St Pancras main line station. There is no one central station - instead, there are twelve mainline stations dotted around the edge of the central area, and most are connected by the Circle line (except Euston, Fenchurch Street and those south of the river like Waterloo and London Bridge).\n\nMost visitors will not need to use National Rail services except for a few specific destinations such as Wimbledon, Hampton Court, Kew Gardens (Kew Bridge station), Windsor Castle, Greenwich, or the airports, or indeed if they are intending to visit other destinations in the UK. It's important to know that the quickest route between two stations is often a combination of the Tube as well as National Rail trains. For instance, if you are going from central London to Wimbledon, it will usually be much quicker to go to Waterloo and take the first Wimbledon train (around 15 minutes, maximum) rather than take the District line, which can take up to 45 minutes.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk053", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Your pay-as-you-go Oyster card is valid in London zones 1-9 (and some extensions), but not beyond, so be careful — if you want to travel beyond the London zones you will need to buy a paper ticket from the ticket office at the station. If you travel beyond the London zones with no valid ticket, you will be charged a Penalty Fare (on National Rail services this is usually £20), you will have to buy another ticket for the remainder of your journey, and you will also be charged the maximum Oyster fare because you didn't touch out. This adds up to a lot, so be careful and make sure you plan your journey! If in doubt, ask at the ticket office. Importantly, there are stations where contactless payment *but not* Oyster is accepted - watch out for them.\n\nThere are express trains to and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. Tickets are often sold at a substantial premium, so you may want to consider taking the slightly slower 'stopping' services instead: for instance, an Anytime single from Victoria to Gatwick costs more on the Gatwick Express, then when marked \"Route Southern Only\"—taking a Southern train to Gatwick is only eight minutes longer. Similarly, while the journey from Paddington station to Heathrow Airport by Elizabeth Line will take around 10-15 minutes longer than by Heathrow Express, the walk-up fare will be twice as cheap (and even cheaper on the Tube, though the journey takes considerably longer), so it's often only worth the premium when you're in a hurry. **Oyster cards are only valid** to Heathrow when travelling by Tube, Heathrow Express, or the Elizabeth Line, to Gatwick by National Rail (including Gatwick Express), and to City by DLR. To all other airports they are not valid.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk054", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Don't throw your ticket away until you're out of the station at your destination! Many stations have ticket gates which you will need to put your ticket through to exit; also, you need to retain all the parts of your ticket throughout your journey, as a member of railway staff may need to see it.\n\n### By Overground\n\nIn common parlance, Londoners may refer to travelling by \"overground\", meaning going by National Rail (as opposed to going by Underground). However, only **London Overground** is a Transport for London rail service, which serves most boroughs of the capital. Oyster cards are accepted. Trains will usually run a minimum frequency of every 15 minutes, and some stations have a considerably more frequent service. The trains have big windows allowing for great \"urban scenic\" views.\n\nThe Overground appears on the Tube map as a double orange line. TfL also produces a map only showing Overground services. At many stations, trains leaving from the same platform will go to different destinations, so listen carefully for announcements and always check the destination on the front of the train. The Overground can be a great way to avoid changing trains in central London by skirting around the centre. It's also well-connected: you can frequently change for Underground trains, other Overground destinations, or for mainline National Rail services from Stratford, Clapham Junction and Watford Junction.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk055", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The different Overground services were given distinct line names and colours from autumn 2024:\n **Liberty line** ( grey) between Romford and Upminster.\n **Lioness line** ( yellow) between Euston and Watford Junction.\n **Mildmay line** ( blue) between Stratford and Willesden Junction, where it splits into two branches to Richmond and Clapham Junction.\n **Suffragette line** ( light green) between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside.\n **Weaver line** ( purple/maroon) starting at Liverpool Street, with three branches to Chingford, Cheshunt and Enfield Town.\n **Windrush line** ( red/pink) starting at Highbury and Islington, with four branches to Clapham Junction, New Cross, Crystal Place and West Croydon.\n\n### By the Elizabeth line\n\nthumb|Elizabeth line roundel\nThe **Elizabeth line** is London's newest railway line. It appears on the Tube map as a double purple line. It runs from Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east via London Paddington, Farringdon, London Liverpool St and Stratford. Compared to the Underground, it has longer and faster trains that stop less frequently. It is fully wheelchair-accessible (although boarding ramps are necessary at some stations) and the trains are air-conditioned.\n\n### By Tram", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk056", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **London Trams** network is centred on Croydon, where it runs on street-level tracks around the Croydon Loop, providing transit to an area not well-served by the Tube or National Rail. Route 3 (Wimbledon to New Addington - green on the tram map) is the most frequent service, running every 7 or 8 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 15 minutes at all other times. Beckenham is served by Routes 1 and 2 (yellow and red on the tram map), which terminate at Elmers End and Beckenham Junction respectively. All services travel around the Loop via West Croydon and run every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes at all other times. Between Arena and Sandilands, these two services serve the same stops.\n\n### On foot\n\nthumb|Regent Street\nLondon is a surprisingly compact city, making it a walker's delight. In many instances, walking is the quickest method of transport between two points.\n\nBecause Britain drives on the left hand side of the road, for most foreign visitors it can be all too easy to forget that traffic will come at you from the opposite direction than you are used to when crossing a street - for this reason **remember to look right when you cross the road**. If you are using a pedestrian crossing, don't risk it even if you can't see any traffic coming: Wait for the green man to appear and then cross quickly and carefully. Some pedestrian crossings now have countdown timers to indicate how long it will be safe to cross for.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk057", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Particularly on Central London's busiest streets, it is easy to spot native Londoners as they weave in and out of the large crowds at fast speed; tourists who cannot will stand out. Make sure you're aware of your surroundings when in London—Londoners are usually very considerate, but a group of tourists standing in the middle of the pavement can be a major annoyance! Try standing to the side of busy pavements and footpaths, especially if you're with a group.\n\n#### Walking alternatives to the Tube\n\nIn some instances, it can be faster to walk some or all of your intended route instead of taking the Tube. By looking at a map you'll notice that some central London Tube stations are a lot closer together than the Tube map would make you believe.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk058", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Here are some more specific instructions for some of the stations that you are likely to use as a tourist:\n **Leicester Square station** – **Covent Garden station**: Come out of the station with The Hippodrome Casino behind you. Cross Charing Cross Road and walk up Cranbourn Street. Walk straight over at the junction and continue onto Long Acre. Walk straight up Long Acre to arrive at Covent Garden station. **Approximate walking time:** 5 minutes\n **Holborn station – Covent Garden station:** Exit the station onto Kingsway, opposite a large Sainsbury's shop (if you exit onto High Holborn opposite a McDonald's - turn left, and round the corner). Cross Kingsway (this is a very busy road), and turn left on the other side. Take the second right (by a Starbucks) onto Great Queen Street. Walk straight, crossing over Drury Lane onto Long Acre. Continue on Long Acre, crossing over Endell Street/Bow Street. Covent Garden station will be on your left. **Approximate walking time:** 10 minutes.\n **Embankment station** – **Waterloo station**: Come out of the station onto Victoria Embankment, walk up the stairs and head across the River Thames using the Hungerford Bridge. At the other end of the bridge keep walking straight and away from the River Thames. Follow the railway line. You will come to some blue metal work and a walkway underneath the railway line called Sutton Walk. Follow this, cross the road and Waterloo station is ahead of you. **Approximate walking time:** 15 minutes\n **Westminster station** – **Waterloo station**: Come out of the station and head across the River Thames using Westminster Bridge. Keep heading straight until you come to a junction. Turn left and walk down York Road. Stay on York Road until you come to a railway bridge. Waterloo station will be on your right. **Approximate walking time:** 15 minutes\n **Green Park station** – **Hyde Park Corner station**: Come out of Green Park station onto the road. This is Piccadilly. Walk west along Piccadilly following the edge of Green Park. When you come to a roundabout head straight across it. Hyde Park Corner station will be on your right. **Approximate walking time:** 10 minutes\n **Queensway – Bayswater**: Turn to the left when exiting the station and keep walking. This is a good route if you want to quickly change to a different Tube line but not change at Notting Hill Gate. **Approximate walking time:** 1 minute", "word_count": 399}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk059", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "##### Oxford Circus station\n\nOxford Circus station can become extremely busy on weekday evenings and, if convenient, it is worth walking to other Tube stations.\n\n**Oxford Circus station** – **Bond Street station**: Head west along Oxford Street from the road junction. You should see the London College of Fashion and BHS. Keep walking west and you will come to Bond Street station. **Approximate walking time:** 10 minutes.\n **Oxford Circus station** – **Tottenham Court Road station**: At the road junction, head east along Oxford Street heading past Topshop. Keep walking past H&M and McDonald's and you will eventually see a skyscraper called Centre Point. Continue heading straight and Tottenham Court Road station is on the road junction here. **Approximate walking time:** 25 minutes.\n**Oxford Circus – Piccadilly Circus** **station:** At the road junction, head south along Regent Street to pass many big name brands, including Apple and Hamleys. Just after the road curves round to the left, you should be at Piccadilly Circus. **Approximate walking time:** 10 minutes.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nDue to the expense of other forms of transport and the compactness of central London, cycling is a tempting option. Free cycle maps can usually be obtained from your local Tube station or bike shop.\n\nMost major roads in London will have a bus lane which is restricted to buses, taxis and bicycles. There are also many signposted cycle routes and cycle lanes, but the kind of contiguous cycle lane network found in many other European cities does not exist. The safest option is to stick to minor residential roads where traffic can be surprisingly calm outside rush hours.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk060", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Critical Mass London is a cycling advocacy group which meets for regular rides through central London at 6PM on the last Friday of each month. Rides start from the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. The London Cycling Campaign is an advocacy group for London cyclists. With active local groups in most of the city's boroughs, it is recognised by the local and regional governments as the leading voice for cycling in the capital.\n\nNormally a cyclist should keep to the left of the lane when cycling on a road with traffic, to allow faster-moving traffic to overtake. However, it is legal for a cycle to dominate a lane by maintaining a central road position like any other vehicle. This will make you unpopular with any traffic behind you but it is recommended in London on approach to right-hand turns at junctions. Making a right-hand turn from the normal left-position means crossing the lane of traffic, which may often ignore you and any turn signals you might have been using, leading to potential accidents.\n\n#### Taking bikes on trains\n\nPermission to take bikes on trains is very limited in London due to overcrowding. Non-folding bikes can be taken only on limited sections of the Tube network, mostly only on the above-ground sections outside peak hours. For this reason, folding bicycles are becoming increasingly popular. Most *National Rail* operators allow bicycles outside peak hours.\n\n#### Bicycle hire\n\nLondon offers a bicycle hire scheme known as **Santander Cycles**, operated by Transport for London. They are colloquially referred to as \"Boris Bikes\" after Boris Johnson, as they were introduced during his period as mayor of London. Docking stations can be found across Central London and slightly further out into areas such as Brixton, the Docklands, Hammersmith, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk061", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The bikes, all coloured a distinctive red, can be unlocked at any hire dock and then ridden to wherever you want. After each journey the bike must be returned to a docking station on the network by locking the bike into the rack and receiving confirmation via a green light.\n\nYou pay via a credit or debit card and two payment plans exist: daily and yearly. A £2 daily plan (as of October 2020) gives access to the system for an unlimited number of rides for 24 hours. A fee for the first 30 minutes of each ride is included in the initial payment. For every other 30 minutes above that it costs extra £2. A yearly plan costs £90 for a full year.\n\nThe Santander Cycles app shows where bikes are available and can be used to make the hiring process faster, although sometimes the app doesn't show a journey as finished even if the bike was successfully docked back at a station. If in doubt it's better to check your activity log on the official site.\n\nThe Santander bikes' main competitor is **Lime**, whose fleet of electric bikes can be parked almost anywhere in much of Inner London, not just at docking stations. Download the app and set up a payment method first, then use your phone to scan a bike and unlock it. Rides are £1 plus £0.15 per minute (February 2021).\n\n#### Cycle ways", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk062", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Cycle lanes** provide on-road and off -road routes. The network is not comprehensive, and on the road lanes vary in quality and size (normally 1-2 m wide). Some are indicated just with a stencilled image of a bike on the road. If the line between the traffic lane and cycle lane is solid, then vehicles may sometimes enter the space. A dashed line indicates a recommended cycle lane and motorists may make use of this road space, but it's recommended that they don't.\n\nLondon's **cycleways** connect destinations across the capital, and include \"cycle superhighways\" and \"quietways\". **Cycle Superhighways** run into central London from outer London and across the capital. They are designed to provide safe, fast routes for cyclists who commute and are painted blue to indicate where they are. Some are segregated from the road but some may be on the main carriageway. **Quietways** link key destinations in the capital but utilise side streets, waterways and parks instead of busy roads.\n\nThe **towpaths** in north London along the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal, and in London's parks and other green areas, provide a traffic-free cycle path through the capital. The Grand Union canal connects Paddington to Camden and the Regent's Canal connects Camden to Islington, Mile End and Limehouse in east London. It takes about 30-40 minutes to cycle from Paddington station to Islington along the towpaths. **Pedestrians have priority** on towpaths - slow down and respect their right of the way!\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Classic London Cab on Old Bailey Street \nLondon has two types of taxis: the famous **black cab**, and so-called **minicabs**. Black cabs are the only ones licensed to \"ply for hire\" (i.e. pick people up off the street), while minicabs are more accurately described as \"private hire vehicles\" and need to be pre-booked.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk063", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "The famous **black cab** of London (not always black!) can be hailed from the kerb or found at one of the many designated taxi ranks. It is possible to book black cabs by phone, for a fee, but if you are in central London it will usually be quicker to hail one from the street. Their amber TAXI light will be on if they are available. Drivers must pass a rigorous exam of central London's streets, known as 'The Knowledge', to be licensed to drive a black cab. This means they can supposedly navigate you to almost any London street without reference to a map. They are a cheap transport option if there are five passengers as they do not charge extras, and many view them as an essential experience for any visitor to London. Black cabs charge by distance and by the minute, are non-smoking, and have a minimum charge of £3.00 (as of 2019). Tipping is not mandatory in either taxis or minicabs, despite some drivers' expectations - use your discretion. If you like the service you may tip. If the ride has been uncomfortable or unsafe, or if the driver was rude, don't. Most Londoners will simply round up to the nearest pound.\n\nTaxis are required by law to take you wherever you choose (within Greater London) if their TAXI light is on when you hail them. However some, especially older drivers, dislike leaving the centre of town, or going south of the River Thames. A good way to combat being left at the side of the curb is to open the back door, or even get into the cab, before stating your destination.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk064", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Minicabs** are normal cars which are licensed hire vehicles that you need to book by phone or at a minicab office. They generally charge a fixed fare for a journey, best agreed before you get in the car. Minicabs are usually cheaper than black cabs, although this is not necessarily the case for short journeys. Licensed minicabs display a Transport For London (TfL) Licence - usually in the front window. One of the features of the license plate is a blue version of the famous London Transport \"roundel\". A list of licensed minicab operators can be found at TfL Cabwise.\n\nTfL operate a service called Cabwise, which will determine your location and provide three local, licensed cab numbers. If you have an iPhone or an Android smartphone, you can use the Cabwise application (search your platform's app store) or text **CAB** to 60835 (be careful - this might not work from some phones!) You can also use an app which allows you to summon a black cab to your location and will provide a map and approximate wait time for your taxi to arrive. Most railway stations will also be able to provide a list of good local cab firms (many will display this outside the station, even after the last train of the night has gone.)", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk065", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some areas in London are poorly served by black cabs, particularly late at night. This has led to illegal minicabs operating, who are just opportunistic people with a car, looking to make some \"fast\" money. Some of these illegal operators can be fairly aggressive in their attempts to find customers, and it's now barely possible to walk late at night through any part of London with a modicum of night-life without being approached. If you've booked a \"licensed\" minicab to collect you from a venue, the driver or operator should be able to give you additional details, (an example being the phone-number you booked them from), to confirm they are legitimate. If you book by mobile phone, many minicab firms will send you a text with a brief description of the vehicle and its registration number.\n\nYou should **avoid** minicabs touting for business off the street and either take a black cab, book a licensed minicab by telephone, or take a night bus. Not only is it 'illegal' for unlicensed minicabs to ply for trade on the street, these illegal cabs are also regularly unsafe, with a risk of robbery or assault a possibility, given that the operators of such illegal minicabs are in no way checked or vetted for past offences.\n\nAlways remember: **if it's not licensed and it's not pre-booked, it's just a stranger's car. Never get into an un-booked minicab.**\n\n**Uber** is available in London and generally charge cheaper fares than black cabs, although higher \"surge\" prices are charged at times of high demand. Vehicles can only be booked via the smartphone app.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk066", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Londoners who drive will normally take public transport in the centre; follow their example. Unless you have a disability, there is no good reason whatsoever to drive a car in central London. Driving in central London is a slow, frustrating, expensive and often unnecessary activity. There are many sorts of automatic enforcement cameras and it is difficult and expensive to park.\n\nDriving outside of central London is easier, but traffic can still be an issue and most tourists won't head out that far unless they have a reason. For those with disabilities driving can be much more convenient than using public transport. If disabled and a resident of a member state of the EU then two cars can be permanently registered, for free, for the Congestion Charge.\n\nThere's a **speed limit** of 20 mph (32 km/h) on most roads inside the Central London Congestion Charge zone, and several boroughs have borough-wide 20 limits. Limits elsewhere follow UK norms; see Driving in the United Kingdom for details.\n\n#### Congestion Charge\n\nDriving into central London on weekdays during daylight hours incurs a hefty charge called the Congestion Charge with very few exemptions. Rental cars also attract the charge. Cameras and mobile units record and identify the number plates and registration details of all vehicles entering the charging zone with high accuracy. The **Central London Congestion Charge** M-F 7AM-6PM (excluding public holidays) attracts a fee of £15. Numerous payment options exist: by phone, online, at convenience stores displaying the red 'C' logo in the window, and by voucher. Failure to pay the charge by midnight the next charging day incurs a hefty automatic fine of £160 (£80 if paid within 2 weeks). There are additional charges and penalties for vehicles not meeting certain emissions standards.\n\n#### Traffic", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk067", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Despite the Congestion Charge, London - like most major cities - continues to experience traffic snarls. These are, of course, worse on weekdays during peak commuting hours (i.e. :30-9:30AM and 4-7PM). At these times public transport (and especially the Tube) usually offers the best alternative for speed and reduced hassle.\n\n#### Parking\n\nOne good tip is, that outside advertised restricted hours (usually on a Sunday), parking on a *single* yellow line is permissible. Parking on a red line or a *double* yellow line is never permissible and heavily enforced. Find and read the parking restrictions carefully! Parking during weekdays and on Saturday can also mean considerable expense in parking fees (fees and restrictions are ignored at your extreme financial peril). Issuing fines, clamping and/or towing vehicles (without warning!) has become a veritable new industry for borough councils staffed by armies of traffic wardens.\n\nAlso watch out for marked parking bays as these *always* have restrictions. Many are \"Resident Parking Only\" between certain hours and you will be fined if you park during these hours without a permit. Some bays also have restrictions on how long you can park in them for and these can be confusing. If in doubt: Don't park!\n\nIf you are driving to your destination then it's safest to find a dedicated private car park nearby. These may be eye-wateringly expensive, but parking on the roads is a lottery with low odds of you winning. Two large car park operators are **NCP** and **Q-Park**.\n\n#### Motorcycles and scooters", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk068", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorcycles and scooters are fairly common in London as they can pass stationary cars, can usually be parked for free, and are exempt from the Congestion Charge. Scooters and bikes with automatic transmission are much more preferable - a manually-geared racing bike is completely impractical unless you have excellent clutch control (although it has to be said you will see plenty of them being ridden aggressively by motorcycle couriers and locals as it can be the fastest way to get around!) Likewise to bicycles, car drivers can sometimes show disregard to anyone on two wheels and larger vehicles have an unwritten priority so take care when crossing junctions. Helmets are mandatory. Parking for bikes is usually free - there are designated motorcycle-parking areas on some side-streets and some multi-level car parks will have bike parking on the ground level.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Regent's Canal\nLondon is now promoting a network of river bus and pleasure cruise services along the River Thames from Hampton Court in the west to Woolwich Arsenal in the east. London River Services (part of Transport for London) manages regular commuter boats and a network of piers all along the river and publishes timetables and river maps similar to the famous Tube map. While boat travel may be slower and a little more expensive than Tube travel, it offers an extremely pleasant way to cross the city with unrivalled views of the London skyline. Sailing under Tower Bridge is an unforgettable experience.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk069", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "Boats are operated by private companies and they have a separate ticketing system from the rest of London transport; however if you have a Travelcard you get a 33% discount on most boat tickets. Many boat operators offer their own one-day ticket - ask at the pier kiosks. Generally, tickets from one boat company are not valid on other operators' services. Oyster cards can be used as payment for the 'Clipper'-styled commuter services but not for tour boats.\n\nthumb|The view from Greenwich Observatory which is easily reached by boat services plying the Thames\n\nAll the central London sights in Westminster and the South Bank tourist attractions are easily accessible by boat as are:\n\nHampton Court Palace\nGreenwich\nShakespeare’s Globe\nTate Galleries\n\nLondon Dungeon\nLondon Eye\nTower of London\n\nTower Bridge\nSt. Katharine Docks\nMillennium Dome/The O2\n\nHam House\nKew Gardens\nHMS Belfast\n\nConsider a trip along an old Victorian canal through the leafy suburbs of North London. The London Waterbus Company runs scheduled services (more in summer, fewer in winter) from Little Venice to Camden Lock with a stop at the London Zoo (pick up only). The 45-minute trip along Regent's Canal is a delightful way to travel.\n\n### By skate\n\nInline skating on roads and pavements (sidewalks) is completely legal, except in the \"square-mile\" of the City of London. Roads are not the greatest but easily skateable. Central London drivers are more used to skaters than those in the outskirts.\n\n### By cable car", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk070", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|The Emirates Air Line crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.\nThe **London cable car** (branded for sponsorship reasons as **IFS Cloud Cable Car**; formerly Emirates Air Line) is a cable car that runs across the River Thames in east London giving panoramic views of the surrounding area and beyond. It connects the Greenwich Peninsula on the south bank (near The O2) and the Royal Docks on the north bank (near the ExCeL Exhibition Centre), with the Greenwich Peninsula terminal connecting to North Greenwich Tube station on the Jubilee line and the Royal Docks terminal connecting to Royal Victoria DLR station.\n\nAlthough it is part of the TfL network and uses Oyster cards, the London cable car is mostly a tourist attraction for many and is therefore at its quietest during the week. It tends to be busiest when there is a large event at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre or a popular concert at The O2.\n\nThe cable car service sometimes finishes earlier than the Tube and DLR. If you are travelling to The O2 for an event that finishes late, you should have an alternative means in mind for getting back across the river.\n\n#### Operating hours\n\nDay 2 October to 31 March 1 April to 30 June 1 July to 1 October\n Monday to Thursday 07:00-21:00 07:00-22:00 07:00-23:00\n Friday 07:00-23:00 07:00-23:00 07:00-23:00\n Saturday and Bank Holidays 08:00-23:00 08:00-23:00 08:00-23:00\n Sunday 09:00-21:00 09:00-22:00 09:00-23:00", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk071", "doc_id": "london", "section": "See", "text": "> I have sailed the world, beheld its wonders
\nFrom the [[Çanakkale|Dardanelles]] to the mountains of [[Peru]]
\nBut there's no place like London!\n\nLondon is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles and only an overview is presented here.\n\n### Landmarks", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk072", "doc_id": "london", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Piccadilly Circus\n **Buckingham Palace**. The London residence of the King, in Westminster. Open for tours during the summer months only (in 2022 - from Jul 22 to Sep 30; tickets - https://tickets.rct.uk/product/date), but a must-see sight even if you don't go in. (Tube: Green Park). Changing of the Guard spans three locations: Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks, and usually begins at 10:43 (check https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html for details).\n **London Eye**. The world's fourth-largest observation wheel, on the South Bank of the Thames with magnificent views over London. (Tube: Waterloo)\n **Marble Arch** is a white Carrara marble monument designed by John Nash. It is located in the middle of a huge traffic island at one of the busiest intersections in central London where Oxford Street meets Park Lane in Mayfair. (Tube: Marble Arch)\n **Piccadilly Circus** is one of the most photographed sights in London. The Shaftesbury Memorial, topped by the statue of Anteros (now popularly identified as Eros), stands proudly in the middle of Piccadilly Circus while the north eastern side is dominated by a huge, iconic neon advertising hoarding. Occasionally there will be scaffolding or fencing around the Eros statue in order to protect it during times when large crowds are anticipated. (Tube: Piccadilly Circus)\nthumb|St Paul's Cathedral\n **St Paul's Cathedral**, also in the City, is Sir Christopher Wren's great accomplishment, built after the 1666 Great Fire of London - the great dome is still seated in majesty over the City. A section of the dome has such good acoustics that it forms a \"Whispering Gallery\". There is also a viewing area that offers views of the surrounding area including the Millennium Bridge that lies nearby. (Tube: St Paul's)\nalt=|thumb|Tower Bridge from South Bank\n **Tower Bridge**. The iconic 19th century bridge located by the Tower of London near the City. It is decorated with high towers featuring a drawbridge. The public are allowed access to the interior of the bridge via the **Tower Bridge Exhibition**, tickets for which can be purchased online or at the bridge. (Tube: Tower Hill)\n **Tower of London**. Situated just south east of the City, is London's original royal fortress by the Thames. It is over 900 years old, contains the Crown Jewels, is guarded by Beefeaters, and is a World Heritage site. It is also considered by many to be the most haunted building in the world. If you are interested in that sort of thing it's definitely somewhere worth visiting. Sometimes there are guided ghost walks of the building. You can even have a good meal in one of the buildings on the property. (Tube: Tower Hill)\n **Trafalgar Square**. Home of Nelson's Column and the lions, and once a safe haven for London's pigeons until the introduction of hired birds of prey. The \"Fourth Plinth\" has featured a succession of artworks since 1999. Overlooked by the National Gallery, it's the nearest London has to a \"centre\", and has been pedestrianised. (Tube: Charing Cross)\n **Westminster Abbey** and the **Palace of Westminster**, including the **Elizabeth Tower** (the clock tower commonly known by the name of its bell, **Big Ben**) and the **Houses of Parliament**, in Westminster. The seat of the United Kingdom parliament and World Heritage site, as well as setting for royal coronations since 1066, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Palace of Westminster is open to the public only for viewing parliamentary debates, tours of the building are available in July – August when Parliament is away on summer recess. Westminster Abbey also has a restaurant and a café that both serve good food. (Tube: Westminster)\n **30 St Mary Axe** or **The Gherkin**, a peculiarly-shaped 180 m (590 ft) building in the City. There is no public access to the building itself but it can be viewed from the roads and small paved areas directly in front of and behind the building. Security guards can be overzealous in this area and you may be asked to move on or stop taking photographs if you are doing so (although this may seem overbearing, it is private land and they can ask you to leave if they wish). Commanding views of this building can also be obtained from public roads near the site such as Leadenhall Street. Of minor interest to history fans is an inscription on Bury Street dedicated to a young Roman girl who was found buried here by archaeologists in 1995. Her remains were moved to the Museum of London while the Gherkin was being constructed, and were reburied in 2007 at the original site. (Tube: Aldgate)\n **The Shard**. A futuristic triangular skyscraper in South Bank that dominates the London skyline and is the tallest building in the UK. There is a viewing deck on the 72nd floor that is open to the public, tickets for which must be booked via the website. There are also restaurants and the expensive luxury hotel Shangri-La on the lower floors. (Tube: London Bridge)\n**The Walkie-Talkie / 20 Fenchurch Street,** although it has been voted as one of London's ugliest skyscrapers, has a large rooftop garden which affords great views over the Thames and south side of the river. This garden is free to visit, however, it is necessary to book well in advance due to high demand, especially in the summer months. (Tube: Monument)", "word_count": 878}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk073", "doc_id": "london", "section": "See", "text": "### Museums and galleries\n\nalt=|thumb|Natural History Museum, dubbed the 'cathedral of nature'\nCentral London hosts an outstanding collection of world-class museums and galleries, several of truly iconic status.\n\nEven better, London is unique among global capitals in that the majority of the museums have no entrance charges, allowing visitors to make multiple visits with ease. Special or temporary exhibitions usually attract an admission charge.\n\nLondon museums and galleries with no general admission charge (free entry!) include:\n\nBritish Museum (Tube: Holborn)—a treasure trove of world cultures from across the ages, on par with the Paris Louvre and New York's Metropolitan Museum\nNational Gallery (Tube: Charing Cross)—houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries\nNational Portrait Gallery (Tube: Charing Cross)\nVictoria and Albert Museum (Tube: South Kensington)\nNatural History Museum (Tube: South Kensington)\nScience Museum (Tube: South Kensington)\nTate Modern (Tube: Southwark, Blackfriars)\nTate Britain (Tube: Pimlico)\nWallace Collection (Tube: Marble Arch)\n\nAside from these world famous establishments, there is an almost unbelievable number of minor museums in London covering a very diverse range of subjects. The British Government lists over 240 genuine museums in the city. A few notable examples:\n\nLondon Transport Museum (Tube: Covent Garden)\n Museum of London (Tube: Barbican or St. Paul's)\n Museum of London Docklands (DLR: West India Quay)\nThe Royal Museums Greenwich: (DLR: Cutty Sark)\nRoyal Observatory\nNational Maritime Museum\nCutty Sark\n\n### Parks\n\nthumb|270x270px|St James's Park in central London\nThe \"green lungs\" of London are the **many parks**, great and small, scattered throughout the city including Hyde Park, St James Park and Regent's Park. Most of the larger parks have their origins in royal estates and hunting grounds and are still owned by the Crown, despite their public access.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk074", "doc_id": "london", "section": "See", "text": "Hyde Park and adjoining Kensington Gardens make up a huge open space in central London and are very popular for picnics. Within Kensington Gardens, the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground is a free playground for young children featuring a huge wood pirate ship. (Tube: High Street Kensington, Marble Arch, Green Park or Hyde Park Corner)\n Regent's Park is a wonderful open park in the northern part of central London. On the northern edge is London Zoo. (Tube: Camden Town, Regent's Park)\n St James's Park has charming and romantic gardens ideal for picnics and for strolling around. St. James's Park is situated between Buckingham Palace on the west and Horse Guards Parade on the east.\n Hampstead Heath is a huge open green space in north London. It's not a tended park as such and is remarkably wild for a metropolitan city location. The views from the Parliament Hill area of the heath overlooking the city skyline are quite stunning. (Tube: Hampstead, Overground: Hampstead Heath, Gospel Oak)\n Battersea Park is a public park in the London Borough of Wandsworth, on the south bank of the Thames, and contains a Japanese pagoda.\n Richmond Park is a huge green space, with a thriving deer population. Excellent place for cycling. (Tube: Richmond then Bus 65 or 371)\n Bushy Park, near to Hampton Court Palace, is the second-largest park in London. More low-key than its larger cousin, Richmond Park, it too has a large deer population. Bushy Park contains numerous ponds, bridleways, two allotments, and at its northern edge, the National Physical Laboratory.\nHolland Park is a public park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in west London. It covers about 22 hectares and contains two Japanese gardens - the Kyoto Garden (1991) and Fukushima Memorial Garden (2012), a youth hostel, a children's playground, squirrels and peacocks. The closest Tube station is Holland Park on the Central line.", "word_count": 315}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk075", "doc_id": "london", "section": "See", "text": "### Itineraries\n\nLondon South Bank Walk\n Walk the London Wall\nFor a selection of walks across London, look at London on foot.\n\nthumb|right|250px|One of more than 800 Blue Plaques throughout London\n\n### Blue Plaques\n\nEnglish Heritage runs the Blue Plaques programme in London. Blue Plaques celebrate great figures of the past and the buildings that they inhabited. These are among the most familiar features of the capital’s streetscape and adorn the façades of buildings across the city. Since the first plaque was erected in 1867, the number has grown steadily and there are now more than 800. Recipients are as diverse as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud, Charles de Gaulle, Jimi Hendrix and Karl Marx. Look out for these around the city.\n\n### London Pass\n\nWhereas some London museums offer free entry, some other top London attractions are ridiculously expensive. For example, entry to Westminster Abbey costs £20 per person (adult), and entry to the Tower is £21.50 per adult if bought online (2017). These prices can be sometimes mitigated by a purchase of London Pass, which needs to be done at the London Pass website. The pass comes in several varieties and gives access to over 60 attractions, including both Westminster Abbey and the Tower. For example, a day pass costs £62 for an adult (2017). The best strategy, if one wants to visit several expensive high-profile attractions, is to buy a day pass and to try visiting all of them in the same day. This requires some advanced planning and will not give you much time at each place you visit - for example, it can take an hour on public transport to travel between the Tower of London and London Zoo.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk076", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "London is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles. To make the most of the city's tremendous cultural offerings (performing arts, museums, exhibitions, clubs, eateries and numerous others), visitors will do well to pick up a copy of a cultural magazine like *Time Out London* (available at most corner shops and newsagents) which gives detailed information and critiques on what's around town including show times and current attractions. The Time Out London website also has major shows listed. There is also apps available, although the print version tends to be more detailed.\n\n### Live music\n\nLondon is one of the best cities in the world for concerts, spanning from new musical trends to well-known bands. Between huge concert facilities and small pubs, there are hundreds of venues that organise and promote live music every week. Many concerts, especially in smaller or less known places are free, so there is plenty of choice even for tourists on a budget.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk077", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "London has long been a launchpad for alternative movements, from the mods of the 1960s, punks of the 70s, new romantics of the 80s, the Britpop scene of the 90s, and the indie rock and rock movements in the 21st century. It has one of the world's most lively live music scenes: any band heading a British, European or World tour will play London, not to mention the local talent. London's music scene is incredibly diverse, covering all genres of music from electro-jazz to death-metal, and all sizes of bands, from the U2s and Rolling Stones of the world to bands that disband after their first gig. This diversity is reflected in prices. As a rough guide: £40 and up for 'top 40' bands in arena-sized venues, £20 and up for established bands in mid-sized venues, £10 or more for up-and-coming bands and club nights in smaller venues, £5 and up for new bands in bars and pubs (as of 2024). Wigmore Hall offers classical music concerts in an intimate setting. The usual fare is between £18 and £60 but £5 tickets are available for most concerts for those aged under 35.\n\nLondon has hundreds of venues spread out over the city and the best way to know what's going on where is to browse online ticket agencies, *Music Magazine**s gig directories and bands' social media pages. A few areas which have higher concentrations of pubs and venues than others. Kilburn in North West London has long been known as an Irish area; though their numbers have somewhat declined, a visit to a local pub will show their influence endures.\n\n### Theatre", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk078", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Palace Theatre\nThe '''West End''', especially the areas concentrated around Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Shaftesbury Avenue and Haymarket, is one of the world's premier destinations for theatre, including musical theatre. In the centre of Leicester Square there is an official half-price **TKTS** booth. Be wary of other ticket offices -including those claiming to be the \"Official Half-Price Ticket Office\" - as these may have higher prices, and have been known to sell fake tickets. For up-to-date listings see the weekly magazine *Time Out* or check the Official London Theatre site.\n\nThe South Bank is another area well known for world class theatre, and is home to the National Theatre and the '''Globe Theatre''', the latter of which is London's only thatched building and an attraction in itself. Each Globe performance has over 700 £5 tickets.\n\nLondon's theatre scene outside of these two main districts is known as \"the Fringe\". Several of the larger and more established fringe theatres are an excellent way to see top quality productions of plays that may move to the West End, but at lower than West End prices. '''The Royal Court''' theatre specialises in new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world. The '''Menier Chocolate Factory''' has done spectacularly well with revivals of musicals. '''The Lyric Theatre''', Hammersmith, offers a mix of modern interpretations of Shakespeare, musicals, and plays serving the Asian and Afro-Caribbean populations of West London.\n\n### Other things to do", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk079", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace Take a walk through London's **Royal Parks**. A good walk would start at Paddington station, and head through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park (passing Buckingham Palace) and St James's Park before crossing Trafalgar Square and the River Thames to the South Bank and Waterloo station. At a strolling pace this walk would take half a day, with plenty of places to stop, sit, drink, and eat en route.\n **Watch a film:** As well as the world-famous blockbuster cinemas in the West End, London has a large number of superb art house cinemas. In the summer months, there are often outdoor screenings at various venues, such as Somerset House and in some of the large parks.\n **Watch football:** London has over a dozen professional football clubs, plus **Wembley Stadium**, the national stadium of England, hosting internationals (including World Cup and European Championships qualifiers) and the finals of club competitions, notably the FA Cup and the League Cup. As of 2024, London has six clubs in the Premier League, the top tier of English football: Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs), Fulham, and West Ham United. In the second tier, the Championship, are Millwall and Queens Park Rangers (QPR). In the third tier, League One, are Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient; and in the fourth tier, League Two, are AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United. Other clubs slug it out in the lower leagues, semi-professional going on amateur. International and top club matches need booking in advance, and at clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, it's nearly impossible to get tickets without some sort of club membership or through a shady third party website or a scalper, which are both best avoided as the tickets probably aren't even valid. However, at smaller clubs you can just turn up and pay at the gate. At bottom-end clubs there's actually a risk that you might be begged to strip off and take the field to make up an eleven. Hackney & Walthamstow marshes have football teams and playing fields the way Xanadu had caverns measureless to man, with a thin drizzle blowing in off a sunless sea.\n **Watch rugby union,** 15-a-side. Internationals are played at **Twickenham** west of the city - the Six Nations games are likely to sell out. Three London teams play in the Premiership, the top tier of club rugby in England: Harlequins, London Irish and Saracens. You'll see famous international players in these club fixtures.\n **Watch tennis at Wimbledon:** Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered the most prestigious. Naturally it is a regular feature on the tennis calendar. London goes \"tennis crazy\" for two weeks when the competition commences in late June and early July. One of the greatest traditions of this event is to eat strawberries and cream with sugar. (Tube: Southfields)\n **Watch cricket** at the Oval (Lambeth) or Lord's (St Johns). Both host One-Day and Test matches (i.e. internationals, lasting up to 5 days). Watch important events like Ashes and India and South Africa Tours to London. Oval and Lord's are also the home grounds for Oval Inbincibles and London Spirit respectively in the Hundred Lord's is also the home ground for Middlesex in the County Championship and One Day Cup.\n **London Open House Weekend:** Explore many of the city's most interesting buildings during the London Open House Weekend, usually held on the third weekend of September. During this single weekend, several hundred buildings which are not normally open to the public are opened up. See website for details of buildings opening in any given year. Some buildings have to be booked in advance; book early for the popular ones.\n **Winter skating.** During the winter months multiple outdoor ice rinks pop up across London. Considered by some to be somewhat overpriced and overcrowded, they nonetheless have multiplied, easing congestion and increasing competition. Most charge from £10-12 (adults) for an hour on the ice, including skate hire. See the district articles for the City of London, East End and Leicester Square.\n **Summer skating.** In summer (and also in winter, for the more dedicated) there is also a thriving roller skating (on inline and traditional \"quad\" skates) scene in London, catering to many disciplines including street hockey, freestyle slalom, dance, general recreational skating (including three weekly marshalled group street skates) and speed skating. This mostly centres around Hyde Park (on the Serpentine Road) and Kensington Gardens (by the Albert Memorial). See the district articles for Mayfair-Marylebone and South West London.\n **Bus and river tours:** If you don't feel like splashing out on one of the commercial bus tours, you can make your own bus tour by buying an '''Oyster''' card and spending some time riding around London on the top deck of standard London buses. You don't get the open air or the commentary, but the views are very similar. You will likely get lost but that is half the fun; if that worries you then go for a commercial tour, which will give you a 24-hour ticket to use the company's buses to see the essential sites of London and a boat tour on the Thames (with the same ticket) provides a river tour of some of metropolitan London. Commercial tours are also the only remaining way to ride a vintage red **routemaster bus** through the city streets.\n **Photography**. Buildings such as museums, churches and art galleries will display their own guidelines clearly. In many public buildings the use of tripods and flash are not permitted.\n**Hidden London**. A series of tours run by the London Transport Museum exploring the hidden depths of the Underground, including abandoned stations and tunnels; plus there are visits to TfL's famous art deco headquarters (55 Broadway) and \"access all areas\" inside looks at operational stations such as Charing Cross and Euston. Demand is high for what is quite a restricted annual programme, and you can purchase a maximum of four tickets per tour. Adults: £41.50, concession: £36.50. This ticket includes a day pass to the LT Museum, to be used within a month of the event date, and gives you a 10% discount on all merchandise bought at the museum shop or online within the same period.\n**NFL International Series**. NFL (American Football) games held in Wembley and Twickenham Stadiums. Usually held on Sunday evenings or afternoons between October and December of each year.", "word_count": 1065}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk080", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "## Learn\n\n### Learn English\n\nLondon is a natural place to learn and improve spoken and written English. There are a huge range of options, from informal language exchange services to evening classes and formal language schools. There are unaccredited schools charging hefty fees and offering qualifications that are viewed as worthless. If choosing a course from a privately-run school or college, it is important to ensure the institution is accredited by the British Council.\n\nSome links to British Council accredited schools:\n\n- Linguaenglish London\n\n- Rose of York\n\n## Work\n\nLondon is one of the world's leading financial centres and so professional services is the main area of employment. It is best to check with recruiters and staffing agencies.\n\nLondon is hugely popular as a working holiday destination - work in bars and the hospitality industry is relatively easy to find.\n\nWages are generally higher in London than the rest of the UK, in part due to the addition of London weighting, although the cost of living is higher still.\n\n## Buy\n\n### Money\n\nLondon is among the worst places to exchange money. Included fees (in the exchange rate) of up to 50% are not uncommon. Do not get fooled by the \"no commission\" claim that many bureaux de change make. This is a a lie because the exchange rates are so bad that the exchange is very costly. So, how do you identify a decent exchange rate? Basically, the spread between the buy and sell rate tells you what is the fee (divided by 2, actually)—anything above 10% is a rip-off, 5% is good. You are better off withdrawing money from ATMs here. *Never* attempt to change money on either Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road; rates there can be misrepresented.\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk081", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Harrods\nLondon has a justified reputation for being one of the world's most expensive cities. But if you do your homework beforehand, there are ways to limit the damage, and prices for basic items are in general not as exorbitant as in the Nordic countries or Switzerland.\n\nLondon is one of the world's most fashion-conscious cities: it has an abundance of clothing shops from the flagship stores of Oxford Street to the tiny boutiques of Brick Lane.\n\nThough not particularly known for bargain shopping, nearly anything you could possibly want to buy is available in London. During major sales, such as the annual Boxing Day sale after Christmas, and Black Friday in late November (an event imported from the U.S.), prices for some items are lowered by up to 70%, meaning that it is possible to find bargains for genuine luxury-branded goods if you are there at the right time. Outside of major brands and retailers, you may want to check if an item has actually ever sold at the claimed full price.\n\nIn Central London, the main shopping district is the West End (Bond Street, Covent Garden, Oxford Street and Regent Street). On Thursdays many West End stores close later than normal (7-8PM).", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk082", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Oxford Street**. Main shopping street, home to flagship branches of all the major British high street retailers in one go including Selfridges, John Lewis (includes a food hall), Marks & Spencer and other department stores. It is best to shop here in the morning as the street becomes increasingly busy during the day. (Tube: Oxford Circus)\n **Regent Street** (between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus). Includes such gems as Hamleys, considered to be London's flagship toy store spread out on seven levels, the iconic luxury department store Liberty, and the London Apple Store. (Tube: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus)\n **Bond Street**. Some of the world's most luxurious designer stores such as Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Versace. (Tube: Bond Street)\n **Tottenham Court Road**. Contains some of the world's most luxurious designer interior stores such as Heals. (Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street)\n **Covent Garden**. Fashionable area home to quaint outlets and relatively expensive designer stores. Around Seven Dials, chains include Adidas Originals, All Saints, Carhartt, Fred Perry, G Star Raw and Stussy. For shoes, head for Neal Street. Also found here is the London Transport Museum whose gift shop has some of the best souvenirs in the city (old maps, vintage Tube posters, etc.) London's second Apple Store is located here as well. (Tube: Covent Garden)\n **Charing Cross Road** (near Covent Garden). Traditionally a book lover's haven, it still has the giant general bookstore Foyles, and a few specialist and antiquarian shops survive south of Cambridge Circus and on the side streets to the east. (Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square, or Charing Cross)\n **Piccadilly** (near Piccadilly Circus). Home to the luxury department store Fortnum & Mason.\n **Denmark Street** (at the north end of Charing Cross Road near Tottenham Court Road station). Also known as Tin-Pan Alley, this is a music lover's paradise with an amazing array of music shops, bars and clubs in one short street. (Tube: Tottenham Court Road)\n **Soho**. Offers alternative music and clothes. Now home to Chappell of Bond Street's historic music shop. (Tube: Oxford Circus)\n **Camden Town**. Alternative clothing and other alternative shopping, popular with teenagers and young adults. Has the headquarters for Cyberdog - a large shop which sells clothing and accessories for the club and rave scene. Camden Lock Market is also worth a visit to see independent artists plying their wares. (Tube: Camden Town)\n **Chelsea**. The King's Road is noted for fashion, homeware and children's clothing. On Wednesday many stores close late. (Tube: South Kensington)\n **Knightsbridge**. Department stores include the world-famous Harrods (includes a food hall) and Harvey Nichols. On Wednesday many stores close late. (Tube: Knightsbridge)\n **Beauchamp Place**. Shop where royalty and celebrities shop! One of the world's most unique and famous streets. It is known as one of London’s most fashionable and distinctive streets, housing some of the best known names in London fashion, interspersed with trendy restaurants, jewellers and speciality shops including Fortuny. (Tube: Knightsbridge)\n **Westminster**. Some of the world's most famous shirts are made on Jermyn Street. Savile Row is home to some of the world's best men's bespoke tailors including Henry Poole, Gieves & Hawkes, H. Huntsman & Sons, and Dege & Skinner. (Tube: Westminster)\n **Westfield London** in Shepherd's Bush is one of the two largest shopping mall complexes in Greater London. It is served by the London Overground and the Underground. It is easiest to get here via public transport, but there is reasonable car parking space available. (Tube: Shepherd's Bush)\n **Westfield Stratford City** in Stratford is a large shopping mall complex located on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There is ample car parking and you can also park here to access the park. This Westfield is easier to access by car due to its close proximity to the A12 road. (Tube/DLR: Stratford)", "word_count": 630}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk083", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "### Markets\n\nBorough Market is a great (if expensive) food market, offering fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, meat, fish, and so on, much of it organic. The market opens Th-Sa. Many stalls offer freshly made fast food on the spot for lunch; from ostrich burgers to falafel, most tastes are catered for. (Tube: London Bridge)\n\nOld Spitalfields Market is an excellent market for clothes from up-and-coming designers, records, housewares, food, and all things trendy. (Tube: Liverpool Street)\n\nAlso be sure to check out Brick Lane Market, Greenwich Market and Portobello Road Market.\n\n### Tax-free\n\nTax-free shops in airports are not strong in variety, prices are equal to London, and they close rather early as well. Shop listings at airport web sites can help to plan your tax-free (vs traditional) shopping. In the evening allow an extra half hour as closing hours are not always strictly respected.\n\nNevertheless, tax-free (at the airport) does not mean cheaper. Prices are determined by the shop owner at their own discretion, and due to the large crowds, high shop rents, and free marketing there is no real reason why anyone should offer prices below average. Also, often goods sold here have different sizes than in regular stores, making it harder to compare. Furthermore, tax-free shops mostly only offer expensive brands and no cheap non-brand stuff, like simple sun glasses. Either way, you are better off doing your shopping somewhere else.\n\nNevertheless, a different matter is **tax reclaim**. Many big department stores in central London have an information booth where they can give you the paperwork needed to reclaim tax on purchases made at the store when you get to the airport.\n\n## Eat\n\nFor suggestions of specific restaurants have a look into the district articles.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk084", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "It is a huge task for a visitor to find the \"right place\" to eat in London – with the \"right atmosphere\", at the \"right price\" – largely because, as in any big city, there are literally thousands of venues from which to choose, ranging from fast food joints, pubs, and mainstream chains all the way up to some of the most exclusive restaurants in the world which attract the kind of clientele that don't need to ask the price. Sorting the good from the bad isn't easy, but London has something to accommodate all budgets and tastes. As London is one of the world's most multicultural cities, it is possible to find virtually every cuisine from around the world here if you look hard enough.\n\nPrices inevitably become inflated at venues closest to major tourist attractions - beware the so-called tourist traps. The worst tourist trap food, in the opinion of many Londoners, is served at the various steak houses (Angus Steak House, Aberdeen Steak House, etc. – they are all dotted around the West End and near the main train stations). Londoners wouldn't dream of eating here – you shouldn't either! Notorious areas for inflated menu prices trading on travellers' gullibility and lack of knowledge are the streets around the British Museum, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. Even the major fast food chains charge a premium in their West End outlets, so watch out.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk085", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Pubs in the touristy areas of London are usually a poor choice for food although there are some brilliant \"gastro-pubs\" hidden away. In general, avoid all pubs that have graphic-designed and printed menus. Look around you – see any locals tucking in? No? Then you shouldn't either. The other rule to follow when avoiding poor food is the same as in any other part of Europe – is the menu available in multiple languages? If yes, then start running!\nthumb|Sparkenhoe Blue cheese from Borough Market\nIn the suburbs, the cost of eating out is reduced drastically. Particularly in large ethnic communities, there is a competitive market which stands to benefit the consumer. In East London for example, the vast number of chicken shops means that a deal for 2 pieces of chicken, chips (fries) and a drink shouldn't cost you much especially on **Brick Lane**. Brick Lane is also known for being home to London's version of the **beigel** (spelt \"bagel\" in the United States and Canada, but pronounced the same way), with **Brick Lane Beigel Bake** and **Britain's First & Best Beigel Shop** being among the sole remnants of what was once a thriving Jewish community in the neighbourhood. Both shops are also known for their **salt beef**, London's version of Jewish-style cured meats, and a popular filling in their beigel sandwiches. Another good (and cheap) lunch option is a chicken or lamb doner (gyro) at many outlets throughout the city, though meat quality is often poor.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk086", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "For more authentic Cockney food, try **pie and mash**, which originates from the working-class in the East End. Usually minced beef and cold water pastry pie served with mashed potato, mushy peas and \"liquor\" gravy, it tastes a lot better than it sounds. Some of the best pie houses are **M. Manze** in Peckham or **F. Cooke** in Hackney Broadway Market. Water Souchet and London Particular (green-pea and ham) are classic Cockney soups, though hard to find on menus. For those game, **jellied eels**, pickled-cockles and whelks are all traditional London seafood. It's people's experiences in these kind of places that gives Britain a bad name for food!\n\nThe South Bank's **Borough Market** offers wholesale produce as well as individual stalls that sell small bites and drinks for a casual and cheap meal. **Kappacasein Dairy** has a popular stand in the market famous for their grilled cheese which has earned the praise of Giada De Laurentiis and Ruth Reichl.\n\nOf course, the quintessential British dish **fish and chips** is widely available in London, but the standards can be pretty disappointing in the tourist trap pubs. The best-rated fish and chips shops in London are generally located in the suburbs, away from all the tourist fare in central London.\n\nFor hamburgers, local chain **Burger & Lobster** is an excellent choice for gourmet burgers.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk087", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Tipping may also be different than what you're used to. All meals include the 20% VAT tax and some places include a service fee (10–12%). The general rule is to leave a tip for table service, unless there's already a service charge added or unless the service has been notably poor. The amount tipped is generally in the region of 10%, but if there's a figure between 10–15% which would leave the bill at a conveniently round total, many would consider it polite to tip this amount. Tipping for counter service, or any other form of service, is unusual - but some choose to do so if a tips container is provided.\n\n### Restaurant streets\n\nWhile central London is full of restaurants and cafes, there are some areas where the majority of diners are Londoners, rather than tourists, and in general you will get a much more pleasant, better value, and less crowded eating experience than you will find in the West End. These places are best visited in the evenings.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk088", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Clapham Junction** is not just a train station, but also home to many good restaurants and bars, in particular on Lavender Hill and Battersea Rise. (Overground: Clapham Junction)\n **Drummond Street** in the Euston area has a fine mix of Indian restaurants - a short walk from Euston railway station. (Tube: Euston)\n **High Street Croydon** Croydon is derided by most Londoners, however this suburban gem of a road has at least 30 decent restaurants, including three Argentinians, a South African curryhouse, a couple of fancy modern European brassieres, and just about every other type of cuisine you can think of. (Overground: East Croydon)\n **Kings Street** extends on to Chiswick High Road from Hammersmith Tube Station and is one long road of a choice of restaurants at very reasonable prices, some bargain mentions are the Thai restaurants offering two-course lunch. Nearby Shepherds Bush is about a 15 minute walk and is alive with bars and pubs in the evening. (Tube: Hammersmith)\n **Lordship Lane** in East Dulwich provides a good selection of European restaurants and a few award winning gastropubs. (train: East Dulwich)\n **Upper Street** in Islington has dozens of excellent restaurants, popular with young professionals. (Tube: Highbury & Islington, Angel).\n **Wardour Street**, in Soho, is full of nice cafes and restaurants. (Tube: Piccadilly Circus)\n\n### Restaurant areas\n\nAs one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, you can find restaurants serving food cuisine from nearly every country, some of it as good as, if not better than in the countries of origin. Indian food in London is especially famous and there is hardly a district without at least one notable Indian restaurant. London also has excellent options for Chinese, in particular Cantonese food; local chain **Royal China** is an excellent option if you are looking for high-end fine dining dim sum.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk089", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "If you are looking for other particular regional foods these tend to be clustered in certain areas and *some* examples are:\n Brick Lane in the East End is famous for Bangladeshi curries. (Overground: Shoreditch High Street)\n Brixton for African/Caribbean. (Tube: Brixton)\n Chinatown just off Leicester Square for Chinese. (Tube: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus)\n Edgware Road in Marylebone and Paddington is popular for Middle Eastern cuisine. (Tube: Edgware Road, Paddington)\n Drummond Street (just behind Euston railway station in the London/Camden district) has lots of vegetarian restaurants – mostly Indian. (Tube: Euston)\n Finsbury Park and Green Lanes, for Greek, Turkish, and Cypriot. (Tube: Finsbury Park/Manor House; Overground: Harringay Green Lanes)\n Golders Green for Jewish fare. (Tube: Golders Green)\n Kingsland Road for good cheap Vietnamese.\n Tooting, East Ham, Wembley and Southall for authentic and cheap Indian eateries including South Indian restaurants serving hot pongal, dosas, idlis and other South Indian \"tiffin\" items.\n Bayswater for Chinese, including the famous Four Seasons roast duck. (Tube: Bayswater, Queensway)\n Lambeth between the South Bank and Brixton for Portuguese, Brazilian and diverse Latin American restaurants. (Tube: Kennington, Stockwell, Vauxhall)\n\nOther nationalities are equally represented and randomly dotted all over London. It is usually wisest to eat in restaurants on main thoroughfares rather than on quiet backstreets.\n\n### Fast food and chains", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk090", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Like other capitals in the world, London has the usual array of fast food outlets. Sandwich shops are the most popular places to buy lunch, and there are a lot of places to choose from including the ubiquitous Pret a Manger. Some Italian-style sandwich shops have a very good reputation and you can identify them easily by looking at the long queues at lunchtime. If all else fails, central London has lots of mini-supermarkets operated by the big British supermarket chains (e.g., Sainsbury's, Tesco) where you can pick up a pre-packed sandwich.\n\nFast food with an Asian flair is easy to find throughout the city, with lots of Busaba Eathai, Wagamama, and Yo! Sushi locations throughout the city. Nando's, a popular pseudo-Portuguese restaurant chain, has spicy peri-peri style grilled chicken. For burgers, GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) has been joined by other franchises such as Byron and Haché.\n\n### Vegetarian and vegan\n\nLondon has plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants many of them championing organic foodstuffs, and a quick search in Google will produce plenty of ideas, so you never have to see a piece of cooked meat all week. Hackney, Dalston, Islington, Soho, Peckham and Brixton are particular vegan hotspots.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk091", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "If you are dining with carnivorous friends most restaurants will cater for vegetarians and will have at least a couple of dishes on the menu. Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants are generally fruitful, as they have plenty of traditional dishes. Good Indian/Bangladeshi options can be found in the Brick Lane area of Spitalfields or further afield in East Ham, Tooting Broadway, and Southall. These also tend to be very cheap eats with authentically prepared dishes with a true local ambience. There are also many vegetarian Thai buffet places where you can eat fake meat in tooth-achingly sweet sauces. These can be found on Greek Street and Old Compton Street in Soho and Islington High Street.\n\nMildred's is a great veggie chain with a handful of locations around London. If you're interested in vegan versions of classic British dishes, try \"fish\" and chips from Sutton and Sons in Hackney, and various cafes offer veggie interpretations of a full English breakfast.\n\n### Religious\n\nDue to the mix of cultures and religions, many London restaurants cater well for religious dietary requirements. The most common signs are for Halal and Kosher meat, from burger joints to nice restaurants. There are lots of Halal restaurants and shops all over London including Whitechapel Rd and Brick Lane in the East End, Bayswater, Edgware Rd and Paddington and in many parts of north London. There are plenty of Kosher restaurants in Golders Green, Edgware and Stamford Hill along with some central delis such as on Charing Cross Road.\n\n### Convenience stores and supermarkets", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk092", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Convenience stores such as Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Central/Local, Budgens, Costcutter, SPAR, Co-op, and privately-run \"corner shops\" will sell pre-made sandwiches, snacks, alcohol, cigarettes, drinks, etc. Most are open from 5AM–11PM although some, such as Tesco Express or convenience stores located at petrol stations, may open 24 hours (some will stop selling alcohol after a certain time). Whistlestop convenience stores, usually found in or around train stations, are notoriously overpriced and should be avoided.\n\nIf using a petrol station convenience store late at night (i.e. after 11PM) the store will be locked and you should order and pay through the external service window.\n\n#### Supermarkets\n\nAlthough Tesco, Sainsbury's and other supermarkets run smaller stores in central London, full-size superstores, including Morrisons and ASDA, are rare in the city centre – with the exception of the Sainsbury's in Pimlico – and you will usually have to take a 15- to 20-minute Tube ride to reach one.\n\n**Marks & Spencer**, an upmarket retailer, also operate food halls branded as \"Simply Food\". They can be found across central London. The smaller stores, such as those found in train stations, tend to focus mostly on ready-to-eat food such as sandwiches, drinks, snacks, and also essentials such as bread and milk.\n\n## Drink\n\nLondon is home to a great many pubs, bars and nightclubs. The online city guide *View London* and the weekly magazine *Time Out* tell what's going in London's night life, as well as cultural events in general.\n\n### Pubs and bars", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk093", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Pubs are everywhere in London\nLondon is an expensive place and your drink will cost more than its equivalent elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Expect to pay £6-7 for a pint in an average pub. As with restaurants, pubs close to major tourist attractions cash in on travellers' gullibility so be on your guard for the tourist traps where higher prices are not unheard of. If you're looking to save money and meet travellers then pub crawls are guided tours that run nightly in central London. You'll save the ticket price on the savings you get from discounted drink deals and what you would have spent on club entry. The \"1 Big Night Out\" pub crawl is the biggest operator and starts from near Leicester Square Tube station.", "word_count": 128}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk094", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Many local pubs tend to be more reasonably priced with good drink promotions on weekday nights and during the day. A good place to get cheap ale beer is at any one of the Sam Smith pubs found across Central London, including Soho and the City. In the Bloomsbury area, check out **The Court** (near the north end of Tottenham Court Road) and **The Rocket** (Euston Road). Both are fairly cheap, given that they cater for students of the adjacent University College London. Directly opposite the British Library is **The Euston Flyer**, popular with locals and commuters alike given its close proximity to St Pancras International railway station.\nthumb|The Viaduct Tavern bar interior\nClassier bars and pubs can be much more expensive. However, the cost of alcohol drops significantly the further away you go from the centre (West London tends to be an exception, with prices pretty much the same as the centre). For a more reasonably priced (but brilliant) cocktail bar than you'll find in the central and West End areas **Lost Society** in Clapham on Lavender Hill, cocktails here cost around £7-8 each.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk095", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Two historic London breweries are Young's and Fullers. Young's was founded in Wandsworth in 1831 (but has relocated to Bedford) and nowadays it has 123 pubs in central London alone. **The Founder's Arms** next to the Tate Modern on the river embankment, is one of the brewery's most well-known establishments with a great view of the River Thames. Fullers was founded a bit later in 1845 at Chiswick (where you can take a most enjoyable tour of the brewery, including beer-tasting) and the jewel in its crown is probably the Grade I listed **Old Bank Of England** on Fleet Street, thanks to its breath-taking interiors. Fuller's flagship beer is the famous 'London Pride', however to try a truly authentic Cockney pint, ask at bars if they serve a seldom seen now **porter**, a dark style of beer originating in London in the 18th century, similar but less heavy than a **stout**. For a different taste, try a **gin and tonic**.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk096", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "It's hard to say which pub in London is truly the oldest but it's easy to find contenders for the title. Many pubs were destroyed in the Great Fire of London – indeed, Samuel Pepys supposedly watched the disaster from the comfort of **the Anchor** in Borough. Pubs were rebuilt on sites that claimed to have been working pubs since the 13th century. **Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese** in Fleet Street is on the site of an old monastery and its cellar dates back to the 13th century. The **Princess Louise** and **Cittie of Yorke** are two lovely pubs close by along High Holborn with interesting decor; as is the **Jerusalem Tavern** of Farringdon, a converted Georgian coffee shop, which sells the Norfolk beer, St. Peters. **The Royal Oak** of Borough, is another pub which is the only representative of an out-of-town brewery in London, that of Harvey's of Lewes. The food is fantastic as is the atmosphere. Those interested in London's historic and literary connections can't miss **The Spaniard's Inn''' in Hampstead. Dick Turpin is said to have been born here; John Keats and Charles Dickens both drank here; it's mentioned in Dickens' *The Pickwick Papers *and Bram Stoker's *Dracula*. The Goose at Catford, was reputedly a favourite hole of Karl Marx.\n\nFor the best view in the city, try pubs on the banks of the Thames. The South Bank has lots of good bars with views of iconic bridges and buildings. One lesser-known cocktail bar sits in the OXO Tower, which is a secret that most tourists walk by every day. Heading towards Bermondsey, pub crowds become a little less touristy. For something historic try the *Prospect of Whitby** in Wapping which has been on its site since 1520 and claims to be the world’s oldest riverside tavern.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk097", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "If you're after gastropubs, you may like to visit London's first, **The Eagle**, in Clerkenwell, established in 1991. You can also try *Time Out*s favourite newcomer, **The Princess Victoria** on Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush. The \"Bermondsey Beer mile\" is home to many craft breweries which are open in the middle of the day most Saturdays. Situated under the railway arches on lines going to London Bridge, these quaint breweries are home to high quality beer at cheap to average London prices (~£2 per half). Best places include Kernel Brewery and Brew by Numbers.\n\nWine buffs can enjoy the famous **Davys** wine bars that dot the city. The company, established in 1870, import wines and own over thirty bars in the centre. Other big names in wine include the Michelin-starred **Cellar Gascon** and **Vinoteca**, both in Smithfield. For a posh wine tasting experience, there is **Vinopolis** by Borough Market, though a tour price will be as eye-watering as the produce sampled. Big hotels, such as The Langham, The Dorchester and The Ritz, and upmarket clubs around Leicester Square and Soho are reliable bets for a date at the bar. The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair-Marylebone boasts its house bar, plus the *Time Out* magazine favourite, The Coburg. Still in Mayfair, The Polo Bar at The Westbury is very intimate.\n\nYou can rely on most up-and-running bars to offer a short cocktail menu and there are also bars that position themselves as cocktail specialists.\n\n### Nightclubs\n\nNightlife is an integral part of London life and there are countless nightclubs in and around Central London with music to suit even the most eclectic of tastes. Districts in London tend to specialize in different types of music.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk098", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "The Farringdon/Hoxton/Shoreditch area has many clubs playing drum and bass, techno, house and trance music and is home to the superclub Fabric. The clubs in this area are often home to the world's top DJs and attract a lively, hip and friendly crowd. Big name drum and bass, house and techno DJs also appear at clubs scattered around Kings Cross (Egg, Scala), Elephant (Ministry of Sound, Corsica Studios), Southwark (Cable), Whitechapel (Rhythm Factory), or at mixed nights at the Vauxhall clubs. Nights are also hosted in disused Hackney warehouses or south London car parks.\n\nThe area around Mayfair is home to the more upmarket clubs in London. This area attracts a rather more showy crowd who love to flaunt what they have and is a must go to celebrity spot. Beware that drinks are ridiculously expensive and many clubs operate a guestlist-only policy. Music played here is often of the commercial chart, funky house, hip hop and R&B genre. Notable clubs include China White, Luxx, Maddox, Jalouse, Funky Buddha, Whisky Mist, Mahiki, No 5 Cavendish Square, Embassy, Vendome and Maya.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk099", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Nightclubs around the Leicester Square area hold the same music policy, but are rather more accessible, with numerous club and pub crawl promoters scattered around the area offering deals on entry. Notable clubs are Cafe De Paris, 1 Big Night Out pub crawl, Penthouse, Sound, Tiger Tiger, Zoo bar and Ruby Blue. The Camden area is home to clubs which play Indie, metal and rock music and notably the Electric Ballroom, the world-famous Koko (Fridays) and Underworld. Camden clubs are mostly shut (or empty) on the weekdays. In South London, London's Afro-Caribbean centre Brixton is home to numerous venues with all kinds of music, including a particular presence in reggae, ska, afrobeat, hiphop, and dubstep. There are also venues in Peckham and New Cross.\n\n### Gay and lesbian\n\nLondon has a vibrant gay environment with countless bars, clubs and events in almost every district in the city.\n\nThe nucleus of London's gay scene is undoubtedly Old Compton St and the surrounding area in Soho but over the last couple of years Vauxhall has seen a boom in Gay venues. You will find that many areas, particularly in Camden Town and Shoreditch, that straight bars will have a mixed clientele. To find out what is going on during your visit, you can check:\n- qxmagazine.com\n\n- Boyz Magazine\n\n**Gay Pride** is held every year in June with a parade and street parties. The choice of places to go sometimes seems to be unmanageable.\n\n- London Gay and Lesbian Switchboard\n\n## Sleep", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk100", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "London has hundreds of options for accommodation to suit all budgets from hostels through historic bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), mainstream chain hotels and apartments all the way to some of the most exclusive luxury hotels in the world such as The Savoy, The Ritz and Claridges where a stay in a top suite will cost upwards of £1,000 per night. The average cost of hotel accommodation in London is higher than in any other major British city. Prices invariably become inflated close to major sporting tournaments (such as the London Marathon, Wimbledon or major England football/rugby fixtures), or other important events taking place in the city - so it pays to plan your trip around such occasions or book your accommodation well in advance.\n\nIn general, most people tend to stay within \"Zone 1\" of the underground, however do your research carefully - sometimes being that extra five minutes away from a station can make the difference in cost and quality of local food and drinking options. In any case, you can always catch a bus anyway - by far the best way to see the city and get about generally. If you stay outside of Zone 1, TfL's travel time map shows which locations have good public transport.\n\n### Hotels", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk101", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Hotel Russell on Russell Square\nYour budget will have a lot to do with what part of London you will want to stay in. Expect smaller than average rooms especially at the low end of this range. Many of the big name chain hotels now offer substantial discounts if you book well in advance, but the drawback is that you have to pay the full amount upfront at the time of booking and there are no refunds if you cancel. The heart of the West End is the most expensive place to stay and most hotels are either four- or five-star and most will command a hefty price premium.\n\nThe City and Canary Wharf can also be very expensive during the week, as they rely heavily on the captive business market, but prices often drop dramatically over the weekend when the business travel dries up. Booking there can be a good way of getting into a higher standard of accommodation than you could otherwise afford. However, much of the City becomes a ghost town over the weekend, and you will find that few bars and restaurants are open away from the main tourist attractions.\n\nBe exceptionally careful regarding the big \"budget\" hotel chains such as Premier Inn and Travelodge; prices for their London hotels (in contrast to elsewhere) can often meet or exceed those of other, better quality hotels, so it cannot just be assumed that you will get a good deal from them. Some of Travelodge's City of London hotels especially are of *shockingly* poor quality for the prices they charge.\n\nA top tip, however, is to always check the likes of LondonTown.com, Expedia and LateRooms as well as the hotel's own website since there are often deals to be had which can reduce the costs significantly.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk102", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "The extra cost of getting around is probably not significant compared to savings made by staying in a hotel further out near an Underground or railway station. Always be sure though to check where the closest Tube station is to your hotel. Staying further out will be cheaper but when travelling in allow 1-2 min per Tube stop (near the centre), around 2-3 min per stop (further out) and 5-10 min per line changes. This can easily total up to a 1 hour journey if there is a walk at each end. There are many hotels close to transport hub stations such as Stratford, Greenwich, Ealing Broadway, Wimbledon and East Croydon.\n\nA more imaginative alternative could be to stay in a nearby town with quick and easy train travel to London. For example, lively Brighton (otherwise known as 'London by Sea') is only an hour away, but your budget will go much further and there are excellent accommodation options.\n\nSome of the better value options are to be found in the following central districts:", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk103", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Bloomsbury. Relatively quiet district with a wide range of accommodation, and has enjoyed a surge in popularity following Eurostar's move to St Pancras International station. Cartwright Gardens features a dozen small B&Bs in historic houses. Many budget options are located on Argyle Square (just off the Euston Road). Gets a little seedy towards and beyond King's Cross railway station.\n Earl's Court and West Kensington in west central London. Budget and modest accommodation as well as good 4-star hotels. Be careful with the cheapest accommodation in this area though as it will likely be very seedy indeed.\n Paddington and Bayswater in north west central London. Has undergone a lot of change largely resulting from the Heathrow Express train coming into Paddington station. Good hotels can be found in the immediate area of the station and in quieter spots a short walk away as well as in the traditional mid-range accommodation area further south in Bayswater.\n Westminster. Lots of small B&Bs around the back of Victoria railway station in the Pimlico area.\n\nA slightly left-field option is to check the **Landmark Trust**, a building preservation charity who purchase notable old buildings in the UK, renovate and run them as holiday lettings. An interesting approach to saving old buildings for sure.\n\n### Hostels\n\nNot necessarily as unpleasant as you may think, and as long as you don't mind sharing with others, they are the most cost-effective option and also offer breakfast, and kitchens for self-catering.\n\nThere are independent hostels throughout the city which are listed in the relevant district articles.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk104", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "In the summer season, many of the colleges and universities in Central London open up their **student halls of residence** as hotels during vacations, at usually much lower rates than proper hotels, but expect very basic facilities (e.g. communal bathrooms, no catering facilities), but you will get the personal privacy that you don't get in hostels for not very much more cost.\n\n### Apartments\n\nSome apartment-hotels offer good value accommodation for those travelling in a group - often better quality than many hotels but at a cheaper individual rate per person.\n\nCapsule-style crash spaces are just arriving, but they are only in central locations.\n\nShort-term apartment or flat rentals are an attractive option for many travellers to London, and there are innumerable agencies offering them, almost all of them nowadays through the internet. A key consideration for renting a short term flat is if you are visiting in a large group or a family. In such cases a short stay in London can be more affordable compared to staying in a hotel. Your best protection is to deal only with London apartment rental agencies which have been recommended by independent sources you feel you can trust, and to deal only with those that accept confirmations via credit card.\n\nAn additional option in this sector is serviced apartments for stays longer than two weeks, the price being between £60 and £150. The apartments are a hybrid between hotels and apartments, including cleaning and desk services.\n\n### Alternative accommodation", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk105", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Travellers can choose from a variety of homestay styles such as home-swapping (lovehomeswap.com), living in a temporarily vacated room (anyfriendofours.com) or the high end version where companies specialize in homestays with full hotel services such as housekeeping and concierge (viveunique.com). Most of the time these options are safe but it is important that guests and homeowners take equal precaution to ensure their valuables are safeguarded. Homeowners should always provide guests with terms and conditions of their live-in house rules to ensure there are no mishaps and both parties are at ease. This new trend allows guests to enjoy a less touristy version of London as most of these homes will be in residential areas which each have their own unique charm and experiences.\n\n### Holiday rentals\n\nHotels are generally expensive in London when compared with other European cities. As a result the city has a vast amount of self-catering accommodation on offer. Many of them are apartments in various central areas of the capital. Well established local sites include **Holidaylettings.co.uk**, **Space Apart Hotel**, **Owners Direct, stay.com** and **Alpha Holiday Lettings**. If you are looking to stay in just a room or part of the property, **Airbnb** matches holidaymakers with hosts who only rent out part of their homes.\n\n## Connect\n\n### Wi-Fi access\n\nLondon is unfortunately not noted for free public wifi access - although the number of hotspots is continuing to grow.\n\n- O2 Free Hotspots\n\n- Online-4-Free.com\n\n- Tate Modern\n\n- British Library\n\n- Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre\n\n- Apple Store Regent St\n\n- London Underground\n\nFree wifi is also available in many cafes, and the following chain outlets: McDonald's, Pret A Manger, JD Wetherspoon pubs, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Starbucks.\n\n## Stay safe", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk106", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "In an emergency, telephone **999** or **112**. This number connects to police, ambulance and fire & rescue services as well as the coastguard for incidents on the river. You will be asked which of these services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.\n\nA Traditional 'Blue Lamp' outside a police station in London|thumb\nLondon has two of the oldest police forces in the world. The Metropolitan Police (*The Met*) is responsible for policing London except the tiny City of London, which is the responsibility of the City of London Police. In addition to these, the Tube and other railways are patrolled by the British Transport Police.\n\nOn the whole, London is a safe place to visit and explore. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested.\n\n### Crime\n\nLike many big cities, London has a variety of social problems, especially begging, drug abuse and theft; mobile phones are a favourite target, often snatched by fast-moving moped riders. Make sure you have security and anti-theft features enabled on your phone as thieves are getting more sophisticated and will try to access your personal data and banking apps.\n\nThe police have placed significant resources in combating street level crime. Working in conjunction with borough councils and the City of London Corporation, they have brought the level of theft and pickpocketing in major retail areas in London to a manageable level. Pickpocketing in London is not as rampant as in other major European cities, though it still pays to be vigilant and take the usual precautions in securing your valuables.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk107", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Street gang culture is a growing problem in London as with many other cities in England. While most groups of youngsters are not likely to present any danger to tourists, some people feel the need to be slightly more vigilant in certain areas, especially certain outer suburbs. Violent crime is in general not common, but most typically occurs between members of rival gangs, rather than on random members of the public.\n\n#### Main precautions to take\n\n**Keep valuables out of sight**. Many crimes are opportunistic - a lot of mobile phones are snatched from restaurant tables. By keeping items such as cash and mobile phones out of sight theft can easily be prevented. Don't flash your cash unnecessarily!\n **Keep bags zipped up and close to your body**. If your bag is hanging open it's like putting up a flashing neon sign saying \"Steal from me!\" Use zips and inside pockets to secure items wherever possible. Never leave valuables such as mobile phones, wallets, or travel documents in an outside section of your bag.\n **Be aware of your surroundings**. Before using your mobile phone have a look around you. Put your back against something solid such as a wall or window so you can't be approached from behind. If you're in a train or Tube station try to use your phone before leaving as all stations have CCTV. Constantly look around you, especially if you are in a busy area. **Don't walk and talk/text!**\n\n#### Late at night", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk108", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "If you're planning to go out late at night and are worried about safety then try to frequent crowded areas such as the West End. There are always plenty of people on the street, even at 4AM. Generally, outside central London, the south, and east suburban areas are considered more dangerous, notably Brixton, Peckham and Hackney, although some parts of north-west London such as Harlesden and northern Camden are also known trouble spots.\n\nThe main problem throughout London to various degrees is drunken behaviour, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights and after football matches. Loud and rowdy behaviour is to be expected and fights and acts of aggression also occur. If you are harassed, it is best to simply ignore and walk away from those concerned. Trouble spots can be expected around popular drinking locations such as Soho and in various suburban centres.\n\n### Scams and cons\n\nLondon has a large number of con artists around, all trying to convince you to hand over your money one way or another. In general, you should *never* give cash or your bank/credit card detail to people on the street no matter how genuine they seem.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk109", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Cash machine/ATM scams**: Most usage of these machines is perfectly safe, but there are various ways that thieves can either obtain your card or your cash when using an ATM. It is always safest to withdraw cash using a machine inside a bank, but street machines are usually more convenient. Before inserting your card visually check the machine for anything that looks odd. Thieves sometimes install cameras above the pin pad. If things look OK then reach out and wiggle the slot where you insert your card - if the slot's loose, don't put your card in, as there may be a device installed to trap your card. All good? OK, is there anyone standing too close to you or hovering nearby? If so, perhaps cancel the transaction and go elsewhere. If everything's good then go ahead! When obtaining your cash and retrieving your card hover your hand over the slot to be ready to grab them as soon as they come out. Is anyone trying to distract you? Don't let them and leave swiftly. If you notice anything odd about a cash machine or people nearby then phone the police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or report it to the premises the machine is attached to. Don't try to remove any devices yourself.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk110", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Cup and ball game**: This variant of a scam dating back into antiquity is perhaps the most common and is frequently seen on the busier pedestrian bridges such as Westminster Bridge. A person will lay out a mat with three cups on it. They will pretend to hide a ball under one of the cups, move the cups around, and then ask you to place a bet on where the ball-containing cup has landed. There is no ball - the con artist will have spirited it away! This con always has people acting as lookouts in the crowd and they will pretend to win every now and again so it looks like the game is winnable. Also beware if you are just stopping to watch as you could be pick-pocketed!\n\n**Overzealous street performers**: Most street performers are happy to just do their thing, let you watch, and then you can throw them a few coins if you liked the show. However, some street performers will actively grab and harass passers-by in order to get attention and money. They may forcefully pose with you and ask you to take a photograph and then demand money for the photo opportunity. They may also take this opportunity while you're distracted to pick-pocket you. Don't engage with any street performer who is pushy or forceful - try to walk away, or call out \"Get off me!\" or \"No!\" and draw attention to yourself if you can't escape easily.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk111", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Tissue sellers on trains**: Beggars will get onto a train and place tissues on the seats with a note begging for money. They want you to feel pity for them and buy the tissues, but this is an organised scam and the money goes towards criminal enterprises. If you see this happening on a train don't buy the tissues and ignore anyone who asks you for money for them. If you're above ground you can text the British Transport Police on 61016 to report it.\n\n**\"Clip joint\"**: Soho presents a particular danger: the \"clip joint\". The usual targets of these establishments are lone male tourists. Usually, an attractive woman will casually befriend the victim and recommend a local bar or even a club that has a \"show\". The establishment will be near-desolate, and, even if the victim has only a drink or two, the bill will run to hundreds of pounds. If payment is not immediately provided, the bouncers will lock the \"patrons\" inside and take it by force or take them to an ATM and stand over them while they extract the cash. To be safe, if a woman you just met suggests you go to a specific place, try to recommend a different bar. If she insists on hers then walk away and do not listen to her suggestions. Sometimes this con trick takes place when someone is lured into a private club with the promise of something perhaps more than a drink (like a \"private show\" or sex for a small amount of money). A \"hostess fee\" will appear on the bill for several hundred pounds, even though there has been nothing more than polite conversation.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk112", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**\"Stress tests\"**: If anyone offers you a free \"stress test\", they are likely trying to recruit you into the Church of Scientology. The best option is to walk away as people are commonly harassed into giving personal details.\n\n**Needing money for phone/train tickets/the bus/et al.**: Someone will approach you asking for money for public transport. They will claim that they have lost their Travelcard or that it has been damaged somehow. Occasionally a person with a very convincing fake injury will ask for money so that they can get a taxi to hospital, strangely refusing the offer of you calling an ambulance or the police for them as you would do for most injured people in the street. Ignore them.\n\n**Ticket machine scam**: One of the most popular scams in London is the ticket machine scam: While buying a ticket at a train station someone will approach you and act as if they want to help you buy the right ticket. In reality, they will wait until your money is in the machine, then lean across, cancel the transaction and pocket your cash. Say \"No thanks\" politely - you know what ticket you want to buy!", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk113", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "**Selling/asking for a donation for \"lucky heather\"**: This scam, usually operated by women, involves someone handing you \"lucky heather\" (a small flower usually wrapped in foil) and then either trying to sell it to you or asking for a monetary donation. They will come up with a vague charity (\"money for sick children\", \"money for orphaned babies\", and so on) and show you a purse full of supposed \"donations\". If you are handed one of these flowers either hand it back or drop it on the ground and leave. If you take the flower and leave without \"donating\" you could be chased and harassed by the people involved in the scam. In some of the poorer boroughs like Brixton, you may find alleged “Tibetan monks” scamming you into donating, which may be in fact to fund a local criminal gang or enterprise.\n\n**Pedicabs**: A common sight in central London is a brightly lit rickshaw blaring loud music and offering rides. They are not regulated and often seriously overcharge their passengers.\n\n### Street collections\n\nAlthough not illegal, London is a known hotspot for charity collectors, some of whom can be extremely persuasive in trying to obtain a donation; therefore they have earned the name \"charity muggers\" or \"chuggers\". If you do not want to donate, be polite but forceful, and under no circumstances provide any form of bank details. Some of these collectors are genuine scammers and are not collecting on behalf of any charity - larger charities ask their collectors to have specific and verifiable identification, and have card machines.\n\n### Transport\n\nDon't take illegal minicabs (see Get around for details). No minicabs are allowed to ply for trade on the street, and any doing this should be avoided.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk114", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "Travelling on the lower deck of a night bus is generally safer, as there are more passengers around, and you are visible to the bus driver.\n\nIf you've lost an item on the Underground, Overground or Docklands Light Railway, in a licensed black cab, or on a red London bus then you should contact the TfL Lost Property Office as soon as possible. If an item is lost or misplaced on other transport services in London, the relevant service operator should be contacted.\n\nBank, credit and debit cards, when found, are securely destroyed. Contact your bank immediately if you lose these on a transport service.\n\nOn the London Underground, there is a scheme operated by the TfL aimed to stop crime: If you see or hear anything suspicious then: See it, Say it, Stop it.\n\n## Stay healthy\n\nThe UK's **National Health Service** (NHS) will provide *emergency* treatment for anyone in the UK, irrespective of whether they reside in the UK, but if you are not a UK resident you will be expected to make a contribution (up to the entire cost) towards such treatment. Travel insurance is essential. You can find NHS services near you here.\n\n### Emergencies\n\nFor a *life-threatening* medical emergency (unconsciousness, stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding that won't stop, etc.) dial **999** or **112** and ask for an ambulance. These numbers are free of charge from any telephone. When you call, the operator will ask for details about the patients and your location; answering these questions will not delay help. As emergency response is prioritised in London the operator needs to know what resources they need to use and how quickly you need them.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk115", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "London's ambulance coverage is excellent. For instances of major trauma there is also '''London's Air Ambulance''', two helicopters that can deliver an advanced trauma team within minutes to anywhere in London during daytime.\n\nEmergencies can also be dealt with at most NHS hospitals with an **A & E** (Accident & Emergency) department. In A & E, be prepared to wait for a long time (although the target is 4 hours, waits can be longer than this) before being given treatment if your medical complaint is not critical. For less serious problems, try an Urgent Care Centre, or a high-street pharmacist.\n\n#### Major hospitals\n\nMajor A & E hospitals in London are:\n\n**Charing Cross Hospital**, Fulham Palace Rd, Hammersmith, W6 8RF\n**Chelsea & Westminster Hospital**, 369 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, SW10 9TR\n**St George's Hospital**, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, SW17 0QT\n**Homerton University Hospital**, Homerton Row, Homerton, E9 6SR\n**King's College Hospital**, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS\n**University Lewisham Hospital**, High St, SE13 6LH\n**Queen Elizabeth Hospital**, Stadium Road, Woolwich, SE18 4QH\n**Royal Free Hospital**, 23 East Heath Rd, Hampstead, NW3 1DU\n**The Royal London Hospital**, Whitechapel, E1 1BB\n**St Marys NHS Trust**, Praed St, Paddington, W2 1NY\n**St Thomas' Hospital**, Lambeth Palace Rd, South Bank, SE1 7EH\n**University College London Hospitals NHS Trust**, 25 Grafton Way, Bloomsbury, WC1E 6DB\n**Whittington Hospital**, Highgate Hill, Archway, N19 5NF\n\n### General medical advice\n\nFor advice on non-emergency medical problems, you can ring the 24 hour NHS Direct service on 111.\n\nTreatment for non-emergency conditions, or for hospital admissions resulting from emergencies, is normally free for people holding a European Health Insurance card (EHIC) issued by most European governments, or certain other countries listed here. In the absence of such a card you would be well advised to get private travel health insurance.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk116", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "At large organised events, and in many theatre productions, basic medical assistance and first aid is provided through the support of organisations such as St John Ambulance or the stewards for the event.\n\n#### Pharmacies\n\nPharmacies (often referred to as \"chemists\") are found across London, with chains such as **Lloyds Pharmacy** and **Boots** being prevalent. Many independent pharmacies also exist. Most large supermarkets also have pharmacy counters, although these do not stock some of the stronger remedies. Unlike other European countries pharmacies in the UK are not often marked by prominent neon \"green cross\" signs.\n\nPharmacists are also able to offer advice on many health problems and recommend medicines that might help. For certain remedies (for example stronger painkillers) you may have to ask at the counter, as for regulatory reasons these can only be sold by pharmacists under strict protocols. Don't be alarmed if the pharmacist asks some basic diagnostic questions or for your ID.\n\n## Cope\n\n### Finding a toilet\n\nNeed to spend a penny? Some businesses allow people to use their facilities without purchasing anything, others reserve them for customers only. **The Great British Public Toilet Map** attempts to map publicly-accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.\n\nAll the main London rail terminals now have free toilets, although cleanliness can vary. Transport for London have produced a **map of stations on their network with a toilet'''. Where a pictogram is white and outlined, this indicates that lavatories are outside the gateline (thus open to all), while black filled-in mark toilets which are inside the gateline so only accessible to passengers or those willing to pay to touch in and out. Finally, the presence of an asterisk tells you whether a fee is charged for use of the facilities.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk117", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "For fact fans: the Central line has the most stations with toilets, at 29, and the Piccadilly line is close behind with 28. However, the sheer length of these lines and the number of stations skew the figures. Therefore, the lines with the greatest proportion of stations with loos and thus those lines which are best for regular customers are the Metropolitan line with 27 toilets out of a total of 34 stations (or 79% coverage), and the Jubilee line with 21 comfort areas across 27 stations (77%). As a shuttle between two of the busiest stations on the network, the Waterloo and City line naturally hits 100% loo coverage, and with its name you'd be disappointed if it didn't. By contrast, passengers should be prepared to cross their legs on the Docklands Light Railway, as across a network of 45 stations, a paltry 6 have toilets.\n\n### Embassies and High Commissions\n\nLondon is a good place to get visas, being home to the fourth largest number of diplomatic missions in the world. Some embassies have a separate consular section for issuing visas, passports, notary services, etc., found in a different location from the chancery. It is advised to check their website or call them ahead of time if you need these services. The major English-speaking countries' embassies are marked on the dynamic map at the top of the article; to locate them, click the green number next to their flag.\n Diplomatic missions\n list \n\n- Albania\n\n- Algeria\n\n- Andorra\n\n- Angola\n\n- Antigua and Barbuda\n\n- Argentina\n\n- Armenia\n\n- Australia\n\n- Austria\n\n- Azerbaijan\n\n- Bahamas\n\n- Bahrain\n\n- Bangladesh\n\n- Barbados\n\n- Belarus\n\n- Belgium\n\n- Belize\n\n- Benin\n\n- Bhutan\n\n- Bolivia\n\n- Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n- Botswana\n\n- Brazil\n\n- Brunei\n\n- Bulgaria\n\n- Burundi", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk118", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "- Cambodia\n\n- Cameroon\n\n- Canada\n\n- Chile\n\n- China\n\n- Colombia\n\n- Congo (Democratic Republic)\n\n- Congo-Brazzaville\n\n- Costa Rica\n\n- Côte d'Ivoire\n\n- Croatia\n\n- Cuba\n\n- Cyprus\n\n- Czech Republic\n\n- Denmark\n\n- Dominica\n\n- Dominican Republic\n\n- Ecuador\n\n- Egypt\n\n- El Salvador\n\n- Eritrea\n\n- Estonia\n\n- Ethiopia\n\n- Eswatini (Swaziland)\n\n- Fiji\n\n- Finland\n\n- France\n\n- Gabon\n\n- Gambia\n\n- Georgia\n\n- Germany\n\n- Ghana\n\n- Greece\n\n- Grenada\n\n- Guatemala\n\n- Guinea\n\n- Guyana\n\n- Haiti\n\n- Holy See\n\n- Honduras\n\n- Hungary\n\n- Iceland\n\n- India\n\n- Indonesia\n\n- Iran\n\n- Iraq\n\n- Ireland\n\n- Israel\n\n- Italy\n\n- Jamaica\n\n- Japan\n\n- Jordan\n\n- Kazakhstan\n\n- Kenya\n\n- Kosovo\n\n- Kuwait\n\n- Kyrgyzstan\n\n- Laos\n\n- Latvia\n\n- Lebanon\n\n- Lesotho\n\n- Liberia\n\n- Libya\n\n- Liechtenstein\n\n- Lithuania\n\n- Luxembourg\n\n- Macedonia\n\n- Madagascar\n\n- Malawi\n\n- Malaysia\n\n- Maldives\n\n- Mali\n\n- Malta\n\n- Mauritania\n\n- Mauritius\n\n- Mexico\n\n- Moldova\n\n- Monaco\n\n- Mongolia\n\n- Montenegro\n\n- Morocco\n\n- Mozambique\n\n- Myanmar\n\n- Namibia\n\n- Nepal\n\n- Netherlands\n\n- New Zealand\n\n- Nicaragua\n\n- Nigeria\n\n- North Korea\n\n- Norway\n\n- Oman\n\n- Pakistan\n\n- Palestine\n\n- Panama\n\n- Papua New Guinea\n\n- Paraguay\n\n- Peru\n\n- Philippines\n\n- Poland\n\n- Portugal\n\n- Qatar\n\n- Romania\n\n- Russia\n\n- Rwanda\n\n- Saint Kitts and Nevis\n\n- Saint Lucia\n\n- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines\n\n- San Marino\n\n- São Tomé and Príncipe\n\n- Saudi Arabia\n\n- Senegal\n\n- Serbia\n\n- Seychelles\n\n- Sierra Leone\n\n- Singapore\n\n- Slovakia\n\n- Slovenia\n\n- Solomon Islands\n\n- South Africa\n\n- South Korea\n\n- South Sudan\n\n- Spain\n\n- Sri Lanka\n\n- Sudan\n\n- Suriname\n\n- Sweden\n\n- Switzerland\n\n- Syria\n\n- Taiwan\n\n- Tajikistan\n\n- Tanzania\n\n- Thailand\n\n- Togo", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk119", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Do", "text": "- Tonga\n\n- Trinidad and Tobago\n\n- Tunisia\n\n- Turkey\n\n- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus\n\n- Turkmenistan\n\n- Tuvalu\n\n- Uganda\n\n- Ukraine\n\n- United Arab Emirates\n\n- United States\n\n- Uruguay\n\n- Uzbekistan\n\n- Venezuela\n\n- Vietnam\n\n- Yemen\n\n- Zambia\n\n- Zimbabwe", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk120", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Go next", "text": "Nerd activities in London\n\n### England\n\n#### Day-trips", "word_count": 8}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk121", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Go next", "text": "Aylesbury – Historic market town.\n Berkhamsted – Historic market town. Features the ruined castle of William the Conqueror, canal-side pubs, and Ashridge Forest.\n Bournemouth – Large beach resort on the edge of the New Forest, with seven miles of golden sand.\n Brighton – Fashionable beach town that is arguably Europe's gay capital.\n Canterbury – Site of the foremost cathedral in England, constructed during the 12th-15th centuries.\n Eastbourne – A leafy seaside resort town of Victorian architecture, with a lovely pier and bandstand. Famous for Beachy Head chalk cliffs, and a popular viewing platform.\n Hastings – Picturesque seaside town famous for the battle of 1066, where small fishing boats are launched directly from the beach.\n Hemel Hempstead – A small town dating back to the 8th century, home to the UK's largest indoor ski slope.\n Henley-on-Thames – A quaint and typical English town on the river, great for walks, rowing and sailing. Home to the famous boating Regatta in summer.\n Lewes – Delightful mid-Sussex town, with a picturesque brewery and the famous Guy Fawkes festival in November.\n Maidstone – County town of Kent, known as the Garden of England.\n Margate, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate – A trio of seaside resorts of the Isle of Thanet in Kent.\n Rochester – A favourite town of Charles Dickens with loads of history in the form of a medieval cathedral and castle. Nearby Chatham has a strong naval heritage.\n Portsmouth – Home of the Royal Navy and of real interest to nautical enthusiasts. Also offers access to the Isle of Wight.\n Southend-on-Sea – An Essex seaside town with pebble and sand beaches, fairground rides, arcades, and the longest pier in the world. Make sure to grab yourself a delicious Rossi ice cream – a local delicacy since 1932.\n Shaftesbury – A small, beautiful Dorset town, one of the oldest in Britain.\n St Albans – Small, quaint cathedral city with Roman heritage; home to Verulamium Museum and Verulamium Park.\n Stonehenge – Among the most famous landmarks in England. The mysterious stone ring was built thousands of years ago, today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Best visited in combination with a trip to nearby city Salisbury, where you can also visit the 13th-century cathedral with the highest spire in the country.\n Winchester – Former capital of England and attractive cathedral city with lots to see.\n Windsor and Eton – Nearby Thames-side towns with magnificent royal castle, its extensive estate, and one of Britain's most prestigious private schools.", "word_count": 390}
+{"chunk_id": "london::chunk122", "doc_id": "london", "section": "Go next", "text": "#### Further afield\n\nBath – Well-heeled spa city with ancient Roman bathhouse and spectacular Georgian and Regency architecture.\n Birmingham – Boasts many events, pubs and clubs, and shopping opportunities.\n Cambridge – Gothic university colleges and chapels, and punting on the river.\n Manchester – The second most visited city in England.\n Oxford – The \"city of dreaming spires\", with dozens of fascinating university colleges and museums to visit.\n Shrewsbury – A very traditional town full of medieval black and white timber-framed buildings along winding, steep, narrow streets set on the River Severn.\n The South Downs National Park – Beautiful, rolling chalk hills for a day's stroll or longer hikes.\n\n### Abroad\n\nEurostar high-speed trains from St Pancras station make the following continental cities tempting next stops from the British capital:\n Lille – 1 hr 20 min to northern France's post-industrial gem.\n Brussels – 2 hr to the home of Tintin, moules-frites, and the European Union.\n Paris – 2 hr 15 min to the city of Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.\n Disneyland Paris – 2 hr 40 min to the Magic Kingdom, with a change of trains in Lille.\n Rotterdam – 3 hr to the Netherlands' modern, multicultural commercial centre.\n Amsterdam – 3 hr 40 min to the Dutch capital's canals, museums and red light district.", "word_count": 203}
diff --git a/corpus/london/metadata.json b/corpus/london/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cb64b4a5f680a61b396f02247a5ef6c0968efc76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/london/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "london",
+ "title": "London",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/London",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
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+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "England"
+ ],
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+ "Nerd activities in London",
+ "Aylesbury",
+ "Berkhamsted",
+ "Bournemouth",
+ "New Forest",
+ "Brighton (England)",
+ "Canterbury (England)",
+ "Eastbourne",
+ "Beachy Head",
+ "Hastings (England)",
+ "Hemel Hempstead",
+ "Henley-on-Thames",
+ "Lewes",
+ "Maidstone",
+ "Kent",
+ "Margate",
+ "Broadstairs",
+ "Ramsgate",
+ "Kent",
+ "Rochester (England)",
+ "Chatham (England)",
+ "Portsmouth",
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+ "Southend-on-Sea",
+ "Essex (England)",
+ "Shaftesbury",
+ "Dorset",
+ "St Albans",
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+ "Salisbury (England)",
+ "Winchester (England)",
+ "Windsor and Eton",
+ "Bath (England)",
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+ "Cambridge (England)",
+ "Manchester",
+ "Oxford",
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+ "Brussels",
+ "Paris",
+ "Disneyland Paris",
+ "Rotterdam",
+ "Amsterdam",
+ "Leeds",
+ "LTN",
+ "Winchester (England)",
+ "Southampton",
+ "Bristol",
+ "Heathrow Airport",
+ "Cambridge (England)",
+ "Stansted Airport",
+ "Maidstone",
+ "Folkestone",
+ "Gatwick Airport",
+ "Brighton",
+ "Birmingham (England)",
+ "High Wycombe",
+ "Peterborough",
+ "Potters Bar",
+ "Dover (England)",
+ "Gravesend",
+ "Portsmouth",
+ "Guildford",
+ "Reading (England)",
+ "Heathrow Airport",
+ "St Albans",
+ "Watford",
+ "Cambridge (England)",
+ "Hertford",
+ "Chelmsford (England)",
+ "Brentwood (England)",
+ "Aylesbury",
+ "Watford"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 31712,
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/los-glaciares/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/los-glaciares/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..73bf1abd305a22ac856863cc1484ba641c5ceeab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/los-glaciares/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk000", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Los Glaciares National Park** is the second largest national park in Argentina and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area of over 4000 km² in Argentine Patagonia is complete with mountains, glaciers, lakes, wildlife and arctic views. The giant ice cap in Los Glaciares National Park feeds over 40 glaciers, the largest outside of Antarctica and Greenland. One third of the park is covered by ice that can tower up to 1500 m in the air.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk001", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Understand", "text": "300px|thumb|Perito Moreno Glacier\n300px|thumbnail|Los Glaciares National Park\nLos Glaciares National Park has an area of . It is in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina and is near the Chilean border. Its many glaciers include Perito Moreno, best known for the dramatic icefalls from its front wall, into Lake Argentino. In the north, Mount Fitz Roy's jagged peak rises above the mountain town of El Chaltén and Lake Viedma. Los Glaciares, of which 30% is covered by ice, can be divided in two parts, each corresponding with one of the two elongated big lakes partially contained by the park. \n\nLake Argentino, in the south, is the largest in the whole country, and as such dominates this region of Patagonia. Many tourists begin their journey in the town of El Calafate, which is on the shore of the lake. Excursions leave from here by land to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Other excursions venture by boat between the icebergs to many other glaciers, since a majority of them can only be seen by boat. \n\nLake Viedma, in the north, is home to the Viedma Glacier and Mount Fitz Roy. The village of El Chalten, at the foot of the Fitz Roy Massif, is another starting point into the park (and lacks the AR$100 entrance fee present at the Perito Moreno entrance). This is the most popular spot in the region for those who love to climb and trek with its numerous trails. Although most of these are effectively day trails, there are possibilities for staying overnight in a number of campsites. \n\n### History\n\nLos Glaciares National Park was established on May 11, 1937. Due to its magnificent natural beauty, it constitutes being a wonder of the world, and was declared a \"World Heritage Site\" by UNESCO in 1981.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe vegetation is a so-called sub-Antarctic forest. It's less dense than the rainforest on the Chilean side, but significantly greener than the steppe that accompanies you until shortly after Calafate. \n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nHummingbirds, pumas, Andean condors, black-crested buzzard eagles and the rare Huemul, an endangered species of small deer, live here.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe summer daytime temperatures rise to 20 to 25 °C, in winter to 0 to 5 °C. Snow is rare because of the drought, so the area can be visited all year round.\n\n### Park information\n\n Los Glaciares National Park website\nFor inquiries, or contact the Ceferino Fonzo Visitor Center by or by .", "word_count": 407}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk002", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Get in", "text": "Los Glaciares National Park can be divided into two different entrances, one near the Lake Argentino and the other near Lake Viedma. \n\nThe starting point for a journey to the southern section of the park is the small town of . El Chaltén is located in the north of the park, about 220 km by car and 150 km north of Calafate. Calafate has an airport that has regular flights from Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Gallegos and several other smaller towns in Patagonia.\n\nCalafate and Chaltén are also served by buses and are also very well networked with each other. There are only regular lines to the region from Río Gallegos. However, there is a wider range of options, especially during the travel season.\n\n is the base from which overnight excursions to the Marconi Glacier are launched.\n\nThe best way to travel by car is via the Ruta Nacional 3 to Río Gallegos and then via the RP5 to Calafate. This is the only tarred route in the region. Anyone who owns an all-terrain vehicle or has rented it can get to the park more quickly via numerous gravel roads - with a \"normal\" car this is an extremely slow and breakdown-prone undertaking.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk003", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "### South (Perito Moreno Glacier)\n\nAdmission fees for foreign tourists (as of Nov 2024): one day AR$45,000 (approx. €43), three days AR$90,000 (€86), seven days AR$157,500 (€150).\n\nOnly the Mitre-Glaciar Moreno Corridor has access hours: Sep-Apr entrance 08:00-18:00 (you can stay hnyil 20:00), May-Aug 09:00-16:00 (stay until 18:00).\n\n### Central (Parador La Leona)\n\nAccess to the Central Zone starts from the Parador La Leona, with significant stretches of gravel until reaching the sections.\n\n### North (El Chalten)\n\nAdmission fees are also charged, as above, and both the services and the trails start from the town of El Chaltén.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk004", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Get around", "text": "Never leave the official paths, due to risk of falling ice. Especially the glacier walls are dangerous, where even pieces 50 m long may fall off.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk005", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Top of Perito Moreno\n\n - Perito Moreno Glacier\n\n - Upsala Glacier\n\n The region around in the south of the park is less frequented. Here you can climb the Cerro de los Cristalles / Cerro Cristalles panoramic mountain or take a multi-day hike to the glaciers on . The best starting point for the southern section of the national park with the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers, as well as the region of Lago Roca, is El Calafate.\n\n - Cerro Fitz Roy\n\n The nearby is therefore very well known.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk006", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hiking and trekking** can be done independently or with a guide. Registration at the Park Information Center is mandatory for both climbing and trekking in remote areas and for hiking the trails (May through September). You can also access the online registration. There are many trekking opportunities in the entire area of this massif near El Chaltén.\n **Kayak** at the Perito Moreno glacier in Lake Argentino.\n **Sport fishing**; from Nov-Apr, sport fishing is permitted and regulated. Mostly salmonids and trout can be fished. Fishing is authorized in Lake Anita, Lake Argentino, Caterina River, Lake Roca and Lake Viedma. Enquiries regarding fishing permit procedures: .\n **Horseback riding:** Led by a guide authorized by the National Park. Southern zone in Lago Roca, you can take a full-day excursion, with the option of a two-day, one-night horseback ride to the border with Chile.\n **Bicycles** can be rented in both El Calafate and El Chaltén.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "los-glaciares::chunk007", "doc_id": "los-glaciares", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nThere are plenty options to choose from in Calafate and Chaltén. The most exclusive accommodation is probably a hut and hotel complex directly opposite the Perito Moreno Glacier.\n\n### Camping\n\nThere is no camping site near the Perito Moreno glacier. However, the organized campsite on Lago Roca south of Calafate is particularly attractive, and you can even swim there in summer. Free camping is prohibited in the park.\n\n### Backcountry", "word_count": 72}
diff --git a/corpus/los-glaciares/metadata.json b/corpus/los-glaciares/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6e34b682a45893683908543ef01d1f2c81d78016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/los-glaciares/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "los-glaciares",
+ "title": "Los Glaciares National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Los_Glaciares_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Patagonia (Argentina)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/machu-picchu/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/machu-picchu/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6545cd97acc78c31301efa5fd9dc5ddc4c8d706a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/machu-picchu/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk000", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|Look down on Machu Picchu\n**Machu Picchu** is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of Peru. At 2,430 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level, this is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk001", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nThese remarkable ruins were rediscovered by the scientific world in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by locals. Perched dramatically 1000ft above the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu is a . It is also the end point of the most popular hike in South America, the Inca Trail.\n\nThe story of Machu Picchu is quite a remarkable one; it is still unknown exactly what the site *was* in terms of its place in Inca life. Current researchers tend to believe that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incas. At any given time, there were not more than 750 people living at Machu Picchu, with far fewer than that during the rainy season. The Incas started building it around AD 1430 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.\n\nOne thing that is clear is that it was a remarkably well hidden place, and well protected. Located far up in the mountains of Peru, visitors had to travel up long valleys littered with Inca check points and watch towers. Remarkably, the Spanish conquistadors missed the site. However, many people are said to have knowledge of the ancient city as it was referred to in some text found in the 20th century. However, it was not until Bingham that Machu Picchu was scientifically discovered. He was on a trip sponsored by the Yale University, actually looking for the last Inca capital, which was at Vilcabamba, which Bingham also rediscovered but overlooked in favor of the more impressive Machu Picchu.\n\nMachu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.\n\nMachu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu.\n\n### Climate\n\nDaytime highs are quite constant around the year, but the nighttime lows are much more pronounced during the Southern Hemisphere winter. As is common in the tropics, most of the yearly rain falls during the rainy season which in Machu Picchu is October to April. Due to the altitude, extremely hot temperatures that one may expect this close to the Equator are absent. However these two factors contribute to very high levels of UV-radiation (nearby Cuzco actually has the highest average level of UV-radiation in the world for any major city) so do take precautions. its mostly between 12 and 27 °C.\n\n### Landscape\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nBoth are abundant and varied. Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machupicchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids.\n\nThe fauna in the reserve includes the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or \"tunqui\", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region.\n\nThe lay of the land, the natural surroundings and the strategic location of Machu Picchu lend this monument a fusion of beauty, harmony and balance between the work of the ancient Peruvians and the whims of nature.", "word_count": 597}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk002", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visitors to Machu Picchu typically either hike the Inca Trail or leave by rail from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo, either on a day trip, or overnighting in Aguas Calientes. The only ways to get to Aguas Calientes are by train or on foot — no roads go there.\n\nOvernighting allows you to visit the park early or late in the day and avoid the worst of the crowds, and on sunny days, gives you a nice window of reprieve from the beating sun. The wet season in Peru is from November (often only really taking off in December) until the end of March, so then it is best to include a few extra days for flexibly dealing with delays.thumb|300px|At the entrance to the site, the road zigzaging uphill from Aguas Calientes (AKA Machu Picchu Pueblo), and the Inca Trail following the mountain side, meet\n\nFrom Aguas Calientes, there are two ways to reach the ruins: by bus or walking (free steep hike), as described below.\n\nDepending on when you arrive, the site may be quite crowded or nearly deserted. The busiest periods are in the dry season (June–August), with the slowest being in February, the height of the rainy season, when the Inca Trail is closed. Most visitors arrive on package tours and are in the park between 10:00 and 14:00.\n\nTo access the site, you must have both a bus ticket (unless you plan on hiking) and ticket for Machu Picchu - which are available on in advance from the official website or from the ticket office in Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu tickets are *not* sold at the entrance gate and are limited to 1000 a day when buying in person.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk003", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is obligatory to bring your **passport** to enter Machu Picchu. Even if your ticket is on your national id card, the officer will still ask for your passport.\n\n### By bus from Aguas Calientes\n\nIf arriving by train into Aguas Calientes, walk out of the and keep going roughly straight through the warren of handicraft stalls and over a foot bridge to the . Frequent busses leave to the ruins (US$12 each way (Jan 2024), US$24 round-trip for adult foreigners) starting at 05:30. Bus tickets can be bought in two along Avenida Hermanos Ayar, payment in cash or MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, UnionPay. You will need to show an ID/passport when buying a bus ticket.\n\nThere's often a queue to the buses, so if you're intent on being on the first one up, you should arrive at least 90 minutes early. The journey takes around 30 minutes to slowly wind around the switchbacks and up to the park. Buses depart when full, which typically means they run quite regularly. At popular times, there may be a lengthy queue for the busses, so plan the return trip accordingly in order not to miss train departures.\n\n### By foot from Aguas Calientes", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk004", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Aguas Calientes to get to the ruins themselves it is also possible to walk along a route similar to the one that the buses run, which will take about 1½–2 hours up, and around an hour back down. This route is mainly stairs, connecting the switchbacks that the buses take. It is a strenuous and long hike but is very rewarding, recommended to start around 05:00 when the gate at the foot opens, to make it to the top before sunrise. The descent is fairly easy, just take care when the steps are wet. Keep alert for the bus drivers that rarely brake for pedestrians.\n\n### By foot via the Inca Trail\n\nthumb|Reaching the \"finish line\" of the Inca Trail\nHiking the is a great way to arrive as you first see the city through the Sun Gate (instead of arriving from below as you do from Aguas Calientes). The four-day and two-day hikes are controlled by the government. Travelers should be fit enough to walk for days and sleep in tents. Every traveler must travel with a tour agency because of the rules and regulations of entering the park. The Peruvian government has imposed a 500-person pass limit per day on Inca Trail traffic. Passes sell out far in advance, particularly for the high season.\n\nThere are also other options available for hiking to Machu Picchu. Both of these alternatives can be booked a couple days in advance when you arrive in Cuzco and can be much cheaper options and good ways to stay away from the crowds before getting to Machu Picchu.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk005", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get in", "text": "The is a 5-day trek through the Salkantay Mountain Pass. It is possible to do this trek without an organized tour. The scenery is amazing and if you go in the rainy season you will be rewarded with dozens of waterfalls. Though, at the same time, you will be wet for the most part anyways.\n\nAccommodation and transport until reaching Machu Picchu costs about US$150 (Jan 2024) when going it alone. Expect organized tours to charge a premium. Do your research in Cuzco and pick the tour company you feel most comfortable with. Some groups will offer slightly more (sleeping bag included, etc.) than others.\n\nThe is an agency tour. The three day trek that begins with a drive to the top of a mountain and then a bike ride down to the bottom. A full day of hiking follows the next day to Aguas Calientes.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk006", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get in", "text": "The \"backdoor\" route used is also an option for independent travelers wishing to go it alone. Minivans and busses are cheap (S/15-30) from \"Terminal Santiago\" in Cusco and take you to either Santa Maria or Santa Teresa. Santa Maria is further away from Aguas Calientes than Santa Teresa but is a nice option for those wishing to hike an alternative Inca trail used locally. The walk takes you through the mountains and tiny villages, even people's farms and offers impressive views of the valley. You can end up in Santa Teresa the same day and there are villages, such as Huacayupana and Quellomayo en route which offer an alternative view of local life and accommodation if you don't make it to Santa Teresa that day. Walking on from here to Santa Teresa is along the river (May - November) and by road during rainy season, although it is advisable to get advice before taking this route between December and April due to severe weather. From Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica is a 25-minute taxi or minibus ride and from here you can walk the 2- to 3-hour flattish trek to Aguas Calientes which is one of the nicest parts of the journey.\n\nAdditionally, many local tour operators have since opened up alternate trekking options that allow for similar trekking opportunities in the area. Most visit other Inca ruins, not as well excavated, and finish with the train trip up to see Machu Picchu at the end. One such option is the Choquequirao Trek, which starts in Cacharo and ends in Los Loros or the Cachiccata Trek which starts in Racca and ends in Cachiccata.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk007", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "thumb|The iconic mountain behind Machu Picchu is named Huayna Picchu. There may also be llamas around!\nThe government of Peru caps the number of tickets to 5000 per day - of which 4000 are available for online purchases and the remainder for in-person booking. Tickets are available for purchase online at the government website and in person from the ticket office in . A government-maintained real-time availability tracker is available to see how many tickets are still available for purchase in Aguas Calientes for a given day. Keep in mind though that tickets bought in person may only be used **the day after** they are purchased (it is not possible to buy a ticket in person and enter the same day).\n\nOnline tickets can be purchased several months in advance and require a credit card. Usually bookings are sold out for the month ahead, so visiting Machu Picchu requires planning. If an error is shown at the payment process, most probably you try to purchase the tickets (1) not during Peru office hours or (2) from outside of Peru. Try using a VPN service with a server located in Peru. Tickets may also be reserved online for payment in person at the ticket office in , which must be paid within five hours of the transaction being made. Tickets are no longer available for purchase in person at the ticket office in Cusco.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk008", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Tickets are divided into ten **routes** grouped into three **circuits**, reduced from 5 on 1 June 2024. The ticket you buy will be for only one route within one of these circuits. To see all of Machu Picchu, you will need to buy multiple tickets at a price of S/152 (Nov 2024) each. A reduced price of S/77 (Nov 2024) is available for students with an ISIC card or minors. Citizens of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia or Colombia pay S/112 (Nov 2024). When preparing your budget, do not forget to include train tickets and bus tickets, and perhaps food at the site.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk009", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "**Circuit 1** is the panoramic route. Unlike the other circuits, it does **not** give access to the rest of the site.\n Route 1-A visits the upper and lower viewing platforms, and includes an add-on for Machu Picchu Mountain.\n Route 1-B visits the upper and lower viewing platforms only. Ideal if you have very little time.\n Route 1-C visits the upper and lower viewing platforms, and includes an add-on for the Sun Gate. Available only during the high season.\n Route 1-D visits the upper and lower viewing platforms, and includes an add-on for the Inca Bridge. Available only during the high season.\n **Circuit 2** is the classic route, which passes through the entire urban area of Machu Picchu.\n Route 2-A visits the upper terraces and parts of the lower city.\n Route 2-B visits the upper terraces and parts of the lower city, as well as the lower viewing platform.\n **Circuit 3** is the \"royal\" route (*Machupicchu realeza*), which includes the most important sites used by the Inca royalty.\n Route 3-A loops around the lower city and includes an add-on for Huayna Picchu Mountain.\n Route 3-B loops around the lower city only.\n Route 3-C loops around the lower city and includes an add-on for the Great Cave and the Moon Temple. Available only during the high season.\n Route 3-D loops around the lower city and includes an add-on for Huchuy Picchu Mountain. Available only during the high season.\n\nBe sure to bring your passport, as it is requested upon entry. Some travelers have been able to enter with other forms of ID.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk010", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Only small packs are allowed in the park (20x35x40cm), but there is a luggage storage at the entrance for S/5 (Nov 2024). Note that it is not allowed to bring food into Machu Picchu. If your pack is checked, any food you carry may be confiscated.\n\nThere are no toilets within the site, but they are available right outside the entrance and are clean and well maintained. They cost S/2 (Nov 2024). Note that you cannot exit to use the toilets and then re-enter the site. The tickets are single use only, so use the toilets as needed before you enter the site.\n\nYou can book guides through travel agencies or find guides at the entrance. The price depends on the circuits. While you can easily get a shared guide for the classic Circuit 2 for 10 USD per person, you will probably need a private guide for Circuit 3, as it is more special. Private guides cost around 50 USD. The guides are trained and officially registered. You can recognize them as they have an ID-Card like permit on a keylace.", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk011", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|545px|Machu Picchu is fairly compact, with most attractions visible within an hour or two of easy walking.\n\nThere are no vehicles of any kind in the park, so bring some comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes such as Huayna Picchu. No walking sticks are allowed in the main area, except for visitors who have difficulty walking; however, they *are* allowed on Huayna Picchu, where they help significantly with the climb, especially down. The walking sticks cannot be steel tipped ones. There are rubber tipped walking sticks available for rent in Aguas Calientes. The main ruins are fairly compact and easily walk-able.\n\nUnless you have acclimated to the high altitude, you will likely be out of breath on any ascent. The steps are also uneven. Take your time, and enjoy the views while catching your breath.\n\nMany of the paths are one-way, so be careful – you can easily find yourself missing a spot you wanted to see or forced into the exit accidentally.\n\nMobility-disabled visitors can arrange wheelchair/accessible tours via private tour groups, and see a substantial portion of the site.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk012", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "See", "text": "All the views from above, but be sure before you do it that there are no clouds (early in the morning is always cloudy, it is recommended to do it at noon).\n\nthumb|Machu Picchu\nTake your time walking around the site, there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not required, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it. As of Mar 2018, a 2-hr guided tour is S/200, but can be negotiated down depending on how busy the site is. If you wish to save money, you can team up with other tourists who would like to have a guided tour. As a cheaper alternative to a guide, there are several apps providing virtual audio tours of the site.\n\nRelatively little is known about the history and uses of the ruins, and some of the stories told by the guides are based on little more than imaginative hearsay.\n\nThere are **no toilets** inside the citadel. You must use the restroom at the entrance gate before passing through the turnstiles.\n\n (*Intipunku*) – if you've just arrived via the Inca Trail, this will be your first experience of the ruins. Others can backtrack from the ruins along the trail and up the hill. From here you can see back down each valley offering excellent views, if it is cloudy you cannot appreciate the view (avoid doing it or just wait for a clearance). It's a fairly strenuous hike (probably 1-1½ hours each way) but well worth it. \n – Near the summit of the main city, the stonework on the temple is incredible. Look closely and you will see that there are a variety of stone walls throughout the city. Most are rough stones held together with mud, the common stone walls found throughout the world. But many buildings or parts of buildings are done with the more distinctive and impressive closely-fit stonework. The temple is the absolute pinnacle of this technology. Observe it from the side, descending the stone staircase in the main plaza.\n – A stone carved so that on certain days, at dawn, the sun makes a certain shadow, thus working as a sun dial. From Quechua: Inti = sun, huatana = to take, grab: thus grabbing (measuring) the sun. (pronounce 'intiwatana'). While most early risers view the sunrise from the watchtower, the Intihuatana offers the best vistas, and you'll have it all to yourself.\n\n – A temple, including some stones arranged in a way that kind of looks like a condor with wings outstretched, with a prison complex behind it – look closely: between the wings of the condor is a chamber with grooves cut in the stone to secure manacles, a walkway behind where a torturer may walk to whip the prisoner's backs, and a scary looking pit to let the blood of prisoners drain. Clearly the condor was a symbol of cruel justice, but a sanitized version is told for the benefit of tourists.\n – As a testament to Inca workmanship, these 500-year-old spring-fed fountains still function to this day. It is speculated that these provided drinking water to the city or were for ritual bath purposes.", "word_count": 538}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk013", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Machu Picchu as seen from Huayna Picchu\n\nIf you got some energy in you, there are a few great hikes involving a bit of legwork. Do make sure that you've taken the time to acclimate to the elevation either in Cuzco or Aguas Calientes for a couple days before exerting yourself too much, especially on Huayna Picchu.\nthumb|The hiking track near the summit of Huayna Picchu\n - Huayna Picchu", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk014", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Gran Caverna\n **Note: trail is closed as of Jan 2024 with no set re-opening date.** For serious hikers who have the time and energy and long for a sparkle of solitude, from Huayna Picchu you can continue on an extra hike to the (*Templo de la Luna*), which is built into the side of a cave, and the nearby (*Gran Caverna*), where women would come to pray to Pachamama (Mother Earth). This hike is one of your best bets for getting away from Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu crowds: both sites are much quieter than Machu Picchu and allow you to see Inca architecture at its finest without feeling like you're drowning in other tourists. This longer hike, which goes in a loop and is much more tiring but no more challenging than the regular hike to the peak and back, takes about twice as long: a total of about four hours (three if you're a fast hiker), versus about two hours just to the peak and back. It's a long walk and adventurous hike involving two ladders. Some may find that the sites aren't really rewarding, but unexpected wildlife can be seen (wild spectacled bears have been reported). This hike is also quite interesting because partway through you leave behind the mountain terrain and enter a more conventional forest. The caves can be reached by hiking down the trail from the peak of Huayna Picchu (which includes some semi-harrowing but fun near-vertical descents). Your hike back up from the temples will then be exhausting. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for this long hike.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk015", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Machu Picchu as seen from Machu Picchu Mountain\n – This is the mountain on which Machu Picchu is located and you can walk to the summit south of the ruins (3040m - Machu Picchu is at around 2,400-2,600m, Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) is at around 2,000m). Like Wayna Picchu you will have spectacular views, and it will cost you less. It used to have no entrance fee, but as of November 2017, tickets have to be purchased up front, just like for the site itself. Tickets can be purchased in advance, for one of two groups: 07:00-08:00 or 09:00-10:00. The path to Machu Picchu Mountain can be found along the path to the Sun Gate. Machu Picchu Mountain is among the least visited sites at Machu Picchu, which will give you the opportunity to get away from the tourist crowds. For the round trip you should plan on 2½-3 hours. Bring lots of water, as the hike is strenuous. You are not officially allowed to bring food, but may regret not having some snacks. Expect a hike similar to the one from Machu Picchu Pueblo to the site in style, but longer, and with steeper steps. The trail is spectacular, even if you don't reach the summit.\n\n. Historically there were two paths into Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is one of the paths, the other is through the Inca Bridge. This bridge (logs/drawbridge) is built across a sheer cliff which would control access to the city. The walk to the Inca Bridge is short and can be found to the south west of Machu Picchu.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk016", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Eat and drink", "text": "thumb|Inca Bridge\nYou are not allowed to bring any food into the park, and must check it in at the luggage storage at the entrance. In practice, however, bags are rarely searched, and most people have no problem getting a bottle of water and some snacks in with them, which you'll definitely want, especially if you're planning to stray from the central set of ruins. Buy these beforehand, as they're much more expensive at the site itself. Don't even think of leaving a shred of trash behind you. If you are thinking of walking from 06:00 to 17:00, you will need at least 1.5 litres of water.\n\nOnce you are at the site, there are no food or drinks for sale, and it is not possible to leave and return.\n\n - Concession stand\n\n - Tinkuy Buffet Restaurant\n\n - Tampu Restaurant Bar", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk017", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Because this is a protected park, further construction in the area is nearly impossible. Thus, there is only one *very* expensive hotel at the site itself. Almost everyone who wants to overnight near Machu Picchu books a hotel in nearby Aguas Calientes.\n\n - Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "machu-picchu::chunk018", "doc_id": "machu-picchu", "section": "Go next", "text": "Back to town (in order of size and distance):\n Aguas Calientes – if spending the night or want a bath or another hike\n Ollantaytambo\n Cusco\n\nIn the area:\n Sacred Valley\n Inca Highlands\n\nFurther afield:\n Kuelap, Amazonas, Northeast Peru – largest pre-Inca ruins in South America\n Tiwanaku, Bolivia – similar stonework, from a different civilization", "word_count": 54}
diff --git a/corpus/machu-picchu/metadata.json b/corpus/machu-picchu/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d265b42e8a7dd9f4653b7381b117f8f4d64f4c69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/machu-picchu/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "machu-picchu",
+ "title": "Machu Picchu",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Sacred Valley of the Incas"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Aguas Calientes",
+ "Ollantaytambo",
+ "Cusco",
+ "Sacred Valley",
+ "Inca Highlands",
+ "Kuelap",
+ "Tiwanaku"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4176,
+ "listing_count": 5,
+ "marker_count": 19,
+ "chunk_count": 19,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/madagascar/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/madagascar/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2806f5f22743e511b38d5b9465f40288e70190bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/madagascar/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk000", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Madagascar** is a country in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. It is known for its particularly unique wildlife and flora. Madagascar split from India approximately 88 million years ago, and as a result of its long isolation it is home to a massive number of unique plant and animal species, with over 90% of its wildlife and 80% of its plants found nowhere else on the planet.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk001", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Regions", "text": "thumb|right|400px|Map of Madagascar with regions colour coded", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk002", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Cities", "text": "- [[Antananarivo]]\n- the capital and usually called *Tana* by locals.\n- [[Ambalavao]]\n\n- [[Ambositra]]\n\n- [[Antsirabe]]\n\n- [[Fianarantsoa]]\n\n- [[Ihosy]]\n\n- [[Morondava]]\n\n- [[Taolagnaro]]\n (*also commonly known as Fort Dauphin*)\n- [[Toliara]]\n (*also commonly known as Tulear*)", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk003", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- [[Anakao]]\n\n- [[Andasibe-Mantadia National Park]]\n\n- [[Andringitra National Park]]\n\n- [[Ile aux Nattes]]\n\n- [[Isalo National Park]]\n\n- [[Masoala National Park]]\n\n- [[Nosy Be]]\n\n- [[Ranomafana National Park]]\n\n- [[Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve]]", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk004", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nMadagascar's first settlers, the Austronesians, likely arrived in the mid-1st millennium CE. The island's first inhabitants are believed to have come from both Southeast Asia and East Africa.\n\nMadagascar saw the rise of various powerful kingdoms and chiefdoms. Among them was the Merina Kingdom in the central highlands, which began to dominate in the 15th century. The Merina people developed a sophisticated political structure.\n\nFrance began to show interest in Madagascar in the 17th century, setting up trading posts along the coast. The French influence grew in the 18th century, particularly as they sought to exploit resources, including valuable timber and spices. In 1896, after a period of escalating tensions, France formally made Madagascar a colony. The French imposed harsh rule, leading to resistance movements, such as the uprising of 1947, which was brutally suppressed. A movement for independence led by figures like Philippe Tsiranana gained support and Madagascar gained independence from France on 26 June 1960, when he became the first president.\n\nIn the 21st century, Madagascar experienced political instability, including the controversial election of 2001 that led to protests and a military coup in 2009 that ousted President Marc Ravalomanana. The political situation has improved since then, but the country still faces challenges in terms of economic development.\n\n### People\n\nDespite its proximity to Africa, language and DNA studies show that the people of Madagascar are predominantly ethnically Austronesian; their ancestors between 350 BCE and 550 CE. Later, around 1000 CE, migrants crossed the Mozambique Channel and arrived from East Africa, and were followed by Arabs, Indians, and Chinese immigrants. The Malagasy way of thinking, as well as their appearance and fashion style, is a mixture of cultures.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk005", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Madagascar is part of the African Union, but was suspended from the organization from 2009 to 2013. There was political turmoil in Madagascar in 2002 and again between 2009 and 2010, which led to a decrease in tourism, but the situation was resolved to the satisfaction of the international community with the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 and presidential elections in 2013 that were judged to be free and fair. Any continuing political issues seem likely to be debated peacefully with words and not coups or other drastic actions, for the foreseeable future.\n\nMadagascar is home to 18 ethnic groups, but the largest and predominant group are the Merina of the central highlands.\n\n### Ecology\n\nthumb|250px|Ring-tailed lemur with babies on board.\n\nDue to its uniqueness some ecologists refer to it as the \"eighth continent\".\n\nMadagascar is home to nearly 15,000 plant species, with highlights including the massive and ancient baobab trees, the unique spiny forests of the south, over 800 species of orchids, and the dwindling rain forests. Human activity, particularly the fires used for agricultural purposes, have damaged the environment, and since the arrival of humans approximately 90% of the island's original forest has disappeared.\n\nAnimal life on the island is equally impressive, in particular the more than 100 species of lemurs, nearly all of which are rare or threatened. The island is home to over 300 species of birds, approximately 260 species of reptiles, and a massive number of amphibians and insects.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk006", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Understand", "text": "The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar's dry deciduous rain forest has been preserved generally better than the eastern rainforests or the high central plateau, presumably due to historically low population densities.\n\n### Holidays\n\nJanuary 1: New Year's Day\n March 29: Martyrs Day\n Easter (variable)\n June 26: Independence Day (celebrates independence from France in 1960)\n November 1: All Saints Day\n December 25: Christmas\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Fishermen in Nosy Be\nThe climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, and arid in the south. The weather is dominated by the southeastern trade winds that originate in the Indian Ocean anticyclone, a centre of high atmospheric pressure that seasonally changes its position over the ocean. Madagascar has two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April; and a cooler, dry season from May to October. There is great variation in climate owing to elevation and position relative to dominant winds. The east coast has a sub-equatorial climate and, being most directly exposed to the trade winds, has the heaviest rainfall, averaging as much as 3,500 mm (137.8 in) annually. This region is notorious not only for a hot, humid climate in which tropical fevers are endemic but also for the destructive cyclones that occur during the rainy season, coming in principally from the direction of the Mascarene Islands. Because rain clouds discharge much of their moisture east of the highest elevations on the island, the central highlands are appreciably drier and, owing to the altitude, also cooler. Thunderstorms are common during the rainy season in the central highlands, and lightning is a serious hazard.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk007", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Antananarivo receives practically all of its average annual 1,400mm (55.1 in) of rainfall between November and April. The dry season is pleasant and sunny, although somewhat chilly, especially in the mornings. Although frosts are rare in Antananarivo, they are common at higher elevations.\n\n### Read\n\n*The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar* by Peter Tyson. Extensive descriptions of Madagascar's wildlife, as well as lots of details about Malagasy culture.\n *The Gardens of Mars: Nadagascar, an Island Story* by John Gimlette. More of a focus on the spectacularly complicated and bloody history of the island's people.\n The Bradt Guide to Madagascar\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMadagascar Tourism website", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk008", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Talk", "text": "The entire island speaks one language: Malagasy, an Austronesian language. \"Malagasy\" refers to both the language and the people of the island. Because the island is so large, there are many different dialects. The Merina dialect is the \"Official Malagasy\" of the island and is spoken around the highlands of Antananarivo. Most Malagasy, however, speak Merina across the island. Attempts by foreigners to learn and speak Malagasy are liked and encouraged by the Malagasy people. Today, Malagasy is the daily language spoken by 98% of the population in Madagascar, and since 1972, Malagasy has been used as the language of instruction in some schools. As an Austronesian language, Malagasy is more closely related to languages spoken in maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands than to other African languages.\n\nFrench is the second official language of Madagascar, and most individuals encountered in parks and other touristy areas will speak fluent French. \n\nEnglish is increasingly common and many hotels and parks will have at least a few English-speaking staff. Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese are understood to a lesser extent in areas where tourists are likely to visit.\n\nSome basic Malagasy vocabulary that will help relate to the Malagasy people (there are many different regional versions of the Malagasy language across the country):\n\n Malagasy English\n Vazaha Foreigner\n Misoatra Thank you\n Salama Hello\n Veloma Goodbye\n Azafady Please/Sorry/Excuse me", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk009", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa\n\nVisitors from most countries can obtain a *Madagascar tourist visa* upon arrival in Madagascar (information accurate as of March 2020). \n For stays of up to 14 nights €10\n For stays of up to **30 days** US$37 or €35.\n For longer stays of up to **60 days** US$45 or €40.\n The Antananarivo airport visa on arrival counter was no longer issuing 90-day stays as of November 2018.\n\nYou must pay for the visa with cash: in US dollars or euros. They also ask for an address of your first night stay.\n\nYou can get a **30 day visa extension 80.000Ar** at the Immigration Office at the ministry of the Interior five minutes from Carlton Hotel in Antananarivo or at the commissariat of police offices around Madagascar. The maximum stay on a tourist visa is 90 days. After 90 days, you can go to Reunion or Mauritius then come back.\n\n### Vaccination\n\nPrior to your trip, you should ensure that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date; these include polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, MMR and typhoid (check with your doctor). If you are travelling through a country where yellow fever is present then you will be required to show proof of vaccination for yellow fever before you will be allowed entry into Madagascar.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|250px|Ivato airport in Antananarivo\nInternational flights to Madagascar generally either go to Antananarivo () or Nosy Be (). **Madagascar Airlines** is the national carrier and offers flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Marseille and Guangzhou, \nOther airlines serving Madagascar:\n **Airlink South Africa** provides daily flights from Johannesburg.\n **Air France** offer flights from Europe, North America, South America via Paris Charles de Gaulle.\n **Air Austral** offer flights to Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Toamasina from Paris, Marseille, Bangkok, Chennai, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Seychelles. Flights transfer on Reunion Island. \n **Air Mauritius** from Europe, Asia and Australia via Mauritius.\n **Kenya Airways** operates regular service from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa via Nairobi.\n **Turkish Airlines** from Europe, North America, South America and Asia via Istanbul has some low fares but have two stops via Mauritius and Istanbul\n **Ethiopian Airlines** from Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Asia via Addis Ababa.\n **Comores Aviation** fly from Moroni and Anjouan \n **EWA Air** fly from Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Nosy Be to Mayotte.\n**Emirates** fly from Dubai\n\nExpect to pay around 40 000 Ar to get to Tana by taxi, but drivers might easily ask for 60 000 Ar. Otherwise you can get to the Ivato town nearby and take a taxi-be (a local shared taxi bigger than a van) for around 600 Ar. Because you must also buy a seat for your luggage, it will cost 1200 Ar.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe only regular link used to be between Toamasina on the east coast and Mauritius via Reunion. This service has been suspended since December 2014. If you want to enter Madagascar by boat, you'll have to do it as a passenger on a cargo vessel. Doing so is not recommended; if you want to enter Madagascar with a vehicle, it is best to transport it as cargo and fly yourself.", "word_count": 516}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk010", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nMadagascar Airlines serves 11 destinations throughout the country, and provide a much faster option than driving given the poor state of many roads. While the airline will provide you with a hotel and book you on the next available flight in the case of a cancellation, don't book tight connections and always confirm your flight time the night before.\n\n### By train\n\nAs of 2023 Madarail operates only one service, a 9-hour trip between Moramanga (115 km east of Antananarivo) and Ambila Lemaitso on the east coast. The railway dates from the colonial period, so breakdowns are frequent due to poor maintenance, and the line may be closed for several weeks.\n\n### By car\n\nright|250px|thumb|Road in Sainte Marie\nMadagascar's roads are almost all of very low grade (with the exception of 2 routes leading out of Tana). Many roads are studded with potholes and are quagmires in the rainy season. Travel by road will almost always take much more time than you would normally expect. Hire of a 4WD vehicle can reduce this problem but the cost will be higher but still very cost effective if you are not travelling alone and able to split the rental fee between the members of your group (at least US$70/day/car as of October 2014). In nearly all cases a car rental will include the cost of a driver and his accommodation, but verify when booking your rental; most companies will not rent a car without a driver, and in many cases the driver can act as your guide and translator as well.\n\n### By taxi-brousse", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk011", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|View from inside a taxi-brousse.\nTaxi-brousse, or interurban shared taxi, is the way most natives travel around the country. There are three major modern roads in the country: RN7 from Tana to Toliara, RN2 from Tana to Tomasina (via Brickaville) and RN4 from Tana to Mahajanga. Trips between those towns take about a day, whereas traveling between Tana and Taolagnaro, a south-eastern coastal town, would take about 3 or 4 days due to the condition of the road. Travel is cramped, and don't expect air conditioning. Expect dust to be a problem in the dry season. Travel by taxi-brousse is guaranteed to test one's patience and sanity, but there is quite possibly no better way to meet and interact with the locals and experience Madagascar as the Malagasy do.\n\nTaxi-brousse is by far the cheapest way to travel, but do not expect to leave or arrive on time. Indeed, the drivers wait for their 15-seat small buses to get full before leaving; therefore, a few hours' delay is never excluded. However, the trip allows you to admire the breathtaking landscapes of Madagascar. Most national parks and towns can be reached from Antananarivo; drivers will happily drop you off en route to their final destination.\n**Cotisse Transport** serves Mahajanga, Morondava, Fianarantsoa and Toamasina.\n**Besady Plus** buses leave on time, whether full or not. The provide free wifi and go between Antananarivo and Nosy Be via Ambanja and from Antananarivo to Sainte Marie via Toamasina. The tickets include sea transfer.\n\n### By taxi-be", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk012", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Tana, the cheapest way to get around is by taxi-be, or big taxi, which is a bit larger than a mini-van. There is one aisle with seats to fold down so they can cram in even more people. During peak season, buses run frequently. Prices are around 600 Ar, as of November 2018, the 183 which is one of the buses going to Cotisse Transport costs 400 Ar.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Ferry crossing Manambolo River\nIf you are looking for an unusual holiday, a yacht charter to Madagascar might be a good choice.\n\nFor those who would like to bareboat, a “guide” is usually included in the price of the yacht charter. Although obligatory, he comes with the price and is essential for the multitude of services he will provide. He will prepare the food, recommend anchorages, know where to fish and refill the water tanks. He will speak the local language and have an established relationship with the local people. He will protect the boat from theft when you leave it to explore on land. The guide lives completely on the exterior of the boat and does not require a cabin. A yacht charter to Madagascar is a bit of a “Robinson Crusoe” adventure. Once you embark, you will not be able to stock up provisions again and must live off the fish and seafood you will catch for yourself (or with your guide). So take great care with your provisioning list.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk013", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Get around", "text": "This problem can be avoided by chartering one of the crewed catamarans. The boats are designed for stability so sea sickness is not really a problem. The crew prepare the boat with linen, food and drinks before your arrival -basically these boats are like a personal floating hotel. Depending on which boat you choose you could receive excellent service and food and suggestions of where to go and what to do. Choose your catamaran carefully as there are some really old ones in service- make sure the crew can speak your language.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|Cyclo-pousse.\nMadagascar is a great place to tour by bike and staying in small towns and villages along the way gives a real sense of what the country is all about. A mountain bike or heavy duty tourer at least is required as the roads can be in poor to terrible condition. In the rainy season on the east coast the main north-south road can become impassable, possibly leading to a two-day walk - over soft sand in one section - this is not an easily rideable route. Generally there is little to no traffic which makes cruising around a great pleasure. The people are amazingly friendly and you'll be greeted with crowds of children shouting 'Vazaha' in every village.\n\nThere are few or no facilities for cyclists, so be prepared to camp rough (ask if it is somebody's land and never too near a family grave) or sleep in very basic guesthouses. Likely you will be invited to stay in people's houses. Bring a spare tire, puncture kit, chain, brake or gear cable, derailleur and all the tools you need.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk014", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "See", "text": "300px|thumb|Baobab near Morondava\n - Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve\n\n - Avenue of the Baobabs\n \nSites from the Merina Kingdom can be seen across different parts of Madagascar.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk015", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Do", "text": "Most people visiting Madagascar do so for the wildlife, and there are a number of national parks and private reserves scattered throughout the country. Some are easier to reach than others - the dual Andasibe-Mantadia National Park area is a few hours from the capital via a paved road, while other parks require days of driving and trekking to explore.\n\nScuba diving and snorkeling is exceptional in Nosy Be, and is also possible in other areas like Toliara. Be aware that the nearest hyperbaric chamber lies across the Mozambique Channel, and that outside of Nosy Be scuba equipment may not be up to expected standards, so exercise caution and be careful to minimize risks when diving. The condition of corals varies from pristine at Nosy Tanikely to completely destroyed elsewhere, and depending on time of year the visibility may exceed 30 metres, or may be reduced to zero by the outflow from rivers, which, due erosion caused by deforestation, can turn the ocean brown. In the far north near Diego kitesurfing and windsurfing are exceptional between April and November when a constant 30 knot-wind makes the area one of the best surfing spots in the southern hemisphere. Kayaking and deep sea fishing are always rewarding water activities.\n\nThe **Rainforests of the Atsinanana** is made up of six national parks along the eastern coast of Madagascar; Marojejy National Park, Masoala National Park, Zahamena National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Andringitra National Park and Andohahela National Park.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk016", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nLocal money is the **Malagasy ariary**, denoted by the symbol \"**Ar**\" (ISO code: **MGA**). Ariary banknotes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 Ar.\n\nThe ariary is subdivided into 5 *iraimbilanja*, making it one of only two non-decimal currencies, but travellers will never have to deal with this minuscule unit of currency.\n\nThere are ATMs in larger cities and bigger towns where you can withdraw ariary cash with Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Union Pay. Diners Club, American Express, and Discover cards. The withdrawal limit is (usually 400,000 Ar). ATMs are frequently *en panne* due to connection problems or other technical difficulties. Carry a US dollar or euro emergency reserve with you.\n\n**BFV Société Générale** & **BOA-Bank of Africa** ATMs have a **withdraw fee of 8000-10200Ar per withdraw** for overseas bank cards. All other ATM networks in Madagascar have no withdraw fee at this time.\n\nThe Seven ATM networks in Madagascar are:\n**AccesBanque** ATMs take Mastercard, visa card, Union Pay. (no withdraw fee)\n**BGFI** ATMs only take Visa card. (no withdraw fee)\n**BMOI** ATMs take only Visa card. (no withdraw fee)\n**BOA-Bank of Africa** ATMs take only Visa card.\n**BNI** ATMs take Mastercard and Visa card. (no withdraw fee)\n**BFV Societe Generale** ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Maestro, Union Pay, Diners Club, American Express and Discover cards. \n**MCB-Mauritius Commerce Bank** ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Diners Club and Discover cards. (no withdraw fee).\n\nCredit cards are accepted by many hotels, restaurants and shops in Antananarivo and Nosy Be, You may have too pay an extra charge for the credit card commission, which ranges between free and 8%.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk017", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Occasionally, hotels and other services used by travellers are quoted in euros. Generally, payment in the local currency is expected but euros are usually also accepted. If you wish to pay in euros, clarify the conditions at which the euro price is converted to avoid that a very bad exchange rate is applied.\n\nFor changing money, as of June 2023, locals will not recommend going to a bank, but rather use the services of a money changer. Money changers are usually ambulant. Ask the receptionist of your accommodation or an expatriate living in Madagascar to recommend you one. Usually, the money changer will come to your hotel for the transaction. You get better rates for large denominations of euros and US dollars and UK pounds and rates are better in Antananarivo than in provincial cities. \n **Socimad** exchange has a bureau de change (open 24 hours TV) at the Ivato airport, and one in downtown (Lalana Radama 1).\n\n### Shopping\n\nVanilla and other spices are cheaper in Madagascar than in Europe or elsewhere, and the quality (especially of vanilla) is very good.\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk018", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is a matter of much confusion in Madagascar, and is made more confusing because expectations are different when the customer is a foreigner instead of a local. In restaurants and bars you should leave a tip equivalent to ten percent of the total bill. Locals will generally leave far less. If someone helps you with your bags consider a tip equivalent to US$1 per bag. In taxis, rounding the bill upwards is more than sufficient. If you have a private vehicle with a driver, tipping the equivalent of US$10-13 per day is considered extremely generous, while US$5-10 per day is normal for standard service. A good tip for a park guide is approximately US$7-10 per day. Individuals who clean hotel rooms are sometimes not given a salary, so consider leaving a few dollars in the room when you depart (many hotels will have a tip box in the lobby that can also be used to tip the entire staff). When in doubt about how much to tip, consider that even a doctor or university teacher may be making less than 200,000 Ar per month, and remember that in remote areas your tip may set expectations for travelers who follow you, some of whom may be researchers or aid workers with limited funds available (as of October 2018).", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk019", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Hotely malagasy\nThe cheapest way to get a meal is to eat at a \"hotely\". A plate of rice, laoka (malagasy for a side dish accompanying rice) like chicken, beans or pork, and rice water costs about 3000 Ar (2020). For 1000 Ar extra you can get a small glass of homemade yoghurt.\n\nBananas (hundreds of varieties) and rice cakes (Malagasy 'bread') are staple 'street food' and available everywhere. Coffee is very good, usually hand-made by the cup and served very sweet with condensed milk.\n\nSteak-frites is available in restaurants in the larger towns.\n\n### Supermarkets\n\nThere are supermarkets all over Madagascar. The four biggest supermarkets chains are Super U, Score, Leader Price and Supermaki. All four Western style supermarket chains are well stocked. There are many Leader Price & Super U-branded goods but also some more local produce (veg, spices, etc.) Super U is slightly cheaper and has many stores in Antananarivo, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Antsirabe.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk020", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Drink", "text": "There is no safe tap water so be prepared with bottled water, which is usually easily obtainable. The only other option is ranon'apango (RAN-oo-na-PANG-oo) or rice water (water used to cook rice, which will therefore have been boiled). It's particularly important to plan ahead if visiting rural areas. It is worth taking with you some chlorine tablets, which can be used to make the local water drinkable.\n\nIn towns, roadside drink stands, stores and bars are plentiful. Most sell a range of drinks including bottled water, Fanta, Coca Cola and Madagascar's beer, Three Horses Beer (THB). You can also try the bubblegum flavoured 'Bonbon Anglais', which is to South American Inka Cola, although it may be sold as 'limonade' - leading you to think it may be lemonade.\n\nHome brewed rum, and crème de coco, is also available in many flavours.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk021", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Lodging quality varies dramatically throughout the country, from dorm-style rooms to luxury five-star resorts. In most places room prices will be quoted per room, although many luxury resorts quote prices per person. Insect nets and private bathrooms are provided in nearly all of the more upscale lodging, although in lower-priced establishments you may need to provide your own bug net. There are backpacker hostels in a few places with prices from US$5.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk022", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Learn", "text": "Learn some Malagasy. The single best thing you can do to have a fun and safe trip is to speak the local language. There are a number of guidebooks you can buy to learn Malagasy, or alternatively you can ask someone to teach you. Just a few words will make all the difference.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk023", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Madagascar is a fairly safe country. You must, however, respect some simple principles:\n\nDon't walk around at night in Antananarivo (other cities are pretty safe).\nDon't exhibit signs of wealth (cameras, jewels).\nSimilarly, always carry small notes. Paying with large denomination notes shows off your wealth, can insult the seller because they will not have change, and opens you up for becoming a target for crime.\nKeep an eye on your belongings when using public transport or visiting markets where numerous pickpockets swarm.\nLearn the Malagasy word for thief, \"Mpangalatra\" which is pronounced \"Pun-gul-ah-tra\". If someone is trying to rob you in a busy market area scream this. The fact that a vazaha is screaming thief will unsettle the thief and alert the people near you to help.\nAlways listen for the words \"vazaha\" or \"vazongo\" when spoken in low tones. If you hear these words be aware that someone is talking about you, for better or for worse!\nThe centre of Antananarivo should be avoided, as well as the Ankato area, Avenue de L'Indépendance, Ambohijatovo, Analakely, Bohorika, Isoraka, Ampasamandinika, 67ha, Isotry and the area around the military barracks. Elsewhere in the country, Nosy Be, Toamasina (Tamatave), Mahajunga, Ankarana, Isalo, Montagne d'Ambre Nature Reserve, Tuléar and Batterie Beach, and the RN 7 and RN 27 roads are particularly to be avoided.\n\nLike any other developing country, there are a lot of beggars. This is sometimes uncomfortable for tourists, but these people should be respected nonetheless. They are, predictably, attracted to foreigners and will not hesitate to ask for a hand-out. If you don't want to give, a simple \"Non, merci\" or \"Tsy Misy (tsee-meesh)\" (I have nothing) will do the trick. If they persist, try shouting \"Mandehana! (man-day-han)\" (Go Away!) It is recommended not to give money, but other useful items, such as a banana, a piece of bread, etc. It is usually accepted with gratitude, and if the beggar is a child, he will run away with a smile on his face. It is imperative not to encourage begging - in Madagascar the people do not really believe in getting something for nothing and will invariably offer you something first. For example a chameleon to photograph.", "word_count": 367}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk024", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Visitors to Madagascar should be aware of a vast number of health concerns. Diseases such as the plague, which are almost unheard of elsewhere, still occur in Madagascar. **Drinking water** is almost never safe for foreigners; treated or bottled water should always be used, and salads or dishes containing unpeeled fruits or vegetables should be avoided. While the AIDS epidemic has not reached the devastating level found in many southern African countries, it is widely assumed that the incidence of AIDS is underestimated and rising, so you should take no risks and avoid unprotected sex in all cases. When swimming, beware of the possibility of human waste in the water, which can cause cholera, typhoid, and a number of other diseases. Leeches and tropical parasites are also a concern.\n\nResearch **malaria** prophylaxis options, and follow through. If you are not taking any prophylactics, be sure to always use a mosquito net for sleeping, and apply mosquito repellents once dusk sets in. On-skin repellent (only repellents containing ~40% DEET are effective, such as NoBite, or Azeron Before Tropics) is good but should be used in combination with on-clothes repellent (i.e., NoBite). The clothes repellent is odorless approximately an hour after application, and clothes can be washed up to 4 times before it needs to be re-applied. If you wear long-sleeve clothing treated with the repellent and apply on-skin repellent to the skin parts not covered, you will be very safe against mosquito bites and can skip the prophylaxis with its notorious side effects. Take the repellent issue seriously, though, as it's very easy to fall into a more 'relaxed' mode after you've spent some time in the country.\n\nAreas inhabited by humans will invariably have large populations of stray dogs. Avoid stray dogs, and although bites are rare, if bitten seek medical assistance promptly as rabies is not unheard of.\n\nRemember that Madagascar is in the tropics and take precautions against sunburn and heat exhaustion seriously. Wear lots of sunscreen and keep hydrated. A cloudy day does not mean you won't get burnt.", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk025", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Respect", "text": "right|150px|thumb|Picture of a tomb taken in the 70s\nEveryday life in Madagascar is regulated by numerous *fady* (taboos) which vary from one region to another. They can forbid foods (lemur, turtle, beef), wearing clothes of a particular colour, bathing in a river or a lake, etc. Observance of \"Fady\" is mostly limited to rural areas, as tourists will most likely not encounter this problem if they stay in the main towns. However, there are Fadys in places such as Antananarivo but most vazaha are exempt.\n\nFady are attributed to ancestors, to whom Malagasy adopt a respectful attitude whatever their religion. It is safest to respect these prohibitions and not violate them, even if you feel they don't make sense. Inform yourself about local fady when you arrive in a new place.\n\nWhen addressing anyone older than you or in a position of authority (e.g. police, military, customs officials), use the word \"tompoko (toom-pook)\" the same way you would use \"Sir\" or \"Ma'am\" in English. Respect for elders and authority figures is important in Madagascar.\n\nDo not ever take photos of a tomb without permission. Always ask permission before taking photos. Also, if you go to a remote village or hamlet it is fomba or tradition that you first meet with the head of the village if you have business in the village. Meeting this person can save you a lot of time if you have work to do there.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "madagascar::chunk026", "doc_id": "madagascar", "section": "Connect", "text": "International phone calls and 4G Internet via data can be done via cell phone companies such as **Airtel**, **Orange** or **Telma** they work off prepaid phone cards. International phone calls using Telma to Europe cost 900 Ar per minute. There are also Internet cafes in the major cities and most large towns. Electricity may be erratic. Many areas have either mandatory shutdown hours or rationing. It's best to bring an openline smart phone and buy a SIM card when you get to Madagascar. It's also useful to have a powerbank. Most hotels now also have Wi-Fi. \n\nYou can also easily buy a SIM card from anyone of the cell phone companies and get a data plan. The process is fairly easy compared to other countries and SIM cards can be bought directly in the airport with the whole activation and buying process being done in less than 10 minutes. SIM cards and credit are also among the few things you can easily get hold of throughout the country, including in provincial towns and small rural villages. As of December 2018, a 12GB data plan good for 30 days is 75 000 Ar.\n\nDo not expect a data connection everywhere on the island, but when you do have data connection, the fast 4G network is fairly impressive and allows free VoIP calls. Telma sells their SIM cards for 500 Ar. Orange sells their SIM card for 2000 Ar.\n\nA stamp for a postcard to anywhere in Europe costs 1100 Ar.", "word_count": 249}
diff --git a/corpus/madagascar/metadata.json b/corpus/madagascar/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..38caa05f11d306e0c97467075179b173383b61c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/madagascar/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "madagascar",
+ "title": "Madagascar",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Madagascar",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East African Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 5434,
+ "listing_count": 20,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 27,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/madrid/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/madrid/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d2ccf9c7afbf444d412c8c54ef78bf197e4c7af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/madrid/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk000", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Madrid** is Spain's capital and largest city. A city that has been marked by Spain's varied and tumultuous history, Madrid has some of Europe's most impressive cultural and architectural heritage, which includes grand avenues, plazas, buildings and monuments, world-class art galleries and museums, highly popular football teams, and cultural events of international fame for everyone. Madrid is also renowned for gastronomic delights and a nightlife lasting up until dawn.\n\nMadrid is more often than not disregarded by tourists who gravitate to other parts of the country. But though it may appear to lack some of the breathtaking architecture of Barcelona, the frenetic energy of London and Berlin, or the flair of Paris and Rome, Madrid is a massive treasure chest that has something for those who are willing to get off the beaten tourist tracks. It might not be the most sought-after city, but those who seek out what Madrid has to offer will discover a city of unexpected beauty.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk001", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Districts", "text": "### The main tourist areas\n\n### The rest of the city", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk002", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid's city hall, Cibeles Square\nMadrid has over 3.4 million residents within the city limits and 7 million people live in the autonomous Community of Madrid region (as of 2025).\n\n### Location\n\nthumb|right|Puerta de Alcalá\nMadrid is just northeast of the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, in the middle of the Spanish central Castillian plateau (Meseta central), at an average altitude of . Nearly all of the most famous tourist areas are in the centre of the city including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, and Plaza de Colón. The major streets in Madrid include the Gran Via, Alcalá Street, and Paseo de la Castellana.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate of Madrid is continental, mainly dry and quite extreme at times. Madrid experiences a characteristically hot and dry summer, along with a fairly cold winter with frequent frosts during the night and occasional snowfalls. Spring and autumn are generally mild with the most rainfall concentrated in these seasons. Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit, especially the months of April, May, June, September and October. There is very little rainfall during summer and also less rainfall during winter. During winter, snow occurs sporadically; however, snow usually lasts only for a few days, but there is abundant snowfall in the adjacent mountain ranges nearby.\n\nthumb|right|Plaza Mayor\n\n### History", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk003", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|right|Temple of Debod with Torre de Madrid and Edificio Espana in the background\nMadrid is a city that goes back to the Spanish Muslims, but virtually nothing of Madrid before the Reconquista is left. A few historic city walls have been archeologically preserved but Madrid was by far overshadowed by Toledo (Roman *Toletum*) until the early modern era. To give just one example, construction on Madrid Cathedral did not start until the late 19th century, and only finished in the 1990s, as the archbishop of Toledo did not want to relinquish episcopal power, and the monarchs had moved the capital in part precisely to escape the power of Toledo's archbishop.\n\nThe culture of Madrid was dominated by its royal history, centre of the Spanish Empire. The Royal Palace, big plazas and buildings used by the Spanish Monarchy, enormous cathedrals and churches are plentiful in Madrid. Madrid is now just as much a cosmopolitan city as Berlin or London: full of modern architecture, lifestyle and culture.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk004", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "Madrid became capital of Spain under Philip II who had a gargantuan palace built in nearby El Escorial. For a long while, Madrid would be the royal residence first, only becoming a city much later. Madrid architecture often reflects the era in which it was built. The Spanish Habsburgs (\"Los Austrias\") who reigned until the death of unfortunate Charles II in 1700 predominantly used red brick for facades and black schist for the roofs. The later Bourbon dynasty (ruling today after the two Republican interludes) preferred granite to brick, giving their buildings a greyer tone. The king that had the largest influence on Madrid after Philip II was perhaps Charles III. He was nicknamed \"el Rey Alcalde\" (the mayor-king) or \"Madrid's best mayor\" due to his extensive building and modernisation programmes in the city. Other royal projects that left their mark are Isabel II's freshwater canal, and the metro which was started in 1919 with King Alfonso XIII's own money. However, both those monarchs were so unpopular that they were later overthrown by their own people, giving rise to the First and Second Spanish Republics.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk005", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "Being the capital of Spain, Madrid came to be associated - justly or not, for better and for worse - with the governing trends in Spain by Spaniards in other parts of the country. As the governing trends swung widely from anti-clerical Republic to hyper-catholic fascist Franco dictatorship, this has influenced the perception of Madrid in the rest of Spain. During the 2nd Republic (1931-1936), it was a bustling city of new ideas with many political issues of the day literally fought out on the streets of Madrid. During the Civil War, Madrid endured a three year siege (1936-1939) by the anti-Republican troops and was one of the last places to hold out for the Republic. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975), the city represented the heart of the repressive hyper-conservative dictatorship to many Spaniards, particularly Basques and Catalans. However, the city is also the epicentre of the famous Movida of the 1980s, a Spanish movement that bred personalities such as the director Pedro Almodóvar. The heritage of this era is indeed still visible in the city centre, where a party can be found at all times and one of the most liberal and colourful environments of Spain can be seen. The city is also known for its acceptance of LGBT people.\n\n### Modern politics", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk006", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since Franco's death, Madrid's city politics have swung widely from right to left and back, at first having a (socialist) PSOE-led government through the 1980s which was replaced by the centre-right PP which dominated the city through an awkward mix of paternalistic public works, free-for-all housing plans, and other anarchic construction projects in the 1990s. The 2000s saw a more nuanced approach by Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, also of the PP, who focused on upgrading Madrid's ring road (the M30), expanding the metro system, and liberalising the economy. The 2008 financial crisis hit Madrid hard, which gave rise to ex-communist Manuela Carmena in the 2010s. Despite showing early promises, Carmena's popularity dwindled, and the PP's José Luis Martínez-Almeida ousted her as mayor by winning the 2019 elections forming a governing coalition with two new political parties: the centrist Ciudadanos and the far-right Vox. This rightwards shift reinforced itself with the popularity of Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the PP president of the Community of Madrid.\n\n### Madrileño everyday life\n\nthumb|right|Nightlife in ''Puerta del Sol''\nThe citizens of Madrid refer to themselves as **Madrileños** or the more traditional and now seldom-used term \"gatos\" (cats). They live by a daily routine that is heavily influenced by the climate. Due to the typically midday heat during summer, a \"siesta\" can be still observed during which some citizens take a break to cool off, though **Madrileños** can usually only afford this 'luxury' during holidays and weekends.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk007", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "Most stores are open throughout the day; just small stores are often closed during siesta. Workers and those more afflicted by Western lifestyles choose not to observe this long break and work usually between 09:00 and 18:00-19:00. However, during summer, many offices have a summer schedule requiring workers to start at 08:00 and finish at 15:00 (most commonly without the standard 1-2 hour break for lunch).\n\nOffices usually close over the weekend but businesses are often open Saturday morning, or until the afternoon in the city centre. Most grocers are closed on Sundays, but some major chain and department stores linked to \"culture\" (books, music, etc.) will be open every day. Shops and department stores in Puerta del Sol area are open every day.\n\nMadrid has a very modern and elaborate transportation network of buses and Metro with a few \"Light Metro\" tram lines in the outskirts. The city contrasts with some large European cities in that it is extremely clean, and city employees in bright yellow vests can almost always be seen cleaning the streets and sidewalks. Like most large cities, however, there is a substantial population of vagrants and beggars lining the streets.\n\nMadrid is one of the biggest and most cosmopolitan cities in Europe. Communities of West Africans, North Africans, other Europeans (especially Romanians), Chinese, Filipinos, Pakistanis, and above all Latin Americans are prominent.\n\n### Nightlife\n\nMadrid possibly has the most bars per capita of any European city and a very active nightlife; Madrileños are known to stay up until as late as 05:00-07:00. It is quite common to see a crowded Gran Vía on weekend nights. Due to this lifestyle, lodging near the fun areas may end up a nightmare for light sleepers if your window faces the street.\n\n### Tourist information", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk008", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tourism website of the city of Madrid.", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk009", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|right|Madrid-Barajas airport Terminal 4\n *Main article: Madrid–Barajas Airport*\n\n- Madrid Barajas International Airport\n\nMadrid has two smaller airfields, *Torrejón* and *Cuatro Vientos*, but they have no commercial flights.\n\n#### To and from the airport\n\nDuring the day, **Metro** a popular best way to reach city centre. Line 8 (pink) runs from Nuevos Ministerios to Terminals 1,2&3, Barajas town (no airport here, don't get off!) and T4. It runs from 06:00 to 01:30, taking 15 min from city to T123 and another 5 min to T4. The single fare is €5. See \"Get around\" for other ticket options.\nThe **Cercanías (renfe)** regional train service & lines run between T4 and Atocha, without needing to change trains or paying the metro airport supplement. Tickets are issued on a \"+ renfe & tú\" reusable card. You can transfer between T4 and other terminals on the free inter-terminal bus. \nIf **taxis** are your thing, there is always an armada of them readily available. There is a fixed fare of €33 for trips between the airport and central Madrid (defined as any point in Madrid inside the M-30 expressway).", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk010", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Buses** between city centre and airport are:\nExprés Aeropuerto bus 203 runs from Atocha (& Cibeles) to T1,2 & T4, 06:00-23:30 every 15-20 min, taking 30 min.\nBus 200 runs from Avenida de America transport hub to T1,2 & T4 (but T3 only city-bound, not outbound), 05:00-23:30 every 10-20 min.\n**At night** bus N27 runs every 35 min from Cibeles to T1,2 & T4 and is the only public transport option.\nDirect buses elsewhere include:\nBus 101 from Canillejas transport hub (,) east edge of the city, to T1,2 (T3 only city-bound, not outbound).\nBus 822 from Coslada and San Fernando de Henares, just south of the airport, to T1.\nBus 824 from Alcalá de Henares and Torrejón to the east, to T1,2.\nBus 827 & 828 from the Autonomous University and Alcobendas, to T4.\nAvanza buses run to T1 from Avila and Salamanca.\nAlsa buses run to T4 from Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valladolid, León, Murcia, Alicante, Gijón, Oviedo, Lugo, Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, Vitoria, San Sebastián, Santander, Bilbao, Logroño and Pamplona.\nSocibus run to T1 from Andalusia, e.g. Córdoba, Cádiz, Jerez and Sevilla.\n\n### By train\n\nThe state-owned rail company **renfe** () and low cost operators '''ouigo''', **iryo** & **avlo** (now bookable from the main renfe website) operate trains to Madrid. Frequent long-distance trains connect Madrid and Alicante (2 hr 30 min), Barcelona (2 hr 40 min), Bilbao (6 hr), Córdoba (2 hr), Malaga (2 hr 30 min), Salamanca (2 hr 30 min), Santiago de Compostela (6 hr), Seville (2 hr 20 min), Valencia (2 hr) and Zaragoza (1 hr 15 min).\n\nThe overnight train from Lisbon was suspended in 2020, perhaps indefinitely. Travel from Portugal now involves changing at Merida and Badajoz.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk011", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is a direct daytime train from Marseille, taking 8 hours. Madrid can be reached from Paris and other cities in France and beyond also by changing in Barcelona. However for the French Atlantic coast (e.g. Bayonne and Bordeaux) it is quicker to travel via Hendaye.\n\nthumb|Tropical garden in Atocha\n\nMadrid has two mainline railway stations, Atocha and Chamartín, both with extensive Metro and local Cercanías train connections. To transfer between them, take Metro line (€1.50 or 1 journey, 30–40 min) or Cercanías lines and (€1.35, 15 min).\n\nAll rail stations are operated by the national rail infrastructure company ADIF, you can check train running times & platforms there and on their app. Remember local Cercanías trains are listed separately to longer distance ones.\n\nMost mainline trains run from:\n - Puerta de Atocha\n\n- Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|''Estación Sur de Autobuses''\nMadrid has several bus stations, but long-distance routes all use either Estación Sur southside, or Avenida de América northside. These buses may also call at the airport.\n\nInternational buses, and those headed south of Madrid, run from (*C/ de Méndez Álvaro, 3*, ) which is 1 km southeast of Atocha. Routes include Lisbon (3 per day, 8 hr, by Avanza), Milan (twice a day, 26 hr, by Alsa) and Paris (daily, 16 hr, by Flixbus). The metro stop is Méndez Álvaro on line . It also has a Cercanias train halt. The building is quite old, but adequate, with several bus company ticket offices, a retail corridor with a couple of cafes, and toilets.\n\nBuses to the north, e.g. Barcelona and Bilbao, run from (*Avda de América, 9*), 2 km northeast of the centre. It's a big transport hub on metro lines , , , and . It's not on a Cercanias line.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk012", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transit\n\nthumb|277px|Map of the Madrid Metro\nMadrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe after London's. Buses and subways work with the same tickets, and operate within the integrated transit network of (Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3, M-F 08:00-20:00). With that said, be aware that Madrid's transportation infrastructure can appear complicated and daunting at first, so take extra time to know where to go and how to get there because it will not be as simple as in other European cities or what your map app is telling you.\n\nA **single ticket** for Zone A costs €1.50 (max. 5 stations), but the cost goes up to €2 if you go more than 10 stations, and can be purchased from metro ticket vending machines or directly from the bus driver on entry. A **ten-trip ticket** Metrobús *(10 viajes)* costs €12.20 (€6.10 until July 2025) for Zone A (no transfers from one mode of transportation to another allowed); these tickets can be shared with other travellers. Children under the age of 4 may travel without a ticket, and children under 11 receive a 50% discount. Tickets can be purchased at metro stations, newsstands, and tobacconists. There are no longer any paper tickets in use in Madrid so, if you do not already have one, you will need to purchase a **Multi Card** which is a reloadable, contactless card for €2.50 (Jan 2025). It is an anonymous card so can be used for multiple people by passing back the card to the next person in your group. These card support most ticket types except season & concessionary. The Multi Card does not support local rail travel except the tourist tickets.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk013", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you plan to use public transport a lot you can purchase a **Tourist Ticket**, which allows unlimited travel as well as discounted admission for some tourist attractions. The card can be purchased at any metro station, as well as at the CRTM headquarters. For travel within Zone A the following rates apply: 1 day (€10), 2 days (€17.00), 3 days (€22.50), 5 days (€32.50), or 7 days (€41.00). These tickets are personalised so cannot be shared. They can be used on local rail (Cercanías) in the area of validity.\n\nIf you're planning on staying for a long time, you might consider investing into the personalised **Tarjeta Transporte Público**. You can load season tickets onto them according to your age – *regular* (adult), *joven* (youth) or *mayor* (senior). Application must be made in advance at any metro station with a completed application and a copy of your passport. The season tickets can be loaded from any metro vending machine.\n\nThe public transport system supports contactless payment. Simply tap your bank card or phone to enter and exit.\n\n#### Metro\n\nthumb|right|''Gran Vía'' station entrance featuring the traditional Metro logo\nThe **Metro de Madrid** (Madrid's subway/underground) is one of the best and least expensive metros in Europe. The underground tunnels can provide relief from the sun on hot days.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk014", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ticket machines are multi-lingual with instructions Spanish; you can change the language to English by pressing the circular button with several flags in it. Swiping the smartcard once allows you to use the metro network as long and far as you like – but make sure you stay inside the Metro zone A, as once you leave it you'll have to swipe your smartcard again. If you are travelling in the city centre, then multiple people can tap in using the same Multi card; they don’t have to buy their own individual card. However, some outlying stations as well as airport stations have another check at the exit where you have to \"tap out\" because the fare from central Madrid is higher. Should you go there more than once, buy the \"ten trip all network\" ticket (which is slightly more expensive than the \"ten trip central area\" ticket) or a day ticket. When you travel to/from airport stations, there is additional supplement of €3, which can be paid at the entrance or exit. The tourist tickets do not require this supplement as it is included in the price.\n\nGenerally the Metro operates daily from 06:00-01:30, although you can catch some trains as late as 02:00. Frequencies range from 2-4 minutes during rush hour to up to 15 minutes from midnight onwards.\n\nBicycles are permitted on the Metro during most periods except during rush hour, generally M-F 07:30-09:30, 14:00-16:00, and 18:00-20:00. Pets in carriers and dogs are also permitted.\n\nPickpockets are rife on the metro, and travellers should take appropriate precautions. Announcements in Metro trains and stations are made mostly in Spanish only, though some signs are bilingual in Spanish and English.\n\n#### Bus", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk015", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|EMT Madrid bus\nWhatever the Metro doesn't cover, '''EMT''' buses do. Generally buses run 06:00-24:00. **Búho** (*owl*) night buses have their main hub at , covering most of the city at roughly 20-minute intervals.\n\nAll buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi facility (EMTmadrid), easy to use with any type of laptop or mobile device. For travellers with smartphones, there is a helpful official EMT app for iPhone and Android with a route planner and schedules.\n\n#### Train\n\nMadrid has a system of local trains called **Cercanías** that connects outlying suburbs and villages with the city centre. Although most useful for visiting historic or outdoor destinations outside the city core, it is also useful for quickly getting from one end of the city to another, as well as to of Barajas airport. If you are flying from another terminal; there is a free inter terminal bus but you will have to allow extra time to use it. You also avoid the airport the metro €3 surcharge and can be much faster than the metro. Tickets are purchased on an individual basis priced according to the number of Cercanías zones you are travelling through but on the ticket machine you select the station you are travelling to. Tickets are issued on a reuseable **+Renfe & Tú** card for which there is a €0.50 charge with your first purchase. There is a separate line map but it does indicate the metro interchange stations.\n\nand are in the north, and in the centre and is in the south of the city.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk016", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|Taxis in Madrid\nAlongside its metro system, Madrid boasts one of Europe's largest taxi fleets. Taxis are usually plentiful and easy to find, but they become harder to find during late hours on weekends, especially if there is some rain. Unlike in other European cities, there are few taxi stands; just stand by the side of a major road or bus stop and wave your hand to signal an available taxi passing by. Available taxis have a green *libre* sign in the windshield and a green light on top.\n\nOfficial taxis are white, and have a red stripe and the flag of Madrid on the front door. The tariff is displayed on top of the car – a **1** during daytime and a **2** at night, which become **2** and **3** on public holidays such as Christmas Eve.\n\nSome taxi drivers will do what is called *la vuelta al ruedo* — they will drive you around or through the crowded avenues to increase the fare.\n\nMost taxi drivers do not speak fluent English, so you should have the names and addresses of your destinations written in Spanish to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card in case you get lost. When giving an address to a taxi driver, it is useful to say the name of the neighbourhood in addition to the street name and number, for example: Calle de Don Ramón de la Cruz, 74, Lista. Another option is to use an app like **Free Now** or **PideTaxi**, where you can enter your destination and the app will hail a taxi for you.\n\nFor those looking for alternatives to a taxi, rideshare services **Bolt**, **Cabify** and **Uber** also operate throughout the city.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk017", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cars have been one of the most hot button issues in Madrid municipal politics in the twenty first century. Leftist mayor Manuela Carmena introduced a scheme to drastically reduce the number of cars in central Madrid, however she lost reelection in 2019 and the new right-wing Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida reversed course before being forced by European Union legislation they had violated to partially reinstate the ban. In short: driving a car in Madrid can be a nightmare, but not as bad as cities like Paris or Brussels. Parts of the Spanish capital's downtown suffers from the typical problems of most big cities: far too many cars and not enough space to accommodate them. However, you can often see construction works on roads aimed at finding a better balance between cars and buses, and evidence is pointing towards easier coexistence between all modes of transportation. With that said, traffic jams in major arteries like the *Paseo de la Castellana* can occur deep into the night. The problem is compounded by the narrow streets in the old town, where a lorry delivering beer barrels to a local bar can cause a huge tailback. Finding a parking space can be very time consuming, and difficult if one is not skilled in the art of close proximity parallel parking. Many Spaniards are also lacking in this art, prompting them to simply park in the street, blocking other cars in. If you find yourself blocked in by such a practice, honk your horn until the driver returns. Most Madrileños park by sound alone: they will feel no remorse for repeatedly hitting the car in front and behind them while trying to get into or out of a tight spot. If you value your car's paint job, or you have rented a car, it may be best to park underground. Though this is no guarantee for nobody hitting your car, the chances are somewhat diminished.", "word_count": 320}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk018", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "For free parking but within walking distance of 20 minutes to Sol, try the street at *Principe Pio* metro stop. The place to park is the street near to the shopping mall called 'Calle de Mozart'. It is packed with cars on weekday mornings because of people getting to the Metro station. During the evenings and weekends it's easy to get a parking spot.\n\nRenting a car is not recommended for getting around central Madrid, and if you're only staying within this area a car is likely to be more of a liability than an asset. Visitors should make use of Madrid's excellent public transportation instead. Renting a car however makes sense if you are planning to leave central Madrid to venture into the outer districts or to nearby towns. Car rental facilities are available at the airport, train stations, and other main travel sites, and cars from car-sharing services like **Free2move**, **guppy**, **Voltio**, **WiBLE** and **Zity** are widely available on the street to rent on a per-minute basis. Always be sure to have a street map handy! The roads within Madrid are difficult to navigate as there are no places to stop and consult a map or check your route.\n\nThere are several consecutive junctions underground near the centre and your GPS may not get a signal underground. Plan your turns before you enter the tunnels.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk019", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Madrid Río\nMadrid does not appear as a bike-friendly city at a first sight. Things were changing slowly to make bike experience more comfortable, but in 2019 the new right-wing mayor planned to make the city the only capital in the world where bicycle lanes are being removed. Several streets in the city centre have been transformed into mixed-traffic spaces where pedestrians and bikes have priority over cars. There are new easy-bike paths all along the river and connecting important parks.\n\nIt is also possible to use a lot of narrow easy streets where traffic is slow and calm to travel along the city without depending on exclusive bike paths. There are some official and unofficial publications with these streets along the web.\n\nTo avoid some of Madrid inconveniencies, such as hot weather or slopy streets it is also possible to get bikes on Metro and Railways trains with some schedule restrictions, and on every public transport without restrictions when using folding-bikes.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk020", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Get around", "text": "Madrid's public bike rental service, called '''BiciMAD'''. It boasts 1560 electric bikes spread over 123 stations. Unfortunately, the site is not yet available in English. However, the information at the bike stations is available in multiple languages. A casual user pays no initial fee, but €2 for every first hour or fraction, and €4 for the second (Oct 2019). A contactless card is issued instantaneously upon signing up at any bike station. The process is relatively quick and requires some basic information such as name, ID, email and credit card number. Swipe the card through the somewhat larger opening on the left of any bike to retrieve it. Use the buttons to the left of the handlebar to toggle electric assistance. Here you'll also find a button to switch on the lights. So watch out, you'll need to do this yourself when it gets dark! Be equally careful when using electric assistance for the first time, as it might require some getting used to.\n\nThere are also some rent shops in the historical centre area such as the company Baja Bikes Madrid. This company offers several rental points in Madrid at Retiro, Atocha, Madrid-Río, etc. They offer guided and self-guided bicycle tours, using electric or conventional bicycles.\n\n- Trixi bike tours", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk021", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "See", "text": "Madrid is one of the top addresses in the world for art, both contemporary and not-so-contemporary, with Goya's most famous works in the Prado, Picasso's *Guernica* in the Reina Sofía and countless other works in those two museums and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado goes back to the royal art collection which - for a nation that was the world's leading superpower for two centuries - is of course quite impressive. The Reina Sofía was opened to house what the Prado \"had no room for\" with a dividing line based on era ultimately being drawn. Besides art, Madrid also boasts some impressive architecture courtesy of kings who had access to the wealth of two continents and no qualms in spending it for extravagant royal residences.\n\nThe following is a non-exclusive taste of what Madrid has to offer. Dive into the districts to find more!\n\nthumb|''The Garden of Earthly Delights'' by Hieronymus Bosch at Prado Museum\n . This is Madrid's museum district, named for the three major art museums clustered along Paseo del Prado east of the old city: the **Museo del Prado**, one of the finest art museums in the world, the **Thyssen-Bornemisza**, a baron's collection of classical art, and the **Reina Sofia**, Madrid's modern art museum. However, a couple of smaller museums also occupy the neighbourhood which are well worth seeing as well.\n\nthumb|right|Royal Palace\n . An enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid.\n . Perhaps the best known plaza in Madrid, this impressive square is now one of the main stops on any tourist visit.\n . This plaza is the heart of Madrid and one of the busiest places in the city – a hub for the local transit system, a favourite meeting spot for locals, a visible area for festivals or political demonstrations, and an opportune location for tour guides, street performers, pickpockets and anyone else looking to take advantage of all the tourists on-hand. Several of Madrid's landmarks are found here: the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the main Post Office with its iconic clock tower and Kilometre Zero of the Spanish road network.\n . One of the busiest avenues in Madrid, the location of the cinema district and a number of shopping malls and is lined with large billboards and lights.\n . Large roundabout in the city centre with the neoclassical Cybele Fountain and the imposing eclectic Cybele Palace. Spain's former Palace of Communications is now the seat of the municipal government).\n . Sets the ambience of a traditional market, with the advantages of the new times. It has an iron and glass structure from the 20th century.\n\nthumb|right|''Catedral de la Almudena''\n . The main church of Spanish Catholicism, in neo-Gothic style. Built from the 19th century to the 1990s.\n . A prominent square adjacent to two of the tallest buildings in Madrid: the *Torre de Madrid* and the *Edificio España*.\n\nthumb|right|''El Retiro'' park\n. The main park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day, or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings.\n. Ancient Egyptian temple that was moved to Madrid's Parque del Oeste after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.", "word_count": 588}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk022", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Rooftop view from the Círculo de Bellas Artes\n\n### Sports\n\n **Football:** the men's national soccer team don't have a fixed stadium, but often play at Bernabéu and Metropolitano stadiums in Madrid. The best known clubs are Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, both based in the Northern Suburbs. They play in La Liga the top tier, and routinely qualify for European tournaments. Other teams include Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas and Getafe in the nearby suburbs, reached by Madrid Metro.\n\n **Basketball:** Estudiantes and Real Madrid play at Palacio de los Deportes. Fuenlabrada, based in the Madrid suburb of the same name, play at Polideportivo Fernando Martín.\n\n **Rugby Union:** the Spanish national XV play at Estadio Nacional Complutense on the university campus. Cisneros play there in División de Honor, the Spanish top tier. Alcobendas play near the airport, also in the top tier. \n\n **Handball** is also played in Madrid but no longer in the top tier, making BM Alcobendas the highest ranked team.\n\n### Cultural venues\n\nthumb|Teatro real, or the Royal Theatre\nFlamenco shows can be seen in numerous venues in Sol-Letras-Lavapiés, Moncloa and La Latina - Austrias.\n\nOpera houses are spread through the city centre. In addition, several orchestras don't have a stable/home venue to play in:\n - Orquesta Nacional de España\n\n - Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid\n\n - Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid\n\nthumb|Performance of the Banda Sinfónica Municipal in El Retiro Park\n- Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid\n\nthumb|right|''Cine Ideal'' offers subtitled movies in English\nCinemas offer films in English, along with films in other languages. These original films are denoted in the listings by a designation of \"V.O.\" (*versión original*) or, if subtitled in Spanish, \"VOSE\" (*versión original subtitulada en español*). Cinemas in Madrid will sometimes have *días del espectador* (viewer days) with cheaper ticket prices, usually on Mondays or Wednesdays. It also has the world's largest multiplex cinema, with 25 different screens.\n\n### Festivals\n\nthumb|Madrid Gay Pride 2008\n- La Trashumancia\n\n- Madrid Gay Pride", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk023", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Learn", "text": "If you want to go to Madrid to learn Spanish, there are several private language schools that offer Spanish courses for foreigners. These are listed in the district articles. For example:\n\n '''Don Quijote School'''. You can take 4–6 hours of Spanish courses a day. All courses, including beginner courses, are taught entirely in Spanish. A week costs €230 for 20 hours.\n '''Enforex'''. Spanish courses for all ages, intensive or private. Start any Monday of the year a Spanish course with Enforex. A week costs €130 for 10 hours.\n\nAnother option is to take a Spanish course at university, the **Complutense University of Madrid** offers Spanish courses for foreigners that take place in the faculty of Philology and Letters.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk024", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|right|''Mercado de San Miguel'' is close to Plaza Mayor\nMajor credit cards and foreign bank cards are accepted in most stores, but it is common practice to be asked for photo-ID (DNI). If asked for your DNI present your passport, residency permit or foreign ID card — anything with your photo and name on it will be accepted by most shopkeepers. The signatures on credit cards are usually not checked.\n\nthumbnail|right|Calle de Preciados remains busy also after dusk\n\n### Shopping districts\n\nIn addition to the shopping areas below, there are also a lot of H&M, Zara, Mango, and Blanco stores all over Madrid, with high fashion clothes and accessories at a low price.\n - Sol area\n\n - Salamanca\n\nthumb|right|Chueca during the gay pride\n - Chueca and Calle Fuencarral area\n\n### El Corte Inglés\n\nthumbnail|right|There is no denying that with El Corte Inglés, the delight for your eyes is on the inside (Nuevos Ministerios store pictured)\n**El Corte Inglés** is a Spanish institution, the only remaining department store chain in the country. El Corte Inglés stores are ubiquitous and dominate the retail market, setting the tone and reflecting the preferences of the Spanish customers. While hardly as exciting as visiting the over-the-top luxury department stores in New York or London, they provide a nice shopping environment, and many feature nice (and reasonably priced) food options. So, if the weather is bad, one of their stores may be your last resort.\n\nSome of the more prominent El Corte Inglés locations in Madrid:\n - El Corte Inglés Preciados\n\n - El Corte Inglés Plaza de Callao\n\nYou will also find stores in , and , as well as in most shopping centres on the outskirts of Madrid.\n\n### Fashion\n\n**Loewe** is one of the world's oldest luxury brands, founded back in the middle of the 19th century in Madrid. You will find their flagship stores and around the intersection of Calle Serrano and Calle de Goya, on Gran Vía, and, if you forgot something, two at the Madrid-Barajas Airport, in T1 and T4. If you are interested in flamenco, you can buy flamenco shoes at the store that makes the Sara Baras shoes\n\n### Markets\n\nthumb|right|El Rastro is the most important flea market in Madrid\nInteresting markets can be found in the La Latina - Austrias and Retiro - Paseo del Arte districts", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk025", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Cuisine\n\nthumb|''Cocido madrileño''\nDishes popular throughout Spain are also widely served in Madrid.\n\nIn addition, Madrid has a number of typical regional dishes:\n **Gallinejas** and **entresijos** – Lamb chitterlings fried in its fat. Very traditional and typical from Madrid city.\nthumb|right|''Callos a la madrileña''\n **Callos a la madrileña** – A hot pot of spicy beef tripe similar to those found in Turkey and the Balkans.\n **Cocido madrileño** – Chickpea stew with meat and vegetables. The particularity of this stew is the way it is served. The soup, chickpeas and meat are served and eaten separately.\n **Oreja de cerdo** – Pigs ears, fried in garlic. This popular dish is widely eaten throughout central Spain.\n **Sopa de ajo** – Garlic soup is a rich and oily soup which generally includes paprika, grated Spanish ham, fried bread and a poached egg. A variation of this soup is known as **sopa castellana**.\n\nIt is ironic that Madrid, in the centre of Spain, has higher quality seafood than many coastal regions. This quality comes at a price, and most Spaniards only occasionally shell out for a *mariscada* or seafood feast. Experiencing Madrid's seafood may be, for the visitor, an experience which will be worth the cost.\n\nFresh meat and meat products (jamón ibérico, morcilla, chorizo etc.) are of generally a very high quality in Madrid.\n\n### Restaurants\n\nMany of the restaurants and *cervecerías* in the Sol and Plaza Mayor area have generic poster board advertisements on the sidewalks with pictures advertising various paella dishes. These paellas are usually of bad quality and should be avoided. If you are looking for good, authentic Spanish paella, it is usually best to find a more expensive, 'sit-down' type of restaurant that offers a variety of paella dishes.\n\nA much better option is the La Latina neighbourhood just south of Plaza Mayor, especially along Calle Cava Baja. There are also a number of deli-like shops along Calle Arenal that offer food to go (*para llevar*).\n\nAt bars, one generally orders various sized plates, a *ración* meaning a full dish, a *media ración* or a half-dish, or a smaller version which would be a *tapa*, a *pinxto* or a *pincho*.\n\nThe Spaniards don't eat lunch until 14:00 or 15:00, and dinner doesn't start until 21:00 or 22:00. As a rule of thumb, restaurants serve lunch from 13:00 until 15:30, then close and re-open for dinner at 20:00, serving until 23:00. This schedule is usually for restaurants, since bars and *mesones* are usually opened all day long offering a wide variety of tapas and sandwiches for a cheap price. If you're really desperate, the standard bunch of fast food chains do stay open throughout the day.\n\nthumb|Museo del Jamón\nthumb|Churros at Chocolatería San Ginés", "word_count": 454}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk026", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Tapas bars\n\nIn the tapas bars, you should get free food with your drinks. The highest concentration of tapas bars is in La Latina and around Plaza Santa Ana in the barrio de las Letras, but you will find them all over the city, including Malasaña and Chueca as well as the western districts, where there are probably less overrun by tourists.\n - [[Madrid/La_Latina-Austrias#Calle Cava Baja|Calle Cava Baja]]\n\n### Cafés\n\nCafés and confectioneries can be found all over the city, but the highest concentration can be found around Puerta del Sol, barrio de las Austrias and Lavapiés, in the Old town and in Malasaña and Chueca. A very popular and typical local sweet that is sold both in cafés and by street vendors is *Churros*. These fried-dough pastries are distantly related to doughnuts, but have a more elongated shape and are a lot crispier. They are usually drizzled with sugar or chocolate.\n\n### Bars\n\nthumbnail|Madrid gets lively around midnight\nNightlife starts later in Madrid, with most people heading to the bars at 22:00-23:00. One of the best options to enjoy the nightlife is in the popular quarter **Barrio de las Letras**, especially on its main street, **Calle Huertas**, and other nearby streets. A great choice of bars is also available in the more traditional La Latina area as well as in the younger and alternative-flavoured Malasaña and Chueca districts.\n\nDraught beer *(cerveza)* is usually ordered in *cañas* (200 ml), but may also come in *dobles* (400 ml) or *jarras* (mugs).\n\n### Clubs\n\nClubs generally open at about midnight. If you go in any earlier you may find it quite empty. Many clubs do not close until 06:00, and even then everyone is still full of life.\n\n### Nightlife areas", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk027", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Alonso Martínez** - Many pubs and small discos. Until about 03:00, a very young crowd, and if you′re around here before midnight, and over the age of 20, prepare to feel positively old. Most places close around 03:00, then people move to clubs in Gran Vía or Tribunal to continue partying.\n **Chueca** - Near Malasaña and Gran Vía, it is known as the gay district, but doesn't exclude straight people. Pop and electronic music. By far, the most cosmopolitan place in town. Has become quite chic and expensive.\n **Tribunal/Malasaña** - Alternative area. Mainly rock and pop music clubs, some of them still open from \"La movida madrileña\" (beginning of the 1980s). Calle Manuela Malasaña is a great place to eat, Calle del Pez a great place to have some drinks and Plaza Dos de Mayo is the heart of the district.\n **Gran Vía** - \"The place that never sleeps\". Major street that includes many popular nightclubs, usually open from 01:00 to 06:00-07:00.\n **La Latina** - Near Lavapiés, it is the place to go for tapas and full of bohemian young people looking for stylish bars. In the old section are many small bars and pubs catering to people in their late 20s and 30s). Multiple bars serving fantastic tapas in the Cava Baja and Cuchilleros.\n **Lavapiés** - Multicultural quarter of the city, with more than 50% foreign residents, mostly from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Plenty of world music bars. Lavapiés is maybe the most cosmopolitan and hippy area at the same time in Madrid.\n **Moncloa/Ciudad Universitaria** - Due to its proximity to *Universidad Complutense*, Moncloa is associated with students and a student lifestyle, with many cheap bars and discos. Some of the places are best avoided. There are a few cheap bars with great nightlife starting from Thursdays directly in the Ciudad Universitaria near the major student dorms.\n **Torre Europa** - There used to be several posh pubs and clubs under the tower across from the stadium. There are four or five bars and discos in the avenida de Brazil area catering to a young and student crowd.", "word_count": 349}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk028", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Sleep", "text": "While of course it is most convenient to have an accommodation close to the sights in the city centre, you should also consider hotels or apartments in the other districts. For example, Malasaña and Chueca are just 1 km north of the city centre, Chamberí 2 km, but the rates may already be noticeably lower. When travelling as a family or small group, you may also think about renting an apartment via *AirBnB* or similar sharing platforms. They are usually located in residential neighbourhoods and include a kitchen, so you can do your shopping on markets, supermarkets or *alimentación* stores and prepare some meals yourself. That way you may experience more of the Madrilenians' everyday life and reduce the total cost of your stay significantly. You will also find restaurants in these districts catering to locals rather than tourists.\n\n### Hostels\n\nCheap hostels starting from €8 for a dorm bed can be found near Plaza de España, in Lavapiés or the Sol area. There are also a bit more comfortable hostels offering single rooms for €30–40, doubles for €40–50, e.g. in Malasaña or the barrio de las Austrias.\n\n### Budget\n\nBudget hotels and B&Bs charge around €30–60 for single, €55–100 for double rooms. Many of them can be found in the Barrio de las Letras or Chueca district.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nA room in a mid-range hotel will cost you around €60–150 per night. Most of them are concentrated in the Barrio de las Letras and Sol area as well as the Paseo del Arte.\n\n### Splurge\n\nA stay in a plush hotel will set you back at least €90 per night and there is no upper limit. Most of them are found in the posh Salamanca district, along the Gran Vía, in the historic centre and in the Retiro and Paseo del Arte area. Among the most famous names in the business are the *Hotel Villa Magna*, the *Gran Meliá Palacio de Los Duques* and the Madrid *Ritz*.", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk029", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of Sept 2021, Madrid has 5G from all Spanish carriers.\n\n*Locutorios* (call shops) are widely spread in Madrid near touristy locations and are very cheap to use. Some shops and kiosks have tourist SIM cards from carriers like Orange and Vodafone with plans that run €10–20 for a month of 50–100 gigabytes of data or more. Employees are willing to install the card and configure the plan.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk030", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Andorra\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Belgium (Bélgica)\n\n - Brazil (Brasil)\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Denmark (Dinamarca)\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - Egypt (Egipto)\n\n - Finland (Finlandia)\n\n - France (Francia)\n\n - Georgia\n\n - Germany (Alemania)\n\n - Greece (Grecia)\n\n - Guatemala\n\n - Honduras\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland (Irlandia)\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy (Italia)\n\n - Japan (Japón)\n\n - Kenya (Kenia)\n\n - Libya (Libia)\n\n - Luxembourg (Luxemburgo)\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Morocco (Marruecos)\n\n - Netherlands (Países Bajos)\n\n - New Zealand (Nueva Zelandia)\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Norway (Noruega)\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Philippines (Filipinas)\n\n - Poland (Polonia)\n\n - Romania\n\n - Singapore (Singapur)\n\n - South Africa (Sudáfrica)\n\n - Sweden (Suezia)\n\n - Switzerland (Suiza)\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Tunisia (Túnez)\n\n - United Kingdom (Reino Unido)\n\n - United States (Estados Unidos)\n\n - Venezuela\n\n### Newspapers\n\nThere are a number of free, English language periodicals that you will find in bars and restaurants that are a great source of event information.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk031", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Madrid is a very safe city, with some of the lowest crime rates among Europe's largest cities. The police is highly visible, and the city is equipped with cameras. There are always people in the streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the city generally without fear. Travellers who remain aware of their surroundings, and keep an eye on their belongings, should have little to worry about. For police, medical, or fire emergencies, simply call 112. Operators usually speak English.\n\n### Neighbourhoods and suburbs\n\nAs with any place on earth, there are parts of Madrid and its metropolitan area that are less appealing and, consequently, less safe than others.", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk032", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Malasaña area, located north of Gran Via, is a lively bohemian neighbourhood, but it is also known to attract seedy crowds late at night.\n Some districts in the south (Carabanchel, Puente De Vallecas, Villaverde) and east (Ciudad Lineal) are marginally less well-off than the rest of Madrid, and they can give off an uneasy vibe to those unfamiliar with these places. They are safer than many \"bad neighbourhoods\" in other western European countries, but be on your guard at night. Most places within reach of metro stations are safe.\n Though - or rather because - it is the wealthiest district in Madrid, Salamanca has its share of pickpockets, namely in and around the Avenida de América station.\n Several of Madrid's suburbs to the south (Móstoles, Alcorcón, Parla) and east (Alcalá de Henares) have fairly undeserved reputations to seediness. In reality, they are mostly safe, though it is always wise to stick to well-lit and crowded streets.\n The areas surrounding the Chamartin train station in the north have started seeing homeless and refugee encampments. Squatters inhabiting these encampments rarely interact with strangers and passer-by, but watch yourself at night.\n\n### Football\n\nDespite the notoriously intense and politically-charged rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, most people will not care if you wear an FC Barcelona football shirt, and in fact you will often see people (usually tourists) wear that shirt around the city. As Madrid is the capital city of Spain, it attracts people from all over the country, including Catalonia. One notable exception: on match days, do be careful, as violence has been known to occur between supporters of both clubs.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk033", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Furthermore, there is a love/hate relationship between the two major football clubs in the city: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Both are storied clubs with diverging identities; Real Madrid was always seen as the club of the elite, whereas Atletico Madrid is seen as the \"people's club\". Many fans and analysts believe that the \"Derbi Madrileño\" is more entertaining than \"El Clasico\", partially because of those differences in identity, but also because fans of the clubs have been known to engage in fiery arguments. If you ever see Real and Atletico fans argue, be careful if things start to escalate.\n\nOne of the lesser-known clubs in Spain, Rayo Vallecano is known for its very left-wing culture, traditions, and fan base. While games are usually fun and harmless, there have been reports of robberies in and around the Vallecas Stadium, which is located in the working-class neighbourhood of Puente De Vallecas. It is also highly discouraged to talk about politics.\n\n### Pickpocketing\n\nMuch like other big European cities, Madrid has its fair share of nonviolent pickpocket crime, though it is nowhere near the stratospheric levels of cities like Rome or Barcelona. Always watch out for any belongings (mostly bags and wallets) you have with you, especially on the Metro and in busier public spaces. Some areas with acute pickpocketing problems include Gran Via (especially near Plaza de Callao and Calle de Fuencarral), Puerta del Sol, the Atocha train station, and the AZCA business district (though the latter has seen improvements in that regard). Some major night clubs like Kapital and Mondo Disko also attract pickpockets.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk034", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Pickpockets often create a distraction while an accomplice steals from you. Distractions include presenting a map and asking you for directions, or asking you to sign a petition - which is followed by a request for a donation. It is best to ignore any stranger that approaches you in the street asking for help. Be careful when carrying luggage as this can make you a target for pickpockets.\n\nOne prevalent and long-lasting issue in Madrid are street vendors, especially around Puerta del Sol. They are usually harmless and will take \"no\" as a sign that they should not bother you, but do not provoke them. Also, these street vendors react swiftly to police cars, so watch yourself whenever they run from the police.\n\nAt bars and restaurants never leave wallets or telephones on the table as possessions on show make for easy targets. Passing thieves create a distraction and steal the items. The area around Calle de las Infantes near Gran Via is particularly renowned for this.\n\nWhen using ATM machines, be aware of your surroundings, just as you would anywhere. Bring a friend if you need to withdraw cash after dark. If someone approaches you while using an ATM, hit CANCELAR, retrieve your card and move on.\n\nWhen going out, getting drunk can make you a target for thieves. Also keep an eye on your drink. Don't carry valuables on a night out.\n\n### Scams\n\nPlaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol might be beauties to look at, but they are Meccas for scams.\n\nAvoid people offering massages (*masajes*); this is often a scam to extort money. Be firm and say *\"No me toque\"* (\"Don't touch me\") or *\"No tengo dinero\"* (\"I don't have any money\")", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "madrid::chunk035", "doc_id": "madrid", "section": "Go next", "text": "While Regional and Cercanías tickets don't have to be pre-bought and don't sell out, tickets for AVE, Avant and other long distance trains sell out once all seats are gone. if you want to take a day trip to Sevilla or want to take one of the faster trains to Segovia, buy your tickets in advance.\n\n**Easy day-trips** from Madrid include :\n Alcalá de Henares is a charming old university town, birthplace of Miguel Cervantes the author of *Don Quixote*. Reach it by local train within 50 min.\n Aranjuez has the *Palacio Real*, the Bourbon monarchs' summer home, and the lavish *Casa del Labrador* near the river. Local trains take 45 min from Atocha, 55 min from Chamartin.\n Ávila has the most intact walled old town in Spain, spectacular when floodlit at night. Fast trains from Chamartin take 90 min.\n Chinchon is a hilltop small town that retains its character from the 1700s. No train, drive or take the bus.\n El Escorial is a huge monastery and palace, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Reach it within an hour by local train from Atocha or Chamartin. Near El Escorial is Spain's most controversial monument - Valle de los Caìdos. Built by Spanish republicans taken prisoner during and after the civil war, it is a gigantomanic underground church with a huge cross on top of the mountain an edifice very much in the fascist style. It is the burial place of many fallen of the civil war, and it housed the tomb of dictator Francisco Franco until October 2019. There's an infrequent public bus to the entrance, from where it's another 9 km hiking. The nearby mountains, *Sierra de Guadarrama*, are the setting for Peñalara Nature Park.\n El Pardo is a village 8 km from Madrid with the *Palacio de El Pardo*, which in 1739 hosted a peace conference between Spain and England. War broke out. A bus runs from Madrid Moncloa.\n Segovia is a medieval city perched on a hilltop, with a great Roman aqueduct leaping across the valley to bring in the water supply. It's 30 min by train from Chamartin.\n Toledo is a medieval walled city and former capital of Spain, with excellent architecture and artwork. It's 30 min by train from Atocha.\n\n**Further afield**, day-trips at a stretch but deserving at least an overnight stay, are Salamanca, Leon, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Córdoba.", "word_count": 398}
diff --git a/corpus/madrid/metadata.json b/corpus/madrid/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..79124edd80d0d2245e8f1de59f0132a6d9d4cf19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/madrid/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "madrid",
+ "title": "Madrid",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Madrid",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q2807",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 40.4169,
+ -3.7033
+ ],
+ "summary": "Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi). Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula at about 660 metres (2,170 ft) above mean sea level. The capital city of both Spain and the surrounding autonomous community of Madrid, it is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country.\nThe primitive core of Madrid, a walled military outpost, dates back to the late 9th century, under the Emirate of Córdoba. Conquered by Christians in 1083 or 1085, it consolidated in the Late Middle Ages as a sizeable town of the Crown of Castile. The development of Madrid as an administrative centre was",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Community of Madrid"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Alcalá de Henares",
+ "Aranjuez",
+ "Ávila",
+ "Chinchon",
+ "El Escorial",
+ "Segovia",
+ "Toledo (Spain)",
+ "Salamanca",
+ "Leon (Spain)",
+ "Valladolid (Spain)",
+ "Zaragoza",
+ "Córdoba (city, Spain)",
+ "Burgos",
+ "Aranda de Duero",
+ "Getafe",
+ "Córdoba (city, Spain)"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 8951,
+ "listing_count": 68,
+ "marker_count": 26,
+ "chunk_count": 36,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/malaysia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/malaysia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..06427496e850dd6b7b7b39f2eb4b6883a33b0dd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/malaysia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk000", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Malaysia** is a country in Southeast Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, as well as on northern Borneo. The country is one of Asia's tiger economies, having seen great economic and human development during the last several decades. While the capital Kuala Lumpur is a cosmopolitan city, deep jungles cover vast swaths of the land, and the offshore islands are home to pristine beaches and some of the world's best scuba diving sites. Malaysia is also a foodie's paradise, with its diverse ethnic groups contributing to an incredibly rich culinary heritage.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk001", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Regions", "text": "Malaysia is divided into two main geographical regions, commonly known as Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. See Geography for more information.\n\n### Peninsular Malaysia\n\n### East Malaysia", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk002", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|The iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur\n\n — the multi-cultural national capital, home of the Petronas Twin Towers\n — the capital of Penang and hub of Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area, famed for its colonial-era architecture, multi-cultural populace, food and arts scene\n — the historical city of Malaysia with colonial-style architecture\n — the capital of Perak, with a historic colonial old town and tin mining area\n — capital of Johor and Malaysia's third largest city, at the border with Singapore\n — capital of Pahang and largest city on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia\n — close to tropical islands, lush rain forest and Mount Kinabalu\n — capital of Sarawak, and largest city in East Malaysia\n — resort city of Sarawak near the border with Brunei and gateway to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu National Park", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk003", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— famous for its tea plantations\n (*Pulau Perhentian*) — glittering jewels off the East Coast still undiscovered by mass tourism\n — a large area of rainforest national park spanning Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu\n — home of Mount Kinabalu\n — an archipelago of 99 islands known for its beaches, rainforest, mountains, mangrove estuaries and unique nature. It's also a duty-free island\n (*Pulau Sipadan*) — one of the best dive spots in the world\n (*Pulau Redang*) — popular island destination for scuba divers\n (*Pulau Tioman*) — once nominated one of the most beautiful islands in the world\n — a time warp to the colonial era", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk004", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Malaysia is a mix of the modern world and a developing nation. With its investment in high technology industries and moderate oil wealth, it has become a rich nation in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, for most visitors, presents a happy mix: there is high-tech infrastructure and things generally work well and more or less on schedule, but prices remain more reasonable than in, say, Singapore. The demographics between the rich and poor can also be quite apparent: for example, a high rise luxury condominium building built right across the street from old, rundown shop lots or flats. However, you will not find extreme rural poverty or gigantic urban slums as in most other countries of Southeast Asia.\n\nIn terms of attractions, peninsular (West) Malaysia contains islands with gorgeous beaches and a fraction of visitors found in Thailand's most popular beaches, mountain retreats surrounded by tea plantations, interesting historical cities, world-famous food, and the highly modern, multi-cultural capital of Kuala Lumpur. East Malaysia contains lush jungles with diverse native population and wildlife, as well as stunning natural attractions such as giant caves, beautiful mountains and fantastic diving sites. Notably, however, Malaysia is not as popular among backpackers as other Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, partly due to the relatively higher costs, and partly due to the more religious and conservative, albeit generally tolerant, culture. It also lacks the ancient Hindu and/or Buddhist temples and temple complexes of its neighbours, though it does have some large and impressive ones built since the 19th century.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|The Dutch Square in Malacca", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk005", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Before the rise of the European colonial powers, the Malay Peninsula and the Malay archipelago were home to empires such as the Srivijaya (whose capital was near modern Palembang, Sumatra, but which included the entire Malay Peninsula and lands further north at its greatest extent), the Majapahit (centred in Java, now part of Indonesia, but believed by most scholars to have included the entire Malay Peninsula and most of coastal Borneo among its vassal states) and the Malacca Sultanate. The Srivijaya and Majapahit empires saw the spread of Hinduism to the region, and to this day, despite the fact that Malays are Muslims, many Hindu legends and traditions survive in traditional Malay culture. Mass conversion to Islam only occurred after the arrival of Arab traders during the Malacca Sultanate.\n\nthumb|Fort Cornwallis in [[George Town (Malaysia)|George Town]], [[Penang]] marked the site where the British colonisation of Malaya began in 1786.\n\nDuring the 16th century the Portuguese established the first European colony in Southeast Asia by defeating the Malacca Sultanate. The Portuguese were religiously intolerant and cruel, so the Sultan of Johor assisted the Dutch in defeating them, and the Netherlands took control of the city. The British also established their first colony on the Malay peninsula in Penang when it was ceded by the Sultan of Kedah in 1786. Finally, the area was divided into Dutch and British spheres of influence with the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824. With this treaty, the Dutch agreed to cede Malacca to the British and in return, the British ceded all their colonies on Sumatra to the Dutch. The line of division roughly corresponds to what is today the border between Malaysia and Indonesia.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk006", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Before World War II, the Malay Peninsula was governed by the British as the Federated Malay States (Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang), which were governed as a single protectorate, the Unfederated Malay States (Johor, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu and Kelantan), which were each governed as separate protectorates. The Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang and Singapore) were crown colonies directly administered by the British colonisers. These colonies and protectorates were collectively referred to as \"Malaya\". British Borneo consisted of the British colony of North Borneo, the Kingdom of Sarawak, which was ruled by a British family known as the \"White Rajas\", and the British protectorate of Brunei.\n\nWorld War II was disastrous for the British Malayan Command. The Japanese swept down both coasts of the Malay Peninsula and despite fierce fighting, much of the British military was tied down fighting the Germans in Europe and those that remained in Malaya simply could not cope with the Japanese onslaught. The British military equipment left to defend Malaya was outdated and no match for the modern technology used by the Japanese, and the only two British battleships based in the region, the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, were sunk by Japanese bombers off the East Coast of Malaya. By 31 January 1942, the British had been pushed all the way back to Singapore, which fell to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The situation was no different on Borneo, which fell to the Japanese on 1 April 1942 after months of fierce fighting. The Japanese occupation was brutal, and many, particularly the ethnic Chinese, suffered and perished during the occupation. Among the most notorious atrocities committed by the Japanese were the Sandakan Death Marches, with only 6 out of 2,345 prisoners surviving the war.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk007", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "After World War II, the Federated Malay States, Unfederated Malay States and the Straits Settlements of Malacca and Penang were federated to form a single British colony known as the Malayan Union, with Singapore being split off to form a separate colony. In the Malayan Union, the sultans of the various states ceded all their powers except those in religious affairs to the British crown. However, widespread opposition to the Malayan Union led the British to reconsider their position, and in 1948, the Malayan Union was replaced by the Federation of Malaya, in which the executive positions of the sultans were restored. In Borneo, the White Rajas ceded Sarawak to the British crown in 1946, making it a crown colony of the United Kingdom.\n\nthumb|Malaysian flag flying in ''Dataran Merdeka'', Kuala Lumpur\n\nOn 31 August 1957, Malaya gained independence from the British. At midnight, the Union Jack was lowered, and the Malayan flag raised in its place at what is today *Dataran Merdeka* (Independence Square) in Kuala Lumpur. The crowd, led by the first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman, then proceeded to chant \"*Merdeka*\" seven times. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was formed through the merging of Malaya with the British colonies of North Borneo (now known as Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore, with Brunei deciding not to join. The first several years of the country's history were marred by the Confrontation (*Konfrontasi*) — actually a series of acts of aggression by Indonesia that ultimately ended in her defeat and a formal peace that has held ever since — and claims to Sabah from the Philippines.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk008", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "On 9 August 1965 Singapore was officially expelled from the federation after several bloody racial riots as Singapore's majority Chinese population and the People's Action Party, led by Lee Kuan Yew (later the long-ruling Prime Minister of Singapore), were seen as a threat to Malay dominance. There were further racial riots in 1969, which led to the forced resignation of Tunku Abdul Rahman; his replacement by Tun Abdul Razak; changes in the Malaysian Constitution that sought to prevent the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from ever being defeated in a future national election; and the start of the New Economic Policy, which sought to aggressively promote the economic interests of the generally poorer Malay community (and also the non-Malay indigenous peoples of East Malaysia) over those of the generally less poor Chinese community (with the poorest major ethnic group, the Indians, and also to a very large extent the Orang Asli [aboriginal people] in the Peninsula mostly ignored in the process).", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk009", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1975, boat people from across the South China Sea in Vietnam started coming, and Malaysia became one of the most important places of first refuge for Indochinese refugees, but in general, only those of the Muslim Champa minority were invited to stay permanently. Later, during the period of tremendous economic development under the long premiership of Mahathir Mohammed, a large number of immigrant workers were invited from Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and several other countries in the area, and even more immigrated illegally. This further increased the diversity of the population, and quite a number of the workers were reported in local newspapers to have intermarried with local women, but it also led to social strife as many Malaysian men resented the competition, and while the economy depended on immigrant workers to do jobs most Malaysians were no longer willing to do, now that their standard of living was higher, most Malaysians also did not want to permanently absorb a large and potentially almost limitless number of poor people from the much more populous countries in the region. Some immigrants were expelled and even caned for immigration violations, but the issue has never been really resolved.\n\nThings came to a head in 2015 when allegations of corruption by then-prime minister Najib Razak surfaced in connection with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which was originally set up to promote economic development by attracting foreign investment. The allegations led to the *Bersih* (Malay for \"clean\") rally in which protesters unsuccessfully called for Najib to step down. However, widespread discontent arising from the 1MDB corruption scandal continued to simmer, eventually leading to a shock first-ever electoral defeat for the incumbent BN coalition in the 2018 general election.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk010", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy consisting of 13 states and 3 federal territories, nominally headed by the king (*Yang di-Pertuan Agong*, lit. Paramount Ruler), whose position rotates among the rulers of the 9 royal states of Malaysia every five years. In practice, the king is only the nominal head of state, while the prime minister is the one who wields the most authority in government.\n\nMalaysia's government is largely based on the British Westminster system, consisting of a bicameral national parliament. The lower house, known as the *Dewan Rakyat* (Hall of the People) is elected directly by the people. The upper house, known as the *Dewan Negara* (National Hall), consists of 26 members elected by the state governments, with each state having 2 representatives, while the remaining members are appointed by the king. The head of government is the prime minister, who is the party leader of the winning party in the lower house.\n\nAt the state level, each of the states also has its own unicameral *Dewan Undangan Negeri* (State Legislative Assembly), with the head of the state government being the *Menteri Besar* (First Minister, often translated as \"Chief Minister\" in English-language media) in the royal states, and the *Ketua Menteri* (Chief Minister) in the non-royal states.\n\n### Geography\n\nMalaysia comprises two geographic regions, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, which are separated by the South China Sea.", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk011", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Peninsular Malaysia** (*Semenanjung Malaysia*) occupies all of the Malay Peninsula between Thailand and Singapore, and is also known as West Malaysia (*Malaysia Barat*) or the slightly archaic Malaya (*Tanah Melayu*). It's home to the bulk of Malaysia's population, the capital and the largest city Kuala Lumpur, and generally more economically developed. Peninsular Malaysia consists of plains on both the East and West Coasts, separated from each other by a mountain range known as the *Banjaran Titiwangsa*, with the West Coast being more densely populated and generally more well-developed than the East Coast.\n\nSeparated some 800 km to the east of Peninsular Malaysia is **East Malaysia** (*Malaysia Timur*). East Malaysia occupies the northern third of the island of Borneo, shared with Indonesia and tiny Brunei. Much of the development on East Malaysia is centred around the cities of Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu. Outside of the major cities and smaller towns are impenetrable jungle where head hunters once roamed and coastal plains rising to mountains, including the country's highest mountain Mount Kinabalu. East Malaysia is rich in natural resources and is very much Malaysia's hinterland for industry and tourism, though those who make the trip will find it to be a world-class ecotourism destination.\n\n### People", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk012", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Malaysia is a multicultural society. While Malays (a branch of the Austronesian group) make up a 52% majority, 27% of Malaysians are Chinese (who are especially visible in the cities), 9% are Indians, 12% are members of aboriginal peoples (often called *Orang Asli*, Malay for \"Original People\"), and there is a miscellaneous grouping of 1.5% \"others\", including Thai communities in northern border states and the Portuguese clan in Malacca. The majority of the population (including virtually all Malays, as well as a significant minority of Indians) adheres to Islam, the state religion, and there are substantial minorities who practice Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism and animism, which are allowed under the constitution, subject to the supremacy of Islam — for example, it is illegal to proselytize other religions to Muslims.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk013", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Malaysia shares many cultural similarities with its neighbours, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore due to their common history. As the first great kingdoms to emerge in the region were Hindu kingdoms with much influence from India, Malay culture has substantial Indian influences. This is most visible in Malay cuisine with its relatively heavy use of curries, albeit using local instead of Indian spices, meaning that Malay curries often have a unique local flavour that is different from their Indian counterparts. In addition, the Malay language contains quite a few loan words from Sanskrit, and traditional Malay arts show noticeable influences from Hindu mythology, albeit Islamised. Malaysia's minorities also continue to maintain their own distinct cultures, with the Chinese and Indian communities continuing to preserve the traditions brought from their ancestral homelands. In particular, Malaysia's ethnic Chinese community is considered to have preserved Chinese culture and language the best among all the overseas Chinese communities of the world. Moreover, as Malaysia was unaffected by the Cultural Revolution, the ethnic Chinese community of Malaysia has preserved many elements of traditional Chinese culture that have been lost in mainland China.\n\n### Holidays\n\nOne of the significant characteristics of Malaysian culture is its celebration of various festivals and events. The year is filled with colourful, exhilarating and exciting activities. Some are religious and solemn but others are vibrant, joyous events. One interesting feature of the main festivals here is the 'open house' custom. This is when Malaysians celebrating the festival invite friends and family to come by their homes for some traditional delicacies and fellowship.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk014", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Multicultural Malaysia celebrates a vast range of festivals, but the ones to look out for nationwide are Islamic holidays, most notably the fasting month of **Ramadan**. During its 29 or 30 days, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to sunset. Not all Muslims follow the tradition, or sustain the full period of Ramadan fasting, but most do make a very serious effort. Pregnant, breast feeding or menstruating women are not expected to fast, nor are the elderly, the infirm, or travellers. People get up early before sunrise for a meal (*sahur*), and take off early to get back home in time to break fast (*buka puasa*) at sunset.\n\nAt the end of the month is the festival of **Eid ul-Fitr**, known locally as **Hari Raya Puasa** or **Aidilfitri**, when many locals take one to two weeks off to 'balik kampung' or return to their home towns to meet family and friends. Accordingly, this is one of the many times in a year when major cities like Kuala Lumpur have virtually no traffic congestion.\n\nAnother important festival is the Muslim festival of **Eid ul-Adha**, known locally as **Hari Raya Haji** or **Aidiladha**. It is during this festival that Muslims perform the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. In local mosques, cows and goats are donated by the faithful and sacrificed, after which the meat is distributed to all. Family reunions are also celebrated during other main festivals when locals usually put on traditional costumes and finery as these festivals are an integral feature of Malaysian society.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk015", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "During the month of Ramadan, non-Muslims are expected to be considerate of those fasting. Non-Muslims, as well as Muslims travelling (*musafir*), are exempt from fasting but it is polite to refrain from eating or drinking in public. Public school systems also require non-Muslims to refrain from eating in front of those who are fasting. Many restaurants close during the day and those that stay open maintain a low profile. Business travellers will notice that things move rather more slowly than usual. The upside for foreign travellers are the Ramadan bazaars in every city and town, bustling with activity and bursting at the seams with great food. That said, most Chinese stalls and restaurants remain open, and you will see people eating and drinking openly in Chinese-majority areas. Hotels and restaurants also pull out all stops to put on massive spreads of food for fast-breaking feasts. During the month of Ramadan, meals at the end of fasts are usually considered grand feasts. Worldwide fast-food chain McDonald's is known for holding several all-you-can-eat Ramadan feasts during the month.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk016", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Other major holidays include **Chinese New Year** (around January/February), **Deepavali** or **Diwali**, the Hindu festival of lights (around October/November), the Buddhist holiday of **Wesak** (around May/June), and **Christmas** (25 December). During Chinese New Year, George Town and Ipoh become the major cities as many local Chinese working and living in KL originated from there. However this situation is changing gradually, as more and more people are making Kuala Lumpur their home town. While visiting during such festivals, travellers will be able to experience many wonderful celebrations, but the downside is many ethnic shops/eateries will be closed. The best option is to visit during the period just after the first two days of the major festival (Hari Raya/Chinese New Year), when shops will open, and the festive mood has still not died down.\n\nAnother major celebration is **Deepavali**, celebrated by the Malaysian Hindus as the festival of light originating from classical India and one of the main cultural celebrations. In Malaysia, locals practice this tradition by wearing new clothes and receiving token gifts of money. This practice has been adapted by all Malaysians regardless of their religion. They distribute red packets or *ang pow* during Chinese New Year, green packets or 'duit raya' for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and multi-coloured packets during Deepavali.\n\nSome uniquely Malaysian festivals of note include the **Harvest Festival** at the end of May each year and the '**Pesta Gawai'** in early June, both thanksgiving celebrations held in East Malaysia.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk017", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Thaipusam** is a Hindu festival that falls in January or February and is one of the must-see events. The largest procession in the country takes place at Batu Caves, Selangor. Male devotees carry decorated altars or *kavadi* up a flight of 272 steps towards the temple, all this while also having religious spears and hooks pierced through external surfaces of their bodies. The ability is attributed to divine intervention and religious fervour. Female devotees join the procession carrying pots of milk on their head instead.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe **climate** in Malaysia is equatorial. The north-east monsoon (October to February) deluges Borneo and the East Coast of the Peninsula in rain and often causes flooding, while the West Coast (particularly Langkawi and Penang) escapes unscathed. The milder south-west monsoon (April to October) reverses the pattern. The southern and central parts of Peninsular Malaysia, including perennially soggy Kuala Lumpur, are exposed to both but even during the rainy season, the showers tend to be intense but brief.\n\nMalaysia is close to the equator, so warm weather is guaranteed. Temperatures generally range from at noon to about at midnight. But like most Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia's sun-shining days are interrupted by monsoon season every year, and night temperatures can hit a low of about on rainy days.\n\nTemperatures tend to be cooler in the highlands, with the likes of Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands and Fraser's Hill having temperatures ranging from about at night to about in the day. Mount Kinabalu is known to have temperatures falling below .\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMalaysia Tourism Corporation", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk018", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language of Malaysia is **Malay** (officially *Bahasa Malaysia*, also commonly known as *Bahasa Melayu*). The Indonesian language, spoken across the border in Indonesia, is similar to Malay, and speakers of both languages can generally understand each other. The main differences are in the loanwords: Malay borrowed more from English, while Indonesian borrowed more from Dutch. Some parts of Malaysia near the Thai border, most notably Kelantan, have dialects of Malay which are nearly incomprehensible to speakers of standard Malay, though most people in these areas will be able to converse in standard Malay if needed.\n\n**English** is compulsory in all schools and widely spoken by the upper and middle classes, as well as in the tourism industry, although outside that a little Malay will come in handy. There is also a local dialect of English spoken among Malaysians in urban areas, not inappropriately known as **Manglish**, which has its own simplified grammar and a vocabulary that is mostly English but includes borrowings from Malay and several other locally-spoken languages; it takes a bit of getting used to if you intend to join in the conversation on local topics. Almost all Malaysians will pronounce the \"th\" letter combination as a \"t\", so \"three\" becomes \"tree\". Malaysians will almost always try to speak 'standardized English' (British) when approached by Western travellers. In general, police stations and government offices have English-speaking staff on duty.\n\nArabic is taught to those who attend Islamic religious schools, and many clerics as well as other very observant Muslims have a functional command of Arabic. However, it is not widely spoken, though the Malay language does have a large number of loan words from Arabic. You also might notice some examples of Malay written with Arabic letters. This is called Jawi, and it is still used for religious publications and inscriptions, especially in more conservative states like Kelantan, although the Latin alphabet is much more commonly used throughout the country.\n\nThe Chinese community in Malaysia speaks a wide variety of Chinese dialects including Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka, Hainanese, Hokchiu and Hokkien. Mandarin is taught in Chinese schools while Cantonese is commonly heard in the mass media due to the popularity of TVB serials from Hong Kong among the Chinese community, so many are conversant in both, regardless of their native dialect. Malaysian cities with large ethnic Chinese populations will often have a dialect serving as a lingua franca among that community: in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, this is Cantonese; in Penang and Klang, Hokkien; and in Kota Kinabalu, Hakka. The most commonly spoken Indian language is Tamil; others include Malayalam, Punjabi and Telugu.\n\nIn the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia bordering Thailand, there are various ethnic Thai communities, known locally as the *Orang Siam*, who speak various dialects of Thai. Malacca in the south is also home to a Portuguese community which speaks a Portuguese based creole. The remote forest areas of Peninsular Malaysia are also home to various tribal people known as the *Orang Asli*, who speak various indigenous languages such as Semelai, Temuan and many others. In East Malaysia several indigenous languages are also spoken, especially Iban and Kadazan.\n\nFilms and television programmes are usually shown in their original language with Malay subtitles, although some children's programmes are dubbed into Malay.", "word_count": 546}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk019", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\n#### Visa\n\nthumb|375px\n\nMost nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa and can reside in Malaysia for 14 to 90 days, depending on their nationality. Refer to the **Ministry of Foreign Affairs** for current information regarding visa requirements and stay periods. The East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak each maintains its own immigration system and separate controls: even Malaysians from other states require a passport or MyKad on arrival.\n\nThose who wish to enter Malaysia for purposes other than for a Social or Business visit still require a visa for any period except for US citizens who enter for the purpose of studying.\n\nNationals of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, and Sri Lanka need a visa but can apply for an **e-visa**, which is valid for 3 months for a stay of up to 30 days. You'll have to print out the visa once it's issued and bring proof of sufficient funds, a return ticket, and proof of accommodation when you enter the country.\n\nCitizens of India are exempted needing to have a visa for a stay of up to 30 days until December 31, 2026.\n\n**Overstaying** a visa will result in a US$10, €7.50 or RM30 fine per day. However it's fairly simple to avoid overstaying a visa by doing a \"visa run\" to a neighbouring country overland or via a cheap flight. Malaysia may impose **caning** as a punishment for overstaying a visa.\n\nMalaysian Immigration may take your fingerprints and/or photograph on arrival and departure.\n\n#### Malaysia Digital Arrival Card\n\nSince 2024, all foreign travellers except citizens of Singapore must complete the **Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)** online for every visit to Malaysia.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk020", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can only complete this card a maximum of 3 days ahead of your arrival — in practice you can even submit it on the day of arrival while in the queue to immigration.\n\nAt KLIA there are also PCs available before immigration where you can complete the card.\n\n#### Autogates\n\nTravellers from most visa-free countries may use the **autogates** to complete immigration formalities when entering and exiting Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or the Causeway in Johor Bahru. Your passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months if entering via KLIA, or 3 months if entering via the Causeway from Singapore. Entry through any other immigration checkpoint will require you to be processed at a manned immigration counter.\n\nIt is advisable to use autogates if you can, as the immigration queues can be quite brutal. If you are qualified for the autogates, you don't need to enroll. You can proceed directly to an autogate, even if it's your first visit.\n\nThere is one exception: if you want to proceed to East Malaysia, you need to go to a human counter and have your passport stamped as it is required by Malaysian law. You will need to clear immigration by showing your passport with an entry stamp when you arrive at a port in East Malaysia.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk021", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are not a Malaysian citizen and cannot use the autogates, **ensure that your passport is stamped on entry**, or you would be considered to have entered illegally otherwise (and Malaysian immigration officials don't always give entry stamps unprompted). Fines on the order of RM3,000 will be imposed when you try to leave without the entry stamp in your passport. Also **ensure that your passport is stamped when you leave**, or you would be considered to have left illegally otherwise, which could cause problems should you wish to visit Malaysia again in the future.\n\n#### Transit visas\n\nEven though citizens of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka normally require a visa, they can transit the same airport for up to 120 hours provided they arrive and depart on the same airline, land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang or Johor Bahru and present an air ticket for the onward flight.\n\n#### Customs\n\nTravellers are not permitted to bring more than the equivalent of US$10,000 in Malaysian ringgit per person in and out of the country. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you can bring into or out of Malaysia, but you are required to declare to customs if the total amount of cash and traveller's cheques you are carrying exceeds the equivalent of US$10,000 per person.\n\nNon-Muslim travellers aged 21 and above are permitted to bring up to 1L of alcohol into Malaysia. There is *no* duty free allowance for tobacco products including cigarettes; all tobacco products must be declared and duties paid.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|[[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] in [[Sepang]], [[Selangor]].", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk022", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "National carrier **Malaysia Airlines** (MAS) has extensive coverage within Asia, and intercontinental flights to Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It regularly ranks high in airline quality assessments. Low-cost carrier **AirAsia** and its sister company, **AirAsia X**, connects an ever-expanding set of countries including Australia, China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Emirates also flies from most cities to Kuala Lumpur via Dubai, and flights to Perth, Australia, make a brief stop in KLIA.\n - AirAsia\n\n- Malaysia Airlines\n\n- Emirates Airlines\n\nMost international flights land at **Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)** (). KLIA's predecessor, the **Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport** () in Subang near Kuala Lumpur handles mostly domestic turboprop fights, with limited regional services to Singapore and Jakarta. See the Kuala Lumpur '''Get in''' section for detailed airport information.\n\nOther airports which have significant numbers of flights to regional destinations are Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Penang, Kuching (Sarawak), Langkawi and Johor Bahru. Some other smaller airports also serve limited international flights from Singapore.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk023", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "**From Singapore:** There's a shuttle train service which runs seven times each way during the morning and evening peak periods from Woodlands Train Checkpoint (in the north of Singapore) to JB sentral in Johor Bahru, costing MYR5 from the Malaysian side and SGD5 on the Singapore side. Conventional intercity trains then connect Johor Bahru with Gemas (where you can transfer to a train to Kuala Lumpur) and Tumpat, near Kota Bharu. They don't always match up to the shuttle times, so be prepared for long waiting times or get a backup plan by bus should you miss the shuttle. Early morning trains to Singapore and late evening trains to Malaysia are usually packed on the weekdays and the traffic flow reverses on the weekends. Booking online at the KTMB website may reserve a precious seat without hassle. When travelling from Singapore into Malaysia, both Singaporean and Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at Woodlands Train Checkpoint before boarding the train for Malaysia. In the reverse direction, Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at JB Sentral before boarding, while Singaporean immigration checks are conducted on arrival in Woodlands.\n **From Thailand:** Trains from Thailand start and terminate at the border at Padang Besar where Thai and Malaysian immigration formalities are all conveniently done in the station, and you can transfer between Malaysian and Thai trains. There are two Padang Besar stations; one in Thailand and one in Malaysia; be sure to get off the train only at the Padang Besar station in Malaysia, as that is where both Thai and Malaysian immigration checks are conducted, and where transfers between Malaysian and Thai trains take place. There is also a less used eastern route from Hat Yai to Thai border town Sungai Kolok, but there are no through trains to the nearby Malaysian station at Wakaf Bahru (near Kota Bharu).", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk024", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\nLong-distance buses/coaches into Malaysia run from Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Please see the relevant city pages for more details.\n\n**Brunei** — There are buses to Miri and Kota Kinabalu, leaving from the waterfront in downtown Bandar Seri Begawan. There are also buses to Limbang.\n **Indonesia** — Direct buses operate between Pontianak or Singkawang in West Kalimantan and Kuching in Sarawak.\n **Singapore** — A multitude of bus companies operate direct routes from Singapore to various destinations in Peninsular Malaysia, including Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, East Coast cities and even Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. Frequent public buses make the short run between Singapore and Johor Bahru, and you can save a few bucks by changing at JB's Larkin terminal to a cheap domestic bus instead of taking a more expensive direct bus.\n **Thailand** — Several companies operate services from Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia to Hat Yai in southern Thailand, where direct connections are available to Bangkok and many other Thai destinations.\n\n### By taxi\n\nSpecial cross-border taxis operate between Singapore and Johor Bahru. See Johor_Bahru for details.\n\n### By road\n\nthumb|Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in [[Kedah]], on the border with [[Thailand]]\n\nLand crossings are possible from southern Thailand and Singapore into Peninsular Malaysia, as well as from Brunei and Kalimantan (the Indonesian side of Borneo) into Sarawak. There is no official crossing into Sabah from Indonesia even though they share a land border. An International Drivers Permit (IDP) is required. See the respective city or state pages for more detailed information.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk025", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Starting from 1st October 2024, a vehicle entry permit (VEP) is required to drive a foreign-registered car into Malaysia from Singapore. You must apply for the permit online, and an RFID tag will be sent to your home address, which you will need to affix to your car activate online before you can drive into Malaysia. Unless you already own a car in Singapore, it makes more sense to cross the border first and rent much more cheaply in Malaysia.\n **Brunei** – The main crossings are at **Sungai Tujoh** on the Miri, Sarawak, to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) road, and the **Kuala Lurah-Tedungan** checkpoint which is used for traffic travelling between Bandar Seri Begawan and Limbang in Sarawak. You can also access the Temburong district of Brunei by road from Limbang via the Pandaruan (Puni on the Brunei side) checkpoint and Lawas via Trusan (Labu on the Brunei side).\n **Indonesia** – The main crossing is at the **Tebedu-Entikong** checkpoint on the main Kuching-Pontianak road. The other two official crossings are the **Biawak-Aruk** crossing on the main Kuching-Singkawang road, and the more remote **Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau** crossing. All three crossings are between the Malaysian state of Sarawak and the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. There are also several unofficial crossings that are used by locals, but as a foreigner, you should not use them as that is considered to be illegal entry.\n **Singapore** – The two crossings are the **Causeway** which links Johor Bahru with **Woodlands** in Singapore, and the Malaysia-Singapore **Second Link** (*Linkedua*) which links Iskandar Puteri with Tuas in Singapore. See Johor Bahru '''Get in''' section and Singapore '''Get in''' section for more details. Generally speaking, the Second Link is less congested than the Causeway, and is more convenient for those who wish to drive up the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, but a lot less convenient for people who just want to visit Johor Bahru.\n To protect customs revenue, Singapore-registered cars must have their fuel tank filled to at least ¾ full when leaving Singapore. Offenders are liable to a fine of S$500 as well as departure refused.\n **Cycling** is permitted only through the Causeway but not the Second Link; use the motorcycle lanes and have your entry processed at the manual motorcycle counters.\n **Thailand** – International checkpoints (from west to east, with the Thai towns in brackets) are at **Wang Kelian** (Satun) and **Padang Besar** (Padang Besar) in Perlis, **Bukit Kayu Hitam** (Sadao) and **Kota Putra** (Banprokob) in Kedah, **Pengkalan Hulu** (Betong) in Perak, and **Bukit Bunga** (Buketa) and **Rantau Panjang** (Sungai Kolok) in Kelantan. Thai immigration has long been known to demand a bribe of RM2/20 baht per person to stamp you in or out, though there has been a crackdown on this. Instead, there is now an official fee levied by Thai immigration if you are crossing the border at peak times (5AM–8:30AM, noon–1PM or 4:30PM–9PM on weekdays, and all day on weekends and both Malaysian and Thai public holidays); this is 25 baht for the driver and 5 baht for each passenger if crossing the border by car, and 10 baht for the rider and 3 baht for the pillion if crossing by motorcycle. No fee is payable if you are walking across the border.", "word_count": 541}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk026", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By boat\n\nthumb|Ferry terminal in [[Iskandar Puteri]], [[Johor]]\n\nFerries connect various points in Peninsular Malaysia with Sumatra in Indonesia and southern Thailand, Sarawak with Brunei, and Sabah with East Kalimantan in Indonesia and Mindanao in the Philippines. Luxury cruises also run from Singapore and sometimes Phuket (Thailand) to Malaysia.\n\n**Brunei** — Ferries travel daily between the Muara Ferry Terminal in Brunei and Labuan.\n **Indonesia** — The main jumping-off points from Indonesia are the Riau Islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun; Dumai, Medan and Pekanbaru on the Sumatra mainland as well as Nunukan in East Kalimantan. Ferries link Batam with Batu Pahat, Iskandar Puteri and Johor Bahru; Bintan with Johor Bahru; Karimun with Batu Pahat and Kukup in Johor; Dumai with Malacca, Muar in Johor, Port Dickson (in Negeri Sembilan) and Port Klang, the port for Selangor; Pekanbaru with Malacca. Daily ferries also link Nunukan and Tarakan with Tawau in Sabah. There are also minor crossings like between Bengkalis in Riau and Batu Pahat; Sumatra and Malacca and Muar in Johor; and Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra with Port Klang, the port for Selangor.\n **Singapore** — A daily ferry runs between Tanah Merah and Desaru, and there is a weekend service between Tanah Merah and Pengerang, both in Johor. See the Singapore '''Get in''' section for details.\n **Thailand** — Four ferries travel daily (reduced to three during Ramadan) between Tammalang at Satun and Kuah on Langkawi, Malaysia. Both passenger bum boats and vehicular ferries operate between Ban Taba near Tak Bai in Narathiwat province and Pengkalan Kubur in Kelantan, Malaysia.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk027", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is possible to enter Malaysia from Thailand on foot at Wang Kelian and Padang Besar (both in Perlis), Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah), Pengkalan Hulu (Perak) and Rantau Panjang (Kelantan). From Singapore, it is possible to cross into Malaysia on foot using the Causeway, but be prepared for a very long walk as Malaysian immigration is now 2 km inland from the border. Unlike the previous customs and immigration complex, the current one was not set up to handle pedestrian traffic, meaning that there are no pedestrian footpaths on the Malaysian side, and you have to walk on the road among vehicular traffic to get to customs and immigration. Crossing the Second Link on foot is not allowed, and there would be no practical way to continue your journey on either side even if you did.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk028", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Immigration controls are in place for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, as well as between the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysian citizens need to present their ID cards, while foreign citizens are required to present their passports in order to travel.\n\n### By plane\n\nFlying is the only practical option for traveling between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, as well as reaching some of the more remote outposts of Borneo. Largely thanks to budget carrier **AirAsia**, Malaysia is crisscrossed by a web of affordable flights with advertised promotional prices starting at RM9 for flights booked well in advance. State carrier **Malaysia Airlines** also has competitive fares which now include equally or even lower-priced tickets if booked in advance through the internet, with a few more frills. Their offshoot **Firefly** operates a handy network of turboprop flights radiating out of Penang and Kuala Lumpur's second airport Subang (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah).\n\nIn Sabah and Sarawak, **Air Borneo**, operates turboprop services linking interior communities, including those in the Kelabit Highlands, with coastal cities.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Public bus in Penang\n\nThe cheapest way to travel in Malaysia is by bus. All towns of any size have a bus terminal offering connections to other parts of the country. There are many companies of varying degrees of dependability, but two of the largest and more reliable are **Transnasional** and **NICE/Plusliner**. 24-seater \"luxury\" buses are recommended for long-distance travel.\n\nAir conditioning on some buses can be extremely cold so don't forget to bring a good sweater, pants and socks, especially for overnight journeys on luxury buses!", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk029", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "If travelling on holidays or even over the weekend, it is advisable to reserve your seats in advance. Many bus companies allow for you to book online directly through their website. However, some only allow online booking for individuals with Malaysian credit cards, which is not really convenient for international visitors. With some website you will still have to pay a station fee of RM2 at the bus station, with others not. At TBS (KL) it is easy to book a bus directly at the station. Often RM0.40 are charged as insurance by stations, tell them if you don't want that.\n\nThe common booking websites are:\n - Bus Online Ticket\n\n- redBus\n\n- Easybook\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|KTM ETS train at Padang Besar station\n\nState operator '''Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad''' (KTMB) provides relatively inexpensive and generally reliable services around Peninsular Malaysia (but not Sabah/Sarawak in Borneo). The main western line connects Padang Besar (at the Thai border), Butterworth (via a branch line, with ferry connections to George Town), Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, while the eastern line branches off at Gemas and runs through Gua Musang and the Taman Negara to Tumpat, near the Thai border and the Perhentian Islands. Be sure to hold on to your ticket, as it will be checked at your destination station before you are allowed to leave.\n\nTickets can be pre-booked up to 6 months in advance from KTMB's website, app or by calling KTMB (Malaysia) or, (Singapore).\n\n#### West Coast", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk030", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Services on the West Coast are now served by fast **ETS** (Electric Train Service) trains which connect Padang Besar at the Thai border and Butterworth to Johor Bahru at the border with Singapore. ETS trains are clean, reliable and air conditioned throughout. Trains are classified **Express**, **Platinum**, **Gold**, and **Silver.** Seating is similar throughout, but faster trains are slightly more expensive; the KL-Ipoh Express trains cost RM46 compared to RM31 on Silver trains.\n\nIf you’re willing to splurge, **business class** is available on Express and Platinum trains. These include a meal and snack box, lounge access at KL Sentral station, and more spacious seats in a 2-1 arrangement compared to the 2-2 in standard. These generally cost about 50% more than the standard class fare.\n\nMicrowaved meals, snacks and drinks are available from the onboard bistro - cash or QR payment only! If you are paying with cash have some loose change ready as change is not always readily available.\n\n**KTM Kommuter** serves many local stations around KL, including the Batu Caves as well as from Padang Besar to Butterworth. Seats cannot sell out and no reservations are possible. Kommuter services between Ipoh and Butterworth have been replaced by ETS.\n\nThe slower KTM Intercity diesel trains no longer run on the West Coast Line following electrification.\n\n#### East Coast\n\nThe **Jungle Railway** is the apt description for the eastern line between Tumpat (close to the Thai border) and Gemas, including stops at Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis, Jerantut (for Taman Negara) and Wakaf Bahru (for Kota Bharu and the Perhentian Islands).", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk031", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "The daytime services on this line use clean, modern and air-conditioned Class 61 diesel multiple units (DMUs), which have replaced the old non-air-conditioned locomotive-hauled trains, though the seats do not recline, which can make them rather uncomfortable for longer journeys. No daytime services run along the entire line, so you will need to change trains at Kuala Lipis to travel all the way between Gemas and Tumpat.\n\nThe eastern line also has one night express train (for which reservations are possible and recommended) going in each direction between Johor Bahru and Tumpat. These use older locomotive-hauled trainsets, which have air-con seats and **Superior Night** (ADNS) sleeper cars, which have upper and lower berths along each side, each bunk having a solid partition at each end and a side curtain for privacy. The carriages shake and rattle quite a bit but are comfortable and clean, though the toilets may come across as a little grimy. These trains have windows for both top and bottom bunks, unlike on Thai sleeper trains.\n\nA third line, known as the **East Coast Rail Link** is under construction between Port Klang and Kota Bharu, with plans for it to pass through Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu along the way. It is scheduled to be completed in 2027.\n\n#### East Malaysia\n\nIn East Malaysia, the only railway line is run by '''Jabatan Kereta Api Negeri Sabah''' (JKNS) (Web-site in Malay only), running from Tanjung Aru near Kota Kinabalu to the town of Tenom.\n\n#### Luxury Train\n\nBelmond's Eastern & Oriental Express offers 3-6 day excursions by train. These trains used to run all the way to Bangkok, but since the COVID pandemic have run only within Malaysia. These offer a luxurious way to travel through Malaysia, but at a considerably higher price.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk032", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A map of Malaysia's expressways (all are in Peninsular Malaysia; none are in Sabah or Sarawak), with dotted lines indicating proposed ones that have yet to be built\n\nMalaysia has an excellent highway network with over of expressways, culminating in the **North-South Expressway** (*Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan*) along the West Coast from Johor Bahru at the border with Singapore all the way to Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah at the border with Thailand. There is also the **East Coast Expressway** (*Lebuhraya Pantai Timur*), crossing Peninsular Malaysia coast-to-coast from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan before heading up north towards Kuala Terengganu. Petrol is slightly cheaper than market prices at RM1.90/litre (Ron 95) (in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak). Tolls are payable on expressways, but these are priced at varying degrees, ranging from expensive to reasonable: driving the length of the country from the Thai border to Singapore costs RM108. While you can drive from Singapore to Thailand within a day on the West Coast, the highway system is considerably less developed on the East Coast, and even less so in Sabah and Sarawak, so be sure to factor in additional travel time if travelling in those areas. Toll prices for highways and causeways inside major cities, especially Kuala Lumpur, are priced exorbitantly, ranging from RM4 to RM7 for each exit.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk033", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "While driving quality and habits in Malaysia are better than in most of the rest of Southeast Asia, they are not necessarily great, especially compared to what visitors from most Western countries are used to at home. Traffic in Malaysia drives on the left, a legacy left by the British. Beware reckless motorcyclists, especially at night, and especially if you are a pedestrian: locals typically disregard a red light for left turns, putting pedestrians at risk. As a motorist, at traffic lights, motorcyclists will accumulate in front of you — let them drive away first to avoid accidents.\n\nCare is needed when driving in larger cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and George Town. Problems include apparently suicidal motorcyclists, congested traffic lanes throughout the day, and bewildering roads especially in the older parts of the city where planning was virtually nonexistent by the then British colonial occupiers. Out of town, however, cars and motorcycles are the best and sometimes the only way to explore the country. Some of the more rural areas have motorcycles and scooters to rent for as little as RM25/day, a great way to explore the local area or larger islands like Langkawi. As expected, most rental agencies will require a valid driving licence to be presented upon rental. Fuel levels are often compared before and after rental, and the vehicle is also checked for damage, so ensure everything is documented, and request a refund of any excess fuel if possible. The bigger car rental companies like Hertz and Avis may also require you to have a valid credit card where a deposit will be authorised but not deducted from (unless there is damage to the car).\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Taxi in Penang", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk034", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are available in all cities and larger towns, although in smaller places you may have to call one (ask any shopkeeper or consult the yellow-pages). You will generally need to negotiate the fare in advance, although prepaid coupon taxis are usually available at airports. RM5 should suffice for a short cross-town trip, while RM100 is enough to hire a taxi for a full day.\n\nthumb|Taxis in [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Sabah]]\n\nMany taxis will refuse to use the meter, even though there is an official rate. Most taxis now have a sticker on the rear door informing tourists that haggling is prohibited. Taxi drivers, sensing that you are a tourist, may drive around and take a very long route to reach your destination.\n\nIf you need a taxi late at night, it is best to use the dial-a-taxi service as there have been incidents in which taxis flagged down during those hours have been fake/unregistered. An unregistered taxi driver might rob or assault you with the help of other assailants. You are also more likely to get a metered taxi by flagging one at a street than at a taxi stand.\n\nIt is advisable to study maps and compare fares on the internet before visiting the country. Knowing distances between places is helpful when negotiating with taxi drivers. They won't try to fool even a foreigner who demonstrates clearly that he knows the distance from point A to point B is 50 km and not 150 km.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk035", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Do not accept the first rates for inter-city travels by car offered by hotels, as these could be as much as double normal prices. In this case, negotiate with a taxi driver directly for a better and fair price (for example, a hotel near Balok Beach, not very far from Kuantan, asked 800 RM for a ride to Johor Bahru, while a negotiated price with a taxi driver who could be found in downtown Kuantan came down to a normal 400 RM). But for all this you need to know the exact distance and if possible even the exact itinerary between your departure and arrival point.\n\nIn Kuala Lumpur, the budget taxis are usually coloured Red and White (City taxi – these taxis are not allowed to travel out of the city e.g. to another state) or Yellow. Taxis are usually small saloons such as Proton Wira and run on NGV (Natural Gas). The Blue taxis are larger saloons or MPVs (Multi Purpose Vehicles) and more luxurious. These cost typically 25–30% more than the budget taxis & are normally available at taxi stands all over Kuala Lumpur including the major malls & hotels.\n\nThe Red & White taxis can be hailed off the roads and are metered. Ensure that the taxi driver is a Malaysian (all drivers must have a taxi permit & license with their photo on it) before you board, as unscrupulous taxi owners have been known to rent their taxi out to unlicensed stand-ins. All legal taxi drivers must be Malaysian citizens or permanent residents as the Malaysian government does not issue work visas to foreigners to drive taxis.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk036", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Additionally, beware of unlicensed taxis *(taxi sapu)* at the airports. They can literally take you for a ride. There will be touts at the airports offering travellers their taxi service, even pretending to be legitimate. As unbelievable as it may sound, some have been known to rob first time visitors hundreds of ringgit for a single trip into the city, charging 100 times more than the correct fare. At the airports **always** get your taxi from the authorised operators' booths set up in the airport itself & **never** from anyone that solicits directly. They will always claim to be legitimate but are rarely licensed and may be unsafe. The taxi operator booths can provide you with receipts. Another tip is to book your taxis in advance. All good hotels' concierge will be able to assist you with this. If travelling in an unlicensed taxi you may not be covered by your travel insurance should that taxi be involved in a mishap.\n\n### By ride-hailing\n\nThe most popular ride hailing app is **Grab**, which took over Uber's former Southeast Asian operations. You can pay with your card (via the Grab app) or cash; most drivers have change.\n\nRides within KL seldomly cost more than RM15. If it seems overly expensive at a certain moment, walk a little and check again — often near major points of interests ride are more expensive.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nAlthough Malaysia's cycling infrastructure is not well developed, travelling by bicycle is a good way to enjoy the scenery while exploring rural Malaysia. Long-distance bicycle tours are regularly organised by enthusiast groups, including some cross-border tours from Singapore.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk037", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Get around", "text": "When cycling on the road, you are required to ride in a single file, and riding in the shoulder is forbidden. Cycling on pedestrian footpaths is also forbidden except for toy bicycles ridden by children under the age of 12. All bicycles must be equipped with a bell and independently-operated brakes on each wheel. A white front light and a red rear light are mandatory when cycling at night. It is legal to cycle on any road unless there is a sign prohibiting it. While there is no specific law against cycling on expressways, you are highly advised not to do so for safety reasons; all PLUS expressways (including the Malaysian side of the Second Link from Singapore) and the LATAR expressway linking Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor have signs prohibiting cyclists.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries link the mainlands of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia with several outlying islands. The main ferries foreigners are likely to use are from Butterworth (for connections with the railway network) to George Town on Penang island, as well as ferries to Kuah in Langkawi from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah. Direct ferries between Penang and Langkawi no longer operate. On the East Coast, ferries operate to the popular dive resort islands, including from Mersing to Pulau Tioman, from Merang to Pulau Redang and from Kuala Besut to the Perhentian Islands.\n\nThere are no ferries between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk038", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Wat Chaiyamangkalaram in [[George Town (Malaysia)|George Town]], [[Penang]]\nthumb|Tea plantations in the [[Cameron Highlands]], [[Pahang]]\n\nMalaysia is a fascinating country with many faces. It's multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, and its attractions vary from the iconic Petronas Towers in bustling **Kuala Lumpur** to perfect sandy beaches lined with palm trees and dense jungles with orangutangs and tigers.\n\nThere are various impressive **national parks**. Expeditions range from those where you hardly lose sight of the hotel to those where you are fully immersed in the jungle for weeks, with only the guide and yourself. To spot a tiger or wild elephant in its natural habitat you might have to spend more than a few days in the wild, but you'll have no trouble seeing smaller wildlife. **Bako National Park** is the oldest national park in Malaysia and one of the best places to see proboscis monkeys. The vast jungles of **Taman Negara** have become a popular destination for nature travellers, just like the remote but gorgeous **Gunung Mulu National Park**, a World Heritage Site famous for its limestone karst formations, stone pinnacles and huge caves. To escape from the muggy tropics, do as the English did and head up to the cool tea plantations of the **Cameron Highlands**, the quaint Tudor-style village on **Fraser's Hill** or climb **Mount Kinabalu** in Sabah.\n\nFor many people, Malaysia brings pictures of pristine beaches with great diving opportunities to mind - and for good reason. **Sipadan** off the coast of Sabah, and the beautiful **Perhentian** Islands are among the best (and most popular) places. Coastlines in the less industrialized parts of the country, in general, are well worth driving through for their natural beauty and relaxing seaside kampung (villages). Follow the crowds to the postcard perfect sands of the **Langkawi** Islands, where you can have a cocktail on the beach and stay in one of the many resorts.\n\nIf you're most interested in taking the pulse of a city, don't miss **Kuala Lumpur'**s crazy quilt ultra-modern skyline, including the famous Petronas Twin Towers. '''George Town''', the capital city of Penang, is known for its great food, colonial architecture, and relatively long-standing and institutionalized Chinese, Peranakan and Indian communities, who share the city with ethnic Malays, Thais and Eurasians. **Ipoh** is a good choice if you enjoy a somewhat slower paced city that features elegant colonial-era buildings from about 100 years ago, and **Malacca** is for those who want to trace the colonial and imperial history of Malaysia several hundred years further back. For a completely different experience, head to **Kota Bharu** to discover a unique conservative Islamic regional culture influenced by Thailand, only a few kilometres away, or visit the diverse cities of East Malaysia, like **Kuching** and **Kota Kinabalu**. Especially when travelling with children, consider visiting one of the country's excellent zoos, such as Taiping Zoo, Kuala Lumpur's Zoo Negara, Johor Zoo and Malacca's Zoo.", "word_count": 479}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk039", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|A beach on [[Perhentian Islands]], [[Terengganu]].\nthumb|A first glance at Sipadan's colourful underwater life\n\nMalaysia has excellent **scuba diving**. Some of the more popular spots are the islands off the East Coast of peninsular Malaysia (Perhentian, Redang, Tioman and many more), although the dive season is limited to April to September. However, the most famous dive site — often ranked among the best in the world — is Sipadan, off the easternmost tip of Malaysian Borneo. There are many other less well known sites, like Layang Layang.\n\n### Whitewater Rafting\n\nYou can find tame Grade I to incredibly difficult and dangerous Grade V rapids in Malaysia's many national parks:\n\n Jeram Besu - Grade I-III - Pahang\n Telom River - Grade V - Pahang\n Kuala Perahu - Pahang\n Lipis River - Pahang\n Anak Jelai River - Grade I-II - Pahang\n Tembeling River - Grade I-II - Pahang\n Sedim River - Grade III-IV - Kedah\n Sungai Selangor - Grade I-III - Selangor\n Kiulu River - Grade II - Sabah\n Padas River - Grade III-IV - Sabah\n Sungai Itek (Kampar River) - Grade I-III - Perak\n Sungkai River - Grade I-II - Perak\n Singoh River - Grade V - Perak\n Endau River - Johor\n Nenggiri River - Grade I-III Kelantan\n Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor\n\n### [[Martial arts]]\n\nthumb|A silat match taking place.\n\nMalaysia is home to a uniquely Malay style of martial arts known as **silat**. Silat tournaments are held between different schools in the country, and the Southeast Asian Games is the premier international tournament in silat, with competitors from the neighbouring countries as well. There is also an equally traditional stylised dance version of silat called *silat gayung*, which is quite worth seeing if you have the chance.\n\nIn addition, there are also many kung fu masters among the ethnic Chinese community, and Malaysia is consistently one of the top performers in international wushu competitions.\n\n### Music\n\nMalaysia is home to a uniquely Malay form of singing called *dikir barat*. Dikir barat is typically sung by a choir, though there may also be solo parts, and is also either sung *a capella*, or accompanied only by percussion instruments. Dikir barat competitions are fairly popular among the Malay community, and are frequently broadcast on Malaysian national television.", "word_count": 375}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk040", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Malaysian currency is the **Malaysian ringgit**, abbreviated as **RM** (ISO code: **MYR**). It is divided into 100 **sen** (cents). The ringgit used to be referred to as the dollar and you may see the '$' symbol on older notes. Coins in Malaysia are issued in denominations of RM0.05 (silver), RM0.10 (silver), RM0.20 (silver or gold), and RM0.50 (silver or gold). Banknotes in Malaysia are issued in denominations of RM1 (blue), RM5 (green), RM10 (red), RM20 (orange), RM50 (green/blue) and RM100 (purple). 5 sen coins are mainly given as change in large establishments or supermarkets whereas peddlers and street vendors might be reluctant to accept them. The Singapore and Brunei dollars are also known as *ringgit* in Malay, so when near border areas you might want to check to be sure which currency they are quoting the price in.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nWidely available in cities, but do stock up on cash if heading out into the smaller islands or the jungle.\n\nMany ATMs, especially those of local banks, won't charge a fee for withdrawals in Malaysia (e.g. CIMB) — one of the upsides of Islamic banking.\n\nHowever, in 2024, Euronet acquired MEPS and is now the largest non-bank ATM provider in Malaysia. They are well known for their high fees and bad customer experience. Try to avoid them!\n\nMany ATMs (like Euronet) will offer to do the currency conversion for you, which is disadvantageous (often involving a markup of 4–14%) — this is how they make money. So, **always decline currency conversion** to your home currency!", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk041", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Due to fraud risk, many Malaysian ATMs do not allow you to withdraw using foreign debit cards. If your card is rejected, try another ATM. If you call your bank or credit company, they are often not aware of what happened because the transaction is declined by the Malaysia bank. Make sure to bring cash or other forms of money in case your debit card is rejected.\n\n#### Credit cards\n\nThey can be used in most shops, restaurants and hotels, although **skimming** can be a problem in dodgier outlets. For credit card usage, make sure your credit/debit card is chip based as most merchants no longer accept **magnetic strips** based cards.\n\n#### Currency exchange\n\nCounters can easily found in major shopping areas and have a better exchange rate than in banks and airports. Be sure to say the amount you wish to exchange and ask for the 'best quote' as rates displayed on the board are often negotiable, especially for larger amounts. Large foreign banknotes, such as €500, are almost impossible to change for a good rate in some areas, especially in Sabah or Sarawak, where the banks offer a much lower rate comparing to the one you'd get if changing a banknote of smaller amount. Some money exchangers in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching even may refuse your business if you have large foreign banknotes, so the best option is to bring smaller notes unless you are willing to shop around.\n\n**Foreign currencies** are *not* generally accepted as is. The major exception is Singapore dollars, which may be accepted in Johor Bahru, but at a steep penalty. They're also accepted by KTMB and toll roads, but at an incredibly unfavorable 1:1 exchange rate, an anomaly dating back to the 1970s when the ringgit was interchangeable with the Singapore dollar.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk042", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Buy", "text": "#### Banking\n\nBanks in Malaysia do handle international transactions. These ranges from a nominal fee if you are an account holder to a slightly more expensive amount if you are only walking in to use a certain service. British banks HSBC and Standard Chartered, and Singaporean bank UOB have a presence in Malaysia. Citibank has exited the Malaysian retail banking market, with all its retail banking assets having been taken over by UOB. Local banking giants are Maybank, RHB, Hong Leong Bank, Public Bank & CIMB Bank, & they are a very good alternative to the earlier mentioned banks, especially in terms of pricing, local knowledge & presence as well as international services available e.g. money transfers. For any enquiries and transactions, get a number, sit down and wait for your turn to be served. (There is no need to queue while you wait in air-conditioned comfort!)\n\nBanks are open Monday-Friday from 9:30AM-4PM and selected banks are open Saturday 9:30AM–11:30AM except on the first and third Saturdays of each month. In the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, they are open Sunday to Thursday 9:30AM–4PM.\n\n### Costs\n\nMost Western visitors will find Malaysia quite cheap, although it is noticeably more expensive than neighbouring Indonesia. You can live in hostel dorms and feast on hawker food for less than RM50 per day, but you'll wish to double this for comfort, particularly if travelling in more expensive East Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is also generally more expensive than the rest of the country. At the other end of the spectrum, luxury hotels and air fares are also quite affordable, with even the fanciest 5-star hotels costing less than RM400/night.\n\nthumb|''Bukit Bintang'', a popular shopping area in [[Kuala Lumpur]]\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk043", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not customary in Malaysia. A service charge of 10% is included in total bill in most air conditioned restaurants, but otherwise, you are not expected to pay anything more than what is stated in the bill. Most expensive restaurants, bars and hotels may indicate prices in the form of RM19++ (\"plus plus\"), meaning that sales tax (6%) and service charge (10%) will be added to the bill. Hotel tax of 5% may also be added to this.\n\n### Shopping\n\nKuala Lumpur is a shopping mecca for clothes, electronics, watches and computer goods, with very competitive prices by any standard. Local Malaysian brands include Royal Selangor pewter (thanks to KL's tin-mining heritage), British India and Eilanto. Traditional Malaysian fabrics (*batik*) are a popular souvenir. The cheapest place to easily buy ethnic souvenirs (especially wood-based) is in Kuching, East Malaysia, and the most expensive place is in the major, posh Kuala Lumpur shopping centres. In fact, Malaysia has over 1000 shopping complexes, but many, especially outside the capital, have low occupancy due to oversupply.\n\nIn general shops are open 10:30AM–9:30/10PM in the large cities. They open and close for business earlier in the smaller towns and rural areas. Some shops may also be closed on certain days, such as in Malacca where many shops and restaurants close on Tuesday.\n\nFor great second-hand shopping from locals try Carousell or Mudah.my.\n\nIf you buy too much while shopping in Malaysia (which is quite easy to do), surface postage rates are very reasonable. Excess luggage at the airport is still high but not as high as in many other countries. Check first with your airline.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk044", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|''Nasi lemak'' coconut rice with ''sotong pedas'' (spicy squid), ''sambal'' chili paste, boiled egg, slices of cucumber, ''ikan bilis'' fried anchovies and peanuts served at a restaurant in Penang\n\nThe crossroads of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine, Malaysia is an excellent place to eat (*makan* in Malay). Look out for regional specialities and Nyonya (Peranakan) cuisine, the fusion between Malay and Chinese cooking. There is even unique Eurasian cooking to be found in the Portuguese Settlement in Malacca, the heartland of the Portuguese Eurasian community.\n\nMalaysians are very proud of their cooking and most towns or even villages have their own delicious specialities such as Penang *char kway teow*, Kajang satay, Ipoh bean sprout chicken, Sarawak *laksa*, Kelantanese *nasi dagang* and Sabahan *hinava*. Most eateries rely on word of mouth for advertising and are frequently located in the most inconvenient, out-of-the-way places, so you might want to try asking the locals for their personal recommendations.\n\nIf you intend to travel around Malaysia trying out the local food, don't be fooled by the names. Sometimes two entirely different dishes from different parts of the country can be known by the same name. For example, *laksa* refers to completely different noodle dishes in Penang and Sarawak.\n\nGenerally, you can eat pretty much anywhere in Malaysia. Food outlets are comparatively clean – the only thing you might avoid when you frequent the street or hawker stalls is ice for your drinks, since the blocks of ice used there might not be up to your hygienic standards. In actual restaurants this is not a problem. Also you might want to avoid ordering water from hawker stalls or the *mamak* restaurants as you may be served unboiled tap water.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk045", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Cheaper places often do not display prices; most will charge tourists honestly, but check prices before ordering to make sure.\n\nEating habits run the gamut, but most foods are eaten by **fork and spoon**: push and cut with the fork in the left hand, and eat with the spoon in the right.\n\nAs eating is a favourite 'pastime' of Malaysians, the majority are adept at using chopsticks, regardless of background. Noodles and Chinese dishes typically come with these, while Malay and Indian food is traditionally eaten by hand, though a fork and spoon are often used to eat Malay and Indian food in restaurants and can be requested if not provided.\n\nIf eating by hand, **always use only your right hand** to handle the food, as Malays and Indians traditionally use their left hand to handle dirty things. When eating with chopsticks at Chinese restaurants, take note of the usual etiquette and most importantly, *do not* stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. This is reminiscent of incense sticks burning at the temple and has connotations of wishing death on those around you. If eating in a group, serving dishes are always shared, but you'll get your own bowl of rice and soup.\n\n### Where to eat\n\nthumb|The interior of a kedai kopi near the railway station in [[Beaufort (Sabah)|Beaufort, Sabah]]", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk046", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "The cheapest places to eat are **hawker stalls** and **coffeeshops**, known as *kedai kopi* in Malay or *kopitiam* in Hokkien. These shops sell, besides coffee, many other types of food and drinks. Particularly popular and tasty are ***mamak*** stalls, run by Indian Muslims and serving up localized Indian fare like *roti canai*. Most hawker stalls stay open till late and some even operate on shifts so you can find the same stall offering different food at different points throughout the day. You can also do take away from any stall: just ask for *bungkus* (Malay) or *ta pao* (Cantonese). A hawker meal will rarely cost you over RM5. Hygiene standards in Malaysia are generally good by Southeast Asian standards, and much better than in the Indian subcontinent. Just be observant, and generally speaking, if a stall is patronised by locals, it should be safe to eat there.\n\nOne step up on the scale is the ***kedai makanan*** or the more Western-style ***restoran***. A type to look out for is the ***nasi kandar*** restaurant, which originated in Penang but now can be found in virtually every Malaysian city, with a wide variety of Indian-style curries and toppings to ladle on top of your rice. The Malay answer to nasi kandar is known as ***nasi campur***, of which a subtype is ***nasi padang***, originating among the Minangkabau people from Padang in what is today Indonesia. The Chinese equivalent is known as **economy rice** or **mixed rice**, or by its Cantonese name ***chap fan*** (雜飯). However, unlike nasi kandar or nasi campur, Chinese-style economy rice is typically *not* halal.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk047", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Seafood restaurants** (*makanan laut*) are comparatively pricey but still an excellent value by most standards; do check prices before ordering though. Local prawns are gigantic, Chinese-style steamed fish is a treat and crab served with sticky chilli sauce is particularly popular.\n\nLast but not least, some less adventurous options. **Food courts** in shopping malls are a good way to sample local delicacies in air-conditioned comfort, paying only a small premium over hawker prices. And yes, you can also find McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut and the usual suspects plus imitators throughout Malaysia.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nthumb|A vegetarian restaurant in [[Johor Bahru]], [[Johor]].\n\nBeing a Muslim-majority country, finding **halal** food in Malaysia is easy, but most Chinese stalls and restaurants, as well as those serving some indigenous ethnic groups of East Malaysia such as the Iban and Kadazan, are *not* halal. Ask if in doubt. Meals at Malay restaurants and Western fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut are halal. Restaurants at major hotels are not certified 'Halal' as they serve alcohol as well, but with the exception of Chinese restaurants, they generally don't serve pork. Local Muslims will eat at Western, Chinese and Indian eateries if there is a halal sign on the walls. Most of the restaurants tend to display their halal certification or halal sign on their places. Halal certification is awarded and enforced by a government agency, usually JAKIM.\n\nThere are *no* **kosher** establishments in Malaysia, so kosher-observant Jewish visitors will have to bring their own food with them and supplement it with fresh fruit. Kosher grocery stores and restaurants can be found in neighbouring Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, so you might want to stop in one of those countries to stock up before entering Malaysia.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk048", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Vegetarianism** is well-understood by the Chinese and Indian communities (not so by the Muslim Malays and other indigenous minorities) and many restaurants or hawker stalls will be able to come up with something on request (DO state \"no meat, no fish, no seafood – ASK for vegetables and/or eggs ONLY\"), but don't rely entirely on menu descriptions: innocuous-seeming dishes like \"fried vegetables\" etc. will often contain shrimp paste (*belacan*, commonly used in Malay and spicy Chinese dishes), fish sauce, etc. or even pork bits or lard in non-halal Chinese restaurants, so if in doubt, ask. Indian restaurants usually have very good vegetarian selections – the *roti* (Indian flat bread – any kind; including roti canai, roti naan, capati, tosai) are good choices, and DO insist on being given *dhal* (lentil-based curry dip) lest you'll be given a fish curry dip. Purely vegetarian Chinese Buddhist restaurants (often serving remarkable \"mock meat\" products made from tofu, gluten etc.) are quite easy to find in big urban areas with a large ethnic Chinese population. Getting vegetarian food in rural areas, especially those near fishing villages or in Muslim/Malay-dominated regions, may be more difficult, but learning some basic Malay vocabulary will go a long way to help you get your message across – see the Malay phrasebook. Upmarket Western restaurants, such as those serving Italian cuisine, will normally have some good vegetarian options. Be careful about Chinese bakery items too, as many seemingly vegetarian items use pork lard to make the pastry.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk049", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Veganism** is rarely understood in this part of the world and is largely mistaken as a synonym for vegetarianism. The safest bet for a vegan is to patronize a Chinese Buddhist vegetarian restaurant, since Chinese cuisine traditionally does not use dairy products. However, check to ensure that your dish does not contain eggs. And if you're still feeling uneasy or unsure, do not hesitate to ask.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk050", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A tea house in [[Melaka]].\n\nMalaysians like both coffee (*kopi*) and tea (*teh*), especially the national drink *teh tarik* (\"pulled tea\"), made by the *Mamak* (Indian Muslim) community, and named after the theatrical 'pulling' motion used to pour it. By default, both will be served hot, sweet and with a dose of condensed milk; request *teh o* to skip the milk, *teh ais* for iced milky tea, or *teh o ais* for iced milkless tea. Drinking with no sugar at all is considered odd, but asking for *kurang manis* (less sugar) will ease the pain. However, if you really want no sugar at all, you can try asking for \"teh kosong.\"\n\nMalaysia produces its own tea, but little of it is exported except to neighbouring Singapore due to high domestic demand, so be sure to try some locally-grown tea when you are here. BOH, with its plantations in Cameron Highlands, is Malaysia's largest tea brand.\n\nAnother peculiar local favourite is the kopi tongkat ali ginseng, a mixture of coffee, a local aphrodisiacal root, and ginseng served with condensed milk that's touted as an alternative to viagra and red bull combined and is usually advertised with a picture of a bed broken in half.\n\nOther popular nonalcoholic options include the chocolate drink Milo and lime juice (*limau*). Freshly made fruit juices are also widely available, as well as a wide range of canned drinks (some familiar to many foreigners, some less so).\n\nThere is also a local drink comprised of white soya milk and black grass jelly (*cincau*) called *soya cincau*. It can be ordered at most hawker centres and local roadside cafes (*kedai kopi/kopitiam*).\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|Tuak is widely consumed during Gawai Dayak festival and Christmas Day.\n\nAlthough alcohol consumption is illegal for Muslims, licensed venues are permitted to sell alcohol to non-Muslims. With the exception of tax-free islands (Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman) and duty free shops (for example in Johor Bahru), prices are comparatively high, with a can of beer costing RM7.50 or more even in supermarkets or 7-Eleven stores. In East Malaysia, smuggled liquors are widely offered. The legal drinking age in Malaysia is 21.\n\nIn East Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, *tuak* is a common affair for any celebration or festivals such as Gawai Dayak and Christmas Day. *Tuak* is made from fermented rice to which sugar, honey or other various condiments are sometimes added. It is normally served lukewarm without ice. Visitors can choose from 'strong' flavour of tuak (which is normally fermented for years), or 'mild' flavour (which is sometimes prepared only a week or even a day before). In Sabah, cheap liquors are very widely available at most supermarkets and mini markets in the state. Other alcoholic drinks such as beer and whisky are also widely available. On the other hand, *tuak* in Kelantan also can be considered as a liquor since that it contains a trace amount of fermented *nipah* or sap juice. The alcohol content in Kelantan *tuak* can easily reach 50% after 3 days from the time it was extracted.\n\nthumb|Cassava tapai is shown in plastic bags in the foreground\n\n*Tapai* consists of cassava (less often, rice) that is fermented and eaten as a food (though the liquid in the bottom can also be drunk). As it is commonly eaten during Hari Raya Puasa, the major Muslim holiday celebrating the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, it is interesting that Islamic legal authorities associated with the Islamist opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) have given Muslims a special dispensation from laws against consuming alcohol, in the case of tapai.", "word_count": 595}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk051", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Malaysia has ample affordable accommodations in all of its cities and towns, with full range from budget until luxury ones. Service charges and taxes are not yet part of the advertised price so be sure to add 16% to the listed price. Hotels and hostels are required to charge a **tourism tax** on international visitors: RM10 per room per night, which may not be included in the advertised rates.\n\nIn other information, Durians are strictly banned in almost all hotels due to the smell. Bringing one into your room will result in a hefty cleaning fee.\n\n### Budget\n\nBudget hotels and youth hostels are available in most cities and around most tourist destinations. As with most budget accommodations, some are more reliable than others. Be cautious when selecting budget accommodation to avoid places that house illegal vice activities.\n\nLarger cities will have YMCAs that are safe bets. Another noticeable budget hotel chain is Tune Hotels, an affiliate of the budget airline, Air Asia. They are expanding and have hotels at numerous locations throughout the country\n\n### Mid-range\n\nMid-range hotels are readily available just about anywhere. Prices of 3–4 star hotels are upwards from RM100 and are generally reliable in terms of quality.\n\n### Splurge\n\nMalaysia is home to some of the most affordable 5-star hotels, service apartments, and resorts in the world. They are found in larger cities like Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and also in some coastal towns and areas. Also, almost all islands have upscale resorts and spas for the wealthy traveller.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk052", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Learn", "text": "Malaysia's universities are generally well-regarded and draw exchange students from near and far. Among Malaysia's universities, the undisputed most prestigious one is the **University of Malaya** (UM), located in Kuala Lumpur. In addition, several foreign universities have established campuses in Malaysia.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk053", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Work", "text": "Obtaining a working visa takes some effort. The easiest way to work in Malaysia is probably to work for an overseas company and get posted to Malaysia. The Malaysian Immigration Department website has basic advice. In order to obtain a work permit, you need to have an offer from your future employer who will have to do the paperwork for you. It's very expensive and comes with many restrictions if a company wants to hire a foreigner and as such next to impossible. As stated above, a feasible way is to get transferred. Finding a job is otherwise unlikely unless you are married to a local and even then it remains difficult.\n\nWorking days in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah are from Sunday to Thursday, with Fridays and Saturdays being weekend holidays, similar to most Middle Eastern countries in alignment with Friday prayers of Muslims. The other states observe the weekend on Saturdays and Sundays.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk054", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Though the crime rate is higher than in neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia is generally a safe country for visitors. Crimes towards tourists are usually restricted to bag-snatching, pickpocketing and petty theft. It is important to keep a close eye on valuable items. Theft is more common in crowded places, such as markets and on public transport. Generally, if you avoid deserted areas, get back to your hotel before midnight and use your common sense, you're unlikely to be assaulted.\n\nHomosexuality is a crime and gay bars may be raided by police; gay and lesbian tourists should be discreet and avoid any public displays of affection.\n\n### Crime\n\nThere have been some reports of pickpockets and snatch-and-run thieves in some of the major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru. As a general precaution, never carry your bags on the side facing the road and always walk facing the oncoming traffic. Additionally, walk a few feet deeper away from the roads. Women travellers should take extra precautions at night.\n\nIn Malaysia, some crimes are punished with caning, known locally as whipping. Being convicted of rape, vandalism, illegal entry, bribery, overstaying your visa, and certain other crimes could get you caned. **This is no slap on the wrist!** Strokes from the thick rattan cane are *very painful*, will take some time to heal and probably leave you with a permanent scar.\n\nCredit card fraud is a growing problem in this country, especially if you order in an on-line store during your stay. Use credit cards only in reputable shops. Look for online reviews but recognise that even these can be astroturfed to provide a higher average review than the company deserves.\n\n### Corruption", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk055", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "While not as bad as the likes of Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia, corruption remains a significant issue in Malaysia. Traffic police have been known to pull over motorists to demand bribes of RM100-200; this tends to happen somewhat more often to those driving cars with Singapore licence plates. Nevertheless, there have been some crackdowns on this, and bribery is punishable by up to 20 years in jail. Anyone who tries to bribe public officials may be arrested on the spot and placed in a lock-up overnight to be charged for the offence in the morning. If this happens on a Friday or on eve of public holidays, you will find yourself spending a few nights in the lock-up as the courts are only open Monday to Friday. Do not let this dissuade you from requesting help — generally Malaysian police are helpful to tourists.\n\nCustoms and immigration officers are comparatively cleaner than other Southeast Asian countries, though there have been isolated cases where tourists are demanded bribes from immigration officials. Do check your passport before driving off when entering by land from the Singapore border though, as immigration officers have been known to \"forget\" to stamp people in, and you will be subject to fines of several thousand ringgit for illegal entry when you try to leave Malaysia if your passport was not stamped on entry.\n - Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)\n\n### Traffic safety\n\nWhen on foot, be careful when crossing the street. Vehicles will often ignore pedestrian (zebra) crossings. In addition, reports of road rage during accidents are still common, so if you are involved in an accident be very careful when negotiating or dial 999 for help.\n\n### Other", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk056", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Public demonstrations are uncommon in Malaysia due to police crackdowns. Should one occur it may be dealt with in a heavy-handed manner, so **avoid them at all costs**.\n\nLittering is not only punished with a RM2000 fine, but also a community service order requiring the offender to clean up a specified place under supervision. Unlike Singapore, first-time offenders can be sentenced for community service, and foreigners are neither exempt.\n\nIt is generally not allowed for non-Muslims or non-Sunnis to proselytize. In particular, attempting to persuade Muslims to convert out of their religion is illegal, and if you are caught doing this, you will be expelled from the country or even face criminal responsibilities.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nPeninsular Malaysia is largely free from earthquakes as there are no nearby faultlines, though tremors can occasionally be felt in the upper storeys of tall buildings when a major quake occurs in neighbouring Indonesia. East Malaysia, on the other hand, especially the area around Mount Kinabalu, does experience occasional earthquakes (such as the fatal one occurring in 2015). Typhoons are also exceedingly rare, though one hit the southern part of Johor in 2001. However, the Nov-Jan monsoon season often results in flooding due to torrential rains, and landslides are known to occur, most notably on the East Coast. Tsunamis are a rare occurrence, though Penang and a few islands on the north of the West Coast were hit by the infamous tsunami in 2004.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk057", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "There are differences of opinion about whether and to what degree **tap water** is safe to drink. It is treated and monitored, but the condition of the pipes is not always reliable. Therefore, you may want to boil or filter it first just to be on the safe side, as most locals do. You can also buy bottled water, which is very inexpensive.\n\nIce in drinks might be made from tap water, but nowadays, most restaurants and even roadside stalls use the cylindrical variety with a hollow tube down the middle that are mass-produced at ice factories and are safer to consume.\n\nHeat exhaustion is rare, but do consume lots of fluids, use a hat and sunscreen and shower often!\n\nPeninsular Malaysia is largely malaria-free, but there is a significant risk in Borneo especially in inland and rural areas. Dengue fever occurs throughout Malaysia in both urban and rural areas, and can be avoided only by preventing mosquito bites. The mosquito that transmits dengue feeds throughout the daytime, and is most active at dawn and dusk. If you experience a sudden fever with aches and lethargy, seek medical attention immediately. Aspirin and ibuprofen should not be used until dengue fever has been ruled out. Mosquito repellents (*ubat nyamuk*) are widely available. Be careful with mosquito coils, which can easily start fires: set them on a plate or other non-flammable surface and extinguish them before going to sleep.\n\nHaze from burning vegetation in neighbouring Indonesia may come and go without warning from the months of May to August so travellers with respiratory ailments should come prepared.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk058", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Most public washrooms charge a small fee (generally between RM0.20-RM2.00, usually depending on the standard of the facilities), so keep some loose change to hand. If the condition of the sitting toilets is questionable, use the squatting toilets instead - both are usually available, and some believe that the latter are more hygienic and (if you can get used to them) are just as easy to use as sitting toilets.\n\n### Healthcare\n\nthumb|Public hospital in [[Kuantan]], [[Pahang]]\n\nThe standard of healthcare in Malaysia is generally high, and Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a popular destination for medical tourism, with treatment costs in general far cheaper than in neighbouring Singapore and Western countries. Almost all Malaysian doctors are able to speak English fluently, while most other medical staff are able to converse in at least basic English.\n\nMalaysia has a public and private health care system. Health services are adequate in large cities, with English-speaking doctors. Some staff have been trained abroad. In the private sector in particular, the medical staff is often made up of well-trained professionals. Outside urban areas, access to health services and the quality of care vary. Government healthcare facilities are cheap but good, though they tend to be understaffed and consequently, waiting times are long. Due to the shorter waiting times and sometimes hotel-like levels of comfort, most expatriates and visitors prefer to seek out private medical care.\n\nDental services are readily available and prices are often lower than in western countries. However, root canal treatment is considerably more expensive than in western countries, as it is only performed by dental surgeons and not by ordinary dentists.\n\nMental health services are available at least in the capital. In the rest of the country, they may not be available very much.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk059", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Pharmacies can be found in larger shopping centres and painkillers are available in almost every shop. Prescription medicines may not be available from pharmacies at any time, but only when a pharmacist is present. He or she may be there for part of the day, usually on weekdays. When visiting a doctor, medicines are often available directly from the doctor's surgery or from the hospital pharmacy.\n\nWhen travelling to Malaysia, you should take out comprehensive travel insurance. Doctors and hospitals usually require payment in advance, especially for foreigners. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Keep all receipts and certificates you receive. You can apply for reimbursement afterwards from your insurance company.\n\nServices in the private sector are more expensive than in the public sector. You should check the details on the spot. Be vigilant when using private medical services. Doctors may prescribe expensive treatments, tests and medicines that are unnecessary. This is especially true for tourists. Malaysia's largest private healthcare groups are **Parkway Pantai**, which operates the well-known Gleaneagles and Pantai hospital chains, and **KPJ Healthcare**. Private medical costs can be high and having travel insurance is a very good idea.\n\nPublic hospitals and most private hospitals offer 24-hour on-call medical services. In some Malaysian tourist resorts, you can ask for a doctor at the hotel reception. Pressure chamber treatment is available in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuantan, Lumut, Ipoh, Sabah and Labuan.\n\nThere is limited availability of rental equipment at hospitals. In most cases, assistive devices have to be purchased.\n\n### Food", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk060", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "While in general Malaysian food is not unhealthy, the fact that eateries and cafés add unnecessary amounts of sugar to drinks and snacks can be a problem. Also, the sheer amount of these places will always give you an opportunity to have an unhealthy snack or drink, no matter where you are. Be aware, and for example try to have your drinks without sugar, especially fruit shakes, which should come sweet naturally.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk061", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Respect", "text": "When entering a home or a place of worship, always take off your shoes (this is often required at hostels too). Also, never eat with your left hand or give a gift with your left hand, and never point with your forefinger (you may use a closed fist with the thumb instead). Do not point with your feet or touch a person's head either.\n\nSwastikas are commonly seen in Hindu and Buddhist temples, and are regarded as a religious symbol by these communities. They emphatically do **not** represent Nazism or anti-Semitism.\n\n### Politics\n\nAs in many countries, it is best not to criticise the government or the Malaysian royal families as a visitor. You may hear Malaysians criticise their own government, but you do not need to take sides; just listen and feel free to talk about your feelings about your own government. The **bumiputera** policy (laws granting ethnic Malays special rights not granted to the other races) is a very polarising and sensitive issue, and best avoided as a conversation topic with Malays. Another sensitive issue to be aware of is Israel: Malaysia is one of several countries that do not recognize Israel, and Malaysian Muslims are ardent in their support for Palestine. In addition, many Malaysians associate Jews in general with Israel or otherwise have prejudices against Jews; however, these feelings do not necessarily extend to individual Jewish people, and violence against Jewish visitors is unlikely.\n\n### Dress\n\nIt is advisable to dress respectfully, particularly in rural areas (wearing trousers or a long skirt, not shorts and covering your shoulders is recommended but not essential). In more cosmopolitan cities such as Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Malacca, Ipoh and Johor Bahru, as well as East Malaysian states (Sabah and Sarawak) attitudes are more liberal. Women are not legally required to wear the hijab, known locally as the *tudung*, except when entering mosques, where it is required for both Muslims and non-Muslims.\n\n### Sexuality\n\nAs a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia tends to be conservative about sexuality. Public showing of affection in the more diverse, larger cities is tolerated but might invite unnecessary attention from the public. In more rural areas and in very conservative states like Kelantan and Terengganu on the East Coast of the Peninsula it is frowned upon and is best avoided. **Don't kiss your partner in public**; you'll inflame local sensibilities.\n\nBig cities like Kuala Lumpur have a fairly active gay scene and gay bashing is rarely heard of. However, same-sex relationships are a taboo subject and \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\" is punished by up to 20 years jail and whipping (men only) under colonial era laws not usually enforced against consenting adult heterosexuals. Different states may also impose **consecutive** sharia law punishments of up to 3 years and six lashes against Muslims of all genders.", "word_count": 472}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk062", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nMalaysian sockets are designed for the 3-pin rectangular-pronged British plug. Electricity is delivered at 240 V, 50 Hz.\n\n### Newspapers\n\nMalaysia's main Malay newspapers are *Berita Harian* and *Utusan Malaysia*. There are also numerous Chinese newspapers, the most popular ones being the *China Press* (中國報), *Nanyang Siang Pau* (南洋商報) and *Sin Chew Daily* (星洲日報), as well as several Tamil newspapers.\n\nMalaysia's English-language paper of record is the ***New Straits Times***, a splinter from the Singaporean Straits Times, which is available at most hotels and newsstands. ***The Star*** and ***Free Malaysia Today***, an English-Malay bilingual online newspaper, are also available.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk063", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\nBroadband Internet is available for free in most accommodations and some restaurants, especially fast-food outlets and shopping malls, including Starbucks and Coffeebean, some McDonald's and Subway.\n\nHowever, not every restaurant has WiFi, especially smaller ones. Southasian restaurants have WiFi more often.\n\nCybercafés are a thing of the past, since nowadays most people have mobile data.\n\n### Mobile and data\n\nMalaysia was one of the first countries in the world to offer 4G connectivity. There are a lot of providers, which usually offer good coverage. The easiest SIM to get is U-mobile, from RM10, with ok-ish coverage and a 30-day package of \"unlimited\" or 40GB internet for RM35 or RM25 per month respectively (2025). SIMs are available in every 7-11 and in some other places.\n\nThere are also other SIM cards (RM10) available in some cheaper malls and Pakistani places which have 50GB packages for RM18.\n\nIf you travel to Singapore or other neighboring countries, you can buy a 14-day \"unlimited\" package for RM35 (Feb 2024), which works in all of them including Malaysia. Other providers have better coverage but don't offer worthwhile roaming options.\n\n### Telephone numbers\n\nThe country code for Malaysia is +60.\n\nthumb|Phone booths in Sabah\n\nTo call a Malaysian number from abroad\n **from overseas except Singapore** dial the international access code, the country code for Malaysia, the area or mobile operator code without the \"0\", and then the phone number (for 123-4567 in Kuala Lumpur, in Wikivoyage written as +60 3 123-4567, dial \n **from Singapore**, dial 02, the area or mobile operator code with the \"0\", and then the phone number", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk064", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Connect", "text": "To domestically call a Malaysian number,\n from a mobile phone or a landline phone **outside the local area**, dial the area or mobile operator code, including the leading \"0\", followed by the phone number (03 123 4567),\n from **within the local area** just dial the phone number without any code; **from mobile phones**, you can always include the area or operator code, although it is unnecessary between phones with the same operator (where you are is immaterial with mobile phones).\n\n**To call a foreign number** not in Singapore from Malaysia, use the international dialling prefix **00** (on mobile phones: \"+\"). For Singapore, instead use the pseudo area code 02 and leave out the international prefix and country code.\n\nOn the Maxis network, take advantage of 50% IDD rates on international calls via IDD132. This doesn't require any registration: just dial \"132\" prior to the \"00\" (don't use \"+\").\n\nMalaysia also has four **mobile telephone** service providers, Maxis, DiGi, Celcom, and U Mobile which utilise codes **012**, **013**, **014**, **016**, **017**, **018**, **019**, used like area codes. Network connection in Malaysia is excellent. Mobile number portability has been implemented, meaning a code like 012 that traditionally belonged to Maxis, can now be a DiGi subscriber. Mobile networks utilize the GSM 900 and 1800 systems. 3G (WCDMA), EDGE and HSPDA networks are available in larger towns. International roaming onto these networks is possible if your operator allows it. **Prepaid SIM cards** for sale at airports are pretty affordable; a one-week SIM card with a good amount of data might cost about RM20-30 (2019). See also SIM cards above.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk065", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Malaysian **landline telephone numbers** have either seven or eight digits. The country is divided into areas which have been assigned two- or three-digit area codes, which have to be dialled when calling from outside the area (or from a mobile phone). The area codes are:\n\n**03** — Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor (all are Klang Valley), Pahang (Genting Highlands only)\n **04** — Kedah, Penang, Perlis\n **05** — Perak, Pahang (Cameron Highlands only)\n **06** — Malacca, Johor (Muar district only), Negeri Sembilan\n **07** — Johor (all districts except for Muar)\n **082** — Sarawak (Kuching and Samarahan districts)\n **083** — Sarawak (Sri Aman and Betong districts)\n **084** — Sarawak (Sarikei, Sibu and west Kapit districts)\n **085** — Sarawak (Miri and Limbang districts)\n **086** — Sarawak (Bintulu districts and Belaga)\n **087** — Sabah (Interior Division), Labuan\n **088** — Sabah (West Coast and Kudat Division)\n **089** — Sabah (Sandakan and Tawau Division)\n **09** — Kelantan, Pahang (all districts except Genting Highlands), Terengganu\n\n### Postal services\n\nthumb|Post office in [[Arau]], [[Perlis]]\n\nPostage stamps for postcards internationally is just 0,9 RM (as of February 2024)\n\nMany international courier services, such as Fedex, DHL and UPS, are available in towns and cities, but the main postal service provider is Pos Malaysia which reliably provides postal services to most countries in the world.\n\nPostage rates in Malaysia are cheap. Much cheaper than Thailand, Singapore or Vietnam, and surface post is available as well. The mail is reliable and trustworthy. When posting a parcel, do not seal the box. This is to allow for inspection in case illegal items are posted this way (ask for help at the post office if needed).\n\nA local alternative to the international courier companies mentioned above is the Pos Laju, which provides just as reliable a service at a fraction of the cost!", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "malaysia::chunk066", "doc_id": "malaysia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Non-urgent letters and postcards can be dropped in postboxes inside post offices or red postboxes found outside post offices and along main roads. If there are two slots in a postbox use the one that says \"lain lain\" for international post.\n\nPost offices are open M–Sa 8AM–5PM except public holidays, although a few in Klang Valley stay open until 10PM. In the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Johor and Terengganu they are closed on Fridays and public holidays.", "word_count": 77}
diff --git a/corpus/malaysia/metadata.json b/corpus/malaysia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3940dbabcf0833b9edf761a0a7d0bbd1f2d8d971
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/malaysia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "malaysia",
+ "title": "Malaysia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Malaysia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "diving",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 16842,
+ "listing_count": 7,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 67,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/maldives/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/maldives/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..76db94129091233445ae9f62ef752d9789eb3e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/maldives/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk000", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Maldives** (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ *Dhivehi Raajje*) are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean with picture-perfect beaches, strikingly blue water, and luxury resorts. There are 200 inhabited islands and 165 islands with tourist resorts. Just under the surface of the beautiful blue ocean, there's a wealth of wildlife to see: over 2000 species of fish in all colours of the rainbow roam the clear waters around the islands.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk001", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Regions", "text": "The Maldives are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands formed of 26 atolls, or *atholhu* in Dhivehi — the source of the English word. These are not single islands, but giant ringlike coral formations hundreds of kilometres wide that have fragmented into countless islands.\n\nAtoll naming is complex, as the atolls have both lengthy traditional Dhivehi names like *Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi*, and snappy code names like *Baa* that refers to administrative regions and may consist of more than one geographical atoll. The code names are the letters of Dhivehi alphabet, but being easier for non-Maldivians to remember and pronounce, the code names are popular in the travel industry and are hence also used here. Of the 21 administrative atoll groups, only (parts of) 10 are open to tourism, and from north to south these are:\n\nThe other atolls are Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Noonu, Haa Dhaalu, Laamu, Njyavinani, Shaviyani and Thaa.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk002", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the capital and by far the largest city, crammed onto a small island and by some measures the world's densest city\n — the Maldives' second city in the far south of the archipelago, the former capital of the short-lived United Suvadive Republic\n — just north of Addu, well off the beaten track\n — largest city in the northern Maldives", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk003", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— one of the inhabited islands of Lhaviyani Atoll\n — island belonging to North Ari Atoll\n — smallish inhabited island and the capital of the North Ari Atoll\n — an isolated inhabited island that administratively belongs to North Ari Atoll. It's also the largest producer of watermelon in Maldives.\n — smallish 1 km long island of Alif Alif Atoll", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk004", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nThe heritage of the Maldives is told in legends, in records of old copperplates, coral-carved ancient scripts and echoes of traditional culture. The story tallies in known South Asian history with mentions of the great Mauryan ruler Emperor Ashoka.\n\nAfter being a Sultanate under Dutch and British protection, the Maldives gained independence from the British in 1965 and became a republic in 1968. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled over the country with an iron fist and did not hesitate to jail dissidents. He was re-elected five times in more or less rigged elections. Resistance to his rule culminated in violent rioting in 2003 and 2004. Much to everybody's surprise, free and fair elections were held in 2008, and Maumoon conceded defeat to opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, \"Anni\". By December 2011, though, the tables had turned. Most of Nasheed's allies had left his government and there were increasingly large anti-government protests. Nasheed resigned in 2012 under murky circumstances and then lost a controversial 2013 election to Maumoon's half-brother Abdulla Yameen, whose administration has cracked down on political freedom and imprisoned opposition figures. During his rule, Yameen withdrew the Maldives from the Commonwealth, and pivoted his foreign policy away from Maldives' traditional ally, India, to align more closely with China in exchange for Chinese investments.\n\nIn the 2018 election, Yameen was defeated by opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Despite fears that he would refuse to step down, Yameen publicly conceded the election shortly after, and handed power peacefully to his successor on 17th November 2018. Under Solih, the Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth in 2020, and has largely pivoted Maldives' policy back to India, though it has continued to maintain cordial ties with China.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk005", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|258x258px|The entirety of [[Malé]].\nThe tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused extensive damage to the Maldives - of a population of only 290,000, over a third was directly affected by the tsunami and more than 15,000 people were left homeless. The economic damage alone was over 62% of the GDP or US$470 million. The immediate response from international donors and agencies mobilized more than US$400 million in aid after the disaster, much of which was used to help misplaced persons rebuild their homes and infrastructure damaged by the waves.\n\n### Economy\n\nTourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Over 1.7 million tourists visited the islands in 2019. Fishing is the second leading sector. The Maldivian government began an economic reform program in 1989 by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labour. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of shipping, boat building and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one metre or less above sea level.\n\n### Culture\n\nMaldivians are entirely Sunni Muslim, and the local culture is a mixture of Sinhalese, South Indian and Arab influences. While alcohol, pork, dogs and public observance of non-Muslim religions are banned on the inhabited islands, the resorts are allowed to exist in a bubble where almost anything goes.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk006", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Understand", "text": "Note that the weekend in the Maldives is from Friday to Saturday, during which banks, government offices and many shops are closed. You won't notice this at the resorts, except that lunch hours may be shifted for Friday prayers.\nthumb|The view of Bathala from a boat.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe Maldives are tropical, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around 26.4°C (79.52°F) to 31.5°C (88.7°F) throughout the year. However, rainfall increases considerably during the April-October southwest monsoon, particularly from June to November.\n\n### Read\n\n*The Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy* by J. J. Robinson, a journalist who lived in the Maldives through some of its 21st-century political turmoil. In addition to an interesting look at what life is like for foreigners in Malé and for staff behind the scenes at the resorts, the book gives a detailed and surprisingly readable account of the complex political crises that the country experienced between 2008 and 2015.\n\n### Official tourist guide to Maldives\n\nVisit Maldives website", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk007", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Talk", "text": "Maldivian (**Dhivehi**), a close relative of Sinhala (spoken in Sri Lanka) but with borrowings from Urdu, Hindi, Arabic and many other languages, is the official and national language. It is written in a remarkable hybrid script called *Thaana*, which uses Arabic and Indic numbers as the base of the alphabet, written from right to left with Arabic vowel signs. The script is thought to have originated as a secret code for writing magical formulas so that outsiders can't read them, which would also explain why the ordering of the alphabet is, as far as linguists can tell, random.\n\nEnglish is widely spoken, particularly by government officials and those working in the tourism industry. English is also the language of instruction in schools. \"House reef\" describes a coral reef accessible from the beach or jetty, thus you may hear discussions about whether an island has a good house reef or not.\n\nSince the Maldives are a popular destination for German and Italian holidaymakers, a sizeable number of local resort workers speak German and Italian. This may vary depending between resorts.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk008", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nThe Maldives have a remarkably easy visa policy: *Everybody* gets a free 30-day visa on arrival, provided that they have a passport valid for a minimum period of 1 month from the date of entry, a return journey confirmed ticket and entry requirements to the onward destinations, a prepaid confirmed hotel booking at a registered hotel or proof of financial means for sufficient funds to support the stay in Maldives (US$100 + $50 per day). See the Maldives Immigration website for details.\n\nTraveller Declaration form must be filled in and submitted by all foreigners arriving to the Maldives, within 96 hours (4 days) to the flight time. The form has to be submitted electronically via IMUGA.\n\nImporting explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, materials deemed contrary to Islam including ‘idols for worship’ and bibles, pork and pork products, and alcohol into the Maldives is forbidden and all luggage is X-rayed on arrival. *Exporting sand, seashells or coral* is forbidden. **All dogs are banned** from the Maldives. See the Maldives Customs Service website for details.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Male international airport\nPractically all visitors arrive at '''Velana International Airport''' (), on Hulhulé Island next to the capital city Malé. The airport is served by a wide array of flights from China, India, Sri Lanka, Dubai, major airports in South-East Asia, and charters from Europe. Many flights stop in Colombo (Sri Lanka) on the way.\n\nIf you want to get an amazing aerial view of the islands, try to get a seat on the left side of the flight.\n\nBritish Airways flies directly from London Gatwick to Malé during the winter (October to March). No direct flights operate from London Heathrow, however, it is possible to get an indirect flight via India or the UAE for example.\nSingapore Airlines flies daily direct from Singapore to Malé, with late night timings.\n\n**Gan Airport** (), on the southern atoll of Addu, serves a few international flights.\n\nDeparture taxes are included in your ticket.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are no regular passenger boats to the Maldives. Even yachts usually steer clear, as navigating around the reefs is hazardous and permits are expensive. **Dogs** are banned from the Maldives. Even if they remain on your boat the authorities can be *extremely* sketchy about this compromise, and this can put the life of your dog at risk, should the officials you are dealing with not be sympathetic to your situation. Be sensible and do *not* bring them into any Maldivian port.", "word_count": 417}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk009", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Ferry next to Kani island\nThere are four main ways of getting around in the Maldives: **domestic flight**, **boat**, **seaplane** and **private yacht** (liveaboard). The boats are the Maldivian equivalent of a car, while seaplanes and private yachts (liveaboards) are mainly reserved for tourists.\n\nSeaplanes prefer not to operate at night, so if you arrive at the airport after dark and are going to a distant resort, you may have to spend the night in Malé, Hulhumalé or at the airport hotel in Hulhulé. Private transfers, though expensive can be opted for resort transfers, instead of spending the whole night at Malé City. Private transfers could cost US$500-800. On the way back, there may also be a significant gap between the time your transfer arrives and your flight departure. Check with your resort or travel agent.\n\n### By plane\n\nNo point in the Maldives is more than 90 minutes away by plane from Malé, and visitors to the more far-flung resorts use air taxi services. **Trans Maldivian Airways** is the world's largest seaplane operator, with a fleet of DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes that take around 15 passengers.\n\nPlane schedules may not be finalized until the previous day and delays are frequent. It is not rare to wait for 5 hours in the TMA lounge. Seaplanes scheduled in the evening have a high risk of being cancelled as delays add up and the sky becomes darker, in such cases TMA will make you take a combination of domestic flight and boat, potentially making you reach your destination well after dinner time.\n\nScheduled inter-island services are provided by **Maldivian**, which flies from Malé to Gan, Maafaru, Thimarafushi, Dharavandhoo, Funadhoo, Fuvahmulah, Hanimaadhoo, Ifuru, Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo, kooddoo, Kudahuvadhoo, Maavarulu, Faresmathoda, Hoarafushi, Madivaru and Kulhudhuffushi. **Manta Air** and **Villa Air** also operate scheduled flights.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe taxi boats generally take tourists to and from the islands in the North and South Malé atolls. They come in all different shapes and sizes depending on the quality of the resort you stay, and the Four Seasons has a large enclosed motor cruiser with drinks and food, while the lesser resorts have open-sided *dhoni* fishing boats.\n\nPublic *dhoni* ferries and cargo boats are available for more the independent-minded and budget-conscious. The main operator is MTCC, who list schedules and fares on their website.\n\nThe previous system of requiring written invitations and Inter Atoll Travelling Permits (IATP) for those wishing to visit other islands has been abolished; you're now free to travel wherever you wish. IATPs are still required if you wish to dock your own yacht, see Customs for details.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are a number of bus routes around the capital including those which connects with the airport. They are run by RTL.", "word_count": 459}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk010", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Presidential residence in Malé\nMost visitors come to enjoy the countless plush resorts, excellent beaches and stunningly colourful **underwater life**. Due to the isolated position of the island, the number of animals on land is limited, but the ocean has a wealth of wildlife. You will likely see plenty of anemones, different kinds of rays, octopus, squid and even giant clams. Whales, dolphins and turtles are spotted often. The Baa atoll, named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2011 and one of the richest coral reefs in the world, is becoming the main tourist draw while also becoming an example of sustainable tourism in a protected area. In short; snorkelling or diving is an absolute must, see the Do-section below for more information.\n\nThe gorgeous and ubiquitous **white sand beaches** are a sight by themselves, especially with the tropical island setting they are in. A flight to one of the many resort islands gives spectacular aerial views of these picture-perfect islets, defined by rims of white sand and wide strokes of cobalt blue water.\n\nYet, if you can pull yourself away from your luxury holiday spot, the capital city **Malé** might be an interesting diversion. The bustling financial and political centre of the country has a few sights. Try the **National Museum** for a touch of history. While the building may not look too promising, the museum's fine collection includes beautiful Arabic and Thaana engraved woodworks, religious pieces, weaponry and other historic artefacts. The town also has a number of worthwhile mosques. The 17th-century **Old Friday Mosque** is the oldest one in the country, and officials are often willing to let polite and properly dressed visitors in. The **Grand Friday Mosque & Islamic Centre** is its 1984 modern counterpart, and dominates the city's skyline. While simple in design, the large, white marble structure and the shining gold dome is an attractive sight.", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk011", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Powderblue surgeonfish, one of the most common reef fish in the Maldives\n\n### Diving and snorkelling\n\nAside from making the water bungalow rock on your honeymoon, the primary activity on the Maldives is scuba diving. The atolls are all coral reefs hundreds of kilometres away from any major landmass, meaning that water clarity is excellent and underwater life is abundant. Manta rays, sharks, even a few wrecks, you name it, you can find it in the Maldives.\n\nWhile diving is very good by world standards even in the immediate vicinity of Malé, visibility and the chance of encountering large pelagic fish increases as you head to the outer atolls. Many divers opt for live-aboards, which can work out much cheaper than paying high resort fees. Currents vary considerably, with generally little inside the atolls but some powerful streams to be found on the sides facing the open sea. Water in the Maldives is warm throughout the year and a 3 mm shorty or Lycra dive skin is sufficient. Diving is possible throughout the year, but rain, wind and waves are most common during the season of the southwest monsoon (June-November). The best time for scuba diving is from January to April when the sea is calm, the sun is shining and the visibility can reach 30 m. There are decompression chambers on Bandos in Kaafu (15 min from Malé), Kuredu in Lhaviyani Atoll and at Kuramathi on Alifu.\n\nThe one downside to diving in the Maldives is that it's quite expensive by Asian standards. Prices vary considerably from resort to resort, with specialist dive resorts offering better prices. In general, a single boat dive with your own gear cost around US$50, and US$75 without. Beware of surcharges: you may be charged extra for boat use, guided dives, larger tanks, etc. On the upside, safety standards are usually very high, with well-maintained gear and strict adherence to protocol (check dives, maximum depth, computer use, etc.) being the rule rather than the exception.\n\nHanifaru Bay is a protected biosphere by UNESCO and is famous for some of the largest congregations of manta rays on the planet.\n\n### Surfing\n\nThe Maldives is becoming an increasingly popular surfing destination. Turquoise water and perfect waves make it an ideal and uncrowded destination for surfers looking for smooth surfing conditions.\nthumb|Scuba diving is a popular activity in the Maldives.\nThe best period for surfing in the Maldives is between March and October; the biggest waves occurring in June, July and August. This paradise is exposed to the same swells as Indonesia is, except that its higher latitude and its South-East exposure offers cooler and less hardcore surfing.\n\nThe O’Neil Deep Blue Contests held in the Maldives have placed Maldives firmly on the world’s surf map. While most of the recognized surf breaks are in Malé Atoll, there is certainly more to be discovered.\n\nSpecialized companies organize tailored multi-day boat trips in the region, allowing surfers to move easily from one point to another and maximizing the surfing time.", "word_count": 502}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk012", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe local currency is the **Maldivian rufiyaa**, denoted by the symbol \"**Rf**\" or **\"MRF\"** (ISO code: **MVR**). It is divided into 100 laari. However by law, resorts price services in US dollars and require payment in hard currency (or credit card), so there's no need to change money if you're going to spend all your time at the resorts. Most hotels have a shop but this is limited to diving and holiday essentials (sun cream, sarongs, disposable cameras, etc.) Some excursions from resorts will take you to local islands where there are handicraft type things to buy, but they are typically made outside the Maldives and sold at significant markups.\n\nCoins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 laari, 1 and 2 rufiyaa. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 rufiyaa. The current series of rufiyaa banknotes is printed entirely on polymer.\n\nIf you are heading to Malé City or the other inhabited atolls, exchanging some rufiyaa will come in handy. The coins, in particular, are quite attractive and make an interesting souvenir in themselves, but the smaller denominations are rarely used or seen. The rufiyaa is tied to the US dollar within a 20% band but is practically 15:1. US dollars are near-universally accepted: shops usually exchange them at 15:1 or 10:1.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk013", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Buy", "text": "Maldivian rufiyaa can be changed at Bank of Maldives in the arrival area of airport. If you want to change rufiyaa back to your currency before departure, you need to keep the receipt. After check in, at Bank of Maldives in the departure area of airport, you can change rufiyaa back to the currency you previously changed to rufiyaa, not exceeding the amount listed on the receipt. The Bank of Maldives may not have small notes of your original currency though.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is not compulsory in the Maldives as a 10% service charge is added to everything, although it is not certain that the money is passed on to the staff.\n\nOver the years the tipping culture has changed in the Maldives, mainly due to overseas visitors giving varying amounts of cash as tips.\n\n### Costs\n\nMaldives is expensive for those who have comfort and service-oriented tourism in mind. Resorts have a monopoly on services for their guests and charge accordingly: for mid-range resorts, US$1000 per week per couple is a *conservative* budget for meals, drinks and excursions, in addition to the cost of flights and accommodation. Practically anything, including hotel rooms if booked locally, has a 10% \"service charge\" added, but tips are expected on top.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk014", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Buy", "text": "For an adventurous traveller who has time, Maldives can be a very affordable and rewarding experience, with prices comparable to Malaysia. A number of inhabited islands have guesthouses with typical prices €25-40 per room. On more remote islands, renting rooms in villages is possible at even less. Food is inexpensive, and fish curries are delicious. Public ferries will transfer you between different islands of the same atoll for a few US dollars (though for less obvious locations, there will typically be 1 ferry per day and no ferries on Fridays). For transfers to remote atolls, one can negotiate with cargo boats, which would often take people for €14-38, depending on the destination. Cargo boats do not have schedules and depart when loaded. One may expect 1 boat in 1-3 days for each atoll.\n\nIt is important to have in mind that staying on inhabited islands implies respecting the strict Muslim norms including no alcohol, modest dress, reserved behaviour. However, the locals are very welcoming and the experience may be much deeper and more rewarding than staying in resorts.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk015", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Eat", "text": "All the resorts are self-contained so they have at least one restaurant, which generally serves the type of cuisine expected by their guests (i.e. modern European or generic Asian). Breakfast is almost always included, and most resorts offer the option of **half-board**, which means you get a dinner buffet, and **full board**, which means you get a lunch and dinner buffet. These can limit the damage compared to ordering à la carte, but your options are typically very limited and drinks are often not covered, not necessarily even water. If you're planning on drinking a lot, it may be worthwhile to go **all inclusive**, but even this typically restricts you to house drinks.\n\nThe only other place to find food is Malé City. This comes in two forms. Either small restaurants aimed at the tourists (of which there are a couple of nice Thai restaurants), which are often expensive, or small cafes called *hotaa*, selling local Maldivian food at prices as low as Rf20 (US$6) for a complete meal.\n\n### Maldivian cuisine\n\nthumb|A typical Maldivian meal: ''masroshi'' pastries, ''mas riha'' fish curry, ''paaparu'', grilled fish, rice and sweet black tea.\n\nMaldivian food revolves largely around **fish** (*mas*), in particular **tuna** (*kandu mas*), and draws heavily from South Indian tradition, especially Kerala. Dishes are often hot, spicy and flavoured with coconut, but use very few vegetables. A traditional meal consists of rice, a clear fish broth called *garudhiya* and side dishes of lime, chilli and onions. Curries known as *riha* are also popular and the rice is often supplemented with *roshi*, unleavened bread akin to Indian *roti*, and *paaparu*, the Maldivian version of crispy Indian poppadums. Some other common dishes include:\n\n *mas huni* — shredded smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions, the most common Maldivian breakfast (eat it as is or wrap it in *roshi*)\n *fihunu mas* — barbequed fish basted with chili\n *bambukeylu hiti* — breadfruit curry\n\nSnacks called *hedhikaa*, almost invariably fish-based and deep-fried, can be found in any Maldivian restaurant.\n\n *bajiya* — pastry stuffed with fish, coconut and onions\n *gulha* — pastry balls stuffed with smoked fish\n *keemia* — deep-fried fish rolls\n *kulhi borkibaa* — spicy fish cake\n *masroshi* — *mas huni* wrapped in *roshi* bread and baked\n *theluli mas* — fried fish with chilli and garlic", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk016", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Drink", "text": "As the Maldives is a Muslim country, alcohol is banned from the local population, as is with the importation of such products. At Velana International Airport, customs scan baggage through x-ray screening and will confiscate any bottles of alcohol they find. They will then issue a customs receipt, which you must carry with you at all times in order to reclaim your bottles before you leave the Maldives. However, nearly all resorts, live-aboard boats and the *Hulhulé Island Hotel* (on the same island as the airport) are licensed to serve it, usually with a steep markup.\n\nTap water in resorts may or may not be drinkable: check with the management. Bottled water is extortionately priced, with US$5/bottle being typical.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk017", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The Maldives had a longstanding policy of keeping tourists on dedicated islands, which meant they could only stay in full-service resorts where the cost of a night's accommodation started around US$200 and went up into the stratosphere, and the vast majority of visitors continue to opt for these. However, from 2008 all the islands were opened to tourism, and backpacker-friendly guesthouses starting from US$30 a night opened on inhabited islands across the archipelago.\n\n### Resorts\n\nMost resorts take up their own island (1500 x 1500m to 250 x 250m), meaning that the ratio of beach to guests must be one of the best in the world and it is hard to imagine that you would ever have to struggle to find your own private piece of beach to relax on. Many have a \"no shoes\" policy and with such soft sands, it is easy to love this idea.\n\nThe range and themes or the resorts are impressive, and most people will find one they like. They can be grouped into three types:\n\n**Dive resorts**, designed primarily for divers. Geared expressly for people who want to spend most of their time underwater, facilities on land are limited, but the house reef is usually excellent. Often found in the more far-flung parts of the archipelago.\n **Holiday resorts**, designed primarily for families. These are large and have a full complement of facilities (several restaurants, day-care centres, etc.), but don't have the over-the-top luxury and have less privacy. Most of these are located on Kaafu, with easy access from Malé City.\n **Luxury resorts**, designed primarily for honeymooners and the jet set. The place to be if you want designer furniture, gourmet food and a plasma TV in an overwater villa reachable only by rowboat, and are willing to pay high prices for the privilege.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk018", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Overwater bungalows, Thulhagiri, [[Kaafu]]\n\nA Maldivian classic is the **overwater bungalow**, built on stilts directly above a lagoon. While these look fabulous and sound appealing, they have their downsides:\n They're usually packed tightly together, often sharing a wall, meaning little privacy.\n Especially at low tide, the water level may be too low to allow swimming or snorkelling.\n Resort facilities may be a fair distance from the bungalows.\n The lapping of waves is romantic enough on a calm day but can make it next to impossible to sleep if a storm blows through.\n\nThese factors vary from resort to resort, so research carefully. A good one is definitely worth trying at least once, but many Maldives repeaters prefer a bungalow with a **private beach**.\n\nWhen considering where to go, factor in transport time and costs from the airport: the more far-flung resorts generally require an expensive seaplane transfer and you may have to stay overnight at the airport on the way. On the upside, the further away you are from Malé, the more peaceful the islands and the better the diving.\n\nMany resorts, especially the smaller dive-oriented ones, cater largely to a single nationality, leading to \"Italian\" resorts, \"Dutch\" resorts, \"German\" resorts, etc. While almost all welcome any nationality and have some English-speaking staff on hand, you may be cut off from any evening entertainment and have problems e.g. diving if you don't speak the local lingo.\n\n### Guesthouses\n\nThere are guesthouses on inhabited islands, and Maafushi island is popular with looking for hassle-free accommodation of this type. Low-end prices are €25-35 per night.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk019", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Examples include: Equator Village on Addu Atoll, a former British Royal Air Force base converted to a 78-room hotel. The cost is around US$100-150 per person per day all-inclusive (including some alcohol). Another unique location is Keyodhoo Guest House, this guest house is on top of a recreation centre built by an Australian after the tsunami (US$20 pp/per night). Most visitors are scuba divers or adventure travellers. Other Inns/B&B can also be found on Vaavu Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll, Kaafu Atoll, North/South Malé Atoll and Ari Atoll Hangnaameedhoo. Only a few of these inns and B&Bs have their own pool. Confirm if bikinis are allowed on the beach. The distance between the inns and beaches are usually short, but visitors should still dress appropriately to Maldive customs.\n\n### Village homestays\n\nMore independent-minded travellers and those looking for cultural experience may consider renting rooms in villages. This will require either walking through the village and asking around if you're particularly confident of your social skills or inquiring in Malé City whether someone can put you in contact with their friends or relatives on a remote island for such an informal homestay. Prices can be as low as €15 per night for a clean functional room.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk020", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Learn", "text": "The first university in Maldives (Maldives National University) was inaugurated on 15 February 2011. Operated under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education and Training, MCHE and the Islamic University of Maldives are the only free public degree-granting institutions on the island. The college offers a range of degrees, diplomas, and certificates, with particular emphasis on engineering, health science, education, tourism, and management. The average enrolment at MCHE is around 4,000 students in long-term (that is, more than one academic year) programs and around 2,000 in short-term (shorter than one academic year) courses. State-owned institutions such as Maldives Polytechnic and TVET Maldives offers free technical and vocational training to help develop skills for employment. Several private institutions offer internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate courses.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk021", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Work", "text": "Getting a job in the Maldives can be tricky. It is not the kind of place where you can just turn up and start job hunting. Generally, the resorts employ a mix of local and international staff so you need to approach the resort Human Resources departments. There is a good mix of jobs but a lot of the roles are diving based (divemasters, instructors, photographers, etc.)\n\nMost resorts are predominately one or two nationalities so finding the resorts that match your language skills helps. After that experience always helps, especially for diving instructors as the Maldives are well known for their strong currents and half of the time the currents will take you straight out into the Indian Ocean.\n\nGenerally, if you get a job with a resort then they will get you a work permit and pay for your flight, food and accommodation. They don't really have much choice, it's hardly as if you can pop out to the supermarket and pick up a pizza for dinner.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk022", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|The Rasdhoo atoll from a plane\nDial toll-free number **1478** or **(+960) 9790070** to contact the tourist police at anytime for information or assistance.\n\nMost visitors to the Maldives stay in “resort hotels” where crime levels are relatively low. Nevertheless petty crime, including the theft of goods left unattended on the beach or in hotel rooms, does occur. You should take care of your valuables and other personal possessions, especially when travelling in Malé City. Use safe deposit boxes on island resorts.\n\nThe sea around the Maldives can have strong tidal currents and a number of tourists drown every year. You should always take local advice before entering the sea.\n\nMaldives has very strong anti-drugs laws. Importing or possessing drugs can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Locals and police are likely to take seriously the possession and consumption of alcohol, as well as being intoxicated, outside resorts and liveaboards.\n\nSame-sex relations are illegal and convicted offenders could face lengthy prison sentences and fines.\n\nCases of **sexual harassment** are not rare in Maldives. Solo female should be vigilant.\n\nBlasphemy, criticism of Islam and proselytizing by non-Muslims in Maldives, including the public possession and distribution of non-Muslim religious materials (such as the Bible), is illegal.", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk023", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Health facilities are established in each inhabited island with island level primary health centres, followed by a higher level of health facilities and speciality care hospitals at the atoll level, and tertiary care facilities at the urban/city level. If you fall seriously ill during your stay, you may be transported to another country for adequate medical care.\n\nThere are no serious problems with diseases in the Maldives. Beware that **tap water** may not be drinkable at all resorts: enquire locally. The Maldives are malaria-free, but some islands do have mosquitoes and catching dengue fever from them is possible, albeit highly unlikely. For those coming from regions infected by yellow fever, an international certificate of inoculation is required.\n\nMost of the problems come from diving or sun-related injuries. Heatstroke always causes problems in the tropics but couple that with divers spending hours at a time on a boat wearing a wetsuit and overheating of one form or another is a real issue. Keeping this in mind, such injuries will be easily avoidable as long as you drink lots of water and get into the shade as much as possible.\n\nLots of the resorts have their own doctor or nurse and most are within easy reach of the decompression chambers. Malé City has efficient and fairly modern hospitals but bear in mind that it is a long way to get medically evacuated home from.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk024", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Respect", "text": "Much of what is considered good manners in South Asia is applicable to the Maldives.\n\nMaldives is a highly religious country. You can very easily elicit strong responses by speaking negatively about religion, especially from an agnostic point of view.\n\nYou should be sensitive to local dress standards when on local islands or if staying on an island where the resort is not the exclusive property on the island – cover your shoulders and avoid short or tight-fitting shorts (men and women). Bikinis are only allowed in a designated area on some local islands. Nudism and topless sunbathing are not allowed anywhere, including on resort islands.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "maldives::chunk025", "doc_id": "maldives", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are two mobile operators: *Dhiraagu* and *Ooredoo*. Both of them sell local prepaid SIM card or eSIM with the internet connection at competitive rates. The first-mentioned of them is the leading local telecom company which has wider coverage, while prices are about the same with its competitor. They both have shops next to the airport arrivals area upon exiting. Also, both offer 3G/4G/5G data connections. Also if you plan to sail maybe you can be interested in satellite service offered by Ooredoo.\n\nMost hotels and cafés offer public Wi-Fi but connections are usually slow. A local mobile number is needed to purchase time at many Wi-Fi hotspots around the country.\n\n### Emergency services\n\nDial **911** for police, ambulance, fire and rescue, coast guard and **(+960) 3322211** for flight information.", "word_count": 130}
diff --git a/corpus/maldives/metadata.json b/corpus/maldives/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..906552769238f1c76bb9cdd5a084cc0828fb1e82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/maldives/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "maldives",
+ "title": "Maldives",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Maldives",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q826",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 4.18,
+ 73.51
+ ],
+ "summary": "The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an archipelagic country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean, near the southeastern boundary of the Arabian Sea. The Maldives is located in the southwest of India and Sri Lanka, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.\nThe Maldives is the smallest country in Asia. Its land area is only 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), but this is spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) of the sea, making it one of the world's most spatially dispersed sovereign states. With a population of 515,132 in the 2022 census, it is the second least populous country in Asia and the ninth-smallest country by area, but also one of the most densely populated countries. The Maldives has an average ground-level elev",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 5790,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 26,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/mallorca/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/mallorca/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2714452d060676adcdefd9830deca2dfa8bb5523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mallorca/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk000", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Mallorca** or **Majorca** is the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, all governed by Spain. It's an easy-to-reach destination well-developed for tourism, with sunny beaches, fascinating old towns, mountain scenery and great food and wine.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk001", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Towns", "text": "is the island's capital, with lots to see and do, and a long beach strip. \n is the municipality that includes Magaluf, Palma Nova and Portals Nous. \n is best known for its heritage train and tram. \n has a well-preserved old centre. \n retains its old city walls and has a long beach strip. \n is the main resort on the southeast coast.\n is a typical inland town, and hosts the Nadal tennis academy.\n has a cactus garden and boat trips to Cabrera.", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk002", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "is a monastery in the Tramuntana mountains. \n and Torrent de Pareis are Mallorca's \"Grand Canyon\".\n sits atop a mountain near Porto Colom and Felanitx. \n is the largest island of an uninhabited archipelago and National Park 20 km south of Mallorca.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk003", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Understand", "text": "200 years ago this was the undiscovered Mediterranean, and Frédéric Chopin came to stay. The main thing that lay undiscovered was the whereabouts of his grand piano, which the baggage handlers lost in transit, setting the bar very high for their future colleagues. \n\nMass tourism only took off after 1975, when Franco's death ended the Spanish dictatorship (see 20th-century Spain) and Spain presented a more friendly modern face to the world. The Balearics were within easy flying range of Britain and Germany, and were somehow just-foreign-enough. Mallorca especially attracted a conservative clientele who could stomach paella but who yearned above all for a nice cup of tea. They could enjoy the island's warmth, bars and beaches on a low income, and that remains a big attraction. They were preceded by an army of cement mixers that festooned the coastline with hotel blocks; and when the cost of aviation dropped from the 1990s they were joined by a motley crowd of young party-goers. Together with visitors from Spain, they now number over 13 million per year. \n\n thumb | 300px | \"Olive garden in Mallorca\" painted by Leo Gestel in 1914 \nThe principal tourist areas are along the coast for 30 km either side of Palma the capital, west to Magaluf and east past the airport to S'Arenal. All along the northwest coast of Mallorca is a mountain range, Serra de Tramuntana, from Andratx to Pollença and Cap Formentor. The northeast coast has another tourist strip from Alcúdia to Can Picafort, and smaller resort areas dot the east and south coasts. The centre is an agricultural plain, with a lower range of hills along the southeast coast. Travelling distances are short - traversing the island from Palma to Alcúdia is only 55 km - so any congenial accommodation can be a base for exploring the whole island.\n\nYou can come any time of year, but the main tourist season is April to October: many businesses close up for winter. A good time to visit is September, when the hottest days and peak of overcrowding are past, but the sea is warm and calm.", "word_count": 351}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk004", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Talk", "text": "Catalan and Spanish are the official languages in the Balearic Islands. Most people can speak both languages, although the natives converse amongst themselves in *Mallorquín*, a sub-dialect of the \"Balear\" variety of Catalan.\n\nIn tourist areas, you will frequently come across people speaking English, German, French and other common European languages.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk005", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n**Palma de Mallorca Airport** () is the island's only commercial airport, and where most visitors arrive. It has frequent scheduled flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. Flights from other countries are mostly on budget airlines / package tours, especially from Britain and Germany. These arrive every few minutes in summer but are sparse in winter. \n\nThere are also flights from Menorca and Ibiza, but these are double the price of the equivalent ferries yet only save an hour.\n\nThe airport is 8 km east of Palma city.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries sail to Mallorca from Barcelona (7 hr), Denia (5 hr) and Valencia (7 hr). Most sailings are to Palma, but some call at Alcúdia on their way to Menorca. Inter-island ferries sail to Palma from Ibiza (2-4 hr), Formentara (4 hr) and Mahon on Menorca (6 hr). \n\nFerry lines are Trasmed, Baleària and GNV. There are no ferries to Mallorca from France, Italy or North Africa.\n\nCruise liners often call at Palma as they tour the Med.\n\nWith your own boat, Palma is the Port of Entry to clear immigration and customs if your last port-of-call was in a non-Schengen country.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk006", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb | 300px | Portal of Palma Cathedral \nToll-free highways radiate from Palma. The principal routes are:\n Ma-1 west to Magaluf and associated resorts,\n Ma-11 north to Sóller,\n Ma-13 northeast to Inca and Alcúdia,\n Ma-15 east to Manacor and Cala Ratjada,\n Ma-19 southeast past the airport to Campos and Cala d'Or. \n\nCar hire is available at the airport and main resorts.\n\nTIB buses run to all the main cities from Palma city and airport, roughly hourly, daily. For a few small places such as Lluc or Colònia de Sant Jordi, you change buses at an inland town.\n\nTIB trains run every 20 min from Palma to Inca, where they branch to Sa Pobla or Manacor.\n\nA heritage train runs from Palma to Sóller, where you change to the wooden tram to the port. These are so crowded with tourists that they're no longer practical for locals, who complain mightily, while secretly preferring the bus which hurtles through the Ma-11 tunnel.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk007", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "See", "text": "**Palma old town** is centred on its cathedral. Medieval city walls still stand, with narrow streets within. There are several museums. \n **Churches** are the centrepiece of many other towns, often 17th century Baroque. The oddest is in Sa Servera near Cala Millor: the shell of an uncompleted Gothic church. \n **Valldemossa** Charterhouse was originally a royal palace then a monastery, then accommodation where Frédéric Chopin once stayed with George Sand.\n **S'Albufera** is a salt marsh near Alcudia, where many bird species can be seen. Bird life can be seen at many other spots around the coast, such the cliffs of Formentor. \n **Caves:** several are open to the public, such as the Dragon Caves near Cala Millor.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk008", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb | 300px | Tram in Sóller \n **Hiking:** the principal trail is Ruta de Pedra (GR221, taking eight days along the northwest coast from Andratx to Port de Pollença. \n **Cycling:** the main roads are ratty, get off into the lanes, and the gradients of Serra de Tramuntana will get your attention. Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca is four days of racing in Jan / Feb, which pro teams use as a warm-up for their coming season.\n **Golf:** some 18 courses are mainly in two areas, the Andratx - Calvià - Magaluf resorts west of Palma, and the Cala Ratjada - Sa Servera strip along the east coast.\n **Tennis:** the Nadal tennis academy is at Manacor. \n **Beaches:** much of the coast is rocky. Sandy stretches attract a scrummage of boxy hotels and may be crowded. The best compromise may be in secluded coves, where the gradient to access and exit deters the crowds. \n **Scuba diving** is ideal for beginners and occasional divers. There's no river outflow so the water is clear, warm especially in late summer, and non-tidal. The convoluted coast means there's always a sheltered cove if the wind and waves pick up, as they often do in the afternoon. Mallorca main island suffers the usual Med problems of stripped coral, fished out, and unregulated coastal development. Cabrera island has the best diving, as it's a national park with protected habitat. \n Non-divers can also see Cabrera on boat trips. \n **Music:** classical and other concerts are especially in summer, with some held open-air. \n thumb | 300px | Punta de Capdepera \n **Climbing:** the limestone bluffs of Serra de Tramuntana have plenty of climbing routes. \"Psicobloc\" is the specialty of rock climbing above deep water. \n **Fiestas** mostly have religious roots, with great Madonnas teetering in pomp down ancient streets. A few have always been secular: in Sóller, Es Firo in May involves pirates, enraged women, treacle and catapults. And Correfoc in August sees Sóller invaded by hellfire demons, until doused by the fire brigade.\n **Sailing and yachting:** there are marinas at all the main coastal towns. Boat charter may be available.", "word_count": 347}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk009", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Buy", "text": "All the towns have supermarkets around their fringes, open M-Sa and part of Sunday.\n\nSee individual towns for details of their weekly Farmers Market.\n\nPetrol, diesel and EV charging are widely available, at a 5%-10% price premium to mainland Spain.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk010", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Eat", "text": "Mallorcan cuisine is typically Mediterranean, based on bread, vegetables and meat (especially pork), with olive oil for cooking or garnish. A simple summer meal is *Pa amb Oli*, bread with olive oil, tomato, and maybe cheese and tunafish. *Trampó* is similar but with vegetables instead of bread.\n thumb| 300px | Frit Mallorquí \nOther local dishes include *Frit Mallorquí* (diced meat and veg) and *Sopes Mallorquines* (a simple dish of bread and vegetables, optionally with meat, eggs or wild mushrooms). Seafood *paella* is a tourist favourite yet authentically local.\n\n*Sobrassada* is a sausage made of pork, paprika and condiments. It's eaten plain or toasted, on a slice of bread, and it's also used in preparing other dishes. It's normally not spicy.\n\nFor breakfast, *Ensaïmada* is a spiral airy bun made of dough with pork fat, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Traditionally eaten with and dipped in hot chocolate. They also come with fillings like cream, apricot, chocolate or even *sobrassada*. A famous place for this is *Can Joan de s’Aigo*. For dessert *Gató* is cake with almond and almond ice cream.\n\n*Bunyols*, sweet pastries, are an autumn dish. They're made with boiled potatoes, flour, eggs, butter or lard, yeast and sugar; all fried in hot oil and then sprinkled with sugar. \n\nSee individual towns for restaurants and cafe-bars. Palma has the best selection.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk011", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Drink", "text": "Water from the tap is safe to drink, but tastes flat and lukewarm, as it comes from desalination. You might prefer bottled. \n\nDrinking alcohol is allowed if you are 18 or older, as in the rest of Spain. Only bars, restaurants, discos and the like may serve it after 10 pm.\n\nYou are seldom more than 5 metres from a beer, but it's all imported except for a few micro-brews. San Miguel's brewery on the island has folded. \n\nMagaluf and Palma's Paseo Maritime are the main late-night strips, but even the small resorts are buzzing well after midnight. Drinking in the streets is tolerated except where prohibited by local order, and resorts want to avoid the reputation that descended on Magaluf through idiotic drinking. Police will act against unruly revellers and dish out fines for property damage, litter or violence.\n\n### Wine\n\n thumb | 300px | Binissalem is a DO wine region \n\nMallorca's climate and soil are similar to mainland Spain so it produces wine, but little is exported. Indeed both quality and quantity were low, and Mallorca had to import wine, until the industry was revitalised in the 1990s. There are nowadays some 70 vineyards. Two areas have *Denominació d'Origen* (DO) status, Binissalem and Pla i Llevant, but none qualify for the exalted DOP / DOC / DOQ rankings. \n\nBinissalem DO is the best known, a strip in Raiguer approximately bounded to the east by Inca, to the west by Santa Maria del Camí on the edge of Palma city, to the south by Highway Ma-13 and to the north by the uplands of Serra de Tramuntana. Pla i Llevant DO covers almost half the island, almost everything south of Ma-13 except the arid south tip near Santanyí. IGP – *indicación geográfica protegida* - is the next quality tier, also known as Vino de la Tierra. The two IGP areas are Serra de Tramuntana, and \"Mallorca\" for all other vineyards. \n\n### Spirits\n\nImported brands are widely available, and travellers from outside the EU (such as Britain) can buy duty-free on arrival at Palma airport. \n\nFour Mallorca distilleries produce gin, and one produces liqueurs and mixers. On the mainland some wine is converted to brandy, but island production is too small for this.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk012", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb | 300px | Transfiguració del Senyor in Artà \nSafeguard valuables, beware traffic including water traffic when swimming, and steer clear of antisocial drunks. Magaluf has the worst reputation for binge drinking and street rowdiness, and the discos thump-thump-thump into the small hours.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk013", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Palma and the nearby coastal strip groan under the weight of tourist accommodation. This is overwhelmingly in mid-price modern chain hotels, with little in the way of small independent *pensions* and next-to-no camping. Most visitors are on packages, which are extremely good value: in effect you pay the standard room rate, and get your return flight from Britain or Germany free. Standards are high, as the package company reps are zealous about quality, it's their job on the line if the guests succumb to food poisoning. All the larger coastal towns have a good selection of hotels and room-only aparthotels, but there are few inland.\n\n*Fincas* or \"Agroturismo\" are the way to stay inland, in converted farmhouses on working farms and vineyards. They're upmarket with fine dining, and family-friendly; you'll need your own car.", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk014", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Work", "text": "You need to be an EU citizen, and to speak reasonably fluent Spanish, same as on the Spanish mainland. Palma has the most work opportunities in its hospitality sector.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "mallorca::chunk015", "doc_id": "mallorca", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ferries and inter-island flights link Mallorca with Ibiza and Menorca.\n Ferries ply to Barcelona and other ports on mainland Spain.", "word_count": 20}
diff --git a/corpus/mallorca/metadata.json b/corpus/mallorca/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..248f66c1afc8645dab07fdb8bc0471a844e968ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mallorca/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "mallorca",
+ "title": "Mallorca",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mallorca",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Balearic Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ibiza",
+ "Menorca"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2237,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/marrakech/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/marrakech/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e697c427cdf050bafe8d227f30520dc590426001
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@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk000", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Marrakech** (Arabic: **مراكش**, Berber: ⴰⵎⵓⵔⴰⴽⵓⵛ), also spelt **Marrakesh**, is one of the imperial cities of Morocco. Marrakech is the main tourist destination in Morocco. The city is divided into two parts: the Medina, the historical city, and the new European modern district called Gueliz or Ville Nouvelle. The Medina is full of intertwining narrow passageways and local shops full of character; it also contains the large square Djemaa El-Fna, where many hotels are located and tourists, locals and vendors congregate. In contrast, Gueliz plays host to modern restaurants, fast food chains and big brand stores.", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk001", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Djemaa El-Fna in the evening\n\nThe name Marrakech originates from the Amazigh (Berber) words **mur (n) wakush**, which means \"Land of God\". It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat, and lies near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and a few hours away from the foot of the Sahara Desert. Its location and contrasting landscape have made it an enviable destination in Morocco.\n\nAs the country's main tourist destination, Marrakech is where many Moroccans try to become rich fast by ripping off tourists. This mentality is so widespread that even Moroccans are now ripped off whenever possible so that they call the city \"Marrakech, Arnakech\" – which rhymes in French and translates to \"Marrakech, Scam\" (see Touts and scams below).\n\nFor further information, you may also visit the - Marrakech Tourist Information", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk002", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|Marrakech-Menara Airport\nthumb|Interior of the airport\nThere are flights from many European cities, including flights operated by a number of low cost carriers. Connections via Casablanca (45-min flight) are also possible.\n\nEasyjet — flights from Manchester, Stansted and Gatwick Airport (and also from Madrid, from Lyon, Amsterdam and from Basel)\n Ryanair — direct flights from Oporto (Portugal), London Luton, and London Stansted, and also from Hahn (Germany), Berlin (Germany), Alicante, Madrid and Reus (Spain), Girona (Spain), Eindhoven (the Netherlands), Bergamo (Italy) (Spain), and Dublin (Ireland)\n British Airways — from London Gatwick\n TUIfly — flights from Cologne and several other European destinations.\n Transavia — a low-cost airline from Air France-KLM group flying to Marrakech from several cities in Europe, including Paris\n Norwegian — direct flights from Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm.\n Iberia — two non stop flights from Madrid.\n TAP Portugal — offers direct flights from Lisbon\n Domestic flights are operated by Royal Air Maroc, with flights from Agadir, Casablanca (daily), Fez (daily), Ouarzazate, Al Hoceima, and Tangier.\n\n#### Ground transport\n\nThe airport is about 9 km south-west of the city center (Medina), and 6.6 km from the Djemaa El-Fna square.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk003", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "The '''L19 airport shuttle bus''' is 30 dirham one way, 50 dirham return (as of 2025). It is a great way to go from the airport to the Medina area. The is right out of the terminal (exit the arrivals hall at Terminal 2, to your left you will see the parking area, walk into it and continue across all the taxis, at the end, close to the exit, there's an empty area with a black BUS sign without signs or maps, nor a place to sit or shadow.) The bus leaves the airport every 30 minutes between 06:00 and 23:30. This bus line passes Jeema El Fna, the main bus station and it only has a couple of stops along the way, most notably the Menara Mall. The whole trip takes 15–20 minutes. You can see the whole route and departure times in Google Maps. *Beware*, some taxi drivers will approach and try to convince you to go with them, sometimes even resorting to lies (\"The bus is not running today\" or \"It comes only once an hour\") – don't listen to them.\n\nYou can also catch **city bus #11** or **city bus #12** which run from different suburbs, meet at the airport and continue to the long distance bus station at Bab Doukkala, stopping also at Jeema El Fna. They stop on Avenue Gnassa - the main road near the airport, 500 m from the terminal. This is an option only for people with convenient luggage, but it is the cheapest one - the buses cost 4 dirham, like all local buses. The driver can give change.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk004", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "By **petit taxi**, the city center is a 10–15 min ride away. Prices directly from the airport are fixed: you pay in advance (card or cash) after entering your destination at a machine and receive a ticket with the assigned taxi number. Walking the 200 m across the parking lot to the road and hailing a taxi there will get you a much, much better price per vehicle (about 60 dirham compared to the airport's 200 dirham). Apps like InDrive can hail unofficial taxis for slightly less, payable with cash.\n\nMany hotels and riads offer a **shuttle service** for about €15 per person. The advantage is that you avoid the hassle, and they will lead you all the way to you lodging, even if the car cannot drive there. However, you might have to wait a while for all your fellow passengers to get out of the airport.\n\nSeveral international **rental car** companies are based at the airport as well.\n\nIf you do not have too much luggage then it is possible to **walk** from the airport to the Medina even though it would take you from an hour and half to two hours. There is a footpath alongside the road all the way and the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque provides an excellent landmark to head towards. If you have enough time you can break the trip with a visit to the Menara gardens, which are between the airport and the city.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk005", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Marrakesh railway station\nTrains from Casablanca (2nd class 84 dirham, 1st class 150 dirham, 3 hr), Rabat and Tangier connect with most domestic rail destinations in the country, with Marrakech as the southernmost stop. Trains run regularly between Marrakech and Casablanca (including the International Airport). They arrive around every two hours and regularly from other destinations like Rabat. Every day there are 8 direct 7 hr trains to Fez via Casablanca Voyageurs station and another two direct connections to Tangier.\n\nFrom Tangier it's about a 10-hr journey. You can travel either by day train or night train. During the daytime, you will need to change trains for a connection halfway through the journey creating a welcome break for about 30 min. The night trains which leaves for Marrakech from Tangier travels straight through to Marrakech without the need for a connection. The night trains do have sleeper cars on board, though you will need to pay extra for these if you want a bed (around 350 dirham). If you're planning to go cheap and take the night train on the regular seats in second class (and planning to sleep), you'll be interrupted by movement of passengers and a few times by the ticket conductors throughout the night. It's a great way to travel but don't plan on sleeping on the train, especially if you are travelling alone.\n\nThere is no train line further south than Marrakech in Morocco; if you want to head south, to the desert, Atlas Mountains, Agadir or Essaouira on the coast, you'll have to get a bus, rental car or grand taxi.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk006", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "Moroccan trains do not have restaurant cars. A snack trolley makes the rounds with sandwiches, soft drinks and coffee, but bringing some food for the journey isn't a bad idea. Stops in Casablanca and Rabat usually are long enough to grab a bite in the station en route.\n\nSome taxi drivers will offer their services in the train station or just in front of it. They usually don't use their meter and ask for at least 50 dirham to Djemaa El-Fna. Ignore them and hail one on the main road. The metered fair to Djemaa El-Fna is about 12 dirham, if you want to avoid any discussions just offer 20 dirham upfront and take the first taxi that accepts this offer.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Bus station\n\nThere are many long distance bus companies operating within Morocco which serve Marrakech and other cities.\n\nThe bus companies mostly used by tourists are *CTM*, *Pullman du sud* and *Supratours*. Other companies do exist, though these three companies are usually the safest options, but mostly not the cheapest ones.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk007", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get in", "text": "The long distance bus station, CTM and private bus companies travel to destinations such as Agadir (regular, 3 hr, 80 / 100 dirham local/CTM), Safi, Casablanca (regular, 4 hr, 80-95 dirham), El Jadida, Essaouira (regular, 3 hr, 55 / 80 dirham local/CTM), Fez, Meknes, Ouarzazate (regular, 3-3.5 hr, 80 dirham), Rabat, and Taroudant. Taxi touts will often gather in the bus station to convince you that a bus to your destination is 'full' and to steer you into a grand taxi, and will attempt to sell you goods as your taxi is prepared. This can be difficult if there is nobody manning the ticket desks, and the best option is to walk out of the station to the coaches - a ticket can usually be purchased from a conductor on board.\n\nFor trips to Meknes (6 hr, ca 120 dirham), while seemingly shorter on the map, the mountain route via Beni Mellal takes at least 2 hr more than on the highway via Rabat and Casablanca, going there by train (6½ hr, 174 dirham) is the most comfortable option, although buses might be slightly quicker.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk008", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get around", "text": "Once in the medina, everything can be seen **on foot**, though you'll be doing a lot of walking. Many tourist destinations are signposted by brown, red or green signs affixed to posts or to buildings. Bear in mind that many of these signs don't take the direct route, and some seem to deliberately send tourists via various markets or other places money may be spent.\n\nthumb|The signs used on buildings\nFor exploring more of the city, **buses** and **petits taxis** are plentiful.\n\n### By bus\n\nAlsa run the city buses and have maps, fares and a frequency guide on their web page.\n\nAlmost all buses stop at Djemaa El-Fna (the bus stop for Djemaa El-Fna is called **Terminus Arset El Bilk**, and it is marked on Google Maps) and Place Youssef Ben Tachfine and fares range from 2–5 dirham depending on the distance. Important municipal bus lines are:\n\nNo 1 - Towards Gueliz\n No 8 - Stops at the central train station, and bus station (Gare Routiere Voyageurs Marrakech)\n No 10 - Stops at the long distance bus station\n No 11 - Will drop you off at the gardens of Menara\n No 18 - Outside of Airport to Djemaa el-Fna.\n No 19 - Airport express to Djemaa el-Fna (return for 30 dirham)\n\nBus No 19 leaves Djemaa el-Fna every half an hour, from 05:15 to 21:15. The trip to the airport takes about 25 minutes.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk009", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is an open-topped **City Sightseeing bus** that will take you around the outskirts of the city, with commentary provided via headphones (supplied with your ticket) in any of 8 different languages. The best place to catch it is from the coach stops by Square de Foucauld. Tickets cost 145 dirham each and are valid for 24 hours from the time of issue, no matter how many times you get on or off. You can get a 48-hour ticket for very little extra and as there are two distinct tours, this can be a good deal. Check the timetable carefully, as the buses can stop running earlier than you might think.\n\n### By caleche\n\nAn alternative and romantic way to travel is by **caleche**, a small horse-drawn carriage. They can be hired at Square de Foucauld (the small park to the south of Djemaa El-Fna). It's wise to agree on a price before setting off. As a guide price, you should pay around 80 dirham per hour, per carriage.\n\n### By taxi\n\nYou should always ask to use the meter (*compteur* in French); otherwise, you are just contributing to a culture of ripping off people. However, in the vast majority of cases, the drivers will refuse to take you if you insist on using the meter. Even locals often have troubles with drivers in Marrakesh, that's how it is. Even if you use the meter, the driver may try to charge extra for bags, or be lacking change in order to get a larger fare.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk010", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Get around", "text": "Your only option to completely avoid this is using the buses which serve most destinations of interest (see above). If you accept that you have to pay a small penalty fee for being a tourist, offer 50% more than the metered ride would cost upfront (see below).\n\nFor *petit taxi*, the maximum number of passengers is three (plus the driver), i.e. one fare applies to a single person, or a group two or three people.\n\nThe meter starts from 1.70 dirham before 20:00 and 2.40 dirham after 20:00; there's no need to negotiate the price. Basically they have to use the meter even if it is midnight.\n The minimum charge is 7 dirham before 20:00 and after will be 10 dirham.\n 20 dirham is a good price for a 10-minute ride and if offered upfront will usually be accepted. If not, kindly refuse and simply take the next taxi.\n\nFor *grand taxis* (regular Mercedes taxis) there are no meters. Typically the set rate from Marrakech Airport to the Medina or Djemaa El-Fna (Main square) is 150 dirham. There also appears to be no limit to the number of people they'll attempt to squeeze in! Outside of the airport if you are a group of more than three, the maximum for a *petit taxi*, then do negotiate you fee before you enter the grand taxi.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk011", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Wonderful detailed walls in the Dar Si Said Museum\nthumb|Metal craft area of a market\n\nThere is much to see and do in Marrakech. An entire day can be dedicated to wandering around all the different souks, seeking out the best bargains. The city also offers several historical and architectural sites as well as some interesting museums.\n\n - Medina\n\n - Djemaa El-Fna\n\n - The Souks\n\n - Koutoubia Mosque\n\n - Tanneries\nthumb|Saadian Tombs\n - Saadian Tombs\n\n - Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum\n\n - Majorelle Gardens\n\n - Yves Saint Laurent Museum\n\n - Dar Si Saïd Museum\n\n - Ben Youssef Madrasa\n\n - El Bahia Palace\nthumb|El Badi Palacethumb|Menarathumb|Jewish cemetery\n - El Badi Palace\n\n - The Menara gardens\n\n - Jewish Cemetery\n\n - Slat Al Azama Synagogue\n\n - Marrakech Museum\n\n - Musée de la Palmeraie\n\n - Musee Farid Belkahia\n\n - Maison de la Photographie\n\n - Ali Ben Youssef Mosque\n\n - Agdal Gardens\n\n - Almoravid Koubba\n\n### Day trips\n\n - Jbilets Geological Site\n\n - Anima garden\n\n - Marrakech Desert Trips", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk012", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Shop lamps at Djemaa El-Fna*Sahara Desert tours — Many travelers visiting Marrakech choose to take a 2- to 4-day journey to the Sahara Desert (Merzouga or Erg Chebbi). These tours cross the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n'Tichka pass, visit the historic kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and continue through the Dades Valley before reaching the dunes, where visitors can enjoy camel trekking and overnight stays in desert camps.\n - Chez Ali Fantasia\n\n **Football:** - Stade de Marrakesh\n\n### The Medina\n\nThe historic district of the city.\n\nThe main square in the Medina is Djemaa El-Fna. It is surrounded by endless labyrinths of souks (bazaars) and alley ways covering all of the Medina. Djemma El-Fna is a must as there is always something to see there day and night whether it be snake charmers, acrobats, sooth-sayers,or the musicians and food stalls. At night the square really comes to life as people navigate toward the exotic aromas and the entertaining sights. As the evening darkens, the hustle & bustle of activity rages on. The exotic music appears louder and more hypnotic.\n\nThe Medina is also the place to stay in a Riad, a Moroccan house with an internal courtyard. Most windows are inward facing towards the central atrium. This design of property suits Islamic tradition as there is no obvious wealth statement being made externally, no windows to peer through. Entering a Riad is like discovering an Aladdin's Cave in comparison to its non-descript exterior. They are great places to stay and offer an intimate and relaxing retreat.\n\nDirectly south of the Djemaa El-Fna is Rue Bab Agnaou. A five-min walk takes you straight to the famous Bab Agnaou entrance to the Kasbah district of the Medina. The Bab Agnaou entrance, through the ramparts, is by far the most impressive entrance of all medina rampart entrances.\n\nThe Kasbah, in comparison to the Derbs (streets) surrounding the Djemaa El-Fna, portrays a calmer, less abrasive atmosphere. It is home to the Royal Palace, also the former El - Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs. This naturally creates better security, cleaner streets and a hint of being a special place within the medina. The Kasbah has its own little bazaars (Souikas), food stalls, restaurants, hotels and riads for travellers to enjoy.\n\n### Hammams\n\nHammams are baths, often close to mosques to facilitate the performance of ablutions. In guidebooks and signs that call them \"Moroccan Turkish Baths\" the name \"Turkish\" is a misnomer, since Morocco (unlike Egypt or Syria) was never under Ottoman rule, but the historical role of the baths is authentic in Morocco.\n\n - Les Bains de Marrakech\n\n - Hammam Dar el-Bacha\n\n - Hammam Bab Doukkala\n\n - Thai marrakech\n\n - Hamam Essalama\n\n - Ô Bain de Lina\n\n### Desert trekking\n\nMarrakesh is not in the desert: you will spend several hours to get to the desert and day tours are therefore pretty stressful. If you have the time, spend at least one night in the desert or in a town close to your desert trekking destination. Beware of tours that don't include meals and water as they will drop you at 100 dirham restaurants far from any other option. Because of this and the kickback from shops you will visit, multi-day trips to Merzouga can cost as little as 600 dirham if you play agencies against each other.\n\nA good alternative to big desert trips is a day-trip to the Agafay desert. It is rockier (less sandy), but a common trip for the locals.", "word_count": 583}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk013", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|300px|Spices at a Marrakech market.\n\nAlong with the major souk (Arabic for 'market') adjacent to the Djemaa El-Fna, there are a plethora of smaller souks throughout the city, where any number of products can be had. In any of them, you generally need to bargain. Keep an eye out for a wide array of hand-crafted candle-holding lanterns, as well as spectacular displays of local spices.\n\nMost shops sell the same handful of items. But if you wander a little off from El-Fna, you can find small workshops with real craftsmen making handmade goods. You then get to talk to craftsmen of the item you bought. If you buy shoes or clothes, they can also make alterations for you, and there are a few places that make unique products.\n\nArgan oil, produced only in Morocco, is used in Moroccan cooking and beauty treatments. If you enjoy its unique nutty flavor, be sure to pick some up in the souks. It will cost you about 70 dirham per 100 ml at local supermarket for cooking oil or 200 dirham for genuine cosmetic oil.\n\nthumb|Argan oil production at Herboriste De Marrakech\n\nMarrakech is home to a large tanning industry, and leather goods of high quality can be bought here cheaply. Check out camel leather items especially - jackets, round poufs (little ottomans), and handbags.\n\nFor the shoes, always check they have no paper inside sole because it is very common. Do not be fooled by demonstration of bending the shoe back and forth; try it yourself by feeling and hearing how the paper bends. For poor quality shoes you should not pay more than 40 dirham, and for a good pair no more than 90 dirham. Shop around and learn the difference in shoe quality.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk014", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Buy", "text": "Also of interest would be items made of the local cactus silk, which is really rayon, a natural fiber made of plant cellulose and produced in Morocco. Rayon holds the chemical dyes well, which accounts for the vibrant range of true colors (natural dyes cannot produce a \"true\" color). On offer are scarves, handbags, tablecloths, bedspreads and throws in stunning colors. Some merchants try to charge a premium price for this \"cactus silk\". Check well because there are many fakes and sellers will usually tell you any lie to get you to pay a high price.\n\nBe sure to wander around the potters' souk, and look for brightly colored platters and bowls, as well as tagines (large, lidded cookpots) in all sizes\n\nLovely cashmere shawls can also be had for less than a fiver with a little bargaining.\n\nthumb|Plate maker in medina of Marrakech\n\nIf you cannot stand the bargaining, there are two government-run shops where you can buy handicrafts at fixed prices. Look for boutique d'artisans. One is near Djemaa El-Fna while the other one is in the ville nouvelle.\n - Les établissements Bouchaïb\n\nAn option to explore the souks in a more tranquil way is to go during the Friday prayer. Although some shops will be closed, most stay open and are significantly less crowded than at other times.\n\nThe Apple and Samsung smartphones being sold on Djemaa El-Fna are Chinese-built fakes; they work fine but employ less storage and cheaper components than the originals. Bargain accordingly.\n\nthumb|Fruit and nut sale booths at Jemaa El Fna, Marrakech\n\n- Chez Monseur Michelin\n\n- Faissal\n\n- Maison du Caftan\n\n### Cash", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk015", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Buy", "text": "You will need cash in Marrakech. Restaurants accept cards but you will need cash for all shops, taxis and to pay your hotel tourist tax. You can withdraw cash from ATMs in the airport.\n\n### Prices\n\nIn order to not become (heavily) overcharged: If there is no price tag, **ask for the price first**. This applies to both products and services.", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk016", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Buy", "text": "As a guide for prices, maximum and generous prices you should pay.\n Djellaba, long coat with hood for men, made of cotton/wool. Low quality: 90 dirham. Good (thick) quality: 300 dirham.\n Paintings, depends on the quality and size but no more than 50 dirham for a 70x50cm.\n Shisha, 150 dirham for the smallest ones. Prices then vary with size and quality.\n Tobacco for shisha, 20 dirham. There are many flavours and decent prices at the duty-free store at the airport in Marrakech.\n Shoes, for home, no more than 50 dirham for a good one, for the street no more than 90 dirham for a good quality one.\n Lamp, no more than 60 dirham for a medium size lamp.\n Woven beanie, 15 dirham.\n T-shirt, no more than 50 dirham for a large.\n Small wooden snake toys, 5 dirham.\n Small teapot (2-3 cups), 90-100 dirham.\n Medium size cooking tagine 40 dirham. (Choose carefully, glazed tagines have a risk of releasing unsafe levels of lead.)\n Dress for women, poor quality, not wool, 30 dirham.\n Carpets: 1,000 dirham for a white wool carpet that is 8 ft x 12 ft\n Henna tattoo: medium-sized design should cost no more than 50 dirham (Ask for brown henna if you are allergic to PPP black henna, the brown henna is natural and safe)\n You can order special gold jewellery items like a chain with your name on it or using a customised design but ensure you have agreed on the price beforehand.\n 250 g of gunpowder tea, 30 dirham. Although best bought at a supermarket.\n Round piece of bread, 1.5 dirham.\n Spice mixes, 80 dirham/kg. Cumin, curcuma, cinnamon, ground ginger, etc. 40-60 dirham/kg\n\nAlso see Morocco. Do not offer a price that you are not willing to pay. Even hostel prices can be haggled.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk017", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Buy", "text": "Remember, sellers are just the middle man, they do not produce it, except maybe for some kinds of lamps, and they pay very little to the people who actually make it. Also, never pay in advance. And never let anyone write you an invoice. It is a bad idea and in most of the cases you will never see your goods or money back.\n\nMost major banks and a slew of cash exchange shops can be found in a cluster around Arset el bilk (next to the main square). Most banks don't accept Unionpay and many ATMs displaying the Unionpay logo actually don't support the cards regardless of what Unionpay or the bank's website will tell you. Apparently the Société Générale banks can do withdrawals from 16:00-21:00.\n\nBe aware that if you are shopping at western stores like Zara, that the return policies are different. Contrary to many other countries, purchases by credit card can only be exchanged, not returned. However, cash purchases can be returned for a refund.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk018", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Eat", "text": "### How to eat (well) in the Djemaa El-Fna\n\nthumb|300px|Djemaa El-Fna in full swing\n\nEach night in the Djemaa El-Fna rows of street stalls are set up under giant white tents. The huts targeting tourists serve similar fare and have menus printed in French, Arabic and usually English. Everyone has tajine, couscous, brochette and some variety of soups. Some have specialities like offal, egg sandwiches or special tajines. Be aware that most restaurants employ rather insistent \"greeters,\" who are very aggressive in trying to customers for their stall. The line 'we already ate' seems to work well to get them to stop. As of 2018, the \"greeters\" mentioned above have changed strategies to one of harassment and insults. They try to separate couples and corner women while hurling insults.\n\nIf you want to eat well in Marrakech, do what the locals do and eat at the food stalls in the square. It is a common misconception that these stalls are only here for the tourists. Actually, they have been in existence long before Marrakech became a tourist destination. All of the stalls can be regarded as perfectly safe to eat at. They are strictly licensed and controlled by the government, especially now as it is a popular destination for tourists. The locals eat at the cheaper stalls that don't employ greeters and serve the more interesting food: snails, sheep head, lentils and beans.\n\nSome tips:", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk019", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Eat", "text": "Prices tend to vary a little. Depending upon how hungry you are, you can pay anything from 10 dirham for a bread filled with freshly grilled sausages, or perhaps a bowl of harira soup to 100 dirham for a full three-course meal with salad, bread, starter, main course, and tea.\n Try harira (great soup, of lamb/beef, red lentils and vegetables) and the fried aubergines. Don't be afraid-try the lamb head: it's really tasty. The \"bull stew\" (beef stew) should also be given a chance in the same stalls.\n Don't miss the tea! There is a row of tea sellers along the front of the food stalls who each sell tea for 3 dirham each (as of 2011). Most of the tea at these stalls is actually ginseng tea with cinnamon and ginger... most delicious and welcoming. They also have cake, made of basically the same spices, which can be a bit overpowering.\n All food stalls at Djemaa El-Fna display the price on the menus, making it less likely you'll be overcharged, but many will bring starters to you without asking, then charge for them at the end.\n Drinks are rarely on the menu so it is better to ask the price of them before ordering, as they can often be comparatively high. On the other hand, some stalls offer free mint tea to encourage you to choose them.\n Early mornings, look for people frying riifa in the covered part opposite the Koutoubia. Riifa is dough stretched and flattened and folded over, then cooked in a frying pan, and is best described as a Moroccan version of a pancake or crepe.\n\n### Budget\n\n- Chez Chegrouni\n\n- Chez Yassine\n\n- Henna Cafe\n\n- Chez Bismilah\n\n- Café Babouche medina\n\n- Black Pan\n\n### Mid-range", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk020", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Eat", "text": "For more upscale eateries (and especially for non-Moroccan cuisine) you generally must go outside the Medina to Ville Nouvelle.\n\n- Associacion Amal\n\n- 16 Café\n\n- Café Arabe\n\n- sky mabrouka\n\n- Al Fassia\n\n- Café du Livre\n\n- Café Kabash\n\n- Le Marrakchi\n\n- Le Bistrot Loft\n\n- Diaffa\n\n- Dar Najat's Kitchen\n\n- Maison de la Photographie\n\n### Splurge\n\n- Pepe Nero\n\n- La Villa des Orangers\n\n- Le Grand Café de la Poste\n\n- Le Grand Salon\n\n- Dar Yacout\n\n- Le Foundouk\n\n- Les Jardins de la Medina\n\n- Eloomm", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk021", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Drink", "text": "Street vendors offer **fresh orange juice** (*jus d'Orange*) by the glass for 4 dirham. Try it with a dash of salt like the locals, but be wary of vendors who try to water the juice down with tap water. Also, pay attention when you buy as they offer 2 types of orange... the blood orange juice costs 10 dirham per glass and a misunderstanding on what you want to drink could occur.\n\nConfirm the price of your orange juice and pay for it **before** you drink. Unscrupulous vendors will sometimes try to charge you 10 dirham for a 4-dirham glass of *jus d'Orange*, so don't accept your drink until you've paid the correct amount.\n\nBe wary also, that they do not always clean the glasses very well so it is possible to get an upset stomach from the juice.\n\nThere is a very limited selection of places selling alcohol in the Medina.\n\n - Chesterfield Pub\n\n - Le Salama\n\n - Hotel Grand Tazi\n\n - Narwama\n\nOutside the Medina.\n\n - Montecristo\n\n - Jad Mahal\n\n - Sky Lounge\n\n - Comptoir Darna\n\n - Piano Bar\n\n - African Chic\n\n - Le Lounge", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk022", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Marrakech has an amazing choice of places to stay ranging from tented camps outside Marrakech to cheap hostels and hotels that can be charming or seedy to luxurious kasbahs in luxurious gardens or the traditional riad (garden courtyard) hotels. Wherever you choose (or can afford) to stay it really is a must to visit one of the riad hotels to see this amazing style of architecture. Most riad managers will be happy to show you around provided that they are not too busy and in some riads you can even book a lunch or dinner without being a resident provided that the riad is not privately rented. For example, see Riad Cinnamon, Riad Laksiba and Riad Papillon.\n\nThere are three main zones to sleep: Medina, Guéliz (also known as Ville Nouvelle), and the surroundings of the city. The Medina has the highest concentration of very cheap *hotels* and *riads* (small palaces), while Guéliz is much more quiet and most of the hotels are mid price (including showers in the room, breakfast service), but going to the Medina from the Guéliz by taxi costs about 10-15 dirham and can take a long time at busy periods (evenings and weekends).\n\nThe surroundings have all the huge tourist hotels, the ones that usually come with what the travel agencies offer. They can be further away from the medina and the rest of the city, but have big swimming pools, restaurants, and many services.\n\nThe Medina is packed with Riads and Dars (old grand houses converted into hotels and inns). Traditionally, **riads** should have gardens; with smaller **dars** having open courtyards. However the term *riad* is now used loosely to describe any house with an internal open-air center. These are wonderful places to stay to get a feel for life in Marrakech.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk023", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you arrive by car, ask the hosts to help you find your way from the parking lot, especially if you never experienced orientation in a real medina before.\n\n#### Dars\n\nthumb|Pool at Jardins de Koutobia Hotel\n\n- Dar Attajmil\n\n- Dar Jaguar\n\n#### Riads\n\nthumb|The Cooling effect of a Riad's courtyard is no accident. Design: A water feature at the base of a Riad courtyard serves two purposes. Firstly, the obvious focal point but more importantly, the courtyards open-air aperture channels warm air entering into the Riad which in turn passes over the water feature, cools down, thus assisting in the convection of heat to exit back through the Riad's open-air aperture. This style of natural air-conditioning has been prevalent in Morocco for millennia and is remarkably successful.\nthumb|300px|A Riad Courtyard\n\nHere are a sample of some of the riads (in alphabetical order) where you can experience Marrakech's unique style of living:\n\n- Riad Abaka\n\n- Riad Amazigh\n\n- Riad Basma\n\n- Riad Chennaoui\n\n- Riad Cinnamon\n\n- Riad Dar Eliane\n\n- Riad Iaazane\n\n- Riad LakLak\n\n- Riad Laksiba\n\n- Riad Lotus Perle\n\n- Riad Magellan\n\n- Riad Melhoun\n\n- Riad Naila\n\n- Riad Dar Najat\n\n- Riad Papillon\n\n- Hotel Riad Primavera\n\n- Riad Dar Zaman\n\n- Riad Zara\n\n- Riad Zolah\n\n- Ryad Dyor\n\n- Riad Al Loune\n\n#### Discount hotels", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk024", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The budget conscious will have more luck in the streets and alleyways south of Djemaa El-Fna, which are packed with discount hotels offering singles from 50 dirham. Derb Sidi Bouloukat is a good place to look, a quiet but safe alleyway packed with traditional-style hotels just a min from Djemaa El-Fna. Its entrance is easy to find, just a few steps away from Djemaa El-Fna. Take Riad Zatoune (unmarked) which starts right of the Moroccan Red Crescent (with your back towards the Koutoubia) and it's the first alley on the right (marked in Arabic only). On your way in Riad Zitoune you will also come across the public hammam (10 dirham, left entrance for women, right entrance for men, the soap, glove and small bucket can be bought at many shops across the street) and a small restaurant serving bissara and mint tea for less than 5 dirham.\n\nPopular options with backpackers include:\n\n- Hotel Ali\n\n- Hotel Salam (laksor)\n\n- Hotel Atlas\n\n- Hotel Central Palace\n\n- Hotel el-Ward\n\n- Hotel Essaouira\n\n- Hotel Imouzzer\n\n- Hotel Sindi\n\n- Hotel Smara\n\n- Hotel Cecil\n\n- Palm Plaza Hotel and Spa\n\n- Riad Lyla\n\n- Riad Rahba\n\n- Aqua Mirage Marrakech\n\n- Le Vizir Center Park Resort\n\nIn the little streets between rue Bab Agnaou and rue Riad Zitoune (where the Smara, the Essaouira, and the Imouzzer are) there are a lot of other small hostels. It is difficult to get lost as they are surrounded by these two big streets and Djemaa El-Fna. It could be a good idea to arrive during the day (best in the morning) and wander around comparing many hostels in a short time.\n\n#### Hostels\n\n- Marrakech Rose\n\n- Massine II\n\n- The Heart of the Medina backpackers hostel\n\n- Rue Mohammed el-Hansali", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk025", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Sleep", "text": "- Sirayane boutique hotel & spa\n\n### Guéliz (also known as Ville Nouvelle)\n\n- Hotel Toulousain\n\n- Hotel al Kabir\n\n- La Mamounia\n\n- Hotel Ibis\n\n- Moroccan House Hotel\n\n- Oudaya Hotel\n\n- Villa Dar El Kanoun", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk026", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Laundry\n\nThere are many dry cleaning shops inside and outside of the Medina. It takes only one day to clean and will cost from 10–30 dirham per piece. If you stay at a hotel, you can hand out your dirty clothes to a housekeeper. Usually they wash it by hand. They do not have a price list and usually say \"up to you\". You should not pay more than 50–100 dirham per plastic bag.\n\n - Lost in Marrakech Laundry Service\n\n### Consulates\n\nBe sure to report any crime to both the local police and your embassy.\n\n - Romania\n\n - British Honorary Consulate in Marrakech\n\nMost other foreign embassies and consulates in Morocco are in Rabat, with a few more consulates in Casablanca.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk027", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Marrakech is a generally safe city, with police presence. However, staying alert about your surroundings and taking general safety precautions is always a good idea like everywhere. Here are some tips:\n\nViolent crime is normally not a major problem, but thefts are known to happen. Keep your money close and hidden, and avoid poorly lit streets or alleys at night.\nGuides offering their services should display an official badge from the local tourist authorities.\nIn the Medina, if someone tells you a street is closed, ignore them, they are lying. It is a scam to lure you into a quiet alley to mug you at worst, and a way to redirect you to a business they are friendly with at best. \nBe especially **careful about being drugged, especially as a solo traveller**. The common and easy-to-make drug GHB only lasts three hours and is undetectable in the body after 7 hours, so if you are attacked, take action immediately.\nBe careful ordering room service if you are a solo traveller, as even older women can be targets for robbery. Don't ask the waiter to enter your room.\nGet one of the shopkeepers to dress you up with a berber style scarf, for men and women, it will cover your face (leaving only space for your eyes) and you can remain undetected and will definitely not be harassed by the shopkeepers, one or two beggars may catch on that you are still a tourist from the way you are dressed though, so bear that in mind.\n\n### Emergency phone numbers\n\n- Police\n\n- Ambulance/ Fire\n\n### Hospitals\n\n- Inb Tofail Hospital\n\n- Polyclinique du Sud\n\n### Drinking water", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk028", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Don’t expect a good quality of tap water In Marrakech. While locals drink it with no problems, visitors often find it hard to digest and swallow. To be safe, opt for bottled mineral water, available at the numerous marketplace kiosks and food stalls. Make sure that the cap seal has not been broken, since vendors have been known to save money by refilling plastic bottles from the tap. At restaurants, ask for your drinks without ice, which are usually made with tap water. Also, remember that many of the juice sellers on the street water down their offerings with tap water, and thus are not a safe alternative source of hydration.\n\n### Touts and scams\n\nA Moroccan idiom is \"Marrakech, Arnakech\" (\"Marrakech, Scam\"): Marrakech is the city with the most inflated prices, the most persistent touts and the most cunning scammers. Even Moroccans who visit Marrakech complain. So all the warnings listed on main page about Morocco should be taken extra seriously. On the plus side, at least since September 2016 (and still valid in April 2017), the police cleaned up a lot; so take these items with a grain of salt and keep an open mind:", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk029", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**\"It's closed\"/\"it is a prayer area\"/\"you cannot go there, it is not a tourist area\"**: This is a common technique by scammers pretending to be tourist guides. Some will even have printed badges with photos and documents pretending to be from the Ministry of Tourism. They will ask you or guess where you are going and say that it's closed. Immediately after or later in the conversation, they will lure you to the location they want you to go, usually some sort of commerce with inflated prices. If a stranger approaches you and claims a location of interest is closed, it is very likely a scam. Shake your head, ignore possible shouting and keep walking.\n **\"Only every 15 days\"**: Another technique is to say a group of Berber only comes every 15 days to do commerce. Buy now, or miss the opportunity!\n **Tanneries**: It is a common scam near the tanneries in the medina to invite tourists for a free tour to the tanneries and then aggressively demand money. You can visit the tanneries for free, but be prepared to be intimidated by fake guides. Maybe better to go only in a group. The tanneries are always open through the year, so avoid people telling you that there is a short time to see/buy.\n **Directions then pay**: If strangers are showing you the way and following you, they may ask you for money at the end of showing directions.\n **Snake charmers**: Stay at a distance unless willing to pay 20 dirham. They will put a snake around your neck for picture and expect payment.\n **Taxi** drivers in the \"tourist hot spots\" (train station, gare routiere, agence CTM, Djeema El-Fna), by default, do not use the meter, though they have to by law, and they overcharge a lot: Either insist on the meter (good luck with that) or agree on a flat price up front. By meter, the trip from the train station to Djeema El-Fna is 13 dirham during daytime, a price of 20 dirham is a good deal for a tourist, regular asking price is 50 to 70 dirham. If your luggage permits, just walking 100 m down the street, away from the \"tourist hot spot\", and hailing a taxi will get a cheaper fare. (or even a metered fare).\n **Djeema El-Fna** is now patrolled by tourist police and one can actually walk there pretty much hassle free, except for: At night time, the food stalls can be pretty \"aggressive\" when trying to convince you to eat there. \"Aggressive\" as in shoving the menu into your face, while blocking your path or grabbing your hand because they are sure you are an \"old friend\", starting a lengthy, friendly conversation. And they still try the \"complimentary XY\" trick where they'll serve you spoonfuls of fries, salads or other items while you are already eating - each tiny plate shows up as 5 dirham on the bill. The latter can be easily avoided by insisting on paying immediately when your food arrives and then just walking away after you finished your meal. On the plus side: With all the tourist police present, (April 2017) simply raising your voice when telling the same guy \"la, shokran!\" (*no, thank you!*) for the 3rd time or when debating a bill that lists items you did not order will probably make them stop for fear of police intervention.\n When ignoring touts, you might get **dismissive remarks shouted after you**, usually tailored to your (guessed) nationality: Unless you know at least French really well, just keep on ignoring them.\n When you get lost in the **Medina**, you should never have to pay more than 20 dirham to a random person to get you at least out of the medina to a taxi that can drop you of someplace from which you can navigate. Again, agree on a price upfront and have the exact amount ready (or change en route in some shop).\n **Henna tattoos** are popular with locals and tourists alike. But among the many genuine traders are some scam artists who offer a free henna tattoo only to charge ridiculous prices afterwards (up to 10 times as much as locals would have to pay). Simply refuse any \"free\" henna tattoos. And, in Marrakech more than in other places, be wary of overly good henna: It is probably regular, cheap henna, mixed with chemicals like PPD to make it appear darker (i.e. of higher quality). This is not only questionable from an overall health perspective but it can lead to serious allergic reactions.", "word_count": 757}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk030", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Always remember: Most Moroccans are incredibly friendly, honest people, so sometimes making a fuss in public can generate unwanted attention for a scam artist and shame them into backing off.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "marrakech::chunk031", "doc_id": "marrakech", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|250px|Ourika Valley\nthumb|250px|Cascade d'Ouzoud waterfalls\nMarrakech can make a good base for exploring the High Atlas or for organizing one to four day **Sahara treks**. The following are towns in the High Atlas that can be seen as part of a day trip:\n **Amizmiz** – With one of the largest Berber souks in the High Atlas Mountains every Tuesday, Amizmiz is well worth a trip. This is especially true for those travellers wishing to experience the less urban, less touristy mountain towns of the High Atlas. The souk deals mostly in ordinary household goods; plan your souvenir shopping elsewhere.\n **Asni** – A lovely rural village in the Atlas mountains.\n **Essaouira** – Charming coastal city. You will pass the goats in the Argan trees on the way there.\n **Oukaimeden** – A ski resort with a distinct Moroccan touch. Ski lift at 3268 m. Oukaïmeden and the areas around are some of the greatest in Morocco, with four seasons, and ever changing nature. In summer, few people enter this area — it is probably too well known for winter sports. But staying here a day or two is a real treat.\n **Ourika Valley** – Tours involve stopping several times en route to the valley to look in tourist shops, a Berber house, and a collective run for women who make products out of Argan oil. Tours will also include a walk to visit the various different waterfalls. \n **Setti Fatma** – The residential part is above the road and is not visited too much. The attractions are the lovely valley scenery and a walk to seven waterfalls - or for most day visitors one waterfall from which others can be seen.\n **Cascade d'Ouzoud** – Impressive three-stage waterfalls between green and pink rock slopes has almost 100 m in height and are highest in Morocco. Ride by taxi or minivan of a local tourist company may be ordered near Djemaa El-Fna or in the streets in Medina. At least half of day need for journey but full day it is better. The way goes through picturesque valleys and takes some more than two hours on one direction. Waterfalls accessible on top and by closest downstairs till the bottom where pontoon boats offer to hike just to the place of water falling. Small cafes and food/souvenir shops available before the entrance and just on downstairs. Makakus monkeys meet mostly before sunset and walk just amongst the visitors or seat on trees and rocks. The waterfalls have full power on spring and beginning of summer and may almost dry later. Sun rays sparkly highlights the water stream before sunset.", "word_count": 433}
diff --git a/corpus/marrakech/metadata.json b/corpus/marrakech/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3be1462e1d77f76c07bc984355526cdf97d7f175
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/marrakech/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "marrakech",
+ "title": "Marrakech",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Marrakech",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "High_Atlas"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "High Atlas",
+ "Amizmiz",
+ "Asni",
+ "Essaouira",
+ "Oukaimeden",
+ "Ourika Valley",
+ "Setti Fatma"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 7603,
+ "listing_count": 133,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 32,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/masai-mara/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/masai-mara/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5d71173eb6f085ce1b0fd45ab1e68e1cb0619898
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/masai-mara/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk000", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Maasai Mara National Reserve** is in the southwest of Kenya. The Maasai Mara is a national reserve belonging to the Maasai people and administered by the local county councils. It is one of the best known and most popular reserves in Africa.", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk001", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Rainbow at Masaai Mara\nthumb|350px|Sunset over the spotted Masaai Mara plains\nThe Maasai Mara National Reserve (also Masai Mara) is visited by thousands of tourists each year, who come here to watch the many different wildlife and birdlife species in the reserve. The reserve is especially famous for the high amount of predators, such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and the 1½ million wildebeest which migrate through the Mara and cross the crocodile infested Mara river.\n\nMasai Mara is one of the few wildlife reserves in Africa where it is possible to see not only the \"Big Five\" but also the \"Big Nine\" animals within a day's game drive. The \"Big Nine\" are the lion (*Panthera leo*), the African elephant (*Loxodonta africana*), the leopard (*Panthera pardus*), the African (Cape) buffalo (*Syncerus caffer*), the white rhino (*Ceratotherium simum*), the cheetah (*Acinonyx jubatus*), the giraffe (*Giraffa camelopardalis*), the zebra (*Equus quagga*) and the hippo (*Hippopotamus amphibius*).", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk002", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Understand", "text": "The best kept secret of the Mara is the Mara Triangle, the north western part of the Maasai Mara which is managed by the Mara Conservancy on behalf of Trans-Mara County Council - the rest of the reserve falls under Narok County Council. Although one third of the Mara, the Mara Triangle has only two properties within its boundaries (compared to the numerous camps and lodges on the Narok side) and has well maintained, all weather gravel roads. There are several camps that lie outside the reserve but close to Oloololo Gate of the Mara Triangle, which means in turn that guests staying at these camps will normally be brought into the Mara Triangle area for their game drives. The conservancy rangers patrol regularly which means that there is almost no poaching and therefore excellent game viewing. There is also strict control over vehicle numbers around animal sightings which means a better, more authentic, experience when out on a game drive.\n\nThough the Mara has good numbers of wildlife all year around, it is more lively during the annual Great wildebeest migration when it is estimated that close to a million plus animals migrate into the reserve from Serengeti National park in the south. The migration does not start exactly at the same time each year. It typically starts off some time between July to early August and begins to tail off by mid September when most of the splinter groups within the large wildebeest herds will have crossed over into Masai Mara. Although animals can be seen at any time of the year in May/June it's difficult due to the rainy season with muddy paths.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk003", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Understand", "text": "It is advisable to avoid booking safaris that have too many destinations or parks to visit within single itinerary. This is often the case with the one-week safaris offered by the major international tour operators. With too many parks and too little time, one has little time left to fully explore the location or really observe the amazing wildlife in each of the parks and reserves as much time is lost traveling from one place to the next.\n\nCheck “hot offers” particularly intensely because their program might be completely firm and the accommodations often outside the parks. A good location of the lodge is very important in the Mara. They often use mini buses instead of Jeeps packed with 6 persons, which is the maximum number of seats in a mini bus. You can imagine how packed you are if everyone has a small bag plus photo equipment.\n\n### History\n\nArrowheads and pottery discarded by Neolithic man 2,000 years ago have been found in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Since the 17th century the Masai people have occupied the area - of course together with the wildlife, who are the true landlords here. The Maasai Mara National Reserve as it appears today was established in 1961, and covers 1,510 km² (583 sq miles).\n\n### Landscape", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk004", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Topi (''Damaliscus lunatus'') in the Masai Mara National Reserve.\nThe Maasai Mara is characterized by four different kinds of topography: sandy soil and small bushes to the east, the Siria Escarpment forming a spectacular plateau as the western boundary of the reserve, lush grasslands and woodlands around the Mara River and open plains with scattered bushes making up the largest part of the reserve. The landscape is very varied and has a romantic feeling to it, as can be witnessed in the film *Out of Africa*, which was filmed here in 1985.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nWhen visiting the Maasai Mara you are likely to see the famous Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Especially lions are common here, and have grown relatively accustomed to their two-legged visitors, which makes them easier to spot. The Mara Plains are teeming with wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala and Thomson's gazelle. Also cheetahs, hyenas and jackals are seen regularly in the reserve. In the Mara River large amounts of hippos and crocodiles are enjoying their lives - the crocodiles are especially happy in July and November when thousands of wildebeest migrate across the river causing a sumptuous feast for the hungry crocodiles.\n\nBirdlife in Maasai Mara are abundant and diverse. Species such as eagles, ostriches, storks and vultures are among the more than 50 different birds of prey.\n\n### Climate\n\nMaasai Mara is 1,500-2,200 m (4,900-7,100 ft) above sea level, which makes the climate slightly damper and milder than in other similar regions. Highest temperatures in daytime is 30°C/85°F (warmest in December and January, coldest in June and July), at night the temperature rarely drops below 15°C/60°F.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk005", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Understand", "text": "The rainy season is April-May and November. In these periods some parts of the Mara will get very muddy and practically inaccessible. The dry season occurs from July to October. This is the best time to visit the Maasai Mara as a lot of herbivores indulge in the plants grown long and lush after the rains - and, in these months you will stay clear of heavy showers.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk006", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By air\n\nThe Maasai Mara National Reserve is accessible by regularly scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport year-round. Flights can often run from Samburu, Lewa Downs, Nanyuki or Mombasa if sufficient demand. If you have a small group, a charter is also an option. The aircraft will land on one of the small Mara airstrips, and from here you need to transfer by car to your particular lodge. Many lodges and camps offer pickups. The flight from Nairobi takes around half an hour, but may land at several Mara strips. Frequency for all airlines depends on the season. Some flights only operate subject to minimum passenger numbers.\n - Air Kenya\n is a reliable state airline\n - Safarilink\n Safarilink (in combination with Coastal aviation) also offers connecting flights from Tanzania via the land crossing at Migori/Tarime.\n\n### By road\n\nIf you go by car from Nairobi the drive will take you five hours during the dry season, and up to seven hours in the rainy season. By car you can enter the game reserve through these gates: , , , , and Sand River.\n\nThe roads in the reserve can become flooded or turned into mud puddles in the rainy seasons in April, May and November.\n\nA lot of travel agencies organise safari trips to Maasai Mara. You can book a package tour, which allows you to put all transportation to and in the park in their hands.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk007", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Entry fee is US$100 per person per night Jan–Jun (low season) and US$200 Jul–Dec (high season).\n\nYou can book your tour of the National Reserve with a reliable tour operator that will usually bundle the Masai Mara park fee, the accommodation, and the safari car and driver fees to make sure that you can enjoy your adventure and not have to worry about the details.", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk008", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Ballooning Away in Maasai Mara\n\nMoving around in Maasai Mara National Reserve must only take place by car – preferably by 4-wheel safari vehicles. Because of the wild animals it is absolutely forbidden to move about on foot outside the camp sites and lodges.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk009", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "See", "text": "The main attraction of this game reserve is, not surprisingly, game viewing. Go on morning, afternoon and night drives over several days in order to see as many as possible of the resident animals, such as lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle, hyena, rhino, hippo and the thousands of migrating wildebeest that makes this park so famous.\n\nMany camp sites and lodges offer game drives with experienced drivers and skilled, well-informed guides. These are well worth your money, as they will provide you with priceless knowledge and help you spot animals you wouldn't see on your own.\nAnd please catch as many sunuppers and -downers as you can.\n\nMaasai Mara's most famous sight is the **Great Migration**, a great animal migration event that takes place in July and August every year.\n\nThere is a Maasai village near Oloolaimutiek gate of this game park. It is a good experience and will help you to deepen your understanding of the Maasai's culture and simple way of life.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk010", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Thomson's Gazelle\n - Game viewing\n\n - Wellness\n\n - Maasai Village Visit", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk011", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can buy strings of beads or beads already made up into necklaces and other pieces of jewellery at the gate and outside the entry to the park.\n\nIf you want to support local communities do not buy trinkets from the camps and lodges and instead buy them from a local village - 'manyatta'.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk012", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are no public restaurants inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.\nFood is provided almost entirely by lodges and tented camps, many of which operate on full-board (three meals per day) or all-inclusive packages.\n\nTypical lodge meals include:\n\n Buffet or plated breakfasts with eggs, fruit, pastries, and Kenyan tea/coffee\n Packed picnic lunches for full-day game drives\n Multi-course dinners featuring a mix of international cuisine and Kenyan dishes such as ugali, sukuma wiki, chapati, nyama choma, and stews\n\nSome high-end camps offer:\n\n Gourmet bush dinners\n Barbecue evenings\n Outdoor breakfast setups overlooking the plains\n\nIf staying outside the reserve (e.g., Talek, Sekenani, or Mara Rianta), basic local eateries (“hotels”) offer simple Kenyan fare at very affordable prices.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk013", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Drink", "text": "All drinking options inside the reserve are located within lodges and camps.\n\nMost camps offer:\n\n Local beers (Tusker, White Cap)\n South African and international wines\n Spirits and cocktails (gin & tonic is the classic safari drink)\n Fresh fruit juices, soft drinks, and bottled water\n Unlimited coffee and Kenyan chai\n Because the Mara is remote, **imported alcohol** may be expensive, and selection varies by lodge.\n\n**Sundowners**\n\nMany camps arrange evening sundowners—drinks with light snacks at a scenic viewpoint—usually included in high-end stays.\nThese are a highlight of safari days, though **they may be restricted inside certain zones of the Reserve** (they are always allowed in private conservancies).\n\n**Water safety**\n\nAlways drink bottled or filtered water.\nMost camps provide refillable bottles to reduce plastic waste.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk014", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nthumb|Wildebeest crossing river\n\n - David Livingstone Safari Resort\n\n - Keekorok Lodge\n\n- Neo Classic camps Maasai Mara\n\n - Mara Serena lodge\n\n - Karen Blixen Camp\n\n - Royal Mara Safari Lodge\n\n - Kensington Tented Camp\n\n - Kilima Camp\n\n '''Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages''', [Mailto:info@mara-siria-camp.com|info@mara-siria-camp.com]. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in \"out-of-Africa\"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.\n - Ngerende Island Lodge\n\n - Mara Explorers\n\n - Zebra Plains Mara Camp\n\n - Malaika Camp\n\n - Camp Oloshaiki\n\n - Aruba Mara Camp & Safaris\n\n - Mara Intrepids Tented Camp\n\n - Mara Eden Safari Camp\n\n - Governors’ Camp\n\n### Outside the reserve\n\n - Manyatta Camp\n\n### Camping\n\nIn the Mara Triangle part of the Maasai Mara there are both public and private campsites available to use. For full details of payment amounts and availability of campsites go to the Mara Triangle website.\n - Camping at Oloololo gate\n\n - Camping at Serena Hotel\n\n - Camping at the river\n\n - Aruba Mara Camp Site", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk015", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Maasai Mara is generally very safe for visitors, but it is a true wilderness area with large predators, dangerous herbivores, and open savanna terrain. Sensible precautions and adherence to guide instructions are essential.\n\nWildlife is the primary safety concern. **Do not leave your vehicle** during game drives unless your guide says it is safe. Lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and hippos can be unpredictable and extremely dangerous, even if they appear calm. Keep a respectful distance from all animals, avoid sudden movements, and never attempt to feed or lure wildlife for photos. If an animal approaches the vehicle, remain quiet and still so the guide can manage the situation.\n\nWalking outside lodges or camps—especially at night—is strongly discouraged. Many accommodations are **unfenced**, allowing animals to roam freely. Always request an escort from lodge staff when moving around after dark, and never walk alone on footpaths beyond the camp boundaries.\n\nMosquitoes are present year-round, and the area is malarial. Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves in the evening, and sleep under a mosquito net. Sun exposure can be intense on the open plains, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of drinking water—especially during full-day game drives.\n\nRoad safety is another concern. Tracks inside the reserve can be rough, muddy, or deeply rutted, particularly during the rainy seasons (March–May and November). A **4x4 vehicle** is highly recommended. Avoid driving yourself unless you have experience with off-road conditions; hiring a guide or going with a safari operator is far safer.\n\nCrime against tourists is rare inside the reserve, but petty theft can occur in nearby towns. Keep valuables locked in your lodge, avoid displaying expensive items, and remain aware of your surroundings in crowded areas.\n\nDuring the **Great Migration** (July–October), river crossings can draw crowds of vehicles. Guides must position their vehicles responsibly and avoid blocking animal paths. Visitors should remain inside the vehicle at all times, as predators and stressed animals concentrate around the rivers.\n\nMobile reception is limited or patchy in parts of the reserve. Inform your lodge of your daily plans, especially if going on a full-day drive. Weather can change suddenly, and thunderstorms may cause flash floods in some riverbeds—your guide will know which areas to avoid.\n\nWith standard safari precautions, staying alert, and following your guide’s instructions, Maasai Mara is a safe and rewarding destination for wildlife viewing.", "word_count": 390}
+{"chunk_id": "masai-mara::chunk016", "doc_id": "masai-mara", "section": "Go next", "text": "If you're heading next for Lake Naivasha or Nakuru you can get off in Mai Mahiu at the junction of the Old Naivasha Road, so you can skip the Nairobi traffic jams. From there frequent matatus head north.\n\n Tsavo West National Park\n Tsavo East National Park\n Nairobi\n Mombasa", "word_count": 48}
diff --git a/corpus/masai-mara/metadata.json b/corpus/masai-mara/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..52a19ef0115a07ad17672967939189547cd0ec68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/masai-mara/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "masai-mara",
+ "title": "Maasai Mara National Reserve",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Maasai_Mara_National_Reserve",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Rift Valley"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Lake Naivasha",
+ "Nakuru",
+ "Tsavo West National Park",
+ "Tsavo East National Park",
+ "Nairobi",
+ "Mombasa"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2454,
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
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diff --git a/corpus/maui/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/maui/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
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+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk000", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Overview", "text": "The island of **Maui** is one of the islands of Hawaii, a state of the United States of America. It is the second-largest of the eight major islands and the third-most populous.", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk001", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|The Kihei CoastMakawao in Upcountry Maui at the top of Baldwin Ave. Old cowboy ranch town now a shopping, eating and Art destination.\n — the town at the end of the Highway to Hana. An isolated community on Maui's eastern tip surrounded by dense rain forests.\n — an old plantation town, located on the north slope of east Maui.\n — the commercial and transportation center, with Maui's two largest malls, the main airport and a deep-water port.\n — a small town located on Maui's Western shore, close to Lahaina.\n — in the northwest corner of Maui, showcasing championship golf courses, ten miles of pristine shoreline and luxury accommodations.\n features condos and beaches on the southwest coast, but cheaper and less luxurious than Kaanapali.\n — an old whaling port and former major tourist center, sadly mostly destroyed in the Maui Fires of 2023.\n — a beach town on northwest shore near Kapalua which offers calm waters protected by an offshore reef.\n — a small town with interesting shopping and world renowned beaches for windsurfing and surfing.\n - small town with a working plantation\n are master-planned resort areas located just south of Kihei.\n — the seat of the county government, home to several historic buildings listed on both state and gateway to the Iao Needle.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk002", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Maui nō ka 'oi.* \"Maui is the best.\" Many visitors have heard this Hawaiian phrase said about the island, and many of those same visitors, having visited, say it to others. It's no wonder that the readers of *Conde Nast Traveler* have voted Maui the best island in the U.S. for 22 years, and have given it top honors in the world in many of those polls.\n\nMaui was formed from the merger of two volcanoes, Haleakala to the east and the West Maui volcano to the west. Between the two volcanoes is a narrow isthmus of land on which the major population centers of Wailuku and Kahului lie; this feature gives Maui its nickname, \"the Valley Island.\"", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk003", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Talk", "text": "See *Talk* in the Hawaii section.", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk004", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|450px|Map of Maui\n**Kahului Airport** () is the main airport for the island of Maui, and the second largest commercial airport in the state. It is a secondary hub for Hawaiian Airlines, which provides interisland service to Kahului from the other major airports in the state. Several major U.S. airlines also provide non-stop service to Maui from the West Coast and beyond. Kahului airport can be reached non-stop from Anchorage, Bellingham, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Hana, Hilo, Honolulu, Hoolehua, Kamuela, Kapalua, Lanai City, Lihue, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver.\n\nTo get to Lahaina and Kaanapali, where most major hotels are located, exit the airport and follow Kuihelani Highway (route 380) to its junction with Honoapiilani Highway (route 30), and turn left on route 30 toward Lahaina. For Kihei and Wailea, turn left on Puunene Avenue, which becomes Mokulele Highway (state route 311) and eventually turns into Piilani Highway (state route 31) when you reach Kihei. Continue on route 31 for Wailea.\n\nWhen departing from Kahului Airport for the U.S. Mainland, all baggage must be inspected by Hawaii State Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airport. Fresh fruits (with the exception of pineapples and treated papayas) are prohibited from leaving the islands to prevent the spread of fruit flies. This inspection occurs before you get to your gate, so you won't be able to enjoy your last fruit while waiting for your departing flight.\n\nThere are smaller general aviation airports Kapalua () and Hana () with some scheduled local flights.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk005", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Get around", "text": "While Maui has a basic public transportation system, many places are not accessible by bus, and most visitors rent a car. Renting a car in Hawaii is relatively inexpensive. The resort areas around Kihei, Wailea and Lahaina also have a trolley that connects the towns with nearby shopping and attractions.\n\n### Public transportation\n\nThere are several public bus routes that operate seven days a week including all holidays. More information can be found at the Maui County's bus service webpage. Note that buses do not allow suitcases, so plan ahead while riding.\n\n### Major highways\n\n**Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30)** is the road to Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua; it runs between West Maui and Wailuku around majestic cliffs and along white sand beaches.\n**Hana Highway (Routes 36 and 360)**, the \"road to Hana,\" traces Maui's north coast from Kahului to the village of Hana on the eastern shore. Winding along steep, forested mountainsides, in many places the road narrows to only a single lane. Although the road to Hana is only 56 miles (90 km) long, it turns and winds so continuously that the whole journey can take up to three hours one-way, especially if there is traffic. However, if you leave early in the morning, the trip can take as little as 90 minutes.\n**Haleakala Highway (Routes 37, 377, and 378)** is the road that leads to Pukalani and Makawao in upcountry Maui and takes you to the summit of Haleakala.\n\nMost locals refer to the roads not by number but by name, and will likely not understand if you ask for a road by number. For example you would never hear someone refer to Piilani highway as \"route 31\" or \"highway 31.\"", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk006", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "See", "text": "**Haleakala National Park** offers alpine wilderness and stunning views of Maui and beyond (from the summit you can see five of the eight main islands, more than are visible from anywhere else in Hawaii). Two entrances, one from Highway 36 and one from Highway 37, go to separate parts of the park.\n\n**Wainapanapa State Park** has black sand beach, sea arch, sea caves, a small blowhole to see. In Hana at end of Wai‘anapanapa Road off Hana Highway (Highway 360), 52.8 miles (85 km) (3 hour drive) east of Kahului Airport.\n\n**Iao Valley State Monument** is very green. You can climb up 0.6 miles (1 km) on paved trail to a view of the ocean, Iao Needle, etc. or climb down to a garden, stream, etc. From Kahului go west on ‘Iao Valley Road (Highway 32) through Wailuku to the end of the road.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk007", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Do", "text": "### Biking\n\n300px|thumbnail|right|Summit region of Haleakalā\n\nThe Mount Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour: takes you by bus up the mountain for a spectacular sunrise before your guided bike tour down. See Haleakala National Park.\n\n### Hiking\n\nThere are many trails on Maui including a couple of trails in Iao Valley State Monument and several in Haleakala National Park. The upper part of Haleakala National Park bears no resemblance to the lower. The crater at the summit, some , draws millions of visitors each year. Hike within it on miles of trails past cinder cones and lava caves or you can stroll from roadside turnouts to sky-high overlooks. The drive to the top is the steepest in the world and along Haleakala's slopes are eight biological zones, designated as an International Biosphere Reserve.\n\nTwo good sources for hikers are the State of Hawaii Trail and Access Program, Na Ala Hele Trail and Access System and Maui Trailblazer guidebook.\n\n### Canoeing and kayaking\n\nIn Hawaii a canoe is an ocean-going outrigger. They also have double hull canoes that are a bit like catamarans. There are canoe clubs that will sometimes take out visitors for a reasonable donation.\n\nMany businesses would be happy to introduce you to kayaking. See the listings in Kihei, and Wailuku.\n\n### Golf\n\nChoose from 14 courses (several of which are ranked at or near the top of the “world’s best” lists) designed by noted course architects and golfing luminaries such as Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw. Check out the courses in Wailea, Kapalua and Kahului.\n\n### Luaus\n\nThere are many luaus in Maui, which feature Polynesian singing and dancing. Most feature buffet dinners. Check out the Wailea and Lahaina article's gorgeous listings.\n\n### Mountain biking\n\nThere are mountain bike trails in Makawao State Forest.\n\n### Scuba diving", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk008", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Do", "text": "250px|thumbnail|right|Molokini Crater\nA number of shore diving sites are accessible from Maui's west and south-facing shores. Visit World War II wreck sites of the Helldiver Dive Bomber or the Tank and Landing Craft. Other wrecks include St. Anthony's Wreck off Mokapu Beach in Wailea and the Carthaginian Sailing Ship along the West Maui coast. Several operators offer day trips to the south shore of Lanai. - Molokini Crater\n\n### Snorkeling\n\nThis can be one of the most affordable activities on Maui.\nSome favorite spots include:\n The cove south of **Black Rock** near the Sheraton Resort at Kaanapali Beach.\n \"Turtle Town\" near the south end of Makena Road in Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve, which is south of Kihei and Wailea. Great variety of coral and fish and occasionally large turtles. Keep driving until you reach a small rustic parking lot on the right that has two outhouses on its left side and a temporary building on its right side. Follow the trail from the ocean side of the parking lot along the water to the left until you get to a small cove with a lava shore and a tiny black sand beach.\n South of **Kamaole Beach Park III** in Kihei.\n **Ulua Beach** in Wailea-Makena south of Kihei.\n\nUse caution to decide when and where to snorkel. Educate yourself about riptides and avoid choppy seas, which could bash you against coral or rocks.\n\n### Surfing\n\nThere are several spots on Maui that are recommended for surfing.\n\n### Visit a lavender farm", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk009", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Do", "text": "Visit the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm In the Upcountry region of Maui, nestled on the slopes of Haleakala (House of the Sun). Daily tours and treasure hunts (for a nominal fee) are offered which allow the visitor to learn about both culinary and cosmetic lavenders, grown with interspersed protea plants, a native plant of South Africa, which thrives along with the lavender, in this drought prone region. The Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm espouses the doctrine of sustainable Aloha, and will share more on this with during your visit.\n\n### Visit Hana\n\nTake the road trip on Hwy 36 (Hana Hwy) stopping on the road to see waterfalls, lush greenery and beaches. Some of these are not visible from the road, but most are a relatively short hike off the road. A private arboretum and botanical garden (with an entrance fee) called \"Garden of Eden\" around the 10-mile marker has peacocks, bamboo gardens and view of Puohokamoa Falls. The round-trip will be difficult to complete in one day, so stay over in Hana to break it into two days. Wainapanapa State Park, 2 miles (3 km) east of Hana, has cabins to offer. There are other private nicer places to stay, also in and around Hana.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk010", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Do", "text": "**The Road to Hana** is something that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Keep in mind that some of the locals from Hana make the long commute to work in Kahului each day. If you see a local vehicle approaching from behind, pull over and let them pass. By the same token, locals' familiarity with the route can lead them to cut across corners (even blind corners) swerving back into their lane at the last minute, so take corners slowly and watch for oncoming traffic that may have encroached upon your lane. Also, don't trespass! If you respect the land and the people, you'll find open arms and acceptance.\n\nIt is possible to drive all the way around the island by continuing past Hana instead of going back the way you came. Most rental car companies strongly discourage this and state that the rental car contract is voided if you drive there. The road is one- and two-lane and paved virtually the entire way, although in some places the asphalt can be patched and rough, requiring road speeds of 10 mph or less to avoid damaging a normal car's suspension. Off-road vehicles and jeeps will find it fairly easy going. The area is very beautiful, with soaring cliffs and views over the sea and glimpses of the nearby Big Island on the horizon, but it is dry, desolate and remote, with little traffic, no services, and unreliable cell phone service.\n\n### Visit Lanai or Molokai\n\nThe island of Lanai is west of Maui. It can be easily reached by ferry from Lahaina.\n\nThe island of Molokai is northwest of Maui.\n\n### [[Whale watching]]\n\n- Whale watching with Pacific Whale Foundation", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk011", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Buy", "text": "As one would expect from a tourist mecca like Maui, there are several areas to find good shopping. Also as one would expect, the prices can be quite inflated. **ABC Stores** can be found all over Maui and the other Hawaian Islands and offer souvenirs and beach junk (such as sunscreen and straw mats) at potentially lower prices than tourist traps. In Lahaina, a good place to \"walk the shops\", find **Old Lahaina Book Emporium**. Kaanapali has **Whaler's Village Shops and Restaurants**, home to lots of stores and restaurants, including plenty of high-end merchandise such as Coach and Tiffany. **Paia** is a small artist and aging hippie colony with a reasonable and varied mix of shops and galleries worth your time, as well as restaurants. It is just before Mama's Fishhouse Restaurant. A nice open air mall can be found in the Wailea luxury area. On the way you can stop by Kihei at one of two flea market type shopping areas. Makawao town in Upcountry Maui is hidden gem of a place to shop. Mom and pop stores, boutiques, art galleries, good restaurants and an outdoor market.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk012", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Eat", "text": "Check the Eat section on the pages for the various towns listed under Cities above\n\nFresh produce is widely available at farmer's markets and road side stands. Banana bread, coconut candy, smoothies and seasonal fruit are all highlights of a drive around Maui.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk013", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Drink", "text": "Check the Drink section on the pages for the various towns listed under Cities above. Also consider the bars at the hotels and resorts, which may have happy hour specials.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk014", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Before choosing an accommodation consider where you would like to spend your time. Also consider whether a hotel, resort, condominium or bed-and-breakfast best match your style and budget. Then check the Sleep section for the many towns on the island under Cities above.\n\nIn general, the largest and most expensive resorts and hotels are concentrated in two areas, Lahaina-Kaanapali and Kihei-Wailea. Both areas are on the western shore of the island, sheltered from the moisture-bearing trade winds.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk015", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "While quite rare, there are a few cases of *rat lungworm disease* on Maui and the Big Island. This is an extremely serious parasitic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, and can be fatal. Despite the name, very few, if any, victims acquire the disease directly from rats. Most often, it's food poisoning from uncooked or under-cooked snails, slugs, crabs, shrimp, or frogs. If you have a taste for these types of foods, make certain they are properly cooked and that produce such as lettuce (which attracts snails and slugs) is thoroughly washed.", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "maui::chunk016", "doc_id": "maui", "section": "Go next", "text": "Getting from Maui to the other Hawaiian Islands usually involves a short plane flight. If you want to go to Honolulu you will find frequent non-stop service. Most other destinations offer a couple of non-stop flights a day or a stop in, you got it, Honolulu.\n\nFerries run 5 times a day between Lahaina and the island of Lanai. Each way takes approximately 45 minutes, and costs $25 per person per direction. During high winds the boat ride can be particularly rough, so bring something for seasickness if you don't do well on boats. Cruise ships are also an interesting option.\n\nWhen leaving Maui for the U.S. Mainland, all baggage must be inspected by U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airport. Fresh fruits (with the exception of pineapples and treated papayas) are prohibited from leaving the islands to prevent the spread of fruit flies. Consult the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more details. Bags are inspected by X-ray. At Kahului Airport, be prepared to submit to *three* checkpoints on the way to your Mainland flight: having your checked bags X-rayed for agricultural items in the ticket lobby, the TSA security checkpoint, and inspection of your carry-on baggage for agricultural items on the way to your gate.", "word_count": 207}
diff --git a/corpus/maui/metadata.json b/corpus/maui/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2870a62a08c2e77f76e0be1169cb16574fb240ab
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@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "maui",
+ "title": "Maui",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Maui",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q188705",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 20.8,
+ -156.3
+ ],
+ "summary": "Maui is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2). It is the 17th-largest in the United States. Maui is one of Maui County's four sizable islands, along with Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe.\nIn 2020, Maui had a population of 168,307, the third-highest of the Hawaiian Islands, behind Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island. Kahului is the largest census-designated place (CDP) on the island, with a 2020 population of 28,219. It is Maui's commercial and financial hub. Wailuku is the county seat and was the third-largest CDP as of 2010. Other significant populated areas include Kīhei (including Wailea and Makena in the Kihei Town CDP), Lāhainā (including Kāʻanapali and Kapalua in the Lāhainā Town CDP), and Upcountry Maui (including Makawao, Pukalani, Kula, and Ulupalakua), although Lāhainā was mostly destroyed by fire in 2023.\nOnce part of Maui Nui, Maui is dominated by two volcanic features: Haleakalā in the southeast, and the West Maui Mountains in the no",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "whale-watching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Hawaii"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 2734,
+ "listing_count": 2,
+ "marker_count": 13,
+ "chunk_count": 17,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/mauritius/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/mauritius/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1a780dc58a43f669a2ffccd5d270fdf667ce7307
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+++ b/corpus/mauritius/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk000", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Mauritius** (French: *Maurice*, Mauritian Creole: *Moris*) is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about from the African continent. Mauritius is mostly appreciated by visitors for its natural beauty and man-made attractions, multi-ethnic and cultural diversity, tropical climate, beautiful beaches and water sports.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk001", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Cities", "text": "— capital of Mauritius\n, the country's second biggest settlement.\n is the largest highland city in Mauritius.\n\n, bluest water and most amazing white sand beaches you will ever see.\n one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country's largest open air market. This extremely colourful market attracts a lot of people.\n\n *Grand-Baie*, a shopping and leisure paradise. With adjoining **Pereybère** beach resort.\n, a local fishing village that has expanded to become a popular destination for tourists and expats.\n is one of the main fishing villages on the island.\n village in the district of the same name\n A small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. Nearby **La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes**.\n\n The longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honour of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.\n — In the east, visitors may easily visit **L'Ile aux Cerf** from there\n — A village in Savanne District.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk002", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a pair of outer islands 1000 km north of the main island; home to about 300 people, and now leased to the Indian military \n — a separate island 500 km east of the main island, but under the political control of Mauritius\n - Black River Gorges\n\n - [[Le Morne]] cultural landscape\n\n - Domaine du Chasseur\n\n- Macchabée - Bel Ombre Nature Preserve\n\nAntoinette Phooliyar- This place is highly symbolic as it here that the first batch of Indian Immigrants came to Mauritius during British period also known as the great experiment.", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk003", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Chamarel Falls\nThe country consists of the main island of Mauritius and the smaller islands of Rodrigues, the Agalegas and the Cargados Carajos shoals. The British Indian Ocean Territory is claimed by Mauritius and recognised as part of Mauritius by the United Nations, but remains under de facto British control, so we do not cover it here.\n\n### History\n\nThe island of Mauritius was first discovered by Arab sailors in the 9th century, though the exact date is unknown. At that time the island was uninhabited and covered in a dense forest. The Arab sailors were not interested in settling on the island which they named *Dina Arobi* or *Dinarobin*. Fernandez Pereira, a Portuguese sailor saw the island in 1505 and decided to give it the name of *Cerne*. However, the Portuguese did not settle permanently on the island either.\n\nThe first to colonise the island were the Dutch, who took possession of the island in 1598. The Dutch settlers landed on a bay in the southeastern part of the island which was named *Warwyck Haven* after the commander Van Warwijck; the bay is now known as Grand Port. Mauritius also got its modern name during this period; the island was named after the Stadtholder of Holland, Maurits van Nassau.\n\nIn 1710, the Dutch abandoned the island, leaving behind macaques, the Java deer, sugarcane, fugitive slaves and, also, irreversible damage to the endemic and indigenous flora and fauna of the island. The dodo was, by then, extinct due to extensive hunting, the bird being very easy to capture, while the once abundant black ebony tree population was almost completely depleted due to its timber being overexploited.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk004", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Understand", "text": "The French settled on the island in 1712, also landing at the bay in the southeast. They renamed the bay Port Bourbon and renamed the island *Ile de France*. They settled and established their main harbour on the northwestern side of the island, which was to become Port Louis, the present day capital of the country. The French colonial period led to the economic development of Mauritius. Mahé de Labourdonnais, whose statue can be seen across from the harbour in Port Louis, is known as the founder of the capital city and the island prospered under his governance from 1735 to 1746.\n\nIn August 1810, the British tried to take over the island but lost after a fierce battle against the French in the famous **Battle of Grand Port** – the only naval victory of the French over the British during the Napoleonic period. However, the British came back in December 1810 and defeated the French. From then on, the island was renamed Mauritius and remained under British rule until it attained independence, although the British agreed to allow the locals to continue using the French language.\n\nIn 1835, slavery was officially abolished and, as most of the African slaves chose to abandon the agricultural fields and move to small coastal villages, indentured labourers (\"coolies\") were brought in from India to work in the growing sugarcane industry. To this day, ethnic Indians form the majority in Mauritius, and Mauritius is the only country outside South Asia to have a Hindu majority.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk005", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Understand", "text": "On 12 March 1968 Mauritius became an independent nation within the Commonwealth. Three years before though, the British separated the administration of the Chagos Archipelago from the rest of Mauritius and formed the British Indian Ocean Territory. The government of Mauritius has claimed these islands now used as a joint American and British military base ever since, making the archipelago a disputed territory. Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favour of Mauritius in 2017, the British government does not accept the ruling has refused to hand the islands over to Mauritius.\n\nSir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam also known as the \"Father of the Nation\" led the island to independence and did a lot to develop the country. During his reign however, Mauritius faced economic difficulties and political turmoil following the postponement of elections for more than 9 years. On 12 March 1992, Mauritius became a republic under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth.\n\nA stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record means that it has attracted considerable foreign investment and has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.\n\n### Climate\n\nTropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May); *Natural hazards* : Tropical cyclones can occur between November and April, however are most likely from late December until March. Mauritius has only two seasons, winter and summer. Temperatures do not differ greatly over the seasons. The climate on the central plateau is cooler than on the coastal areas.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk006", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Understand", "text": "The hottest and driest part is the west coast\nThe windiest and wettest part is the east coast\nDecember to February are the hottest months of the year\nThe driest month of the year is October\nThe coolest months are from June to August\nMauritius Weather - Current weather report from the Mauritius region.\n\n### People\n\nMauritius has a population of 1 million inhabitants. While there are no indigenous people on the island, its multiethnic society comprises a mix of Creoles, Chinese, Indians and French who are descendants of colonialism and labour. Mauritius is the only country outside South Asia with a Hindu majority.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMauritius Travel website", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk007", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Talk", "text": "Although the official language of Mauritius is **English**, in practice **French** is by far the most commonly spoken language, and is widely used in professional and formal settings. English language television programmes are usually dubbed into French. Most subjects are taught in and examined in British English in the education system, meaning that you will be able to communicate with locals in English with varying levels of difficulty.\n\n**Mauritian Creole** is a French-based creole which has incorporated some words from diverse sources including English, Dutch and Portuguese, and has slight pronunciation differences from French. Although locals generally converse with each other in Creole, standard French is also universally spoken and understood. Virtually everyone working in the tourism industry will be able to speak fairly decent, albeit heavily accented English, and all government departments will have English-speaking staff on duty. Other languages spoken by much smaller numbers include: Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri and Mandarin.\n\nTamils constitute around 10% of the population and speak Tamil.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk008", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|upright=1.8|A map showing the visa requirements of Mauritius\n\n### Visa requirements\n\nCitizens of many countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and most other OECD countries do not need a visa in advance. For more information, visit the Passport and Immigration Office website.\n\nIf you require a visa to enter Mauritius, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no diplomatic post of Mauritius. For example, the British embassies in Al Khobar, Amman, Belgrade, Guatemala City, Jakarta, Jeddah, Pristina, Rabat, Riyadh, Rome and Sofia accept Mauritius visa applications (this list is *not* exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge GBP50 to process a Mauritius visa application and an extra GBP70 if the authorities in Mauritius require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Mauritius can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.\n\nAs of June 2023 visitors are required to provide a form called \"Mauritius All in One\", accommodation and return ticket details to the immigration service on arrival.\n\nIf you arrive in Mauritius from a country where malaria is endemic, you may receive a visit from the government health service and be required to give a blood sample for malaria screening.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Air Mauritius is the national carrier\n\n**Air Mauritius** is the home carrier and operates a network of routes to the local islands and international destinations in Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia.\n\nRegional airlines: Air Austral, Air Seychelles, FlySafair, Kenya Airways and South Africa Airways connect Mauritius with continental Africa and the surrounding islands.\n\nInternational airlines such as Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, Air India, Air France, British Airways, Condor, Corsair International, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, IndiGo and Turkish Airlines serve Mauritius from their home bases.\n\nThe arrivals hall can get congested in the morning when most of the flights from Europe arrive. Immigration officers tend to be quite slow and the whole immigration process can be a frustrating experience.\n\n### By sea\n\nVessels that arrive at the port are mainly cargo ships. The *Mauritius Pride* and the *Trochetia* are the Mauritian vessels that usually sail to and from Réunion Island, Rodrigues Island and Madagascar. Costa Cruises ships have started an Indian Ocean cruise including a visit to Mauritius.\n\nIn 2008, one-way passage prices from Tamatave in Madagascar to Mauritius by boat were €275 first class or €255 second class. The journey takes at least four days, more if transiting through Réunion. A boat leaves every other Wednesday.\n\nIf you are going directly to the port in Tamatave you can negotiate with a boat captain for a non-cabin berth. Visiting the Nautical Club in Tamatave to enquire about yachts that might be heading to Mauritius rarely yields positive results.", "word_count": 468}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk009", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nAir Mauritius operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues (flight time - 1 hour 15 minutes).\n\n### By boat\n\n- Coraline\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Metro Express route map\nThe modern Metro Express light rail links Port Louis and Curepipe, stopping at Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Vacoas-Phoenix along the way. Trains run every 10 minutes from 6 AM to 7 PM, taking around 40 minutes from end to end (Rs 50).\n\n### By bus\n\nSeveral fairly good bus services ply the island. Taking the bus is the most economical way of travelling. As of 2023 one way fare costs MUR 44. Air-conditioned buses have been introduced on some routes.\n\nThe major bus companies are:\n - National Transport Corporation\n\n- United Bus Service\n\n- Mauritius Bus Transport\n\n- Triolet Bus Service\n\n- Others\n\nBuses are manned by a driver and a conductor who walks around collecting fares and issuing tickets after passengers have boarded. Most conductors are helpful in providing directions to tourists. In the local Creole dialect, the conductors are called *con-tro-lair* (literally controller).\n\nBus routes and schedules are available from the Ministry of Land Transport and Mauritius Buses who list all the main operators and their schedules. Keep in mind that the bus driver may skip some stops or change itinerary if the number of customers is too low.\n\nTry to pay with exact change. Intentional over-charging of tourists is not common.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are the best way to tour the island. Various tours are available as from Rs2,500: The holy lake, Chamarel 7 coloured earth, Le Morne, dolphin tours in Tamarin and Ile aux cerfs are among the most appreciated by visitors.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk010", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis in Mauritius do not use meters. Negotiate the price of your trip before you enter a taxi; otherwise, you may be overcharged.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Maconde curved road in Baie du Cap\nOne major highway runs north to south, otherwise a good network of paved, if sometimes narrow, roads cover the island. Traffic drives on the left and priority is for vehicles coming from the right.\n\nNumerous car hire firms include major international and local car rental agencies. There are various cars and vehicles for every budget. Some of the most popular rental cars categories are, compact (small Japanese cars), SUV, Sedan, 4x4 and luxury models.\n\nCar rental prices in Mauritius average around €25/day. Some unlicensed car owners can offer lower prices, but you should be wary because this is not safe and often comes with numerous additional costs. To be on the safe side, with full insurance, visitors should rent cars from companies holding a tourism enterprise license. These cars are identifiable by their yellow number plates, while private cars have black plates. If you hire a car at the airport keep in mind that you will need to pay a MUR 30 charge when you are leaving the car park, and this has to be paid in cash.\n\nRegulations: drivers are required to be over 18 years old. Most car rental companies in Mauritius require 2 years of driving experience or drivers above 21 years. Speed limits are 110 km/h (68 mph) on the motorway and 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas. Seat belts are compulsory. Foreign licences are accepted but should be readable in English or French. If your driving license is in another language, a certified translation (like an International Driving Permit) may be required to rent and drive on the island.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk011", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Get around", "text": "Approximate travel times from Port Louis to other major cities, towns, and resorts in Mauritius:\nCurepipe 30 min\nGrand Baie, North 25 min\nMahebourg, Southeast 55 min\nFlic-en-Flac, West 30 min", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk012", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "See", "text": "### Northern tourist zone\n\nthumb|[[Grand Bay]] from offshore\nGrand Bay was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay is also where Mauritians go when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit as well as the wonderful Pereybere public beach is popular because of its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs.\n\nThe SSR botanical garden, Pamplemousses, is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. It was founded by Pierre Poivre (1719 – 1786) in 1770, contains some flora unique to Mauritius and covers an area of around 37 ha. It also has several animals, being especially famous for its fish, deer and tortoises, as well as an old replica of a sugar mill.\n\n### East\n\nThe eastern part of the island is known for its long sand bank beaches and famous hotels such as \"The Coco Beach Hotel\" and the 5-star \"Le Touessrok\".\nthumb|Île aux Cerfs\nCentre de Flacq is one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country’s largest open air market. This extremely colourful market attracts a large number of people.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk013", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "See", "text": "Ile aux Cerfs is a paradise for water sports and has one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. You cannot afford to miss this tiny island, delicately poised on the ocean, a real pearl in the Mauritian landscape. Price conscious visitors would be well advised to take ample food and drink, as the only bar and restaurant on the island primarily targets well-heeled tourists. Boats depart regularly from Trou d'Eau Douce village in the East (which has some of the best seafood restaurants on the island). There is a variety of vessels that serve the route including catamarans, yachts and \"pirate-ships\". Some serve food (usually barbecue, especially seafood) on board included in the price and tend to take a detour to the Grand River South East waterfalls for a visit. The island also has a 5-star hotel (Le Touessrok) and a golf course.\n\n### Southeast\n\nMahebourg is one of the main fishing villages on the island. Built on the Grand Port Bay, it was founded in 1804 by the French Governor Charles Decaën. The Monday markets are among the biggest and best on the island and are held next to the main bus station. Just of the coast, as a result of work by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, **Ile aux Aigrettes** has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, can be seen there. You can also see the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise. Also nearby at Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlement in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk014", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "See", "text": "Souillac, a small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. A notable feature is the garden overlooking the sea and named after Dr Charles Telfair. A popular viewpoint at the southern end of the village, right on the cliff top: Gris Gris.\n\nBlue Bay, bluest water and most amazing white sand beaches you will ever see. Take the trip across the island from Port Louis and see what this quiet place has to offer. Very busy with the locals on weekends. Try to go during the week. Glass bottom boats are an excellent outing. Part of Blue Bay has been designated a Marine Park, and the snorkelling trips by boat to this area, offered for sale on the main public beach, are well worth trying.\n\n### West", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk015", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "See", "text": "The west coast has some of the best and longest white sandy beaches on the island. These include Trou aux Biches, winner of the World's Best Beach in the 2011 World Travel Awards; and Le Morne Beach which is shared by a number of 5-star resorts including Paradis Hotel & Golf Club (2012 World Travel Award winner 'Mauritius Leading Golf Resort'), the all-suite Dinarobin Golf & Spa, and Lux Le Morne. There is also a dedicated public beach between Dinarobin and Lux Le Morne. (All beaches in Mauritius are public.)\nthumb|Flic en Flac beach\nFlic en Flac, a local fishing village that has expanded to become a popular destination for tourists and expats. Flic en Flac has a very long white sandy beach stretching down the west coast to Tamarin which is enjoyed by locals and tourists. While the beach is great, there are many sea urchins in the very shallow water, wear shoes. Scuba Diving is the main attraction with excellent diving just a few minutes from the beach. There is a reasonable supermarket and a variety of accommodations and restaurants to suit all budgets.\n\nAt Tamarin's beach of white sands and crystal clear waters both novice and expert surfers visit for some of the best waves on the island. The bay also has its own dolphin pod and dramatic views across to the Montage du Rempart, an extinct volcano. Owing to the exceptional high level of sunshine the district receives, Tamarin is the heart of salt production in Mauritius. Just south in La Preneuse are the Martello Towers, a milestone in the island’s history symbolising the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk016", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "See", "text": "A winding road leads from Case Noyale village to the **Seven Coloured Earths** of Chamarel, an undulating landscape of different and contrasting shades of colours. The different shades of blue, green, red and yellow are apparently the result of the erosion of the volcanic ash. The neighbouring waterfalls of Chamarel rise from the moors and the native plant life. The site possesses a rare beauty. An adventure park has also been opened at Chamarel.\nthumb|Le Morne peninsula\n - Casela\n\n- Yemen\n\nLe Morne is a peninsula and an eponymous mountain in the southwest of Mauritius. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.\n\n### The interior\n\n- Eureka\n\n- Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk017", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|right|Climbing Le Pouce", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk018", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Do", "text": "**Views** — For a spectacular 360⁰ view of Port Louis and the north, climb Le Pouce or ‘the thumb', at 812 m (2,664 ft). It is an easy 2-hour climb from the village of Petit Verger (near St. Pierre), and takes another 2 hour to walk into Port Louis (map). The top of Signal Mountain also offers a spectacular view of Port Louis and the North. It is much easier to climb Signal Mountain from Labourdonnais Street as there is a tarred jogging track and it takes around 45 minutes to walk to the top. Starting from Saint Louis is also possible.\n**Tour the Moka mountains** — by quad bike, horse or 4-wheel drive at the accessible 1,500-hectare (3,700-acre) nature park of Domaine Les Pailles. Travel to the sugar mill and rum distillery by train or horse-drawn carriage before dining in one of four restaurants.\n**Deep sea fishing** — Mauritius is ideally positioned for game-fishing. Depending on the time of year it is possible to catch blue or black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, yellow fin tuna, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, bonito, dolphinfish, sharks and many more. The majority of the big game fishing boats are well equipped with VHF radio, mobile telephone, GPS navigation system, radar, radio telephone, safety equipment, Penn International reels, life jackets, medical kits, fire extinguishers, flares, and all related fishing equipment such as fighting chairs and rods (usually 9). You can choose between half day and full day fishing trips . Big game fishing is best on the west coast of Mauritius because the currents swirl around the foot of Le Morne, creating a marine environment attractive to bait fish, which in turn attracts the larger fish. Boats usually accommodate up to 5 anglers and full day trips typically include breakfast and lunch in the price.\nHead to **Grand Baie** — For watersports such as parasailing, an underwater walk, submarine and semi-submersible scooters, or to La Cuvette, a long beach with clear water between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux, for sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing.\n**Safari jeep trips** — The Safari Jeep trip takes place in Yemen natural reserve park on the West Coast of Mauritius. It hosts two of the longest rivers on the island – Rivière Rempart and Tamarin River – and is a haven for all sorts of native and exotic wildlife. The actual size of this natural reserve is of around 4,500 hectares. The Yemen Park is the setting for Safari trips where you will have a thrilling ride and will be able to see many beautiful animals such as Zebras, ostriches, African antelopes, Java deer, monkeys, ducks and geese, and will see extraordinary panoramic views of this breathtaking part of the island.\n**Safari quad biking trips** — Experience an adventurous Quad biking activity in the most amazing natural setting quad-biking activity in the 4,500 ha of Yemen natural reserve park. More than a quad bike outing as it includes a safari. During the trip it is possible to see deer, zebras, ostriches, African antelopes and wild boars.\n**Swim** — At the northern beaches such as Trou aux Biches, shaded by casuarinas, Mont Choisy, a 2-km (1.2 mi) narrow white stretch of sand curving north from there, and Péreybère, a little cove between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux.\nthumb|right|Glass bottomed boat in Grand Bay\n**Diving** — When you dive in Mauritius you can explore coral reefs, multi-coloured marine life, ship wrecks dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, or some ships sunk more recently which create beautiful artificial reefs. There are numerous dive sites strewn all around the island, as well as some near the offshore island of Rodrigues. One of the well-known and popular dive sites in Mauritius is the cathedral, which is located off the Flic en Flac on the western coast of Mauritius. Other dive sites in Mauritius include the Whale Rock and Roche Zozo that is an underwater rock pinnacle, and the submerged crater near Ile Ronde. Mauritius is almost completely encircled by a barrier coral reef which is home to many sponges, sea anemones and a variety of brightly coloured fish such as Damselfish, Trumpet fish, Boxfish and clown fish, as well as the orange Mauritian scorpionfish. Most of the dive sites are located on the west coast around Flic-en-Flac or in the north, at Trou aux Biches or at the Northern Islands. The best time to go diving is from November to April with very good visibility underwater.\n'''Snorkeling & freediving''' in Mauritius offers some easy to access coral reefs in shallow water with a variety of fish.\n**Speedboat** — Rides are available from Trou d'eau Douce to the popular island playground of Ile aux Cerfs for beaches, golf and watersports. Or, for a quieter day, a catamaran to the Northern Islands - Gabriel Island, Flat Island and Gunner's Quoin.\n'''Hiking and trekking''' in Mauritius with breathtaking views of mountains, rivers, and forests. Enjoy a hiking trip through the fields, trekking on a zip line or on a bike, and discover this magnificent nature paradise Mauritius being a volcanic island has several breathtaking summits and valleys to explore on foot. You can visit the Black River Gorges National Park, a 6,794-ha (16,788-acre) forest, to see indigenous plants, birds and wildlife. Black River Peak trail goes to Mauritius' highest mountain, while the Maccabee Trail starts nearby and plunges into the gorge to Black River. A challenging path follows the Tamarind waterfalls.\n**Tandem skydiving** — Experience a skydive in Mauritius. Enjoy a spectacular scenic flight and a tandem skydive. Tandem skydiving refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. The student needs only minimal instruction before making a tandem jump.\n**Horse racing** — The Mauritius horse racing club commonly called the Champ de Mars was founded in 1812, making it the oldest horse-racing club in the Southern Hemisphere. Horse racing is the most popular sport in Mauritius, and attracts about 30,000 visitors on each race day. The horse racing season usually starts in April and ends in late November. There are an average of 9 and a maximum of 12 horses per race. On average some 60 horses participate on each racing day. It is highly recommended to go and experience the electric atmosphere of horse racing in Mauritius. For those interested it is also possible have a VIP treatment in one of the VIP suites while enjoying snacks and drinks and a clear view of the race from your private balcony\n**Parasailing** — For those looking for a fun sea-air activity, you can try parasailing. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking bird's eye view of the beautiful lagoon and beaches. The parasailing begins with a short safety briefing. Then you will be taken by boat to the launch pod where you will take off and start the parasailing. No steering is necessary as the sail follows the course of the boat\n**Water ski** — Water-skiing is one of the most popular water sports in Mauritius. You can enjoy water skiing along several of Mauritius’ coasts or in a few of the lakes. The best area for water skiing is considered to be the north area of the island, along the coasts, where the lagoon provides full protection from the big waves of the open sea and offers ideal water skiing conditions of very calm sea\n**Watch dolphins** — Go on a speed boat trip and watch dolphins in the open sea. You can choose between 2-hr trip, half-day and full-day trips where you will get to watch with the bottlenose dolphin and the spinner dolphin, which have made of the West Coast of Mauritius a place for them to rest before going to the deep sea for their fishing.\n**Walk with lions & cheetahs** — Experience a one-on-one encounter with lions and cheetahs. Viewing the lions from very close, see them playing and hopping on the rocks of the river banks and scaling the trees. The lions roam freely amongst the participants giving visitors a rare opportunity of being in close contact with them.\n**Blue safari submarine** — See the wonderful underwater tropical fish without even getting your feet wet. Going underwater to 35 m depth on board of a real submarine. You will get to visit a shipwreck, explore the rich coral reefs, and observe and encounter various species of fish. The submarine is air-conditioned with transparent-glassed cabin so you will enjoy exceptionally clear panoramic views of the extraordinary underwater world.\n**Underwater submarine scooter adventure** — Pilot your own underwater scooter, or as a couple, to 3-4 m depth. Comfortably seated one behind the other, you breath freely and naturally in a transparent and panoramic cupola which allow you to enjoy the view of the reef and marine life. In advance you will receive a briefing about the control of the underwater scooter, and will be equipped with a diving suit.\n**Sea kayaking** — A great way to explore the fine greenery of the lagoons, or the open waters of the Indian Ocean. It is possible to find wide range of sea kayaking trips and packages from breezy, calmer routes, to a few days trip surrounding the island in the deep ocean waters. This is also possible to have a kayak trip to any of the small islets surrounding the main island such as Ile D'Ambre Island.\n**Rock climbing** — Rock climbing on the South West coast of Mauritius. The setting is the Belle Vue Cliffs, where the caves of \"La Pointe aux Caves\" are nestled and in close proximity from the famous lighthouse of Albion. Guides are available which can teach you basic techniques of knots, safe climbing and rock progression.\nthumb|Eastern slopes of Grande Montagne, Rodrigues\n**Canyoning** — For those seeking more of an adrenalin rush and thrill, canyoning is abseiling down the steep walls of the canyons using nature watercourses and canyoning gear. The canyoning is offered in few locations in Mauritius. The canyoning (known also as canyoneering) in Mauritius consists of travelling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include walking, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming. Most canyoning tours will do the tamarind falls (7 cascades). You'll start at the top of the 7 waterfalls; beginner tours will go down the first 2-3 waterfalls and then walk back up for about 20 minutes to get back to the start. \n**Rodrigues island** — Tiny, rugged, volcanic it lies 550 km (340 mi) northeast of Mauritius and is known as the ‘anti-stress' island. The capital, Port Mathurin, is only seven streets wide, with a Creole population. Rodrigues offers walking, diving, kitesurfing and deep sea fishing.", "word_count": 1791}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk019", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe **Mauritian rupee** (French: *roupie mauricienne*) is denoted by the symbol \"**Rs.**\" or \"**₨**\" with or without a full stop and placed before or after the amount (ISO international currency: **MUR**).\n\nBanknotes come in denominations of Rs 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000. Coins come in denominations of Rs 1, 5, 10 and 20.\n\n### Shop\n\nMauritius is not at all like Bali or Thailand. Don't expect the local merchants to be interested in prolonged bargaining. Many shops will not reduce prices, and even at the markets don't expect more than a 10-20% reduction. There are some bargains however as many large brand names clothing companies manufacture in Mauritius, and you can often find over-runs or slightly flawed items at a fraction of the European prices. It is also a good place to find unusual jewellery and handicrafts such as artificial flowers, model boats and wooden art. It is possible to reach the main shopping centres by public transport, or to take a full day shopping tour which includes a driver to take you to the main centres and handicraft workshops.\n\nThe Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis offers a variety of shops (including designer shops) and is an ideal place for shopping by tourists. For traditional crafts, a good place is Port Louis Central Market (Bazaar Port Louis).", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk020", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Eat", "text": "Don't hesitate to go to the various restaurants around the island. Although many of them advertise a specific ethnic cuisine, like everywhere around the world they have their own mix of traditional and local. You might discover that 'fried rice' can have more than one flavor.\nthumb|Bengali rasagulas are very popular in Mauritius.\nGastronomes will find a variety of flavors and aromas inherited from the different migrations through its history. Culinary traditions from France, India, China and Eastern Africa have been passed on through generations.\n\nDepending on the region, rice or a variety of flat bread called chapattis or roti, called farata (paratha) by the local people, is eaten with curries. The extensive use of spices like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and herbs such as thyme, basil, and curry leaves are the common ingredients that provide some powerful, yet subtle, flavor. Dal, a variety of lentil soup, are many and varied according to the type of lentil used; vegetables, beans, and pickles accompany the dishes. Dholl puri, originally an Indian delicacy, has become the fish and chips for Mauritians.\n\nBiryani from Mughal origins is a dish prepared by the Muslim community, where meat is mixed with spiced rice and potatoes.\n\nYou can buy many snacks on the street including the famous gateaux piments (a variant of the Indian vadai; literally, chilly cakes), and vegetable or meat samosas (puffs), along with octopus curry in bread. The tomato and onion based dish called Rougaille (pronounced *rooh-guy*) is a variation of the French ragoût. The dish usually consists of meat or seafood (corned beef and salted snoek fish rougaille are very popular with the locals). Mauritians eat this dish often if not daily.\n\nMauritians have a sweet tooth and make many types of 'gateaux', as they are called. You can find a variety of cakes, including some that are very much like those in France and others similar to Indian sweets like gulab jamun and rasgulla.\n\nWhen leaving Mauritius, don't wait until you go through passport control if you want to have a snack. The coffee shop after passport control is expensive. You would be better off visiting the snack bar before check-in and taking your purchases with you. Remember that you can only take limited amounts of liquids through passport control.", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk021", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|160x160px|A bottle of Phoenix beer\nMauritius produces a wide range of cane rum. It is very cheap and is a nice drink when mixed with cola and ice. A popular drink is coconut water with a dash of lime and a splash of local rum over ice.\n\nThe local beer, Phoenix, costs around Rs30 for a pint. Usually served very cold. The local Black Eagle beer, brewed in Nouvelle France is also good. A local beer called Flying Dodo also offers beer with tropical fruits mix.\n\nThe **Medine Estate Refinery** shop at Bambous (4 km from Flic en Flac), on the west of the Island, has a wide variety of locally produced rums and liquors.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk022", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are many international brand hotels andsome luxurious hotels which are owned by Mauritian companies. Self-catered bungalows and apartments are also an option, many of them located directly on the beach.\n\nForeigners can buy villas, many of them in compounds located on the beach, through the IRS or RES Scheme.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk023", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Learn", "text": "Mauritius offers several study options for international students. The country has a growing education sector with a range of institutions offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.\n\n### Higher education\n\n **University of Mauritius**, located in Réduit, offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in various fields including arts, science, engineering, and law. International students can obtain a postgraduate degree for approximately US$1500 per year of study, that can sometimes be completed online as well.\n **University of Technology Mauritius**, located in Pointe-aux-Sables, offers degrees in engineering, applied sciences, and management.\n **Open University of Mauritius**, located in Réduit, offers distance learning courses in a range of subjects including business, education, and science.\n **Middlesex University Mauritius**, located in Cascavelle, offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business, law, media, and psychology.\n\n### Language schools\n\nMauritius also offers several language schools for those looking to improve their language skills. Some popular options include:\n\n **Alliance Française de Maurice**, located in Port Louis, offers French language courses for all levels.\n **Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius**, located in Réduit, offers Chinese language courses for all levels.\n **Mauritius Institute of Education**, located in Réduit, offers courses in English language teaching for non-native speakers.\n\n### Study visa\n\nInternational students may require a study visa to study in Mauritius. The visa application process can be completed online through the Passport and Immigration Office website. It is important to check the visa requirements and eligibility criteria before applying.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk024", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Le Morne\nThe crime rate has fallen, and Mauritius is a much safer country for visitors than most other destinations. The Tourism Police and Coast Guards patrol regularly in areas frequented by tourists, and most cities, beaches and other major attractions are under camera surveillance. Nevertheless, you should look out for suspicious behavior.\n\n### Telephone numbers\n\n - Police\n\n - Tourism Police\n\n - Coast guards\n\n - Port Police\n\n - Anti Drug Unit (ADSU)\n\n - Traffic Police\n\n - Environment Police\n\n - Fire\n\n - SAMU Ambulance\n\n - National Directory\n\n - Airport of Mauritius\n\n - Air Mauritius", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk025", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Mauritius is a risk area for infection with dengue fever, also known as \"breakbone fever\" from the muscular convulsions it causes. No vaccine is available. Dengue re-emerged in 2019 after several dengue-free years, so be sure to take precautious against mosquito bites.\n\nSince 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime.\n\nIt is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely.\n\nIn 1991 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.\n\nDepending on the time of the year, many of the beaches are infested with sea urchins, and it is not uncommon to see broken glass on the beach or in the water. It is a very good idea to either buy or bring plastic/wet shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels as the designated swimming areas on the beaches are regularly cleaned of urchins and debris. Use wet shoes nonetheless.\n\nReef fish in Mauritius have been found to contain a neurotoxin similar, but not identical, to that found in Caribbean reef fish.\n\nIt is important not to eat peanuts or drink alcohol if you eat coral or reef fish like sea bass, snapper, mullet, and grouper. The fish eat the toxic algae that grows on the coral reefs. Don't eat intestines or testes of the fish as higher concentrations of the toxin collect here. The symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes loss of feeling in the limbs.\n\nThe **tap water** is generally considered potable and most Mauritians drink it, but for visitors who aren't used to it, bottled water is recommended.\n\nAt nearby island Réunion you can get treatment with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).", "word_count": 395}
+{"chunk_id": "mauritius::chunk026", "doc_id": "mauritius", "section": "Connect", "text": "Mauritius has a few telecommunications companies, the main ones being Emtel and My.t. They both sell sim card and E-sim at the airport from 700 MUR per month. Passport is required.", "word_count": 31}
diff --git a/corpus/mauritius/metadata.json b/corpus/mauritius/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4e4b84a770c7d40e8a230b0603fef492050b0884
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+++ b/corpus/mauritius/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "mauritius",
+ "title": "Mauritius",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mauritius",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East African Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 6766,
+ "listing_count": 26,
+ "marker_count": 19,
+ "chunk_count": 27,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/medellin/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/medellin/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d5b467840201e5c348905ad462b8883c9ce5292b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/medellin/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk000", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Medellín** is the second largest city in Colombia. It has 2.62 million residents (2024) and is the capital of the department of Antioquia. It's set in a valley running south to north and just a one-hour flight from Bogotá. For international travelers, Medellín is perhaps most famous for the Antioquia Museum, with its extensive collection of Botero paintings inside and Botero sculptures outside on its main plaza. The city is also known for its perfect climate with its nickname \"city of the eternal spring\".\n\nright|thumb|Medellín", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk001", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nLet's just get it out of the way up front: throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Medellín was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world for its size, and had a highly disproportional homicide and kidnapping rate. It was the home of the drug lord Pablo Escobar and the so-called Medellín Cartel, who virtually took over the city during that time. Since his demise in the mid-1990s, the cartel was disbanded and the city rebounded tremendously. In 1991 there were 6,500 murders in the city, by 2009 the murder rate decreased to 2,900. In 2016, there were a total of 534 homicides reported in Medellín. As of 2022, there were 392 homicides, or 15 per 100,000 people. This rate is similar to the homicide rates in Denver or Dallas. So it is safe to say that the city is better off today than 20 years ago. Paisas, the residents of this region, are proud of their city's progress, and are ready to move forward with vigor.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk002", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Understand", "text": "Medellín is a vast city built north to south in the Aburrá valley and surrounded on either side by majestic mountain ranges. The wealthier classes live in the well-protected hillside neighborhood of El Poblado, and the more traditional suburban neighborhoods, Laureles and Envigado. This is far removed from the action and commotion which are found in the city's center. There are the busy markets and a thriving street life that make up much of the city's charm. The city is home to a half-dozen universities, accounting for a vibrant cultural and nightlife scene fueled by thousands of young adults from all over the country. Medellín is also Colombia's largest industrial center, and home to factories making everything from designer clothing to Toyota SUVs. The city's northern hills are flooded with rural refugees from the ongoing civil war and their ingenuity in making a living is impressive. People sell anything from crayons to guinea pigs to garden earth in the bars in order to make a living.\n\nAs a relatively new city, the architecture has a decidedly modernist appeal, which goes hand in hand with the progressiveness of its residents. Medellín also has the first (and only) Metro system in Colombia.\n\n### Metropolitan area\n\nMedellín is surrounded by 9 smaller towns and together they form the **Area Metropolitana** with almost 3.5 million people. These other towns are: Bello, Itaguí, Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella, Caldas, Copacabana, Girardota and Barbosa. It is a true conglomerate of towns and you will find it difficult to tell the borders between these municipalities.\nLocated east of Medellín is the valley of Rionegro which is larger and higher in the mountains. This area holds some of the most important factories, recreational grounds and suburbs of the city, as well as the international airport.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk003", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Understand", "text": "The weather in Medellín is quite mild it well deserves its common motto of '**City of eternal spring'**. Average daily temperatures are 22°C (71°F), range from 15 to 30 °C (60º-85°F). Humidity is comfortable in the 50%-70% range. Due to its proximity with the equator there is little variation with the seasons. Due to the high altitude and moderate overcast skies Medellín stays cool, with an occasional couple hours of strong sun light.\n\nAs Medellín is located in a tropical country, the absence of air conditioners in Medellín often takes foreign visitors by surprise. Air conditioning is used in downtown areas. Fresh air comes from the mountains surrounding Medellín on all sides, and provides Medellín with the perfect climate. At night time the temperature is usually in the 10-15°C (50-60°F) range, and depends mostly on if its raining or not. The majority of restaurants are in open air environment, without walls, because of the perfect climate.", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk004", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Talk", "text": "Spanish is the official language in Colombia. Few locals are bilingual, and when so it is usually English as the second language. You will find many signs written both in Spanish and in English, especially in the more tourist areas.\n\nDisadvantaged youths in the city have assembled a wealth of new expressions that have fascinated scholars and artists. Many local movies like *La Vendedora de Rosas* depict this urban language called **Parlache** in its own idiom. Dialectologists have assembled a dictionary (*Diccionario de Parlache* by Luz Stella Castañeda Naranjo and José Ignacio Henao Salazar, Mar 2006).", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk005", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### International airport\n\n \n\nFor international flights, the fare can be way lower when arriving in Bogota or Cali and then taking a separate flight to Medellin.\n\nCombuses runs buses that cost COP$20,000 (2026). They depart in front of the airport building on the same floor of arrivals. Buses take around an hour to downtown Medellín, and depart roughly every 15 mins at any time of day or night. The final stop is near the metro station \"Exposiciones\". Depending on where you are going in the city, it can be up to 2 hours to your destination.\n\nAt the Medellin MDE airport there are taxis that can take you down to the city for a set price of COP$118,000 (2026), taking around 45 minutes.\n\n#### Domestic airport\n\nthumb|right|Olaya Herrera Airport\n \n\n### By bus\n\nMedellín has two **bus terminals** (North and South) managed by the same company and share a single *website*. Both terminals have mid-size shopping malls in the premises. For a complete list of the cities check the webpage.\n\n The is much larger and part of a mall complex and are connected with the Caribe Metro Station and the rail system (Although passenger rail transport in Colombia is quite limited). It serves cities North and East of Medellín (Cartagena, Santa Marta and Bogotá included).\n Bogotá: 10 hr - COP$75,000-85,000 with Bolivariano, Arauca, Coonorte, Rápido Tolima and Magdalena (November 2022)\n Guatape: 1.5-2 hr - COP$17,000 with Sotrasanvicente and Sotrapeñol (November 2022)\n The is on the SE corner of Carrera 65 & Calle 10, next to the terminal of the smaller Olaya Herrera domestic airport (closest *Metro station El Poblado* but not within walking distance). Serves the cities south of Medellin such as Manizales, Pereira, Cali.\n Cali: 8 hr - COP$50,000 - 68,000 with Empresa Arauca, Expreso Brasilia, Expreso Bolivariano, Expreso Palmira, Flota Magdalena, Expresos Trejos\n Manizales: 5 hr - COP$42,000\n Pereira: 5 hr - COP$42,000 - 60,000\n\n### By car\n\nThere are four roads leading to Medellín from all cardinal points. From Bogota you can take *Autopista Medellín* and head west 7–9 hours with beautiful scenery. From Pereira, Cali and the south take *road 25* towards Medellín. If coming from the Atlantic coast (Cartagena, Barranquillia) take *route 25 south* to Medellín (approx. 11 hours). There is no road connecting Panamá with Colombia.", "word_count": 384}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk006", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By e-hailing\n\nUber and Cabify serve the city. Rideshare apps are officially illegal in the country but appear to be widely used. However, some drivers may be reluctant to travel to places where they may be harassed by police (e.g. bus stations, major tourist areas, the airport terminal).\n\n### By public transport\n\nMoovit and Google Maps find you a way through the city. Moovit has more local bus lines included.\n\n#### Metro and Metroplus\n\nthumb|right|The Metro is elevated; stations are wide, clean and with a view\n\nTraveling through the city is easy and quick, with the two line Metro system, The Metroplús (Bus extension to the Metro), Tranvía (Tram system) and the six-line Metrocable, a sky train or cable car that has revolutionized transport in the city. Transfers between the Metro trains and cables are free, but you need to pay additional fare to transfer to MetroPlus bus and Tranvía tram.\n\n**Tarjeta Cívica** is a reloadable payment card. It is worth getting one as not all metro stations have service points for paying in cash and as around half of city buses require the card. Only the card itself, without any credit, costs COP$11,700. It can be used by multiple users. Its reduced fare is COP$2,255 (2019), and allows transfers to Tranvía, MetroPlus bus (Free) and Integrado buses (a few hundred pesos more). The silver non-personal card is sufficient: You get it at any metro service point. Recharging is possible in the service points or in *gana* shops throughout the city. If you want to have the green personal card: You get with your passport at the service points at San Antonio, Niquia, or Envigado station.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk007", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|Metrocable\nThe Metrocable to the ecopark Arví - Line **L** - opened 2010 for the 4.5 km trip up the mountains. Transfer is available at the Santo Domingo station of the Metrocable **K** line.\n\nThe Metroplus system consists of long articulated buses powered with natural gas for a more environmentally friendly option. They run on exclusive roads and enclosed stations. Only with \"Tarjeta Civica\" transfer to the Metro is free.\n\nSee the transit map where the Metroplus is the thin green line *Bus linea 1*. There is also *Bus linea 2* but this line does not run on exclusive lane in downtown area and need \"Tarjeta Civica\" for payment.\n.\n\n#### Other city buses\n\nthumb|right|Traditional buseta\n\nIf you want to go around downtown or neighborhoods near the downtown area without using Taxis, try using the Circular Coonatra. There are various routes, marked on the front and back of the busses. These require exact change.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are cheap and plentiful. All taxis have meters, make sure they use them. Minimal fee costs about COP$5,500. Taxis should always be called by phone for safety reasons and not be hailed on the street. As in most Latin American countries, their driving can be harrowing, so hold on tight.\n\n### By sightseeing tour\n\nThere is also the TuriBus, a modern bus that goes around the city showing its parks, attractive neighborhoods, and historical parts. While they do not guarantee this, many times their guides also speak English and are happy to translate for you.\n\n### By outdoor escalators", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk008", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Get around", "text": "This unusual system allows underserved indwellers to climb up the mountains in the way to their homes, the escalators go up equivalent of a 28-story building. Rides are free. They are in the west of the city - San Javier area - which can be a rough neighborhood. It is not in walking distance of the San Javier metro station, which is the nearest.\nSimilar examples were only for tourist purposes, they are found in Bilbao near Portugalete, in the way down to the Vizcaya Bridge, and Monjuic Hill in Barcelona, Spain.\n\n### By car\n\nRenting a car in Medellín, Colombia can enhance your visit, so it's definitely worth considering. Take a day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia, Santa Helena, El Peñol or Llano Grande in Rionegro. Driving from Medellín allows for spectacular views as you climb up and out of the city into the surrounding mountains that lead to your day trip destination. Cars can be rented in town or at the airport.\n\n### By scooter or motorbike\n\nSince the steep hills of Medellín stops many tourists from biking, an appealing alternative is to rent a scooter or motorbike/motorcycle. There are few motorcycle rental agencies in Medellin: Moto Ride Medellin, Colombia Moto Adventures and Medellin Scooter Rentals.\n\n### By bike\n\nBiking is not easy in the city since many neighborhoods are in the hills. However, there are a number of designated bike routes throughout the city; typically, they are made visible by painting the asphalt red.\n\nRacks for parking bicycles are fairly widespread in the city. If a facility such as a shopping mall or a large museum has an underground parking garage, it usually will have a designated section for motorcycles; look for a bicycle parking rack in that section.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk009", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Get around", "text": "On some nights and weekends a few major avenues are closed for the popular *Ciclovía* when you can safely ride a bike in the company of many other people exercising. The city government occasionally posts booklets listing the routes and hours for these events; here's \nthe one for 2025. In 2025, the applicable times were Sunday mornings as well as the evenings of Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.\n\nBicycle shops are fairly numerous. In particular, in downtown Medellin many of them are located in between motorcycle shops in Carrera 52 (aka Avenida Carabobo) over the approximately 10 blocks between the Museo de Antioquia and the University of Antioquia Medical Schools (Calles 53 to 62).\n\n### Orientation\n\nMost of the city of Medellín is built on a grid system. Carreras (streets) are abbreviated as Cr, Cra, K, kra or Crs and run parallel to the river from south to north.\nThe calles (also streets) cross the Carreras and run from East to West. Calles are abbreviated as C, Cll or Cl.\nAvenidas, abbreviated as Av, are usually larger and main streets. The numerical system for the Avenidas is used but some have names that are more commonly used such as Avenida el Poblado or Avenida Oriental.\nThere are a few streets called *Transversales* which usually refer to wide Carreras atop the mountains in El Poblado neighborhood. The most famous are transversal *Intermedia, Inferior and Superior*. Along *Laureles* neighborhood you can also find *Diagonales* and *Circulares*.\n\nEach address consists of a series of numbers, for example: Calle 50 # 65 - 8 which indicates that the building is on street 50 (Calle 50) 8 meters ahead from the intersection with street 65 (Carrera 65).\nThe centre point of the city, Parque de Berrio, is at the crossroads of Calle 50 and Carrera 50.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk010", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "### Landmarks\n\n**Pueblito Paisa** is a reconstruction of a typical but tiny Antioquia village. It's located on top of el Cerro Nutibara and has a pleasant view over the city. Also atop the hill is the Museum of the City (Spanish: *Museo de Ciudad*)(COP $7000) which houses photos from the city’s past and a large 3D scale model. It's within walking distance from the metrostation \"Industriales,\" but as the walk to the top requires hiking uphill for a while, visitors might find that a taxi ride is a smart choice.\n**Los Alumbrados**, the Christmas lights decorating Medellín, make it the most beautiful Latin American city for the holidays. The lights stay put from the beginning of December to mid January. The most impressive parts are centered around the Rio Medellín at the 'puente de Guayaquil' and downtown. Large statues made of lights can be found throughout the city.\n**The Metropolitan Cathedral**, which holds the record as one of the buildings in the world with the most bricks - over 1.1 million - along the Bolivar Park in the city heart. Cra 48 calle 56. Metro station **Prado**.\n**The Junin pedestrian street** is a cobblestone street in downtown area from Colteger building to Bolivar's park shows the history of city with Astor tea salon and Versalles salon.\n\n### Museums and the arts\n\nthumb|Botero sculptures fill Plaza Botero, outside the Museo de Antioquia\n - Museo de Antioquia\n\n- Museo Universidad de Antioquia\n\n- Casa Museo Fernando González\n\n- Museo Pedro Nel Gómez\n\n- Museo Interactivo EPM\n\n- Museo Etnográfico Miguel Angel Builes", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk011", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "The **Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (MAMM)** has now 2 sites. The original is a small building near Suramericana and *Carlos E. Restrepo* neighborhoods, hosting the traditional exhibits. The new space in *Ciudad del Río* is a large and old industrial warehouse. Great café and restaurant in the premises. Opened in October 2009 near Metrostation *Industriales*. Original site: Carlos E. Restrepo, Carrera 44 Nº 19A-100. Phone +57 4 444 2622. Ciudad del Río, Carrera 64B Nº 51 - 64, Ph +57 4 230 2622 http://www.elmamm.org\n During the 1980s a local law mandated every new building to invest 5% of the budget in a work of art displayed to the public, usually a sculpture. The legacy is around 300 monuments and sculptures scattered throughout the city and the nickname of **City of Sculptures**. There are 3 places with a higher concentration of sculptures: the above mentioned *Plaza Botero*, *El Cerro Nutibara* close to Pueblito Paisa and the gardens at *Suramericana* (Headquarters for the largest insurance company in the country).\n After the wave of violence in the 1980s and 90s there was a resurgence in the field of education and the construction of modern libraries in poor neighborhoods became a top priority. A few of them are masterpieces of architecture and a couple of them are easy to visit: Biblioteca **España** is atop the mountain and looks like giant black rocks hanging in the hills: Go to Metrostation Acevedo then take Metrocable to Santo Domingo station. Another library is close to Metrostation San Javier.\n\n### Parks\n\nthumb|right|The traditional Vásquez Building at the Plaza Cisneros", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk012", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "The **Parque de la bailarina I.C.R.C.** (Ballerina's I.C.R.C. Park) https://m.facebook.com/parquedelabailarina/ Carrera 43 E between 7 and 9 street. Is a park located in El Poblado. You can find art that is made by artistic a cultural corporation Alas de mariposa since 2008, every month.\n - Parque de los Deseos\n\n- Plaza de Cisneros", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk013", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "Also visit the **Parque de los Pies Descalzos** (Barefoot park) http://www.fundacionepm.org.co/parque_pies_descalzos for a Zen experience in the heart of town. Outdoor cafés, cultural activities. Metro station: **Alpujarra** or **Cisneros**.\n **Plazuela de San Ignacio** depicts Colonial and Republican style buildings. This little plaza witnessed in 1803 the birthplace of the largest university in town. The main lecture hall or **Paraninfo de la Universidad de Antioquia** is still in use and available for public view, even though the University moved 45 years ago to a big campus 2 km. north. Cra 44 at calle 48. Metro station: **Parque Berrío**. Walk uphill 6 block east.\n **Parque Berrío** is in the heart of town at the crossroads of Carrera 50 and Calle 50. Has the buildings of the Stock Exchange, Bank of the Republic, La Candelaria Church and the busiest metro station. It has the unofficial meetingplace for the locals -right at the sculpture of the 'Fat Woman' or 'La Gorda de Botero'. Connects directly to Plaza Botero and Plazuela Nutibara. Metro station **Parque Berrío**.\n The **Parque del Periodista** (journalist park) is a small square right in the center of the city. It is where the 'bohemian' and 'alternative' people meet. The bars play music varying from reggae and old salsa to alternative rock. You will find most of the people hanging outdoors instead of inside the bars. Metro station **Parque Berrío**.\n **Parque San Antonio** is a large, newer development right downtown. Hosts a handcraft bazaar and an infamous sculpture of a fat dove, bombed by criminals a couple of decades ago during the hard times of violence. By request of the artist the piece of art has not been repaired. Metro station **San Antonio**.\n The **Parque de Boston** is an attractive area that leads down to the main promenade **La Playa** where people can be found gathering at night to see street acts.\nthumb|Modern structure for display of orchids at the Botanical Gardens\n- Jardín Botánico", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk014", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "- Zoo\n\nParque **Juanes de la Paz** is of limited touristic attraction since it has mostly sport courts and is in an under served neighborhood. With the help of the world famous singer work began in 2006 on a recreational park for the rehabilitation of the handicapped. The 68,000 m² facility was completed in 2008. Metrostation **Tricentenario.**\n The new **Arví** park in the eastern slopes of the valley, close to a beautiful dam. This park (free entrance) promotes ecotourism with guided trails for hikers (COP$40,000 for foreigners) and mountain bikes, a picnic area (free), and a butterfly dome (COP$5,000). To get to the park you can take the Metrocable L line (20 min) which takes you over the tree tops into the park. Or take the Santa Elena bus (COP$3,000) from Cra 42 & Calle 50 close to Parque Berrío. It's not safe to walk the trails without a guide, and the picnic area is just concrete walkways. \n **Parque El Salado** is in a beautiful natural setting on the mountain overlooking Envigado. There are good paths for walking. The main attraction is a short canopy tour/zip line with about five stops. (The complete is longer but the additional length is reserved for members). Take the Metro to Envigado and then take the connecting bus that goes to Parque El Salado. The bus ride is worth the trip as it winds its way through neighborhoods up the mountain with some great views along the way. https://m.facebook.com/pg/elsaladoecoturistico/posts/\n\n### Buildings", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk015", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "**Ferrocarril de Antioquia - Old train station** is a fine building at the corner of City Hall and the Governor's Hall. Has a small exhibit area with free admission. Cra 52 # 43-31. Metro station **Alpujarra**.\n **EPM building** also called the *Intelligent building* for its computerized self-control. An icon of contemporary architecture. Cra. 58 calle 42. Metro station **Alpujarra**.\n **Edificio Coltejer** has been the symbol of the city for over 40 years, shaped as a threading needle for this textile company. Calle 52 cra 47 (Crossroads of La Playa Ave and Junín). Metro station **Parque Berrio**.\n\n### Neighborhoods\n\nthumb|Suramericana, Estadio and Laureles neighborhoods surrounded by mountains", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk016", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "**Prado** neighborhood - formerly it was the wealthy neighbourhood of the city so many huge houses were built there. It still has some of these beautiful old houses, though it should be visited with caution as it's near the center of the city. Metro station **Prado**.\n **El Poblado** neighborhood - this upscale part of town is built in steep hills and has many modern buildings which complement the nearby Andes forest. Most of the trendy bars, clubs, and restaurants of Medellín are located in this neighborhood. Safe to walk around at any time. Recommended. Take metro to **Poblado** station and walk East on Calle 10 for approximately 1 km.\n West of the Medellín river are the middle-class neighborhoods of **Laureles**, **Estadio** and **Suramericana** which are modern. Carrera 70 in Suramericana is where many of the best Salsa clubs are, and represent an excellent way to take a break from the trendiness of Zona Rosa and see some real Colombian dancing. The line B of the Metro runs along 'Estadio' near all major stadiums and sport facilities.\n **Commmune 13** (Comuna 13), also known as San Javier, is an area of \"informal housing\" (brick houses constructed by their owners) on the west side of the city. Several of its sections sit on steep slopes, with notional \"streets\" (*calle* or *carrera*) actually being stairs. The community suffered a lot during the war between the government and the rebels in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, but as of 2025 it's fairly peaceful. The popular tourist area of Commune 13 is in Barrio Independencias, including Carrera 109 (upward from its intersection with Calle 39, about 1.3 km from San Javier Metro station), and the balcon-like sections of Carrerra 110 and Calle 34dd located above the upper end of Carrera 109. The uppermost section of Carrera 109 is formed by stairs, with parallel escalators. These streets are lined up with tourist-oriented bars, restaurants, and souvenir kiosks.", "word_count": 321}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk017", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "See", "text": "### If you only have a day\n\nIn the morning take the metro to a downtown station, visit some churches - most are open early in the morning -, then head to the park outside *Museo de Antioquia* to see the sculptures, enter the museum at 10AM and visit until lunchtime.\n\nHave lunch either at the museum's restaurant or cafe, or take the metro to Metrostation **Universidad**, enter *Jardin Botanico* (Botanical Gardens) and eat there. Rest a little while strolling the gardens, then go across the street to *Parque Explora* or *Parque de los Deseos*. Before sunset take the metro to **Acevedo** station, hop on the **Metrocable** for spectacular views in the way up, and a city of lights upon your return. Take the metro back to any station near El Poblado, go shopping and then for dinner and a bar afterwards.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk018", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Do", "text": "### Sightseeing\n\nthumb| right|Metrocable, Line H\n- Metrocables\n\nStroll along lively **Carabobo** street, Carrera 52 in the heart of downtown, which is pedestrian-only. Safer during daytime. Metro stations **Parque Berrio**, **San Antonio** or **Alpujarra**. Along the street see *Plaza Botero* (read under Museums) and also:\n*Basílica de la Candelaria* built in 1767, a National Monument. Cra. 49 # 50-85, just off Carabobo.\n*Edificios Vásquez y Carré* built at the turn of the 19th century by a French architect. Nowadays in public use, with stores, cafeterias, etc. Cra. 52 x calle 44\n*La Veracruz* colonial church, built in 1682. Cra 51 # 52-58.\n*Palacio Nacional* Circa 1928, is now a large shopping mall. Styled with Romantic and Modern influence. Cra 52 # 48-45.\n\nComuna 13 out past the San Javier metro station attracts a lot of tourism with its graffiti and street art performances. Once one of Medellin’s most dangerous neighborhoods, it has since received funding and community attention and now boasts cultural tours, panoramic bars, and covered outdoor escalators.\n Take a free walking tour. The ones from Real City Tours depart from a pedestrian bridge on the north side of the Alpujarra station. Monday to Friday at 9:30am and 2:30pm. Saturday and Sundays at 10:00am.\n\n*Turibus* is a good option to get a general overview of the city. You can take it to many of the main tourist attractions. The tour lasts four hours and allows 20–30 minutes per stop for sight-seeing and photos. Turibus departs from the south side of Parque Poblado at 9AM and 1PM. You must return to the same bus after each stop, it is not a hop-on/hop-off service. Spanish is the only advertised language, however many times at least one guide speaks English and is happy to translate.\n - GTOPIK Paragliding Medellin San Felix", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk019", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Do", "text": "- Biblioteca España\n\n### Entertainment\n\nthumb|right|Pablo Tobón Uribe Theatre\nMedellín has a very **active cultural life**. There are four major theatres in town: Metropolitan Theatre, Pablo Tobon Uribe, Teatro de la Universidad de Medellín and Teatro EAFIT (page not updated since 2014). They offer a variety of Music concerts, Opera, Theater, Ballet and other events with international and local performers.\nThere are several good quality contemporary and classic theater companies, such as **Matacandelas**, **Hora 25**, **Pequeño Teatro**, **Oficina Central de los Sueños** and **Teatro Popular de Medellín**. There is an annual Theater Festival held in the last week of August, organized by **Medellín en Escena**\nThe city sits to classical music orchestras: **Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín** and **Orquesta de EAFIT**. http://www.eafit.edu.co/cultura/musica/orquesta-sinfonica-eafit/Paginas/orquesta-sinfonica-eafit.aspx\n The annual opera program is held in September, organized by **Prolírica de Antioquia**. http://www.proliricadeantioquia.com/\n Go to the movies: most movies are projected in their original language with Spanish subtitles. For independent flicks try the **Centro Colombo-Americano** with downtown and El Poblado locations.\n\nCommercial movies are available at most shopping malls:\nCine Colombia, Royal Films or Cinemark.\n\n### Sports\n\nthumb|right| Sport venue in Ciudad del Rio neighborhood\n\nMedellín sports various \"unidades deportivas\" - \"sport units\", which are essentially parks with sport facilities: Soccer, basketball, swimming, archery ranges etc. Admission is free for most parts (pools might ask a small fee), but they are popular destinations for locals as early as 6am and thus might require some waiting time until a facility is available. As a historical side note: These places were created to get potential criminals off the streets and the people of Medellín welcomed them very much.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk020", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Do", "text": "**Watch a soccer game** at one of the two teams based in Medellín, Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín. Attending a home game at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium is recommended for any football - soccer fans, or those wanting to experience the famed South American passion for futbol! Games generally take place on Wednesdays and either Saturday or Sunday. Tickets must be purchased through the Fanki app. Metro station **Estadio**.\nThe neighboring town of Envigado also has a professional soccer team http://www.envigadofutbolclub.net. Metro station **Envigado**.\nThe neighboring town of Itagüí also has a professional soccer team. Tickets must be purchased through the Fanki app, but are at times free. https://aguilasdoradas.com.co/.\nThe **Juvenile Soccer World Cup** was held in Colombia during July - August 2011 (Also called *Under-20* by FIFA) with Medellín as one of its venues.\n Try the new **skateboarding** track at Parque Ciudad del Rio. Opened July 2009, this colorful bowl-like ramps allow lots of fun for skaters and spectators. Metro station: **Industriales**.\n\n### Fairs, shows & exhibits\n\nthumb|right|Parque Explora- Interactive museum & Aquarium\n\nVisit the city during the first days of August for the local festival **\"Feria de las flores\" (Flower festival)**. There are all kind of events during one week including the \"Desfile de Silleteros\" (Parade of flower carriers).\n The new freshwater **Aquarium** inside the **Parque Explora** opened in December 2008 and depicts a great variety of river and freshwater wildlife, abundant in Colombia. It is probably one of the largest aquariums in Latin America and certainly one of few specialized in freshwater fauna. Metro station **Universidad**.\n - Planetario Municipal\n\nMedellín has one of the most important **Poetry Festivals** in the World. Every year, usually in July, poets from all around the world (including Nobel Prizes) come to this amazing event.\n - Full moon night", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk021", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Do", "text": "The Convention Center **Plaza Mayor** is the main site for big events including the fashion and textile industry related annual shows **Colombiamoda** (end of July) and **ColombiaTex** (mid of January) http://www.colombiamoda.com.\n The **International Tango Festival** convenes with world renowned artists. Free admission to all events. Every year in June. https://www.facebook.com/FestivalInternacionalDeTangoMedellin/\n **Tangovia** is a monthly street fair in the neighborhood of Manrique, with great tango performers (singers, groups, dancers and more). Calle 45 x Carrera 73.\n - Parque Norte Medellín\n\n### Outside the city\n\nThere are a few coffee farms within 1h drive from Medellín, they can be visited on a guided tour.\n - Camino al Sol", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk022", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Learn", "text": "Medellín houses many important universities and learning institutes. Almost 100% of the courses are in Spanish.\n\nthumb|right|Universidad de Antioquia. San Ignacio Building\n\n### Universities\n\n **Universidad de Antioquia** with over 200 years is the largest and more important academic institution in town and the second one in the whole country. Its old campus downtown has beautiful republican architecture while the newer campus (1960s) is a great example of modern architecture.\n **Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana** has 2 main campuses. Careers that are strong: Medicine, architecture, liberal arts and engineering.\n **EAFIT** emphasis on business, information technology and engineering.\n **Escuela de Ingenieria de Antioquia**.\n **CES** a health sciences university.\n **Universidad Nacional de Colombia** has 2 campuses, good education in engineering.\n\n### Learn Spanish\n\nAt a variety of second language schools:\n\n'''Total Spanish Colombia''' is a full immersion Spanish language school that teaches Spanish through fun interactive lessons to ensure that classes are both interesting and effective. Group, private 1 on 1 and specialist Spanish classes are available at their refurbished (as of April 2017) school in Parque Lleras. Maximum 6 students per class. They also offer students free wifi, drinks, conversation clubs, language exchanges and cultural activities.\n\n### Learn tango\n\nAfter Buenos Aires, Medellín is the best place to learn how to tango.\n\n **Escuela de Danza Che... Tango** Dancing school. Address: Calle 32 E # 80 A - 57, Barrio Laureles - Nogal. Phone: +57 4 4128326 Mobile: +57 3 14 890 4557 email: che.tango.medellin@gmail.com]\n- Academia de Baile el Último Café\n\n### Learn Colombian cooking\n\n '''Vía Cocina - Food Train''' provides an introduction to Colombian culinary practices. Cl. 51a ##28-17, phone: +57 300 4838599\n **La Colegiatura** is a small college with full degrees in culinary sciences and also shorter courses in basic and Colombian cooking.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk023", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Work", "text": "It is not legal to work in Colombia without a proper working visa. Visas can be obtained by employers on your behalf.\n\nThere is a significant market for English and other language teachers, and most hostels accept foreign workers without checking their visa status.\n\nAs of April 2016 visitors from most western countries are allowed to travel in 90 days without applying for visa. For working visas, have a look at the official site about the topic.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk024", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Buy", "text": "Colombia is famous for its coffee and Medellín is only a few hours from the coffee growing centers of Colombia. You can find coffee flavors of everything you can imagine, from ice-cream to arequipe (sweetened milk). The ‘Starbucks’ coffee culture is growing, with the most prominent brand being Juan Valdez coffee shops. The Juan Valdez chain is owned by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, and sells a variety of Colombian coffees.\n\nAguardiente Antioqueño: Schnaps with a special flavor, much like black licorice.\n\nRon Medellín: The local rum. The quality of this rum was elevated to the highest standards during 2009 and the 8 and 12-year bottles are great presents.\n\nDespite the claim of being the textile capital of Colombia, Medellín is not a shopper’s paradise for clothes for North American tourists, but prices can be attractive to visitors from other latitudes. The main malls sell a limited variety of clothes, (especially men’s clothes), at only slightly discounted prices from the US, although there are always bargains to be found if you look hard enough. The style of clothes for women in Medellín is very revealing and sexy, so it perhaps more suited for gift buying than shopping for yourself. When planning your shopping for clothes bear in mind that the local weather is very mild, so the options for winter and summer clothes are limited. Near Parque Lleras you can find via Primavera, a little zone full of local young designer's shops with unique garments that you will surely won't see anywhere else.\n\n### Handcrafts", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk025", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Buy", "text": "On the first Saturday of the month there is the **Mercado de San Alejo**, an open market right on Parque de Bolívar, hours: 8AM a 6PM A large variety of local handcrafts sold primarily by the artisans themselves. Right in the middle of Parque Lleras from Thursday to Sunday you may as well find some handcraft being sold.\n Centro Artesanal mi viejo Pueblo. Cr 49 # 53-30. Phone +57 4 513 7563\n\n### Shopping malls\n\n- El Tesoro Parque Comercial\n\n- Oviedo centro comercial\n\n- San Diego centro comercial\n\nOutlet **Mayorca** is directly connected to a Metro station and also has a movieplex. Metro **Itagui**.\n- Premium Plaza\n\n- Monterrey\n\n- Santa Fe centro comercial\n\n### Stores\n\nFor leather goods for women visit **Bon-Bonite** with 10 locations in town. Features many handbags in leather and ethnic materials, as well as shoes and accessories. Available In most shopping malls.\n**Shoes**, you will find many brands as Calzatodo, Mercedes Campuzano, Mussi or if you are searching for shoes accessories Pura+.\n**Underwear**, for men and women, are plentiful and the variety is great. **Women**: Leonisa. **Men**: Unico, Punto Blanco, Bronzini, GEF, NrgyBlast. **Babies:** Baby Fresh, Beybies. In all major shopping malls.\n\n### Money\n\nThe local currency is the Colombian peso (COP$). It is strongly recommended to use the exact change on taxis, because the drivers rarely have the exact amount. US dollars and euros are rarely used, except for tourist oriented stores.\n\nUsing credit and debit cards is frequent in Colombia but not prevalent as in developed countries.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk026", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATM limits: ATMs strictly limit withdrawals on foreign and domestic cards. You may only be able to get out COP$1.8 million per day, so plan to visit the ATM often or hunt around for a more relaxed limit. There are 5 major international banks with local offices, if by chance you hold a card of any of these banks your rates are usually lower (Citibank, HSBC, RBS, Santander and BBVA). The largest Colombian bank is Bancolombia with ATMs everywhere.\n\nWhen withdrawing money from an ATM it is highly advisable to avoid any located on streets for safety purposes. It is recommended to withdraw from ATMs inside shopping centers. Be sure not to take a taxi straight after withdrawing, it is not unusual for people to be followed out and mugged soon after making a withdrawal. Keep an eye out to be sure you are not followed. If you plan to withdraw a significant amount of money, it is recommended to ask the police to escort you (at no cost).", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk027", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|right|Botero sculptures outside of Museo de Antioquia and Palacio de la Cultura\nColombian cuisine is varied and regional. The more typical dishes are referred to as comida criolla.\n\nSome examples are: sancocho de gallina (chicken soup), carne molida (ground beef), arepas de choclo (fresh corn tortillas), empanadas (meat-filled fried turnovers), ají (hot sauce), ajiaco (Bogota's chicken and potato soup), bandeja paisa, natilla, buñuelos (fried cheese puffs), hojuelas (fried puff squares), rice with coconut, Antioquian beans, sobrebarriga (flank steak) mantecada (bun made with lard), papas chorreadas, pandeyuca (yucca bread) and carne desmechada (shredded meat).\n\nA typical breakfast in Medellín consists of baked corn arepas (Flat unsweetened corn pancake) topped with butter and fresh white cheese, coffee or hot chocolate.\n\nOne treat that will leave anyone stuffed is the \"Tipico Antioqueño\"; arepa con queso (small flatbreads with cheese on top), beans, chicken, rice, fried eggs, chicharron (salted and fried unsmoked bacon) and patacon (deep-fried plantain pancakes). Topping that off with a Colombian beer and a cup of \"chocolatte\" (pronounced the Spanish way - it's milky, sweet hot chocolate) makes for an excellent meal. An excellent place to eat typical food is Hatoviejo.\n\nThere is a large variety of restaurants all throughout Medellín, especially concentrated around the ‘Zona Rosa’ which is in Poblado between Parque Poblado and Parque Lleras. You can find a fine display of places with whatever food you desire, with good quality for comparatively cheap prices compared to the US, although there is a shortage of authentic Greek, Indian and Thai restaurants. Sushi is increasingly popular and may be found at the larger malls or supermarkets that are more \"international.\"\n\nColombia also has an incredible variety of tasty fruits. A few of these are: guanábana, lulo, zapote, mamoncillo, uchuva, feijoa, granadilla, maracuyá, tomate de árbol, borojó, mamey and tamarindo. Ask for a \"Salpicón\": a mix of fruits marinaded on orange or watermelon juice. The most popular local drink is \"Michelada\", beer with lime juice in a salt-rimmed glass (very similar to the Mexican version except for the amount of lime juice used).\n\nColombia is well known for its coffee, and Medellín is no exception. As with any large city, there are the usual chain restaurants, however the American \"fast-food culture\" has not made a huge splash in the country. Mc Donald's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza and Hooters can be found there.\n\n### Street Food\n\n### Budget\n\n#### El Poblado\n\n#### Laureles, Suramericana, Estadio\n\n#### Oriente - eastern suburbs\n\n#### Downtown\n\n### Mid-range\n\n#### El Poblado\n\n- Al Patio\n\n- Mystic Restaurante\n\n- Milagros\n\n- El Pilon Guarceño\n\n- Bonuar\n\n- El Café de Otraparte\n\n#### Laureles, Suramericana, Estadio\n\n- Fenicia\n\n- El Arbol de la Vida\n\n#### Downtown\n\n- Versalles\n\n- Restaurante Vegetariano\n\n - Lenteja Espress\n\n#### Oriente - eastern suburbs\n\n#### Multiple locations & online - delivery\n\n**J y C Delicias** offers typical arepas with a variety of toppings, good for lunch or dinner. A few locations: in Laureles neighborhood Carrera 76 # 33 A-62, . In El Poblado Calle 4 Sur # 43 A-8, , and El Tesoro Shopping mall.\n- Mondongo's\n\n- El Astor\n\n- Pasteleria Santa Elena\n\n### Splurge\n\n#### El Poblado\n\n- HatoViejo\n\n- Herbario\n\n- ElCielo\n\n- La Cafetiere de Anita\n\n#### Laureles, Suramericana, Estadio\n\n#### Downtown\n\n- In situ restaurante\n.\n\n#### Oriente - eastern suburbs", "word_count": 553}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk028", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Local drinks\n\n*Aguardiente* - A popular alcoholic beverage in Colombia with sweet and licorice-flavored, made-up of sugarcane. The local brand is *Aguardiente Antioqueño* and it is usually drank straight followed by an ounce of water or slices of mango.\n *Ron* - Rum is also popular with locals. The domestic brand is *Ron Medellín Añejo* aged either 3, 8, 12 or 30 years, typically served mixed with Club Soda, Coca-Cola or lemon juice.\n *Cerveza* - Beer is available almost anywhere, the one most enjoyed by people is *Pilsen*, a light golden in color, German Pilsener or Lager of beer. Also admired by locals and foreigners is *Club Colombia* a finer premium beer, made-up of 100% malt http://www.cervezaclubcolombia.com. Other popular national beers include Aguila and Costena. A small company brews beer locally: **Tres Cordilleras** makes Wheat, American Pale and Amber Ales. **Bogota Brewing Company** operates a restaurant in the Poblado neighborhood with good craft beer at uncompetitive prices. Their bottled beers are available at bars and restaurants throughout the city.\n *Refajo* - A kind of cocktail made by mixing beer and the local soft drink *Colombiana*. It is refreshing and a little sweet.\n *Cocteles* - Due to the great variety of tropical fruits and its juices your imagination will be boundless when creating *Cocktails* in Medellín. Start with *Lulo juice* with vodka, or try the many recipes with passion fruit (Spanish: *Maracuyá*).\n\nThursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the main days to party in Medellín; the rest of the week the mainstream nightlife isn't really exciting. Bars close at 2AM, but you will find plenty of clubs that close at 4AM, and if you need to stay up later just look for the techno or electronica clubs.\n\n### Dance clubs\n\n- El Blue\n\n- Circus\n\n- Cuchitril Club-Bar\n\n- Eslabon Prendido", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk029", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Palmaia\n\n- Red\n\n- Viva\n\n### Bars\n\nThere are a few districts for bars. Foreigners prefer Parque Lleras in El Poblado, safer, more upscale, nicer crowds. The middle class also mingle outside Museo de Arte Moderno, near Carlos E Restrepo neighborhood; and the so-called *Urban Tribes* meet at Parque del Periodista (downtown). Other areas with bars are: Carrera 70 near Estadio, Carretera Las Palmas and Avenida 33 in Laureles.\n\nThe area around Parque Lleras, (la Zona Rosa), has a concentration of restaurants, bars and is great for people watching. It is active on most nights and a must visit for those looking for Colombian nightlife. The major restaurants on the corner, El Rojo and Basilica are great for food, drinks and people watching. Occasionally they have live music or big screens when important football matches are played.\n\nParque Lleras is interesting any night of the week although admittedly Thursday, Friday and Saturday are far more lively. There are places, mostly electronic music venues open till 6 or 7AM outside of the city limits as the laws forbid any bar to remain open after 3PM. People however gather around Parque Poblado until dawn drinking, smoking and chatting. You can buy cigarettes, alcohol and anything else you could wish for from the street vendors until the last man standing.\n\nA more upmarket experience can be had at La Strada just south of Parque Lleras on Aviendo El Poblado. The centre features numerous bars, restaurants and clubs. La Strada has become the weekend destination for the more affluent of Medellín's residents. Expect to pay more for drinks and food than in la Zona Rosa, bars close at 1AM.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk030", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Drink", "text": "Just outside of Medellín, there are some venues in the neighboring towns of Sabaneta, Envigado and Itagui. Sabaneta has not yet caught on with foreigners, making it the place to go if avoiding gringos is your thing.\n - Salón Amador\n\n- Niagara\n\n**La Camerata** has offered classic music to its costumers for over 25 years. Occasional live appearances. Calle 49 between carreras 64 y 65, near calle Colombia.\n **Vinacure** An incredibly trippy place - expensive to get in but definitely worth seeing once. The entire club is designed by a noted Colombian sculptor. Try to go when German, the owner, is about so you can check out The Naked Room, an interactive art exhibition that must be experienced (sometimes) naked. This is a very interesting, unusual and fun art-museum/bar. It's truly unique. To get there, take a taxi to the beginning of Caldas (carrera 50 No 100D Sur 07, Caldas). Or you can take a bus.\n- Casa Gardeliana\n\n- Salon Málaga\n\n- Dulce Jesus Mio\n\n- Bolero Bar\n\n- Bermellón Restaurante Café Bar", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk031", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Hotels\n\n#### El Centro\n\nMost of the inexpensive hotels in Medellín are in El Centro. Although the area is vibrant at day, going out at night is dangerous and should be avoided.\n\n- Hotel Conquistadores\n\n- Hotel Ayacucho Real\n\n- Hotel San José\n\n- Hotel Nutibara\n\n#### Estadio and Laureles\n\nThese are middle-class, safe and quiet neighborhoods just west of the river (west of downtown) with many bars, restaurants, shops and clubs along Carrera 70.\n\n- Hotel Egina Medellín\n\n- Hotel Punto 70\n\n- Sauces del Estadio\n\n- Hotel TRYP\n\n - Hotel Casa Laureles\n\n - Hotel Laureles 70\n\n **Samarian Hostel,** Carrera 77b #47 35 Sector Laureles Estadio Velodromo, +57 4 2504472 Cel 3165006043. samarianhs@gmail.com. Metro stations Floresta and Estadio nearby, communal office space for digital nomads with a coffee bar, language exchange and Spanish school nearby, dormitories from COP$18,900 (breakfast included).\n\n#### El Poblado\n\nThis is probably the most desirable neighborhood to stay in. However, it is also the most expensive. The higher-end bars, restaurants, and clubs are all located in this area. High-end supermarkets (Pomona, Carulla and Exito) are nearby, as well as shopping malls, open Wi-Fi networks, and a few Juan Valdez coffee shops.\n\n- Hotel Intercontinental\n\n- Hotel San Fernando Plaza\n\n- Poblado Plaza Hotel\n\n- Four Points by Sheraton\n\n- Hotel Dann Carlton Belfort\n\n- Park 10 Hotel\n\n- Milla de Oro\n\n- Hotel Portón de Medellín\n\n- Hotel Dann Carlton Medellin\n\n- Hotel Poblado Alejandría Express\n\n- Hotel NH Collection Medellin Royal\n\n- Hotel Casa-10\n\n- Novelty suites\n\n- Holiday Inn Express\n\n- Medellín Executive Suites Hotel\n\n- Hotel Santa Ana\n\n### Boutique hotels\n\n- Art Hotel\n\n- Las Rosas Hotel Boutique\n\n- DiezHotel\n\n**Other neighborhoods**\n\n- Movich Hotel Las Lomas\n\n### Hostels\n\n- Blacksheep Hostel\n\n- Casa Kiwi Hostel\n\n- Hostal Tamarindo - Medellín\n\n- Palm Tree Hostel\n\n- Samán Hostel\n\n- Tiger\n\n- The Wandering Paisa Hostel\n\n - International House Medellin\n\n - Lucia Central", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk032", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Respect", "text": "Clothing is usually casual but shorts or Bermuda pants are unusual on weekdays. Only young locals will wear them on weekends. Sweaters and jackets are usually not necessary at daytime, occasionally needed at night.\n\nRefrain from joking about drugs, kidnapping or bombings. Many residents of Medellín were personally affected by the violence of the past, and today they consider themselves very modern, forward looking and ready to move on. They do not find these things to be funny. In addition, the police take the security situation very seriously, and you may find yourself detained. Accordingly, there is no official tourism built around the history of Pablo Escobar, and many people do not like to discuss him, although several hostels offer a Pablo Escobar tour. You will receive a lot of puzzled stares if you start asking how to get to the house where he was killed, etc.\n\nWhen on the Metrocable, remember that it is a functional part of the Metro system, and that many proud residents of the mountainside neighborhoods ride the system to and from work each day. Accordingly, refrain from gawking, commenting on or taking pictures of the neighborhoods below, especially if there are Colombians in your car.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk033", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Medellín is generally a safe city for tourism, depending on the part of town you visit and the hours and is much safer than in previous years. In 2022, the homicide rate in Medellín was its lowest since the 1970s, at 15 per 100,000, which is a little lower than Dallas, Texas. According to the US State Department, murders have involved tourists and U.S citizens, and there remains a risk of \"terrorist\" actions in the urban area. Much of the violence is concentrated within the city's hillside slums and among known drug traffickers, although richer parts of town have also been afflicted by the latest surge in crime. The poorer neighborhoods in the north-east and north-west of the city should be avoided at both day and night to avoid trouble. Most of the inner city is best avoided at night, maybe excluding El Poblado. Most travelers to Medellín will tell you that they never found themselves in any danger while there, as the city center and touristy neighborhoods and attractions are all heavily policed. Therefore the following advice should not deter your plans to travel there.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk034", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A scam that has become increasingly common as of 2024 involves young men matching with local women on Tinder and going on a date with them. When they meet the woman, their drink is spiked and they are robbed by accomplices. The woman, usually a prostitute, receives a small cut of the proceeds, and the gang keeps the rest. Deaths have resulted from this practice, because the woman has to estimate the correct amount of the drug (usually scopolamine) to give to the victim. **If you do go on a Tinder or Grindr date with a local in Medellín, meet in a public place and do not go back to your accommodation or to their house. Medellín locals do not go home with other locals to hook up; rather, cheap hotels are used.** Variations on this scam involve girls being overly friendly to gringos at a club, buying them drinks and then asking to go home with them. The drinks end up being drugged, and the girls make off with whatever money and valuables you have at your accommodation.\n\nDon't travel alone after dark. Almost anyone who knows anyone who has gotten into trouble in Medellín will tell you that they were doing things that you shouldn't do in any city, i.e. walk around after dark alone, especially leaving clubs after having been drinking. If you must, travel with a few friends, and at night call a taxi instead of taking it off the curb.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk035", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Avoid straying off of the main areas outside of the Santo Domingo Metrocable station, especially after dark; basically, try to stay within sight of the station and library, and you will be fine. Avoid areas of downtown at night, such as the Parque San Antonio area (including outside of the Metro station), Parque Boliviar, and areas directly to the north of Parque Barrio, where there is a lot of prostitution and other shady dealings. During the day, these areas are all perfectly safe with the normal precautions.\n\nAs in most large cities, petty crime can be a problem; it is advisable to carry a color copy of your passport rather than the real thing, avoid carrying a wallet and to keep varying amounts of cash in several pockets, socks and bras. Only carry what you will need for the day, and always have enough hidden somewhere to get back to your hotel. However, at most tourist sites, the police have a very heavy presence, so you can feel safe taking pictures and walking around during the day. Avoid parks, muggers with knives wait for tourists in parks near hotels in the affluent areas of the city, such as El Poblado.\n\nTourists may feel overwhelmed by the multitude of vendors selling things like fruit, ice cream, cigarettes, lottery tickets, cell phone chargers, trinkets and clothing. However, a simple \"no, gracias\" will deter them from bothering you.\n\nAs Colombia is still a country with a \"macho man\" mindset, women might be the subject of lewd comments, cat-calling, or whistling. Women shouldn't take this personally - although women have the same rights as women in the US and elsewhere, it's just the culture.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk036", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not, *under any circumstances*, make any jokes about the use of cocaine or bombs. The Colombian police take jokes as threats, and you may find yourself in a police station explaining yourself to unsympathetic police officers. Otherwise, police officers are usually kind and helpful towards tourists.\n\nThe age of consent in Colombia is 14, which does not apply to prostitution which is a crime with minors under 18. The drinking age is 18. Minors are not allowed to be in possession of alcohol at any time, and they may not enter night clubs of any kind. If a minor is found to be in a night club, the entire club will be immediately closed for violating a national law (Enforced more in nicer neighborhoods).\n\nAlways change your money at the airport or at a bank. Bancolombia is the largest national bank, is based in Medellín and has ATMs almost everywhere. \"Street changers\" offer tempting rates for your dollar, but be on guard. \"Street Changers\" palm several of the biggest bills for themselves. Do not flaunt large amounts of money around. ATMs are your best bet for dealing with the complexities of various money changers.\n\nWhen using an ATM (only delivers pesos) it is wise to use machines in a mall (Spanish: *centro comercial*), one of the large superstores (such as Exito, Jumbo or Metro) or grocery stores (such as Carulla), then take your time walking around a bit. Don't rush out the door. If someone is watching people at the ATM, they will wait for you to leave, and possibly rob you on the street down the road. Using ATMs on the street is not advisable in Colombia.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk037", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The water in Medellín is potable, although bottled water is always available everywhere for the extra-cautious.\n In Medellin, you are at no risk of many tropical diseases like malaria, cholera, yellow fever, leishmaniasis or Chagas disease because of its altitude and a very good vaccination program that eradicated all vectors for those diseases.\n If only staying in Medellin and/or Bogota no extra vaccinations are required. Though, if traveling to the far south a yellow fever vaccination is required and one might be asked to provide proof of it; you can get it for free Monday to Saturday, from AMm on, at Carrera 45 # 50-48 (El Palo con la Playa), Edificio El Doral, Consultorio 203 (first floor). It takes 10 days to become effective.\n Altitude is generally not a problem for foreigners since Medellín is approximately 1,500 m (4,921 ft) above sea-level (about the same as Denver, USA). However, some who reside at or around sea-level may experience some minor effects their first night. If this is the case, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the way there and on the first night.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk038", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nInternational country codes: Colombia 57, City code Medellín 4. When calling a mobile from outside Colombia dial 57-3 (i.e., +57 311 xxx xx xx don't double the 3).\nTo make an international call from Colombia, dial the access code 005 (Orbitel), 007 (ETB) or 009 (Movistar), followed by the country code, area code and party's number.\nMany local phones are blocked for direct international calling, but calling through an operator will work many phones: Call 159 for the operator.\nFor all local phone calls you have to dial only 7 digits.\nWhen calling from a local phone into a cell phone you have to dial '03' then the 10 digit mobile number.\nWhen calling from a Mobile to a local phone: dial 03 + (city code) + 7 digit phone number.\n*Emergencies* dial 123\n\n*Mobile services*: There are several mobile phone companies in Colombia (Claro, Movistar, TIGO, UNE & ETB). Calling mobile phones is slightly more expensive than calling local numbers. In crowded places is common to find people selling 'minutes' to make calls from their cell phones. All mobile numbers have 10 digits (The digit 3 is always first).\n\n### Internet\n\nThere are many internet cafes throughout the city. The appendix for Colombian web addresses is **.co**\n\n### Mail\n\nRegular mail in Colombia is quite dismal as you can not attach the stamps yourself and always have to go to a post office. There are very few offices in each city, usually downtown.\nWith this background, private mail couriers have flourished with better service and more offices. There are close to 10 different companies, among the most popular are **Coordinadora** and **TCC**. Both have agreements with international delivery services and cover the world over.\n\n### Newspapers\n\n **El Colombiano** is the second largest paper in the country with somewhat conservative views.\n The small format news outlets **Q'hubo** and **ADN** are easily available.\n\nFor the country **Colombia Reports** is a good source of news in English. http://colombiareports.com\n\nFor Spanish-speakers, a good monthly paper about life downtown, with long articles, is *Universo Centro*. http://www.universocentro.com\n\n### Online music\n\n **Paisa Estereo** is an online radio station streaming to more than 174 countries from Medellín\n\n### TV stations\n\nFour local stations are available via cable, free-to-air broadcast and most can be watched online.\n **Teleantioquia** has local news and entertainment. \n **TeleMedellín**\n **Une** \n **Cosmovisión**", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk039", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Department for foreigners\n\nFor matters regarding your visa or visa-free stay, the immigration office is in charge for that. Departments are in Cl. 19 #80A-40 and inside the MDE airport in the public area.\n\n### Medical services\n\nThere are plenty of good hospitals and clinics in Medellín unfortunately English is not widely spoken by doctors and nurses. Most upscale hotels have medical services in house.\n\n **Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul** a general, full service hospital\n **Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe** a not for profit with excellent services.\n **Clinica Medellín** with its main building downtown and a smaller branch in neighborhood El Poblado.\n **Clinica el Rosario** has 2 sites, the one in El Poblado is modern, calm and oriented for international patients.\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Austria\n\n - Belgium - Bélgica\n\n - Bolivia\n\n - Brazil - Brasil\n\n - Chile\n\n - Costa Rica\n\n - Denmark - Dinamarca\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - France\n\n - Germany - Alemania\n\n - Italy - Italia\n\n - México\n\n - Netherlands - Holanda\n\n - Panamá\n\n - Perú\n\n - Romania\n\n - South Korea - Corea del Sur\n\n - Spain - España\n\n - Sweden - Suecia\n\n - Switzerland - Suiza\n\n - Reinos Unidos\n\n - Venezuela\n\nThere is no consulate for **Canada**, **China**, **Indonesia** or the **United States of America** in Medellín, but each has a national embassy in Bogotá.\n\n### Laundry\n\nLaundromats are scarce in Colombia, but full-service laundry and dry cleaning shops are commonly found in important streets and some shopping malls.\n\n### Electricity\n\nIt is 110-120 volts for the country, using two-prong outlets (the same as in USA).", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk040", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Go next", "text": "### East", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk041", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Go next", "text": "Guatape and **La Piedra del Peñol**: Guatape is located approximately 90 minutes outside of Medellín and is a popular recreational and ecotourism destination for many Colombians and foreign travelers. Half the fun of traveling to Guatape is driving through the Colombian countryside lined with beautiful rolling hills, small towns, farms and friendly people. Once you arrive in Guatape you will notice that the town borders a reservoir built for a hydroelectric dam. The lake covers thousands of acres and can be explored and enjoyed by renting a boat or taking one of the large party boats available on weekends. Guatape has new resort hotels, hostels, restaurants, homes, and recreational rentals (boats and water skis) bordering the lake. The huge Rock (**La Piedra del Peñol** a.k.a. Peñón de Guatape) that borders the lake is an unexplained geological phenomenon. With 2/3 of its height below ground, the exposed vertical face is over 200 m high (660 ft) and visible from throughout the surrounding countryside. Anyone can scale the rock for a few thousand pesos via a staircase built into one side, the view is breathtaking. On the top of the rock, a restaurant offers outdoor tables overlooking views that stretch to the horizon in every direction. There are buses going about every hour from the Medellín North bus terminal. Pablo Escobar, the famous drug lord, once called Guatape his home and built several big Casas on its lakeshores. His presence made Guatape a dangerous place for both foreign visitors and local Colombians. After his death Guatape transformed into a quiet town that's growing as a tourist destination. Escobar's main home is now a bombed out shell that is easily viewed from the lake.\n **Natural Reserve of Río Claro** This private nature reserve began in 1970 with the intention of supporting the protection of tropical rainforests in the Canyon of Rio Claro, while developing ecotourism with recreational-educational programs. The lime-stone, marble deposits and the river bed are beyond amazing. http://www.rioclaroreservanatural.com/ Accommodations with optional open to the forest cabins are available. Day tours from Medellín are also available with optional activities to choose from such as cave trekking, white water scenic rafting, kayaking and canopy adventures to name a few.\n **Extreme sports**: Montevivo is a reservation in **Santa Elena**, 30 minutes up the hill from Medellín. It has 5 aerial ropeslides, one is around 400 m long, among the largest in the world. You can canopy, trek, even sleep in the park. Phone: +57 4 538 0279. email: montevivo@montevivo.org\n **Parque Arví Comfama:** Near Santa Elena, this adventure park has a wide range of hiking trails and is famous with locals for its canopying, a sport where you go through the forest canopy on zip lines, wire bridges and rope swings. Gloves are recommended for this activity, they can be purchased from a kiosk immediately up the hill from the canopy park.", "word_count": 476}
+{"chunk_id": "medellin::chunk042", "doc_id": "medellin", "section": "Go next", "text": "### West\n\n**Santa Fe de Antioquia**, a tropical town with beautiful colonial architecture. An annual film festival draws the national elite and cinema lovers to this charming spot. This cobblestoned street town founded in 1541 was the capital of the Antioquia Province until 1826 when it was ordained to Medellín.\n\n### South\n\nMost of the coffee in the country grows in the Andes region southwest of Medellín and most of the traditions of the coffee growers are the same as in this city. Indeed, world famous **Juan Valdez** has lived in Medellín for over 3 decades. There are most of 20 small towns southwest of Medellín (Suroeste Antioqueño) where you can see Juan, mule Conchita and Grab Life by the Beans.\n **Jardín** is a quaint little town that displays beautiful local architecture, 2½-hour drive southwest of Medellín. The main plaza is lined with several outdoor cafes, a large stone built church dominates this plaza. Local fresh trout is easily available at many eateries in town and a couple of countryside restaurants. Probably Jardín's most spellbinding natural attraction is the Splendor Cave. In Jardín are hostels. **LandVenture Travel** offers day tours from Medellín to the Splendor Cave plus visiting sugar cane mills, coffee mills and other great attractions that Jardín has to offer.\n In the very southern tip of the Antioquia Department there is a small country hotel overlooking the Cauca river. Terrific views of the canyon, ecological paths, swimming pool. **Hotel Pipintá** in La Pintada. A 2½ hr drive from Medellín.", "word_count": 251}
diff --git a/corpus/medellin/metadata.json b/corpus/medellin/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ad51e0648e9ff546636893dc9f016e4ab028e8b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/medellin/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "medellin",
+ "title": "Medellín",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Medellín",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Antioquia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Guatape",
+ "Santa Fe de Antioquia",
+ "Jardín"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 10431,
+ "listing_count": 119,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 43,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/melbourne/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/melbourne/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4937fa97049937d54fa1201e0bdeaa41fd73e6dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/melbourne/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk000", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Melbourne** (*Naarm* in the Woiworrung language) is Australia's cultural capital and second biggest city, with Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theatres, and large parks and gardens. Many of its 5.2 million residents are both multicultural and sports-mad. The capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria, and located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is a magnet for migrants from all over the world, and consistently ranks as one of the world's most livable cities.\n\nVisitors come to attend major sporting events, and to use it as a base for exploring nearby places such as Grampians National Park, the Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island and its penguin parade. Many UK visitors come for tours of filming locations of the soap opera *Neighbours.* Somebody living in Melbourne is a *Melburnian*, and they pronounce the city's name as \"MEL-b'n\".", "word_count": 140}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk001", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Districts", "text": "### Central Melbourne\n\n### Greater Melbourne", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk002", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Flinders Street Station, the Yarra River and central Melbourne skyline\n\n### History\n\nthumb|St Michael's Uniting Church built in 1866\nThe British settlement of Melbourne commenced in 1835 when settlers from Tasmania led by John Batman \"purchased\" land on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River from the local Aboriginal people. The streets of central Melbourne were carefully laid out in 1837, with some streets 30 metres wide. Initially dubbed Batmania after its founder, the settlement was soon renamed Melbourne after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the British Prime Minister at that time. The first British lieutenant-governor, Charles La Trobe, arrived in 1839 – his Cottage still stands and can be visited in the Kings Domain.\n\n1851 was a landmark for Melbourne — the colony of Victoria was separated from New South Wales and very soon after, gold was discovered in Victoria, sparking a huge gold rush. The gold rush history can be seen at the Gold Treasury Museum, housed in the Treasury Building built in 1858. Gold was the catalyst for several decades of prosperity lasting through to the late 1880s and examples of the ornate Victorian-era structures built during this time still stand. Throughout the gold and building booms, Melbourne managed to retain its many spacious parks and gardens that remain to this day. In 1888, the boom collapsed and Victoria suffered through the depression of the 1890s.", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk003", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1901, the British colonies of Australia federated and Melbourne became the temporary capital of Australia, with the Federal Parliament meeting in the Parliament House of Victoria until 1927 when the new Federal capital of Canberra was founded. After World War II, Melbourne grew rapidly, with its mainly Anglo-Celtic population boosted by immigration from Europe, particularly from Greece and Italy. Today Melbourne has the biggest Greek population (over 800,000) of any city outside Greece and the biggest Italian population (over 230,000) of any city outside Italy. The significant pre-war Jewish population was also boosted after the war. From the mid-1970s, many immigrants came from Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Cambodia. Melbourne has had a Chinese population since the gold rush of the 1850s; Melbourne's former Chinese name was \"New Gold Mountain\" (新金山), in reference to the \"Old Gold Mountain\" of San Francisco. Chinatown has existed from that time but the population of Chinese and other East Asians has also been boosted by immigration.\n\nNew highrise buildings replaced many of Melbourne's interesting old structures in the construction boom of the 1970s and 80s. Melbournians belatedly recognised the loss of their architectural heritage and steps were taken to protect what was left. Construction of the huge Crown Casino (briefly the largest casino in the world) in the 1990s introduced glitz and gambling to the CBD. Melbourne's development continues in the 2000s with the opening of the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square and the Docklands precinct.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk004", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Grimwade gardens, ground level of NGV\nMelbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, with its many art galleries, film festivals, orchestras, choral and opera productions, vibrant live music scene, and a strong food, wine and coffee culture. People in Melbourne tend to dress up more than the northern states - partly due to the colder climate. Many bars and clubs have strict dress regulations, such as requiring collars and dress shoes for men.\n\nParticular cultural events to note include the Melbourne International Film Festival in August, the International Art Festival in October, and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in April. There are also many concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to the Melbourne Museum, there are special museums dedicated to subjects such as science, immigration, Chinese history, Jewish history, sport, racing, film and moving image, railways, police, fire brigades and banking.\n\nMelbourne also has a strong subcultural scene appealing especially to young people, particularly in the suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford, where subcultural bars, cafes and art galleries are common. Check out the Abbotsford Convent and Brunswick Street Fitzroy.\n\n### LGBT+\n\nMelbourne is generally welcoming of LGBT+ people, who often live in the city with few difficulties.\n\nWhile often referred to as Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne also draws much more influence from Europe in its architecture, fashion and food – and for the gay traveller it may feel like a more chilled out and refined experience after the glitz of Sydney. Melbourne is a city of less ostentatious delights than its northern cousin, regularly voted the world's most livable city – so set some time aside to relax and explore.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk005", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "Melbourne's main annual community events are the **Midsumma Festival**, which has dozens of activities including the city's main pride march, and the **Melbourne Queer Film Festival**. The gay scene in Melbourne is, for the most part, in the inner northern and inner southern suburbs like Fitzroy and St. Kilda, the latter of which is where the Midsumma Festival's pride march takes place. There are plenty of options for queer people to go clubbing or to grab a drink in both hot-spots.\n\n### Sport\n\nMelbournians are sports enthusiasts and particularly passionate about Australian rules football, a sport invented in Melbourne. In fact the Australian Football League (AFL) is not so much a sport as a religion in Melbourne, with 9 of the 10 Victorian teams being based in Melbourne. As a guide, the entire national competition only has 18 teams, meaning half the league is based in Melbourne alone. The AFL culminates in the AFL Grand Final in the spring, which is played every year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Horse racing is another passion, and the state has a public holiday on the first Tuesday of November for the racing of the **Melbourne Cup**, one of the world's famous horse races. Cricket is the big summer sport and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the 'MCG' or 'The G') is one of the world's leading grounds. On Boxing Day each year, the MCG hosts the boxing day test match. This usually sees the Australian Cricket team going up against another big cricketing nation. The MCG is also home to the **National Sports Museum** (NSM) (including the Racing Museum), Australia's only truly dedicated multi-sports museum.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk006", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "Each January, Melbourne hosts tennis' Australian Open, one of the world's four Grand Slam championships. In March, Melbourne hosts one of the first races of the Formula One season, the Australian Grand Prix. The race is held in Albert Park in South Melbourne. Two professional Association Football teams are based in Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC; the two teams now share the new Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, commercially known as AAMI Park, and also play select matches at Marvel Stadium. The city also boasts one professional team in each rugby code, with both also playing at AAMI Park. The Melbourne Storm play rugby league in the National Rugby League, with teams throughout Australia plus one in New Zealand. The Melbourne Rebels play rugby union in Super Rugby, which features three other Australian sides, four in South Africa, five in New Zealand, and one each in Argentina and Japan. Melbourne is the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia with the largest arenas and two of the major sporting administrations basing their operation in Melbourne: Cricket Australia is a stone's throw from the MCG, and AFL games are played at the MCG and at Marvel Stadium.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk007", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city's climate is notorious for its changeability, often referred to as \"four seasons in a day\". Its climate can be described generally as **temperate**, with warm summers and cool winters. During the summer of December to February, daytime temperatures average around , with mildly comfortable nights averaging around , and humidity is rarely an issue. Despite this, it's not out of the ordinary for the city to swelter through heatwaves with temperatures that can exceed and top out around ; such sweltering days come with nighttime lows that don't go below . With approximately 600 mm of rainfall annually, Melbourne gets only half as much rain as Sydney. October is typically the wettest month. Days are long, with sunrise at 6AM and sunset at 8:45PM.\n\nWinter (June–August) is usually cool with a mix of clear, sunny weather and cold & damp conditions. Temperatures in winter can range from chilly overnight lows as low as to daytime highs as high as at times. Light snow has been recorded in and around Melbourne during the winter months only a couple of times over the last century, although the hills east of the city usually see a snow shower or two every winter. Daylight runs from 7:30AM to 5:15PM. You should consider visiting Melbourne in the autumn and spring — temperatures during these periods are usually very pleasant, without being unbearably warm with daytime highs usually in the s.\n\nWith such unpredictable weather, it can be difficult deciding what to wear when planning a day out in Melbourne. A common tip is to wear layers of clothing and accessories that can be removed or worn as the day goes on.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Melbourne website", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk008", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nThe city is primarily serviced by **Melbourne Airport** at Tullamarine which has international flights and a comprehensive domestic schedule. **Avalon Airport** is more distant, partway between Melbourne and Geelong, and hosts only a couple of domestic routes (Jetstar to Sydney & Gold Coast). Finally, five regional destinations can be reached on light aircraft from **Essendon Airport** (): King Island and Flinders Island in Tasmania, and Dubbo, Orange and Wollongong in NSW.\n\nFor general aviation, the aforementioned **Essendon Airport** as well as **Moorabbin Airport** () in the southeastern suburbs of the urban area, are the airports of choice.\n\n#### Melbourne Airport\n\n*Main article: Melbourne Airport*\n\nMelbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, () is 22 km north-west of the CBD in the Hume region. There are regular flights from all major Australian and New Zealand cities. There are direct flights from Asia, Europe, North America and South America.\n\nThe SkyBus service runs regularly to the City, St Kilda, Mornington Peninsula and Western suburbs, costing about $24 one way if you book online, or $40 return. For travellers on a budget, Melbourne Airport can also be accessed by public bus from Broadmeadows station. There is no train link to the airport, but multiple proposals have been put forward for decades. A taxi into the Melbourne CBD will cost around $75-100. There are also Uber ranks outside Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 which will cost between $50-70.\n\n#### Avalon Airport", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk009", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get in", "text": "Avalon Airport () is a mainly domestic airport 55 km south-west of Melbourne in Lara, near Geelong. Although much further than Melbourne Airport, fares from Avalon are sometimes considerably cheaper. The terminals are generally very simple, with just an ATM, car hire desks and baggage carousels. Other facilities include a cafe, bar and a video arcade room. There are several flights in and out of Avalon each day, with flights to Sydney and the Gold Coast operated by Jetstar (which also flies to Melbourne Airport).\n\nThe SkyBus service runs to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's CBD via the outer western suburb of Werribee, meeting every flight arrival and departure. The transfer costs $22 one-way for an adult, and $10 for a child (4–14 years). Other than the coach, there is no public transport; Lara Station is 8 km from the terminal, a taxi to this station costs about $20. A taxi to the city from this airport could cost upwards of $100.\n\nThe driving time from Avalon Airport to Melbourne's CBD is about 45 minutes in good traffic conditions. Avalon Airport is also convenient for visiting Geelong and the Great Ocean Road.\n\n### By train\n\nSouthern Cross Station is Melbourne's regional rail hub for interstate and intrastate travel. It's on the western side of the CBD, with good public transport connections to the rest of the city. Train travel in Victoria is very cheap, with the maximum fare for any journey capped at the price of a daily Myki fare ($11.00 on weekdays, $7.60 on weekends and public holidays, as of Mar 2025).\n\n- V/Line\n\n- NSW Trainlink\n\n- The Overland\n\n### By car", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk010", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Sydney, the quickest route to Melbourne is the Hume Highway, which takes 10 hours of driving without any stops. This road is almost all dual-carriageway (freeway). The Princes Highway (National Route 1) goes along the coast and is less crowded and more scenic, but this route takes much longer to reach Melbourne. See Sydney to Melbourne by car for more information.\n\nAdelaide is slightly closer than Sydney and can be reached in 9 hours. The coastal route (again, The Princes Highway) is more scenic but slower. See article Overland travel between Melbourne and Adelaide.\n\nA direct journey from Brisbane takes 21 hours of driving and takes you further inland along the Newell Highway. This makes for an alternative to the standard Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne coastal route.\n\n### By bus\n\nBus services to Melbourne from out of state are provided by Firefly Express (from Adelaide and Sydney only, fares starting at $65) and Greyhound. They arrive and depart from Southern Cross coach terminal, just north of the train station on Spencer St.\n\nBus services within Victoria are operated by V/Line and operate from most major and many minor Victorian towns.\n\n### By boat\n\nMelbourne is served by several international cruise ships throughout the year, particularly in the summer cruise season.\n\nThe Spirit of Tasmania used to depart and arrive at Melbourne from Devonport in northern Tasmania, but in 2022, the Spirit of Tasmania terminal was relocated to Geelong.\n\nAll passenger ships serving Melbourne arrive at and depart from Station Pier in Port Melbourne, about 5 km from the CBD. Tram route 109 (towards Box Hill) departs frequently from the old railway station across the road from the Pier, travelling into the heart of Melbourne along Collins St.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk011", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A Melbourne tram\nMelbourne's CBD is laid out in an orderly grid system, similar to Manhattan, meaning that navigating the CBD is easy. Melbourne has a comprehensive public transport system consisting of trams, trains, and buses. Trams criss-cross the city, trains extend to the outer suburbs, and buses cover the remaining destinations.\n\n### By public transport\n\n**Transport Victoria** (formerly PTV) coordinates all train, tram and bus services within the state. The website and app provide a journey planner, timetables, maps and disruption information. Apple Maps and Google Maps also provide a journey planner and disruption information. Services generally operate between 5AM and midnight Monday–Saturday and after 8AM Sunday. A Night Network operates after midnight Friday–Saturday. Most of the train and bus network is wheelchair and pram accessible. Trams are only accessible via a low floor tram at accessible stops, mostly in the CBD and St Kilda.\n\n#### Fares\n\nThere are three ways to pay for your journey:\n\nA '''myki''' card. The card is available to purchase and top up with credit at Melbourne Airport, many train stations and tram stops, some retail stores such as 7-Eleven, and online. The adult card costs $6, the concession card costs $3, and the youth card costs $5. The card can be refunded at Southern Cross train station.\n A '''Mobile myki''' card. The card is available to download and top up with credit via the Google Wallet app.\n A **Mastercard or Visa** card (only for train journeys as of 2026).", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk012", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "Your fare is deducted from your card as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. Trains have fare gates or distinctive green validators to touch before you board and after you alight. Trams and buses have validators to touch as you board and alight. Touching off on a tram is optional and not recommended in the CBD.\n\nThe fare you pay is determined by where you travel, how long you travel, and whether you’re eligible for discounted or free travel.\n\n+Fares (1 January 2026)\n Fares Adult Zone 1+2 \nAdult Zone 2 Concession Zone 1+2\nConcession Zone 2\nYouth\n 2 hours $5.70 $3.60 $2.85 $1.80\nFree\n Weekday daily cap $11.40 $7.20 $5.70 $3.60\nFree\nWeekend / public holiday daily cap\n$8.00\n$8.00\n$4.00\n$4.00\nFree\n\nThe system calculates a 2-hour fare the first time you touch on. The system calculates a daily fare if you touch on again more than 2 hours after your first touch on. This daily fare is valid on all public transport until 3AM the next day. In other words, you'll never pay more than the daily fare no matter how much you travel around the city.\n\nZone 1+2 covers the entire city whilst Zone 2 covers the outer suburbs only. There is also a Free Tram Zone within the CBD. You do not need to touch on if remaining within the Free Tram Zone, but you do need to touch on if you wish to travel beyond the Free Tram Zone. Touching on inside the Free Tram Zone will result in you being charged a Zone 1+2 fare.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk013", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are a few little-known public transport discounts. The Early Bird discount is useful for train commuters: if you touch on and touch off before 7AM, you will not be charged (this does not apply to trams or buses, however). More useful is the evening discount: if you touch on for the first time after 6PM, you can travel as much as you like until 3AM for the price of a 2-hour fare.\n\nLaws surrounding public transport are strict. Ticket inspectors patrol the network, and issue fines of up to $413 on the spot for offences such as fare evasion, putting feet on seats, swearing, drinking alcohol, blocking doors, and being in unauthorised areas. It should be noted that infringement notices are not given out by ticket inspectors, although they do have the power to arrest you until police arrive. Rather, they take your details and report you to the Victorian Department of Transport, who will subsequently send an infringement notice or a formal warning to your address. Fines will not be pursued if your address is outside Australia.\n\n#### Trains", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk014", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "The train network is operated by **Metro Trains Melbourne** (MTM). Each line is named after its terminating station. A partly-underground \"City Loop\" forms the basis of the network, with most lines branching off to the suburbs like the spokes of a wheel. The lines that run through the City Loop originate and terminate at Flinders Street, the city's famous suburban railway hub. Other lines run via the \"Metro Tunnel\", with pedestrian links from Town Hall to Flinders Street, and from State Library to Melbourne Central. The lines are divided into seven groups:\n Burnley group (dark blue) – includes the Alamein, Belgrave, Glen Waverley and Lilydale lines, which split at Burnley.\n Caulfield group (green) – includes the Frankston and Stony Point lines.\n Clifton Hill group (red) – includes the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines, which split at Clifton Hill.\n Cross-City group (pink) – includes the Laverton, Sandringham, Werribee and Williamstown lines.\n Metro Tunnel group (light blue) – includes the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines.\n North Melbourne group (yellow) – includes the Craigieburn and Upfield lines, which split at North Melbourne.\n Special services (grey) – includes the Flemington Racecourse line.\n\nTrains generally operate at 10–20-minute frequencies, with higher frequencies (but more overcrowding) in peak times. Be aware that express trains skip some of the smaller suburban stations. Check information screens carefully to be sure.\n\nSome suburbs in the west are not served by MTM, but rather the state's regional operator, V/Line. V/Line operates 20-minute frequencies to Melton and Wyndham Vale accordingly. V/Line services always originate and terminate at Southern Cross.\n\n#### Trams\n\n*See also: Trams in Melbourne*", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk015", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trams are a prominent feature in Melbourne's urban landscape and a tourist attraction in themselves. The city has the largest network in the world. The network is operated by **Yarra Trams** with green branding. Most tram lines cross the city in each direction, and branch out from the CBD like spokes. In the city, they often become crowded, and you are unlikely to get a seat. The network is operated by a mix of newer, low-floor trams with stop announcements and older models with step-entry. Stops in the inner city generally have platforms, although most stops require hailing the tram from the side of the road; take care at these stops and look for cars with distracted drivers which may illegally speed past. Most tram stops on Swanston Street (in CBD) are located on bike lanes. Please be careful not to walk onto the bike lane until the trams stops in front of you.thumb|200px|A City Circle tram\n\nThe free **City Circle Tram** (Route 35) runs clockwise around the CBD perimeter, operated by green and gold-coloured trams. These trams are geared to visitors and provide access and audio commentary regarding sites of interest to the tourist. More information is provided in the CBD guide.\n\nYarra Trams' official iOS and Android app, tramTRACKER, is very useful for tracking real-time tram arrivals and following the tram's progress on board. Most tram routes will have 8-12 minute service during the day, with higher frequencies in the peak, but lower frequencies of 20–30 minutes in the evenings.\n\n#### Buses", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk016", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses serve locations without rail transport, often connecting to major shopping centres and train stations. Denoted by orange branding and stops, most buses are low-floor and air-conditioned. A few major trunk routes (including ones such as the 200/207 in the inner north, the 900 to Chadstone, 907 to Doncaster, etc.) operate at 10-15 minute frequencies, although for most buses, it is necessary to use the journey planner or check timetables, as service tends to be far less frequent than trains and trams.\n\n### By taxi\n\nUber and Didi operate rideshare services in Melbourne.\n\nMelbourne taxis are ubiquitous in the centre but less often spotted in the suburbs. Taxis are traditionally yellow in colour, although silver and white colours also exist. Fares are standardized so that the meter starts ticking with the Day Rate (T1) (9AM-5AM) at $4.20 and clocking up $1.622/km, the Overnight Rate (T2) (5AM-9AM) at $5.20 and clocking up $1.804/km and the Peak Rate (T3) (10AM-4AM Friday and Saturday) at $6.20 clocking up $1.986/km, meaning that short hops can go for under $10, but longer hauls get expensive pretty fast. A $2 fee applies for telephone booking a taxi and a $4.78 fee for catching a taxi from the airport. Sitting in traffic is $0.568/min at T1, $0.631/min at T2 and $0.695/min at T3. Between 10PM and 5AM, taxi fares can be prepaid: you pay an estimated sum to the driver in advance and the fare is corrected on arrival. There are no negotiated fares for taxis in Melbourne. The Taxi Services Commission provides a full fare list and useful fare estimator on their website.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Hook turn warning sign", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk017", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving in Melbourne's CBD is generally inadvisable. Congestion tends to be bad, street parking difficult to find, and parking in multi-storey carparks tends to be rather expensive. In addition, you will have to learn how to execute a hook turn (described below) due to the large number of trams in the city. That being said, driving is generally the best way of getting around Melbourne's suburbs, as the public transport network tends to be less reliable, less frequent and more thinly spread out than in the CBD, particularly in the outer suburbs. If travelling from the outer suburbs to the city, it's generally best to park your car at the nearest railway station and catch a train in. In the centre, street parking can cost more than $3.50 an hour. Melbourne is the only city in Australia where motorcycles and scooters may be parked on footpaths, as long as they don't obstruct the footpath and if there are no signs indicating otherwise.\n\nThe major car rental chains are well-represented. Independent car rental companies are also plentiful and can offer good value. Many of the rental companies are located close to Melbourne's Southbank, so if you are staying close to or on the outskirts of the CBD, it should be relatively easy to find both the well represented and independent car rental companies.\n\nIn the CBD, a number of intersections require you to perform the infamous **hook turn** (see photograph) to turn right due to tram tracks running down the centre of the road. Follow the signs: move into the left lane and move as far forward as possible, wait and when the traffic signal for the street you are turning into turns green, make the turn.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk018", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are two major tollways in Melbourne, both of which have no manual tollgates and require day passes to be purchased in advance or up to three days after the trip online or over the phone. Registration number and car details should be provided; failure to buy a pass can result in expensive fines, and car rental companies will often stack their own administration charges on top of these. Be aware that major rental companies will often offer a toll option, which is usually cheaper than purchasing your own passes. Tollways are represented by blue and yellow road signage rather than the usual green and white signs. Tollways are clearly signposted and easily avoided if so desired.\n\nCityLink is the T-shaped tollway through the city core, connecting the West Gate Freeway in the west, Monash Freeway in the south-east and Tullamarine Freeway in the north. These freeways are useful for travelling to Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Melbourne Airport respectively. A 24-hour pass costs $22.55 for cars, less for motorcycles and more for larger vehicles (2024).\n\nEastLink is a north–south tollway through the eastern suburbs and is useful for reaching Frankston. A one-trip pass costs $7.68 for cars (not including fees), less for motorcycles and more for larger vehicles (2024). If you are likely to be using both tollroads, it may be worth purchasing a *Melbourne Pass* for $5.50 in addition to the regular toll costs depending on the length of the trip. Tags from other Australian cities work on CityLink and the EastLink tollway, but passes do not. At the very end of Eastlink, you'll arrive at an interchange with the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, which continues south to Mornington Peninsula. Eastlink continues south as the Frankston Freeway.\n\n### By bike", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk019", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "The inner suburbs of Melbourne have a good network of bike paths, plus a generally flat terrain, making pedal-power a great way to take in the city. Most bicycle paths are \"shared footways\" under the law, although the majority of users in most places are cyclists. This means cyclists should expect to share the path with pedestrians, dog-walkers, rollerbladers, joggers, prams and tricycles. Some trails contain on-road sections (in marked bike lanes). It is illegal to cycle on footpaths or pedestrian crossings, with the only exception when supervising cycling children or when the path is marked or signposted as allowing bikes. Helmets are required by law, as are lights when riding at night. Some bike lanes pass through tram stops - by law, you have to stop before the tram stop if passengers are boarding or alighting the tram. Detailed maps of the bike path network can be found https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/traffic-and-road-use/cycling/bicycle-route-maps. Bicycles may be taken on trains, although there may not be space during peak hours. There is more room for bikes in the first and last carriages of trains. Only folding bikes are permitted on trams and buses.\n\n#### Trails\n\nthumb|Yarra River\n - Yarra River Trail\n\n- Capital City Trail\n\n- Bay Trail\n\n**Maribyrnong River Trail.** Starting at Southbank and finishing at Brimbank Park in Melbourne's west, the Maribyrnong river trail is a 28-km trail with easy to moderate riding on a good track. The trail takes you past the Polly Woodside ship and through the Docklands to Footscray Road. You'll then ride along the Maribyrnong River, passing Flemington Racecourse before crossing the river and over to Pipemakers Park. The remainder of the trail takes you through bushland and river reserves and underneath bridges before finishing up at Brimbank Park.\n\n#### Rentals\n\n- Rentabike\n\n- Freddys Bike Tours & Rentals", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk020", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By foot\n\nMelbourne is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems navigating the CBD grid. The walking time between each end of the CBD is less than 30 minutes. A brisk walk may even see you keeping up with the trams as they crawl through the CBD.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk021", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "See", "text": "right|thumb|Royal Exhibition Building located in Carlton Gardens and built for the 1888 International Exhibition\nthumb|right|Avenue of English elm trees in Fitzroy Gardens\nthumb|right|Cathedral Arcade, an art deco ground floor arcade of the Nicholas Building\nMelbourne is a great city for arts, culture, dining, and events. Visitors frequently comment on the \"good vibe\" of the city, which can only be understood by experiencing it for yourself. There are a wide and varied assortment of attractions and sights, with something for every traveller. Most are in the CBD, in close reach of public transport. Melbourne is also a good base for experiencing the other attractions of Victoria, most of which can be reached on day trips.\n\nMelbourne is Australia's best city for street art – refer to **street art in Melbourne** for more information.\n\n### Sights & museums\n\n Melbourne's museums are generally well-regarded and worth a visit if you have time to spare. The **Melbourne Museum** and **National Gallery of Victoria** often have interesting temporary exhibitions.\n Visit the '''State Library of Victoria''', and its magnificent reading halls. The La Trobe Reading Room boasts a large domed study area with an art gallery featuring temporary exhibitions on its balconies.\n Melbourne is an excellent place to master your photography skills. So many places to take a fantastic picture.\n Visit one of Melbourne's many arcade and laneways, tucked away from the main city streets and avenues. One of these, the **Cathedral Arcade**, forms a narrow laneway, connecting Swanston Street to Flinders Lane in the central business district. It is a T-shaped arcade, however one of the laneways terminates inside the Nicholas building.\n Visit the **Eureka Skydeck** for the best view of the city on level 88 of the Eureka Tower. Or indulge in fine dining by making a reservation at **level 89** of the Eureka Tower.\n Visit any or all of the three amazing zoos. At the **Melbourne Zoo**, visitors have the additional opportunities to interact, pet, and take close-up photography with a number of the animals, including kangaroos, meerkats, lemurs, and others.\n Take a free tram ride around the city on the ** free city circle line** (Route 35).", "word_count": 355}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk022", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Do", "text": "### Food & coffee\n\nVisit the **Queen Victoria Market** – it stretches over two blocks and holds the title of the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.\n Walk along **Swanston Street** to find a wide variety of eateries of all types, from Vietnamese to Italian.\n Kick back at one of Melbourne's fantastic **cafes** in the CBD (Degraves St, The Causeway, and other laneways are fantastic for this), South Yarra (Chapel Street) or Fitzroy (Brunswick Street, Smith Street).\n For upmarket restaurants, visit **Flinders Lane** and select from more expensive, sit-down food and drink.\n\n### Cinemas, music & entertainment\n\nSee interesting films at the Art Deco-styled **Astor Theatre** in St Kilda. There are several moonlight cinema programs in summer. The Melbourne International Film Festival is on in August.\n Alternately, visit the Cinema Nova on Lygon Street (tram 1 or 8) on a Monday for $6 films before 4PM.\n The **Comic's Lounge** has comedy shows and dinner. \n Melbourne has an exceptionally vibrant live music scene. Many bars and pubs will have copies of the free magazines \"Beat\" and \"Inpress\" which provide local gig guides. Fitzroy, Collingwood and St. Kilda are generally your best bets for seeing some of the great local talent Melbourne has to offer. Venues where you generally can't go wrong include: \"The Evelyn\", Hotel Esplanade aka \"The Espy\", The Corner Hotel in Richmond & The Northcote Social Club.\n Have a laugh at the **Melbourne International Comedy Festival** in March/April each year\n Visit one of **Melbourne's outdoor cinemas** in the warmer months of the year (November to April)\n\n### Outdoor activity", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk023", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Do", "text": "Visit the beach (St Kilda, Brighton, or Frankston on the east side. Williamstown or Altona on the west side.)\n If you have the gear, go snorkelling. Melbourne has a surprising number and variety of snorkelling spots all around the bay. For inspiration see this interactive map.\n Go hiking on scenic **Mt Dandenong** -Challenge yourself physically on the **1000 steps**, or visit the cute towns of Sassafras or Olinda, or take a ride on the **century-old Puffing Billy steam train**\n Chill out in the **Botanical Gardens** or one of the many parks (Albert Park, Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens)\n See Melbourne's Yarra River by kayak\n\n### Sports\n\n**Australian rules football**, known to locals as just \"football\" or \"footy\", is the most popular sport in Melbourne, and mostly played in the winter. Melbourne is the spiritual home of the **Australian Football League (AFL)**, with 9 of the league's 18 teams based on Melbourne. The teams play their home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or the Docklands Stadium (also known as Marvel Stadium).\n\n**Cricket** is the most popular summer sport, and the MCG ground hosts internationals between Australia and a handful of touring sides every year. The **Boxing Day Test** between Australia and whichever foreign team is touring Australia at that time commences 26th December every year, and usually runs for about 4-5 days. In domestic cricket, the MCG houses the Victoria state team in the Sheffield Shield (first-class) and One-Day Cup (one-day), as well as the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (T20). Melbourne's other Big Bash team, the Melbourne Renegades, plays at the Docklands Stadium. Some international matches are held at the Docklands Stadium instead of the MCG, but the experience is regarded as far inferior to watching a game at the MCG.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk024", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Australian Open** is one of the four grand slam tournaments of tennis and is held at **Melbourne Park** in January every year. Just before the Australian Open is the **Kooyong Classic**, which is held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.\n\n**Australian Grand Prix** or Formula One is held in March / April, around at Albert Park in the Inner south.\n\nGet dressed up for \"the race that stops the nation\" on the first Tuesday of November **The Melbourne Cup**, or one of the other races in **The Spring Racing Carnival**\n\n### Festivals\n\nThe **Melbourne International Film Festival** is an iconic cultural event, contributed to the world's largest display of Australian filmmaking. Held over 3 weeks in August, it is the largest film festival in both Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing 400 Australian and international films.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk025", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Learn", "text": "You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, study for your Victorian Certificate of Education or take computer or business classes at the Council of Adult Education (CAE). The CAE is also home to the City Library where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their cafe.\n\n### Universities\n\nMelbourne is home to several universities, two of which belong to the prestigious \"Group of Eight\": the **University of Melbourne** and **Monash University**. There are opportunities for international students to enrol in these universities, either in their degree programmes or through exchange agreements with foreign universities, and these are opportunities for foreigners to live in Melbourne for an extended period of time. There are also dual sector institutions such as **RMIT University** and **Victoria University** that provide vocational training and short courses.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk026", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Work", "text": "The most popular industry for a working holiday is to work in hospitality jobs around the St. Kilda area. The wages in all other industries are usually much better than working in hospitality but require more specific skills.\n\nFruit picking is a possible source of income but in the greater Melbourne area not many jobs are offered. You will find better chances are in the dairy business but you should have some basic experience. Grape vine tending is another possibility in the nearby Yarra Valley.\n\nAustralia has the second highest minimum wage in the world (after Denmark). Note that casual workers (those who do not work regular or guaranteed hours) must be paid a loading of at least 20% over the award wage. The amount of loading varies by industry. Find out the wage your should be getting by using the ***Pay Calculator***.\n\nMost visitor visas **prohibit** the holder from any employment, but working holiday and student visas may allow foreigners to work, but these visas come with restrictions on hours of work allowed among other restrictions. Please make sure you have the right work before doing so as working without the right to work is a deportable offence. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/ If any workplace health and safety issues arise, you may contact **''WorkSafe Victoria'',** Victoria's health and safety regulator and manager of Victoria's workers compensation scheme. If you believe your employer is not complying with Australian workplace laws, you can also contact ***FairWork Ombudsman.***\n\nIf you started employment, it is recommended that you apply for a ***Tax File Number (TFN)**,* as it facilitates the *'''Australia Tax Office (ATO)''',* in managing your tax profile. Some jobs may require you to apply for one before starting work.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk027", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|right|Collins Street boasts many high end shops and boutiques.\nShopping hours in metro Melbourne are typically 7 days a week, 9AM–5:30PM weekdays and 9AM (maybe later)–5PM weekends. Most suburban shopping centres such as Chadstone have later closing hours on Thursdays and Fridays – mostly up to 9PM. Supermarkets have extended hours 7 days, the majority opening at 7AM and closing at midnight or 1AM; there are also many 24-hour supermarkets.\n\nAlcohol in Victoria can be purchased at licensed shops/venues, and supermarkets often have an adjoining bottle shop that closes earlier than the supermarket. Some stock alcohol in the supermarket, if they close at the same time as their licence. You must be over 18 years old to purchase alcohol. Most bottleshops close by 10PM to midnight (even on weekends), but some open until 3AM (e.g. on Riversdale road in Booroondara and Russell St Melbourne), and 24-hour bottleshops on both Chapel and Lygon streets, in Stonnington and Melbourne respectively.\n\n### City shopping\n\nthumb|200px|The historic Block Arcade on Collins Street\n\nMelbourne is known as the fashion capital of Australia with numerous malls and boutique-lined streets.\n\nIn the CBD itself, **Little Collins Street** is home to some of the world's top designers and fashion houses; **Collins Street** also boasts other high end shops such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. **Brunswick Street** (Fitzroy), and the southern end of **Chapel Street** in Prahran/Windsor, have clusters of stores selling an eclectic mix of vintage, rave, retro and alternative gear such as Shag, Fat Helen's and Beaut Vintage to shop around.\n\n**Melbourne Central** is another shopping mall based in the city, adjacent to the underground station of the same name. The **Bourke Street Mall** with the department store David Jones, as well as the flagship store of Myer, Australia's largest department store chain, is another city-central shopping hub.\n\nFor the bargain shopper, there is a **DFO Outlet Mall (Direct Factory Outlet)** located on the Southbank, next to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), a short walk from Southern Cross Railway Station. There are also camping/military surplus stores on Elizabeth Street for backpacking essentials.\n\n### Suburban shopping\n\nBridge Road in Richmond is a strip where warehouse direct outlets rule and no-one pays recommended retail price.\n**Chapel Street** in South Yarra is a favourite among the locals, with its spread of exclusive boutiques, cafes and well established chain stores.\nThere are also several huge shopping complexes in the outer suburbs, such as Chadstone and Southland (Cheltenham) in the South-East. Doncaster Shoppingtown, Eastland (Ringwood) and Knox City are in the outer East. Northland in the north, Highpoint in the west.\n\nMelbourne is also home to many of Australia's largest shopping centres with hundreds of stores, including Chadstone Shopping Centre in Malvern East (the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere), Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong, Knox City Shopping Centre in Wantirna South, and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre in Casey. \n\n### Looking for something in particular?\n\nthumb|Luna Park in St Kilda\nFor those in the bridal market, **High Street** in Armadale, Stonnington and **Sydney Road** in Brunswick, Moreland are the two main clusters for bridal apparel and accessories.\nFor those who are looking for local, aspiring designer creations, try **Greville Street** in South Yarra, Stonnington or **Smith Street** and surrounds,\n\nTo buy funny souvenirs and Australian typical stuff, walk or take the trams on Elizabeth Street up to **Victoria Market**. You'll find all you need there and the price is usually a half or a third of the prices in the souvenir shops downtown. Make sure to try a bratwurst dog and check out the cheese stalls while you're there.", "word_count": 600}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk028", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|230px|Cakes on display at Hopetoun Tea Room on Collins Street\nFor the culinary traveller, Melbourne is one of the best destinations in the world. There is an abundance of affordable, high-quality restaurants representing almost every cuisine. Eating out is cheaper than in Western Europe but not as affordable as North America. The service in Australian restaurants may be more discreet than many North Americans may be used to. Service staff in Australia are paid considerably more than their North American counterparts so tipping is not customary, though you may choose to give a tip if the service was exemplary.\n\nExcellent eateries can be found sprinkled throughout all of the inner (and some outer) suburbs, while certain neighbourhoods have become magnets for residents and restaurants of particular countries. A large range of restaurants and cafes offering high-quality food, and representing various cultures and countries, are scattered throughout the Central City, Southbank, Carlton (mostly Italian and touristy), Victoria Street in Richmond (many low cost popular Vietnamese and South East Asian restaurants), Docklands, South Yarra and Prahran. In Central City, the Queen Victoria Market's prepared-food stalls are also popular places to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg is known for its many Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Greek and Turkish restaurants. The popular tourist area of St Kilda offers a large range of good quality restaurants and cafes, especially on Acland Street, and Fitzroy Street.\n\nthumb|right|Halal snack packs", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk029", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "English-style fish and chip shops are scattered through the suburbs – particularly in bayside areas. Souvlaki/kebabs are very popular in Melbourne, with plentiful outlets in any neighbourhood you could visit; local terminology is split between 'souvlaki' and 'kebab' to refer to the wrap, depending on the area's immigrant mix. A local specialty is the **halal snack pack** (HSP), kebab meat and sauce served over chips (fries in American terminology). Japanese nori rolls and sushi is very popular and many stores through the city and suburbs sell these items.\n\n### African\n\nThere is a concentration of African cafes in Nicholson St, Footscray and Racecourse Road, Flemington. Most serve a small range of Ethiopian cuisine and coffee, and are frequented by the local African residents. The Abyssinian is a well-regarded Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant popular for locals and tourists for a more elaborate dinner. The stewed foods are served on a large pancake (*injera*) in the middle of the table. Everyone eats with their hands which is messy but fun.\n\n### Australian\n\n\"Australian cuisine\" is a nebulous concept that may include traditional native foodstuffs and more modern cafe infusions of international influences. Items such an emu and kangaroo meat are unusual, and are most likely to be found only at the high-end fine dining restaurants as a speciality item. You can however find great kangaroo steaks at the Napier Hotel (Napier St, Fitzroy) for around $20, or at the Edinburgh Castle pub on Sydney Rd, Brunswick for around $10.\n\nMeat pies are available from bakeries and convenience stores.\n\n### Café/delicatessen food\n\nHigh-quality delicatessen-style eating is available in many of the cafes in the small lanes of central Melbourne. Many high-quality deli style diners can be found outside the city, in Acland Street, St Kilda.\n\n### Chinese", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk030", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "Chinese cuisine has a long tradition in Melbourne and a large number and range of quality restaurants exist. Many are in Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, CBD. They are also dotted through the inner and outer suburbs, with concentrations in Richmond, Footscray, and suburban Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Doncaster and Springvale.\n\nMost of the food is from the Southern (Cantonese) school of cooking, although Northern favourites like dumplings are also available. Eating dim sum, which is consumed either during breakfast or lunch (called yum cha or \"drinking tea\" in Cantonese) is an extremely popular Sunday pastime for Australians of all ethnic backgrounds.\n\nIf you're after a budget option (meals $5–10), try Camy's dumpling house (Shanghai style dumplings) on Tattersalls Lane in the CBD. In the evening, the easiest – and most amusing – option is the all-you-can eat service for $12 per person. Service is dicey, but always exciting.\n\n### Greek\n\nLonsdale Street in the CBD is Melbourne's official Greek precinct with a few bars, cafes and restaurants. In practice, there are only a handful of Greek shops left in this area. Most Greek restaurants and food outlets are found in the suburbs of Brunswick (Sydney Road), Richmond, Coburg and Oakleigh in the south eastern suburbs which have many Greek cafes specialising in frappe, cakes and good souvlaki.\n\n### Indian\n\nIndian restaurants can be found throughout Melbourne, particularly in the city, North Melbourne, and inner eastern suburbs such as Richmond and Hawthorn. There are also numerous Indian snack bars in the city that serve cheap but tasty curries and samosas, cafeteria-style.\n\nNepalese food is also popular in Melbourne, and some restaurants feature both Nepalese and Indian cuisine on their menus. An increasing number of Indian restaurants offer home delivery.\n\n### Indonesian", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk031", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "Befitting its large number of Indonesian students, Melbourne has many Indonesian restaurants. One of the most famous is Blok M on Commercial Rd, Prahran, which many famous Indonesians have visited. Another popular restaurant is Nelayan with two restaurants on Swanston Street and Glenferrie Rd, Agung on Glenferrie Road, Bali Bagus on Franklin Street, Es Teler 77 on Swanston St, Nusantara in Caulfield and Bali Bowl on Flinders Lane. There is also Warung Gudeg, specialising in Jogjakartan local cuisine in Clayton. Warung Agus in West Melbourne serves Balinese cuisine in a rather upscale atmosphere.\nthumb|Lygon St is the centre of Melbourne's Italian food scene\n\n### Italian\n\nWith its large Italian population Melbourne has countless Italian restaurants, mostly offering food from the southern regions of the Italian peninsula.\n\nItalian cafes and restaurants are plentiful throughout Melbourne but are in the greatest concentration in Lygon Street, Carlton, just north of the CBD. Lygon Street is where Melbourne's coffee culture originated. Suburban Italian restaurants are often large and family-oriented and tend towards the pizza, pasta, seafood and steak formula.\n\nPizza outlets are very much part of the Melbourne landscape. These include Piazza 51 in Sydney Road, Brunswick, Spiga in Melbourne Central, Pizza Meine Liebe in Northcote, and countless options in Lygon Street.\n\n### Japanese\n\nA quick \"sushi\" take away lunch can be bought on almost every block where there is food. In and out of Chinatown there are also plenty of places that have good bento, udon and donburi as well.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk032", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "For dinner, many of the inner city suburbs have Japanese restaurants, but in the city itself there is a long an interesting Japanese restaurant history that continues to this day. Both Melbourne's oldest, Kuni's (which has been around since 1978) and its sister restaurant Kenzans are known for a very authentic, if expensive, meal. There are a plethora of choices for those on stricter budgets as well.\n\n### Jewish/Kosher\n\nSt Kilda East and Caulfield are home to vibrant Jewish communities and kosher bakeries and cafes abound, most situated on Carlisle Street in Balaclava, Kooyong Road in Caulfield North and Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick.\n\n### Malaysian/Singapore\n\nMalaysians and Singaporeans feeling homesick will find a host of restaurants and foodcourt outlets offering items like roti canai/paratha, nasi lemak, prawn noodles, and laksa. Many are in the CBD; there are Malaysian restaurants scattered throughout Melbourne. Little Bourke Street has a few Malaysian run eateries as well as QV's Kopitiam (corner of Lonsdale and Swanston St, CBD), Boxhill has a new Malaysian run (with Malaysian cooks – most Malaysian run eateries employ cooks from China) eatery called Petaling Street which has provided the most authentic fare so far.\n\n### Middle Eastern\n\nArab, Lebanese, Moroccan and Turkish restaurants tend to be concentrated in Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg to the north of the CBD. These restaurants can also be found in the outer suburbs that are home to those communities, including Dandenong.\n\n### Thai\n\nThai restaurants are ubiquitous in Melbourne: even dining precincts mostly known for Italian or Vietnamese food boast Thai restaurants.\n\n### Vegetarian\n\nVegetarian food is widely available in Melbourne, and you can expect every restaurant or cafe to have a few vegetarian or vegan options.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk033", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are also many vegetarian restaurants: Vegie Bar in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Moroccan Soup Bar, Shakahari in Faraday st, Gopals in Swanston St and Shakahari in Lygon St, Carlton are just some of the options. Crossways at 123 Swanston St. serves a very popular and inexpensive all-you-can-eat vegetarian lunch, M-Sa.\n\nVegetarian and vegan restaurants are geographically concentrated based on the type of food served. The inner northern and inner southern suburbs of Fitzroy, Richmond, Prahran, and Brunswick have many Australian or American style vegan cafes and vegan options at pubs.\n\nVegan and vegetarian Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants are found in the CBD, Box Hill, Fitzroy, Northcote and Footscray. In Box Hill, Vegie Hut offers a vegetarian and vegan Yum Cha experience.\n\nVegetarian Indian restaurants are in mostly in the outer suburbs of Dandenong, Craigieburn, Reservoir, and Werribee, although there are options in the CBD as well.\n\nMiddle Eastern restaurants, cafes and bakeries have many vegan and vegetarian options. A popular vegan lunch in Brunswick, Coburg, and Fawkner is a Zaatari wrap filled with tomatoes and olives, available at any of the many Lebanese bakeries.\n\nMost Italian restaurants will cater to vegans; however, there are also fully vegetarian options in Carlton and the CBD. Casa Del Gelato is a Lygon St gelato institution which always has several vegan flavours.\n\nVegans looking to experience the city's coffee culture will find soy, oat, or almond milk at most cafes.\n\n### Vietnamese", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk034", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Eat", "text": "Melbourne's Little Vietnams are in Footscray, North Richmond and Springvale out in the far eastern suburbs. The streets in these areas are lined with *pho* (noodle) shops and restaurants offering other Vietnamese favourites. Many outlets have also appeared along Swanston Street in the CBD. However, for convenience to the city and reasonable prices, Victoria Street in North Richmond is your best bet.\n\n### Others\n\nSpanish, Argentinian, Burmese and Polish restaurants can be found in the Richmond/Collingwood/Prahran area.\n\nMelbourne has some Cajun/Creole restaurants and one or two American style diners, but US cuisine is otherwise absent: Foods like Southern-style barbecue and clam chowder are nearly impossible to find.\n\nKorean restaurants are well represented and are scattered throughout the city.\n\nHopetoun Tea Rooms in Block Arcade on Little Collins Street offer sweets ranging from cakes and pastries to high tea.\n\nIce cream and gelato are popular post-dinner snacks in the warmer months. Try Piccolina and Messina, although don't be surprised if the line stretches outside in summer.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk035", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|The Exford Hotel in Chinatown is a pub, not a bar - an important distinction to Melbournians\nMelbournians often draw a distinction between 'bars', meaning the small watering holes described above, and 'pubs', which are larger establishments in the usual Australian or British sense of the word. Melbourne's pubs, particularly those in the city and inner suburbs, usually serve restaurant-standard food and a wide range of local and imported beers. Pubs usually offer lunch from approximately noon to 2PM, and reopen their kitchens for dinner from approximately 6-10PM.\n\n### Pubs\n\nGay, lesbian and transgender party goers are welcome everywhere as Melbournians are on the whole very tolerant and welcoming people. Perhaps the one bad thing is that nothing really starts happening until midnight!\n\nThe CBD has a number of pubs, the most famous being the Young and Jackson. Melbourne is also famous for its many trendy bars in the CBD. Most of these, however, are down narrow alleys and streets, and are therefore hard to find unless you know where you are going.\n\nThe inner northern suburbs, such as Collingwood and Fitzroy cater for the young, laid-back, and bohemian crowd. Here you will find lots of live music, cheaper prices, and a relaxed atmosphere. Head for Brunswick and Gertrude Streets in Fitzroy and Smith Street, Collingwood for cafes, bars and live music, while Lygon Street, Carlton has a range of Italian restaurants and cafes with a student vibe, as it's located near the University of Melbourne. Victoria Street, North Richmond is the heart of Melbourne's Vietnamese community, with many cheap and cheerful restaurants serving good food.\n\n### Bars and clubs", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk036", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Drink", "text": "Melbourne nightlife is 24 hours, loud, colourful and anything goes. Door policies can be strict but once inside high quality entertainment is guaranteed. DJ's, live music, artists and beautiful people can be found. There truly is something for everyone and every taste. It has a massive live music scene, with many inner-suburbs pubs catering to many genres, with drink and food specials all week. The key is to find one you like the most!\n\nAlongside its many clubs, Melbourne is also a fast-rising festival city. Global event companies such as ID&T, Global Gathering, Ministry of Sound and Trance Energy have begun taking notice of the city and bringing their events.\n\nChapel Street/Toorak Road in South Yarra and Prahran has the most glamorous bars and clubs. Here, expect high prices, strict dress codes, and beautiful people who want to be seen partying with the best.\nSt. Kilda has a little bit of everything. With its proximity to the beach, it is often regarded as the Melbourne suburb that feels most like Sydney.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk037", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Drink", "text": "The past decade has seen a revival of Melbourne's inner-city bar scene, with dozens of weird and wonderful watering holes opening up within forgotten alleyways and anonymous lanes of the CBD (CBD). Melbourne also has its fair share of stylish places to drink, although the better ones can be hard to find. The theory seems to be: the harder your bar is to find, the more people will talk about it. Secrets are tucked around areas like Prahran, South Yarra and many other areas. However, there are plenty of alleyway bars, once you find one they seem to pop up everywhere you look. Melbourne's clubs often market a members only rule which can upset your more upmarket traveler. The rule is in place to prevent fighting and unappealing groups of men entering a nice club and destroying the atmosphere.\n\nAustralian licensing laws are very similar to those in the UK, i.e. you are not allowed to be drunk on licensed premises. In practice though, Melbourne venues and bouncers draw the line *very* low. Ejection from a premises can be expected for fighting, vomiting, or frequent falling over. Some pubs and clubs are quicker to eject patrons than others, but it's only ever a short walk to another. Licensing is more liberal than what one may be used to, as you can still expect to find a drink past 2AM. This has led to a culture of late-night drinking where some venues won't get busy until some time after 11PM, especially during summer.\n\n### Coffee\n\n250px|thumbnail|Central Melbourne\n\nMelbourne has a long and rich coffee culture beginning with Victorian era coffee palaces and further enhanced by Italian migrants arriving in the aftermath of World War II.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk038", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Drink", "text": "Perhaps the most famous Italian style cafe is Pellegrini's, 66 Bourke St, Melbourne city. Fitzroy is known for funky, bohemian-style cafes. Collins Street features many elegant cafes. Many Italian style cafes are found in Carlton; **Brunetti's** is open late and always packed.\n\nSerious espresso connoisseurs would enjoy visiting St Ali cafe/roastery in South Melbourne, Auction Rooms (Errol St) in North Melbourne, or the Maling Room café in Canterbury.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk039", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|270px|Melbourne Southbank\n\n### Budget\n\nMelbourne's budget accommodation options can be found in two main areas, namely in the CBD and in the seaside suburb of St Kilda. However, outside these two areas, there are also several popular budget options in bohemian Fitzroy, South Melbourne, and Windsor.\n\nFrom January to March during international events such as the Australian Open (January) and the Australian Grand Prix (late March) hostel accommodation is booked out and some hostels raise their prices. Be sure to book ahead.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nAccommodation in this price bracket can mostly be found in the CBD. There are however options scattered throughout the suburbs.\n\n### Splurge\n\nThe CBD remains the main area for this category of accommodation.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk040", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Post\n\nThe main post office in Melbourne's CBD is located at 440 Collins Street. It is the only post office in the CBD open on a Saturday and has a range of services including passport applications, payments and stationary. There are other post offices and storage lockers throughout the CBD. Postage stamps can be purchased at any post office and packaging can also be purchased there or at other shops such as Officeworks, Kmart or Big W. There are some other post offices in the CBD but these have limited operating hours and services.\n\n- Melbourne General Post Office Collins Street West\n\n### Phone\n\nPublic phone booths can be found all around the city and the suburbs. Near stations and post-offices are the usual places to look. International calling cards are also available at convenience stores. Using Telstra payphones are free to make calls and they also have paid Wi-Fi hotspots.\n\nMobile phone coverage within the CBD and surrounds is usually good-to-excellent. 4G and 5G services are available throughout the city, however 3G services are unavailable after late-2024. You will require some identification to purchase a prepaid (PAYG) SIM card, which are sold at most convenience stores, newsagents and supermarkets. This may be requested at time of purchase, and/or time of activation.\n\nThe networks are run by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone with other resellers available, and sometimes at a cheaper price. Shop around online for the most suitable deal if you want to save a few dollars. As is the case throughout Australia, you will need to be identified to access it – and if you're from overseas it's often easier to take your passport into a telco store than try to answer the identification questions online. Lycamobile and Lebara specialise in plans with cheaper international calls.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk041", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Connect", "text": "Melbourne's area code for landline telephones is 03 (internationally dial +613). To make an international direct dial call, the trunk line access code is generally 0011 or simply add a + in front of the number if your phone allows.\n\n### Internet\n\nMelbourne offers free public Wi-Fi in the CBD including at CBD train stations, Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The service can be used for up to 5GB per day and does not require any personal information. Additionally, Internet cafes are dotted throughout the city, especially near the backpacker enclaves of St Kilda and Flinders Street. Speeds are usually excellent and rates range from $2.50–12 per hour, the cheapest usually found in combination market/internet cafes in the Asian parts of town. The following list outlines additional internet services:\n\n- Telstra Air\n\n- mag nation\n\n- HiSpeed Internet Kiosks", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk042", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Connect", "text": "**e:FiftyFive** (*55 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne*) is like a huge basement lounge room that feels more like a bar than an internet cafe. Great DJs, comfortable couches and dirt-cheap $2/hour internet access when you buy a drink attract plenty of travellers and will make writing that email home an enjoyable experience.\n **VA** *(Bourke Street, Melbourne)* is arguably the best of the countless internet/LAN gaming cafes in Melbourne, which is packed full of \"hardcore gamers\" on Sunday afternoons (sponsored competition day). Non-member rates start at $3.50/hour while membership costs a mere $15 (includes $12 credit) and benefits include play offers such as $4/2 hours, $5/3 hours and $6/4 hours, as well as day and night packages.\n **Cydus** *(Victoria Street, North Melbourne)* large range of internet usage services every day and at any time (including most public holidays). Non-member rates start at $3/hour while membership costs $10 (includes 2 hours free play) and membership rates are $2/hour while member offers include \"Endurance Pass\" (5 hours play + $2.80 snack voucher) and \"Survival Pass\" (10 hours play).\n - City Library", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk043", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Connect", "text": "The **State Library** http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/. Offers free internet at many workstations and does not require membership (limited to 15 minutes or 1 hour per session, no session limits). You can get a free membership for access to free wireless web access, however, the wireless access is limited and you may not be able to access some sites and services. Printing facilities are also provided for a fee.\n **Melbourne Central shopping centre** (corner of Swanston and La Trobe St) has free wireless internet access.\n **Australia on Collins shopping centre** (on Collins St) has free wireless internet access.\n **Federation Square** (corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street, outside Flinders Street railway station) is supposedly Australia's largest free outdoor wireless hotspot.\n **Victorian Government Public Wi-Fi** The State Government provides a public wireless network across the city, free of charge.\n - McDonald's", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk044", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Consulates\n\n - China\n\n - Greece\n\n - Iceland\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Japan\n\n - Latvia\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Nepal\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Poland\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Romania\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Spain\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk045", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Australia-wide emergency number is **000**, with the ambulance service, fire department and police being available through this number.\n\n### Walking\n\nIt is important to take care around **tram lines**. Trams are heavy and it can take over 100 metres for a tram to safely stop. Even if a tram has passed, look carefully both ways, as trams will often run nose-to-tail on busy corridors like Swanston Street. Many tram stops further from the CBD often require walking on to the road. There is often traffic around trams, so be careful crossing if running to catch a tram. \nthumb|When trams do not have their own protected lanes, drivers must always give way to them. In a contest between a tram and your car, the tram will always win\n\n### Driving\n\nDriving in Melbourne can be nerve-wracking due to the presence of trams. You may have heard of the infamous \"hook turn\" that requires you to turn right from the left lane. These turns are predominantly in the CBD and become rarer as you head towards the suburbs. If driving, it is illegal to U-turn across tram tracks or pass a tram while the doors are open, and passengers are disembarking. Toll roads will be marked by blue signs with gold text indicating that you will be charged. Any electronic toll collection tag in Australia works on toll roads in Melbourne.\n\n### Public transport\n\nAreas near major public transport stations, such as Flinders Street and Southern Cross, can sometimes become gathering spots for homeless individuals and those affected by drugs or alcohol. Locations like the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street tend to have a higher presence of such individuals. While these areas are generally safe, it is advisable to remain vigilant, as disturbances can occasionally occur.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk046", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrol Melbourne's railway stations from 5PM to the last train, with all stations possessing a 'safety zone' with increased lighting, CCTV cameras and easy access to the red emergency button. Trains also contain buttons in the case of an emergency, while it's a good idea to sit close to the driver while on a train, tram or bus late at night. The public transport network is generally safe, although drug or alcohol affected travellers occasionally give other commuters grief. Areas around railway stations tend to be hang-outs for youth gangs in parts of outer Melbourne, particularly at night. Stay in company, and don't engage.\n\n### Violent crime\n\nMelbourne has few problems with random crime and violence, although some parts of the city are best avoided at night. The CBD, particularly the area around the nightclub and strip club district of King Street, can be a hotspot for alcohol-fuelled violence late at night. Other areas to be cautious around include Chapel Street, and St Kilda, both of which also feature bars and nightclubs. However, you are more likely to be heckled by drunken revellers and street walkers than you are to be actually threatened or randomly attacked. Demonstrating normal safety precautions and sticking to well-lit streets is a good way to avoid trouble.\n\nSome areas of Western and Northern Melbourne have a reputation, generally gained by media reports, of violence. However, if you want to venture out into these areas during the day, there is no exceptional risk.\n\n### Theft", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk047", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If driving a car, beware of car theft or break-in. Keep valuables out of sight when parked, always lock the car and leave the windows up before you leave. If you are waiting in your car, lock the car as well. A police officer will always show ID before asking you to open your door or window.\n\n### Scams\n\nAlthough **scams** are rare in Melbourne, there has been an increase in touts at Melbourne Airport who claim to be Uber drivers or offer cheaper fares into the city. To ensure your safety and avoid overcharging, it's best to use the official rideshare apps or taxi services available at designated pickup zones. Announcements are periodically made by the airport warning of such schemes.\n\nIf you are a traveler or staying in Melbourne to study who appears to be of Asian descent, you might be approached by young individuals or pairs who seem well-to-do. They may ask you to do a survey or enquire about your faith and where you live before inviting you to a social event. Be cautious, as these individuals may be affiliated with cults operating in multiple Australian cities trying to prey on unsuspecting people.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "melbourne::chunk048", "doc_id": "melbourne", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|190px|Beacon Cove Beach, Port Melbourne\nMelbourne is fairly centrally located on the coast of Victoria, and there are many natural and man-made attractions that make for a nice day trip. Another way to visit regional Victoria is utilising the public transport system. Regular train journeys leave from Southern Cross station. Regional attractions include:\n\n### Melbourne outskirts\n\nthumb|190px|South Melbourne Town Hall\nThese places are within an hour's drive of central Melbourne.\n\n Werribee — historic mansion and open-range zoo\n Dandenong Ranges — national park, gardens, historic steam railway\n Wine-tasting in the Yarra Valley, Healesville and the Healesville Sanctuary\n Port Phillip Bay scenic drive and the Mornington Peninsula — the seaside resort locations of Sorrento and Portsea, offering both bayside and surf beaches\n Warburton and Mount Donna Buang — winter sightseeing snow\n\n### Northern Victoria\n\nEchuca-Moama - watersports on the lake\nMount Buller — skiing and sightseeing.\nthumb|Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park\n\n### Eastern Victoria\n\nWilson's Promontory\nPhillip Island - Scenic parks, beaches, and a penguin watching area.\n\n### Western Victoria\n\nThe Victorian Goldfields — Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Maldon.\nGrampians National Park.\nSouth West Coast — Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, and Torquay. Some of the best surf beaches in the world.\nGreat Ocean Road, with its many scenic vistas. Drive from Torquay to Warrnambool, with popular stops in Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell to see the famous Twelve Apostles.", "word_count": 228}
diff --git a/corpus/melbourne/metadata.json b/corpus/melbourne/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..12b88cadf0017787046c7c9c0e01e6ca367738fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/melbourne/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "melbourne",
+ "title": "Melbourne",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Melbourne",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Victoria (state)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Victoria (state)",
+ "Werribee",
+ "Dandenong Ranges",
+ "Yarra Valley",
+ "Healesville",
+ "Mornington Peninsula",
+ "Warburton",
+ "Echuca-Moama",
+ "Mount Buller",
+ "Wilsons Promontory",
+ "Phillip Island",
+ "Victorian Goldfields",
+ "Bendigo",
+ "Ballarat",
+ "Castlemaine",
+ "Maldon (Victoria)",
+ "Grampians National Park",
+ "South West Coast (Victoria)",
+ "Geelong",
+ "Torquay (Victoria)",
+ "Great Ocean Road (itinerary)",
+ "Torquay (Victoria)",
+ "Warrnambool",
+ "Lorne",
+ "Apollo Bay",
+ "Port Campbell",
+ "Geelong",
+ "Adelaide",
+ "Albury-Wodonga",
+ "Seymour (Victoria)",
+ "Geelong",
+ "Warrnambool",
+ "Traralgon",
+ "Warragul"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 11374,
+ "listing_count": 31,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 49,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/mexico-city/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/mexico-city/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2e819a2e676f4c31acbfe99af84f71e198e6b353
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mexico-city/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk000", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Mexico City** (Spanish: *México*, *Ciudad de México* or *CDMX*) is the capital of the Mexican Republic, seat of the federal powers, and the most populous city in the country.\n\nThe city center is built on the ruins of the Aztec capital *Tenochtitlan*, and later came to be the capital of New Spain, which included much of North America. The city has grown fast in the 20th century, and is today North America's largest city (and the world's largest Spanish-speaking city) with 9.2 million inhabitants in the city proper, and 22 million in the urban area (in 2020).\n\nWith an extension of 1,485 km² and a maximum height of 3,930 masl, Mexico City has established itself as one of the most important financial and cultural centers of the American continent and of the entire globe by receiving distinguished recognition as the #1 Place to go in 2016, granted by The New York Times; and World Design Capital in 2018, awarded by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).\n\nThree of Mexico's many World Heritage Sites are in the capital: the colonial-era Centro Histórico, sites related to architect Luis Barragán in Chapultepec and the university campus in Coyoacán. Several more can be visited as a daytrip.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk001", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Districts", "text": "The city is administratively divided into 16 *alcaldías* (boroughs) which are in turn subdivided into *colonias* (neighborhoods), of which there are around 2150. However, it is better for visitors to think of the city in terms of districts, grouped by shared history and clusters of attractions. In addition to the most central districts, many older towns (like Coyoacán, San Angel and Tlalpan) merged into the urban sprawl while retaining some of their original and unique characteristics.\n\nOther areas of Mexico City include:\n **La Villa de Guadalupe** - In the borough of Gustavo A. Madero in the northern part of the city. Home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, perhaps the holiest Catholic site in the Americas. Draws a large crowd of pilgrims from around the world every day.\n **Magdalena Contreras** - Sometimes called the city's \"green lungs\", this area in the southwest of Mexico City is heavily forested with eco-parks to the south and about 250,000 residents in the northern urban areas near the Periferico. This area lies west of Coyoacan.\n **Iztapalapa** - Largely impoverished area in eastern part of the city that nevertheless has a number of historical and cultural sites and a famous Easter celebration\n **Milpa Alta** - Rural borough in the southeast of Mexico City. Famous for its mole production and festival, nopal cactus fields, and the San Andrés convent in Mixquic.\n **Interlomas** - Residential and shopping area at the West of the City\n **Azcapotzalco** - Mainly residential and industrial area in the northwest of the city. Home to the Parque Bicentenario, built in a former oil refinery, and the Arena Ciudad de México, a modern concert and sports venue.\n **Tláhuac** - A former island between the Lakes of Xochimilco and Chalco. Now famous for its production of pottery and an alternative embarkation point to see the ancient gardens and canals that used fill the Valley of Mexico.", "word_count": 313}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk002", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Angel de la Independencia in [[Mexico City/Zona Rosa|Zona Rosa]]\n\nThe greater Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the world's largest and the largest city in North America, with 22 million people living in the metropolitan area in 2020. It sits in the Valley of Mexico. It is shaped roughly like an oval of about 60 km by 40 km with large parts of it built on the dry bed of Lake Texcoco, and surrounded on three sides by tall mountains and volcanoes such as the Ajusco, the Popocatepetl and the Iztaccihuatl. Mexico City proper (with an estimated population of 9.2 million) is the country's capital, and since 2016 has been a \"federal entity\" with the same powers as the states of Mexico, though still separate from the states. Confusingly, the rest of the metropolitan area extends beyond Mexico City into the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City on the west, north and east, and Hidalgo further north. Practically speaking, Mexico City refers to the city proper and is the area where tourists will spend all or most of their time.\n\nThe city center is above mean sea level, and some outlying areas reach up to . This is far higher than any metropolitan area in the United States or Europe, and some people have breathing difficulties because of this. If you live closer to sea level, you may experience difficulty breathing due to altitude and pollution. Air quality has, however, been improved in the last few years.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk003", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|Skyscrapers along Reforma\nMexico City is the wealthiest city in all of Latin America, with a GDP per capita of US$27,000, and has the lowest poverty rate in all of Mexico. More than a third of the total Mexican economy is concentrated here. Most of the country's large and multinational corporations have headquarters in the city, mainly in the Polanco and Santa Fe districts.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|275px| Mexico City Cathedral in the [[Mexico City/Centro|Centro]]\nThe origins of Mexico City date back to 1325, when the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan was founded and later destroyed in 1521 by Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes. The city served as the capital of the Vice-royalty of New Spain until the outbreak of the Independence War in 1810. The city became the capital of the Mexican Empire in 1821 and of the Mexican Republic in 1823 after the abdication of Agustin de Iturbide. During the Mexico-US war in 1847, the city was invaded by the American army. In 1864 the French invaded Mexico and the emperor Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg ruled the country from the Castillo de Chapultepec and ordered to build Avenue of the Empress (today's Paseo de la Reforma promenade).", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk004", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "Porfirio Díaz assumed power in 1876 and left an outstanding mark in the city with many European styled buildings such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Palacio Postal. Diaz was overthrown in 1910 with the Mexican Revolution and this marked a radical change in the city's architecture. The 20th century saw the uncontrolled growth of the city beyond the Centro Historico with the influx of millions of migrants from the rest of the country. In 1968, the city was host to the Olympic Games, which saw the construction of the Azteca Stadium, the Palacio de los Deportes, the Olympic Stadium and other sports facilities. In 1985 the city suffered an 8.1 Magnitude earthquake. Between 10,000 and 40,000 people were killed. 412 buildings collapsed and another 3,124 buildings were seriously damaged in the city.\n\n### Climate\n\nMexico City has a monsoon-influenced temperate oceanic climate with five seasons, Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter. Spring months are mild and sunny, while the summer months warm and humid. The monsoon season lasts from June to September. Generally it consists of sunny mornings followed by cloudy afternoons with light to heavy rains. Dawn in the autumn and winter get really cold, but with an amazingly clear sky.\n\nTemperatures range from 0°C in late October, November, December and January mornings, to 32°C in March, April and May during mid-day highs. Mornings and nights may be cold, bring a good jacket in winter to stay warm.\n\n### Air pollution", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk005", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Pollution over Mexico City\nMany prospective travelers will be aware of Mexico City's somewhat dated notoriety for having terrible air pollution. The city sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, which results in poor air circulation and a tendency for air pollutants to stagnate over the city. Due to the extremely rapid pace of urbanization in the 20th century, little consideration was given to environmental planning. By 1987, air quality had deteriorated so much that one day thousands of birds appeared dead on the sidewalks of the city. Environmentalists attributed this to air pollution. This shocking event encouraged authorities to implement measures to improve air quality. Most heavy industries (glass, car and steel factories) and oil refineries were relocated outside of the city and unleaded vehicle fuels were introduced.\n\nToday, the air quality is much better. Ozone and carbon dioxide levels are falling, and for most visitors, air pollution is no longer a major concern. For more detailed coverage of Mexico City's air pollution, see the Stay safe section. There still is a noticeable difference in air quality between the dry season (November to March) and the rainy season from June to September, with air quality being best during rainy season.\n\n### People", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk006", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "With a population of more than 20 million in the greater metropolitan area, you can expect to find all kinds of people in Mexico City, in terms of racial, sexual, political, cultural and wealth diversity. Citizens are mostly Mestizo (people of mixed European and Amerindian racial background) and white. Amerindian people constitute less than one percent of the city's population, but there are some who are still moving to the city in search of opportunities. There are significant minorities of descendants of immigrants from Latin America, the Middle East and East Asia, as well as smaller ones from other regions. As elsewhere in Latin America, socioeconomic status tends to be highly correlated with ethnicity in Mexico City: by and large, the upper and middle classes have more European ancestry than the poor and the lower middle classes.\n\nThe city, like the rest of the country, has a very unequal distribution of wealth that can be characterized geographically, generally speaking, as follows: the middle and upper classes tend to live in the west and south of the city (concentrated in the delegaciones of Benito Juarez, Miguel Hidalgo, Coyoacan, Tlalpan, Cuajimalpa and Alvaro Obregon). The east of the city, most notably Iztapalapa (the most populous delegacion) is much poorer. The same applies to municipalities of greater Mexico City (Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Chalco, Chimalhuacán). Although there are pockets of poverty everywhere (and often side by side with the shiny-glitzy condos of the nouveau riche, like in Santa Fe in Cuajimalpa) and pockets of wealth in the East (such as Lomas Estrella in Iztapalapa), it is easily noticeable that as one travels east the buildings begin to look more shabby and the people look increasingly browner—a testimony to Mexico's heritage of racial and socioeconomic inequality.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk007", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since it is a big city, it is the home of large foreign communities, like Cubans, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese, Chilean, Lebanese, and more recently Argentines and Koreans. Mexico City has a number of ethnic districts with restaurants and shops that cater to groups such as Chinese and Lebanese Mexicans, or gringos from the United States. It is the temporary home to many temporary migrants too, working here for the many multinational companies operating in Mexico while planning to return to their homeland, or trying to get their feet under them while moving on to somewhere more permanent. Foreigners of virtually any ethnic background may not get a second look if they dress conservatively and attempt to speak Spanish.\n\nMexico City is one of the most liberal cities in Latin America. Contrary to other Latin American capitals, it has a political orientation far to the left of the rest of the country. The centre-left PRD has governed the city continuously since its citizens were allowed to elect its mayor and representatives in 1997. It has liberal laws on abortion, prostitution, euthanasia and was the first jurisdiction in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage (in December 2009). As such, this is generally a gay friendly city, particularly in the Zona Rosa District, and is generally friendly to foreigners and immigrants. *See LGBT Mexico City*\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk008", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although Mexico City is considered an expensive city by Mexican standards, your trip budget will depend on your lifestyle and way of traveling, as you can find cheap and expensive prices for almost everything. Public transportation is very cheap and there are many affordable places to eat. On the other hand, you can find world-class hotels and fancy restaurants with higher prices. A daily backpacker budget for transportation and meals should range between M$150 and 300 (pesos) a day, using public transport and eating at street stands, while a more comfortable budget should range between M$300 and 500 a day using private taxis (*taxi de sitio*) and eating at decent sit-down restaurants. For those with more expendable cash, you can find plenty of outlets for your dollars, euros, pounds, yen, etc.\n\n### Orientation\n\nMexico City is divided up into 16 boroughs similar to those in New York, which in turn are divided into *colonias* (neighborhoods), of which there are about 2150. Knowing what colonia you're going to is essential to getting around, and almost all locals will know where the main colonias are (there are some colonias with duplicate or very similar names). As with many very large cities, the structure is relatively decentralized, with several parts of the city having their own miniature downtown areas. However, the real downtown areas are Centro, the old city center, and Zona Rosa, the new business and entertainment district.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk009", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "The address system is fairly simple and has the street name, house number, colonia (neighborhood), borough, city, state and postal code. Many are confused by the fact that the house number comes after the street name, unlike in the US and many other countries where the number precedes the street. Sometimes addresses are instead given based on an intersection (\"esquina de/con ...\"), or on a street where a place is located and the two streets between which it is located (\"... entre calles ... y ...\"). It is good to point out that streets can frequently change names, long avenues are split into sections (such as Insurgentes into Insurgentes Norte, Centro and Sur), and street numbering is not always in order, especially in poorer neighbourhoods.\n\nIn Mexico City, streets within a neighbourhood often follow a certain theme, such as Latin American countries in the Centro Histórico, European cities in the Zona Rosa or intellectuals in Polanco. A typical address could be something like this: Colima 15, Colonia Roma Norte, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México, Distrito Federal, 06760. Here, \"México\" refers to the city and not the country. The order is pretty standard except for the position of the postal code.\n\n### Photography\n\nFor the avid photographer, there are a few pointers to keep in mind. The city is paranoid about cameras and especially about tripods. You might be asked to delete pictures, even if they were taking from a public space. You are not allowed to use a tripod in any ticketed place, such as museums, the metro stations, and architectural ruins. You will be politely asked to hold your camera in your hands. Apparently, it has something to do with being a professional, but it is non-negotiable.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk010", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "Memory cards can easily be found at several locations, including at Radio Shack, Office Depot, Office Max, Best Buy or Wal-Mart. Prices tend to be on the high end, but they are still affordable. You could also try some of the places that are dedicated to selling photographic equipment, they are easily identifiable by the street signs for well known brand names. It is not unusual, however, for high-end camera retailers to offer few if any accessories.\n\nFor people who love to do street photography, a good place to start is in front of the Bellas Artes square, during afternoons. There is a smörgåsbord of faces cutting across the square and perching on one of the benches for an hour that will easily give you access to photography fodder. Many urchins and ethnic street dwellers have learned to ask for money before allowing you to shoot them. Sympathize and accept it as it is worth it.\n\nSome museums, like the Museum of National History in the Chapultepec, charge an extra fee for those with video cameras. Also in most museums, flash photography is not permitted.\n\n### Language\n\nSpanish is Mexico’s official language, but at the majority of hotels and tour services the personnel also speak English. As the historic center of Aztec culture, there are still pockets of indigenous Nahuatl speakers. The Milpa Alta area is where you would most likely encounter people speaking the Nahuatl language.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk011", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### {{marker | type=go | name=Benito Juarez International Airport | alt=AICM, Aeropuerto Internacional Ciudad de Mexico | lat=19.429189 | long=-99.081982 }} ({{IATA|MEX}})\n\n*Main article: Benito Juárez International Airport*\n\nMost travellers arrive to Mexico City by air, to Benito Juárez International Airport, located in the eastern part of the city. This is the most convenient airport to most parts of the Mexico City area. From the airport, downtown hotels can be as close as 15 minutes by taxi if traffic is light (which it rarely is). A bus terminal inside the airport makes for easy connections to nearby cities.\n\n#### {{marker | type=go | name=Felipe Ángeles International Airport ({{IATA|NLU}}) | alt=Aeropuerto Santa Lucia | lat=19.734997 | long= -99.026435}}\n\nthumb|Terminal at AIFA (NLU)\nWith brand new facilities for commercial flights, including modern luggage scanners which don't require passengers to remove laptops or liquids, this airport opened to the public in Spring 2022. The airport has long been the Mexican Air Force's busiest facility. It has historically been known as Santa Lucia Military Base (and still operates as an active military base), but is now part of the region's transportation solution to alleviate congestion at MEX. Like most airports in Mexico, nobody actually uses the long official name of an obscure government figure, but rather, the Chilangos simply call this airport \"Santa Lucia\", or often by the abbreviation \"AIFA\" (as opposed to \"AICM\", which denotes Benito Juarez/Mexico City International).\n\nWhile constructing the new passenger facilities, workers uncovered several woolly mammoth remains, which are now housed in the beautiful new **Museo Paleontologico Santa Lucia Quinametzen** (inside the airport facility). If you have a spare hour or two between flights, a visit would be time well spent.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk012", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "NLU is served by Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus for destinations throughout Mexico, and by Venezuelan carrier Conviasa for flights to Caracas. Flying to this airport could (maybe) save you some money over flying to MEX. Skyscanner and Google Flights don't include the Felipe Ángeles airport if you look for flights to/from *Mexico City*. Instead you need to specifically type in this airport. kiwi.com does include this airport when typing in *Mexico City*. When booking flights to Mexico City on other sites (such as Kayak), be aware that they sometimes show results that mix NLU and MEX arrivals and departures, so check your reservations before ordering an Uber to the wrong airport.\n\nNLU is the main hub for the newly re-launched Mexicana airlines, which offers flights to major destinations throughout Mexico. (More flights and routes will be offered after December 3, 2023 when the new Tulum International Airport () opens as the second hub for Mexicana.\n\n##### Ground transportation\n\nLike most outlying airports, NLU is not as convenient for travelers as MEX - allow at least 90 minutes from the airport to downtown.The airport is 49 km (30 miles) from the city and only limited public transportation is available. As of June 2024, there is a train station, but it doesn't seem to have been finished yet. Ride share services don't seem to be available, according to various traveller reports, but there are taxi stands which will get you into the centre of town for about M$750 (fixed price).", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk013", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "'''Vivabus''', will take you to the Central de Autobuses del Norte (North) and Central de Autobuses del Sur Terminal Taxqueña (South) bus terminals in the city. These buses are your fastest and easist option, but their departures are not regularly timed so make sure you check the online timetables to make sure they suit your flight.\n\nA bus station in the main terminal is served by ADO, Futura and Conexion buses. Buses from AIFA go to AICM (16 daily departures), Autobuses del Norte (4 daily departures), and the city of Pachuca (5 daily departures). Each of these destinations is about 1 hour from AIFA and fares cost about M$150 (Oct 2025).", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk014", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you want to take regular public transport into Mexico City, it'll take you about 2 hours - although you could always book a ride share service at one of the stops along the way (luggage space on the buses is limited, and large luggage is forbidden on the Metro). Look for the Terminal de Pasajeros bus stop where the **Mexibus** will take you to **Ojo de Agua** (about 40 min), where you then have to change to another Mexibus for **Ciudad Azteca** (try to get an express, and *do not* get one that terminates at Central de Abastos). At Ciudad Azteca you can then change to the **Metro** (line B) - just follow the signs through the shopping mall and go over the bridge. The Mexibus requires a separate card for ticketing - the MI card for Metro and city buses won't work. These cards cost M$19 and include M$9 worth of credit - M$28 in exact change will get you the card and on the two buses. The ticket machines are *cash only* and don't give change, although having 2 pesos leftover on your card if you only have 30 available isn't the end of the world.\n\nThe airport is relatively close to Teotihuacán (about 40 minutes' drive), so if you only have small luggage you could get a taxi (or Uber from Ojo de Agua) here and explore it on your way to the city.\n\n#### {{marker | type=go | name= Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport ({{IATA|TLC}}) | alt=Aeropuerto Toluca | lat=19.338047 | long= -99.571044 }}", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk015", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "This airport, known locally as *Toluca International Airport*, is in the city of Toluca 50 km southwest of Mexico City. There are very limited flights into Toluca. As of 2024, there are no international flights to Toluca. Domestic flights serve 8 destinations, including Tijuana, Monterrey, and Cancun.\n\nReaching the Toluca airport from the West of Mexico City (such as Santa Fe) is easy, but it can be time-consuming to do so from the rest of Mexico City.\n\n**Caminante** offers the best transportation from and to Toluca's airport. It has the biggest fleet of taxis at the best price and it also includes deluxe Mercedes Benz vans. These taxis cost M$600 to Santa Fe and M$650 (April 2022) to the metro station Observatorio.\n\n**Viva Aerobus** offers airport transport through its Viva Transfer shuttle on all flights to Toluca. The price is M$76 (April 2022) from the metro station Observatorio.\n **Tren Insurgente** is a new intercity rail system connecting Mexico City with Toluca and western Mexico State. As of early 2024, the trains are operating in Mexico State (with a station for Toluca International Airport that includes shuttle service to the terminal), however the line's extension through Mexico City to the Observatorio station is not yet open.\n\n#### Other airports\n\nMEX remains the best bet for most passengers to or from Mexico City. But NLU and TLC might work better for some travelers. Depending on your overall trip, it might also be worth considering flying to nearby cities as Puebla (), Querétaro () or Cuernavaca (), but reaching Mexico City from these places could be quite time-consuming and tiresome.\n\n### By carpooling", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk016", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can have a look for shared rides on Blablacar. These are around 30-50% cheaper than first-class intercity buses. Prices are approximately as of January 2022:\n• Cuernavaca – M$80\n• Puebla – M$120\n• Querétaro – M$190\n• Morelia – M$290\n\n### By bus\n\n*See also Bus travel in Mexico.*\n\nBeing the national transportation hub there are various bus lines going into and out of Mexico City in all directions, from/to around the country at varying distances. Regional bus companies serve the surrounding states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla and Guerrero while nation-wide bus lines come from all over the nation to as far as the U.S border in the north and the Guatemalan border to the south. Most foreigners coming into the country would most likely fly in but it's also possible to travel to Mexico City by bus from various cities in the U.S. and from anywhere in the Central American isthmus.\n\nThe city has four major bus stations based on the compass points. They are:\n \n \n \n - Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente (East)\n\nThere are many other smaller bus stations, which serve fewer destinations (mostly regional) but can be very useful if you wish to avoid congestion or are traveling to/from the outer parts of Mexico City. These include:\n\n- Aeropuerto (Mexico City Airport)\n\n- Cárcel de Mujeres\n\n- Indios Verdes\n\nCaseta Chalco\n Coapa\n Ecatepec (Las Américas)\n Ixtapaluca\n Tlalnepantla\n\nA list of long-distance bus companies is in the article Bus travel in Mexico.\n\n### By train\n\n#### Ferrocarril Suburbano", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk017", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "The *Ferrocarril Suburbano* is a commuter rail system that connects downtown Mexico City with northern Mexico State municipalities. Service is provided on the Buenavista-Teotihuacan line (Blue), and the Buenavista-Cuauhtitlan line (Red). A third line (Green) connects Nezahualcyotl to Chalco. Communities served include Tultitlán, San Rafael, and Tlanepantla. Buses connect rail stations to nearby neighborhoods. Plans are underway to build a rail line connecting Ferrocarril Suburbano Line 1 with the AIFA/Santa Lucia Airport (NLU). Fares cost either M$11.00 for short trips or M$25.50 for long trips (Jan 2026). You must buy a rechargeable fare card to ride the train and fare cards for the Metro or the Tren Ligero do not work with Ferrocarril Suburbano (you have to buy a separate card). A rechargeable card costs M$30, M$17 of which is an initial credit for fares. When you run out of money on your card, use the machines at rail stations to add funds. Trains run from 05ː00 to midnight on weekdays (M-F), from 06ː00 to midnight on Saturdays, and from 07ː00 to midnight on Sundays and holidays. Trains depart as frequently as every 6 minutes during rush hour (*hora pica*) or as seldom as every 15 minutes on less popular routes on weekends.\n\n#### El Insurgente", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk018", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Insurgente train leaving Zinacantepec station in Toluca\n*El Insurgente* is a new intercity passenger train between Toluca and Mexico City. The 57 km route includes four stations in Mexico State and three in Mexico City. The **Metepec** station in Toluca provides shuttle bus connections to the Toluca airport (). Stations in Mexico City include **Observatorio**, **Santa Fe**, and **Quiroga de Vasco**. The Observatorio station is the terminus of El Insurgente. It offers connections to Metro Line 1 and Line 12, and the Terminal de Autobuses Poniente. The rail route includes a 4.6 km tunnel beneath the Sierra de las Cruces mountain. Quiroga de Vasco station connects to Cablebus route 3.\n\nEl Insurgente takes 45 minutes to travel between Toluca and Observatorio. A one-way ticket costs M$15. Trains operate daily between 06:00 and 23:00.\n\n#### Rail development\n\nTwo new passenger rail lines are under construction:\n **Tren Mexico-Pachuca** - five stations in Mexico State and four in Hidalgo, The route begins at Buenaventura in Mexico City and ends in Pachuca. The train will include a station stop for Mexico City's AIFA airport (NLU). Construction began in early 2025 and it is expected to be operational in early 2027.\n **Tren Mexico-Queretaro** - 225 km rail line with three main stations: Buenaventura in downtown Mexico City, San Juan del Rio, and Querétaro, construction began in 2025 and the train is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2029.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk019", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Mexico City is a huge place, but driving is definitely not a way to see it even if tourist attractions are scattered throughout the city. There are several public transport options.\n The city government operates the Metro and Metrobús bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which are cheap and reliable but can be very crowded during rush hour. It also operates a light rail line, RTP bus system and electric trolleybuses. \n There are plenty of franchised private buses, minibuses and vans, known as peseros and combis, which are less reliable and safe but reach more destinations. In the metropolitan area, there is a commuter train line and the Mexibús bus rapid transit system, but most destinations are only served by private minibuses and vans. \n There are thousands of taxis, painted in white and magenta, and several ride-hailing services with surprisingly cheap rates.\n\nIf you get lost and are far away from your hotel, hop into a *pesero* (mini bus) or bus that takes you to a Metro station (look for the sign with the stylized metro \"M\" in the front window). Using the wall maps, you can get back to a more familiar place (such as *Zocalo* or *Bellas Artes*). If it's after midnight, taking a taxi is your best bet.\n\n### By metro\n\nthumb|Mexico City Metro\nThe *Sistema de Transporte Colectivo*, known as the '''Metro''', is one of the largest and most patronized subway systems in the world, with 12 lines that measure more than and carry 4.4 million people every day. The metro is relatively quick and efficient, especially as an alternative to taxis during rush hours when the streets are essentially parking lots.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk020", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Operating hours are from 05:00 to 00:00 on weekdays (starts at 06:00 on Saturday and 07:00 on Sunday). A last train leaves every terminal station at midnight. The metro trains run every couple of minutes, so if you just miss it, you won't have long to wait until another arrives.\n\nIt gets crowded, particularly lines 1, 2 and 3 and during the morning (07:00-09:00) and afternoon (17:00-19:00) rush hours: trains are often filled to significantly over capacity, and sometimes it will be hot and uncomfortable. It can get loud in the trains due to the noise of the wheels and due to conversation, vendors or people blasting their music.\n\nThe Metro is quite safe, but there are a few incidences of pickpocketing every day. Keep your belongings close to you; if you have bags, close them, keep them in sight and you won't have any problems.\n\n#### Fares\n\nOne trip with unlimited transfers within the metro system costs M$5 (Jan 2025).\n\nMost of the network supports payment by contactless debit or credit card, though foreign cards may not be accepted. Alternatively, you can buy a multi-use rechargeable smart card for M$15, and load or reload it as needed. These smart cards can be used in all of the public transit network, with the exception of private buses. (As of March 2025, paper tickets are no longer available, and the ticket machines have been removed.) It is not uncommon for small groups to share the same card, passing through the turnstiles and tapping the card reader each time. You may still see families and people who may not have a card at the turnstiles asking passerbys to allow them to use their card, in exchange for cash.\n\n#### Metro lines", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk021", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Metro system map\nEntire maps of the Metro system are posted around ticket booths and on platforms, but not always inside trains. Neighborhood maps around every station are also available near the ticket booths.\n Line 1 (pink) runs through many tourist hot spots, such as the Centro Histórico (Salto del Agua, Isabel la Católica and Pino Suárez), the Chapultepec Forest (Chapultepec), Condesa and Roma neighborhoods (Insurgentes and Sevilla) and the West (Observatorio) and East (San Lázaro) Bus Stations.\n Line 2 (blue) runs through the Centro Histórico (Allende, Zócalo and Bellas Artes) and reaches the South Bus Station (Tasqueña).\n Line 3 (green) runs near Coyoacán (Coyoacán and Miguel Ángel de Quevedo) and also near the University City (Copilco and Ciudad Universitaria).\n If traveling to and from the airport, you'll want to use Line 5 (yellow) to connect to the Mexico City International Airport (Terminal Aérea), and not Boulevard Puerto Aéreo of line 1, which is 1 km away but is still colloquially called \"Aeropuerto\". The North Bus station is also served by Line 5 at Autobuses del Norte.\n Line 6 (red) runs east–west through the north of the city and passes by the Basílica de Guadalupe (La Villa - Basílica).\n Line 7 (orange) runs through many touristic spots such as the Chapultepec Forest (Auditorio) and the Polanco neighborhood (Polanco).\n Line 8 (green) crosses the Centro Histórico north-south (Salto del Agua, San Juan de Letrán, Bellas Artes and Garibaldi).\n Line 9 (brown) runs near the Condesa neighborhood (Chilpancingo).\n\n#### Using the metro", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk022", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Stations usually have food stalls inside and outside the entrances, and all have city-sponsored exhibits and artwork on display, so even if you don't have anywhere to go, the Metro is good for a look around and can be regarded as a tourist attraction in itself. If you missed the food stalls getting on the train, people selling all kinds of things are often available in the trains as well.\n\nAlthough the Metro lacks informational signs in English, the system was designed with illiteracy in mind, so finding your way around should not be a problem. Lines are defined by number but also by a color, and that color runs as a thematic band across the entire station and along the entire route, so you always know what line you are on. Stations are identified by name but also by a pictorial icon that represents that area in some way. Some of the pictorial icons only make sense if you have some capacity with languages other than Spanish, such as the icon for Chapultepec being a grasshopper, since Chapultepec translates to Grasshopper Hill in Nahuatl.\n\nHere are a few of the commonly-used Metro signs translated into English:\n *Taquilla* - Ticket booth\n *Entrada* - Entrance\n *Salida* - Exit\n *No Pase* - Do not enter. You'll still see many people passing through in order to walk less though.\n *Andenes* - Train platforms\n *Correspondencia* - Line transfer, marked with a \"C\" sign with the same outline as the metro station icons.\n *Dirección* - Direction you are heading inside a line: one of the two terminal stations.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk023", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Each platform has a large sign indicating towards which direction that train heads. For example, if you are travelling on Line 1 from Insurgentes to Pino Suárez stations, you are heading in the direction of the Pantitlán terminus (\"Dirección Pantitlán\"). On your return trip, you would be heading in the direction of the Observatorio terminus (\"Dirección Observatorio\").\n\nAs you enter a Metro station, look for the ticket booth. You may buy a smart card at the ticket booths, by asking for a *tarjeta*. There may be a minimum amount for your initial balance. You can ask for a recharge (*recargar*) at any ticket window to supplement your card's balance. If you don't speak Spanish, it might be easier to buy a card at the machines that can be found at a few major metro stations as well as at Metrobús and Tren Ligero stations, rather than in a Metro station ticket booth. Some machines only support recharging smart cards and do not sell them.\n\nOnce you have your card, go through the turnstiles. The stiles are clearly marked for exit or entry but if you are confused, follow the crowd. Put your card against the card reader above. Your remaining balance will be shown. Past the turnstiles, signs that tell you where to go depending on your direction within the line are usually clearly marked, as are signs that tell you where to transfer to a different line. There is no standard station layout, but they are all designed to facilitate vast amounts of human traffic, so following the crowd works well, as long as you double check the signs to make sure the crowd is taking you in the same direction.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk024", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "On the platform, try to stand near the edge. During rush hours when it can get pretty crowded, there is sometimes a mad rush on and off the train. Although for the most part people are respectful and usually let departing passengers off first, train doors are always threatening to close and that means you need to be moderately aggressive if you don't want to get left behind. If you're traveling in a group, this could mean having to travel separately. At the ends of the platform, the train is usually less crowded, so you could wait there, but during rush hours some busier stations reserve those sections of platform exclusively for women and children for their safety. If this is the case, there will be a police officer blocking the way.\n\nThe trains are usually crowded places throughout the day. It's considered good manners to offer your seat to the aged, pregnant or disabled, as all cars have clearly marked handicap seats. In keeping with the mad rush on and off the train, people will move toward the exits before the train stops, so let them through and feel free to do the same when you need to (a *con permiso* helps, but body language speaks the loudest here). You may see people walking through the carriages announcing their wares for sale or performing for money. Act as if you are used to them (that is, ignore them, unless they need to pass you).", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk025", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Women have complained of being groped on extremely crowded trains; this is not a problem on designated women's wagons, or any other time than rush hour. If theft or any other sort of harassment do occur, you can stop the train and attract the attention of the authorities by pulling on alarms near the doors, which are labeled *señal de alarma*.\n\nWhen exiting, follow the crowd through signs marked *Salida*. Many stations have multiple exits to different streets (or different sides of streets, marked with a cardinal direction) and should have posted road maps that show the immediate area with icons for banks, restaurants, parks and so forth. Use these to orient yourself and figure out where you need to go. A good tip is to remember what side of the tracks you are on, these are marked on such maps with a straight line the color of the metro line you are traveling.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Mexico City Microbus\nThere are several kinds of buses. The fastest and nicest are the BRT (bus rapid transit) buses discussed in the next section, \"Metrobus and Mexibus\". Another good option for travelers are the full-sized buses operated by the Mexico City Government known as **RTP** and **Ecobús**. Regular RTP routes cost M$2 anywhere you go, while Express RTP routes cost M$4 and the Ecobús costs M$5. Most buses have coin boxes, in which case you should have the **exact fare** (or be willing to deposit more than your fare) and put the money in the box. If there isn't a coin box, give the money to the driver. RTP buses are orange and green, while Ecobús buses are all green.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk026", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Another kind of buses are known as **microbuses** or **peseros**. These buses are privately run and come in small and bigger sizes. Newer peseros look like regular buses but are painted in white and purple, while older ones are ominous looking and painted in green and grey. Smaller peseros cost M$4 for shorter trips, M$4.50 for 6–12 km trips and M$5 for trips longer than 12 km. Full-sized private buses are M$5 for shorter trips, and M$6 for longer trips.\n\nAll buses are supposed to stop at bus stops, but microbuses are usually willing to stop anywhere as long as there are no police nearby. In the inner city, bus stops are usually small bus shelters with metal seats. In other areas, they might be unmarked and you can reasonably assume that a bus will stop just before a big intersection. Routes are also very complex and flexible, so be sure to ask someone, perhaps the driver, if the bus even goes to your destination (\"va a ...?\"), before getting on. Also, though the locals hang off the sides and out the doors, it is generally not recommended for novices. Riding BRT and RTP buses is safer and more comfortable than the private franchised and smaller microbuses, which are more prone to robbery and often drive aggressively. All buses display signs on their windshields which tell major stops they make, so if you want to take a bus to a metro station, you can just wait for a bus that has a sign with an **M** followed by the station name.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk027", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses can be packed during rush hours, and you have to pay attention to your stops (buses make very short stops if there's just one person getting off, so be ready), but they are very practical when your route aligns with a large avenue. There's usually a button above or close to the rear door to signal that you're getting off; if there isn't one, it's not working, or you can't get to it, shouting *Bajan!* (pronounced \"BAH-han\") in a loud and desperate voice usually works.\n\nMoovit and Google Maps show you a way through the city. Both cover the buses and the metro trains. Moovit has more bus lines and bus stops covered.\n\n### By Metrobús and Mexibús\n\nthumb|Mexico City Metrobus at Paseo de la Reforma\nThe **Metrobús** is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that operates seven routes (líneas) in dedicated lanes along Insurgentes, Eje 4 Sur, Eje 1 Poniente (Cuauhtémoc/Vallejo), Eje 3 Oriente, Eje 5 Norte Avenues, and Ave Paseo de la Reforma. Line 1 is convenient for the Condesa/Roma area, Line 3 for Del Valle and the Centro Histórico and Line 4 has a route to/from the airport (with stops at terminals 1 and 2) that passes through the Centro Histórico. The Metrobús is safe but can be crowded.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk028", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most routes cost M$6 (Jan 2025) to ride, while buses to/from the airport cost M$30 (Nov 2021). In order to ride, you need a refillable smart card that must be bought in advance (M$16, including one fare). These cards can be used at the Metro and Tren Ligero as well. Lines 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 have enclosed stations with turnstiles where you pay. There are card vending machines at these stations. Lines 4 and 7 have regular bus stops and you pay when boarding the bus. Some stops have ticket machines but otherwise these can be bought/recharged at convenience stores along the route. If you are just arriving and want to take the Metrobús from the airport, you can buy the card at the 7-Eleven shops in both terminals.\n\nThe Metrobús has stops approximately every 500 m. Expect Line 1 to be crowded around the clock and other Lines to be crowded during rush hour, but it's a great way to move around very rapidly. There are branches in each route, buses that take multiple lines and buses that do not go all the way from terminal to terminal, so you must check the correct door to take the bus in your direction, as well as the bus' billboard before boarding to see which is the last stop they will visit. There are reserved boarding areas at the front of every bus (indicated on the platforms) for women, the handicapped and the elderly.\n\nThe **Mexibús** is a similar system covering areas of the State of Mexico (in the metropolitan area). There are 3 lines, all of which cost M$6 but use different smart cards. The Mexibús is reasonably safe, but pickpocketing and robbery do sometimes occur.\n\n### By trolleybus", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk029", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A Yutong trolleybus\n**Trolleybuses** are operated by the Electric Transport Services. There are 15 trolley bus lines that spread around for more than 400 km. They usually do not get as crowded as regular buses, and they are quite comfortable and reliable. They have lower frequencies and can be a little slower than regular buses, since they are unable to change lanes as quickly. There is a flat fare of M$2 on most lines and M$4 on the Eje Central, Eje 2 Sur and Eje 7 Sur lines. You pay in a coin box and bus drivers do not give out change. For tourists, the Eje Central line (Line A) is useful to go between the North and South bus stations or between these stations and the Centro Histórico.\n\n### By light rail\n\nthumb|A light rail car on the Xochimilco light rail line in Mexico City, bound for Tasqueña/Taxqueña.\nThe **Tren Ligero** consists of one single line that runs to Xochimilco, south of the city, from the Tasqueña Metro Station (Line 2, blue; often spelled as *Taxqueña*). For tourists, it is useful if you plan to visit Xochimilco, the Dolores Olmedo Museum, the Anahuacalli Museum, or the Azteca Stadium. You can use the same smart card as in the Metro and Metrobús, and new cards can be purchased at some stations along the line.\n\n### By Cablebus", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk030", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|alt=Cablebús|Cablebús\nThe cablecar system is not intended for tourists but can be a fun experience and a way to get a bird's eye view of some neighborhoods that are not friendly to outsiders. A popular route starts from the metro station Indio Verdes. The ride until the first stop goes along a street avenue for about 7 minutes. Then the cable car passes a highway. After the second stop it only goes through a rather poor neighborhood with grey houses far and wide. It's not recommended to leave the cable car stations and stroll around due to safety. If you have never taken a cablecar inside a city, here is your chance. The price is M$7 (April 2022).\n\n### By ride hailing\n\nUber, Cabify and Didi are available. Beat offers electric cars (Beat Zero) for a similar price to Uber, and Teslas for a higher fee. The app Yaxi allows you to order a safe regular taxi to your location.\n\nE-hailing services are surprisingly cheap in Mexico City, given the time they may take with the traffic. A 50-minute trip may end up only costing 300 pesos. So when planning your transportation, keep in mind that e-hailing may be more affordable in Mexico City than you're used to.\n\nAlso keep in mind that with the heavy traffic in Mexico City, it is very common to wait ~10 minutes for a driver to arrive, even if they are not very far from you.\n\n#### Warning regarding e-hailing scams / issues", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk031", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "There's a common e-hailing scam, where the driver does not pick you up and continues without you. This issue occurs in many other locations but is common in Mexico City. If you are paying by card, you should enable any security features in Uber or other apps to have a PIN that you must give to the driver when they pick you up.\n\nIf you are paying by card without a PIN, the driver may mark that they have picked you up, and continue without you. You cannot order another ride without first cancelling this ride, and Uber will not refund your money, but will tell you that in order to prevent situations like this, or where the driver picks up the wrong person by accident, you should have used a PIN.\n\nThis can be prevented by paying with cash, or by using the PIN feature when paying by card.\n\nYou may also notice that some rides where you're paying by cash, may be rejected by drivers who were looking to do this.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk032", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are more than 250,000 registered cabs in the city and they are one of the most efficient ways to get around. The prices are low, a fixed fee of about M$8.6 to get into the cab, and about M$1.14 per quarter kilometer or 45 seconds thereafter, for the normal taxis (taxi libre). The night rates, supposedly between 23:00 and 06:00 are about 20% higher. Some taxis \"adjust\" their meters to run more quickly, but in general, cab fare is cheap, and it's usually easy to find a taxi. At night, and in areas where there are few taxis, cab drivers will often not use the meter, but rather quote you a price before you get in. This price will often be high, however, you can haggle. They will tell you that their price is good because they are \"safe\". If you don't agree on the price, don't worry as another cab will come along.\n\nAlthough safety has substantially improved, catching cabs in the street may be dangerous. Taxi robberies, so-called \"express kidnappings\", where the victim is robbed and then taken on a trip to various ATMs to max out their credit cards, do sometimes occur.\n\nThe two most common recommendations for a safe cab riding experience are to make sure you take an official cab, and to notify a person you trust of the license plate number of the cab you are riding. Official taxis have a red box in the center lower area of their license plates that reads TAXI.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk033", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are some additional precautions to minimize risk:\n Taxis have special license plates. The registration number starts with an \"A\", \"B\" or \"M\" followed by five digits. Base (\"Sitio\") taxis are safer. These plates are white and have a small green and red squares at the bottom corners.\n The taxi license should be displayed inside the taxi; usually it is mounted somewhere above the windshield. Check that the photo of the driver on the license is of the actual driver. Make a point of looking at it.\n Look for the meter. Without it, they will be more likely to rip you off. All taxis in Mexico city have meters.\n If you are nervous, take sitio taxis only. These may be a bit more expensive, but they are well worth the expense.\n If you are safety-conscious or require additional comfort, consider radio taxis, which can be called by phone, and are extremely reliable and safe, although a bit pricier than other taxis. Most restaurants, hotels, etc., have the number for radio taxis. Radio taxis will usually give you the price for the trip on the phone when you order them. Radio taxis charge more than regular taxis, but are available all night. Hotel taxis will be significantly more expensive than site or radio taxis.\n As with absolutely everything else, risks are greater at night. At night, radio taxis are recommended.", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk034", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Mexico City is so large, and many street names so common that cab drivers are highly unlikely to know where to go when you give only a name or address of your destination. Always include either the name of the *colonia* or the district (i.e. \"Zona Rosa\"), as well as any nearby landmarks or cross streets. You will probably be asked to give directions throughout or at least near the tail end of the journey.\n\nUnlike the United States and Canada, English is not widely spoken in Mexico, so if either your Spanish or your sense of direction is poor, carry a map and be prepared to point.\n\n### By double-decker tourist bus\n\nthumb|Turibus\nThe Turibus is a sightseeing hop-in hop-off bus that is a good alternative to see the city if you don't have too much time. The one-day ticket costs M$140 Monday-Friday and M$165 Saturday-Sunday. Children are half-price. Your ticket is valid for all routes. Runs 365 days a year. Its main route includes the Zona Rosa, Chapultepec Park, Polanco, Condesa, Roma and the Historic Center. There are three secondary routes running South, West and North. The South route runs from Fuente de la Cibeles in Condesa to Coyoacan and Xochimilco. The West route (Circuito Polanco) runs between Polanco and Chapultepec. The North route (Circuito Basílica) goes to Tlatelolco and the Basilica de Guadalupe.\n\nThe new Capitalbus has a similar service. It has a central route that includes the Centro Histórico, Reforma and Polanco, as well as a route west to the Santa Fe business district, and a North route to the Basílica de Guadalupe and various churches. Tickets cost M$130 for 6 hours, M$140 for 24 hours Monday-Friday, M$180 for 24 hours (Saturday-Sunday) and M$250 for 48 hours. Buses have Wi-Fi.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk035", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving around by car is the least advised way to visit the city due to the complicated road structure, generally reckless drivers, and the 5 million vehicles moving around the city. Traffic jams are almost omnipresent on weekdays, and driving from one end of the city to the other could take you between 2 and 4 hours at peak times. Driving should be left to only the most adventurous and/or foolhardy.\n\nLocals drive aggressively and traffic laws are complex and rarely followed. Bicycles and motorcycles tend to drive in the narrow spaces between cars, and on small streets children often run on the pavement as if they were in their backyard. Street names and road signs are not present everywhere, so driving can turn into a really challenging experience if you don't know precisely where are you going.\n\nThe condition of pavement in freeways such as Viaducto and Periférico is good, however in avenues, streets and roads varies from fair to poor since most streets have fissures, bumps and holes. Most are paved with asphalt and some used to be paved using concrete. Since the city grew without planned control, the street structure resembles a labyrinth in many areas. \nBerms and shoulders are missing along the sides of many roads and freeways such as Viaducto and Periferico; if you go off the side of the road, there will be a drop-off.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk036", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "A fast succession of white lines cutting the road perpendicularly means that a *tope* (large speed bump) is approaching and you should slow down immediately. Trolleys and the Metrobús often have exclusive lanes and the right of way when they don't. On streets with the Metrobús, left turns are not allowed. Some streets are blocked off behind gates and do not let drivers pass without stating their destination, converting them into small gated communities.\n\n**Street parking** (Estacionamiento in Spanish) is scarce around the city and practically nonexistent in crowded areas. Some areas of the city such as Zona Rosa, Chapultepec, Colonia Roma and Colonia Condesa have parking meters on the sidewalks which are free on certain days and hours (depending on the location). It is possible to park in other streets without meters but is likely there will be a \"parking vendor\" (Franelero in Spanish) which are not authorized by the city, but will \"take care of your car\". Some of these fellows will \"charge\" you when you arrive, the best advice is to pay if you want to return to find your car undamaged.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk037", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Hoy No Circula** (\"today you do not drive\") is an important anti-traffic and anti-pollution program that all visitors including foreigners must take into consideration when driving anywhere in Mexico City or Mexico State. The law applies to all vehicles, including those with foreign plates. It limits vehicle circulation to certain hours during the day or certain days depending on the previous days' pollution levels, how new your car is, the last digit of your plate number (plates with all letters are automatically assigned a digit) and whether the car has passed the bi-yearly emission controls. Newer and electric vehicles (which are usually the case for rentals) have a **00** or **0** hologram sticker and are exempted from most regulations. The \"no circula\" driving restrictions apply between 05:00 and 22:00.\n\nIf your plate begins with...\n **5** or **6** - you cannot drive on Mondays\n **7** or **8** - you cannot drive on Tuesdays\n **3** or **4** - you cannot drive on Wednesdays\n **1** or **2** - you cannot drive on Thursdays\n **9** or **0** - you cannot drive on Fridays\n\nIf you rent a car in Mexico City or Mexico State, check the window stickers. If you have a hologram of 0, the car is exempt from \"no circula\" restrictions. If you have a hologram of 1, the car can not drive on the first and third Saturday in addition to the days restricted by the license plate number. If you have a hologram of 2, the car can not drive on any Saturday in addition to the days restricted by the license plate number.\n\nIf the \"Hoy No Circula\" policies seem complicated, don't drive.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk038", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Avenues have preference over streets and streets over closed streets. Continuous right turns even when traffic light red are not allowed from 2016. Seat belts are mandatory for all seats. Police generally drive with their lights on, but if you're stopped by a police car, it is likely they will try to get money out you. It is up to you if you accept to give a bribe, but never offer one directly. Fines are usually cheap and can be paid at banks, supermarkets and convenience stores.\n\n### By bike\n\nCycling in most parts of Mexico City is difficult. Distances are long, many roads are wide, car drivers are aggressive and traffic is hectic. However, the city government is making a serious effort to make cycling more attractive, installing dedicated cycle lanes along several main streets, including Reforma and around Chapultepec Park. Bicycle parking is available in/around most metro stations (such as Auditorio) and the central city. Cycling along dedicated lanes and smaller streets feels safe enough.\n\nFor more recreational cycling, the government closes off Reforma every Sunday morning from 8:00 to 14:00 for strollers, cyclists and other non-motorised transport, a program called **Muévete en Bici** (*Move by Bike*). Free rental bikes can be obtained at kiosks in various parts of the city, such as along Reforma, if you provide two pieces of ID. One Sunday a month, there is a much longer route. The official website has a good map of the weekly and extended monthly route.\n\nOther nice places to cycle include Chapultepec Park and the cycling path installed on the former railway line to Cuernavaca, which passes through Polanco and Lomas and reaches all the way to the Morelos state limits. Bicycles can be taken in the Metro and Tren Ligero on Sundays.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk039", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|EcoBici rack along Avenida Juárez\n - EcoBici\n\n- Bicigratis\n\n### By foot\n\nUnfortunately, although public transport is frequent and reliable, taxis blanket the city, and Uber comes almost instantly, the traffic and crowds in the central neighborhoods (Chapultepec, Zona Rosa, Centro Historico) are so intense that at rush hour (most of the day) walking is about as fast as any of those options. The good news is that streets have sidewalks, the center is safe during the day, and you can be assured of finding something interesting on every block. The bad news is that this area is nearly 10 km across, so you may want to hop on a bus just to take the weight off your feet.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk040", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "See", "text": "Downtown Mexico City has been an urban area since the foundation of Tenochtitlán in 1325, and the city is filled with historical buildings and landmarks from every epoch since then. It is also known as the City of Palaces, because of the large number of stately buildings, especially in the Centro. Mexico City has three World Heritage Sites: the Centro Histórico and Xochimilco, the house of architect Luis Barragán and the University City campus of UNAM. In addition, Mexico is one of the cities with the largest number of museums in the world.\n\n### Landmarks\n\nthumb|Plaza Bellas Artes Mexico City\n - Plaza de la Bellas Artes\n\n- Plaza de la Constitución\n\n- Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México\n\n- Angel de la Independencia\n\n- Basílica de Guadalupe\n\n- Ciudad Universitaria\n\n- [[Mexico City/Coyoacán|Coyoacán]]\n\n- Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi\n\n- Paseo de la Reforma\n\n- Cineteca Nacional\n\n- Torre Latinoamericana\n\n### Parks\n\nMexico City is full of various plazas and parks scattered through every neighborhood, but the following are some of the biggest, prettiest, most interesting, or best-known.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk041", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "See", "text": "**Alameda Central** (Centro Historico) is the oldest urban park in Mexico City (1592) and the largest inside the Centro Histórico.\n **Chapultepec Park** (Chapultepec) is a large park in the middle of the city that hosts the city zoo, the Modern Art Museum, the Museum of Anthropology, the Children's Museum (Museo del Papalote), the Technology Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Museum also known as Castillo de Chapultepec, the former residence of the Austrian Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg.\n **Xochimilco** (Xochimilco) is a vast system of waterways and flower gardens dating back to Aztec times in the south of the city where tourists can enjoy a trip in the \"trajineras\" (vividly-colored boats). Trajineras pass each other carrying Mariachi or marimba bands, and floating bars and taquerias. Xochimilco is the last remnant of how Mexico City looked when the Spanish arrived to Mexico City in 1521 and it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. A quieter alternative is to visit the Parque Ecológico Xochimilco, accessible by buses running along Periférico.\n **Parque Mexico** and **Parque España** (Condesa) are two adjacent parks that are popular for an evening stroll. They sometimes house outdoor exhibitions or concerts, and are surrounded by cool cafes and bars.\n **Viveros de Coyoacán** (Coyoacán) is a large expanse of greenery and trails that is still used as a nursery to grow trees for the city, but also a public park popular with joggers and amblers.\n\n### Museums\n\nMexico City has more museums than any other city in the world. Note that most museums are closed on Mondays, and many are free to Mexican residents on Sundays, meaning larger crowds.\n\nThese are some of the most popular:\n - National Museum of Anthropology\n\n- Plaza de las Tres Culturas\n\n- Museum of Modern Art", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk042", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "See", "text": "- Dolores Olmedo Museum\n\n- Fine Arts Palace Museum\n\n- Museo Soumaya\n\n- Rufino Tamayo Museum\n\n- José Luis Cuevas Museum\n\n- National History Museum in Chapultepec's Castle\n\n- Papalote Children's Museum\n\n- Universum\n\n- Casa Mural Diego Rivera\n\n- National Palace (Zocalo)\n\n- San Idelfonso Museum\n\n- Franz Meyer Museum\n\n- Mexico City's Museum\n\n- Templo Mayor Museum (Zocalo)\n\n- San Carlos Museum\n\n- National Art Museum\n\n- Frida Kahlo Museum\n\n- Anahuacalli Museum\n\n- Leon Trotsky Museum\n\n### Architecture\n\nMexico City has many stunning examples of architectural design, ranging from the country's oldest examples of colonial era architecture to the most cutting edge contemporary designs.\n\n#### Mexican architects\n\nthumb|Biblioteca Central de UNAM\nSome modern projects were designed by internationally famous architects, but many were also designed by architects trained and working in Mexico. Some of the most significant Mexican architects and iconic buildings in Mexico City that best represent their style are:\n **Juan O'Gorman** - see the *Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo*, and the *Bibliotec Central de UNAM* with its startlingly complex mosaic mural\n **Luis Barragan** - see the *Casa Luis Barragan* (a ), *Casa Gilardi* and the *Torres de Satelite*\n **Mario Pani** - see the distinctive needle-point pyramid of *Torre Insignia*\n **Pedro Ramirez** - see the *Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe*\n **Fernando Romero** - see the swoopy lines of the *Museo Soumaya*\n **Alberto Kalach** - see the *Biblioteca Jose Vasconcelos* with its gravity-defying \"floating stacks\"\n\n#### Colonial architecture\n\nthumb|Casa de Azulejos\nThe entire Centro Historico is a treasure trove of Mexico's oldest buildings, many dating to the early 1500s. Most fascinating to students of architecture are the **Metropolitan Cathedral**, **Casa de Azulejos**, and **Iturbide's Palace**.\n\n#### Art deco architecture", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk043", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "See", "text": "After the Mexican Revolution, a wave of optimism swept the country with a consequent building boom in Mexico City. Many new buildings were designed in the fashionable Art Deco architecture where entire neighborhoods that date from the 1920s to 1940s remain standing as models for future generations of architecture students. Art deco buildings are found throughout the city, but the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods are particularly noteworthy. Some of the best examples of Art Deco architecture include:\n **Edificio Nacional** - built in 1932 and designed by Manual Ortiz with distinctive ziggurat setbacks on the upper levels\n **Museo de Artes Popular**\n **Palacio de Bellas Artes** - the interior detailing is particularly emblematic of Art deco design\n **Fronton Mexico** - built in 1929 as an indoor venue for the sport of *jai alai*, the building was renovated in 2017, preserving its original art deco design\n\n#### Contemporary architecture\n\nthumb|Floating stacks in the Biblioteca Vasconcelos\nMany buildings of the late 20th and early 21st centuries exhibit forms and details that often seem to be very large sculptures of contemporary artists. This is particularly true of svelte lines of the swoopy shaped *Museo Soumaya* (designed by architects Fernando Romero), and the bristling pointed roofline of the *Museo Jumex* (designed by British architect, David Chipperfield). These and several other contemporary designs can be seen in the Polanco neighborhood. One of the most intriguing examples of modern architecture is the *Biblioteca Vasconcelos* whose interior features the innovative \"floating stacks\" that seem to defy gravity.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk044", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px | NASCAR race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez\nAs the world's 7th largest city, Mexico City offers something for everyone and for every budget. Attractions in Mexico City focus less on lazing on the beach (there are no beaches in Mexico City!) and more on exploring the culture and urban culture of Mexico.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nTraveling in **Mexico City with children**\n\n### Festivals and events\n\n- Wise Men's day\n\n- Art Week\n\n- Independence Day \"Yell\"\n\n- Independence Parade\n\n- Alebrijes Parade\n\n- [[Day of the Dead]]\n\n### Amusement parks\n\n- Six Flags Mexico\n\n- Parque Aztlan\n\n### Sports\n\nSoccer is the national sport and Mexicans go crazy about it. The city was host to two FIFA World Cups, one in 1970 and the other in 1986. Another important sport in Mexico City is baseball, with many Mexicans playing professionally in the US. The city was the first in Latin America to host an Olympics, doing so in 1968; the majority of the city's sport facilities were built for that event.\n\n- Estadio Azteca\n\n- Estadio Olimpico de Ciudad Universitaria\n\n- Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu\n\n- Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk045", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "{{do\n| name=Arena CDMX | alt=Arena Ciudad de Mexico | url=https://arenacdmx.com/ | email=\n| address=Av. de las Granjas 800, Santa Barbara, Azcapotzalco | lat= | long= | directions=Take Metro line 6 to Ferreria\n| phone=+52 5562357016 | tollfree=\n| hours= | price=\n| content=Opened in February 2012, with a full capacity of 22,300, Arena CDMX hosts several indoor sporting events and a wide range of popular music events, it is the home for annual NBA regular-season games played in Mexico, and also hosts home games of ''Capitanes de la Ciudad de México**, the country'e representative in the NBA's minor league, the NBA G League. The venue hosts several concerts, shows, festivals, and expos.\n}}\n - Hipodromo de las Americas\n\n### Lucha libre\n\nthumb|Lucha libre in Arena Mexico\n*Lucha libre* (loosely translated as \"free fighting\") is the term for the style of professional wrestling that developed in Mexico. Due to its affordable and entertaining nature, it is a favorite pastime throughout the country. While similar to professional wrestling elsewhere in that the outcomes are predetermined, it developed quite differently from wrestling in the rest of the world. Wrestlers, known in Mexico as *luchadores* (female: *luchadoras*), tend to work much faster than those in the rest of North America, employing complex chains of moves, numerous high-flying maneuvers, and often-realistic submission holds. Also, rings in Mexico often lack the spring supports used in many other countries, which means that wrestlers typically don't take falls landing on their back as they often do elsewhere. More often than not, aerial moves involve wrestlers launching themselves outside of the ring at their opponents, allowing them to break the fall by tumbling. Finally, Mexican wrestling has far more weight classes than in other countries.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk046", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Another hallmark of lucha libre is the emphasis on tag team matches, which are most often made up of three-wrestler teams instead of the pairs that are common elsewhere. Rules for tag team matches are also significantly different.\n\nPerhaps the most distinctive feature of lucha libre is the colorful masks worn by many performers. While the concept of the wrestling mask was borrowed from the U.S., it has become infused with the role that masks have long played in Mexican culture. Almost all luchadores will begin their careers wearing them, but most will lose their masks at some point in their careers. The biggest matches in lucha libre are *luchas de apuestas* (\"betting fights\"), in which wrestlers will bet their masks, hair, or even their careers on the outcomes.\n\n- Arena México\n\n- Arena Coliseo\n\n### Concerts\n\nMany mexicans from around the country travel to Mexico City for concerts of national and international artists that don't perform in other parts of the country. The most prominent concert venues in the city are:\n - Arena Ciudad de México\n\n- Auditorio Nacional\n\n**Estadio GNP Seguros.** Previously known as Foro Sol.\n **Palacio de los Deportes**\n - Bellas Artes\n\n- Circo Volador\n\n- Ollin Yoliztli\n\n- Sala Nezahualcóyotl\n\n- Teatro Metropolitan\n\n## Learn\n\nthumb|250px|Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporaneo, UNAM.\nLike many other things in the country, Mexico City has the largest concentration of universities and colleges, starting with the UNAM, one of the finest in Latin America and the second oldest university in the American continent, founded in 1551.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk047", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Some of the most renowned universities in the city include:\n **Instituto Politecnico Nacional** Public university dedicated mainly to engineering and research.\n **Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico** Commonly known as UNAM, located in the south of the city mainly in Ciudad Universitaria, is a public university with a student population of more than 300,000.\n **Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey** simply known as \"Tec\" is a branch of the famous private institute in Monterrey, having 3 campuses in the Greater Mexico City Area: one to the south in Tlalpan, one in the western financial district of Santa Fe and one to the north in the industrial corridor of Atizapán de Zaragoza-Tlalnepantla de Baz-Cuautitlán Izcalli.\n **El Colegio de Mexico**, or Colmex is an exclusive graduate and teaching institution in the social sciences and humanities with a student to faculty ratio of roughly one to one. It contains a library with over 600,000 volumes and Large-scale inter-library exchange agreements are maintained with domestic as well as foreign universities. More than 60% of library users are external to El Colegio. About twenty percent of full-time students come from countries other than Mexico, and the majority of its graduates continue to do their PhD's at institutions like Harvard, Stanford, or Oxford\n **Universidad Panamericana** Private catholic university that holds one of the best business schools in the world: IPADE located in the seventeenth century Hacienda de San Antonio Clavería.\n **Universidad Anahuac** Recognized Private catholic university, aims on humanism and leadership.\n **Universidad Intercontinental** Private catholic university of Guadalupe affiliation.\n **Universidad Iberoamericana** Private university of Jesuit origin.\n **Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de Mexico** Private university.\n **Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana** Commonly known as UAM, a public university with four campuses citywide.\n **Universidad Tecnológica de Mexico** Private university.\n **Universidad del Valle de Mexico** Private, a branch of Laureate International Universities.\n **Universidad de Las Américas** The first private university in México\n **Universidad La Salle ** Private catholic university.", "word_count": 316}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk048", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "You can learn Spanish in Mexico City as there are various schools offering courses for foreigners, for example:\n\n**Centro de Enseñanza de Lenguas Extranjeras** Known as CELE, is a faculty of the National University (UNAM) and is probably the most renowned, located south of the city in Ciudad Universitaria.\n **Center for International Education, La Salle (CIEL)**\n **Academia Hispano México, S.A. de C.V.**\n **CIB Centro de Idiomas Bravo**\n '''Walk Spanish'''\n **Spanish School in Mexico City - Speak Like a Mexican**\n\n## Work\n\nMexico has very strict immigration laws. In order to work you should obtain a permit known as FM2 or FM3 which is very hard to get unless you're marrying a Mexican citizen or you are working for a multinational company. Most foreigners working without a permit perform jobs such as language teachers, waiters or salesmen. Others own a restaurant or shop. If you're working without a permit and an immigration officer finds out, it could mean a fine, deportation or spending some time in a detention facility of the National Immigration Institute.\n\n## Buy\n\n### Money\n\nThese ATMs have low withdrawal fees *and* are widespread throughout the city:\n **banamex** / **citibanamex**\n **Santander**\n **Banorte**\nIf there is none of them near you, check these ATMs with low fees:\n **BanCoppel**\n **BanBajío**\n **Banco Azteca**\n **Banjercito**\n\nUsers of Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Westpac and Scotiabank may withdraw money with no fees at any **HSBC**, **Scotiabank**, **BanBajío**, **Inbursa**, **Banregio** or **Mifel** ATM.\n\n### Shopping districts\n\nthumb|200px|Palacio de Hierro department store in Mexico City's historic center.\n - [[Mexico City/Polanco|Polanco]]\n\n- Altavista\n\n- [[Mexico City/Condesa|Condesa]]\n\n- [[Mexico City/Centro|Centro Historico]]\n\n### Shopping centers", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk049", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Mexico City is famous among Mexicans for its huge malls. American-style shopping malls appeared in Mexico City by the late 1960s and are now are spread all over the metropolitan area. You will find malls listed in the district articles.\n\n#### Outlet malls\n\n- Premium Outlets at Punta Norte\n\n- Las Plazas Outlet Lerma\n\n### Arts and crafts\n\n- Ciudadela Market\n\nThe National Fund for the Development of Arts and Crafts (Fonart), Avenida Patriotismo 691, in Mixcoac, Avenida Paseo de la Reforma No. 116 in Colonia Juárez and Avenida Juarez 89 in Centro.\n\n### Flea and antique markets\n\nAlthough street vendors can be found almost anywhere in Mexico City, the following are more \"formal\" flea markets selling handcrafts, furniture and antiques.\n\n- Bazar del Sábado\n\n- Mercado de Artesanias\n\n- Plaza del Angel\n\n- Mercado de Alvaro Obregon\n\n- Monumento a la Madre\n\n- Tianguis Cultural del Chopo\nNot to be missed for anyone who wore a lot of black in middle school. \n - Mercado de Antiguedades de Cuauhtemoc\n\n- La Lagunilla and Tepito\n\n### Groceries\n\nYou may want to buy groceries and food at any of the hundreds of supermarkets. These are some of the most common:\n\n- Chedraui\n\nThe high-end **City Market**, small **Sumesa** and large **Mega** supermarkets. Sumesa has several locations around the Roma and Condesa. Owned by **Comercial Mexicana**.\n - Soriana\n\n- Walmart\n\nFor hard-to-find ingredients, such as vegetables and spices that are unusual in Mexico, try the **Mercado de San Juan** (Centro Historico). You can even find exotic meats here, such as iguana, alligator, ostrich, and foie gras.\n\n#### Asian\n\n**Pequeño Seúl** (\"Little Seoul\") is a Koreatown in Zona Rosa.\n - Super Kise\n\n- Mikasa\n\n- Kokeshi\n\n#### Kosher", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk050", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Many food products in Mexico including milk are kosher compliant. If you're looking for specific products, try some stores in the Polanco neighborhood. At some Chedraui branches you will find kosher departments, especially the ones in Polanco, Tecamachalco, Santa Fe and Interlomas neighborhoods.\n\n## Eat\n\nYou can find almost any kind of food in this city. There are regional specialties from all over Mexico as well as international cuisine, including Japanese, Chinese, French, Polish, Italian, Argentinean, Belgian, Irish, you name it. The main restaurant areas are in **Polanco**, **Condesa**, **Centro**, **Zona Rosa**, along Avenida Insurgentes from Viaducto to Copilco and more recently **Santa Fe**.\n\nThere are several Mexican chain family restaurants that can be assumed to be safe and similar no matter where you are, including **Vips**, **Toks**, **La Casa de Toño** and the more traditional **Sanborns**, all reminiscent of Denny's in the United States. They are uniformly good (if never excellent) and relatively approachable to those who have trepidation around Mexican cuisine. **El Globo**, a French-style bakery, has locations throughout the city selling both French and traditional Mexican pastries, like orejas (little ears), éclairs, empanadas, and rosca during New Year's. It can't be beat for a quick snack or bagful of pastries to eat later.\n\nIf you're on a budget, you can also try one of the myriad *comida corrida* (set menu) restaurants, frequented by many office workers. Some of these offer very good food, are usually safe, and should range between M$70-110 (March 2022).", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk051", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Perhaps the most ubiquitous type of food almost anywhere in Mexico city are fast food outlets, located on the ground floor of a street-facing building, or *puestos*, street stands located on a sidewalk or almost anywhere there is room. Most of these serve the usual tacos or tortas, and they can be very cheap. Hygiene varies from good to abysmal, so eat at a place that has plenty of people. Given that most of these establishments cook entirely in view, you can tell if it's going to be okay or not. Often, a street taco stand is going to have better food than a sit down restaurant.\n\nIf you want to stuff your face with lots of real Mexican food at cheap prices then head over to a market, such as **Mercado La Merced**, the former central market in Centro Historico. There are several restaurants as well as stands serving up some delicious food. *Huaraches* and *alambres* are popular here. Another superb market in Centro is **Mercado San Juan Arcos de Belem**, full of food stalls offering all the Mexican favorites.\n\n**Vegetarian** (*vegetariano*) alternatives are commonly available at larger restaurants, but don't expect much from street vendors. The magic phrases, for vegetarians or vegans, are \"sin pollo\" (no chicken), \"sin carne\" (no meat), \"sin huevo\" (no eggs) and \"sin queso\" (no cheese). If you can communicate this and then gesticulate to the menu, the waiter normally will give you suggestions. In regular restaurants, they will even try to edit an existing dish for you. Just make sure you are clear. Chiles Rellenos are usually filled with meat, but different fillings are a definite standard in any vegetarian restaurant.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk052", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "There is a **vegan** scene scattered across the trendier neighborhoods. Much of it is world cuisine, but some of Mexico's famous meat preparations translate well to mushrooms and plant-based proteins, and indigenous traditions have known how to put beans and vegetables at the forefront of a meal long before the Spaniards introduced domesticated livestock.\n\n### Favorite dishes\n\nMexico City is deep into the part of the country that prefers corn tortillas to wheat flour tortillas. Don't expect to come across a big overstuffed burrito. In fact, here they call a flour tortilla filled with gooey cheese a *gringa*, also the slang term for \"foreigner\"! More generally, if you're only familiar with the Tex-Mex style of Mexican food exported globally by way of the U.S. border states, then there are a few surprises in store for you.\n\nMost famously, Mexico City is the world capital of *tacos*. There are many other foods around the world that have taken the name \"taco\"; here they are always a small corn tortilla topped with seasoned meat and maybe a few garnishes like chopped onion, cilantro and a wedge of lime.\n *Tacos al pastor* – marinated pork derived from Lebanese shawarma. Look for the massive stacks of meat spinning on vertical roasting spits.\n *Tacos de tripa* – tripe (beef intestines)\n *Tacos de suadero* – thin slices of fried beef\n *Tacos de barbacoa* – tender, slow-cooked beef. It's rooted in the same roasting techniques that lead to *barbecue* in the southern U.S.\n *Tacos de canasta* – filled with various stews and bathed in oil, often made in the morning and kept warm in distinctive baskets", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk053", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "You will see plenty of other street foods:\n *Cecina Adobada*\n *Quesadillas*\n *Tortas* – sandwiches on a soft white roll, with choices of meat, cheese, sliced avocado and refried beans\n *Huaraches* – giant tortillas covered with different toppings/fillings\n *Sopes*\n *Tamales* – steamed corn dough with chicken or pork, accompanied by a cup of *atole* (hot chocolate corn starch drink), is the breakfast of the humble on their way to work. They are often in the form of tortas de tamal.\n\nThese dishes are mainstays on traditional menus. They may be prepared quite differently from the internationalized dishes you've seen closer to home:\n *Enchiladas* – rolled corn tortillas filled with meat or cheese and covered with salsa\n *Enchiladas Suizas* – \"Swiss\" style, covered with cream or cheese sauce\n *Enchiladas de mole* – covered with a savory chili-chocolate sauce\n *Enfrijoladas* – covered with a black bean sauce\n *Pozole* – hominy (corn) and meat stew. Pork is most traditional but chicken is fairly common. Chopped cabbage, chopped onions, radishes, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges are all also popular garnishes.\n *Chilaquiles* – fried strips of corn tortillas covered in salsa and other toppings such as eggs and cheese, often served for breakfast. It's a classic peasant dish, often seen as a use for tortillas that are in danger of going stale, but it's widely loved.\n *Huevos Rancheros* – eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce, often served for breakfast.\n *Alambres* – grilled meat topped with chopped bacon, bell peppers, onions, cheese and salsa. It's the local dish that most resembles Tex-Mex fajitas.\n *Arrachera*\n *Migas*\n *Pambazos*\n\n### International cuisine", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk054", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "If you want something more familiar, most American fast food chains have franchises here. You'll see McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Papa John's Pizza, Domino's Pizza, TGI Friday's, Chili's, Dairy Queen, Subway, and yes, Starbucks. These are all fairly affordable.\n\n**Asian** food restaurants are abundant, and the quality is good, and caters from cheap Chinese cafeterias to expensive and very good Japanese food. Korean, Japanese and Chinese are most common cuisines in Mexico City, while Indian, Thai and Indonesian can be harder to find.\n\n### Etiquette\n\n**Tips** (*propina*) are expected, with 10% the standard for decent service at all sit-down restaurants. You can tip more for very good service (15%), or tip less or not at all for poor service. In some establishments the tip is included in the final bill, so it is recommended to review every ticket carefully. It is also customary to tip the waiters, valets, gas dispensers, bellboys and other service providers. Leaving no tip at all is frowned upon.\n\nIn Mexico, there is no difference in prices if you sit inside or outside, it is the same if you eat at the bar or sit at a table.\n\n## Drink\n\nMexico City's nightlife is like all other aspects of the city; it is huge. There is an enormous selection of venues: clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, and variations and combinations thereof to choose from. There is incredible variation, from ultramodern lounges in Santa Fe and Reforma, to centuries-old dance halls in Centro and Roma. There are also pubs in Tlalpan and Coyoacán and clubs of every stripe in Insurgentes, Polanco, Condesa and the Zona Rosa.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk055", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Traveling by yourself at night in certain areas of Mexico City is not a good idea, especially in Plaza Garibaldi, where pickpocketers are ever ready to relieve you of your unguarded cash. One of the ways you can check out the night life safely is by doing a **Night Club Tour**. These tours will typically take you to a few clubs and include transportation. Mexicans are for the most part very friendly and enjoy socializing.\n\nThe typical Mexican place to go to drink is the cantina, a bar where food is usually free, and you pay for drinks (exact policies and minimums vary). Cantinas serve a wide range of Mexican and foreign drinks, with prices usually reasonable compared to prices in the US, and you'll be continually served various Mexican foods, such as tacos (you should ask for 'Botana'). If your tolerance for Mexican music (mariachi or otherwise) and lots of noise is low however, this may not be your kind of place. Cantinas are open moderately late, usually past midnight at the very least. However some cantinas, like La Victoria, near the Plaza Garibaldi, are also open at midday for lunch.\n\nA lower-end traditional option is going to a pulquería, where you can drink pulque, a fermented agave drink that was once sacred to the Aztecs. After being on a steep decline for decades, many are finding a new surge in popularity with young people, and pulque can now be found at hipster bars from time to time. They can be found in the Centro Histórico and around Xochimilco. If you don't like pulque, they usually serve beer as well.\n\nMany bars play a combination of Spanish and English-language rock, electronic music, and some Latin/Caribbean music. These bars tend to close around 3-4AM.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk056", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Club music mainly falls into three main categories, pop, rock and electronic music. The pop places generally play what's on the music charts, Latin pop, and sometimes traditional Mexican music, and are frequented by a younger (sometimes very young) audience, and are often more upper class. The rock places play rock in the wide sense, in English and Spanish. Most people are at least over 18 in these places. The electronica clubs, which attract everyone from Mexico City's large subculture of ravers and electronica fans, of all ages. Most clubs close late, 3-4AM at the earliest, and some are open until 7AM or 8AM.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk057", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "The best bet used to be the Zona Rosa, which has a large number of street bars with rock bands playing and a large selection of clubs, especially strip clubs and gay bars. South of Zona Rosa you can find the Condesa and Roma areas, with many options of bars and restaurants. Another good area is Polanco, particularly a street called Mazaryk, where you'll find plenty of good clubs but it is best to make a reservation. Republica, La Santa or Guilt (gay club) are posh and exclusive clubs on that street. Be forewarned - entrance is judged on appearance and to get a table a minimum 2-bottle service is required, unless it's a slow night [min. US$80 per bottle]. Posh and upper scale night clubs can be found in the Lomas area, particularly the Hyde, Sense and Disco Lomas Clubs, but be warned some of these could be extremely expensive, where the cover charge could range from 250 pesos upwards and bottles start at US$130. In addition, getting in could very difficult, as these are the most exclusive in town. There are also exclusive gay clubs in that area with the same characteristics: Envy night club on Palmas 500 and Made nightclub on Chapultepec next to the lake and the restaurant El Lago Chapultepec.\n\nThe other common Mexican-style thing to do when going out is to go dancing, usually to salsa, meringue, rumba, mambo, son, or other Caribbean/Latin music. This is considerably more fun if you're a somewhat competent dancer, but even complete beginners who don't mind making fools of themselves will likely enjoy it. Most dance places close late, 3-4AM is common.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk058", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "The legal drinking age is 18. It is illegal to consume alcohol in public (\"open container\"). This is strictly enforced and the penalty is at least 24 hours in jail.\n\nTake an identification card such as a copy of your passport.\n\nWhen going out, check the date, since this is an important indicator of how full places will generally be and how long you might have to wait to get in. Salaries are usually paid twice per month: the 30th/31st-1st and the 14th-15th. On or soon after these dates is when most Mexicans will go out, especially if payday coincides with a weekend. In the more expensive places, people might leave for Acapulco or vacations farther afield during the summer and long weekends. Mexican weekends, in the sense of when it is common to go out drinking, are Thursday night to Sunday morning and sometimes throughout Sunday.\n\n## Sleep\n\nthumb|200px|Embassy Suites hotel facing Cristobal Colon statue in Reforma.\n\nThe city has more than 3,000 hotels in all price ranges. Details about individual properties are in the various District articles.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk059", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "**Budget Hotels**: Look in the Centro Histórico where you will find myriad hostels and budget hotels rich in character and charm. Standouts include the Hostel Mexico City, the Casa de los Amigos, and the Hotel MX chain which has several low-priced properties to choose from.\n **Moderate Hotels**: Zona Rosa is a tourist haven with mid-range prices and good amenities at places like the Galerias Plaza. A number of stately older hotels along Paseo de la Reforma leading towards Centro Histórico offer character and affordability. A good value in this area is the Barcelo Mexico Reforma. \n **Splurge Hotels**: Look in the Polanco district, where high-end hotels thrive (along with trendy restaurants and clubs, upscale shopping and elegant older homes). Chapultepec has several modern high-rise hotels by international chains like JW Marriott, Fiesta Americana and St Regis. The Marquis Reforma is a good bet here.\n **Boutique Hotels**: Small hotels that deliver charming local character, preserve historical integrity, and provide personal service are found in many parts of Mexico City, particularly in Condesa and Roma and Polanco.\n\n## Connect\n\n### Phones\n\nThe country code is +52 and the area code is 55. Mexico City (55), Guadalajara (33) and Monterrey (81) have 2 digit area codes and 8-digit numbers, the rest of the country has 7-digit numbers and 3-digit area codes.\n\n#### Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk060", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "There are three consumer mobile network operators in Mexico:\n **Telcel** is the largest network with the most extensive coverage in the country, using 3.5G, 3G and GSM (HSPA+, HSDPA & EDGE), 4G LTE and 5G networks.\n **Movistar** offers 3G, 3.5G, 4G LTE networks with good coverage in most of the country\n **AT&T Mexico (previously Iusacell and Nextel Mexico)** operates 3G UMTS, 4G LTE, and 5G NR networks with coverage available in cities and most large towns, covering 90% of the country.\n\n#### Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)\n\nMobile phone service is also available from MVNOs that operate on Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T's physical network infrastructure. MVNO plans can be less expensive than those offered by the MNOs or have shorter (i.e. daily) terms which may be well suited to some travelers. Mexican MVNOs include Unefon on the AT&T network, Freedompop on the Telcel network, and Virgin Mobile, Flash Mobile, Weex, Cierto, and Maz Tiempo on the Movistar network.\n\n#### Roaming\n\nMost international travelers who choose to use the international roaming service offered by their carriers will roam on the Telcel network. AT&T subscribers from the United States will roam on AT&T Mexico, with Telcel as a fallback.\n\nCheck the roaming rates with the local operator for calling from your cell phone. It is recommended to buy a phone card available at self-service stores, magazine stands, hotels, travel agencies and at the airport.\n\nTo make a long-distance call follow these steps:", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk061", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "To dial to a phone inside Mexico: 01 + area code + number\n To dial to a local cell phone: 044 + area code + number\n To dial to a cell phone from another state of the Mexican Republic: 045 + area code + number\n To dial to the United States and Canada: 001 + area code + number\n To dial to any other country: 00 + country code + city code + numberLong distance calls can receive the assistance of an operator by dialing 020 from a local phone or 090 from an international one.\n\nTo obtain more information from a bilingual operator dial 090.\n\n### Internet\n\nMexico City has good access to the internet. There are some internet cafes throughout the city, many of them in Zona Rosa, but their number is rapidly dwindling as many people now have internet access on their smartphones. Price vary from M$10-20 an hour. Look for the word 'Cyber' or 'CiberCafe' in order to find a place with internet access.\n\nFree Wi-Fi hot spots are available in many places around the city, particularly in public squares, along Reforma, and inside shopping malls, cafés and restaurants. Other hot spots around the city (such as at the airport and Sanborns restaurants) are not free, usually operated by the Mexican phone company Telmex through their Internet division Prodigy Móvil. In order to be able to connect in those places, the user must be subscribed to the service, or buy a prepaid card known as \"Tarjeta Multifon\"; visitors coming from the US can access the service using their AT&T or T-Mobile Internet accounts. Cards can be bought at the Sanborns restaurant chain, Telmex stores and many stores that offer telephony related products.\n\n### Radio", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk062", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "There are no full-time English spoken radio stations in Mexico, however these are a few options to listen:\n\n**Imagen 90.5 FM** Features a twice-a-day English news program at 05:30 and 23:00 with a summary of the most important news around the globe.\n **Ibero 90.9 FM** University radio station that plays mainly indie-rock but also has cultural programs.\n **Alfa 91.3 FM** Broadcasts English language hit pop music.\n **Beat 100.9 FM** Electronic music station.\n **Mix 106.5 FM** Hits in English from the 1980s, 1990s, and current pop/rock music.\n **Universal 92.1 FM** Old hits in English (1970s, 1980s).\n\n### Newspapers\n\nYou won't find newspapers in English or other foreign languages in regular newsstands, however, you can find many at any Sanborns store. Many U.S. newspapers have subscriptions available in Mexico, including the *Wall Street Journal, Today*, the *New York Times* and the *Miami Herald*.\n\nAlmost all national newspapers are based in Mexico City and have local news. Some of the most read newspapers include:\n\n**El Universal** National daily based in Mexico City. The online version includes a good English section.\n **Reforma** Most important local daily. Requires a subscription to read online.\n **La Jornada** The most important left-leaning daily, with a good cultural section.\n **Milenio**\n **Excélsior**\n **La Crónica**\n **La Prensa**\n\nFree newspapers are often given away at intersections and metro stations, most commonly **Publimetro**.\n\n## Stay safe\n\nDespite its reputation, travel in Mexico City is generally safe and most people find it surprisingly non-threatening. Areas around the historic center and other places where tourists usually go are generally well-lit and patrolled in the early evening. Much of your travel within the city will be done via public transportation or walking.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk063", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Most people in Mexico City are quite hospitable and some will speak English, and people who work for hotels and other hospitality-oriented businesses will always help. This will help in avoiding confusion, becoming lost or stranded. Also, you can ask a local for advice to get somewhere, though you might need basic Spanish to do this. In the Polanco, Sante Fe and Lomas districts, some police officers and many business people and younger children speak English, as it is very common to learn it in school.\n\nThe least safe places where tourists often go are around the north part of the Centro Historico, such as around Garibaldi Square. Be extra vigilant if you go there at night. There is a detailed crime map based on official statistics.\n\n**In case of emergency, dial 911**, the number for all emergencies (fire, police and medical).\n\n### Theft", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk064", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Mexico City is an immensely crowded place. As with any major metropolitan area, stay aware of your surroundings.\n Do not show money in front of others as this generally attracts pickpockets. Carry just the money you need for the daily expenses and a credit card. Place items in a hotel safe, or tuck them away inside your clothes. A money belt might be a good option.\n Protect your personal information, such as your ATM PIN when entering it at an ATM or bank terminal. When paying at a restaurant, it's best if you don't let your card be taken away but instead ask for the terminal to be brought to you or go where it is located.\n Do not leave anything of value visible from your car window, always use the trunk, even things that could be considered to hold something of value (for example, an empty gift box) might prompt a broken window.\n Avoid ostentation: do not wear jewelry or eye-catching accessories when going out.\n\nIf you have any problem related to purchases, services or bills, you may call the Federal Consumer Attorney (Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor, PROFECO) at +52(55)52111723 (in Mexico City) and at 01 800 468 8722, or send an email at asesoria@profeco.gob.mx. To make a complaint from your residence country, you may also email the unit of foreign travelers: extranjeros@profeco.gob.mx.\n\nThe Mexico City Government has a specialized prosecution office (*Ministerio Público*) for foreigners that find themselves affected by robberies or other crime situations. It is in Victoria Street 76, Centro Historico. Multilingual staff are available.\n\n#### Taxis", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk065", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Get a taxi from a taxi base, or use a ride hailing app. *Don't catch taxis on the street.* Make sure you take an official cab, and to notify a person you trust of the license plate number of the cab you are riding.\n\nTaxi robberies, so-called \"express kidnappings\", where the victim is robbed and then taken on a trip to various ATMs to max out their credit cards, do occur, although safety in the city has improved. 95% of total kidnapping victims are nationals, so your odds of being taken are very slim, they are not targeting strangers, yet you should always use your common sense.\n\n#### Public transit\n\nThe Metro can get crowded, which creates opportunities for pickpockets. Well organized bands of pickpocketers operate in the most common Metro lines, most of which are close to touristic spots. One of their most common methods is to work in teams of 4 or 5 persons that push the victims into the doors, trying to emulate a fake crowd. They take advantage of this deliberate distraction to extract phones or wallets from the pockets of the victims, then give it to a third person that escapes with the objects.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk066", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "In case of pickpocketing, push the \"alarm signal\" red lever (warning sign) close to the doors. The thieves will argue violently in their favor to the police elements and will ask for a revision of all their belongings, knowing that they give the objects to other accomplice that hurried from the station and there is no evidence of theft, one of the conditions that the police will ask to begin a formal detention and prosecution. Keeping your cellphone and wallet inside a security bag or money belt and avoid entering wagons into the middle of the platform where are more commonly crowds at the doors.\n\nViolent robberies on trolleybuses or M1 buses (public transport of Mexico City Government) are not common at all. While this does not happen in tourist areas, buses have been stolen by armed robbers. In case this happens do not try to resist, give your belongings (cell phones and money), do not make violent movements and do not try to look at the thieves. Murders have been reported by people who do it.\n\n### Football\n\nMexicans are passionate about their football (soccer), and the local Club América has a very heated rivalry with Guadalajara-based Chivas. Do not wear Chivas jerseys while you are in Mexico City, especially on match days, unless you want to draw unwanted attention from local fans.\n\n### Police officers\n\nPolice officers in Mexico get paid poorly, and some rely on bribes and corruption to make more money. Paying bribes supports systematic corruption that impoverishes the country and weakens the rule of law, so if you care about that, adamantly reject bribery and ask for their badge number, they will generally leave you alone. Never offer a bribe first since not all officers will want or accept them.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk067", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "The historic center and other major sites often have specially trained tourist police that speak English or other foreign languages and are more helpful than ordinary transit cops.\n\n### Air pollution\n\nthumb|190px| Mexico City air pollution index scale\nAlthough the smog layer is visible nearly every day, its effects in terms of breathing and eye irritation are not noticeable most of the time.\n\nPollution is highest in the winter from late November to early February, especially when a greenhouse effect causes cold dirty air to be trapped under warm cleaner air.\n\nWhen the index exceeds 150 points, an \"Environmental pre-contingency\" is usually issued and people are asked to refrain from performing open-air activities such as sports. In the case of an \"Environmental Contingency,\" only vehicles with a zero or double zero emissions sticker can circulate.\n\n### Earthquakes", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk068", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Earthquakes are very common at the junction of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, which meet close to the Mexican Pacific coast about 400 km (250 mi) away. This is far enough away from the city so that when an earthquake occurs, Mexico City has about a 30- to 90-second warning. This alarm is broadcast loudly from the speakers installed at the security cameras. It sounds like an air-raid alarm followed by a spoken recording (\"Alerta Sísmica\"). Should you hear this alarm or feel an earthquake, remain calm and follow some simple rules: if you are indoors, stay under the doorways, move away from objects that can fall, and/or follow exit paths (\"Rutas de Evacuación\") out to the streets; if you are outdoors, move away from slopes or electrical wires towards open areas or places marked \"safe zones.\" Since large parts of the city (Center, East and North) were built on the soft clay from the dry bed of lake Texcoco, earthquakes can feel quite powerful despite the distance.\n\nThe catastrophic earthquake of 8.1 magnitude on the Richter scale, that took place in the morning of September 19, 1985, killing 9,000 to 30,000 people, remains fresh in the memory of many of Mexico City's inhabitants. Right after the 1985 earthquake, many buildings were reinforced and new buildings are designed to meet structural criteria by law. No major building collapse has happened since, even after several strong earthquakes, most recently in 2017 (which, astonishingly, also happened on the morning of September 19).\n\nYou can check the latest earthquake activity at the National Earthquake Center an institute of the National University (UNAM).\n\n## Cope", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk069", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "When walking in the city you could be approached by people. Usually they are just trying to sell something or begging for a few coins, but if you aren't interested, it is not considered insulting to just ignore them. If you clearly look like a foreigner, you will likely be approached by students wanting to practice their English. Sometimes they will want to record the conversation for a school assignment. If someone of importance (such as a police officer) approaches you for a particular purpose, they will definitely let you know.\n\nIf you are approached by a police officer, understand that there are three different types: the *Policia* (Police), who are usually driving around the city with their lights flashing; the *Policia Auxiliar* (blue uniform) (Auxiliary Police), who are like security guards; and the *Policia de Transito* (bright yellow hat and vest) (Traffic Police) who simply direct traffic.\n\nIf you are cruising around town and don't want to look like a tourist, avoid wearing shorts. It gets hot here, but it is remarkable how few locals in the capital city wear shorts. Some churches won't even let you walk inside if you are wearing shorts.\n\n### Drinking", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk070", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "In many nightclubs, bars and restaurants it is common for minors to drink without proving their age as long as they appear to be over 18. It is also permitted for minors to drink alcohol if they are in the company of an adult who is willing to take responsibility. Drinking alcoholic beverages in the street is strictly prohibited—doing so will certainly get you in trouble with the police. Drunk driving is also strictly prohibited and punished with 24-72 hours of mandatory jail time. The police have incorporated random alcohol tests on streets near bars and clubs as well as highway exits to enforce this. The system is very efficient, and you will sometimes see a stopped car or truck with a policeman interrogating the occupants.\n\n### Smoking\n\nSmoking inside enclosed areas in public buildings, restaurants and bars is strictly prohibited by law. Fines can be steep, so if you want to smoke in a restaurant it is best to ask the waiter before lighting up. Of course, going outside is always an option. Personal use of electronic cigarettes is permitted.\n\n### Drugs\n\nSmall quantities of all drugs are decriminalised, but offenders could be imprisoned if found in possession of more than one personal dose. You don't want to go to jail while a judge determines if what you're carrying is a personal dose.\n\n### Electricity\n\nThe voltage in Mexico is 127 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz. The plugs are flat pinned, type B, like those used in the United States. Mexico's 127 volt standard also has a 10% acceptable variation, in which voltages of 114-139 are considered acceptable.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk071", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Brownouts, in which voltage may drop to ~80-100v for extended periods are also a more common thing in Mexico than in some other countries like the US. Swells, in which voltage rises above 139 are also possible, but less common.\n\nBrownouts and swells can both damage electronics. If you notice that *some* devices (usually lights) are able to power on, but others can not, you are in a brownout and should turn off anything particularly valuable, especially anything with a motor in it, even if it is able to turn on, until the brownout is resolved.\n\nYou can find Automatic Voltage Regulators in most larger supermarkets or tech equipment stores that will convert the voltage into an acceptable range if it's a brownout or over voltage. Pay attention to the rated power output and voltage ranges - some can function in as low as 95-85 volts, etc, and cheap units may be rated for a few hundred watts, or more expensive ones at even 1000 or 1500 watts for larger appliances.\n\n### Embassies\n\nMost embassies are clustered in the areas around Bosque de Chapultepec in Delegación Miguel Hidalgo and in the adjacent and more central Delegación Cuauhtémoc. There are others located further south in Delegacion Álvaro Obregón as well. Some of the embassies in Mexico City are accredited as non-resident embassies to Central America, the Caribbean and/or South America while others are accredited to Mexico from Washington DC or from their Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York:\n\n- Argentina\n\n- Australia\n\n- Austria\n\n- Brazil (Brasil)\n\n- Belize (Belice)\n\n- Belgium (Belgica)\n\n- Bolivia\n\n- Canada\n\n- Chile\n\n- China\n\n- Colombia\n\n- Costa Rica\n\n- Cuba\n\n- Denmark (Dinamarca)\n\n- Dominican Republic (Republica Dominicana)\n\n- Ecuador\n\n- El Salvador\n\n- Egypt (Egipto)\n\n- Finland (Finlandia)", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk072", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "- France (Francia)\n\n- Georgia\n\n- Germany (Alemania)\n\n- Greece (Grecia)\n\n- Guatemala\n\n- Haiti\n\n- Honduras\n\n- Iran\n\n- Iraq\n\n- Ireland (Irlanda)\n\n- Israel\n\n- Italy (Italia)\n\n- Jamaica\n\n- Japan (Japón)\n\n- Republic of Korea (Corea del Sur)\n\n- DPR Korea (Corea del Norte)\n\n- Lebanon (Líbano)\n\n- The Netherlands (los Paises Bajos)\n\n- New Zealand (Nueva Zelanda)\n\n- Nicaragua\n\n- Norway (Noruega)\n\n- Panama\n\n- Peru\n\n- Philippines (Filipinas)\n\n- Paraguay\n\n- Portugal\n\n- Romania\n\n- Russia\n\n- Spain (España)\n\n- South Africa (Sudáfrica)\n\n- Sweden (Suecia)\n\n- Switzerland (Suiza)\n\n- Taiwan (Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en México)\n\n- Turkey\n\n- United Kingdom (Reino Unido)\n\n- United States (Estados Unidos)\n\n- Uruguay\n\n- Venezuela\n\nThe Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), the Mexican Immigration Department, provides this list of embassies and consulates of additional countries in Mexico.\n\n## Go next\n\n### Day trips\n\nTeotihuacan – 50 km. The ancient city of giant pre-Columbian pyramids.\n\n### National parks", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk073", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Many visitors are surprised to find that the city includes large tracts of open land intended to preserve some of the natural resources of the region. These parks offer natural scenery, historical landmarks, and recreational opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Public transit is generally not a reliable way to reach these parks, but taxis or private drivers can get you there.\n Desert of the Lions National Park (Desierto de los Leones) – 28 km. The site of an abandoned Carmelite convent from the early 17th century is surrounded by trees in the middle of a pine forest. Take a hike from \"La Venta\" to \"El Convento\" or up to \"Cruz Blanca\" and eat some great quesadillas for lunch, you can't miss them since it the only structure on \"Cruz Blanca\". If you can find a mountain bike, it's one of the best places to ride.\n Iztacchuatl-Popocateptl National Park – 60 km. When you look east from downtown, the horizon is dominated by two snow-capped mountain peaks, known locally as *Izta-Popo*. The still-active Popo volcano may have smoke billowing from its cauldron. These twin volcanoes are the centerpoint of a 172,000 hectare park spanning the range that crosses the border between Estado de Mexico and neighboring Puebla state.\n\n### in the south-east\n\n**Puebla** – 140 km. UNESCO world heritage place for its colonial architecture and site of the battle with the French army in the mid-1800s. The city is known throughout Mexico for its cuisine; it's worthwhile to do some sight-seeing and sample some of the food. Many good restaurants are conveniently located near the main square.\n\n### in the south", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk074", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "**Cuernavaca** – 80 km. The capital city of the state of Morelos. It's known worldwide as \"The City of Eternal Spring\" due to its nice climate.\n **Tepoztlan** – 80 km. A cool new age city south of Mexico City which has an interesting pyramid on top of a mountain. The journey up to see the pyramid takes approximately an hour and is well worth it once you see the view on top. Tepoztlan is also known for its frequent UFO activity. Believe it or not if you want, but a large percentage of the town residents claim to have seen the \"ovni.\"\n **Oaxtepec** – 100 km. It's a great place to get out of the hectic city and do some swimming. The climate is constantly warm and sunny and there is a very affordable and very fun waterpark (only half is open on weekdays, on the weekends the rest of the park is open). There are plenty of lodging options and most include access to a club house with a sauna and an Olympic pool and diving pool. Buses leave from the Taxqueña bus station and cost M$78-156 (March 2022) through OCC.\n **Taxco** – 180 km. Famous for its beautiful colonial architecture and narrow cobbled streets.\n\n### in the west\n\n**Valle de Bravo** – 140 km. A beautiful town next to a lake and in the middle of the forest, great place for all kinds of sports (e.g. mountain biking, sailing, water skiing and paragliding). Consider driving up Nevado de Toluca and into the crater that holds a lake. Nevado de Toluca is a dormant volcano on your way to Valle de Bravo. Also, late winter/early spring is the best time to see the monarch butterflies on your way to VdB.\n\n### in the north-west", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico-city::chunk075", "doc_id": "mexico-city", "section": "Do", "text": "**San Miguel de Allende** – 270 km. A city known for relaxing. There are thermal pools just outside the city. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n **Querétaro** – 220 km. A big aqueduct goes through the city. The old town is a UNESCO world heritage. There you can taste a Gordita Queretana.\n\n### in the north\n\n**Pachuca** – 90 km. \"The Beautiful Windy\". A cozy little miners city.\n\n### By air\n\nMexico City has direct low-cost flights to many destinations, for example:\n **Cancún** on the Yucatán peninsula\n **Cabo San Lucas** and **La Paz** on the Baja California peninsula\n **Tuxtla** in Chiapas\n **Puerto Vallarta**, **Puerto Escondido** and **Mazatlán''' on the Pacific coast", "word_count": 114}
diff --git a/corpus/mexico-city/metadata.json b/corpus/mexico-city/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..084a20103fe629ebc48ede5404a7a53ef8c7a52b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mexico-city/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "mexico-city",
+ "title": "Mexico City",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mexico_City",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Mexico"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 18464,
+ "listing_count": 139,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 76,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/mexico/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/mexico/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e756763852c9cdb5a02423e633b4dd740050fcd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mexico/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk000", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Mexico** (Spanish: *México*) is known for its cuisine, art, archaeology, history, pyramids, music, museums, haciendas, 9,600 km (6,000 mi) of shoreline, superb architecture, weather from snow-capped mountains in the Sierras to rainy jungles in the southeast and desert in the northwest, many golf courses and excellent fishing. Along with Chile, Colombia, and Peru, this once-poor nation is one of the *Pacific Pumas*, seeing significant economic growth and improved infrastructure during the 21st century.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk001", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumbnail|Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zocalo, Mexico City\nTHIS LIST SHOULD ONLY INCLUDE 9 CITIES - DO NOT ADD OR REPLACE CITIES WITHOUT FIRST USING DISCUSSION\n – Capital of the republic, one of the three largest cities in the world, and a sophisticated urban hub with a 700-year history. In Mexico City, you will find everything from parks, Aztec ruins, colonial architecture, museums, to nightlife and shopping.\n\n – One of the world's most popular and famous beaches, known for its clear Caribbean waters, its lively party atmosphere, and its wealth of recreational facilities. During the U.S. college Spring Break (mid-Feb to the end of March) it is noted for drinking, sunburns, and debauchery.\n – A traditional city, capital of Jalisco state, and the home of mariachi music and tequila. Guadalajara is blessed with perpetual spring weather and its colonial downtown is graceful and sophisticated.\n – Lively Pacific coast town, Mazatlán is a shipping port, a transportation hub with ferries to Baja California, and a beach resort destination with miles of sandy shore. It is a popular U.S. college Spring Break destination due to its variety of affordable lodging options.\n – A large modern city that is the commercial and industrial hub of Northern Mexico. Monterrey enjoys a dry, mountainous setting and is known for its high-quality educational and transportation infrastructure.\n – Located 110 km (68 mi) southeast of Mexico City, Puebla is one of the largest and oldest cities in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated here more than anywhere else in the country.\n – A colonial city in central Mexico that was once an important silver producer, but today, relies on manufacturing for its economic base.\n – In central Mexico west of Cuernavaca, this steep mountain town was once a major silver producer, and now has a strong place in the trade of decorative silver, from cheap fittings to the most elegant jewelry and elaborate castings.\n – Mexico's busiest border crossing for pedestrians and private vehicles, and a long-time bargain Mecca for southern Californians due to its proximity to San Diego.", "word_count": 344}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk002", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumbnail|The moon is rising over Copper Canyon\n\n (Barrancas del Cobre) – An exotic destination for travelers looking for a unique remote adventure! An awesome mountain rail ride -- one of the greatest in the world -- takes you upwards over 2,440 m (8000 feet) on the CHEPE, the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway. Hiking, horseback riding, birding, and Tarahumara Indians. Copper Canyon, the Sierra Madre and the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico. This area is designed for adventurous individuals who will tolerate some rough travel to get to their points of interest (although the famous train ride isn't demanding at all). Copper Canyon, a magnificent remote wilderness is not likely ever to become a mass market destination.\n – See whale birthings, swim with dolphins, and sea kayak in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, along the eastern coast of Baja California, near La Paz. National Geographic says the sunsets at San Carlos are some of the most spectacular in the world.\n – Protected natural areas in the highlands of the state of Michoacán. Millions of butterflies come to the area between November and March of each year, although numbers have declined sharply. This is a .\n – From docks on the Rio Grijalva (the only major river within Mexico) near Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Chiapas state, tour launches take you into this steep-walled National Park. You'll likely see vast flocks of flamingos, pelicans, and other waterfowl, as well as crocodiles.\n - Mexico has 67 national parks; these include protected natural areas and national monuments and historical sites\n\n### Archaeological sites\n\nthumbnail|Palenque\n – Majestic Mayan city, declared a in 1988 and was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.\n – A reconstructed Mayan site, famous for its unique decorated stucco and stone-carved temples that you can climb.\n – In the state of Veracruz near the town of Papantla. A .\n – In the state of Oaxaca, a Zapotec site dating from about 500 BC. A .\n – Mayan city in the state of Chiapas, Palenque famous for its elaborate paintings. Also well known for having the largest tract of rainforest in Mexico located in the same area.\n – An enormous pre-Columbian site with several large pyramids near Mexico City. A .\n – Mayan coastal city with spectacular Caribbean vistas. Dates from late Mayan period.\n – Impressive Mayan city-state in the Puuc Region, declared a in 1996.\n\n### Small towns\n\nThe Mexican government has designated more than 100 scenic small towns as **Pueblos Mágicos**. States can apply to have towns added to the carefully curated list, but they must provide sites of genuine tourist value (historical or cultural) and guarantee adequate levels of tourism infrastructure. All Pueblos Magicos are within a few hours drive of a major city that has good airline connections. Some of the Pueblos Magicos (such as Tequila) are well-known and quite popular. Most are off the beaten path and offer rich opportunities for quiet exploration.", "word_count": 490}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk003", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mexico, the **United Mexican States** (Spanish: *Estados Unidos Mexicanos*), is one of the most visited countries in the world. Much of the tourist industry is centered around the beach resorts as well as the *altiplano* in the central part of the country. Visiting the northern interior allows visitors to get off the beaten path a bit. U.S. American tourists tend to predominate on the Baja California peninsula and the more modernized beach resorts (Cancún, Puerto Vallarta), while European tourists congregate around the smaller resort areas in the south like Playa del Carmen and colonial towns San Cristobal de las Casas. Canadians often favor smaller beach resorts like Huatulco or Ixtapa.\n\n### Climate\n\nMexico uses the metric system for all measurements. All weather forecasts are in Celsius (°C).\n\n#### Central and southern Mexico\n\nApril is already the hottest month, especially at the coast and on the Yucatán peninsula. Towns which aren't that hot in April and during the summer are Mexico City, Toluca/Metepec, San Cristobal de las Casas, Pachuca and Zacatecas.\n\nHurricanes can be common in the coastal cities specially those near the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.\n\n#### Northern Mexico\n\nIt gets rather cold during the winter except on the coast. There is sometimes snow in certain places like the Sierra Madre of Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León and northern Tamaulipas.\n\nNorthern Mexico gets very hot during the summer with sudden violent storms in the afternoon, with heavy rain and hail. The temperatures during the day can exceed 39°C (100°F). Less hot during the summer is Tijuana.\n\n### Landscape", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk004", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|Pico de Orizaba or Citlaltépetl is Mexico's highest mountain\nHigh, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; temperate plains with grasslands and Mezquite trees in the northeast, desert and even more rugged mountains in the northwest, tropical rainforests in the south and southeast Chiapas, Yucatán Peninsula semiarid in places like Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí and temperate coniferous and deciduous forests in the central part of the country Mexico City, Toluca.\n\n### Holidays\n\nActual non-working days may shift to the Monday before the holiday, so check an up-to-date calendar. Government offices are closed nationwide on official holidays and on election days.\nDate\nName\nThings to know\nOfficial?\nJanuary 1\nNew Year's Day\n(*Año Nuevo*)\n\nofficial \nJanuary 6\nEpiphany\n(*Día de los Reyes Magos*)\nCelebrating arrival of the Three Wise Men to see and bring gifts to the baby Jesus\nnot official\nFebruary 2\nCandlemas\n(*Día de la Candelaria*)\nCatholic holiday related to Christmas\nnot official\nFirst Monday of February\nConstitution Day\nFor the events of 1917\nofficial\nFebruary 24\nFlag Day\n(*Día de la Bandera*)\n\nnot official\nMonday on or before March 21\nBirth of Benito Juárez\nMexico's first president of indigenous origin. \nofficial\nMarch or April\nEaster\n(*Pascua*)\nEaster is widely observed nationwide, according to the yearly Catholic calendar (the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring).\n\nApril 30\nChildren's Day\n(*Día del Niño*)\n\nMay 1\nLabor Day\n(*Día del Trabajo* )", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk005", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "official\nMay 5\nCinco de Mayo\nFor the Battle of Puebla against the French army in 1862. Visitors from the U.S. may be surprised to learn that it is not a major holiday in Mexico, and is not much celebrated by locals, except in the state of Puebla.\nnot official\nMay 10\nMother's Day\nA particularly important family-centric holiday. Some cities hold parades. Offices may be closed, restaurants will be packed full, and mariachi bands will race from one family to the next. If you are visiting someone's home, bring flowers for the mothers and grandmothers.\n\nMay 15\nTeacher's Day\n(*Día del Maestro*)\nA day to appreciate schoolteachers. Some schools close and others have special activities.\nnot official\nSeptember 1\nPresidential Address Day", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk006", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "September 15\nCry of Dolores\n(*Grito de Dolores*)\nA patriotic holiday to celebrate the first event of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, especially in the city of Dolores Hidalgo\nnot official\nSeptember 16\nIndependence Day\nCelebrates the start of the 11-year-long fight for the independence from Spain that began in 1810\nofficial\nOctober 12\nDay of the Race\n(*Día de la Raza*)\nRelated to Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492\nnot official\nNovember 2\nDay of the Dead(*Día de Muertos*)\nThe Mexican answer to Halloween celebrates family and friends who have died. Expect sugar candy shaped like skulls and *pan de muerto* (a somewhat sweet type of white bread). \nnot official\nThird Monday of November\nMexican Revolution Day\nFor the events of 1910. \nofficial\nDecember 12\nVirgin Mary of Guadalupe Day\nA Catholic religious holiday, and one of the most important Mexican holidays\nnot official\nDecember 24\nChristmas Eve\n(*Nochebuena*)\nNormally a full non-working day. Usually a family-centered evening. May be preceded by nine days of parties in the evenings, called *Las Posadas* (\"the inns\")*.*\nnot official\nDecember 25\nChristmas\n(*Navidad*)\n\nofficial\nDecember 31\nNew Year's Eve\nNormally a full non-working day. Expect firecrackers and lots of noise at midnight.\nnot official\n\n### Time\n\n300px|thumbnail|Mexican time zones\nThe 24-hour clock system has traditionally been used for time keeping. Today, both the 24-hour clock and the 12-hour clock are commonly used (roughtly equally), though the younger generation seems more inclined to express times using the 12-hour clock.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk007", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mexico uses these four time zones:\n **Northwest Zone** (UTC−8, corresponds to U.S. Pacific Time): Baja California (state)\n **Pacific Zone** (UTC−7, corresponds to U.S. Mountain Time): Baja California Sur, Chihuahua (state), Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora\n **Central Zone** (UTC−6, corresponds to U.S. Central Time): The rest of the country, except Quintana Roo\n **Southeastern Zone** (UTC−5, corresponds to U.S. Eastern Time): Quintana Roo\n\nMost of Mexico is on standard time year round. Daylight savings time is observed only in a few places. Communities on the U.S. border, except in Sonora, observe DST on the U.S. schedule. The state of Baja California also observes DST on the U.S. schedule (but Baja California Sur does not).\n\n### History\n\n#### Pre-Columbian\n\nAmong the earliest complex civilizations in Mexico was the **Olmec** culture that flourished on the Gulf Coast in 1500 BCE. Olmec culture diffused through Mexico into formative era cultures in Chiapas, Oaxaca and the Valley of Mexico.\n\nIn Central Mexico the height of the classical period saw the ascendancy of Teotihuacan, which formed a military and commercial empire. It had the largest structures of pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk008", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "During the early post-classic Mexico was dominated by **Toltec culture**, and the lowland **Maya** had important areas at Calakmul and Chichen Itza. At the end of the post-Classical period, the **Aztecs** built a tributary empire covering most of Central Mexico. The Mesoamerican cultural traditions ended in the 16th century and over the next centuries, Mexican indigenous cultures were under Spanish colonial rule. However, contrary to popular misconceptions neither the Maya nor the Aztec culture ever entirely \"disappeared\" and to this day many Mexicans trace at least part of their heritage to indigenous roots and language such as Nahuatl and numerous Maya tongues are still spoken by hundreds of thousands or even millions of Mexicans. Indigenous elements are visible even today in loanwords in Mexican Spanish, traditional dress, Mexican cuisine, architecture and even religious observances (nominally \"catholic\" to varying degrees). The eagle and the snake on a cactus depicted on the Mexican flag, for example, refers to an Aztec legend about the founding of Tenochtitlan, the city that now is Mexico City.\n\n#### Colonial and early independence\n\nMexico remained under Spanish colonial rule until 1821 when it declared independence under the terms of \"Plan of Iguala\". After the short lived Mexican empire of 1821-1823 (former Spanish general and independence hero Augustin de Iturbide briefly declared himself emperor but was overthrown after two years) Mexico became a republic with a fragile balance of powers between liberals (allied mostly with urban merchants) and conservatives (allied with the church and big landholders) and Antonio López de Santa Anna became president several times while also being overthrown by his opponents several times thus having eight non-consecutive terms as president as well as five \"permanent\" exiles.\n\n#### Independent Mexico", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk009", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "The early Mexican state was anything but stable. Texas (under the leadership of US-American immigrants who wanted to make Texas a slave-holding state of the US) and Yucatán seceded at several points. Maya rebels fought against both the Yucatán independence movement and the federal government in the so-called \"Caste war\".\n\nAfter Texas gained *de facto* independence a disagreement as to its southern border (the Nueces river as claimed by Mexico or the Rio Grande as claimed by Texas) led to the involvement of the US in a brief war that ended in a devastating defeat for Mexico (the line about the \"halls of Montezuma\" in the marines' song refers to the presidential palace in Mexico city that was conquered by the US) and the loss of Alta California (now the US state of California), Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico as well as the definite loss of Texas north of the Rio Grande.\n\nThe ceded territories were rapidly colonized by immigrants from Europe and the eastern United States; see Old West.\n\n#### French intervention and Second Mexican empire", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk010", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1861, when president Benito Juarez suspended the payment of Mexico's debt, France decided to invade the country in order to regain some or all of its money. This was only possible because the United States, which had declared in its Monroe Doctrine that it wouldn't tolerate any European intervention in the sovereign states of the Americas, started its Civil War that same year. After overthrowing the government (though Mexican resistance against the occupiers never ceased) the French installed a Habsburg prince as emperor Maximilian I to act as their puppet. While the Mexican monarchy had some support among conservatives its days were numbered when the French troops were withdrawn after the end of the American Civil war, and in 1867, Maximilian was executed by firing squad. Cinco de Mayo, which in the US is often mistaken to be \"Mexican independence day\", is celebrated in remembrance of the battle of Puebla that occurred during the French occupation and was decisively won by Mexican republican forces.\n\n#### Benito Juárez\n\nthumb|Statue of Benito Juárez in [[Hidalgo]]\n\nBenito Juárez was the first president of indigenous descent in all of Latin America and is one very few figures that is still almost exclusively seen as a positive figure in Mexican history. He was president from 1858 to 1864 and again from 1867 to his death in 1872. His saying \"el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz\" (respect for the rights of others is peace) is still frequently quoted.\n\n#### Porfirio Díaz", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk011", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "Porfirio Díaz, a general during the French intervention rose to power shortly after the death of Juárez and ruled Mexico from 1876 to 1911. While initially willing and able to reform and modernize the country, the sheer length of his reign and his corruption led to a lot of unhappiness about his government and in 1911 the Mexican revolution broke out to unseat him from power, but it soon devolved into factional fighting between various claimants for power and attempts at radical social and economic reform.\n\n#### The Mexican Revolution\n\nThe Mexican Revolution was a complex civil war and period of political intrigue and treachery. The Revolution started in 1910 with resistance against a blatantly fraudulent election manipulated by Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution ignited into a full-scale war when the elected president, Francisco Madero, was assassinated by Díaz loyalists. Several factions had different complaints about Díaz and his long, corrupt dictatorship. Groups loyal to Venustiano Carranza wanted constitutional reforms. Groups loyal to Emiliano Zapata wanted land reforms and rights for the indigenous. Other groups demanded an end to resource giveaways to foreign industrial interests, while others demanded an end to excessive power of the Catholic church. The groups eventually coalesced behind the Constitutionalists and stable government was restored by 1920.\n\n#### Under the PRI", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk012", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "Once the dust of the revolution had settled, the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI [pronounced /pree/] for its Spanish name) became the dominant political force and all presidents before the early 1990s were members of the PRI. They did not establish a one party state and other parties were still legal and participated in elections. However, the success of the PRI candidate (especially at the federal level) was almost always a given. As such, political power struggles mostly took place within the PRI, with more conservative or left wing factions gaining the upper hand from time to time. In 1988, during a presidential election that was actually close for the first time in decades, a computer that counted the votes supposedly crashed. The words with which this was announced \"se cayó el sistema\" are noted for their ambiguity as they can mean either \"the computer broke down\" or \"the (political) system fell\". Nonetheless, according to the official result (which was and still is doubted by many), the PRI candidate won a six-year term in office just narrowly surpassing the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff election. In 2000 the PRI finally lost its first presidential election when Vicente Fox of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) won a narrow victory in a three-way race. In 2006 the PAN won again with Felipe Calderon being elected president but in 2012 the PRI returned to power with Enrique Peña Nieto, who promised to end the drug war being elected to the presidency. Whether this proves temporary or the PRI has indeed regained its once dominant status, remains yet to be seen.\n\n#### Mexico today", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk013", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Understand", "text": "Despite problems such as corruption and the drug war in the North (with some areas under *de facto* control of different cartels), Mexico has grown steadily, and there have been democratic multiparty elections with peaceful transition of power. A fairly stable three party system has emerged: the PAN (conservative) and PRI (centrist, catch all, sometimes leftist) have each won the presidency several times and the PRD (left of the PRI) has been a serious contender in almost all elections.\n\nThe drug war is ongoing and some parts of the country are not entirely safe, but the situation has bettered a lot after the 2000s. Generally the North with cities such as Ciudad Juarez notorious for their violence is more dangerous than the south and Yucatán is among the safest regions in Latin America. For more on the effects of the drug war see the stay safe section of this article and the individual region articles.\n\nPresident Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) assumed power on December 1, 2018, after waging a populist, anti-corruption campaign and winning the 2018 election with more than a 30% margin over his next closest opponent. He is the leader of the center-left National Regeneration Movement (MORENA). Having had a reputation as a leftist firebrand in the past, AMLO has moderated his politics in order to appeal to a wider share of the electorate, though he remains a solidly left-leaning, populist politician. Under his leadership, Mexico has served as a moderator in wider Latin American politics, for example, in the Venezuelan and Bolivian crises, while also navigating relations with the United States government over trade and migrant issues. In 2024, Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum as its first female and first Jewish president to succeed AMLO.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Mexico website", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk014", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa and other entrance requirements\n\n#### Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM)\n\nthumb|450px|Visa policy of Mexico\nthumb|Mexican entry stamp\n\nForeign nationals of many countries who intend to stay in Mexico fewer than 180 days for the purpose of tourism or 30 days for business can fill out a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM, tourist card) at the border or upon landing at an airport after presenting a valid passport, for US$22. If arriving via air, it is included in the price of the fare.\n\nThis service is available to citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Uruguay (see official list here). Permanent residents of the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, and Schengen area countries are also eligible for visas on arrival regardless of citizenship.\n\nThe **paper FMM card** has a perforation that divides the card into two parts, of which the right side asks for some of the same information requested on the left side. At entry, after reviewing your passport and filled-out FMM, the immigration officer will stamp your passport and the FMM, separate the FMM along the perforation and give the right side of the FMM back to you with your passport.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk015", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "The paper tourist card is being phased out. At many ports of entry (including Mexico City's international airport), you will not have to complete a paper form. Rather, the immigration officer will stamp your passport. A **digital version** of the tourist card (FMMd, *Forma Migratoria Múltiple Digital*) will be generated for you, which can be downloaded from the website.\n\nIf you have a paper FMM, keep it with your passport at all times. It is your responsibility to make sure the right side of the FMM is returned to the Mexican government at time of departure so that the bar code can be scanned, thus showing that you left the country on time. For example, if you are flying with Aeromexico, they will ask for your passport and FMM at check-in for your flight home, then staple your FMM to your boarding pass. You are expected to then hand the boarding pass together with your FMM to the gate agent as you board your flight. If you lose your FMM during your visit to Mexico, you may be subject to substantial delays and fines before you can leave the country.\n\nIf you fly into Mexico on a commercial flight, your ticket already includes the cost (M$860) of the FMM and you absolutely do *not* need to pay it again upon exiting. You will need to prove to the border officials that you have already paid, by showing the following:\n\nYour FMM card you received upon arrival, and\nAn itemized receipt from your flight purchase showing the Tourism Tax\n\nHowever, if you are traveling by land and your trip is 7 days or less, the FMM is free.\n\nThere is also a fee of M$223 applied to flights leaving the country.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk016", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some foreign nationals are no longer granted the full 180 days by default as is it was in the past. You can arbitrarily be granted any number of days from 3 to the full 180 days depending on the whim of the immigration officer. Always check your passport stamp and FMM card upon arrival to determine how many days are granted before walking away from the immigration counter. Ask the immigration officer if you cannot read the handwriting to be sure how many days you are granted to stay in the country. *Never* assume that you are granted the full 180 days or they will automatically tell you if you are given less than 180 days. Travelers have reported to have been detained for over-staying the less than 180 day time allotted to them when they entered.\n\n#### Autorización Electrónica (SAE)\n\nThe Electronic Authorization System (SAE, Autorización Electrónica) for travelling to Mexico is available online for nationals from Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Russians, Ukrainians, and Turkish citizens with permanent residency or a valid visa to Canada, the US, Japan, the UK, or any Schengen country don't need an SAE. Other nationalities must contact a Mexican consulate in order to find out the requirements for citizens of their country, and may have to apply for and obtain a visa in advance of travel. If you are in need of other information, Mexico has diplomatic offices in the following cities around the world.\n\n#### At the border\n\nIf you cross the border via road, do not expect the authorities to automatically signal you to fill out your paperwork. You will have to locate the border office yourself.\n\nThe immigration officer at your point of entry into Mexico can request that you demonstrate that you have sufficient economic solvency.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk017", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "The immigration officer can demand a round trip ticket. If you only booked a one-way ticket to Mexico, the airline may want to see a ticket that carries you out of Mexico. It could be that the airline wants to see that onward ticket as \"early\" as at the gate, where you may not have enough time to buy one. So have at least an onward ticket from specialized websites for around US$10 (Nov 2021) ready when heading to the airport for your flight for Mexico.\n\nIf you do not intend to travel past the \"border zone\" and your stay does not exceed three days, U.S. and Canadian nationals require only a proof of citizenship. Reentry into the United States generally requires a passport, but a U.S. or Canadian Enhanced Drivers License (or Enhanced Photo ID) or U.S. passport card is acceptable for reentry by land or sea.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumbnail|Aeromexico planes at Benito Juarez International Airport\n\n#### From the United States and Canada\n\nThere are hundreds of daily flights linking Mexico to cities large and small throughout North America. This includes legacy carriers such as Air Canada, Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta, and discount airlines such as JetBlue, Spirit, WestJet, and Southwest Airlines. Also to be considered are the Mexican discount carriers **Volaris**, which operate from several major US cities through their hubs in Mexico City and Guadalajara, and **Viva Aerobus**, which also operates from several major US cities through hubs in Mexico City and Monterrey. **United Airlines**/**United Express** fly to many smaller market Mexican cities and resort areas, including Aguascaliente, Chihuahua, Ciudad de Carmen, Durango, Huatulco, Leon/Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Merida, San Luis Potosi, Torreon, Tampico, Veracruz and Villahermosa.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk018", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "As in the United States and Canada, you will have to clear immigration *and* customs at your first Mexican port of entry, even though that airport may not be your final destination. (For example, many trips on Aeromexico will involve connecting through its Mexico City hub.) You will then have to re-check your bags and go through security again to proceed to your next flight segment.\n\n#### From Australia or New Zealand\n\nFly from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Auckland (NZ) direct to Los Angeles on American Airlines, Delta, Qantas, and United. Air New Zealand offers one-stop air service from Australia and non-stop air service from Auckland to Los Angeles. Hawaiian Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui offer one- or two-stop air service to Los Angeles from Australia and New Zealand.\n\nMany airlines continue from Los Angeles to Mexico including AeroMexico/Aeromexico Connect, Alaska Airlines, Volaris, United and Virgin America, some of which have interline or alliance ticketing and baggage check through. More options are available if connecting through another US city. Also, make sure to have a good look at visas beforehand – even just for transit you will need something for the US, and if you get a visa waiver, they treat Mexico as part of the US, meaning if you stay longer than 90 days in Mexico, you will need to travel further south before returning to the US.\n\n#### From Europe", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk019", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most commercial airlines link Mexico directly from Europe. There are direct flights to Mexico City () and Cancun () from Paris (), London (), Madrid (), Amsterdam (), and Frankfurt (). Some carriers will serve both Mexico City and Cancun while others will only serve one and not the other (usually only to Cancun such as those from Russia and Italy). Additional flights to Cancun from Europe may only be available as charters and some may operate during the winter months (December–February) only. It is always worth to compare flight offers from air carriers and charter companies who can bring you to Mexico City or Cancun via many European hubs. The flight duration from those cities is always approximately 11 hours.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are no international trains to Mexico.\n\nFrom the United States to Mexico the nearest **Amtrak** stations are in San Diego, Yuma, Del Rio and El Paso. The frequent *Pacific Surfliner* connects San Diego from San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles; while the *Sunset Limited* and *Texas Eagle* pass by Yuma, El Paso and Del Rio between Los Angeles and San Antonio. In San Antonio the *Texas Eagle* continues northwards towards Chicago while the *Sunset Limited* continues east to New Orleans. Amtrak trains do not cross the border into Mexico so passengers continue to the border by local public transportation or by taxi from the Amtrak station.\n\nThe '''Tren Maya''' has a station along the Belize border in the city of Chetumal with onward travel to Merida, Cancún or other destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula. Bus service to Chetumal is available from Belize City and Belmopan. The Tren Maya also has two stops near the Guatemala border (at El Triunfo and at Boca del Cerro), but neither have scheduled transportation to any Guatemalan destinations.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk020", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By car\n\nthumbnail|Crossing into Mexico from the U.S. near Tijuana\nAmerican automobile insurance is not accepted in Mexico; however, it is easy to obtain short-term or long-term tourist policies that include the mandatory liability coverage, theft and accident coverage for your vehicle, and often, legal assistance coverage. Should you decide to drive to Mexico, the Transport and Communications Secretariat website has free downloadable road maps.\n\nThe first 20 km inside Mexico is referred to as \"the hassle free zone\". In this area, foreigners are not required to have tourist permits and can drive their foreign-registered vehicles without requiring a vehicle import permit. However, they must take care of any permits, duties or other legal requirements before proceeding onward into the interior. Government checkpoints (called *garitas*) are generally 20-30km from the border. Traffic is often waved through, but vehicles can always be stopped for inspection. Checkpoints are common along the U.S./Mexico border from Tamaulipas through Sonora, but not common in Baja California, where vehicle import permits are never required (there is a checkpoint in La Paz, monitoring traffic coming off the Baja ferries).\n\nForeign-plated vehicles must obtain necessary permits before being allowed into the interior of Mexico. This can be done at the border checkpoints by showing your vehicle title or registration, as well as immigration documents and a valid credit card. It is now possible to apply for your vehicle import permit online. Vehicle permits will only be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, so the papers will have to be in the name of the applicant. The Baja California peninsula and the northern part of the State of Sonora do not require a permit.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk021", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "Driving a **rental car** from the United States into Mexico is possible with some of the large multinational companies, but the process is rather cumbersome. You will need to inform your car rental company in advance and purchase additional Mexican insurance (since U.S. car insurance does not cover Mexico), and you cannot drive beyond the border region into the interior of Mexico. You also cannot drop off a U.S. rental car in Mexico, and must return to the U.S. to drop it off. In the reverse direction, Mexican rental cars are usually not permitted to be driven into the U.S.\n\nDue to the contraband crossing the US-Mexico border (drugs and illegal immigration into the US, drug money and weapons into Mexico), expect long delays and thorough searches of vehicles when crossing the border. At some of the busiest crossings, expect a waiting time of 1–3 hours.\n\n### By bus\n\n*See main article, Bus travel in Mexico*.\n\nBuses are the most widely used transportation system in Mexico with routes going to all parts of the country. Long-distance buses are very comfortable and affordable. All border crossings have bus stations where buses can take you to interior cities, often to large bus terminals providing connections to virtually any major city or tourist destination.\n\nFrom the southern United States, many companies provide trans-border service with modern, comfortable buses that cross the border. You can take a bus from Chicago all the way to Mexico City, though some companies will only take you to the border region where you can connect to a domestic Mexican bus company for onward travel to the interior of Mexico. A list of these companies is in Bus travel in Mexico.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk022", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses are also available from Central America into Mexico. These buses usually go to Tapachula, where you can connect to domestic Mexican bus companies for onward travel to the interior. Buses from Belize City will take you to Chetumal where you can connect to a Mexican bus or to the Tren Maya for onward rail journeys.\n\n### By boat\n\nBorder crossing from Guatemala.\n Cruise ships from the United States.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk023", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "Travelling in Mexico is most practical by bus, car, or air. Passenger transport by train is possible in some areas. most extensively in the Yucatán Peninsula, with its modern *Tren Maya* service. The **Chihuahua del Pacifico** railroad is one of the most scenic railroads in the world, passing through the Copper Canyon, and departing from Los Mochis on the Pacific coast, or Creel in the east. They cross each other roughly midways at **Divisadero and Barrancas** Copper Canyon stations at an altitude of 2100 m (7000 ft).\n\n### By car\n\nthumbnail|Highway 120 passing through the village of Pinal de Amoles\nDue to a government scheme in the early 1990s to create infrastructure, the best roads are toll roads. Toll roads can be relatively costly but are much faster and better maintained. First-class buses generally travel by toll roads (and the toll is included in the ticket price).\n\nUS vehicle insurance is not valid in Mexico. Mexican auto insurance has been required since 2018; if you have even a minor accident without insurance, you could land in jail. MexiPass and AAA offer Mexican auto insurance.", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk024", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "When traveling on Mexican roads, especially near the borders with the United States and Guatemala, one will probably encounter several checkpoints operated by the Mexican Army searching for illegal weapons and drugs. If you are coming from the United States, you may not be used to this, and it can be intimidating. However, these are rarely a problem for honest people. Simply do what the soldiers tell you to do, and treat them with respect. The best way to show respect when entering a checkpoint is to turn your music down, lift sunglasses from your face, and be prepared to roll your window down. They should treat you with respect as well, and they usually do. If you are asked to unpack any part of your vehicle, do so without complaint. It is their right to make you completely unload in order for them to inspect your cargo.\n\nTourists are often warned about travelling on roads at night. Although *bandidos* are rare in more metropolitan areas, err on the side of caution in more rural areas. The best bet is to drive during only daylight hours. Cattle, dogs, and other animals also can appear on the roadway unexpectedly, so if you do have to drive at night, be very cautious. If possible, follow a bus or truck that seems to be driving safely.\n\nForeign drivers' licenses are recognized and recommended. Speeding tickets are common, and to ensure your presence at the hearing, the officer may choose to keep your license. He is within his rights to do so. Beware though, police officers are known to keep driver's licenses until they are given a bribe.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk025", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "At petrol (gas) stations, make sure the pump is zeroed out before the attendant begins pumping your gas so that you don't end up paying more than you should.\n\nGood maps are invaluable and the Mexico maps included in \"North American Road Atlas\" books are worse than useless. The Guia Roji maps are particularly good.\n\nIf you arrive in Mexico by airplane but would like to drive around the country, all major car rental companies are present in Mexico. However, you must know that they operate under a franchise scheme, and therefore their policies and the overall way to do business are very different than those in other countries. Most of the times they will publish prices that may look very attractive, but may not include insurance, taxes and other mandatory fees, the best thing to do is call in advance to find out the final price to pay. There are some local companies which do include all bells and whistles in their rates, Veico Car Rental. City Car Rental offers good prices and have rental offices as most major cities in Mexico.\n\nThroughout the mainland of North America including the Mexico, traffic moves on the right with most cars being left-hand-drive (as in Belize, Guatemala, and the United States of America). The only areas of North America that do not drive on the right are on some Caribbean Islands.\n\n### By plane\n\nMajor airlines hubs for all or several of the airlines are in Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, Mexico City-Santa Lucia Airport (NLU), Guadalajara, Cancún International Airport, and Monterrey. There are additional point to point services from several other cities. Budget airlines offer competitive fares that rival bus travel over long distances. The low-cost airlines are VivaAerobus and Volaris.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk026", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "The main airlines providing service to over 60 cities within Mexico are:\n - Aeromexico/Aeromexico Connect\n\n- Magnicharters\n\n- Mexicana\n\n- VivaAerobus\n\n- Volaris\n\nThere are also small airlines operating within certain areas such as:\n - Aerus\n\n- Calafia Airlines\n\n- Aerotucán\n\n- Señor Air\n\n- TAR\n\nOn the Viva Aerobus fares \"Zero\" and \"Light\", you cannot check in earlier than 4 hours and 8 hours before departure respectively. As of Nov 2021, the website and app won't tell you that if you try it earlier. Instead giving you a random error message or telling you to check-in at the airport for additional cost, which is not needed.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Intercity buses\n\nSee main article, Bus travel in Mexico\n\nLong-distance buses are an ideal way to experience Mexico. The executive and first-class buses are very modern, clean, and comfortable with bigger seats and more legroom than the first-class cabin of a modern aircraft. Costs are generally low, with first-class tickets costing only slightly more than a much slower second-class bus. All major cities and tourist destinations have good bus service.\n\n#### City buses", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk027", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most larger cities have a mix of public bus services and privately run bus services. For example, in Mexico City there are several bus services that are part of the public Metro transportation including large, modern articulated buses that run in dedicated lanes on major arteries, as well as electric buses and traditional buses through most neighborhoods. In the city of Monterrey, there are Metrobuses that operate as part of the city's public transit network, often connecting to the Metrorrey subway/light rail stations. There are also more than a dozen private bus companies, usually providing services to a well-defined section of the city. Using the city buses can be complicated, involving various transfers and sometimes multiple providers. Information about these may be in individual destination articles here, but is more reliable in the Moovit app (available for iPhone or Android).\n\n#### Colectivos, combis, peseros\n\nMany cities in Mexico have privately operated van or small bus services that run along popular routes. These go by various names including *peseros*, *colectivos*, *urbanos*, or *combis*. Whatever you call them, they are sometimes vans and sometimes small buses with varying color codes depending on the city you are in and often identifying the operator or route. Usually the route taken is written on cardboard attached to the windshield or with wet and then dried soap or chalk on the windshield listing the local colonias (neighborhoods) and points of interest (Allende, WalMart, Soriana, malls, hospitals, universities, etc.) the routes are not numbered and the schedules are often informal. When a combi gets full, it leaves and won't pick up passengers along the way until somebody gets off.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk028", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "In some cities the pesero stops at marked bus stops while in others bus stops are uncommon and you are expect to signal the bus to pick you up (wave or hold out your hand) and drop you off when you want. If you don't find a stop button in a pesero; just shout the word *bajo!* for it to stop. Fares are cheap and vary from M$5-15 (Feb 2022) approximately.\n\n### By carpooling\n\nYou can check, if there are rides offered for your route on Blablacar. Especially between bigger cities the chances are good. In order to see the prices in pesos, you need to (re)install the app and choose Mexican pesos. Prices are about 30-50% less than taking an intercity bus.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Tren Maya\n\nIntercity trains are slowly making a comeback in Mexico, after a 25-year hiatus. The vast majority of cities are not served but as of 2025 a few lines have opened and there are plans for major expansions over the coming years.\n\n''Tren Maya'' serves the Yucatán Peninsula and the Riviera Maya. The route goes along the Caribbean coast between Cancun and Chetumal at the Belize border. It provides access to Merida and has stations at archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, Edzna, Tulum, and Palenque.\n\n''Tren Interoceánico'' runs across the Tehuantepec isthmus between Salina Cruz on the Pacific Ocean and Coatzalcocos on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Tren Interoceanico also has a line that connects Coatzalcocos to Palenque where passengers can transfer to the Tren Maya.\n\n*El Insurgente* is an intercity train in Mexico State connecting to the Mexico City Metro at the Observatorio station.\n\n#### Tourist trains\n\nthumb|''El Chepe'' through the Copper Canyon", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk029", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "The most famous tourist train in Mexico is the ''Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico'' (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway or *El Chepe*) between Los Mochis, Sinaloa, and the town of Creel, Chihuahua, through the gorgeous Copper Canyon.\n\nIn the state of Jalisco there are a couple of lines which travel from the state capital city of Guadalajara to the nearby tequila distilleries in the small town of Amatitlan on the ''Tequila Express'' and to the Jose Cuervo distilleries in the town of Tequila on the ''Jose Cuervo Express''.\n\nThere is also a tourist train that runs from Tijuana to Tecate (and back again) on Saturdays.\n\n### By taxi\n\nRide-hailing is available in Mexico and the following are the most anticipated providers. There may be destinations where the service is not available due to differences with local cab groups.\n \n \n \n \nMany drivers in Mexico do not like payment by credit card. If you're having trouble hailing a ride, try switching to cash payment.\n\n### By thumb\n\nOne upside of the high petroleum prices is that hitching is beginning to be more common in Mexico again, particularly the rural areas. In areas near big cities, hitching should be more difficult, and is not really advisable for security reasons.\n\nHowever, in village areas, this will be really possible and most likely a nice experience. Since villagers have always had a hard time affording gas, and nowadays many are turning to picking up paying hitchhikers as a way to afford the next trip into town. Baja California, the Sierra Tarahumara and Oaxaca and Chiapas all have good possibilities for the hitchhiker.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk030", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking possibilities vary according to region. Mexican culture is often accepting of hitchhiking and it's a common practice among Mexican youngsters going to the beach in Easter vacations, though in some cases a money contribution is expected for gas because of its relatively high prices. You should make it clear that you have no money to offer before accepting the ride, if this is the case. If you're willing to pay, trucks will often provide lifts for about half the price of a bus ticket. Of course you may be able to negotiate a better deal. Hitchhiking is considered fairly safe and easy in the Yucatán Peninsula.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk031", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Spanish** is the *de facto* national language. Spanish is used by virtually the whole population and all public communications (signs, documents, media, etc.) are conducted in the language.\n\nMexico has one of the richest diversity of more than 60 **indigenous languages** spoken with official recognition. These languages are spoken within the communities that are largely segregated from mainstream mestizo society. About 5% of Mexicans speak an indigenous language. Most of these communities are fluent in Spanish as well.\n\nMany Mexicans do not speak English, even though it is understood by many in Mexico City, tour guides, and workers in popular tourist attractions. Because of this, a good knowledge of Spanish is essential for the independent traveller. \n\nThe most popular foreign languages to learn within Mexico after English are French, Italian, German and Japanese. German, French, and Russian may be known by some in the tourism industry, but among clerks, policemen, and drivers (most particularly the last) there is basically no such thing as knowledge of foreign languages. Bilingual signs in Spanish and English might be available in popular tourist destinations.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk032", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Popocatépetl's 16th century monasteries are World Heritage Sites\nMany travelers come to see Mexico's natural wonders, including:\n **Copper Canyon** - ride the train through an enormous canyon system in the northwestern mountains\n **Mesoamerican Barrier Reef** - scuba dive the coral reefs in the warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean\n **Sea of Cortez** - see migrating whales, sea lions, dolphins and more\n **Volcano Belt** - climb Mexico's highest mountain peaks and see active, dormant, and inactive volcanoes\n\nThere are 35 UNESCO world heritage sites in Mexico as of 2018, more than anywhere else in the Americas. Most of them are in the cultural category and relate to either the pre-Columbian civilizations in the area or to early colonial cities established by the Spanish *conquistadores* and missionaries. Much of Mexico is mountainous with some mountains rising higher than 5,000 m over the sea level.\n\nMexico is on the border of two bioregions; both North American wildlife and Central and South American wildlife can be seen in the country. A number of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are in Mexico as well as a number of RAMSAR wetlands. \n\nThe Mexican Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) has a program called *Pueblos Magicos* to identify and develop tourist programs in smaller, lesser known destinations. Towns designated as Pueblos Magicos usually are rich in colonial heritage, maintain cultural traditions, or offer spectacular natural wonders. These towns are the kinds of places a couple would go for a romantic weekend because they often feature interesting historical sites in a quaint setting with local bed and breakfast inns, regional cuisine in the local restaurants, and good accessibility from major cities.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk033", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Mayan Ruins of Tulum\nThe warm Mexican climate, spectacular nature and long coastline make the country great for outdoor life, especially water sport.\n\n**Surfing** – Baja California, Vallarta, Oaxaca\n **Sea kayaking** – Baja California\n **Snorkeling** – Baja California, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, etc.\n **Scuba diving** – Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas etc., and cave diving in the cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula.\n **Whale watching** – Baja California, Guerrero Negro, Mazunte, Zipolite\n **White water rafting** – Veracruz\n **Visit a volcano** – Mexico, Toluca etc.\n **Take a ride on the Copper Canyon Railway**\n **Enjoy the beautiful coast line and beaches of Oaxaca** – Huatulco, Mazunte, Zipolite, Puerto Angel, Puerto Escondido, etc.\n Go for a **horseback ride** in the Copper Canyon\n **Visit the archaeological sites** like Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Monte Alban, Calakmul, Palenque, etc.\n **Volunteering** – Chiapas, Xalapa, Veracruz or many other destinations\n **Visit ecological parks** – Mayan Riviera, Chiapas, Tamaulipas\n **Trekking and viewing cave paintings** Baja California\n\n### Sports\n\n**Football** (soccer) is Mexico's national sport, and its top men's league, the **Liga MX**, is one of the best funded outside Europe. The big four teams in the Liga MX are **América**, **Chivas**, **Cruz Azul** and **Pumas**. The rivalry between Guadalajara's Chivas and Mexico City's América, known as *El Súper Clásico*, *El Clásico de Clásicos* or just *El Clásico*, is the biggest in Mexico, and fixtures between the two sides are guaranteed to draw partisan sell-out crowds. In Northern Mexico, the biggest game of the year is the *Clasico Regio*, pitting Monterrey's two top teams against each other. The Mexican national team is also a regional powerhouse, and matches against its northern neighbor, the United States, are particularly charged affairs.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk034", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Do", "text": "**Baseball** is the second biggest team sport in the country with two leagues, Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) and the Liga Pacifica (LMP)(sponsored by ARCO). The best players make it to Major League Baseball teams in the U.S., but that is not a universal goal in Mexico, where many players enjoy long careers (particularly in the Mexican League teams) and are relatively well paid. The Liga Mexicana began in 1925. It is organized as two divisions, North and South, with 18 teams playing a 114-game season, from April to September. Teams are located in many popular tourist destinations including Cancun (Tigres), Mexico City (Diablos Rojos), Guadalajara (Mariachis), Monterrey (Sultanes), and Tijuana (Toros). The LMP is a winter league with 10 teams, mostly in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, but with teams in Mexicali (Aguilas), Guadalajara (Charros), and Monterrey (Sultanes). Monterrey and Guadalajara are the two cities with teams in both leagues, so you can catch a game there at almost any time of the year.\n\n**American Football** has a long tradition in Mexico but has often been relegated to third fiddle by the more popular soccer and baseball. Estadio Azteca has seen a handful of NFL games (including, at a time, the best attended NFL game in league history up to that point) and besides a long-standing college league, there is now also a professional league with teams focused in and around Mexico City.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk035", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Do", "text": "**Bullfighting**, also referred to as *la fiesta brava*, is a popular (but declining) spectator sport with a long Hispanic tradition stretching back as far as 2,000 years. Tradition crashes headlong into the modern world when it comes to bullfighting, where animal rights activists fight a constantly escalating war against bullfighting. Proponents of bullfighting point not only to the colorful traditions, but to the fact that the \"industry\" supporting bullfighting creates 18,000 jobs nationwide. Activists say it's a barbaric, bloodthirsty tradition that has no place in a civilized world. The debate is ongoing and while Mexico City's first bullfight was held in 1526, many people would be happy if no 500th anniversary could take place.\n\nMexico City's Plaza de Toros (Plaza Monumental) is the world's largest bullring and is regarded as being part of the \"triple crown\" of bullfighting, alongside Madrid and Sevilla. While animal rights activists succeeded in having bullfights blocked in Mexico City in 2022, the case was overturned on appeal and bullfights have resumed in the capital. Bullfights usually occur between November and March, but the season varies by location. In Tijuana, bullfights occur between April and October. In some smaller towns, bullfights are held only in conjunction with large festivals. In any case, travellers who might want a genuine bullfight experience should make plans to visit Mexico soon because the tradition of bullfighting may not last forever.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk036", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Mexico is the *peso*, denoted in Mexico as \"**$**\" (ISO code **MXN**) and in Wikivoyage as \"**M$**\". It is divided into 100 *centavos*. Prices in US dollars (in tourist areas) are labeled \"US$\" or sport an *S* with a double stroke.\nCoins are issued in denominations of 5, 10 (steel), 20, and 50 centavos (brass; new 50-centavo coins issued from 2011 onwards are steel and smaller in size) and 1, 2, 5 (steel ring, brass center), 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos (brass ring, steel or silver center), but it's extremely rare to find coins valued at more than 10 pesos.\n\nBanknotes are produced in denominations of 20 (blue or green and pink), 50 (pink-red or purple), 100 (red), 200 (green), 500 (brown or blue), and 1,000 (purple and pink for the latest issue, purple for older issues) pesos. The current issue of 20-, 50- and 100-peso bills are made from polymer plastic, and there are several different series of all banknotes. Ten-peso notes exist, but are very rare and no longer issued and accepted, but remain legal tender.\n\n#### Acceptance of other currency\n\n\"Old\" pesos (coins and banknotes issued before 1993) are no longer accepted, but are usually collected by numismatists.\n\nMerchants may accept US dollars at a lower exchange rate. US dollars are sometimes accepted in border towns and in some tourist areas. Even when US dollars are accepted, pesos are preferred.\n\nOther currencies such as the euro, pound sterling, and Swiss franc are generally not accepted by merchants, and even banks headquartered in Europe may refuse to accept euros for exchange. On the other hand, most banks and exchange offices (*casas de cambio*) will accept them.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk037", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "If you arrive from the south and still carry Central American currency, try to exchange them as soon as possible, as outside of the immediate border area not even banks will accept them. As all Central American countries either have the US dollar as their national currency (El Salvador and Panama) or have it circulating to varying degrees as a *de facto* second currency and virtually all banks in Central America and most banks in Mexico accept US dollars (usually at better rates than any other currency) your best bet is to \"triangulate\" your money from local currency to dollars and from dollars to pesos rather than exchanging them directly, which can be difficult and expensive. Should you have forgotten to exchange your money and the banks are closed, street money changers (called *coyotes* or *cambistas*) don't have fixed opening hours and often have better rates. Be careful however, as they do from time to time rip off foreign visitors with bogus calculators, wrong rates and counterfeit or outdated (and thus worthless) bills.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nIf you have brought cash in US dollars or euros, the best places to change your money are at an arrival airport (such as Mexico City and Cancun), where many money exchanges are located already in the arrival hall (where you can also compare some exchange rates and choose the most convenient) and, normally, at airports, the exchange rate is usually fair. Be sure to pass through Customs before looking for foreign exchange as inside the customs zone in Cancun the rate is far lower than the greediest street vendors ask.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk038", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "If you would like to wait until later to obtain Mexican currency, try not to change at your hotel, as the rates there tend to be extremely disadvantageous for tourists. However, some hotels provide exchanges as a courtesy, in this case it is best to ask just to make sure. Often, you can find money exchanges at strategic places in most tourist destinations and near the hotel (zones). The exchanges rates should not differ drastically from the ones at airport. If you are unfamiliar with Mexican money (bills, coins), try to stick to official foreign exchange booths. In several internationally popular beach destinations like Cancun and Los Cabos, local merchants are accustomed to US dollars and will often accept them as payment (they even have dual-currency cash registers and drawers). However, do bear in mind that the convenience of such “private” money exchange usually comes with a slightly unfavorable exchange rate.\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk039", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "If there is no price tag, *ask for the price first*. The simple question is \"¿Cuánto cuesta?\" and is easily understood by Mexicans.\nSome shops show the price in **pesitos**. That's the diminutive of peso and means the same.\nthumbnail|Spices for sale at a market in Oaxaca\n Weights are measured in kilograms. Length is measured in centimeters and meters.\n For clothes and shoe sizes, the \"Continental\" measurements are used.\nMerchants can be picky about the state of your paper money and may scrutinize it and reject anything with rips. Try to keep it in as pristine condition as possible. Reputedly, this is more the case the farther south you go. In any case, you can easily enter a bank with some damaged bill to get it exchanged into another one.\nMerchants are often reluctant to make change in smaller towns. Try to avoid paying with overly large denominations; the best customer has exact change. In rural areas, your 'change' may consist of chiclets or other small commodities.\nMerchants, specially those in small markets (\"tianguis\") and street vendors are no strangers to haggling. Try asking \"¿Es lo menos?\" (\"Is this the smallest price?\"), The more rural and less touristy the area you're likely to have more success.\n**Artesanias**. A visit to anywhere in Mexico will give one the opportunity to buy art made in the \"old world\" manner that reflects the diverse ethnicity of Mexico. Included in these articles would be textiles, wood carvings, paintings and carved masks that are used on sacred dances and burials. In many parts of Mexico, artists welcome visitors to their workshops to see how things are made and often to buy \"direct from the source\".\n**Timeshares**. When visiting the **resort** cities of Mexico (e.g. Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or similar), it is more than common to be approached on the streets, in bars, in restaurants and anywhere with offers of gifts, free rental cars, free nights, free dinners, free anything that may appeal to you, just for visiting and listening to a presentation to buy a timeshare. Unless you are severely desperate for something to do, you may want to ignore those making the offer and stay away from those *free* offers. While the properties are very nice, great locations and plenty of amenities, this is not the place to *learn* about timeshares. Do your homework before even thinking about buying a timeshare, see what the values are in the *resale* market and understand the *rights* you are buying and the future costs. Collecting on the *free* offers may be difficult, if not impossible.\n **Automobiles**. It's certainly worth going over and importing a car back from there, although importing it to the EU/US standards is the hard part. Recommended are the Ford Fusion (like the British Ford Mondeo, but more upmarket) and the Chrysler 200 (the 2.4 model is worth it). Volkswagens can be substantially better-equipped than European or North American counterparts. The Passat sold in Mexico is not the same car as in Europe, and is substantially bigger, however, engines are the same as in Europe, except for the 2.5 petrol.\n **Cuban cigars**. are a fun novelty for tourists from the US and are widely available. It's still illegal to bring them back to the US, although the worst that's likely to happen is they'll be confiscated by customs.", "word_count": 554}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk040", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "#### Credit cards and debit cards\n\nCredit cards and debit cards (with Maestro or MasterCard/Visa affiliation) are widely accepted in Mexico. You can use them at ATMs as well as in most department stores, bigger restaurants, gas stations, but be sure that outside cities you always carry sufficient cash in pesos, and generally verify the possibility to pay with card before consumption. Smaller (often family run) businesses often accept only cash. Most of the time, an extra 5% when paying with card is added. Also, you cannot get lower prices if you haggle unless you pay cash.\n\nWhile many Pemex stations accept credit cards, especially in locations that have heavy tourist traffic, some do not; travellers who intend to pay by credit card should always ask the attendant if the card is accepted before pumping begins.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nBank of America customers can avoid ATM fees by using Santander Serfin ATMs. Other banks may have similar policies, check with your respective institution. For example, Banamex bank is owned by Citibank/Citigroup, and Bancomer is owned by BBVA, which is related to Chase in the United States. Ask to your bank if they have relation with Mexican banks, and the advantages that such ally can provide. Otherwise, do not be surprised to find yourself with a fee for each withdrawal. ATMs ask you if you want to accept the shown fee. In some ATMs you need to put your credit card inside crosswise.\n\n5 Lowest ATM fees used with UK issued Mastercard, January 2024: Inbursa M$22.04, BanBajio M$23.20, Banca Mifel M$26.68, BanCoppel M$29, CitiBanamex M$30.74. As of January 2024, other fees are: Banco Azteca M$34.80, Santander M$34.80, HSBC M$35.84, Banorte M$58.00, Multiva M$67.28, Banregio M$81.20, BBVA M$174 pesos\n\nThere is no difference between Mastercard and Visa.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk041", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATMs in smaller towns can run out of currency; sometimes this is a regular occurrence. Check with the bank (or locals) about the best time to use the ATM and never wait until the last minute to get cash.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping in Mexico is similar to the United States. It is usually from 10 to 15%.\nMeals have a 10% to 15% tip (this includes fast food deliveries). This tip is usually left by most people in restaurants, although it is not so common in street restaurants or stands, where the tenders usually have a can or box where people deposit coins.\n\nIt is generally common to leave a tip on the table after paying and therefore having small change is very useful.\n\nMexican bars and night clubs often charge directly to the bill 15% of the total amount (taxes included). That is illegal in most cases because of the imposition of the tip and because they calculate the 15% with taxes included. In large groups, or in nightclubs the barmen expect the customers to deposit their tip in a cup left on the table before serving the drinks so the service they give is in function with the tip they received.\n\nIt is also customary to give a tip to the person who sometimes guard the car as if they were valet parking; in Mexico these people are often called *viene viene* (literally: \"comes, comes\") or *franeleros* and usually people give them M$3-20 depending on the zone, although they sometimes ask for bigger sums of money when the car is left close to a night life area.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk042", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Buy", "text": "In medium and large retail stores such as Wal-Mart there are uniformed helpers, usually children or the elderly, who bag the products just after the clerk has scanned them. This role is called *cerillo* (Spanish for \"match\"). It is common for these helpers to not have a basic salary, so all the money earned is from the tips people give them. Most customers give M$2-5 depending on the number of products. Cerillos also put the bags in the cart and if the load is large they can even help bringing it to the car and unloading the bags; in these cases, they normally receive more than M$15.\n\nTipping is not expected in cabs or buses, except when it is a tour. In some populated Mexican restaurants wandering musicians enter, play, and expect the customers to pay something, although this is voluntary. In filling stations, the workers usually get M$2-5 for every gasoline load. In stadiums people give a small tip to the person who shows the place where they should sit. Tips are also given to bellboys, barbers and people that work in similar services.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk043", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|Taco stalls\nthumbnail|Gordita\n\nMexican cuisine can be described better as a collection of various regional cuisines rather than a standard list of dishes for the whole country. Because of climate, geography and ethnic differences, we can classify Mexican cuisine broadly in 4 great categories according to the region:\n\n**Northern** – Mostly meat dishes done mainly from beef and goat. This includes Cabrito, Carne Asada (Barbecue) and Arrachera. Is influenced by international cuisine (mostly from the United States and Europe), but it retains the essential Mexican flavor.\n **Central** – This region is influenced by the rest of the country, but has its own well-developed local flavor in dishes such as Pozole, Menudo and Carnitas. Dishes are mostly corn-based and with different spices.\n **Southeastern** – Is known for its spicy vegetable and chicken-based dishes. Caribbean cuisine have influences here because of the location.\n **Coast** – Has a strong emphasis on seafood and fish, but corn-based recipes can be easily found as well.\n\nAsk for the \"platillo tipico\" of the town, which is the local speciality that may not be found elsewhere, a variation, or the birthplace of a recipe. Also consider that most of the recipes change from place to place: for example, tamales in the south are made with the banana plant leaves, and in the Huasteca region tamales are very big (they are called \"Zacahuil\"); one is OK for a complete family.\n\nIf you are travelling here from Spain or elsewhere in Latin America, keep in mind that many Mexican dishes can have the same name, but be very different from their counterparts elsewhere. For instance, a Mexican *tamal* is very different from a Colombian *tamal*, and a Mexican *tortilla* bears virtually no similarity at all to a Spanish *tortilla*.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk044", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Eat", "text": "Traditional Mexican food can often be very spicy; if you are not used to peppers, always ask if your food includes it. \"(*¿Esto tiene chile? Es picante?*).\"\n\nThere are many food carts on the streets of Mexican cities and towns. Travelers are advised to eat from these carts with caution, as hygienic preparation practices are not always reliable. You can measure the quality of food by popularity; do not eat in lonely places, even if they are restaurants or hotels. Consider that Mexicans eat their main meal in the middle of the afternoon (around 3 o'clock), with breakfast or \"almuerzo\", a mid-morning affair after a very light something, like a small plate of fruit or a roll with coffee, in the very early morning. Although, many Mexicans have large breakfasts in the morning. Later, at night the meal varies from very light, such as sweet rolls or breads, coffee or hot chocolate, to heavy dinner, such as pozole, tacos, and tamales. Schedule your meals accordingly and you will get a better perspective on the gauge of how busy (popular) a restaurant is.\n\nIn doing so, you may (or may not) find some of the most unique and genuinely Mexican dishes you've ever had. From these vendors, you may find tacos, burgers, bread, roasted field corn or elote served with mayonnaise, or a light cream, and sprinkled with fresh white cheese, roasted sweet potato called camote, and almost any kind of food and service you would imagine.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk045", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Chicharrón** – Deep fried pork skin. Quite crunchy and if well-prepared slightly oily. Heavenly spread with guacamole. Or sometimes cooked in a mild chili sauce and served with eggs.\n **Enchiladas** – Chicken or meat stuffed soft tortillas covered with green, red or mole sauce. Some may have melted cheese inside and/or on top.\n **Tacos** – Soft corn tortillas filled with meat (asada (steak strips), pollo (shredded chicken), carnitas (fried shredded pork), lengua (cow tongue), cabeza (meat from cow skull), sesos (cow brains), tripa (cow gut), al pastor (chili, pork, beef cut from a spit) or chorizo (pork sausage)). In the north sometimes flour tortillas are used. Do not expect the crispy taco shell anywhere.\n **Tamales** (singular *tamal*) – corn dough shell with meat or vegetable fillings. Tamales Dulces contain fruit and/or nuts.\n **Tortas** – Fancy Mexican sandwich. Bread roll that is grilled lightly, meat fillings are same as tacos: lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, onion, mayonnaise and avocado. One is beginning to find tortas with the American styled cold cuts available, as well, in urban areas.\n **Huitlacoche** – (wit-la-ko-che) A fungus, much like mushrooms, found in corn. This dish is usually an additive to others. Foreigners might find it hard to stomach but Mexicans swear by it. Although most Mexicans love huitlacoche, most do not prepare it in their own home very frequently. It can be found in most markets or stores.\n **Quesadillas** – Cheese or other ingredients grilled in between corn tortillas, heavy on cheese and lighter on other items such as chicken, pork, beans, squash flower blossoms and such.\n **Mole** – Mild to medium chili based sauce made with cocoa and a hint of peanut over meat, usually served with shredded chicken or turkey. ('Pollo en mole' and this is known as Puebla or poblano style). There are many regional moles and some are green, yellow, black and can vary greatly in flavor depending on the artistic talent or preferences involved.\n **Pozole** – Chicken or pork broth with hominy corn, spiced when served with oregano, lettuce, lemon juice, radish, chopped onion, dried ground chile and other ingredients such as chicken, pork, or even seafood, usually served with a side dish of tostadas, fried potato and fresh cheese tacos. Very fortifying.\n **Gorditas** – corn patty stuffed with chicharron, chicken, cheese, etc. topped with cream, cheese and hot sauce.\n **Grillo** – Grasshopper, usually cooked and placed inside another dish such as a quesadilla. It is frequently found in markets in the state of Morelos and other central Mexico states. This is not common in Mexico City.\n **Guacamole** – crushed avocado sauce with green serrano chile, chopped red tomato and onion, lime juice, salt, and served with somewhat thick (1/8 inch) fried tortilla slices or \"totopos\".\n **Tostadas** – fried flat tortilla topped with fried beans, lettuce, cream, fresh cheese, sliced red tomato and onion, hot sauce, and chicken or other main ingredient. Think a corn chip dippers, on low dose steroids, for salsas and as above. You do not usually get a plate of this automatically in many parts of Mexico as you would in the US, although they are starting to show up in resort areas that cater to US nationals automatically.\n **Huaraches** – a bigger (think shoe-shaped) version of a gordita.\n **Sopes** – corn patty topped with a wide variety of ingredients such as chicken, cheese, mashed beans, and various hot sauces.\n **Carnitas** – deep fried pork meat served with a variety of salsa, to get them dry with less grease.\n **Chile en nogada** – A big green Poblano chile with a beef or pork apple stuffing, covered with a white nut (usually walnut, known as *nuez*) sauce and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds which happen to be red. The three colors represent the national flag and the dish is served nationwide around Mexican Independence Day (16 September).\n **Barbacoa** – Sheep or goat meat cooked with maguey leaves in an oven made at a hole in the ground. Think BBQ heaven without the hickory smoke or catsup-based BBQ sauce. Served with condiments and salsas in corn tortilas and sometimes in a torta bread roll.\n **Sopa de Tortilla** – tortilla chips soup usually of chicken broth, plain or with a touch of tomato flavor, and usually mild and not at all hot. Commonly served with diced avocado and fresh crumbled white cheese on top.\n **Chilaquiles** – tortilla chips with a green tomatillo, or red tomato, or mild chili sauce, Usually served with chicken or eggs on top or within. Usually a mild dish.\n **Migas** – is a typical dish in the center of the country which is a guajillo chile broth with soaked bread, which you can add the pork bones with meat or eggs.", "word_count": 783}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk046", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Eat", "text": "You may see a sign with **\"orden de tacos\"**. This means usually 5 pieces, if there is no other amount stated. The word *orden* is also used for other types of Mexican food.\n\nThere is breakfast in McDonald's that you may not find in other countries. It includes:\n• McMolletes\n• McMuffin Huevo y Salchicha\n• McMuffin a la Mexicana\n• Hotcakes con Salchichas\n• Desayuno Especial Mexicano\n• McBurrito a la Mexicana for M$30 (Dec 2021)\nBasic burgers you may not find in other countries during the day are for about M$30 (Dec 2021):\n• Hamburguesa Gourmet\n• Hamburguesa Especial con lechuga", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk047", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumbnail|Tequila store in [[Tequila]]\nTap water is potable, but generally not recommended for drinking. Hotels usually give guests one (large) bottle of drinking water per room per night. Bottled water is also readily available in supermarkets and at tourist attractions.\n\n Absinthe is legal in Mexico.\n Tequila, distilled from Agave (a specific type of cactus)\n Pulque, ferment made from Maguey\n Mezcal, similar to tequila but distilled from Maguey\n Raicilla, a type of mezcal made in Jalisco\n Pox, whisky meets rum, distilled from grains and cane sugar, made in Chiapas\n Tepache, ferment made from pineapple\n Tuba, made from coconut palm tree\nthumb|A Mexican dark lager (Modelo Negra) and golden lager (Victoria)\nThere are also several Mexican beers, most of which are available outside Mexico, these include Corona (popular, but not necessarily as overwhelmingly popular in Mexico as many foreigners think), Dos Equis (XX) and Modelo Especial.\n\nLighter Mexican beers are often served with lime and salt, though many Mexicans do not drink beer in this fashion. In some places you will find beer served as a prepared drink called \"Michelada\" or simply \"Chelada\". The formula varies depending on the place, but it's usually beer mixed with lime juice and various sauces and spices on ice served in a salt rim glass. Spicy beer is available in supermarkets; try it, it will be an experience. Other variation called \"Cubana\" includes Clamato cocktail, soybean sauce, salt and a little bit of hot sauce.\n\nMexico produces wine in several different areas, the most important of which is the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, which accounts for more than 90% of Mexico's total wine production. The second largest wine region is in the Bajio state of Queretaro centered on the town of Ezequiel Montes. Wine is also produced in the states of Sonora, Coahuila, and Guanajuato. Most Mexicans tend to prefer European or Chilean imports, but Mexican wines are becoming more popular as they continue to earn accolades in the press and in competitions. In the prestigious 2023 Concours Mundial de Bruxelles, the top point getter was Cenzontle Blanco from Valle de Guadalupe, beating out thousands of wines from around the world.\n\nNon alcoholic beverages:\n Chocolate\n Atole\n Horchata (rice based drink)\n Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus iced tea, similar to karkadai in Egypt)\n Licuados de fruta (fruit smoothies and milkshakes)\n Champurrado (thick chocolate drink)\n Refrescos (common sodas, generally sweet and made with cane sugar, not corn syrup as in the United States).\nthumbnail|Champurrado\n\nThe legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, but not strictly enforced. In many places, consumption of alcohol in public (\"open container\") is illegal and usually punishable by a day in jail. Be aware of waitresses and barmen, especially at night clubs. If you are not aware of your consumption and how much you already spent, they can add a few more drinks to your account. Some do this, not all.\n\nAlcoholmeters are widely used in driving roads If drinking, always have a designated driver. Driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage will result in 1 to 3 days in jail.\n\nMexico, especially the southern state of Chiapas, produces excellent coffee. Café con leche, usually one part coffee to one part steamed milk, is very popular. Unfortunately, many places in Mexico that are not cafés serve Nescafe instant coffee, so you may have to search for the good coffee, but it's there.\n\nMineral water is popular in many regions of Mexico. Topo Chico is the most widely available brand by a very wide margin.", "word_count": 582}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk048", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumbnail|Hornos Beach in Acapulco\nThe most important Universities in Mexico include the **UNAM**, ranked 73rd worldwide, and the best in Latin America. Its main campus is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Murals in the main campus were painted by some of the most recognized artists in Mexican history, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. **IPN** (Instituto Politécnico Nacional), **ITESM** (Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, located in Monterrey but with branch campuses in many other Mexican cities) the **Iberoamerican University** (Universidad Iberoamericana, part of the Jesuit University System) and **Universidad Anahuac**.\n\nthumbnail|Chichen Itza, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world\n\nMost of the government-funded universities on mayor cities (state capital) have short courses on history, gastronomy and cultural subjects, most of them are almost free. Other places are the \"Casa de la Cultura\", (house of culture) that are historical buildings used for cultural related activities (music concerts, theater, paint and other exhibits, they also have \"talleres\" (workshops).\n\nMost places have programs for foreigners to learn Spanish, or even study a whole degree. There are some other courses where you can learn traditional Mexican activities such as handcrafts.\n\nThere are Spanish language schools throughout Mexico. The city with the most schools is Cuernavaca, with more than 50 schools. Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato also offer a number of schools to choose from. Prices vary; however, most schools are very reasonably priced. Many schools can arrange homestays with local Mexican families.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk049", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Work", "text": "Working may require a work visa, which is difficult to get if you just want to freelance for a short time.\n\nMany important headquarters are located throughout the main cities of Mexico. Top Mexican corporations such as Televisa, Bimbo, Cemex, Telmex and Vitra are often willing to hire professionals who are native English speakers as much of their business is developed alongside North American corporations.\n\nNative English speakers can pick up work as English teachers. The upside is that English speakers with no knowledge of Spanish are appreciated, because they will force their students to practice English. The downside is that salaries are somewhat low.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk050", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumbnail|Plaza de liberación and the cathedral, Guadalajara\nSeveral hotel chains are available throughout Mexico, including Palace Resorts, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Best Western, Holiday Inn, CityExpress, Fiesta Inn, Fairmont, Hilton, Ritz, Camino Real, Marriott (Sheraton, W, Westin, Four Points) and many others. Rates have risen considerably, though most are still reasonable compared to similar U.S. or European hotels. Chain accommodations are usually clean and comfortable, good for business travelers, but not necessarily for those wanting to experience Mexico itself. There are also many all-inclusive resorts for those visiting the major beach destinations.\n\nBoutique hotels are found all over the country; price range varies but all of them are rich in Mexican traditions, elegance and charm, the perfect way to experience the cultural heritage of each state. A great source of information is Melba Levick's book *Mexicasa,* found in many libraries and online bookstores. Otherwise an authentic accommodation can usually be found by asking locals or gringos, especially in the smaller towns. \n\nSmaller hotels and motels along the roadside may not be safe or comfortable. If you are unsure about conditions or the safety of the room, ask to see it before paying. This will not be considered rude. Decent hotels for a low budget are usually found around the central bus station of a town. If you are going to stay at cheaper hotels in cooler areas in the winter consider bringing extra clothes, an electric blanket or a sleeping bag, as there is power, but no heat. And although it may get quite hot by afternoon outside, adobe and cement are like fridges. An electric tea kettle is also a good idea, as hot water might not be available when you want it.\n\nThere is a large backpacker culture in Mexico, and there are many hostels offering dorm accommodation and private rooms. You can expect to pay M$100-300 (Nov 2021) for a night in a dorm, sometimes including breakfast. Hostels are a fantastic place to share information with fellow travelers, and you can often find people who have been to your future destinations.\n\nIf you're travelling with children, use a plastic case (with wheels and a handle) as luggage, and it can be used as a bathtub for the kids if necessary. Budget hotels rarely, if ever, have bathtubs.", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk051", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|Mounted tourist police, Mexico City\n\nMexico has a reputation for being a dangerous country — a reputation that's not entirely unwarranted — but the average traveller should not be too overly concerned or cautious of their surroundings. A lot of the crime occurs between those involved in the drug trade or organised crime. (See drug traffic issues for more information)\n\nIn most cities, location is very important as security changes from place to place. Areas close to downtown (*centro*) are safer to walk at night, especially on the \"Plaza\", \"Zócalo\" or \"Jardín\" (main square) and areas nearby. Stay in populated areas, avoid poor neighborhoods, especially at night, and don't walk there at any time if you are alone. Vicious beatings have been reported at resorts by people who have travelled alone, so stay alert for any suspicious-looking individual. If you wish to visit one of the slums, you should only go as part of a guided tour with a reputable guide or tour company.\n\nPolitical violence in Chiapas and Oaxaca has abated, and is far less of a threat than drug-related crime. However, Mexican authorities do not look approvingly on foreigners who participate in demonstrations (even peaceful ones) or voice support for groups such as the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional and its leader, Subcomandante Marcos, even if their images and slogans are commonly sold on t-shirts and caps in markets.\n\nDo not wave cash or credit cards around. Use them discreetly and put them away as quickly as possible.\n\nThe nationwide emergency number is **911**. Although Mexico has one of the largest police forces in the world, systemic corruption and low salaries often restrict the capabilities of law enforcement. Enlisting the help of the police almost always requires solid Spanish-language skills.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk052", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Beggars are not usually a threat, but you will find lots in urban areas. Avoid being surrounded by them, as some can pickpocket your goods. Giving away two pesos quickly can get you out of such troubles (but may also attract other beggars). Most poor and homeless Mexicans prefer to sell trinkets, gum, sing, or provide some meager service than beg outright.\n\nLarger cities, such as Guadalajara and Mexico City, are safer than most places in Mexico. However, caution is still recommended.\n\n### Drug crimes\n\nthumb|States with the most conflict, marked in red (2010)\n\nFormer president Felipe Calderon waged war on the drug cartels, and in turn, they waged war against the government (and more often, among each other).\n\nSome Mexican northern and border cities such as Tijuana, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Chihuahua, Culiacán, Durango, and Juárez can be dangerous if you are not familiar with them, especially at night. Most crime in the northern cities is related to the drug trade and police corruption. However, since law enforcement figures are often overwhelmed battling drug-related activities, many northern border towns that were somewhat dangerous to begin with are now a hotbed for criminals to act with impunity. Ciudad Juárez, in particular, bears the brunt of this violence, and with nearly a fourth of Mexico's overall murders, travel there requires special attention.\n\nAway from the northern states, cartel related violence is centered in specific areas, including the Pacific Coast states of Michoacán and Guerrero. However, exercise caution anywhere, especially at night or in high crime areas.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk053", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Tourists and other travellers are of no interest to the drug cartels. Many popular tourist destinations like Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Mérida, and Guadalajara are largely unaffected by this, simply because there are no borders there. Ciudad Juárez is a primary battleground in the drug war, and while foreign travellers are not often targeted, the presence of two warring cartels, many small opportunistic gangs, and armed police and soldiers has created a chaotic situation to say the least.\n\nAs a rule of thumb, the further away you are from the border, and the closer you are to Mexico City, the safer you'll be. Many people go to Mexico City to seek refuge from drug-related violence as many politicians and military personnel are there.\n\nConsumption of drugs is prohibited, although the problem of illegal medicine is serious in Mexico, this is still illegal (but consumption of drugs like cannabis or having a small amount are legal or decriminalised). Also, this can get you in trouble with gangs. The army also sets up random checkpoints throughout all major highways in search of narcotics and weapons. Drug consumption is also opposed by a large percentage of the population.\n\n### Beach\n\nIn Mexico the actions have to be taken for safety is similar to everywhere. See water safety.\n\n#### [[Jellyfish]]\n\nIf you see a *Portuguese man o' war* (), stay far away from it. If you get stung by the jellyfish, use tweezers to remove its stingers, then go to hospital.\n\n#### Stingray stings\n\nChoose a place with hot water if you can, because the heat deactivates the poison.\n\n#### Riptides\n\nVery dangerous, particularly during and after storms.\n\n### Public transportation", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk054", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "When in major cities – especially Mexico City – it is better to play it safe with taxis. The best options are to phone a taxi company, to request that your hotel or restaurant call a taxi for you, or to pick up a taxi from an established post (*Taxi de Sitio*). Also, taxis can be stopped in the middle of the street, which is okay for most of the country, but particularly unsafe in Mexico City.\n\nAs chaotic as it might be sometimes, the Metro is the best way to move around in Mexico City: it's cheap (M$5 for a ticket as of Feb 02, 2020), safe, has a large network covering almost anywhere you'd want to go in the city and it's extremely fast, compared to any on-street transportation, since it doesn't have to bear with the constant traffic jams. If you've never been in a crowded subway, avoid peak hours (usually from 06:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00) and do your homework: check first which line (*línea*) and station (*estación*) you want to go to and the address of the place you're trying to reach. Your hotel can give you this information, and maps of the subway system are available on the internet and at the stations. Most stations also have maps of the vicinity.\n\nAvoid taking the subway at late hours of the night, but during the day many stations are patrolled by police officers and the subway is safer than taking the public bus. Your major concern in the subway is the pickpockets, so keep your important belongings and wallets in a safe place.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk055", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A word of caution for people who are used to European or major American subway systems that operate around the clock: even in Mexico City, the last subway leaves around midnight, with service only resuming in the early morning. Taxis are priced accordingly, and you should keep your wits about you when moving around in the middle of the night.\n\nIf you are travelling by bus, do not put your valuables in your big bag in the storage compartment of the bus. If the police or the military controls the luggage, they might take out what they want, especially in night buses, when passengers are most likely asleep. The use of a money belt (worn underneath the clothes and out of sight) is highly recommended.\n\n### Driving\n\nAll distances on the signboards and speed limits are in metric units.\n Gas is likewise sold in metric units and far cheaper than in Europe (and still a bit cheaper than in the U.S.)\nthumb|Downtown Mexico City\nIf driving in from the USA, always purchase Mexican liability insurance (legal defense coverage recommended) before crossing the border or immediately after crossing. When you are paying for your temporary import permit (for going beyond border areas), often in the same building there are several stalls selling Mexican auto insurance. Even if your American (or Canadian, etc.) insurance covers your vehicle in Mexico, it **cannot** (by Mexican law) cover liability (e.g., hitting something or injuring someone). You will probably spend time in a Mexican jail if you have an accident without it. And even if your own insurance does (in theory) provide liability coverage in Mexico—you'll be filing your claim from behind bars! Don't risk it, get Mexican auto insurance.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk056", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Never drive above the speed limit or run stop signs/red lights, as Mexican police will use any excuse to pull over tourists and give you a ticket. In some cities, the police can not give you a ticket, but they might warn you. The fine for speeding could be as much as US$100 (M$1870), depending on the city.\n\nAs of April 2011, police across the country are cracking down on drunk driving, particularly in Mexico City, the larger cities, and the beach resorts. There are random checkpoints throughout the country in which every driver has to stop and take an automated inebriation test. If you fail, you will end up in a Mexican prison.\n\nYou will mostly find beggars and windshield cleaners at some traffic lights; having your windows closed at all times is especially recommendable in some areas of Mexico City. The windshield cleaners will try to clean yours: a strong and firm \"no\" is suggested.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nNatural disasters in Mexico include hurricanes and earthquakes. Mexico City in particular is located in a seismically active area.\n\n### Firearms\n\nEvery year a few U.S. tourists run afoul of Mexico's strict gun laws. **Bringing guns into Mexico is illegal in most circumstances**, and this includes guns kept for personal protection on private boats. If you want to bring a firearm, see Recreational shooting.\n\n### Hiking\n\nMany trails are unmarked in real life, even if they are present at OpenStreetMap or a hiking app. If a local rule says to do a trail with a guide - it's much better to go with the guide, the route will be dangerous and easy to get lost.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk057", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Some parts of Mexico are known for **travelers' diarrhea**, often called \"Montezuma's Revenge\" (Venganza de Moctezuma). The reason for this is not so much the spicy food but the contamination of the **water supply** in some of the poorer zones in Mexico. In most of the small towns that are less industrialized, only the poorest Mexicans will drink tap water. The best policy is to only drink bottled or purified water, both of which are readily available. Be sure to specify *bottled* water in restaurants and avoid ice (which is often not made from purified water). Just like in the US, in most major Mexican cities the water is purified at the cities' water company. In most restaurants in these poor zones, the only water served comes from large jugs of purified water. If you get sick, visit your local clinic as soon as possible. There is medicine available that will counter the bacteria.\n\nMedicine in urban areas is highly developed, public hospitals are just as good as public hospitals in US, and just as the American public hospitals, they are always full. It's recommended going to private hospitals for faster service.\n\nBefore traveling to rural areas of Mexico, it might be a good idea to obtain **anti-malarial medications** from your health care provider.\n\nIt is strongly advised that the traveler be sure that any meats they are consuming have been thoroughly cooked due to an increasing rate of **roundworm** infections, particularly in the Acapulco area.\n\nAlong with the risk for malaria, mosquitoes have also been known to carry the **West Nile virus**. Be sure to bring an effective insect repellent, preferably one that contains the ingredient DEET.\n\nThe rate of **AIDS/HIV** infection in Mexico is lower than in the US, France and most Latin American nations. However, if you plan on having sex, be sure that you use a latex condom to reduce your risk of contracting or spreading the virus.\n\nAs with any western location, cases of **hantavirus pulmonary syndrome** have been reported throughout Mexico. This is an acute, rare (but often fatal) illness for which there is no known cure. The virus is believed to be present in animal feces, particularly feces from members of the rodent family. Therefore, do not wander into animal dens and be especially careful when entering enclosed spaces that are not well ventilated and lack sunlight.\n\nVaccination against **Hepatitis A & B** and **Typhoid fever** is recommended.\n\nIf you are bitten by an animal, assume that the animal was carrying **rabies** and seek medical attention immediately for treatment.\n\nIn remote areas, carry a first aid kit, aspirin, and other related items that are sold without medical prescription.", "word_count": 445}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk058", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Festival in [[San Miguel de Allende]]\nMexicans have a somewhat relaxed sense of time so it's vital to be patient. Arriving half an hour late is common and should not be taken in a negative light.\n\nWhen anyone, even a total stranger, sneezes, you always say \"¡salud!\" (\"bless you!\" or more literally, \"your health!\"): otherwise, it is considered rude. In rural areas, particularly in the Mexican heartland (Jalisco, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, etc.), the even more pious \"Jesús te bendiga\" (May Jesus bless you) will follow a sneeze.\n\nAttitudes towards LGBT travellers can be hostile in more rural states, but Mexico City is very LGBT friendly as are popular beach resort areas such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco. By court order, all states in Mexico either allow the performance of same-sex marriages, or recognize such marriages when performed in other states. Same-sex marriage is performed in Mexico City and in the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tlaxcala as well as in certain municipalities in Guerrero and Zacatecas. It is pending publication in Querétaro, and being prepared for legislation in Yucatán. Southern Mexico City is the best place in terms of tolerance.\n\nWhen entering churches, always take off any sunglasses, caps or hats. Wearing shorts is rarely a problem, but still wear a sweatshirt or sweater to your waist to avoid showing too much skin, which could be disrespectful in such places. However, away from the beaches, or northern areas, shorts are very rarely worn by Mexicans on the street and thus will attract more attention to you and make you stand out as a foreigner.\n\n### Sensitive issues", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk059", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Show respect to Mexico's laws**. Although corruption and bribery have long been around, a visitor behaving in a way that implies that Mexico is a lawless country is considered disrespectful. Offering a bribe to an official may get you into trouble.\n\n**You are unlikely to cause offence by having a discussion about local politics, economics and history**; Mexicans consider them good conversational topics and are more than happy to delight you with such discussions. This said, sensitive subjects like illegal immigration to the US, crime, or the drug war are likely to arouse strong emotions. Mexicans are well aware of their country's problems and would like to forget about them once in a while.\n\nAlso, you might be surprised at how much Mexicans know about the politics of your country – especially the times in its history when they feel your country has screwed Mexico over (which applies especially for Spain, France and the U.S.). That said, Mexican history tends to be viewed as a series of shades of grey — there are those who feel the need to extol economic growth under Porfirio Díaz, just like there are those who point out anti-democratic tendencies under Benito Juarez.\n\n**A lot of Mexicans do not have a favourable opinion of the Spanish Empire** and the things they've done in the past. They feel that many of Mexico's problems are rooted in what the Spanish brought over. This said, there are no feelings of resentment towards Spain and Spanish people.\n\n**Try not to assume the worst in people**. Mexico may have a lot of social and political problems, but that does not mean that everyone is alike.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk060", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "**The great majority of the population is and traditionally has been Roman Catholic**, and there is still a strong following of this faith among Mexicans from all socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there are sizeable Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal communities (in part due to US missionary activity) and the country also has one of the largest communities of Jehovah's Witnesses. The irreligious are a small minority and they are found mostly among college-educated urban dwellers of the middle and upper middle class. Saying anything that hints at atheism or agnosticism may simply be shrugged off, or could incite lengthy discussions or at worst, attempts at proselytizing. As a rule of thumb, try not to have religious discussions with people you're not well acquainted with.\n\n### Cultural notes\n\nWhile overt racism may not be apparent, as a general rule, wealth and social status are historically tied to European ancestry and skin color. Mexican society is sharply divided by social class, with the rich, middle class, and poor often living very separate lives, and can have very distinct cultures. Social practices or tastes of one social group may not be shared by all classes. Clubs, bars, and restaurants may cater largely to one crowd or another, and a wealthier person or tourist may feel out of place or received unwanted attention in a working class cantina; a poor looking person may be blatantly refused service or get unfriendly stares at an exclusive establishment.\n\nThere are many words in the country according to ethnic background:", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk061", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "Do not be offended to be called a \"güero(a)\" (blonde) and its diminutive form \"güerito(a)\" (blondie), as it's a common way for the average Mexican citizen to refer mostly to Caucasian people, including white Mexicans. The words \"gringo\" and its synonym \"gabacho\" are used regardless of the actual nationality of the tourists and they are not meant as offensive. Actually, they are often used as terms of endearment.\n If you are East Asian, you will be referred to as \"Chino(a)\" (Chinese) and its diminutive form \"chinito(a)\" regardless of whether you are Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, etc. Exceptions are in the capital, Mexicali, and in Monterrey, where a decent-sized Korean community does exist.\n If you are black, \"negro(a)\" or \"negrito(a)\" may seem harsh, especially if you are from the US, but it is not a swear word. Although there are few black people in Mexico in many regions of the country (except on the east and west coasts in the south), Mexicans, especially the younger generations, are not hateful. In fact, a revolutionary who later became the second president was a man of mixed European and African descent, Vicente Guerrero.\n Historically, all Middle Easterners were referred to as \"turcos\" (even if they were from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, etc.)\nthumb|Guadalajara cathedral\n\n### Other things to watch out for", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk062", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "If you try to use Spanish to address people, be careful about the use of \"tú\" (informal, friendly; the verb for calling someone \"tú\" is tutear) and \"usted\" (formal, respectful) forms. Using \"tú\" can be demeaning to people, since this is the form normally used for addressing children or close friends. Use \"usted\" unless you are sure you can use \"tú\"; doing so may perhaps seem a shade old-fashioned, but doing otherwise can be pretty rude and embarrassing in some situations. Always use the \"usted\" form to a law enforcement officer (or other person of authority), even if they may use the \"tú\" form to talk to you. Otherwise, you can say \"tú\" to children under 16, to people who genuinely are your friends and to persons who call you by your first name or explicitly have told you to do so.\n\nPeople address each other depending on their social status, age and friendship. To refer to a woman, always call her \"señorita\" (Miss) unless you are sure that she is married, then you call her \"señora\" (Mrs). When talking to an older man, use \"señor\" irrespective of his marital status. If you want to call a waiter, address him as \"joven\" which means \"young man\". You may call someone by his professional title (\"ingeniero\", \"arquitecto\", \"doctor\", \"oficial\", etc.). Actually, Mexican people will use the \"tú\" and \"usted\", \"first name\" or \"surname\" depending on their relationship, and the code is not easy to learn.\n\nWhile the word \"güey\" is equivalent to \"dude\" or \"mate\" among young people, it is still considered extremely vulgar by the older generation. This abrasive term of endearment is used only between people who have achieved a certain level of trust, so avoid using it.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk063", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "In Mexico, \"estúpido\" has a far, far worse connotation than \"stupid\" in English.\n\nDue to the highly matriarchal nature of Mexican culture, the combination of words \"tu madre\" (your mother) is cacophonous and taken offensively by residents, regardless of age or gender. To refer to somebody's mother, remember to replace it with \"su señora madre\" (roughly \"your respected mother\") in formal situations or the sweeter \"tu mamá\" in informal ones. Never, ever use strong language when talking to a woman.\n\nYou may see displays of male chauvinism. It is falling out of favor, but it is still seen and mostly tolerated in small towns, as well as cities that receive considerable amounts of rural migrants. It can be defined as a male's strong desire for and skill of the domination and imposition of will, on a wife, sister, or any close female. It can also be identified by a strong desire to prove courage through showy bravado and status through a following of yes-men and henchmen. While it is usually not directed towards visitors, it can be in a variety of strengths. It is best to pretend not to notice it and move on.\n\nAnother type of *machismo*, which perhaps stems out of the same desires but does not carry any of the antisocial connotations, is male courteousness towards women. This is manifested in standing up when a lady enters a room, opening or holding a door, conceding preference or rights of way, giving up a seat, offering a hand when stepping down from a steep step, etc. It is generally reserved for older women, or women of great power, merit, and social stature. Rejecting these types of friendly gestures is considered arrogant or rude.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk064", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Respect", "text": "Mexican customs strictly enforce a limit of one laptop per passenger. Bringing a second laptop may incur a tax of up to 19% of its value.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk065", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Connect", "text": "Cell phones are the most convenient, and usually most inexpensive, way to talk. Before going to Mexico, call your cell phone provider and verify that you have international roaming enabled (and make sure you know what charges you should expect, for domestic and international voice calls and for data, since you will want to use your maps and Uber apps). \n\nYou can make international calls free if you have an app like WhatsApp or Telegram and connect to Wi-fi before using it. Data rates can be high for cell phone users, but you can manage them by turning off data in your phone's settings except for when you actively want to use an app.\n\nIf you're going to be in Mexico for an extended period of time, it might be cheaper to use Mexican carriers, either by buying a SIM card or a cheap throwaway phone. If you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card in Mexico. The most expensive provider Telcel provides good coverage throughout the country. A SIM card for the Telcel brand amigo express is for M$29 (Nov 2021) e.g., in an Oxxo store. The first recharge must be at least M$50 (Nov 2021). The offers are amongst others:\n• M$50: 400MB for 7 days (Nov 2021)\n• M$100: 1,3GB for 15 days (Nov 2021)\nYou can see all rates and recharge here. Recharging Telcel can be also done in an Oxxo.\n\nCheaper providers unfortunately may not be worth the hassle due to slow internet and unreliable connection.\n\nUsing a Mexican SIM card is often far cheaper than what hotels will charge you for outgoing calls and incoming calls may be free under certain schemes. Mexico operates on the same GSM frequency as the United States, 1900 MHz. There's also 4G LTE, with 5G expected to be deployed in the future. Many of which are the same frequencies as in the US. There is a wireless internet connection in almost every restaurant in the big cities.\n\nIf you're staying for over a week and don't have an unlocked phone, it might be a good idea to buy a cheap handset and a prepaid card.\n\nSome areas have only a few internet cafes; in others, they are plentiful. Most of the internet cafes offer calls to the US for a better rate than a payphone, usually via VoIP.\n\nYou can call from public phones using *tarjetas ladatel* (prepaid telephone cards), bought at magazine stalls. Cards can be purchased in M$30, 50 or 100 denominations. The rate to call the US is roughly equivalent to US$0.50 per minute. Beware these are different than tarjetas *amigo, viva,* or *unefon* (these are only for cellphones). Ladatel cards are becoming increasingly difficult to find and use because public pay phones are an endangered species. While they worked great in 2002, they're seldom useful in 2022. Cell phones are the way to go today.", "word_count": 485}
+{"chunk_id": "mexico::chunk066", "doc_id": "mexico", "section": "Go next", "text": "### To Belize\n\nThere are bus services available from Chetumal to Belmopan.\n\n### To Guatemala\n\nThis route is not used by many and still has a touch of adventure: Over Tenosique, La Palma (near Tenosique), by boat on the river Rio San Pedro to El Naranjo in Guatemala. Stay firm when negotiating over the price. Absolutely important: Make sure you get your passport stamped before you leave El Naranjo, or you might catch one of the rare buses back and take a walk through the jungle, as the emigration office is partway up the river between the Mexican border and the village.\n\n### To the United States\n\nThe U.S. generally requires a passport for entry. A few express ID cards and trusted traveler cards are also acceptable. U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry or reentry by land or sea may use an Enhanced Driver License in place of a passport. U.S. permanent residents need their permanent resident card and may need the passport from their home country.\n\nForeign nationals entering the United States without a permanent resident stamp, including those on the Visa Waiver Program, typically receive an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record or I-94W Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record upon arrival in the United States. So long as the I-94 has not expired, you can use it to re-enter the United States with your passport; however, if you hand it in upon exit, you will need to obtain a new card if your visa allows another entry or, if on the Visa Waiver Program, pay a fee of about US$6 to reenter the United States.\n\nUnless you are not going to return to the United States, **keep your I-94 when leaving the United States** or you will have a difficult time getting back in, and if your visa is limited to a certain number of entries, you may need to use another entry.\n\nVisa Waiver participants cannot reset the 90-day counter unless they leave North America, so ducking into Mexico will not allow you another 90 days. However, it can be reset by travelling, for example, to any Central American country or to Colombia.", "word_count": 352}
diff --git a/corpus/mexico/metadata.json b/corpus/mexico/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7808030d12ba87b4f470fbe3f27df2b35df9277f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mexico/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "mexico",
+ "title": "Mexico",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mexico",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "North America"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Chetumal",
+ "Belmopan",
+ "El Naranjo",
+ "Guatemala",
+ "United States"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 18090,
+ "listing_count": 10,
+ "marker_count": 22,
+ "chunk_count": 67,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
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+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk000", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Mongolia** (Mongolian: Монгол улс, Traditional Mongolian: 40px) has wide open spaces for experiencing the outdoors for those who want adventure. Its vast and majestic emptiness is the country's enduring appeal: it brings the traveller into a close communion with nature and its nomadic inhabitants. It is one of the last places on earth where nomadic life lives on. The most memorable part of a trip to Mongolia will be its hospitable people. Mongolian culture has much in common with the cultures of Central Asia. \n\nMongolia offers great opportunities for hiking, mountain climbing, fishing and photography. Traveling across this huge country is often an adventure in itself.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk001", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Regions", "text": "The country can be categorised into five regions based on culture and geography. These regions are further divided into 21 provinces (aimags) and one provincial municipality.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk002", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Cities", "text": "(*Ulan Bator*, Mongolian: **Улаанбаатар**) – the capital city and starting point for most travel in this country. Half the population lives here.\n (Mongolian: **Чойбалсан**) – large industrial city in the east\n (Mongolian: **Эрдэнэт**) – Mongolia's second largest city and home to one of the world's biggest copper mines and a famous carpet factory\n (Mongolian: **Ховд**) – a historic city at the crossroads of traditional Mongol and Kazakh culture\n (Mongolian: **Хархорум**) – the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, established by Genghis' son Ogedei\n (Mongolian: **Мөрөн**) – a stopover for those visiting Hövsgöl province, it has several museums and a large collection of deer stones outside of town\n (Mongolian: **Өлгий**) – a town in Mongolia's far western corner, the starting point for visiting Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Tsambagarav National Park and the eagle hunters who live \n (Mongolian: **Чингис**) – near the birthplace (and possible burial site) of Genghis Khan\n (Mongolian: **Цэцэрлэг**) – the most pleasant of Mongolia's provincial capitals sits in a beautiful forested valley in the Khangay mountains", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk003", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a beautiful, and calm area boasting cultural sites such as Kharkhorin, the capital of the Mongolian Empire after Genghis Khan\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Алтай Таван богд байгалийн цогцолбор газар*) — the tallest mountain and largest glacier in Mongolia, with Kazakh **Eagle Hunters** living in its shadow and a World Heritage Site: Petroglyphs\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Увс нуур*), Uvs province — the largest lake in Mongolia and a World Heritage Site: Uvs Lake\n — an ecotourism destination\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Горхи-Тэрэлж*) — a national park 70 km east of Ulaanbaatar\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Хөвсгөл нуур*) — a large freshwater alpine lake\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Дархадын хотгор*) — home to the Reindeer people\n (Mongolian: *Хустайн нуруу*) — Khustain Nuruu or Hustai National Park is home to the Takhi wild horses (also known as Przewalski's Horse). These are true wild horses which have never been domesticated.\n (Mongolian Cyrillic: *Говь гурван сайхан байгалийн цогцолбор газар*) — Khongor Sand dunes, Yol Canyon, Bayanzag-Red Flaming Cliffs, and Khermen Tsav", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk004", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "> Everybody needs to go to Mongolia just to see what it is to be a human being again.\n\nMongolia is one of the world's largest landlocked countries, second only to Kazakhstan and is surrounded by two of the world's largest countries: China and Russia. It was the center of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in world history. With only 1.7 people per square kilometre, Mongolia has the lowest population density of any independent country.\n\nThe country is nicknamed the \"Land of Blue Skies,\" and with good reason. There are said to be about 250 sunny days throughout each year. The weather is bitterly cold during the winter, dropping down to -40°C in some parts. With many types of terrain — from desert to verdant mountains — the weather during the summer varies from region to region, but is generally hot. Outside of the Gobi desert, this time of year is marked with much rain in some areas, and it can become quite cool at night.\n\nFor several letters, the ISO 9 standard **transliteration** of Cyrillic is not widely used and there is no consensus either in Mongolia nor in Wikivoyage. Particularly, the same Cyrillic letter \"х\" is transliterated \"h\" or \"kh\", the letter \"ө\" is transliterated \"ô\", \"ö\", \"o\" or \"u\", but Latin \"o\" is also the transliteration of the Cyrillic \"о\", and Latin \"u\" is also the transliteration of Cyrillic \"у\" and \"ү\" (the latter should be transliterated \"ù\" according to ISO 9, but this is rarely done). So, if you can't find a name as you wrote it, try other spellings.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk005", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Mongolia* may have geopolitical, cultural and geographical meanings. Modern-day Mongolia consists of what was historically *Outer Mongolia* (so-called when it was part of China). Inner Mongolia is politically separate and remains a province of China, sharing a border and a common cultural heritage with modern-day Mongolia.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|300px|Statue of Chinggis Khan outside the capital\nThe recorded history of ancient Mongolia dates to the third century BC when the Xiongnu came to power among many other nomadic tribes. Due to illiteracy and their nomadic lifestyle, little was recorded by the Xiongnu of themselves; they first appear in recorded Chinese history as \"barbarians\" against whom the walls were built. Those walls later became known as the Great Wall of China. The Xiongnu were eventually defeated by China's Han Dynasty in AD 89.\n\nXiongnu history is controversial. Different historians attribute them to several quite different ethnic groups. Some claim that Xiongnu is cognate to Hun Nu or even that these are basically the same group known as Huns centuries later in Europe, but both claims are contested.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk006", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "There have been several empires in Mongolia after the Xiongnu. The first strong state to emerge was the First Turkic Khaganate in AD 552 with its capital at Ötüken (modern-day Ordu-Baliq). However, due to political infighting, this empire fragmented into the Eastern Turkic Khaganate with its capital at Ötüken, and the Western Turkic Khaganate with its capital at Suyab (near Bishkek in modern-day Kyrgyzstan), in AD 603. Both of these states were eventually defeated by China's Tang Dynasty; the Eastern Turkic Khaganate fell in AD 630, while the Western Turkic Khaganate fell in AD 657. The next strong empire to emerge was the Uyghur Khaganate, with its capital Har Bulgas (Khar Bulgas or Xar Bulgas) near Har Horin. The Khitans who controlled northern China around AD 1000 as the Liao Dynasty had an administrative centre (Har Bukh) 120 km to the northeast. The Turkish government has been promoting some Turkish Empire monuments and there is a museum full of artifacts at the Bilge Khaan site.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk007", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "The struggle for mere existence and power over other tribes continued until the time of Genghis Khan. Chinggis Khan, as he is known in Mongolia, born with the name Temüjin, came to power and united the warring tribes under the Great Mongol Empire in 1206. He was proclaimed Genghis Khan (Chingis Haan), meaning ruler of all Mongol tribes, and to this day, Mongolians consider him to be the father of their nation. The Mongol Empire was extended all the way to what is now Poland and Hungary in Europe under Genghis Khan, and they also conquered the Jurchen Jin Dynasty that then ruled northern China. His grandson, Kublai Khan, subsequently defeated the Chinese Song Dynasty and completed the conquest of China, establishing the Yuan Dynasty. Marco Polo travelled through much of the Mongol Empire in Kublai Khan's time. The Mongols were, however, driven back to the steppes by the Chinese Ming Dynasty under Emperor Hongwu. They were later progressively conquered by the Manchu Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, and played an important role in the Manchu conquest of China.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk008", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "An independent Mongol nation only reemerged in 1911. It was not recognised by China until 1945, as the Chinese were forced to grant independence to Outer Mongolia by the Soviet Union, in exchange for Soviet assistance in fighting the Japanese invasion. Thus, the historic region of Mongolia was split into two, with Outer Mongolia becoming the independent nation of Mongolia, while Inner Mongolia remained a province of China. Since that time, Mongolia has had a close relationship with the Soviet Union (and Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union), with Russian becoming the most widely-spoken foreign language in Mongolia. Mongolia even replaced its traditional script with the Cyrillic alphabet. (The traditional script, however, continues to be used by ethnic Mongols in China.) Inner Mongolia was the more populated area before the partition, and the number of ethnic Mongols living in China still outnumbers the population of Mongolia.\n\nFollowing independence, the Soviet Union installed a communist government in Mongolia. Following the fall of communism in Europe, Mongolia enacted democratic reforms, which resulted in the first democratic multiparty elections in 1990. The democratic reforms culminated with the first peaceful transfer of power in 1996, when the incumbent Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party lost the elections, and handed power to the victorious Democratic Union.\n\nMongolia's vast collection of natural resources such as gold, copper, and coal can very easily make it one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, but due to its landlocked geography, dependence on the goodwill of China and Russia, governmental and bureaucratic inefficiencies, Mongolia remains one of the least developed countries in Asia.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk009", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "*The Secret History of the Mongols* is one of the great recordings of Mongolian history. Every Mongolian reads the book in the modern Mongolian language. This is one of the oldest books in the Mongolian language. There are vivid similarities with the Bible in literary style, wording and story-telling. It is speculated that the author could have been a Christian or at least was very knowledgeable about the Bible. According to Hugh Kemp, Qadag is the most likely candidate for authorship of *Secret History of the Mongols*. He writes about the history of ancient Mongolia and connects the modern reality with the ancient world. Even though the book is about the history of Christianity in Mongolia, it paints a view of ancient Mongolia from the height of 21st century. The *History of Mongolia* by B. Baabar is a good source for the modern history of Mongolia.\n\nOn the trail of Marco Polo covers some travel through the Mongol Empire in the time of Genghis' grandson, Kublai Khan.\n\n### People\n\nMongolia is more than twice as big as Texas and nearly the same size as Alaska. Its area is 1.6 million km² (603,000 square miles), four times the size of Japan and larger than Spain, France and Germany combined. This makes Mongolia the sixth-largest country in Asia and 19th in the world, but the population is only 3.4 million (as of 2020), which makes Mongolia one of the least densely populated areas in Asia. Considering that half of the population lives in the capital city of Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar (\"UB\") that leaves lots of room for you to travel in the outback. Of course, the Gobi is even less dense.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk010", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Almost another 40% of the population are scattered all over Mongolia with their 56 million head of sheep, goats, cattle, horses and camels. There are 21 provinces, called *aimag*. Each *aimag* has a central city or town and about 15-22 sub-provinces called *soum*, so you will know which *aimag* and which soum you are in.\n\n70% of Mongolia is under the age of 35. The gender ratio is close to 1:1. It is home to various ethnic groups: 84% Khalkha Mongols, 6% Kazakhs and 10% other groups.\n\nMore than 50% will say they are Buddhists, which is very much mixed with Shamanism, close to 10% will claim to be Christians of all forms and 4% follow Islam, the remainder will say that they are atheists. Mongolian Buddhism is part of the Vajrayana school, which is also dominant in Tibet and Bhutan. Almost all the Kazakhs and Muslims live in Bayan-Ölgii province.\n\n### Economy\n\nMongolia possesses abundant deposits of copper, coal, tin, tungsten, molybdenum, and gold. The cashmere industry is also important; Mongolia and its neighbour, China, are responsible for 85% of the world's cashmere supply.\n\nAlthough that sounds impressive, Mongolia is a relatively poor and undeveloped country. With an economy that depends heavily on the mining sector and on the goodwill of its two large neighbours, the country's economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks.\n\nWhen the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, the Mongolian economy lost a third of its GDP overnight, plunging the country into a state of disarray.\n\n### Holidays and festivals\n\nthumb|Naadam festival celebrations\nThe annual **Naadam festival** (11–13 July) is the biggest day in many Mongols' calendars. It is when Mongolia celebrates its \"three manly sports\": wrestling, horse racing, and archery by either watching the festivities in Ulaanbaatar or by following them on television or radio.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk011", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Many other smaller Naadam festivals are also held in different aimags (provinces) throughout July, and these more intimate festivals may let you get much closer to the action.\n\nThe Naadam celebrations are said to have started with the rise of the Great Mongolian Empire. Chinggis (a.k.a. Genghis) Khan used them to keep his warriors strictly fit. After the fall of the empire, the contests were held during religious festivals, and since the communist revolution it was celebrated on its anniversary.\n\nLegend has it that a woman once dressed like man and won the wrestling competition. That is why the long-sleeved wrestling costumes, called \"zodog\", have open chests - to show that every participant is male. Wrestlers wear short trunks, \"shuudag\", and Mongolian boots, \"gutal\". The yellow stripes on tales of wrestlers' hats will indicate the number of times the wrestler became a champion in Naadam.\n\nOnly Naadam gives official titles to the wrestlers. Mongolian wrestling tournaments have 9 or 10 rounds depending on the number of 512 or 1024 wrestlers registered for the competition that year. If the wrestler wins 5 rounds, he will be awarded title \"Nachin\" (bird), 6 rounds - Hartsaga (hawk), 7 rounds - Zaan (elephant), 8 rounds - Garuda (Eagle), 9 rounds - Arslan (lion) and 10 - Avarga (Titan).\n\nIn 2006, Zaan (Elephant) Sumyabazar won 9 rounds that made him Garuda but that year 1024 wrestlers had 10 rounds which he won all. This entitled him to Avarga. Or Arslan (Lion) must win 2 in a row to become Avarga (Titan). The titles are for life. If Avarga (Titan) keeps winning at Naadam more and more attributes will be added to his title.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk012", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are no weight categories in Mongolian Wrestling tournaments but there is a time limit of 30 minutes, if the wrestlers can not overthrow each other, referees use lots for better position which often settles the match. One who falls or whose body touches the ground loses the match.\n\nMongolian wrestling matches are attended by seconds whose role is to assist their wrestlers in all matters and to encourage them to win by spanking on their butts. They also sing praise songs and titles to the leading wrestlers of both wings, west and east, after 5 and 7 rounds. The referees monitor the rules but the people and the fans are the final judges. They will speak and spread the word of mouth about who is who till the next year.\n\n#### Smaller festivals", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk013", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Tsagaan Sar** (White moon) - starts on the Lunar New Year and is a 3-day public holiday. It's not big with tourists for the obvious reason of being during the coldest month of the year. A time when families reunite and have a large meal of sheep's tail, mutton, rice with curds, dairy products, and buuz. It is also typical to drink airag and exchange gifts.\n**Golden Eagle Festival** in Ölgii on October 5th and 6th is the world's largest gathering of eagle hunters. The event typically has 60 to 70 Kazakh eagle hunters displaying their skills. The events include having their golden eagles fly to them on command and catching a fox fur being pulled by a horse from a perch on a nearby mountain. The event also features traditional Kazakh games including Kokpar (tug-of-war over a goat carcass while on horseback), Tiyn Teru (a timed race to pick up a coin on the ground while on horseback), and Kyz Kuar (\"girl chase\" a race between a man and woman where the woman whips the man while he tries to hold on). The festival also has a traditional Kazakh concert, camel race, and displays of Kazakh art. A smaller eagle festival is held on Sept 22nd in the nearby village of Sagsai.\n**Nauryz** also in Ölgii is the traditional new year's celebration of Kazakhs held on 22 March. There is a parade, concert, and horse races during the several days of celebrating. Though most of the celebration involves visiting friends and relatives to eat Nauryz Koje (soup) and boiled mutton and horse meat.\n**Ice Festival** is held on the frozen surface of Lake Hövsgöl outside of Mörön each February. The 2-day festival includes wrestling, reindeer sleighs and riding, ice skating, shaman rituals, folk concert, and cultural events of the Tsagaan reindeer people. You should be warned; It is *very cold* in Northern Mongolia in February.\n**Yak Festival** on July 23rd in between Karakorum and Arvayheer. The festival celebrates this large mammal that thrives in the cold Mongolian winters with a full day of yak races, a rodeo, and other competitions. There is a market, tourist gers, and a whole temporary village set up in the middle of the steppe.\n**Camel Festival** in South Gobi province: A local non-governmental organization that aims to protect and preserve the Bactrian camel population organizes \"The Thousand Camel Festival\" in Bulgan County, South Gobi Province. The festival includes two types of camel races, camel-polo, and some other competitions related to camel breeders' cultural heritage such as training of untamed camels, making ropes from camel wool and loading. There is also a folk concert by school children from the countryside. The festival is held annually March 6–7 for 2 days.", "word_count": 455}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk014", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "#### Public holidays\n\nWhile most business still takes place on most holidays, Tsagaan Sar and Naadam tend to last much longer than the official 3 days. Work may stop for weeks in the countryside for Tsagaan Sar. Also, election days are always public holidays and dry days. Alcohol is not sold on election days or the 1st of each month nationwide.\n New Years – January 1\n Tsagaan Sar – January/February (3 days, depends on Lunar New Year)\n International Women's Day – March 8\n Soldiers' Day – March 18 (not a day off, just lots of parades)\n Mothers' and Children's' Day – June 1\n Naadam Festival – July 11–13\n Genghis Khan's Birthday – November 14\n Independence Day – November 26 (no longer a day off, replaced by Genghis Khan's Birthday)\n\n**Working hours** are almost always posted in 24 hours. Shops are usually open 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00, and sometimes closed or shortened hours on Sunday or Monday. Banks usually open 08:00 or 09:00 to 17:00, though often closed for an hour for lunch. However, posted times are not always reliable, especially in the countryside. Expect shops to open at maybe 10:15 or 10:30 more often than not. Restaurants typically close around 22:00, while bars stay open until midnight or later. There are a few fast food restaurants in the capital that stay open until 03:00, but no shops open past midnight.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk015", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Steppe in [[Hovsgol]] — if you want to experience desolate landscapes, Mongolia has plenty of them.\nThe ideal Mongolia travel season starts in May and peaks in July, during the Naadam holiday, and in August when the weather is most favourable for travelling. This is the best time if you like the culture and can bear the crowds of other tourists. It is not a good time to get away from your busy lifestyle because of the traffic, busy schedules, waiting in lines, etc.\n\nSeptember is also a very good time to visit, and October is not too late to travel to Mongolia. It is still warm during the days but a bit chilly during the nights. In the autumn, Mongolia is not very crowded, and this is time for late-comers and last-minute, unplanned trips. You will get to sightsee, enjoy the culture, and taste mare's milk, a bitter and at first somewhat unpleasant drink, throughout the country.\n\nFor visitors not afraid of cold or fermented mare's milk, travelling to Mongolia from November till the Lunar New Year remains an option. Winter tourism is a developing area of the Mongolian tourism industry. The most rewarding experience will be visiting the nomads, as this is the time when you will experience their culture first-hand during \"Tsagaan Sar\" or the traditional (Lunar) New Year celebration. Cultural activities including singing, dancing, wrestling, and winter horse racing are available to tourists.\n\nMongolia is known to have 250-260 sunny days throughout the year, so you will need good UV protection. During winter, protect your eyes, and during summer, protect your skin.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nMongolia Travel website", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk016", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language of Mongolia is **Mongolian**. Mongolian in Mongolia is written using the **Cyrillic alphabet**, which was introduced around the 1940s. Mongolian Cyrillic uses all the letters used in the Russian alphabet and has two extra letters: **Ө** and **Ү**. Very few people know how to read and write Mongolian using the **traditional Mongolian script** (written from top to bottom, and still widely used by ethnic Mongols in China), although since the 1990s, it has been gradually regaining popularity. Mongolian belongs to the Mongolic family of languages, which also includes some minority languages of Russia such as Buryat and Kalmyk, and is not known to be related to any other language family. That being said, Mongolian shares a decent amount of words and grammar structures with the Turkic languages (Turkish, Uzbek, Kazakh, etc.) due to historical proximity, so speakers of a Turkic language will have a somewhat easier time navigating Mongolian. Loanwords from languages such as Sanskrit, Russian, English, and Persian are common and are used in everyday conversations.\n\nMongolian is widely regarded as a very difficult language for an English-speaker to learn. It is an agglutinative language that makes extensive use of suffixing, makes use of nine grammatical cases, and has a number of pronunciation rules and differences. Don't let this intimidate you, though; Mongolians will appreciate your efforts to speak their language, even if your knowledge of it is rudimentary. If you speak Japanese, Korean, Manchu or a Turkic language, some aspects of Mongolian grammar will be familiar to you.\n\n**Kazakh** is spoken in the westernmost province of the country and by the small but growing population of ethnic Kazakhs living in Ulaanbaatar.\n\nDue to Mongolia's longstanding alliance with the Soviet Union (and Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union), **Russian** is spoken by many older Mongolians, although proficiency drops drastically outside Ulaanbaatar.\n\n**English** is the most popular foreign language among younger Mongolians, and is widely taught in schools. Outside the capital, little of it is spoken.", "word_count": 331}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk017", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Historically, Mongolia had a reputation for being a very difficult country to visit. Until the mid-1990s, you had to solicit an invitation letter from someone living in Mongolia to visit Mongolia.\n\nLately, the visa rules have been relaxed and most people can enter the country without a visa. The Mongolian government declared the 2023-2024 tourist season the \"Year of Mongolia\", relaxing visa requirements for many countries, including all major Western nations. Whether this will become a permanent change is yet to be seen.\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nthumb|375px|Visa policy of Mongolia\n{{legend|\n\nCitizens of the following countries/territories can enter Mongolia **visa-free**:\n**For up to 90 days:** Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Peru, Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine (with an \"official invitation\") and United States\n**For up to 30 days:** Citizens of Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan, as well as the following for tourism until the end of 2026: European Union member states, Australia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and United Kingdom\n**For up to 21 days:** Philippines\n**For up to 14 days:** Hong Kong\n\nEveryone else, however, must apply for a visa. Obtaining a visa — by default, the Mongolian authorities issue **thirty-day visas** to all tourists — is relatively straightforward and effortless.\n\n#### Applying for a Mongolian visa\n\nAlthough requirements vary from diplomatic post to diplomatic post, you are normally asked to submit the following to obtain a Mongolian visa:", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk018", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "A visa application form\n A passport-sized photo\n A passport with a validity of more than six months\n A copy of your travel itinerary\n A copy of your hotel reservation\n A copy of your bank statement\n A letter of invitation (if you intend to stay longer than 30 days in Mongolia)\n A letter of approval from the government (only required if you plan to study, work, or live in Mongolia)\n\nAlso, it is possible to acquire an expedited visa in a matter of hours at the Mongolian consulate in Erlian, though there is a steep US$50 fee for this service. A similar service is available in the Mongolian consulate in the Russian city of Irkutsk.\n\nThe Embassy of Mongolia in the UK website is useful for updates, with the visa page offering information on visa applications at the embassy.\n\nThe Embassy of Mongolia in China website hosts the form you will need to apply for your Mongolian visa in China, although the consulate does have them. To stay more than 30 days, you have to register at the Mongolia Immigration.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|MIAT plane in Ulaanbaatar\nThanks to a booming mining sector, **Chinggis Khaan International Airport** () in Ulaanbaatar is now connected to some major airport hubs in eastern Asia and Istanbul and Frankfurt. Flag carrier MIAT Mongolian Airlines operates daily flights (during some peak season - twice a day) from Beijing and Seoul, twice a week flights from Hong Kong, Moscow and Tokyo (during some peak season - from Narita). During peak summer season it increases flight frequencies and operates flights from Busan and Osaka. There are branch offices in Berlin, Moscow, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. Mongolia-based Hunnu Air flies 3 times a week from Bangkok and 5 flights a week from Hong Kong.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk019", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are almost daily flights from Seoul on Korean Air as well as other flights through Beijing, and 3 flights a week to Istanbul. It is also possible to fly to Ulaanbaatar through Tokyo's Narita Airport.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Trans-Mongolian train\n\nThe **Trans-Mongolian Line** of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway links Ulaanbaatar with Moscow, Russia and Beijing, China. The Mongolian line branches from the main Trans-Siberian at Ulan-Ude, so you'll need to break your journey there if coming from points east like Vladivostok.\n\nThere is a small water boiler at the end of each train car which dispenses free hot water, so it's a good idea to stock up on instant noodles and tea for the trip. Also, don't expect to encounter any English-speaking staff on the train or in the stations.\n\n#### From Russia\n\nThe Trans-Siberian train crosses the Russia/Mongolia border at the town of Naushki, Russia. Trains start from Moscow or Irkutsk going to either Ulaanbaatar or Beijing, with several stops on both sides of the border. Between Irkutsk and the border are Ulan-Ude, Naushki, Dozornoe, and Khoit. Between the Russian border and Ulaanbaatar are Sühbaatar, Darkhan, and Zuunkharaa, with possible stops in Erdenet and Salkhit.\n\n#### From China", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk020", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Changing wheels at the Chinese border\nSecond class (hard sleeper) costs about US$200 (2011) from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, crossing the border at Erlian/Zamiin-Üüd. There are two trains a week and the ride takes almost 30 hours, including a mandatory stop of 3-4 hours at Erlian while the train bogies are switched between Russian broad gauge and Chinese standard gauge. You will have to take all your belongings and leave the train for this operation, and will be confined to the waiting area at Erlian station, even if you're inbound to China and have already passed through immigration. You can, however, ask staff for a free ticket that will let you step outside to raid the nearby shops and restaurants for supplies.\n\n##### Beijing to the border\n\nIf the Beijing - Ulaanbaatar train is sold out, as seems to be common, or you need a more frequent option, you can make your way from Beijing to the border at Erlian by **local train** as described below, and then on to Ulaanbaatar by bus and train. As of March 2011, there are morning flights from Beijing to Erlian out of Capital Airport Terminal 1 costing only ¥160, which is cheaper than the bus.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk021", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Trains run daily from Beijing to Jining (Inner Mongolia) or Hohhot. You can change there for a train to the border town of Erlian near the Mongolian-Chinese border. The K89 leaves Beijing in the morning and arrives at Jining in the evening. Jining has many hotels near the train station and has karaoke bars to keep you entertained while you wait. From Jining to Erlian there is a slow train that leaves in the morning, passes the Great Wall multiple times, and arrives in the early evening. This will take a night longer than getting the sleeper bus as described in \"By bus\".\n\n##### Crossing the border\n\nBe wary of scams at the border where people in uniform will attempt to sell you \"required travel insurance.\" There is no such thing and you can safely ignore them. You should then cross the border from Erlian in China to Zamiin-Uud in Mongolia as described in Erlian to and from Mongolia. Once you have crossed the border, you will need to get from Zamiin-Uud to Ulaanbaatar as described in Zamiin-Uud get in.\n\n### By car\n\nMany adventurous people drive to Mongolia, usually starting somewhere in Europe. The Mongol Rally and Mongol Charity Rally sponsor many of them. Driving to Mongolia can be extremely challenging in many respects. Not only are there virtually no roads in the western half of Mongolia, but vehicle registration, import fees and paperwork, visas and everything have to be ready for every country along the way. For those who still wish to make the journey by car, there are 4 land border crossings with Russia and 3 with China. Though it is much more expensive and difficult to drive through, into, or out of China in your own car.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk022", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "See **Driving in China** for issues for driving to Mongolia from China.\n\n#### From Russia\n\nThe main border is in Altanbulag-Kyakhta (Sühbaatar), nearest to the capital, is open 24 hours a day. In the far west is the Tsagaannuur-Tashanta crossing in Bayan-Olgii, is open Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00 and is the most popular with adventure drivers. Also in the west is Borshoo-Khandgait crossing between Uvs and Tuva Republic, is open Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00. In the east, Ereentsav-Solovyovsk crossing near Choibalsan is open daily 09:00-18:00.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is a paved road connecting Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border, and one between UB and Russia.\n\n#### From Russia\n\nThose interested in saving money can book one-way elektrichka (regional train) tickets from Irkutsk or Ulan Ude to Naushki. In Naushki, one can spend the night in the train resting rooms (komnati otdikha) for US$0.50 per hour. From there, it is possible to take a marshrutka to the land border crossing town of Kyakhta, Russia. Walking across the border is prohibited, but travellers have no problems arranging for Mongolia-bound cars to take them across the border, for either a small fee or free. Upon crossing into Mongolia it is relatively easy to hitchhike, taxi, or bus to Sühbaatar or UB, as all southbound traffic is headed towards those cities.\nFrom the west, from Russia, it is possible to cross at the land border in Tsagaannuur, Bayan-Olgii. There are daily petrol and wheat-carrying Russian Kamaz trucks headed to Olgii and it is possible to hitchhike to Tsagaannuur or even Olgii. Regular buses and marshrutkas also operate from the border, though service is unpredictable due to the lack of a schedule. There is also a bus every 10 days between either Astana or Almaty, Kazakhstan and Olgii.\n\n#### From China", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk023", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Liuliqiao long-distance bus station (六里桥客运主枢纽 or lìu lǐ qiáo kè yùn zhǔ shū nǐu), phone +86 10 8383–1716, address: A1, Liuliqiao Nan Li, Fengtai District. Departure at 16:30. These are supposed to run daily, but may not. You can phone at 10:00 on the morning of departure to see if the bus is running and to reserve a place.\n Muxiyuan long-distance bus station (木樨园才华长途汽车站), phone +86 10 6726–7149, location: go to Liujiayao Metro Station and get a cab. Departs at 17:00.\n Lizeqiao long-distance bus station (丽泽桥长途汽车站), phone (丽泽桥长途汽车站) Address 中国, 北京市丰台区北京市丰台区西三环丽泽桥东 +86 10 6340–3408, address 中国, 北京市丰台区北京市丰台区西三环丽泽桥东. Location is difficult to get to. Departs at 17:00.\n\nFrom Hohhot by bus costs 88 Chinese yuan and takes 6-7 hr. There are several daily buses.\n\nOnce in Erlian, follow the **Crossing the border** and **From the border to Ulaanbaatar** steps above.\n\nShould you be travelling at a busy time (e.g., around Naadam on the 11th and 12th July) and want to be sure of getting tickets for the last leg of the trip in Mongolia, you could take one of the packages from the guesthouses in Beijing. These cost around 570 yuan (July 2009) and include a taxi to the coach station in Beijing, Beijing to Erlian by sleeper coach, a bed in the hotel in the bus station for a few hours, a bus from Erlian to Zamiin-Üüd across the border, then soft sleeper overnight from Zamiin-Üüd to Ulaanbaatar. Purchased separately, the tickets cost about 360 yuan. The Saga guesthouse in Beijing sells these, and although they insist till they're blue in the face that the train is a hard sleeper, it's actually a soft sleeper!\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk024", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get in", "text": "At Zamiin-Uud you have to put your bicycle in a car. You are not allowed to cycle through the 3-km-wide border area. Prepare to bargain. They will start at US$100 and more. You should be able to get them down to US$20 or less. If you are lucky and get up early, you might catch a truck. They will take you for free. Usually you have better chances with Mongol drivers, if you want to cross into Mongolia.\n\nAt Altanbulag you also have to put the bicycle in a car, but prices are reasonable and usually fixed. Enjoy watching your driver smuggle goods in or out of Mongolia.\n\n### By thumb or foot\n\nThe road passes through the border town of Zamiin-Üüd and continues to Ulaanbaatar. Hitchhiking in Mongolia is not easy and a little bit of money for the driver is expected. There is an average of one car every hour heading into the desert. Rules at the border require that you ride a bus or car across the border, not walk across. However, they do not care how you get there or where you go afterwards.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk025", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you plan to travel around the countryside without a guide, take a GPS and some maps. The \"Mongolia Road Atlas\" is available in many book shops, it has over 60 pages and covers the whole country: there is a Latin-character version and Cyrillic-character version, in the countryside most people won't understand the Latin version. More detailed maps are available at the Mongolian Government Map Store. These maps are 1:500,000. Also, some other special-purpose maps and a good map of downtown Ulaanbaatar. The map store is on Ih Toiruu St. Go west from the State Department Store on the main street, called Peace, Peace and Friendship, or Ekhtavan Ave., two blocks to the large intersection with traffic lights, turn right (north) and the map store is about halfway along the block. There is an Elba electronic appliance store set back from the street, a yellow and blue building, the next building is a 4-story, Russian-style office building, the map store entrance is on the west side, toward the south end of the building. It lines up with the north wall of the Elba building.\n\nWhichever the method of long-distance travel, keep in mind that everything in Mongolia has a tendency to break down. Don't be shocked if part of the suspension breaks and the driver jerry-rigs a carved wooden block in the place of a mount. For more serious breakdowns, it can easily take an entire day or longer for somebody to come along and help, so leave plenty of slack in itineraries. Finally, Mongolians are rather notorious for being late. A bus that is scheduled to leave at 08:00 will probably not be out of the city until almost 11:00.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk026", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "The entirety of the country is public property, and - especially in the winter - drivers will simply peel off the paved roads and chart their own paths to get to a certain destination. Often, many of the destinations are not near any permanent roads, requiring this off-roading to get to them. If driving off-road, take extra care to ensure that you have the proper supplies and knowledge to survive in the event your vehicle breaks down or gets stuck. It is also highly recommended to have a guide who knows the area and/or a strong knowledge of Mongolian with which you can converse with local nomads to inquire where exactly your destination is and how to get to it.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|An AeroMongolia plane\nThe easiest way to travel long distance is via one of the domestic airlines: AeroMongolia or Hunnu Air. Almost all flights are between Ulaanbaatar and the Aimag centers. Except for mines in the south Govi and Choibalsan, which use Boeing 737s, most flights use turboprop regional planes. AeroMongolia uses a two-tier price structure, charging foreigners significantly more than locals, while Hunnu has only one price. Other than price, there is little difference between the airlines. Air travel agents, guest houses and hotels can help you to obtain domestic air tickets in Mongolia.\n\n- AeroMongolia\n\n- Hunnu Air\n\n### By train", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk027", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is only one railway company in Mongolia, owned by the Russian and Mongolian governments, \"Mongolian Railway\". It is probably the best way to experience something of the communist time, even if it has evolved a bit since then. Ulaanbaatar railway agents more often consider the passenger as a potential rulebreaker than as a client. The railway network is poor, consisting mainly of the Irkutsk-Ulaanbaatar-Beijing Trans-Mongolian way with a few extensions. Trains are extremely slow. They usually leave on time, and arrive on time or less than 20 minutes late. Intercity bus routes on the roughly parallel paved roads will get you there much faster.\n\nThe local trains stop at many small stations in the countryside. For example, there is the small town of Batsumber, located about 34 km north of Ulaanbaatar (as the crow flies), longer on the train. Take your camping gear and hike to the mountains about 10 km east of the town. There are two streams flowing west out of the mountains, hike and camp along the streams. There is a small restaurant, and food shops in the town.\n\n#### Train tickets", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk028", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "It's possible to pay for train tickets by credit card. For online booking of train tickets, go to the official website (an English version is available, but not all the information is translated). The website is not the most user-friendly, but fortunately Wander Simply has a good write-up on how to navigate the site and buy tickets. Alternatively, contact the company Train to Mongolia to buy tickets at a commission. You pay an extra fee if you book in advance, and also an extra fee if you buy it in the train, which is the only possibility left if there are less than 10 minutes left before the train departure. Your passport is required to buy a ticket, but you can buy several people's tickets with one passport.\n\nThere are 3 classes: \"coupé\", \"sleeping\", and \"public\" (translated into English by \"economic\" by the company). \"Coupé\" is the only one with doors. In \"public\" it's possible to have to spend the night sitting and even with little space on crowded days. The tickets are numbered, but, when the seats are exhausted, the company overbooks public seats with tickets numbered \"0\", at the same price.\n\nThe \"public\" seats tickets are much cheaper (and much slower) than the coach, minivan and taxi competitors.\n\nIn a coupé at night, you'll be charged for compulsory additional bed sheets inside the train.\n\n#### Inside a train\n\nYou will be proposed drinks and Mongolian food inside the train, both by official sellers of the company and, at the big stations with long stops, by private people entering the train for that purpose.\n\nThere are many conductors. Don't expect them to speak anything other than Mongolian and, possibly, Russian.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk029", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Theft is rare on Mongolian trains, but keeping an eye on your belongings is generally a good idea. There are police on every train.\n\nOn a long trip, your ticket will be checked repeatedly, and you'll be awakened throughout the night for that. However, nobody will wake you if you have to get off during the trip, but if you get off at the terminus, you'll be awakened, even more than one hour before arrival, depending on the agent.\n\nThe **train toilets** close 30 minutes before the terminus, and sometimes even before that.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Tourist bus in the [[Gorkhi-Terelj National Park]]\nTravelling by local bus is also an option, though these buses tend to only connect the provincial capital with UB, and it is quite difficult to find any public transportation linking one provincial capital with another. Lately the bus situation has improved. Most cities and towns are referred to in two ways, their name or the name of the Aimag (province) or Soum (county), e.g. Dornod or Dornod Aimag or Choibalsan (the actual city name). Most buses have their destination on a card in the front window. If you have either name written down in Mongolian Cyrillic, show it to the drivers or helpers and they will get you on the right bus.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk030", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are two types of buses, microvans and large buses (some large buses are old Russian types and some are modern western types), depending on the road. The large buses run on schedule, but the micro-buses are much more lax. In Ulaanbaatar, there are two bus stations, one on the west near the Dragon Shopping Center and one on the East near the Botanical Gardens. Both stations are on Peace Avenue on opposite sides of the city. Multiple buses run between them. Get local to write directions. For the large buses buy your tickets the day before.\n\nIn the Aimag centres, there will be service to Ulaanbaatar and to local soums (small county seats) and usually the next Aimag center. However, all locations may not be available at one location. Ask for help from the locals. For example, in Ondorkhaan, the capital of Khentii Province, there is a bus service between Ondorkhaan and UB from a central bus station, however the through buses going to/from UB to Dornod and Sukhbaatar Aimags (Choybalsan and Baruun-Urt) will stop at a gas station on the north side of the city.\n\n#### Bus tickets\n\nTickets are sold in the station, not in the coach. Don't expect any cashier, driver or conductor to speak anything but Mongolian and, possibly, Russian. It's not possible to pay by credit card. Your passport is required to buy a ticket. If you have a luggage exceeding the standard (written in your ticket) in weight or size, you'll be asked for an extra fee by the conductor. You can negotiate this one.\n\n#### Inside a bus", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk031", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "On some routes, the driver and the conductor illegally add extra passengers and pocket the cash. They might even try to make 3 people sit on 2 seats, for instance: you can protest in such a case. Your ticket gives you the right to a full seat and this is what you get in most coaches. The coach will usually stop for a rather quick lunch or dinner at a local snackshop or canteen.\n\n### By minivan\n\nPublic countryside taxis and minivans, often called purgon or mekr, offer more destinations than coaches and many more than train, especially between provinces. They are more dangerous than coaches and trains, and always overloaded. Most drivers don't respect the traffic rules. Countryside taxis and minivans leave when full. They always say they will go \"now\" (\"odo\") despite often departing hours later. See how many people are already sitting inside the vehicle to have an idea of how long you'll wait. Drivers also usually promise to pick up additional passengers and cargo before leaving town.\n\n### By chartered jeep\n\nthumb|River ferry in Hovsgol\nIt is also possible to charter a Jeep and driver for private use. Prices are typically negotiated by the kilometre. While far more expensive than sharing a ride with the locals, this means of transport is considerably more convenient and allows you to visit more remote sites. It can also be quite convenient to hire a guide to use during the length of your stay. Doing so can allow you to travel without worrying about taxi drivers overcharging by up to 10x for being a foreigner.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk032", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Get around", "text": "One of the most convenient ways to get around is by car. This isn't to say that it's completely safe, however. Road accidents are very common in Mongolia, largely because of reckless driving habits. Drivers do not obey traffic rules and speeding is common. Many cars are in poor condition and not all of them are fitted with seat belts. The road network is narrow and generally in poor condition. Avoid driving at night, as most roads are unlit and may have obstacles and potholes.\n\n### By taxi\n\nIn the cities, taxis should charge about 1500 ₮ per km. The drivers will set their trip meter and charge accordingly.\n\n### By horse\n\nFor local travel, horse-back is a good option. Mongolians ride on wooden saddles, so if you value your buttocks it's probably a good idea to pick up a leather, Russian saddle in UB.\n\n### By foot\n\nWalking is another great alternative. Since camping is possible anywhere, resting is never a problem. Wherever there is water, there are nomads, and if you stick to the major dirt roads you will encounter plenty of guanz, which can provide huge cheap meals to keep you going. Adopting the Mongolian style of sleeping outdoors is also an option: wrap yourself in wool blankets and then cover yourself with a Russian raincoat (essentially a tarpaulin in the form of a trench coat), and simply plop yourself down on the ground. One night sleeping this way gives a whole new appreciation for the wonders of sleeping bags and bivvy sacks/tents.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk033", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Monk at the Gandan Monastery\n\nMongolia is a big country that has been beyond the reach of travellers and the normal trappings of civilization until the 21st century. Even today it can be difficult to travel between the few places that 'exist'. There is little noteworthy architecture in the country. Except for the short-lived capital of the Mongol Empire at **Karakorum (Kharkhorin)**, the descendants of Genghis Khan left little evidence of their power inside their native homeland. Genghis Khan, who leveled cities from the Yellow Sea to the Caspian, was said to have only built one permanent building during his life, a warehouse to store his stupendous amount of loot.\n\n#### Archaeology\n\nthumb|Buddha at Erdene Zuu\n\nThough this structure no longer exists, the capital built by his son, Ögedei, does, as do countless artifacts in the National Museum in Ulaanbaatar, and thousands of stone monuments and drawings spread throughout the country, some dating back thousands of years. After the gradual disintegration of the Mongol Empire, many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries were built, providing the most visible signs of Mongolia's history. Today only a few still stand after Stalinist religious purges. Of particular note is the **Amarbaysgalant Monastery** in Selenge, the **Erdene Zuu Monastery** in Kharkhorin, and **Gandan Monastery** in Ulaanbaatar, all active religious sites with large numbers of resident lamas. During the communist era, the Soviets helped establish large modern cities and modern industries, which aren't very pretty, but are of some interest, particularly the biggest open-pit copper mine in Asia at Erdenet.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk034", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "See", "text": "For a country that prides itself on its nomadic heritage, there are a surprising amount of ruins of stone structures (and even cities) scattered about Mongolia. With the exception of Kharkhorin, practically none of these are anywhere near a paved road, but their isolation makes their grandeur even more impressive.\n\nPeople interested in the ethnogenesis of the Turkic peoples will not want to miss the **Orkhon Inscriptions** in the Orkhon Valley (about a 40 minute drive north of Kharkhorin). These two massive stone stelae contain the oldest written Turkic language, and serve as a sort of Rosetta Stone for the reconstruction of both Old Turkic and Proto-Turkic. The Turkish government has funded a nice museum on the site and a paved road from the museum to Kharkhorin, making the inscriptions easily accessible to travellers.\n\n##### Monasteries\n\nBefore the religious purges, Mongolia had around 750 monasteries and was a theocracy. Many were destroyed, while some were turned into museums by the communists to display Mongolian art or the opulence of the former religious leaders. Today the **Choijin Lama Monastery** and the **Bogd Khan Winter Palace** are preserved as museums for the art of the Lamas and the toys of the former king. Other ancient monasteries are slowly reopening and recovering like the Amarbaysalant in Selenge Province or the Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar. Most monasteries today are small, newly built temples in towns that didn't even exist before the purges.\n\n##### Museums", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk035", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "See", "text": "Besides the monastery museums, Ulaanbaatar hosts several interesting and noteworthy museums to see before going off to the countryside. The best one by far is the **National Museum of Mongolia** with large collections of artifacts from the Mongol Empire through the Democratic Revolution of 1990. The **Chinggis Khaan Museum** in Ulaanbaatar offers an even larger collection, although it only spans prehistory to the Qing Empire. Several other good art museums and lesser history and nature museums also exist in the city if you will be there for an extended time. Outside of the capital, every provincial center also has a small museum usually built by the communists and mostly not updated since they left. These museums are cheap and do have useful displays on local cultures and history. There are also some **communist-era sites**.\n\n#### Nature\n\nOne thing that does look much the same as it always has is the unspoiled nature of Mongolia. Due to its very low population density, the lowest in the world, it is possible to travel days with only seeing the occasional nomadic herder interrupting endless rolling steppes, the vast Gobi desert, or the snow-capped Altai Mountains. Up north, Siberian forests surround the 2nd largest freshwater lake in Asia by volume, Hôvsgôl (or \"Hövsgöl\") lake, in Hövsgöl province, which is very beautiful. The **Flaming Cliffs** near Dalanzadgad are stunning just to see, but also contain some of the earliest and most important dinosaur discoveries.\n\n#### People", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk036", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "See", "text": "The most memorable part of any trip to Mongolia, regardless of what drew you here, will certainly be the people. Mongolians are incredibly hospitable to guests. No trip here is complete without having dinner or staying the night with **nomadic herders**. Around a third of the population still earns a living as semi-nomadic herders living in gers (yurts) on the open steppe. While their diets are not very diverse, consisting of meat, flour, and dairy, they will seek to serve guests a feast of boiled or fried meat and hot milky tea, with traditional entertainments of music, singing, and maybe dance. There is some variation depending on which tribe or region, with Kazakhs near Ölgii being the most different with different language, diet, and dress, including the practice of **eagle hunting**. While the Tuvans have a beautiful, eerie singing style of throat-singing, and the Tsaatan people live isolated lives herding reindeer near Lake Hövsgöl. Then there are the Lama monks who are increasingly common in monasteries and elsewhere, and the **Shaman priests**, who practice the ancient animist religions of worshiping nature and the earth, and are widely respected in Mongolia.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk037", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Mongolian honor guard\nExperiencing the culture and having a meal or spending the night with a nomadic family are authentic Mongolian experiences. Whether you go just outside of the capital or fly to the far corners of the country, this is the most memorable part of any trip. There are some variations on the experience, depending on the tribal group.\n\nThe **Trans-Siberian Railway** passes through the country. Also follow the path of Marco Polo across Europe and Asia into Mongolia to visit the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire in Karakorum.\n\nMongolia is the least densely populated country in the world and has very little development of any kind outside of the capital and a few small towns. There often aren't even roads connecting these towns. This pristine setting means that Mongolia has wide open spaces for experiencing the outdoors for those who want adventure. Traveling across this vast country is often an adventure in itself with tourists and adventurers alike going by car, motorcycle, bike, horse, camel, or foot. Most often this means camping on the shore of a river or with a nomadic family or in small roadside hotels in provincial towns. Along the way or on one of the many wild rivers and nature preserves, there is great fishing, particularly fly-fishing during the summer. Climbing the mountains in the west is popular as well as photographing the wildlife, flora, or the multitude of birds living or migrating through Mongolia.\n\n Canoe down some of Mongolia's major rivers.\n Listen to traditional Mongolian **throat singing**.\n Visit reindeer herders, such as the Tsaatan Community, which is west of Khovsgol lake. Several tour companies sell tours to visit the reindeer herders living in high alpine mountains. To get there, ride horses from Tsagaannuur or Rinchinlhumbe. You need to get a border permit in UB or Murun before starting the tour. Most licensed tour companies can get the border permit if you provide your travel details in advance. Horse-trekking can be hard and long. But it's worth traveling there.\n Local Bonda Lake Camp in Khatgal village near Lake Khovsgol offers fishing, hiking, winter tours, nomad visits, horseback riding, visiting reindeer herders and the Darhad valley. Horse riding, you can discover Lake Khovsgol and its beautiful waters, meet Tsataan (nomadic reindeer herders) living in gers in the north of Khovsgol area. This region is incredibly scenic, perched at 1645 m altitude in green mountains, covered with thick pine forests and lush meadows with grazing yaks and horses, and rich with wildlife: the lake has 9 species of fish and its surroundings are full of sheep, goats, elk and more than 430 species of birds. There are 5 Mongolian tribes nearby: Khalh, Darhad, Buriad, Hotgoid, and Urianhai. The camp has a hot shower, sauna, internet and a restaurant with Mongolian and European meals.\n- Mountain Climbing\n\n### Winter activities\n\n- Join Kazakh eagle hunters on a hunt\n\nSkiing: There is one ski resort outside of Ulaanbaatar with a ski lift, equipment rentals, instructors, and all the other features of a ski resort. The lift may be slow, and the runs a bit hard, but it does provide good entertainment for those visiting UB during the long, cold winter months. For more adventurous types, western Mongolia's large mountain ranges provide great **back-country skiing**. The spring months of April and May get the most snow and make the best skiing. Either join a tour or lug all of your own equipment. There aren't any ski shops in the nearby villages.", "word_count": 583}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk038", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Mongolian currency is the **tögrög** (also spelled \"tugrik\", \"tugrug\" etc.; Mongol: төгрөг), denoted by the sign \"**₮**\" (ISO international currency code: **MNT**). You may also see the notations \"tg\" and \"T\".\n\nThe tögrög suffers from persistent high inflation, losing 8-10% in an average year. Expect most prices you see online to be out of date.\n\nBanknote denominations in circulation are 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 ₮. Smaller notes exist but are effectively worthless.\n\nIt is virtually impossible to exchange tögrög outside the country, so don't exchange too much. US dollars are widely accepted in the tourist industry, especially for larger payments (hotels, guides, etc.), but are not usable in the countryside.\n\n### Tipping\n\nIn Mongolia tipping is rarely expected except in tourism-related services like tour guides. Waiters, taxis, and hotel attendants do not expect tips. Sometimes taxis will attempt to overcharge you by refusing to give change back, but this has nothing to do with gratuity. Some nicer restaurants and hotels in the capital do often add fees to the bill for service, especially for larger groups.\n\n### Shopping\n\nMongolian cashmere is known as the best in the world, so consider buying garments and blankets from one of the many stores selling cashmere products. \nMongolia is famous for its copper mines Erdenet and Oyu Tolgoi. A copper bookmark might make an ideal souvenir and you can easily find this US$1 metal souvenir in Ulaanbaatar souvenir shops.\n**Kazakh embroideries** made in Ölgii using traditional Kazakh designs are sold in many gift shops in Ulaanbaatar.\n**Paintings** by local artists are excellent buys in Mongolia.\nYou can find **felt poker-work** in Erdenet.\nIt is illegal to take **antiques** out of the country without a special permit.\nThe huge open-air market, **Narantuul** (\"The Black Market\") in Ulaanbaatar offers the lowest prices on just about anything you could want. Beware of the many pickpockets and even attackers there. This can be a great place to get a good pair of *riding boots*. You can opt for a variety of Mongolian styles, from fancy to the more practical, or even get a good set of Russian-style boots.\nMongolia is justly famous for its carpets. Erdenet is home to Mongolia's largest carpet factory, also making and selling slippers made of carpet, though its carpets are made by machine, not traditional methods. For traditional carpets, visit a local market, including the famous Black Market in Ulaanbaatar.", "word_count": 403}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk039", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|The Mongolian trifecta: ''khuushuur'' fried dumplings on the left, ''buuz'' steamed dumplings on the right, and pieces of boiled mutton on top\n\nAnywhere you find people in Mongolia, you will also smell the scent of **boiled mutton**, the principal dish of Mongolia. A typical herder in the countryside will eat little else, flavored only with a little salt. Vegetables and spices are very limited, and even flour may be in short supply, since the climate is poorly suited to agriculture.\n\nRestaurants, canteens and tea shops in Mongolia also have a mutton-centric menu, revolving around three dishes:\n *buuz* (бууз) — Steamed dumplings stuffed with meat, often called the national dish of Mongolia. Derived from the Chinese *baozi*. A set of 6 usually costs 1,200-2,000 ₮.\n *khuushuur* (хуушууp) — Deep-fried stuffed flatbread with meat and onion, originally a festive dish but now ubiquitous. 3 or 4 will fill you up.\n *tsuivan* (цуйван) — Fried noodles with meat and a few token vegetables, often served with ketchup on the side. Around 2,000-4,000 ₮ a serve.\n\nHorse, yak and beef are also eaten, and dairy products like *byaslag* (бяслаг), a mild, paneer-like fresh cheese, and *öröm* (өрөм), clotted cream, are also common. *Aaruul* (ааруул) dried curds are also a common snack: these are typically rock hard and have to be eaten by *slowly* dissolving them in your mouth, which eventually turns them into lumps of cheesy putty.\n\nthumb|Preparing a marmot as ''boodog''\n\nFor special occasions, *boodog* (боодог) or goat/marmot barbecue, is particularly worth experiencing. For about 15,000-20,000 ₮, a nomad will head out with his gun, shoot a marmot or a goat, and then cook it for you without a pot: the meat, vegetables, water and stones are cooked inside the skin of the animal. They skin it very carefully, and then tie off the holes at the legs and back side, put the food and hot stones inside, tie off the throat, and let it cook for about 30 minutes. Though rare, with only 692 cases of marmot plague recorded between 1928 to 2018, the Tarbagan marmot is known to carry the bubonic plague, but fatal cases tend to be those that partake in the consumption of raw marmot organs that are sometimes eatern separately from the *boodog.*\n\nAlong the same lines is *khorkhog* (xopxoг), made of mutton, which is prepared like so: build a fire; toss stones into fire until red hot; place water, hot stones, onions, potatoes, carrots, and, finally, mutton chops, into a large vacuum-sealed kettle; let the kettle simmer over a fire for 30-60 minutes; open kettle carefully, as the top will inevitably explode, sending hot juices flying everywhere; once the kettle is opened, and all injuries have been tended to, eat contents of kettle, including the salty broth. This cooking method makes mutton taste tender and juicy, like slow-roasted turkey. Ask your guide if he or she can arrange one (but only during summer).\n\n### Where to eat\n\nUlaanbaatar has a cosmopolitan scene with plenty of international options, ranging from fine dining at the Kempinski to fast-food dumplings at Khaan Buuz, the country's answer to McDonalds. The many Korean restaurants in particular are worth exploring. It is also the only place in the country where vegetarians can fairly easily find food, although tour agents can usually arrange vegetarian meals elsewhere with sufficient notice.\n\nIn the countryside, the only dining option is often the *guanz* (гуанз), a roadside *ger* tent offering a simple menu, often only *tsuivan* noodles and salted milk tea.", "word_count": 580}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk040", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A milk pail in Mongolia\n\nThe most common drink in Mongolia is **salted milk tea** (сүүтэй цай *süütei tsai*), which is essentially a cup of boiled milk and water, sometimes with a couple pieces of tea leaf and/or a pinch of salt thrown in for good measure. A cup of this and a bowl of dried snacks is the first thing served when you visit a *ger*, and it accompanies food at restaurants as well. The tea can be bulked up into a meal by adding in some toasted millet, rice, meat or bansh. You might want to build up your tolerance by drinking lots of milk in preparation for your stay because they don't drink much else, except perhaps boiled water if you specially request it during a longer stay. Also, most traditional nomadic foods such as dried yogurt and the like require acclimatization to milk as well. Cold drinks don't actually exist in the countryside (unless you intend to drink straight out of a river, generally not recommended).\n\nthumb|A glass of homemade ''airag'', prepared in the blue plastic barrel in the background\n\nThe national drink, though, is ***airag*** (айраг). Essentially the same as the Central Asian *kumiss*, this is a summer seasonal drink made from fermented mare's milk, and is certainly an acquired taste. The alcohol content is less than that of beer, but can have noticeable effects. Be careful, if you aren't accustomed to drinking sour milk products, the first time might give you diarrhea as your stomach gets accustomed to it. This should only happen the first time though. Once you've completed the ritual, your digestive system shouldn't complain again. There are numerous ways to describe the taste, from bile-like to a mixture of lemonade and sour cream. The texture can also be offsetting to some people since it can be slightly gritty. It is worth keeping in mind that Airag is milk and a source of nutrients. After a day of riding it can actually be quite refreshing, once acquiring a taste for it. *Airag* is \"microbrewed\" locally, not commercially produced, but in season it's sold at stands including Gandantegchinlen Monastery and at the West Market in Ulaanbaatar.\n\nMuch stronger than *airag* is ***arkhi*** (архи), a strong liquor distilled from milk and often called \"milk vodka\". Like vodka, the taste is quite neutral, and after you have your first shot of the vodka you won't feel anything, but a few minutes later it will get to your head. Most people in Mongolia usually drink this for medical reasons. First you heat up the vodka then put in a little bit of special oil which is also made from milk. Careful don't overheat it, you might get blind. Mongolians call their national vodka *nermel arkhi* (\"distilled vodka\") or *changa yum* (\"tight stuff\"). Many Russian-style vodkas are sold throughout the country. The best are **Chinggis Khaan vodka**, **Soyombo** and **Golden Chinggis**.\n\nIn Ulaanbaatar you can find most Western beers, from Miller to Heineken. They sell Budweiser -- not American Bud but the Czech Budweiser. Local beer, such as Chingis, Gem Grand, Borgio or Sengur is fine.", "word_count": 519}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk041", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Some **western-style accommodation** is available in Ulaanbaatar, but it goes for western prices. There are a few nice guest houses in UB for less than US$10 per night (even as cheap as 3,000 ₮ if you're willing to share a room), but they are crowded during the tourist season and hard to get into.\n\nOut in the countryside, most of the hotels are rundown Soviet-era leftovers. A better option is tourist *ger*, set up by entrepreneurial locals. Staying at one of these costs about ₮5000 per person per night. They often include breakfast and dinner as well. When staying in one of these guest ger, the usual gift-giving customs can be skipped.\n\nFinally, there are also **ger-camps**. Set up by tour companies, they do occasionally rent out space to independent travellers. Unfortunately, they tend to be both expensive (US$35 per person per night with 3 meals) and out of the way. To stay at a ger camp, use the online booking portals iHotel and Mongolian Ger Camps Network.\n\nExcept for the cities and larger towns, all land is publicly owned. This means you can **pitch a tent** pretty much anywhere. Courtesy dictates that you keep your distance from existing nomad encampments. Common sense dictates that you don't pitch a tent in the middle of or too close to a road.\n\nNowadays, there are more than 300 hotels in Mongolia and these are graded between 1 and 5 stars. Hotels holding 3 stars or more are for tourist service and must obtain permission in order to operate. The Accommodation Grading Committee, consisting of the Ministry, travel industry associations and tourism researchers, rate an accommodation according to Mongolian standards.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk042", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Learn", "text": "There are some **language schools** in the capital. The two most known to foreigners are Bridge School and Friends School. Both offer group study classes and individual tutors. Also, the National University of Mongolia offers courses.\n\nIt usually takes westerners about 9 to 18 months before they acquire good conversational abilities in Mongolian. Speakers of Korean, Japanese, and Turkic languages, like Turkish and Kazakh, tend to learn more quickly due to the similarities in grammatical structure. A Mongolian language school with a website is '''Nomiin Ger'''.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk043", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Work", "text": "It can be difficult to find employment as a foreigner in Mongolia. Obtaining a work permit requires being sponsored by a Mongolian company and every company has a strict quota on the number of foreign nationals they may employ. Foreign nationals are not allowed to comprise more than 20% of a Mongolian company's workforce. This is as good as saying that the Mongolian government is reluctant to let foreigner workers compete with Mongolians.\n\nThere is a huge demand for native English speakers as English teachers. Anyone who is interested in teaching English will have no trouble getting employment and a work visa through a school or organization. However, the pay is generally lower than in other countries. Though it'll usually be just enough for room and board plus a little extra.\n\nLocal English-language media hire native speakers as editors, proof-readers and photojournalists.\n\nVolunteer work is available teaching English, assisting with charity work and joining archaeological digs. These jobs are easy to find and very rewarding.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk044", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Sunset in Ulaanbaatar\n\nMongolia is mostly a safe country to visit, but take care in nights and when alcohol is involved, and if venturing out away from shelter with risks of harsh weather. Women should be aware of problems common in conservative regions.\n\nAggressive dogs may run in packs. Be wary of them since they are not likely to be as tame as domestic dogs elsewhere. Most fenced yards and gers have a guard dog that is usually all bark and no bite, though it is advised to make it aware of you so as to not surprise it, and carry a rock in case it does charge you.\n\nManhole covers — or more precisely, the lack of such covers — is a surprisingly common cause of injuries among foreigners and (especially drunk) tourists. In smaller cities and outlying areas of the capital, there are many missing or poorly placed covers. Avoid stepping on any manhole and pay attention to where you walk.\n\n### Crime and harassment\n\nApart from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is generally a safe place to travel. However, incidents of pickpocketing and bag slashing have occurred, so always keep your personal belongings in a safe place (money belts are highly recommended), especially in crowded areas or in places where your attention is diverted. Notorious places for theft are the Black Market (bazaar), the railway station and crowded bus stops.\n\nUnfortunately, xenophobia and violence towards foreigners is common. Alcoholism is a huge social problem and Mongolia has the highest rate of liver cancer in the world. Do not acknowledge or approach any Mongolian man under the influence of alcohol. Many foreigners who go to bars and clubs at night report assault and general aggression.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk045", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be aware that physical interactions that may be benign elsewhere, such as grazing someone's shoe while passing them or touching their hat, can be seen as an invitation to fight. Defuse these situations immediately by facing the other party earnestly and shaking their hand to signal that you do not mean to start a fight.\n\nMongolians are quite open people and tend to be curious and ask many questions just to be friendly. Try to answer diplomatically, and vaguely, especially relating to any perceived negative aspect of Mongolia.\n\nViolent crime is also common outside the capital city (Darkhan especially), so caution is required at night. In particular, dark or deserted alleys and streets should be avoided. Generally, if walking past 22:00, avoid people if at all possible. Mongolians can be very friendly, but their emotions and motives can change quite quickly. Someone who may genuinely just want to have a couple drinks with you may suddenly become aggressive regardless of your respect and polite actions.\n\nCorruption is a huge problem in Mongolia, and locals are convinced that the police are not to be trusted.\n\nThere are small bands of Mongolian ultra-nationalist thugs that style themselves as neo-Nazis and have assaulted foreigners including whites, blacks, and particularly, Chinese. They are especially provoked by foreigner interaction with Mongolian women. They are mostly found in the capital, especially in the cheaper bars and nightclubs.\n\nLone or female travelers need to exercise a higher degree of awareness of their surroundings, as getting groped in the chest or behind is not uncommon. Some actions like dancing close to a man will be seen as an open invitation, as Mongolians generally don't dance this way.\n\n### Weather conditions", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk046", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Perhaps the biggest danger in Mongolia is the extreme weather. Owing to its large size, high elevation, proximity to Siberia in Russia, and its landlocked geography, Mongolian winters are incredibly harsh and temperatures can fall as low as -40° Celsius. That's why Ulaanbaatar is often dubbed the coldest capital city in the world.\n\nWhen visiting Mongolia in the winter, layer every article of clothing you own and **do not** walk around too much in the open. Frostbite is a real risk, and freezing to death is a possibility. If you are unprepared to deal with such weather conditions, visit Mongolia during the summer.\n\n### Driving\n\nDriving in Mongolia can be dangerous, especially for those who are not used to driving in developing countries. Roads outside the capital tend to be in poor condition, and incredibly harsh weather makes things all the more difficult.\n\nIn the capital, motorists can be aggressive and drunk driving is common. Take care when crossing roads or busy intersections.\n\nIf you have little to no knowledge of Mongolian roads and driving around in isolated areas, it is **strongly recommended** that you do not drive outside Ulaanbaatar. Outside the capital, help is incredibly limited and you can get lost if you don't know what you're doing.\n\nIf you must drive outside Ulaanbaatar, consider informing a trusted local about your plans.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk047", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar\n Nomads' dogs may have **rabies**. As a precaution, consider having a rabies shot before coming.\n Marmots should not be eaten at certain times of the year because they can carry **bubonic plague**. That said, the disease is carried by the marmot's fleas so the afflicted tend to be fur traders, and marmot is not a mainstream dish even in Mongolia.\n Hepatitis and tuberculosis are common throughout Mongolia.\n **Tap water** is unsafe to drink.\n\n### Pollution\n\nUlaanbaatar has polluted air, largely due to pervasive coal-burning for domestic heating. \n\nIf you suffer from a respiratory disease and plan to visit Mongolia in winter, consult a medical professional for advice.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk048", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|A common sight in the Mongolian countryside. If you have been invited to go inside one, accept it.\nCompared to other countries in Asia, Mongolians are generally straightforward. Expect someone to tell you exactly what they think and feel.\n\nAnti-China sentiment is high in Mongolia due to historiographical and cultural disputes, and because China is seen by Mongolians as a colonial oppressor. As such, refrain from wearing anything associated with China, and refrain from talking about China. The Chinese province of Inner Mongolia is referred to as \"southern Mongolia\" by most Mongolians. Many Mongolians consider it to be Mongolian territory under Chinese occupation.\n\nMongols traditionally live on the steppes, breeding horses, just like their ancestor Genghis Khan. Not surprisingly, following Western pleasantries will mostly not have the intended effect in Mongolia. Instead, try to follow local good manners. Always receive items with the **right hand**, palm facing up. Drink from the right hand with the palm up as well. It is very rude to refuse a gift. If offered a plate of hospitality munchies, take at least a small nibble from something. Never point at anyone with your index finger since it implies disrespect.\n\nWhenever you approach a nomadic family, or enter a ger, you will, without knowing, break one or several of the many traditional, religious and superstitious customs. If you do become confused, don't panic, minor indiscretions will be tolerated and forgiven. The following do's and don'ts will help avoid offending anyone.\n\n### What to do\n\n Say hello (sain bainuu) upon arriving (but repeating it when you see the same person is considered strange)\n Take at least a sip, or a nibble, of the delicacies offered.\n Pick up everything with an open hand, with your palm facing upwards.\n Hold a cup by the bottom, and not by the top rim.\n If by accident you tap someone's foot with yours, immediately shake hands with them (failing to do so will be seen as an insult).\n Exchange pleasantries and engage in some small talk before asking someone for something.\n Discuss one's family and the weather. In nomadic areas, asking about a nomad's animals is customary.\n Discuss where you're from and what you're doing in Mongolia/the place you're visiting.\n Show respect to elders and figures of authority.\n\n### What not to do\n\n Lean against a support column\n Whistle inside a ger\n Stand on, or lean over, the threshold\n Stamp out a fire, or put water or any rubbish on it (fire is sacred to Mongolians)\n Walk in front of an older person; or turn your back to the altar, or religious objects (except when leaving)\n Take food from a communal plate with your left hand\n Touch other people's hats\n Do not have a long conversation in your own language in front of your hosts; make an effort to include your hosts. \n Do not reject an invitation to visit a ger; hospitality is a cornerstone in the nomadic parts of Mongolia and outright rejecting an invitation will seriously offend the nomads.\n Refuse food and drink offered by your hosts; as is the case in many Asian cultures, it is *very rude* to do this in Mongolia and shows no respect to your hosts.\n Not finishing the food that has been offered to you; as is the case in many Asian cultures, wasting food is *frowned upon*. \n Urinate in lakes or bodies of water; water is considered sacred and holy in Mongolia.\n Speak negatively about Genghis Khan. Most Mongolians revere him, and he is regarded as a national hero and the father of their nation.", "word_count": 592}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk049", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Internet cafés** are less common than they were, but nicer restaurants provide Wi-Fi in the capital. The postal service is slow and most people have a PO Box if they want to get anything. It is possible to buy phone cards that can be used to call abroad very cheaply from domestic phones, but not all phones can do this. (You can ask for MiCom or MobiCom cards). In the countryside, cell phone carriers cover random villages. Between Mobicom, Unitel, and GMobile, all villages or Soum centers are covered. Internet cafés are plentiful in Aimag centers (provincial capitals) now, with all Aimag post offices having one, plus many smaller cafés. There is Internet in some Soums (villages), but this is rare, slow, and prone to frequent outages.\n\nTo make local calls in Ulaanbaatar, use a phone of one of the many entrepreneurs with cellular telephones on the street corners. Expect to pay 150-200 ₮ per minute (June 2009 prices).", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "mongolia::chunk050", "doc_id": "mongolia", "section": "Go next", "text": "### To [[China]]\n\nFrom Ulaanbaatar, there are several options:\n\nFirstly, the international train. Tickets are sold in the ticket office in the VIP lounge on the second floor of the international ticket office across the street from the train station.\n\nThe second option is to board the Hohhot international train and transfer at Erlian or Jining (Inner Mongolia). See the travel agency located on the 1st (ground) floor of the international ticket office for details.\n\nThe third option is to take the daily train to Zamiin-Üüd, Mongolia at the border and take a bus or jeep to China, then go to the bus or train station in Erlian, China.\n\n### To [[Russia]]\n\nThere are buses and trains to Ulan Ude, from where you can explore the Lake Baikal region or board the Trans-Siberian Railway in either direction.", "word_count": 137}
diff --git a/corpus/mongolia/metadata.json b/corpus/mongolia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1c7e1b42c25b3ac7caffb62fa2f510c686aff982
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/mongolia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "mongolia",
+ "title": "Mongolia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Mongolia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "China",
+ "Erlian",
+ "Jining (Inner Mongolia)",
+ "Zamiin-Üüd",
+ "Erlian",
+ "Russia",
+ "Ulan Ude",
+ "Lake Baikal",
+ "Trans-Siberian Railway"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13083,
+ "listing_count": 4,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 51,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/montreal/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/montreal/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8502e11347cd9c676ad2fbe39713da11037b5517
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/montreal/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk000", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Montreal** (French: *Montréal*) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec. While Quebec City is the political capital, Montreal is the cultural and economic centre, and the main entry point to the province. With 1.8 million residents in the city (2021), and 4 million in the urban area, Montreal is Canada's second largest city. and the largest francophone city in the Americas. Most Francophones are conversant in English to varying degrees of fluency. Old Montreal has a heritage of colonial times. Though a large city, Montreal gives opportunities for outdoor life, and for watching the legendary Montréal Canadiens ice hockey team.", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk001", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Districts", "text": "### Central Montreal\n\n#### Ville-Marie borough\n\nNeighbourhoods from west to east:\n\n#### Plateau Mont-Royal district\n\n### Other Montreal districts and Montreal Island towns\n\n### Elsewhere on the island", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk002", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|280px|Montreal Old Port\nalt=|thumb|200x200px|Place d'Armes in Old Montreal\nOn an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Iroquoian town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. In 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Catholic mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.\n\nProhibition on sales of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made Montreal a destination for cross-border fun seekers from nearby New England and New York. The city built up a seedy, yet playful, industry in alcohol, burlesque, and other vices. In the 1960s, an urban renewal drive centred on Expo 67. The World's Fair in Montreal brought a subway system (the métro) and attractive urban parks and is considered to be one of the most successful World Fairs. Over 50 million visitors gathered in Montreal during this memorable summer. The 1976 Olympics left a strikingly idiosyncratic stadium and many other urban improvements.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk003", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Understand", "text": "The opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, though much-lauded as an economic boom, spelled the beginning of the end for Montreal's economic dominance in Canada. Once the transition point between western railways and eastern sea carriers, Montreal watched helplessly as some of this business moved farther west, up the now navigable seaway, to ports in Ontario and on Lake Superior. The Quebec sovereignty movement, which began to pick up steam in the 1960s, further chilled the atmosphere for Canada-wide businesses, many of which moved their headquarters to Toronto.\n\nFollowing an economic depression in the 1980s and 1990s, Montreal became more secure in its place in North America and the world. It remains a centre of culture, arts, computer technology, aerospace, the biotech industry, and media for all of Canada.\n\n### Language\n\n47% of Montrealers speak French as their only mother tongue, while around 13% of the population speak English as their mother language, and 33% speak something else. It is considered to be polite to start a conversation in French, but Montrealers will generally switch easily to English when they realize you don't speak French. At a minimum, start with \"*Bonjour*, can we speak English?\"\n\n### Orientation\n\nthumb|200px|right|As the world sees Montreal - Assuming north is up\nthumb|200px|right|As we see ourselves - Assuming north is up\n\n*It has been said that Montréal is the only city in the world where the sun \"rises in the south\"*.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk004", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. This tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really north and the “South” Shore is east, and the St Lawrence River runs almost north-south at this location.\n\nMost local maps use this convention as do the highways around the city. For example, Autoroute 15 north actually runs northwest and Autoroute 40 east runs northeast.\n\nTo underscore this fact, a Montreal map will show that the \"south end\" of Victoria Bridge is in fact further north than the \"north end\".\n\n### Gay Montreal\n\nMontreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage licence, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as it is in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. **Montreal's pride celebration** (last week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after Toronto's.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk005", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Understand", "text": "The climate of Montreal is a true humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The city has warm—and occasionally hot & humid—summers. Typical summer temperatures average around in the day and at night. A heat wave in the summer could see temperatures rising upwards to or even exceeding and not going below at night, alongside humid conditions. Springs and autumns are generally mild, and winters are often very cold & snowy. Montreal gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, daylight hours range from 05:15-20:45 in early summer, to 07:30-16:15 in the December. Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 2 metres of snow per season.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n- Centre Infotouriste de Montréal\n\nVisitor information from MTL.org", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk006", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "is used as the metropolitan area airport code for the airport and rail station.\n\n### By plane\n\n() ( / ), also known to locals as Dorval Airport, is west of the city centre on Expressway (*Autoroute*) 20. It is well-connected domestically, and to Europe and the United States, but connections to the rest of the world are much more limited. Travel time to the airport from the city centre can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic.\n\n#### Other airports\n\n'''Plattsburgh International Airport''' and '''Burlington International Airport''', in the United States, are 1 hr 20 min and 1 hr 50 min away, respectively, by car from Montreal. Adirondack Trailways offers a bus service from Plattsburgh International Airport to Montreal. Greyhound offers a bus service from Burlington International Airport to Montreal. For travellers from the US, these airports may offer a significant cost savings compared to Trudeau but at the added inconvenience of arranging ground transportation between the US and Canada.\n\n### By car\n\nFrom Toronto, take Highway 401 east about 5 hr until it becomes Autoroute (freeway) 20 on the Quebec side of the border. It will then take about an hour to get to downtown. Be alert for frequent speed-limit changes along this road. To reach downtown follow the Centre-Ville signs and take Autoroute 720 (Autoroute 20 continues over the Pont Champlain bridge to the South Shore).\n\nFrom Ottawa, it's about 2 hours east along Highway 417 (which becomes Autoroute 40 in Quebec) to Montreal. The portions of Highway 417 and Autoroute 40 between Ottawa and Montreal (west of the Autoroute 40 interchange with Autoroute 25) are part of the Trans-Canada Highway.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk007", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Quebec City, it's about 3 hours west on either Autoroute 40, or Autoroute 20 followed by Autoroute 25. Autoroute 20 west of Rivière-du-Loup and Montreal area portions of Autoroute 25 between Autoroute 40 and Autoroute 20 are parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.\n\nFrom New York City, take Interstate 87 north through Albany and the eastern half of New York State for about six hours. After the border crossing near Plattsburgh, the freeway becomes Autoroute 15, which leads directly into downtown Montreal over the Pont Champlain, the most beautiful approach to the city. The drive time from Plattsburgh to downtown Montreal is approximately one hour.\n\nFrom Boston, take Interstate 93 to Interstate 89 after you cross into New Hampshire. Follow Interstate 89 north to and through Vermont to the border crossing, where it turns into Highway 133. This secondary road continues to Autoroute 10, which leads directly into downtown Montreal. The whole trip takes about 5 hours. Once you cross the border it is about 1½ hours to Montreal.\n\nFrom Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, and Mont-Tremblant, take route 117, and transfer on to Autoroute 15. Route 117 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway, that starts from its interchange with Autoroute 40 (Trans-Canada Highway's main route) in Montreal, which becomes Highway 66 in Ontario. Highway 66 ends as part of the Trans-Canada Highway about 14 km west of Kirkland Lake, where Highway 66 intersects with Highway 11, which is another branch of the Trans-Canada Highway.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Montreal Central Station\n\n#### Trains from within Canada", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk008", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "- VIA Rail Canada\n VIA Rail operates fast and comfortable passenger trains to Montreal along the busy Quebec-Ontario corridor and from destinations in northern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. All fares below are five-day advance booking prices for one-way travel in \"Comfort\" (coach/economy) class, expect to pay almost 50% more if you book on the day of travel. Check the Via website for \"express deals\", which are posted every Tuesday. Highly discounted tickets are available, typically for long distance train routes or short distance trips at non-peak hours. Express deals on short distance trips (e.g. Montreal-Toronto) are typically offered only for the upcoming weeks, whereas long distance deals (e.g. Winnipeg to Montreal) may be available several weeks in advance. Business Class is available for a premium and includes a meal, alcoholic refreshments, snacks, and free wireless internet in station lounges and on board the train. An ISIC student card can obtain a discount on Via, and on Amtrak in the USA. Bicycles can also be brought aboard as is on certain Corridor trains during the summer months. See Rail travel in Canada for more information.\n\nVIA Rail Canada train routes serving Montreal:", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk009", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Between Quebec City and Ottawa including stops in Drummondville, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Lambert, Montreal, Dorval, and Alexandria. Multiple trains daily travel the entire route and some additional trains travel daily between Montreal and Ottawa. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 2 hours (from $35), from Drummonville is 1.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 3.25-3.5 hours (from $47).\n Between Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval, Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Oshawa. Operates 6 trains daily. Travel time to Montreal from Toronto is 5.25 hours (from $85) and from Kingston is 2.25-2.5 hours.\n Between Halifax and Montreal on The Ocean route, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Operates 3 evenings per week. Travel time to Montreal from Halifax is 22 hours (from $133 coach, $187 upper berth, $245 bedroom)), from Moncton is 17.5 hours (from $110 coach, $162 upper berth, $219 bedroom), and from Sainte-Foy is 3.5 hours. A shuttle between Sainte-Foy and Quebec City's train station is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance. The choice of sleeping accommodation varies according to the season. Along with trains between Montreal and Quebec, the Ocean is now almost exclusively operated by modern Renaissance trains that were built for the aborted Channel Tunnel sleeper services between Great Britain and France.\n Between Jonquière (in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region) and Montreal including stops in Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Montreal from Jonquière is 9 hours (from $55) and from Shawinigan is 2.5 hours. Operates three days per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.\n Between Senneterre (in the Abitibi region) and Montreal including stops in La Tuque, Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Montreal from Seneterre is 11.5 hours (from $81), from La Tuque is 5.5 hours, and from Shawinigan is 2.5 hours. Operates three days per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.", "word_count": 375}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk010", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### Trains from the United States\n\n- Amtrak\n Operates the Adirondack daily between Montreal and New York City including stops along the way in Saint-Lambert, Rouses Point, Plattsburgh, Westport, Ticonderoga, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Travel time to Montreal from Plattsburgh is 4.25 hours, from Albany (Rensselaer) is 8.5 hours, and from New York City is 11.5 hours (from US$61). There are connection at Schenectady to (but not from) Chicago (24 hr, US$114) and in New York to Philadelphia (14 hr, US$97) and Washington, DC (16 hr, US$120). The train also passes through much of upstate New York and hugs Lake Champlain for a large part of the trip. South of Albany, the route follows the Hudson River and passes a number of historic sites. Reliability of the service has improved greatly since an extra hour was added to the previous 10-hr schedule, but one should still factor in the frequent possibility of arriving an hour later than scheduled.\n\nThe journey to New York is cheaper but slower than by bus (see below), but it makes up for it with superior comfort, extra legroom, the ability to walk around the train and visit the cafe car for food and drink at your leisure, and the good view from the train of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River scenery.\n\nTrain passengers leaving from Boston may take the Regional Service to Penn Station, New York City, and transfer to the Adirondack line to Montreal, but this method requires significant layover times in New York.\n\nThe train station has no permanent lockers but it's usually possible to keep it guarded by Via Rail for less than a day if travelling with it. There is Wifi and a few power outlets.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk011", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses arrive and depart from the *Gare d'autocars de Montreal* (not to be confused with the *Gare Centrale* or central train station) at 1717 Berri Street (adjacent to the Berri-UQAM metro station). Call +1 514-842-2281 for schedules and prices.\n\nIntercity operators include:\n\n- Autobus Galland\n Operates bus service between Mont-Laurier and Montreal and including stops in Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel, and Laval. Travel time to Montreal from Mont-Laurier is 4.75-5 hours and from Mont-Tremblant is 2.75-3 hours, and from Saint-Jérôme is 1.25-1.5 hours. Operates several days per week between Mont-Laurier and Montreal. There are additional trips between Mont-Tremblant and Montreal, resulting in daily service along that part of the route.\n - Autobus Maheux\n Operates the following routes to Montreal:\n Between Rouyn-Noranda and Montreal including stops in Val-d'Or, Grand-Remous, Mont-Laurier, Mont-Tremblant, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Saint-Jérôme, and Laval. Stops between Mont-Laurier and Montreal are drop off only on the way to Montreal and pick up only on the way to Rouyn-Noranda. Travel time to Montreal from Rouyn-Norand is 9-9.5 hours, from Val-d'Or is 7-7.5 hours, and from Grand-Remous is 4.25-4.75. Operates daily. From Rouyn-Noranda there is service to North Bay.\n Between Ottawa and Montreal including stops in Gatineau and Laval. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 3.5 hours. Operates daily.\n- Autocars Skyport\n\n- Greyhound\n Operates the following routes to Montreal:\n From New York City including stops in Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Plattsburgh. Travel time to Montreal from New York City is 8.25-9.5 hours, from Albany is 5.75-6.25 hours, and from Plattsburgh is 2.25-2.5 hours.\n From Boston including stops in Manchester, Concord, Hanover, White River Junction, and Burlington. Travel time to Montreal from Boston is 8.5 hours, from Manchester is 7 hours, from Concord is 6.5 hours, and from Burlington is 3 hours.\n - Intercar", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk012", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Dolbeau to Montreal including stops in Val-Jalbert, Alma, and Quebec City. Travel time to Montreal from Dolbeau is 9 hours, from Val-Jalbert is 7.25 hours, from Alma is 6.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 3.5 hours. Operates several days per week.\nFrom Jonquière to Montreal including stops in Chicoutimi and Quebec City. Travel time to Montreal from Jonquière is 6.75 hours, from Chicoutimi is 6.5 hours, and from Quebec City is 4 hours. Operates daily.\nFrom Baie-Comeau to Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips to Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City, and do not include a stop in Montreal. Travel time to Montreal from Baie-Comeau is 11.25 hours, from Forestville is 9.5 hours, from Saint-Siméon is 7.25 hours, from La Malbaie is 6.25 hours, and from Baie-Saint-Paul is 5.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 4 hours. Operates daily. \nSeveral days per week there a same day connection to and from Sept-Îles involving a transfer in Baie-Comeau. Travel time to Montreal from Sept-Îles is 14.5 hours.\n - Limocar by Transdev\n Operates the following bus routes to Montreal:\n Between Montreal and Granby (1.5 hours if direct, 1.75 hours if transfer required in Bromont).\n Between Montreal and Sherbrooke with stops in Longueuil, Bromont, and Magog. Travel time to Montreal from Longueuil is 15 minutes, from Magog is 1.5-1.75 hours, and from Sherbrooke is 2-2.25 hours. Operates multiple times daily.\n - Megabus", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk013", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Bus routes to Montreal:\n From Gatineau via Ottawa. Travel time to Montreal from Gatineau is 2.75-3 hours and from Ottawa is 2.25-2.5 hours.\n Travellers from Toronto and Kingston can reach Montreal by transferring in Ottawa.\n From Quebec City via Drummondville. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3-3.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.25 hours. Operates multiple trips daily. Most trips do not stop in Drummondville, but at least one trip per day stops in each direction.\n From Quebec City via Saint-Hyacinthe, Drummondville and Victoriaville. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 4.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.5 hours. Operates two days per week. For Victoriaville stop, it is drop off only for trips to Quebec City and pick up only for trips to Montreal.\n From Quebec City via Trois-Rivières. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3.75 hours and from Trois-Rivières is 1.75-2 hours. Operates multiple times daily.\n Timed connections in Quebec City enable same day trips to and from Rimouski via Rivière-du-Loup. Travel time to Montreal from Rimouski is 6.25-7.75 hours and from Rivière-du-Loup is 4.5-6 hours. \n Timed connections in Quebec City and Rimouski enable same day trips to and from Gaspé, Percé, and Pointe-à-la-Croix. Travel time to Montreal from Gaspé is 13.75 hours, from Percé is 14.5 hours, and from Pointe-à-la-Croix is 9.5 hours.\n Pointe-à-la-Croix is 4km away from Campbellton, NB, which is connected to destinations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island via Maritime Bus. Travel to Montreal from the Maritimes is possible only with an overnight layover in Campbellton.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk014", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Montreal is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible only by bridge. Not all bridges are bike accessible; however, several are, including the breathtaking Jacques Cartier bridge. Prominent bike lanes exist throughout the city, most notably along the Lachine Canal, Rue Rachel, boulevard de Maisonneuve, rue Brébeuf, rue Berri, rue Cherrier and along rue Laurier. The Plateau-Mont-Royal is where most of these bike paths are and is the neighbourhood, along with neighbouring Mile-End, where there are the most people who cycle and walk as a means of day to day transport. It has the highest density population wise and the lowest car ownership rate per household. However, bike theft is an issue, especially in the Plateau. Most locals can recall a time when they witnessed bike theft, though the situation is getting better now that the public bike share program, Bixi, has been implemented. It was not uncommon to have somebody offer you a stolen bike for sale on the street. Be equally aware of the peripheral articles of your bicycle; seats, baskets, and wheels can often be easily detached if not properly secured to the bike's frame or locked with a u-lock.\n\n#### From Montreal Central Station (''Gare Centrale'')", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk015", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Upon disembarking the train, go to the baggage claim area and wait there for a baggage attendant to bring your bicycle to you. If you have checked other baggage, claim it at the conveyor belt. The easiest way to exit the station is at the main entrance near the baggage claim through the parking garage onto rue de la Gauchetière. All other exits require you to carry your bike up flights of stairs. At the west side of the station is the entrance to the Underground City and access to Bonaventure metro station on the Orange line. However, there is no elevator access to the metro from the train station, which means that you have to carry your bike and luggage down several flights of stairs.\n\n#### From Montreal-Trudeau International Airport", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk016", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "The airport is on the western part of the island. From the main terminal, exit onto the main access road and turn right. Wind along the access road until the first major interchange and turn right. You will reach Albert de Niverville Boulevard and be forced to turn left (south) towards the main highway (Autoroute 20). At the end of this Boulevard, turn right on Cardinal Avenue. To your right, you will come to a pedestrian underpass that takes you under the railway tracks and leads to the Dorval Circle, a very busy traffic circle. This looks intimidating, but the traffic lights will allow you to ride safely under Autoroute 20 to Dorval Boulevard *(Boulevard Dorval)*. Continue south down Dorval Boulevard until the end. Turn left on Lakeshore Drive *(Chemin Lakeshore)* towards the city. This road turns into Boulevard St. Joseph. You will eventually come to a bike path to your right that winds along the shores of Lac-Saint Louis (part of the Saint Lawrence river) through the town of Lachine. Continue down this path until you reach the entrance of the Lachine Canal. Cross the canal and continue down the Lachine Canal Bike Path (Piste Cyclable Canal Lachine) and follow the signs to the Old Port (Vieux Port) in Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal). The Lachine Canal Bike Path can be quite busy on weekends and holidays, so be ready to take your time. It is paved over its entire length.\n\n#### From Ontario", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk017", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Cyclists approaching Montreal from the west must take secondary highways to Dorion, where Autoroute 20, inaccessible to bicycles over most of its length, becomes accessible as it crosses bridges first to Île Perrot (Perrot Island) and then to the Island of Montreal (at Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue). Bicycles should use the sidewalk on these bridges as traffic is usually heavy. From here, cyclists may take Lakeshore Boulevard and the Lachine Canal Bike Path (see Airport section above) to Old Montreal and the downtown core.\n\nThe Isle-aux-Tourtes Bridge on Autoroute 40 is not accessible by bicycle.\n\n#### From the United States\n\nCyclists approaching Montreal from the South Shore to the south and east of Montreal may access the Island of Montreal a number of ways (see map).\n\nThe surest (but not foolproof) way is using the sidewalk Jacques Cartier Bridge. When it is not closed for repairs, it is open year round and all day. A paved bike path along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River provides the most scenic approach to the bridge.\n\nThe new (Samuel-de) Champlain Bridge (built in 2019) has an excellent cyclist-and-pedestrian path that will take you from Brossard to Nun's Island (and from there, give you easy access to the Pointe-Saint-Charles or Verdun neighbourhoods of Montreal).", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk018", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get in", "text": "An equally popular route is from the Saint Lambert Locks (Ecluses Saint-Lambert) of the Saint Lawrence Seaway near the Victoria Bridge (Pont Victoria) east of Montreal. The bike drawbridge may be blocked by the entertaining spectacle of a ship passing through the seaway. From here, cyclists take the Grand Prix racing track (Gilles-Villeneuve circuit) on Île Notre Dame to the Concord Bridge to Montreal. This route is closed sometimes for car racing events or construction. In this case, cyclists can take a circuitous detour down a gravel causeway dividing the seaway and river to the Estacade, an ice boom that crosses the river parallel to the Champlain Bridge to Nun's Island and eventually Montreal. A lesser known crossing involves one at the Sainte Catherine Locks (Ecluses Sainte-Catherine) at Saint-Catherine south of Montreal. These bridges cross the seaway to the same causeway as the Saint Lambert locks. In this case, the road to the Estacade ice boom is paved.\n\nThe Mercier bridge and Lafontaine Tunnel are definitely inaccessible to bicycles. These can be dangerous, even in a car. There is no bicycle path crossing the Mercier Bridge.\n\n#### In winter\n\nThe Jacques-Cartier bridge operates on a winter schedule when the society that manages the bridge decides conditions are no longer adequate. This means access is closed at night as well as during snow removal operations. The new Champlain bridge bike path is open except during snow removal operations. The Saint-Lambert Locks south shore link closes from about November 15th to April 15th.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk019", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard Saint-Laurent, with the west side traditionally being Anglophone and the east side traditionally being Francophone. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as \"rue ____ Ouest\" (west) or \"rue ____ Est\" (east). Many streets are named after Catholic saints and figures from local history, both well-known and obscure. In Montreal street names, \"east\" and \"west\" refer to the direction parallel to the St. Lawrence River, and \"north\" and \"south\" refer to the direction perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River. Because the St. Lawrence River runs almost north-south near downtown Montreal, \"east\", \"west\", \"north\", and \"south\" are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively. Confusingly, most maps displayed in the city have \"Montreal north\" on top which can be confusing with a satellite navigation that uses pole north. Also, don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!\n\n### On foot\n\nWalking is a favoured way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, beware during winter months, as sidewalks can be icy and extremely hazardous after winter snow and ice storms. Winter boots with good grip are essential for surviving pavements that have not been cleared. Beware also (as much as you can) of thawing ice falling from overhanging balconies and roofs. But you can always take the stairs down to Montreal's famous \"Underground City\" (*Montréal souterrain*), called RÉSO, a network of pedestrian corridors connecting Métro stations, shopping centres, and office complexes.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk020", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Jaywalking is widespread and rarely punished. However, drivers will usually not stop or even slow down if a pedestrian steps out in front of them, even at marked crosswalks. At an intersection, however, a pedestrian will have right of passage before turning traffic and most drivers respect this. Despite Montreal drivers' poor reputation for aggressiveness, they generally respect pedestrians.\n\nRue Sainte-Catherine is Montreal's main commercial artery and busiest pedestrian thoroughfare. The \"Underground City\" and the Green Line (or line 1) of Montreal's Metro is easily accessible from all the major office complexes, shopping malls, department stores, and theatre complexes that line it. Smaller chain stores and restaurants also vie for valuable commercial space. Well-kept historic churches with green space provide quiet oasis and contrast with the giant neon signs of strip clubs. Major hotels can generally be found one or two blocks north and south of Sainte-Catherine in the downtown core. Bars, restaurants, and dance clubs cluster within a block of Sainte-Catherine around Crescent and Bishop, catering to a mostly English-speaking clientele. Rue Saint-Denis, farther east, and the Gay Village between Berri and de Lormier, even more to the east, are mostly French-speaking. McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saine-Catherine offers an open view of Mount Royal to the north and an impressive view of the Place Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south. Keep your head up and beware of following the flow of the crowd on this street: throngs of pedestrians often walk across cross streets against red lights, risking life and limb.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk021", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Rue Prince-Arthur, east of Saint-Laurent, is for pedestrians only. Another pedestrian-only locale is Montreal's Chinatown, on Rue de la Gauchtière Est between Saint-Urbain and Saint-Laurent. A good trick for navigating downtown Montreal is to remember that streets slope up toward Mount Royal, which is just north of downtown and easy to see from most locations.\n\nThe districts surrounding downtown Montreal are especially delightful on foot. To the south is Old Montreal (Le Vieux-Montréal) (its narrow streets and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries really can make you feel like you're in Old Europe) and the Old Port (Le Vieux-Port), a waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals. To the north, the Golden Square Mile and the McGill University Campus is wedged between Mount Royal and Sherbrooke Street on the southern slope of the mountain. Old Victorian mansions and townhouses can be found along the sloping streets, many now housing McGill University's offices and libraries. Just west of downtown is affluent Westmount, a perfect example of 19th-century English-style homes and gardens (inhabited to a great extent by English-speaking people) climbing the slopes of Mount Royal's western part (the higher you climb, the larger the old mansions). Just east and northeast of downtown are the mostly French-speaking Gay Village (Le Village Gai) and Plateau (Plateau Mont-Royal) districts. Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens (or snow-covered gables, depending on the time of year), and tiny shops tucked into every nook and cranny. For people who like to see a culture where it lives, Le Plateau is the place to wander about in.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk022", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) is also accessible from the urban core on foot. Fit pedestrians can climb Rue Peel to the southern edge of the park. A series of renovated staircases will take you directly to the Chalet near the top of the mountain, with its classic view of the downtown core. A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and footpath accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance (also known as Fletcher's Field). Smaller footpaths serendipitously branch off from this road. A cross-country ski path also winds to the top in the wintertime. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted, a landscape architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City and the Emerald Necklace in Boston.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving (SAAQ) in Montreal can be a challenge for many North American motorists. Although turning right on a red light is allowed across the rest of Quebec (except at intersections where a sign indicates this is not permitted), right turns on red are strictly prohibited on the island of Montreal. The stop lights at most of downtown intersections are on the opposite side of the intersection, not at the stop line as in some of Europe.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk023", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "The use of road salt to keep roads ice-free during severe winters takes its toll on the roadways, which are either heavily potholed or subject to perpetual construction. Downtown traffic is dense. Street parking can be difficult. Parking meters are in use seven days a week in most districts (M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 13:00-18:00), including statutory holidays. The standard parking ticket cost is $52. Parking tickets may be appealed in court only by the owner of the car that was subject to the infraction, so if a rented car is ticketed, the person who rented may be unable to contest the charge. Car parking downtown is expensive at around $3 an hour at parking meters or $25 per day at commercial parking lots. Parking signs are all in French, and will describe a day and hour (based on 24-hr clock) along with conditions for parking. Many arterial roads prohibit parking on one side during rush hour, and vehicles are subject to $150 fine plus towing costs and other fees. Montreal does not paint curbs red next to fire hydrants, but it is still illegal to park there.\n\nThere are also many private and public parking lots, and their prices vary widely. There may even be $15–20 differences between two parking lots just a few blocks from each other.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk024", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "During the winter months, heavy snowfalls are common. In the aftermath of a snowstorm, an intensively-prepared \"déneigement\" (snow removal) process begins with intimidatingly large snow plows and trucks clearing, chewing up, and transporting away the snow. If you leave your car parked on a street, pay close attention to any orange \"no parking\" signs that will appear on roads to be cleared. Tow trucks will sound a loud 2-tone horn siren just before clearing. This is an announcement that a street is about to be cleared and that all parked cars will be cited/and or towed if they are not moved. For this reason it's important to be able to check your vehicle at least once daily after a snowfall. It is best to use indoor or underground parking if snow clearing is likely.\n\nMany downtown streets are one way, which can complicate getting around. If you see a sign at an intersection that has direction arrows in a green circle, that means those are the only directions you are allowed to turn. Left turns are allowed on a green light provided there are no other signs prohibiting. Visitors should be familiar with the *flashing green* light, which indicates a protected left-turn (priority), which is equivalent to a green arrow in other parts of the world. Some signals are green arrows that flash, this is the same meaning. Autoroutes (expressways or freeways) can be challenging for visitors, as most signs are French, but most symbols are the same as in English Canada and the United States.\n\n### By bike", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk025", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "300px|thumb|Bixi bike stand\nCycling is the best way to visit the city, especially its central neighbourhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal; it is a very popular mode of transportation once the coldest winter weather is over. The city is criss-crossed by more than 900 km of cycle paths, and the network is rapidly expanding. In the past few years there has been a major improvement in the quantity of safer separated bike lanes, with new lanes popping up in every neighbourhood. Montreal has become one of the best cities in North America for urban cycling. The '''Réseau express vélo (REV)''' provides safe, separated and mostly direct bike lanes in key locations and is best for riding across different parts of the city in a very efficient way. Montreal City Council publish an interactive map of the cycle route network.\n\nOne of the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Samuel-de Champlain Bridge, Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk026", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Even if you are on a bike path, beware of drivers especially if they are turning, as lines of visibility at intersections are not well enforced in the city. Generally Montreal drivers in the central neighbourhoods are used to sharing the road with bikes and so are courteous, there are always a few, usually from outlying neighbourhoods, who give all drivers a bad name. Some downtown bike paths are separated from the road by parked cars, which decreases visibility, both yours and the driver's. The often crowded bike path on rue Rachel one is the worst for this, however the Plateau part of the path will be renovated soon to make it safer and greener. If one is comfortable driving in Montreal, one generally can feel comfortable biking there as well. Montreal pedestrians are known for not waiting for a light to change if there are no cars coming; cyclists are a bit like that too and often treat the many stop signs on residential streets more as yield signs than as stop signs. Wearing a helmet is not required under the law, though, for children especially, it's better to be safe than sorry.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk027", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "The '''Bixi''' system is a public bike-share system. Rated the best in the world, it was designed and developed in Montreal and has since been exported to many cities around the world including London, UK and Sydney, Australia. Major credit cards are accepted. The Bixi was conceived for local active transit but is accessible to tourists as well. For a flat $5 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a particular bixi bike for more than 30 minutes at a time before returning it to a docking station. After returning the bike to a docking station, you can get another bike (even at the same station) after a 2-minute waiting period. As of 2023 there are over 830 Bixi stations with over 10000 bikes, including 2300 e-bikes, covering much of the city and some suburbs. The tourist information centre has maps of the stations. Helmets and locks are not provided. You could use your own lock, but there is usually a station not more than a block away on a commercial strip so returning the Bixi to the nearest stand is always the safest and most cost-effective choice. Stations fill up and empty quickly; you may have to bike to the next station to find an empty docking spot. If you have a smartphone, there is an app that shows you real-time the nearest stations, how many bikes are docked, or whether there is a free docking spot available. Be aware that a helmet is mandatory under the law if riding an electric bike. Police has been known to give fines.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk028", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Skate and bike rental shops are common, particularly in the Old Port and the Plateau. Visit La Maison des Cyclistes (the cyclists' house) at 1251 rue Rachel Est for all info on cycling in Montreal. (See Do for specific bike paths).\n\n#### In winter\n\nMontreal, however does a fair job of clearing snow on a select number of bike paths in the city, including the REV, the de Maisonneuve bike path, Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Rachel and Clark bike paths. Painted bike lanes, on the other hand are often badly cleared, resulting in dangerous ice build up. The popular Lachine Canal bike path, however, does not have snow removal which makes it very difficult to ride on in winter. The Jacques-Cartier bridge multipurpose path, on the upstream side of the bridge, is closed at night during winter to cyclists and pedestrians. The de la Concorde bridge bike path, however, is open all year long.\n\nStarting in the fall of 2023, Bixi will operate its bike-share service all winter as part of a pilot, although only at a select number of stations, mostly in the denser inner-city boroughs.\n\n### By public transit\n\n#### Fares", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk029", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Fares for public transit in the greater Montreal area (including metro, buses, Exo commuter trains and REM) are set by the *Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain* (ARTM, Metropolitan Regional Transportation Authority). The ARTM divides the greater Montreal area into zones, labelled A, B, C, D. Montreal is in zone A. Zones B-D are all outside of Montreal. When taking a trip to outside of Montreal, you will need a ticket for the appropriate zones. For example, a ticket to go from Montreal passing through Laval (zone B) to Deux-Montagnes (zone C) via the REM would require an All Modes ABC ticket. The ARTM has a fare schedule listing the prices for all ticket variations.\n\nThere are two types of fare media: L'Occasionnelle and the OPUS card. They can be purchased at metro, Exo and REM stations (cash, credit card or Canadian debit card), in addition to retail points of sale.\n\nThe L'Occasionnelle card is a non-rechargeable smart card. It can contain regular transit fares and is valid for pre-determined periods and zones. There are L'Occasionnelle cards for 1 trip, 2 trips, 24 hours, 3 days, unlimited evening (between 18:00 and 05:00) and unlimited weekend for all modes (i.e. metro, buses, Exo and REM) with separate prices depending on zones travelled: A, AB, ABC and ABCD.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk030", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "The OPUS card is a rechargeable smart card onto which you can load up fares at metro stations using the automated machines or at the ticket booth. There are two types of OPUS cards: Standard ($6) and designated ($15), prices as of 2025. The standard OPUS card supports the same fare types as L'Occasionnelle plus a 10-trip ticket, weekly (Monday through Sunday) and monthly passes but only for zone A. The designated OPUS card supports fares for All Modes AB, ABC ABCD plus reduced fares for youths (aged 6-17) and senior citizens (65+). To get a designated OPUS card, you must get your photo taken at a metro station or a few other points of service, and have identification (e.g. a passport).\n\nHere are some All Modes A regular fare prices as of 2025: 1-trip $3.75, 2-trips $7.00, 24-hours $11.25, 3-days $21.75, 10 trips 34.25 (OPUS card only). The 24-hour and 3-day passes are well worth it to avoid fumbling for change, checking transfer times and restrictions, and worrying about getting off at the wrong stop and having to repay. Fares by trip are valid for transfers but not for stopovers and return trips, and each trip must me completed within 120 minutes. Children 11 or younger ride free when accompanied by someone 14 or over who paid a fare. On buses, the exact 1-trip fare could be paid in coins (no bills, no change provided). For bus 747 to/from YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport, you need to buy a 24-hour or more expensive fare.\n\nYou must keep your payment card as it is your transfer (*correspondance*) and your proof of payment; fare inspectors may give you a large fine if you are unable to show it when they request it.\n\n#### By metro and bus", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk031", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|250px|Montreal metro network\nthumb|250px|Montreal Metro train at Place-des-Arts station\n- Société de transport de Montréal\n \nSTM is safe, efficient, and is overall pleasant to use. Signs and announcements are only in French, though ticket machines are bilingual in French and English. Many metro counter staff are also able to speak English. The Metro is entirely underground. Montreal metro stations and train cars do not have air conditioning. This means the Metro can sometimes get uncomfortably hot, in every season. It is, however, still the best transport option in the city.\n\nOnly All Modes AB are valid to metro stations in Laval and Longueuil, as these are not in zone A (island of Montreal).\n\nAt each metro station, directions are not indicated by compass directions, such as westbound or eastbound. Instead, trains go in the direction of a metro line's terminus. The *green line* runs from Angrignon in the west to Honoré-Beaugrand in the east. If you were to travel eastbound, for example, you would look for *Honoré-Beaugrand* on the platform. If you were to travel westbound, you would look for *Angrignon*. There are four interchange stations at which commuters can change subway lines without extra charge: Snowdon (blue/orange), Lionel-Groulx (orange/green), Berri-UQAM (green/yellow/orange), and Jean-Talon (orange/blue).", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk032", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bicycles are permitted aboard metro trains outside of the rush hours such as: before 7:00, from 9:30 to 15:30 and from 18:00 to end of service on weekdays and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Bikes are only allowed in all cars of the train but are asked to not use the lead car, up to a maximum of 2 per car. STM staff may deny bikes aboard the metro for safety reasons such as special events that might generate a high level of ridership. Lists of such events are posted on the STM website and at the entrances to metro. During festival season in Montreal, bikes are sometimes restricted.\n\nBike riding inside stations or the Underground City is strictly prohibited.\n\n#### By Exo commuter train\n\n- Exo\n\nMost Exo commuter trains terminate at Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) and at Lucien-L'Allier (both are accessible from the metro). Commuter trains are handy for getting to suburbs and neighbouring towns. Routes include:\n\nLine 11 - Vaudreuil–Hudson between Montreal and Hudson including Montreal-Ouest and Vaudreuil-Dorion. Service is available daily, though almost all trips are between Montreal and Vaudreil. The only trips to or from Hudson are from Monday to Friday with 2 morning trips from Hudson and 2 afternoon trips to Hudson.\n Line 12 - Saint-Jérôme between Montreal and Saint-Jérôme including stops in Laval, Blainville, and Mirabel. Service is available daily, though on Saturdays and Sundays, the service only travels between De la Concorde and Saint-Jérôme. Transfers from Montreal's Metro are available at Montreal's Lucien-L'Allier station (weekday rush hours and evenings only), Vendôme station (weekday rush hours and evenings only) and Parc station (weekdays only), and Laval's De la Concorde station (every day). \n Three other Exo lines operate, but only Monday to Friday.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk033", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Commuter train stations are divided into three zones that radiate out from downtown. Stations have automated machines from which you must purchase a ticket appropriate to the zones of the station you are traveling to or from, whichever is farther (for example, a trip from Zone A to Zone B or vice versa would require a All Modes AB ticket). A fare card (L'occasionelle or OPUS) must be validated at the card scanners at the entrance to the platform.\n\nThere are no ticket machines on the train and ticket inspections are random. Incorrect tickets sometimes go unnoticed because inspectors check only occasionally. However, it is best to avoid taking chances as if the ticket is not valid, the customer can get a fine of $400. The ticket machines should now all be bilingual in English and French. The two downtown stations have staffed ticket booths Monday to Friday, but not in the evenings. Other stations may also have booths but generally only during either the morning or afternoon rush hour.\n\n#### By REM\n\n- Réseau express métropolitain\n\nThe *Réseau express métropolitain*, more commonly called REM, is a light metro that uses driverless trains that travel mostly above ground. Its rail operation is separate from the Montreal metro and Exo commuter trains. REM lines serve Montreal and a few of its suburbs, with Montreal's Central Station being a hub.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk034", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Get around", "text": "The REM line runs between Brossard (terminal station A1) and Deux-Montagnes (terminal station A4) via Central Station (*Gare Centrale*). At stations, the terminal codes A1 and A4 indicate the direction of trains at a platform. A branch to Anse-à-l'Orme (terminal code A3) is expected to open in 2026, and another branch to YUL-Aéroport-Montréal-Trudeau (terminal code A2) is expected to open in 2027. Some REM station platforms will be marked for termini A2 and A3 even though there will be no trains to these termini until their respective branch lines open.\n\nThe REM has transfer points at Central Station with metro orange line and Exo, at McGill Station with metro green line and at Édouard-Montpetit Station with metro blue line.\n\nAs with Exo trains and two metro lines, REM has different fares for destinations outside of Montreal based on zones. Montreal is in Zone A, Laval and Brossard are in Zone B (requiring an All Modes AB ticket), and Deux-Montagnes is in Zone C (requiring an All Modes ABC ticket). If your REM trip is entirely within Montreal, then you need only an All Modes A ticket, which is valid for transferring to/from the metro.\n\n### By taxi\n\n- Taxi MonTaxi\n\n- Taxi Bonjour Montreal\n\n- Taxi Champlain\n\n- Taxi Co-op\n\n- Taxi Diamond Montreal\n\n### By ride hailing\n\n- Uber\n\n### Map\n\nMapArt produces an excellent map in book-form of downtown Montreal and environs, including Vieux Montréal, Mount Royal, the Plateau, and areas as far north as the University of Montreal and as far south as Parc Jean-Drapeau. That form is handy as you can avoid always folding a map of the whole island.\n\nBelow is a basic map of the primary areas of interest to visitors.\nright|350px", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk035", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|The dome of the Marché Bonsecours in Old Montréal\n\n### Architecture", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk036", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "See", "text": "Many notable historical buildings and churches are located in Montreal, the vast majority of which are in old Montréal. Most of these date from the 17th to the 19th century, showcasing the variety of architectural styles seen in these periods. At night, several of the buildings are beautifully illuminated, seemingly glowing from within. A Tourist Welcome Office brochure from Bonjour Québec lays out a walking map. It is worthwhile to follow the map twice, once during the day, and again at night.\n Of the four Roman Catholic Basilicas in Montreal, the **Notre-Dame Basilica** (Basilique de Notre-Dame) at Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most famous church in Montreal. This architectural marvel is known throughout the world for its lavishly decorated and colourful interior. This basilica, splendidly exemplifying the Gothic Revival style, is an extremely popular tourist attraction. \n Although rather small and not a basilica, another notable church located in Old Montreal is the **Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel** (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) near the Bonsecours Market, the first church to be founded in Montreal. It is known for its maritime theme and beautiful frescoes on the inside walls and ceilings.\n Downtown Montreal houses Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), the largest church in Canada. Stylistically based on elements of the Italian Renaissance, it features the third highest dome in the world, and acts as the highest point in all of Montreal. \n Downtown Montreal is also home to the opulent Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), a National Historic Site of Canada modeled on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), which was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community. \n Aside from churches, a main architectural feature of downtown is **Habitat 67**, a residential complex built from interlocking modular forms, giving a result that somewhat resembles a pile of Lego bricks. It is the only intact pavilion remaining from Expo 67 and is known around the world as an excellent example of post-modern and minimalist architecture. Its conception has had an incalculable impact on later development of modular homes. Located at Cité-du-Havre, near the Old Port (Vieux-Port). Guided tours are available; tickets must be booked online in advance. Adults $50; children under 12 free.", "word_count": 362}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk037", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "See", "text": "### Landmarks\n\nLe Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.\n **Vieux-Port** (Old Port), is located south of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri (metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes). The Old Port is a large waterfront green space with attractions such as Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower, and a large outdoor audio-visual stage which is the site for the Canada Day fireworks. It is a vibrant place to visit during the day and the evening. ☏ +1 514-496-7678, toll-free: +1 800-971-7678, information@oldportofmontreal.com. 6AM-Midnight. \n Downtown Montreal has skyscrapers, the enormous McGill university campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by the famed 30 km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.\n Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles-Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also in or around the park.\n A few kilometres to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the **Olympic Stadium**, the **Insectarium**, the **Jardin Botanique**, and the **Biodôme**. This diverse range of activities and environments offer something for all ages. When planning a trip, allow four hours to see all four.\n\n### Museums\n\nMontreal contains a wide variety of museums - over 50 in total, both well known and hidden gems. Both types are well worth visiting, and will provide a worthwhile experience.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk038", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "See", "text": "Featuring dozens of exhibitions and over 44,000 works spread over 5 enormous pavilions, the **Montreal Museum of Fine Arts** (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal), in Downtown, is the largest museum in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. Having many prominent travelling exhibits, it is both the oldest and most visited museum in Canada, and as such, is a wonderful experience. \n The '''Canadian Centre for Architecture''', also known as the CCA, is a research center and museum providing Montrealers, tourists and researchers alike a great place to visit and learn about structures and spaces that surrounds up. To learn more about upcoming exhibits, check out the calendar. \n The **Redpath Museum** (Musée Redpath), is located Downtown at the heart of the McGill University campus, is a fascinating museum of natural history. Open Tu-Sa.\n The **McCord Museum** (Musée McCord), in Downtown, is a museum dedicated to exploring Canadian history.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk039", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "In Montreal/Parc Jean-Drapeau, you will find the **Casino de Montréal** and the **La Ronde**, a Six Flags family amusement park.\n\n### Cross-country skiing\n\nDuring the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths, including **Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation** (ski rental available), **Parc du Mont-Royal** (ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions, and **Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique** (no ski rental).Ice skating\n\nThere is year-round ice-skating at 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure). There is free skating at Lac aux Castors Beaver Lake in the Parc Mont-Royal, in the connected ponds of Lafontaine Park in Plateau Mont-Royal, and in the Vieux-Port in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.\n\n### Water sports", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk040", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "**River surfing** — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs, the site of the 1967 Expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also known as Expo 67.) The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.\n**Kayaking** — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at \"Big Joe\" (still called \"Beneath the Wheel\" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, and HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.\n\n### Bike\n\nA map of the cycle path network is available from Vélo Québec. Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include:", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk041", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "**Parc Maisonneuve** — A large park with smooth paths.\n**Parc Jean-Drapeau** — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.\n**Lachine Canal** — Bike paths west of the Old Port.\n**Rivière-des-Prairies** — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.\n\n### Parks\n\n**Square Saint-Louis**, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.\n**Parc Jean Drapeau** — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers revelling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)\n**Parc Lafontaine**, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)\n\nalt=|thumb|400x400px|Fall colours at Beaver Lake, Parc du Mont-Royal\n\n- Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal\n\n- Parc du Mont-Royal", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk042", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "**Parc Jeanne-Mance**, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extension south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.\n - Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation\n\n**Parc Daisy Peterson Sweeney**, near Marché Atwater ( an incredible year-round market filled with indoor merchants specializing in fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.) and the Lachine Canal ( a beautiful canal with a bike path and several parcs along side it), is one of the best places to visit to play chess during the summer. On Tuesdays 4pm to 8pm, Saturdays 11am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 5pm there are chess games organized by the city where people of all ages like to gather for free!\n **Parc Jarry**, in the north-west of the island is one of the most popular parks in Montreal. This relatively small park hosts a plethora of sports terrains such as a baseball field, soccer field, basketball courts, tennis courts (see \"Sports to Watch\" section below), skateboarding, and more. This park has a little pond with a fountain and is very occupied throughtout summer months in which people bike, run, walk, and sit all around the park.\n\n### Festivals\n\nMontreal has a bewildering variety of festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to huge international productions running two weeks or more. They are generally held in the summer and autumn, though increasingly they can be found throughout the year. Here are some of the larger ones:\n\n- Just For Laughs Festival\n\n- Shakespeare-in-the-Park\n\n- Festival du Monde Arabe\n\n- Festival Mondiale de la bière\n\n- Montréal en lumière\n\n- Montreal International Fireworks Competition", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk043", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "- Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste\n\n- International Festival of Film on Art\n\n#### Music festivals\n\nthumb|250x250px|Festival International de Jazz de Montréal\n\n- Montreal International Jazz Festival\n\n- POP Montréal International Music Festival\n\n- Francofolies\n\n- MUTEK\n\n- Heavy Montréal\n\n- Osheaga Music and Arts Festival\n\n#### Film festivals\n\n- Fantasia\n\n- Image + Nation\n\n- Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal\n\n- Cinémania\n\n- Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal\n\n- Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois\n\n### Watching sports", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk044", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Do", "text": "**Canadiens**, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre (*Centre Bell*), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure). One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!\n **Alouettes**, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium (*Stade Percival-Molson*), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), . A dominant team in the last part of the 2000s, but now somewhat less so, the Als have won the Grey Cup four times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 and most recently in 2023. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game; tickets can be hard to come by when the team is doing well.\n **Club de Foot Montréal**, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium (*Stade Saputo*) at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau). Formerly known as **Montreal Impact**, it is one of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact/CF Montréal was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. CFM occasionally use nearby Olympic Stadium for matches that are expected to draw unusually large crowds or if the weather restricts outdoor play.\n **National Bank Open (NBO) Tennis Tournament** — Previously called the Rogers Cup. Every July to August, Montreal hosts an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA 1000 event (women). The tournaments are held at IGA Stadium (*Stade IGA*) in Parc Jarry in the North End. The main stadium is of special historic interest to baseball fans—part of its seating is the former backstop grandstand of the stadium that hosted the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) before they moved to Olympic Stadium. To download the official mobile app of the tournament, search for \"NBOpen\" on Google Play or Apple Store.\n **Canadian Grand Prix:** This Formula One race is staged at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Île Notre-Dame, with the next on 22-24 May 2026.\n **Montréal Victoire** (*Victoire de Montréal*), women's ice hockey: Members of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the Victoire plays home games off-island at Place Bell in Laval.\n **Roses FC** (*Roses de Montréal*), women's soccer: Members of the Northern Super League, the Roses play home games off-island at Stade Boréale in Laval.", "word_count": 483}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk045", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Language classes\n\nMontreal is a popular destination for language-immersion programs in French and English. Many schools arrange accommodations — either in dorms or with a family and provide cultural programs with trips around the city and beyond.\nPrices are usually higher for non-Québécois and higher-still for non-Canadians. Most are in Downtown and the Old City.\nIntensive, non-resident programs are also offered by the YMCA and Quebec government.\n\n### Universities\n\nMontreal is home to one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities, **McGill University**. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world, but not each faculty. It is a university with a huge endowment fund. **Concordia University** is the city's other English-language university, the largest east of Toronto, and has over 40,000 students. Though Concordia lacks a medical school and law school, it still has a world class business school and its arts and sciences programs are top tier. Its student population is generally more multicultural than McGill's and the school's origins in and continuing emphasis on adult education make it popular for mature students, since it holds many graduate-level courses at night. Both universities are research focused.\n\nThe **Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM)** and the **Université de Montréal** cater mainly to Francophone students. The Université de Montréal is the second largest French-language university in the world, after the Sorbonne in Paris and is one of the largest research institutions in Canada. The Université de Montréal has two affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), and HEC Montréal (business school) that offer undergraduate and graduate studies.\n\n**Université Laval**, **Université de Sherbrooke**, and **Universté du Québec à Chicoutimi**, all Francophone, also have campuses in the Montreal area.\n\nEvery university, with the exception of Laval, lends its name to a metro stop to indicate the university's approximate location. For example, the Guy-Concordia subway station, at the intersection of Rue Guy and boulevard de la Maisonneuve ouest, is no more than two minutes away from its namesake university (Concordia).", "word_count": 331}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk046", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Work", "text": "As Montreal is in the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration policies, those wishing to work in Montreal will have to go through two processes, once with the Quebec government, then with the Canadian government after the Quebec government has approved your application. If you are employed with a foreign company which has a Montreal office, you can seek a transfer. You can also seek a job with a Montreal employer and they can sponsor you for a temporary work visa. If you are a skilled worker (see CIC website) you can immigrate based on your own skills.\n\nFrench language ability is a requirement for most jobs, as businesses are required by provincial law to greet and serve clients in French. Jobs that do not require prior French language ability are mostly IT jobs, and academic jobs at Montreal's two Anglophone universities. The Quebec provincial government provides free French language courses for newly-arrived expatriates and immigrants who speak little to no French, and you are highly advised to sign up for one of these courses as soon as you arrive to aid your integration into society.\n\nThe United States–Mexico–Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) allows skilled U.S. and Mexican professionals to obtain a Canadian work visa provided they are qualified in certain professions.\n\nIf you are a U.S. citizen aged 18–30 and a full-time student, you may qualify for a Canadian work visa valid for six months. Students from France, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia can also benefit from work programs. As well, if you obtain a degree from a Canadian university, you are eligible to remain in Montreal and work for up to one year.\n\nFor anyone else, the Immigration Canada (CIC) website explains a number of ways foreigners can legally work in Canada.\n\nStudent jobs include babysitting, painting during the summer, and moving furniture in June. McGill and Montreal universities are always in search of research subjects and so are Montreal's many biotech firms. Montreal also has many call centres, which constantly seek to hire new employees and offer flexible working hours.", "word_count": 344}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk047", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|240px|Maple syrup in Old Montreal\n\nAlthough Montreal's economy has been booming, the city remains remarkably affordable compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Shopping in Montreal ranges from eclectic budget stores to high-end fashion, with a wide spectrum in between.\n\n### General\n\nRue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls. Avenue Mont-Royal has funky consignment and gothic clothing stores from boulevard St-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis and a mixed bag of neighbourhood stores, used record shops, and gentrified boutiques heading east towards avenue Papineau. Rue St-Viateur is one of the city's most interesting streets, with its amazingly varied range of businesses crammed into the short stretch between Boulevard St-Laurent and Avenue du Parc.\n\nSt-Laurent remains one of the city's prime shopping streets, more or less along its whole length. Just about anything can be found there, with different blocks having different clusters of businesses (Asian groceries and housewares near de La Gauchetière, cheap electronics a little farther up, hip boutiques between Prince-Arthur and Mount Royal, anything and everything Italian between Saint-Zotique and Jean-Talon). Rue Sherbrooke ouest, west of the Autoroute Décarie, has an increasingly interesting concentration of largely food-oriented businesses. Jean-Talon market, near the intersection of Jean-Talon and St-Laurent, has a wide variety of local produce and food products (maple syrup, cheese, etc.) at very good prices.\n\nFor electronic stuff, the largest chain store is BestBuy. You can also find many smaller ones on Boulevard St-Laurent (between Ontario and Sherbrooke).\n\n### Budget\n\n - Village des Valeurs\n\n - Le coffre aux trésors \"Chainon\"\n\n - L'Aubainerie Concept Mode\n\n - Friperie St. Laurent\n\n Some military equipment shops around St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine.\n\nFor trekking and outdoor, you also have many options\n - MEC\n\n - La cordée\n\n - Kanuk\n\n### Luxury\n\nTrendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal est, and on rue Saint-Laurent (continuing as far north as Bernard). The latter is becoming more upscale, so the range of shopping is highly variable and lower in density as one goes north of Mont-Royal. Rue Sherbrooke has a number of high-end stores (notably Holt Renfrew) and commercial art galleries in a short strip running approximately from McGill University west to rue Guy. Farther west, Sherbrooke intersects with Greene Avenue in Westmount, which has a short, but luxurious retail strip. Avenue Laurier, between St-Laurent and its western end, is one of the city's prime spots for eating and shopping in high style, though there are still a few affordable spots here and there.\n\n### Furniture and antiques\n\nOn boul. St-Laurent, a cluster of high-end home furnishing stores. It starts roughly at the corner of rue Marie-Anne and is very prominent in the block between rue Marie-Anne and avenue Mont-Royal, with sparser, but still interesting stores as far north as rue Saint Viateur. Antique buffs will find interesting stores all over the city, but they'll want to make a special pilgrimage to rue Notre-Dame Ouest, when you head east from avenue Atwater. Rue Amherst, in the Gay Village, also has a significant concentration of antique dealers.", "word_count": 527}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk048", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|240px|Wing's Chinese Noodles, Chinatown\n\nMontreal is a culinary mecca and has a huge variety of food options, from diners and fast food to low-cost ethnic restaurants to *haute cuisine*. The city was ranked 2nd best dining city in North America after San Francisco and ahead of New York. The large local Jewish population has contributed local specialties including huge smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket) (Schwartz's is the most authentic smoked meat restaurant, though this title has been challenged by a gradual slip in quality in the early 2020s) and small, crusty bagels (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels). Other specialties are \"all-dressed\" pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers), pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat, and Québécois favourites like split pea soup and poutine.\n\nMany Montreal restaurants are \"apportez votre vin\" (*bring your own wine*). This may sound like a hassle, but you end up paying much less for wine with dinner if you bring it yourself. There's usually a SAQ (government liquor store) or a *dépanneur* (convenience store, with a limited selection of typically inexpensive wine) nearby; ask your waiter where it is. Your waiter will open your wine for you; corkage fees are rare, but don't forget to factor this service into your tip so make sure to ask. If you are driving from the United States, you may find Canadian liquor prices quite frightening. Even the duty-free shops along the border are rarely cheaper than an American liquor store (although these are still cheaper than the SAQ). Visitors can bring in 40oz of hard alcohol, 1.5L of wine, or a 24-pack of beer.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk049", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Separate bills (*la facture* in French) are common and you may be asked *ensemble ou séparément?* (together or separately?) The standard tip for acceptable restaurant service is 15% and is not included.\n\nNever call a waiter \"garçon\"! Use \"monsieur\" or \"madame\".\n\n### Montreal specialties\n\nThere are several foods that are specialties of the city: \nThe Montreal-style bagel, where bagel worshippers flock to **St-Viateur Bagel** and **Fairmount Bagel**, and pontificate about which is better. Both are within blocks of each other in the Plateau Mont-Royal district, on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets, respectively.\nMontreal-style **smoked meat**, a type of corned beef, distinct from other forms such as pastrami, is available at many restaurants, but by far the most highly esteemed is that available at **Schwartz's** on the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in the Plateau Mont-Royal district. Traditionally it's served as a sandwich, in heaping portions and slathered with mustard, but you'll also see it as a topping on pizza, poutine, hot dogs, or spaghetti, or even incorporated into Chinese-style egg rolls (a specialty of **Chenoy's**, a local chain of delis). Other well-known local smoked meat restaurants include **Main Deli Steak House** (across the street from Schwartz's) and **Lesters Deli** (in Outremont). \nSteamé (steamie), a steamed hotdog on steamed bun, with mustard, sauerkraut and onions. Some locations may replace sauerkraut with coleslaw.\n Poutine is popular across Quebec (and Canada), and Montreal is a great place to sample this gooey mess of French fries, melted cheese curds, and beef gravy.\n\n### Ethnic restaurants", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk050", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Eat", "text": "As Montreal has a very ethnically diverse population, it has various quality ethnic restaurants.\nIndian: The Indian community in Montreal is around Parc metro station where many Indian restaurants can be found. An example is Bombay Mahal.\nPortuguese: Around Little Portugal, near the intersection of Saint-Laurent and Rachel.\nPersian: An Iranian cafe-resto is Byblos cafe.\nArabic\nHaitian\nChinese: Mainly in Chinatown (near Place d'Armes metro), and near the Anglophone universities.\nJapanese: A Japanese non-sushi restaurant is Kazu.\n\n### Markets\n\nTo buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily 08:00-18:00, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavoured and have excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants.\n\nAcross town, the Atwater Market is also superb, though quite different from (and much smaller than) Jean-Talon. Here, you'll find the city's best butchers, and good selections of cheese, fish, and produce. It is on avenue Atwater, just south of rue Notre-Dame Lionel-Groulx station\n\n### Restaurants\n\nMontreal claims to have the most restaurants per capita in North America.\n\nWith delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along boul Saint-Laurent, rue Saint-Denis and ave du Mont-Royal in the Plateau. Tasty and cheap ethnic food, lots of Indian buffets, can be found around the Jean-Talon market.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk051", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $20. Pizza by the slice can be had for a toonie ($2), and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market.\n\nSeveral kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station in and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges in Côte-des-Neiges. The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in Outremont.\n\nSmoked-meat and sausage poutine aside, Montreal is vegetarian-friendly with several veggie and vegan restaurants and veggie options on most menus.\n\nMontreal has excellent ice cream parlours, many of which make their own ice cream. There are also restaurants dedicated to desserts.\n\n### Restaurant chains\n\nLocal restaurant chains that travellers might not be familiar with, with various locations throughout the city, include:\n\n- Brasserie La Cage\n\n- Les Trois Brasseurs\n\n- Juliette et chocolat\n\n- Rockaberry\n\n- Copper Branch\n\n### Alternate\n\nIf you are really on budget, there are a few community restaurants (like Chicrestopop) which serve very cheap meals. Usually these locations are reserved for the homeless.\n\nIf you are staying in Montreal, there are several collective cooking locations where a group of people cook larger portions to freeze and stock for worker's lunch breaks.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk052", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Drink", "text": "The legal age to purchase alcohol in Quebec is 18 and the Québécois are now much more rigid in enforcing this age limit. All retail alcohol sales stop at 23:00 and bars and clubs stop serving at 03:00.\n\nQuality wine and liquor (but only a small selection of imported beers) can only be purchased at SAQ shops, most of which are open until 18:00 Sunday to Wednesdays and 20:00 or 21:00 on other days; the smaller SAQ Express outlets are open daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Beer and a small selection of lower-quality wine are also sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs) and grocery stores. Some supermarkets have partnered with the SAQ to offer a few selection bottles, so if you are caught outside business hours or are in a hurry, places like *IGA Extra* and *Métro* generally offer a better variety of wine than the local *dépanneur*.\n\nThe selection of beer to be found in grocery stores and even the humble corner store have exploded in the last decade in and around greater Montreal. Two micro-breweries in particular are world-class: *McAuslan* (brands include St-Ambroise and Griffon) and *Unibroue* (Belgian-style ales such as Blanche de Chambly, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, and simpler, more affordable U lagers). *Boréale* makes a good, if unspectacular range of brews, while *Rickard's* and *Alexander Keith's* domestics are gaining popularity among locals. Most stores also sell a few major imports such as Stella Artois, Sapporo, Guinness, Leffe and of course, Heineken.\n\n### Bars", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk053", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Drink", "text": "Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of downtown, caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy Plateau, Boulevard Saint-Laurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips, like on Avenue Mont-Royal, and even nowadays on Rue Masson et Rue Ontario in the eastern part of town. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice. Depending on the day of the week, the best events vary. For example, on Tuesday you should go to Les Foufounes Électriques for cheap beer and a unique experience in a Montréal institution.\n\n### Dance clubs\n\nDance clubs can be found all over the downtown area, with hotspots on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Crescent. Check out the Plateau, too.\n\n### After-hours clubs\n\nAfter-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 03:00, are open to 10:00. They do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time.\n\n**Stereo**, in Quartier Latin, was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by *Muzik* magazine. **Circus** , also in the Quartier Latin, is a luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal.\n\n### Karaoke\n\nThere are a couple of Karaoke places Downtown.\n\n### Gay and lesbian", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk054", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Drink", "text": "Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco. Every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the \"Black and Blue\" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's Gay Village, on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. **Unity**, **Apollon**, and **Sky** are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also pubs, male strippers, restaurants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main stripper bars are **Stock**, **Campus**, **Taboo**, and **Adonis**. The most popular sauna is **Oasis**.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk055", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Sleep", "text": "For the budget traveller, Montreal offers youth hostels with dorms or private rooms and budget bed and breakfasts (sometimes with very skimpy breakfasts). The densest collection of budget hotels are in the Latin Quarter, in the streets east of Berri-UQAM metro and the intercity bus station. Old Montreal has a couple of quality hostels, but you'll pay more to be there. Montreal is also the city with the most Couch Surfing members, so it is easy to find a hospitable local host for a few nights. As with most major Canadian cities, another option is to stay at a hostel or hotel in an adjacent suburb; Laval and Longueuil are good choices for these due to their connection to the city's subway network.\n\nMid-range options include Downtown chain hotels to \"gîtes\", guest houses that range from a single room in an apartment to elegant historic homes with three to five rooms. Gîtes are usually found in the more residential neighbourhoods like the Plateau.\n\nOn the upper-end, four and five-star luxury and boutique hotels are mostly concentrated in Old Montreal and Downtown.\n\nMontreal is home to four major universities and numerous smaller schools. Students routinely sublet apartments in the summer months.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk056", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Phone\n\nMontreal has four area codes: the long-standing 514, the newer 438, 450 and 579 for surrounding, off-island areas. The area code must be used for all calls: even if it's the same one you're calling from and even if calling next door. For example, calling a 514 number from within 514, use \"514-123-4567\". Dialling the same number long-distance would be 1-514-123-4567.\n\n### Internet\n\nMontreal's free public Wi-Fi network, \"MTLWiFi\" is available at over 800 locations, such as public buildings, libraries, busy streets, and open areas. In the downtown, nearly every major intersection has a hotspot. \n\nThe Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many free Internet terminals, which require a library card (free to Québec residents with proof of address). Montreal library branches also provide computer access; non-residents pay a fee for a library card which provides access.\n\nPhotocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as *Battelnet 24* at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro.\n\n### Mail\n\nRed Canada Post mailboxes are found along most main streets. Post offices are often inside pharmacies: look for the Canada Post logo.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk057", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "For emergencies call **9-1-1**.\n\nAlthough Montreal is Canada's second largest city, it shares Canada's low violent crime rates making it relatively safe. However, property crimes, including car theft, are remarkably high: make sure to lock your doors and keep your valuables with you. Take extra care if you want to visit Montréal-Nord or Saint-Michel. These neighbourhoods are the worst of the city and shootings are not unheard of in these areas. There is, however, little for tourists to do and they are unlikely to enter by accident.\n\nPart of Montreal's Sainte-Catherine downtown corridor is arguably where crime is common in the city, especially east of Place des Arts. There are homeless people panhandling during the summer and fall. Although most of them are polite, there are some that are more aggressive. Avoid individuals wandering on the streets that appear intoxicated. The street is at its most dangerous around 03:00 when closing clubs and bars empty their drunken crowds into the street. You may also come across occasional pockets of street prostitution, especially around strip clubs.\n\nIn Montreal, pickpockets are not very common, but keep an eye on things when watching street performances in the Old City or in other crowds.\n\nIf you are concerned about safety on the metro, use the first metro car where the driver is. Emergency intercoms are on every metro car. Emergency phone booths are on every platform throughout the metro system, which is generally safe. While written instructions are in both English and French, most announcements (usually about delays) are in French only so if you think you heard something in the announcement that may affect you, just try asking a fellow passenger for a translation.\n\nThe STM offers a \"between stops\" (*entre deux arrêts*) service that allows women travelling alone at night to get off the bus between two regularly designated stops if the bus driver feels they can stop the bus safely.\n\nPedestrians and bike-riders should be especially careful. Crosswalks are rarely respected. Motorists have a general contempt for pedestrians, especially when they are trying to make a right turn at an intersection.\n\nWasps are a considerable menace during the height of summer. Consider carrying vinegar with you in case of stings to help neutralize the sting. Otherwise, see below if you are allergic for the nearest hospital.\n\n### Weather\n\nMontreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. Street clearing of snow is generally effective.\n\nSummers are warm to hot and can be quite humid. Being surrounded by rivers adds to this effect.\n\n### Hospitals\n\nThe closest hospital to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the Lakeshore General Hospital at 160 avenue Stillview in Pointe-Claire. (+1 514-630-2225)\n\nThe Montreal General Hospital is at 1650 avenue Cedar. (+1 514-934-1934)\n\nThe McGill University Hospital (Glen site) (MUHC) is at 1001 Decarie Boulevard (+1-514 934-1934).\n\nThe Jewish General Hospital is at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. (+1 514-340-8222)\n\nIf you do not have Quebec Health Insurance, be prepared to pay by credit card at the door as it does not accept traveller's insurance (but you may be reimbursed when you return home).\n\nSeveral hospitals offer service in French and English.", "word_count": 543}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk058", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Consulates\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Greece\n\n - Romania\n\n - United States\n\n### Newspapers\n\n*The Gazette* is the city's English-language daily.\n\nIf you have some French, hit the voir.ca website for good restaurant reviews and an overview of what is happening.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk059", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Respect", "text": "As in the rest of Quebec, language politics and Quebec sovereignty are contentious issues in Montreal. Don't make the assumption that all French Canadians are in favour of Quebec's separation from Canada as many (especially in bilingual Montreal) are against it. Also, while most Francophones in other parts of Quebec identify solely as Québécois and not Canadian, many Francophones in Montreal identify as both Québécois and Canadian. If you really want to discuss those topics with locals, be sure you are well-informed. It is still safer to avoid the subject, as it is still a very emotional issue. Use common sense and be respectful.\n\nThe main language in Montreal, as in the rest of Quebec, is French. Making an attempt to use the language is a great way to show respect for locals, whether or not they can speak English, even if you can manage only a few words with a very strong accent. However, Montreal is considered to be one of the world's most bilingual cities with many residents whose primary language is English, and you will often hear locals code switching between French and English when having a conversation. In case of doubt, you may want to open with a warm \"Bonjour!\" (*Good day*) and see what language is used in response. Most likely you will be answered in English, if your French accent does not sound local. Don't be offended if you are trying to speak French and locals respond to you in English. Since most Montrealers speak both French and English, they are simply trying to make things easier for you.\n\nMany people working in the tourist and service industries are completely bilingual without accents. But don't make jokes about French people (especially since Francophones in Montreal are mostly Québécois with a few Acadiens and Franco-Ontariens, all of whom consider themselves different from the French from France and from one another). Also, do not assume that all Québécois are Francophones. Montreal has a significant English-speaking community with a long history in Quebec and many immigrants whose first language is neither English nor French (\"Allophones\").", "word_count": 348}
+{"chunk_id": "montreal::chunk060", "doc_id": "montreal", "section": "Go next", "text": "Montreal makes an excellent entryway for visiting other cities and destinations in Quebec and the northern United States. You will have to pass the border control if you go to the US, and arm yourself with the appropriate visas and papers. Add at least one extra hour for the border control.\n\n The Adirondacks are a 2½-hour drive to the south. These mountains make up the largest park in the contiguous US and offer outdoor activities like hiking, rafting and skiing.\n Boston is a 5-hour drive to the southeast.\n Mont Tremblant lies less than two hours north in the Laurentides.\n The Eastern Townships are two to three hours straight east.\n The Laurentians and in the Eastern Townships between December and March offer good downhill skiing. There are some very good night-skiing centres such as Ski Bromont and Mont-St-Sauveur.\n The Monteregie townships, a short drive east of Montreal.\n New York City is a 6½-hour drive directly south.\n Ottawa is two hours west by car.\n Quebec City, about 3 hours to the north east on Highway 40, is almost but not quite a day trip. You'll want to stay over, anyway.\n Tadoussac, about 6 hours away by car, has great whale-watching\n Toronto is more distant, but still a doable 6-hour drive (or a faster 4½-hour train trip).", "word_count": 214}
diff --git a/corpus/montreal/metadata.json b/corpus/montreal/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..61a2cbeaff578693fd07a1c41184faac012218ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/montreal/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "montreal",
+ "title": "Montreal",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Montreal",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southwestern Quebec"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Quebec",
+ "United States of America",
+ "Adirondacks",
+ "Boston",
+ "Mont Tremblant",
+ "Laurentides",
+ "Eastern Townships",
+ "Monteregie",
+ "New York City",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Tadoussac",
+ "Toronto",
+ "Sainte-Foy",
+ "Saint-Lambert",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Dorval",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Saint-Lambert",
+ "Toronto",
+ "Montreal/West Island",
+ "Shawinigan",
+ "Saint-Justin",
+ "Rensselaer (New York)",
+ "Saint-Lambert",
+ "Repentigny",
+ "Mont-Saint-Hilaire",
+ "Longueuil",
+ "Saint-Jérôme",
+ "Laval",
+ "Hudson (Quebec)",
+ "Vaudreuil-Dorion",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Vaudreuil-Dorion",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Lévis",
+ "Boucherville Islands National Park",
+ "Sherbrooke",
+ "Burlington (Vermont)",
+ "Brossard",
+ "Boisbriand",
+ "Laval",
+ "Montreal",
+ "Dorval",
+ "Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts",
+ "Laval",
+ "Albany (New York)",
+ "Brossard",
+ "Kingston (Ontario)",
+ "Vaudreuil-Dorion",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Lévis",
+ "Brossard",
+ "Terrebonne",
+ "Laval",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Lévis",
+ "Boucherville Islands National Park",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Vaudreuil-Dorion",
+ "Quebec City",
+ "Repentigny",
+ "Dorval",
+ "Montreal",
+ "Sherbrooke",
+ "Saint-Lambert",
+ "Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts",
+ "Laval",
+ "La Prairie",
+ "Longueuil",
+ "Malone (New York)",
+ "Huntingdon (Quebec)",
+ "Trois-Rivières",
+ "Repentigny"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 14755,
+ "listing_count": 58,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 61,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/morocco/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/morocco/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..695e5231633ec49ac34b7989fa1c15754d0165c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/morocco/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk000", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Morocco** (Arabic: المغرب, *Al-Maghrib*; Berber: ⵍⵎⴰⵖⵔⵉⴱ, *Elmaɣrib*; French: *Maroc*) is the northwesternmost country in Africa. Morocco has, for most people, been the gateway to Africa. With plenty of attractive locations, historical sights, and unique cultural traditions, there's lots to see and do in this beautiful, mesmerising country. At just a few hours from the main European cities, Morocco has everything to overwhelm you with the amazing colours, smells and sounds of Islamic Africa. Imagine bustling souqs and spice markets, stunning mosques, white-washed sea side towns and medieval city centres. With panoramic views varying from snow-covered peaks in the High Atlas to the endless sand dunes of the Sahara, no-one ever has to be bored in this beautiful country.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk001", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Regions", "text": "**Spanish North Africa** includes Ceuta, Melilla and a few other small territories at the Mediterranean sea, which are part of Spain.", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk002", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cities", "text": "(Arabic: **الرِّبَاط**, Berber: ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ) – the capital of Morocco; very relaxed and hassle-free, highlights include a 12th-century tower and minaret.\n (Arabic: **اكادير**, Berber: ⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔ) – the town is a nice example of modern Morocco, best known for its beaches, with less emphasis on history and culture. Take the local bus for a few cents and go 2 or 3 villages north, where there are additional beaches.\n (Arabic: **الدار البيضاء**, Berber: ⴰⵏⴼⴰ) – this modern city by the sea is a starting point for visitors flying into the country. If you have the time, both the historical medina and the contemporary mosque (the third largest in the world) are well worth an afternoon.\n (Arabic: **فاس**, Berber: ⴼⴰⵙ) – the former capital of Morocco and home to the oldest university in the world, the Qarawiyyin University, in its well preserved old city.\n (Arabic: **مراكش**, Berber: ⴰⵎⵓⵔⴰⴽⵓⵛ) – a perfect combination of old and new Morocco. Plan to spend at least a few days wandering the huge maze of souks and ruins in the medina. The great plaza of Djeema El Fna at dusk is not to be missed.\n (Arabic: **مكناس**, Berber: ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ) – a modern, laid-back city that offers a welcome break from the tourist crush of neighbouring Fez.\n (Arabic: **ورزازات**, Berber: ⵡⴰⵔⵣⴰⵣⴰⵜ) – considered the capital of the South, Ouarzazate is a great example of preservation and tourism that hasn't destroyed the feel of a fantastic and ancient city.\n (Arabic: **طنجة**, Berber: ⵜⵉⵏⴳⵉ) – the starting point for most visitors arriving by ferry from Spain. An enigmatic charm which has attracted numerous artists (Henri Matisse), musicians (Jimi Hendrix), politicians (Winston Churchill), writers (William S. Burroughs, Mark Twain) and others (Malcolm Forbes).\n (Arabic: **تطوان**, Berber: ⵜⵉⵟⵟⴰⵡⵉⵏ) – nice beaches and is the gateway to the Rif Mountains.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk003", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "(Arabic: **الاطلس الكبير**, Berber: ⴰⴷⵔⴰⵔ ⵏ ⴷⵔⵏ) – regular destination for mountain hikers, ski enthusiasts, or travellers interested in the indigenous Berber culture\n (Arabic: **مرزوقة**, Berber: ⵎⴰⵔⵣⵓⴳⴰ) and (Arabic: **محاميد الغزلان**, Berber: ⵜⴰⵔⴰⴳⴰⵍⵜ) – from either of these two settlements at the edge of the Sahara, ride a camel or 4x4 into the desert for a night (or a week) among the dunes and under the stars\n (Arabic: **تنغير**, Berber: ⵜⵉⵏⵖⵉⵔ) – desert oasis and access point to the stunning High Atlas\n (Arabic: **وليلي**, Berber: ⵡⴰⵍⵉⵍⵉ) – the biggest Roman ruins in Morocco, 30 km north of Meknes, next to the holy town of Moulay Idriss", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk004", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb\n\n### Politics and government\n\nThe only constitutional monarchy in North Africa, the **Kingdom of Morocco** is made up of 12 regions. It has one of the largest economies in Africa, and is an important player in Arab affairs.\n\n#### Name transcriptions\n\nArabic: **المملكة المغربية**, *al-mamlaka al-maḡribiyya*\n Berber: **ⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ**, *Tageldit n lmeɣrib*\n French: **Royaume du Maroc**\n\n### History\n\nThe earliest known independent state of Morocco was the **Berber Kingdom of Mauretania** under King Baga. This kingdom dates back at least to 300 BCE.\n\nFrom the 1st century BCE, Morocco was part of the Roman Empire as **Mauretania Tingitana**. Christianity was introduced in the 2nd century CE and gained converts in the Roman towns, among slaves and Berber farmers.\n\nIn the 5th century CE, as the Roman Empire declined, the region was invaded from the north by the Vandals and later the Visigoths. In the 6th century, northern Morocco became part of the Byzantine Empire. Throughout this time, however, the Berber inhabitants in the high mountains of the interior remained independent.\n\nIn 670 CE, the first Islamic conquest of the North African coastal plain took place under Uqba ibn Nafi, a general serving under the Umayyads. The indigenous Berber tribes adopted Islam, but retained their customary laws. They also paid taxes and tribute to the new Muslim administration. The first independent Muslim state in the area of modern Morocco was the Kingdom of Nekor, an emirate in the Rif Mountains. It was founded by Salih I ibn Mansur in 710, as a client state. After the outbreak of the Berber Revolt in 739, the Berbers formed other independent states such as the **Miknasa** of Sijilmasa and the **Barghawata**.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk005", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to medieval legend, Idris Ibn Abdallah fled to Morocco after the Abbasids' massacre of the tribes in Iraq. He convinced the Awraba tribes to break the allegiance to distant Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad and he founded the **Idrisid Dynasty** in 788. The Idrisids established Fez as their capital and Morocco became a centre of Muslim learning and major regional power. The Idrisids were ousted in 927 by the Fatimid Caliphate and their Miknasa allies. After Miknasa broke off relations with the Fatimids in 932, they were removed from power by the Maghrawa of Sijilmasa in 980. From the 11th century to the early 20th century onwards, a series of dynasties including the **Almoravids**, **Almohads**, **Marinids**, **Wattasids**, **Saadis** and **Alaouites** ruled Morocco until it was controlled by the Spanish and French.\n\nDuring World War II, Morocco became an Axis puppet under Vichy France in 1940, and became a refuge for affluent Europeans, famous through the film *Casablanca*. Morocco was liberated in 1942 by American troops in Operation Torch (see World War II in Africa) and hosted the 1943 Casablanca conference.\n\nMorocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, and even though the status of the territory remains unresolved, all maps in Morocco show Western Sahara as an integrated part of Morocco.\n\nGradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997, although the king still possesses the actual political power. The press is mostly state controlled even though there are free newspapers, and clampdowns have occurred following criticism of the authorities or articles concerning the Western Sahara situation.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk006", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Understand", "text": "Morocco has 34 million inhabitants. It's a good place to see varied cultural heritages including those with African, Arabic, Berber, Moorish and Western influences. Islam is by far the dominant religion, with 99% of the population being at least nominally Muslim. Christianity is the second largest religion, but most Christians in Morocco are expatriates from Western countries. Morocco used to have a large Jewish community, most of whom were Sephardic Jews whose ancestors fled the Spanish and Portuguese inquisitions, though the vast majority of them fled to Israel in the second half of the 20th century, and only a small community remains in Morocco today. Nevertheless, Morocco's Jewish community is the largest remaining one in an Arab country.\n\n### Electricity and voltage\n\nThe voltage in Morocco is generally **220 V** (partly 127 V) 50 Hz, and outlets will fit the two-pin plug known as the *Europlug*, probably the most commonly used international plug and included in most international plug adapter kits. It is ungrounded and designed for at most 2.5 A.\n\nAmerican and Canadian appliances, which are built to use 110 V, may be damaged if they're plugged into a 220 V unless your appliance is \"dual-voltage\" (designed for both 110 and 220 V). If not, you'll need a **transformer** or **converter** (depending on the device) as well as an adapter.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk007", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Understand", "text": "The biggest event on the Moroccan calendar is the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the day time and break the fast at sunset. Most restaurants are closed for lunch (with the exception of those catering specifically to tourists), and things generally slow down. Travelling during this time is entirely possible, and the restrictions don't apply to non-Muslims, but it's respectful to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public during the fast. At the end of the month is the holiday of **Eid al-Fitr**, when practically everything closes for as long as a week and transport is packed as everybody heads back home. Alcohol consumption is not prohibited for tourists during Ramadan; there are a few restaurants and bars serving alcohol. Also, alcohol can be purchased in a supermarket, but only if a tourist shows their passport to the staff, as Moroccans are not allowed to buy or consume alcohol during the holy month.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Morocco\nIf you are adventurous at heart, a good time to visit Morocco for trekking in the desert is February. You can enjoy coastal areas or beaches at Essaouira in July. April is the best time to visit the imperial towns in Morocco. The peak tourist season in Morocco is July and August.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk008", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumbnail|Road sign in Arabic, Berber and French\n\nThe official languages of Morocco are **Arabic and Berber**. Many Moroccans are multilingual. As for European languages, younger people and people working in touristic areas are more likely to speak English, while older people and those in smaller towns might be more likely to speak some French. Mileage may vary though, of course, and knowing basics in both does help. If you are unsure, just ask which language someone prefers.\n\n**Moroccan Arabic** (also known as **Darija**), the local vernacular, is spoken natively by about 91% of the population. The dialect is one of the toughest Arabic dialects to learn; native speakers of Arabic outside of Morocco often have trouble understanding the way Moroccans speak. Some consider the dialect a different language altogether. If you don't know the local dialect, do not despair: all Moroccans learn **Modern Standard Arabic** at school, so you should have no problems communicating in large cities. \n\n'''Tashelhit''' and **Central Morocco Tamazight** are the most commonly spoken Berber languages. Tashelhit is mostly spoken in southwestern Morocco, whereas Central Morocco Tamazight is spoken in the Atlas Mountains region of central Morocco.\n\n**French**, although it has no official status in the country, is a second language for a lot of Moroccans. The language is held in high regard; French is taught in Moroccan schools from a young age and the language is used in many avenues such as business, government, and commerce. French is often used to transliterate Arabic words. For example, the name Abdullah is transliterated as Abdellah.\n\n**Spanish** is spoken by some Moroccans living in Mediterranean Morocco. Moroccans born during and before the 1950s – parts of Morocco were under the administration of Spain back then – are more likely to be competent in Spanish than their juniors.\n\n**English** is increasingly becoming popular in Morocco and the Moroccan government is keen on promoting the language. This being said, English is not widely spoken in Morocco and not everyone is happy with the government's decision to espouse English. Tourist destinations that have become popular with Northern European visitors, like Taghazout or Marrakech, are where you will likely find the most English-speaking Moroccans.", "word_count": 361}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk009", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Morocco, with countries in green having visa-free access\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nMorocco's visa policy is relatively liberal compared to other African countries; the country has numerous visa-free arrangements.\n\nNationals of the following countries can enter Morocco visa-free:\nSchengen member states,\nAlgeria,\nArgentina,\nAustralia,\nBahrain,\nBrazil,\nBulgaria,\nCanada,\nChile,\nChina,\nCôte d'Ivoire,\nCroatia,\nRepublic of Congo,\nGuinea,\nHong Kong,\nIndonesia,\nIreland,\nJapan,\nKuwait,\nLibya,\nMacau,\nMalaysia,\nMali,\nMexico,\nNew Zealand,\nNiger,\nOman,\nPeru,\nPhilippines,\nQatar,\nRussia,\nSaudi Arabia,\nSenegal,\nSingapore,\nSouth Korea,\nTunisia,\nTurkey,\nUnited Arab Emirates,\nUnited Kingdom,\nUnited States.\n\nThe Moroccan Embassy is usually the first port of call for tourists from countries needing a visa to enter Morocco. They charge the equivalent of UK £17 for a single entry and £26 for double or multiple entries. (Double or Multiple entries will be issued at the embassy's discretion). Visas are usually valid for three months and take around 5-6 working days to process.\n\nVisa requirements are completed application forms; four passport-size photos taken within the previous six months; a valid passport with at least one blank page and with a photocopy of the relevant data pages; Fee, payable by postal order only; a photocopy of all flight bookings and a photocopy of hotel reservation.\n\nTourists can stay for up to 90 days, and visa extensions can be frustrating and time-consuming. (You may find it easier to duck into the Spanish-controlled Ceuta or Melilla and then re-enter Morocco for a new stamp). Anti-cholera **vaccination certificates** may be required of visitors coming from areas where this disease is prevalent and pets need a health certificate less than ten days old, and an anti-rabies certificate less than six months old.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk010", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|Planes of the flag carrier Royal Air Maroc at [[Marrakech]] airport\nMajor airlines that serve Morocco would most likely be landing at Casablanca. In addition to destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, one can also fly intercontinental from New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, Montreal, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.\n\nOther popular entry points include Marrakesh, Agadir, Fes, Rabat, and Tangier, to which many European low-cost carriers fly either year-round or seasonally.\n\n**Easyjet** — Now fly at budget prices from London and Manchester to Marrakech and Casablanca. Another option is from Paris - Charles de Gaulle to Casablanca.\n\n**Ryanair** — flies to Morocco from Bergamo, Girona, Reus, Madrid, Brussels, \"Frankfurt\"-Hahn, Eindhoven, London, Porto. Flying to Fez 3 times per week. Flights to Marrakesh are also available.\n\n**Royal Air Maroc** — The state airline, which drastically needs a price cut.\n\n**Air Arabia Maroc** owned by Air Arabia, is another low-cost carrier which flies to other Moroccan destinations, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Tunisia and Turkey.\n\n**Binter Canarias** — Flights from Canary Islands to Marrakesh.\n\n**Emirates** — Flights from Dubai to Casablanca.\n\nMany visitors also fly to Gibraltar or Malaga (which are often considerably cheaper to get to) and take a ferry from Algeciras, Tarifa or Gibraltar to Tangier. This is not recommended in summer as literally millions of Moroccans living in Europe use this passage during the summer holidays.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk011", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can enter via ferry or via the two only open border posts on land connected to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The frontier with Algeria has been closed since 1994. For the closest maritime connection you head for Algeciras or Tarifa in southern Spain. At Algeciras there are ferry services to Ceuta and Tangier that carry cars. Tarifa has a similar service to Tangier and this is the shortest and fastest route, just 35 minutes.\n\nIt's possible also to enter by car from Mauritania via Dakhla.\n\nIt might be hard to get into Morocco with a commercial vehicle. Camper vans are acceptable (but they must look like a camper van), but other commercial vehicles might get turned around and prevented from travelling onwards. If you want to take a commercial vehicle, and there is more than one person travelling, it may be worthwhile if a French-speaking person travels to any international border with Morocco of your choice and meets with the head of Customs before you bring in a commercial vehicle.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumbnail|Boarding a Tarifa - Tangier ferry\nThere are several ferry connections to Morocco, mainly from Spain. The most popular one is from Algeciras to Tangier, €37, approx 1 hr trip, another one is from the small port of Tarifa, on the southernmost tip of mainland Spain. A free shuttle bus between Tarifa and Algeciras (25 min) is provided for all ferry passengers, so you will have no problems getting to the Algeciras train station. Other Spanish ports with connections to Morocco are Malaga and Almeria with departures to Melilla and the adjacent Moroccan town of Nador.\n\nFerries from Marseille and the port of Sète near Montpellier in France also go to Tangier. However, they are rather expensive.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk012", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Italian towns of Genoa and Naples also have direct connections to Tangier.\n\nThe British dependency of Gibraltar has irregular ferries to Tangier (no more than 2 departures per month).\n\nEnsure your ticket takes you to the right port, as for instance is 50 km from Tangier city.\n\nFrom the south of Spain (Estepona) a sailing yacht will take you for a few days to the north east of Morocco (Smir).", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk013", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "With an area of 446,300 square kilometres (172,300 sq mi), Morocco is a relatively easy country to get around in. A trip from Taroudant to Rabat will easily take you 5½ hours by car, depending on traffic conditions.\n\n### By train\n\nthumbnail|Moroccan intercity train\nthumb|350px\n\nTrains are generally the best option because of their speed, frequency and comfort. However, the network is limited, though it travels to many of the main tourist destinations. Two of the main lines, which both operate hourly most of the day are the following:\n\nAl Boraq high speed rail train, traveling between Tangier and Casablanca via Rabat and Kenitra. Between Tangier and Casablanca, trains take about 2 hours 20 minutes to complete the journey. Until further construction takes place, only the portion between Tangier and Kenitra is along high speed rail, where it travels at 300 km/h, and otherwise the trains travel around 160 km/h.\n Line between Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, Meknes, and Fez. While this is not a high speed train, much of journey is at 160 km/h.\n\nA branch line to Oujda starts at Sidi Kachem linking Meknes and Fez to the main lines.\n\nThe rail network is operated by **ONCF**. Tickets can be purchased both online and at stations and they are very cheap compared to Europe. For examples, Casablanca to Marrakech: 146 dirham for second class, 180 first, 2 hours 39 minutes. The only drawback with Moroccan trains are that they are very frequently delayed, so don't count on the timetables if you are in a hurry.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk014", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "People are incredibly sociable and friendly on the trains in Morocco and you will find yourself perpetually talking to strangers about your journey. Each new person will advise you on some new place you should go or invite you to their home for couscous. Stations in smaller cities are often poorly marked, and your fellow passengers will be more than happy to let you know where you are and when you should get off. It's expected to greet (*Salam*) new passengers entering your compartment, and if you bring fruit, cake, etc., it's common to offer the other passengers something as well. If you spend a little extra for 1st class you increase your chances of meeting someone proficient in many languages.\n\nThere are three daily departures from Tangier, bound for either Oujda or Marrakech, although all of them can be used to reach either destination as there are corresponding trains in Sidi Kachem using the opposite branch of the train coming from Tangier. The night trains between Tangier and Marrakech offer couchettes for an extra 100 dirham. This is the only option if you would like to lie down sleeping as there are obstacles between the seats in regular compartments.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk015", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "In summer, train compartments can be hot, with passengers standing everywhere when all seats are taken. First class train cars are supposed to have working air conditioning, however, not all train cars with air conditioning have it in working mode, so it's advisable to bring with you plenty of water (there are no vending machines on ONCF trains, unlike SNCF or TrenItalia trains, and the conductor with a vending cart is not often easy to find). For example, the travel time between Tangier and Fez is about 5 hours and with no AC and no water, the ride can become unbearable in the summer desert heat.\n\nWhen you arrive at a station, to reaching the platform you'll need to validate your ticket (checkpoint at the entrance).\n\n### By bus\n\nLuxury **buses** are the next best bet, with almost universal coverage, if somewhat odd departure times in some places. '''CTM''', '''Supratours''' and some smaller companies provide good comfort with reasonable prices. Supratours buses offer specific tickets to link with the rail system and are bookable on the train company website as Supratours is run by it. All bus companies charge for baggage separately, however CTM is the only one that does this officially and provides baggage receipts. On Supratours, whoever takes your bag will demand up to 20 dirham (pay no more than 5 dirham). Do not pay for luggage that you can take aboard with you and that fits in the overhead locker of between your feet. Touts will try to charge you for that, strongly refuse.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk016", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Nearly every city has a central bus station (*Gare Routière*) where you can buy tickets to travel from region to region (and in some cities certain companies run their own stations - mostly that applies to the operators CTM (*Gare Voyage*) and partly Supratours). You can either choose the buses for tourists with air-conditioning and a TV. Or you can also take the local buses which cost only 25-50% of the tourist buses and are much more fun. They are not very comfortable, but you can get in contact with the local people and learn a lot about the country. The buses often take longer routes than the big ones, so you can see villages you would never get to as a \"normal\" tourist. For heat-sensitive people this is not advisable though, as locals may tell you that 35 degrees is \"cool\" and no reason for opening a window. The route from Rissani, Erfoud, and Er Rachidia to Meknes and Fez, while long, runs through the Middle and High Atlas and is particularly scenic.\n\nAt the large bus stations (*Gare Routière*), always buy your ticket at the ticket window inside of the bus station. Otherwise you will mostly overpay. Several touts will approach you as you enter the bus station, and try to sell you a ticket. While a local will get a proper ticket with them (because they know the prices), tourists will most certainly be overcharged. Also, the ticket windows often (must) have prices and time tables displayed. You might get the ticket with the same guy that approached you in the beginning, but it will consequently be much cheaper.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk017", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Local intercity buses can be entered along the highway or main road, where you will pay the conductor. Always ask for the price before entering, and if too high, refuse. At least the conductors will understand, that you will not board if too high and give you a good price. Supratours and CTM buses will not stop anywhere for you to enter except for the main bus stations—the driver is not allowed to sell tickets.\n\nLuxury buses operated by CTM are also inexpensive and offer an easier travelling experience than local buses.\n\nSupratours, a major rival of CTM, complements the train network to Essaouira and all major Atlantic-coast towns south to Marrakech.\n\nCTM and Supratours tickets can often not be booked online directly with the bus operator using a foreign bank card. In this case, they can either be bought in person at the bus stations, or using Marrakech Tickets. Note that Marrakech Tickets will charge a significant fee and take a few hours (or even days) to process your request, which involves sending you an invoice by email.\n\n**Local intercity buses** are a completely valid choice for the hardier traveller, and often even have more leg room than the luxury buses although this may be just because the seat in front of you is disintegrating. They can be extraordinarily slow as they will stop for anyone, anywhere, and only luxury buses are air conditioned (and locals hate open windows). Although, one exception seems to be the Agadir-Essaouira route, where even local buses are very fast. Probably due to the number of buses on this route and the desire to pick up as many passengers as possible along the way (not going to happen if overtaken by another company).\n\n### By e-hailing", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk018", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can hail a taxi or private car with the apps of Careem, Heetch, Roby and InDrive. Uber stopped operations in Morocco in 2018\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Grand taxi\nTravel by taxi is common in Morocco. There are two sorts:\n*Petit taxi* used only within the area of the town\n*Grand taxi* can be used for trips between towns, and for larger groups\n\n#### Petit taxi\n\nPrices for petit taxi are reasonable, and it's the law that taxis in town should have a meter—although they are not always on. Insist that the driver starts the meter, although in the more touristy cities drivers will refuse point-blank. If not, ask for the fare before getting in (but it will be more expensive). You can and should bargain the fare down, ideally to an amount for which you have exact change, as the driver often doesn't have it.\n\nThere often is a minimum fare for trips during the day and another during the night, both listed on a sticker along with other prices in the taxi. And because in some small cities, the metered fare is always lower than the minimum fare, trips are not metered there, and the price is fixed at the minimum fare. In such cities without metered taxis, those stickers are sometimes missing as well. Ask an uninvolved local whether there is such a minimum fare and how high it is (7 dirham is reasonable during the day, 10 at night).\n\nPetit taxis are not allowed to leave the city borders and is thus not an option for travelling between cities.\n\n#### Grand taxi", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk019", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumbnail|Grand taxis are often 1970s and 1980s Peugeots and Mercedes\nThe grand taxi is a shared, generally long-distance taxi, with a fixed rate for specific route; the driver stopping and picking up passengers like a bus. Grand taxis are usually found near main bus stops. Negotiate on price if you want a journey to yourself and this will be based on distance travelled and whether you are returning—but price per taxi should not depend on the number of passengers in your group. When sharing grand taxi with others, drivers may cheat tourist-looking passengers charging higher—look how much locals around you pay; don't worry to ask other passengers about the normal price, before boarding or even when you're in.\n\nFares are semi-fixed and shared equally between passengers. However, there are six passenger seats per car not four (this is for the ubiquitous Mercedes, there are 8 or 9 seats in the bigger Peugeots in the southeast). Two people are expected to share the front seat, with four across the back. If you want to leave immediately or you want extra space you can pay for any additional empty seats. Grand taxis generally cost less than a luxury bus but more than the local bus. Late at night, expect to be charged a little more than at daytime, and also to pay for all the seats in the car as other customers probably won't show up that late.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk020", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Grand taxis formerly were 10-year-old Mercedes, regular saloon cars that in Europe are used for up to 4 passengers plus driver. However, nowadays they are replaced more and more by Peugeot vans. For a grand taxi, it is normal to share a car between up to 6 passengers. The front seat is normally given to two women. Some travellers often pay for 2 seats that remain unoccupied to travel with more space inside, and hence comfort.\n\nBeware, some taxi drivers will refuse to drive off until the taxi is full, potentially causing you delays. Alternatively, for a relatively reasonable sum (depending on the driver), you can hire a grand taxi in Marrakech for the entire day, allowing you to explore the sights of the surrounding region. Most grand taxis operate only on a single route and that for trips outside of their licensed route they need to get permission from police first.\n\nTaxi owners vie with each other to add extras such as sunshades. A clean vehicle and smart driver is usually a good sign of a well maintained vehicle.\n\nGrand taxis can also be hired **privately** for approximately the price of two petit taxis for shorter trips. This is useful if your party is of four or more. If you plan to take a grand taxi for a custom tour it is best to book one day ahead to give the driver time to get this permission.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk021", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Domestic flying is not a popular means of transportation; however, Royal Air Maroc, the national flag carrier, has an excellent but expensive network to most cities. Air Arabia is another choice. Starting in 2024, European low-cost carrier Ryanair operates 11 domestic routes in Morocco between several cities for fares starting as low as 190 dirham, and may even beat the train on both speed and price in some cases, though with limited frequency and baggage allowances.\n\n### By tramway\n\nThe Casablanca tramway is 30 km long, with 49 stops, and Y-shaped. Tickets cost 6 dirham; buy your ticket before boarding. You have a choice between a rechargeable ticket valid for 10 journeys only, or a rechargeable card, valid for 4 years.\n\nThis is, after the Rabat-Salé tramway, the second tram system in Morocco, but also the largest system in number of stations and the length of the route.\n\n### By car\n\nIn many ways the traffic culture is different from what you would experience in western countries. The main road network is in good condition but due to the lack of dedicated cycling lanes and pedestrian paths in all but the largest cities, they are shared by many cyclists, pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles.\n\nRoads have a good surface, although some are very narrow, in most cases only one narrow lane in each direction. Many roads in the south marked as sealed actually have only a central strip, one lane wide, sealed with wide shoulders to be used every time you meet oncoming traffic and this is a sensible economic solution in these areas of sparse traffic and long straight roads – except when you can not see oncoming traffic because of windblown dust!\n\nDriving under the influence of alcohol is strictly illegal even if you drink just one beer.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk022", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By thumb\n\nHitching is a routine form of travel in Morocco. Particularly in large farm trucks which supplement income by picking up paying passengers. Price is about half that of a grand taxi. Expect to ride in the back with lots of locals.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk023", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Jemaa-el-Fna square in Marrakech\nthumbnail|Chefchaouen\nthumbnail|At the beach of Agadir\n\nMovie-famous **Casablanca** might be the most famous of Moroccan cities and is home to the huge **Hassan II mosque**, the second largest mosque in the world with only the Grand Mosque of Mecca surpassing it. Many travellers quickly leave this vibrant and modernist metropolis on a search for a more traditional Moroccan experience, but admiring the impressive colonial architecture, Hispano-Moorish and art-deco outlook of the city centre is actually time well spent. **Marrakesh**, known as the \"Red City\" and probably the most prominent former imperial capital, will leave you with memories to cherish for life. Spend your days wandering through the lively souqs, admiring the old **gates and defense walls**, see the Saadian Tombs, the remnants of the El Badi Palace and visit the Koutoubia Mosque with its 12th century minaret. However, when evening falls make sure to head back to **Jamaa el-Fnaa**, the largest square in Africa, as it fills up with steam-producing food stalls. Indulge in the bustling activity there, listen to Arabic story tellers, watch magicians and Chleuh dancers. **Fez**, once Morocco's capital, is another gorgeous imperial city. Get lost in its lovely labyrinth of narrow Medieval streets, enjoy its huge medina, see the beautiful city gates, the ancient **University of Al-Karaouine** and the **Bou Inania Madrasa**. Also, make sure to visit a traditional **leather tanning factory**. The city of **Meknes** is often called the \"Versailles of Morocco\" for its beauty. Its lovely Spanish-Moorish style centre is surrounded by tall city walls with impressive gates and you'll be able to see the 17th century blend of European and Islamic cultures even today.\n\nFor a more laid-back experience of medina life, catch a sea breeze at the coastal towns of **Asilah** or lovely **Essaouira**. The blue-washed town of **Chefchaouen** is an old time travellers' favourite and a great starting point to explore the Rif Mountains. Other impressive mountain scenery can be in found in the Atlas Mountains.\n\nOn your way to the desert, make sure not to miss the stunning **Todra gorge** near Tinghir. The ancient fortified city of **Aït-Benhaddou** is another must-see sight. Although rainstorms damage the mud-brick kasbahs time and again, this mostly abandoned village remains an impressive sight and has been the décor for a range of movies, including *Lawrence of Arabia* and *Gladiator*.\n\nThe Kingdom of Morocco retains a number of **royal residential palaces** dating to the late 12th century. They are often known as **Dar al-Makhzen**, in reference to its monarchical institution.", "word_count": 419}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk024", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Do", "text": "### Trekking\n\nClimb North Africa's highest mountain **Mt. Toubkal** (*Jebel Toubkal*) from Imlil, passing lovely adobe villages and exploring the gorgeous Ourika and Amizmiz valleys on the way. Or just trek the High Atlas mountains. The stunning panoramic views from the top will make it worth every bit of your effort to get there. Other praised hiking routes lead through the beautiful Ameln Valley in the Anti-Atlas and the forests of the **Middle Atlas**.\n\n### Tourist tours\n\nMarrakech can make a good base for tours all over Morocco, from exploring the High Atlas, over riding the camel or quad, to 1-4 days **Sahara treks**. A sheer endless number of tour providers are waiting for the willing-to-pay tourist.\n\nHop on a camel back for a trip through the golden **Sahara sand dunes** at Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga. Spend the night in a desert tent, under the incredibly starred sky. Somewhat less easy to reach but therefor also less crowded are the dunes of Erg Chigaga near M'hamid.\n\n### Hammams\n\nthumbnail|Hammam in Chefchaouen\nThere are two types of Hammam (steam baths) across Morocco.\n\nThe first is the **tourist hammam**, where you can go and be pampered and scrubbed by an experienced staff member. As these are promoted only to tourists, they are the more expensive option with pricing usually around 150 dirham for a hammam. They are not proper hammams, but they are nonetheless enjoyable, especially for the timid. Your hotel can recommend a good one.\n\nThe second option is to visit a **\"popular\" Hammam**. Popular hammams are the places where the locals go. Ask the staff at your hotel where they would go.\n\nAt the popular hammams, you do it all yourself. To make the most of a popular hammam, you need to take a scrubbing mitten (available cheap in the souks), a towel, and some extra underwear (otherwise, you will be going home without any, as it will be sopping wet). Popular hammams are often only identified by tiles around a door and entrance way. If you do not speak French or Arabic, it could be a daunting, or at least a very memorable, experience. Men & women have either separate session times or separate hammams.\n\n**Nudity in a popular hammam is strictly forbidden** for men, so be prepared to wear your underwear or a bathing suit. For women, you'll see some wearing underwear and some going naked.\n\nWhilst in a popular hammam, you may be offered help and a massage from another person. It is essential to remember that this **massage is nothing but a massage**, with no other intentions. Sexual contact or presumption of sexual contact does not occur in these places. If you accept a massage, be prepared to return the favour.\n\nNormal entrance prices for a popular hammam are , a scrub will cost around , and a massage another .\n\n### Sports\n\n **Football:** the men's national soccer team play internationals at various venues. The top tiers for clubs are Botola 1 and 2, each with 16 teams, and an August-May playing season as in Europe. \n Africa Cup of Nations is staged in Morocco 21 Dec 2025 – 18 Jan 2026, with 16 national men's teams competing. The host cities are Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Marrakesh, Agadir and Fez. European clubs are grumbling at this timing as they have to release their African star players for a month.", "word_count": 561}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk025", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|Dirham banknotes, with Hassan Tower in the background ([[Rabat]])\nThe local currency is the **Moroccan dirham**, sometimes symbolised as \"**Dh**\", \"**Dhs**, \"**DH**\", \"**درهم**, or the plural form of \"**دراهم**\" or \"**Dhm**\" (ISO code: **MAD**). Wikivoyage articles will use *dirham* to denote the currency.\n\nIt's divided into 100 santime or centimes (c). There are coins in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirham, although coins smaller than 20c are rarely seen in circulation these days. Banknotes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirham.\n\nWhile the dirham is the only currency officially accepted in Morocco, some hotels may accept your euros and US dollars unofficially.\n\nTry to have as many small notes as possible, even accommodations tend to never have any change ready. But also in general, keep larger bills hidden separately, just in case.\n\nPrices in Morocco are quite stable, i.e. the references you find in this guide, even if a couple of years old, are very reliable.\n\n**Note:** Dirham may generally not be exported or imported. A tolerance of 2,000 dirham applies to tourists; more information can be found at the Moroccan customs website.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nIt is illegal to take more than 2,000 dirham of local currency out of the country, so you can't buy dirham outside of Morocco. Airport security conduct periodic currency checks and will confiscate dirham to be taken out of the country. By law, exchange rates should be the same at all banks and official exchanges. Make a note of the exact rates before you go to make sure you're getting a fair deal. Besides banks and dedicated exchange offices, major post offices provide exchange, and work until late hours.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk026", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "Don't expect to see many banks in the *souqs* or *medinas*, although in larger cities there is often an ATM near the main gates, and even one or two inside the large souqs (if you manage to find your way). You may also encounter \"helpful\" people who will exchange US dollars or euros for dirham. Unofficial exchange on the streets outside souqs or medinas doesn't seem to exist.\n\nWhile changing money from a common widely used currency (e.g. USD or Euros) to dirhams will be easy in cities regularly visited by tourists, changing from dirhams to another currency due to a number of barriers, which include:\n\nFor foreigners, the Official \"Bureau de Change\" won't change dirhams to other currency unless the foreigner has a receipt showing they changed at least that amount of currency into dirhams through a money changer. An ATM withdrawal receipt will not be accepted as proof of currency conversion. \n Except at Morocco's international airports, money changers are not permitted to change dirhams into a foreign currency, unless the person seeking the money change has a Moroccan identification card. \n If you are flying in the early morning or late evening, money changers at the airport may all be closed. For instance at Rabat airport, money changers do not open until 7 am.\n On Sundays, if you are changing money to dirhams, non-bank money changers may not issue receipts.\n\nDue to these barriers, it is recommended that you:", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk027", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "If possible, take flights out of the country during the daytime or early to mid evening.\n Bring some foreign currency and change it in Morocco, so that you can change what you have leftover at the end of your trip out of dirhams. \n Prior to changing money to dirhams, confirm that you will receive a receipt.\n Minimize the amount of cash in dirhams that you will have at the end of your trip.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs can be found near tourist hotels and in the modern *ville nouvelle* shopping districts. Make sure that the ATM accepts foreign cards (look for the Maestro, Cirrus or Plus logos) *before* you put your card in. Also be aware that they are not refilled during weekends in smaller towns, so get enough cash for the weekend on Friday or Saturday morning.\n\nAs of March 2024, the Al Barid bank does not charge **ATM fees**. Also for local banks it's more likely that withdrawing money is for free (apart from the fee your bank charges). About 30 dirham are charged for withdrawals by some banks like Société Générale, BCME, Bank Populaire, BMCI (BNP Paribas), Attijariwafa and others. It could happen that an ATM does not display any fees, you don't get a receipt and on your bank account you notice that they charged anyhow. Talk to your bank and try to reject these fees to make this practice harder in the future.\n\nFor buying something: If there is no price tag, **ask for the price first**.\n\n#### Payment at the airport\n\nIn event that you plan on spending your remaining dirhams at a Moroccan airport, please note that:", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk028", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "Prices at the stores are shown in Euros, not dirhams.\n Expect that some stores will not accept dirhams and some may only accept dirhams for select items in the store.\n Like many countries' airports, the cost of some purchases may be multiple times the cost of buying it elsewhere.\n\n### Shopping\n\n#### What to buy", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk029", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumbnail|Souvenir shop in the souq of Marrakech\nApart from classic tourist souvenirs like postcards and trinkets, here are some things from this region that are hard to find elsewhere, or even unique:\n **Birad** – Classic Moroccan tea pots.\n **Carpets** – Genuine handmade Berber carpets can be purchased direct from the artisans who weave them. If you go to small villages, such as Anzal, in the province of Ouarzazate, you can visit the weavers, watch them work, and they will happily serve you tea and show you their products.\n **Dates** – 10 dirham for an orange box seems an adequate price after some bargaining. However, in Europe dates are quite cheap as well, especially when bought at Middle Eastern or Turkish shops. In the end, how much sugar is really good for you?\n **Djellabah** – Classic Moroccan designer robe with a hood. Often come in intricate designs and some are suited for warm weather while other heavier styles are for the cold.\n **Leatherware** – Morocco has a really huge production of leather goods. Markets are full of mediocre models (you will notice that they use the same cuts and zippers for all the different types of cloths) and designer shops are hard to find. Instead, maybe you want to opt for pure leather itself and do the good work yourself back home—purses, vests, whatever ... stitching and sewing is becoming more and more popular in Europe again.\n **Rhassoul/ghassoul** – Also called wash soil in Europe, where it costs about 10 times as much as in Morocco.\n **T-shirts** – If you're looking for T-shirts, consider designer items by Kawibi—they look much more inspiring than boring traditional set of themes. They are available in duty-free stores, Atlas Airport Hotel near Casablanca and other places.\n **Spices and black soap:** Morocco is famous for its spices and you will see black soap at every herbs shops in the Medinas. Although spices markets are beautiful and perfect for pictures, the cheapest place to buy them is probably Carrefour. If you get the chance, go to the big supermarkets 5 - 10 km outside the centre of the cities, where you will find the same spices they sell in the Medina, but for one tenth of the price!", "word_count": 371}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk030", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "#### What not to buy", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk031", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Geodes** – Pink and purple dyed quartz are widely sold along with fake galena geodes which are often described as \"cobalt geodes\".\n **Trilobite fossils** – Unless you are an expert, you will most likely be buying a fake.\n **Artisanal** or **cooperative** – These are catch phrases put up for tourists and just mean an increased price, but not necessarily higher quality or higher sustainability. Such facts can barely be verified and whether an oil is good or not is a poker game. Either way, you are always better off buying where locals do, because there you can expect quality also locals would go for. Get advice from your ho(s)tel staff where to buy good quality and at what price, but never let them show you directly. And if they say it is their cousin or friend, it is better to avoid it. Then go around the market for even more asking and checking of the lower price barrier of the merchants. Only after that decide what to buy and at what price.\n **Argan oil** – Forget about it. It is impossible to tell whether you got something proper. Just because a lady in the shop is kneading stuff in oil, doesn't mean it is anyhow related to the oil they sell. Just because a pressing machine is inside the shop, and they claim to use it to get the oil, it does not mean they actually do so. Just because your guide or the shop owner claim it is the best Argan oil around, doesn't mean it is. Just because they claim it is locally produced, organic (bio), artesanal, from a collective or has fancy logos and graphics, does not mean it is actually genuine—there is no such thing as a proper Moroccan certification. And just because the price is high does not mean either, it is good quality. Margins for Argan Oil are high, it is hard to identify genuine oil, and tourists are begging to be ripped off ... it only makes sense that this is a big scam you should avoid. Nevertheless, if you are really keen on getting some oil, look up the price for Argan oil in Europe—it is about €16/250 ml. Only this is what you should use as a base for bargaining. But you are probably better off not paying more than half than that in Morocco. Probably buying in a regular supermarket would be the best idea. Note that of course 100 ml bottles are sold at a far higher price (for tourists in little shops), because they can be carried as hand luggage .... so, what is really the point in the end in paying more than at home, and not even being sure about the product's quality?", "word_count": 457}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk032", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Bargaining\n\nthumbnail|Artisan in the medina of Tangier\nRemember that bargaining in the souks is expected. It is not really possible to give an accurate indication of how much to start the bargaining at in relation to the initial asking price, but a general idea would be to aim for approximately 50% off. Prices are set on a daily, even hourly, basis, depending on how much has been sold on a given day (or period of hours), while also reflecting the vendor's personal estimation of the potential client. The souks are often a good reflection of the basic economic principles of supply and demand, particularly with regard to the demand side. If a lot of products have been sold by a particular merchant he/she will raise the price, and may refuse to sell any more products for the rest of that day (or for days) unless the price is much higher than usual. If there are many tourists around prices go higher and bargaining even small amounts off the asking price becomes quite difficult. In addition, the seller will generally inspect the client, whose dress and possessions (particularly if the potential client sports an expensive Swiss watch, camera, etc.) are usually the main indication of how high the price may be set above the usual. However, the potential client's attitude is also taken into consideration.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk033", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "Taking all this and other factors into account (such as the time of day, day of the week, and season), initial prices may be up to 50 times or more in excess of normal prices, especially for more expensive items, such as carpets. **Carpets**, however, are a very specialized item and it is necessary to have at least a cursory understanding of production techniques and qualities. If possible, an ability to distinguish between hand-made and machine-made carpets, hand-dyes, and the like is helpful to avoid being utterly duped.\n\n**Bargaining is an enjoyable experience for most vendors** and they prefer clients that don't appear hurried and are willing to take the time to negotiate. It is most often actually necessary to give reasons why you believe the price should be lower. The reasons you might give are limited only by your imagination and often lead to some very entertaining discussions. Common reasons may include: the price of the item elsewhere, the item not being exactly what you are after, the fact that you have purchased other items from the stall/store, that you have built a rapport with the vendor after discussing football and so forth. On the other hand, **if there is little movement in the price after some time, the best advice is to begin leaving**, this often has the result of kick-starting the bidding anew, and if not, it is likely that the merchant is actually unwilling to go further below a given price, however absurd.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk034", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "It is also important to **show a genuine interest in the workmanship** of the product for sale, no matter how uninterested you may actually be in what you are buying. This does not, however, mean that you should appear over-enthusiastic, as this will encourage the vendor to hold his or her price. Rather, it is important to project a critical appreciation for each article/object. Any defects are either unacceptable or a further opportunity to bargain the price down.\n\nYou should take caution to never begin bidding for unwanted items or to give the vendor a price you are unwilling or unable (with cash on hand) to pay. Try to avoid paying by credit card at all costs. In the event you do pay by credit card, never let it out of your sight and demand as many receipts as possible. There is typically a credit card carbon copy and an official shop receipt.\n\n**Never tell a vendor where you are staying** and **never tell a vendor how much you paid for any other purchases**. Just say you got a good price and you want a good price from him or her too. It's best to be politely passive aggressive, sometimes for hours if you really want to save a few dirhams. And, above all, never be afraid to say 'No'.\n\nIt must also be said that, as is true for buyers, not all sellers are actually very good at what they do. A vendor that is completely uninterested or even aggressive is unlikely to give a good price. Move on.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk035", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Buy", "text": "Last but not least, when you spend all of your holiday in the same place, especially in smaller, touristy towns: Vendors deal with tourists all the time. Most tourists buy souvenirs just before flying home, most tourists try the \"walk out\" trick as part of their bargaining strategies. It is not unheard of that tourists haggle for a carpet on a Friday, walk out and when they come back the next day, expecting a lower offer, the price actually increases. The vendor knows that you are likely to catch a flight the same day and that your second visit is actually your last chance to buy the carpet.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk036", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Casablanca's ''souk''\n\nMoroccan cuisine is often reputed to be some of the best in the world, with countless dishes and variations proudly bearing the country's colonial and Arabic influences; see French cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine. Unfortunately as a tourist through Morocco, especially if you're on a budget, you'll be limited to the handful of dishes that seem to have a monopoly on cafe and restaurant menus throughout the country. Most restaurants serve dishes foreign to Morocco considering that Moroccans can eat their domestic dishes at home. Apart from major cities, Moroccans do not generally eat out in restaurants so choice is generally limited to international fare such as French, Italian and Chinese cuisine.\n\n### Traditional cuisine", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk037", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Eat", "text": "***Bissara***, a thick glop made from split peas and a generous wallop of olive oil can be found bubbling away near markets and in medinas in the mornings. Rarely available in touristy places.\n **Couscous**, made from semolina grains and steamed in a colander-like dish known as a *couscoussière* is a staple food for most North Africans. It can be served as an accompaniment to a stew or *tagine*, or mixed with meat and vegetables and presented as a main course. Manual preparation (i.e. not \"instant couscous\") takes hours. Any restaurant that has couscous on the regular menu should be avoided, it will not be the real thing. But lots of restaurants serve couscous once a week (usually Fridays) for lunch and advertise this widely - they tend to make real couscous and often for much better prices.\n **Fish** on southern beaches is usually very fresh (caught the same day) and cheap. A mixed fish plate comes for about 25 dirham at stalls in the markets of fishing villages, a huge plate of grilled sardines is 15-20 dirham. If bought fresh at the fish market, a kilogram of fish is 5-20 dirham (the latter for a small kind of tuna). Most restaurants in fishing towns have a BBQ in front and will grill any fish you bring them for 30 dirham (includes fries, a salad and bread). Fish is gutted on demand at the markets, just tell them how you want to prepare it (for a BBQ you get a nice butterfly cut, for tagine it is just gutted). A small tip of 1-2 dirham is appropriate for the gutting.\n ***Ghoulal***: Land snails in a delicious, rich broth can be found at least as far south as Marrakesh at street food stalls. Servings start as low as 3 dirham, in Marrakesh's main square at 10 for the first serving, 5 for every subsequent serving.\n ***Harira*** is a simple soup made from lentils, chick peas, lamb stock, tomatoes and vegetables, that is nourishing but light on the stomach and can be eaten as part of any meal. Most Moroccans have it at least once a week, many every day. It is even part of the traditional first meal after sunset during Ramadan in Morocco: dates, followed by harira. A serving starts at 3 dirham; on menus it is often referred to as just *moroccan soup* or in French, *soupe marocaine*. It is probably the most \"Moroccan\" dish of all and one cannot really claim to have been to Morocco without having tried it at least once.\n ***Khlea*** (also: ***kaliya***) might be more on the adventurous side, taste-wise: meat preserved in fat (mostly lamb, but camel too is produced on industrial scale), usually prepared in a tagine with egg and tomato. The result is very fatty, the meat has a very intense taste and is usually quite chewy. The upside: Starting at 15 dirham, this will get you going for half a day at least. Might be hard to get in touristy restaurants.\n ***Pastilla*** is a popular delicacy in Morocco: Pulled meat in a flaky dough, topped with sugar and cinnamon. Originally made with pigeon fledglings, nowadays the most common variety is made with chicken, though lamb, beef or fish are sometimes used as well. It is sometimes available as a starter on demand, but the real thing is the size of a proper pie and takes hours to prepare. A proper, pre-ordered pigeon fledgling pastilla is at least 200 dirham, 300 to 400 dirham in most touristy places. A large pastilla serves 2 to 4 people.\n ***Sfenj***: These deep fried donuts from unsweetened yeast dough, dusted with sugar, are a popular and very filling snack that can be found throughout the country for 1 dirham per piece. They want to be eaten very fresh. Look out for stalls with a huge bowl of hot oil.\nthumb|Tagine\n**Tagine** (or *tajine*): One cannot be in the country without seeing a \"tagine the dish\" on the menu or a \"tagine, the cooking ware\" in the wild at least once. The very short version is: a \"tagine de ...\" on a menu is a \"steamed ... in a clay pot\". Everything can go into a tagine, but restaurants offer only very few dishes using the same spice formulas, which might become boring soon - albeit, with some luck pigeon or khlea can be found:\n tagine de kefta: meatballs, usually with an egg and anything from \"a few\" to \"lots of\" vegetables; can be rather spicy\n tagine de légumes: vegetables only (but don't count on vegetarian broth)\n tagine de poulet: chicken, usually with preserved lemons (\"en citron\")\n tagine aux pruneaux: lamb or, rarely, beef, with prunes and almonds\n tagine de bœuf/agneau/dromadaire/chèvre: beef/lamb/camel/goat with vegetables\n tagine de(s) poisson/crevettes/poulpe: fish/shrimp/octopus (in coastal regions)", "word_count": 794}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk038", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Msemen:** kind of puff pastry pancakes that you can buy everywhere on the street. They can be sided to savory or sweet dishes. Most likely you will find msemen for breakfast, with boiled or smashed eggs, with spreadable cheese or with honey and jam. Something you can also find the stuffed version, with vegetables like tomato and onions. \n Many cafés (see Drink) and restaurants also offer good value ***petit déjeuner*** breakfast deals, which basically include a tea or coffee, orange juice (*jus d'orange*) and a croissant or bread with marmalade from 10 dirham.\n At many cheap eating places stews like loubia (white beans), adassa (lentils) and ker ain (sheep foot with chickpeas) are on offer.\n\n### Snacks and fast food\n\nSnackers and budget watchers are well catered for in Morocco. **Rotisserie chicken** shops abound, where you can get a quarter chicken served with fries and salad for around 20 dirham. **Sandwiches** (from 10 dirham) served from rotisserie chicken shops or hole-in-the-wall establishments are also popular. These fresh crusty baguettes are stuffed with any number of fillings including tuna, chicken, *brochettes* and a variety of salads. This is all usually topped off with the obligatory wad of French fries stuffed into the sandwich and lashings of mayonnaise squeezed on top.\n\nYou may also see hawkers and vendors selling a variety of **nuts**, steamed **broad beans** and barbecued **corn cobs**.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk039", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumbnail|A glass of mint tea\n\n### Water\n\nBottled water is widely available. Popular brands of water include Oulmes (sparkling) and Sidi Ali, Sidi Harazem and Ain Saiss Danone (still). The latter has a slightly mineral and metallic taste. Nothing with a high mineralization produced.\n\nAs a rule, do not drink tap water at all in Morocco, even in hotels, unless your stomach is \"trained\": Overall the quality is excellent until it reaches the house and if there is a problem the government issues warnings in time, but how water is stored in the house and the condition of the plumbing is questionable. Since a 1l bottle of water is only 5 to 7 dirham, most travelers will prefer to stick to it instead of taking the risk of 2 days of diarrhea.\n\n### Tea\n\nAny traveller will be offered **mint tea** at least once a day. Even the most financially modest Moroccan is equipped with a tea pot and a few glasses. Although sometimes the offer is more of a lure into a shop than a hospitable gesture, it is polite to accept. Before drinking, look the host in the eye and say *\"ba saha ou raha\"* or just **saha'**. It means enjoy and relax and any local will be impressed with your language skills. Be aware, that this is not pure mint tea: It is green tea (gunpowder) to which mint is added after an initial steeping. As such, it can be pretty strong, especially if one is not used to caffeine. In deserts, it tends to be really strong.\n\nVarieties are tea with **chiba** (wormwood), available in the winter in the north and with safron, in the region of Ouarzazate.\n\n### Juice\n\nJuice stands are everywhere in the towns, especially Marrakech, with a remarkable variety. Orange (*limon*) is most popular, but depending on the season vendors will sell nearly every fruit in existence. Pomegranate (*rumman*) is a winter favorite. In general the equipment and glasses are clean and the juice is safe to drink, but nothing is guaranteed.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nAlthough a predominantly Muslim country, Morocco is **not dry**.\n\nAlcohol is available in some restaurants, bars, supermarkets (Carrefour and Attacadao), clubs, hotels and discos; some (not strictly legal) liquor stores can be found as well with some research. Lots of Moroccans enjoy a drink although it is disapproved of in public places. The local brew of choice carries the highly original name of Casablanca Beer. It is a full flavored lager and enjoyable with the local cuisine or as a refreshment. The other two major Moroccan beers are Flag Special and Stork. Also you can find local judeo-berber vodka, mild anise flavored and brewed from figs (beware, though, none is produced legally and quality control is non-existent - if the taste reminds you of furniture polish, stay away). Morocco also produces various wines - some of remarkable quality. A bottle in supermarkets start at 35 dirham and go up to 1,000 dirham; a good quality wine can already be had for 50 dirham. In most riads or hotels that serve food but no alcohol, explicitly asking for a bottle of wine will magically make it appear 20 minutes later, though with a markup of at least 100%.\n\n**Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal even if you drank just one beer**.\n\n### Places\n\nCafes and bars are mostly visited by men only, a solo woman may feel more comfortable having a drink or snack at a pastry shop or restaurant. This doesn't apply to couples though.", "word_count": 589}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk040", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumbnail|Inside Hotel Continental, the grand old hotel of Tangier\n\nThere are the usual more modern **hotels** or equivalent found anywhere in the big cities and larger towns around Morocco. On the lower end of the budget scale, HI-affiliated **youth hostels** can be found in the major cities (dorm beds from around 50 dirham) while the cheapest **budget hotels** (singles from around 65 dirham) are usually located in the *medina*. Newer, cleaner and slightly more expensive budget (singles from around 75 dirham) and mid-range hotels that are sprinkled throughout the *ville nouvelles*.\n\nHotels can sometimes be very basic and often lack hot water and showers, while others will charge you 5-10 dirham for a hot water shower. With the exception of large high end hotels, expect the hot water supply in hotels to not be as stable as in more established countries. In Marrakech, MHamid, near Ourzazate and possibly other places, the hot water temperature varies dramatically while you take a shower. Instead, consider public *hammams* as there are quite a lot of them in the *medina* and in rural areas. Hotels in Morocco are a matter of choice and fit every budget. Classified hotels are 1-star (simple) to 5-star (luxury), and are classified as an *auberge*, *riad*, rural *gîtes d'étape* or hotel. Stays usually include breakfast, and many include dinner.\n\n***Auberges*** are found in the country or in rural small towns, and are built in the traditional mud (*kasbah*) style, many with wood burning fireplaces and salons or roof terraces for taking meals. Auberge are very comfortable, small and usually family run and owned.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk041", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Riads** are traditional Moroccan-style housing with a rectangular, multi-storey building and an enclosed interior courtyard/garden. They have thick walls which can serve to moderate the outside temperature fluctuations, making them cooler during the day. Riads are popular in Marrakech, Essaouira and Fes, or anywhere there is a medina (old city). They are usually small (about 6 rooms or less), clean and charming, often with to a lovely walled garden where breakfast is served on an inner patio or up on a roof terrace. Riads are usually too small to have a swimming pool, but may have what is called a tiny plunge pool to cool off in during summer months. Some riads are in former merchant houses or palaces and may have large opulent rooms and gardens. (Note, riads are constructed adjacent to one another, and often have smaller windows, letting in less sunshine, both of which can exacerbate **bed bug** infestations and make extermination difficult. Best to check mattress crevices/seams for bugs/carcasses or feces (which present as black dots). Mosquito repellents such as DEET can repel bed bugs to an extent, but do not kill them upon contact, like Permethrin.) By the way, a **dar** is similar, but often has a closed roof.\n\n***Gîtes d'étape*** are simple country inns and hostel style places, where mountain trekkers can grab a hot shower, a good meal, and have a roof over their head for one night.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk042", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Because coastal towns and villages are the destinations of choice for Moroccans to escape the heat from July to early September and because most Moroccans prefer **furnished apartments** over hotels, those towns are swamped with apartments. In the summer months and at peak season for Europeans (Easter, Autumn Holidays and from Christmas until mid-February) people will wait at the roadside at the village entrance, waving with keys. In low season you'll have to ask around (any random person on the street will do). Prices range from 75-200 dirham in low season but can be a multiple in high season. If you want to spend more than just a few days, shop around: Within villages the prices don't vary much for comparable places, but quality of furniture, kitchen equipment, internet connection and TV do a lot.\n\nDesert **bivouacs** are traditional nomad carpeted wool tents with a mattress, sheets and blankets. You can shower at the auberge where you will also have breakfast.\n\nMany hotels, especially those in the *medina* have delightful roof terraces, both in cities and the countryside, where you can sleep if the weather's too hot. This will normally cost you 20-25 dirham and you're provided with mattresses and a warm blanket. Just ask the receptionist in the hotel/auberge/gite. If you want to ask in French, which works fairly well, you can say *ca sera possible de dormir sur la terrace, s'il vous plait?* Often you can bargain on the price and if it's more than 30 dirham you should bargain.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk043", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Sleep", "text": "For those looking to **camp**, almost every town and city has a campground, although these can often be some way out of the centre. Many of these grounds have water, electricity and cafes. In rural areas and villages, locals are usually more than happy to let you camp on their property; just make sure you ask first. Wild camping is illegal and the fines are steep; though a friendly request to the local police chief will usually get you the permission.", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk044", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Learn", "text": "Most foreigners looking to study in Morocco are seeking either Arabic or French **language courses**. All major cities have language centres, and some will even arrange homestays with an Arabic-speaking family during your course.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk045", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Work", "text": "Although Morocco has a highly diversified economy and encourages foreign participation in its economy, finding a job in Morocco can be difficult.\n\nWith a very high rate of unemployment (12.9% as of May 2023), there is not enough work for people. Still, having a background an education different from that of most of the local workforce may give you an advantage. Much work is informal or seasonal, which is a problem for locals, but not necessarily for you.\n\nIt will be very difficult to manage life in the country without knowing Arabic, French, or both, so try to acquire the necessary language skills if you wish to give working in Morocco a try. Further, networking matters greatly in Morocco and the importance of having connections in the country cannot be overstated. Try to find people who can help you out.\n\nAs is the case throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arab world, Moroccans take business relationships seriously and expect you to demonstrate sincere and genuine interest.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk046", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "thumbnail|In medinas and souqs you may meet persistent touts and shopkeepers\nSome Moroccans that you meet on the streets have come up with dozens of ways to part you from your money. Keep your wits about you, but don't let your wariness stop you from accepting any offers of generous Moroccan hospitality. Put on a smile and greet everybody that greets you, but still be firm if you are not interested. This will leave you significantly better off than just ignoring them.\n\n### Touts\n\n*Faux guides* and touts congregate around tourist areas and will offer to show you around the *medinas*, help you find accommodation, take you to a handicraft warehouse, or even score some drugs. While these men can often be harmless, never accept drugs or other products from them. Be polite, but make it clear if you're not interested in their services, and if they get too persistent, head for a taxi, *salon de thé*, or into the nearest shop - the shopkeeper will show the faux guide away. Though, if it's a shop frequented by tourists, the shopkeeper may be equally eager to get you to buy something.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk047", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "The best way to avoid Faux guides and touts is to avoid eye contact and ignore them, this will generally discourage them as they will try *to invest* their time in bothering another more willing tourist. Another way is to walk quickly; if eye contact happens just give them a smile, preferably a *strong* and *beaming* one rather than a *shy* one meaning *no! thanks*. Responding to everything with a polite but firm *la shokran* (Arabic for \"no, thank you\") can be particularly effective, since it doesn't reveal your native language and is understood by bystanders whose attention the tout usually does not want; they might even tell him to leave you alone. Simply *la* would be considered rude in this context, but can be warranted as well.\nPretending you only speak some exotic language and don't understand whatever they say can be an option, too. If you engage in arguing or a conversation with them, you will have a hell of time getting rid of them, as they are incredibly persistent and are masters in harassment, nothing really embarrasses them as they consider this being their way of earning their living.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk048", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "Some of the more common tactics to be aware of are as follows.\nMany *Faux guides* will pretend they are students when they approach you and that they just want to practice their English and learn about your culture, invariably if you follow them, there is a big chance you will end up in a carpet or souvenirs shop. A variant is they will show you an English letter and will ask you to translate it for them, or will ask for your help to their English-speaking friend/cousin/relative etc. abroad.\nIn areas of the medina with much accommodation, many young touts will wait for tourists to show them to you their hotel, just to get some dirham. They will claim GPS is not working in the medina and routes are closed. Do not believe them, never tell them the name of your place, ignore them or try to walk them out. Often your accommodation is right where you expect it just a few meters apart from where you are intercepted by the touts.\nExpect to be told that anywhere and everywhere is 'close' or they shout \"medina there\" (even though you are right in the middle of it). Invariably, this is just a way to lull you into trusting them and a con to get you to follow them instead. Do not do this!\nDo not accept 'free gifts' from vendors. You will find that a group of people will approach you accusing you of stealing it, and will extort the price from you.\nAlways insist that prices are fixed beforehand. This is especially true for taxi fares, where trips around a city should cost no more than 20 dirham, in general, or be done on the meter. This cannot be stressed enough. In *all* situations (including Henna tattoos) always agree on a price before!", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk049", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Bargaining and getting fooled\n\nWhen bargaining, never name a price that you are not willing to pay.\n At bus/train stations, people will tell you that there have been cancellations, and that you won't be able to get a bus/train. Again, this is almost always a con to get you to accept a hyped-up taxi fare.\n In general, do not accept the services of people who approach you.\n Never be afraid to say no.\n\nDo just not fall or give in to any tout behaviour, even if it is just a few euros. This makes it harder for future tourists, and it basically identifies you as being stupid, not knowing local customs and behaviour.\n\n### Drugs\n\nAnother favourite of scam artists. In cities around the Rif Mountains, especially Tetouan and Chefchaouen, you will almost certainly be offered *kif* (dope). Some dealers will sell you the dope, then turn you in to the police for a cut of the *baksheesh* you pay to bribe your way out, while others will get you stoned before selling you lawn clippings in plasticine.\n\n### Ticket inspectors\n\nOn trains inspectors have reportedly attempted to extricate a few extra dirham from unsuspecting tourists by finding something 'wrong' with their tickets. Make sure your tickets are in order before you board, and if you find yourself being hassled, insist on taking the matter up with the station manager at your destination.\n\n### Toilets\n\nMoroccan toilets, even those in hotels or restaurants, might lack **toilet paper**. It is worth buying a roll (French: \"**papier hygienique**\").\n\n### Talk", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk050", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "Try to learn at least a phrasebook level of competency in French or Arabic (Spanish may help you in the North - but not largely). Just being able to say *\"Ith'hab!\" or \"Seer f'halek\"* (\"Go Away!\") may be useful to you... Many locals (especially the nice ones who are not trying to take advantage of you) will speak limited English. Making a real effort to speak Arabic or Moroccan Arabic means a great deal to many Moroccans, including the majority who are multilingual, and puts you at an advantage as regards scams and bargaining. If you can at least verify prices in French with locals, you could end up saving a lot of money.\n\n### What to wear\n\nYou won't need high and heavy mountain boots unless you go in the coldest time of the year like February: it's quite warm in the country even when it's heavily raining in November. For trekking in valleys, low trekking shoes will likely be enough. Even in medinas, streets are paved if not asphalted—just be sure your footwear is not toeless in the medina, as garbage services are limited and fish scraps from the markets and the like tend to end up on the street. However, many Moroccan homes, most cheaper hotels, and nearly all buses have no heating, and winter nights drop to zero; you may need more layers than you will expect.\n\nFor a desert trip to dunes, ensure your pockets can be easily shaken out as sand gets in there very quickly.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk051", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Cope", "text": "Laundry services are exceptionally few and far between, although some hotels will provide them for a price and dry cleaners are plentiful. A few laundromats or similar do exist in newer sections of some cities, but are hard to find. It won't save you money to buy new clothes instead of washing your old ones, but it's a close thing.\n\n### Time\n\nMorocco operates Daylight Saving Time except for during Ramadan.\n\nThe further south you go, the more people refuse to use daylight saving time (also called \"political time\" in contrast to \"wild time\"); state-run places there will always obey DST, merchants not necessarily.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk052", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|upright|Honor guard at Mausoleum Mohammad V, Rabat\n\nOverall, Morocco remains a relatively safe place.\n\nLike any country, Morocco has its share of problems. Many can be easily avoided by following common sense. Avoid dark alleys. Travel in a group whenever possible. Keep money and passports in a safety wallet or in a hotel safety deposit box. Keep backpacks and purses with you at all times. Make sure there is nothing important in outside or back pockets.\n\nDrug laws are incredibly harsh in Morocco, as are the laws against prostitution and the importation, distribution and production of pornography.\n\n### Religious matters\n\nAlthough the Moroccan constitution allows for freedom of religion, the clause on religious freedom is loosely defined and widely open to interpretation.\n\nIt is unwise to speak badly of Islam, hand out non-Islamic religious literature, or encourage Moroccans to participate in religious debates. Such actions will attract unwanted attention from the authorities and people, including expatriates, have been arrested for engaging in such activities. Attempting to preach or proselytise is also unwise, and you can expect to be heavily punished by the Moroccan authorities for doing so.\n\nThere's nothing wrong with bringing bibles and other religious texts into the country so long as you use them for personal use.\n\n### Women travellers\n\nWomen travelling alone should be prepared for frequent unwanted attention, typically in the form of catcalls and hissing. Dark sunglasses can help avoid eye contact. If someone is persistently bothering you, there's no obligation to be polite — seek out families, a busy shop, or another woman nearby and don't hesitate to ask for help. Bear in mind that experiences can vary considerably depending on the city, neighbourhood, and time of day.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk053", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Wearing a hijab (headscarf) is entirely optional. Morocco is in many respects a liberal country, and plenty of Moroccan women go without one. That said, women should dress conservatively — avoid low-cut tops, bare midriffs, and shorts — both out of respect for local culture and to minimise unwanted attention. In cities, dress codes are somewhat more relaxed, but as a general rule it's worth taking cues from the local women around you.\n\nBe aware that in ville nouvelle nightclubs and bars, Moroccan women seen alone are often assumed by locals to be sex workers. Foreign women won't face the same assumption, but are likely to be seen as approachable and may attract persistent attention.\n\n### Major annoyances\n\nBe careful about being drugged, especially as a solo traveller. The common and easy-to-make drug GHB only lasts 3 hours and is undetectable in the body after 7 hours, so take action immediately if you are attacked.\n\nHustlers can be a big problem for people travelling to Morocco, and Tangier in particular. It's often difficult to walk down the street without being accosted by somebody offering to give you directions or sell you something. Your best bet is to politely refuse their services and keep walking, as all they are after is money. There are some legitimate tour guides, but your guide will receive a commission on anything you buy while you're with them, so don't let yourself be pressured into purchasing anything you don't want.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk054", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In certain places, hustlers will do their best to intimidate you, and they can be very clingy, insisting that you give them money or offering their 'services'. Don't be intimidated by this; usually a firm \"No\" does the trick. Some of them can get nasty and abusive but before it gets to that stage walk towards a shop or crowd. Most Moroccans would immediately tell the person off if they see that you are being harassed.\n\n### Dangerous areas\n\nArmed fighting in the disputed areas of the Western Sahara is less frequent now, but clashes between government forces and the Polisario Front still occur. Don't wander too far off the beaten path either, as this region is also **heavily-mined**.\n\nDon't get too close to the Mauritanian border due to terrorism, kidnapping, and murder.\n\n### Dual nationals\n\nDual citizenship is recognised by Morocco.\n\nIf you are regarded as Moroccan by the authorities, such as by being a dual citizen or having a Moroccan father, you will be treated as a Moroccan citizen.\n\nIn the unlikely event you get arrested, run into any kind of legal trouble, or get detained, your embassy will have little influence in assisting you.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nThe country is located near the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which is a seismically active zone. However, most earthquakes in Morocco are small and cause little damage.\n\nThe last major earthquake – thought to be the deadliest since the 1960 Agadir earthquake – occurred in September 2023, culminating in thousands of deaths and injuries. Morocco's building standards are poor; many buildings are poorly constructed and are not able to withstand the full force of a major earthquake.\n\n### LGBT travellers", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk055", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Morocco is *not a safe* destination for gay and lesbian travellers; Morocco's cultural and legal systems view homosexuality as immoral and anti-LGBT sentiments are common among the population. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by 6 months to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of up to 1000 dirhams.\n\nIn 2014, a gay British traveller was prosecuted and imprisoned for four months after police found incriminating photographs on his phone.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk056", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumbnail|Spices for sale\n\n### General concerns\n\n**Inoculations**: No particular inoculations are needed for Morocco under normal circumstances, but check with the US's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) travel web pages for any recent disease outbreaks. As with most travel, it makes good sense to have a recent tetanus immunization. Consider Hepatitis A and B inoculations.\n**Food and drink**: Avoid uncooked fruits and vegetables that you can not peel. Avoid any food that is not prepared when you order it (e.g. buffets). Usually fried and boiled foods are safe. Some travellers have also had problems with unrefrigerated condiments (such as mayonnaise) used in fast food outlets.\n**Water**: It is advisable to drink bottled water (check that the cap is sealed - some people might try to sell you tap water in recycled bottles). Be wary of ice or cordials that may be made with tap water. Some hotels provide free bottled water to guests and it's wise to keep a supply in your room so as not to be tempted with tap water.\n**Shoes**: Keep your sandals for the beach. Moroccan streets double as garbage disposal areas and you may not want to wade through fish heads and chicken parts with open-toe shoes.\n**Malaria**: Present in the northern, coastal areas of the country but not a major problem. Take the usual precautions against being bitten (light coloured clothing, insect repellent, etc.) and if you are really worried see your doctor about anti-malarial medication before your departure.\n\n### Medical help", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk057", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Morocco has a public and private health care system. Most of the private sector health services are located in Casablanca, Rabat and other larger cities. Outside the major cities, health services are limited. The level of healthcare is not at the same level as in Europe. There can be large differences between private and public hospitals.\n\nMedical treatment can be obtained from self-employed doctors, clinics and hospitals. Most general practitioners, specialists, and dentists are self-employed; look for signs saying \"Docteur\". An average doctor's check-up in a city costs 150-300 dirham. In general, the quality of their work is decent, but you can try to ask some locals for advice and recommendations.\n\nSpecialist health care services are not always available. Dental care is of a reasonable standard and prices are in line with those in western countries.\n\nStaff in private and public hospitals are highly educated, but English is poorly spoken or not spoken at all. Doctors and nursing staff often speak French. In private clinics, language skills are more common. In public hospitals, emergency care is free of charge, but in practice foreigners are always required to pay for treatment, for example for overnight stays. Moroccan private hospitals offer a higher standard of care than the public sector and, if possible, it is advisable to go directly to a private clinic. If your condition in Morocco requires more complex treatment, it is advisable to seek the opinion of two different doctors.\n\nPayments for medical and hospital services are required from foreigners in cash. The possibility of payment by credit card is rare. Ambulance services may have to be paid in advance.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk058", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Travellers to Morocco are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance. Hotels in major tourist areas may have their own clinic or doctor. They also provide treatment outside office hours. There are also doctors in Morocco who make home visits.\n\nIf you are in northern Morocco near the Spanish regions of Ceuta or Melilla on the African continent, you can move to the Spanish side, where you can get treatment with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).\n\nMorocco has a very large number of pharmacies in both urban and rural areas. You can usually find the contact details of the pharmacy on duty on the doors of pharmacies or by using internet search services. Pharmacies are denoted by a green cross, usually in neon. They sell medicines, contraceptives, and often beauty and related products. For minor problems, they double as a medical advisor. Be prepared to describe your problem even when you know exactly what you need. Most common prescription and over-the-counter medicines are readily available, but specialised medicines can be difficult to obtain. Sometimes pharmacies can order the medicine you need with short delivery times. Pharmacies can also provide information about medical services in your area.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk059", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Respect", "text": "As in all of North Africa, the dominant religion is Islam, therefore, appropriate religious prohibitions and attitudes should be in order. If visiting a mosque, for example, be sure to be dressed conservatively and remove your shoes before entering it.\n\n### Social etiquette", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk060", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Moroccans are indirect communicators**. They are tempered by the need to save face and protect and honour and they will avoid saying anything that could be construed as judgemental or negative. One's point is expressed in a roundabout way. \n **Do not beckon a Moroccan person directly**, even if they've done something wrong in your opinion. It is considered impolite. Under Moroccan law, you can be taken to court for this. \n **Kissing cheeks** is practiced between members of the same gender, close friends, and family. You should not do this to someone of the opposite gender unless you're close to them. If in doubt, a **handshake** is the way to go. One way to demonstrate respect and sincerity: Touch your heart with your right hand after shaking someone's hand. \n When greeting someone you don't know, **always say \"Salaam Alaykum\"** (\"peace upon you\"), which is the standard, formal greeting. In informal settings, people often greet each other with \"Salaam\".\n **The left hand is considered unhygienic**. Try not to shake hands or accept something from someone with your left hand as it is considered impolite. \n **Moroccans respect their elders**. If you come across someone who is older than you, give up your seat on public transportation for them. If you're waiting for a taxi, allow someone older to take your spot. You are expected to act politely around someone older than you, and it would be seen as rude manners if you attempt to challenge someone older than you. \n Smoking kif or hashish is part of Moroccan culture and widely tolerated (though officially illegal). This said, it's frowned upon to smoke on crowded beaches or in cafes or restaurants without the owner's consent - it is OK, even expected, to ask for permission. \n **Dress smartly and conservatively in public**. For men, it's advisable to wear long trousers and sleeved shirts, and women shouldn't wear see-through dresses. In hotels and beach clubs, there's no issue with donning swimsuits, bikinis, and shorts. \n **Public displays of affection aren't socially accepted**. People can get arrested for doing this.", "word_count": 341}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk061", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Things to avoid\n\nMoroccans will understand that you are not fully aware of what's considered appropriate/inappropriate in their country, and they will usually be tolerant of your blunders. This said, there are some things which will be met with disapproval and you should avoid doing the following during your stay in the country.\n\n#### Politics\n\nPolitical discourse tends to be highly sensitive in Morocco and some have been arrested for speaking out against the government and state institutions. Keep your political views to yourself. \n The Moroccan royal family is protected by strict lèse–majesté laws and the constitution states that the reigning monarch is \"inviolable\". In other words, insulting, making fun of them, questioning their rule (this also includes advocating for republicanism), or speaking out against them is punishable by up to **five years of imprisonment**. \n It is a social faux pas to discuss the royal family's economic power and involvement in the business world. \n Avoid talking about Western Sahara and Sahrawi nationalism. Doing so could get you into trouble with the authorities.\n Avoid talking about Algeria. Since the 1960s, the two countries have had strained relations and some Moroccans, particularly the older generations, harbor strong feelings towards Algeria and Algerian people. In 1975, Algeria expelled thousands of Moroccans from Algeria, separating many Moroccans from their family members.\n\n#### Symbols\n\nAccording to the Moroccan penal code, it is **illegal** to show contempt – satirising, desecrating, and so on – for the symbols (the flag, the coat of arms, the national motto, the national anthem) of Morocco.\n\n#### Religion", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk062", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Respect", "text": "Islam is the dominant religion in Morocco, and Islam plays an essential role in the lives of every Moroccan. During Ramadan, you should refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing in public. Not doing so would be seen as highly disrespectful. The Jewish and Christian minorities are generally free to practise their religions. It is illegal to attempt to convert someone to any religion other than Islam.\n Refrain from criticising or speaking badly about religion, and refrain from talking about religion from an agnostic point of view. Even highly educated Moroccans won't appreciate it.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk063", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\n**Public telephones** can be found in city centres, but private **telephone offices** (also known as *teleboutiques* or *telekiosques*) are also commonly used. The international dialling prefix (to dial *out* of the country) is 00. All normal numbers are ten digits long, counting the initial *0* (area code prefix) and the whole number must be dialled even for local calls within the same area code.\n\n#### Useful numbers\n\n**Service**\n**Number**\n**When to use**\nPolice (Urban)\n19\nTheft or accidents **inside** cities\nGendarmerie\n177\nOn all mountain roads and between towns\nFire / Ambulance\n15\nPublic ambulance and fire. They are the same department.\nMedical (SAMU)\n141\nFor medical advice or a doctor-led ambulance (best in Agadir).\nHighway (ADM)\n5050\nFor breakdowns/towing on **toll highways** only (e.g., Agadir to Marrakech).\nMobile Emergency\n112\nUniversal SOS—works from any mobile and redirects to the Police.\n\n#### Mobile\n\nThe mobile telephone network in Morocco can be accessed via one of the major operators: Orange, Inwi or Maroc Telecom (IAM - *Ittisalat Al Maghrib*, owned by Etisalat). Network coverage is generally good in populated areas and mostly also in the countryside. According to OpenSignal, all three providers are similarly good. Maroc Telecom has the best coverage in rural areas (including most parts of Western Sahara). The network of Maroc Telecom has also the best consistent quality. (updated September 2022)\n\nThe three operators also each operate lower-budget virtual carriers: win (using Inwi's network), Yoxo (using Orange's network), and inJoy (using IAM's network) (updated June 2025)\n\nMore information on available services, coverage and roaming partners are available at: GSMWorld. Beware that roaming with international cards from most countries is very expensive, so think about buying a local card.\n\n#### SIM cards", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk064", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Connect", "text": "SIM cards can be purchased, though some vendors require an ID; the card itself is free, the fee paid is credited to the account. The fee credited to the account is sufficient to make a few brief phone calls. They can be purchased in various shops that sport the official logo but not in all (rule of thumb: not in a kiosk, but any electronics shop works and of course the official stores of the companies). Some places that sell houseware goods may sell SIM, just ask the cashier. Arabic and French both use \"SIM\", repeating the word will either get you the SIM or directions to the next shop where you can get one.\n\neSIM cards are available to purchase and activate entirely online for those phones which are compatible. As of May 2025, Maroc Telecom are offering an eSIM with unlimited 4G data over 14 days for 320.00 MAD. To activate the eSIM you need to complete set-up and then call '555'. Once activated, to finally get online, you need to text 'Internet' to 505, and your data will be connected within moments. The three virtual networks all also offer eSIMs: win by inwi in particular offers very good-value customisable plans and has a website fully available in English. (Yoko also has some competitive plans, but be warned of its more arduous cancellation policies than win.)", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk065", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Top-ups** come in the form of scratch cards for 5 to 100 dirham which can be purchased anywhere, just look for the logo of the phone company. Many convenience stores that sell bottled water will also sell top-ups. The cards are used by sending the scratch code to some number which is explained on the scratch card itself: 555 for Maroc Telecom and Orange, 120 for INWI. When calling in to apply the top up to your account, keep in mind that the prompts will be in French or Arabic, so if you do not understand either, make arrangements for someone to assist you. Also keep in mind that when topping up, you will be given the option of applying the top up to data or to call time.\n\n**Data plans** are available for as little as 5 dirham per 500 MB. But 17 GB and 2 hr call, or 15 GB and 5 hr call can be had for as little as 100 dirham. While you can buy SIM cards at some Moroccan international airports from stalls operated by the major operators, the price is considerably higher than elsewhere, for instance in December 2024, the lowest price plan at Marrakech airport was 20 Euros (about 200 dirhams) for 20 GB and 5 hours talk talk. In contrast, a 30 dirham SIM card and a 50 dirham top up card, were sufficient in December 2024 to provide 7.5 GB of data and a brief amount of call time.\n\n### Post\n\nthumb|Moroccan letterbox\nThe Moroccan postal service is generally reliable and offers a *post restante* service in major cities for a small fee. You will need some identification (preferably your passport) to collect your mail.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk066", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Connect", "text": "Items shipped as **freight** are inspected at the post office before they are sent, so wait until this has been done before you seal the box.\n\n### Email and internet\n\nMoroccans have really taken to the internet. **Internet cafes** are open late and are numerous in cities and smaller towns that see significant tourist traffic. Rates are 3-4 dirham per hour and they are often located next to, above, or below the *telekiosque* offices. Speeds are acceptable to excellent in the north, but can be a little on the slow side in rural areas. Most internet cafes will allow you to print and burn CDs for a small charge. Almost every restaurant and cafe offers wifi for free with usually acceptable speed.\n\nMoroccans have also really taken to 3G and 4G/LTE coverage. There is a good access to email and the internet via Mobile Phones and it is relatively inexpensive. There is 3G access even in the desert, as well as in all cities. You can easily use the mobile internet network by buying a prepaid card (see mobile section). For Maroc Telecom, data-only packages can be purchased by appending \"*3\" to the top-up code.\n\nAs of 2017, fiber connections are rolled out throughout the country, with newly installed 4G-towers as backup.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "morocco::chunk067", "doc_id": "morocco", "section": "Go next", "text": "The land border can be crossed to Spain (Ceuta and Melilla) and to Mauritania. The border crossings to Algeria are closed since 1994. There are ferries to the Spanish mainland.", "word_count": 30}
diff --git a/corpus/morocco/metadata.json b/corpus/morocco/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e35fd5feaa8cec65345b270728a8f781a8928e56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/morocco/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "morocco",
+ "title": "Morocco",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Morocco",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "North Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ceuta",
+ "Melilla",
+ "Mauritania",
+ "Spain"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 16103,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 68,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/muscat/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/muscat/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
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+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk000", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Muscat** (Arabic: مسقط *Masqaṭ*) is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman and its most important and populous city (1.7 million in the metro area in 2021). It has been inhabited since at least 1000 BCE and for centuries was an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road. It is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, and receives the largest number of foreign visitors to the country.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk001", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque\nWedged between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Western Hajar Mountains, the city referred to as Muscat is in fact several smaller towns which have grown together over time. These include old **Muscat** (also known as the 'walled city'), site of the royal palace; **Mutrah** (also spelled *Matrah* or *Matruh*), once a fishing village and home to the labyrinthine Mutrah Souq; and **Ruwi**, which is the commercial and diplomatic quarter of the city. The metropolitan area covers 3,500 km2, and this tripartite division can be inconvenient for the visitor especially as much accommodation is a fair distance from sights of interest.\n\nUnlike other cities in the Gulf, notably in the UAE and Qatar, Muscat does not have an ultramodern skyline. Following the preferences of the Sultan, modern construction is required to adhere to traditional Arabic architectural styles, resulting in a more low-key urban landscape.\n\n Municipal government website (in English)", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk002", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|Oman Air at Muscat International Airport\nthumb|Airport Amouage perfume shop\n\n - Oman Air\n\n - Air Arabia\n\n - Air India Express\n\n - British Airways\n\n - Egypt Air\n\n - Emirates\n\n - Etihad Airways\n\n - flydubai\n\n - Gulf Air\n\n - KLM\n\n - Kuwait Airways\n\n - Lufthansa\n\n - Pakistan International Airlines\n\n - Qatar Airways\n\n - Royal Jordanian\n\n - Swiss\n\n - Turkish Airlines\n\n - SalamAir (السلام)\n\nTaxis from and to the airport should cost between RO 6 (Golden Tulip, near the airport) and RO 12 (Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Al Bustan). Taxis can be booked at the Taxi Counter (, ). Make sure you agree the fare with the driver before commencing your journey. Fares should be agreed before commencing the journey and may be pre-paid at the Muscat International Airport Taxi Counter. There are ATM machines inside the terminal just prior to exiting on the left side of the doors.\n\n \n\n### By bus\n\n \n \n\nFor more information have a look into the article of Oman.\n\n### By car\n\nYou can reach Muscat by road from the United Arab Emirates. The journey takes about 5 hr by crossing the border in Hatta/Al Ain, some border crossings are just for Gulf Cooperation Council citizens.\n\nYou can drive from Al Ghaydah in Yemen. The journey is about 6 hr via the border crossing at Sarfeit to Salalah and then another 10 hr to Muscat.\n\n### By boat\n\n \n\nCruise ships stop regularly at in Mutrah. Shuttle buses transport visitors from the ship to the port entrance, and taxis are also available. A board at the port exit lists fares to the most common destinations; all other destinations must be negotiated first. However, it is a short distance by foot to the Corniche, with the route passing by the fish market (described below under 'See'). Visitors need to bring only their cruise boarding pass and their Tourist Entry Permit.", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk003", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By taxi\n\n#### E-hailing\n\nThe app O Taxi is available for Muscat so you don't need to haggle for a standard taxi.\n\n#### Maxi taxi\n\nthumb|Route taxi, or 'maxi taxi'\nThere are maxi taxis, which are also known throughout the expat community as baisa buses. They are white minibuses with an orange taxi sign on the top. They operate between Seeb in the west and the Corniche area in the east. They only go on the highways. The best place on a highway to wait for them is at the on-ramps of a junction, near a local bus stop and/or where you see a few people waiting for one. Flag down a maxi taxi and tell the driver to which destination at a highway you want to go to. The driver will tell you either to get in the minibus or that he goes to another direction; in this case wait for the next one.\n\nA journey within the Muscat area costs about 0.2–0.4 rials (Jan 2026).\n\n#### Standard taxi\n\nthumb|Standard taxi\nThe (mostly orange and white) taxis are a bit pricier, and they hang around the hotels where they get juicy fares from unwary travellers. They will charge RO 8 for an airport trip if you don't haggle, but you should be able to agree RO 5. They always say they will give you \"good price\", but it's best to figure out what you want to spend then agree before you get in. The minimum fare is RO 1.500 and most destinations won't be much more than that.\n\nThere are also **shared standard taxis** in the same white orange color. They mostly go along the highways. Prices should be about 0.5 - 1 rial.\n\n### By public bus", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk004", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Mwasalat company runs a few lines of public buses which cover the most important sights and the airport. Buses run every 15 to 30 minutes, are comfortable and have A/C. Enter at the front door, tell the driver your destination and pay with cash. Fares depend on distance, ranging from 300 Bzs to 1 rial. Transfers are not included in the fare: For every bus you need to buy a new ticket. Women are expected to sit in the front. As of Jan 2023, there were about 7 bus lines in operation, with most starting and ending in Ruwi. The routes, timetables, delays and the current position of the bus are integrated into Google Maps. Buses sometimes depart some minutes too early, which is not displayed on Google Maps.\n\n**Route #1: Ruwi-Al Mabelah** - Goes to the Royal Opera House, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Airport\n **Route #2: Ruwi-Al Wadi Al Kabir**\n **Route #3: Ruwi-Wadi Adei**\n **Route #4: Ruwi-Mutrah-Al Alam Palace** - Goes to Mutrah Souk, Al Alam Palace and National Museum of Oman\n\n### By car\n\nFor visitors staying in Muscat for longer than a day, renting a car provides the most flexibility and is far more economical than using taxis, as one taxi ride from Ghubrah to Muscat and back will cost about the same as hiring a car for one day. A 2WD is fine to see the sights within and around Muscat, but if you're planning to explore wadis and mountains you'll need a 4WD.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk005", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Get around", "text": "Road signs in Muscat can be confusing, and motorway exits are not always clearly marked. Compared with elsewhere in the Gulf (e.g. Dubai and Doha) Muscat drivers are reasonably disciplined, but visitors from outside the region may find the local driving style erratic. For a gentler introduction into Muscat traffic it may be easier to take a taxi (or hotel-provided shuttle) from the airport, and arrange for a rental car through your accommodation – rates are usually the same as if not better than at the airport.\n\nMost local and international rental agencies have offices at the airport. An international driver's permit is theoretically required to rent a car, but usually agents will request only your national licence. All car hires include mandatory insurance. The cheapest car hire is about RO 15 per day for a 2WD economy car with manual transmission and sometimes no air-conditioning; for a 4WD, expect to pay double that amount.\n - ABC\n\n- Al Maskry Rent-a-Car\n\n- Avis Oman\n\n- Budget Oman\n\n- Europcar\n\n- Hertz\n\n- National\n\n- Sixt\n\n- Thrifty", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk006", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "See", "text": "### Old Muscat\n\nthumb|Muscat Gate Museum\n - Al Jalali Fort\n\n - Al Mirani Fort\n\n - Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace\n\n - Bait Al Zubair Museum\n\n - Omani French Museum\n\n - Muscat Gate Museum\n\n - Bait Muzna Gallery\n\n - National Museum\n\n### Mutrah\n\nthumb|Fish market in Mutrah\nthumb|Portuguese watchtower near Mutrah Souq\nFormerly a fishing village, Mutrah is known primarily for its extensive souq and waterfront corniche. Mutrah harbour is also where the Sultan's royal yacht is docked.\n - Corniche\n\n - Fish market\n\n- Bait al-Baranda Museum\n\n - Mutrah Fort\n\n - Riyam Park\n\n - Old waterfront watchtower\n\n - Old souq watchtower\n\n - Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art\n\n### Ruwi and Qantab\n\nthumb|Ruwi\nRuwi is Muscat's primary commercial district, as well as the gateway to Qantab south of the city.\n - Sultan's Armed Forces Museum\n\n - Aquarium and Marine Science and Fisheries Centre\n\n - Churches\n\n - Sohar boat\n\n### Al Ghubrah, Al Khuwair, Al Qurm, and Bawshar\n\nthumb|Dome of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with Swarovski crystal chandelier\nthumb|Qurm National Park\nAs an alternative to the main CBD of Muscat, Mutrah, and Ruwi, there are plenty of places to go to and things to see along the main highway that heads northwest out of the CBD. This main road, the **Sultan Qaboos Highway**, goes past many areas on its way out to the airport and further still to Seeb, Sohar and eventually the northernmost tip of Oman. Heading along this road you pass the districts of Al Qurm (*Qurum*), Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Al Khuwair, Bausher, Al-Hail and Seeb. Each one has a number of sights and places to stay.\n\nThere is also a very long beach road from Al Qurm to Seeb, some 50 km. Situated along this are some of the large international hotel chains but, more importantly, you discover the true beauty of the Oman coast-line: kilometres of beaches, fishermen with drag nets and open space to walk for hours.\n - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque\n\n - Qurm National Park\n\n- Natural History Museum\n\n - Children's Museum\n\n - Museum of Omani Heritage\n\n - Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre\n\n - Planetarium\n\n - Bait Al Makham\n\n - Bawshar Fort", "word_count": 356}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk007", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Do", "text": "### Festivals and cultural events\n\n - Royal Opera House Muscat\n\n - Muscat Festival\n\n### Outdoor activities\n\nthumb|View of Mutrah harbor from trekking path C38\nthumb|Along the coast of Bandar Jissah, near the Oman Dive Center\n\n#### Trekking\n\nThere is some outstanding trekking in northern Oman, and for a taste there are a couple of easy treks within or very close to Muscat.\n - Trekking path C38\n\n - Trekking paths C52 and C53\n\n#### Diving\n\nthumb|Sea turtle near the Oman Dive Center\n - BlueZone Diving\n\n - Oman Dive Center\n\n - Omanta Scuba\n\n#### Mountain biking\n\nWith many excellent trails nearby, Muscat has a fast-growing mountain bike community. '''Bike Oman''' organizes weekly mountain bike excursions on Thursday, most of which begin within a 20-45 min. drive from Muscat. During the summer they organize weekly night time rides, usually on Mondays.\n - Oman Bicycle Shop\n\n#### Beaches\n\nthumb|Qurum Public Beach\nOn private beaches (i.e. those attached to hotels) western swimwear is acceptable. On public beaches, however, visitors should be mindful of Omani conservative norms. Women are advised to stick with one-piece suits, and men should wear longer swimming shorts (not speedos); keep shoulders and knees covered unless you are actually *on* the beach. Women may find a parasol helpful to hide from prying eyes.\n\nBeaches with a sign 'Family Beach' are closed to single or bachelor men.\n - Qurum Public Beach\n\n - Marjan Public Beach\n\n - Al Ghubrah Public Beach\n\n - Seeb Public Beach\n\n - Al Bustan Public Beach\n\n#### Bird watching\n\nThere are some good areas for avian enthusiasts, within and around the city.\n - Al Ansab Wetlands", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk008", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Mutrah Souq\nthumb|Antique sextant for sale in Mutrah Souq\nthumb|Silver ceremonial daggers for sale in Mutrah Souq\n - Mutrah Souq\n\n - Amouage Perfume Factory\n\n - Barka Omani Halwa Factory\n\n - Boraka Halwa Factory\n\n - Jawahir Oman Jewellers\n\n - Omani Heritage Gallery\n\n - Souq al Jumaa\n\n### Malls\n\n - Mall of Oman\n\n - Markaz al Bahja Mall\n Oman's answer to Dubai Mall\n - City Centre Muscat\n\n - Oman Avenues Mall\n\n - Qurum City Centre\n\n - Sabco Centre\n\n### Hypermarkets\n\n - Al Meera\n\n - Lulu Hypermarket\n\n - Lulu Hypermarket Wadi Kabir\n\n - Lulu Hypermarket\n\n - Carrefour Hypermarket\n\n - Sultan Shopping Center\n\n### Tailors\n\nThere are numerous Indian-run tailors. An Italian-style suit typically costs RO 5.\n - The Raymond Shop\n\n### Money changers\n\n Oman-UAE Exchange Centres - LuLu Hypermarkets, Ghala and Ruwi\n Global Money Exchange - Ruwi\n Travelex - Seeb International Airport\n Purshottam Kanji - Ruwi\n Mustafa Sultan Exchange - Many outlets throughout Oman", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk009", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Omani food is heavily influenced by Indian cuisine, and is generally centered on richly-seasoned chicken, fish, and lamb, as well as rice.\nthumb|A traditional meal of lamb, compressed wheat sticky pancake, and sweet bread pudding at Bin Ateeq Restaurant\n\n### Budget\n\nFood is relatively cheap in Muscat, a meal can cost just a couple of rials. For inexpensive Indian food, there are many restaurants catering to Indian guest workers in Al Khuwayr. In Mutrah you can walk down the waterfront in the Corniche area to catch a cool sea breeze, and treat yourself to some sandwiches and Halib (tea with milk) or Sulaimani (black tea) at one of the wayside restaurants. A cup of tea costs about RO 0.100.\n\n#### Ruwi\n\n - Al Haikal Restaurant\n\n - Oman Express\n\n - Saravana Bhavan Restaurant\n\n - KERA\n\n - Al Haikal Bakery\n\n - Dhaka Restaurant & Coffee Shop مطعم و مقهى دكا\n\n#### Qurum\n\n - Al Tarboush\n\n#### Al Ghubra\n\n - Ofair Traditional Restaurant\n\n - Nisars Adukala\n\n - Vegetarian's\n\n - Arab World Restaurant\n\n - Abu Naseha Coffee Shop مقهى ابو نصحه\n\n - Mazahbi Salalah Restaurant مطعم مظابي صلالة\n\n#### Old Muscat\n\n - Muscat Light Restaurant & Coffeeshop\n\n#### Al Khuwayr South\n\n - Soha Restaurant مطعم سوهاء النباتي\n\n - Al Istanboly مقهي إسطنبولي\n\n - Al Karawan Al Turki Restaurant\n\n - Old Turkish Restaurant & Coffee Shop مطعم و مقهى التركي القديم\n\n - Pakistani Nan\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Turkish House\n\n - Ubhar Restaurant\n\n - Automatic\n\n - Al-exandria\n\n- Bin Ateeq\n\n#### Hotel restaurants\n\n - The Chedi Pizza Restaurant\n\n - Haffa House Hotel Restaurant\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|Brunch buffet at Al Khiran Restaurant (''Al Bustan Palace Hotel'')\n - Al Khiran\n\n - Bait Al Bahr\n\n - The Chedi\n\n - Mumtaz Mahal\n\n - Passage to India\n\n - Taj Samarkhand\n\n### Grocery stores\n\n - Spinney's\n\n - Al Fair Supermarket\n\n - Lulu's", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk010", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Muscat coffee shop\nEvery road, street corner or little collection houses, huts or businesses has a 'Coffee-Shop' – basic but worth a go. Fresh fruit juices are delicious and available from a number of stalls and cafes in Muscat. Expect to pay between RO 0.500-1.500 for these juices depending on type and size.\n - Al Ahli Coffeeshop\n\n - Fast Food N Juice Centre\n\n - Starbucks Coffee\n\n### Lounges\n\n - Left Bank", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk011", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\nHostels can be found in different areas of the city. In Gubrah, around the Al Maha International Hotel, there are many hostels, many very affordable restaurants, two hypermarkets, the Oman Avenues Mall and the highway with a local bus stop, taxis and shared standard taxis. These hostels in Gubrah have got a good rating on Google Maps and booking.com, mostly due to their friendly owners; if you have high demands regarding cleanliness, they might not be a good choice for you .\n**Guest Houses**. There are a number of guest houses (*Isteraha* in Arabic) spread around Muscat which are quite affordable and acceptable in general.\n**Corniche Area** There are five hotels on the Corniche waterfront in Mutrah that all charge RO 15. Al Fanar Hotel, which is very rundown at the end of the waterfront, charges RO 10. Naseem Hotel, opposite the Corniche, charges RO 27 for a twin-bed room (as of Dec 2016).\n - Aywa Guesthouse\n\n - Delmon Hotel Apartments\n\n - Marina Hotel\n\n - Ruwi Hotel\n\n - Al Waffa Hotel Flats\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Crown Plaza Hotel\n\n - Golden Tulip Seeb\n\n - Haffa House Hotel\n\n - Somerset Panorama Muscat\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|Al Bustan Palace Hotel\nthumb|Grand Hyatt interior\nMuscat offers a considerable range of luxury hotels, including those listed below.\n- Al Bustan Palace Hotel\n\n - Al Falaj Hotel\n\n - The Chedi\n\n - Crystal Suites\n\n - Grand Hyatt\n\n - InterContinental Muscat\n\n - Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa\n\n - Hormuz Grand Muscat", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk012", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "It is advisable to drink bottled water while in Muscat. Tap water is generally not safe. In some very simple restaurants the water in the plastic jug on the table tastes like tap water. It's better not to drink it and to order bottled water instead.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk013", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Connect", "text": "Friendi offers 1 GB for 1 week for 1 rial (2026) with the sim card for free. The provider has coverage throughout Muscat, in the other towns and along the main roads of Oman. Ooredoo and Omantel have better coverage in the remote areas of the country. Omantel offers pre-paid **Hayyak** SIM cards and top-up cards, which can be purchased at mobile phone shops and hypermarkets. Also available are pre-paid **Jibreen Cards**, good on both mobile and landlines, in denominations of RO 5 and 1.5. A 5-rial card gets you 11 minutes of talk time.\n\nAs of 2022, Zoom and Google Meet work fine, as does messaging through What'sApp, but video calling in What'sApp and FaceTime are both blocked.\n\nThe calling card *Global One* does not work in Muscat. Although the Global One website lists the rates for calls from Oman there are no numbers listed alongside. The nearest Global One help line is in Dubai.\n\nFree Wi-Fi is available in several public parks, including Qurm National Park, Naseem Garden, Al Amerat Park, and Wadi Kabir. For access, visitors are routed to an Omantel landing page requesting a mobile number, to which a password will be sent; customers are limited to 1.5 hr/day. Costa Coffee also offers free connection in five locations: Qurm City Centre, Muscat City Centre, MQ, Bareeq al Shatti, and Oasis Mall.\n\nOmantel '''Ibhar''' hotspots are scattered throughout Muscat, mainly in coffeeshops, restaurants, and shopping malls. Pre-paid Ibhar cards are available at any Omantel counter or at the hotspot location.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk014", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Cope", "text": "Emergency number (ambulance, fire and police) is 9999.\n\n### ATMs\n\n**Bank Muscat** and **NBO** have by far the most ATMs in Muscat. Both accept foreign credit cards.\n\n### Gyms\n\nThere are some very good gymnasiums in the 4- to 5-star hotels and some privately run gyms in other places like Millennium Gym, and Horizon Gym. You may pay money for that extra with the number of days you stay in Muscat.\n\n### Hospitals\n\n KIMS Oman Hospital, Darsait\n Muscat Private Hospital, Ghubrah\n Al Nahda Hospital, Ghubrah\n Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al Hamriya\n Al Shatti Hospital, Shatti al Qurum\n Atlas Star Medical Centre, Bausher\n Al Amal Medical Centre-Al Wadi Al Kabir, Al-Khuwair\n Royal Hospital\n Badr Al Sama Hospital-Ruwi, Al Khuwair, Al Khoud, Barka, Sohar, Salalah\n Babylon Medical Centre, Amerat\n\n### Laundry\n\nLaundry charges 4-star hotel are high. Prices are much lower at any of the numerous Indian run laundries, although clothes left on a Monday typically won't be ready until Wednesday.\n\n### Newspapers\n\n - Oman Daily Observer\n\n - Oman Tribune\n\n - Times of Oman\n\n - Muscat Daily\n\n - TheWeek\n\n - H!\n\n - Oman Today\n\n - Khaleej Times\n\n### Embassies\n\n - Bahrain\n\n - China\n\n - Egypt\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Iran\n\n - Italy\n\n - Jordan\n\n - Romania\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n### Tourist information\n\n - National Travel Tourism", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "muscat::chunk015", "doc_id": "muscat", "section": "Go next", "text": "Drive west to Nizwa, and then go hiking or camping in the magnificent Hajar Mountains. Explore the fortresses in the area, and visit the UNESCO sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn.\n Staying in Saiq offers pleasant temperatures from April to October.\n Drive south for an hour to explore the spectacular Wadi Shab. Along the way check out the Bimmah Sinkhole, and then continue onwards to Sur.\n Head north to Sohar for some good diving, visit Ibri and then continue onward to the Musandam Peninsula.", "word_count": 84}
diff --git a/corpus/muscat/metadata.json b/corpus/muscat/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..74e7affd072280e8404e2c1894336ea6b7a9320d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/muscat/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "muscat",
+ "title": "Muscat",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Muscat",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northern Oman"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Nizwa",
+ "Hajar Mountains",
+ "Saiq",
+ "Central Coastal Oman",
+ "Sur",
+ "Sohar",
+ "Ibri",
+ "Musandam Peninsula"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3247,
+ "listing_count": 168,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/myanmar/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/myanmar/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9a26ed724f92e7a89e3c3c1d4b23a5340e826c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/myanmar/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk000", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Myanmar** (မြန်မာ *myanma*), or **Burma** is a country in Southeast Asia. The country features awe-inspiring ancient temples, lively local markets, and captivating landscapes, such as unspoiled beaches, picturesque hills, and verdant forests. The genuine warmth of the Burmese people, combined with delectable cuisine, creates an ideal destination for gastronomes and culture aficionados alike.\n\nSince the 1960s, the country has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. For a considerable period, Myanmar has been afflicted with political instability, sectarian violence, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a prolonged history of colonial exploitation that paid scant attention to human development.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk001", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Cities", "text": "(*formerly Pyinmana*) — newly designated capital of the country\n (*formerly Pegu*) — historic city near Yangon full of Buddhist sights\n — beach town in the far south which is as much like Thailand as Myanmar gets\n — former capital of the Konbaung Dynasty built around the Mandalay Royal Palace and main commercial centre of Upper Myanmar\n (*Moulmein*) — capital of Mon State and the third largest city\n (*Maymyo*) — a cool town (in both temperature and attractions) which is a former British colonial hill station\n — capital of Shan State in the heart of the Golden Triangle\n — a delta town that is famous for pottery\n (*formerly Rangoon*) — the economic centre, known for its pagodas and colonial architecture", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk002", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— an archaeological zone with thousands of ancient pagodas near the banks of the Irrawaddy River, and a \n — a large shallow lake famous for boat trips, visiting floating villages inhabited by the Intha people, hiking, and also a source of excellent silk\n — between Mong La (on the border with China) and Tachileik (on the border with Thailand) in the Golden Triangle, known for the *Ann* (black teeth people) and *Akha* tribes and trekking\n — a gold-gilded rock sitting atop a cliff and a major pilgrimage site\n — an extinct volcano regarded as the Mount Olympus of Myanmar, a green oasis high above the hot plains and an easy day trip from Bagan\n — former capital of the Rakhine Kingdom, with many ancient pagodas that serve as a reminder of that era\n — beach resort in western Rakhine State, on the Bay of Bengal\n — longest stretch of beach in Ayeyarwaddy (English: Irrawaddy) Division, white sandy beach and crystal clear water are the features of Ngwe Saung Beach\n — a town on the Irrawaddy River midway between Yangon and Bagan, known for its archaeological site *Sri Kittara*, the ancient Pyu capital from 2 to 9 CE\n — a river town in the Irrawaddy delta, known for manufacture of umbrellas, gateway to Chuang Tha and Ngwe Saung Beaches", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk003", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nLike most of Southeast Asia's countries, Myanmar's people and history is a glorious mishmash of settlers and invaders from all fronts. The Mon and the Pyu are thought to have come from India, while the now dominant Bamar (Burmese) migrated through Tibet and, by 849, had founded a powerful kingdom centred on Bagan. The ethnic diversity of the region, and the dominance of the Bamar people in the central plains, set up the geopolitical struggles between them and the multitude of smaller ethnic groups surrounding, which have continued unabated until the present day. From the 9th century to the 19th century, the Burmese empire grew through conquests of Thailand (Ayutthaya) and India (Manipur), and shrank under attacks from China and internal rebellions.\n\nthumb|Resting Buddha statue in Bago", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk004", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Eventually, Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire, and King Thibaw, the last Burmese monarch, was exiled to Ratnagiri in what is today India. Like in their other colonies, the British maintained control partly through a \"divide and conquer\" strategy, in which they deliberately stoked tensions between different ethnic and religious groups, resulting in ethnic and religious conflicts that have never been resolved. For example, bureaucrats were imported from India, and other government positions tended to be manned by locals from the smaller ethnic groups. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate colony. During the Second World War, Burma was a major battleground as the Allies fought the Japanese for dominance over Asia. The Burma Road was built to get supplies to China. The Thailand-Burma railway (the so-called \"Death Railway\") from Kanchanaburi in Thailand over the River Kwai to Burma was built by the Japanese using forced labour — Allied prisoners-of-war, indentured Thai labourers, Burmese people and other Southeast Asians. They had to work in appalling conditions and a great number of them died (estimated at 80,000) during construction of the railway. Large parts of Western Burma, particularly the hilly areas bordering India and the city of Mandalay, were severely damaged during the war.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk005", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Burmese independence fighters led by **General Aung San** cooperated with the Japanese to oust the British at first; the Japanese promised to grant independence to Burma in exchange. However, life under Japanese occupation was even more brutal than life under British colonialism, and many Burmese were killed, such as in the Kalagong massacre. Aung San subsequently switched allegiance and helped the allies win Burma back from the Japanese. Aung San subsequently led negotiations with the British for Burmese independence after the end of World War II, and the British agreed in 1947 to grant independence to Burma the following year, though Aung San himself was assassinated later in 1947 and never lived to see his dream come true. Independence from the British under the name **Union of Burma** was finally attained on 4 January 1948, and General Aung San is regarded by most Burmese people to be their father of independence.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk006", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "The new union brought together various states defined by ethnic identity, many of whom had centuries-long histories of autonomy from and struggles against each other. In the interest of securing their collective independence from Britain, the tribes reached an agreement to submit to collective governance—with power sharing among the ethnicities and states—for ten years, after which each tribe would be afforded the right to secede from the union. The terms of this \"Pinlon Agreement\" were enshrined in the 1947/1948 constitution of the new Union of Burma. The new central government of the nation quickly worked to consolidate its power, marginalising and angering tribal leaders and setting off ethnic armed conflict that has continued unabated until the present day. In 1961, more than 200 ethnic leaders from the Shan people, Kachin people, Red Karen, Karen people, Chin peoples, Mon people and Rakhine people met with ethnic Bamar (Burmese) central government authorities to draft a new form of government which would ensure the tribes both autonomy and self-determination within a federal system.\n\nthumb|Aung San Suu Kyi", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk007", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "The new government was never formed. Nevertheless, up until Ne Win's coup in 1962, Burma was regarded as one of the most developed and fastest growing economies in Asia, and widely touted as a contender to be the next Japan. Military leader General Ne Win led a coup d'état which ousted the democratically elected government in 1962, and installed himself as leader. General Ne Win dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Under Ne Win's rule, widespread corruption and nepotism led the Burmese economy into a downward spiral from which it has never fully recovered. Pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 were violently crushed, with general Saw Maung taking over in a coup and installing the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to rule the country, now renamed **Myanmar**.\n\nMultiparty legislative elections were held in 1990, with the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory (392 of 489 seats). But SLORC refused to hand over power, instead placing NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of national hero Aung San) under house arrest, which she has endured for 14 of the last 20 years.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk008", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Today Myanmar, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. What was once one of the richest and most developed countries in Asia has since slumped into poverty due to widespread corruption. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalise price controls after decades of failure under the \"Burmese Way to Socialism,\" but had to reinstate subsidised prices on staples in the face of food riots, upon which the democracy movement grafted its agenda. The government called out troops and the rioters were defiant until the monks intervened: standing between both sides, they told everyone to go home and they did. The riots caused overseas development assistance to cease and the government subsequently nullified the results of the 1990 legislative elections.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk009", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "In response to the government's attack in May 2003 on Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy, the USA imposed new economic sanctions against Myanmar, including bans on imports of products from Myanmar and on provision of financial services by US citizens.\nthumb|A National League for Democracy supporter in Yangon\nThe summer of 2007 was marked by demonstrations against the military government which were again brutally suppressed. The demonstrations started in August, apparently in an uncoordinated manner, as a protest against a stiff hike in the price of petrol, but morphed into a more serious challenge to the government after three monks were beaten at a protest march in the town of Pakokku. The monks demanded an apology but none was forthcoming and soon processions of monks with begging bowls held upside down filled many cities (including Sittwe, Mandalay and Yangon). Yangon, particularly the area around Sule Pagoda in the downtown area, became the centre of these protests. While the monks marched, and many ordinary citizens came out in support of the monks, the world watched as pictures, videos, and blogs flooded the Internet. However, the government soon suppressed the protests by firing on crowds, arresting monks and closing monasteries, and temporarily shut down Internet communications with the rest of the world. This led the US, Australia, Canada and the European Union to impose additional sanctions, some targeting the families and finances of the military leaders.\nthumb|Protesters demonstrating against the 2021 military coup\nFollowing elections in 2010, Burma began a process of liberalisation that has led to a reduction or removal of sanctions by many nations including the United States. In 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to the Burmese parliament and allowed to travel to Europe and North America. Censorship of foreign and local news was also suspended.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk010", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "In November 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the nationwide legislative elections and Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, became president. In April 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi took office as State Counsellor, a post equivalent to prime minister, making her Myanmar's *de facto* head of government.\n\nIn February 2021, the military once again took power in a coup d'état after a landslide victory by the NLD. Country-wide mass protests and a civil disobedience movement sprung up in the aftermath; protests were brutally crushed as the army killed hundreds of NLD supporters and democratic activists. Thousands of NLD and other pro-democracy politicians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and community leaders were arrested. Peaceful protests still occur sporadically while other groups of protesters have taken up arms against the military regime, particularly in the border regions. Western countries have re-imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar as a result of the coup. As of mid-2024, the junta controls less than half of the area of the country, and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) have been successfully mounting co-ordinated attacks with increasing confidence. However, this brutal civil war still has no end in sight.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk011", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Myanmar's culture is largely a result of Indian influences intertwined with local traditions and Chinese influences. This can be seen in the various stupas and temples throughout the country, which bear a distinct resemblance to those in northern India. As in neighbouring Thailand, Theravada Buddhism is the single largest religion. 88% of the population follows these Buddhist practices, and even some of the most remote villages will have a temple for people to pray at. Other religions which exist in smaller numbers include Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Animism and ancestor worship can also be found around the country, especially in the more distant, hill tribe regions.\n\nOne pre-Buddhist tradition that survives in Myanmar is the worship of the ***Nats***, or traditional Burmese spirits, and you will see many spirit houses throughout the country dedicated to their worship. Following the spread of Theravada Buddhism, the worship of the Nats was incorporated into Burmese Buddhism, and they are today regarded as subordinates of the Buddha.\n\n### People\n\nthumb|Boys in Yangon with thanaka paste on their faces\nThe dominant ethnic group in Myanmar is known as the Bamar, from which the original English name of the country, Burma, was derived. Besides the Bamar, Myanmar is also home to many minority ethnic groups and nationalities which have their own distinct cultures and languages. In addition to the native ethnic minorities, Myanmar is also home to ethnic Chinese and Indians whose ancestors migrated to Myanmar during the colonial period, most visible in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Myanmar is divided into fourteen administrative divisions, seven regions and seven states; generally speaking, the regions are Bamar-dominated, while the states are dominated by the respective ethnic minorities.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk012", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "The government has been condemned by other nations for violence against the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, which borders Bangladesh. The government does not recognise them as citizens of Myanmar, but instead claims they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, a narrative embraced by the vast majority of Burmese despite the Rohingya's presence in Rakhine going back generations. Forced to flee to Bangladesh in large numbers, where they are also regarded as foreigners, many have lost their lives trying to seek refuge and work in Malaysia.\n\nGenerally speaking, most Myanmar people are incredibly friendly and polite, and will do their best to make you feel welcome in their country.\n\n### Politics\n\nMyanmar, officially the **Republic of the Union of Myanmar** (ပြည်ထောင်စု သမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), is a presidential republic, with the president, who is appointed by the legislature, serving as both head of state and *de jure* head of government. He and his cabinet form the executive branch. The legislature is composed of the bicameral *Pyidaungsu Hluttaw* (Assembly of the Union), consisting of an upper *Amyotha Hluttaw* (House of Nationalities), and a lower *Pyithu Hluttaw* (House of Representatives). While a majority of the members of the legislature are popularly elected by the people, a quarter the seats are reserved for appointees from the military. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a majority of seats in the 2015 election. As she is constitutionally barred from the presidency (by virtue of having married a foreigner), she instead served as the *de facto* head of government in the role of State Counsellor. Since February 2021, Myanmar has been ruled by a military dictatorship.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk013", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "Myanmar is considered to have 3 seasons. The hot season is usually from Mar–Apr. Temperatures then cool off during the rainy season from May–Oct. The peak tourism season is the cool season from Nov–Feb. Temperatures can climb as high as 36°C in Yangon in the hot season while in the cool season, noontime temperatures are usually a more bearable 32°C, with night temperatures falling to around 19°C. Mandalay is slightly cooler in the cool season, with temperatures falling as low as 13°C, while temperatures in the hot season can go as high as 37°C. Generally, Lower Myanmar, the area around Yangon, receives more rainfall than the drier Upper Myanmar (around Mandalay).\n\nIn the highlands such as Inle Lake and Pyin U Lwin, winter temperatures can fall below 10°C at night, while daytime temperatures tend to be very pleasant. Even in the summer, temperatures rarely climb above 32°C. Near the Indian border in Kachin State, there are permanently snow-capped mountains.\n\n### Read\n\nthumb|View of Mrauk U", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk014", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "*From the Land of the Green Ghosts* by Pascal Khoo Thwe. A Cambridge-educated writer gives a touching account of his growing up as a Paduang-Hilltribe-Guyand in the difficult political environment before becoming a rebel. ()\n *The Glass Palace* by Amitav Ghosh. A novel that spans a century, from British conquest to the modern day. A compelling account of how a family adapted to the changing times; provides much insight into Burmese culture.\n *The River of Lost Footsteps* by Thant Myint-U. Easily the most accessible history of Myanmar available. Read it before you go and you will marvel at how the once great and rich cities (like Martaban, Syriam, and Mrauk-U) have become the dingy and smoky villages of today. ()\n *The Trouser People* by Andrew Marshall. The author follows in the footsteps of Victorian explorer, Sir George Scott. This book looks at lost British heritage as well as the Burmese tragedies occurring in the present. ()\n *Finding George Orwell in Burma* by Emma Larkin. The pseudonymous author, a journalist, posed as a tourist to travel around Myanmar in the early 2000s, before the government opened up the country to the world. She documents a country trapped in the past, attempts to distinguish sympathetic storytellers from police informants, and retraces Orwell's life in Myanmar, who went on to give the world the vocabulary to criticise the repressive police state which the country had since become. ()\n *Burma Chronicles* by Guy Delisle. A whimsical and humorous graphic novel about a family who moves to Yangon on assignment with an NGO in the mid-2000s. The protagonist, a stay-at-home dad, adapts to life in Burma with his infant son while his wife works long hours. An enjoyable and light read, this work does not dwell on human rights under the dictatorship, but rather focusses on the day-to-day life of the protagonist and the characters he meets. ()", "word_count": 313}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk015", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Listen\n\n''Insight Myanmar'' used to be a podcast about religion and spirituality, but it pivoted to providing news and interviews with experts following the military coup of February 2021.\n *Myanmar Musings* is the podcast of the Myanmar Research Centre at the Australian National University, Canberra. While much more academic than *Insight Myanmar*, it still features interviews with a variety of experts on a range of historical and present-day topics relating to research on Myanmar.\n ''What's Happening in Myanmar'' is a news podcast that is useful for keeping up with the ever-changing political and military situation on the ground in Myanmar.\n\n### Holidays\n\n4 January: Independence Day\n January: Kayin New Year Day - 1st waxing of Pyatho\n 12 February: Union Day\n March: Full Moon Day of Tabaung\n 27 March: Armed Forces Day\n April: Thingyan (Burmese New Year) — the most important festival in Myanmar, in which people splash water at each other. Also known as the Water Festival, and similar to Songkran in neighbouring Thailand\n May: Full Moon Day of Kason\n July: Full Moon Day of Waso\n October: Full Moon Day of Thadingyut\n 19 July: Martyrs Day\n November: National Day - 10 st waning of the moon of Tazaungmon\n 25 December: Christmas Day\n\n### Units of measure\n\nSince 2013, Myanmar has begun adopting the **metric system** (SI), which is now used for weather reports, petrol prices, and speed limits, and *new* road signs. However, much usage of **imperial system** and the traditional **Burmese units of measurement** persist. Old road signs may use miles and miles per hour, and government websites inconsistently convert Burmese units to metric or Imperial.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nMyanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism website", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk016", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Burmese signs at a market\nThe official language of Myanmar is **Burmese** (မြန်မာစကား *mien ma za ga*) (known by the government as Myanmar), a Sino-Tibetan language related to Chinese and hence tonal (word pitch matters) and analytic (most words are one syllable long). It is written using the Burmese script, based on the ancient Pali script. Bilingual signs (English and Burmese) are available in most tourist spots. Numbers often are also written in Burmese script. Much vocabulary is derived from another ancient languages of Pali (at the time of Buddha) and Sanskrit.\n\nThere are also many other ethnic groups in Myanmar such as the Mon, Shan, Pa-O, Rohingya and many others who continue to speak their own languages. While Burmese serves as the lingua franca in government-controlled areas, it may not be spoken at all in some separatist-controlled areas. There is also a sizeable ethnic Chinese community who speak Mandarin and/or various Chinese dialects. In Yangon, most of the Chinese are descendants from migrants from Fujian and Guangdong, and hence speak mainly Hokkien or Taishanese, while in Mandalay, the Chinese are mostly descendants of migrants from Yunnan, and mainly speak the Yunnan dialect of Mandarin. Some areas are also home to various ethnic Indian communities who continue to speak various Indian languages.\n\nMyanmar is a former British colony and many Burmese understand at least some rudimentary English. Most well-educated upper class Burmese speak English fluently, while any educated Burmese will know at least the basics. Hotel and airline staff, as well as people working in the tourism industry generally speak a good level of English.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk017", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\n450px|thumbnail|right|Visa policy of Myanmar\n{{legend|\nThe visa situation in Myanmar is changing quickly and this has caused confusion even among immigration staff, and many guides and official websites are out of date. Check Wikipedia for visa policy.\n\n#### Visa-free\n\nCitizens of the following countries may visit Myanmar without a visa for tourism provided they enter **by air**, and their stay does not exceed the following number of days:\n\n14 days: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand\n30 days: Russia, Vietnam\n\nCitizens of Singapore may visit Myanmar without a visa for up to 30 days regardless of mode of entry.\n\nThese visa exemptions are strictly not extendable. All other travelers are required to apply for a visa in advance.\n\n#### E-Visa\n\nE-Visa are available for visitors from many countries, including most Western countries for US$50/tourist and US$70/business travelers (as of Jan 2020) through the Myanmar Immigration's web-site, which take 3 days to process. However, there is also an express tourist e-Visa service available on the governments website for US$56 (rather than the standard US$50) taking 24 hr (though sometimes just a few hours).\n\nCheck the e-Visa website for details on which nationalities this is available for. The visa is valid for 28 day for stays beginning up to 90 days from the date of issue, and is single entry only. In order to apply, you will need to upload a passport-sized colour photo, and payment which is only accepted by credit card. Permitted entry points are: Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, and the longtail boat crossing from Ranong, Thailand at Kawthaung", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk018", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get in", "text": "Tourist visas are valid for 3 months. The visa is valid for a stay of up to four weeks (from date of entry), although you can overstay if you are willing to pay a US$3 a day fee upon departure. Employment is *not* allowed on a tourist visa, and working runs you the risk of being arrested and deported. Successful applicants will also be issued an \"Arrival Form\", which will be stapled into your passport and must be presented on arrival in Myanmar, along with your passport containing the visa sticker.\n\n#### Visa on arrival\n\nAs of October 2019, visas on arrival are available for tourist and business visitors of some nationalities at Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw airports. You must bring two passport-sized colour photos, and a letter of invitation from the company sponsoring your visa (for business visas).\n\nThere is still some confusion at airports about this because official resources are not being updated to match changes but most tourists are not experiencing difficult- if you experience any insist you are eligible for a visa and ask for a senior staff member.\n\nNote: In August 2022 a directive from Myanmar to airline staff immediately (and inexplicably) suspended the Tourist Visa on Arrival for all nationalities. This has not been updated on government websites. Check well in advance at the check-in counter what the status is, and consider playing it safe with an e-visa.\n\n#### Visa at an embassy or consulate\n\nYou can apply for all kinds of visas in a Myanmar embassy or consulate in many capitals and large cities around the world. See specific details like contacts, hours, etc. there—especially for Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand, Delhi in India, Hong Kong in China, and Washington D.C. in the US.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk019", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get in", "text": "Generally the visa application requires a completed visa form (available from the Myanmar embassy), a completed arrival form (again, from the embassy), a photocopy of the photo page from your passport, two passport-sized photos, proof of your occupation, and the applicable fee.\n\n### By plane\n\nMyanmar's main international airport is located at **Yangon**, the largest city and main economic centre. There are regular scheduled flights from Yangon to many major Asian cities. For travellers from outside the region, the easiest way to get into Myanmar will be to catch a flight from either Singapore or Bangkok, both of which have large overseas Burmese populations, and are served by several daily flights into Yangon.\n\nMyanmar also has a second international airport at **Mandalay**, which is served by several flights to the neighbouring countries.\n\nFor a current list of airlines and destinations, see Airport of Yangon. The two main international airlines based out of Yangon are flag carrier **Myanmar National Airines** and privately owned **Myanmar Airways International**.\n\n### By land\n\nMyanmar borders five countries: China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos. Foreigners are free to travel overland from Thailand into the Burmese heartland provided their Burmese visa is in order. Entering Myanmar from the other land border crossings, though, is a different story. At the very least, you must apply for special permits in advance, and you may need to join a guided tour in order for the permit to be granted.\n\n#### Thailand", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk020", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get in", "text": "Four border crossings exist between Myanmar and Thailand at Tachileik/Mae Sai, Myawaddy/Mae Sot, Htee Kee/Ban Phunamron and the Three Pagoda Pass. The former three are open to foreigners, and there are no restrictions on foreigners travelling into the Burmese heartland from Myawaddy or Htee Kee. From Tachileik, travel beyond Keng Tung is not possible overland unless you are on a guided tour with a special permit. No visa-on-arrival is available though, so ensure that your Thai (if required) and Burmese visas are in order.\n\n#### China\n\nForeigners can enter Myanmar at Muse via Ruili (in Yunnan), although a permit (as well as a visa) and a guide are needed. You will most likely need to join an organized tour. Crossing in the opposite direction is more difficult to arrange and details are uncertain; however, it's possible to fly from Mandalay to Kunming, and there's even a Chinese consulate that issues visas in Mandalay.\n\n#### India\n\nA land border crossing exists between India and Myanmar at Moreh/Tamu and is open to tourists who have vehicles and who are on foot or who have tours. As of 2023, Myanmar eVisas are *not* valid for entry at this border, so you'll need to get a visa in advance.\n\nThis border is in politically unstable territory and there have been protests and two bomb blasts in the Indian town of Moreh (Oct 2019) which briefly closed the border. Tourists are generally advised not to loiter in Moreh, especially late at night- and to stay in Tamu on the Myanmar side if possible.\n\nIt is no longer required to have a permit to visit the Indian state of Manipur which borders Myanmar.\n\n#### Laos", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk021", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River is the sole official border crossing between Myanmar and Laos. The bridge connects Shan State in Myanmar with Luang Namtha Province in Laos, in a *very* remote region for both countries, and information on when (or whether) the crossing is operating is hard to find. As eVisas are not accepted for entry at this crossing, you'll need to get a visa in advance.\n\n#### Bangladesh\n\nIt is not feasible to cross the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh independently. No border crossings exist between the two nations, and the Myanmar army has planted landmines along the frontier to discourage smugglers.\n\n### By boat\n\nSmall wooden longtail boats shuttle between Ranong, Thailand and Kawthaung, Myanmar. There is no fixed schedule; you just negotiate directly with one of the boat operators, and they will leave once a price is agreed on. Be sure to bargain hard or you might get ripped off. Boat operators may try you hustle you onto their boat before you find the immigration building to get stamped out; be firm and insist on going through immigration, or you will be considered to have left the country illegally. You will need to pay a US$10 or 500 Thai baht \"stamping fee\" to Myanmar immigration when entering or leaving via this checkpoint. If choosing to pay by U.S. dollars, be sure your bills are in pristine condition; even slight creases will cause your bills to be rejected.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk022", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Myanmar's infrastructure is in poor shape. Travel to certain regions is prohibited; for others, special permits must be obtained, and a guide/interpreter/minder may be mandatory - although whether these \"guides\" accompany you to look after you, or to keep you from going to places the government doesn't want you to see, is a question best discussed elsewhere. However, travel between the main tourist sites, namely Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon, is fairly straightforward.\n\n### Restricted areas\n\nMuch of Myanmar is closed to foreign travellers, and many land routes to far-flung areas are also closed (for example, to Mrauk U, Kalewa, Putao, Kengtung). Due to longstanding ethnic conflicts, many ethnic minority areas are controlled by armed separatist groups and remain outside the control of the central government. Thus, while tourists can travel freely in the Bamar-majority Burmese heartland, travel tends to be restricted or circumscribed in ethnic minority areas. In theory, any tourist can apply for a permit to visit any restricted area or to travel on any restricted land route. In practice, it is unlikely that any such permit will be issued in a reasonable amount of time, or at all. Permit requests can be made locally in some cases (for example, requests for the land route to Kalewa can be made in Shwebo) but, in most cases, the request has to be made in Yangon. Requests to visit restricted areas must be made at the MTT (Myanmar Travel and Tours) office in Yangon (Number 77–91, Sule Pagoda Rd, Yangon). Applications for local permits can often be made at a local MTT office or at a police station. Local permits are available only for the following places & routes:", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk023", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Pa-O women at a restaurant stallKengtung - Tachilek. This used to be straightforward but the availability is now uncertain.\nMrauk U Chin/Zomi village tours. Easily available in Mrauk U, but must visit with a guide. Your hotel or a local tour company can arrange this for you.\nMyitkyina - Indawgyi Lake. Easily available in Myitkyina but must travel with a guide. Your hotel or a local tour company can arrange this for you.\nShwebo - Kalewa. A permit is necessary if going by road. It is uncertain whether one is required if going by boat.\nPa-O Self-Administered Zone in Shan State (including the Kakku Pagodas). Available in Taunggyi, but must be accompanied by a local Pa-O guide. Your hotel or a local tour company can arrange this.\n\nAll other permits must be obtained in Yangon.\n\nPermits for some places, such as Putao, are obtainable but need to be applied for well in advance\n\nMyanmar is not North Korea, and you are free to walk around, go to shops and interact with the locals. However, with many of the more far flung places, and places restricted to foreigners, it is better to arrange your internal visa in advance.\n\nCompanies that can help with internal visas:\nMr Myanmar Travel\nRemote Asia Travel\nTravel Myanmar\n\n### By plane\n\n+ **Sample fares between important destinations (through local tourist agency)**\n From To Approximate fare\n Yangon Mandalay US$95\n Yangon Bagan US$85\n Bagan Heho US$65\n Heho Yangon US$85\n\nThe poor state of Myanmar's roads and railways make flying by far the least uncomfortable option when travelling long distances.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk024", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Flag carrier **Myanmar National Airlines** operates a network of domestic flights to many destinations across Myanmar from its hub in Yangon International Airport. Long known for its poor safety record, it has improved dramatically with the purchase of newer aircraft, and these days compares favourably with many of the private airlines in terms of both service and safety.\n\nThere are also several private airlines operating domestic flights from Yangon. The private airline companies are usually on time, and even depart early (10-20 min), so be on time and reconfirm your flight and flight time 1–2 days before departure. Sometimes the itinerary might be altered some days before departure (meaning that you will still fly to your final destination on the scheduled time, but with an added or removed in between stop, e.g., Yangon-Bagan becomes Yangon-Mandalay-Bagan). This usually only affects your arrival time. En route stops have only 10-20 min ground time, and if it is not your final destination, you can stay inside the plane during the stop.\n\nAll domestic flight from Yangon depart from Terminal 3, while international flights depart from Terminals 1 & 2. When taking a taxi from downtown to the airport, mention to the driver that you are on a domestic flight so you'll not end up in the wrong terminal.\n\n### By train\n\n+ **Train travel times/fares between destinations**\n From To Time Ordinary Upper Sleeper\n Yangon Mandalay 16 hr 4,600 kyat 9,300 kyat 13,000 kyat\n Yangon Kyaiktiyo 6 hr 1,200 kyat 2,500 kyat None\n Mandalay Pyin U Lwin 4 hr 550 kyat 1,200 kyat None\n Pyin U Lwin Hsipaw 7 hr 1,200 kyat 2,750 kyat None\n Pyin U Lwin Lashio 16 hr 1,900 kyat 4,400 kyat None", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk025", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Myanmar has an extensive rail network, a relic of British rule. Unfortunately, there has been little maintenance or growth since the British left. Trains are slow, noisy, uncomfortable, and prone to delays. Never assume that air conditioners, fans or the electrical supply itself will be working throughout the whole journey. Most trains have upper class and ordinary class. Ordinary class has wide open windows, benches and can be packed with locals transporting their goods. Upper class has upholstered chairs, fans and is less crowded. Be careful putting your head out of the window as it is likely to be hit by a branch. Vegetation grows so close to the tracks that you can reach out and touch it. Tickets are cheap and tourists pay the same price as locals, but tourists cannot buy tickets on the train. At smaller stations, you may have to seek the stationmaster or use an interpreter to buy a ticket. Your passport is required when purchasing.\nthumb|The famous Gokteik Viaduct dates from 1899\nA journey on a train is a great way to see the country and meet people. The rail journey from Mandalay, up hairpin bends to Pyin U Lwin, and then across the mountains and the famous bridge at Gokteik, is one of the great railway journeys of the world. Note: in August 2025 the Gokteik Viaduct was damaged during a battle and is yet to re-open. Trains in lower Mandalay, Yangon-Pathein and Yangon-Mawlymaing, are little communities of their own with hawkers selling everything imaginable. Sleepers are available on many overnight express trains, although in the high season you may want to reserve a few days in advance. Tickets go on sale three days in advance. At some stations there is a separate counter for advance bookings, or even a separate building (e.g., in Yangon). Food service is available on the express in both directions between Yangon and Mandalay.", "word_count": 316}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk026", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Except for the new bridge and rail line that connects Mawlamyine to points on the west side of the Salween River, the rail network is exactly the way it was in British times. The most-used line is the 325km line from Yangon to Mandalay with several trains a day. It is the only double line in Myanmar, and also the only one that is competitive in time with buses. The fastest trains take 15 hr for the 385km run, an effective rate of 25km/hour. A second line connects Yangon with Pyay, 9 hr for the 175 km journey, with a branch heading off into the delta region town of Pathein. These tracks, the earliest constructed, are in poor shape. With the construction of the bridge across the Salween, it is now possible to go by train from Yangon to Mawlamyine, 8 hr for the 200km journey, and on to Ye and Dawei. From Mandalay, trains continue on to Myitkyina in Kachin State, 350km in 24 hr, and to Lashio. There are also rail connections between Yangon-Bagan and Mandalay-Bagan, but bus or ferry are better alternatives: the 175km from Mandalay to Bagan takes 10 hours.\n\nThere is railway service between Yangon-Bagan. 16 hr, first class US$30, upper class US$40, sleeper US$50. (check new prices)\n\nTrain tickets cannot be paid in dollars any more, and the government has abandoned the former dual-pricing structure that saw tourists pay inflated prices.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere is also a large river ferry network. Both are to a large extent run by the government, although there are now some private ferry services. The trip from Mandalay to Bagan takes the better part of a day, from Bagan to Yangon is several days.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk027", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "+ ** Bus travel times/fares between destinations**\n From To Time Kyat\n Yangon Mandalay 11 hr 10,400\n Yangon Bagan 10 hr 12,000\n Yangon Kyaiktiyo 4 hr 6,000\n Mandalay Pyin U Lwin 2 hr 1,500\n Mandalay Hsipaw 5.5 hr 4,500\n\nBuses of all types ply the roads of Myanmar. Luxury (relatively speaking) buses do the Mandalay-Yangon run while lesser vehicles can get travellers to other places. Fares are reasonable and in kyat and buses are faster than the trains. Many long-distance buses assign seats, so it is best to book seats at least a day in advance. Because the roads are bad, avoid the rear of the bus and try to sit as far up front as you can. Long-distance buses also have an extra jump seat that blocks the aisle and, because it is not well secured to the chassis, can be uncomfortable (which also means that there is no such thing as a side seat where taller people can stretch their legs). A window near the front of the bus is always the best option.\n\nEven budget travellers will find themselves buying more tickets via their hotel or an agency rather than going to the bus company to buy it directly. Their offices are often located far from any tourist place and the cost of going there and back will most likely exceed the commission your hotel will get for selling you the ticket. Shop around and compare prices before buying your ticket as some vendors include a free pick-up from your hotel.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk028", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "A bus ticket scam seems to be popular in Yangon. While many make a stopover in Bago, they are told at their guesthouse or at the bus station it's not possible to buy tickets there in the direction to Mandalay. In a country where everything might be possible when it comes to transport, some people fall for this. Actually, this is not the case and tracking back to Yangon for a bus ticket up north is not necessary at all. Bago has a bus terminal with several bus offices. Buying your ticket at Bago might be slightly cheaper (depending upon your bargaining skills) and gives you more freedom for the rest of your journey.\n\nThe adjoining table summarises travel times and approximate fares between important tourist destinations in Myanmar. Most bus fares have gone up with the fuel price rises, so the fares listed are rough estimates.\n\n### By pick-up\n\nOld pick-up trucks run everywhere in Myanmar, cheaply ferrying men, women, children, and monks from one place to another. The rear of the truck is converted into a canvas-covered sitting area with three benches, one on each side and one running along the centre of the truck (some smaller trucks have only two rows), and the running board is lowered and fixed into place providing room for six or more people to stand on (holding on to the truck frame). Pick-ups are ubiquitous in Myanmar and every town has a central point somewhere from where they depart to places both near and far. Tourists who go off the beaten track will find them indispensable because often the only alternative is an expensive taxi or private car.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk029", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "The basics of pickups are fairly straightforward, wait till it is reasonably full before heading out. On well-travelled routes (Mandalay-Pyin U Lwin, for example), they fill up quickly and the journey is quick. On less well-travelled routes (Bhamo-Katha, for example), passengers arrive (early, usually around 06:00), mark their place, and then hang around drinking tea and chatting until the truck fills up. When the pick-up does get moving, it may linger or go out of its way in the hope of picking up more passengers. The inside of a pick-up can be hot and uncomfortable. Passengers, packed in like sardines, face away from the windows (which are tiny) and into the truck. Standing on the running board can be tiring and tough on the arms. The window side seat next to the driver is very comfortable and well-worth the little extra that you have to pay, so it is best to go early and reserve that seat.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Busy street in Mandalay\nYou can hire a private car and driver at reasonable rates to tour independently. The licensed guides at Shwedagon Paya in Yangon can arrange to have a driver with a car meet you at your hotel. Another way is to arrange for a car through a travel agency, though it can be quite expensive. You can \"test\" the driver and the car by driving around the city for 10 or 15 minutes. If you are satisfied, a departure date and time and per diem rates (inclusive of petrol) can be negotiated. Some guides are willing to travel with you to serve as interpreters.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk030", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic drives on the **right** in Myanmar, but confusingly, Myanmar has a mixture of left- and right-hand-drive cars, with the majority of vehicles being right-hand-drive as a result of being second-hand imports from Japan or Thailand.\n\nRoad travel to tourist destinations is generally safe, although some roads may be rough. Highways are often 2-lane, and cars often pass one another recklessly. That being said, driving habits are not quite as aggressive as say, Vietnam. Allow two days to drive from Yangon to Bagan in fair weather. Pyay is a good stopover point. Allow a day to drive from Bagan to Inle Lake.\n\nIn cities, it is considered illegal to cross an amber light without stopping. Despite having crossed 3/4 of the way, you will be required to stop in the middle of the road and make your way back in reverse!\n\nAccidents and fatalities are common. Night-time road travel is not recommended, and medical facilities are limited in rural areas. At government hospitals, bribes may be required for services. Make sure needles are new or carry your own. HIV is a major problem in Myanmar.\n\n### By taxi\n\nAll taxis (and by extension all vehicles for transport of people and goods) have red/white licence plates, while private vehicles have a black/white licence plate. Tourist agency-owned cars have a blue/white licence plate.\n\n### By ride-hailing\n\nThe main ride hailing app is **Grab**, which took over Uber's former South-east Asian operations, including that of Myanmar. Uber's short-lived venture into Myanmar occurred just one year prior to its takeover by Grab. In common with Grab's operations elsewhere in Southeast Asia, cash is not required as you can use the Grab app to pay with your card, though cash remains readily accepted.\n\n### By motorbike", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk031", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Yangon, riding motorcycles is illegal. Mandalay's streets, on the other hand, are filled with them.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nIn many places you can easily rent a bicycle for about 1,500 kyat per day to move around in your own pace. Around Inle Lake, cycling is a relaxing way to get to the next village or lake viewpoint. Mandalay is laid out on a grid which makes it very easy to navigate while cycling. Tourists used to pedal bicycles around the sights of Bagan, across difficult sandy paths under the hot sun, however electric bicycles are now the norm. At around ten times the price of a conventional bicycle, they are well worth the money.\n\n### On foot\n\nCars and pedestrians may not follow the established rules, and crossing the road can be difficult. Drivers will almost never yield to pedestrians, even on striped pedestrian crossings.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk032", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "See", "text": "300px|thumb|Leg rowing, Inle Lake\nMyanmar has not been a popular destination in Southeast Asia as visitors have been largely deterred by the country's volatile politics and restrictions placed on travel. But the political and travel situation has been improving notably since 2015. The country is a true, unspoiled treasure trove, and should capture the imagination of anyone interested in culture and history. Walking around Yangon brings you back to the time of 19th-century British colonial rule. Sparkling-clean parks and temples stand side by side decayed colonial-style buildings and deep potholes. Its cultural and religious attractions, like the **Shwedagon Pagoda**, add to the city's feel of exoticism, as do the smiles of the locals. Every street corner brings something new—and a short ferry over the river even gives you a glimpse of rural life in the country. Cities of cultural and historical interest close to Yangon are Bago with its Buddhist sights, the delta town of Twante known for its pottery, and the pilgrimage site of Kyaiktiyo with its gold-gilded rock balancing precariously over a cliff.\n\nIt's definitely worth it to further explore the Bamar heartland. Unfortunately some outer fringes of the country are off-limits to foreigners, but it's always worth checking the latest situation with people on the ground as things move so fast that the Internet rarely if ever has correct information.\nthumb|Pyin U Lwin\nThe former city of Bagan is a gem, and gives a glimpse of what life in the 11th and 12th centuries here must have been like. Marco Polo described it as the \"gilded city alive with tinkling bells and the swishing sounds of monks' robes\". It is the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world. Mrauk U is a sleepy village today but its crumbling pagodas and temples remind of the early modern period, when it was the capital city of an empire involved in extensive maritime trade with Portuguese, Dutch, French and Arab traders. Within a daytrip from Mandalay is Inwa, another former capital where ruins remain to remind visitors of its former glory. Also don't miss Pyin U Lwin, a former British hill station with somewhat cooler temperatures.\n\nThe country has its fair share of **natural attractions**. Inle Lake is popular with backpackers, and it is one of the few places that is starting to feel like a tourist trap. Still, a trip to Myanmar is not complete without a boat trip on the lake. It has a unique vibe with tribes living in stilt houses and paddling their traditional wooden boats with one leg. The country's long southwestern coastline also has a few **beaches**, such as Chaung Tha and Ngapali. If you visit outside of the traditional holiday season, you might just have a beautiful white sand beach for yourself.\n\nMyanmar is a country inhabited with dozens of ethnic groups, but sites from the major **independent Burmese kingdoms** dating from the 9th century can be seen in sections of the country.", "word_count": 497}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk033", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Burmese men playing chinlone\nMyanmar is an excellent country for **trekking**. Kalaw is a centre for trekking, and has miles and miles of trails through mountains and hill tribe villages. Kengtung is also known for its hiking paths to hill tribe villages, while Hsipaw has some great treks to waterfalls. **Birdwatching** can be done around Inle Lake.\n\nMyanmar's national sport is **chinlone**, played with a small rattan ball. The objective of the game is to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible without using one's arms or hands, and to do it as beautifully as possible.\n\nSpectacular **scuba diving** and unspoiled beaches abound in the Mergui Archipelago in southeastern Myanmar.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk034", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nMyanmar's currency is the **kyat**, pronounced \"chat\". Prices may be shown locally using the abbreviation of **K** (singular or plural) or **Ks** (plural) either before or after the amount and depending very much on who is doing the sign writing. The ISO abbreviation is **MMK**. Wikivoyage articles will use *kyat* to denote the currency. *Pya* are coins, and are rarely seen since their value has become increasingly insignificant with even the largest 50 pya coin worth less than US$0.001. Banknotes of Myanmar are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 kyats.\n\nYou may also come across 20, 10, 5, and 1 *kyat* and 50 *pya* banknotes. They are valid but rarely found and best held onto as souvenirs. Older banknotes in strange denominations are sold to tourists and, while typically genuine, are rarely if ever valuable.\n\nThe notes of 50 kyat, 100 kyat, 200 kyat, and 500 kyat are usually in a horrible condition, but are generally accepted when making small purchases. The 1,000 kyat notes are slightly better. 5,000 and 10,000 kyat notes always appear new after exchanging foreign currencies. When exchanging money, check that the banknotes you receive are in a generally good condition. If the exchange gives you kyat notes in horrible condition, you can ask them to exchange them for notes in better condition.\n\nDispose of remaining kyat before leaving. Outside of Myanmar, kyat is almost worthless but do make nice souvenirs. Kyat cannot be legally exchanged abroad, though some money changers in places with large overseas Burmese populations such as Singapore will exchange anyway, but at terrible rates. Kyat can be exchanged on departure from Yangon Airport at decent rates.\n\n#### US dollars", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk035", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Foreigners are no longer required to pay in U.S. dollars for hotels, tourist attractions, rail and air tickets, ferry travel and for bus tickets. As of 2015, foreign currency instability and the weakening kyat means that many venues will state prices in U.S. dollars, even though it is illegal to do so. Expat restaurants still often quote in U.S. dollars despite actions from the Central Bank prohibiting excess dollar usage. It is illegal for a Myanmar citizen to accept (or hold) U.S. dollars without a licence, but this law is mostly ignored and U.S. dollars are generally accepted. Never insist, though, because it may be dangerous for the receiver.\n\nBring very clean, unfolded U.S. dollars (or they will not be accepted by hotels, restaurants and money changers). Even small imperfections can be cause to reject a U.S. banknote. Keep all U.S. dollars in impeccable condition, and do not fold them. If you do end up with a few, try using them for purchases rather than exchange, or try to exchange them in a few different places.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nThere are plenty of ATMs all across the country accepting international Visa and MasterCard. The bigger and more touristic the place the more ATMs it has. Smaller tourist destinations also have ATMs (Bagu, Hpa-An, etc.), but not so many. Make sure to carry a buffer outside of major tourist hotspots.\n\nIf an ATM does not work, try the next one. Usual withdrawal limit is 300,000 kyat with a processing fee of 5,000 kyat. In case you run out of money, ask your taxi driver to drive you to the CB Bank ATM.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk036", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Note**: Your bank may refuse to process ATM transactions with some/all banks in Myanmar, even if the ATM accepts Visa or Mastercard. Check with your bank prior to entering the country.\n\n#### Credit cards\n\nUpmarket tourist places (hotels, agencies, restaurants) are accepting credit cards (and will surcharge accordingly). So you can even pay with mastercard in a store in the middle of Inle Lake for purchases value more than US$100. But nonetheless paper money is the only way to pay in most places.\n\nBeside the ATMs, there are places (e.g. hotels in Yangon) where cash can be obtained with a credit card (*cash advance*), but the rates are extremely uncompetitive (with premiums certainly no lower than around 7%, and with quotes of 30% and more frequently reported). Also, they may need to see your passport to process the transaction. For US citizens, it is also possible to receive funds from friends or relatives in an emergencies through the US Embassy.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nThe foreign currency of choice in Myanmar is the US dollar, though you can readily also exchange euros and Singapore dollars in Yangon and Mandalay, but perhaps not beyond. Other options are the Chinese Yuan and Thai Baht. The best rates are in Yangon and Mandalay. Major foreign currencies need to be in good condition—other currencies like rupees and baht are often accepted even if worn out.\n\nThe military junta re-imposed currency controls in 2021, again leading to a yawning gap between the official rate (fixed at 2100 kyat/dollar) and the black market rate, which ranged from 3,400 to 5,600/dollar in 2024. Banks and money changers only sell kyat at the official rate. Exchanging on the **black market is illegal**: sellers risking jail time and the junta periodically cracks down.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk037", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Especially on holidays and Sundays, all your necessary money should be changed at the airport as banks in town are closed. Money changers offer significantly lower rates (5-10% lower) for changing US dollars and euros. The most hassle-free option is to change all your required money at the airport, depending on the rate to change it back. Look around different banks for the best exchange rate.\n\nBe sure to bring a mix of foreign denominations when visiting Myanmar because money changers will sometimes not give change and smaller notes (in good condition) are useful for some entry fees and transport. Even though, larger bills give the best exchange rates at banks.\n\nEnsure that foreign notes are:\n Unmarked – No stamps, anti-counterfeit pen, ink or any other mark on them at all. Pencil can be removed with a good eraser, but any permanent marks will greatly decrease a note's value and ability to be exchanged.\n Fresh, crisp and as close to brand new as possible – Moneychangers have been known to reject notes just for being creased and/or lightly worn.\n Undamaged – No tears, missing bits and pieces, holes, repairs or anything of that sort.\n Preferably of the new design, with the larger portrait, and the multiple-colour prints. Although, old-style US$1 are still commonly traded.\n For US$100 bills, have no serial numbers starting \"CB\". This is because they are associated with a counterfeit \"superbill\" which was in circulation some time ago.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk038", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Scams**:\n There are a number of tricks and scams running around Myanmar trapping tourists who are carrying US dollars. Sometimes, guesthouses or traders will try to pass you damaged or nonexchangeable bills in change. Always inspect all notes when making a purchase and request that the vendor swap any notes you think you will have trouble using down the track—this is perfectly acceptable behaviour for both vendors and customers, so don't be shy.\n Some money changers will also attempt sleight of hand tricks to either swap your good banknotes for damaged, or lower denomination notes. Other reports suggest that the kyats may be counted and then somehow, some disappear from the table during the transaction. For example, after going through an elaborate counting process for piles of ten 1,000 kyat notes, some money changers will pull some notes out as they count the piles of ten.\n When changing money, be sure that, after any money is counted, it is not touched by anyone until the deal is sealed. Also do not allow your notes to be removed from your sight until all is agreed. It sounds extreme, but ending up in a country where you cannot access whatever savings you have, and having a good portion of your budget rendered useless (until you get to more relaxed changers in Bangkok) can really put a dampener on your plans.\n\n#### Travellers cheques\n\nTravellers cheques are **not accepted** in Myanmar. The only exception might be some especially shady money changer, but be prepared to pay an astronomical commission (30% is not uncommon).\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk039", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "When visiting tourist attractions, you will likely be swarmed by local hawkers, many of them children, trying to sell you souvenirs. Be sure to bargain hard should you decide to buy from them. Owing to decades of repressive military rule, a great many service and travel-oriented companies have strong links to the military. These are vital ways for the military to earn money, particularly foreign currency. If you wish to avoid spending money at military-owned or military-associated businesses, download the Way Way Nay Boycott app.\n\n#### Tipping\n\nTipping is generally not practised by the Burmese themselves. However, given widespread poverty in the country, tips are certainly appreciated if you have been provided with exemplary service. Tips that are charged to a credit card almost never make it to the service staff, so if you wish to tip, make sure you hand it over in cash to the person who served you.\n\n#### Costs", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk040", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Despite being less developed, Myanmar is expensive compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand or Vietnam. This is particularly true of hotel prices in the main tourists areas, as demand far outstrips supply. Similarly, the lack of competition from budget airlines has also made domestic flights rather expensive.\nthumb|Night market in Pyin U Lwin\nIt's not possible to be comfortable on less than US$25/day (May 2013). Foreigners will likely be charged fees, including video camera, camera, entrance, parking and zone fees. Most managed tourist site charge for carrying cameras of any sort into the area. Double rooms with private bathroom are nearly always more than US$20, in Yangon a double room without bathroom costs US$20. Dorm beds are around US$10 (or US$8 if you accept to lose a lot of value) (Sep 2015). While you cannot save on accommodation, you can save on food. Street food can get as low as US$0.30 for 2 small curries with 2 Indian breads, US$1 for a normal (vegetarian) dish. Even in touristy places like Bagan dishes cost under US$1 (vegetarian) and US$2 (meat). A draught Myanmar beer (5%) is around 600 kyat, a bottle of Myanmar beer (650 ml) is around 1,700 kyat, a bottle of Mandalay beer (6.5%, 650 ml) around 1,200 kyat.\n\n#### What to buy", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk041", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Antiques** – Purchasing antiquities and antiques in Myanmar is at best a legal grey area with the 2015 passage of the new Antiquities Law, and often illegal for any item over 100 years old. Penalties include prison and fines. It is recommended to avoid purchasing antiques as a tourist, unless you're willing to get an export permit from the Ministry of Culture on your way out and you have enough knowledge to avoid the fakes. Replicas and fakes are rife in Bogyoke market and other anitque stores frequented by tourists. It is against the law to export religious antiques (manuscripts, Buddhas, etc.)\n **Art** – The Myanmar Art market has exploded, with local artists' works going for good values in Yangon and Mandalay. Visit the numerous galleries in Yangon to get a feel for available works. Art is often related to Buddhism and the difficult socio-political situation, as well as more traditional Victorian-influenced subjects like markets, old women smoking cigars, tribal members, and monks. There is a lot of cheap/mass-painted and derivative works at Bogyoke Market.\n **Gemstones** – Myanmar is best known as for its jade and rubies (the granting of a license to the French over the ruby mines in Mogok was one of the causes leading to the Third Burmese War), and also produces some really fine sapphires. These can be obtained at a fraction of what it would cost in the West. There are a lot of fakes for sale amid the genuine stuff and, unless you know your gems, buy from an official government store or risk being cheated. Bogoyoke Aung San Market and the Myanmar Gems Museum in Yangon has many licensed shops and is generally a safe place for the purchase of these stones. The jade market in Mandalay is also worth a visit, where most of the jade is brought from the mines to be sold to merchants, and you can observe merchants haggling over the prices of both raw jade and various jade items in all stages of the production process. You can also purchase some jade trinkets yourself, but be prepared to haggle, and make sure you do your homework before buying or you risk getting ripped off.\n **Lacquerware** – A popular purchase, which is made into bowls, cups, vases, tables and various items, and is available almost anywhere. The traditional centre of lacquerware production is Bagan in Central Myanmar, and most tours include a stop at one of the local lacquerware factories where you can purchase one of these. Beware of fraudulent lacquer ware, though, which is poorly made, but looks authentic. As a guide, the stiffer the lacquer, the poorer the quality; the more you can bend and twist it, the finer the quality.\n **Tapestries** – Known as *kalaga*, or *shwe chi doe*. There is a long tradition of weaving tapestries in Burma. These are decorated with gold and silver thread and sequins and usually depict tales from the Buddhist scriptures (the *jatakas*) or other non-secular objects from Burmese Buddhism (mythical animals, the *hintha*, and the *kalong* are also popular subjects). The tapestry tradition is dying out but many are made for tourists and are available in Mandalay and Yangon. Burmese tapestries don't last long, so be warned if someone tries to sell you an antique *shwe chi doe*!\n **Textiles** – Textiles in Myanmar are stunning. Each region and each ethnic group has its own style. Chin fabrics are particularly stunning. They are handwoven in intricate geometric patterns, often in deep reds and mossy greens and white. They can be quite pricey, perhaps US$20 for the cloth to make a longyi (sarong).", "word_count": 602}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk042", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Outdoor café in Yangon\n\nBurmese food is influenced by that of India and China, yet unique. Apart from Burmese food, other ethnic traditional foods such as Shan food, Rakhine food, and Myeik food are also distinct. Rice is at the core of Burmese food, and good vegetarian food is widely available. Burmese food is often extremely pungent. Similar to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, **fish sauce** (ငံပြာရည် *ngan bya yay*) is a very popular condiment in Myanmar, and is used to flavour many dishes. Food is inexpensive at most restaurants (priced at 500–3,000 kyat per item at most local restaurants, but can go as high as 8,000 kyat at posh restaurants). There are many up-market restaurants in Yangon and Mandalay.\n\nThe majority of low-to-mid-priced restaurants use a cheap blend of palm oil for cooking. This oil may be unhealthy, and common roadside restaurants should be avoided if you are at the slightest risk for hypertension, heart disease, or other fat- or cholesterol-related conditions. Higher class restaurants may use peanut oil instead.\n\nSpecific dishes include:\nthumb|Chapati and mutton curry\nthumb|''Mohinga'' fish noodle soup, the national dish\nthumb|''Lahpet thoke'', fermented tea leaf salad", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk043", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Curry** – Burmese people have a very different definition of curry than other countries. It is very spicy compared to Indian and Thai options, and although you may find it served at room temperature in cheaper restaurants, in a typical Burmese home all curry dishes are served hot. Burmese curry does not contain coconut milk, unlike its other SE Asian counterparts, and has a large quantity of onion or tomato depending on region and cook's preference. Myanmar is the highest per-capita consumer of onions in the world. Quite often Burmese curries are cooked with lots of oil, much more than other regional curries.\n **Mohinga** (pronounced *mo-HIN-ga*) – A dish of rice vermicelli with fish chowder, usually accompanied by coriander and chili powder. Its taste can range from sweet to spicy, and is usually eaten at breakfast. It is considered by many to be the national dish, and is widely available throughout the country, albeit in different styles in different regions.\n **Lahpet thoke** (tea leaf salad, pronounced *la-peh THOU*) – A distinctly Burmese salad of fermented tea leaves and a variety of fried nuts, often served to visitors visiting a home. If served as a full meal, it is commonly mixed with sliced lettuce, and is eaten with rice.\n **Samosa thoke** (samosa salad) – A popular street dish of chickpeas, potatoes, tomato, cabbage, mint and a smashed samosa.\n **Mote lin-mayar** (Couples snacks) – Small tiny pancakes with chives, chickpeas or quail eggs.\n **Sticky rice** – Served plain or with turmeric or black rice\n **Nan Gyi Thoke** (pronounced *nan gyi thou*) – A special dish of rice noodle salad with chicken sauce. It is mostly eaten in mid-Myanmar.\n **Onnokauswe** (pronounced *oun-NO-kao-sui*) – A dish of thicker noodles in a thick soup of coconut milk with chicken. It is served with a variety of condiments accompanying it, ranging from fried fruit fritters to solidified duck blood. \"Khao soi\"(\"noodle\" in Shan), often found on the streets of Chiang Mai, is derived from this Burmese counterpart. It is also comparable to the spicier laksa often found in peninsular SE countries like Malaysia and Singapore.", "word_count": 349}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk044", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Shan food** – The Shan are an ethnic group who inhabit Shan State around Inle lake, near the Thai border. Their food is marvelous. It can be found in Yangon easily.\n **Shan tofu** – Made with mung beans instead of soya beans these yellow blocks are served fried or in a cold noodle salad.\n\n**Kachin food** is mainly available in Kachin State, though a number of Kachin restaurants can be found in Yangon and Mandalay. Kachin food is less oily and uses less MSG than Burmese food, and you may find it a good alternative if Burmese curries are not to your liking.\n\n**Chinese food** is available in most cities and usually authentic, if plain.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk045", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Tap water** in Myanmar is not safe to drink, however factory-made ice in restaurants and other shops is OK. **Bottled water** is readily available. You can also safely drink from the many clay jars dotted around the country, or find safe drinking water in temples. Just look for the large steel tanks with cups tied to the spigots. Water in the clay jars is filtered and many Myanmar people use them. Owners of the jars fill them up with water as a way to make merit.\n\nSimilar to Chinese tea, *Yenwejan* is usually provided free at restaurant tables. While not flavourful, it is boiled water, and so safe to drink (do not drink plain water - even in restaurants - unless it is bottled water). Dried tea leaves similar to Laphet thote's tea leaves (except these are wet) are added to the boiled water to give *Yenwejan*. Be sure to order it with *Laphet thote* (customary/good combination). **Milk tea** (လက်ဖက်ရည် *La-Phet-Yay*) is also popular in Myanmar and widely available in the local markets and teahouses but beware: the Burmese like their milk teas very, *very* sweet.\n\n**Alcohol** is frowned upon by conservative Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, but consumed widely, mostly among men. Myanmar Beer is most popular in the country. Other variants, including Mandalay Beer exist. However, many of such companies are government-owned and/or have links to the drug trade. **Toddy juice** (*ta-YEI*) is popular in central Myanmar, and is made from fermented palm sugar. An alcoholic drink popular in the Shan State is **Shwe le maw**, and is reportedly very strong. It is also possible to buy full strength Beer Chang imported from Thailand; exports to most countries are not nearly as strong.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk046", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Drink", "text": "Beware of alcoholic drinks served in the far northern states. The locals refer to it as **alcohol which does not burn** when lit, and it is widely suspected to be an opiate concoction rather than a fermented beverage.\n\nThere are a lot of nightclubs, including those attached to the five star hotels (e.g. Grand Plaza), and also local entertainment centres (e.g. JJs, Asia plaza).\n\n### Teahouses\n\nthumb|Tea and snacks at a tea house\nTeahouses are important places of social gathering and popular throughout the country. They look like restaurants but if you watch closely you will notice that people are drinking a lot of Chinese tea (free), light brown tea and are mainly snacking. Some teahouses also offer simple dishes as fried rice or noodles.\n\nOnce seated they will expect you to order coffee but that's not what you should go for as it is almost always instant coffee. Order tea, a type of black tea with milk that differ in strength and sweetness:\n*bone mahn*: balanced\n*cho seh*: sweet\n*kyaw p'daung*: sweeter\n*pan brown*: bitter and sweet\n*jah hseent*: light, with milk, not strong\n*pancho*: strong\n*bow hseent*: less strong\n*noe hseent dee*: milk tea without sugar\nYou will completely mispronounce the tea names (second and sixth are relatively easy) and people might not get what you want at all since it's rare for foreigners to order these teas. So it's better to ask your hotel or any local speaking English to write down the names in Burmese.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk047", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Drink", "text": "Since you are a foreigner they will assume that you want your tea *sheh* - special - which means it will come with condensed milk. It's also possible to order a *tankie* and so the tea will come in a big pot. A simple cup of tea costs 200-400 kyat. Small snacks like samosas, cakes or sweet balls are readily available at the table. If not, ask. At the end you will only pay for the number of pieces eaten. Foodies should check out the type of snacks before deciding on a teahouse. It is not impolite at all to bring your own food, as long as you order at least *something*.", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk048", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Night in Yangon\nMyanmar has good hotel accommodation, particularly in major cities and the main tourist areas, though prices are substantially higher than in Thailand or Vietnam. Rooms with attached bath are available for under US$10 everywhere except Yangon and with shared bath for anywhere from US$3–6 in most places. Almost every hotel licensed for foreigners has running hot water (though, in remote areas, availability may be restricted to certain hours of the day). Hotels, with a few exceptions, are usually clean. At the budget end, sheets and blankets may be threadbare and the rooms may be poorly ventilated. A few low-end hotels, particularly in Yangon and other large cities, specialize in cubicle rooms, small single rooms with no windows which, while cheap and clean, are not for the claustrophobic. Rates are quoted as single/double, but the rooms are usually the same whether one person or two stay in the room, making good hotels a real bargain if travelling as a couple. Except at the top-end, breakfast is always included in the price of the room.\n\nThe tourism boom in Myanmar has left its infrastructure struggling to cope with the increased numbers of visitors. Hotel rooms tend to sell out really fast, and those in popular tourist destinations often sell out months in advance. As a result of the lack of supply, prices have also increased substantially. You should make your hotel bookings well in advance of your planned trip to Myanmar in order not to be stranded when you arrive. Wild camping is not legal in Myanmar.\n\nMyanmar has a problem providing enough electricity to its people and power supply is severely restricted everywhere. In many places, electricity may be available only for a few hours each evening or, in some cases, only every alternate evening. If you don't want to spend your nights without a fan or air conditioning, ask if the hotel has a generator (most mid-priced hotels do). On generator nights, the air conditioning in your room may not work (the price is usually lower as well). Even if a hotel has a generator, there is no guarantee that it will be used to provide you electricity at the times you require, so be ready for blackouts at any time of day or night. Major tourist hotels in Yangon and Mandalay have near-uninterrupted electricity supply, but can cost anywhere from US$80–300 per night.\n\nAt the top-end, Myanmar has some excellent hotels including one or two great ones (The Strand in Yangon and Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Yangon). The Myanmar government runs many hotels, including some beautiful colonial era ones (though not the two listed in the previous sentence). A percentage of all accommodation payments goes to the government, no matter where you choose to stay, and it is not possible to run a successful business in Myanmar without some relationship or payment arrangement with the military.", "word_count": 480}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk049", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Work", "text": "Work in Myanmar for foreigners is hard to come by. NGOs and other aid groups operate in the capital and remote rural areas but may require specific skill sets to hire you. Another option is European and Asian companies, mostly operating on a small scale. Teaching English is feasible in private schools but many foreigners have reported unreasonable contracts, such as withholding pay and refusing to pay those who resign early. The education ministry only hires citizens with teaching certification. If you would like to work and assist Burmese refugees, certain NGOs work in neighbouring Thailand.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk050", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nThe government punishes crime, particularly against tourists, severely; as a result, as far as crime and personal safety go, Myanmar is extremely safe for tourists, and it is generally safe to walk on the streets alone at night. In fact, you are less likely to be a victim of crime in Myanmar than in Thailand or Malaysia. However, as with anywhere else, little crime does not mean no crime and it is still no excuse to ditch your common sense. As a foreigner, the most common crime you should be worried about is petty theft, so keep your belongings secured. Physical and verbal harassment towards foreigners is uncommon, even on urban walks near bars.\n\nSince 2005, Yangon and Mandalay have seen a barely perceptible rise in the very low level of street robberies. There were isolated bombings in 2005 in Mandalay and Yangon, and in 2006 in Bago.\n\n### Illegal substances\n\n### Begging\n\nDespite traditional taboos against it, begging has become a major problem in the main tourist areas such as Bago and Bagan. Children and \"mothers\" carrying babies are often the ones who beg as they are more effective at soliciting pity. Most beggars are part of larger begging syndicates or just after easy money, as tourists are usually seen to be rich. In addition, the poor can always obtain food for free from the nearest monastery if they can't afford to pay for it, so begging is not necessary for their survival. If you choose to give, note that most Burmese earn only US$40 a month doing manual labour and so giving US$1 to a beggar is *very* generous.\n\n### Fake monks", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk051", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Theravada Buddhism is the main religion in Myanmar, and it is customary for monks to go on alms rounds in the morning. Unfortunately, there are also many bogus monks who hang out around the main tourist attractions preying on unsuspecting visitors. Alms rounds are solely for the purpose of collecting food: genuine monks are forbidden from accepting, or even touching money. Monks are forbidden from eating after noon, and are also not allowed to sell items or use high pressure tactics to solicit donations. Authentic monks are often found in single file lines with their alms bowls. If you see a single monk requesting money from foreigners he is a fraud.\n\n### Corruption\n\nMyanmar is one of the world's most corrupt countries. Officials and other civil servants may discreetly ask you for a bribe, or invent issues (missing forms, closed offices, etc.) in order to get you to suggest one. Pretending not to understand or asking to speak to a superior may work. However, white visitors are rarely targeted, while those of Asian descent (including South Asians and East Asians) may be forced to give bribes, but the brunt of the problem hits normal Burmese.\n\nWesterners are very rarely asked for bribes, although most bribes are a US dollar or less, and requested by people earning as little as US$30/month.\n\n### Driving conditions", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk052", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|One of many right-hand drive vehicles imported from Japan into Myanmar. These cause inherent visibility problems when driving on the right side of the road\nThe poor road infrastructure, and a mixture of extremely ancient vehicles on the country's roads are all what best describe the road conditions. However, driving habits are not very aggressive compared to say, Vietnam, which does make the safety of the roads comfortable for almost everyone. Although rare, youths sometimes compete against each other on the roads, which has led to some casualties over the past few years. Bus drivers are among the worst dangers, although this is somewhat less of an issue since 2010 due to new, very harsh penalties imposed on bus drivers involved in accidents.\n\nSurprisingly, Burma has a mixture of both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles, with the majority being right-hand drive (used imports from Japan) but driving is generally done on the right side of the roads.\n\nUnless you have experience driving in countries with poorly disciplined drivers and very shabby vehicles, try to avoid driving in Myanmar; alternatively, arrange for a local driver to take you around.\n\n### Civil conflict\n\nVarious insurgent groups continue to operate in the **Mon, and Chin (Zomi), states** of Myanmar, along the Thai and Chinese borders. Travel to these regions generally requires a government permit. The government also sometimes restricts travel to **Kayah State, Rakhine State, and Kachin State** due to insurgent activity. However travel is entirely unrestricted to the districts of Yangon, Bago, Ayeyarwady, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Mandalay, and Magwe. Some areas that have been reported as closed have become open without notice, and areas previously regarded as open can become closed with no warning. In addition, local immigration offices may have their own interpretations of regulations.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk053", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|\"Tatmadaw [Armed Forces] and the people in eternal unity. Anyone attempting to divide them is our enemy.\"\nMyanmar is again under harsh military rule as it was from 1962 - 2012, with a reputation for repressing dissent, as in the case of the house arrest of democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi. There used to be more than 1,500 political prisoners (sentences of 65 years and hard labor in remote camps were given to leaders of the Saffron Revolution), although some have been released. When in Myanmar, abstain from political activities and don't insult the government.\n\nDiscuss politics, if you must, with people who have had time to get a feel for you. The danger, however, is primarily posed to those you speak with, so let them lead the conversation. Also, realize that many phone lines are tapped. And if you absolutely must wave a democracy banner on the street, you'll simply find yourself on the next outbound flight.\n\nBetween 2012–2020, liberty in general increased under the new government. A few politically critical articles have been published in government newspapers and a satirical film deriding the government's film censorship policy has been released, neither of which would have been possible even in 2010. Returning visitors to Myanmar may find that locals have become ever so slightly more open to discussions regarding politics.\n\nHowever, under any circumstances avoid doing things that might make the military or police feel uncomfortable, such as taking pictures of police and police buildings or vehicles.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk054", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Hygiene in Myanmar may seem terrible to the average Westerner but it is possible to stay healthy with some basic precautions such as prophylactic medication, care choosing food and water, and antibacterial ointment. **Never drink tap water**. Restaurants are legally required to use ice made and sold by bottled water companies, so ordering ice is usually safe in major places. Always drink bottled water and check that the cap is sealed on, not simply screwed on. Diseases such as dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and malaria are endemic. Drug-resistant strains of malaria and tuberculosis are common in many areas. Hepatitis vaccinations are highly recommended and the cholera oral vaccine is worthwhile. At the dinner table, Burmese use a spoon and fork, or their fingers when this is more convenient. You might feel better rinsing all of them before meals. Antibacterial wipes or alcohol hand-rub is a good idea at regular intervals.\n\nAs in many developing countries: \"if you can't fry, roast, peel or boil it - then forget it\".\n\n### HIV\n\nThe rate of HIV infection in Myanmar is high by Western and Asian standards (0.7% of the population in 2019).\n\n### Healthcare\n\nMyanmar's healthcare system is poorly funded. If you should fall sick in Myanmar, you can visit the doctor in major cities for minor ailments. However, for more serious medical care, hospital conditions tend to be unsanitary and there is often a shortage of medical supplies. The only hospital that comes close to modern developed standards is Pun Hlaing Hospital, a privately owned hospital which is in a remote township of Yangon called Hlaing Thar Yar, and one should expect very high expenses there. Most of the hospitals are government owned, which means poorly funded. Most of the government officials and rich locals go to Thailand or Singapore for more serious medical treatment and hospitalisation, and you will be better off doing so too. Make sure you get travel insurance as arranging to be airlifted in an emergency is rather costly.\n\nThe clinic formerly operated by the Australian Embassy in Yangon closed in 2018. There is a good international medical clinic at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon for consulting, testing, radiology and minor surgery.", "word_count": 366}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk055", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|400px|[[Mrauk U]], the old capital of Rakhine in Myanmar\n\nModest clothing is highly appreciated everywhere except nightclubs, and practically required in religious places such as pagodas, temples and monasteries (of which there are thousands). Miniskirts, shorts and sleeveless shirts are not allowed in consecrated areas, where you also have to remove your footwear, so loafers and flip-flops that you can slip on and off at the entrance are preferable. Myanmar has some of the most stunning temples in Asia and you will be tempted to visit more than you think. In Myanmar, you have to remove your footwear before entering the entire temple complex, including in outdoor areas. You might want to bring some wet wipes so you can clean your feet after visiting.\n\nBurmese people generally do not engage in public display of affection, even among married couples, and it is generally considered distasteful and should be avoided.\n\nBoth men and women wear a *longyi*, a sort of sarong sold everywhere, and it is not unusual to see Caucasian foreigners walking around in them. They are wrapped in different ways for men and women, so find out how to tie yours. If you turn up at a temple in inappropriate dress, you can always rent a longyi for a pittance.\n\nWhen giving and receiving **business cards**, always use your right hand with the palm facing up, and your left hand supporting your right elbow. As the left hand is traditionally reserved for dirty things, handling business cards with it is considered to be very rude.\n\nTourists of Caucasian descent are commonly referred to as *bo*, which translates to \"officer\", a linguistic relic of colonization. Address elders with *U* (pronounced \"oo\", as in s**oo**n) or \"Uncle\" for men, and *Daw* or \"Auntie\" for women.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk056", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Respect", "text": "Generally speaking, despite the common negative perception of the government, most ordinary Burmese people are incredibly friendly and polite as long as you respect their local customs. Customer service is in general very good (some say better than in Thailand) but customer service staff are invariably poorly paid, so you might wish to tip service staff generously to ensure your money goes into the right hands.\n\n### Politics\n\nAvoid discussing relations with the Rohingya and the ongoing ethnic cleansing as this is a very sensitive and emotive issue that can potentially escalate into a confrontation. The vast majority of Burmese people regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who have no right to be in Myanmar, and their Muslim religion is seen by many as a threat to Buddhism. Most Burmese people are offended when the Rohingya are referred to as such, and will insist that you use the term \"Bengali\" to refer to them instead.\n\nTread carefully when discussing relations with China. Even though both the military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi had developed close ties with China and invited Chinese investment in Myanmar's infrastructure, this is strongly opposed by many pro-democracy activists. While the pro-democracy view on China have largely improved due to alleged Chinese support towards anti-junta ethnic armed organisations, China's policy has equally dissatisfied or even angered pro-junta groups.\n\n### Religion\n\nBuddhism is the largest religion in the country, followed by roughly 80-90% of the population. Many Burmese people are religious and fundamentalist Buddhism has seen growing support in the 21st century.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk057", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Respect", "text": "As in neighbouring Thailand, monks collect alms in the morning and adhere to strict rules such as abstaining from physical contact with women and not touching money. It is customary for Burmese men to spend time living as a monk at least once in their lifetime. Donations to monks should be spontaneous and given in the form of food only, not money; monetary donations should be placed in donation boxes in temples. If you see a monk with money in his alms bowl, he is fake. Monks are not allowed to eat after noon, so if you see a monk going on alms round after noon, he is fake.\n\nBuddhist monks are highly respected, and it is essential to show them respect. Always ask for permission before taking a photograph or touching a monk. It is also important to behave appropriately in their presence. If you are on public transportation, it is customary to give up your seat for them as a sign of respect.\n\nShowing any form of disrespect to Buddhism is taken **very seriously** in Myanmar and you can expect to be treated with **no degree of leniency** if you've been accused of disrespecting Buddhism. Disrespecting Buddhism encompasses things like wearing something with Buddha on it, having a tattoo of Buddha, depicting Buddha in an inappropriate way, and so on. Foreigners have been jailed for disrespecting Buddhism, so be careful about what you say and what you do.\n\nDo not speak negatively about religion; it is illegal, under Burmese law, to \"insult\" religion. What counts as \"insulting\" religion is very broadly defined and open to interpretation. Refrain from engaging in religious discussions with the Burmese.\n\nSwastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist temples and **should not** be conflated with anti-Semitism and Nazism.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "myanmar::chunk058", "doc_id": "myanmar", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nCountry Code: +95\nInternational Call Prefix: 00\n\nPhone numbers in Myanmar have the format +95 1 234-5678 where \"95\" is the country code for Myanmar, the next one, two, three or four digits are the area code and the remaining 6, 7 or 8 digits are the \"local\" part of the subscriber number.\n\nYou can buy GSM/4G sim cards at International airports or any convenience store. Standard sim card costs around 1500 Ks. Some operators may offer special sim for tourists. There are 4 mobile operators in Myanmar, MPT (Government+KDDI), Telenor, Ooredoo and MyTel (Military+VietTel). MPT in the largest in Myanmar in terms of network coverage and user. Operators offer similar price plans. Generally, standard plan offers voice calls for 20 Ks - 25Ks/min, SMS at 15 Ks - 20 Ks/message. Pay as you go data plan offers around 7 Ks/MB but specific data plan will offer around 1000 Ks/GB or cheaper. Prices for IDD and roaming service vary depending on the operators and destination countries.\n\nIf you are going to use in urban area only for local call and data, there is not much difference between operators. If you are going to visit remote area, please check which operator is available at there. If you are going to use IDD or roaming, you may wisely choose by checking offering price at their websites.\n\n### Mail\n\nInternational mail out of Myanmar is reportedly quite efficient, despite what some hotels might tell you. As elsewhere, there is always a risk if you send valuables as ordinary parcels. Use EMS for fast, and relatively cheap international parcels.\n\n### Internet\n\nCountry's telecommunication sector was revolutionized in 2013 and speed is steadily increasing and price become cheaper. As of 2020, free Wi-fi is available at almost every Hotels. Unlike other countries, Myanmar hugely rely on 4G Internet than cable or Wi-fi. Surprisingly, Yangon has 4th-fastest 4G speeds in East Asia despite the fact that it had slowest speeds in Asia before 2013. Seamless 4G Internet is available in every city, town and along major highway roads. Even a small village is likely to be covered with at least 3G Internet unless it is in highly remote or armed conflict area. Data costs are around 1000 kyat ($0.8)/GB. There are also cheaper fancy data plans depending on operators. MPT is largest mobile operator and Telenor is second. 4G sim cards are available at International airports and any convenience store.\n\nWith the extended coverage of 4G and smart phones, once dominant Internet cafes are getting out of business and turn into gaming stations. In case of you need to access Internet urgently, you can use at those gaming stations but extensive file downloading is not welcome for it can effect their gaming experience. Facebook and Viber are the most used apps and services in Myanmar.", "word_count": 471}
diff --git a/corpus/myanmar/metadata.json b/corpus/myanmar/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..665f4eafd8c13a410241c8aaad588431463cd5fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/myanmar/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "myanmar",
+ "title": "Myanmar",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Myanmar",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 15033,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 19,
+ "chunk_count": 59,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nairobi/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nairobi/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5edaee8e6eaa89217e2a34871df132e3e3616f43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nairobi/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk000", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nairobi** is the political, as well as financial and media capital of Kenya. A city of 4.8 million inhabitants (as of 2024), it's the largest and fastest growing city in the country and one of Africa's largest cities. Nairobi is at the Nairobi River, and at an altitude of above sea level, making it one of the highest national capitals in the world. While a transit point that most travellers to Kenya will pass through, it's certainly also worth taking a few days to experience this bustling metropolis.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk001", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Understand", "text": "alt=Colors of Nairobi|thumb|Colours of Nairobi\n\n### History\n\nThe word Nairobi is derived from a water hole known in Maasai as Enkare Nyorobi, which means \"cool waters\". Nairobi, which had been a swamp area, was founded in 1899 as a railway camp for the Uganda Railway. By 1905, the city had become the capital of Kenya (then the British East Africa Protectorate), supplanting Mombasa and Machakos, the previous capitals. With the spread of plagues in the early 1900s, the town was burnt down and had to be rebuilt. Having a railway helped it to grow rapidly, becoming the second largest city in Kenya behind Mombasa. Nairobi also grew due to administration and tourism businesses (mostly big game hunting).\n\nThe British presence led to the creation of big hotels primarily for the British hunters. After independence, some descendants of the British settlers remained in Nairobi and obtained Kenyan citizenship, and today form Kenya's white community. Nairobi also has an East Indian community, who are the descendants of the labourers who built the railway and the merchants who set up shop during colonial times. After independence, Nairobi airport became the principal entrance point to Kenya and it still is today, although it has lost some of its importance to Mombasa.\n\n### Climate\n\nNairobi has a subtropical highland climate. At 1,795 metres above sea level, evenings may be cool, especially in the June/July season, when the temperature can drop to 9 °C.\n\nThe sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average in the mid-twenties Celsius during the day. The mean maximum temperature for this period is 24 °C.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nThere does not seem to be a physical general tourist office in Nairobi. The Kenyan Tourist Board's website Magical Kenya has information about the capital too.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk002", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get in", "text": "For general information about visas and vaccinations, etc., see the Kenya article.\n\n### By plane\n\n#### Airlines\n\nKenya Airways (KQ) is the national airline of Kenya, and used to be one of the largest and most reputable airlines in Africa, connections from as far as New York JFK (a direct 15-hr flight), a couple of major European and Asian airports and the largest African airports. \nAs of 2025 the airport is also served by major African, Middle Eastern and European airlines, China Southern and Indigo.\n\n#### Transfers\n\nIf taking a **taxi** from JKIA, use a reputable taxi. Many are waiting outside to give you conveyance, and the cost should be very near Ksh 2,000 to the city centre; Westlands or places more west or north will be more. There is an official KAA taxi desk just after you exit the customs area, where you can buy a fixed-price voucher, and they will escort you to a taxi. When taking a taxi to your accommodation, do not be inveigled into taking their recommendation for accommodation. **Uber or Bolt** costs from Ksh 900 from airport to the centre.\n **Airport Bus:** To the city centre, Airport Bus #34 for Ksh 100 (as of 2023). You get the bus by walking on the road from the international airport terminal to the cargo terminal, or from in front of the Ambassador Hotel on Moi Avenue in the city centre. 6:00-20:00. The bus trip can take 2 hours in bad traffic, and may be inconvenient if you have big luggage.\n\n#### Wilson Airport\n\nThere is no official taxi desk at Wilson, and each airline operates out of its own terminal. It may be difficult to arrange a reputable taxi on arrival, but there are plenty at the kerb.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk003", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|The Nairobi Terminus station, well outside the city centre\nNairobi has become much more accessible by rail. '''Kenya Railways''' has opened the **SGR** railway in 2017 linking Nairobi and Mombasa, reducing travel time between the two cities to 5/6 hours. There are both express, night and slower intercity services, the latter stopping on more intermediate stations, all services are named Madaraka Express. Tickets cost Ksh 1000 for 2nd class and Ksh 3,000 for 1st. The difference between the first and 2nd class is just the size of seats. As the train is very popular it is recommended to buy tickets a few days beforehand. Trains operating on the SGR line call at **Nairobi Terminus**, which is almost 10 km southeast of city centre. A connecting commuter train to the central station is available. there are now 3x trains a day from Nairobi to Mombasa 1x is a night train.\n\nAs of June 2023 there is 2x weekly train service from Nairobi from Nanyuki via Nyeri. The train departs Nairobi old central railway station at 09:30 every Tuesday and Friday and takes six hours. The fare is Ksh 200 in 3rd class and Ksh 1000 in 1st class. there is also 1x weekly train from Nairobi to Kisumu every Friday which cost ksh 600/2000 and takes 12 hours.\n\n### By bus\n\nNairobi is the centre of Kenya’s (mostly reliable) bus system. There are many bus companies operating to and from the country’s different cities.\n\nMombasa Use the SGR railway, it take less than half the time of the bus and costs 50% less.\nArusha in Tanzania 5½ hr by **Modern Coast**. Arusha Shuttle.\nKisumu, Eldoret, Kitale, Kericho by '''Easy coach'''.\nKampala 12 hr by **Modern coast**, **Dreamline** or **Mash Poa**.\n\n### By matatu", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk004", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get in", "text": "Matatus (11- to 18-seater minibuses) and shuttles (6-seater cars) are convenient, inexpensive (and often the only) modes of public transport for connecting Nairobi with towns and tourist destinations in the Rift Valley and Central Highlands such as Naivasha, Nyeri, Nanyuki, Isiolo, and Thika. Matatus can be obtained from the River Road area. Extreme caution should be exercised in this area because petty theft is a major concern; avoid showing valuables such as mobile phones, even while in the matatu (see safety section below). The best method of connecting to a matatu is to arrange for a taxi to drop you off and pick you up directly at the location of the matatu that you are boarding or alighting from. If you're boarding a matatu from Nairobi, tell the taxi driver your destination and they will drop you off at the correct location. If you are being picked up, then tell the taxi driver the location you're coming from as well as the matatu company that you are using (your ticket should have the operator's name). It is best to arrange for a taxi from the hotel you're staying at. The price is dependent on the distance of travel.\n from/to Naivasha (Ksh 300) 1½ hr\n from/to Nanyuki (Ksh 700) 11 seat. 3 hr\n\n#### Companies\n\n**Prestige Shuttle**, Dubois Road, has 10-seat vans going from Nairobi to and from Nakuru and Kisumu. Ksh 600/1200.\n **North Rift Shuttle** behind the Afya Centre has 10-seat vans going from Nairobi to and from Eldoret. from Ksh 900.\n **Impala shuttle** Parkside hotel, 25 Monrovia Street, next to Jeevanjee Gardens.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk005", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get in", "text": "Entry into Nairobi by boat is not possible (Nairobi River is not navigable), however one could certainly arrive in Kenya by boat via Mombasa or Lamu, proceeding by road, air or rail to Nairobi. Immigration should be processed at the port facility.", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk006", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be careful getting around Nairobi. Traffic is very bad like any other major city, but if you use common sense and a local or guide you should be able to get where you want.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Road by the University of Nairobi\n\nHiring a car is convenient as it allows you the freedom to explore Nairobi at your own pace. Most rental companies in Nairobi offer self-drive and chauffeured options respectively. You will find that a large fleet of cars available for hire are Japanese: Toyota, Nissan or Mitsubishi. You can hire both automatic and manual transmission. All rental cars are right-hand drive. Hiring a vehicle with a driver or chauffeur is advisable due to the generally lower standards of driving, average to poor road conditions and the overall cost effectiveness of not having to pay a deposit on hiring a vehicle which is the case with a self drive vehicle.\n\nThe car rental rates are often determined by the number of days and estimated mileage per day. Some car hire companies will give you a rate that is 50% cheaper but either give you a contract with a clause limiting you to visit the specific locations, an old car or require a hefty deposit. The rates are cheaper if you are hiring the car for a week, a month or are looking for a lease. Most car rental rates include unlimited mileage, PSV comprehensive insurance, theft and damage waivers.\n\nThe driver and fuel are charged separately with some companies requiring that you hire a driver if you are taking a large 4X4/4WD (e.g. a Toyota Prado, Land Cruiser j70, Range Rover, Land Cruiser VX, Land Rover discovery).", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk007", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get around", "text": "Although a good number of local car hire companies are reliable, you should either take photos of the car before the hire, or carefully note the dents or scratches on the car and agree. In addition, carefully read the rental contract to check for rules on insurance liabilities in case of accident or theft of the vehicle.\n\nHere are some reliable car hire companies in Kenya:\n Nairobi Car Hire offer good services for 4x4 and other categories of cars.\n Central Car Hire are a reliable, trustworthy and helpful rental company based in Nairobi. Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles are available and are well maintained.\n Nairobi Car Hire Services provided by Hire N' Drive Kenya Limited who are very flexible with their rental terms and reliable. They accept credit card payment online with a very credible refund processing system. They also have a wide fleet of cars available at all major airports in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.\n Elite Car Rental Kenya although their offices are located in Kikuyu Town, they are a reliable car rental company and have been in operation since the mid-1990s.\n Avis Rental the local representative of the global business. Services are dependable with a variety of self drive vehicle options.\n Hertz Car Hire are also represented in Kenya and offer pick up and drop off at the international airport in Nairobi.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk008", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get around", "text": "For ease of navigation around town and to the outskirts, it is advisable to use Google Maps. The navigation guide can be combined with other useful apps such as to help you get a better experience. For ease of search and navigation to secure parking lots, you can use **Pata Parking**, a smartphone app which is downloadable from Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. The app enables drivers to search and pre-book for parking, with details of location, charges per hour, features of the preferred parking lot, and the number of reservable parking spaces.\n\nCar hire from the airport is possible, and fairly painless with prices in line with other African countries. Travelling during the day reduces your chances of getting car-jacked as most car-jackings occur after dark, but even so, carjacking can still happen at any time of day, even with a strong police presence. However, watch out for undisciplined drivers, as they take little regard for safety.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are neither very cheap nor prevalent. Prices should always be negotiated before the trip, and paid afterwards (only cash is accepted, often with limited change available). This can be tricky as it requires you to be knowledgeable on the market rate price of the ride you wish to take. Typically, taxis can be found parked around hotels, malls, and tourist areas. The taxis tend to be marked with a yellow line on each side. Your best bet is to ask a local or enquire at your hotel.\n\nThe taxi services Uber, Bolt (formerly Taxify), Little, and MaraMoja have become the hired car provider of choice among Nairobi's large expatriate population due to its convenience, cost competitiveness, and higher quality of service when compared to other taxi providers.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk009", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you want a pre-arranged taxi with consistent pricing, you can try Davina Cabs. They have cab service in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu and have an office in Eldoret.\n\n### By bus (matatu)\n\nMatatus (public minibuses/commuter buses) are generally used for travelling between downtown Nairobi and the suburbs. Matatus vary in size, between the van sized 14-seat matatus and the larger 50-seat buses. While generally safe, matatus are involved in a high number of accidents every year. Matatus are often overcrowded with more people than seatbelts and therefore can be dangerous if involved in accidents. Because there are no licensing requirements, matatus are often poorly driven, with drivers passing on curbs, speeding, or passing in oncoming lanes while cars are oncoming. On each bus is a conductor who will hang out of the matatu and call out a price (usually Ksh 50-100 as of 2020) and location the matatu is driving. The government banned the 14-seat matatus inside Nairobi to reduce traffic and accidents in town. The best choice is probably the City Hoppa bus service, the revived Kenya Bus Service and the newly introduced electric buses (2025). Beware of traffic jams on the major highways, not only in the rush hours.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk010", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is a commuter rail service from the Central Nairobi Railway Station going to Syokimau Railway Station, also known as Nairobi Terminus. Syokimau Railway station is where you take trains going to Mombasa (see Get in by train above).\nTrain departures from the downtown Nairobi railway station going to Syokimau are at 6:35, 8AM, 9:35, noon, 17:30 and 18:20. From Syokimau the train departures are 6:20, 7:15, 8:50, 14:30 and 20:20. The trip takes 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs Ksh 50-100 (as of 2023).\nThere are four rail commuter lines in Nairobi:\n1.Nairobi main station from Kahawa which departs Nairobi at 8AM, and from Kahawa back to Nairobi at 9AM.\n2.Nairobi main station from Embakasi Village Station. It departs Nairobi station at 7:20, 9:30, 11:20, 13:30, 18:00 and 18:30 from Embakasi village station back to Nairobi station departs at 7:00, 8:00, 10:15, 12:10, 14:20 and 19:15. \n3.Nairobi main station to Kikuyu station.\n4.Nairobi main station to Syokimau station.\n\n### By foot\n\nalt=Green nairobi.jpg|thumb|Green Nairobi\n\nWalking around Nairobi is fairly easy since the city is small and places are easy to get to. However, there are some areas within the city where tourists should not go, and walking around at night should be minimised. Thugs are rampant in many areas. The city centre may be considered safe by some to venture on foot, but it can't be considered a pleasant experience. Expect to be approached by beggars, touts, etc.\n\n### By cycle\n\nCycling is quite uncommon in the city and most roads are not at all suited for safe cycling. With that said, there are a few protected cycle lanes within the central district and the government are keen to expand them into a small network.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk011", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "See", "text": "Nairobi is known as the safari capital of Africa; however, the city has still managed to keep up with modernization. Unlike other cities, Nairobi is surrounded by 113 km² (70 mi²) of plains, cliffs and forest that makes up the city’s Nairobi National Park. The city is filled with many things to do during the day and the night. Tourists can have their pick from numerous safaris (wildlife, cultural, sport, adventure, scenic and specialist), ecotourism tours, restaurants, culture, shopping and entertainment. While in Nairobi, tourists can also engage in numerous sports from golf, rugby, athletics, polo, horse-racing, cricket and football (soccer).\n\n - Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)\n\n - August 7 Memorial Park\n\n - Westlands by night\n\n - UN Office at Nairobi\n\n - Nairobi Mamba Village\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|Nairobi National Museum\n - Nairobi National Museum\n\n - National Railway Museum\n\n - Nairobi Gallery\n\n - Karen Blixen Museum\n\n - Bomas of Kenya\n\n### Parks\n\n - [[Nairobi National Park]]\n\n - Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage\n\n - Giraffe Centre\n\nthumb|City view from Uhuru Park\n - Uhuru Park\n\n - Uhuru Gardens\n\n - Arboretum Park\n\nthumb|Karura Forest Nairobi\n - Karura Forest\n\n - City Park\n\n### Religious sites\n\n - Jamia Mosque\n\n - All Saints' Cathedral\n\n - Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family\n\n - Khoja Mosque\n\n - Nairobi Synagogue\n\n### Around Nairobi\n\n - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park\n\n - Tana River\n\n - Kiambethu Tea Farm, Limuru\n\nthumb|Fourteen Falls\n - 14 Falls at Thika\n\n - Kitangela Glass\n\n - Kereita Forest zip line\n\n - The Anti-Gravity Hill (Kituluni Hill)\n\n - Swara Plains Conservancy\n\n - Olorgesailie pre-historic site\n\n - Lake Magadi\n\n - Hells Gate National Park", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk012", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Central park\n\n### Art and shopping\n\n - Go-Down Arts Centre\n\n- Kazuri Beads shop\n\n - Village Market\n\n### Food and drink\n\n - Try excellent food\n\n - Nightlife\n\n### Local life\n\n- Oloo’s Children Center (OCC)\n\n### Sports and physical activities\n\n - Ice-skating\n\n The - Horse flat-racing takes place three Sundays a month, and is a great way to spend an afternoon.\n\n **Hiking**: there are several good hiking places near Nairobi, e.g. in the Chyulu Hills or Ngong Hills. \n The Ngong Forest Reserve is 25 km south west of Nairobi. It is a popular walking and picnicking venue. In Ngong is a station where you have to pay the park entry fee, and those who want to also for a guide. There is only one route, the walk from Ngong to Corner Baridi (Kiserian), which takes about 4–5 hr; you hardly can get lost. Also organized hiking tours are offered.\n Other nice places for hiking are the Mount Longonot National Park and the **Menengai** Crater, a massive shield volcano with one of the biggest calderas in the world, in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. It is the largest volcano caldera in Kenya and the second largest volcano caldera in Africa\n\n### Safari\n\nNairobi is the capital of safaris in Kenya. There are tour operators from budget to world class all over the city. Yet it is not easy find the best fitting. For important things to consider when booking see Kenya.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk013", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|The Maasai Market\n\n### Money\n\nMost transactions are cash only, so it is best to have enough cash on hand to pay for purchases and transport. Cash is dispensed in units of Ksh 1,000. Many smaller businesses will not have much change, so before going shopping for curios be sure to have a good selection of smaller notes. On the other hand many stores will accept international credit cards. All big supermarket chains accept credit cards without a surcharge.\n\n**Exchange bureaux** are found in many parts of the city where tourists are common. They will exchange cash of different currencies, and may also accept a personal cheque for Kenyan cash. They will want a photocopy of your passport before they exchange money. Rates are not bad, but will be worse than a banking machine will offer. Many exchange bureaus and hotels will *not* accept or exchange American currency printed before 2000. When the exchange bureaus do accept pre-2000 notes, they typically offer substantially lower exchange rates than for currency printed after 2000. Exchange rates are also typically lower for small denomination currency than for US$100 and $50 bills.\n\nThere are **ATMs** in major shopping areas of Nairobi and in the airport. Ecobank. Cooperative Bank, Gt Bank, NCBA, Sidian bank, DTB, I&M charges no fees for withdrawals (e.g. by Visa or Mastercard) through their ATMs. Absa and Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic, Equity, BOA, KCB have a minimum Ksh 400-700 ATM fee for overseas cards at all their ATMs. ''Eco Bank'' has ATMs in 36 African countries.\n\nAnother option for payment is the **M-Pesa** app. It is a mobile phone-based platform used for most money transactions in Kenya. M-Pesa agents are available all over Kenya. You can use the platform instead of carrying cash around for safety purposes.\n\nThis may also be a good place to repeat the warning about safety. Pickpockets are rampant in Nairobi and have been known to keep an eye on people getting cash from a machine. It is best to carry cash in a hidden pouch rather than a wallet. Men should not carry their wallets in their back pockets, and women should not carry their purses to the side or behind them, particularly in busy locations.\n\n### Maasai Market\n\nFor local curios and souvenirs, the most easily accessible and tourist-friendly is the **Maasai Market**. Prepare to haggle and as a guide, pay about half to two-thirds of the asking price. It takes place Tuesday-Sunday on different places around the city according to the following schedule (as of 2024):\n\n Tuesday: opposite the Norfolk Hotel - for slightly better prices. This market is less secure, but is larger and offers more variety and opportunity for bargaining.\n Wednesday: on Mombasa Road near the airport\n Thursday: on Ngong Road\n Friday: in Gigiri - an upmarket, open concept shopping centre near the United Nations and American Embassy complexes. Bargaining is necessary, and one should probably not spend more than Ksh 1,000 on one item, except in extraordinary circumstances.\n Saturday: in the centre\n Sunday: in Hurlingham\n\n### Biashara Street\n\n , downtown, is the spot for textiles. Make sure you pick up at least one *kikoi or kikoy* (a traditional wrap for Swahili men, predominantly at the coast).\n\n - Haria's Stamp Shop\n\n### Shopping malls\n\n - Two Rivers Mall\n\n - Garden City Mall\n\n - The Sarit Centre Mall\n\n - Westgate Shopping Mall\n\n - Southfield Mall\n\n - The Village Market Mall\n\n - Thika Road Mall\n\n - The Hub Karen Mall\n\n - The Junction Mall\n\n - Yaya Centre Mall\n\n### Supermarket\n\n - Jaza Retail", "word_count": 589}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk014", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Food at a hotel\n\nNairobi has a wide range of Indian restaurants that speaks to the significant South Asian community in Kenya. The city also offers other restaurants specializing in different European and Asian cuisine. Restaurants serving international cuisines can be found in downtown and in the areas of Westlands, Hurlingham, Kilimiani, and Lavington. Among the many cuisines available are Italian, Brazilian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, German and French restaurants. \n\nIn addition, there are several local restaurants that cater to local cuisine like sukuma wiki (green spinach-like vegetable, 'Kale' in English), ugali (corn bread, ground maize flour and made to a tasty white bread/porridge form), nyama choma (literally: meat roast), chapati and other specialities.\n\nThere are also many of the internationally well-known fast-food chains in the city and they are also very popular with the Kenyan youth. \n\n### Budget\n\n - Hot dishes\n\n - KK Restaurant\n\n - Roast House\n\n - Habesha\n\n - Red Sea\n\n### Mid-range\n\nNairobi has a fantastic array of mid-range eateries.\n\n - Abyssinia Exotic Ethiopian Restaurant\n\n - Java House\n\n - Trattoria\n\n - Motherland\n\n - Havana Bar\n\n - Village Market Food Court\n\n### Splurge\n\n - The Carnivore\n\n - Furusato\n\n - The Lord Errol\n\n - Palacina Bistro\n\n - Alan Bobbe's Bistro\n\n - Le Palanka Pan\n\n- Seven Seafood & Grill", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk015", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Karen Blixen House\n\n - New Florida Clubs (F1)\n\n - Pango (F3):\n\n- Shooters & Dips Cocktail Lounge\n\n- Mercury Lounge ABC\n\n - Klub House 1 (K1)\n\n - Choices Lounge and Restaurant\n\n - Black Diamond\n\n - Havana:\n\n - Cockpit\n\n - Club LA\n\n - Santuri Salon Spotlight Sessions", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk016", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\nThe area around Tom Mboya Street & River Road has a lot of low cost hotels. Budget accommodation in Nairobi is from Ksh 1000 for a single room.\n\n- Milimani Backpackers & Safari Centre\n\n - Manyatta Backpackers\n\n - Destiny Hotel\n\n - Jungle Junction campground\n\n - Mad Vervet Backpackers Hostel\n\n - Inks hotel\n\n - Hotel Africana\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Olive Gardens Hotel\n\n- Ole-Sereni Hotel\n\n - Savannah Sands Executive Apartments.\n\n - DusitD2\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|Nairobi's night skyline\n - Fairview Hotel Nairobi, Vignette Collection by IHG\n\n - Southern Sun Mayfair Nairobi\n\n - Nairobi Serena Hotel\n\n - Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel\n\n - Safari Park Hotel & Casino\n\n - Sarova Stanley\n\n - Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club\n\n - The King Post\n\n - Giraffe Manor\n\n - Ngong House\n\n - Sankara Hotel\n\n- Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi\n\n - Palacina Hotel", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk017", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Nairobi has a reputation for thievery. Beware of snatch and grab, con artists, or groups of people following you. Scams are elaborate and can involve up to 10 or more people working together. The best advice for a tourist is to stay in the city centre, know where you are at all times, and pretend you know where you're going (even if you don't). If you find yourself in an unfamiliar area your best bet is to find a taxi (although you will probably pay dearly if the driver suspects a panicked westerner!) Don't carry large quantities of money or passports on the street, and assume that anyone trying to engage you is up to no good or trying to sell you something. If you stay smart and play safe, without going around much after dark, Nairobi can be a safe place to stay. Most locals are honest people who will happily help you if you approach them. The areas where you have to take special care are: Globe Roundabout, Archives, Ambassadeur, Muthurwa Market, around Nation Centre, Landies Road, Nyamakima, Kirinyaga Road, and Uhuru.\n\nKenyans are proud people and there is not a lot of begging like you find in some other countries. Some opportunistic people will hang around shopping centres and beg, but they will generally accept a simple 'sorry' and leave you alone if you do not give. Many of these 'beggars' are middle-class kids or adults who have realised they can profit from exploiting white guilt, and should not be encouraged. If you are ever lucky enough to visit a slum as a local (not on some perverse tourist safari) you will discover the poorest of the poor do not even beg.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk018", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Outside of tourist and expat communities, young children will become excited at the sight of a white person and may come running towards you to try to shake your hand while yelling out 'mzungu' (white person) or 'how are you?'. Older kids are more reserved, and you should be wary of kids who are older than 9 or 10 who are trying to distract or get close to you.\n\nSlums should be avoided by tourists as you will attract a lot of attention which can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.\n\nApart from the inner city centre, Nairobi dies out at night. Streets are mostly empty. Do not walk alone after nightfall. Always use taxis. The areas north and east of River Road should be avoided, especially if you're not a local!\n\nBiashara Street is a safe shopping street due to the presence of 10-15 Maasai guards. A place to avoid as a tourist is the City Market; you could end up paying a much higher price than on Biashara Street.\n\nIf you are in a matatu and moving slowly through traffic, particularly after dark, you should keep your window closed if your valuables are in reach to prevent people snatching them from the outside (there are thieves who walk through traffic looking for such opportunities). Mobile phones and wallets should be securely kept and not displayed prominently during calls or cash transactions in the River Road area, particularly after dark.\n\nEastleigh (known as 'little Mogadishu') is an area near the city centre that is decaying due to years of neglect by the government (including the police). It is predominantly populated by Somalian migrants and refugees, and most Kenyans will not go there for fear of their safety. Tourists would be wise to avoid it day and night.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk019", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There have been several grenade attacks in the city for which Al-Shabaab have claimed responsibility. These are likely to be ongoing while the Kenyan army has a presence in Somalia. They are random and often fatal, and one should be wary and report any suspicious behaviour. Associated with the terrorist threat, you can expect to pass through security checkpoints with armed guards at most attractions, shopping malls and even on the streets. You can expect (at times) to have to have your bags searched, and car checked.", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk020", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Skyline from Nairobi National Park\n\nIt is recommended that before tourists come to Nairobi, that they should be vaccinated well in advance (6 weeks) of their trip. The most common recommended vaccines for people traveling to Africa are tetanus, diphtheria, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, yellow fever, rabies and meningitis.\n\n### Food and beverages\n\nBe careful with the food that you eat outside the more upscale establishments. Before eating, make sure that the food is freshly and thoroughly cooked and served hot. Also avoid **seafood**, except at upmarket restaurants and hotels, and make sure that your fruits and vegetables have been properly washed in clean water. The safest fruits to eat are bananas and papayas.\n\nDo not drink **tap water** *or brush your teeth* with it. Only use bottled or canned drinks (especially popular brands). Also, do not use ice as it may also be contaminated water, and remember that alcohol does not sterilize a drink. The general rule of thumb is, the more high end an establishment is, the greater the safety of the food and drink within.\n\n### Insects\n\nIn much of Africa you are going to be exposed to yellow fever, dengue fever, other viral diseases, sleeping sickness, filariasis and malaria, although none of these diseases is a concern in Nairobi. When insects are biting you should cover up and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers, socks and pyjamas especially when night falls. It is best to use an insect repellent that contains DEET on your exposed skin and clothing. As for mosquito nets, it is best to use a permethrin-impregnated net along with an insecticide such a pyrethrum coils or an electric mosquito killer during the night. And remember to spray your hotel room every evening.\n\n### Heat and sun\n\nMake sure to drink plenty of fluids (not coffee, alcohol or strong tea) to avoid dehydration. If you are well hydrated, your body will produce plenty of clear urine. The average temperature is around 25°C (maximum might reach 30°C) throughout the year. People coming from Asian countries like India will not have much problem with the weather — in fact it will seem pleasant year-round. For people who are from cold countries, it can take three weeks to become accustomed to the heat. Try to avoid plenty of physical exertion and to stay in the shade and keep cool as much as possible. Increase the amount of salt intake in your food and water. Also, apply a lot of high-factor sunscreen, avoid direct sunlight, and try to wear a hat and shady clothing.", "word_count": 427}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk021", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are very many internet cafés around Nairobi, but connection speeds and computers are not always super fast, but still you will manage to open your email, probably even use a webcam or watch YouTube. Prices are usually at ranges from Ksh 0.5/minute to Ksh 1/minute, usually with a minimum fee of Ksh 5-20. The more expensive internet cafés are rarely better and the best ones charge Ksh 1/minute with discounts for using the internet for longer. Most of the good cafés are found in Norwich Union which has quite a number just opposite Hilton Hotel next to Nandos while the expensive ones are found in malls in Westlands. Although it may be more appropriate for tourists to use the ones in Westlands since they are usually less crowded and are more exclusive but not necessarily faster or better in terms of equipment.\n\nFree wireless internet is available at Java House restaurants and Doorman's coffee shops in the city and malls. Some bars like Havana in Westlands also offer free wifi. The internet cafe in Sarit Centre also has wireless internet available at a good speed and a reasonable price.\n\n**Mobile phones** are ubiquitous in Kenya with fairly good coverage from all providers **Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom** that extends to most populated parts of the country. Safaricom has the best national coverage especially if you are using 4G data. The phone system is GSM 900 and 3G-4G 2100 (Asian and European standard) on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Phones and SIM cards are available at many locations throughout Nairobi and the country including at the airport. Phone prices are very competitive and priced for average income Kenyans. A basic phone may be obtained new from an independent dealer for ~Ksh 2000. A vast majority of people use pre-paid phones with scratch-card top-ups available at a huge number of merchants across the country. Phones are sold \"unlocked\" by outlets for use on any network. Safaricom though does sell a number of phones locked to its network. Much business is conducted via mobile phone, so possession of one for even a relatively short stay in the country can be beneficial. Rates are extremely affordable with in-country calls at around Ksh 3 per minute. Overseas calls cost around Ksh 5 per minute to the United States (~USD$0.06/minute) and Ksh 3 per minute to India on the Airtel network.\n\n3G data service is available in most coverage areas on Safaricom and is of a fairly high standard. The other networks have 3G in major population areas and EDGE/GPRS everywhere else. If you have a smart phone you should buy a data pack (200mb, 500mb or 1.5gb) or your credit will go down very fast.\nAirtel and Telekom have lower prices for calls and data.", "word_count": 459}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk022", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Cope", "text": "Smoking is against the law out on the streets in the city centre (the downtown grid area with numerous skyscrapers). There are certain smoking zones, and outside of the city centre it becomes much easier to find locations where it is acceptable. However, a general rule would be to not smoke along the side of any roads or streets with pedestrians and/or vehicles. Be observant and take your cues from other smokers - if there are no smokers or cigarette butts on the ground, it is likely a non-smoking location.\n\n### Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions\n\n - Australia\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Cyprus\n\n - Djibouti\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Eritrea\n\n - Ethiopia\n\n - Finland\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Japan\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Romania\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Spain\n\n - Rwanda\n\n - Serbia\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "nairobi::chunk023", "doc_id": "nairobi", "section": "Go next", "text": "Kisumu\n Kakamega Rainforest: the last primeval rainforest in the country, and home to various monkeys and hundreds of bird species\n Lake Naivasha is worth at least a day's visit and has enough to keep you occupied for two or three days. Lakeshore country clubs are a good place for lunch. You can take a boat ride on the lake to see hippos, go for a walk among zebra and giraffes on Crescent Island, ride thoroughbred horses among zebra, giraffes and wildebeest at the Sanctuary Farm, and ride bicycles among wildlife and dramatic scenery at Hell's Gate National Park.\n Nakuru National Park, although further afield, deservedly warrants a 1-night stay for a late-afternoon and early-morning game drive.\n Maasai Mara National Reserve: Kenya's most important National Park\n Mount Longonot National Park: Daytrip to hike on a 2700m volcano\n Aberdare National Park: known for high population of rhinos\n '''Ol Pejeta Conservatory''' provides a sanctuary for great apes and rhinos", "word_count": 156}
diff --git a/corpus/nairobi/metadata.json b/corpus/nairobi/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d3159b4c44558f6e9f5f906f0836fe53c6452fdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nairobi/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nairobi",
+ "title": "Nairobi",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nairobi",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Rift Valley"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kisumu",
+ "Kakamega Rainforest",
+ "Lake Naivasha",
+ "Nakuru National Park",
+ "Maasai Mara National Reserve",
+ "Mount Longonot National Park",
+ "Aberdare National Park"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5907,
+ "listing_count": 127,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 24,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/namibia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/namibia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9d4add6a278b394574dcd67aa3e047f1da567d29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/namibia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk000", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Namibia**, in Southern Africa, boasts remarkable natural attractions such as the Namib Desert, the Fish River Canyon Park, Etosha National Park and the Kalahari Desert. Thanks to both a wealth of indigenous cultures and a tumultuous colonial history, its people speak nine different languages, including some of the Khoisan languages which include the 'clicks' that present an enigma to most native English speakers. It is also one of the few places outside Central Europe where German, although not official, remains a commonly spoken language, while Afrikaans, shared with its southern neighbour, is also prevalent.\n\nBlending German, Afrikaner, Herero and other indigenous heritage in its modern cities, unique desert landscapes, rich wildlife and a relatively high standard of living, resulting in part from abundant natural resources (for example, Namibia produces the world's highest-quality gem diamonds), Namibia is today a peaceful country, welcoming to visitors and offering unforgettable experiences.", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk001", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Cities", "text": "—Namibia's capital and largest city\n , capital of Omaheke\n , capital of the Zambezi region in the Caprivi Strip\n, capital of ǁKaras\n—colonial-era German coastal town, with the ghost town of Kolmanskop nearby\n , the capital of Hardap\n—capital of Kunene Region and an ideal starting point for stocking up before venturing further into Kaokoland\n \n, capital of Erongo and a mecca for Namibians on holiday", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk002", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|A seal colony on the Skeleton Coast\n — The highest mountain in Namibia at 2,573 m.\n — stunning desert landscapes\n — Abundant wildlife in the \"big white place\"\n — one of the largest canyons in the world.\n — home to the Himba tribe, desert elephants, desert lions, Epupa Waterfalls and many more attractions in this northwestern corner of the country.\n — The northern coastal part of the Namib desert, named for the dozens of ships that were beached in the thick fog that is frequent where the desert meets the Atlantic.\n — The most popular entry point for people wanting to visit the Namib desert.\n — the Matterhorn of Namibia.\n — Another good place to watch wildlife.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk003", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nNamibia was inhabited by San people until about 1,000 years ago. If you have the rare opportunity to talk to a San (most do not speak English), **do not** call them Bushmen, that's considered derogatory. Due to the Bantu migration, Ovambo people and Ovaherero people moved into northern and central Namibia. In the South the Damara people established themselves; it is unclear where they came from. About 200 years ago the Oorlam people moved in from the South. Then the Oorlam and the Herero clashed.\nthumb|German colonial architecture in [[Swakopmund]]\nNamibia was colonized by Germany in the late 19th century. Colonial control was established by private interests before the German Reich itself got involved as Bismarck was rather skeptical of colonial endeavors. German business and colonial interests, among them Adolf Lüderitz, tried to co-opt local rulers into their schemes and to that end signed treaties of varying honesty and even-handedness. One treaty famously mentioned a strip of land from the coast several \"miles\" inland to be handed over to the colonizers. What the treaty failed to mention was that the British miles of roughly 1.6 km wasn't what the Germans meant - they insisted upon much larger \"Prussian miles\" that were obscure even then and entirely unknown to the locals.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk004", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Conflict broke out, but the colonizers had the better weapons and backing from Berlin so the locals stood no chance. By 1884 \"Deutsch Südwestafrika\" had officially become a colony and unlike Germany's other colonies, it did attract significant settlement from the mother country, soon leading to serious debates in the Reichstag about the \"problem\" of \"mixed\" descendants of settlers and locals. Another problem were local uprisings and when the Herero rose up in 1904 the Germans under general Lothar von Trotha responded with an amount of genocidal cruelty that shocked even contemporary advocates of colonialism. Von Trotha issued an order to shoot down unarmed civilians including women and children and had them driven into the desert. Low estimates put the death toll at 40,000 but numbers as high as 70,000 have been put forth for this first genocide perpetrated by Germany, today dubbed the Herero and Nama genocide. Both descendants of von Trotha and the German government have since asked for forgiveness but no formal restitution was ever paid. At the start of World War I, only 30 years after they arrived, much of Namibia (then called South West Africa) was in German possession.\n\nDuring World War I, Africa also became a front but by 1915 Namibia had fallen to the Entente. It was administered by South Africa under a League of Nations mandate after World War I, and as if it were a province of South Africa after World War II. The South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO) launched a guerrilla war for independence in 1966 and gained independence in 1990. Namibia is in many ways quite similar to South Africa. Since it was ruled under the apartheid system, Namibia also has many of the problems resulting from that system.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk005", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Namibia shares many similarities with its neighbours, particularly with South Africa, and if you're used to travelling in the region, Namibia should be a seamless transition from the latter. However, there are some subtle differences. For example, in South Africa a black South African may choose to speak English rather than Afrikaans (as a political choice) whereas among Namibia's mixed-race population (who call themselves 'coloured' in Namibia and South Africa) Afrikaans is a proud part of their culture, and many people still speak German. Overlooking these differences isn't going to cause offence, but they're handy to know.\n\nThe public holidays in Namibia are:\n - 1 January\n\n- 21 March\n\n- Easter weekend\n\n- 1 May\n\n- 4 May\n\n- 25 May\n\n- 26 August\n\n- 10 December\n\n- 25 December\n\n- 26 December\n\nIf a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, many businesses will give the previous, or the following, day off, and be closed.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nVisit Namibia website", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk006", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Countries shown in green may visit Namibia visa-free\n\n### Visas\n\nTourists may enter Namibia for up to 90 days.\n\nForeign nationals from the following countries/territories will get a visa **on arrival** without prior application:\nAngola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Cuba, Denmark, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, since early 2025, the visa on arrival (and e-visa) will cost visitors from countries such as the EU, UK, Australia and the United States. The cost is N$1,600 (= 1,600R). The lines at the airport can be quite long.\n\nCitizens not from the above countries need to apply for a visa from the Namibian consulate in their country of origin or the - Ministry of Home Affairs\n\nTo apply for a visa from a Namibian embassy or consulate, you will need a visa application form (this is one from the Namibian High Commission in London), a document confirming your address in Namibia (such as a hotel booking), a passport with three blank pages and a colour passport photo.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk007", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you require a visa to enter Namibia, you *might* be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission, or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Namibian diplomatic post. See the UK government website about applying for Commonwealth visas. British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Namibian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Namibia require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Namibia can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.\n\nAll visitors require a passport valid for at least 6 months after date of entry into Namibia.\n\nYou need a return or onward **air or bus** ticket when you fly to Namibia; if you don't have one the airline will **not** take you there.\nYou can book a **Intercape** bus ticket online. Intercape have buses from Namibia to South Africa and Zambia.\n\nThey will **not** let you in if you don't have an address where you are going, so be sure to have one.\n\nAlways verify the dates stamped into your passport, because there have been cases where corrupt officers stamp wrong dates to fine people for overstaying when they leave, and these fines are huge.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Aircraft at Windhoek International Airport\nHosea Kutako International Airport (), located 45 minutes east of Windhoek, is the main entry point for air traffic. Since the demise of Air Namibia in 2021, connections have been limited. The only flight from Europe is carried out by Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt. Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines offer connections through Doha and Addis Ababa respectively. South African Airways and Airlink operate flights to and from South Africa, TAAG Angola Airlines operates flights to Luanda.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk008", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are 9 commonly used border posts with neighbouring countries:\n\n#### Angola\n\n- Oshikango\n\n- Ruacana\n\n#### Botswana\n\n- Buitepos\n\n- Mhembo\n\n#### South Africa\n\n- Araimsvlei\n\n- Verloorsdrift\n\n- Noordoewer\n\n- Oranjemund\n\n#### Zambia\n\n- Wenela\n\nEach foreign-registered vehicle entering Namibia should pay a CBC or entry fee and obtain the corresponding permit and tax invoice at a Road Fund Administration (RFA) office at Namibia's border posts. The amount to pay for a small passenger car is N$ 308. Information can be obtained from the RFA website. This charge will usually be refunded by car rental companies which utilise South-African registered vehicles to be operated in Namibia.\n\n### By international bus\n\nThe most convenient international bus services into Namibia run from Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg and Gaborone.\n\n**Intercape Mainliner** have buses from Windhoek to Victoria Falls, Capetown, and the Angola border.\n**Monnakgotla travel** have a bus two times a week from Windhoek Namibia to Gaborone Botswana.\n**Insight Luxury Coaches** have a bus two times a week from Windhoek to Livingstone Zambia. fares are from N$450. which is less than the fare with **Intercape**\n\n### By train\n\nThe regular overnight train from Upington in South Africa to Windhoek, operated by TransNamib, was **discontinued** and remains out of operation as of July 2023.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk009", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Legal issues\n\nTravellers are expected to produce identification if police, health inspectors or customs officials stop them. A current passport or drivers license will do. Namibia is very concerned about child trafficking. When travelling with children you need to carry their full birth certificate to prove they are yours. When only one parent is travelling, a consent letter from the other parent (alternatively a death certificate) is required, even if you are married or have sole custody.\n\nThere is a veterinary demarkation between northern Namibia and the rest of the country, at approximately the latitude of Etosha. Check Wikipedia for details. No meat may be taken from north of the line southwards. You will nevertheless be checked both ways; nobody knows why.\n\n### By plane\n\n- Westair Aviation\n\n### By train\n\nThe national railway company of Namibia, TransNamib, **does not operate any scheduled passenger services** as of July 2023.\n\nOther rail services operating in the country are:\n - Desert Express\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|330px|right|Map of Namibia\nDespite the vast distances in Namibia, most people get around by land, and not air. Namibia's primary routes (A and B roads) are tarred, and secondary routes (roads designated C or MR) are well-graded gravel. Many D roads are just about passable with a sedan, while F (*farm*) roads usually are not. An all-terrain vehicle is not necessary to reach the major tourist destinations except Kaokoland. However, if the country gets good rains—December or January, about once every 7 years—all bets are off.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk010", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving at night is very dangerous because there is a **lot** of wildlife on the roads. Traffic drives on the left. Namibian roads eat tires and chip windscreens. Always check your spare and inspect your tires often. If someone overtakes you on a gravel road, drive as far left as possible and slow down to avoid being hit by flying stones. The road edges can be soft, so take care.\n\nService stations can be a fair distance from each other, so it pays to get a map showing where they are located to plan your trip. If you are on the back roads of Namibia, it's always wise to stop and top-off your tank when you see a service station. Most service stations in towns accept credit cards, and many have ATMs available. However, in the countryside you might have to pay cash. A small tip for the attendant pumping your gasoline of N$3-5 is quite common - and you need to make this in cash. It is also necessary to carry food and water, in case you get stuck with a breakdown. On lesser travelled roads it can take days (!) for another vehicle to pass through.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk011", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Namibia has some of the worst road accident statistics in the world per head of population. The speed limit on tarred roads is 120 km/h but few drivers adhere to it. There is an unbelievable number of head-on collisions due to overtaking at unsuitable spots. Self-driving tourists \"score\" mostly in the 'no other party involved' accident category, losing control of their cars for no apparent reason but speed. Driving on dirt roads is unlike any other driving experience that Europeans or North Americans can gain at home, and the 100 km/h speed limit does not mean you should, or even can, drive safely at that speed. This farmer overtaking you at breakneck speed knows every rock and every puddle on this road, has a more suitable car, and likely a few hundred thousand kilometers of experience on his belt.\n\nNamibians often estimate the time to drive between places according to their own vast experience driving quickly on dirt (untarred) roads. Add a third and you will arrive alive with kidneys intact!\n\nthumb|\"Solitaire\" petrol station\nBefore you reserve a car let the rental company send you a copy of its rental agreement. Most of them have many (and sometimes absolutely ridiculous) restrictions. Take your time to compare them according to your needs. Small damage to tires, windscreens, and the vehicle front is almost unavoidable on gravel roads. The rental company will charge you for that, or will try to sell expensive add-ons to the contract. When picking up your car, check that the spare wheel is of the same type as the regular wheels, and that the tools for changing it are complete. Consider comprehensive travel insurance from your home country that may cover all damage.\n\nThe blood alcohol limit in Namibia is 0.08.\n\n- Drive South Africa", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk012", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get around", "text": "- Europcar Car Hire\n\n- Kalahari Car Hire\n\n- Windhoek Car Hire\n\n- SANI Car Rental\n\n- AAA Car Hire\n\n### By taxi\n\nThere are two types of taxi services in Namibia: shared taxis and dedicated taxis, often called \"radio taxis\" or \"call-a cab\". The shared taxis have a license restricting their movement, either to within a town, or between a set of towns. Taxi fares of shared taxis are regulated by government and cannot be bargained on. However, taxi drivers might nevertheless overcharge tourists who do not know what the standard fares are. Radio taxis have no such restriction but charge between 5 and 10 times for the same ride.\n\nShared taxis are seldom roadworthy - any car in Namibia must pass the roadworthy test only upon change of ownership. It is not uncommon to see bonnets tied by steel wire, emergency spare tyres, broken screens, and the like. Drivers habitually jump red lights (in Namibia: \"robots\") and stop signs and will let passengers embark wherever they find them, including on highways and in the middle of an intersection. Be considerate to other drivers by not waving at a taxi where it is not safe to stop.\n\nIt is quite easy to get around towns by long-distance shared taxis. They are fast, sometimes scarily so, and they are cheap. Just ask around to find out where the taxi rank is (sometimes there are several taxi ranks, each one with departures to different areas of the country). None of these will take you to tourist destinations, though, as those are almost always away from the larger settlements. For taxis that operate within a town it is expected that you, instead of waving at them, point into the direction you wish to travel.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk013", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Get around", "text": "A lot of companies offer affordable shuttle services between most towns like Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo etc. These services are perfectly safe but more expensive than taxis.\n\n### By bus\n\n- Intercape\n\n### By tour\n\nSeveral tour companies operate in Namibia. Each is unique in services offered but most operate with safety in mind.\n\n**Okutembuka Safaris**. A company that specialises in private guided day tours, multi-day tours or self-drive safaris.\n\n### Hitchhiking\n\nHitchhiking is uncommon in Namibia. While it is possible to get a hike from one town to another, the typical \"See\" and \"Do\" activities are out in the countryside. For whatever reason, most Namibians have never visited any of their tourism establishments, never seen a wild animal larger than a baboon, and never stayed in tourist accommodation. Only other tourists will go there, and they often have no space in their cars or no willingness to give you a lift. Even worse than to go from a town to a landmark, is going from one landmark to the next. Namibia as a whole is very much off the beaten track, very sparsely populated, and has very little traffic overall. You might stand days at Sossusvlei hitchhiking to the Naukluft. Let's hope you brought water and food. If you finally get a hike, the driver will typically ask for a contribution to his petrol expenses, so it is not even for free.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk014", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Talk", "text": "Major Indigenous languages include Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Damara/Nama, various San languages, Rukwangali, and Silozi.\n\n**English** is the official language and is widely spoken. However, the majority of older Namibians (those educated before independence) speak English only as a third language; therefore, the standard is fairly poor. English is more widely spoken in the north, as it was adopted as a medium of instruction earlier than in the south. Older Namibians in the South are more likely to speak Afrikaans or German.\n\n**Afrikaans** is spoken by many and is the first language of the Coloureds as well as the Afrikaners. English is spoken as a first language by the remaining English families, and **German** is spoken by the Namibians of German descent, who tend to be in Windhoek, Swakopmund and various farms scattered through the country. German is one of the leading commercial languages as well. Portuguese is spoken by immigrants from Angola.\n\nThere are a few English words with specific local meaning.\n There is a (huge) difference between *African* and *Afrikaner*: Africans are people that consider their roots to be in Africa. Most black people will call themselves Africans, and some white and mixed-race folk as well. Afrikaners are the descendants of Dutch-speaking European immigrants who arrived from the 17th century onwards. Their dialect evolved over time into what is now called Afrikaans.\n *Coloured* is not a euphemism of \"black\", but rather mixed race individuals; see below.\n Shanty towns or townships are called *locations* or *informal areas*, the latter meaning that the suburb is not proclaimed and has likely no electricity or sewerage system. Do not refer to them as slums, as that would be offensive. Besides, there are many wealthy residents who stay in the location by choice. Local adolescents will refer to their townships as *ghettos*—apply your own judgment as to whether you are young enough and hip enough not to be misunderstood.\n Fuel for your car is bought at a *petrol* station as is the case in most Commonwealth countries. If you ask for gas you'll be sent to the next camping outfitter or welding shop instead.\n Traffic lights are *robots*, so if a traffic sign comes up saying \"robots ahead\" it is not an alien invasion.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk015", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Sossusvlei landscape\n\nNamibia is a land of astounding natural beauty. To truly appreciate the country, you need to get out in the countryside, either on a tour or by renting a car, and take in the deserts, the mountains, the villages and everything else that Namibia has to offer.\n\nOne of its most dominant features, and the one for which the country is named, is the **Namib Desert**, which stretches for nearly 1000 km along the Atlantic coast. One of the oldest deserts in the world, its sand takes on a distinctive rust colour, with the desert having some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Sossusvlei is the most accessible part of the desert and is a magical place with its towering dunes that shift hues as the sun rises and sets. Further south, near the South African border, is Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. Stretching for 160 km, it is reaches 27 km across at its widest and nearly 550 m down at its deepest. In the north of the country is the empty and mostly inaccessible Skeleton Coast National Park. It is a seemingly barren expanse of stone and sand famous for its fog and the number of shipwrecks along the coast.\nthumb|300px|The Big Five\nNamibia still has plenty of **African wildlife** to see and is one of the countries where all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo) can be seen in the wild. There are also some local subspecies, such as desert lions, desert elephants and the Hartmann's mountain zebra, which are adapted to the harsh desert climate. Grazing animals like gemsbok, ostrich and springbok are also common. Namibia's **national parks** are an excellent starting point and one of the most famous is Etosha National Park in the north. The park surrounds the Etosha salt pan, which attracts animals, particularly in the drier winter months, because it is a source of water in a very dry land. Other notable spots to view wildlife are Waterberg Plateau Park, the parks of the Caprivi and the remote Kaokoland.\n\nNamibia has a German influence from colonial times that is retained in some of its buildings. Windhoek has a number of interesting buildings like the **Christuskirche**, the **train station** and the castle-like **Heinitzburg Hotel**. Lüderitz is a colonial era town with distinctive **German Imperial and Art Nouveau styles**. Nearby is the abandoned mining town of **Kolmanskop**. Once a thriving center for diamonds, the miners moved on and the sand dunes have moved in, but tours are still available.", "word_count": 425}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk016", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Do", "text": "When planning your tour, consider that many attractions require a permit but not all of them sell it on-site. Most visitors pass through Windhoek at the start of their tour; Obtain the necessary permits here. \nThe major permit issuers are the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda St, Windhoek), the National Heritage Council (NHC, 52 Robert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek), and Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR, Gathemann Building, Independence Avenue, Windhoek). \n Go on **safari**. Explore landscape and wildlife by car. For many of the wild animals you do not need to visit a national park. Just leave the major highways, and you will bump into (not literally, hopefully) giraffe, ostrich, kudu, oryx, springbok, baboon, and much more.\n **Relax**. Namibia is not about ticking off boxes on laundry lists of things to see. Instead book a hut or pitch a tent in one of the many breathtakingly beautiful places, occupy a chair outside, and enjoy the landscape, wildlife, sunsets, and the night sky.\n Go on a **4x4 tour**. See our Off-roading in Namibia article.\n Explore **ghost towns** of the diamond rush around the coastal town of Lüderitz\n Fly with a **hot-air balloon** across the dunes at Sossusvlei\n Ride a **sandboard** or a **quadbike** through the dunes in the coastal area around Walvis Bay and Swakopmund\n Explore the rich **culture** by visiting an **indigenous community** of the San (Tsumkwe), the Ovahimba (Kaokoland), the Ovaherero (Omaheke) or the Damara (Erongo). There are commercial options, called \"Living Village\" or \"Living Museum\", or you do it on your own by hiring a guide and follow their advice.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk017", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|200px|Money in Namibia\n\nThe currency of the country is the **Namibian dollar**, denoted by the symbol \"**$**\" or \"**N$**\" (ISO currency code: **NAD**). It is divided into 100 cents. Unlike elsewhere in Africa you cannot pay anything in US dollars or euro.\n\nCoins of Namibia are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, N$1, N$5 and N$10. Banknotes of Namibia are issued in denominations of N$10, N$20, N$50, N$100 and N$200. There are also N$30 and N$60 notes, but they are worth more as collector's pieces than as circulating pieces.\n\nNamibia, Lesotho, South Africa and Eswatini form the Southern African Common Monetary Area (CMA) through which each country's currency is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR). The Namibian dollar and South African rand are legal tender in Namibia though change will usually be given in Namibian dollars.\n\nBanks in Namibia will convert Namibian dollars for South African rand and vice versa without charge or paperwork. Since any bank or currency exchange outside Namibia (including other members of the Common Monetary Area) will charge a substantial service fee to change currency, it is advisable to make use of a Namibian Bank before leaving the country.\n\nYou should carry proof (for example, ATM receipts) that money you are taking out of the country is money that you brought into the country in the first place.\n\nCurrent official exchange rates are available from the Namibian Central Bank", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk018", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Automated teller machines are available in all towns. \"Town\" in Namibia is defined as \"being independently governed\", and not by size. Some towns thus are really small. Most villages do not feature an ATM. Also be advised that not everything on the Namibian map is a settlement. \"Red drum\" in Kunene Region is just that, a red drum, and \"Sossusvlei\" is a clay pan, not a village. And has no ATM, of course. It is best to use only teller machines that are manned by a security guard in uniform. Always be careful to make sure no one is watching you enter your PIN, and be vigilant about typical scams (e.g. machines that seem to eat your card and won't give it back after you enter the PIN).\n\nThe cross-border money transfer facilities are limited and expensive, with one of the poorest currency buying-and-selling rates, because the government does not want the money to be sent out of the country. There are only a few Western Union Money Transfer offices in Namibia.\n\n### Shopping\n\nPrices in shops are fixed, but prices in open markets or from street vendors are open to bargain.\n\nWhen going on a self-drive tour, stock up on groceries while you are in Windhoek, or whenever you pass a town. Obtaining vegetables, coffee, butter, honey, even eggs, milk or bread, can be a struggle out in the countryside. The only items you'll get almost everywhere are canned food, pasta, oil and tea.\n\n### Souvenirs", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk019", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Buy", "text": "In most towns you will be approached by many locals to buy souvenirs, when this happens a 'no thanks' will usually suffice and they will leave you alone. It is common to haggle. Try to buy as much as possible from small shops instead of bigger ones—it's the best way to help the poor local population. Please do not buy high-quality ware like mobile phones or safari gear from mobile vendors. They often trade in contraband, and obtaining such goods may get you into trouble.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk020", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Typical souvenirs from Namibia are:\n **Amarula:** a liquor made from the nuts of the Makalani tree. There are several brands, and all major liquor shops store it. Around 150 N$ (January 2024)\n **Arts and crafts** are sold in all towns where tourists might come through, typically in the city centres and in designated areas at town entrances. Some are made on site like the wooden sculptures at the entrances of Okahandja, the jewellery in the centre of Opuwo, and the sheep and goat skins sold along the B1 road between Mariental and Keetmanshoop. Some are imported from other African countries: Most of the stone sculptures are Shona art and come from Zimbabwe, textiles come from South Africa, Tanzania or Kenya, and wooden masks are also not Namibian. Don't worry too much about aircraft luggage if you buy a larger item, as airlines flying to Namibia will make an effort to transport it without extra charge.\n You will likely be approached to buy keychains made from **makalani nuts** — tiny coconuts of about 4 cm diameter with African animals carved in the brown shells. They do make nice souvenirs. Vendors will ask tourists' names and immediately start carving them in the nuts to press you to buy them. If you don't intend to buy one, you might consider not telling them your name. The sellers can become pesky, especially if they appear in groups close to popular tourist destinations. 40-50 N$ (September 2023)\n **Veldskoene** (*shoes from hides*, alternatively *shoes for the savannah*, depending on translation): The traditional footwear of the Khoisan, still manufactured largely by hand, in South Africa and Namibia, and worn by many locals. Due to the use of antelope or seal leather they are very soft and will slowly adapt to any form of foot, buy a size smaller than usual. Depending on the make they can also be featherlight. Unfortunately they do not look very good, but Namibians couldn't care less. The most sturdy veldskoene come with soles made from car tyres; You will not walk through them in a lifetime! This type can be bought from a semi-industrialised South African company (\"Strassbergers\") in all agricultural suppliers (Agra, Agrimark, Metro) but also from street vendors who have someone in the family to make them by hand. You can order veldskoene to be custom-made at the beginning of your holidays, for instance in Windhoek's Post Street Mall, and pick them up before you head home again. 500-800 N$ (January 2024)", "word_count": 412}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk021", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Diamonds\n\nNamibia is home to some of the most productive diamond mines in the world, and since all mines are owned by a government-de Beers partnership, prices in Namibia are generally much lower than in the Western world, where monopolies control the prices. Most large towns in Namibia have stores that sell diamonds.\n\nPossession of uncut diamonds is illegal in Namibia and carries lengthy jail terms. Any attempt to sell them to you is likely a rip-off, anyway.\n\nNamibia also has green demantoid garnet.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk022", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Namibians have a very high intake of meat, and a low intake of vegetables. This has to do with the semi-arid climate; agriculture almost exclusively is cattle, sheep, and goat farming while edible plants only grow when irrigated. As a result, meat is good, cheap, and plentiful, while fruits and vegetables tend to be expensive as a lot of produce is imported from neighbouring states.\nA very popular way to eat and socialise is the *braai*, a mixed wood-fired barbecue with lots of alcoholic drinks. Every campsite, every lodge, and every domestic home has pre-installed braai facilities.\n\nthumb|The Fork'n'Nice food lorry on the beach in [[Swakopmund]]. Try its fish and chips.\nIn the coastal towns seafood is fresh and inexpensive. Make sure you try the local specialities *kingklip* and *sole*. Hake is also available and cheap. Restaurants will often offer *line fish* or *angel fish* which is simply what the fishermen managed to haul out from the sea—do ask what kind of fish it is before ordering. Inland, fish is also served in restaurants but how fresh it is is a matter of luck. Of course it has been frozen during the transport across the Namib Desert; if you don't like that then order something else.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk023", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Eat", "text": "All towns have supermarkets with all standard products, although most fruits and vegetables are imported and therefore rather expensive. Shops in villages will have very little fresh produce. Even if they have cold storage it will mostly be used for drinks. Far away from bigger towns tomatoes, onions, potatoes and apples is all you can hope for, and mostly not at once. Also buying meat can be a challenge unless you are prepared to take the whole animal. Travellers usually take along mobile fridges, or at least several coolboxes, to complement the restricted offer. Cooler boxes are so ubiquitous that there is a local viral video about them.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk024", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Of the local food specialities these are the ones you should try. You get them on any open market and in some specialised restaurants:\n **Kapana:** Grilled beef strips as a snack. If you don't like it spicy, say so, otherwise it will be very hot.\n **Biltong** and **droewors:** spiced and marinated dried meat, in its original form or as sausage. Perfect snack for long overland drives.\n **Goat meat:** Stewed or grilled, very rich flavour, you pay per piece. So before you have picked your pieces you will not be told a price.\n **Matangara:** Beef (sometimes goat) tripes in a tangy sauce, can be hot. Matangara is so popular that you can buy it pre-cooked in the supermarket.\n Maize or Mahangu (pearl millet) **pap:** Types of porridge, the national staple food. Only suitable for meals with sauce; On its own it doesn't go down well.\n **Junkies** or **vetkoek:** Dough dumplings fried in oil, as a staple for meat, or sweet\n **Rosterbrood:** dough rolls baked on the *braai*, very rich and slightly sweet. The perfect side for grilled meat\n **Wild spinach** (omboga): Flavourful spinach that grows as a weed in mahangu fields. As all food from the North it is invariably full of sand, and no amount of rinsing will remove it because the sand is inside the leaves. With a bit of practice you can chew it the correct way by leaving a small gap between your rows of teeth.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk025", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Eat", "text": "As a tourist you won't have the chance to prepare a **potjie** , stewed food from a cast-iron pot prepared over open fire. It takes forever, the pot is heavy and awkward to transport, and a good potjie requires a lot of experience. But lodges and some restaurants offer it, and if you are invited privately, your host will be happy to *make a potjie* for the occasion.\n\nVegetarians and vegans can have a challenging time in Namibia. While you may have to explain your diet in restaurants, the average place will make an effort to accommodate you. With the exception of Windhoek, Swakopmund, and high end lodges you won't find anything that is purposefully vegetarian.\n\nWindhoek and Swakopmund also have a variety of world cuisines now. There are Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican and other restaurants.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk026", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Namibia's nightclubs are always happening and always open late (pretty much until the last person leaves). They are only located in bigger cities. The local version of a bar is the *shebeen*, a formal or informal structure with a counter for alcohol sale, a TV, a slot machine, and often a pool table. Drinks in shebeens are very cheap, and there are a lot of them, but most are situated in the townships. The flagship beer of Namibia is Windhoek Lager, an easy-drinking filtered beer, brewed by resident German master brewers.\n\nThe sale of alcohol for take-away is not allowed between Saturday 13:00 and Monday morning; all holidays count as Sundays. That means in supermarkets, which usually are open every day, the fridges with alcoholic drinks will be padlocked during this period. In informal areas (townships, shebeens, or remote villages) this rule is seldom enforced.\n\n**Oshikundu** or **Ontaku** is a traditional Namibian beer-like drink made from fermented millet and sold in markets and at street stalls.\n\nAmong travellers various Shandies are popular because they cool you down on a hot summer day. They all contain Angostura, and therefore a trace of alcohol, but not enough to cloud the mind. The original recipe is subject to debate, but often **Rock Shandy** will be lemonade plus soda water, and **Malawi Shandy** ginger ale plus soda water, all on a copious amount of ice cubes, and with a dash of Angostura. Make sure you try one when it is hot.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk027", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Camping\n\nNamibians love camping and the outdoors. Near every tourist attraction you will find several camp sites, from very simple, communally run places on sand that just have water and a dry toilet (about 100 N$ per person) to private park-like settings with lush grass, power sockets and a sink per camping spot, shade, and private WCs (about 200 N$ per person). In the national parks there are places without any amenities where you even have to bring water. These often need a 4x4 to get to, and you have to buy a permit in advance which is more expensive than staying at the best camp sites in the country. The chance to get caught without a permit is small but if they get you they will impose a 7.800 N$ fine—per person! If you spot a nice place to camp next to the road, check if there is a fence. If there's a fence then that's a farm. Farms are private properties. Don't enter a farm without notifying the farmer and asking for permission. Wild camping is allowed (but not very safe, luxurious or pleasant) on the side of the road between the banks and the farm fence, or in the areas that are neither commercial farms nor protected areas.\n\n### Backpackers\n\nThere are a few dormitories and hostels, but only in the older and larger towns. Neither hitchhiking nor backpacking are very common among tourists.\n\n### Lodges\n\nEvery tourism establishment that thinks it offers quality will call itself a *lodge*. It means that besides a roof over your head there are additional offerings like a restaurant, a pool, game drives, sports activities, hunting, and more. Originally far away from urban centres, even ordinary B&Bs will have the name 'lodge' today.\nThe **traditional lodges** are for tourists with deep pockets. Their prices typically include all meals, a game drive, sundowner excursion with drinks, entertainment by local cultural groups, and so on. Many offer supreme privacy and luxury. These lodges, see Serra Cafema for an example, will tell their rates only upon request and charge anything between 3,000 N$ and 15,000 N$ pppn—The more inaccessible the higher the price, with the most expensive places those to which there is not even a 4x4 track, and a fly-in the only option.\nThe **new lodges** are those accommodation establishments that want to offer more than a bed and a breakfast. While indeed a bit more expensive than a B&B, many are worth visiting and do return value. Expect to pay between 800 N$ and 2,500 N$ pppn, activities not included. For an example, see Okambara Elephant Lodge or Erindi Old Traders' Lodge.\nAs a rule, if a lodge also offers a campsite, it is not ridiculously expensive. Apparently the wealthy do not like to mingle too much with dusty people pitching tents.\n\nPrices are often quoted per-person rather than per-room. Of course you'll find a double room cheaper per person than single occupancy.", "word_count": 492}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk028", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Work", "text": "It is **extremely** difficult for foreigners to get work permits in Namibia. With about 30% unemployment, the government is not enthusiastic about letting people in who would take jobs from Namibians. All semi-skilled and unskilled positions must be unconditionally filled by local Namibians. A work permit is necessary for all sorts of work, not just permanent employment. Delivering a talk at a conference, appearing in court representing a client, fixing a car for a rental company, volunteering in any capacity, treating people or animals without pay, or consulting, *are all work* and require one. Estimate at least 3 months of paperwork to get a work permit.\n\nAn employee's salary is normally paid in Namibian dollars and income tax (maximum rate is 37% and is based on different income slabs) is deducted by the employer. The capital city of Windhoek is one of the least expensive places in the world for expatriates to live.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk029", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|A Namibian police car\nNamibia is a peaceful country and is not involved in any wars. Since the end of the Angolan civil war in May 2002, the violence that spilled over into northeastern Namibia is no longer an issue. Namibia is, however, a country with extreme income disparities. A middle manager easily earns *twenty times* the salary of a cleaner, and a third of the workforce is unemployed. As a tourist you're inevitably seen as stinking rich, and a prime target for thieves.\n\nNamibia has a relatively high crime rate, particularly sexual abuse, general violence after alcohol abuse, and theft. Be careful on or right after pay day, the last day of the month, when there will be more drunk people than usual. Travellers should have no problem visiting the townships, but do not go there on your own, or after dark. In Windhoek you can book township tours where you will be taken to the most interesting places, but that's not the same as going there yourself and seeing that there are people living there like you and me.\n\nFor foreigners, it is not prudent to walk or ride taxis alone after sunset. Pickpockets can be a problem. No local will carry a bag while walking, and for thieves the bag is the token to make out who is a tourist and who isn't. Stuff all possessions into your trouser pockets. If you rent a car, insist that the owner (the rental company) of the car is clearly visible with stickers or as car paint. In the event of carjacking there is no easier way to relax the attitude of the robbers than pointing out that the car isn't yours. Besides, as pretty much all rented cars have hidden communication devices, no carjacker in his right mind will take one from a rental company.\n\nMost reported robberies take place just outside of the city centre. The police report that taxi drivers are often involved: they spot vulnerable tourists and coordinate by cell phoning. Take these warnings in context; if you are alert and take some common sense precautions, you should have no problems. Never be specific when asked where you are staying; \"in town\" or \"at some B&B\" is sufficient for all good-faith conversations and doesn't disclose your intended route.\n\nNamibia has a serious problem with driving under the influence of alcohol. The problem is aggravated because most people consider it no problem. When driving or walking on weekend evenings, be especially alert. The person in a car (the more expensive the better) is more important, and has the right of way. This specifically includes zebra crossings and green pedestrian traffic lights—even expats and fellow tourists will not stop for someone on foot in order not to confuse local drivers.", "word_count": 462}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk030", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The **HIV** infection rate in Namibia is around 17%, which is lower than before but is still the leading cause of death in the country.\n\nNamibia's medical system is modern and capable of attending to whatever needs you may have. Staff are well trained and so HIV transmission in hospitals is not an issue. This applies to government and private hospitals alike, though line-ups are often shorter at private hospitals, and there have been cases of incorrect diagnosis in government hospitals. Should you become a victim of violence, private doctors and hospitals **will send you away**. The reason is that staff treating you will be summoned as witnesses to subsequent court cases without compensation, and lose valuable working time. In state hospitals, where productivity is not an issue, you will be treated at almost no charge. **Thereafter do** consult a private practice to confirm diagnosis and treatment. All private medical facilities expect cash or credit card in advance, no matter if or where you are insured. A visit to the doctor will be about 500 N$, for a night in hospital you'll have to deposit at least 10,000 N$.\n\nThe northern part of Namibia is in a malaria-risk zone, so consult a doctor before leaving, and take appropriate malaria precautions when travelling in these areas.\n\nEnsure you are well stocked with water when journeying through the hot and sparsely populated country. On main roads take along at least 2 liters of potable water per person. In lesser travelled areas, 5 litres per person are the absolute minimum. If your car breaks down it can take days (!) for someone else to pass through. Namibia's **water supply** is usually safe to drink, except where labelled otherwise. Campsites next to rivers often get their water directly from the river. This water is clean but still disturbs some stomachs. Windhoek has the oldest direct water reclamation plant in the world. \"Direct\" means toilet-to-tap in one go, and many Windhoekers are uncomfortable with that and only drink bottled water. However, the water is completely safe, it just doesn't taste very good.\n\nHaving said all this, make sure you consult a physician specializing in health issues of Southern Africa, as well as things like the Centre for Disease Control web page. Make sure *you* satisfy *yourself* of the safety of anything you're getting into.", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk031", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Post Street Mall in central Windhoek\nNamibians are very proud of their nation. It is a well developed country (albeit still economically developing) with modern amenities and technologies. Namibians have been exposed to a surprisingly wide variety of peoples during the United Nations supervising of the elections, as well as from various volunteer organizations. As in many African countries, the further away you come from the more curiosity you are going to attract.\n\nIt is customary when greeting someone to ask them how they're doing. It's a simple exchange where each person asks \"How are you?\" (or the informal version \"Howzit?\"—\"Sharp, bro\") and responds with a correspondingly short answer \"Good, yourself?\", and then proceed with whatever your business is about. It's a good idea to say this at tourist info booths, in markets, when getting into taxis and even in shops in Windhoek (though it's normally not said in some of the bigger stores in the malls).\n\n### Dress\n\nthumb|Tourists in the mountains.\nShorts and trousers are worn by Namibians, so no one is offended if tourists dress in that style, too. Generally a dress that is overly safari-like is only appropriate if you are indeed on safari. Everywhere else it will earn you anything from mild smiles to outright laughter, not to mention that such attire screams \"tourist\". Black Namibians are sometimes dressed very formally, also outside working hours, while some white Namibians are the exact opposite. So on one hand you may see patrons in a shebeen donning dinner dress or black suit while on the other, managers or owners of fairly large businesses walking about with shorts and thick, knee-high socks, to prevent snakes from biting their lower legs, even in the capital where there are few snakes.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk032", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Respect", "text": "For festivities and church service everyone is dressed formally or traditionally. The traditional dresses of the women originate from the early colonial era and can look funny and out of place today. Don't laugh, culture is very important in Namibia.\n\n### Race\n\nRace is a common part of Namibian discourse and Namibians refer to the race of others more frequently than travellers may expect. Because of apartheid, race is an issue in many spheres of life, so it comes up a lot. In spite of this, the various races do get along well in Namibia, and it is fairly uncommon to find racial tensions flaring. Even the various past conflicts were about cattle and land, not race.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk033", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Those who are more accustomed to North American racial terminology should understand that words that are familiar to them have different meanings in Namibia and South Africa, and the rules for what terms are polite or not are different. If in doubt, call everyone 'Namibians'.\n **Coloured** is a term for people of mixed ancestry, those with a skin colour between white and black. Don't call a black person 'coloured' in Namibia, as it may imply a whitewashing of one's ethnic identity.\n **Baster** (*bastard*) is the term for the coloured people at Rehoboth. They are proud to be Basters, but don't call anyone else (particularly other coloureds) that way.\n **Black** are Namibians of solely, or mostly, African ancestry—those with darker skin, though some may have complexions similar to those of 'coloured Namibians'. It is not a derogatory term. African people in Namibia are proud to be black.\n **White** are the descendents of various European immigrants. Some have lived in Africa for centuries, others recently entered. While it is generally not problematic to call someone 'white', there is a certain undertone of 'You do not belong here'.\n There is now also a sizeable **Chinese** community in Namibia, about 2% of the population. Namibians normally refer to anyone visibly Asian as \"Chinese\" including Japanese, Korean, Kazakh, Vietnamese, or any of the other myriad of Asian ethnicities which are not Chinese. You may try to explain the racial differences, however, your three weeks of holidays will likely not be sufficient time to convince most Namibians to drop the habit.\n\n### Gay and lesbian travellers", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk034", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Namibians have an ambivalent attitude towards gays and lesbians. Sexual intercourse between men is legal, but there are no laws supporting LGBT rights. In the early 2000s there were a few incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence, along the statement that homosexuality is \"un-African\". The current situation is more like \"leave them alone\". The so-called Sodomy Law has never been enforced. As not many Namibians discuss sexuality with strangers, outing yourself for no apparent reason will be perceived as odd. When booking a room together it may be wise not to disclose that you are married.\n\nOn the other hand, homosexuality is really common, and in many bars you'll find same-sex couples. Showing affection in public is generally rare and happens only in bars and nightclubs when people are drunk. Everywhere else it is expected that it happens in private, even more so for same-sex couples.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk035", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nNamibia's country code is 264. Each city or region has a two-digit area code. When calling long distance within Namibia, prefix the area code with a '0'. There are still a few pay phone booths around the country but they are no longer maintained. When making an international call from a phone booth, bring *plenty* of coins. Such calls are still expensive in Namibia, and it requires some dexterity to stuff coins in fast enough to not be cut off.\n\n### By mobile phone\n\nMobile phones are very common in Namibia. There are two cell phone providers in Namibia, MTC and Telecom. Overall, MTC offers better coverage for tourists. Coverage is complete in all towns and on the major highways. On minor roads and in the countryside you won't have reception, despite both providers advertising near-complete coverage. All major tourist destinations are covered by MTC. Telecom has better coverage in villages that are not on tourist routes. If you are travelling near the borders, be aware that the foreign towers are usually stronger, and your phone will connect to these, causing additional charges.\n\nA new SIM card costs N$10 or less and has N$5 of credit on it. Unlike in South Africa you don't need a passport to register them (January 2020) but the legislation to make this compulsory is coming soon. Bundles are available at N$30-50 and give several hundred SMSs, 100 call minutes or more, and 1-10 GiB of data. These bulk options, called \"Away\" for MTC and \"Jiva\" for Telecom, are very common and a lot cheaper than pure data packages. However, they all expire after a week. \n\nMTC SIM cards need to be activated by phoning or texting *to them*. Data usage needs to be activated in an official outlet of the provider, only available in larger towns and at the airport. Recharge vouchers are available everywhere for MTC. Only few vendors stock Telecom vouchers, buy them in advance with the SIM card. When recharging, 15% tax is deducted; a N$30 voucher will give you N$26.09 credit, not N$30.\n\n### By Wi-Fi\n\nThe international airport and virtually every restaurant, bar, B&B and camp site provide free Wi-Fi. However, not all of Namibia is covered by mobile towers. Far away from both major highways (A and B roads) and larger settlements, there is no reception. The tourist establishments in these remote areas themselves have no Internet access, and can thus not provide it to you. Some fill the coverage gap by providing satellite Internet, but this is by no means guaranteed.", "word_count": 427}
+{"chunk_id": "namibia::chunk036", "doc_id": "namibia", "section": "Go next", "text": "The nearby nations of South Africa, Botswana and Angola are three obvious places to consider going next.", "word_count": 17}
diff --git a/corpus/namibia/metadata.json b/corpus/namibia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6d352e281c2d778b7d7d4c2ee8382e5f3f0e284a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/namibia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "namibia",
+ "title": "Namibia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Namibia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "South Africa",
+ "Botswana",
+ "Angola"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 8808,
+ "listing_count": 29,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 37,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nazca-lines/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nazca-lines/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bfb94390ba468e79a540e291d02289b06d23a0e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nazca-lines/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk000", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nazca** or **Nasca** is a town in Peru's Southern Coast region. It is most famous for the *Nazca Lines*, a collection of long lines, geometrical figures, and giant drawings in the desert sand that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk001", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Understand", "text": "300px|thumbnail|Downtown Nazca\n300px|thumbnail|The Nazca lines: the heron\n\n*Nasca* is a Quechua word meaning \"pain\" or \"suffering\". The area was so-named because of the lack of water. The name became \"Nazca\" under the Spanish, but has now reverted to \"Nasca\" in official and common use. (The z-spelling is still most commonly used in English.)\n\nToday's Nazca town is on the site of where the ancient Nazca civilization was based after the fall of its first capital, Cahuachi, around AD 400. It has an exotic, dusty, desert setting but holds little enchantment. It can provide between a few hours' and a few days' entertainment depending on one's interest in the **ancient Nazca people**.\n\n### The ancient Nazca people\n\nFor much of their history, the Nazca people were based in the Ceremonial City of Cahuachi, an ancient pilgrimage center 28 km southwest of modern Nazca. The society emerged around 100 BC and was active until around AD 750. Its influence stretched from Cañete in the north to Acari in the south. The lower section of the Nazca Valley was likely chosen to situate Cahuachi due to its abundant underground water, which allowed extensive irrigation for improved agriculture.\n\nThis civilization was responsible for the famous **Nazca lines**, giant representations of animals and other designs that are also seen on Nazca pottery and textiles found at Cahuachi. Discovered pottery fragments also suggest that the Nazca people gathered in the desert to perform religious ceremonies, with objects being smashed as offerings to the gods in the sky. The fragments found in the desert among the Nazca Lines are mainly pieces of panpipes and whistles, suggesting the importance of music in the religious rites.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk002", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Understand", "text": "A series of natural disasters, climatic and tectonic, began to undermine the civilization around AD 350. An earthquake destroyed the capital, Cahuachi, in around AD 400, leaving the society to limp into oblivion for next few centuries from its new base in what would become modern Nazca.\n\n### Discovery of Nazca culture\n\nNazca culture first aroused academic interest through its pottery. In the 1890s, archaeologist Max Uhle was studying ceramic samples at the Anthropologisch-Ethnografische Museum in Dresden. The consignment contained many works from South America, including some striking and colourful work from the Nazca people. In 1901 he travelled to Peru to examine their origins. After months of searching he arrived at the Valley of Ica at a place called Ocucaje, where he met farmers who told him about the ancient cemeteries where these colourful ceramics were frequently found. Uhle excavated the sites and found Nazca ceramics at many of them. His work introduced Nazca culture to the wider world.\n\n### Discovery of the Nazca lines\n\nThe Nazca Lines were first spotted when Faucette, an early Peruvian airline, began flying from Lima to Arequipa in the 1920s. The pilots noticed lines criss-crossing the desert between the valleys of Palpa and Nazca.\n\nThe pilots' discoveries led Toribio Mejia Xesspe, an archaeologist, to come to Nazca in 1926. His research arrived at the conclusion that the lines were part of ancient sacred roads. Xesspe never flew over the area and so only saw straight lines; he missed the figures.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk003", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Understand", "text": "A more worthy discovery of the lines was made in 1939 by Paul Kosok of Long Island University. Kosok came to Nazca to study the ancient irrigation systems, the puquios (see below). He surveyed the channels and noted that over 50 of the underground aqueducts were still being used. He was told of other, even older, ancient channels and so set out to the Nazca desert but found only long, shallow furrows. He thought that perhaps these other ancient channels were very far away and so hired a small crop-dusting aircraft to go and find them. On the flight he saw hundreds of lines and geometrical forms in the desert. He later recalled asking the pilot to follow one particular line and being somewhat surprised at it leading to a bird! Kosok later met Maria Reiche, who then devoted her life to studying and preserving the lines.\n\n### Nazca channels or ''puquios''\n\nthumb|Cantalloc subterranean aqueducts\nAfter the fall of Cahuachi, the Nazca people still achieved some notable, though oft overlooked feats. An extensive series of underground channels, the puquios (a Quechua word to describe a natural spring), are one of the greatest legacies of the Nazca culture. This underground system is unique in South America, and perhaps the world, because of its very intricate construction. Over 50 underground channels were built over one hundred years starring in AD 400; many of them are still in use. Some of the best preserved channels are at Cantalloc, also known as Cantayo, where visitors can see a series of spiral blow holes, which were probably used to allow cleaning of the channels' interiors and also to restore them after earthquakes.\n\n### Nazca ceramics", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk004", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Understand", "text": "The cemeteries along the Nazca River contained the colourful ceramic works that first drew attention to the Nazca people. The high-quality work on vessels shows realistic and complex depictions of the ancient Nazca world: everyday life, animals, plants, fruits, birds, insects and gods are all represented. Vessels showing stylized creatures, including zoomorphic and anthropomorphic designs, sometimes contain over ten colours. Bridge-handle bottles with two landfills are the most common find, but spherical pots were also produced, as well as cups and glasses. The best examples of Nazca ceramics are in museums, such as the Museo Arqueologico Antonini in Nazca, the Anthropological and Archaeological Museum in Lima, the Regional Museum of Ica, and many others in Peru and around the world.\n\n### Nazca textiles\n\nThe Nazca people's belief in life after death led to mummification of their corpses. The shrouds wrapping the dead were fine textiles, which still retain their quality and colours. The Nazca people, like many other pre-Inca peoples, believed textiles to be spiritually important, leading their textiles to be skillfully produced and depicting sophisticated artistic scenes on fabrics of cotton and the fibre of Andean camels.\n\nSamples from the ancient capital of Cahcuachi can be seen at the Museo Arqueologico Antonini in Nazca.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk005", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\nThere are frequent collectivos (small buses) to and from Ica. They leave when full, it takes 2-3 hr and cost S/13 (soles).\n\nSince 2022 that Palpa bridge is under constructions causing very often more than 1h delay the road connection with Nazca.\n\nThere are several direct overnight buses from Cusco (14 hours) and Arequipa (9 hr). Delays can occur in the wet season. Prices vary between S/60 and 170.\n\nThere are also buses from Lima (Cruz del Sur and Oltursa buses go via Ica and Paracas) throughout the day and overnight, the journey takes about 6-8 hr.\n\nPeru Hop buses offer comfortable and safe trips to Nazca, with free pickups and drop-offs. There are also free additional stops and tours on the way to Nazca which will make your trip more worthwhile.\n\nNazca is a small city that does not have a proper bus station. Most of the bus companies are situated on the northwest part of the city.\n\n### By car\n\nNazca is located along the Panamericana Sur. Driving takes around 6-7 hours from Lima and around two hours from Ica, depending on traffic. Convoys of trucks and construction work on several stretches of the highway, especially in and around Ica, can slow drivers down, but much of the route passes through stretches of desert and are thus usually free of traffic.\n\nAt Palpa it is possible to divert off the main highway to the old stretch of the Panamericana (*Antigua Panamericana*), known for the single-lane Palpa Tunnel and several sharp hairpin turns. Drivers who pass through here, however, will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Palpa Valley and some of the neighboring Palpa lines. The two stretches of highway reconnect just north of the town proper.\n\nThere is a **toll** of S/7.50 when entering Nazca by car on the Panamericana from points north, payable with cash or a credit card. No toll is charged when driving in the opposite direction.", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk006", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around in Nazca is easy. You can walk almost anywhere and a taxi inside of town really costs around S/3 although every taxi driver might try to charge you more.\n\nThe big hassle in Nazca are the touts that hang out at the bus stations and on the streets. They represent shady or nonexistent hotels and travel agents, claim to work for your hotel or to offer cheap flights for viewing the Nazca lines. Ignore them and have your hotel pick you up from the bus station.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk007", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "See", "text": "**Museo Arqueologico Antonini**, Av de la Cultura 606 (follow Jr Bolognese about 1 km east). Informative museum about the surrounding archeological sites. It also has a collection of pottery and textiles. In the garden there is a working aqueduct and a scale model of the lines. Entrance US$6.\n **Nazca channels or *puquios* at Cantalloc** The pre-Inca Nazca people developed a system of underground aqueducts to irrigate the dry lands that lacked surface water. Therefore despite the harsh desert climate, the Nazca region hosts fields of cotton, corn, beans, potatoes and fruit still watered by over 30 of these underground channels. Nearby are various geometric lines etched on the desert. There are also the Inca ruins of Paredones.\n **Cemetery of Chauchilla** For many years the Chauchilla Cemetery was looted by treasure hunters, who destroyed the place completely, taking away all the treasures the mummies kept in their tombs for centuries. Grave robbers just left behind the corpses, which can be seen today all over the ground. In addition to skulls and bones, visitors also can see several tombs centuries old, as well as long human hairs, ceramic fragments and others remains scattered on the desert surface. It is the only archeological site in Peru, in which ancient mummies are seen in their original graves, along with ancient artifacts, dating back to 1000 AD. This archaeological excursion is combined with the visit to a Nazca Ceramic workshop, where visitors will learn about the old technique of making Nazca pots and also a visit to the gold extraction centre to see an old way of extracting gold using huge mortars.\n **Chicchitara Carving Rocks**, in the Palpa Valley\n The **Palpa Lines**\n\n### Nazca Lines", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk008", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "See", "text": "The **Nazca Lines** are the star attraction. Scattered over 500 km² of an arid plateau between the Nazca River and Ingenio River, they are huge representations of geometric patterns, animals, humans figures and thousands of perfectly straight lines that go on for kilometers. They were created by removing surface stones, revealing the lighter-colored soil below. They're unquestionably ancient (dating back 1400-2200 years), and remarkably precise (with straight lines and clean curves). The images are so huge that they are only appreciable from the air, a fact which has led to speculation that the ancient Nazca people either had access to hot air balloons or alien helpers. Most academics attribute the lines' precision to low-tech surveying techniques, but nobody actually knows who made them or why.\n\n#### From the air\n\nNazca town is full of hotels and tour agents peddling flights over the lines in Cessnas; few, if any, will offer a decent price. A seat in a **six-passenger plane** costs around US$80 (Nov 2024) — you may pay less in low season, and 5% more with a credit card. Haggling is necessary and companies will actively court you to get your business. Tours are conducted in Spanish and English, with no difference in price between the two. Buying tickets in advance through an agent online will cost US$100 or more (Nov 2022), so don't do this. Longer flights are also available which include additional lines not included in cheaper packages, Cantalloc, Chauchilla, the nearby Palpa lines or any combination of the four.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk009", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "See", "text": "An **airport tax** of S/30 and an **entrance fee** of S/47 are *not* included in the price and have to be paid for separately, with the airport tax payable in cash only. If driving, parking at the airport is S/5, also payable in cash only. It is obligatory to bring your **passport** when flying (the only exception is for Peruvians, who can present their national ID), and this will be presented to both the company contracted to fly you and the security personnel at the airport before boarding your flight.\n\nOnly consider booking in advance in the high season (December to March) as planes are going up and down all day and flights are generally only 30 min, meaning that hundreds of people can be dealt with daily. Booking with flight operators directly at their airport sales desks allows for easy price comparison and ensures your money isn't needlessly passed through brokers. **Never deal with the touts at the bus stops**: they will leave you very badly off. The cautious may choose to pay only after taking a flight but buying at the airport is safe enough. Flights run *as required* from 07:00-16:00, so don't feel pressured, you'll fly when you want to.\n\nThe pilots love banking their small planes hard (for good views of the ground for passengers from both sides) and motion sickness can occur. Take a motion sickness pill if in doubt and get a morning flight as there is less turbulence.\nthumb|The observation tower\n\n#### From the ground", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk010", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "See", "text": "There is a **observation tower** (S/2) along the Panamericana with a view of three of the figures and a lookout on a mountain. If you get airsick, this is the way to go. You can go there by car, tour, public transportation, hitchhiking, or taxi (around S/50 per car for a roundtrip). Buses from Nazca to Flores, Cueva or Soyuz pass the tower. Flag a bus down for the trip back to town.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk011", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Eat", "text": "For fast and cheap **street food** try one of the stands at the south-east corner of the Plaza de Armas.\n **Pacante's fastfood café**, Jr Bolognese 464. Simple and cheap burgers, with a friendly owner who likes to talk to gringos.\n The restaurants you find all over town that are used by natives offer a full menu (soup, a choice of 3-5 main dishes, and a drink) for S/5-10.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk012", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are several bars along Jr. Bolognesi.", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk013", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Sleep", "text": "- Nazca Lines Hotel\n\n - Casa Hacienda Nasca Oasis\n\n - Hotel Alegria\n\n - Brabant Hostel\n\n - Hostal Camiluz\n\n - Hotel Don Agucho\n\n - Pirwa Hostel Nazca\n\n- Hospedaje Inti Wuasi\n\n - Hospedaje Yemayá", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk014", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are various travel agents in town though *having an office in Nazca does not guarantee trustworthiness*. Be very careful and **never** buy from people that address you on the street or wait at the bus stop.\n\nIf you think that the Peruvian government is worthy of your money, only work with taxpaying businesses that will give you a legal tax invoice (called either a \"boleto\" or a \"factura\"). This document will have the name of the business and their VAT number printed on it, and a unique number.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "nazca-lines::chunk015", "doc_id": "nazca-lines", "section": "Go next", "text": "Cruz del Sur run daily buses to Lima at 11:30 and at 14:30. The trip takes 7 hr approximately.Arequipa is 8 hr away by bus. Cruz del Sur offers buses at 15:00 and also later in the evening. Most of the other companies' buses leave in the evening from 22:00-00:00 (May 2023).\n\nIca is 2½-3 hr away. Various companies run buses throughout the day. Prices start from S/7. Soyuz was S/12 as of May 2013.\n\nThe long trip to Cusco from Nazca can be broken up into three legs if you don´t mind being called \"gringo\" (if you are one) when hanging out in the intermediary towns. Hourly colectivos ply the paved, but curvy, road to Puquio where you will find 3 simple hostels near the main plaza (S/18 a night for doubles with private bathroom). From there, buses head another 6 hr (S/40) to Abancay. In Abancay, you will find that the Hotel Paraiso next to the bus terminal is your best bet. From there, Cusco is a 5-hr bus (S/20) ride on an equally winding, but paved, road.\n\nOr you can go with one of the bigger bus companies direct: Cruz Del Sur (only Luxury VIP class available for about S/185), Oltrusa (S/99), CIAL (S/80 semi-cama).", "word_count": 208}
diff --git a/corpus/nazca-lines/metadata.json b/corpus/nazca-lines/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3e468b1e9059c7d104c97cf6cefc9afdeda5f0bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nazca-lines/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nazca-lines",
+ "title": "Nazca",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nazca",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Coast (Peru)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Lima",
+ "Arequipa",
+ "Ica",
+ "Cusco"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2728,
+ "listing_count": 9,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nepal/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nepal/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..03d1c4eb01b6b5f76ce2d617e7d55d672780a4e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nepal/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk000", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nepal** (Nepali: नेपाल *Nepāl*) is a landlocked country in the Himalayas of South Asia. It has eight of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, the world's tallest, on the border with Tibet, as well as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Originally a monarchy for two centuries, Nepal has been ruled under a republic since 2008.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk001", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Regions", "text": "Nepal is divided into 7 provinces and 77 districts for administrative purposes, but Wikivoyage uses the divisions below, based on the country's elevation, which are more useful for travellers. From north to south:", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk002", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|Kathmandu Valley\n — capital and cultural centre of Nepal, with its Hanumandhoka Durbar Square and the stupas at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath.\n — a well-preserved historical city, centre of pilgrimage and Nepali pottery-making; no motorized vehicles allowed.\n — an important agricultural and industrial centre, and a centre for politics in eastern Nepal.\n — a historical religious centre and home to the 500-year old Janaki Temple.\n — a Sherpa settlement in the Solu Khumbu region popular with trekkers.\n — the main hub for the Mid- and Far-Western Development Region; Bardiya National Park and Banke National Park are close by.\n — beautiful, historic Patan Durbar Square was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.\n — picturesque lake-side town fast becoming the destination of choice for travellers due to the scenery, adventure sports, dining, hotels and live music scene.", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk003", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Locked between the snow peaks of the Himalayas and the seething Gangetic Plain of India, Nepal has long been home to wandering ascetics and tantric yogis. Consequently, the country has a wealth of sacred sites and natural wonders:\nthumb|Alpenglow on Everest\n — Popular trekking region of Nepal with the world-famous Annapurna Circuit.\n — World Heritage site with tigers, rhinos and jungle animals.\n — Tiny village in the mountains offering panoramic views of the Himalayas; especially stunning at sunrise and sunset.\n (Tibetan: *Maratika*) — The site of a mountain cave where Padmasambhava attained a state beyond life and death.\n — The sacred site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's birth.\n — The tallest peak of the world.\n — A hill station one hour from Kathmandu offering excellent views of the Himalayan Range.\n — The site of several sacred caves associated with Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.\n — A beautiful and undiscovered traditional Gurung village with a stunning view of the Annapurna range.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk004", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Geography\n\nthumb|Sunset in Tarai\nthumb|Annapurna Base Camp sunrise\nNepal can be divided into the follwoing geographic regions, south to north:", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk005", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Outer Tarai** — Level plains, a cultural and linguistic extension of northern India. Here Nepali speakers are outnumbered by Awadhi, Bhojpuri and Maithili languages. Lumbini and Janakpur are major tourist and pilgrimage spots here, with most other cities being transport hubs for travel between India and Nepal. It offer opportunities for intimate exposure to traditional Indian culture that have become less available in India itself.\n **Sivalik Range** or **Churia Hills** — the outermost and lowest range of the Himalayas, about high. Extends across the country east to west but with significant gaps and many subranges. The area is largely undeveloped due to poor soil and no agriculture, and is home to primitive hunter-gatherers.\n **Inner Tarai** — Large valleys between the Sivaliks and the higher mountain ranges. The **Dang** and **Deukhuri** valleys in the Mid West are the largest, offering opportunities to experience Tharu art and culture. **Chitwan** south of Kathmandu is another of these valleys, known for the Chitwan National Park, a where tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, deer and birds can be observed. Originally these valleys were malarial and lightly populated by **Tharus** who had evolved resistance and developed architectural and behavioural adaptations limiting exposure to the most dangerous nocturnal mosquitoes. Suppression of mosquitoes with DDT in the 1960s opened these valleys to settlers from the hills who cleared forests and displaced and exploited Tharus. Nevertheless, more remote parts of these valleys still have the Garden of Eden quality - forests broken by indefinite fields, lazy rivers, fascinating aboriginal peoples.\n **Mahabharat Range** — A prominent continuous mountain range, except for narrow transecting canyons, with elevations ascending up to . Steep southern slopes are a no-man's land between lowland and **Pahari** (hill) cultures and languages, which begin along the crest and gentler northern slopes. Given clear skies, there are panoramic views of the high Himalayas from almost anywhere on the crest. It is underdeveloped as a tourist venue compared to India's hill stations, although there are destinations like Daman and Tansen.\n **Middle Hills** — Valleys north of the Mahabharat Range and hills up to about . It is mainly inhabited by Hindus of the **Bahun** (priestly Brahmin) and **Chhetri** (warriors and rulers) castes who speak Nepali as their first language. Higher where it becomes too cold to grow rice, populations are largely **Magar**, **Gurung**, **Tamang**, **Rai** or **Limbu**, the **hill tribes** from which the British recruited **Gurkha** soldiers while the soldiers' families grew crops suited to temperate climates. Men in these ethnic groups also work as porters or may be herders moving their flocks into the high mountains in summer and the lower valleys in winter. Trekking through the hills is unremittingly scenic with streams and terraced fields, picturesque villages, a variety of ethnic groups with distinctive costumes, and views of the high Himalayas from high points.\n **Valleys** — **Kathmandu** and to the west **Pokhara** occupy large valleys in the hills. The Kathmandu Valley was urbanized long before the first Europeans reached the scene and has historic neighbourhoods, temple complexes, pagodas, Buddhist stupas, palaces and bazaars. Its natives are predominantly **Newar** farmers, traders, craftsmen and civil servants. Newar culture is an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist elements. Unfortunately a range of hills north of this valley limit views of the Himalaya. Pokhara has fewer urban points of interest but outstanding views of the nearby **Annapurna**. Pokhara's Newar population is confined to bazaars. Elsewhere upper caste Hindus dominate, whose ancestors probably were **Khas** peoples from far western Nepal. Both valleys offer excellent opportunities to experience Nepal without strenuous trekking. Narrower valleys along streams and rivers are important rice-growing centres in the hills. There is a limited amount of this land and most of it is owned by upper caste Hindus.\n **Lekhs** — Snow occasionally falls and lasts days or weeks in the winter above , but melts in summer below about . Treeline is about . This zone is used for summer pastures but not year-round habitation. North of the lekhs, the snowy high Himalayas rise abruptly along a fault zone to peaks over 6,700 m (22,000 ft) and even over 8,000 m (26,000 ft). Himalaya means 'abode of snow', which is uninhabited. Valleys among the peaks are inhabited, especially along trade routes where rice from the lowlands was traded for salt from the Tibetan Plateau along with other goods. Trade has diminished since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s but catering to trekkers and climbers has become an economic engine. People living along these routes have Tibetan affinities but usually speak fluent Nepali.\n **Trans-Himalaya** — Peaks in this region north of the highest Himalayas in central and western Nepal are lower and gentler, mostly around . Valleys below . It is inhabited by the **Tibetans** and have adapted to living at much higher elevations than other Nepalis. Roads have not yet penetrated this far and travel is expensive by air or arduous on foot. Nevertheless, it is a unique opportunity to experience a very significant and attractive culture in spectacular surroundings.", "word_count": 830}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk006", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "#### River basins\n\nThese are also important geographic divisions. The **Mahabharat Range** is a major hydrologic barrier in Nepal and other parts of the Himalaya. South-flowing rivers converge in **candelabra** shapes to break through this range in a few narrow gorges. Travel is usually easier within these candelabra drainage systems than between them, so high divides between river systems became historically important political, linguistic and cultural boundaries.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Kathmandu Valley\n\n##### Karnali-Seti-Bheri\n\nThe **Karnali** system in the far west is the birthplace of Pahari ('hill') culture. It was settled by people called the **Khas**, speaking an **Indo-European** language called **Khaskura** ('Khas talk') that was related to other north Indian languages and all claiming descent from classical **Sanskrit**.\n\nEast of the Karnali proper, along a major tributary called the **Bheri** and further east in another basin called the **Rapti** lived a Tibeto-Burman people called **Kham**. Khas and Kham people seem to have been allies and probably intermarried to create the synthesis of aryan and mongoloid features that especially characterizes the second-highest **Chhetri** (Kshatriya) caste. It appears that Khas kings recruited Kham men as guards and soldiers. Khas and Kham territories in the far west were subdivided into small kingdoms called the **Baisi**, literally '22' as they were counted.\n\nNepal has one of the world's highest birthrates because Hindu women usually marry by their early teens, causing their entire reproductive potential to be utilized. Furthermore, men who can afford it often take multiple wives. This may trace back to Khas culture, explaining relentless Khas colonization eastward as finite amounts of land suitable for rice cultivation were inevitably outstripped by high birthrates.\n\n##### Rapti and Gandaki", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk007", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Dhorpatan landscape\nThe Rapti river system east of the Karnali-Bheri had few lowlands suitable for growing rice and extensive highlands that were not attractive for Khas settlement but were a barrier to migration. However the Rapti's upper tributaries rose somewhat south of the Himalaya. Between these tributaries and the Dhaulagiri range of the Himalaya, a large east–west valley called **Dhorpatan** branching off the upper Bheri provided a detour eastward, over an easy pass called Jaljala into the **Gandaki** river system further east. The Gandaki is said to have seven major tributaries, most rising in or beyond the high Himalaya. They merge to cut through the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges. In this basin elevations were generally lower and rainfall was higher compared to the Karnali-Bheri and Rapti basins. There was great potential for rice cultivation, the agricultural base of the Khas way of life. A collection of small principalities called the **Chaubisi** developed. Chaubisi literally means '24', as these kingdoms were counted. Not all were Khas kindoms. Some were Magar, a large indigenous hill tribe people related to the Kham. Other kingdoms were Gurung and Tamang. Several Gandaki tributaries rose in the trans-Himalayan region where inhabitants and rulers became increasingly Tibetanized to the north.\n\n##### Emergence of Shah Dynasty from Gorkha", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk008", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Within the Chaubisi kingdoms of the Gandaki basin, Gorkha was a small valley east of Pokhara ruled by a Khas family now called Shah, an honorific title that may have come later, however any earlier name seems to be forgotten. In 1743 AD **Prithvi Narayan Shah** became the ruler of Gorkha after his father Nara Bhupal Shah died. Prithvi Narayan already had a reputation as a hotheaded upstart. Resolving to modernize Gorkha's army, he was bringing modern arms from India when customs officers demanded inspection and payment of duties. Prithvi Narayan refused and attacked the officers, killing several before escaping with his arms and men. He also visited Benares to study the situation of local rulers and the growing encroachment of British interests. Prithvi concluded that invasion was a chronic danger to rulers on the plains of northern India, whereas the hills were more defensible and offered more scope to carve out a lasting empire.\n\n##### Kathmandu Valley (Bagmati)", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk009", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Prithvi Narayan must have been a charismatic figure, for he recruited, equipped and trained a formidable army and persuaded his subjects to underwrite all this from his ascension to the throne until his death in 1775. Through conquest and treaty, he consolidated several Chaubisi kingdoms. As his domain expanded, **Khaskura** became known as **Gorkhali**, i.e. the language of the Gorkha kingdom. Then he moved east into the next river basin, the **Bagmati** which drains the Kathmandu Valley that held three small but prosperous urban kingdoms. Like the Rapti, the Bagmati rises somewhat south of the Himalaya. Unlike the Rapti basin, this valley had once held a large lake and the remaining alluvial soil was exceptionally fertile. Between the agricultural abundance, local crafts, and extensive trade with Tibet, the cities were prosperous. Prithvi Narayan encircled the valley, cutting off trade and restricting ordinary activities, even farming and getting water. With a combination of stealth, brutality and intimidation he prevailed and deposed the local kings in 1769, making Kathmandu his new capital. This was the high point of Prithvi Narayan's career, however he continued consolidating the Kathmandu Valley with the Chaubisi and Baisi federations to the west until his death in 1775. Gorkhali was re-dubbed **Nepali** as 'Nepal' came to mean not only the urbanized Kathmandu Valley, but all lands ruled by the Shahs.\n\n##### Koshi", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk010", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Prithvi Narayan's heirs, Pratap Singh, Rana Bahadur and Girvan Yuddha continued expansion of their kingdom into the **Koshi** river basin east of the Bagmati system. Like the Gandaki, the Koshi traditionally has seven major tributaries descending from the Himalaya before joining forces to break through the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges. Ranges drained by Koshi tributaries include Mount Everest and its neighbouring peaks, as well as the western side of the Kangchenjunga massif. Kangchenjunga and a high ridge to the south are the watershed between the Koshi and Tista basins as well as the border between Nepal and the former kingdom Sikkim that India annexed in 1975.\n\n### People\n\nthumb|Manuscript from Nepal in Newari and Sanskrit\n\nThe Nepalese population can be divided based on ethnicity or religion. Major ethnic categories include **Khas-Aryas**, **Janajatis**, **Newars** and **Madheshis**.\n\nAlthough Nepal is best known for Hinduism and Buddhism, there are Christian and Muslim minorities too. Like in India, Hindus in Nepal are divided into various castes.\n\n**Newars**, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, follow both Hinduism and Buddhism. They can be classified into 40 distinct cultural groups, but all speak a common language called **Newari** or **Nepal Bhasa** (**Newa Bhaaya**). However, Newars use prevailing lingua francas to communicate outside their community: Nepali in the hills, and Maithili, Bhojpuri and Awadhi in the Tarai.\n\n**Janajatis** include the various tribes of Nepal with their own mother tongues and cultures, and they don't come under the Hindu caste system.\n\n#### Castes", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk011", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to one theory, Hindu castes migrated from India to Nepal after the 11th century due to the Islamic invasions in the former. Another theory says that present day Hindu hill castes come from the Buddhist/Hindu population of the ancient Khas kingdom (present day Western Nepal). The traditional Hindu caste system is based on the four \"varnas\": **Brahmins** (Bahun), **Kshatriyas** (Chhetri), **Vaishya** and **Shudra**. Like in India, Hindus outside the four varnas are called **Dalits**, and subject to caste-based discrimination and so called \"untouchability\" in social, economic, educational, political and religious areas.\n\nHowever, the middle Vaishyas and Shudras are underrepresented in the hills, apparently because they did not have compelling reason to leave the plains while Muslim invaders tried to eliminate previous elites. Dalits seem to have accompanied the upper castes into the hills because they were bound by longstanding patronage arrangements. However, the absence of Vaishya people in the Hindu hill population supports the second theory.\n\nTraditional caste rules govern who can eat with whom, especially when boiled rice is served, and who can accept water from whom. These rules were enforced by law till the 1950s. However, there's no caste-based reservation in Nepal.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Monsoon rains may cause floods\n\nNepal experiences four seasons a year, **summer**, **rainy season** (or **monsoon**), **autumn** and **winter**. However, it traditionally recognises **six seasons**: **Basanta** (spring), **Grishma** (summer), **Barkha** (rains), **Sharad** (early autumn), **Hemanta** (late autumn) and **Shishir** (winter).", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk012", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Monsoon rains in Nepal occur between June and September. They are generally lighter high in the higher mountains than in Kathmandu, though the mountain peaks are often not visible due to clouds. In the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, monsoon rains typically consist of an hour or two of rain every two or three days. Bring an umbrella during that time, and expect lower lodging prices and fewer tourists.\n\nThere is little dust in the air during autumn (October–December), so this is the best season to visit the hills and mountains.\n\nDuring winter (January–March), the temperature in Kathmandu often dropping as low as at night, with extreme cold at high elevations. It is possible to trek in places like Khumbu during the winter, but it is extremely cold, and snowfall may prevent going above . The Jomosom trek is a reasonable alternative, staying below with expected minimum temperatures about , and much better chances of avoiding heavy snow.\n\nDuring summer (April–June), there is an abundance of blooming flowers in the Himalayas at this time, with rhododendrons, in particular, adding a splash of colour to the landscape. The temperatures in the Tarai may reach or exceed while Kathmandu stays at . This is the best time to undertake mountain expeditions.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nNepal Tourism website", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk013", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Nepal, with countries in navy and light blue having visa on arrival\n\n### Entry requirements\n\n#### Visas\n\nthumb|Nepali arrival stamps\nCitizens of India may stay in Nepal indefinitely without a visa.\n\nCitizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka may obtain a free visa-on-arrival for stays of up to 30 days regardless of reason of visit. Citizens of China (mainland), Hong Kong and Macau are also eligible for a free visa-on-arrival for stays of up to 30 days, but are only permitted to visit for tourism.\n\nNationals of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Eswatini, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan are required to obtain visas *before arrival*.\n\n**Tourist Visas** are available on arrival for citizens of many countries at Kathmandu airport and designated frontier posts (see below) and cost:\n US$30 for 15 days\n US$50 for 30 days\n US$125 for 90 days\nTourist visas can be granted for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year.\n\nYou can also pay this on arrival in other convertible currencies such as euros, pounds sterling, Chinese reminbi and Australian dollars, although US dollars are always preferred and some smaller entry points (like Birgunj) may only accept US dollars, and Kodari only accepts US dollars and Chinese reminbi.\n\nAll tourist visas are the \"multiple entry\" type and allow multiple entries and exits during the period of validity.\n\n**Volunteering** while on a tourist visa without permission is **strictly prohibited**.\n\nMore details are available on the official website of **Nepal Immigration**\n\n**Visa Application**", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk014", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visas can be applied for online at nepalimmigration.gov.np, but as the online application form requires information about the intended place of stay in Nepal that is difficult to acquire (such as ward number, municipality, district etc.), it generally more convenient to complete the visa application after arrival.\n\nTo extend your tourist visa, visit the Nepal Immigration Office in Kathmandu or Pokhara with your passport and another photo, and pay US$2 for every day past your visa you want to stay, up to the maximum of 150 days per year.\n\n**Money**\n\nCash payment is recommended (non-USDs are also accepted, but expect the exchange rate not to be the best). Visa and Mastercard payments are also available—they are coded as *cash advances* on the credit card. A US$1 fee is added in addition to the required visa payment amount if paying with credit card.\n\n#### Entry points\n\nCheck up to date border crossings at official website of Nepali immigration: https://www.immigration.gov.np/en/offices\n Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu\n Jogbani, Biratnagar (Eastern Nepal) - separate border crossing for foreigners is 2-3 km south from train station\n Kakarbitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)\n Birganj/Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal)\n Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)\n Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)\n Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)\n Trinagar Bhansar (Mohana), Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)\n Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Outside Tribhuvan International Airport\nKathmandu's **Tribhuvan International Airport** () is the only international airport in Nepal. Although Nepal is a popular tourist destination, most flights from anywhere will stop on the way in other parts of Asia, such as the Middle East. Because of this, expect long travel times if you're coming from Europe or North America.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|The Friendship Bridge between China and Nepal\nThere are five border crossings open to tourists.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk015", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get in", "text": "From India:\n **Bahraich-Nepalganj** from Lucknow\n **Banbassa-Mahendrenagar** from Delhi\n **Panitanki-Kakarbhitta** from Siliguri, Darjeeling - closed for non-Indian/Nepali nationals as of October 2023. \n **Raxaul-Birganj** from Patna, Kolkata\n **Sunauli-Bhairawa** from Varanasi\n\nThere are several border crossings to China, but they all face Tibet and are thus not open to independent travel: you will need to arrange a permit and join an organized tour. See that article for details.\n\n**Kyirong** (aka Gyirong or 吉隆 Jilong in Chinese) which is 25 km from the Nepal border. It has a decent two-star hotel, and the Tamang Sherpa Restaurant across the street from the hotel (May 2018). The road to the border is very windy (40-45 minutes by car), but it is paved and in good condition. The road on the Nepal side is terrible. To Kathmandu, it will take 6 to 7 hours driving time, not including stopping for lunch and the 8-10 checkpoints. During the monsoon season (Jun-Aug), the road can be closed for hours or days because of rockslides and mudslides.\n connecting to Kodari is reopened since September 2023.\n\n### By car or motorcycle", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk016", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Many travellers ride from India on motorcycles, although cars are also common since the mid-2020s. Foreigners have to pay customs at the borders but most don't bother. Crossing the border requires you to pay a daily toll of Rs120 and a transport permit of Rs50 (one time), the police can ask you for these two documents any time during your ride. Selling the bike in Nepal is easy as other travellers are looking for bikes to ride back to India. If you're coming from India you'll find driving in Nepal a lot less chaotic. The roads are amazing and the new east–west highway under construction with support from the Japanese will open up new destinations for those interested in exploring Nepal by motor-bike.\nPlease check before hiring a motorbike on the current state of fuel. Motorbike hire should cost around Rs500 a day (Pulsar, Hero, Honda, scooter) unless you are hiring an Royal Enfield.\n\nRental companies are also notorious for trying to charge tourists large amounts of money for 'damage' that may not have done by you on returning the bike. Therefore, make sure a thorough damage assessment is carried out before departing and, if the hirer tries to scam you on return, go to the local police.\n\nThe best route to explore Nepal by road on motorcycle, is to enter from the border crossing of Banbasa-Mahendra Nagar, just after the border crossing, the Mahendra Highway (made with collaboration from India) is amazing to ride on.\n\n### By train\n\nCargo and passenger trains operate between Sirsiya in southern Nepal, and the Indian town of Raxaul. However, except for Indians, foreigners are not allowed to cross the border with it. The internal train network is limited to a few kilometres of train network in Janakpur.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk017", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nThere are a number of domestic airlines in Nepal such as Yeti Air, Tara Air and Nepal Airlines that offer frequent flights to many destinations around the country. Destinations to and from Kathmandu include places like Biratnagar, Nepalganj, Lukla, Pokhara, Simikot, Jomsom, Janakpur and Bharatpur. To arrange flights from outside Nepal, there are a number of on-line booking agents who can make bookings, take payment (credit/debit cards/PayPal) and then send e-tickets. If you are buying tickets while in Nepal or if you are flying at short notice, it is necessary to be flexible on flight times and dates as the planes often get fully booked in advance. Cancellations and delays due to severe weather conditions do occur. If you have time, just board the next plane.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Packed bus in Nepal", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk018", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Micro bus** – They are 10-12 seaters with very fast and popular service. It has almost replaced local bus service given its fast service. However, apart from previous few routes, Micro Bus has come up with many other alternate routes and now has good coverage. The fare is more expensive than local buses. Tourists should be aware that microbuses are often driven with great speed and very little care and have unfortunately been the cause of a large percentage of the road accidents in Nepal. Use microbuses with caution.\n **Tempo** – These come in two types. One is a three-wheeled electric or propane powered micro-bus for 10-13 passengers. They run in different routes around Kathmandu and cost Rs5-12. The other type is a newer Toyota van running the same routes at a higher price and a bit faster and safer. Be prepared for a crowd.\n **Local bus** – Although the system can be confusing, they are cheap. They can be crowded at times both with people and domestic animals such as goats, ducks etc. Some buses will not depart until full to a certain quota.\n **Tourist bus** – Book a few days ahead at a Kathmandu or Pokhara travel agent (or your hotel will book for you). A few steps above local buses (no goats, everyone gets a seat) but not much safer. \"Adhikari Travels\" is the most reliable company and has trips between Kathmndu, Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk019", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Rickshaw** – Good for short trips if you don't have much luggage and don't mind being bounced around a bit. Bargain before you get in, and don't be afraid to walk away and try another.\n **Taxi** – There are two types of taxi: \"private\", which pretty much run from the airport to upmarket hotels and \"10 Rupee\", which don't leave until they are full. When haggling for a fare remember that taxi drivers have been hit hard by the petrol crisis sometimes queuing up overnight to get 5 litres of petrol at twice the market price. So be sympathetic but don't get ripped off. Offer to pay 'meter plus tip', 10% is more than enough. Taxis may charge passengers more than usual during periods of low fuel availability.\n **Car with driver** – It's quite easy to rent a car with a driver in Nepal; however, you'll need to haggle to get a reasonable price. If you come in summer, it is recommended to take a car with air-conditioning. Car rental without a driver in Nepal is almost unheard of, as is renting a car in India and taking it across the border.\n\n### By car or motorbike\n\nNepal has left-hand traffic. There is little awareness of pedestrians' rights. Roads are often narrow and in poor condition. Rains and landslides affect the condition of the already poor road network, increasing the risk of road accidents. Avoid using local buses, especially those that are overloaded and in poor condition. Travelling after dark increases the risk of serious road accidents.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk020", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get around", "text": "An international driving licence is required to drive a car. This card must be carried when driving, as well as all documents relating to the car. Traffic accidents involving a foreigner are almost invariably considered to be caused by a foreigner. Claims for damages in such accidents are often high.\n\nFuel shortages can sometimes occur, which may throw your driving-related plans into chaos.\n\nCustom or classic **motorbikes** in form 350 cc and 500 cc Royal Enfield bikes are available for rent including lessons, repairs and tours. Furthermore, local motorbikes are another choice and can be rented in the Thamel area of Kathmandu.\n\nWith the petrol crisis, motorcycle rental has become a costly choice, depending on availability; 1 litre of petrol costs Rs160–165 on top of the rental fee (Rs800–3000). Mopeds are cheaper than motorbikes. Nepalese law requires the driver to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or scooter.\n\nWhen renting a motorbike or scooter, it should be remembered that vehicles are rarely insured. The hirer is liable for any damage caused to the vehicle. It is not advisable to leave your passport as a deposit when renting a vehicle. Rental companies are also notorious for trying to charge tourists large amounts of money for 'damage' that may not have done by you on returning the bike. Therefore, make sure a thorough damage assessment is carried out before departing and, if the hirer tries to scam you on return, go to the local police.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nYou can also rent a bicycle to travel around Kathmandu at a very reasonable price (Rs500–5,000) according to the condition or quality of bicycle and the rental period.\nthumb|Helicopter-assisted trekking on the Annapurna circuit\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk021", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Although motor roads are penetrating further into the hinterlands, many destinations can only be reached on foot (or by helicopter). Some require a permit. See Trekking below.\n\nFor reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files for trails on OpenStreetMap through Waymarked Trails. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID of the trail to download its GPX or KML files through the same link.) Of course, to get around by yourselves outside of cities, you also need sufficient skills, and you should ascertain that you have appropriate backups for your navigation solutions.", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk022", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Talk", "text": "The great biological and cultural diversity of present-day Nepal is matched by its linguistic diversity. Nepal boasts a variety of living languages many of which are remnants of the traditional Asiatic cultural amalgamation in the region, it has an impressively large number for a country with such a small land mass. Nepal has more distinct and individual languages in one country than the whole of the European community.\n\nThe official language of Nepal is **Nepali**. It's related to Hindi, Punjabi, and other Indo-Aryan languages, and is normally written with the **Devanagari** script (as is Hindi), originated from Sanskrit. While most Nepalis speak at least some Nepali, a large percentage of the population has as their mother tongue another language, such as **Tharu** around Chitwan, **Newari** in the Kathmandu Valley, and **Sherpa** in the Everest area.\n\nAlthough Nepal was never a British colony, English is somewhat widespread among educated Nepalis. Nevertheless, learning even a few words of Nepali is fun and useful, especially outside of the tourist district and while trekking (porters often speak very little English and the inquisitive children in the tea houses are delighted to hear a few words of Nepali from their house guests). As Asian languages go, Nepali has to be one of the easiest to learn, and the traveller making the effort isn't likely to make worse blunders than many natives with a different first language. The locals are also happy to help with your burgeoning language skills.\n\nSee: Nepali phrasebook\n\nA disturbingly large number of Nepal's mother tongues are severely endangered and will likely cease to be living languages within a generation.\n\nSee: Tamang phrasebook|Thami phrasebook|Majhi phrasebook", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk023", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "See", "text": "Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world is probably Nepal's most famous sight, and much of the country consists of very high mountains.\n\nthumb|Alpenglow on Everest\n\nThere are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal:\n The Kathmandu Valley, obviously including the capital but also the cities of Bhaktapur and Patan.\n Sagarmatha National Park.\n Chitwan National Park.\n Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk024", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "### Trekking\n\nthumb|400px| The spectacular view from Annapurna Base Camp\n\nSince 2023, solo trekking in many regions is restricted. As of early 2026, the E-TIMS digital QR system is strictly enforced at checkpoints like Monjo and Besisahar. Trekkers must be registered through a licensed agency.\n\n101,320 trekkers visited Nepal in 2007. Of that number, 60,237 (59.4%) visited **Annapurna** area while those visiting the **Everest** and **Langtang** regions accounted for 26,511 (26.5%) and 8,165 (8.1%) respectively.\n\n\"Tea-house trekking\" is the easiest way to trek as it doesn't require support. Tea houses have developed into somewhat rustic full-scale tourist lodges with showers, pizza, pasta and beer. The day's hikes are between lodge-filled settlements or villages: there's no need to take tents, food, water or beer. All those things, plus luxuries such as apple pie, can be purchased along the way. Physical requirements range from easy to strenuous.\n\nFacilities available in remote areas are less extensive than in the more popular areas thus these areas are often visited in organised groups, with guide, porters and full support. **Manaslu**, **Kanchenjunga**, **Dolpo**, **Mustang** and **Humla** require **Restricted Area Permits**, requiring a minimum of two foreign trekkers plus a registered/qualified guide. Progress is being made however, and tea-houses are becoming more available in all of these areas. Before setting out on any trek, make sure you find out what the current facilities are in that area, as they are changing every year.\n\n#### Annapurna region treks", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk025", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Annapurna - North of Pokhara, from lush middle hills into high mountains.\nAnnapurna Circuit: A 2-3 week trek around the Annapurna mountains, leads up the Marsyangdi river to Dharapani, Chame, Manang, over Thorung La (5,400 m) to the Hindu temples at Muktinath and (possibly) ending at Jomsom. Down the Kali Gandaki on the Jomsom trail (the last week of the Annapurna Circuit which is done by itself in the opposite direction). Known as the \"Apple Pie Trek\" partly for crossing the apple growing region of Nepal, and partly for being one of the easier treks, enjoying Gurung and Thakali hospitality. Up through spring rhododendron blooms to Poon Hill for a dawn Himalayan vista. Another shorter but spectacular mini-circuit is the Nayapul-Ghandruk-Ghorepani-PoonHill-Nayapul route.\nAnnapurna Sanctuary: A trek up into the very heart of the range provides an awesome 360 degree high mountain skyline.\n\n#### Everest region treks", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk026", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Everest lies in the region known as Khumbu - To get here, take a bus to Jiri or fly to Lukla then hike up to Namche Bazzar, capital of the Sherpa lands at the foot of Everest. Main \"teahouse trek\" regions, in each of these areas there are a number of trail options, there is plenty of scope for short treks of less than a week to much longer if you have time and wanderlust.\nEverest Base Camp Trek: Lukla to EBC, stunning scenery, wonderful Sherpa people. The most popular trek is up to Everest Base Camp and an ascent of Kalar Patar. Visit the Buddhist Tengboche monastery for the Mani Rimdu festival in November.\nThe 'Classic Everest Base Camp Trek': Jiri to EBC\nGokyo: Lukla to the sacred lakes of Gokyo. Explore the Gokyo valley with its sacred lakes and stupendous views of four 8,000 m peaks. Or a circuit of the region crossing the high passes or Cho La and Renjo La.\nNumbur Cheese Circuit: Trek through the largest cheese producing area, via the sacred lakes of Jata Pokhari and Panch Pokhari to Numburchuili base camp.\nIsland Peak Trek in the Everest region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas. See 'Regions' - Khumbu\n Pikey Cultural Trail\n Dudh Kunda Cultural Trail\n\n#### Trekking peaks", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk027", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Summiting Island Peak\nTrekking peaks require a qualified \"climbing guide\", permits and deposits to cover camp waste disposal:\nIsland Peak Trek - The Island Peak trek in the Khumbu region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas. This trek requires use of mountaineering gears.\nMera Peak climbing - Enjoy panoramic views of Mt Everest (8,848 m; 29,030 ft), Cho-Oyu (8,201 m; 26,910 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m; 27,940 ft), Makalu (8463 m; 27,770 ft), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m; 28,170 ft), Nuptse (7,855 m; 25,770 ft), and Chamlang (7,319 m; 24,010 ft). This trek doesn't require any mountaineering gears.\n\n#### Langtang region treks\n\n**Helambu Langtang Trek**. A short taxi ride from Thamel to the roadhead at Shivapuri leads to a trail through the middle-hills countryside of Helambu. Either circle around and return to Kathmandu or cross the pass to the sacred lake at Gosainkhund, descend and then hike up the Langtang valley beneath mountains that form the border with Tibet. Descend back to catch a bus on a rough road through Trisuli to Kathmandu. If you don't fancy the long shaky bus ride (>8 hours) from/to Syabrubesi, Dhunche or Thulo Barku, you can get a 4x4 pickup for about Rs90,000 to/from Kathmandu.\n Langtang Valley Trek\nTamang Heritage Trail\n\n#### Pro-poor rural treks", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk028", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Tourism is a dynamic sector of economy and accepting it as a vehicle of poverty reduction is a relatively new concept in Nepal. Nepal is a predominantly rural society, with 85% of the population living in the countryside. Naturally, Nepal's rich culture and ethnic diversity are best experienced in its village communities. You can engage in local activities, learn how to cook local cuisine or take part in agricultural activities like kitchen gardening, etc.\nAccording to the NTB, rural tourism in Nepal focuses on \"village trek\" visits to indigenous people that “...will make tourists, experience rural life and Nepalese hospitality off the beaten path with all the beautiful scenery and cultural diversity of Nepal.”\nIn the rural Nepal context, pro-poor tourism means expanding employment and small enterprise opportunities especially pro-indigenous peoples, youth and pro-women. Pro-poor initiatives in Nepal include the UNDP-TRPAP and ILO-EMPLED projects.\n\nTamang Heritage Trail\nChepang Heritage Trail\nPathibhara Trail\nLimbu Cultural Trail\nDudhkunda Cultural Trail\nPikey Cultural Trail\nThe Guerrilla Trek\nNumbur Cheese Circuit\nIndigenous Peoples Trail\nTrekking on the Indigenous Peoples Trail and the Numbur Cheese Circuit is a means for Nepali as well as foreign visitors to experience the rural and traditional Nepali way of life, and for the local community to participate in and benefit directly from tourism. You'll feel better knowing that your visit is genuinely helping your hosts. And if you want to simply lie on a beach, well, the Majhi Fishing Experience on the Sun Kosi in Ramechhap features one of the best beaches in Nepal.\n\n#### 'Ethno-tourism' or cultural treks", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk029", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Golden Hour on the Koshi\nEthno-tourism is increasingly popular in Nepal and is designed to maximize social and economic benefits to the local communities and minimize negative impacts to cultural heritage and the environment. Ethno-tourism is a specialized type of cultural tourism and can be defined as any excursion which focuses on the works of humans rather than nature, and attempts to give the tourist an understanding of the lifestyles of local people.\n\nNumbur Cheese Circuit in the Everest Region\nIndigenous Peoples Trail in Ramechhap\nMajhi Fishing Experience on the Sun Koshi\nThe Guerrilla Trek in Mid-Western Nepal\nHelambu Trek in Langtang\nTamang Heritage Trail in Langtang\nChepang Heritage Trail in Chitwan\n\n#### Remote treks\n\nthumb|Kanchenjunga\nOther more remote regions will require a bit more planning and probably local assistance, not least as the required permits are only issued via Nepali guides/agents. Camping is required on one or more nights.\n Kanchenjunga - far eastern Nepal, accessible via Taplejung (from Kathmandu 40min by plane, 40hrs by bus), a strenuous trek through sparsely populated country to the third highest mountain.\n Dolpa - Upper Dolpa in northwestern Nepal beyond the highest Himalaya is the remote Land of the Bon, almost as Tibetan as Nepali. Lower Dolpa is more accessible and can me reached by plane.\n Manaslu Trek - Unspoiled trails through remote villages and over the Larkya La, a remote pass at 5,100m, to circuit an 8,000m mountain. The Manaslu massif rises above the old kingdom of Gorkha close to the Tibetan border about halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara and will be close at hand for the last half of the circuit.\nthumb|Trekkers resting on the way to Everest Base Camp\n\n#### Social responsibility and responsible travel", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk030", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and hiring a local company will benefit the local economy, however the involvement of travel agents in Kathmandu must be approached with caution. The numbers of travel, trekking and rafting agencies registered in 2007 were 1,078, 872 and 94 respectively. The rapid growth in tourism in Nepal coupled with the absence of a self-regulating code of conduct has helped to grow unhealthy competition among travel agents with regular undercutting in tariffs. Such undesirable actions take away benefits not only from trekking guides and porters but also from others engaged in supplying goods and providing services to the tourists. By paying lower tariffs tourists may save money but directly at the expense of local communities. Try to use 'socially responsible' tour operators that promote proper porter treatment and cultural and environmental sensitivity among their clients in line with the UN-WTO Sustainable Tourism Criteria.\n\nOrganised group trekking or independent trekking?\nWhile organized groups from \"**western tour operators**\" from overseas drain the operational profit out of the country, organized groups hire a larger amount of local workforce from porters to guides.\nWith local tour operators, most of the operational profit remains in the country. Groups are more likely to go remote areas, and rely as much as possible on local resources to minimize transport cost and hire maximum local porters.\n\nIn comparison, individual travellers are concentrated on the main trails with lodges and usually a lower budget. These trekkers usually use simpler lodges with lower costs. They may venture less often into remote areas, as that would mean more expense or very basic local services which most try to avoid. They generally spend less than organized travellers on same trails simply because they often have more restricted budgets.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk031", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Safety and comfort are higher with organized tours. There is a full range of choice for any demand, just be sure to think about what trekking means for you: do you want to carry your own pack or not?", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk032", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Keep working conditions and wages in mind when selecting a trekking company. For visitors from the west, hiring guides and porters is affordable and an extra few dollars can make a big impact in the life of a guide or porter. In order to feed themselves and their families, porters take on the job of carrying heavy loads to high elevations. Some of the problems porters face are underpayment, inadequate clothing and gear, being forced to carry excess weight, insufficient food provision and poor sleeping facilities. Sometimes these issues leave porters open to illness and neglect on the mountain. Nowadays most companies care better due to past awareness campaigns to their staff, however, some backpackers employ (illegally) porters and guides and there continue to be reports that some tourists pay less than the going rate.thumb|A porter carrying a kitchen sink\nThere are a number of websites that facilitate direct contact with recommended trekking guides and porters. By law this is not permitted, as foreigners on tourist visa are not allowed to employ any kind of workforce, but only legal registered companies as use in most countries around the globe. So unless you want to break the law, do not employ yourself any kind of porters or guides and ensure to hire only through legal companies, in case of an accident it may bring severe problems to have employed illegally staff.\nThe **International Porter Protect Group’s (IPPG)** was set up in response to these issues, to improve health and safety for the trekking porter at work in the mountains and reduce the incidence of avoidable illness, injury and death. This is achieved by raising awareness of the issues among the trekking community and travel companies, leaders and sirdars. The IPPG recommends the following guidelines:\nAdequate clothing is made available for protection in bad weather and at altitude. This should include adequate footwear, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and trousers, sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad above the snowline.\nLeaders and trekkers provide the same standard of medical care for porters they would expect themselves.\nPorters must not be paid off because of illness without the leader or trekkers being informed.\nSick porters are never sent down alone, but rather with someone who speaks their language.\nSufficient funds are provided to sick porters to cover the cost of their land rescue and treatment.\nAll trekking porters should have provision for security, personal protective equipment including shoes and clothes, depending on the weather.", "word_count": 411}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk033", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "### Rafting and kayaking\n\nRafting trips of 1 to 10 days on many rivers and for all levels of experience leave from Kathmandu and Pokhara. For detailed itineraries visit the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents. The main rivers for rafting are:\n Bhote Koshi\n Kali Gandaki\n Karnali\n Seti\n Sun Koshi\n Trishuli\n Tamur\n Marshyangdhi\nMany companies offer Learn to Kayak Clinics on the Trishuli river, an ideal spot to take your first steps into the world of whitewater.\n\n### Mountain biking\n\nthumb|Mountainbiking in Manang. Literally.\nMountain biking in Nepal is fun and at times challenging event. There are many popular biking routes:\n **The Scar Road from Kathmandu** starts from Balaju towards Kakani to Shivapuri ending in Budhanilkantha in northern Kathmandu.\n **Kathmandu to Dhulikhel** starts from Koteshwor in Kathmandu to Bhaktapur to Banepa to Dhulikhel. You can also continue from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha to Panauti to Banepa.\n **The Back Door to Kathmandu** starts from Panauti and heads to Lakuri Bhanjyang and then to Lubhu in Lalitpur ending near Patan.\n **Dhulikhel to the Tibetan Border** starts in Dhulikhel and follows the Araniko Highway with a night stay on the way.\n **The Rajpath from Kathmandu** starts from Kalanki in Kathmandu and follows the Prithvi Highway up to Naubise. Then Tribhuwan Highway route is taken with overnight stay in Daman. From there, ride downhill to Hetauda, with the option of heading towards Narayangarh or the Indian border.\n **Hetauda to Narayangarh and Mugling** starts from Hetauda and heads along the Mahendra Highway to Narayangarh. You could take a detour to Sauraha near from Taandi.\n **Kathmandu to Pokhara** starts from Kathmandu and traverses through Naubise, Mugling to Pokhara.\n **Pokhara to Sarangkot and Naudanda** starts from Lakeside Pokhara and heads towards Sarangkot and from there towards Naudanda. From there, ride downhill towards the highway.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk034", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "The best time to go for biking is between mid October and late March, when the atmosphere is clear the climate is temperate: warm during the days and cool during the night. Biking in other times of the year is also possible but great care should be taken while biking during the monsoon season (June to September) as the roads are slippery. Biking can be done independently or can be organized through biking companies of Nepal.\n\nYou can **rent mountain bikes** of almost any quality, but remember that if you're going on a longer or harder ride, at least your own saddle would be a good option to bring. In late 2009 the daily rental costs ranged from US$3 for a simple bike to US$30 for a western bikes with suspension.\n\n### Motorcycling\n\nNepal's geography and climate makes for some of the best motorcycling roads in the world. The traffic is a little chaotic, but not aggressive, and the speeds are low. Be aware that you need an **international driving licence** in Nepal, even though you might never be stopped by the police as a tourist on a bike.\n\nPerhaps the best and most original way to explore the country is by motorcycle. Kathmandu should be avoided by beginners, but the rest of Nepal is simply amazing. **Hearts and Tears Motorcycle Club, Wild Experience Tours & Blazing Trails Tours** are the better known names in the industry. They specialize in motorcycle touring and have a great collection of custom bikes. They are professional set-ups with imported safety equipment, structured training and well organized group tours.\n\n### Canyoning", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk035", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Do", "text": "Since 2007 that the Nepal Canyoning Association was founded, a lot of canyons (khola in Nepali) have been equipped for organized descents. The 2011 IRC (International Canyoning Rendezvous) took place in the Marshyangdi River valley in the Annapurna region. There are at least 30 canyons where private companies organize excursions for descents. The Nepali canyons offer breathtaking views of the valleys and rice fields below and various combinations of difficulty and water level. Most canyons can only be accessed on foot from the nearby roads, through paths used by the locals for agriculture purposes or accessing their homes. In 2011, one of the longest and most difficult canyons in the world was equipped in an expedition by the \"Himalayan Canyon Team\" in the Chamje Khola.\n\n### Jungle safari\n\nChitwan National Park offers elephant rides, jungle canoeing, nature walks and bird watching, as well as more adventurous tiger and rhino-viewing. There are also many other less visited parks including Bardiya and Shuklaphanta National Park .\n\n### Trance parties\n\n\"The Last Resort\", near the Tibetan border, has frequent Full Moon trance parties, lasting 2-3 days. Watch for posters and check music shops. Pokhara has started featuring its own brand of Full Moon raves and interesting Western takes on Nepali festivals.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk036", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\n**Nepalese rupees** are the local currency, denoted by the symbol \"**रु**\" or \"**Rs**\" (ISO currency code: **NPR**).\n\nCoins of Nepal come in denominations of 1 and 2 rupees. Banknotes of Nepal come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 rupees.\n\n#### Acceptance of Indian rupees\n\nAlthough Indian currency is also widely accepted in Nepal (at an official exchange rate of 1.60 Nepalese rupees to 1 Indian rupee), it is officially illegal to carry or trade in any Indian rupee note above 100 rupees. In practice though these higher value notes are still unofficially accepted, even at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport to pay for your government issued visa on arrival.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nThere are banks in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Nepalgunj, Janakpur, Lumbini and other major cities that will allow you to retrieve cash from ATM or credit cards. There are many 24/7 ATMs in those cities.\n\nKeep all currency exchange and ATM receipts as they are required at the airport bank to convert back to your original currency. If you don't have them, they will refuse to convert your currency but they will suggest going to the Duty Free shop upstairs, even though it isn't a licensed money changer. Traveller's cheques may be useful outside of the major cities.\n\nAll ATMs in Nepal charge a withdrawal fee of at least . The ATMs likely to have the lowest fee depends on how much you're withdrawing (listed in order from most to fewest branches):\n or less: NIC Asia, Prabhu, ADBL, Siddhartha, Nepal SBI and Standard Chartered ATMs have the lowest fee of (listed in order from most to fewest branches) with NIC Asia, Prabhu and Standard Chartered ATMs allowing withdrawals up to and the other ATMs only \n or less and more than : Laxmi Sunrise ATMs have the lowest fee of \n or less and more than : Nabil Bank ATMs have the lowest fee of \nNote that the fee charged can vary depending on your card type, where your bank is and sometimes even the specific ATM you're using. Check fees when using an ATM you haven't used before, or the same ATM with a different card. If one of these ATMs is not nearby then check this table to help find a favourable alternative:\n+ \n\n Bank Fee Transaction limit\n Agriculture Development Bank (ADBL) \n \n Nepal SBI Bank \n \n NIC Asia Bank \n \n Prabhu Bank\n \n Siddhartha Bank \n \n Standard Chartered\n \n Laxmi Sunrise Bank \n \n Citizens Bank International \n \n Everest Bank \n \n Global IME Bank \n \n NMB Bank \n \n Nabil Bank \n (ATM incorrectly shows )", "word_count": 419}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk037", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Dal bhat tarkari\nThe Nepali national meal is **daal-bhaat-tarkaari**. It is spiced lentils poured over boiled rice, and served with tarkari: vegetables cooked with spices. This is served in most Nepalese homes and teahouses, two meals a day at about 10:00 and 19:00 or 20:00 If rice is scarce the grain part may be cornmeal mush called aata, barley, or sukkha roti (whole wheat 'tortillas'). The meal may be accompanied by **dahi** (yogurt) and a small helping of ultra-spicy fresh **chutney** or **achaar** (pickle). Traditionally this meal is eaten with the right hand. Curried meat, goat or chicken, is an occasional luxury, and freshwater fish is often available near lakes and rivers. Because Hindus hold cattle to be sacred, beef is not part of traditional Nepali cuisine, but can still be obtained for a high price in some expensive restaurants. Buffalo and yak are eaten by some but considered too cow-like by others. Pork is eaten by some tribes, but not by upper-caste Hindus. As in India, there are some communities and tribes that are vegetarian.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk038", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Outside the main morning and evening meals, a variety of snacks may be available. Tea, made with milk and sugar is certainly a pick-me-up. Corn may be heated and partially popped, although it really isn't popcorn. This is called \"kha-jaa\", meaning \"eat and run\". Rice may be heated and crushed into \"chiura\" resembling uncooked oatmeal that can be eaten with yogurt, hot milk and sugar, or other flavourings. Fritters called 'pakora' and turnovers called \"samosa\" can sometimes be found, as can sweets made from sugar, milk, fried batter, sugar cane juice, etc. Be sure such delicacies are either freshly cooked or have been protected from flies. Otherwise flies land in the human waste that is everywhere in the streets, then on your food, and so you become a walking medical textbook of gastrological conditions.\n\nBecause of the multi-ethnic nature of Nepali society, differing degrees of adherence to Hindu dietary norms, and the extreme range of climates and micro-climates throughout the country, different ethnic communities often have their own specialties.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk039", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Newars, an ethnic group originally living in the Kathmandu Valley, are food-lovers who lament that feasting is their downfall, whereas sexual indulgence is said to be the downfall of Pahari Chhetri. In the fertile Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys there is more variety in ingredients, particularly vegetables, than what is available in most of the hills. As such, Newari cuisine is quite distinct and diverse relatively compared to the other indigenous regional cuisines of Nepal, so watch for Newari restaurants. Some of them even come with cultural shows: a good way to enjoy good food while having a crash-course in Nepalese culture.\nthumb|Momo\nThe cuisine of the Terai lowlands is almost the same as in adjacent parts of India. Locally-grown tropical fruits are sold alongside subtropical and temperate temperate crops from the hills. In addition to bananas ('kera') and papayas ('mewa') familiar to travellers, jackfruit ('katar') is a local delicacy.\n\nSome dishes, particularly in the Himalayan region, are Tibetan in origin and not at all spicy. Some dishes to look for include **momos**, a meat or vegetable filled dumpling, which is similar to Chinese pot-stickers. Momos has become very popular in past few decades. Momos can be found almost everywhere in Kathmandu and other towns in Nepal, whether it be a big hotel or a small restaurant. Other dishes like **Tibetan Bread and Honey** a puffy fried bread with heavy raw honey that's great for breakfast. Up in the Himalayan mountains, potatoes are the staple of the Sherpa people. Try the local dish of potato pancakes (*rikikul*). They are delicious eaten straight off the griddle and covered with dzo (female yak) butter or cheese.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk040", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Pizza, Mexican, Thai and Chinese food and Middle-Eastern food can all be found in the tourist districts of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. If you are on a budget, eating local dishes will save money.\n\nMany small restaurants are not prepared to cook several different dishes; try to stick with one or two dishes or you will find yourself waiting as the cook tries to make one after another on a one-burner stove in those small restaurants.\n\nAs far as possible, eat only Nepali village products. If you take only village product foods, it will help them economically.", "word_count": 97}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk041", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Everest beer\n**Alcohol:**\n\n**Raksi** is a clear liquid with around 45% ABV. It is usually brewed \"in house\", resulting in a variation in its taste and strength. This is by far the least expensive drink in the country. It is often served on special occasions in small, ceramic cups (Salinchha in Newar language) that hold less than a shot. It works well as a mixer in fruit juice or seltzer. It may appear on menus as \"Nepali wine\".\n**Jaand** (Nepali) or **chyaang** (Tibetan) is a cloudy, moderately alcoholic drink sometimes called \"Nepali beer\". Mostly it is made from rice, specially in Newari culture. While less alcoholic than raksi, it will still have quite an effect. This is often offered to guests in Nepali homes, and is diluted with water. For your safety, ask guests if the water has been sanitized before drinking this beverage.\n**Beer** production in Nepal has reached international quality standards. Everest and Gorkha are two popular local brands and are also exported. International brands are available in urban areas. \n**Cocktails** can pretty much only be found in Kathmandu and Pokhara's tourist areas. There you can get watered-down \"two for one drinks\" at a variety of pubs, restaurants and sports bars.\n\n**Tea:**\nthumb|Tea gardens in Ilam\nAlthough not internationally famous, Nepal has a large tea industry. Most plantations are in the east of the country and the type of tea grown is very similar to that produced in neighbouring Darjeeling. Well known varieties are Dhankuta, Illam, Jhapa, Terathhum and Panchthar (all named after their growing regions). Over 70% of Nepal's tea is exported and the tea you see for sale in Thamel, while they serve as token mementos, are merely the scrapings from the bottom of the barrel.\n**Milk tea** is boiled milk with added tea, with or without sugar.\n**Chai** is tea with added milk and also sometimes containing ginger and spices such as cardamom.\n**Suja** is salty tea made with milk and butter - only available in areas inhabited by Tibetans, Sherpas and a few other Himalayan people.\n**Herbal teas** are mostly made from wild flowers from the Solu Khumbu region. In Kathmandu, these teas are generally only served in high class establishments or those run by Sherpas from the Solu Khumbu.", "word_count": 376}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk042", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Budget accommodation in Nepal ranges from around Rs250 to around Rs750 for a double. The prices you are told at first are not fixed so you should haggle. Especially if you want to stay for a longer period, you can get a large discount. Cheaper rooms usually do not have sheets, blankets, towels, or anything else besides a bed and a door. Most budget hotels and guesthouses have a wide range of rooms, so be sure to see what you are getting, even if you have stayed there before. Usual price for three-star equivalent hotel (AC, bathroom, Internet access and satellite TV in the room) is around Rs1,500 for a double, a bit more in Kathmandu. Accommodations might easily be the cheapest part of your budget in Nepal.\n\nHowever, if you prefer luxurious accommodation, the best hotels equal approximately to four star hotels in western countries (unlimited access to swimming pool or whirlpool, no power outages, room service, very good restaurant and buffet breakfasts). Expect the price being much higher (circa US$50 for a double or US$100 for an apartment, even more in Kathmandu). In these hotels, all prices are usually fixed. In Kathmandu, some luxurious hotels require going through security check when entering.", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk043", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Thangka painting\n\n**Tsering Art School**, offers a Thangka painting course. A minimum study period of 3 months a year for 3 years is recommended. Due to the sacred nature of this art form, those who wish to study here must have taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and be Buddhist. There are no boarding facilities offered at the Tsering Art School for foreign students. The school fees are Rs1,600 per month. Basic drawing and painting implements are required and can be purchased in Nepal. For study enquiries and enrolments contact the school administrator, Miss Lobsang Dolma by email on: zorig@asia.com", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk044", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Work", "text": "### Volunteering\n\nVisitors to Nepal should be aware that it is illegal to do volunteering \"work\" on a tourist Visa. In order to volunteer legally, the organization who will engage you must obtain for you a non-tourist visa.\n\nUnfortunately, volunteer tourism has mostly become more profitable than real tourism. Foreign operators and Nepali agents have found an inexhaustible supply of well-meaning but naive people who will pay sometimes even big amounts to \"volunteer\" in Thamel, Lakeside and Chitwan. See Volunteer travel.\n\nTeaching English is a popular project for volunteers and is often combined with courses in computer literacy or health and physical education. The Nepali school system, which many children only attend for a few years, requires English fluency so there is always a demand for native English speakers of all ages, races and nationalities. There have been few prerequisites for teaching beyond fluency in English. Be aware that many schools, especially private ones, charge families higher fees if \"foreign teachers present\" and often locally available English teachers may not be able to find work because of the number of foreign mostly illegally engaged foreign volunteers, many of whom may be illegally employed.\n\nIf you want to teach, a school may request and obtain a non tourist visa for you so you can teach legally.\n\nThere are many options for finding volunteer opportunities. Several international volunteer organizations, will find you a project, room and boarding, either at the school or with a local family for a fee. This \"fee\" can range from US$500-2000 depending on the type and length of program. Often only little of that money will go to the school and host family, often they are too poor even to support a volunteer, so the bulk often goes to the agency.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk045", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Work", "text": "Some organisations will provide language and culture lessons as well as general teaching supplies and support. Once you make a deposit on a particular program there may be limited options for change. Programs can last from two weeks to five months if made in tourist visa, but keep in mind a regular, legal work and a longer stay may be more rewarding for both you and the school, as it can take several weeks to get into the swing of things. Above all, examine carefully how your money is spent and who really benefits.\nthumb|View to the summit of Mount Everest\nAn alternative to paid placement is to find a local, grassroots program, or to contact schools directly in Kathmandu when you arrive. Local hostels and restaurants usually have bulletin boards full of often doubtful requests for volunteers. More and more local groups are placing ads on the web as well. These programs are more likely to charge only for room and board, but you will need to do some research to find out the specifics of each group and what, if any, support you will receive. Waiting until you arrive also lets you get to know the areas you can volunteer in and allows you to shop around for a situation that best suits you. These placements tend to be longer term (3-5 months), but this is always negotiable with a specific school or project.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk046", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Work", "text": "Always check if your engagement does not take away work of other people and that your volunteer work is done legally and that the community profits from the deal. Report to police or other serious NGO/INGO any kind of misuse. Always demand written receipts with complete organisation address, stamp and signatures. This helps to prevent siphoning off precious development funds, which generally tend to not reach the intended beneficiaries most of time. Estimates go from 85-95% for funds spent on \"logistics\", \"office expenses\", \"allowances\", vehicles and so forth.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk047", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Members of Nepal's Armed Police Force pose with tourists\n\n### Political extremism\n\nSometimes, there are **strikes** (\"bandas\") and demonstrations to contend with. Some businesses close, but many allowances are usually made for tourists, who are widely respected. Ask about strikes at your hotel or read the English language Nepali newspapers.\n\nThe Maoist insurgency ended in 2006 after they signed comprehensive peace agreement with the government, in which they agreed to become a mainstream political party and participate in elections. The government is in the hand of Nepali Congress as it wins the election of 2014. Due to the change in government the tourists are now much more safer than before. The trekking routes and other tourist destinations are safe for travel. If your country has an embassy or consulate in Nepal, let them know your whereabouts & plans, and at least listen seriously to any cautionary advice they offer.\n\nIt is not unheard of for Maoist \"tax collectors\" to collect \"revolutionary taxes\" from trekkers. They may approach you as a large group. Even though this is effectively extortion, it is not always an unfriendly encounter and should not assume the worst. They will usually provide a receipt for the tax and claim that it will provide you with security and safe passage within the area that you are in. It is best to defer to your guide and if your guide suggests that you pay the tax, accept the recommendation. You can negotiate and haggle, or refuse outright, and they will either press harder, threaten you or leave you alone entirely. This has become progressively rarer since the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006 (especially on the trek to the Everest Base Camp) but is still imposed in some areas.\nthumb|A destroyed building in Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake\n\n### Earthquake risk\n\nEarthquakes are common across Nepal. The lack of emergency equipment and poorly resourced medical facilities is likely to worsen an earthquake’s impact. For example, the 2015 Nepal Earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed over 600,000 homes.\n\nThe National Society of Earthquake Technology (NSET) gives advice on what to do in an earthquake, check with your tour operator to find out what contingency plans they have for an earthquake.\n\nFollowing a significant earthquake you should expect transport, accommodation and basic services in affected areas to be disrupted. Relief efforts are likely to be a priority for the authorities. Check with your tour company or hotel for further information on whether travel to an area is appropriate.\n\n### Pickpocketing\n\nNepal's cities are safer than most, and even pickpockets are rare. It's relatively safe for women and solo travellers as compared to many other South Asian countries. Nevertheless, don't flash cash or make ostentatious displays of wealth. It is advised to take trekking guide when trekking to a Himalayan region.\n\n### Transportation risk\n\nBe cautious with public transport. Roads are narrow, steep, winding & frequently crowded. Domestic flights are safer than the roads. Flying risks are greatest before & during the monsoon season when the mountains are usually clouded over.\n\n### Medical evacuation\n\nIf you should be seriously injured or sick where there are no roads or airports, **medical evacuation** by helicopter may be your only option. If there is no firm guarantee that the bill will be paid, companies offering these services may demur, so look into **insurance** covering medical evacuations. You might ask if your embassy or consulate guarantees payment.", "word_count": 571}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk048", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Samosas for sale on the [[street food|street]] in Kathmandu\n**Minimizing gastrointestinal problems** - Since most of Nepal still gets along without modern sanitation, these are endemic. They range from self-limiting attacks of diarrhea where dehydration is the main risk, through intestinal parasites, amoebic dysentery and giardiasis which are chronic without proper medical treatment, to immediately life-threatening infections like cholera and typhoid. Habituation even to common intestinal flora generally takes about a year and many unpleasant bouts of stomach problems, so tourists contemplating shorter stays should take extensive precautions. Filter or treat your own water, use bottled water, checking to make sure lid is sealed (limit use of bottled water since there's no place to dispose of the used bottles) or stick with beverages made from water that has been thoroughly **boiled and filtered**. Tea or coffee from cafes catering to tourists are 'generally' safe. See also Travellers' diarrhea.\n**Water** is unsafe for drinking without being chemically treated or boiled, which is one reason to stick to tea or bottled water. It may be possible to buy filtered, treated water in cities and many villages. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has installed a number of safe water stations along the Annapurna Circuit where water may be purchased for a reasonable cost.\n **When trekking** carry iodine or other chemical means of treating water and be sure to follow directions, i.e. don't drink the water before the specified time interval to ensure that resistant cysts are deactivated. In trailside teashops, although glasses may be washed in questionable water, tea is made by pouring boiling water through tea dust into your glass. The chances of disease-causing organisms surviving that are small but not zero.\n**Brush teeth** with prepared drinking water and avoid water entering the mouth when showering.\n**Salads**, especially in the wet season, should be treated as suspect. Some restaurants wash salad greens with lightly iodized water to make it safe.\n**Wash hands** regularly and especially before eating. Carry hand sanitizer and use it regularly.\n**Thoroughly wash** fruit and vegetables for raw consumption using boiled and filtered water. Also consider peeling them.\n Look for freshly-cooked food and avoid anything that has been cooked and then left sitting around without refrigeration (which can expose you to a buildup of harmful bacteria), or without protection from flies (which can transfer disease-causing organisms and parasite eggs to the food).\n Also see the **Travellers' diarrhea** article.\n **Get vaccinated and consider prophylactic treatment.** You may be exposed to typhoid, cholera, hepatitis malaria and possibly even rabies. Read the article on **Tropical diseases** and review travel plans with your health care provider.\n**Practice safe sex** or do without. Nepali women are sought after in India and the Middle East and so there is human trafficking. Victims may be allowed to return home when health issues become a liability, then continue 'working' as long as possible. The incidence of STDs is rising and the government has not always been proactive about treatment and promoting awareness. Unless your Nepali is extremely fluent, your chances of finding out about a prospective partner's sexual history are slim.\nthumb|Acute Mountain Sickness warning sign, Annapurna Circuit\n**Altitude sickness** Permanent snow lines are between 5,500 m and 5,800 m (18,000 ft and 19,000 ft), so base camps and passes in the Himalaya are usually higher than Mount Blanc or Mount Whitney. This puts even experienced mountain climbers at risk of altitude-related medical conditions that can be life-threatening. Risks can be minimized by choosing routes that don't go high, such as Pokhara-Jomosom, or routes and trekking companies where gamow bags or other treatment are available, and by sleeping not more than 300 m (1,000 ft) higher per day. According to the \"climb high, sleep low\" mantra, it is good to take daytime conditioning hikes that push acclimation, then to return to a more reasonable elevation at night.\n **Hypothermia** is a risk, especially if you are trekking in spring, autumn or winter to avoid heat at low elevations. When it is a comfortable 30°C (85°F) in the Terai, it is likely to be in the teens Fahrenheit or -10°C (14°F) at that base camp or high pass. Either be prepared to hike *and* sleep in these temperatures (and make sure your comrades, guides and porters are equally prepared), or choose a trek that doesn't go high. For example, at 3,000m (10,000ft) expect daytime temperatures in the 40s Fahrenheit or 5 to 10°C.\n Rabies - Dogs are not vaccinated and catch this fatal disease from other dogs or wild animals with some regularity. All mammals are potentially vulnerable. Dogs are considered ritually polluting and are widely abused, so it can be impossible to know whether a dog bit you because it is paranoid about people or because it is rabid. You should be vaccinated against rabies before going to Nepal, but this is not absolute protection. Be on the lookout for mammals acting disoriented or hostile and stay as far away as possible. Do not pet dogs, cats or pigs no matter how cute. Keep a distance from monkeys, especially in places like the Monkey Temple (Swayambunath) in Kathmandu. If bitten or exposed to saliva, seek medical attention. You may need an extended series of injections that provides a higher level of protection than routine vaccination.\n Snakebite - The risk is greatest in warm weather and at elevations below 1,500 m (5,000 ft). Poisonous snakes are fairly common and cause thousands of deaths annually. Local people may be able to differentiate poisonous and non-poisonous species. Cobras raise their bodies in the air and spread their hoods when annoyed; itinerant snake charmers are likely to have specimens for your edification. Vipers have triangular heads and may have thick bodies like venomous snakes in North America. Kraits may be the most dangerous due to innocuous appearance and extremely potent neurotoxin venom. Kraits are strangely passive in daylight but become active at night, especially around dwellings where they hunt rodents. Krait bites may be initially painless, causing only numbness. However without proper antivenin numbness can progress to deadly paralysis, even with bites from small, seemingly harmless specimens. Wearing proper shoes and trousers rather than sandals and shorts provides some protection. Watch where you put your feet and hands, and use a torch when walking outside at night. Sleeping on elevated beds and on second stories helps protect against nocturnal kraits.", "word_count": 1059}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk049", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Respect", "text": "Greet people with a warm **Namaste** (or \"Namaskar\" formal version - to an older or high-status person) with palms together, fingers up. It is used in place of hello or goodbye. Don't say it more than once per person, per day. The least watered down definition of the word: 'The divine in me salutes the divine in you.'\n\nShow respect to elders.\n\nSay Thank you: Dhanyabaad /'ðɅnjɅbɑ:d/ (Dhan-ya-baad)\n\n**Feet** are considered dirty. Don't point the bottoms of your feet at people or religious icons. Do not step over a person who may be seated or lying on the ground. Be sensitive to when it is proper to remove your hat or shoes. It is proper to take off your shoes before entering a residential house.\n\nThe **left hand** is considered unclean because it is used to wash after defecating. Many Nepali hotel & guest house toilets have bidet attachments, like a kitchen sink sprayer, for this purpose in lieu of toilet paper. It is considered insulting to touch anyone with the left hand. It is proper to poke someone, take and give something with the right hand.\n\n**Circumambulate** Buddhist shrines and temples, chortens, stupas, mani walls, monasteries etc. in a **clockwise** direction. Hindu shrines and temples have no such practice.\nthumb|Merchandise at a market in the capital\nWhen **haggling** over prices, smile, laugh and be friendly. Be prepared to allow a reasonable profit. Don't be a miser or insult the quality of the goods on offer.\n\nMany '''Hindu temples''' do not allow non-Hindus inside certain parts of the temple complex. Be aware & respectful of this fact, as these are places of worship, not tourist attractions.\n\nBeing a non-Hindu makes you moderately *impure* to some strict Hindus. Avoid touching containers of water; let someone pour it into your drinking container. Likewise avoid touching food that others will be eating. Make sure you are invited before entering someone's house. You may only be welcome on the outer porch, or in the yard. Shoes are routinely left on the front porch or in a specific area near the front door.\n\n**Wash hands** before and after eating. Touch food only with the **right hand** if you're not left-handed.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk050", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Connect", "text": "Internet connectivity is increasing rapidly, and obviously its availability is most widespread in Kathmandu (especially in Thamel and around the Boudha Stupa in Boudhanath) or Pokhara. In those two cities, most hotels and lodges will have free Internet connection with Wi-Fi. So will many restaurants. More and more villages will have Internet available at some lodges, usually with Wi-Fi. For example, in 2013, Wi-Fi was available in lodges in Jomsom and Muktinath. In the more remote villages, however, there may only be the occasional Internet cafe that is available. For example, Chame (on the Annapurna circuit) has an Internet cafe with secured Wi-Fi for Rs15 per minute. Even more remote villages may have Internet via satellite connection, but it is quite pricey at over Rs100 per minute.\n\n**Mail** can be received at many guesthouses or at Everest Postal Care, opposite Fire & Ice on Tridevi Marg. Phone calls are best made from any of the international phone offices in Kathmandu. Voice over Internet (VOI) is usually Rs1-2/min. Mobile phones are the best option (see below).\n\n### Mobile phones\n\nThere are two main mobile operators in Nepal: government-run NTC (Nepal Telecom Company) and private Ncell (previously called Spice Mobile and Mero Mobile).\n\nBoth operators allow tourists to buy SIM cards for about Rs200 in Kathmandu and most major towns. You will need to bring a passport photo, fill in a form and have your passport and visa page photocopied.\n\nNcell SIMs can be bought from many stores, but are best bought from official stores in Birgunj or Kathmandu. Micro SIMs can be cut for free if you need.\n\nNTC SIMs can be bought from their official offices and mobile stores across the country. They do not publish their coverage maps. However they do have superior remote coverage to Ncell, particularly on the Annapurna, Everest and other trekking routes.\n\n### Electricity\n\nthumbnail|150px|Typical wall socket that accepts multiple plug types (A, B, C, E, F, G, I, D)\n\nIn Nepal, various types of electric plugs and sockets are common.\n\nThe most common **plug** types to be found on devices are C (Europlug), F (\"Schuko\"), G (UK), D and M.\n\n**Sockets** mostly accept multiple types of plugs. Most modern wall sockets will accept types A, B, C, E, F, G, I and D. Some will additionally support type M. Note that the European plugs (types C, E and F) will typically sit rather loosely in these \"universal sockets\", so it can be advisable to use an adapter.\n\nOccasionally you may also see older sockets which only support types D and M. However, at least one \"modern\" socket will usually be present in a room.\n\nAdapters can be purchased inexpensively in Kathmandu for around ₨100, and some have fuses built in. Try shopping in Thamel or the Kumari Arcade in Kathmandu.\n\nElectricity on treks can be scarce. In remote parts there may only be solar powered electricity. Expect to pay Rs100-200 per hour to charge devices on many tea-house treks, including the Everest base camp trek.\n\nIf you have devices that will need regular recharging, you may wish to purchase in advance a small solar panel and battery pack.", "word_count": 524}
+{"chunk_id": "nepal::chunk051", "doc_id": "nepal", "section": "Go next", "text": "Mount Kailash - in Tibet, a short distance beyond the North West corner of Nepal. Hindu and Buddhist cosmology describes the cosmos as a central mountain, Mount Meru, surrounded by the earth's continents and seas, then by the rest of the universe. Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex is an architectural representation of this schema. As geographical knowledge developed, Mount Kailash was proclaimed the physical manifestation of Mount Meru. It is the hydrological hub of the subcontinent. The Karnali, Sutlej Indus and Brahmaputra rivers all begin near this mountain. Hindus and Buddhists gain religious merit by circumambulating the mountain.", "word_count": 98}
diff --git a/corpus/nepal/metadata.json b/corpus/nepal/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5d06f8690ed99c3a42aa760095a0b8aade1f7208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nepal/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nepal",
+ "title": "Nepal",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nepal",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Mount Kailash",
+ "Angkor Wat"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13138,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 52,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/netherlands/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/netherlands/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b30ad0228ea1d78b06f46ed744d4b050ef60d704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/netherlands/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk000", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Netherlands** (Dutch: *Nederland*) is a charming small country in the low-lying river delta of northwestern Europe. Its landscape of famously flat lands, much of it reclaimed from the sea, is dotted with windmills, blooming tulip fields and picturesque villages. The modern architecture and urban environments of quite a few cities are also becoming internationally prominent. With over 17 million people living in a relatively small area, this is a densely populated modern European country. Still, even the largest of its cities have retained elements of a laid-back, small-town atmosphere, and most are packed with historic heritage, for which there is much local pride.\n\nThe country is commonly referred to as **Holland**, but this name refers only to two of its twelve provinces and is unpopular among Dutch people who aren't from North or South Holland.\n\nAfter the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) that led to the country's *de facto* independence from Spain in 1581, the Netherlands became a great naval power and one of the world's most powerful nations in a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Because of its naval and trading history, this small nation boasts a wealth of cultural heritage visible in many towns across the country. This period also constituted a cultural peak that produced renowned painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Their works and many others fill the top-class Dutch museums that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.\n\nOver the course of centuries, the Netherlands has gained a reputation for tolerance and progressivism. The country was the first in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001. Cannabis use and prostitution have been tolerated since the 1970s. As a founding member of the EU and NATO and host to various international courts in The Hague, the Netherlands is at the heart of international cooperation.\n\nWith its international airport Schiphol and its advanced network of motorways and international high speed train lines, the Netherlands is easy to reach from anywhere. Its small size, welcoming attitude and interesting sights make it a unique and easy to discover destination and a great addition to any European trip.", "word_count": 351}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk001", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Regions", "text": "The Netherlands is a parliamentary monarchy, administratively divided into 12 provinces (*provincies*). Even though the Netherlands is a small country, these provinces are relatively diverse and have plenty of cultural and linguistic differences. It is customary to divide them into four regions:\n\nThis article describes the European Netherlands. The Caribbean islands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are \"special municipalities\" fully integrated into the Netherlands proper. Besides the Netherlands proper, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk002", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Cities", "text": "The Netherlands has many cities and towns of interest to travellers. Below are **nine** of the most notable ones:\n\n — impressive architecture, lovely canals (*grachten*), museums and liberal attitudes\n — historic unspoiled town with the world-famous blue and white ceramics\n — student city with a relaxed atmosphere and nightlife till the sun gets up\n (*Den Haag*) — the judicial capital of the world, the seat of government and the royal family\n — historic student city with the country's oldest university and three national museums\n — fortified mediaeval city showing the different culture, style and architecture of the south\n — the oldest city in the country, known for the Four Days Marches and its large student population\n — modern architecture, good nightlife, vibrant art scene and the largest port in Europe\n — historic centre, antique stores and the Rietveld-Schröder House", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk003", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "These are some interesting destinations outside of the major cities:\n — the Dutch equivalent of Disneyland, theme park with fairytale elements like elves and dwarves\n — perhaps the most visited national park, with heathlands, sand dunes and woodlands\n — World famous park for its flowers, with more than 800,000 visitors one of the most visited attractions in the country\n — these windmills show the typical Dutch landscape in all its glory\n — old island evacuated in 1859, a well-preserved ghost village remains\n — hilly green landscapes, picturesque villages, castles and orchards, Valkenburg aan de Geul is a notable destination here\n — largest island suited for cycling, bird watching, walking, swimming and horse riding, also hosts the most important dropzone for skydiving, tandem jumps for up to 13000 feet are available\n — open air museum with Dutch windmills and Zaan houses\n — typical Dutch villages and polders with clogs, wooden houses and windmills", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk004", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nright|thumb|Peace Palace in The Hague\n\nThe Netherlands, historically the region now known as the Benelux, was part of the Holy Roman Empire until it was acquired piece by piece by the Burgundians. At the end of the Middle Ages, it became a Spanish possession. A few historic city centres and several castles from this Spanish period remain today.\n\nFollowing the **Dutch Revolt**, also known as the 80-year war, led in part by national hero William of Orange, aimed to remove Spanish king Philip II off the throne in favour of another monarch, the Netherlands proclaimed its independence as a republic in early 1588, after both the French and English allied rulers were deemed unfit of taking the throne. Independence only became official with the 1648 Peace of Münster. The (first) split with Belgium came when the northern provinces (including Flanders) signed the Union of Utrecht in 1579, while the southern Netherlands, roughly modern-day Wallonia, declared their desire to keep Philip II as their monarch in the 1579 Union of Atrecht. The Netherlands grew to become one of the major economic and seafaring powers in the world during the 17th century, which is known as the Dutch Golden Age (*Gouden Eeuw*). During this period, many colonies were founded or conquered, including the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and New Netherland (which at its height extended along the East Coast of today's United States, from Rhode Island to the Eastern Shore of Maryland); the latter was traded with the British for Suriname in 1667.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk005", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "After peacefully transforming into the Batavian Republic, a sister republic of the French Empire, following the Batavian revolution of 1795, the Netherlands became a kingdom in 1806 when Emperor Napoleon appointed his brother Louis-Napoleon as 'King of Holland', which was annexed into France in 1810. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna transformed the Low Countries into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands together with modern-day Belgium under King William I, who also gained a political union over Luxembourg. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. During the liberal revolutions of 1848, a new constitution was adopted and the Netherlands became a constitutional monarchy. The personal union with Luxembourg ended in 1890 as Salic Law prohibited a female ruler.\n\nThe Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by neighbouring Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialised nation, the Netherlands is a large exporter of agricultural products. In 1944, the Low Countries formed the union of the Benelux in which they economically (and sometimes politically) work together. The country was a founding member of NATO in 1949 and the European Community (EC) in 1957, and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.\n\n### Religion\n\nThe traditional religion of the Netherlands is the **Dutch Reformed Church**, a branch of Calvinism, and the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Protestant. There is also a longstanding Roman Catholic minority mostly concentrated in the southern provinces near the Belgian border. However, in modern times, the Netherlands is largely a secular society, and as of the 2023 census, the majority of Dutch people do not profess a religion.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk006", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Kinderdijk windmills\nThe Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. No matter where you go, you are never far away from civilisation. Cities can be crowded, especially in the Randstad area, where congestion is a serious problem.\n\nMuch of the country is flat and at or below sea level, making it an ideal place to **cycle**. A few individual hills may be found only at Salland, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug the Veluwe. South Limburg, the most southern tip of the country, is the only region characterised by rolling hills. This hilly nature (combined perhaps with its distinct culture) have gained it a reputation of being almost \"foreign\", and have made it a popular holiday destination for the Dutch. The countryside throughout the Netherlands is dominated by highly industrialised farming and wide grasslands. It is only because of this industrialisation that the Netherlands can be one of the largest food exporters in the world while being so densely populated.\n\nCycling is also a good way to discover picturesque rural landscapes, villages and windmills. While the main cities and attractions are easy to find and navigate, its rural beauty can at first seem a bit harder to find between the extensive development of the countryside. The excellent network of VVV tourist information offices are most helpful for anyone wishing to explore the Dutch provincial areas. They can also provide you with countless biking and hiking routes, especially designed to take you right along the best spots in any region.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk007", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "The geography of the Netherlands is also famously influenced by water features. The country is criss-crossed with rivers, canals and dikes, and the beach is never far away. The western coast has extensive sandy beaches and dunes, attracting many Dutch and German visitors. Since the 17th century, about 20% of the entire country has been reclaimed from the sea, lakes, marshes and swamps. The Frisian Lakes define much of the geography of the North-West.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|right|Ice skating in Groningen\nThe Netherlands has a temperate climate with cool summers and mild winters. Every month of the year has rainfall, with no wet or dry season. The best time to go is from May to September (daily maximum up to , but April and October can also see mild and sunny weather.\n\nIn spring, temperatures vary greatly. Frost can occur until the start of May, but temperatures exceeding are not uncommon either. The sun shines 4 to 7 hours a day on average, increasing throughout the season. Although spring is the driest season (and April is the driest month), always prepare yourself for some rain.\n\nIn summer, the temperature rises generally to above and frequently to . Colder weather is mostly combined with rain. Temperatures in excess of are not unknown, and occur for a few days most summers. A heat wave usually ends with a thunderstorm. The sun shines 7 hours a day on average.\n\nIn autumn, temperatures decrease, but in September and October, the temperature is still a pleasant , sometimes exceeding in September. Rain is abundant, and the number of sunshine hours decrease markedly. In November, frost is more common and temperatures at daytime fluctuates around , but freezing daytimes and snow are not unheard of. Autumn mornings are quite foggy.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk008", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "In winter, temperatures are around most of the time, although frosty periods occur each winter, generally down to , but frosts of are common too. Precipitation is common, although more often in the form of rain rather than snow. Any amount of snowfall generally unfortunately derails public transport.\n\n#### Ice skating\n\nWhenever it freezes longer than a day, many Dutch people will take their skates out of the closet. The few Dutch who still don't have skates are likely to buy a pair. Soon the whole country's full of skating areas just created on frozen little canals or, after more severe frosts, on larger water surfaces. It's also common to organise little fields for skating by spraying water over them. Severe winters offer many ice tours, with the famous Frisian *Elfstedentocht* (eleven town tour or eleven cities tour) being by far the most popular event. Unfortunately there has to be severe frost for many days to make this national celebration possible, and the last time this occurred was in 1997.\n\nDue to this tradition of skating, the Netherlands usually dominates the speed skating events at the Winter Olympics.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nright|thumbnail| Tourist office in Winsum [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]]", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk009", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tourist offices in the Netherlands can be recognised by a blue logo with three characters VVV. This abbreviation means: **Vereniging voor Vreemdelingenverkeer** (Union for foreign traffic). In the main cities and tourist places you will find VVV offices, sometimes run by volunteers. Staff usually speaks English and especially in areas frequently visited by international travellers, printed information in English is available too. The main goal is to inform and advise visitors about the main tourist attractions in the community and region, assist with hotel reservations and to inform about museums, opening hours, etc. Often you can buy tickets for events or gift certificates. Informative leaflets and simple maps are available for free. More advanced maps, books and souvenirs can be bought.\n - Holland.com tourist information website", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk010", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Talk", "text": "The national language in the Netherlands is **Dutch** (*Nederlands*). It's a charming, lilting language punctuated by phlegm-trembling glottal *g*s (not in the south) and *sch*s (also found, for example, in Arabic). Dutch, especially in written form, is partially intelligible to someone who knows other Germanic languages (especially German and Afrikaans), and you might be able to get by at least partially in these languages if spoken slowly.\n\nHowever, the Dutch merchant tradition and international attitude have left this little country with a strong tradition of multilingualism. The majority of the adult population is able to speak **English** relatively well, and most younger people speak it fluently, so you should have no trouble getting by. If you attempt to speak Dutch to locals and it does not sound native, do not be surprised if they respond to you in English. Do not take this personally; they are not trying to be rude, but just trying to make communication easier. If you want to practise your Dutch, just tell them and they will usually oblige if they are not in a hurry.\n\nWhile less widely spoken than English, basic German is also spoken by many, especially by seniors and those in the regions near the German border. It is a mandatory subject in high school for two years, though German fluency among younger people is marginal at best. French and Spanish are spoken by some as well, but proficiency is rare and usually on a much lower level than English or German. French and especially Spanish are slowly gaining on German in popularity.\n\nBesides Dutch, several regional languages and dialects are spoken. In the eastern provinces of Groningen, Overijssel, Drenthe and Gelderland people speak a local variety of Low Saxon (including Grunnegs and Tweants). In the southern province of Limburg the majority speaks Limburgish, a regional language unique in Europe because of its use of pitch and tone length to distinguish words. Frisian is the only official language besides Dutch, but only common in the province of Friesland. It's the closest living continental language to English.\n\nForeign television programmes and films are almost always shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Dutch.", "word_count": 366}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk011", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "All non-EEA/Swiss travellers must register their residence within 5 business days of entering the Netherlands with the Aliens' Police (*Vreemdelingenpolitie*) or the municipality responsible for your place of residence. Hotels normally will handle the registration formalities for their guests.\n\nApplications for visas and long-term residence permits are handled by the IND. Travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the UK, the US, South Korea, and Switzerland can enter the Netherlands without a provisional residence permit (MVV) to stay for more than 90 days for any purpose, but must complete registration formalities with the IND and obtain a residence within 90 days of entering, while all other foreign nationals will likely need a provisional residence permit visa to stay for longer than 90 days.\n\nDutch territories in the Caribbean are not part of the Schengen Area and have slightly different visa requirements from the European Netherlands, but in short, if you do not need a visa to visit the Netherlands, you can also visit these territories without a visa. You may visit the Dutch Caribbean with a valid Schengen visa, but Dutch Caribbean visas are not valid for visits to the European Netherlands.\n\n### By plane\n\nright|thumbnail|Schiphol Airport, one of the world's airport cities\n\nSchiphol Airport (), near Amsterdam, is a European hub and, after London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, the largest in Europe. It's a point of interest in itself, being 4 metres below mean sea level. It is the main hub of national carrier **KLM**, which is the oldest airline in the world that has been continuously operating under the same name, and is well-served by flights from major cities throughout the world.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk012", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some budget airlines also fly to the Netherlands. Easyjet, Transavia and other low-cost carriers serve Schiphol, providing a fairly economical way to city-hop to Amsterdam from other spots in Europe. Especially flying to/from the British Isles and the Mediterranean countries can be relatively cheap. It's important that you book as early as possible, as prices tend to get higher closer to departure.\n\nFrom Schiphol there are excellent railway connections: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and many other cities have a direct train service. International high speed trains depart to Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London. The train station at Schiphol is underground, under the main airport hall. The train is the quickest and cheapest way to get around in the Netherlands.\n\nTaxis are expensive: legal taxis have blue number plates, others should be avoided. Illegal taxi services are frequently offered outside the airport, but these will charge large sums of money for even short trips. Some hotels in Amsterdam and around the airport have a shuttle bus service.\n\nOther international airports are **Eindhoven Airport**, **Maastricht/Aachen Airport**, **Rotterdam - The Hague Airport**, and **Groningen-Eelde Airport**. These smaller airports are mainly served by low-cost airlines. Eindhoven Airport and Maastricht/Aachen Airport are mostly used by Ryanair, while Rotterdam Airport is frequented by Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of KLM for tourists. The operator CityJet does an expensive commuter trip to London City Airport from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. A direct bus connection, either to the local railway stations and then taking the train are the best way to get to Amsterdam or any other town. There is a direct bus service between Eindhoven Airport and Amsterdam Centraal.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk013", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is also possible to come to the Netherlands via airports in surrounding countries. Often-used airports are **Düsseldorf Airport** and **Brussels Airport**. European low cost carriers such as Ryanair also use the airports of Münster-Osnabrück () and Weeze/Niederrhein () which are near or just at the Dutch/German border. From these two airports there are frequent flights to major European destinations.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|right|Eurostar Red, known as 'Thalys' until 2023, runs TGVs to Paris in a slightly modified livery from the original Thalys branding shown here.\n\nThe cheapest train tickets are often sold out early and reservations are generally possible three to six months in advance depending on the company, type of ticket and booking channel. Bookings can be made via NS International (Dutch railways) or its German and Belgian counterparts. NS International also sells combined tickets for their trains and Eurostar to get you to the Netherlands from London.\n\n#### From France, Belgium and Great Britain\n\n'''Eurostar''' operates high-speed trains to the Netherlands from Belgium, France and England. The cheapest tickets are to be found by booking a return in advance or if you're under 26 or over 60. Direct trains connect Brussels, London, Paris, Antwerp and Lille to Amsterdam (Centraal and Schiphol Airport) and Rotterdam (Centraal). Maastricht can also be indirectly reached by Eurostar, changing at Liège-Guillemins or Aachen Hauptbahnhof for a local train.\n\nWhen travelling to or from London, passengers undergo passport and security controls before boarding the train; allow up to 90 min in London or 60 min in Amsterdam/Rotterdam. All other Eurostar services operate within the Schengen Area, so there are no border controls.\n\n'''Eurocity Brussels''' runs between Amsterdam and Brussels. This is a non-high-speed service, with lower priced tickets than Eurostar, and additionals discounts are available during the weekend.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk014", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are local trains from Antwerp to Roosendaal and from Liège to Maastricht. A light rail service from Maastricht to Hasselt is being built and will start operating in a few years.\n\n#### From Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic\n\nThe **Inter-City Express (ICE)** high-speed train, runs from Basel via Frankfurt to Amsterdam, via Cologne, Düsseldorf, Arnhem, and Utrecht.\n\nIntercity trains run from Berlin and Hanover via Osnabrück to Amsterdam and Hengelo, Deventer, Apeldoorn, Amersfoort and Hilversum. During the summer months, a reservation is mandatory to cross the border.\n\nSleeper trains used to be plentiful but were gradually withdrawn from service throughout the last decades and in 2016 the last sleeper train that served the Netherlands was withdrawn. However, in 2021 **ÖBB Nightjet** restarted services from Innsbruck, Munich, Zürich, Basel and Vienna to Amsterdam. European Sleeper offers overnight service from as far as Prague, Decin, and Berlin. NS also sells tickets for these trips. Deutsche Bahn sells tickets for all regional trains in and through Germany and all ICEs, ICs and ECs as well as a handful of others.\n\nThere are also a number of regional trains from and to Germany:\n\nBetween Groningen and Leer trains run every hour.\n There are trains between Enschede and Münster every hour, also between Enschede and Dortmund every hour.\n Trains run hourly between Venlo and Hamm, via Mönchengladbach and Düsseldorf.\n Trains run every hour between Heerlen and Aachen and further to Eschweiler/Stolberg (Rheinland).\n 24 trains per day link Hengelo and Bad Bentheim between 06:09 and 22:09.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Local", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk015", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "For a list of all border-crossing buses between Germany/Belgium and the Netherlands, look at this list https://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Grensoverschrijdend_openbaar_vervoer#Bus\n Apart from being a peculiar result of ancient European history, the town of **Baarle** (formally **Baarle-Hertog** in Belgium and **Baarle-Nassau** in the Netherlands) is a possible change point, since the town's main bus stop *Sint-Janstraat* is operated by Flemish (Belgian) and Dutch buses.\n The Flemish (Belgian) company De Lijn operates a border-crossing bus between **Turnhout** in Belgium and **Tilburg** in the Netherlands, both of which are termini in the respective country's railway network.\n\n#### Intercity\n\nUntil the 2010s, Germany and France had no intercity buses to speak of and consequently few if any connections to the Netherlands were available. However German and French laws have since been changed and there are now several lines and operators connecting points in the Netherlands with Germany, France, Belgium or Luxembourg.\n\n**Flixbus** serves international routes throughout the Netherlands and the neighbouring countries, as well as domestic services.\n\n**RegioJet** is a Czech company serving some major cities in the Netherlands.\n\nThere are bus companies serving the Bosnian diaspora, which provide a cheap and clean way of getting to the other side of the European continent. **Semi tours** runs several times per week from various destinations in Bosnia and Hercegovina to Belgium and the Netherlands, off-season about €135 for a return ticket.\n\n### By car\n\nThe Netherlands has good roads to Belgium and Germany, and ferry links to Great Britain. The country has a dense, very well-maintained and modern highway/motorway network. However the quantity of traffic makes most main roads liable to serious congestion. Borders are open under the terms of the Schengen Agreement. While cars may be stopped at the border for random checks, this rarely happens. There are car ferry services from the United Kingdom (see below).", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk016", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### Car shuttle train (Channel Tunnel)\n\nFrom the United Kingdom, the Netherlands can be reached via the Channel Tunnel shuttle train between Folkestone and Calais, from where you drive through France and Belgium. From the Calais terminal, most of the Netherlands can be reached via **autoroute A16** towards Dunkirk (*Dunkerque*). Once in Belgium, continue in the direction of Bruges (*Brugge*), Ghent (*Gent*) and Antwerp (*Antwerpen*). Near Antwerp, Rotterdam is signposted (via the Liefkenshoek toll tunnel) as is Breda (for Utrecht and the east) and Eindhoven (for the south east). As the UK is not part of the EU or Schengen zone, full border checks apply before boarding the shuttle in Folkestone, though you can drive straight onto the road network upon arrival in France. See eurotunnel.com for more information.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Ferry in Hook of Holland\n\nThere are three ferry services from the UK:\n Stena Line between Harwich and Hook of Holland. Dutchflyer Rail & Sail is a combination ticket that includes the train ride from anywhere on the Greater Anglia network (including London Liverpool Street, Cambridge, and Norwich) to Harwich and the ferry.\n DFDS Seaways between North Shields near Newcastle upon Tyne and IJmuiden on the outskirts of Amsterdam.\n P&O Ferries between Kingston upon Hull and Rotterdam Europoort.\n\nYou may find it more convenient to take the ferry from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, which are only just over 100 km by road from the southwestern province of Zeeland. As the UK is not part of the EU or Schengen zone, full border checks apply.\n\nRotterdam is also the second largest port in the world, and (in theory) a good place for freighter travel.\n\n### Cycling or walking", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk017", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "Thanks to a very flat topography and good infrastructure, you can comfortably cycle or walk to the Netherlands from Belgium, the north of France, Germany, or even from England.\n\nThe Netherlands is on EuroVelo EV12, known as the North Sea Cycle Route, which follows the whole North Sea coastline, with ferry crossings, from Norway to Scotland. For cyclists from Britain, this links up with the Dover-Calais/Dunkirk ferries.\n\nThe LF long-distance cycle network is shared with Belgium. The *LF 1/Noordzeeroute* even continues to Boulogne-sur-Mer in France.\n\nFrom the east the German R 1 connects Berlin eventually to the *LF 4/Midden-Nederlandroute* which ends in The Hague.\n\nFor walkers the Dutch LAW-paden network is connected with the Belgian ''Grote Route paden''.\n\nNearly all cycle and walking route are served by hotels, camp sites and budget accommodation", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk018", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Netherlands is served by an extensive public transport network, making this a good way to get around and discover the main sights. Motorists can rely on an extensive system of (*Auto)snelwegen* (Highways/motorways) and *Autowegen* (semi-highways). Of course the Netherlands is known as one of the most bicycle-friendly countries in the world. A truly extensive bicycle infrastructure makes cycling an excellent way to get around.\n\n### Public transport\n\nThe Netherlands has a fine-grained and well-organised public transport system. Most villages can be reached by public transport although services may be infrequent, especially at weekends. The Dutch public transport system consists of a train network which serves as the backbone, extended with a network of both local and inter-local buses. Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a metro network, each of only a few lines, although Rotterdam's line E reaches The Hague. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague also have extensive networks of trams. Utrecht only has two tram lines which serve mainly as links to the surrounding suburbs of Nieuwegein and IJsselstein.\n\n#### Travel information\n\n- 9292.nl\n\n**Nederlandse Spoorwegen** (*Dutch Railways*)- Information about trains can be found at the *Nederlandse Spoorwegen* (NS) website, which includes a trip planner which uses the latest information about train delays and detours. \n**At a railway station** - At large railway stations there are (yellow) information desks; at most smaller stations there is an information/SOS telephone pole. If you push the blue information button you are connected to an operator for travel information. If you ask railway staff, they'll often look for you in their smart-phone journey-planner.\n\nMany trains have digital displays with current travel information. Most train platforms and some bus stops have electronic information. If you log into the train wifi, you'll see the route information, too.\n\n#### Tickets\n\n##### OVpay", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk019", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The easiest way to travel around is by using your bank card (Mastercard/Visa) directly on the readers / gates. The working is similar to the older OV-chipkaart system, you check in when you start traveling (single beep), and check out when you stop traveling (double beep). You should use the exact same card when checking out. When you switch train operators, trams or buses; you also have to check out and check in again. There is no need to check out and back in when transferring from metro to metro or train to train from the same carrier/operator. You can use the OVpay-app to see details of your transactions and correct certain mistakes.\n\nTo prevent fraud some virtual bank cards are blocked from using the system (including digital Revolut cards).\n\nYou can only use OVpay for second class train travel and distance-based fares.\n\n**9292**\n\nIn addition to being a journey planner the 9292 smartphone app can be used to buy tickets for the whole of the planned journey.\n\n##### OV-chipkaart (being phased out)\n\nAll public transport in the Netherlands (buses, trams, metros and trains) accept contactless smart cards called '''OV-chipkaart''' (OV stands for *Openbaar Vervoer* meaning \"Public Transport\"), sometimes also called the *Public transport chipcard*.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk020", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The OV-chipkaart comes in three versions:\n Disposable OV-chipkaart is a single-use ticket. It can not be reloaded. Some public transport companies in cities offer 1-, 2- or 3-day tickets offering unlimited use in certain regions.\n Anonymous OV-chipkaart is a card to load credit. The purchase price for an empty card is (as of 2025) and is non-refundable. These cards are available at ticket offices and vending machines valid up to 5 years. This card is reusable and reloadable. Since the introduction of OVpay there is limited reason to buy this card, as you can use your bank card to travel. \n Personal OV-chipkaart is useful for anyone entitled to travel with a discount or monthly or annual season ticket. The online form requires an address in the Benelux or Germany and payment by iDeal or PayPal, you may contact them if you live outside these countries as long as you have a valid IBAN bank account number. This card features the holder's photograph and date of birth.\n\nAnonymous and personal cards must have a minimum stored value when travelling on the balance, which for NS trains is (unofficially ) and generally for local public transit operators.\n\n##### Unlimited Travel Ticket\n\nHolland Travel Ticket allows unlimited travel through all off the Netherlands by train, tram, bus and metro for 1 day for €48 (May 2023).\n Eurail (non-european residents) has passes for unlimited train travel throughout the benelux for 3 to 8 days. With the price for an adult ranging from €35,- to €50,- per day. €30,- to €43,- for the ages 12-27 and 60+. and kids age 0-11 travel for free. The more days you take the cheaper. (June 2024).\n Interrail (European residents) also have a Benelux passes.\n\n##### Train ticket deals", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk021", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "With an NS Off-Peak Group Ticket, you pay a fixed amount for a one-way ticket on a route that you select yourself. The bigger the group, the lower the price per person. €34 for 2 people (€17 per person) to €50 for 7 people (€7,15 per person). For reference a trip from Amsterdam to Maastricht is €29,40 per person. \n The Spoordeel Winkel of the NS they have deals include the travel from your local train station to popular attractions like the efteling. and other museums, zoo's, amusement parks and cities. These deals also include the entry to the attraction unless it's a city, then it includes a food and drink from the Kiosk at the train station.\n\nBoth of these deals are **Only valid during off-peak hours.** Meaning you can **not** travel between 06:30-09:00 and 16:00-18:30. Valid all day on weekends, public holidays. Except on Koningsdag (April 27).\n\nNS offers PriceTime Deal when you buy certain quiet train routes in advance via the NS app or NS.nl. The discount can be up to 60%, it cannot be cancalled and is only valid for a specific train time and route.\n\n### By train\n\nright|thumbnail|Amsterdam Centraal, the entry point to Amsterdam for millions of visitors\n\nMost of the Netherlands is densely populated and urbanised, and train services are frequent to most big cities and larger villages and towns in between. There are two main types of trains: Intercities which only stop at major stations and Sprinters which stop at all stations. All types of train have the same prices. Also, there are high-speed trains called 'Intercity Direct' between Amsterdam and Breda, which only requires a supplement ticket between Schiphol and Rotterdam. Travelling all the way from the north of the country (Groningen) to the south (Maastricht) takes approximately 4 hours.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk022", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The *Spoorkaart* is a map of the railway system and shows all services. You can obtain the most recent version from this page on NS' website (listed under *Informatie* towards the bottom). Connections with only one train per hour are shown in thinner lines. A live Spoorkaart shows where trains are at the moment, with updates as they move.\n\nMost lines offer one train every 15 minutes (every 10 min during the rush hours), but some rural lines run only every 60 min. Where more lines run together, the frequency is, of course, even higher. In the western Netherlands, the rail network is more like a large urban network, with up to 12 trains per hour on main routes.\n\nThe (NS) operates most routes. Some local lines are operated by Keolis, Arriva, Veolia and Qbuzz.\n\nBecause of the high service frequency, delays are quite common. However, the delay is usually not more than 5 or 10 minutes. Trains can be crowded, especially in the morning rush hour. Reserving seats on domestic trains is not possible.\n\nOne particular mistake tourists often make is getting on the wrong part of a train. Many trains consist of two parts with different destinations. Somewhere on the way to the final destination, the parts will be separated and will continue on their own to their respective destinations. In that case, the signs over the platforms will show two destinations and which part goes where: *achterste deel/achter* means back and *voorste deel/voor* means front, referring to the direction of departure. Feel free to ask other passengers or an employee.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk023", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Another frequently made mistake involves travelling from Schiphol to Amsterdam. From Schiphol you can go to either Amsterdam Centraal or Amsterdam Zuid (South). These railway stations are not connected directly and many tourists with the idea of going to Amsterdam Centraal wind up at South. Therefore, always check the destination of the train. From Amsterdam Zuid you can take the metro to Centraal, or a train to Centraal with an interchange at station Duivendrecht (2nd floor).\n\nThere is a convenient night train service (for party-goers and airport traffic) between Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Schiphol, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, all night long, once an hour in each direction. On Friday and Saturday evenings, some train lines run an additional late train to other cities.\n\nMost trains have two comfort classes (1e klasse and 2e klasse). Most regional lines not run by NS don't have first class. First class and second class are usually distinguished by different colour schemes. Signs with either \"1\" or \"2\" next to outside doors and carriage doors indicate class. Some zones in train are silent zones. Noise is to be kept to a minimum in these areas. They are indicated either by a stylised face in silhouette holding a finger to the lips, or a yellow oval with \"Ssst\". Usually, there's \"stilte / silence\" on the windows of a stiltecoupé.\n\nFree Wi-Fi is available at almost all major train stations and in most trains. Electrical outlets are usually available in first class (except some regional trains) and in newer trains also in second class.\n\n#### At the station", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk024", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most stations are small with only one or two platforms. Stops at towns or villages in general aren't provided with railway staff. However cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht have large central stations with up to 14 platforms. It can take 5, maybe even 10 minutes to move from one platform to another, especially for people who not familiar with the station.\n\nThe platforms are all numbered. When platforms are so long that two or more trains can halt at the same platform, the different parts of the platform are indicated with the lowercase letters a/b/c. On some stations, capital letters are used to indicate which part of the train stops at which part of the station. Do not confuse the lower case and upper case letters.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Local bus in Leeuwarden\n\nThe network of regional and local buses in the Netherlands is fine-grained and frequent and usually connects well with the train network; by bus travellers can reach most small villages easily. However, for long-distance travel, these regional buses are not convenient and much slower than the train.\n\nPreviously, long-distance buses were only available on a small number of routes that aren't covered by the rail network; these buses have special names that differ by region, such as *Q-liner,* *Brabantliner* and *Interliner* and special tariffs. However, German long-distance bus company **Flixbus** has been expanding its range of domestic connections in the Netherlands, with ticket prices starting around €10.\n\nThe main local and regional bus companies in the Netherlands are **Connexxion**, **Arriva**, **EBS**, **Keolis** and **Qbuzz.** Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague have their own public transport company. A lot of Connexxion buses, especially around Amsterdam, Haarlem and Schiphol, operate under R-NET livery.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk025", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many companies and regions have their own bus discount tickets, which are often cheaper than using credit on the OV-chipkaart.\n\nPark-and-ride-(travel-)tickets: some towns and cities have special cheaper bus tickets from car parks near the city limits to the city centre, for outside rush hours, usually a return ticket.\n\n##### Night buses\n\nAmsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht offer public transport at night. Only Amsterdam has a service all night and every night; in the other cities it is more limited to the beginning of the night or only during the weekend. Several other cities and regions also have night buses, usually even more limited. Some night buses cover quite a distance, such as Amsterdam-Almere.\n\nGetting around at night might prove to be a challenge, with even Schiphol being hard to reach from several cities and villages directly around it.\n\nYou might need special night-bus tickets so be sure to check the city pages.\n\n### By metro\n\nThe two largest cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, have a metro network which consist of mainly elevated railways outside the city centres, and some kilometres underground railways within the centre.They are served by either **RET** and **GVB**. Line E of the Rotterdam metro has a start/final destination at The Hague Central Station.\n\n### By tram\n\nFurthermore, there is a large city tram network in the agglomerations of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague; Utrecht has a few *sneltram* lines (fast tram or light-rail).\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|A biking street in the Netherlands", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk026", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycling in the Netherlands is much safer and more convenient than in many other countries, because of the infrastructure - cycle paths, cycle lanes, and signposted cycle routes - and because of the small distances and flatness. All these factors plus many more additional facilities such as numerous picnic places, terraces, small ferry-connections and camping places, makes it often preferable to discover the country by bike rather than by car.\n\nThe proliferation of bicycles also means that you're seen as a significant part of the traffic mix - motorists will let you know if you don't keep to the rules and presume you are aware of other traffic. This is specially important to know in the very busy (chaotic) centres of the biggest cities. Here it can be sensible to get off your bike for a few hundred metres and/or leave the centre entirely by taking the bike onto a train, metro or randstadrail-tram).", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk027", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some things to know:\n Cycle lanes and cycle paths are indicated by a round blue sign with a white bike icon, an icon on the asphalt, or by red asphalt. Using them is mandatory.\n Cyclists must obey the same traffic signs as motorists, unless exempted. For example, a cycle icon under a no-entry sign, usually with the text 'uitgezonderd' (except), means cyclists may use the street in both directions.\n Where there is no cycle lane or path, use the regular road. This is unlike the rule in Germany and Belgium, where you are supposed to use the footpath in many places. Cyclists are not allowed on all (semi-)highways indicated as \"Autosnelweg\" or \"Autoweg\"\n On some narrow streets that do have a cycle path parallel to them, mopeds may be required to use the cycle path, rather than the main street (as is usual).\n Bicycles must have working front (white) and rear (red) lights. Reflectors are *not* sufficient. You may be fined (€40) for cycling in the dark without a light, and you seriously endanger yourself and other traffic by doing so. Small, battery-operated LED lights attached to your person are allowed.\n\nRegular signs for bicycle routes are usually white, with a red border and lettering, more recreational/tourist routes to a town or village are green lettered. In rural areas as well as in nature areas, signposts may be so called *Paddenstoelen* (mushrooms). These are small boxes (more or less resembling the form of a mushroom) near the ground on which the destinations are printed.\n\nThere are different ways to use a bicycle:", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk028", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "staying in a city, the bike can be used as a means of transport, to get from A to B. This is the way local people most of the time use it, for short journeys it is faster than car, bus or tram. Cyclists can also reach interesting places near the city, which may not be accessible by public transport.\n Many times bikes are also used as means to see nearby places and landscapes:\n The many **signposted cycle routes** are designed for this, most of them take cyclists back to the starting point. Some rural routes go through areas inaccessible by car.\n In most parts of the Netherlands it's possible to create your own routes by connecting marked and numbered points called \"knooppunten\". (see for more information planjeroute.nl (plan your route) .)\n Except for the rush hours in the morning and at the end of the afternoon, bikes can be **taken on a train**. Therefore, cyclists are to buy a supplementary ticket called \"dagkaart fiets\", which is easily obtained from the automated kiosks for €6. As an alternative, bikes can be easily rented at (or near) train stations. Folding bikes can be taken on board for free as hand luggage when folded. All trains are provided with specific bicycle entrances. Cyclists may park their bike here and also are allowed to ask people to move for this reason. Also in two western urban region's it's possible to transport bicycles for free by metro (Amsterdam/The Hague-Rotterdam) or randstadrail-tram (The Hague-Zoetermeer), except during daytime from Monday-Friday.\n More experienced cyclists may like to set off across the country. The national **long-distance cycle routes** are designed for this type of holiday; see Cycling in the Netherlands Long-distance routes.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk029", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The best online routeplanner for cyclists can be found at a wikiplanner made by volunteers of the Dutch cyclist union \"Fietsersbond\".\n\n#### Bike theft\n\nthumb|Parked bikes in Amsterdam\n\nBike theft is a serious problem in the Netherlands, especially around train stations, and in larger cities. If possible, use the guarded bike parking ('stalling') at train stations and in some city centres. They will cost up to €1.20 per day. In general, **use 2 locks of different kinds** (for example, one chain lock and one tube lock). This is because most bike thieves specialise in a particular kind of lock, or carry equipment best suited to one kind of lock. Ideally, you should lock the bike to a lamppost or similar. Bike thieves have been known to simply load unattached bikes onto a pickup truck, so they can crack open the locks at leisure.\n\nIn cities, bikes are often stolen by drug addicts, and they sell most stolen bikes too. They often simply offer them for sale to passers-by, if they think no police are watching. Buying a stolen bike is itself illegal, and police do arrest buyers. If you buy for a suspiciously low price (e.g. €10-20), or in a suspicious place (in general, on the street), the law presumes you \"know or should have known\" the bike was stolen. In other words, actual ignorance of the bike's origins is no excuse.\n\nBike thefts should be reported to the police. Please do so.\n\n#### Buy or rent", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk030", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bike shops are the best place to buy a second-hand bike legally, but prices are high. Some places where you can rent bikes will also sell their written off stock, which is usually well maintained. Most legal (and often cheap) second-hand bike sales now go through online auction sites like marktplaats.nl - the Dutch subsidiary of eBay.\n\nAlmost all Dutch train stations have bikes from the bike rental system OV-fiets. You need a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets season ticket or NS Flex season ticket. these season tickets require a bank account that supports iDeal payments. The fee of €4.55 per day is debited automatically, and a surcharge of €10 for one-way rentals applies. Smaller stations usually only have a few bikes available so sometimes they are all rented out. A limited number of train stations also have e-bikes available for a higher fee. In Gelderland and Friesland some train stations have bikes from Deelfiets Nederland, for those bikes the fee is €6.00 per day.\n\n#### Extra legal protection", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk031", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "\"Weaker\" parties in traffic such as cyclists and pedestrians enjoy extra protection from the law regarding liability when an accident occurs with a \"stronger\" party (e.g. cars). The basic idea is that the stronger participant (e.g. a car driver) is *always* liable when an accident occurs between a weaker (e.g. a cyclist) and the stronger party, *unless* force majeure can be proven. Force majeure is here defined as (1) the car driver was driving correctly and (2) the faults of the cyclist were so unlikely that the car driver did not have to accommodate his driving for them. When this cannot be proven, the car driver is liable, but this can be limited when the accident can be attributed to the behaviour of the cyclist, up to 50% (more if the cyclist was consciously being reckless).\n\nThe burden of proof for force majeure, for faults of the cyclist and for recklessness are with the car driver. Such things can be hard to prove, which is why in practice some people will say cyclists and pedestrians always have right of way, but this is incorrect.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Motorway A30\n\nA car might be a good way to explore the countryside, especially places not connected by rail, such as the Veluwe and parts of Zeeland. Drive on the right.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk032", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The motorway (freeway) network is rather extensive, though heavily used. Congestion, especially during peak hour, is usual and can better be avoided. Roads are well signposted and many times provided with new technologies. A motorway (*autosnelweg*) is indicated with a letter A/number combination which is placed in a red box. In the less urbanised parts, such as the south-west and the north, motorways are few. Many times connections there are made by a semi highway called *Autoweg*, or another N road. All these routes are indicated with a letter N/number combination in a yellow box. Most times, motorists will be directed by signage to the nearest A or N road, so those who would prefer a more scenic drive avoiding main roads will need to follow signs to local villages.\n\nIf you break down, phone the ANWB auto-club via the toll-free number 0800–0888. Your membership of a foreign auto-club might entitle you to discount rates on their services. Leased (business) cars and rental cars are usually covered by the ANWB services included in the lease/rental price; but you may want to check any provided booklets.\n\nRoad signs with directions are plenty, but having a navigation system is useful, especially in cities where there are many one way streets, and getting from one part of the city to another is not always so straightforward. Be careful not to drive on bus lanes, often indicated with a blue bus sign and markings such as *Lijnbus* or *Bus*, nor on cycling paths, marked by the picture of a bicycle, or by a reddish colour of the asphalt. Also, do not use the rush-hour-lanes (*Spitsstrook*) when the matrix display above the designated lane indicates a red \"X\" - this means they cannot be used.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk033", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Fuel is easy to come by, but expensive. It might be better to fill your vehicle before entering the Netherlands, since the Belgian and German fuel prices can be up to €0.30 lower per litre. Unmanned petrol stations, such as TanGo or Firezone, save up to 10 cents, but are still expensive than their Belgian counterparts. They accept all common debit and credit cards. Along highways many petrol stations are open 24/7. All stations sell both petrol and diesel. Liquid Petroleum Gas is sold at quite a few petrol stations along the highways, but is never sold in built-up areas. The symbol for LPG gas is a green-coloured pump icon, set beside the general case black-coloured pump icon.\n\nIf you come to the Netherlands with your LPG-fuelled car, you will probably need an adaptor. If you buy that in your country, specifically ask for a Dutch adaptor. The plug sold as \"European\" (screw style), used in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, won't fit Dutch pumps.\n\n#### Driving rules\n\nthumb|Dutch traffic police\n\nRoad rules, markings and signs are similar to other European countries but have some particularities:\nAt unmarked intersections, traffic coming from the right *always* has priority. Traffic includes bicycles, horses, horse-drawn carts (recreational use and fairly uncommon), electric wheelchairs, small mopeds and motorised bicycles.\nCycle paths are clearly marked and are widespread throughout the country.\nOn motorways, on and off-ramps (slip-roads) are usually long and allow for smooth merging. However, returning onto the motorway from an exit lane is illegal. Passing on the right and needless use (other than for passing) of the outside lanes is prohibited. (Passing on the right is permitted only in slow, congested traffic.)", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk034", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "In built up areas **public transport buses have the priority when leaving a bus stop**, so be careful as they may pull in front of you expecting that you will give way.\n\nIf you are involved in an **accident**, both drivers need to complete and counter-sign a statement for their respective insurance companies (damage form/\"schadeformulier\"). You are required to have this form on hand. The police need to be notified if you have damaged (public) property (especially along the highways), if you have caused any sort of injury, or if the other driver does not agree to sign the insurance statement. It is illegal to hit and run. If the other driver does this, call the police and stay at the scene. The emergency telephonenumber is 112 (toll-free, will even work from disconnected mobile phones); the telephone number for a non-emergency police presence is 0900–8844.\n\n##### Speed limits\n\nGeneral speed limits in the Netherlands are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside of built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways (*autoweg* in Dutch), and up to 130 km/h on motorways (*autosnelweg*) during the night. In all of these cases, exceptions are common, with for example many 30 km/h zones in built-up areas. 30 km/h zones are the home of unmarked intersections (so **all** traffic from the right has right of way!). On roads outside of built-up areas speed is often limited to e.g. 60 km/h, and on the motorway often to 100 km/h in urban areas. Some sections of motorways have signs indicating a speed limit with a sign \"6-19h\" below, which means that the indicated speed limit is valid from 06:00 to 19:00, with a 130 km/h limit applicable at other times. From 2020 the maximum speed limit on highways is 100 km/h from 06:00 to 19:00.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk035", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Speed indicated on the dot matrix signs above the lanes **always** take precedence over anything else you see, both when the speed is in a red circle (the regular speed limit) or without (an incidental speed limit, indicating traffic or construction). A white circle with a diagonal bar in it indicates 'end of all speed limits from dot matrix signs' from which moment on you obey the ordinary signs.\n\nYour speed will be checked nationwide by the police and fines are heavy. Exceeding the maximum speed with more than 50 km/h will result in seizure of your driving licence. After that driving is considered a criminal act. Pay extra attention to **Trajectcontrole** signs: that means that in the road you're driving there is an automatic system that checks your average speed on a long section. Radar detectors are illegal devices to have in your car. They will be impounded and you will be fined €250. Keep in mind that the police use so-called radar detector detectors to track down radar detector users, so it is best to turn them off. Drinking and driving is not allowed and this is enforced strongly. Breathalyser tests occur frequently, both on an individual basis (i.e. you get pulled over and the police see it necessary for you to undergo a breathalyser test) as on a bigger scale (i.e. the police has set up a designated control checkpoint on a highway). An unbroken yellow line next to the pavement means **no stopping**, a broken yellow next to the pavement means **no parking**. Some crossings have \"shark teeth\" painted on the road, this means you have to give way to the other traffic.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk036", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Police also use unmarked traffic surveillance cars, especially on the highways. They have a video surveillance system and often they **don't** stop you right after doing a violation but they keep on following you. That means if you do more violations, you'll be fined for everything you did. The policemen in unmarked cars are **obliged** to identify themselves after pulling you over, which means you shouldn't have to ask. Policemen in marked cars have to show their ID only when you ask them for it, but they too are obliged to show it when asked.\n\n#### Urban driving\n\nUrban driving in the Netherlands is considered by many tourists and locals alike to be an exasperating, time-consuming and expensive experience. The traffic systems of most city centres are designed to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians, rather than motorised vehicles.\n\nCity roads are narrow, riddled with speed bumps, chicanes and a large variety of street furniture (with knee-high, asphalt-coloured anti-parking poles being probably the most dangerous threat to paintwork as they tend to either blend into the background or be beneath the driver's view).\n\nOther hazards are:\n Pedestrians protruding on the road or crossing in dangerous and not-permitted areas.\n Cyclists have more rights and are more assertive in asserting them than in most countries, which can be intimidating to unaccustomed drivers. Please, always give priority to cyclists when turning across a cycle lane. If you are involved in a collision with a cyclist, you will be automatically liable (though not automatically guilty).\n Narrow bridges.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk037", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Parking** in city centres can be expensive. Particularly in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, street parking is sometimes limited to only a few hours and prices are €3–6 per hour. Generally, underground car parks cost €4–6 per hour and may be by far the best choice for practical and safety reasons. Consider using public transport to avoid traffic jams and the great difficulties involved in finding a parking spot.\nP+R **park and ride** facilities are available at the outskirts of bigger cities; you can park your car cheaply there, and continue your journey via public transport.\n\n### By e-hailing\n\nUber and Bolt operate in the Netherlands\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Taxis at [[Schiphol Airport]]\n\nThe Dutch taxi system has been re-structured to change its bad reputation and sometimes exorbitant rates. While legal maximum charges now apply and all taxis are obliged to have a tariff sheet visible in the window, taxis still remain an expensive way to get around, and with good public transport, taxis are a much less popular mode of transport than in most places in the world. If you're travelling on a budget, public transport is a much better bet. With cluttered traffic in and around cities during rush hour, it's often enough faster too.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk038", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you do want to take a taxi, you'll usually have to call one or order one online, so you might want to look up a company upon arrival. It's uncommon to hail taxis on the streets. In larger cities, you'll typically find a taxi stand at major train stations and sometimes close to entertainment districts. Drivers may want to convince you that you are obliged to take the first in line, but this is never the case. You are always free to pick the taxi of your choice. It is illegal for drivers to refuse short rides, but it's not uncommon for drivers who have obtained a front position to do so. Keep in mind that these guys sometimes wait for a long time to get to this position. If it's all the same to you, you might want to let them refer you to someone else. If you don't want to switch, or if it's the only taxi around, it may help to say you'll file a complaint and write down the taxi's number.\n\nAll taxis must have registered blue license plates and a board computer which also serves as the meter. They must have their rates visible on a tariff card and the driver has to carry a taxi driver's license card. Taxi companies are free to establish their rates, as long as they do not exceed the legal maximum. The driver is allowed to offer you a fixed price, as long as it's within legal maximum rates.\n\nTaxi scams are common, though, and being charged more than double the maximum rate is not uncommon. If you have to pay a round price (e.g. €55.00), you're likely being scammed.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk039", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "The maximum rates are the sum of the initial fee, the fee per kilometre and the fee per minute. They are set annually by the Dutch government. For a normal (4-person) cab they are €4.31, €3.17 and €0.52 (as of 2027). This means you'll pay more if you get stuck in traffic. For small vans (5 to 8 passengers), the maximum amounts are €8.77, €4.00 and €0.59.\n\n### By thumb\n\nthumb|Designated hitchhiking stop and a hitchhiker\n\nMaking your way on thumb is accepted and locals that take you typically expect no payment in return. It's less suited for short rides from small towns or minor streets, as the lack of traffic may cause a long wait. Hitch-hiking *on* the highways/motorways is not allowed but generally tolerated on the interchanges/access points, provided you do not create a dangerous traffic situation. Interchanges are indicated by a letter A/number combination printed in a red box on signposts.\n\nTry to stay before the traffic sign highway/motorway (a blue rectangle with two separated lanes disappearing in the distances printed in white) or the sign of the front of a car, indicating the entrance to a semi-highway. Also try to stay on a spot where cars have slow speed and where it is possible for drivers to stop. The same safety rule applies to highway petrol stations and rest places, and to traffic lights on non-highway/motorway roads.\n\nFor longer distances, the large number of highway crossings make it difficult to find a driver going to your exact destination. A simple (cardboard) plate with your destination written on it is a common way to increase chances of finding the right driver, and may also convince suited drivers that they will not be stopping in vain.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk040", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are recommended unofficial spots (*liftplaats*) (lift-stops) mainly at the edges of a few major cities:\n\n#### Amsterdam\n\nPrins Bernhardplein, before NS Station Amsterdam Amstel (on east side of the river Amstel) (past the bus stop). Leads to the ramp of the S112 of the A10, direction A1-E231/A2-E35. It is recommended for the directions Central-/East-Netherlands. For other directions/routes try also alternative spots.\n**Alternative spots / other directions** (recommended for the directions West-/South-Netherlands):\n Amstel (on the west side of the river Amstel) near traffic-lights/Utrechtsebrug and near beginning-/end-stop of Tram-line 25. Leads to the ramp of the S111 of the A10, directions A2-E35-E25.\n Junction S109 of the A10, close to NS Station RAI (RAI Congress Centre; specially when there are large events or congresses). Leads to the ramp of the S109 of the A10, directions A2-E35-E25/A4-E19.\nAt bus stop Amstelveenseweg / Ringweg Zuid just northeast from metro station Amstelveensweg. There is an on-ramp which leads to the A10 North, A4 (to the South) and A9 (both directions). What makes this location convenient is that cars can easily stop in the bus lane in order to pick you up.\n\n#### The Hague\n\nUtrechtsebaan next to the northside of the Malieveld, at the beginning of the A12-E30 towards Utrecht. Also possibilities towards A4-E19 for Delft-Rotterdam and for Leiden-Amsterdam\n**Alternative spots / other directions:**\n Edge at the northwest-side of the Malieveld/crossing Zuid-Holland-laan, Boslaan (Utrechtse baan), Benoordenhoutseweg, towards Leidsestraatweg-N44-A44 for Leiden and Amsterdam.\n\n#### Nijmegen\n\nGraafseweg (Venlo and Den Bosch), at the major city-centre roundabout (*verkeersplein*) Keizer Karelplein (hitch-hiking on the roundabout itself is not recommended),\n near the Waalbrug/before the bridge in direction Arnhem,\n at the Annastraat, close to the Radboud University (RU)/University Medical Centre (UMC),\n at the Triavium, across shopping centre Dukenburg.\n\n#### Groningen", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk041", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Junction of Emmaviaduct and Emmasingel (200 m west of Groningen station). For directions West and South, towards Friesland, Drenthe, and Eastern, Western and Southern Netherlands.\n Junction of Europaweg and Damsterdiep. For direction East, towards the east of Groningen province and Germany.\n\n#### Other cities\n\n**Utrecht** close to petrol station and ramp of the Waterlinieweg near 'De Galgewaard' soccer-football-stadium, North/Northeast to A27/A28, South/East to A2/A12/A27.\nDue to reconstruction of the road, the liftershalte in Maastricht at the beginning of the A2 (near the soccer stadium De Geusselt) unfortunately has been removed in 2012.\n\n### By plane\n\nDue to the small size of the country and the abundance of road and rail connections, there are no domestic flights. There are tourist flights with a classic Douglas DC-3, though. It's the closest thing to a domestic flight, because some of the flights start at one airport (for example Schiphol) and land at another (Rotterdam).", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk042", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "### Dutch culture\n\nthumb|right|Zaanse Schans\n\nFor many foreigners, nothing captures the idea of the Netherlands more vividly than windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, and remarkably flat lands. Although some of these characteristics have evolved into stereotypes far off from the daily lives of Dutch people, there's still a lot of truth to them and plenty of authenticity to be found. The Dutch have preserved many elements from this part of their past, both for tourism and for historic reasons.\n\nThe Dutch monarchy has several palaces.\n\nKinderdijk boasts a network of 19 windmills, once used to drain the adjoining polder. The Zaanse Schans has windmills as well, and a nice museum with traditional crafts and old Dutch houses on display. Schiedam, world-famous for its *jenever*, has the tallest windmills in the world, and they're right in its lovely old town centre.\n\nThinking about the Dutch countryside, you might imagine wide, flat, grasslands with black and white cows. If you do, you're not that far off. A large swathe of the country, especially the western part of it, consist of polders; reclaimed land separated by ditches. These rural areas are sometimes dotted with villages, old farms, and of course, windmills; the Zaanstreek-Waterland is especially scenic. For a touch of folklore, see the traditional clothing and fishermen boats in Volendam or Marken. You can go to the Zuiderzeemuseum in the city of Enkhuizen, or Openluchtmuseum in Arnhem for a touch of traditional Dutch life in bygone times. They are not nearly as overcrowded as Zaanse Schans, are specifically made for tourists and offer more. Both are open air museums, so don't forget to check the weather before you go.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk043", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "The Netherlands is a major international player in the flower industry. The tulip fields are seasonal, and are specific to the Bulb Region and some areas in North Holland. Tulip fields offer great scenery for a bicycle tour. They are a lovely Dutch alternative to the lavender fields you could find in France. The famous Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden, only opens between March and May. It is a great way to see what the Dutch flower industry has to offer.\n\nThey make great destinations for a recreational bike trip or can serve as a laid-back base, from where you can explore cities in the area. The rolling hills of South Limburg have characteristic timber-framed houses and a lot of castles. The province of Gelderland combines its many castles (**Palace 't Loo** in Apeldoorn being the highlight, having been thoroughly restored) with the natural scenery of the Veluwe. Don't worry if you're headed elsewhere: you'll find a beautiful countryside in every Dutch province.\n\n### Historic cities\n\nthumb|right|Oudewater\n\nWandering through the magnificent city of Amsterdam, with its lovely canals and hundreds of 17th-century monuments, is a delightful experience. For most people, a visit to the Netherlands would not be complete without a good day in its bustling capital. Nevertheless, it is only one of many towns in the country that offers a beautiful, historic centre.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk044", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "Before Amsterdam's rise to fame in the late 16th century, the fortified city of Utrecht was the country's most important town. Much of Utrecht's mediaeval structures remain, with canals flanked by wharf-based structures, lots of buildings from the Early Middle Ages and some impressive ancient churches. Maastricht is often claimed as the most beautiful city of the country. It is known for its romantic lanes, ancient monuments, and for what the Dutch call its \"Burgundian\" atmosphere.\n\nLeiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt and home to the oldest university of the country, is yet another beautiful place with canals, narrow streets, and over 2,700 monuments. The Hague is often called the \"judicial capital of the world\", as it famously hosts the Peace Palace and many international organisations. It has a spacious layout, with large estates, and the ancient Binnenhof, where the Dutch government had its seat for centuries. Also consider the gorgeous old town centres of Haarlem, Delft, 's-Hertogenbosch, Alkmaar, Gouda and Amersfoort.\n\n### Museums\n\nThe Netherlands is full of museums: almost every city has at least one museum and there is always a museum nearby. The Netherlands has more museums than many bigger countries like Italy.\n\nIf you intend to visit multiple museums during your stay, it is well worth it to buy the **Museumkaart**, which costs €75 for adults and €39 for under-18s. It gives you free (or sometimes discounted) access to more than 500 museums for a year.\n\nThere are two ways to get a Museumkaart:", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk045", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "Buy one directly from selected museums (you can check which museums sell the museum card on their website). You'll immediately get a temporary Museumkaart, but this can only be used on five museums (buying the card at a museum counts as a visit to that museum) over a period of 31 days. To get the full card, you have to register your temporary card on their website, after which they will post it to an address in the EU within 5 working days. \n Order one from their website. This will also take 5 working days to be delivered, and has the extra obstacle that payment can only be done using iDeal.\n\nNote that you must present your physical card (or your temporary card) at a museum – you cannot just quote your card number. Tourists who intent to visit more than 5 museums within a year and want the full card should plan ahead to make sure the card is delivered on time.\n\n#### Art Museums\n\nConsidering its small size, this country has brought forward an impressive number of world-famous painters. Arts and painting flourished in the 17th century, when the Dutch Republic was particularly prosperous, but renowned artists have lived in the country before and after that age as well.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk046", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruysdael, and Piet Mondriaan are just a few of the Dutch painters whose works now decorate the walls of the world's greatest museums. Fortunately, some of these world-class museums can be found in the Netherlands as well. The Museum Quarter in Amsterdam has the **Rijksmuseum**, the **Van Gogh Museum** and the **Stedelijk Museum** right next to each other, all three with excellent collections. The **Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen** in Rotterdam also has a huge collection of drawings, including Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and foreign masters. **Mauritshuis** in The Hague has the world-famous 'Girl with Pearl Earring' in addition to many other 17th-century paintings.\n\nThe **Kröller-Müller Museum** is beautifully located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, with the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world (after the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam). Less focused on Dutch art, but with a unique modern collection, is the **Van Abbe Museum** in Eindhoven. Other cities with notable art museums include Groningen with the **Groninger Museum**, and Haarlem with the **Frans Hals Museum**. The newly established **Hermitage** in Amsterdam has all the grandeur of its big sister in Saint Petersburg, with changing Russia-oriented exhibitions on display.\n\n#### Booking in Advance\n\nMany museums only allow tickets to be bought online in order to manage overcrowding. To avoid disappointment, you should plan ahead as much as possible, at least to determine whether or not a museum requires booking. In general, popular museums that are located in a house or other small building will tend to be booked out in advance. Here are some museums to look out for:", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk047", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "The **Anne Frank House** in Amsterdam can be fully booked up to 3 weeks in advance. If you've missed out on a ticket, you should keep checking the website regularly: 20% of tickets are released closer to the date.\n The **Van Gogh Museum** can be booked out several days in advance.\n The **Rijksmuseum** can be booked out one or two days in advance.\n The **Rietveld Schröder House** admits only a few dozen people each day, so early bookings are essential to avoid disappointment.\n The **Eise Eisinga Planetarium** may be booked out during the weekends.\n\n### Living with the water\n\nthumb|right|Oosterscheldekering, part of the [[Delta Works]]\n\nThe Dutch are famous for their struggle with the sea. As a great naval power, the Netherlands owed its 17th-century Golden Age to the water, and still depends heavily on it for modern day trade and fisheries, as the massive, modern port of Rotterdam demonstrates. However, with much of the country's land below sea level, the water also caused terrible floods and great losses over centuries.\n\nDutch attempts to protect their lands with dikes are well recorded from the 12th century, but started around 2,000 years ago. An enormous flood in 1287 created the large Zuiderzee, an inland sea that is now known as the IJsselmeer. From that period onwards, a long process of reclaiming lands lost to the sea began. Windmills and extensive networks of dikes were created to pump out the water, slowly creating the characteristic polders. One of these polders is the Beemster Polder, and when you visit you get a few fortifications of the Defence Line of Amsterdam included as a bonus.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk048", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "See", "text": "After another devastating flood in 1916, the country started the **Zuiderzee Works**, a massive undertaking to reclaim and tame the Zuiderzee once and for all. In the 1930s, the impressive Afsluitdijk was finished, which turned the inland sea into a fresh water lake called the IJsselmeer. The **Zuiderzee Museum** in lovely Enkhuizen is devoted to the cultural heritage and folklore of the region, as well as the maritime history of the Zuiderzee.\n\nAnother devastating flood struck the country in 1953, recording 1,836 deaths in the province of Zeeland and the southwestern part of South-Holland. In the following 50 years, the famous Delta Works were constructed to protect the southwest from flooding. It can be visited at various visitor centres, the most notable of which is the **Neeltje Jans** park near the **Oosterscheldekering** (Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier). See the Deltawerken website for more information.\n\nThe American Society of Civil Engineers have recognised the Zuiderzee Works and the Delta Works collectively as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk049", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Do", "text": "One of the most popular local pastimes is **cycling,** which makes sense given how flat the country is. Nowadays, the Netherlands boasts 22,000 km of dedicated cycle paths, forming a dense web across the country. If you do decide to cycle, you'll notice just how easy it is: the numbered routes and multitude of signposts means it's almost impossible to get lost! There are also plenty of areas well-suited for scenic cycling, including the Green Heart, Hoge Veluwe National Park, South Limburg, and the Zaanstreek-Waterland. Winds can be strong (because of the flat lands), and winters can be cold and rainy.\n\nThere is no shortage of **beaches** along the 1,245 km of Dutch coastline. Popular activities include **swimming** and **sunbathing**, but these are mostly restricted to warm summer days. Expect Scheveningen to be extremely crowded when temperatures rise towards tropical levels. More mellow and family friendly beaches include Zandvoort, Bloemendaal, Bergen, Noordwijk, Katwijk and the West Frisian Islands. Texel also has some beautiful beaches, but be careful; some beaches are reserved for nature and it is strictly forbidden to enter those.\n\n**Water sports** is another activity mostly undertaken by the locals. Lakes can be found in every province, but the Frisian Lakes are outstanding, especially during the annual **Sneekweek** that starts the boating season. Boating can be done without licence as long as the boat is not longer than 15m and/or faster than 20 km/h. Other lake-rich areas include Wijdemeren, Kaag, and Aalsmeer. Most of these lakes are very calm, with parasailing and rafting impossible.\n\n**Sauna** is not as popular a pastime in the Netherlands as it is in Finland, but Dutch sauna complexes are some of the most opulent, typically featuring 10-20 saunas of different temperature, humidity, aromas, decor and method of heating. See https://sauna.nl. Most Dutch saunas are nude and mixed-gender.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk050", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Do", "text": "### Music\n\nThe Netherlands has long been known for its great musicians, and today is no different, with high-level performances in a wide variety of styles throughout the country. The **Royal Concertgebouw**, Amsterdam's major symphony orchestra, is considered by many connoisseurs to be one of the best if not the very best in the world. The Netherlands also has a thriving pop music scene, with the **Vengaboys** being a famous example of a Dutch band.\n\n### Festivals", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk051", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Do", "text": "Every two years, the country goes '''football crazy''' as either the European Championship or the World Cup is held. Complete streets will be decorated with orange flags, the country's national colour. It's not uncommon for literally fifty percent of the population to be watching a game if it's a particularly important one. Often bigger cities will put up large TV screens for the general public, like on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam. Likewise, cafes and bars are another popular place to watch games.\n In the Southern Netherlands (North Brabant, Limburg and to a smaller extent also in Twente, Overijssel and the south of Gelderland), the Catholic celebration of **Carnival** is held since mediaeval times. It occurs immediately before Lent; which is usually during February or March. Parades can be seen almost in any town on Sunday, sometimes also occurring on Monday. Parades can also be held in the evening, usually on Saturdays all the wagons are then lit up by numerous small lights. The other days of the week, many activities can be found ranging from street painting (stoepkrijten) to beer drinking contests. The cities of 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda and Maastricht are advisable for attending Carnival.\n **King's Day** (*Koningsdag*, until 2012 this was Queen's day) is held every year at April 27 all over the country (except if this day is a Sunday, then it will be held at the Saturday before). Every village, town and city, organises free markets and authentic Dutch games. Nowadays King's day much more becomes a day of festivals and parties. It is advised to wear orange clothing, as most Dutch people walk around in their national colour. An advisable city to attend at this day is Amsterdam, because it's one of the largest events of the year there. In several larger cities (most notably The Hague and Utrecht), the festivities start in the evening of 26 April. The Hague even has most of its festivities on the night before.\n - Pinkpop", "word_count": 325}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk052", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Do", "text": "- Lowlands\n\n- Summercarnaval\n\n- Northsea Jazz Festival\n\n- Vierdaagsefeesten\n\n**Sensation** - (Formerly known as 'Sensation White') One of the best-known parties in the world organised by ID&T. 40,000 people all dressed in white gather to hear some big and upcoming house music DJs. Tickets usually sell out very fast. Several international editions are being organised several times a year around the world with the main concert being held in Amsterdam ArenA every summer. (For the last time in the Netherlands in summer 2017, but the organisation is working on a new event). Sensation Black (with hardstyle music) was hosted annually in the same location but is now being held in Belgium instead.\n - Dance Valley\n\n- Mystery Land\n\n- Defqon.1", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk053", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|right|Clogs in a shop in Amsterdam\n\nBanknotes of €100 and especially €200 and €500 are very rarely used, and some merchants will not accept them due to concerns over financial crime. Typically, establishments will have a sticker or A4-sized poster near the entrance or cash register indicating which banknotes aren't accepted. Almost all ATMs will only dispense denominations of up to €50.\n\nIn many stores, especially supermarkets, it's common for the cash machine to round your total up or down (*afronding*) to the nearest 5 cents. Do not be surprised, this is allowed by law (the store should legally have a sticker informing you about this, but few stores have it). Because of this you don't get 1 and 2 cent coins back as change; these coins remain legal tender but may not be accepted.\n\n### Debit cards and credit cards\n\nMastercard (including Maestro) and Visa (including V Pay) cards are widely accepted, however some stores choose to block credit cards issued in the EU/EEA to save on card fees. This is possible due to EU regulation. Credit cards issued outside of the EU/EEA are not affected by this blockage and should be accepted at all stores by the global honor all cards rules. However there have been reports that some stores have technical issues accepting some cards issued outside the EEA, affecting both debit cards and credit cards, so be ready to have some alternative way of payment. \nAcceptance of American Express varies. It generally is accepted at travel and tourist related merchants and also some major retailers.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk054", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is an increasing amount of stores that do not accept cash. Around 5% of the stores in the Netherlands in 2025 are **card-only**, In that case a sign \"*Hier alleen Pinnen*\" or \"*Pin only*\" is at the door. Debit cards and credit cards are also the only way to pay on board of bus and tram (see ).\n\nPayment terminals in the Netherlands offer contactless payments from both contactless cards or devices, however some older ATMs only accept physical cards. Almost all store terminals also support chip (dip/insert) payments, some terminals (mostly vending machines) only accept contactless, so make sure to enable contactless payments on your card.\n\nGeldmaat manages the ATMs for the largest banks in the Netherlands. See the map for ATM locations. The Geldmaat ATMs offer a bank note selection option; example: you want €50 with the selection option, you get 3 options, which can be 1x€50, 2x€20 + 1x€10 and 1x€20 + 3x€10.\n\n### Taxes\n\n#### Value added tax\n\nAll goods and services include VAT (*BTW: belasting over de toegevoegde waarde*). By law, VAT is always included in an item’s price tag and this should not be an issue for travellers except when intending to claim a VAT refund. VAT is 21%, with a reduced rate of 9% for groceries, medicine, books, magazines and newspapers. Also public transport, bike, shoe and clothing repair services, hairdressers, camp grounds, access to cultural and recreational attractions (i.e. amusement parks, museums, cinemas, festivals and theatres) and access to sport facilities (including swimming pools and sport games) have a 9% VAT rating.\n\n#### Tourist tax", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk055", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Buy", "text": "Municipalities may choose to levy a tourist tax for each night a visitor stays in the municipality. It is usually included in the price of your accommodation. The owner of the accommodation will pay it to the municipality. Municipalities are free to set the tax rate, this might be a fixed amount or a percentage of the cost of accommodation, or a combination of both. In some municipalities the rate depends on the type of accommodation (a campground is usually cheaper than a hotel), the season or the age of the guest. The tax is used as a financial contribution towards municipal services such as maintenance of roads and parks and waste collection because tourists also benefit from them.\n\n### Tipping\n\nDutch law requires that all service charges and taxes are included in the prices that hotels, bars and restaurants publish. Tipping is therefore not necessary, but it is always appreciated as a reward for good service and it's increasingly common. Especially in tourist areas and large hotels, increased tipping is not uncommon. For good service in a restaurant, feel free to leave what you feel is appropriate. A 5-10% tip on a restaurant bill is considered a generous reward for good service.\n\n### Bottle and can deposits\n\nThe Netherlands has a beverage container deposit (*statiegeld*) system to help recycling and prevent litter on the streets and in the environment.\n\nAll bottles and cans that have a deposit are labeled with the ‘Statiegeld’ logo. See the website for the logo. \nPrices displayed in stores usually do not include the deposit. Receipts must show the deposit separately.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk056", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Buy", "text": "Empty beverage containers can be returned for refund at larger supermarkets and manned gas stations. These locations are by law required to pay back the statiegeld. Most stores do have one or more reverse vending machines (RVM), but may choose to take in the containers by hand.\nOther locations are not required to accept empty containers and if they do they may choose to donate the money to a good cause.\n\n### Opening hours\n\nMost shops open by 09:00 or 10:00 and they usually close around 18:00. Supermarkets and DIY-shops often have broader opening hours, opening around 08:30 and closing only at 20:00 or 22:00. In the centres of large cities, the shops are open **every Sunday**, typically from 12:00 until 17:00 or 18:00. Most smaller cities allow at least a supermarket to be open every Sunday, most have multiple Sunday openings per year, and some open every Sunday. Some smaller shops are closed on Monday mornings, or even close for an extra day in the week.\n\n### Shopping\n\nThe Netherlands is a good place to buy **flowers**. Flower bulbs are most suited to bring home, and can be purchased at tourist shops, garden centres and DIY stores throughout the year. Keep in mind that bulbs and their planting times depend on seasons, and tulip bulbs are typically unavailable from late winter to late summer. Fresh flowers can be bought from florists, or pre-packaged in most supermarkets. Although it is not a problem taking bulbs and flowers out of the country, you may be severely restricted in bringing them back to your own country.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk057", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Buy", "text": "The country is also famous for its **wooden shoes** (clogs). Nowadays almost no one, except for some farmers in the countryside and some fishermen in Volendam and Urk, wear them. Wearing wooden shoes in public outside the countryside will earn you quite a few strange looks from the locals. If you do try them on, the famous \"wooden shoes\" are surprisingly comfortable, and very useful in any rural setting. Think of them as all-terrain footwear; easy to put on for a walk in the garden, field or on a dirt road. If you live in a rural area at home, consider taking a pair of these with you if you can. Avoid the kitschy tourist shops at Schiphol and Amsterdam's Damrak, and instead look for a regular vendor which can usually be found in towns and villages in rural areas. The northern province of Friesland has a lot of stores selling wooden shoes, often adorned with the bright colours of the Frisian flag.\n\n### Costs\n\nThe Netherlands is generally regarded as **expensive** (unless you're coming from Scandinavia or Switzerland). Public transport, lodging and dining are more expensive than in neighbouring countries, but museums and attractions tend to be affordable, and even cheap if you stay for longer and buy a Museumkaart (see Museums). Retail prices for clothing, gifts, etc. are similar to most of Western Europe; consumer electronics are a bit more expensive. Gasoline, tobacco and alcohol are relatively expensive due to excise taxes. The standard cigarette packages only have 19 cigarettes in them.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk058", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Dutch cuisine\n\nthumb|right|A fancy serving of herring at a restaurant\n\nThe Netherlands is not known for its cuisine, as it is simple and straightforward. A conventional Dutch meal consists of meat, potatoes and some type of vegetable on the side. The country's food culture is best described as rustic. High in carbohydrates and fat, the country's food culture reflects the dietary need of farm laborers, but as society moved on to work in the services sector, its food culture has remained largely the same. The Dutch national dish is **stamppot**, potatoes mashed with one or several vegetables. The variety with endive and bacon is considered the most traditional. *Hutspot* is a variety with carrots and onions.\n\nDutch cuisine differs strongly by region. Western cuisine is known for its many dairy products, including prominent **cheeses** such as Gouda, Edam, Leerdammer and Beemster. Being a coastal region, it has a seafood culture best represented by **soused herring** (*haring*), usually served with chopped onion and occasionally plopped into a bun (*broodje haring*). Northeastern cuisine is oriented towards meat due to the relative lack of agriculture in this region. **Metworst**, a dried sausage, is particularly prized for its strong taste, and **Gelderse rookworst**, a traditional smoked sausage, became an institution for the country as a whole and is often served together with *stamppot*. In the province of Zeeland, you can find the best mussels.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk059", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "Southern cuisine is historically influenced by the Dukes of Burgundy, who ruled the Low Countries in the Middle Ages and were renowned for their splendour and great feasts. As such, it is renowned for its many rich pastries, soups, stews and vegetable dishes. It is the only Dutch region which developed an **haute cuisine** that forms the base of most traditional Dutch restaurants. Typical main courses are *biefstuk*, *varkenshaas*, and *ossenhaas*, premium cuts of pork or beef.\n\nDutch people are generally not proud of their cuisine, but highly praise their sweet treats. **Dutch pancakes** (*pannenkoeken*), which are either sweet (*zoet*) or savoury (*hartig*) come in a variety of tastes, like apple, syrup, cheese, and bacon. **Poffertjes** are small, slightly leavened pancakes with butter and powdered sugar. Both are served in restaurants specifically dedicated to them. **Syrup waffles** (*stroopwafels*), two thin layers with syrup in between, are made fresh in most street markets and specialist stalls.\n\nSandwiches are consumed for breakfast and lunch. Those made in bakeries with aged Gouda cheese with or without butter are delicious. **Chocolate sprinkles** (*hagelslag*) on top of buttered slices of bread are a popular Dutch start of the day. Although food habits are changing, a simple bread roll with butter and a slice of cheese or ham is still the daily lunch for the majority of Dutch people. Dutch **peanut butter** is considerably different from the U.S. variety. As it's less common to have hot dishes for lunch, many restaurants offer a limited menu around lunch time. In smaller towns outside the main tourist spots you may even find restaurants to be closed for lunch altogether.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk060", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "Some food traditions are seasonal. **Pea soup** (*erwtensoep*) is a winter dish made of green peas and a smoked sausage. It is very hearty and often eaten after ice skating. **Oliebollen** are traditional Dutch beignet consumed at New Year's Eve but now sold frequently sold during the entire month of December. **Asperges flamandes** are white asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, ham, crumbled hard-boiled eggs and served with boiled new potatoes. They are highly seasonal and usually only eaten between spring and summer.\n\n### Restaurants\n\nthumb|Rijsttafel\n\nRestaurants in the Netherlands serve good quality food and are relatively expensive compared with surrounding countries. Profit is often made from the drinks and the dessert, so be careful ordering those if you are on a budget. Service fees and taxes are included in menu prices. Tipping is not mandatory and seen as a sign of appreciation, not as means to make up a tiny salary. In case you do want to tip, rounding up to the next euro is already acceptable for small bills and a 5% to 10% tip is common for larger ones. A 10% tip will typically be considered generous, especially on a dining bill. Going to a restaurant is generally seen as a special night out with friends or family, not as a quick way to eat food. As such, dining with Dutch people can take a couple of hours.\n\nSmoking is banned in all restaurants, cafes, bars, festival tents and nightclubs. Smoking is allowed only outside or in separate, enclosed, designated smoking areas in which employees are not allowed to serve. Staff may enter such smoking rooms only in emergency situations.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk061", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "Dutch food is not widely acclaimed, so most restaurants specialise in foreign cuisines, and the large cities offer a wide variety. **Middle Eastern cuisine** is readily available, even in smaller cities, and often comes at a bargain price. Popular dishes are shawarma (*shoarma*), lahmacun (often called \"Turkish pizza\") and falafel.\n\nDue to Dutch colonial ties with Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies), most small to medium-sized towns also have a **Chinees-Indisch restaurant**, serving Chinese and Indonesian dishes. Usually you get a lot of food for a small amount of money. Do not expect authentic Chinese or Indonesian cuisine though, as the food has been adapted for Dutch tastes. Typical dishes are fried rice (*nasi goreng*), fried bakmi (*bami goreng*) and prawn crackers (*kroepoek*). A suggestion is the famous Dutch-Indonesian *rijsttafel*, which is a combination of several small dishes from the East Indies, not unlike the *nasi padang* of Indonesia; a tradition that originated among Dutch colonists in the East Indies, where it died out following Indonesian independence, but was brought back to the Netherlands by returning colonists. Most of these restaurants have a sit-in area and a separate counter for take-away with lower prices. Most larger cities will have more authentic Indonesian and Chinese restaurants as well.\n\nArgentinian, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Surinamese and Thai cuisines are also well-represented throughout the country. Most restaurants have at least one vegetarian dish on the menu or can make you one if you ask for it.\n\n### Snackbars", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk062", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "In town centres, near public transport stations or even in more quiet quarters you can find a **snackbar**, sometimes known as *cafetaria*. These snackbars are pretty much the antithesis of high cuisine, but their snacks are considered typical for the country, and many Dutch ex-pats miss them the most when going abroad. Popular chain outlets have giant vending machines attached to their stores (*automatiek*). Just slot in a euro or two and take out the snack of your choice.\n\nThe most popular snack is **French fries**, known as *patat* in most of the country and as *friet* in the south. The standard way is to order them with mayonaise (*patat met*). The local mayo (also called *frietsaus*) is not the same as you'd get in France or most of the rest of the world. It is firmer, sweeter and contains less fat, whilst remaining just as unhealthy. You can sometimes get regular mayonaise by asking for belgian mayo (*Belgische mayonaise*). Other options are with tomato ketchup, curry ketchup (unlike regular curry, tastes more like tomato ketchup), Indonesian peanut sauce (*satésaus*), cut raw onions (*uitjes*), *speciaal* (mayonnaise, curry ketchup and cut raw onions) and *oorlog* (\"war\", a combination of mayonnaise, peanut sauce and cut raw onions).", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk063", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "Other fried snacks are considered typical for the country as well. A **croquette** (*kroket*) is a crispy roll filled with ragout. It is served with mustard and can be ordered on bread as well. Famous are the Amsterdam croquettes of Van Dobben and Kwekkeboom. Both companies have their own cafeteria near the Rembrandtplein. A **frikandel** is a long, skinless and dark-coloured sausage, kind of like a minced-meat hot dog. It can be ordered on bread, or *speciaal* (with mayonnaise, curry ketchup and cut raw onions). A *berenklauw* (\"bear's claw\") or *berenhap* (\"bear's snack\") is a sliced meatball with fried onion rings on a wooden skewer, often served with peanut sauce. Finally, a *kaassoufflé* is a cheese snack popular with vegetarians.\n\n**Fastfood** is widely available in the Netherlands as well. The most popular are McDonalds and Burger King. Also KFC, Febo and Subway are well-known.\n\n### Supermarkets\n\nIn the Netherlands, it is easy to get all of your food and drinks from a supermarket. Literally every city, town and village has at least one supermarket. The largest chain supermarkets with presence nationwide are Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Plus and Aldi. Dirk, Hoogvliet, Dekamarkt and Jan Linders have a more local presence.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk064", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee and tea\n\nright|thumbnail|Koffie verkeerd\n\nDutch people are among the largest **coffee** drinkers in the world, and having a cup is almost compulsory when you are going to visit people. One of the first questions when coming through the door is often \"*Koffie?*\". Traditionally the drink is served in small cups (a half mug) with one single cookie. However, some guests are also treated with one of the country's typical pie-like pastries such as a *tompouce*, *Limburgse vlaai* or a piece of Dutch-style apple pie.\n\nDutch coffee is generally quite strong and heavy on the stomach. If you're from the United States or Canada, you can order one cup of Dutch coffee in the morning and add water the rest of the day! If you order *koffie verkeerd* (which means \"coffee wrong\") you get a cup of more or less half milk and half coffee, like the French 'café au lait' or the Italian 'caffe latte'.\n\nThe Dutch drink **black tea**, and it comes in many different varieties, from traditional to fruit infusions. Luckily, if you're British, you get the teabag served with a cup of hot (but never boiling) water, so you can make your own version. Milk tea is almost unheard of and given only to children.\n\n**Hot chocolate** with whipped cream is a winter tradition in the Netherlands. It really fills you after a cold walk. In the summer you can also get it in every decent bar; however, sometimes it's made from powder as opposed to the traditional kind (regular chocolate melted and mixed with hot milk), and doesn't taste that good.\n\n### Alcoholic beverages", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk065", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Drink", "text": "The legal drinking age in the Netherlands is **18** for all alcoholic beverages. There used to be a difference between light and strong alcoholic drinks, with people as young as 16 allowed to drink light alcoholic drinks (up to 15% alcohol by volume).\n\nThe Dutch have a strong **beer culture**. Heineken is one of the world's most famous beers, but it is just one of many brands in the Netherlands. You can get all kinds of beers from white beer to dark beer. Popular brands are Heineken, Grolsch, Brand, Bavaria, Amstel, etc. There's a certain regional variety in the beers you'll find. Heineken or Amstel is served in the western provinces, Bavaria or Dommelsch in Brabant, Brand in Limburg, and Grolsch in Gelderland and Overijssel. Most breweries nowadays also produce a non-alcoholic variant of their beers.\n\nIn addition to the usual lagers, try Dutch **wheat beer** (*witbier*), which is flavoured with a spice mix called *gruit* and thus taste different from the better-known pilsener varieties. Fruit-flavoured wheat beers are also available. **Dark beers** are brewed in monasteries in the south of the Netherlands (Brabant and Limburg). These traditional beer breweries are excellent beer-related tourist attractions, as are the microbreweries and beer shops in Amsterdam.\n\n**Bitters** are popular in winter. **Dutch gin** (*jenever* or *genever*) is the predecessor of English gin. It is available in two types, *oude* (old) and *jonge* (young), which have nothing to do with aging, just the distillation style. The more traditional \"old-fashioned\" *oude* is sweeter and yellowish in colour, while *jonge* is clearer, drier and more akin to English gin.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk066", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Beerenburg** is made by adding herbs to jenever. It has an alcohol percentage of around 30%. The original Beerenburg was made halfway through the 19th century with a secret mixture of spices of the Amsterdam spice merchant Hendrik Beerenburg, to whom it owes its name. Despite it being \"invented\" in Amsterdam, it is considered typically Frisian. Most other regions also produce their local, less famous variants of a bitter. **Orange bitter** (*Oranjebitter*) is drunk only on King's Day (*Koningsdag*).\n\n### Nightlife\n\nright|thumb|Coffeeshop in Amsterdam\nNightlife in the Netherlands is very diverse. Amsterdam is known for its neighbourhood bars, Rotterdam has a clubbing reputation, and Groningen, Leiden and Utrecht have an active student scene. Bars cater to a wide array of music scenes, but **dance** is the leading style in nightclubs. Entering bars is legally allowed from the age of **16**, but many bars and clubs have stricter policies in place and do not allow people under 18 or 21 to enter.\n\nThe Netherlands is renowned for its liberal **drug policy**. **Personal use** of (soft) drugs is regulated by the Ministry of Justice under an official policy of *gedogen*; literally this means *to accept* or *tolerate*. Legally, this is a doctrine of non-prosecution on the basis that action taken would be so highly irregular as to constitute selective prosecution.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk067", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Drink", "text": "You are allowed to buy and smoke small doses (5 g or less) of cannabis or hash. You must be 18 or over to buy. For this, you have to visit a **coffee shop**, which are abundant in most larger towns. Coffee shops are not allowed to sell alcohol, and minors (those under 18) are not allowed inside. Coffee shops are prohibited from explicit advertising, so many use the Rastafari red-yellow-green colours to hint at the products available inside, while others are more discreet and sometimes almost hidden away from plain view.\n\nHallucinogenic (\"magic\") mushrooms, once legal, are officially banned. However, \"magic truffles\" which contain the same active ingredients as magic mushrooms, are still legal and are sold in smart shops all over the country.\n\n**Prostitution** has been decriminalised, but only for those registered at a permitted brothel. It is illegal for sex workers to solicit customers on the street. Prostitution is most common in the capital, Amsterdam, with its red-light district, even if many tourists visit simply as a curiosity. In more rural areas, prostitution is almost non-existent.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk068", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A wide range of accommodation is available, concentrated in the major tourist destinations. They include regions popular for domestic tourism, such as the Veluwe and Zuid-Limburg.\n\n### Camping\n\nthumb|Rental trailers at Camping Zeeburg, Amsterdam\n\nCamp sites are widespread and available in pretty much all corners of the country, as well as close to most of the major cities. Outside the main tourist season (July–September) there's usually a place available and most camp sites will find a spot for small trekker's tents any time of year. For caravans, camper vans or family tents it's advisable to make reservations beforehand, especially during summer holidays.\nIn popular domestic and regional tourist areas, such as on the coast, on the West Frisian Islands, in Zuid-Limburg and on the Veluwe, high end camp sites with lots of facilities and entertainment are easy to find. In rural areas, smaller sites next to farms are very popular (see Stichting Vrije Recreatie (SVR)). Pure natural landscapes can be vividly experienced on the so-called **natuurkampeerterreinen** (*terrains for nature camping*). As it comes to shopping facilities it might be possible to buy products of the place itself.\n\nSanitary facilities depend on the kind of camping site but quality is excellent for almost all of the campsites. On some camping sites the use of warm water is not included, but needs to be paid for at the showers. It's advisable to ask whether this is the case while checking in. Even without a tent you can enjoy staying at a camping. Many sites offer cabins called *trekkershut*.\n\n**Wild camping is not allowed** and the police will enforce the law if broken. There used to be free \"pole camping\" (*paalcamping*) spots in parts of the country, but this is no longer the case.\n\n### Hotels", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk069", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Hotels in the Netherlands are abundant, particularly in Holland proper, and can be relatively inexpensive compared to other Western European countries. You may be able to find a decent hotel of international standards for €80 or less per night. Due to good public transportation options, even staying outside of the city centre, or even in a different town altogether, may still be a viable option for visiting a particular destination comfortably while remaining within budget limits.\n\nthumb|Amstel hotel, a [[grand old hotel]] in Amsterdam\n\nWhile there are independent properties throughout the country, there is a relatively high presence of international and local hotel chains. Some of the more popular are:\n - NH Hotels\n\n**Golden Tulip/Tulip Inn** and **Campanile** — the remaining properties of the Dutch Tulip hotel chain now belong to the France-based Groupe du Louvre, which also operates Campanile hotels. Golden Tulips are mostly found in city centres and are of higher standards (four stars usually), Campaniles by motorway junctions and are more basic (two stars), Tulip Inns fall somewhere in between. Some properties may be rather aged, but can offer attractive rates if you don't mind them not being exactly up to snuff to their international competition. For those touring the Netherlands by automobile, Campaniles and Tulip Inns can help keep them within tighter budgets. Groupe du Louvre runs a loyalty programme\n - Van der Valk Hotels\n\n- Hampshire Hotels\n\n- Bastion Hotels\n\n- Accor\n\nThe **Intercontinental Hotels Group** has increased its presence by opening all-new **Holiday Inn Express** properties in key locations across the country, with competitive rates including breakfast. There are also older **Holiday Inn** and **Crowne Plaza** properties in major cities.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk070", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Other international hotel chains do maintain some presence in the Netherlands, though this is mostly limited to Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. There are also quite a few Best Western-affiliated properties throughout the Netherlands, but as in every country, they vary greatly in character, size, pricing and comfort.\n\nShowers are slightly different from the American style. Bar soap is not very popular; most of what is provided in hotels and mainstream stores is liquid body soap. Washcloths are also generally not available, but washing mitts are available in stores. European-style bathrooms often have no edge on the shower floor, allowing water to get on the floor in the other parts of the bathroom (be prepared to mop up with a floor towel if someone needs the toilet right after someone showers). Shower heads are generally hand-held on flexible hoses, and there are separate controls for water temperature vs. volume (instead of hot and cold knobs or a single temperature lever typically seen in the U.S.).\n\n### Bed and breakfast\n\nThere is a wide choice of **bed & breakfasts** in the big cities, but there are also plenty to be found in the smaller towns and villages. Prices are generally €60-120, depending on the number of occupants and the season. Bed & breakfasts may not offer all the facilities that bigger hotels do, but the service is generally friendly and personal. Also, many bed & breakfasts are found along popular hiking trails and cycling paths.\n\n### Budget\n\nEven for budget facilities prices are generally high. Budget accommodation starts at around €20 per person and prices go upwards from there. Seasonal demand affects availability and can cause prices to rise, especially in Amsterdam.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk071", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Official Dutch **Youth Hostels** are called \"Stay Okay\", but they are not as widespread as in Great Britain. Also there is no kitchen available for guests, so either you eat what's on menu or you eat out. Besides the Official Dutch Youth Hostels there are plenty of other hostels spread around the country. Many hostels have regulations for travellers under the age of 18. In some cases they must be accompanied by an adult and in others they cannot book beds in shared rooms. Make sure to check with the hostel of your choice. Sheets are often included but the use of towels typically comes at a charge.\n\nIn nature areas the local landscape can be experienced at so called ''Natuurvriendenhuizen'' (Friends of nature houses) . These facilities are somehow in between hostels and general hotels and are especially open for cyclers and hikers, including groups. They are run by volunteers and visitors, and have communal kitchen facilities and contagious living rooms.\n\nShort-term **apartment rental** is available in cities, but may not be legal. While most have a 3-night minimum stay, the process of making reservations and checking in is generally identical to that of staying in a hotel, the notable exception being that most require a credit card deposit, and the balance in cash on arrival.\n\nIf you are travelling by bicycle or by foot, there is a list of 3,600 addresses where you can stay at private homes with bed and breakfast for no more than €18.50 per person per night, although you must also pay €8 for membership of this scheme. It is called Vrienden op de fiets.\n\n### Vacation rental homes (bungalows)", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk072", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Vacation rental homes (in Dutch also called *bungalows*) are popular in the Netherlands, especially in rural areas. These small homes come in broad varieties: they can be simple or luxurious, individual places or part of large parks with lots of identical homes and they are operated by private owners as well as large chains. Traversia has the largest collection of vacation rentals in the Netherlands, by Dutch owners. Large chains of vacation rental home parks are Center Parks, Landal Greenparks and TopParken. Where privately owned options can sometimes provide a more authentic, local experience (e.g. in old, timber-framed houses in South Limburg), the parks will offer additional services, restaurants and swimming pools. In most cases, you have to book at least a weekend. Although generally not very cheap, they have kitchens and therefore allow for self-catering.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk073", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Learn", "text": "The Netherlands has many universities. The country has converted their own titles into the bachelor/master system.\n\nThere are two types of universities:\n Academic (focusing more on theoretical knowledge, \"Universiteit\")\n Applied Sciences (focussing more on practical knowledge, \"Hogeschool\"). Although these generally use the term university in their English names, under Dutch law, these are not universities, and are a lower level of tertiary education.\nThe Times Higher Education Supplement ranks 11 universities among the top 200 in the world.\n\nMost undergraduate courses are taught in Dutch, though many postgraduate courses are taught in English. The universities also provide courses in the Dutch language for international students.\n\nThere is also the added advantage that most locals under the age of 30 are reasonably capable in English.\n\nFor international students, several scholarships are available.\nThey can be found on the Nuffic website. Here you will also find information regarding courses, institutions, housing, formalities, culture, traineeships and possible difficulties.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk074", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|Eindhoven\n\nCitizens of all EEA countries and Switzerland have an unrestricted right to work in the Netherlands. See European Union.\n\nWork opportunities for those from outside the EEA are very restricted. Only when an employer can prove they've searched in the EU, they are allowed to hire a non-EU citizen. Official policy is to deter all non-EU immigration, unless there is an economic necessity.\n\nCitizens of certain non-EU countries are permitted to work in the Netherlands without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90-day visa-free stay.\n\nStudents from other European countries are eligible for study financing only when they have a fixed 56-hour/month work contract or when they have lived in the Netherlands for five years.\n\nFor highly skilled workers that exceed a certain salary threshold and meet other conditions, there is a 30% tax ruling which means that only 70% of your income will be considered for tax purposes. This is most useful when you're working in the Netherlands for the first time, and has other associated benefits (such as the option to transfer a foreign driving licence rather than having to retake the driving test to obtain a Dutch licence).", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk075", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nThe Netherlands is generally considered a safe country. However, be alert in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and other large cities that are plagued by pickpockets and bicycle theft; violent crimes are rare. In the larger cities, certain outlying suburbs are considered unsafe at night.\n\nThe police, ambulance and fire brigade have one general emergency number **112**. When calling 112, if you can, advise on what emergency services you need.\n\nPolicing is provided by the national police corps (*Politie*), while border controls and port and airport security are handled by a separate police force, the Marechaussee (or abbreviation 'KMar' - *Koninklijke Marechaussee*). They are part of the military and have security tasks among their duties.\n\nIn most cities, there are municipal service officers which can be recognised by their blue uniforms with the text *handhaving*. They have the authority to enforce municipal laws and may carry a baton and/or pepper spray, but no firearm. Some cities also have officers which are further limited in authority, such as parking enforcement only. These have the text *toezicht* or *parkeercontrole* on their uniform and/or car.\n\nThe European Network against Racism, an international organisation supported by the European Commission reported that, in the Netherlands, half of the Turks reported having experienced racial discrimination. The same report points out a \"dramatic growth of Islamophobia\" paralleled with antisemitism. Attitudes such as these, however, relate to issues with settling migrants rather than tourists, and visitors of a minority background will not find their ethnicity an issue in a country famed for its tolerance.\n\n### Drugs\n\nthumb|Places like these can be seen around the country", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk076", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Cannabis may be decriminalised, but there are some safety risks involved. It is wise to take your first spliff in a relaxed social atmosphere, for example among like-minded people in a coffeeshop. Cannabis sold in the Netherlands is often stronger than varieties elsewhere. Be particularly wary of cannabis-laced pastries (\"space cakes\") as it's easy to eat too much by accident — although there are also unscrupulous shops that sell space cakes with no weed at all. Wait *at least* one hour after eating!\n\nIt is forbidden to drive any motorised vehicle while impaired, which includes driving under the influence of both illegal and legal recreational or prescribed drugs (such as cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and mushrooms) as well as alcohol, and medication that might affect your ability to drive.\n\nBuying soft drugs from dealers in the streets is always illegal and is commonly discouraged. The purchase of other (hard) drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, or processed/dried mushrooms is still dealt with by the law. However, often people who are caught in possession of small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use are not prosecuted.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk077", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The act of consuming any form of drugs is legal, even if possession is not. If you are seen taking drugs, you may theoretically be arrested for possession, but not for use. This has one important effect; do not hesitate to seek medical help if you are suffering from bad effects of drug use, and inform emergency services as soon as possible of the specific (illegal) drugs you have taken. Medical services are unconcerned with where you got the drugs, they will not contact the police, their sole intention is to take care of you in the best way possible. As some substances can interact (negatively) with others or certain procedures become dangerous under the influence of certain substances, this may well save your life!\n\nAt some parties, a \"drug testing desk\" is offered, where you can have your (synthetic) drugs tested. This is mainly because many pills contain harmful chemicals in addition to the claimed ingredients. The testing desks are not meant to encourage drug use, since venue owners face stiff fines for allowing drugs in their venues, but they are tolerated or 'gedoogd' since they mitigate the public health risks. The desk won't return the drugs tested.\n\nOutside of parties, drugs can be tested at the Jellinek drug testing services. You can visit without appointment in the evening. They usually perform both a quick same-day reagent test, and send the drugs to a lab for more extensive testing, with results the next week. They will also not return the drugs tested. A test costs €2.50 (cash only). In Amsterdam, the GGD provides a similar service.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk078", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are significant risks associated with drug use:\n While marijuana bought at coffeeshops is unlikely to be hazardous, hard drugs like cocaine and heroin and synthetic drugs like ecstasy are still illegal and unregulated. These hard drugs are likely to be in some way contaminated, especially when bought from street dealers.\n Drugs obtained in pill form (in particular MDMA/ecstasy) might contain a lot more of the active substance than users expect, which can result in accidental overdoses.\n Some countries have legislation in place that make it illegal to plan a trip to another country for the purpose of committing acts illegal under their jurisdiction, so you might be apprehended in your home country after having legally smoked pot in the Netherlands.\n\nBe very careful with **alcohol and weed.** Don't use any alcohol the first couple of times you smoke weed: drinking one beer after you've smoked can feel like drinking ten beers. Alcohol and weed amplify each other: a little bit of alcohol can cause you to intensely feel the effect of the weed, but a tiny bit too much can make you feel dizzy and/or nauseated.\n\nThe use of drugs is disapproved by many Dutch people, notwithstanding the approach the criminal justice system has taken for decades. Nowadays, smoking is also frowned upon.\n\n### Prostitution", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk079", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Prostitution in the Netherlands is legal as long as it concerns voluntary interactions between adults. The minimum age for sex workers is 18 years. Exploiting sex workers or engaging them in the industry against their will is a crime. Street prostitution is prohibited in most municipalities, although Utrecht, Arnhem, Groningen, Heerlen, Nijmegen and Eindhoven allow it on dedicated \"tippelzones\". While brothels are permitted by law, most cities require them to have permits and enforce a maximum number of establishments in a limited part of town.\n\nA client who makes use of sexual services when he could have suspected an illegal situation is already punishable by law, and more explicit legal provisions about the responsibilities of the client are in the making. Reasonable suspicion could include timid or young girls, (small) injuries but also suspicious locations such as industrial areas or garage boxes.\n\nIllegal prostitution in hotels can be raided by the police and the client as well as the prostitute can be fined or be put in jail. Hotel personnel are obliged by law to notify the police if they suspect these kinds of illegal activities. In short, it's advisable to only have paid sex in locations with a licence to host prostitutes and to ask for an ID when you have any doubts about a person's age.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk080", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The Netherlands has some of the best **tap water** in the world. It is even considered to be of similar or better quality than bottled natural mineral or spring water due to high standards that are strictly enforced and are even more strict than the already high food standards. Due to the high quality of both the water production and the distribution network, there is no need to add chlorine.\nAt the majority of the train stations and even in some natural reserves, there is a water tap point, where the water is also of very good quality. Food (either bought in a supermarket or eaten at a restaurant) shouldn't pose any problems either.\n\nThe health care system of the Netherlands is up to par with the rest of Europe. Hospitals are mostly situated in larger cities, and all have English-speaking medical staff. General practitioners can be found in almost all towns, except for small villages, and they can typically speak English too. In case of a potential life-threatening emergency: call 112 and if necessary an ambulance will be sent and bring you to the most suitable emergency department (Dutch: Spoedeisende Hulp/SEH) of a hospital. In case of a non-life-threatening emergency call the local GP (Dutch: Huisarts) during office hours or the night GP (Dutch: Huisartsenpost) after office hours. If necessary the GP will send an ambulance or make a referal to the most suitable emergency department. If you have a non-life-threatening emergency do not go to the emergency department without referral as you will be denied access until a GP has seen you first. \n\nTwo health risks are particularly relevant for travellers:\n\n When walking or camping in forests and dunes, be aware of **ticks** and tick-carrying diseases. It is advisable to wear long sleeves and to put trousers into your socks. If you discover a red ring on your body in the following weeks, be sure to visit a doctor to check for **Lyme disease**, which can be lethal without proper medical care.\n In summer, open air recreational (mainly fresh water) swimming areas might suffer from the notorious **blue algae**, a rather smelly cyanobacteria which when it dies, releases toxins into the water. When these occur, a signpost at the entrance to the area or near the water should tell you so by stating something like \"Waarschuwing: blauwalg\". If in doubt, ask someone.", "word_count": 394}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk081", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Dutch have a reputation of being among most informal and easy-going people in Europe, and there are few strict social taboos to speak of. It's unlikely that Dutch people will be offended simply by your behaviour or appearance. Similar to their German neighbours, Dutch people value honestly, being straightforward, and not beating around the bush. Visitors from the Anglosphere are often taken aback by the directness of Dutch people in conversations, but rarely do they intend to offend. Nevertheless, the standards for *overt* rudeness and hostility are similar to those in other western European countries.\n\nThe Dutch have a strong culture of **egalitarianism**, and it is considered considered vulgar to ask people about their personal wealth or reveal how rich you are. Service staff such as waiters, cleaners, hotel staff, shop workers and drivers expect that customers will treat them as equals.\n\nIt is not advisable to be forceful about your own religion or to assume a Dutch person you've met is a Catholic or a Calvinist, since in most of the country, religion only plays a modest role and many people are not religious. In urban areas it's not considered rude to ask somebody about this, but you'll generally be expected to be entirely tolerant of whatever the other person believes and not attempt to proselytise in any way. Openly religious behaviour is usually met with bewilderment and ridicule rather than hostility. An exception is the Dutch Bible Belt which runs from Zeeland into South Holland, Utrecht and Gelderland, and consists of towns with many strong Dutch Reformed Christians, who are more likely to be insulted by different religious views.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk082", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Respect", "text": "Openly nationalist sentiments are likewise viewed with some suspicion among the general public, although there are a number of celebrations like King's Day (*Koningsdag*, 27 April) and during football championships. Some people dress in orange and/or get drunk, but you don't have to fear hostility to foreigners.\n\n### Sensitive issues\n\nNever refer to the entire country as \"Holland\", as that name only refers to the two provinces of North and South Holland, and doing so may offend Dutch people from or related to the other provinces. However, the country as a whole calls itself \"Holland\" towards tourists, and at football (soccer) matches nobody will be bothered by an enthusiastic \"Hup, Holland, hup!\" Generally speaking, people from Flevoland and Utrecht won't bother correcting you when you refer to them as \"Hollander\" or their region as \"Holland\". Don't expect anyone from a province other than those four to be flattered when being called a \"Hollander\". It can never hurt to ask whether anyone present minds.\n\nAs in many countries, political polarisation has increased since 2010. Avoid issues like Zwarte Piet, the Freedom Party, immigration and asylum seekers, and, especially in the countryside, the manure crisis.\n\n### Social etiquette\n\nIn the Netherlands, cheek-kissing is a common way of greeting among women and between women and men. Two men will generally shake hands. Kissing is particularly suitable for informal occasions. For greetings, it's typically used for people who are already acquainted. It's also common practice when congratulating someone, and is common among strangers in that case too. Hand shaking is more appropriate for formal occasions. Trying to shake hands when offered a kiss or refusing a kiss altogether could be considered odd or rude.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk083", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Respect", "text": "Dutch people will kiss three times alternating right and left cheeks. This could lead to awkward situations for British people and many other Europeans, being used to just two kisses. Also, always kiss on the cheeks instead of giving air-kisses.\n\n**Cycling** is a very important part of Dutch culture, and cyclists take precedence over car drivers in many respects. Don't make the mistake to walk on a cycle track, especially when a pavement/sidewalk is available. It will immediately identify you as a tourist, and especially in Amsterdam you are likely to receive a stern rebuke from locals. If you drive a car in the Netherlands, be mindful of cyclists. Cyclists, many of whom are children, ride without helmets. If you go by bicycle yourself, try to blend in with the other cyclists.\n\n### Gay and lesbian travellers\n\nright|thumb|Gay Pride in Amsterdam\n\nAs mentioned above, the Netherlands is liberal when it comes to **homosexuality** and is considered to be **one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world.** The Netherlands has a reputation of being the first country to recognise same-sex marriage, and openly displaying your orientation won't cause much upset in the Netherlands.\n\nHowever, even a gay friendly country like the Netherlands has room for some criticisms of homosexuality, but this varies depending on where one travels. If you express opposition to LGBT rights, Dutch people might make politely clear to you that they do not agree with your thoughts. Don't get mistaken by Dutch using 'gay' ('homo') as a swearword, it is vastly used by LGBT people themselves. Although most Dutch people are very tolerant of the LGBT community, occasions in which openly gay people are beaten up are not unheard of.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk084", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Connect", "text": "The country code for the Netherlands is **31**. The outbound international prefix is **00** (e.g. to call the US, substitute **00 1** for **+1** and for the UK **00 44** for **+44**.)\n\nThe **cellular phone networks** in the Netherlands are operated by KPN, VodafoneZiggo and Odido; other operators use one of these 3 networks. All providers offer 4G coverage in almost every corner of the Netherlands, and 5G is at almost the same level. Note that 3G networks have been turned off, and 2G is only available at KPN and VodafoneZiggo, mainly for business purposes.\n\nIf you're bringing your own (GSM) cell phone to call (or receive calls) whilst in the Netherlands, make sure to check the relevant \"roaming\" charges for your provider, as they vary substantially. Receiving phone calls on a cell phone using a Dutch SIM card is free in most cases; charges may apply if you're using a foreign SIM card, as the call is theoretically routed through your country of origin. It may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card to insert into your GSM phone, or even to buy a very cheap pay-as-you-go card+phone bundle. Providers that specialise in discount rates to foreign countries include Lyca and Lebara.\n\nAs of January 2023, there are no public phone booths left in the Netherlands.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk085", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Connect", "text": "0800 numbers are toll-free while 09xx numbers are charged at premium rates. Mobile phones have numbers in the 06 range, and calls to cell phones are also priced at higher rates. (National) Directory Inquiries can be reached via **1888**, **1850** and various other 'Inquiry-operators'. Rates differ by operator, but are usually rather high, more than €1 per call, as well as per-second charges. International Directory Inquiries can be reached on 0900 8418 (M-F 08:00-20:00, €0.90 per minute). Phone numbers can also be found on the Internet, free of charge, on Telefoonboek.nl, De Telefoongids.nl and for opening times visit Openingstijden.nl or OpeningstijdenGids.nl.\n\n### Internet access\n\nKPN, VodafoneZiggo and Odido offer complete **4G** coverage. **5G** networks are nearing completion. Other service providers, using the networks of the aforementioned operators, may offer a slower connection for lower prices.\nDutch sim cards are also available with mobile internet access, typically from €10 for 1 GB and a month validity. Users with a mobile phone account from an EU country can use their data plan in the Netherlands without incurring extra charges.\n\n**Internet cafés** are increasingly rare but can still be found in major cities and usually also provide international calling booths. Many public libraries provide Internet access, usually at a charge. Wireless Internet access using **Wi-Fi** is quite widely available. It's usually a free service in pubs, restaurants and many attractions. In hotels the situation differs, with free service in some and high rates in others. Free Wi-Fi is offered in many of the larger railway stations, a growing number of NS intercity trains, local trains of some of the other operators, and some regional buses, and Schiphol offers limited free service as well as better (and longer) use for a charge.\n\n### Mail", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "netherlands::chunk086", "doc_id": "netherlands", "section": "Connect", "text": "PostNL has been assigned by the government to provide universal postal service in The Netherlands, including delivery of mail in the country and provide sufficient post boxes throughout the country for sending mail.\nAt service points, called *PostNL-punten*, you can buy stamps, send mail and send parcels.\n\nInternational stamps have a ‘priority’ indication, a number instead of a euro value and the word ‘internationaal’ on them. The weight of your letter or postcard determines the number of stamps you need. Mail up to 20 grams requires one *internationaal* stamp which as of 2026 costs €2.11.\n\nDigital postal stamps are available: you pay for the postage using the PostNL mobile app, then write the provided 12-digit code on the envelope, instead of using a physical stamp.\n\n**Goods** may no longer be sent internationally via regular mail but must be pre-registered. PostNL offers parcel services internationally but may take longer than courier services such als DHL, DPD and UPS which also operate in the Netherlands.", "word_count": 163}
diff --git a/corpus/netherlands/metadata.json b/corpus/netherlands/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..54db9aa2c2a02743c9ec9ed3d2598fc4aa430bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/netherlands/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "netherlands",
+ "title": "Netherlands",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Netherlands",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 4,
+ 5,
+ 9,
+ 10
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Benelux"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 21228,
+ "listing_count": 15,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 87,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/new-orleans/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/new-orleans/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8343180f14a68787d79c4ffba8574f77cc0df28e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/new-orleans/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk000", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Overview", "text": "Way down yonder in **New Orleans** (French: *La Nouvelle-Orléans*), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. \"NOLA\" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States.\nthumb|300px|Bourbon Street\n*\"Laissez les bons temps rouler\"* is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can \"let the good times roll\" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans.\n\nGo ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in. But when it's time to leave, you, too, will know what it means to miss New Orleans.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk001", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Districts", "text": "### Nearby communities and suburbs\n\n Jefferson Parish: includes Kenner, the location of the New Orleans International Airport, and Metairie, the largest suburb; many hotels and conventions are based here.\nSaint Bernard Parish: downriver from New Orleans, includes the town of Chalmette where the \"Battle of New Orleans\" took place in 1815.\n St. Tammany Parish: on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain; includes Slidell, Covington, Mandeville and Abita Springs\n Plaquemines Parish: on both sides of the Mississippi south to the Gulf.\n Destrehan: contains Destrehan Plantation, one of the South's best-preserved antebellum homes.\n LaPlace: A fast-growing town upriver from New Orleans\n River Parishes: rural area, not part of greater New Orleans but closely associated with it culturally. Known mostly for its stunning historic plantations.", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk002", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Overview\n\nthumb|250px|Bourbon Street, French Quarter at night\n\nNew Orleans is known for a host of attributes like its famous Creole food, abundant alcohol, music of many styles, nearby swamps and plantations, 18th- & 19th-century architecture, antiques, gay pride, streetcars, and museums. Nicknamed the Big Easy, New Orleans has long had a reputation as an adult-oriented city. However, the city also offers many attractions for families with children and those interested in culture and the arts. It is a city with Roman Catholic plurality owing to its French and Spanish origins.\n\nFamous festivals like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest bring in tourists by the millions, and are the two times of the year when you must book well in advance to be sure of a room. The city also hosts many smaller festivals and gatherings like the French Quarter Festival, Creole Tomato Festival, Satchmo SummerFest, the Essence Festival hosted by the magazine, Halloween parading and costume balls, Saint Patrick's Day and Saint Joseph's Day parading, and Southern Decadence. The city takes almost any occasion for an excuse for a parade, a party, and live music, and in New Orleans most events often have a touch of Mardi Gras year round. Like they say, New Orleanians are either planning a party, enjoying one or recovering from one. Party down!\n\nIt is a city of great culture with a clash of French, Cajun and some Spanish designs. You may see some voodoo activity at night. The streetcar rides are fun and many of the stores carry exclusive cultural art such as the blue dog collection.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|250px|Jackson Square is the historic heart of the French Quarter", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk003", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the late 1600s, French trappers and traders began settling in what is now New Orleans, along a Native American trade route between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain via Bayou St. John. In 1718 the city was founded as \"Nouvelle-Orléans\" by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, Governor of the French colony of Louisiana, with the intent to build it into a provincial capital city. The early French city grew within the grid of what is now the French Quarter. Louisiana was transferred to Spanish rule in the 1760s, but much of the population retained French language and culture. After briefly returning to French rule, Louisiana was purchased by the United States in 1803. At first the new \"American\" settlers mostly built their homes and shops upriver from the older French parts of the city, across wide \"Canal Street\" (named for a planned canal that was never built). Canal Street was the dividing line between the Anglophone and Francophone sections; the street's wide median became a popular meeting place called \"the neutral ground\"—and \"neutral ground\" became the common phrase for the median of any street, still in use in the New Orleans dialect today.\n\nA British attempt to seize the city in 1815 was repelled downriver from the city in Chalmette by local forces led by Andrew Jackson, whose equestrian statue can be seen in the square named after him in the center of the old Quarter.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk004", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "Early New Orleans was already a rich melting pot of peoples and cultures. French Spanish African and Anglos were joined by immigrants from Ireland, Germany, and the Caribbean. While a center of the slave trade before the American Civil War, New Orleans also had the USA's largest population of free people of color. The city grew rapidly as a major trade center on the mighty Mississippi River. In the American Civil War of the 1860s, New Orleans fell to the Union early in the conflict without battle within the city, sparing the city's rich historic architecture from the destruction suffered by much of the American South.\n\nAt the start of the 20th century, the then largely neglected old French Quarter started gaining new appreciation among artists and bohemians for its architecture and ambiance. Around the same time, a new musical style developed in the city; the music developed and swept around the world under the name of \"jazz\".\n\nAlthough far from the big battlefronts, New Orleans is proud of its contributions to the Allied victory over Fascism in World War II, especially the development and construction of landing craft such as \"Higgins Boats\" which made rapid landing masses of troops on hostile beaches possible. This legacy is why America's National World War II Museum is located in the city.\n\nIn 2005, New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina in what was perhaps the worst disaster to hit a U.S. city since the great San Francisco earthquake 99 years earlier. The government-designed levee system that protected the city failed, causing some 80% of the city to be flooded. Recovery was a lengthy process, although the French Quarter and other older parts of town most popular with visitors were built on comparatively high ground and were quickly restored.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk005", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "A local joke has it that New Orleans really does have four seasons: Summer, Hurricane, Christmas, and Mardi Gras. Summer is certainly the longest; for about half the year, from about late April to the start of October, the days are usually hot, or raining, or hot and raining. Combined with the humidity, heat indices hover around during the day and at night throughout the summer. A heat index of during the day and at night is not unheard of on some particularly hot days. Winters are generally short and mild, but subject to occasional cold snaps that may surprise visitors who mistakenly think the city has a year round tropical climate. The high humidity can make the cold snaps feel quite penetrating. Snow is so rare that the occasional light dusting of flakes will make most locals stop what they are doing to stare; they'll excitedly show the phenomenon to local children too young to remember the last time snow visited the city. During a rare freezing event, you'll see that most locals have no idea how to drive on iced or snowy roads.\n\nThe Atlantic hurricane season (which includes all of the Gulf of Mexico) is June 1 through November 30. The most active month is September.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk006", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some say the best time to visit New Orleans is between late November and early June. However New Orleans has things going on all year long. A rewarding visit can be made even the hottest part of the summer: start your day early, and do your outdoor sightseeing in the morning. The lush local flora can display a wealth of colorful flowers. Mid-day and afternoon, retreat to air-conditioning; visit a museum, have a leisurely visit to a cafe or restaurant, or take a siesta at your hotel. Come back outside when the sun gets low. After dark the night shift of flora comes on duty; especially in older neighborhoods such as Esplanade Ridge, Carrollton, and the Garden District, with an abundance of night-blooming jasmine, the sweet deliciously scented air can be almost intoxicating.\n\n### Creoles, Cajuns, and New Orleanians\n\nDespite what many visitors expect, the population, food, music, and traditions of New Orleans are not predominantly Cajun. The Acadian or Cajun (from 'Cadien, pronounced kay-juhn) people developed their rich culture to the west of the city, in the Acadiana section of Louisiana. While there are some good places for Cajun food and music in the city — some are branches of famous Southwest Louisiana Cajun places that opened up locations here — understand that Cajun food and culture are imports that have no roots in New Orleans. Some businesses in the most tourist heavy parts of town have decided to profit by selling visitors what they want, slapping the term \"Cajun\" on dishes and products with little to do with Acadiana.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk007", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Understand", "text": "The oldest aspects of New Orleans culture are **Creole** — which here designates the people that were already here before the city became part of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. French, Spanish, and African are the primary ethnic and cultural groups in old Creole culture, with additional input from Native Americans and early German immigrants (who became much more numerous later in the 19th century).\n\nSince the Louisiana Purchase, other major immigrant groups and influences on local cuisine and culture have included Italian (mostly Southern and Sicilian), Irish, German, Caribbean and Central American. Hondurans are traditionally the largest Hispanic group in the metro area, but during the post-Katrina reconstruction boom there was an influx of Latinos, mostly hailing from Central America and Mexico. Smaller populations of Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans are also sparsely located throughout the area. In the late 20th century a sizable Vietnamese community was added to the New Orleans gumbo. They can be found in greatest concentrations in New Orleans East and portions of the Westbank suburbs (Marrero, Harvey, & Gretna).\n\n### Tourist information\n\nNew Orleans Tourism website", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk008", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Talk", "text": "Like the rest of the United States, **English** is the main language spoken in New Orleans. Many residents speak with a unique accent known as the Yat accent, which is often described as being similar to a Brooklyn or New Jersey accent, though even many born-and-bred New Orleanians, especially uppers and middle class ones, shun the local accent in favor of a general American accent due to the negative stereotypes associated with it.\n\nFrench is no longer widely spoken, though street signs in the French Quarter are bilingual in French and English, and some streets have ceramic signs with their Spanish names as well. Some elderly residents speak a French-based creole similar to Haitian Creole known as Louisiana Creole, though the language is now moribund, and most younger residents cannot speak it.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk009", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n - Louis Armstrong International Airport\n\nTo get into town a taxi ($36 for one or two people, $15 per person for three or more) is quickest; that's the flat fee from the airport to any spot in the French Quarter or Central Business District. Limo service is also available for rates starting at $35. See the airport website for other options.\n\nA cheap way to get to town is the Jefferson Parish Transit Airport Express route E1-Veterans/Airport, which is $2, or RTA route 202-Airport Express, which is only $1.25. The E1-Veterans/Airport route runs straight down Veterans Boulevard to the Cemeteries Transit Center (more of a collection of seats outside than an actual building of significance, approximately 45 minutes) on Canal Blvd/City Park Ave, while the 202-Airport Express takes the I-10 freeway to CBD just outside of the French Quarter (approximately 30 minutes). It is possible to get into Downtown/French Quarter from the Cemeteries Transit Terminal by streetcar (route 47) or bus (route 91).\n\nThe Airport bus stop is on Level 1- Baggage Claim, outside Door 2, Zones B4 and B5.\n\nMany major hotels have shuttle buses from the airport. Even if you're not staying at one of those hotels, the shuttles can often be a value for those getting into town if their destination is near one of the hotels.\n\n \n\n### By car\n\n 22px The main artery into and out of town is **Interstate 10**, going to the east and west.\n 22px & 22px\n 22px\n 22px\n 22px\n\n### By train\n\nNew Orleans is served by several long-distance '''Amtrak''' routes.\n\n ''City of New Orleans'': Daily daytime train from Chicago via Champaign-Urbana, Carbondale, Memphis, Jackson and Hammond LA.\n ''Crescent'': Daily from New York via Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville SC, Atlanta and Birmingham.\n *Mardi Gras Service*: Twice-daily from Mobile via Biloxi.\n ''Sunset Limited'': 3x weekly from Los Angeles via Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Lake Charles, Lafayette, New Iberia and Schriever. There is an Amtrak Thruway continuation of this route to Montgomery via Mobile by Greyhound Lines.\n\n \n\n### By bus\n\nThe bus station for long distance buses is the same as the train station (Union Passenger (Amtrak) Terminal) at 1001 Loyola or somewhere nearby:", "word_count": 366}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk010", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are visiting the French Quarter, casinos, or just the Central Business District, a car may be more of a burden than an asset. Most hotel parking is valet/remote/expensive/difficult at best. New Orleans is ready for visitors, and the rapid transit, trolley cars and buses are plentiful 24/7. Walking is fun and healthy during daylight and early evening. After midnight, you may want to call a taxi, but likely it will be a short trip at reasonable cost. For a great way to see the city, try renting a bike from one of the several bike rental companies in the French Quarter or Marigny. Be very aware when riding a bike; the drivers can be quite aggressive. However, outside the French Quarter or areas served by the streetcar, public transport tends to be unreliable, so renting a car would be the best way to get around.\n\n### With a car\n\nBe alert that the streets of much of the city were laid out before the automobile, especially in the older parts of town of most interest to visitors. There are many one way streets. It is common for cars to park on the side of the street causing some of the streets to be too narrow for 2 way traffic. This means someone needs to pull to the side.\n\nDue to consolidation of the underlying soils and a lack of resources, potholes are common and road conditions are often poor for a developed country. Some developing countries even have better roads.\n\nStreet signage is sometimes unclear or missing.\n\nSome streets have terrible drainage and will flood nearly every time it rains. Water will drain after but makes for difficult driving .", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "new-orleans::chunk011", "doc_id": "new-orleans", "section": "Get around", "text": "Parking is often hard to find around many areas of interest to tourists, but there are generally pay lots in the area. Hotel parking can cost over $40/night downtown and in the French Quarter.\n\nThose who don't know how to parallel park may wish to just leave their car in a pay lot when visiting much of the city.\n\n### Without a car\n\nthumb|New Orlean streetcar network ([[ShareMap:public/New_Orlean_Streetcars|interactive map]])
existing, No one in New York drove; there was too much traffic.\n\nthumb|upright=1.3|The Brooklyn Bridge\n\nA word of advice about driving in New York City: **don't**. A car is inadvisable — street parking is practically nonexistent near crowded areas and tourist attractions, and garage parking rates range from very expensive to plain extortion. Traffic is almost always congested, parking rules are confusing, and many drivers are infamously aggressive. Public transportation options are many, and are quicker, cheaper and more pleasant. That's why many New Yorkers, particularly in Manhattan, don't own cars. If you think of staying in a suburb and commuting to the city by car, better to do as the locals do. Drive to one of the commuter rail stations (see above) or ferry docks. Parking fees at the station and fare combined are usually much cheaper than parking downtown. Many stations have secure parking areas; however, it’s wise to investigate beforehand. Some suburban stations limit their parking to local residents, with enforcement by license plate camera and aggressive ticketing of unregistered vehicles. In Staten Island, parking near the ferry terminal and using the ferry will save you money and time.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk045", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you do choose to drive, a smartphone with GPS support and a mapping application with turn-by-turn directions and live traffic conditions support (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) is invaluable: New York's eternal cycle of road, bridge and tunnel maintenance, not to mention the daily changes created by accidents, festivals and police activity mean that a published paper map may be catastrophically inaccurate, even if it's been published comparatively recently. Many rental cars may not have a USB power port and even those that do will not provide a charge cable: bringing your own car power adaptor is a must if you're renting.\n\nIn Queens, numbers identify not only avenues and streets, but also roads, places, crescents, and lanes, all of which might be near each other. Read the entire street sign. Outer borough highways are confusing and often narrowed to one lane, the potholes could trap an elephant, the signs are sometimes misleading, exits which should appear do not, and signs directing a highway approach drag you through miles of colorful neighborhood (in the wrong direction) before finally letting you onto the highway with a stop sign and a hand's width of merge space.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk046", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic in New York City roughly follows a hierarchy of precedence, which it is unwise to challenge. Fire engines, ambulances, and police cruisers are given priority, followed by other public service vehicles such as buses, road crews, and sanitation trucks. Beneath them are taxi cabs and delivery trucks. Below *those* are other cars. Driving a car with out-of-state license plates (save for perhaps Connecticut or New Jersey) will instantly mark you as an outsider, sometimes resulting in other drivers being more aggressive around you than they would with a local. Suffice it to say, driving in New York is not for the timid or emotionally fragile.\n\nHowever, driving can be an exciting adventure, particularly on the parkways, with their numerous twists and turns. (Just watch out for other drivers, as noted above.) Also, since buses don't serve some of the parkways, driving or taking a taxi might be a workable option for those. Nonetheless, try to use bicycles or walk on the pedestrian trails near those parkways, where they exist; trails are less harrowing and you'd probably enjoy the scenery better.\n\n#### Gas\n\nGas stations can be found along main streets in the outer boroughs, but are sparse in Manhattan where only a handful exist around the perimeter of the island and in neighborhoods north of Central Park. Avoid filling your gas tank on highways within city limits—these charge a lot more compared to neighborhood gas stations.\n\n#### Parking", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk047", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Parking in garages or outdoor lots is usually very expensive, costing as much as $40 per day in Manhattan, although cheap or free lot parking is available at some times at certain locations. Street parking can be free or much cheaper than garage or lot parking, but can be extremely hard to come by. In Manhattan, self-park (or \"park-and-lock\") is extremely rare. The overwhelming majority of parking facilities in Manhattan have mandatory valet parking, so you must set aside a few dollars for tips, and anticipate the time it will take for a valet to retrieve your vehicle. Self-park garages in Manhattan near major tourist attractions include the Battery Parking Garage in Lower Manhattan, Manhattan Plaza Parking in Midtown Manhattan, and the public parking garage underneath the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a general rule, hotels in New York do not supply garage parking. The few that do will charge you handsomely for the privilege. There are several websites and mobile apps that can help you find and book parking, including: ParkMe.com, SpotHero, ParkWhiz.com, BestParking.com, Parkopedia.com, IconParking.com, and ParkFast.com.\n\nIn the case of parallel parking on the street, \"bumping\" cars in front of and behind of you to get into and out of a parking spot (known to some as \"Braille Parking\") is common. If you choose to park on the street, don't be surprised if you find a few new scratches and scrapes on your bumper.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk048", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Check all parking signs carefully. Parking meters demand constant feeding, and are hungry late into the night in some areas. In some parts of Midtown Manhattan, there are pay-and-display meters which are only in effect from 6PM to midnight on weekdays and all day on weekends. In these areas, parking is prohibited during the workday, except for commercial trucks. It is a good idea to keep a roll of quarters in your car, as not all meters accept credit cards. Parking is permitted at broken or missing meters for the time posted on the signs. Parking is illegal at ALL bus stops and within of fire hydrants. Yellow lines on the curb have no legal meaning in NYC, so they cannot be relied upon to tell you if you are parked far enough from a hydrant. However, in most areas the seams in the sidewalk are roughly five feet apart, so leaving at least three \"squares\" of sidewalk between the hydrant and your bumper is a smart move. Many motorists simply pay garage fees to avoid the anxiety of finding a parking spot and the risks of expensive parking tickets.\n\nNew York has \"alternate side of the street\" parking rules, which may require street parkers to move their cars at different times of the day (such as early morning, or overnight in a few business districts) so that street sweepers can clean the roads. Alternate side rules are suspended on many obscure holidays, while parking meters and other weekday restrictions are only suspended on a few major holidays (not even on all Federal holidays). The current state of parking enforcement can always be found on the \"NYC 311\" service: dial 311 on any phone, visit their website or install the 311 application on your smartphone.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk049", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trying to leave a car parked illegally for very long will often end with a $150 fine, and a vehicle illegally parked in an overcrowded place is very likely to be towed away and face a $300 fine. The New York Police Department operates the tow pounds.\n\n#### Rentals\n\nThe major car rental agencies have offices at all three airports as well as throughout the city. Smaller agencies are also well represented. Be warned that car rentals in New York are generally more expensive than elsewhere in the United States, especially on weekends, when the locals rent cars to get out of the city. Rentals may require a deposit of up to $500 if you do not have a credit card. New York state law caps rental car collision damage waiver at $9 per day ($15 per day for premium cars), which is quite a bit less than in most other states. At that price, it's not a bad idea to add it to your rental, even if you have another source of coverage. (For more on rental car insurance in New York, check out the New York Attorney General's page on the subject. http://www.ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/car-rental-tip-sheet) Unlike most other states in the U.S., New York state law requires rental companies to rent to anyone at least 18 years of age, but there are hefty fees for those under 25. Car-sharing services like Zipcar and Hertz 24/7 are very well represented.\n\n#### Rules", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk050", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "The speed limit throughout the city is 25 mph (as of 2026).\nUnlike other places in the United States, **right turns on red are illegal**, except where otherwise posted. While some entrances to New York City have signs alerting motorists that it is illegal to turn on red, other drivers from out of town may not know this rule.\nAs in the rest of New York State, talking on a cell-phone (without a hands-free device) or texting while driving is illegal. Even if you do have a hands-free device, minimize your talking and prioritize driving.\nThere are red light cameras at 100 intersections in New York City. A camera will take a picture if you run a red light and a fine disputable on the web will be issued in 30 days. However, since the camera does not identify who is driving the vehicle, no points will be issued against your drivers' license.\nSome bus lanes have video cameras. A camera will take a video if you drive illegally in the bus lane other than to turn right and a fine disputable on the web will be issued in 30 days.\nIf there is an emergency vehicle trying to get through with its siren blaring, pull over to the side and move forward as necessary. On many one-way streets (avenues in particular), the middle lane is designated as the \"FIRE LANE\" so that motorists can pull over to either side lane.\nSome avenues and many streets have only one-way traffic. Thankfully, one-way streets generally alternate direction, so if your destination is down a one-way street going in the wrong direction, go another block and double-back. A handy mnemonic is \"Evens go East,\" meaning that, for the most part, streets (in Manhattan) with even numbers will head east, and vice-versa. The best gauge to determine a one way street's direction is to check the direction parked cars face.\nBe wary of your surroundings when you park your car. While NYC is a safe city for its size, it's not necessarily safe for your car as well. Make it as unworthy to steal as possible.", "word_count": 353}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk051", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### Tolls\n\nWhen entering New York from New Jersey, as well as when driving across the Throgs Neck Bridge, Whitestone Bridge, Verazzano-Narrows Bridge, Triboro Bridge, Midtown Tunnel and Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel within New York City, you will incur tolls of up to $15, and associated traffic delays.\n\n#### Traffic\n\nTraveling at off-hours makes sense to avoid rush hour traffic, but highways and roads are still generally packed any time of day. The Cross Bronx Expressway, which is part of I-95 and leads to the George Washington Bridge, is almost always choked with traffic. The Long Island Expressway has heavy eastbound traffic between the morning and evening rushes. The Holland and Lincoln Tunnels are 10-minute waits on a good day. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is notorious, and an accident on the Verazzano Bridge without shoulders can cause a backup all the way through the northern part of Staten Island into New Jersey. It is a good idea to check radio traffic reports, especially before crossing a bridge or tunnel. Three different stations have reports every 10 minutes around the clock: 880 AM (on the 8's), 1010 AM (on the 1's, also available on 92.3 FM), and 1130 AM (on the 5's).\n\nDriving cross-town (east-west) in Manhattan during rush hours is especially troublesome because the traffic lights are optimized to move traffic along the north-south roads. Your best bet is to avoid driving in Midtown Manhattan (between the 30s and 50s) whenever possible. If you do drive in Midtown Manhattan crosstown on weekdays, consider using \"Thru Streets\"—these streets restrict turns onto major avenues at certain intersections and may reduce delays. They are indicated with purple and white signs at intersections.\n\n#### Trucks", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk052", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are traveling with a commercial vehicle (defined as any vehicle designed to transport property with two axles and six tires, or three or more axles) remember that commercial traffic is prohibited on many roadways throughout the city. Commercial traffic is permitted only on roadways designated as Through and Local Truck Routes. Commercial traffic is prohibited on all multiple-lane roadways designated as \"parkways\" (such as the Grand Central Parkway, Cross-Island Parkway, or Henry Hudson Parkway) with frequent low bridges. Unfortunately, the majority of fast-moving roadways are designated as parkways in New York City. Commercial traffic is also prohibited on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Drive in Manhattan. Before traveling anywhere in New York City with a commercial vehicle, refer to the New York City Truck Route Map.\n\n#### Tunnels\n\nThere are several points of entry/exit into the city from the New Jersey side: the Lincoln Tunnel (midtown/41st Street), the Holland Tunnel (downtown/Canal Street), and the George Washington Bridge (way uptown/178th Street) — all are accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). I-78 east will also feed directly into the Holland Tunnel (US-1/9 is also a popular route). I-80 east will terminate at an I-95 junction, the north route of which will lead directly to the George Washington Bridge. The bridge is also directly accessible from US-46 east. With all of these options, many commuters choose to listen to 24 hour traffic reports on AM stations 880 (every ten minutes on the 8s) and 1010 (every ten minutes on the 1s, also available on 92.3 FM) to find the least congested route at that time. Weekend traffic delays can easily exceed 60 minutes at some of the tunnels, so plan accordingly!", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk053", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Midtown Tunnel under the East River is convenient for Long Island travelers, as it becomes the Long Island Expressway. The Queensborough Bridge (aka The 59th Street Bridge) also crosses the East River into Queens, is toll-free, and lands near the mouth of the Midtown Tunnel but requires some automotive manipulation to get onto a highway. Other routes head north and east out of the Bronx, including Interstates 87 (north to Albany) and 95 (northeast to Boston) and the Henry Hudson Parkway, which is along the Hudson River.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|upright=1.3|Cyclotouring group stopping for a lecture in Central Park\nUsing a bicycle in New York City is common among New Yorkers and tourists alike. Bike paths can be found in every borough of the city, in three forms: bike lanes (road lanes specifically for bicycles), shared lanes (lanes shared between cars and bicycles), and greenways (roads solely designated to bicycles and pedestrians). Greenways are highly recommended for those wishing to go on a recreational journey. The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway circles (almost) the whole of Manhattan, and protected bikeways exist on some major avenues. However, most destinations will require some street biking. A map of bike paths in New York City can be found here. Bike shops give out free maps provided by the City. They show bike routes and shops, and indicate the ones that offer rentals.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk054", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "The city has a bike share program called **CitiBike**. The program has over 750 stations in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. A map can be found here. To access a bike install the app. You can also visit one of the locations and pay for a pass. A single ride costs $3.81 to unlock plus $0.18 per minute. Return your bike to a station (remember to place it securely in a dock–you will be further fined if the light on the dock does not turn green). CitiBike is good for short trips to a known destination and **not** recommended for using a bike for a prolonged period of time.\n\nCycling in Manhattan can often be quicker than taking the subway or a taxi, but it isn't for the fainthearted. The borough's tumultuous traffic makes biking difficult. Aggressive cab drivers, jaywalking pedestrians, potholes and debris on the roads create a cycling experience that might just as well have been taken from Dante's *Inferno*. If you do venture into the concrete jungle on a bike, make sure you wear a helmet and have sufficient experience in urban cycling.\n\nCycling in Brooklyn and The Bronx can be more rewarding, or not, depending on the neighborhood. There are few bike paths in Queens; however, the roads are bike-friendly for the most part.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk055", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycling is *not* recommended in Staten Island. Access is difficult, with the main way to get in being the Staten Island Ferry. There are only a handful of bike paths on the entire island, mostly on the south shore. This is unfortunate, as Staten Island has beautiful displays of nature in some of its parks, most of which are accessible only on foot or by bicycle. If you are looking for scenery, by all means, take your bike with you on the ferry, but do not rely on it for transportation on the street.\n\n### On foot\n\nFor shorter distances, there is no better way of getting around New York than hitting the sidewalk. If you use the subway or buses, you will almost certainly need to walk to and from stations or stops. In all areas of New York a traveler is likely to visit, all streets have wide, smoothly-paved sidewalks. For long distances, walking is also fine and a great way to see the city.\n\nWear shoes that protect your feet and you don't mind getting a bit dirty, such as sneakers or platform wedges. The sidewalks can be filthy, especially on trash day. Women all over the city routinely pack high heels, strappy sandals, or flip flops in a bag and put them on only after arriving at their destinations.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk056", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "Like most of the great world cities, New York has an abundance of great attractions—so many, that it would be impossible to list them all here. What follows is but a sampling of the most high-profile attractions in New York City; more detailed info can be found in the district pages.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk057", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "A general word of advice on sightseeing in New York: Tourists often spend their entire vacation in New York standing in line (or as New Yorkers say, \"on line\"). This is often unnecessary; there are usually alternatives. For example, one can choose to avoid the Empire State Building during the day (it is open, and much quieter, late, until 2AM), skip the Statue of Liberty in favor of the Staten Island Ferry, and stay away from the Guggenheim on Monday (it is one of the only museums open that day). Also, there is no reason to stand in line for a Broadway show if you already have a ticket with an assigned seat. If you prefer, get a drink nearby and come back closer to curtain time, when you can walk right in. The lines for bus tours can be absurd because tourists all seem to have exactly the same itinerary, which is get on a bus in the morning in Times Square, get off for the Statue of Liberty, and finish on the East Side in the afternoon. Why not go downtown in the morning, and save Midtown for the afternoon? You will thank yourself for avoiding the crowds. Also, understand that buses are the slowest way to go crosstown in Midtown Manhattan during peak hours, and taxis are not much better. You are often better off on foot. Additionally, New York rush hour (especially in Manhattan) puts much of the city in gridlock: all subway lines and roads will be much busier from 4:30PM to 6:30PM.\n\n### Passes\n\nA number of multi-attraction schemes give reduced prices and line-skipping privileges.\n\n- GoCity Pass\n\n- New York Pass\n\n- New York CityPASS", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk058", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "*See also the district pages for detailed information about attractions. Detail is gradually being moved from this page to the district pages.*\n\n### Landmarks\n\nthumb|Statue of Liberty\nNaturally, Manhattan possesses the lion's share of the landmarks that have saturated American popular culture. Starting in the Financial District, perhaps the most famous of these landmarks is easy to spot - the **Statue of Liberty**, a symbol of the nation standing atop a small island in the harbor, and perhaps also the most difficult attraction to access in terms of crowds and the long lines to see it. Visitors may climb all the way up to the crown inside the statue, but tickets are limited and should be reserved months in advance. Nearby **Ellis Island** preserves the site where millions of immigrants completed their journey to America. Within the Financial District itself, **Wall Street** acts as the heart of big business being the home of the **New York Stock Exchange**, although the narrow street also holds some historical attractions, namely **Federal Hall**, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States. Furthermore, there is a large statue of a bull that tourists often take pictures with. Nearby, the National September 11 Memorial at the **World Trade Center Site** commemorates the victims of that fateful day, and its replacement, officially **One World Trade Center** but colloquially known as the **Freedom Tower**, is the tallest building in the country at 1,776 feet (representing the year which the United States of America was founded). Connecting the Financial District to Downtown Brooklyn, the **Brooklyn Bridge** offers fantastic views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk059", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "Moving north to Midtown, Manhattan's other major business district, you'll find some of New York's most famous landmarks. **Macy's Herald Square** is the flagship store of the nationwide chain, and perhaps the most famous department store in the country. The **Empire State Building** looms over Midtown, with the nearby **Chrysler Building** also dominating the landscape. Nearby is the headquarters of **United Nations** overlooking the East River and **Grand Central Terminal**, one of the busiest train stations in the world. Also nearby is the main branch of the **New York Public Library**, a beautiful building famous for its magnificent reading rooms and the lion statues outside the front door; and **Rockefeller Plaza**, home to NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall, and (during the winter) the famous Christmas Tree and Skating Rink.\n\nStill in the Midtown area but just to the west, in the Theater District, is the tourist center of New York: **Times Square**, filled with bright, flashing video screens and LED signs running 24 hours a day. Just to the north is **Central Park**, with its lawns, trees and lakes popular for recreation and concerts.\n\nOut in Queens you can find the **Unisphere** in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, that was built as the centrepiece of the 1964 World's Fair.\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\nNew York has some of the finest museums in the world, many of which are priced accordingly. In addition to the major museums, hundreds of small galleries are spread throughout the city, notably in neighborhoods like Chelsea and Williamsburg. Many galleries and museums in New York close on Mondays, so be sure to check hours before visiting. The following is just a list of highlights; see district pages for more listings.\n\n#### Arts and culture", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk060", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "New York City is home to some of the finest art museums in the world, and in Manhattan, you'll find the grandest of them all. The **Metropolitan Museum of Art** in Central Park has vast holdings that represent a series of collections, each of which ranks in its category among the finest in the world. Within this single building you'll find perhaps the world's finest collection of American artwork, period rooms, thousands of European paintings including Rembrandts and Vermeers, the greatest collection of Egyptian art outside Cairo, one of the world's finest Islamic art collections, Asian art, European sculpture, medieval and Renaissance art, and antiquities from around the ancient world. Its collection is so vast that it would be impossible to see everything in a week. As if all that wasn't enough, the Met also operates **The Cloisters** in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan, which houses a collection of medieval art and incorporates elements from five medieval French cloisters and other monastic sites in southern France in its renowned gardens.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk061", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "Near the Metropolitan, in the Upper East Side, is the **Guggenheim Museum**. Although more famed for its architecture than the collection it hosts, the spiraling galleries are ideal for exhibiting art works. The nearby **Frick Collection** houses a smaller though well-regarded collection of paintings by the old masters. In Midtown, the **Museum of Modern Art** (MoMA) holds the most comprehensive collection of modern art in the world, and is so large as to require multiple visits to see all of the works on display, which include Van Gogh's Starry Night and Picasso's *Les Demoiselles d’Avignon*, as well as an extensive industrial design collection. Midtown is also home to the **Paley Center for Media**, a museum dedicated to television and radio, including a massive database of old shows. The **Whitney Museum of American Art**, with a collection of contemporary American art, can be found in the Meatpacking District.\n\nIn Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the **Brooklyn Museum of Art** is the city's second largest art museum with excellent collections of Egyptian art, Assyrian reliefs, 19th-century American art, and art from Africa and Oceania, among other things. Long Island City in Queens is home to a number of art museums, including the **PS1 Contemporary Art Center**, an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, and the **Museum of the Moving Image**, which showcases movies and the televisual arts.\n\n#### Science and technology", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk062", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|The night is illuminated by the Rose Center for Earth and Space, home of the astronomy wing at the American Museum of Natural History.\nIn New York City, no museum holds a sway over children like the **American Museum of Natural History** in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Containing the Hayden Planetarium, incredible astronomy exhibits, animal dioramas, many rare and beautiful gems and mineral specimens, anthropology halls, and one of the largest collections of dinosaur skeletons in the world, this place offers plenty of stunning sights.\n\nNear Times Square in the Theater District, the **Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum** takes up a pier on the Hudson River, with the aircraft carrier *Intrepid* docked here and holding some incredible air and space craft, including a former British Airways Concorde.\n\nOver in the Flushing district of Queens, on the grounds of the former World's Fair, is the **New York Hall of Science**, which incorporates the Great Hall of the fair and now full of hands-on exhibits for kids to enjoy.\n\nAnother standout museum is the **New York Transit Museum** in an abandoned subway station in Downtown Brooklyn. The old subway cars are a real treat and the museum is *a must* if you're in New York with kids (and well-worth it even if you're not).\n\nUntil the mid-20th century, New York was a predominantly industrial city. While most factories have been torn down, some neighborhoods, such as SoHo and the Meatpacking District, remain as a heritage of manufacturing. See the American Industry Tour.\n\n### Neighborhoods", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk063", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "See", "text": "Like all great cities, New York is made up of distinct neighborhoods, each of which has its own flavor. Many of the neighborhoods are popular with visitors, and all are best experienced on foot. See individual borough pages (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island) for a comprehensive listing of neighborhoods.\n\n### Parks\n\nThough the image many people have of New York is endless skyscrapers and packed sidewalks, the city also boasts numerous lovely parks, ranging from small squares to the 850-acre **Central Park**. There are worthwhile parks in every borough, more than enough to keep any visitor busy. These include **Fort Tryon Park** in Upper Manhattan, which boasts grand views of the New Jersey Palisades, the grand **Pelham Bay Park** in The Bronx, the popular **Prospect Park** in Brooklyn, the famous **Flushing Meadows Park** in Corona, Queens, site of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, and the wondrous **Greenbelt** in Staten Island, a collection of beautiful parks and protected forests unlike any other park in the city. New York City is also home to portions of the **Gateway National Recreation Area**. Almost any park is a great spot to rest, read, or just relax and watch the people streaming past. To find out more about New York City parks, go to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation website and the guide pages for each borough. Except for special events, all NYC parks are closed 1AM–6AM. The exception to this rule is parks affiliated with schools, which are closed for the entire time the sun is down.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk064", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "### Entertainment\n\n#### Theater and performing arts\n\nNew York boasts an enormous number and variety of theatrical performances. Most of these are concentrated in Manhattan, particularly the Theater District around Times Square, where you'll find the major musicals and big-name dramatic works of Broadway. These are the most popular with visitors, with tickets for some shows running to $130 a seat, though discounters make cheaper seats available. And if you're in town in early June (and willing to spend a lot of money), it's possible to purchase tickets to the Tony Awards, Broadway's biggest award ceremony and the culmination of the theatrical season in the city. However, you can also find \"Off-Broadway\" shows (and even the dirt cheap and very small \"Off-Off-Broadway\" shows) throughout Manhattan that play to smaller audiences and are far less expensive. Playbill.com is a good resource for current and upcoming Broadway and Off-Broadway info and listings. See the Manhattan page for more detailed info on theater offerings.\n\nSome of New York's (and the world's) most high profile music and dance halls include the **Brooklyn Academy of Music** in Downtown Brooklyn, **Carnegie Hall** — the premier venue for classical music in the United States — in Manhattan's Theater District, **Radio City Music Hall** — home of the Rockettes — in Midtown, and **Lincoln Center** in the Upper West Side, home to the prestigious Chamber Music Society, the Metropolitan Opera (\"the Met\"), the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic. There are also numerous small companies putting on more idiosyncratic shows every night of the week.\n\n#### Film and television", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk065", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "New York is one of the world's greatest film cities, home to a huge number of theaters playing independent and repertory programs. Many major US studio releases open earlier in New York than elsewhere (especially in the autumn) and can be found at the major cineplexes (AMC, United Artists, etc.) around the city. As with everything else in New York, movies are quite popular, and even relatively obscure films at unappealing times of the day can still be sold out. It's best to get tickets in advance whenever possible. As many films premiere in New York, you can often catch a moderated discussion with the director or cast after the show. Sometimes even repertory films will have post-screening discussions or parties. Check listings for details.\n\nIn addition to the many commercial multiplexes throughout the city, some of the more intriguing New York film options include the several theaters in Greenwich Village and the East Village which play independent and foreign releases, many of which are screened only in New York. The **Film Society at Lincoln Center** in the Upper West Side puts on a terrific repertory program and shows a wide variety of experimental and foreign films, and also hosts the prestigious New York Film Festival in October. Another major film festival is the **Tribeca Film Festival**, held each May and a prominent event in New York's film calendar. The **Museum of the Moving Image** in Long Island City in Queens puts on a terrific screening program, with films showing continuously throughout the day, while **MoMa** in Midtown Manhattan puts on a terrific repertory program (and compared to other New York movie theaters, tickets to films at MoMA are a steal).", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk066", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "Virtually every major national television network has studios in Manhattan, particularly the Midtown area, and many well-known programs are open to viewers. **Rockefeller Center** is home to NBC Studios and its flagship shows, including *Saturday Night Live* and *Today*, and is open for tours. **Lincoln Square** boasts programming produced for ABC, such as *The View* and *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*, at the network's West 66th Street facility. More examples of popular programs you can see in person can be found on the Manhattan page.\n\n#### Parades\n\nNew York City hosts many parades, street festivals and outdoor pageants. The following are the most famous:", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk067", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "**New York's Village Halloween Parade**. Each Halloween (October 31) at 7PM. This parade and street pageant attracts 2 million spectators and 50,000 costumed participants along Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and 21st Street. Anyone in a costume is welcome to march; those wishing to should show up between 6PM-9PM at Spring Street and 6th Avenue.\n**Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade**. The morning of each Thanksgiving on Central Park West, this parade attracts many spectators and is broadcast on nationwide television.\n**St. Patrick's Day Parade**. The largest St. Paddy's parade in the world! Route is up 5th Ave from 44th Street to 86th Street and lasts from 11AM to about 2:30. Celebrations in pubs citywide happen the rest of the day and night until the green beer runs out.\n** Labor Day (aka West Indian Day Parade or New York Caribbean Carnival)**.\nthumb|upright=1.3|West Indian Day Parade-goers in front of the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway\nThe Labor Day Carnival, or West Indian Carnival, is an annual celebration held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Its main event is the West Indian-American Day Parade, which attracts between one and three million spectators, who watch the parade on its route along Eastern Parkway.\n\n### Sports", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk068", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "A number of professional and collegiate teams play in the New York metropolitan area.\nthumb|Yankee Stadium, an architectural replica of the \"House that Ruth Built\"\nThe **New York Yankees** play Major League Baseball at **Yankee Stadium** in the Bronx (East 161st Street and River Avenue. Subway: 4, B, D to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium). One of the most storied and lucrative sports franchises in the world, the Yankees have won 27 World Series championships in all, and have had many of the greatest players in baseball history play for the team including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. The original Yankee Stadium (known as \"The House That Ruth Built\" in reference to baseball legend Babe Ruth), was replaced by the current, more modern incarnation of the ballpark in 2009. The former site of the stadium before its relocation across the road is now a park.\nthumb|Citi Field, known for its fan atmosphere and concessions\n**Citi Field** in Flushing Meadows (126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point) is home to the **New York Mets**, who play in the National League of Major League Baseball unlike the Yankees (who play in the American League). The history of the National League in New York dates back to the 1800s with two teams: the New York Giants (not to be confused with the NFL's New York Giants), and Brooklyn Dodgers. When both of these teams moved to California in 1958, New York was left without the National League until 1962, when the Mets were born. The Mets have won two World Series titles since their inception. Notably, Citi Field is known for the Home Run Apple that rises when the Mets score a home run. This feature dates back to 1980, when the apple was first installed at Citi Field's predecessor venue, Shea Stadium. Citi Field first opened in 2009, around the same time as the new Yankee Stadium's first game.\nIn addition to its many concerts and the annual Westminster Dog Show, **Madison Square Garden** hosts the **New York Knicks** of the NBA and **New York Rangers** of the NHL, plus annual postseason college basketball for the Big East Conference. It had been home to the New York Liberty of the WNBA through the 2017 season, but that team now shares Barclays Center with the Brooklyn Nets. (Pennsylvania Plaza. Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E to 34th Street-Penn Station). Madison Square Garden advertises itself as \"The World's Most Famous Arena\", and it's easy to see why.\nthumb|Madison Square Garden, the self-proclaimed \"World's Most Famous Arena\"Long based in New Jersey, the **Brooklyn Nets** basketball team moved to **Barclays Center** in Brooklyn (Vanderbilt Yards. Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R to Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center) when that arena opened in 2012. The aforementioned **New York Liberty**, now owned by the Nets' owner, moved to Barclays Center in 2021 (delayed from 2020 by COVID-19).\n Other NHL teams are the **New York Islanders** and **New Jersey Devils**. The Islanders now play at **UBS Arena** in Elmont, just outside Queens and a little less than 20 miles east of Midtown (LIRR: Elmont), which opened in November 2021. Notably, the arena is next to the Belmont Park horse racing track. The Devils skate at the **Prudential Center** in Newark, New Jersey, 12 miles west of midtown.\nTwo National Football League teams play at **MetLife Stadium** in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 10 miles northwest of midtown Manhattan. The **New York Giants** in the National Football Conference have won four Super Bowls, while the **New York Jets** of the American Football Conference have won one.\n - Brooklyn Cyclones", "word_count": 612}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk069", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Staten Island FerryHawks** of the MLB Partner Atlantic League took over for the former Staten Island Yankees in 2022, playing at SIUH Community Park, located a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry terminal.\n The Knicks and Nets both field teams in the NBA G League, the official minor league of the NBA, with both playing in the suburbs. The **Westchester Knicks** play at the **Westchester County Center** in White Plains, while the **Long Island Nets** play at the **Nassau Coliseum**, the former home of the Islanders in Uniondale (a bit more than 25 miles east of Midtown).\n There are four top-level soccer franchises, two men's and two women's, in the Tri-State area. The **New York Red Bulls** (Major League Soccer) play home matches at **Sports Illustrated Stadium** (recently renamed from Red Bull Arena) in Harrison, New Jersey, 11 miles from midtown Manhattan. **New York City FC** (partially owned by the Yankees) became the Tri-State's second MLS team in 2015; they are playing in Yankee Stadium until they can build a new stadium of their own. **Gotham FC**, a member of the National Women's Soccer League, has shared SI Stadium with the Red Bulls since 2020. The women's team of **Brooklyn FC** plays at Maimonides Park in the USL Super League, which began play in 2024 as the country's second top-level women's league.\n The **New York Sirens** play in the Professional Women's Hockey League, sharing Prudential Center with the New Jersey Devils.\n NCAA Division I athletic programs around New York City include the following:\n **St. John's Red Storm** (St. John's University) in Jamaica, Queens. Higher-profile men's basketball games are often played at the Garden, while other basketball games are played at **Carnesecca Arena** (named after long-time coach Lou Carnesecca) on campus.\n **Seton Hall Pirates** (Seton Hall University) in South Orange, New Jersey (20 miles west of midtown). Men's basketball games are played at the Prudential Center. \n **Rutgers Scarlet Knights** (the main campus of Rutgers University) in New Brunswick and Piscataway, New Jersey, with most of the athletic facilities in the latter (40 miles southwest of midtown). Basketball games are played at **Jersey Mike’s Arena** (commonly known as the RAC, for Rutgers Athletic Center), while football games are played at **SHI Stadium**.\n **Army Black Knights** (United States Military Academy) in West Point, New York (50 miles north of midtown). Basketball games are played at **Christl Arena**, while football games are played at **Michie Stadium**.\n **Columbia Lions** (Columbia University) in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. Basketball games are played at the **Levien Gymnasium**, while football games are played at **Lawrence A. Wien Stadium**.\n **Fordham Rams** (Fordham University) in Fordham, Bronx. Basketball games are played at the **Rose Hill Gymnasium**, while football games are played at **Jack Coffey Field**.\n **Manhattan Jaspers** (Manhattan College) in Riverdale, Bronx. Basketball games are played at the **Draddy Gymnasium**.\n **LIU Sharks** (Long Island University), with some sports (most notably basketball) in Downtown Brooklyn and others (most notably football) in the Nassau County community of Brookville (25 miles east of midtown). The Sharks started play in the 2019–20 school year following the university's decision to merge the sports teams of its two main campuses. Higher profile basketball games are played at Barclays Center, while other basketball games are played at the **Steinberg Wellness Center**. Football games are played at **Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium**.\n **Wagner Seahawks** (Wagner College) in Grymes Hill, Staten Island. Basketball games are played at the **Spiro Sports Center**, while football games are played at **Hameline Field**.\n **Iona Gaels** (Iona University) in New Rochelle, New York (20 miles northeast of midtown). Basketball games are played at the **Hynes Athletic Center**.\n **NJIT Highlanders** (New Jersey Institute of Technology) in Newark, New Jersey (9 miles west of midtown). A few men's basketball games are played at the Prudential Center, while the rest are played at the **Wellness and Events Center**.\n **Saint Peter's Peacocks** (Saint Peter's University) in Jersey City, New Jersey (9 miles southwest of midtown). Basketball games are played in **Run Baby Run Arena**, located within the **Yanitelli Center** (which includes facilities for several other indoor sports).\n **Stony Brook Seawolves** (Stony Brook University) in Stony Brook in Suffolk County (55 miles east of midtown). Basketball games are played at the **Island Federal Credit Union Arena**, while football games are played at **Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium**.\n The **USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center** in Flushing Meadows (Corona Park. Subway: 7 to Mets-Willets Point) is the site of the **US Open tennis tournament**, held yearly in late August and early September. This event is one of the most prestigious tournaments in tennis. The tennis center is located just south of Citi Field.\n Part of American horse racing's Triple Crown, the **Belmont Stakes** are run in June at **Belmont Park** (LIRR: Belmont Park when track is open, Elmont year-round) in nearby Elmont, 20 miles east of midtown Manhattan and also next to UBS Arena. (The exact timing is five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, a race that is always held on the first Saturday of May.) However, due to a complete reconstruction of the grandstands, the Belmont Stakes moved upstate to Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs for 2024 and 2025.", "word_count": 861}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk070", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|Columbia University\nNew York City has a number of learning opportunities. \n\n**Columbia University**, a member of the Ivy League, is, without a doubt, the most prestigious university in the city. It is adjacent to and affiliated with '''Barnard College''', a top women's school. **New York University** (**NYU**) is also highly selective. Another notable university is **Rockefeller University**, a graduate-only school at which several significant biomedical discoveries were made. And the city also has its very own system of public colleges, **City University of New York**, with every borough represented among its numerous branches.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk071", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "It is not a lie: New York City is one of the world's most expensive cities. One survey revealed that the city is the most expensive city in the world for expatriate workers. That being said, there are ways to limit the damage; food is available from many halal food trucks for $7-10, which will get you rice with meat, vegetables and a soft drink, and you can still find inexpensive pizza slices at many of the hole-in-the-wall pizzerias throughout the city. Supermarkets and convenience stores generally also sell basic items at reasonable prices (by Western standards). New York's public bathroom infrastructure is lacking, so buying an item at a facility with a bathroom is generally advisable if you are far from your accommodation.\n\nNew York is the fashion capital of the United States, and is a major shopping destination for people around the world. The city boasts an unmatched range of department stores, boutiques, and specialty shops. Some neighborhoods boast more shopping options than most other American cities and have become famous as consumer destinations. Anything you could possibly want to buy can be found in New York, including clothing, cameras, computers and accessories, music, musical instruments, electronic equipment, art supplies, sporting goods, and all kinds of foodstuffs and kitchen appliances. See the **borough pages** and **district sub-pages** for listings of some of the more important stores and major business districts, of which there are several. New York state has a sales tax exemption on all clothing items that cost less than $100.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk072", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "The popular place to begin is Manhattan, most notably Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, where the iconic flagship stores of many major department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman are located. Other notable department stores in Manhattan include the world-famous Macy's at Herald Square, Bloomingdale's on 59th Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues, and Nordstrom on Broadway at 57th Street. Of course, for dirt-cheap knockoffs, the various Chinatowns in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn respectively are the place to go.\n\nNew York City is not known for budget shopping, but during major sales, such as the Black Friday sale after Thanksgiving, prices of some out-of-season items have been known to be slashed by as much as 50%, meaning that it is possible to find good deals for genuine luxury brand-name items if you are there at the right time. Savvy New Yorkers shop after Christmas and especially after New Year's.\n\n### Airports\n\nMost shops in New York-area airports are chain outlets, the same as can be found in most large airports in the world, so it's pretty difficult to feel the spirit of the fashion capital if you only have 2 hours waiting for a connecting flight. At JFK, JetBlue Airways' new Terminal 5 is populated with modern, cutting-edge restaurants and shops, but terminals 4 and 8 are also relatively good places for retail and duty-free shopping.\n\n### Convenience stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk073", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "Basic food, drinks, snacks, medicine, and toiletries can be found at decent prices at the ubiquitous **Duane Reade** (owned by Walgreens), **CVS**, and **Rite Aid** stores. For a more authentically New York experience, stop by one of the thousands of bodegas/delis/groceries. Although some of these stores have a somewhat ramshackle appearance, they are reliable though often not the cheapest places to purchase groceries, water, flowers, coffee, and cooked food, typically 24/7.\n\nThere are several local and regional chains of supermarkets represented all over the city, including **Associated**, **C-Town**, **D'Agostino's**, **Foodtown**, **Gristedes** and **Key Food**, and **Fairway** and **West Side Market** have a few locations. There are also chains such as **Hong Kong Supermarket** and **H-Mart**, which cater primarily to Chinese and Korean customers, respectively. National chains selling food include **Trader Joe's**, **Whole Foods Market**, **Costco** (membership required; mostly in bulk) and **Target**.\n\n### Outlets\n\nNew York City has a number of retail outlet locations, offering substantial discounts and the opportunity to purchase ends-of-line and factory seconds.\n\n### Street vendors\n\nIn New York City it is common for street vendors to set up tables on the sidewalk, close to the curb, and sell items. They are required to obtain a permit to perform this activity, but it is legal. Purchasing from these vendors is generally legitimate, although buying brand name goods from them (particularly expensive clothing and movies) is generally ill-advised unless you want cheap imitation products. It is considered safe to buy less expensive goods from these vendors, but most will not accept payment by credit card, so you will have to bring cash. Be particularly wary of any street vendor that does not sell from a table (especially vendors who approach you with their merchandise in a briefcase), as these goods are almost certainly cheap imitation products.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk074", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "Anyone can freely create, display, and sell art, including paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, DVDs, and CDs, based on freedom of speech rights. Thousands of artists earn their livings on New York's streets and parks. Common places to find street artists selling their work are SoHo, the Financial District and near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk075", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "New York has, as you might expect of the Big Apple, all the eating options covered and you can find almost every type of food available and every cuisine of the world represented. There are literally tens of thousands of restaurants, ranging from dingy cheap pizza-by-the-slice joints to $500-a-plate *prix fixe* sushi. Thousands of delis, bodegas, and grocery stores dot every corner of the city and do it yourself meals are easy and cheap to find. Street food comes in various tastes, ranging from the ubiquitous New York hot dog vendors to the many Middle Eastern carts at street corners in Midtown. Fast food is as plentiful and as diverse as you can imagine. Fruit stalls appear at many intersections from spring to fall with ready-to-eat strawberries, bananas, apples, etc. available at very low cost. Vegetarian and vegan options abound throughout the city.\n\n### Don't leave without trying\n\n#### New York pizza", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk076", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|A slice of the real deal\nA peculiarly New York thing, a true New York pizza is a plain cheese pizza with a very thin crust (sometimes chewy, sometimes crisp), and an artery-hardening sheen of grease on top. From just about any pizzeria, you can get a whole pie with a variety of toppings available, or a \"dollar slice\" if you just want a piece of plain cheese pizza. The \"dollar slice\" cost $1 at the start of the 21st century, but prices have risen, and it may cost anywhere between $1.50 and $4 before sales tax, depending on the place and any toppings you want. Just fold in half lengthwise, grab a lot of napkins, and eat – the quintessential meal on the go in New York. Dollar-slice places can be found all over the city, and include the many different variations of \"Ray's Pizza\", all of which claim to be the original thing. However, perhaps the most respected of the corner joints is the wildly popular **Joe's** in Greenwich Village.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk077", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "But while pizza in New York is generally considered a fast food, the most respected pizzerias in the city are those that act like sit-down restaurants, and some of them serve whole pies only, no slices. Except for DiFara's, all the following pizzerias use a classic New York style of coal-fired, rather than gas-fired ovens, which allows them to bake their pizza for a very short time at very high temperatures, producing a unique style of crispy, slightly charred crust that makes their output quite different from the average corner slice shop. Every New Yorker has their own personal favorite, but several routinely make it to the top of the list. **Lombardi's** in Little Italy is regarded as the oldest pizzeria in town and continues to draw in big crowds of tourists, but **Patsy's** in East Harlem has long been regarded by connoisseurs as serving perhaps the purest example of plain New York-style coal-oven pizza (don't order any toppings, though). Greenwich Village is the center of pizza on Manhattan, home to not only Joe's but also the classic **John's** and the popular **Arturo's**. In Brooklyn, **Grimaldi's** in DUMBO is hugely popular with lines that go down the street, while **Totonno's** on Coney Island and **Di Fara's** in Midwood remain mainstays with the locals. There are also excellent brick-oven establishments serving Neapolitan or other styles of pizza that are not classic New York but well worth having.\n\n#### New York hot dog", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk078", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Nothing represents New York street food like the almighty hot dog. Affectionately called \"dirty water dogs\" by the locals, a New York hot dog is typically all-beef, served in a plain bun, and topped with mustard, ketchup, relish, or any combination of the three. You can get one from pushcarts on seemingly every street corner and park in the city. Just wrap the dog in a paper napkin and walk along the sidewalk trying not to let the toppings slip and slide all over your hands. And of course, both ballparks make sure to keep their fans' hot dog needs satisfied.\n\nHowever, there are a few places that go a step beyond the typical dirty water dog, with better cooked dogs and a much greater variety of toppings available. Many hot dog enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to the original hot dog stand, **Nathan's** on Coney Island, although locals generally view it as a tourist trap. In Manhattan, **Papaya King** (on the Upper East Side) and **Gray's Papaya** (on the Upper West Side) are favorites, so-named because they also serve tropical drinks with their frankfurters. In addition to their sandwiches, **Katz's** on the Lower East Side is also reputed for an excellent deli dog. In the East Village, **Crif Dogs** draws people in for their deep-fried, beef-and-pork (and often bacon-wrapped!) dogs. **Dominick's** food truck commands a fiercely loyal crowd, who flock to a quiet side of Queens to get a taste. People looking for a good bratwurst should try the **Hallo Berlin** cart on 54th and Fifth in Midtown, while Chicago purists should head to the **Shake Shack** in Madison Square Park.\n\n#### New York bagel", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk079", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "There is no bagel like the New York bagel anywhere else in the world. Bagels are a doughnut-shaped round of boiled dough that is then baked until it has a distinctive, chewy, sweet interior and a leathery outer crust. They arrived from the Old World with Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and have become utterly New York in character. You can get bagels anywhere in the city, but for the best bagels you may have to trek away from the main tourist sites. The key point, though, is get them when they are hot (and that does not mean reheated in the microwave). Some places actively discourage toasting; try them fresh out of the oven. Good bagel shops will offer a variety of cream cheese spreads and sandwich stuffings, like lox, salmon, tofu spreads, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Many bagel shops are extremely generous with their cream cheese; locals will order \"just a schmear\" to get a more reasonable amount.\n\nOn Manhattan, many people swear by **Ess'a Bagel** in Midtown, with their giant bagels and huge variety of toppings, although bagel purists respect **Murray's** in Greenwich Village and Chelsea for their refusal to allow toasting. Other places in Manhattan which command fiercely loyal followings are **Brooklyn Bagel**, also in Chelsea, and **Absolute Bagels** on the Upper West Side. In Brooklyn, **Bagel Hole** in Park Slope is a no-frills place with smaller bagels, and is often ranked as one of the top bagels in the city, while over in a quiet section of Queens, **Bagel Oasis** is regularly considered among the very best.\n\n#### New York pastrami sandwich", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk080", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|Corned beef piled high on rye: a Reuben at Katz's\nAnother delicacy brought over by Jewish immigrants, pastrami sandwiches are another specialty of New York City. A \"Reuben\", a grilled sandwich piled high with corned beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and sauerkraut between two slices of rye bread, is always a good choice, though it is not kosher as it violates the Jewish prohibition on mixing meat and dairy. A good deli sandwich doesn't come cheap: be prepared to spend upwards of $20 for a good sandwich, due to the fact that these meats are prepared using natural methods now outmoded by artificial flavorings and mass production. Many delis also serve other Jewish specialties, such as matzo ball soup.\n\nIf you want pastrami, your best bet is **Katz's Delicatessen**, an institution on the Lower East Side that's been serving up excellent sandwiches for over a century. **2nd Ave Deli** in Murray Hill is a famous kosher deli that's a real throwback to the Jewish delis of old. And if you find yourself over in East Brooklyn, **Mill Basin Deli** is known for some of the best pastrami in Brooklyn. In the Bronx, **Liebman's Deli** continues to hold the fort.\n\n#### New York desserts\n\nAnother New York claim to fame is the **New York cheesecake**, which relies upon heavy cream, cream cheese, eggs and egg yolks to add a richness and a smooth consistency. It was made famous by **Junior's**, which still commands a loyal crowd with two locations in Midtown, although the original is in Downtown Brooklyn. Other favorites are **Eileen's** in NoLiTa, **Lady M** and **Two Little Red Hens** in the Upper East Side and **S&S** in the Bronx (whose cheesecake is also sold at Zabar's on the Upper West Side).", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk081", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Another dessert of New York origin is the **egg cream**, also often referred to as a \"chocolate egg cream\", a blend of chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer water (note the curious absence of either egg or cream). Though not often on the menu at many diners, many will still prepare one for you if you ask for one. You can also find them in surprising places, like the tiny Ray's Candy Store in the East Village.\n\n### Restaurants\n\nMaybe it's the size of New Yorkers' tiny kitchens, or perhaps it's the enormous melting-pot immigrant populations, but either way, this city excels at every kind of restaurant. There are fancy famous-chef restaurants, all ethnic cuisines and fusion/updates of ethnic cuisines (second-generation immigrants tweaking their family tradition), plus all the fashionable spots, casual bistros, lounges for drinking and noshing and more.", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk082", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "It's only a slight exaggeration to say that virtually every type of cuisine is available in New York. And in some neighborhoods you'll find many national and regional styles represented. However, certain neighborhoods, particularly those in Queens, really shine in terms of the sheer variety available to visitors. While Manhattan's high rents often result in expensive restaurants and sometimes watered-down, unnaturally sweetened food, Queens' vast array of cuisines are often served primarily to patrons from the countries where they originated. Not that Manhattan is completely bereft by any stretch, however: a wide variety of Chinese options can be found in Chinatown and the East Village, there's the small Koreatown with some very good (but not necessarily cheap) restaurants, Washington Heights is the center for Dominican food, the East Village is full of Japanese eateries of various types, and part of Murray Hill is known as \"Curry Hill\" for its proliferation of Indian restaurants. But in Queens, Flushing offers a vast and diverse array of Chinese (including Northeastern, Sichuan, Hunanese, Shanghainese, etc.), Korean, and Indian eateries; Jackson Heights includes a prominent Indian section among a vast Latin American neighborhood whose eateries span the American continents from Chilean to Mexican and almost everything in between; nearby Elmhurst features various Southeast Asian (for example Vietnamese and Thai, with a couple of Indonesian and Malaysian restaurants thrown in) and Chinese cuisines; Long Island City has locally well-known halal restaurants among a very diverse set of good establishments; nearby Astoria is best known for its Mediterranean food; and Rego Park has Uzbek dining halls. In Brooklyn, Brighton Beach is noted for its Russian eateries, while Sunset Park is home to a third Chinatown as well as plenty of Malaysian and Vietnamese options. Italian options can be found in virtually every neighborhood, although a higher number appear in Staten Island, the East Village, Greenwich Village, heavily Italian parts of Brooklyn like Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, and the area around Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. (Italian restaurants in Manhattan's \"Little Italy\" are mostly for tourists only, and New Yorkers generally avoid Mulberry St. between Canal and Broome. Likewise, you would be hard pressed to find locals eating in the chain restaurants [including chain pizzerias] around Times Square.)", "word_count": 370}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk083", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Due to the higher cost of living, you are in general expected to tip more in New York City than in other parts of the U.S. As a general rule, tips should start at 18% of the cost of the meal for adequate service, and may go up to 25% for service that goes above and beyond what is expected.\n\n#### Dress codes\n\nRestaurants with entrees under $35 are unlikely to have any preference about what their customers wear. Of course, like most major cities, New York has some expensive, extremely fashionable restaurants that care about, and enforce, a certain level of dress among their customers - but \"jackets only\" restaurants are very uncommon nowadays to the point at which the restaurant's reputation would make the fact known.\n\nIf you're from elsewhere in the US and wish to \"pass\" as a local within Manhattan, pay attention to your shoes and coat. Most local exclusiveness is pretty understated, but where it exists it's generally to distinguish locals from nightlife commuters from New Jersey and Long Island that supposedly threaten to rob bar-filled neighborhoods of their local color. Therefore, if your style doesn't fit in but is obviously from outside the US, you may find yourself welcomed as graciously as any local, if not more so.\n\n### Vegetarians", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk084", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vegetarians and vegans will find New York to be a paradise with hundreds of vegetarian-only restaurants and good veggie options in even the most expensive places. There are many vegetarian-only restaurants with offerings varying from macrobiotic food to Ayurvedic thalis or Asian Buddhist food. But, more importantly, almost every restaurant at every point on the price scale has vegetarian dishes that are more than an afterthought. Even **Per Se**, one of the most expensive and sought after restaurants in the city, has a seven course vegetarian tasting menu well worth the expense. DIY vegetarians will have no problem finding fresh vegetables, a wide variety of cheese, bread, and prepared vegetarian foods in New York supermarkets.\n\n### Street food", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk085", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|upright=1.3|One of the many, many food carts in the city\nNothing differentiates New York more from other American (and European) cities than the astonishing amount of food cooked and served on the streets. Starting with the thousands of hot dog stands on almost every street corner, the possibilities are endless. People trek to Jackson Heights in Queens for a nibble of the famous arepas of the **Arepa Lady**. Freshly cooked Indian dosas are served up for a pittance at the **NY Dosas** stand in Washington Square Park. The **Trinipak** cart on 43rd and Sixth in Midtown serves delicious Trinidadian/Pakistani food. Danny Meyer, the famous restaurateur, runs the burger stand **Shake Shack** in Madison Square Park as well as several other locations throughout the city. The halal offerings in Midtown are legendary (**Kwik-Meal** on 45th and Sixth; **Halal Guys** on 53rd and Sixth and many others). Most carts serve lunch from about 11AM to 5 or 6PM in the evening and disappear after dark, so look for a cart near you, smell what's cooking, and enjoy a hot and often tasty lunch for a few dollars (a meal costs anywhere from about $2 to $8). Mornings, from about 6AM to 10AM, the streets are dotted with coffee carts that sell coffee, croissants, bagels, and Danish pastries and are good for a cheap breakfast: small coffee and bagel for a dollar or so. From 10AM to 7PM, many vendors sell lunch and dinner choices, including hot dogs, hamburgers, gyros, and halal. Other street vendors sell Italian ices, pretzels, ice cream, and roasted peanuts. Also, look around for the coffee truck (often found in Union Square), dessert truck, and the Belgian waffle truck that roam around the city.\n\n### Do it yourself", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk086", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "New York's many markets and grocery stores make preparing your own food interesting and easy. Almost every grocery store, deli, or bodega has a prepared foods section where you can make your own salad (beware, you are charged by the pound!) or buy ready-to-eat foods such as burritos, tacos, curries and rice, lasagna, pastas, pre-made or freshly-made sandwiches, and many other types of foods. Any supermarket will have enough to take away to the park or your hotel room for a low-cost meal. **Whole Foods** has five New York City locations, all with a variety of foods and a clean place to sit and eat. **Zabar's** on the Upper West Side is very famous, with a huge selection of foodstuffs and expensive foods as well as cooking supplies. There is also a **Trader Joe's** at Union Square and in 6 other locations in every borough but the Bronx for cheap but delicious supermarket buys, and **Western Beef** supermarkets offer more foods from different ethnicities than average supermarkets.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk087", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you have a place to cook, you'll find almost any kind of food in New York, though you may have to travel to the outer boroughs for ethnic ingredients. Most supermarkets have Thai, Chinese, and Indian sauces to add flavor to your pot; many, especially in Upper Manhattan, have the ingredients necessary for a Mexican or Central American meal; and there are several H-Mart supermarkets around town for Korean ingredients and prepared foods; but go to Chinatown for the best Chinese ingredients, Little India in Murray Hill for Indian ingredients, Flushing for all things Chinese or Korean, Jackson Heights for Peruvian, Ecuadorian, and South Asian, Flatbush and Crown Heights for Jamaican, Williamsburg for Kosher, and Greenpoint for Polish. Ask around for where you can get your favorite ethnic ingredients and you'll find traveling around in local neighborhoods a rewarding experience.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk088", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Last call** can be as late as 4AM, although many establishments will let you stay beyond that, especially in the outer boroughs. It is not uncommon to be locked in a bar after 4AM so people can keep drinking. Wine and liquor are sold at **liquor stores**, and are not sold at delis or supermarkets. Beer cannot be bought between 4AM and 8AM on Sunday morning (although if you look hard, you can get around this).\n\nAs in most American cities, drinking alcoholic beverages on the street is illegal. The law is flouted openly in many areas, but bars will not generally let you take your drink outside.\n\n### Popular nightlife neighborhoods\n\nThe only thing about New York City that changes faster than the subway map or the restaurants is the bar scene. While some established watering holes have been around for decades or centuries, the hot spot of the moment may well have opened last week and could likely close just as quickly.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk089", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "On Manhattan, **Greenwich Village** is probably the best neighborhood to go if you are in town for just a brief period, full of locals of all ages, especially students attending NYU. **Chelsea** has lots of clubs and a thriving gay scene, and if you are European and looking for a discothèque, this is where you want to be. The **Meatpacking District** holds trendier bars and clubs and some expensive restaurants. The **Lower East Side**, formerly the dingy alternative to the West Village, has become trendier today, with an influx of hipsters. The **East Village** also has lots of bars, as well as a sizeable cluster of Japanese bars. Nearby, **Alphabet City**, once a dangerous drug-addled hell hole, has since cleaned up and is loaded with bars. **Murray Hill** is more hip with the 30-year-old crowd, with many Indian restaurants and plenty of watering holes, including a couple of fireman bars and an all Irish whiskey pub. **Times Square** is a very touristy area with a few classy hotel rooftop bars, although very few New Yorkers would be caught dead at these places.\n\nIn Brooklyn, **Williamsburg** is the capital of NYC's hipster scene, and many of New York's small music venues are here. **Bay Ridge** has one of the highest concentrations of bars in the city in a neighborhood that has been generally Irish/Italian and does not have the hipster/yuppie scene common in New York. **Park Slope**, however, is the yuppie capital of New York and you are more likely to find a tea house serving soy milk than a bar here. There is some low-key nightlife, although this has been on the decline. A number of lesbian bars are in this area.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk090", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "Queens is home to **Woodside**, an Irish neighborhood great for happy hour and drinking festivities before a Mets baseball game. **Astoria** is home to Queens' Bohemian Hall Beer Garden, which covers an entire city block, is walled and filled with trees, indoor and outdoor tables and a cool crowd, and serves great Czech and German beer. And on Staten Island, **St. George** has a few bars located south of the ferry terminal, with good live music.\n\n### Jazz\n\nNYC has a pretty confident claim to be the world capital of jazz. It exerts a brain drain influence on the rest of the country's most talented jazz musicians, and the live music scene is simply thriving. This goes for all styles of jazz, (except pre-swing trad jazz, which safely belongs to New Orleans): Latin, modern, fusion, experimental, bebop, hard bop, you name it. **The Blue Note** in Greenwich Village is probably the most famous extant jazz club in the world, with nightly headliners and cover charges to match. The **Village Vanguard** is a legendary hole-in-the-wall (also in Greenwich Village), having played host to most of the greats going back to 1935. Other top (i.e., famous—there are fabulous lesser-known places to hear jazz throughout the city) clubs include **Birdland** in the Theater District and the **Cotton Club** in Harlem. If the high cover charges in this expensive city are giving you the blues, look at **Smalls** and **Cellar Dog**, which are within a block of each other in Greenwich Village and keep the covers as low as possible, so that musicians can actually afford to come!\n\n### Salsa", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk091", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "Would it be too provocative to declare New York the home of salsa? Possibly, but there's a reason to consider it. Salsa originated in Cuba, but its second home was New York (especially the Bronx), where it truly exploded and developed into a global phenomenon, driven by innovations from Cuban and later Puerto Rican immigrants. Latin dance, particularly salsa (danced on the two) and other Afro-Caribbean varieties, remains enormously popular, although it's now centered more on a semi-professional ballroom-dancing crowd rather than Latino communities. The **Copacabana** near Times Square dates back to 1940, and is probably the city's best known Latin dance club. Other well known options include **Club Cache** also near Times Square, the very Dominican **El Morocco** in Spanish Harlem, and **Iguana** in west Midtown. Many venues in the city hold a salsa night once a week, so poke around the city papers for event listings.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk092", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Hotels\n\nNew York has some of the most expensive accommodations in the world. Expect to pay $100–$200 for a budget room with shared bath, $250–$350 for a mid-range hotel with a decent room and a restaurant and/or room service; and much higher in a high end hotel. Most accommodations below $200 in Manhattan are a small room with space only for a bed, a TV, perhaps a sink, and little else. Cheaper accommodations may have communal bathrooms (although many will have a sink in the room). Be warned that the quality of hotels varies significantly and, in many cheap hotels away from the center such as along the West Side Highway or in the outer reaches of Queens, you may share the premises with hourly customers! As New York is a popular destination throughout the year, it is necessary to make reservations well in advance. If you plan to be in the city during the height of the tourist season, booking months in advance would be wise. The two largest hotels in New York City are the Marriott Marquis (on Times Square) and the Hilton Midtown (on 6th Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets); however, there are many other big-name hotels in the city, so the options are expansive.\n\n### Hostels\n\nExpect to pay up to $50 for a hostel. There are several hostels in Manhattan including an official Hostelling International hostel (located at 891 Amsterdam Avenue—between 102nd and 103rd Streets—in Manhattan), but there are many places that call themselves \"hostel\" and offer accommodations below $100 a night. Some cater exclusively to students. You are strongly advised to make reservations months in advance.\n\n### Taxes\n\nRoom rates are typically quoted excluding taxes, so expect your actual bill to be materially higher than the quoted rate. Taxes include New York State and New York City sales tax (8.875%), a New York City Hotel Occupancy Tax (varies but, for rooms above $40, $2 + 5.875%), and a surcharge of $1.50. For a $100 per night room, expect to pay $117.75, after taxes are taken into account.\n\n### Alternatives to Manhattan accommodations\n\nYou don't have to stay in Manhattan. There are many hotels just outside Manhattan in Long Island City, Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey that are cheaper than hotels in Manhattan. Also, due to the high accommodation prices and insider knowledge of the locals, you may want to consider a hospitality exchange.\n\n### Off-season\n\nLower accommodation prices are also generally available in January and February, the end of August, and on Sunday nights.", "word_count": 422}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk093", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Connect", "text": "Free WiFi is available in city parks and quite a few public libraries. The Apple Store has dozens of computers set up and doesn't seem to mind that many people use them for free internet access, but they can be pretty busy at times. Easy Internet Cafe and FedEx Office are just some of the internet cafes which offer broadband internet at reasonable prices. Finding a store with an open power outlet may be difficult so be sure your device is fully charged and its battery is working properly. There are now some free phone charging stations on the street if you are running out of power. Remember to include the 1 and area code when dialing from any phone in New York City - including private \"land line\" phones in buildings - as 11-digit dialing is always in effect, even when dialing locally. However, you don't need to dial 1 from a cell phone.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk094", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "New York is the safest large city in the United States, and its crime rate per person is lower than the national average and the crime rate of many small towns. You can be assured of a high police presence in Times Square, public transportation hubs and other major crowded places.\n\nThe most common crime against tourists (not including being overcharged, or scammed in the Times Square area) is bag snatching. Never let go of your handbag (putting other bags down is OK, as long as you guard them carefully), especially in the subway but also when eating at a restaurant. Take special care if you are sitting outdoors or in a crowded self-service restaurant. Leave your passport and other valuables that you don't need to carry in a hotel safe or hidden in your suitcase. Don't flaunt a wad of money if you can help it; if you want to be safer, count your money in your room before you go out and take only what you think you may need. Unless you have protective outer wear, consider not wearing expensive jewelry, and hide valuables like cameras when you're not using them.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk095", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "While muggings are rare, they do happen. Take a tip from seasoned New Yorkers and always try to be aware of who's walking near you in all directions (especially behind you), at all times. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you find yourself on a lightly traveled or poorly lit street. Certain neighborhoods that are off the tourist path can be avoided in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Riverside Park and Central Park are less safe at night, so stick to well-lit paths if you walk there after dark. If you go to an evening outdoor concert at one of the parks, follow the crowd out of the park before heading toward your destination.\n\nIf you think you've inadvertently wandered into a dangerous area, hop into a cab, if available, or into the nearest subway station and go elsewhere, and if none of those is an option, don't hesitate to cross the street or duck into an open shop. If a subway platform is deserted, stay within sight of the station agent if possible. Trust your instincts; if a station or street feels unsafe, it's best to leave. In some areas (like the East New York LIRR station) helpful locals may even assist you in finding a safer place to go, or will wait/walk with you!\n\nAirport-style security is common at buildings, museums and tourist attractions, even the Main Branch of the New York Public Library. Generally you can expect to have your bags checked (either manually by a security guard or through an x-ray machine) and walk through a metal detector. Unlike their counterparts at JFK and LaGuardia, security screenings at building entrances are surprisingly quick and efficient - and you can even leave your shoes on!", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk096", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "New York has its share of odd people: talkative pan-handlers, lonely people just wanting a chat, religious preachers, people with psychological disorders, etc. If you prefer not to speak with someone who approaches you for a chat, do what most New Yorkers do: completely ignore them or say \"Sorry, gotta go\" while continuing to walk at a brisk pace.\n\nWatch out for cyclists and even motorcyclists riding, sometimes at high speeds, on the sidewalk or the wrong way on one-way streets. This has become a constant in some neighborhoods. Also, you will notice that New Yorkers routinely jaywalk (fun fact: jaywalking was legalized in New York City in 2025), but don't do it yourself unless you have good sight lines and can do so safely.\n\nDespite the stereotypes, many New Yorkers are nice people and don't mind giving out directions (time allowing), so don't be afraid to ask! If you ever get into trouble, approach the nearest police officer. You'll find them to be friendly, polite, and very helpful.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk097", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Water\n\nThe quality of tap water in New York City is considered to be among the best in the world (unless you are in an old building with outdated plumbing). There is generally no good reason to drink bottled water in preference to New York City tap water. Lower-end restaurants will simply place glasses of ice water on your table (and refill them constantly, for free). At nicer restaurants you will be asked “what kind of water” you want. Asking for tap water is completely acceptable in any restaurant; your other choices are “bottled” (non-carbonated water, such as Fiji or Evian) or “sparkling” (which almost always means Pellegrino).\n\n### Noise\n\nBeing the largest city in the country, New York City is true to its reputation as the \"city that never sleeps\". Traffic, honking horns, the loud chatter on the streets, musicians busking, and sirens are all undeniable parts of the city's soundscape.\n\nConsider buying a pair of earplugs or noise cancelling headphones to deal with the excessive noise.\n\n### Toilets\n\nPublic restrooms are few and far between in New York City. The parks department maintains a list of \"comfort stations\" in their parks, and the one at Bryant Park in Manhattan is even something of a tourist attraction. Public libraries also have free restrooms, and some subway stations have restrooms open during the day. There are a small number of self-cleaning, coin-operated toilets in the city, which require quarters (25¢) and are always wheelchair-accessible. Large stores and sit-down restaurants usually have restrooms for paying customers. Otherwise, look for a church or police station that's open and ask if you can use the restroom.\n\n### Information\n\n- Citizen Service Center\n\n### Babysitting\n\n- Baby Sitters' Guild\n\n### Smoking", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk098", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Cope", "text": "Smoking in public places is highly restricted. It is prohibited in indoor sections of bars, restaurants, subway stations and trains (all transit system property), public parks, public beaches, pedestrian malls, both indoor and outdoor stadiums and sports arenas, and many other public places. If you light up in any of these places, you are subject to a summons and fine, ejection, and/or indignant reactions from residents. There do remain a small number of legal cigar bars that are exempt, as are the outside areas of sidewalk cafes and the like, but these are very much the exception. If you need to smoke while eating or drinking, be prepared to take a break and join the rest of the smokers outside, whatever the weather; many establishments have large space heaters.\n\nThere is also some vaping on the streets of New York.\n\n#### Cannabis/marijuana and other drugs\n\n**Cannabis is legal in New York** for those 21 or older. Adults may possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana or up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate and consume it anywhere tobacco smoking is permitted —— it is the only jurisdiction in the USA where public marijuana smoking is legal. You will smell it walking down the street with some frequency.\n\nNew Yorkers are embracing legal weed with typical impatience and irreverence, and cannabis sales occur openly in every tourist-dominated area of the city, including Times Square and most Manhattan & Brooklyn parks.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk099", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Cope", "text": "Because NYC law only prohibits driving under the influence of cannabis and possession thereof by minors/children, you'll be hard-pressed to find a cop who'll lift a finger to stop open cannabis sales (they have bigger fish to fry), though unfortunately the way a dealer is treated by police often depends on skin color. Purchase cannabis at your own risk, but only the dealer commits a crime.\n\n**Purchasing hard drugs in New York City is dangerous.** Penalties for possession are draconian, including long prison sentences, and legal representation is expensive. Fake hard drugs and hard drugs laced with poisonous fentanyl are common.\n\n### Consulates\n\nNew York City is home to diplomatic missions from virtually every country on Earth due to the presence of the United Nations. Most countries have consulates here that double as the permanent mission to the United Nations, even if a country may otherwise not have diplomatic relations with the United States.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk100", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "Locals would ask why you ever want to leave, but New York is a great jumping-off point to other locations in the metro area (including New Jersey and Connecticut) or anywhere in the Boston-Washington Megalopolis corridor.\n\n### New Jersey\n\nDespite being a constant target of mockery and jokes from New York, the densely-populated Garden State has plenty of great attractions to offer nearby:", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk101", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Hudson Waterfront** — The portion of New Jersey that directly faces Manhattan along the Hudson River. The region is traversed by the **Hudson River Waterfront Walkway** that runs, albeit discontinuously, from the George Washington Bridge down to the city of Bayonne and offers clear views of the Manhattan skyline.\n **Jersey City** — Directly across the Hudson River from the Financial District is New Jersey's second largest city. Jersey City is a diverse city with lots of multicultural shops and restaurants, and it is often referred to as New York’s \"sixth borough\". It can be reached from Manhattan via the Holland Tunnel, the PATH trains (the bi-state subway), buses from Port Authority or the many ferries that zip passengers across the Hudson River.\n **Hoboken** — Directly across the Hudson River from the West Village and Chelsea is the alleged birthplace of baseball (most erroneously believe that the birthplace is Cooperstown, NY) and actual birthplace of Frank Sinatra. Hoboken is a small city in area with a great assortment of prewar buildings and conspicuous lack of many corporate establishments. The piers have great views of Manhattan, a large selection of bars, restaurants, and clubs, and are a good place to walk around. Hoboken can be reached from Manhattan by the PATH train or by bus from Port Authority as well as by NY Waterway ferries.\n **Fort Lee** — Occupying the western end of the George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee is home to the site of the eponymous Revolutionary War fort, as well as a high concentration of Korean and Japanese restaurants that spill deep into the neighboring towns. Fort Lee is easily reached by walking, biking, or taking a bus/jitney across the George Washington Bridge from the adjacent bus terminal on the Manhattan side of the bridge.\n **Jersey Shore** — The Jersey Shore starts just a few miles south of New York City. It stretches for almost , and along it are private and public beaches. There are numerous activities along the Jersey Shore. Sandy Hook, part of the National Gateway Area and home to one of the few nude beaches around New York, Gunnison Beach, can be easily accessed using the SeaStreak ferry from Manhattan. The service operates during the beach season and goes directly to the Hook. A convenient train ride on the NJ Transit trains from Penn Station will get you to several more of the towns on the Jersey Shore, including Asbury Park, Manasquan and Point Pleasant Beach. Buses from Port Authority also take passengers to other spots along the Jersey Shore not served by train from New York, such as Seaside Heights.\n **Atlantic City**, **Wildwood**, and **Cape May** at the southern edge of New Jersey are home to beaches, casinos in Atlantic City, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. Just a 2-hour drive from New York, and plenty of buses also operate to Atlantic City from Port Authority.\n **Six Flags Great Adventure** in Jackson — An 80-minute drive from Manhattan sits the largest regional theme park in the world. Six Flags Great Adventure features plenty of monster roller coasters and is next to the Wild Safari (one of the largest drive-through safaris in the world). There is also Six Flags Hurricane Harbor right next door (the largest water park in the Northeast). New Jersey Transit provides bus service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan when the park is open (May–October).\n **Princeton** — Also an easy train ride on New Jersey Transit, Princeton offers a quiet, tree-lined town, good for strolling or for visiting the Princeton University campus. Take the Northeast Corridor line to Princeton Junction, then transfer to the shuttle train (known locally as the \"Dinky\") to ride directly into campus.\n **Newark** — Although most tourists only come here to arrive or depart in the city’s international airport, Newark is also home to Branch Brook Park, which contains one of the largest collections of cherry trees in the nation and makes for a great day trip during cherry blossom season in the spring, and the Ironbound, a district full of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Spanish restaurants and cuisine. Newark is a major transport hub in the New York area, with NJ Transit and PATH trains frequently operating to/from Midtown and Lower Manhattan.\n **Paterson** is a sizable, diverse city whose main attraction, the very extensive Great Falls of the Passaic River, is worth a trip if you have extra time during your visit to New York.", "word_count": 737}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk102", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "### New York (state)", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk103", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Long Island** — Many New Yorkers visit Long Island's beautiful long white sand beaches during the summer. You can take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station to Long Beach ($9.00 off-peak or $12.50 peak), and go to the beach there, or another option is to take a long day trip on the Hampton Jitney from various stops in NYC to the East End, where Long Island wine country is on the North Fork and The Hamptons are on the South Fork.\n **Fire Island** — an all-pedestrian summer-resort island off the coast of Long Island. Fire Island is home to many vacation communities on the western part of the island (Ocean Beach being the most populous, with the most restaurants and bars that make an excellent day trip). The eastern part of the island is home to the largely gay communities of Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines. Western Fire Island is reachable by ferry from Bay Shore on Long Island. Bay Shore is about an hour's train ride on the Long Island Rail Road from Manhattan, and the ferry ride from Bay Shore is another 30 minutes. Ferries to Ocean Beach from Bay Shore run about once every hour during the summer. Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines are reachable by ferry from Sayville. The easternmost community, Davis Park, is reachable by ferry from Patchogue.\n **The Palisades** — On the western bank of the Hudson River, there are cliffs that rise sharply. These cliffs are known as the Palisades. They range from 300 to 500 feet. They start in the northern portion of Jersey City and stretch all the way to Nyack, New York. There are numerous viewpoints, trails and campsites along the Palisades. The Palisades can be easily reached from Manhattan via the George Washington Bridge. Palisade Interstate Park and Parkway start north of the bridge.\n **Westchester County** and the **Hudson Valley** — Home to the country's only government-operated theme park - Rye Playland - as well as beautiful neighborhoods. There are pretty communities along the Long Island Sound and inland, and the Hudson Valley (which extends north of Westchester) is truly beautiful; the train route (Metro North Hudson Line to Poughkeepsie or Amtrak to Albany) along the Hudson River is one of the loveliest in the country. Westchester County starts just north of the NYC borough of the Bronx.\n **The Adirondacks** are the largest state park in the United States, and are only a 3- to 4-hour drive away on I-87. The area is home to mountains, small villages, and winter sports.\n Western New York is the land of the **Finger Lakes**, **Niagara Falls**, **Thousand Islands**, and nice towns. Up to an 8-hour drive on the Thruway.\n The **Woodbury Commons** in Orange County is one of the largest outlet shopping centers in the Northeast, with over 200 stores. Take exit 16 (Harriman) on I-87. If you don't have a car, there are several bus alternatives from Manhattan like Gray Line New York, Hampton Luxury Liner and Manhattan Transfer tours.", "word_count": 505}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk104", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "### New England\n\n**New Haven, Connecticut** — away, New Haven is a 1-hour-45-minute ride from Grand Central Terminal via Metro North Railroad, and home to Yale University. Megabus and Greyhound also provide transportation.\n **Cape Cod**, a 5-hour drive from New York north on I-95, is home to nice towns, restaurants, beaches, shopping, and entertainment. Also accessible by Peter Pan Bus Lines.\n **Boston, Massachusetts** — Beantown, home to the Freedom Trail, incredible seafood, Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, and the Boston Red Sox (who are the most hated sports team of most New Yorkers), is 4 hours north on I-95 ($32-38 one way by bus on Greyhound and Peter Pan; Megabus sometimes charges more), with a bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal every hour around the clock or $20-102 one way on Amtrak's Northeast Regional from Penn Station as of April 2024 if bought far enough in advance.\n The rest of **New England** has a lot to offer, including national parks, beaches, mountains and skiing.\n\n### Elsewhere", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "new-york-city::chunk105", "doc_id": "new-york-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Philadelphia** — The birthplace of American independence and the nation's first capital is 1 hour 20 minutes away by Amtrak, very feasible for a day trip or side trip from New York City. A cheaper but somewhat slower method of getting there is to either take the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line to Trenton and change for SEPTA or take a bus from Midtown or Chinatown.\n **Washington, D.C.** is the capital of the United States and a three-hour train ride on the Acela. The National Mall, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial are just a few of the numerous attractions that D.C. has to offer.\n There are more beaches to check out in **Delaware** and **Maryland**, such as **Ocean City** and **Rehoboth Beach**\n **Montreal** is a 7-hour drive away, plus time to go through the checkpoint at the border. Also accessible by plane, Greyhound and Trailways and by a slow Amtrak trip.\n\n*For routeboxes with commuter rail trains, see Manhattan or other borough articles.*", "word_count": 165}
diff --git a/corpus/new-york-city/metadata.json b/corpus/new-york-city/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ea4ddee7c53042fae0291ae20c70d3ccb46c676d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/new-york-city/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "new-york-city",
+ "title": "New York City",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_York_City",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "safari",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Downstate New York"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Metro New York",
+ "New Jersey",
+ "Connecticut",
+ "Boston",
+ "Washington, D.C.",
+ "Jersey City",
+ "Hoboken",
+ "Fort Lee",
+ "Jersey Shore",
+ "Sandy Hook",
+ "Asbury Park",
+ "Manasquan",
+ "Point Pleasant Beach",
+ "Seaside Heights",
+ "Atlantic City",
+ "Wildwood (New Jersey)",
+ "Cape May",
+ "Jackson Township (New Jersey)",
+ "Princeton",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "Paterson",
+ "Long Island",
+ "Long Beach (New York)",
+ "North Fork",
+ "The Hamptons",
+ "Fire Island",
+ "Palisades",
+ "Westchester County",
+ "Hudson Valley",
+ "Rye (New York)",
+ "Poughkeepsie",
+ "Albany (New York)",
+ "Adirondacks",
+ "Finger Lakes",
+ "Niagara Falls",
+ "Thousand Islands",
+ "Orange County (New York)",
+ "Central Valley-Harriman",
+ "New Haven",
+ "Connecticut",
+ "Cape Cod",
+ "Boston",
+ "Massachusetts",
+ "Cambridge (Massachusetts)",
+ "New England",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Washington, D.C.",
+ "Delaware",
+ "Maryland",
+ "Ocean City (Maryland)",
+ "Rehoboth Beach",
+ "Montreal",
+ "Manhattan",
+ "Washington, D.C.",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "Boston",
+ "Stamford (Connecticut)",
+ "Rensselaer (New York)",
+ "Yonkers",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "Rensselaer (New York)",
+ "Croton-on-Hudson",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "New Haven",
+ "New Rochelle",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Newark (New Jersey)",
+ "New Haven",
+ "Stamford (Connecticut)",
+ "Allentown",
+ "Jersey City",
+ "Albany (New York)",
+ "Yonkers",
+ "New Haven",
+ "New Rochelle",
+ "Philadelphia",
+ "Fort Lee",
+ "Linden (New Jersey)",
+ "Elizabeth",
+ "Weehawken",
+ "Riverhead (town, New York)",
+ "Plainview (New York)",
+ "Albany (New York)",
+ "Yonkers",
+ "Cape May",
+ "Fort Lee",
+ "New Haven",
+ "Mount Vernon (New York)"
+ ],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/ngorongoro/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/ngorongoro/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bbae5cc7770c06b026e76100c1a0df1815b8e1d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ngorongoro/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk000", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ngorongoro Conservation Area** is a park and UNESCO World Heritage site in Northeast Tanzania. It contains an old volcano that has collapsed and formed a crater (caldera). The steep sides of the crater have become a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk001", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Understand", "text": "right|thumb|700px\n\n### History\n\nThe Ngorongoro highlands were formed millions of years ago by massive volcanic activity, creating a chain of craters and fertile slopes that today support rich wildlife and Maasai communities. For centuries, the Maasai lived as semi-nomadic pastoralists in the region, coexisting with wildlife under communal land traditions.\n\nScientific interest in Ngorongoro began in the early 20th century, but global recognition came later through the work of **Louis and Mary Leakey**, whose excavations in **Olduvai Gorge** revealed early hominin fossils dating back nearly 2 million years. These discoveries—including *Homo habilis* and early stone tools—helped shape modern understanding of human evolution and cemented Ngorongoro’s reputation as “the cradle of humanity.”\n\nThe area was declared a **conservation area in 1959**, distinct from Serengeti National Park, in order to protect wildlife while allowing the Maasai to maintain traditional grazing practices. In 1979, UNESCO added the entire Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the **World Heritage List** for both its natural and cultural significance.\n\nToday, it remains a rare protected area where wildlife, archaeology, and Indigenous culture coexist, though balancing conservation and Maasai livelihoods continues to be an ongoing challenge.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe Ngorongoro Crater is geologically speaking not a crater, but a collapsed volcano. It is a natural \"utopia\" for East African wildlife, and thus is rich in a wide diversity of animals. Roughly 100 square miles (260 km²) of savanna is completely encircled by a mountainous ring which is covered in dense jungle. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, with a diameter of roughly 21 kilometers. The walls of the crater rise on average 600 meters above the floor. The rim of the crater is approximately 2 200 meters above sea level.\n\nThe Ngorongoro Crater is located in a highland area, called the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands, and is the largest of three major craters/calderas in this area; the other two are Empakai Crater and Olmoti Crater.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nLions are in the highest density in the world in the crater, so there is a good chance of seeing them. There are herds of wildebeest, zebra, and a lot of buffalo and Grants' gazelles too. This is one of the best places in East Africa to see a Black Rhino. Hippos and flamingos are seen in Lake Magadi. Hyenas are a common predator, and cheetahs are frequently seen. Leopards are in the conservation area but rarely seen, along with Wild Dogs. The crater is a special protection area for rhinos. \n\n### Climate\n\nNgorongoro Crater is, due to its altitude, a lot cooler than most areas in northern Tanzania. The rim of the crater experience chilly nights and mornings, especially between May and August and temperatures are moderated through out the year. The floor of the crater can on days with little wind become quite hot in the afternoons, especially in the hot months between October and March. The Ngorongoro Crater has distinct dry and rainy season with the rainy season being from mid-November to mid-May, but a slightly drier period in January and February and the dry season between mid-May and mid-November. The dry season is not entirely dry however, rain does occur. Due to rain patterns in East Africa, where rain mostly comes from the east, there is actually quite a significant difference between the eastern and the western, outer, slopes of the crater, with the western side being noticeably drier. The eastern side is dominated by forests and quite dense vegetation whereas the slopes on the western side of the crater is open and quite dry savannah.", "word_count": 592}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk002", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most people come to Ngorongoro from Arusha on organized safaris. It is, however, cheaper to organize a safari from Karatu, a town 10 km from the gates. Here you can organize a safari with an independent driver. If using an independent driver, the profit will go to an individual Tanzanian instead of a larger safari company, however these vehicles are less reliable and are known to have parts fall off while driving around the crater. That can add or detract from your experience, depending on what you're looking for.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk003", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "For foreigners:\nUS$70.80 per person/day.\nUS$295 per car/day (not a car full of people, just the car.)\nNo credit cards or cash are accepted, payment by prepaid TANAPA card only. \n\nFor Tanzanians it's Tsh 15,000 per day. Most of the locals believe that the bulk of the park fees go into pockets.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk004", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is vast and rugged, with steep crater walls, highland forests, and open plains. The main way to explore the area is by 4×4 safari vehicle, either self-driven or with a guide. Many visitors arrive as part of organized safaris that include transportation and a driver-guide familiar with the terrain.\n\n### By safari vehicle\n\nMost travel within the conservation area is done by guided game-drive vehicles. These vehicles are specially equipped for rough roads and wildlife viewing. Guides are highly recommended, especially for first-time visitors, as they know where wildlife is most likely to be found and can navigate the complex road network.\n\n### Crater descent roads\n\nAccess to the Ngorongoro Crater floor is controlled by a small number of steep roads that descend from the rim. Vehicles must use designated descent and ascent routes, and traffic may be regulated to prevent congestion and protect the fragile crater environment.\n\nSelf-driving\n\nSelf-driving is allowed for visitors with a reliable 4×4 vehicle, though caution is required. Roads can become muddy or slippery during the rainy seasons, and some tracks may close temporarily due to weather or wildlife activity.\n\n### Distances\n\nDistances within the conservation area can be considerable:\n\n Ngorongoro Crater rim to crater floor: about 600 m (2,000 ft) descent\n Ngorongoro Crater to Olduvai Gorge: roughly 40–50 km\n Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti entrance (Naabi Hill Gate): about 80 km\n\nBecause of these distances and road conditions, travel times may be longer than expected.\n\n### Walking\n\nWalking is not permitted in most areas due to the presence of dangerous wildlife. However, guided walking tours may be available in certain locations with armed rangers, particularly around cultural sites or specific conservation zones.\n\n### Air travel\n\nSome visitors reach the conservation area via small charter aircraft landing at nearby airstrips serving safari lodges. Transfers to lodges are then arranged by the camps themselves.\n\n### Best way to explore\n\nFor most travelers, the best way to get around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is through a guided safari tour, which handles permits, transport, and wildlife tracking while allowing visitors to focus on enjoying the spectacular scenery and wildlife.", "word_count": 355}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk005", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Hand axe from Olduvai Gorge
Over a million years old\n - Olduvai Gorge\n\n - Empakaai Crater\n\n - Olmoti Crater\n\n - Ol Doinyo Lengai\n\nthumbnail|Mount Lengai seen from Lake Natron", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk006", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Do", "text": "- Hiking", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk007", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are no major shops inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), but small gate kiosks at **Loduare Gate** and **Naabi Hill Gate** sell bottled water, snacks, postcards, hats, and basic supplies. Prices are higher than in Arusha or Karatu, so most travelers stock up before entering.\n\nA number of lodges have small **curio shops** selling Maasai beadwork, shukas, carved wooden animals, woven baskets, jewelry, batik fabrics, and books on wildlife and archaeology. These are convenient but more expensive than village markets.\n\nFor better prices and wider selection, visit the **Karatu markets** before or after your visit. This includes textiles, Maasai souvenirs, spices, coffee, tea, and practical goods.\n\nATMs are **not** available inside the NCA. The last reliable ATMs are in **Karatu** and **Arusha**.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk008", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most meals in Ngorongoro are taken at **lodges**, **tented camps**, or **picnic sites**. There are no public restaurants inside the crater or the wider conservation area.\n\nLodges offer **buffets or plated meals** featuring a mixture of international and Tanzanian cuisine—grilled meats, stews, vegetables, rice, chapati, soups, and desserts. High-end lodges often include multi-course dinners and fresh produce.\n\nFor day trips into the crater, lodges prepare **packed lunches**, usually including sandwiches, chicken, fruit, boiled eggs, pastries, and juice.\n\nOutside the NCA, **Karatu** has a variety of restaurants and cafés offering local dishes (ugali, nyama choma, banana stew) as well as Western-style meals.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk009", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Drink", "text": "Safe drinking water is provided at lodges (bottled or filtered), but tap water should **not** be consumed. Always bring at least **1–2 liters** on crater game drives, as temperatures can rise rapidly in the caldera.\n\nSoft drinks, bottled water, and juices are available at gate shops and lodge bars. Popular Tanzanian beers include **Serengeti**, **Kilimanjaro**, and **Safari Lager**. Many lodges offer wine and cocktails, especially at sunset viewpoints.\n\nNon-alcoholic options include fresh fruit juices, local chai, and Tanzanian coffee. Alcohol is not permitted during crater descent.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk010", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ranges from crater-rim luxury lodges to mid-range tented camps, budget campsites, and special wilderness camps. Staying on the rim provides unmatched views but comes with higher prices and colder temperatures.\n\n### Lodging\n\n **Crater Rim Lodges:** Offer unmatched sunrise views into the crater. These include luxury properties with fireplaces, gourmet meals, and high-end service. They are the closest to the crater descent road, making early-morning game drives convenient.\n **Tented Camps (inside the NCA):** Semi-permanent or seasonal camps located along the crater slopes or in remote parts of the conservation area. They offer a more intimate safari experience with comfortable tents, hot bucket showers, and full-board dining.\n\n **Karatu Lodges (outside the NCA):** A more affordable base, located 20–40 minutes from the gate. Options range from boutique eco-lodges to simple guesthouses. Ideal for travelers combining Ngorongoro with Lake Manyara or the coffee farms of the highlands.\n\n### Camping\n\nCamping is allowed only at **designated NCA campsites**, which range from basic public sites to special camps reserved for tour groups.\n\n **Public Campsites:** Offer simple facilities such as shared toilets, basic washing areas, and limited lighting. Popular sites include **Simba A** (on the crater rim) and **Simba B**.\n **Special Campsites:** Private-use wilderness sites that must be booked in advance. No infrastructure—visitors must be fully self-sufficient. Used primarily by safari operators on mobile camp itineraries.\n\nNight temperatures on the crater rim can be very cold; warm clothing and good sleeping gear are essential.\n\n### Backcountry\n\nBackcountry camping—not in official campsites—is **not permitted** in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This rule exists to protect wildlife, Maasai grazing lands, and the archaeological heritage of the region.\n\nHowever, mobile tented camps that operate under special NCA permits set up temporary wilderness-style accommodations in designated zones. These are run by licensed safari companies only.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk011", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is generally safe for visitors, but its wildlife, steep terrain, and high-altitude environment require caution.\n\nWildlife is abundant, and animals—including lions, elephants, and buffaloes—freely roam through much of the conservation area. **Never leave your vehicle** during game drives except at designated viewpoints or picnic sites. Follow guide instructions closely during crater descents, as visibility can change quickly and predators often rest near the roads.\n\nTemperatures on the crater rim can be **cold and windy**, especially in the early morning and at night. Pack warm clothing, gloves, hats, and layers. Inside the crater, temperatures rise rapidly by midday, so bring water and sun protection.\n\nThe crater descent and ascent roads are steep, narrow, and occasionally slippery during the rainy seasons. Only **4×4 vehicles** are permitted, and driving conditions become hazardous in heavy rain or fog. Always stay on authorized roads.\n\nAltitude can affect some visitors. The crater rim sits around **2,200–2,400 m**, which can cause mild headaches, fatigue, or shortness of breath. Take your time, drink water, and avoid strenuous activity if you feel unwell.\n\nMosquitoes are present at lower elevations and in the camps. Use repellent, wear long sleeves in the evening, and sleep under a mosquito net. Malaria prophylaxis should be discussed with your doctor before travel.\n\nLodges and camps inside the NCA are often **unfenced**, meaning wildlife may pass through at night. Always request an escort when walking after dark and stay inside your room or tent once settled for the evening.\n\nCrime inside the NCA is extremely rare, but as in all travel, keep valuables secure and avoid leaving belongings visible in vehicles, especially at busy gates and viewpoints.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "ngorongoro::chunk012", "doc_id": "ngorongoro", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Serengeti National Park.** Continue west into one of the world’s most famous parks, home to the Great Migration, big cats, and endless savanna.\n **Lake Manyara National Park.** A short drive south, known for tree-climbing lions, flamingos, and lush groundwater forests.\n **Tarangire National Park.** South of Manyara, famous for massive elephant herds, baobab trees, and superb dry-season wildlife.\n **Olduvai Gorge.** Within the wider conservation area, this world-renowned archaeological site offers a museum and guided tours explaining early human evolution.\n **Arusha.** The main safari hub of northern Tanzania, ideal for resting, resupplying, and arranging onward travel.\n **Karatu.** A charming highlands town just outside the NCA gates, with coffee farms, craft shops, and good mid-range lodging.\n **Lake Eyasi.** A cultural destination offering visits with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and Datoga blacksmiths.\n\n **Lake Natron.** A remote, starkly beautiful landscape of flamingos, volcanic formations, and the sacred volcano **Ol Doinyo Lengai**.", "word_count": 145}
diff --git a/corpus/ngorongoro/metadata.json b/corpus/ngorongoro/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3fdb37422464b84c0f5c359aa617c70e8f562ad8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ngorongoro/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "ngorongoro",
+ "title": "Ngorongoro Conservation Area",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ngorongoro_Conservation_Area",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "museums",
+ "archaeological",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northeast Tanzania"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 2192,
+ "listing_count": 5,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nikko/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nikko/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fabb44d7be73435b153331a4e4eea7c3cb56856c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nikko/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk000", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nikkō** (日光) is a town of 76,000 people (2021) to the north of Tokyo, in Tochigi Prefecture. Attractions include the mausoleum of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767 AD. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk001", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The ornately decorated Yomeimon gate at Tōshō-gū\n\nNikko is a hugely popular tourist destination, but most visitors day-trip from Tokyo and never venture beyond a few tourist hot spots near the station. However, the \"city\" covers a quarter of Tochigi prefecture, much of it mountainous and remote, and there are countless hot springs, hiking trails and less-known sights to be seen if you venture even slightly off the beaten track. The area's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power, and it has also been used for mining copper, aluminum and concrete.\n\n### History\n\nThe first temple in Nikkō was founded more than 1,200 years ago along the shores of the Daiya River. However, in 1616, the dying Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had unified Japan and moved to capital to Edo (present-day Tokyo), made it known that his final wish was for his successors to \"Build a small shrine in Nikko and enshrine me as the God. I will be the guardian of peace keeping in Japan.\" As a result, Nikkō became home of the mausoleums of two Tokugawa Shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu and his grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Unlike most Japanese temples and shrines, the buildings here are extremely gaudy and ornate, with multicolored carvings and plenty of gold leaf, and show heavy Chinese influence. Some sense of dignity is restored by a magnificent forest of over 13,000 cedar trees, covering the entire area.\n\nHowever, for all of the grandeur the shoguns could muster, they're now over-shadowed in the eyes of many visitors by a trio of small wooden carvings on a stable wall: the famous **three wise monkeys** who see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil.\n\n### Orientation\n\nThe actual town of Nikko lies on the southern side of Nikko City, along the Daiya River. To the west, about an hour away by bus, are Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls, also known as **Oku-Nikkō** (奥日光, \"Inner Nikko\"). The twin hot spring towns of Kinugawa, home of the Edo Wonderland Historical Theme Park, and Kawaji are an hour north by train along the Kinugawa River and covered separately. **Nikkō National Park** (日光国立公園) covers a large chunk of the northern side, sprawling across into Tochigi and Fukushima as well.\n\n### Tourist information site\n\nThe local tourist association has a guide site in English, Nikko Official Guide.", "word_count": 401}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk002", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n### By train\n\nNikko has two major train stations: , served by Japan Railways (JR), and , appropriately served by the private Tōbu railway. The train stations are separated by only a few minutes walk and are around 2 km from Toshogu Shrine.\n\nIf heading from Tokyo like most others, deciding how to reach Nikko depends on your budget, and whether or not you have any sort of regional or national JR Rail Pass.\n\n#### By Tobu Railway from Asakusa\n\nthumb|250px|Tobu's ''Revaty'' limited express began service to Nikko in 2017.\nTobu Railway operates frequent service to Nikko from their terminal at **Asakusa Station**, which is connected to the Toei Asakusa and Tokyo Metro Ginza subway lines. Conventional commuter services take around 2 hr 30 min - 3 hr depending on the time of day and cost ¥1360, with several transfers required. A more convenient way to travel to Nikko is on one of Tobu's direct limited express services, which take 2 hours and are operated with either the older *SPACIA* trains or the newer *Revaty* trains. Services depart every 30-60 minutes, costing ¥2700 for the *SPACIA* or ¥2800 for the *Revaty*. All services stop at the station for **Tokyo SkyTree**.\n\nThe limited express trains that offer direct service to Nikko are called *Kegon*; there are also *Kinu* trains that you can use, but you'll need to change to a short local service at Shimo-Imaichi to reach Nikko.\n\nTobu offers a few travel passes for foreign tourists that wish to visit Nikko and surrounding areas. Passes for foreign tourists can be purchased online through Tobu's website, or in person at the Tobu tourist information desk at Asakusa station. The passes do not include admission to the world heritage shrines and temples.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk003", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Nikko Pass - World Heritage Area**: ¥2000 for 2 days. This pass includes unlimited train travel between Tobu-Nikko, Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa Onsen, unlimited travel on Tobu buses between Tobu-Nikko and the world heritage sites, and discounted admission to attractions in Nikko and Kinugawa.\n **Nikko Pass - All Area**: a 4-day pass costing ¥4520 from mid-April to November, and ¥4150 at other times. In addition to the features of the World Heritage Pass, the All Area pass includes unlimited bus travel from Nikko to Lake Chuzenji, Yumoto Onsen and Kirifuri Falls.\n\nThere are two more passes available to everyone, not just foreign tourists:\n **Marugoto Nikko Free Pass**: ¥4150-4520 for 4 days. This pass includes unlimited train travel between Shimo-Imaichi and Tobu-Nikko, and unlimited bus travel from Nikko to the world heritage sites, Lake Chuzenji, Yumoto Onsen and Kirifuri Falls.\n **Marugoto Nikko Kinugawa Free Pass**: ¥5630-6150 for 4 days. In addition to the features of the Marugoto Nikko Free Pass, this pass includes unlimited train travel between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa, and unlimited bus travel on routes in the Kinugawa area.\n\nIncluded in these passes is one round-trip from the Asakusa area on standard commuter trains. You can purchase separate reservation tickets for the direct limited express services on either the *SPACIA* (¥1340 each way) or the *Revaty* (¥1440 each way). A 20% discount is given on these tickets when purchased with a pass.\n\n#### By JR from Tokyo Station\n\nYou can reach Nikko from Tokyo Station in around 2 hours by taking the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and changing to the JR Nikko Line. Since the one-way fare starts from ¥5060 unreserved, this travel option makes more sense for holders of the **Japan Rail Pass** or one of JR East's regional passes including the **Tokyo Wide Pass**.\n\n#### By JR/Tobu from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk004", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Get in", "text": "JR and Tobu operate joint limited express trains a few times a day from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations that operate to Tobu-Nikko in 2 hours at a cost of ¥4000. One service operates directly to Nikko, while the others operate to Kinugawa and require a train change at Shimo-Imaichi. Regional JR East passes, including the Tokyo Wide Pass, fully cover this journey. Holders of the national Japan Rail Pass must pay a surcharge for the portion of the trip on Tobu tracks, in which case it may be easier to just take the JR to either Tokyo or Omiya to connect to the *shinkansen*.\n\n### By bus\n\nTohoku Express Bus operates one daily round-trip service from Tokyo Station, reaching Tobu-Nikko station in 3 hr. The trip costs ¥2500 one way or ¥4000 round trip. The bus from Tokyo leaves at 07:50, and the return trip from Tobu-Nikko leaves at 16:00.\n\nThere is also a twice-daily bus service from Yokohama station, which is the same bus that serves Nikko from Haneda Airport (4 hours, ¥3300).", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk005", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Get around", "text": "The JR and Tobu stations have **Tourist Information Centers** open during daytime hours. Both stations are about 2 km to the west of the shrine area.\n\nTo reach the shrines, you can take a Tobu Bus (bus stop 2C just outside the Tobu Nikko train station, bus fare included in Tobu's World Heritage Pass, about a 6-minute bus ride to the UNESCO World Heritage area), or you can get up close and personal with the neighborhood and use your own two feet, following the pedestrian signs along the main road (Route 119). Getting off at bus stops 81–85 on the Tobu 2C bus line will get you to the shrine and temple area. Halfway between the stations and shrines, there is another Tourist Information Center (591 Gokomachi area; ) where you ca get maps, ask questions (some English spoken), use the Internet (¥100/30 minutes), and quench your thirst with water from a small, ladle-drawn waterfall. Also if it is raining, they very happily lend out umbrellas and you are able to drop these off on the way back. Allow about a half-hour or so to walk from the train station to the shrine entrance.\n\nThe JR station has various tourist bus passes for the Nikko area from the JR ticket office. As an example, a ¥2000 ticket will get you 2 days of unlimited rides to and back from the Chuzenji onsen area lake area, which is discounted from the posted fares. The back of the ticket includes a helpful map showing the numbered stops and where the ticket if valid.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk006", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|Shinkyō\nthumb|View of Shoyoen, Rinnoji Temple\n\n - Tōshōgū\n\n After two flights of steps you will reach the **Sacred Stable**, housing a white horse. The most famous symbol here is the carving of the **three wise monkeys** (see infobox), a part of a curious series of carvings about the life cycle of a monkey, from giddy childhood to fearful old age. Nearby, you can also find an interesting approximation of an elephant, carved by an artist who had clearly never seen one.\n - Yakushi-dō Hall\n\n - Yomei-mon Gate\n\n - Taiyuin-byō\n\n - Tōshōgū Museum\n\n - Rinnō-ji Temple\n\n - Futarasan Shrine\n\nThere are a few other sites near the temple area:\n\n - Shinkyō Bridge\n\n - Takino-o Shrine\n\n - Kanmangafuchi Abyss\n\n - Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park\n\n - Nikko Botanical Garden\n\n### Lake Chuzenji-area attractions\n\nThe Lake Chuzenji-area can be reached by taking bus #1 or #2 from the Nikko or Tobu-Nikko train stations and remaining on the bus past the temple area. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.\n - Kegon Falls\n\n **Akechidaira View Point** (Bus stop #23) - You can take a cable car (¥730 9AM-4PM) to a viewpoint of Mount Nantaisan, Kegon Falls, and Lake Chuzenji.\n **Lake Chuzenji** - (Bus stop #26) - The highest lake in Japan, this lake has cool temperatures in the summer and is surrounded by summer villas of the rich. Sightseeing boats (hourly, 09:30-15:30; winter: 10:30-14:30) offer spectacular views.\nChuzen-ji temple is a 700-m walk south from the red Buddhist gate along route 250.\nAn additional 700-m walk will bring you to the former ambassador villas for Britain and Italy. The properties have now been returned to Japan and converted to memorial parks with beautiful views of the lake. Admission to both for ¥300 includes a self guided tour of the building including the history of properties and notable figures. Traditional English tea service also available.\n **Ryuzu Falls** (Bus stop #35) - A cascade down rocky steps. In spring, this waterfall is surrounded by azalea flowers and in autumn, it is surrounded by lush colorful foliage.\n **Odashirogahara Plateau** (Bus stop #36) - An area of wetlands surrounded by Mongolian oak groves. Famous for a lone birch tree known as the Lady of Odashirogahara\n **Senjogahara Plateau** (Bus stop #38) - Wetlands with a wooden raised path for hiking (2 hours, circular trail). Beautiful flowers.\n **Yudaki Falls** (Bus stop #40) - A 70-m cascade flowing from Lake Yunoko. There is a view point at the basin of the falls.\n **Lake Yunoko** (Bus stop #41) - A pretty lake surrounded by a hiking trail (1 hour).", "word_count": 426}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk007", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Do", "text": "- Nikko National Park\n\n National Route 120 heads from the center of town into the park, passing **Mt. Nantai** and Lake Chuzenji (中禅寺湖 *Chuzenji-ko*) on its way to the **Senjogahara Plateau**, where the gods of Mt. Nantai and Mt. Akagi are said to have battled for possession of Lake Chuzenji - with several animal and insect transformations and archery experts involved in Mt. Nantai's eventual victory. There's a 6.3-km walking course on the plateau; allow a little over two and a half hours. Lake Chuzenji is surrounded by hiking trails ranging from 4.6 km (1½ hours) to 19.7 km (6 hours), and also has rowing and motor boat facilities in the warm season. The area is sometimes called **Oku-Nikko** (奥日光 *Oku-Nikko*), meaning \"Inner Nikko\".\n Route 120 then crosses over the Yukawa River and passing the Yudaki Falls, Lake Yunoko and the Yumoto spa and ski slopes to the northwest of the city, eventually reaching Mt. Shirane and Lakes Kirikomi and Karikomi, which have their own walking courses.\n Once inside the park, special \"low-pollution hybrid\" buses run from a depot at Akanuma, near the Yukawa River and the Ryuzu Falls, to the nature preserve at Senjugahama, on the western shores of Lake Chuzenji. Parking is free at Akanuma, but the road to Senjugahama is closed to all other vehicles.\n A short walk south from the center of town will get you on a strenuous but rewarding hiking trail to the summit of **Mt. Nakimushi** (鳴虫山 *Nakimushiyama*). Allow a few hours for a return trip.\n Adventurous hikers might want to take the city bus to Matō, down National Route 122 in the far southwestern corner of Nikko city territory, in order to hike to **Akagane Shinsui Koen** (Copper Hydro Park), billed as Japan's Grand Canyon, as pollution has killed all the trees and left the valley bare. The infamous Ashio copper mine was located nearby. (See Kiryu for details.)\n- Woodsman's Village\n\n- Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena\n\n- Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Park", "word_count": 331}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk008", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Buy", "text": "Aside from the usual good luck charms at the shrines and souvenir shops selling phone straps of Hello Kitty in local dress, there are several interesting secondhand shops along Hippari Dako selling used kimono, antiques and knick knacks.\n\nPopular souvenirs from Nikkō include:\n *yuba* (ゆば), the 'skin' that forms on top when making tofu; better eaten fresh, see \n *tamarizuke* (たまり漬け), vegetables pickled in *tamari* soy sauce\n\nOddly, Western-style cheesecake and *kasutera* pastries are also popular despite having no obvious historical or cultural connection to Nikkō.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk009", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Eat", "text": "*Yuba* (ゆば), the 'skin' that forms on top when making tofu, seems to be everywhere in Nikko. Even if you're not a fan of tofu, it tastes pretty good, especially with *soba* (buckwheat noodles in a soup broth). *Yuba* is also one of the most typical edible *omiyage* from Nikko.\n\n - Hippari Dako\n\n- Gurumans Wagyu\n\n- Sobadokoro Gen-an\n\n - Cafe Restaurant Bell\n\n - Ramen Bonten", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk010", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Drink", "text": "There is a small alcohol shop across from the station that is run by an old couple and has an interesting selection of world beers.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk011", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Nikko can be covered in a busy day trip from Tokyo, but it's also a good place to spend the night, especially in a traditional Japanese *ryokan* guesthouse. The shrines are quite atmospheric early in the morning and at dusk, when the tour buses are not around.\n\n### Budget\n\nThere are several campsites in Nikko, although only **Narusawa** (+81 288-54-3374) and **Ogurayama** (+81 288-54-2478) are open year-round; several others run from April to mid-November or July to August.\n\n - earth hostel Nikko riverhouse\n\n - Nikko Suginamiki Youth Hostel\n\n - Nikko Minshuku Narusawa Lodge\n\n - Nikko Guesthouse Sumica\n\n - Nikko Tokanso\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Annex Turtle Hotori-An\n\n - Nikko Park Lodge\n\n - Turtle Inn Nikko\n\n- Logettel St.Bois\n\n - Yumori Kamaya\n\n### Splurge\n\nThere are quite a few upmarket hot spring *ryokan* around Nikkō, but many are a considerable distance from town.\n\n - Senhime Monogatari\n\n - Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa\n\n - Nikko Kanaya Hotel", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "nikko::chunk012", "doc_id": "nikko", "section": "Go next", "text": "Kirifuri Highlands — waterfalls, hiking and skiing\n Kinugawa — hot springs and the offbeat Tobu World Square/Edo Wonderland theme parks\n Nasushiobara\n Yumoto — hot spring resort perched by another lake (yudaki-falls), 30 minutes deeper into the hills.\n Those with an interest in pottery or steam locomotives may enjoy Mashiko on the way back to Tokyo.\n Utsunomiya\n Kanuma\n Tochigi\n Minamiaizu", "word_count": 59}
diff --git a/corpus/nikko/metadata.json b/corpus/nikko/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cc22f1257d76d3cc0cc75e8ab0c404e30c385d36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nikko/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nikko",
+ "title": "Nikko",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nikko",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Tochigi (prefecture)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kirifuri Highlands",
+ "Kinugawa",
+ "Nasushiobara",
+ "Yumoto",
+ "Mashiko",
+ "Utsunomiya",
+ "Kanuma",
+ "Tochigi",
+ "Minamiaizu",
+ "Tokyo/Sumida",
+ "Tochigi",
+ "Kasukabe",
+ "Aizuwakamatsu",
+ "Kinugawa",
+ "Utsunomiya",
+ "Utsunomiya",
+ "Numata",
+ "Katashina",
+ "Yonezawa",
+ "Aizuwakamatsu",
+ "Kinugawa",
+ "Mashiko",
+ "Utsunomiya",
+ "Mooka",
+ "Tatebayashi",
+ "Kiryu",
+ "Ota",
+ "Hitachi",
+ "Daigo",
+ "Takahagi"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2637,
+ "listing_count": 35,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nile-valley/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nile-valley/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d8ea94218035aceec7e537ae12f4b09003fdec56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nile-valley/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk000", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Luxor** (*Arabic:* الأقصر, *pronounced in Egyptian Arabic:* lo’Sor) is the premier travel destination in Upper (southern) Egypt and the Nile Valley.", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk001", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Districts", "text": "Although a relatively small city by Egyptian population standards, Luxor is quite extensive. It divides naturally into the areas on each side of the river Nile.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk002", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Luxor Temple\nThe dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom (circa 2050-1710 BCE) and New Kingdom (circa 1550-1080 BCE) Egypt, Luxor has much to offer the visitor, from vast temples, to ancient royal tombs, via spectacular desert and river scenery and a bustling modern life.\n\n**Thebes**, the world heritage listed old capital of Egypt, was on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. Most of Luxor's ruins and tombs are there.\n\nThe modern city of Luxor is on the east bank. This area has the train and bus stations, most of the hotels and restaurants, some museums, tourist shops and so on. Most visitors (and almost all tour groups) stay on the east bank and travel across for the tourist sites.There are also some small hotels on the west bank, which has a more relaxed vibe, and many independent travellers stay there.\n\nHowever, Luxor is also known as the **hassle capital** of Egypt (and therefore a good candidate for the world). You should expect to be on the receiving end of behaviour that would be considered harassment in most countries, including being followed when you leave the hotel by men shouting at you. Instead, Aswan further south is quite the opposite and much more relaxed. It is a good alternative in case you want to skip the Luxor experience altogether but not miss the beauty of the Nile and the nearby attractive sights.\n\n### Climate\n\n *See also: Egypt*\nThe weather is generally extremely hot in summer, while in winter it is generally warm, but may get cool at night. The climate is very dry with almost no rain at all and very few cloudy days. The best time to visit is in winter, from November to the beginning of March. The transition from winter to summer is abrupt, so there is no real spring or autumn. The prevailing wind is quite weak, but is persistently northerly. As a result the weather is predictable. By and large, there is little variation day to day. More basic accommodation often will not have reversible air conditioning, nor much insulation. As a result, accommodation can feel decidedly cold in winter, even though outdoors, the daytime temperature might be quite pleasant.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk003", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Luxor airport\n\n### By plane\n\nLuxor airport receives direct flights from several European cities, with most being inclusive package holidays, but they are often available to book flight only. There are also direct flights from Istanbul (Pegasus Airlines) and the Gulf states. Egyptair and competitors fly frequently and direct from Cairo (1 hr), with day-trips feasible both ways, and good connections to Europe. Reaching Luxor from Alexandria or Sharm el-Sheik usually involves changing in Cairo, sometimes with lengthy stopovers. Most of the Airlines in Egypt including: Nile Air, ALMasria Universal Airlines, Air Arabia and Petroleum Air Services (PAS), which charter services flights to Cairo or Egyptian destinations, including Hurghada etc.\n\nBehind international arrival security check you can find a stand of Egypt Telecom to buy a SIM card; in arrival hall there are two ATMs (one does not charge any fees for withdrawal). Currency exchange is available only in front of the immigration control.\n\n#### Getting there\n\nThere are no public buses between the airport and the city centre. If you do not have a shuttle provided by your hotel, take a taxi, which should cost no more than LE 300 (Jan 2026). Ignore the picket of taxi drivers and touts just outside the airport doors charging US$10 - 20. Keep walking until you find a taxi driver in his car and then negotiate. Keep a firm grip on your luggage as people will helpfully wrench it from you, carry it most of 5 m to the taxi & bus stand, then demand a fee. \"Lah shukran, lah shukran...\": you will be saying that a lot in Luxor.\n\n#### Visa", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk004", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get in", "text": "If coming in from another country, visas on arrival are available to many foreign nationals, ignore the stand just after you enter the terminal building leaving the bus transporting you from the plane (charging US$45 in Jan 2026). It costs US$25 (cash or card; euros are not accepted) when purchased 20 meters further at the bank counter (where you can also exchange money). The visa is a sticker which is to be stuck into your passport before proceeding to the immigration control. Also, see Egypt.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Luxor train station\n\nFrom Cairo there are four types of train:\n **Daytime expresses** have 1st and 2nd class air-conditioned coaches called AC1 and AC2 with comfortable aircraft-style seats. They are a relaxing way to sit back and view the lush landscape of the Nile valley. Soft drinks and snacks are served, and there may be a dining car, but best buy food and drinks beforehand.\n **Overnight expresses**, departing 9PM to 11PM, are identical to the daytime trains and have the same fares; they are not sleepers.\n **Deluxe sleepers** are run by a private company, Watania. These have modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars, with a choice of 1- and 2-berth cabins and a club/lounge car. An evening meal and breakfast are included in the fare. One sleeper runs nightly year-round, southbound from Cairo Ramses around 8PM, and northbound from Luxor around 11PM. Extra sleepers run at busy times but note that these train may commence from Giza rather than from Cairo Ramses station.\n**Local trains** - Non-a/c trains lumber between Cairo and Luxor, daytime and overnight, stopping at most stations - some commence in Alexandria. These are not much slower, but they are incredibly cheap.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk005", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most of these trains continue to Aswan (and since they have started from Cairo, are often late leaving Luxor). The expresses are run by Egyptian National Railways (ENR). ENR also runs the ordinary trains but these are not bookable and not shown on timetables, buy your ticket at the station. The deluxe sleepers should be booked online with Abela Trains.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses leave regularly from behind Luxor Temple, to most major cities. GoBus and SuperJet depart from somewhat different locations near the train station.\n\n### By boat\n\nNile boat cruises regularly call at Luxor, but these are package itineraries and not available to book as point to point ferries.\n\nIt may be possible to reach Aswan by a felucca cruise on the Nile. First you will have to travel south by train or microbus to join the felucca at Edfu, as they will not venture north of the Nile river locks there. The river journey takes two days. The prices are wildly negotiable, expect a starting price of LE700 and aim to settle for LE300.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk006", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By e-hailing\n\nUber doesn't work in Luxor, but its sister app **Careem** does. It takes card payments, and saves you having to explain your destination or negotiate with the driver. InDrive also works in Luxor.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nLuxor is brimming with rental shops for bikes and a great many hotels also hire out bicycles. Rental rates are about maximum 5USD (June 2025), depending on your bargaining skills, the relative demand on bikes that day and the quality of the bike in question. Check the tires and be wary of last minute inflating as they may deflate just as fast. It is normal to be asked to leave behind your passport, drivers licence or student ID card as a deposit. Bikes can be rented on both the East and West Banks of Luxor (the latter near the local ferry landing), though prices can be a little over-inflated on the more isolated West. If you look for high quality bicycles, you can find Dutch bikes (gazelle/batavus) at the Dutch Rental Agency in Sheraton Street (East Bank) and, on the West Bank, at Mohammed Setohe bicycle (5 min walk from the ferry) which has quite good and almost brand new mountains bikes. Bikes can be taken on board the local ferry (be considerate though), so perhaps hire on the East, then transport your bike over yourself. Watch Egyptian traffic before deciding if you want to ride a bike through it.\n\nThe East Bank is the metropolitan side, so consider the traffic and crowds while deciding whether to bike on that side. The West bank in contrast is much more rural, and many tourists opt to bicycle among the fields here while getting themselves between the tourist sites.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk007", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "At the sites, guards will try to convince you to avoid locking your bicycle as they will watch it. Which they will do very well, and then demand a tip for having done so. Lock your bike yourself to avoid this unnecessary expense.\n\n### By motorcycle\n\nFor the even more brave, Luxor is brimming with Chinese motorcycles around 150cc. With the right bargaining skills you can net one for LE50 per hour, or less for the day or evening. In the summer, the roads around the West Bank are relatively empty, and motorcycling around the ruins and mountains is easy and efficient. In a slow season, many are willing to rent you their own motorcycle for the right price. Ask for a helmet -- you won't get one otherwise.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are plentiful in Luxor. They have no meters, but there are current rates that are accepted if you stay firm. Short trips within Luxor are between LE15 and LE25 (first offer from taxi driver will inevitably be LE50 or more). A round trip to the West Bank is about LE100.\n\nThe Sheraton Luxor Resort has a list of current (overpriced) taxi rates from their hotel to a number of destinations that can be used as a handy reference.\n\n### By minibus", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk008", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "Minibuses are the transportation of the locals in Luxor, and the cheapest way to get around for the adventurous tourist. They all have the same shape so are easily recognized. They have fixed routes, with different routes marked by a different colour on the side of the minibus. However there are no maps of the routes, the locals know them by heart. Almost all bus routes converge at the railway station. Hail a bus by looking at it while it is approaching, and raise your arm. When the bus is full it will not stop (there are about 14 seats in a bus). Otherwise you can jump in, take an empty seat, and pass money to the driver, a flat LE 3.0 per person (as of Dec 2023) for a ride (no haggling required). When you do not pay while you sit down, they will assume you do not know the price and the driver will charge you LE 3.50 when you get off. Getting off is possible anytime, and is done by simply asking the driver to stop.\n\n### By boat\n\nAn essential way of getting between the East and West banks of Luxor is to use a boat. The blue local ferry is a very basic boat between East and West that costs LE20 for foreigners (as of October 2025). The downside is that the ferry only leaves when it is full, or when another ferry arrives, so taking the ferry is in general slower although you avoid the haggling. Nevertheless, during the day ferries departs often enough not to waste your time. Taxis are available at the ferry terminal on both sides, and the trip takes just a few minutes.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk009", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "Otherwise, motorboat launches (often called \"lunches\") will take you around, e.g. from the Winter Palace Hotel to the East Bank ferry dock—as of October 2025, LE80-100 for one or two people (you will likely be asked for more, so haggling is appropriate).\n\nAs you walk by the river, dozens of felucca owners will also offer you their services to haul you over the river, and normally a taxi driver will be on standby on the other side.\n\n### By calèche\n\nCalèches, or horse-drawn carriages, are common on the east bank and are a delightful way to see the city, especially at night-time. Prices vary according to bargaining skill, but LE20 per hour seems common.\n\nHowever, a number of animal rights groups have advised against calèches due to the poor treatment of the horses. It is not uncommon for drivers to beat their horses, and most Western tourists will notice many skinny and scarred animals. This does not mean that all drivers are to be avoided, some are reputable. Use common sense when choosing.\n\nBeware of using the same driver for several days in a row. At the end he may decide he has undercharged you in some way for previous trips and may ask for a lot more for things which weren't included, such as waiting around while you visited a temple, all the money paid before went to the boss and none to your driver, a tip for the horse, in the original price. It might be best to use a different driver each trip and not book a driver you've used before to avoid this possible scenario from happening even if he does seem more pleasant than most to start.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk010", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is also possible to travel around the tourist district on foot during the cooler parts of the day, provided you have a good sense of direction. To avoid unwanted attention you will need to constantly repeat the words \"no hassle\", or \"laa, shukran\", which means \"no, thank you\" in Arabic. Also, be prepared to yell out for the Tourist Police if you have any concerns for your safety. There are usually always some policemen nearby since they may be also wearing civilian clothes.\n\nA good tactic for avoiding hassle is to buy an Egyptian paper each day (in Arabic) and carry this with you. Locals will assume that you know Arabic (and therefore their tricks) and leave you alone. Egyptian papers cost around LE1.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk011", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Deir el-Bahari, West Bank, Luxor.\nthumbnail|Thebes necropolis\nThe Luxor district article pages contain detailed information and suggestions for things to see. Highlights include:\n\nEast Bank of Luxor:\n The temple complex of Luxor\n The temple complex of Karnak\n Luxor and Mummification museums\n\nWest Bank of Luxor:\n The Valley of the Kings\n Medinet Habu\n The Tombs of the Nobles\n The Ramesseum Temple\n Deir el-Bahari of Queen Hatshepsut\n Colossi of Memnon\n Malkata\nHot Air Balloon Rides", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk012", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hire a bicycle** and ride around Ancient Thebes, which takes less than 15 minutes.\nthumb|Felucca boats, Luxor.\n A local **felucca ride** just before sunset; shouldn't cost you more than about LE30 (for one person) per hour.\n Take a **felucca cruise on the Nile** for a 2-day trip to Aswan (the reverse trip is recommended, however, due to river currents).\n Book a **cruise ship** for 2-3 nights between Luxor and Aswan by tracking down one or several of them along the pier before noon. Most cruise ships have a reception at their entrance and you can just walk in. Do not mind the guards or barriers, they are just there for protection. According to some, prices can start at US$40 per night, and this will be cheaper than when going through an agent or booking online.\n **Hire a donkey**, horse or camel to ride around Luxor's West Bank.\n - Pharaoh's Stables\n\n **Swim** in a hotel’s pool after a dusty day of tombs and temples:\n Iberotel: LE75\n Sonesta: LE50\n Lotus: LE50\n One next to St Joseph Hotel on Khaled Ebn El-Waled Street: LE25\n - Hot air balloon rides", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk013", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are at least two different markets in Luxor. One is located in an air-conditioned hall, with shops located on either side of the hall. This market hall connects two major streets.\n\nThe older market takes up several streets near the Luxor temple. It is a joy to walk through, as it is mostly pedestrian and is a welcome respite from the horse and carriages on the main streets. This market really feels like an old souk and the visitor is taken back in time. It is covered with a wooden trellis, shading people from the sun. Many of the shops offer the same items, so the wise buyer shops around and looks for the best price. One can often bargain better after going to several stores.\n\nOnce you find a merchant you like, sit down, have some tea and begin the game of bargaining. It can feel like you are becoming a part of the family. Buying something as simple as a cotton galabeya can take hours, as you try on almost every single galabeya in the store, and then move on to items that they think you may want for the rest of your family.\n\nBuying anything may be very frustrating due to constant bargaining if you are not used to it. This trick has proven to work well: usually their first offer for the price can be ten or even a hundred times bigger than a reasonable price. First decide what you are actually willing to pay. Let us say that in this example it is LE20. If you ask for the price, you may get a reply \"LE120\". Now you offer LE22. You may then be offered something like LE110. Then instead of going up, you start going down with the price, your new offer will be only LE20 (your predefined price limit). If the bargaining continues you continue dropping your offer. Pretty soon he will understand where the bargaining is going and you get a comfortable price, or you get rid of the vendor.\n\nThe touting in the main Souq in Luxor is so bad that it is an absolute nightmare walking through it. Any desire you had to buy anything will quickly disappear as dozens of men try every possible catch they have on you. These include: \"You look lucky\", \"you look Egyptian\", \"come see my shop, no hassle,\" and guessing your nationality. But if you continue straight forward, you will come to the real Souq, where the locals go shopping, and the atmosphere changes completely.", "word_count": 422}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk014", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Eat", "text": "Luxor is a vegetarian's paradise with lots of fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomato and cucumber.\n\nA meal often begins with pita-bread and mezze such as baba ganoush or taboulé.\n\nYour main course may include meat or poultry, or regional dishes such as pigeon or rabbit. (To avoid an upset stomach, you may prefer to stick with the beef.) As with any heavily touristed area in Egypt, it is never hard to find reasonably well-executed Western food.\n\nDairy products, such as yoghurt or gibna bayda cheese (like feta but creamier), might accompany your main meal.\n\nFinally, many good vegetarian desserts are available, though some might seem overly sweet to western tastes. (If you can, specify low or medium sweetness.)\n\nWhile the evening meal is often filling, you may find this does not meet the energy requirements of a busy tourist. It is advisable to eat a hearty breakfast, drink lots of water and snack frequently during the day.\n\nFor restaurants by district, see:\nLuxor, East Bank\nLuxor, West Bank", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk015", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Drink", "text": "There is something of a social stigma attached to public drunkenness. Although Egyptians themselves sometimes choose to ignore this, for a foreigner to be drunk in public can give a bad impression. Most local pubs tend to be testosterone-filled hard-drinking dens where lone foreigners and especially lone women may feel uncomfortable.\n\nHowever, there are numerous places in Luxor to buy alcohol. Many restaurants, above the basic on the street places, sell lager and wine. They are generally made obvious by Stella signs outside or by having people drinking inside them.\n\nThere are two open-air restaurants opposite the temple about 200 m south of the main entrance which serve Stella lager for LE14 including tax (as of September 2011) and other local beer and wine for fairly reasonable prices. The huge Stella signs outside give them away. If you can not find somewhere convenient serving alcohol, it may be an idea to ask the staff in your hotel for directions. 'Cafeteria' can be the euphemistic name for a pub in Egypt, and pubs can be quite hard to find if you do not know exactly where to go.\n\nThere is a duty-free shop close to the north end of the Luxor Temple, slightly to the right across the busy junction. It has plastic see-through shutters at its windows and a guard outside. If you take your passport and go within two days of arriving in Egypt, up to three bottles of main-name spirits and beer, etc. at reduced prices, per person, can be bought. After the two days you can only buy the Egyptian equivalent. They also sell electrical products, and close at 10PM.\n\nDrinking in the street or in parks, although fairly widely done by locals, is not recommended for foreigners as it is illegal and alcohol is generally cheap enough in restaurants anyway.", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk016", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Luxor has an extremely **wide variety of accommodation options**, from camping and hostels, right up to 5-star luxury hotels like the Old Winter Palace Hotel which is of extreme opulence and has played host to both movie stars and heads of state. Luxor probably has the greatest seasonal variation in hotel rates in Egypt, with some hotels being up to 50% cheaper (or more) in the low season (summer). Others do not change their prices.\n\nWhilst the vast majority of accommodation options are to be found on the East Bank, an increasing number are to be found (and are being developed), however, on the more laid-back and isolated West Bank, close to the tombs and the Valley of the Kings. A lengthy stay in the area might benefit from staying on both sides of the river for some time.\n\nIf you are arriving in Luxor by train or bus, **beware** the over-friendly and sometimes pushy **hotel touts**, especially at the station (these guys are a symptom of the sometimes fierce competition between rival hotels, especially at quiet times). Remember you do not owe them anything, but that they get 25-40% commission for convincing you to stay at their \"cousin's\" or \"brother's\" hotel, which is then added to your final bill. It is usually best to pre-book accommodation. Also, use a map or a taxi to find your hotel and discourage attempts to guide you to your hotel, as you may end up somewhere else altogether, in the expectation that you will give in and stay where your \"guide\" has led you after all.\n\nWomen travelling without company should exercise extreme caution whilst seeking budget accommodation in Luxor. Several reports have been made of sexual assault after women were given spiked drinks by hotel touts and staff.\n\nOn your first morning in Luxor, you may be woken at dawn by the *adhan*, or Muslim call to prayer. This normally lasts 5–10 minutes, and after a few days you will find yourself sleeping through it.", "word_count": 333}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk017", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Connect", "text": "See the various Luxor district pages for details of telephone, internet and postal services - being a major tourist town, Luxor is extremely well-served with communication facilities.\n\nMost of the best outlets are to be found where the bulk of the local population lives, in the East Bank of Luxor.\n\nLuxor telephone number format is +20 95 2xxx xxx, while on the West Bank +20 95 2060xxx.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk018", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Visa extension\n\n- Luxor Passport Office", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk019", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Stay alert** – For those not on fully organised tours, touts can make sight seeing very frustrating. (Although they tend not to stray into the actual temples.) However within temples, one must contend with the government tour guides. The guides are legitimate government workers, but also **extremely** aggressive about \"guiding you\" and then demanding a tip. Rule of thumb: If anyone shows you anything, for any amount of time, they will want a tip. It may be worthwhile to give a small tip upfront while asking to \"self tour\".\n It is wise to know which accommodation you are heading to and where, or just pre-book accommodation. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the touts at the station.\n As tourism is the main source of income in Luxor, and has been for centuries, many people have made scamming into an art form. You should assume that any statement from someone who comes up to you out of nowhere is a lie. Some of the older tricks in the book:\n The \"I need a letter translated\" opener, used to draw you into a shop\n The \"I need a letter writing to my friend in your country\" opener (they show you an address that is in your country), again used to draw you into a shop\n The alabaster factory. A large percentage of alabaster is imported, and is hardly made on site. The vast majority of other stones such as jade are imported from China and India.\n \"The temple is closed\"- Check opening times before you arrive. Find out on your own whether something is open or closed, whether you are walking the right way or not. Ask a local, not taxi or caleche driver. The main temples all maintain the same basic hours and rarely, if ever, have closures, as conservation/excavation work is almost always done while they are open, with just one area sealed off. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings are a different matter, but the main ticket office at the entrance has a sign showing which individual tombs are open and closed on any given day.\n Papyrus Museum - it is just a papyrus shop, some are good but some are cheap imitations.\n Scarf seller - person selling usually just one scarf will attempt to use it to hide their hand movements while they pick pocket you.\n The \"I know you from the cruise ship.\" opener.\n The \"Excuse me, where are you from?\" opener.\n **Women** travelling without company should exercise extreme caution whilst seeking budget accommodation. There have been several reports of sexual assault after women were given spiked drinks by hotel touts and staff. Always check your room to make sure the door has a secure lock that can't be opened from the outside, and check for spy holes (this is actually a thing in some places). Staff in some shops will also on occasion harass or grope women who aren't with a male travel companion. If you are travelling with a male travel companion, consider pretending to be husband and wife, even if you aren't. This will avoid some of these problems.\n **Merchants** in Luxor are notoriously aggressive and manipulative. If you do not want to be talked into buying anything, it is wise to completely ignore any attempt by a local to strike up conversation, no matter how benign it may seem. In shops and the market, the phrase \"No Hassle\" can often be used to avoid unwanted attention. If you would like to be polite, it is also appropriate to say \"Laa shukran\", meaning ‘no thanks’ in Arabic. Being polite will make your life easier, as people will remember you if you were rude and may hassle more later. If problems persist, threaten to call the tourist police with the phrase \"You're a hustler!\"\n On the streets, you may find it easier to feign ignorance of English: \"Non Speakee Engleezee\" and/or \"Non Parlee Arabee\" seems to be the most reliable way to show you are not interested in their offers. This technique can however backfire quite spectacularly as most Egyptians speak several languages, so if pressed claim to speak something obscure like Azerbaijani or Ossetic. If you do speak an uncommon language such as Persian or Albanian or an Eastern European language, make sure you start talking to them in that language. If you do not, practice faking it and do so in their presence. This is the fastest and easiest way to get rid of the touts. Otherwise, just don't engage at all.\n Depending upon the perception your profile creates, you may be asked, sometimes within minutes of exiting your hotel, if you would like to purchase **drugs or sex**. Remember, prostitution and drug use are not taken lightly by government authorities. For gay visitors, extreme care should be taken when propositioned by a sex worker. Egypt has a well documented record of gay men being caught in entrapment schemes.", "word_count": 819}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk020", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|right|200px|Beautiful raised relief from the Temple of Seti I at Abydos", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "nile-valley::chunk021", "doc_id": "nile-valley", "section": "Go next", "text": "Dendera — Luxor is a good base to visit this site of a fantastically well-preserved **Ptolemaic temple of Hathor**. A number of hotels organise day-trips, and you don't need to be staying with them to use these services. However, it can also easily be reached by taxi or, even cheaper, by (local) train to Qena and local taxi from there.\n For those with more time on their hands you can add a visit to the **Temple of Seti I** at Abydos, featuring some of the best relief work in Egypt. This is a lengthy road trip from Luxor, but can be combined with a day trip to Dendera.\n The city is also a good staging post for onward travel through Upper Egypt and on to Aswan and Abu Simbel.", "word_count": 129}
diff --git a/corpus/nile-valley/metadata.json b/corpus/nile-valley/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..61486454aa3a7af610f2aeada460087468169f9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nile-valley/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nile-valley",
+ "title": "Luxor",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Luxor",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 3,
+ 11
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Upper Egypt"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Dendera",
+ "Abydos",
+ "Dendera",
+ "Upper Egypt",
+ "Aswan",
+ "Abu Simbel"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4852,
+ "listing_count": 3,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 22,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/northern-thailand/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/northern-thailand/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d2328d5dff5a4b1bcbf24828dd6c7be0b50bf7a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/northern-thailand/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk000", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Northern Thailand** shares borders with Myanmar and Laos, as well as with the Central Plains and Isaan.", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk001", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Regions", "text": "**From north to south:**", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk002", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the largest city in the north, well-known for its many temples\n — jump off point for the Golden Triangle\n — the ancient city of the Diamond Walls, springboard for the rise of Sukothai\n — a picturesque little town with lush valleys\n — one of the larger cities at the lower end, gateway to the north\n — former capital of a small kingdom, filled with history, temples and surrounded by mountains\n — a laid-back backpacker atmosphere and a good starting point for trekking tours\n — a good overnight stop between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and gateway to the Sukhothai Historical Park\n — Thailand's original capital, now famed for the ancient Sukhothai ruins", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk003", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Itineraries", "text": "Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in 3 days\n Mae Hong Son Loop\n Samoeng Loop", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk004", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— mountain resort northwest of Chiang Mai\n — Thailand's highest mountain, beautiful and cool\n — royal villas and a mountaintop temple with stunning views and (supposedly) the Buddha's collarbone\n — an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet\n — Thailand's northernmost town, daytrips to Myanmar\n — founded by Chinese Nationalist soldiers who were expelled from Myanmar in 1961\n — small village with good guest houses\n — the largest protected area in Southeast Asia, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk005", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|240px|Wat Doi Suthep, [[Chiang Mai]]\n\nSurrounded by the country's highest mountains, Northern Thailand is cooler than the rest of the usually sweltering country and thus particularly popular in the hot season from March to June. In the mountains at night temperatures occasionally dip below freezing in the cold season, although in the plains the daily average is rarely less than 25 degrees Celsius.\n\nCulturally, Northern Thailand shows heavy influences from the neighboring cultures of Myanmar and Yunnan (China). The kingdoms of **Lanna** (centred at Chiang Mai) and **Sukhothai** were the first historical Thai nations. Most of Thailand's north was only integrated into the Chakri dynasty's power structure relatively late, with the Kingdom of Lanna being a vassal state of the Burmese Toungoo Dynasty from 1558 to 1775. After the Burmese withdrew, Lanna became a vassal of the Chakri Dynasty in 1776, paving the way for its integration into the modern Thai state. \n\nMuch of northern Thailand was for a long time off-limits due to a series of Communist insurgencies and Myanmar's drug battles and civil wars spilling over the border. Both problems have been largely resolved, although caution is still advised near the border with Myanmar in the provinces of Tak and Mae Hong Son.\n\n### Geography\n\nNorthern Thailand features multiple mountain ranges, steep river valleys and upland areas on the border of the plain of Central Thailand.\n\nThe Ping River and the Nan River unite to form the Chao Phraya River at Nakhon Sawan. The northeastern part is drained by rivers flowing into the Mekong basin, like the Kok and Ing. The Thi Lo Su Waterfall in Tak province is claimed to be the tallest and highest waterfall in Thailand.\n\nThese mountains and valleys shaped agriculture in this region: rice farming occurs in the valleys and shifting (slash-and-burn) cultivation occurs in the uplands. The forested mountains also promoted a spirit of regional independence. However forest cover in this region has declined by more than half since 1960.", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk006", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Temple sign in Thai (upper) and Lanna (lower), [[Chiang Rai]]\n\nThe people of Northern Thailand speak their own dialect of Thai called *Kham Meaung* (or *Kham Muang*; คำเมือง), however standard Thai is widely understood. In addition, the hill tribes speak their own languages.\n\nHere and there, especially at temples, you may spot signs written in a curious rounded script that looks more like Burmese than Thai. This is **Lanna**, the ancient script of the Lanna Kingdom, and while very few people can read or write it anymore, it's still popular in ceremonial usage.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk007", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nThe main airport in Northern Thailand is Chiang Mai, which has connections throughout Thailand and some international links too. Domestic flights (some of which may be seasonal) connect with Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Ko Samui, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Pai, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Sukhothai and Udon Thani.\n\n### By train\n\nTrains from Bangkok go regularly to Chiang Mai via Phitsanulok. The overnight sleeper trains between Bangkok and Chiang Mai sell out weeks in advance, so book ahead. The SRT D-Ticket app is easy to use.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is an extensive bus network with the main artery being Bangkok-Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai, buses head northwest to Mae Hong Son and Pai, and further north to Chiang Rai.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk008", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nRegular flights connect Chiang Mai with Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai, Phitsanulok and Sukhothai.\n\n### By train\n\nThe only railway line within Northern Thailand runs between Chiang Mai and Sukhothai (and further on to Bangkok).\n\n### By road\n\nThere is an extensive network of public bus services with major hubs in Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Green Bus is a major bus company in the region with many routes in Northern Thailand.\n\nMinibuses, songthaews and tuk-tuks also serve many places which are not directly accessible by bus. Cheap but not always comfortable.\n\nThere are many car rental companies but driving in Thailand is not for the faint hearted. The driving etiquette and rules take some getting used to. The rural parts of northern Thailand are mountainous, and whilst most main roads are in good condition and asphalt covered, there can be some sharp and steep curves to navigate especially in Mae Hong Son.\n\n### By bike\n\nNorthern Thailand has some of the best biking roads in the world, which pass through some stunning scenery. For the more adventurous traveller, the best way to explore the area is by motorbike. There are a number of places in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai where one can hire bikes or you can use a tour company to remove all the red tape, freeing you to simply enjoy your vacation.\n\nThe most reputable motorcycle tour company is **Thai Motorcycle Tours** (Tel: +66 86 2310097) who run bike tours in both Chiang Rai and the Mae Hong Son Loop. For renting your own bikes, try '''Mr Mechanic''' at 4 Soi 5, Moonmuang Rd, Chiang Mai, Tel: +66 53 214708.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk009", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "See", "text": "The rolling hills and sweeping mountains, lush green forests and nature, are some of the visual delights of Northern Thailand.\n\nThe mix of ethnic peoples such as the hill tribes, Shan (Tai Yai), Burmese, and mainland Thais make it a rich melange of cultures. The vibrant cultural and historical tapestry of Northern Thailand makes it one of the most authentic places to visit in Thailand. \n\nNorth Thailand shares borders with Myanmar and Laos such as at the Golden Triangle, the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar at the confluence of the Mekong River.\nDay trips are possible.\n \n**Temples** in Chiang Mai and **historical sites** in Sukhothai are major cultural attractions of Northern Thailand, the birthplace of Thai civilization. When invaders pushed a Thai prince from Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle in 1015, he moved his court to Kamphaeng Phet, a city that coalesced into the Sukhothai Kingdom, battling Angkor kings for control of the Thai plains, then a bulwark of the Thai defence against Burmese invasion.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in 3 days — three-day tour through Northern Thailand\n Mae Hong Son Loop", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk010", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|240px|[[Chiang Dao]] Wildlife Sanctuary\n **Hill tribes** – Another major attraction. There are approximately 7 main hill tribe groups (Akha, Lisu, Lahu, Yao, Hmong, Karen, and Lawa) who migrated from neighbouring China, Tibet, and Myanmar to the rural highlands of northern Thailand. Their traditional way of life as farmers in the mountains is a fascination to many travellers in the region. \nThere are hill tribe villages in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, some of which have been obviously set up for the purpose of tourism, requiring an entrance fee and with villagers selling souvenirs. These are widely advertised as part of 1 day package tours from Chiang Mai. \nThere are hill tribe trekking package tours from 1-5 days available. This involves walking in the forest, visiting hill tribe villages and may include elephant riding and rafting. These will mostly be a very commercial and 'canned' experience. A few tour operators do offer more authentic experiences.\nTo visit authentic hill tribe villages, the best way is to hire a local guide and your own transport. This will allow you to venture off the main tourist trail where you will find there are many hill tribes still living traditionally. \nSome operators attempt to limit the intrusion by restricting the number of visitors and employing local hill tribesmen as guides, but the competition is fierce and many simply aim to minimise costs and maximise profits.\n\n **Trekking** – One of the main attractions in northern Thailand. There are trekking tours suiting everybody's needs, from one-day all-inclusive to tours which last several days. Many tours include rafting and elephant riding. Alternatively, you can do many treks on your own with a proper map, e.g. Doi Luang Chiang Dao.\n\n **Hot springs** – The region is covered with more than a dozen hot springs — some with lots of comfort, some just a concrete tub in the jungle. Especially around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai many can be found.", "word_count": 321}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk011", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|A bowl of ''khao soi kai'', with pickled cabbage and lime to add to taste, in [[Chiang Rai]]\n\nNorthern Thai food is somewhat different to that eaten in the rest of the country. Northerners prefer sticky rice over steamed, bitter flavours to hot ones, and avoid using coconut milk. The favoured meat is pork, which finds it way into a variety of sausages (cooked or fermented) and whose skin is fried as the ubiquitous snack *khaep muu*. The traditional way of sampling Northern food is a low round table known as a *khan tok*, laden with dishes. Some favorites include:\n\n *kaeng hang le* - a Burmese-style pork curry\n *kaeng khae* - a soupy curry flavored with bitter herbs\n *khao soi* - a curry noodle soup reputedly of Burmese origin much favored in Chiang Mai, served with shallots, lime and pickles to add as you like\n *khanom jiin naam ngiew* - rice noodles with pork ribs and a complex tomatoes and black bean sauce\n *nam phrik* - covering a variety of spicy dips for rice and vegetables", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk012", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Sleep", "text": "While the larger towns (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok) offer a broad range of accommodation, in the smaller villages the tourist has to refer to guest houses and smaller hotels. Prices are usually lower than in Bangkok. Booking ahead (using the Internet or travel agencies) may give you better rates at some hotels, but do not rely on it.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "northern-thailand::chunk013", "doc_id": "northern-thailand", "section": "Go next", "text": "If you plan on staying for long, here are a few options to choose from:\n\n Laos: If you want to explore more of South East Asia, why not visit Laos? The culture of Laos is similar to that of Isaan. Make sure that your paperwork is in order before crossing over to Laos; the immigration regulations of Laos are much different than those of Thailand. \n\n Myanmar: If you want to explore more of South East Asia, why not visit Myanmar? Make sure that your paperwork is in order before crossing over to Myanmar; the immigration regulations of Myanmar are much different than those of Thailand. However, given the present poor security situation in Myanmar with its ongoing civil war, it's recommended that you avoid all non-essential travel to the country.\n\n Central Thailand\n\n Isaan", "word_count": 133}
diff --git a/corpus/northern-thailand/metadata.json b/corpus/northern-thailand/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f682f9bd63a15b30aa9d9f4fba4f37691d2c41c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/northern-thailand/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "northern-thailand",
+ "title": "Northern Thailand",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Northern_Thailand",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Thailand"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Laos",
+ "Isaan",
+ "Myanmar",
+ "Central Plains (Thailand)",
+ "Isaan"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1929,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 14,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/northwest-passage/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/northwest-passage/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cb8ab2baeb03ddf44305d1b4bf7459c5a742f8f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/northwest-passage/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk000", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nunavut** is a territory in northern Canada which contains Canada's northernmost lands. With only 37,000 inhabitants, Nunavut covers a land area larger than Mexico, divided between mainland North America and an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.\n\nAs of 2016, almost 85% of the people are part of an indigenous group called the Inuit. They used to be called Eskimos, but this word is no longer used in Canada, and is considered offensive by some. The singular form of \"Inuit\" is \"Inuk\" (\"he is Inuk\" vs \"they are Inuit\").", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk001", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Communities", "text": "Nunavut doesn't have \"cities\" in the sense that southerners would recognize, just small towns.\n\nThe Inuktitut name is in *italics*.\n — capital and largest settlement of Nunavut \n – Nunavut's third largest settlement\n (*Pangniqtuuq*) — gateway to the Auyuittuq National Park\n (*Qausuittuq*) — on Cornwallis Island, close to where Sir John Franklin's lost expedition spent their first winter\n (Inuktitut: ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ *Iglulik*)— the home-base of the only Inuit circus, Artcirq\n (*Kangiqliniq*) — an air transport hub, and gateway to Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park\n (*Uqsuqtuuq*) — Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, intent on traversing the Northwest Passage, anchored the *Gjoa* here for nearly two years. Today, more than 1000 Netsilik Inuit call it home.\n - nowadays, it's the largest stop for passenger and research vessels traversing the Arctic Ocean's Northwest Passage.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk002", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|300px|Glacier on the northeast coast of Baffin Island\n — the world's northernmost settlement, on Ellesmere Island \n — the land nearest the geomagnetic north pole, which used to pass through the island\n (Inuktitut: *Tatlurutit*) — the world's largest deserted island... with a cemetery, the northernmost in the world\n — the remote meeting point of the borders of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Saskatchewan\n – home to one of the best preserved Inuit rock art\n\n### National parks\n\nright|thumb|Tanquary Fiord in Quttinirpaaq National Park\n — its name means \"the land that never melts\", and it includes many terrains of the Arctic wilderness, such as fjords, glaciers, and ice fields\n — covers 2/3 of Bathurst Island, and protects an important Peary caribou habitat\n — protecting a huge area of polar desert on Ellesmere Island, accessible by charter tours, the launching point for trekking to the North Pole \n — the \"place of glaciers\" consists of three parcels on Baffin Island\n — a park with more than 400 documented archaeological sites, near Repulse Bay on the mainland of Nunavut", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk003", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Understand", "text": "right|thumb|Inukshuk (a traditional Inuit stone landmarker) at Rankin Inlet\nNunavut means *our land* in Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit. The official languages are English, French, Inuktitut, and Innuinaqtun.\n\nIt is one of the most sparsely populated regions of the world. The immense territory includes most of Canada's Arctic Islands, from Baffin Island in the territory's southeast, where the capital Iqaluit is located, to Ellesmere Island a few hundred kilometres from the North Pole. The territory also includes all of the islands in Hudson Bay.\n\n### History\n\nThe region which is now mainland Nunavut was first populated approximately 4500 years ago by the Pre-Dorset, a diverse Paleo-Eskimo culture that migrated eastward from the Bering Strait region. The Pre-Dorset culture was succeeded by the Dorset culture about 2800 years ago. The Dorset culture has been assumed to have developed from the Pre-Dorset; however, the relationship between the two remains unclear.\n\nHelluland, a location Norse explorers describe visiting in the Sagas of Icelanders, has been connected to Nunavut's Baffin Island. \n\nThe Thule people, ancestors of the modern Inuit, began migrating into the Northwest Territories and Nunavut from Alaska in the 11th century. By 1300, the geographic extent of Thule settlement included most of modern Nunavut. The migration of the Thule people coincides with the decline of the Dorset, who died out between 800 and 1500.\n\nThe written historical accounts of the area begin in 1576, with an account by English explorer Martin Frobisher. While leading an expedition to find the Northwest Passage, Frobisher thought he had discovered gold ore around the body of water now known as Frobisher Bay on the coast of Baffin Island. The ore turned out to be worthless, but Frobisher made the first recorded European contact with the Inuit. \nright|thumb|Kaparoqtalik Glacier in Sirmilik National Park\nUntil the end of World War II, when the Canadian government began to realize its strategic importance, the Canadian far north was seen as a barren and desolate place, inhabited by Indigenous peoples and containing vast mineral resources that had (and have) yet to be exploited.\n\nCornwallis and Ellesmere Islands featured in the history of the Cold War in the 1950s. Concerned about the area's strategic geopolitical position, the federal government relocated Inuit from Nunavik (northern Quebec) to Resolute and Grise Fiord. In the unfamiliar and hostile conditions, they faced starvation, but were forced to stay.\n\nDiscussions on dividing the Northwest Territories along ethnic lines began in the 1950s, in order to give the Inuit people a degree of self-government. In 1982, after much debate and argument, it was decided to divide the Northwest Territories into two parts, one called Nunavut and the other retaining the name \"Northwest Territories\". On April 1, 1999, Nunavut came into existence.\n\n### Climate\n\nNunavut experiences a polar climate in most regions, owing to its high latitude and lower continental summertime influence than areas to the west. In more southerly continental areas very cold subarctic climates can be found, due to July being slightly milder than the required 10 °C (50 °F).\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Destination Nunavut website", "word_count": 510}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk004", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Talk", "text": "right|thumb|Iqaluit stop sign\nAround 65% of people living in Nunavut speak Inuktitut as a first language, and the language is co-official with English and French in the territory. Inuktitut is the traditional language spoken by the Inuit people, and is very closely related to Greenlandic. It is a somewhat hard language to learn for the English speaker, and most English speaking people won’t even be able to read it because it is written in its own unique script. Though most Inuit will probably speak English, it would be a good idea to learn a few key phrases or bring an Inuktitut phrasebook along. Learning the script in any case is relatively easy to do. French may sometimes also be useful, though most of the time, not necessary. However, in some more remote places, Inuktitut may be necessary. Public signage is generally bilingual in Inuktitut and English but rarely in French.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk005", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Get in", "text": "Access is only by air: there is no road or rail from the south or west. Every settlement has at least a landing strip.\n\nIqaluit Airport hosts scheduled passenger services from Ottawa, Montreal, Rankin Inlet, and smaller communities throughout eastern Nunavut. Flights from Yellowknife and Winnipeg go through Rankin Inlet.\n\nExploring Nunavut by cruise ship is a popular, but expensive option. Adventure Canada, Quark Expeditions, and EYOS Expeditions do cruises to the territory.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk006", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Get around", "text": "In the smaller communities (less than 3,000), ATVs and trucks are used during the short summer (when there is no snow).\n\nIn the winter, snowmobiles are the main way of getting around. Dog sleds are also used but owning and maintaining a dog team can be a very costly endeavour. Getting to and from the different communities can only be done by air; there are no roads linking the different population centres in the territory.", "word_count": 75}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk007", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "See", "text": "The capital, **Iqaluit**, has a few buildings of interest: the territorial legislature, a museum, and an igloo-shaped Anglican Church.\n\nThe **Aurora Borealis** can be easily seen from October to March in the centre of the community, but by taking a walk out of the town, they can be more spectacular. Inuit people have many legends about the auroras, which can be heard by talking to people in Rankin.\n\nThe **midnight sun** adds a magical element to travel in the Arctic. Winter is the time of darkness, but in summer, daylight lasts almost 24 hours in the more northerly communities.\n\nIn **Gjoa Haven**, you can explore sights associated with the Sir John Franklin's 1845 lost expedition and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. 100 km east of Resolute, you can visit Beechey Island, the Franklin expedition's first wintering location.\n\n**Artcirq** is an Inuit circus performance collective based in Igloolik. It blends techniques of modern circus arts such as acrobatics, juggling, and clowning with traditional Inuit cultural practices including Inuit traditional games, throat singing, and drum dancing to create meaningful and original work through performing arts, music, and video.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk008", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Do", "text": "right|thumb|Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park near Iqaluit\n**Guided excursions** around the island and Arctic expeditions further afield organized by outfitters (there are several in Iqaluit) are the principal way of seeing Nunavut's truly great outdoors. Summer activities include trekking, and boat and fishing tours in Frobisher Bay. In the winter months, dog-sledding journeys are an excellent way to get out and explore the landscape. \n\n**Marine wildlife watching** is particularly good in Resolute Bay: pods of beluga and narwhal can be seen from the beach as they head to their summer feeding grounds. \n\nA walk five minutes outside a community like Rankin Inlet will give you the opportunity to see terrain which appears untouched by humans. Spring and summer brings **wildlife** like squirrels, which are everywhere, chattering incessantly from their perches, as do peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons. Keep a watchful eye on the area to see loons, geese, swans and cranes, which will keep photographers busy.\nright|thumb|350px|Ovayuk Territorial Park\n**Ovayuk Territorial Park**, east of Cambridge Bay, has 20 km of trails, camping areas and interpretive signage. **Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park**, near Rankin Inlet, includes the archaeological site of Thule.\n\nIn April, Rankin Inlet celebrates **Pakallak Time** with a sled race, snowmobile races, and igloo building.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk009", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Buy", "text": "Traditional crafts and carvings are the items to look out for. The Uqqurmiut Centre is an Inuit arts facility in Pangnirtung that sells local products.\n\nNote that you may need to apply for a wildlife export permit for carrying animal products outside of Nunavut even if your final destination is in the rest of Canada. The permit is free and can be obtained from a Department of Environment office in most communities. Animal products that need a permit are:\n\n Legally killed game\n Antlers or skulls\n A gift of meat from a hunter\n Untanned furs and raw hides\n Polar bear hides\n Narwhal tusks", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk010", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Eat", "text": "Some towns may offer small restaurants or coffee shops. \n\nTry some traditional Inuit food, such as raw seal meat. For many Inuit, hunting is still the primary way of acquiring food, so many northern foods can be bought from local fishers or hunters and cooked. **Arctic char** has been a staple food for thousands of years. It is a sustainable fish related to salmon and trout that is valued for its delicate taste, striking colour, and health benefits. **Caribou meat** is also eaten.\n\nThe main grocers are Co-op and Northern, a common grocery for Nunavut. Because most food is shipped in on planes, be prepared to pay **extraordinarily high prices** for perishables, such as milk, fruit, and vegetables.\n\nDuring the short summer, foraging for wild plants such as mountain sorrel, snow-bed willow, Labrador tea, lamb's quarter, violet and shepherd's purse has been an important supplement to the Inuit diet. Local berries include cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries, gooseberries and crowberries.\n\nIn Nunavut, any food that the land provides is called \"country food\": caribou, Arctic char, salmon, musk ox, seal, whale, seafood (fish, clams and mussels), Arctic hare and ptarmigan. Country food is often accompanied by imported sauces, such as soy sauce, or traditional sauces made from caribou or seal.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk011", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Drink", "text": "In many places in Nunavut there is a local law **prohibiting all alcohol**. Given the high rates of addiction and suicide in many places, communities have felt the need to adopt this extreme position. Do not bring any alcohol into an officially dry community, as you can exacerbate the local problems with alcohol abuse and even cause a person's death. When flying into those dry communities, local RCMP police may meet the flight and inspect every passenger's luggage to make sure that you're not smuggling any alcohol.\n\nIn other communities, local bars are permitted to operate. There are no local liquor stores outside Iqaluit; a warehouse in each of Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit will ship hard liquor outside the community but this must be ordered in advance.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk012", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Sleep", "text": "As with food, accommodation is very expensive in Nunavut. Expect to pay premium prices for fairly basic accommodation. For example, a B&B in Iqaluit, the largest town, starts at $260 a night (Apr 2025).", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk013", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Connect", "text": "Wireless network services are now available at towns and hamlets. Qiniq and Bell Mobility are the service providers. Despite government subsidies, rates are somewhat higher than elsewhere in Canada due to high maintenance costs associated with the cold weather and the small customer base to distribute the cost. Satellite phones are a better choice if you're outside of these settlements.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk014", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The cold weather and dangerous animals articles have advice which will be relevant to many travellers in the Arctic.\n\nThere is **no 9-1-1** emergency number in Nunavut. Use the local seven-digit numbers to reach individual emergency services in each community.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "northwest-passage::chunk015", "doc_id": "northwest-passage", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Inuit people have always been at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the Canadian population. The disadvantage can also be seen in wealth, life expectancy, health, etc., and it's best to avoid bringing up these controversies.", "word_count": 38}
diff --git a/corpus/northwest-passage/metadata.json b/corpus/northwest-passage/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4b2aaa17927a2bdfab08089a8ef172a13a49623d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/northwest-passage/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "northwest-passage",
+ "title": "Nunavut",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Polar / Special",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nunavut",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "northern-lights",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
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+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk000", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Norway** (Norwegian: *Norge* or *Noreg*) is a land of great fjords, great valleys, wide forests and gorgeous lakes. It also hosts lively cities such as Oslo and Bergen. Norway is the westernmost, northernmost and, surprisingly, the easternmost of the Scandinavian countries – among the Nordic countries only Finland stretches slightly further east. See the midnight sun, watch the Northern Lights, live its rich cultural heritage and eye its distinctive architecture, all the while being tucked within some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk001", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the capital and largest city of Norway, with museums of national importance, a beautiful setting and lively nightlife and cultural scene.\n – Once the capital of Norway, old Hanseatic trading centre with a rich culture and dramatic scenery, Norway's second largest city. Wonderfully cute wooden buildings, a magnificent mountain setting, varied nightlife and lots of atmosphere. This is your gateway to the western fjords. The city has been dubbed \"the rainiest city in Europe\" with an average of 250 days of rainfall a year. Bring an umbrella.\n – The gateway to the magnificent Lofoten islands. And the place of Saltstraumen, the worlds strongest maelstrom.\n – Once known as industrial and grimy, but refurbishment has made Drammen an enjoyable side trip from Oslo.\n – A magnificent old town stands out from the rest of the rather nondescript city. Brilliant as a day trip from Oslo.\n – The jolly capital of the South. Best known for the family attraction Kristiansand zoo and amusement park and as Norway's \"cool riviera\".\n – The fourth largest city, and the third largest urban area. Commercially important due to the oil business. The wooden, cobbled central area is one of the most charming places in Norway. Home to one of Norway's medieval cathedrals, you can also visit Iron Age homes and stone age caves. Stavanger is where Erik the Red was born.\n – The largest city in northern Norway. Offers a perfect spot for the Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun and plenty of other excursions while in between enjoying the tranquil mountainous vistas.\n – Famous for its stunning cathedral (Nidarosdomen). Wonderful riverside wharfs, wooden buildings and the best student nightlife in Norway give beautiful, leafy Trondheim its charm.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk002", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Atlanterhavsveien with the iconic Storseisundet bridge\n\n – The Atlantic Ocean Road is a spectacular road with bridges along islands and skerries on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.\n – Norway's largest national park on a large highland plateau.\n – The largest glacier on the European mainland.\n – A majestic landscape and home of Norway's highest mountains.\n – Experience the midnight sun in this traditional fishing district in the northern province with islands and mountains.\n – This cliff is the northernmost point of continental Europe, overlooking the Barents ocean.\n – Glaciers, mountains and picturesque settlements are but a few of the sights on the Sognefjord. Flåm and Nærøyfjorden (also a UNESCO World Heritage site) are parts of the mighty Sognefjorden system.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk003", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|[[Olden]] lake is a typical fjord-lake and the turquoise water reveals there is a glacier nearby.\n\n### History\n\nThe petty Viking kingdoms of Norway were unified in 872 AD by Harald Fairhair. In the following period, Norwegians settled in many places, such as Iceland, the Faroe Islands and parts of Scotland and Ireland, where they founded Dublin and Waterford. In the beginning of the 14th century, Norway and Sweden were unified as the Norwegian king was also elected king of Sweden. At the end of the century, the two countries and Denmark were unified in the so-called Kalmar Union.\n\nSweden broke out of the union in 1521. Norway remained in union with Denmark until the Napoleonic Wars of 1814. Because of Denmark being on the losing side of the Napoleonic wars Norway was handed over to Sweden which was part of the winning coalition. Norway declared independence, but Sweden invaded Norway and enforced a personal union, still allowing Norway a great deal of independence.\n\nFrom the mid 1800s almost a million Norwegians emigrated to the U.S., about 30% of the population at the time, a proportion only surpassed by Ireland; the largest concentration of them settled in the Midwest. In some districts of Norway 40–50% left for the U.S. About 5 million Americans are of Norwegian ancestry. Some emigrants returned to the \"old country\" and brought money, ideas, and technology from \"over there\". Particularly in the Farsund–Flekkefjord area, the U.S. influence is notable. Ties to the U.S. remain strong, culturally as well as politically.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk004", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "The union with Sweden lasted until 1905, which is considered the beginning of modern Norway. Norway rejected membership in the European Union when Finland and Sweden joined. During World War II, from 1940 until 1945, Norway was occupied by German forces. In the 1960s, oil was found in the North Sea. Oil drilling has brought Norway prosperity, but contrary to many other oil-exporting countries, Norway invests its profits in a very egalitarian and collectivist way creating an affluent, harmonious society taking advantage of excellent infrastructure and pioneering environmentally friendly technologies in everyday lives. Repeatedly ranked as a country with one of the world's highest standards of living, Norway has attracted migrants from many places all over the world, which add to today's colourful and inclusive society. All this does not come cheap, and consumer prices are among the highest in the world.\n\n### Geography\n\n> I design coastlines. I got an award for Norway.\n\nthumb|Typical polished, coastal cliffs", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk005", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Norway occupies the western edge of the large Scandinavian peninsula shared with Sweden in the north of Europe. In the north, it also borders Finland and Russia. Some 5 million inhabitants share an area about the size of Germany and larger than Britain. Norway is primarily a very long country - driving from the most southern to the most northern cities equals the distance from Hamburg to Malaga (and through much more rugged terrain). Norway's coastline is also one of the longest in the world – if islands and fjords are included the coastline has been calculated as 50,000 to 100,000 km. Nordland county alone has a longer coastline than the entire United Kingdom when fjords and islands are included. Because of the fjords cutting deep into the bedrock at some points the mainland is only a few kilometres wide and the Swedish border is within walking distance from the Atlantic.\n\nNorway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The famous **fjords** are long narrow inlets of the ocean, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland. Norway's endless coastline also includes countless islands of all sizes - there are more than 200,000 identified islands along Norway's coast (only surpassed by Greece). The many islands and skerries shelter the coast from the rough Atlantic such that Hurtigruten and other ships can travel long stretches on calm waters. These sheltered (internal) waters (fjords, bays and straits) cover some 100,000km2.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk006", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are more than 450,000 **lakes** throughout Norway well over 100,000 of these are in Finnmark county; even inside the city of Oslo there are several hundred lakes. Norway is home to the deepest lakes in Europe. Lakes and rivers cover more than 5% of the land. The vast majority of the land (about 95%) is rocky wilderness and forests, and thus Norway has large, completely unpopulated areas, many of which have been protected as national parks. Also outside the national parks, much of the land is largely unspoiled nature – there is in fact no need to visit a national park to experience wilderness and great landscapes. Roads and railways as well as ordinary ferries offer easy access to great panoramas. There are few sandy beaches along Norway's endless shores; shores are typically rocky, steep cliffs or smooth polished slabs of rock.\n\nthumb|Water in all forms dominates Norway's landscape and economy.\n\nNorway's highest point is Galdhøpiggen, in the Jotunheimen region midway between Oslo and Trondheim, but away from the coast. In the far north (Finnmark), there are relatively flat open spaces. Several of the world's tallest **waterfalls** are in Norway, particularly in the western fjords and the mountain region. Most of Norway is one mountain range, the Scandinavian mountains, which includes parts of Sweden. This is the longest mountain range in Europe, longer than the Carpathians and notably longer than the Alps. While there are **mountains** all over Norway, some major mountain areas define Norway's main regions. The north-south line of mountain areas (notably Hardangervidda and Jotunheimen) are major barriers and separate West Norway from East Norway. Similarly the wide Dovrefjell separates Middle Norway (Trøndelag) from East Norway. Norway also includes the Svalbard archipelago far from the mainland, on the edge of the arctic ice shelf.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk007", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "The long rugged coast, fjords, countless lakes, tall waterfalls and pretty rivers mean that **water** is the one thing that most characterizes Norway. Norway's mainland has more than 2,000 **glaciers**, which cover almost 1% of the land. Jostedalsbreen occupies about 500 km2 and is the largest glacier in mainland Europe. Svalbard is covered by 60% glaciers and has the largest glacier in Europe – only matched by Vatnajökull in Iceland. Glaciers are most common in Hardanger, Sogn og Fjordane/Jotunheimen, Nordland and Lyngen.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk008", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Administratively, Norway is divided into counties that are grouped into regions East, South, West, middle (Trøndelag) and North. The landscape of Norway can also be described by zones that cut across these administrative divisions.\n The \"**fjordland**\", the part of Norway dominated by fjords, runs as a wide belt all along the country, 20 to 200 km wide. This particular landscape is typically a tangle of fjords and peninsulas, valleys and lakes.\n **Island belt**, Further out the mainland is sheltered by a belt of islands and skerries, this belt is often wide and complex for instance around Bergen or the Lofoten archipelago. Such a belt of islands allows ships safe journey along major parts of the coast. Just south of Stavanger there are neither fjords nor islands, leaving the long sandy beaches unprotected.\n **Mountain region**: Somewhat inland and partly coinciding with the fjords is the high mountain belt running basically South-North through the entire Scandinavian peninsula separating East Norway and West Norway, while further north separating Norway and Sweden. The high mountains vary from wild alpine summits and glaciers towards the Atlantic and more mellow landscapes further east. The mountain landscapes include barren plateaus (*vidde*) such as Hardangervidda in the south and Finnmarksvidda modest elevation in the north.\n **Big valleys**: East and south of the central mountains is the land of big valleys, which stretch from the lowlands around Oslo to the central mountains. Gudbrandsdal, Hallingdal, Setesdal and Valdres are typical big valleys. In eastern and central Finnmark the fjords instead of high mountains change into a wide plateau at moderate altitude.\n **Central eastern lowland**: Greater Oslo, both shores of the Oslofjord (Vestfold and Østfold counties), and around big lakes Mjøsa and Tyrifjorden is the most densely populated and most important agricultural area.\n\n### Nature and wildlife", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk009", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Common road sign in moose areas of East Norway, Trøndelag and Nordland.\n\nNorway's wild animals are rarely seen during a brief visit. In Norway's wide forests there are several hundred thousand moose (elk, Norwegian *elg*) and some 40,000 are hunted every year. Most of the European moose are in the Norway, Finland and Sweden. Visitors may spot these large animals along roads at dusk and dawn, occasionally they stroll onto the highway causing traffic hazard. In West Norway there is an equally large number of red deer (Norwegian: *hjort*). The red deer is somewhat more watchful and careful than the moose, but can in some areas be seen in large numbers grazing meadows in spring and autumn.\n\nThere is a small group of musk-ox in the Dovre plateau, originating from Greenland, but naturalized in Norway. This animal does not run away when disturbed, but forms a defence and can attack if approached. In the high plateaus like Hardangervidda and Rondane there are large reindeer flocks and smaller groups of young males roaming on their own. Wild reindeer are only occasionally seen from roads, usually several days of hiking is needed to spot this high mountain animal. In Northern Norway, the reindeer are semi-domesticated and privately owned; they are often seen along roads and close to settlements.\n\nThere is a moderate number of Eurasian wolf, brown bear, wolverine and lynx. Some 60 to 100 wolves live in forests close to the Norwegian-Swedish border. The lynx and the wolverine roam wide areas and can move tens of kilometres per day. Polar bears are not found on the mainland, but roam the Svalbard islands in large numbers. These predators are very watchful and are rarely observed even by locals. Wild animals are generally protected and should not be disturbed.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk010", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "The most intense wildlife is found along Norway's endless coast, notably the several million sea birds, sea animals and fish. The harbour porpoise is common and can occasionally be seen in fjords. Killer whales (orcas) are common and hunt herring along the Norwegian coast particularly in Nordland and Troms. Previously dolphins were rarely seen in Norway, but since about year 2000 dolphins visit the Oslofjord, the Agder coast as well as the west coast. Six different types of seals are found along the coast, the seventh (Walrus) only on Svalbard. There may be more than a million puffins (Norwegian: *lunde*) at some locations in Western and Northern Norway. The bird cliffs at Runde island is home to several hundred thousand puffins. In Nordland county, there are more than thousand sea eagles (white-tailed eagle), the greatest density of this large bird in Europe.\n\n### People\n\nthumb|Ole Henrik Magga in traditional decorated Sami ''kofte'' (jacket) welcomes King Harald V (in army uniform) to the Sami assembly. The cameraman wears a less decorated jacket.\n\nNorway is one of Europe's most sparsely populated countries. With a population of only 5 million people and a land area of the population density is only 16 inhabitants per km². Most of the population are Norwegians. The indigenous Sami people traditionally inhabit the northern part of Norway, which along with parts of Sweden, Finland and Russia outlines an area known as *Sapmi* or *Sameland*. Other recognized minorities (which were in Norway before the modern age) are the Kven people, Jews, Forest Finns, and Norwegian Romani Travellers. Net migration to Norway peaked at 49,000 people in 2012, and fell to 18,000 in 2018.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk011", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Lutheranism** used to be the state religion, and the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Lutheran. About 80% of Norwegians are nominally Lutheran, though freedom of religion is generally respected, and most Norwegians do not attend church regularly.\n\nNorway has become rather liberal in moral issues and thus more similar to southern neighbours like Denmark and the Netherlands. Homosexuality is accepted by most people and in 2008 same-sex marriage was given the same legal status as traditional marriage. For instance, a previous male minister of finance and prominent figure in the conservative party is in partnership with a prominent male business manager. Some regions along the southern and south-western coast, however, are fairly conservative, especially in the more rural areas.\n\nAlthough the crime rate is low, Norwegians like locking things away – in cities you will even see communal washing lines fenced off behind a locked gate so that only tenants have access.\n\n### Economy and politics\n\nthumb|Fisheries and fish farming are key industries in Norway. Fish rack in Lofoten.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk012", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Norway's strong economy builds on the oil and gas industry (primarily in the North Sea, but all along the continental shelf until Nordkapp), which makes up more than 20% of its GDP. A large share of this oil revenue is in turn invested in a sovereign wealth fund to maintain Norway's high standard of living once oil runs out or oil-prices drop. Norway also has several other natural resources such as hydro-electric power, wood, fish and minerals, some manufacturing, and a healthy technology sector. Fish, mostly salmon farmed along the coast, is the second most important export product, after oil and natural gas. Unsalted, dried white fish (*stockfish*) was historically the main export. Politically, it is dominated by a widespread and continued support for the *Nordic model*, which means high taxes and high government spending to support free schools, free healthcare, an efficient welfare system and many other benefits. The unemployment rate in Norway is mostly less than 4 percent.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk013", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Norwegians rejected membership in the EU or its predecessors, in referendums held 1972 and 1994, both times just by a few percentage points. France vetoed Norwegian European Community membership in the 1950s and 1960s. However, being a member state of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen agreement, Norway is closely harmonised with the EU, and integrated as a full member in most economic matters, as well as in customs and immigration matters. This is of great economic importance to Norway. One of the areas where Norway has made deals with the EU that differ significantly from what Norway would be operating under as an EU member is fisheries. As the question of EU membership is a hot button issue across all political camps in Norway, coalitions usually include a \"EU membership will not be discussed during the course of this government\" clause.\n\nAs one of the richest countries in the world and with a strong currency, most visitors should expect higher prices than at home, especially for tobacco and alcohol. In addition, Norway has a very compressed wage structure which means that even typically low skilled work is relatively well paid. For the same reason, firms try to keep the number of staff as low as possible, even for low-skilled service staff.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Annual mean temperature. Source: The Norwegian Meteorological Institute (met.no)\nthumb|Annual mean precipitation. Source: The Norwegian Meteorological Institute (met.no)", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk014", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Because of the gulf stream, the climate in Norway, especially along the coast, is noticeably warmer than what would otherwise be expected at such a high latitude. Although half the length of Norway is north of the Arctic circle, the climate is not Arctic. Summers can be moderately warm (up to 25–30°C, 75–85°F), even in northern areas, but only for limited periods. The length of the winter and amount of snow varies considerably. In the north there is more snow and winters are dark; on the southern and western coast, winters are moderate and rainy. Further inland (North Norway and East Norway) the temperature can easily fall below -25°C (-15°F). In the interior of Finnmark -25°C to -35°C is common in January (record low at -50°C (-58°F)). Along the coast of Hordaland and Rogaland temperatures only occasionally and briefly drop below -5°C (20°F), and the climate is not unlike other coastal areas around the North Sea. Some mountain areas have glaciers and permanent snow, but on the mainland there is permafrost (permanently frozen ground) only in some small areas in the high mountains. On Svalbard there is permafrost everywhere.\n\nWhile the coast of West Norway is among the rainiest in Europe, East Norway is largely in the rain shadow and relatively dry. In fact, northern Oppland is among the driest areas in Europe (comparable to dry areas in Spain and Greece). The interior of North Norway also obtains very little precipitation. Longyearbyen in Svalbard gets less than 200 mm precipitation per year similar to Almeria in Spain.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk015", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Norway's hours of daylight, temperature and driving conditions vary greatly throughout the year. Seasonal variations crucially depend on region (distance from ocean) and latitude as well as altitude. The area with midnight sun (north of the arctic circle) also has winter darkness (polar night) when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all.\n+Midsummer and midwinter average temperatures\nWhere\nJuly\nJanuary\nOslo 16.4°C -4.3°C\nLillehammer 14.7°C -9.1°C\nBergen 14.3°C 1.3°C\nTrondheim 13.0°C -3.0°C\nTromsø 11.8°C -4.4°C\nAlta 13.4°C -8.7°C\nKautokeino 12.4°C -14.7°C\n\nNorwegian weather is most pleasant during the summer (May to early September). If you like snow, go to Norway in December to April. Along the coasts and in southern part of West Norway there is little snow or frost and few opportunities for skiing, even in winter. In the mountains there is snow until May and some mountain passes are closed until the end of May. If you come in the beginning of May some passes can be still closed, but since the snow is melting very quickly, you will get a possibility to enjoy plenty of waterfalls before they disappear. And in this time the number of tourists is very small. Spring in Norway is quite intense due to the abundance of water (melting snow) in conjunction with plenty of sunlight and quickly rising temperatures (typically in May). Complete forecasts and statistics.\n\nthumb|Northern lights (aurora borealis) in Tromsø.\n\n### Daylight", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk016", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Daylight varies greatly during the year. In Oslo, the sun sets at around 15:30 in December. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun and polar night (winter darkness). However, even at Oslo's latitude, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight during June and July, these gentle \"white nights\" can also be a nice and unusual experience for visitors. The polar (or northern) light (aurora borealis) occurs in the darker months, frequently at high latitudes (Northern Norway) but occasionally also further South. While winter has little daylight, winter is also a season of lights: The aurora and the moon over white snow is an experience, and Norwegians use plenty of electric light around their houses.\n\nKirkenes is more than 30° East compared to Bergen at 5° East and Oslo at about 10° East. This means that in East Finnmark the sun is more than 1 hour ahead of the sun in Oslo. All of Norway uses Central European Time while Finland uses Eastern European Time and Russia across the border from Kirkenes uses Moscow time. In the easternmost corner of Finnmark three time zones meet.\n\n+Polarnight (winter darkness) and midnight sun by city\n City\n Start darkness\n End darkness\n Midnight sun\n End midnight sun\nBodø\nnone\n(no winter darkness)\nJune 4\nJuly 8\nTromsø\nNovember 27\nJanuary 15\nMay 20\nJuly 22\nSvolvær\nDecember 7\nJanuary 5\nMay 28\nJuly 14\nAlta\nNovember 25\nJanuary 17\nMay 19\nJuly 24\nNordkapp\nNovember 20\nJanuary 22\nMay 14\nJuly 29\nLongyearbyen\nOctober 26\nFebruary 16\nApril 20\nAugust 22\n\nBecause of very long twilight at northern latitudes, there is usable daylight 1-2 hours after sunset. In summer this means that for instance in Trondheim midsummer nights are not dark at all.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk017", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "+Sun rise and sun set by city (midsummer and midwinter)\nCity\nSun rise June 21\nSun set June 21\nSun rise December\nSun set December\nKristiansand\n4:25\n22:35\n9:15\n15:40\nOslo\n3:55\n22:45\n9:20\n15:10\nBergen\n4:10\n23:10\n9:45\n15:30\nTrondheim\n3:00\n23:40\n10:00\n14:30\nTromsø\nmidnight sun\nmidnight sun\npolar night\npolar night\n\n### Holidays\n\nthumb|May 17th is constitution day has been celebrated with non-military parades since the 19th century. This is the only celebration held in the streets throughout Norway. Children are at the centre.\n\nThe major holidays are Easter, Christmas (24 December, 25 December and 26 December are all considered holidays), and the \"common vacation\" throughout July. In May there are several holidays including constitution day (17 May) – the main national celebration and an attraction in itself.\n\nPublic holidays (schools and offices closed):\n January 1 — New Year's Day\n Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday, \"Skjærtorsdag\")\n Good Friday (\"Langfredag\")\n Easter Sunday (\"påskedag\")\n Second day of Easter (Monday) (\"andre påskedag\")\n May 1 – Labour day\n May 17 – Constitution Day (\"syttende mai\"/\"syttande mai\" – \"grunnlovsdag\"), considered as the National Day\n Ascension Thursday (\"Kristi himmelfart\")\n Pentecost (Whit Sunday, \"pinsedag\")\n Pentecost 2ed (Whit Monday, \"andre pinsedag\")\n December 24 — Christmas Eve (\"juleaften\")\n December 25 – Christmas Day (\"første juledag\")\n December 26 – Boxing Day (\"andre juledag\")", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk018", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Many Norwegian holidays are celebrated on the day before (Holy Saturday, Christmas Eve etc.). On Christmas Eve (\"julekveld\", \"julaften\"), New Year's Eve (\"nyttårsaften\"), Holy Saturday (\"påskeaften\") and Saturday before Pentecost (\"pinseaften\") shops close early. Christmas is the most quiet holiday as Norwegians traditionally stay at home with family and most services are closed from noon 24th until 27th. Norwegians often travel across the country to their family or \"homeplace\" for Christmas. Schools are closed from December 23 until January, and many Norwegians are on vacation at this time.\n\nEaster is the outdoor holiday even if Good Friday and Easter Sunday are regarded as among the holiest days on the Christian calendar. Many Norwegians are on vacation from Palm Sunday to second day of Easter and cities are quite at this time. Pentecost is the third among the holy days but are strictly observed by few Norwegians. Norwegians also celebrate midsummer at St. John's day on 24 June by making a bonfire late evening the day before – \"St.John's Eve\" (\"St.Hansaften\" or \"Jonsokaften\"), even if this has catholic origins. Norwegians traditionally do not celebrate Halloween (\"Allehelgensaften\"), but since about 2010 some have copied the American tradition.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk019", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Understand", "text": "Labour day (May 1) is a day off for most people and in most towns there are some parades and political manifestations. May 17th is a major public celebration, basically the only such in Norway. May 17 is a friendly celebration with school children and high school graduates at the centre, and no army parade as in some other countries. Restaurants and bars are usually packed. Visitors should not plan transport on May 17. Flags will also fly on May 8 (Liberation day) and June 7 (Independence day), but these are not days off and there are no public celebrations (heros are instead honored on May 17). New year's day is a day off and flags fly from public buildings.\n\n### Tourism information\n\n- Visit Norway\n\n### Read\n\nW. Matthieu Williams: *Through Norway With a Knapsack* (1859)\n Mary Wollstonecraft: *Letters written during a short residence in Sweden, Norway and Denmark* (1796)\n Thomas Malthus: *Travel journal from Norway* (1799)\n Samuel Beckett: *The fjords and folk of Norway* (1915)\n W.C. Slingsby: *Norway: the Northern Playground* (1904)\n Dhiravat na Pombejra: *A Month in Norway: King Chulalongkorn's travels July–August 1907*.\n Robert Everest: A journey through Norway, Lapland, and part of Sweden: with some remarks on the geology of the country, its climate and scenery. (1829)\n Lees, James A. and Clutterbuck, Walter J: *Three in Norway* (by two of them) (1912)", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk020", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|A local sign in Norwegian: bank=bank, kabelferge=cable ferry, butikk=shop (from French ''boutique''), skule=school, kafe=cafe.\n\nThere is no standard spoken **Norwegian** (*norsk*) – a wide range of dialects is used even in public broadcasting. Differences among dialects are much more than accents and slight differences in pronunciation. Some dialects are almost like different languages and these differences have 1000 year old roots. In the middle ages, Norse (old Norwegian) was spoken in Norway, Iceland and parts of the British Isles. In Iceland, the Old Norse is largely retained, while Norwegian has changed substantially, heavily influenced by Danish and Low German. Foreign visitors may note the marked difference in melody: In western Norway pitch is high to low, whereas in eastern Norway pitch is low to high. Unlike most European languages, Norwegian is a pitch-accent language and to foreigners may appear as \"singing\" and the \"melody\" differs by dialect.\n\nThere are even two standard ways of writing Norwegian, *Bokmål* and *Nynorsk*. Norwegians learn both at school. Bokmål is by far the more common form in most of the country, though Nynorsk is prevalent in Western Norway. The two varieties are very close and mostly mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, Danish and Swedish. Written Norwegian is very similar to Danish, but pronunciation is quite different and speakers may have difficulty understanding each other. Spoken Norwegian and Swedish sound more similar, but the vocabulary differs notably. Norwegians usually understand spoken Swedish and written Danish well.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk021", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Talk", "text": "While Norwegian and English have a lot in common (such as basic, everyday words and syntax), in Norwegian words, nouns in particular, are compounded at will to create new words. In written Norwegian not even the hyphen is used. This system can just like in German produce very long nouns, or long names of places. New such words are created constantly and may never be included in a dictionary because they are too local or quickly disused.\n\nMany of the younger retail and hospitality workers in Norway are Swedish, and make themselves understood in Swedish with a few Norwegian words added. This is similar to the *Skandinavisk* spoken by many at Nordic meetings, as they try to avoid idiosyncrasies of their own language and to use words that are similar across the languages.\n\nSami is a group of minority languages that has official status in some northern regions, completely different from Norwegian. Road signs and other public information there are provided in both Norwegian and Sami. Norwegian and Sami place names may differ – maps will typically use the Norwegian name. Sami is quite closely related to the Finnish language (not enough for comprehension, though), thus totally unrelated to Indo-European languages such as Norwegian or English (but there are quite a few loanwords).\n\nAlmost all Norwegians speak **English** and you should have no trouble getting around in English; 91% of the population can speak English, with most younger people having near native fluency, making Norway one of the most English proficient countries where English is not an official language.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk022", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Talk", "text": "Many people learn French, German and/or Spanish as well. As a Germanic language, Norwegian is also related to German and English. Many basic English words are similar to Norwegian, such as \"brød\" (bread), \"dør\" (door), \"hus\" (house) or \"hund\" (dog, related to English \"hound\"). In fact there is a large number of originally Norwegian (or Danish) words in English (as Vikings settled in and ruled big parts of the British Isles; cf the Danelaw). Words like \"they\", \"husband\", \"knife\", \"steak\", \"sky\" and \"window\" are of Norwegian origin. Norwegian and English syntax is also similar.\n\nForeign films and television programmes are generally shown in their original language with subtitles. Only children's programmes are dubbed into Norwegian.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk023", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nStill there is an identity check before boarding flights or boats into Norway.\n\nNorway does not allow Russian citizens to enter Norway for tourism. The border can be crossed with a tourist visa if the reason for the journey is among accepted ones, such as visiting close family members resident in Norway.\n\nNordic citizens may enter Norway without a visa and stay indefinitely, with no regard to their reason to stay. They also don't need work permits.\n\nCitizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro*, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia*, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, as well as holders of Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passports are permitted to work in Norway without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90 day visa-free stay. However, this ability to work visa-free does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk024", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "Norway is *not a member of the European Union*. This means that you, especially if arriving by plane, regardless of point of origin, may be subject to customs controls at the port of entry. Information on duty-free allowances and regulations can be found on the Norwegian Customs website. Generally, this will also mean that when connecting from an international Schengen flight to a domestic one, you will need to collect your baggage, go through customs, send it to baggage drop, and go through security again. Only if you purchased a through ticket (i.e. both flights are on the same ticket and depart the same day), you are connecting through Oslo Airport Gardermoen, and both flights are operated by SAS or Norwegian Air Shuttle, the baggage is directly transferred between the flights.\n\nWhile Svalbard has no border controls, most regular flights depart from Norway, so foreign visitors need to clear Norwegian immigration control (and thus need to possess a visa if required for their nationality).\n\nImmigration control is done by the regular police, but on the border with Russia the police is supported by an army battalion.\n\n### By plane\n\nWhen looking for flights, note that SAS offers special youth prices as low as 38€ on their website, that won't show up in other search engines.\n\n#### Oslo\n\n**Oslo Airport, Gardermoen** () is the biggest airport in Norway and the main international hub, at Gardermoen north of Oslo. The airport is served by many major international and most domestic airlines. It is a secondary hub for flag carrier **SAS Scandinavian Airlines**.\n\nthumb|Oslo Gardermoen Airport at dusk\n\nThe airport has scheduled flights from around 100 **destinations abroad** and 24 **domestic destinations** in Norway.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk025", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "**From the United Kingdom** there are direct services to Oslo Gardermoen from:\n Aberdeen (Scandinavian Airlines)\n Edinburgh (Norwegian Air Shuttle)\n London Heathrow (Scandinavian Airlines and British Airways)\n London Gatwick (Norwegian Air Shuttle)\n London Luton (Wizz Air)\n London Stansted (Ryanair)\n Manchester Airport (Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle)\n\n**From Ireland**:\n Dublin (Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle)\n\n**From the United States**:\n Miami, FL (Scandinavian Airlines)\n Newark Liberty Airport, NJ (Scandinavian Airlines)\n\n**From Australia and New Zealand**, the quickest connection is via Bangkok, Doha or Dubai. Both Qatar Airways and Emirates fly daily from Doha and Dubai respectively, with connections from several destinations in Asia and Oceania.\n\n#### Sandefjord\n\n**Sandefjord Airport, Torp** () is located just north of Sandefjord, 115 km to the south of Oslo.\n\nSandefjord Airport Torp has scheduled flights to various destinations in Europe and in Norway.\n\nFrom the United Kingdom there are direct services from:\n London-Stansted (Ryanair) (seasonal)\n Manchester Airport (Ryanair)\n\n#### Stavanger\n\n**Stavanger Airport, Sola** () has scheduled flights to/from London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, Kraków, Madrid, Nice and some other European cities.\n\nFrom the United Kingdom there are direct flights from:\nLondon Heathrow (Scandinavian Airlines, British Airways)\nLondon Gatwick (Norwegian Air Shuttle)\nNewcastle (Loganair)\nAberbeen (Scandinavian Airlines, Widerøe)\n\n#### Bergen\n\n**Bergen Airport, Flesland** () has scheduled flights to/from major European cities as London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Prague, Warsaw and other cities.\n\nApart from to previously mentioned airports there are domestic flights to Trondheim and Tromsø.\n\nFrom the United Kingdom there are direct flights from:\nAberdeen (Widerøe)\nLondon Gatwick (Norwegian)\nEdinburgh (Loganair) (seasonal)\nGlasgow (Loganair) (seasonal)\nInverness (Loganair) (seasonal)\nKirkwall (Loganair) (seasonal)\nSumburgh (Bergen Air Transport) (Loganair) (seasonal)\n\n#### Kristiansand\n\n**Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik** () has direct flights to/from major European cities, notably Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen.\n\nFrom the United Kingdom there are direct flights from:", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk026", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "London Stansted (Widerøe)\n\n#### Trondheim\n\n**Trondheim Airport, Værnes** () can be reached by direct flights from several European cities, notably Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen.\n\nFrom the United Kingdom there are direct flights from:\n London Gatwick (Norwegian Air Shuttle).\n\n#### Tromsø\n\n**Tromsø Airport** () has direct routes from Frankfurt, Paris, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm, as well as seasonal routes to Amsterdam, Milan, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Zurich, Vienna, Madrid and Barcelona.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are trains from Sweden to Oslo, Trondheim and Narvik, with onwards inland connections. There are no railways across the border from Finland and Russia.\n\nFor Oslo, daily service from Stockholm and Gothenburg. There are local services from Karlstad as well.\n\nFor Trondheim, the Nabotåget service from Östersund corresponds with one day and one night service from Stockholm, as well as the train from Sundsvall.\n\nFor Narvik, two trains run daily from Stockholm via Kiruna. Both are overnight.\n\nTrain schedules can be found on the website of the Norwegian State Railways and the Swedish Railways.\n\n### By bus\n\nSeveral international bus lines run into Oslo from Sweden, the major operators being Flixbus, Swebus Express and Säfflebussen. Buses to Gothenburg and Copenhagen depart almost hourly. Bus service to Stockholm is also far more frequent than the train. Lavprisekspressen has cheap bus tickets between the large cities in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.\n\nOther coach lines exist between Sweden and Bodø and Mo i Rana, as well as between Denmark and Stavanger.\n\nFrom Finland it is possible to travel by Eskelisen Lapin Linjat from Oulu and Rovaniemi to Tromsø, Skibotn, Tana, Vadsø, Karasjok, Lakselv and Nordkapp.\n\nAs of 2025, the Pasvikturist minibus service between Kirkenes and Murmansk no longer runs.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk027", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Finnish-Norwegian border in Enontekiö (sign in Finnish, Swedish and English); when crossing from Finland or Sweden, border formalities are often non-existent, although there are customs regulations that must be observed. Since the 1950s borders have been open with no passport required for Nordic citizens.\n\nIt is possible to enter by road from Sweden, Finland, or Russia. The border with Sweden is 1,600 km (one of the longest in Europe) and the Finnish border is more than 700 km long. The border mostly runs through the wilderness and unpopulated or sparsely populated areas, particularly in the north. Road E6 runs along the border with Finland for some 200 km in Finnmark. There are about 80 border crossing points, but many of the crossings from Sweden are local roads not relevant to travellers. There are a number of possible routes, but road standards vary, there are few motorways and speed limits are low (generally 80 km/h). Most visitors by road will arrive in the Østfold lowlands, from where motorways continue towards Oslo. There is a single border crossing from Russia.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk028", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "Major roads **from Sweden and Finland** to Norway include\n 25px European route E6 which runs through Malmö, Helsingborg and Göteborg in Sweden before crossing the border at Svinesund in the south-east of Norway.\n 25px E18 crossing at Ørje (Norway) and Töcksfors (Sweden). E18 connects Helsinki and Oslo via Turku, an 11-hr day or night ferry, Stockholm and Karlstad.\n Road 61 (Sweden) and road 2 (Norway) crossing between Charlottenberg and Magnor.\n25px E16 crossing between Kongsvinger (Norway) and Torsby (Sweden). E16 is the east-west main road Gävle–Kongsvinger–Oslo airport–Hønefoss–Bergen. Trucks are not allowed to cross at this point.\n 25px Road 25 at Trysil (road 66 in Sälen, Sweden). Roads 25/72 also leading to Trysil is an alternative.\n Road 31 to Røros via road 84 through uplands in Härjedalen\n 25px E14 (at Storlien) from Åre to Stjørdalshalsen in Trøndelag (parallel to the railway).\n 25px E12 from Helsinki via Vaasa and Umeå to Mo i Rana through the uplands and among high mountains (from Vaasa: Blue Highway, 4-hr ferry to Sweden).\n 25px E10 via Kiruna to Narvik through Bjørnfjell mountain pass (parallel to the iron ore railway).\n 25px E8 runs from Turku via Vaasa and Oulu in Finland before crossing the border at Kilpisjärvi.\n\n**From Denmark and Germany**:\n Ferries from Denmark and Kiel (Germany) also take cars (see boat section), and are a way to avoid long transport legs.\n\n**From Russia** Routes from Russia through Finland have closed since 2023. For the direct route via Storskog, passing may be subject to special requirements; check the current situation.\n\n### By boat\n\n#### From Belgium\n\nDFDS operates a cargo line from Ghent to Brevik with limited passenger capacity which is normally for truck drivers. There are departures once or twice a week.The ferry may be scheduled to arrive at Brevik in the middle of the night.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk029", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### From Germany\n\nthumb|Ferry from Kiel approaching Oslo through the narrow section of Oslofjord\n\nColor Line runs a daily ferry from Kiel to Oslo. The ferry leaves Kiel at 13:30 and arrives in Oslo at 09:30 the following day. The ferry terminal in Kiel is on Norwegenkai, which is a short walk across the bridge from Kiel's main railway station (the bridge may at times be closed for pedestrians due to ship traffic). At the Oslo end of the journey, the terminal is located at Hjortneskai, which is just west of the city. There is a bus from the terminal to the city centre, which departs shortly after passengers disembark.\n\n#### From Denmark\n\nSeveral companies run from various harbours in Denmark (Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Copenhagen) to various Norwegian harbours (Oslo, Larvik, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen).\n\n**Color Line** traffic from Hirtshals to Kristiansand and Larvik.\n**Fjord Line** traffic from Hirtshals to Langesund, Stavanger and Bergen (Seasonal to Kristiansand).\n**DFDS Seaways** traffic from Copenhagen to Oslo.\n\n#### From the United Kingdom\n\nThere are no ferry routes from the UK from Norway any more, although DFDS Seaways have been to known to allow passengers on their freight service from Immingham to Brevik.\n\nThomson Cruise ships operate from Harwich and visit Flåm, Bergen, Molde, Hammerfest, Nordkapp, Tromsø, Lofoten Islands, Geiranger and Ålesund in Norway. The duration of the cruise varies from 5 days up to 2 weeks. Sailing time from Harwich to south Norway is 1½ days.\n\nThe cruise ship has restaurants, bars, casinos, cinemas and even a stage show. Various classes of cabins are available, ranging from shared rooms to singles, doubles and luxury suites.\n\n#### From Faroe Islands and Iceland\n\nSmyril Line used to operate a once-weekly service to Bergen. This service now only operates between Denmark, Faroe Islands and Iceland.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk030", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|National transport system (primary roads in red, railways in green, key airports indicated)\n\nNorway is a large country with some very difficult terrain so getting around, particularly up north, is expensive and time-consuming. Because of difficult terrain in large parts of the country, navigation is largely related to landscape features such as valleys, lakes, fjords and islands rather than to towns. Norway is sparsely populated compared to continental Europe; visitors should not expect that every name on the map is served by frequent public transport or offers commercial services such as taxi, cafés and hotels – it may not be a town or settlement at all. The best way to see the Norwegian wilderness and countryside is by having access to your own vehicle. This way you can stop wherever you want, admire the view and venture onto smaller roads. Hiking and cycling allow you to experience more of the landscape as you pass through it and as parking spaces in popular nature spots are deliberately kept sparse, in many places it may be better not to be tied to a car.\n\nLong distance train travel is done with Vy, SJ Nord or GoAhead Nordic. A number of long-distance bus companies also operate. Each region in Norway has its own local public transportation company. For public transportation (trains, buses and ferries), use the online travel planner Entur. Vy app helps to find bus, train and taxi rides and to book tickets for them.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk031", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "As Norway's craggy coastline and mountainous terrain slow down overland traffic, domestic flights are a convenient option. Norway has a network of small, short-runway airports designed for small aircraft and modest traffic, notably in Northern Norway but also in parts of Western Norway. Particularly in northern Norway where cities are few and farther between, these small airports are important alternatives to road or boat transport. Unfortunately, it is also in these areas where tickets can be the most expensive. Planes between the small airports are small, and they generally have several intermediate stops along the route to embark and disembark passengers. The high income and slow overland connections combine to make some domestic Norwegian flights among the busiest in Europe. For instance, in 2018 more than two million passengers flew between Oslo and Trondheim and between Oslo and Bergen – more than flew between Berlin and Munich or Madrid and Mallorca.\n\nFlights in southern Norway are cheaper than in northern Norway, and even though this area has better roads and rail, planes are generally faster than taking the train or bus. There are however no air routes between the cities within 200 km from Oslo, use the train or bus for this kind of travel.\n\nThe largest operators are SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe. Wizz Air has challenged the incumbents in 2020 and can sometimes offer a cheap option. Widerøe's network is especially good for the smaller towns in Northern and Western Norway.\n\nthumb|Smaller airports often offer stunning approaches and many are conveniently located near towns (Ørsta/Volda airport).\n\nMain airports accepting all aircraft:\n Oslo airport (Gardermoen)\n Sandefjord (Torp)\n Kristiansand\n Stavanger\n Bergen\n Haugesund\n Ålesund\n Trondheim\n Bodø\n Evenes (Narvik/Harstad)\n Tromsø\n Alta\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Bergen railway line at [[Hardangervidda]].\nthumb|The Flåm Railway, running between Myrdal and Flåm.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk032", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Norwegian Railways (NSB) has been split up into several companies for several years as of 2025, with different lines awarded to different franchises along the British model. Therefore the company you will be travelling with depends on which way you are going, although it is most straightforward to book through the overarching national transport website Entur. These main lines run several times a day:\n\nVY:\n\nOslo–Skien (serving coastal towns south-west of Oslo)\n Oslo–Bergen (Bergensbanen – Bergen line, across the mountains via Finse, connections to Flåm)\n Oslo–Sarpsborg–Halden\n\nSJ Nord:\n Oslo–Trondheim (Dovrebanen, through Lillehammer, connections to Åndalsnes at Dombås)\n Hamar–Røros–Trondheim (Røros line)\n Trondheim–Bodø (Nordlandsbanen – Nordland line, through Trondheim airport, connections to Sweden), Norway’s longest, crosses the arctic circle\n\nGo Ahead Nordic:\n Oslo–Kristiansand–Stavanger (Sørlandsbanen, runs inland from Drammen to Kristiansand, connections to Arendal; runs at some distance from the coast Kristiansand-Egersund)\n\nTrains are generally well-maintained and comfortable.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk033", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can buy an Interrail/Eurail one-country pass for Norway (Interrail or Eurail) to travel relatively cheaply by train through Norway. Eurail travellers also have access to a Scandinavia pass, which also covers the other Nordic countries (bar Iceland, which does not have a rail network). If your itinerary is fixed and you don't have too many destinations, it might be cheaper to buy 'Minipris' tickets online. Interrail/Eurail reservations are 50 kr in 2nd Class and free for 1st Class passholders, but what complicates this picture is the transition of Norwegian trains from the low-key 2x2 1st class they had before, to a new Business Class-style offering with highly adjustable, fully-reclining seats. This is considered to be outside the category of standard 1st and demands the same fairly substantial upgrade surcharge from both 1st and 2nd class passholders if selected, while the more minimal standard 1st class offering now only persists on the Bergen Line and on certain trains on other routes.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk034", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "For long-distance trains and night trains, seat reservation is mandatory, but usually can be done on short notice, e.g., at a train station, since the trains are rarely fully booked. Generally, the trains are most crowded at the beginning and end of the weekend, i.e. Friday and Sunday evening. Shortly before and at the end of major holidays like Christmas/New Year and Easter, trains are usually very busy. If you try booking for these days at a late time, you may find all the cheap tickets sold out. Furthermore, the seat you reserve may be among the least desirable, that is, facing backwards, without recline, and facing towards and sharing the legroom with other passengers. Be aware that the Bergen Line's scenic reputation precedes it, and as such it is more liable than other lines to be very popular during peak season.\n\nNight trains operate from Oslo to Bergen, Kristiansand, Bergen, Trondheim and Bodø. With a regular ticket, you will get an ordinary seat, blanket and earplugs. Sleeping compartments are available for an extra outlay. If you choose to order sleeping compartment, you pay for the compartment, not the bed: two people, same price. This also means that you will never have a stranger in your compartment.\n\nFor 200–500 kr you can upgrade any regular train ticket to *Komfort/Premium/Pluss*; this means a little more room for your legs, free coffee, papers and a power socket. Usually the coach is either the first or the last coach in the train, resulting in much less through traffic and a quieter environment.\n\nThe regular night train seats have a power plug, too. In some trains there is even free Internet access via Wi-Fi; one just needs to register (giving any 8-digit number as 'phone number').", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk035", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Unlike much of Continental Europe, Norway does not have a high-speed rail system, except for the route between Oslo and its airport. Attempts at implementing high speed trains are underway, but have failed so far. Therefore, a journey between the two largest cities, Bergen and Oslo, takes 6½–7½ hours.\n\nIn eastern Norway, where cities are closer together, there are several people who make a daily commute, and hence many of these cities have more frequent train service with hourly departures much of the day. This includes the cities in the counties of Østfold, Vestfold, Gjøvik, Hamar and Lillehammer. In general, these trains do not have seating reservations available, but it is still possible to upgrade to NSB Komfort.\n\nIf you get even closer to Oslo, there are local trains which may have departures as often as every 30 minutes. Local trains never have seating reservations, nor do they have a first class section. Local trains also operate between Bergen and Voss (sometimes to Myrdal), Stavanger and Egersund and around Trondheim.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|The Folkestad ferry in Volda.\n\n**Car ferries** are an integral part of the road network in coastal and fjord regions. The road in principle continues onto the ferry such that for instance Fodnes-Mannheller ferry is part of national route 5. Prices and time vary with the length of the crossing and amount of traffic, call 177 for more information or check nearby camping sites for information booklets and timetables. Prices on public roads ferries are set by the Department of roads. Small cars (as of 2018) are up 6.0 meters, longer vehicles must pay a considerably higher price and this often affects campervans.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk036", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ferries often have information about other ferries in the region and other ferries along the same road. On the main roads ferries are frequent during daytime, typically every half hour. Reservations are usually not needed, drive to the ferry quay and wait in line until the ferry docks. Car ferries also take foot passengers. On main roads tourists typically do not have to worry about timetables as there are frequent departures. After midnight, ferries on busy routes only run every other hour, and less busy ferries cease operation until morning. Norwegians refer to car ferries as \"ferje\" or \"ferge\". Vessels that *only* take foot passengers are referred to as \"båt\" (boat). To avoid confusion, visitors should use the term ferry only for car ferries.\n\nStretches with lots of ferries are desirable when bicycling, as the ferries are cheap for bicyclists and offer an often well-deserved break with a great view. Except for some of the shortest crossings (10 min), ferries typically have cafeterias serving coffee, cold beverages, sandwiches and some hot food. Due to numerous deep fjords and islands, driving in West Norway and Northern Norway as a rule (with few exceptions) involves ferries. Although car ferries are very reliable and operate with spare capacity, tourists should allow plenty of time on stretches including ferries. Ferries on unusually long crossings (several hours) or ferries crossing open stretches of sea are more frequently delayed or cancelled.\n\nthumb|upright=1.2|Hurtigruten route from Bergen to Kirkenes", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk037", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "In regions with lots of fjords and islands, particularly along all the coast from Stavanger to Tromsø, an extensive network of catamaran **express passenger boats** (\"hurtigbåt\") shuttle between towns and cities, and connect islands otherwise accessible only with difficulty. There is no general network of boats connecting every village along fjords and coast, transfer by bus or car to nearest port may be needed. These vessels are also not called ferries. Service and prices are comparable with trains. Check in advance if you want to bring a bicycle. There are also some passengers in the inner part of Oslofjord.\n\nOne option particularly popular with tourists is the Hurtigruten coastal steamers that hop along the coastline from Bergen all the way to Kirkenes, taking 5½ days for the whole journey. Cabins are expensive and mandatory for multi-day journeys, but deck fares are more reasonable and there's even a 50% discount with Inter Rail. Prices are summed up for all chargeable elements like persons, fuel charge (approx. 3% of an adult fare), bike (approx. 5% of an adult fare), car, cabin (approx. 125% of an adult fare). Reservations are recommended for cabins and cars; on deck there is usually enough space for people and bikes.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk038", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Lakes do in general not have public transport by boat, here are however a handful of important exceptions. There is one car ferry crossing the very long Randsfjorden lake. Skibladner, a steam boat built in 1856, allows tourists to cross lake Mjøsa (at Gjøvik and Hamar) the old way. Some other lakes maintain boat service for foot passengers for sightseeing or to access wilderness. Telemark canal, Norway's only major canal, takes visitors from the coast and deep inland along charming lakes and impressive locks through the rugged terrain. Halden canal is Norway's other proper canal and shorter than Telemark's. Except for the two canals, Norway's rivers are in general not used for transport.\n\n### By bus\n\nAn extensive range of express buses connect cities all over Norway and even most national parks. NOR-WAY Bussekspress and Boreal Transport are the biggest operators. Nettbuss also runs some express routes.\n\nLavprisekspressen offer cheap tickets for Oslo—Trondheim (via Røros and via the Dovre mountain range), Oslo—Kristiansand—Stavanger and back. If you're lucky, you can get a ticket for as little as 49kr, but usually the tickets go from 199kr to 299kr. The double decker buses are clean and modern with free Wi-Fi internet, coffee and tea.\n\nFlixBus operates route Oslo—Kristiansand—Stavanger.\n\nBus schedules and frequencies vary greatly, and seating may be limited, so plan ahead. For more information check each operator's website or try the extensive connection search en-tur.no – available in English and Norwegian. Some mountain passes are closed all winter, and buses covering these typically run May—September only.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk039", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "In the north of Norway north of Trondheim, there are no private express buses. Instead the provinces organise long-distance buses, which also stop at local stops, having sparse schedules. There is no bus Trondheim–Bodø, instead the stretch is served by train (Nordlandsbanen line). There are for example comfortable buses Bodø–Narvik, Narvik–Tromsø, Tromsø–Alta and Alta-Kirkenes (they are daytime buses and accommodation is needed at Narvik, Tromsø and Alta if going all that way).\n\n### By taxi\n\nTravelling by cab in Norway can be very expensive, and in most cities it is not necessary as bus, tram and train (or even walking) are easier. Taxis are generally safe as long as you choose a licensed taxi (with a white taxi sign on the roof). In villages there may be no or only one taxi car, so visitors should be prepared to book in advance.\n \n - RingTaxi\n\n- mivai\n\nIn some cities, like Oslo, Trondheim and Kristiansand are several local taxi companies.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Typical road in rural area.\n\nNorway has right-hand traffic, like the rest of mainland Europe. Norwegian roads have varying quality, but all public roads have asphalt. Most roads are two-lane undivided, there is a limited motorway network around Oslo. General speed limit is 80 km/h and speed is often slower due to road conditions. Driving in winter requires special equipment, snow and ice experience is highly recommended prior to a winter trip. Some of the scenic mountain passes, notably at Geiranger, Trollstigen and Nordkapp (North Cape), are closed during winter.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk040", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Due to the rugged terrain, there are a lot of tunnels. Generally the tunnel will charge a toll until its construction costs are deemed to have been \"paid off\" after which the tunnel will be free. Due to Norway's high income and their experience in tunnel building, tunnels are even built where they would be deemed too marginal or difficult in other countries - the longest and deepest road tunnel is under construction in Norway.\n\nDriving is generally easy as traffic is calm, and most drivers are disciplined and law abiding, although moderate speeding is common on highways. However, some city centres (such as Bergen and Oslo) may be confusing to navigate for the first time visitor due to many one-way streets. Traffic is generally light except for city centres and a handful of stretches on main roads (notably E18 near Oslo). Near or inside Oslo the E18, E6 and ring roads can get congested during morning and afternoon rush, as well as during weekend rush (Friday afternoon) out of Oslo. Gas is expensive, starting at around 16.50 kr per litre (July 2018). Manual transmission has long been regarded as standard in Norway and is still found in most private cars, but (as of 2020) almost all new cars are electric/hybrid or have automatic transmission. Renting a car is very expensive, but can be essential for easy access to some of the more rural areas, although most areas have a good reliable bus service.\n\nSome rules:\n Headlights are mandatory even during daylight.\n Off-roading is generally forbidden. Motor vehicles must stay on public roads.\n Don't drink and drive. Your blood alcohol concentration must not exceed 0.2 ‰ (or 0.02 %).\n Rules are strictly enforced, particularly regarding alcohol, speed and overtaking.\n\n### By motorcycle", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk041", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorcycle touring is an increasingly popular way to explore Norway and the Nordics, offering unparalleled access to the dramatic fjords and remote mountain passes of Norway. Because of the region's unique geography, careful planning is highly recommended.\n\n**Riding Season:** The primary window runs from mid-April to mid-October. However, be aware that high mountain passes may remain closed by snow until late May or early June, and early autumn can bring unpredictable weather in the north.\n **Terrain & Technicality:** Technical difficulty varies significantly by region and specific road. While most main routes are well-paved, the famous \"hairpin\" climbs and coastal winds require a steady hand.\n **Off-Roading:** It is important to note that off-roading is strictly forbidden in Norway to protect the delicate natural ecosystem. All riding must stay on established, mapped roads.\n **Scenic Routes:** Riders should prioritize the 18 National Tourist Routes, which are specifically designated for their architectural and natural beauty. A \"Ride to the North Cape\" (Nordkapp) remains the ultimate bucket-list journey for many, though it requires ample time for the long distances involved.\n **Recommended Motorcycles:** Mid-sized adventure bikes and cruisers are the most common choices for touring, offering a balance of comfort for long days and agility for mountain curves.\n **Motorcycle** **Rentals and Tours:** Norway has a limited amount of touring providers. It is recommended to make bookings months in advance.\n\nFor detailed logistics, weather patterns, and route planning, refer to these specialized guides:\n\n**The Nordic Riders Journal:** A deep dive into riding culture and local insights.\n **Essential Guide to Motorcycling in Norway:** A comprehensive manual covering everything from tour planning to suitable routes and safety tips.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk042", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Sightseeing by bicycle has a long tradition in NorwayWhile the bicycle seat may be one of the best ways to experience the landscapes of Norway, it can be a gruelling experience for those who are unfit. There are few bicycle paths, and most of the time cyclists have to share narrow roads with heavy transport. Attitudes to cyclists vary. While some drivers show respect, slowing down and giving cyclists a wide berth, others show hostility, driving far too close and at far too high a speed, when passing. Cycling, as a sport, is becoming increasingly popular in Norway, especially since the success of Norwegian cyclists like Thor Hushovd. Attitudes to bicycle tourists vary, but in general are positive. Hostels and camping sites are generally a good place to meet people with similar interests. Norwegians themselves prefer to ride on well equipped, often expensive, bicycles. Good bicycle shops can be found in most cities.\n\nYou will find quite a number of travel diaries online. Only a few designated cycle paths exist, mostly in the big cities, and they are not fully interconnected. Except for densely populated areas, they can mostly be ignored. While speed limits are relatively low and the vast majority of drivers are responsible and patient, Norway also has its share of speeders and road hogs. At places where a highway is built, the old road is often re-designated as a cycle route.\n\nIt is important for cyclists to be seen. The use of highly reflective safety vests, along with flashing lights on the bicycle, is encouraged to help prevent accidents.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk043", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "In most of Norway, cycling can be physically challenging, due to steep climbs and strong winds. Your equipment should be lightweight and aerodynamic. You will need a wide range of gears: a ratio of 39-27 for a strong cyclist without luggage or even 22-32 for a normal cyclist with luggage is necessary on many slopes. Your brakes should be of high quality and you'll need spare brake pads when doing a trip of more than a few days. Lights are necessary because of the many tunnels. Because of the winds, it is advisable to avoid wide panniers and loose fitting clothes. A lightweight recumbent should be considered as a serious option for those experienced with this type of bicycle, especially when cycling south to north.\n\nThe roads are generally paved well, although gravel roads are sometimes unavoidable. As long as you do not go off-road, you will not need suspension or grooved tyres.\n\nBecause of the long distances and numerous hills, bicycle tourists are advised to plan well and be prepared to use public transport for the less interesting or difficult stretches. Particularly in western and northern Norway, passenger boats (including longer tourist ferries) can sometimes be used to avoid tunnels, mountain passes or less interesting stretches.\n\nFerries take bikes for free or a minimal charge. On trains you have to pay a fare. Some buses do not allow bikes, but in all other cases will only be transported if there is enough space (no fare or children's fare). The Norwegian Cyclist Association offers information.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk044", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is legal in Norway (and Finland and Sweden) to put up a tent anywhere for one night. This must not be too near someone's home, or on other unsuitable places. This is particularly suitable for bicyclists, who can roll the bike into the forest at a suitable place. It is more troublesome for car drivers to do this, as it is hard to find a good parking place near a suitable tent place (car parking is not permitted on private roads, e.g. in the forest).\n\n#### Tunnels\n\nthumb|The long and narrow tunnels are not recommended for bikes.Special attention should be given to tunnels, as many of them are forbidden for cyclists, as are a few roads. Some long and narrow tunnels are not recommended for bikes, even if allowed. An online map of tunnels can be found. The tourist information also has a map of those forbidden routes. When renting a bike, you can consult the person who rents you the bike concerning the track you want to take. In many cases, signposts indicate the route for cyclists and pedestrians around forbidden roads or tunnels. Some of the high speed tunnels have bus stops a short distance from the entrance where you can board special buses equipped with bike racks to transport you through the tunnel. On main roads, buses usually run frequently. Some sub-sea tunnels are in addition really steep. If you do enter a tunnel on a bike, use lights and safety reflectors (such as reflector jackets or vests). Norwegian drivers do not slow down in tunnels.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk045", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Warning**: Do not underestimate the number and length of tunnels, particularly in western Norway. Norway's roads have well over 1,000 tunnels. On the E16 between Bergen and Lærdal for instance, 30–50% of the road is in a tunnel. Frequently, tunnels replace an older road that remains open for bicycles and pedestrians in summer or for local traffic all year. Ask locals or read the map carefully to find your way.\n\n### By thumb\n\nIf hitchhiking is ever safe, it is pretty safe in Norway, however it is difficult to get a lift and it may be very slow, since hitchhiking is not that common in Norway. When waiting, make sure to stand in a place where the vehicles can see you and have a safe opportunity to stop.\n\nBus stops are common places to attract attention, position yourself before the actual bus stop so the vehicle can stop at the stop. This works best if the road is widened at the bus stop, allowing cars to pull over easily. Also the beginning of motorway ramps is a good location, or right after a junction. Avoid any location where cars are able to drive 80 km/h and above (even if it's a bus stop), or where there is no space for cars to stop.\n\nDrivers of heavy trucks in particular prefer to keep a steady speed. Roadside cafeterias where truckers have a break can be good place to ask for a lift. Ferry docks and main fuel stations are good places too to try. Asking cars in line at a ferry quay (if travelling along the coast) may bring you very far.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk046", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking in Norway is best on the routes from Oslo-Trondheim (E6), Oslo-Kristiansand (E18) and Kristiansand-Stavanger (E39). However, near the cities these are now motorways and it is not possible to stand at the road itself.\n\nGood hitchhiking spots from major cities are listed below.\n\n**Oslo** to:\n**Bergen** and the mountains- if you're daring, try Oksenøyveien (see Kristiansand), but be aware that most cars continue southwards to Drammen. Rather catch the Timekspressen bus, direction Hønefoss, to Sollihøgda.\n**Trondheim** and the north- is getting more difficult as motorway development continues. The best bet inside Oslo is bus stop Ulvenkrysset. Get the metro to Helsfyr, then bus 76, 401 or 411 for one stop. Further outside, to avoid the local traffic, you are best off at the Shell gas station at Skedsmovollen, bus 845 and 848 from Lillestrøm train station.\n**Kristiansand** and the south: Few spots beat the bus stop Oksenøyveien, connected by bus 151, 251 and 252. You may be dropped in Sandvika by cars heading towards Hønefoss and the mountains/Bergen. Carry a sign.\n**Sweden along E6**: Highway all the way, except close to the centre. Try the bus stop Nedre Bekkelaget, bus 81 and 83.\n**Sweden along E18**: You may try Nedre Bekkelaget, but as most traffic continue towards Strömstad and Gothenburg, you should rather catch the Timekspressen bus 9 to Østensjø stop, just after the Holstad roundabout.\n\n**Bergen to**:\n**Oslo** - Get local train to Arna and try near the entrance to Arnanipa tunnel.\n**Northwards** - Go by bus to Vågsbotn in Arna, and try hithing a ride close to the Hjelle bakery.\n**Southwards** - Get the light rail to Nesttun, then nearly any bus for three stops to Skjoldskiftet. Hitch southwards along E39.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk047", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Trondheim** to Oslo - Get bus 46 to the shopping centre City Syd, then go under the E6 and try your luck at City Syd E6 stop. Soon, the city tax on buses will be extended past the Klett roundabout, if this is in effect you should go to the bus stop just after the roundabout at any Melhus-bound bus and try your luck there.\n\n**Molde/Ålesund** - Get any Orkanger bus to the stop just after Klett roundabout. Soon, Trondheim city tax will extend to Børsa, after which you should stay on the bus for as long as you can, and hitch a ride from there.\n**Northwards** - Get city bus 7 or 66 to Travbanen stop.\n**Sweden** - To be sure to hitch only on cars going towards Sweden, get a train or bus to Stjørdal and hitch on the E14.\n\nLook polite, friendly and trustworthy (see clothes), try to catch the drivers eyes and have a smile on your lips even if cars don't stop — in the end it is a social game.\n\nHitching rides from Molde all the way to Bergen are not unheard of, but don't bet on it. In general though, you can really get to anywhere from anywhere by thumb, just in some places it might take a while.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk048", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|[[Otta]] village in [[Gudbrandsdalen]] beneath the mountain plateau with [[Rondane]] summits\nthumb|Vøringsfossen falls, hotel and road 7 on the edge above\nNorway has plenty of **rural attractions** - mountains, fjords, islands, glaciers, waterfalls, forests and small villages. Norway's natural and cultural sights often coincide, such as an impressive mountain road within great scenery or the ancient stave churches located in the most serene landscape.\n\n### Natural\n\nNorway has an abundance of water in all forms: glaciers, snow, fjords, rivers, waterfalls and lakes. Other attractions worth a visit are the northernmost point of Europe at Nordkapp, the islands of Lofoten, the glacier of Jostedalsbreen and the mountains of Jotunheimen. Nordkapp is on an island but connected by road to the actual mainland. Kinnarodden at 71° 8′ 2.04″ near Mehamn is the northernmost point on the European continent (islands not included).\n\n#### Lakes\n\nthumb|Totak lake in Telemark\nNorway has countless lakes and even inside Oslo there are several hundred. Hornindalsvatnet lake near Stryn and Hellesylt is the deepest lake in Europe at 514 meters, if the lake was completely drained rivers would need 20 years to fill it. Hornindalsvatnet is also unusually clear largely because it unlike many other lakes does not receive glacial meltwater with a characteristic milky turquoise color. Lake Mjøsa, Norway's largest, is the second deepest in Europe. The largest lakes are found in the lowlands of East Norway. Sogn og Fjordane and Telemark have a large number of pretty fjord-like lakes. There are also many lakes around Jotunheimen and other uplands.\n\n#### Waterfalls", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk049", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Norway has an abundance of waterfalls, in all sizes and shapes. Norway is home to a notable number of the world's tallest waterfalls, particularly in the central mountains and Western Norway. The tallest waterfalls are in the inner parts of Western Norway where the great fjords intersect with the central mountains. Sunndal, Romsdal, Geirangerfjord, Stryn, Lysefjorden (Ryfylke district), Byrkjelo, Sognefjord area (Flåm, Gudvangen, Lærdal, Skjolden) and Hardanger are areas with a large number of tall and easily accessible waterfalls. The more powerfall waterfalls are usually lower and found along major rivers in the big valleys for instance in Gudbrandsdalen, Valdres, inner Troms or Telemark. Many waterfalls are surprisingly accessible as they are often found close to main roads or railways, some plunge directly into the great fjords close to ferries and cruise ships.\n\n#### Fjords\n\nthumbnail|The iconic [[Geiranger]]fjord with \"Seven Sisters\" waterfall\nthumb|From Leikanger by the largest fjord in Norway, Sognefjorden\n\nNorway's famous **fjords** are found throughout the country and are not limited to a particular region or location. All major cities sit on the shores of a fjord. While the most picturesque fjords are less populated, most are easily accessible by road. The fjords increases Norway's coastline from a modest 3,000km to 30,000 km, islands add another 70,000 km – in total creating the most complex coastline in the world. Norwegian fjords have twice been rated the best destination in the world by National Geographic Traveler.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk050", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "There are well over 1,000 distinct (named) fjords in Norway. The vast Sognefjord is some 200km to the far end and includes a number of arms each about the size of the famous Milford Sound in New Zealand. Some fjords are very narrow, such as Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, others are wide like bays or enclosed oceans, such as Boknafjord or Trondheimsfjord. In most parts of Norway fjords are the dominant landscape features, traditional districts are often identified by proximity to a major fjord and the district or region often have the same name as the dominant fjord. For instance Sogn is the area surrounding Sognefjord. Fjords are often so deep and/or wide (particularly in western Norway) that they can only be crossed by ferry (a few daring bridges or tunnels have been built). Today fjords remain as obstacles for roads and railways, only cruise passengers experience travel along these vast corridors.\n\nIn large parts of Norway there is in fact very little continuous land, instead a wide tangle of islands and peninsulas. These peninsulas are often connected to the actual mainland by (narrow) isthmuses. Such isthmuses are shortcuts between fjords and have always been important transport corridors. Still today main roads often run across these such isthmuses. In many cases such isthmuses sits between a saltwater fjord and a freshwater lake (in effect an extension of the lake), for instance at Nordfjordeid (\"Nordfjord isthmus\") sits between Nordfjord and Hornindal lake.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk051", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Fjord regions\nthumb|From the Randsfjorden lake\n **Western Fjords**: The most dramatic and famous fjords are largely in West Norway, approximately from Stavanger to Molde. Although the western fjords vary slightly in appearance they are generally relatively narrow, surrounded by steep rock faces, tall mountains and extremely deep (particularly the middle and innermost parts). These typical features of western fjords are most pronounced at the easternmost part where fjords intersect with the highest mountains (such as Jotunheimen). Melt water from glaciers flow into major fjords such as Sognefjorden. The fjords of western Norway (represented by fjords of Geiranger and Nærøy) is a UNESCO world heritage site\n **Nordland and Troms**: These counties are also home to wild landscapes with alpine summits, islands and impressive fjords. The narrow strait into Skjerstadfjorden at Bodø creates the world's strongest tidal current, the Saltstraumen.\n **Middle Norway**: The fjords of Trøndelag, notably the large Trondheimsfjord, are less dramatic but still dominates the landscape. The Trondheimsfjord runs from the large Hitra island to the interior town of Steinkjer. The central part of this fjord is like a small enclosed ocean.\n **East Norway**: The fjords in the wider Oslo region, primarily Oslofjord, are also key to the geography of these lowlands and flatlands, similar to the Trondheimsfjord. The Drammensfjord is an important arm of the great Oslofjord. There are no saltwater fjords in the interior of East Norway, but there are countless lakes many of which resemble western fjords and are in fact called \"fjord\", for instance the long narrow Randsfjorden is a lake.\n **South Norway** has some scattered fjords, but smallish compared to the wild fjords of the west and the wide Trondheimsfjord.\n The fjords of eastern Finnmark are far less dramatic but these long and wide fjords dominate the landscape.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk052", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Fjord-lakes\nMany freshwater lakes in the interior are called fjords, for instance Randsfjorden and Tyrifjorden, even lake Mjøsa is called \"the fjord\" by locals. These lakes are very similar to saltwater fjords with a typical elongated shape and also mostly deep. Mjøsa for instance is 450 meters deep such that most of the lake is in fact below sea level even if water surface is 120 meters. Several lakes in Western Norway are in fact extensions of the main fjord and some were in the geological prehistory part of the saltwater fjord itself. For instance the surface of the very deep Hornindal lake is only 50m above sea-level and separated from Nordfjord by a low isthmus. These western lakes are often so similar to the fjord that only the lack of salt reveals that it is indeed a lake.\n\n#### Uplands and mountains\n\nthumb|Coastal alps at [[Senja]] island\n\nNorway is one of the most mountainous countries of Europe, while not as high as the central European Alps many mountain areas are very alpine despite modest altitude. Mountains and high plateaus dominate most of the land. Some of Norway's wildest and most alpine mountains are on islands or along the coast. The wildest summits are in areas like Lofoten, Vesterålen, Lyngen, Jotunheimen and Sunnmøre-Romsdal-alps.\n\n#### Northern lights and midnight sun\n\nthumb|Midnight sun at the North Cape Plateau", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk053", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "If you want to see the **northern lights**, CNN has Tromsø on top of its list of best places to see it. Tromsø should also be visited during summer to see the **midnight sun**. Of course both can be enjoyed anywhere in the northern parts of the country. Northern lights is most frequent roughly north of arctic circle (from Bodø and further north). Because the midnight sun occurs in the same area, these phenomena can not be experienced at the same time. As northern lights otherwise is not restricted to a specific location, a dark night and clear sky are the only prerequisites. Clear sky correlates with cold weather, so visitors should be well-dressed, particularly November to March. Midnight sun and, more importantly, 24-hour daylight occur around midsummer north of the arctic circle - the further north, the longer the midnight sun season. At midwinter there is a corresponding period when sun is below the horizon and there is no real daylight (so called polar night).\nthumb|Typical wooden town on the south coast.\n\n#### Wildlife", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk054", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Norway has an abundance of birds particularly along the coast. Some bird cliffs with millions of nesting birds are protected as natural reserves. The sea fisheries are very rich although a limited number of species and dominated by cod. Sea mammals such as killer whales, harbour porpoise and seals are seen along the coast or in fjords occasionally or during particular seasons. There are three major kind of big game: The elk («elg», «king of the forest»; Am: moose), red deer and reindeer. The elk is often seen along roads at dusk and dawn in the forest regions of East Norway and Trøndelag. The red deer exist in large numbers in Western Norway and can also be seen in meadows along roads, particularly in spring and autumn. The wild reindeer mostly roam the barren high plateaus and mountains (from Agder through Jotunheimen and Dovre to Røros), and are rarely seen by coincidence. Reindeer live in big herds (at Hardangervidda about 10,000 animals) and should not be disturbed. Particularly in Northern Norway there are large numbers of domesticated reindeer.\n\n### Cultural\n\nWhile most people don't pick Norway because they'd like to walk around in cities with museums, monuments, parks, streetside cafés or luxurious restaurants, in Oslo and some other cities that's also an option. Just getting around in Norway by car, boat, train, bike or foot usually rewards you with great views. Norway is one of the Nordic monarchies.\n\nthumb|Urne stave church at Luster fjord\n\nUNESCO world heritage sites of the country are:\n The rock paintings of Alta, dated to 4200 BC\n The Vega archipelago\n Urnes stave church in Luster\n The mining town of Røros\n Bergen's waterfront, Bryggen\n Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk055", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "While Norway's cultural heritage is most pronounced in rural areas, Norway's cities also offer interesting cultural sights, old or new. Cities like Bergen, Ålesund, Kongsberg, Røros, Trondheim and others are interesting because of architecture and history. Norway's cities also offer fascinating, bold modern architecture, most notable in the capital Oslo with landmark buildings such as the new Opera house and the University library, as well as the controversial skyline downtown. There are only three preserved Norwegian medieval cathedrals: Nidaros (Trondheim) and Stavanger, the third is St. Magnus cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. Norway is the only country in Europe with a notable number of preserved wooden buildings from the middle ages. There are more than 100 log built houses from before the black plague, mostly in Telemark. The 30 surviving stave churches are also a unique cultural heritage.\n\nthumb|Hardanger fiddle with fine decorations\n\nThe hardanger fiddle (*hardingfele*) is a characteristic instrument from Norway. This idiosyncratic violin has four or five sympatheic or resonance strings beneath the standard four strings, and made from thin, delicate and decorated wood. The haunting, powerful sound is used to create traditional folk music: dance music as well as \"listening music\". The oldest hardanger fiddles are from the 17th centuries and one from 1650 is held at Bergen museum. Edvard Grieg and other modern composers incorporated folk music for the hardanger fiddle in their own music.\n\nThe Sami people maintain their own musical tradition, notably the *joik* (or yoik) a characteristic form of singing. The Sami also used a ceremonial drum. Contemporary artists such as Mari Boine and Jan Garbarek have developed or incorporated Sami music in their own compositions.\n\n### Churches\n\nthumb|Elaborated wood carving by local master in Lesja church, about 1750", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk056", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Outside main cities there are few if any monumental buildings except the local church. Norway hardly had any aristocracy that built palaces or imposing manors. Rural areas is dominated by wooden buildings, including most churches. From the middle ages about 30 idiosyncratic stave churches survived (from perhaps 1000), and some 100 stone churches. Most churches built after the Protestant Reformation are basic wooden \"long\" churches (rectangular shape), but there is also a number of other shapes such as the characteristic cruciform (cross shape) design with a central tower. The rare Y-shape exists in a small number of churches.\n\nThe octagonal shape was used for a larger number of churches and several landmark churches with this largely endemic style can be seen around Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, and Nordland as well as other areas. Many church interiors are in a barren Protestant style, but there is a large number of churches with elaborate interiors such as tolepainted walls, impressive wood cut altar pieces and pulpit designs. A large number of church are log buildings and logs are usually visible on the inside. In stave churches the elaborate construction is largely visible.\n\nSeveral medieval winged altarpieces has been preserved in rural churches in Norway, including altarpieces installed before the Reformation. Many of these were imported from north German towns like Lübeck and the low countries, while for instance in the Netherlands altarpieces from that period are lost, several can be seen in Norway. In the 1700s elaborate wood carving and *rosemaling* (a kind of tole painting) were used in altarpieces and other decorations within churches, notably in the interior valleys.\n\n#### Cityscapes", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk057", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "Oslo burned down in 1624 and was rebuilt in stone and brick only (in a grid pattern), and the rapid expansion in the 1800s makes Oslo different from most other towns. Trondheim and Kristiansand were both laid in a strict \"military\" grid pattern, while Bergen and many other wooden towns further south grew organically into a charming labyrinths. Ålesund burned down in 1904 and was rebuilt in a unique variant of art noveau (Jugendstil).\n\nTowns destroyed during the second world war (Molde, Kristiansund, Åndalsnes, Steinkjer, Namsos, Bodø, Narvik, Hammerfest, Kirkenes) were largely rebuilt in a less charming post-war style, although Kristiansund is an interesting example of bold urban planning. These World War II \"burned towns\" are also home to the first daring, untraditional church architecture.\n\n#### Wooden towns\n\nthumb|Octagonal style church typical to Trøndelag, and Møre og Romsdal area\nTypical for Norway is the widespread use of wood as building materials, even in centres of main cities like Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim. A friendly atmosphere is created by the many modest and well preserved, wooden buildings. Some wooden cities have been lost to fire, for instance Ålesund (fire in 1904, rebuilt in local Jugend-style) and Steinkjer (bombing second world war). Molde, Kristiansund, Bodø, Narvik and all of Finnmark were destroyed during the war. Levanger and Trondheim were not harmed by the bombings and their wooden charm is largely retained. The wooden town of Røros is on the UNESCO world heritage list.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk058", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "See", "text": "A number of other towns has notable wooden architecture, for instance Lillehammer, Skudeneshavn, Lillesand, Risør, Arendal, Tvedestrand, Kristiansand, Farsund, Flekkefjord, Lærdal, Brevik, Drøbak and Son village. The wooden towns of the south/south-west coast is Norway's version of \"pueblos blancos\". The capital Oslo is in fact not very typical as the inner city is dominated by concrete and masonry structures since the 17th century, only small pockets of wooden houses exist in central parts of Oslo. Fire is a constant threat to these traditional towns and neighborhoods, and every year some parts if this heritage is lost.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk059", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "A great introduction to Norway is the one-day Norway in a Nutshell package on a single ticket from Oslo or Bergen into the mountains, with a boat trip through the fjords. You can break the trip at several interesting cabins for walking or just admiring the view, and even hire a mountain bike for part of the journey. One of the highlights of the 'Norway in a Nutshell' package is Flåmsbana, a 20 km railway that's one of the steepest in the world. Along the way you'll see beautiful mountains, rivers, valleys, waterfalls, and other beautiful sights on your way to the town of Flåm.\n\nGo on top of the nearest top/mountain. Just for the walk. And for the view.\n\n### Hiking\n\nthumb|Hiking in Jotunheimen National Park", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk060", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "Hiking, *gå på tur*, is a national pastime in Norway, from easy walks in Oslo's city forest to alpine climbing in Jotunheimen or the \"alps\" of Troms. About 30% of Norway is covered in forest, more than 50% of Norway's total area is barren mountain (little or no vegetation), a mere 5% include farms and all sorts of built-up areas (houses, roads, towns, etc). A number of areas are protected as national parks, but most the country is equally attractive and available to the public. Skiing season is generally from mid-November to late April, while bare ground hiking season is generally from mid summer to September. Hiking season varies greatly depending on region (and from year to year): In the high mountains there may still be deep snow until July, while in the lower areas and along the coast hiking season start early spring. Visitors should be aware that the tree line is much lower in Norway than in continental Europe and US Rockies, high alpine conditions (no vegetation, glaciers, extremely rugged surface may start even at 1000 to 1500 metres above sea level).\n\nProper mountain clothing is needed for hikes even in summer in the uplands. The right foot wear is the essential for a successful hike. Hiking boots with ankle support and a sturdy sole on rougher trails and in the terrain, particularly at high altitudes (above 1000 to 1500 metres) where trails often cross wide screes or blockfields.\n\nIn Norway, travellers enjoy a right to access, which means it is possible to camp freely in most places for a couple of days, as long as you're not on cultivated land and provided you are at least 150m away from houses and farm buildings. Don't leave any traces and take your rubbish away for recycling.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk061", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "There are several associations that manage hiking cabins, and there are often local branches of these associations as well. This includes:\n\n- Norwegian Trekking Association\n\n- Statskog\n\nMountainous areas are popular among both Norwegians and tourists. Tourists can visit Galdhøpiggen (2469m), the highest mountain in Norway, or join a musk-ox safari in Dovrefjell.\n\nGoogle Maps can only be used for initial planning, not for navigation in the field. Try the national mapping agency's norgeskart.no site, which concords with their excellent printed hiking maps. Hikers in the wilderness should bring a detailed topographical map 1:50,000 (1:75,000 can also be used) and a compass. GPS (satellite navigation) is only supplement to, not a substitute for, traditional map and compass navigation.\n\n### Skiing\n\nthumb|Cross-country skiing at Sognefjell mountain pass, early July.\nBoth cross country and alpine skiing are popular sports in winter, and the largest areas, such as Trysil, Hafjell and Hemsedal, compete well with the Alps at lower altitudes. Telemark is also a nice area to ski in. (The birthplace of cross country ski.) Voss, Geilo and Oppdal are other major ski resorts. Even inside Oslo there is a notable ski resort. There is more than 200 alpine ski resorts and 500 ski lifts in Norway, and countless cross-country groomed trails, some with lighting to allow exercise after in winter evenings.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk062", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "Winter sport resorts typically open in early December, whereas cross-country skiing may begin in November in some uplands. Around Oslo, within reach of the metro and city buses, there is a large park ideal for cross-country skiing, as well as hills for alpine skiing. In Stryn, at Galdhøpiggen and at Folgefonna there alpine ski centres that are open in summer only (May–September), offering unique opportunities for alpine skiing in T-shirt and short pants. Back-country skiing is popular in late winter and spring, and the season lasts until late May in the high plateaus/central mountains.\n\nthumb|400px|Hemsedal slopes", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk063", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "*Dagens Næringsliv*, the leading business daily, ranked the best **alpine** resorts (2013, 2016, 2018):\n Hemsedal - Norway's most complete alpine resort, can be compared to leading resorts in Austria and Canada.\n Trysil - Norway's largest winter resort, best for children, but it also has many steep pistes\n Hafjell - best snow park, stable cold climate, 1994 Olympics (rank #3 in 2016)\n Kvitfjell - Norway's toughest downhill slopes, 1994 Olympics\n Myrkdalen - in Voss district, heavy snowfall, open November-May\n Stranda - Norway's best offpiste skiing, best scenery and wilderness, heavy snowfalls (ranked #8 in 2016))\n Oppdal - some for all\n Geilo - well suited for families with diverse preferences\n Voss - ideal for day trips from Bergen# Lyngen - best summit skiing\n Hovden - best in South Norway, 200km from Kristiansand (ranked #6 in 2016)\n Røldal - in Ullensvang, heavy snowfall, second best off-piste, open until early May\n Narvik - second best off-piste and second best scenery, open until early Maythumb|Groomed cross country tracks in the Oslo forest\nBest **cross-country** resorts according to *Dagens Næringsliv* (2019 update):\n Hafjell/Kvitfjell in Gudbrandsdalen/Lillehammer\n Beitostølen in Valdres\n Hovden in Setesdal\n Geilo\n Hemsedal\n Oppdal\n Trysil\n Gausta at Rjukan\n Voss including Myrkdalen\n Narvik\n Oslo - 2600 km trails (350 km with lights) inside the big city", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk064", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "*Dagens Næringsliv* in 2014 and 2019 ranked the winter sport resorts that have the most **complete** offer (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing in groomed tracks and \"summit skiing\"):\n Hemsedal - all options in a high valley, stable winter (number 1 in 2019 update)\n Beitostølen - good place for children, excellent for cross country\n Voss including Myrkdalen - offers everything, somewhat limited range for cross country\n Hovden - cross country and alpine slopes (not ranked in 2014)\n Geilo - perfect for cross-country skiing and for families, limited off-piste options\n Oppdal - all options in a high valley, somewhat dated facilities\n Hafjell/Kvitfjell in Lillehammer/Gudbrandsdalen - cross country and alpine although limited off-piste options, no mountains\n Narvik - wild mountains directly on fjord, limited offers for families and cross-country skiers\n Stranda - excellent off-piste and panorama, limited cross-country (not ranked in 2014)\n Trysil - great variety of alpine slopes, well suited for families, limited off-piste\n Tromsø - mediocre alpine facilities, but superb mountainous hinterland\n Sogndal - excellent summit skiing options, lots of powder snow, limited facilities\n Røldal - steep hills and heavy snowfalls, few options for beginners and families\n\n### Cycling\n\nYou can rent a bicycle virtually everywhere in Norway. Cycling routes exist usually near bigger cities; you can find some tours at Cycle tourism in Norway. Some roads and tunnels are forbidden for cyclists as they are life-threatening; read the section By bicycle above. Some city dumps may have a special section where you can pick up discarded bicycles (and other stuff) for free. The charity thrift-stores (FRETEX/ELEVATOR/NMS Gjenbruk) sometimes stock used bicycles.\n\n### Swimming\n\nthumb|Summer day on ''svaberg'', polished cliffs typical for Norway's coast", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk065", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "There are few sandy beaches and water is mostly cold, in salt water as well as fresh water. The coast of Skagerrak, parts of the Oslofjord for instance, can however get pleasantly warm in late summer. The coast is mostly rocky, but some areas have stretches of gently rounded, polished slabs of rock, \"svaberg\", these get quickly dry and warm in sunny weather, and are a popular hangout in summer. Except for the long sandy beaches south of Stavanger, there are few and only short stretches of sandy beaches.\n\nNorway's towns have many indoor swimming pools and a few heated outdoor pools too. Visitors to pools are supposed to shower well and completely naked before going into the pool. Use proper swimwear, swimming in underwear is not accepted. Small children may change and shower with parents. Most indoor pools have saunas (\"badstue\" in Norwegian).\n\n### Fishing\n\nNorway's long coastline has ample opportunity for fishing. Salt water fishing for own consumption is free for all. For pollock/saith and mackerel there is no minimum size. Cod must be at least 40 cm, while sea trout must be at least 30 cm.\n\nRivers are mostly private and permit for fresh water fishing (mostly salmon and trout) must be obtained from the owner. Permissions are often sold in the local tourist information. Some of the largest lakes have the specific rules similar to salt water fishing.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk066", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Do", "text": "Norway has some of the best salmon rivers in Europe. English gentlemen anglers discovered Norway's rivers in the early 1800s and initiated Norway's first tourist boom. Norwegian salmon is typically 3 to 4 kg in rivers, but the best rivers may see catch at 20 and 25 kg. Tana river in Finnmark has the world record for Atlantic salmon at 36 kg. There are about 600 notable rivers with salmon and trout in Norway. The northern rivers (for instance Alta, Tana, Lakselv, Reisa, Børselva and Målselv) and Trøndelag (Orkla, Gaula, Stjørdalselva and Namsen) are at the top of angler's list. There are also fine, but shorter, rivers in Western Norway notably Rauma, Driva, Suldal and Lærdal.\n\n### Other outdoor\n\nWhite water rafting services\n Sjoa (Gudbrandsdalen area)\n Skjåk/Lom\n Valldal\n Voss\n Oppdal\n Jølster\n\n### Music\n\nNorway has a bustling scene for folk, classical and popular music, and is especially known for heavy metal music.", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk067", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nNorwegian currency is the **Norwegian krone** (crown, plural: *kroner*) (ISO code: **NOK**), sometimes abbreviated *kr* or *kr.*, but often just the amount is shown on price tags. A 1/100th *krone* is called *øre*. Be careful when crossing borders to differentiate the Norwegian *krone* (NOK) from the Swedish (SEK) and Danish (DKK) ones.\n\nEuros are generally not accepted in shops, except in some airports, international transport (flights, ferries), and a small number of business targeting tourists.\n\nCoins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 kr. Paper notes come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 kr. While price tags still include *øre*, for instance 9.99 kr, there are no coins smaller than 1 kroner so prices are rounded.\n\n### Banking\n\nVirtually all stores accept major credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa. Norway might well be the most **card-centred country** in the world, and you may encounter businesses where cash isn't accepted. Card payments in ordinary shops are usually done by debit cards where the transaction is completed at once through a unified, national system. Small transactions can usually be done without the use of a PIN code, and tap-to-pay or contactless support is widespread.\n\nIt is possible that you can spend days in Norway without needing physical cash; after the COVID-19 pandemic the use of cash has dropped to almost zero.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk068", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATMs in Norway are called *Minibank*. Due to the widespread use of debit/credit cards and mobile platforms for payment, ATMs are not as abundant as they used to be. As exchanging Norwegian kroner to a different currency can be pricey, don't withdraw or exchange more cash than you'll use. Cash can still be used for tipping tour guides and similar, where card payment isn't available. ATMs at DNB bank branches are now operated by a different company (Nokas) which charges additional fees for cash withdrawal.\n\n*Vipps* is a popular mobile payment platform used to transfer money between individuals. However, it requires an account with a major Norwegian bank, which requires residency.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nThe most visible foreign exchange outlet is the aptly-named FOREX. It is also possible to exchange money in most banks near tourist information offices or in the post-office. However, most foreign exchange transactions done at a manned office will have a substantial markup away from the mid-market rate (up to 8% more unfavourable to you plus a fixed fee) leaving you with much less money than what it is worth. The post office might have an exchange fee up to ! Thus your best option is to withdraw the local cash you need from ATMs.\n\nYou will get rates closer to the mid-market rate when you withdraw money from an ATM or pay for a transaction directly with a debit/credit card – this will of course be subject to your bank's own fees (and the ATM's). In rare situations when you are prompted to choose between the original Norwegian kroner amount and an amount converted to your card's home currency, select the Norwegian kroner (see Money). At main airports and Oslo Central Station you can withdraw euros, US dollars, British pounds, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian kroner.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk069", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Costs\n\nNorway is an **expensive** country for visitors. Thus, if you intend to travel in Norway on a limited budget, you must take some care. Because labour is costly, anything that can be seen as a \"service\" will in general be more expensive than you expect. Travel costs can also be a killer, because the country is large and distances long, so a rail or air pass, or booking air and rail travel in advance and on off-peak times, can save you a lot of money.\n\nMany Norwegians living near the borders with Sweden, Finland or Russia head into those countries to purchase groceries, for significantly cheaper prices. You could likewise stock up if arriving from there, or make a shopping sidetrip when a border crossing is close enough – even quite small villages by the border tend to have shops catering for Norwegian shoppers. While the option of crossing into Russia is not available for most travellers, the two others can be visited with a Schengen visa.\n\nMany attractions in Norway are free of charge, most notably the landscape and nature itself. Furthermore, you don't have to spend much money on accommodation if you're prepared to sleep in a tent or under the open sky. According to the Norwegian right to access, you may stay for up to two nights in one spot in uncultivated land if you keep away from houses and other buildings and out of the way of other people, provided that you leave no trace. If you move far away from people, you can stay for as long as you want.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTraditionally, the tip has not been common, but is getting more so by outside influence. Tipping is never considered offensive, but not tipping is also completely normal.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk070", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "In Norway, like most of Europe, waiters are well paid and thus not dependent on tips from customers. However, a tip can be given to show appreciation for the service. It is common in mid- to high-end cafés and restaurants. In restaurants, rounding up is the norm, and 10% is considered generous. It is not normal to tip outside restaurants and bars, but in situations where change is common it is polite to leave the change (for example, taxis). Tipping cab drivers is common if you travel for more than 200 kr, but you will get no reaction from the driver should you choose not to tip, perhaps a new experience to American and English tourists.\n\n### Shopping\n\nOpening hours in Norway are better than they used to be, though many smaller stores still close early on Saturday (13:00 or 15:00 is typical) and nearly everything is closed on Sundays (except on the last few weekends leading up to Christmas).\n\n**Grocery stores** (particularly in the cities) have long opening hours frequently until 22:00 or 23:00 on weekdays. You'll often see opening hours written as \"9-21 (9-18)\" on doors or in huge fonts on outside walls, meaning 9AM to 9PM weekdays, 9AM to 6PM Saturdays. The grocery market is dominated by a handful of chains covering most of Norway: Rema 1000, Kiwi, Prix and Bunnpris are low price shops with a narrow selection of items; Coop and Spar have wider selection and better quality at a slightly higher price; Meny, Mega and Ultra have fewer shops and higher prices. Norway has the highest density of grocery stores in Europe, this notable in cities where moderately priced stores are never far between. In villages and small towns most shops are usually in the very centre around one or two streets.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk071", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "Convenience stores, notably the major chains **Narvesen** and **Mix** (all over the country), **Deli de Luca** (bigger cities only) and **7-Eleven** (bigger cities only), are open from early morning until late at night every day, with 24-hour service in the biggest cities. All over the country you will find gas-stations, **Circle K**, **Shell, fresh/selected**, **YX** (HydroTexaco) (these days turning into 7-eleven with gas) and **Esso, On the Run**. Virtually all gas-stations serve fast-food, especially sausages and cheese. Also hamburgers, pizza, and so on. The gas-stations have long opening periods, and the bigger stations in cities and near bigger crossroads are open 24 hours. Items sold in convenience stores and gas stations are relatively expensive.\n\nMost big cities have over the years been almost exclusively dominated by shopping malls. Although you do have shopping streets like Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Strandgaten in Bergen and Nordre gate/Olav Tryggvasons gate in Trondheim, you are bound to find malls around the country by Thon Gruppen and other major companies. Norway is also home to Scandinavias biggest mall - Sandvika Storsenter - 15 minutes outside Oslo by train. In Oslo you have Byporten Shopping Senter, Oslo City and Gunerius located right next to Oslo S train station and Paléet and Arkaden Shopping in Karl Johans Gate, as well as several malls and shopping centres a bit further out.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk072", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Buy", "text": "Getting \"good deals\" and bargaining is frowned upon, and the service workers are generally not authorized to give you a better price - only larger items such as cars are subject to haggling. The price you see is the price you pay. If you plan on buying tax-free, a good practice is to bring with you the necessary forms. Most stores will have these forms at hand themselves but it is a good precaution. Also, if you pay with a credit card, you might have to sign the receipt which will require some form of ID, driving licence and passport are both OK. This is due to the strict nature of money transactions.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk073", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Cod drying in the wind, a common (and smelly) sight along the coast\nthumb|Fit for a Viking: ''fiskeboller'' (fish balls) in cream sauce with potatoes, grated carrots and a smattering of bacon\nNorway is one of the worlds most **expensive** countries for eating, especially in restaurants, and also for retail food. Many visitors choose to bring camping food from another country.\n\n### Cuisine\n\nWhile Norwegian eating habits have become more cosmopolitan in the last decades, traditional Norwegian \"farm\" food is still widely eaten, made by whatever can grow in the northern climate, be stored for a year until new crops come out, and contain enough energy for you to do hard work. Regional variants in traditional food are huge and hence, and what is thought to be \"typical traditional\" for one Norwegian might be totally unknown to another. Typical examples are variations of yeasted and unyeasted bread and other forms of bakery, porridges, soups, inventive uses of potato, salted and smoked meat, and fresh, salted or smoked fish. Dried cod (*tørrfisk*) and salted cod (*klippfisk*) are staples of coastal communities in the west and north and can be seen drying on outside racks in spring and summer. The national dish of Norway is *fårikål*, a stewed casserole of lamb's meat and cabbage. Other specialities include *lutefisk* (lyefish) made from dry/salted fish processed in lye, and potato dumplings served with salt meat (raspeball) or mixed with fish (blandeball). Sheep's head (*smalahove*) and dried mutton ribs (*pinnekjøtt*) are traditionally served before or during Christmas in Western Norway.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk074", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Eat", "text": "Finer traditional food is usually based on game or fresh fish. Steak, medallions and meat balls from game, deer, reindeer and elk are highly appreciated foods with international reputation, so are fresh, smoked and fermented salmon varieties as well as a host of other fish products. Traditional pastries like *lukket valnøtt* (marzipan-covered whipped cream cake) are other original contributions to international cuisine. Cheese of various types is common, but one particularly Norwegian favourite is *brun geitost* (brown goat-cheese), a mild sweet cheese which bears a remarkable similarity to smooth peanut butter in colour, texture and taste.\n\nToday, Norwegians use plenty of sliced bread for almost any meal except dinner, whereas recipes for hot meals will be taken from almost anywhere in the world, including of course the traditional kitchen, but seldom the most extreme examples. Lunch usually consists of some bread and snacks instead of a warm dish but this is then compensated by eating well at dinner time. Most Norwegians don't go out for lunch, instead have a quick meal in the workplace.\n\nNorway maintains high import tariffs for food; especially meat, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages. Norwegians who live near Sweden or Finland usually cross the border to buy these products.\n\nNorwegians are also known for buying a lot of frozen pizzas at modest prices in any grocery store.\n\n### Places to eat", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk075", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Eat", "text": "Fast food meals start from 50 kr and sit-down meals in a decent restaurant nearly always topping 200 kr or more for a main course. Even a take-away sandwich and a coffee at a gas station may cost you up to 70 kr. One way to cut costs is **self-catering**, as youth hostels and guesthouses often have kitchens for their guests. Supermarkets and grocery stores are not hard to find, even in the smallest village there is usually more than one grocery store. The largest chains are Coop, REMA 1000, Kiwi and Joker. Breakfast is often hearty and buffet-style, so pigging out at breakfast and skipping lunch is also an option. Buy/bring a lunchbox before attending breakfast, as most of the bigger hotels will allow you to fill it up for free from the breakfast buffet for eating later in the day.\n\nFor a cheap meal on the go, you can go to Narvesen and get 3 pastries for 39kr or visit a REMA 1000, which sometimes house a salad bar for 10kr/100g.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk076", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Eat", "text": "For a cheap quick snack Norwegian-style, look no further than the nearest grill or convenience store, which will dish up a sausage (*pølse*) or hot dog (*grillpølse*) in either a hot dog bun (*brød*) or wrapped in a flat potato bread (*lompe*) for around 20-30 kr. However prices can soar as high as 50 kr if you buy at the right (read wrong) places. In addition to ketchup and mustard, optional toppings include pickled cucumber (*sylteagurk*), fried onion bits (*stekt løk*) and shrimp salad (*rekesalat*). To get the most for your money, order a (*kebab i pita*) which is lamb meat roasted on a spit then fried when you order, served together with vegetables in a pita bread. This tastes great, is extremely filling and can be found for as little as 40 kr in central Oslo. Outside, you will have to stick with your grillpølse.\n\n### Vegetarians\n\nSome Norwegian cuisine restaurants have vegetarian meals on the menu, but others will make something if asked, with varying success. Some of the few chains of stores/restaurants where you will always have a vegetarian option is Peppes Pizza, Domino's, Pizzabakeren, Subway and Esso/On the run (spinach panini).\n\n### Allergies and diets\n\nIf you have allergies like lactose intolerance and gluten allergy, going to Peppes Pizza, Dominos, Pizzabakeren, McDonald's, Subway and Burger King are good suggestions. But if you want to eat somewhere a little fancier, asking the maître d'hôtel at the restaurant is always good practice. In some cases, if it is not on the menu, they might be able to accommodate you anyway.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk077", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Eat", "text": "As the regulations for food are extremely strict in Norway, the ingredients for anything you buy are always printed on the packages, and if you ask, you will always be told what is contained in the food you order.\n\n### Food safety\n\nFood safety is very good in Norway. Salmonella is very rare compared to other countries, and health officials inspect restaurants at a regular basis. Also tap-water is usually very nice; Voss water from Vatnestrøm in Aust-Agder is actually exported abroad, including the US.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk078", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A glass of Gammel Opland ''akevitt''\n\nNorway is often described as a \"dry\" country, because alcohol is highly priced and a glass of wine or beer in a restaurant costs at least 60 kr. When in cities and towns with many students such as Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø, you can very often find lower prices. Ask young people in the streets or at your place of accommodation for hints and tips of where to go. Beer can be bought at the supermarkets, however wine and stronger alcoholic beverages have to be purchased in state owned liquor stores (Vinmonopolet). The Vinmonopolet is a monopoly but maintains high quality and a wide selection of products; the finest products are moderately priced. The price of alcohol, however does not stop the locals from having a good time. They are often found drinking and carrying on in local street parties and on their porches.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk079", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "The high prices is one reason why the tradition to hold **vorspiel** and **nachspiel** before going out is very popular in Norway. The words derives from German and can be translated into pre- and after party. If going out in the weekend, it is not unknown for Norwegians to gather at a friend's house and not leave for the nightclub until after midnight. So if you've seen Norwegian drinking culture abroad, and are shocked by the empty bar/club at 23:00, call your Norwegian friend and ask where the vorspiel is. (If that person is one of the many Swedes in Norway, vorspiel would mean foreplay – they would say foreparty.) It's likely to be a whole lot of fun. Clubs tend to fill up around the period immediately after midnight. However this is mostly true at weekends – during normal weekdays, you will often find Norwegians sitting in bars enjoying a couple of beers or a bottle of wine.\n\nYou must be at least 18 years old to purchase beer or wine and 20 years old to purchase spirits with an alcohol content of 22% and more in Norway.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk080", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "Drinking in public is prohibited. This law is very strict, and even encompasses your own balcony, if other people can see you! Luckily, the law is very seldom enforced (cases of anyone being fined on their own balcony are very rare, for instance), and Norwegians do indeed drink in parks. There are calls for modifying the antiquated law, with debate in media: most people seem to agree that drinking in parks is alright as long as people have a good time and remain peaceful. However, if you bother others and get too intoxicated or a policeman happens to be in a bad mood, you may be asked to throw away your alcohol, and in a worst-case scenario, fined. Drinking openly in the street is probably still considered somewhat rude, and it would be more likely to attract police attention than a picnic in a park, and is advised against. Having a glass of wine in an establishment that legally serves alcohol at the pavement, of course, is not a problem.\n\nBe careful about urinating in major cities like Oslo if you're drunk, fines for public urination can be as high as 10,000 kr! However, this normally isn't a problem if you urinate in a place where nobody sees, like a couple of yards into the woods. Public intoxication is also something you should be a bit careful with, especially in the capital, Oslo. In smaller towns the police will have no problem giving you a night in the local jail if they think you are disrupting peace and order.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk081", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "In Norway, all **alcohol** with a volume percentage of under 4.75% can be sold at regular shops. This means you can get decent beer all over the place. The price varies, but imported beer is usually expensive (except Danish and Dutch beers brewed in Norway on licence like Heineken and Carlsberg). **Shopping hours** for beer are very strict: The sale stops at 20:00 every weekday, and at 18:00 every day before holidays (incl Sundays). Since the sale times are decided by the local council, it may vary, but these are the latest times decided by law. This means the beer will have to be *paid* for before this time. If it's not paid, the person behind the counter will take your beer, and tell you \"Sorry pal, too late!\". On Sunday, you can't buy takeaway alcohol anywhere.\n\nFor strong beer, wine and hard alcohol, you will have to find a **Vinmonopolet** branch. The state shop has a marvellous choice of drinks, but at mostly sky-high prices. The general rule is that table wines are more expensive than in nearly any other country. Expect 80–90 kr for a decent, \"cheap\" wine. However, as the taxation is based on the volume of alcohol per bottle rather than the wholesale cost, you can often find more exclusive wines at lower prices than in private establishments in other countries. Vinmonpolet is open until 17:00 Monday to Wednesday, 18:00 Thursday to Friday, and 15:00 on Saturday.\n\nMany car borne visitors (and Norwegians on shopping trips to Sweden and Finland) bring alcohol into Norway, but mind the import restrictions; anything above the quota gives heavy duties.\n\n### Beers", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk082", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "The brands you are most likely to see in pubs are industrial lagers from Ringnes, Hansa, Borg, CB, Mack, Aass and Frydenlund (accompanied by a vast array of imported drinks). However, in the last ten years a range of microbreweries and craft breweries have made locally produced beer of all varieties and often high quality available. For instance Nøgne Ø, Ægir, Haandbryggeriet, Kinn, 7 Fjell and many more. Beer from small or specialty breweries are also available in pubs or cafes such as Mikrobryggeriet (Bogstadveien Oslo), Lorry's (Parkveien, Oslo), Grünerløkka Brygghus (Oslo) or Beer Palace (Aker Brygge, Oslo), Ægir (Flåm), UNA Bryggeri og Kjøkken (Bergen), Trondhjem Mikrobryggeri (Trondheim) and Christianssand Brygghus (Kristiansand). Norwegians are proud of their local breweries. At bars or pubs it is considered good manners to order a local beer first.\n\n### Cider\n\nBecause of the abundance of light in summer but relatively cool weather, Norwegian fruit and berries have a different flavor than in southern countries. Norway is too cool for grapes, but apple growing has long tradition particularly in Hardanger. Other traditional apple farms are found in inner Sognefjord, Valldal, Gvarv (Telemark), Lier and Ringerike. There are many cider producers in the area some of these ciders are of high quality and match fine white wine from central Europe and the best cider internationally. Norwegian cider is typically fresh, aromatic and dry. Ciders rich in tannins and with a more bitter taste are less common. Non-alcoholic apple juice may also be referred to as cider.\n\n### Non-alcoholic beverages", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk083", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are many manufacturers of local non-alcoholic beverages, such as fruit juices all over Norway. Norwegians drink cow's milk for meals consisting of bread. Milk is available in several varieties, high or low in fat. Norwegians drink coffee in large quantities. In the larger cities there are many coffee shops and patisseries which are also meeting places.\n\n### Water\n\nNorwegian tap water is generally of high quality, clean and absolutely drinkable. Tap water is mostly surface water; only a small proportion is obtained from sources underground. There is also bottled drinking water to buy, some with added carbonation and/or different flavorings. Norwegian bottled water is of very high quality. Many Norwegians choose to drink water with meals and bring drinking water when they go hiking.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk084", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Hotels** in Norway are generally not cheap, as Norway is a high-cost country, but there are several price ranges, and it is very possible to get reasonably-priced rates even in top-rated hotels depending on the time of the year, day of the week, and city – e.g. hotels in Oslo may be expensive on weekdays but much cheaper when there is less business travel. Special offers are common, look for them. A single hotel room should cost you from around and up (always book ahead for weekdays). Most hotels are found in densely populated areas, but those called *høyfjellshotell* are often far into the mountains. If you plan to finish your stay in Norway on a Sunday, try finding a hotel that offers a late check-out.\n\nYou can also find reasonable cheap lodgings in camping huts (, space for entire family), DNT mountain cabins ( per person), youth hostels ( per person), etc. Most of these will require you to make your own food, bring your own bedsheets, and wash before leaving. \n\nA countryside cabin, **hytte**, is a prized family treasure. The high demand and the limits for exploitation have pushed property prices through the roof during the first decade of the 2000s, and few foreigners can afford to buy a cabin in Norway. As currency and prices are dependent on the oil price, the return on investment is very uncertain.\n\nFor longer stays (one week or more) consider **renting** an apartment, a house or a high quality cabin. Several agencies offer reservations on houses or cabins owned by farmers or other locals. This type of accommodation is frequently more interesting than a standard hotel. Services like Airbnb can also provide some listings. They typically start at /night for a single room but obviously cost substantially more for entire properties.\n\n**Campsites** for caravans, campers and tents are found in a large number in Norway. Many campsites also have small cabins for rent. The standard varies. Most campsites are only open during the summer months. In addition, there are a number of parking spaces separate for campers in cities.\n\n**Wild camping** is allowed in *utmark*, i.e. undeveloped areas such as the fells, according to the right to access (*allemannsretten*). If travelling by car, finding a spot to park near your intended camp site can be difficult. Wild camping is intended for hikers in the wilderness, it is not intended as a cheap option.", "word_count": 402}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk085", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Learn", "text": "All public universities in Norway are funded through taxpayer money, and hence do not charge tuition fees for either Norwegian citizens or international students. However, keep the high cost of living in mind when planning your finances to study in Norway. You will not be issued a student visa if you cannot present evidence of funds to support your living expenses.\n\nThe most important universities in Norway are the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen.\n\nUndergraduate courses are generally taught in Norwegian, though there are many postgraduate courses that are taught in English. Some undergraduate courses for exchange students are also taught in English. Many universities also conduct courses for foreigners who wish to learn Norwegian.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk086", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Work", "text": "Citizens of all EU/EEA countries and Switzerland (some restrictions apply for recent members of the European Union) have an unrestricted right to work in Norway, but must register with the police if they intend to stay in Norway for more than 3 months. In addition, citizens of a number of non-EU countries are permitted to work in Norway without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90-day visa-free stay (for more information, see the 'Get in' section above).\n\nYou may start from the local office of the public agency NAV, to get legal advice and a list of available jobs. They also provide an online guide: Work in Norway. Even though the unemployment rate in Norway is very low (3.2% http://www.indexmundi.com/norway/unemployment_rate.html), short-term employment may be hard to find – certainly when not fluent in a Scandinavian language. If you decide to move there you have to fill in a \"Residence Permit\" which lasts for 3 years before it needs to be renewed.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk087", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Police patch including the golden lion (insignia for government authorities)\n\nNorway has a very low rate of violent crime. The most likely crimes for tourists to experience are car break-ins and bicycle theft. Pickpockets do also tend to be an increasing problem in urban areas in the summer season, but it's still nothing like in larger cities in Europe. It is always a good idea to look after your belongings, this includes never leaving valuable objects visible in your car and locking your bike safely. It is generally illegal to carry knives and firearms in public places such as on the street.\n\nSolo female travellers should have no problems, although ordinary street sense is advised after dark. During summer there is full daylight until late evening, even in South Norway.\n\nNorway is one of the countries in the world with the lowest levels of corruption. Police and other authorities cannot be bribed, travellers are strongly advised against attempting in any form of bribery.\n\nNorway has a unified police force (\"politi\"). The police force is the government authority in areas like crime, national security, major accidents, missing persons, traffic control, passports and immigration control. Police officers usually do not carry guns and during a year the police (the entire police force) use guns only a handful of times. Most cities have municipal parking attendants, too, but the attendants do not have any authority beyond fining and removing vehicles.\n\nNorway has a lot of electric vehicles, particularly in cities, as of 2022 the majority of new cars were hybrid or fully electric and in total every fifth were fully electric. These cars are very quiet and pedestrians should use their eyes, not ears, when crossing roads and streets.\n\n### Outdoor safety", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk088", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The most unusual dangers to visitors are found in nature. Every year, quite a few tourists get hurt, even killed, in the mountains or on the seas, usually after given, unheeded warnings. Dangers include glacier fronts, big waves on the coast and big waterfalls. Do not walk on glaciers without proper training and equipment or a local guide.\n\nWhen hiking or skiing, be prepared for a sudden shift in the weather, as these can happen very quickly in Norway. Carry the gear you might need to cope. If unsure about conditions, ask locals or go on a guided tour. For any written advice, make sure you understand how your experience might differ from that of the intended audience, and e.g. what is included in estimated hike durations. You are expected to manage on your own in the Norwegian wilderness, so you won't find fences or warning signs even at the most dangerous places.\n\nKeep in mind that avalanches are common. Unless you know exactly what you're doing, stay in marked slopes when skiing. If you think you know what you're doing, think twice. 12 people were killed in avalanches just in the first three months of 2011 in Norway. For safety measures, see below.\n\n#### Wild animals\n\nNorway has few dangerous wild animals. Animal collisions with the mighty moose or the smaller red deer account for the bulk of wild animal-related deaths and injuries. In some rural districts, sheep, goats, cows or reindeer can be seen walking or sleeping on the road. Unlike other wild animals, the muskox in Dovrefjell area does not necessarily run from humans, instead they form a defensive perimeter around the group and may attack if approached.\n\nthumb|Warning - polar bears. \"Applies to all of Svalbard\", but not at all to the mainland.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk089", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Specific rules and precautions apply to Svalbard, where you should never travel outside Longyearbyen without someone in your party carrying a weapon. The polar bears on Svalbard are a real and extremely dangerous threat for the unprepared, and there are cases involving death and/or injury almost every year. There are more polar bears here than humans. Svalbard is a fragile, dry arctic tundra with large parts almost untouched by humans. The current recommendation is that non-local visitors participate in organized tour arrangements only. Breaking the law, disturbing wildlife or being reckless can land you a fine and/or deportation from the archipelago. That said, if you come well prepared with common sense, the visit will be one of the most memorable you've ever had. The nature, scenery and history of Svalbard is simply breathtaking.\n\nAs for other wild animals on mainland Norway, there are not much more than a few extremely rare encounters with brown bears and wolves in the wilderness. Contrary to popular belief abroad, there are *no polar bears* in mainland Norway, let alone polar bears walking city streets. The Scandinavian brown bear is peaceful and will generally run away from humans. In any case it is extremely unlikely that tourists will even see a glimpse of one of the around 50 brown bears remaining in Norway. Norwegian wolves are not dangerous to humans. In general, there is no reason to worry about dangerous encounters with wild beasts in Norway.\n\n#### Sea and coast\n\nthumb|The outer coast is treacherous.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk090", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Norway's immense coastline is an adventure for visitors, but also a treacherous area. Huge waves that build up power across the North Sea and the Atlantic crush on slippery rocks and slabs along the outer coast. Every year tourists are in serious danger and occasionally even killed when they challenge the big waves along the shores. Many tourists also leave the sheltered waters and venture onto the open sea in small boats, every year tourists are rescued at sea, some even perish. Note that life jackets are required in small boats. The long inner fjords are mostly sheltered from ocean waves, but sea breezes can be powerful and unpredictable on warm summer days. Complex topography makes wind unpredictable. Winds are on average strongest and most frequent during winter, but the open sea is treacherous in summer too.\n\nTides vary considerably between regions and are in general greater further north. In Oslofjord and around Kristiansund the difference between high and low tides is only some 50 cm. In Bergen almost 2 meters, Kristiansund some 2.5 meters, in Narvik (Nordland) and Vadsø (East Finnmark) some 4 meters. Tides can increase during strong winds and low pressure. The tide can create strong currents at narrow straits and fjord mouths (Saltstraumen at Bodø is the world's most powerful).\n\nNevertheless, various types of water sports are very popular, such as sailing of various kinds, surfing, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, motor boating, water skiing and so on. If the weather and temperature are favourable, outdoor swimming is also popular.\n\nNorway has many ferry crossings and other vessels must yield to ferries. Don't go out in kayak or dive near the docks and routes of car ferries. Sail boats and small boats must also yield to larger vessels and cargo ships.\n\n#### Skiing in the mountains", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk091", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "To go hiking and skiing in the mountains during winter **requires precautions**. Snow storms and avalanches are dangerous, occur often and require safety measures. Therefore The Norwegian Trekking Association compiled The Norwegian Mountain Code (*Fjellvettreglene*), safety rules that significantly reduce the danger.\n\n#### Glaciers\n\nthumb|Glaciers are beautiful and fascinating, but treacherous and powerful. Note the size of hikers compared to the ice (a line descending from the glacier to the left).\n\nGlaciers are some of the **most dangerous places** for visitors to the Norwegian outdoors. Never underestimate the power of glaciers. Observe warning signs. Never approach the front of the glacier. Observe warning signs and do not cross fences. Most glaciers do not have any kind of signs or fences, and visitors should keep a generous distance. A glacier is not a stable piece of ice, it is constantly moving like a very slow river and huge chunks regularly fall off. There are countless glaciers in Norway and even smaller and apparently insignificant glaciers are powerful compared to tiny humans.\n\nDo **not** enter a glacier without proper equipment and a skilled local guide. Sunrays get reflected from the white snow, so it is necessary to use sunscreen to protect your skin. Bring warm clothes for tours on the glacier.\n\n### On the road", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk092", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you plan to cross the mountains by car (for instance by driving from Oslo to Bergen) in the winter season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the journey. Very low temperatures in the interior can also be challenging for cars. The conditions are harsh. Always keep a full tank of fuel, and keep warm clothes, food and drink in the car. Make sure your tires are good enough and suited for winter conditions (studded or non-studded winter tires, \"all-year\" tires are not enough), and that you have sufficient skills for driving in snowy and cold conditions. Roads are often closed on short notice due to weather conditions. For advice on conditions and closed roads, call 175 in Norway or check the online road reports http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinformasjon/Reiseinformasjon/Trafikkmeldinger (in Norwegian only) from the Norwegian State road authorities. Remember that not all portions of the roads have cellular phone coverage.\n\nthumb|Norwegian police vehicle.\n\n### Emergency numbers\n\n- Police\n\n- Fire\n\n- ''Emergency'' Medical Services (Ambulance)\n\nIf you are *unsure* which number to call, is the central for all search and rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.\n For *non-emergencies*, the *police* is to be called on .\n For *treatment of casualties or serious illness* (non-emergencies) .\n The hearing impaired using a text telephone can reach the emergency services by .\n *Roadside assistance*. In case of traffic accident you are supposed to call the police *only* if individuals are injured or if the crash causes a traffic jam. The police will not get involved if there are damages on the vehicles only.\n - Falck\n\n- Viking\n\n- Norwegian Automobile Federation", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk093", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The **water** quality in Norway is adequate and mostly good or very good. Unlike continental Europe, most of the tap water in Norway is from surface water like rivers and lakes typically in hills above towns. Unlike groundwater, surface water is mostly low in calcium and rarely hard. Tap water is always drinkable (except on boats, trains etc.) and there is generally no need to buy bottled water (in fact, bottled water often comes from the same source as tap water). In the mountains, water from streams and rivers is usually drinkable and often high quality, but some common sense is needed to judge the source.\n The hygiene in public kitchens is very good, and food poisoning rarely happens to tourists.\n Norway can get relatively warm in the summer, but be prepared to bring warm clothes (sweater, wind breaking/waterproof jacket), as they might come in handy. It's hard to predict the weather, and in summer, you may experience severe weather changes during your stay.\n Tourists hiking in the high mountains (above the forest) should bring sports wear for temperatures down to freezing (0 °C) also in summer. Rain and strong wind can occur at any time adding to the cooling effect.\n Norway has a high density of pharmacies. Nose sprays and standard painkillers (paracetamol, aspirin) can also be purchased in grocery stores and gas stations.\n Do not underestimate the power of the Nordic sun! The sun is generally not as strong as in Southern Europe, but the air is often very clear and clean in the North and UV-levels can be quite high despite the low sun, especially in the high mountains. This sometimes applies also in cloudy weather. Snow fields and water surfaces multiplies the radiation. And in cool conditions (low temperatures or wind) you don't feel that the sun burns your skin. Bring sunglasses when you go to the high mountains, when you go skiing in spring and when you go to the beach.", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk094", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Animals and insects\n In southern Norway, there are ticks (*flått*) in summer. They can transmit Lyme disease (borreliosis) or TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) through a bite. Both can be very serious. The risk areas for TBE are mainly along the coast from Oslo to Trondheim. Although incidents are relatively rare and not all ticks carry diseases, it's advisable to wear long trousers rather than shorts if you plan to walk through dense or tall grass areas (the usual habitat for ticks). You can buy special tick tweezers from the pharmacy that can be used to remove a tick safely if you happen to get bitten. You should remove the tick from your skin as soon as possible and preferably with the tick tweezers to reduce the risks of getting an infection. If the tick bite starts to form red rings on the skin around it or if you experience other symptoms relating to the bite, you should go visit a doctor as soon as possible. Since ticks are black, they are more easily found if you wear bright clothes. It is advisable to inspect the skin after a day out, particularly on children. Dogs that run around in grass and bushes often attract lots of ticks.\n There is only one type of venomous snake in Norway: the European adder (*hoggorm*), which has a distinct zigzag pattern on its back. The snake is not very common, but lives all over Norway up to the Arctic circle (except for the highest mountains and areas with little sunshine). Although its bite is hardly ever life-threatening (except to small children and allergic people), be careful in the summer, especially when walking in the forests or on open fields. The adder can also bite hands you bend to pick wild berries or mushrooms. If you are bitten by a snake, seek medical assistance. The probability of being bitten is however very small, as the adder is very shy of humans.", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk095", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Contact\nFor minor injuries and illness, go to the local \"Legevakt\" (emergency room/physician seeing patients without appointment) . In cities this is typically a municipal service centrally located, be prepared to wait for several hours. In rural districts, you typically have to contact the \"district physician\" on duty. For inquiries about toxins (from mushrooms, plants, medicine or other chemicals) call the national Toxin Information Office at", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk096", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "Norwegians are generally open-minded and tolerant and there are few, if any, dos and don'ts that foreign visitors need to keep in mind. If anything, it is important to keep in mind that Norway is perhaps the most egalitarian country in the world. Behaving in a way that suggests either party is inferior or superior is considered exceptionally rude, and the flaunting of wealth or rank (if any) is frowned upon. Waiters and other service personnel expect that customers will treat them as equals. Most Norwegians will handle misunderstandings or possibly offensive comments in a friendly manner and almost all will respond well to compliments paid to the country in general.\n\nMany Norwegian people can however be mistaken as somewhat rude and unwelcoming, because they can be very direct and that small talk is generally avoided. This is just a matter of culture; making contact with strangers, such as talking with fellow passengers on the bus, is uncommon. This does not apply to train journeys, or outside the bigger cities where small talk will be made on the basis of curiosity. During hikes in remote wilderness, talking to strangers on the same trail is customary.\n\nSwearing is relatively common and accepted in many parts of the country. Profanities appear regularly in public broadcasting and are not censored. Foreign visitors may recognize some bad words from English or other languages. Some bad Norwegian words sound very similar to English words. Visitors should however avoid such words as there is a wide variety in what words locals find acceptable.\n\n### Greetings", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk097", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "Norwegian as a language is very straightforward and close to English. The once common use of the polite pronoun is nowadays extremely rare, and so are polite phrases and words in everyday situations, so don't be offended if a Norwegian speaking a foreign language uses very familiar language. The use of informal language also applies when shopping, checking in at hotels and similar, but do not expect small talk in those situations either. Norwegian does not have something corresponding directly to *please* (German *bitte*), some may say *unnskyld* (excuse me) to call your attention.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk098", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "On the other hand, expressing thanks is important in Norway, this occurs in many situations. For instance after being served food in a private home it is customary to say *thanks for the meal* (*takk for maten*), at more formal occasions the \"thanks\" is often accompanied by a handshake. For instance after eating or travelling together some Norwegians say *thanks for good company*. Many Norwegians also express a *thanks for last time we met* for instance a few days after meeting a party.\nthumb|Chess master Magnus Carlsen greeting his opponent.\nNorwegian culture in general is very informal and Norwegians usually address each other by first name only, except perhaps in official meetings. Standard nicknames such as \"Bob\" for \"Robert\" are rarely used and can not be assumed. Norwegians don't address each other with formal titles such as \"Dr.\", \"Mr.\" or \"Ms.\". The informal culture is not equivalent to that in southern parts of Europe; showing up late for meetings is considered rude, so is talking loud, being too personal with strangers, touching somebody without good reason, and losing your temper. Outbursts in public are regarded as embarrassing. A firm but brief handshake is the standard style of greeting; cheek kissing or hugging are traditionally not used among strangers. The elderly and infirm can shake hands sitting or lying down, others are expected to stand up during greetings. It is customary to take off your shoes when entering a Norwegian home, in winter this is often a necessity, walking into somebody's living room with shoes on is regarded as disrespectful. Condolences are expressed with a firm handshake, in a funeral words are often not needed.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk099", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "Norwegians' reputation for being cold and unwelcoming may be a result of a surprisingly complex unwritten code of conduct with many apparent contradictions. For example; while it is very uncommon to make contact with strangers at public transportation like buses, the opposite is true when you meet Norwegians in outdoor activities like hiking or skiing: greeting a fellow hiker or skier is expected, not doing so is often considered quite rude. Another phenomenon that often confuses foreigners is the role of alcohol in social interactions. It is best explained as the grease that enables Norwegians to meet and make contact without too much friction, again with exceptions. Fortunately, tourists are exempted from most or all social norms, and Norwegians are in general quite aware, and humorous, about the contradictions in their social norms.\n\n### In nature\n\nIt is increasingly popular among visitors to build stone cairns in wilderness, along rocky beaches and on mountain passes. Stone cairns are used to mark trails and can in fact be misleading to hikers. Visitors building cairns often pick stones from stone fences; some are actually cultural heritage, some are in use for reindeer, sheep or cows. It is in fact illegal to alter nature like this, even if only with a simple rock. Visitors enjoy right of access to wilderness and are expected to take care of nature while they are there as privileged guests. A large part of Norway's wilderness is in fact privately owned so visitors are generally not allowed to take or alter anything.\n\n### Sensitive issues\n\n#### 22 July attacks", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk100", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "On 22 July 2011, two terrorist attacks by a right-wing extremist left 77 people dead; a bombing attack in Oslo that killed 8, and a mass shooting at a summer camp on the island of Utøya which killed 69 (of which 55 were teenagers). Even today it is still a very difficult topic for Norwegians old enough to remember it. If the topic is brought up, approach it carefully and if possible, avoid using the terrorists name. Utøya is not open to general visitors, but a memorial exists on the mainland facing the island and guided tours happen occassionally. The site of the bomb is in the middle of Oslo and can be visited by anyone.\n\n#### Second World War and others\n\nThe Second World War (usually called \"the war\"), religion and race are also sensitive issues. While Norway was primarily a victim of the war and remembered in a patriotic context, there are also complicated issues such as collaboration with the Nazi occupiers and the Holocaust. \"Race\" is not an accepted term and using the term can be perceived as racist. It is not accepted to talk about persons in racial categories.\n\n### Patriotism\n\nthumb|Children's parade in Trondheim on the Constitution Day\nNorwegians can be perceived as somewhat nationalistic. It is common to use the flag of Norway in private celebrations (such as anniversaries and weddings), and many will also fly the flag on public holidays.\n\nNorwegians in general speak warmly and positively about their country and they are more than happy to delight you with conversations about the country's economic success, Norway's scenic nature, and so on. Comments about Norway's superiority are much appreciated. You can, if you like, talk about the accomplishments of your home country, but try not to make the discussion competitive.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk101", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Respect", "text": "17 May, the constitution day, can perhaps be a bit overwhelming for foreigners, as the country is covered in flags, citizens dress up in their finest clothes and celebrate all day long. Norwegian nationalism is however generally an expression of appreciation of living in a successful community and stable democracy, not aggressive in any way. On constitution day, dress up and try to say *gratulerer med dagen* (literally \"congratulations on the day\") to anyone you meet, and you will probably get the same in response and see a lot of smiles, even if you're not Norwegian at all. Norwegians take pride in the fact that the parades on constitution day are made up of school children and families instead of military troops. 17 May is a celebration of the 1814 constitution that established Norway as a liberal democracy; the constitution is still in effect, as one of the oldest written democratic constitutions (surpassed by that of the USA). Norway shared a monarch with Sweden until 1905 while Norway was ruled according to the 1814 constitution.\n\nNorway has a friendly rivalry with its neighbours, especially Sweden, whose inhabitants are the butt of many jokes. Despite the complicated political history, Norway, Sweden and Denmark have close and friendly relations at the political and personal level. Borders have been open since 1950.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk102", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Cope", "text": "**First time visitors** not familiar with the country tend to plan a trip in Norway from city to city. Although Norway has many nice cities the country's main attraction is the land itself, the nature, the landscapes, the wilderness, as well as a number of man-made sights in rural districts, notably road constructions and cultural treasures such as the stave churches. Unlike many other countries in Europe, a trip to Norway should ideally be planned according to types of landscapes to visit as well as a selection of cities. Norway is a long country with long distances and complex topography, and travellers should not underestimate distances.\n\n### Numbers, time and dates\n\nthumb|\"08-18\" means parking from 08:00 (8 AM) to 18:00 (6 PM)\nNorwegians use a comma as the *decimal separator sign* or radix. For instance, \"12,000\" means 12 (specified with three decimal places) not 12 thousand, whereas \"12 000\" officially means 12 thousand (\"12.000\" is also used for readability).\n\nLike many countries, Norwegians typically use the 12-hour clock system in speech and the 24-hour clock system in writing, print, signs and timetables. Norwegians don't use PM/AM to indicate morning or afternoon and may not be familiar with this convention. In Norwegian \"half ten\" (\"halv ti\") means half past nine; when speaking to a person not fluent in English it would be better to avoid this form to avoid misunderstanding. Norwegians refer to beginning of daytime as \"morning\" (\"morgen\", typically from around 06:00 to 09:00), while the hours until high noon is \"before noon\" (\"formiddag\"). Shops, banks and offices don't close for lunch.\n\nDates can be seen abbreviated in a number of ways, but the order is always DAY-MONTH-YEAR, for instance 12.7.17 or 12.07.17 is always 12 July 2017 (120717 and 12/7-17 are also common, but regarded as incorrect forms). Monday is considered the first day of the week, while Sunday is the last. In timetables, weekdays are thus often indicated by numbers 1 (Monday) through 7 (Sunday). Norwegian calendars will also indicate the number of the week 1 through 53. Timetables for public transport often use abbreviations such as \"Dx67\", meaning \"daily except Saturday and Sunday\".\n\nNorway uses the **metric** system only. A Norwegian mile, 'mil', is equal to 10 km. There is virtually no knowledge of non-metric measures. Weather forecasts use metric units only. Download a conversion app on your smartphone if needed.\n\nIn Norwegian there is usually no concept of ground **floor** as in the UK (or \"Erdgeschoss\" in German), instead the entrance level of a building is called the first floor (\"første etasje\" or labelled zero, 0). Levels are then counted 1, 2, 3 etc. Buildings with multiple underground levels may use -1 (first basement level) and -2 (lower basement).\n\n### House purchase\n\nIf **purchasing a house** or business in Norway, check that all legal documents (kjøpekontrakt/takst) and maps (grensekart) are correct. Ask for information in your own language. Make sure the Estate Agent is registered with NEF.", "word_count": 491}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk103", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Connect", "text": "The international dialling prefix is 00 like in the EU. On mobile phones, you can use \"+\" instead. Norway's country code is 47 (so Norwegian numbers can be dialled as +47 xx-xx-xx-xx). Since 2020, there are no area codes; the leading \"0\" in some numbers should not be dropped when dialling from abroad.\n\nMobile phone coverage is universal in urban areas and generally also good in rural Norway, though on occasion some rural valley areas might be badly covered.\n\nEven in the most remote mountain cabins, as long as they are staffed, you will usually be able to send a postcard.\n\n### Internet\n\nMost Norwegian households are connected to the Internet in some way (often broadband), making cybercafés hard to find outside major cities, due to relatively low demand. Most public libraries have free public access to the internet, but a limited number of computers and limited opening hours.\n\nIf you bring a laptop with a wireless connection you will find wireless internet zones just about everywhere (gas stations, grocery stores, city centres, cafés, shopping centres, hotels, etc.) Be prepared to pay for it though. It is not unusual for hotels to have a terminal for guest use. Around 60% of camp grounds have Wi-Fi Internet, but if it's crucial for you, best to ask before paying for your camping space.\n\nIf you are coming from another EU or EEA country, you will likely be able to continue using your SIM in Norway without surcharges, subject to any fair-use limits imposed by your provider. If you are coming from a third country, note the pricing below and consider making plans to purchase a SIM from another EU/EEA provider with generous EU usage policies before arriving in Norway.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk104", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Connect", "text": "Telenor (national telecoms provider) sells pre-paid SIM cards for 49 kr, providing fast 4G internet access capped at 20 kr per day. Speed is reduced after 1 GB in a month, with no option to extend it, so it's not recommended for travelers with heavy usage. Telenor stores (including the one at the airport) ask 199 kr for this SIM card (and some store staff will even warn you away for these reasons), however you can purchase it in convenience stores for 49 kr. Activation on-line requires a Norwegian ID, however Telenor stores can do this instantly for free for foreigners on presentation of your passport.\n\nTelia is the other main provider in Norway selling prepaid SIMs to visitors. They offer starter packs for 99 kr, including nationwide calls and texts as well as 250MB data valid for 14 days. Further reloads are in the form of combo bundles costing 3 GB for 249 kr, 6 GB for 329 kr, 10 GB for 399 kr, 15 GB for 449 kr, and 30 GB for 529 kr with unlimited voice and text. It is also possible to purchase 1 GB for 99 kr, 5 GB for 199 kr, and 10 GB for 299 kr without voice or SMS. All refill packages are valid for 31 days. These allowances are also valid in any EU/EEA country, Switzerland, and the UK, so if you are starting in Norway and your journey includes multiple countries it can be worth it to buy more data upfront for a lower per-GB cost. There is also a Music Freedom add-on that allows unlimited data use for Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer among others for 29 kr a month.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "norway::chunk105", "doc_id": "norway", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are also other providers that use either the Telia or Telenor network, like MyCall and Chilimobil, but these require a more complex registration process as they do not have their own stores. Instead, the store where you purchase the SIM will have you fill out a paper registration form, take a copy of your passport, and fax the documentation to the provider, which will process your activation request. This can take quite some time as opposed to instant activation with Telenor or Telia.\n\n### Radio\n\nright|100px\nFor foreigners used to listening to FM radio, Norway is becoming a challenge. During 2017 the major FM network were closing down and the larger radio stations are only transmitted via internet, cable network or DAB + (Digital audio broadcasting). Most Norwegian rental cars do have a DAB + car radio, though. There are around 30 national DAB + stations, broadcasting music to suit all tastes. Around half of them are provided by the public broadcaster NRK, the rest are commercially funded. Local radio stations still broadcast on FM, but they have limited range and will quickly disappear when driving outside urban areas. FM and DAB + broadcasts are in Norwegian only. The only exceptions are NRK's news station *Alltid Nyheter* which rebroadcasts BBC World Service in English at night as well as some programmes and reports from Swedish Radio, and *NRK Sápmi* which broadcasts in Sami.", "word_count": 234}
diff --git a/corpus/norway/metadata.json b/corpus/norway/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5148d8125f211b269458475b9edf34cf44b85233
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/norway/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "norway",
+ "title": "Norway",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Norway",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q20",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 61,
+ 8
+ ],
+ "summary": "Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country comprising the western and northernmost parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, the remote Arctic island Jan Mayen and the archipelago Svalbard. Bouvet Island, located in the Subantarctic, is a dependency, and not a part of the Kingdom; Norway also claims the Antarctic territories of Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land. Norway has a population of approximately 5.6 million, and a total area of 385,207 square kilometres (148,729 sq mi). Its capital and largest city is Oslo. The country shares a long eastern border with Sweden, and is bordered by Finland and Russia to the northeast. Norway has an extensive coastline facing the Skagerrak strait, the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea. \nThe unified kingdom of Norway was established in 872 as a merger of petty kingdoms and has existed continuously for 1,153–1,154 years. From 1537 to 1814, Norway was part of Denmark–Norway, and, from 1814 to 1905, it w",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "northern-lights",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Nordic countries"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 24913,
+ "listing_count": 11,
+ "marker_count": 16,
+ "chunk_count": 106,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/nova-scotia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/nova-scotia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e2c4bec9ed924c4f8b206618dbae209e4cf4426b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nova-scotia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk000", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Nova Scotia** (French: *Nouvelle-Écosse*)*,* is one of Canada's Atlantic Provinces. With just under one million inhabitants, it is the largest of the four (7th overall in Canada by population) and generally considered to be the touristic hub of the Maritimes.\n\nFrom the historic Acadian southern coast to scenic Cape Breton, to the seaside villages of Lunenburg to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia offers many beaches, historic sites, rugged wilderness parks, and an interesting mix of Celtic, Acadian French, and Indigenous cultures to explore.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk001", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Cities", "text": "— capital of the province and economic and cultural hub of Atlantic Canada. There's history to explore, culture, beaches and friendly laid-back East Coast hospitality.\n — bordering New Brunswick, the closest city to the Joggins Fossil Centre, a .\n — the \"City of Lakes\", across the harbor from Halifax, has many shopping areas and parks to explore.\n — an attractive seaside town with a lighthouse museum and an excellent harbor.\n — historic fishing village with brightly painted houses and a picturesque townsite. UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n — the birthplace of new Scotland has many old buildings to see, an attractive waterfront and several museums.\n — largest city on Cape Breton Island, center of Celtic culture, and close to the ferry to Newfoundland.\n — the \"birthplace\" of hockey, and gateway into the Annapolis Valley.\n — a good base for exploring the inland wilderness areas, with over 365 lakes and several major rivers.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk002", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— The largest protected wilderness area in Atlantic Canada. The Tobeatic is a large natural area that spans five counties and more than 104,000 hectares of central southwestern Nova Scotia. Nine major rivers flow from the Tobeatic and over 120 lakes are found within the wilderness area. The wilderness area is available to the public for canoeing, birding, and other outdoor pursuits for the enjoyment of nature. The Tobeatic features numerous species of interest including the last native population of moose, black bear, southern flying squirrel, Blanding's turtle, Eastern ribbon snake, Bald Eagle, brook trout, Lady Slipper orchids, and various carnivorous and non-chlorophytic flowering plants.\nthumb|right|Brier Island Lighthouse\n — a unique destination off the end of ancient basalt formation (Digby Neck) jutting out into the Bay of Fundy. This area is rich in marine life (Whale watching, Atlantic flyway for migrating birds and has a resident seal colony) The area has been long visited by naturalists who regularly spot rare and endangered plants. Rockhounds will be impressed with the many types of rock formations and can find quartz, agate jasper, amethyst and even zeolite. An area truly unspoiled, off the beaten track and deeply steeped in maritime tradition. (Home of the famous Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail solo around the world in 1895 on the Spay a 37’ sloop.) Brier Island offers many trails to explore both easy and challenging for hikers on short or extended visits. The island is accessible by two short ferry rides from the end of Digby Neck.\n - [[Kejimkujik National Park]] and National Historic Site\n\n – a , a historic Acadian village, which served as a site of British deportation in the early 18th century.\n - a of geological and paleontological interest, mainly from the Devonian age between 420 to 360 million years ago.", "word_count": 301}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk003", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Understand", "text": "For a population just under a million Nova Scotia is remarkably diverse. Mi'kmaq, Scots descendants, black Nova Scotians, French Acadians, Annapolis Valley farmers, Cape Bretoners and Haligonians all form distinct groups with their own unique quirks, culture and language. For example, the novel \"Rockbound\" is written entirely in the South Shore dialect of the fishermen of that region, a fusion of Shakespearean English, German and unique local idioms.\n\nNova Scotia lies in the mid-temperate zone, and despite being peninsular has a generally continental climate with relatively cold winters and warm summers, and a high level of coastal fog.\n\nChamplain named Nova Scotia \"Acadie\" and claimed it for France in 1604. French immigrants settled the area and became prosperous farmers and fishermen. However, they were expelled by the British in the mid-18th century, with their lands, especially on the South Shore, repopulated with \"foreign Protestants,\" meaning mostly Dutch and Germans. Many areas still retain a strong Acadian French culture, including the largest Francophone municipalities, Clare in Digby County and Argyle, in Yarmouth County. Nova Scotia hosted the World Acadian Congress in 2005. The Louisiana \"Cajun\" is a slang adaptation of \"Acadien\" in French. Longfellow's poem \"Evangeline\" celebrates the victims of the expulsion, as does Zachary Richard's drum and voice song \"Reveille\". Because of the expulsion, French is far more commonly heard in New Brunswick.\n\nNova Scotia received 3,500 Black Loyalists, who were evacuated by the British from the United States between 1776 and 1785. Shelburne was a main landing spot.\n\nHalifax, the capital, is one of the oldest cities in North America and was a critical sea link during World Wars I and II. The infamous \"Halifax explosion\" caused by collision of two ships in Halifax Harbour in 1917 was the worst man-made explosion on Earth until Hiroshima in 1945.\n\nHalifax today is an education and high technology centre, with over a dozen post-secondary institutions including Dalhousie University and substantial operations by major high-technology firms. Academics have unusual influence in Nova Scotia, perhaps because of their concentration in the capital.\n\nUnless you are a winter surfer, or like to snowshoe, then it is probably best to visit Nova Scotia sometime between June and October, when the weather is warm, the skies are blue and the water may be less frigid. The main byways are along the coast, and a lot of small shops and restaurants are open around the coast during the summer months. Watch out for mosquitoes and horseflies in the summer, however, especially after a storm.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Nova Scotia Tourism website", "word_count": 424}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk004", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n**Robert L. Stanfield International Airport** (), in Goffs, is the main international airport in the province, serving mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and some lower areas of New Brunswick. It is about half an hour (30 kilometers) from downtown Halifax, and taxis/Ubers and hotels are available on-site. Flights are available year-round to and from anywhere in Canada, as well as the eastern United States of America and western Europe. There are also routes offered seasonally to Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bermuda, and Iceland. \n\n### By car\n\nThe only land route out of Nova Scotia is via Highway 104 into New Brunswick.\n\nNear Amherst, Route 2 in New Brunswick crosses into Nova Scotia becoming Highway 104. Route 2 and Highway 104 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is roughly a three-hour drive from Moncton to Halifax and 3.5 hours from Charlottetown to Halifax.\n\n### By bus\n\n- Maritime Bus\n\n### By boat\n\nFerry service is available from:\n\n Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island to Pictou, Crossing time is 75 minutes. Connects Highway 1 (in Prince Edward Island) and Highway 106 (in Nova Scotia), which are both part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. \n Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby\n Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador to North Sydney. Crossing time is 7 hours. Connects Highway 1 (in Newfoundland) to Highway 105 (in Nova Scotia), which are both part of the Trans-Canada Highway.\n Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador to North Sydney. Crossing time is 16 hours. Operates from June to September. \n Bar Harbor, Maine in the United States of America to Yarmouth\n\n### By train\n\n - VIA Rail Canada\n Operates The Ocean service connecting Halifax and Montreal with three trips per direction per week. The trip takes 22 hours and also stops at Truro and Amherst.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk005", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nNova Scotia has a comprehensive road network, with three tiers of highways:\n **Provincial (100-series) highways** 18px — The fastest and most direct routes as they tend to by-pass the towns and villages, but not as scenic as the other highways. Some of them, such as the 102 and much of the 104, are expressway/motorway standard.\n **Trunk highways** 18px — Two lane highways with the occasional passing lane. These routes connect the towns and villages so are slower than the 100-series highways but more scenic.\n **Collector highways** 18px — Generally narrow, windy and variable quality (may be paved or gravel), but are best for taking you off the beaten path.\n\n**Highway 104** on mainland Nova Scotia and **Highway 105** on Cape Breton for the Trans-Canada Highway. **Highway 102** connects Highway 104 with Halifax. Together, Highway 102, 104, and 105 form the backbone of the road network connecting most of the province's main centers with New Brunswick and the ferries to Newfoundland. Highways 101 and 103 connect Yarmouth to Halifax via the Annapolis Valley (Hwy 101) and the South Shore (Hwy 103).\n\nThe provincial tourism department has created a number of **scenic routes** that cover specific geographic regions of the province, such as the Lighthouse Route along the South Shore or the Glooscap Trail that covers the Minas Basin region. The routes are generally well sign-posted and good to explore if you want to focus on a specific region in-depth.\n\nIf driving, be aware of road conditions in the winter, especially away from major areas.\n\n### By bus\n\n- Maritime Bus\n Connects major destinations, including Amherst, Truro, Sydney, and Halifax.\n\nPark Bus connects Halifax to Kejimikujik National Park.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk006", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Peggys Cove lighthouse at sunset\n**Peggys Cove Lighthouse**, 35 km SW of Halifax on road 333 is one of Canada's more renowned landscape scenes. It is a lighthouse on rounded rocks. There is a restaurant and tourist information, but otherwise it is just big rocks with a dozen small houses and 60 people living there. Outside Peggys Cove on the 333 there are plenty of B&Bs and restaurants. The **Swissair Memorial**, close to Peggys Cove on the 333, commemorates a 1998 aircraft disaster.\n\nThe **Cape Breton Highlands** provide a profoundly beautiful drive along the Cabot Trail any time of the year but it is most pristine in Autumn, once the leaves change.\n\n**Bras d'Or Lake** (pronounced 'bre-dor', an inland sea within the island of Cape Breton).\nthumb|200px|Bras d'or Lake\nThe **Cape George Lighthouse**, on the northeastern mainland coast, near Antigonish provides incredible views.\n\n**Citadel Hill** in downtown Halifax is a fortification dating from the first half of the 19th century; it is called the 'Warden of the North'. Downtown Halifax is a compact historic city with some interesting sites.\n\n**The Southern Nova Scotia Biosphere** includes the Tobeatic Wilderness Area and Kejimikujik National Park in the southern half of the province. Together they form the largest protected wilderness area in Atlantic Canada.\n\nThe **Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site** on Cape Breton Island is the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk007", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Do", "text": "For **fossil collectors**, there are many beaches along the shores of Cape Breton Island that have exposed coal seams and rocks containing fossilized ferns and other flora can be found in these areas.\n\nDuring the **Tall Ships Festival**, Halifax hosts up to 30 historic and unique (and usually massive) maritime sailing vessels from around the world.\n\n**Whale-watching tours** are popular in towns along the Atlantic coast.\n\n**Tidal Bore Rafting** is a unique way to experience the highest tides in the world near Truro.\n\n**Victoria Park** is a 400-hectare park in Truro with wooded trails, swimming pool, picnic areas, waterfalls, ball field, playground, and outdoor stage.\n\nHike the **Trans Canada Trail** in Nova Scotia.\n\n### Sports\n\nThe province has several major teams in a variety of professional sports leagues, including hockey, box lacrosse, and soccer, as well as many teams affiliated with local universities operating in the Atlantic University Sport and Atlantic Collegiate Athletic associations. \n\n **Halifax Mooseheads**, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who play at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax from October through March.\n\n **Cape Breton Screaming Eagles**, also in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who play at Centre 200 in Sydney from October through March.\n **Halifax Thunderbirds**, in the National Lacrosse League, who also play at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax from December through June.\n **Halifax Wanderers FC**, in the Canadian Premier League, who play at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax from April through October.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk008", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Berries**: having so much of the province in a natural state, there are many opportunities to pick wild fruit and berries. There are wild strawberries in the fields and along roads, wild blueberries, raspberries and cranberries (in coastal areas). **Blueberry grunt** is a blueberry baked with a sweet dumpling topping.\n\n**Deep fried pepperoni**: a bar snack often dipped in honey mustard sauce.\n\n**Dulse**: most of this seaweed is harvested at very low tides in parts of Nova Scotia. Locally it is dried and used as a snack.\n\n**Garlic fingers**: similar to a pizza in shape and size and made with the same type of dough. Instead of the traditional tomato sauce and toppings, garlic fingers consist of pizza dough topped with garlic butter, parsley, and cheese, cooked until the cheese is melted. Bacon bits are sometimes added. They are typically eaten as a side dish with pizza and often dipped in donair or marinara sauce. They are presented in thin strips (or \"fingers\") as opposed to triangular slices.\n\n**Halifax donair**: a pile of roasted, spiced beef (known as donair meat) with diced tomatoes and white onions covered in condensed milk sauce and wrapped in a pita. It is unique to the province and is available at almost every corner diner and pizzeria.\n\n**Hodge podge**: a creamy soup of fresh baby vegetables; rarely found in restaurants.\n\n**Lobster rolls** are common throughout the province.\n\n**Digby Scallops**: local seafood which is highly recommended by literature and locals.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk009", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Drink", "text": "The legal drinking age in Nova Scotia is 19, and establishments commonly ask for a government-issued ID from anyone who looks under 30. It is illegal to buy alcohol for the purpose of consumption by a minor. There are penalties for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level above 0.05, and alcohol must be unopened if in a vehicle, or otherwise stored in the trunk. Consumption of alcohol in public locations such as parks is also illegal, and is subject to a $467.50 fine.\n\nThe sole distributor of alcohol and recreational cannabis in the province is the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, which operates 108 stores across the province, primarily attached to grocery stores such as Sobeys. There are four private retailers in the Halifax area who sell beer, wine, and spirits. There are 65 agency stores in rural areas of the province which operate privately as alcohol vendors on NSLC's behalf.\n\nNova Scotia produces some very good wines. Most wineries offer free tours. Of particular note is Jost Winery along the Northumberland Strait north of Truro.\n\nTry the local beers. Nova Scotia is best known as the home of \"Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale\", known locally as \"Keith's\". But there are many lesser known brews available as well. Not to be missed are the offerings of Propeller Brewery and Garrison Brewing in Halifax, as well as several microbreweries and brewpubs.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk010", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Due to the increasing popularity of the area, there are several options of accommodation to choose from. Especially in the rural areas one should rather expect smaller B&Bs than international hotel chains.\n\nAs in most places, there are great differences between season and off-season, both in price and availability. Many places close during winter (late October/early November until March/April).", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk011", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Statistically, Nova Scotia is one of the safest provinces in Canada for violent crime. As with any place, always keep your wits about you and leave any suspicious situations.\n\nIn case of emergency, dial 911. Be aware that there may be a lengthy response time for ambulances or emergency services, which may exceed half an hour or more. In rural areas, cell coverage can be weak or even unavailable, so inform people of your destination and plans ahead of time.\n\nSeat belts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers. Helmets are required by law for all motorcycle and bicycle riders. Radar detectors are illegal and will be confiscated if found by the RCMP. \n\nThe majority of Nova Scotia is very rural outside of the urban area of Halifax and generally heavily forested. If embarking into a rural area, ensure your vehicle is properly packed with an emergency kit (especially in winter) and that you have informed someone as to where you are going.\n\nNova Scotia is home to several large mammals which may be dangerous if threatened, such as black bears, coyotes, and bobcats. If hiking, carry a radio at all times and make lots of noise as you walk, as it will lower the chances of a surprise encounter with an animal. Do not travel into the wilderness on your own. Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times and stay on specifically marked paths. If camping, secure all your food in air-tight containers or leave it in your vehicle and burn any scraps. You should also be aware that Lyme Disease is carried by ticks, which are particularly abundant in the spring. Tie the ends of your pant legs or pull your socks over your pant legs to prevent them climbing under your clothing, and periodically check for ticks as you travel.\n\nNever feed a wild animal as it encourages assimilation to humans and increases the chances of an attack. Though exceptionally rare, several attacks on humans by coyotes have occurred in rural areas of Cape Breton and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. If you encounter a coyote, maintain eye contact, wave your arms and shout, and throw rocks at the animal. Do not ever run away from a coyote as it may pursue you.\n\nThe Atlantic Ocean can be dangerous. Unless at a designated beach area, do not attempt to enter the water. Avoid climbing onto rocks or entering areas which appear wet, even if they are presently above the water level. Nova Scotia has some of the highest tides in the world, and conditions can change rapidly and result in you being stranded or swept underwater. If you fall into the ocean there is little anyone can do to help you.", "word_count": 458}
+{"chunk_id": "nova-scotia::chunk012", "doc_id": "nova-scotia", "section": "Go next", "text": "The Maritimes are small relative to the size of Canada as a whole, and could be readily explored in a single trip.\nFerries leave for Newfoundland from North Sydney.\nFerry service to Maine runs from Yarmouth.\nNew Brunswick and Quebec can be reached in a day's drive on the Trans-Canada Highway\nPrince Edward Island (PEI) can be reached via ferry from Caribou Wharf near Pictou, or via the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick.", "word_count": 73}
diff --git a/corpus/nova-scotia/metadata.json b/corpus/nova-scotia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3275d3a51845d5884f9ff7500f09b9034835dd3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/nova-scotia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "nova-scotia",
+ "title": "Nova Scotia",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Atlantic Canada"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Newfoundland and Labrador",
+ "Sydney (Nova Scotia)",
+ "Maine",
+ "Yarmouth (Nova Scotia)",
+ "New Brunswick",
+ "Quebec",
+ "Trans-Canada Highway",
+ "Prince Edward Island",
+ "Pictou",
+ "New Brunswick"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3077,
+ "listing_count": 4,
+ "marker_count": 13,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/okavango-delta/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/okavango-delta/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e207be72c4794e6b6ac3158d5e784e957db999fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/okavango-delta/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk000", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|Mokoros are a common mode of travel in the Okavango Delta\nThe **Okavango Delta** is a region in Botswana.", "word_count": 19}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk001", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Regions", "text": "**Kalahari Basin**\nThe Kalahari Desert lies in the Kalahari Basin, which is enormous, about five times the size of France, and the Basin covers all of Botswana and parts of her surrounding countries. The Kalahari Basin was created 135 million years ago when South America, Asia and Australia tore themselves away from Africa. The power of this event and of the secondary volcanic and earth shuddering activity it caused lifted the edges of southern Africa like a bowl, creating the Basin. Over many millions of years this part of the world passed through extremely dry periods, during which fierce sand storms dumped layer upon layer of sand into the basin. And today, 65 million years later, this is the oldest and largest stretch of sand on our planet.\n\nThese sands are about 250 m deep and geologically this area has looked almost the same for most of those 65 million years. Now in all honesty one million years is quite difficult for us to contemplate, let alone 65. But in terms of an almost unchanged landscape that is, even geologically speaking a long, long time. To put it into perspective only 12 000 years ago most of Europe was under ice and completely uninhabitable. And the rugged valleys of Scotland and Fjords of Norway were carved by that very same ice.\n\nBecause of this great age and because of Africa’s position in relation to the equator, Africa was largely unaffected but the last few ice ages and thus, when compared to the rest of the planet, Africa has suffered far less extinctions. The result of this an amazing diversity of plants, trees, birds and animals. To give you an idea of this diversity the Okavango Delta alone has as many species of trees as the whole of Western Europe.\n\n**Kalahari Desert**\nThe Kalahari is in the wet period of its 65-million-year history. It's most outstanding physical feature is the living desert. The sands of the Kalahari Desert have mostly been blown there rather than transported by water and thus are not very fertile. Even so, after good rains, grass is plentiful and this supports an astounding diversity of life. The Kalahari Desert is the last refuge of the San or Bushmen, who have roamed Southern Africa for the last 30,000 years and are now on the verge of extinction.\n\n**Lake Makgadikgadi**\nAt some stage in this 65-million-year period large Rivers flowed into the Kalahari Basin, creating a giant lake which in turn emptied into the Indian Ocean via the Limpopo River. And then about 50 000 years ago, due to the numerous fault lines in the area, all but the Okavango River were diverted, and the Lake began to shrink. Until about 10 000 years ago another fault effectively dammed the Okavango River creating the delta and leaving the Lake to become the largest the salt pan complex in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans – an amazing expanse of whiteness the size of Switzerland.", "word_count": 494}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk002", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|A cheetah silhouetted against a fiery sunset in the Okavango Delta", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk003", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Understand", "text": "The University of Botswana's Okavango Research Institute was established in 1994 to help understand the natural and human processes that shape the Delta, which became a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance in 1996. HOORC's multidisciplinary research teams provide the science to support the work of local, national and regional planning bodies such as the Okavango River Basin Water Commission. Flow http://flowhoorc.blogspot.com the HOORC Library weblog, reports research and news relevant to the Delta.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk004", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most travellers start from Maun with their own car. You can also charter airplanes there or go on a tour with one of the flying-safari operators.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk005", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Get around", "text": "The villages of Sepupa and Shakawe can be reached by a bus (141 pula, 6 hr, July 2024) from Maun. From the bus rank in Maun, there are daily departures of the bus to Shakawe at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:30AM, 11AM, and 4:30PM. Sepupa is couple of stops before Shakawe. Ticket payment is collected on the bus. The bus is pretty basic: 5 non-reclining seats in a row, little leg-room and no bathrooms.\n\nThe bus drops you off in Sepupa next to a little store (about 3 km from the Swamp Stop and the shore river bank). If you are headed to Swamp Stop, ask to be dropped off by the turn with a sign “Swamp Stop”. Once in Sepupa, you will have to rely on flagging down a vehicle to give you a lift to the Swamp Stop. You can also walk. Sometimes part of the road to Swamp Stop gets flooded and you have to have someone from the Swamp Stop fetch you on a mokoro boat or on a tractor; so phone ahead of time or have a mobile handy.\n\nIn between Sepupa and Shakawe, you can easily travel by bus or by any car willing to take you. The price by bus or car is the same: 25 pula (September 2025). Just stand on the main road.\n\nIn Shakawe, a \"special\" (a taxi just for you) is 33 pula (September 2025). It can take you up to the border of Namibia (refuse taxi drivers asking for more than 33 pula) or to the village Hauxa.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk006", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Rock art at Tsodilo\n **The Okavango Delta** is one of the world's great inland waterways. The meandering Okavango River is breathtaking, seen either by boat, airplane or mokoro. The main choices are to go on safari in Moremi Game Reserve or stay at one or two of the many lodges. The animals, as outlined below, the birding, flora and fauna are spectacular. There are some amazing lodges like Oddballs Camp, and Delta Camp. A trip called the Trans Okavango takes you from the top of the Okavango Delta to Maun. This delta in northwest Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. In 2014 Okavango Delta was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage list.\n - Tsodilo Hills", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk007", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Do", "text": "Go. It's amazing. Fabulous. One the most magical places in the entire world. But you need to have the budget to do it.\n\nThe budget-minded can take the bus from Maun to Sepopa (6 to 7 hours). However, you cannot see the delta from the road which not in that good conditions by the way. There is now a river taxi that travels daily from Sepopa to Seronga and coordinates with the buses (seems not any more to exist in September 2025).\n\nMuch of the area is divided into large concessions run by various safari groups. Development is strictly regulated so that there is little development and lots of wildlife. It is expensive, but worth it to stay in some of these permanent tented campsites. The guides are knowledgeable, and the accommodations very comfortable. Wilderness Safaris runs many great camps. They are all inclusive: two wildlife rides a day, all meals, snacks and drinks are included in the price.\n\nIf you want to enjoy boat rides and activities, here are a few places you can do it (list not exhaustive):\n\n **Sepopa**. Swamp Stop offers boat trips. But as there as one of the only one in the village, their price tends to be overpriced. Just to cross from Sepopa to Seronga and come back the same day, they charge BWP 1.750 (+ fuel so about BWP 2.500) for a 4-people boat (September 2025). From Sepopa to Jao, they charge BWP 4.665 (+ fuel)\n **Seronga**. Polers Trust seems to offer mekoro trips.\n **Hauxa** (easily reachable by \"Special\" from Shakawe where you can sleep on a budget). Delta Belle in partnership with Askiesbos/Samochima bush camp offers lot of activities. Their prices tend to be very competitive. To book an activity WhatsApp or call Dammann +267 73 505 170.\n Sunset Boat cruise (2h from 4 PM to 6 PM). BWP 400 per person (at least two people). September 2025\n Mokoro Poling (2h, seasonal: February to August only). BWP 500.\n Fishing (full day or hald-day. 4 people max. Seasonal: March to December only). BWP 3000 for full day. BWP 1850 for half day.\n **Shakawe**. Inyankuni houseboat offers boats rides. BWP 500 per hour for a full boat.", "word_count": 363}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk008", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are a lot of place to sleep on the Okavango. Here are some places.\n - Swamp Stop River Camp\n\n - Kubu Queen House Boat\n\n Askiesbos/Samochima bush camp. Hauxa Village. From BWP 500 for a tent. Much more expensive for a chalet.\n Atoma guest house. Shakawe Village. Well located and clean. A good place for a budget traveller. BWP 450 for a room with no TV and no WIFI. BWP 500 for a room with TV and WIFI (September 2025). Note that you can book online on Hotels.com/Expedia, but the price is much more expensive if you book on those platforms.\n Inyankuni houseboat. North of Shakawe. A basic house boat. Rooms a not very big. But if you want to experience a night on the Okavango river, it is probably one of the cheapest houseboats. BWP 450 for a room (September 2025).", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk009", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Okavango Delta is generally considered safe for travellers, although as with any part of Africa necessary precautions should always be taken. The Okavango is home to many potentially dangerous animals (including the Nile Crocodile, Lion and Hippo) but attacks on tourists are virtually unheard of, it is best to closely follow the instructions of your guide at all times.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "okavango-delta::chunk010", "doc_id": "okavango-delta", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Malaria, along with many other mosquito-borne illnesses, can be present within the Okavango and thus preventive measures are imperative. The occurrence of mosquito-borne illnesses is much higher in the wet season (the same is true for any tropical location.)", "word_count": 39}
diff --git a/corpus/okavango-delta/metadata.json b/corpus/okavango-delta/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5c1dc7ed3cad0d76194f974c00d896d73aca7e11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/okavango-delta/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "okavango-delta",
+ "title": "Okavango Delta",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Okavango_Delta",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Okavango-Chobe"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 1604,
+ "listing_count": 3,
+ "marker_count": 11,
+ "chunk_count": 11,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/okinawa/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/okinawa/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ef894b7b318776431188e0fa4cec641d3e95d783
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/okinawa/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk000", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Okinawa** (Japanese: 沖縄 *Okinawa*, Okinawan: 沖縄 *Uchinaa*) is a subtropical island chain between mainland Japan and Taiwan. Formerly the Ryukyu Kingdom, with its own language and culture, it's now one of Japan's 47 prefectures and the country's answer to Hawaii, with a complicated mix of gorgeous scenery, mass tourism, tragic history, cultural pride, and looming military presence.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk001", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Regions", "text": "The term **Sakishima Islands** (先島諸島 *Sakishima-shotō*) is occasionally used to lump together the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands. In addition, the Amami Islands to the north of Okinawa are historically part of Okinawa.", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk002", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Destinations", "text": "thumb|350px|right|Aharen Beach, [[Tokashiki]]\n\n - the lesser-known half of scuba diving haven Miyako\n - large island full of untamed jungle\n - the laid-back gateway and transport hub of the southern Yaeyama Islands\n - beautiful island renowned for its awamori liquor\n - the capital of the Okinawa Prefecture and by far the largest city in the islands\n - a carefully preserved traditional village and some of the best beaches in Japan\n - the westernmost island in Japan, with miniature horses and mysterious underwater structures\n - popular among snorkelers and divers, with several deserted islands nearby", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk003", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The name **Okinawa** means \"rope in the open sea\", a fairly apt description of this long stretch of islands between the main islands of Japan and Taiwan. Consisting of 49 inhabited islands and 111 uninhabited islands, Okinawa has a subtropical to tropical climate, and is a popular beach holiday destination for Japanese, with frequent flights from all the major cities of Japan. While visitors from nearby countries are increasingly discovering Okinawa's charms, the number remains low compared to the tourist destinations on mainland Japan.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Shuri Castle in [[Naha]], once the seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom\n\nTraders between Japan, Korea and China have traveled through the islands of Okinawa since time immemorial. In 1429, King Shō Hashi unified three kingdoms on the main island into the **Ryukyu Kingdom** (Japanese: 琉球王国 *Ryūkyū Ōkoku*, Okinawan: 琉球國 *Ruuchuu Kuku*), which prospered off trade as a tributary state of Imperial China that was nevertheless *de facto* independent.\n\nThe islands were first invaded and brought under the control of **Satsuma** (modern-day Kagoshima) in 1609, who allowed them to continue maintaining their tributary relationship with China. This arrangement allowed the Satsuma domain to use them as a conduit for trade with China when the rest of Japan was in self-imposed isolation, to the profit of all three parties. The common people were less happy about the arrangement: Satsuma imposed heavy head taxes, and there are many stories of people committing suicide to prevent their entire village from being punished.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk004", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Ryūkyū was annexed by Japan during the Meiji Period in 1879, which Qing China was by then powerless to stop, and the Japanese proceeded to do their best to suppress indigenous culture, language and religion. With little time to adjust to their new status as Japanese subjects, the people were nervous about nearby wars and in order to escape and with the encouragement of the government, there was heavy migration out to Brazil, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.\n\nthumb|An American aircraft flying over the ruins of Naha in 1945", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk005", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Okinawa was a major battleground in the Pacific War. The Americans landed on the main island on April 1, 1945, took control of the central part of the island in just three days and then proceeded to take the northern half in a relatively short time. They expected strong resistance but were surprised to find many people willingly surrendering. With most of the island under American control, the U.S. turned its eyes south where the capital Naha was located, and the further south they moved, the stronger the resistance became. For the locals, survival was difficult. The Americans bombed the island relentlessly and burned all vegetation in an attempt to flush out hidden threats. Many people hid in caves (of which there are many) and in the turtleback Ryukyu tombs, but naturally, Japanese military members also used these locations to hide and attack from, so they were targeted by U.S. forces whenever they were discovered. Because Okinawa had not been a prefecture for long, the Japanese military did not fully trust the locals and did not value them as equals. Due to these views in combination with military needs superseding all other needs, the Okinawan people were forced to give up their food to the military, walk out into battlefields to fetch water, go out on suicide missions, or kill themselves. Those who refused military orders were killed, and there are countless tales of atrocities committed against civilians by both Japanese and US troops.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk006", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Those who surrendered or were captured by American troops were taken as POWs. Many of the POWs starved to death and many of those who were taken to camps in the north got malaria and died as Okinawa was not malaria-free at that time. By the end of the war, 120,000 Okinawans or one fourth of the island's population were killed. 90,000 of those were civilians, and many so-called military casualties included boys as young as elementary school who were enlisted in desperation.\n\nAfter the war, the islands continued to be occupied by the United States. Women were forced to work to try to rebuild their communities as the number of males still alive was only about half of what it was pre-war. The local economy relied heavily on the U.S. military but the American presence also prevented progress, as most of the island was off-limits to Okinawans and travel between Okinawa and the mainland was also restricted. This led to strong resentment among the people, and although early independence movements were quelled, over time the discontent and anger was too much for the U.S. to ignore. Nearly thirty years after the war and after many years of protesting and fighting to regain control of their island, occupation finally ended in 1972, and the islands were returned to Japan, but land was still set aside for the U.S. to hold military bases. The U.S. bases still take up 20% of the total island territory, and sporadic protests against the U.S. military presence continue to occur, but repeated polls show that most Okinawans do not object to the presence of the bases.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk007", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "When the U.S. handed control of the island back to the Okinawans, they were able to develop it. Over time, they've been able to move from an economy reliant on U.S. military spending to an economy whose main source of income is now tourism which continues to grow to this day, although Okinawa remains Japan's poorest prefecture.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|240px|Shīsa guardian lion, [[Ishigaki]]\n\nWith their own language and customs, Okinawans regard themselves as different from the mainland Japanese and some still harbor a certain degree of resentment towards the mainland for the brutal way the islands were treated as colonies and during World War II. Okinawans proudly call themselves *uchinanchu* (沖縄人) in the local language and talk of the way things are done on the *shima* (島) or islands, in contrast to the ways of the mainland, known as *hontō* (本島) in standard Japanese, *yamato* (ヤマト) in the local dialect, and sometimes as the slightly derisive local slang *naichi* (内地). Due to its history as a tributary of Imperial China, Okinawan culture has a stronger Chinese influence than mainland Japanese culture, and continues to celebrate local festivals according to the Chinese calendar.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk008", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Okinawa's most famous export worldwide is the martial art of **karate**. Okinawan culture is popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan music is very attractive and unique because of the mixture of original Okinawan sounds and American rock, jazz, and other sounds from the USA. The distinctive instrument of choice is the *sanshin* (三線), a three-stringed, banjo-like distant relative of the mainland's *shamisen*, whose pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. The island has produced a disproportionate number of musicians, most famously J-pop singer Namie Amuro, and The Boom's electric-guitar-and-sanshin *Shimauta* (\"Island Song\") has been dubbed Okinawa's unofficial national anthem — even though the group actually hails from mainland Yamanashi.\n\nOn the roof or at the gate of almost every house you will spot the ubiquitous Okinawan *shīsa* or guardian lion-dogs, one with its mouth open to catch good fortune, the other with its mouth closed to keep good fortune in.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk009", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Most of Okinawa is subtropical, with the southern extremities (Yaeyama and the outlying islands) fully tropical. Even in January and February, the average high temperature is around 20°C (68°F), making the area a popular winter getaway, although it's often cloudy and usually a little too cold for sunbathing due to the winter monsoon. Spring, around late March and April, is an excellent time to visit if you take care to avoid Golden Week (a succession of national holidays from the end of April), however, it does not get busy at all on the small islands even during Golden Week. The rainy season starts early in May and continues until June. Unlike the rainy season in mainland Japan, it rains neither every day nor all day long during the rainy season in Okinawa. Summer in Okinawa is hot and humid but still one of the peak visiting seasons, while September brings a succession of fierce typhoons. October and November are again good times to visit.\n\n### Tourist Information\n\nVisit Okinawa Japan is the official tourist guide site for the prefecture in English.\n\nVisit Okinawa travel brochures page. It provides Korean, English and Japanese, etc.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk010", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Talk", "text": "All Okinawans speak **Standard Japanese**, and many understand **English** as well, particularly on the main island which houses several large U.S. military bases. Many locals also speak **Okinawan Japanese** (called in Okinawan Japanese ウチナーヤマトグチ, 沖縄大和口 *Uchinaa Yamato-guchi*, Standard Japanese: 沖縄弁 *Okinawa-ben* or 沖縄訛り *Okinawa namari*), a dialect with lots of vocabulary borrowed from the local Okinawan language, some differences in grammar, and a number of words that have different meanings or uses compared to Standard Japanese (e.g. *aruku*, which means \"to walk\" in Standard Japanese, means \"to go around\" or \"to work\" in Okinawan Japanese).\n\nSome elderly also speak any of at least half a dozen **Ryukyuan languages** (Japanese: 琉球語 *ryūkyūgo*; also 島言葉 *Shima kotoba*, lit. \"Island speech\"), which are shared (along with much Okinawan culture) with the Amami Islands in Kagoshima prefecture. Although the Japanese commonly brand these as \"dialects\" (方言 *hōgen*) of Japanese, they are really separate languages in the Japonic family; they're not mutually intelligible with Standard or Okinawan Japanese, or even with each other. The largest of these languages, **Okinawan** (Okinawan: 沖縄口 *uchinaaguchi*, Japanese: 沖縄語 *okinawago*), is spoken on the main island of Okinawa and the surrounding islands, but is not used much these days. Most people under 40 can't speak it, the most common exceptions being people who were raised by their grandparents or grew up in rural areas. Each of Okinawa's major islands has its own Ryukyuan language, such as Miyako, Yaeyama and Yonaguni; some of these endangered languages have tens of thousands of speakers, others just a few hundred.\n\nIn the Daito Islands, the obscure Hachijo dialect of Japanese by immigrants from the Hachijo Islands is the native language. The Hachijo-Daito dialects are direct descendants of the Eastern dialect of Old Japanese, while all mainland dialects are descendants of the Western dialect.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk011", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nMost visitors arrive in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, which is also well served by low-cost carriers like Skymark and Jetstar. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities directly to some other Okinawan islands like Miyako and Ishigaki, but prices can be steep; for example, the standard one-way fare for Tokyo-Ishigaki is a whopping ¥50,000. You can save a considerable amount of money by making use of ANA's **Visit Japan** or JAL's **Welcome to Japan** fares, both of which allow domestic flights in Japan for ¥14,040. Low-cost carriers like Peach can also offer good fares if booked in advance.\n\nNaha is also served by some international flights to other Asian cities. If you are coming from elsewhere, consider connecting in Taipei instead, as Naha is geographically closer to Taipei than to Tokyo. Direct international connections to the other islands are very limited, but there are seasonal winter services from Taipei to Ishigaki and low-cost carriers have experimented with flights from Seoul and Hong Kong to Ishigaki and Miyako (Shimojishima).\n\n### By ship\n\nthumb|A-Line's ''Ferry Akebono''\nthumb|2nd class tatami sleeping area on the ''Akebono''\n\nFerry services to Okinawa have been cut drastically, with Arimura Sangyo filing for bankruptcy and RKK Line stopping passenger services entirely. With long travel times, bumpy seas, frequent cancellations in the fall typhoon season and prices that aren't any cheaper than flying, it's easy to see why this isn't too popular anymore.\n\nAs of 2024, the only survivors are **A-Line Ferry**, aka *Maru-A* (マルエー), and **Marix Line**, which run from Kagoshima to Naha (25 hours, ¥16,560 2nd class one-way) on alternating days. The ferries are fairly utilitarian but comfortable enough, with sleeping arrangements varying from shared spaces of tatami in 2nd class (二等 *nitō*) to private cabins in special class (特等 *tokutō*).\n\nAll ferries call at various minor islands including Yoron and Amami Oshima along the way. If you're planning to island-hop your way through the Amamis to Okinawa and back, the Yui Passport that gives 14 days of unlimited travel on both companies may be worth considering. At ¥30,000, it's not cheap, but still offers a discount on the ¥33,120 you'd usually pay for the return journey.\n\nThere are no scheduled ferries to Taiwan, but cruises between Japan and Taiwan often stop at Naha and/or Ishigaki.", "word_count": 383}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk012", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ferry and air connections link the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices vary.\n\n### By plane\n\nFlights between the islands are mostly handled by **Japan Transocean Air** (JTA) and its subsidiary **Ryukyu Air Commuter** (RAC), both owned by JAL. ANA also has a limited network radiating out from Naha. Prices are generally quite high.\n\n### By ferry\n\nThere are dense webs of ferry links between nearby islands, but only infrequent cargo boats ply lengthier routes like Naha-Ishigaki. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as **Typhoon Alley** for a reason: it's not uncommon for ferries to be suspended for several days if one comes barrelling through.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Route 58 near [[Nago]]\n\nProbably more so than anywhere else in Japan, the trainless main island of Okinawa is a **car culture**, which makes car rental an attractive option for longer stays. Be prepared to drive on the left side of the road. Beware of many traffic jams and generally very slow moving traffic, especially in the densely populated southern part of the island. Plan your return trip to the airport accordingly.\n\nAn **International Driving Permit** is required to drive in Japan, and it must be the 1949 Geneva Convention type and obtained before arrival; see Driving in Japan for the details. The *only* exception is for nationals of Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Monaco or Taiwan, who can get an authorized Japanese translation issued at the Japanese Automobile Foundation Okinawa branch office in Urasoe, near Naha. If you don't qualify for either, the only option is a Japanese license, which is an expensive and time-consuming hassle.\n\nMilitary and other SOFA personnel may obtain driving privileges via their own installation procedures. SOFA cars have special \"Y\" plates and special rules for tax, inspection, etc.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumbnail|The fare display. If you entered in sector 13, your actual fare is ¥380.\nMost islands of interest in Okinawa have at least a rudimentary bus network, although schedules may be sparse and prices fairly high (e.g. over ¥2000 to cross the main island). Times and routes (usually in both English and Japanese) are indicated at each bus stop and at the various bus terminals. Prices outside of Naha are based on distance travelled and are indicated in the front of the bus as it moves from sector to sector this is roughly charged at 1km intervals. Take your ticket as you enter the bus, it will have your starting sector number on it. There is a changer for 1000 yen bills and coins at the front of the bus. Keep your ticket until you leave the bus. You pay the fare on alighting and it might be, that the bus driver wants to see your ticket with the sector number. It is often good to have exact change, and the driver will not exchange very large denominations.\n\nBuses do leave direct from Naha airport to other parts of the island. Prices can be found on the airport website.", "word_count": 517}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk013", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|240px|Traditional houses, [[Taketomi]]\n\nMost people come to Okinawa for the **sun and beaches**. Even in midwinter, when many areas of the mainland Japan teeter around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 15°C in Okinawa. For more adventurous types, the vast yet almost uninhabited island of Iriomote is covered in dense jungle.\n\nCultural attractions are rather more limited, as the Japanese invasion and subsequent brutal colonization coupled with fighting in World War II did a regrettably thorough job of eliminating most traces of the Ryukyu Kingdom.\n\n **Shuri Castle** in Naha on Okinawa Island is the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Already rebuilt once after burning down during World War II, the main hall of the castle burned down again in 2019. Reconstruction is under way, but is not expected to be completed until 2026.\n The *gusuku* (castle) ruins of **Katsuren, Nakagusuku and Zakimi**, all in Central Okinawa, have been partly restored and together with Shuri Castle form a .\n For a taste of the Okinawa of yesteryear, the islands of **Taketomi** (Yaeyama Islands) and **Tonaki** (Kerama Islands) have carefully preserved Ryukyuan villages.\n **Ocean Expo Park:** Churaumi Aquarium is a world class aquarium located on the Motobu peninsula of the main island. Attractions include one of the world's largest tanks with huge whale sharks and manta rays and a beautiful public facility called Emerald Beach.\n Historical sites related to World War II can be found throughout the islands, especially the southern side of the main island, including the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, the navy's former underground headquarters and the Himeyuri Monument.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk014", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|240px|Snorkeling around [[Hatoma]]\nOkinawa is the best place in Japan for all sorts of watersports.\n\n### Snorkeling and diving\n\nThe Okinawa archipelago is one of the world's best diving destinations, with the count of marine species on par with the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. You can find over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and many kinds of tropical fish. The main downside is that's quite expensive compared to, say, South-East Asia — a whole day's diving off a boat (2-3 dives including insurance and lunch) costs between ¥12,000 and ¥17,000, depending on the season and island, plus an additional cost between ¥3,000 and ¥5,000 if you need gear rental. For a 3-day certification course you will need to pay between ¥30,000 and ¥60,000, depending on the season and number of participants. Fortunately, a lot of the diving on Okinawa can be done from the shore (no boat needed), in which case you can get full gear rental and tanks for around ¥5,000, or if you just need tanks (and can guide yourself) then it will only be around ¥500 per tank. To top it off many shops do not accept credit cards, so you will need to carry a thick wad of yen to pay for it all. The language barrier can also be an issue, with most shops only set up to cater to Japanese-speaking tourists, although Piranha Divers Okinawa, Reef Encounters in Chatan or Bluefield in Kadena on Okinawa Island, and Umicōza on Ishigaki are welcome exceptions.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk015", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Do", "text": "If all this does not put you off, there is some world-class diving to look forward to: particular highlights include the **gorgeous reefs** surrounding the Kerama Islands, the **manta rays** of Miyako and Ishigaki and the **hammerhead sharks** and **underwater ruins** of Yonaguni. The waters are generally divable *all year*, although water temperature fluctuates between 22°C in the winter to around 29°C in summer. Also, beware of the typhoons during June–November and the north wind that may frequently close diving sites in the north shores of many of the islands during November and December. Many people dive in boardshorts and rashguards half the year. Most Japanese divers wear a 5mm full-body wetsuit, and dive shops usually provide aluminum tanks with American-style fittings.\n\n### Sailing\n\nSailing is gaining in popularity in Okinawa. There is a small but passionate international sailing community centered at Ginowan Marina, near the Convention Center. Local and international sailors cruise and race to the Kerama islands and to other locations. Sailing cruises and classes are also conducted out of Ginowan Marina.\n\n### Surfing\n\nSurfing is popular in Okinawa, but it's not particularly easy: waves break over very shallow shelves of reef and/or basaltic rock, resulting in challenging waves. Surfing spots can be found all over the archipelago, but most surfers surf off the main island. Check out Mensore Surfing for weather forecasts and up-to-date info.\n\n### Fishing\n\nright|thumb|Bull mahi", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk016", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Do", "text": "Okinawa has some of the best **offshore fishing** in the world. Some fish are seasonal, but there are fish for every season of the year. Marlin, mahi mahi, and various species of tuna are some of the fish that are teeming in Okinawa's crystal clear seas. There are many places where you can find a boat to go fishing, but as with diving, language can be a major issue. Some charter services provide fishing tackle, and others require you to rent fishing gear.\n\nThe cost for offshore fishing in Okinawa is comparable to other charter services around the world. Usually about US$100 per person for walk on charters, and up to US$1,500 for private charters.\n\n### Shopping\n\nLarger malls will apply the duty-free shopping. Spend a minimum of ¥5,000 (before tax) for 8/10% tax off. Applies only to certain products so best ask for the list. At AEON Chatan after your shopping spree, pop across the open car park to the free hot-spring spa, a small hot stream in which you can dip your toes.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk017", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|A formal kariyushi shirt\n\nPopular souvenirs from Okinawa include:\n\n *Kariyushi* shirts (かりゆしウェア), the local spin on Hawaii's aloha shirts. Short-sleeved, collared and patterned, they were dreamed up by marketers in the 1970s but have been enthusiastically adopted by the locals and are now common both as casual and formal wear.\n Miniature *shisa* lion dogs\n Food products incorporating Okinawan ingredients, notably the ubiquitous purple sweet potato (紅芋 *beni-imo*) tarts", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk018", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Eat", "text": "Okinawan cuisine is distinctly different from that of mainland Japan. Unlike the simplicity of classical Japanese food, which tries to highlight individual ingredients, Okinawan cuisine mixes lots of ingredients in a single dish to create complex, balanced flavors. Indeed, Okinawa's most famous dish is ***chanpurū*** (from the Malay word *campur*, meaning \"mix\"), a stir-fry of multiple vegetables and meats. Thanks to Chinese influence, Okinawans too proudly proclaim that they use every part of the pig except the squeal, and **pork** (あぐー *agū*) makes an appearance in almost every dish, including bits like ears, trotters (テビチー *tebichi*) and blood which are generally disdained by mainland Japanese. *Goat* (ヤギ *yagi*) is not uncommon and even Spam has a distinct following.\n\nOther Okinawan ingredients include vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland such as **bitter melon** (ゴーヤー *gōyā*) and **purple sweet potato** (紅芋 *beni-imo* or 紫芋 *murasaki-imo*). Local seaweeds like the gloopy *mozuku* (モズク), often served in vinegar or deep-fried as tempura, or fluffy green *āsa* (アーサ), hiding in soups, often get credit for Okinawans' life expectancy, the longest in the world. While Okinawan dishes rarely contain **chilies**, there's often a bottle of *kōrēgusu* (コーレーグス), chilies steeped in *awamori* rice liquor (see Drink), on the table so you can spice things up according to taste — a little goes a long way.\n\nOkinawan tropical fruits including **mango**, **papaya**, **pineapple**, **dragonfruit** and the sour lime-like **calamansi** (シークァーサー *shīkwāsā*) are delicious when in season. **Dark cane sugar** (黒砂糖 *kurozatō*) is also a popular snack, eaten both as is and made into a vast variety of candies and pastries.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk019", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Eat", "text": "Image:Goya Champuru 1.jpg|''Goyā chanpurū''\nFile:Soki Soba at Takenoko.jpg|''Sōki soba'' noodles\nFile:Fried Gurukun at Yumenoya.jpg|Deep-fried slices of ''gurukun'' fish\nFile:Shima-dofu at Yumenoya.jpg|''Shima-dōfu'' (island tofu) with sesame dressing\nFile:Koregusu at Ten to Ten in Naha, Okinawa.jpg|''Kōrēgusu'' chili sauce\nImage:サーターアンダギー3.jpg|''Sātāandagī'' donuts\n\nSome dishes worth trying:\n*Gōyā chanpurū* (ゴーヤーチャンプルー) is the canonical Okinawan dish, a stir-fry made from *goya* mixed with pork and tofu. There are lots of other chanpurūs as well, made with tofu, thin sōmen wheat noodles, *fu* (gluten), etc.\n*Gurukun* (グルクン), sometimes called \"banana fish\", is no less than the official fish of Okinawa prefecture. Small but tasty and prepared in a variety of ways, even the bones are edible.\n*Okinawa soba* (沖縄そば) is made with wheat noodles and a pork-based stock, and is closer to Chinese ramen than Japanese buckwheat soba. Often served with *sōki* (ソーキ), stewed pork ribs, and spiced up with a dash of *shima-koshō* (島胡椒) island pepper or *shima-tōgarashi* (島唐辛子) chillies.\n*Okinawa chanpon* (沖縄ちゃんぽん) is a hearty dish of stir fried seafood and vegetables on rice. (On the mainland, *chanpon* is a soupy noodle dish.)\n*Hirayāchī* (ヒラヤーチー), an okonomiyaki-like thin savoury pancake.\n*Jīmāmi* (ジーマーミ) peanut tofu, slightly sweet and gooey, absolutely delicious when done right\n*Raftī* (ラフティー) is a side dish consisting of *very* fatty cubes of stewed pork.\n*Ninjin shirishiri* (人参しりしり), a stir fry of carrots and egg.\n*Shima-dofu* (島豆腐) is the Okinawan version of tofu, coarser in texture than the Japanese kind and often served warm.\n*Sātāandagī* (サーターアンダギー) are deep-fried balls of dough also aptly known as Okinawan donuts.\n\nImage:JP-47 Mimiga and Chiraga.jpg|''Mimigā'' (pig ear) and ''chiragā'' (pig face)\nImage:JP-47_Sukugarasu_on_Shima-Tofu.jpg|''Sukugarasu'' on tofu\nImage:Umibudou.JPG|''Umibudō'' (sea grapes)\nFile:Yagisashi.jpg|''Yagisashi'' goat sashimi", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk020", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Eat", "text": "Okinawan *chinmi* or \"strange foods\", eaten as snacks with drinking, include:\n *Chiragā* (チラガー), the skin from a pig's face; can be very chewy\n *Mimigā* (ミミガー), sliced pork ears in vinegar; crunchy and nearly tasteless\n *Umibudō* (海ぶどう) or \"sea grapes\", a type of seaweed eaten raw dipped into vinegar or soy, mild with a pleasant caviar-like texture\n *Tofuyō* (豆腐よう), salty dark red fermented tofu\n *Sukugarasu* (スクガラス), salt-pickled tiny fermented fish, usually pressed onto tofu before eating\n *Yagisashi* (ヤギ刺), raw goat meat served sashimi style\n\nImage:JP-47 Naha Tacorice.jpg|Taco rice\nImage:ポーク玉子.jpg|Pork eggs\n\nAficionados of **American fast food** may find Okinawa to be a curious treat, as many American restaurants popped up here to serve the US military long before they made it to the mainland. Most prominent is the presence of **A&W** outlets serving hamburgers and **root beer** (with free refills, even), available practically nowhere else in Japan. **Blue Seal** ice cream is common, with their purple yam soft ice creams worth a lick. **Mexican food** of varying levels of authenticity is popular, particularly tacos (タコス *takosu*). Several hybrid Okinawan-American dishes, most of which seem to employ copious quantities of **Spam**, are widely available:\n\n*Nuuyaru burger* (ぬーやるバーガー), a specialty of local fast food chain **Jef**, is gōyā chanpurū, cheese and a slice of Spam in a bun. Appropriately enough, the name is an Okinawan pun that translates roughly as \"What on earth is this?\".\n*Pork eggs* (ポーク玉子 *pōku tamago*) consists of fried slices of Spam served with ketchup, scrambled eggs and — since this *is* Japan, after all — rice and miso soup. Also available in *onigiri* rice ball form.\n*Taco rice* (タコライス *tako raisu*) is spiced Mexican-style taco meat with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, but instead of being in a tortilla, it's on rice.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk021", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|right|A bottle of ''awamori'' from the Kikunotsuyu distillery of [[Miyako (Okinawa)|Miyako]]\n\nThe local brew of choice is ***awamori*** (泡盛), a notoriously strong rice liquor that can contain up to 60% alcohol, although 30-40% is more common. Unlike Japanese shochu, which is usually prepared from potatoes or barley, awamori is brewed using imported Thai jasmine rice since during the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, short-grain rice could not be brought in from the main islands. It's most commonly drunk on the rocks or neat.\n\nAwamori keeps well, and when stored more than three years is known as ***kūsu*** (古酒, also read *koshu* in standard Japanese). If the label indicates a specific age, it's 100% at least that old; however, *kūsu* without a given age is usually a blend of 50% 3-year-old and 50% new awamori.\n\nthumb|Bottles of ''habushu'': the bigger the snake, the bigger the price tag\n\nA notorious version of *awamori* is *habushu* (ハブ酒), with an entire venomous Okinawan pit viper (*habu*) pickled in the bottle, often by inserting it while it's still alive. At a minimum of ¥10,000 for a bottle, it's expensive and nobody drinks this stuff for the taste, but it's popular particularly in US military circles as a drunken dare.\n\nIf awamori even without the snake is a bit too strong for your taste, try *awamori umeshu* (泡盛梅酒), a delectable sweet liquor made by infusing Japanese *ume* plums in awamori and cane sugar. Calamansi (shīkwāsā) and coffee-flavored versions of awamori are also available.\n\nOkinawa's local beer **Orion** (オリオン, pronounced \"Oree-on\") is a safer alternative, at least in small quantities. Most larger islands also have their own microbreweries.\n\n**Jasmine tea** (さんぴん茶 *sanpincha*) is very popular on Okinawa. Tropical fruit juices are also widely available.\n\n### Nightlife\n\nNaha has the busy nightlife scene you'd expect of a large city, livened up by the presence of many GIs from the military bases. Kadena and Chatan, near Kadena Air Base, also have many bars catering to the military with frequent live music performances.\n\nOkinawa has many live houses in Naha city and Okinawa city, with styles ranging from Okinawan traditional folk music to American rock, jazz and other sounds from the USA. The charge depends on the artist but it's usually about ¥1000-3500, plus one drink. Check the time, the artist, and the price before you go.\n\nThere is some gay nightlife in Naha.", "word_count": 394}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk022", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Broadly speaking, accommodation on Okinawa can be divided into two brackets: cheap basic lodges, and expensive fancy resorts. Another option is sleeping in campsites.\n\n### Budget\n\nOkinawa has a multitude of cheap *minshuku*-type lodges geared towards poor surfers and divers, and unlike the mainland many offer or even specialize in bed-only (素泊まり *sudomari*) stays with no meals included. The very cheapest dorm-type places can go for less than ¥2,000, although you'll usually be looking at a minimum of ¥3,000 for your own room and around ¥5,000 if you want two meals. Watch out for hidden charges for things like air-con, fridge rental or even using the shower.\n\nIn Naha you can easily find dirt-cheap places starting from ¥1,000 per night.\n\n#### Camping\n\nThere are many campsites around Okinawa, some on nice beaches. They offer cheap accommodation if you have your own tent and sleeping bag (and mat) for ¥500-1,000/night. Their facilities are sometimes very poor, they have only cold shower for example (and they even charge you for using it!) and no cooking/cleaning facilities. However they often rent out BBQ sets (¥2,000-3,000) which can make the night unforgettable.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nB&B-type pensions are the most common midrange option, although there are some city hotels also. Figure on around ¥10,000/person with two meals.\n\n### Splurge\n\nThe other end of the spectrum is Okinawa's host of resorts, usually located on a private beach in some remote corner of the island — which means you'll be stuck eating at the resort's expensive restaurant and using their expensive watersports services. Rack rates for these places tend to be ludicrous (¥20,000+/head/night), but you can usually get steep discounts by buying flight and hotel packages, especially in the low season.\n\nMost hotels in Okinawa prohibit displaying **tattoos** in pools and sometimes even their private beaches. Cover up with a rash guard.", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk023", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Okinawa is as safe as mainland Japan or more so. On the smaller islands it's not uncommon to leave front doors not merely unlocked, but open all day.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk024", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The number one health risk on Okinawa is **sunburn**, and it doesn't take long at all to get fried to a crisp when it's sunny outside. Slap on plenty of lotion.\n\nOkinawa is also home to Japan's most fearsome array of **venomous critters**. While the venomous **habu** (ハブ) snake gets a lot of bad press, mostly due to its unfortunate habit of entering homes in search of rats and mice; not only are you quite unlikely to encounter one outside a sake bottle in a souvenir shop, but bites have a fatality rate of \"only\" 3%. Jellyfish (クラゲ *kurage*) and a variety of marine creatures that sting if stepped on present a risk, and many beaches have posters in Japanese (and occasionally English) explaining what to watch out for.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "okinawa::chunk025", "doc_id": "okinawa", "section": "Go next", "text": "The Amami Islands to the north are politically a part of Kyushu, but culturally closer to Okinawa.\n Taiwan is just to the south of Okinawa, and you can see it from Yonaguni on a good day.", "word_count": 36}
diff --git a/corpus/okinawa/metadata.json b/corpus/okinawa/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c6989037fab82ed0bd51805b4f0d4eeef012e3d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/okinawa/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "okinawa",
+ "title": "Okinawa",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Okinawa",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Japan"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Amami Islands",
+ "Taiwan"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5487,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 26,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/olympic-national-park/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/olympic-national-park/chunks.jsonl
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index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6f6a4486e91f47f0a6da0a1108b0136b340f2df2
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@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk000", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Olympic National Park** is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Washington State. The park interior encompasses one of the largest remaining blocks of old-growth forest and temperate rain forest in the lower 48 states, and the park's coastline protects of rocky headlands, beaches, and tidepools.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk001", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are two non-contiguous sections of the park: the large central area encompassing the Olympic Mountains, and the coastal area where the west edge of the Olympic Peninsula meets the Pacific Ocean.\n\n### History\n\n300px|thumb|The coastline of Olympic National Park\nPrior to the influx of European settlers, the population consisted of Native Americans, whose use of the peninsula was thought to have consisted mainly of fishing and hunting. However, reviews of the record, coupled with systematic archaeological surveys of the mountains (Olympic and other Northwest ranges) are pointing to much more extensive tribal use of especially the subalpine meadows than seemed to have been the case. Most if not all Pacific Northwest indigenous cultures were adversely affected by European diseases (often decimated) and other factors, well before ethnographers, business operations and settlers arrived in the region, so what they saw and recorded was a much-reduced native culture-base. Large numbers of cultural sites are now identified in the Olympic mountains, and important artifacts have been found.\n\nWhen settlers began to appear, extractive industry in the Pacific Northwest was on the rise, particularly in regards to the harvesting of timber, which began heavily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Public dissent against logging began to take hold in the 1920s, when people got their first glimpses of the clear-cut hillsides. This period saw an explosion of people's interest in the outdoors; with the growing use of the automobile, people took to touring previously remote places like the Olympic Peninsula.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk002", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "The formal record of a proposal for a new national park on the Olympic Peninsula begins with the expeditions of well-known figures Lieutenant Joseph O'Neil and Judge James Wickersham, during the 1890s. These notables met in the Olympic wilderness while exploring, and subsequently combined their political efforts to have the area placed within some protected status. Following unsuccessful efforts in the Washington State Legislature in the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt created Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909, primarily to protect the subalpine calving grounds and summer range of the Roosevelt elk herds native to the Olympics.\n\nPublic desire for preservation of some of the area grew until President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared ONP a national park in 1938.\n\nIt was further designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976, and evolved into a World Heritage Park in 1981.\n\n### Landscape\n\n#### Olympic Mountains\n\n250px|thumb|Marmot Pass, Olympic National Park\nFrom the summit of Mount Olympus, the Pacific Ocean shimmers in the distance, less than west. Between the highest peak in the Olympic Mountain range and sea, mountains and valleys radiate like spokes on a wheel. Above treeline, a jumble of rugged glacier-capped peaks are decorated with meadows and lakes. Most of the area's endemic plants and animals are found in these high elevation ecosystems. Below treeline, scattered subalpine forests give way to steep forested slopes ending in broad, U-shaped valleys.\n\nthe rock that makes up the Olympics began 49-56 million years ago, as a massive basalt eruption deep under the ocean. This *terrane* was soon pushed up against the North American continent, and after resisting subduction for a long period, was eventually pushed up above sea level about 18 million years ago. The result is a range highly folded sedimentary and metamorphic rock, in contrast to the nearby Cascades.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk003", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "#### Rivers & lakes\n\nWater defines Olympic National Park. In cloud form it delivers abundant rain and snow. As frozen glaciers it sculpts the peaks. In snow-melt rivulets it waters mountain meadows then feeds powerful rivers rushing to the sea. Alpine tarns perch on peaks and several huge lakes lie in the lowlands. These streams, rivers and lakes are a circulatory system—life-blood of the park's diversity.\n\nRivers radiate out from the central mountains like spokes on a wheel. On the park's west side, valleys are broad and U-shaped and rivers meander over wide floodplains. On other sides, the rivers are often constricted into narrow, steep-walled valleys. With protected headwaters, these are healthy, dynamic watersheds where natural processes like flooding, log jams, and nutrient cycling prevail.\n\nLinking ocean and land ecosystems, rivers and streams provide a highway for fish and other wildlife to move both up and downstream. As fish swim upstream to spawn and later die, they bring with them vital nutrients from the sea, replenishing the forest in ways that science has only recently defined.\n\n#### Forests\n\n250px|thumb|The Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park\nOlympic National Park was established in 1938 in part to preserve some of Washington's quickly disappearing primeval forests.\n*\"to preserve... the finest sample of primeval forests of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas fir, and western red-cedar in the entire United States....\"*\n\nToday, the park protects one of the largest remaining blocks of old-growth forest and temperate rain forest in the lower 48 states.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk004", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Old-growth forests** are forests where there are no clearly visible indications of human disturbance. These forests are ecosystems with unique biodiversity, that takes centuries to restore from logged land. Some areas in the park nurture trees that sprouted when the Mayan culture was thriving in the jungles of Central America. The diverse forests of the park (and neighboring wilderness areas) are rare islands of original habitat surrounded by altered landscapes.\n\n**Temperate rain forests** form in mid-latitude regions receiving over of precipitation. The nearby Pacific Ocean dumps up to of rain per year in the valleys on the west side of the park. Enormous Sitka spruce and Douglas fir tower hundreds of feet high, as thick, furry epiphyte moss and dense, vibrant vegetation create a beautiful, almost \"Tolkien-esque\" environment.\n\nThis diversity forms a dynamic green canvas from tree line to coast. Heavy snow, avalanches, fire, wind storms, landslides and flooding all interact to rearrange the colors or reset the clock. But the resulting forests are a vibrant, ever-changing palette of greens, textures, species and ages.\n\n#### Coast\n\nOlympic National Park's -long wilderness coast is a rare treasure in a country where much of the coastline is prime real estate. The rocky headlands, beaches, tidepools nurturing a living rainbow of colors and textures, off shore sea stacks topped by nesting seabirds and wind-sheared trees-all are a remnant of a wilder America. In fact, in 1988, Congress added much of the narrow coastal strip of the park (and much of the rest of the park) to a national system of designated wilderness.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk005", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "The intertidal areas, where the Pacific Ocean tides shape life, are also within the boundary of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The offshore islands with their colonies of nesting seabirds and rocky haulouts for seals and sea lions, lie within the Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex.\n\nPeer into a tidepool and your view may take in hundreds of animals crowded into an area the size of a dinner plate. Cold, nutrient-rich waters upwelling from the Pacific Ocean floor feed a food chain extending from tiny invertebrates to many-ton whales. In the intertidal, that abundance is stacked in layers determined by the tides, competition and the reach of predatory neighbors. Each species tends to thrive in only a certain narrow band of habitat, rarely straying above or below.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\n250px|thumb|Kalaloch Redcedar\n\nThe isolated Olympic Peninsula harbors a unique community of wildlife, noteworthy not only for endemic animals (found only here), but also for species missing from the Olympics, yet found elsewhere in western mountains. Pika, ptarmigan, ground squirrels, lynx, wolverine, grizzly bears, bighorn and historically, mountain goats did not occur on the Olympic Peninsula. While unique species like the Olympic marmot, Olympic snow mole and Olympic torrent salamander are found here and nowhere else in the world! Unfortunately, like most places in the world, non-native species introduced by humans have also spread to the park. Wildlife listed below have been observed in Olympic National Park:\n\n#### Marine mammals\n\n##### Nearshore\n\nSea otter, *Enhydra lutris* \n River otter, *Lutra canadensis*\n\n##### Rocky intertidal\n\nHarbor seal, *Phoca vitulina*\n Northern Fur Seal, *Callorhinus ursinus*\n\n##### Occasional\n\nSteller sea lion, *Eumetopias jubatus*\n California sea lion, *Zalophus californianus*\n Northern elephant seal, *Mirounga angustirostris*\n Gray whale, *Eschrichtius robustus*\n\n##### Spring and fall\n\nMinke whale, *Balaenoptera acutorostrata*\n\n##### Summer and fall", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk006", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "Humpback whale, *Megaptera novaeangliae*\n\n##### Fall\n\nHarbor porpoise, *Phocoena phocoena*\n\n##### Summer\n\nOrca or Killer whale, *Orcinus orca*\n\n##### Summer and fall\n\nDall’s porpoise, *Phocoenoides dalli*\n Pacific white sided dolphin, *Lagenorhynchus obliquidens*\n\n### Climate\n\nOverall, the Olympic Peninsula has a moderate marine climate with pleasant summers and mild, wet winters. The Olympic Mountains, part of North America's western coast range, rise suddenly from near sea level to ~, intercepting Pacific moisture which is dumped as large amounts of rain. The climate grows wetter from east to west on the Olympic Peninsula. Sunny days are likeliest in July and August. Nearby Sequim is actually in the rain shadow of the Olympics and is known for sunny days and minimal rain.\n\nSummers tend to be fair and warm, with high temperatures between and . July, August and September are the driest months, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year.\n\nWinters are mild at lower elevation, with temperatures ranging from at night to during the day. Snow is rare at low elevations and melts quickly, however snowfall can be heavy in the mountains, with accumulations of up to common.\n\nThe park, and many of its attractions, are open year-round. However, the mountainous interior receives substantial snowfall, so higher-elevation locations like Hurricane Ridge will be less accessible between November and May. While summer has the most pleasant weather, moisture is an integral part of the Olympic experience; drizzle makes the lushness of the rain forests pop, and many visitors enjoy sitting on a remote beach to watch the weather roll from the ocean. Regional hikers enjoy the Olympics in the spring, as the trails melt out earlier than in the Cascades, and the eastern slopes are in a rain shadow.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nPark website\n - Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk007", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Understand", "text": "- Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center (closed)\n\n- Olympic National Park Visitor Center\n\n#### Ranger stations\n\n- Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station\n\n- Olympic National Park/Olympic National Forest Recreation Information Station\n\n- Staircase Ranger Station", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk008", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|350px\nPort Angeles is the principal service city for the park. Unless otherwise specified, these directions will get you heading towards Port Angeles.\n\nThe park is huge; the directions here may not be the most direct way to other corners of the park, such as Lake Cushman and Lake Quinault.\n\n### By car\n\n25px **US-101** runs near the east, north, and west edges of the Olympic Mountains, forming an incomplete ring road. From US-101, a number of roads extend into the park: Hurricane Ridge, Elwha, Sol Doc, Hoh, and Quinault. US-101 also runs near and along the coast, providing access to Kalaloch, La Push, Cape Alava and Neah Bay.\n\n**From Olympia and points south on I-5**: Take US-101 north along Hood Canal. \n\n**From Aberdeen and points south on the coast**: Take US-101 north along the coast.\n\n**From Tacoma**: Take WA-16 and cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Kitsap Peninsula, then continue west. At WA-3, turn south to access the south parts of the park, or north to access the north parts of the park.\n\n**From Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport**:\n **Drive the entire way**: This is usually the fastest option, as long as you avoid I-5 during rush hour. Head south on I-5 to Tacoma, take Exit 132B for WA-16 and follow the \"From Tacoma\" directions from there.\n **Take a ferry across Puget Sound**: This does not usually save much time, but it replaces a few hours of driving with a leisurely ride across the water.\n From West Seattle: take the ferry to Southworth and continue north.\n From Seattle: take the ferry to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton and continue north.\n From north of Seattle: take the Edmonds ferry to Kingston and continue west.\n\n**From Anacortes or Whidbey Island**: take the Coupeville ferry to Port Townsend and continue west.\n\nThe ferries are run by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The ferries usually run roughly every 50 minutes. The line to get on a ferry can be backed up for two or three hours, particularly in the summer when people are heading off or returning from their vacations on the Olympic Peninsula. If you can, avoid heading west on Friday afternoons and east on Sunday evenings.\n\n### By ferry\n\nA private ferry company runs a route between Victoria, BC and Port Angeles.\n \n\n### By plane\n\nThe nearest domestic airport for commercial flights is **Seattle Tacoma International Airport** () in Seattle.\n\nAnother nearby commercial airport is Victoria, BC (). Once there, take a ferry to Port Angeles.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere's transit options from the major Puget Sound cities to Port Angeles, the hub for infrequent bus routes connecting the towns along the north and west sections of US-101. There's also transit to Port Townsend, the hub for infrequent bus routes running down the east section of US-101. However, many of the park's top attractions are not on the highway and thus have no bus service, so relying on public transit will greatly limit where you can go.\n\n### By foot\n\nThe Pacific Northwest Trail, an east-west long-distance hiking trail that runs from Glacier National Park in Montana to Cape Alava, enters the park in the northeast, near Marmot Pass.", "word_count": 529}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk009", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2024 are:\n $15 per person and bicyclist\n $25 motorcycle\n $30 vehicle (non-commercial)\n $55 Olympic National Park Annual Pass\n\nPark entrance fees may be waived for school group visits when class curriculum relates to park resources.\n\nDriving US-101 does not require an entrance fee, and fees are not checked at a few places where the highway enters the park, such as Kalaloch and Lake Crescent.\n\n### Olympic National Forest\n\nThe U.S. Forest Service administers some of the land bordering the national park, including many outer trailheads to destinations inside the park, as the Olympic National Forest. These areas use a separate fee system. The various nationwide National Park Service passes (such as the \"America the Beautiful\" Annual Pass) are also valid on USFS land, but the Olympic National Park-only permits are not valid. The other option is the **Northwest Forest Pass** ($5/day, $30/year).\n\n### Tribal land\n\nSeveral Indian Reservations border or overlap with the park. Accessing the park from the Makah Reservation, which borders the north edge of the park's coastline at Shi Shi Beach, requires a **Makah Reservation Recreational Permit**.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk010", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nthumb|US 101 in the park\nBy car is the most practical way to get around. US-101 makes a loop of the Olympic Peninsula, and is the only road that connects different areas of the park. US-101 enters the park boundaries only for brief stretches; most access is from spur roads leading into the park.\n Hoh Rain Forest is between Forks and the coast, down Upper Hoh Rd.\n La Push and Rialto Beach are just north of Forks, down WA-110.\n Hurricane Ridge is out of Port Angeles, down Hurricane Ridge Rd. All vehicles traveling to Hurricane Ridge during the winter season (November - April) are required to carry tire chains.\n Quilcene and the east side can be accessed from a variety of roads along the Hood Canal portion of US-101.\n Staircase is out of Hoodsport, down WA-119.\n\nThe best way to see the park is to **\"do the loop\"**, driving along US-101 from Aberdeen to Olympia in either direction. This takes a minimum of six hours of driving, and most people will want three or four days to explore the most popular areas of the park. For many visitors, the highlight is the coastal section along US-101 between Aberdeen and Forks, including Kalaloch Campground, the Hoh Rain Forest, Rialto Beach, and the hike to Ozette. The next most popular area is Hurricane Ridge, the highest area in the park accessible by road.\n\nThe park is huge, so plan travel times carefully. You don't want to spend all your time on the road.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is only one destination within the park with easy and frequent mass transit access:\n \n\nThere is limited bus service connecting the towns along US-101, and a few of these routes make stops near a point of interest. (See bus information for the Olympic Peninsula for a comprehensive list of routes.)\n \nBus Route 14 Port Angeles - Forks makes a stop at Lake Crescent.\nBus Route 15 Forks - La Push will get you walking distance to First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach.\n\n - Jefferson Transit\n\n *Olympic Connector* Amanda Mercantile - Forks stops at Kalaloch and Lake Quinault.\n\n### By foot\n\nThere are no roads through the interior of Olympic National Park. In fact, 96% of Olympic National Park is incorporated into the Olympic Wilderness, making it one of the greatest roadless patches in the lower 48 states. Instead, the park is crisscrossed with a network of hiking and backpacking trails, making it a hikers' paradise.", "word_count": 414}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk011", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "See", "text": "### Olympic Mountains\n\nThe interior section of the park covers the Olympic Mountains, a broad cluster of mountains perforated by steep valleys of ancient forests, largely inhospitable to roads, loggers, and most other forms of development.\n\nClockwise from southwest to southeast, along US-101:\n\nthumb|Lake Quinault in the mist\n - Quinault Valley\n\n - Queets Corridor\n\n - Hoh Rain Forest\n\nthumb|Sol Duc River\n - Sol Duc Valley\n\nthumb|Lake Crescent in spring\n - Lake Crescent\n\n - Elwha\n\n200px|thumb|Hurricane Ridge trail in summer\n - Hurricane Ridge\n\n - Staircase\n\n### Olympic Coast\n\nFor thousands of marine species, these coastal waters are a safe haven. The marine environment and offshore islands are protected by three national wildlife refuges and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The refuges manage the islands visible above high tide waters for along the coast. Large nesting colonies of birds like common murres and tufted puffins need these rocky outposts.\n\nFrom south to north, along US-101:\nthumb|Cedar Creek and Abbey Island seen from Ruby Beach\n - Kalaloch and Ruby Beach\n\n - Mora and Rialto Beach\n\nthumb|Lake Ozette\n - Ozette", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk012", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Do", "text": "### Beaches\n\nThe coastline features numerous beaches. Few of them are creatively-named, but many of them easy to access. During the summer, the beaches can be quite crowded with fishermen, clammers, and children. Remember that the northern Pacific is cold, so swimming is not for the faint of heart.\n\n - Beach 1\n\n - Beach 2\n\n - Beach 3\n\n - Ruby Beach\n\n - Third Beach\n\n- Second Beach\n\n - First Beach\n\n - Rialto Beach\n\n - Shi Shi Beach\n\n### '''[[Hiking]] and [[Wilderness backpacking|backpacking]]'''\n\nThe Olympic National Park has an extensive trail system. Much of the interior and the coast is wilderness and can only be seen from the trails.\n\nThe **Hoh Rain Forest** is lushest, densest forest in the park, and arguably in the entire western US:\n- Hall of Mosses Trail\n\n - Hoh River Trail\n\nFrom **Lake Quinault**, trails run up river valleys to meadows, alpine lakes, and ice-carved peaks:\n - East Fork Quinault River\n\n - North Fork Quinault River Trail\n\n**Sol Duc** features a charming waterfall, and access to the park's favorite alpine lakes:\n - Sol Duc Falls\n\n - Lover's Lane Loop\n\n - Mink Lake Trail\n\n - High Divide Loop\n\n**Lake Crescent** features easy trails along the lake and surrounding forests, as well as access to a few surrounding mountains:\n - Marymere Falls\n\n - Spruce Railroad\n\nThe **Elwha Valley** is the park's largest watershed, and once contained a small resort around its natural hot spring. A large dam on the Elwha river was removed in 2014, and just one year later, a flood washed out part of Olympic Hot Springs Rd.\n - Boulder Creek Trail\n\n - Humes Ranch Loop\n\n**Quilcene** is on the drier eastern slopes of the Olympic Mountains. Note that many trails from the east start in the Olympic National Forest, with different permit rules:\n - Upper Big Quilcene Trail\n\n**Staircase** provides access to old-growth Douglas fir forests:\n - Shady Lane Trail\n\n - Flapjack Lakes Trail\n\n - North Fork Skokomish River Trail\n\n**The Wilderness Coast** consists of miles of beaches, broken up by rocky tidepools and occasional river crossings. It is continuously hikeable from the Hoh River to Shi Shi Beach at the Makah Indian Reservation, at least during low tide! If venturing beyond the most popular sections, consult the local tide tables before committing to the rockier stretches.\n\n - South Coast Route\n\n - North Coast Route\n\n - Ozette Loop\n\n### Boating\n\nthumb|Hoh River\nThe Hoh River is a **kayaking** hotspot. Kayaking and rafting are also popular through the whitewater rapids of the Elwha River.\n\nThere are boat launches on **Lake Crescent**, **Lake Ozette**, and **Lake Quinault**.\n\n### Winter sports\n\n - Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area", "word_count": 440}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk013", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Discover Your Northwest\n\n On Upper Hoh Rd, there is one stop for gas and snack food, etc., before the park entrance.", "word_count": 22}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk014", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Eat", "text": "Your best option for meals are in Port Angeles, Forks, and the smaller towns surrounding the park along US-101. Dining options within the park are mostly confined to the park lodges.", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk015", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nThere are four lodging options located within the park:\n - Kalaloch Lodge\n\n - Log Cabin Resort\n\n - Lake Crescent Lodge\n\n - Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort\n\nOutside of the park, the following communities have lodging options:\n\n North Olympic Peninsula: Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Forks, Sekiu and Clallam Bay.\n Hood Canal Area: Hoodsport, Lake Cushman and Shelton.\n Lake Quinault: Lake Quinault and Amanda Park.\n\n### Camping\n\nthumb|Camping site on the shores of Lake Quinault\nOlympic has 16 NPS-operated campgrounds. Concession-operated RV parks are in the park at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and Log Cabin Resort on Lake Crescent.\nCampgrounds can accommodate RVs and trailers up to in length, unless otherwise noted. Most campground toilets are wheelchair accessible, unless otherwise noted in the chart below. All campsites are first-come, first-served, except for Kalaloch, Hoh, Mora, and Sol Duc. All park campsites provide a picnic table and fire pit. Park campgrounds do not have hook-ups or showers. Group campgrounds are provided at Sol Duc and Kalaloch.\n\n - Deer Park Campground\n\n - Dosewallips Campground (Walk-In Only)\n\n - Fairholme Campground\n\n - Graves Creek Campground\n\n - Heart O' the Hills Campground\n\n - Hoh Campground\n\n - Kalaloch Campround\n\n - Mora Campground\n\n - North Fork Campground\n\n - Ozette Campground\n\n - Queets Campground\n\n - South Beach Campground\n\n - Staircase Campground\n\n### Backcountry\n\nWilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in Olympic National Park wilderness (backcountry). Wilderness Camping Permits are handled through the Recreation.gov Wilderness Permit page. No sites are held as same-day walk-ups. Once issued, you can print the permit yourself.\n\nThe most popular areas of the park are subject to quotas, to prevent overcrowding and damage. Wilderness permits are also used to locate overdue or lost parties; as well as in case of a family emergency.\n\nPermits for the summer season (May 15th through October 15th) become available on April 15th. Weekend reservations for popular areas fill up quickly.\n\nBear canisters are required in many wilderness areas. Bear canisters are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis.\n\nTo speak with a ranger about your permit, request a walk-up permit, or borrow a bear canister, visit the Wilderness Information Center:\n - Wilderness Information Center (WIC)", "word_count": 364}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk016", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Wildlife\n\n**Keep wildlife wild**. Though many of the animals in the park are used to seeing humans, they should not be fed or disturbed, and all wildlife in national parks are protected by federal law. Stay at least away from bears and from all other wild animals! Check trailhead postings of recent animal activity, or ask a park ranger for local advice.\n\nThe Olympics are habitat for many large animals that could potentially be dangerous:\n **Black bears** — There have been fewer than a dozen bear attacks in Washington in the last century, but hikers need to know about bear safety.\n **Cougars (mountain lions)** — Cougars are naturally shy and secretive, and sightings are rare. There have only been two fatal attacks in Washington in the last century. If a cougar approaches you, it is either protecting its young or is desperately hungry. Never turn your back or run from a cougar; back away slowly, and fight back if an attack is imminent. Learn more about hiking in cougar country.\n **Elk** — these herd animals are not aggressive like their moose cousins, but can be dangerous if they feel threatened.\n\n### Hiking and camping\n\nApproach the wilderness with respect and preparation, as recklessness or poor planning can get you into trouble. The mountains and wildernesses of the western U.S. may be more remote than you are used to. See the articles on hiking and wilderness backpacking for suggested gear, preparation, and discussion of risks.\n\nThere's a few considerations specific to Olympic National Park:\n Bring tidal information with you, as **many beaches are impassable during high tides** and hikers have been known to be caught off guard and stranded. Do not camp within the range of the high tide; besides getting wet, ocean debris might wash up on beaches and crush tents during the night.\n **Do not drink untreated water** from natural sources, as it may contain *giardia* or other water-borne pathogens. Tap water is not a problem.\n There is **poor or no cell phone coverage** away from US-101, including some of the visitor centers and lodges.\n\n### Crime\n\nLock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables, especially when leaving your vehicle at trail-heads or anywhere you might be away from your vehicle for any length of time.", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "olympic-national-park::chunk017", "doc_id": "olympic-national-park", "section": "Go next", "text": "Explore the towns on US-101 and the Olympic Peninsula:\nAberdeen – come as you are, to the birthplace of grunge music\nForks – a logging town made famous by its resident vampires and werewolves\nPort Angeles – the hub of the Olympics\nSequim – the sunniest place in Western Washington\n\nContinue south down US-101 to the Washington and Oregon beach resorts:\nLong Beach – the longest continuous beach in the United States\nAstoria – Lewis and Clark's destination, with Victorian-era homes overlooking the Columbia River\n\nSee Washington's other National Parks:\n Mount Rainier National Park — The tallest mountain the Cascades and the most prominent mountain in the lower 48 states\n North Cascades National Park – Home to 50% of all glaciers in the lower 48 states. The undeveloped wilderness is a favorite for climbers and backpackers\n\nOverwhelmed with natural beauty and need a city break?\nOlympia — Both the state capital and the regional epicenter of counterculture\nSeattle — The home of Starbucks features an eclectic mix of people and a vibrant city life, in the shadow of Mount Rainier\nVictoria – A small provincial capital famous for its British charm, connected by ferry from Port Angeles", "word_count": 197}
diff --git a/corpus/olympic-national-park/metadata.json b/corpus/olympic-national-park/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..10a77d15207daefc6689bba8c3f4bf97e898e5ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/olympic-national-park/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "olympic-national-park",
+ "title": "Olympic National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q372093",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 47.96935,
+ -123.49856
+ ],
+ "summary": "Olympic National Park is a national park of the United States located in Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. The park has four regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west-side temperate rainforest, and the forests of the drier east side. Within the park there are three distinct ecosystems, including subalpine forest and wildflower meadow, temperate forest, and the rugged Pacific coast.\nPresident Theodore Roosevelt originally designated the park as Mount Olympus National Monument on March 2, 1909. The monument was redesignated a national park by Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 29, 1938. In 1976, Olympic National Park was designated by UNESCO as an International Biosphere Reserve, and in 1981 as a World Heritage Site. In 1988, Congress designated 95 percent of the park (1,370 square miles (3,500 km2)) as the Olympic Wilderness, which was renamed Daniel J. Evans Wilderness in honor of the former Washington state Governor and U.S. Senator Daniel J. Evans i",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Olympic Peninsula"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Aberdeen (Washington)",
+ "Forks",
+ "Port Angeles",
+ "Sequim",
+ "Long Beach (Washington)",
+ "Astoria",
+ "Mount Rainier National Park",
+ "North Cascades National Park",
+ "Olympia (Washington)",
+ "Seattle",
+ "Victoria (British Columbia)"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4482,
+ "listing_count": 66,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 18,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/oman/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/oman/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..128b1baa4b0d1131335fdb0ecd1019fa2ca7555d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/oman/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk000", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Sultanate of Oman** (Arabic: ) is on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula. Under the radar of most visitors to the Gulf, Oman is peaceful and prosperous, with amazing natural sights and hospitable people.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk001", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Regions", "text": "Oman has two exclaves separated from it by the United Arab Emirates, the Musandam Peninsula and Madha.", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk002", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Cities", "text": "- the historic capital and largest city\n - oasis town which is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site\n - border crossing town adjacent to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates\n - gateway to the Wahiba Sands\n - adjoining the capital city and just as historic\n - contains one of the best-known forts in Oman\n - the south, which is almost tropical at the time of the Kareef\n - one of the legendary homes of Sindbad\n - where dhows are still made by hand", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk003", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- a majestic range, the highest in the Arabian Peninsula, which stretches into the United Arab Emirates.\n - tiny exclave of Oman completely surrounded by the United Arab Emirates\n - a real desert island experience awaits on this haven for turtles and other wildlife\n - a rocky exclave on the Straits of Hormuz with some magnificent wadis\n - massive rolling dunes as far as the eye can see", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk004", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Understand", "text": "Until Sultan Qaboos bin Said exiled his father, the previous Sultan, in 1970, Oman was an under-developed nation, almost completely closed to visitors and badly manipulated by the British, although never annexed. After the accession of Qaboos, education, public works and tourism took off throughout Oman.\n\nOmanis are friendly people and very helpful to visitors. In turn, tourists should respect the ways and traditions of the Omani people.\n\nOmanis are proud of their country's rapid progress and of their heritage as one of the great seafaring nations. Excellent schools and hospitals, good governance, and on-going infrastructure improvements are all important characteristics of this once introverted and closed nation.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Landscape in the World Heritage Site \"Land of Frankincense\"\nThe oldest known human settlement in Oman dates to the Stone Age.\n\nSumerian tablets refer to a country called Magan, a name thought to refer to Oman's ancient copper mines. The present-day name of the country is believed to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated to its territory from the Uman region of Yemen. Many tribes settled in Oman making a living by fishing, herding or stock breeding and some present day Omani families are able to trace their ancestral roots to other parts of Arabia.\n\nFrom the 6th century BCE to the arrival of Islam in the 7th century CE, Oman was controlled or influenced by three Persian dynasties: the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids. By about 250 BCE the Parthian dynasty brought the Persian Gulf under their control and extended their influence as far as Oman and established garrisons in Oman. In the third century CE the Sassanids succeeded the Parthians and held the area until the rise of Islam four centuries later.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk005", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Understand", "text": "Centuries after the rise of Islam, Oman became a sultanate under a maritime empire and maintained links with the Portuguese and British Empires. In the 19th century, the Omani Empire reached its height under Sayyid Said bin Sultan, extending to places corresponding to modern United Arab Emirates, Southern Iran and Zanzibar. The Empire however, soon fell into internal strife after he died, and Zanzibar seceded from Oman in 1861. Continuous turmoil also enabled the British to force Oman into a protectorate in 1891.\n\nIn 1962, Oman was recognized as a sovereign country by the United Kingdom. In 1970, Sultan Qaboos ibn Said overthrew his despotic and increasingly paranoid father Said bin Taimur with the aid of the United Kingdom. Utilizing oil resources and Western diplomatic support, Qaboos under his modernizing but authoritarian administration, managed to increase Oman's GDP, standard of living, literacy rate and other indicators of \"modernity\" by leaps and bounds. After almost half a century in power, Qaboos died in January 2020 handing power to his cousin Haitham bin Tariq.\n\nIn the 21st century, Oman is positioning itself as a hub for diplomacy in the Middle East, having played an important role in mediating the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate generally is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54°C (129°F) in the summer, from May to October.\n\nAnnual rainfall in Muscat averages 100 mm (3.9 in), falling mostly in the winter. Dhofar is subject to the southwest monsoon, and rainfall up to 640 mm (25.2 in) has been recorded in the rainy season from June to September.\n\nWhile the mountain areas receive more plentiful rainfall, some parts of the coast, particularly near the island of Masirah, sometimes receive little to no rain at all within the course of a year.\n\n### Read", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk006", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Explorer Publishing**, *Oman Off-road: 26 Adventurous Routes*. Given the dearth of available topo and road maps for the country, this book is indispensable for visitors looking to explore Oman's most outstanding sights, many of which are off the tarmac. Routes and points of interest are described in detail, with satellite imagery and GPS coordinates. Outside of the Gulf region the book may be difficult to find, but it is usually in stock at the bookshop in the arrivals terminal at the Muscat airport, as well as in select bookshops in the city and in the UAE, where it is published.\n\n### Religion\n\nOfficially Oman is a Muslim state, and the Sultan and the vast majority of Omanis are Ibadi Muslims. However, Oman is a very tolerant country; there is a significant Sunni minority in Salalah, Sur and the northern parts of Oman and active Shiite communities in Muscat, Suhar, Al- Khabourah and Saham. Hindus have their temples in Muscat and one is said to be at least 350 years old.\n\n### People\n\nOmani citizens make up the majority of Oman's total population and consist of many different ethnic groups. Oman is home to its shipbuilders, who over the passage of time, have mastered the design of wooden trading ships.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nOman Tourism website", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk007", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Road sign\n**Arabic is the national language**, and there are three major dialects are spoken in Oman: Omani, Gulf and Dhofar Arabic. \n\nBut most Omanis will speak good to excellent English, and particularly so in major tourist areas and cities. An English-speaking traveller should have no language difficulties.\n\nThe historical presence of Indian traders has meant that Hindi or Urdu will be understood in some urban areas. \n\nIn the southern Dhofar region, a Semitic language called Jibbali is spoken. Swahili and Baluchi are languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Oman, especially in the capital Muscat. The presence of a large number of expatriates from the Indian state of Kerala, has made Malayalam a prominent language.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk008", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visas\n\nthumb|450px|Visa policy of Oman {{legend|\nCitizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) may enter Oman without a visa and stay indefinitely.\n\nA single entry visa can be obtained upon arrival at any air, land or sea terminal by citizens of the following countries:\n\nEU citizens and other Europeans including nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City but **not** Cyprus and Malta.\nAlbania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China (mainland), Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.\nthumb|Omani visa and entry and exit stamps\nThe 30-day visa costs 20 rials, 10-day one - 5 rials. You can pay online before arrival at the Royal Oman Police e-visa website or at MCT airport where you need to get the visa from the money changers which add a 1 rial commission. Your passport should be valid for no less than 6 months from the date of arrival. Any visa fees can be paid using UAE dirhams at a rate of ten dirhams to one Omani rial. At the airports, visa fees can be paid in any Gulf Co-operation Council currency, euros, and US dollars.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk009", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "Oman has a common visa facility with the Emirate of Dubai. If you pass through Dubai immigration and are granted a visa to Dubai for at least 3 weeks, you will then be entitled to a free-of-charge visa for 3 weeks to Oman. You will need to show your passport stamp from Dubai to the Omani immigration officers. Visas are sold by private businesses at some ports of entry and these people may not be familiar with this and will try to convince you that you need to buy a visa from them. If it is your first visit to that particular port of entry, it may be difficult to know how to navigate past these people. If you make it to an immigration officer they will be familiar with the visa fee waiver and allow you to enter without paying. The countries benefiting from this type of visa are: Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Britain, Sweden, Greece, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Belgium, Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Vatican City, Monaco, Andorra, and San Marino.\n\nThis scheme is with the Emirate of Dubai only and not with other emirates of the UAE, therefore, if you enter the UAE via Abu Dhabi or elsewhere, then your UAE visa will be granted by some other emirate and while this allows you to travel within the UAE and to Dubai, the Omani visa fee will not be waived.\n\nCitizens of Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia can apply for a one-month visit visa only at air terminals.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk010", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "The visa can be extended another month by submitting your passport to the Royal Omani Police in Muscat, however there is one line, and the wait can be as long as 2 hours. The concept of personal distance is different in the Middle East than it is in Europe. Queue jumping may be a problem for Europeans unless you set aside that personal distance concept. If you are on a budget and need to extend your visa, consider taking a trip to the United Arab Emirates. Buses are 10-12 rials return. A same-day round trip flight to Sharjah on Air Arabia costs about 50 rials. Even a taxi would be an option. Visa is not required for nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and a short stay visa will be granted on arrival to residents of GCC member states and regardless of nationality.\n\nGCC expatriate residents are granted a visit visa valid for up to 4 weeks (extendable by 1 week) for a fee of 5 rials.\n\n### Customs\n\nIt is prohibited to bring firearms, narcotics or pornographic publications into Oman. Non-Muslims are permitted to bring two litres of alcohol into the country at Muscat International Airport only. You are not allowed to bring alcohol into the country in private cars at land border crossings.\n\n### By plane\n\nVirtually all international flights arrive at Muscat (Seeb) International Airport () in Muscat. There are also regional international flights to Salalah (). Purchasing a visa on arrival in Salalah can be quite difficult, as the airport is small and immigration officials tend not to have change for larger notes.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk011", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Oman Air** is the flag carrier of Oman, operating an extensive network of flights around the Middle East and India, but only select destinations in Europe and Asia. Most large Middle Eastern and European airlines also fly to Muscat. The most frequent connections are via Dubai (DXB).\n\n### By boat\n\nThe port in Muscat is used by cruise ships. There are regular ferry and fastboat lines between island Masirah and Shannah port. Additionally, there are fastboats from Musadam peninsula and city Khasab and ferry port Shinas in Northern Oman. Schedule and booking on NFC Online page.\n\n### By car\n\n#### From the UAE\n\nthumb|Al Ain border crossing with the UAE\nThere are multiple border crossings from the United Arab Emirates into Oman:\n *Hatta border* at Wadi Hatta and Al-Wajajah (this crossing can only be used by GCC Nationals)\n *Wadi Jizzi* between Sohar and Buraimi\n *Jebel Hafret* leading to Ibri and Nizwa\n *Khatmat Milahah* from Fujairah\n from Ras al Khaimah emirate to Bukha/Musadam\n from Fujeirah emirate to Dibba/Musadam.\n Al Ain (Abu Dhabi) 3 border posts, (*Khattm Al Shiklah*) street border post (serving expatriates)\n\nThere are 3 border posts in Al Ain: Al Madheef Border post is **reserved exclusively for GCC Nationals**. Hilli Border post is also **exclusively for GCC Nationals**. It means, if you are not a GCC National, you MUST cross at Khatam Al Shukla border post.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk012", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "Roads are excellent and the border crossing is quite easy. Don't forget to bring along some cash, as you have to pay for the visa to enter Oman, and also, as of 2019, many petrol stations, especially in southern Oman, take only cash. If you are taking a car from the UAE into Oman, you will need to produce evidence at the border that the car is insured in Oman. There is a departure tax of 35 UAE dirhams when leaving the UAE by car, and a 2 rials tax when leaving Oman by road.\n\nWeekends and public holidays are very busy at the various borders that UAE shares with Oman as residents and visitors cross into Oman for tourism purposes as well as visa runs. Crossing during the work week (Sunday to Thursday) will avoid much of the crowds.\n\nAdditionally, make sure that your passport is stamped with the relevant entry and exit stamps. This should go without saying, but some border officials will forget part of the procedure and cause administrative hassles later. Additionally, crossing from Oman to the UAE is often a chaotic business, so it is easier to miss out on the all-important stamp than one might expect.\n\n#### From Yemen\n\nCrossing from Oman to Yemen is significantly more challenging, and those of an adventurous bent should familiarise themselves very carefully with the regulations regarding that border. In previous years, there has been a law that no solo female travellers can exit Oman to Yemen. Additionally, bear in mind that the easternmost parts of Yemen are exceptionally remote.\n\n#### From Saudi Arabia\n\nA brand new road connects Oman and Saudi Arabia through the Ramlat Khaliya border crossing and the Empty Quarter.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk013", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "From the United Arab Emirates private operators as well as the Omani state owned Mwasalat operate regular buses in between the UAE and Oman.\n\nMwasalat operates on the following routes:\n Sharjah - Muscat: twice daily, 10 rials or 95 dirham as of December 2025. The bus leaves form Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah which is easily accessible by bus from Dubai (frequent city buses leave Union (link with the metro) in Dubai to Al Jubail bus station. You need the Dubai transport card to use the bus. The fare is 12 dirham)\n Al Ain - Muscat: daily\n Abu Dhabi - daily with a transfer in Al Ain, 11,5 rials as of December 2025. The bus from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain is operated by Capital Express and departs from the Central Bus station.\n Kalba (near the city of Fujairah) - twice daily from the bus stop Kalba Fort.\n\nThe website of Mwasalat is a bit tricky: If the booking does not work with a certain browser, try another one. As of January 2026 it does not work to book via the app. Mwasalat has a ticket counter at Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah, but not in Abu Dhabi or in Al Ain.\n\nOne private operator is Al Alkhanjry. There are three departures every day from Dubai to Muscat and Sohar. Tickets can be booked through their website. It’s 90 dirham (Jan 2026) from Dubai to Muscat.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk014", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get in", "text": "You will have to pay an exit tax of 30.21 dirham (card payment) or 50 dirham (cash) when leaving the UAE by bus (December 2025). It is also **not possible to cross the border by foot**. So if you plan to stop before the border, cross by foot, and take another bus on the other side, it is not allowed. The only way to do so is to find a taxi that can cross the border (meaning it has the insurance to do so) or someone willing to take you in his own car. Note also that if you are not a GCC National, you cannot cross the border in between Al Ain and Buraimi. You must go to the border crossing of Khatam Al Shukla which is 20 km away from the bus station of Al Ain and it's where the bus from Al Ain to Muscat will cross.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk015", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get around", "text": "300px|thumb|right|The Corniche at Mutrah\n\n### By plane\n\nOman Air is the national carrier and flies regularly between the two airports in the country (Muscat/Seeb, and Salalah). Air Arabia offers flights to Salalah and Muscat from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are regular, daily bus services connecting the bigger cities within Oman (Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Sur and Nizwa). There are several, daily bus services from Muscat to Dubai. There is one bus a day from Muscat to Abu Dhabi. For details see the pages of the Oman National Transport Company http://www.ontcoman.com.\n\nMowasalat is state-operated public transportation company in Oman. The company operates bus lines which connect some of the major cities in Oman.\n\n### By taxi\n\nAll taxi drivers in Oman are Omani nationals as this is a protected profession. In Muscat there are call/telephone taxi services. Whilst safe and generally turn up when you want them to the costs are comparatively high. Look for \"Hello Taxi\" and \"Muscat Taxi\" amongst others.\n\nThe orange-badged taxis are usually owner-operated, these are un-metered with negotiated fares before departure. If you get a very cheap price, then do not be surprised if the Taxi stops to add extra passengers unless you request for it to be private. You may ask for **engaged**, just say 'engaged taxi' to the driver, and you will pay for all the seats (4) and now have the taxi to yourself. Women must always sit alone in the back. This is for your own safety and comfort.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk016", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are also mini-buses (Baisa buses), the principle is you share the bus or car with others and pay a lower price as a result. This is how women living in Oman travel if they must use public transport. Women should sit next to other women if there are any in the bus. Men should move to other seats. If they do not move immediately, simply stand at the door, looking at them expectantly. They will take the hint and move. Although this might feel strange to foreigners, it is expected behaviour for Omanis. Not sitting next to a man will avoid any unfortunate situations of mixed signals.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving around Oman in your own (rented) car is quite easy. A four-lane road connects Muscat and Nizwa and a four-lane highway goes from Muscat to Sur (however, between Muscat and Quriyat it is still one lane each way through the mountains).\n\nThere are still large parts of the Sur - Muscat route that has no mobile phone signal. If you break down be prepared to wait it out. Or hitch a ride to the next town and find a mechanic to bring back to your vehicle.\n\nthumb|right|300px|A wadi near Nizwa\n\nLovely seaside camping can be found between Muscat and Sur. Best to take the paved route to Sur, then over to **Wadi Shab** to find your way safely into this coastal road. If you intend to drive in wadis (unsealed valley roads in river beds) a 4WD is highly desirable. You can never be sure how the road will be and if it starts raining the wadis will turn into rivers quickly.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk017", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get around", "text": "If at all possible, hire a 4-wheel drive. There is spectacular off-road driving to be had in Oman, and you will want to veer off the tarmac again and again.\n\nSince about 2001 Oman has been experiencing severe flash flooding annually. The force of the water rushing down the rock hard treeless mountains do push even **landcruisers** off the road and upside down. **Beware**. If you see dark clouds or rain starts, find high dry ground, shelter and stay put. You can put a call into the local authorities to see if they can advise you better. The problem is the flash floods move quickly from town to town; it is easy to get trapped by washed out roads. Many wadi crossings have white and red poles to indicate when it is safe to cross the wadi in case of a flood. These are painted white on the bottom and red on top. If the water level reaches the red-painted part, do not attempt to cross, even in a 4WD.\n\nIf you managed to get a map of Oman regard it as how Oman would like to have the roads. Some roads might be drawn as well-built streets but are not even paved. Roads not visible on the map might just end and may even be painted till the end!\n\nThe typical rented car has a limit of 200-250 km per day. Prepare to pay and negotiate for extra kilometres. Monthly rates sometimes include unlimited kilometres.\n\nPetrol in Oman is very cheap by European and even North American standards. As of December 2025 the price for super (95 octane) petrol was approximately 0.25 rials per litre, even cheaper than in neighbouring United Arab Emirates.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk018", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Get around", "text": "In order to try to limit the rather frightening road death toll, the motorways/dual carriageways are littered with speed cameras. In the centre of Muscat they are every 2 km, not all look like they are active - but be warned. According to locals, the tolerance on the speed cameras is 19 km/h.\n\nDriving a visibly dirty car is illegal and can result in a fine. Police regularly enforce this to maintain the city's appearance.", "word_count": 75}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk019", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|300px|A fort at Sur\nOman is famous for its **historic forts**, which are the country's most striking cultural landmarks. There are over 500 forts and towers which were the traditional defence and lookout points to deter potential invaders. Some of the best examples are in the capital, Muscat. Jalali and Mirani forts stand at the entrance to Muscat Bay and date from the early 16th century.\n\n**Bahla Fort** at the base of the Djebel Akhdar highlands is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has 7 miles of walls. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries when Bahla was a thriving oasis town.\n\nOman's **rugged mountains** offer some stunning scenery and probably the best opportunities for driving in dry wadis anywhere in the world. Many of the wadis have made roads (often unsurfaced but decent enough) while others require serious off-roading. You can easily get well off the beaten path into remote areas.\n\n**Huge desert dunes** roll for as far as the eye can see at Wahiba Sands.\n\nOman's beaches are major breeding locations for various species of **sea turtle**. Masirah Island is the perhaps best bet where four species breed, including the largest number of leatherbacks anywhere in the world.\n\nThe country has vast expanses of desert, hundreds of kilometres of uninhabited coastline, and mountains of over .", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk020", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Do", "text": "Drive off-road to explore Oman's most outstanding sights.\nGo scuba diving off the coast of Oman in places like Masirah.\nVisit tribal Bedouin villages in the Musandam Exclave.\nTake a cruise on a *dhow*, an Omani/Emirati traditional fishing boat.", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk021", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency in Muscat is the **Omani rial**, denoted by the symbol \"**ريال**\" (ISO currency code **OMR**). Wikivoyage uses \"RO\" to remote the currency. One rial is made up of one thousand *baisa* (also written *baiza*, Arabic: بيسة). The Omani rial is tied to the US dollar at 1 rial = US$2.6008 making it one of the largest units of currency in the world; exchange rates on the streets are a percentage point or two lower. The exchange rate to the neighboring country United Arab Emirates is also fixed at about 1 rial = 10 dirham.\n\nBanknotes that circulate are in 0.100 rials (a small, green banknote and not to be confused with the 20-rial note), 0.500 () rial, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50-rials. Coins in circulation in Oman come in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 baisa.\n\nThere are ATMs at the airport and plenty of them in Muscat and every main town. Not all of them take foreign cards. ATMs that accept foreign credit cards are for example Bank Muscat and NBO. Both are the banks with the most ATMs in Oman. You can change foreign currency at the counters inside the airport and at money exchanges throughout Oman.\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk022", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Buy", "text": "The Omani national symbol is the silver-sheathed dagger known as the *khanjar*. These vary widely in quality and cost, but almost every shop will stock several different models. Most of the modern ones are made by Pakistani or Indian craftsmen under Omani direction, while many are actually made in Wazirabad Pakistan or India. There is a large variety in quality, from the handles to the sheath. The best handles are made of silver-adorned sandalwood, while the lesser quality handles are made of resin. Look carefully at the sheath to determine the quality of the silver work. A good quality *khanjar* can cost more than 700 rials. Typically, those will come in a presentation box, and include a belt.\n\nAnother reminder of the country's tribal past is the walking stick known as *arsaa*. This is a cane with a concealed sword in it, which can prove quite a talking point at home. In many countries, it will prove a talking point with customs officials rather than friends and family. In Musandam, the khanjar is frequently replaced by the Jerz as formal wear, a walking stick with a small axe head as the handle.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk023", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Buy", "text": "Omani silver is also a popular souvenir, often made into rosewater shakers and small \"Nizwa boxes\" (named for the town from which they first came). Silver \"message holders\" (known as hurz, or herz), often referred to in souks as \"old time fax machines\" are often for sale as well. Many silver products will be stamped with \"Oman\" on them, which is a guarantee of authenticity. Only new silver items may be so stamped. There is a large quantity of 'old' silver available which will not be stamped. Although it may be authentic, stamping it would destroy its antique value. *Caveat emptor* are the watch words. Stick to reputable shops if you are contemplating buying antique Omani silver of any sort.\n\nThere is a wonderful selection of Omani silver available as jewellery as well. Items for sale in the Muttrah souk may not be genuine Omani items. Instead visit Shatti Al Qurm just outside of Muscat or the Nizwa Fort.\n\nFor any purchases of silver, knives, and sword-canes, make sure that you can **legally import** the amount you purchase back into your home country. Travelers thinking of bringing their purchases home via airplane should rather mail their purchases back, as it is usually an easier way since you won't have to cart the purchases around Oman or through security and customs.\n\nThe distinctive hats worn by Omani men, called \"kuma\", are also commonly sold, particularly in the Muttrah Souk in Muscat. Genuine kumas cost from 80 rials.\n\nFrankincense is a popular purchase in the Dhofar region as the region has historically been a centre for production of this item. Myrrh can also be purchased quite cheaply in Oman.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk024", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Buy", "text": "As one might expect, Oman also sells many perfumes made from a great number of traditional ingredients. Indeed, the most expensive perfume in the world (Amouage) is made in Oman from frankincense and other ingredients, and costs around 50 rials. You can also find sandalwood myrrh and jasmine perfumes.\n\nOpening hours during the holy month of Ramadan are very restricted. Supermarkets are less strict, but don't rely on being able to buy anything after iftar. At noon, most shops are closed anyway but this is not specific to Ramadan.\n\nUsing credit cards in shops is hit or miss. It is better to get cash at an ATM. Small denomination notes are hard to come by but necessary for bargaining. Unless you are in a supermarket, restaurant or mall bargaining is recommended, and this should be conducted politely.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk025", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Eat", "text": "Omani food tends to be simple but rewarding and filling. Rice is the main staple and so is bread. The national dish is called \" Qabuli\", consisting of; spiced rice, lamb or chicken, split peas and caramelized onions. It can be found in many restaurants across the country. Another popular dish is \"shuwa\" which consists of a whole roasted lamb wrapped around banana or palm leaves and marinated in a plethora of different spices, before being buried underground and cooked for an overnight. Shuwa is often served with plain rice but in some upscale restaurants it can be served as a sandwich with fries and ketchup. You have to try harees whenever possible, which is a porridge-like dish of cracked wheat, ghee, chicken or beef and some spices. With a long coastline, Oman has a rich seafood culture and freshly caught fish served with a salad and rice is not unheard of for lunch.\n\nStreet food is now becoming a trend. Make sure to try shawarma- strips of chicken or lamb grilled on a rotating spit, shaved and served in a wrap with an abundance of pickles, vegetables, tahini sauce (if lamb) or garlic sauce (if chicken) and French fries or deep fried chickpeas and beans balls called \"falafel\". They can be found in many street corner cafeterias for a very cheap price. For an authentic delicacy try barbecued meat marinated in tamarind and chili called \"mishakeek\". It can be bought from the stalls along just about any beach in Oman.\n\nOmani sweets are well known throughout the region, with the most popular being \"halwa\". This is a hot, semi-solid substance which behaves a little like honey and is eaten with a spoon. The taste is similar to Turkish Delight. Omani dates are among the best in the world and can be found at every social place and at offices.\n\nLuckily, you can find just about any cuisine in Oman. Be it Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Lebanese, Persian, Turkish, Tex-Mex or Indian; it's all there! American franchises like McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut and Papa John's are extremely popular, especially among the younger generations", "word_count": 354}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk026", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Drink", "text": "Alcohol is available only in some restaurants and large hotels and is usually very expensive (ranging from 1.5 rials for a 500 ml Carlsberg to 4 rials). Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited, but you can get your own drinks and enjoy at public areas but in privacy such as camping by beaches, sands, mountains, or actually in any remote areas. Only foreign residents can buy alcohol from alcohol shops and with certain limits. But an alcohol black market is widely spread around the cities and alcohol can be found easily.\n\nForeigner travellers are allowed 2 litres of spirits as duty free baggage allowance. Visitors can buy spirits at the duty-free shop in the arrival lounge.\n\nDuring Ramadan, drinking anything in public is prohibited, even for foreigners. Take care to drink in the privacy of your room.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk027", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Oman has the full spectrum of accommodation - from ultra-luxurious hotels to extremely rustic huts in the desert constructed from date palm leaves.\n\nOman has been attempting to turn itself into something of a five-star destination for the well-heeled traveller, there are five five-star hotels in the capital. This does not pose a problem to the budget-minded in Muscat, and even outside of the capital there is still a range of budget options. In some parts of the country, however, accommodation may be limited to higher-end hotels and resorts.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk028", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Work", "text": "Working in Oman requires that you hold a residence permit. In common with other Gulf countries, you must be sponsored by an employer to obtain a residence permit. It's not uncommon for people to enter on a tourist visa then look for a job - this is fine. Penalties for the employer are substantial if they are caught employing illegals, although this naturally varies depending on how good their connections are.\n\nThe majority of positions are filled by expats from the sub-continent. Positions for Europeans tend to be restricted to upper management levels or specialised occupations, so don't expect to pick up a position as you pass through unless you are prepared to work for very little!", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk029", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Homosexuality is illegal in Oman. LGBT tourists should be self-aware.\n\nDriving in Muscat can sometimes be a problem, although this is due more to congestion than bad driving on the part of the locals. Outside of the major cities, a common driving risk is falling asleep at the wheel due to the long stretches of featureless desert. Driving in Oman calls for attention to the unexpected. It has 85.3 road fatalities per 100,000 motor vehicles, which is more than double the UAE and much higher than most European countries.\n\nOmani drivers outside of the cities tend to drive very fast and pass with impunity. Driving at night is especially hazardous as many drivers fail to turn their headlights on, or are unaware of people crossing the road on foot for example on the road from Sohar to Muscat. Camels will walk into the road even if they see cars approaching, and collisions are often fatal for both camel and driver.\n\nSee the above section on driving in wadis for off-road safety.\n\nFemale travellers should be careful to dress modestly, as not to offend local customs.\n\nVisiting gambling and adult sites is also a crime in Oman. Internet censorship in Oman is very serious, so you need to be careful to stay safe online.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk030", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|In the hot climate, drinking enough water is essential\nBottled drinking (mineral) water is easily available at most stores. **Tap water** is generally safe; however, most Omanis drink bottled water and to be safe, you should too. 500ml bottles of water will generally cost 100bz in the majority of shops with a 1.5l bottle costing only 200bz.\n\nthumb|right|300px|Wahiba Sands\nOman is warm year-round and summers can be extremely hot. Always carry drinking water with you and be wary of de-hydration in high temperatures. If you're not used to the heat it can sneak up on you and cause serious health problems.\n\nSeveral people have tried to cross stretches of the Omani desert on their own in a rented 4WD. Some of these people have died or got rescued just in time.\n\nTravelling through a desert requires proper preparation. It looks easy from a modern air-conditioned 4WD, but if that fails you are suddenly back to basics.\n\nNever go off-road alone. A minimum of two to three cars (of the same make) is the rule. Leave your itinerary with a friend with clear instructions if you do not return in time.\nTake at least:\n recovery tools: spades, rope (and attachments), sand mats or ladders\n two spare tires and all required equipment\n a good air pump (high capacity)\n sufficient water (at least 25 litres more than you think you will need for drinking)\n sufficient petrol: there are no petrol stations in the middle of nowhere.\n\nIf you have – or can get – a satellite phone, take it. (Mobile phones work only in limited areas.)\nCheck your car before embarking on such a trip.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk031", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Respect", "text": "Before he died in 2020, Sultan Qaboos did more to develop the nation than any Arab leader, or most world leaders in recent history for that matter. Qaboos is held in the highest regard — even revered — by the vast majority of Omanis. Visitors should refrain from making any comments or statements that could be construed as disrespectful.\n\nThe Omanis are generally humble and down-to-earth people. The usual rules of respect when travelling in a Muslim country should be followed in Oman, even when locals appear to be a little less \"uptight\" than their neighbours. Homosexuality is illegal due to Islamic law but is practised with discretion; however, as elsewhere in the Gulf, it is taboo to discuss such topics.\n\nWhile Omanis may not say anything to foreigners who dress in tight or revealing clothing, it is considered to be very disrespectful. Yes, some visitors push the goodwill of the Omanis in choosing their attire, but a little sensitivity goes a long way. A rule of thumb is that women should always keep shoulders, knees, and midriff covered, and avoid tight or revealing clothing. For men, shorts should be worn only for outdoor activities; longer shorts (i.e. at or below the knee) are fine in the city.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk032", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Respect", "text": "Staring is quite common in Oman; children, men and women are likely to stare at you simply for being a foreigner, especially if you travel off-season and in out-of-the-way places. This is not meant as an insult; it rather shows an interest, and a friendly smile will leave children giggling and showing off, and the adults happily trying out their few English phrases. Depending on which area of Oman you are in, smiling, though, may not be a good idea. In larger areas in which the locals have had excessive amounts of one-on-one experience with foreigners, smile away. Outside of Muscat and Salalah, it's not advised to smile at anyone of the opposite sex regardless of how friendly they are (save for tour guides) as nearly any interaction with the opposite gender (even holding doors open, picking up something that has fallen and handing it to the owner, eye contact, etc.) is viewed as flirtatious. It is especially important for Western women to take into account that an innocent smile saying, \"I see you seeing me, do you need something\" means \"I'm interested, come closer\" to most Omani men. They live in a heavily gender-segregated society, and so any chance they have to speak to the opposite gender is usually viewed as having at least semi-sexual overtones.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk033", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Respect", "text": "Under Omani law, an Omani can be taken to court for insulting another person, whether it is calling them an insulting name (one of the more common Arabic insults of \"donkey,\" \"dog,\" \"pig,\" \"sheep,\" etc.) or worse. Omanis, although \"humble,\" are extremely sensitive to anything they perceive as criticism, whether personal, national, or anything they perceive as being directed at the Gulf. Although Saudi Arabia is usually a fair target for jokes in the Arab world (especially in the Levant), Omanis don't take well to it. What Westerners would usually consider hypersensitive is fairly normal in Oman and due largely to the fact that Omanis have grown up in an environment in which criticism and name-calling is more or less outlawed. This is especially important to know for those who come to teach Omanis, since unlike those from the Levant and parts of north Africa where teasing and intellectual \"jousting\" can be used as a form of building relationships or a sign of friendship, it doesn't work here and Omanis do not interpret it positively, save for those who have lived in the West or have worked with Westerners for extended periods of time.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk034", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Respect", "text": "As Oman is a member of the Arab League, its stance on Israel is one much like the other members, including the boycott. However, the Omani government was one of the first to recognize the existence of Israel, and has essentially been a liaison between the Arab League and Israel on multiple occasions, including setting up a meeting between the Israeli government and PLO leaders in the mid-2000s. Oman allows foreigners who travel to Israel to enter it for similar reasons, but it still participates in the boycott and holders of Israeli passports (citizens of Israel and dual-citizens of Israel and another country) aren't allowed entry. Due to this, the topic of Israel is best left undiscussed.\n\nWhile Oman is very socially and politically liberal compared to its neighbors in the region, it remains an absolute monarchy where criticism of the Sultan is rare and the citizens can't elect direct leaders (they can elect representatives for certain positions, but the true power remains with the Sultan). On the flipside, most Omanis loved and/or respected Sultan Qaboos, so very few Omanis ever lodge any complaints. It is best for the traveller to avoid talking about the Sultan in a negative manner, and with Omani politics in general.\n\nThe \"official\" state religion, the Ibadi branch of Islam, is one of the most tolerant branches of Islam, in stark comparison to the Wahhabist Saudi Arabia. Ergo most Omanis will be open and accepting with travellers of other religions and creeds. However, Islam is still taken very seriously in Oman (not as much as in other states, though), so the traveller should refrain from making anti-Islamic comments or degrading Islam.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "oman::chunk035", "doc_id": "oman", "section": "Connect", "text": "The country code for Oman is **968**.\n\nDialling out from Oman you will need to dial 00 + International Code + Number. Dialling into Oman callers use +968 followed by an 8 digit number. These 8-digit numbers generally start with a *9* if it is mobile number, and with *2* for land lines, though other numbers will eventually start to get used.\n\nThere are three providers who have their own cellular network: Omantel, Ooredoo and Vodafone. The provider Friendi uses the cellular network of Vodafone. Omantel and Ooredoo have the best coverage throughout the country. If you only need coverage in towns and along main roads, Friendi offers 1 GB for one week for 1 rial (Jan 2026) with the sim card for free.\n\nPre-paid mobile SIMs are available from several counters at the airport arrivals area. Your passport details are required to register the SIM. Often the staff will be helpful in activating the SIM for use when you buy.\n\nAs of 2025, Zoom and Google Meet work fine, as does messaging through What'sApp, but video calling in What'sApp and FaceTime are both blocked. Signal is, however, blocked and requires circumvention tools to access.", "word_count": 195}
diff --git a/corpus/oman/metadata.json b/corpus/oman/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..89a54f2d41786f46c84d7d573f22db40e13f59c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/oman/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "oman",
+ "title": "Oman",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Oman",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "diving",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Middle_East"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 7020,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 36,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/osaka/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/osaka/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..68680afe165d496fa875ca4678d3b18acb2f9025
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/osaka/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk000", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Ōsaka** (大阪) is the beating heart of Japan's Kansai region and the largest of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trio of cities, with a population of over 17 million people in the greater metropolitan area. With fantastic food and nightlife, great connectivity and accommodation options in every price bracket, it makes a great base for exploring the entire region.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk001", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Districts", "text": "\"Osaka\" can mean either the larger Osaka prefecture (大阪府 *Ōsaka-fu*), covered in a separate guide, or central Osaka city (大阪市 *Ōsaka-shi*), the topic of this article. The city is administratively divided into 24 wards (区 *ku*), but in common usage the following divisions are more useful.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk002", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Understand", "text": "If Tokyo is Japan's capital, one might call Osaka its anti-capital. Ask a local, and they'll proudly tell you that while Tokyoites are reserved, polite and boring, Osakans are warm, friendly and colorful, in speech, clothing and spirit. The Osakan rallying cry is *kuidaore* (食い倒れ), bringing yourself to ruin through extravagance in food, drink and more – a far cry from the austere Zen discipline often associated with Japan. \n\nOsaka dates back to the Asuka and Nara period. Under the name **Naniwa** (難波), it was the capital of Japan from 683 to 745, long before the upstarts at Kyoto took over. Even after the capital was moved elsewhere, Osaka continued to play an important role as a hub for land, sea and river-canal transportation. (See \"808 Bridges\" infobox.) During the Tokugawa era, while Edo (now Tokyo) served as the austere seat of military power and Kyoto was the home of the Imperial court and its effete courtiers, Osaka served as \"the Nation's Kitchen\" (天下の台所 *tenka-no-daidokoro*), the collection and distribution point for rice, the most important measure of wealth. Hence it was also the city where merchants made and lost fortunes and cheerfully ignored repeated warnings from the shogunate to reduce their conspicuous consumption.\n\nDuring Meiji era, Osaka's fearless entrepreneurs took the lead in industrial development, making it the equivalent of Manchester in the U.K. A thorough drubbing in World War II left little evidence of this glorious past – even the castle is a ferroconcrete reconstruction – but to this day, while unappealing and gruff on the surface, Osaka remains **Japan's best place to eat, drink and party**, and in legend (if not in practice) Osakans still greet each other with *mōkarimakka?*, \"are you making money?\"\n\n### Orientation\n\nThink of Osaka as a magnet, with businessy, posh, uptown **Umeda** (梅田) as the north pole (Kita) and the proletarian shop-eat-drink downtown of **Namba** (なんば) at the south end (Minami). The tree-lined **Midōsuji** (御堂筋) boulevard, fancifully called Osaka's Champs-Elysees, connects the two and so does the subway line of the same name. Draw a circle around the two—the JR Osaka Loop Line—and that's Osaka in a nutshell.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nOsaka Info is the official multilingual guide site, jointly run by the city and the prefecture.", "word_count": 374}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk003", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|Osaka Castle\n\n### By plane\n\n**Kansai International Airport** () is the main international gateway to Osaka (Metropolitan area airport codes: ).\n\nAlso, **Kobe Airport** () is nearby and easily reachable by boat from Kansai Airport.\n\n#### Itami Airport\n\nGetting there and away:\n By monorail – The Osaka Monorail serves the airport, but it doesn't connect to the city center at all, instead tracing an arc around the northern suburbs. To get to Umeda, the fastest option is to take the monorail a single stop to Hotarugaike, then transfer to the Hankyu Takarazuka Line (¥420 total). For destinations on the Midosuji subway line, including Shin-Osaka for Shinkansen services, transfer at Senri-Chuo.\n By bus – A more convenient option for most are the Airport Limousine Buses, which run frequently from Itami to various locations within Osaka and elsewhere in the region (including Kansai Airport), with fares starting around ¥500-600.\n By taxi – A taxi from Itami airport to Osaka castle area costs ¥4,000 plus ¥700 for toll road.\n\n### By train\n\nTokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (新幹線) trains arrive at **Shin-Osaka** station, to the north of the city center. From Shin-Osaka, you can connect to the city center by using the Midosuji subway line, or connect to the local JR network for other destinations. If you are on a JR Pass, Osaka Station in the city centre is connected to Shin-Osaka via the JR Kyoto Line.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk004", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Tokyo, *Nozomi* (のぞみ) trains cover the one way ride in about 2 hr 15 min (¥14,720); *Hikari* (ひかり) trains take 3 hours and all-stopping *Kodama* (こだま) trains take 4 hours (both ¥14,400). With the Japan Rail Pass, *Hikari* or *Kodama* services can be used without any extra charge, while *Nozomi* services require a supplement.\nFrom points west of Osaka, *Nozomi* trains run from Okayama (¥6,660, 45 min), Hiroshima (¥11,150, 80 min) and Hakata station in Fukuoka (¥16,220, 2 2 hr 15 min). Japan Rail Pass holders can use the *Sakura* (さくら) or *Hikari* service, which runs at a comparable speed to the *Nozomi* and makes a few more stops, or pay a supplement for the *Mizuho* (みずほ) . Slower *Kodama* trains connect the rest of the stations on the route.\n*Sakura* trains start in Kyushu, with service to Osaka available from Kumamoto (¥19,080, 3 hr 15 min) and Kagoshima (¥22,510, 4 hours). *Mizuho* trains are slightly faster and slightly more expensive.\n\nTickets can be purchased in advance through Japan Railways' official **SmartEX App**, available in English and other languages, with a ¥200 discount. Look for ***hayatoku*** fares, which can offer big savings on trips purchased at least three days in advance. For example, two passengers from Tokyo could travel for ¥12570 each in ordinary class on the *Nozomi* or for ¥11410 each in the Green Car (first class) if willing to take the all-stations *Kodama* service.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk005", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "If travelling from the east without a rail pass, you can take advantage of the **Puratto (Platt) Kodama Ticket (now in Japanese only)**, which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a coupon for a free drink (including beer) which can be redeemed at a \"Kiosk\" convenience counter inside the station. With this ticket a trip from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka costs ¥11,100. There is only one Kodama service per hour from Tokyo, and a few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket. Travel from Nagoya with this ticket costs ¥4300.\n\nDuring travel periods when the Seishun 18 Ticket is valid, you can go from Tokyo to Osaka during the day in about nine hours using all-local trains.\n\nThose travelling from the Hokuriku region can use *Thunderbird* (サンダーバード) limited express trains from Tsuruga, the present terminal of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. If you are coming from Kanazawa, you will need to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga and transfer to the Thunderbird.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk006", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are many regional railway lines connecting Osaka to nearby cities:\nthumb|A Hankyu Railways train set at Hankyu Umeda station\nFrom Kyoto, JR offers fast, but slightly more expensive, *shin-kaisoku* (special rapid) trains to Osaka Station. The cheaper but slower alternative is the Hankyu Railway's limited express service. Both lines terminate in the Umeda area of Osaka. Keihan Railway offers Kyoto-Osaka trains. The Yodoyabashi terminal in Osaka does not connect directly with JR, but it is possible to transfer to the JR Osaka Loop Line at Kyobashi. In Kyoto, Keihan and Hankyu trains do not connect with JR Kyoto Station but both travel to stations which are more convenient for reaching the centre of the city. 30–45 minutes.\n From Kobe, JR again offers slightly faster and slightly more expensive service than Hankyu. The third choice is Hanshin Railway, which is identical to Hankyu in terms of cost and similar in time, useful for getting to Koshien Stadium to see Hanshin Tigers games. All three lines go to Osaka/Umeda. about 20 minutes.\n From Nara, JR offers trains to Tennōji and Osaka Stations, and Kintetsu offers trains to Namba. Kintetsu station in Nara is closer to Tōdaiji and Nara Park. 35–50 minutes for ¥580 to ¥820.\n From Nagoya, an alternative to the Shinkansen is Kintetsu's premium limited express service, the *Urban Liner* (アーバンライナー) which goes directly to Namba. Trip times are as little as two hours each way, with departures at 0 and 30 minutes past the hour at a cost of ¥4150. In comparison, the shinkansen takes just under an hour for ¥5670.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk007", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "Stations with the same name but belonging to different railway companies are sometimes in different locations. For example, the *Nakatsu* stations on the Hankyu and subway networks are about a 10-minute walk from each other. Allow up to half an hour for walking between the various *Umeda* stations and about the same for the various *Namba* stations, especially if you are a first time visitor.\n\nIn Kobe the *Sannomiya* stations belonging to JR and Hankyu are connected but Hanshin Sannomiya is across a street.\n\n#### Hokuriku Arch Pass\n\nThe '''Hokuriku Arch Pass''' allows unlimited travel between Tokyo and the Kansai area via the Hokuriku region, using the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa and the *Thunderbird* from Kanazawa to Kyoto and Osaka. At a cost of ¥30,000 for seven consecutive days of travel (¥35,000 starting on March 14, 2026), the Arch Pass is a little more than half the cost of the national Japan Rail Pass. On the other hand, a trip from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka is over twice as long via Kanazawa (5 hr 15 min) compared to the more popular Tokaido Shinkansen (2 hr 30 min).\n\n#### Overnight travel\n\nOvernight trains used to be one of the prides of the national railway network, but aging rail equipment combined with competition between buses and the shinkansen has resulted in the elimination of almost all services to/from Osaka.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk008", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "Only one daily train remains: The *Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto*, which passes through Osaka en route to the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. Unfortunately, it may only be useful as a means to travel to and from Tokyo. The daily eastbound service picks up passengers in Osaka at 00:34, arriving in Yokohama at 06:44 and Tokyo at 07:08. The daily westbound service from Tokyo (22:00) and Yokohama (22:23), on the other hand, don't stop in Osaka at all - the first morning stop is in Himeji at 05:25. From Himeji, you will have to backtrack to Osaka on a commuter service or the shinkansen on a separate ticket.\n\nIf you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can book a carpeted floor space on the above service at no charge. Otherwise you can travel in a compartment or room by paying the applicable room fee and surcharges. From Himeji you'll be able to backtrack to Osaka in a commuter train, or in a non-reserved seat on the first *Kodama* shinkansen service of the day, simply by showing your pass.\n\nFailing this, overnight travel can be done with a stopover in another city along the way, which is easy to do with a Japan Rail Pass or a basic long-distance ticket that is valid over a period of several days.\n\n### By bus\n\n250px|thumb|JR Highway Buses are among many companies that make daily bus runs between Tokyo and Osaka.\nAs Osaka is a major city, there are many day and overnight buses which run between Osaka and other locations throughout Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative than shinkansen fares.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk009", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses in Osaka drop off and pick up at one or more different locations spread throughout the city, so be sure to check the details before booking a trip. Some of the main stops where buses congregate include the **JR Highway Bus Terminal** in Osaka Station for JR buses, the **Willer Bus Terminal** at the Umeda Sky Building, and the **Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT)** at Namba Station. Some also serve **Shin-Osaka Station** for the bullet trains, and Universal Studios Japan.\n\n#### From Tokyo\n\nThe run between Tokyo and the Kansai region is the busiest in Japan. Buses use the Tomei or Chuo Expressway from Tokyo to Nagoya, then the Meishin Expressway to Osaka. Trips take between 8 and 9 hours depending on the route and stops.\n\nFierce competition between operators has led to buses offering better amenities and lower prices. Part of this strategy is the adoption of dynamic pricing on many bus routes. This generally means that daytime trips, weekday trips, tickets bought in advance and buses carrying more passengers are cheaper, while night trips, weekend/holiday trips, walk-up fares and buses with fewer (and more comfortable) seats will be more expensive.\n\nAs a rule of thumb, fares for a weekday trip between Tokyo and Osaka go for around ¥4000-6000 per person during the daytime, and around ¥5000-8000 per person for overnight trips. Children usually pay half the adult fare.\n\nTwo of the major bus operators between Tokyo and Osaka are **Willer Express** and **JR Bus**. Tickets for all carriers can generally be purchased at major departure points, and can also be purchased (with some Japanese language help) at kiosks inside convenience stores.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk010", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Willer Express** runs daytime and overnight trips with a variety of seating options ranging from standard seats to luxurious shell seats. Bus journeys can be booked online in English, and Willer's **Japan Bus Pass** is valid on all of their routes with some exceptions. Willer's buses in Tokyo leave from the **Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal** (*Busta Shinjuku*), above the JR tracks at Shinjuku Station, which is served by many of Japan's highway bus operators. Willer also sells tickets for other bus operators on their website, but these trips are not valid with Willer's Japan Bus Pass.\n\n**JR Bus** reservations can be made in English through their **Kousoku Bus Net** web site. You can also make reservations in train stations at the same \"Midori-no-Madoguchi\" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. Buses depart from **Tokyo Station** - Yaesu Exit (八重洲口) and from *Busta Shinjuku*.\n\nAt a much higher price point, Kanto Bus and Ryobi Bus operate the *Dream Sleeper*. The bus carries only 11 passengers, each assigned to a reclining seat in individual cabins with sliding privacy doors. Fares start at ¥18000 each way and tickets can be booked online in English. Advance purchase fares of ¥15000 are offered, but those can only be purchased online in Japanese. In Osaka, the bus stops at both OCAT in Namba and Osaka Station (in front of ALBi Osaka). In Tokyo, it stops at Ikebukuro Station West Exit and Shinjuku Station West Exit (not at *Busta Shinjuku*).\n\n#### From Yamaguchi Prefecture", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk011", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "Bocho bus offers a nighttime bus from the cities of Hagi, Yamaguchi, Hofu, Tokuyama, and Iwakuni to Kobe and Osaka.\nIt costs between ¥6300 and ¥9480 for a one-way ticket, depending on where you get on and where you get off. The bus departs Hagi Bus Center at 19:55 nightly, and arrives at Osaka station at 07:15 daily. The bus makes a return trip from Osaka station at 22:05 nightly, and arrives at Hagi bus center at 09:25 daily. Full details including round trip fares are on their website. It is a good deal if you have time to spare.\n\n#### From elsewhere\n\nThere are a variety of nightbus options from Yamagata, Sendai, Koriyama, Fukushima, Maebashi, Mito, Iwaki, Ashikaga, Saitama (Omiya), Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Kofu, Karuizawa, Yamanouchi (Yamanaka), Niigata, Shizuoka, Mishima, Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Kurayoshi, Yonago, Izumo, Tsuwano, Imabari, Matsuyama, Kochi, Sukumo, Susaki, Fukuoka, Kurume, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki (Miyako City), and Kagoshima.\n\nSame-day arrivals depart from Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kofu, Nagano, Matsumoto, Minowa, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Obama, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Takayama, Yokkaichi, Maizuru, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Shirahama (Adventure World), Shinonsen, Kinosaki Onsen, Arima Onsen, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama, Maniwa, Niimi, Shobara, Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago, Izumo, Tokushima, Naruto, Takamatsu, Marugame, Imabari, Matsuyama, Kochi, Muroto, and Susaki.\n\n### By boat\n\n**Osaka International Ferry Terminal** is in *Nankō* (南港) in the Osaka Bay Area. There are no banks, post office, shops, or restaurants in the terminal. The nearest subway station is Cosmosquare Station (C11), which is about a 15-minute walk from the terminal. A free shuttle bus is available at the station. Taxis are also available at the station.\n\n#### Getting to the Ferry Terminal\n\n- From Suminoe-koen Station\n\n- From JR Shin-Osaka Station (Shinkansen Line)\n\n- From Namba\n\n- From Tennoji\n\n- By taxi\n\n- By car\n\n#### Osaka-Busan", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk012", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get in", "text": "The PanStar Line operates a ferry between Osaka and Busan. The ferry leaves Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, at 15:10 from both Osaka and Busan and arrives the following day at 10:00. In Busan, the luggage check-in time is prior to the passenger check-in time: for the Busan-Osaka run, luggage check in is 12:40-14:00 and the passenger check in time is 14:15–14:45; for the Osaka-Busan run, luggage check in is 13:00-14:00 and the passenger check in time is 13:00-14:30.\n\nMany different room options are available, including family rooms. Fares start at ¥17,000 and range through seven different room/suite classes culminating in a Presidential Suite, which is ¥250,000 per night. Tickets can be purchased online, but much of the website content is only available in Japanese and Korean, and may be difficult to navigate for English speakers. Tickets are easily obtainable through agents specializing in Korean or Japanese travel. The ferry holds live musical performances, magic shows, and other entertainment on the run. Schedule varies.\n\nYou can take your car on the ferry, but there are documentation requirements. The cost for a single basic room and a car is ₩690,000. Room upgrades are available. Temporary insurance must be purchased at the port upon arrival in Osaka.\n\n#### Osaka-Shanghai", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk013", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are planning to travel beyond city limits you might consider using the tickets from '''Surutto Kansai'''. For use in Osaka and other cities in the west of Japan, there are some other useful tickets.\n\n - ICOCA smart card\n\n - Unlimited Kintetsu Rail Pass\n\n - Subway and bus one-day Passes\n\n### By subway\n\nthumb|300px|Osaka Subway Map\n\nThe **Osaka Subway** is Japan's second-most extensive subway network after Tokyo, which makes the underground the natural way to get around. The **Midosuji Line** is Osaka's main artery, linking up the massive train stations and shopping complexes of *Shin-Osaka*, *Umeda*, *Shinsaibashi*, *Namba* and *Tennoji*.\n\nThe signage, ticketing and operation of the Osaka subway is identical to its larger counterpart in Tokyo, and Tokyo's Pasmo/Suica smartcards are accepted as well. You can use the subway with a contactless payment card (credit, debit, prepaid) or a smartphone linked to an eligible card. Fares ¥200-350, depending on distance. Station arrivals are displayed and announced in Japanese and English. Keep your ticket when you enter the train — it is required when you exit.\n\nWhen using escalators, **stand to the right** to allow people in a hurry to pass you on the left.\n\n### By train\n\nTrue to its name, the **JR Osaka Loop Line** (環状線 *Kanjō-sen*) runs in a loop around Osaka. It's not quite as convenient or heavily-used as Tokyo's Yamanote Line, but it stops in Umeda and Tennoji, and by Osaka Castle. Namba and Universal Studios Japan are connected to the Loop Line by short spurs. Fares ¥120-250, depending on distance.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nMany residents get around by bicycle, as the city is mostly flat and easily navigable by bike. Riding on the sidewalks is permitted and some sidewalks even have bike lanes marked. If nothing is marked, try to stay to the left where possible (but often you simply need to find the best path through the pedestrians).\n\nRental bikes are available, but if you are staying longer than a few weeks, purchasing a used bike can be a good deal. Finding a used bike can be a bit tricky, however, particularly if you don't speak Japanese. Craigslist and websites such as Gaijinpot.com have classified listings, and there are a few used bike shops around. Renge, near Osaka Castle, sells a range of used bikes starting at around ¥5500.\n\nYou are required to register your bicycle with the police. Bikes registered under a name other than the rider may be considered stolen, and bicycle theft is not uncommon. Bike shops can help with the simple registration process.\n\n### By car\n\nIt is generally a bad idea to use an automobile to visit Osaka. Many streets do not have names, signs are usually only in Japanese, and parking fees are astronomical. In addition, an international driver's license is required.", "word_count": 466}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk014", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Talk", "text": "Osaka has a distinctive dialect of Japanese, which is favoured by many comedians in Japanese popular culture. The Osaka dialect is traditionally associated with the merchant class and gangsters, and as such is regarded by many Japanese as rather rough-sounding compared to standard Japanese. While generally not a problem for advanced Japanese speakers, it may be difficult to understand if you have just started learning Japanese. All non-elderly locals are able to speak and understand standard Japanese though, so if you don't understand, politely ask them to repeat themselves in standard Japanese (*hyōjungo* 標準語) and they will usually oblige.\n\nAs with most other major Japanese cities, English is spoken in major tourist attractions and large international hotels, but is otherwise not widely spoken.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk015", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|240px|Umeda Sky Building in Shin-Umeda City, Kita.\n\n Osaka's best known sight is the **Osaka Castle**. While it is a reconstruction, it is pretty and has a nice castle park. The reconstruction is basically only skin deep. The interior is a generic late 20th century building, with some display cases containing artifacts related to the original structure. To learn more about the history of Osaka, you can head to the nearby **Osaka Museum of History**.\n **Osaka Science Museum (大阪市立科学館)** on Nakanoshima is an interactive activity center with planetarium and cinema.\n The **Umeda Sky Building** is a weirdly shaped building with an observation deck and an escalator suspended between two buildings mid-air. It is near the Osaka station.\n The **Sumiyoshi Shrine** is south of the city center. It is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines and has a very unusual architecture. It is also famous for a bridge arching over a pond.\n **Japan Mint** is in Osaka and is especially famous for the nearby cherry blossom tunnel road, a prime spot to see the annual cherry blossom.\nthumb|right|Tsūtenkaku\n The **Tsūtenkaku** landmark tower in the Shinsekai area with an observation platform at 91 meters. \n The **Shitennōji temple** is near the Tennōji station. It is regarded as maybe the first Buddhist temple in Japan dating back to the 6th century. The building of today's temple however, are a reconstruction.\n In Ryokuchi Park is the **Open Air Museum of Old Farmhouses**, a collection of Edo period farmhouses. This gives a good insight in the lives of the common people during this period. It is north of the city center.\n The **Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum** in Namba is dedicated to *ukiyoe*, Japanese woodblock prints.\n **Tobita Shinchi** in the South is Japan's largest red-light district that can easily compete with Amsterdam's one. It is well worth a visit, even though not everyone's taste.", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk016", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|400px|Skyline of downtown Umeda, City-Centre Osaka\n **Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan** is one of the world's largest aquariums, with 11,000 tons of water and plenty of sharks (including a whale shark), dolphins, otters, seals, and other sea creatures. Nearby are the **Tenpozan Ferris Wheel**, the **Suntory Museum**, a mall, and the ferry to Universal Studios across the water.\n **Sumo Spring Grand Tournament** of Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling, is usually held mid-March at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. \nthumb|291x291px|Universal Studios Japan\n **Universal Studios Japan** in the Osaka/Bay Area is Japan's second-largest theme park. \n **Spa World** in Tennoji offers gender-separated European and Asian-themed spas and saunas, and a pool for the family with slides and fun. Outdoor *onsen*, bar, gym, massages and body scrubs.\n **National Bunraku Theater**, near the Osaka Castle, is one of the last places in the world where *bunraku*, a form of intricate puppet theater from the Edo period, can be seen live. The large puppets, which require three operators each, are accompanied by traditional music and narration, and act out great Japanese plays of the 1600s and 1700s. \n **Osaka Shiki Musical Theater** in Kita, is the home of the Shiki Theatre Company, proposing plays and musicals. Kita ward is also the place to head to see jazz at **Billboard Live Osaka** or pop shows at **Zepp Namda**. \n **The festival hall** in Nakanoshima, near Umeda, and **the symphony hall** in Umeda host modern and classical recitals, while **Umeda Koma** in Umeda, and **Shin-Kabukiza** in Uehommachi host *Enka* performances. For more independent or underground music, try **Banana Hall** in Umeda or *Big Cat* in Amerika-mura.\n **ROR Comedy** is an English-language stand-up comedy playhouse in Minami.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk017", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Learn", "text": "Osaka is home to **Osaka University** (大阪大学), also known by the shortened form 阪大 (*Handai*), one of the elite National Seven Universities in Japan.", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk018", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Work", "text": "The occupation of most resident Americans, Europeans and Australians is teaching English (as is the case in most of Japan). There are also many international students and staff at various universities in Osaka. The economy in the Osaka region has been relatively stagnant compared to Tokyo's: although there are jobs in law, finance, accounting, engineering and other professional fields in Osaka, demand for foreign professionals tends to be higher in Tokyo (as is pay). Osaka does have several educational publishers that employ foreign workers, but these jobs require fluent Japanese language ability. Temporary work in a variety of industries is available.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk019", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Buy", "text": "Osaka's most famous shopping district is **Shinsaibashi** (心斎橋), which offers a mix of huge department stores, high-end Western designer stores, and independent boutiques ranging from very cheap to very expensive. Within Shinsaibashi, the **Amerika-mura** (アメリカ村, often shortened to \"Amemura\") or \"American Village\" area is particularly popular among young people, and is often said to be the source of most youth fashion trends in Japan. Just west of Amerika-mura, **Horie** (堀江) is a shopping area with fashionable Japanese boutiques, centered around Tachibana-dori (which is often translated as Orange Street).\n The many shops in Umeda are also popular among trendy locals, particularly in the **Hep Five** and **Hep Navio** buildings adjacent to Hankyu Umeda Station, although these shops tend to be too expensive to captivate most tourists' interest. For example, the “E-ma” buildings next to Hanshin department store, and “Nu-Chayamachi” (Nu 茶屋町) near Hankyu Umeda station.\n For electronics, the **Nipponbashi** (日本橋) area southeast of Namba, and particularly the \"Den-Den Town\" shopping street, was once regarded as the Akihabara of western Japan; nowadays, more people would rather shop at the new, enormous **Yodobashi Camera** (ヨドバシカメラ) in Umeda or **BicCamera** (ビックカメラ) and **LABI1** in Namba, although Nippombashi still offers good deals on many gadgets, PC components and used/new industrial electronics.\n For Japanese and foreign books, try **Kinokuniya** in Hankyu Umeda Station, or **Junkudo** south of Osaka Station.300px|right|Tenjinbashi-suji\n The Official **Hanshin Tigers** (baseball team) Shop is on the 8th floor of Hanshin Department Store at Umeda.\n **Tenjinbashi-suji** Shopping Street (天神橋筋商店街 *Tenjinbashi-suji Shōtengai*) is said to be the longest straight and covered shopping arcade in Japan at approx. 2.6 km length. The arcade is running north–south along Tenjinbashi-suji street, and is accessible from multiple subway and/or JR stations, e.g. Tenma, Minami-Morimachi, and Tenjinbashi-suji 6-chome. Nothing meant for sightseeing, the arcade is a live exhibition of Osaka's daily life, open since Edo period.", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk020", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Eat", "text": "> 京都の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ
You will go bankrupt for buying [[Purchasing a kimono|dresses]] in [[Kyoto]], or eating in Osaka.\n\nThe widest selection of restaurants is in Osaka's main entertainment districts, with the highest concentration of all in the Umeda and Dotombori areas.\n\nEven in a nation of obsessive gourmands Osaka is known as an excellent place to eat, exemplified by the Osakan maxim *kuidaore*, \"eat yourself into ruin\". The best place for trying out *kuidaore* is probably **Dōtonbori** (道頓堀) and neighboring **Hōzenji-yokochō** (法善寺横町) or **Soemon-cho** (宗右衛門町), the whole area containing nearly nothing but one restaurant after another.\n\nSome typically Osakan foods worth trying include:\n\n *Battera* (バッテラ), is a block type sushi, with mackerel put on rice and squeezed very hard in a wooden box, cut into pieces when served. *Battera* sushi is a variant and direct descendant of primitive sushi, this one from Osaka is unique for its squarelike shape. Available not only in sushi restaurants but also as take-away in department stores and train stations.\n *Okonomiyaki* (お好み焼き), fried cabbage cakes that resemble a cross between a pancake, pizza, and omelette.\n *Takoyaki* (たこ焼き), bits of octopus inside fried eggy dumplings. The quintessential Osakan street food snack.\n *Kushikatsu* (串かつ), battered and deep-fried skewers of various sorts of food (meat, vegetables, cheese, etc), dipped in a runny black sauce and washed down with beer. Osaka's working class answer to fancy tempura.\n *Doteyaki* (どて焼き), bits of beef tendon stewed in miso broth until they fall apart. Fatty, gelatinous and a common accompaniment to *kushikatsu*.\n\nFile:Mackerel_sushi_(sabazushi).jpg|''Battera'' sushi\nFile:Takoyaki @ LaFesta 2013.JPG|A serving of ''takoyaki''\nFile:KushikatsuDaruma01.jpg|''Kushikatsu''\nFile:Doteyaki 001.jpg|''Doteyaki''\n\nOkonomiyaki is best eaten in hole-in-the-wall restaurants, while takoyaki is best eaten from street vendors' carts, which can be found all over the major districts around nightfall. The best place to find kushikatsu (串カツ) is in Shinsekai, between Dobutsuen-mae and Ebisucho stations on the Sakaisuji subway line.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk021", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are many nightlife districts in Osaka. Nightlife in Osaka is very popular.\n\n**Kitashinchi** (北新地)\nThis area, south of JR Osaka station, is the most famous nightclub and entertainment district of contemporary Osaka. It's just like Tokyo's Ginza, filled with many hundreds of high-class bars, clubs and small restaurants where Japanese businessmen entertain their clients.\n**Dotonbori** (道頓堀)\nThis area is the centre of nightlife.\n**Hozenji-Yokocho** (法善寺横丁)\n\nUnlike Tokyo's Kabukicho, Osaka's main red-light district Tobita Shinchi does not have much in the way of nightlife if you are looking to keep your pants on.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk022", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Osaka has a vast range of accommodation, including some of the best hotels in the world. Most of the city's moderate and expensive hotels can be found in Umeda, Namba, Shin-Osaka and Kyobashi, though they also have their share of budget options.\n\nBackpackers have begun to use budget hotels around the JR **Shin-Imamiya** (新今宮) and subway Midosuji Line **Dōbutsuen-mae** (動物園前) stations, in Tennoji area. Room quality varies widely and prices vary from ¥800-3000, but there are many options. The area is rather poor and there are many homeless that wander about during the day, but generally they are harmless and safety is not an issue. One benefit of the district being so poor is that prices at the supermarkets and such are generally very low. However, as always use common sense when traveling in unfamiliar areas.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk023", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Opti Café** is a surprisingly cheap internet café in Umeda. ¥100/30min. Yodobashi Camera department store's groundfloor, next to Excelsior Café. You are requested to register for membership but it doesn't cost anything.\n **Y-net Cafe**, Labi 1 Namba GF, Nambanaka 2-11-35, Naniwa-ku. First hour of use is free and no registration needed.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk024", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Cope", "text": "- English-speaking doctor\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Australia\n\n - China\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Republic of Korea\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Russia\n\n - Thailand\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk025", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nOsaka has a reputation among the Japanese for being crime-ridden, but it is still **remarkably safe** compared to any Western city of similar size. However, some areas in the southern suburbs, particularly Shinsekai and Tobita Shinchi, may be a little dodgy at night and the Airin/Kamagasaki area — Japan's largest slum, home to a lot of jobless and/or homeless people — south of Shin-Imamiya is best avoided after dark.\n\nIncidentally, despite the movie stereotype of gangsters speaking in Osakan dialect, the actual base of Japan's biggest *yakuza* families is neighboring Kobe — and the most gang violence occurs in Tokyo. Unless you're dealing drugs or engaging in prostitution, you're unlikely to get involved with the local mafia.\n\n### Bicycles\n\nOsaka is a city where people use bicycles heavily, so much and chaotic that even traffic police regular does \"raids\" along bicycle ways to check whether cyclist adhere to the rules.\n\nAs a pedestrian it can become quite nerve-wrecking to have cyclist speeding on the sidewalk while you are trying to enjoy your travels.\n\nIt's better to pay a little more attention in Osaka when changing route or sidewalks. And always try to walk at one side of the sidewalk and not in the middle, so cyclists don't run you over.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "osaka::chunk026", "doc_id": "osaka", "section": "Go next", "text": "Its location makes Osaka a **perfect base** for doing one-day trips to nearby cities like Kyoto (30 minutes), Kobe (20 minutes), Nara (40 minutes) or Himeji (1 hour). (Typical times shown on JR Trains available without extra express charges starting from Osaka Station.)\n The **Expo Park** in Suita, the huge commemorial park of the Japan World Expo '70, with its interesting Japanese Garden and Museum of National Ethnology. It's a very large park, and a good place for a picnic.\n Hirakata - Home to the child-friendly Hirakata Park and Kansai Gaidai University.\n **Church of Light** (茨木春日丘教会 Ibaraki Kasuga-oka Kyoukai) (Ibaraki), one of the masterpiece architecture by Tadao Ando.\n Minō, a popular maple watching spot in autumn and nature escape all year round. From Hankyu Umeda station take the train to Minō station. It is a pleasant walk to the waterfall (~30 minutes one way) through shady forest, with wild monkeys and deer . Try the local Minoh beer or maple leaves in sweet tempura batter.\n The temples and lush greenery of Mount Koya, 90 minutes away by train, are an entirely different world and the perfect getaway when all the concrete starts to get to you.\n Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest single-span suspension bridge is near Kobe, about 40 minutes away by train.\n **Tokimeki Beach** is a good get away if you want to spend the day at the seaside. Take the Nankai line from Namba station to Tannowa Station. The trip costs around ¥720 and takes about 45 minutes. The bag and shower service closes at 5PM.", "word_count": 259}
diff --git a/corpus/osaka/metadata.json b/corpus/osaka/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e8425bb17e2d2e64a2a8a8040235c8d25209d9cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/osaka/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "osaka",
+ "title": "Osaka",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Osaka",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Osaka (prefecture)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kyoto",
+ "Kobe",
+ "Nara",
+ "Himeji",
+ "Suita",
+ "Hirakata",
+ "Ibaraki (Osaka)",
+ "Minō",
+ "Mount Koya",
+ "Akashi Kaikyo Bridge",
+ "Hiroshima",
+ "Kobe",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "Kyoto",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "Nara",
+ "Kobe",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "Kyoto"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5587,
+ "listing_count": 22,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 27,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/oslo/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/oslo/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..98ea029e6261b54e9fe17c8d859ad72cf38ad608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/oslo/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk000", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Oslo** is Norway's capital and largest city, with 700,000 citizens in the city proper and about 1.5 million inhabitants in greater Oslo. It is in the East of the country in the Oslofjorden fjord, extending over an inlet of the Skagerrak strait. It is spaciously laid out and surrounded by green hills and mountains and includes 40 islands and 343 lakes. Oslo offers ski slopes for alpine skiing and ski trails for cross-country skiing in the winter. In the summer, the temperature in Oslo may make it comfortable to swim. There are several well-visited beach resorts. Oslo is one of the world's northernmost capitals and so gets only 6 hours of sunlight in the winter. In high summer, sunlight hours soar to 18, making its climate markedly different between seasons, with cold yet relatively dry winters.\n\nA relatively compact city squeezed into a thin strip of land along the shoreline, Oslo prides itself as one of the world's most sustainable cities. Central parts of the city are compact, but Oslo as a whole is relatively spacious. While it holds an array of historic monuments, Oslo is perhaps most famous for its modern architecture, including striking and daring projects launched at the turn of the millennium. Oslo's economy is powered by the maritime industry, high-tech and clean energy sectors. In 2010, Oslo was ranked as the world's most expensive city to live in by the Swiss wealth management company UBS AG, but has fallen to 27th place on Mercers ranking in 2022.\n\nOslo is Norway's economic and demographic centre, as well as the hub for most domestic and international transport. Despite Oslo's population density there is never more than 300 meters' walk to a park or green area from any residence in the city.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk001", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|Stortinget, the Norwegian parliament is a monumental building on the main street of Oslo.\nOslo is the demographic, economic and political centre of Norway. As the capital of Norway, Oslo hosts several national institutions within government, education, culture, sports and transport. The city has a good selection of cultural institutions and a good selection of restaurants, some world class but most ordinary, as well as night life in general. While it is an expensive city for some overseas visitors, many of the best things are free of charge, notably Oslo's proximity to wild nature, inner city parks and variety of outdoor activities.\n\nMetropolitan Oslo also includes most of Akershus county and the line between these is so blurred that the two is seen as one city. Local public transport such as the Oslo metro covers Oslo proper and the surrounding districts. Oslo proper has over 700,000 inhabitants while metropolitan Oslo has well over 1 million inhabitants. Oslo's influence is felt well beyond the metropolitan area and the wider \"Oslo region\" includes the densely populated lowlands around the inner Oslo fjord and the flatlands around the airport. This region covers only 5% of Norway's area but has 25 to 30% of the population.\n\n### Name and history\n\nthumb|City tram with compartment for skis (1937)\nthumb|''Kvadraturen'' - the city Christiania laid out in 1624.\nthumb|Well-preserved late 1800 blocks of flats, \"Little Berlin\". The gate were for horses that were kept in stables in the back yard.\nthumb|Vøyen spinning mill and waterfall. The buildings are converted to restaurants, TV studios and offices.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk002", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "The history of the city can be traced back to at around year 1000. Oslo was according to the ancient saga founded by king Harald Hardråde in 1048, and became a diocese in 1070. The city became the capital of Norway around 1300, but lost its privileges during the Danish-Norwegian union from 1348 to 1814. In 1624, a fire devastated old Oslo, and the city was moved some kilometres west to gain protection from the fortress at Akershus. The new city was built in a strict grid plan that still appears modern, this area is now within downtown Oslo (between Akershus fortress and Oslo cathedral) and known as *Kvadraturen*. The expanding city Christiania was built on the land of the Aker estate so the river and the oldest church are \"Aker\" river and church respectively. Christiania developed west of the Aker river, while Old Oslo became a backwater between Alna river and Ekeberg hill.\n\nThe new city was named **Christiania**, after the Danish King Christian IV, a name that remained until it was officially named Oslo on 1 January 1925 to remove the Danish name. Old Oslo, which had retained its name since the middle ages, was then renamed *Gamlebyen* (\"Old town\") to avoid confusion. In Gamlebyen there is a Oslo street, Oslo square and Oslo hospital. The original town Christiania built in 1624 is now called Kvadraturen and is the oldest part of Oslo. Traces have been found close to Ekeberg indicating settlement as far back as 10,000 BC. After the 1624 fire Oslo/Christiania was built exclusively from brick and stone; this gives a city clearly different appearance compared with wooden towns like Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk003", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the devastating 1624 fire, old Oslo (around the mouth of river Aker) was largely abandoned and the ruins converted to farmland. Today, a few church ruins are still visible under the Ekeberg hill (across the water from the new opera house, between road E18 and the railway). Beyond these ruins virtually nothing remains of medieval Oslo. The new city Christiania was established outside the borders of Oslo, and 'Oslo' remained the name of the small, surviving settlement outside the new city borders. During Christiania's rapid expansion in the 19th century, as the capital of a new state, the site of original Oslo (old Oslo, or 'Gamlebyen') was included in the city. Due to the rapid inclusion of surrounding agricultural areas in the 19th century, many remnants of the city's farming history are still clearly visible in place names and farmhouses. The remains of historical pastures can be found at parks such as St. Hanshaugen.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk004", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1814 Christiania became the capital of the new state under the Swedish crown. The city was still a small town with a few thousand inhabitants, notably smaller than Bergen. During the 1800s Oslo expanded rapidly to become a big city. In 1850 there were some 30,000 people living in the city, by 1900 this had grown ten-fold, and by 1950 Oslo had more than 500,000 inhabitants. In the 1800s cities in Norway were largely built from wood. From around 1850 Oslo became Norway's only masonry city. Buildings in expanding city was modeled after major European cities, notably Berlin and other German cities. Oslo was for some time known as Little Berlin because of the similarity in architecture. The city council made masonry mandatory and the city was developed with compact blocks and four to five levels. This was a radical departure from traditional Norwegian style with small wooden buildings. Architects were trained in Germany and Danish and German craftsmen took part in the boom.\n\nThe late 1800 masonry buildings and style are largely retained and much better preserved than in Berlin (largely because of the destruction during World War 2). Some 3000 blocks from that period gives Oslo a unique character. Key areas within central parts Oslo are still dominated by this style. For instance Grünerløkka, Frogner, Majorstua, St. Hanshaugen and around the Royal Palace. During the rapid expansion during the 1800s previous farmland outside the city gates belonging to city dwellers was included in the city. Enclosed farmland or gardens were called *løkke* and neighborhoods in these areas kept these names for instance Rodeløkka (named after Fredrik Rode) and Grünerløkka (named after Friedrich Grüner).", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk005", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "When Oslo became Norway's capital several building and city development projects began to host national institutions. The striking result is the upper part of Karl Johan street where the parliament building and the royal palace sits at either end. The government building complex in Akersgata were added later perpendicular to the Karl Johan axis. The supreme court building is next door. When the railway age came to Norway Oslo got one station in the east (the current central station) and one in the west. Trains now run in a tunnel under the centre and the west station building now hosts the Nobel peace centre at the entrance to Aker Brygge.\n\nThe rapid expansion in the late 1800s was particularly related to the heavy industry around Akerselva (river). The river and waterfalls provided water and power to the factories, ship building along fjord notably what is today Aker brygge was also important. Today most heavy industry has left the city. The characteristic red brick factory buildings are largely preserved for instance along Aker river and are interesting sights for instance in the Sagene (literally *Saw mills*) neighbourhood. Akerselva was in the middle ages called *Frysja* (\"the cascading one\") referring to the many small waterfalls. There are some 20 waterfalls.\n\nModern competitive skiing was developed in Oslo. Ski jumping, cross-country skiing and downhill/slalom races have been held in Oslo since 1866. Downhill/slalom were further developed in the Alp region and then got the name \"alpine skiing\". This strong tradition is visible in the imposing Holmenkollbakken (a ski jumping venue) and a fine network of cross-country tracks throughout the Oslo forest, as well as the skiing museum.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk006", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since 1947, Oslo has given a big Christmas tree to London in gratitude for the help and support to Norway during World War 2. The tree is prominently displayed on Trafalgar Square and decorated in Norwegian style.\n\nWhile Oslo has been a safe city in modern times, the government district was hit by a terrorist bomb blast in 2011, killing eight people. The damaged buildings have not been replaced (as of 2020).\n\n### Geography\n\nthumb|The wide forest/hills, ''Marka'', begins immediately at the built up area. Maridalen lake and ''Marka'' beyond.\nOslo, with its approximately 453 km², is one of the largest capitals in the world by area, but most of it is forest, making Oslo a city in close contact with the nature surrounding it. If major suburbs outside city limits are included, metropolitan Oslo covers an area similar to Greater London but with only one tenth of London's population. The Oslo fjord extends northwards from the Skagerrak sea. Oslo has an impressive archipelago of islands, which in summer becomes the city's favoured playground. The Oslofjord has very little tide, about 50 cm only.\n\nOslo is situated in an amphitheatre-like setting, with the city centre in the bottom close to the Oslo fjord, and residential areas stretching uphill from there in all directions. Central Oslo is relatively even and stretches from sea level to about 100 meters above sea level, but the settlement stretches to almost 500 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded by forested hills known as *Marka* (Nordmarka, Østmarka, Lillomarka), with flora and fauna that is quite extraordinary for a city of this size. Moose are commonplace (easily spotted in winter), and the whole of the capital is part of Norway's wolf reserve (even if they rarely come here).", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk007", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city centre is bounded by Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) to the east, the Royal Palace (Slottet) to the west and the seafront (from Akershus fortress to Aker brygge) to the south. It's fairly compact and easily walkable. Karl Johans gate, the mostly pedestrian main street connecting Oslo S and the Palace, is the main artery of downtown Oslo. However, several of the neighbourhoods close to the centre hold interesting sights and entertainment offerings, so to explore these you should make use of the city's comprehensive public transport system.\n\n### European Green Capital 2019\n\nThe city of Oslo has been recognized as the European Green Capital for 2019. This means that the city is in a process of achieving the global goals for a better climate and to minimize the air pollution and the water pollution within the city. There is also a strong focus on reuse to reduce litter. Maximum environmental friendly transport is also one of the ambitions. Read more about the environmental initiative here.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk008", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although well into the northern latitudes, Oslo's climate is fairly temperate thanks to warm air being wafted across the Atlantic from the Gulf Stream. Summer weather in Oslo is mild and pleasant, with average highs around and lows of . The summer months do see frequent hot spells with daily highs around or above with warmer nights around . There are plenty of long sunny days — at midsummer the sun rises at 04:00 and sets at 23:00. There is almost two hours twilight in summer so nights are hardly dark. There is moderate precipitation (about 800 mm), December to June is the driest period. December to February temperatures are on average just below freezing, while in November and March temperatures hover just above or below freezing. Temperatures are rarely below -10°C downtown and can occasionally drop to -20 °C. Snow is most often plentiful in the forested areas and also often in the city in winter, making it a great winter sports venue. Rainfall is spread across the year, the rainiest month being August.\n\n### People", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk009", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Oslo proper has a population of 647,000 people, or close to 1 million when including its extra-municipal suburbs (such as Bærum and Lørenskog). The Oslo metropolitan area has a population of around 1.4 million. The diverse population includes some of Norway's wealthiest celebrities and socialites, as well as more than 150,000 immigrants. This has made Oslo a highly ethnically and culturally diverse city, with 28% of the city's population having an immigrant background. Accompanied by a large influx of people from all around Norway, Oslo is thus often referred to as the \"melting pot\" of Norway. Cultural differences have affected Oslo's society and cityscape in matters of for instance dining and shopping, which have all blended in to the everyday life of Oslo's population. Some areas of Oslo, especially around Grønland and Tøyen, and many suburbs east of the city centre, have majority-immigrant or majority non-ethnic Norwegian populations. Depending on the area, the most notable immigrant communities are Pakistani, Swedish, Polish, Somali, Sri Lankan, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Iranian, ex-Yugoslavian, Moroccan, Turkish, Albanian, Filipino, Thai and Danish. Pakistani immigrants and their descendants form the largest minority group in Oslo.\n\n### Economy", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk010", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Oslo region is the country's premier business centre and has a diverse and dynamic economy with one of the highest regional GDPs in Europe. Figures published by the regional development agency for Oslo show that GDP per capita in the region was €44,190 (excluding oil and gas) in 2000, compared to an EU average of approximately €20,000. According to a report produced by the city's Chief Commissioner's Department and the Department of Finances and Development, the service sector dominates employment in Oslo. In 2001, Public and Business services accounted for more than 59 percent of jobs. Other major employment areas within the service sector include trade, hotels and catering, banking and insurance.\n\nthumb|Oslo's massive city hall is among the most recognizable landmarks\n\n### Orientation\n\nFollowing the latest reform of January 1, 2004, the city is divided into 15 boroughs (bydeler). Most tourist attractions are concentrated in the city centre (**Sentrum**). Some other districts of note are **Frogner**, a hilly residential district with the namesake park famous for the Vigeland sculptures in the West, and **Grünerløkka** in the Inner East, hub for nightlife and the creative scene.\n\nTraditionally, Oslo has been divided into the eastern and western parts, with the West being the more affluent, with elegant buildings and a posh character, and the East consisting of working-class neighbourhoods, growing into a home for both the artistic bohemian and poor immigrant communities.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk011", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Understand", "text": "For the short-term visitor, navigation is typically related to key buildings and streets in the centre. *Karl Johans gate* (known merely as *Karl Johan*) is Oslo's main street and runs from the railway station passed and towards the Royal Palace. Key buildings are concentrated around this street, notably the University, the Nationaltheateret, the Cathedral and Stortinget (Parliament). In the adjacent streets the City Hall, Nobel peace centre (previous West station), Ministries (government buildings), the Supreme court, and major museums. The nightlife district at Aker brygge is a short stroll from Karl Johan. The new Opera house is next door to the railway station. In addition to the Central railway station, next door to the Nationaltheateret and Palace there is the second main station underground served by airport trains, local trains and all metro lines.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Oslo Visitor Centre", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk012", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nOslo is served by two airports: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Sandefjord Airport Torp. Oslo Airport is the largest of the two and is the main international gateway to Norway.\n\nMost internet flight booking sites will show flights to both airports when searching for Oslo Airport. Make sure to check the actual airport from the search results before booking. Sandefjord Torp is located far from the city centre, and ground transportation to Oslo takes more than one hour. You should be able to tell based on the IATA code: **OSL** for Gardermoen and **TRF** for Sandefjord.\n\nthumbnail|right|Gardermoen is a thoroughly modern airport, with an interior to behold due to its extensive use of woodwork\n\n#### Oslo Airport, Gardermoen\n\n**Oslo Airport, Gardermoen** () is Norway's largest airport, in Gardermoen, 37 km north-northeast of Oslo. Direct flights are available to 107 airports, including 24 airports in Norway. The largest airlines in Norway, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Norwegian Air Shuttle, operate direct flights to many foreign destinations from Oslo Airport, and have large domestic networks. Flights by about 30 other airlines make this airport easy to reach from most of the world.\n\nthumb|Flytoget (airport express) at Oslo Central Station. Flytoget takes 20 minutes to get from Gardermoen to Oslo central, slightly quicker than local trains, and much faster and cheaper than taxis.\nTo travel between the city and the airport:", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk013", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Flytoget** (Airport Express Train), operates high speed express trains, generally taking 19-22 minutes to reach Oslo Central Station (Oslo S). Trains to Oslo Central Station depart every 10 minutes on weekdays from 07.00 to 23.10, Sundays from 11.30 to 23.10, and every 20 minutes at other times (04.40-06.50 and 23.10-00.50 everyday, 07.20-11.20 Sundays, and all-day during Saturdays and bank holidays). Every 20 minutes from 05.30 to 00.50, the train also calls at Lillestrøm and continues past Oslo S to Drammen, stopping at Nationaltheatret station, which is more convenient for destinations in the western end of the city center. The fare is 230 kr for most adults, 115 kr senior citizens, unaccompanied kids and students younger than 31 with a student ID, and free for under-16s accompanied by an adult. The fare can be paid for by (a) swiping one's debit/credit card on the card reader on the fare gate and selecting the destination on the touch screen, (b) buying a traditional paper ticket from the vending machine and scanning its barcode on the fare gate's reader, or (c) buying an e-ticket on Flytoget's website or mobile phone app and scanning the barcode on the fare gate's reader. To use option (a) as a discounted passenger or get a receipt, one will need to create an account on Flytoget's website, register the payment card one intends to use and enter other pertinent information (e.g. date of birth). Passengers who are travelling back *to* *the airport* from the city centre and want to use option (a) will need to swipe/tap their card on the designated card reader at Oslo S before boarding the train and swipe their card again at the fare gate's card reader upon arrival at the airport.\n**Vy** operates trains via Oslo to Drammen, then on to Kongsberg or Skien. The trip takes 23 minutes, and trains depart 3 times per hour. This is the cheapest form of public transport to get to the city centre as a one-way ticket costs 124 kr (no discounts for students) and 45 kr for senior citizens, under-18s and military service members, and includes access to local bus services, underground trains (T-bane), and trams in central Oslo for about two hours (see *Get around* section).\n **Flybussen Connect** operates buses on 5 routes from Gardermoen, that could be useful if you are not travelling near the city center. Bus tickets cost 250 kr, return ticket valid for 1 month 400 kr, valid for transfer in Oslo, cheaper fares if bought online (219 kr one-way, 359 kr return), discounts for different groups, including students younger than 31. Purchase from the bus driver using your credit card.\n **OSL Ekspressen** operates a bus line to Mortensrud subway station\n **Taxis** can, and should, be ordered before seeing the taxi from approximately 700 NOK to Oslo city centre. Unbooked taxis are not allowed to be waiting outside of the terminal building. To stop taxi fraud they should be waiting at a site nearby and travelers should via an automate type in their destination, select the best offer and receive a paper note with it. Only when selected the taxis should rapidly arrive outside of the terminal. To prevent scammers from exploiting you you should have the confirmation from the driver that there are no extra fees on top of the quoted price before getting into the taxi. Some may claim there is something like an \"airport fee\" which should have been included in the price quote you already got. If someone have a taxi ready for you in front of the terminal before you booked it they are violating the rules of the airport and you are most certainly not getting a fair price from them. Different taxi companies have different prices, Oslo Taxi and NorgesTaxi is the most reliable. Uber and Bolt can also be used, and picks you up in the same area. Most people with a destination in Oslo will be far better off getting the Flytoget, Flybussen or local train to Oslo S, and get a taxi or local public transport from there.", "word_count": 678}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk014", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Torp Airport is less than impressive and quite remote, but the low flight prices tend to compensate for that\n\n#### Sandefjord Airport Torp\n\n**Sandefjord Airport Torp** () near Sandefjord and Tønsberg, 118 km south of Oslo. The following airlines operate at Torp: KLM (Amsterdam), Norwegian Air Shuttle (Alicante), Ryanair (Alghero, Alicante, Barcelona-Girona, Bremen, Edinburgh, Frankfurt-Hahn, Liverpool, London-Stansted, Milan-Bergamo, Marseille), Widerøe (Bergen, Bodø, Copenhagen, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim), and Wizz Air (Gdańsk, Katowice, Poznań, Prague, Riga, Warsaw, Wrocław, Vilnius)\n\nTo travel between the city and the airport:\n\n**Torpekspressen** operates between the airport and Drammen and Oslo (1 hr 45 min) and costs 279 kr (Feb 2022) for a single ticket, 470 kr for a return (discounts for students, ISIC Card Holders and senior citizens), slightly cheaper if bought online. Torpekspressen buses are scheduled to accommodate arriving flights, so after you get off the plane, most likely there will be a bus to Oslo waiting for you. If you miss the bus scheduled for your flight, you may end up waiting a long time for the next bus.\n **Vy** operates trains between Torp Airport Train Station and central Oslo for 249–289kr (Feb 2026, student discounts available). The train station is linked to the airport via free shuttle buses that takes 8 min\n Several small Polish minibuses serve flights to and from Poland. Price is 170 kr to Oslo Bussterminal or more depending on where in Oslo you need to go.\n PKS Oslo accepts both cards and cash. You can pay online or directly to the driver.\n **Taxis** are very expensive; a taxi to Oslo costs around 2000 kr.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk015", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Oslo Central Station/Oslo S\n**Oslo Central Station** (*Oslo Sentralstasjon*/*Oslo S*, T-bane, tram, bus: *Jernbanetorget*) is at the eastern fringe of the city centre, by the end of the main pedestrian street *Karl Johans gate*. Oslo S is the center of rail travel in Norway as all lines (including the airport express train) terminate at Oslo S. The major express buses go to the bus station next door to the train station.\n\nInternationally, there are four daily services from Gothenburg (Sweden); each trip takes a little under four hours. From Stockholm there are up to five daily services, taking 5½ hours via Södertälje, Hallsberg and Karlstad.\n\nTravelers from Copenhagen (Denmark) and beyond will need to change trains at Gothenburg.\n\nTickets for the Gothenburg line are cheapest when bought at the Vy website, where the fares run as low as 249 kr. Tickets for the Stockholm line are cheaper if you buy them from the operator SJ, where the cheapest tickets can end up as low as SKr 195. Tickets are released for sale 3 months ahead of departure, and the sooner you buy them the cheaper they will be. Norwegian and Swedish reserved train tickets can be picked up at ticket machines in Oslo Central Station (Norwegian tickets can also be picked up at other stations), but most people use mobile/online ticketing.\n\nDomestic long-distance trains run fairly frequent and reasonably efficient, though not very fast, with services to Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bergen and Trondheim. The operators are Go-Ahead, SJ Nord and Vy, with prices from 289 kr. Vy (the former state rail company) additionally runs local and regional service around Oslo. Check Entur (the national ticket operator) for travel details and purchasing tickets", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk016", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Long-distance trains heading south- or westwards also stop at Lysaker station at the western city border. Those heading north and east make their first call at Lillestrøm station, outside of the city.\n\nFor people using Oslo as a point of transit, the building just south of the main central station is still part of the train station and has lockers for rent. The small lockers are 30 kr, the medium lockers are 40 kr and the large lockers are 60 kr. The medium lockers also come in two shapes, cubic and thin-and-tall, make them useful for storing luggage which would not normally fit.\n\n### By car\n\n*For more details see: Driving in Norway*\n\nInternational highways '''E6''' (from Malmö and Gothenburg) and **E18** (from Saint Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm) meet in Oslo. Driving a car to the city of Oslo is expensive and inconvenient. Both high tolls and parking fees make driving a car an expensive treat. Rather, consider setting aside your car outside the city and taking advantage of the excellent public transportation available. There are several automatic toll points when entering Oslo with a car, and it can cost up to 114 kr with a diesel car. The money is used for road construction and public transport. The toll booths are non-stop, and will snap a photo of your license plate and send the bill to the car owners' house. See Bompengekalkulator to estimate the fee", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk017", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Ring road 3 circumvents central Oslo from E18 in the west to E6 in the east.\nThe E6 is the main north-south road of Norway, and continues north to Trondheim, Alta and Kirkenes, with branches to most Norwegian cities. The **E16** runs west to Bergen and east to Kongsvinger ending up in Gävle, Sweden. The **E134** runs to Haugesund and the **E18** lead south-west to Drammen, Grenland (Skien/Porsgrunn/Langesund) and Kristiansand. Other notable roads into Oslo include **Rv4** from Gjøvik, **Rv2** from Charlottenberg (Sweden) and Kongsvinger and **Rv7**, an alternative road to Bergen passing Gol and Geilo..\n\n### By motorcycle\n\nOslo is Norway's largest city, and many roads have much traffic, especially during rush hours. The traffic increases the closer you reach the city center. Local roads are often dead ends or narrow, winding with many intersections that require increased attention.\n\nNevertheless, motorcycles may often be the means of transport that provide the best accessibility, if you take into account safety first. Motorcycles and mopeds are exempt from paying tolls at all automatic toll stations in Norway. Good roads for motorcycles can be found here.\n\n### By bus\n\nOslo is well served by **bus** from most of Europe. The biggest operators of international buses are Flixbus and Vy Bus4You. Both run inexpensive services to and from Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Stockholm several times a day.\n\nOn domestic services Nor-Way Bussekspress is the biggest operator, with several buses to Kristiansand, Bergen, Trondheim and tons of other Norwegian destinations. These are very useful for reaching along-the-way destinations, as outside of the central parts of Eastern Norway they stop at every single stop along the way, but are tedious for travelling very long distances also covered by train. Lavprisekspressen has buses to Stavanger and Kristiansand", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk018", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Vy buss runs a network of bus lines in the area surrounding Oslo, most notably their line to Drammen, Kongsberg and Notodden, that runs every hour, day and night, year-round. Every town and city in Norway is somehow connected to Oslo by public transport, although connections are sparse outside the main arteries.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|The huge ferry to Copenhagen in port\nOslo is connected to Denmark and Germany by **car ferry**. Color Line runs services to Kiel (Germany) daily. DFDS runs daily services to Copenhagen (Denmark), and Stena Line provides service to Frederikshavn (Denmark).\n\nYou may also want to consider Color Lines high-speed boats from Larvik (2 hours south of Oslo on E18, or easily reachable by hourly Vy train) or Kristiansand (4½ hours south of Oslo on E18, or reachable on five daily trains or near-hourly buses) to Hirtshals (Denmark). Fjord Line also operate Kristiansand-Hirtshals. They both take some 3½ hours to reach Denmark.\n\nThe train station in Kristiansand is close to the ferry quay, while in Larvik the quay has been moved to a location which is a bit of a trek from the station.\n\nThe '''cruise ports''' in Oslo are on four different Sentrum piers, from west to east: *Filipstad* (330 m (LOA), 8.5 m draft), west of Aker Bryyge; *Søndre Akershuskai* (345 m (LOA), 10.3 m draft), the main pier by Akershus Fortress; *Vippetangkaia* (249 m (LOA), 7.3 m draft), south of Akershus Fortress; *Revierkaia* (294 m (LOA), 8.3 m draft), south of the Opera House. Annually, about 200,000 cruise passengers visit Oslo from these cruise piers.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk019", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Coming to Oslo in your own boat, there are some visitor's berths in Herbern Marina at Aker Brygge (to the left of the clock tower). Be aware of passenger ferries and container ships approaching and leaving the inner harbour and the Filipstad and Sjursøya terminals.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk020", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Oslo is a green city. Hiking or cycling through parks and along green corridors is a good alternative to motorized transport.\nThere is a comprehensive **public transport system** in Oslo, consisting of buses, trams, local trains, metro (T-bane) and boats. The public transport is planned and coordinated by Ruter. The five metro lines have numbers 1 through 5, the six tram lines have numbers 11 through 19, buses have labels from 20, while boats (ferries) are B1, B2 and so forth. Local trains operated by Vy are covered by Ruter ticket system. The local public transport of Oslo also covers the suburbs in Akershus, notably Bærum in the west, where the tram and metro cross the county line.\n\nRuter Service Center (formerly known as Trafikanten) is the **information centre** for public transport in Oslo. It is found at Jernbanetorget, just outside Oslo Central Station, by the foot of the clock tower, as well as at Aker Brygge and at Oslo Airport (Gardermoen). They hand out free maps, give information and sell all kinds of tickets. The Ruter website has timetables, maps, route planner and search engines for all city transport in Oslo, as well as all transport in the nearby counties of Akershus, Østfold, Oppland, Hedmark, Buskerud, Vestfold and Telemark. The Oslo Tourist Information Centre is in the same office at Jernbanetorget, at the rear counters.\n\nThere are two main hubs for public transport inside the city centre: Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) / Jernbanetorget and Nationaltheatret (underground). All metro lines pass these stations, all trains pass Oslo S and most trains (including the Airport Express Train (Flytoget)) pass Nationaltheatret. Nationaltheatret is most convenient for key buildings such as the Royal Palace, the National Museum, the Parliament, Oslo Concert Hall and Oslo City Hall.\n\n### Tickets and the zone system", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk021", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Trams, metro, buses and railway converge at Jernbanetorget/Oslo central station.\nThe Oslo and Akershus public transport utilizes a **zone system** in which the price for a trip is calculated based on how many zones you pass through. For clarity, all ticket prices listed here are for one zone only.\n\nAll public transport runs on the same fare scheme, and the same tickets are valid for all modes of transport. A **single ticket** costs 40 kr when bought in advance from the app or a kiosk, and 60 kr when bought from a bus or tram driver. After being activated (validated), the single ticket is valid for one hour of free travel in the zones the ticket is valid for. You can also get a **Travelcard** where you load pay-as-you-go-credit for the price of a single ticket.\n\nThere are also period tickets available; **24-hour ticket** (117 kr), **7-day ticket** (323 kr), **30-day ticket** (814 kr) and **365-day ticket** (8,140 kr) for one zone. Read more about the tickets and see prices for multiple zones here.\n\nBuying tickets with the **mobile phone application** is recommended, and both Apple iOS and Android is supported. Most locals use the app to buy their tickets.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk022", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "All these tickets, except 365-day ticket, are half-priced for children (4–15 years) and elders (67 and up). 7-day and 30-day tickets are also half-price for youth up to and including 19. Children under the age of 4 ride for free. Children under 16 who travel with an adult travel for free at weekends. If you are bringing a bike, you must buy an additional child ticket. Student discounts for 30-day tickets are also available, but *only if you are studying in Oslo or Akerhus area*. For a short visit, one additional option is to buy a **Oslo Pass** which includes free admission to many tourist attractions and other benefits.\n\nThe tickets can either be bought via the mobile phone application or as an RFID chip card at the following locations (for an additional fee of 50 kr for the chip card unless you just top it up). Cards can be bought at Ruter Service Centre (Trafikanten) near Oslo S, at Aker Brygge, at most 7-Eleven, Deli De Luca, Mix and Narvesen kiosks and stores in Oslo and Akershus in addition to other kiosks and grocery shops near stops. All these tickets are also valid on the night lines, running every Friday and Saturday night after the regular service has shut down.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk023", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Make sure that you have a **ticket** with you when travelling and that it is **validated** before entering the metro platform or boarding the rear door of the bus or tram. 24-hour tickets, 7-day tickets, 30-day tickets, 365-day tickets, Travelcards, single tickets purchased in a kiosk as well as electronic single tickets are not valid until they are **activated** (validated). On a bus or tram, the tickets are activated (validated) when you board; activating by holding the card next to a card reader. On the metro and the large railway stations, you activate the ticket before entering the train. There are no checks getting on to T-banes, trams or buses, but if you choose to ride ticketless look out for inspectors as random spot checks are common and being caught without a valid ticket leads to an automatic fine of at least 1200 kr. (Read more about ticket control) Mobile tickets purchased through the Entur, Vy or Ruter app are validated by tapping the corresponding button on the app; they do not need to be scanned against a reader (except during the random spot inspections when requested by the inspector).\n\nThese tickets are *not* valid on the Airport Express Train (Flytoget), the Airport Coach (Flybussen and Flybussekspressen) etc. https://ruter.no/en/buying-tickets/tickets-and-fares/other/, each of which are operated by companies other than Ruter or Vy.\n\n### By metro", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk024", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|upright=1.5|Oslo metro map. Lines 2 and 3 run across the county line to Bærum suburbs.\nOslo has a fairly large metro system (subway) consisting of 5 lines. It is known as the **Tunnelbane** or mainly just **T-bane** in Norwegian. The metro covers the city centre core and a large part of the suburban residential areas. The metro does not cover popular areas close to the city centre such as Bislett, St. Hanshaugen, Frogner, Grünerløkka and Sagene. These areas are easily reached by bus or tram.\nthumb|Entrance to Nationaltheateret combined train and metro station.\nTo find a T-bane station, just look for the blue and white logo with a \"T\" within a circle. There are five lines, but the network is easy enough to figure out: all lines merge to one single tunnel through the city centre, from Majorstuen through Jernbanetorget (Oslo S/Oslo Central Station) to Tøyen, and then spread out into the suburbs. A loop line runs in a circle from northern Oslo city centre to the centre and back. The loop line is called \"Ringen\" (the ring) in Norwegians. As of 2016 Ringen (line 5) travels and extra loop through the centre on its way to Sognsvann and Vestli. Despite the name the metro trains run mostly on the surface, only through the centre the metro tracks and stations are completely underground.\n\nWith rolling stock from the 1960s, the Oslo metro used to be one of the most run-down in Europe, but it has now been fully replaced with new metro trains engineered by Siemens and designed by Porsche. The T-bane is a fast and comfortable way to move around Oslo. Trains are notably wider than most metros and are spacious with good capacity.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk025", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "When entering a T-bane station, make sure to pick the correct platform: all stations except three on the loop line (Sinsen, Storo and Nydalen) have separate entrances and separate platforms for trains going west and trains going east. Because the lines of the Oslo metro share tracks and platforms line number and destination are indicated on each train instead of at the platform as is common on many other metros. So the line numbers actually refer to the trains and not the tracks. There are also automated information panels with real-time information the destination, line number and expected arrival of the next train. Make sure to get on the right train. The six stations in the centre (Tøyen to Majorstuen) are served by all lines. The northeastern Groruddalen suburbs (from Vestli terminal station) are served by line 4 and 5 on the same track, while they split of after Økern station. Note that on Line 1 the doors in the last segment of a train will not open between Frøer and Frognerseteren (which includes Holmenkollen) because the platforms are too short.\n\nIf you have an electronic ticket, you should theoretically validate the ticket before entering the platform; however this is not yet enforced rigidly (but the ticket must still be valid (activated)).\n\n### By bus or tram\n\nthumb|upright=1.5|Tram lines cover central Oslo as well as some suburbs (per 2017), from 2020 tram 18 runs to Storo-Grefsen instead of Ljabru.\nthumb|An Oslo tram with typical blue color.\nthumb|Local buses in Oslo.\n**Trams** and **buses** complement the metro network, and use the same tickets. They cover most of the city, and run from approx. 05:00 to 00:00, on some lines up to 01:00. Two bus lines, 31 and 37, runs all night, every day.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk026", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "All tram lines run every 10 minutes during the day, and every 20 minutes at night and early morning (30 min at weekend mornings). The main lines cover parts of the city with no metro, and are an efficient way of getting around. The main, central tram terminal is at Jernbanetorget, where all lines converge. The six tram lines are 11, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19. The oldest (1982) trams are still running (as of 2023) and are relatively comfortable, but there are stairs to get inside. The city of Oslo has purchased brand new trams that are becoming operational by 2024. Trams roll gently around the city with big windows and is a fine way of sightseeing.\n\nBus lines cover the rest of the city, as well as several ring lines. Nearly all central bus lines converge at Jernbanetorget. The most useful bus lines for visitors are buses 30, 31, 32, 34, 37 and 54, passing by Jernbanetorget and covering parts of the city with no tram or metro lines. Buses 20 and 21 provide central ring-line service, while buses 23 and 24 cover the highway ring road further out. City buses have a deep red color.\n\nNight buses cover parts of the city with varying frequency Friday and Saturday. Most of these start or pass by the bus stops close to the Parliament building (Stortinget) and Jernbanetorget (Oslo Central Station/Oslo S). All regular tickets are valid.\n\nRefer to the bus and tram route maps for more information.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk027", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumbnail|Local train at Oslo Central Station\n**Local trains** (Vy lines L1, L2, L3, L12, L13, L14, L21, L22) cover certain areas of the city (zone 1), and run out to the neighbouring municipalities and towns. The local train network spans across the city limits to neighbouring cities and towns. The local trains use the same tickets as the metro, trams, and buses within Oslo and Akershus counties, but a different pricing scheme is used on journeys beyond that.\n\nSome of the cars on local trains have orange doors, with the notice \"Ubetjent\" and \"Carriage without Conductor\". These cars are usually not visited by the conductor (except during inspections), and you can use these cars *only* if you have a ticket which is stamped or pre-validated, and does not need to be stamped by the conductor. You may be fined 950 kr if you use one of these carriages without, say a single ticket, and a conductor *does* come to check your tickets. If you are unsure about the rules, play it safe and ride in one of the carriages with black doors and notices marked \"Betjent\" and \"Carriage with Conductor\".\n\nIn the centre, the main station is Oslo Sentralstasjon (Oslo S), which connects to the metro station *Jernbanetorget* through a direct link (escalators down by track 1/exit to Oslo City shopping centre/bus terminal) and most bus/tram lines above ground. The second downtown station, served by most local trains and several regional ones, is the underground station *Nationaltheateret*, and is located immediately below the metro station of the same name. Most westbound buses also stop just outside the station.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk028", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Punctuality, especially in the winter, can be an issue as the train system is quite run down. However, things have improved since a big program of refurbishment was started in 2010. Regular Ruter tickets are valid on the Vy trains, but *not* on the Airport Express Train (Flytoget), which cannot be used to commute solely between points that do not involve the airport.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Oslo harbour\nA system of local boats runs from Aker Brygge near the city hall.\n\nThe islands in the Oslofjord are served year round, although there are only a few departures wintertime. The regular Ruter tickets are valid on these boats.\n\nFrom March to October a passenger ferry runs from Aker Brygge to Bygdøy, with many major museums. Pre-purchased tickets from the ticket office cost 45 kr one way, or 65 kr for a return ticket. One way tickets may also be purchased on board but cost 60 kr. The Ruter tickets are *not* valid on the Bygdøy Ferry, but the Oslo Pass is.\n\nFrom Aker Brygge, there are also departures for Nesodden and Slemmestad. These run out of Oslo, and are not covered by the Oslo tickets. However, they provide a cheap cruise on the Oslofjord.\n\nYou can also rent boats, kayaks or jetskis through third party services like Ship O´Hoi.\n\n### By bike and scooter", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk029", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A (previous generation) bicycle stall in Oslo.\nthumb|Pedestrian and cycling path at Blindern campus.\nOslo has a public bike service which operates from approx. March to November (closed when it's snowing). Bike stalls are placed in many areas of the city, and this is where you rent and return your bike. Using the Oslo Bysykkel app, you can view all stalls with the number of available bikes and locks in real time, and also unlock a bike when you're close to a stall.\n\nMicromobility providers with dockless options are Voi (scooters), Ryde (scooters) and Bolt (scooters/e-bikes), along with a bike rental company in the downtown Oslo Bike Rental.\n\nAround year 2020 many new bicycle lanes were added to streets inside Oslo (at the same street parking space removed) making cycling easier. Cycle routes through the city are numbered to make navigation easier. There are also joint pedestrian and cycling paths.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis can be expensive with short central hops costing around 200 kr, so if public transport still runs, use it.\n\nAll taxis in Oslo are licensed, also those driving for the app companies. The limit on the amount of taxi licenses was abolished in 2020 to be compliant with EU law, and after that there's been a surge in taxis operating in Oslo. Due to the overcapacity, the market for street-hailing has become a wild west, with prices 2-3x the \"normal\" rates if you pick the wrong taxi\n\nTaxis are obligated to give you a price offer if you give a destination, however no one gives this when using street-hailing. If you get charged 2-3x the normal price, you could try to argue you were not given a price offer. You are likely safer using only Oslo Taxi and NorgesTaxi, or ordering via an app", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk030", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis in Oslo are frequently new, large and comfortable cars Toyota, Volvo or Mercedes. Most taxis wait for customers in a line in front of hotels or train stations, or you can order one by app of one of the handful of taxi companies. You can also flag one from the street, or go to a taxi stand.\n\nSeveral companies compete to have the most incomprehensible price structure. All taxi companies have a starting fee (0-160 kr) and a fee per kilometre that varies from 14-30 kr. These fees vary by taxi company and time of day. Usually, there's three different rates: The lowest one is the day rate, usually between 06:00 and 18:00. The next is the evening and night rate, usually 18:00-06:00 Monday to Friday and 06:00-18:00 on Saturdays. The last rate is usually for Saturday night after 18:00 until Monday morning at 06:00, but different companies do have different time frames. Beware that some companies will operate with a special holiday rate (helligdagstakst) on public holidays, including the night before, which will result in staggering rates.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk031", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi drivers in Oslo aren't a particularly jolly breed, but they usually do not speed too much, and taxi-crime towards customers is almost non-existent. Sometimes a taxi driver will attempt to charge you extra for luggage, and some companies do have a surcharge for this. The price structure should be shown on a sticker inside the car, but is always in so small print, and with an overwhelming amount of detail, you can't possibly decipher it. They are obligated to give you a price offer when you tell your destination, but none abide by this. Another thing that often disturbs visitors is that the taxi drivers' name and license is not printed inside the car itself. If you encounter any problems, ask for a receipt which will help you identify the car later, or make a note of the taxi licence number on the car roof.\n\nAll taxis accept Visa and MasterCard, and the card should be swiped in the meter at the start of the journey for card validation. The driver will usually keep the card on top of the meter so that you can keep an eye on it. If you are uncomfortable with this, it is possible to ask to get the card back, but the card needs to be swiped again when you arrive at your destination.\n\nSome people tip taxi drivers, or round the bill up to the nearest 10kr, but taxi drivers do not generally expect a tip - most people pay the exact amount by card anyway.\n\n#### Taxi companies in Oslo\n\nthumb|150px|A Christiania Taxi in Oslo\nBy using the Taxi app Vy is an easy way to order a taxi in the Oslo area. This independent app compares prices from different companies.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk032", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "The serious companies that are safe to hail from the street is Oslo Taxi and NorgesTaxi, if you hail other companies you may pay 2-3x the normal rate.\n\nYou can use the Uber or Bolt app to order taxis, be aware that some drivers stall or use spoofed GPS to have you cancel if they don't like the trip\n\n- Oslo Taxi\n\n- Norgestaxi\n\n- Jip\n\n- Bolt\n\n- Uber\n\n- Bislet limousine\n\n### By motor vehicles\n\nThe major roads entering Oslo is also used for travel inside the city. In the eastern suburbs, road **E6** is the main *north-south* corridor. *East-west* transport can be done on road **E18** as well as **Ring 3** running from E18 at the western city border to E6 in the eastern suburbs. The smaller (and slower) **Ring 2** connects Skøyen in the west via Majorstua, Ullevål general hospital and Carl Berners plass to E18 east of the centre. The ring roads (as well as other main roads) are great for navigation.\n\nAlways give way to trams and pedestrians, unless overridden by signs or traffic lights. *Never* challenge the tram, they have a long braking distance and will in any case give a loud, clear warning if you are obstructing. In some roundabouts the tram is driving straight through the island while cars must circle, be extremely careful in this type of roundabouts: trams come from the left hand side in roundabouts. Trams are not obliged to yield to pedestrians, while cars must. Park your car in safe distance from the rails as not to obscure the tram (ask locals if unsure). Trams need up to 1.3 meters space on each side of the track.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk033", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Parking in the inner city** is often difficult (street parking) or expensive (parking garages). Street parking signs with \"Mot avgift\" or \"Beboerparkering\" means that there is a fee for parking, and you can use EasyPark or the official app Bil i Oslo to pay. While parking on public streets in Oslo is generally allowed, gradually fewer places are available as streets are redesigned to improve movement for tram, pedestrians and bicycles. In inner Oslo many traditional buildings have gates that just look like big doors and parking in front of these gates is illegal.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk034", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Royal Palace\n\n### Buildings and structures\n\nArchitecture in Oslo may at first seem dull. Compared to Stockholm and Copenhagen, downtown Oslo has much less historic architecture. Most of the historic buildings are located along the Parliament-Palace axis (upper part of Karl Johan Street). This central area and the public buildings there were designed after Oslo became the capital of Norway in 1814. The charm of Oslo can also be found in the affluent inner-city suburbs of for instance Frogner and Fagerborg as well as above St.Hanshaugen park. The districts surrounding the very centre is characterised by the city's rapid expansion after 1850. These areas were developed when horses were still the most important transport, and blocks of flats from this period usually have a gate (known as *port*) from the street into the back yard where horses were kept. Oslo also has many exciting building projects, and the city's whole waterfront is undergoing a thorough change.\n\nThe streets of Oslo are famous from films and TV series such as *Skam* and *Beforeigners* (see Nordic Noir).\n Northern Europe has a distinct **wooden house** tradition. Wooden houses are not allowed downtown, but these charming houses can be found in large numbers in villa suburbs such as Bygdøy and Holmenkollen, or former workers' areas such as Rodeløkka, Kampen, Vålerenga, Damstredet, Hellerud or Telthusbakken. The 1624 fire destroyed much of old Oslo (some churches and Akershus castle remain) and central Oslo is dominated by the city that was designed after the fire.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|The Scream, possibly the best known Norwegian painting, can be seen in the National Gallery\n\nOslo has an amazing number of museums, among them the Viking Ship Museum, with the Oseberg and Gokstad ships. Many of the museums are located next to each other and don't take long to visit.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk035", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "See", "text": "If you are planning on seeing several of the expensive attractions in a short period of time, then the most cost effective way to do this is to buy an **Oslo Pass**. It includes unlimited entry to more than 30 museums and the Holmenkollen ski jump (but not the Royal Palace), free travel on Oslo's quite expensive public transport (Ruter and ferry to Bygdøy), and even limited discounts on some restaurants and other attractions (495 kr for 24 hrs). Students get a 20% discount on the Oslo pass. They can be purchased at Tourist Information Offices in Oslo.\n\n- Viking Ship Museum and Historical Museum\n\nOslo has many **art galleries**, of which the National Gallery in the centre and the Munch Museum in the Inner East are probably the most famous. Astrup Fearnley Museet is a new collection of modern art that is worth a visit. The **sculpture parks** Frogner Park in the West, with sculptures by sculptor Gustav Vigeland, and Ekeberg Park in the Inner East, with internationally renowned artists, are large.\n\n### Other sights", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk036", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "See", "text": "**Wooden housing areas** of Oslo like Kampen (bus 60), Vålerenga (bus 37), Rodeløkka (tram 17, bus 31 to Sofienberg) and Telthusbakken (bus 34/54). They are a \"must\" for lovers of old wooden town houses. These areas were likely to be erased from Oslo in the 1970s by eager town planners who wanted highways for cars rather than living areas for the citizens, but luckily they were stopped by idealists who really loved their city. Their effort made these parts of Oslo into something special, even though other Norwegian cities have bigger wooden areas. Still these areas are a plus for Oslo and their inhabitants as well as for the tourists. They are not a commonly visited by tourists, and may not be mentioned by your guide book, but some of the areas have cafes/restaurants worth a visit. In Kampen you can find a very cozy Elvis café by the church, and in Vålerenga Restaurant Smia is also located by the church.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk037", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Ski slopes at Tryvann, inside Oslo (photo Hans-Petter Fjeld)\nthumb|Paradisbukta at Bygdøy in western Oslo\n Visit the local city district *Grünerløkka*, (tram 11, 12 and 18 to Nybrua, Schous plass, Olaf Ryes plass or Birkelunden, tram 17 or bus 30-31 to Heimdalsgata or Birkelunden, or bus 21 to Sannergata). A part of the city filled with cafés, bars, small fashion and designer shops, nice parks. The river Akerselva runs on the west side, with a selection of (well hidden) bars, clubs and cafés nearby.\n **Explore the archipelago of the Inner Oslofjord**. Islands with many beaches, hiking trails and sites of cultural heritage are just waiting to be discovered. In the summer there are ferries from the dock by the city hall to islands such as Hovedøya, Langøyene, Bleikøya, Nakkholmen and Gressholmen. If you have a fishing rod, bring it along, as well as the picnic basket, sunglasses and possibly swimwear!\n **Football:** the men's national soccer team plays home games at Ullevaal Stadion, capacity 28,000, five km north of city centre. Oslo has one club playing soccer in Eliteserien, Norway's top tier: Vålerenga. Clubs in the second tier, 1. divisjon, are KFUM and Skeid. The domestic playing season is March-Nov.\n\n### Hiking\n\nthumb|A nature reserve in the Oslo forest, ''Marka''.\nThe easily accessible nature and many trails are just a short boat, metro, or bus ride away from anywhere in the city. Both in the inner city and especially in the forests of southern and northern Oslo there are countless hiking and cycling opportunities.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk038", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Do", "text": "**Explore the Oslo forest (*Marka*)**. Oslo is surrounded by wide forested hills within reach metro, tram or pass. Ut.no maintains a list of routes. There hundreds of lakes, hills and small summits. There are fine roads and paths in these forests, hiking is possible everywhere, fine roads are accessible by bicycle, baby stroller and wheelchair. Nice gateways to the lovely nature are T-bane to Frognerseteren (line 1), Sognsvann (line 3), Romsås (line 5), Bogerud (line 3), Skullerud (line 3) or Ellingsrudåsen (line 2), or the train to Movatn or Snippen (local trains towards Hakadal, Roa, Jaren and Gjøvik). Also bus 56 from Torshov (tram 11, 12, 13 and bus 20) via Storo T-bane to Solemskogen or bus 51 from Nydalen (bus 37, T-bane 4, 5 and 6) to Maridalen offer many possibilities for walks and rural life, everything less than half an hour from the city centre. Bring something to drink and a chocolate bar (and do a bit of planning, buses 51 and 56 and the train does seldom run more than once per hour). Trails suitable for bicycles and strollers as well as hiking only can be found. Be prepared for some muddy sections of the trail as they take you through some pretty thickly wooded areas. Freshwater fishing (Trout, pike, perch, etc.) requires a fishing license.\n\nDiscover the city and its major tourist sites by bike: from April through October, guided tours in English are available daily with Viking Biking and Our Way Tours.\nthumb|Ski trails at Sognsvann\n\n### Snow activities", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk039", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Do", "text": "The ski season in Oslo is variable, but there may be enough snow and possibilities for good skiing conditions from December to early April. This is the darkest time of the year, but in Oslo the skiing days are extended by the fact that many ski trails and ski slopes are artificially lit.\n**Skiing**. The Oslo forest has a wide network of groomed cross-country trails. Trails begin at where the built-up area ends within metro, bus or tram from downtown Oslo. Cross-country skiing is popular among the people of Oslo and during winter skiers with gear are frequently seen in the streets.\n There are also ski-lifts and slopes for alpine skiing in the Oslo forest, such as Oslo Winter Park and Oslo Skisenter (Grefsenkollen) and the Tryvann Ski School for beginners.\n There are ski lifts and slopes in Bærum and Nittedal near the city. Within reasonable distance for a day trip, alpine alternatives are Kongsberg and Norefjell.\n\n### Festivals\n\n#### Constitution day\n\nConstitution Day, annually the 17th of May and therefore also known as *syttende mai* is a folk festival in Oslo. This is a day that is celebrated by the whole population and participation by foreigners is appreciated. Norwegians dress up in their finest clothes or various national dress costumes (bunad). Schoolchildren in Oslo have a parade that ends at the royal palace, where they wave, greeting the Royal Family on the balcony. Sellers of ice cream, kebabs, hot dogs and sausages have their best day. Adults without children continue the celebration.\n\n#### Sports\n\n**Ekebergsletta** (bus 34 or 74) during Norway Cup (beginning of August every year), billed as the world's biggest football tournament (about 25,000 participants). Lots of fun and football. Held annually at the beginning of August.\n\n#### Music\n\n- Øyafestivalen\n\n- by:Larm\n\n- Findings\n\n- Inferno", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk040", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Do", "text": "- Oslo Jazz Festival\n\n- Oslo Chamber Music Festival\n\n- Musikkfest (National Music Day)\n\n#### Other cultural festivals\n\n- Oslo Pride\n\n- Films from the South\n\n### Markets", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk041", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Learn", "text": "- University of Oslo\n\n - University of Oslo\n\n - BI\n\n - Oslo Metropolitan University", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk042", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Work", "text": "If you're looking for work check out the website of the governmental agency NAV or other sites like Manpower, Jobzone and the main classified ads company finn.no.\n\nCitizens from outside the EEA area need a residence permit in order to work in Norway. This should be applied for at the Norwegian mission in your country of residence.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk043", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Buy", "text": "Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Still, there are possibilities for getting bargains in Oslo during the big sales. The prices on famous brands are not higher in Oslo than in London or Paris, often lower even if they are not on sale. The big sales are in January and August, sometimes in between. The Norwegian word for reduced price is \"Salg\" or \"Tilbud\".\n\n### [https://www.visitoslo.com/en/oslo/practical-information/ VAT refund/Tax Free Shopping]\n\nIn a number of shops you can get a VAT refund cheque when leaving the country. Most of these shops carry a Tax Free logo displayed in the shop window or on their counter, but you are advised to ask the sales assistant whether tax free shopping applies to the shop in question, as not all shops carry the tax free logo.\n\nIf you use the tax free shopping service offered in these stores, you may receive a cash refund when leaving Norway. There are refund points at various locations in Norway, such as airports, road borders or onboard ferries and cruise ships. Which refund point you can use depends on how you leave the country.\n\nThe minimum purchase amount in one shop (to get a tax refund check) is 315 kr on regular goods and 290 kr on food. In Norway, sales tax/VAT is included in the retail price. Goods must be exported in **unused condition** within 30 days from date of purchase. When approaching the refund counter, please make sure you have your goods, refund cheque as well as your passport/ID card.\n\nThe tax refund service is **not available for Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Finnish residents**.\n\n### Shopping districts\n\nIf you are out to shop there's plenty to choose from. The main pedestrian street **Karl Johans gate** has plenty of shops of dubious quality. The street **Bygdøy allé** (which is locally famous for its chestnut trees) (bus 20, 31) has regained its reputation of being a shopping street the past few years by establishments that focuses on kitchens, kitchenware, interior designs, exclusive Norwegian furniture, light design and others.", "word_count": 345}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk044", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|right|Karl Johans gate, leading from the Central Station to the greens around the Royal Palace, is clearly visible in this picture of central Oslo shot from the east towards the westthumb|Food court in Oslo Central Station\n\nThere are a lot of both expensive and cheap places to eat in Oslo. The cheapest restaurants are Asian restaurants which, in many cases, serve good food at low prices.\n\nCheck the menus on the door. Even though you should always use your eyes (and nose) in any food establishment, Norwegian Food and Health regulations are very strict and enforced effectively, so eating out in Oslo is safe.\n\nStreet snacks are also available throughout the city, but they're usually more expensive than in comparable cities elsewhere.\n\nThe locals use Vink from Aftenposten and the business daily DN for curated restaurant reviews – they're well worth a trial subscription that commonly is 1 NOK for the first month, provided you remember to cancel the subscription.\n\n**Aker Brygge** (tram 12, bus 21, 32, 33 or 54; stops Aker Brygge, Vika Atrium or Bryggetorget) is a waterfront located south of the city hall. During summer the area is very noisy and vibrant. There are outdoor restaurants and bars almost everywhere. Be sure to get some tasty seafood (or whatever else you like to eat) while you are there, or just enjoy your cold beer in the summer sea-breeze. This is the most expensive area in Oslo to dine or drink, so unless the weather is good, you can just as well stay indoors somewhere else.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk045", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Eat", "text": "You are also close to most of the restaurants, bars, or nightclubs located within the city centre. A key reference point will be **Stortingsgaten**, running parallel to **Karl Johans gate**, both running eastwards from the **Royal Palace** (this is also the main shopping area). While both of these streets have a few restaurants and nightclubs, most will be found in one of the side-streets running out from them, or parallel to them. It doesn't matter much where you start, you will find restaurants, bars, and nightclubs almost anywhere from the subway station Nationaltheatret at the west, to far beyond Oslo central railroad station on the east. There are several other areas, such as **Grünerløkka** (tram 11-12-13 to Nybrua, Schous plass, Olaf Ryes plass or Birkelunden), **Majorstuen** (T-bane, tram 11-12-19 or bus 20-22-25-45-46 to Majorstua), and **Grønland** (T-bane to Grønland, bus 37 to Tøyengata or bus 60 to Norbygata) that are worth checking out. Nearly all bars and nightclubs close at the same time, so if you want to get a taxi back to your hotel, try to leave a few minutes before the rush starts.\n\n### Budget\n\n#### Torggata\n\nTorggata is a good area for budget dining (from Hausmanns gate south to Youngstorget). You will find cheap Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese restaurants and even cheaper kebab-joints and pizzerias, as well as other offerings. It's close to the centre, but you can get bus 34 or 54 to Jacob's church (Jacob kirke), or tram 11-12-13-17/bus 30-31-34-54 to Brugata or Hausmanns gate. The closest T-bane station is Grønland (then walk north along Brugata) or Jernbanetorget (then walk north-east).\n\n#### Grønland", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk046", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Grønland is full of cheap eating joints, shops selling fabrics and jewelry, Indian and Pakistani sweet shops, cheap beer and more. Several new restaurants and cafes around the Teaterplassen. Cozy Oslo Mekaniske Verksted sell drinks and you can bring your own food from one of the nearby take away.\n\n#### Norwegian food\n\nMost cafes and restaurants serving traditional food are upmarket, but there are a couple of good spots to get stuffed on meat cakes and brown gravy, lutefisk and other delicacies\n\n#### Elsewhere\n\nYou can always get your fix of sausage and kiosk-food at reasonable prices, but there are a few restaurants and cafés worth mentioning. The convenience stores and kiosk chains **7-Eleven** and **Deli de Luca** will provide a choice of pastries, cakes, candy, refreshments and alternate 'snacks', many of which are over-priced and can be bought from a **Rema**, **Kiwi** or **Bunnpris** supermarket at a fraction of the price. When opting for the convenience stores, ask the staff how fresh the counter food is – where most produce is delivered in the morning and evening purchases may see the food lying there for up to 12 hours prior.\n\n### Splurge\n\nIf price is no object, there is some very fine dining to be found. In Bjørvika you will find the only 3 stars Michelin restaurant; Maaemo. You will find other Michelin rated restaurants around Oslo in this list.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk047", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Drink", "text": "*For more information on drinking in Norway, see the section Drink (Norway)*\n\n### Buying alcohol in stores\n\nBeer at 4.75% or below can be purchased in supermarkets at a price of 30–50 kr for a 0.5L can. Supermarkets stop selling beer after 20:00 each day, 18:00 on Saturdays, and 16:00 on holiday weekends. It is not possible to buy beer in a shop on a Sunday. It is illegal to drink in public areas. You will usually only get a warning if spotted by a police officer, if they even bother to bother you, but if you behave impolitely or they are having a bad day you can get a fine of 1,500 kr. However, in public parks during summer, laws are not enforced much at all. Good places to go for a park beer are **Sofienbergparken** and **Kuba** at Grünerløkka, **Frognerparken** in Majorstua, or the park at **St. Hanshaugen**, on a hill with great view located between Grünerløkka and Majorstuen.\n\nHard liquor, wine and beers above 4.75% ABV can only be bought at the state-owned shops called Vinmonopolet or at the international airport terminals. Vinmonopolet outlets are open M–F until 18:00, Sa 16:00, Su closed. Some of the central Vinmonopolet outlets in Oslo are:\n Oslo Central Station, beneath the staircase leading down to Trafikanten\n In the basement of Oslo City shopping centre\n In the Steen og Strøm shopping centre, close to Karl Johans gate\n Rosenkrantzgate 11, close to Grand Hotel, Karl Johans gate\n At Aker Brygge, Bryggegata 9. This shop has been relocated from Vika and has the same large selection of beers. (Tram 12 or you can take one of several buses that stop in Dokkveien or Vika Atrium).\n Thereses gate, Bislett (near Bislett stadium, trams 17 and 18)\n Tøyengata 2, Grønland Basar. (All eastern subways, exit at Grønland Torg or bus 37 to Tøyengata)\n\n### Pubs and bars\n\nAll bars, pubs and restaurants in Oslo are smoke-free, which means you have to go outside to smoke. But since you can't drink on the street, you have to leave your drink inside, unless the bar/pub has a designated drink-area which is still open (they always close earlier than the venues themselves).\n\nOslo is generally expensive. The price for a half-litre of beer is typically ranging from 58-70 kr. Closing hours are as late as to 03:30 in city centre. National legislation says you can't serve any alcohol after 03:00.\n\nAreas with notable pub density are **Grünerløkka** (tram 11-12-13 to Nybrua, Schous plass, Olaf Ryes plass or Birkelunden), **Aker Brygge** (tram 12 to Aker Brygge or bus 21-32-33-54 to Vika Atrium or Bryggetorget), **Solli/Frogner** (tram 12-13 or bus 30-31 to Solli), **Grønland** (T-bane to Grønland, bus 37 to Tøyengata or bus 60 to Norbygata) and the city centre especially **Youngstorget** or **Grensen**.\n\n**Norwegian beer** is worth exploring. In addition to the major breweries in Oslo, Ringnes and Frydenlund, there are a number of local, smaller breweries that brew high-quality craft beers.", "word_count": 492}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk048", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are several hotels, hostels in Oslo. Normally it is okay to find a room, but can be difficult when it is peak time during conferences, concerts, sports events etc. There are also a few youth hostels to stay at or you can consider staying with the locals via Airbnb. Affordable/budget accommodation is available outside the inner city center (Sentrum) but upscale hotels in the city centre can also be reasonably affordable during off-peak times of the year such as the summer.\n\n### At Oslo Airport\n\n See **Oslo Airport, Gardermoen**\n\n### Camping\n\nCampings are available at year round Bogstad Camping and at Ekeberg Camping.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk049", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet access\n\nMost of Oslo is covered by 5G. Most of the hotels, cafes and pubs offer free Wi-Fi.", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk050", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Emergency numbers\n\n- Police\n\n- Police\n\n- Fire\n\n- ''Emergency'' Medical Services\n\n### Crime\n\nOslo is generally a safe city, but as in any metropolitan area, some caution is warranted. Violent crime is rare, but not unheard of. Avoid getting in to quarrels in taxi queues after closing hours of bars. Avoid groups of drunk young men. The police advise that the area along the Akerselva river from Grønland to Cuba is best avoided after dark. It is known for instances of rape, muggings and drug dealing. Though Oslo isn't as dangerous as many places around the world, there are a few working-class areas that many locals would advise people not to visit at night, some of which are: Stovner, Holmlia, and Grønland/Tøyen. The chances of your getting mugged or robbed in these areas aren't extremely high, but it's not worth taking the risk.\n\nWomen should remain vigilant at night and when clubs and pubs are closing. Avoid walking alone through parks and poorly lit areas of the city. Do not, under any circumstances, use “pirate taxis” or other unofficial transportation.\n\nTheft and pick pocketing is a nuisance. Normal precautionary rules apply:\n\nWatch out for pick pockets in crowds and public transport.\n Do not leave your belongings unattended.\n Avoid leaving your mobile phone and wallet on café tables.\n\nIf you are yourself subject to criminal acts, or witness a crime, it is generally accepted to report or tip it to the police. It is a welcome contribution to better public safety.\n\n### Scams\n\nCommon scams are rare but occur in Oslo as in any big city. In 2008 there were reports on the \"guessing game\" being perpetrated on the street - don't get involved in street-betting as it is certain to be a scam.\n\n### Winter conditions", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk051", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Pay particular attention to winter conditions when driving, and make sure your car has winter tyres. The roads and streets of Oslo can be very slippery, especially if there is a lack of snow clearing and gritting, so drive slowly and carefully.\n\nIn winter watch out for icy patches, and when wandering in the forest beware when crossing snowy clearings - they may well be frozen lakes with snow over them, which may look safe but could crack. Before you walk on the ice on lakes, make absolutely sure the ice is carrying you. Drowning accidents occur. Finally, beware of heavy snow and icicles falling from the roofs in temperatures just above the freezing point.\nIn Oslo there are usually red/yellow signs upwards, and some areas are occasionally cordoned off.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk052", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Politics is not a sensitive subject in Norway, and is often discussed in public, although if you do not support a mainstream political party that has representation in the Parliament like Høyre (Conservative Party) or Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party), your opinion might lead to confusion and controversy. Like in other western countries, political views differ, and most people tolerate this. There are even far-left opinions in the everyday crowd, but true extremism is rare. Pay normal attention when expressing your political opinions; violent and autocratic ideologies are generally not tolerated in Norway. In addition, being a highly diverse city, racism and sexism is generally not tolerated among Osloers. In environmental policies, Norwegians have a fairly European-minded attitude when climate issues are discussed, but fewer people (including activists) will be vegetarian. Sensitive issues include the Second World War, religion, race and the July 22nd atrocities. \"Race\" is not an accepted term. Environmental issues such as whaling may also be sensitive and many Norwegians think it is perfectly fine to hunt whales for food.\n\n### Water\n\nOslo has high quality tap water, so there is no need to buy expensive bottled water.\n\nIn front of the city hall, near the harbour, you will find a drinking water station.\n\nAs always, boil water obtained from lakes, rivers, streams and other untreated sources of water if trekking or camping in the Oslo forest (*Marka*). Do not obtain water from ponds, large puddles and other bodies of standing water.\n\n### Dangerous animals", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk053", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are few wild animals that can hurt. However, some people get wasp stings and tick bites that may transmit Borrelia. In case of complications, consult a doctor. The only poisonous snake is the common European adder. In case of an adder bite, seek medical attention immediately. Adder bites are very rare, because the adder is a shy creature.\n\n### Safety at sea\n\nEvery year there are reports of foreign visitors that get into trouble in small boats at sea. In the Oslofjord area, fatal incidents also occur. Life jackets are required and the usual marine traffic rules are followed. If piloting a boat, keep a low speed in the archipelago and don't drink. On public ferries and liner boats, familiarize yourself with the safety rules on board, which are usually available in English.\n\n### Traffic\n\nthumb|Bicycle trails in Oslo.\n\nCars are required to yield to pedestrians at marked and signed crossings, and will be heavily fined if they don't. However, this rule does not apply to trams (streetcars); the trams have the right of way. Oslo has a web of tram lines downtown and as the trams are fast and heavy, you will certainly lose if you attempt to challenge one. Keep your distance from trams, especially when they turn. Traffic in streets is generally slow and safe, 40 km/h is standard speed except on main roads without pedestrians.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk054", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Oslo is not one of the most suitable cities for driving and navigation is complicated particularly downtown. In central Oslo it is recommended to travel by public transport. Public transport in Oslo is well developed, it saves time and minimises pollution. Driving requires high level of attention all the time. There is little on-street parking in central Oslo, and many pedestrian streets, dead ends and one-way streets. Free parking is not common, and off-street parking is expensive. Rush hour traffic jams are common.\n\nThe main roads are well signposted.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk055", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "In acute illness or if accident occurs:\n - Emergency Medical Services\n\n - Oslo legevakt\n\nThere are many pharmacies (*apotek*) in Oslo, that are selling medications and can give you advice on the treatment of injury and disease.\n\nVitusapotek Jernbanetorget (*Jernbanetorget 4 B*) is open 24/7, the same is the pharmacy at the Oslo legevakt (Oslo Emergency room).", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk056", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Cope", "text": "It is easy to get around in Oslo, and almost every Norwegian speaks English. Most people will respond in English to any question you may have. Many Norwegians also speak some German, Spanish or French, due to having studied them in school. Information on public transport and in government offices is often printed in English. Some bars or cafes operate in English.\n\nVisa and MasterCard are normally accepted in any restaurant, taxi or store. Most terminals support tap-to-pay as of 2024. ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards and are available in English language, though there is little reason to use them, as most Norwegians consider dealing with physical money bothersome. The currency is Norwegian kroner (crowns).\n\nMost hotels and cafes and a number of restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.\n\n### Norwegian language\n\nNorwegian (*norsk*) is a North Germanic language spoken mainly in Norway. However, Norwegian has many similarities with the other Scandinavian languages: Swedish and Danish. In Norway there are many Norwegian dialects, all present in the capital. Dialects have large variations in tone and many local dialect expressions. Nevertheless, it appears that all Norwegians understand each other. Although it is relatively easy to communicate with Norwegians in English, it might be useful to learn some common Norwegian phrases.\n\n### Embassies\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Austria\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Burundi\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Costa Rica\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Czechia\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Estonia\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Georgia\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Guatemala\n\n - Iceland\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iran\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kazakhstan\n\n - Latvia\n\n - Lithauania\n\n - Macedonia\n\n - Morocco\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russian Federation\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Slovakia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - South Sudan\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sri Lanka\n\n - Sudan\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Venezuela\n\n - Vietnam\n\n The **Australian** consulate is closed, and Australian citizens should seek consular assistance from the embassy *in Copenhagen, Denmark*.\n **New Zealand** citizens seeking consular assistance should do so from the New Zealand embassy * in The Hague, The Netherlands*.\n\nSee also complete list of foreign consulates and embassies in Norway.", "word_count": 393}
+{"chunk_id": "oslo::chunk057", "doc_id": "oslo", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Oslomarka** is the large forest surrounding the city. This is an important recreational area for the citizens of Oslo, and quite unique for a capital. Take the T-bane to Holmenkollen (line 1), Frognerseteren (line 1), Sognsvann (line 3) or Skullerud (line 3 - in the opposite direction of Sognsvann), bus 41 from Røa T-bane to Sørkedalen or bus 51 from Nydalen T-bane to Maridalen. You can also visit the tourist association at Storgata (at Kirkeristen tram stop) for good maps and inexpensive accommodation alternatives in Oslomarka. Detailed online maps available at ut.no.\n**Tusenfryd Amusement Park, the largest amusement park in Norway**, is a 20-minute bus ride from central Oslo on Bus route no. 500 or route no. 521 from Ski Railway Station. Carousels, roller coasters, ghost castle, etc. (*By car: From the exit at the European routes E6 / E18 at Vinterbro, southeast of Oslo*: Follow the signs to Tusenfryd).\n\n### Further afield\n\n Kongsberg is a beautiful city well known for its 300 years silver mining history. The city is about an hour and a half west of Oslo by train or bus. The Kongsberg International Jazz Festival is hosted here every year in early July. Skiing Winter time: one of Norway's well-known winter sports resorts.\n Fredrikstad is a very enjoyable city not far from Oslo, with an old, walled old town (a fortress in fact) and lots of streetlife in summer. Trains run approx every hour (taking 1hr 10min), and express buses run about 10 times per day (1hr 30min).\n Tønsberg is an attractive seaside town with an attractive city centre. It's the oldest town in Norway, and even if this isn't instantly visible, there's lots of history to digest. Excellent highways will take you to the city in an hour from Oslo. The train uses around two.\n Drøbak is another of the picturesque, small seaside towns dotted all over southern Norway, and the closest to Oslo. Nice place to get away from the big city bustle, even if Drøbak also can become crowded in summer. Buses run at least hourly. Ferry from Oslo (Aker Brygge) via Nesodden in the summertime.\n Son (*pronounced soon*) is also one of the coastal pearls. Get local train to Moss, alight at Sonsveien station, and get the bus that meet most trains. Son is a small, picturesque 'artist town', because many well-known painters and writers have resided there. Good restaurants.\n Drammen was earlier an unremarkable industrial city dubbed \"the biggest road crossing of Norway\". Even if traffic is still rife, the city has gone through a face lift, and the centre is as cosy as any. Buses, and 3 trains an hour gets you there and away.", "word_count": 444}
diff --git a/corpus/oslo/metadata.json b/corpus/oslo/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5ad053f275098524705c2c0a9b6fa7206f72315a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/oslo/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "oslo",
+ "title": "Oslo",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Oslo",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Oslo region"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kongsberg",
+ "Fredrikstad",
+ "Tønsberg",
+ "Drøbak",
+ "Son (Norway)",
+ "Drammen",
+ "Trondheim",
+ "Oslo Airport, Gardermoen",
+ "Ski",
+ "Gothenburg",
+ "Bergen",
+ "Hønefoss",
+ "Gävle",
+ "Hønefoss",
+ "Kristiansand",
+ "Drammen",
+ "Stockholm",
+ "Karlstad"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13571,
+ "listing_count": 88,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 58,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/outback/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/outback/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..08cfa6749661a7f879edfb48cfe7264e4f02ecd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/outback/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk000", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Outback** is a name for the large regions covering most of the centre of Australia, including most inland areas of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a very large area, and in many of the jurisdictions of Australia, it is formally designated in signs, where population decreases, and where communities are much smaller than those closer to the coast.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk001", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Regions", "text": "250px|thumb|A long way from home\n\n### Northern Territory\n\n Barkly Tableland\n Red Centre\n\n### Western Australia\n\n Gascoyne\n Goldfields–Esperance\n Kimberley\n Mid West\n Pilbara\n\n### South Australia\n\n Outback (South Australia)\n\n### New South Wales\n\n Outback New South Wales\n Parts of the Central West and Orana\n\n### Queensland\n\n Outback Queensland", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk002", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Cities and major towns", "text": "Alice Springs – largest Outback city\n Broken Hill – silver mining city; largest in outback New South Wales\n Broome\n Cobar\n Coober Pedy\n Kalgoorlie\n Kununurra\n Mount Isa\n Tennant Creek\n Tibooburra", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk003", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve\n Mungo National Park\n Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park\n Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park\n Sturt National Park\n Kinchega National Park\n Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk004", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Outback is a term, like *the bush*, which local inhabitants have used for a long time to describe – initially after European settlement – the unexplored regions, and since it has all been explored – the big area where settlements or occupied locations are spread across vast distances. Intensive agriculture on the coastal areas has animals per hectare, in the outback, it is hectares per animal. The outback is often characterised as \"dry\", but this is not always true: in the tropical north, the outback areas are wet as you can get anywhere on the planet and in some places like the east like Dubbo, it isn't always dry due to the nearby Warrambungles forest being nearby (the Warrumbungles aren't in the outback though), as it's usually wet because it's barely on the Great Dividing Range. \n\nA common misconception about the Outback is that the entire inland of Australia is the outback. That's not always true however. A drive from Sydney to Melbourne goes about 400 km far from the coast, yet it's still not the outback. There's the Australian Alps and inland FNQ, also interior, but also not the outback. Much of Victoria is also not the Outback either, despite it being \"inland\". In the southwest, the area surrounding Perth is also not considered to be a part of the outback.\n\nAnother misconception, this time the opposite is that the Outback never meets the coast. While it mostly doesn't, and this is true on the east coast, it does meet the coast near Red Bluff, and other places like the popular coastal town of Exmouth both in Western Australia. The Nullarbor is also in the Outback, and it's en route on a journey from the east to the west.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk005", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Get in", "text": "The easiest way is to drive or join a tour. Most larger regional towns have airports, but lack car hire facilities, and the airports are often several kilometres out of town, so unless you intend to stay in one place the whole time, hiring a car in a major city and driving yourself out there is your best bet.\n\nAnother avenue to get to an outback destination is to fly in with an air charter company like Kirkhope Aviation. There are many air charter companies that provide small group tours, usually 6–10 people. Small group air tours and charters flying to destinations throughout outback Australia usually start from a major city Airport. Flying into remote locations is possible when travelling in a small airplane. Air Charter services provide tour guides and most always include accommodation, tours, camping, food and entertainment.", "word_count": 140}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk006", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Get around", "text": "For the average person, in more remote parts of the Outback, the only way to get around is by car. Make sure you read up on staying safe. If you can afford a bit more, consider chartering a helicopter.\n\nIf you want to try your luck hitch-hiking, depending on remoteness, make sure you ask around at the local pub rather than standing by the roadside. Some roads receive less than a car a week, or even longer, and given the semi-arid to desert climate, you could dehydrate and die in a matter of hours.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk007", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "See", "text": "The beauty of the wilderness\n Lake Eyre\n Red kangaroos\n\n### Itineraries\n\nGibb River Road\nGunbarrel Highway\nOodnadatta Track\nStuart Highway: crossing Australia north-south\nStrzelecki Track\nNational Route 83\nRed Centre Itinerary\nSydney to Adelaide by car — there are many possible routes, but the northernmost one via the Barrier Highway passes through the Outback towns of Cobar and Broken Hill", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk008", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most towns have small grocery stores with basic essentials. Almost every town has at least one pub.\nIn some places you can also try \"bush tucker\". Bush tucker doesn't always refer to traditional Aboriginal food. A certain bush tucker restaurant in Alice Springs serves camel and cat (both of which are feral pests in the area) alongside traditional bush foods such as kangaroo, emu and a large variety of bush fruits.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk009", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Drink", "text": "Lots and lots and **lots of water.** \nMost towns have pubs, but alcohol is banned in many Aboriginal communities, especially in the Northern Territory.\nWhen travelling, carry lots of water with you.", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk010", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Pubs often offer cheap accommodation.", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "outback::chunk011", "doc_id": "outback", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are towns in Outback Australia that are easily accessible on well trafficked highways, with effective breakdown services. Cities like Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Charleville require only normal precautions, and you can easily drive or fly there. Even the Nullarbor Plain is a drive that anyone can undertake once they are aware of the distances involved.\n\nHowever, it is always important to plan your trip carefully. Many areas have very few inhabitants and very little water. You should observe standard safety precautions for desolate regions:\n get good quality maps and plan your route \n tell someone where you're going and when and where you should arrive; they should have instructions to raise the alarm if you do not appear soon after your intended arrival time;\n carry at least 10 litres of water (in several small containers) per person per day, including an allowance for any days you may be delayed or broken down.\n take food and any prescribed medication needed to last at least several days\n take matches or a lighter, which can be used in an emergency to provide warmth and indicate your whereabouts\n travel in a recently serviced, reliable, sturdy vehicle that has good ground clearance; and\n have clothes that can protect against cold, as well as clothes suitable for extremely hot weather.\n stay vigilant while driving – as the famous Victorian saying goes, \"drowsy drivers die\".\n\nKeep in mind also that the Outback is **very large**, much larger than desert regions in most other western countries. You could easily end up twenty hours' drive away from emergency help, or isolated entirely in the case of rain.\n\nIn the event of an accident or mechanical problems, **do not leave your vehicle**, as it is easier to locate from the air than a person or people on foot. If you leave your vehicle you are likely to be the subject of a sad news story about the rescue services finding your car and not you. In any case, your vehicle is where you're storing your immense amounts of water.\n\nYou should also think about carrying a satellite phone or other means of contacting emergency services.\n\nYou should talk to the police in each town about your journey and the condition of the roads and your vehicle. Be careful - even locals die out there.\n\nLast but not least, many towns in the Outback are among the **poorest places in Australia**, with high rates of alcoholism and crime. Be more careful than usual with valuables, pick your accommodations with safety in mind, and avoid traveling on foot after nightfall, particularly in NSW and the NT.", "word_count": 435}
diff --git a/corpus/outback/metadata.json b/corpus/outback/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fb9c69c57096d381d4e952f0f96d8e295887df04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/outback/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "outback",
+ "title": "Outback",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Outback",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Australia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 1295,
+ "listing_count": 27,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 12,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low",
+ "listings_source": "curated_from_article_md"
+}
diff --git a/corpus/pacific-northwest/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/pacific-northwest/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c1f1db7ed1cbc55588de959474f5761488220230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/pacific-northwest/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk000", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Pacific Northwest** of the United States is best known for its beautiful coastline, green interior, rainy weather, and spectacular mountains.", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk001", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "States", "text": "Sometimes the neighboring areas of northern **California**, western **Idaho**, **Southeastern Alaska**, and the neighboring Canadian province of **British Columbia** are also considered part of the Pacific Northwest, also referred to as Cascadia.", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk002", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the second-largest city in Oregon, known for its natural beauty and its artistic, activist residents\n – the capital of Washington state, on the shores of Puget Sound, and a breeding ground for local alternative culture\n – the largest city in Oregon, known for its scenic beauty and eco-friendly urban planning policies, with a proudly liberal outlook\n – the capital of Oregon, in the fertile Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene\n – the largest city in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, and its cultural and economic influence extends far beyond its borders\n – the economic and transportation hub of eastern Washington\n – Washington's third-largest city, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, known for its dynamic art scene", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk003", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— The deepest lake in North America, the clear blue water in this volcanic crater makes it an attraction.\n (height 11,239 feet/3425 metres) — The highest mountain in the state of Oregon and a major outdoor recreation site.\n — site of the largest recorded volcanic eruption in US history.\n — extremely photogenic volcanic mountain, rising from close to sea level to 14,410 feet (4392 m).\n — jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers form this park.\n — extremely diverse from the lush canopy of rainforests, to the sandy beaches and rugged, glacier-capped mountains. Olympic National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Pacific Northwest.\n The and the Washington Coast are scenic, wild and interspersed with quaint towns and include 100 km of wilderness coastline, the longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States.\n — formed by the ancient forces of wind, water and time, these dunes are like no others in the world. This is the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.\n — in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains in Puget Sound, these islands are famous for abundant eagles and Orca whales and include the San Juan Islands National Monument.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk004", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Understand", "text": "250px|thumbnail|Mount Rainier in summer\n300px|thumbnail|'The Needles', Cannon Beach Oregon\n\n### Culture\n\nThe mountains that divide the states also facilitate the cultural divisions within the region. Two thirds of the population lives west of the Cascades where progressive opinions such as environmentalism prevail, while in eastern sides political thought tends to be rather conservative.\n\nOregon was the first state to allow initiative and referendum, it was the first state to establish a beverage container deposit law (also known as a bottle bill), the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide, one of the first to legalize medical marijuana, and the first state to conduct all elections entirely by mail. Portland elected one of the first gay mayors for a city of its size. While Washington was the first state to legalize marijuana, Seattle was the first major U.S. city to have a female mayor and one of the first states to legalize gay marriage.\n\nThe Pacific Northwest has a reputation for innovation and is known for its airplane and computer product facilities. Some of the largest and most well-known corporations call the Northwest home, these include: Costco, Eddie Bauer, Expedia, Amazon, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Tully's Coffee, Boeing, Microsoft, Intel and Nike.\n\n### Climate\n\nMost people associate the Pacific Northwest with a lush region that receives large amounts of rain during the winter months, with wonderful summer days. However the Northwest's climate is largely defined by its impressive natural features; most importantly its mountain ranges which not only provide convenient dividing lines, but which also create distinct climates in each of the state's regions from the Pacific Coast to the valley and, once over the mountains, a desert region—all within a few hours drive of each other. Travelers who cover multiple regions during their stay will find the differences between regions stark and remarkable in that by traveling throughout the area a great variety of climates will be experienced. Most of the glaciers in the lower 48 states are in the Pacific Northwest as it is the largest rainforest and the Puget Sound which is the second largest estuary in the United States. There is more than enough to keep any outdoor enthusiast busy.", "word_count": 359}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk005", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Talk", "text": "The Pacific Northwest accent is considered very similar to the General American standard accent (native to the Midwest), popularized in the 20th century by radio, TV and movies. People in the area generally have little to no problem understanding different accents of the English language. The Pacific Northwest attracts tourists from around the world, and it is common to hear many foreign languages being spoken in public in major tourist areas.\n\nThere are ethnically diverse neighborhoods in some of the larger cities where many languages are spoken, including large 'International Districts' in Portland and Seattle where many Asian languages are spoken.\nWashington is the thirteenth most populated state for example, but by comparison has the fourth highest Asian population. Spanish is spoken by the majority in some smaller pockets in eastern Washington and Oregon. Seattle's 98118 zip code centered around the Columbia City neighborhood in South Seattle is considered the most ethnically diverse zip code in the country by the US Census bureau with 59 different languages regularly being spoken.\n\nChinook Jargon was a pidgin or trade language established among indigenous inhabitants of the region. After contact with Europeans, French, English, and Cree words entered the language, and \"eventually Chinook became the lingua franca for as many as 250,000 people along the Pacific Slope from Alaska to Oregon.\" Chinook Jargon reached its height of usage in the 19th century though remained common in resource and wilderness areas, particularly but not exclusively by Native Americans and Canadian First Nations people, well into the 20th century. Chinook Jargon was still in use in Seattle until roughly the eve of World War II, making Seattle the last city where the language was widely used. Today its influence is felt mostly in place names and a handful of localized slang terms. Pronunciation of some of these terms is difficult and often separates the visitor from the local.\n\nSome examples of common Chinook terms\n **Potlatch** — in Chinook Jargon is a ceremony among certain tribes involving food and exchange of gifts, nowadays sometimes used to refer to a potluck dinner or sometimes the giving away of personal items to friends.\n **Tillicum** — means \"people/person\", \"family\", and \"people\".\n **Tyee** — leader, chief, boss. Also \"Big Tyee\" in the context of \"boss\" or well-known person", "word_count": 378}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk006", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "The most convenient \"gateways\" to the Pacific Northwest are Seattle and Portland. Both of these cities are well-connected to the rest of the world by plane, car and train, and are good starting points for trips to other areas of the Pacific Northwest.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk007", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "**** () and ****, () are the most popular entry points with a wide variety of flights from Canada, Europe (Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, The Netherlands); East Asia, Mexico and from various cities in the U.S. on a variety of U.S. and foreign flag carriers. To a lesser extent there are also direct flights from France, Qatar, and the UAE to Seattle. Both Portland and Seattle serve as a hub for Alaska Airlines while Delta have a hub only in Seattle. If coming from within the U.S. (typically from Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Francisco but there could be more) there are other alternate airports in the Pacific Northwest that are less crowded and may be closer to your final destination in:\n Seattle Area – **Everett Paine Field** () (Same location as Boeing 747/777 test field ( north of Seattle) and **Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base** () on Lake Union serves as a float plane base for Habour Air, Kenmore Air and other air taxi services from San Juan Island, South Gulf Islands, Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. There's also the **King County Boeing Field** for VIP flights, cargo flights and other general aviation use.\n () is a regional airport about 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, Canada. It is nearest to Whidbey Island, San Juan Islands and the North Cascades. If you are traveling with Allegiant towards Seattle or Vancouver BC this is the closest airport they go to. There are many shorter flights to Bellingham from Seattle and San Juan Islands with turboprop aircraft as well.\n () Boise is not in the \"Pacific Northwest\" according to this article but it one of the closest airport to Eastern Oregon (Ontario, Pendleton, Baker City); southeastern Wasington as well as Southwestern Idaho.\n () Closest airport to the Mid-Willamette Valley (Eugene, Springfield, Sweet Home, Corvallis, Albany); and the Central Oregon Coast (Newport, Coos Bay, Florence).\n () is major airport for commercial flights serving Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass and the surrounding Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, Southern Oregon Coast and the Siskiyous in northern California. The airport is 3 miles (4.8km) north of downtown off of I-5 at Exit #30 (*Crater Lake Hwy (SR-62)*) & #33 (*E Pine St/Biddle Rd*).\n () is major airport for commercial flights serving Redmond, Bend, Sunriver, Prineville and the surrounding communities in Central Oregon. The airport is in the southeast part of town, southeast of the intersection US Hwy 97 & SR-126 and north of Bend along US Hwy 97.\n ****, (). located 7 mi (11 km) to the west of Downtown off of I-90 from Exit #277B (along US Hwy 2) towards Airway Heights. It is the primary airport serving the Inland Northwest, which consists of 30 counties and includes areas such as Spokane, the Tri-Cities, both in Eastern Washington, and Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.\n **** () is a commercial airport 2 miles northwest of the city of Pasco and is the third largest commercial air terminal in the State of Washington serving the tri-cities area (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick). It is the nearest airport to Yakima (closer than Seattle) and Walla Walla in Columbia River Plateau and to Hermiston and Pendleton in northeastern Oregon.\n **** () is in Canada 27 miles (44 km) north of the border. Travelers going to the U.S. pre-clear in U.S. immigration and customs inspection in a major Canadian airport prior to boarding an U.S. bound flight and land into the U.S. as a 'domestic' flight. Travelers may be required an American and/or Canadian visa(s) to transit through or travel to one or both countries. For Canadians wanting to go to the San Juan Islands, it's the best choice. It also has lots of international flights from Asia, Europe, Australia, Middle East and Mexico as well as from the United States. There are also shorter flights to Portland, Seattle, Vancouver Island and other remote places in northern British Columbia and the Yukon with Air Canada's turboprop aircraft (Dash 8-400 or something similar).", "word_count": 673}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk008", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "#### By seaplane\n\n250px|thumbnail|seaplane landing in Seattle's Lake Union\nA quick and spectacular, though not cheap, way to travel. There are many American and Canadian companies offering sea plane travel into and around the Puget Sound area. Such as Kenmore Air and Northwest Seaplanes, both based out of Seattle with regular scheduled flights and chartered flights within the region and into Canada. Many planes only offer between six and eight seats and are small enough that the captain may ask for someone to sit in the front seat next to them. If you ask nicely they may be willing to take you on a scenic route or follow a pod of whales as opportunities and schedules allow.\n\n### By train\n\n- Amtrak\n Routes traveling between Pacific Northwest and other areas:\n '''Amtrak Cascades''': Operates two daily round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia; six between Portland and Seattle; and two between Eugene and Portland. Some trains go direct from Portland to Vancouver BC. Additional service between Vancouver BC & Seattle by Amtrak Thruway Bus.\n **The Coast Starlight**: This scenic route connects between Seattle and Los Angeles via Portland. This route is often hours late, so for regional trips the Amtrak Cascades is more reliable; however, investments have been made to improve on time performance.\n The **Empire Builder**: Starts in Chicago and goes west via Spokane, where it splits up into two branches: one goes to Portland and the other goes to Seattle. Due to the scenery it traverses, this route can book out rather quickly in the summer.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk009", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "22px **Interstate 5** runs north-south from the Canadian border through Seattle and Portland to California. From the east, there are two main options:\n 22px **Interstate 84**, from Salt Lake City and Boise, Interstate 84 enters Oregon and follows the Columbia River to its western end in Portland. **WA 14** runs parallel to Interstate 84 along the Washington side of the Columbia River between its junction with Interstate 82, north of Hermiston, to Interstate 5 in Vancouver WA. \n 22px **Interstate 90**, Connects Boston to its western terminus in Seattle via Chicago and Spokane.\n 22px **Interstate 82** starts from its junction with Interstate I-84 (Exit 179) east of Hermiston, Oregon and winds its way through the Tri-Cities and Yakima in the Columbia River Plateau region in the southeastern part of Washington. Ends at I-90 (Exit 110) east of Ellensburg.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk010", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "Additional major highways entering the Pacific Northwest include: \n 22px **US 2** is a major east-west highway spanning 2571 miles from Everett to Saint Ignace, MI. In Washington it runs parallel, north of Interstate 90, through the North Cascades, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Davenport and Spokane. It continues in through Coeur_d'Alene in Northern Idaho on its way towards Michigan.\n 22px **US 12** spans 2500 miles from Aberdeen WA to Detroit MI. In Washington it goes from Aberdeen to Lewiston through Centralia/Chehalis, the mountains between Mount Rainier & Mount St Helens, Yakima, Sunnyside in the Lower Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Clarkston. The highway loosely follows the eastbound leg of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, between Wallula, Washington and Clarkston, Washington, thus being marked as part of the Lewis and Clark Trail. The east end of the highway in the state is at Clarkston, where the highway crosses the Snake River into Idaho at Lewiston. It runs concurrent with **Interstate 5** from Exit 88, north of Centralia, to Exit 71 south of Chehalis and along **Interstate 82/182** from Exit 31 in Yakima to the Junction of I-182/US 395 east of Pasco. \n 22px **US 20** is the longest west to east coast highway spanning from Newport OR to Boston MA which is signed in Newport and at the other end in Boston. It goes across Oregon from Newport to Ontario through Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, Detroit Lake, Sisters, Bend, Burns and Vale. It runs concurrent with **US Hwy 26** between Vale and Caldwell and along **Interstate 84** between Caldwell and Boise. \n 22px\n 22px\n 22px **US 97** is the continuation of **BC-Hwy 97** into the United States from the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek. It runs parallel with the I-5 corridor from Oroville, WA to Weed, CA where it ends at the I-5 corridor. It passes through Wenatchee, North Cascades National Park, Ellensburg and Yakima in Eastern Washington; and through The Dalles, Redmond, Bend, Crater Lake National Park and Klamath Falls in Central Oregon \n 22px **US 101** serves as the coastal highway from Eureka, California to Olympia, Washington where it ends at the I-5 corridor (Exit 105). It passes from Gold Beach to Astoria along the Oregon Coast and from Ilwaco, through the Hoh Rain Forest and around Olympic National Park to Port Angeles in the Olympic Peninsula. The highway connects from Port Angeles, through the Hood Canal, Port Townsend and ends in Olympia. **WA 8** connects US Highway 101 west of Olympia to US Highway 101 in Aberdeen without having to drive all the way around the Olympic Peninsula through Port Angeles.\n 22px **US 395** enters Oregon through Lakeview, OR and goes up towards Hermiston through John Day and Pendleton. It crosses the Columbia River along I-82 into Washington (state) to Pasco where it splits from I-82 as a separate road towards Ritzville and along I-90 to Spokane.", "word_count": 475}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk011", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\n- Greyhound\n\n- Cantrail\n\n- Northwestern Trailways\n\n- Quick Shuttle\n\n### By boat\n\n#### By ferry\n\n- Alaska Marine Highway System\n\n- Victoria Clipper\n\n- Tote Maritime\n\n#### By cruise ship\n\nCruise ships arrive in the area in both Astoria, Oregon and Seattle, Washington with continuing connections along the west coast including Canada and Alaska.\n\n- Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66\n\n- Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91\n\n- Port of Astoria\n\n#### By private boat\n\nIt is not coincidence that so many cities in this region are on the water. Early settlers found the thick regional forests too impenetrable to navigate by land so waterways became the Pacific Northwests early highway system.\n\nHowever when arriving from Canada there are only a handful of ports including Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, Anacortes and Bellingham that are official U.S. ports-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. The Cardinal Rule is **touch land at customs dock before any other stops**, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. Besides a passport for everyone on board, you will need your boat's license number and User Fee Decal number.\n\nCustoms enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country and these guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.\n\n### By foot\n\nThe **Pacific Crest Trail** (PCT) is one of the original United States National Scenic Trails and it travels a total distance of 2,650 miles along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk012", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nFlying may be a more reasonable option for crossing large expanses of the two states. ** Alaska Airlines** operates intrastate flights within Oregon and Washington and between the two states from their bases in Portland and Seattle. To a lesser extent **Delta** also have flights from Seattle to Boise, Eugene, Medford, Portland, Redmond/Bend, Spokane and Tri-Cities. **Boutique Air** offers flights to Pendleton from Portland.\n\n### By car\n\nOutside the main cities of Portland and Seattle, public transportation is scarce and is not of much use for extensive sightseeing, so renting or arriving by car is advisable. Although distances can be long, most roads are paved and well-maintained. Be aware of distances between gas stations and plan accordingly when traveling in rural areas. See *By car* under *Get in* for a list of major highways traversing through the two state region.\n\n### By bus\n\nRegional transit systems tend to be organized by county however they are often interconnected to cover larger areas and some are coordinated with Washington State Ferries and have many pickups at major airports. Not the fastest way to travel but efficient and cheap for the budget traveler:\n - Greyhound, Flixbus\n\n- BellAir Airporter\n\n- FlixBus\n\n- Northwestern Trailways\n\nThe Oregon Department of Transportation partners with MTR Western and other carriers to run **Oregon POINT** (or \"**P**ublic **O**regon **In**tercity **T**ransit\") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:\n - Cascades Point\n\n- Eastern Point\n\n- Northwest Point\n\n- Southwest Point\n\n- Travel Washington Intercity Program\n\n- Apple Line\n\n- Dungeness Line\n\n- Grape Line\n\n- Gold Line", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk013", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are additional private bus companies and public county operated buses traveling to additional places not necessarily served by the above within just Oregon or Washington state. See \"By bus\" under \"Getting Around\" in the Washington (State) and Oregon articles and under \"By Bus\" in the article of a particular city or town (such as Portland and Seattle) for an addition listings.\n\n### By train\n\n- Amtrak\n Routes traveling in the Pacific Northwest:\n**Amtrak Cascades**: Runs 4x daily between Seattle and Portland (via Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia, Centralia & Kelso/Longview) and twice daily from Seattle to Vancouver BC (Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mt Vernon & Bellingham); and from Portland to Eugene (Oregon City, Salem, Albany). Additional services between Eugene & Portland are offered by Cascades POINT bus and between Vancouver BC & Seattle by Amtrak Thruway bus.\n**Coast Starlight**: Runs once daily service between Seattle, Portland & Los Angeles with the same stops as the Cascades from Seattle to Eugene, OR; except Oregon City and Tukwila. The train makes additional stops in Chemult and Klamath Falls, OR before crossing into California (southbound) or arriving into Eugene (northbound).\n**Empire Builder**: Runs once daily from Seattle to Spokane (via Edmonds, Everett, Leavenworth, Wenatchee & Ephrata) on one branch and from Portland to Spokane on another (Vancouver WA; Bingen, Wishram & Pasco). In Spokane the two branches join to continue eastbound towards Chicago (or split going westbound).\n\n### By ferry\n\n250px|thumbnail|Washington State Ferry leaving Vashon Island\n**Washington State Ferries** is the largest system of ferries in the country and the key to navigating western Washington. They offer routes across Puget Sound to the Kitsap Peninsula and to Bainbridge, Vashon, Whidbey and the San Juan Islands as well as continuing service to Sidney BC.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk014", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Get around", "text": "Inland, the state also offers some free ferries across the Columbia River and there are also some county-run ferries to smaller destinations such as to Anderson Island and Guemes Island. Check specific regions for more detailed information.\n\n### By light rail\n\nPortland and Seattle have light rail systems that can quickly deliver passengers from their respective airports to their downtown cores. However Portland's system is better developed and offers more options when traveling around that region.\n\n#### Portland\n\nPortland has two complimentary rail systems, which both tie in to the national rail system, Amtrak. The **MAX** is Portland's regional rail, while the **Portland Streetcar** serves central Portland.\nTriMet's MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail connects downtown Portland with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, North/Northeast Portland and the Portland International Airport on four color-coded lines.\nThe City of Portland owns and operates the Portland Streetcar, which connects NW Portland, the Pearl District, Portland City Center, PSU, South Waterfront, the Rose Quarter, the Lloyd District, the Convention Center and OMSI, on named routes.\nMore about Portland Transit\n\n#### Seattle\n\n**Link Light Rail** operates between Northgate through the University of Washington and Capitol Hill to Westlake Center in downtown Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, running through South Seattle and Tukwila. There's also a shorter and separate segment of the **Link Light Rail** connecting the Tacoma Dome Station (Tacoma's Greyhound Station) and downtown Tacoma.\n\n### By bike\n\nPortland and Seattle are considered some of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States with extensive bike lanes and infrastructure developed for bicyclists including bike racks on buses and designated spaces on light rail. However even rural areas in both states are popular with bicyclists including Oregon's winding coastline.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk015", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "See", "text": "### Natural scenery\n\nA chain of volcanoes defines the spine of the Pacific Northwest, including the iconic snow-packed Mount Rainier, which towers over western Washington and is symbolic of the natural beauty of the area. The PNW includes both the Olympic Mountains on the epic Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mountains that extend from Washington into Oregon and even down into northern California. Mount Hood is Oregon's most recognizable volcanic mountain and can easily be seen across both states. Between Mount Rainier and Mount Hood is the infamous Mount St. Helens. Further south, a volcano is missing in the Cascades. In Southern Oregon, Crater Lake is all that remains from the massive volcanic explosion of Mount Mazama 7700 years ago.\n\nThe Pacific Northwest is a very diverse region including rugged coastlines, unique sand dunes, sparkling streams, huge rivers, wide deserts, and picturesque forested islands, as well as the dramatic mountains. The Columbia Gorge Scenic drive and its waterfalls follows along the mighty Columbia River, which is the natural boundary between Oregon & Washington. Puget Sound is a large, complex waterway created by the most recent glacial cycle, which ended 14,000 years ago.\n\n250px|thumbnail|Lime Kiln Lighthouse San Juan Islands\n\n### Historical attractions\n\nUnlike many areas of the country, the prehistory of the region is rich and evident. Areas such as Suquamish still actively practice Native American traditions and Northwest Native American art is a common theme even in contemporary urban public artworks. The city of Seattle is named after Chief Seattle and many other natural and manufactured features bear the names of the areas first peoples which are often difficult for outsiders to pronounce.\n\nAreas such as Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve have kept large areas preserved much as they were when the first European settlers came to the area while the Lewis and Clark National Monument along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail has preserved that area for future explorers.\n\n### Monuments and architecture\n\nMost of the area's architecture can, of course, be seen in urban areas such as Seattle's Smith Tower, which, although now dwarfed by Seattle's modern skyscrapers, stood for years as the tallest building west of the Mississippi. But interesting architecture can be seen even across rural areas such as the eleven historic lighthouses scattered along the Oregon coast. Michael Graves' the Portland Building in downtown Portland in on the National Register of Historic Places for its primacy in the history of Postmodernism. Frank Gehry's EMP/SFM building is a contemporary architectural highlight in Seattle.\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\nThere are many world-renowned museums around the region and although most of the well known one's such as the Seattle and Portland Art Museums tend to be in the larger cities, many quality museums can be found scattered across the area and are often a rewarding and enriching break when exploring. Even small towns will sometimes offer their own regional art and historical museums that offer glimpses of local art, history and culture.", "word_count": 494}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk016", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Do", "text": "250px|thumbnail|Oregon's Mount Hood reflected in Mirror Lake\nThe Pacific Northwest is an outdoorsy place that offers an intimidating variety of places to experience nature. Although known for its national parks, there are hundreds of state and regional parks offering a wide variety of recreation from rock climbing to sea kayaking. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission alone has the largest state-managed mooring system in the United States offering 40 marine parks in Puget Sound that together provide more than 8,500 feet of public moorage space as well as campgrounds and vacation rentals ranging from the primitive and isolated to the comfy and well equipped. There are so many fun activities to do. Also they have amazing Honey.\n - [[Beachcombing]]\n\n - Boating\n\n - [[Fishing]]\n\n - [[Hiking]] and [[wilderness backpacking]]\n\n - [[Mountain biking]]\n\n - [[Rock Climbing]]\n\n - [[Sea kayaking]]\n\n - [[Scuba diving]]\n\n - [[Skiing]]\n\n - Surfing\n\n - [[Whale watching]]\n\n - [[Whitewater sports]]\n\n#### LGBT tourism\n\nThe lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the Pacific Northwest is strong and cohesive, and offers a wide range of resources for community members and visitors. Seattle and Portland have some of the highest percentages of gay, lesbian or bisexual residents among large cities in the U.S. Washington state is one of only a few states that legalized gay marriage by a popular vote.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk017", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Pacific Northwest is a foodie’s dream come true. Talented chefs and entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the Northwest’s incredible seafood, abundant locally-sourced produce, award-winning wines, and well-developed beer brewing tradition to establish a regional cuisine that trumps just about any other area in America. From the hundreds of food carts creatively competing for a niche market in Portland, where experimentation is expected, to top of the line restaurants squirreled away in almost every neighborhood, Pacific Northwesterners have high expectations from their food.\n\nThe Pacific Northwest is best known for its salmon, but a large variety of other seafood is available in the area. Oftentimes seafood comes in short bursts with seasonal migrations and is only available for short amounts of time, so watch closely for seasonal specials in restaurants and markets.\n\nShellfish are the prized resources of the Puget Sound, as the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels and oysters) but other specialties like Geoducks are sometimes available for the more adventurous.\n\nThe Dungeness Crab is a popular seafood prized for its sweet and tender flesh and high ratio of meat. Its common name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington where the first commercial harvesting of the crab was undertaken. The Dungeness Crab is a commercially important crab in the state of Washington's territorial waters and was the first shellfish harvested commercially in the area, but other crab species are also common.\n\nThe area's mild climate, rich soil, and abundant water resources have created a bountiful climate for the many varieties of fresh produce available across the region. Farmers' markets are common in both urban and rural areas and are a great way to experience local culture and foods.\n\nApples are one of Washington State's biggest exports, with over 100 million boxes of apples picked every year and shipped around the globe. A wide variety of other crops are also grown in abundance every year, from wheat and potatoes to nuts and vegetables, making fresh local produce abundant.", "word_count": 350}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk018", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Drink", "text": "Few, if any, American regions can challenge the Pacific Northwest's love of coffee. According to a group of industry market researchers, there were an amazing 1,640 coffee shops in the Puget Sound region in 2011, ranking it the most popular coffee region in the country but coffee is popular all across the northwest. It is not surprising that such coffee giants such as Starbucks have exported the Pacific Northwest's coffee culture around the globe.\n\nMicrobreweries and beer in general are a Northwest specialty, and the area has many to offer for beer enthusiasts. In 2012 Oregon had 18.3 craft breweries per 500,000 people making it second only to Vermont in the number of micro breweries per capita. The larger brewers, like Redhook and Pyramid, distribute their products regionally or nationally like their coffee cousins, while other brews can only be found in local stores or bars (some notable brewers don't even bottle their product). Ask your servers for local beer recommendations and search out regional microbrews in stores. Hops are the key ingredient in beer making and Washington State's fertile Yakima Valley is by far the biggest exporter of hops in the US giving area brewers another edge in making the best beers.\n250px|thumbnail|Vineyard in Willamette Valley\nEastern Oregon and Washington are known for their wines. Walla Walla alone boasts over 100 wineries – including some of the area and nation's best cellars – with tasting rooms downtown; this area is popular for winery tours. But don't expect the stodginess of elitist wine areas elsewhere; the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Columbia River Plateau in Washington have many affordable and welcoming communities with small town roots.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk019", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|The Pacific Northwest is well known for its rain, but not all weather here is a joke.\nThe good news is that the Pacific Northwest does not have any regular catastrophic events to worry about on an annual basis. Tornadoes are very rare and hurricanes are non-existent. There is a fair amount of rain, but rarely intense storms. However the area is not immune to major disasters.\n\n### Animal safety\n\nThough many of the animals in the area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other potentially aggressive animals! Check trail head postings at parks for recent activity and be aware of rules keeping a distance from Orca whales and other marine animals while boating. Regulations for orcas, also known as killer whales, require that boaters stay 200 yards (180 m) away and keep clear of the whales' path. These U.S. regulations apply to all vessels (with some exceptions) in all waters.\n\nDon't disturb resting seal pups; keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Pacific Northwest seal pups make it through their first year, so please help to protect their health.\n\n### Avalanches", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk020", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In the Cascade Mountains (which divide the states into halves) there can be **significant** snow accumulations during the late fall and winter months. This poses a danger for avalanches whenever these areas experience warm periods, regardless of how brief they may be. Mountain passes are sometimes closed for avalanche control and may affect travel plans, especially along I-90 from **Yakima** to **Seattle**. Check the **Washington State Department of Transportation** website for information regarding Avalanche control. If going into the mountains during the winter and early spring, refer to the **Northwest Avalanche Center** for information regarding the current avalanche dangers throughout the Cascade region of the state.\n\n### Deserts\n\nDuring the summer months, the temperatures east of the Cascades often **exceed **. If you will be outside for long periods of time, be sure to drink plenty of **water** and limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine to prevent **dehydration** and **heat stroke**. Should you plan to venture off into the surrounding landscape, **follow desert survival guidelines**. Make sure you know where you are going, tell someone where your destination will be, and take an ample water supply with you.\n\n### Earthquakes and tsunamis\n\n250px|thumbnail|Tsunami evacuation signs are common along the coast such as this one in Seaside, Oregon.\nThe Pacific Northwest is near the Cascadia subduction zone, an area off the coast where two tectonic plates are converging, producing very **infrequent but massive earthquakes** comparable to the biggest ones in recent history, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. The risk is fairly low — in 2010 scientists estimated only a 10-15% chance of a magnitude 9 earthquake occurring within 50 years, and a 37% chance of a magnitude 8 — but you should learn what to expect and be prepared.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk021", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Such a \"megathrust\" earthquake is sure to destroy many bridges and older unreinforced buildings in the area, which were all built before scientists were aware of the region's history of large quakes, but the bigger danger is from the enormous **tsunami** that will follow. Major cities like Seattle and Portland are in inland waterways and are partially sheltered, but the Pacific coast will be flooded by water as high as in some areas with just 15-20 minutes of warning. To get an idea of how bad it will be, you just have to read the Pulitzer Prize–winning 2015 article from *The New Yorker*, \"The Really Big One\", in which the regional FEMA director was quoted as saying, \"Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.\"\n\nThe region has a tsunami warning system, and tsunami evacuation routes are signposted in many areas. However, don't wait for a warning: in the event of any earthquake, or if you see what appears to be a very low tide, or substantial withdrawal of water from both the mouth of rivers and the ocean itself, evacuate immediately. **Go to high ground; if you can't, go inland.** Roads will likely be impassable, so leave on foot. Try to get at least above sea level, and find a sturdy building with at least three floors.\n\nThe danger doesn't end after the earthquake and tsunami. **Be prepared to survive on your own** for a minimum of 3 days, but due to infrastructure damage it may be weeks before you receive significant help or supplies. Preparation only helps when done in advance: pack your car with fresh water (or purifiers) and nonperishable food, in addition to a first aid kit.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk022", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you aren't comfortable with the low odds, you can at least choose your destination carefully. Rather than the Pacific coast, consult earthquake and tsunami maps and choose low-risk places; for instance, some parts of the Puget Sound will be relatively sheltered from tsunamis. Choose lodgings in sturdy commercial buildings away from the water rather than residential houses near the beach.\n\n### Landslides\n\nDuring the winter months, the western sides of both states often receive significant rainfall which soften the grounds to such a point that landslides sometimes occur. Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible landslides or debris flows.\n\nIf you encounter a landslide, **leave the area immediately** if it is safe to do so and call the local fire, police or public works department.\n\n### Volcanoes\n\nThere are several large volcanoes in the region, such as Mount St. Helens, which, in 1980, let loose the largest volcanic eruption in US history. However, the probability of a volcanic eruption in the Cascades is very low, and events usually come with weeks, if not months, of warning. Simply using common sense and heeding any warnings should be more than enough to keep any traveler safe. Cities such as Puyallup and Orting near Mount Rainier have Volcano Evacuation Route signs that should be followed in case of an emergency.\n\nVolcanic eruptions come with several dangers. Lahars are a type of volcanic mudslide associated with a volcanic event.\n\n### Crime", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk023", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Much like any area in the United States, the Pacific Northwest is generally very safe, and the chance of you running into any criminal trouble is unlikely. Certain areas of larger cities can become seedy after dark and it is therefore advised that one avoid being out alone very late at night. Use sensible precautions and don't leave any valuables unattended or in plain sight in your car, especially at trail heads or other areas where you might be leaving your car for some time.\n\n### Drugs\n\nRecreational cannabis is legal in both states, and dispensaries are very common. Some jurisdictions, mostly rural areas east of the Cascade Mountains, have prohibited the establishment of recreational dispensaries; however, possession of up to one US ounce (28 grams) of dried cannabis flower is legal for all people in both states. Public use is illegal in both states and is subject to a civil fine, but actual enforcement varies by locale — be smart, know your company and your environment.\n\nIn 2020, the State of Oregon reduced the criminal sanctions for possession of small amounts of all drugs. Persons found to possess personal-use quantities of illegal drugs will be cited with a civil violation (similar to a speeding ticket), required to pay a fine, and referred to substance abuse rehabilitation. *This is absolutely not an endorsement of illicit drug use*, and the treatment requirements may cause headaches for non-local visitors. **Washington State has no such provisions** and possession of illegal drugs remains a criminal offense.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk024", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Cope", "text": "Some Consulates and Embassies can be found in the area and tend to be focused around Seattle and Portland with a few notable exceptions. The embassy for Belgium as well as consulates for Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan can all be found in Seattle. While honorary consulates for Germany and Denmark can be found in nearby Mercer Island and an honorary consulate for the Netherlands can be found in Bellevue.\n\nHonorary consulates for Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands can be found in Portland Oregon while an honorary consulate for the Czech Republic can be found in nearby Lake Oswego.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "pacific-northwest::chunk025", "doc_id": "pacific-northwest", "section": "Go next", "text": "British Columbia\nRocky Mountains (United States of America)\nCalifornia", "word_count": 9}
diff --git a/corpus/pacific-northwest/metadata.json b/corpus/pacific-northwest/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..faed5d8a82be27e70b429ce901e4cf1136bde2b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/pacific-northwest/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "pacific-northwest",
+ "title": "Pacific Northwest",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "United States"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "British Columbia",
+ "Rocky Mountains (United States of America)",
+ "California"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 6613,
+ "listing_count": 37,
+ "marker_count": 26,
+ "chunk_count": 26,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/palawan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/palawan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a0dca9299396aadcdcd4063bf76fd28d2f937b45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/palawan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk000", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Palawan** is the westernmost province of the Philippines, with probably the most pristine natural environment away from its settlements. It is regularly voted among the most beautiful islands on Earth.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk001", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Location\nThe island of Palawan stretches from close to Mindoro in the northeast almost to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea to the northwest and Sulu Sea to the southeast.\n\nMetropolitan Filipinos tend to regard Palawan as their final, unspoilt frontier, but even here venal politicians conspire to degrade conservation lands and there are plans for virgin forest to be logged out so lucrative oil palms can be planted. Get here while the beaches are still relatively deserted and unspoiled; resorts are still relatively few and far between in most of Palawan.\n\nThe indigenous flora and fauna of Palawan are somewhat different from the rest of the country. Biologists draw the Wallace-Huxley line to classify ecological regions in the area; Palawan is west of the line, grouped with Borneo, while most of the Philippines is east of the line.\n\nThe Samal people, also known as Bajau, Badjao or several other spellings, and as Sea Gypsies, live on Palawan, as well as the Sulu Islands, mainland Mindanao and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. They are renowned for their skill at diving for pearls; some of them get down more than 30 m (100 feet) without breathing equipment.\n\nThe Magellan expedition visited Palawan in the 1520s, and hired pilots there to help them navigate the rest of their journey to the Spice Islands.\n\nThe Philippine government considers Palawan part of the Mimaropa group of provinces, hence falling under Luzon at the next level of the hierarchy. An executive order to reclassify it as part of the Western Visayas region was issued in 2005, but has not been implemented as of 2015.\n\nFor Wikivoyage purposes, we treat Palawan as a separate fourth region of the country, the other three being Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk002", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Regions", "text": "Palawan Island is much the largest part of the province both in land area and in population, but a number of other islands are also included in this province:\n the , northeast of Palawan Island\n the , to the east in the Sulu Sea\n , south of the Cuyos\n , to the west in the contested group\n , off the south tip of Palawan Island, near the maritime border with Sabah in Malaysia\n\nAll of these are actually island groups; even the ones named for a single main island include several smaller islands as well.", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk003", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumbnail|250px|El Nido\nOn Palawan Island:\n - provincial capital\n - where \"Tabon man\" lived a long time ago. Some refer to Tabon Cave as the cradle of Philippine civilization. \n - limestone cliffs, lagoons, beautiful beaches\n - a truly laid-back coastal getaway with a great beach\n - town with the long Saint Paul underground river in the National Park\n \n Mostly fishing and farming, but some beautiful scenery\n \n - town on the northwest edge of Palawan with the 14km cream-coloured \"long beach\". With the near completion of an airport in the city, some are saying the beach could rival Boracay.\nIn the Calamian Islands:\n \n \n - wreck diving", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk004", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- a UNESCO World Heritage Site with exceedingly fine diving, usually reached by live-aboard dive boats operating out of Puerto Princesa\n - a rural university town\n - game preserve and wildlife sanctuary\n - The Rice Granary of Palawan.\n Palawan Butterfly Garden - located south of Puerto Princesa", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk005", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Talk", "text": "Most people in Palawan usually speak Tagalog, however, Palawan has some indigenous languages, such as Cuyonon (one of the Visayan languages) in Cuyo Islands, and Palawan Batak (distantly related to the Batak languages of Sumatra, Indonesia) in Palawan proper. Palawanos, however, will readily speak in Tagalog even if their native language is one of those. Most Palawanos are Tagalog-speaking due to migration from Southern Luzon.\n\nSignage is normally in English, as anywhere in the Philippines, with some being or including Tagalog, but there may also be some signs with translations to Chinese (Traditional) or Korean to accommodate the island's many Taiwanese and Korean visitors.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk006", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Get in", "text": "is the main gateway to Palawan, major airlines serve international and domestic flights; Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific have flights to and from Manila, Cebu, and Clark. Cebu pacific also has flights to Iloilo. **Tiger Air Taiwan** fly to Taipei, **Eastar Jet** fly to Seoul.\n\nWhen departing from this airport, there is a terminal fee within the ticket price of for domestic destinations and for international destinations.\n\n**El Nido Airport** () **Airswift** has flights to/from Manila and Cebu. book via their website\n**Air Juan** has flights to/from Puerto Princesa airport to Iloilo via Cuyo (). and Puerto Princesa to Coron via San Vicente.\n\nA new airport has been \"near completion\" in San Vicente since 2012, but don't hold your breath since, like many projects in the Philippines, opening dates are often wildly optimistic. Even when it does open, the surrounding settlement provides very little to attract visitors to bounce over the rutted goat tracks - with the exception of the 14-km long strip of white sand that made resort developers salivate.\n\nFerries run from Manila or San Jose to Coron. 2Go Travel and Atienza Shipping Line operates the Manila-Coron route; Montenegro Shipping Lines and Bunso Transport sail from San Jose.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk007", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cheapest option while getting around is the local jeepney for short distances and buses for long distances. Tricycles are also available within towns. Getting from one island to another is possible; daily boat trips are available. It is also possible to rent a car or van.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk008", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "See", "text": "**Tabon Caves** in Quezon. The Caves were the discovery site of the skull cap remains of the Tabon Man estimated to be 22,000 years old. Explore its 138 hectares of rugged cliffs and deep slopes and breathtaking sea view.", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk009", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Kalui** in 369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa is a popular Filipino restaurant that serves varieties of seafoods", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk010", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Pearl diving is common throughout the region and pearl or shell-based handicrafts widely sold. Several of the world's largest pearls, including both the current and the previous record holder, have been found around Puerto Princesa.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "palawan::chunk011", "doc_id": "palawan", "section": "Go next", "text": "Mindoro\n Panay", "word_count": 2}
diff --git a/corpus/palawan/metadata.json b/corpus/palawan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..97029933b2a685a19b5fc2cde8401592f2b92d32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/palawan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "palawan",
+ "title": "Palawan",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Palawan",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q13869",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 10,
+ 118.83
+ ],
+ "summary": "Palawan (, Tagalog: [pɐˈlaː.wan]; officially the Province of Palawan; Cuyonon: Probinsya i'ang Palawan; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Palawan) is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area, with 14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 mi2). The capital and largest city is Puerto Princesa which is geographically grouped with but administered independently from the province. Palawan is known as the Philippines' Last Frontier and as the Philippines' Best Island.\n\nThe islands of Palawan stretch between Mindoro island in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometers (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide.\nIn 2019, it was proposed to divide Palawan into three separate provinces, though the proposal was rejected by the local population in a 2021 plebiscite.",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "diving",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "beach",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Philippines"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Mindoro",
+ "Panay"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1015,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 23,
+ "chunk_count": 12,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/panama-city/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/panama-city/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..419b31d220880a1cb701b01430e8fd05180452c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/panama-city/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk000", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|Panama city at night\nCapital of Panama and the most populous city in the country, it is located on the Pacific coast, near the entrance of the Panama Canal.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk001", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Panama City** serves as the administrative and economic hub of the Republic of Panama and is among the busiest urban centers in Central America. It combines areas of recent buildings and tall skyscrapers with well-preserved historic neighborhoods, reflecting the urban evolution since its founding in 1519.\n\n**Spanish is the official language** and the most widely used in everyday life, although English is frequently used in tourism and business. Commercial offerings range from major international brands to popular markets and small local shops, such as those clustered along Avenida Central. You can also find establishments specializing in products from various ethnic communities, particularly those of Chinese and Indian origin.\n\nDespite the differences in customer service that may occur, service in shops and restaurants is generally friendly. The city also has nearby parks and natural areas that allow for alternating urban activities with outdoor activities.\n\n### Climate\n\nPanama City has a tropical climate with warm temperatures along all the year. Panama City has two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The best time to travel to the country is during the dry season, which lasts from December to April, allowing visitors to enjoy outdoor activities. The rainy season, from May to November, comes with afternoon showers, but the landscape is greener and there are fewer tourists. \nPanama City has average high temperatures ranging from 75°F to 90°F throughout the year. Here's a brief monthly weather guide:\n\n January to April: Dry and warm weather, ideal for beach holidays and other outdoor activities.\n May to August: Expect some afternoon rainfall, while mornings are typically sunny and fairly warm.\n September to November: Characterized by heavier rains, but there are still plenty of sunny hours for sightseeing.\n December: The dry season begins to strengthen, with pleasant days and moderate temperatures.\n\n### History\n\nleft|thumb|Panama Canal Zone\nPanama City was founded on August 15, 1519, when Pedro Arias Dávila established the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Thanks to its strategic location, the town quickly became a key hub for transatlantic trade, channeling precious metals and other resources from the Viceroyalty of Peru to Europe.\n\nIn 1671, the original settlement—today known as Panamá Viejo—was sacked and burned by the English privateer Henry Morgan. This devastation led authorities in 1673 to relocate the city westward and erect a fortified area, now the Casco Antiguo, whose cobblestone streets and colonial buildings still bear witness to that era.\n\nDuring the 19th century, Panama joined Gran Colombia and experienced political upheavals that culminated in its 1903 separation from Colombia. Nonetheless, ambition for an interoceanic canal persisted: first the French and then the Americans resumed construction. When the Panama Canal opened in 1914, the city underwent profound economic and social transformations, cementing its role as a crossroads between oceans and continents.\n\nToday, Panama City blends its historic heritage with modern infrastructure: skyscrapers stand beside colonial monuments and traditional neighborhoods, supporting a multicultural population and regional financial services. This duality underscores its status as Panama’s seat of government, commercial engine, and cultural meeting point in Central America.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n Panama City Tourism", "word_count": 517}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk002", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nPanama City used to be the *de facto* headquarters of the US control over the Panama Canal and as the canal was and is of vital strategic and military importance, there were a bunch of military airfields built to defend the canal. The Americans have greatly reduced their presence, and Panama turned its former military airports over to civilian use, giving Panama City three airports:\n \n - Gelabert/Albrook Airport\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Panama Canal Railway\nThe only train service is between Panama City and Colón on the Panama Canal Railroad. It's mostly a freight train, but it has a very nice passenger car. The train ride offers excellent views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rain forest. In a way it is the only \"transcontinental commuter rail line\" in the world as some people live in Colon and work in Panama City or vice versa and commute using this train. Trains arrive at As of February 2024 the train has been reopened for service, but only for passengers on excursions from cruise ships.\n\n### By bus\n\nPanama City has one of the most modern bus terminals in Latin America, the . It's the main hub and well organized. The bus terminal is next to the Albrook airport (the domestic airport), part of a shopping mall of the same name, and it is very easy to find a bus here.\n\nThe longer distance buses leave from the eastern side of the terminal on the ground level and you have to go through turnstiles by paying $0.10. Arrivals are usually on the first floor above the terminal building. All of the international buses (\"tica buses\" too) start and end in this terminal which are:\n \n \n\nThe metrobuses serving the bus terminal arrive and leave from the western side of the bus terminal (between the bus terminal and the Albrook Mall).\n\nWithin the terminal, you can buy a \"RapiPass 3en1\" card which can be used in the metrobus, metro and terminal ($0.10 terminal fee at turnstiles and toilet use). The card costs $2 and needs to be topped up. Turnstiles can only be accessed with this card (no cash payment possible), however people are generally very helpful, so you can ask someone to swipe you through and give the $0.10 to that person instead.\n\nThere are two food courts in the terminal, one at the southern end and one at the northern end. There are many drinking water fountains throughout the terminal. Toilets cost $0.25, are clean and can be paid with a $0.25 coin or with the RapiPass. Access to the metro station is via a bridge in the center of the terminal.\n\n### By boat\n\nMost visitors arriving by sea come on cruise ships, which usually dock at the Fuerte Amador Cruise Terminal on the Amador Causeway. Some vessels anchor in the bay and use tenders to bring passengers ashore. Yachts transiting the Panama Canal often stop in the city, and there are berths and fuel available at Flamenco Marina, Balboa Yacht Club, and other facilities along the Causeway.\n\nRegular ferries connect Panama City with the Pearl Islands, including Contadora and Saboga. The trip takes about 90–120 minutes, depending on the island. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the departure pier on the Causeway. \n\nIt is also possible to arrange onward passage on private sailboats or cargo vessels making the canal transit, but this requires advance planning and prices vary widely. There is no public ferry service through the canal itself.", "word_count": 585}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk003", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|300px|Miraflores locks, Panama Canal\n\n### By metro\n\nA Metro opened in 2014, and is by far the preferred method to get to the places it serves. However, there are still many places of interest not served by it. Line is roughly equal parts elevated and underground with the part from Albrook to El Ingenio being the underground section. Line , serving the northern suburbs, opened in 2019. There is a grand plan for many further lines which are hopefully going to enter service as the 2020s and 2030s progress.\n\nA single ride is 35 cents regular price in Line 1 with discounts for the elderly and students. The last train leaves at 22:00 all week, with the first train leaving M-Sa at 05:00 and Su at 07:00. A ride in Line 2 costs 50 cents.\n\n### By taxi\n\nOne of the easiest ways to get around town is by taxi. Taxis do not have a meter. Fares are set by the authorities and are determined based on what section of the city you are starting at and what section of the city you are going to, with a surcharge for every additional person. The cab driver should have a table (which may include a map) that will show the costs for the fare, and they are required to show it to you if you ask or you can check Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk004", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Fares are around $1.25 for travel within one zone, and the longest fares within the city at about $5. The former Canal Zone is in a different section, and it will be at least a $5 fare. The surcharge for additional passengers should be $0.50/additional passenger, and there's also a $0.40 surcharge if you call a cab (at least these were the prices a few years ago). A taxi to or from the international airport typically costs $30 including tolls if you take the Corredor Sur highway. A taxi to the Amador Causeway costs $5-10. Cab drivers do not expect tips, and they may pick up additional passengers along the way. The rule is that unless there's little to no deviation from the first person's route, the first person picked up is the first person dropped off, otherwise, they will ask if it's ok to pick up the other fare. Cabs can also be rented for the day, and the fares again are set (probably around $20-25). In this case, they will expect a little extra (tip and/or lunch).\n\nBeware, taxi drivers will frequently try to overcharge visitors, sometimes up to many times the actual price, and will not have or know about any table as mentioned. If you are clearly a visitor and asking for the price, chances are the driver will say whatever they think they can get away with and you can try haggling down. It can help to ask locals what the price should be and then negotiate based on that.\n\nThe apps Uber as well as inDrive are also available in Panama City.\n\nthumb|400px|Panoramic view, Casco Antiguo\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Diablo rojo", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk005", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around by bus is also cheap and convenient. Fares are $0.25 and the destination of the bus is written across the front windshield in large letters. Buses are privately owned and drivers usually compete with each other for passengers. For this reason, buses have colorful decorations to attract customers. During rush hour some buses can get crowded, and it is not unusual to see 3 people seated on a 2-person bench and lots of people standing along the aisle. It is not advised to use buses during these hours.\n\nIn 2013, the \"red devils\" were phased out from the main city routes, but they still connect the city with outlying suburbs.\n\n#### Metrobus\n\nThe city has begun replacing the flamboyant \"red devils\" with modern, air-conditioned city buses (\"MetroBus,\" look for the orange sign to find stops), but the red devils are still around. The MetroBus buses do not accept cash, so make sure to buy a fare card at one of the city's many malls before using them. You can also buy a fare card for the metro at a metro station, and use it in MetroBus buses to pay.\n\nBus fare is $0.25 for regular route and $1.25 for corredor route (Corredor Norte and Corredor Sur) and the same prices for transfer. You can buy and recharge MetroBus cards at many places around the city (Puntos de venta).\n\nThere are no maps or schedules at the stations so using the bus system can be frustrating without knowing the common name of the destination and/or adequate Spanish for inquiring.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk006", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Get around", "text": "Car travel in Panama City is notoriously difficult. During weekday work hours, traffic jams are continuous. Many street intersections lack traffic signals creating right-of-way confusion. Short distances may be quicker on foot or other means of transportation. During holidays like Carnival, the traffic can be expected to be worse.\n\nCar rentals are available from major corporations like Hertz at Panama's Tocumen International Airport.\n\nAll taxis in Panama must be painted yellow by law. Hitchhiking is not uncommon.\n\nCheckpoints run by the national police occur at strategic locations to prevent the movement of illegal persons and goods.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk007", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Casa Gongora, Casco Viejo\nthumbnail|Cathedral tower, Panama Viejo\n - Panama Canal\n\n - Miraflores Visitor Center/Miraflores Locks\n\n - Casco Viejo\n\n - Canal Museum\n\n - Panama History Museum\n\n - Panama Viejo\n\n - Amador Causeway\n\n - Punta Culebra Nature Center\n\n - Biomuseo\n\n - Mi Pueblito\n\n - Cerro Ancón\n\n - Parque Natural Metropolitano\n\n - El Chorrillo\n\n - Museo Libertad", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk008", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Do", "text": "- Help a sailboat to cross the canal\n\n - [[Metropolitan Natural Park]] (MNP)\n\n - Panaviera bar", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk009", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Learn", "text": "- Casco Antiguo Spanish School\n\n- Spanish Panama Spanish language school", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk010", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Calidonia** area has plenty of street markets.\n\n - Avenida Central\n\n - San Felipe Neri Public Market\n\n - Albrook Shopping Mall\n\n - MultiPlaza Mall\n\n - MultiCentro Mall\n\n - Metro Mall\n\n - Los Pueblos Mall\n\n### Crafts\n\nHigh end crafts can be purchased from shops in the **Centro de Artesanias** in Balboa neighborhood or in the shops of **Mi Pueblitos**.\n\nIndian stores on every major shopping district (El Dorado mall and surroundings, Los Pueblos, and along Via España) also sell many Panamanian souvenirs. Gran Morrison is also a place to find many handicrafts.\n\n- REPROSA Treasures of Panama\n\n- Paseo Esteban Huertas", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk011", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Eat", "text": "Check out Panama Restaurant Week, which doesn't happen every year, but when it does it is a fantastic option to try great restaurants at good prices. Despite its name, it lasts 15 days, with dozens of participating restaurants offering special participating menus at fixed, lower than normal prices.\n\n### Budget\n\nThere's several cafes along Via Argentina. The Spanish sandwich shops offer excellent sandwiches, coffee, and churros. Try **Manolo's Churreria** (don't miss the churros rellenos, pastries filled with dulce de leche and rolled in sugar) or Del Prado. Sandwiches should cost from $3-5.\nAlso on Via Argentina is **El Trapiche**, serving traditional Panamanian food for under $12/person. They serve excellent breakfast food.\n\nThere's an abundance of Chinese restaurants, and some can be very affordable. Try some around El Dorado, they should be pretty authentic.\n\n **Niko's Cafe** has several locations around the city. Owned by Greeks, they are all open 24 hr and they have a good selection of sandwiches and hot food served all day long.\n **Don Lee** is a Panamanian chain serving Chinese fast food, and definitely worth a try.\n **Doraditos Rosticería Y Pizzería** in Chanis. An extremely popular Panamanian restaurant that's always full and can take an infuriating amount of time to order. That said it's likely always filled by locals because the prices are cheap and the food is extremely good. In particular the rotisserie chicken (a full one costs about $5) is a local favorite with two types of chimichurri to choose from.\n **Fish market** outside of Casco Viejo. Entering Casco Viejo is the main fish market for the city. There are some restaurants upstairs where the fish is obviously very fresh and the prices are cheap.\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Lung Fung\n\n - La Pampa Marbella\n\n - Van Gogh\n\n - Capital Bistró Panamá\n\n### Splurge\n\n - La Casa del Marisco - ACHA\n\n - Atlantic & Pacific Co. Restaurant", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk012", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Drink", "text": "Buy and try some Panamanian and Cuban coffee while you're here. It will be some of the best you've ever had.\n\nCalle Uruguay is a neighborhood filled with bars and discos for wealthy Panamanians and foreigners.\n\n**Taberna 21** is a local hangout serving great cheap beer and Spanish tapas.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk013", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\n - Luna's Castle Hostel\n\n - Hospedaje Casco Viejo\n\n - Panama House Bed & Breakfast\n\n- Hostel Mamallena\n\n- Hostal Miami\n\n- Casa Rica\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Magnolia Inn - Casco Viejo\n\n### Splurge\n\n - The Bristol Hotel\n\n - Las Clementinas Chambers, Café & Bar\n\n - InterContinental Miramar\n\n - Courtyard Panama Multiplaza Mall", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk014", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Connect", "text": "You can buy SIM cards for Panama's 4 carriers at the Terminal (Albrook) and probably many other places.\n\nYou can find a SIM card (called a \"chip\") at almost any convenience store for $1. Pay $5-10 for a top-up card. One week of unlimited data for $5. (April 2021)", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk015", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Areas\n\nBe careful in Casco Viejo and the Panama Viejo ruins area. There are tourist police aplenty in these neighborhoods but do not wander too far in these areas alone (even in the day) and certainly not in the evening (as of 2010 these areas are very safe, lots of activity and tourist traffic)\n\nStay out of El Chorrillo, Santa Ana, Curundu and San Miguel. It is very dangerous right now due to infighting between drug gangs. Tourists have been kidnapped right off the street. El Chorrillo borders San Felipe so it is very easy to accidentally walk into it. When driving, car doors should be locked.\n\nThe central neighborhoods of Marbella, El Cangrejo, Obarrio, San Francisco, and the Banking Area are generally the most safe. In any case, be careful of your belongings, even if sitting in a restaurant, as people have had things snatched without noticing it, especially when enjoying a glass too many of Panama's great wine selection. It is never a good idea to drink heavily and walk back to your hotel.\n\n### Taxis\n\nIt's always a good idea (in any country really) to spend a few minutes to find out exact taxi fares before taking a taxi and always have exact change for the correct fare. This avoids over-charging and problems with some drivers. Having to ask a taxi driver how much the fare is the equivalent to wearing a \"kick-me\" sticker on your shorts, as you're telling him you don't know. Some have paid $20 to get from El Dorado to Via Argentina, but the real fare for one person is $1.75.\n\nOutside of Multiplaza, Albrook and Multicentro are some very good looking Taxis. The drivers wear nice shirts and the Taxis have proper signs on the roof. The drivers will most likely ask you if you are interested. *never* take these taxis. All they do is wait for foreigners and then charge 4x the price.\n\nSome taxis at the main bus station prey on visitors. Never put your belongings in the trunk. Sit in the back seat along with your belongings and have your luggage firmly grasped while entering and exiting the vehicle; otherwise, they can drive away with your things while you are still trying to get in. Lock the doors once inside. Avoid and ignore anyone who approaches you to \"get a taxi for you\"; go to the curb to get one yourself. At best they will want money for this \"service\" amounting to half the taxi fare; at worst, they are setting you up to be robbed with certain drivers with whom they work. Lastly, the cabs are marked on the door with a unique registration number -- memorize it or write it down and secretly tuck it safely away on your person before entering any cab.\n\nNever lose your temper with taxi drivers or police (or anyone else really) no matter how bad you may find a situation or service in some places. Exert your rights politely but firmly.\n\n### Other\n\nLook both ways before crossing the street! Panamanian drivers are notoriously aggressive when the traffic allows and will not slow down for you even if you're lucky enough to find a crosswalk. There's only one way to cross the road here. Wait for a break in the traffic and walk. Once you start, keep going. Drivers will stop (99% of the time...). Otherwise you'll be stuck for hours waiting.", "word_count": 572}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk016", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies and consulates\n\nthumb|Embassy of France, in the middle of the old city\n - Argentina\n\n - Bolivia\n\n - Brazil (Brasil)\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Costa Rica\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Egypt (Egipto)\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - France (Francia)\n\n - Germany (Alemania)\n\n - Greece\n\n - Guatemala\n\n - Honduras\n\n - Japan\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Nicaragua\n\n - Paraguay\n\n - Peru (Consulate)\n\n - South Korea (Corea de Sur)\n\n - Spain (España)\n\n - Trinidad & Tobago\n\n - United Kingdom (Reino Unido)\n\n - United States (Estados Unidos)\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Venezuela", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "panama-city::chunk017", "doc_id": "panama-city", "section": "Go next", "text": "Soberanía National Park – a national park close to Panama City that offers good hiking trails.\n Isla Taboga - Take a boat trip out to the islands off the coast of Panama City.\n Gamboa - Check out the birds and Chagres River.\n San Blas Islands - Take a tour of the islands\n Portobelo - Visit the forts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue onwards to Isla Grande for some nice R&R - buses goes from the main street in Portobelo to La Guira and from there it is a 5-minute boatride ($2)\n Bocas del Toro - fly Panama air to beaches and nature. 4 flights every day.\n Bus schedule from the main, Albrook Terminal is as follows (February 2024). On top of that, a lot of local buses go from the terminal, especially along the main, Pan-American highway, frequently. Arriving 30-60 minutes beforehand gives enough time to ask around (with basic Spanish) and buy a ticket.\n Bocas - 11 hr. Depart nightly from 18:30-19:00. Ideally, buy the ticket beforehand at the station, buses fill quickly. Passport required for a ticket.\n Santa Catalina - 7-8 hr. Take a bus to Sona at 06:30 (sometimes), 08:20 or 10:20, then change for the bus to Santa Catalina (later buses from Panama City normally miss the last bus to Santa Catalina at 5pm; taxi from Sona to Santa Catalina is around $40). \n El Valle - 2.5 hr. Buses run hourly from 07:00-18:00.\n David - 8-9 hr. Buses run at least hourly from 05:00-22:00. Express buses, 6-7 hr, run at 22:00, 23:00 and 00:00 daily.\n San Jose (Costa Rica) - 16 hr. TicaBus or Expreso Panama run nightly buses, around 15 hr journey due to a slow border crossing. Check online for latest schedules. Passport required to get a ticket.\n El Palmar - 1.5 hr. Take the bus to Rio Hato or Penonome and ask the driver to let you off the \"entrada a el Palmar\".", "word_count": 321}
diff --git a/corpus/panama-city/metadata.json b/corpus/panama-city/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ee90899d958a2fda8a4e3345bc7c828c2fca7b0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/panama-city/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "panama-city",
+ "title": "Panama City",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Panama_City",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 4,
+ 12
+ ],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Panama"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
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+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk000", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Panama** is a country at the southern end of Central America. The country is known as the \"Crossroads of the Americas\" due to its location between North and South America. Its name, given by Indigenous peoples, means \"abundance of fish,\" reflecting the country's status as a paradise for water sports lovers and eco-tourists.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk001", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|282x282px|Portobelo Customs, Panama\n — The capital with 3 districts of interest: the new city, the old city, and the colonial city. From here you can take a day trip to Miraflores - The locks are a good place to view the ships rising and falling as they pass through the Panama Canal.\n — Ideal for exploring the former Canal Zone.\n— Coffee growing capital of Panama in the Chiriquí Highlands.\n— In the Gulf of Chiriquí\n — It is a destination where you can appreciate the province's historical monuments and the Afro-Antillean culture that characterizes it.\n — A city that stands out for both its economic activity and its cultural diversity.\n — It has tourist attractions related to ecotourism.\n — Historic town with colonial fortresses, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk002", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|337x337px|Dutch Cays, San Blas - Panama\n — frequently referred to as the Galapagos of Central America for its abundance of rare species in both the water and on land. Here you can scuba and snorkel and see some of the most rare pelagic species of marine life in the world.\n — is Panama's second largest park, covering over 850 square miles (207,000 hectares). It is a bi-national park, as an additional 193,929 hectares stretch to the Costa Rica side. *Amistad* is the Spanish word for friendship and it was create to promote friendship between the two countries.\n — in the Gulf of Chiriqui, is dotted with dozens of small islands and islets, including Boca Brava, Isla Palenque, and Islas Secas. The area has some of the best sport fishing and whale watching in the region, and several resorts and boutique hotels have opened in the area since the mid-2000s.\n — charming little town nestled in the second biggest inhabited volcanic caldera in the world.\n — Panamanian Pacific archipelago with crystal-clear waters and tranquil beaches.\n — An autonomous territory managed by the Guna people, with hundreds of islands that preserve their culture and pristine landscapes.\n — Popular with those looking for a close getaway from Panama City, with beaches, history, and trails.\n — in size, and Panama's highest peak at is here.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk003", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "The isthmus connects two major landmasses—South America with Central and North America—resulting in incredibly diverse flora and fauna. Panama is often cited as the country with the most bird species in the world, boasting close to 900. Several Indigenous tribes still thrive here, living much as their ancestors did, which contributes to the richness of the nation's cultural fabric.\n\nThe Panamanian government maintains strong ties with the United States and is highly supportive of business, development, and tourism. The International Monetary Fund has praised Panama’s diversified economy and predicts it will have one of the strongest GDP growth rates in the coming years. The country is well-known for its highly developed international banking sector, with nearly 80 banks from around the world—such as HSBC, BBVA, and Citi Bank—maintaining branches in Panama. The expanding Panama Canal continues to drive the country's service-based economy and remains one of the most important transportation hubs globally. Beyond its strong economic foundation, Panama's physical infrastructure—including modern hospitals, airports, and roads—is significantly more advanced than that of its Central American neighbors.\n\nPanama is home to a large expatriate community; around 25,000 U.S. citizens live in the country. It's worthwhile to spend some time reading about Panama and connecting with locals, expats, and other travelers before arriving. Consider joining local forums, expat blogs, or the Central America Forum. Many local blogs can provide the most up-to-date information on issues like flooding, earthquakes, trail closures, and the best places to eat.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk004", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Night view of Panama City\nLess than 9 degrees north of the equator, most of Panama enjoys temperatures that are fairly consistent year round, with daytime temperatures in the 30–33°C and nighttime around 21–23°C. Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season, called winter or invierno (May to November); short dry season, called summer or verano (December to April). The most popular time to travel to Panama is December through March, when lack of humidity and nearly zero percent chance of rain make it ideal for travellers.\n\nDuring most of the rainy season, mornings and early afternoons are usually sunny while late afternoons and evenings have intermittent rainfall.\n\nMost areas are quite warm, but a few places, such as Boquete, Cerro Punta and El Valle can get a little chilly at night. You definitely want a heavy rain-proof jacket if you're going to the top of Barú since you will be above 3000 m for a little while.\n\n**Natural hazards**: Occasional severe storms and forest fires in the remote Darien area. Hurricane-strong winds are only a very small possibility in Panama. Because of its geographic position, it is very unlikely that Panama could be in the path of any hurricane, unlike the other Central American countries.\n\n### Terrain", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk005", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "Panama has about 2,500 km of shoreline on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Coastal areas include beaches, islands, and wetlands (including swamps, marshes, and river deltas). Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas include largely plains and rolling hills Highest point : Volcan Barú in Chiriqui Province 3,475 m. On a clear day they say you can see both oceans from the peak. The Panama national parks system includes 17 parks. Together with natural reserves, sanctuaries, and other designated areas, Panama protects 31% of its national territory providing considerable opportunities for nature and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Watch Tower in Old Panama City\n\nPanama was colonized mainly by the Spanish. Scotland, which was an independent country at the time, made a short-lived attempt to colonize it in the late 17th and early 18th century. It failed so spectacularly that it caused the bankruptcy of the Scottish treasury and - as a consequence of that - the union with England that continues to this day.\n\nFor most of its colonial history, Panama was administered as part of Colombia. It gained independence from Spain as part of \"Gran Colombia\", which later broke apart into several smaller countries, most of them today flying blue red yellow flags. The last part to break away was Panama.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk006", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "With US backing, **Panama seceded from Colombia on 3 November 1903** and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. The treaty became infamous as \"the treaty no Panamanian ever signed\". It was largely repealed by the Carter administration, which promised to return the Canal Zone by 1999 (which President Clinton did). Panama's domestic and especially foreign policies have historically been dependent on the opinion of the administration in Washington. No openly anti-US president of Panama has been able to cling to power for long.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk007", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "**On 7 September 1977**, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the zone and increasing responsibility over the canal were turned over in the intervening years. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to **Panama by or on 31 December 1999**. Panama has a history of military strongmen ruling with little or no regard for the law and the constitution, the last of which was Manuel \"Pineapple Face\" Noriega. Noriega died in Panamanian custody after being deposed by a US military intervention with the name **\"Just Cause\"** (the just cause in question being an end to his drug smuggling regime). Noriega had been a de facto client of the US for some time before that. After this upheaval, Panama decided to follow in the footsteps of its northern neighbor, Costa Rica, and officially abolished its military. However, much like Costa Rica, it maintains a **\"Fuerza Publica\"** (\"Public Force\") with many of the trappings of a military if not the official name of one. Today Panama is nominally even richer than peaceful \"Switzerland of Central America\" Costa Rica to the North and Colombia to the South and thus draws quite a few immigrants. However, much of that wealth is dependent on the canal and issues such as inequality and corruption that have hampered other parts of Latin America are not unknown in Panama, either.\n\n### National events and holidays", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk008", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Understand", "text": "Month\nHoliday or Commemoration\n**January**\n - Martyrs' Day (January 9, 1964)\n**February**\n - Carnival (variable date) - Ash Wednesday (the day after Carnival)\n**April**\n - Holy Week (dates vary according to the liturgical calendar)\n**May**\n - Black Ethnicity Day (May 30)\n**August**\n - Founding of Panama \"La Vieja\" (August 15, 1519) *[mainly celebrated in Panama City]* - Opening of the Panama Canal (August 15, 1914)\n**October**\n - Festival of the Black Christ of Portobelo (variable date)\n**November**\n - Separation from Colombia (November 3, 1903) - National Symbols Day (November 4) - Patriotic Commemoration in Colón (November 5, 1903) - First Call for Independence in La Villa de Los Santos (November 10, 1821) - Independence from Spain (November 28, 1821)\n**December**\n - **National Day of Mourning (December 20, 1989)**\n\n### Visitor information\n\nTourism Panama", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk009", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Talk", "text": "By far the most commonly spoken language in Panama is Spanish. A small minority on the Caribbean Coast speaks an English derived Creole which is not all that dissimilar from Jamaican Patois. Even smaller minorities speak indigenous languages, but you'd have to deliberately search them out to hear, let alone have a use for those languages. If you have a firm grasp of Spanish, you should have no problems getting around.\n\n### Spanish dialect\n\nIf you cross the border from Costa Rica into Panama, you will notice a large change in the dialect. True to its Caribbean orientation, Panamanian Spanish sounds much closer to Puerto Rican than Costa Rican or Nicaraguan Spanish. For students of Mexican or European Spanish, it may take a little getting used to. However, it is very easy to understand and it is by no means more difficult than other Spanish-speaking countries. Panamanians tend to pronounce \"h\" instead of \"s\" and to not pronounce \"d\" at the end of some words. It is part of their dialect but Panamanians are fully capable of speaking Spanish in a manner more intelligible to students of Mexican or Castillian Spanish, and they are aware of their regional idiosyncrasies.\n\nPanama City has a different dialect in which they mix English words with Spanish. Although educated Panamanians try to speak proper Spanish, they are very proud of their dialect and would rather use it unless it is a formal conversation or public speaking.\n\n### Indigenous languages\n\nPanama has a lot more indigenous culture than some neighboring countries. In Kuna Yala you will hear the native Kuna language spoken. In the Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca, as well as in Chiriqui or Bocas del Toro, you might hear the native Ngöbe-Buglé (Guaymí) language, although the Ngöbe and the Buglé are very quiet around foreigners. If you ask directions from one of them, you will probably just get a hand or lips pointed wordlessly in the right direction.\n\n### English\n\nMuch of the Caribbean Coast of Panama was settled by people from Jamaica and Barbados. The descendants of those settlers seem to be speaking more Spanish, but a lot of them still speak English, albeit a very Caribbean variety, called Guari Guari. Linguists consider their speech to be a variety of Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language.\n\nUntil 1999, the canal was controlled (or partly controlled) by the United States. The US has returned the canal to Panama, but many people in Panama City and other areas near the canal still speak English as a first or second language. Surprisingly, English is not as common as you would think considering how long the Americans spent in the country. It's not so common for people working in shops or people in the street to speak English. There are a number of English news sites to help with your travels.", "word_count": 472}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk010", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|450px|Visa policy of Panama{{legend|\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nCitizens from the following countries can enter Panama **visa-free** because their countries hold treaties with Panama that entitle their citizens to visit for up to 180 days without a visa, having a passport valid for at least 6 months upon entry: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Bhutan, Brazil, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Fiji, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Georgia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, The Vatican, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Vietnam.\nalt=Panama entry stamp|thumb|Panama entry stamp\nThis usually also applies to people of other nationalities (India, for example), if they have a residence permit issued by any of the above countries. For example, an Indian living in the United States will be able to enter Panama without any visa. However, it is advisable to check with the closest representation of a Panama embassy near your place of residence.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk011", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "Citizens from these countries can apply for an extension for up to another 30, 60 or 90 days. Petitions are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Immigration recommends you apply at least a week before your time is up. For more information about extending your stay in Panama please read on or click here.\n\nThey can always also leave the country for 30 days (Costa Rica is right next to Bocas del Toro and Boquete so it's easily done) and then come back and get 180 days more.\n\nCitizens of China with an endorsed \"public of affairs\" passport do not require a visa for 180 days also. Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of China, Cuba, Haiti and the Philippines do not require a visa.\n\nGeneral entry requirements are proof of:\n a return ticket out of Panama\n possession of US$500 in cash or travelers' checks or credit or debit card\n Recommended vaccination for yellow fever—only if coming from a country where yellow fever occurs (includes most of South America and Africa but not USA).\nIn practice, border officials may be lax about checking these requirements for travelers coming from the EU, US or other developed countries.\n\nAlso, because your tourist visa will be stamped in your passport, it is important to carry at least a photocopy/picture of the ID page and the page with the tourist visa stamp at all times.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk012", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Tocumen International Airport\nInternational flights arrive at (), which lies about 32 km (20 miles) east of Panama City (from all countries) or David Airport (from Costa Rica on AirPanama). Panama City's PTY is well connected with the Americas by **Copa Airlines** (the 'national flag' carrier and member of the Star Alliance) which has non-stop flights to almost 20 countries in the western hemisphere in addition to other foreign carriers such as American Airlines, LATAM, and Avianca. Neighboring Colombia is especially well served with daily flights to more than 7 cities, including Bogota, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena by Avianca and Copa Airlines.\nLocal travelers and tourists can also fly in and out of Bocas del Toro via Costa Rica.\n\nThe country has more private airstrips per square mile than any other country in the world, and it is feasible for the adventurous private pilot to fly to one of them, either directly or through country hopping through Central America. Many of the remote interior regions of the country are best accessed by private plane, although a combination of hiking and canoeing can get you to most places, too. If you are flying a private aircraft into Panama, it is important to verify where you can clear customs and immigration--not all airstrips are equipped to clear you.\n\nBusiness jet FBO services are available in Panama City (Albrook and Tocumen), David (by appointment), Howard, and Bocas del Toro.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk013", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Costa Rica, you can drive across at Paso Canoas (Pacific side) which closes at 11PM (Panama side) or 10PM (Costa Rica side); however, it is one of the busiest and most disorganized border crossings in Central America. It is very easy to accidentally drive across the border without realizing it. The various offices at the border are randomly scattered throughout the bordertown, and you can do quite a bit of trekking while searching for them, as they don't look distinct from the surrounding buildings in any way. This is one crossing where it is definitely worth your money to hire a \"tramitador\", or helper, to assist you through the stations, if you do not speak Spanish.\n\nThere are also road crossings at Rio Sereno (Pacific side) and Sixaola/Guabito (Atlantic side). The Rio Sereno crossing sees very little traffic, so make sure all your papers are in order, as police can be very strict.\n\n**There are no roads connecting Panama and Colombia.** The Darien Gap that physically connects the two countries has little to no infrastructure and is dominated by paramilitaries and drug cartels.\n\nYou will not be allowed to leave the country without your car (i.e., change your mind, abandon the car, and fly home) without getting a stamp on your passport proving that you have paid the proper impuestos (importation taxes) on your vehicle. Expect to be stopped frequently by police, but don't worry, they are usually more curious about seeing a foreign car than interested in a bribe.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk014", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you have car trouble in Panama, you will find dealers with service departments for all of the major car manufacturers from the USA and Japan, and almost all from Europe. Most of them require appointments to service your car. Most of the service personnel in all of the car dealers are manufacturer certified. If you need car repairs and do not want to go to a dealer to save some money or you have an emergency repair, you can find good independent mechanic service shops in all of the major cities by looking in the yellow pages (*paginas amarillas*), in addition to towing services. If you need parts for your vehicle, you can find a great number of autopart stores for all major car manufacturers in the yellow pages too.\n\nThe use of \"shade tree mechanics\" and parts from junkyards are for the do-it-yourself type of people.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Darien Gap rainforest as seen from the Pacific\nYou can't cross from Panama to Colombia by bus--the Darien Gap begins at Yaviza, where the Interamericana runs out.\n\nIf you're coming in from Costa Rica, however, things will be a bit easier. There are three possible entry points, the main one being Paso Canoas closing at 11PM (Panama time) or 10PM (Costa Rica time). Panaline and Ticabus, among others, can get you straight from San Jose, Costa Rica to David or Panama City. The trip from San Jose is quite cheap, but takes about 18 hours. If you want to see things in between, you can also go by local buses, although the trip will take much longer.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk015", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you want to save time yet not pay $280 or so for a SJO-PTY airplane ticket with Avianca or Copa Airlines, you could consider taking the bus from San Jose to Changuinola and fly from there to Panama city. That flight takes about one hour and costs $110 (Nov 2011). Check the website of Aeroperlas for flight schedules.\n\nPanamanian law requires you to have a return ticket to get into Panama. The border guard may not check, but you never know. A return flight from San Jose, Bogotá or Abu Dhabi will not work. The return ticket has to originate from within Panama. If you run into this problem, you can always buy a return ticket from the bus driver. In general, if you are having a hot-tempered day, it may not be a good day to cross any borders. Some border officials in Central America seem to love being sticklers about their crazy rules if they decide they don't like you.\n\n### By boat\n\nMany cruise lines have the Panama Canal on their itineraries. You can make tours in Panama City or Colón City and take part in many packages.\n\nIt is possible to arrange for passage on banana boats traveling from Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, but such passage is recommended only for the truly adventurous, as the boats are often structurally unsound, terribly over-burdened, and are very likely to be smuggling drugs as well.\n\nPrivate sail boats also provide service between Panama and Cartagena in Colombia. Fare can vary from US$450–700, and the trip takes usually 5 nights and 5 days including a 3-day stopover in San Blas Islands. The best, most reputable and safest boats from Colombia to Panama can be booked direct online, though they do tend to fill in advance", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk016", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get in", "text": "The cheapest way to reach Panama by boat from Colombia is by ferry from Turbo to Capurganá (COP$55,000, daily around 8AM) and by small boat from Capurganá to Puerto Obaldia (COP$25,000, daily around 7AM). From there by plane to Panama City (US$95) or by boat to Colon and Carti Islands.\n\n### On foot\n\nIt is possible to hike across the Darien Gap from Colombia with the help of trained guides, but this route is generally considered one of the most dangerous in the world. A large percentage of attempts have ended with the trekkers dead as victims of the Colombian guerrillas and paramilitaries or the oppressive jungle environment, which is considered the densest and most difficult to breach in the world. Despite the bravado-filled tales of backpackers who will try to convince you that *real* travelers aren't afraid to cross the Gap, it really is a very dangerous trip and the Panamanian police are not interested in going in to look for you if you get into trouble.\n\nThe guidebook *Getting to Know Panama*, by Michele Labrut, gives the following advice for surviving in the Darien:\n\"Do not go naked into the water, some very undesirable protozoans can get into you. Do not drink untreated water. Never stray from the group, you can easily lose your bearings and get lost. If this happens, stay right where you are, do not panic. Shout or scream at intervals.\"\n\nThe rest of Panama has drinkable water with the exception of Bocas del Toro.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk017", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\nthumb|Colorful chicken bus\nThere are two kinds of buses in Panama: the ones you find on the highway, and \"city buses\" (Metrobuses, which replaced the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils).\n\nThe **highway buses** are constantly making journeys from terminals in Panama city to different destinations along the Pan American Highway, and back to the terminal. They're pretty frequent, and the buses will pick you up or drop you off at any point along their route, and most of them are air conditioned. The roughly linear shape of the country makes it ideal for a bus system, so ideal in fact that you don't really need to rent a car to get around most areas. Take a bus to the intersection on the Pan American highway that you want. You can get on a bus any place on the Pan American highway going towards Panama City, but all trips originating from within the city require a ticket. The Grand Terminal in the city is large and modern, and will remind you of an American shopping mall or airport (it actually is a shopping mall, Albrook Mall, too). Schedules for all Panama are listed here.\n\nThe highway buses are very cheap, count on a fare of about US$1 per hour traveled, sometimes less. One exception is fares from Tocumen airport, for which both buses and taxis charge through the roof (by Panamanian standards), simply because they can.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk018", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you want to get on a bus, stand by the side of the road, hold out your arm and make obvious pointing motions toward the ground. If you're on the bus and want to get off, yell *\"parada!\"* or tell the driver in advance. You'll get the hang of it pretty quick. The locals are very helpful with tourists on buses, and may offer help.\n\n**Never ask for the fare in the bus**: the bus drivers will most certainly always round up numbers in that case. Instead, know the fare beforehand (by asking the locals) and give the exact change. Or give a round number and look as if you expect change or demand it holding your hand forward, pretending to know the right fare.\n\n### By metro\n\nInaugurated in 2014, the Metro de Panama is now one of the major means of transportation for many locals. A single ride costs $0.35; you can pay with a Metro card which you can buy at only some of the busier stations such as 5 de Mayo, Albrook for $2. The same metro card works for both the Metro and the Metrobuses.\n\nThe Metro de Panama operates M-F from 5AM until 11PM, Saturdays from 5AM until 10PM, and Sundays from 7AM until 10PM.\n\nThe Metro de Panama has two lines:Line 1 starts from the Albrook Bus Terminal, with stops at Iglesia del Carmen and Via Argentina connecting you to the city center. Line 1 is connected to the Line 2 (inaugurated in mid-2019) through the San Miguelito station. The Line 2 passes through major parts of the Via Jose Domingo Diaz or the Via Tocumen, but it does not stop at Tocumen Airport.\n\nFollow general safety guidelines while riding the metro during peak and off-peak hours.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk019", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "If your destination is far off the bus route, or if you just want to be lazy, taxis are also a decent way to get around in Panama. Taxi rates are negotiated and vary depending on location. Most short taxi rides are $2.50 and going across town is about $5. Unlike the urban taxis you may be used to, they can take you way out into the country.\n\nA taxi ride from Tocumen airport to Panama City, at a minimum of $30, can easily exceed your taxi fares for the rest of your trip combined. If you share a taxi ride with other passengers going from the airport to the city, your fare per person can be cheaper, at around $12. You can save quite a bit of money by taking the bus to the Gran Terminal, but even the bus fares will be higher than normal.\n\n### By car\n\nPanama can easily be discovered independently. The road system of Panama is in very good condition (for Central and South American standards). You can rent a car and drive it around the country if you are an excellent defensive driver. While traveling by car you can discover attractions that are hard or impossible to reach with public transportation.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk020", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "Panama City is more difficult to navigate than any big city in the United States, with terrible traffic jams at rush hours, few signs for names of streets, poor street design, and a lack of traffic lights at busy intersections. You must be aggressive about positioning your car to get anywhere, yet highly alert to erratic and irrational behavior by others. Drivers have little respect for or even knowledge of traffic laws, and drivers from North America or Western Europe will be stunned by their recklessness. In the rest of the country, driving is mostly stress-free.\n\nThe Pan American Highway is paved for the entire length of the country, and has many roads which branch off to towns off the highway, most of which are paved, and most of the rest are still easily navigable in a sedan. However, road engineering standards are low, so be on the lookout for off camber turns, deep potholes, and sharp turns with no warning. It is highly recommended to drive well informed about your route. Use the detailed information which *cochera andina* provides on its site when planning your trip and check out road conditions, distances and travel times. On the road, don’t forget to take also a good road map with you.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk021", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "For driving in Panama you need the driver’s license of your country but to avoid trouble at police controls it is better to have an international driver's license with you as well. The traffic rules are almost the same as in Europe or the U.S. Road signs are frequent. The speed limits are 40 km/h within cities, 80 km/h outside and 100 km/h on the highways. You will find gas stations all over Panama. A lot of stations are open around the clock. Three types of gasoline are available: unleaded, super and diesel.\n\n#### Panapass\n\nFor driving in the Corredor Sur and Corredor Norte highways, both toll roads, the only accepted payment method is the Panapass sticker; not having one will incur in a fine.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Air Panama aircraft\nLocal airlines serve many airports in Panama. **AirPanama** , **Arrendamientos_Aéreos** and Blue Skies Panama are three local companies operating from () in Albrook, to various places in Panama. Air Panama operates regularly scheduled flights while Arrendamientos_Aéreos and Blue Skies Panama are available on a chartered basis.\n\nIt is advisable to check the tail number of any aircraft chartered in Panama. All registered aircraft authorized for public charter work (air taxi) will have a letters after their numeric tail number (e.g., HP-0000TD). This signifies the aircraft is insured for charter work and is subjected to more inspections and increased maintenance requirements.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk022", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Get around", "text": "Take the Panama Canal Railway from Panama City to Colón or vice versa. The first train made this trip in 1855 (though the line has since been abandoned and rebuilt in standard gauge) and it was the first interoceanic railway in the Americas, predating the transcontinental railroad in the US by a decade and a half. While the primary purpose of the railroad is the cargo business, a passenger train runs once per day and direction and is very much marketed as a luxury train, trying to justify the $25 one way fare.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk023", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Beach on Coiba Island\n **The Panama Canal** - one of the world's most important interoceanic connections and probably the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about Panama. There are different ways to explore the canal: the most visited place at the canal is the **Miraflores Visitor Center / Miraflores Locks** in Panama City (see the city's article for details). It is located at the *old* canal with its smaller locks for smaller ships, but still very impressive. To see the *new*, expanded canal, you can visit the **Agua Clara Visitor Center** in the city of Colon (Panama), on the Caribbean side of the canal. In addition, it is also possible to book a luxury train ride along the canal, or a boat ride on the canal.\n **Panama City** - being not only the capital city of, but also by far the biggest and most populous city in Panama, it is the economic and cultural heart of the country.\n\n### UNESCO World Heritage Sites\n\nThere are several in the country:\n\n **Casco Viejo** -The historic district of Panama City, featuring colonial-era plazas, churches, museums, and cobblestone streets that preserve the Spanish legacy.\n **Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo** - military constructions, built by the Spanish Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries\nThree national parks:\n\n **Darién National Park**: One of the most biodiverse and remote regions in the continent, located near the border with Colombia.\n **Coiba National Park**: Known for its rich marine life and protected island environment, ideal for diving.\n\n **La Amistad International Park**: Shared with Costa Rica, it protects cloud forests and endemic wildlife in the highlands.\n\n **The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá**, inscribed in 2025, consisting of three sections of a path between the oceans (Camino de Cruces) plus three sites that are already in themselves on the list: the San Lorenzo castle on the Caribbean Sea, and the Casco Viejo (Panama City's Old town) and Panamá Viejo (the even older original Panama City ruined by pirates).", "word_count": 334}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk024", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Do", "text": "Panama's strongest attraction is its diversity. In less than five days you can visit a beach, a mountain, a modern city and historic ruins. While in Panama City don't miss the four must-dos: the Panama Canal, Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (also known as Casco Viejo) and the jungles surrounding the Canal area.\n\nPanama Viejo was the first city of Panama, founded by the Spanish in 1519. It was the first city founded at the Pacific and it became rapidly a prosperous point where gold from the southern colonies would make it to the Caribbean and later to Europe. It was attacked by pirates several times, the last of them by Pirate Henry Morgan who destroyed it in 1671. In 1673, a new city was built, but this time using the knowledge painfully acquired by experience. The Spanish by then knew well the risks of settling cities in tropical swamps: mosquitoes, tropical diseases and difficulty to defend its territory. The second city was founded at the opposite side of the bay in very different conditions: a rocky peninsula easy to defend and with crossed winds that would ensure the health of its inhabitants. This city is known today as Casco Antiguo, and it is here where the Republic of Panama was born.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk025", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Do", "text": "A UNESCO protected site, Casco Antiguo (or Casco Viejo) is Panama City's second touristic destination because its buildings reflect the diversity of Panamanian society. Although a Spanish colonial city, because of several fires and the influence of merchants from all around the world, it became a vibrant city with styles ranging from Caribbean to French and even Art Deco. Today, Casco Antiguo undergoes an interesting revitalization process. Boutique hotels have started to appear, and some of the best bars and restaurants of the city can be found here. It has also become Panama City's artistic center with the recurrent art events and shows such as the Panama Jazz Festival, the Music Festival, Sobresaltos Dance Festival and many others.\nthumb|Crocodile and turtle in Parque Soberania\nParque Soberania, Parque Chagres and Parque Metropolitano: 15 minutes away from modern Panama City, you'll be able to hike primary and secondary tropical rainforests. There are several activities you can do here, from birdwatching at Gamboa's Pipeline Road to fishing at the Gatun Lake or visits of the caves at Madden. For those interested in research, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute offers visitors educational tours to Barro Colorado Island, one of the most studied jungles in the world.\n\nA visit to the Panama Canal is probably the most important item in the traveler's list. There are several ways you can experience the canal, it will depend on your level of interest. For the curious visitor, there are two museums devoted to it: the Canal Museum at Casco Antiguo, featuring Panama's history as a crossroads of cultures, oceans and a bridge between continents and a second museum is located at the Miraflores Locks. This museum shows the technical aspects of the canal. You can observe the transits at the balcony of the restaurant on the top.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk026", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Do", "text": "Another way to experience the canal is to cross it. Either partial crossing which takes four hours or complete crossing which can be done in eight; in both cases it is recommended to hire a guide that is knowledgeable in history of the Panama Canal.\n\nAn interesting twist on viewing the Panama Canal is to travel the length by train. The Panama Railroad was first built in 1855 and then rebuilt in 1909 during construction of the Panama Canal. For many years the railway provided an invaluable link between the Atlantic and Pacific. Ocean to Ocean by railway, the trip will take one day and transits through the tropical jungle.\n\nAlthough the Panama Canal is the most famous destination in Panama, travel outside the City is growing in popularity. Adventure travelers can take a bus or short flight, and in just a few days, can see both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.\n\n### Outdoor activities", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk027", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hiking:** There are many hiking trails in Panama through the numerous national parks. Most are accessible and easy enough to traverse without a guide. However, due to the density of some of the rainforests, staying on the designated trail is recommended, if you don’t have a guide. To increase your chance of seeing wildlife, birds, or quetzals in Boquete, you can hire a guide. In the Darien unguided travel can be dangerous. Because Panama is one of the top adventure destinations, there are many reputable tour companies offering guided treks throughout the country.\n **Quetzal Trail:** Within the National Park, Boquete, is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in all of Panama. Visitors come from all over the world to have an opportunity to see the Resplendent Quetzal. Although the trail is easy enough to hike by yourself, unless you are an experienced birder, you might not spot a Quetzal. It is wise to hire a guide.\n **Zip-line canopy:** There is nothing more exciting than flying over the canopy on a zip-line. You can find zip line canopy adventures in Panama City, Cocle, Bocas del Toro, and Boquete.\n **Horseback riding:** Horses are a way of life in Panama. It is not unusual to look out the window of your casita, and have a horse looking back. Horseback riding in Panama is mostly Western horses and Western saddles. Privately owned horses can vary from Quarter Horse to a mix of Columbian or Peruvian Paso. By breeding the two, you get a larger horse, than the traditional Paso Fino, with the smooth and lovely gait of the Paso. There are two great areas for riding: on the beaches of Bocas del Toro near Dolphin Bay' and in mountains of Boquete.\n **Scuba diving** and **Snorkeling**: Both the Atlantic (Bocas del Toro) and Pacific (Gulf of Chiriqui) offer incredible water sport opportunities. For Caribbean coral and reef fish, go Atlantic. For rare pelagic species and the best whale watching in the world, go Pacific.\nthumb|Fishermen in the Las Perlas archipelago\n **Fishing**: The Gulf of Chiriqui is known among sport fishermen to be one of the best spots in Central America. *Saltwater Sportsman Magazine* once named Panama as the best place on earth to catch the Black Marlin. On the other side of the country, near the border with Colombia on the Pacific side, you can also find Piñas Bay and the Zane Gray Reef, which is renowned worldwide as one of the best fishing spots in the worlds (and in Piñas Bay, you will also find the Tropic Star Lodge).\n **Coffee tasting:** Boquete, Panama has become synonymous with some of the best coffee in the world. It has always been a coffee producing region. You can visit a coffee estate for a tasting and explanation of the coffee process. For a single estate visit Ruiz or take a tour of multiple estates, like a wine tour, with Boquete Safari Tours.\n **Boating**: Panama touches both oceans and is only 80 km (50 miles) wide at its narrowest point, so there's plenty of opportunities for boating. From David, a 5-minute cab ride will get you to the port of Pedregal and into the sparkling Gulf of Chiriqui. In Panama City, you will find many options for taking a boat, including Flamenco Resort and Marina, Balboa Yacht Club, Diablo Spinning Club, the Club de Yates y Pesca, and the Miramar Marina. There are also some other marinas in the lakes of the Panama Canal, and some near the city of Colon in the Atlantic side\n **White water rafting:** World class white water rafting can be found on the Chagres River, 1 to 2 hours from Panama City; in the Chiriqui Province, on the Rio Chiriqui Viejo; and the Rio Grande, Cocle Province. There is usually enough water to paddle year around. However, the highest water level is in November, at the end of the rainy season, and the lowest water level is in May, at the end of the dry season. Class I to Class V rapids can be found in Panama. The classes are based upon Panamanian classifications. During the rainy season, the Panama class IIIs are easily comparable to U.S. class IVs.\n **Kayaking:** Ocean and river kayaking can be found in the Chiriqui Province. Boquete has many outfitters as the rivers are perfect for rafting and kayaking. And the Gulf of Chiriqui is protected by many islands, making the calm waters perfect for kayaking; white powdery beaches filled with wildlife.\n **Rock climbing:** The best rock climbing is in the Chiriqui Province, in the highlands of Boquete. The Basaltic Rock was formed after the last volcano eruption. Cesar Melendez has developed over 30 routes, from beginner to advanced. He is also pioneering 'bouldering', climbing rocks while suspended over the river.\n **Birding:** There are over 960 species of birds in Panama. Many are only found in this region. The Panama Audubon Society is a good source of information on the bird population by region.\n **Hot springs:** Even though the volcano has been dormant for over 600 years, there are still thermal springs bubbling up around it. The Chiriqui Province has several areas with active springs. In Volcan, on the northern side of the Volcan Baru, about 30 minutes from town, there are several springs; however, due to the mineral content, there is a slight sulfur smell. In the Boquete region there are several hot springs to choose from. A local land owner in Caldera has started to develop his bubbling spring (no sulfur smell), and hopes to make it more like a 'spa'. However, it is not that easy to access yet; 4-wheel drive is required.", "word_count": 938}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk028", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|US$100, $50, $20, $10, $5, $2 and $1 bills.\nPanama has used the **US dollar** (\"**$**\") as its only currency since 1904 although Panamanians often refer to it as **balboa**. 1 balboa consists of 100 centesimos. Panama has its own coins, made by the United States Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint, in the same weights, sizes and metallic compositions as US coinage, but with Panamanian stampings. The Panamanian coinage is completely interchangeable with standard US coinage in Panama. You may get a handful of change back with a conquistador on the quarter and an Indian on one of your pennies, but Lincoln on the other penny and Roosevelt on the dime. Panama also still mints half dollars. You may hear these half dollars called pesos, but don't think you've accidentally ended up in Mexico.\n\nCoins in Panama come in denominations of 1 and 5 centesimos, , , and 1 balboa. These correspond to U.S. coins of equal value (1 cent (penny), 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter dollar), 50 cents (half dollar) and 1 dollar (dollar coin)).\n\nMany businesses do not accept US$50 or US$100 bills at all. Most of those that do will ask for your passport and store your data/serial numbers of your notes in a special book. The reason for this is that many US$50 and US$100 bills have been counterfeited.\n\nIf you run short on change in the United States, Panamanian coins work in parking meters, payphones, vending machines, etc.\n\n#### Credit cards", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk029", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can typically use a credit card at all hotels in the capital, and in medium-sized regional cities (David, Las Tablas, Colon, Santiago, Bocas del Toro, etc.) Restaurants, supermarkets, and department stores in major cities will also usually take credit cards and even debit cards. However, outside the capital using your card could be difficult.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nThough Panamanian ATMs function on the Cirrus/Plus system, they may not take cards with the Interlink symbol. Make sure you're carrying a lot of cash (especially small bills) and understand how to take cash advances out on your credit card. Travelers checks are not widely used.\n\nThere is generally a withdrawal fee of $5.25 for withdrawing cash from ATMs with a (Visa) credit card. Hence, it makes sense to withdraw larger amounts to keep the fees low.\n\n#### Banks\n\nOpening hours vary widely from bank to bank. On weekdays, all banks are open until at least 3PM, and some until 7PM. On Saturdays many banks are open until noon, and some branches located in shopping centers are also open on Sundays. Note that most banks will not allow you to enter wearing shorts and/or flip-flops.\n\n### Shopping\n\nPanama is home to the Colon Free Zone, which is the largest in the hemisphere. There are also large, American-style malls, such as Multicentro, Albrook Mall, Multiplaza Pacific, and the latest Metromall. However, prices vary widely from mall to mall - Albrook is quite cheap, while Multiplaza is home to designer boutiques and very high prices. Generally Panama is a good place to buy consumer electronics, clothing and cosmetics.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk030", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Buy", "text": "Traditional Panamanian crafts can be found most cheaply at *artesania* markets, such as the YMCA in Balboa and the market in Panama Viejo. In Panama City, the best handicrafts can be found at REPROSA. Panama's best-known craft is the *mola*, intricate reverse-applique handwork made by the Kuna. *Molas* can also be bought from vendors on the seawall in Casco Viejo . Other Panamanian crafts include carved tagua nuts, cocobolo carvings of animals, and woven palm-fiber baskets. There is a smaller craft market in El Valle, which specializes in soapstone carvings and other central Panamanian crafts.", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk031", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Eat", "text": "In the larger cities you can find all types of food ranging from the French haute cuisine to the freshest sushi. There are Arabic restaurants, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican... whatever you're in the mood for.\n\nOutside of the cities, the selection is largely Panamanian with bountiful seafood and beef due to the abundance of cattle farms and the fantastic fishing in the area. Panamanian cuisine is a mix of several cultures. Reminiscent of the country's Afro-Caribbean, French and Spanish influences, the dishes take on a complete character of their own. If you get tired of eating beans or *gallo pinto* in the rest of Central America, you might want to head towards Panama. Since Panama has a little more Caribbean influence than other Central American countries, you'll see a lot more plaintain than beans here. Most dishes are served with coconut rice and a type of squash or other native vegetable. If Panamanian food has to be summed up in one word, that word would be *culantro*, which is a local plant that tastes like cilantro, except that it has a much stronger flavor.\nthumb|Lunch near [[Portobelo]]\nA typical plate in a humble, family restaurant can range from $1.25 to $5.00, including your choice of meat: mondongo (beef stomach), fried or baked chicken, pork, beef and sometimes fried fish; rice, beans, salad: cabbage, carrot & mayonnaise; beet salad; green salad; potato or macaroni salad; and *patacones* (fried green plantains). The Panamanians also enjoy their *chichas* (fruit, water & sugar), of which there is always a selection, ranging from tamarindo, maracuya (passion fruit), mango, papaya, *jugo de caña* (sugar cane juice), or *agua de pipa* (juice from young green coconuts). If you like your food *picante*, Panama may not be the place for you. They definitely have several hot sauces, but the emphasis is not on the heat.\n\nYou can get excellent food really cheap if you look around. A quick and cheap lunch can be found at the so-called **fondas**, which are small eateries located near schools, sports stadiums and in industrial areas where workers and students will have their afternoon meal. There are often several of these *fondas* clustered together so just look for the one with the longest line and you can count on it having the best food for the money. A full plate of rice and beans with a large piece of chicken and a small salad will cost around $4-8 plus the cost of a Coke (Squirt is very popular with lunch). If you choose to eat your food at the *fonda* you will be given a real plate and silverware, and a glass bottle of soda with a straw (be sure to return the empty bottle). The local food is far more tasty than the typical Subway sandwich, Whopper or KFC meal and a lot cheaper. If you eat at the same location often enough you will move from the status of a crazy gringo who must have gotten lost on the way to the Burger King to just another one of the locals enjoying lunch and casual conversation (in an industrial area the patrons will be mostly men and the subject of conversation mostly football and women).\n\nThe equivalent of a 5-star meal with drinks can be $8-30 in some places.", "word_count": 548}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk032", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Drink", "text": "National beers are produced (Balboa, Atlas, Soberana, Panamá), but don't measure up to a good import. Balboa is probably the best of the domestic brands, however, Atlas is the most commonly purchased; many women favor Soberana. Beer can cost as little as $0.30 per 12-oz can in a supermarket or anywhere from $0.50 in a local town bar up to $2.50 in upscale bars.\n\nCarta Vieja and Ron Abuelo are the main domestically produced rum. Seco, a very raw white rum, is the national liquor. Seco *con leche* (with milk) is a common drink in the countryside.\n\n### Listen\n\nMusic is definitely one of the highlights of Panama. Salsa music seems to permeate everything in the Latin parts of the country. Reggaeton originated in Panama and is also very popular and is known by the name Plena. There are over 100 radio stations in Panama broadcasting online, some in English. In Bocas del Toro, you will hear a lot of Reggae with Spanish lyrics. Check out the summer music festival in Las Tablas.\n\n### Party\n\nHow the Panamanians love their *fiestas*! They know how to let loose and have a genuinely good time, dancing, conversing and drinking.\n\nCarnaval is the main celebration in the country. It is held 40 days before the Christian Holy Week, running through the weekend and ending on Ash Wednesday (which can fall between Feb 4 and Mar 10). The largest celebration is held in the province of Azuero, in the town of Las Tablas, where two streets compete with separate queens, activities, parades and musical performances.\n\nThe party begins on Friday with a presentation, parade and crowning of the queens, a fireworks show; with drinking in the streets legal, the party begins and doesn't stop until 5AM.\n\nEvery carnival day has a theme: Friday is the Opening, Saturday is International Day, Sunday is Pollera day, Monday is costume day, Tuesday is the Queens day and on Wednesday is the \"entierro de la sardina\"(the sardine burial) before 5AM.\n\nMany discos and bars fill the capital city. The area known as \"Calle Uruguay\" has probably a dozen or so nice discos and bars within a two-block radius, and is the best place for partying.\n\nCalle Uruguay bar area is a very trendy scene. You will find here many restaurants such as La Posta, Peperoncini, Habibis, Tomate y Amor, Madame Chang, Burgues or Lima Limon, which make up a great pre-party event. After diner you can cross over to Prive, Pure, Loft, Guru or People for a more fashionable club scene. If you want a more relaxed bar, Sahara and The Londoner offer retro music and pool tables.\n\nAnother great spot for \"bar hopping\" is Zona Viva in the Amador Causeway. Zona Viva is a closed-off area so it is very easy for you to find everything in one place. You will find here clubs such as Jet Set Club, the Building, the Chill Out Zone, X Space.\n\nCasco Viejo is a more cultural zone of Panama. Art galleries in the area coordinate Art Block parties once a month and there are always exhibits. The National Theater offers ballets, opera, and concerts weekly. Restaurants in this area are highly recommended. After dinner you can cross over to Relic, La Casona, Mojitos sin Mojitos, Platea, Havana Cafe or Republica Havana.", "word_count": 551}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk033", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Lobby in Hotel Colón, Casco Viejo, Panama City\n\nPanama’s hotel accommodations are as diverse as its geography. **Panama City** has as much glamour and glitz as New York City, without the high price tag. You can find 5-star high rise hotels in the heart of downtown; or you can venture out to the smaller neighborhoods, where old Canal military barracks have been converted into B&Bs. In terms of an authentic Panama experience, the historic district of Casco Viejo provides the charm of yester-year with modern amenities of today. Because tourism is so new to the district, lodging accommodations are largely limited to the fleet of short term apartment rentals at Los Cuatro Tulipanes\n\n**Bocas del Toro** has typical island cabanas and small hotels, some literally right on the water (similar to the cabanas in Bali). The **Chiriqui** Province, in the western lowlands, has small hotels on some of the outer islands, and an Eco-Preserve in Chorcha where you can spend the night in Jungle Hammocks with the monkeys. In the western highlands, around **Boquete**, there are hostels for $5 a night, and 5-star hotels for $300 a night or more. No high rises here, but small very artsy boutique hotels and casitas. David Panama, capital of the Chiriqui Province, has become a destination and a hub for backpackers crossing from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro and Costa Rica.\n\n### Motels vs hotels\n\nA quick word of caution; in Panama a \"motel\" is not the same as what one normally finds in the United States. The term motel in Latin America usually refers to a place of accommodation where the rooms are rented on a short term basis, typically for romantic assignations. Hotels, by contrast, are places of accommodation for travelers and are typically family friendly. Many hotels will not permit persons who are not registered as guests to go beyond the reception area. This is for the safety of both the guests and hotel staff and also to protect the hotel's reputation in what is still a culturally conservative and Catholic country. So visitors looking for a place to enjoy the physical company of another, will often use motels, sometimes called \"push button\" motels. Also privacy is something of a premium in Panama, with children often living at home until they are married. For this and other practical reasons, couples, even married couples desiring a little intimacy, sometimes rent a room at a motel. These motels are common in Panama and do not carry the social stigma that used to be associated with so called \"no tell motels\" in the United States or Canada. The quality and price of motel accommodations varies, sometimes drastically, with most being clean and well kept. Rooms are engaged anonymously with the tariff and any associated charges usually being paid on a cash only basis.", "word_count": 471}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk034", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Learn", "text": "Panama offers many universities and high schools that are bilingual and world class.\nThere's an ongoing project called City of Knowledge that consists of several educational programmes in the old installations of a former US military base (Clayton). There is also a school at Justo Arosemena who teaches mainly to German-speaking people, but it might be worth a glance at the UDI-Universidad del Istmo. There's a Florida State University branch, as many other alternatives.\n\nUniversidad Tecnológica de Panama (Technological University of Panama) has a language center where you can learn Spanish, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Italian and many other languages. You can find people from these countries teaching in this center.\n\nISAE Universidad is the largest private university in all of Panama, it has 10 branches and is mainly focused on careers focused on the social sciences.\n\nIn the western part of the country, such as in Bocas del Toro and in Boquete, there are other well-reputed Spanish language schools which cater to university students and young professionals traveling to study abroad.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk035", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Most of Panama is very safe. People in rural areas are generally extremely friendly and very helpful. If you want to visit Latin America, but are paranoid about security, Panama might be a good place to cut your teeth. \n\nOne exception is the border region between Panama and Colombia, which is considered extraordinarily dangerous due to Colombian rebel groups and drug traffickers. Most of the city of Colon is considered dangerous, and some neighborhoods in Panama City are a bit sketchy, in particular El Chorrillo, Curundu and El Marañón, poor and crime-ridden areas. The old colonial quarter, Casco Viejo (also called San Felipe) has a lingering bad reputation among travelers and some Panamanians, but is gentrifying rapidly. \n\nDuring the daytime, San Felipe is perfectly safe for foreigners. At night, the main streets and plazas, as well as the district of bars and restaurants toward the point, are also safe, but visitors should exercise caution as they move north along Avenida Central towards Chorillo.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk036", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Located in the tropics, several major mosquito borne diseases are a risk in Panama\nPanama is well known for its excellent medical care, making it a hot spot for medical vacations.\n\n**Yellow fever** vaccination is recommended for all visitors over 9 months of age travelling to the provinces of Darien, Kunayala (San Blas) and Panama, excluding the Canal Zone. Most countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before permitting travelers to enter from Panama.\n\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that risk of **malaria** exists in rural areas of Bocas del Toro, Darién, and San Blas provinces; no risk in Panama City or in the former Canal Zone. NB: Chloroquine is no longer effective for San Blas Province.\n\n**Dengue fever** is endemic, particularly in the province of Darien.\n\n**Tap water** is safe in virtually all cities and towns, with the exception of Bocas del Toro, where bottled water is recommended.\n\nThe moisture and heat of the tropics can encourage yeast infections. 3-day and 5-day treatment courses are available in pharmacies, but must be purchased from the pharmacist.\nThere are many hospitals that can give tourists first class attention. Many can take international insurance policies, though your insurance company may require you to pre-pay and submit a claim form. Verify with your company prior to travel what the requirements are for filing a foreign claim, as you will not typically be provided with a detailed receipt (one that includes diagnosis and treatment codes) unless you ask for it. Here are some of the best ones in Panama City:", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk037", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "'''Hospital Nacional''' - State-of-the-art **private** hospital on Avenida Cuba, between street 38 and 39, +507 207-8100.\n '''Clinica Hospital San Fernando''' - A long-standing and reputable medical institution.\n '''National Oncology Institute (ION):''' This is the main public center for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care in Panama. It reports to the Ministry of Health.\n Hospital Paitilla - Is a well-equipped hospital where Panama's wealthy upper class traditionally have gotten there medical services.\n '''Punta Pacifica Hospital''' - Is a hospital near Multiplaza Mall that is managed by Johns Hopkins International. It is attracting some doctors away from Paitilla.\n '''Hospital Santo Tomas''' - Is considered by many emergency doctors and medical professionals to be the best for trauma care due to the volume of their trauma patients. Santo Tomas medical teams see many types of trauma each day and are well equipped to handle these cases. Once a patient is triaged, they can be moved to a private facility.\n\nWell-stocked pharmacies can be found throughout the country. **Farmacia Arrocha** is a chain with multiple branches, as are **Farmaplus** stores, which also offer pharmacy services.\n\nThe 911 system is operational for medical emergencies only. Most coverage is in and around Panama City. However, during major holidays or national festivals, 911 units are stationed around the country especially in Las Tablas, David, Chitre, and Santiago.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk038", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Medical evacuation flights are not as organized as in the EU, Canada, and the US. Until a dedicated helicopter emergency service is operational, the only choice for fast evacuation from the interior is to charter either a small plane or helicopter capable of holding a litter. Charges are billed to a credit card or paid in cash. Contact charter aircraft companies for a quotation. Typically, a medical flight on a small twin-engined plane from David to Panama City will cost $4,000. Helicopters are significantly more. A new private membership air medical transport service is now available. Tourist memberships are $10 for 90 days coverage.\n\nEvacuation flights out of the country are normally provided by air ambulance services from Miami and range from $18,000 to over $30,000 depending on the patient's medical needs.\n\nTravelers with a prior medical condition, or who are at risk, should check their insurance coverage for these flights. Do not assume that a credit card's travel insurance will cover the cost. Many only cover up to $1,000.\n\nPersonal cleanliness and sanitation: The bathrooms in even the most remote areas and smallest restaurants of the country are amazingly clean and well-kept. They far exceed most North American public facilities in this respect. In most areas, the standard practice is to throw toilet paper into the provided bin - not the toilet. Most remote areas do not have the proper septic systems to handle toilet paper waste. This is especially true along the Pacific and Caribbean coastal areas.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk039", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Respect", "text": "Panama is a diverse country, with a mix of cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles that coexist in relative harmony. Although race is generally not a determining factor in daily life, it’s useful to understand certain customs and expressions to avoid misunderstandings.\n\nIn general, Panamanians are direct in their speech. In the capital, people may come across as abrupt or impatient due to the fast-paced environment, but this shouldn’t be interpreted as rudeness. In the interior of the country, interactions are usually more relaxed, friendly, and hospitable toward both locals and foreigners.\n\nRespect for Indigenous cultures is highly valued. If you see someone wearing traditional clothing, do not point at them or take photos without their permission. Each Indigenous territory has its own style, reflecting its identity. When speaking about these communities, avoid using the term “Indian,” which can be offensive. It is more appropriate to refer to them as Indigenous peoples or by their specific names: Guna, Emberá, Ngäbe, among others.\n\nIn everyday language, it’s common to hear words like *moreno* or *chombo* to refer to people of African descent. While such terms may not be offensive in informal local contexts, their use by foreigners could be misunderstood, so it’s better to avoid them. Similarly, the word *chino* is popularly used to refer to shop or mini-market owners, regardless of their actual ethnic background.\n\nAnother sensitive topic is the 1989 U.S. military invasion, a painful chapter for many Panamanians. While many are open to discussing it, it’s best to approach the subject with respect, especially with older people. This does not mean that U.S. citizens are unwelcome; most Panamanians distinguish between historical events and their attitude toward today’s visitors.\n\nPanamanians generally take care in their appearance and tend to dress neatly and conservatively. For daily activities, men usually wear jeans or long pants and collared shirts. Although shorts are common in beach areas, wearing them in urban settings, banks, or public institutions may be frowned upon or even prohibited—especially if they leave the knees exposed.\n\nIn mountainous areas like Boquete, especially during the rainy season (May to November), it is advisable to dress in layers and carry a waterproof jacket, along with proper footwear for walking on wet terrain.", "word_count": 368}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk040", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Connect", "text": "WhatsApp is the most widely used app for calls and messaging, popular among both locals and visitors. Telegram is also used, though to a lesser extent. These apps allow users to communicate for free, as long as both parties have the app installed.\n\nPanama has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, thanks to its strategic location where several undersea fiber-optic cables intersect. International call rates vary depending on the carrier and destination, so using VoIP apps like Viber is recommended to make phone calls back home for cheap.\n\n**Useful Information:**\n\n Country code: +507\n Mobile numbers have 8 digits and begin with 6\n Landline numbers have 7 digits and do not use regional prefixes", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "panama::chunk041", "doc_id": "panama", "section": "Go next", "text": "Panama is a small country in land area, but it boasts great natural, cultural, and tourism richness. Visiting it can be an excellent gateway to discover other destinations in Central America and the Caribbean, regions that also offer a remarkable diversity of landscapes, traditions, and experiences for travelers.\n\n Punta Cana and La Romana (Dominican Republic)\n Puerto Viejo (Talamanca) and San José (Costa Rica)\n Ahuachapán and Santa Ana (El Salvador)\n Bayamón and San Juan (Puerto Rico)", "word_count": 75}
diff --git a/corpus/panama/metadata.json b/corpus/panama/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..fecee7953ffc27c5fbf2e5a6395b94f9eab59e2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/panama/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "panama",
+ "title": "Panama",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Panama",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central America"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Punta Cana",
+ "La Romana",
+ "Dominican Republic",
+ "Puerto Viejo de Talamanca",
+ "San José (Costa Rica)",
+ "Costa Rica",
+ "Ahuachapan",
+ "Santa Ana (El Salvador)",
+ "El Salvador",
+ "Bayamón",
+ "San Juan",
+ "Puerto Rico"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 10893,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 42,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/pantanal/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/pantanal/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bae212142a75f54944c3d30453d698a636eb13a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/pantanal/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk000", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Pantanal** is a region in South America lying mostly in western Brazil, but extending into Bolivia as well (and a tiny bit in Paraguay). It is considered one of the world's largest and most diverse freshwater wetland ecosystems. The Pantanal is also one of Brazil's major tourist draws for its wildlife and is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as \"Pantanal Conservation Area\". Some of the large cattle farms offer accommodations and organized tours.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk001", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Regions", "text": "300px|thumbnail|Pantanal sunset\nThe Pantanal is accessible through three major gateways: Campo Grande in the south, Cuiabá in the north, and Corumbá in the west. The first two offer many options. From Campo Grande you can access Bonito and from Cuiabá Chapada dos Guimarães. Corumbá can be reached by plane, or by train from Bolivia, through the border crossing at Puerto Suarez. Lodges and fazendas are, among other places, in Miranda and Passo de Lontra. The Southern Pantanal is more influenced by the Chaco and the Atlantic Rainforest fauna and flora; the northern part of the Pantanal, by Amazonia. But this doesn't make one area better than the other.\n\nParts of the Pantanal are protected natural areas. National and state parks as well as conservation areas preserve native habitat and also provide recreational facilities for visitors who want to explore the natural ecosystems.\n\n - national park protecting more than 135,000 hectares of wetlands", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk002", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are direct and indirect daily flights to the gateway cities of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso and Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul as well as biweekly flights from São Paulo to Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul. Backpackers often arrive by train in Corumbá from Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia. \n\nIf have your own car and want to see some of the pantanal without an expensive tour, the main scenic routes are the *Estrada Parque* in the south, which runs from Corumbá to the junction called Buraco das Piranhas, via Curva do Leque and Passo do Lontra; and in the north, the *Estrada Transpantaneira* from Poconé to Porto Jofre. You'd have to get lucky to see big mammals like jaguars or tapirs this way, but it's generally easy to see (large) birds and caimans (alligators).\n\nMost of the buses that run from Corumba to Campo Grande are now non-stop and so unless you leave very early in the morning or late in the afternoon it is difficult to get to Buraco das Piranhas the popular area for backpackers by public transportation. As of August 2019, there's a daily bus operated by Cruzeiro do Sul at 14:30, covering on the route Corumba to Bonito with a stop in Passo do Lontra (yes, the bus even drives the 8 km north from Buraco das Piranhas!). As of November 2025, Cruzeiro do Sul's daily Bonito-Corumba bus stopped at the Buraco das Piranhas junction, but didn't take the side trip to Passo do Lontra (unless they do it only on request?). The price from Bonito to Corumba as R$160, and the ticket office person though it wouldn't be much cheaper to go only to Passo do Lontra.\n\nPantanal Expeditions and some of the other operators based in Campo Grande offer shared van service each day from and to Campo Grande-Bonito-Corumba and Buraco das Piranhas. Renting a vehicle is also an option from Campo Grande. There are also lodges in the Southern Pantanal cities of Aquidauana and Miranda.", "word_count": 334}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk003", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most visitors get around by transport booked as part of a tour/lodge, but some areas are also reachable by car if you have your own or rent on (see \"Get In\" above for tips on driving routes). The tours generally involve safaris using boats, as well as and by 4WD vehicle on private property or restricted areas, so you'll be missing out on that if you don't join one.\n\nThere doesn't seem to be any public transportation, at least in the southern Pantanal, unless you count buses between Corumba and Campo Grande/Bontio, which travel on a part of the highway that crosses an area of Pantanal wetlands (not very wet in dry season) between Albuquerque and Miranda. This could suffice if you just want to see the landscape and some passing glances at birds (make sure your bus will pass through that area during daylight).", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk004", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Yellow-headed caracara and capybara on the Pantanal\nDepending on the time of year and the guide you hire, you can expect to see a variety of different animals. Unlike many other biologically rich areas, in the Pantanal you are virtually guaranteed to actually see wildlife. There are close to 10 million Yacare caiman present within the Pantanal and during the dry season every bridge crossing on the Transpantaneira is surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of Caimans basking or fighting for space in the ever dwindling lagoons. Capybara, like the caiman, are also present in the millions and are likely to be encountered every few seconds while driving. The Pantanal is also home to a variety of birds (including the endangered hyacinth macaw, which is easily spotted). Other mammals are slightly harder to spot, but still much easier than in the Amazon. On a boat ride through the river you are likely to spot the endangered giant river otter and red-bellied piranha (the otter's favorite meal). With the right guide and a couple of days on the river the chances of spotting a jaguar (or perhaps even more than one) are actually very high. The Pantanal is the best place in all of the Americas to spot a jaguar in the wild, given the relatively small amount of thick rain forest cover.\n\nThe best time to see a jaguar is between June and November. The Pantanal is certainly one area of the world where there are a lot of birds, from small and delicate hummingbirds to large ones like the jabiru. Several types of macaws, parrots, parakeets are easily spotted. The wildlife in the region of Porto Jofre is fantastic and there is a very good chance of spotting the elusive and impressive jaguar there.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk005", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Do", "text": "The main way to see the Pantanal, especially if it's important to you to see large wildlife like jaguars, is to either take a tour or stay in a lodge/fazenda that does safaris. Unfortunately this is expensive by backpacker standards. As of November 2025 it seemed to start from about US$100 per person per day for a 4-day-minimum lodge stay. But if that's too much for you, by all means try shopping around in person in the gateway cities to see if you can find something better. Porto Jofre is the go-to place to drop a large sum of money for a tour where you'll probably see jaguars in one day, though less-expensive multi-day trips in other areas also have a good chance.\n - Pantanal Nature\n\n - Pantanal Trackers\n\n - Pantanal Expeditions\n\n**Nick's Adventures Bolivia** www.nicksadventuresbolivia.comis an Australian/Bolivian owned Eco Tour Operator based in Santa Cruz Bolivia, which specializes in wildlife tours to the Bolivian Pantanal. These wildlife based tours are aimed at looking for South America's iconic species such as the anaconda, giant otter, maned wolf and jaguar. They also offer jaguar spotting tours in the Kaa Iya National Park of Bolivia.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk006", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Lodges in the Pantanal are in remote locations and all meals are generally included in the price of the trip. Usually the food is buffet-style, and so vegetarians can pick and choose, but if you have special food preferences it is best to inform your tour operator or agency in case they don't ask first. What is often not included are beverages other than coffee and juice with breakfast. Drinks are generally offered on a tab, and you pay directly to the lodge at check-out.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk007", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Head of a red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata) on the Pantanal\nOne controversial point is mineral water. Water in urban areas in the Pantanal Region generally comes from deep water wells monitored by the state-owned water departments and is as safe to drink as water anywhere in the world-probably safer as there have never been any industrial pollutants that could seep into the water table. That is not the case in the Pantanal, however. By law, water must come from wells in a camping area or lodge, it can't be surface water; but, the law is not always enforced. Some lodges have adequate wells, and water coolers with filters which provide free, reliable drinking water. In some lodges particularly along the Transpantaneira water is pumped directly from the near-stagnant swamp, or clay-filled near surface wells, or even from the São Lourenço River just downstream from where hotel-boats are discharging their effluent. You wouldn't want to brush your teeth with this water. Some predatory lodges take advantage of the situation and charge highly inflated prices for tiny 300-ml bottles of mineral water that leave behind a lot of plastic waste.\n\nIf you drink alcohol, consider sneaking a good bottle of wine or whiskey from home in your bag. Beer prices are normal market prices at some lodges, but cost double to triple the supermarket price in others. Before you buy a Capirinha that uses about 50 centavos of alcohol, a lemon and a few spoons of sugar be sure to ask the price. Some lodges charge R$ 20 or more for the drink.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk008", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Lodges on *fazendas* are the best way to experience the real Pantanal. Several of the traditional cattle stations, called fazendas, nowadays accommodate guests in their lodges and show them what makes the Pantanal a special place. Many of these lodges take only a few guests, making your stay an unforgettable experience.\n\nBe aware of lodges that call themselves \"fazendas\" but are nothing more than just tourism operations, thus lacking in authenticity. If you want to have the best chances to see jaguars, you will spend an extra money and reserve your seat on jaguar tours and stay at Jaguar Camp in the Porto Jofre region.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "pantanal::chunk009", "doc_id": "pantanal", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|A jaguar yawning alongside the Rio Negro in the Pantanal\nAlthough it is recommended by the Brazilian government to obtain vaccinations, it is not required and the fact is that mosquito-borne illnesses in the Pantanal are very rare in the dry season, when you would be hard pressed to even find a mosquito. During the wet season the occurrence of illnesses rises, but much less so than the Amazon or many other parts of South America. The best protection one can use against mosquito-borne illness is wearing long-sleeved shirts and DEET repellent. The Pantanal is not at the same risk level as somewhere like Amazonia or parts of Africa, where the risk of illness is high enough to warrant preventive medication (although vaccinations will do you no harm).\n\n**Yellow Fever**. Vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for all travellers visiting Mato Grosso, the region where the Pantanal is. Yellow fever vaccinations take approximately 10 days to become effective. Nevertheless, yellow fever is very rare in the area, and the best precaution against it is a good long-sleeved shirt.\n\n**Malaria** is not a high risk in this region, with reports of the illness only occurring very occasionally during the wet season.\n\n**Dengue Fever**. The threat of dengue in the Pantanal is real, but only a major concern during the wet season and in some other parts of Mato Grasso do Sul. In 2007 health authorities in Brazil declared a health alert in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul where the highest concentration of the disease has been reported, although the Pantanal itself is still considered to be less risky, especially during the dry season.\n\n**Rotavirus** is common all over Brazil. The symptoms are severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever. It can also lead to dehydration and shock if not treated. This virus is highly contagious and usually spread through contact with an infected person but can also be spread through the air. If you suspect you may have contracted the disease, seek medical advice.\n\n**Bilharzia** (schistosomiasis) is present.\n\nOther infectious diseases prevalent in Brazil include trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (on the increase). There are epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in and around the Rio area. Air pollution, especially in São Paulo, may aggravate chest complaints. Rabies is present.\n\n**Food and drink.** Water should not be consumed unless boiled or sterilised first. Even filtered water in more remote areas should be avoided and bottled water should be drunk instead. Pasteurised milk and cheese is available in towns and is generally considered safe to consume. Milk outside of urban areas is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.", "word_count": 449}
diff --git a/corpus/pantanal/metadata.json b/corpus/pantanal/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..152fa08101ee4a2429d186bb920087f3afc075dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/pantanal/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "pantanal",
+ "title": "Pantanal",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pantanal",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
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+ "activity_tags": [
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South America"
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+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
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+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/paris/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/paris/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c31f211012469e04f67f52a1468c06be83a56412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/paris/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk000", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|The Eiffel Tower and the Seine River\n\n**Paris**, the cosmopolitan capital of France, has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.\n\nDubbed the **City of Light** (*la ville lumière*) and the **City of Love** (*la ville de l'amour*), Paris is home to some of the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics, such as *Chanel*, *Christian Dior*, *Yves Saint-Laurent*, *Guerlain*, *Lancôme*, *L'Oréal*, and *Clarins*. A large part of the city, including the banks of the River Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has the second highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world (after Tokyo, which is much larger) and contains numerous iconic landmarks such as the **Eiffel Tower**, the **Arc de Triomphe**, **Notre-Dame de Paris**, the **Louvre**, the **Moulin Rouge** and the **Basilique du Sacré-Cœur**, making it one of the most popular international tourist destinations in the world, with around 14 million visitors annually.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk001", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Districts", "text": "The city of Paris is divided into 20 districts called *arrondissements*, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the city (which is known as *Kilomètre zéro* and is located at the front of Notre Dame). *Arrondissements* are named according to their number. You might, for example, stay in the \"5th\", which would be written as *5e* in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large parks: the *Bois de Vincennes* and the *Bois de Boulogne* respectively.\n\nThe very best map you can get for Paris is called \"Paris Pratique par Arrondissement\" which you can buy for about €5 at any news stand. It makes navigating the city easy. The various tourist information centres and hotels in Paris also provide various city and metro maps for free and which contain all the essential details for a tourist.\n\nEach *arrondissement* has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveller:\n\n \n \n \n\nBeyond Paris, the outlying suburbs are called *La Banlieue*. Schematically, those to the west of Paris (Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt, Saint Cloud, Levallois, Versailles, Poissy, Rueil-Malmaison) are wealthy residential communities, even if some more middle class suburbs can be found. Those to the north are poorer communities, and very ethnically diverse. Those to the south are a mix of rough and poor neighbourhoods alongside very affluent communities. Finally, those to the east are usually lower-middle class mingled with a few upper-middle class communities.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk002", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Understand", "text": "Paris sits on the River Seine, in north-central France. Around 2.2 million people live in the city of Paris, but this only represents the urban core within the *Boulevard Périphérique*. There are some 10 million people in the wider *Métropole du Grand Paris* (814 km2) and almost 13 million people living in the metropolitan area, making this one of Europe's largest.\n\nDue to high expectations, a tight schedule, and language barriers, not to mention the large crowds and long lines at certain attractions during high season, the city also disappoints some visitors. Foreign visitors who have an idealized view of Paris might be shocked by the typical challenges of visiting any large city. They expect romance, beauty, and luxury, but they find street crime, traffic noise, pollution, garbage, and relatively high costs. In the worst case, visitors might experience the *Paris syndrome*, which is a state of severe culture shock and anxiety – sometimes, severe enough that it even results in a psychiatric emergency that requires hospitalization.\n\nTo enjoy the wonders of Paris, make realistic plans. The number of attractions and landmarks is overwhelming; visiting only the most famous ones (which are overcrowded during major holidays) takes more than a week. The city also has more to offer for people who take time for a calm stroll along the back streets. If your time in the city is short, be selective, and save some attractions for your next visit.\n - Paris je t'aime\n\n- SPOT24\n\n### History", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk003", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Understand", "text": "Paris started life as the Celto-Roman settlement of *Lutetia* on the Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine now occupied by the *Cathédrale de Notre Dame*. It takes its present name from the name of the dominant Gallo-Celtic tribe in the region, the *Parisii*. At least that's what the Romans called them, when they showed up in 52 BCE and established their city *Lutetia* on the left bank of the Seine, in what is now called the \"Latin Quarter\" in the 5th arrondissement.\n\nThe Romans held out here for as long as anywhere else in the Western Empire, but by 508 CE they were gone, replaced by **Clovis of the Franks**, who is considered by the French to have been their first king. Clovis' descendants, aka the Carolingians, held onto the expanded Lutetian state for nearly 500 years through Viking raids and other calamities, which finally resulted in a forced move by most of the population back to the islands which had been the centre of the original Celtic village. The Capetian Duke of Paris was voted to succeed the last of the Carolingians as King of France, ensuring the city a premier position in the medieval world. Over the next several centuries Paris expanded onto the right bank into what was and is still called *le Marais* (The Marsh). Quite a few buildings from this time can be seen in the 4th arrondissement.\n\nThe medieval period also witnessed the founding of the Sorbonne. As the \"University of Paris\", it became one of the most important centres for learning in Europe—if not the whole world, for several hundred years. Most of the institutions that still constitute the University are found in the 5th, and 13th arrondissements.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk004", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the late 18th century, there was a period of political and social upheaval in France and Europe, during which the French governmental structure, previously a monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights. Notable events during and following the revolution were the storming of the Bastille (in what is now the 4th arrondissement), and the rise and fall of Napoleonic France. Out of the violent turmoil that was the French Revolution, sparked by the still known *Passion des Français*, emerged the enlightened modern day France.\n\nThe Paris of today was built long after the Capetian and later the Bourbon Kings of France made their mark on Paris with the *Louvre* and the *Palais Royal*, both in the 1st. In the 19th century, Baron von Hausmann set about reconstructing the city, by adding the long straight avenues and replacing many of the then existing medieval houses, with grander and more uniform buildings.\nthumb|210px|The Eiffel Tower\n\nNew wonders arrived during *La Belle Époque*, as the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century is known. Gustave Eiffel's famous tower, the first metro lines, most of the parks, and the streetlights (which are partly believed to have given the city its epithet \"the city of light\") all come from this period. Another source of the epithet comes from *Ville Lumière*, a reference not only to the revolutionary electrical lighting system implemented in the streets of Paris, but also to the prominence and aura of *Enlightenment* the city gained in that era.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk005", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Understand", "text": "The twentieth century was hard on Paris, but thankfully not as hard as it could have been. Both world wars took a heavy toll on the city's inhabitants, but at least Hitler's order to burn the city was ignored by the German General von Choltitz, who was quite possibly convinced by a Swedish diplomat that it would be better to surrender and be remembered as the saviour of Paris, rather than its destroyer. Following the war, the city recovered quickly at first, but slowed in the 1970s and 1980s when Paris began to experience some of the problems faced by big cities everywhere: pollution, housing shortages, and occasionally failed experiments in urban renewal.\n\nHowever, post-war Paris enjoyed considerable growth as a multi-cultural city, with new immigrants from all corners of the world, especially *La Francophonie*, including most of northern and western Africa as well as Indochina. These immigrants brought their foods and music, both of which are of prime interest for many travellers. Immigration and multi-culturalism continues in the 21st century with a marked increase in the arrival of people from Latin America, especially Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. In the late 1990s, it was hard to find good Mexican food in Paris, whereas today there are dozens of possibilities from lowly *taquerias* in the outer *arrondissements* to nice sit-down restaurants on the boulevards.\n\nNevertheless, Paris remains a French city; bistros, baguettes, high-end fashion, art, accordions, Hausmann architecture, and all the stereotypes (whether good or bad) of France are alive and well in Paris. People from all over France flock to Paris for work, study, partying, and everything in between. After all, this IS the capital of France, so anything pertaining to France can be found here.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk006", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Understand", "text": "The 21st century has also seen vast improvements in the general livability of Paris, with the mayor's office concentrating on reducing pollution and improving facilities for soft forms of transportation including a huge network of cycle paths, larger pedestrian districts and new metro lines. Visitors who normally arrive car-less are the beneficiaries of these policies as much as the Parisians themselves, although tensions and doubts have emerged over the actual benefits of those measures.\n\n### Climate\n\nParis has an oceanic climate with moderately cold winters and warm summers. The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean helps to temper temperature extremes in much of western Europe, including France. Even in January, the coldest month, temperatures nearly always exceed the freezing point with an average high of . Snow is not common in Paris, although it can fall a few times per year. Most of Paris' precipitation comes in the form of light rain year-round. Daylight hours run from 08:45 until 16:45.\n\nSummers in Paris are moderately warm and humid, with an average high of during the mid-summer months. Occasional heat waves can push temperatures above and rarely even reach . The sun is up from 06:00 until almost 22:00.\n\nSpring and fall are normally cool and wet.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk007", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### Charles de Gaulle Airport\n\n(), is the primary airport. Colloquially known as Roissy Airport, it is north of the city and is used mainly for long haul flights. The airport consists of three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, connected by the CDGVAL people mover. It is connected to Paris by train, bus and taxi. See Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for details.\n\n**RER** line B serves central Paris and is the fastest and most economical option for most travellers. Most trains will stop at each station along the way to Paris. Express trains with fewer stops are available during off-peak hours. Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire are always served. A full-fare single ticket is €13 and trains run every 10 minutes. Your ticket will allow you to transfer to the Metro and other RER lines to complete your journey.\n\nIf you arrive at night you'll need a Noctilien bus to get to the city centre. The buses you'll need are N140 or N143. The buses leave every 30 min after 00:30.\n\nThis map shows you how you connect from the airport to the city.\n\n#### Orly Airport\n\n(), is the secondary airport. It is south of the city and is used mainly by Air France for domestic departures, and for several international departures, mostly towards destinations around the Mediterranean. The airport consists of four terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, connected by the Orlyval people mover. It is connected to Paris by metro, train, tram, bus and taxi. See Paris Orly Airport for details.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk008", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Metro** line 14 serves central Paris and is the fastest and most economical option for most travellers. A full-fare single ticket is €13 and trains run every 5 minutes. Your ticket will allow you to transfer to the RER and other Metro lines to complete your journey.\n\n**Orlyval** people mover runs from the airport to Antony for onward connections to the city via RER line B. A full-fare single ticket is €13 and people movers run every 6 min. Journey time from the airport to Antony is 6 minutes.\n\n**Tram** line T7 runs from the airport to La Fraternelle for onward connections to the city via RER line C. A full-fare single ticket is only €2 and trams run every 10 min. Journey time from the airport to La Fraternelle is 8 minutes.\n\nIf you arrive at night you'll need a Noctilien bus to get to the city centre. The buses you'll need are N22, N31, N131 or N144. The buses leave every 60 min after 00:30.\n\nThis map shows you how you connect from the airport to the city.\n\n#### Beauvais–Tillé Airport", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk009", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "(). 85 km (53 mi) northwest of central Paris, this airport is used by some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and WizzAir. The airport operates a shuttle service to the *Métro* at Porte Maillot station. Buses run as early as 06:00. Buses leave 20 min after each flight arrives, and a few hours before each flight departs. A schedule can be found on the Beauvais Airport website. The journey will take about an hour in good traffic conditions, and costs €16.9 each way (Online) or €18 each way (Physically); there is no reduced price for children over the age of 2 years. Unless you hire a car this is the most realistic way to head toward Paris. The alternative is a train service between Gare du Nord and Beauvais, and a connecting shuttle or taxi to the airport. This journey costs more and takes longer. Missing the shuttle bus could mean a taxi fare well over €100.\n\n#### Châlons Vatry Airport\n\n(). 147 km (91 mi) east of central Paris. 105 km (65 mi) east of Disneyland Paris. Isolated.\n\n#### Le Bourget Airport\n\n**** (). 11 km northeast of central Paris. A 24-hour airport for private jets and business aviation. Companies like Air Charter Advisors and Priority Jet offer access to a variety of aircraft rentals.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|The seven terminal stations of Paris\nthumb|Map showing which areas of France and its near neighbours are served from which Parisian stations", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk010", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "Paris is well-connected to the rest of Europe by train. There are **seven terminus stations** in central Paris; they are not all in the same district, they are all connected to the Metro and RER networks. You will probably want to know in advance at which station your train is arriving, so as to better choose a hotel and plan for transport within the city.\n\n, (10th), *Métro: Gare du Nord* — TGV trains to and from northern France (Lille, Amiens, Lens...), Eurostar trains to the United Kingdom (London) and to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia). The station is complex to navigate with multiple layers of automated ticket checks and confusing corridors.\n , (13th), *Métro: Gare d'Austerlitz* — Intercités trains to and from the center and southwest of France (Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse the long way) and the majority of night trains.\n , (10th), *Métro: Gare de l'Est* — TGV to and from eastern France (Strasbourg, Reims, Nancy, etc.) and Luxembourg, ICE/TGV to and from Germany (Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Halle, Erfurt, Berlin, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Munich, and Freiburg)\n , (12th), *Métro: Gare de Lyon* — regular, Frecciarossa, and TGV trains to and from southern and eastern France: French Alps, Marseille, Lyon, Dijon, Switzerland (Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zurich), southwest Germany (Freiburg im Breisgau), Italy (Turin, Milan) and Spain (Girona, Barcelona).\n , (12th), *Métro: Bercy* — Intercités trains from Auvergne and Burgundy.\n , (8th) *Métro: St-Lazare* — trains from Normandy.\n , (15th), *Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe* — TGV and regular trains from the west and south-west of France (Tours, Brest, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse the fastest way, Hendaye). *Gare Vaugirard* is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk011", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "'''SNCF Voyageurs''' operates most trains within France, as well as to the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, with its subsidiary Eurostar. There are also a few local lines of high interest to tourists, which are privately owned. SNCF Voyageurs relies on travel agencies for selling tickets online, the main one being SNCF Connect and Trainline (easier to use). You can also find tickets online and in physical travel agencies. You can book and buy tickets up to 4 months in advance. There are significant discounts if you book weeks ahead. Reduced ticket prices are different for each day and each train and can be used only on the train for which the reservation is for. Some trains between Paris and Germany (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin) as well as the Marseille-Frankfurt TGV are jointly operated by SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, but each of the two operators will sell tickets at its own price! Make sure to check the price offered by each operator before you buy, or use Trainline since they automatically compare SNCF and DB prices.\n\n'''Trenitalia France''' operates high-speed rail service between Paris-Lyon-Marseille and Paris-Lyon-Milan.\n\nThere are a number of different kinds of high-speed and normal trains:", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk012", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "**TER**: The regional trains (*Train Express Régional*); cheapest tickets, though prices are variable on the time of day of departure (and the day of departure as well). TER are sometimes slower, stopping at almost all stations. TER tickets bought at the train station are valid two months from the date indicated on the ticket, as long as you travel in the right fare period (\"période bleue\", the cheapest, \"période blanche\", for high-demand hours). There is no seat reservation, so arrive early enough or you may have to travel without a seat.\n **Intercités**: A bundling of the former *Intercités*, *Téoz*, and *Lunéa* train categories. There are two kinds: the regular trains, which are priced the same as the TER and the trains you'll find yourself on if you have a Eurail or InterRail pass and don't want to pay extra for reservations, and the *trains à réservation obligatoire*, which require a reservation and are priced differently from the regular *Intercités* trains.\n **Intercités de nuit**: Overnight trains from destinations to and from south of France, including Latour-de-Carol, Lourdes and Cerbère via Toulouse.\n **TGV**: The world-famous French high-speed trains (*Trains à Grande Vitesse*) run very frequently to the southeast Nice (5-6 hr), Marseille (3 hr) and Avignon (2.5 hr), the east Geneva (3hr) or Lausanne, Switzerland, Dijon (1 hr 15 min) and Strasbourg (1 hr 45 min), the southwest Bordeaux (3 hr), the west Rennes (2 hr) and the north Lille (1 hr). Reservations are compulsory.\n **ICE**: German high-speed trains, operating most services between Paris and Frankfurt.\n **Eurostar**: A high-speed train service to/from London, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as many other destinations indirectly through other rail services. Tickets can be a bit expensive compared to normal trains, but cheap enough if you buy in advance. On-board service is usually very good.\nSpecial conditions apply to the route between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International:\nEurail and InterRail passes are *not* valid, though pass holders can benefit from a reduced price. \nYou must arrive at the station at least 90 minutes, and up to two hours, before the departure of the train to complete security and passport controls.\n **Ouigo**: A brand of SNCF Voyageurs running TGVs with a second class only layout intended and marketed as a lower-cost service. Strict baggage limits and 30-minute check in times make them more like budget airlines.\n **Trenitalia**: Operates high-speed **Frecciarossa** trains between Paris, Lyon, Chambéry, Modane, Turin, and Milan, as well as between Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Aix en Provence, and Marseille. Prices can be cheaper than SNCF, Trainline automatically compares both options.", "word_count": 431}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk013", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "##### From Gare d'Austerlitz\n\nGare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Bercy (15 min): Bus 24 to École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.\n Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de l'Est (20 min): , direction Bobigny.\n Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Montparnasse (25 min): direction Boulogne, change at Odéon for direction Mairie de Montrouge. Alternatively, Bus 91 to Montparnasse, get off at Gare Montparnasse for the ticket office, local trains and most long-distance trains; get off at the last stop Montparnasse 2–gare TGV, if your train leaves from Gare de Vaugirard, or to reach the front carriages of TGV trains.\n Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Lyon: it's a 5- to 10-min walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take Bus 91 in front of the station (on the same side of the street) towards Bastille and get off at Gare de Lyon–Diderot.\n Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare du Nord (20 min): direction Bobigny.\n Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Saint-Lazare (25 min): direction Boulogne, change at Sèvres-Babylone for direction Aubervilliers–Front Populaire; alternatively walk 10 min to Gare de Lyon then take direction Gare Saint-Lazare.\n\n##### From Gare de Bercy\n\nFor most train stations, take line to Gare de Lyon and follow the directions given from Gare de Lyon.\n Gare de Bercy – Gare d'Austerlitz (15 min): bus 24 towards gare Saint-Lazare.\n\n##### From Gare de l'Est", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk014", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "Gare de l'Est – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): direction Place d'Italie.\n Gare de l'Est - Gare de Bercy (25 min): direction Mairie de Montrouge, stop at *Châtelet*, then direction Olympiades, stop at *Bercy*.\n Gare de l'Est - Gare de Lyon (20 min): direction Place d'Italie, stop at *Quai de la Rapee* and follow pedestrian signs to Gare de Lyon. Alternatively, in the same direction to *Bastille* and then direction Château de Vincennes to Gare de Lyon.\n Gare de l'Est - Gare du Nord (8 min): direction Bobigny or Metro 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to climb set of stairs.\n Gare de l'Est - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): direction Mairie de Montrouge.\n Gare de l'Est – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.\n\n##### From Gare de Lyon", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk015", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "Gare de Lyon – Gare d'Austerlitz: it's a 5- to 10-minute walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take bus 91 towards Montparnasse.\n Gare de Lyon - Gare de Bercy (15 mins): A free shuttle runs between the two every half hour if you have a SNCF train ticket including a transfer between these two stations. Alternatively, direction Olympiades to Bercy.\n Gare de Lyon - Gare de l'Est (25 mins): to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by direction Porte de Clignancourt.\n Gare de Lyon - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Bus 91 to Gare Montparnasse. Another option is to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by direction Mairie de Montrouge.\n Gare de Lyon - Gare du Nord (20 min): RER A direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye/Cergy Le Haut/Poissy to *Châtelet Les Halles* and then RER B direction Aéroport Charles de Gaulle/Mitry Claye to *Gare du Nord* (on the other side of the platform); if the RER A is not working take RER D heading to *Orry la Ville* or *Creil*; both will go to Gare du Nord.\n Gare de Lyon – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 mins): direction Saint-Lazare.\n\n##### From Gare Montparnasse\n\nGare Montparnasse – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): direction Porte de Clignancourt, change at Odéon for direction Austerlitz. Alternatively, take Bus 91 (a little faster unless it gets caught in traffic).\n Gare Montparnasse - Gare de Lyon (30 min): to Chatelet, direction Porte de Clignancourt followed by direction Olympiades\n Gare Montparnasse - Gare du Nord OR Gare de I'Est (30 min): direction Porte de Clignancourt\n Gare Montparnasse – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): direction Asnières/Genevilliers or Saint-Denis. ( is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk016", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "##### From Gare du Nord\n\nGare du Nord – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): direction Place d'Italie.\n Gare du Nord - Gare de Bercy (25 min): Follow the directions for Gare de Lyon, then switch to direction Olympiades to *Bercy*.\n Gare du Nord - Gare de l'Est (8 min): direction Mairie de Montrouge. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to descend a set of stairs.\n Gare du Nord - Gare de Lyon (20 min): RER D direction Melun/Malesherbes; alternatively, if the RER D is not operational, RER B direction Robinson/Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER A direction Marne-la-Vallée/Boissy-Saint-Léger to Gare de Lyon (this change only involves getting off the RER B train and getting on the RER A train on the other side of the same platform)\n Gare du Nord - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): direction Mairie de Montrouge\n Gare du Nord – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs) direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.\n\n##### From Gare Saint-Lazare", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk017", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): direction Mairie d'Issy, change at Sèvres-Babylone for direction Austerlitz; alternatively direction Olympiades to Gare de Lyon, then cross the Seine river to Gare d'Austerlitz (10 min walk).\n Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Bercy (20 min): direction Olympiades.\n Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de l'Est (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for direction Porte de Clignancourt.\n Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Lyon (15 min): direction Olympiades.\n Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare Montparnasse (15 min): direction Châtillon–Montrouge. ( is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)\n Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare du Nord (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs) direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for direction Porte de Clignancourt.\n\n### By bus\n\nWhile domestic bus lines were tightly regulated until 2015, they no longer are, and this has led to a heavily competitive and fast growing market. Companies that serve Paris are:\n\n### By car\n\nSeveral *autoroutes* (expressway, motorway) link Paris with the rest of France: and to the north, and to the south, to the east and and to the west. Not surprisingly, traffic jams are significantly worse during French school holidays.\n\nThe multi-lane highway around Paris, called the *Périphérique* (BP), is probably preferable to driving through the center. Another beltway nearing completion; *L'A86* (also and A286) loops around Paris about 10 km further out from the *Périphérique* (a Crit'Air vignette required on that road). A third, incomplete beltway is much further out and called *La Francilienne* (N104).", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk018", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is advised not to drive within Paris and to be wary in the metropolitan area. It is better to drive to a suburban train station with a parking lot and then use the train to continue your trip throughout Paris. Most of Paris' roads were created long before the invention of automobiles. Traffic inside the city tends to be heavy, especially at rush hour; driving, however, may be rather easy and efficient in the evening. Parking is also difficult. Furthermore, the medieval nature of parts of the city's street system makes it very confusing, and traffic will almost never allow one to stop or slow down to get one's bearings. If you are unfamiliar with the streets and still insist on driving in the city, make sure you have a navigator in the passenger seat with you. However, Paris does have several iconic boulevards that have multiple lanes, form the backbone of the city’s road network, and are useful if you do choose to bring a car — and are tourist attractions onto themselves.\n\nIn Paris, there are many car rental agencies offering a large number and wide range of vehicles for rental. Additionally, there are numerous car rental agencies located off-site which provide free airport transfers from their location and may offer lower prices well.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk019", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transport\n\nthumb|Navigo Easy Travel Card\nParis has an excellent public transport system that spans every inch of the city. It is well-known for its *Métro* (short for *Chemin de fer métropolitain*, \"Metropolitan Railway\"), *RER* (short for *Réseau Express Régional*, \"Regional Express Network,\"), and *Transilien* rail networks. The Métro, RER and Transilien are complemented by a large network of trams and buses.\n\nÎle-de-France Mobilités is the authority that controls and coordinates the different transport companies operating in the Île-de-France region, including Paris. The website and app can be used to plan journeys, track services, and purchase tickets.\n\nRATP operates the Métro, trams, buses, and about half of the RER A and B. SNCF operates the rest of the RER, as well as the Transilien. Both companies take the same tickets, so the difference is of little interest for most people except in case of strikes. For example, RATP may strike without SNCF doing so or the other way around.\n\nThe Métro and RER move staggering numbers of people into, out of, and around Paris (6.75 million people per day on average), and most of the time in reasonable comfort. However, certain lines are operating at or near capacity, sometimes being so full that you'll have to let one or two trains pass before being able to board. If you can help it, avoid Métro lines 1, 4, and 13 and RER line A and B during rush hours as these are the most congested lines in the system.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk020", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Strikes, breakdown and construction are regular occurrences on the Paris public transit system. Generally during a strike, the Métro operates with reduced service and some RER lines may stop operating altogether. Visit the RATP or SNCF websites for information on which routes are affected. Beware that real-time traffic information and construction announcements are often available only on the French-language version.\n\n#### By Métro\n\nthumb|250x250px|Métro Map\nLook for the Métro stations, marked with a large \"M\" sign or with an old-styled sign saying \"Métropolitain\".", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk021", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are 16 Métro lines (*lignes*) (*1*-*14*, *3bis*, and *7bis*) on which trains travel all day at intervals of a few minutes. Trains usually come 2–3 minutes apart during rush hour and 5–10 minutes apart during other times, depending on the line. The service starts on each end of every line at 05:30, and the last metro arrives on each end at 01:15 (service ends an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights, and the day before a holiday), stopping at all stations on the line. Some lines have rare trains that terminate at an intermediate station; if that happens, get off the train with the rest of the crowd and board the next train on the same track or on the other side of the platform (the driver will usually make an announcement in French). Lines 7 and 13 have a fork, so if you take line 13 north of *La Fourche* or line 7 south of *Maison Blanche*, make sure to board the train for the correct destination which is indicated by a lit arrow on the sign in the middle of the platform and on colour-coded binders in each carriage. Times for trains can be seen on an electronic scroll board above the platform. Scheduled times for first and last trains are posted in each station on the centre sign. Generally, except for early and late hours, travellers should not worry about specific Metro train times; just get to your station and take the next train.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk022", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "The lines are named according to the names of their terminal stations (the end of the line). If you ask the locals about directions, they will answer something like: take line number *n* towards \"end station _\", change at \"station _\", take the line *nn* towards \"end station _\" etc. The lines are also colour-coded.\n\nChanging Métro lines might be difficult at times for visitors travelling to or from the airport or train stations with heavy luggage or those with impaired mobility, especially at major metro intersections. Moving from one platform to another generally involves walking up and down multiple flights of stairs. Very few stations have escalators or lifts (only the newest line 14 is wheelchair-accessible at all stations). Only the busiest ones have escalators. It might be a good idea to check out the bus routes and timings, and see if one can find a convenient bus connection.\n\nEach station displays a detailed map of the surrounding area with a street list and the location of buildings (monuments, schools, places of worship, etc.,) as well as exits for that particular metro. Maps are located on the platform if the station has several exits or near the exit if there is only one exit.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk023", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Except for Métro lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, and 14, the doors do not open automatically (there are announcements and signs on the train advising of this). In such a case, there are handles or buttons located both inside and outside the train that you have to push or unlatch in order to open the door. Many locals may try to squeeze into the trains after the alarm has sounded to signal the closing of the doors. While one can occasionally pass through on lines with a driver, the automatic doors on Métro 1 and 14 will continue to close despite the presence of a limb or article of clothing. It is strongly advised to wait for the second train rather than risk being caught between the doors.\n\nSome larger stations have secondary entrances without ticket windows or ticket machines. These are labelled *voyageurs munis de billets* (passengers with tickets).\n\n#### By RER\n\nthumb|Information on service OKRE, last stop TorcyThere are five commuter train lines that cross Paris: RER A, B, C, D, and E. RER trains run at intervals varying from about 3 minutes (RER A) to 6 minutes (RER D), and stop at every station **within** Paris. Trains can run up to every 5 minutes during rush hour, and you will never have to wait for more than 1 hour between two trains, even on the least served lines in the evening or on the weekend.\n\nRER trains will stop at every station within Paris (zone 1), but may skip stations outside Paris, so if you're going to the suburbs make sure your RER stops where you need! Information about the stops to be made by the next incoming train is presented on a separate board also hanging from the ceiling.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk024", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "RER trains do not have publicly announced numbers unlike the rest of SNCF network; the four letter codes (COHI, ELAO, QYAN, VICK, etc.) take the role of the train numbers instead; the first letter indicates the station where the train terminates, and the other three indicate the route and stops. Each line has its own nomenclature. You can look up what these codes mean on information panels in the station, but the easiest and fastest way is often to check the information screens along the platforms.\n\n#### By Transilien\n\nThe rest of the regional train network, called \"Transilien\", departs from the main train stations (Lyon for line R, Est for line P, Nord for lines H and K, St-Lazare for lines J and L, Montparnasse for line N) and La Défense (line U). Trains can run up to every 5 minutes during rush hour, and you will never have to wait for more than 1 hour between two trains, even on the least served lines in the evening or on the weekend. The Transilien is marginally less crowded than the RER and the Metro.\n\n#### By tram\n\nMost tourists will not encounter the trams as they run only on the outskirts of the city. Trams T3a & T3b go nearly three quarters of the way round the city at the edge. Tram line 7 connects Orly Airport with RER line C; it is cheap but not fast.\n\n#### By bus", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk025", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "A bus ride is interesting if you want to see more of the city. All stops have a name and are clearly marked on the street. At complex intersections, stops usually have a map that lets you know where other lines stop and if applicable where to find a Métro entrance. If more than one line stops, wave to the driver to let them know you want to board. All buses have a schematic map of the line on display with all stop names, bus connections and major street names. Electronic displays inside each bus tell riders its current position and what stops remain, but don't overly rely on them as they don't always work.\n\nSince the Métro is primarily structured around a hub-and-spoke model, there are some journeys for which it can be quite inefficient. In these cases it is worth seeing if a direct bus route exists, despite the complexity of the bus network.\n\n*Noctilien* night buses run regularly through the central hub at Chatelet to outlying areas of greater Paris. There is also a circle line connecting the main train stations. It pays to know one's Noctilien route ahead of time in case one misses the last Métro home. Women travellers should probably avoid taking the Noctilien on their own to destinations outside Paris.\n\n#### Fares", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk026", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "A **Navigo card** can be used to pay for all public transport journeys in Paris city and the wider Île-de-France region. The card needs to be validated at the start of a journey, and when transferring to a new tram or bus. It does not need to be validated at the end of a journey, unless required to exit a fare gate. The card can be loaded with a variety of fares (e.g. Métro-Train-RER Tickets). It cannot be loaded with credit like other cards around the world (e.g. €50).\n\nThe following cards are available to obtain:\n+Card Matrix (1 January 2026)\nCard in English\nCard in French\nPrice\nPlaces to obtain\nFares to load\n**Navigo on Smartphone**\n*Navigo sur Smartphone*\nFree\n\nÎle-de-France Mobilités app,\nBonjour RATP app,\nSNCF Connect app,\nApple Wallet app,\nGoogle Wallet app,\nSamsung Wallet app\n\nMétro-Train-RER Ticket,\nBus-Tram Ticket,\nAirports Ticket,\nDay Pass,\nWeek Pass,\nMonth Pass,\nParis Visite Pass\n**Navigo Easy Travel Card**\n*Passe Navigo Easy*\n€2\n\nTicket Windows,\nTicket Machines\n\nMétro-Train-RER Ticket,\nBus-Tram Ticket,\nAirports Ticket,\nDay Pass,\nParis Visite Pass\n**Navigo Découverte Travel Card**\n*Passe Navigo Découverte*\n€5\n\nTicket Windows\n\nDay Pass,\nWeek Pass,\nMonth Pass\n\nThe following fares are available to load: \n+Fare Matrix (1 January 2026)\nFare in English\nFare in French\nPrice\nValid\nRules\n'''Métro-Train-RER Ticket'''\n*Billet Métro-Train-RER*\n€2.55\n\nMétro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nFunicular\n\nValid for 120 minutes,\nNot valid to/from/between airports,\nIncludes transfers\n**Bus-Tram Ticket**\n*Billet Bus-Tram*\n€2.05\n\nTram,\nBus,\nCable\n\nValid for 90 minutes,\nValid to/from/between airports,\nIncludes transfers\n**Airports Ticket**\n*Billet Aéroports*\n€14\n\nMétro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nOrlyval\n\nValid for 120 minutes,\nValid to/from/between airports,\nIncludes transfers\n**Day Pass**\n*Forfait Jour*\n€12.30\n\nMétro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nFunicular,\nTram,\nBus,\nCable\n\nValid for 1 day,\nNot valid to/from/between airports,\nObtainable in advance\n**Week Pass**\n*Forfait Semaine*\n€32.40", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk027", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Métro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nFunicular,\nTram,\nBus,\nCable\n\nValid from Monday to Sunday,\nValid to/from/between airports,\nObtainable from Friday to Thursday\n**Month Pass**\n*Forfait Mois*\n€90.80\n\nMétro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nFunicular,\nTram,\nBus,\nCable\n\nValid from 1st to 31st,\nValid to/from/between airports,\nObtainable from 20th to 19th\n**Paris Visite Pass**\n*Forfait Paris Visite*\nVaries\n\nMétro,\nRER,\nTransilien,\nFunicular,\nTram,\nBus,\nCable,\nOrlyval\n\nValid for 1 day/2 days/3 days/5 days,\nValid to/from/between airports,\nObtainable in advance\n\nA **Mastercard or Visa card** can also be used to pay for select bus journeys in Paris city and the wider Île-de-France region. These cards also need to be validated at the start of a journey, and when transferring to a new bus. They also do not need to be validated at the end of a journey.\n\nTicket inspectors roam the network and show no mercy to tourists pleading ignorance. Travelling without a ticket will result in you being cited and forced to pay a fine on the spot. Inspections usually take place behind the turnstiles at major metro stations or during transfers.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|A bateau mouche near the Pont Neuf\nThere are several excellent boat services which make use of the Seine. As well as providing easy, cheap transport to much of central Paris, excellent photo opportunities abound. You can buy a day or 3 day ticket and hop on and off the boat as needed. The boats take a circular route from the Eiffel Tower, down past the Louvre, Notre Dame, botanical gardens then back up the other bank past Musée d'Orsay. Batobus offers a regular shuttle service between the main tourist sights (closed Jan); other companies such as the famous Bateaux Mouches offer sightseeing cruises.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk028", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are comparatively cheap especially at night when there are no traffic jams to be expected. There are not as many as one would expect, and sometimes finding a taxi can be challenging. In the daytime, it is not always a good idea to take a taxi, as walking or taking the metro (*See: Métro*) will often be faster. If you know you will need one to get to the airport, or to a meeting, it is wise to book ahead by phone.\n\nThe initial fare is €2.40 and the meter increases by around €1.10 each kilometer and around 50 cents each minute spent at red lights or in traffic jams. Fares are fixed by the city law and every driver complies with them. Fares vary according to the day of the week, the hour of the day and the area you're in. If you call a taxi, the meter starts when you call and not when you get in. You should expect a €5 to €10 fare on the meter when the taxi arrives after you call it.\n\n**Remember** if a taxi is near a 'taxi station', they're not supposed to pick you up *except* at the station where there may be people waiting for a taxi. Taxi stations are usually near train stations, big hotels, hospitals, and large crossings.\n\nThere are a number of services by which you can call for taxis or make a reservation in advance. The largest fleet is Taxis G7:\n\n- Taxis G7", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk029", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "As in many other cities a taxi can be difficult to stop; you may have to try several times. When you do get a taxi to stop, the driver will usually roll down their window to ask you where you want to go. If the driver can't (or doesn't want to) go where you want, they might tell you that they're near the end of their work day & can't possibly get you where you want before they have to go off-duty.\n\nThere is a €6.40 minimum (2012) on all taxi rides, mandated by city law, but the meter does not show this amount, which can result in being asked to pay more than the metered amount on short rides. In Paris taxis are required by law to charge for the trip with a meter; charging a flat rate is illegal, except from/to Charles de Gaulle airport (€50 from the right bank of the Seine, €55 from the left bank) and Orly airport (€35 from the right bank, €30 from the left bank). Frequently the taxi driver will not want to drive you all the way to the doorstep, but will prefer to let you out a block or so away if there are one or more one-way streets to contend with. Try to look at this as a cost-savings rather than an inconvenience. You should pay while still seated in the cab as in New York and *not* through the front window London style. A tip is included in the fare; If you're especially satisfied with the service, you can give something (basically 10%), but you don't *have* to. There is an extra charge for baggage handling.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk030", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "The driver will not let you sit in the front seat (unless there are 3 or 4 of you, which is a rare case usually expedited by more money). Taxi drivers come in all types, some nice, some rude, some wanting to chat, some not. Smoking in taxis is generally not allowed, although if the taxi driver wants a cigarette, the rule might become flexible. Many drivers prefer that you avoid using your cellphone during the ride; if you *do have* to, make an apologizing gesture & sound, and do make a **short** call.\n\nIf for any reason you wish to file a complaint about a Paris taxi, take note of the taxi's number on the sticker on the left hand backseat window. Beware of illegal taxis (see the Stay safe section).", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk031", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "A chauffeur taxi is an alternative to the traditional taxi. These taxis are not allowed to cruise the streets or airports for fares. You need to book them before they can pick you up and they are flat rate rather than metered (*ask for the fare before getting in*). There are two types of licence: the \"Grande Remise\" allows the driver to pick-up & drop-off passengers anywhere in France, and the \"Carte Verte\" allows the driver to pick-up & drop-off passengers in the department or region where the company is based. The Grande Remise taxis have a GR on their front plate. Chauffeur taxis provide the following services:\n Shared shuttle: You have to share the shuttle with other customers. Shared shuttles may be delayed since they can pick up or drop off other customers before you. They are cheaper than a private shuttle.\n Private shuttle: You have exclusive use of the shuttle without other customers. Private shuttles will pick you up on-time and drop you off at the address specified in the booking. They are more expensive than a shared shuttle.\n\n### By car\n\nIn a word: **don't**. It is generally a very bad idea to rent a car to visit Paris. Traffic is very dense during the day, and parking is, on average, exceedingly difficult and expensive. This is especially true in areas surrounding points of interest, since many of these are in areas designed long before automobiles existed. A majority of Parisian households do not own cars, and many people who move to the city find themselves selling their cars within a month or two.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk032", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "That said, driving may be an option for going to some sights in the suburbs such as Vaux-le-Vicomte castle or the castle and city at Fontainebleau, or for starting to other places in France. You may prefer to rent from a location outside Paris proper.\n\nTraffic rules in Paris are basically the same as elsewhere in France, with the exception of having to yield to incoming traffic on roundabouts. However, driving in dense traffic in Paris and suburbs during commute times can be especially strenuous. Be prepared for traffic jams, cars changing lanes at short notice, and so on. Another issue is pedestrians, who tend to fearlessly jaywalk more in Paris than in other French cities. Be prepared for pedestrians crossing the street on red, and expect similar adventurous behaviour from cyclists. Remember that even if a pedestrian or cyclist crossed on red, if you hit them, you may face prosecution for failing to control your vehicle (and you or your insurance will have to bear civil responsibility for the damages). The speed limit in Paris is 30 km/h in every street except for a few large avenues clearly marked with faster ones. There are no stop signs in the city centre.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk033", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Paris has several orbital roads. There is a series of boulevards named after Napoleonic-era generals (*Boulevard Masséna*, *Boulevard Ney*, and so forth), and collectively referred to as *boulevards des Maréchaux*. These are normal wide avenues, with traffic lights. Somewhat outside of these is the *boulevard périphérique*, a controlled-access road with grade separation. The *périphérique intérieur* is the inner lanes (going clockwise), the *périphérique extérieur* the outer lanes (going anti-clockwise). Despite the looks, the *périphérique* is not an *autoroute*: the speed limit is 70 km/h and, very unusually, incoming traffic has the right of way, at least theoretically (presumably because otherwise nobody would be able to enter during rush hour).\n\n### By motorcycle", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk034", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Tourists pose on motorcycles in the Latin Quarter\nParis is an incredibly open city, with its many \"Grands Boulevards\" and monuments with large open spaces around make it a city perfect to be explored and viewed by scooter or motorbike. Be warned that scooter/motorbike is by far the mode of transportation with the most casualties in Paris: half of victims of a collision were riding one, although they only account for about 2% of the traffic. When you're riding a scooter or motorbike in Paris, even if you see others doing so, it is not allowed to \"lane-split\" between the rows of cars waiting in traffic. At the red lights, even though a lot of scooter and motorbike drivers do not respect it, don't forget to pay attention to the bike designated area: you are not allowed to use them, and doing so is equivalent to failing to respect the red light (€135 fine). Parking-wise there are plenty of *deux roues* (two wheel) parking spots all over the city. Again, even though you may see plenty of scooters or motorbikes parked on the sidewalk, it is forbidden to do so. The city of Paris has dramatically increased the number of vehicles fined every day (€35), some of them even being towed away (at your own expenses).\n\n- Paris By Scooter\n\n- Left Bank Scooters\n\n- Ride'n'Smile\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk035", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport and an excellent way to see the sights. Riding a bike anywhere in the city is far safer for the moderately experienced cyclists than almost any town or city in the United States. The French are very cognizant of cyclists, almost to a point of reverence. Paris hasn't always been the easiest place to get around by bike, but that is no longer the case. The city government has taken a number of steps in strong support of improving the safety and efficiency of the urban cyclist as well, in establishing some separated bike lanes, creating a bikesharing system, and allowing cyclists to share the ample bus lanes on most major boulevards. Paris also has many riverside paths which are perfect for cycling. The Paris bike network now counts over 150 km of either unique or shared lanes for the cyclist. In addition, the narrower, medieval side streets of the central arrondissements make for rather scenic and leisurely cycling, especially during off-hours of the day when traffic is lighter. Do remember to bring a good map, since there is no grid plan to speak of and almost all of the smaller streets are one-way.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk036", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "While the streets of Paris are generally fairly easy on novice cyclists, there are some streets in the city that should be avoided by those who do not have sufficient urban cycling experience. Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Bastille, and Place de la Nation are particularly hairy, especially during weekdays and the Saturday evening rush, and should not be navigated by anyone not confident in their ability to cycle in heavy traffic. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place de l'Étoile, and voie Georges Pompidou (the lower-level express lanes along the banks of the Seine) should be avoided at all times.\n\nParis has a bike share system known as- Vélib'\n You can purchase the Vélib pass online. An app helps finding stations and available parking slots. Green Vélib bikes are normal bikes, blue Vélibs are ebikes.\n\n### By foot\n\nWalking in Paris is one of the great pleasures of visiting the City of Light. It is possible to cross the entire city in only a few hours, but only if you can somehow keep yourself from stopping at numerous cafés and shops. In fact within a few years walking combined with biking and the *Metro* may be the only way to get around the very centre of Paris as plans develop to reduce access to cars in the city centre.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk037", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Get around", "text": "The smartest travellers take advantage of the walk-ability of this city, and stay above ground as much as possible. A metro ride of less than 2 stops is probably best avoided since walking will take about the same amount of time and you'll be able to see more of the city. That said, pay attention to the Métro stations that you may pass by on your journey; the Métro network is very dense within the city and the lines are virtually always located directly underneath major boulevards, so if you become lost it is easy to regain your bearings by walking along a major boulevard until you find a Métro station.\n\nYou may have heard of the hazard of walking into dog droppings in Paris. The problem is now virtually nonexistent due to fines as high as €180 and extensive street cleaning operations.\n\nIt's always fun to experience the city by foot, and there are numerous walking tours around Paris, whether self-guided (with the help of a guidebook or online guide) or with a touring guide (booked through your travel agency or hotel). The city is best explored by foot, and some of the most marvelous memories you will have of Paris is walking through secret found places.\n\nPedestrian call buttons at crosswalks are activated by pressing the button underneath the call button box.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk038", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Talk", "text": "French (*français*) is of course the country's official language. Any native French person will speak French and it helps if you can speak a bit of it. In the parts of the city that tourists frequent the most, the shopkeepers, information booth attendants, and other workers are likely to answer you in English, even if your French is advanced. These workers tend to deal with thousands of foreign-speaking tourists, and responding in English is often faster than repeating themselves in French. This is not the case for the rest of the city.\n\nFor most Parisians, English is something they had to study in school, and thus seems a bit of a chore. People helping you out in English are making an extra effort, sometimes a considerable one. Parisians younger than 40 are much more likely to be fluent in English. Immigrants, often working in service jobs, are less likely to speak English. If it's your first time in France you will have some problems understanding what people are saying, even with prior education in French. Unlike most language education tapes, real Parisians tend to speak fast, use slang, and swallow some letters.\n\nWhen attempting to speak French, do not be offended if people ask you to repeat, or seem not to understand you, as they are not acting out of snobbery. Keep your sense of humour, and if necessary, write down phrases or place names. And remember to speak slowly and clearly. Unless you have an advanced level and can at least sort of understand French movies, you should also assume that it will be difficult for people to understand what you are saying (imagine someone speaking English to you in an indiscernible accent).", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk039", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Talk", "text": "When in need of directions what you should do is this: find a younger person, or a person reading some book or magazine in English, who is obviously not in a hurry; say \"hello\" or \"*bonjour*\" (bon-zhor); start by asking if the person speaks English, \"Parlez-vous anglais?\" (Par-LAY voo on-glay?) even if the person can read something in English, speak slowly and clearly; write down place names if necessary. Smile a lot. Also, carry a map (preferably *Paris par Arrondissement*); given the complexity of Paris streets it is difficult to explain how to find any particular address in any language, no matter how well you speak it. If anything, the person may have an idea as to the place you are looking for, but may not know exactly where it may be, so the map always helps.\n\nOn the other hand, you will probably get the cold shoulder if you stop a random person in the métro, fail to greet them and say \"where is place X or street Y\".\n\nNow, if you speak French, remember two **magic phrases**: \"Excusez-moi de vous déranger\" [ex-kuh-zay mwuh duh voo day-rawn-ZHAY] (\"Sorry to bother you\") and \"Pourriez-vous m'aider?\" [por-EE-AY voo may-DAY] (\"Could you help me?\") especially in shops; politeness will work wonders.\n\nIt is considered polite to always say \"bonjour\" (during the day) or \"bonsoir\" (at night) to employees when entering any type of shop even if you have no intention of buying anything. Upon leaving you should say \"merci\" to thank the shopkeeper for allowing you to browse and say \"bonne journée\" (bun zhur-nay) or \"bonne soirée\" (bun swa-ray) to wish them a good day or evening. \"Bonne nuit\" is only used when telling someone \"goodnight\" when going to bed.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk040", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Talk", "text": "Finally, if you speak a language other than English or French, and your French is limited or non-existent, offer to speak your second language with the phrase \"Parlez-vous anglais ou XXXX?\" (Par-LAY voo on-glay oo XXXX?) as this shows that you are making an effort to speak somebody else's language as well as your own.\n\nthumb|750px|center|The Pont des Arts (Bridge of the Arts) and just behind, the pont Neuf (\"New Bridge\", but actually the oldest in Paris) and the île de la Cité.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk041", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "See", "text": "**Highlights** are listed below. **Detailed information** can be found on each individual district page (click on the name of the sight).\n\n### Landmarks\n\n- [[Paris/7th arrondissement#Q243|Eiffel Tower]]\n\n- [[Paris/8th arrondissement#Q64436|Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile]]\n\n- [[Paris/8th arrondissement#Q550|Champs-Élysées]]\n\nthumb|Notre Dame de Paris\n - [[Paris/4th arrondissement#Q2981|Notre Dame Cathedral]]\n\nthumb|170px|Sacré Coeur\n - [[Paris/18th arrondissement#Q28785|Sacré Coeur]]\n\n- [[Paris/9th arrondissement#Q187840|Opera Garnier]]\n\nthumb|A few of the 6 million bodies in the Catacombes de Paris\n - [[Paris/14th arrondissement#Q28924|Catacombes de Paris]]\n\n- [[Paris/La Défense#Q216357|Grande Arche de la Défense]]\n\n- [[Paris/5th arrondissement#Q188856|Panthéon]]\n\n- [[Paris/20th arrondissement#Q311|Père-Lachaise Cemetery]]\n\n- [[Paris/1st arrondissement#Q193193|Sainte-Chapelle]]\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\nAll national museums and monuments are free for all every first Sunday of the month.\nthumb|Louvre Museum, and the Pyramid by architect I.M. Pei\n - [[Paris/1st arrondissement#Q19675|The Louvre]]\n\n- [[Paris/7th arrondissement#Q23402|Musée d'Orsay]]\n\n- [[Paris/7th arrondissement#Q650519|Rodin Museum]]\n\n- [[Paris/3rd arrondissement#Q743206|Picasso Museum]]\n\n- [[Paris/16th arrondissement#Q1327886|Musée Marmottan-Monet]]\n\n- [[Paris/1st arrondissement#Q726781|Musée de l'Orangerie]]\n\n- [[Paris/6th arrondissement#Q1782606|Musée Delacroix]]\n\n- [[Paris/4th arrondissement#Q178065|Centre Georges Pompidou]]\n\nthumb|right|l'Eglise du Dome, church of Les Invalides, site of Napoleon's tomb\n - [[Paris/7th arrondissement#Q188977|Les Invalides]]\n\n- [[Paris/5th arrondissement#Q1124095|Musée national du Moyen Âge]]\n\n- [[Paris/1st arrondissement#Q1319378|Musée des Arts Décoratifs]]\n\n- [[Paris/3rd arrondissement#Q640447|Carnavalet]]\n\n- [[Paris/19th arrondissement#Q1094338|Cité des sciences et de l’industrie - La Villette]]\n\n- [[Paris/4th arrondissement#Q479218|Mémorial de la Shoah]]\n\n- [[Paris/8th arrondissement#Q1165526|Jacquemart-Andre Museum]]\n\n- [[Paris/16th arrondissement#Q860994|Guimet Museum]]\n\nthumb|The Moulin Rouge at night in rain\n\n### Sightseeing passes", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk042", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "See", "text": "One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the ''Paris Museum Pass'', a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris (and the Palace of Versailles) and comes in 2-day (€62), 4-day (€77) and 6-day (€92) denominations (August 2024). These are *consecutive* days. The card allows you to jump lengthy queues, a big plus during tourist season when lines can be extensive, and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, FNAC branches and all the main Métro and RER train stations. You will still need to pay to enter most special exhibitions. To avoid waiting in the first long queue to purchase the museum pass, stop to purchase your pass a day or more in advance after mid-day. The pass does not become active until your first museum or site visit when you write your start date. After that, the days covered are consecutive. Do not write your start date until you are certain you will use the pass that day and be careful to use the European date style as indicated on the card: day-month-year.\n\nAlso consider the ''ParisPass'', a pre-paid entry card + queue jumping to 60 attractions including the Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe, as well as a river cruise which allows free metro & public transport travel.\n\n### Sightseeing tips", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk043", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "See", "text": "Planning your visits: several sites have \"choke points\" that restrict the number of visitors that can flow through. These include: The Eiffel Tower, Sainte-Chapelle, and the catacombs. To avoid lines, you should start your day by arriving at one of these sites at least 30 minutes before opening time. Otherwise, expect a wait of at least an hour. Most museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday. Examples: the Louvre museum is closed on Tuesdays while the Orsay Museum is closed on Mondays. Be sure to check museum closing dates to avoid disappointment! Also, most ticket counters close 30-45 min before final closing.\n\nAll national museums are open free of charge on the first Sunday of the month. However, this may mean long lines and crowded exhibits. Keep away from Paris during Easter week due to crowding. People have to queue up at the Eiffel Tower for several hours even early in the morning. However, this wait can be greatly reduced, if fit, by walking the first two levels, then buying an elevator ticket to the top. Entry to the permanent exhibitions at city-run museums is free at all times (admission is charged for temporary exhibitions).", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk044", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "### Sports\n\n- [[Paris/16th arrondissement#Q43605|French Open]]\n\n**Football:** play soccer in Ligue 1, the top tier, and often win it. But don't head for the central district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés! PSG play at Parc des Princes Stadium in the 16th arrondissement south of Bois de Boulogne. The club name derives from Saint-Germain-en-Laye 20 km west. \n **Paris FC** have long been the poor relations, but in 2025 were promoted to Ligue 1. They play at Stade Charléty on the *peripherique* in the 13th arrondissement.\n - [[Saint-Denis (Île-de-France)#Q13205| Stade de France]]\n\n**Rugby:** two clubs play rugby union (15 a side) in Top 14, the top tier:\n Racing play at La Défense Arena (or U Arena) in Nanterre. \n Stade Français play big games at Stade de France and others at Stade Jean-Bouin, next to Parc de Princes the PSG soccer stadium.\n\n### Events\n\nIt seems like there's almost always something happening in Paris, with the possible exceptions of the school holidays in August and February, when about half of Parisians are to be found not in Paris, but in the South of France or the Alps respectively. The busiest season is probably the fall, from a week or so after *la rentrée scolaire* or \"back to school\" to around *Noël* (Christmas) theatres, cinemas and concert halls book their fullest schedule of the year.\n\nGood listings of current cultural events in Paris can be found in *Pariscope* or *Officiel des spectacles*, weekly magazines listing all concerts, art exhibitions, films, stage plays and museums. Available from all kiosks. Timeout is a good option for tourists, who don't speak French.\n\nEven so, there are a couple of annual events in the winter, starting with a furniture and interior decorating trade fair called **Maison & Object** in January.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk045", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "In February *le nouvel an chinois* (**Chinese New Year**) is celebrated in Paris as it is in every city with a significant Chinese and Vietnamese population. There are parades in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and especially in the *Quartier Asiatique* (Asian Quarter) in the 13th south of Place d'Italie. Also in February is the **Six Nations Rugby Tournament** which brings together France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.\n\nThe **International Agricultural Show** (*Salon Internationale de l'Agriculture*) usually takes place over a week around the end of February/beginning of March at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre. It is unmissable (not just for tourists but also French politicians wanting to appear in touch with rural France), and showcases large numbers of domestic animals as well as selling speciality food products from all over France and its former colonies in Africa. Particularly recommended are the food stalls from the overseas territories where you can try regional specialities that are hard to come by even in Metropolitan France, and they will often also have performances from folk musicians/dancers. It's usually advised to buy tickets in advance as the queues for entry can be long.\n\nThe first of two Fashion weeks occurs in March: **Spring Fashion Week**, giving designers a platform to present women's *prêt-à-porter* (ready to wear) collections for the following winter.\n\nIn June, **Rendez-vous au Jardin** is an open house for many Parisian gardens, giving you a chance to meet real Parisian gardeners and see their creations. The **Fête de la Musique** celebrates the summer solstice (21 June) with this city-wide free musical knees-up. Finally on the 26th of June is the **Gay Pride** parade, featuring probably the most sincere participation by the mayor's office of any such parade on the globe.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk046", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "The French national holiday **Bastille Day** on the 14th of July celebrates the storming of the infamous Bastille during the French Revolution. Paris hosts several spectacular events that day of which the best known is the **Bastille Parade** which is held on the Champs-Élysées at 10:00 and broadcast to pretty much the rest of Europe by television. The entire street will be crowded with spectators so arrive early. The **Bastille Day Fireworks** is an exceptional treat for travellers lucky enough to be in town on Bastille Day. The Office du Tourisme et des Congress de Paris recommends gathering in or around the *champ de Mars*, the gardens of the Eiffel Tower.\n\nAlso in July, **Cinema en Plein Air** is the annual outdoor cinema event that takes place at the Parc de la Villette, in the 19th on Europe's largest inflatable screen. For most of the months of July and August, parts of both banks of the Seine are converted from expressway into an artificial beach for **Paris Plages**. Also in July the cycling race **le Tour de France** has a route that varies annually, however it always finishes on the last Sunday of July under the Arc de Triomphe.\n\nOn the last full weekend in August, a world-class music festival **Rock en Seine** draws international rock and pop stars to the *Domaine national de Saint-Cloud*, just west of Paris.\n\nDuring mid-September DJs and (usually young) fans from across Europe converge on Paris for five or six days of dancing etc. culminating in the **Techno parade** - a parade whose route traces roughly from *Place de la Bastille* to the *Sorbonne*, and around the same time the festival **Jazz à la Villette** brings some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz from around the world.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk047", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "In the beginning of autumn the vine harvest fest takes place. The most famous is the '''Fête des Vendanges''' de '''Montmartre''', a food festival around the vine harvest of the Montmartre vineyard.\n\nThe **Nuit Blanche** transforms most of central Paris into a moonlit theme-park for an artsy all-nighter on the first Saturday of October, and **Fashion Week** returns shortly thereafter showing off Women's *Prêt-à-Porter* collections for the following summer; as we've noted winter collections are presented in March.\n\nThe third Thursday in November marks the release of **Le Beaujolais Nouveau** and the beginning of the Christmas season. This evening, the Christmas lights are lit in a ceremony on the *Champs-Élysées*, often in the presence of hundreds (if not thousands) of people and many dignitaries, including the president of France.\n\nUnfortunately, there are no comprehensive event guides covering concerts, clubs, movies or special events. For theatre, movies and exhibitions pick up the *Pariscope* and *L'officiel du Spectacle*, available at newsstands for €0.40. For (especially smaller, alternative) concerts pick up LYLO, a small, free booklet available in some bars and at FNAC. There is no user-friendly online version of these guides.\n\n### Photography", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk048", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "Paris is considered by many as the birthplace of photography, and while one may debate the correctness of this claim, there is no debate that Paris is today a photographer's dream. The French capital offers a spectacular array of photographic expositions and opportunities to the beginner and the pro alike. It has photogenic monuments (e.g., Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, the obelisk at Concorde, and countless others); architecture (e.g., the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Museum of the Arab World) and urban street scenes (e.g., in the Marais, Montmartre and Belleville). When you tire of taking your own photos, visit one of the many institutions dedicated to photography. At these and other institutions, you can learn the about the rich history of Paris as the place of important developments in photography (e.g., the Daguerrotype) and as the home of many of the trade's great artists (e.g., Robert Doisneau, André Kertész, Eugene Atget and Henri Cartier-Bresson).\n\n- Maison Européene de la Photographie\n\n'''Jeu de Paume''', at the entrance of Tulerie Gardens, is one of the city's premier photography exhibition sites.\n- Better Paris Photos\n\n**Paris Photo,** one of the world's most important art fairs, takes place in the autumn.\n\n### Movies\n\nThe *Cinémas* of Paris are (or at least should be) the envy of the movie-going world. Of course, like anywhere else you can see big budget first-run films from France and elsewhere. That though, is just the start. During any given week there are at least half-a-dozen film festivals going on, at which you can see the entire works of a given actor or director. Meanwhile, there are some older cult films like say, *What's new Pussycat* or *Casino Royal* which you can enjoy pretty much any day you wish.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk049", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "Many non-French movies are subtitled (called \"*version originale*\" \"VO\" or \"VOstfr\" as opposed to \"VF\" for \"*version française*\").\n\nThere are any number of ways to find out what's playing, but the most commonly used guide is *Pariscope*, which you can find at newsstands for €0.70. Meanwhile, there are innumerable online guides which have information on \"every\" cinema in Paris.\n\nThe '''Cinemathèque française''' and the '''Forum des Images''' are the two public film institutions that organize retrospectives, exhibitions and festivals.\n\n### Theatres\n\nThe , as well as its associated ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet, are considered to be among the premier classical performance companies in the world.\n\nIf you are under 26, there is a flat rate of €10 for every private theatre of the town every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. This fare does not apply to public theatres nor opera.\n\n### With children\n\nthumb|Luxembourg Gardens and Palais du Luxembourg (Sénat) in AprilParis Mômes is a Parisian cultural guide with children's activities and events that comes out several times a year.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk050", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Do", "text": "**Cité des enfants** in the 19th, a museum for kids within the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, is interactive, fun, and educational. There are two separate sections for the 3-5 set and the 5-12 set. The tots section has simple exhibits designed to be pushed, prodded, and poked. The section for older kids is more sophisticated with scientific experiments and TV studios. Métro *Porte de la Villete* (7)\n **Jardin du Luxembourg** in the 6th. It would be counted as a travesty not to take your under 10 year old to the Jardin du Luxembourg, long a favourite with Parisian children. With its world famous merry-go-round, a pond for sail boats, a puppet theater, pony rides, chess players, children's playground, it has something for every kid (with comfortable chairs for weary parents thrown in!). The marionettes du Luxembourg, the puppet theatre, stages classic French puppet shows in French but should be easy to understand. There are numerous places for a snack. RER *Luxembourg* (B) or Métro *Odéon* (4, 10)\n**Parc des Buttes-Chaumont** in the 19th. Buttes-Chaumont is great for those with children that like to run, climb, and explore. Built on the site of an abandoned quarry, the park is roughly bowl-shaped with a 30-meter-tall peak situated in the middle of a pond at the park's center. There are trails up the rock, caves, waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and a small stone gazebo on the top of the rock with a 360-degree view. There is also a puppet theater and a playground. Métro *Buttes-Chaumont* (7bis), *Botzaris* (7bis), or *Laumière* (5)\n **Parc Zoologique** in the 12th. This zoo is different because of a 236-foot artificial mountain bang in its center. Take elevators to the top and enjoy the view or watch the mountain goats do their stuff on the sides. Lions, tigers, and everything designed to delight kids can be found in the zoo if the mountain doesn't do it for your kids. RER/Métro *Gare d'Austerlitz* (5, 10, C)\n **The Jardin d'Acclimatation** in the 16th has a number of rides, including pint-sized roller coasters suitable for children as young as three years, as well as a mini-zoo and the estimable *Musée en Herbe*. Métro *Les Sablons* (1)\n'''The Parc Floral''', in the Bois de Vincennes, has different themed playgrounds, ping pong tables and picnic areas. During winter the entrance is free.", "word_count": 390}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk051", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Learn", "text": "- Alliance Française\n\n - Ecole FL\n\n - Université Paris IV\n\n - American Graduate School in Paris\n\n - Franglish\n\n - Schiller International University\n\nParis is the seat of other places to learn about a variety of topics.\n\n - The American Library in Paris\n\n#### Culinary\n\nHow better to get to know a culture than to learn the ins and outs of its native cuisine. After sampling your fair share of Macarons and Magret de Canard around Paris, you might enjoy taking an afternoon to learn how to make these delicacies yourself and take the recipes home with you. While there are many cooking schools around Paris, only a few offer classes in English.\n\n- Le Foodist\n\n- Le Cordon Bleu Paris\n\n- La Cuisine Paris", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk052", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Work", "text": "Work in Paris, especially for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, entails a very long and arduous process. Unless you possess one of a number of in-demand skills, it will almost certainly be necessary to obtain a job offer from an employer before arriving. Your employer, for their part, will have to have the offer approved by the relevant governmental authorities, as well. If you opt for unreported work, such as babysitting, you need not fret about going through the process to obtain a *Carte de séjour*, i.e., a formal visitor's identity card. However, if you do choose a change in location, it is advisable to obtain a *Carte de séjour* prior to finding any job whatsoever, as the process can be longer than expected. A *Carte de séjour* is often necessary to open a bank account and the like, and by extension for accomplishing any number of other tasks involved in modern life, so unless you're very comfortable transacting everything in cash you should probably bite the bullet and keep things on the up-and-up.\n\nIf you go to Paris for a conference, there's a very good chance you'll end up in a meeting or exhibiting at CNIT (Centre of New Industries and Technology). This conference and convention space is one of the oldest buildings in the La Defense area of Paris and still looks modern even though it's been eclipsed in height by surrounding buildings and hotels near the CNIT are mainly catered to those staying in the area on business.\n\nRemember, the city of Paris has a huge network of immigrants coming and going, and it is always great to tap into that network. The city holds a great abundance of work ready to be found, even if the search feels nerve-wracking at first.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk053", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Buy", "text": "Paris is one of the great **fashion** centres of the Western world, up there with New York, London, and Milan, making it a shopper's delight. While the Paris fashion scene is constantly evolving, the major shopping centres tend to be the same. High end couture can be found in the 8th arrondissement. In summer, there is nothing better than browsing the boutiques along Canal St-Martin, or strolling along the impressive arcades of the historic Palais-Royal, with beautifully wrapped purchases swinging on each arm.\n\n**Le Marais** is a mostly Jewish neighbourhood, most of the shops in Le Marais are open on Sundays. The stores in this area are intimate, boutique, \"Parisian\" style clothing stores. You will no doubt find something along each street, and it is always well worth a look.\n\nOther great areas to shop around in are around the area **Sèvres Babylone** (Métro Line 10 and Line 12). It is in this area you will find the Le Bon Marché 7th, particularly *rue de Cherche Midi* 6th. The area boasts some of the major fashion houses (Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, etc.) and also has smaller private boutiques with handmade clothing.\n\nIn the **Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés**, you can find a handful of vintage clothing shops, carrying anything from couture early 20th century dresses, to 70s Chanel sunglasses. Walking along *Boulevard Saint-Germain*, you will find major brands. However, if in search of eclectic finds, opt to walk the northern side of the Boulevard, especially along **rue Saint André des Arts**, where you can always find a nice café to stop in. The area south of Saint-Germain is just as nice, and comes with a price tag to match.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk054", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Buy", "text": "In the artsy quarters of 1 and 4, there are many bargains to be had, once again, if you are prepared to look. Souvenirs are easily found and can be fairly inexpensive as long as you don't buy from the tourist sites. For cheap books of French connection, try the University/Latin quarter as they sell books in all languages starting from half a euro each.\n\n### Flea markets\n\nParis has 3 main flea markets, all on the outskirts of the central city. The most famous of these is the **Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (Porte de Clignancourt)** (Clignancourt Flea Market), *Métro: Porte de Clignancourt*, in the 18th, a haven for lovers of antiques, second-hand goods, and retro fashion. The best days to go are Saturday and Sunday. There are particular times of the week when only antique collectors are allowed into the stalls, and there are also times of the day when the stall owners take their *Parisian siesta*, and enjoy a leisurely cappuccino for an hour or so. The best times to visit the flea markets are in the spring and summertime, when the area is more vibrant. In and around the metro station, you may find the area a little wild, but still safe.\n\nThe '''Marché aux Puce de Vanves''' in the 14th arrondissement is open on Saturday and Sunday from 7h-14h. The closes metro station is Porte de Vanves.\n\n### Musical instruments\n\nRue de Rome, situated near Gare St. Lazare, is crowded with luthiers, brass and woodwind makers, piano sellers, and sheet music stores. Subway station Europe. The area south of the metro station Pigalle is also packed with music shops (more oriented towards guitars and drums).\n\n### Artwork", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk055", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Buy", "text": "For art lovers, be sure to check out *Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés*, which is renowned for its galleries, and it is impossible to turn a street without finding a gallery to cast your glance in. On Fridays, most open until late. Most even have the benefit of bottles of wine so you can wander in with your glass of wine and feel very *artistique*. Great roads to walk along are *rue de Seine*, *rue Jacob*, *rue des Beaux Arts*, *Rue Bonaparte*, and *Rue Mazarine*.\nAlso, be sure to visit the historical district of *Montparnasse* and *quartier Vavin* where artists like Modigliani, Gauguin and Zadkine used to work.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk056", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "Paris is one of Europe's culinary centres, where the *haute cuisine* has flourished since at least the French revolution. It may however come as a surprise that Paris isn't considered the culinary capital of French cuisine; many people prefer the French cooking found in small rural restaurants, outside of the city, closer to the farms and with their focus on freshness and regional specialities. Even among French cities, Paris has long been considered by the French as second to Lyon for fine dining.\n\nThere have been other challenges in the last 20 years or so as restaurateurs in places like San Francisco and Sydney briefly surpassed their Parisian fore bearers, again with an emphasis on freshness of ingredients but also borrowings from other cuisines. Parisian cooks didn't just rest on their laurels during this time, rather they travelled, taught, and studied, and together with Paris's own immigrant communities, have revitalized the restaurant trade. Today you can find hundreds of beautiful restaurants with thoughtful (or just trendy) interior design and well-planned and executed *cartes* and *menus* offering a creative *mélange* of French and exotic foreign cuisines. It's safe to say that Paris is once again catching up with or edging ahead of its *Anglophone* rivals.\n\nOf course there are also some traditional offerings, and for the budget conscious there are hundreds of traditional bistros, with their sidewalk *terraces* offering a choice of fairly simple (usually meat centred) meals for reasonable prices.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk057", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "It is unfortunately possible to have a uniformly poor dining experience during a stay in Paris, probably because mass tourism attracts price gougers. It is frequent to hear people complaining of very high Parisian prices for very poor food and service. Since so many of the restaurants are sub-par, the best approach is to rely on a restaurant guide and personal recommendations. Do your research in advance if possible and be prepared to travel some distance. Don't just walk down the street expecting to find good food; you probably won't.\n\nMany restaurants are tiny and have tables close together - square metres are at a premium and understandably restaurateurs need to make the most of limited space. In some cases when the restaurant is crowded, you may have to sit beside strangers at the same table. If that does not appeal to you, go to a more upscale place where you will pay for the extra space.\n\nTrendy restaurants often require reservations weeks, if not months in advance. If you haven't planned far enough ahead, try to get a reservation for lunch which is generally easier and less expensive.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk058", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "For an easy-to-manage eating budget while in Paris, consider: breakfast or \"petit déjeuner\" at a restaurant, possibly in your hotel, consisting of some croissants, coffee, and maybe a piece of fruit. Get a 'walking lunch' from one of Paris' many food stands—a *panino* in the centre of the city, a crepe from a crepe stand, a felafel pita or take-out Chinese in the Marais. *Traiteurs* serving Chinese and/or Vietnamese food are ubiquitous in the city and good for a cheap lunch and many *pâtisseries* sell inexpensive coffee and sandwiches. All these are cheap (about the same as breakfast), easy, and allow you to maximize your sightseeing and walking time while enjoying delicious local or ethnic food. For dinner, stroll the streets at dusk and consider a €20-40 prix-fixe menu. This will get you 3 or 4 courses, possibly with wine, and an unhurried, candlelit, magical evening. If you alternate days like this with low-budget, self-guided eating (picnicking, snacking, street food) you will be satisfied without breaking the bank.\n\nIf one of the aims of your trip to Paris is to indulge in its fine dining, though, the most cost-effective way to do this is to make the main meal of your day lunch. Virtually all restaurants offer a good prix-fixe deal. By complementing this with a bakery breakfast and a light self-catered dinner, you will be able to experience the best of Parisian food and still stick to a budget.\n\n### Self-catering", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk059", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "Budget travellers will be very pleased with the range and quality of products on offer at the open air markets (e.g. the biggest one on Boulevard Richard Lenoir (near the Bastille), Rue Mouffetard, Place Buci, Place de la Madeleine and over the Canal Saint-Martin in the 11th or in any other arrondissement). If your accommodation has cooking facilities you're set, especially for wine and cheese, a decent bottle of French wine will set you back all of about €3-5, while the *fairly good* stuff starts at around €7. Bottles for less than €3 are not recommended.\n\nThe small *épiceries* which open until late are more expensive than the *supermarchés* (Casino, Monoprix, Franprix, etc.) For wine, the price difference can be up to €2.\n\nBuy a baguette, some cheese and a good bottle of wine and join the Parisian youth for a *pique-nique* along the Seine (especially on the Île Saint-Louis) or along the Canal Saint-Martin. The finest food stores are Lafayette Gourmet in the Galeries Lafayette or La Grande Epicerie in the luxury department store Le Bon Marché. They are worth discovering. You will find a large variety of wines there, otherwise try wine stores (cavistes) that are present everywhere in the city, and sell all kind of good French wine that you won't find in a supermarket. The owners usually know their wines and will be happy to help you choose among their huge selection. Some also sell good food. You can search for one online or ask a local. There are also some \"wine supermarkets\" such as Nicolas or Le Relais de Bacchus (all over the city) that sell more common wines.\n\n### Some specialities", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk060", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "For **seafood** lovers, Paris is a great place to try *moules frites* (steamed mussels and French fries) (better in fall and winter), oysters, sea snails, and other delicacies. **Meat** specialties include venison (deer), boar, and other game (especially in the fall and winter hunting season), as well as French favourites such as lamb, veal, beef, and pork.\n\n### Prices\n\nEating out in Paris can be expensive. However don't believe people when they say you can't do Paris on the cheap - you can! The key is to stay away from the beaten tracks and the obviously expensive Champs Elysées. Around the lesser visited quarters especially, there are many cheap and yummy restaurants to be found. The area around Fontaine Saint-Michel, the fountain facing Notre Dame is crowded by particularly tasty places to eat, with good ambiance, cheap prices and excellent service, with the advantage of being very centric of many places of interest. The key is to order from the prix-fixe menu, and *not* off the À la Carte menu unless you want to pay an arm and a leg. In many places a three course meal can be found for about €15. This way you can sample the food cheaply and is usually more \"French\". Ask for \"une carafe d'eau\" (oon karaaf doe) to get free tap water.\n\n### Kosher dining", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk061", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "Paris has the largest number of Kosher restaurants of any European city. Walk up and down Rue des Rosiers to see the variety and choices available from Israeli, Japanese, Italian and others. You will also find a wide assortment of Kosher restaurants in the 9th arrondissement of Paris near the rue Richer and rue Cadet areas. See the district guides for examples. Kosher restaurants and snacks usually display a big orange rectangle on their front, which ensure clients that they are Beth din certified.\n\n### Vegetarian dining\n\nthumb|Falafel restaurants on Rue des Rosiers\nFor **vegetarians**, eating traditional French food will require some improvisation, as it is heavily meat-based. That being said, it is far easier to be vegetarian in Paris than it is elsewhere in France. Paris has several excellent vegetarian restaurants, and many non-vegetarian restaurants will provide vegetarian dishes.\n\nWhen eating in a traditional restaurant, be careful before ordering dishes labelled as \"vegetarian\". Many French people presume that *fish* and *seafood* are vegetarian dishes. This is a widely spread misunderstanding all around the country. Additionally, French people tend to confuse \"real\" vegetarians with vegans. When explaining that you're a vegetarian that won't eat fish, people will often presume that you don't eat milk or egg-based products.\n\nLook for spots such as Le Grenier de Notre-Dame in the **5th**. The **10th** arrondissement also has quite a large variety of vegetarian restaurants, especially of Indian and East/South-East Asian fare. See the arrondissement pages for more listings. For fast food and snacks, you can always find a vegetarian sandwich or pizza, or indeed French tacos. Even a kebab shop can make you something with just cheese and salad, or perhaps falafel. And for healthier fare, it's not usually hard nowadays to find hipstery places that sell vegan poke bowls.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk062", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are also lots of Italian, Thai, Indian, and Mezo-American places where you will have little problem. The famous South Indian chain Saravana Bhavan have their branch near Gare Du Nord. In Rue des Rosiers (4th arrondissement) you can get delicious falafel in the many Jewish restaurants. Another place to look for falafel is on Rue Oberkampf (11th arrondissement). Take away falafel usually goes for €5 or less.\n\nMoroccan and Algerian cooking is common in Paris - vegetarian couscous is lovely. Another good option for vegetarians - are traiteurs, particularly around Ledru Rollin (down the road from Bastille) take away food where you can combine a range of different options such as pomme dauphinoise, dolmas, salads, vegetables, nice breads and cheeses and so on.\n\nLebanese restaurants and snack shops abound as well, offering a number of vegetarian *mezze*, or small plates. The stand-bys of course are hummas, falafel, and baba-ganouche (*caviar d'aubergine*). A good place to look for Lebanese is in the pedestrian zone around Les Halles and Beaubourg in the 1st and 4th.\n\nAlso look out for banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) places, especially around Rue Mouffetard in the **5th**, where you can often get a tofu banh mi for less than a fiver.\n\n### Tourists and locals\n\nWhen you are looking for a restaurant in Paris, be wary of those where the staff speak English a bit too readily. These restaurants are usually geared towards tourists. It does make a difference in the staff's service and behaviour whether they expect you to return or not.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk063", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Eat", "text": "Sometimes the advertised fixed price tourist menus (€10-15) are a good deal. If you're interested in the really good and more authentic stuff (and if you have learned some words of French) try one of the small bistros where the French go during lunch time.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk064", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A bar on Rue Mouffetard\nThe bars scene in Paris really does have something for everyone. From bars which serve drinks in baby bottles, to ultra luxe clubs that require some name dropping, or card (black Amex) showing, and clubs where you can dance like no one's watching, (although they will be). To start your night out right, grab a drink or two in a ubiquitous dive bar, before burning up the dance floor and spreading some cash, at one of the trendy clubs.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk065", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Canal St Martin**. Many cozy cafés and other drinking establishments abound around the *Canal St Martin* in the **10th**.\n**The Marais**. The Marais has a large number of trendier new bars mostly in the **4th** and to a lesser extent the **3rd** with a few old charmers tossed into the mix. A number of bars and restaurants in the Marais have a decidedly gay crowd, but are usually perfectly friendly to straights as well. Some seem to be more specifically aimed at up-and-coming hetero singles.\n**Bastille**. There is a very active nightlife zone just to the northeast of Place de Bastille centered around *rue de Lappe*, *rue de la Roquette*, *rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine* (especially the amazing Club Barrio Latino) and *rue de Charonne* in the **11th**. Many of the bars closest to Bastille have either a North, Central, or South American theme, with a couple of Aussie places mixed in for good measure, and as you continue up *rue de Charonne* the cafés have more of a traditionally French but grungy feeling.\n**Quartier Latin - Odeon**. If you're looking for the *nouvelle vague* (new wave) style, student and intellectual atmosphere of Paris in the 1960s and 70s, you'll find a lot of that (and more hip and chic) places in the quartier Latin and between place Odeon and the Seine. The neighbourhood is also home of many small artsy cinemas showing non-mainstream films and classics (check 'Pariscope' or 'l'officiel du spectacle' at any newspaper stand for the weekly programme).\n**Rue Mouffetard and environs**. The area in the **5th** on the south side of the hill topped by the Panthéon has a little bit of everything for the nighthawk, from the classy cafés of Place de la Contrescarpe to an Irish-American dive bar just down the way to a hip, nearly hidden jazz café at the bottom of the hill.\n**Châtelet**. In some ways the *Marais* starts here in the **1st** between *Les Halles* and *Hôtel de Ville* but with between all of the tourists and the **venerable Jazz clubs** on *rue des Lombards* the area deserves some special attention.\n**Montmartre**. You'll find any number of cozy cafés and other drinking establishments all around the *Butte Montmartre* in the **18th**, especially check out *rue des Abbesses* near the *Métro* station of the same name.\n**Oberkampf-Ménilmontant**. If you are wondering where to find the hipsters (*bobos* for bohemian-bourgeois), then this is where to look. There are *several* clusters of grungy-hip bars all along *rue Oberkampf* in the **11th**, and stretching well into the **20th** up the hill on *rue de Ménilmontant*. It's almost like being in San Francisco's Haight-Fillmore district.\n**Bagnolet**. There are a cluster of bar/restaurant/nightclubs along the southern end of the Père Lachaise cemetery in the 20th including probably the best place in Paris for nightly local and touring punk rock.\n**Rues des Dames-Batignolles**. Another good place to find the grungy-chic crowd is the northern end of the **17th** around *rue des Dames* and *rue des Batignolles*, and if you decide you want something a little different Montmartre is just around the corner.\n**Port de Tolbiac**. This previously deserted stretch of the river Seine in the **13th** was reborn as a center for nightlife (and Sunday-afternoon-life) a few years ago when an electronic music cooperative opened the **Batofar**. Nowadays there are a number of boats moored along the same *quai*, including a boat with a Caribbean theme, and one with an Indian restaurant.\n**Saint Germain des Prés**. This area has two of the most famous cafés in the world: Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, both catering to the tourists and the snobs who can afford their high prices. This part of the **6th** is where the Parisian café scene really started, and there still are hundreds of places to pull up to a table, order a glass, and discuss Sartre deep into the evening.", "word_count": 647}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk066", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Drink", "text": "For individual bar listings see the various Arrondissement pages under **Drink**.\n\nOf course there are lots of interesting places which are sort of off on their own outside of these clusters, including a few like the **Hemingway Bar at the Ritz** which are not to be missed in a serious roundup of Parisian drinking, so check out the listings even in those arrondissements we haven't mentioned above.\n\nSome nightclubs in Paris that are worth it: Folies Pigalle (pl. Pigalle, 18th, very trashy, €20), Rex Club (near one of the oldest cinemas on earth, the Grand Rex, house/electro, about €15). You might also want to try Cabaret (Palais Royal), Maison Blanche, le Baron (M Alma-Marceau). Remember when going out to dress to impress, you are in Paris! Torn clothing and sneakers are not accepted. The better you look, the more likely you will get past the random decisions of club bouncers. Also important to remember if male (or in a group of guys) that it will be more difficult to enter clubs; try to always have an equal male/female ratio.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk067", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Hotels\n\nBeing often declared the most popular travel destination in the world, Paris has far over a thousand hotels to choose from, and even more in the surrounding Ile-de-France region. The choice may be overwhelming, but should be made carefully. There are huge differences in standards and location is key to make your stay in Paris enjoyable and time used well. Be prepared to pay the price for Paris' popularity - even the cheap hotels are relatively expensive.\n\nDespite the popularity with tourists, global hotel chains have relatively low penetration of the Parisian market. A notable exception is the French-based Accor, which boasts over 300 hotels in the Paris area, although with large swathes of central Paris largely uncovered. There is a fair amount of Best Westerns as well, but most international chains limit their presence to very few exclusive (and expensive) hotels in key locations. Travellers loyal to a particular brand may find their loyalty challenged, be forced to pay for it (rather than be rewarded) or unable to find their hotel brand of choice in Paris.\n\nHotels in the central arrondissements tend to be expensive, although very cheap ones can also be found. With few exceptions, they tend to offer small rooms. In Paris, staying at a more expensive hotel will get you better standards of service and facilities, but will not necessarily get you a bigger room than a cheaper hotel. Rooms of 12-16 square metres (which is roughly half of standard hotels rooms e.g. in the USA) are the norm in central Paris, regardless of hotel standards.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk068", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Cheaper hotels in popular arrondissements tend to be older, less attractive properties, whose facilities and appointments may be very worn and outdated, far behind standards one would expect from the capital of all things pretty and fine. Even updated and restored hotels may exhibit wide variance in standards between room categories, and keep some of the rooms not refurbished or only minimally touched up to be able to offer attractive, eye-catching pricing for them and then upsell to more comfortable room categories. Always check out latest reviews, preferably with photos, to precisely determine what to expect from a given hotel and given room category.\n\nHotels outside of the city centre, or even outside of the *Peripherique* and Paris itself, can be far cheaper than ones in central Paris, while still having good transit links via metro or RER. That said, some of the suburbs outside of Paris have a sketchy reputation (see the crime section below for which ones) and you will keep in mind the added costs, time and difficulty in getting around the city.\n\nBecause of local preferences, a bathtub in the bathroom is a norm in most hotels, even if it means squeezing it into a very small bathroom, further limiting space. If you prefer a walk-in shower, you need to look for a hotel that specifically offers those (called \"*douche italienne*\" by the French), and you should generally look at newer, purpose-built properties.\n\nParis hotels, almost without regard to category or price, observe high and low season pricing. These differ slightly from one hotel to another, but usually the high season roughly corresponds to late spring and summer, and possibly a couple of weeks around Christmas.\n\nFor individual hotel listings see the various Arrondissement pages.\n\n### Apartment rentals", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk069", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Sleep", "text": "For those staying for a week or more, renting a furnished apartment might be a more comfortable and money-saving option, especially for 3 or more adults. Furnished apartments can differ considerably in location and quality, offer different accommodations and selections of appliances and kitchen features, or may be well-above street level with no elevator. Expect apartment sizes to be modest. Access to local public transport can also vary widely. So choose carefully only after getting a full description of an interesting property.\n\nMany websites will help you find rentals. Some do a more disciplined job of locating and describing properties and their locale. Most charge a commission of 10% or more; some offer insurance covering some risks. Some may offer a few apartments for shorter stays, usually at somewhat higher cost per day.\n\nIn late-spring and summer months, desirable properties may be in short supply. If your plans are fairly firm for those periods, you would be wise to \"reserve\" a unit well in-advance. Owners will often ask for a non-refundable deposit of up to 50% of the total cost of your stay. Means of payment can range from money order to PayPal or (occasionally) charge card. (Take great care of how and with whom you share any charge card account number.) You should send no payment to any post office box or similarly anonymous place or account...even after exchanging e-mails with a purported owner; most are no more than \"blind\" scams to take your money.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk070", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The city government has passed ordinances that require owners renting properties for short periods to collect a tax previously collected only by hotels. This substantial tax may not be collected by some owners, or may be demanded by them but not mentioned in their rates until you arrive. Tax enforcement and collection remain in a state of flux.\n\nSome agencies, rental brokers or web sites, that seem amicable, attractive or claim reputations, do not abide by French law to carefully vet and select landlords and apartments they offer for rent. There are a certain number of guarantees, which are required in France before renting an apartment, and an insurance policy, which aims at protecting the tenants during their stay.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk071", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nDespite what many naysayers might say or believe, Paris is still a relatively safe city. This does not stop it from being plagued by petty crime, especially pickpocketing, and muggings. Scams, of which there are many, are also prevalent, though the police are slowly cracking down on them. While not common, purse snatchings do happen. Violent crime is rare. However, watch yourself at ATMs and other places where your cash may be visible. Keep your money and your wallet in your front pockets, and avoid ATMs that are open to the outside, especially at night.\n\nAs a densely populated city with equally dense neighbourhoods, one would be remiss to generalise the safety of entire 'arrondissements' based on a few specific areas. Several arrondissements have their share of crime, however. The 18th, 19th, and 20th arrondissements are widely seen as the least safe areas of Paris, but safety levels vary dramatically from street to street. During the day, they're usually fine; you might have to watch out for pickpockets and scammers, but not much more. However, be on your guard at night. The 10th arrondissement (namely the areas bordering the 18th and 19th arrondissements) and the southeastern portion of the \"périphérique\" have also gained a reputation for being sketchy.\n\nSeveral of the inner suburbs of the metropolitan area (commonly referred to as the *banlieues*) such as La Courneuve, Saint-Denis, Sarcelles, and Pantin are notoriously 'rough' by European standards, and you should be cautious when visiting these places. Unrest in those areas has made global headline news (as did the somewhat heavy-handed reactions of various French governments).", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk072", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The police can be reached by phone by dialling 17. Not all police officers speak English, but those found around touristy areas almost always will. They are usually friendly and perfectly approachable should you have to.\n\n#### Theft in public transit\n\nThe métro and RER are also a popular place for pickpockets. **Hold things tightly and be aware of your surroundings.** While trains are usually crowded, if someone is insisting and hovers over you, they are probably going through your pockets. It is important to know that a majority of these belong to a gang. These gangs usually use young children as young as seven, with groups of them going around the metro stations pickpocketing tourists and locals alike. If there is a group of three or more suspicious looking people, be careful of your belongings. This is a notable occurrence on Métro line 13, tramways, and the RER B.\n\nCommon tactics are two of them blocking you as you try to board the subway, with two behind you quickly going through your bag. Seconds before the doors close, the two jump off, leaving you on the metro without even realizing what has happened. Take note of what locals do. If someone warns you to be careful, there are probably some suspicious types hoping to steal from you. Also be aware that phone-snatching is the most reported crime, and avoid using your cellphone on metro platforms and in the metro itself.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk073", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Pickpockets are active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle airport to downtown Paris, which passes through the poor suburbs of Seine-Saint Denis. Try to take the trains which are nonstop between the airport and Paris proper (Gare du Nord) - EKLI/EKIL from Paris to CDG and KRIN/KROL from CDG to Paris. These are faster and are less crowded than the alternative.\n\nThere have also been problems with thieves physically fighting people in order to steal their belongings. The most common targets are those with suitcases and backpacks, i.e. tourists. Thieves usually coin their acts with the closing of the doors. Newer trains have cameras everywhere, and thieves are much less likely to use them. Otherwise, stow luggage on the racks above the seat (which is not possible in newer trains) and hold on to your bags so no one can grab them and then run out. You are much less likely of being a victim if the train is crowded with locals headed to work, usually at rush hour.\n\nThe train conductors are widely aware of these crimes and will usually wait a few seconds to leave the station after the doors have closed, just in case thieves have quickly jumped off with belongings. There are also emergency cords that one can pull if willing to chase after the attackers. People will usually be helpful and gladly call the police if you do not have a cell phone.\n\n#### Theft in tourist hotspots\n\nPickpockets are most likely to be found working at crowded tourists hotspots, so keep your wallet and phone in your front pockets and hold your backpack tightly when in a crowd.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk074", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A common place for phone/camera/wallet snatching is in tourist friendly dining areas scattered all over Paris where exposed outdoor tables are commonly right on busy sidewalks. Common practice by many Western tourists is to leave an aforementioned item of value on the table (most commonly a smartphone) in front of them. Some of the criminals, working in groups of three to five people, approach your table and shove what appears to be a survey directly under your nose thus blocking your view of your valuable. While the gang members are yelling in a foreign language another one will slip a hand below your view and take your item of value from the table. This occurs very quickly (less than five seconds) and the perpetrators disappear around the corner just as quick as they arrived.\n\nKey landmarks like the Louvre or the Eiffel tower have been plagued with gangs of pickpockets, which typically operate in groups of about five. As many as half a dozen of these gangs may be active at a particularly famous, crowded venue at any one time; occasionally there are fights between rival gangs of thieves. Asian visitors are often targeted due to a presumption that they are visiting from affluent nations. Venue staff have complained of being spat at, threatened, abused or assaulted by pickpocketing gangs; the Louvre closed briefly in 2013 (as did the Eiffel tower in 2015) due to worker protests of unsafe conditions due to criminal activity. Token attempts to deploy more police have not solved the problems.\n\n#### Scams", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk075", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "right|thumb|The men who will try to tie strings on your fingers\nAt Sacré-Cœur, there are many men who will try to tie strings or bracelets on your finger (often called \"string muggers\"). Not only will they demand an obscene fee for the cheap trinkets (usually over €15), they will also try to pickpocket you or threaten you with force if you do not give them money. They are usually only at the base of the monument and can be avoided by taking the Funicular of Montmartre. Otherwise, you can quickly walk past them and ignore them, though they will readily grab people's arms and have even been known to target children of tourists. Yelling at them may cause unwanted attention and cause them to back off, but be careful. Sacré-Cœur appears to be the only area where they congregate, but they have been sighted also near the Eiffel Tower.\n\nBesides them, you will notice many people walking around with cheap trinkets at touristy areas, especially the Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum. They are generally not rude, but buying things from them is illegal and hurts small businesses. Of course, they bolt at the sight of the police, and you may end up in the middle of a stampede!", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk076", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be careful around Barbès-Rochechouart and the bars near Moulin Rouge. A very common clip joint trick is played here which might cost you up to €500. The agents standing outside will force you to enter a bar and just have a look for 5 minutes. The moment you order a drink (about €5), a girl will approach you and start talking generally, and leave in 10–15 minutes. After a harmless conversation with the girls when you request a bill, you will encounter a charge of say €200-500 as 'service fees' for the services rendered by the girl! In case you resist paying, the bouncers will start intimidating you to try to extract money from your wallet. In such cases, threaten them that you are calling the police and informing the local embassy. Try to buy some time and start creating a ruckus. However, do not try to start a fight with the bouncers. This trick is common to many European big cities.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk077", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "One scam involves a \"helpful\" local buying a ticket for you. Normally, tourists buy 1-day, 3-day or longer Paris Visite passes. They would tell you that your single trip ticket has expired and bring you to the ticketing machine to purchase day passes. Then they would select the 3 day pass for adults (even though you may be a student) and deliberately show you the price on the screen. Everything else is in French so you would not understand a thing. They would proceed to purchase with a credit card and while entering the PIN code, get you to turn your back on them. They then sneakily change the ticket to a single trip ticket and ask for payment for a 3-day ticket from you. Unsuspecting tourists would pay the full sum thinking it is a 1-day or 3-day pass when it is only a useless ticket. Buy the tickets yourself to avoid situations like these, as machines are available in English and other languages. If you feel threatened, call the police and don't physically handle the ticket if they forcibly purchase without your agreement.\n\nAnother common scam is found along the banks of the Seine river and involves a ring. This involves thieves \"finding\" a ring which they give to you. They then ask you if you own it. When you say no, they insist you keep it, saying it goes against their religion or they cannot wear rings. A few moments later, they ask you for money to buy something to eat, eventually following you and becoming more annoying. You can either yell at them or steer them towards an area where there are likely to be police present, at which point they will quickly run away.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk078", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The most common scam (besides pickpocketing) that has taken over Paris by storm since June 2011 involves women coming up to tourists with pledge sheets. They pretend to be deaf people collecting money for one charity or another. Once you are distracted with the petition, an accomplice pickpockets you and takes your belongings. In addition, once you sign, they point to a thing that reads \"minimum ten euro donation.\" While they may at first insist on this, shaking your head and walking away will usually make them pester someone else. Otherwise, simply waving them off and a loud no should make them give up. If they are in a large group, as is common, be careful of your belongings! This is a ploy to pickpocket you as you are surrounded by them. At this point, yelling for the police will make them disperse quickly. This is most commonly found around major tourist sites, but has also been a problem at Gare du Nord, though this has gotten much better.\n\nNever bet money on a 3-card game as you will always lose. This trick is played by con artists on some of the bridges on River Seine near the Eiffel Tower.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk079", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A more modern scam takes place on ride-sharing apps such as Bolt. The \"driver\" will send you a message, saying you need to provide your mobile number in order to \"confirm\" the booking (this is not true; no such rule exists). Once you have done so, they will then attempt to use your number to sign into an account on another app (such as Uber), and send you another message on the first app requesting your confirmation code (which you will have received in a text message from the second app after you gave out your number). They will use another made-up excuse (\"Uber now runs Bolt operations in Paris\") to talk you into doing this. If the scam is a success, they will have access your account, and can run up massive bills by booking rides in your name. As such, if you receive such a message, do not engage, just cancel the ride and report the driver as a scammer. The app should then refund your cancellation fee.\n\nIt is a good idea to steer clear of the suburb of Seine Saint-Denis, as this suburb is known for its gangs and poverty, though there is little of interest to tourists anyway (except the Basilique de Saint-Denis, but that is located near a métro station). You may want to avoid walking alone at night in the 18th and 19th arrondissements as well, as these can be a little shady at night. There is a large problem with youths from the depressed suburbs causing trouble with the police. If locals are moving away, it is most likely from a confrontation. While these groups rarely target people besides the police, be careful. Walk away from a situation that could lead to fights or worse.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk080", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In general, remember to be aware of pickpockets, as they act by trying to distract you. Avoid showing off expensive phones or a lot of money in public transportation or in open areas. Put your things in a money belt or your front pockets, but never in the back pockets.\n\n#### Anti-Semitism\n\nParis has the largest Jewish community in Europe and the 6th largest in the world. However, antisemitic acts increased in France in the early 2000s, culminating with the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks targeting a local kosher supermarket. Attacks on Jews have since decreased and as of 2023, there have been no recent reports of attacks against tourists of Jewish faith. After 2015, the French government assigned thousands of soldiers to guard synagogues and Jewish schools. Still, fearing harassment or attacks, many of the local Jews no longer wear a kippa/yarmulke in public. So consider taking the advice of local Jews regarding your behavior. For example, if you wear a kippa, consider wearing it under a hat that is not identifiably Jewish.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk081", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Respect", "text": "Parisians have a reputation for being egocentric, rude and arrogant. While this is often only an inaccurate stereotype, the best way to get along in Paris still is to be on your best behavior, acting like someone who is \"*bien élevé*\" (well brought up). It will make getting about considerably easier.\n\nParisians' abrupt exteriors will rapidly evaporate if you display some basic courtesies. A simple \"*Bonjour, Madame*\" when entering a shop, for example, or \"*Excusez-moi*\" when trying to get someone's attention, are very important; say \"*Pardon*\" or better \"*je suis désolé*\" if you bump into someone accidentally or make other mistakes. If you speak French or are using a phrasebook remember to always use the vous form when addressing someone you don't know; this may transform the surliest shop assistant into a smiling helper or the grumpiest inhabitant to a helpful citizen. Courtesy is extremely important in France (where the worst insult is to call someone \"*mal élevé*\", or \"badly brought up\").\n\nIf you only learn one long phrase in French a good one would be \"*Excusez-moi de vous déranger, monsieur/madame, auriez-vous la gentillesse de m'aider?*\" (pardon me for bothering you, sir/madam, would you have the kindness to help me?) - this level of extreme politeness is about the closest one can come to a magic wand for unlocking Parisian hospitality. If you know some French, try it! But remember, too, that Parisians have places to go and things to do, so if they have no time and don't answer you, don't take it personally. Many Parisians, given time, will go out of their way to help, especially if you make an effort to speak their language and act polite to them.\n\nMost foreigners tend to ignore basic rules of courtesy in metro and train transport in Paris. If the carriage is full and you're sitting on a folding seat, you should consider standing up. If you stand next to the door, you are expected to leave the train at a stop so that people inside can exit. Once they have got out, you can go back. However, don't always expect that others will do the same for you. When pushing a door in a station, you are expected to hold it for the next person, so that it won't close abruptly. This rule is strictly observed in the metro, and quite commonly everywhere else.\n\nIn addition, if you are traveling to or from the airport on the train and have luggage, do not block the aisles with your bags. The RER B (which links both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to the city) has luggage racks above the seats (on the newer trains, there are no such racks above the seats, but racks dedicated to luggage in between some seats); it is best to use them so you do not block the path of a local who is getting off the train before the airport stop. On the métro and especially on the RER, don't take up extra seats with your luggage. There are luggage racks and spaces between the seats.\n\nThere are hefty fines for littering in Paris, especially for dog poo (often you'll find free plastic bag dispensers around parks or playgrounds).", "word_count": 536}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk082", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of Sept 2021, Paris has 5G from all French carriers. WiFi is widely available in public places, public transport, cafes and so on.\n\nOne helpful thing about having official and numbered districts in Paris is that you can easily tell which arrondissement an address is in by its postal code, and can easily come up with the postal code for a Paris address if you know its arrondissement. The rule is just pre-pend 750 or 7500 to the front of the arrondissement number, with 75001 being the postal code for the 1st and 75011 being the postal code for the 11th, and so on. The 16th has two postal codes, 75016 for the portion south of Rue de Passy and 75116 to the north; all other arrondissements only have one postal code.\n\nPhone cards are available from most \"tabacs\" but make sure you know where you can use them when you buy them, as some places still sell the *cartes cabines* which are hard to use as *cabines* are rare.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk083", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Cope", "text": "Famous for its status as \"fashion capital\", Paris isn't as conservative in dress as one might think. Parisians will tolerate all kinds of clothes as long as they're worn \"avec style\" (with style). That's why men do not usually wear shorts shorter than above the knee outside of sporting events: it is not considered indecent but may stand out from the locals; shorts are for \"schoolboys and football players\" only.\n\nPharmacies are easily identified by a flashing green cross sign outside. They can provide advice and medication for minor ailments.\n\n### Embassies\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Burundi\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Ethiopia\n\n - Finland\n\n - Greece\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Japan\n\n - Madagascar\n\n - The Netherlands\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Romania\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Spain\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Vietnam", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "paris::chunk084", "doc_id": "paris", "section": "Go next", "text": "Chantilly - Wonderful 17th-century palace and gardens (and the birthplace of whipped cream). 25 min train ride from *Gare du Nord*\n Chartres - The 12th-century cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is one of the highlights of Gothic architecture. 60-min train ride from *Gare Montparnasse*\n Disneyland Paris - In the suburb of Marne-la-Vallée, to the east of Paris, from where it can be reached by car, train, RER, or bus (the train/RER is probably your best bet).\n Fontainebleau - A lovely historic town south of Paris (55.5 km or 35 mi). A favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, it is renowned for its large and scenic forest, and for its château. 35 min train ride from *Gare de Lyon*\n Rambouillet - A royal palace surrounded by forest and historic town.\n Giverny - The inspirational house and gardens of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet are but a day-trip away. The gardens and its flowers are the most interesting part of the visit, so avoid rainy days.\n Lille - By bus 3½ hr (€5)\nThe Loire Valley - a beautiful wine-making stretch of the river Loire that is chock full of renaissance châteaux, including Chambord, as well as medieval cities such as Blois, Orléans and Tours. Trains take 1–2½ hours from *Gare Montparnasse* and *Gare d'Austerlitz*.\n The Orient Express, which historically ran Paris-Istanbul, has been partially recreated as a seasonal luxury tourist train, but tickets are not cheap.\n Saint-Denis - On the northern edge of the metropolis, site of the *Stade de France* and St Denis Abbey, burial place of French royalty.\n Versailles - On the southwestern edge of Paris, the site of the Sun King Louis XIV's magnificent palace. 20-40 min train ride by RER (line C) from central Paris.", "word_count": 286}
diff --git a/corpus/paris/metadata.json b/corpus/paris/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2e27579b039c51672f0767df6b02c6cac3d800df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/paris/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "paris",
+ "title": "Paris",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Paris",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Île-de-France"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Chantilly",
+ "Chartres",
+ "Gothic architecture",
+ "Disneyland Paris",
+ "Marne-la-Vallée",
+ "Fontainebleau",
+ "Rambouillet",
+ "Giverny",
+ "Lille",
+ "Loire Valley",
+ "Chambord",
+ "Blois",
+ "Orléans",
+ "Tours",
+ "Orient Express",
+ "Istanbul",
+ "tourist train",
+ "Saint-Denis (Île-de-France)",
+ "Versailles",
+ "Orly Airport",
+ "Lyon",
+ "Bordeaux",
+ "Rouen",
+ "Boulogne-Billancourt"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 20309,
+ "listing_count": 74,
+ "marker_count": 14,
+ "chunk_count": 85,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/persepolis/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/persepolis/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5a1bf2d18452e3a052ec79e007af32432dadd001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/persepolis/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk000", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|Persepolis\n**Persepolis** is a historical site 60 km north of Shiraz, in Fars province. It was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC), inscribed in the UNESCO list in 1979.", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk001", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "The World Heritage Listed centre of the great Persian Empire, ceremonial capital of the Achaemenians and the showpiece of Achaemenian art, Persepolis (Capital of Persia in Greek) is a historic site in Fars Province, 60 km to the northeast of Shiraz. Iranians call it Takht-e Jamshid (throne of Jamshid), Jamshid being the first, probably mythical, ruler of Iran. This magnificent court was the summer residence of the Achaemenian emperors and their official reception quarters. It must be by some strange accident of history that Persepolis was never mentioned in foreign records, for it was here that representatives of all the varied peoples of the empire gathered to pay homage, and bring tribute, to the King of Kings, probably each spring, at the time of the ancient Nowruz festival. Although set on fire and destroyed by Alexander the Great in a gesture symbolizing the destruction of Persian imperial power, its still impressive ruins permit a fairly complete reconstruction of its original appearance.\n\n - Ticket office", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk002", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is no public transport going to Persepolis. The closest city reachable by public bus is **Marvdasht**, 14 km away from Persepolis, from there one needs to charter a taxi to the site. The main highway bypasses Marvdasht and Persepolis and thus all long-distance buses go past them.\n\n### By bus\n\nMinibuses (45000 rials) or a shared taxi (80000 rials) going to Marvdasht can be found at Ali Ibn Hamze Terminal in Shiraz. Besides, almost all of them make a stop or start their way from the bus stop near Qur'an Gate in Shiraz.\n\nThere is an anecdotal information that buses stop going from Marvdasht to Shiraz somewhere in the afternoon.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk003", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "See & do", "text": "- The Great Staircase\n\n - Gate of All Nations\n\n - Apadana Palace\n\n - Tachara Palace\n\n - Hadish Palace\n\n - Treasury\n\n - Throne Hall\n\n - Military areas\n\n - The rock-hewn tomb of Artexerxes II\n\n - The rock-hewn tomb of Artexerxes III\n\n - Persepolis Museum\n\nYou can hire a guide for 400,000 - 600,000 rials. Ask for the licence. The guide will take you around for 2-3 hr and will give you a great value of information (there are almost no descriptions).\n\n### Nearby\n\n - Naqsh-e Rustam\n\n - Naghsh-e-Rajab\n\n - Istakhr", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk004", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Buy", "text": "Souvenirs can be bought at the ticket office building, and also in kiosks near fast food stalls before the entrance to the sight.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk005", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Eat & drink", "text": "Apart from the cafes mentioned below there is a restaurant in Apadana Hotel. Other eating options are located in the nearest Mahdieh town (4 km away) and Marvdasht city (14 km away). Note that you will leave your bags at the entrance and that food is not allowed inside.\n - Persepolis coffee shop\n\n - Fast food stalls", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk006", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Sleep", "text": "- Apadana Hotel\n\n - Persepolis Tourist Hotel", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "persepolis::chunk007", "doc_id": "persepolis", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Pasargad** was a Persian capital built by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC 50 km away from Persepolis. It's listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List\n **Shiraz** — the closest big city", "word_count": 33}
diff --git a/corpus/persepolis/metadata.json b/corpus/persepolis/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5904b87359b782367a556ec6e6f6e792d513fed5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/persepolis/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "persepolis",
+ "title": "Persepolis",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Persepolis",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "museums",
+ "archaeological"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Fars"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Pasargad",
+ "UNESCO World Heritage List",
+ "Shiraz"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 518,
+ "listing_count": 19,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 8,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/peru/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/peru/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4a4d206342ade08e04353768e49640e240a25d04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/peru/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk000", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Peru** (Spanish: *Perú*) is without a doubt one of the most captivating countries in South America. Home of the epic lost Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the mind-blowing Nazca Lines, this country's unique past awakens the adventurer in travellers of all sorts. Its awe-inspiring scenery varies from the wild Amazon jungles to vast coastal deserts and the icy peaks of the Andes. Peru hosts a biodiversity rarely seen within the limits of a single country, with a list of spectacular wildlife far beyond the well-known llamas and circling condors. On top of all that, Peru's friendly, multi-ethnic people are a cultural treasure on their own. The enchanting mix of dozens of distinct indigenous groups, *mestizos* and *criollos*, all with their own colourful traditions and food delicacies, is an encounter you won't easily forget.\n\nIn short, this is a country of unimaginable extremes where choosing your trip destinations may prove a true challenge. Whether you decide to go off the beaten track, follow in the footsteps of thousands of visitors before you who took the *Gringo Trail* along some of the best highlights, or go experience the jungle through a relaxing multiple-day Amazon boat trip — Peru is likely to amaze you in everything you do.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk001", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the capital and largest city of the country has a mix of modern and colonial architecture, and is the best place to enjoy Peruvian cuisine\n — a UNESCO World Heritage site that embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures\n — home of the Morocucho people, a group of the Quechua\n — well known for its fine cheeses, churches, and significance in the Spanish conquest of Peru\n — a lively city with several archaeological sites and museums\n — one of Peru's most visited cities as it is the largest and most comfortable city from which you can begin visits to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and other Inca sites in the region\n — gateway to some of the top national parks and reserves for ecological conservation and wildlife viewing, and for Amazon boat rides, and a destination for those who are interested in the ancient shamanic ways of plant healing\n — a departure point for the famous floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, close to the Bolivian border\n — close to archaeological sites of the Chimu civilization", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk002", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Peru protects about 10% of its national territory in national parks, biospheres, archaeological sites and similar designations. These are protected and managed by various government agencies. See Peruvian national parks for information and a more complete list. \nthumb|Islands made of reeds on Lake Titicaca\n\n### Cultural sites\n\n — impressive set of ruins of an ancient Chimor mud city, and a UNESCO World Heritage site\n — UNESCO World Heritage Site from the pre-Incan Chavin culture of around 900 BC\n — this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world\n — world-famous for its geometrical figures and giant drawings in the desert sand\n\n### National parks\n\nPeruvian national parks include:\n — high mountain park in Cordillera Blanca range\n — one of the most diverse areas in Peru\n — a popular nature reserve on the Southern Coast\n\n### Natural attractions\n\n — considered to be the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world\n — small beach town with the best beaches and great surf, turns into a real party town on weekends and holidays", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk003", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "Despite a quarter of the population (2014; mostly Amerindians in rural areas) living under the poverty line, most Peruvians are nationalists and will talk with love and pride about their country. For many of them, government, police and political affairs may be distrusted and criticized, as corruption and scandals are all around. However, that is not what makes up their beloved state of Peru. It's the rich natural resources and strong history as the centre of the ancient pre-Inca cultures, Inca Empire, and later colonial Spanish colony that inspire their nationalist sentiments.\n\nYou'll often encounter the term *gringo*, which used to refer to all white people who don't speak Spanish. Now, many people use it only for people from the U.S.A. and those looking like being from there. It's typically not meant to offend. Peruvians will not hesitate to greet you with \"*¡Hola, gringo!*\", especially if you're blond.\n\nAs in many South American countries, efficiency or punctuality aren't among Peru's many qualities. Go with the flow and don't expect things to be exactly on time or precisely as planned. Take into account that outside of the main tourist spots people will often not speak English, and (trying to be helpful) might give wrong or inexact advice. For some general advice, have a look at our tips for travel in developing countries.\n\n### History\n\n#### Ancient cultures\n\nthumb|White Temple of Kotosh in Huanuco\nThe territory of the present-day Republic of Peru was the core of the Tahuantinsuyo, the powerful Inca Empire, and after the Spanish conquest, it became the largest of the Spanish viceroyalties in the Americas, whose riches contributed to the creation of many legends.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk004", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "Inhabited for about 20,000 years, according to lithic industry remains found in the caves of Piquimachay (Ayacucho), by groups of hunters and gatherers (Chivateros, Lauricocha, Paiján, Toquepala), the Peruvian territory was home to several primitive cultures. The first social organizations appeared around 6000 BC on the coast (Chilca and Paracas) and in the highlands (Callejón de Huaylas). About 3,000 years later, the process of sedentarization (Kotosh, Huaca Prieta) led to the cultivation of maize and cotton and the domestication of some animals. Shortly thereafter, cotton and wool spinning and weaving developed, as well as basketry and the production of the first ceramics.\n\nthumb|Ceramic from Paracas culture. The upper hemisphere of the chamber features a prancing feline (probably a jaguar) with its head turned towards the observer and a long L-shaped tail\nThe earliest and most advanced Andean civilizations, such as Chavín—considered by archaeologist Julio C. Tello as the \"mother culture of Peru\"—Paracas, Mochica, Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Wari, and Chimú, originated around the 13th century BC These peoples, in different and successive periods, and as a result of a sustained and complex cultural process, developed agricultural techniques, goldsmithing, ceramics, metallurgy, and weaving, and formed social organizations that culminated, around the 12th century AD, in the Inca civilization.\n\n#### The Inca Empire\n\nThe Inca Empire, with its administrative, political, and military center in Cuzco, was the most extensive and powerful pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. By the early 16th century, the Tahuantinsuyo reached its maximum extent, dominating a territory that stretched from north to south, from present-day Ecuador and part of Colombia to central Chile and northeastern Argentina, and from west to east, from Bolivia to the Amazonian jungles.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk005", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "The empire was organized as a centralized confederation of lordships, with a stratified society headed by the Inca and supported by an economy based on collective land ownership. This ambitious civilizing project was grounded in a worldview where harmony between humans, nature, and the gods was essential.\n\nFrom a European rationalist perspective, the Incan state has been viewed as a realized utopia, whose collapse at the hands of a small group of Spanish soldiers is attributed to the latter’s technological superiority, which they leveraged during the Inca civil war triggered by two contenders for the throne. However, this pragmatic interpretation tends to overlook the devastating effects that the clash between two fundamentally different worldviews had on the harmony of the Incan civilization.\n\n#### Colonial Peru\n\nthumb|The Inca offers the Spaniards to fill a room with gold and silver up to the height of his hand in exchange for his freedom.\nIn 1531, attracted by reports of a rich and fabulous kingdom, Francisco Pizarro and his brothers arrived in the territory they named Peru, a word that, according to Porras Barrenechea, \"is neither Quechua nor Carib, but Indo-Hispanic or mestizo.\" At that time, the Inca Empire was embroiled in a civil war between the princes Huáscar and Atahualpa. Taking advantage of this situation, Pizarro executed a decisive action that changed the course of history. On November 16, 1532, during a celebration in Cajamarca, Pizarro captured Inca Atahualpa by surprise, causing great consternation among the indigenous people and influencing the future course of the conflict.\n\nFor a time, Pizarro maintained the authority of the Inca, recognizing Tupac Hualpa as such, but the abuses of the conquistadors made this arrangement unworkable, and Spanish domination was consolidated as successive indigenous rebellions were continuously and bloodily suppressed.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk006", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Map of the territories of the Viceroyalty of Peru for the year 1810.\nDespite the power struggle between Pizarro and Diego de Almagro, which led to a prolonged civil war, the Spaniards did not neglect the colonization process. One of the most significant acts was the founding of Lima in January 1535, from where political and administrative institutions were organized. The need to consolidate royal authority over these territories led to the creation of the Real Audiencia a few years later, and in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Nueva Castilla, which was later renamed the Viceroyalty of Peru. However, the Viceroyalty of Peru was not effectively organized until the arrival of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in 1572. Toledo ended the indigenous state of Vilcabamba, executed Inca Tupac Amaru, and promoted economic development based on commercial monopoly and mineral extraction, especially from the silver mines of Potosí, using the Inca institution of the mita to subject indigenous communities to severe exploitation.\n\nAlthough it became the richest and most powerful Spanish viceroyalty in America, in the 18th century, the creation of the Viceroyalties of New Granada and Río de la Plata, at the expense of Peruvian territory, the liberation of commerce which shifted the commercial center from Lima to Caracas and Buenos Aires, and the decline of mining and textile production led to its progressive decline. This context created a favorable climate for the spread of emancipatory ideas among the creoles.\n\n#### Independent Peru", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk007", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "The economic crisis in the Viceroyalty of Peru facilitated the emergence of the indigenous rebellion from 1780 to 1781, led by Tupac Amaru II. This crisis was compounded by the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula and the decline of the Spanish Crown's power, which led to the Creole uprisings in Huánuco in 1812 and Cuzco between 1814 and 1816, inspired by the liberal principles of the Constitution of Cádiz of 1812.\n\nThe Viceroyalty of Peru, supported by the power of the Creole oligarchy, became the last stronghold of Spanish rule in South America. It finally fell after the decisive campaigns of Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín. San Martín, who had expelled the royalists from Chile after the epic Andes campaign, landed in Paracas in 1819 and proclaimed Peru's independence in Lima on July 28, 1821. Three years later, Spanish rule was definitively ended with the battles of Junín and Ayacucho.\n\nConflicting interests among different sectors of Creole society and the particular ambitions of the caudillos greatly hindered the organization of the country. This is evident in the fact that only three civilians, Manuel Pardo, Nicolás de Piérola, and Francisco García Calderón, were able to assume the presidency in the first seventy-five years of independence.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk008", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the secession of Alto Perú in 1825, which led to the creation of the Republic of Bolivia, and the formation of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation in 1837, which dissolved two years later due to Chilean military intervention, Peru entered a period of political and economic stability in the mid-19th century under the caudillo hegemony of General Ramón Castilla. However, the exhaustion of guano, the main source of revenue, and the War of the Pacific with Chile over the nitrate-rich Tarapacá region, led to an economic crisis and increased social and political unrest in the country.\nthumb|245x245px|In the saltpeter war (War of the Pacific)\nThe Civilista movement, led by Nicolás de Piérola, emerged in opposition to the military caudillismo resulting from war defeat and economic collapse. Piérola came to power after the revolution of 1895. The reforms of his government continued under the dictatorship of Augusto B. Leguía, whose terms (1908-1912 and 1919-1930, the latter known as \"El Oncenio\") promoted the entry of U.S. capital and favored the bourgeoisie. This policy, along with increased dependence on foreign capital, generated opposition from both the landowning oligarchy and the more progressive sectors of Peruvian society. Among the latter, the creation of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), a nationalist, populist, and anti-imperialist movement led by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre in 1924, and the founding of the Communist Party in 1928, led by José Carlos Mariátegui, were notable.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk009", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the global crisis of 1929, Peru experienced numerous brief governments. The APRA attempted to promote system reforms through political action but was unsuccessful. During this period, there was a rapid population growth and increased urbanization. General Manuel A. Odría established a dictatorship that lasted eight years (1948-1956) and ended amid ongoing agrarian uprisings. These uprisings, along with the rising guerrilla movement from around 1963, hindered the reformist efforts of Fernando Belaúnde Terry's first government. In this context, the coup d'état by General Juan Velasco Alvarado occurred in 1968.\n\nVelasco's regime, characterized by populism and nationalism, came into conflict with the interests of foreign capital and the local oligarchy, leading to the coup by General Francisco Morales Bermúdez in 1975. Subsequently, the crisis caused by the escalating external debt shaped the actions of successive Peruvian governments, which were unable to stop the progressive impoverishment of the population or the increase in drug trafficking, and terrorist actions by the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. Neither Belaúnde Terry, in his second term (1980-1985), nor Alan García, in his first term (1985-1990), succeeded with their economic and social plans. Amid widespread chaos and violence, the surprising electoral victory of Alberto Fujimori occurred in 1990. Once in power, Fujimori dissolved Congress and called a referendum to draft a new constitution in 1992. With support from the military and international financial organizations, he implemented a stringent economic adjustment plan and effectively combated drug trafficking and Shining Path terrorism, achievements that enabled his re-election in 1995.\n\n### Culture\n\n#### Peruvian art", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk010", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The heads are sculptural monoliths that represent the heads of mythical beings. This sculpture is located in the temple of Chavin de Huantar (Ancash, Peru)\nPeru's cultural heritage originates from the ancient Andean civilizations that emerged in its territory before the arrival of the Spanish. The archaeological treasures of Peru testify to a significant cultural development that occurred without contact with other extracontinental cultures.\n\nThe earliest artistic expressions with a high degree of intellectual and technological evolution are found in the sites of Chavín de Huántar and Cupisnique, dated between the 9th and 4th centuries BCE. These expressions include silver and gold jewelry, ceramics, architecture, and stone sculpture, reflecting symbolic and religious art.\n\nBetween the 8th century BCE and the 1st century CE, the Paracas Cavernas and Paracas Necrópolis cultures developed. The former produced polychrome ceramics with religious representations, while the latter is known for its monochrome ceramics and complex, delicate textiles.\n\nIn the period between the 3rd century BCE and the 7th century CE, the urban cultures of the Moche in Lambayeque and the Nazca in the Rio Grande valley in Ica emerged. Both cultures are notable for their advanced terrace agriculture, hydraulic engineering, and ceramic, textile, pictorial, and sculptural productions.\n\nThe Wari civilization, between the 7th and 12th centuries, established in Ayacucho, pioneered rational urban design, a concept that spread to other areas such as Pachacámac, Cajamarquilla, and Wari Willka. The Tiahuanaco culture, which developed on the shores of Lake Titicaca between the 9th and 13th centuries, is known for its monumental stone architecture and sculpture, facilitated by the use of bronze.\n\nThe Chimú people, between the 14th and 15th centuries, built the city of Chan Chan in the Moche River valley in La Libertad, and they excelled in jewelry-making and hydraulic engineering.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk011", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The walls of the Incan religious complex Sacsayhuamán, situated to the north of Cusco, Peru.\nThe Inca civilization, which absorbed much of the cultural legacy of its predecessors, left significant evidence such as the cities of Cuzco, the architectural remains of Sacsahuamán and Machu Picchu, and a network of roads connecting Cuzco with other regions of the empire. The arrival of the Spanish led to a cultural blending reflected in Peruvian architecture, combining European styles with indigenous influences. After the Renaissance period, the Baroque reached a rich expression in buildings such as the San Francisco Convent in Lima and the Church of the Company in Cuzco.\n\nThe War of Independence created a creative void that French-inspired Neoclassicism attempted to fill. During the 20th century, architectural eclecticism was observed, with constructive functionalism emerging as a response, exemplified by the Plaza San Martín in Lima.\n\nPeruvian sculpture and painting developed from workshops founded by religious figures, influenced by the Sevillian Baroque school. This artistic movement can be seen in works such as the choir stalls of the cathedral and the fountain in the Plaza de Armas of Lima.\n\nArtistic mestizaje was more evident in painting, which incorporated elements of native heritage. Examples include the portrait of the imprisoned Atahualpa by Damián de la Bastida y Mora and the works of artists such as Mateo Pérez de Alesio, Angelino Medoro, Francisco Bejarano, Jesús de Illescas, and Joaquín Rodríguez.\n\nDuring the 17th and 18th centuries, Baroque dominated the visual arts, while in the 19th century, French Neoclassical and Romantic currents found their best representatives in Luis Montero, Ignacio Merino, and Francisco Masías.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk012", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the 20th century, the foundation of the School of Fine Arts of Lima in 1919 marked a milestone in Peruvian sculpture and painting. Notable sculptors include Luis Agurto, Luis Valdettaro, Joaquín Roca Rey, Jorge Piqueras, Alberto Guzmán, Víctor Delfín, and Francisco Sánchez, and painters such as Daniel Hernández Morillo, Ricardo Grau, César Quispez Asín, and José Sabogal. The latter led the indigenist movement, a pillar of contemporary Peruvian painting, with representatives such as Fernando de Szyszlo, Alberto Dávila, Armando Villegas, Sabino Springett, Víctor Humareda, Mario Alejandro Cuadros, Ángel Chávez, Milner Cajahuaringa, Arturo Kubotta, Venancio Shinki, Alberto Quintanilla, Germán Chávez, Tilsa Tsuchiya, David Herskowitz, Óscar Allain, and Carlos Revilla.\n\n### Literature\n\nthumb|Peruvian writer Mariano Melgar\nPeruvian literature has been shaped by the convergence of indigenous oral tradition and the technical resources of writing introduced by the Spanish. This fusion, from the very beginning, enabled the collection and expression of the diverse and complex cultural realities that came into conflict after the conquest.\n\nQuechua and Aymara literature, transmitted orally, was deeply linked to religious, agricultural, romantic, festive, and funerary rituals. These characteristics are reflected in certain forms of poetry and prose, as seen in the early historical chronicles, including the *Comentarios Reales* by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and *Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno* by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala. Also notable is the connection between the yaravíes and patriotic and romantic poetry, represented in the work of Mariano Melgar.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk013", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "During the colonial and republican periods, the dominance of the criollo oligarchy in Peruvian society favored the adoption of European literary forms at the expense of indigenous ones. In this context, neoclassical authors such as Manuel Ascensio Segura and Felipe Pardo y Aliaga emerged, dominating the literary scene until the late 19th century when romanticism took hold through figures like Carlos Augusto Salaverry and José Arnaldo Márquez. The crisis resulting from the War of the Pacific paved the way for modernism, with exponents such as José Santos Chocano and José María Eguren.\n\nIn the 20th century, avant-garde movements gained strength, driven by magazines like *Colónida* and *Amauta*, the latter founded in 1926 by José Carlos Mariátegui, with notable collaborators such as César Vallejo. Meanwhile, indigenism resurfaced in the poetry of Luis Fabio Xammar. The avant-garde movements fragmented into various lyrical proposals, such as those of Xavier Abril, Alberto Hidalgo, Sebastián Salazar Bondy, Carlos Germán Belli, among others, opening new and diverse expressive fields.\n\nIn 19th-century Peruvian prose, the costumbrismo of Manuel Ascensio Segura and Ricardo Palma, along with the modernism of Manuel González Prada and José Santos Chocano, set the literary course. By the 20th century, indigenist prose reached some of its peak moments with Ciro Alegría and José María Arguedas, whose influences extended to authors such as Sebastián Salazar Bondy, Manuel Scorza, and Julio Ramón Ribeyro. Mario Vargas Llosa and Alfredo Bryce Echenique, while maintaining a realist approach, incorporated new narrative techniques.\n\nIn poetry, prominent figures include Emilio Adolfo Westphalen, Jorge Eduardo Eielson, Carlos Germán Belli, Arturo Corcuera, Antonio Cisneros, Wáshington Delgado, Marco Martos, and Carmen Ollé. In contemporary narrative, notable authors include Miguel Gutiérrez, Gregorio Martínez, Alonso Cueto, and Gustavo Rodríguez, among others.\n\n### Arts and folklore", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk014", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Quechua man playing the quena.\nThe pre-Hispanic Andean cultures of Peru were distinguished by their rich tradition in artistic expressions, especially in music. Most communal agricultural activities were accompanied by music and songs, known in Quechua as taqui. The ethnic diversity of ancient Peru resulted in the coexistence of various traditions and customs, which have persisted over time and have been fundamental to the development of post-Hispanic Peruvian folklore.\n\nToday, various musical expressions, such as dance and song, popular festivals (both religious and non-religious), handicrafts, gastronomy, and other regionally varied activities, are significant aspects of Peruvian and Latin American cultural heritage.\n\nPre-Hispanic Andean musicians primarily used wind instruments, such as the quena, pinkillo, erke, antara or siku (also known as zampoña), and the pututo. They also employed percussion instruments like the tinya (hand drum), pomatinyas (made from puma skin), and runatinyas (made from human skin), used in battles, as well as the wankar, a large drum.\n\nWith the arrival of the Spanish, European instruments like harps, guitars, vihuelas, bandurrias, and lutes were introduced. The combination of these instruments with indigenous ones led to the creation of mestizo instruments, such as the Andean harp and the charango, which is made from the shell of the armadillo.\nthumb|250x250px|''Marinera Norteña'', the most representative dance from Peru. Mostly performed in the Coast.\nCultural blending was not limited to the interaction between indigenous and European cultures; African influence is also evident in the rhythms and percussion instruments. This influence is reflected in musical forms such as festejo and zamacueca.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk015", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "Among the native dances, those related to agricultural work, hunting, and warfare are prominent. Some of these choreographies show Christian influence. Two of the most representative Andean dances are the kashua, communal in nature, performed in groups in open spaces, and the wayño or huayno, a \"salon dance\" performed in pairs in enclosed spaces. Other Andean-origin dances include the yaraví and triste, which are songs with typically very sentimental lyrics.\n\nRitual dances include the achocallo, pinkillada, llamerada (imitating the movement of llamas), and kullawada (of the spinners). Hunting-related dances include llipi-puli and choq'elas, colorful highland dances associated with vicuña hunting.\n\nWarfare dances include the chiriguano, of Aymara origin; chatripuli, which satirizes Spanish royalist soldiers; and kena-kenas, referring to the Chilean soldiers who occupied Peru during the War of the Pacific (1879). Carnival dances are also significant, a Western festival that in the Peruvian Andes coincides with the harvest season; many rural communities celebrate with ancestral rites and mestizo dances, marking the initiation of youth and, in many cases, the formation of new couples.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk016", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "The most internationally recognized Peruvian dance is the marinera norteña, which represents the courtship of a man towards a young woman. There are local variations of this dance in Lima and other regions of the country.\nthumb|Ceviche is a preparation based on fresh fish marinated in lemon juice, accompanied by red onion, cilantro, chili pepper, and salt.\nPopular festivals, which result from the traditions and legends of each town, bring together music, dance, typical foods, and drinks. In addition to religious festivals, such as Christmas, Corpus Christi, or Holy Week, there are others that express the syncretism between indigenous and Christian beliefs, such as the alasitas fairs (an Aymara word that some scholars interpret as \"buy me\"), which combine a craft and miniature fair with dances, foods, and a mass. Another important festival is the pilgrimage of Q'oyllor-riti (Cusco), which integrates the ancient worship of the apus (tutelary deities of the mountains) with a pilgrimage to a Christian sanctuary, in a walk up to a snow-capped peak over 5,000 meters above sea level.\n\nAmong the most widespread crafts in Peru are ceramics, both artistic and utilitarian, carving, silverwork, leather embossing, straw weaving, and textile work, with colorful alpaca wool fabrics standing out.\n\nThe great variety of native foods, such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, uchu or chili pepper, oca, olluco, avocado, and fruits like cherimoya, lúcuma, and pineapple (ananás), along with animals such as tarucas (deer), llamas, and guinea pigs, led to the creation of new dishes and methods of preparation when combined with European and Moorish culinary traditions. The successive arrivals of Africans and Chinese also influenced the development of criollo cuisine, which is now varied and rich.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk017", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "Among the most representative dishes of Peruvian cuisine are ceviche (fish and seafood marinated in lime juice), chupe (soup) of shrimp, anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers), olluco con charqui, the Andean pachamanca (meats, tubers, and beans cooked in a stone oven), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with tomatoes and onions, served with fried potatoes and rice) of Chinese influence, and picante de cuy. These dishes are often accompanied by typical drinks such as chicha de jora (corn fermented and sun-dried), with very low alcohol content, as well as non-alcoholic chicha made from purple corn or peanuts.\n\n### Climate\n\nAlthough Peru is located entirely in the tropical latitudes, the combination of tropical latitude, mountain ranges, topography variations, and two ocean currents (Humboldt and El Niño) gives Peru a large diversity of climates. Elevations above sea level in the country range from −37 m to 6,778 m (−121 ft to 22,238 ft) and precipitation ranges from less than 20 mm (0.79 in) annually in desert areas to more than 8,000 mm (310 in) in tropical rainforest areas.\n\nPeru can be divided into three main climate regions:\nThe **coastal region** has moderate temperatures, low precipitation, and high humidity, except for its warmer, wetter northern reaches.\nIn the **mountain region**, rain is frequent in summer, and temperature and humidity diminish with altitude up to the frozen peaks of the Andes.\nThe **Peruvian Amazon**, is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, except for its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall.\n\n### Electricity\n\nthumb|A typical power outlet found in Peru\n\nElectricity in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 Hertz. Exceptions are Talara, where a mixture of 110 V, 60 Hz and 220 V, 60 Hz is used, and Arequipa with 220 V, 50 Hz.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk018", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Understand", "text": "Two types of electrical outlets are used: one accepts two-pronged plugs with flat, parallel blades, the other one accepts plugs with two round prongs. Many outlets accept both. Grounded outlets exist but are uncommon. If you want to use a 110 V device, make sure to check if it can take 220 V, as you'll otherwise risk breaking your equipment. If not, bring a power adapter. It's not recommended to adapt a three-pin plug for use in a two-pin outlet.\n\n### Time zone\n\nPeru Time (PET) is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC/GMT). There's no daylight saving time. Thus the time in Peru is the same with the US Eastern Standard Time during the North Hemisphere winter, and the same with the US Central Daylight Saving Time during the North Hemisphere summer.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nPeru Tourism website", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk019", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|A man from [[Písac]] in traditional dress\n\nThe official language of Peru is Spanish, as in most South American countries. It's worth getting familiar with some basic Spanish words, as you'll need them to make your way around outside the main tourist centres. Although English is spoken by an increasing number of young people in Lima and to a limited extent in the most popular tourist spots, you'll find English far less commonly understood than you might expect in a country where tourism is such a big industry.\n\nEspecially when you're making your own way around, learning some Quechua or Aymara may open doors, as indigenous people will highly appreciate your effort. Quecha is the language of the Incas and the first language for many indigenous in the countryside of the Sierra. Aymara was the language of the Tihuanacu culture and it's widely spoken on the Altiplano. In both cases however, people will generally speak Spanish too.\n\nPeruvian Spanish exhibits influences from the indigenous languages, as well as Cantonese and Japanese due to the large number of locals of Chinese and Japanese descent.\n\n**Some slang terms:**\n\n**bacán**, cool.\n\n**chela** (cerveza), a beer.\n\n**Me llega**, it pisses me off.\n\n**Loco**, crazy person. Usually said in a friendly manner, also means \"mate, friend, buddie\"\n\n**Tombo** means \"policeman\" (and policemen don't like hearing it).\n\n**Chibolo(a)**, a kid.\n\n**Bamba/pirata** fake, counterfeit goods & products\n\n**sillao**, soy sauce\n\n**kion**, ginger\n\nSome slang terms come from Quechua:\n\n**Que piña**: means 'what bad luck' even though 'piña' in Quechua means 'coraje' or in English 'infuriating'.\n\n**Tengo una yaya**: means 'I'm injured'. In Quechua, 'yaya' means injury. And 'yawar' means blood.\n\n**Arranca arranca no mas**: means 'get the hell out'", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk020", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Visa policy of Peru {{legend|\nthumb|right|300px|La Alpaca. Huayllay National Sanctuary\n\n### Visas\n\nTourists from countries indicated **light green** on the map may receive a visa upon arrival for up to 183 days with two exceptions: 90 days within a 180-day period for passports from Schengen member states and associated countries, and 90 days for passports from Costa Rica and Panama. Those coming from the countries indicated **dark green** on the map may also stay for the same duration and will only need to show an ID card upon entry, which includes most South American countries. Chinese (including Macau) and India citizens holding US, UK, Canada, Australia, Schengen countries' visas or permanent residence receive a visa upon arrival for up to 180 days (check with the nearest Peruvian Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for most updated information, although in Spanish).\n\nWhen entering the country, you need to pass the immigration office (*inmigración*). There you get a stamp in your passport that states the number of days you are allowed to stay (usually 180 days). You can no longer get an extension, so make sure that you ask for the amount of time you think you'll need. When those 180 days are up and you would like to stay for longer, you can either cross the border to a neighbouring country (Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia or Chile) and return the next day and obtain another 180 days or simply overstay and pay the fine when you exit. The overstay fine is US$1 per day overage, so if you stay 30 days longer it's US$30. Many people do this, since it's much cheaper than leaving the country and returning.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk021", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get in", "text": "When leaving, you need to visit the emigration office (*migración*), where you get the exit stamp. *Inmigración* and *migración* are found on all border crossing-points. Travelling to and from neighboring countries by land is no problem.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe capital city of Lima has **Jorge Chávez International Airport** () with frequent flights to/from all over the world. The major airlines at Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport are Air Canada, Aeromexico, Aerolineas Argentinas, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa, Delta, Latam (formerly LAN & TAM Airlines), Gol, Iberia, Copa Airlines, Sky Airlines, United Airlines, among others. There are non-stop flights to Lima from Antofagasta, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Caracas, Santiago, La Paz, Sucre, Guayaquil, Quito, Buenos Aires, Saltos, Rosario, etc., in South America; from Toronto in Canada with Air Canada; and from several cities in the U.S. with American, Delta, United, Spirit and Jetblue. There are five additional airlines that offer non-stop service to Europe. Travellers from Oceania or Asia usually connect through Los Angeles (non-U.S.-citizen have to pass immigration even for transfer, consuming 1-2 hours - so ensure your stop-over is long enough!) or through Santiago.\n\nThe city of Cuzco has only one direct international flight from Colombia, Bolivia and Chile.\n\nFor example, Iberia flies directly from Madrid to Lima, the trip lasting around 13 hours. However Latam and KLM flights are much better in quality. Latam and Iberia often fly in code share mode (1 plane, 2 flight codes) meaning if you are on a Latam flight, you may have to check in at Iberia service desk or the opposite way, sometimes they send you from one to the next and back, so just queue at the shorter service desk.\nThere is an internal flight tax, around US$6, same conditions as the international one.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk022", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get in", "text": "When booking domestic flights, Peruvian travel agencies may claim they can get you your plane tickets for the \"Peruvian price\" for a fee of about US$20. Latam's website does not allow holders of foreign credit cards to buy the cheapest ticket class. You can purchase flights online.\n\nMake sure to confirm your ticket 72 hours in advance, as you'll risk being bumped off your flight if you don't. Most travel agencies can do it for you, if you want.\n\nFor current airline information see the site of the **International Airport Jorge Chavez**.\n\nChavez airport is in a dangerous district that means you should avoid using random taxi service. If travelling to or from Lima Airport, it is strongly recommended to use the luxury Airport Express Lima bus to get to or from your hotel, or to book and pay for your taxi at one of the taxi company desks inside the arrivals area. The bus is cheaper than a taxi for solo travellers, has no baggage limit and has free Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard.\n\n#### From Ecuador\n\nAs Ecuador neighbors Peru to the north, it is easy to find cheap flights connecting Guayaquil and Quito to Lima, (the hub for inner cities of Peru). Or you can travel to Piura or Tumbes by bus and take a flight to Lima.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are international buses connecting Peru to the neighboring countries of Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Colombia. There are additional connections to as far as Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil from Lima via Tacna. The following bus companies offer international connections into and out of Peru:\n\n- Peru Hop\n\n- Expreso Bolivariano\n\n- Caracol SA\n\n- Civa/Excluciva\n\n- Cruz del Sur\n\n- Rapidos de Chile, Andesmar\n\n- Peru Tours\n\n- Expreso Internacional Ormeño", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk023", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can find more information on **RedBus.pe** that compares the diverse number of companies.\n\n### By train\n\n### By boat\n\nThe city of Iquitos in the Amazonas region has connections by boat to Leticia in Colombia and Tabatinga in Brazil (about 10 hours). There are also somewhat expensive cruceros on the Amazon River to enjoy the magnificence of the Peruvian-Brazilian jungle.", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk024", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Times and distances\n\nAlmost all major tourist destinations outside Lima are between one and one and a half hours by plane from the capital. Flying is the most convenient way for getting around Peru. For example, from Lima to Zorritos in Tumbes (beautiful beach with modern resorts), the bus travel time is 21 hours.\n Yurimaguas-Iquitos (water): 2½ days\n Quito-Lima (bus): 27 hours\n Lima-Cuzco (bus): 21 hours\n Lima-Cuzco (plane): 1½ hours\n\n### In cities and around\n\nthumb|Micro in [[Arequipa]]\nInside the cities, there is usually no problem getting around on city buses or taxis. Buses cost S/0.70-1.50 (soles) inside a city, taxis S/7-8 in Lima, normally less in other cities. \"Taxi\" does not necessarily mean a car; the term also refers to bicycles, motor rickshaws, and motor bikes for hire. Taxis are divided between \"formal\" taxis, painted and marked as such and have a sticker with SOAT, and informal ones, that are just cars with a windshield sticker that says \"Taxi\". The last ones are better left to the locals, especially if you don't speak Spanish. Apart from the more upscale radio taxi (also the more expensive ones), the fare is not fixed or metered, but it is negotiated with the driver before getting into the vehicle. Ask at your hotel or hostal about the rate you may expect to pay to ride to a specific location to have a point of reference. Tipping is not practiced in taxis.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk025", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "\"Micros\" (from microbús), \"combis\" and \"coasters\" they have bus stops but might also stop in the middle of the road. The direction is shown by boards in the windscreen or painted on the side. If you want to take a bus, just signal the driver to stop. If the bus is not completely overfilled (and sometimes when it is, too), it will stop to pick you up. During the ride, the ticket collector will ask you for the fee or, if there is not a ticket collector, you pay the driver when you get off. The latter is more common when taking longer trips where most people are going to the last stop, for example from Ollantaytambo to Urubamba. If you want to exit, you should press the button or just say loudly \"*¡Baja paradero!*\" or just ¡Bajo! (*BAH-ho*), and the driver will stop at the next stop (paradero). They are cramped and dirty, and not helpful unless in small towns or during off peak hours. They also stop in the middle of the road, so be careful when getting down.\n\nMicros are very common but known for being quite dangerous, and different government programs are trying to reduce the number of micros. It is advised to not take a micro.\n\n### By plane\n\nBecause of the distances involved and the conditions of the roads in some remote locales (or lack of) it may be better to fly, which most people do, especially in traveling between Lima and Cuzco. To some places such as Iquitos flying is the only way possible due to the lack of roads and limited number (or the lack) of river boats plying the waters to get there. The following airlines offer domestic service within Peru:\n - Avianca Peru\n\n- Latam", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk026", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "The following are additional carriers that operate domestic flights within Peru:\n \n - Saeta Peru\n\nMost of the airlines operate on a hub-and-spoke paradigm via Lima rather than point-to-point. So to get from one city such as Iquitos to Cusco, you may fly to Lima to change planes. Furthermore, the ticketing systems may not offer through ticketing so you may have to book two separate tickets to get to where you're going. For example, if you want to travel from Iquitos to Cusco there may be no tickets available at anytime. But, if you book one ticket to Lima and another to Cusco with the same or different airline more options become available. Just be sure to allow yourself enough time (at least 2 hr) between arrival from Iquitos and departure to Cusco, especially if traveling on two different airlines to avoid missing flights. Some airlines also offer direct flights without flying through Lima such as between Arequipa and Cusco (Latam), or between Chiclayo and Iquitos (Star Peru).\n\nTake care when using online flight pricing systems as some prices shown might have the qualification “For residents only”. These flights can still be used by non-residents but the ticket prices are higher.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Bus and other traffic in Cuzco\nSome main roads, especially along the coastal strip, are paved, but there are still a lot of dirt roads in very poor condition. In the rainy season, landslides may block even major roads.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk027", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "Inter-city travel is mostly by bus, and some cities have train connections. In contrast to *colectivos*, buses, and of course trains, start from fixed points, either a central bus terminal (referred to as *Terminal Terrestre* or *Terrapuerto*) or the bus companies have their own terminals in different locations. It is a good idea to buy your ticket one day in advance so that you can be relatively sure of finding a seat. If you come directly before the bus leaves, you risk finding that there are no more seats available. In most bus terminals you need to buy a separate departure tax of S/1-1.5.\n\nIf you are taller than 1.80m/5 ft 11 in, you will most likely be uncomfortable on the ride since the seats are much tighter than in Europe or some parts of North America. In this case, you can try to get the middle seat in the rear, but on dirt roads the rear swings heavily. In older buses, the seats in the first row are the best, but many buses have a driver cabin separated from the rest of the bus so that you look at a dark screen or a curtain rather than out the front windshield. In older buses, you can get one or two seats beside the driver, which gives you a good view of the passing landscape.\n\nFirst-class express buses, complete with video, checked luggage and even meal service, travel between major cities, but remember to bring ear plugs as the video on these buses may be played extra-loud for the majority of the trip. You may need to present a passport to purchase a ticket.\n\nMake sure that your luggage is rainproof since it is often transported on the roof of the bus when travelling in the Andes.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk028", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "Avoid bus companies that allow travellers to get into the bus from alongside the road, outside the official stations. They are normally badly managed and can be dangerous, due both to unsafe driving practices and/or to highway robberies, which are unfortunately not uncommon. This should be heeded especially by female travellers going on their own or anybody traveling overnight. There are many shoddy bus services in Peru, and it's best to go with one of the major companies such as Cruz del Sur, Oltursa or others. Get information at the hotel, hostel or tourist information booth before catching a ride. The following are the major bus companies traveling around through much of the country, that are more reliable (addresses given are their Lima terminal in/around San Isidro and La Victoria):\n - Peru Hop\n\n- Civa/Excluciva\n\n- Cromotex\n\n- Cruz del Sur\n\n- Transportes Flores\n\n- ITTSA\n\n- Movil Tours\n\n- Oltursa\n\n- Ormeño\n\n- TEPSA\n\nYou can find more information on **RedBus.pe** that compares the diverse number of companies.\n\n### By train\n\nEven when going by train, it's best to buy the ticket in advance. Buy first class or buffet class (still higher), or you risk getting completely covered by luggage. People will put their luggage under your seat, in front of your feet, beside you and anywhere there is space. This makes the journey quite uncomfortable, since you can't move any more and the view of the landscape is bad. The following companies operate passenger trains in Peru:\n\n- Tren Macho\n\n- Inca Rail\n\n- PeruRail\n\n### By foot", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk029", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|The start of the [[Inca trail]]\nBesides the famous Inca trail to Machu Picchu, you can do a lot more hikes all along the Sierra, preferably in the dry season. The hiker's mecca is Huaraz, where you can find a lot of agencies that offer guided tours and equipment to borrow. The thin vegetation in the higher Sierra makes off-trail hiking easy. Good maps are hard to find inside Peru. It is better to bring them from home. Make sure you have enough iodine to purify your drinking water. When hiking in higher altitude, good acclimatisation is absolutely necessary. Take a good sleeping bag with you, since nights in the Sierra may become bitterly cold (-10°C in 4,500 m altitude are normal, sometimes still colder). Beware of thunderstorms that may rise up very suddenly. Rapid falling temperature and hard rain falls are a serious danger in higher altitudes. Don't forget that the night lasts for 12 hours year-round, so a flashlight is a good idea. When hiking on higher, but not snow covered mountains, water may be rare. Getting alcohol for stoves is easy: Either buy the blue-colored *alcohol de quemar* or, better, buy pure drinking alcohol. You can get this in every town for about S/3 per liter (don't even think about drinking it). It won't be so easy to find special fuel for gasoline stoves. Gasoline for cars can also be found in many hardware stores (*ferreterias*) sold by liters, but you can actually buy it directly on gas stations, provided you bring your own bottle.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nBicycling is quite popular in some of Peru's cities, including Lima and Arequipa. One can even see people riding bikes around smaller oases with flat terrain, such as Camaná or Ocoña.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk030", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "However, while bicycle lines exist here and there, city traffic is chaotic, and many streets (and, especially, the roadways' shoulders) may be in a poor condition, which makes this activity not always pleasant.\n\nThere are many bike stores in large cities; often, many of them concentrate in a particular area of town. A smaller town may have a single bike shop, or a just a guy fixing bicycles somewhere near the main marketplace. New bicycles and some supplies may also be stored in big-box stores, such as Tottus.\n\nIntercity (long-distance) bicycling in Peru is quite challenging. First of all, while in a flatter country there may often be several alternative routes between points A and B, Peru's geography (mountains, desert, and ocean) very often means that there is only one paved road connecting any two points A and B -- and this road is used by all cars, buses, and (very numerous) trucks. The road's shoulders may be quite narrow, if not non-existent whatsoever, and, in desert areas, may be sometimes covered with moving sand (this is helpfully noted by the sign *Zona de arenamiento*). Fog (*Zona de neblina*) can be sometimes encountered as well.\n\nAs the coastal desert and many mountainous areas have sparse population, distances between towns may be quite high. While entering a city, one may be faced with a particularly unpleasant section, where the road crosses a semi-industrial area, and, consequently, truck traffic (including entering/exiting the road) is high, shoulders bad or non-existent, and the amount of dust is extreme.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk031", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "A significant number of paved roads exist; you can see most of them on the official regional road maps; pay attention to the legend indicating the road type. It is safe to assume that most other roads you'll see e.g. on Google Maps are unpaved, and their quality is very uneven.\n\nA place for overnight stay is not difficult to find once you have reached a town, as even small town would usually have an inn (*hospedaje* or *hostal*) with room rates starting from S/25-40. Those sometimes can also be found near toll booths (*peaje*) on major roads.\n\nRoadside camping is feasible in many areas, as they have little population. This is the case, for example, in the coastal desert along most of the Panamerican Highway. That may be the case in the mountains too, but one should take cold nights into account.\n\n### By car\n\nIt is also possible to tour the interior of the country by car. This gives you a chance to get \"off the beaten track\" and explore some of the areas that haven't been transformed by tourism. An international driver's license is needed for driving in Peru.\n\nPeru has three main roads which run from north to south: the fully paved *Panamericana Sur/Norte* (PE-1S/1N) which passes through the whole country; more to the east there are the partially paved *Longitudinal de la Sierra Sur/Norte* (PE-3S/3N), *Interoceánica Sur* (PE-26) as well as the *Interoceánica Norte* (PE-5N). Most parts of these roads are toll roads in the direction from north to south. The main roads are connected by 20 streets from west to east.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk032", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "Aside from a few major roads which are in good condition, most roads are unpaved and your speed on them will be severely restricted. For these roads a 4WD is necessary. This is especially true during the rainy season from November to April. You should travel very well informed about your route. Take a good road map with you (e.g. *Waterproof Peru Map* by ITMB). On the web, *cochera andina* provides useful information about road conditions, travel times and distances for more than 130 routes in Peru.\n\nGas stations are open 24 hours in many parts of the country, especially in major cities and along major routes like the Panamericana. Gas stations in less populated areas, however, may be harder to find, and purchasing gas late at night in these areas can be an adventure all its own as gas stations tend to close early and the pumps are locked. The owner of the station sometimes sleeps inside and, if you can rouse him, he will come out and let you fill up. Expect higher gasoline consumption in the mountains which often increases to more than 20 L/100 km (12 mpg). Gas in Peru is sold by the gallon, and prices are mostly similar to those found in much of the United States.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk033", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "Peruvians have the unsavory reputation of being some of the world's worst drivers, and offensive (as opposed to defensive) driving is the norm, even in places like Lima. Although traffic regulations are almost the same as in Europe and the U.S., locals tend to interpret them very freely. You better honk in unclear situations, e.g. in curves and at crossings to indicate the right of way. Traffic checkpoints tend to be scattered throughout the country and the police may try to extract bribes from foreigners for passage. It would be wise to travel with a native speaker who can navigate the roads and deal with law enforcement.\n\nFairly good road maps in PDF format (for each department, and for the entire country) can be downloaded from the web site of the Ministry of Transport: Maps.\n\n### Touting\n\nThere is typically a crowd of touts hanging around the airports and bus stations. It is any traveller's wise decision not to do business with the people that are trying to sell you their stuff on the street, bus station, and airport. First of all, if they would have a decent place, they wouldn’t have to sell it to unsuspecting tourists trying to drag them off from wherever they can find them. More important, it really is not a good idea to hand out money to the first person you meet upon arriving somewhere.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk034", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Tip:** When you arrive in any town, be sure to have already decided what hotel you will be going to. Don't mention this or any other information to the touts awaiting you. They will use whatever you tell them to construe lies to make you change your mind and go with them. If you’ve already picked a reasonable hotel chances are that you will be OK there and they will have any (extra) information you’d be looking for, like bookings for tours or tickets.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk035", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|A llama overlooking [[Machu Picchu]]\nthumb|The Condor, one of the many stunning figures of the Nazca lines\nForgotten temples in dense Amazon jungles, lost Inca cities, fabulous wildlife and extra-ordinary folklore. Peru holds all the stuff adventure movies are made of.\n\nMany of the best Inca sites are in the **Inca Highlands**, around the beautiful city of **Cuzco**, once the capital of the Inca Empire and now a World Heritage Site itself, as well as a bustling city. Book at least half a year in advance if you want to walk the famous 4-day hike **Inca Trail**, which commonly starts at the 15th century Inca dwellings of **Ollantaytambo**. Your imagination must be on its A-game to see past the large crowds at the end destination, **Machu Picchu**, but it's worth your trouble. Wait for the biggest crowds to leave, find a quiet spot away from the tourist hassle and contemplate your view of one of the most famous and spectacular archaeological sites in the world. Many other sites are in the neighboring **Sacred Valley**.\n\nThe list of great Peruvian ruins from Pre-Columbian times is long, and not all of them are of Inca origin. A World Heritage Site, the ancient adobe capital **Chan Chan**, built by the Chimú culture, was conquered in the 15th century. Other popular sites are the tombs of **Sipán**, the ruined fortress of **Kuelap**, the pre-Incan burial grounds of **Sillustani**, and **Caral**, the most ancient city in the Americas. Particularly well-known are the spectacular **Nazca lines**, which you should see from the air, even if it'll take some haggling to get your ticket for the right price.\n\n### Natural attractions", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk036", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "See", "text": "Home to 84 out of the 104 recognized ecological zones in the world, Peru is incredibly rich in **biological diversity**. Benefiting from a broad array of landscapes and ecosystems, this country is an extraordinary place for anyone who loves **wildlife**. It's condors, llamas and jaguars that Peru is famous for, but almost a third of the bird species in the world and no less than 4000 butterflies live here too.\n\nOne of the best places to see all of this natural beauty is **Manú National Park**. This World Heritage Site boasts over 15,000 plant species, a 1000 different birds and some 220 mammals, including pumas, Giant anteaters and many monkeys. Disputably called the \"world's deepest canyon\", the stunning **Colca Canyon** is Peru's third most-visited destination, just a stones-throw out of the beautiful city of **Arequipa**. Get close to the celebrated **Andean Condors** as they fly along the high canyon walls or buy a colourful handmade souvenir from one of the indigenous people that populate the picturesque Colca Valley. Of all the peaks in the Peruvian Andes, the 6768m Huascarán in **Huascarán National Park** is the highest of all. This 3000-km² World Heritage Site holds 663 glaciers, 296 lakes and 41 tributaries of three major rivers. The large city of **Iquitos** is a popular starting point to discover the mystic **Amazon River**, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It's also the capital city of the Charapa culture. Just a few other great picks out of the long list of protected areas in Peru are **Pacaya-Samiria** National Reserve, **Rio Abiseo** National Park and **Cutervo** National Park (with many caves).\n\n### Folklore", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk037", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "See", "text": "The diversity of **Peru's people** and cultures is reflected in a rich tradition of festivals, dance and music. In the Andes, the plaintive wail of the flute and beat of the drum accompany songs depicting indigenous life while dancers masked as devils and spirits are a marriage of pagan and Christian beliefs. In the jungle, ceremonial music and dance are a window into tribal life. And along the coast, a blend of elegant Spanish sounds and vibrant African rhythms reflect the Conquest and later slave labor of the New World.\n\nOne of the shows you can not miss it is the Caballo de Paso Peruano in Lima and the north coast of Peru. The Concurso del Caballo de Paso Peruano is in April and it is a mix between the caballos and the dance called \"marinera\" which is the coastal cultural expression in Peru.\n\n### Other highlights\n\nMake your way to the blue waters of **Lake Titicaca** for an enchanting, high altitude encounter with local peasant women wearing bowler hats and join in the celebrations of their ancient communities. **Puno** is a good place to start, also for a laid-back boat ride to the various islands and Altiplano towns on and around the lake, all with their own character and historic remains. If you're craving perfect beaches and a sunburn, head to the crowded sands and resorts of **Piura/Tumbes**. Spend a day in one of the many excellent museums in **Lima** and dance until the morning in one of the cities popular clubs. Buy shamanistic herbs at the market of **Chiclayo** and see the dozens of tombs around it.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk038", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Do", "text": "**Trekking** is a great way to see the country. The most widely known route is the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Other popular routes include Cordillera Blanca, Colca Canyon, Ausangate circuit and the Salkantay trail.\n\nTrek prices can vary considerably between companies, as can their respective porters' working conditions (no pack animals are allowed, hence equipment is carried by human porters). Although there is a minimum porter wage (S/42 a day) and maximum load porters can carry (25 kg/55 lb), not all companies keep to their claims!\n\n**Beaches** exist in many locations along the Pacific Coast and on Lake Titicaca, but the water in both is very cold, unless you go pretty far north.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk039", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Peru is the *sol* (ISO code: **PEN**), symbolised as **S/**. It is one of the more stable currencies in South America.\n\nCoins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimos, 1, 2 and 5 sols. 5 and 1 centimo coins are not normally accepted outside of big supermarkets or banks, so avoid them (or bring them home for a collection or to give to friends). Banknotes are available in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 soles; 200 soles notes are uncommon and, just like large bills in many countries, will not always be accepted.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs are available in most cities and larger towns, upmarket hotels, and tourist areas. With a Cirrus or Maestro sign on it, you can withdraw cash easily. The exchange rate is the same as credit cards.\n\nThe per-transaction withdrawal limits are generally low and withdrawal fees are high (Feb 2018):\n Scotiabank: limit S/400, fee S/20\n Globalnet ATMs: limit S/400, fee S/19\n BBVA: limit S/400, fee S/18\n Banco de la Nacion: limit S/400\n BanBif: limit S/700, fee S/18\n Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP): limit S/700, fee S/13.50, but you can only do this once *per calendar month* with each foreign card\n\nIf your bank is part of the Global ATM Alliance, Scotiabank is the local partner for fee-free withdrawals.\n\nAs of 2024, **Banco de la Nacion** (whose ATMs are labelled **MultiRed**) appears to be the only one that does not charge a fee for a withdrawal. Most other ATMs belong to the GlobalNet network, and charge high fees. Long queues may develop in busy locations, especially around public holidays, and MultiRed ATMs may run out of cash to dispense.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk040", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "Pretty much all ATMs around the Lima airport and tourist sites charge high fees; so if you only need a small amount of cash (for a bus, e.g.) when arriving to Lima, it may actually be cheaper to exchange USD to PEN at an airport exchange office than to go for an ATM.\n\n#### Credit cards and money exchange\n\nAs of 2022, while credit cards are accepted in large chain stores (such as Tottus or Plaza Vea), or in more upmarket hotels, restaurants and shops, one should generally expect that only cash is accepted at a 40-soles-a-night budget hotel (or even an international backpackers' hostel), a corner shop (*bodega*), or a bakery (*panaderia*). Even the ticket counter of a major intercity bus company may or may not be able to take credit cards. In some cases, the signage of a business mentions \"Visa\" or \"MasterCard\", but in reality the business either does not take credit cards at all, or has difficulty processing your card, or has a surcharge (as high as 6%) for paying with a credit card rather than cash. In particular, make sure to carry sufficient cash when visiting smaller towns, as your credit card or travelers checks might not be accepted there.\n\nAt more upscale businesses, credit cards and travelers checks are common. Although cash has a ~2% better change rate, don't carry large amounts of cash on your journey. The Banco de Credito (BCP) gives good rates on cashing travelers checks.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk041", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "Rates in change offices are often somewhat worse. It's always worth comparing them before changing your money. When changing your money in change offices, check their calculations. Most of them make calculations on the fly for the amount you want using an electronic calculator in plain view, even showing you the process step by step (unless they are brutally obvious, like changing tens or hundreds). If they *don't* show, keep the money in your pocket and find someone that does.\n\n#### Banknotes\n\nTypically, small bills are very helpful to carry around. Change large bills into small ones as often as possible. If you only have 50, 100 or 200 soles notes with you, consider changing them at a bank. Local merchants and taxistas often claim to not have any change on them, forcing you to wait in public while they search for some (potentially dangerous) and sometimes with the hope that you'll grow impatient and let them keep the change.\n\nIn Peru, it's not as common for US dollars to be accepted in transactions as in other countries (such as Ecuador), but some nice, new 10 or 20 US dollar bills can be helpful in some situations. Often in small towns, local shops will change money for you. If so, it will be clearly marked.\n\n#### Counterfeiting", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk042", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|upright|Counterfeiting is a big problem in Peru – more sophisticated stores use a machine to inspect notes, while others will simply refuse to accept suspicious or worn currency.\nIt's a big problem in Peru: make sure to get familiar with the money and do not hesitate to reject any note or coin (especially the S/5 coins) that look suspicious, just like any Peruvian would do. In other words, if you want to look like a savvy foreigner, take 10 seconds to check any paper note you get, even at a bank. All bills have a watermark and security stripe, and the large number on the extreme right denoting the denomination of the bill will change from purple to green when viewed at an angle. Don't take any note that is ripped; you won't be able to use it anywhere else but a bank.\n\nIf you are stuck with a counterfeit coin or note, if you try to use it at big stores they may want to confiscate it. Don't accept damaged or ripped bills, since you will have to take them to a bank in order to change them into new ones before you can spend them. Be especially careful when exchanging money with money-changers on the street (a common way for counterfeit money to enter the money supply) or at the border (notably the one with Ecuador).\n\n### Shopping\n\n#### Costs\n\nBasic hotels or hostels (*hospedajes*) are available everywhere. You'll find plenty of very cheap restaurants but for slightly more, you'll get an often much better lunch or dinner at better restaurants. Fancy restaurants are available in every city, with menus.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk043", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "Buses are a fairly cheap way to get around. If you can afford it, the more luxurious seats go for about double the price but will make a great difference in terms of comfort. Avoid bus companies that allow travellers to get into the bus outside the official stations. They are often badly managed and can be dangerous, due both to unsafe practices or to highway robberies, which are not uncommon. This should be heeded especially by female travellers on their own. Your hotel, hostel or a local tourist information booth can point you to the better options.\n\nTrains (except the ones for Machu Picchu, which are relatively expensive) run for similar fees.\n\nIf you're flying from the Lima Airport, don't forget to retain your exit fee of US$30.86 (2025). They accept US dollars or soles for the fee. Be sure to pay the exit fee before you get in line for security checks or you'll get to wait again.\n\n#### Bargaining", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk044", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "Bargaining is very common. If you are not used to it, respect some rules. If you intend to buy something, first ask the price, even if you already know what it actually should cost. Then check whether everything is all right. (Does the pullover fit you? Do you really want to buy it? Is the expiration date on the cheese exceeded? etc.) If the price is OK, pay it. If not, it's your turn to say a lower price, but stay realistic. First get an idea about how much you would expect to pay. Then say a price about 20-30% lower. It's always good if you can give some reason for that. *Once you have said a price, you cannot give a lower one later*. This would be regarded as a very impolite behavior. If you feel that you can't get your price, just say \"*No, gracias.*\" and begin to walk away. This is your last chance. If you are lucky, the seller will give you a last offer, if not, say \"*No, gracias.*\" again and go on walking. Realize that most of the products in touristy markets (i.e. the market in Pisac) will be sold in nearly every other market throughout your travels in Peru and South America, so try not to worry about never again finding that particular alpaca scarf.\n\nYou have a way for bargaining without saying an exact price, and it's saying \"*¿Nada menos?*\", then you will be asking just if they can lower a bit the price.\n\nNever begin to bargain if you don't really want to buy.\n\n#### Handicrafts", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk045", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Colorful handicraft in making\nPeru is famous for a lot of different, really nice and relatively cheap handicrafts. Keep in mind that buying handicrafts support traditional skills and helps many families to gain their modest income. Look for:\nPullovers, and a lot of other alpaca-woolen products in all the Sierra. Puno is maybe the cheapest place.\nWall carpets (*tejidos*).\nCarvings on stone, wood and dried pumpkins.\nSilver and gold jewellery.\ntraditional musical instruments like pan flutes (*zampoñas*), skin drums.\n\nDo *not* accept any handicrafts that look like (or actually are) pre-Columbian pottery or jewelry. It is illegal to trade them and there is the possibility not only of them being confiscated, but of being prosecuted for illegal trading, even if the actual artifacts are copies or fakes. Dealing with the police from the criminal side is messy and really unpleasant.\n\n**Buyer beware:** Watch out for fake (Bamba) Alpaca wool products many items sold to the unsuspecting gringo are actually synthetic or ordinary wool! That nice soft jumper in the market for US$8 or so is most certain to be acrylic. Even in places such as Puno there is no easy way to tell if it is made from Alpaca, sometimes it might have a small percentage of Alpaca mixed in with other fibres. Baby Alpaca is not from baby animals but the first shearing and the fibre is very soft and fine. Generally Alpaca fibre has a low lustre and a slightly greasy hand to it and is slow to recover from being stretched. Shop and compare.\n\n#### Coca\n\n**Do not bring coca products home**.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk046", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "Coca leaves and derived products (unless decocainized) are **illegal** in the vast majority of countries, under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Even just bringing home a box of coca tea may subject you to **very severe drug trafficking laws**. Also, while coca is legal in Peru, **buying or selling cocaine is illegal**.\n\nDecocainized coca products are not generally available in Peru, and vendors may assure you that processed coca products (like tea) are fine to bring home, but **this is wrong**. It is legal to purchase and consume coca products in Peru (other than cocaine), and it is likely legal to purchase decocainized coca products (like Coca-Cola, or decocainized coca tea) in your home country, but importing coca products is illegal.\n\nInstead of coca tea, consider *emoliente*, a traditional herbal tea of coastal regions, widely available in Lima.\n\nWhile in Peru, in addition to coca tea and coca leaves, you may also find coca candies, coca beer, etc. The Museo de la Coca in Cuzco sells a wide variety of coca products.\n\n#### Tips\n\nGiving **tips** in restaurants (at least when basic or middle-range) is not very common but 10% for good service is polite. In the cities, you will always find some **beggars**, either sitting on the street, or busking on the buses. If you choose to give, typical donations are about S/0.10-0.20 (US$0.03-0.06). This may not sound like much, but keep in mind that some unskilled workers don't get much more than S/10 for a hard working day. Whether you want to give money to child beggars or not is your decision, but consider that doing so may make it more attractive for parents to send their children begging in the street instead of sending them to school. Buy them food instead; they *do* need it.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk047", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Buy", "text": "#### Shops and supermarkets\n\nSupermarkets can only be found in cities and are somewhat expensive. In every town, there is at least one market place or hall, except Lima that has a dense concentration of supermarkets, malls and department stores. In cities, there are different markets (or sections of one big market) for different articles. Stores selling similar items tend to be grouped in the same street.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk048", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Chanfainita is one of Peru's many beef organ dishes, mostly made of lungs\nthumb|Peruvian purple corn is the base for many dishes and drinks, including the popular purple sweet custard (mazamorra morada)\nPeruvian cuisine is among the most varied in the world. Not only does the country grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, but it does so throughout the year. Peruvian geography offers at least 8 different climates (desert along the coast, steep and high mountains, the Amazon basin). In Lima, due to its history as an important Spanish colonial port, the dishes are a mixture of amerindian, Spanish, African, Chinese, Japanese and even Italian influences that contribute to the ever changing **platos criollos** (creole dishes). Rice is the staple foodstuff, and expect many dishes to include rice, in the Siera it's corn and potatoes, and in the Jungle yuca. **Meat** is traditionally included in most Peruvian dishes. Chicken (*pollo*), pork, sheep and beef are common. Alpacas are actually kept for wool, not for meat. Mostly, you will find that alpaca meat is rather tough. An Andean delicacy is guinea pig (*cuy*). Peruvian cuisine includes dishes which use various organs, including **anticuchos**, a kebab made from very marinated and spicy beef heart, and **cau-cau** (sounds like cow-cow), made from cow stomach served in a yellow sauce with potatoes. Anticuchos are a standard street stall food, but be careful with it.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk049", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Fish** can be found along the coast (of course), but also in the jungle area since the rivers supply fresh fish (but beware of contamination in the area known as high jungle or *selva alta*; chemical run-off from mining and cocaine production pollutes the rivers here). In the Sierra, trout (*truchas*) are bred in several places. A very common fish dish is ceviche, raw fish marinated in lime juice. Popular variations of the dish can include shellfish, and even sea urchin. The exact recipe and mode of preparation of ceviche will vary from region to region. Definitely worth a try, especially in summer, but cleanliness and sanitation make all the difference. Use care when buying from street vendors and remember that it is often served spicy.\n\nThroughout Peru there is a wide variety of potato dishes (*papas* as in Spain), the traditional Andean vegetable. Papa a la Huancaina is a tasty dish of potato slices and diced boiled egg topped with a thin, creamy yellow sauce, and usually includes a lettuce leaf and an olive or two. (A similar green sauce, called Ocopa, can be served over potatoes or yuca.) Papa rellena is mashed potato reformed into a potato-like shape, but with meat, vegetables, and other spicy filling in the middle. Aji de gallina is shredded chicken in a thick, spicy, cheese-based sauce over sliced potatoes, often with an olive and slice of hard-boiled egg. Causa is mashed potato layered with mayonnaise-based tuna or chicken salad mixed with hot peppers.\n\nMany Peruvian dishes can contain strong condiments and be heavy, so if you have a weak stomach, proceed with caution.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk050", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Eat", "text": "Nowadays, the transport routes from the flat jungle areas are good enough to supply all the country with vegetables and fruits. Nevertheless, **vegetables** still have the status of a garnish for the meat. **Vegetarian restaurants** exist in all cities, but are relatively rare. In most areas, there is a rich offering of **tropical fruits** and fresh squeezed juices.\n\nThe natives typically eat in small restaurants or Chinese eateries (\"chifas\"); a menu there costs S/5-8 and includes a soup, a choice of main dish, and a drink.\n\nPeruvians are quite proud of their desserts, especially in Lima. They tend to be extremely sweet and loaded with sugar, egg yolks and similar ingredients. Try **mazamorra morada**, or purple custard, made from the same purple corn used for chicha morada drink; together with **arroz con leche** (rice with sweetened condensed milk) is called a combinado (combination). **Picarones** are a sort of donut, made from fried yams dough and served with **chancaca**, a very sweet sugarcane syrup. And the sweetest dessert **suspiro a la limeña** is perfect if you are in need of a high-calorie glucose shock. Panetón is a type of sweet bread with dried fruit. It is usually served for breakfast around Christmas with a cup of hot chocolate. They used to come in big boxes only with huge panetóns inside but now they also sell personal portions. Chocotón is a variety of panetón that replaces the fruit with chocolate bits. The bread is very light and sweet. Because Christmas is the hottest time of year, people often replace the hot chocolate with coffee or a drink that's served cold.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk051", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Drink", "text": "The Pisco-Nazca area is famous for wine cultivating. Their more expensive vintages compare favorably against Chilean imports. Beer is nice, stronger than American brands but less full bodied than European ones. Most of Peruvian beers are made by Backus, which is owned by SAB Miller.\n\nWhen drinking at bars and/or restaurants, be aware that Peruvian \"Happy Hour\" is a little different than in most countries. Prices for drinks will usually be posted on the walls and be a little cheaper than normal. The real differences is that you will be served 2 drinks, instead of one, for the listed price -- giving a new meaning to the term \"half price.\" This can be a great way to save money (if you are travelling with a group) or to meet locals (if you are travelling alone). It can also lead you to get completely falling-down-drunk by accident, so be careful.\n\nCommon drinks include **caliente**, a hot alcoholic herbal tea served during celebrations; **chicha de Jora**, a cheap alcoholic drink made from fermented corn; **chicha morada**, a soft drink made from boiled purple corn; **coca tea**; **emoliente**; and **pisco sour**, an alcoholic drink mad from Pisco brandy.\n\n### Beer\n\nSome large towns have their own brand of beer which is hard to get elsewhere in the country. Cusqueña is one of the most popular beers while Cristal is known as the beer of Peru, both can be found nation-wide.\n\n**Arequipeña**\n**Brahma**\n**Cristal**\n**Cusqueña**\n**Franca**\n**Pilsen Callao**\n**Pilsen Trujillo**", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "peru::chunk052", "doc_id": "peru", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Hotels in Peru are very common and fairly cheap. They range from 1 - 5 stars. 5 star hotels are normally for package tourism or business travel, and very common outside of Lima for most visited tourist attractions such as Cuzco/Machu Picchu with amazing landscapes, Paracas (to flight over the Nazca Lines), Tumbes with great beach resorts, and of course in Lima with international and Peruvian companies. All of them under international standards and expensive, but really worthwhile to try them. 4 star hotels are usually a bit on the expensive side (>US$80 per night) and common in the large cities. 3 star hotels are a good compromise between price and quality and usually US$30-50. 2 and 1 star hotels are very cheap ( 12 t, ≤3 axles)\n \n \n \n \n \n x40px\n Heavy truck with many axles (freight vehicle with full mass > 12 t, >3 axles)\n \n \n \n \n \n x40px\n Vehicle for the carriage of passengers with more than 1+8 seats and maximum 23 seats\n \n \n \n \n \n x40px\n Vehicle for the carriage of passengers with more than 23 seats (including driver)\n\n#### Types of roads", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk022", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Motorway A2\nA lot of road infrastructure has been constructed in the past few years, and changes appear rapidly. Therefore, check up to date online sources before you go, as information might get outdated quickly.\n**Motorways** (*autostrada*)\n**A1** - planned to connect Bucharest with cities in southern Transylvania and then proceed to the western border; the parts completed so far is the 126-km-long stretch between Bucharest and Pitești opened in 1973. The Arad—Timișoara section was opened at the end of 2011.As of july 2024 you can drive A1 from Hungarian border to Arad, Timisoara, Deva until Sibiu (except for a 10km gap between Margina and Coșevița.\n**A2** - connects Bucharest with the Black Sea ports of Constanța and Agigea. This means that you can avoid Constanța, if you're going to the other resorts on the seaside.\n**A3** - is supposed to cross Transylvania diagonally from north-west to south-east and then head south to Bucharest. The Borș - Brașov segment, also called the **Transylvania Motorway**, is the largest road project in Europe; it will connect the Hungarian-Romanian border with Oradea, Zalau, Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, Sighisoara and Brasov. As of 2015, only a few sections of the A3 are in use: a 55-km stretch between Bucharest and Ploiesti in the south and a 52-km section between Campia Turzii and Gilau, which is part of the southern section of the Transylvanian Highway.\n\nThe speed limit on motorways is **130 km/h**.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk023", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Expressways** (*drum expres*) - Basically non-grade separated/semi-grade separated dual carriageway. The only completed expressways are the 60-km-long Bucharest - Giurgiu (DN 5) road, The Ploiesti Bypass (DN 1), the Cluj East bypass, the Bucharest - Henri Coanda International Airport stretch of the DN 1 (which is grade-separated). The speed limit on expressways is **100 km/h**.\n**National roads** (*drum național*), including **European Roads** (*drum european*). In the absence of motorways the national roads remain the most important element of the Romanian road system, as they connect the main cities in the country. Most of them are in reasonable condition, and most of the trunk network has been rehabilitated. Many have 4 non-separate lanes near cities, some have 3 or 4 non-separate lanes throughout (such as Bucharest-Comarnic and a large part of E85) but many have only two lanes — one per traffic direction (a notable example is DN1 Câmpina-Brașov — the 100-km mountain stretch can take 3-5 hours to cross during weekends and holidays. The speed limit on national roads is **100 km/h**.\n**Other roads** - county (*drum judetean*) and rural (*drum comunal*) roads are owned and maintained by either regional or local authorities. These roads mainly link trunk roads with very small towns or villages - few running for more than 30-40 km. The situation of county roads is highly dependent on each of the counties involved — while in Ilfov or Constanta these roads are of decent-to-high quality, in other regions such roads are in a poor to very poor condition compared with national roads. Rural roads are of even shorter nature (under 10 km), some of them being one lane of traffic only, others being covered in gravel only. The speed limit on these roads is **90 km/h**.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk024", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "For *all* roads, when in a city, town or village, the speed limit is 50 km/h (unless clearly otherwise posted). As such, driving a National Road becomes a constant accelerate-and-brake adventure, one having to be constantly spotting speed limit signs, city limit markers and the behaviour of other drivers.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|The Palace of Culture in [[Iași]]\nBus can be the least expensive method to travel between towns. In the Romanian towns and cities, you can usually find one or several bus terminals (*autogara*). From there, buses and minibuses depart for the towns and villages in the nearby area as well as to other cities in the country. You can find timetables on the autogari website.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk025", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Romania is criss-crossed by many *mini buses*, sometimes called *maxi taxi*. They are faster than the trains, and can be taken directly from the international airport in Bucharest. Mini buses are usually very uncomfortable; some buses are old and slow. Schedules are not tightly followed, and delays of over an hour are not uncommon, especially for inter-city buses. Romanian roads are in a rather bad shape, with most of the trunk network being made of one lane per way roads (fairly similar to British rural roads), and only about 250 km of expressway. Most minibuses employed are small, crowded, 14-seat vans (some converted from freight vans), with some longer routes employing 20-seat mini-buses. For commuter and suburban routes, expect an overcrowded van (25 passengers riding a 14 seat van is quite common, with 40 passenger loads not being unheard of), with no air-conditioning, which stops several times in every village. Inter-city bus travel is only slightly better - most vehicles used are also converted vans, or, at best, purpose-build minibuses, with only some being air-conditioned. Seating is generally crowded, and in most cases there is no separate compartment for luggage. Most have no toilets on board, calling for 30 minutes stops every 2-3 hours. All in all, the experience of travelling by minibus is quite similar to that of travelling in a Russian or Ukrainian marshrutka.\n\nHowever, buses are the best solution for a number of routes badly served by the railway network, namely Bucharest - Pitești - Râmnicu Vâlcea, Bucharest - Alexandria, Bucharest - Giurgiu, and Pitești - Slatina.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk026", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "The comfort of vehicles is steadily improving, at least in Transylvania along the longer routes serving larger cities. You will find buses from respected companies (such as Normandia, FANY or Dacos and waltrans) which offer punctual and reasonable, though not always sparkling, conditions, and on which a luggage compartment will always be available. Toilet stops still need to be made, but they happen usually in places where you can also buy food or drinks. On Fridays, Sundays, and close to national holidays, these buses tend to be overcrowded, so a reservation by phone might be necessary.\n\nBuses inside the cities are often crowded. This gives pickpockets good opportunities. The pickpocket problem seems to be not essentially worse than in any other European city. Please, pay attention.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Taxis in Bucharest\nTaxis are relatively inexpensive in Romania. It costs about 1.4-2 lei/kilometre or slightly more, with that amount again as flagfall. The very low prices make taxis a popular way to travel with both locals and travellers (it can be cheaper than driving your own car) - so during rush hours it may be hard to find a cab (despite Bucharest having almost 10,000 cabs).", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk027", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "A notable exception is the Fly Taxi company that operates from the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport. The price for a ride from the airport to the city centre can be about 70 lei. Either call a taxi by phone to pick you up near the airport or chose the route 783 bus to get into the city. Alternately, you can go to the departure terminal to avoid expensive airport taxis. To do this, after you exit baggage claim, immediately turn right. Literally dozens of taxi operators will approach you and ask if you need a taxi, having marked you as a foreigner (it's their job to do so, after all). Be polite, shake your head no and keep walking. You will pass though about 200 m of shopping and service areas in a little mini-mall connecting the two terminals, and will then arrive at the 2nd level of the departures terminal. Walk out the door and you will see plenty of taxis dropping off passengers. Flag one down and make sure the fare posted on the side is less than 2 lei/km. They are not supposed to pick up there, but you aren't doing anything wrong by trying, and not many drivers can say no to 30 lei for a trip back to the city centre that they were going to make anyway. Just make sure they use the meter. Some taxi drivers use remote controls in their pockets that raise the tariff price suddenly by small increments that are otherwise unnoticeable until the end of the fare. It might be easier to negotiate the tariff price upfront based on your destination and pay that amount at the end.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk028", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Kiosks for reasonably-priced cabs can be found inside the arrivals terminal, and the police are constantly watching for pirate taxi drivers. Kiosks are a safe and reliable to hitch a €10 trip by taxi to downtown Bucharest.\n\nBe careful to look at the cost posted on the outside of the taxi, and then to look at the meter to see that you are being charged the same fare. Be especially careful in Bucharest, where some taxis post 7.4 lei instead of 1.4, but the 7 looks very much like a 1. Ask if you're not certain - they are obliged to post and clearly state the tariff up-front. All taxis *must* have a license - a large, oval metal sign bolted on the sides of the car, featuring the city markings, and a serial number inscribed, usually using large numbers. Do not use any taxi without those markings. Also, do not use a taxi with a license from another city (for example, never use an Ilfov taxi in Bucharest or a Turda taxi in Cluj-Napoca).", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk029", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "The driver may try to cheat you if he sees you are a foreigner. Insist that he will use the meter, or have a Romanian guide with you. Don't negotiate the ride fee in advance, as it may be 2-4 times higher (even more) than the real fee (even if it would seem cheap to you). Check whether it is going in the right direction, follow the way on a map (if you have any!) Do not take cabs from the cab stand in railway stations, unless they are from a reputable company and do not take any of the services of those offering you a cab ride in the train station. They may end up being amazingly expensive (up to €50 for a cab ride that would normally be around €3). If you need a taxi from the train station (or airport), order it by phone from a reputable company (see the city pages for the cities you want to visit) - most dispatchers speak some English as do many taxi drivers.\n\nRide-hailing is available in Romania and the following are the most anticipated providers:\n\n### By plane\n\nAir travel as a means for domestic transport is becoming more and more popular as increased competition resulted in lower prices (sometimes less than the cheapest train or bus ticket). This, coupled with an improved airport infrastructure leads to increases in the number of passengers compared to past decades.\n\nTwo airlines offer domestic flights in Romania - Tarom, with a hub in Bucharest and \"no-frills\" Blue Air with its domestic hub in Bucharest.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk030", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "In 2010, Bucharest and Timisoara were linked by up to 12 daily flights (operated by Blue Air and Tarom - Tarom operated some of the flights on the routes with A310 wide-bodies), Bucharest and Cluj by up to 10 daily flights (operated by Tarom and Blue Air), Bucharest and Iasi by up to 4 daily flights (operated by Tarom), Bucharest and Oradea, Bucharest and Sibiu, and Bucuresti and Satu Mare by 2-3 daily flights (operated by Tarom), Bucharest and Suceava and Bucharest and Baia Mare by 1 daily flight (operated by Tarom). Bucharest and Arad are also connected through a daily flights by Blue Air. Constanta and Bacau, owing to the short distance from Bucharest, only see flights a couple of times per week. Frequencies on Saturdays may be reduced, especially to smaller cities.\n\nPrices can begin from as low as 40 lei one way if booked in advance with Blue Air, or through a Tarom 'Superspecial' fare. Even 2-3 days before the flight, it is not uncommon to find tickets for under €35-€50 with a little shopping around. While Tarom style themselves as full-fare full-frill airlines, Blue Air considers itself a low fare carrier, and subsequently, has followed the model of not allowing price aggregation through reservation systems (a la Ryanair, Easyjet or Southwest), and as such, tickets for their flights will not be available through booking engines such as Orbitz or Kayak, but only directly through their website.\n\nSome airports may be fairly distant from city centers, and, while some larger ones have adequate public transport (Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, Oradea), in some (such as Craiova or Iasi) you have to rely on taxis. Even so, a taxi fare from any airport downtown should not cost more than €5-10 outside of Bucharest.\n\n### By thumb", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk031", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking is very common in Romania, and some experienced hitchhikers say it's the easiest country in eastern Europe. Usually, if you are in the right spot, you don't have to wait longer than 5 minutes. During weekends you may need a bit more patience, as roads are a little emptier. Locals also use this method on a regular basis, especially for shorter distances (up to 50 km). It is not uncommon for people (especially students) to hitchhike intercity (Bucharest-Sibiu, Timisoara-Arad and Bucharest-Ploiesti are particularity common hitchhiking destinations). Increase your chance to be picked up by using a paper with the city where you want to get to - it may save you some time especially if travelling intercity. A good spot is a bus station, road-split, or close to the city limits. Nevertheless, many if not most people will stop (provided they drive alone) - you may end up getting a ride in a 1970s rusty old Dacia or in a brand new Mercedes, in a semi-articulated truck or in a company car belonging to a big corporation. Hitchhiking is typically not dangerous (the highly aggressive, fast and disorderly driving style of Romanians may be more of a danger), but take usual precautions when using this conveyance. Inside city limits, it is not advisable to hitchhike using the traditional thumb-up hand signal, as many drivers may believe you are flagging a taxi or a route-taxi (mini-bus), and not stop. Use a destination paper instead.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk032", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is customary to leave some money for the ride (so called 'gas money', about 1-2 lei/10km), but if you are a foreigner you will not be expected to leave money and nobody will get upset. Most truck drivers and company car drivers will refuse payment altogether. Furthermore, if you tell the driver where you want to get in a city, he or she will make a detour just to drop you off where it best suits you. Say \"Mulțumesc\"(*Mooltsoomesck*) (thank you) at the end.\n\nMost Romanians are very talkative, and even if their English, French, German, whatever is extremely rusty, many will more likely than not tell you their entire life story, discuss the entire football season and/or talk politics (usually starting from discussing the poor state of roads even while on a freshly repaired road). In the end, however, hitchhiking is a mostly enjoyable experience, and, if lucky, you may even get yourself invited for lunch or dinner, offered a room for a night, or just meet some very interesting people along the way.\n\n### On foot and navigation\n\nBeing a popular hiking destination, but also for navigating around the countryside, make sure to have good (offline) maps and GPS with you in Romania. For reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files for such trails on OpenStreetMap through Waymarked Trails. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files of other trails through the same link.)", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk033", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Bran Castle is one of Romania's main landmarks.\n\nWhether you're looking for stunning landscapes, ancient cultural traditions, bustling city life or beautiful historic heritage; no visitor to Romania needs to search for things to see. This country is home to a range of top sights, especially when you'd like to get a feel for the old Europe, the time of monasteries and castles.\n\n### Cities and castles", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk034", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "See", "text": "The country's lively capital **Bucharest** does not top the average traveller's wish list, but if you're willing to look, this city's controversial mix of building styles might just amaze you. Go see the **largest parliament** building in the world, the 1935 Romanian version of the Arc de Triomph or visit one of the many **museums**. The impressive **Bran Castle**, dramatically situated on a Transylvanian hill top, is widely associated with the famous tales of Count Dracula and one of the country's main tourist draws. While there's no clear evidence of this castle being the model for Bram Stoker's stories, the castle surely fits the book's descriptions and has a fascinating recorded history of its own. Yet, there are other interesting examples, including the Neo-Renaissance **Peleș castle** near Sinaia and **Corvin castle** near Hunedoara. The still inhabited citadel of **Sighișoara** is easily among the most beautiful ones of its kind. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it still features many characteristics of a medieval fortified town and is a charming town to visit. Other fine historic towns include **Timișoara**, the country's second city, the popular mountain resort **Brașov** and **Sibiu**. **Cule**, erected by noble families, grace the landscape of south-western Romania and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the architectural heritage of Oltenia and various Balkan countries. Each cule tells a unique story, serving for crucial defensive function, these are reflecting the opulence, power, and artistic prowess of the boyars who commissioned their construction, offering a glimpse into the bygone era of nobility and aristocracy in this enchanting part of the world.\n\nThe **Painted Monasteries** in Southern Bukovina have their external walls covered in authentic and unique fresco paintings, representing complete cycles of religious themes.\n\nAcross Transylvania, there are several Saxon villages with '''fortified churches'''.\n\n### Natural attractions", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk035", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "See", "text": "For a more natural experience, head to the **Danube Delta**, considered to be the most well preserved and one of the largest river deltas in Europe. While it mostly consists of extensive wetlands, it in fact holds 23 different ecosystems. It lies on route for a number of main migratory routes, and more than 320 species of bird can be found here in summer. Besides water systems, Romania is also home to the largest European populations of **bears and wolves**, inhabitants of its vast untouched forests. The **Rodna National Park and Biosphere Reserve** and **Retezat National Park** are excellent places to experience the country's rugged lands, old-growth forests and stunning mountainous landscapes, or hike to beautiful water falls in **Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park**.\n\n### Countryside and monasteries\n\nWhen planning your trip, make sure to include one of the many monumental **monasteries and churches**, such as the one in **Horezu**, a World Heritage Site known for it Brâncovenesc style architecture or **Curtea de Argeș** the most representative Byzantine style monastery in Romania, also royal necropolis where are buried the all kings of Romania. Or, head to Southern Bukovina to see some of the wonderful and famous **Painted Monasteries**. Another fascinating region is **Maramureș**, listed by Unesco and popular among visitors for its **wooden churches** and **Merry Cemetery**. A trip to some of these more remote places of worship comes with the bonus of easy exploration of Romania's lovely countryside where -despite rapid development- old traditions and craftsmanship are still alive.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nThe following are some possible itineraries for travelling in Romania:", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk036", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "See", "text": "Transylvania Triangle Train Tour\nIf you like to drive, follow the stunning **Transfăgărășan Road**, “the best road in the world” according to Top Gear, for some spectacular views and lots of challenging curves. Or you could try the **Transalpina Road**, the highest one in Romania (2145m), also known as King Road.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk037", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Trekking in the Retezat Mountains\nthumb|[[Southern Bukovina]] is home to the remarkable [[Painted Monasteries]]\nthumb|Romania has a number of good winter sports destinations\n**Go to church** - Romania is one of the most religious countries in Europe, and the Orthodox church is omnipresent. You will certainly want to visit some churches and monasteries for their beauty and history, but why not take the chance to experience an Orthodox mass? The congregation is usually standing and it is perfectly normal to show up only briefly during the mass so you can come and go at your leisure without disturbing anyone. Show up at any church on Sunday morning, stand quietly in the back and observe. Be suitably dressed, see the section \"Respect\".\n\nYou will experience bible readings, prayers and other rituals accompanied by a short sermon explaining the text. You are not likely to understand much, but you can notice the varying levels of involvement among church-goers, visible in how long and where people stay at the mass, and how often they sign themselves with the cross, or even genuflect. Organised congregation singing is not common but is conducted by a choir with each church-goer joining when he feels like. The choir singing can be captivating, the quality usually reflects the importance of the church.\n\nThe altar has sections with doors that open and close depending on the church season. You will also see candles sold, they are lit in or by the church in separate trays for the souls of either dead or living people. Try to find out about special holidays and rituals, perhaps the distribution of holy water by the truckload at the baptism of Christ (Boboteaza) or midnight masses at Christmas or Easter (the Orthodox Easter may be off by one or a few weeks compared to the Western). Weddings are often Saturdays, the ritual is very colorful and interesting.\n\n**Hiking** trails come in a wide range of levels, from easy to seriously challenging. From flat delta areas to rugged terrains, the country's national parks make for great starting points and excellent vista's.\n**Winter sports** - the Romania mountains house a number of popular winter sports resorts, such as Poiana Brasov (close also to Bran castle), Sinaia and Predeal. While increasingly popular, also among locals, these places remain fairly off the beaten track for most international winter sports fans and remain budget friendly.", "word_count": 396}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk038", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe national currency of Romania is the **leu** (plural **lei**), which means *lion* in Romanian. The leu is divided into 100 *bani* (singular *ban*). On 1 July 2005, the **new leu** (code **RON**) replaced the old leu (code *ROL*) at a rate of 10,000 old lei for one new leu. Old ROL banknotes and coins are no longer legal tender but can still be exchanged at the National Bank and their affiliated offices.\n\nCoins are issued in denominations of 1 (gold), 5 (copper), 10 (silver), and 50 (gold) bani, but 1 ban coins are rare, despite store prices ending a lot of times with 99 bani. Do not expect exact change from store clerks, unless your total spending divides by 5 bani. When grossly short on change, clerks may also provide small coffee bags, oranges or similar as substitutes, but they may not accept it back as tender. Banknotes come in denominations of 1 (green), 5 (purple), 10 (red), 20 (yellow-green), 50 (yellow), 100 (blue), 200 (brown), and 500 (blue and purple) lei, are made of polymer plastic, and, except for the 200 lei, correspond to a euro banknote in size. However, 200 and 500 lei banknotes are uncommon.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk039", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "When exchanging money, use exchange bureaus or to use cash machines (which will provide ready access to most foreign bank accounts). Absolutely avoid black market transactions with strangers: in the best case scenario, you might come out ahead by a few percentage points, but that rarely happens. Most black marketers are con men of one sort or another, who will either leave you with a bankroll that turns out to be full of worthless Polish złotys, or will engage you in conversation for a few minutes, awaiting the arrival of their partners who will pretend to be the police and try to con you into handing over your wallet and papers. (This con game is known as a *maradonist*.) Exchanging money in the street is also illegal and in the worst case scenario, you might spend a night in jail. It is not recommended to exchange money in the airport either — they tend to overcharge on transactions and have very disadvantageous rates — you should use a card and the ATM for immediate needs (taxi/bus) and exchange more money later while in the city. Unless you are on a budget, the safest and easiest way to obtain Romanian cash is to use your ATM card at any local bank ATM. Your bank will give you a current, reasonable exchange rate, and as long as your bank doesn't charge exorbitant foreign transaction fees, it's usually not worth the risk or the inconvenience to save the one or two percent. BRD, Banca Transylvania and Raiffeisen banks and ATMs are everywhere in major cities, including inside most high end hotels.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk040", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "You should shop around a bit for good exchange rates. Some exchange offices in obvious places (such as the airport) may try to take advantage of the average tourist's lack of information when setting the exchange rate, and it is not advisable to use them, as the exchange rates may well be quite unrealistic. Prior to leaving for Romania consult the website of the National Bank of Romania for a rough estimate of what exchange rates you should expect. Typical exchange offices should not list differences larger than 2-3% from the official exchange rate. Also, when picking an exchange office, make sure it has a visible sign saying \"Comision 0%\"; Romanian exchange offices typically don't charge an extra commission apart from the difference between the buy and sell rates, and they are also required by law to display a large visible sign stating their commission, so if you don't see such a sign or if they charge something extra, keep going. Choosing a reasonable exchange office, which is not hard to do with the data in this paragraph, can save you as much as 10%, so this is worth observing. Changing money at a bank's exchange office is also a good idea.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk041", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "Romania is generally *very* cheap, and is probably the cheapest country inside the EU, though it's still more expensive that neighboring Ukraine. Although you can expect food and transport to be inexpensive in Romania, buying imported consumer goods are as expensive as in other parts of the EU. Good buys for foreigners include clothing, wool suits produced in Romania, shirts, cotton socks, local wine, chocolates, salami, a wide range of local cheeses, inexpensive leather jackets or fur coats. In addition, groceries, transport, and accommodation remain relatively cheap, as does general shopping, especially in markets, although inflation is taking its toll. Bucharest, as with every capital in the world, is more expensive than the national norm, particularly in the city centre. However, travellers from Nordic countries will find all the prices in Romania to be amazingly low, especially transport (short and long distance), restaurant food and drinks.\n\n### Transactions", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk042", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Shops in old [[Craiova]]\nRomanian transactions generally take place in cash. Aside from a few specific types of transactions, the best method is to pay using local currency. In any situation where prices are displayed in local currency, attempting to pay in euros or US dollars will result in your money being accepted at a worse rate (up to 20%) or outright refusal. In situations where prices are displayed in euros, you are generally still expected to pay in lei (for example, mobile phone plans are priced in euros without VAT, so when you pay in lei, the tax is factored in for what appears at first to be a bad exchange rate) except for international train tickets, which are priced in and can be paid in euros. Most Romanians have either a charge card or a credit card - however, they are generally used at ATM machines - on-line payments are relatively new, and some companies still look at them with suspicion - so much so, that they will make you pay on delivery. You can however pay by card in many shops and in most supermarkets. Accepted credit/debit cards are: MasterCard, Visa, American Express (in some places - although this is rapidly expanding because of a very aggressive campaign by American Express) and Diners Club (usually only in hotels, and even then expect stares and incredulity that such a card even exists). Almost all transactions at POS machines (supermarkets, shops etc.) will ask you to enter the card's PIN as well.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk043", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most small towns have at least one or two ATMs and a bank office, with large cities having hundreds of ATMs and bank offices. (It is not uncommon to see three bank agencies next to each other in residential neighborhoods of Bucharest). ATMs are also available in many villages (generally at the post-office or the local bank-office). Romanian for ATM is *bancomat*. Credit cards are accepted in large cities, in most hotels, restaurants, hypermarkets, malls. Do not expect to use a credit card at any railway station for domestic travel (some railway stations take credit cards for international tickets) or for the public transport (the subway and RATB of Bucharest, for example, are cash-only because they consider that card transactions would slow down the queues at the ticket booths). Gas stations and a great number of other stores accept Visa and MasterCard. It is advisable to always have a small sum of money in cash (about 50 lei or even more), even in large cities. It is not possible to withdraw any common currency (like euros or dollars) besides lei.\n\nRomanian businesses are not mandated to provide you with full change for every transaction, and frequently their tills are short of small coins in particular. Fortunately many prices are in round multiples of 1 leu, and they are almost always in multiples of 10 bani. Even if a store can change, say a 100 lei note, they might ask you for smaller change first. For very small amounts (say 20 or 50 bani) they might sometimes insist on you buying something of that value instead of giving you change.\n\n### Tipping\n\nA tip is usually 5-10% of the bill and is expected in restaurants, coffee shops, taxi, hair dressers.\n\n### Supermarkets and convenience stores", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk044", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "A good place to shop for food are farmers' markets, although hypermarkets have become popular in Romania such as Auchan, Carrefour, Cora or Kaufland.\n\nDifferent from supermarkets are neighbourhood grocery stores called 'alimentară'. The stores are dim, old Communist-era shops that can be cheaper. These shops, which can best be compared to British cornershops, may be convenient if living in the suburbs or in smaller towns. Despite their seemingly poorer appearance, they sell good-quality food. In 'alimentara', expect strange systems of payment or selection: you may not be able to take items off of the shelf yourself, or one person may tally up your total before another handles the cash, etc. Many locals however actually prefer these establishments, since they offer a personal touch, with many salespeople remembering the preferences of each buyer, and catering specifically for their needs.\n\nOpening hours are extremely predictable and amazingly long. Some shops will have a \"non-stop\" sign - meaning they are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Shops that are not open 24 hours are usually open 08:00 - 22:00/23:00, with some keeping open in summer until 02:00 or 03:00. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are open 08:00 - 22:00/23:00 as well, except during some days before Easter and Christmas, when they remain open through the night. Pharmacies and specialised shops are usually open 09:00 - 20:00/21:00, sometimes even later while farmers' markets usually open their doors at 07:00 and close at 17:00 or 18:00.\n\n### The countryside fair", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk045", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Buy", "text": "A traditional countryside shopping is the weekly fair (târg, bâlci, or obor). Usually held on Sunday, everything that can be sold or bought is available - from live animals being traded amongst farmers (they were the original reason why fairs were opened centuries ago) to clothes, vegetables, and sometimes even second hand cars or tractors. Such fairs are hectic, with haggling going on, with music and dancing events, amusement rides and fast food stalls offering sausages, \"mititei\" and charcoal-grilled steaks amongst the many buyers and sellers. In certain regions, it is a tradition to attend them after some important religious event (for example after St. Mary's Day in Oltenia), making them huge community events bringing together thousands of people from nearby villages. Such fairs are amazingly colorful - and for many a taste of how life was centuries ago. One such countryside fair (although definitely NOT in the countryside) is the Obor fair in Bucharest - in an empty space right in the middle of the city, this fair has been going on daily for more than three centuries.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk046", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Colivă dishes are used for a church ritual.\nthumb|Saramura is one of Romania's traditional dishes.\nRomanian food is distinct yet familiar to most people, being a mixture of Balkan cuisine and Central European cuisine, but it has some unique elements. The local dishes are the delicious **sarmale**, **ardei umpluți** (stuffed peppers), **mămăligă** (pr. muhmuhliguh, polenta), **bulz** (traditional roasted polenta, filled with at least two kinds of cheeses, bacon and sour cream), **friptură** (steak), **salată de boeuf** (finely chopped cooked veggies and meat salad, usually topped with mayo and decorated with tomatoes and parsley), **zacuscă** (a yummy, rich salsa-like dip produced in the fall) as well as **tocană** (a kind of stew), **tochitură** (pr. tokituruh, an assortment of fried meats, and traditional sausages, in a special sauce, served with polenta and fried eggs), **mici** (pr. michi, with a ch sound like in the word \"chat\"; a kind of spicy sausage, but only the meat, without the casings, almost always cooked on a barbecue, but may also be cooked with hot water vapours; often served with beer during picnics - **mici și bere**), roe salad, various mashed beans varieties like **iahnie** (the h is loud).", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk047", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Eat", "text": "Other dishes include a burger bun with a slice of ham, a slice of cheese and a layer of French fries, **ciorbă de burtă** (white sour tripe soup), **ciorbă rădăuțeană** (very similar to **ciorbă de burtă**, but with chicken instead of tripe), **ciorbă țărănească** (a red sour soup, akin to borș but with the beet root being replaced by fermented wheat bran, with lots of vegetables), Dobrogean or Bulgarian salads (a mix of onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, white sauce and ham), onion salad - diced onion served in a dish, tomato salad - diced tomato with cheese, șorici (pig skin - boiled and sometimes in stew), and **drob** (haggies) - a casserole made from lamb or pork liver and kidneys. Local eclectic dishes include cow tongue, sheep brain (Easter), caviar, chicken and pork liver, pickled green tomatoes and pickled watermelon.\n\nTraditional desserts include **pască** (a chocolate or cheese pie produced only after Easter), **sărățele** (salty sticks), **pandișpan** (literally means Spanish bread; a cake filled with sour cherries), and **cozonac** (a special cake bread baked for Christmas or Easter). Bread (without butter) comes with almost every meal and dill is quite common as a flavoring. Garlic is omnipresent, both raw, and in special sauces (**mujdei** is the traditional sauce, made of garlic, olive oil and spices), as are onions.\n\nGenerally, there is good street food, including **covrigi** (hot pretzels), **langoși** (hot dough filled with cheese and various other optional seasonings like garlic), **gogoși** (donut-like dough, coated with fine sugar), **mici** (spicy meat patties in the shape of sausages), and excellent pastries (many with names such as **merdenele**, **dobrogene**, **poale-n brâu**, **ardelenești**), thin pancakes filled with anything from chocolate and jam to bananas and ice cream. Very popular are kebab and shawarma (**șaorma**), served in many small shops.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk048", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Eat", "text": "Popular Romanian snacks that are readily available in shops are **pufuleți** (very cheap and delicious corn-made snacks) and sunflower seeds, but usual snacks like potato chips and various nuts are also common. Common sweets are **halva**, **halviță**, **rahat** (Turkish Lokum - \"rahat\" is also commonly used as a euphemism for feces, meaning that you might hear Romanians talk about rahat a lot when being angry, but they do not actually refer to anything commonly considered edible) and **colivă**, a boiled wheat dish commonly used in religious mourning rituals.\n\nMost restaurants in Romania, especially in more regional areas, only serve Romanian food, even though it is similar to Western European food. Especially in Bucharest, there is a wide variety of international food, especially Mediterranean, Chinese or French. There are also fairly plentiful international fast food chains. The interesting truth about these is that they are just nominally cheaper than restaurants, with the quality of the food being of an international standard but much lower than that served in restaurants. Therefore, go for the restaurants when you can - they provide a much more authentic and quality experience at prices that aren't much higher.\n\nVegetarian and vegan travellers can easily find a tasty dish suitable for them if they ask for **mâncare de post** (food suitable for religious fasting). Because Romanians are in their large majority Eastern Orthodox Christians, fasting involves removing of all the animal products from their meals (meat, dairy products or eggs). Even though Lent seasons only cover a small part of the year, you can find fasting food throughout the year. However, most Romanians are unaccustomed with vegetarianism or veganism; still, you can find such \"mâncare de post\" all year round; some Romanians fast also outside Lent, on most Wednesdays and Fridays, as part of their orthodox faith.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk049", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Palinca for sale at a festival\n\n### Wine\n\nRomania has a long tradition of making wine (more than 2000 years of wine-making are recorded), in fact Romania was in 2014 the 12th largest producer of wine in the world. The best wineries are Murfatlar, Cotnari, Dragasani, and Bohotin. Its quality is very good and the price is reasonable: expect to pay 10-30 lei for a bottle of Romanian wine. Locals in tourist areas make their own wine and sell it directly. Many of the monasteries produce and sell their own wine. Most of the individual wine makers, including monasteries, will allow you to taste it first.\n\n### Beer\n\nthumb|Enjoying a Timisoreana beer on the Black Sea coast\nBeer is very widespread (even more so than wine) and rather cheap compared to other countries. Avoid beers in plastic PET containers (they let the beer go stale), and go for beers in glass bottles or cans. Most of the international brands are brewed in Romania under a license, so they taste quite different than in Western Europe. Some beers made under licence are still good - Heineken, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni. You can easily realise whether a beer has been brewed in Romania or abroad and then imported simply by looking at the price: imported beers are much more expensive than the Romanian ones (A Corona, for example, may be 12 lei while a Timisoreana, Ursus or Bergenbier of a full 1/2 litre size will be 2-4 lei. Some of the common lagers you may find around are quite tasteless, but there are some good brewers. *Ursus* produces two tasteful beers, its lager is quite good and its dark beer (**bere neagră**), Ursus Black, is a strong fruity sweet beer, similar to a dark Czech beer. *Silva* produces bitter beers, both its *Silva original pils* and its *Silva dark* leave a bitter aftertaste in your mouth. Bergenbier and Timisoreana are quite good. All the other lager beers you may find, such as Gambrinus, Bucegi or Postavaru are tasteless (in some consumers' opinion). Ciuc is a very decent and affordable pilsner, now owned by Heineken. Expect to pay around 2-3 lei for a bottle of beer in the supermarket and double in a pub.\n\n### Spirits\n\nThe strongest alcohol is **palinca**, with roughly 60% alcohol and is traditional to Transylvania, the next is **țuica** (a type of brandy made from plums - for the better quality, traditional version - but alternatively from apricots, wine-making leftovers, or basically anything else - an urban legend even claims you can brew a certain kind of winter jacket (pufoaică) to țuică, but this is rather a proof of Romanian humor). Strength of țuica is approximately 40-50%. The best țuica, made from plums, is traditional to the Pitești area. Strong alcohol is quite cheap, with a bottle of vodka starting off between 10 lei and 50 lei. A Transylvanian speciality is the 75% blueberry and sour cherry palinca (palincă întoarsă de cireșe negre), better known as **vișinată** - but is usually kept by locals for celebrations, and may be hard to find.", "word_count": 513}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk050", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Finding an accommodation in Romania is very easy, for any price. In all the touristy places, as soon as you get to the train station several people will come to you asking whether you need an accommodation, or you can book it in advance. Those people welcoming you at the station often speak English, French and Italian. Moreover, while walking on the street, you will often find *cazare* written on the houses; that means they will rent you a room in their house. You're best advised to book an accommodation in advance in the big cities (Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov and Iasi), since it'll be quite hard to wander around looking for a place to sleep, but you won't have any problem at all anywhere else.\n\nAs in most other countries, it is often cheaper to obtain accommodation directly with the hotel (either in person or in advance via the internet) rather than through booking agencies. Even an increasing number of small hotels will accept reservations via the Internet. Search for the local official tourist guide websites which will have a list of hotels and/or bed and breakfasts, then inquire at that site: most have information in English, many have formal reservation webpages. Prices for 4-star hotels are much the same as in the rest of Europe, certainly in Bucharest, whilst 3-star hotels and below *can* be a little cheaper. A feature of Romanian accommodation prices is that many bed and breakfast establishments (without any hotel star rating) are as expensive as or more expensive than 2- or 3-star hotels. Most appear to be more modern than rated hotels.\n\nRural tourism is relatively well developed in Romania. There is a national association of rural guesthouses owners, **ANTREC** who offer accommodations in over 900 localities throughout the country.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk051", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|Carefully painted Easter eggs are an important part of Romanian tradition.\nThe oldest Romanian university is the University of Iași, founded in 1860 (the medieval schools in Bucharest and Iasi are not considered universities). Bucharest, Iasi and Cluj are considered to be the largest and most prestigious university centres, with newer centres of education like Timisoara, Craiova and Galati emerging as cities with an increasingly larger student population. If coming with a mobility grant (Erasmus/Socrates or similar), it is very important to go to the International Office of the Romanian University as soon as possible, as Romanian paperwork tends to be quite impressive and may take some time to be processed. Also, if planning to study in Romania, it is highly recommended to find your own accommodation - most universities do not provide any accommodation, and if they do provide accommodation, the conditions offered are sometimes terrible (3-4 persons sharing a room, with a corridor of 50 or more sharing the showers and toilets is not unheard of - this happens since university-offered accommodation is typically next to free (€15-20 per month) for Romanians, and you usually get what you pay for).\n\nThe education system is mediocre at best since 1990 (Romania did not do good in either of the PISA evaluations, being in the lower third of European countries), however reform attempts have been done in the past decade. Attendance is compulsory for 10 years. Universities have started to reduce the number of subsidies so students will, increasingly, have to pay the tuition (tuition is however very low - €500 per year is the norm). With some exceptions teaching methods in universities are antiquated, with formalism, dictation and memorisation as the main tools employed - leading to low quality of many establishments (no Romanian university made it in the Shanghai Index). However, there were very serious reform attempts, with some universities (notably the University of Bucharest, University of Iasi, the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj and the University of Timișoara) imposing better teaching standards and interactivity between students and teachers - however much progress is to be done even there. For most subjects, programs are available in Romanian and Hungarian, depending on the university. Some programs are available in English, French and German. Elementary and middle schools are supported by local authorities budget. As with most nations, teachers complain about small salaries. Literacy is nearly universal. According to an EU commission study, about 30% of Romanians speak English (50% in urban environments) and 25% French (40% in urban environments). German is also spoken by about 3-5% of the population (1% having it as their mother tongue).", "word_count": 436}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk052", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Work", "text": "Citizens of the Nordic countries, the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland have the right to enter, reside, and work in Romania freely. Everyone else, however, needs a work permit to work in the country. \n\nRomania's greatest export happens to be people departing the country in search of opportunities elsewhere. Since the fall of the Communist government, millions of Romanians have moved abroad. Corruption, low standards of living, a mediocre educational system, and a general lack of lucrative employment opportunities are some of the many reasons why Romanians leave their country. As a result, some Romanian employers often struggle with managing inexperienced or unskilled staff.", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk053", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Romania is a very safe country, where random attacks are almost non-existent. While violence against foreign tourists is rare, this does not mean you should leave your common sense at home, if you decide to vacation in Romania. Generally crime is limited to petty thefts and common scams, and not much else that would concern the tourist. Wherever you may be in the country, ask trusted locals about the surroundings, they will gladly give you a few pointers.\n\nAlthough racial prejudice exists in Romania, especially toward those who look like Roma (“gypsies”), hate crimes are rare. Some homophobic prejudice also remains, for instance an annual gay pride parade in Bucharest has been the scene of violent protests in past years.\n\n### Emergency phone numbers\n\nRomania uses the pan-European standard number **112** for all emergency calls since 2004. Therefore, this is the only number you will need to remember for police, ambulance and the fire department.\n\n### Petty crime\n\nRomania is quite safe, with very little violent crime. Pickpocketing and scams (such as taxi scams or confidence tricks) are present on a wider scale, so exert care especially in crowded places (such as train stations, some markets, urban public transport). Keep your money or valuables in inner pockets of your backpack and always watch your handbag in said crowded areas. When traveling with a cab, always make sure you read and remember the price per kilometer that's written on the outside of the car, because some of the drivers may try to take advantage of the fact that you are not familiar with the prices.\n\n### Animals", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk054", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Bear warning sign\nRomania has a very large population of wild animals, including one of the largest populations of wild bears in Europe. Bears are deadly, and even the ones living closer to cities, which loot garbage containers, must not be approached. It is commonplace for bears to visit city neighborhoods situated near mountain forests in search for food (such as in Brașov). As such, spotting a bear or wolf is fairly easy. Although usually not dangerous, such animals may become aggressive if care is not taken. If you spot a bear or wolf when hiking, it is advisable to slowly turn around and slowly walk away while facing the animal. Local shepherds advise people who are wild camping to camp out in the open rather than under trees where possible to avoid the bears. Under any circumstances, do not attempt to run or try to feed the animal, as it may become disoriented and attack. In 2006, six people were killed by wild animals in Romania. There have also been cases in which tourists encountered bear cubs and attempted to feed or play with them. In some cases this has turned out to be a fatal mistake. If you happen to encounter any sort of young animals be aware their parents are somewhere close. The best thing you can do is leave the area as soon as possible, as cuddly and cute as bear cubs may be, their parents are not. Bears are extremely aggressive when they have cubs and will attack at the slightest hint of a threat to their cubs. This is one of the leading causes of attacks by animals on people.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk055", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Feral animals such as stray dogs may additionally pose a problem in Bucharest and other major cities, where they are widespread. Some might not be aggressive, but be careful about animals in packs and at night. Some are taken care of by people from nearby housing blocks and these can be especially territorial and can sometimes attack without warning. The number of stray dogs is declining but is still relatively high and overall they are the biggest physical danger especially in remote areas.\n\nRomanian farmers also use dogs for herding and protecting sheep. You'll most likely see this if you're walking near any farms, on dirt roads, or rural areas. You can tell they are sheep dogs as farmers usually attach horizontally-hanging sticks under their necks. If you encounter one of these dogs, it might appear scared at first, and might be looking backwards. It is indeed scared, but it is not looking for retreat: it's looking for its other doggy friends! If you continue walking towards their territory or whatever herd of sheep they are protecting, they will most certainly become more and more defensive, and have no doubt that more and more will appear as you get closer to the herd. In situations like this, you simply need to back off. It's not worth attempting to defend yourself either, as Romanian farmers will get very angry. If you are in a rural area, consider waiting for a horse-drawn wagon or car for hitchhiking: this is the best way to cross such territories.\n\n### Corruption\n\nCorruption is becoming less significant in Romania in last years.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk056", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Some visitors may encounter corrupt policemen (*Polițiști*) and customs officials (*Vameși*, *Ofițeri de vamă*) first hand, even though this seems to be a declining problem. While it may be tempting to pay a bribe (*mită* or *șpagă*) to smooth things along on your visit, you should avoid doing so as it only contributes to this problem. It is also illegal to give bribes as well as to receive them. Foreigners might receive tougher sentences in Romania.\n\nA piece of good advice for when you find yourself in the situation to be asked to pay a bribe (or just suggested) is to politely reject the proposal, stating clearly that you would not do that. If you are being harassed adopt a swift and determined attitude, and threaten that you will immediately call the police. This will almost surely make whoever is asking for the bribe stop and leave you alone.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk057", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tap water** is generally potable, but most people choose to drink bottled water instead.\n\n### Health care\n\nConditions in Romanian hospitals may vary from the very clean and sparkling, with all the latest technological utilities, to the downright drab, dark and cold. Some hospitals, however, may be, as aforementioned, uncomfortable, with dimness, temperature problems (hot in summer, cold in winter) and outdated equipment, although medical staff are usually experienced. You won't usually face problems such as significant lack of cleanliness.\n\nYour travel health insurance might prove to be insufficient if the medical condition is severe. In this case, you will be asked to pay for the medical services, and prices are not very low compared to Western Europe.\n\nCitizens of the European Union are covered by Romania's National Healthcare System as long as they carry an E111 European Health Insurance Card, obtainable from their own national healthcare authority and valid for all EU countries.\n\nDental procedures in Romania, especially those in private clinics, are of an excellent quality. In fact, many Western Europeans come to Romania to have their teeth done for the quarter of the price they pay in their home country. Quality is particularly high in clinics in Transylvania and Bucharest.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk058", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|A shepherd in the Făgăraș Mountains\nRomanians are quite hospitable. In the countryside and small towns, they welcome foreign tourists and, occasionally, they might even invite you for a lunch. As is common with Romania's Balkan neighbours, Romanians will insist when offering something, as \"no\" sometimes does not mean \"no\", and they just consider it polite for you to refuse and polite for them to insist.\n\nYou should take some normal precautions to study your hosts first. It is common for friends and family to kiss both cheeks upon greeting or parting. Respect towards the elderly is highly appreciated and is a good representation of your character. The phrases used to greet friends and strangers alike is \"Bună ziua\" (Boo-nuh Zee-wah) which means \"Good day\" or \"Good afternoon.\" During morning and evenings, the phrase changes to \"Bună dimineața\" and \"Bună seara\", respectively.\n\nHandshakes are a basic form of greeting, used very often and with every meeting. It is always expected to shake hands with everybody when entering a room or gathering of people. Although nowadays it is commonly accepted in Romania for men to shake hands with women, some men still prefer to kiss hands instead, out of tradition (mainly the older ones).\n\nCourtesy is highly expected in Romanian society, especially toward females. It is customary to let women go first in doors, help with heavy baggage or give up seat on public transport (particularly to elderly, pregnant women and very young children).\n\nWhen entering someone's house, the guest is expected to take off shoes. Not doing so will be a disappointment for the host, although the host probably will not be open with showing it.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk059", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Respect", "text": "It is impolite to get drunk in public. If a person gets intoxicated, they are expected to still behave calmly, not noisy nor using foul language.\n\nAt beaches, men wear either speedos or shorts, with the former more common amongst the over 40s, and the latter more popular with the younger crowd. Ladies tend to wear thong bikinis, while topless sunbathing is becoming more widespread.\n\nRefrain from observations that Romanian is a Slavic language or even related to Hungarian, Turkish or Albanian. People might find it quite offensive; in fact, as it was already mentioned, Romanians *do not* pronounce vowels and consonants the same way as any of their neighbours.\n\nRomanians also appreciate foreigners who do not assume that Romania was part of either the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union (it was only a member of the Eastern Bloc). Anti-Russian sentiment is high due to the history of Soviet domination. Even if you are the most ardent Russophile in the world, avoid being overly enthusiastic about Russia as it could provoke a hostile response from the locals.\n\nAvoid discussing the ethnic animosities between the Romanians and ethnic Hungarians. Hungarians dominate in some areas in Transylvania, and inter-ethnic violence occasionally broke out in the early 1990s.\n\nOther minority-rich regions include Dobrogea, where Tatars, Turks, and Ukrainians still live today, and also the west of the country, where there are small numbers of Serbs, Slovaks, and Germans. Almost all of the remaining Jews left the country in the decades after the Holocaust.\n\nAnother very offensive misconception is making no difference between Romanians and the Roma people (commonly referred to as Gypsies, although this term is considered derogatory). Confusing the two ethnic groups can offend a lot of people because there is still a lot of prejudice towards the Roma people.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk060", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Respect", "text": "Romanians might dislike having Romania labelled as a Balkan country because of a somewhat negative image of the region. It is not entirely geographically correct either, as most of Romania (all of it except Dobrogea) lies outside the Balkan Peninsula.\n\nVlad the Impaler, who was the basis of Count Dracula, was viewed by many Romanians as a national hero for defending the country from Ottoman invasion, and the brutal measures (such as death by impalement) he adopted are viewed as necessary or no more brutal than other rulers at that time. Some may be offended by connecting Vlad the Impaler with Dracula.\n\nOpinions on **Nicolae Ceaușescu** might vary too. While he is often seen quite negatively in the West, some (mainly older) Romanians might actually talk about him quite positively, although others might have less positive opinions.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk061", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Mobile phones\n\nMobile phones are ubiquitous in Romania. There are five networks - four GSM/3G (Orange Romania, Vodafone, Telekom and DigiMobil). Orange and Vodafone have almost full national coverage (98-99% of the surface of the country), while the German Telekom is expanding quickly.\n\nTariffs are average for the European Union (€0.08-0.30/min, €0.04 per SMS). Both pre-paid cards and subscriptions are available, and special options for discounted international calls exist with some pricing plans. Roaming is available but is, like in most of the EU, rather expensive. Pre-paid cards or recharge codes can be bought in almost every shop, either rural or urban.\n\nOn prepaid SIMs you can activate extra options (\"extraopțiune\") starting from €5 (+ 24% VAT) in total = 27-32 lei, with a validity period of 30 days, containing thousands (200 -3000) of minutes and SMSs within the same network and up to 100 minutes outside the network, including most European Union fixed land-line networks and two or three mobile networks.\n\n### Internet access\n\nInternet access is fast, widely available in urban environments and growing in rural environments. Broadband internet is widely available in cities and towns, through cable, DSL, or home-grown small or medium size ISPs offering UTP connections. Speeds are mostly like Western Europe or the US, with 1-4 Mbit/s downstream for non-metropolitan access being the norm - with prices being around €9-25 for 1-4Mbit/s, with local access significantly faster (10-50 or even 100Mbit/s). The speeds are increasing, home access for 4Mbit/s being available at around €10 per month.\n\nInternet cafés are available in most towns and cities and villages - but in big cities, their numbers are dropping because of the cheap availability of home access. In rural areas, public Internet access is available in 150 remote villages (in so-called \"telecenters\"). In these \"telecenters\", access is subsidised by the state, and therefore limited. Computers are usually not available in libraries, or in public places such as train stations.\n\nWireless access is growing, especially in Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu, Bistrița, Timișoara and Cluj with Wi-Fi widely available in University areas, airports, public squares, parks, cafes, hotels and restaurants. Pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi is also available in many venues. If uncertain, look for plazas near the Town Hall, large parks or other important buildings. Most (if not all) McDonald's restaurants in Romania have Wi-Fi access and so do most 3-star (and higher) hotels.\n\nMobile internet is available cheaply by all the mobile phone companies (using Romanian simcards). Combined 3G/GPRS/EDGE access is priced at 40-80 lei per month with a cap of 5-10GB.\n\n### Cable TV\n\nCable TV is also very widely available, with about 85% of all households being connected. All hotels providing you with a TV set will offer cable TV or digital TV.", "word_count": 455}
+{"chunk_id": "romania::chunk062", "doc_id": "romania", "section": "Go next", "text": "The land border can be crossed to Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary.\n\nRomania has ultra low-cost flights to many European countries, Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.", "word_count": 29}
diff --git a/corpus/romania/metadata.json b/corpus/romania/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..29f6e37aa3576894a2764e91c344cebe4fddb0da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/romania/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "romania",
+ "title": "Romania",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Romania",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Balkans"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Moldova",
+ "Bulgaria",
+ "Ukraine",
+ "Serbia",
+ "Hungary",
+ "Israel",
+ "Jordan",
+ "United Arab Emirates"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 15151,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 63,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/rome/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/rome/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bed130072a731e8e69ecd836333ca96b0702fc60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/rome/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk000", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Rome** (Italian and Latin: *Roma*), the 'Eternal City', is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio region. It's the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, *La Dolce Vita*, the Vatican City and *Three Coins in the Fountain*. Rome, as a millennia-long centre of power, culture and religion, was the centre of one of the greatest civilisations ever, and has exerted a huge influence over the world in its circa 2500 years of existence.\nthumb|300x300px|The Colosseum\nThe historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With wonderful palaces, thousand-year-old churches and basilicas, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world; some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city. With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a \"global city\".", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk001", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Districts", "text": "### Central Rome\n\nRome can be divided into several districts. The so-called historical centre (*centro storico*) is quite small, being only around 4% of the city's area. This mainly consists of the area inside the Aurelian walls, and is protected by UNESCO. Districts are explained below:\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n### Outskirts", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk002", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|250px|The Pantheon\nSituated on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the \"Eternal City\" was once the administrative centre of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today it remains the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices. Rome has 2.7 million inhabitants while the metropolitan area is home to around 4.5 million.\n\nArchitecturally and culturally, Rome has some contrasts - you have areas with pompously huge majestic palaces, avenues and basilicas, which are then surrounded by tiny alleyways, little churches and old houses. The centre of Rome is mainly ancient, and modern buildings are usually concentrated in the suburbs, unlike Milan (where new and old architecture is combined both in the centre and the outskirts). You may also find yourself walking from a grand palace and tree-lined elegant boulevard, into a small and cramped Medieval-like street.\n\nThe abbreviation \"S.P.Q.R\" is ubiquitous in Rome, short for the old democratic motto \"Senatus Populusque Romanus\" (Latin), i.e. \"The Roman Senate and People\".\n\nFor two weeks in August, many of Rome's inhabitants shut up shop (literally) and go on their own vacations; many stores, restaurants and other amenities will be **closed** during this time. The temperature in the city centre at this time of year is not particularly pleasant. If you do travel to Rome at this time, be prepared to see **Chiuso per ferie** (Closed for holidays) signs on many establishments. Even in these weeks the city is very beautiful and if you are looking for a less overcrowded vacation in Rome, this is not a bad time. You will always be able to find somewhere to eat.\n\n### History", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk003", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Roman Forum\nthumb|right|250px|The artsy Piazza Navona.\nthumb|right|250px|The Vittorio Emanuele monument, considered a symbol of modern post-Risorgimento Rome.\nthumb|right|250px|The Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy.\n\nRome's history spans over two and half thousand years, which have seen its transformation from a small Latin village to the centre of a vast empire, through the founding of Catholicism, and into the capital of today's Italy. Rome's history is long and complex. What follows is merely a quick summary.\n\nRome is traditionally thought to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before being found by a shepherd who raised them as his own sons. Rome was founded as a small village sometime in the 8th century BC surrounding the Palatine Hill, including the area where the Roman Forum is found. Due to the village's position at a ford on the Tiber River, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade.\n\nThe settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of the Roman Republic at around 500 BC, and then the centre of the Roman Empire from 27 BC on. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western World, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk004", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Understand", "text": "Beginning with the reign of Constantine I, the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and religious importance, establishing Rome as the centre of the Catholic Church. During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the capital of the newly formed Papal States. Throughout the Middle Ages, Rome was a major pilgrimage site and the focus of struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.\nthumb|right|250px|The Santa Maria in Trastevere church, a symbol of early medieval Rome.\n\nWith the Italian Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, were constructed by the Papacy so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the period. As the Grand Tour became customary for young European gentlemen in the 17th century, Rome became an important tourist destination, and remains as such until today.\n\nIn the 19th century, Rome again became the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Italy, which wished to see a reunification of Italy. The Papal States remained in control of Rome under French protection, but with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, French troops were forced to abandon Rome, leaving it clear for the Kingdom of Italy to capture. Rome became the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk005", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Understand", "text": "Rome today is a contemporary metropolis that reflects the many periods of its long history - Ancient times, Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Modern Era. With the rise of Italian Fascism following World War I, Rome's population grew. This trend was stopped by World War II, which dealt relatively minor damage to Rome. With the dismantlement of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic following WWII, Rome again began to grow in population and became a modern city. The city stands today as the capital of Italy and one of the world's major tourist destinations.\n\n### Climate\n\nRome has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The winter months usually present pleasant daytime temperatures and the weather is variable. Nights can be chilly, but the temperature rarely drops to actual cold levels. Snow is rare, and only occurs every few decades or so. Summer presents a pronounced aridity in which hot, sunny conditions prevail. The heat obstacles certain sightseeing activities which involve too much walking during the day, but early mornings and late nights can be wonderful. Autumn and spring are characterised by very pleasant weather accompanied by mild to warm temperatures.\n\n### Background reading\n\nAt last count there were close to 1700 novels set in Rome in days gone by. Most easily available in bookshops are those by Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor. Both are good storytellers and excellent at portraying life in Ancient Rome. Particularly interesting if you are visiting Rome may be Saylor's *Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome*, which traces the first thousand years or so of Rome's history by following the fictional fortunes of two families. Each chapter begins with a map showing the state of Rome's development at the time of the chapter.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk006", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Understand", "text": "The classic work on Ancient Rome remains Edward Gibbon's *History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire*. This was written in 1782 but is still being reprinted. A marvelous book that covers Rome's fortunes from Romulus and Remus to the 1970s is *Rome: The Biography of a City* by Christopher Hibbert (Penguin). An excellent guide book, too, although perhaps a bit too heavy to carry around. *Rome* by Robert Hughes (Orion Books) concentrates on the city's art history and provides fascinating insights into the things you will see while walking around. *SPQR*, written by Cambridge University professor and British TV personality Mary Beard, and published in 2015, offers a detailed analysis of Rome's first 1000 years and attempts to answer why Rome expanded from a small village on the Tiber to the centre of a major empire.\n\nEnglish-language bookshops in Rome are:\nThe Lion Bookshop, Via dei Greci, 36, close to Piazza di Spagna. Lots of books and a small cafe.\nAnglo-American Bookstore, Via delle Vite, 102, also close to Piazza di Spagna. A large store, with specialist sections. Strong on non-fiction.\nThe Almost Corner Bookshop, Via del Moro 45, Trastevere. Small but very well-stocked store on the other side of the river.\nSome Italian bookstores also have English-language sections. Try the large selection of English books (but also French, Spanish and more) at Feltrinelli International in via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando - or the smaller selection at its store in Largo Argentina.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nRome Tourism", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk007", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "> A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome.\n\n### By plane\n\nRome () has two main international airports:\n\nIf the flight connections to Rome don't suit you, you can check flights to other airports around like Naples, Perugia, Pescara, Florence, Bologna, Pisa or Milan. From there you can take a (high speed) train or intercity bus to Rome.\n\n#### About Ciampino airport\n\n**Cash machines** are available only in the departures area. This is a relatively small airport and it closes overnight. You will be locked out of the airport until it opens again for the first check-in around 04:30 or 05:00. Flying into Ciampino try to sit on the right of the plane, which will fly just to the east of the centre of the city. Reaching Rome you first see the River Tiber and then the Olympic Stadium, Castel Sant' Angelo, St Peter's and the Vatican and the Colosseum. Before touchdown you fly parallel with the old Appian Way, the tree-lined road on a slight incline about to the right of the flightpath.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk008", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are a few **direct coach** services from Ciampino, all of which go to the Termini in downtown Rome:\n **SITBusShuttle** runs a line that costs €4 one-way to the centre (€6 one-way from the centre) or €8 with return (approx. 40 min, with about 25 services a day).\n **Terravision**. This is a dedicated airport-city transfer only for the major low cost airlines. The price is €6 (from the airport to Rome Termini)/ €6 (from Rome Termini to Ciampino Airport) one-way or €11 return when booked online (approx. 40 min, with a service every 30 min). Passengers on the return trip from Termini are advised to board the bus 3 hours before their flight's departure time. It is not necessary to print out the tickets (mobile tickets are accepted). (updated Oct 2018)\n **RomeAirportBus** (by Schiaffini) offers buses from the airport to Termini (at Via Giovanni Giolitti) in the city centre. Ticket prices depend on the direction of travel. Tickets from the airport to the city cost €5.90 single and €9.90 return. Tickets from the city to the airport cost €6.90 single and €9.90 return. Never expects to get these 10 cents back.\n **COTRAL's** direct line costs €5 one-way (approx. 40 min), but has far fewer departures than Terravision. This bus may be useful if you arrive at a time when the Metro is closed.\n **Flibco** operates an airport shuttle service between Rome Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini station, with up to 40 departures per day. The journey takes around 45 minutes and tickets start from €6.99 when booked online. Buses depart from Terminal 3 and arrive at Via Giolitti, right next to Termini station.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk009", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are two **indirect public transport services** from Ciampino airport involving a local ATRAL bus, plus a metro or train. These local ATRAL buses operate roughly every hour or 30 minutes during the Italian work day (8-12 and 16-20), and you should count on at least 45 minutes travel time for either route. Timetable booklets are available in some information booths and on the ATRAL website. Bus tickets cost €1.20 and can be bought from the driver:\n You can take the **local ATRAL bus** from the stop located outside the terminal building to the metro station . A metro ticket to central Rome costs another €1.50. The metro can get very crowded. The bus takes about 20min and the metro another 30min to the main train station (Termini) in Rome. Going towards the airport, the bus departs from platform 1.\n There is also a **local ATRAL bus** to Ciampino local train station; from there, there are infrequent trains to Rome Termini station (ticket: €2).\n\nThe **cheapest** way from the airport is to take ATAC urban bus line 720 to , or Line 520 to . Since all these routes are operated by ATAC, you only need one ticket which costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 min. You cannot buy tickets on the bus, but there are ATAC vending machines shortly before you leave the airport.\n\nA shared **airport shuttle** can be hired for around €15 per person to take you from Ciampino airport. However, since the shuttle is shared, it may take longer to reach your destination if other customers are dropped off before you are.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk010", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "At Ciampino there is supposed to be an organised **taxi** queue but the drivers will often negotiate among themselves if you are going somewhere the cab at the front doesn't want to go to. There are reports that late at night licensed cab drivers in the rank at Ciampino are asking €100 to take you into town, so try to avoid late flights or take the bus that connects with the flight. The fixed price to the city centre (within the Aurelian Walls) is €30 and includes luggage and up to four people. If you have to take a cab just pay the legal fare at your destination. If you have no stomach for the resulting argument then you can phone a cab from one of the numbers listed under *Get Around*.\n\n**Rental cars** are available from all major companies. Providers can be reached easily in the arrivals halls.\n\nAnother option, is to book a **licensed limousine** or **minicab** in advance online. For example, a sedan, usually a Mercedes E-class, from Fiumicino Airport to Rome Centre and hotels can be booked for €45 or a minivan for €55. The same prices also apply from Ciampino Airport. From Fiumicino Airport to Civitavecchia Port the fare is €100.\n\n### By train\n\nRome's main railway station is which is locked between 00:30 and 04:30. Most long-distance trains passing through Rome between these times will stop at Tiburtina station instead. See also \"By boat\" below.\n\nOther main stations include Ostiense, Trastevere, Tuscolana, Tiburtina.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk011", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "When traveling between major cities or to/from another country, trains will be designed for passengers and luggage. Most others (e.g., between nearby towns and cities) are often designed to serve commuters.\n For enroute stations, they stop for only 1–2 minutes.\n Most cars have a middle platform close to the station's boarding level, but with a significant gap. Seating areas may be at levels different from the middle platform, with narrow/clumsy steps for moving large luggage and little space to store them. Large pieces must often be left on the middle platform, with someone to guard them.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving *to* Rome is quite easy; as they say, all roads lead to Rome. The city is ringed by a motorway, the Grande Raccordo Anulare or GRA. If you are going to the very centre of the city any road leading off the GRA will get you there. If you are going anywhere else, however, a GPS or a good map is essential. Signs on the GRA indicate the name of the road leading to the centre (e.g. Via Appia Nuova, Via Aurelia, Via Tiburtina) but this is useful only for Romans who know where these roads pass.\n\nDriving *in* Rome is a different story, as described below. Better to park somewhere outside central Rome, e.g. consider staying at a hotel with a parking area, and use public transit or walk to get to and around the main tourist areas.\n\n### By bus\n\nFlixBus offers many daily connections to Rome. The bus station is located next to the Tiburtina railway station. The fares are very often cheaper than train tickets, and there are direct overnight connections to and from cities in France, Switzerland and Germany.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk012", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most cruise ships dock in Civitavecchia, to afford their passengers opportunity to visit the area and/or Rome. Many ships arrange shuttle buses to and from the pedestrian port entrance. From there you can walk 10–15 minutes along the shore to the Civitavecchia train station. Purchase of a B.I.R.G. round trip train ticket for Rome costs €9 (as of Fall 2009), and also entitles you to unlimited use of Rome's Metro/underground and city bus lines. Trains for commuters leave every hour or so, more often during rush hours, and take about 80 minutes. You can get off near St. Peters (Trastevere station), or continue to the Termini station right downtown, where countless buses and the Metro await. If you're carrying luggage, see \"About luggage\" in \"By train\" above.\n\nAt some ten times the cost, cruise ships often offer bus transport to Rome as well, taking 2 hours or so to reach some location downtown depending on traffic.\n\nIt is now possible for modest- to large-sized yachts to dock in the new Porto di Roma, Ostia marina, located 20 km from Rome and linked by train and metro. Their stations are not within practical walking distance of the marina or riverside boat facilities.\n\n#### Ferry services\n\nIn Civitavecchia:\n **Grimaldi Lines**. Provides ferry service to/from Barcelona, Tunis, Toulon (France), Porto-Vecchio (Corsica).\n **Moby**. Provides service to/from Olbia, Sardinia.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk013", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Statue of the Capitoline She-Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus, in the Musei Capitolini)\n\n### By car\n\n**In a nutshell: Don't do it.** Well, some people actually enjoy it as a master class in defensive driving. Roman traffic is chaotic (and has been since the first century BC), but it is possible to drive there. However, the roads are not logical, the signs are few and the condition of the roads gets worse daily. It will take a few weeks to understand where to drive, to get where you want to go. When driving in Rome it is important to accept that Italians drive in a very pragmatic way. Taking turns and letting people go in front of you is rare, but pedestrians are usually grudgingly yielded to. Motorbikes and scooters are driven fearlessly, darting in and out of traffic and splitting lanes. There is little patience so if the light is green when you go into the intersection and you are too slow they will let you know. A green light turning to amber is a reason to accelerate, not brake, in part because the lights usually stay amber for several seconds. If you brake immediately when the light changes you are likely to get rear-ended. **Parking is so scarce, that in some areas you may have to leave your car kilometers away from your destination.** Rome is plagued with people who demand money to direct you to a space, even on the rare occasions when there are many places available, however the locals can make anywhere a parking space by flashing their hazard-lights, even if it looks like they are getting away with it, do not try this. While in Rome, it is far better to travel by bus or metro, or (*in extremis*) take a taxi.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk014", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "In the centre, many areas are limited to drivers with special electronic passes. If you go into these areas (which are camera controlled and marked with the sign *ZTL*) you will end up with a large fine, particularly if your car has Italian plates.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are the most expensive way to get around Rome, but when weighed against convenience and speed, they are often worth it. Roman taxis run on meters, and you should always make sure the driver starts the meter. Taxis will typically pick you up only at a taxi stand, which you will find at all but the smallest piazzas, as well as at the main train station or when called by phone. Flagging down a taxi is possible but quite rare as the taxi drivers prefer to use the stands. When you get in the cab, there will be a fixed starting charge, which will be more for late nights, Sundays and holidays. Supplements will be requested for bags that the driver has to handle, typically €1 per bag. So, if you have a limited amount of luggage that wouldn't need to go in the trunk, you may decline when the driver offers to put your bags in the trunk. Drivers may not use the shortest route, so try to follow the route with a map and discuss if you feel you're being tricked.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk015", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "When you phone for a taxi, the cab's meter starts running when it is summoned, not when it arrives to pick you up, so by the time a cab arrives at your location, there may already be a substantial amount on the meter. A major problem is that taxi drivers often leave the previous fare running on the meter. So you may find the cab arriving with €15 or even more on the meter. If you are not in a hurry you should tell him (there are very few female cab drivers in Rome) to get lost, but if you are desperate to get to the airport it's a different matter. You can get a taxi pretty easily at any piazza though, so calling ahead is really not required. A trip completely across the city (within the walls) will cost about €11 if starting at a cab rank, a little more if there is heavy traffic at night or on a Sunday. Taxi drivers can often try to trick customers by switching a €50 note for a €10 note during payment, leading you to believe that you handed them only €10 when you have already given them €50.\nThe main taxi companies may be called at **060609**, **063570**, **065551**, **064994**, **066645** and **0688177**.\n\n**Taxi-hailing apps** like \"Free Now\" and \"itTaxi\" are convenient, allow payment by credit card in the app, and reduce your risk of being scammed. **Uber Black** is available, providing high-end vehicles that cost more per trip than taxis. Uber now has a partnership with local taxi companies so you can get and pay for a standard taxi through the Uber app.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk016", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Directions for pedestrians on a wall near Piazza Navona\nOnce you're in the centre, you are best off on foot. What could be more romantic than strolling through Rome on foot holding hands? That is hard to beat!\n\nCrossing a street in Rome can be a bit challenging. There are crosswalks, but they are rarely located at signalled intersections. Traffic can be intimidating, but if you are at a crosswalk just start walking and cars will let you cross the street. While crossing watch out for the thousands of mopeds. As in many European cities, even if the cars and trucks are stationary due to a jam or for another legal reason, mopeds and bikes will be trying to squeeze through the gaps and may be ignoring the reason why everyone else has stopped. This means that even if the traffic seems stationary you need to pause and look around into the gaps. In high season, in the most touristed parts of the city there will almost certainly be other people crossing the street somewhere nearby - go with the crowd and the cars will stop.\n\nOld Rome has some cobble-stoned streets that may not be stroller-friendly. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.\n\n### By public transport (ATAC)\n\nATAC operates the public transport network. There are two ways of buying public transport tickets in Rome: Tap&Go with a contactless credit/debit card (incl. on a mobile phone) or paper tickets. Paper tickets offer the most variety but the other options are more convenient for visitors.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk017", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can board any bus, Metro or tram by tapping a contactless credit/debit card, including through Apple Pay/Google Pay. You are charged €1.50 per journey, capped at a maximum of €7 per day. A journey is valid for 100 minutes; transfers to other bus, Metro or tram lines are permitted.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk018", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "Paper tickets must be bought (from a 'Tabacchi' - look for the big 'T' sign, or from a kiosk selling newspapers; cash only) before you board the bus, Metro, or tram. Metro stations have automated ticket kiosks, and major Metro stations have clerked ticket windows. Some of the trams have single ticket machines as well. Tickets for regular ATAC buses, the Metro, and trams are the same fares and are compatible with each other. Ticket options are as follows (July 2025):\n Integrated Single Ticket ('Biglietto Integrato a Tempo' or BIT) - €1.50 - (A journey is valid for 100 minutes and may involve transfers to other bus, Metro or tram lines).\n 24 hours Ticket ('Biglietto 24 ore') - €8.5 (Valid for 24 hours).\n 48 hours Ticket ('Biglietto 48 ore') - €15 (Valid for 48 hours).\n 72 hours Ticket ('Biglietto 72 ore') - €22 (Valid for 72 hours).\n Integrated Weekly Ticket ('Carta Integrata Settimanale') - €29 (Valid for 7 days).\n Monthly Pass ('Abbonamento Mensile') - €35.\n Annual Pass ('Abbonamento Annuale') - €250.\nWhen you board the bus, Metro or tram you have to **validate the ticket** ('convalidare') in the little yellow machine. The last four types of ticket on the list above must be validated the first time you use them only. On the whole, the integrated passes are not economical. Unless you take many rides spread all over the day, the single ticket ride option is preferable. Calculating if a pass is worth it is easy since a single ticket ride costs €1.50. For example, for a daily ticket (€8.5) to be worth it, you would have to make 5 or more trips at intervals greater than 100 minutes apart on a single day. Many visitors just walk through the city in one direction and take a single ride back.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk019", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "ATAC polices the buses, Metro, and trams for people riding without tickets. Inspectors can be rare on some buses, although they tend to increase their presence in the summer. Inspectors are present on the Metro as well, and you should keep your validated ticket throughout your journey as proof-of-payment. If you don't have sufficient money on you to pay the fine, they will actually escort you to an ATM to pay the fee. If you don't have an ATM card to withdraw money, you will be asked to pay by mail, and the fee goes up to €140. Inspectors can also fine you for getting in and out of the wrong door, even if the bus is empty! The entrances are the front and rear doors and the exit in the middle. Many Romans ignore this distinction.\n\nThe **Roma Pass** includes full access to the public transport system. There is also an alternative pass called **OMNIA Vatican and Rome** which includes the services provided by Roma Pass. Read the *See section* for details.\n\n#### Journey planner\n\nYou can find real-time information about bus waiting times, as well as a journey planner, at Muoversi a Roma or its lighter version (perhaps an older one). Transit maps and directions area also available on Apple Maps (requires an internet connection), and Google Maps (can be downloaded for offline use).\n\n#### Bus\n\nRoman buses are reliable but crowded. They are the best way to get around the city (except walking). Free maps of the bus system are available. Others can be purchased (€3.5 at Termini). Signs at the bus stop list the stops for each route. Ask for assistance. In Rome, there is always somebody nearby who speaks English.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk020", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some bus lines have arrivals every ten minutes or so. Less popular routes may arrive every half hour or less. If heading outside the centre beware that bus schedules can be seriously disrupted by heavy traffic. Quite often trips just get cancelled.\n\nDo not rely on counting the number of stops to the destination. The signs on the stops mention only the major streets where the bus stops, but there may be 3 or 5 stops for each one. Instead, ask the driver or consult with your GPS.\n\nUseful bus lines are:\n **23** San Paolo - Ostiense - Piazza Risorgimento (St. Peter and Vatican Museums).\n **40** Stazione Termini - St. Peter. The 40 arches from the Termini station through the historic centre and then up to the Castel Sant'Angelo, near the Vatican. It is considered an express route, so its stops are spaced about 800 m (1/2 mile) apart; but it is also very frequent, very convenient for most places that the Metro does not go to, and very fast, especially compared to other routes.\n **64** Stazione Termini - Corso Vittorio Emanuele II - St. Peter. The 64 also goes from Termini to the Vatican. It is a favourite with pickpockets.\n **75** Stazione Termini - Forum Romanum - Colosseum - Testaccio - Trastevere.\n **81** San Giovanni in Laterano - Colosseum - Piazza Venezia - Piazza Risorgimento (St. Peter and Vatican Museums).\n **115** Largo Fiorentini (near Vittorio Emanuele bridge) - Gianicolo - Trastevere.\n **116** Via Veneto - Campo de Fiori - Piazza Navona - Terminal Gianicolo (St. Peter).\n **117** San Giovanni in Laterano - Colosseum - Piazza di Spagna - Piazza del Popolo.\nThe 116 and 117 are little electric buses which wind through the Centro Storico; 117 does not work on holidays.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk021", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Night buses** could be useful due to the closing of the Metro stations at 23:30 and the stopping of regular lines of buses and trams at midnight. During the summer (until 23 September) and on Fridays and Saturdays, the frequency of the rides is halved, which can vary among 10, 15, 30 and 35 minutes depending on the line. In any case they are much more punctual than during the day, as traffic is much less jammed. This makes the drivers drive at high speeds, allowing passengers to experience a strange mixture of adrenaline and (the city's) classical views. Hubs of the night buses are Termini and Piazza Venezia. All the bus lines have the prefix \"N\"; N1 and N2 routes are similar to metro line A and B respectively, N28 for line C.\n\n#### Tram\n\nthumb|300px|Rome metro network\n\nThe Tram routes mostly skirt the historic centre, but there are stops convenient for the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Trastevere area. The number 8 does run into the centre to Largo Argentina, not far from the Pantheon, and terminate at Piazza Venezia. If you want to catch a soccer game at one of the stadiums in the north of the city, catch the tram (2) just north of the Piazza del Popolo. Number 19 links the Vatican with Villa Borghese.\n\n#### Metro\n\nThere are two lines that cross at Termini station: line runs northwest past the Vatican and southeast, and line runs southwest past the Colosseum and northeast in one direction, but also splits at the \"Bologna\" station to go due north until Jonio. Line runs from San Giovanni station to the eastern suburbs.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk022", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "All lines open at 05:30 and stop running at 23:30, except Fridays and Saturdays, when the last trains leave from the stations at 01:30. The Metro is the most punctual form of public transportation in Rome, but it can get extremely crowded during rush hour. See safety warning in the Stay Safe section.\n\n### By regional rail\n\nThere is a network of regional rail lines that mostly connect to smaller towns and conurbations of Rome. Some have frequent stops within Rome too. Use the Trenitalia app to research your journey and book tickets.\n\n### By moped\n\nThere is the possibility to hire motor bikes or scooters. Many Romans prefer this way of transportation, even in winter you can see them driving scooters equipped with raincoats, blankets, and rain boots. Motorbikes are not particularly safe in Rome and most accidents seem to involve one (or two!). Nevertheless, Roman traffic is chaotic and a scooter provides excellent mobility within the city. Scooter rental costs between €30 and €70 per day depending on scooter size and rental company. The traffic can be intimidating and the experience exciting but a bit insane.\n\nSome of the main rental shops:\n - Scoot A Long noleggio scooter\n\n- Centro Moto Coloseo\n\n- Eco Move Rent\n\n- Rent & Rent\n\n- Biga Bike Rent & Tours\n\n- Dolce Vespa\n\n- BikesBooking Rome\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk023", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is the possibility to hire any kind of bike in Rome: from tandem, road bikes, children bikes to trekking bikes. Some shops are even specialised only on high quality ones while street stands will hire you cheaper and heavy ones. Bicycling alone can be stressful because of the traffic. The best way is to discover first how to move around and avoid traffic and stress with a guide thanks to one of the tours offered by almost all rental shops. There are different itineraries offered from the basic city centre, panoramic Rome tour to the Ancient Parks (from €29 for 4h). The experience is well worth it and you would reduce also your impact on the city environment and on the traffic.\n\nthumb|300px|Rome with a bike\n\nEven moderately experienced cyclists, however, may find that cycling through Rome's streets offers an unparalleled way to learn the city intimately and get around very cheaply and efficiently. While the Roman traffic is certainly chaotic to someone from a country with more regimented and enforced rules of the road, Roman drivers are, generally speaking, used to seeing bicycles, as well as scooters and motorcycles, and one may move throughout the city relatively easily. If you are in a car's way, they will generally let you know with a quick beep of the horn and wait for you to move.\n\nA particularly spectacular, and relaxing, cycle trip is to pedal out along *la Via Appia Antica*, the original Appian Way that linked much of Italy to Rome. Some of the original cobblestones, now worn by over 2 millennia of traffic, are still in place. With exceptionally light traffic in most sections, you can casually meander your bike over kilometres of incredible scenery and pass ancient relics and active archaeological sites throughout the journey. (Rome/South)", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk024", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some of the many rental shops:\n - Punto Informativo\n\n- Comitato per la Caffarella (Largo Tacchi Venturi)\n\n- Catacombe di San Sebastiano\n\n- TopBike Rental & Tours\n\n- Bici & Baci\n\n- Roma Starbike\n\n- Roma Rent Bike\n\n- Collalti\n\n- Romarent\n\n- Bikeaway\n\n### By Segway Pt\n\nIt is now possible to rent a Segway in Rome. It is a fast and convenient way to get around in the city centre. In Rome, a person on a Segway is considered a pedestrian, not a motorist, so Segways are only allowed on the sidewalks, not in the streets with vehicles. Segway rental costs between €25 and €50 per hour, or between €70 and €100 for an accompanied tour of 2–4 hours.\n\nSome of the main rental shops:\n Rome on Segway, via Labicana 94, tel: 06 97602723, 39 3486121355\n Rex-Tours and Rent, Via dei Balestrari 33, tel: 06 87690040\n Ecogo Segway, Piazzale Ammiraglio Bergamini 10, tel: 39 3409345441\n\nMoreover, it is possible to book online several Segway Tour in Rome, focused on certain attractions or itineraries. Some of the main rental websites are:\n Rome by Segway\n Italy by Segway\n ItalyXP\n\n### By e-scooter\n\nLike in many cities around the world, you can also rent e-scooters in Rome. Lime is one of the companies offering this service. However with busy traffic, crowds and not so smooth streets and sidewalks, e-scooters might not be the best or safest way of getting around.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk025", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|Campidoglio Rome\n\nItalians are very fond of their landmarks; in order to make them accessible to everyone one week a year there is no charge for admittance to all publicly owned landmarks and historical sites. This week, known as \"*La settimana dei beni culturali*\", typically occurs in mid-May and for those 7 to 10 days every landmark, archaeological site and museum belonging to government agencies (including the Quirinale presidential palace and gardens, the Colosseum and all of the ancient Forum) is accessible and free of charge.\n\nGovernment-owned museums and historical sites have **free admission** on the first Sunday of every month. There are also significant discounts for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, although this will require identification. Note that in 2026, tourist fees were introduced to some particularly busy attractions: the Trevi fountain costs €2 and a €5 Roma Mic card is required for some civic museums including the Napoleonic Museum and the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture.\n\nthumb|Castel Sant'Angelo and angel figure\n\n### Roma Pass\n\nIf you'll be staying in Rome for at least 3 days, consider purchasing the **Roma Pass**. It is valid for 3 days and costs €58.50 (Aug 2024). It entitles holders to free admission to the first two museums and/or archaeological sites visited, full access to the public transport system, and discounts for the other museums, tourist sites, exhibitions, music events, theatrical and dance performances. This pass gets you in to the Colosseum (Colosseo), Palatine Hill (Palatino Hill), the Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla), and the catacombs as well as the Terme di Diocleziano, Palazza Massimo alle Terme, Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, Villa dei Quintili, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk026", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "A *Roma Pass 48-hours* is also offered for €36.50 (Aug 2024) and is valid for 2 days. For this pass only the first museum and/or archaeological sites visited is free.\n\nCheck the expiration date at the back of the Roma Pass card. If the card's validity has expired it does not work in the metro's ticket gate. Be sure to buy the passes at official tourist offices. There are also small booths on the streets that sell tickets, but they could charge you a higher price.\n\nAnother advantage of the Roma Pass is that you can often skip the waiting queues if it's one of your first two free entrances. This way you can avoid, for example, a 1+ hour waiting time at the Colosseum.\n\nThere's an alternative pass called **OMNIA Vatican and Rome** that includes the services provided by Roma Pass, free entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, fast track entry to St Peter's Basilica and hop-on-hop-off bus tour for 3 days. It costs €113 for 3 days\n\n### Ancient Rome\n\nthumb|right|Coffers and Oculus of the Pantheon", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk027", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "The main area for exploring the ruins of ancient Rome is in Rome/Colosseo either side of Via dei Fori Imperiali, which connects the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia. Constructed between 1931 and 1933, at the time of Mussolini, this road destroyed a large area of Renaissance and medieval buildings constructed on top of ruins of the ancient forums and ended forever plans for an archaeological park stretching all the way to the Appian Way. Heading towards the Colosseum from Piazza Venezia, you see the Roman Forum on your right and Trajan's Forum and Market on the left. To the right of the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine and the beginning of the Palatine Hill, which will eventually lead you to ruins of the Flavian Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus (see Rome/Aventino-Testaccio). To the left, after the Colosseum is a wide, tree-lined path that climbs through the Colle Oppio park. Underneath this park is the Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea), an enormous and spectacular underground complex restored and then closed again due to damage caused by heavy rain. Further to the left on the Esquiline Hill are ruins of Trajan's baths.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk028", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "In Old Rome you must see the Pantheon, which is amazingly well preserved considering it dates back to 125 AD. There is a hole constructed in the ceiling so it is an interesting experience to be there when it is raining. If you are heading to the Pantheon from Piazza Venezia you first reach Largo di Torre Argentina on your left. Until 1926 this was covered in narrow streets and small houses, which were razed to the ground when ruins of Roman temples were discovered. Moving along Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle and crossing the Tiber river into the Vatican area you see the imposing Castel Sant' Angelo, built as a Mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian. This is connected by a covered fortified corridor to the Vatican and served as a refuge for Popes in times of trouble.\n\nSouth of the Colosseum are the Baths of Caracalla (Aventino-Testaccio). You can then head South-East on the old Appian Way, passing through a stretch of very well-preserved city wall. For the adventurous, continuing along the Appian Way (Rome/South) will bring you to a whole host of Roman ruins, including the Circus of Maxentius, the tomb of Cecilia Metella, the Villa dei Quintili and, nearby, several long stretches of Roman aqueduct.\n\nReturning to the Modern Centre, the Baths of Diocletian are opposite the entrance to the main railway station, Termini. The National Museum of Rome stands in the South-West corner of the Baths complex and has an enormous collection of Roman sculptures and other artefacts. But this is just one of numerous museums devoted to ancient Rome, including those of the Capitoline Hill. It is really amazing how much there is.\n\n### Catholic Rome\n\nthumb|right|300px|The Renaissance/Baroque opulent exterior of St. Peter's Basilica", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk029", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "There are more than 900 churches in Rome; probably one third would be well worth a visit!\n\nIn Catholic tradition, St. Peter is said to have founded the church in Rome together with St. Paul. The first churches of Rome originated in places where early Christians met, usually in the homes of private citizens. By the IVth Century, however, there were already four major churches, or basilicas. Rome had 28 cardinals who took it in turns to give mass once a week in one of the basilicas. In one form or another the four basilicas are with us today and constitute the major churches of Rome. They are St Peter's, St Paul's Outside the Walls, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni. All pilgrims to Rome are expected to visit these four basilicas, together with San Lorenzo fuori le mura, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and the Sanctuary of Divino Amore. The latter was inserted as one of the seven at the time of the Great Jubilee in 2000, replacing San Sebastiano outside the walls.\n\nTake a look inside a few churches. You'll find the richness and range of decor astonishing, from fine classical art to tacky electric candles. Starting with several good examples of early Christian churches, including San Clemente and Santa Costanza, there are churches built over a period of 1700 years or so, including modern churches constructed to serve Rome's new suburbs.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk030", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "Some churches in Rome deny admission to people who are dressed inappropriately. You will find \"fashion police\" at the most visited churches. (\"Knees and shoulders\" are the main problem - especially female ones.) Bare shoulders, short skirts, and shorts are officially not allowed, but long shorts and skirts reaching just above the knee should generally be no problem. However, it's always safer to wear longer pants or skirts that go below the knee; St. Peter's in particular is known for rejecting tourists for uncovered knees, shoulders, midriffs, etc. (You also generally won't be told until right before you enter the church, so you will have made the trek to the Vatican and stood in a long security line for nothing.) The stricter churches usually have vendors just outside selling inexpensive scarves and sometimes plastic pants. But relatively few churches enforce dress codes and you can wander into most wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, or pretty much anything without problems. It is, however, good to keep one's dress tasteful, as these are still churches and houses of prayer for many people. (Older Romans might comment on your attire and perhaps harass you if it is particularly revealing.)\n\n### The Seven Hills of Rome\n\nthumb|right|300px|The original seven hills and the Servian wall\n\nTo the modern visitor, the Seven Hills of Rome can be rather difficult to identify. In the first place generations of buildings constructed on top of each other and the construction of tall buildings in the valleys have tended to make the hills less pronounced than they originally were. Secondly, there are clearly more than seven hills. In Roman days many of these were outside the city boundaries.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk031", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "The seven hills were first occupied by small settlements and not recognised as a city for some time. Rome came into being as these settlements acted together to drain the marshy valleys between them and turn them into markets and fora. The Roman Forum used to be a swamp.\n\nThe Palatine Hill looms over Circus Maximus and is accessed near the Colosseum . Legend has it that this was occupied by Romulus when he fell out with his brother, Remus, who occupied the Aventine Hill on the other side of the Circus. Also clearly recognisable as hills are the Caelian, to the southeast of Circus Maximus and the Capitoline, which overlooks the Forum and now hosts the Municipality of Rome. East and northeast of the Roman Forum are the Esquiline, Viminal, and Quirinal hills. These are less easy to distinguish as separate hills these days and from a distance look like one.\nthumb|250px|right|The Servian Wall outside Termini Station\nThe red line on the map indicates the Servian Wall, its construction is credited to the Roman King Servius Tullius in the Sixth Century BC, but archaeological evidence places its construction during the Fourth Century BC. Small bits of this wall can still be seen, particularly close to Termini railway station and on the Aventine hill. As Rome expanded new walls were required to protect the larger area. These were built in the Third Century AD by the Emperor Aurelian. Lengthy sections of this wall remain all around the outskirts of Rome's centre. Much is in very good condition.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk032", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "Among other hills of Rome, not included in the seven, are that overlooking the Vatican; the Janiculum overlooking Trastevere, which provides excellent views of Rome; the Pincio on the edge of the Borghese Gardens, which gives good views of the Vatican, and the Monte Mario to the north.\n\n### Museums\n\nIf you are in Rome for the **Arts** there are several world-class museums in the city. The natural starting point is a visit to the area of **Villa Borghese** in Rome/North Center, where there is a cluster of art museums in and around the Borghese Gardens. **Galleria Borghese** houses a previously private art collection of the Borghese family, **Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia** is home of the world's largest Etruscan art collection, and **Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna** houses many Italian masterpieces as well as a few pieces by artists such as Cézanne, Degas, Monet and Van Gogh.\n\nThe **Capitoline Museums** in the Colosseo district opens their doors to the city's most important collection of antique Roman and Greek art and sculptures. Visit the **Galleria d'Arte Antica**, housed in the Barberini palace in the Modern centre, for Italian Renaissance and Baroque art.\n\nA visit to Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican Museum. You need to go to the museum if you want to see the Sistine Chapel, but there is an enormous collection. You cannot miss part of this, such as tapestries, maps and the rooms painted by Rafael, as they are en route to the Sistine Chapel, but there is much, much more to explore, including a stunning Egyptian collection, and the Pinacoteca, which includes a Portrait of St. Jerome by Leonardo da Vinci and paintings by Giotto, Perugino, Raphael, Veronese, Caravaggio, and others.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk033", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "Rome's **National Museum at the Baths of Diocletian** in the Modern Centre has a vast archaeological collection as does the national museum at **Palazzo Altemps**, close to Piazza Navona. Further afield, the **Museo di Civilta Romana** (Museum of Rome's Civilization), in EUR is most famous for an enormous model of Imperial Rome, but also has an extensive display of plaster casts, models and reconstructions of statues and Roman stonework.\n\nIf you have plenty of time there is absolutely no shortage of other museums covering a wide variety of interests. Examples include the **Museum of the Walls** (see Rome/South), the **Musical Instrument Museum** and a museum devoted to the liberation of Rome from German occupation in the Second World War (Rome/Esquilino-San Giovanni).\n\nCheck museum opening hours before heading there. Government museums are invariably closed on Mondays, so that is a good day for other activities. The Rome municipality itself operates some 17 museums and attractions. Info at Musei In Comune Roma. These are free to European Union citizens under 18 and over 65. Websites for other museums are listed on the relevant District pages.\n\n### Just walking around", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk034", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|220px|The lovely Piazza della Repubblica.\nMuch of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. If you can do so while watching for uneven cobblestones, keep looking upwards. There are some amazing roof gardens and all sorts of sculptures, paintings and religious icons attached to exterior walls. Look through 2nd and 3rd floor windows to see some oak-beamed ceilings in the old houses. Look through the archway entrances of larger Palazzos to see incredible courtyards, complete with sculptures, fountains and gardens. Take a stroll in the area between **Piazza Navona** and the **Tiber** river in Old Rome where artisans continue to ply their trade from small shops. Also in Old Rome, take a stroll down **Via Giulia**, which is lined with many old palaces. Film enthusiasts will want to visit **Via Veneto** (Via Vittorio Veneto) in the Modern Centre, scene for much of Fellini's *La Dolce Vita*.\n\n### The Piazzas", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk035", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "The narrow streets frequently broaden out into small or large squares (piazzas), which usually have one or more churches and a fountain or two. Apart from **Piazza Navona** and **Piazza della Rotonda** (in front of the Pantheon), take in the nearby **Piazza della Minerva**, with its unique elephant statue by Bernini and **Piazza Colonna** with the column of Marcus Aurelius and Palazzo Chigi, meeting place of the Italian Government. On the other side of Corso Vittorio Emanuele are **Piazza Farnese** with the Palazzo of the same name (now the French Embassy) and two interesting fountains and the flower sellers at **Campo dei Fiori**, scene of Rome's executions in the old days. All of these squares are a short distance from each other in Old Rome. The enormous **Piazza del Popolo** in the North Centre, which provided an imposing entrance to the city when it represented the northern boundary of Rome, is well worth a visit. A short walk back towards the centre brings you to **Piazza di Spagna** at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Yet another fascinating fountain here. The area was much used as backdrop for the 1953 film **Roman Holiday** with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.\nthumb|right|220px|Piazza Navona\nOn the other side of the river is, of course, the magnificent square of **St Peter's** at the Vatican. Further south, in Trastevere is **Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere**, a great place to watch the world go by, either from one of the restaurants or bars that line two sides of the square or, if that is too expensive, from the steps of the central fountain. The square attracts many street entertainers.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk036", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "Moving back to the Modern Centre you have to see the **Trevi Fountain**, surely a part of everyone's Roman holiday. Visitors are always amazed that such a big and famous fountain is tucked away in a small piazza in the middle of side streets. Take extra-special care of your possessions here. Further up the Via del Tritone you will come to **Piazza Barberini**, now full of traffic but the lovely Bernini fountain is not to be missed.\n\n### Overlooked Places\n\nEUR provides a selection of Fascist Architecture, including the **Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana**, often referred to \"the Square Colosseum.\" It was designed to honour the historic Colosseum. This would be an interesting place to visit after seeing the Colosseum to compare their differences and similarities.\n\n### Viewpoints", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk037", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|220px|On the Pincio above Piazza del Popolo is a good viewpoint.\nWith no tall buildings in Rome, views of the city come from climbing the many hills, either the original seven hills of Rome or others that surround them. The two most popular views of Rome are from the **Janiculum** hill overlooking Trastevere and the **Pincio** at the edge of the Borghese Gardens. The former, best reached by car, has sweeping views of the centre of Rome, as long as the authorities remember to prune the trees on the hillside in front of the viewpoint. Cross over the piazza for an excellent view of the dome of **St Peter's**. The Vatican is the main sight from the Pincio (metro Line A, Piazza del Popolo, and then a good climb). Less popular, but just as nice, is the orange grove at Parco Savello on the Aventine Hill. Even less popular among tourists, as it is better accessed by car or moped, it the small square in front of the Zodiaco Restaurant in Monte Mario, a very popular spot for young Roman couples.\n\n### Rome for kids\n\nIf you are planning some serious sightseeing then leave the kids with their grandparents! They don't take kindly to being dragged from ruin to ruin and church to church. A common sight in Rome is miserable looking kids traipsing after their parents. Also, push chairs/buggies are difficult to use because of the cobbled streets. If you are a family, do not try to do too much. It will be a big strain on kids and in the end everyone will be tired.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk038", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "Apart from the major attractions Rome has relatively little to entertain kids. If you noticed a big Ferris wheel on your way in from Fiumicino Airport, think again. Lunapark at EUR was closed down in 2008. A few of the other ways to bribe your kids, however, are:", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk039", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "See", "text": "**Children's Museum**. Via Flaminia 82. Just north of Piazza del Popolo. Controlled entrance at 10.00, 12,00, 15.00 and 17.00 for visits lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. Closed Mondays and for much of August. Best to check the web site for up-to-date info and to book in advance. Hands-on science, mainly for pre-teens, housed in a former tram-car depot.\n**Bioparco**. The renamed Rome Zoo. On the edge of the Borghese Gardens (North Centre).\n**The Time Elevator**. Via dei Santi Apostoli, 20 on a side street between Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. Daily 10.30 to 19.30. \"Five-dimensional\" shows on the Origins of Life and on the History of Rome, plus \"The House of Horrors\". Not for the faint-hearted: your seats move all over the place. Kids love it.\n**Rome's Wax Museum**. 67 Piazza di Santi Apostoli, next to Piazza Venezia. Few good reports about this museum. Comments invited.\n**Planetarium**. This also has an excellent astronomy museum and is conveniently next to the Museum of Rome's Civilization (EUR).\n**The Vatican** is, by and large, not a great idea for kids although they often enjoy the Sistine Chapel and are impressed by the beauty and the fact that it was all done in just four years. However, the Sistine Chapel is very crowded and getting there through the corridors of the Vatican Museum is even worse. It is easy for families to get separated so determine a meeting point. The best part of St. Peter's Basilica is that kids can go to the top of the dome. It is 500 steps but you can take the elevator up to the third floor. From there there are another 323 exhausting steps. So it is fun for older kids who can both climb up all the stairs and walk down as there is a huge line for the elevator (Vatican).\n**Zoomarine **. Dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds, splashy rides and swimming pools, some south of Rome near Pomezia. A good day out, but is this really why you came to Rome? Free transport from EUR and Pomezia railway station. Check web site for details.", "word_count": 349}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk040", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Do", "text": "Take in a show. There are lots of theatres, but you will need to know Italian to enjoy them. The main concert venue is the **Auditorium** in Viale Pietro de Coubertin to the north of Rome. The Auditorium at Parco della Musica is a large complex composed of three separate halls whose shapes are inspired by musical instruments. These are positioned around an open-air amphitheatre, that is used nearly every night in the summer for concerts. The Parco della Musica hosts a constant stream of classical, popular, and jazz music, featuring national as well as international musicians and groups. Really big names perform outdoors in the summer; usually in either the Olympic Stadium or in Stadio Flaminio, which is next door to the Parco della Musica. In winter the Palalotto in EUR is an important pop concert venue.\n To get full details of what is on, buy a copy of the *La Repubblica* newspaper on Thursdays, when it has an insert called *TrovaRoma*. There are a couple of pages in English but even with no Italian you should be able to decipher the main listings. This is not published in late July and August, when half of Rome heads to the beach. Both *La Repubblica* and *Il Messaggero* have daily listings.\n Walk and feel the energy of Rome; sights are everywhere waiting to be discovered.\n Walk or cycle along the banks of the Tiber. There are steps down to the river from close to most of the bridges. A few have special runners for cycle wheels. This gets you away from the traffic fumes and gives a different perspective of Rome. Not usually possible in winter when water levels can be very high.\n Explore the Trastevere neighbourhood for some great cafes and trattorie, and a glimpse at a hip Roman neighbourhood.\n\n### Sports\n\n **Football:** The men's national soccer team don't have a fixed stadium but often play in Rome. \n Two city teams play in Serie A, the top tier, AS Roma and SS Lazio. They share Stadio Olimpico (capacity 70,000) in the north of the city. Matches between these two are known as the *Derby della Capitale*, and often suffer crowd violence.\n **Rugby:** The men's national team play at Stadio Olimpico. The premier tournament is the Six Nations in Feb / March. \n Two clubs play in Serie A Elite the top domestic tier: Lazio in Parioli district in the north city, and Fiamme Oro (the police team) at Via Portuense, west near Fiumicino airport. There isn't a team in URC the European (mostly Celtic) tournament. \n\n### Events\n\n - Estate Romana Festival\n\n - White Night (Notte Bianca)\n\n - Opera at Caracalla\n\n - Festa dell'Unità", "word_count": 443}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk041", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Learn", "text": "Rome is replete with foreign language and cultural institutions. Of course, learning Italian is a worthwhile activity if you plan to stay for any length of time. If you plan to combine a stay in Rome with academic study, there are several English-language universities.\n\n The regional government and two historical societies are offering **free Latin classes** to tourists.\n The Historical Group of Rome runs a **gladiator school**. 18 Via Appia Antica.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk042", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Work", "text": "If you want to work ask around at the hostels, hotels and restaurants. There are differing views on how easy it is to get a job in Rome, however. There is high unemployment and most jobs seem to go on a family - friends - other Romans - other Italians - EU - other foreigners pecking order. Knowing Italian helps. And be wary about making any financial commitments before you've actually been paid -- late and non-payment is common here, and you may find as a non-Roman you are more likely to be seen as an easy target for this. You will also need a permesso di soggiorno, whether or not you are an EU resident. \n\nThere are numerous schools to teach the English language in Rome and if you are a mother-tongue this may be the best opportunity of picking up part-time work.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk043", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Talk", "text": "In Rome, obviously, the population speaks **Italian**. The road signs are mostly in Italian (except for \"STOP\"). If you are staying in the city there are plenty of English alternatives to be found. Seeing as Rome is a popular place to visit there are maps and information in many languages available. Police officers and transit drivers are more than willing to help you get around and usually provide easier ways to get around.\n\nSome residents still speak the ancient local dialect, *Romanesco*; nowadays, however, Italian is the more common mother tongue.\n\n**English** is widely spoken in Rome by the younger generations and by people working in the tourist industry who often switch to English if you start a conversation in broken Italian. Since many people have a limited knowledge of English, it is wise to speak slowly and simply. Among 40+s the chance is a lot less, and with 60+s as good as zero.\n\n**Romance languages** other than Italian, especially Spanish, Portuguese and French, are also fairly widely understood due to their similarity to Italian, although not necessarily spoken.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk044", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|250px|Snapshot of a Roman market\nRome has excellent shopping opportunities of all kinds - from clothing and jewellery to art and antiques. You also get some big department stores, outlets and shopping centres, notably in the suburbs and outskirts.\n\nMain **shopping areas** include Via del Corso, Via Condotti, and the surrounding streets. The finest designer stores are around Via Condotti, whilst Via del Corso has more affordable clothing, and Via Cola di Rienzo, and the surroundings of Via del Tritone, Campo de'Fiori, and Pantheon are the places to go for cheaper items. Upim is a good shop for cheap clothing of workable quality. Some brands (like Miss Sixty and Furla) are excellent, some are not as good - be sure to feel garments and try them on. There are also great quality shoes and leather bags at prices that compare well with the UK and US. Clothes in sizes bigger than a UK size 16/US 12 aren't always easy to find. Children's clothing can be expensive with basic vests (tank tops) costing as much as €21 in non-designer shops. If you really need to buy clothiers for kids try the *Oviesse* chain. Summer sales in many stores begin around July 15 and Rome also has New Year sales.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk045", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Buy", "text": "As mentioned above, Via Condotti leading from the Spanish Steps towards the Tiber is Rome's top haute couture fashion street (equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York City, Via Montenapoleone in Milan, or Bond Street in London). Here, you can find big brand names such as Gucci, Armani, Dior, Valentino and Hermès, and several other high-class shops. However, the streets around the Via Condotti, such as Via Frattina, Via del Babuino, Via Borgognona and the Piazza di Spagna also offer some excellent high fashion boutiques, including Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada and Givenchy (and several others). So once in the city, the big boutique names aren't absent. In these luxurious streets, however, you needn't only do clothing shopping - there are some really good and funky jewellery (e.g. Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany's & Co.), pen and accessory (i.e. Mont Blanc) and artsy stores peppered here and there in these streets.\n\nFor department stores, Milan-based luxury department store chain **La Rinascente** has two flagship branches in Rome; one along Via de Tritone, near the Trevi Fountain, in which you can see the Roman aqueduct carrying water to the Trevi Fountain in the basement, and the other one on Piazza Fiume.\n\nIf you want to spend a day in a **large shopping mall**, there's the Euroma2 with about 230 shops (mainly clothes and accessories) and restaurants, to be found near the EUR district. Take Metro B line from Termini to EUR Palasport station, cross the road and take the frequent free bus (ride takes 5–15 minutes) to the mall. In addition to many shops and food, the conditioned air and free toilets may be a welcome relief if you are in Rome during mid-summer.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk046", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are lots of fake plastic 'Louis Vuitton' bags being sold at the side of the road. Be aware, that buying of fake products is illegal in Italy. Fines up to €1000 have been reported. If you are happy to take the risk, make sure you haggle; unsuspecting tourists pay up to €60 for them.\n\nIf you want to buy souvenirs or gifts, a museum would be the worst choice since there are many stalls along the streets of tourist areas that offer reasonable prices. It is likely that the same item in the gift shop of any museum will cost much more.\n\n#### Factory outlets\n\n- Castel Romano\n\n- Valmontone", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk047", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Eat", "text": "Rome is full of good restaurants, many in attractive settings, particularly when you sit outside in the evening. No one location can be recommended to search for a good restaurant: some of the best places to eat are in the most unpromising locations while well-situated restaurants can often live on their reputation rather than the quality of their food. Restaurants in guidebooks can be good but prices can be inflated because it is more than likely a \"tourist trap\". To find an authentic restaurant that won't break the bank, try to find a place in a more residential area or somewhere that isn't in the middle of the tourist locations.\n\nMany of the good restaurants in Rome are hard to find, but a good tip is to go where Italians live and eat. The downside is that waitstaff at these restaurants usually do not speak English, so be prepared to have to speak some Italian. On the top of the green, old mountain (Monte Verde Vecchio) there are some trattorias with authentic Italian cuisine at an affordable price. Rome also has many beautiful spots to eat, so buying some delicacies to make up a picnic can be a great experience. In Via Marmorata you find Volpetti's which is known for its amazing selection of cheese, prosciutto and delicious pastries (and also for its prices!). A more affordable choice is to go to a local supermarket which will also have good fresh foods for lunch.\n\n### Pizza", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk048", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most pizza restaurants serve it only in the evening. Try some of the fried things like baccala (battered salt cod) for a starter, followed by a pizza for a really Roman meal. Roman pizzas tend to be very thin crusted. Avoid the tourist areas where you'll often pay double the going rate just to get a badly reheated frozen pizza. Your best bet is to cross the river and find a restaurant in Trastevere--the food is authentic and a lot cheaper than in the rest of downtown Rome. Make sure you eat it with a fork and knife; Romans don't eat this kind of pizza with their hands.\n\nPizza al Taglio is pizza with a thicker crust, cooked in a large pan. This is served by the piece, usually to take away, and is a good cheap way to get something to fill you up. Point to the one you want, indicate if you want more or less than your server is indicating with the knife. It's sold by weight (the listed price is usually per 100 g, known as an *etto*, short for *ettogrammo*, i.e. hectogram). This kind of pizza is eaten with the slices stacked on top of each other like a sandwich.\n\n### Ice cream (gelato)\n\nLook for a *gelateria*. Remember that it usually costs extra to sit inside. You pay for your ice cream first... take your receipt and go fight your way through the throng to choose your flavors (Italians don't believe in lines). You will be asked \"*Panna?*\" when it's almost made - this is the offer of whipped cream on top. If you've already paid, this is free.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk049", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are a few signs to keep in mind: \"*Produzione Propria*\" (homemade - our own production), \"*Nostra Produzione*\" (our production), \"*Produzione Artigianale*\" (production by craftsmen). If the colours seem dull and almost ugly it is probably natural, the bright colours being just a mix. Also, fancy flavours like Kinder Egg chocolate is a dead giveaway that the place isn't about traditional gelato. Keep in mind, Italians usually won't queue, but if they are in line for gelato, get in line yourself: you may have hit the jackpot. Producers to try include Gelato di San Crispino; Giolitti; and Fassi.\n\n### Vegetarians\n\nVegetarians should have an easy time. Buffets in many restaurants usually have a good range of delicious vegetarian stuff - e.g. gratinated roast peppers/aubergines, etc. **Vegans** should do all right too; pizzas don't always have cheese - a Marinara for example, is just tomato, garlic and oregano.\n\n### Kosher dining\n\nWhile there is not much choice, at least Rome's Kosher cooking is truly excellent. Try *La Taverna del Ghetto* in the heart of the Jewish Quarter.\n\nMore places can be found near the synagogue in via Padova, close to the \"La Sapienza\" university and the Bologna underground station.\n\n### Pricing\n\nYou can get cheap food in Rome, the problem is that if you don't know the city well or are forced to eat out in the centre, the prices go up.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk050", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Eat", "text": "**€3.50** - You buy the pizza and eat it walking around, since it's a bread shop with no sitting area. You can choose how much you want to eat, but you'll be spending about €2 per slice + about €1.50 for a can of soda or €1 for water.\n **€15-20** - At lunchtime if you go to a restaurant you'll be spending between €15 for a set menu (not always good, try to go where you see Italian office people having their lunch as your best bet) and €20. For this you should get a pasta dish and a second course (meat) ending with coffee. Obviously if you have special wine the price will increase.\n **€20** - At night you can spend about €20 at a pizza restaurant or if you have only one main course. Again, if you have special wine it will cost more. The cheapest food you can get at a decent restaurant is a pizza marinara (that is, without cheese) for about €6. The price goes up from there depending on the toppings.\n **€20+** - For a sit down lunch or dinner in a restaurant €20 is cheap and if you want you can go up to €200 a head.\n\nChinese restaurants are still quite cheap but other ethnic restaurants (Thai, Indian) are generally expensive (think €30 upwards per person). Sushi is very expensive (€40 minimum per person).\n\nWaiters have been known to take advantage of patrons by bringing more expensive items than what was ordered or asking for a tip although it's not mandatory and should be included in the price by law.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk051", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee\n\nStarbucks has long avoided Rome, but in April 2023 the first one appeared in the center of Rome. And no wonder: Italian coffee is great so our friends from Seattle would face a lot of competition. A *latte* in Italian is just a glass of milk. If you're expecting coffee in that glass, you should ask for a *caffe latte*. A *latte macchiato* (meaning \"marked\") is steamed milk stained with a smaller shot of espresso. \"Espresso\" or \"normale\" is just that, but more commonly just referred to as *caffe*. *Espresso doppio* means a double shot of espresso, while *espresso macchiato* is espresso 'marked' with a dab of steamed milk. *Americano* — the one to order if you like filter coffee — is espresso diluted with hot water and not drunk much by Italians. *Cappuccino* is well known outside of Italy, but be warned: it is considered very un-classy, and somewhat childish, to order one after 11AM (and certainly after a meal). *Decaffeinato* is self-explanatory, but often referred to by the common brand-name *Caffe Hag*.\n\n### Wine and water", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk052", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "**House wines** are almost always drinkable and inexpensive. You are better off ordering a bottle rather than house wine in most establishments in Rome due to some places watering down their wines. You may often find a bottle of wine on the table for you. Believe it or not: this bottle will be less expensive than a glass would be in the US or UK, possibly only €4 or €5. This does not always apply to those places that look really tourist-trap-like! Slightly better quality wines are usually sold at a relatively small mark-up on shop prices. Most Romans drink water with their meals. In restaurants it normally comes in 1 litre bottles and can be had *normale* (still water) or *gassata* (carbonated water).\n\nWater is free at designated **water fountains**, called \"nasone\" (big nose). Some of these date back to ancient times, and the water is still very good. It's fresh spring water coming from the famous underground springs of Rome and is safe to drink. If you carry an empty bottle, fill it up for the rest of the day. Look for the drinking fountain with constant running water, plug the bottom hole, and cool water will shoot up from a smaller hole on top of the tap. Don't put your lips round the hole at the bottom, as stray dogs tend to like to get a drink.\n\n### Before dinner", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk053", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "Pre-dinner drinks (*aperitivi*) accompanied with small hors d'oeuvres (antipasti) are very popular with Romans:\n1) chic yuppies in their 20s-30s crowd the area around **Piazza delle Coppelle** (behind the Parliament) and **Piazza di Pietra** (near the Chamber of Commerce);\n2) younger generations sprawl around the square and streets of **Campo de' Fiori**;\n3) everyone sits to drink in the narrow streets behind the Pantheon (**Piazza Pasquino** and **Via del Governo Vecchio**).\n\n### Clubbing & Night Life\n\nthumb|250px|''Campo de' Fiori'' is a popular drinking spot\nGiven a heart for exploration, **Testaccio** is the place to wander for after-dinner partying on the weekends. Head down there around 23:00 (take metro Line B and get off at *Piramide* station) and listen for music. There are usually loads of people simply walking through the streets or looking for parking. Be brave, walk in, meet some wonderful Romans. This area is best in the winter. In the summer, the dancing moves to Ostia and Fregene, 45 minutes by car from Rome, at the seaside. Many clubs in Rome close in the summer months.\n\nMany visitors like to go on Roman pub crawls. The Colosseum Pub Crawl for example, has been throwing parties since 1999.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk054", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "To the east of **Termini Station**, and near the first University of Rome \"La Sapienza\", is the **San Lorenzo** district, where you will find many pubs and clubs where university students and young Romans in their twenties spend their nights. On Saturday night the streets are crowded with people moving from one pub to another. On the city side of the railway, near Santa Maria Maggiore Cathedral, are some great Irish pubs, i.e. the Fiddler's Elbow, the oldest in Rome, where many English-speaking residents and Italian customers like to sip their pints. It's a good place to meet Romans who speak English. Also nearby are the Druid's Den and the Druid's Rock .\n\nOn **Via Nazionale** there's a huge and beautiful pub called The *Flann o'Brien*, one of the biggest in Rome. On the same street near **Piazza Venezia** there is another cluster of pubs including *The Nag's Head Scottish Pub*. After 22.00 it's very expensive as it becomes more like a disco. Entrance with first drink costs €13 and drinks cost €8. Before midnight they sometimes host live music concerts. In the same area, at the beginning of Via Vittorio Emanuele II you can find *The Scholar's Lounge Irish pub* with nice music. This is definitely worth a look but there is no room to dance. During winter American colleges students residents in Rome end up their highly alcoholic nights here.\nAlso nearby there's the *Trinity College Irish Pub*. Drinks are quite expensive there.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk055", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "Also on Via Vittorio Emanuele, near **Piazza Navona**, there's the *Bulldog's Inn English pub*. DJs play very good music there and there's room to dance, although few do. Nearby in *Campo dei fiori* there are several crowded pubs. Beware, there have been huge and serious fights there. In the narrow streets behind Piazza Navona there are also many places to go. Try *Jonathan's Angels* in Via del Fico. Also the *Abbey Theatre Irish pub* is a good place in Via del Governo Vecchio.\n\nOn the other side of the River Tiber (Tevere) is **Trastevere** district where there are many places to eat and drink. This is also a good place where to enjoy a walk in crowded streets at night. In summer time on *Isola Tiberina*, the island in the Tiber, temporary bar are built and there are all sorts of things to do.\n\n**Far from the centre** there are some other good places. The *Palacavicchi* in a small suburban town called Ciampino is a multi-dance room area where they play different kinds of music, mostly Latin American. You definitely need to get a cab to get there and it won't cost less than €20. South of Ciampino Airport there is *The Ice Club* for ice skating, and the *Kirby's* and the *Geronimo* pubs. All of them are nice places. At the *Geronimo* pub before midnight there usually are live music concerts with many bands covering different genres. On Friday and Saturday nights after the concert they play disco music. Entrance is free and you may drink and eat as you feel. Very cool place and for every budget. Unfortunately you need a cab to get there.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk056", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "Those Romans who speak fluent English usually have a great deal of confidence with tourists, so just offer them a beer and they will be glad to share with you their tip & tricks about night life in Rome.\n\nDiscos:\nThere are many beautiful discos. Unfortunately the city is huge and it's not very easy to find them, unless you have a very good guide.\n\nThe best way to start is from the most established ones: Piper, Gilda, Alien, all of them run by the Midra Srl. Their website is nothing to write home about but can be used to discover telephone numbers and addresses. *Gilda* is near the Spanish Steps, and the others not too far from Termini station. During summer they close to move to the seaside of Fregene (north of Fiumicino and Ostia) where *Gilda on the Beach* can be found.\n\nA pint of beer in pubs usually costs around €6, entrance in discos around €20 with first drink included. Drinks in discos cost around €10.\n\n### Gay travellers", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk057", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Drink", "text": "One of the places to be on Friday nights is **Giardino delle Rose** in via Casilina Vecchia 1 (rather central but reachable only by taxi): a luxurious garden with open-air bars and tables.\nTwo large discos are **Mucca Assassina** in via del Gazometro and **Classico** in via Ostiense.\nDuring the week the main meeting place after dinner is **Coming Out** (a bar right in front of the Colosseum) where crowds of gay Romans and tourists gather in and outside, all year round but overwhelmingly crowded during the summer or late-night clubs such as **Hangar** in Via in Selci (Metro Line A, get off at *Manzoni* station). The best sauna (open 24 hours during week ends) is Europa Multiclub in via Aureliana (behind Piazza Esedra, Metro Line A *Repubblica* station).\nA meeting spot for gays day and (especially) night is **Monte Caprino**, the park on the Palatine hill behind the City Hall (Piazza Venezia) with spectacular views over the temples and ruins of ancient Rome.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk058", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|318px|Rome by night\n\nThe area to the southwest of Termini railway station has numerous large hotels; these are used in particular by groups and coach parties. On the other side of the station are many smaller, fairly inexpensive, hotels that are popular with individual travellers. Perhaps the best choice for a first-time visitor is to stay right downtown, (such as near the Pantheon). Most attractions are walking distance from there, and you will save much transportation time and leave more for enjoying the city. Hotels in the downtown area are costly, but a good apartment is a decent alternative, especially for couples and if you don't mind cooking yourself from time to time: it will save even more of your budget.\n\nOffering of short term apartment rentals is enormous. Many apartments can be booked directly through the owner, but most owners make arrangements via rental agencies, both large and small. When looking for a hotel or an apartment in Rome, take note that the price of accommodations varies significantly from month to month, depending on the typical number of tourists. Always check prices at your accommodation for your specific dates.\n\nBeing as it is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, there are many choices as to where to stay, and you will have the choice of whatever type of accommodation you wish.\n\nRome's city council levies an accommodation tax. This is €5 per night per person for campsites up to three-star hotels and €10 a night for four- and five-star hotels. This fee can only be paid in cash, and is supposed to be for the restoration of Rome's crumbling ruins.\n\n*Hotel listings can be found in the appropriate districts, and should be added there. Please do not add listings here.*\n\n Modern Centre\n Old Rome\n Vatican\n Colosseo\n North Centre\n Trastevere\n\n Aventino-Testaccio\n Esquilino-San Giovanni\n Nomentano\n North\n South\n\n### Camping\n\nThere are at least two campsites near Rome, they are:\n\n - Camping Tiber\n\n - Happy Valley", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk059", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of Sept 2021, Rome has 5G from all Italian carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.\n\n **Tourist information points (PIT) **, open daily 09:00-18:00", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk060", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Respect", "text": "Romans regularly interact with foreigners and tourists; it shouldn't be hard to find friendly help provided you know some Italian. As for most every place in Italy, just be polite and you won't have much trouble.\n\nIf you hit someone with your luggage or shoulder while walking on a street, say \"sorry\" (*Mi scusi*): despite being very busy, Rome is not London or New York and going ahead is considered bad behaviour, while a little apology will be satisfactory.\n\nIn buses or trains, let older people have your seat if there's no space available. The gesture will be appreciated.\nRomans, and Italians as well, are very chaotic while in a queue, and often \"clump\" without any particular order: It's considered impolite, but they do it anyway. Be careful while driving,\nas Romans often drive frantically and bend the rules to cope with the heavy traffic.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk061", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|right|An Italian Carabiniere at guard duty in Monte Gianicolo\nRome is generally a safe place, even for women traveling alone. However, there have been rape cases around the Roma Termini train station, so be careful especially at night time. There is very little violent crime, but plenty of scams and pickpocketing that target tourists. As in any other big city, it is better if you **don't look like a tourist**: don't exhibit your camera to all and sundry, and keep your money in a safe place. Consciousness and vigilance are your best insurances for avoiding becoming a victim of a crime in Rome. Remember, if you are pickpocketed or victim of another scam, don't be afraid to shout, \"Aiuto, al ladro!\" (*Help, Thief!*) Romans will not be nice to the thief.\n\nMembers of the Italian public are likely to be sympathetic if you are a crime victim. Police are also generally friendly if not always helpful. Carabinieri (black uniform, red striped trousers) are military police, and Polizia (blue and grey uniform) are civilians, but they both do essentially the same thing and are equally good, or bad. If you are robbed, try to find a police station and report it. This is essential to establishing a secure insurance claim and to replace documents: the chances of it resulting in the return of your possessions are, however, fairly remote.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk062", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Rome is home to two rival Serie A **football** (soccer) clubs, A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio, and there is a history of conflict, and even rioting, between the two. Never wear anything that shows that you support either of them, especially during the Rome Derby (when the two clubs play each other, known in Italian as the *Derby della Capitale*): avoid even wandering into groups of supporters of the other club, or you may be subject to heckling or even confrontation. Play it safe and refrain from openly supporting either club unless you are very familiar with the rivalry. If you are a fan of a foreign team that is playing in Rome, **be very careful** as a number of supporters have been stabbed over the past few years.\n\nRome has its fair share of odd people: talkative panhandlers, crazy taxi drivers, lonely people wanting to just have a chat with strangers, people trying to sell you things, and so on. If you don't want to acknowledge anyone, do what most Italian people do: completely ignore them, shoo them off, or simply say you don't have anything to give to them or you are not interested.\n\n### Pickpocketing", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk063", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Since Rome is incredibly popular as a tourist destination, a great deal of pickpocketing and bag or purse snatching takes place, especially in crowded locations, and pickpocketers in Rome can get pretty crafty. A 2010 study found that Rome was second only to Barcelona for pickpocketing of tourists. As a rule, you should pretty much **never carry anything very valuable in any outside pocket**, especially the front pocket of your pants is one of the easiest and most common targets. Keeping your wallet in your front pocket or in your bag is far from safe. You should consider using a money belt and carry only the cash for the day in your pocket. Pickpocketing on the Metro is rife in the form of gangs of young girls (8 to 15 years old), often pregnant, who jump on the trains just as they are about to leave. They buffet you and have bags to hide where their hands are.\nYou have been warned!", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk064", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Also, beware of thieves—one popular technique that they use is to ride by you on a moped, slice the strap of a handbag with a knife, and ride off. They might also try to cut the bottom of your bag open and pick your wallet from the ground. Others will use the old trick of one person trying to distract you (asking for a cigarette or doing a strange dance) while another thief picks your pockets from behind. Bands of beggar kids will sometimes crowd you and reach for your pockets under the cover of newspapers or cardboard sheets. It is generally a good idea to be extremely wary of any strange person who gets too close to you, even in a crowd. If someone is in your personal space, shove the person away. As one frequent traveller put it, \"Don't be afraid to be a dick in Rome.\" It is better to be rude than to be stolen from.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk065", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Termini (the main railway station), Esquilino, bus line 64 (Termini to San Pietro), and the Trevi fountain are well known for pickpockets, so take extra care in these areas. On the Metro especially, pickpockets are extremely skilled. Remember that hotel rooms are *not* safe places for valuables; if your room has no safe, give your valuables to the hotel staff for safekeeping. Even if it does have a safe, hotels normally warn that they have no liability unless items are deposited in the main safe. Be wary while boarding or getting off the metro/train, especially if doors are about to close/closing. Thieves pretend to be helpful by pressing the 'door open' button for you, and while you gratefully squeeze into the train and catch your breath, they'll sidle up to you and pick your pocket or dip into your handbag or purse. Be aware of the danger and take the usual precautions and you should be all right.\n\n### Tourist scams\n\nBeing one of the most visited cities in the world, **tourist scams** are rampant in Rome. Many of the more well-aware Italians are quite ashamed of this. As obvious as it may sound, do not acknowledge people you don't know, and more importantly, do not tell them about who you are; you don't know what they're capable of doing.\n\nA particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for \"drug money,\" or ask to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk066", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Another scam involves men working near the Spanish Steps, around Piazza Navona, and outside of the Colosseum. They approach you, asking where you are from, and begin to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself in cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that €1 or €2 is all you have.\n\nWhen taking a **taxi**, be sure to remember license number written on the card door. In seconds, people have had a taxi bill risen by €10 or even more. When giving money to taxi driver, be careful.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk067", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be careful of **con-men** who may approach you at tourist sights such as the Colosseum or Circus Maximus. A car may pull up next to you, and the driver asks you for directions to the Vatican. He will strike up a conversation with you while he sits in his car and tell you he is a sales representative for a large French fashion house. He will then tell that you he likes you and he would like to give you a gift of a coat worth several thousand euros. As you reach inside his car to take the bag the coat is in, he will ask you for €200 for gas, as his car is nearly empty. Around tourist sites like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and the Spanish Steps there are groups mostly of men trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you, but the minute you take their 'gift' they demand money. They are often very insistent and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their \"gifts\" as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying \"no\" or \"go away\" will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk068", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be wary of **ticket touts** outside popular tourist attractions such as the Colosseum. A large bulk of ticket touts hail from South Asia and some of them even claim to be working as \"staff members\". A genuine staff member at an attraction you are visiting **will never** ask you to pay heaps of money just to skip the crowd, tell you inaccurate information about the place you are visiting, and so on. These touts are simply looking for ways to waste your time and fleece your money. Be warned that some of them can be quite pushy, so don't feel the need to be polite if you are being pestered by a tout. As a general rule, only buy tickets from official venues and always check the website (if they have one) of the place you intend to visit. As a tourist, you can do your part in making Rome an even better place by reporting these touts to the right authorities.\n\nBe careful and wary of people who sell you **fake products** on the streets. Quite ever so often you may run into people (usually recent immigrants from South Asia and Africa) selling fake products (purses, toys, and the like) on the streets. Under Italian law, it is **illegal** to purchase counterfeit goods and you can incur heavy fines for doing so. The people who sell you these fake products know it is illegal to sell fake products, but they do it anyways to make a living. Only buy from reputed stores.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk069", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be wary of places to change currency. Read ALL signs before changing money. Oftentimes places set up just for currency exchange will add as much as a 20% service fee on all money being traded. The shops near the Vatican have especially high service fees, whereas places near the Trevi Fountain will be more reasonable. The best bet is to change enough money before you leave your home country. There are few places around the city that are under the table and are just interested in American money. These places charge no service fee.\n\n### Emergencies\n\nIn an emergency, call 112 (Carabinieri), 113 (Police), 118 (medical first aid) or 115 (firemen). Carry the address of your embassy or consulate.\n\nOn anything else you may need for your Rome holiday, you can contact the official help line of the Minister of Tourism 039.039.039. From Monday to Sunday, from 9.00 to 22.00, in seven languages seven days a week.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk070", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Cope", "text": "**Police**. To report theft you should generally go to the Carabinieri station nearest where the theft occurred. Ask people at the scene of the crime where to go.\n **Left Luggage Termini**. You can leave luggage at Termini but they have a lot of security and only one X-ray machine so there can be a +100 people queue. It costs about €4 per bag (of any size) for the first 5 hours, €0.80 per bag for each hour thereafter. There's a sign limiting bags to 20 kg each, but no facility for weighing them, so it's probably not enforced.\n **Splashnet laundry, internet, left luggage**, Via Varesi 33, 100 m west of Termini. €2 per luggage left (and 15 min of internet included).\n Pharmacies (*farmacie*, singular *farmacia*, marked with a green cross) are widely available. Staff often speak English and can help with non-emergency health issues.\n\n### Embassies\n\n - Afghanistan\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Azerbaijan\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Estonia\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Hungary\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Lithuania\n\n - Macedonia\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Malta\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Norway\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Poland\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Slovenia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States of America\n\n - Venezuela\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Poland\n\n - Singapore", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "rome::chunk071", "doc_id": "rome", "section": "Go next", "text": "Metropolitan Rome:\n The Etruscan site of Cerveteri\n Head to Frascati, one of the historic hill towns to the South East of Rome known as the **Castelli Romani**. This town has been a popular destination for centuries away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and this is still true today. Famous worldwide for its white wine, Frascati is a relaxed hill town with a slower pace of life. Just from Rome, Frascati is accessible by bus or train. Trains run from Roma Termini approximately every hour, take about 30 minutes, and cost around €2. Also in the Castelli is Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. The town overlooks Lake Albano, a popular weekend trip for Romans in the summer. Also accessible by bus and train but there are several interesting towns and villages in the Castelli, so hiring a car for the day would be well-rewarded.\n Head to Ostia Antica, the ancient harbor and military colony of Rome. It is accessible by Metro every 30 minutes from Stazione Piramide (near the Pyramid). It is a monumental area a bit like the Colosseum district, but in Ostia Antica you can get an impression how a Roman city really looked.\n Consider a day trip to Tivoli to see the Villa d'Este with its famous and glorious fountains. Check out the Emperor Hadrian's Villa while you are out there. Hourly trains from Tiburtina; fewer on Sundays.\n Understand the Second World War in Italy by visiting the Anzio beachhead area, the landing museum at Anzio and Monte Cassino.\n Canterano, a picturesque village with strange legends just a few km away.\n Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, is the point of arrival and departure of hundreds of ships, cruises, and ferries travelling all around the Mediterranean. From here it is possible to reach Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Spain, France, some other small islands, and even north Africa. A good transportation system links the port to the Eternal City, e.g., see \"Get in\" \"By train\" above.\n Viterbo (province) is the northern part of Lazio.\n Explore the Etruscan sites of Tarquinia and Vulci.\n Discover the papal city of Viterbo, well-known medieval and thermal destination (about 1 and half hours from Rome)\n **Palestrina** is a centre from Rome, rich in archaeological remains from the Roman time. Among the things to see: the **Pagan Temple of the Goddess \" Fortuna \"**, the **National Archaeological Museum** (housed in the Renaissance Palazzo Barberini), the **Roman Forum** and the **Nilotic Mosaic**.\n Campania is the coastal region south of Lazio.\n Visit Naples and the famed islands in its gulf, Capri, Ischia and Procida. Naples is 1 hour away by high speed train.\n Especially if you have a rail pass, making Pompeii a day trip, while it is a very full day, is very doable. To reach Pompeii from Rome will take about 3 hours.\n\n### By air\n\nRome has ultra-low-cost flights to destinations in Italy, to several European countries and to Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Armenia, Jordan and Morocco. (updated May 2022)", "word_count": 499}
diff --git a/corpus/rome/metadata.json b/corpus/rome/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5856554f4d018d728db09e69b16e2b01113742e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/rome/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "rome",
+ "title": "Rome",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Rome",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q220",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 41.89333333,
+ 12.48277778
+ ],
+ "summary": "Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Its metropolitan area is the third-most populous within Italy. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber Valley. Vatican City (the smallest country in the world and headquarters of the worldwide Catholic Church under the governance of the Holy See) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city. Rome is often referred to as the \"City of Seven Hills\" ",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Metropolitan Rome"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Metropolitan Rome",
+ "Cerveteri",
+ "Frascati",
+ "Castelli Romani",
+ "Castel Gandolfo",
+ "Ostia",
+ "Tivoli",
+ "Anzio",
+ "Monte Cassino",
+ "Canterano",
+ "Civitavecchia",
+ "Sardinia",
+ "Corsica",
+ "Sicily",
+ "Spain",
+ "France",
+ "Africa",
+ "Viterbo (province)",
+ "Tarquinia",
+ "Vulci",
+ "Viterbo",
+ "Campania",
+ "Naples",
+ "Capri",
+ "Ischia",
+ "Procida",
+ "Pompeii",
+ "Egypt",
+ "Georgia (country)",
+ "Israel",
+ "Armenia",
+ "Jordan",
+ "Morocco",
+ "Civitavecchia",
+ "Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport",
+ "Pescara",
+ "Tivoli"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 16459,
+ "listing_count": 67,
+ "marker_count": 4,
+ "chunk_count": 72,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/rwanda/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/rwanda/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a02f26b25cd8f62f1c54f4d94cdbd537aa7fb6d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/rwanda/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk000", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Rwanda** is an East African country known as the land of a thousand hills. It is easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda, and is one of the safest and most organised countries on the continent. The rolling green highlands, volcanic mountains, and ancient rainforests make it a striking destination. Rwanda is best known for mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but also offers savannah wildlife in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks in Nyungwe National Park, and a vibrant capital in Kigali. The country is compact, well connected, and easy to travel around.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk001", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the capital city\n\n (formerly Byumba)\n (formerly Cyangugu)\n \n (Huye)\n \n \n \n (formerly Kibuye)\n (formerly Gitarama)\n (formerly Ruhengeri)\n \n \n \n(Cities were renamed a few years ago when the administrative structure of Rwanda was re-vamped. The former names refer to old provincial capitals. Expect people to use either name listed to refer to these cities.)", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk002", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Rwanda has 3 national parks:\n — The park is home to the 'Big 5' - lion, black rhino, buffalo, elephant, and leopard.\n — Home to the mountain gorillas, this park spreads into Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The setting for *Gorillas in the Mist*, author Dian Fossey's research. If you can afford it, it's an excellent experience, and even possible as a daytrip from Kigali.\n — The best preserved rainforest in the mountains throughout Central Africa.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk003", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Understand", "text": "Rwanda has come a long way since the civil war and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi devastated this small country. Shake off your memories of tragic history and expect a warm and friendly welcome to the beautiful country now that this country is modernizing. It is a fast-growing country in Africa in terms of a lot of categories. It is sometimes called \"The Singapore of Africa\", due to both countries' similarities in geography, politics and modern history.\nthumb|Kigali Convention center in Kigali\n\n### History\n\nHunter gatherers settled the territory in the stone and iron ages, followed later by Bantu peoples. The population coalesced first into clans and then into kingdoms. The Kingdom of Rwanda dominated from the mid-eighteenth century, with the Tutsi kings conquering others militarily and centralising power. The Tutsi and the Hutu shared a common language, religion and culture, and originally referred to different social classes, though Europeans would later introduce the concept of them being different ethnic groups during the colonial era.\n\nGermany colonized Rwanda in 1884 as part of German East Africa, followed by Belgium, which annexed it in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations ruled through the kings and perpetuated a pro-Tutsi divide-and-rule policy. The Hutu population revolted in 1959, who massacred numerous Tutsi, displaced more, and ultimately established an independent, Hutu-dominated state in 1962.\n\nThe Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launched a civil war in 1990. The rebels were led by Paul Kagame, a refugee fled to Uganda and proved his ability in overthrowing Uganda's Idi Amin regime. When the Rwandan president was killed in an airliner crash in 1994, it ignited the Rwandan genocide. Hutu extremists killed an estimated 500,000 to 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu. The RPF ended the genocide with a military victory. Remanent Hutu genocidaires fled to neighbouring Zaire and seek refuge from Mobutu. Rwanda responded by an invasion, triggering the deadly First Congo War and the country's long-running instability.\n\nRwanda eventually recovered from the genocide, and since the accession of Paul Kagame as president in 2000, Rwanda has adopted market-oriented reforms and emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, concerns remain on human rights due to the authoritarian nature of Kagame's rule.\nthumb|Kigali City Street in 2018\n\n### People\n\nThe population is young and predominantly rural, with a density among the highest in Africa. Rwandans are composed of three ethnic groups: the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa.\n\n### Climate\n\nAlthough Rwanda is located only two degrees south of the equator, Rwanda's high elevation makes the climate temperate. The average daily temperature near Lake Kivu, at an altitude of 1,463 m (4,800 ft) is 22.8°C (73°F). During the two rainy seasons (Feb–May and Sep–Dec), heavy downpours occur almost daily, alternating with sunny weather. Annual rainfall averages 800 mm (31.5 in) but is generally heavier in the western and northwestern mountains than in the eastern savannahs.\n\n### Holidays\n\nthumb|Rwandan drummers\n\n**1 January** - New Year's Day\n **1 February** - Heroes Day\n **Good Friday** - variable\n **7 April** - Genocide Against the Tutsi Memorial Day\n **1 July** - Independence Day\n **4 July** - Liberation Day\n **15 August** - Assumption\n **Eid al Fitr** and **Eid al-Adha** (Islamic holidays that vary with the lunar calendar)\n **25 December** - Christmas\n **26 December** - Boxing Day\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Visit Rwanda", "word_count": 549}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk004", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Talk", "text": "Kinyarwanda is an official language and the main spoken language in Rwanda. It is also spoken in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in southern Uganda. Kinyarwanda is a tonal language of the Bantu language family, closely related to Kirundi spoken in the neighboring country Burundi and much more distantly related to other Bantu languages such as Swahili.\n\nIn addition to Kinyarwanda, Rwanda's three other official languages are English, French, and Swahili. While French was the former language of administration under Belgian colonial rule, since the civil war the Rwandan government has moved away from the Francophone sphere of influence and switched the primary language of education to English in 2008. As a result of this, older people who were educated in Rwanda tend to have some knowledge of French, while the younger generation will have better knowledge of English. Complicating this is the large number of returned refugees who were educated in neighboring countries. Those educated in nearby Anglophone countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya) tend to know English while those educated in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Burundi will know French. Swahili was made an additional official language in 2015 and a required subject in the school curriculum as a result of its membership within the East African Community. Swahili is also widely spoken among traders and returned refugees from Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk005", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa requirements\n\nA passport is required to enter Rwanda, though a certificate of vaccination is not required unless you are coming from a yellow fever-endemic country.\n\n**African Union citizens** can enter Rwanda visa free for 30 days. Citizens of Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda can stay for up to 6 months, and Kenyan and Ugandan citizens may use a national ID card in lieu of a passport.\n\nA number of non-African countries also have visa free or visa on arrival arrangements with Rwanda. Citizens of Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Mauritius, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, and Singapore receive 90 days free of charge on arrival. Citizens of **Commonwealth** and **La Francophonie** member countries receive a free visa on arrival for 30 days.\n\nVisitors from all other countries are eligible for a visa on arrival for US$50 (as of Feb 2024), payable in cash or by credit card. COMESA country nationals receive visas valid for 90 days; other visitors are granted 30 days.\n\nThe East African Tourist visa (US$100 as of Feb 2024) allows for multiple entry travel between Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda over a 90-day period. Exiting any of these three countries will invalidate the visa even if the 90-day period has not expired.\n\nVisa applications may also be made online through IremboGov, the Rwandan government's e-services portal. Processing typically takes a few days, after which you'll receive an approval email to present at the border or airport.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk006", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Kigali International Airport** () is the country's main international gateway, served by around 10 airlines flying to 25 destinations. The national carrier **RwandAir** operates the majority of routes, with direct flights across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Other airlines serving Kigali include **Brussels Airlines**, **Ethiopian Airlines**, **Kenya Airways**, **KLM**, **Qatar Airways**, **Turkish Airlines**, and **EgyptAir**.\n\nDirect long haul flights connect Kigali to London Heathrow, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul, Doha, and Cairo. Regional destinations include Nairobi, Entebbe, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Mombasa, and Zanzibar, with other African connections to Johannesburg, Lagos, and Accra among others.\n\n**Bugesera International Airport** is under construction about 25 km south of Kigali. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2027, with full operations by 2028.\n\nThe Rwandan capital is also easily accessible (3 hr by road) from the Goma airstrip in DRC.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Buses at Nyabugogo\nRwanda can be entered by road from Uganda (via Gatuna or Cyanika), Tanzania (via Rusumo), Burundi (via Akanyaru or Nemba among others), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (via Rubavu/Goma or Rusizi/Bukavu). Main roads between Kigali and neighbouring capitals are paved and generally well maintained.\n\nCar rental is available in Kigali for those wishing to self drive. If crossing borders, check insurance requirements for each country in advance as your Rwandan cover may not be valid across the border. Some rental companies do not allow cross border travel with their vehicles.\n\nDriving is on the right. Speed limits are strictly enforced, typically 40 km/h in towns and 60–80 km/h on main roads. Police speed checks and checkpoints are frequent throughout the country, and fixed speed cameras are present in many locations. Expect to have your documents and insurance checked at police checkpoints.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk007", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Get in", "text": "From **Kenya**, several bus companies operate direct services between Nairobi and Kigali via Kampala, including Modern Coast and Trinity. The journey takes around 17–24 hours depending on the company and border crossings (Kenya/Uganda at Busia, Uganda/Rwanda at Gatuna). Fares start from around US$30–55. Buses are typically overnight. Book seats a day or two in advance, especially for VIP (2+2 seating) services. Be prepared for a long ride; breaking the journey in Kampala is also an option.\n In **Uganda**, many bus companies make the 8-10 hour journey from Kampala in Uganda to Kigali, using the Gatuna border crossing. As 2015, it costs FRw 8,000 from Kigali to Kampala on Horizon. Jaguar charges FRw 6,000-8,000; early buses are cheaper. The most reliable bus company is Kampala coaches, Jaguar and Ontracom from Rwanda. From Musanze, local matatus run up to Cyanika border crossing close to Kisoro.\n **Tanzania** has one open border with Rwanda, but this is a far more difficult way to enter Rwanda due to the remoteness and lack of roads in western Tanzania. A bus runs from Mwanza to Benako (both Tanzania) and from Benako buses run onto Kigali. Another town to consider on this route is Ngara (Tanzania). Several buses run from Dar es Salaam via Morogoro and Dodoma (they all leave Ubungo bus station around 06:00-07:00) to Kahama daily. You will have to spend the night in Kahama and then get a minibus or shared taxi on to the border. From the Rwandan side of the border, there are minibuses to Kigali.\n In **Burundi**, there are two ways to enter from Rwanda, and security in the border areas varies. For the intrepid, there is a daily direct service from Kigali to Bujumbura operated by Yahoo Car, and a \"luxury\" service operated by Belvedere Lines. If there are security concerns on the Bujumbura - Huye - Kigali route, it is also possible to go along the road bordering (but not entering) DRC. You will probably have to do this in a series of minibuses via Cibitoke, Bugarama (Rwanda) and Cyangugu (Rwanda). With both of these routes, check the security situation with your embassy (the Belgian embassy has the best information).\n For **Democratic Republic of the Congo**, much of the country remains off limits to many tourists due to instability, though Goma and Bukavu can be visited easily from Rwanda.", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk008", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By train\n\nThere are no trains in Rwanda, although as of 2023, there are plans to connect with the Tanzanian rail network.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk009", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Countryside road in Rwanda\n\n### On foot\n\nDespite the hills, Kigali is a pleasant city to walk around. Many main roads have sidewalks and are well lit at night, making walking safe even after dark in most neighbourhoods. The **Imbuga City Walk** (car free zone) in the city centre is a pedestrianised area with cycling friendly pavements, green spaces, benches, a kids' playground, and free Wi-Fi. Kigali also holds **Car Free Sundays**, when certain roads are closed to traffic for walking, cycling, and exercise. Be prepared for steep climbs between neighbourhoods; the hills are real.\n\nOutside Kigali, walking is common and often the main way people get between villages. Sidewalks are rare outside of urban centres, so expect to walk along the road. The terrain is hilly everywhere, so plan accordingly.\n\n### Motos\n\nthumb|Motorcycle taxi in Kigali\nMotorcycle taxis (taxi-moto) are the fastest and most popular way to get around towns in Rwanda, especially in Kigali. Drivers are everywhere; if you look like a foreigner and are walking on a main road, they will come to you. Fares are negotiated before the ride and paid via mobile money. Helmets are mandatory and drivers carry a spare for passengers. Most drivers speak only basic English or French, if any.\n\n### Ride hailing\n\nTwo main ride hailing apps operate in Kigali:\n **Move**, operated by Volkswagen. All cars are VW models, with both sedans and vans available. Rides can be booked in advance. Payment by cash, credit card, or mobile money.\n **Yego**, a Rwandan app offering both cab and moto rides. Available on iOS and Android, or call 9191 to book. Payment by cash or mobile money.\n\nBoth work similarly to Uber and are recommended over hailing taxis on the street, especially for visitors unfamiliar with local pricing.\n\n### Taxis\n\nRegular taxis are available at taxi stations and marked bus stops but are less common than ride hailing. They are significantly more expensive than motos. Using an app (Move or Yego) is generally easier and avoids fare negotiation.\n\n### Buses\n\nthumb|City bus in Kigali\nKigali has an organised public bus network with numbered routes covering the city. Buses operate on a **cashless system** using **Tap&Go** cards, which can be purchased at bus terminals and agent locations and topped up via mobile money. Cash is not accepted on city buses. Fares vary by route but are inexpensive.\n\nFor longer distances, several bus companies operate intercity routes from Nyabugogo bus station in Kigali, including Volcano, Horizon, and Virunga. Services connect Kigali to all major towns across the country.\n\n### Bicycle taxis\n\nIn rural areas and smaller towns, taxi-velos (bicycle taxis) are a common and cheap way to cover short distances. The driver cycles while the passenger sits on the back. They are not allowed in urban areas. A taxi-velo driver will cycle, and the passenger will sit rather precariously on the back.\n\n### Car rental and driving\n\nCar rental is available from various suppliers in Kigali. Roads between main towns are paved and in good condition. Secondary roads may be dirt, with some requiring a four wheel drive vehicle.\n\nDriving is on the right. Speed limits are strictly enforced: typically 40 km/h in towns and 60–80 km/h on main roads. Police speed checks and checkpoints are frequent, and fixed speed cameras are present throughout the country, including red light cameras in Kigali. Slow moving trucks are common on main roads with limited overtaking opportunities as most roads outside towns are single carriageway. Allow extra time for any journey.", "word_count": 583}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk010", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Genocide Memorial site in Kigali\n\n### Memorials\n\nThe **Kigali Genocide Memorial** in Kigali is the country's main memorial to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Over 250,000 people are buried here. The museum is deeply moving and an essential visit for understanding Rwanda's recent history. Since 2023, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the memorials at Nyamata, Murambi, and Bisesero. Audio guides are available. Entry is free (donations welcome).\n\nThe **Nyamata Genocide Memorial**, in the town of Nyamata, 40 minutes south of Kigali, is in a church where over 10,000 people were killed during the genocide.\n\nThe **Ntarama Genocide Memorial**, 20 minutes north of Nyamata, is another former church that now serves as a memorial. Ntarama also has a peaceful memorial garden and wall of names.\n\nThe **Nyanza Genocide Memorial**, near Kigali, is the site of four mass graves holding the remains of thousands of Tutsi who were killed after the UN guards protecting them were withdrawn.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|King's Palace in Nyanza\nThe **Ethnographic Museum** (formerly National Museum of Rwanda), in Huye, houses one of the finest ethnographic and archaeological collections in East Africa, with over 10,000 artefacts covering Rwandan cultural history.\n\nThe **King's Palace Museum** in Nyanza is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence of the Rwandan monarchy, complete with a large thatched palace and a herd of Inyambo (long horned cattle). It gives a good picture of pre-colonial Rwandan court life.\n\nThe **Campaign Against Genocide Museum**, housed in the parliament building near the Kigali Convention Centre, documents the military campaign that ended the genocide. The building is where 600 RPF soldiers were stationed during the Arusha peace process.\n\nThe **Presidential Palace Museum** (Rwanda Art Museum) in Kanombe, Kigali, is the former residence of President Habyarimana. Guided tours show the living quarters, and the wreckage of the presidential aircraft that was shot down in April 1994 is in the grounds.\n\n### Arts and culture\n\nthumb|Inema Arts Centre in Kigali\nThe **Gihanga Institute of Contemporary Art** (GICA) in Kigali is Rwanda's first non-profit centre dedicated to contemporary art. Opened in December 2025, it houses exhibitions, a library, a screening room, studio spaces, and an artist residency programme. It focuses on Rwandan and Pan-African art and culture.\n\nThe **Inema Arts Centre** in Kacyiru, Kigali, displays contemporary art from Rwandan and regional artists. It is a working studio and gallery space. Open daily.\n\nThe **Niyo Arts Gallery** and several other galleries and craft centres can be found around Kigali for those interested in contemporary Rwandan art and crafts.", "word_count": 423}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk011", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Do", "text": "### Gorilla trekking\n\nthumb|Mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park\nRwanda's biggest draw is mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, near Musanze. Small groups are led by expert trackers through bamboo covered slopes to spend one hour with a gorilla family. Permits cost US$1,500 per person (US$200 for African citizens) and must be booked through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Permits sell out, especially in peak season (June to September and December to February), so book well in advance. Trekkers must be at least 15 years old. The trek itself can range from one to several hours depending on where the gorillas are that day, and involves hiking at altitude through sometimes steep and muddy terrain.\n\n### Wildlife safaris\n\nthumb|Akagera National Park\nAkagera National Park in the east is home to the Big Five (lion, black rhino, buffalo, elephant, and leopard) and offers a classic savannah safari experience. Game drives, boat trips on Lake Ihema, and guided walking safaris are available. It is a much more affordable alternative to the gorilla trek and easily reachable as a day trip or overnight from Kigali.\n\n### Hiking and nature\n\nthumb|Canopy walkway in Nyungwe National Park\nNyungwe National Park in the southwest has some of the best preserved rainforest in East Central Africa. Activities include chimpanzee tracking, canopy walks, and hiking trails through the forest. The park is also one of the top birding destinations on the continent.\n\nThe Congo Nile Trail is a multi-day hiking and cycling route along the shores of Lake Kivu, running about 227 km from Rubavu (Gisenyi) in the north to Rusizi (Cyangugu) in the south. It can be done in sections.\n\nNyandungu Eco-park is a restored wetland and forest area in Kigali.\n\n### Lake Kivu\n\nthumb|Tourist boats on Lake Kivu\nLake Kivu is one of Africa's Great Lakes, bordering the DRC. The lakeside towns of Rubavu (Gisenyi), Karongi (Kibuye), and Rusizi (Cyangugu) are popular spots for relaxing, swimming, kayaking, and boat trips to nearby islands. It is a common place to unwind after a gorilla trek.\n\n### Twin lakes\n\nthumb|Lake Ruhondo\nLake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, known as the twin lakes, sit at the foot of the Virunga Mountains near Musanze. They make a good half day trip after gorilla trekking. Activities include boat rides, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, and walks through the surrounding terraced hills. The scenery is stunning and the area is much quieter than the main tourist circuits.\n\n### Lake Muhazi\n\nLake Muhazi is a long, narrow lake on the eastern outskirts of Kigali, making it the closest lake to the city centre. It is a popular weekend getaway for Kigali residents. Activities include kayaking, boat rides, and swimming. Several lakeside hotels and restaurants line the shore, and it makes an easy day trip or overnight escape from the city.\n\n### Coffee tours\n\nRwanda produces high quality specialty coffee and several farms and cooperatives around the country offer tours where you can see the full process from bean to cup. Tours are available near Kigali, Lake Kivu, and in the Huye (Butare) area.\n\n### Car Free Sundays\n\nKigali hosts Car Free Sundays on the first and third Sunday of every month, from 07:00 to 10:00. Main roads in the city centre are closed to traffic for walking, cycling, aerobics, and other activities. It is a lively community event and worth experiencing if your visit coincides with one.", "word_count": 562}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk012", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nright|thumb|300px|5,000 Rwanda francs banknote\n\nThe currency is the **Rwandan franc** (French: *franc rwandais*, Kinyarwanda: *Ifaranga ry'u Rwanda*), denoted by the symbols \"**FRw**\" or \"**RF**\" or \"**R₣**\" (ISO currency code of **RWF** (sometimes displayed as FRw, and possibly RF or R₣). In the Kinyarwanda language, it is also called the **amafaranga**.\n\nCoins in Rwanda come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 50 and 100 Rwandan francs. Banknotes in Rwanda come in denominations of 500-, 1,000-, 2,000 and 5,000 Rwandan francs.\n\nThe smallest-value note is a FRw500 note, which is the smallest note in physical size, as well. There are also notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000, with the larger notes becoming slightly larger in physical size. There are no generally-circulated notes over FRw 5,000, which is roughly equivalent to US$3.75.\n\nCoins valued at FRw100 are commonly used. However, smaller coins (FRw50, 20, 10, 5, and 1) are generally not accepted by street merchants and smaller restaurants and hotels. The only place to obtain smaller coins is through a bank or a large store, such as a supermarket. It's common for most businesses in Rwanda, including currency exchangers and gas stations, to round transactions to the nearest FRw100.\n\n#### Mobile money\n\nMobile money is the most widely used payment method in Rwanda, with **MTN MoMo** (yellow branding) being the most popular, followed by **Airtel Money** (red branding). Most shops, restaurants, markets, and even small street vendors accept one or both. To use mobile money, you'll need a local SIM card registered with your passport (see Connect). Once registered, visit any MTN or Airtel agent to deposit cash onto your mobile money account. Agents are found on virtually every commercial street. Mobile money can also be used to pay for bus fares, utilities, and some hotel bills.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk013", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can also top up your mobile money account remotely using international transfer apps such as **Remitly** or **WorldRemit**, which allow you to send money directly to a Rwandan mobile money number from abroad. This is useful if you run low on funds without needing to find an ATM or exchange bureau.\n\n#### Cash and cards\n\nRwanda has moved significantly toward cashless payments, with mobile money accepted almost everywhere including motos and small shops. Many hotels, restaurants, and larger shops accept **Visa** and **Mastercard**, and contactless card payments are increasingly common in urban areas. It's a good idea to carry some cash as a backup, especially if travelling to more remote areas, though you'll rarely need it.\n\nYou get slightly better exchange rates by bringing US$50 bills or higher (year 2006 or newer) to exchange for Rwandan francs. **Currency exchange** is available at banks, forex bureaux in the city centre, and at Kigali International Airport. Rates at the airport are slightly worse.\n\n#### ATMs and currency exchange\n\nThere are ATMs throughout Kigali and in major towns across Rwanda. Depending on your bank, this can be a cheaper way to get francs than money changers, as ATMs use a better exchange rate. Withdrawal limits are typically FRw300,000–500,000 per transaction. ATMs can occasionally run out of cash on weekends. Mastercard, Visa, UnionPay, Amex, Diners Club, and JCB cards are accepted at **Access Bank**, **Bank of Kigali**, **Equity Bank**, **I&M Bank**, **Ecobank**, **Kenya Commercial Bank**, and **GT Bank**.\n\nCurrency exchange is available at banks, forex bureaux in the city centre, and at Kigali International Airport. Rates at the airport are slightly worse. You get slightly better exchange rates by bringing US$50 bills or higher (year 2006 or newer).\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk014", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not expected but is appreciated. In upscale restaurants, a 10% service charge is sometimes included in the bill. For motos and small services, rounding up the fare is common.\n\n### Shopping\n\nThe best place for souvenirs and crafts is **Kimironko Market** in Kigali. The craft section has a wide selection of handwoven baskets (*agaseke*), kitenge fabric, wooden carvings, drums, jewellery, and paintings. Bargaining is expected and part of the experience. The rest of the market sells fresh produce, clothing, and household goods, and is worth a wander for the atmosphere alone.\n\nFor a more curated experience, the art centres listed under See sell higher-end pieces directly from artists.\n\n**Kigali Heights** in Kimihurura is the city's main modern shopping mall, with a mix of international and local stores, restaurants, a Simba Supermarket, banks, and cafés including Java House.\n\nFor everyday groceries, **Simba Supermarket** (multiple locations) is the largest chain. Other options include the supermarkets at the **MTN Centre** and various neighbourhood shops. Most supermarkets accept mobile money and card payments.\n\nOutside Kigali, shopping is mostly limited to local markets in each town, which are great for fresh produce and basic goods but have less in the way of crafts and souvenirs.\n\n#### Souvenirs\n\nthumb|Imigongo geometric art\n **Agaseke baskets** - iconic Rwandan woven baskets with lids, traditionally made by women's cooperatives. Available in many sizes and patterns.\n **Kitenge fabric** - colourful printed fabric that can be tailored into clothing or used as decorative pieces.\n **Rwandan coffee and tea** - high quality single origin coffee and tea make excellent gifts. Available at supermarkets and specialty shops.\n **Imigongo** - distinctive geometric cow dung art, a traditional Rwandan craft originating from the eastern region.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk015", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Filled plate at a buffet restaurant in Kigali\n\nThe local \"Brochettes\" (skewers) are delicious and are available in most bars and restaurants, as well as ubiquitous vendors along the roads. Small bars will primarily serve goat brochettes, and goat liver brochettes are often of higher quality to the locals. *Zingalo* is goat intestine, sometimes also served as a brochette. Some locals prefer this and it could be brought to you without asking at very \"local\" places. So, if you prefer not to eat *zingalo*, try to see whether other diners seem to be enjoying the spiral looking treat and specify you do not want it when you order (\"OYA zingalo\"). Some restaurants also serve beef and fish brochettes, and a few will serve chicken. Brochettes are usually served with french fries (\"frites\") or fried or grilled *ibitoke*.\n\nIf Rwanda has a staple food, it is ibitoke (sing. igitoke). Ibitoke are starchy, potato-like bananas, which are *not* sweet like plantains. While plantains are available in Rwanda, they are not seen as particularly Rwandan food. Igitoke/banana are served boiled in sauce, grilled, or even fried. You can also refer to them as *matoke*, which is usually easier for foreigners to pronounce. The sweet bananas in Rwanda are delicious but considerably smaller than the matoke bananas. If you want this type of banana, ask for small banana or sweet banana.\n\nIn urban areas a local buffet known as \"Melange\" is sold at lunchtime. This consists of a buffet of mostly carbohydrates such as potatoes, bananas, rice and cassava accompanied with some vegetables, beans, and a small amount of meat or fish with sauce. Rwandan buffets are *not* all you can eat. You may fill your plate only once, and with practice you'll be able to stack your plate high like the locals do. Prices range from just over US$1 to US$5 or even US$10 depending on the grade of the restaurant and the variety of food. Most of the upper segment buffets (US$3 and above) also offer a salad buffet. Many of the cheaper Melange places are unmarked. Expect to find one at many bus stations.\n\nKigali has a much better range of restaurants than the rest of the country including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Greek, French, Ethiopian and multi-cuisine restaurants. An evening meal is typically around US$10.", "word_count": 384}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk016", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Drink", "text": "In most shops you will find milk, water, juices and soft drinks. In most bars the choice is limited to their offering of about 5 soft drinks and 4 beers, **Turbo King**, **Primus**, **Mützig** and **Amstel**. Primus and Mützig are available in small and large sizes, whereas Amstel is available only in 330 ml bottles. Rwandans are known for their fondness for large beers and when you order Amstel, it is common for a server to bring out 2 bottles at a time. **Bralirwa** in the west of the Rwanda produces most of the beer and soft drinks available in Rwanda. **Inyange** produces juices and soft drinks.\n\nThere are also local banana beer preparations called *Urwagwa*, normally brewed at home and available only in plastic containers but now also sold in bottles at some shops and bars. You can also buy a canned version on this drink under the brand Akarusho, produced by the Rwandan enterpreneur Sina Gérard.\n\nMilk is extremely popular in Rwanda, to the point where people often go to dedicated milk bars to grab a glass. Besides fresh milk, you can also get a type of fermented milk called ikivuguto, which is thick and tangy.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk017", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Ubumwe Grande Hotel\n\nKigali has a wide range of accommodation, from international chains to budget guesthouses. At the top end, the **Kigali Marriott Hotel**, **Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre**, **Mövenpick Hotel Kigali**, and **The Retreat by Heaven** offer international standard rooms. The **Hotel des Mille Collines** and **Chez Lando** are long established Kigali favourites (though film buffs should note that *Hotel Rwanda* was filmed in South Africa, not at the Mille Collines).\n\nMid-range hotels and boutique guesthouses are plentiful in neighbourhoods like Kimihurura, Kacyiru, and Remera, typically costing US$50–100 per night.\n\nBudget accommodation is available from around US$15–30 for a basic but clean room. Hostels and guesthouses can be found across the city. Airbnb is also widely used in Kigali.\n\nOutside Kigali, accommodation options are more limited. The national park areas (Musanze for gorilla trekking, Huye for the south, and the Lake Kivu towns) have a mix of lodges and guesthouses. Lodges near Volcanoes National Park tend to be at the higher end, catering to gorilla trekking visitors. Along Lake Kivu, there are options at every budget level.\n\nAccommodation across Rwanda is generally more expensive than neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk018", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Giraffes in Akagera National Park\n\nRwanda is generally a safe country for visitors. It ranks among the safest in Africa according to both the Gallup Global Safety Report and the Numbeo Safety Index. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, and Kigali is safe to walk around at night in most neighbourhoods, with main roads well lit.\n\nThe possible exceptions are certain places along the Congolese and Burundian borders, where the security situation can change. Gisenyi and Kibuye are considered safe, but check travel advisories and local sources before travelling to border areas. Gorilla trekking near the DRC border is generally considered safe due to the continuous Rwandan security presence.\n\nVisitors should follow typical precautions: avoid flaunting expensive jewellery, keep a close eye on wallets and bags in crowded markets and bus stations. The Rwandan police maintain a visible presence throughout the country. If you need assistance, dial **112**.\n\nBegging and aggressive panhandling is fairly rare. Usually a firm but polite \"no thank you\" is enough to be left alone. Raising your voice even slightly will almost certainly end the conversation.\n\nWhen travelling by bus or car in the countryside, expect to pass through several police checkpoints. These are routine checks of vehicle registration and insurance, not passenger IDs. However, it is still wise to carry your passport (or a copy) with you at all times.\n\n**Photography** near certain high-level government buildings such as the President's office and military installations is not permitted. Signs are posted where restrictions apply.\n\n**LGBTQ travellers** - Same sex activity is not criminalised in Rwanda, which is unusual in the region. The government's official position is that sexual orientation is a private matter, not a state concern; a 2009 attempt to criminalise homosexuality was dropped because it conflicted with the constitution. However, Rwandan society remains conservative and homosexuality is not widely discussed or openly accepted. There are no formal anti-discrimination protections. LGBTQ travellers are unlikely to face problems but should be aware that public displays of affection between same sex couples will attract attention.", "word_count": 339}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk019", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Despite being close to the equator, Rwanda's high altitude (Kigali sits at around 1,500 m) keeps the climate temperate rather than tropical hot. Precautions should still be taken against **sunburn** due to the strong equatorial sun, and **dehydration** when hiking at higher elevations. Sunscreen may be difficult to find outside of larger supermarkets and pharmacies; fair skinned visitors should bring their own.\n\n**Tap water** is not drinkable. Bottled water is widely available for around FRw500–1,000. Pay attention when purchasing bottled water from smaller kiosks, as they may \"recycle\" old bottles by filling them with tap water. Always make sure the seal around the bottle cap is unbroken. Avoid drinks with ice, as the ice is almost certainly made from tap water.\n\n**Pharmacies** stocked with over-the-counter medications, Band-Aids, etc. are found throughout the country. The staff are well-trained, though English may not be spoken to a high proficiency. Bring your own supplies of any specialist or prescription medication.\n\nIf you do need medical attention, Kigali has decent facilities. **King Faisal Hospital** in Kacyiru (+250 788 123 200, or dial 3939 locally) is the main referral hospital, and **CHUK** (\nUniversity Teaching Hospital of Kigali) is in the city centre. Outside Kigali, district hospitals exist in major towns but are more basic. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.\n\n**Malaria** risk in Kigali is low thanks to the altitude, but increases in lower lying areas like Akagera National Park and the Lake Kivu shoreline. Talk to your doctor about prophylaxis before you go.\n\n**HIV/AIDS** prevalence among adults is approximately 3%. Practice safe sex. Avoid intravenous drug use.\n\nAs in most of sub-Saharan Africa, some lakes carry **bilharzia** (schistosomiasis). Accounts differ on which lakes are affected and how high the risk is, so ask locally before swimming in freshwater.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk020", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Tourist information\n\nTourism is managed by the **Rwanda Development Board (RDB)**, which replaced the former ORTPN. RDB handles national park permits, including gorilla trekking, and can assist with tourism enquiries. Contact: +250 727 775 170 (or dial 1415 from within Rwanda). The * Visit Rwanda * website has trip planning resources.\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\nMany countries maintain embassies or high commissions in Kigali. Check your government's travel advice website for the address and emergency contact number of your country's representation before travelling. A list of foreign embassies in Rwanda can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.\n\n### Umuganda\n\nOn the **last Saturday of every month**, Rwanda observes **Umuganda**, a mandatory community service morning. From roughly 08:00 to 11:00, most businesses are closed, vehicle movement is restricted, and residents participate in cleaning, building, or other community projects in their neighbourhood. As a visitor, plan accordingly: don't schedule travel, airport transfers, or activities during this window. Shops and restaurants typically reopen by midday. If you're staying in a neighbourhood, you're welcome to join in.\n\n### Laundry\n\nMost hotels offer laundry services. In Kigali, there are also standalone laundry and dry cleaning shops in commercial areas. Outside Kigali, ask your guesthouse; hand washing and line drying is the norm.\n\n### Religious services\n\nRwanda is predominantly Christian, with Catholic and Protestant churches found in every town. Services are typically held in Kinyarwanda, though some churches in Kigali offer English or French services. There are also mosques in Kigali and larger towns.\n\n### Practical essentials\n\n**Power sockets** operate at 230 V / 50 Hz. The most common socket types are Type C (Europlug) and Type E (French style), found in the majority of buildings. As part of efforts to harmonise with the East African Community, Rwanda has adopted Type G (British three-pin) as the official standard, and modern buildings increasingly have Type G sockets. Type C or E plug will work in most places.", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk021", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Skulls in Nyamata Memorial Site\nRwanda is a very conservative society, and most people dress modestly, especially women. Wearing shorts or tight skirts and skimpy tops is likely to get you stared at twice as much as normal.\n\nIt is unusual for a couple to make public displays of affection, even though many men walk hand in hand with male friends. Also, Rwandans will generally never eat or drink in public, apart from restaurants. Rwandan women are rarely seen smoking in public or out in bars unaccompanied.\n\nAlthough there is no smoking ban in most public places like bars and restaurants, generally it's not encouraged. Sometimes people may complain of being disturbed with people's smoking.\n\nRwandans are very private, reserved people and loud public confrontations (shouting matches) or obvious displays of emotion (such as crying) are also frowned upon. If you feel you are being overcharged by a trader, quietly persisting with the negotiation (or your complaint!) is likely to produce results much faster than an angry outburst.\n\nIt is also impolite to make eye contact with an elder.\n\nRwanda is still recovering from a civil war and genocide in which over 800,000 people, perhaps a million, mostly Tutsi, were killed. Many Rwandans lost relatives and friends. Remember to be sensitive to this sad fact when dealing with Rwandans. Most people today are trying to forget the tribal divisions and would rather be referred to as Rwandans than Hutu or Tutsi. It is considered impolite to ask someone about their ethnic origin.\nThere is not much political discourse in Rwanda, unlike in many neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Kenya where people talk freely about the government and political issues, people in Rwanda will be uncomfortable if asked about their views or even if seated at a table where national politics is discussed.", "word_count": 303}
+{"chunk_id": "rwanda::chunk022", "doc_id": "rwanda", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Post\n\nRwanda's postal service is operated by **iPosita** (National Post Office). Post offices are found in Kigali and major towns, offering mail and parcel services. Rwanda does not use street addresses for postal delivery; mail is sent to PO boxes. For international parcels, private courier services such as **DHL** and **FedEx** have offices in Kigali and are more reliable for urgent shipments. Sending postcards home is possible from the main Kigali post office.\n\n### Phones\n\nThe country code is +250. Landline numbers have the format , mobile phones .\n\nLocally, mobile numbers are dialled as (drop the +250, keep the leading zero). Most people you'll interact with will give you a number starting with 078/079 (MTN) or 072/073 (Airtel).\n\n#### Emergency numbers\n\nAll emergencies: **112**\nAmbulance: **912**\nTraffic accidents: **113**\nCorruption report: **997**\nPolice conduct complaint: **3511**\nAll emergency numbers are toll-free\n\n### Internet\n\nRwanda has an excellent mobile phone network covering almost the entire country, and international calls can be made easily.\n\nLocal SIM cards are readily available everywhere, even in remote towns. They need to be registered, so bring your passport. The main provider is MTN, followed by Airtel (which merged with Tigo). Mobile phones can be purchased from major shops in Kigali. A local SIM card is also required to set up a mobile money account (see Money).\n\nData is affordable; a 10 GB monthly bundle costs roughly FRw5,000–8,000 (~US$3.50–5.50). 4G LTE coverage is available countrywide, with 5G in parts of Kigali.\n\nRwanda is among the top African countries in terms of internet connectivity, with an extensive fibre optic network. Most towns have several internet cafés and Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, restaurants, and cafés, though speeds vary. A local data SIM is generally more reliable for video calls or heavier use.", "word_count": 297}
diff --git a/corpus/rwanda/metadata.json b/corpus/rwanda/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..33d645fe1659c587d66604ca7206a000db326e1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/rwanda/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "rwanda",
+ "title": "Rwanda",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Rwanda",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 6734,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 23,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sacred-valley/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sacred-valley/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b44c2c77b38e44d85a2ed11c2a37ae2a13d71a2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sacred-valley/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk000", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Sacred Valley of the Incas** is a valley in the Southern Sierra in Peru that contains many famous and beautiful Inca ruins. It was called the Sacred Valley because it contains some of the best land in the region and was not a part of the Incan Empire but the property of the Emperor or Inca himself.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk001", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Cities", "text": "Major cities or major attractions in the Sacred Valley include:\n\n — on the bottom of a magnificent valley, this town is the main gateway to Machu Picchu\n — the unofficial capital of the region, Cusco is a fascinating city with beautiful colonial architecture built right atop Incan constructions. Although most of the Inca buildings have been replaced by the Spaniards, there are still some Inca walls and foundations to be seen in the center of Cusco.\n — on the main route to Incan sites of Salineras and Moray, Maras is an otherwise unremarkable dusty town\n — one of the last Incan towns to fall, much of Ollantaytambo is laid out in the same way as it was in Inca times with extensive ruins worth seeing. In the town of Ollantaytambo houses can be seen which date from Inca times. The nearby ruins features agricultural terraces as well as military, religious and administrative sections. Admission with *boleto turistico*.\n — a traditional Quechua village in Cusco, near Ollantaytamb\n — in addition to Machu Picchu-like ruins, it's the weekly market, in which locals from highlands gather with their fresh produce, that puts Pisac on the itinerary of many travellers. The mountain overlooking the village of Pisac is covered with terraces and several ruins. Well-worth a visit. Admission with *boleto turistico*.\n — some of the most interesting agricultural terracing and water management developed by the Incas, all still in perfectly working condition. A group of agricultural terraces and irrigation channels. It is believed to be dedicated to agricultural experimentation as well as religious activities. Admission with *boleto turistico*.\n — a regional transportation hub, Urubamba also has a street market on offer", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk002", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Choquequirao\nOther destinations near to or accessible from cities in the Sacred Valley include:\n\n — a more remote and less-travelled alternative to Machu Picchu, much of Choquequirao has undergone reconstruction but still is impressive anyway (and not least because of the mighty views over Apurimac Valley). According to some this site is as impressive as Machu Picchu, but without the crowds. The only way in is a 4-day trek (two days each way).\n — one of the most spectacular sets of ruins in the world, a visit to Peru is not complete without a visit to this mysterious \"lost city of Incas\". The star attraction of the sacred valley. Also the endpoint of the Inca Trail.\n — terraced co-centric circles that were used for developing better agricultural crops by Incas. Amphitheater shaped terraces. It probably served as an agricultural laboratory and seed cultivation site.\n - One of the few pre-Inca sites. It has been built by the Wari-culture. Admission with *boleto turistico*.\n - A small site. Which purpose it served is still unclear.\n - This site is hewn out of a rock. It probably served as religious shrine.\n - Cusco was envisioned to represent a puma with Sacsayhuaman as head. Large parts of the site has been destroyed in the colonial era as the Spaniards used the stones of the sites to build their own houses. What remains is still impressive. Admission with *boleto turistico*.\n - A small ruin, which probably was a religious center, but could also be a military center. Walk back and visit Puca Pucara, Qénqo and Sacsayhuamán on the way back. (See Cusco). Admission with *boleto turistico*", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk003", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main way in is through Cusco (), which has daily flights to Lima and Arequipa and buses to other parts of Peru and Bolivia.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk004", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Train in Aguas Calientes\nBuses and minibuses (colectivos) are the way to get around for many destinations. However, to get to Aguas Calientes (to access Machu Picchu) the only ways in are by train or on foot.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk005", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "See", "text": "The Sacred Valley is dotted with Inca Ruins, with Machu Picchu being the absolute star attraction. If you are in a hurry, try to visit at least Pisac and Sacsayhuaman.\nSalineras — ancient saltpans used by Incas in salt production. Thousands of salt pans nestled in a canyon that have been used to harvest salt from a spring for thousands of years.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n **Inca Trail** — the classic mountain trek to Machu Picchu", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "sacred-valley::chunk006", "doc_id": "sacred-valley", "section": "Do", "text": "See the valley. Although the various ruins are the undeniable highlight, a 4-5 hour bus tour of the loop Cusco-Chincheros-Urubamba-Pisac-Cusco shows truly spectacular landscapes, especially on clear days during the winter (May-September). Tours can be booked with various agencies, although it is cheapest to just take buses between the various cities (and you can start in any of them).\n\nThere are many beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley that contain great landscapes, traditional restaurants, hotels/hostels and local markets. The largest ones are Pisac, Calca, and Urubamba.", "word_count": 86}
diff --git a/corpus/sacred-valley/metadata.json b/corpus/sacred-valley/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8b895cfac19c2b780e792cba077cbef1cffa951c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sacred-valley/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sacred-valley",
+ "title": "Sacred Valley of the Incas",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sacred_Valley_of_the_Incas",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Sierra (Peru)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 828,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 7,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sahara/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sahara/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9aedab45d1b6876cff1f343a28b24ae40712fb5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sahara/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk000", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Overview", "text": "300px|thumb|Western Libya\n\nOther than the vast expanses of ice desert in the Antarctic and Arctic, the **Sahara**, encompassing most of northern Africa, is the world's largest desert.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk001", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Countries and territories", "text": "### [[North Africa]]\n\n Algeria (Saharan Algeria, Saharan Atlas)\n Egypt (Western Desert)\n Libya (Saharan Libya)\n Morocco (Saharan Morocco)\n Tunisia (Saharan Tunisia)\n Western Sahara\n\n### [[Sahel]]\n\n Chad (Saharan Chad)\n Mali (Timbuktu Region)\n Mauritania (Saharan Mauritania)\n Niger (Northern Niger)\n Sudan (Darfur, Northern Sudan)", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk002", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Cities", "text": "— old town in an oasis, with whitewashed buildings and covered streets\n — fortress town; surrounding desert features some ancient rock paintings depicting animals gone long since extinct in the area\n — camel trips into the desert can be arranged from this Moroccan village\n — oasis town in Algerian Sahara; starting point for trips further into the desert\n — famed city made fully of mud once on the southern end of the trans-Saharan trade routes", "word_count": 75}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk003", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— almost surrealistic desert fortresses scattered on a plateau\n — five oases deep in the harsh and unforgiving Egyptian part of the desert", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk004", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Understand", "text": "At 9,400,000 sq km (3,600,000 sq mi), the vastness of the Sahara is comparable to the surface area of the United States of America or China. Its name unsurprisingly derived from the plural form of the Arabic word for \"desert\", *sahara*. Despite what you may have heard big parts of the Sahara are actually *not* covered in sand.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk005", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Get in", "text": "Tamanrasset, Timbuktu, and Sabha are some of the Saharan towns that have **air connections** with elsewhere on the planet. The western and eastern edges of the desert are relatively easier to approach **over land**: the **highway** following the Atlantic coast from Morocco through Western Sahara to Mauritania was the route of the former Paris–Dakar Rally, while the Nile provides a great and traditional way of getting to the desert **on a felucca**. Timbuktu is also accessible with a **boat ride** on the Niger River from Mopti. One of the most adventurous ways of heading into the Sahara, though, is to take the **Mauritania Railway** from the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou, possibly in one of the iron ore cars of the longest train of the world, running on one of the very few railway lines in the Sahara. If that doesn't sound adventurous enough, try **cycling** along the western edge of the desert; the cycling the Western Sahara article provides descriptions for the route down to the Senegalese border.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk006", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A Tuareg man, whose ancestors roamed the Sahara for millennia\n\nAll routes cross the desert in the north–south direction, and there is no through route following the path of the sun. However, most of the existing trans-Saharan routes are very isolated, unsafe due to the armed groups operating in the area, and are subject to closures due to political instability and the tense relations between the regional governments.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk007", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "See", "text": "The vast sand dunes\n Rock art\n Oases", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk008", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Do", "text": "### Festivals\n\nThe Tunisian town of Douz holds the four-day **Sahara Festival** towards the end of each year, celebrating the desert culture, featuring camel riding displays, poetry readings, and traditional music and dance shows.\n\nIf you opt for a more politically loaded gathering, though, you may want to check out the **Sahara International Film Festival** (or **FiSahara**), which annually takes place in Sahrawi refugee camps (inhabited by refugees escaping from the conflict between Morocco and Polisario/SADR in Western Sahara), near the Algerian border town of Tindouf during the spring.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "sahara::chunk009", "doc_id": "sahara", "section": "Go next", "text": "To the north, the Sahara hugs the Mediterranean coast or ends at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, while to the south it gradually morphes into the relatively more vegetated Sahel.", "word_count": 31}
diff --git a/corpus/sahara/metadata.json b/corpus/sahara/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..729e894a92f10778c089fb907d42f08cd3cf5f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sahara/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sahara",
+ "title": "Sahara",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sahara",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Mediterranean",
+ "Atlas Mountains",
+ "Sahel"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 586,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 7,
+ "chunk_count": 10,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..032964f7c69f0bc79ddabe97618bb418572b5909
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk000", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Salar de Uyuni** is the largest salt flat in the world and one of the most amazing natural attractions of Bolivia. Whether you're walking on the seemingly endless white, desolate surface of the dry flats, or admiring the simply perfect reflection of the clouds and blue sky above when there's water — all travellers agree the Salar de Uyuni offers an out-of-this-world experience. \n\nThe flats cover an area of over 10,000 km² and to see the best parts, you'll need to cover quite some ground. While it's possible to explore this unique piece of land on your own, most visitors opt for organized tours along some of the best sights.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk001", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Salt mounds in Salar de Uyuni.\nThe Salar is part of the Bolivian Altiplano, and its history began when that high plateau emerged as a result of uplift of the Andes. About 30,000 to 42,000 years ago, the area that is now the Salar de Uyuni was a huge, deep lake known as Lake Minchin. As Lake Michin dried up, it left smaller lakes behind, which in turn dried up until two current-day lakes and two salt deserts remained, of which the Salar the Uyuni is the largest one. One of those two lakes, called Poopó, still has a major impact on Salar de Uyuni. As Titicaca, another large current-day lake of the Altiplano, overflows during wet season, it fills up lake Poopó. As Poopó overflows in turn, it floods the salt flats, creating the stunning landscapes of winter, when a thin layer of water creates magical reflections of the sky and anything or anyone on the flats.\n\nThe area is the biggest lithium reserve of earth, containing some 70% of world's lithium in form of salt. Yearly, around 25,000 tonnes of salt are mined here, out of estimated 10 billion tonnes.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThanks to the sedimented salt, the area is perfectly flat and is often used for various technical purposes (testing of vehicles and the like).\n\nIn the middle is Isla del Pescado, a volcanic rock. It provides great views and is a natural reservation.\n\nthumb|500px|Incahuasi \"island\"\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nthumb|Cacti\nthumb|Andean Flamingos, south of the Salar\n\nThere isn't much flora, mostly just grass and bush. The Isla del Pescado is covered by an ancient cacti forest, cacti like *Echinopsis atacamensis pasacana* and *Echinopsis tarijensis*, which grew up to 12 meters high. The cacti grow at pace of 1 cm per year, hence their age is up to 1000 years.\n\nIn November, three types of flamingoes flock here. 80 other bird species are present, and few other small animals.\n\n### Climate\n\nVery little rain happens in the area, but yearly flooding occurs, mostly in January. At that time the whole area changes to a world's highest altitude mirror. After the water evaporates, bee-hive-like polygons cover the area.\n\nTemperature peaks at 21°C in November-January, and 13° in June. Nights are cold all through the year, -9 to 5°C. Rainfall outside January is almost non-existent.\n\n**Dress in layers**. Parts of the Salar are very windy, and temperature drops at sunset. Also, make sure to bring **sunscreen** and **lip balm**, as the sun is very bright due to the high altitude, and sunlight can reflect off of the salt. A **hat** is a good idea too, but make sure it doesn't blow away!", "word_count": 443}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk002", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|A vehicle on the Salar, the kind usually used for organized tours\nMost organized tours start in Uyuni, usually . For independent travellers on a budget it's possible to hop on a local bus from Uyuni to Colchani, which crosses the salt flats, and ask the driver to let you out where you want to be. This way, you're free to walk around and explore the area on your own but you should count on a hike of at least two hours to any salt hotel. A local bus should cost Bs10, and you can catch a bus in the street where most the bus companies have their offices, around the corner of Cabrera St. and Arce Av. La Paz’s Terminal de buses.\n\nSingle-day and multi-day tours are available. Multi-day tours allow you to see more, including nearby desert areas beyond the salt flat, but they also bring a greater risk of altitude sickness as they go to significantly higher altitudes.\n\nAlternatively, you can start your trip from . Tour prices are more or less the same as in Uyuni, but tours starting from here often include more lakes and interesting rock formations. Because this option is less popular, you probably won't encounter as many other tourists on your tour. The end point is Uyuni, although there are options for transportation to Chile.\n\n (Chile) provides virtually identical tours to those from Uyuni, only reversed, and about 50% more expensive.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk003", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Fees and prices", "text": "No fees or permits are required to enter the salt flats itself, but the vast majority of visitors come on an organized tour.\n\nYou can book organized tours spontaneously in Uyuni city, which is full of travel agencies. Be sure to get an English-speaking guide, if your Spanish is not good enough.\n\nAs of 2024, expect to pay somewhere around Bs. 200 per person for a one-day tour (including lunch) and at least Bs. 800 for a 3 day tour (including lodging, meals, water and toilet paper), plus Bs. 50 if you want onward transport to San Pedro de Atacama. From San Pedro the price as of December 2024 is 180 USD or 180.000 CLP. Many 3-4 day tours get sold for Bs. 1000, but they are essentially all the same and if you are good at bargaining, aim for the Bs. 800 mark. For the several day tours, you might require an additional Bs. 200 for national park entrance (Laguna Colorado), rest-rooms, thermal pools, etc., but this is paid directly on-site, and not to the agency nor the driver. Do not fall for the double room extra pricing of US$100 or so—this is way overpriced and sometimes you even get a double room anyhow for the first night. \n\nTours are cheaper for larger groups, so if you're by yourself or with just one friend, try to meet other people and form a group of four to six for a better per-person rate. However, this shouldn't really be off your concern, because often tourists are shuffled around to fill the cars. It seems actually to be more a way of tricking people into believing they have to pay more. Do not fall for this scam, just head to the next tour agency.\n\nSimple sunrise/sunset tours for photography go for Bs. 130, for a fully loaded van.", "word_count": 306}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk004", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Get around", "text": "Standardized car-tours are the most common way of visiting the salt flat. Because of the sheer area size and hostility of the environment, moving by feet or even bicycle is not easy.\n\nThe salt flat is very difficult to navigate if you don't know what you're doing. Tour guides are familiar with the landmarks and mountains in the distance and use them extensively when driving around the salar. Trying to navigate it on your own is not recommended.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk005", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Stargazing on the altiplano\n - Train Graveyard\n\n - Colchani, Bloques de Sal\n\n - Salt-Mining Area\n\n - Isla del Pescado\n\n - Pulacayo\n\n - Laguna Hedionda\n\n - Viscacha Area\n\n - Arbol de Piedra\n\n - Laguna Colorada\n\n - Sol de Manaña\n\n - Laguna Verde\n is reflected in the lake.\n - Laguna Blanca\n\n - Laguna Celeste\n\n - Laguna Amarilla\n\n - San Antonio ruins\n\n - Valles de Rocas\n\n - Sillar\n\n - San Cristobal\n\n - Tunupa Volcano", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk006", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Do", "text": "- Termas de Polques hot springs\n\nthumb|Trick photography at the Salar de Uyuni\n **Trick photography** – the beautiful, otherworldly Salar is great for photography. In particular, the large, flat, homogeneous nature of the area provides an excellent opportunity for trick photography with objects out of proportion. With some careful staging and trial and error, you and your friends can take pictures of someone with giant shoes, balancing on shoestrings, or holding a tiny person in their hands. (These are just a few ideas to get you thinking.) If you get a very good guide, he will take care of most funny motives.", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk007", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Buy", "text": "Your big shopping opportunity is at Colchani, which has lots of stands selling clothes, food, and all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs. Beyond that, you can find souvenirs in the town of Uyuni.", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk008", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Eat and drink", "text": "Tours should provide meals, and vegetarian options are possible. You may end up eating a meal at a salt hotel, even if you don't sleep there. Isla Incahuasi also has a restaurant.\n\nThe tours sometimes bring not enough water supply. Get informed, you may need to take 2 liters or more per day.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk009", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|A salt hotel\nIf you take a multi-day tour, the tour will organize lodging for you.\n\n - Salt Hotels\n\nFor lodging before and after your trip to the Salar, look for a place in Uyuni or Tupiza.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk010", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In the tours, drunk drivers are a possibility: do not risk if you have a suspicion.\n Taking emergency supplies is advisable if undertaking a private trip. With organized tours, most follow the same path, thus another truck will meet you in minutes.\n You will be travelling at high altitudes. Make sure to take necessary precautions to prevent altitude sickness. Take the time to get acclimated and educate yourself on the symptoms, methods of prevention and treatments. The German embassy in La Paz is said to already have a \"storage room\" for deceased because of the casualties. Highest visited point of the area is about 5,000 m, and sleeping at 4,200 m; in this regard, it's better to start from Uyuni (3,700 m) than from Tupiza (3,000 m).", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "salar-de-uyuni::chunk011", "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni", "section": "Go next", "text": "The **Atacama Desert** is not too far away, across the border in Chile. **San Pedro de Atacama** is the gateway to this region's incredible landscapes, and especially **Valle de la Luna** (the \"Valley of the Moon\").\n **Jujuy**, Argentina — deserts and colorful mountains to the south\n **Oruro** — just an overnight train away from Uyuni, and known for its carnival\n **Potosí** — a high-altitude silver mining town a few hours away from Uyuni by bus\n **Tupiza** — small town southeast of the salt flat with beautiful mountainous surroundings.", "word_count": 88}
diff --git a/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/metadata.json b/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..bb706d49f0defeef87a60e78d41c29b4048b1f50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/salar-de-uyuni/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "salar-de-uyuni",
+ "title": "Salar de Uyuni",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Salar_de_Uyuni",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Altiplano (Bolivia)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Atacama Desert",
+ "Chile",
+ "San Pedro de Atacama",
+ "Jujuy",
+ "Argentina",
+ "Oruro",
+ "Potosí",
+ "Tupiza"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1687,
+ "listing_count": 21,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 12,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/salvador/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/salvador/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1286c94aa217dd9116ff4e66c9804cde8a4f614f
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+++ b/corpus/salvador/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk000", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Salvador** is the capital of the state of Bahia, Brazil. With a charming Old Town (a World Heritage Site), a vibrant musical scene and popular Carnaval celebrations, it is considered one of the birthplaces of Brazilian culture. Salvador is an enchanting city full of mysteries and charms. There are millions of tourists every year flocking to Salvador to enjoy its beaches. Parts are best explored on foot, such as dense historical areas including the Pelourinho and the Lacerda Lift, the first urban lift in the world, and the Mercado Central.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk001", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|''Pelourinho'', Salvador's historical city center\nIt is the biggest city in the Northeast region, and was the first capital of Brazil.\n\n### History\n\nFounded in 1549 by the Portuguese, Salvador was the capital in the heyday of the slave trade. The legacy is found in its large Afro-Brazilian population, and the resulting culture in many ways outshines the rest of Brazil; in music, many of the greatest names from the mid-20th century to the present hail from Salvador, such as Dorival Caymmi, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso. In literature, the late Jorge Amado was also from the region. It's a vibrant, exciting city, and its people are quite friendly.\n\n### Orientation\n\nSalvador is on a peninsula on the north-east coast of Brazil which shields the large *Baía de Todos os Santos* (\"All Saints Bay\") from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the third largest in Brazil, sprawling for dozens of kilometres inland from the coast. Most visitors head for the coastal neighbourhoods that cluster around where the bay meets the ocean. Salvador, Brazil has a tropical climate including rainforests and lush vegetation.\n\nA 100-m cliff runs along the entire bayshore, dividing the city into **Cidade Alta**, up on the cliff, and the **Cidade Baixa** down by the bay. The former features **Pelourinho**, the old city center that packs historical sites, colonial architecture, museums, restaurants, bars, hostels, artisanal shops, and music/dance/capoeira academies into a convenient, albeit tourist-swarmed, set of winding cobblestone streets. The latter features a commercial center with lots of bus traffic coming in from all over Salvador.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk002", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Understand", "text": "Outside of this area, there are many beach districts that stretch from the tip of the peninsula northeast along the Atlantic coast. The **Barra** neighborhood at the tip of the peninsula is the main alternative jumping-off point to Pelourinho, and a little further to the northeast are the hip neighborhoods of **Rio Vermelho** and **Amaralina**, which feature a nightlife less geared to the foreign tourism industry. A decent bus ride beyond these is the neighborhood of **Itapuã**, which has an energetic beach side nightlife and relatively few foreign visitors. Northward from there are kilometres and kilometers of gorgeous beaches, all accessible by bus.\n\nThe bayshore coast north beyond Pelourinho features a more tranquil atmosphere and a locally patronized, though less scenic, beach life. The interior of Salvador is where the \"new city\" has developed, full of residential neighborhoods, shopping megaplexes, and knotted highways, all of which can be quite alienating without actually having a friend to show you around.\n\nLocal residents enjoy sharing their exotic dancing and music skills with tourists. Residents are also considered some of the friendliest people on the planet. Tourists are welcomed with open and friendly arms by the majority of local residents.\n\n### People\n\nPeople of Salvador, as other people from the state of Bahia, have a reputation of being relaxed, easygoing, and fun-loving, even by Brazilian standards, and of leading a \"slow life\". It's questionable whether this reputation is true, as the hectic behavior of pedestrians and drivers in traffic does not seem to be typical of \"slow\" or \"relaxed\" people. Regardless, few *soteropolitanos* (natives of Salvador) seem to bother with this reputation, even the bad part of it, and some even make fun of their own supposed laziness. Also, most people in Brazil agree that *soteropolitanos* are generally friendly and warm people.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk003", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Understand", "text": "As a former African slave port, Salvador inherits a massive social inequality with notable racial tones, with a wealthy minority being mostly white and often living in gated communities, and the majority of people being relatively poor and mostly black or mixed. The city's highly famous Carnival has been a subject of controversy, with many criticising the lack of participation of locals in the event (as they can rarely afford the expensive tickets), and others remarking the importance of the event to the city's tourism and economy.\n\n### Climate\n\nWith a tropical climate and year-round sunny weather, temperatures in Salvador do not vary much. In summer, average maximum temperatures reach 30 °C (86 °F) and in winter, temperatures are between 26 °C (79 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F). However, humidity can give a greater thermal sensation than that. If you go swimming, the sea also has a pleasant average temperature of 27 °C (81 °F) all year round. With lots of sun and heat throughout the year, your concern as a tourist will just escape the rainy season, which lasts from April to June in Salvador.\n\nWith over 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, it's essential to use sunscreen in this sunny city.", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk004", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n \n\nScheduled airlines:\n\n LATAM (all Brazil,Miami and Buenos Aires).\n Gol (all Brazil, Buenos Aires and *Rosário*).\n Azul Linhas Aéreas (Vitória da Conquista, Paulo Afonso, Ilhéus, Porto Seguro, Teixeira de Freitas, Lençóis, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Goiânia), Feira de Santana, Campinas and Cuiabá).\n Passaredo (Vitória da Conquista, Barreiras, Brasília and Ribeirão Preto).\n TAP (Lisbon).\n Aerolineas Argentinas (Buenos Aires and Córdoba)\n Air Europa (Madrid)\n Cabo Verde Airlines (Ilha do Sal)\n Copa Airlines (Panamá City)\n Condor (Frankfurt).\n\nThe airport is 28 km from the city center (via the Paralela expressway) or 32 km (via the seaside). There is a subway station easily reached by a free bus shuttle from the terminal. The subway fare is R$3.70 (including transfer to city buses). The subway is the best option to reach the city, it goes to the city center and also connects the airport directly to the main bus terminal (Estação Rodoviária). To Barra, Campo Grande or Ondina area, take the subway to Lapa Station (Line 1) and then a short bus ride (or a taxi/Uber). To Pelourinho, take the subway to Campo da Pólvora Station and then walk (around 900 meters, it's ok if you're arriving during the day) or take a taxi or Uber. To the ferry-boat terminal (to Itaparica), take the subway to Acesso Norte Station (Line 1 and 2) and then a bus towards São Joaquim. Two kinds of taxis are available in the airport, the **executive taxis** (Coometas and Comtas), and the **normal taxis**. Executive taxis are pre-paid, they have a table of prices rather than a meters. The other taxi option would be the **normal taxis** which are metered. A third option would be the executive air-conditioned **minibuses** which depart every 20 minutes to the Praça da Sé, in downtown near *Pelourinho* via the seaside, stopping at famous beaches like Ondina, Pituba, Amaralina and Itapuã, and Barra as well as stopping by Shopping Barra--an American-style shopping mall located not too far from the Farol da Barra The fare for these buses is R$4. Another option is the **urban buses** that go to many parts of the city, for the tourist the options are Lapa and Campo Grande buses, the best thing is ask the driver before taking an urban bus, the fare is R$3.70. There is also a shuttle service to some hotels around the city and costs R$25.00. The tickets are sold inside the arrivals area or online. To *Praia do Forte*, take the subway to Mussurunga Station or Rodoviária Station and then a bus, try to check the schedule of theses buses in advance.\n\n### By bus\n\nSalvador's long-distance bus station is in the middle of the new city, 14km from downtown. Salvador is accessible via scheduled buses from all around the country and from Paraguay. Inside the bus stations there are taxis (local taxis and executive taxis) and local buses which can all take you to many places in Salvador and the metropolitan area. Executive buses in the Iguatemi Station can be accessed from the Iguatemi Mall by way of a busy walkway. Bus travel in and out of Salvador can take a lot more time than expected. Count on an average speed of 50-60 km/h when planning your itinerary.\n\n### By boat\n\nSalvador is a common stop on international cruise routes and was once visited by the *Queen Elizabeth 2* during her sailing career. Note that the docks area can be dangerous. This area is linked to the Pelourinho historic centre by the *Elevador Lacerda*, and to the city by urban buses and executive buses to **Iguatemi**.", "word_count": 594}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk005", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By foot\n\nThere are a number of transportation options available in Salvador, including taxis, buses and car rentals. the bus fares are quite affordable, although the taxi fares can be quite expensive if one is traveling a long distance. thumb|The Lacerda Elevator\nThe old city center can be easily explored on foot. To get between the upper and lower sections, take the **Elevador Lacerda** or the cable car, remember to take small change as the fare is just R$0.15. The streets between the two are considered dangerous even during the day.\n\n### By bus\n\nCity buses, as in other Brazilian cities, are constant and confusing. Fares are normally R$3.70, as of July 2018 (even for buses into the neighboring city of Lauro de Freitas). There is also the option of the air-conditioned executive buses for R$5. Remember to board in the back for the full-sized buses.\n\nKnow your landmarks and neighborhood names. Any large *shopping area* will have a complimentary frequented bus stop, and the major intercity terminal, Lapa, is next to Shopping Lapa.\n\nOther major bus terminals include: Estação Iguatemi (between the Rodoviaria and Shopping Iguatemi), and Estação Mussurunga (on the Paralela with buses usually connecting to Praia do Flamengo interior neighborhoods in Salvador).\n\nIf you are trying to make your way out of Pelourinho, you can either take the Elevador Lacerda down to the Comercio and find buses for just about every route, or walk to the Praca da Sé bus stop just south of the elevator, which has a much smaller selection of buses passing through, and many options of executive buses.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk006", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses are safe to ride at night, as long as you are on a frequented (i.e. coastal) route and dress and act inconspicuously. Service stops at midnight and begins again around 04:30-05:00. A few lines provide night service from 00:00-04:00.\n\nYou can find more about the Salvador bus routes and time tables one the website for the Superintendência de Transporte Público (in Portuguese only).\n\n### By taxi\n\nSalvador cab drivers must be competing with those in Rio for spots on Formula 1 racing teams. They will certainly get you where you're going quicker than the bus! However, as buses stop running after midnight, do be prepared to haggle quite a bit with taxi drivers who refuse to use the meter, especially if you've decided to explore far from your bed. Executive taxis (white and blue) don't have meters, and the prices are on a table, it's more expensive than city taxis, but they are much more comfortable, they are in stops in the main shopping malls, the airport, bus station, ferry-boat station and big hotels.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk007", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting a basic car with air conditioning (and 100 km/day or km free) costs R$ 110-140 per day, plus fuel. It's not hard to find your way across Salvador avenues, but although people from Bahia have a reputation of being relaxed and easygoing, traffic is aggressive (somewhat like Rio de Janeiro), and you will frequently see drivers attempting dangerous overtakes on you. Pedestrians are also careless and unexpectedly run to cross roads and streets. If you are not used to this type of traffic, consider asking for a private driver, which is possible on many car renting agencies. Renting a car may be a good idea if you plan to visit the beaches from the northern part of Bahia, with more time flexibility than allowed by travel agencies.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nCycling is not really a good option to get around in Salvador, as there aren't enough cycleways and parking for bicycles, and drivers don't have any respect for cyclists. An exception is the cycleway along the east coast of Salvador, which runs for 12.55 km and goes from Amaralina to Piatã beaches. Be aware that as the cycleway is not very used, a lot of pedestrians use it for walking.\n\n### By metro\n\nSalvador has a metro system consisting of two lines connecting the city center to some suburbs, the airport (Estação Aeroporto) and the long-distance bus terminal (Estação Rodoviária). Pelourinho district is 900 m away from Campo da Pólvora Station. Barra area is linked by very frequent city buses from Lapa Station.\n\nThe subway fare is R$3.70 including two city bus transfers with the subway card (Cartão Integração - easily bought at any subway station, including the airport) or with the Salvador bus card (Salvador Card).", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk008", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Sunset at [[Plataforma]]\n- Igreja de São Francisco\n\nAt the center of the *Cidade Alta* there are the two large squares **Praça da Sé** and the **Terreiro de Jesus** which are connected at the corner by the cathedral. The latter is probably the most lively part of town, with food carts and stalls through the day and revealers in the evening hours.\n- Museu Afro-Brasileiro\n\n - Largo do Pelourinho\n\n - Mercado Modelo\n\nthumb|163x163px|Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim\n - Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim\n\n**Abaeté Park** — A protected state park around the lake with the same name. The lake is famous because of the stark contrast between the dark water and the very white sand dunes. There is an entertainment area with a lot of bars and live music.\n - Solar do Unhão\n\n - Farol da Barra", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk009", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Do", "text": "You'll find a huge variety of things to do in Salvador. Some of the popular activities include:\n Day tour of Salvador - Salvador 500 years in 1 day (info: salvador-guide.basix.cc)\n Salvador Parks\n Salvador golf courses\n Salvador music festivals\n Surf trips\n Participate at a Candomblé ceremony. Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion that originated in Salvador and still has a significant following in Brazil. Their places of cult are called terreiros and many are open to visit. You can ask at FENACAB (Nacional de Culto Afro Brasileiro). They organise visits with a taxi for 100 Reais and have an office in Rua Portas do Carmo, 39 – 1º andar (antiga Alfredo de Brito) – Pelourinho +55 71 3321 1548. http://bahia.com.br/outros_servicos/federacao-nacional-de-culto-afro-brasileiro/ Many travel agencies also organize similar visits for the same price. They are free to enter and tourists are welcome to participate, so if you know a terreiros you can also go by yourself.\n\nA good Brazil tour guide in Salvador, known as a *guia de Salvador*, will be able to show you around lots of the attractions and activities if you want to explore on your own. A good option to get a general idea and find your way around in the city is the \"Salvador Bus\", an open-top tour bus passing by the main points of interest and offering explanation on the way.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk010", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Do", "text": "One of the main attractions in Salvador is the Carnaval. Salvador's giant **Carnaval**, the biggest of the world, according to the Guinness book of records, lasts for one week and is extremely popular with Brazilians and tourists alike. The event happens in mid-February and consists of parades, live entertainment, music, dancers and vendors. The main parades follow three circuits: one in the historic center Pelourinho (with mainly traditional groups in costumes), one on Campo Grande, where most bands play samba, and the most popular one in Barra/Ondina, where modern Brazilian Axé music mixes with percussion and all kinds of rhythms and styles, and the bands parade between \"Camarote\" boxes on one side and the beach on the other. Options to participate are either by watching from the camarote boxes, or purchasing an \"abadá\" shirt to join a group that accompanies one of the bands throughout the parade.\n\nYou can expect to have a lot of fun if you vacation in Salvador during Carnaval. Salvador also has many other attractions that tourists will find enjoyable. these include golf courses, museums and even an old 17th-century fort. Anyone wishing to visit Salvador Brazil will find their trip to be entertaining, fun and full of wonderful memories.\n\n### Go to the beach", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk011", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Do", "text": "Visiting a Salvador beach is a highlight for many tourists. One of the main central Salvador beaches is Porto de Barra. It was originally the site of the first settlement of European newcomers to Bahia. It can get very crowded on weekends. The north-East region of Salvador concentrates most beaches with good water quality. Flamengo and Stella Maris are the most popular beaches among tourists and upper class locals. They have excellent tourist infrastructure and rough waters excellent for surfing. Jaguaribe, Piatã and Itapoã, with calmer waters, are mostly frequented by locals and can become quite crowded at weekends. They are a good option with you want to mix with the local population, but don't bring anything besides your clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and some cash, as muggings are quite common.\n\nThe other beaches of Salvador aren't suited for bathing, but still can be good for walking, cycling, or taking pictures. Farol da Barra has a beautiful view (specially during the sunset), but it's difficult to walk due to the rocks. \"Farol\" means lighthouse, and this beach is known for its lighthouse as well as being popular with surfers. A much safer choice is nearby Plakaford. Here the calm waters and soft sandy beaches are welcoming for families and children. In the city south, there is an array of beautiful beaches that include Tinhare and Boipeba.\n\nFor a nice day trip, catch the ferry to the laid-back island of Itaparica.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk012", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Buy", "text": "Salvador shopping is the bargain hunters paradise. There is nothing that you cannot find in a mall. If you plan to buy popular art, crafts and clothing, check the small stores at the Old Town or head to the Mercado Modelo (Model Market). Locals like to shop at American-style shopping malls:\n\n Shopping Center Iguatemi\n Salvador Shopping \n Shopping Barra\n Shopping Itaigara\n Shopping Center Lapa\n Shopping Piedade\n Bahia Outlet Center\n Salvador Norte Shopping\n Aeroclube Shopping & Office\n\nThe first thing that anyone wanting to shop in Salvador should know is that it is essential to haggle. very few vendors will stick to their given price. If pushed they will always go lower. If you are looking for souvenirs you may want to check out Litoral Norte located at Rua Gregorio de Matos 30. They sell t-shirts and other items. Most will cost you no more than $5.\n\nIf you want local art you should visit Pelourhino. There are many galleries that double as stores. Galeria 13 at Rua Santa Isabel 13 displays work by local artists.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk013", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Eat", "text": "Bahian restaurants are considered to be among the best in Brazil. The majority of Bahia restaurants offer South American cuisine but there a few that offer other specialties. For example, the Maria Mato Mouro located at Rua 3A Ordem de São Francisco, Pelourinho serves a wide range of seafood dishes from all over the world although most are from South America. One of the most popular dishes is the grilled bahia fish badejo. This restaurant is open daily from noon until 1AM and offers main courses from $15 to $25. The Terreiro de Jesus is a great place to sample the local cuisine from street stalls, served by Afro-Brazilian *baianas* in their traditional white dresses. A must try dish is the Abara. This is a wrap with bean paste, dende oil and onions all cooked in a banana leaf with spices for flavour. if you prefer western food then you will find many fast-food places like Burger King, McDonald's, Subway or Pizza Hut. You also will find casual dinner chains like Outback Steakhouse.\n\nBe sure to try **acarajé**, small fritters made from black-eyed peas and onions fried in palm oil slathered with spicy **vatapá** (shrimp paste). These are sold by Baianas on the street.\n\n### Budget\n\n**Acarajé da Cira**, Largo de Itapuã, 3249-4170. Fresh acarajé daily from 10:00-23:00. There is also another location on the Largo da Mariquita in Rio Vermelho.\n**Acarajé da Dica**, Rua J, Castro Rabelo, Pelourinho. Open Tu-Sa 15:00-23:00, Su 10:00-01:00.\n **Health Valley Brasil**, Rua Direita da Piedade (*in the city center*). Vegetarian restaurant run by an African couple. Serving typical dishes based around ginger. Very popular with the local alternative crowd. Buffet including fruit juice and dessert costs R$12.\n**Quiosque de Amaralina**, Ave Otávio Mangabeira, Amaralina. Serving acarajé near the beach from 4PM to midnight.\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Bistrô PortoSol\n\n - Companhia da Pizza\n\n - La Figa\n\n - Maria Mata Mouro\n\n - Meridiano\n\n - São Salvador\n\n - Panela da Bahia\n\n - Hostel Galeria 13\n\n- Bahia Beach house Rentals\n\n- Pousada Rancho Fundo\n\n### Splurge\n\n **Amado**, Ave Contorno. Contemporary cuisine.\n **Barbacoa**, Ave Tancredo Neves. Fine meat dishes and some of Salvador's best *feijoada* in a refined atmosphere.\n **Boi Preto**, Boca do Rio (*in front of Aeroclube Plaza Show near the Convention Center*). One of the best *churrascarias* in town. Full buffet and salad bar plus unlimited fine cuts of meat.\n - Casa do Comércio\n\n **Marc Le Dantec**, Pier Sul Apartment Service, Ondina. The best French restaurant in the city.\n **Mistura**, Itapoã. Specializing in fish and international cuisine.\n **Trapiche Adelaide**, Comércia. Voted among the best fine dining in the city, with a fine view of the Bay of All-Saints.\n **Yemanjá**, Ave Otávio Mangabeira 9292, Pitubá, 231-5570. Long held nationally and internationally as the standard in typical Bahian cuisine.\nNo trip to a Salvador restaurant is complete without dessert. The Bahia region is famed for its sweet tooth. A Cubana at Rua Alfredo de Brito 12 is open daily from 08:00 until 22:00. It is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor or sorvetoria with 28 homemade flavors.", "word_count": 508}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk014", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Drink", "text": "Be aware of bars charging an entrance fee on exit.If you want top make sure that there is no cover ask when ordering the first drink.\n\n### Bars\n\n **Bar da Ponta**, beside the Trapiche Adelaide. A place to see and be seen, drink, and have a fantastic view of the bay.\n **Beco dos Artistas**, near Campo Grande. One of the gay and lesbian areas of the city, with a diversified crowd. Friday and Saturday nights only. The area has various bars and a restaurant (the nightclub is now closed). Aim to get there around 22:00, as it starts to empty around midnight as people move onto other clubs.\n **Bohemia Music Bar**, Jardim Brasil. The comfortable atmosphere, live music, and a varied menu make this a popular pick-up spot. The places often checks for IDs at the entrance.\n **Chuleta**, Vale do Canela (*near the UFB campus and the neighborhoods of Graça and Vitória*). *Boteco* frequented by university students, famous for its cheap beer and for the meat snack from which the bar takes its name. Open air, plastic tables.\n **Largo de Santana**, Rio Vermelho. This busy street has various bars and restaurants, and some of the best *acarajé* in town.\n **Mercado do Peixe**, Rio Vermelho (*at the seaside in front of the Blue Tree Towers Hotel*). One of the best after-hours spots, Mercado do Peixe is a real Salvador institution. It starts to get busy after 03:00 when everywhere else is closing. With simple accommodations and plastic tables, various stands stay open offering *moquecas* and regional appetizers, in addition to drinks. During the day it is, as its name suggests, a traditional seafood market.\n - Casarão do Lord\n\n **Hostel Galeria 13**, Pelourinho, Rua da ordem terceira no 23. The new native English speaking owner has travelled and worked in many famous bars and clubs around the world you will get a chance to check out his knowledge of drinks. They offer great juices with a touch of ginger 'refreshing', or maybe a caipirinha or roska with water melon already being boasted the best in Brasil, a big Claim take him up on it. You can enjoy your drinks in the garden or the most original spot in Pelourinho, the Moroccan \"chill out\" room.\n - Bar Zulu\n\n### Nightclubs\n\n **Dolce**, on the first floor of Shopping Boulevard 161, Itaigara. Very busy club, attracting a somewhat older crowd.\n - Fashion Club\n\n - Off Clube\n\n**Rock in Rio Café** — Often mentioned in tourist guides but now closed.\n**Zauber Multicultura**, Ladeira da Misericórdia, 11, Edifício Taveira, Comércio, 71 3326 2964. Combining music and visual arts in one of the most important historic areas of the city. The space bridges between the old (architecture) and the new (decoration). Find out what is going on before you go, and take a taxi, as the location is in a rather dangerous and prostitution-plagued area of the city.", "word_count": 480}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk015", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are luxury hotels on the beach. Salvador also has discount hotels that offer cheap rates for those on a budget. There are also hostels in Pelourinho that are reasonably priced, but noisy at night.\n\n### Budget\n\n- Albergue da Lucia\n\n**A Meson Pousada**, Rua Portas do Carmo 11, **Pelourinho** 51 71 3322-8039 offers affordable lodging in the middle of all the action, day and night, for Salvador's Historic District.\n**Hostel Pais Tropical **, Largo do Pelourinho 7, **Pelourinho** 51 71 3322-1859 Situated in the heart of Salvador. Offers economical prices, good breakfast and support for speaking in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Polish.\n - Open House\n\n - Ibis Salvador Rio Vermelho\n\n - Hotel Ondimar\n\n - Sol Plaza Sleep\n\n - São Jorge\n\n - Praia da Sereia\n\n - Che Lagarto\n\nThere are 3 hostels affiliated with Hostelling International: two are in Barra and one in Pelourinho. All are quality youth hostels.\n\n - Hostel Barra\n\n - Laranjeiras Hostel\n\n - Hostel Galeria13\n\n - Casa de Mainha Friendly Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Pousada Poesia Hotel\n\n - Bahia Othon Palace Hotel\n\n- Bahia Beach house Rentals\n\n - A Casa das Portas Velhas\n\n - Vila Galé Salvador\n\n- Pousada Rancho Fundo\n\n - Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho\n\n - Iguatemi Business Flat\n\n - Golden Park Hotel\n\n - Marazul Hotel\n\n - Atlantic Towers\n\n - Hotel Cocoon\n\n - Pousada Des Arts\n\n - Pousada Santo Antonio\n\n - Portobello Ondina\n\n - Sol Vitória Marina\n\n - Holiday Inn\n\n - Ondina Apart\n\n - Pisa Plaza\n\n### Splurge\n\n- Aram Yami\n\n - Zank Hotel Boutique\n\n - Hotel Casa do Amarelindo\n\n - Vila Galé Salvador\n\n - Pestana Bahia Lodge\n\n - Convento do Carmo\n\n - Villa Bahia\n\n - Fiesta Bahia Hotel", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk016", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Cope", "text": "You can extend your visa or visa-free stay in Brazil with the Policia Federal inside the airport on the second floor. Just follow the signs.\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Romania", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk017", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The situation of the shanty towns of Greater Salvador is similar to that of the Greater Rio's favelas. As in Rio, these areas in Salvador are not permanently occupied by the police. These conflicts are restricted to the slums of the Salvador metropolitan area and do not affect tourist areas of the city. A high degree of caution is recommended when visiting one of the several tourist attractions spread across the city, since Salvador has one of the highest street crime rates in Brazil.\n\nDue to high social inequality, Salvador is notorious for street crime, and for a tourist that wanders carelessly in the streets, the likelihood of a mugging or armed robbery is considerably higher than in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Salvador recognizes the importance of tourism to the city economy, so most important tourist sites such as Pelourinho and Mercado Modelo, as well as main popular festivals like the Carnaval, are usually heavily guarded.\n\nPeople with darker complexions will have an advantage over those with pale skin. Blacks are likely to blend in well; other dark-skinned people may be inconspicuous in many places, but others are immediately labelled as either upper class citizens or tourists, and may be specially targeted.\n\nIf you are moving on foot, by bicycle, or by bus, it's best to go out during the day. Avoid bringing anything valuable, just enough to enjoy your day. The Flamengo and Stella Maris beaches are among the safest places to go during the day, and they are the best options if you just want to enjoy a good beach without much local culture. In other places, try to stay at areas guarded by police.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk018", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "As a general rule, be suspicious if people approach you directly in a friendly way as they either want money or to sell you something. It's wise to reject an approach immediately and if necessary then think about it.\n\nAt night, it's better to take a cab to go out. Stay at reasonably crowded places. If you don't see other tourists where you are, then it's probably not a place you should be unless you are feeling particularly adventurous.", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk019", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Some areas which are strongly frequented by foreigners can become dangerous, especially at night, i.e. the Barra harbour area. *Never* go to the beach at night!\n The long sloping road leading from the old town to the harbor should be avoided even during the day. *Always* take the elevator.\n If you are staying in the touristic Barra area, beware of the favela near Shopping Barra, especially at night. The area just to the east toward the beach can be dangerous as well.\n Beware of vehicular traffic. Crossing the streets is always dangerous even when using a pedestrian crosswalk with the traffic light red for cars. As one member of Supergrass band once said: \"In Brazil green means go, and red means go faster!\" Start the crossing *only* when vehicles have already stopped.\n Never agree to share a taxi with other random people, especially if they approach you. Most likely, it's just a trap to rob you!\n Watch out for children in Pelourinho, especially on Tuesdays at the Geronimo Concert at the old church: they are reaching out for any low pockets in cargo pants!\nBe careful when walking near the Iguatemi: it is dangerous to wander there. Don't go there past 23:00, unless you are in a car or a taxicab, you *will* be robbed.\nIf you rented a car and stopped in a parking spot, *do not* stay in the car for too long. You will be a vulnerable target.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk020", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "When shopping always check the price first, especially if you are white and have blue or green eyes, many locals will see you complexion and feel they have the right to charge you double for services and products. Always ask for a Coupon Fiscal it ensures that the company or individual you are purchasing from pays the proper tax, and it can usually result in them \"suddenly\" giving you a 10 - 15% discount if you don't want the coupon as they have to pay 27% tax what you buy and the coupon ensures this.\n\nBe particularly aware of bancas and kiosks on the street as they will undoubtedly charge you more for being an *estrangeiro* (foreigner).\n\nAll the little extra money you are charged can seriously eat into your budget and leave a sour taste in your mouth as nobody likes being ripped off.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk021", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "As elsewhere in Brazil, some beaches in Salvador are not suitable for bathing, and conditions can change frequently. On the day of your visit, check the latest weekly bathing bulletin (in Portuguese, *boletim de balneabilidade*) of the state's Environment Department (INEMA).", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "salvador::chunk022", "doc_id": "salvador", "section": "Go next", "text": "Salvador is the gateway to many other nearby attractions such as:\nPraia do Forte. Beach town with the \"Project Tamar\" turtle sanctuary.\nImbassai. Just a few kilometers further north from Praia do Forte, this relaxed village's beach lies between the sea and a river that runs parallel to the ocean for a few hundred meters. Unique panorama.\nBoipeba. A beautiful and very pleasant island.\nMorro de São Paulo. Very frequented island by tourists and locals, plenty of restaurants, hostels and bars. It has four beaches with translucent water.\nMassarandupió. 90 km from Salvador, it's a true paradise, a semi-desert beach, with a small river. Walking by the beach you can reach a naturist area.\nAracaju and further north to Maceió and Recife\nChapada Diamantina National Park", "word_count": 126}
diff --git a/corpus/salvador/metadata.json b/corpus/salvador/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4285c74fde291c287fa848e0addba5939de4303d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/salvador/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "salvador",
+ "title": "Salvador",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Salvador",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "surfing",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Grande Salvador"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Praia do Forte",
+ "Imbassai",
+ "Boipeba",
+ "Morro de São Paulo",
+ "Massarandupió",
+ "Aracaju",
+ "Maceió",
+ "Recife",
+ "Chapada Diamantina National Park"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5362,
+ "listing_count": 62,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 23,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/samoa/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/samoa/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d224524cc81cfb917ac0bf827a9b1c83d0016f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/samoa/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk000", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Samoa** is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, part of Polynesia. It is an archipelago of 10 islands with ancient cultures, dramatic landscapes, and a variety of activities to do, such as snorkelling in Samoa's vibrant coral gardens.\n\nThe country has two main islands, which have narrow coastal plains with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in the interior. There are also smaller inhabited islands, and even uninhabited islands that you can visit by boat on day trips.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk001", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Regions", "text": "thumb|right|475px|Map of Samoa", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk002", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Cities", "text": "- Slightly run down, laid-back town with some good hotels. Good shopping, restaurants, bars and a public market.", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk003", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The main islands are the result of countless volcanic eruptions, leaving easily visible volcanic cones all over both islands. None of the volcanoes are active, but small earthquakes often rock the island, reminding people of the volcanoes' presence. In September 2009 the south coast of Upolu Island was hit by a devastating tsunami, with much loss of life.\n\nThe last volcanic eruption was in 1911, on Savaii. The eerie, lifeless lava fields that remain from this event can be visited easily, since the only sealed road on Savai'i goes right through the middle.\n\nBoth islands are almost entirely covered by lush vegetation, although almost none of it is the original rainforest that covered the island before humans arrived. Most of the land area is given over to farms or semi-cultivated forest, providing food and cash crops for the locals. Since Samoa has been inhabited for over three thousand years, the cultivated lands around villages can often seem like deepest, darkest jungle.\n\nThe population is around 205,000 in 2021, but many more Samoans live outside the country, particularly in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate is tropical with a rainy (and tropical cyclone) season from October to March and a dry season from May to October. The country has an average annual temperature of 26.5°C. This makes Samoa an ideal winter holiday destination for tourists living in the southern hemisphere.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Gravestone of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, the Mau a Pule leader\nSamoans arrived from Southeast Asia around 1500-1000 BC. The oldest known site of human occupation dates back to that time and is at Mulifanua on Upolu island.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk004", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1830 missionaries from the London Missionary Society, notably John Williams, arrived and Samoa rapidly embraced Christianity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as Mormons) has constructed several sizeable churches.\n\nBy the end of the 19th century Samoans had developed a reputation for being warlike, as fights had taken place between them and the British, Germans and Americans, who wanted to use Samoa as a refuelling station for coal-fired shipping and whaling and for commodities. On the island of 'Upolu German firms monopolised copra and cocoa bean production, while the United States formed alliances with local chieftains, mainly on the islands to the east, which were later annexed to the United States as American Samoa and have not been granted independence. Britain also sent troops to protect business interests. Germany, America and Britain supplied arms and training to warring Samoans, stoking tribal battles. All three sent warships into Apia harbour when, fortunately for Samoa, a large storm in 1889 damaged or destroyed the warships, ending the conflict.\n\nAn important arrival was Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish author, who travelled to the South Pacific for his health and settled in Samoa in the early 1890s. His house at Vailima in Upolu and his grave on the hill above it can be visited. Stevenson was known as \"Tusitala\" (teller of tales) and this name lives on in one of Apia's hotels.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk005", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the early 1900s an independence movement began on the island of Savai'i. Known as the Mau a Pule, this had widespread support throughout the country by the late 1920s. Supporters wore a Mau uniform of a navy blue lavalava with a white stripe, which was later banned by the colonial administration. On 28 December 1929 the New Zealand military fired on a peaceful Mau procession, killing 11 Samoans. New Zealand had occupied the German protectorate of **Western Samoa** on behalf of the British at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. As part of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I, Western Samoa was awarded to the United Kingdom, with New Zealand continuing to administer the islands on behalf of the British until 1962, when they became the first Polynesian nation in the 20th century to re-establish independence. The country dropped the \"Western\" (which distinguished it from American Samoa) from its name in 1997. It celebrates Independence Day on 1 June.\n\nTo promote closer ties with Australia & New Zealand, Samoa's largest trading partners, driving switched from the right to the left side of the road in September 2009. It was the first country to switch sides in many years, although its small size made things less chaotic. Then, in December 2011, Samoa switched sides of the International Date Line by moving from the east side (UTC -11) to the west side (UTC +13). The move was to help businesses with ties to New Zealand which only shared 3 working days a week (Monday in NZ was Sunday in Samoa & Friday in Samoa was Saturday in NZ).\n\n### Government", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk006", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Samoa is a republic governed by an elected council, or fono. Local government is by village. Each extended family has a chief, or Matai, and decisions are taken by the village fono, consisting of all of the matai.\n\nThe legal system is based on a combination of English common law and local customs.\n\n### Economy\n\nthumb|Blowhole on Savaii\nThe economy of Samoa is dependent on family remittances from overseas, development aid, and exports, in that order. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labour force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring nonu fruit, coconut cream, coconut oil and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Attempts to develop agriculture have been affected by cyclones and by a major blight disease to the country's staple root crop, taro, which is only now being overcome.\n\nThe decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem, due to both local overfishing and severe overfishing by Japanese factory trawlers. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 16% of GDP; about 85,000 tourists visited the islands in 2000. The 19th and 20th seasons of *Survivor* were filmed on Upolu in 2009 & 2010.\n\nThe Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labour market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, foreign debt is stable and inflation is low.\n\n### Culture\n\nSamoa is an island nation brimmed with culture, history and tradition. Fa'a Samoa, a traditional custom, literally means the \"Samoan Way\" and thrives in part of social policy.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nThe Samoa Tourism Authority manages information centres offering maps, brochures and other information for tourists.\n\n- STA Visitor Information Fale\n\n- Faleolo International Airport Information Booth", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk007", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Understand", "text": "- STA New Zealand Office", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk008", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official languages are **Samoan** and **English**.\n\nSamoan is the native language of most of the population. English is widely understood and spoken in the capital Apia as well as many tourist resorts. However, it is less commonly understood in the villages, so learning a few words of Samoan will help you get by and allow you to build a rapport with the locals.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk009", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nCitizens of *all countries* may visit Samoa without a visa for up to 60 days provided they have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months on their date of entry, an onward or return ticket out of Samoa and a bank statement with proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay. They must also never have been deported from any country, and must not have any serious health issues.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|View from Salelologa wharf\nThe main international airport, **Faleolo** (), is approximately a 45-minute drive from Apia. There are several banks at the airport and changing money on arrival is no problem, even though many flights arrive at inconvenient times. Most of the major hotels provide a transfer service on request, often free of charge. There are abundant taxis, and local buses during daytime. If you want to use the local bus, head straight to the main road and go where the locals wait. Ignore taxi-drivers who will want to make you believe there are no local buses.\n**Air New Zealand** provides six flights per week from Auckland.\n**Fiji Airways** has three flights a week from Nadi in Fiji, and one a week from Honolulu.\nQANTAS\nVirgin Australia\n\nIf flights permit, try to arrive in daylight. From above, the lagoon is a stunning aquamarine colour. The journey between the airport and Apia is also very attractive.\n\nNote that shops and restaurants close early and most hotels do not offer 24-hour room service. So if you arrive late at night still hungry after airline food it might be a good idea to pick up something at the airport.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere is a weekly ferry from Pago Pago in neighbouring American Samoa.\n\nA twice-monthly service by the MV Tokelau connects Apia Harbour with Tokelau.\n\nDepending on the season, people sail their yachts to Samoa and dock at Apia. There are good facilities close to the main port, with 60 berths offering electricity, fresh water and 24-hour security. Visiting boats must arrive in Apia and should contact the Samoa Port Authority at least two days before ETA to arrange necessary clearances on arrival. Permission is required to sail elsewhere in Samoa.\n\n**Ports and harbours** include Apia, Asau, Mulifanua & Salelologa. Container ships and cruise liners dock at Apia Harbour, but many smaller fishing boats and village boats use the smaller docks.", "word_count": 398}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk010", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|250px|A typical Samoan bus\n\n### By taxi\n\nGenerally your best bet. They are cheap and plentiful. The Samoa Tourism Authority, to be found in front of the Government office complex on Beach Road, Apia, has a price list for Apia. Do agree on a price in advance; if they think you look rich they may try to overcharge you. You can get one for a whole day for about the same price as a rental car.\n\n### By car\n\nTraffic in Samoa drives on the left. Samoa changed from driving on the right-hand side of the road in 2009. Since then there has been an avalanche of cheap, reconditioned cars from Japan and traffic jams, previously unknown, are now common in the capital, Apia. Even on the roads outside the capital traffic tends to move slowly, due to the cautious and inexperienced drivers and to the numerous speed bumps.\n\nAs international driving licences are not accepted you need to obtain a temporary local licence. These are easy to get from the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) office at the airport or in Apia, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Apia or direct from a number of car rental firms. The cost is WST$21 and it is valid for one month. Details on car rental firms are provided on the pages on Upolu and Savaii.\n\n### By scooter\n\nAs per cars above, international driving licences are not accepted you need to obtain a temporary local licence. These are easy to get from the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) office at the airport or in Apia, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Apia or direct from a number of car rental firms. The cost is WST$21 and it is valid for one month. Details on scooter rental firms are provided on the pages on Upolu and Savaii.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses are cheap and a ride on one will be a memorable experience. Buses on Upolu fan out from two locations in Apia, close to the main market and behind the flea market. On Savaii, all routes begin near the ferry wharf at Salelologa.\n\n### By bike\n\nPossible and quite enjoyable but 'Upolu has a few fairly steep and hilly sections and the cross island roads are about 7 km steep uphill to their crests. Savai'i has only 2 or 3 small steep sections (around the western end).\n\n300px|thumb|right|Falefa Valley, looking north from Le Mafa pass at the east end of Upolu Island", "word_count": 409}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk011", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "See", "text": "This is just a summary of what to see. Consult Apia, Savaii and Upolu for more detailed information.\n\n **National Parks.** There are several national parks in both Upolu and Savaii. These offer tropical vegetation, numerous birds and some interesting lakes. Falealupo Rainforest Preserve on Savaii has a short canopy walkway and you can sleep in the trees. Lake Lanoto'o National Park on Upolu has a fascinating lake where introduced goldfish thrive and grow to amazing sizes. At O le Pupu Pue National Park you can find Togigoiga Waterfalls, the Ma Tree and the Coastal Lava Cliff Walk.\nthumb|right|250px|Sopoaga Falls on Upolu Island\n\n **Waterfalls.** The inland areas of Savaii and Upolu have some spectacular waterfalls, some with 100m drops. Those on Upolu are a bit more accessible. Papase'ea Sliding Rocks on Upolu have only a slight drop but the vegetation on the falls permits an interesting slide into the pool below.\n** Blowholes.** Savaii has some spectacular blowholes caused by the sea forcing water up through tubes in volcanic rocks.\n **Caves.** There are interesting caves on both islands.\n **Lava Fields.** Parts of Savaii are covered by lava rock, following various eruptions by Mt. Matavanu. There is a large lava field at the end of the O le Pupu Pue National Park Coastal Lava Cliff walk and also some interesting cave like formations at the To Sua Ocean Trench.\n **Villages.** Although Western-style buildings are gaining in popularity, traditional Samoan *fales* are still found everywhere. These are of an oval or circular shape with wooden posts holding up a domed roof. There are no walls, although blinds can be lowered to give privacy. The village is very important to Samoan culture and there are strict rules governing the way village societies function.\n **Beaches.** Samoa has miles and miles of beautiful and empty beaches. There is a range of accommodation, from simple beach fales to luxurious resorts. Beaches invariably belong to the nearest village and the villages often request a small fee for their use.\n **Museums.** Samoa was home to the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson for the last five years of his life. His home, just outside Apia, is now a museum. The Museum of Samoa in Apia is also well worth a visit.\n **Kilikiti.** This is the local version of cricket and is very popular in Samoan villages among both men and women. The principle of the game is the same as cricket but the rules vary considerably and there seems to be considerable flexibility in their interpretation. The most obvious differences are the bat and that balls are bowled from each end alternately rather than employing the six-ball overs of cricket. Kilikiti is played on concrete pitches on village greens, and is accompanied by lots of noise and considerable enthusiasm.", "word_count": 459}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk012", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Do", "text": "Below is just an indication of things to do in Samoa. For more detailed information, see Upolu, Savaii and Apia.\n\n **A Samoan Tattoo.** This traditional art form is very much a part of the Samoan culture. There are different designs for women and men; in the case of men the tattoo can cover half the body. Beware that the tattooing process can be very painful, but if you think you can take the pain ask at your hotel or guest house for advice on local tattoo artists.\n **Get married.** Samoa is a popular place to get married and spend your honeymoon. Several hotels and resorts offer special packages on their web sites and they will make all the arrangements.\n **Golf.** Golf is very popular in Samoa. There is even a suggestion that the Daylight Saving Time was introduced primarily so that executives could get in a round of golf after work before it got dark. All courses are on Upolu. Two are close to Apia, one near the airport and a nine-hole course is found on the south coast.\n **Diving.** Scuba diving is a relatively new activity in Samoa. Both Upolu and Savai'i have great dive spots, with around 900 fish species and 200 types of coral. There are dive companies operating on both islands.\n **Fishing.** Samoa is a popular fishing destination. Fish in the local waters include blue and black marlin, sailfish, yellowfin, and the giant trevally. Most charter companies operate out of Apia harbour.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk013", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the **Samoan tālā**, denoted as \"**WS$**, \"T\", \"ST\" or \"SAT\" (ISO currency code: **WST**). 1 tālā consists of 100 sene. \n\nCoins come in denominations of 10-, 20 and 50 sene, 1 and 2 tālā. Banknotes come in denominations of 5-, 10-, 20-, 50 and 100 tālā. There is also a 60 tālā banknote, but it is worth more as a collector's piece than as circulating currency.\n\nLocal laws make it illegal to carry out business in a foreign currency. Changing money is relatively easy.\n\n### Shopping\n\nBusiness hours are from 09:00 to 17:00 on Mondays to Fridays, and on Saturday mornings. Some supermarkets are beginning to open on Sundays as well. If you are feeling hungry at night, then bakers' shops open late to sell fresh-baked bread.\n\nSamoa is relatively inexpensive for western visitors. Haggling is not customary and is in fact considered rude. Tipping is not practiced or expected in Samoa.\n\n - Apia Public Market\n\n - Apia Flea Market\n\n- Farmer Joe's", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk014", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Roasting a pig on an umu\nEating is an extremely important part of Samoan life. They often take food with them when they travel. Samoan food is not highly spiced or seasoned. It uses ingredients that are relatively unfamiliar to most Westerners, such as breadfruit, taro (or talo), taro leaves, cooked green bananas and raw fish.\n **Umu.** The umu is the traditional method used for cooking. A fire is built and stones placed on it. When the fire is down to the embers the ingredients, such as green bananas, breadfruit, taro, fish, palusami and pork are placed on the stones. It is then covered with banana leaves and left to cook.\n** Oka** is the way Samoans prepare raw fish. It consists of small bits of fish that are marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, coconut cream, salt and finely chopped onions.\n **Palusami** is made from taro leaves and coconut cream. The coconut cream, onions and some taro are wrapped in whole taro leaves and cooked in an umu. Well cooked, this can be unforgettable and you should not leave Samoa without trying it.\n **Corned beef.** Samoa rapidly adopted this import and it is widely used as an accompaniment to Umus and other dishes.\n\nUnfortunately it is difficult to find these delicacies, maybe partly because western food is more “cool”, partly because the average tourists want to eat what they eat at home. The usual things you get are more or less good imitations of western-style or Chinese food. The market in Apia is a good place if you want to try some of the local stuff. It's also a good idea to stock up on fruit there before heading anywhere on the islands.\n\nMost restaurants are casual and not too expensive. Places to eat are listed in the pages for Upolu, Apia and Savaii. Outside of Apia, most of the best places are associated with hotels or resorts.", "word_count": 320}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk015", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Drink", "text": "No significant gathering in Samoa, whether official or for pleasure, is complete without the 'Ava (or kava) ceremony at the beginning. Kava's scientific name is *Piper methysticum*, which means *intoxicating pepper*. The roots of the plant are used to produce a mildly narcotic drink that is passed around meetings following strict rules. However, you do not need to participate in a Samoan cultural event to try it. On some days it can be purchased at Apia's central market (marketi fou).\n\nThe local beer is Vailima beer. It's cheap and you can buy it everywhere.\n\nNon-alcoholic beverages and bottled water are available in all roadside stores. Coke, Fanta and Sprite are available in 750 ml glass bottles for about WS$4. You will need a bottle opener for these if you want to take them with you to drink later; otherwise stores will have a bottle opener available. Bottled water is available in a range of sizes.\n\nAlcohol is plentiful in the bars. There's not that much in most stores and it tends to be expensive. **Le Well** near the market in Apia (ask any taxi driver) has a good range at the best prices. For heavy drinkers, the cheapest liquor is generally vodka in large (1.75 L) plastic bottles. This may be bought from supermarkets and bottle shops and is also available in smaller 750 ml bottles for about WS$25. Imported wines are generally very expensive, although not as expensive as in the restaurants.\n\nThere are lots of smaller bars and night spots to check out. Also every hotel has a bar as do most of the restaurants.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk016", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|right|250px|A fale in a village near Apia\n\n**Beach fales** are an enjoyable and inexpensive way to stay in Samoa. A list can be obtained from the Samoa Tourism Authority (info@samoa.travel), but the best way to know where to stay is to ask other travelers. Samoa is not very big and tourism is limited, so you will bump into the same people once in a while making it easy to exchange information.\n\nWith the explosion in accommodation it is now less necessary for those wanting to visit the remoter parts of Samoa, particularly Savaii, to stay in villages, which was fairly common in the past. However, this is still possible. If you want to stay in, or even just visit, a village it is important to remember not to offend local culture. See **Respect**, below.\n\nThere is also a good range of resorts, hotels and guest houses in Samoa. \nAccommodations are listed under Apia, Upolu and Savaii. Please do not list them here.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk017", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Learn", "text": "University of the South Pacific, Apia\n National University of Samoa", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk018", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Samoa is a generally safe destination. Crime rates are low and people are very helpful and friendly. Items do, sometimes, get stolen. With sensible precautions, however, the threat of this happening should be minimal.\n\nFree roaming dogs can be a safety problem in the capital Apia. The Government of Samoa (GoS) passed the Canine Control Act in 2013 as an initial step toward addressing dog management. Most dogs won't see you as a threat, and will ignore you, if you ignore them. Pretending to pick up a rock will usually scare them away.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk019", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Sunbathing on Upolu\nSamoa is a malaria-free zone. However, there are occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and (since 2014) chikungunya, so precautions should be taken such as using mosquito nets and insect repellent. Note that the mosquito that transmits dengue normally bites during the day.\n\nDrink **bottled water**. It's cheap and readily available.\n\nThere are no known poisonous animals or insects on land, although centipedes can give you a very painful bite. In the water beware of purple cone shells, sea urchins, fire coral, etc. If not using fins, wearing footwear while snorkelling is highly recommended.\n\nSome travellers have reported a violent allergic reaction to the ceremonial drink kava. Symptoms include a very obvious rash and swelling to the neck and face area, sweating and discomfort. Medical attention should be sought immediately and a prescription for Prednisolone usually does the trick. It takes from 12 to 24 hours for the effects to noticeably subside.\n\nThere are two hospitals in Apia and one on Savaii at Tuasivi, a couple of miles north of the ferry wharf at Salelologa.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk020", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Respect", "text": "Samoa is very religious, with most of the population following the Anglican denomination. This means that Sunday is generally respected as a holy day and most shops and businesses are closed. You should not walk through villages on Sundays.\n\nMany villages have a prayer curfew in place at sundown. This normally lasts around half an hour. You should be careful to avoid walking through villages at this time to avoid causing offence.\n\nSamoan culture is governed by strict protocols and etiquette. Although allowances are made for foreigners, it is wise to avoid revealing clothing and to comply with village rules which are enforced by the village *matai* (chiefs), although Apia is quite relaxed in these traditions.\n\nWomen going topless is ***taboo***, and they should only wear swimwear at the beach. Shorts should be knee length. Shirts should be worn when not at the beach. A *lavalava* (sarong) is nearly always acceptable attire.\n\nOther simple things, such as removing shoes before entering a house (or, for that matter, budget accommodation), should be observed.\n\nThe main island of Upolu is known as the \"modern\" island, where most northern coast villages are quite relaxed with the old strict traditions, whilst Savai'i is the more traditional island, but has become more relaxed. But nude bathing is definitely **taboo**.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk021", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Connect", "text": "Samoa has an adequate telephone system with international calling. Some villages have public phones that require a pre-paid phone card.\n\nSamoa.ws, ipasifika.net and Lesamoa are the Internet service providers. There are several public Internet access points in Apia, where fast, reliable access can be had for around WS$12 (US$4) per hour. There are a couple of internet cafes on Savaii. If planning to stay in remote parts of Upolu or Savaii and you cannot survive without your daily internet fix then check in advance with the hotel to make sure it has wifi. Most don't.\n\nThe CSL cafe across the road from McDonald's in Apia has a fast internet connection for around WS$5 per 30 min. You can also buy credit there (WS$15 for 1 h / WS$70 for 10 h) to use your laptop at wifi lavaspots at various locations around town and even on Savaii. The lavaspot connection and download speed is very good. Some hotels sell the same WiFi credit at higher prices than at CSL.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "samoa::chunk022", "doc_id": "samoa", "section": "Go next", "text": "For those with plenty of time and a real sense of adventure, take the fortnightly boat to Tokelau.", "word_count": 18}
diff --git a/corpus/samoa/metadata.json b/corpus/samoa/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2d9ea94302daf4545dab5122bd38293a94198487
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/samoa/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "samoa",
+ "title": "Samoa",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Samoa",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Polynesia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Tokelau"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4361,
+ "listing_count": 6,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 23,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/san-francisco/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/san-francisco/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..53cee759da76ac0f3c83d182aea28daea87c7f58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/san-francisco/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk000", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Overview", "text": "The centerpiece of the Bay Area, **San Francisco** is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world.\n\nSandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city. Great ethnic and cultural diversity shows itself in the city's varied neighborhoods, from the crowded and exciting streets of Chinatown to the eclectic attitudes of the Castro and the gleaming condominium towers built on the city's more recently gained tech-savvy reputation.\n\nAnd yet San Francisco is just one of the cities which makes up the entire San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of 827,000 residents within the city proper (2024), and at the center of a metropolitan area of 9.7 million people (2018), the city is a fantastic base to explore the treasures of San Francisco's neighbors to the east across the Bay Bridge, to the north past the Golden Gate Bridge, and to the south down the peninsula. There's enough to see that one could devote a lifetime to exploring the region, and it'll become clear why people continue to make their way to this special place.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk001", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Districts", "text": "Each district of San Francisco carries its own unique and distinct culture. This map is predominantly based on the 11 official governmental districts of San Francisco, but it has been adapted to suit the purposes of this travel guide. Some districts of particular interest to travelers have been broken up into popular neighborhood groupings, while others, mainly residential districts, have been merged.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk002", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nPrior to European settlement in the area, the peninsula that now contains San Francisco was home to the Yelamu tribe, who were part of the larger Ohlone language group which stretched south from the Bay Area to the Big Sur of California. Due to San Francisco's characteristic foggy weather, the earliest European explorers in the 1600s completely bypassed what would later be called the Golden Gate and the San Francisco Bay.\n\nIn 1769, the bay was discovered by overland explorers who realized there was a strait blocking their path up the coast. The first European settlement in the area was founded by the Spanish in 1776 as a **mission** community surrounding the Mission San Francisco de Asís, in what is today called the Mission Dolores in the Mission District. In addition to the mission, a military fort was built near the Golden Gate: El Presidio.\n\nUpon gaining independence from Spain in 1821, the area became part of Mexico. Under Mexican rule, the mission system gradually came to an end and private ownership of land became a possibility. In 1835, an Englishman named William Richardson founded the town of **Yerba Buena**, the first significant settlement on the peninsula outside of the Mission Dolores area. As the new settlement gradually grew, Yerba Buena developed a street plan and became attractive to settlers. Following the Mexican-American War the United States claimed California, and in July 1846 the U.S. Navy arrived to raise the American flag above Yerba Buena. Over the next couple of years, California officially became part of the United States and the name of the town was changed from Yerba Buena to San Francisco.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk003", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1848 the **California Gold Rush** started in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Prior to the opening of the Transcontinental Railroad, getting to San Francisco involved an arduous overland journey or a lengthy voyage by sea, but that didn't stop waves of fortune-seeking immigrants from making the trip, increasing the city's population from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands. Many who made their fortunes then settled in San Francisco, which at the time was the largest, most exciting city in California. Like other large cities, eventually San Francisco developed into districts by nationality or social status: the Italians in North Beach, the Chinese in Chinatown, and the wealthy mining and railroad titans on Nob Hill; the city's Chinese name, 舊金山, literally \"Old Gold Mountain\", reflects this heritage as a gold rush town. During the gold rush years many major businesses were created and flourished in San Francisco (Wells Fargo Bank, Levis, Bank of America), and famous and infamous personalities alike settled in the city. Of course, with all this success came problems: the rapid growth of the city outstripped any efforts at city planning, meaning proper sanitation and infrastructure were largely undeveloped, which led to a cholera outbreak in 1855. Violence and corruption were evident, and anti-immigrant violence resulted in many race riots.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk004", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the 1890s, there was a large campaign to modernize and beautify the city, the success of which led some officials to proudly call San Francisco the \"Paris of the West.\" But in 1906, a devastating **earthquake** shook the city and a resulting fire leveled much of the city (in fact, almost 90% of the total damage was from the fire, and not from the quake). Nevertheless, officials at the time immediately set out on a plan to rebuild the city, with new parks, boulevards, the current civic center complex, and landmarks such as the Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. In 1915, San Francisco hosted the Panama-Pacific Exposition (where the Palace of Fine Arts complex is now) to showcase the completely rebuilt city. The *Balclutha*, a ship that traveled to Oregon to acquire lumber for this purpose, is now docked in San Francisco as a museum and venue for historical reenactors to educate elementary-school students.\n\nIn the wake of the Great Depression of the 1930s, San Francisco remained largely unscathed. In fact, it was during this time that the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge were conceived and built. It was also during this time that the federal government established a prison on Alcatraz Island, which would hold some of the most notorious criminals of the era.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk005", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "After World War II, San Francisco continued to grow in population. Aggressive urban planning projects led to a changing skyline, with more highrises in the city's financial district and new freeways rimming the city's waterfront. But in some sense the years after World War II were also unique in what *didn't* happen; while cable cars were once commonplace throughout North America, San Francisco remains the last place to still have them in daily use as actual transportation. Sprawl and auto-centric development have also happened in San Francisco, but less so than in most other American cities and it is therefore still one of the best destinations to explore the United States without a car. In later years, the waterfront freeways were deemed an eyesore and eventually torn down and replaced with the far more pleasant Embarcadero Boulevard.\n\nBesides being a beautiful city to visit, from the 1950s forward San Francisco became known as the city of the cool, quirky, unusual, and **counterculture**. There were the Beatniks of the 1950s and 60s, and the hippies in the 1960s and 70s. \"Only in San Francisco\" became part of the lexicon to describe San Francisco's counterculture and rebel population, a reputation that still exists. The film industry also made San Francisco world-famous and instantly recognizable; the city provides a superb backdrop for a movie, regardless of genre or topic.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk006", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since 2000, San Francisco has experienced a **development boom**. Even with the burst of the dot-com bubble, the economy has remained robust and the city government pushed for redevelopment of its blighted industrial section known as \"South of Market\". The SoMa area has become crowded with new condominium and office buildings, new tourist attractions, and dot-com industries. The city's efforts shielded it somewhat from the 2008 recession and subsequent real estate crash. The financial sector is second only to tourism as San Francisco's largest industry, with the city consistently remaining at the top five of the world's most popular tourist destinations. The rise of Silicon Valley and high-tech industries have also contributed significantly to San Francisco's economy, with many tech workers living in San Francisco but commuting to the rest of the Bay Area for work. San Francisco is not without its problems, however, as the large influx of high-income university-educated professionals in the tech and finance sectors has also led to skyrocketing rents and consumer prices, which have made San Francisco among the most expensive cities in the world, and driven many long-time low-income residents into homelessness.\n\n### Climate\n\n\"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.\" — attributed to Mark Twain\n\nThe best time to visit San Francisco is late September through October, when it is relatively the warmest. All year long, it never gets too cold for winter clothing, and it rarely gets warm enough for shorts and sandals. You will typically need a sweater after sunset, and a windbreaker if you're out by the western part of the peninsula. Prepare to dress in layers to adequately face the microclimates––wind and temperature conditions can change within less than a mile's walk.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk007", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "San Francisco has a mild climate, with cool, wet winters and dry summers. In most months, you can expect the high temperature to be in the upper 50s, 60s or low 70s °F (15-25 °C). However, these mild temperature readings belie a unique climate not shared by other major cities in the state or country.\n\nSummer days usually start out under fog, slowly burning off towards the ocean into a sunny albeit windy afternoon. Measurable precipitation during the summer months is rare, although light drizzle is possible. Humidity is very constant, but rarely uncomfortable. At late afternoon, when the fog and wind returns people generally find themselves needing a jacket (and this is summer!). There are some days when the fog lingers all day. Daylight lasts from 6AM to 8:30PM.\n\nIn the winter, the rainy season is in full swing. That being said, the chances for a calm, windless, sunny day are actually higher in the winter than in the summer! However, the overall temperatures are going to be lower in the winter. There have long been one-week warm spells in February. In the last couple years (2021-2022), these have gotten longer, lasting through February and even into January. The sun is only up from 7:15AM to 5PM.\n\nSpring and fall are not so much seasons in themselves in San Francisco, but rather they are quick transitional periods with some days resembling summer and others the winter. Fall in particular is a good time to visit because the summer wind & fog has mostly gone, but the rainy season has not yet started. The late summer month of September, as summer transitions into fall, is the warmest and driest month of the entire year for San Francisco. Heat waves can occasionally occur around this time of year.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk008", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "Within these general rules, San Francisco also has a series of microclimates created by the city's topography and maritime setting. Large hills in the city's center block much of the fog, wind, and precipitation that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. Because of this, there can be significant weather differences in different parts of the city and the surrounding Bay Area at the same time. Generally, the more windward areas along the coast (e.g., the Outer Sunset) are cooler and foggier, while the more leeward areas in the east are warmer and drier (e.g., the Mission). Temperature differences of 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit or so are common on days where the fog persists on the western side of the city. These differences continue as you move east, out of the city, into the East bay, and into the outer East Bay (on the other side of the hills from Berkeley and Oakland), where it can be much hotter and drier. Local meteorologists routinely have three forecasts: one for the coast, one for the bay, and one for the inland areas. In short, if you don't like the weather, perhaps travel a few miles east or west to your desired climate.\n\n### Read\n\nSan Francisco literature finds its roots in the city's long and often tumultuous history, its diversity, and its attraction to eclectic characters; the city was a major center for the Beat poetry movement and seems to also hold an uncanny attraction for science fiction writers. Among the most famous works set in San Francisco:", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk009", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "Jack Kerouac spent a lot of time in San Francisco, and portions of two of his most influential works are set here: *On the Road* and *The Dharma Bums*. Both are accounts of Kerouac examining his place in the universe; the first a tale of a man traveling the country, the second a story of someone looking for the simple life.\n*The Maltese Falcon*, Dashiell Hammett. A gripping detective novel set in San Francisco that would come to define the private detective genre. The novel follows private eye Sam Spade as he tries to retrieve a valuable bird figurine, and has been adapted into film twice, including one where Spade was played by none other than Humphrey Bogart.\n*Tales of the City*, Armistead Maupin. A famous series which offers an excellent look into 1970s San Francisco, particularly the city's counter culture and alternative lifestyles.\n Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson lived in the Western Addition in the mid-60s and the city appears in many of his books and articles.\nPhilip K. Dick spent much of his life in the San Francisco area, and among his novels set here are *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?*, set in a post-apocalyptic near future where androids serve humankind and bounty hunters are called in to \"retire\" androids that become too independent, and *The Man in the High Castle*, an alternate universe novel where Japan and Germany won World War II.\nThe Bridge trilogy (*Virtual Light*, *Idoru*, and *All Tomorrow's Parties*), William Gibson. Set in a futuristic San Francisco following a massive earthquake, in which the city has been rebuilt using nanotechnology and a race is on to control the new cyberspace technology.\n*Altered Carbon*, Richard K. Morgan. Also set in a futuristic San Francisco, where human personalities can be stored digitally and downloaded into new bodies.\n*The Crying of Lot 49*, Thomas Pynchon. A renowned novel which follows a woman who sinks into paranoia as she attempts to unravel a worldwide conspiracy.\n*The Joy Luck Club*, Amy Tan. A story of four Chinese American immigrant families who start a club and spend their time playing the Chinese game of Mahjong and tell of their struggles in traveling to America.\n*The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test*, Tom Wolfe. A nonfictional account which perfectly captures the Hippie movement, following a band of psychedelic drug users across the country in their painted school bus.\n*Barbary Coast*, Herbert Asbury. For a nonfictional work on the tumultuous early history of San Francisco, this is an excellent choice.", "word_count": 417}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk010", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Watch\n\nSan Francisco has been the backdrop for many films, due in part to the Bay Area's vibrant filmmaking community and the city's proximity to Hollywood. The production companies of George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, along with the animation company Pixar are just a few of the big players who call the San Francisco area home. Among the better films set in San Francisco:", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk011", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "*The Maltese Falcon* (John Huston, 1941). Humphrey Bogart stars as a San Francisco private detective dealing with three unscrupulous adventurers who compete to obtain a fabulous jewel-encrusted statuette of a falcon.\n *Dark Passage* (Delmer Daves, 1947). An offbeat film noir featuring two icons of the genre, Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. The city's dark alleyways and side streets are on prominent display throughout the eccentric story of a man wrongly accused of murder and an enigmatic woman who lives in a lavish art deco apartment on top of the Filbert Steps.\n *Vertigo* (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958). While it's not the only Hitchcock film set in San Francisco (portions of *The Birds* are set here), *Vertigo* really packs in a lot the city, following a private investigator who suffers from acrophobia as he uncovers the mystery of one woman's peculiar behavior and travels from one San Francisco landmark to the next.\n *Bullitt* (Peter Yates, 1968). A very popular and highly influential crime thriller starring Steve McQueen (who also starred in the locally-set *The Towering Inferno*) and featuring one of the best car chase scenes in the history of cinema.\n *Psych-Out* (Richard Rush, 1968). An incredibly trippy film with psychedelic music (including an appearance from Strawberry Alarm Clock), recreational drugs, and Haight-Ashbury — Hippies aplenty in this one.\n *Dirty Harry* (Don Siegel, 1971). Another cop film set in San Francisco (in addition, all but one of the sequels were also set here), starring Clint Eastwood chasing down sadistic killers and asking people if they feel lucky. Well do they, punk?\n *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (Philip Kaufman, 1978). Emotionless drones impersonating people and hatched from pods take over San Francisco in this classic science fiction flick.\n A whole host of great films have been set at Alcatraz; among them are *Escape from Alcatraz* (Don Siegel, 1979), *Birdman of Alcatraz* (John Frankenheimer, 1962), *The Rock* (Michael Bay, 1996), and the very influential *Point Blank* (John Boorman, 1967).\n *48 Hrs.* (Walter Hill, 1982). Often credited with starting the buddy-cop genre, this flick follows a hot-headed cop who has to team up with a wisecracking convict in order to find two cop killers in the crime-ridden underworld of San Francisco.\n *Chan Is Missing* (Wayne Wang, 1982). Illustrating the problems experienced by Chinese-Americans, this film tells the story of two taxi drivers searching Chinatown for a man who ran off with their money.\n *Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home* (Leonard Nimoy, 1986). In the 23rd century, San Francisco is the home of Starfleet Command and humpback whales have long been extinct. In this installment of the popular franchise, Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew have to time travel to a more contemporary San Francisco to bring back a couple of whales and save Earth.\n *Milk* (Gus Van Sant, 2008). A biopic on the life of Harvey Milk, the former San Francisco City Supervisor in the late 1970s and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office. This story still holds sway for many San Franciscans given the city's role in the ongoing gay rights movement.\n *La Mission* (Peter Bratt, 2009). Ultra-macho ex-con Che Rivera learns the true meaning of being a father when he discovers his son is gay. Low-key, intimate cinematography of the Mission District abounds in this film.", "word_count": 548}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk012", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Architecture\n\nthumb|300px|The Palace of Fine Arts\n\nSan Francisco is known for its Victorian architecture, particularly in the central and northern neighborhoods (e.g., Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, Noe Valley, Castro, Nob Hill, and Pacific Heights). The city has one of the most restrictive building and planning codes in the world, which helps preserve the historical architecture in certain areas and create a severe shortage of housing stock, which drives up the price of housing. The exorbitant price of housing, both buying and renting, is a favorite topic of San Francisco locals. It helps to explain why there are so few families in San Francisco (another favorite topic).\n\nSan Francisco has also undergone high-rise construction boom centered in SoMa, just south of what was historically the center of downtown. This was one of the few areas of the city left for development (i.e. without entrenched anti-development policies). Unlike other major cities like New York and Chicago, San Francisco is not known for having buildings built by star architects. This may be due to the difficulty of getting projects approved in the city.\n\n### Culture\n\nSan Francisco prides itself on its openness to diversity in race, gender, sexual orientation and personal style. This trait is widely considered to be one of the defining features of the city, and it draws both visitors and transplants alike.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk013", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Tobacco** smokers beware: as in the rest of California, smoking is illegal in bars, restaurants, and other public places. Additionally, the City of San Francisco has a local ordinance that require smokers to go all the way to the curb (or if there is no curb, at least 25 feet from any building - not simply the entrances). Bay Area people can be particularly vocal about personal habits, so take care and be mindful and respectful of others when smoking, even in places where it is allowed.\n\nOn the other hand, smoking **marijuana** is remarkably well-tolerated. While still illegal under federal law, California law allows for the possession, use, and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and over. Using marijuana in public is illegal, but this rarely enforced. You shouldn't smoke marijuana just anywhere, and the rules of etiquette are difficult to navigate. You might find people smoking marijuana at large concerts, but not small concerts, or people smoking marijuana on a street corner in the middle of the day in some neighborhoods (e.g., Haight-Ashbury) but frowned upon in others (e.g., the Financial District).\n\n**Public nudity** has been celebrated among some residents. However, this has not been without controversy, and there is now a law banning some public nudity, with nudists actively opposing the law.\n\nIt's worth mentioning that natives tend to dislike many of the **nicknames** given to their city. Instead of saying \"San Fran\", \"Frisco\", or \"SFO\", most refer to San Francisco by its full name or just \"The City\".", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk014", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Bay Area has of one of the most vibrant **high-tech** startup scenes in the world. While the venture capital firms are largely in the South Bay, many of the small startups and tech workers are in San Francisco. In addition, most of the financial institutions serving the tech companies of Silicon Valley are based in San Francisco.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nSan Francisco's visitor information centers offer maps, brochures and other information for tourists.\n\n- San Francisco Visitor Information Center\n\n- California Welcome Center", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk015", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Talk", "text": "English is the dominant language spoken in San Francisco. San Francisco is home to the second largest Chinese community in the United States after New York City, and Cantonese is commonly spoken in the various Chinese-dominated neighborhoods, with an increasing Mandarin-speaking minority. Like much of California, there is also a large Latin American population, so Spanish is also commonly spoken in San Francisco, especially in the Mission District. In addition, there is a large Filipino community, and Tagalog is commonly heard in Filipino neighborhoods. Most municipal government services are available in English, Cantonese, Spanish and Tagalog.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk016", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|400px|San Francisco International Airport at night\n\n### By plane\n\nOakland and San Jose tend to offer more discount airline flights, while San Francisco Airport attracts more international flights and can be more convenient for those staying in the city. Private pilots should consider Oakland rather than SFO, as the separate general aviation field there is more accommodating to light aircraft. San Jose also sees a fair amount of general aviation traffic, while dedicated general aviation airports in the bay area include Hayward (), San Carlos (), Palo Alto (), Livermore () and Concord () .\n\n#### Public airport transportation\n\nSan Francisco and Oakland Airports are connected to downtown SF by the Bay Area Rapid Transit ('''BART''') system.\n\nPassengers arriving in SFO can walk (5 minutes from United's domestic terminal) or take a free airport shuttle (AirTrain) to the BART station (which is adjacent to the G side of the International Terminal). The BART ride from SFO to San Francisco's downtown stations costs $8.95 one-way and runs frequently, every 15 or 20 minutes depending on the time of day. BART trains run through San Bruno, South San Francisco, Colma, and Daly City before reaching the city of San Francisco, from where the SF MUNI can take travelers anywhere in the city. BART operates to midnight from 4AM on weekdays, 6AM on Saturdays and 8AM on Sundays.\n\nSFO is also connected to San Francisco by SamTrans routes 292, 397, and 398. Routes 292, 397, and 398 are $2 to San Francisco and they are operating non-stop.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk017", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Oakland Airport, passengers can take a people mover to the BART station and continue there directly to San Francisco. The fare from Oakland Airport to downtown San Francisco via the people mover and BART is $10.20 (of which the connector comprises $6). The total fare will automatically be deducted from your Clipper Card.\n\nThe San Jose airport is served by a free shuttle to both VTA Light Rail and Caltrain called the Airport Flyer — VTA Route #10. Passengers arriving in San Jose can use Caltrain to reach San Francisco directly (this costs $7.50 one-way). Caltrain also links with the BART system at the Millbrae intermodal station. When riding Caltrain, use a Clipper card or buy your ticket at the automated station kiosks before boarding, as they are not sold on the trains.\n\n#### Private airport transportation", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk018", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "Taxis are considerably more expensive than the public transportation options. A taxi from SFO to the city can easily cost more than $40, and over $60 from OAK. Ride sharing services such as Uber or Lyft can be as low as $35 to/from SFO and $40 to OAK at low traffic times, but can be more expensive than a regular taxi at busy times. Pickups from both airports are in different locations than the taxis - at departures (not arrivals) at SFO, and at the signposted \"Smartphone App Rides\" section at 2E on the second curb away from arrivals at OAK. Taxi and van prices from San Jose to San Francisco are significantly higher, easily over $100. Shared vans will cost around $14. If you plan to drive from a car rental area near the SFO airport to downtown San Francisco, you can take the 101 freeway. When returning a rental car to SFO, remember to take the rental car exit, otherwise you will have to wind your way slowly back to the rental car center.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk019", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Amtrak**, +1-800-872-7245 serves the Bay Area with long-distance and intercity trains. San Francisco's long distance station is across the bay, outside city limits, in Emeryville. Passengers can arrive in in the East Bay and may take an **Amtrak Thruway** bus over the Bay Bridge to San Francisco's Amtrak stops just outside the Salesforce Transit Center at Mission & Fremont St. Travelers can also transfer to **BART** trains at the Richmond or Oakland Coliseum stations. Alternatively, riders approaching the Bay Area from the south may transfer to **Caltrain** at San Jose's Diridon Station for a direct ride to Fourth and King Streets in San Francisco. A particularly scenic method is to disembark at Jack London Square and take the ferry (San Francisco Bay Ferry) to San Francisco.\n\nAmtrak routes serving the Bay Area are:", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk020", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "**The California Zephyr** runs daily between Chicago and Emeryville with connections to/from the east coast. This is widely considered to be the most scenic of Amtrak's routes. To reach San Francisco, either transfer onto BART at Richmond or onto the Amtrak Thruway Bus at Emeryville.\n**The Coast Starlight** runs daily between Seattle, Portland, Emeryville, and Los Angeles. To reach San Francisco, either transfer to Caltrain in San Jose or to the Amtrak bus in Emeryville.\n**The Capitol Corridor** runs 16 times daily (11 on weekends and holidays) between Sacramento and Emeryville, with some trains continuing to San Jose. Caltrain is the best bet to get between San Jose and San Francisco, but the most convenient transfer to San Francisco is via the Amtrak bus at Emeryville or to BART at either the Richmond station north of Emeryville or the Oakland Coliseum station for trains continuing south of Emeryville.\n**The Gold Runner** runs 5 times daily between Bakersfield, Stockton and Emeryville. Travelers on the Gold Runner can continue on to San Francisco via the Amtrak bus at Emeryville or by transferring to the BART at the Richmond station.\n\nThere are two regional rail systems which serve San Francisco:", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk021", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Caltrain**, +1-510-817-1717 operates a regional rail service from San Jose to its San Francisco terminal at Fourth and King in SoMa. The service also runs between San Jose and Gilroy during rush hour. Caltrain is very useful for travel between San Francisco and communities on the Peninsula, Silicon Valley or South Bay. On weekdays Caltrain provides two trains per hour for most of the day but run more during commute hours, including \"Baby Bullet\" limited services that cruise between San Francisco and San Jose in 57 minutes; on weekends and public holidays trains run hourly, except that after 10PM only one train runs, leaving at midnight. The 4th & King terminal is served by Muni Metro (see 'Get around') giving connections to the rest of the city. Fares vary depending on how far you go. Tickets must be purchased before boarding the train from ticket vending machines at any of the stations or from ticket clerks at staffed stations. Tickets are checked on the trains and anyone found without a ticket is liable to a substantial fine. Cyclists should use the designated car at the northern end of the train; bike space is often limited during commute hours.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk022", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Bay Area Rapid Transit** (**BART**), +1-415-989-2278 provides a regional frequent rail service connecting much of the East Bay with San Francisco and the San Francisco Airport through the Transbay Tube, a tunnel underneath San Francisco Bay. BART operates five routes, of which four run through San Francisco. There are three or four trains per hour on each route; consequently trains within San Francisco are generally less than a 5-minute wait. In the East Bay, BART runs mostly on elevated track; in downtown San Francisco it runs in a subway under Market Street, and several underground stations provide easy access to downtown areas and simple transfers to the Muni Metro subway. BART also meets Caltrain at Millbrae. Bicycles are allowed on BART except between stations designated in the schedule brochure during commute hours. Fares vary depending with distance traveled, and start at $1.75 for trips within the city. Fares are payable only by Clipper card (or its smartphone equivalent), which you can buy at BART stations and which holds a balance, deducting the appropriate price for each trip, or by contactless credit card. The BART vending machines accept any credit card only twice within any 24 hour period.\n\n### By bus\n\nSome of the above long-distance bus companies also make stops in Oakland and San Jose (and/or additional Bay Area cities) to pick up passengers on the outbound trip and drop off on the inbound trip.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk023", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "Several regional bus systems serve San Francisco from the surrounding areas in the greater Bay Area. **511.org** compiles information from all of the Bay Area's different regional bus, train and ferry systems into one site including a handy trip planner program. Basic services are provided to major destinations or cities at all times, with the greatest amount of service provided during rush hour into SF in the morning and leaving at night. The bus services share a central San Francisco terminal at the Transbay Terminal in SoMa on Beale St between Mission and Howard Streets and/or at different locations in the Tenderloin, SoMA, or the Union Square/Financial District. Check schedules and websites as to where your bus is at:", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk024", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "**AC Transit**, +1-510-891-4700, from Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and other cities on the western parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the East Bay on multiple routes.\n**Golden Gate Transit**, +1-415-455-2000, from Sonoma and Marin counties, in the North Bay, north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Routes 101, 130, 150 & 172 terminate at the Salesforce Center while routes #114, 132 and 154 terminate at 4th & Folsom. Route 580 connects San Rafael in Marin County to El Cerrito del Norte BART Station via Richmond.\n**SamTrans**, +1-510-817-1717, from San Mateo County and SFO (Airpoort) in the peninsula, south of San Francisco.\n**WestCAT 'Lynx'**, +1-510-724-7993, from Hercules and Pinole in Contra Costa County, northeast of Oakland. The 'Lynx' route provides a transbay express service from the Salesforce Transit Center to Hercules Transit Center. Additional 'JL', 'JR', 'JX' and 'JPX' routes connect El Cerrito del Norte BART to Hercules Transit Center. See schedules and route maps for differences in the routes.\nThe El Cerrito del Norte BART Station (via 'Red line' train towards Richmond from downtown SF) is the next nearest connection point to downtown San Francisco for the following:\n**Solano Express (STA)** +1-707-424-6025, from Sacramento via Davis, Vacaville, Fairfield and Vallejo to El Cerrito del Norte BART Station in El Cerrito and the Walnut Creek BART Station in Walnut Creek on separate routes. Passengers transfer to the BART train or onto an AC Transit bus (From Richmond via El Cerrito) to San Francisco. Solano Express is operated by Solanao County.\n**Vine Transit #29** goes up to the Napa (City) in the Napa Valley from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|600px|right|San Francisco and Alcatraz from a Sausalito ferry", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk025", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "In many ways a boat is the ideal way to approach San Francisco. The city's spectacular skyline is best appreciated from the water, and from the deck of a boat the bay and its bridges and islands can be viewed as a whole. Cruise ships and private yachts are regular visitors to San Francisco, and passenger ferries regularly link other Bay Area cities to San Francisco.\n\nFerries run to San Francisco from Larkspur, Sausalito and Tiburon in Marin County, from Vallejo in Solano County and from Richmond, Alameda and Oakland in the East Bay. In San Francisco, the ferries dock at one or both of the city's two ferry terminals at Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building, the later of which is walking distance from the Amtrak San Francisco bus stop as well as Embarcadero Station, where the BART and Muni trains stop, and the stop for the historic streetcars that run above ground down Market Street. Most cruise ships dock at the James R. Herman Cruise Center at Pier 27. For more information on boat connections:\n\n**Golden Gate Ferries**, +1-415-455-2000. Serving Larkspur and Sausalito.\n**Blue and Gold Fleet**, +1-415-705-8200. Serving Alameda, Angel Island, Oakland, Sausalito, and Tiburon.\n**San Francisco Bay Ferry**, +1-877-705-8291. Serving Alameda, Harbor Bay (in Alameda), Oakland, Richmond, and Vallejo.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk026", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are four major highway approaches to San Francisco. **US 101** comes up the eastern side of the SF peninsula and is the most direct route from the south, although it often backs up with traffic, and provides access to cities such as Los Angeles. **Interstate 280** is a more scenic route into the city from the same direction, but with poorer connections than 101. '''Interstate 80''' approaches the city from the east over the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and is useful for access from places such as Oakland. From the north, **US 101** takes you over the Golden Gate Bridge.\n\nTraffic is heavy and parking is limited and expensive, so you will likely be better off parking outside the city at a BART, Caltrain, or ferry station. Walking or MUNI can get you around once inside San Francisco.", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk027", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Navigating\n\nthumb|right|No left turns (or U-turns) allowed on 19th Avenue\n**Cross streets**. San Francisco streets are numbered (100 per block) from the beginning of the street, and even and odd numbers are always on opposite sides. In the absence of GPS navigation, it is best when getting an address to also ask for a cross street or neighborhood name. Most of the time, if a street touches Market Street (San Francisco's main street), that's the zero block. Addresses change by 100 each block, so a building at 1275 Foo street is often 12 to 13 blocks away from where Foo St. hits Market St.\n\n**Numbered streets and avenues**. San Francisco has both numbered streets, in the Mission, the Castro, and SoMa, and numbered avenues in the largely residential Sunset and Richmond districts. Mixing numbered streets and avenues when asking directions may leave you miles from your destination. This can be confusing, as San Franciscans will not say \"Street\" or \"Avenue\" unless it is required to avoid ambiguity. Thus, they won't say \"I live on Fifth Avenue,\" but will say \"I live near Fifth and Geary.\" Street signs generally don't have \"Street\" or \"Avenue\" either; they just say \"GEARY\" or \"MASONIC\", although numbered streets and avenues do.\n\n**Multiple street grids**. One of the most confusing aspects of driving in San Francisco is the presence of multiple street grids, particularly in the downtown area where two grids intersect at an angle along Market Street. Even more confusing are streets in the middle of the standard blocks, like New Montgomery Street.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk028", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "**No left turns**. Several key San Francisco arterial streets, including 19th Avenue and Market Street, do not have space for dedicated left turn lanes and therefore bear **No left turn** signs at most intersections. As a result, you will be frustrated when you drive for miles on these streets with no opportunity to turn left. The trick, of course, is to go around the block with multiple right turns *after* passing one's desired street, which requires you to stay in the right lane, not the left lane.\n\n### On foot\n\nWalking can be an enticing option to get from one neighborhood to another, as the city is compact and most of the tourist sites are in its northeastern portion. San Francisco is a city of friendly neighborhoods, but it is also a big city so be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind the dangers that commonly accompany a city of San Francisco's size.\n\nHowever, streets that often go straight up and down hills may make walking challenging when attempting the uphill portions (but provide good exercise). Driving can be difficult up and down hills but have breathtaking views. There are many stairway walks scattered throughout the city when the streets are too steep. You can find **maps** that include hiking trails, bikeways, and the grade pitch of all streets marked in varying colors by how steep each segment is, that can help you orient to city walks suitable to your ability and temperament, such as the downloadable map issued by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk029", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Locals *rarely* use the designations \"street\" or \"avenue,\" even when differentiating the numbered streets and avenues. Numbered roads designated \"Street\" are on the east side of the city, south of Market in Downtown, Castro, Noe Valley, and Mission. Numbered roads designated \"Avenue\" put you in the Richmond and Sunset districts on the west side.\n\n### By public transit", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk030", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|375px|San Francisco rail systems (click to enlarge)\nthumb|right|Caltrain is San Francisco's commuter rail line.\nSan Francisco has one of the most comprehensive public transportation systems in the United States, and is expanding its network with a regional transportation hub in SoMa and a new subway line going under downtown. Transport services within San Francisco are provided by several agencies, but transferring between them is easy now with a **Clipper Card**. Clipper is accepted on essentially every transit system you'll encounter:\nMuni — Metro, streetcars, buses, and cable cars within San Francisco proper. This is the main public transit system you'll use for getting around in San Francisco.\nBART — Subway train services in the San Francisco Bay Area. You'll mainly use this to get in and out of San Francisco, but you may use it, for example, to get between Downtown and the Mission. It overlaps with Muni along Market Street in Downtown. When you enter one of the stations on Market Street, be sure you get on the right system—either Muni or BART—for where you're trying to go. If not, you'll need to exit and beg the toll operators in the booths to refund your fare. Note that while BART fares are distance based, it charges an \"Excursion Fare\" if you enter and leave the system at the same station, so don't assume if you enter BART by mistake you can just tap your card on the exit gate and not be charged because you didn't go anywhere.\nCaltrain — Commuter rail services to San Jose and cities in between, like Palo Alto (where Stanford University is).\nFerry services — Golden Gate Ferries to the North Bay and San Francisco Bay Ferry to the East Bay (Blue & Gold Fleet ferries do not accept Clipper Card).\nMany other regional bus systems in the Bay Area — Golden Gate Transit/Marin Transit (Marin County) and samTrans (Peninsula), among others.", "word_count": 318}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk031", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Smoking or vaping are strictly prohibited on all public transport. Passengers who violate this policy will be issued citations and may be arrested.\n\nInformation on all the Bay Area's transit agencies can be found by dialing **511** while in the Bay Area or by visiting the 511 website, which has a useful trip planner.\n\n#### Public transit payment\n\nThe basic cash Muni fare is $3.00 cash ($2.75 with Clipper or MuniMobile) for adults and $1.50 ($1.35 Clipper/MuniMobile) for seniors 65 and older and the disabled. When paying cash, get a transfer from the driver; it's good for 2 hours and shows that you paid. **The Muni is free for people 18 and under.**\n\nA \"day pass\" for $5.50 can be bought on any Muni vehicle for cash. Tell the driver before inserting the cash, so they will know you are not just paying the basic fare. The driver will issue you a paper day pass, which pays for free rides for the rest of the day on buses, trains and streetcars. This saves money when doing a round-trip that you won't complete in two hours, with subsequent rides free.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk032", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|250px|The Clipper Card in action\nThe Clipper Card is a contact-less, multi-agency fare card similar to Octopus in Hong Kong, EZ-Link in Singapore and Charlie Card in Boston. Clipper Cards can be added to most newer phones (2020 and onwards), purchased online, at any Muni or BART ticket machine as well as at select retail locations around the city, especially Walgreens.\nNew cards incur a one time $3 fee. The cards have no expiration date and can always be reloaded with cash or passes. When you depart, you can retain yours for future visits, if you don't mind all of your visits being tracked and linked. Or you can discard it when you leave, preferably where someone else will use it to save themselves the fee. Clipper can either be loaded with cash for pay-as-you-go with all transfers calculated automatically, a passport (daily and weekly passes) or a monthly pass.\nIf you are older than 65 years, you can easily get a Clipper Youth or Senior discount card. Show proof of your age at a Clipper Customer Service location such as in the Embarcadero Muni/BART station. Then load cash or passes onto your card. This offers you half-price fares throughout Muni.\nMuni has also created a single-use \"Clipper Ticket\" as the new subway turnstiles no longer accept cash. You can still pay with exact change when boarding a streetcar above ground or a bus.\nMuniMobile is a mobile app that can be used for purchasing and activating Muni tickets, but they require finding a ticket attendant to validate your ticket to go into the Muni Metro.\nIf you plan on using the cable cars during your visit, a **Muni passport** is a great value.https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares A one-day passport (either as a scratch card sold at retail locations or loaded onto a Clipper Card) costs $22 (only $13 with Clipper or MuniMobile app) and includes Cable Cars (normally $8 a ride) as well as all other Muni rail and bus services. Three and seven-day paper passports are also available at $31 and $41, respectively. Passports are **not** valid on BART, ferries, Caltrain, or any regional municipal bus outside San Francisco — you'll want to load cash onto your Clipper Card if you plan on using any of these services. A \"day\" is a calendar day, not a 24-hour period.\nMuni operates on a **proof of payment** basis, sometimes called an \"honor system with teeth.\" Each fare paid is valid for **two hours of travel** on the Muni system (light rail, streetcar, or bus but not Cable Cars) including transfers and even return trips, as long as all travel is completed within the two-hour limit. If you're using a Clipper Card, be sure you \"tag on\" at any of the readers near the streetcar or bus door to pay your fare and start the two-hour clock. People using Clipper, a transfer or a passport can board at any door. Otherwise, board at the front door, pay cash, and keep the paper transfer ticket that the driver gives you as proof of payment. Muni fare inspectors and sometimes the police randomly patrol streetcars, subway stations and buses with handheld Clipper Card readers checking for proper fare. Residents who ride Muni regularly report being checked once or twice a week on some lines, infrequently or never on others. The fine for being caught without proof of payment is $200, although tourists may be issued a warning if it's their first offense. The onus is on you to keep track of the time. If you are using a Clipper card and are unsure if your time has run out, just tag the card on any reader to check. If you have time left, you will not be charged again.\nCable Cars are not included in these transfers and cost $8 per ride (one way, no transfers), or $20 per day. Before 7AM and after 9PM, seniors and disabled pay $3 for cable car rides. Muni Passports and FastPasses greatly reduce this cost, including cable cars in the regular daily, weekly or monthly fares.", "word_count": 677}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk033", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### Planning your public transit trip\n\nSince there are multiple overlapping transit systems, the best way to plan your trip is to use an online service which integrates information from the various transit agencies (e.g., 511 or a third party service like Google/Apple Maps).\nMuni arrival times for many lines are available at the bus/train stop (look for an overhead LED display at bus stops) or online at NextMuni. The sites listed above integrate information from NextMuni. An unofficial site is RescueMuni.com, which often has information on routes that are not listed officially.\nA portable wallet-sized map of San Francisco and all its public transit (Muni, BART, Caltrain) is also available at stores around the city, at the Powell & Market cable car ticket booth, or through their website online. Many of the city's bus stops also have posted copies of this map with the location of the stop marked, a godsend for lost pedestrians.\n\n#### Muni\n\nAgain, this is the main system you'll use when you're in the city. Muni consists of several types of trains and buses:\nthumb|250px|Streetcar on the Embarcadero", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk034", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Muni Metro** (Lines , , , , , and ) is a modern light rail and streetcar system. It connects many southern and western neighborhoods to downtown, with connections to BART and Caltrain. Outside of the Market Street/Twin Peaks subway tunnel, Muni Metro operates as a surface light rail system, running in the center of the street with stops every couple of blocks. (Many of these stops are not wheelchair accessible - check the map to see which ones are.) Tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines before boarding; if the stop does not have such a machine and you do not have a ticket, you must board through the front door and buy one from the driver or risk being fined by a fare inspector. Muni Metro operates seven days a week from 4:30AM to 1:30AM. Between 1:30AM and 5AM, OWL Buses substitute for Metro service.\nThe ** Embarcadero and Market & Wharves Lines** use **historic streetcars**, in original colors from several cities in the US and Milan, Italy. The runs from Fisherman's Wharf south along the waterfront Embarcadero to the ferry building at the foot of Market Street, then up Market Street on the surface to the Castro district. The runs the length of Embarcadero from Fisherman's Wharf to the 4th & King Caltrain station. Board through the front door and buy tickets from the operator if you do not already have a transfer or pass.\n\nthumb|250px|Cablecar at Powell & Market", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk035", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "The world-famous **Cable Cars** run on three lines in the steep streets between Market Street and Fisherman's Wharf: the north-south **Powell-Mason** and **Powell-Hyde** lines and the east-west **California Street** line. They cost $8 for a one-way ticket, so purchasing a Muni 1-Day passport for $13 is a good financial decision if you plan to take two or more rides in a day. These cars are a fun ride, especially if you get to stand on the running board, if a bit impractical for everyday use (though residents of Nob and Russian Hills do, in fact, use them on a regular basis). The cable car is such an attraction that, especially on weekends, it takes longer to wait in line to ride up Powell Street than it does to walk the short but sloping distance. If you want to save yourself time standing in line at the turnaround, just walk up a couple of blocks to the next stop — the conductors save a few spaces for people boarding along the way; you won't get first choice of seats, but you'll save yourself a long time standing in line. Another option is to ride the California Street line - it's less iconic than the other lines but if you just want to ride a cable car and don't care about the postcard views it's usually much less busy. Board through any door or just grab a pole on the running boards; tickets are checked and sold by a uniformed conductor. Do not buy tickets from anyone off the car except for clearly marked ticket booths — scam artists are common. If buying a ticket on board, try to bring exact change, as conductors do not always have it.\nDiesel and electric trolley **buses** serve the rest of the city. You can board through any door if you have a Clipper Card (just touch the card to the card reader) or proof of payment (a Muni passport or a transfer). If you don't, board through the front door and buy tickets from the driver. Buses are scheduled every 2 minutes on a few lines in rush hour, 8 to 12 minutes on most lines during the day, and 15 to 20 minutes at night or between outlying neighborhoods. Be warned that Muni doesn't maintain signage for all bus stops. If you do not see a bus stop sign at an intersection, look for a yellow stripe around nearby a light pole with black bus line numbers, or the words \"bus stop\" on the surface of the street. From your phone, use NextMuni or dial 511 to learn when the next 3 actual buses are likely to reach a particular stop. Breakdowns or \"bunching\", leading to waits of 30 minutes or more, are possible. Sometimes a parallel bus line just a few blocks' walk away will be arriving sooner. Main service runs between 6AM and midnight.\n **Owl** services run every 30 minutes overnight on key routes. Some of these are shortened versions of daytime routes. Two, the 90 and 91, combine daytime routes into longer nighttime journeys.\n **Rapid** bus routes— with an \"R\" after the route number—operate along some busy corridors that lack rail lines (Fulton, Geary, and Mission, for instance). These only stop at major intersections rather than every couple of blocks. Tourists who aren't sure exactly where they're going should consider avoiding the Rapids, so they don't end up 10 blocks beyond where they want to be.\n **Express** buses—with route numbers containing \"AX\", \"BX\", or \"X\"–are mostly rush-hours, peak-direction services for commuters. While of limited use to visitors, they could come in handy if your visit includes places in the western or southern areas of the city.", "word_count": 616}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk036", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### Other public transit options\n\nThese are mainly used for getting in and out of the city:\n\nthumb|250px|A BART train\n**BART**, the regional metro, has eight stations in San Francisco, making it a nice way to get between well-trafficked parts of the city, especially downtown and the Mission. BART gets you across the Bay to Berkeley and Oakland and to the airports of San Francisco and Oakland. BART Trains run over 107 miles (172 km) of track, serving 46 stations. BART trains operate on third rail power and accelerate to speeds approaching 70 mph (110 km/h). BART operates from 4AM to midnight M-F, 6AM to midnight Sat, and 8AM to midnight Sun. On weekdays, BART trains depart downtown San Francisco stations at three to four minute intervals. Outer stations in far outlying suburbs have a maximum wait of fifteen to twenty minutes between trains. After 12:30AM, AC Transit and other east bay transit providers provide late-night bus service, serving principal BART stations until about 6AM. BART routes are named for the two terminus stations, not by line color as denoted on the system map. For more information on BART, see the 'Get in' section above.\n**Caltrain** has three stops within San Francisco. Other than the 4th and King terminal in SoMa, these are the 22nd St. Station and the Bayshore Station (off Tunnel Ave), neither of which are particularly attractive for visitors. Of interest to visitors who wish to travel outside of the city is the Palo Alto Station (at University Avenue), across the street from the campus of Stanford University, and San Jose Diridon Station. Caltrain operates fast frequent commuter rail service, seven days a week. Service generally runs from 5AM to midnight. For more information on Caltrain, see the 'Get in' section above.\n\n### By bike", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk037", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you have strong legs and can tolerate traffic with intermittent bike lanes, bicycles can be a convenient form of transportation in San Francisco. Although it's dense, San Francisco is fairly small in land area—just 7x7 miles from north to south and east to west—so it's fairly quick to get from one end to the other. But much of the terrain is hilly and hard to pedal up. **Do not** be misled by maps depicting the city's strict, regular street grid, as even the straightest of San Francisco's streets might include steep hills or even staircases instead of a roadway. San Franciscans who bike frequently find ways to \"wiggle\" — taking winding routes to avoid hills — around the steepest hills in the city. You might try using this flat route finder. You can also put your bike on the front of the Muni buses if you get desperate. Some maps compress the horizontal scale of the western half of the city.\n\nA classic and relatively easy ride is from the tip of Golden Gate Park's panhandle in the Haight, along paths and JFK Drive through the park to Ocean Beach. JFK Drive is lightly trafficked, and closed to cars on Sundays.\n\nDowntown, SoMa, and the Sunset, and Richmond districts are relatively flat. There are a number of bike paths and bike routes on city streets; the **San Francisco Bike Coalition** keeps a lot of information about them. There are a number of bike rental companies in town, including '''Wheel Fun Rentals''', **Dylan's Bike Rental**, **Bay City Bike** and **Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals** with locations in Fisherman's Wharf, and the **Bike Hut** in SoMa. San Francisco Bicycle Rentals, with shops at Haight, Fisherman's Wharf and Ferry Building, charges $5 extra to drop off a bike at a different shop.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk038", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Golden Gate Bridge has sectioned off pathways on each side for pedestrians and bicyclists. If you choose to ride a bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, be aware that walkers always stay on the east side of the bridge and bikes are often to ride on the west (ocean) side of the bridge. When the bridge is closed to pedestrians during nighttime, you may continue to bicycle across by stopping to press the buzzer at the automatically closed gates to be buzzed in and out. It is a pet peeve of many locals to have to dodge bicycles while jogging or strolling.\n\n- Bay Wheels\n\nWatch out for the numerous streetcar and cable car tracks in the street. You don't want to get your bike's wheels caught in the groove next to the rail, or the slot for the cable car's grip. Like anywhere, when crossing train tracks, you should approach them from as close to perpendicular as you can.\n\n### By electric scooter\n\nElectric scooters are available for rent from **Lime** and **Spin**, and are useful for getting around quickly. You may use the bicycle lanes on the road. You will need to download their apps and have a credit card on hand to pay for the rental. You will also need to have your photo ID (U.S. driver's license or foreign passport) on hand to register for an account, and also take a road safety quiz in the app before you can start using them.\n\n### By taxi\n\nFor a large city, San Francisco taxis are surprisingly inefficient and expensive, starting at $3.10 just for getting in the door. You can get an idea of how much particular taxi trips cost in San Francisco using the SFMTA's webpage.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk039", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Except for near downtown business hotels, tourist destinations, and nightlife areas, taxis can be hard to find and hail—and calling for a taxi can mean a 30-45 minute wait, if the driver shows up at all.\n\nIf you are heading to the airport, call ahead with a specific pickup time to one of the many taxi companies. Schedule your taxi ahead of time because if you are going beyond 15 miles, you will end up paying 50% extra.\n\nThe YoTaxi app, operated by Yellow Cab, and Flywheel's app are ways to hail a taxi with your phone.\n\nThere has been considerable controversy in San Francisco about increasing the number of taxis, but the situation is improving.\n\nParking in the city center can be expensive and difficult to find, so using ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft is often more convenient.\n\nIdeally, avoid driving in downtown areas as parking fees are high. Ride-sharing services are widely available and a stress-free alternative.\n\n### By Uber or Lyft\n\nLyft and Uber are the two major players in San Francisco that provide a ride-hailing platform for taxi-like services. Uber is vastly larger, and Lyft is originally known for a whimsical, homespun feel. These two companies are very price-competitive, with prices often differing by only a few cents, although it's sometimes useful to compare prices for some rides, like going to the airport, which may differ by several dollars.\n\nBefore your visit, download and install the Uber and Lyft applications to your smartphone, and set them up with your credit card information. When you need a ride anywhere in the city, launch either app and arrange a ride. There is always a very good number of ride-hailing drivers available at all times, so you typically can get a ride within 10 minutes or less.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk040", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can share the ride with strangers (\"Lyft Line\" or \"Uber Pool\") for a reduced price and longer ride times, or you can keep the ride private if you want to arrive to your destination as quickly as possible. Both apps have different options for the kind of ride you can hail.\n\nLyft and Uber drivers are not employed by either company, although there is a screening process. The drivers are everyday people who use the app to sell rides in their own vehicles, so treat them respectfully as you would a friend giving you a ride. If you have any concerns or complaints about your ride, contact Lyft or Uber and they will typically respond in a timely manner. Lyft and Uber's prices vary and may change due to surge pricing.\n\n### By Waymo\n\nWaymo is a self-driving car company that operates in San Francisco with modified Jaguar I-PACE cars. As of November 2025, Waymo operates throughout San Francisco (except Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island) and down the Peninsula to San Jose. However, Waymo does not go to the North Bay or the East Bay.\n\nWaymo now goes to SFO (Rental Car Center only, not terminals), and can drive on freeways. Both features are subject to waitlists (as of Jan 2026) and may be unavailable if you are new to the service.\n\nBefore your visit, download the Waymo app to your smartphone and add your credit card. When you need a ride, open the map and set your pickup and drop-off points. The wait times for Waymo rides are typically longer than for Uber and Lyft, since Waymo's fleet is smaller.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk041", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "In a Waymo car, you're allowed to sit in any seat except the driver's seat. The front passenger seat is the most spacious and you can recline the seat. You can connect your phone to the cars to play music of your choice. You can also use knobs to adjust the temperature inside the car and use the in-car screens to see the car's LiDAR scans.\n\nYou can also add stops to your ride, but you'll be dropped off and a different car will come when you're ready to be picked up again. So, remember to take all of your items before exiting. If your stop lasts longer than half an hour, your next ride will be cancelled and you'll be charged for the ride to your first destination. You'll then need to book another ride.\n\nThe price of the rides vary and are subject to surge pricing, like Uber and Lyft.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|300px|Parking can seem like a perilous task in San Francisco\nthumb|Lombard Street is very, very windy\nPerpetually-clogged traffic, steep hills, a confusing system of **one-way streets** downtown, numerous bus-only lanes and streets, expensive parking, and a fleet of parking control officers who zealously enforce parking laws can make driving in San Francisco extremely frustrating. Drivers are required to strictly obey traffic lights and posted speed limits, which are enforced with red light cameras and speed radar cameras. Visitors to the city should seriously consider alternatives to driving when possible. A car is only useful for visiting destinations outside of the city, and even then you may be better off using public transit (especially crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County), a taxi, or another car sharing service.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk042", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "Car rental is expensive, registration fees are the highest in any U.S. state, and because collisions are common, rates for liability insurance (legally required) are high as well. In addition, traffic from the Golden Gate Bridge uses surface streets either along CA-1, 19th Avenue or US-101 on Lombard and Van Ness.\n\nThe most difficult problem with a car in San Francisco is parking. It is scarce throughout the city. Garages, where they are available, are very expensive ($20–30/day downtown) and subject to a steep 25% parking tax. Many garages impose high hourly fees subject to a daily maximum, but that cap is applied per garage and you must start over at the next one. If you hit the daily maximum at multiple garages while driving to various destinations in a single day, you can easily pay over $100 that day for parking. The city has a variable-pricing scheme which makes parking on the most popular streets even more expensive. San Francisco has some of the strictest parking laws and enforcement in the country.\n\nDriving San Francisco's steep hills can be a dizzying experience, especially for visitors accustomed to flat terrain. Several SF intersections feature blind crests: an approaching street is so steeply inclined towards the sky that drivers cannot see oncoming or crossing cars over the hoods of their vehicles until they are already in the intersection and their vehicles begin to flatten out.\n\nBeware of hard-to-read markings on street surfaces. In 2024, the city government stopped using standard stencils to paint arrows and letters. Since 2024, SF streets use arrows and letters improvised from straight-line segments, which are much harder to read.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk043", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "For day trips into the city, consider a park-and-ride at a Peninsula Caltrain or BART station, at an East Bay BART station, or at a North Bay ferry terminal.\n\nWhen parking on a hill (there are many in San Francisco), **always** apply the parking brake and turn your wheels (\"curb your wheels\") so that the car will roll into the sidewalk instead of the street if the brakes give out. For example, when the car is facing uphill, turn the wheels toward the street; when facing downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb. Failure to park properly risks having your car roll downhill, and it is against the law; you *will* be ticketed for failing to curb your wheels.\n\nWhen parking on any street, pay extremely close attention to all street signs, e.g., no parking during rush hour times (typically 7-9 am and 4-7 pm), street cleaning every two weeks or every morning, loading-only zones, etc. The SFMTA enforces these street signs very religiously. You *will* get a parking ticket (or worst, your car will get towed *and* ticketed) for even the smallest infractions. Also pay attention to any red curbs, which indicate no parking.\n\nIf your vehicle gets towed, you must pay the city pound to retrieve it ($300 or more), plus the fine on the parking ticket. The typical parking ticket usually costs at least $70.\n\nVehicle break-ins are common occurrences in San Francisco. At best, a car window could get smashed and some valuables stolen, and at worst, the car could get stolen (although this is more of a problem for older cars). When leaving your car on the street overnight, take everything with you; never leave anything visible in the car.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk044", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Motorcycles and scooters** are common in San Francisco, for good reason. The city is one of the most motorcycle-friendly places in the U.S. Street parking for motorcycles is plentiful and very cheap ($0.30 to $0.80 an hour). There are several motorcycle rental shops, along with many dealers, service shops, and motorcyclist hangouts.\n\nAs elsewhere in California, motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear helmets. When parking on the street, it is legal to park in between cars, as long as the parking meter is paid for. Parking on sidewalks is illegal.\n\n\"Lane splitting\" (riding in between two lanes) on a motorcycle with two wheels is legal in California, but there are specific rules. Look up these rules on the California Highway Patrol website.\n\nMotorcycle theft is a problem; always use a disk lock or secure your bike to a stationary object using a cable or chain.\n\n**Segways** are somewhat popular among tourists. If you want to blend in, avoid them. So far there is only one authorized Segway dealer that rents out Segways, though various tour operators (many of whom operate from Fisherman's Wharf) offer guided trips throughout the city.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk045", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "San Francisco has much to see — these are just the most significant sights. For more detail see the individual district sections, often linked from this entry.\n\nTwo passes are available which offer discounts to many interesting attractions:\n\n- San Francisco CityPASS\n\n- Go San Francisco Card\n\n### Itineraries", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk046", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "There are many highlight walks you can take to really capture the feel of the city and see a whole lot of attractions at the same time. Some of the best ones are:\nthumb|250px|Looking up the Filbert Steps, just one of the city's many charming stairways\n**The Marina and the Presidio**. Starting at Fort Mason on the eastern end of the Marina District, a stroll along the marina and the adjacent green will offer you excellent views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. At the other end of the Marina District, you can cross Marina Boulevard into the neighborhood to see the spectacular Palace of the Fine Arts and continue further inland into the heart of the Presidio, or you can proceed along the shoreline through Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge.\n**Cow Hollow**. Union Street between Gough and Fillmore is one of the city's finest shopping streets outside of the city center.\n**Pacific Heights**. Fillmore Street between Pine and Broadway is lined with a good mix of shopping, views, steep slopes, and some of the city's largest and most expensive homes. Continue west along Broadway to Lyon Street and you'll be at the top of the Lyon Street Steps, a long staircase with superb views over the Bay and the Palace of the Fine Arts that's popular with local joggers.\n**Russian Hill**. Cozy and welcoming Russian Hill offers plenty of tucked-away stairways and hidden treasures for those who wander away from the cable cars rumbling along Hyde Street or the well-trafficked crooked section of Lombard Street. Stroll down the steps of Vallejo or Francisco Street, wander through the shady alleys past charming gardens and Victorian houses, and test your stamina on some of the city's steepest streets.\n**Nob Hill**. California Street between Mason and Leavenworth sits atop lavish Nob Hill, where cable cars ply the center of the street past the grand hotels and luxury apartment buildings surrounding the Gothic-style Grace Cathedral.\n**Telegraph Hill**. Numerous tucked-away staircases, most notably the Greenwich and Filbert Steps on the east side of Telegraph Hill, offer a strenuous and unforgettably beautiful walk up to Coit Tower, past cottages, tranquil gardens, and wonderful views of the Bay, the skyline, and the surrounding hills. You might even be lucky enough to encounter Telegraph Hill's resident flock of wild parrots on the way.\n**North Beach**. Busy Columbus Avenue cuts diagonally across the street grid from Fisherman's Wharf to the landmark Transamerica Pyramid skyscraper in the Financial District, passing through the heart of North Beach with its grand churches and famous cafés once populated with Beat poets.\n**Chinatown**. Grant Street between Bush and Broadway takes you through the bustling heart of the famous district. Returning by the parallel Stockton or Powell will give you a better feeling of the day-to-day life of the residents, and are both good for those looking for imported commodities such as tea or herbs.\n**Fillmore**. Post Street from Laguna to Fillmore takes you past the upscale shopping and restaurants of Japantown. Turning left onto Fillmore Street, continuing across Geary and ending at Turk, takes you past internationally known jazz venues and a mix of Black and Korean-owned shops.\n**Haight Ashbury**. Haight Street from Divisadero to Stanyan covers the shopping district made famous in the 1960s for its hippie culture; at Stanyan the street becomes a path through Golden Gate Park to a popular site (then and now) for relaxing and concerts. For a quieter walk, stroll south on Ashbury from Haight, past Victorians that were once the home to 1960s celebrities, then turn left on Frederick for a steep climb through Buena Vista Park, past stately oaks and splendid views of the skyline.\n**Ocean Beach**. Ocean Beach is entirely open to pedestrians in both the Richmond and Sunset districts from the Cliff House restaurant in the north to the zoo in the south. For a shorter walk, the windmills near Lincoln at the end of Golden Gate Park offer a good base for a stroll north.\n**Lands End**. Starting from the Cliff House at the north end of Ocean Beach, you can take a spectacular walk along the coastline with views over steep cliffs, crashing waves, shipwrecks, as well as the ocean and the Golden Gate. At the other end of the trail is the upscale neighborhood of Sea Cliff, home to the scenic China Beach tucked into a sea cove. Along the way you can take short detours to the intriguing ruins of Sutro Baths or venture uphill to the Legion of Honor museum with its excellent European art collection.\n**Castro and Noe Valley**. Market Street from Church to Castro followed by a left down Castro to 19th takes you through the center of the city's famous gay mecca. Continuing up Castro Street over the hill from there takes you to 24th, the main drag of bohemian Noe Valley.\n**Mission**. Mission Street between 15th and Cesar Chavez streets provides a look at a neighborhood famous for its Latino food and culture. Parallel to Mission and just a block to the west, Valencia Street is lined with many higher end boutiques and offbeat cafés starting to characterize the neighborhood, and has little of the grit of Mission Street. 16th Street between Mission and Guerrero offers a diversity of cuisine and several hip bars.\n**Crosstown Trail**. A 17-mile (27-km) hike all the way across the city through beautiful hillside neighborhoods and lovely forested parks.", "word_count": 904}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk047", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "### Landmarks\n\nthumb|350px|right|The Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio\n\nPerhaps the most recognizable landmark in San Francisco and one of the most famous bridges in the world, the **Golden Gate Bridge**, spanning the Golden Gate, has been called one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and is the first thing you see of San Francisco if driving in from the north, as it is one of the major road routes into and out of the city. Overlooking the Golden Gate is the **Presidio**, a former military post with beautiful architecture and a very scenic park setting. Just outside the Presidio is the gorgeous **Palace of Fine Arts**, built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition and reminiscent of Roman and Greek architecture.\n\nWithin the center of the city, the famous **cable cars** run up and down the hills of San Francisco between Market Street and Fisherman's Wharf and offer quite a ride (see above under Get around for more info). Atop one of those hills, Telegraph Hill in North Beach, is **Coit Tower**, a gleaming white tower dedicated to the San Francisco firefighters. At high, the hill is a healthy hike from the nearby neighborhoods just below. Another prominent tower nearby is the **Transamerica Pyramid**, the tallest and most recognizable building in the San Francisco skyline, located among the skyscrapers and highrises of the Financial District. Perhaps the most famous view of that skyline is from **Alamo Square Park** in the Western Addition district, home to the famous **Painted Ladies** row of Victorian houses, with many other pretty Victorians encircling the lovely park.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk048", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "Over on Russian Hill is the famous stretch of **Lombard Street** between Hyde & Leavenworth, the (nearly) crookedest street in America. The city also has a twistier but less scenic stretch of street, **Vermont Street** on Potrero Hill. Other street oddities in San Francisco include **22nd Street** between Vicksburg and Church in Noe Valley and **Filbert Street** between Leavenworth and Hyde on Russian Hill — At a 31.5% grade, these streets share the honor of the steepest streets in San Francisco.\n\n### Neighborhoods\n\nthumb|200px|Chinatown\nSan Francisco is also well known for its collection of unique and intriguing neighborhoods. Most tourists start with **Fisherman's Wharf**; although many of the locals consider it a tourist trap, it is a great place to see amazing street entertainers, watch sea lions, visit museums, or take a cruise to the infamous **Alcatraz Prison** or the pleasant **Angel Island**. Working fishing boats still come into the small harbor here, and the district is home to several excellent seafood restaurants. The fresh breeze from the bay can provide a bracing setting.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk049", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "**Chinatown**, centered around Grant Street from Bush to Columbus, is part tourist trap, part an exhibit of local life. Good eating places abound, and the side streets especially have stores one wouldn't find in a mall. Stockton Street is where most locals do their shopping for groceries; be sure to sample some of the dim sum and other specialties offered in the many bustling shops. However, many local Chinese prefer to eat and shop in the new Chinatowns located in other neighborhoods such as on Clement Street between 2nd and 12th Avenues in the Inner Richmond neighborhood, or even in those in other cities of the Bay Area. The Muni #1 (California) and #2 (Clement, does not run at night) buses get people from one Chinatown to the other.\n\nCloser to Downtown is the **Civic Center**, with its impressive Beaux Arts buildings including **City Hall** and the **War Memorial Veterans Building**, the celebrated Asian Art Museum, music and theater venues (including large concert halls and a renowned Symphony and Opera), and the main public library. Nearby, within the highrises of Downtown, Union Square is the heart of the city's main shopping and hotel district, while SoMa to the south is rapidly gentrifying, home to the city's main convention center and several new museums.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk050", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "To the west of Downtown is **Haight Ashbury**, famous for being a center of the Hippie movement in the 60s and 70s. While tourism has softened the image of the neighborhood somewhat, the area still retains its distinct feel with small organic coffee shops and store after store selling marijuana-themed goods, tie dye tee shirts and hand bands. Nearby at the top of Market Street is the **Castro**, the center of San Francisco's Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Transgender (LGBT) community, with numerous theaters and small shops and restaurants. Next door is the **Mission District**, home to the **Mission Dolores Church**, one of the oldest structures in the city, and a fantastic collection of murals of all sorts on the walls of many nearby buildings, especially on alleys between Market and Valencia.\n\n**Treasure Island**, an artificial island half-way between San Francisco and Oakland connected to the Bay Bridge, has excellent views of the San Francisco and Oakland skylines and quirky structures from the international fairground-turned-navy base-turned-neighborhood. Accessible by Muni bus #25 from the Transbay Terminal in SoMa.\n\n### Museums", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk051", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|California Palace of the Legion of Honor\nWhen the morning is foggy, you may want to spend a few hours in one of the city's many world-class museums. Many museums offer free admission on certain days during the first week of every month. Golden Gate Park is home to the copper-clad **M.H. de Young Memorial Museum**, which houses an impressive collection of contemporary and indigenous art. The de Young Museum's former Asian collection is now permanently housed in the **Asian Art Museum**, located in the Civic Center. Across from the de Young Museum stands the **California Academy of Sciences**, which holds a huge array of science exhibits, including an aquarium and a natural history museum. Lincoln Park, across the Richmond district from Golden Gate Park, is the home of the **California Palace of the Legion of Honor**, which houses an incredible collection of European art and makes for a good companion visit to de Young Museum, given that admission to either includes same-day admission to the other.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk052", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "In Nob Hill, the **Cable Car Museum** offers exhibits on the famous moving landmarks of San Francisco and the opportunity to view the machinery that powers the cable cars. Another fun transportation museum is the small but charming **San Francisco Railway Museum**, on the streetcar line in the Financial District. Nearby SoMa is home to a growing number of museums, most notably the extensive, and renowned **San Francisco Museum of Modern Art**, but also smaller specialized museums like the **Yerba Buena Center for the Arts**, the **Children's Creativity Museum**, the **Cartoon Art Museum**, the **Museum of the African Diaspora**, the **California Historical Society Museum**, and the **Contemporary Jewish Museum,** which is temporarily closed to save money. Down near the Castro is the **GLBT History Museum**, while a hill overlooking the Castro holds the **Randall Museum**, a lovely little children's museum off the beaten path.\n\nAt the **Hyde Street Pier** in Fisherman's Wharf you can board several historical ships, including the 1886 *Balclutha* clipper ship, a walking-beam ferry, a steam tug, and a coastal schooner. At Pier 45 just to the east, the World War II submarine **USS Pampanito** and the World War II Liberty Ship **SS Jeremiah O'Brien** can be visited. Nearby is the **Aquarium of the Bay** on Pier 39 and the **Wax Museum**. Just down the Embarcadero from the Wharf is the **Exploratorium** at Pier 15, which will keep your kids busy for an entire day with their science and perception exhibits. And just outside the Wharf in the Marina district is **Fort Mason**, home to a few cultural museums.\n\n### Parks and outdoors", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk053", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|350px|Temple of Music Golden Gate Park\nSan Francisco has numerous parks, ranging from the tiny to the huge. The most famous of them is **Golden Gate Park** in The Avenues, a massive (roughly 1/2 mile-by-four mile) urban oasis with windmills, bison, museums, a carousel and much more hidden among its charms. The park contains the antique palatial greenhouse of the **Conservatory of Flowers**, the modern and ethnic art focused **de Young Museum**, the large **Japanese Tea Garden**, the new **California Academy of Sciences** building designed by Renzo Piano and the **Strybing Arboretum**, a collection of plants from across the temperate world. Defining the extreme northwestern corner of the city is **Lands End** in Richmond, which provides majestic views of the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge from the ocean side, and the Pacific Ocean itself. At the extreme western end the well known **Cliff House** provides both semi-casual and a more formal eating and drinking place overlooking the intriguing ruins of **Sutro Baths**.\n\nNear the physical center of the city is the **Twin Peaks**, one of San Francisco's highest points (875' above sea level); providing spectacular views in all directions. Tour buses can get backed up here during the day, but it's a great place to really appreciate the city from above, especially at and after sunset. Temperatures up there can be quite a bit lower than in the rest of the city, so bring a jacket. Nearby in the Lake Merced area is the **San Francisco Zoo**, a large and well maintained zoo which is a great place to go if you are traveling with children or have a fondness for penguins, primates, lions or llamas.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk054", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "While not particularly well known for its **beaches**, San Francisco has a couple of good ones along the Pacific Ocean — but the water is brisk, the winds can be rough, and due to strong rip currents swimming at any of them is not recommended. **Ocean Beach** along the Sunset district is the largest and most famous beach, with plenty of sand and people enjoying themselves. **China Beach** in Richmond and **Baker Beach** in Golden Gate are smaller, rather secluded beaches with lovely views.\n\nOff the coast of San Francisco is one of the most productive marine environments on Earth, which attracts abundant marine life including blue whales, gray whales, humpback whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions, leatherback sea turtles, and many species of seabirds. The rocky **Farallon Islands**, roughly 30 miles offshore from San Francisco, are part of a National Marine Sanctuary and provide nesting habitat for tens of thousands of seabirds. The islands are also known for attracting large numbers of great white sharks from September through November. It is possible to take **boat tours** to the Farallon Islands throughout most of the year and go **whale watching**, departing from Fisherman's Wharf or the Marina in San Francisco.\n\nOn sunny days hipsters flock to **Mission Dolores Park**, so named due to its location across the street from the Mission Dolores Basilica. The park often comes to resemble a large party, with music, coolers of beer and, er, uh...medical marijuana treatment. Mission Dolores Park is situated on a slight slope on the edge of the Mission neighborhood, just a few blocks from the district's many restaurants and bars. The east side of the park is bounded by Dolores Street, a hilly and scenic drive lined with palm trees and Victorians.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk055", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "See", "text": "In the southern half of the city is the often overlooked but wonderful **Bernal Heights Park**, a small park on top of a hill overlooking the entire eastern half of the city, with excellent views of the skyscrapers in the Financial District, the Mission District, and the hills in the southeastern corner of the city. A wide trail runs around the base of the park below the peak which can be walked in ten to fifteen minutes. Bernal Heights Park is dog friendly, so much so that a coyote is often observed there.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk056", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Do", "text": "### Harbor tours\n\nthumb|300px|Approaching the Island of Alcatraz\n\nOne of the best ways to see San Francisco is from the waters of San Francisco Bay. There are many companies offering harbor tours of varying durations and prices but they all provide marvelous views of the bay, the bridges, the island of Alcatraz and the city.\n\nOnly specific island tours are allowed to land at Alcatraz, but the typical harbor tour will circle the island at a slow crawl, giving you plenty of opportunity to photograph the now-inactive prison from the water.\n\nAlso consider taking a ferry from San Francisco across the bay to Tiburon, Sausalito, or Alameda. Same views for a fraction of the price.\n\nMost tours leave from docks at Fisherman's Wharf near Pier 39. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks along the waterfront walk. Buy tickets a day or two in advance during the summer high season.\n\nBoats usually leave roughly hourly starting around 10AM and ending around 5PM. Multi-lingual guides are available on some tours. Prices range from $20–40, more for sunset, dinner, or whale watching tours.\n\nEven on a sunny day the bay can be chilly, so be sure to bring a sweater as well as sun screen.\nSome boats have snack bars on board, but bring your own water and treats to avoid paying high costs or going without. There are now limited refreshments and a souvenirs shop on Alcatraz.\n\n### Performing arts", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk057", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Davies Symphony Hall\n San Francisco has a **Half-Price Ticket Booth** in the middle of Union Square, where tickets for most San Francisco theater performances can be purchased the day of the performance for half-price. Run by Theatre Bay Area, all service fees collected from the sale of tickets by TIX Bay Area goes right back into the theater community.\n **Go to a concert, a play, a jazz or a folk-song performance**. There are performances most days to choose from by the **San Francisco Opera**, the **San Francisco Symphony**, in **Herbst Theater** (where the United Nations charter was signed), in the **Old First Church**, and for musicals in the **Orpheum** or the **Golden Gate Theaters**, all located in or near the Civic Center. The museum of the **Legion of Honor**, located in Lincoln Park overlooking the Golden Gate (north end of 34th Ave), has organ concerts which can be heard in many of its galleries, Saturdays and Sundays at 4PM, as well as music performances in its **Florence Gould Theater** by the **San Francisco Lyric Opera**. For the fall and spring jazz festivals look into the SFJAZZ calendar. San Francisco also has many jazz clubs, best found by browsing the web (an excellent site is SFStation.com). Contemporary bands are featured at The **Fillmore Auditorium** and less frequently at the large **Bill Graham Civic Auditorium** in the Civic Center. The **Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival** is a large free annual concert weekend in Golden Gate Park. Many events are listed by the City Box Office.\n **Ballet** of the world class variety can be seen for only $10. **San Francisco Ballet** sells standing room tickets (with excellent views from the back of the orchestra) for their shows at the **War Memorial Opera House** in Civic Center during the afternoon of each performance as well as two hours before showtime.\n **Plays** are performed at the **Geary** (by the **American Conservatory Theater**), **Curran**, and the **Marines Memorial** theatres near Union Square, and at the small **New Conservatory Theater** near the Civic Center.\n **Musicals** from Broadway and Los Angeles are shown at the traditional **Golden Gate** and **Orpheum** theaters on Market, near the Civic Center.", "word_count": 358}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk058", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Do", "text": "### Events\n\nThere is an incredible array of events going on in San Francisco — virtually every day there will be something of interest to anyone going on, and San Francisco's mild climate ensures that practically every weekend will bring another major festival or some sort of large event. Listed here are just some of the really big events going on:\n\n#### Cultural events\n\n**Big Book Sale:** Fort Mason. A gigantic book sale where dozens of private libraries are donated and put on display. Cheap prices and hidden gems make this feel like an adult scavenger hunt.\n\n#### Holidays\n\n- Chinese New Year Festivities\n\n- Easter Parade and Spring Celebration\n\n- Fourth of July\n\n- Italian Heritage Parade\n\n- Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ghirardelli Square\n\n#### LGBT community events\n\nSan Francisco is famous for its exuberant and visible lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, who always put together some very festive events:\n\n- Pink Saturday\n\n- San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade and Celebration\n\n- Halloween in the Castro\n\n#### Outdoor and recreational events\n\n- Critical Mass\n\n- Bay to Breakers\n\n- Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon\n\n- Fleet Week\n\n- Sunday Streets\n\n### Sports\n\nthumb|300px|Oracle Park\nThe Bay Area has several professional sports teams, although most of those teams play in nearby San Jose and Oakland rather than San Francisco itself. The National Football League's **San Francisco 49ers** moved from Candlestick Park (which has since been demolished) in San Francisco to Santa Clara in 2014.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk059", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Do", "text": "The **San Francisco Giants** are the city's Major League Baseball team, playing their home games at the lovely Oracle Park (recently renamed from AT&T Park) in SoMa and commanding a large and devoted fan base. With the Niners' move to Santa Clara, the Giants were the only team in America's major sports leagues playing in the city itself for a few years, but they've now been joined by the NBA's **Golden State Warriors**, which moved from their longtime home in Oakland to the new Chase Center, located on the Mission Bay waterfront a few blocks south of Oracle Park, in 2019. The NBA's women's counterpart, the WNBA, will add the **Golden State Valkyries** for the 2025 season. The Valkyries are owned by the Warriors and will also play at Chase Center. (The WNBA season has minimal overlap with that of the NBA, mostly taking place in summer.) As far as college sports go in San Francisco, the only NCAA Division I program in the city itself is the **San Francisco Dons**, representing the University of San Francisco and playing various college sports including baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball at their campus in Western Addition. The **San Francisco State Gators**, an NCAA Division II program, play various college sports including baseball, basketball and soccer at their campus near Lake Merced. However, if you're interested in college football, you'll have to leave the city to see it—neither of the city's NCAA programs has a football team. The Bay Area's three Division I football teams are in Berkeley (California), the Peninsula near Palo Alto (Stanford), and in Silicon Valley (San Jose State).\n\n### Local music", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk060", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Do", "text": "San Francisco is a hotbed for underground music; a highly diverse array of musical styles is represented (e.g., rock, pop, experimental, weird folk, and avant-jazz). Shows occur every night, with as many as fifteen small shows occurring each Thursday through Saturday night. Much of this activity is not always well covered in the mainstream media; useful community-driven resources for finding about local shows include the Bay Improviser Calendar (previously known as the Transbay Calendar).", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk061", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Learn", "text": "There are three world-class research universities in the Bay Area: **University of California, San Francisco** with two large campuses in San Francisco focused on biomedical research and training; **University of California, Berkeley** in Berkeley; and **Stanford University** in Palo Alto. Many of the major businesses in the area have a connection to one of these universities.\n\nThe **University of California, San Francisco** is one of the city's largest employers and is dedicated solely to the education of health and the biomedical sciences. Unlike many other universities, it does not have undergraduate programs and only admits graduate students. Also in the University of California system, though governed separately from the rest of the system, is the **UC College of the Law, San Francisco** (historically the Hastings College of the Law), a major law school located in downtown San Francisco. The **San Francisco State University** is another major public university that offers a broader range of studies than the UC colleges in the city. Rounding off the city's public colleges is the **City College of San Francisco**, a two-year community college.\n\nSan Francisco also has numerous private colleges and universities, some of them large, such as the **University of San Francisco** located in the Richmond district, and **Academy of Art University** with properties throughout the city.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk062", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Work", "text": "While San Francisco's economy is linked to it being a world-class tourist attraction, its economy is diversified. The largest employment sectors are professional services, government, finance, trade, and tourism. Its frequent portrayal in music, films, literature and popular culture has helped make the city and its landmarks known throughout the world. San Francisco has developed a large tourist infrastructure with numerous hotels, restaurants, and top-notch convention facilities.\n\nWhile it's been a long time since people considered Montgomery Street in the Financial District to be the \"Wall Street of the West\", San Francisco remains the undisputed financial capital of the West Coast, home to the headquarters of some of the world's major financial institutions such as Wells Fargo Bank as well as the regional headquarters of the United States Federal Reserve. Many major financial institutions and banks are based in the city or have set up regional headquarters here.\n\nSan Francisco's proximity to Silicon Valley has made the city increasingly attractive for high-tech companies. While most of the large technology companies are in the valley, many tech workers live in San Francisco and commute to work. San Francisco has also been making itself a center of biotechnology.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk063", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Buy", "text": "San Francisco is arguably the most expensive city in the U.S., and prices of many things, including groceries, restaurant meals and rent have even surpassed those of notoriously expensive New York City.\n\nIf you want it, chances are likely you can get it in San Francisco. There are a wide range of small and locally owned businesses throughout the city's neighborhoods, as well as big chains.\n\nIf it's tourist trinkets you're looking for, **Fisherman's Wharf** has the typical souvenir, T-shirt, and camera shops, along with plenty of specialty stores. San Francisco's famous upscale shopping area **Union Square** has fallen on hard times; it still has a variety of boutiques, but SF's shopping scene has to some extent shifted to other parts of the city.\n\nFor small, upscale boutiques, **Union Street**, **Fillmore Street**, and **Chestnut Street** in the Golden Gate area are lined with unique and trendy places, and all three streets are among the best spots in the city to window shop. **Nob Hill** is also full of specialty places, and **Stonestown Galleria** near Lake Merced is one of the city's trendiest malls.\n\nBut if you don't have a luxury dollar to spend and still want to walk away with something unique, there are plenty of shops in **Chinatown** for you, selling Oriental handicrafts of all descriptions, and no chain stores in sight. **Japantown** also offers plenty of great shops selling authentic souvenirs, including the excellent Kinokuniya Stationery/Bookstore. The **Haight** is full of excellent independent record and book stores, with Amoeba Music dominating the scene.\n\nFor basic supplies, try the ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience stores and Walgreens pharmacies. If you need groceries, Safeway is the dominant supermarket chain in the city, though pop into a Trader Joes for better prices. There are Safeway stores in SoMa, near Fisherman's Wharf, and near the Financial District, but not near Union Square. The closest supermarket to Union Square is the upscale Bristol Farms supermarket at Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre.", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk064", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|250px|Crabs at Fisherman's Wharf\n\nSan Francisco is a \"foodie\" city with a vast array of restaurants. In fact, San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than any major city in North America, with 1 restaurant for every 250 residents (in comparison, New York City has 1 restaurant for every 940 residents). The price range is huge, of course, and you can spend anywhere from a small fortune to a couple bucks for every type of cuisine. In addition to the range of ethnic restaurants you'd expect to find, Bay Area food culture focuses on \"artisanal\" food (see the Ferry Building) and fresh fruits and vegetables (see Alice Waters), drawing from the nearby farms in California.\n\nSan Francisco is known for specialties such as the **Mission burrito** and **cioppino**. The Mission burrito was invented in the Mission District, and numerous taquerias in the Mission serve this style. Each taqueria is famous for a different kind of meat, so do some research before deciding which one to try. Burritos are much larger than tacos and contain rice, making them even more filling. The **sushi burrito** is essentially a burrito-sized sushi roll that mixes Japanese and Mexican ingredients, invented in San Francisco by Asian-American entrepreneur Peter Yen who founded the **Sushirrito** fast casual restaurant chain.\n\nCioppino started as a fisherman's stew in North Beach and is a local variation on stews from the region of Liguria, from which many 19th-century San Franciscan fishermen hailed. It's a large tomato- and white wine-based soupy stew of fish and seafood with bread.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk065", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Eat", "text": "In San Francisco, you would be well-served by using an online restaurant rating website to find the best restaurants. Yelp.com, for example, is actively maintained by San Franciscans. All the best restaurants (and bars) are mobbed on the weekends, so you'll do well to check out the availability on opentable.com or similar websites.\n\nSan Francisco restaurants are also very **corkage friendly**. Average corkage fee appears to be in the $15 range, with some of the more pricey places charging $25–35.\n\n**Vegetarians and vegans** will find it easy to find good food in SF. The vast majority of restaurants have vegetarian options, and good vegan options are available at many.\n\n### Ethnic food and neighborhoods", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk066", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Eat", "text": "You can still find some ethnic food districts in San Francisco. Some of these, like North Beach, have become museums for tourists, while others, such as the (Inner) Mission and Chinatown, are still strongly ethnic neighborhoods which maintain their native food culture. In truth, the food culture in the city is oriented less around ethnic districts than restaurant areas. In the Mission, for example, you will find not just Mexican food but rather excellent options of many kinds (e.g., Sushi, Indian, Italian, Thai, etc.)\n With the largest Chinatown in North America as well as one of the largest Chinese communities in the West, there are many exceptional restaurants serving **dim sum** and other Chinese delicacies found throughout the city. This localized Chinese cuisine has its feet in Hong Kong and America, and is different from what many visitors are accustomed to — it is common to hear complaints from Chinese or US Midwestern visitors that Chinese food here is not like the food back home. There are several main types of Chinese restaurants in San Francisco: those primarily serving immigrants from Hong Kong (\"Hong Kong style\") which commonly have signs on the wall in Chinese characters, live fish and shellfish tanks and some exotic main ingredients, such as pig's blood or sea cucumber; those primarily serving San Franciscans who are not Asian immigrants (\"California Chinese\") which commonly have Westernized table service, low fat content and more emphasis on fresh vegetables; those primarily serving tourists or other people accustomed to Chinese food as it is commonly served in the United States (\"Americanized Chinese\"); and those primarily serving immigrants from other areas or a particular dietary need or interest (regional cuisines, vegetarian, Muslim). There may be some mixing between these various classifications and each category may influence the others. For instance, the Americanized dish known as **Chop Suey** is often not served even at Americanized Chinese restaurants in San Francisco and your moo shu may come with flour tortillas in place of rice pancakes, while Chinese vegetables such as bok choy and pea sprouts may turn up on your plate at California Cuisine style restaurants.\n Other regional Chinese cuisines have made inroads, and if you can't find them in San Francisco, you can often find them elsewhere in the Bay Area.\n San Francisco is also one of the best places in the nation for other Asian cuisine: Korean, Thai, Indian, and Japanese. **Sushi** is a local obsession. Japantown and the Richmond district have more than their fair share of excellent sushi chefs.\n Inexplicably to many locals, Fisherman's Wharf remains a popular place for tourists to find fresh but overpriced **seafood**, especially clam chowder and crabs cooked to order.\n For tourists, North Beach is the place to go for **Italian food**. The restaurants along Columbus, which cater to tourists, are overpriced. You can, of course, find great Italian and pizza all over the city.\n The Mission and are great for **Mexican**, **Salvadoran** and Latin American cuisine of all sorts, as is much of Mission Street south though Bernal Heights, the Excelsior, and Crocker-Amazon.", "word_count": 510}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk067", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Bars and clubs\n\nThe best way to find a good **bar** or **club** is to ask the advice of a local; but barring that a quick search on yelp/google will help you find something suited to your personal taste.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk068", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Drink", "text": "The great diversity of nightlife in San Francisco, sometimes within one neighborhood, reflects the diversity of cultures there. Here's a sampling:\nIf you want door-to-door bar hopping at friendly bars that serve PBR tall boys, definitely go to \"Polk Gulch\" in the Tenderloin and work your way north through bars such as **Mayes** and **Hemlock**.\nHead to the Marina for mid-20s to mid-30s professionals (and those visiting from Los Angeles) as well as a college atmosphere clubbing scene around super packed club/bars such as **Circa**.\nAre you into clubs? If you want to commit to a single venue for the night and club the night away, pay the necessary cover at high end clubs in South of Market (SoMa) such as **The Grand** and **Manor West**, where you can find left-over dot-commers and hipsters hanging out on the street.\nThe Castro primarily serves San Francisco's gay men, while Bernal Heights has some notable lesbian bars such as Wild Side West with a beautiful outdoor patio in back.\nThe Mission offers a more down to earth vibe that still lets you get your dance on; a bonus with this is that you can end the night with a great burrito from one of the local Mission taquerias.\nWith a large Irish population, San Francisco has a number of very good Irish pubs (e.g., Danny Coyle's in the Haight, Four Deuces in the Sunset, and many others). North Beach is home to several dance clubs and strip clubs.\nIf you like soccer (football) and all things English, you should stop into the **Kezar Pub**, at the edge of the Haight-Ashbury District, or Lower Haight's **Mad Dog In the Fog**. The pub quiz and bar food are good. Swill some pints and stay in the dark. Good for an entire day's worth of drinking.", "word_count": 301}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk069", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Beer\n\nSan Francisco, despite being much smaller than New York City, sports more microbreweries. **Anchor Brewing Company** (makers of Anchor Steam) is brewed on Potrero Hill, though it is generally not open to the public (tours are available by reservation). Similarly, **Speakeasy Ales & Lagers** opens its doors on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, though its location in Hunter's Point makes it a long Muni ride if you're traveling without a car. The other microbreweries are housed in brewpubs:\n\n**Beach Chalet** & **Park Chalet** are at the Pacific end of Golden Gate Park, where you can enjoy a view of the ocean or sit in the lawn area.\n **Magnolia Brewing Company** is in the heart of the Haight.\n **21st Amendment**, also in SoMa, is three blocks away from the Giants' home at AT&T Park.\n **Southern Pacific Brewing Company** is a large bar in the Mission District.\n **Cellarmaker Brewing Company** is a highly regarded brewery in SoMa, with an emphasis on hop-driven beers. The original SoMa location is closing at the end of 2022, but they also run Cellarmaker House of Pizza in the Mission/Bernal area, and will open an Oakland location in 2023.\n **Woods Brewery** has multiple locations around town.\n **Hop Oast** in the Mission is a cozy neighborhood microbrewery.\n\nOther destinations for beer drinkers include the **City Beer Store and Tasting Bar** on Valencia St in the Mission (your best bet for beer to go), the Mission's **Monk's Kettle**, and the famous **Toronado Pub** on lower Haight Street, which specializes in Belgian ales.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk070", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Drink", "text": "The surrounding Alameda, San Mateo, and Marin Counties also host many microbreweries worth trying - in particular, Fieldwork, Alvarado Street, and Sante Adairius. Many of these are accessible by BART. And although Santa Rosa is 45 minutes north of San Francisco, no beer lovers should skip the renowned **Russian River Brewing Company** in downtown Santa Rosa.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk071", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Sleep", "text": "San Francisco offers a wide range of accommodations, from a healthy supply of hostels and budget hotels to the lavish, luxurious hotels in the city center, as well as just about everything in-between. The majority of accommodations are in the northeastern portion of the city, in and around the popular areas of Downtown, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. As one moves into the mostly residential neighborhoods to the west, the sleeping options filter down to small inns and bed and breakfasts.\n\nDecide if you want to be in walking distance of your destinations, or are up to driving and parking (which can be quite an undertaking in some of the busier areas of San Francisco) or taking public transit. If you have a specific destination in mind, look also in the Districts sections.\n\nHotel costs are particularly variable in San Francisco. The price of a night's stay, especially in the SoMa neighborhood, depends significantly on what's happening at the Moscone Convention Center. Hotel rates can triple when the biggest events are underway. If your trip dates are flexible, you can save a lot of money by avoiding busy dates (it amounts to about half the year). In general, the biggest hotels are more expensive than smaller chains and local outfits.\n\nIf you'd rather stay closer to the San Francisco International Airport, there are plenty of standard airport accommodations in the cities surrounding the airport — Brisbane, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno and South San Francisco. From there, you can drive or take BART or Caltrain into San Francisco.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk072", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Connect", "text": "The **area codes** for San Francisco are 415 and 628. You must dial 1+area code+number for all calls within the city (if you're using a mobile phone, the \"1\" is not necessary). For calls within the US or Canada, dial 1+area code+number (again, the \"1\" is not needed when using a mobile phone), and for international calls, dial 011+country code+city code(if applicable)+number. **Pay phones** are getting less and less commonplace as nearly everyone in San Francisco has a mobile phone. They only take coins and phone cards with a dial-to-use number. Local calls start at $0.50.\n\nTo get online, **free wifi** is available on Market Street and a bunch of other locations; look for the network \"#SFWiFi\". Many coffee houses and cafes also offer **wireless** connection for free or a small fee, or try the Apple Store on Stockton at Ellis near Market in Union Square or any of the many public libraries, especially the main branch on Market near Civic Center station. **Internet cafes** are available at a sprinkling of city center locations.\n\nBlue mailboxes for **mail** such as letters and postcards are near USPS post offices, which sell stamps and ship packages. Several private mailing companies provide additional services.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk073", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A look at Stanley Robert's *People Behaving Badly* series will give you an inside look of usually petty crime in the city. However, it is very unlikely you'll encounter any violent or petty crime as long as you use your common sense and are vigilant.\n\nThe areas that one should be most cautious are in the neighborhoods of Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Sunnydale, Ingleside, and Potrero Hill in Southeast San Francisco, as well as the Tenderloin, parts of Western Addition (including the Fillmore District), and parts of the Mission. San Francisco is still susceptible to violent crime, and most of these murders occur in the southeast, less economically fortunate, neighborhoods of the city. Gang violence touches even busy and thriving areas such as the Mission Street retail corridor, although most instances of violent crime are directed to specific targets and are not random acts. The SoMa district used to be somewhat dangerous; however, gentrification (something that has become fairly common and a social issue in SF) has transformed it into a rather hip and much safer neighborhood with plenty of art galleries and clubs. However, it is best to be careful even now.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk074", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not any leave *anything* visible in your vehicle, not even small inexpensive items like cellphone mounts, especially when parking on public streets. Car break-ins are very common in San Francisco. You may see posters for the city's public safety campaign featuring the slogan, \"Park Smart! If you love it, don’t leave it.\" Any visible items are an invitation for thieves to smash your windows and ransack your car. During your visit, you will probably see small piles of broken glass on sidewalks throughout the city, which are the result of such crimes. Do not leave electronics such as laptop computers and tablets in your car, not even in the trunk, as thieves carry special detection devices that can sweep for them. If you cannot carry all valuables with you, try to keep them in the trunk and park your vehicle in secure parking garages, which are slightly safer than street parking but are not completely free from crime either. If you are renting a car from the airport, make sure you drive straight to your hotel and only go elsewhere once your luggage is securely stored in your room. Thieves are known to follow cars from the airport so they can break in to steal luggage when the owners are away. The converse applies too: when you leave for the airport, make sure you drive straight to the airport after loading up your rental car. You cannot leave a fully loaded car unattended for any sightseeing, not even for two or three minutes.\n\nBicycle theft is extremely common so bikes should be securely locked to a sturdy surface, even if you're going to only be gone a minute. Use a U-lock or chain, not a flexible cable lock.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk075", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "San Francisco also has the largest homeless population per capita in the United States. If someone begs from you, you may either politely say you do not have any change or just keep walking, and he or she will generally leave you alone. The main homeless area is around 6th and Market, heading towards the Civic Center, and in the Tenderloin. Haight Ashbury also has lots of panhandlers, and the area near Golden Gate Park at the end of Haight Street near Stanyan is notorious for junkies and should be avoided at night.\n\nPickpocketing, purse snatching, and other forms of petty crime are common as with any other large city. Be especially cautious on crowded Muni trains and buses, in heavily touristed areas such as Fisherman's Wharf, and during the busy holiday shopping season.\n\nBe careful to check for ticks after hiking in fields in the Bay Area. There is a high rate of lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a bulls' eye rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.\n\nRogue waves can occur at Ocean Beach along the Pacific edge of San Francisco. It is not uncommon for unsuspecting tourists to be swept out to sea during high surf conditions. A good rule of thumb is to avoid facing away from the ocean. Strong currents are also a hazard for swimmers.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk076", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Publications\n\n**San Francisco Chronicle**. The main newspaper in San Francisco. $1.50 daily, $3.00 Sunday.\n**San Francisco Examiner**. A free daily newspaper.\n**SF Weekly**. An online-only arts & culture website, formerly a free weekly distributed widely across the city.\n**San Francisco Bay View**. Politics, economics, and news from a progressive African American perspective.\n**AsianWeek**. A weekly paper, one of the largest English language publications for Asian-Americans.\n**Bay Area Reporter**. Free-weekly serving the LGBT community.\n**San Francisco Bay Times**. Another free-weekly LGBT newspaper.\n**San Francisco Magazine**. A monthly magazine devoted to Bay Area culture.\n\n### Consulates\n\nSan Francisco is home to many people of different nationalities and language backgrounds. Therefore, many countries have established full service consulates (Consulates-General) in San Francisco to provide consular services for their nationals living in (northern) California and in the adjacent states in the northwestern part of the U.S. (or the entire west coast) as well as visa services for others seeking to visit their respective countries (if required). The Honorary Consulates are there for commercial and business purposes and offer limited or no consular services except in emergency situations. Most of the consulates are in downtown San Francisco and in the adjacent Pacific Heights & SoMa areas. They can also be located in other parts of town too:\n - Australia\n\n - Belgium (Honorary)\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China, People's Republic of\n\n - Colombia\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Guatemala\n\n - Honduras\n\n - India\n\n - VFS Global\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kazakhstan\n\n - Luxembourg\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Monaco (Honorary)\n\n - Mongolia\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Nicaragua\n\n - Norway\n\n - Peru\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Russian Federation\n\n - Singapore\n\n - Korea, Republic of\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan, Republic of China (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office)\n\n - Tonga\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Venezuela\n\n - Vietnam\n\nSome of the countries maintain a consulate in both Los Angeles and San Francisco while others have a consulate in one city or the other.", "word_count": 345}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk077", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bikes can be rented from around the northern waterfront (Pier 41/Fisherman's Wharf/Aquatic Park area) or near Golden Gate Park for trips to Marin County via the Golden Gate Bridge. Stanyan near Haight at the end of the park has several good shops.\nGolden Gate Transit also serves the North Bay from San Francisco, and has bike racks on most buses.\n\n### Bay Area", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk078", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Go next", "text": "'''San Jose''' — The heart of Silicon Valley and the biggest city in the Bay Area. Take Caltrain there.\n**Oakland** — A diverse and vibrant city, Oakland was once considered San Francisco's \"sister city,\" and has been regaining that title due to a general renaissance of the city. Although not a major tourist destination, it's worth a visit for its many distinct and charming neighborhoods. Take BART, or the ferry for great views.\n**Berkeley** — Home to the University of California, Berkeley is one of the nation's most progressive communities. Also a hub of liberal political activism for the past several decades. It is also home to quite a few superb restaurants. Accessible by BART's Red Line (towards Richmond).\n**Sausalito** — Enjoy a ferry ride across the bay to beautiful Sausalito where you can walk along the water and admire the San Francisco skyline. Stroll to the waterfront restaurants, shops, and galleries.\n**Healdsburg** — A charming Wine Country town located among some of California's greatest wine appellations: Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill. Relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, with excellent restaurants, shopping and wine tasting. About 70 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.\n**Napa Valley** — The main wine growing region in the United States, a trip to the many wineries makes for a fun day, while those wanting a longer adventure can relax in any one of the many spas, bed and breakfasts, or other lodging options. Take the ferry to Vallejo, then VINE bus #11 to the City of Napa.\n**Muir Woods** — A 560-acre forest of old-growth redwood trees located in Mill Valley just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods is a pleasant respite from the city, and accessible by Golden Gate Transit on summer weekends.\n**Point Reyes National Seashore** — Located just north of San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway (State Highway 1), Point Reyes is a beautiful seashore that is particularly nice to visit when gray whales are migrating along the coast, usually best in mid-January and then from March through May.\n**Peninsula** — Just south of San Francisco, the peninsula has excellent nature preserves.\n**Palo Alto** — On the Peninsula south of the city, Palo Alto is home to Stanford University, has some of the richest neighborhoods in all of California and makes for a beautiful drive with views of the coastline and magnificent mansions. Accessible by Caltrain.\n**Burlingame** — Another well off neighborhood on the Peninsula, Burlingame has a lovely downtown area with plenty of shops, dining and streets lined with cypress trees. Accessible by Caltrain.\n**Monterey** — An otherwise quiet beach town home to one of the country's best aquariums. Accessible by Amtrak, Greyhound, or the Monterey Airbus from SFO.\n**Santa Cruz** — Located on the coast north of Monterey Bay, this funky town is home to surfers, the beautiful and tech-savvy University of California, Santa Cruz, and a popular boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Mountains north of town are a great place for outdoor recreation such as hiking, and home to misty forests of famous, enormous redwood trees. Take Caltrain to San Jose, then SC Metro #17 bus.\n**Vallejo** — Home to a wildlife theme park, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Accessible by ferry.", "word_count": 539}
+{"chunk_id": "san-francisco::chunk079", "doc_id": "san-francisco", "section": "Go next", "text": "### California\n\n**Yosemite National Park** — Tours from San Francisco make for a wonderful day trip, although you will spend around 10 hours travelling for less than 4 in the park. Make sure to visit the amazing Giant Sequoias.\n**Lake Tahoe** — Buses and one Amtrak train per day link the Bay Area to nearby Truckee, and as with Yosemite, travel even by car to and from would consume much of the day. However, the spectacular alpine setting and winter ski and snowboard options surrounding the Lake make Tahoe an unforgettable destination.\n**Sacramento** is a nice city to visit, and is only a 1 1/2 hour drive without traffic, which is unlikely. Other travel options include Megabus, Flixbus, Amtrak, and Greyhound.\nYou can also head down Highway 1 or 101 down the Coast and more interesting sites leading to **Los Angeles** will be seen.\n\n### Beyond\n\nYou can also head up 101 to the **Pacific Northwest**, head east into **Nevada**, and get on a flight virtually anywhere at **SFO Airport.**", "word_count": 170}
diff --git a/corpus/san-francisco/metadata.json b/corpus/san-francisco/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..df5049736bef4d2c920efac478ac4283ed12e055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/san-francisco/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "san-francisco",
+ "title": "San Francisco",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/San_Francisco",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "whale-watching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 9,
+ 10
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Bay Area"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "star",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Marin County",
+ "San Jose (California)",
+ "Oakland",
+ "Berkeley",
+ "Sausalito",
+ "Healdsburg",
+ "Napa Valley",
+ "Muir Woods",
+ "Mill Valley",
+ "Point Reyes National Seashore",
+ "Pacific Coast Highway",
+ "Peninsula (Bay Area)",
+ "Palo Alto",
+ "Burlingame",
+ "Monterey (California)",
+ "Santa Cruz (California)",
+ "Monterey (California)",
+ "Vallejo",
+ "Yosemite National Park",
+ "Lake Tahoe",
+ "Sacramento",
+ "Los Angeles",
+ "Pacific Northwest",
+ "Nevada",
+ "San Francisco International Airport",
+ "Sacramento",
+ "Oakland",
+ "San Jose (California)",
+ "Daly City",
+ "Santa Rosa (California)",
+ "Sausalito",
+ "San Jose (California)",
+ "Brisbane (California)",
+ "Fort Bragg",
+ "Sausalito",
+ "Santa Cruz (California)",
+ "Daly City",
+ "SFO",
+ "Millbrae",
+ "Daly City",
+ "East Bay",
+ "Oakland",
+ "San Jose (California)",
+ "South San Francisco"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 19781,
+ "listing_count": 62,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 80,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/santiago/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/santiago/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0b8d0fe73ef7ce460c1c11fa217ded47ceeeb170
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/santiago/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk000", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Santiago** is the capital and economic center of Chile. With its many museums, events, theaters, restaurants, bars and other entertainment and cultural opportunities, it is also the cultural center of the country. For visitors it's both the gateway to the country and a destination in its own right with an eclectic architecture, a vibrant culinary and cultural scene, surrounded by the mighty Andes welcoming skiers, trekkers and friends of wine. Its central location in the country makes it a great base for visiting other areas, and it is possible to ski in the nearby Andes and later be on the beach in the same day.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk001", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|[[Santiago/Providencia\nSantiago is a fast-growing city in the Santiago Región Metropolitana, in the central valley of Chile between the Andes mountain range to the east and the Coastal Range to the west. The metropolitan area has about 7 million inhabitants.\n\nFounded in 1541 as Santiago de Nueva Extremadura by the Spaniard Pedro de Valdivia, it has been the heart of the country since colonial times and has evolved to the cosmopolitan city it is today.\n\n### History\n\nThe Santiago valley has been inhabited for thousands of years by different peoples. The Inca empire, and with them the Inca road network, extended here in the late 15th century. Not long after emerged the Spanish conquistadors, and on February 12, 1541, Pedro de Valdivia founded \"Santiago de Nueva Extremadura\" as the capital of the Captaincy General of Chile. During the following centuries functioned as the headquarters of the Spanish for their wars against the native Mapuche people further south, during which time the city was ruined two times by earthquakes.\n\nFrom the 19th century onwards, Santiago followed a similar path as many other South American cities. Independence was followed by rapid expansion and modernization and many of the city's major buildings, cultural institutions and parks were established at this time. Also the railway network to other parts of the country was greatly expanded. European immigration was from the 1930s onwards followed by immigrants from rural Chile and the city already had 3 million inhabitants by the middle of the 20th century.\n\nThe next major event in the city's history took place in 1973, when Marxist president Allende was ousted in a military coup. The military dictatorship that followed lasted until 1990. Today, Chile is a safe, democratic and stable country and one of the richest in Latin America.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk002", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Understand", "text": "Santiago sits in the middle of the Maipo river valley, at the place where it is joined by its tributary Mapocho, and the city is surrounded by mountains of various elevations, the highest of them Tupungato (6,570 m). Many of them are active volcanoes, and the soil has been covered in ash for millennia making it very fertile and high-quality grapes and other fruits are widely grown just outside the city.\n\nThe city sits between 400 and 540 meters above the sea level, but with many \"hill islands\" here and there including Santa Lucia, Cerro Calan and Cerro San Cristobal, the most emblematic top of the city. The Andes on the east side are noticeably higher than the Chilean Coastal Range on the west, wherefore east and west are often referred to as \"up\" or \"down\" by locals.\n\nThe administrative conurbation of Santiago is made up of 37 municipalities, of which the most important is Santiago Centro, where the main public institutions of the country and the old town are found. The east of the city is the financial center of the country.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk003", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Understand", "text": "Like most of the central part in the country, Santiago has a typical Mediterranean climate. The climate is chilly and rainy in the winter, and temperatures can fall to around 0°C at night. It very rarely snows in the city itself, and during the winter it will more likely be raining with snow falling to the east up in the Andes. It gets progressively hotter towards the summer. Summers are fairly dry although you may experience some humidity at times, and temperatures can surpass 35°C. Due to the relative lack of vegetation in the region, temperatures fluctuate wildly between day and night year-round. It is not uncommon to suffer from the heat in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt during the day but require a jacket at night.\n\nSantiago is notorious for its poor air quality, which is due to the inversion effect in the basin and other factors. The air quality can be unhealthy in large part due to high concentrations of particulate matter (especially in the winter).\n\n### Visitor information\n\n- Sernatur\n\nInformation on Santiago from Chile Travel website", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk004", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Get in", "text": "Upon entry, all tourists are issued a tourist card good for 90 days. Take care not to lose the stamped tourist card as it is required to exit the country. If you happen to lose it you must get it reissued by the PDI (*Policía de Investigaciones*) before attempting to leave the country.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|View of the international airport\n\nAeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez has flights from most continents, with major flight routes to North America, Europe, the Middle East and is the only South American airport to have flights to Oceania. The airport is also a major hub for Latin America.\n\nTravelers from Albania and Mexico, must pay a reciprocity fee upon entry to the country by air. This is in response to these same countries' visa fees for Chilean citizens. The one-time charge must be paid in cash (US dollars) or credit card before passing through immigration and is valid for the life of the passport. The fee for Albanians is US$30, and US$23 for Mexicans. There is no fee to enter by land. If paying by cash be aware that the bills must be in near \"perfect\" condition, no ripped bills.\n\nThere are taxis waiting immeditiately outside the terminal.\n\nThere are two public bus companies that run into town: Centropuerto and Turbus. You can purchase a one-way ticket for 2,000 pesos. Follow the signs to the bus terminal. It is a 5-minute walk from arrivals.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk005", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is also the public Red bus line 555 that runs between the metro station Pajaritos and the parking space for the employees of the airport. It works with the Metro card and a ride with the bus (or bus+metro) counts as a standard ride (<= 800 pesos). The card can be bought and charged at Metro stations, but not in the bus. From the parking space runs a free shuttle bus to the terminals.\n\nTransvip and WeTransport offer shared and private transport to and from the airport.\n\nIf you are renting a car, the rental car company counters are all together to your left after clearing customs in the international terminal. There is a separate set of rental car counters before customs (so you can rent a car while waiting at the baggage claim), but they are not always staffed. After you get your contract, you have to walk outside, turn left, and walk east, then cross the street to the south to a small lot where the rental cars are kept and present your contract to the attendant on duty to obtain your rental car. When you return the vehicle, you must return to the same lot. Because the airport rental car lot is far too small, traffic jams and delays are frequent, so arrive early. At return, the attendant inspects the vehicle and fills out a return checklist form in carbon copy, then gives you one of the copies, which you bring back to the inside counter to close out your contract.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk006", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|La Estación Central de Santiago, the central station\nTrenes Metropolitanos provides multiple commuter and interregional trains from the train station (Metro Estación Central, Line 1) to the vast wine and agriculture valley to the south. The central station, designed by Gustave Eiffel, used to be the center of an extensive passenger railway network, which has been closed down just like in the rest of South America.\n\nMetrotren is a commuter rail that runs to San Fernando by way of Rancagua with five departures daily, prices up to 2,400 pesos.\n TerraSur runs to Chillán with three departures daily. It is recommended to book ahead during the high season (Austral summer) as seats fill up quickly. Prices are up to 22,000 pesos for first class and 10,800 pesos for second class.\n Expreso Maule runs an interregional express service to the sixth and seventh regions (O'Higgins and Maule) once daily, prices up to 3,850 pesos.\n\n### By car\n\nEntering Santiago by car, you'll probably find yourself on the Autopista Central (Ruta 5), the Chilean leg of the Pan-American Highway. To use this freeway you need a \"TAG\" toll transponder, or a day pass which you can buy from service stations. One-day passes are 7,000 pesos. You can also buy it after accidentally passing through it without one.\n\nIf you rent a car at the airport or anywhere in Santiago, the rental car company is required to include a TAG toll transponder in the vehicle and charge you for it.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk007", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses are the main mode of transportation between cities, and most cities in Chile have a bus connection to the capital. For some close, large cities, like Valparaiso or Viña del Mar there may be a bus departing as frequently as every 15 minutes. Prices of bus tickets vary according to demand and type of seat (regular seat, semi-bed or bed). Buses are in general clean and comfortable, but this may not always be the case with the toilets on board. There are several bus terminals in the city, the biggest being Terminal Santiago.\n\nThe bus ride between Santiago and Mendoza in Argentina has beautiful views and takes about eight hours, depending on the time spent at the Cristo Redentor checkpoint. The border crossing is at about 2,800 m in the Andes. Fruit, vegetables or animal products are not allowed in either direction; all luggage will get checked at the border. One-way fares are listed at around 21,000 pesos (semicama) 25,000 pesos (cama) in high season, but are often cheaper if booked in advance and in the off season. There are also buses to and from San Juan (one way fares listed at around 19,500 pesos) and Neuquen, Argentina. One-way fares to Lima are listed at around 85,000 pesos.\n\nthumb|Platforms at Terminal Alameda.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk008", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|The Santiago metro system (click to enlarge)\nthumb|A Transantiago bus\n\n### Transantiago\n\nTransantiago runs the metro and main bus lines in the city. Fares on public transport can be paid only with a bip! card. Beginning February 2026, contactless credit / debit cards can be used on the metros. Bip! cards can be bought and recharged at any metro station ( for the card, minimum recharge ) or at a Centro bip!. They are good for both the metro and bus and allows you unlimited transfers between the two within a two hour period — you still have to swipe your card when boarding the next metro train or bus, but there is in general no deduction. In the peak period, when traveling with a ticket activated on a metro and you're transferring to a bus (or the other way around) there will be a small deduction.\n\nYou **cannot** return the card nor get a refund, think twice before adding too much money. However, you can use the card for several people, you just have to swipe for the second person as well. So, you might decide to only get one instead of two if you are traveling together. The free transfer between metro and bus for the other person does probably not work then.\n\nThe fare depends on when you've started your journey; tickets cost 800 pesos for trips commenced during the peak periods (07:00-09:00, 18:00-20:00), 720 pesos for shoulder periods (06:30-07:00, 09:00-18:00, 08:00-20:45) and 640 pesos for low periods (before 06:30 and after 20:45).\n\n#### By metro\n\nThe **Santiago Metro** system is the second largest in Latin America and has seven lines and 136 stations, with many holding rotating art exhibitions. The lines 1, 2 and 5 pass through the historical center and 4 and 4A mostly serve the east of the city. As it is a very popular mode for getting around, the metro can be crowded during rush hours.\n\nTrains run between roughly 06:00 and 23:00; each station posts the exact hours above the staircases leading down into the stations. Buses run parallel to subway lines after hours.\n\n#### By bus\n\nTransantiago buses are mostly modern and run around the clock on the main lines. If you know a little Spanish, you can find route information on the Transantiago website.\n\nOn Sundays 10:00–18:00, Transantiago operates a \"cultural circuit\" , where a specially-marked bus runs between major tourist and cultural destinations for the normal fare.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are a relatively inexpensive and safe way to get around the city. Flag drop costs 300 pesos plus 120 pesos for every 100 meters. Official taxis are black and yellow and easily identifiable. Radiotaxis are also common and a good idea late at night. Suburban areas are sometimes served by taxis operating fixed routes and fixed rates. There are many Uber taxis, but they are not officially licensed in Chile, and Uber drivers will not want to pick you up or drop you off where either police or licensed taxis can see them. Getting to/from the airport by Uber is particularly awkward. Official taxis are a similar rate anyway.\n\n### By bike\n\nSantiago has a rapidly-growing network of bike lanes and paths. Bicineta has an up to date map of bike routes.\n - Bikesantiago\n\n### By tour bus\n\n - Turistik Santiago Hop on – Hop off", "word_count": 558}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk009", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "See", "text": "*See for listings.*\n\nthumb|Palacio de La Moneda\n\nThe Historical Center is the place to go for historical sights. For over five centuries this has been a governmental seat, and you can find buildings of great historical significance here. One of them is the modernist colonial **Palacio de la Moneda**, built for minting of coins. From the mid-19th century it has also been the residence of the president until the coup of 1973 when it was bombed. The damage was repaired and it's still the residence of the president today.\n\nSouth of the palace is **Alameda**, the main drag of the city with the **central university building** (Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile), the **San Francisco church** and the **Santa Lucia hill** with great views of the old town. **Plaza de Armas** opposite the university building is the most lively area of the downtown and in addition to vendors you can often find artists, comedians and singers performing here. Nearby you can find the **Metropolitan Cathedral**, the **Palace of the Royal Court** (nowadays a museum) and the **mayor's residence**.\n\nthumb|Guitar player in Barrio Lastarria\n\nGoing north from Plaza de Armas you'll come to the **Mercado Central**, with plenty of restaurants. East along the Mapocho river's southern bank you'll be at **Parque Forestal** and **Museo de Bellas Artes** as well as the vibrant neighborhood of **Lastarria** with plenty of cafés, restaurants and art galleries.\n\n**Bellavista** north of the river is a nightlife hotspot and there you can also visit the mythical home of the poet Pablo Neruda. You can also take the funicular or walk up the **Cerro San Cristóbal** for some of the best views of Santiago and the Maipo Valley. Southeast there is Providencia where you can find trendy shops and further away **Sanhattan's skyscrapers** including Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest in Latin America and second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere. Westwards there's **Quinta Normal**, a huge park surrounded by museums.", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk010", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Do", "text": "*See for listings.*\nthumbnail|Concha y Toro winery in Puente Alto, northeastern Santiago\n\n Santiago is known as a **cultural hotspot**. Among other things, the city is home to an impressive **jazz** scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city, a famous one being Club Jazz in the Nuñoa district. In the Providencia district a jazz festival takes place each January with both local and foreign bands playing. For current theater, dance, and concert listings can be found in the *El Mercurio* newspaper. For a broad variety of art and culture, visit one of several **cultural centers** around the city, featuring exhibitions, performances and workshops. At some of these you can buy local art and handicraft too (refer to the Buy section for more shopping).\n You can also take a pleasant walk in one of Santiago's many **parks**. Some of these, like Cerro Santa Lucia and Parque Metropolitano offer great views over the city. If you want something more than just hiking or taking the cable car up a little hill, take on the higher \"hills\" outside the city. Contact one of the local **mountaineering** clubs and go on a trek to some of the highest mountains in the world outside Asia, or if you like **skiing**, hit the slopes of El Colorado (Chile).\n - Vineyards\n\n - Viña Cousiño Macul\n\n - Viña Concha y Toro\n\n - Viña Emiliana\n\nthumbnail|El Puente del Inca in Argentina\n - Paso de Uspallata (between Chile and Argentina)", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk011", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Work", "text": "In order to work legally in Chile, a working permit needs to be obtained, which can be accomplished with the sponsorship of an employer. Many people work illegally, but it is definitely best to have a permit.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk012", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Buy", "text": "*See for listings.*\n\nSantiago has a lot of shopping malls all around the city. In the malls you can find a variety of retail stores and Falabella, París and Ripley, the most famous department stores in Chile.\n\n### Downtown and Providencia\n\nFor shopping in central Santiago, head to Paseo Ahumada, a section full of different shops between the main street Alameda and Plaza de Armas.\n\nIf you prefer buying handcrafts, the ones in the *Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia* are good and relatively cheap compared with other handcrafts stores. Other handcrafts centres are in Bellavista (though a bit more expensive).\n\nProvidencia has a large selection of shops along Avenida Providencia.\n\n### East\n\nthumbnail|Handicrafts for sale at Pueblo de los Dominicos\nThe largest malls are Parque Arauco and Alto Las Condes, both have good restaurants and the former also has free music and shows. You can get to Parque Arauco from Metro Escuela Militar (Line 1) and to Alto Las Condes from Metro Los Domínicos (Line 1); ask locals for directions if you're unsure of how to take buses.\n\nAlonso de Córdova Street and Nueva Costanera Avenue are very exclusive areas where you can find high fashion and luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Hermés or local designers. In this area you find great restaurants and art galleries.\n\nSteps from Metro Los Domínicos (Line 1) is Pueblito Los Domínicos. It is more expensive but has a wide variety of local handcrafts and antiques, as well as a small exhibition room and a bonsai exhibition behind it. It is very pretty with an artificial stream in a colonial-looking atmosphere. Half of the people there are usually tourists during the summer, so you won't be alone!\n\nPlaza Nuñoa has some small shops in the plaza where you can buy books from Latin America (Neruda, Allende, Cortazar) and also handcrafts.\n\n### North\n\nIf you're already kind of familiar with Santiago, you can also go to Barrio Patronato which is near the downtown area and it's easy to reach by metro (Metro Patronato, Line 2). There you'll find cheap clothes, food and products of all kinds, as well as some foreign stores (mainly Chinese, Koreans, Peruvians and from the Middle East), thus allowing you to save quite a bit of money. It would be better to go alongside a local, though, since it's easy to get lost due to the very short and slim streets and the *very* high quotient of visitors. Beware of pickpocketers.\n\n### South\n\nSimilarly, those who want more surprises and know the basics about Santiago can go to the famous *Persa Bio Bio* in the Franklin area, also not too far from downtown and near to Metro Franklin (Line 2). It can be described as a giant flea market that opens every weekend and offers antiques, tools, handmade furniture, *many* food stores, etc. Again, it's not a place for novices: a local's presence would be desired.", "word_count": 483}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk013", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Eat", "text": "*See for listings.*\nthumb|The ''completo'', a hot dog Chilean style, has all sorts of toppings\n\nIn downtown and the east of the city you can find both global and domestic fast food chains. Why not opt for the latter and have a *completo*, the Chilean version of the hot dog with tomato, mayonnaise, sauerkraut or a *italiano* hot dog with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise. In addition there are small sandwich places known as \"picadas\" serving different kinds of sandwiches (some of them with huge steaks) and pies. There are also street food carts where you can find local specialties like sopaipillas (buns) stuffed with fried pumpkin and *mote con huesillo*, a soft drink with peaches and wheat.\n\nThe traditional cuisine of central Chile is centered around barbecued meat (beef or pork) with tomatoes, potatoes or corn. Local specialties include *cazuela* (a soup), *porotos con riendas* (beans with pasta), *porotos granados* (a vegetarian bean stew), *charquicán* (stew of beef and potatoes, topped with an egg), *pastel de choclo* (corn pie) and as we're in southern South America — *asado* (barbecued meat). Seafood is not as common in Santiago as you might expect, though if you want some, the restaurants at the central market are the place to go.\n\nYou can get vegetarian and vegan food but it will likely be some version of pizza, pasta, and burgers.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk014", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Drink", "text": "*See for listings.*\n\nNightlife choices vary widely across the city and their location usually reflects their price and style.\n\n **Barrio Bellavista** and **Barrio Brasil** are popular spots close to downtown. The Bohemian Bellavista can be reached by Metro to Baquedano, or by bus to Plaza Italia. Cross the bridge will bring you to Pio Nono, which probably has highest density of bars, pubs, and clubs in Chile, including some LGBT places. By law, everything closes down at 05:00, though you may be able to join people for afterparties elsewhere.\n **Barrio Lastarria** has more sophisticated and relaxed bars, pubs, cafés, many of which have an interesting history. It's also a district for fine dining.\n The **historic center** likewise has many traditional places to have a drink, some of which have retained an ambience from the early 20th century. One of them is La Piojera, with its signature *terremoto* (earthquake) drink with wine, Fernet and pineapple ice cream.\n**Plaza San Enrique** is a park in Lo Barnechea (at the far northeast of the city) which is surrounded by nightclubs. The most popular one is Sala Murano (it can get very crowded!) People who attend are mostly aged 18-25 and it is one of the safest places to party. Most people there are from upper-middle to high class, so it is more expensive than other neighbourhoods. Typically, women get in for free, while men pay around 3,000-5,000 pesos. You can get there by buses, but though buses do pass later on, you might have to wait up to an hour for it.\n **Plaza Ñuñoa** is a district east of the central area and is another popular spot nightlife spot.\n **Vitacura** is pretty far east (towards the Andes). It is composed of bars and some places where you can dance. The places are nice and it can be fun to go. It is more expensive that other areas of Santiago and frequented by people that live in the eastern (wealthier) side of the city. Although you can get there by bus, it will be hard to leave on anything but a taxi since buses don't run late.", "word_count": 353}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk015", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Sleep", "text": "*See for listings.*\n\nthumb|Santiago at night\n\nAll types of accommodation, from top class hotels to backpacker hostels are available. As a general rule, lodging gets more luxurious and expensive the further east you travel.\n\nClassic, mid-range hotels can be found downtown, and in the nearby residential areas such as Barrio Brasil you'll find more affordable accommodation like youth hostels. Lastarria just east of downtown features small boutique hotels. In the eastern part of the city you can find hotels of international luxury chains and apartment hotels, catering to those who attend business meetings, conferences or trade shows. Still further east, outside the city and up the mountains there are the upscale ski resorts.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk016", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Santiago is infamous for its smog, which is worse during the winter (May–September). The locals welcome the rain which falls during winters as it cleans the air. Be sure to carry bottled water with you during the summer. Be prepared for sauna-heat on the metro during summer.\n\n### When getting around\n\nBy South American standards Santiago is a safe city, but visitors should be aware of pickpocketing and other petty crimes (Chileans derogatorily refer to the pickpockets as \"lanzas\", from the verb \"lanzar\", \"to throw upon\" in English). Avoid parks at night and don't wear expensive looking jewelry or watches even during the day, unless you are in Las Condes or Vitacura. If you're alone, avoid large crowds of people, especially downtown.\n\nIf you happen to have bad luck and get robbed, do as you're told by the criminal and if you don't understand Spanish, give away the wallet. Not doing so can provoke an attack until you give away your wallet. Don't try to stand up to them and once again: do as you're told.\n\nKeep your camera concealed, use it to take a photo and then hide it while not using it. If you're getting robbed and the criminal has spotted the camera expect to give it away too if you want to stay out of trouble.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk017", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If someone approaches you on the streets and promises to get you better chances at changing your dollars or euros into Chilean pesos, *never* accept their deals. They're con-people who take advantage of foreigners not knowing the details about currency and confuse them with big words to take their cash away. Only change your money in legal currency exchange centers, which may take more time but are much more trustworthy. There's one in the airport, but they are also easy to find in the downtown and financial areas, or in the malls.\n\nOverall, Santiago is very safe if you travel by car.\n\nThe metro is regarded as safer for travelling amongst the locals, even though security has increased in the buses after the introduction of TranSantiago. But some locals still prefer using the metro especially when it gets darker, since almost all the stations have guards. Don't expect the staff to speak much English. In peak hours the metro runs *really* full so try to keep your backpack on the front and belongings in front pockets.\n\n### Dangerous areas\n\nThere are some neighborhoods/barrios that should be avoided. The few carabineros and locals that speak English will know which areas are to be avoided since some of them can actually be accessed by metro. Some people at local Starbucks are more likely to speak English.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk018", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you see fewer tall buildings and more houses with locked windows and entrances, then turn back. The changes happen very slowly, unlike some other Latin American cities, so you'd have to travel quite a lot from a wealthy safe neighbourhood to a dangerous ghetto. Avoid especially La Legua (not to be confused with La Ligua in the V Región) which is famed in Chile for its high crime rates. Single police cars won't even enter the area.\n\nTry staying away from the following comunas: Lo Espejo, La Pintana, Puente Alto (especially the Plaza de Armas), La Cisterna, San Joaquín, El Bosque (not to be confused with the avenue and neighbourhood around Metro El Golf, which is in Las Condes), San Ramón, Pedro Aguirre Cerda and La Granja unless you know exactly where you're going. Though these places are not completely unsafe for the most part, they can have a few unsafe spots and don't have much touristic significance.\n\nThe safest comunas are Providencia, Vitacura and Las Condes. All of them have lots of local security guards, besides Carabineros, and locals are more likely to speak English, especially young people. They are not completely safe, though: petty theft still takes place, so keep your eyes open in the streets. Lo Barnechea can be tricky as it is the only comuna that has both extremely wealthy and extremely poor neighbourhoods ever since Pinochet's dictatorship; \"La Dehesa\" is wealthy and safe, \"Cerro Dieciocho\" is as dangerous as La Legua.\n\n### Football", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk019", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|Fans of Universidad Catolica. As with most of Latin America, fans take football seriously here\nIf you are going to see a football match, be careful with the \"barras bravas\" who are the most fanatic but also dangerous fans. They are often involved in troubles with the police both inside the stadium and outside. Avoid buying tickets in the sections where the bravas dominate, which are often behind the goals. The middle section is the safest but if you have a friend who wants to support Colo-Colo and another Universidad de Chile for example, avoid showing it. Even if the middle section is safe, showing different shirts can cause you trouble. Either go with the same shirts or dress neutral. Other football matches not being the \"Superclásico\" between Universidad de Chile against Colo-Colo should be pretty safe.\n\nWalking to the stadium you will find people begging for some pesos so they can see the match. Avoid giving them if you want to stay out of trouble.\n\nThe barrio around the Estadio Nacional is normally peaceful, but you have to walk purposefully and keep your eyes on other people when it's crowded. It's better to take a taxi to the arena, or a rental car if you can find a place to park it.\n\n### Other\n\n*Never* join a protest, because it can end badly. If you are caught in one, don't hesitate to hide in a restaurant, shop or something similar.\n\nChilean police (carabineros) are in general trustworthy, at least in comparison to other Latin American countries. Although you can hardly find one who can speak English, they will try to answer your questions, solve your problems or give you directions. *Never attempt to bribe* a police officer; Chile has the least corrupt police force of Latin America.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk020", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "However remember that the Chilean police is a militarized police. Therefore the police special forces can be violent or unreasonable if they think you have done or will do something illegal or inappropriate, so be careful.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk021", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Connect", "text": "If you wish to mail a letter or postcard, the largest post office is the Correo Central on the north side of Plaza de Armas, a Neoclassical building with French influences. There are several smaller post offices around the city, often close to the larger avenues.\n\nHowever, Chilean mail has become infamous for not getting things delivered or mailmen opening the letters trying to find money or any valuable items (mostly on mail coming from abroad).\n\nThe largest and most trustworthy private mail company is Chilexpress, which has agencies in almost all mid-sized cities. Prices are a bit higher, though.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk022", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\n - Australia\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Finland\n\n - Greece\n\n - Japan\n\n - Romania\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United States of America", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "santiago::chunk023", "doc_id": "santiago", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Mountains\n\nthumb|[[El Colorado (Chile)|El Colorado]] ski resort\nThe mountainous outdoors with nature reserves and ski resorts are just around the corner. The skiing season is from May to August.\n Ski resorts northeast of Santiago reachable by car within an hour and a half include Farellones, Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado.\n The ski resorts of Portillo and Valle Nevado are two to three hours away on the road to Mendoza.\n Rancagua is 85 km to the south and has some thermal springs and hiking opportunities nearby.\n Cajón del Maipo, beautiful in spring, some 75 km south east of Santiago, day trip. Some nice places for lunch and tea; many of them only open on weekends.\n Sierras de Bellavista (150 km south of Santiago) is a wonderful little mountain village, especially after a rainy day. Alpine scenery.\n Other nearby nature reserves include **Monumento Natural El Morado**, **Reserva Nacional Río Clarillo** and **Santuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca**\nThe villages and towns in the surrounding Maipo valley is also a great place for seeing the Chilean way of life, buying handicrafts, tasting wine and savoring local cuisine.\n\n### The coast\n\nThe Pacific Ocean is less than 100 km from Santiago, and easily accessible.\n Vina del Mar, 90 minutes away is the beach capital of the country, and it also has nice parks, gardens, restaurants, cafes and casinos.\n Valparaíso, next to Vina del Mar is one of the largest ports on the Pacific, but certainly not a dirty industrial behemoth. It's also a famous for its world heritage listed and very Bohemian old town on the mountain sides.\n **Isla Negra**, a village on the coast, south of Valparaíso. The main and most beloved house of Pablo Neruda is there. This is probably the most interesting of his three houses to visit and the best conserved as it is the only one that the military didn't sack during the coup d'état in 1973. To get there, you can take the Pullman bus (3,700 pesos, 2 hr) from Terminal Alameda (Metro Universidad de Santiago). You can also take the Turbus bus to San Antonio (1,000-2,000 pesos, 1½ hr) from Alameda as well, and then take a local bus in front of \"laPolar\" (450 pesos, 30 min) that goes along the beautiful coast. Tours of the house cost 3,000 pesos and last a half an hour. Then you can go to the beach.", "word_count": 398}
diff --git a/corpus/santiago/metadata.json b/corpus/santiago/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..720454f0773285b713b4042607187d35cec810b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/santiago/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "santiago",
+ "title": "Santiago",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Santiago",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Chile"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "El Colorado (Chile)",
+ "Farellones",
+ "Valle Nevado",
+ "La Parva",
+ "El Colorado (Chile)",
+ "Portillo",
+ "Mendoza",
+ "Rancagua",
+ "wine",
+ "Vina del Mar",
+ "Valparaíso",
+ "world heritage"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5614,
+ "listing_count": 19,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 24,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/santorini/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/santorini/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..79c3a98dec9eb41fa95c7916fd2f9713e8a05a89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/santorini/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk000", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Santorini** is an archipelago of 5 volcanic islands in the Cyclades group of the Greek islands in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast of mainland Greece. It used to be a single island, but was obliterated around 1600 BCE by an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on the former island and created the current geological caldera. It is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from white clifftop villages, the ancient city ruins of Thera and Akrotiri, unique wines, artists and craftsmen, an active volcano, and strikingly colorful pebble beaches.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk001", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Islands", "text": "The **Christiana Islands** (Christiani, Eschati, and Askania) about 20 km southwest of Santorini are sometimes counted as part of the archipelago, but actually are a separate group of islands. They have remained uninhabited since the late 19th century, although the largest of the islands does have archaeological evidence of a Neolithic settlement. They are privately owned, and there are no scheduled ferry services to them.", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk002", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|View of [[Fira]]\nSantorini is between Ios and Anafi islands in the southern Cyclades. On a clear day, you may be able to see Crete, about 100 km to the south. The name is a contraction of *Saint Irene*, after an old church in Perissa.\n\nThe Santorini archipelago used to be a single island, until a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE tore it apart. The eruption was among the most massive in human history. There is a local legend that Santorini was once home to the Lost City of Atlantis, destroyed by the eruption. Most historians dispute this claim, but the myth's parallels to Santorini's explosive past are tantalizing. Eruptions still occur; the central Nea Kameni has grown substantially in modern times, as recently as 1950.\n\nThe eruption left behind today's **caldera**, an expansive crater rimmed by three fragments that survived the eruption, filled in with sea water and the two newer islands. The interior caldera walls are steep, up to 300 m high, and mostly impassable, although a number of villages are built along its ridge. It is one of the most distinctive landscapes in the entire Mediterranean.\n\nTraditional Cycladic architecture — dense clusters of cubic whitewashed stone buildings — fills most of the villages, interspersed with villas and wineries. Much of the island has been restored since a major earthquake in 1956, which spurred this relatively remote outpost to rebuild itself into the iconic tourism destination it is today.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk003", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Understand", "text": "In April and May, temperatures are pleasant and the chance of rain is low, which is ideal to hike from one town to the other, such as the famous Fira - Oia hiking trail. Wildflowers blossom and the otherwise barren islands turn into a colourful sea of wild flowers. After May, temperatures soar with an extreme UV index: summers are extremely hot. With very few trees to provide shade, the weather becomes too hot to do anything but stay inside the cooler cave houses. Public life slows down, restaurants and amenities close during the hottest hours of the day (noon - 15:00), and the beautiful spring flowers are scorched away with only dried out grasses left. From September, the weather becomes cooler again and more attractive for a visit, although the chance of rain also gradually increases towards the end of the year — Santorini receives most of its annual precipitation during the winter months.\n\nFor milder weather, prices and crowds, the **ideal times to visit are the shoulder seasons** of April–June and September–October. The 'season' starts April 1, or around the Greek Easter. In the summer, not only is the region unpleasantly hot, but it is also overcrowded with cruise ships and beach-goers. Seasonal businesses start closing for the season towards the end of October, and by December most businesses, including hotels and guest houses, are shuttered until spring. December through March is very much the off-season and marked by cooler temperatures with occasional rain and winds. While Fira stays more-or-less open and supports over a dozen year-round restaurants, smaller villages may only have one or two places open. Although it is rare for the temperatures to get very low, the poor weather makes for a less than optimal experience on this beautiful island.\n\n### Watch and listen", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk004", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Bells of the blue domed church (dedicated to St. Spirou) in Firostefani\nDue to the spectacular and unique natural beauty of Santorini, many Greek singers have chosen the island as the setting of their videos. Greek and Brazilian TV series have been shot of Santorini, as well as some Hollywood movies (*e.g.* Tomb Raider II). Generally Santorini is a pole of attraction for Greek and international celebrities.\n\nWorld-famous Greek composer Yanni wrote the song \"Santorini\", inspired by the beauty of the island. It is worth checking out, especially the version performed live at the Acropolis with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nSantorini tourism website", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk005", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main options are ferries from Pireaus (standard ferryboats and high-speed catamarans) and flights from Athens.\n\nGetting in from Athens by air is faster and you avoid possible sea sickness. However, in season air tickets sell out well before most of the ferries.\n\n### By plane\n\nThere are regular flights from Athens by Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Volotea, with a flight time of 30-45 minutes. Volotea also has a regular service from Thessaloniki.", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk006", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get in", "text": "From May till October many charter airlines fly directly to Santorini from many European airports. Listed below is commercial air service.\n **Seasonal and charter flights to Santorini **\n Aegean Airlines regular flights to Athens with seasonal to Larnaca and Thessaloniki\n Aer Lingus flies twice weekly from Dublin between May and October inclusive\n Air France flies seasonally from Paris (Charles de Gaulle)\n Austrian Airlines flies seasonally from Vienna\n Blue Panorama Airlines flies seasonally from Bergamo, Bologna, Rome-Fiumicino\n British Airways flies seasonally from London’s City Airport and London-Heathrow\n Condor flies seasonally from Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich\n easyJet flies seasonally from Bristol, Geneva, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Milan-Malpensa and Venice\n Edelweiss Air flies seasonally from Zurich\n Eurowings flies seasonally from Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and Vienna\n Finnair seasonally flies from Helsinki\n Iberia Express seasonally flies from Madrid;\n Jet2.com seasonally flies from Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, London-Stansted, and Manchester;\n LOT Polish Airlines seasonally flies from Krakow, Warsaw-Chopin, and Wroclaw;\n Lufthansa seasonally flies from Frankfurt and Munich;\n Neos seasonally flies from Milan-Malpensa and Verona;\n Norwegian flies seasonallyfrom Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm;\n Olympic Air flies from Athens and seasonally from Thessaloniki;\n Qatar Airways seasonally flies from Doha;\n Ryanair flies seasonally from Athens, Bergamo, Dublin, Milan and Vienna;\n Sky Express flies seasonally from Athens;\n Transavia flies seasonally from Amsterdam, Nantes, Paris-Orly.\n TUI Airways flies seasonally from Brussels, Bristol, East Midlands, London-Gatwick, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne;\n Volotea flies from Athens year-round. Their seasonal routes include Bari, Bordeaux, Genoa, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Naples, Palermo, Thessaloniki, Toulouse, Venice, and Verona;\n Vueling seasonally flies from Barcelona, Florence, and Rome-Fiumicino;\n Wizz Air seasonally flies from Bucharest, Budapest, Dortmund, London-Luton, Milan-Malpensa, and Vienna.\n\n*Getting there:*", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk007", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get in", "text": "From the airport there are **buses to Fira**, €2 (2025), where you can change to buses for other towns.\n **Taxis** are also usually waiting at the airport, but competition for them can be keen, €30-40 to Fira (2025).\n Many Santorini hotels offer **airport transfers**, usually for a fee that's more than a taxi would charge you, but some may find it worth it for the convenience.\n As the island is very small it's possible to **walk from the airport**, if you are fit enough (~5.5 km/90 min to the centre of Fira).\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Panoramic view of the Catholic quarter of Fira\n\nThere are the standard ferryboats that need about 7–9 hours to reach Santorini from Piraeus and the fast ferries or high speed catamarans that take about 4–5 hours to reach the island. Check what you have bought: just because you have a reservation for a ferry, doesn't mean that you have a place to sit. Seats could be at extra cost.\n\nTransport by sea is always *dependent on weather*. For safety, especially in winter or raining monsoon, cruise ships may delay or cancel landing shuttles, and ferries their departure times.\n\nTake the ferry from Piraeus (port of Athens), past Paros and Naxos, to the new port on Thira. There is also a daily connection from Heraklion (Crete) during high season.\n\nFerries dock at the , where *buses* meet each arrival to transport passengers to Fira (trip takes 15 min and costs €2.3); taxis are also available. All vehicles climb a very steep, winding road (it makes seven 180 degree turns) to leave the port.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk008", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get in", "text": "Cruise ships are often unable to dock at Athinios port due to size constraints, but instead anchor 3 km north in the caldera, west of Fira. Locals with fishing boats occasionally transfer cruisers to the (which seems not to have changed over the last 50 years), and larger, decorated shuttle boats take large-ship passengers to and from the docks below Fira.\n\nThere is no road from the old port. Instead, you can take a cable car up from the port (€10 each way) or take one of the hundreds of donkeys up the 588 zigzagging steps (also €10 each way). You could also attempt to walk up the steps but be warned, the stairs are winding, narrow in parts with only low walls, they are covered in donkey excrement, and the donkeys will make no attempt to avoid you.", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk009", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\n**KTEL Santorini**, the public bus service, connects all points of the island with Fira, costing one way (2025), depending on the route. This is probably the only cheap thing you'll find on the island considering the buses are comfy and air conditioned! Tickets can be purchased on the bus, with cash only — so bring some coins. The fare collector can (usually) make change.\n\nis the hub of the bus network, and almost all the lines \"branch out\" from this hub. This means, if you wish to go from one side of the island to another, you need to transfer at Fira and pay for the second leg of your journey.\n\nThere are no route numbers and not all buses display their routes; ask the drivers or the ticket office for the bus number that would take you to your destination.\n\nThe bus routes are:\n Oia (via Imerovigli & Firostefani)\n Perissa (via Pyrgos)\n Airport (via Karterados, Megaria). Some buses also continue to Monolithos.\n Kamari\n Akrotiri museum (via Megalochori & Akrotiri village)\n Ferry terminal\n\nSchedules highly vary depending on the season, with low season services ending by 19:00 (even already until 15:00 weekends on all routes except Oia) and most buses running only every 90 minutes. During peak season, buses run up to every 15 minutes from/to popular spots such as Oia, Kamari, and Perissa, with services ending until midnight. The most recent timetables are obtainable at the KTEL website. Buses generally leave Fira on schedule, but can drift pretty far from the published return times.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk010", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are also buses that travel to the ferry port, however their schedules are normally handwritten and displayed only at the Fira bus stop the day before, as ferry departure times are different every day; conversely there are always public buses standing by at the port upon the arrival of each ferry.\n\nThe buses occasionally miss trips, and some drivers are less than friendly. In peak season the buses would have already fill up at their starting points and will skip intermediate stops, so keep this in mind when considering where to stay. The buses are tourist coaches with luggage compartments for large backpacks or cases. When the bus is full however, you have to stand up at the corridor and it will be difficult to get off at an intermediate stop.\n\n### By boat\n\nBoats run between major coastal towns in the archipelago, notably between Fira, Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, and the old port of Thirassia. Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices in most of the ports. The ticket will list the port of departure, port of arrival, and the **number of the vessel** instead of its name. The vessel number is always printed on the lifeboats, when in doubt. A single journey between Fira and Thirassia starts at (Apr 2022). It's also possible to book a 6-hour \"tour\" around the caldera, which costs per person.\n\nLarger boats have a bar where drinks and snacks can be purchased.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Night view of Oia\nMost of the people in Santorini are tourists, so road conditions are unsafe, with many people driving by the laws and conventions of nearly every country in the world. It takes about an hour to drive the island from end to end (from Exomytis to Oia).", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk011", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cars can be rented from about €40 a day during high season and from €20 during off season. An international driving permit is recommended. Without one, many car rental places will still rent to you, but you may have insurance problems in case of accident.\n\nScooters are available to rent starting at about €15 per day. A drivers license is required.\n\n**ATVs** (quads or all-terrain-vehicles) are popular, though the \"all-terrain\" part is a misnomer, as most ATVs are only allowed to ride on roads. ATVs share the road with other drivers and are usually all over the island. The island is small enough to travel around on an ATV, and is a cost-effective way to self-explore the further reaches of Santorini. ATV rental shops are all around the island, so it's best to ask your hotel owner/concierge on the closest/most trusted vendor. You will need your driver's licence, and a helmet is recommended.\n\nSome hotels advise booking a **taxi** in advance, as there are not enough available taxis on the island during high season. As is the rule in the Cyclades, taxi fares are typically shared between multiple passengers, so don't be surprised if your cabbie picks up more passengers during your trip.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nThe island is small enough to thoroughly explore by bicycle. Bicycle rentals are fairly hard to find — most places advertising \"bike\" rentals refer instead to motorbikes — but are available from Fira and Exomytis.\n\nSantorini is not at all bicycle-friendly. There are no dedicated bicycle lanes, so you must share roads with vehicular traffic. In addition, the island is very hilly with a few steep mountains as well. Trails intended for hikers are generally impassable by bicycle.\n\n### By foot", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk012", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Santorini, you shall find pathways paved mostly with cobblestones and steps at the cliffside, so it is not the best place for heels or non-comfortable shoes. A pair of sneakers or comfy walking shoes will be ideal during your strolls around the island.\n\nRecommended routes by foot include:\n the amazing walk from Fira to Oia (this walk is less nice in reverse, it can take less than three hours but can be difficult, for up and downhill climbs, the rocky surface at times, and the proximity to unprotected cliffs that drop sharply into the caldera) along the caldera\n the paths over Perissa Rock connecting Perissa, Kamari, and Pyrgos. The walk between Perissa and Kamari is fairly short (via Ancient Thira), while the walk to Pyrgos is somewhat longer, passing through the highest point on the island.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk013", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "For an archipelago its size, Santorini has a wealth of attractions to offer a curious traveller. From fascinating museums to Bronze Age city ruins to black sand beaches, Santorini is a worthwhile visit in every season.\n\n### Scenic villages\n\nFira is the fiery capital, a marriage of Venetian and Cycladic architecture, whose white cobblestone streets bustle with shops, tavernas, hotels and cafes, while clinging to the rim of the caldera 275 m (900 feet) above its port.\n\nJust above Fira is Imerovigli, where you can take in the magnificent views of the island's unique scenery from the tiny town, as it is the highest point of the Caldera cliffs.\n\nthumb|Houses in [[Oia]]\nAt the north end of the island is the quintessentially Santorininian town of Oia, also sometimes spelled Ia, with its whitewashed walls sunk into the volcanic rock and its blue domes rising above the sterling beauty of the stunning, russet Ammoudi Bay. At dusk, the town attracts crowds of people venturing to see the sunset, reputed to be among the world's most beautiful.\n\n### Nature\n\nSantorini is one of the great natural wonders of the world, and its main attraction is its landscape and seascape. The configuration of the present, roughly semicircular archipelago is the result of an enormous volcanic explosion which occurred around 1600 BCE, literally blowing the top off the island and changing what had been a typical half-submerged mountain of an Aegean island into a flooded crescent caldera.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk014", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Climbing the slopes of Nea Kameni\nIn the middle of the caldera is the volcanic island of **Nea Kameni**, which can be visited by a 20-minute ferry trip from Thira and allows adventurers to climb the slopes to peek into the smoking crater. Steam and sulphur vents can be observed along the way — from a safe distance, of course! Volcanic cones also survive on Thira itself, with **Mavro Vouno** and **Kokkino Vouno** climbable with hiking trails from Finikia. The steep cliffs of the caldera are a magnificent sight best enjoyed from a ship in the caldera. A climb up the cliff face is possible at Fira where the **Karavolades Stairs** lead into the caldera.\n\nErosion of the volcanic cliffs leads to surprising geological formations such as Fira's **Skaros Rock**, which towers high above the water and is host to the ruins of a fort. The **Heart of Santorini** near Megalochori is another geological formation that has become a popular spot for photographers. The cliffs also form countless bays of all shapes and sizes that used to be hide-outs for pirates, but in more modern times are beloved spots for watching Santorini's famed sunsets. The most idyllic is without a doubt **Amoudi Bay** in Oia, which also serves as a port from which ferries depart to Therasia, Santorini's second inhabited island that is worth a day trip of its own.\n\n### Archaeology\n\nSantorini has been known since ancient times, and throughout the millennia has been inhabited by many civilisations. The south of Thira is home to two ancient cities, dating from different eras.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk015", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Pottery in the courtyard of a house in Ancient [[Akrotiri]].\nThe oldest and scientifically most valuable is **Ancient Akrotiri**, a Bronze Age city built by the Minoans, who are best known from their heritage on Crete. When the volcano erupted and obliterated Santorini around 1600 BCE, the Minoan city was buried under volcanic pumice and ash — much like Pompeii — and incredibly well preserved. The entire city is covered with a giant canopy, so it can be comfortably visited even during the hot summer months.\n\nthumb|Ruins of Ancient Thera\nThe Phoenicians founded their own city on the island that was known to them as *Kalliste*, and promptly renamed it after their leader Theras. Thus, the island became known as Thera in ancient times, from which the modern name Thira was derived. The city of **Ancient Thera** survived for centuries and was known to be prosperous, as evidenced by gold coins and many archaeological artefacts that have been found during excavations. The ruins sit on Gavrilos Hill between Kamari and Perissa, and a visit is worth it for the view as well as for the history of the site.\n\nThe frequent seismic and volcanic activity in the archipelago unfortunately leaves few structures intact over geological time scales, but one remarkable exception is the **Temple of Agios Nikolaos Marmaritis**, a marble temple near Emporio that dates to the 3rd century. The square temple is only 4 m long and wide, and is still in use for liturgical purposes today.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk016", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Fortifications of [[Pyrgos]] Castle.\nThe Santorini archipelago was conquered by the Venetians in 1207, and 5 fortified castles were constructed from the 13th century onward to protect the island from invaders, most notably the Ottomans with whom the Venetians were perpetually at war from 1396 until 1718. The largest of the castles is La Ponta in Akrotiri and the newest and best preserved is Pyrgos Castle, but if you have limited time, you might want to prioritise a visit to the 15th-century Castle of Emporio, which still forms the centre of present-day Emporio. The medieval castle boasts narrow streets and picturesque churches, with many fewer gift shops than in Fira or Oia.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|right|Sculptures in the Archaeological Museum in [[Fira]].\nWhen the weather isn't as sunny as the travel brochures promise, there are quite a few alternatives indoor. Most of the museums are in Fira. Confusingly, Fira has two different history museums: the **Museum of Prehistoric Thera**, which tells the story of the ancient Bronze Age settlement at Akrotiri, and the **Archaeological Museum of Thera**, that has a collection of pottery, amphora, and figures from the beginning of the Proto-Cycladic period of the 3rd millennium BC and continues on to the Classical period. There are also museums about naval history, tomatoes, wine, ethnography and other subjects.\n\n### Architecture\n\nthumb|Churches with iconic blue roofs in [[Oia (Greece)|Oia]]\nAlthough the volcanic pumice quarries were decommissioned in the 1980s, the architectural style of square dwellings with white painted facades is still used consistently. The iconic blue roofs are not as common as one would think; they appear just about every postcard but in reality only a handful of churches actually have the blue roofs — all postcards use pictures of the same few buildings, but photographed from different angles!", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk017", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "Pumice is a natural insulating material because it is filled with little gas bubbles, and historically many houses were either partially built into the mountain side to take advantage of the insulation, or were built with underground cellars. The strategy is effective to keep heat out in summer, and keep houses warm in winter.\n\nAs iconic as the white walls and blue roofs are the **windmills**, which can be found all over the islands. There are two in Oia, and a few east of Finikia as well as south of the island near Emporio. Windmills in the same style can be found on many nearby Cyclades islands, but somehow they have stuck with Santorini's image. The windmill of Oia is the most photographed structure of Santorini.\n\nAt the other end of Thira, at Cape Akrotiri, the **Faros lighthouse** is a popular place to watch the sunset, and far less crowded with tourists. The lighthouse is still in active operation by the Greek Navy.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk018", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "There appear to be a nearly endless number of churches on Santorini, along with several monasteries. Even Palea Kameni, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, doesn't have any infrastructure or buildings except for... a church! Most of the churches are Greek Orthodox. Their bells, usually in groups of odd numbers such as 3 or 5, are typically mounted in a stepped wall. The **Three Bells of Fira** became particularly popular for no apparent reason, as there are many churches on Thira that have a similar bell configuration. The picture-perfect location on the ridge of the caldera may have something to do with it. Fira is also home to not only one, but two cathedrals, both of which are Christian but with different flavours: the **Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist** is Roman Catholic and was founded in 1204. Its bell tower is a landmark of the city and worth a visit. The **Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral** was built in 1827 when Roman Catholicism fell out of favour. It has a large courtyard and beautifully decorated interior.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk019", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|St. Nektarios chapel in the Profeta Elias Monastery\nThe **Profeta Elías Monastery** near Pyrgos is on the highest hill of Thira. It is rarely open to visitors, but the magnificent view from the top of the hill makes the climb worth it. It is on the hiking trail from Fira to Kamari. Not too far away is the **Panaghia Episcopi**, a church commissioned by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos at the end of the 11th century. The interior is worth seeing for its interesting architecture as well as its numerous frescoes. The honour of most spectacular church on the Thira arguably goes to **Timiou Stafrou**, a very traditional Greek Orthodox church in Perissa, one of the largest on in Santorini, with characteristic blue domes. It is right next to the beach, offering opportunities for idyllic pictures.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk020", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Do", "text": "Santorini's breathtaking volcanic landscape, with steep cliffs and smouldering craters, is what draws more adventurous travellers to the archipelago. It does not have water parks, theme parks, or zoos, but when strolling through narrow streets in villages such as Pyrgos or Oia gets monotonous, there are ample opportunities for hiking and water activities.\n\n### Hiking\n\nthumb|The spectacular caldera ridge hiking trail from [[Fira]] to [[Oia (Greece)|Oia]].\nThere aren't as many dedicated footpaths as one might expect, and cycling or mountain biking infrastructure is absent entirely. That said, there are several hiking trails on Thira illustrating that quality is more important than quantity in this case.\n\nThe best example is the famous Fira to Oia trail that follows the crater ridge, and offers spectacular views of the caldera along the way. From Oia it is easy to take a ferry to the neighbouring islands Nea Kameni or Thirasia, which offer good hiking opportunities. The volcano craters of Nea Kameni in particular are worth seeing. Instead of taking the ferry from Oia, a connecting hiking trail branches off at Finikia for the Finikia to Cape Koloumpos trail. This 5 km long route passes through Finikia, and continues around the volcanic cones through vineyards, passing caves and a Minoan cistern along the way.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk021", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Do", "text": "In the southern half of Thira, the most scenic route is the Pyrgos to Kamari trail, starting just south of Pyrgos and passing the highest point of the island at Profitis Ilias monastery. The descent passes the Zoodochos Pigis cave on the southern flank of the hill before reaching Kamari. From Kamari, the trail continues over the hill and passes the archaeological site of Ancient Thera, which is best visited in the morning. Descending the other side of the hill leads into Perissa. For those preferring an easier route with less climbing, the Perissa to Agios Georgios trail starts at the Basilica ruins of Perissa and follows the beach for 3 km. Continuing the walk to Exomytis is also possible, for a total length of 5 km, and it passes the necropolis of Ancient Eleusis on the way.\n\n### Beaches\n\nthumb|A red pebble beach in the south of Thira.\nOwing to Santorini's volcanic legacy, the island coastlines along the caldera edge are typically steep cliffs where there are no beaches. Instead, beaches are on the outer side of the semi-circular archipelago, most of them on Thira. A young archipelago on geological time scales, the sea hasn't had the time yet to erode the volcanic rocks fine sand, and therefore you won't find sandy beaches. Instead, beaches are generally composed of pebbles of varying sizes, and proper footwear is required to traverse them comfortably. An unusual feature of Thira is that eroding cliffs have greatly varying colours across locations, resulting in beaches that are equally colourful. The most common beach colours are black, white, and red. Some of the most interesting beaches are listed below.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk022", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Do", "text": "**Kamari Beach**, a black sand beach in Kamari, continues south in Perissa.\n **Red Beach** south of Akrotiri earns its name from the iron-rich sedimentary rocks in the cliff face towering above the water, as well as the red sand. It's quite crowded. Many distant yachts can be seen from the beach—it looks really romantic at sunset time. Great snorkelling - an abundance of sea life is present, as with Perissa.\n **White Beach** can be reached only from the sea; get there by boat from Red Beach or Akrotiri. There is no pier so the only way to get there is by getting off the boat and walking through waist-deep water. It is beautiful, but very small with only a few beach chairs and umbrellas and no facilities.\n **Vlychada nude beach** is popular with naturists.\n **Perissa — Perivolos — Agios Georgios beach** is a continuous beach with varying colours and sand/pebble sizes stretching from Perissa to Agios Georgios with a length of 3 km. It has beach bars and restaurants that makes it feel like a \"beach day club\".\n **Baxedes beach** is the main beach at the north side of Thira island. Baxedes is a peaceful place with black sand, much more like how Santorini was like before mass tourism discovered the island.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|right|Sunset seen through the Heart of Santorini\nThe oldest theatre on the archipelago is Fira's **White Door Theatre**, which plays local and Greek comedies. In the summer months, the **Open Air Cinema near Kamari** also offers a unique experience.\n\n### Scuba and snorkelling", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk023", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Do", "text": "Santorini has dive shops in Akrotiri, Perissa and Kamari. Prices are typically around €80 for two dives, including equipment rental, transport, and usually, a light lunch. The offerings are otherwise quite similar. Prices are sometimes lower when booked directly through dive shop, rather than through a travel agency.\n\nDiving, visibility is amazing, but there are not as many fish as more popular scuba and snorkelling locations. Dive sites include a wreck near the volcano, caverns, reefs, as well as wall diving. The wall dive is the most interesting. Octopus are not uncommon. To minimize environmental damage, all dive shops go to the same locations (although not at the same time), with moorings shared by all the dive shops. If you want to go to a specific dive site, call ahead, and find out which dive shops are heading to which locations on which day (or ask to go to a specific location).\n\nRecommended sites for snorkelling include Mesa Pigadia beach, somewhat out (some people recommended a diving buoy for boat safety), the beach south of Oia, as well as Perissa Rock (esp. somewhat further around the rock). There are supposed to be some nice spots between Perivolos and Vlichada Beach as well. The beach on Thirasia also has some reasonable snorkelling. Caldera Beach, near Akrotiri, has a few amazing snorkelling spots. When walking down to Caldera Beach (follow the signs to Santorini Dive Center), you will see some rock formations further out into the water. If you can find those once in the water, and swim to them, you will find wonderful snorkelling.\n\nVirtually all beach-side shops will sell cheap, low-quality snorkelling gear (mask for around €10, fins for around €20).", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk024", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is generally at least one supermarket in each village where the locals shop, for example Lidl near Mesaria and Sklavenitis in Fira, Mesaria, & Perissa. Otherwise there are plenty of *mini markets*, which are convenience stores that can be found near town centres and on secondary and tertiary roads. Expect prices there to be inflated by at least 25%.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk025", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Specialities\n\nSantorini's volcanic soil, dry climate, and near absence of tree coverage has had its impact on the island's agriculture. It forced the cultivation of carefully selected variants of fruits and vegetables. Since the 1980s, several factors have contributed to the decline of the archipelago's agricultural diversity. The introduction of desalination plants has largely resolved the traditional water scarcity, which enabled cultivation of fruits and vegetables with higher yield that are not traditionally native to Santorini. The growth in tourism has also led to farmland being sacrificed to build hotels, villas, and other tourist accommodation. And finally, the popularity of Santorini wines abroad has caused a shift from traditional crops to a near-monoculture of vineyards across the island since the early 2000s.\n\nThe result is that many Santorini specialities that used to be served in many restaurants on the archipelago, have now become extremely rare or extinct. The most infamous example is Santorini's **white aubergine**. White aubergines have fewer seeds than their mainland counterparts and a much sweeter taste. Dishes with white aubergines have a unique flavour, but in the 2020s they have become an increasingly rare product, only served in the most exclusive restaurants. Krinak in Finikia is one of the only restaurants still serving white aubergine puree.\n\nthumb|Tomato keftedes\nAnother famous Santorini speciality are **tomato keftedes**. These tomato fritters traditionally use Santorini's sweet cherry tomatoes and are served as appetisers or condiments, and consist of tomato slices in a batter of bell peppers, onions, mint, and aromatic herbs, deep fried in olive oil.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk026", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Fava** is possibly the most popular Santorini speciality. It is a split-pea puree, usually served warm, that is topped with olive oil, lemon, and occasionally chopped onions. Onions are sometimes substituted for **capers** which are another traditional favourite on Santorini. Fava is considered a healthy comfort food by the locals, and it is served as a side dish or as a main dish with bread. It is sometimes also served with **chlorotyri**, a local cheese made form goat milk that is used in salads or spread on bread.\n\nAs a resource-constrained island, livestock other than goats and donkeys is uncommon on Santorini, and meat dishes are not part of the traditional diet. One notable exception is **apochti**: pork loin salted and pickled before being air-dried in the heat of the summer sun. After drying, a mix of pepper and cinnamon is rubbed on the meat, and then cured. Apochti are used in different recipes, often accompanied with red wine. Nowadays meats are imported from the mainland to satisfy tourist expectations, and both souvlaki and gyros can be found in every tourist town.\n\nSeafood is very popular, in particular grilled octopus and deep fried fish. Many traditional seafood restaurants along the coast have disappeared and converted into generic \"Greek\" tourist restaurants. Traditional restaurants can still be found in Vlychada, such as the Fisherman's House in the harbour, where fresh fish is served while watching small fishing vessels enter and leave the marina. Asking for the catch of the day is always a good idea!", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk027", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Eat", "text": "For dessert, baklava can be found everywhere. **Kopania** are traditional Santorini sweets made of powdered barley rusks and mixed with raisins, sesame seeds, or other nuts. The dough is rolled in balls and sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. Kopania can be found in traditional bakeries. Around Orthodox Easter, towards the end of April, a traditional sweet cheese pie called **melitinia** can also be found in bakeries. It is prepared in a wood-fired oven, using fresh mizithra cheese, sugar, and mastic powder.\n\n### Where to eat\n\nThe archipelago doesn't have many large supermarkets, but there are many smaller shops and convenience stores where food can be purchased to take away. Bakeries can be found in every town or village, and serve bread as well as a variety of pastries such as the traditional saganaki (fried cheese in filo pastry covered in honey) or spanakopita (spinach pie). These are good hearty options when hiking across the island.\n\nThere is no lack of restaurants, although the ones serving authentic Santorini cuisine are in decline, usually morphed into generic Greek restaurants aimed at a tourist clientele. The most extreme example is probably Oia, where Greek fast food at elevated prices is the norm in almost every restaurant. As a rule of thumb, look at the menu displayed outside: if the menu has moussaka but not fava, you're probably better off looking elsewhere.\n\nMany restaurants overlooking the caldera in Oia, Imerovigli, Fira, Megalochori or Akrotiri will charge a premium for the view, especially those advertising \"sunset views\". Expect prices that are at least 30-50% higher than what is charged for comparable food in side streets a bit further away from the caldera. Stay away from places that are overtly commercial and instead visit family-run fish taverns near the smaller beaches and communities.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk028", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you want to learn how to make Cycladic cuisine, Kokkalo in Fira offers cooking courses.", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk029", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Water\n\nBecause the island receives so little rain, and has no rivers or lakes, fresh water is scarce. Prior to the early 1990s, water was delivered via tanker from Crete. However, most hotels and homes now have tap water from a few desalination plants scattered across the island. This water is potable and meets minimum EU safety standards. However, it is rather salty, and there are health concerns around its long-term consumption, so **most everyone drinks bottled water** while visiting. Bottled water is widely available in supermarkets and its price is regulated, which means it's relatively cheap at for a 6-pack of 1.5L bottles. Dehydration is, together with sunburns, the most common health issue encountered on Santorini.\n\n### Wine\n\nSantorini is one of Greece's most prominent wine regions, and the wines enjoy EU protected designation of origin (PDO). The dry soil and windy climate create wines that are well thought of, if not world famous. The island is famous for the *Assyrtiko* grape, which is grown as a shrub rather than a vine, and is visible in vineyards across the island.\n\nThe Santorini Wine Museum in Vothonas is a good place to educate yourself on the wine region. You can tour local wineries in Megalochori and Pyrgos, and enjoy the local wines in practically every restaurant across the island.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk030", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|The iconic windmill of [[Oia (Greece)|Oia]]\nSantorini can be divided into the inner **caldera side**, where the villages like Fira and Oia are built on the cliff, and the **outer side**, which resembles the rest of the Cyclades islands.\n\nSantorini is popular mainly for features of the caldera side, along the western edge of Thira. Many hotels here have terrific views of the caldera, volcano, the sea and sunsets. Most of the luxury resorts are on this side. There is of course a drawback to the caldera views: most of the hotels have many stairs. Some hotels do not offer any children's facilities or even accept children under 13, due to their dangerous location on the cliff. Instead, hotels tend to be oriented to couples and honeymooners. Note that not all hotels on the western side offer views, as some are in town.\n\nThe eastern side of Thira has many beach hotels, especially in Kamari, that also attract a lot of tourists, mainly youngsters and families. These hotels usually offer larger rooms and pools than those on the other side of the island.\n\nKeep in mind that the room rates are often set according to the view of the room, which makes the hotels on eastern side much cheaper than those on the western side.\n\nBook your accommodation well in advance, as most hotels have no more than 20 rooms and fill up quickly.\n\nMost hotels are closed during winter. They open during or after Greek Orthodox Easter (April or May) and usually close by the end of October. As in other Greek Islands, July, August and September are considered high season.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk031", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|A European cat snake, despite its dangerous looks completely harmless to humans\nThere are no hospitals on Santorini, but there is a clinic in Fira that is reasonably well equipped. Their phone number is . Smaller clinics can be found in Emporio, Kamari, Oia, Pirgos, and Thirassia. For serious medical attention or emergencies, you are likely to be airlifted to Athens. Let this be your reminder to get travel insurance!\n\nThe **UV index** on Santorini is 9 or 10 throughout the year which is considered **extreme**. SPF 50 sunscreen is an absolute necessity, even under T-shirts! Avoid going out into the sun during the hottest hours of the day (12:00 - 15:00). Don't be deceived by the cool sea breeze that lowers the temperature, the sun burns regardless.\n\nCompared to mainland Greece, there are no dangerous fauna to be concerned about on Santorini. The 2 species of snakes on the island, the leopard snake (Zamenis situla) and cat snake (Telescopus fallax), are completely harmless to humans. There are also 2 species of scorpions which have the tendency to hide in cracks in stone walls, but are likewise harmless. The only significant health hazard are drunk tourists, who can be found in abundance in the touristic areas of major towns between midnight and the early morning hours.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk032", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in [[Fira]]\nBe aware of rental scams, especially with agencies working only with motorbikes and ATVs. There are a lot of rental agencies, and some of them are ready to cheat. They will offer faulty motorbikes or ATVs for a lower price, but in case of accident they will demand that the customer pay for the whole cost of damage. They are offering only basic insurance but will present it like full insurance. Also, there is a possibility of serious injuries. These rental agencies aggressively attract tourists and offer lower prices than others. Employees in front of these type of agencies will be loud and ready to promise everything until the contract is signed. Check the vehicle before making any decision: their vehicles are in many cases dusty, dirty and look old.\n\nSantorini is relatively crime-free: you are quite unlikely to be pick-pocketed. On the other hand, you may feel you have been ripped off by some restaurant or bar bills. Remember not to shop at stores or order at restaurants without posted prices.\n\nThe cliffs and low walls guarding large drops pose a danger to children. The elderly may encounter problems with the many steps.\n\nCave exploring can be fun, but do not deviate from the paths because of the unstable rocks made of tufa. Don't linger under cliffs, as they are prone to rockslides.\n\nSantorini is vulnerable to **earthquakes**. A major earthquake devastated the island in 1956, leading to substantial reconstruction efforts. In 2025, a swarm of smaller quakes closed attractions and services islandwide as a precaution. Take note of the assembly points set up in each settlement. In the event of an earthquake, obey orders from officials, and be prepared to evacuate.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk033", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are some local radio stations in Santorini, mainly in Greek language. Turn your radio to Volcano Radio at 106.4 MHz and Top Melody Fm Radio at 104.9 MHz.\n\n### Internet\n\nFree Wifi is available in most cafes, beach bars, and hotels. You can find internet cafes in Kamari, Perissa, Fira (wireless access also available) and in Oia.\n\nThere is a booth selling prepaid SIM cards in the Arrivals hall of the airport, for durations of 3, 7, or 10 days. The default package is for a data volume of 8 GB for 7 days. Although there is supposedly 5G, wireless routers *do not connect* with prepaid SIM cards (as of 2022) and only offer 2G (EDGE) connection without data. Try the SIM card in your wireless device before purchasing to verify that it works properly. Santorini, being part of Greece, offers EU roaming free of charge to visitors with an EU SIM card.\n\nThere is only cellular coverage on Thira and Therassia, not on the uninhabited islands.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "santorini::chunk034", "doc_id": "santorini", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ferries are available to Anafi, Chalki, Folegandros, Heraklion (Crete), Ios, Karpathos, Kasos, Katapola, Kos, Koufonissi, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Piraeus, Rafina, Rhodes, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Sitia, Syros, Thirasia, and Tinos.", "word_count": 30}
diff --git a/corpus/santorini/metadata.json b/corpus/santorini/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6cd8bf704ff7c006783c3dc8a5d8fcf0a5e21825
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/santorini/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "santorini",
+ "title": "Santorini",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Santorini",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 4,
+ 6,
+ 9,
+ 10
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Cyclades"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Anafi",
+ "Chalki",
+ "Folegandros",
+ "Heraklion",
+ "Crete",
+ "Ios",
+ "Karpathos",
+ "Kasos",
+ "Katapola",
+ "Kos",
+ "Koufonissi",
+ "Milos",
+ "Mykonos",
+ "Naxos",
+ "Paros",
+ "Piraeus",
+ "Rafina",
+ "Rhodes",
+ "Serifos",
+ "Sifnos",
+ "Sikinos",
+ "Sitia",
+ "Syros",
+ "Thirasia",
+ "Tinos"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 7161,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 35,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sao-paulo/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sao-paulo/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ee131ea9f5163f28bca0450e13ce234a24ab28c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sao-paulo/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk000", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|400px|São Paulo - Downtown and Paulista region.\n\n**São Paulo**, or **Sampa** as it is also called, is the largest city in Brazil, with a municipality population of 12.1 million, and about 21.3 million in its metropolitan region - the most populous of the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. It is the capital of the Southeastern state of São Paulo, and also a beehive of activity that offers a jovial nightlife and an intense cultural experience.\n\nSão Paulo is South America's major economic center and possesses the 10th largest GDP in the world, though poverty, especially in the suburbs, is still widespread due to the blatant social inequality. Historically attractive to immigrants and to Brazilians from other states, it has a unique cultural identity formed by combining Portuguese and African roots (common to the entire country) with other influences, in particular Italian, Arab and Japanese.\n\nSão Paulo is probably one of the most underrated cities tourism-wise, often overshadowed by other places in the Brazilian sun & beach circuit such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. It is in fact a great city to explore, with an impressive (and almost intimidating) skyline, unpredictable neighbourhoods and architecture, a vibrant culture and arts (in particular street art) scene, not to mention the world-class restaurants and diverse regional and international cuisine available to all tastes. If there is a major attraction to this city, it is the excellent quality of its restaurants and the variety of cultural activities on display.\n\nJust south of the city lies the **Parque Estadual Serra do Mar** (part of the *Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a mountain range covered by lush rainforest that faces the coast and provides various ecotourism options.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk001", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Subdivisions", "text": "thumb|300px|Avenida Paulista.", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk002", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "São Paulo is the most visited city of Brazil, but mostly because of business and event tourism, with many of the visitors not taking much effort to explore the city. Those who do so may, however, discover one of\nthe most complex and fascinating cities in the world, where even nearby areas may look and feel like a different city, due to São Paulo's staggering social inequality and variety of cultural influences, and its hard to understand urban planning.\n\nFor instance, if you walk from one end to another of Rua Augusta (which later becomes Rua Colômbia and Avenida Europa), starting from Downtown, you will pass through:\nOne of the city's hottest nightlife areas in Baixa Augusta\nA vibrant cultural and business area surrounding Avenida Paulista\nA variety of shopping options in the area surrounding Rua Oscar Freire\nThe green, affluent low-rise neighbourhood of Jardim América\nA stream of expensive car shops in Jardim Europa\nThe modern business district in Av. Faria Lima and the ultra-affluent neighbourhood of Itaim\n\nAlthough the first impression might be that of a grey concrete jungle, soon it becomes apparent that the city has a great number of pockets of beauty, and fantastic places (and not always expensive) to dine, drink and hang out.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|250px|Patio do Colegio, the place where São Paulo was founded\nthumb|right|250px|\"São Bento\" Monastery", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk003", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Native American Chief Tibiriçá and the Jesuit priests José de Anchieta and Manuel de Nóbrega founded the village of São Paulo de Piratininga on 25 January 1554—Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle. Along with their entourage, the priests established a mission named Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga aimed at converting the Tupi-Guarani native Brazilians to the Catholic religion. São Paulo's first church was constructed in 1616 at the site where the **Páteo do Colégio** stands now (metrô: Sé or São Bento station).", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk004", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "São Paulo was designated a city in 1711. In the 19th century, it experienced a flourishing economic prosperity, brought about chiefly through coffee exports, which were shipped abroad from the port of neighbouring city Santos. After 1881, waves of immigrants from Italy, Japan, and other European and Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria and Lebanon immigrated to São Paulo State due to the coffee production boom. Enslavement of Africans was coming to an end, due to British pressure, as the British Empire wished to introduce its machinery and industrialized products to Brazil. The government was also concerned with the fact that the population of black people was greater than that of whites, and, in an effort to \"bleach the race,\" gave incentives to European nationals of countries such as Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, and Spain to immigrate. Thus, after Emancipation, with the influx of European labor and failure on the part of the racist system to include African-Brazilians, black people became increasing unemployed and discriminated against. By the beginning of the 20th century, the coffee cycle had already plummeted due to, among other factors, a sharp decline in international coffee prices and competition from other nations. The local entrepreneurs then started investing in the industrial development of São Paulo, attracting new contingents of overseas immigrants to the city. Many of those entrepreneurs had Italian, Portuguese, German, and Syro-Lebanese Christian descent such as the Matarazzo, Diniz, and Maluf.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk005", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "However, due to competition with many other Brazilian cities, which sometimes offer tax advantages for companies to build manufacturing plants *in situ*, São Paulo's main economic activities have gradually left its industrial profile in favour of the services industry over the late 20th century. The city is nowadays home to a large number of local and international banking offices, law firms, multinational companies, advertising firms and consumer services.\n\nMany major international and Brazilian companies have offices in São Paulo, and the Bovespa stock exchange index (Ibovespa) is considered one of the most important Latin American market indices abroad.\n\n### People\n\nthumb|right|250px|Liberdade district is one of the areas where the immigrant influence is noted the most.\n\nDon't be surprised at the diversity of Paulistanos. For example, São Paulo is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. It is not uncommon to see businesses and churches being conducted by Chinese and Korean-Brazilians in **Liberdade**, which began as an Italian district, became Japanese, and is now heavily populated by Koreans and Chinese. The city's Italian influence is also very strong, with about 6 million people in the metropolitan area having Italian background. The large Arab and Jewish communities are also well represented in all levels of society, from art to real estate businesses, and notably in politics.\n\nThe citizens of São Paulo have a reputation as hard-working and industrious or shallow money-grubbers. It is common to hear that the people in São Paulo work while the rest of Brazil relaxes; even though many say this, it is plainly wrong. It is a fact, nonetheless, that the city of São Paulo alone actually contributes 15 percent of the country's gross national product (45 percent if the entire São Paulo state is taken into account).", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk006", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "But when Paulistanos are not working, they are clubbing. The city nightlife is as intense as it gets, which makes going to a club a total must-do.\n\n### Orientation\n\nSão Paulo's basic spot for orientation should be Avenida Paulista. From there, it's pretty easy to reach every single spot in town, be it by bus or underground transport. It lies between the neighborhoods of Bela Vista and Jardim Paulista. Av. Paulista is also within walking distance to Centro and Ibirapuera Park, which makes it the perfect place to start a walking tour.\n\nHowever, central São Paulo is a very large area, and travelling from one spot to another may require that you take a cab or public transport. To find out the general direction where you are, see the street signs, as it is colour-coded:\n\nSé/República (in Downtown): **White** street plate.\n\nAll other areas have blue street plates, and a bottom stripe on the following colours:\n\nExpanded Center: Grey (*Expanded Center* means the area limited by the Tietê river on the North, the Pinheiros river on the West, Avenida dos Bandeirantes on the South and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf on the East)\n Northwest: Light Green\n North: Dark Blue\n Northeast: Yellow\n East: Red\n Southeast: Dark Green\n South: Light Blue\n Southwest: Purple\n West: Orange\n\nTo find the direction of Downtown (most precisely **Praça da Sé**), just follow the direction of decreasing street numbers. That doesn't work, however, in the Santo Amaro subprefecture (South Central), neither in the Far South region; in these areas, decreasing numbers lead to **Largo 13 de Maio**.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk007", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city of São Paulo has a temperate and highly variable climate. Like in Melbourne, in Australia, the locals say that all the four seasons can be enjoyed in a day in São Paulo. Despite being on the Tropic of Capricorn, São Paulo is located at 760 meters (2493 ft) high, which makes the city cooler than normal. Ocean winds keep the air always humid during the year.\n\nRainfall is heavy in the summer, causing flooding in parts of the city and some rivers overflowing at that time. January is the wettest month, with an average of 237 mm (9.3 inches) of rainfall. The driest month is August, with an average of 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rainfall.\n\nDue to the city's altitude, temperatures are not usually very hot. In February, the hottest month, temperatures are between average highs of 28º C (82º F) and average lows of 19º C (66º F). In winter, temperatures are average minimums of 12º C (53º F) and average highs of 22º C (71º F) in July. However, due to the high concentration of buildings, it may seem warmer in some regions of the city.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk008", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Check the official Brazil tourism website and the get in section of our article on Brazil for general information regarding visas and customs, and the Cidade de São Paulo homepage for updated events and art exhibitions around town.\n\n### By plane\n\nSão Paulo () has three major airports: Guarulhos International () and Viracopos () for international and some domestic arrivals, and Congonhas () for most medium and short haul domestic flights.\n\nIf the flights to São Paulo are high-priced, you can check flying to the airports of Campinas, Rio, Curitiba, Ribeirão Preto or Belo Horizonte. From there you can take an intercity bus to São Paulo.\n\n#### Guarulhos International Airport\n\nthumb|right|250px|Airport Bus Service in Guarulhos International Airport\n\nthumb|right|250px|Street numbers of São Paulo begin counting from the direction of Marco Zero, in front of the cathedral da Sé.\n\nNon-airline **shuttle buses** are available from Guarulhos to Congonhas Airport (), Praça da República (Downtown), Paulista/Jardins region, Barra Funda bus station and Tietê bus station (fastest access to the subway). All lines except Congonhas connect to the Metrô. R$42 one-way.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk009", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Line 257 is a regular urban bus, which goes every 15-20 min to and from Tatuapé Metro station (line 3, red). The ride takes about 35 min and costs R$6.15 (Feb 2018), paid as you board. The bus driver provides change. Exit on the arrivals level at any terminal and follow the signs for the bus. The bus starts at Terminal 2 before heading to Terminal 3 and then 1, and it's recommended to board at Terminal 2 during peak times. Less comfy than the shuttles, but can prove faster way to Paulista (and elsewhere) on days with dense traffic, as it goes for the closest Metro station. While the bus has baggage racks, you might be denied access with luggage that won't fit on your lap.\n\nLATAM, Gol and Azul, the three main Brazilian airlines, offer free shuttle buses for their passengers with flights to/from Guarulhos International Airport and Congonhas Domestic Airport. Check the schedules for LATAM and Gol. If you're on a budget trip and have enough time, you can ride those buses to Congonhas airport (you must show your boarding pass or printed reservation to the bus driver) and then get a taxi to your destination. It will be much cheaper than getting a taxi directly from Guarulhos airport. The trip between those airports takes between 1 and 1½ hours. No reservation is required.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk010", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get in", "text": "A taxi co-operative, **Guarucoop** (tel: +55 11 2440-7070), has a monopoly on cabs leaving Guarulhos. They are plentiful and the queue is outside the arrival terminal. Credit-card users can pay for their journey in advance at the booth, although it's useful to have local currency as not all international credit or debit cards will work at all businesses in Brazil. Passengers can ask to see the *tabela*, which shows the fares for each neighbourhood. A taxi ride into the city can take up to two hours during peak times, or around 45 minutes late at night or early in the morning.\n\nAlso, you can use the \"Airport Express\" direct service to/from Luz station. Railway station is not right near the terminals of the airport. Take a free shuttle bus.\n\n#### Congonhas Airport\n\nthumb|right|250px|Aerial view from \"Congonhas\" Airport area\n\nThe easiest (and cheapest) way to get to Congonhas is by taking any of the \"Aeroporto\" regular line buses that run along *Avenida Paulista*. After some 40-60 min in modest traffic you'll be dropped right in front of the airport and the fare is the regular R$4 (Bilhete Único accepted). It is mostly faster to take the metro to the *São Judas* subway station, and then the bus from there (10 min). Take bus number 609J/10 just outside of São Judas station to the airport and when getting off at the airport you walk just outside and look for the 607J bus stop.\n\nCab drives from downtown or Paulista should be used after checking how is the out of control São Paulo traffic. Check the CET website (only in Portuguese), which is the traffic administration department of the city.\n\n#### Viracopos International", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk011", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Viracopos International** (CPQ or VCP) is in Campinas, from downtown São Paulo. It is sometimes used when weather conditions prevent landing in Cumbica. Brazilian airline **Azul** has its hub here and they offer free bus transport to São Paulo for their passengers, it might be convenient depending on your exact location. TAP flies from Lisbon three times a week to São Paulo.\n\n'''Air taxi Rotorfly''' is an air taxi company located at the Carapicuíba Helipark in São Paulo. Transport by air by helicopter throughout São Pauo. Could be a great option for quick commutesR. Fortunato Grilenzone, 417 - Sala 8 - Helipark, Carapicuíba - SP, 06333-230 - Telefone: 0800 591 9056\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|right|250px|\"Tietê\" bus terminal\nThere are three main bus terminals in São Paulo, all of them served by the Metrô (Subway) network.\n\n- Terminal Rodoviário do Tietê\n\n- Terminal Rodoviário da Barra Funda\n\n- Terminal Rodoviário de Jabaquara\n\nAn **inexpensive alternative** (R$130) for bus travel between Foz do Iguaçu and São Paulo are freight bus companies that handle freight of merchants buying in Paraguay and bus travel at the same time. See the Foz do Iguaçu article for more details. From São Paulo, call ahead to find out from where they start. The companies are the following:\n\n### By train\n\nBesides the extensive commuter rail system, there are no passenger trains of any kind into São Paulo. A proposal to relieve the extremely busy São Paulo - Río de Janeiro air route through a high-speed rail link is being planned. It is also expected that Brazil's first intercity passenger train will link São Paulo to Campinas by 2031.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk012", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Transport in São Paulo can be anything from joyful to complicated. Usually, the fastest and less stressful way to get around is by bicycle and public transportation, while the experience with cars can be hellish. Peak hours are normally roughly 06:00-09:00 and 16:00-19:00, but since city roads are constantly at maximum capacity, any little incident can cause major queues and delays. The cheapest way for tourists to get around is to use the subway/metro, trains and buses/trolleybuses as much as possible, and then take a taxi for shorter distances. Even these means of transport can be uncomfortably crowded during peaks, and only a very limited carry-on is recommended. You can check the SPTrans website, which is the city's transport administration department. There you can get itineraries using all the city's public transportation options. São Paulo has an extensive network of cycleways and a strong bicycle culture, and riding bikes can be quite enjoyable. Walking can also be very enjoyable depending on the routes.\n\n### Bilhete Único", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk013", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Bilhete Único is a transport smartcard that is used for paying fares on buses, subways, and trains. In essence, a single billing of the card grants a person up to four trips in São Paulo's public transportation system with free transfers between the subway system and buses within 3 hours. Since September of 2021, only personalized Bilhete Único cards are accepted in the entire transport system. Online emission of cards is only available for Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF) holders, which means foreign tourists can only obtain a Bilhete Único by going to a SPTrans store with a passport in hand. The stores are listed here. To check if a store can emit a card click on \"Ver serviços disponíveis neste posto\" (Check available services) and look for \"Emissão da 1ª e 2ª via\". But be wary that your card might not be available immediately, so plan accordingly.\n\nFare charging rules are as follows:", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk014", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**On buses**: upon boarding a bus, you'll be charged R$4.40 and can board up to three other buses in a three-hour period without being charged a second time.\n**On the Metro or CPTM trains**: for a single trip in the underground train system, you'll be charged R$5.20.\n**First Metro/CPTM train then bus**: you'll be charged R$5.20 when passing by a Metro or CPTM station's turnstile. Once you board a bus, you'll be charged an extra R$3.20 and will be able to board two other buses in a two-hour period - starting from the first validation at the train station - without any further payment.\n**First bus then Metro/CPTM train**: once you board a bus, R$4.40 is charged from your card. Upon entering the Metro or CPTM systems, you'll be charged a further R$3.80. It's possible, after leaving the Metro or CPTM system, to board up to two other buses without any further payment in the two-hour period that starts from the first validation, depending on whether you boarded one or two buses before entering a train.\n\nThe discounts do not typically apply to intermunicipal buses (usually in blue and operated by the EMTU company), although there are some exceptions.\n\n### By ''metrô'' and train\n\nthumb|right|250px|\"Luz\" train and metro station, Historic Center.\n\nThe rail network, composed of metrô (subway) and surface trains, is the method of transportation a tourist is likely to use the most while visiting São Paulo. The metrô is modern, safe, clean and efficient; the quality of surface trains varies, but those in more tourist areas area as good as the metrô. An up-to-date map of the rail network can be found in this link.\n\nLines 1-5 and 9 are probably most useful for tourists.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk015", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "The metro lines are operated by ViaQuatro (Line 4), ViaMobilidade (Line 5), or Metrô (all other lines):\n\n**Line 1 (Blue):** Runs north-south through the Historical Center. Also serves Tietê and Jabaquara bus terminals.\n**Line 2 (Green):** Runs west-east through Avenida Paulista. An extension is under construction.\n**Line 3 (Red):** Runs west-east (north of Line 2) through the Historical Center. The Barra Funda bus terminal is on the west end of this line.\n**Line 4 (Yellow):** Connects the Historical Center to the West (mostly south of Line 2), passing through the western portion of Avenida Paulista. \n**Line 5 (Lilac):** Connects the southwest regions (including Capão Redondo and Santo Amaro) to Lines 1, 2, and 9.\n**Line 15 (Silver):** A rapid transit monorail line, runs in the eastern suburbs.\n\nIn addition to the metro, there are a number of suburban trains operated by ViaMobilidade (Lines 8 and 9) and CPTM (all other lines):\n**Line 7 (Ruby):** Serves the northwest suburbs, ending at Luz station downtown.\n**Line 8 (Diamond):** Serves the west suburbs, ending at Júlio Prestes station downtown.\n**Line 9 (Emerald):** Runs north-south (west of Line 1), crossing the entire West. Does not enter the city center.\n**Line 10 (Turquoise):** Serves the southeast suburbs, ending at Bras station downtown.\n**Line 11 (Coral):** Serves the eastern suburbs (parallel to Line 3). Ends at Luz station downtown.\n**Line 12 (Sapphire):** Serves the eastern suburbs, ending at Bras station downtown.\n**Line 13 (Jade):** Connects Guarulhos Airport to Line 12, which you can then take to downtown. Also offers an express service directly to Luz station from the airport and back, with one train departing every full hour from each termini.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk016", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Surface trains can also be used to reach a number of other cities in the metropolitan area of São Paulo and even beyond. The fee is the same, making some of these trips incredibly cheap depending on where you want to go.\n\n#### Fare and hours of operation\n\nthumb|right|250px|Historic building of \"Júlio Prestes\" train station and \"Sala São Paulo\" concert hall, Historic Center.\nIf you don't have a Bilhete Único smart card (*see above*), trains use a simple flat-price ticketing scheme - you can get only one-trip tickets, which cost R$4.40, and allow you to go as far as you wish. Free train transfers appear as white links on the map; paid transfers as black links; grey links are free transfers during off-peak hours only.\n\nThe single tickets can be bought at the counters or automatic machines, which can be found in every station. Buying multiple tickets will not save you money but will save time locating a vending machine or waiting time in line, which can both be bothersome. Single tickets are available in paper format or as a QR code. The former is only sold at the counters inside the stations, while the latter can be bought from the automatic machines inside the stations, which are labeled **TOP**, or from the app with the same name. The app, however, only accepts registrations for Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF) holders, meaning foreign tourists cannot but them through the app. If you plan to take buses together with trains, using a Bilhete Único card is highly recommended.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk017", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are plans to add contactless payment with credit and debit cards on every station, but as of March 2024 only a few turnstiles are enabled for contactless payments in a minority of stations. These can be identified by the global contactless symbol and a list of accepted networks.\n\nTypical operating hours for trains are Sunday to Friday, from 04:40-00:00 (or Sa to 01:00) or, depending on the station, up to 00:40. Connections on the network operated by Metrô are guaranteed only for boardings before midnight (Sa 01:00), regardless of the station. Check the operating companies' website for more updated information.\n\n#### Peak hours\n\nDaily use of public transport may be quite stressful to Paulistanos; many take more than 2 hours to get to work or school! As a consequence, manners are often left aside on train and metro, and on peak hours, pushes are common. When boarding, walk as far as possible into the train after the door opens, and if you wish to wait for the next train, step outside of the boarding area immediately. Otherwise, you may end up being forcefully pushed into the train.\n\nInside of the train, it is not uncommon to have a lot of people blocking the way to the door, even if they are not leaving the train in the next station. Unless it is a hub station, politely ask *Vai descer aqui?* (\"are you going to step out here?\") to make people move on for you to get out.\n\nPaulistanos do not typically wait for people to get out of the train before getting in. If you are confronted with a mass of people outside when stepping out, walk vigorously, otherwise they may end up pushing you back.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk018", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Do remember to keep on the right side of a metrô escalator in order to give way to other people in a hurry - you may be pushed aside if just standing on the left side of it, especially on the busiest hours. Also, should you sit in the *assento reservado* (reserved seats), be kind enough to give them up for the elderly, pregnant women, parents with babies and disabled people.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses are the most popular way to get around the city. Even though drivers really step on it through the bumpy streets of São Paulo, buses are not the fastest way to get around. In addition, they can get really crowded. However, unlike the metro/train, they do reach every neighbourhood.\n\nSome lines around the city are serviced by trolleybuses, which, despite using overhead wires for power instead of diesel, work just like regular buses. Trolleybus line 2002-10 runs in and around the city's historic center, and, for that reason, is probably the most useful for tourists. (If you are going to visit Ipiranga Museum, line 4113-10 is also a trolleybus line, and may be useful for you).\n\nThe bus lines that serve the city of São Paulo are divided into 9 areas, all with different bus lines and boarding and disembarking platforms, passengers can plan the urban bus trip on the SPTRANS official website, however it is not very functional when this offline, so the best alternative is the Bus Route website.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk019", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "ÁREA 1 - NOROESTE\nBus Terminal Jardim Britânia Bus Terminal Pirituba\nÁREA 2 - NORTE\nBus Terminal Casa Verde Bus Terminal Vila Nova Cachoeirinha\nÁREA 3 - NORDESTE\nBus Terminal A. E. Carvalho Bus Terminal Aricanduva Bus Terminal Penha Bus Terminal São Miguel\nÁREA 4 - LESTE\nBus Terminal Cidade Tiradentes Bus Terminal Itaquera II Bus Terminal Vila Carrão\nÁREA 5 - SUDESTE\nBus Terminal Metropolitano São Mateus Bus Terminal Sacomã Bus Terminal Sapopemba/Teotônio Vilela\nÁREA 6 - SUL\nBus Terminal Grajaú Bus Terminal Parelheiros Bus Terminal Varginha\nÁREA 7 - SUDOESTE\nBus Terminal Água Espraiada Bus Terminal Capelinha Bus Terminal Guarapiranga Bus Terminal Jardim Ângela Bus Terminal João Dias Bus Terminal Santo Amaro\nÁREA 8 - OESTE\nBus Terminal Campo Limpo\nÁREA CENTRAL\nBus Terminal Amaral Gurgel Bus Terminal Bandeira Bus Terminal Lapa Bus Terminal Mercado Bus Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II Bus Terminal Pinheiros Bus Terminal Princesa Isabel Bus Terminal Vila Prudente\n\nThe lines that serve the metropolitan regions of the State of São Paulo can be consulted on the official government EMTU website, which does not help much when it is offline, for that there is an alternative that is the Bus Schedule website that constantly updates bus schedules from each of the lines available to passengers.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk020", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tickets are R$4.40 one way. You can pay for the ride inside the bus, or use a *Bilhete Único* card topped up with credits before boarding. If paying for the ticket on the bus, simply hand over the money to the teller sitting by the turnstile or directly to the bus driver - some lines no longer have tellers -, and he or she will let you pass through. Children under 5 years old are allowed by law to slip under the turnstile for free! If you have the *Bilhete Único* card, then a single fare payment allows you to take other buses for free for the next 3 hours after touching in the card. Scan the card in front of the card reader, and the turnstile will be released. The fare can also be paid with contactless credit or debit cards in select buses. To see if the fare can be paid this way look for a yellow sticker with the global contactless symbol in the front door of the bus.\n\nIf you are carrying large suitcases, try to avoid rush-hour traffic as buses can become incredibly packed. It is not always wise to take the bus late at night, especially if you find yourself all alone waiting at the bus stop - consider calling a cab instead, or asking someone you know for a lift. If you really need to use the public transport system at night, especially after midnight, there's a special nocturnal service, called \"Noturno\" SPTrans' Noturno service, with bus lines running close to the rail system, which closes for maintenance at this moment, and other high-capacity lanes, providing service between well-lit bus terminals spread across town.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|right|250px|Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros, offering great views of the city.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk021", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycleways in São Paulo have been vastly expanded, and the city has about of bicycle-only paths. A full map of the city's permanent cycling infrastructure can be found in the CET official cycleway map.\n\nOne of the most popular cycling routes is the **Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros**, surrounding the Pinheiros river. It has on the East side of the river (it is considerably shorter on the West side).\nThe cycleway is a bit tricky to access - check the cycleway's official website for a listing of access points. The cycleway offers great views of the city, including the city's main business district in Brooklin and Vila Olímpia (see São Paulo/West) but the terrible smell of the Pinheiros river can be hard to cope with.\n\nDespite the growing bicycle infrastructure, São Paulo is hardly one of the easiest places in the world to get around by bike. Many drivers have little respect for cyclists and accidents aren't rare, such that helmets are a must, and extra attention must be taken when making turns or riding outside cycleways. Use bike boxes and dedicated cycling lanes whenever possible. Many cycleways are heavily under-utilised, such that pedestrians rarely pay attention on them when walking, so a cyclist must also watch out for them. Finally, long distance cycleways can lead to dangerous areas of the city; as a rule of thumb, if you won't go to a certain part of the city on foot, don't go with a bicycle! Don't take expensive bicycles to poorer areas of the city or to desolated, sparsely habited areas (like for example the Tietê river cycleway in the east of the city), as you might be assaulted.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk022", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "For those without much adventure spirit, a leisure-oriented and safe option is the **Ciclofaixa de Lazer** on Sundays (see section), where several of the city's main roads are open for cycling.\n\nCyclists with bicycles are allowed in the metro/train network at the following times:\n **In the metro (Metrô/Via Quatro/Via Mobilidade)**: Monday-Friday starting from 20:30, Saturday starting from 14:00, Sundays and holidays the whole day\n **In surface trains (CPTM/Via Mobilidade)**: Saturday starting from 14:00, Sundays and holidays the whole day\n\nThere are public bicycle parking lots in many metro stations (06:00-22:00 daily), and in some it is also possible to borrow a bike using a credit card. Check the Metrô website for an up-to-date list of stations with infrastructure for bicycles. Parking lots (mainly the ones designed for cars) may not accept your bicycle, so if you are to chain yours to a pole, use a good chain with a strong lock. In metro/train stations, cyclists are allowed to put their bicycles on escalators to *go up*, but not to *go down*.\n\nSince May 2012, a scheme called Bike Itaú, a partnership between the city hall and Itaú Bank, inspired by a similar initiative in Rio de Janeiro, allows for renting bikes from one of the standing rails for a fee, please check the official website for up-to-date prices. The rental price can be quite expensive, especially if you take one of the service's new electric bikes. Users must first download Bike Itaú's mobile app to use the system.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk023", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Walking is certainly the best way of exploring and feeling the urban life of São Paulo. The Historic Center area and Avenida Paulista are definitely places to be explored on foot, but there are many others such as Jardins and Vila Madalena. Check the individual district listings for other nice walks.\n\nCompared to other metropolises in emerging countries, São Paulo is actually not the hardest place to walk. Pedestrian paths are plenty (although sometimes poorly maintained) as are zebra crossings with semaphores. Zebra crossings without semaphores are completely ignored by drivers. Despite the reasonably good pedestrian infrastructure, care is advised whenever crossing the streets; watch out for cars that may come unexpectedly, even if the pedestrian lights are green. Do not try to cross large roads with a high volumes of car traffic: usually there will be a pedestrian viaduct or bridge at some point in the sidewalk. Some parts of town, especially the Historic Center, can be dangerous to visit on foot, due to a recent rise in street violence (notably 2022). Check with a tour guide to make sure which places are best for you.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxi ranks in São Paulo are white, with a distinctive luminous green \"TAXI\" sign on the roof top. Check for the white color of the taxi rank (unless it's a radio taxi), the official license sticker with the driver's name and photo on the passenger side of the control panel, and the red license plate.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk024", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are two kinds of cabs: cheaper street-hail and radio taxi. White taxis are often found at stands near city squares and big venues. Radio taxis can be ordered by telephone; ask reception at your hotel for help to call a radio cab, or just call a company. Some companies, such as the radio taxi company São Paulo Airport Transfers, now provide an online, fixed price, quote and book service. Taxis in São Paulo are relatively expensive compared to other large cities worldwide and, depending on the neighborhood, there is a risk of being overcharged if you're a foreigner.\n\n### By e-hailing\n\nSão Paulo is covered by some e-hailing services, Uber being the largest of them. Notable e-hailing services in the city, are:\n\nUber (covers neighbor cities, like Guarulhos and Osasco as well)\n Cabify\n T81 (Brazilian service)\n Easy (Brazilian service)\n 99 Taxi (Brazilian service)\n\n### By car", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk025", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Octavio Frias de oliveira Bridge.\nRenting a car in São Paulo is typically neither practical nor cost-effective. The daily rent plus fuel and parking fees typically far exceeds what you would spend with taxis or e-hailing. Even when you can borrow a car for free from a friend or your company, getting around by car is borderline crazy if you're not used to São Paulo. Traffic can be chaotic and parking is a nightmare. It is also not so straightforward to find your way in certain neighbourhoods where streets can get windy. Usually, taxi or e-hailing, or a combination of taxi/e-hailing and public transportation, provides you all the commodity of cars with much less stress, so much that many car owners in São Paulo prefer to leave their cars at home during weekdays. However, if you plan to visit places outside the São Paulo city proper (in the Grande São Paulo or beyond), renting a car might be worthwhile.\n\nIf you're comfortable enough to adventure yourself and feel more like a *paulistano*, feel free to explore the city from behind a steering-wheel. There is some information about driving in town that you should know beforehand:", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk026", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Rotating transit policy** (*Rodízio*): In order to reduce the congestion and the air pollution in São Paulo, the city council has adopted a mandatory rotating transit policy: cars whose license plate number ends in 1 and 2 cannot circulate on Mondays; if it ends on 3 or 4, Tuesday is off; 5 or 6, stay home or take a cab on Wednesdays; 7 or 8, Thursday is the unlucky day; 9 or 0, on Fridays you can walk. The prohibition is valid only on the so-called Expanded Center (blue street plates with grey bottom stripe), and for peak hours: 07:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00. During the remaining hours, cars are allowed to circulate freely.\n\nthumb|Viaduto do Chá & Shopping Light\n\n**Parking fees** (*Zona Azul* or \"Blue Zone\"): The city council charges a parking fee of R$5 for up to two hours parking in several points of the city, the so-called \"Zona Azul\" areas, so be careful not to be fined for not paying the charge. Parking tickets for Zona Azul can only be obtained digitally, by purchasing credits via the *DigiPare*, *Vaga Inteligente* and *SP Cartão Azul Digital* Android/iOS apps, and filling the car plate number. Credits can also be purchased via several authorised shops, newspaper stands, and snack bars typically located near the Zona Azul parking spots.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk027", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Driving at night**: Buses stop at 01:00 (except for the Noturno service) and the metro around midnight, so it can be tricky to get to many of the famous bars and night clubs unless you take a taxi, or... drive. If you go out at night by car, expect to pay a small fee to unofficial \"car keepers\" in order to park your car along the streets. This is a common use in many busy outing hubs around town, which may seem unfair given that parking your car in the streets is free of charge after 19:00, but they occasionally may check your car against stereo robbers (and may damage your car if you refuse to pay). If the neighbourhood seems a bit dodgy or deserted, try to find a parking lot rather than parking on the streets.\n\n**Valet services**: Most bars and restaurants offer non-compulsory parking and valet services to customers, for which you will be charged a fee. These services are often covered by insurance, nevertheless, whenever using valet services, do not leave valuables such as handbags, wallets, electronics and sunglasses in the car, as these items are usually not covered by the insurance policies in parking spaces.\n\nSee Driving in Brazil for other useful information.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk028", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Talk", "text": "As in the rest of Brazil, most *Paulistanos* are effectively monolingual Portuguese speakers, although a number of well-educated people will have some command of English, especially in main business areas like Avenida Paulista, Faria Lima and Berrini. English is generally spoken at main hotels, youth hostels, upmarket bars and restaurants and tourism-related businesses, although a menu in English is a rare find. Spanish is generally nonexistent.\n\nMost Italians, Japanese and Arab descendants are not able to fluently speak the language of the country where their ancestors came from, with the exception being generally the older generation. Many younger Japanese-Brazilians can speak or understand some Japanese but are unable to read or write it. Later immigrants like Koreans and Chinese are more likely to speak their language of origin.", "word_count": 128}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk029", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "See", "text": "### Avenida Paulista\n\nAvenida Paulista (*Paulista Avenue*) is one of São Paulo's most popular postcards, as it is the pride of Paulistanos. It is one of the largest business centers, and probably the largest cultural region in the city. Its architectural contrast reflects the fact that the avenue is located between the \"old\" and \"new\" parts of the city.\n\nThe avenue and its surroundings, such as Rua Augusta, Alameda Santos and Rua Oscar Freire, contain numerous shop galleries, art galleries, theatres, movie theaters, pubs, hotel, coffee shops, bookstores, and gourmet restaurants. Gay nightlife is intense on Consolacao and Haddock Lobo Streets.\n\n### Historic center\n\nright|thumb|250px|The \"Pinacoteca\" Museum.\n\nSão Paulo's Historic Center met a period of degradation, but it is gradually recovering with recent projects and investments. Even though it still has some problems, it is an area to not be missed due to its historical and cultural value for the city. Here you can find many constructions and landmarks from glorious moments of São Paulo's history, ridiculously crowded commercial areas, and a multitude of theatres and cultural activities.\n\n### Rio Pinheiros river area", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk030", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "See", "text": "The Pinheiros river crosses the West of São Paulo in North-South direction, and although heavily polluted, the neighbourhoods surrounding the river are among the most beautiful and interesting areas of the city. The East shore is filled with skyscrapers that compose the business centers of **Faria Lima**, **Brooklin Novo** and **Vila Olímpia**, and contains the longest cycleway of the city, as well as one of the most vibrant nightlife areas. The West shore is home to **University of São Paulo** and exhibits a stereotypical portrait of São Paulo's social inequality, contrasting luxurious apartments and mansions with low class suburbs and favelas. In the middle of the river, stands the magnificent **Ponte Octavio Frias**, more known as *Ponte Estaiada*. The Line 9-Emerald train line runs alongside the river, making all spots quite easy to reach.\n\n### Parks\n\nthumb|250px|Ibirapuera Park.\nAlthough São Paulo is commonly associated with gray, concrete, and lack of green space, the **Atlantic rainforest** still covers large portions of the city and even of the municipality. These green areas are constantly under threat by irregular occupation, so the government has turned many of them into public parks in order to better protect them.\n\nParks in the city can be divided into three types:", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk031", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "See", "text": "**Leisure parks** are those with plenty of recreational, sport and cultural facilities, but do not contain considerable amounts of original vegetation. **Parque Ibirapuera** (see São Paulo/South Central) is certainly the most famous park of this type in the city, hosting various museums, monuments, and cultural activities. There are also plenty of activities for tourist with guided tours for birdwatch, tree's identification and a general and popular one *Discovering the Ibirapuera Park*, all managed by Parque Ibirpauera Conservação;\n **Ecotourism parks** are those which are mostly covered by the Atlantic rainforest and other natural ecosystems, and contain limited recreational facilities. They are suited for those seeking an adventure. These include **Parque Estadual da Cantareira** (see São Paulo/Northeast and Guarulhos), **APA Capivari-Monos** (see São Paulo/Far South) and **Parque Estadual do Jaraguá** (see São Paulo/Northwest).\n **Mixed parks** are a mix between the two above types: they have both leisure facilities and preserved nature areas. They are a nice option if you think that nature is best enjoyed with the company of other people, or if you want to do something more relaxing and less adventurous. These include **Parque do Carmo**, **Parque Ecológico do Tietê** (see São Paulo/Far East) and **Horto Florestal** (see São Paulo/Northeast).\n\nCheck the individual district listings for a more comprehensive list of parks and more detailed information.\n\n### Museums and cultural centers\n\nAs the art center of the country, São Paulo offers many museums and cultural centers.\n\nTwo museums to not be missed, due to their size, architecture, and historical importance, are **Museu do Ipiranga** (Southeast) and **Memorial da América Latina** (West).\n\nAppreciators of art should also check **Museu de Arte de São Paulo** (Paulista), **Pinacoteca do Estado** (Downtown), **Instituto Tomio Ohtake**, **Museu de Arte Contemporânea** (West) and **Museu de Arte Moderna** (South Central).", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk032", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "See", "text": "Check each district section of this guide for a comprehensive list of museums.\n\ncenter|thumb|600px|Museum do Ipiranga (Museu Paulista da USP).\n\n### Panoramic views\n\nSão Paulo is a beautiful city seen from above, so spare some time to go to one of the few points where you'll be able to see how far this city extends to, specially at sunset.\n\n- Banespa Tower\n\n- Restaurant Skye, Hotel Unique\n\n- São Paulo Jockey Club", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk033", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Do", "text": "### Theaters and concert halls\n\nthumb|right|250px|Theatro Municipal de São Paulo.\nThe two most important concert and opera houses of the city are **Theatro Municipal** and **Sala São Paulo** (see São Paulo/Historic Center). São Paulo has a great number of theaters, most of which feature plays in Portuguese. The **British Cultural Centre**, **Goethe Institute**, **Instituto Cervantes** and **Alliance Française** occasionally have plays in English, German, Spanish and French, respectively; check individual District listings.\n\n### Ciclofaixa de Lazer\n\nThe Ciclofaixa de Lazer (*Leisure Cycling Lane*) comprises dozens of kilometers of interconnected cycling lanes, in the central, south and west areas of the city, that are available on Sundays and some holidays, between 07:00-16:00. It interconnects most places of interest of the city - Downtown, Avenida Paulista, Parque do Ibirapuera, University of São Paulo, the Pinheiros river business centers and the Guarapiranga reservoir, although certainly not using the shortest paths. Bicycle borrowing and renting is available at Parque das Bicicletas (in Parque do Ibirapuera) and at Praça do Ciclista (at Avenida Paulista), but try to get a bicycle in advance if possible.\n\nSince the cycling route is family-oriented, signaling and safety standards are high. The route is strictly intended for recreational, not sportive cycling, so set your speed accordingly in the presence of other cyclists. A full map of the route, as well as other useful information, are available **here**.\n\n### Fun for the family\n\nBoth adults and kids are ensured to have fun by seeing the animals in the **São Paulo Zoo** and in the **São Paulo Aquarium** (see São Paulo/Southeast). São Paulo also has educative spaces aimed both at adults and children, including **Catavento Cultural** (see São Paulo/Downtown) and **Espaço Ciência** (see São Paulo/West). Finally, **Mundo da Xuxa** (see São Paulo/South Central) is a theme park only for the small ones.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk034", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Do", "text": "### Watch football\n\nthumb|center|500px|Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo (Morumbi), Brazil's third largest football stadium.\n\nFootball (soccer) is an inherent part of Brazilian culture, and São Paulo is no exception, being home of four football teams that generally run in the 1st division: Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras and Portuguesa. The five large football stadiums in the city are **Morumbi**, **Allianz Parque** (see São Paulo/West), **Pacaembu** (see São Paulo/Historic Center), **Arena Corinthians** (also popularly known as \"Itaquerão\") and **Canindé** (see São Paulo/Southeast). A word of warning, however: although most matches are safe and fun events, games between the biggest local rivals (Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras and, to a smaller extent, Santos) have had episodes of violence flaring up (in the majority of cases, such incidents happen outside of the stadium), due to a number of violent fans (ultras). The *Derby Paulista* in particular being Palmeiras and Corinthians is ranked among the most intense in the world. Going to such games can be a risky proposition. Portuguesa games are safe, have few supporters, and are very peaceful and curious (meets the Portuguese community in the city).\n\n### City tours", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk035", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Do", "text": "**São Paulo Historical City Tour** is a panoramic tour for those keen to have an introduction to the history, culture, and the lifestyle of the biggest city in the Southern Hemisphere. The city tour takes about 3 hours, during which the visitor will pass by places in São Paulo's Old Centre and get familiar with attractions such as the Cathedral of Sé, Pátio do Colégio (short stop at the square, the site where the city was founded), Monastery of São Bento, the Banespa Building (São Paulo’s answer to the Empire State Building), the Martinelli Building (the first skyscraper in South America), Viaduto do Chá (Tea Viaduct), the Municipal Theater, Sala São Paulo concert hall, Estaçao da Luz train station and the Municipal Market.\n - TurisMetrô\n\n### Events\n\nAccording to the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau, São Paulo hosts 90,000 events a year, from meetings and conferences to sports and cultural events. Events tied to a particular region are listed in the individual district sections. The following events are considered important to the city as a whole:\nthumb|right|250px|The São Paulo Carnaval.\n\n- São Paulo Carnival\n\n- Gay Pride Parade\n\n- Virada Cultural\n\n**Brazilian Grand Prix** is a Formula One motor race held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos district to the south. It's held in November.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk036", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|right|250px|University of São Paulo (USP).\n**University of São Paulo** (USP) is Brazil's most important university in terms of academic research and international reputation, with its main campus located in the West. It was considered the top university of Latin America according to the QS Ranking. Other important public universities present in the city are **Federal University of São Paulo** (UNIFESP) (see São Paulo/South Central) and **Federal University of ABC** (UFABC) (see Santo André).\n\nThe city also contains many traditional private high education institutions. Check the individual district sections for a comprehensive list of them.\n\n### Information for students\n\nBrazil has exchange programmes with many internationally-recognized universities. In order to register at a Brazilian university as an exchange student, you must obtain a **student visa** at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. After you have arrived in Brazil with a valid student visa, then you must register in the Departamento da Polícia Federal (Federal Police Department) within 30 days of your arrival and obtain the **RNE** (*Registro Nacional do Estrangeiro*), which is the national ID card for overseas citizens. This is also where you can **renew your visa** with the Brazilian authorities. It is located at Rua Hugo Dantola, 95, Alto da Lapa, near Ponte do Piqueri (Piqueri Bridge). It is open M-F 08:00-14:00.\n\n**By bus**:From Avenida Paulista to the Policia Federal department, you can take the bus line \"669-A/10 Terminal Princesa Isabel\" in front of Trianon-Masp Metro station (on the same side of MASP museum), get off at the final stop, then take bus \"978-J Voith\" and get off at Rua Hermano Marchete, 1030. Walk up the street until you see the Policia Federal. To return, take the same bus \"978-J\" to Terminal Princesa Isabel. Then, take bus \"669-A/10 Terminal Sto. Amaro\" to return to Avenida Paulista.\n\n**By train**: From Metro station Barra Funda (Linha 3 - Red), take the CPTM metropolitan train (Linha 7 - Ruby) to Lapa station.\n\n#### Institutions\n\n - British Council\n\n - Aliança Russa de Ensino Superior\n\n### Learn Portuguese\n\nThere are a number of language schools where you can learn Portuguese, for as short as two weeks or for a longer period of time. These include both private lessons and classes with more students.\n Fast Forward.\n - Alumni\n\n - University of São Paulo\n\n - Uniao Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos\n\n - Senac São Paulo\n\n- Cultura Espanhola", "word_count": 393}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk037", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can find practically anything in São Paulo. Imported goods can be expensive, but look out for Brazilian-made bargains in all categories. Spend some time in one of the many \"shoppings\" (as Brazilians call the shopping malls) and also look out for areas with shops catering for specific interests.\n\nRemember that street shops usually operate 10AM-6PM, including Saturdays (when they close earlier), but are closed on Sundays. The countless shopping malls operate M-Sa 10AM-10PM and Su 10AM-8PM.\n\n### Central shopping areas\n\nthumb|right|Shopping street in São Paulo Downtown.\n\nThe area between Avenida Ipiranga and Parque Dom Pedro II (Downtown) is the closest to what São Paulo has from a \"central shopping area\", with various pedestrianized and non-pedestrianized shopping streets. The exceptionally crowded **Rua 25 de Março**, with its diverse range of bargains, is perhaps the most famous commercial street of the area.\n\n**Avenida Paulista** and **Rua Augusta** (Paulista) form a smooth transition between the popular commerce of Downtown and the affluent commerce of **Rua Oscar Freire** (West).\n\nSão Paulo has also many specialized shopping areas, such as **Rua Teodoro Sampaio** (West) for furniture and musical instruments, **Rua José Paulino** (Downtown) and **Brás neighborhood** (Southeast) for bargain and wholesale clothing, **Liberdade neighbourhood** (Downtown) for cosmetics and Asian products, and **Rua Santa Ifigênia** (Downtown) for electronic equipment.\n\n### Shopping malls\n\nthumb|right|250px|Shopping Cidade Jardim, the most upscale shopping mall in the city.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk038", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Buy", "text": "Paulistanos, especially those with higher income, have an indoor shopping culture. The fear of criminality, traffic and São Paulo's unpredictable weather are strong factors to this. Shopping malls in São Paulo are not only centers of \"shopping\" but also leisure areas, typically offering spaces for kids, cinemas, food courts, and sometimes even theatres, expositions, and sport areas. Many shopping malls in São Paulo also offer miscellaneous services such as banks, laundry, repairs, and sometimes even police stations and doctors.\n\nThe selection of shops of a mall depends on the type of public predominant in the surroundings: at shopping malls located at working-class neighborhoods, it is easier to find bargain department stores, while shopping malls in wealthy areas may be the only way to have access to exclusive designer stores. Check the individual district listings for a comprehensive list of shopping malls in the city.\n\nSome shopping malls that deserve special mention are **Morumbi/Market Place** (South Central - with more than 600 shops and dozens of restaurants), **Eldorado** (West - with an immense food court), **Iguatemi** (West - the oldest shopping mall of São Paulo, with very upscale profile), **JK Iguatemi** (West - the newest shopping mall for the wealthy Paulistanos), **Cidade Jardim** (West - famous for its internal gardens), **Aricanduva** (Far East - the city's largest and most famous working class shopping mall), and **Frei Caneca** (Downtown - the favorite of the LGBT public).\n\n### Suburban shopping areas\n\nFar from Downtown, there are many suburban shopping areas. The busiest of them is probably the area around **Largo 13 de Maio** (South Central), the \"central shopping area\" of the former city of Santo Amaro, now part of São Paulo.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk039", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are also the open markets (*feiras livres*) and municipal markets (where you can buy fresh and cheaper fruit, vegetables and meat), supermarkets and *atacados* (a type of supermarket where you pay less if buy at least a certain quantity, very convenient for families).\n\nMost of these local commerce centers are not listed in this guide, but they are of extreme importance in the daily life of Paulistanos.\n\n### Costs\n\nSão Paulo has the highest living cost in the Americas, and it's the 10th most expensive city in the world, according to the *Mercer Worldwide Cost of Living 2011 Survey*. However, it should be remarked that such rankings are based on averages, which hardly describe a city as huge and with so many contrasts as São Paulo.\n\nIt is absolutely possible to enjoy the city's attractions while spending a moderate amount of cash in both accommodations and food. Ask locals for tips how to make the best out of your money if you're on a tight budget.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk040", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Virado à Paulista, a typical dish from the state of São Paulo.\nSão Paulo is home to a superb diversity of restaurants and cuisines, where you can enjoy typical dishes from *literally* all over the world. The price range is as wide as the diversity of the restaurants in the city, from cheap snacks and meals in simple and cozy restaurants and food tents in popular markets, to the *hugely* expensive high end cuisine and internationally recognized restaurants, such as **D.O.M**, which was (in 2012) named the 4th best restaurant in the world and the best in South America by *The World's 50 Best Restaurants*.\n\nIn São Paulo, the ever-present beans-and-rice accompaniment typically involves **brown beans** instead of black beans, as in Rio. Another local specialty in São Paulo is the **Virado à Paulista**, which consists of rice, *tutu de feijão* (a paste of beans and manioc flour; sometimes made of corn flour, in order to be drier than the manioc flour one), kale sautéed with garlic (*couve*) and pork chops, typically *bisteca*. It is usually accompanied by pork rinds, bits of sausage, a fried egg and a fried banana.\n\nOne dish that claims its local character is the *bauru* sandwich, allegedly created by a drunken student from the University of São Paulo's law school at the Ponto Chic restaurant after a long night out. It consists of four types of melted cheese and sliced roast beef, and it still endures as one ubiquitous snack in *padarias* (Brazilian-style eateries).", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk041", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Japanese restaurants of the *rodizio* style are found pretty much everywhere, but mainly in the past decade, São Paulo became world famous for its excellent Japan-like and fusion restaurants, including ramen and udon shops and exquisite sushi and sashimi sets, which sometimes even come at a reasonable price. Many of these types of restaurants can be found down rua Tomaz Gonzaga in Liberdade, where connaisseurs of good food have already found their way in. On weekends, these restaurants can be packed, so arrive early to avoid queues.\n\nAnother typical type of restaurant in São Paulo is the world-famous ***churrascaria***, where an enormous range of meats and cuts comes to your table by the stick; they also offer a range of sides and salads. In those places, you can eat as much as you want. This system is called ***rodízio***, and it has been very successful in the city, spreading to other types of cuisine like Italian, where you can find the *rodízio de pizza* and Japanese, with the *rodízio de sushi*.\n\nThe cuisine of São Paulo shows the influence of European, Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants. The majority of immigrants in São Paulo arrived from Italy, and other European countries like Portugal, Spain and Germany. There are also large numbers of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants from Japan, Lebanon and many other countries. Therefore, it is possible to find a wide array of cuisines in the city of São Paulo. **Pizza** is a particularly popular dish, which can be found with an endless range of toppings, and *paulistas* will swear their city has the best pizza in the country, if not in the world.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk042", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Eat", "text": "When eating out, a tip of 10 percent on the value of the bill is usually included. Some restaurants don't include this service charge (when you may come across the message \"Serviço não incluso\" at the end of the bill), but unless the staff are upsettingly rude, do pay the standard 10 percent tip as it is usually part of their wages.\n\n### Chain restaurants\n\nWhile each district of São Paulo offers unique restaurants, the city is also home to a vast array of Brazilian and international fast-food chains, which can be found in many different locations. A couple of those include:\n\n#### Budget\n\n- Baccio di Latte\n\n- Black Dog\n\n- Habib's\n\n- Milky Moo\n\n#### Mid range\n\n- Dengo\n\n- Almanara\n\n- Sukiya\n\n#### Splurge\n\n- Fogo de Chão", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk043", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Vila Olímpia, in the [[São Paulo/West|West]], is one of São Paulo's main nightlife areas.\n\nYou will have no trouble finding bars in São Paulo, where you can enjoy an ice cold beer, a shot of **cachaça** or a **caipirinha** - or anything else for that matter. *Vila Madalena* and *Itaim* have a very high concentration of bars, and are great spots for an all-nighter. For specific suggestions of bars, check the district section.\n\n### Clubs\n\nThis city has an unbelievably rich and diverse night life, and is able to provide entertainment for all tastes, from traditional samba-rock live music to electro-pop night clubs, raves and even some *fetish* clubs. It is worth planning at least one night out while you're in town. On the other hand, São Paulo's nightlife can be quite expensive; most clubs charge an entrance fee.\n\nThe main areas for nightlife in the city are Vila Olímpia, Vila Madalena, and Barra Funda (West), Moema (South Central), Tatuapé and Mooca (Southeast), and Santana (Northeast). The Downtown has also experimented an impressive revival of nightlife. Be sure to check the individual District listings.\n\nVisit this website or buy one of the paper editions to have the latest clubbing updates.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk044", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you plan to explore the city and cannot rely on car/taxi, staying near a Metro or train station is a very wise choice. Just be sure to avoid degraded areas. For lists of recommended hotels in the city, see the individual District listings. If you wish to stay close to the airport, please see the article on Guarulhos.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk045", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\n **Public telephone booths** can be found on almost every corner of town. They work with phonecards only, which can be bought at any newspaper stand. Regular phonecards allow you to make local and national calls, but the credits fall at an incredible rate if the call is directed to another city or to mobile phones. There is a special phonecard for international calls, so make sure you ask the clerk for the correct one if that's the case.\n The city code (also known locally as the DDD code) for São Paulo is 11), hence local telephone numbers have the following format: +55 11 0000-0000. If you are making local calls, the +55 11 prefix should be dropped.\n When making national calls from SP, you have the option to choose your telephone provider: dial 0 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the two-digit DDD code and telephone number.\n When making international calls from São Paulo to abroad, you also have the option to choose your telephone provider: dial 00 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the country code and telephone number.\n To make reverse charge calls within the same city code area, dial 90 90 + the telephone number (do not use the city code (11)).\n To make reverse charge calls to other cities, dial 90 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the 2-digit DDD code and the telephone number.\n\n### Internet\n\nInternet cafés (also called *cyber cafés* or *lan houses*) can be easily found in every neighborhood.\n\nAlso, São Paulo has many open WiFi spots—often you just need to login with Facebook.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk046", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Respect", "text": "People from São Paulo kiss on the right cheek once when they say hello, goodbye and nice to meet you. Some will kiss twice, once on each cheek, a kiss in the air. Men kiss women on the cheek and women kiss women as well, but two men won't give the kiss out unless they're gay or with intimate long-time friends or family. If you feel the occasion is a bit formal, especially on business occasions or if you don't know the person too well, a handshake will do the job. However, if a *Paulistano* takes the initiative to kiss, make sure you turn your face to the left side to avoid embarrassment.\n\n### Business etiquette\n\n Paulistanos do appreciate if you are on time. However, given the infamous traffic congestion that prevails in town, a 15-30 min delay in a meeting is usually tolerated, and you shouldn't worry too much if you or someone else turns up a bit late. In general, do not plan more than two meetings per day, with a possible lunch meeting in between, due to the traffic delay in getting from place to place.\n Office hours are usually from 9AM-6PM, and banks are open M-F 10AM-4PM. However, don't be surprised if a meeting is scheduled after 6PM, as the business culture in São Paulo is a bit workaholic.\n Small gifts are usually gladly accepted, but exchanging presents is not the general rule.\n It is always safer to first adopt a business attire to a meeting—suit and tie for men, business suit for women—even if you turn out to be a bit overdressed in a more informal business environment.\n Before a meeting starts, it is not unusual to have some 5-10 min of informal chat, not related to the business to be discussed (traffic, weather forecasts, and football matches are accepted example topics). To cut short this informal chit chat might appear slightly rude and potentially embarrassing.\n\n### Gay and lesbian travelers\n\nSão Paulo is the host of one of the biggest **Gay Pride** parades in the world, attracting every year about 4 million people. Although *paulistanos* are relatively tolerant to homosexuality, openly public displays of affection between people, especially of same sex are uncommon and likely to attract attention, with the exception of places such as **Frei Caneca** and **Rua Augusta**, and at some bars, coffee shops and night clubs. Such displays of affection should be completely avoided in poorer neighborhoods and on public transport, where prejudice is more likely to be openly manifested.\n\n### Traffic\n\nWhile most people will drive carefully and respecting the rules, you are sure to see some paulistanos cutting you off, crossing where there's no zebra crossings, using bus-exclusive lanes and taking lefts or rights without signalizing their intentions. Bear in mind that if you do this to someone, they might just not care, but some could sound the horn, show you the finger, or even get out the car to physically confront you. That said, it's always best to avoid arguments.", "word_count": 502}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk047", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nSão Paulo, once one of the most violent cities in Brazil, has managed to drastically reduce crime during the 2000s. According to the Sangari Institute, São Paulo was the **safest capital city in Brazil** in 2011, in terms of homicide rate.\n\nUnfortunately, that doesn't mean that a visitor can really relax about safety, because São Paulo is simply too large and diverse to be described by average statistics. In fact, two of the most visited areas, Downtown and the Pinheiros subprefecture (in the West), have respectively 150% and 50% more violent crime than the city average. Check the individual district listings for safety advice in each area of the city. The general advice is as follows:", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk048", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Visitors should avoid walking in deserted areas at night, or at least avoid walking alone. Buses are reasonably safe, but waiting alone at a bus stop at night is not. The metro is always safe, but commuter trains that go to peripheral areas can be dangerous late at night. Be *extremely* careful when using ATMs at night (or better, do not use them if they are in deserted and dark places. If you really need one, try searching in places like shopping malls, theaters and cinemas and gas stations).\n Driving can sometimes also be risky, especially when you are alone and/or in an upscale bars/clubbing area, like Vila Madalena or Vila Olímpia. If you are driving at night, when stopping for whatever reason (even at a traffic light), check your surroundings. Keep your doors locked and windows closed during the night. If possible, when going back late to the hotel, take a cab or ride with a group of friends. During the day, keep valuable objects away from the window (even if you are using a taxi).\n Some areas can be dangerous even during the day. These include run-down areas, like *favelas* and areas populated by drug addicts. The last can be easily recognized by the presence of poorly maintained buildings, bad odor, and dirty streets - there are many of those in the Historic Center. Most drug addicts are harmless, but a few may resort to violence to get money to buy their drugs. Contrary to popular belief, nowadays poor neighbourhoods in São Paulo aren't usually dangerous, at least not more dangerous than an ordinary neighborhood. Still, some of them can be dangerous, so if you are in doubt, don't go or have the company of a local.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk049", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "And naturally, every safety recommendation that applies to big cities in general also applies to São Paulo:\n\nDon't trust strangers, especially those who seem excessively helpful;\n Always prefer the help of an identified officer or employee to that of a stranger;\n Watch your belongings all the time in crowded streets or public transportation;\n Be careful with your phone on streets, young people on bicycles can snatch the phone from your hands, when you're inside your phone and aren't paying attention to what’s happening around;\n Avoid withdrawing and carrying large amounts of money;\n Avoid using expensive clothes and jewelry that make you stand out.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nIn the summer, severe storms affect São Paulo and the potential for torrential rain, dangerous lightning, overflowing rivers and the possibility of flooding must be acknowledged.\n\n### Football (soccer)\n\nSão Paulo is home to three major football teams in Brazil: Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo FC. There is also a considerable number of Santos supporters. Minor teams include Portuguesa and Juventus.\n\nWearing one's favorite club's jersey as casual clothing is usual in São Paulo, even when it's not a match day. While walking by someone wearing a rival's jersey means nothing, being in the \"wrong\" place at the \"wrong\" time and with the \"wrong\" jersey during a match day may be extremely dangerous. For example, if you wear a São Paulo jersey and walk by a group of Corinthians supporters when the two clubs are about to face each other, they may provoke you. Some supporters go as far as to schedule street fights on the internet, so it's always best to avoid being near large agglomerations of supporters.\n\n### Tourist police stations", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk050", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Familiarize yourself with the location of the police stations specializing in tourist service and protection. These stations offer information on public safety and are staffed with qualified professionals to meet your needs.\n**Headquarters of the Specialized Tourist Police – Deatur Delegacia Especializada em Atendimento ao Turista**. R. Cantareira, 390. +55 11 3120-4417.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk051", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "No vaccination is required for São Paulo, unless you are planning to travel to central-western (Mato Grosso) or northern (Amazon) regions of Brazil afterwards, for which you should take a shot against yellow fever, and carry anti-malaria medication (quinine).\n If you're arriving from Peru, Colombia or Bolivia, the vaccination of yellow fever is required only if you need a visa (i.e., if you are going to stay for longer than 90 days). Check the requirements of any country you will travel to from Brazil.\n Tap water in São Paulo is generally safe, at least when straight from the water supply system. However, several buildings can be lacking in the periodic cleaning of their cisterns and water tanks (the locals themselves tend to avoid tap water and drink bottled or filtered water instead).", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk052", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nIn the city of São Paulo the voltage is usually 127V, unlike many other parts of Brazil and even of the São Paulo state. Most electronic products sold in São Paulo are now bi-volt, but always check carefully.\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Australia\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Israel\n\n - Japan\n\n - Republic of Korea\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Lebanon\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Norway\n\n - Russia\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk053", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Go next", "text": "The city of São Paulo is only one hour driving from the Paulista Coast, which is a typical Brazilian region full of splendid beaches and great seafood. The young and the old of São Paulo alike head there on the weekends to enjoy the sand, sun and fun. The rich agricultural state offers winter destinations, upscale retreats and large Rodeos.\n\nIn parenthesis the typical duration of the journey by car (using the fastest route in good traffic conditions) is listed. During long holidays (like Carnival and New Year), expect to be much more.\n\n### Coast", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk054", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Go next", "text": "You find hostels and private rooms in:\n **Santos** (1 hr) - Estuary city near São Paulo, home to Pelé's famous football team Santos F.C. and Brazil's most important seaport.\n **Guaruja** (1 hr) - Many Paulistanos have their beach houses in this town, which becomes packed with tourists during the summer months of December, January and February.\n **Bertioga** (2 hr) - Just NE of Santos and Guaruja, this beach town hosts a variety of annual festivals, including a Japanese, an Italian and a Native Brazilian. Don't miss the waterfall on the way down the mountain (via Mogi das Cruzes), as there's no access on the return trip.\n **São Sebastião** (2½ hr) - Second in preference for summer houses, the beaches of São Sebastião are a mixture of rustic paradisiac nature with first class night life. Contains one of the most famous beaches of the São Paulo coast, **Maresias**.\n **Ubatuba** (3 hr) - Beautiful beaches are the main attraction of this place, as well as its well-preserved nature. Hotels sometimes provide leisure activities such as scuba diving, mountain biking and trekking. The city is known for providing a good surfing environment.\n **Ilhabela** (3½ hr) - Accessible only from São Sebastião by ferry, it is an archipelago with various savage beaches and ecotourism options.\n\nPrivate rooms are available in:\n **Peruíbe** (1½ hr) - Last south coast city nearby São Paulo, home of the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, the biggest Atlantic jungle in the state.\n\n### Countryside", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk055", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Go next", "text": "Hostels and private rooms have:\n **Bragança Paulista** (1hr 45 min) - Famous for its traditional sausages, with several establishments claiming to sell the \"real Bragança sausage\". One of the town's main attractions is Taboão Lake.\n **Boituva** (1 hr 45 min) - The \"National Skydive Capital\". It is also known for ballooning.\n**Botucatu** (3½ hr) - It is known as the Land of Adventure. There are more than 70 waterfalls in its region, some with easy access, others with extreme difficulty. For those who enjoy extreme sports, this is the right place to venture out.\n\nYou find private rooms in:\n **São Roque** (1 hr) - A small city mainly regarded as a wine tourism destination, but also containing interesting historical constructions and beautiful nature.\n **Itu** (1 hr 15 min) - Historical city that was the birthplace of Brazilian Republic, and with a theme of \"oversized things\".\n **Campos do Jordão** (2 hr) - Charming little town in the mountains, at 1,600 m high. Well-off Paulistanos buy their winter house in Campos do Jordao, due in part to the famous winter classic music festival in July, when the high season takes place in town. Many upscale club and bar owners go up the mountain and promote events and parties at this time of the year.\n **São Luiz do Paraitinga** (2 hr) - City in the Serra do Mar, offering ecoutourism options and an impressive historic center, a national heritage site.\n **Aparecida** (2 hr) - A major Christian pilgrimage destination, containing the second largest Catholic temple in the World.\n\n### Theme parks", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-paulo::chunk056", "doc_id": "sao-paulo", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Hopi Hari** (1 hr) - A big theme park located in the city of Vinhedo, one hour from São Paulo. It offers many rides, from those for children to the radical ones. Various food, from snacks to *à la carte*. You can get there by car or shuttle buses from many places.\n **Wet'n Wild São Paulo** (1 hr), Itupeva (see the Vinhedo article). A water park of the American Wet'n Wild chain, just beside Hopi Hari, with 12 rides and many food shops.\n\n### Metro area ([[Grande São Paulo]])\n\nFor the cities below, driving times vary widely according to where the journey begins in São Paulo.\nPrivate rooms are available in:\n **Mogi das Cruzes** - A popular destination for rural and ecotourism, with hiking trails, a peak, rocks, parks, and small waterfalls.\n **Guararema** - Small town with the old railway station as its symbol, you can take the tourist train, go to the park, walk through the preserved areas, hike and see the waterfall, appreciate the local unique cuisine, or just relax in the laid-back atmosphere.\n **Embu das Artes** - Town just Southwest of São Paulo, known for its talented local artists. If you are looking for authentic Brazilian art, handicrafts, furniture, or just want to browse around some really cool shops, this is the place to go.\n **Pirapora do Bom Jesus** - Destination of a Catholic pilgrimage that is one of the oldest state's traditions.\n **Santana de Parnaíba** - City with a valuable Colonial historical center and strong religious traditions.\n **Santo André** - Containing the English-built village of Paranapiacaba and ecotourism options in the area.", "word_count": 266}
diff --git a/corpus/sao-paulo/metadata.json b/corpus/sao-paulo/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0f2fc6776dee178c591a6386168c4c531ec5ddb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sao-paulo/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sao-paulo",
+ "title": "São Paulo",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/São_Paulo",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Grande São Paulo"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Paulista Coast",
+ "Santos",
+ "Guaruja",
+ "Bertioga",
+ "Mogi das Cruzes",
+ "São Sebastião",
+ "Ubatuba",
+ "Ilhabela",
+ "São Sebastião",
+ "Peruíbe",
+ "Bragança Paulista",
+ "Boituva",
+ "Botucatu",
+ "São Roque",
+ "wine tourism",
+ "Itu",
+ "Campos do Jordão",
+ "São Luiz do Paraitinga",
+ "Aparecida",
+ "Vinhedo",
+ "Vinhedo",
+ "Grande São Paulo",
+ "Mogi das Cruzes",
+ "Guararema",
+ "Embu das Artes",
+ "Pirapora do Bom Jesus",
+ "Santana de Parnaíba",
+ "Santo André",
+ "Rio de Janeiro",
+ "Guarulhos",
+ "Porto Alegre",
+ "Curitiba"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 12416,
+ "listing_count": 48,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 57,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sao-tome/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sao-tome/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3e52f6101513b4603a4d9fae5a8246232f369786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sao-tome/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk000", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Overview", "text": "**São Tomé and Príncipe** (STP for short) consists of two main islands straddling the Equator off the Atlantic coast of Central Africa.\n\nThe Portuguese were the first settlers of these previously uninhabited islands in the late 15th century. Attracting settlers proved difficult, however, and most of the earliest inhabitants were \"undesirables\" sent from Portugal, mostly Jews. The Portuguese brought in slaves from Africa to cultivate sugar, coffee and cocoa. Nearly all of its current residents are descended from people from different countries taken to the islands by the Portuguese from 1470 onwards.\n\nIn 1990, STP was one of the first African nations to undertake democratic reforms, and it has maintained democratic government since then with only a one-week interruption. The country's culture, customs, and music fuse European and African influences.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk001", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Regions", "text": "thumb|right|300px|Map of Sao Tome and Principe", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk002", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Cities", "text": "(*Saint Thomas*) – the capital city and largest city in the country, home to a 15th-century cathedral, the national museum, and the Presidential Palace\n (*Saint Anthony*) – the main city of Príncipe Island, it is known for its colonial architecture and for its churches", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk003", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "On Principe, find relaxation on Banana Beach or Burra Beach; or, climb Papagaio Peak in for some majestic views of the island and ocean beyond.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk004", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Understand", "text": "The country is often mistakenly called \"São Tomé\", but São Tomé is the name of one of its two main islands.\n\nTrees cover almost 90% of the islands. The main crop on São Tomé is cocoa, representing about 95% of agricultural exports. Other export crops include copra, palm kernels, and coffee. Other than agriculture, the main economic activities are fishing and a small industrial sector engaged in processing local agricultural products and producing a few basic consumer goods. The scenic islands have potential for tourism, and the government is attempting to improve its rudimentary tourist industry infrastructure.\n\nSão Toméan culture is a mixture of African and Portuguese influences. São Toméans are known for ússua and socopé rhythms, while Príncipe is home to the dêxa beat. Portuguese ballroom may have played an integral part in the development of these rhythms and their associated dances. Tchiloli is a musical dance performance that tells a dramatic story. The danço-Congo is similarly a combination of music, dance, and theatre.\n\nFootball is the most popular sport in São Tomé and Principe. \n\nSão Tomé and Príncipe is a nation of a little over 230,000 people as of 2023. The two main islands are about 259 km apart and straddle the Equator in the Gulf of Guinea, west of Gabon. The country sees few tourists: in 2016, there were an estimated 13,000 visitors to the country.\n\n### History\n\nDiscovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands had a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century – all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s, and the first free elections were held in 1991.\n\nThis small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. São Tomé has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its foreign debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. São Tomé's success in implementing structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors, which pledged increased assistance in 2001. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. It is also optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.\n\n### Climate\n\nAt sea level, the climate is tropical—hot and humid with average yearly temperatures of about 27 °C (80.6 °F) and little daily variation. The temperature rarely rises beyond 32 °C (89.6 °F). At the interior's higher altitudes, the average yearly temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), and nights are generally cool. Annual rainfall varies from 5,000 mm (196.85 in) on the southwestern slopes to 1,000 mm (39.37 in) in the northern lowlands. The rainy season runs from October to May.\n\nThe equator lies immediately south of São Tomé Island, passing through an islet named Ilhéu das Rolas.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n São Tomé and Príncipe tourist information", "word_count": 564}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk005", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Countries in green enjoy visa-free access, countries in yellow need an eVisa\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nNationals of the following countries may enter São Tomé and Príncipe without a visa for visits of up to 15 days: Angola, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Rwanda, Timor-Leste, United States and *all* EU citizens. Chinese citizens (including Hong Kong and Macau) can get a visa on arrival. Holders of a valid Schengen or United States visa also do not require a visa.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe only way to enter is by plane.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk006", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Get around", "text": "On São Tomé Island, there are many taxis, including shared ones that depart to other cities when enough people are there. It is common for tourists to rent a car or scooter to better explore all that the island has to offer. Beware that although roads are paved, they are often not in good condition.\n\nTo get to Príncipe, the most common choice for tourists are commercial flights (STP Airways) connecting São Tomé International Airport to Príncipe Airport. The aircraft used on this route are small 19 seat Dornier 228 propeller planes. Locals instead typically hop on a cargo boat, but the 10 hour overnight journey is not considered particularly safe. There are faster charter boats that can do the trip in 3.5h.\n\nOn Príncipe, there are fewer roads, and many are not paved. It is common to hire a driver (car or motorbike) to explore the island, or to hire a boat.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk007", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language is **Portuguese**. It is spoken natively by over half of the population, but basically everyone (95%) can speak it. The other main language is **Forro**, which is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken natively by 43% of the population and as a second language by just as many (85% in total).\n\nOther languages include Principense Creole and Angolan Creole, but these are only spoken by a small minority.\n\nAs a rule, Portuguese is the main language in the northern part of the São Tomé island, whereas Forro is more common in the south. On the Principe island the main language is Portuguese.\n\nWhen speaking Portuguese, São Toméans generally use a dialect known as São Toméan Portuguese. It is similar to Brazilian Portuguese in terms of grammar and pronunciation, which is very different from European Portuguese. However, most people can switch to European Portuguese and thus neither Portuguese nor Brazilians should have trouble communicating.\n\nEnglish is spoken in tourist areas; you will however have better luck with French, which *is* taught in schools and thus spoken by many.\n\nIt is essential to know Portuguese, Forro or French in order to get along.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk008", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Sao Tome Se\n\nSão Tomé and Príncipe was uninhabited before colonization by the Portuguese in the 1490s. Since then, much of the landscape has remained unchanged or, where former plantations once stood, reclaimed by the rainforests. The islands are covered by lush rainforests and with a small population and very few tourists, and remain for visitors a veritable tropical paradise.\nright|thumb|Pico Cão Grande\nThe interior of São Tomé island contains **Obo National Park**. Find a local guide to take you bird-watching, climb the 2,024-meter Pico de Sao Tome, trek to a secluded waterfall, or try to spot as many of the island's 109 species of orchids as you can. Waves enter an underwater cave on the south side of São Tomé island and, with nowhere to go, shoot straight up through the **Boca do Inferno** (Mouth of Hell) blowhole in an impressive show for visitors. The isolated **beaches on Príncipe** are breathtakingly beautiful and romantic... don't blame yourself for feeling like you're on a deserted island in the South Pacific.\n\nJust offshore are coral reefs with a large diversity of sea life—including a few endemics as the waters between other islands and the mainland reach 2,000 meters! **Diving and snorkeling** are the ideal ways to explore the underwater side of this paradise, during which you can come face-to-face with dolphins, large green turtles, and a wide array of colorful fish. Experienced and daring divers can explore **underwater caves**.\nthumb|Túnel de Santa Catarina\nAmong the few human-made sights on the islands is **Fort São Sebastião**. Built in 1575, the fort was refurbished in 2006 and is now the São Tomé National Museum. The fort is absolutely beautiful at night. Essential for every visitor is a tour of one of the islands' colonial-era plantations—**roças**—which vary in condition from centuries-old buildings slowly being overgrown by rainforest to lovingly refurbished ones operating as B&Bs. One of the more easily accessible, Monte Café, has a new coffee museum and, since it is in the mountains, is cool and inviting. The **Sao Tome market** is, like many in the region, a bustling, colorful experience while photographers will love the city's quaint **colonial-style architecture**.\n\n - Eddington's Plaque\n\nThe Santa Caterina Tunnel (Túnel de Santa Catarina) is a handsome but short road tunnel by the ocean on São Tomé which makes for a great photo.", "word_count": 387}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk009", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|250px|The equator marked as it crosses [[Ilhéu das Rolas]], small island off the southern tip of São Tomé.\nThe waters around São Tomé are clear and rich with life. Consequently, diving, fishing and boat tours provide much to see.\nThe forests of both islands lend themselves wonderfully to **hiking**.\nthumb|right|São Tomé town centre\nWalk around. Traffic is light, the sea breeze is cooling, and you can admire the architecture and people. The capital city of São Tomé is replete with public art. Painting and carvings by local artists, in addition to old Portuguese statues, can be found throughout the city. Oftentimes you will walk down the street and turn a corner to come up suddenly against a colorful and sprightly painting right in front of you.\n\n**Claudio Corallo Chocolate**. Tours of his chocolate factory are give on request. He or one of his sons will gleefully describes the shocking inferior stuff that passes for chocolate around the world. Claudio maintains complete control of the chocolate making process, from growing the pods on his own plantation on Principe through to packaging the chocolate in his own vacuum-sealed clean rooms. He gives copious free samples during the demonstration, and sells all his products right there in the demonstration room. Expensive but worth it.\n\n**Bird watching**: There are over 135 species in 40 families on the islands. The widest variety is found in the southern part of São Time, but Principe also hosts many species, including parrots roaming free in the jungle, Dohrn’s Flycatcher, Black-capped and Principe speirops, Giant Weaver, Sao Tome Sunbird, a paradiseflycatcher, scops-owl, prinia, swift, white-eye, seedeater, oriole, thrush, starling, and four pigeons. Three species endemic to the island—Bocage’s Longbill, Newton’s Fiscal, and Sao Tome Grosbeak—are much harder to find. Many West African mainland specialties inhabit the islands including Olive Ibis, Harlequin Quail, Gray Parrot, Whitebellied and Blue-breasted kingfishers, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Chestnut-winged and Splendid glossy-starlings, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Golden-backed Bishop, and Blue-breasted Cordonbleu. Seabirds and wetland species may include White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Bridled Tern, Brown Noddy, Long-tailed Cormorant, and Western Reef-Egret. There are tourist operators that organise birdwatching outings on both island and in the ocean.", "word_count": 356}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk010", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nSão Tomé and Príncipe uses the **new dobra**, denoted by the symbol \"**nDb**\" (ISO currency code: **STN**). In 2018, the old dobra (Db) was converted to the new dobra at a rate of 1000 Db to 1 nDB.\n\nCoins of São Tomé and Príncipe come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 centimos, 1 and 2 new dobras. Banknotes of São Tomé and Príncipe come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 new dobras.\n\nIt is a restricted currency: the import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited subject to declaration, and you may export only up to the amount you import. Travelers' checks are no longer accepted. Euros, and sometimes US dollars, are commonly accepted at larger restaurants and shops. The currency is pegged to the euro.\n\nThere are no ATMs that take overseas cards. You must bring sufficient cash in euros or US dollars. Cash withdrawal with a Visa card may be available from the main bank in São Tomé.\n\nThe Pestana hotels may offer a cash advance (if they have enough cash at hand themselves). Expect a 5% commission for their service and not too generous an exchange rate.\n\n### Shopping\n\nShopping is limited, but there are a few things worth purchasing, and possibly of export quality:\n\n**Coffee**. São Tomé used to be famous for its coffee. The quality suffered a bit after independence in 1975 when the new government broke up the old rocas into sharecropper lots, but given the quality of the volcanic soil, the coffee was still great. There has been a surge in interest in São Tomé coffee, mostly due to Claudio Corrallo’s work, but you can walk into any shop in São Tomé and get great coffee cheap.\n\n**Rum**. São Tomé has two rum factories within an easy trip: '**Gravana**, which is sold out of a car repair shop next to the Central Market, and **Me-Zochi** which is in Trindad behind the church. Prices of a one liter bottle of rum vary from US depending on the price of sugar. Gravana rum is dark and sweet, and is best served over ice and savored like a scotch. Me-Zochi rum is also good, but the factory also sells different types of liqueurs made from local fruits. Most of their product is shipped to Europe.\n\n**Baskets**. Baskets are part and parcel of everyday life in São Tomé. Therefore they are plentiful and cheap. They are not fancy but have their charm.\n\n**Miscellaneous tourist stuff**. Ossobbo is across from the Fort São Sebastiao. The shop features local artisans and products of São Tomé, from coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla to carvings, t-shirts and thumb drives. Prices are reasonable, but the best part is the shop is run by the non-profit Sisters of Misericordia; all profits go to the craftsmen or charitable works.", "word_count": 479}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk011", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Barbecue\nFish is a staple of the São Toméan diet, often served with breadfruit and mashed, cooked bananas. Tropical fruits such as papaya, mangoes, pineapples, avocado, and bananas are grown plentifully on the islands and are significant components of the cuisine. The use of hot spices is prominent in São Tomése dishes too. The variety of fish is wide, including flying fish at certain times of year. Those who live inland and are unable to afford fish or meat get their protein from buzios, large land snails. Sea snails are also quite common along the coast. The hotels in the capital offer European-style fare at higher prices.\n\n**Roça São João dos Angolares** in the village of Angolares 42 km SE of São Tomé city on EN No. 2. Make reservations as far in advance as possible (+239 9906900), but it is worth it. Gourmet meals served as a multiple course prix fixe are worth the extra workout you will need. Also offers rooms from €60 (Dec 2017).\n\n**Sum Secreto**. Standard grill fare, but they can handle large groups without a reservation. Service is generally very good, and the meat and fish are excellent. Nothing fancy, but the place is popular because it has that secret something.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk012", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Drink", "text": "Beer is readily available everywhere, though São Toméans are not known as big drinkers. Local brands include **Creolla** and **Rosema**. Inland, palm wine is available very inexpensively from vendors along the road. In the capital, whiskey and other spirits are popular among the elites. Wine, especially Portuguese vinho verde, is popular with fish dishes.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk013", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A small handful of hotels exist in the capital. Near the town of Santana lies an idyllic bed and breakfast with stunning views. Opulent resorts have been built at the very northern and southern extremes of the country, on the small island of Ilheu das Rolas, and at Ilha Bom Bom off the coast of Príncipe.\n\nIn Santo António, the main city of Príncipe, several small pousadas (B&Bs) can be found.\n\n**Bom Bom Island Resort** In addition to an ensuite bathroom, air-conditioning and other modern amenities, each bungalow has its own veranda with views across the green palm fronds and the bay. Bom Bom’s restaurant, bar and marina are on a tiny islet, which can be reached by crossing the 230-metre wooden walkway.\n**Mucumbli** An amazing lodge, situated a view minutes down the road from the city of Neves. It only has 5 bungalows so book well in advance! Owned by Titiano and Marie, an extremely nice and helpful Italian couple that arrived to the Island in the 1980s and built this place little by little. Private and remote (in São Tomé terms that is), sitting on the deck watching the sunset side of the island or going to the beach or hitting the trails, this place is a must. There is also a donkey pen, that were practically saved by the owners (after the government received them as a gift from Angola and didn't know what to do with them). Includes breakfast.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk014", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Street in São Tomé city\nSafety is not an issue in São Tomé and Príncipe, though the roadway traffic is hazardous as in other parts of Africa. Violent crime in public is almost unheard of. However, with an increase in tourism there has been an increase in crime against tourists. Road blocks near Santana have been reported, as well as scams targeting tourists in the main city.\n\nThe only dangerous animal in the islands is the black cobra, which can be found in southern and eastern areas of São Tomé island. Young ones are completely black, adults have yellow-white scales on the front. They are afraid of humans and will normally slither away when you approach. Be alert when hiking and very careful of where you stick your hands. Anti-venom is available at local hospitals. If bitten you need to seek immediate help, preferably within 30-120 minutes. Deaths are rare, though.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "sao-tome::chunk015", "doc_id": "sao-tome", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Malaria** was once extremely common on the islands, but an eradication program initiated by the Taiwanese government in 2005 has effectively stamped out malaria in populated areas (deaths have dropped from over 1000/year to just a handful). However, visitors should still continue taking precautions against mosquito bites (which can transmit other severe illnesses) such as the use of insect repellants and bed netting. Furthermore, the rate of malaria infections in nearby, mainland countries is high and there is the potential for isolated outbreaks from infected people/animals arriving from those countries. If you are also visiting the mainland on your journey, keep in mind the length of time before/after visiting malarial regions that you need to take your anti-malaria medication (which can be several weeks).\n\nThe rate of **HIV/AIDS** in STP among people aged 15-49 as of 2022 is approximately 0.4%, which is relatively low compared with nearby countries. There is a *very* strong stigma against those infected on the islands and few have ever come out with their diagnosis and in many cases health workers have to deliver medications to their homes in secret because patients are unwilling to be seen in public collecting these medications. Even with the low risk, you should always use protection, such as condoms.\n\n**Tap Water** is not fit for drinking. Boil it or stick to bottled.", "word_count": 222}
diff --git a/corpus/sao-tome/metadata.json b/corpus/sao-tome/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a9253abc597aaea0d04312106a27abdef8b8b6c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sao-tome/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sao-tome",
+ "title": "São Tomé and Príncipe",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/São_Tomé_and_Príncipe",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "West African Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 3321,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sapa/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sapa/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a4f1d470e13f07a71dcdb257a996d747069e58c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sapa/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk000", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|upright=1.4|Terraced fields in Sa Pa\nthumb|upright=1.4|View of Sa Pa\n\n**Sa Pa** (formerly **Chapa**) is a town in a beautiful, mountainous region of northern Vietnam on the border with China. The town has a population of 9,400 (2019), while Sapa district, covering 677 km², has 82,000 people 2018).\n\nAt 1,650 m above sea level in Vietnam's remote northwest mountains, Sa Pa is known for its fine, rugged scenery and for its cultural diversity.\n\nAlthough the cable car and the host of large hotels built without regard for the mountain environment have reduced the charm of Sapa, a short walk or drive will still reward the visitor with unspoiled views.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk001", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Sa Pa is a picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as \"the Tonkinese Alps\". Sa Pa and its surrounding region is host to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Phan Si Păng (Fansipan), the highest peak in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). Other great mountains like Aurora & J, where Sa Pa sees the first rays of sun, make up a very steep valley.\n\nSa Pa has become a tourist hotspot where money is the new drug of choice. Throngs of vendors can be found in the streets, selling their wares. Don't be put off by the rush, your explorations of the surrounding countryside will be worth the trouble.\n\nSa Pa's most important attraction is its ethnic minorities, mainly Hmong and Dao people, who still live quite a traditional lifestyle. Many of them adjusted to the tourist influx and have learnt English, trying to cater for foreigners as much as possible. As of Jan 2025. Sa Pa has been severely gentrified by the Kinh Vietnamese that make money out of appropriating indigenous culture. If you really want to support the minorities, avoid booking anything from mainstream companies and hotels, as most of them are owned by the Vietnamese that do not care whatsoever for the villagers. You can easily find an authentic ethnic village homestay and a tour guide if you talk to one of the local women on the street, you can recognize them by the traditional clothing.\n\n### Ethnic minorities", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk002", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Many ethnic minorities live in and around Sa Pa. Excluding the ethnic Vietnamese Kinh people, eight ethnic minority groups are found in Sa Pa: H'mong (pronounced *mong*), Dao (pronounced *yao*), Tay, Giay (pronounced *zai*), Muong, Thai, Hoa (ethnic Chinese), and Xa Pho (a sub-set of the Phu La minority group). However, the last four groups comprise fewer than 500 people in total. The population of the district was estimated at 31,652 (1993) of which 52% were H'mong, 25% were Dao, 15% were Kinh, 5% were Tay, and 2% were Giay. Around 3,300 people live in Sa Pa town, while the remainder are peasant farmers distributed unevenly throughout the district.\n\nMany older women in particular make items such as ethnic clothing and blankets to sell to tourists. Striking up a conversation with them can be very rewarding and their spoken English is impressive. Doing this in Sa Pa town will sometimes lead to a scrum if other vendors smell a potential sale.\n\nChildren from these ethnic minorities often help support their families financially through selling trinkets to tourists. They peddle small metal or silver trinkets, embroidered pillow cases and friendship bands in the main town, and often walk for several hours from their villages to reach town, perhaps skipping school. At the end of the day, some take a motorbike ride back to their village, some walk home and some sleep in the market. Do not encourage this by buying from children. Buy from adults.\n\nGirls and boys marry young (around 15–18) and often have two children by the time they are 20 years old. Poverty has led to a lot of girls leaving their villages each day to go selling in Sa Pa town, and depending on their luck, may only have one meal per day.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk003", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Understand", "text": "In winter (the four months from November to February), the weather in Sa Pa is invariably cold, wet and foggy (temperatures can drop to freezing and there was snow in 2011). Travellers have rolled into town on a gloriously clear day and then spent a week trapped in impenetrable fog. When it is like this there really isn't very much to do. Also the rice paddies are brown and empty (they are planted in spring), the paths very muddy and slippery and the glorious vistas of summer are completely hidden in the mist. If you choose to visit in winter, take along warm clothes or prepare to be cold and miserable as many hotels do not have efficient heating in their rooms. During that time, the more upmarket hotels that do have heating fill up quickly, so make advance reservations if you can afford not to freeze.\n\nIt rains often in August, especially in the mornings.\n\nHowever, if you visit in summer, say in May, then be prepared to sweat. Hostels may not have air-conditioning so check them out first before making your booking. If you have come to see the rice terraces, you will be disappointed as you would not be seeing beautiful, green rice terraces as the local farmers would have just started to work on the field.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk004", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nAn airport finally started construction in 2022 but is still many years from completion. For time being, the closest airport is Hanoi.\n\nDien Bien Phu has a small airport that may appear closer on a map, but due to terrible roads is nearly 9 hours away, almost twice the time from Hanoi.\n\n### By train\n\nSa Pa is reached by a nine-hour train journey from Hanoi to Lào Cai (pronounced *lao kai*), followed by a separate transfer to Sa Pa.\n\nVietnam Rail operates some of the carriages in the train, but others are operated by private companies (Fanxipan Express, Friendly, Ratraco, Tulico, Victoria Hotels, and many others). Whilst in the past some of these cars were significantly nicer than the standard carriages, they are now almost exclusively Vietnam Railways carriages, just more expensive and easier to reserve in advance. You're not even guaranteed to share your carriage with other tourists if that's a concern, as any spare tickets are sold as Vietnam Railways tickets. You may need to arrange with a travel agency to get tickets on these tourist carriages, but anybody can purchase tickets for the Vietnam Rail carriages at the Hanoi train station.\n\nYou can buy rail tickets online (or here). Print out your tickets or show your phone at the station.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk005", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "Prices vary according to the type of seat purchased, and the season during which you are traveling. Dates around Vietnamese holidays are particularly expensive and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible. Travelers are strongly recommended to purchase a berth in a soft or hard sleeper carriages, though the trip in soft-seat class is not intolerable.\n**Cheaper travel**. Cheaper tickets, especially in hard sleeper class, can be difficult to come by at times, as tour companies and travel agents will snap up these to foist on their own customers (too frequently a promised soft sleeper berth will turn into a hard sleeper when it comes time to board). To avoid ripoffs, it is better to go to the train station yourself and get the ticket from the ticket office. This is the only way to make sure that you will get what you have paid for. Although one cannot be assured of finding a place, it is often possible to arrive at the station a short while before boarding time, as there are usually young men hanging around trying to hawk unfilled berths at the last minute. The price of these tickets will fall dramatically as departure time draws near.\n**More expensive travel**. For a bed in a hard or soft sleeper carriage, expect to pay in the area of 16,34–19,95$ one way. For a soft seat, expect to pay 8,36$ one way (May 2012). Tickets can be booked online from a travel agent such as Vietnam Impressive. You will be emailed a voucher which must be printed out and presented to a train company representative at the station about 30–60 minutes before the departure time to obtain the actual tickets.\nThe Victoria Hotel train has a dining carriage serving good, surprisingly affordable noodles (0,38$) and rice porridge (0,38$), but other trains such as Fanxipan do not. On the latter train a packet of biscuits, a banana and a bottle of water are provided as part of the cost of the ticket (October 2013), and it is possible to purchase pot noodles and snacks on board. However, you may prefer to purchase your own hot food, snacks and drinks from vendors in the grounds of the railway station. There are toilets on the train but no showers.", "word_count": 384}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk006", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "You should book a return ticket when you buy your outward journey, as picking up tickets in Lào Cai is harder than in Hanoi. The staff do not speak as much English, and they possibly only sell tickets for travel on the same day, so sleepers may already be sold out unless you go first thing in the morning. Pay attention to the time of your return train. Trains leaving Lào Cai around 20:00 will arrive in Hanoi at around 05:00. If you are planning to stay in a hotel or hostel that does not have a 24-hour reception and do not make prior arrangements when you return to Hanoi at an early hour, you may find yourself sitting outside your hotel waiting a few hours for the reception desk to open.\n\n#### Transfer between Lào Cai and Sa Pa\n\nThe train terminates at Lào Cai. The hotel where you are planning to stay will often be able to arrange minibus transportation between Lào Cai and Sa Pa for you for about 50,000 dong (February 2012). If you're looking to pay less, you'll have to walk to the central park area in Lào Cai in front of the railway station where minibuses and vans cruise for passengers and are willing to bargain to as low as 1,33$ (off-season, May 2017). Getting on an empty or half-empty bus will mean waiting for more passengers, regardless of whatever departure time is promised by the driver and his ever-present crew of buddies who are hanging around.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk007", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "The cheapest option is to use the public bus to Sapa, which runs regularly starting from 07:00 and costs no more than 1,14$. Cross the parking lot to the street and you will see the bus stop there. The ride is OK, but beware of motion sickness due to the curvy roads.\n\nThe ride is about an hour of beautiful views if the weather is good, otherwise it may be an hour of fog, more than 1,000 m up into the mountains.\n\nIf you are planning to visit the **Bắc Hà Sunday market**, it is worth planning your travel so that you arrive in or leave from Lào Cai on a Sunday, as Bắc Hà is nearer to Lào Cai than Sa Pa. The Bắc Hà Sunday market (much larger than the market in Sa Pa) is a big, colorful bazaar overflowing with everything under the sun, including handicrafts by minority tribes, apparel and accessories, meat and vegetables, and household goods. Your hotel in Sa Pa may be able to arrange for someone to meet you at the Lào Cai train station and put you on a tour (USD15 in October 2013) that will take you to the Bắc Hà Sunday market; a village inhabited by the Flower H'mong; and the border between Lào Cai and Hekou, a small town in Yunnan, China; and then bring you to Sa Pa (or the reverse if you are leaving Sa Pa and catching the train from Lào Cai).\n\n### By bus\n\nA toll expressway between Hanoi and Lao Cai reduces the time for the trip from over 10 hours to about 5 hours by car (even 3.5 hours with private car); buses using that expressway are the fastest way to get from Hanoi to Sapa.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk008", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "Daytime buses: the Sapa Express (with 2+1 seating) and Good Morning Sapa buses fairly reliably take around 6 hours including one or two 30-minute stops. There are 2 departure times from Hanoi: 07:00 and 15:00. From Sapa, the bus leaves around 13:30-15:30. Both charge USD13-17 one way (Dec 2019).\n\nSleeper buses run direct from Hanoi to Sapa both day and night for around USD13–20. Ask at the local tourist office, a reputable tour agency, or your hotel or hostel regarding tickets. These buses are reasonably modern, the beds are very small and recline back, typically in three single or two double rows. The bus will make stops for bathroom breaks and snacks, and once in Lào Cai city. If you are a light sleeper the journey could be uncomfortable with many sharp twists and turns, and some claim that the mountain roads are dangerous, although there is no evidence of accidents on the route. The bus stop is near the lake area.\n\nTravelers have reported that when journeying back to Hanoi from Sa Pa, bus drivers sometimes drop passengers in the western outskirts of Hanoi, despite assurances that they will be transported to the airport or the Hanoi train station. Should you find yourself in this situation, there is a bus station around the block called Xe Ben Khach My Dien, where you can get on Bus 34 towards the Hanoi city centre for 3,000 dong. Taxis will quote you 200,000 dong to take you to the Old Town.\n\nTickets can also be purchased at Hanoi Sapa tickets online and paid for using Paypal or card.\n\n### By motorcycle", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk009", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get in", "text": "Sa Pa can also be reached by motorcycle from Hanoi by a variety of routes. The most direct route takes at least 10 hours for first-time riders, though local expats often brag about making it in less. Bikes can be rented in Hanoi for unguided passage, or local guides can lead the way. Along the way be sure to top up with fuel regularly, as petrol stations sometimes prove few and far between. Fuel vendors in small towns often mix their petrol with other liquids such as alcohol or bio-fuels, and such fuel should be bought and used only when there are no alternatives.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk010", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Anywhere in the main village of Sa Pa can be reached on foot, although the hilly terrain will be tiring for older tourists, and the town is small enough that you're not likely to get lost. A basic map will be good enough for most visitors.\n\nMopeds can be rented in the touristy parts of town, as well as near the gas station on the road leading to Lào Cai, for USD3–6 depending on the amount of time you wish to rent for and your bargaining skills (*i.e.*, determination). Day trips into the surrounding countryside can be very rewarding, although a good up-to-date map and a healthy dose of caution are required as roads are winding and populated with all manner of conveyance, and road signs can be misleading as the north undergoes some odd town-relocation schemes. See also Vietnam by motorcycle.\n\nTourists intending to trek to the various villages through the paddy fields should be prepared with good trekking shoes or rubber boots, a walking stick and extra clothing kept in a waterproof bag. Hotels often have gumboots and ponchos to lend to their guests, and such equipment can also be rented or purchased from shops in the town. Depending on the season, the rice fields, which are built in terraces, can be slightly steep, and very muddy and slippery. Not wearing shoes with good grips risks slipping, and even sliding down the slopes. As the paths are also taken by water buffalo, excrement can be found everywhere. Walking sticks can be bought from children from the ethnic minority groups for about 5,000 dong. These enterprising children cut sturdy bamboo and sharpen one end to turn them into sturdy sticks.\n\nFor the less adventurous, some of the villages such as Lao Chai and Ta Van are accessible via 4WD, motorcycle or van.\n\nThe easiest way to travel in Sa Pa without your own vehicle is by taxi or motor taxi. The local government publicized the price for every company's service, though it is subject to change over time. Taxi in Fanxipan-Sapa: . Taxi Xanh-Sapa: .", "word_count": 346}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk011", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|upright=1.6|Panoramic view of Sa Pa\n- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary\n\n- Hàm Rồng Resort\n\n- Sa Pa Culture Museum\n\n- Sa Pa Square", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk012", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Do", "text": "If you do not intend to hike in the countryside around Sa Pa on your own, you can join a tour or arrange a private guide who will take you to visit the sights. Your hotel should be able to assist. If you do not feel up to hiking all the way, arrange to hike out of Sa Pa and return by Jeep, minibus or motorcycle, or pick a tour that provides transportation all the way.\n\nAdmission fees are no longer required to visit most of the villages except Cat Cat (150 000 dong per person.) By far the most popular and touristy tour visits two villages near Sa Pa, **Lao Chải** and **Tả Van**, including a lunch stop. It is possible to get a taxi from Sapa to Lao Chai, trek the 3.5 km to the bridge in Ta Van and have the taxi pick you up there. Some very unpleasant Hmong women may try to attach themselves to you in quite large numbers in Lao Chai and (speaking excellent English) try to aggressively persuade you to let them be your guide. They may even tell you to 'go back to your country' if you refuse their services. It can be very difficult to shake these women off.\n\n**Tả Giàng Phình** and **Bản Khoang** are less touristy but much further away from Sa Pa. Other villages worth visiting include **Sín Chải**, and **Má Tra** and **Ta Phìn**. On these treks, you can get a taste of the locals' way of life. You can spot their farms for rice, corn, beans, cabbage, spinach and sweet potato, and farm animals including buffaloes, ducks and pigs. There are also breathtaking views of the farm terraces along these treks.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk013", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Do", "text": "As Sapa grows, overnight tours staying outside the town are becoming increasingly popular. The popular trek to **Ta Van** forms the first day of many of these tours, with an overnight at a homestay in the village. Indeed, the business is such that it now supports three bars in the village of Ta Van. Tours can be booked through travel agents in Hanoi, directly through operators such as Sapa Sisters or Xi Quan and no doubt through many hotels in Sapa. It is important to know that these operators are known to provide Vietnamese Kinh tour guides, not Hmong or Dao, which is somewhat problematic. Local villagers say that these companies have nothing to do with them and that the companies do not pay a fair share to the people whose culture they directly make a profit out of. If you care for ethics of your travelling, searching for an indigenous tour guide is essential. Fortunately, the Hmong and Dao are hospitable and very willing to show you around. You could try to find a person to contact by typing in keywords like \"sapa\" and \"trekking\" into any social media search box and picking out an account (e.g. @sapa_trekking_guide_si on Instagram, an incredibly charismatic Hmong lady that gives a variety of wonderful tours in the Sa Pa area) or by just talking to locals on the streets of the town.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk014", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Do", "text": "- Cát Cát village\n \nWalking down you will see a few cottage industries like weaving, carving, and art shops. You will walk by some mud-walled houses and the local shaman's house. In the middle of the trek, you come to a rest stop, with a so-so waterfall, and a supposedly minority village which is a block of dwellings with no sign of any activity. You will also spot water-mills and bridges made out of bamboo, as well as some swings. At the end, you will cross the Cát Cát bridge.\nOverall, it makes for a nice stroll if you have a morning or afternoon free. Persons of limited mobility should skip this hike due to the large step-climbing involved.\nThere is a path that continues on in the valley, towards Lao Chải and Tả Van. Much fewer tourists, and great views on the rice terraces.\n - Hoàng Liên National Park, Love Waterfall and Silver Waterfall\n\n- Massage\n\n- Phan Si Păng\n\n- Fansipan Legend\n\n- Sa Pa Lake", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk015", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Simacai Market\n\n**Handicrafts and other tourist trinkets**. The usual endless supply of nearly identical **tourist trinkets** is available at every turn. Sa Pa is famous for its **embroidery**. Clothes, blankets, wall hangings and other fabric handicrafts with colourful embroidered designs traditional to the various ethnic minorities in Sa Pa can be purchased from markets and from ethnic-minority hawkers at villages visited by tourists. The indigo dye used to give a deep blue color stains the fingers, which is why many of the women who make them have darkened fingertips. When you wash these clothes the colour will run. To avoid this, soak them in cold salty water, and pack them carefully in your bag to take home.\n\nThere are two types of handicrafts: handmade and machine-made. It is easy to tell the difference. If you wish to buy handmade items, it is preferable to buy directly from their makers in the villages. Prices are highly elastic. When bargaining, try to find out how long it took to make the piece. If you do not mind machine-made products, you are better off buying them in the shops in town. It pays to shop around for the right pair of reproduction Montagnard earrings or machine-made fabric items.\n\nDo buy some items, whether handmade or not, direct from ethnic minority sellers, especially if you have enjoyed a good conversation or received help from them. Though they do charge slightly more than shops, bear in mind that the majority of them are very poor and depend on tourist money to survive. However, it is suggested that you avoid buying items from children (see \"Ethnic minorities\" above).\n\n**Sports and winter wear**. A number of shops in town sell sports and winter wear such as waterproof jackets and hiking boots. Although they bear the logos of well-known international brands, given their low cost it is unlikely that they are original products.\n**Batteries**. Be careful when buying batteries as some people will sell dead ones. If you're really worried about this, just drop them on a hard surface. If they bounce they are empty or partially empty.\n\n### What to buy\n\nSouvenir shops sell brocade, golden handicrafts, silver handicrafts, wooden handicrafts.\n\nAll products are made by local residents. That would be more exciting as walking into villages outside town and buying souvenir by local ethnics. The local government recommends tourists do not buy products from children as it discourages them from attending school.\n\n#### Souvenir shops\n\nLan Rừng: Souvenir. Cầu Mây Street\nLương Thủy: Souvenir. no 25 Cầu Mây Street\nPhố Núi shop: Souvenir. no 13, Cầu Mây Street\nKhánh Huyền: Souvenir. no 17, Xuân Viên Street\nSa Pa Shop: Souvenir. no 48, Cầu Mây Street\nHue Silk: Souvenir. no 24 Cầu Mây\nSapa minorities’ handicraft: Handicrafts. Cầu Mây Street\nMường Hoa shop: Handicrafts. no 25, Mường Hoa Street\nThiện Việt shop: Handicrafts. no 22b, Fansipan Street\nNguyễn Tiến Sỹ shop: Handicrafts. Cầu Mây Street\nWild Orchid: Handicraft. no 29 Cầu Mây Street\nSaPa silver: Silver handicrafts. no 19, Mường Hoa Street\nVũ Đức: Traditional silver handicrafts. no 26, Mường Hoa Street\nViet Silver: Golden and silver handicrafts. no 34, Fansipan Street\nCửa hàng đá mỹ nghệ: Stone sculpting. no 17 Mường Hoa Street\nCửa hàng cô Nguyễn Lăng Vân: Tailor and Brocade. Cầu Mây Street\nWoodcarving shop: Wooden handicrafts. no 14, Mường Hoa Street\n\n#### Grocery store\n\nXuân Trường Super Market: No 46 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street (nearby Mường Thanh hotel. Open: 08:00, Close: 21:00)", "word_count": 580}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk016", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Eat", "text": "A must try treat of the region is Bánh Hạt Dẻ, or Chestnut Cake. You'll see them being prepared at night markets, and at vendors on most streets across the city. They are a flaky, lightly fried pastry filled with slightly sweetened chestnuts (that are largely sourced from China). Some sellers may talk you into buying 3 or 4 at a time to make a better sale, but often its hard to stop at just one anyway.\n - The Hill Station Signature\n\n- The Hill Station Deli\n\n- Little View Restaurant\n\n- Marketplace food stalls\n\n- Rose Garden Sa Pa\n\n**Namaste Omar's Indian Restaurant** One of a chain of Indian restaurants throughout the country. Namaste Omar's serves up good quality authentic Indian food, including a number of less well known dishes, in a pleasant restaurant a few minutes stroll from the central square. Prices are very reasonable and a Beer Hanoi costs 25,000 dong.\n**Good Morning Vietnam** two branches in town. This entry is for the one on Fansipan street. Excellent, English speaking staff, very good quality local food (try the chicken curry in a coconut or the sizzling duck in honey and garlic), great views across the valley and a fun range of drinks including hot apple 'white wine', a hot 'red wine' vaguely similar to German Gluwein and even 'opium wine'. Not to be missed!\n- Hoa Tam Vegetarian Restaurant", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk017", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Hmong Sisters Bar\n\n - Cong Caphe", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk018", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There is a near oversupply of cheap rooms in the touristy area down the hill from the town centre, and generally a flock of young men and women will leap on you the moment you arrive with offers from USD3 and up for a double room.\n\nIn addition to the places listed below, **homestays** in some of the villages surrounding Sa Pa are available.\n\nIn Sa Pa, as in many other provinces of Vietnam, it is the law that you must supply your passport to your hostel, hotel or guesthouse to register your personal information. However, a photocopy of the main page and visa should suffice, and if they refuse, tell them your passport is in Hanoi because you are applying for a visa extension.\n\nAs of March 2020, there is a lot of construction in Sa Pa, with attendant noise and dust. Most seem to be on southwest side of town (on the down-slope with view of Fansipan Mountain) but north edge of town can also be impacted. To avoid construction zones, if possible, check on location before choosing your lodgings, or try to find very recent photo of hotel environments.\n\n - Chau Long Sapa Hotel\n\n- Fansipan View Hotel\n\n**Sapa Eden Hotel** https://sapaedenhotel.com/{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} 64 Fansipan str, . A well-run, clean, family-owned hotel with super comfy beds and a view to die for. Basic but decent breakfast is included. If you don't happen to like Bob Marley you may want to ask for a room facing away from the restaurant across the road which plays his songs from 07:30 onward.\n- Green Bamboo Sa Pa\n\n- Pistachio Hotel\n\n- Lotus Hotel\n\n- Pumpkin Hotel\n\n- The Royal Hotel\n\n- Sapa Paradise View Hotel\n\n- Thai Binh Sa Pa Hotel\n\n- Topas Eco Lodge\n\n - Little View Homestay", "word_count": 302}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk019", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Cope", "text": "**Attire**. Bring a poncho and/or an umbrella. You can also buy cheap ones in the many shops around. Rubber boots and trekking shoes can be rented from some shops or perhaps borrowed from your hotel. Sizes may be limited.\n**Cash**. It is possible to change money and travellers' cheques, and get cash advances on credit cards, at the bigger hotels in Sa Pa. There are ATMs on the main street. There have been reports of shops taking customers' crisp notes, switching them with cut and taped-up ones, and insisting that were the ones the customers gave them.\n**Photography**. Some of the minorities do not wish to be photographed. Ask permission beforehand. Most will overcome their reluctance to be photographed once money is produced.\n\n#### Pharmacy\n\nCivil Group 7B \nNo 18 Cầu Mây \nNo 22A Cầu Mây \nNo 22B Cầu Mây \nNo 27 Tuệ Tĩnh \nNo 074A Thạch Sơn \nNo 236 Thạch Sơn \nNo 258 Thạch Sơn \nNo 395 Điện Biên Phủ \nNo 326 Điện Biên Phủ \nNo 004 Xuân Viên \nNo 06A Thác Bạc \n\n#### Clinic\n\nNo 186 Thạch Sơn, TT or \nNo 25 Tuệ Tĩnh \n\n#### Health center\n\nCivil Group 7\n\n#### Hospital\n\nSa Pa hospital - Civil Group 1, Điện Biên Phủ street \n\n#### Bank\n\nSapa Saigonbank (Saigon Bank For Industry and Trade - Lao Cai Branch - Sapa Transaction): No 18 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street. Accept: Visa, Master, JCB, Cup, ATM/POS.\nSapa Agribank (Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development - Sa Pa Transaction): No 01 Cầu Mây Street\nSapa BIDV (Bank For Investment And Development JSC - Lao Cai Branch - Sapa Transaction): No 20 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk020", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Connect", "text": "Sa Pa's official Tourist Information Centre can help you organize your stay.\nThe Sapa post office is opposite of garden and fountain in center Sapa (Address: No 06, Thạch Sơn Street, Sapa)", "word_count": 32}
+{"chunk_id": "sapa::chunk021", "doc_id": "sapa", "section": "Go next", "text": "Most people will head back to Hanoi and then on to other routes\nFor those looking to go farther afield, the road to Dien Bien Phu is simply stunning and makes for a fantastic four-to-five-day trip. Always give yourself plenty of daylight hours to return home, however, as highly changeable weather could strand you in dense fog without notice, especially during the winter months. There are buses to Dien Bien Phu which run from the tourist office each day (day bus: 07:30, night bus: 18:30), the trip is 300 km, about 10 hours, and costs USD11 (Dec 2019). It is also the last big city before the Laos border (for those heading to Luang Prabang for example).\nBắc Hà", "word_count": 119}
diff --git a/corpus/sapa/metadata.json b/corpus/sapa/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a7a4046ff3b2871d70ca1998e7601319ea4bcec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sapa/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sapa",
+ "title": "Sa Pa",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sa_Pa",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Lao Cai"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Hanoi",
+ "Dien Bien Phu",
+ "Luang Prabang",
+ "Bac Ha"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5005,
+ "listing_count": 30,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 22,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sarek/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sarek/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e3ff38ef250e9822f5ad651fc99a8ce6b07ea37c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sarek/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk000", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Laponia** is a national park system of and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Norrbotten County, in the **Lappland** province in northern Sweden.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk001", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Understand", "text": "300px|thumbnail|Rapadalen in Sarek National Park\n\n*Laponia* is the Latinized form of *Lappland*. The area is shared between Gällivare, Jokkmokk and Arjeplog municipalities, near the border to Norway. Most of the area is wilderness, although since ages inhabited by Sámi, who continue traditional livelihoods in the area, such as reindeer husbandry and fishing.\n\nThe heritage site consists of the four national parks **Sarek**, **Stora Sjöfallet**, **Muddus** and **Padjelanta**, the nature reserves **Sjaunja** and **Stubba** and other areas at **Sulitelma**, **Tjuoltadalen** and **Rapadalen**.\n\n - Laponia Visitor centre\n\n - Badjelánnda Laponia Turism\n\n### History\n\nThe area became a UNESCO world heritage site 1996. Most of the area had some kind of protected status much earlier.\n\n### Landscape\n\nthumb|Fell heath, fell birch, mire and mountains, seen from the Padjelanta trail\n\nThe landscape of such a huge area includes many types of nature, such as the old-growth forests of Muddus, many kinds of wetlands including the largest one in Sweden, rounded low fells and treeless highland, valleys (\"vagge\"), high fells (the highest being Sarektjåkkå: 2,089 m, 6,562 feet) and glaciers.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Sarek in winter\n\nThe area is at the Arctic circle, parts of it at quite high altitude. Days are often cool also in summer. There is much rain in summer and much snow in winter. Above the tree line winds can be hard.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk002", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Roads, trails and the different areas of Laponia.\n\nThe *Inlandsbanan* railway goes through Laponia, with a stop at Porjus by Muddus and Stubba and one in Jokkmokk (120 km from Kvikkjokk), ending in Gällivare. In summer, a night train from Stockholm serves Murjek and Gällivare. The *Malmbanan* trains from Luleå and Boden to Narvik go via Murjek (180 km from Kvikkjokk) and Gällivare.\n\nThere are several roads to the area, and buses to some of the nearby villages, such as Kvikjokk (from Jokkmokk and Murjek) and Stora Sjöfallet and Ritsem (from Gällivare). E45 crosses most of the roads to the area and leads through Stubba and Muddus.\n\nThere is boat transport between some of the trailheads.\n\nThere are several helicopter operators, making it possible to directly reach some roadless destinations.\n\nThere are several hiking trails leading into the area. The most well-known (you can mostly use just a last leg; most trails described under Do below):\n Gränsleden leads from Tysfjord on the Norwegian coast to Áhkájávrre and Ritsem in Sweden, over the border by Nordkalottleden. It is an old trail, which has been used for trade, and during the World War it was used by refugees from the occupied Norway. Take a boat from Kjöpsvik to the trailhead in Sørfjorden, call well in advance to allow coordination with other transports.\n Kungsleden from Hemavan via Kvikkjokk\n Kungsleden from Abisko\n Nordkalottleden from Sulitjelma in Norway\n Nordkalottleden from Kautokeino or Kilpisjärvi\n Rallarstigen from Gällivare\n\nYou are free to enter Laponia where you choose to, but there is a visitor centre in Stora Sjöfallet (near the falls) and other official \"entrances\" in Jokkmokk, Gällivare, Porjus and Kvikkjokk.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk003", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "There are no entrance or hiking fees, but to use facilities of huts you have to pay. Paying in advance is appreciated (have your receipt), but in crewed huts you can pay to the host, for uncrewed huts paying afterwards is possible. You may also want to pay for transport, fishing or programme services.\n\nTerms for fishing vary between different areas. Check for the waters where you intend to fish.\n\nDo not disturb reindeer (especially not during calving times in spring or when they are moving between winter and summer pastures) or other wildlife, such as birds. Dogs on leashes are allowed in the national parks between 1 January and 30 April, and all year on some trails and in some areas. Pets are allowed in all the STF cabins.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk004", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|View from Sjaunja towards Ritelpakte, fells of Stora Sjöfallet National Park in the background\n\nBy foot mostly, by ski in winter (or by snowmobile along some routes). There are helicopter and boat services to some destinations.\n\nAt the trails there are usually bridges as needed. At some river crossings there are rowing boats. Leave a boat at each side. In Sarek fording will often be necessary, although there are also some bridges.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk005", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Old pine forest in Stora Sjöfallet National Park\nthumb|Autumn colours in Sjaunja\nthumb|View from birdwatching tower in southern Muddus\n\n The traditional lands of the Sami people.\n The Sulitelma massif and its glaciers, on the border to Norway. Sulitelma was long believed to be the highest mountain in Sweden.\n The largest wetland in Sweden, in Stubba, Sjaunja and Muddus. The Inlandsbanan railway (stop at Porjus) and Inlandsvägen tourist road (here synonymous to E45) go through Stubba.\n The Rapaselet delta in the Rapadalen valley in Sarek national park\n The old-growth forests and the Muddusjokk waterfall in Muddus.\n Stora Sjöfallet used to be one of the most impressing waterfalls in Europe, but most water is now lead underground via a hydroelectric plant.\n Lake Guvtjávrre by the Nordkalottleden trail, with a view of the Áhkká massif. A meeting place for Sámi, with possibility to buy bread and fish with some luck.", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk006", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Do", "text": "There are several well-known hiking trails through the area, and many other trails.\n Kungsleden, 430 km long from Abisko to Hemavan, through Laponia, is certainly the most famous. You can pick shorter legs.\n Nordkalottleden crosses the border to Norway here and there, and leads all the way from Sulitelma or Kvikkjokk to Kautokeino in Finnmark (some 800 km in all). Some legs are demanding.\n Padjelantaleden, 140 km long from Kvikkjokk northwards through Padjelanta National Park to Ritsem. You can get in by Kungsleden.\n Rallarstigen from Gällivare to Porjus, 44 km, passes through the northern end of Muddus. The trail has been used since the 18th century. Day hikes are possible from Inlandsvägen.\n Muttosbálges trails in southern Muddus.\n\nSarek is a popular fell tourism destination, but is challenging, as you in most of it have to get by without trails or huts. Also the fords can be dangerous at high waters.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk007", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Sámi settlement at Staloluokta. Some lodgings are traditional goahtis.\nMany of STF's mountain huts (See section \"Lodging\") have small convenience stores. These sell basic food and drink, but also practical utilities such as blister plasters, sunscreen, sanitary wipes, matches, toothpaste and maps. \"Parfas kiosk\" is located by the hut Stáloluokta and has a similar supply. The cabin Árasluokta offers traditional Sami handicraft.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk008", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Eat", "text": "Mostly you will eat what you have carried in. There is some food for sale at many huts (see section Lodging) and at some Sámi camps. There are cooking facilities in the huts, but a portable stove is recommended, for meals elsewhere.\n\nThere are also a few sites where you can buy a cooked meal. The cabins *Kvikkjokk* and *Sáltoluokta* and the *Stora Sjöfallet Mountain Centre* are large enough to have their own restaurants. Smaller cafés can be found at the visitors centre *Naturum* and in the cabin *Ritsem*.\n\nPicking berries and edible mushrooms is allowed. Fishing is also allowed in many places, check what permits you need.\n\nYou may make fire when there is no risk of wildfire. Use dead branches and twigs. Do not move stones from fire rings. Where there are old fire rings or official campfire sites, use them.", "word_count": 143}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk009", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Drink", "text": "There is plenty of good natural water in most areas. Most hikers use it untreated, but if you want to avoid risks, boiling it for a few minutes cannot hurt. Have bottles for carrying some.\n\nAll STF-shops offer milk and chocolate powder, coffee, tea, soda's and beers.\n\nSeveral cabins have cafés or restaurants where you can get hot or cold drinks. The only proper bar in Laponia is located in the hotel \"Stora Sjöfallet Mountain Center\".", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk010", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\n - Stora Sjöfallet Mountain Lodge\n\n#### Cabins\n\nThere are cabins along the main trails, crewed in season. The cabins are operated by the Swedish Tourist Association (STF), Badjelánnda Laponia Turism (BLT) and Laponiatjuottjudus. The cabins are usually open from late June until September. In addition, most STF cabins are open in March and April. All sites operated by BTL leave one cabin open but uncrewed around the year. All of Laponiatjuottjudus' cabins are uncrewed but open around the year. You need at least own linen at most cabins. In Sarek you have to camp wild.\n\n**Clockwise around Sarek**:\n - Kaitumjaure\n\n - Teusajaure\n\n - Vakkotavare\n\n - Sáltoluokta\n\n - Sitojaure\n\n - Aktse\n\n - Pårte\nthumb|Kvikkjokk village, fell forest and mountains in the background\n - Kvikkjokk\n\n - Tarrekaise\n\n - Såmmarlappa\n\n - Darreluoppal\n\n - Duottar\n\nthumb|Konsul Nils Perssons stuga, Sårjåsjávrre\n - Sårjåsjávrre\n\n - Stáddájåhkå\n\n - Stáloluokta\n\n - Árasluokta\n\n - Låddejåhkå\n\n - Kutjaure\n\n - Gisuris\n\n - Akka\n\n - Vaisaluokta\n\n - Ritsem\n\n#### In Sarek\n\n - Mikkastugan\n\n**Muddus**\n\n - The Arvidsson cabin\n\n - Muttosluoppal\n\n - Manson\n\n - Muddusagahtjaldak\n\n### Camping\n\nYou can camp by most huts, for a fee.\n\n### Backcountry\n\nthumb|Camping by Smáljtajjåhkå in Sarek.\n\nCamping for a few days is allowed at most places.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk011", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be prepared for cold weather. Also in summer temperatures can be quite low, and wind and rain can make staying warm a challenge. If caught in a snow storm, dig yourselves a hole in the snow (but don't try digging a snow cave, unless you know the caveats).\n\nUse guest books in the huts to indicate where you are going next.\n\nIf snow or fog makes navigation difficult, stay where you are. And reserve time for staying in a hut or in your camp one day more (or several, depending on your route), so that you can do so without worries.\n\nWhere there may be difficult fords, reserve enough time to be able to avoid a ford that turns out to be dangerous. Use local advice for the water situation.\n\nAlthough there are well marked trails with huts not too far from each other, and in season also other people using the trails, remember that off trails this is wilderness. There is no guarantee of phone coverage and any help may have to be brought in by helicopter.\n\nMosquitoes and black flies are a severe nuisance in summer in most of Laponia, although they carry no illnesses. Long sleeves, insect repellent and a mosquito hat are strongly recommended. The problem is considerably smaller in high dry and windy areas (read: above the treeline).", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "sarek::chunk012", "doc_id": "sarek", "section": "Go next", "text": "Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta", "word_count": 3}
diff --git a/corpus/sarek/metadata.json b/corpus/sarek/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2ced755a929c49513d2d33bdf3398dbe85003365
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sarek/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sarek",
+ "title": "Laponia",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Laponia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "glacier",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Norrbotten County"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta",
+ "Alta",
+ "Gällivare",
+ "Östersund",
+ "Jokkmokk"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1728,
+ "listing_count": 30,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/scottish-highlands/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/scottish-highlands/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..62335b29cb5d598709dc4c0d6613cedae4617510
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/scottish-highlands/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk000", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Overview", "text": "**The Scottish Highlands** are the rugged northern and northwestern portion of Scotland. This is the Scotland conjured up by visions of tartan, kilts, Bonnie Prince Charlie and all.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk001", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Understand", "text": "The geographical division between Highland and Lowland Scotland is sharply diagonal, so Campbeltown in the far west is further south than Berwick-upon-Tweed in England, while northerly Stonehaven is a continuation of the lowland coastal plain. The Romans marched that far northeast before shrugging at the useless prospect and retrenching south to leave the Picts to their bogs, blizzards and coarse oatmeal. The cultural division is even further north, as lowland farming and industry, the English language and Victorian railways penetrated the valleys and turned the corner above Aberdeen to approach Inverness. The Highlands described on this page largely reflect that cultural boundary.\n\nAlba, the proto-state forerunner to Scotland, arose in the lowlands in the 9th century, conquering the Highland kingdom of Moray (ruled by Macbeth), Gaelic-Ulster Dál Riata, and last of all the Viking / Norse realms of the far west and north in the 13th century. Battles continued with a ferocity out of all proportion to the poor rugged land they were fought over, with the final set-to (taking most of an hour) at Culloden in 1746. This shattered not only the Jacobite cause, but also a samurai feudal way of life and death, with sword-fealty to the chieftain obsolete in England since Norman times. The Highlands were militarised in the wake, with a large army base established at Nairn, and other forts were rebuilt. \n\nThe Victorians brought many innovations to the Highlands, and the most important was tourism, as black sucking peat-bogs were rebranded as romantic scenery of \"dreary melancholy\". This infused Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Tay and Dee valleys, then beyond across the Highlands. The Gaelic language died out in this region, to persist in the Hebrides. The burgeoning lowland cities created a mass leisure market, free time and transport links. The 20th century capitalised on this with winter sports and wildlife, and the 21st created eco-angst, the reindeer, beaver and wildcats being the beneficiaries, while ghosts of extinct wolves lope hopefully in the shadows.", "word_count": 330}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk002", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n () is the best landing point for Argyll and Bute. It has good domestic connections and direct flights across Europe. Glasgow has daily flights to Campbeltown, Wick, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. The airport is west of the city so you drive onto M8 then cross Erskine Bridge northbound, without getting snarled in the centre.\n\nFurther north, it's equally convenient to use Glasgow or **Edinburgh Airport** (), which likewise has excellent connections and is west (hence clear) of that city. \n\n () is closest, with international flights from Amsterdam, Dublin and Düsseldorf, and UK flights from London LHR, Manchester, Kirkwall (Orkney), Sumburgh (Shetland) and Stornoway (Lewis).\n\n### By rail\n\nScotrail trains run every couple of hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh via Perth and Aviemore to Inverness. Change at Inverness for trains west to Kyle of Lochalsh (for Skye), north to Wick and Thurso (for Orkney) and east towards Aberdeen.\n\nTrains also run from Glasgow up the West Highland Line via Arrochar & Tarbet (for Loch Lomond) and Crianlarich, where the train divides for Oban (for Mull, Coll, Tiree and Colonsay), or for Fort William and Mallaig (for Skye and the Small Isles).\n\nTravelling from England usually means changing in Edinburgh or Glasgow, but one train per day is direct from London Kings Cross via Edinburgh to Inverness.\n thumb | 300px | Glencoe \nThe Caledonian Sleepers run from London Euston via Preston and Carlisle: sleeping berths and saloon seats are available, and reservations are compulsory. The Lowland Sleeper runs to Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Highland Sleeper divides in the small hours for Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. It serves intermediate stations such as Perth and Arrochar & Tarbet in the early hours, and the connection for Oban is tedious, so for those you might prefer to change in Glasgow for a daytime train.\n\n### By bus\n\nFrom London Victoria, National Express and Megabus run daily to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and you usually have to change to reach the Highlands. \n\nCitylink are the main bus line into the Highlands. Their routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh are:\n - via Perth and Aviemore to Inverness.\n - via Crianlarich, Glencoe and Fort William to Portree and Uig on Skye.\n - either via Crianlarich or Inveraray to Oban.\n - via Inveraray and Tarbert to Campbeltown. \n\nWest Coast Motors, Parks of Hamilton, Stagecoach and Megabus compete or collaborate on these routes.\n\nChange at Inverness for Citylink buses to Fort William, Skye, Ullapool and Thurso. \n\n### By road\n\n thumb | 300px | The Jacobites were destroyed at Culloden \nThe principal roads, followed by the buses, are:\n - A9 from Perth and Pitlochry to Aviemore, Inverness, Helmsdale and Thurso.\n - A84 from Stirling and A85 from Perth to Crianlarich and Oban.\n - A82 from Glasgow by Loch Lomond to Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William and Loch Ness to Inverness, with A87 branching for Skye. \n - A83 branching off A82 to Inveraray, Tarbert and Campbeltown.\n - A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness, and A835 from Inverness to Ullapool.\n\nThere are no motorways this far north, and roads are mostly undivided highways busy with trucks at all hours, and where overtaking can be hazardous.\n\nBicycles are permitted on all these roads, but except for a few loops of bypassed historic highway you have to use the main carriageway, with fast traffic blurring past sometimes in limited visibility.", "word_count": 556}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk003", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trains and buses on the inter-city routes link the main towns but are of limited help for the villages. For instance at Glencoe, the Glasgow-Fort William bus only traverses the glen four times a day. A local bus plies six times a day from Fort William to Ballachulish, Glencoe village and Kinlochleven but doesn't go up the glen to the ski resort or trailhead for the West Highland Way.\n\nMost visitors bring their own vehicle. Car hire is best arranged from the airports. \n\nHighways are undivided, traffic builds up behind the slow fellow towing a caravan (with left-hand drive and limited visibility if he's from the continent), and overtaking is hazardous. It may be easier in the more remote areas with single track lanes, since the passing places are also used for overtaking. But then the motorcade that's built up behind the slow caravan meets a similar motorcade coming the other way, the passing place only fits three vehicles, and the resultant shunt-back will occupy many a happy hour.\n\nHighland motorists are often willing to pick up hitchhikers who don't look too weird or muddy.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk004", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "See", "text": "thumb | 300px | Eilean Donan castle\n **Castles** for the most part are sternly defensive but tumbledown. Great examples are Eilean Donan at Dornie and Urquhart Castle at Drumnadrochit by Loch Ness. Luxury castles (Victorian gin-palaces with twiddly bits to make them look medieval) are Dunrobin Castle at Golspie and Castle of Mey near John o'Groats, plus the Georgian Inveraray. McCaig's Tower above Oban is a Victorian folly. \n **Gardens:** every west coast promenade is studded with palm trees shivering in the rain to make a point about the balmy Gulf Stream. What grows better is Himalayan species, and you know you're within five miles of a stately mansion when you encounter their escaped rhododendrons, a riot of colour in May. The standout gardens are Inverewe near Gairloch, Arduaine near Oban and Crarae near Inveraray. \n **Deserted landscapes:** the rural Highland population was once greater, but they left or were driven out. Haunting Glencoe was a 17th-century example, and Auchendrain near Inveraray depicts farmhouse life before the big exodus of the 18th and 19th centuries. On several hillsides you see abandoned villages, and at Helmsdale the reverse: the makeshift village erected by those evicted from their crofts, before they despaired and headed to the lowland cities. \n **Prehistoric structures** have mostly been obliterated by agriculture, the best are in the Hebrides and Orkneys, but there's a fine collection around Wick. Most common were \"Duns\" - fortified outcrops, often on the coast. They're scrappy and you mostly come for the sea view. \n **Islands** involving a ferry ride are described elsewhere as part of the Hebrides, Orkneys or Shetland, but The Summer Isles are an example of an inshore archipelago, reached by boat trip from Achiltibuie. Unique within the UK are the \"mainland islands\", settlements and drivable lanes that have no road connection to the mainland network. The most populated is Knoydart, reached by ferry from Mallaig or by a very long hike across the moors. Several others such as Applecross were only connected in the late 20th century.", "word_count": 334}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk005", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb | 300px | Castle Sinclair Girnigoe near Wick\n Long-distance walks include the West Highland Way, 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, and the Great Glen Way, 73 miles from Fort William to Inverness. The Lairig Ghru is 19 gruelling miles from Speyside to Deeside. \n Mountains, oddly enough, are why this region is called the Highlands. A mountain above 3000 feet / 914.4 m is called a Munro, for the Victorian beard who first catalogued them. There are 282 of these and 226 secondary \"tops\", and \"Munro-bagging\" is a popular weekend pastime. A mountain between 2500 and 3000 feet is called a Corbett and there are 222 of these. The principal groups are:\n - Glencoe and Fort William: Ben Nevis the highest in Britain (4413 ft / 1345 m) is ascended from the glen above Fort William. Others include The Mamores, Aonach Eagach and \"The three sisters\" of Glencoe.\n - Cairngorms, such as Ben Macdhui and Braeriach.\n - Torridonian: around Ullapool in the northwest, with striking sandstone ridges, for instance An Teallach, Slioch, Bein Eigh, Liathach, Beinn Aligin and Bein Bhann aka Applecross.\n - Far north: for instance Ben Hope, Ben Loyal, Foinaven and Ben Stack.\n Take a steam train excursion along the West Highland Line from Fort William to Glenfinnan, Arisaig and Mallaig, or along the Strathspey Railway from Aviemore to Boat of Garten.\n Ski at Glencoe above Braemar, or Cairngorm above Aviemore, or Nevis Range above Fort William.\n Spot dolphins and whales in the Moray Firth: boat trips sail from Inverness.\n In Cairngorms National Park you might spot beaver, reindeer or even a wildcat.\n North Coast 500 is a motoring itinerary of 500-or-so miles from Inverness to the northwest coast, north coast, John o'Groats and return to Inverness.\n Highland Games are held in each town in turn over summer, sometimes combined with agricultural shows.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk006", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb | 300px | Steaming over Glenfinnan Viaduct \nEven small places have a takeaway chippy or pizzeria, but sit-down eating opportunities are limited away from the towns. Pub grub or the town hotel may be the best bet; their kitchen may take last orders at 8pm or earlier so don't linger. \n\nVegetarian / vegan and GF choices are much easier to find nowadays.", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk007", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Drink", "text": "The towns have traditional pubs, but village stand-alone pubs have withered - try the hotel bar / restaurant. \n\nThere are a few breweries and multiple whisky distilleries in the Highlands. Classic whisky country is the Spey Valley.\n\nSmall artisan gin distilleries have popped up all over, probably more than the market can sustain, so sample them now while you can.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk008", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation is scanty in relation to the number of visitors: it alternates between being full for summer holidays, and closed for winter. Schools and universities make block bookings at Easter and mid-term break. You might be able to rock up and find a place in shoulder season, but it's always best to book well ahead.", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "scottish-highlands::chunk009", "doc_id": "scottish-highlands", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb | 300px | The bridge to Skye \nThe Scottish islands are the obvious next regions to explore. Each large island is a destination in its own right, and transport routes radiate from the mainland, so don't plan on seeing multiple islands in a single trip. \n The Hebrides lie off the northwest coast, and for a first-time visit pick one of the larger islands of the Inner Hebrides, such as Skye (linked by a toll-free road bridge), Mull, Islay or Tiree.\n The Orkney Islands are a low-lying, scenic archipelago ten miles north of the mainland, where the heritage is Norse not Gaelic. \n The Shetland Islands are further north, with treeless haunting scenery, and even stronger Norse heritage.\n\nNorth East Scotland starts just across the Firth from Edinburgh. Some is industrial but it's dotted with fishing harbours and castles, from the grand to the tumbledown, with charming St Andrews, rejuvenated Dundee, and chief city Aberdeen.\n\nThe Central Belt is the lowland urban area to the south: both Edinburgh and Glasgow rank as must-see.\n\nnl:Scottish Highlands", "word_count": 174}
diff --git a/corpus/scottish-highlands/metadata.json b/corpus/scottish-highlands/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..206ff999641043b4ec63e3d49e106f7c4d7a76bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/scottish-highlands/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "scottish-highlands",
+ "title": "Scottish Highlands",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Scottish_Highlands",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Scotland"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Hebrides",
+ "Inner Hebrides",
+ "Skye",
+ "Mull",
+ "Islay",
+ "Tiree",
+ "Orkney Islands",
+ "Shetland Islands",
+ "North East Scotland",
+ "St Andrews",
+ "Dundee",
+ "Aberdeen",
+ "Central Belt"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2092,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 14,
+ "chunk_count": 10,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/senegal/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/senegal/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..253b36bf85ef3ba0823830ae1873b5476136590e
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@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk000", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Senegal** is a country in West Africa. Formerly a French colony, it is the westernmost country in the Old World. \n\nSenegal is an excellent destination for anyone interested in exploring and learning about African culture. Visitors will be able to experience a huge range of cultures and traditions in this diverse country. \n\nAlthough Senegal is not usually on most travellers' lists, the country offers plenty of attractions and things to do. Fishing enthusiasts will be interested to know that Senegal is one of the best places in the world to catch fish. The Senegalese are known for their kindness and hospitality, and you can expect to be treated with immense respect as a visitor.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk001", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Cities", "text": "– capital city\n – former capital of Senegal and French West Africa\n \n \n\n – center of Mouride religious brotherhood\n –\n –", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk002", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Gambia river in Niokolokoba National Park\n**Ports and harbours**: Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Dakar, Palmarin\n**Places of religion and contemplation**: Keur Moussa, Touba, Tivaouane\n**Interesting islands**: Fadiout + Joal, Ile de Gorée, Karabane\n**Nature reserves**: Niokolo-Koba, Delta du Saloum, Parc National des oiseaux du Djoudj, Reserve de Palmarin\n**Stone circles**: Nioro du Rip, Keur Ali Lobé, Sali, Kau-Ur to Wassau, Ker Batch", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk003", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Climate\n\nSenegal has a tropical climate that is both hot and humid for much of the year. The rainy season, from May to November, has strong southeast winds while the dry season from December to April is dominated by the hot, but dry, harmattan wind. Lowlands are seasonally flooded and there are periodic droughts.\n\n### Terrain\n\nGenerally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in the southeast with the highest point only 581 m near Nepen Diakha.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Senegambian stone circles\n\n#### Prehistory and Ancient Kingdoms\n\nThe earliest known human settlement in Senegal existed over 350,000 years ago. The Stone Circles of Senegambia (now World Heritage Sites) may date back as far as the 3rd century BC. Not a lot is known about the earliest civilizations, but there were many paleolithic and neolithic civilizations around the Senegal River.\n\nThe **Tekrur Kingdom** (Tekrour), formed around the Senegal River in Futa Toro (Fouta Toro), is one of the earliest recorded Sub-Saharan kingdoms. Although the exact formation date is unknown, historians believe it began in the early 9th century, around the same time as the Ghana Empire formed in the east. Parts of eastern Senegal were ruled by the Ghana Empire as it expanded but Tekrur was more concentrated in Senegal (although the southern regions were inhabited by ancestors of the Wolof). It was during Tekrur rule that Islam came to Senegal in the 11th century from the Almoravids in the north. The Tekrur rulers first converted to Islam and most of the kingdom soon followed. After the Almoravids attacked the Ghanaian Empire, it slowly lost power and influence, giving rise to the Mali Empire in 1235.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk004", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "The **Wolof Empire** (Djolof) was formed in the 13th century from many smaller states to the south of Tekrur as a tributary state of the Mali Empire. Unlike their northern neighbors, they were not converted to Islam; they were animists. The Tekrur Kingdom was weak by this time, so the rising Wolof and Mali Empires exercised heavy influence over them (the Mali Empire also considered Tekrur to be a tributary state). The Wolof Empire obtained full independence from Mali in 1360 with its capital at Linguère and overtook territories to the south around the Gambia and established many groups as vassals, such as the Sine Kingdom in 1400. The Wolof Empire became quite powerful and at the height of its rule saw the arrival of the Portuguese.\n\n#### Portuguese arrival and the fall of the Wolof Empire", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk005", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Senegal at Goree Island in 1444. They were searching for a new spice route to India but soon established ports in Goree and on the Cap-Vert Peninsula (present-day Dakar). The Wolof and Portuguese established trade relations, providing wealth to the empire. Europeans paid well for war captives, who they sent off as slaves, and the natives were able to bring the slaves to them so that they didn't have to go inland. Senegal was one of the most profitable ports early on in the slave trading business and the strong Wolof were able to sell many captives from weaker regions. Their tributary, the Sine Kingdom, was also quite active in selling captives to the Portuguese. Members of the Waalo Kingdom (a Wolof vassal state) were commonly the victims of captive raids. Sometimes the Europeans incited wars in order to ensure more captives while in other cases, the money they paid was incentive for natives to start conflicts just to capture slaves.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk006", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "While profits were great in the beginning, the Atlantic slave trade soon crippled the empire as the **Cayor Kingdom** separated from the Wolof in 1549 and the **Sine Kingdom** became independent in 1550, cutting the Wolof off from the coast and from trade and business with the Portuguese. Along with internal problems, the Wolof were also plagued by outside problems. As a former tributary state of the Mali Empire, the Wolof maintained strong ties with Mali through trade with the empire, but as the Songhai grew stronger, they seized much of Mali's territory, further isolating the Wolof. Furthermore, the **Denianke Kingdom** (Denanke) had taken over territories to the north, including Takrur, and had attacked the Wolof's northern territories, which they struggled to maintain. By 1600, the Wolof Empire had disbanded, although one of the territories remained a Wolof state.\n\n#### French conquest\n\nthumb|Former French fort in [[Podor]], in the north of the country\nThe location and success of trade in Senegal made it a hot commodity among Europeans. The Portuguese, British, French and Dutch all wanted the territory, particularly Goree Island. In 1588 the Dutch were able to overtake the Portuguese and expanded trade. France established its first post in Saint-Louis. The Dutch and French were both keen to take control of the other's territory, and fears of the growing powers of the Dutch Republic came to a head in the **Franco-Dutch War**. The war took place in Europe, but while the Dutch defended their homeland, the French attacked Goree Island and ousted the Dutch from Senegal, claiming it for France in 1677.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk007", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "When the British took the territory during the Napoleonic War, they abolished slavery in 1807. Upon its return to France, the French agreed not to reinstate slavery, so slave trade in Senegal fell sharply during the 19th century but the country's rich resources were still in demand, and the French soon went inland to claim the territory.\n\nDuring the time Europe was fighting over the coastal settlements, the Senegalese still had control of the land. The Waalo Kingdom existed around the Saint-Louis trading post, so they had a treaty with the French in which the French would pay them for goods and they would provide protection for the traders. When French ambitions turned to colonisation, they started by conquering their Waalo allies in 1855. Around the same time, the **Toucouleur Empire** had conquered the **Futa Toro**, which formed out of an Islamic revolution among citizens in the Denianke Kingdom in 1776 who were tired of being persecuted. The Toucouleur unsuccessfully tried to drive out the French in 1857, and the Trarza from Mauritania who supported the Senegalese kingdoms were also threatening French advancement.\n\nThe French built a series of forts along the coast and river. The Trarza were told they would not be attacked as long as they stayed north of the Senegal River and they did, thereby allowing France to establish greater control over northern Senegal. The construction of the **Dakar-Niger Railway** made it much easier to maintain control of the region; Senegal was in French control by 1895 and officially became part of **French West Africa** in 1904.\n\n#### French Senegal to independence", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk008", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "The French created the **Grand Council of French West Africa** to oversee the territories and only French citizens and citizens of the Four Communes in Senegal were able to become members. The colonized people were only considered to be French subjects, so they were prevented from gaining power. However, in 1914 **Blaise Diagne** was able to prove he was born in one of the communes (Saint-Louis) and became the first black man elected to oversee the colonies. He then passed a law to allow citizens of Dakar, Saint-Louis, Rufisque and Goree to vote in French elections and he sent many West Africans to aid France in World War I.\n\nSenegal and French Sudan (modern Mali) joined to form the **Mali Federation** in 1959. The following year, France agreed to give them independence and on 20 June 1960, independence was achieved. Senegal defected from the Mali Federation and became an independent state in August 1960. Senegal briefly joined the Gambia to form the nation of Senegambia in 1982, but the two nations separated before the decade ended. Issues with separatists in the southern Casamance region of Senegal have occurred since the 1980s, but a peace treaty was signed in 2004 that has held to this day.\n\nSenegal is often praised for its incorporation of all its ethnic and religious groups into a peaceful society. In the 21st century, Senegal is generally recognised as having a high rate of economic growth and development.\n\n### People\n\nThe Wolof are the largest ethnic group in Senegal forming 43% of the population. The Fula and Toucouler are the second biggest ethnic group forming 24% of the population. The Bassari and Bedick make up 9% of the population.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk009", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Senegal is officially secular but is a very largely Muslim country (92% of the population). The 7% of the population who are Christians included Léopold Senghor, Senegal's very influential and long-ruling first president. Quite a few other religions are represented among the remaining 1% of the population, including traditional African religions.", "word_count": 51}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk010", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Talk", "text": "Wolof is the native language of some Senegalese people, but you will find that almost everyone speaks it. Knowing the basic Wolof greetings and phrases will go a long way in getting you better service and prices.\n\nFrench is the official language and learnt by all Senegalese in school, so it is a very useful language for visitors to know. While some Senegalese merchants speak English, most business is conducted in French or Wolof. Other languages used in Senegal include Sereer, Soninke, Pulaar, Jola and Mandinka.\n\nThe basic Muslim greeting is often used: *Salaam Aleikum* - Peace to you. The response is *Waleikum Salaam* - And unto you peace.", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk011", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Senegal, with countries in green having visa-free access\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nSenegal has open borders, which means that citizens of almost every country in the world can obtain a visa on arrival. \n\nCitizens of Yemen, Hong Kong, Macao, and Kosovo must apply for a visa at their local Senegalese consulate/embassy.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport\nBlaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar opened in late 2017. The old Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport that became too small for the increasing number of passengers still handles some international flights to nearby countries.\n\nDelta Air Lines flies to Dakar on most of their US-Africa services, and service from JFK airport takes roughly 8 hours. South African Airways flies direct from New York and Washington-Dulles in just about 7 hours (8½ on the return trip). Other airlines route through Europe such as Brussels Airlines (Brussels), Air Senegal (Paris-Orly), Air France (Paris-CDG), Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca), Iberia (Madrid, Gran Canaria), TAP (Lisbon) and others (5½ to 6 hours). There are flights from various parts of Africa operated by Kenya Airways (Nairobi) and others.\n\n### By car\n\nIt is possible but a little bit difficult to get into Senegal by car. Senegal prohibits the import of cars that are more than eight years old, but if you are only staying for a short while, and agree to take your car out of the country, you should (eventually) be allowed through, but this cannot be guaranteed.\n\nSenegal allows the import of cars older than five years.\n\n### By train\n\nA railway between Dakar and Bamako, Mali has fallen into disrepair and no longer operates. The trains only run within Dakar and to its suburbs.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk012", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Getting around in the rainy season can be challenging\nTaxi, taxi-brousse, taxi-clando, car-charette, and transport commun (*cars rapides*)\nBuslines in Dakar and around Dakar are maintained by SOTRAC (Société des Transports en commun de Cap Vert), now managed by a private company and called Dakar Demm Dikk. Car hire is available in Dakar (city and airport) and sometimes in MBour and Saly Portudal.\n\nThe main method of travel around the country is by *sept places* (from the French for \"seven seats,\" literally questionable station wagons in which they will pack seven people so that you are basically sitting on the next person's lap throughout the journey). You can also come with a group and rent out an entire sept place, but this will be expensive. If you are obviously a tourist, they **will** try to rip you off, so make sure to set a price before you agree to a driver. If you want to travel more comfortably, buy 2 seats. There are set prices to often-travelled locations. The price per seat from Dakar to Ziguinchor, for example, is CFA9,500. Note that you also will have to negotiate a fee for luggage (CFA 500-1,000 per piece seems to be the going rate). \n\n**Little** ride hailing app works in Senegal.\n\nKeep in mind that if you wish to drive your own car, there are few street signs (mostly speed limits) and almost all of them are disregarded. Many streets are considered one way, but are never marked as such, and there are almost no stop signs. Heavy traffic areas such as Dakar are best left to experienced drivers and the bold. To get around, one must be willing to dart into traffic, or else, stay stuck at an intersection for a while.\n\nA tollway near Dakar allows you to drive around Rufisque. Especially during peak hours, this is worth the CFA400 (for a regular car), as traffic jams in Rufisque can easily take up to 2 hours.", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk013", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "See", "text": "With arid desert and lush rainforests, Senegal boasts a stunning array of sights, sounds and flavours.\n\n **Lac Rose** owes its name to its pink colouring for swimming and is also the terminus of the Dakar rally.\n **Parc National du Niokolo-Noba** is one of Senegal's major national parks and an international biosphere reserve.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk014", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Giraffe\n\n - Fathala Reserve", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk015", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of the country is the **West African CFA franc**, denoted **CFA** (ISO currency code: **XOF**). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.\n\nCoins of the West African CFA franc come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200 and 500 francs CFA. Banknotes of the West African CFA franc come in denominations of 500-, 1,000-, 2,000-, 5,000 and 10,000 francs CFA. West African CFA franc coins bear a common design on both the obverse and reverse sides and are valid in eight states that make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA; *Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine*). West African CFA franc banknotes share a common design on both the front and back sides and are valid in eight states of the Monetary Union, one difference is the code letter within the serial number, denoting the member states of the Monetary Union that uses the West African CFA franc.\n\n### ATMs\n\n**Ecobank** accept **Master Card** and **Visa card** at their ATMs. Outside major cities, ATMs are non-existent, and credit card transactions unheard of. Partly because of this, for day to day transactions like buying food and taxi rides, it is best to break the 5,000 and 10,000 CFA bills that you likely will get from ATMS into small bills (2,000 CFA or less) as soon as possible. Many people don't have change (or at least pretend not to), and may either keep the extra amount you give (if the difference is relatively minor like a few hundred CFA) or completely refuse your money. Larger businesses are more likely to be willing to break your large denomination bills. \n\n### Maps\n\nTourist maps are available at the tourist offices.\n\n### International Driving Permit (IDP)\n\nIf you want to explore the country by car, you need one.\n\n### Vaccines\n\nA yellow fever vaccine is required, together with the vaccination certificate, to enter Senegal. However, it is not checked on a regular basis.\n\n### Mosquito repellents\n\nBuy at least a mosquito net (preferably permethrin-impregnated) and a good repellent (preferably DEET-based). Permethrin can be washed into clothing and will remain in the garment for a month before the effectiveness of the product wears off and should be reapplied.", "word_count": 405}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk016", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Ceebu jen\nBe careful with food prepared by the road, as it could be cooked in unsanitary conditions. Western-style meals are available and can be found at restaurants in various parts of Dakar, Thies, Saint Louis and other towns and near the big hotels in the Petite Côte and in some other tourist regions of the country.\n\nIf you want to try genuine Senegalese food, you can buy it at many restaurants; or alternatively, you can make it yourself with the food gathered fresh from the markets or supermarkets.\n\nThe official dish of Senegal is *ceebu jen* (or *thebou diene*), which is rice and fish. It comes in two varieties (red and white, named after the respective sauces). The Senegalese love ceebu jen and will often ask if you've ever tried it, and it is definitely part of the experience. Even better if you get the chance to eat with your hands around the bowl with a Senegalese family. Keep your eyes out for the delicious, but elusive *ceebu jen \"diagga\"*, which is served with extra sauce and fish balls.\n\nOther common dishes are *maafe*, which is a rich, oily peanut-based sauce with meat that is served over white rice. *Yassa* is a delicious onion sauce that is often served over rice and chicken, *yassa poulet* or with deep fried fish *yassa jen*.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk017", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Drink", "text": "If you intend to explore the arid area of Senegal (Saint-Louis & Ferlo), you need to drink several litres of water a day. Even in Dakar, dehydration is possible during warmer months if you do not drink sufficient water.", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk018", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Work", "text": "There are many opportunities for people to make a difference in Senegal. Projects Abroad is a volunteer organisation based in St Louis with opportunities to help out teaching English, caring for underprivileged children, teaching sport or being a human rights advocate amongst other things. Volunteers get to stay with local host families, which is a huge honour.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk019", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|Baobab tree\n\nIt might also be a good idea to learn some basic Wolof, since not everybody can speak French. In addition there are many other languages such as Toucouleur, Serere, and Peul. However, almost everyone can speak Wolof. Therefore knowing Wolof would be a big help.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk020", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although highly exaggerated, there is still fighting going on in the Casamance region of Senegal.\n\nThe \"struggle\" goes on between the government and the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de la Casamance (MFDC). It would be wise to avoid travel to this area. If this is not possible, at least first check with the embassy for the latest situation. To find out how much the situation has improved look at this IRIN News report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44875&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=SENEGAL\n\nIn Dakar, take care when walking the streets: petty theft and scams are abundant. You will be approached by aggressive street vendors who will follow you for several blocks. If refused, often accusations of 'racism\" will be leveled at white non-local non-buyers. Also, pickpockets use the following two-person tactic: one (the distraction) will grab one of your legs while the other (the thief) goes into your pocket. If someone grabs your clothing, beware the person on the other side more. Wear trousers/shorts with secure (buttons or snaps) pockets and leave your shirt untucked to cover the pockets.\n\nBe cautious of people claiming to have met you before or offering to guide you. Often, you will be led to a remote location and robbed. Women need to be particularly alert as they are frequently targeted at beaches or markets.\n\nFinally, there have been instances of street stall vendors grabbing cash out of non-local shoppers' hands and quickly stuffing the money into their own pocket. After the money is in their pocket, they claim it is theirs and the victim is not in a position to prove otherwise or protest effectively. Be careful with your cash: do not hold it in your hand while bargaining.\n\nCarry some sort of identification. Police pull over vehicles and check for proper papers occasionally. If you are caught without your passport (a copy of a passport is recommended), the police may try to solicit a bribe; they may even go as far as to take you to the station. Most of the time they are bluffing, and one should not give into such corruption, but some officials may be wicked enough to force the issue. Use this advice with caution: the simplest way to prevent this is just to carry identification.\n\nHomosexuality is a big taboo in Senegal and punishable with 1 to 5 years' imprisonment. LGBT travellers should be extremely cautious. Do not tell anyone about your sexual orientation.", "word_count": 398}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk021", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Get necessary **vaccines** before arrival. Officially, certification of yellow fever vaccine is required upon arrival if coming from a country in a yellow fever zone, but it is not commonly checked.\n\nTake **anti-malarials**.\n\nAvoid **tap water** and all dishes prepared with it. Bottled water, such as Kirene which is most common and bottled in Senegal, is widely available and inexpensive.\n\nTo prevent serious effects of **dehydration**, it is wise to carry around packets of rehydration salts to mix with water, should you become dehydrated. These are widely available at pharmacies and are inexpensive. Alternatively, a proper mix of table salt and sugar can replace these.\n\nEmergency numbers and contact details for health services:\n\n Ambulance (SAMU): 15 15\n SOS Médecins: +221 33 889 15 15 15\n Hôpital Principal (Dakar): +221 33 839 50 50 (poste 5555)\n Clinique de la Madeleine (Dakar): +221 33 889 94 70\n Clinique de l'Océan (Dakar): +221 33 825 69 37", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "senegal::chunk022", "doc_id": "senegal", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Senegalese in general are very friendly and hospitable.\n\n### Etiquette\n\n As this is a Muslim-majority country, the standard greeting is \"Salaam Aleikum\" as opposed to \"Bonjour\". \n\n As is the case in much of West Africa, **always greet people wherever you go**. Not doing so is considered *extremely rude*. As a foreigner, you might get some leeway, but still, greet and acknowledge people to not stand out like a sore thumb.\n\n **Never beckon a Sengalese person directly**, even if they have done something wrong in your opinion. The Senegalese are quite sensitive to being beckoned directly, and it is considered very rude. As a tourist, your words might have an even greater impact.\n\n Although Islam is the dominant religion, Senegal is a secular state and the form of Islam practiced by most Senegalese is liberal. Senegal is one of the few rare examples of religious tolerance and diversity. Interfaith marriages are common and there are no sectarian tensions whatsoever. You won't offend a Senegalese person by discussing religion; it's a highly popular conversational topic. \n\n Do not enter mosques and other religious places wearing shoes. It is disrespectful. \n\n Foreign women can expect to get many marriage proposals from Senegalese men. Handle this with a sense of humour, and caution.\n\n As far as dress goes, be aware that anything shorter than knee length is inappropriate. Tank tops are generally accepted in larger towns but should be avoided as much as possible.\n\n Shake hands as a greeting. Warning: there are some men and women from a specific Muslim sect (hibadou) that do not touch members of the opposite sex. Do not be offended if a member of the opposite sex does not shake your hand, it is their culture. Instead, clasp your hands together and clutch them to your heart in greeting.\n\n Never use your left hand to shake hands or give something to someone as this is considered disrespectful. However, if you are close to a person, it is customary to shake their left hand when parting for long periods of time. It is a wrong that must be corrected at some point in the future, so it is a way of saying that you will see each other again someday.\n\n### Sensitive issues\n\nAs a tourist, you may be asked by people to give money or gifts. Even if you feel compelled to, **do not give out anything to anyone**. However noble this deed might be, you could be encouraging people (unintentionally) to be dependent on foreign visitors and this, in turn, could give people more of a reason to harass tourists. \n\nIf you really want to make a difference in the community, it is recommended that you go to local schools, the écogardes at the park, or ask the hotel staff. The principal can distribute school supplies to children in need.", "word_count": 471}
diff --git a/corpus/senegal/metadata.json b/corpus/senegal/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..918ba6be2671c0b4d637a621bc11ba3f9c778f1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/senegal/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "senegal",
+ "title": "Senegal",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Senegal",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "fishing",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "West Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 4211,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 23,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/seoul/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/seoul/chunks.jsonl
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+++ b/corpus/seoul/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk000", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Seoul** (서울) is the capital of South Korea. With a population of over 9 million (with over 20 million in the wider metropolitan area), Seoul is by far South Korea's largest city and one of East Asia's financial and cultural centers. A fascinating blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge digital technology, home to endless street food vendors and vast nightlife districts, an extraordinarily high-pressure educational system and serene Buddhist temples, a dynamic trend-setting youth culture and often crushing conformism, extraordinary architecture and endless monotonous rows of grey apartment buildings, Seoul is a city filled with stark contrasts, contradictions, and paradoxes. People in Seoul can enjoy various artistic activities such as plays, musicals, and concerts.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk001", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Districts", "text": "300px|thumb|[[Seoul/Jung\nthumb|Han River\n\nthumb|Seoul skyline at night above the Han River\n\nAdministratively, Seoul is divided into 25 districts (구 *gu*), each with an area and population comparable to a small city. The districts are then further subdivided into 522 sub-districts (동 *dong*). The Han river splits the city into two halves: Gangbuk (강북), the northern, more historical half, and Gangnam (강남), the southern, wealthier and more modern half. The sheer size of the city means that travelers to Seoul will find it difficult to locate a true \"center\" of Seoul; instead, Seoul is almost more like a collection of cities that happen to be bunched together, each with their own central business and commercial districts. The two largest core areas are Jongno/Jung in the north, and Gangnam in the south. For travelers with more time, there are many more, smaller centers and districts to be explored, such as the island of Yeoui-do and the college district of Hongdae/Sinchon. For the typical traveler, it would be useful to divide the city into the following areas:\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nthumb|Haebangchon", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk002", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Gangnam district by night\n\nWith over 10 million people, a figure that doubles if you include neighboring cities and suburbs, Seoul is the largest city in South Korea and unquestionably the economic, political and cultural hub of the nation. By some measures it is the second largest urban agglomeration on the planet, after Greater Tokyo.\n\nSeoul is a favourite with tourists from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and, increasingly, the West, encouraged by the success of Korean pop culture. Aside from the native Korean, travelers will frequently overhear Japanese, Cantonese or Mandarin as well; many restaurants and stores, especially in the more touristy areas like Myeongdong, will have signs in Japanese and Chinese, as well as Korean and English.\n\nThe traveler who visits Seoul will not be disappointed. This sprawling metropolis is truly vast – though the casual traveler can see most of the main sites in a few days, a dedicated traveler could spend months exploring all the alleyways and far-off neighborhoods. As the capital of a country that has gone through massive development in the past sixty years, Seoul is constantly changing at an incredible pace, matched only by the mainland Chinese cities. This frantic pace of life is reflected everywhere – in Seoul's cutting-edge digital technology, in the millions of commuters rushing to work everyday in the world's third largest subway system, in one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the world, and in the thousands of high rises and apartment buildings still under construction.\n\n### History", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk003", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Understand", "text": "Considering all of this, one may be forgiven for forgetting that Seoul has a long history stretching far back into Korea's dynastic past. There is evidence for settlement in this area as far back as 18 BCE, but Seoul as the capital city of South Korea has a history dating back to the 14th century. Originally named Hanseong (한성; 漢城), the city was the capital of the Joseon Dynasty from 1392 to 1910. The Joseon Dynasty built most of Seoul's most recognisable landmarks, including the Five Grand Palaces and Namdaemun. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the city was renamed to its current name, Seoul. Since the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948, Seoul has been the capital of South Korea. Occupied twice during the Korean War by Communist forces from the North, the city was extensively rebuilt and today is one of Asia's primary metropolises. Much of Seoul's infrastructure and facilities, such as the buildings, stadiums and transport systems, are exceptionally modern and clean.\n\nthumb|View of Seoul\n\n### Orientation", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk004", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Understand", "text": "Seoul is a relatively well organized city covering over with a population of around 10.5 million. It is a new modern city built on an ancient and shining history. The city is in the north-western portion of South Korea approximately east of the Yellow Sea (황해 \"Hwanghae\") and 60 kilometers south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The city is roughly bisected by the Han River (한강 *Hangang*), which runs east to west across the city. Seoul blurs seamlessly into its surrounding satellite cities and towns, most of which are also served by the Seoul metro. The largest of these is Incheon (to the west), the home of the metropolitan area's main airport and seaport. Other satellite cities include such as Ilsan (to the north), Bucheon (to the west) and Anyang (to the south).\n\n### Climate\n\nSeoul lies between the subtropical and a humid continental climate zones, meaning it has both freezing winters and sweltering summers.\n\nSummer starts with a monsoon season that brings heavy rains in June and July, often leading the Han River to flood. Humidity is very high: the thermometer may read during the day and at night, but it can feel much hotter.\n\nDue to the proximity of Siberia, winters in Seoul can be very cold, colder than you would expect at these latitudes, with temperatures at times dropping below in January and February, and wind-chill can make it feel even colder. There are an average of 28 days of snow each year. Bring proper winter clothing and dress in layers.\n\nDaylight in the summer runs from 05:15 to 19:45, and in the winter it is from 07:45 to 17:15.\n\n### Talk", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk005", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Understand", "text": "As elsewhere in Korea, a grasp of basic Korean will be helpful. If you plan on an extended visit, consider learning to read the Korean alphabet, hangul. It takes very little time to pick up the basics, and it can be immensely helpful. A quick (free) visit to the Story of King Sejong Exhibition Hall beneath the Statue of King Sejong in Gwanghwamun Square will give you an introduction to the Korean alphabet and some interactive exhibits to practice. Thirty minutes there will see you recognizing and pronouncing some Korean words.\n\nShops in major tourists areas, including Insadong, Myeongdong, and Itaewon, will probably have staff that speak at least some English, and some may have staff that speak Mandarin, Cantonese and/or Japanese. While all younger Koreans are required to study English in school, due to a lack of practice, proficiency is generally poor, and most residents of Seoul only know a few simple words and phrases. If lost, a useful tip is to write down your question in simple words and show it to someone young. While it is possible to get by using only English, a basic grasp of Korean will make your trip much smoother.\n\n### Language issues\n\nSouth Korea has undergone a major English language boom over the past 20 years. South Korean families are eager for their children to learn English and usually enroll them in private language schools.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk006", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Understand", "text": "Seoul is probably the easiest place to talk to people in English, although most people will find conversation challenging. Often writing down simple questions in English is more effective. Many of the older generation have learned little or no English at all. A few tourist information centers dotted around Seoul are staffed by English speakers, but do not assume an English speaker will be available at most shops, sites and venues.\n\nEnglish signage is visible everywhere in the city, from road signs to subway maps to shop posters. One exception is in buses where the route information is completely in Korean script.\n\n- The Seoul Global Center\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Seoul website", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk007", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nSeoul ( for all airports) is served by two airports; Incheon International Airport serves most international flights, while Gimpo Airport mostly serves as Seoul's domestic airport, plus a smattering of international routes to China, Japan and Taiwan.\n\n#### Incheon Airport\n\nthumb|240px|Incheon Airport Terminal 1\n\nMost visitors arrive via () on Yeongjong Island in the neighboring city of Incheon.\n\nThe **A'REX** train connects the airport to Seoul Station (for further connections to KTX high-speed services) and Gimpo Airport (most domestic flights), operating from 05:20 until 00:00. Two versions exist: express services to the city (every 40 minutes) take 43 minutes and cost ₩9,000 (with WiFi available on board); while all-stops services (every 6 minutes) take 53 minutes and cost ₩4,750. The express train and the regular train leave from different platforms and have different ticket booths. The express train requires reservations, accepts credit cards and can be purchased in advance, while the all-stops service is a regular unreserved train and payments are cash/T-money only.\n\nIf you have a lot of luggage or are heading to southern parts of Seoul (e.g. Gangnam), the airport buses remain your best option.\n\nA taxi direct to Seoul will cost around ₩50,000/70,000 regular/deluxe.\n\n#### Gimpo Airport", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk008", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "Gimpo Airport is easily reached on the A'REX link from Seoul Station or Incheon Airport, as well as subway lines 5 and 9. All lines intersect Line 2 which runs in a large circle through Seoul. Line 9 (Gold Line), the first privately run subway line in Seoul, has express trains as well. Travelers coming into Seoul should first have detailed directions to their destination from the nearest station then consult the subway map before deciding on which line and route to take. All three lines cost ₩1,000-2,100 (depending on distance), while a taxi to central Seoul will run around ₩30,000. Discounts for subway fare are available with T-Money cards.\n\n### By train\n\n220px|thumb|right|Seoul Station", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk009", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "Seoul is the northern terminus for most KTX high-speed train services. There are three main stations within city limits:\n **** (서울역) for trains heading Southeast (Busan, Pohang, Daegu, Daejeon, Changwon) and few heading East (Pyeongchang, Gangneung, Donghae) depart here. Accessible via subway line , , , as well as the (from Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport). The Gyeongui line uses a separate platform in the old station building (Culture Station 284). Some trains bound Southwest depart from Seoul station as well.\n **** (용산역) is the main terminus for trains heading Southwest (Mokpo, Gwangju, Daejeon, Yeosu). Metro lines and pass through the station. Line 4 is at the nearby , about 150m away.\n **** (청량리역) serves trains heading east, including all KTX trains bound for Pyeongchang, Gangneung, Donghae, and Andong. Subway line and line stops here, with few trains from - and line.\n Some KTX trains heading south stop at (영등포역, accessible via subway line ), and some heading east stop at (상봉역, accessible via subway line , and line). Train stopping at Yeongdeungpo takes longer because they use conventional tracks. \n **** (수서역) in the city's southwest is the terminus for SRT trains from Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Mokpo. It is also about 15% cheaper than the KTX. Subway line and - line stop at the station. GTX train has been added to Suseo Station, so people can move Guseong and Suseo in 15 minutes. The subway system also serves as a commuter rail network for nearby cities and towns in Gyeonggi.\n ****Gangnam Station**, (강남역) (*Line *). Take airport line at terminal 2, change from Gimpo Aiport Station(line 9), and get off at Shinnonhyeon station. It takes 1 and half hours.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk010", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "Remember that for all KTX services, reservations are mandatory and included in the price. This means trains do sell out - even the few standing tickets offered on some routes - and there might be no possibility to travel on the dense Seoul-Busan line on weekends without booking at least a week ahead.\n\n### By bus\n\nEvery weekend approximately 2 million Seoulites leave the city, which goes a long way to explaining why the city has four major bus terminals. Destinations are not strictly divided by terminals (especially intercity buses), so check the exact terminal and schedule on the website (Express, Intercity)", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk011", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "****, (서울고속버스터미널), (*Metro Lines , , or , Express Bus Terminal stn*). Also known as **Gangnam Terminal** and **Gyeongbu-Yeongdong Terminal**, this is the largest of them all and serves pretty much the entire country, but most services head Southeast (incl. Busan, Daegu, Daejeon). Lines Southwest to Jeolla, however, use the Central City/Honam Terminal right next door. For the most part there's no need to buy a ticket days in advance, except during the holidays. There's even a ticket window labeled \"Tickets for Foreigners\" where the attendant can speak English. Fare from Seoul-Busan is about ₩20,000 and buses come continuously throughout the day. Small restaurants and snacks are all throughout the station. Journeys longer than 2 hours typically will have a short stop at a rest area. Most buses are very comfortable and extremely safe.\n ****, (센트럴시티터미널), also known as **Honam Terminal**, (*Metro Lines , , or , Express Bus Terminal stn*). Directly adjacent to the Express terminal, serves express buses heading Southeast to North and South Jeolla, South Chungcheong, and some routes to Daejeon and North Chungcheong.\n ****, (동서울버스터미널), Gangbyeon stn (*Line *). Served mostly by intercity buses. Most intercity buses to Gangwon and other parts of Korea departs here. It is heavily used by soldiers heading to the military bases in Gangwon. You can find restaurants, convenience stores, a cafe, a pharmacy, a bakery, and a nursing room here. There's even an underground shopping mall to kill time.\n ****, (남부터미널), Nambu Bus Terminal stn (*Line *). Served mostly by intercity buses. Most intercity buses to Southeast to North and South Jeolla and other parts of Korea departs here.\n ****, (강남역) (Line 2 ). Take an Airport Limousine Bus number 6009. It takes 80 minutes from Airport terminal 1 and 100 minutes from Airport terminal 2. It is better to take subway who depart from Airport terminal 2(See By train section).", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk012", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By boat\n\nThere are ferry services to various points in China from the neighboring port city of Incheon. No services run from Japan to Seoul; many Koreans take the coach, KTX or SRT trains to Busan, where several ferry and hydrofoil options are available.\n\n### By car\n\nNo matter where in Korea you start your journey, there will be tolled expressways (Gosok Doro) and national highways (Gook Do) that lead to Seoul; the most important one is the Gyeongbu Expressway, linking Seoul with Busan. To avoid the daily traffic jam on the Gyeongbu Highway near Seoul, take Jungbu/2nd Jungbu, Seohaean, or Yongin-Seoul Expressway. On Korean highways, the first lane is used as a passing lane. No matter how fast you're going, it's not okay to keep driving in the lane.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk013", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic jams are all too common in Seoul, so be careful on the streets and head underground when possible. Street and subway signage is usually written in English as well as Korean.\n\nUntil 2011, Seoul (and South Korea as a whole) used an address system that was similar to that of Japan, where the streets did not have names and houses were numbered according to the position in the lot. This very confusing address system made it harder for tourists to navigate Seoul, and the government has introduced a **Road Name Address System**, which uses street names and the method of \"odd house numbers on one side, even house numbers on the other side\". The confusing old address system was discontinued in 2013, and nowadays, Seoul is easy to get around without extra help.\n\nThe 'Climate Card' (Gihoo Donghaeng Card) offers unlimited rides on subways and buses within Seoul for a fixed monthly fee.\n\n### By subway\n\nthumb|400px|Subway map\n\nIn Seoul, you can visit most places by using the vast subway network. There are nine numbered lines plus a smattering of named suburban lines, all distinguished by different colors. All signs in the subway system are in Korean (both *hangeul* and if applicable, *hanja*) and English, as well as Japanese and Mandarin in some stations. The signs leading to the platform for a particular direction of travel on a given subway line typically list the names of a number of stations in that direction. Stations each have a 3 digit number, but locals rarely make use of these numbers, and they're not on most subway maps, so don't rely on them. An English subway map can be found here.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk014", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Subway fares are based on the distance traveled, but the shortest ride costs ₩1,250 (base charge) plus a deposit of ₩500 for single-ride cards (refundable if you return the card at designated machines at each station). The base charge roughly covers up to of the journey and ₩100 is added for every beyond that. Cards can be purchased *from vending machines only*. All vending machines accept coins and bills, up to ₩10,000 notes (and some ₩50,000 notes, but cash exchange machines are at each station). Hang onto your card until the end of your trip, as you'll need it to get out. Most of Seoul's automated card machines are equipped with touchscreen and full English support (along with Chinese and Japanese).\n\nNote that the subway does not operate late at night but there are night bus services on major trunk routes.\n\n#### T-money card\n\nIf planning on using the Metro extensively or staying for more than a couple of days, you should consider purchasing a **T-money** stored value contactless smart card. You can buy this card from staffed desks at most subway stations, very few vending machines (cash only), many newspaper kiosks near subway entrances, and convenience stores with the T-money logo. The most basic card costs ₩5,000 as of 2025, and cash can be added to the card as often as you like (which has to be done separately after purchasing one, it does not come with stored value). Top-ups are only possible using cash, most conveniently at machines at every station entrance, which do have English as a language option.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk015", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "When entering and leaving a subway turnstile, place the card on the reader (leaving it inside your purse or wallet is fine), and it will deduct the appropriate fare from the card. Using this card will allow you to save ₩100 on all transfers (these are common with Seoul's extensive subway system), and you can get all but ₩500 back if you have unused credit. Any value on the T-money card never expires. Credit refund up to ₩20,000 can be received in most convenience stores. Above ₩20,000 you can still get a refund, but the procedure is more complicated, so it's wise to keep your credit below that figure.\n\nTypically for most travellers staying less than a week in Seoul, purchasing this card may not be cheaper, but other factors should be considered: it can also be used for taxi fares, buses, storage lockers, pay phones, etc. The T-money card is far more convenient than buying per trip ticket. Using a transportation card is highly recommended if you wish to use it between subways and buses, simply for its ability to transfer for free since you will not have to pay for the basic fare twice for a single journey when using two modes of transport.\n\nBe aware that any issues (e.g. insufficient balance) are not displayed in English at the turnstiles. Only the error code is shown in Latin letters. The different error codes are listed at the metro website.\n\nHere are some things to know when riding the subway.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk016", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some stations have a similar names, so be sure to check the map and destination. For example, Sinchon subway station (Line 2) is located far from Sinchon rail station (Gyeongui-Jungang Line) and both are not transferable. And Yangpyeong subway station (Line 5) is in Seoul, but Yangpyeong rail station (Gyeongui-Jungang Line) is located at Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do (about 50 km away).\n At the edge of the train car, there are specially marked seats for the elderly and disabled people. It is *de facto* mandatory to leave this seat for others, unless you really need them, so be aware of surrounding passengers when you occupy empty ones Also, some trains have pink seats for pregnant women which are generally left empty.\n Some terminus stations and branch lines like the Gyeongui-Jungang Line between Gajwa and Seoul Station have very, very few trains, sometimes less than one per hour. Be sure to check the timetables beforehand. Also, the platform for Gyeongui-Jungang Line at Seoul Station is separated from the other lines, in the old station building.\n There is also a separate class of commuter trains in Seoul. Lines 1, 4, 9, and several others do operate 'express (급행)' services. They are slightly faster, skipping several stops and passing normal service trains. No extra fees are required to use them. Line 1 also has a 'limited express (특급)' service, which makes even fewer stops. Same fare.\n Seoul Metro (Operator of lines 1 to 8) has some info on their 'Theme Tour' section. You can check the timetable there as well.\n You cannot use metro stations for crossing streets when you have to pass the fare-gates. If you enter a metro station and leave at another exit, the fare for a single ride will be deducted. If you entered a metro station at the wrong side by accident and return the card will be blocked (or in case of a T-money card the fare for a single ride will be deducted) even if you exited at the same turnstile.\n Several fare-gates seem to be always open, do not try to pass them without presenting your ticket though - they have somewhat hidden doors that will (hurtfully) snap closed in an instant.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk017", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\nSeoul also has an extensive bus network. There are four different kinds of buses: yellow, green, blue, and red. Yellow buses have a short circuit usually around tourist areas. Green buses travel around neighborhoods and connect with the subway. Blue buses go across town, while red buses are intercity buses. Buses will only stop at designated bus stops and will not wait for indecisive travelers. Press the red button to tell the driver to stop at the next stop.\n\nBy using a T-Money card, you can transfer between the bus and the subway for free up to 30 minutes after your last scan. That is to say, the base charge won't be charged twice. If, for example, you travel by subway, transfer to a bus and travel a further , the fare will be deducted once you leave the subway, nothing will be deducted when you enter a bus, but you will be deducted ₩100 for the extra journey you made on the bus. **If you do not tag the machine as you leave the bus, you will be charged the maximum fare possible for the route.**\n\nAdult fares as of March 2023 are:\n from ₩1,200 to ₩1,500 for T-Money Card.\n and from 1,300 to 1,500 for cash.\n\nIn particular, local buses traveling to Seoul from other provinces (mainly Gyeonggi-do and Incheon) will increase from ₩2,300 to ₩3,000 with a transportation card and from ₩2,400 to ₩3,000 with cash.\n\n#### By Late Night Bus\n\nSouth Korea has late-night buses called owl buses. Late night buses are characterized by an N in front of the bus number. The fare is ₩2,500 (cash/card) for adults. See here for further info.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk018", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|An international taxi. This driver is proficient in Japanese – the language is written on the door\n\nDeluxe taxis are black with a yellow sign and are more expensive than regular taxis but provide better and more comfortable service. Regular taxis are silver. For the most part, regular taxi cabs have leather interiors and the drivers are nice—so, for many people, \"regular\" in Seoul might be \"deluxe\" in their hometown. It is easy to hail a taxi any time of the day or night along any relatively major Seoul street.\n\nYou can call a deluxe taxi wherever you are by calling 3431–5100. Sometimes, you can find a visitor's guide taxi, a kind of deluxe taxi, the drivers of which know English and Japanese and can guide you around Seoul.\n\nAs of February 2023, the basic fare for regular taxis is ₩4,800 (₩5,800 at night), with a surcharge of ₩100 applied according to time and distance. (The basic fare is up to , plus ₩100 per 132 m.) In deluxe taxis, the basic fare is ₩7000 and the additional fare increases in increments of ₩200. (₩4500 basic fare for up to , plus ₩200 per 151 m). International taxi drivers speak at least one foreign language (generally English) fluently. International taxis use the same basic fare as regular taxis, plus an additional 20%.\n\nThe base distance has also been reduced from 2 kilometers to 1.6 kilometers, and late-night surcharges have also increased significantly, from 20% to 40% from 11pm to 2am.\n\nIf there is more than one passenger, and you are traveling only a short distance (like 1-2 metro stops) it is usually cheaper to catch a taxi than to take a bus or subway.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk019", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "In general, taxi drivers do not speak English or any other foreign language (e.g. Japanese), so have your destination written in Korean to show to the taxi driver. It is also wise to get your hotel's business card in case you get lost.\n\nAll taxis advertise a free interpretation service that can be called if you need help. The phone number for the interpretation is on the window sticker of the back seats. Taxis that have an \"On Base Authorized\" sticker on the side, or a green sticker on their front bumper, are capable of entering US military bases in Seoul. These drivers are required to speak better English as part of their contract and may thus be easier for any English speaking tourists.\n\nAll taxis in Seoul accept credit cards and T-money cards. However, drivers generally prefer that you pay cash, especially for shorter rides. You can also ask for your receipt (\"Yeong-su-jeung\" 영수증).\n\nAs in any other city, there are some bad apples, and some drivers may take you the long way. Although the drivers often have a GPS device on the dashboard of their car, this is relatively meaningless if you do not know the area or cannot speak sufficient Korean to argue the point.\n\nIn general, make sure the driver turns on the meter, get an idea of the cardinal direction of your destination (north, south, east, west), and use the interpretation service if you want to agree to a fare beforehand.\n\nHowever, there is often road construction or protests around Seoul, so sometimes a long route is necessary. If you suspect you are being ripped off, the most a non-Korean speaker can do is write down or take a picture of the driver's ID (above the glove box) and report the details to the company.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk020", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By Ride Share\n\nUber (branded as Uber Taxi) is widely available throughout Seoul and can also be used to hail regular taxis. Note however that payment with Apple or Google Pay is not possible, at least with foreign cards - adding your credit card directly into the Uber app works though.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Rush hour on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro (lit. Riverside North Road)\n\nInternationally known car rental companies can be found in Seoul; just be prepared for a driving challenge and long rush hours. In addition, parking spaces are hard, if not close to impossible to find, especially during peak hours. Therefore, unless you are planning to head out of the city, it is not advisable to rent a car and you are better off relying on the excellent public transport system instead.\n\n### On bicycle\n\nThere are many bike rental stations in Seoul (and other cities). Seoul City government operates Seoul Bike (nicknamed *따릉이 (Ttareungyi)*), and you can get around easily at little cost. There are many voucher options, but a day voucher is enough for most tourists. At the homepage or official app, purchase the voucher and receive the rental number. At the nearby rental spot, press the button on the bike you want to rent and type the digits. You have to return the bike to the rental station within 1 hour (2 hours if you bought the Premium voucher). You can rent it as many times as you want for 24 hours, as long as you return the bike for respective period of time. A regular voucher is ₩1,000 and a premium one is ₩2,000.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk021", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be sure to obey the traffic rules and try to wear a helmet. Read the warnings on the signage and ride with care. The official app shows the location of rental station and how many bikes are there, so plan your journey while knowing where to return. Naver map or Kakao map can show the bike routes and have a direction search option for bikes. If you know the Korean, you can use the weekly, monthly, and yearly option.\n\nThere are also private bike rentals at Han river park and Yeoido. They offer electric bikes, two-person bikes, and four-person bike. These bikes usually cost around ₩5,000 per hour.\n\n### On shared electric scooters\n\nShared electric scooters are available for rent with a driver's license. It is mandatory to wear a helmet and you can be fined by the police if you don't. Rates vary by scooter manufacturer, but you can expect to pay roughly ₩300–500 to unlock and ₩1,000–1,200 per minute of use (June 2024).\n\nYou have to download the app released by each manufacturer and use it after authentication. A shared mobility company called SWING has launched shared scooters. SWING charges\n Daytime: ₩1,200 to unlock, ₩180 won per minute\n Night: ₩1,200 won to unlock, ₩250 won per minute\n\nthumb|The KakaoMap app logo\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk022", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around in Seoul without a local escort (be it friend or cab driver) can be tricky, since this is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. While Seoul occupies less land than New York City, it can be more confusing. The major roads twist and turn, the various rail lines, rivers and mountains are obstacles and the smaller roads turn into a labyrinth of alleys. Learn the landmarks and subway station closest to where you are staying. The better-known landmarks in Seoul (such as the N Seoul Tower in the center of town) can prove helpful at times. **Google Maps cannot be used to navigate in Seoul** due to laws forbidding use of geographical information by foreign companies, it will display a \"no routes found\" message, however regular map functions are working. Use **Naver map** or **Kakao map**, since these support English and offer very well working navigation on foot and by car, including public transportation.\n\nOnce you know your immediate surroundings, you'll find that Seoul isn't such a huge place and the pedestrian approach can be an enriching experience. There's usually a subway stop within a ten-minute walk in any direction. And you can see the local map at the exit of the station.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk023", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Get around", "text": "Whether on bicycle or foot, the best way to escape traffic is to learn the rivers and streams. Most of these waterways empty into the Han River or another tributary to the Han, so look to the direction of water flow at any creek; chances are, it's headed for the Han. The Han runs right through town, generally moving West (sometimes Southwest; sometimes Northwest), so knowing where you are in relation to the Han is helpful. The Han River as well as most streams are lined with massive parks that feature outdoor gymnasiums, multiple-lane bicycle paths, and 24-hour restrooms. Pedestrian bridges on the smaller waterways are common. Also, numerous mountains with hiking trails can be found in the city.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk024", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Deoksugung palace\nthumb|Opening at night of Gyeongbokgung Palace\nthumb|Gwanghwamun\n\nSeoul is a vast, vibrant cityscape, set against an airy backdrop of mountains. It includes a standout collection of attractions with a blend of old and new.\n\nWhile Seoul today is mostly known as a super-modern mega-city that is home to skyscrapers, malls, and millions of electronic-mad Koreans, the city contains over 2,000 years of history. The city contains 4 UNESCO sites marking important monuments from its 505 years as the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally a walled city with stone walls and narrow lanes inside. Though many buildings were destroyed or damaged during the violent events of the first half of the 20th century, much of its historic core remains. So, anyone staying in Seoul should visit the many historical treasures the city has to offer, including the many palaces and city gates within the Jongno district.\n\n### Palaces, shrines, and walls of Joseon Dynasty and other traditional sites", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk025", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "See", "text": "Seoul has been a capital of Korea since the Joseon Dynasty. Starting from the Gyeongbokgung, many palaces were built for kings and royal family. The most important of them are called **Five Grand Palaces** (5대궁). '''Gyeongbokgung Palace''' is the grandest and most important palace, and is also the site of the **Joseon Palace Museum** and **Korean Folk Museum**. The main gate of the palace, '''Gwanghwamun''', and its plaza are the center of Seoul. '''Changdeokgung''', a , was the most favored residential palace of the Joseon Royal Family. It also has the beautiful garden named **Secret Garden** (Also was called 'Forbidden Garden'). '''Changgyeonggung''' and '''Gyeonghuigung''' are less famous due to extensive damage sustained after the fall of the Joseon Dynasty; Changgyeonggung was once a zoo, and Gyeonghuigung was once a high school. Finally, '''Deoksugung''' was used during the last years of the monarchy. It has a harmony of both traditional and western building design. All of these palaces have a thicker, more informative pamphlet for ₩500, which is worth the cost.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk026", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "See", "text": "**Gyeongbokgung Palace.** In 1-91, Sejongno, Jongno-gu. The Gyeongbokgung, which means \"Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.\", was built in 1395 in Joseon Dynasty. It was the heart of Joseon Dynasty because the government ministry district was focused here. Even after it was razed by the Japanese during Hideyoshi invasions of 1592–1598, it was reconstructed in 1876, only for many buildings to be razed again by the Japanese during the occupation from 1910–1945. Nevertheless, Gyeongbokgung remains one of the most magnificent and historically most significant places in Seoul, and restoration to its pre-Japanese occupation state continues to be take place at a painstaking pace. It opens everyday except Tuesday. There is also a free guide tour for tourists every day (English : 11:00, 13:30, 15:30). It is also good to take the opportunity of night opening, which is held a few days every year, you have to reserve a place online. You can access the palace by subway (Gyeongbokgung Palace station Exit 5, Subway line 3) or Seoul City Tour Bus.\n\nThere are several traditional spots in Seoul besides palaces. '''Jongmyo Shrine''' is where the kings of the Joseon Dynasty are enshrined, and the Jongmyo Jerye ceremony, in which descendants of the Joseon royal family honor their ancestors, is held here every year. '''Jogyesa Temple''' and '''Bongeunsa Temple''' are notable Buddhist temples for experiencing Korean Buddhism.\n\n### Parks and mountains\n\nthumb|Han river park night view\nalt=One of the view from the top of Haneul Park|thumb|One of the view from the top of Haneul Park", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk027", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "See", "text": "Seoul is full of parks. Along the Han River (Hangang, 한강), there are **Hangang Citizen's Park**. It is in many districts, and each have a distinct spots. You can cycle along the river or buy a snack or souvenir at the night market. Among those, **Banpo Hangang Park** is most famous. You can see the fountain on the Banpo bridge, go to Some Sevit (an artificial floating island), or exercise at the Seorae island.\n\nThere are several unique parks that were repurposed from other uses. '''Seoul Forest''' was changed from a racecourse to a park with deer and a greenhouse. '''Olympic Park''' was built on ancient fortification walls, and holds many venues used in the 1988 Olympics. '''Worldcup Park''' was a landfill, but was turned into a large park with a soccer stadium, and is famous for silver grass. '''Seonyudo Park''' was a water filtration plant and was changed to ecological park above the remnants of old tanks and reservoirs. Other famous parks include '''Children's Grand Park''' and '''Dream Forest'''. Haneul Park is one of the largest parks in Seoul.\n\nSeoul is also surrounded by many mountains (san, 산). You can hike along the people and feel the nature in the middle of city. Notable mountains are '''Namsan''' (남산), '''Gwanaksan''' (관악산), '''Bukhansan''' (북한산), '''Suraksan''' (수락산).\n\n- Hangang Citizen's Park\n\n**Naksan Park.** Naksan Park is the old city street of Hanyang Castle. Nowadays, you can enjoy the scenery by climbing up the city road like a park, and you can also use the Especially, the lights installed on the city road and the panoramic view of the city. It is considered a popular night view spot in Seoul.\n\n### Notable museums", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk028", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "See", "text": "Seoul has been a capital for more than 600 years, and has a lot of museums. The most important museum is definitely **National Museum of Korea** at Yongsan. This houses the highlight of 5,000 years of Korean history and its exquisite treasures. Other historical museums include **National Museum of Korean Contemporary History**, **National Folk Museum**, **Joseon Palace Museum** at Jongno.\n\nIf you are fan of art, there are many art museums as well. **Seoul Museum of Art** is near the city hall and is free. **National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts**, which used to be at Gwacheon, has a separate Seoul branch near Bukchon and inside the Duksugung Palace. **Leeum Museum** at Itaewon is one of the best private-owned museums in Korea, and the **Dongdaemun Design Plaza** hosts the exhibition from Kansong Museum.\n\nThere are other interesting museums in the city; **War memorial of Korea** houses military armor and aircraft, **National Hangul Museum** shows the history of Korean writing system, **Seodaemun Prison** preserves the actual prison used during the Japanese Colonization period.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk029", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Do", "text": "Enjoy hiking in the mountains around the city. Up to 800m (3,000 ft) is accessible by public transport, with courses ranging from easy to difficult. There are Bukhansan Mountain, Gwanaksan Mountain, Samseongsan Mountain, Inwangsan Mountain, etc. (Mostly [Seoul/North]). If you don't like mountains, walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream.\n\nWatch baseball, a national sport, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, the home of the Kiwoom Heroes, or Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, the home of the LG Twins and Doosan Bears.\n\nWatch local soccer teams (FC Seoul based at Mapo-gu World Cup Stadium and Seoul E-Land FC based at Songpa-gu Olympic Main Stadium).\n\nIn South Korea, indoor sports are practiced until dawn. Golf and baseball on indoor screens, beer and bowling under upbeat music and lights.\n\nOrder jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk for delivery and play pool.\n Nerd activities in Seoul", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk030", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Universities\n\nSeoul is home to many universities, including **Seoul National University**, **Yonsei University** and **Korea University**, the three most prestigious universities in Korea, with the former being Korea's uncontested number one university. Admission to them is extremely competitive for South Korean students, but considerably easier for foreigners provided your Korean language ability is up to scratch. There are opportunities for potential international and exchange students to enroll in these universities and live in Seoul for an extended period of time. Many of these universities also conduct Korean language classes for foreigners, including some 5-week long summer intensive programmes that might be useful for short-term visitors to learn the Korean language.\n\n### Pottery\n\nKorean ceramics are known around the world for their simple beauty and unique designs. Visitors can learn how to make pottery at the National Museum of Korea and the pottery villages just outside of Seoul in Incheon and Yeoju.\n\n - National Museum of Korea\n\n### Sports\n\n - Taekwondo Gym", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk031", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Work", "text": "There is an immense demand for EFL (*English as a Foreign Language*) instruction in Seoul. See South Korea for details. However, the Seoul municipal government has decided to phase out foreign (*non-Korean*) teachers of English in all public schools. Although it has yet to be seen whether this will succeed, it may have an effect on your options in Seoul.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk032", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Hanbok, traditional Korean dresses at Dongdaemun market\n\n### Malls\n\nSeoul features some of the largest malls in Asia, including *COEX Mall* and *Lotte World Mall*, both east of Gangnam. They all offer a wide range of Korean and international brands with a focus on a more upscale selection. During weekends, they tend to get very crowded. Additionally, there are several very large department stores scattered throughout the city which provide a comparatively large selection on up to 12 floors.\n\n### Fashion\n\nFashion shopping in Seoul isn't a mere industry, it's an art form. Trends often begin in University areas like **Hongdae**. Hongik University boasts Korea's most famous art school, thus fashion in this area is often influenced by the students' artistic sensibilities. The shops in this area feature funky, punky, boho, and vintage style. Ewha Women's University also has a big shopping area in front of its main gate, as do many of the Women's colleges. Many trends also originate here. There are even seamstresses who can help you make your own designs come to life.\n\n**Seongsu** also is rapidly becoming the center of fashion in Seoul. It was once an industrial complex, but now it's home to new fashions such as hip-hop, reggae, vintage, and gukdu, as the abandoned factories have been redecorated by young people. Nearby is Ttukseom Hangang Park, where you can enjoy Korea's famous fried chicken and beer. \n\n### Duty free\n\nSouth Korea is a major shopping destination for Chinese and Japanese these days, with many dedicated duty-free shops available in Seoul. Korean Won, Japanese Yen and US dollars are accepted, along with major credit cards. Most shops have staff who can speak Japanese. There are duty-free shops in both the Incheon airport and the major department stores: Lotte, Shilla Hotel. There are other duty-free shops at Walkerhill Hotel, SKM DFS in COEX Mall.", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk033", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Eat", "text": "Much of Korean social life revolves around food and the city is packed with restaurants, so you would have to be determined to starve to death in Seoul. This fate may still befall you if you insist on English menus and meals consisting only of easily identifiable, familiar ingredients, so see South Korea for a quick Korean menu reader. An alternative is to just point and eat, your hosts generally will accommodate. If you look in the right places, a good meal (lunch or dinner) including side dishes can cost ₩5,000 or less (try basements of large department stores).\n\nthumb|Vendors selling Korean fast food in Gangnam\n\nIn addition to Korean food, Japanese restaurants in Seoul tend to be excellent, featuring excellent sushi and sashimi. Chinese restaurants exist, but are typically adapted to suit local preferences. There are a few Italian restaurants; these are generally excellent, with chefs trained in Italy, although flavors tend to be more or less Koreanized, with sugar in the garlic bread and meatballs.\n\nBakeries are found throughout, including some of the common big chains.\n\nSeoul has plenty of budget places to eat. Everything from convenience store junk food and noodles to street stall food and lots of 24 hr Korean fast food restaurants. The 24-hour restaurants are great because they've usually got a wide variety of foods, including: mandu, odeng, ddeokbokki, naengmyeon, udong and ramyeon. Prices do vary from about ₩2,000-9,000 at these restaurants. Also open late into the night are Korean BBQ restaurants, which are everywhere in Seoul. These can be very cheap and are usually of good quality. Barbecue options usually are limited to pork and beef, and they often come with a smattering of side dishes. Korean BBQ is, in itself, an experience that makes you feel like a Seoulite. The larger department stores in the city have basement food courts that offer excellent food (not recommended if you care about atmosphere).\n\nDon't be surprised if you find yourself with 5 plates even though you only ordered one, most main dishes are served *banchan*, side dishes such as *kimchi*, fermented vegetables with spices, and soup to rinse your palate before and/or after eating. While this is great, this could also be the reason why some restaurants doesn't accept solo dining, especially in Korean BBQ, since the portions might be too much for a single person; always make sure to ask if it's ok to eat alone by telling them *“han myung”* – a table for one person. \n\nPublic trash bins around Seoul are rare. If you're eating street food, you can hand back leftover trash, like skewers, to the food vendors or throw it away in their trash bags. Some leave a box for trash in front of their stand. Other places to find trash bins are restrooms and convenience stores.", "word_count": 468}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk034", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Drink", "text": "Seoul features a mind-bogglingly large array of nightspots catering to every taste and budget. **Hongdae** and **Sinchon** in Seodaemun-Mapo are Seoul's most active nightlife districts. **Itaewon** in Yongsan is Seoul's international district, with a wide variety of Western-styled venues to eat and drink. Since many foreigners congregate there, Itaewon remains somewhat of a niche nightlife area for Koreans interested in a more international scene. Itaewon is also home to the highest concentration of gay bars in Seoul, in an alleyway known as \"Homo Hill\". Much nightlife in Seoul revolves around soju. Soju is a traditional Korean spirit that comes in many varieties, including original and many kinds of fruit-flavored soju.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk035", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Seoul has two unofficial backpacker districts, Jongno (Anguk/Sinseol-dong) to the northeast of the city and Hongdae-Sinchon out to the west. Within walking distance to Dongdaemun Market, Jongno is better located for sightseeing and can be reached directly from Incheon Airport on limousine buses or city bus 6002 to *Sinseol-dong* stop (₩9,000, 90 min).\n\nThere are many budget accommodation places across Seoul. Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong and Jongno (Hanok area) are traditional hot spots for Foreign Individual Travelers (FIT). Furthermore, Gangnam is emerging thanks to the huge success of the eponymous song.\nHongdae, Sinchon area is in university area. Yonsei Univ., Ehwa woman's Univ., Hongik Univ. and Sogang Univ. are around this area. so there are many restaurants, bar, club and shopping center and easy to be reached from Incheon Airport by limousine bus and Arex (Airport express train) in 1 hour.\n\nGangnam has a wide range of luxury with the Imperial Palace Hotel, the Park Hyatt Seoul and the Ritz-Carlton Seoul.\n\nMost points of interest are along subway lines 1, 2, 3, and 4. So it's best to reside somewhere near a station on one or two of those lines.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk036", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Connect", "text": "Internet cafes known as **PC bang** (PC 방) (pr: pee-shee-bang) are ubiquitous in Seoul, and usually cost anywhere from ₩800–2,000/hr.\n\nthumb|A Korean keyboard using a Korean OS can type in English or Hangul.\n\nMost have printers at the front desk. These places cater chiefly to gamers, which translates into fairly fast computers, loud sound systems and large screens. Most PC Bangs have smoking sections. Typically, the computers run a Korean version of Windows 7 or 10 and use Internet Explorer and Chrome. That said, there is a variety of Wi-Fi networks available, and there is free access to the internet almost everywhere.\n\nConsole gaming (Xbox 360, PS3) is widely available, and for those with proficiency in Korean language, you might also be able to enjoy a round of online gaming; the fantasy MMORPG *Lineage* was created in Korea, and a slew of MMORPG titles not available anywhere else can be found here.\n\nPost offices are basically everywhere in Seoul, although many are hidden on smaller roads and alleys. If you cannot spot any post office nearby, it is good idea to visit a university (most universities have post offices). The Korean postal insignia is orange and white. It can be spotted on post office signs. Most post offices sell boxes and packing materials. Even the smaller offices typically have at least one English-speaking member of staff.\n\n - Seoul Central Post Office\n\n - Gwanghwamun Post Office\n\n - Seoul Gangnam Post Office\n\nUseful contact numbers are as follows:\n - Police\n\n - Fire Department\n\n - Travel Information\n\n - City Information", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk037", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Seoul is a remarkably safe city despite its size, comparable in safety to Hong Kong or Tokyo. Pickpocketing is not very common and violent crime is very rare. There are very few places where CCTV cameras are absent.\n\nSmoking is allowed only in designated areas. Walking while smoking can incur a fine.\n\nIf you happen to be a non-Korean man walking hand-in-hand with a Korean woman, drunk older Korean men might give you a tongue lashing or occasionally worse. This is far less of a problem than it used to be.\n\nIf you do end up in a fight and the attacker gets hurt, the fact that you didn't start the fight may not give you legal protection.\n\nDo not try to use drones to take pictures in Seoul, because most of the city (especially north of Han river) is a restricted flight area. \n\nUnfortunately, crimes by American soldiers against Koreans do happen, and when they do they often receive a huge amount of national attention. If you are a Westerner then you should exercise some extra care when such a case hits the media, although it is still highly unlikely you would be in any danger.\n\nthumb|250px|Protesters gathered in city hall plaza\n\n**Protesting**: Large-scale demonstrations against the government happen from time to time. Often they can result in violence where there are pitched battles between protesters and combat police. People do get seriously hurt, so try to avoid getting too close to the action.\n\n**Fake monks** have been known to operate in Seoul, notably around the Jogyesa temple. They are dressed as Buddhist monks requesting donations from people on the street in return for blessings, although they do not actually belong to any Buddhist order and just keep the cash for themselves. Actual monks would never seek donations in this manner. If you want to donate money, put it into the donation box in temples.\n\n**Scams:** Be wary of Korean people randomly coming to teach you about Korean culture and inviting you to try a Korean tradition in their studio. They tend to be very friendly to foreigners, offer to try a traditional Korean outfit and see a real-life Korean ceremony and then ask for money during or after it is done.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk038", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Medical\n\nPharmacies are everywhere in Seoul. While most are labeled only in Korean, the signage and Hangul character is easy to recognize, 약. Most pharmacists speak some English. Pharmacists are not shy about asking about your symptoms and selling you what they think you need. South Korea is a country where the lights never go out at night, but most pharmacies close at night. If you're feeling sick late at night, don't hesitate to head to a convenience store, where you can buy over-the-counter medications like Tylenol.\n\n - Medical Referral Service\n\nMedical bills can be expensive, so make sure you have valid travel insurance.\n\nSome people with sensitive stomachs should use caution when dining in Korea as some of the local cuisine is heavily spiced with copious amounts of pepper and garlic.\n\n### Air quality\n\nAir quality in Seoul is fine and improving. However, Seoul inhabitants sometimes wear different types of masks outdoors for allergies, smog and yellow dust storms (mostly in March–April). Mongolian yellow dust storms were regarded as dangerous long before industrialisation began in Asia. Now these storms pick up trace amounts of toxic chemicals from the Chinese industrial belt. Smog in Seoul is becoming less of a problem. In general, air quality has been improving since the early 2000s. Check the Korean Meteorological Administration for real-time weather info.\n\n### Credit Cards and ATMs\n\nForeign credit cards and even payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Pay frequently **do not work** in South Korea while domestic cards and several other digital payment systems are widely in use. Your best bet is a physical Visa or MasterCard credit card (preferably no debit) and a suitable amount of cash. Safe bets for Apple Pay and Google Pay to work are the convenience chains (7-Eleven, CU and GS25) as well as, unsurprisingly, Starbucks. Also, Uber does only work if your credit card is directly added to the Uber app without Apple or Google Pay in between.\n\nThe same goes for many ATMs which have to sport \"Global ATM\" signage to accept foreign cards.\n\n### Embassies\n\nSouth Korea hosts a large number of embassies in Seoul.\n\n - Afghanistan\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Bangladesh\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Bhutan\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Cambodia\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Ethiopia\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Hungary\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Italy\n\n - Jamaica\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kenya\n\n - Laos\n\n - Luxembourg\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Mongolia\n\n - Myanmar\n\n - Nepal\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Norway\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Peru\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Singapore\n\n - Slovakia\n\n - Slovenia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sri Lanka\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Tunisia\n\n - United Arab Emirates\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Vietnam", "word_count": 485}
+{"chunk_id": "seoul::chunk039", "doc_id": "seoul", "section": "Go next", "text": "The Korean Demilitarized Zone — the 'last frontier of the cold war', and is very close to Seoul. This includes the famous peace village of Panmunjeom where negotiations have taken place for the past 50 years. Many tour companies offer DMZ tours which is a day trip from Seoul, the highlight of which is a village lying in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. You cannot visit without booking with a tour company, and that some nationalities are not allowed to visit for security reasons while others (*including South Koreans and Chinese*) require additional procedures. Many of these attractions are closed as of 2024, due to rising tensions. Check with tour providers which sites can still be visited.\n Gwacheon — connected by short metro ride, it is home to many attractions such as Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Zoo, MMCA Gwacheon, and Gwacheon National Science Museum. \n Yeongjong Island — Beaches, hot springs and fresh sea breezes.\n Yongin — south of Seoul, home to Everland, Korea's most popular theme park as well as the Korean Folk Village, where traditional Korean arts are regularly performed in a living museum of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as Yongin Daejanggeum Park, an outdoor set built by Korean television broadcaster MBC for the filming of period dramas.\n Incheon — The place where U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in the Korean War; it also has the biggest and oldest Chinatown in Korea.\n Gapyeong — a popular weekend getaway, east of Seoul. A small town in the mountains of Gyeonggi-do, on the border of Gangwon-do.\n Chuncheon — Filmed in many Korean dramas and movies and now accessible by subway from Seoul\n Suwon — 30 km south of Seoul, the home of Hwaseong Fortress (화성), a UNESCO world heritage site. Subway line 1 can take you there in about one hour. Good for a half-day trip from Seoul.\n Busan — take a KTX or SRT high speed train down to Busan to enjoy the beach in summer. Makes a nice change of pace from Seoul.", "word_count": 338}
diff --git a/corpus/seoul/metadata.json b/corpus/seoul/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..708609d7a3ef062bfd50e0bdb6b23cac16c5377c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/seoul/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "seoul",
+ "title": "Seoul",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Seoul",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Gyeonggi"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "DMZ (Korea)",
+ "Panmunjeom",
+ "Gwacheon",
+ "Yeongjong Island",
+ "Yongin",
+ "Incheon",
+ "Gapyeong",
+ "Chuncheon",
+ "Suwon",
+ "Busan",
+ "Daejeon",
+ "Gwangmyeong",
+ "Daejeon",
+ "Suwon",
+ "Cheonan",
+ "Suwon",
+ "Incheon",
+ "Uijeongbu",
+ "Incheon International Airport",
+ "Incheon"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 9237,
+ "listing_count": 73,
+ "marker_count": 13,
+ "chunk_count": 40,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/serengeti/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/serengeti/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..801f465a16d3c3b913e701879b6ecd2795fef057
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/serengeti/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk000", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|400px|Thompson gazelles, Serengeti\n**Serengeti National Park** is a large conservation area in the north of Tanzania. The park flows over into neighboring Kenya where it's known as the Masai Mara.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk001", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Understand", "text": "The park is but one of several conservation areas within the Serengeti region of East Africa, though a vital one. As well as conserving fauna, flora and iconic landscapes, Serengeti National Park has emerged as a major tourist destination. People from all over come here to engage in safari. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai language, meaning 'endless plains' while the word safari is the Swahili word for 'journey'.\n\nSerengeti National Park is most famous for its animal migration. Nearly one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras move from the northern hills to the south every October and November during the short rains. They then move toward the west and north from April to June when the long rains progress. The instinct to migrate is strong. Hence, no drought, gorge, or river infested with crocodiles can prove to be a deterrent.\n\n### History\n\nFor a long period of time, the Serengeti was uninhabited which allowed the animals to roam freely until the Maasai started to migrate to the area around a hundred years ago. The earliest known professional hunters appeared in 1913. Soon the area became a game reserve and eventually, a national park was established in 1951.\n\nTwo World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the 30,000 km² region. Its unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, filmakers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous photographers and scientists.\n\nThe Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk002", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Understand", "text": "It is the migration for which Serengeti is most famous. Over a million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras journey south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then turn west and north after the long rains in April, May and June.\n\nOver 300,000 tourists visit the park every year.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe southern region of the Serengeti National park is naturally endowed with awe-inspiring terrain made up of nutrient-rich, flattened, open plains and short grasses as well as some granite kopjes spread out. With this type of vegetation, game viewing is guaranteed to be exceptional all throughout the year.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nWatching wildlife and the Great Migration in the Serengeti is tremendous! Nowhere on earth is there a sight that can rival the spectacle of 1.5 million hoofed animals on the march. Serengeti has the highest concentration of large mammals in the world and is famous for its 2,500 lions, the highest concentration found anywhere. Unlike in Kenya (with the exception of the Ngorongoro Crater), you rarely see other tourists or vehicles on a game drive in the Serengeti National Park.\n\nWild animals can be dangerous and you should not wander off on your own while on safari, especially at night. However most animals are frightened by humans and will flee rather than attack unless cornered or provoked. Keep a sensible distance and treat the animals with respect.\n\n### Birding\n\nEarly and late daylight hours are usually the best times to observe the more than 500 species of birds which have been identified in the Serengeti. Some of them migrate from Eurasia and are present in the Northern Hemisphere winter months from October to April.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk003", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Serengeti falls into the classic bimodal rain pattern of East Africa. The short rains are concentrated in November/December, the long and heavier rains in March - May. Mean monthly maximum temperatures are relatively uniform throughout the year being constant 27-28° C (or 75-80° F) at Seronera. At Ngorongoro Crater the nights can be very chilly due to altitude.\n\nAny time other than during the long rains in April and May is a perfect time to be on safari in Northern Tanzania. Game viewing and the number of other tourists varies widely according to the seasonal concentrations of wildlife. Most Safari operators will adjust their itineraries accordingly.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk004", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nThe nearest international airport to the Serengeti is Kilimanjaro Airport () http://www.kilimanjaroairport.co.tz/ near Arusha. International airlines flying into JRO from outside Africa include KLM, Qatar, Turkish, with Ethopian and Kenyan also offering services connecting via their home ports.\n\nDon't expect regular ground transport service to be available at Kilimanjaro Airport. Almost everyone arriving will have arranged their transport. Taxis are available into Arusha for around US$50.\n\nInternal flights by small aircraft from Arusha to the Seronera Airstrip in the heart of Serengeti or to Kirawira Airstrip in the Western Corridor cost US$165 per person one way. The cost of charter flights varies widely. Limit your baggage to 10-15 kg (20-30 pounds) per person. It is advisable to carry your luggage in soft bags rather than hard sided suitcases.\n\nIf you are travelling from Maasai Mara, then it is possible to fly via Migori and Tarime directly to Seronera with Sararlink and Coastal, avoiding the need to transfer via Nairobi. This is a coordinated transfer, and costs around US$600.\n\n### By car\n\nThe main access road into the Serengeti from Arusha passes the gate of Lake Manyara National Park, mounts the Rift Valley Escarpment, goes on through communal farming lands to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, drops down onto the plains past Olduvai Gorge to the east, and enters the Serengeti through Naabi Hill Gate. The distance is 325 km and the drive takes around eight hours. At Seronera and Lobo, garage facilities are available to refuel cars. Breakdown facilities, however, are virtually non-existent.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk005", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Park fees can be very expensive in Tanzania. If you book your trip through a travel agent they are generally included in the overall trip cost.\n\nIn Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation area the park fee is US$71 per person per day, for camping US$48 per person per night and US$30 per vehicle per day.\n\nThere is a number of definite \"don'ts\" in the Serengeti. These include approaching too close and disturbing animals, making an unacceptable noise, picking flowers or destroying vegetation, discarding litter, exceeding 50 km/h speed limit, bringing pets or firearms into the Park, and going off the roads within 16 km of Seronera.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk006", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Get around", "text": "Serengeti National Park is vast—covering **nearly 15,000 km² (5,700 sq mi)**—and distances between key areas can be long. Most visitors explore the park by 4×4 safari vehicle, though small aircraft are also commonly used to travel between regions.\n\n### By safari vehicle\n\nGame drives in 4×4 vehicles are the primary way to explore the Serengeti. These vehicles are designed for rough roads and wildlife viewing, usually with pop-up roofs for photography and visibility. Most visitors travel with experienced safari guides who know the park’s road network and wildlife movements.\n\nRoads inside the park are mostly dirt tracks, which can become dusty in the dry season and muddy during the rains. Despite this, the main routes between lodges and park gates are generally well maintained.\n\n### Self-driving\n\nSelf-driving is allowed and popular among experienced travelers. However:\n\n A reliable 4×4 vehicle is strongly recommended.\n Carry extra fuel, water, and spare tires due to long distances and limited services.\n Navigation can be challenging—GPS, maps, or offline navigation apps are useful.\n\nDrivers must stay on designated roads and avoid disturbing wildlife.\n\n### Distances and travel times\n\nThe Serengeti is much larger than most visitors expect, and travel between regions can take several hours. For example:\n\n Seronera (central Serengeti) to Naabi Hill Gate: about 80 km\n Seronera to northern Serengeti (Kogatende): 4–6 hours by road\n Seronera to western corridor (Grumeti): about 3–4 hours\n\nBecause of these long distances, many safaris include overnight stays in multiple areas of the park.\n\nBy air\n\nSeveral small airstrips serve different parts of the Serengeti, including:\n\n Seronera\n Kogatende\n Grumeti\n Ndutu (near the southern plains)\n\nScheduled and charter flights from **Arusha or Zanzibar** allow travelers to reach remote parts of the park quickly. Lodges typically provide transfers from the airstrip.\n\nWalking\n\nIndependent walking is **not permitted** due to the presence of large predators and other dangerous wildlife. Some lodges offer **guided walking safaris** in designated areas with armed rangers.\n\nBest way to explore\n\nMost visitors explore the Serengeti through organized safari tours, which provide transport, guides, accommodation, and park permits. This is generally the easiest and safest way to experience the park’s wildlife and vast landscapes.", "word_count": 355}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk007", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "See", "text": "### Lake Lagarja and Lake Masak, South Serengeti\n\nFrom December to May, depending on the rains, the large herds are concentrated on the low lying grass steppe between Olduvai, Gol, Naabi and Lagarja. A base on Lake Masak or Lake Lagarja is then ideal because one can travel from there in all directions.\n\nDay excursions take one into areas that are little known so that you can enjoy in peace an animal paradise: for example Hidden Valley, the Soito Ngum Kopjes or the Kakesio Plains. You will enjoy the freedom of travelling cross country in order to be able to find the best places and thus have the chance to see rarer animals such as honey-badgers, wild cats, porcupines. In the right season, Southern Serengeti is not to be surpassed.\n\n### Moru Kopjes and Seronera, Central Serengeti\n\nHere the savanna animals are joined by species that have adapted to living in the rocky cliffs. From here, or whilst in transit, you visit Seronera in the centre of the park searching for rare leopards and cheetahs. You can also enjoy the ever changing landscape with gallery forests, kopjes and water holes.\n\n### Lobo, North Serengeti\n\nThe North Serengeti is very different from the grassy plains in the South. As there is always water present the big herds retreat there in the dry season. In addition there are many species that live here permanently and you will also fairly regularly see elephants. A world for itself are the Bologonja Springs on the border to Kenya.\n\n### The 'Corridor', West Serengeti", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk008", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "See", "text": "This is a special area which is seldom offered on safari tours. Long distances, poor communications (few vehicles are equipped with a radio) and the frequently difficult road conditions still keep away most visitors from this part of the Serengeti which stretches almost as far as Lake Victoria. An important aspect of the Serengeti is therefore lost to them. This area is very different from the other main zones of the park. In the dry season large stretches of the route westward can be practically empty of animals. The last quarter of the route is however ideally suited to be the home for thousands of animals the whole year round. Gnus and zebras who are resident here do not join their migratory relatives who pass through every year on their way northwards.\n\nBig herds of giraffes, buffalo, eland, topis, kongonis, impalas, waterbuck and Thompson's gazelles live here together with them. All the big cats and hyenas are present in a good number as well.\n\nThe end of May through August is the time to view the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest in Western Serengeti. This is also the rut season for wildebeest and the plains are noisy with male wildebeest defending their temporary territories.\n\nA special attraction, that has become quite famous, is the crocodile population of the Grumeti River. This is particularly large at Kirawira, where the river does not dry up. The time spent at this life-giving water source can be among the most inter-esting. Here there are not only crocodiles and hippos to observe but also a large number of varieties of birds. Those tourists with a lot of time (or luck) will be able to discover the Black and White Colobus monkey in the crowns of the trees.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk009", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "See", "text": "On the wooded savannahs of the Ndabaka plains there is always something to see. You will always feel at peace at the calm pools and mysterious \"korongos\".\n\nDuring your excursions in this least visited part of Serengeti, you can stay at the most luxurious and exclusive camp near Kirawira, the \"Kirawira Serena Camp\", at Conservation Corporation's \"Grumeti River Camp\" (also very exclusive!) or at the cheaper, but good and charming new Speke Bay Lodge right on the shore of Lake Victoria (4 km outside the park, an hour's drive from Kirawira). Mbalageti Serengeti Mbalageti Serengeti is also in the Western corridor and offers an unparalleled view over the vast plains due to its stellar location.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk010", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Do", "text": "Take photographs! A good zoom and a large memory card make the results so good you'll be looking at the photos months and months later. (Save them on high quality image and you can do amazing things with your photo program when you get home!)", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk011", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Buy", "text": "Shopping in the Serengeti naturally is extremely limited due to the absence of human settlements. In Arusha, however, and other major towns you will find curio markets where you can buy all sorts of carvings, masks, Maasai spears, textiles, drums, tinga-tinga paintings, batik work, silk shawls, locally made jewelry, coffee, etc. The Arusha Heritage Centre offers a large variety of souvenirs and crafts. Also, The Sayari Camp had arrangements with locals to supply a little \"gift shop\" and the money goes right back into local programs.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping at restaurants (at your discretion) is 10%. It's common to tip US$5 for each traveler per day at lodge based safaris; US$10 per day for your driver guide and US$5 each per day for the camp staff when camping on mobile safaris.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk012", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Eat", "text": "Eat fresh roasted cashews, drink watermelon juice, try the tiny sweet bananas or even the red bananas.\n\nMost visitors are surprised by the quality and the variety of the food available on safari. No matter whether you are staying in a lodge, a tented camp or a mobile safari camp, you will be served freshly prepared food according to international tastes and standards.\n\nBottled water can be purchased at all the lodges and camps and is provided by all safari operators. Non-alcoholic drinks are often included in the all inclusive rates. It is wise to stick with bottled drinks. Food like salad, hand made pasta bear the risk of catching diarrhea.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk013", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Drink", "text": "Coffee and mbungo juice are common non-alcoholic drinks found in the park. If you want something stronger, you can try tusker lager and Amarula, a cream liqueur made from the marula plant. Boiled or bottled drinks bear less risk of diarrhea.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk014", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Sleep", "text": "If you go on an organised safari with a tour operator you will mostly sleep in mobile camps. Here facilities are more limited. The tents usually have simple beds with lining and duvets, camping toilets and showers depending on the safari operator.\n\nMany lodges and tented camps operate their own generators or solar lighting systems providing intermittent electricity.\n\n### Safari lodges\n\nThe term and the concept of the safari lodge are of Tanzanian origin. Here you will find buildings of exciting design, specially build to fit in with the wild landscape of the parks, yet with all the amenities of a luxury hotel, such as swimming pools and fine food. As you eat, drink, laze by the pool or sit on your private veranda, you will be able to observe game, often at only a few yards distance.\n\n### Luxury tented camps\n\nThere are a few luxury tented camps in the Serengeti offering an absolutely unique safari experience. The tents usually offer fully equipped en suite bathrooms, private verandas and elegant furniture. At night you can listen to the wild sounds of the Serengeti cuddled up in a warm and comfortable bed!\n\n- Mapito Tented Camp\n\n- Mwanga Moto Mobile Luxury Camp\n\n- Serengeti Migration Camp\n\n- Kensington Camps\n\n### Camping\n\nA much cheaper alternative is to stay on one of the Serengeti's nine campsites. If you wish to stay at them you must obtain permission from TANAPA or the nearest park warden.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "serengeti::chunk015", "doc_id": "serengeti", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The temperature lets one forget the altitude of Serengeti, which facilitates sunburn. Do not forget sunscreen, or cover yourself with appropriate clothes. Take diarrhoea medicine with you and pay attention when eating and drinking. Health care is limited in the region, but if you have a problem seek help with your lodge. For more serious emergencies, you may end up in Nairobi, or being evacuated to your home country.", "word_count": 69}
diff --git a/corpus/serengeti/metadata.json b/corpus/serengeti/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3ae52fc3d91b231752b12f66ba7b3ecb59f23531
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/serengeti/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "serengeti",
+ "title": "Serengeti National Park",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Serengeti_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northeast Tanzania"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 2743,
+ "listing_count": 4,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/seychelles/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/seychelles/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0304e7af895482cc7a0fc98547baa51d1529e225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/seychelles/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk000", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Seychelles** (Seychellois Creole: *Sesel*) is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and east of Kenya. It consists of 115 islands, of which the largest are Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. The capital and largest city is Victoria, located on the island of Mahe.\n\nSeychelles is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. The economy is largely based on tourism and fishing, and the country has made significant progress in developing its infrastructure and promoting sustainable development.\n\nSeychelles is also home to a unique biodiversity, with many species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. The Aldabra Atoll, a , is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and is home to over 150,000 giant tortoises.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk001", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Regions", "text": "### Inner Seychelles\n\nThe vast majority of the Seychelles' population lives on these granite islands, home to the bulk of the country's resorts.\n\n### [[Outer Seychelles]]\n\nThe Outer Seychelles are corralline and mostly uninhabited. Visitors are rare, and will find themselves traveling either by private yacht or between remote airstrips on small local planes.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk002", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the capital city\n \n - district in Seychelles", "word_count": 8}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk003", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "– one of the last few expanses of pristine tropical rainforests", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk004", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Seychelles' tourism industry offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including snorkeling, diving, fishing, hiking, and island-hopping. The country is home to several stunning natural attractions, such as the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, which is a and home to the iconic coco de mer palm tree. Seychelles also boasts several national parks and marine reserves, such as the Sainte Anne Marine National Park and the Curieuse Marine National Park, which offer opportunities to see a variety of marine life and unique bird species.\n\nIn the 1970s, the Seychelles was the place to \"see and be seen\" among the world's elite, and many famous celebrities of the time holidayed there. While mention of the Seychelles may still evoke an image of a prohibitively expensive private island getaway (and that may be true depending on which islands you visit), the islands are becoming more and more affordable. Prices however remain high compared to similar beachy, tropical destinations like the Canary Islands, the Philippines, Sri Lanka or Zanzibar.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|La Digue sunset\nMaldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. The first European to sight the islands was Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama who passed through the Amirantes in 1502 and named them after himself (Islands of the Admiral); later Portuguese expeditions mapped some of the islands. The first Europeans to land on the Seychelles were the crew of a British ship, the *Ascension*, but the islands were not claimed until French sailors on the *Le Cerf* visted the islands. *Le Cerf*'s commander, Nicholas Morphey, laid a Stone of Possession on Mahé, officially claiming the islands for France. During the French Revolutionary Wars, minor sea skirmishes occurred around the Seychelles between Britain and France, but France retained possession.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk005", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1770, the first enslaved Africans were brought to the islands on the French ship *Thélémaque*. In 1794, British forces landed on the Seychelles as part of the greater War of the First Coalition, forcing the French commander to capitulate. Britain gained full control of the islands along with Mauritius in 1814, after which the islands remained a French-speaking British colony. In 1903, the Seychelles were made a separate colony within the British Empire. In 1976 the islands became independent, but a coup by France Albert René in 1977 ended the short-lived parliamentary democracy. René ruled over the islands as a \"benevolent dictator\", overseeing both massive economic and social growth but also horrible human rights violations. In 1979, the Seychelles constitution was amended to declare a \"one-party Socialist state\", although the islands took a relatively neutral stance during the greater Cold War (the Seychelles was officially part of the Non-Aligned Movement).\n\nIn 1981, the **Seychelles Incident** occurred when a group of South African mercenaries, backed by Mike Hoare and masquerading as holidaying rugby players, engaged in a gun battle with Seychellois forces at the airport in Malé in an attempted overthrow of René's government before hijacking a plane and returning to the mainland. In 1993, after the majority of foreign aid dried up with the dissolution of the USSR and the reunification of Germany, René was pressured into holding democratic elections, ending the era of one-party rule. René himself continued to be president until 2004. The 2020 election was the first time that the Seychelles People's Progressive Front did not win the presidency since the party's founding.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk006", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Understand", "text": "Thanks to a small population, a booming tourism industry, and a legacy of Socialist policies aimed towards racial and economic equality, the Seychelles now has the highest Human Development Index, the highest nominal GDP per capita, and the strongest electoral democracy in Africa. The government of the Seychelles has made environmental protection a cornerstone of its policies, and today a large portion of the islands and the waters surrounding them are protected areas.\n\n### Climate\n\nSeychelles is hot and humid, with an average yearly temperature of 84°F (29°C), and average sea temperature rarely dropping below 81°F (27°C). However, the heat is usually mitigated by refreshing sea breezes, especially by the beaches. The cooler season in Seychelles is during the southeast monsoon season (May to September) and the warmer season is during the northwest monsoon (November to March). April and October are \"changeover months\" between the two monsoons, when the wind is variable. The northwest monsoon season tends to be warmer with more rain, while the southeast monsoon season is usually drier and cooler.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nSeychelles Tourism website", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk007", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Talk", "text": "Languages spoken in the Seychelles are Seychellois Creole, English and French. You'll be able to get around just fine with just a little French. A couple of basic polite words will go a long way to get a smile from the friendly and helpful locals.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk008", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visas are not required, though all foreigners must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months, and must have proof of accommodation bookings before arrival (these may be checked). All foreign travelers must apply for an Electronic Border Travel permit to enter the Seychelles. An initial entry permit is granted for 1 month but can be extended for up to 12 months, 3 months at a time.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|An airplane of the national carrier, Air Seychelles, on Seychelles International Airport\n\n **Seychelles International Airport** (). The only international gateway to the Seychelles near the national capital, Victoria. '''Air Seychelles''' is the country's flag carrier and flies from Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Paris, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Mauritius and Antananarivo. International service is also available from Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways), and regular charter services from Frankfurt (Condor) and Zurich (Edelweiss)\n\n### By boat\n\nThe strict controls imposed on cruising yachts in the early 1990s have been gradually lifted and rules and regulations are no longer so complicated. However, some restrictions remain in force, mostly for the sake of environmental protection as most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs near the surface.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk009", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nAir Seychelles operates multiple daily flights between Mahe and Praslin. Over two dozen flights vary in frequency from 15-minute to 2-hour intervals, depending on time of day.\n\nAir Seychelles also operates once daily or several times per week between Mahe and the islands of Bird, Denis, Fregate, Desroches and Alphonse. Assumption Island and Coetivy can be reached by air charter.\n\n### By helicopter\n\nZil Air provides charter helicopter flights to/from most of the inner and outer Seychelles Islands. It is the only scenic flight operator in the Seychelles. Scenic flights can be booked to cover the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the surrounding smaller islands of (among others) Cousine, Félicité, Grande Seour, Curieuse and Bird Island.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Port Victoria inner harbour\n\nCat Cocos operates catamaran ferries that provide several daily crossings between Mahe and Praslin and a daily crossing extension to La Digue. The sailing normally takes one hour. Non-residents should budget between SCR1,300 and SCR1,820 per person (February 2021) for a one way ticket from Mahe to Praslin. Tickets can be purchased from the Cat Cocos office, opposite the pier, on the same day before travel subject to availability.\n\nSimilarly, Inter Island Ferry operate a route between Praslin and La Digue with 8 daily departures taking 15 min to cross. Tickets cost around €15 for an adult single (July 2013). The schedule usually allows for onward connections to Mahe with Cat Cocos at Praslin harbour.\n\nIt is also possible to take small boats from Mahe direct to La Digue, although departures can be unreliable, there is limited wet weather cover and the journey takes about 3 hours (but that's cheaper than an Indian Ocean Island cruise!)", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk010", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Get around", "text": "Online booking with live seat availability and e-ticketing are possible for Cat Cocos and Inter Island Ferry.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving in Seychelles is on the **left** side of the road. The roads on Mahé are low-traffic, mountainous, and narrow, so caution is advised.\n\nThat said, renting a car is really a good idea and makes life much more simple. For as little as 100 rupees worth of gas you can see the entire island of Mahe in a couple of hours, including stops at beaches and whatever else catches your eye. There is free parking in 'downtown' Victoria on Mahe, and if you go with a B&B or self-catering option for accommodations it's by far the easiest way to pick up groceries. A car will also allow you access to the larger stores where locals do their shopping, which are much cheaper than the convenience stores along the beaches. There is no substitute for running your vacation on your own schedule.\n\nYou can only rent on Mahé and Praslin. You can find a small car (e.g., Hyundai Atos) for €35-45 per day, but keep in mind that renters must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, and have at least three years of driving experience. There are several car hire counters outside the arrivals hall at Mahe international airport, which provide a convenient way to compare prices from different hire companies. Prices can be negotiated, with the better rate available for rental periods of 3 consecutive days or more. The 'excess' payable by the customer in the event of a claim, ranges from €300 to €1000 depending on the company, so choose carefully and ask the right questions.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk011", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are also a popular means of transportation for both short trips and day rental and can be obtained almost anywhere. Taxi prices for non-residents (approx. 50 rupees per km in 2023) on a relatively long trip, can easily exceed the cost of hiring a small car for a day.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Victorial Bus Terminal\nSeychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) runs daily bus services on the islands of Praslin and Mahe from morning to evening on nearly every available road on the island. The bus usually passes by every 15 minutes. On Mahe you can easily use the SPTC bus to travel to and from the airport so long as you have local currency in small bills.\n\nAlthough the bus will get you there, the schedules aren't tight and the drivers drive with aggressively on the very narrow roads if you're a nervous passenger. As of 2023, bus drivers may forbid you to board the bus if you have large items of luggage.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk012", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Coco de mer forest in Vallée de Mai\n\n **Visit the beaches**. Many of the beaches are seemingly untouched by human influence and are refreshingly uncrowded. They offer clear blue skies and a tranquility you will rarely find. A hike along the coastline from Beau Vallon to Anse Major will take about 1.5-2 hours and your reward will be a small deserted beach that's fit for a king. The scenery along the hike is breath-taking. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming depending on the time of year, due to the seasonal winds. Do not ignore warning signs indicating that a beach is hazardous for swimming, no matter how appealing the waters may look.\n **Vallée de Mai** is a national park and World Heritage Site, home to amazing flora and fauna, including the world's largest seed: the coco de mer. Entrance fee: Free for residents, 315 rupees for foreigners (Sep 2010).\n **Aldabra Atoll**: The world's largest coral atoll that stretches about east to west and encloses a huge tidal lagoon. Aldabra is the original home of the giant land tortoise, and tiger sharks and manta rays can also often be seen here.\n **Cousin Island** is owned by BirdLife International. This non-profit purchased the whole island in 1968 to protect the endangered Seychelles warbler\n **Victoria**, the capital on Mahe Island, has several good museums including the Natural History Museum, where you can hold the famed coco-de-mer, and the National Museum of History with good photo displays and a video presentation.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk013", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Hiking in the water\n**Water sports**: The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for water enthusiasts. Explore on the board of a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat. Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May and October, at the start and end of the trade winds.\n\nScuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing are also extremely popular and can be done almost anywhere in Seychelles. Baie Ternay is superb and easily accessible by glass bottom boat tour from Beau Vallon beach - leave yourself an empty day and walk the beach for a 'last minute' booking - great deals can be bargained. Snorkeling (provided you have your own gear - some hotels lend masks, snorkels and fins to guests) is free and there are many great spots: off some of the small beaches at Glacis, past Mouse Island at Anse Royale, along the reef at Port Launay (near Ephelia Resort). Often spotted are a wide array of tropical fish, sea turtles, eagle rays and more!\n\n**Land sports**: Golf, tennis, squash, badminton, horseback riding, biking and hiking are some of the recreational activities available on the Seychelles Islands. Bike rentals and walking tours are great ways to sightsee and since distances are relatively short and the scenery is beautiful, walking is probably the best way to see the smaller islands (La Digue, Praslin), while walking along the main road can be quite intimidating as the roads are narrow and local cars/busses drive quite quickly. On Mahe it is not advised to ride bicycles, and there are no rental shops within sight. Bird watching is also popular and the islands are home to many of the world's rarest species of animals. The best place to do so is Cousin Island which although only 1 km (0.6 miles) in diameter, is home to more than 300,000 birds, but many unique species can be found on Mahe.\n\nSeychelles also has numerous markets, art galleries and shops, colonial Creole-style plantation houses, and the main island of Mahé has six museums, a botanical garden, and several national monuments. The market downtown Victoria has a good selection of local produce, and spices for sale that are all grown locally and 100% authentic.", "word_count": 374}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk014", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Learn", "text": "The University of the Seychelles has a medical degree for Americans.\n\nPublic education has been free and mandatory for children aged 6-16 since 1980. There is a teacher training college and a polytechnic institute, and as mentioned above, the University of Seychelles - American Institute of Medicine does exist. Because of the absence of higher education facilities, many students study abroad, mostly in the United Kingdom.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk015", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Work", "text": "Working and doing business in the Seychelles can be difficult due to the humidity and heat. Forget about wearing a suit; rather, opt for a light cotton shirt and pants. The atmosphere in the Seychelles is relaxed and it can take a lot of effort to achieve very little.\n\nTourism is one of the most important sectors of the economy. In fact, about 15 percent of the work force is directly employed in tourism, and employment in banking, transportation, construction, and other activities is closely tied to the tourist industry.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk016", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe islands' currency is the **Seychellois rupee**, denoted by the symbol \"**SR**\" or \"**SRe**\" (ISO code: **SCR**). ATMs usually have the best conversion rates; however, airports and banks also exchange money.\n\nCoins of the Seychelles are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents, 1, 5 and 10 rupees. Banknotes of the Seychelles are issued in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 rupees.\n\nThere is no longer a black market in currency.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|A supermarket in Seychelles.\nThe best place for shopping is Victoria, the capital, and more specifically the market at the city centre, Seychelles Buy and Sell. There are also a few outlets on the island, Praslin, but few shopping areas on the other islands. Larger hotels have boutiques but shopping in Seychelles is not one of the major attractions.\n\nWhile visiting, be sure to buy the classic and traditional Seychelles souvenir, the coco-de-mer, or the 'nut of the sea,' a nut from trees native to the islands in the Seychelles - but this requires an export licence. Other locally made souvenirs, although not as unique, can be purchased like sea shell and pearl jewellery, textiles and straw hats, in addition to needlework and crochet, paintings by local artists and woodwork.\n\n### Tipping\n\nMost service providers already include a service charge of 5–10%. Tipping is not obligatory in the Seychelles; however, any extra change is greatly appreciated.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk017", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Barbecue fish at a market\nSeychellois cuisine has been greatly influenced by the islands' rich cultures. Creole cooking, varied seafood dishes, coconuts and curries are the most popular. The main product of the country, fish, is cooked in a variety of ways. The red snapper is very tasty and well known to visitors.\n\nThere are restaurants that serve Chinese, Indian and Italian food as well as local cuisine.\n\nCheapest food: Collect coconuts on the beach and learn how to open them (not the shell, that's easy; they have a thick cover of natural fibres; to open it: hit the coconut very strongly many times on the edges, sooner or later the fibres break up).", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk018", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Drink", "text": "Seychelles offers a fantastic nightlife scene that caters to tourists. The active nightlife is mostly located around the larger hotels and in addition to theatres, cinemas and discos, there are numerous fun and trendy restaurants.\n\n**Nightlife**: Do not miss most popular nightclub \"Lovenut\" in the centre of Victoria, 100 metres walk from central taxi station. Also entertaining are \"Tequila Boom\" at (Bel Ombre) and \"Katiolio\" (near Anse Royale) night clubs. \"Katiolio\" was one of the first nightclubs to open on Mahe and is open-air beside the ocean.\n\nIf you enjoy a good beer, try the local Seybrew beer; it tastes similar to a light Bavarian-style beer and helps you through those balmy days. You can save yourself a packet buying the beer from stores on the side of the road like the locals do rather than from hotels.\n\nA dark Takamaka rum on the beach under the stars is the best way to end a day on the Seychelles.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk019", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Pool at a resort\nThe Seychelles are not tolerant of backpackers turning up at the airport without accommodation booked. In such a situation, you will likely be taken to a counter where you will have to book & pay for accommodation for the duration of your trip before being allowed through immigration. Visitors need to provide details of their accommodation on their landing card (Hotel Name, address, phone number), and additionally, will be questioned by the immigration officer about their accommodation details (\"Is your booking at hotel confirmed?\", etc.)\n\nThe common perception of Seychelles only offering expensive accommodation is unfortunate as it is possible to find accommodation to fit most budgets. Some establishments will offer you a double room for two people starting at €65. At this price point you can expect a basic room, but you will have the Creole hospitality that has made this island so famous. However, most accommodation is relatively expensive and some islands have only one hotel. In fact, some of the islands aren't even permanently inhabited and accommodation can be found on fewer than 10. Your best bet for a budget bed is renting an apartment or bungalow, which are available at better rates. Also keep in mind that hotel prices greatly increase and accommodation can be hard to find during the peak seasons from December to January and July to August. Holidays such as Easter can also get very busy.\n\nMost resorts can be found on the main islands of Mahe and Praslin. A few (very) high end ones, like the North Island, have their own private islands. Additionally, you will find an array of 'small hotels' which can feel exclusive.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk020", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Try to avoid any dark lanes, and always be careful not to leave your bag unattended. Swimming alone on isolated beaches is not advisable. If you sail, avoid bringing valuables; if you have no choice, become adept at finding great hiding places.\n\nThere is some sketchy activity along a shady secondary road behind Beau Vallon beach (left from the Boathouse restaurant) on Mahé, but locals mostly seem content to admire their flashy cars and mostly ignore passers-by.\n\nThere are tourist police stationed at every beach on Mahé and are easily recognizable by their blue or white golf shirts, with a tourist police badge sewn on. They are very friendly and more than willing to help keep a good eye, even though you may not see them. They are honest and freely offer advice. Potential thieves are obvious (mostly due to lurking and just stand out from the locals) and tend to hide just off the beach or across the narrow streets near more out of the way beaches. Jail terms are stiff and are strictly enforced since the island makes lots of money from tourism.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk021", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Chikungunya** virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes, and causes flu-like symptoms. It is increasing in concern and although it is rare to die from it, the joint pain it causes can last for months. Insect repellent can help deter mosquitoes but not much else can be done as a precaution. The disease is native to East Africa and occasionally is introduced and quickly eradicated.\n\n**Tap water** is safe to drink in most areas of the Seychelles, but water quality is variable in undeveloped areas. It is recommended to drink bottled water only and to avoid bodies of fresh water like lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.\n\nLimited medical services are available outside the capital city of Victoria.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk022", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Respect", "text": "The environment is a treasured aspect of Seychelles and there are more than 1,000 recorded species of fish around the islands and Aldabra, just one of the islands, is home to the largest population of giant tortoises in the world. Do the effort of respecting it and leaving it clean for visitors to come.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk023", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Connect", "text": "The Seychelles Tourism board is a great point of reference and they will be able to answer any and all questions you might have. Their website is www.seychelles.travel", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk024", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies and consulates\n\nThere are only six embassies and High Commissions, and another dozen or so consulates. The Chinese embassy is an attraction itself while the multilevel, colonial-era Victoria House on the corner of Francis Rachel & State House Streets is home to several of these consulates.\n\n - Belgium\n\n - France\n\n - Greece\n\n - India\n\n - Mauritius\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Norway\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "seychelles::chunk025", "doc_id": "seychelles", "section": "Go next", "text": "Try Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Many tourists travel to these alternative destinations because of their similarity and because accommodation and travel are less expensive there.", "word_count": 25}
diff --git a/corpus/seychelles/metadata.json b/corpus/seychelles/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..be05ed2f67fad57f5d6a4b3fd4b3b163421f5267
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/seychelles/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "seychelles",
+ "title": "Seychelles",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Seychelles",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East African Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Comoros",
+ "Mauritius",
+ "Madagascar"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3989,
+ "listing_count": 11,
+ "marker_count": 4,
+ "chunk_count": 26,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/shanghai/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/shanghai/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..78406eed429d5ead13cf23ed9953ccfc49f54a8f
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+++ b/corpus/shanghai/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk000", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Shanghai** (上海; *Zånhae* in Shanghainese, *Shànghǎi* in Mandarin) is the most developed city in China, the country's main center for finance and fashion, and one of the world's most populous and important cities. Shanghai is a fascinating mix of East and West. It has historic *shikumen* (石库门) houses that blend the styles of Chinese houses with European design flair, and it has one of the richest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. There were concessions (designated districts) controlled by Western powers in the late 19th and early 20th century, so many neighbourhoods have buildings in various Western styles.\nthumb|Mouth of Suzhou Creek
Bund to left, Hongkou to right
Zhabei in background\nShanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River (黄浦江 *Huángpǔ Jiāng*), which divides the city into **Puxi** (浦西 *Pǔxī*), west of the river, and **Pudong** (浦东 *Pǔdōng*), east of the river. Both terms can be used in a general sense for everything on their side of the river, including various suburbs. However, they are more often used in a much narrower sense where Puxi is the older (since the 19th century) city center ( below) and Pudong the mass of new (since 1990) high-rise development right across the river from there ( below).\n\nThis is an overview article for the entire municipality. For the **central districts** which have most of the tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants and nightspots, see and below.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk001", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Districts", "text": "Shanghai Municipality has 16 administrative districts, each with at least a few hundred thousand people, and Wikivoyage has separate articles for most of them. Here we try to split them up in a way that will make sense for travellers.\n\n### Downtown\n\nThe **historic core of Shanghai**, it includes both the old Chinese city and the area of the International Settlement which began in the 1840s and lasted until the 1930s. It can be called **Puxi** (浦西), **downtown Shanghai** (上海市区) or the **city center** (市中心). Today this area is still the core of the city. Most of the tourist attractions and many hotels are here, and many metro lines run through it.\n\nThe four downtown districts are:\n\nOf course \"downtown\" is not precisely defined; the four districts we have above are clearly the most central, but some definitions would include others which we list under inner suburbs below, and some would include parts of the Pudong New Area, perhaps everything within the outer ring road.\n\n### Pudong\n\nDirectly across the river from (east of) downtown, Pudong has been a major **center of development** since about 1990, becoming a skyscraper-filled financial center. Pudong is listed here separately from the older downtown area on the Puxi side, but it might be described as an extension of the downtown core or even as the new center of the city.\nthumb|Lujiazui, seen from the Bund.\n\nIn Shanghai's administrative system, the area Wikivoyage describes in the Pudong article is just the central part of a much larger official district called Pudong New Area, which also includes the less developed Nanhui to the south. Wikivoyage has a separate article for Nanhui, and it is listed as an outer suburb below.\n\n### Inner suburbs\n\nThe inner suburbs all (except Yangpu) have direct borders with the downtown core, all are quite built up, and all have good metro service. All are primarily residential areas, but most have considerable industry and many offices as well and all have some large shopping malls. They are visible in various shades of green on both the \"inner districts\" map above and the \"outer suburbs\" map below.\n\nThese districts have some tourist attractions and several have hotels that are cheaper than those downtown but still convenient for sightseeing or shopping. Several have universities, and nearby areas tend to have many low-priced restaurants and bars catering to the student market; see below and the district articles for details.\n\nHongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station are in this area, on the border between Changning and the northern tip of Minhang.\n\n### Outer suburbs\n\nThe outer suburbs wrap around the southern, western and northwestern sides of the city. The sea is on the east and south, while the Yangtze River is on the northeast.\n\nAll of these areas still include some farmland but large parts of them are already covered with residential and industrial suburban development and the trend shows no sign of stopping. What were once rural villages serving nearby farms have become towns, often fairly interesting ones preserving traditional buildings while hosting new high-rises and malls.\n\nAll of these suburbs have metro connections and there are also many buses. See the district articles for more detail.\n\nThe beaches along the seacoast at the southern edge of the municipality — Fengxian, Jinshan and Nanhui — are popular as a weekend getaway for Shanghai residents.\n\n### The islands", "word_count": 562}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk002", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "Shanghai is one of four cities in China that are administered as municipalities (市), meaning that it is not part of any province, and its government instead reports directly to the central government in Beijing.\n\nThere are several ways to rate the size of cities; based on UN numbers, Shanghai is the fifth-largest city in the world after Jakarta, Dhaka, Tokyo and Delhi. By any measure, it is in the top ten for the world and either the largest in China or second to Chongqing.\n\nThe municipality covers quite a large area — 6341 km2 or 2,448 square miles — and has a population over 25 million, about the same as Australia. Its GDP is larger than that of many countries, and it has the world's busiest container port. Shanghai is the main hub of the East China region, all of which is densely populated, heavily industrialized, prosperous, well supplied with migrant workers from poorer parts of China, and still growing.\n\nHistory has shaped Shanghai's cityscape significantly. British-style buildings can still be seen on the Bund, while French-style buildings are still to be found in the former French Concession. What was once a horse racing track on the edge the British area is now People's Park, with a major metro interchange underneath. Other metro stops include the railway station at the edge of what was once the American area, and Lao Xi Men and Xiao Nan Men, Old West Gate and Small South Gate respectively, named for two of the gates of the old Chinese walled city.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk003", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city by Chinese standards, although it is less diverse than many western cities. The population was 23 million as of the 2010 census; 9 million (almost 40%) of those were migrants, people from elsewhere in China who have come to find work or to attend one of Shanghai's many educational institutions. There is also a substantial international contingent: 208,300 foreigners lived in Shanghai as of 2010, slightly over a third of the national total of 594,000. There are services catering to these migrants — restaurants with food from anywhere in China for the migrants (in particular, much good cheap Sichuan food and West-of-China noodles) and a variety of grocery stores, restaurants and bars that cater to the foreigners.\n\nGroups of refugees from other parts of the world have sometimes arrived in Shanghai. One group were White Russians fleeing the 1917 revolution; in the 1920s the French Concession had more Russians than French (and of course more Chinese than both of those together). Another group were Jews leaving Germany in the 1930s; they mainly settled in Hongkou, a district that already had many Jews. After Japan took over Korea in 1910 and Manchuria in 1931, Shanghai received refugees from both regions.\n\nThere is an *Encyclopedia of Shanghai*, in English, that is available both as a book in local bookstores and online at the municipal government site. Much of it is rather boring — statistics, photos of the officials in charge of each development project, and project descriptions that give much financial and engineering detail — but there is also some quite useful material. For example, it has detailed descriptions of every museum and park in the city.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk004", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Suzhou Creek** (Wusong River, 苏州溪） is more a small river than a creek, a tributary which flows into the Huangpu at the north end of the Bund. It starts near Suzhou and is the outlet for Lake Tai. Within Shanghai parts of it form the boundary between Huangpu and Jing'an districts to the south and Hongkou and Zhabei to the north. Beisuzhou Road and Nansuzhou Road run along the riverbanks downtown; *bei* and *nan* are Chinese for north and south respectively.\n\n### Economy\n\nShanghai is strategically positioned: near the geographic center of China, at the mouth of the great Yangtze River and surrounded by fertile delta land. It has been a trading city for a thousand years and one of China's main centers of trade since the 1840s; today it is a major transport hub. It has the world's busiest container port and additional port facilities are under development. Shanghai's Pudong Airport is a global air hub and ranks third on a list of China's busiest airports, behind Beijing and Guangzhou. Shanghai's other airport, Hongqiao, ranks fourth. The city is also very well connected by both road and rail.\n\nShanghai is also one of the main industrial centers of China, and the municipal government has set up a number of industrial zones to encourage additional development. GDP was $670 billion in 2023, less than the US or China, about the same as Japan, Germany or California, and more than any other country.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk005", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to a saying, \"Shanghai is heaven for the rich, hell for the poor.\" People from all over China flock to Shanghai — everyone from farmers seeking jobs in manual labour to university graduates seeking to start a career or wanting to live in a cool up-tempo city. About 40% of the population, 9 million out of 23, are migrants from other parts of China. Real estate prices, especially in central areas, have skyrocketed in the past few years; rents are among the highest in the world and even well-off people complain that buying a home is becoming impossible.\n\nThe surrounding East China region is populous, prosperous, highly developed, and still growing. Shanghai plays an important role as the center of that region.\n\n### History\n\nWhile the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and there has been a town at least since the Song Dynasty, a thousand years or so ago, Shanghai only rose to prominence after China lost the First Opium War in 1842. Shanghai was one of the five cities which China was forced to open to Western trade as treaty ports. Shanghai grew amazingly after that; until then nearby cities like Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing had been far more important, but since the late 19th century Shanghai has been the center of the region.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk006", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "By the early 20th century, Shanghai was the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East, and one of the wildest. With the opening up of China since the late 1970s, Shanghai has regained much of its former glory and has surpassed it in many ways; the pace of development being absolutely furious. Today, Shanghai is again one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Asia, though not nearly as wild as it once was. It is now a very attractive city for travellers from all over the world, and a major destination for both tourism and business.\n\nthumb|300px|Shanghai in 1907.
The former racecourse is now People's Park\nFrom the early 1840s to the late 1930s parts of Shanghai were concessions, areas administered by foreign powers. Eight nations—Britain, France, the US, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Japan—had concessions in Shanghai, areas that they controlled and where Chinese law did not apply. Most of these were jointly administered as the \"International Settlement\", but the French ran theirs separately. In all of them, the population was mainly Chinese but there were also many foreigners, and the government and legal system were foreign. The police included many Sikhs and some French gendarmes.\n\nMany important Chinese lived in the concession areas. Chairman Mao's Shanghai house is now a museum in Jing'an District, while both the houses of several other leaders and the site of the first national meeting of the Communist Party are now museums in the French Concession.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk007", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "Today most of the former concession areas are parts of downtown Shanghai, listed at above.\n \"Central District\" on the old map was British and the center of colonial Shanghai. It corresponds roughly to the modern district Huangpu.\n The horse-racing track on the edge of that area is now People's Square, considered the center of modern Shanghai.\n \"Western District\" was mostly British but also included the Italian Concession. It corresponds roughly to Jing'an.\n \"French Settlement\" on the old map corresponds roughly to Luwan District; the Concession later expanded westward to include Xuhui District, and our French Concession article covers both.\n \"The Bund\" was mostly British, though parts of it were in the American concession.\n Hongkou was the site of the former Japanese concession.\n\nThe \"Chinese City\" was the walled city of Shanghai for hundreds of years before the modern city developed around it. It has its own Wikivoyage article, Old City.\n\n\"Northern District\" and \"Eastern District\" were once the American Concession; today they are parts of Zhabei and Hongkou, respectively. They receive fewer visitors than the districts mentioned above, but they do have some attractions and the Shanghai Railway Station is in Zhabei. These are listed under .\n\nShanghai reached its zenith in 1920s and 30s and was at that time the most prosperous city in East Asia. On the other hand, the streets were largely ruled by the triads (Chinese gangs) during that period, with the triads sometimes battling for control of parts of Shanghai. That period has been greatly romanticised in many modern films and television serials, one of the most famous being *The Bund*, which was produced by Hong Kong's TVB in 1980. Shanghai also became the main center of Chinese entertainment during that period, with many films and songs produced in Shanghai.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk008", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|[[Shanghai/Zhabei|Zhabei]] burning during Battle of Shanghai, 1937\nShanghai was occupied by the Japanese in 1937 after a bitter battle lasting several months; see Pacific War for the context. Japan and its puppet regime remained in control until 1945 and, as with elsewhere in China, life in Shanghai at that time was very difficult.\n\nThe foreign concessions were removed after the war, and trade resumed. After the Communist victory in the civil war in 1949, many of the people involved in the entertainment industry, as well as much of the upper class and intellectuals, fled to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Shanghai's days of glory were — temporarily as it turned out — over. That said, during the planned economy era, Shanghai was still a major industrial hub producing goods from milk candy to cargo ships, and was a major tax contributor among the provinces.\n\nSince China's \"reform and opening up\", starting under Deng Xiaoping around 1978, Shanghai is once again a great industrial city and trading port, and in many ways has surpassed the old glory days. In the 1990s, the Shanghai government launched a series of new strategies to attract foreign investment. The biggest move was to create a Special Economic Zone, called Pudong New Area, with a range of government measures to encourage investment. This includes nearly all of Shanghai east of the river.\n\nThe strategies for growth have been extremely successful; in twenty years downtown Pudong changed from a predominantly rural area to having more skyscrapers than New York, including several of the tallest in the world. Pudong is now home to many financial institutions which used to have their main offices across the Huangpu river on the Bund.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk009", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "Today, Shanghai's goal is to develop into a world-class financial and economic center, and it is already well on its way. In achieving this goal, Shanghai faces competition from Hong Kong, which has the advantages of a stronger legal system and greater banking and service expertise. However, Shanghai has stronger links to the Chinese interior and to the central government, in addition to a stronger manufacturing and technology base. Shanghai has increased its role in finance and banking, with many international corporations having built their Chinese or even Asia/Pacific headquarters in the city, fueling demand for a highly educated and cosmopolitan workforce.\n\n### Climate\n\nShanghai has a humid subtropical climate.\n\nSpring can feature lengthy periods of cloudy and rainy weather.\n\nSummer temperatures often surpass 35 °C (95 °F) with very high humidity, which means that you will perspire a lot and should take lots of changes of clothing or plan on shopping for clothing during the visit. Thunderstorms also occur relatively often during the summer. There is some risk of typhoons in their July–September season, however they are not common.\n\nAutumn is generally mild with warm and sunny weather.", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk010", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Understand", "text": "During winter, temperatures rarely rise above 10 °C (50 °F) during the day and often fall below 0 °C (32 °F) at night. Snowfall is rare, typically occurring only once every few years, but transportation networks can sometimes be disrupted in the event of a sudden snowstorm. Despite the fact that winter temperatures in Shanghai are not particularly low, the wind chill factor combined with the high humidity can actually make it feel less comfortable than some much colder places that experience frequent snowfalls. Also, back in Mao's era the official rule was that north of the Yangtze buildings were heated in winter but south of it they were not; Shanghai is on the south bank so many older buildings do not have heating.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nShanghai Municipal Tourism Administration", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk011", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Talk", "text": "### Chinese speakers\n\nThe native language of most locals, Shanghainese or Wu dialect, is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin, Cantonese, Minnan (Taiwanese/Hokkien) or any other forms of Chinese. The use of Shanghainese as the de facto 'first' language of the city has been decreasing both due to the use of Mandarin in mass media and education, and because Shanghai has many migrant workers from other parts of China who do not speak Shanghainese. As with elsewhere in China, Mandarin is the *lingua franca*. As Shanghai has been China's main commercial centre since the 1920s, all locals who can speak Shanghainese can also speak Mandarin, so you will have no problems speaking Mandarin to locals. Nevertheless, attempts to speak Shanghainese are appreciated, and can help endear you to local people.\n\nWu speakers have a particular accent when speaking Mandarin. Mandarin is heavily tone-based and speakers from Beijing can easily be understood (most textbooks are based on their accent or an approximation). Shanghainese speakers have appropriated some of the features of Wu onto their Mandarin. While in other languages this would not be a problem, given the phonemic and tonal nature inherent to Mandarin, the slightest shift in pronunciation can make it much more difficult to understand. The best thing to do is say \"说慢一点\" (*shuō màn yī diǎn*) which means \"speak a little slower\".\n\n### Non-Chinese speakers", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk012", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Talk", "text": "As English is compulsory in Chinese schools, an increasing number of people know at least basic English. You will probably find that most people in the tourist industry have a rather good command of it, and so do many in service positions, i.e. in shops, gastronomy and even sales clerks at metro stations. English is probably better understood than spoken by many, and the Chinese are notoriously afraid of shaming themselves in public, so make sure your questions are clear and can be easily answered.\n\nTwo traits of Shanghai residents are of assistance - one is the traditional Chinese hospitality, with most people genuinely wanting to help when asked, and the Shanghainese robustness. When necessary, do not be afraid to approach even the unlikely elderly person with an arsenal of well-thought-through and clear hand gestures, notes in Chinese, maps or photos. In the worst case, look for a younger person and/or somebody in a senior position, as both are more probable to have better English knowledge and will feel more confident when dealing with a foreigner.\n\nEveryday spoken Chinese is a rather simple language, so most people will not be offended if you dispose of pleasantries in your English as well and focus on the most important parts of your message, e.g. \"Where is subway station?\" will probably work better than \"Would you be so kind and direct me to the nearest subway station if you will?\".", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk013", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Talk", "text": "For bargaining in stores, calculators are often used to \"discuss\" prices. Savvy shop owners in tourist-frequented areas equip their personnel with them, but do not be afraid to pull up one (or a calculator app on your phone) for the purpose if the other party doesn't. Remember that \"4\" is an unlucky number and prices containing it should be avoided, which you can use to your advantage (e.g. proposing \"39\" instead of 40-whatever).\n\nDo note that taxi and Uber drivers are often either elderly or recruited from the working class or migrant populations, and thus, as a group, have lower-than-average knowledge of English. Therefore it is recommended to have your destinations and hotel address written in Chinese for them. Some hotels even provide small brochures with both the hotel name and address and those of the key landmarks written in both English and Simplified Chinese for the purpose.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk014", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "Shanghai is one of China's main travel hubs and arriving from pretty much anywhere is easy.\n\n### Visa-free transit\n\nVisitors from 54 countries who are transiting through Shanghai are permitted to visit without a visa for up to 240 hours. People visiting under this scheme can travel freely between Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but may not travel beyond the three provincial-level units. At immigration, you will need to present an onward ticket to a country other than the one you arrived from. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count as separate countries with regard to this scheme.\n\nThe following countries are included in the transit program:\n 24 Schengen Agreement Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland\n 15 Other European Countries: Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco\n 6 American Countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile\n 2 Oceania Countries: Australia, New Zealand\n 6 Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar\n\n### By plane\n\nShanghai has two main airports, with **Shanghai Pudong International Airport** being the main international gateway, and **Hongqiao** being the main domestic airport, but also serving some international destinations in East Asia. Transfer between the airports takes about 40 min via the Airport Link Line, or about 1 hour by taxi. There are also direct shuttle buses.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk015", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you're not in a hurry, you can also travel between the two airports in about two hours by metro. The airports are opposite ends of line , the main East-West line through downtown Shanghai. You can reduce the time by taking the Maglev train (described in the next section) part of the way. A traveller making that transfer with a few hours to spare and a desire to get a quick look at Shanghai (and not too much luggage) might get off at Nanjing Road East and walk a few blocks to the Bund.\n\nFree tourist maps of central Shanghai, with major sights labeled in English, are available in little racks as you enter either airport. These are worth grabbing as you walk by since, except at some hotels, free maps are unavailable elsewhere.\n\nBoth airports also have direct bus service to major nearby cities such as Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing, though the new fast trains may be preferable, especially from Hongqiao Airport which has Hongqiao Railway Station quite nearby (one metro stop or about a km on foot, indoors and level).\n\nDomestic airplane tickets are best booked in advance at one of the many travel agencies or online, but can also be bought at the airport on the day of departure. Fares are generally cheap, but vary depending on the season; figure on ¥400-1200 for Beijing-Shanghai. The low-cost airline Spring Airlines is based out of Shanghai with routes to most major Chinese tourist destinations, and frequently offers large discounts for tickets booked through its website. For budget travellers, it is often cheaper to book a flight on a heavy-traffic route (Shanghai-Beijing, Shanghai-Guangzhou, Shanghai-Shenzhen, etc.) and travel the rest by bus or train.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk016", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "The city of Hangzhou, about a 45-min high-speed train ride from Shanghai, should also be considered if having a difficult time finding tickets to Pudong or Hongqiao. Also if coming in from South East Asia, since Air Asia has a cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hangzhou. See Discount airlines in Asia.\n\n#### Pudong Airport\n\nthumb|240px|Maglev Train at Longyang Station\n\nThe airport is on metro line , many of the better hotels provide free airport shuttles for their guests, and there are six airport bus lines connecting to downtown. There are also buses to other cities nearby such as Suzhou and Hangzhou.\n\nIf you have heavy luggage then almost certainly a taxi will be more convenient; expect cost in the ¥200-500 range.\n\nThe most interesting way to arrive in Shanghai is on the former **world's fastest train**, the magnetic levitation train or Maglev. It was running 430 km/h till 2021; as of December, 2023, the maximum speed is capped at 300 km/h. Single tickets are ¥60, discounted to ¥50 if you have an airline ticket that day, or use Shanghai Public Transportation Card (detailed below). Return tickets (return within a week) are ¥100.\n\nThe Maglev terminates at Longyang Road station in Pudong, which is still some distance from the city centre, and may not therefore be close to your ultimate destination. Here you can connect to metro lines , and the new line , . Longyang Road station also has a Maglev train museum for those interested in how magnetic levitation trains work.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk017", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "Beginning in 2025 an Airport Link Line is put in service, connecting Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station in 40 minutes. Notably, this new rail line passes well south of the city centre, making it of little use unless one intends to travel beyond Shanghai via high-speed rail or plane at Hongqiao.\n\n#### Hongqiao Airport\n\nT2 is served directly by metro line , which connects the airport to People's Square and, further east, to Pudong Airport. Trains operate from 05:35 to 22:50 (service to and from Pudong Airport has limited hours). Line , which also goes to central Shanghai but on a different route, serves both T1 and T2.\n\nLine opened on 30 December 2017, and connects Hongqiao Railway Station, near the Airport, with Zhujiajiao.\n\nEventually Line , the main line through the southern suburb Minhang, will be extended to the airport at the north end and into Fengxian to the south. Line will extend north from the airport. As of early 2025 this is not in service.\n\nA **taxi** can manage the 12 km trip to the city in 20 minutes on a good day, but allow an extra 30 minutes for the taxi queue, especially when arriving after 19:00. Be sure to determine from which terminal your flight departs before you go to the airport as the English signage is confusing, taxi drivers will not be able to help you, and the shuttle between the terminals leaves on a half-hourly schedule with another twenty minute drive.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk018", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "Due to the metro line extension, the *Hongqiao Airport Special Line* bus (机场专线) has now been replaced with a **night bus** (虹桥机场T2夜宵巴士) that goes to Jing'an Temple, People's Square, and Lujiazui every 10-30 min from 22:30 (when the metro closes) to 45 minutes after the last inbound arrival of the day for ¥10 (to Jing'an Temple or People's Square) or ¥16 (to Lujiazui). It leaves from Door 1 of the Arrivals level of Terminal 2. Tickets are purchased inside the bus shortly before it departs.\n\nAlthough Hongqiao airport has fewer airport bus lines than Pudong, more **public bus** lines are linked to Hongqiao. Buses below run to T1, take the free shuttle to connect to T2 if needed or use Metro Line 10 if in a hurry.\n No. 806: These buses run from Hongqiao airport to the Lupu Bridge between 06:00-21:30 at intervals of 5-15 min. The line also has a stop at Xujiahui, and the whole trip costs ¥5.\n No. 807: These buses operate between 06:00-22:30 from Hongqiao airport to the Zhenguang New Village in Putuo District, stopping at the Shanghai Zoo and some other places of interest. ¥2.\n No. 1207: This bus only runs between the airport and Shanghai Zoo. ¥2.\nWith the opening of Metro service to the airport, only the above two routes serve the airport.\n\nOne public bus line has now been moved to T2. The reverse applies- take the free shuttle or the Metro to T1 if needed. Bus service to T2 splits boarding and exiting- all passengers arriving at T2 get off at the Departures level of the airport, but those wishing to board must board the bus at the bus hub on 1/F of the airport/metro station complex.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk019", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "No. 941: Linking Hongqiao airport and Shanghai Railway Station, the line runs from 06:30–22:30 to the airport/23:00 from the airport. ¥4. Interval between services is 10-12 min. Look for Waiting Room 1.\n\nAdditionally, the following night bus runs from T2 between the hours of 23:00 and 05:00 for anyone arriving late at night and needing to stop at destinations not covered by the T1 night bus:\n No. 316: Links the airport to the Bund, following Metro Line 2 until Zhongshan Park, then makes stops near Changshou Road (Line 7), Xinzha Road (Line 1), and East Nanjing Road (Line 2/10) before terminating at the Bund.\n\nAn additional night bus from the train station side is also available.\n\nNo. 320: Links the train station to the Bund via a different route. This bus stops near the tourist part of Hongmei Road, then follows Metro Line 10 until Jiaotong University, stops in Xujiahui, continues along Line 10, then starts following line 1 around the Changshu Road stop until it reaches the Xintiandi area, then makes one final stop in Yu Gardens before terminating at the Bund.\n\n### By train\n\nShanghai has a few major train stations including:\n - {{station|Shanghai Railway Station|1|3|4}}\n\n- {{station|Hongqiao Railway Station|2|10|17}}\n\n- {{station|Shanghai South Railway Station|1|3|15}}\n\n- {{station|Shanghai West Railway Station|11|15}}\n\n- {{station|Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station|9}}\n\n**Shanghai East Railway Station** is under construction as of May 2024 and will serve Pudong Airport.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk020", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "Self-serve automated ticket booths are prevalent and can be used for checking train times in the English mode, but you can only buy tickets from them if you have a Chinese ID card. Tickets are also conveniently booked in advance at one of the many travel service agencies, or the ticket office of any railway station. See the train tickets section of the China article. Note that Hong Kong tickets go on sale 60 days in advance, and the Hong Kong–Shanghai segment sells out quickly.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk021", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Beijing** (北京) — Beginning in June 2011, an all-new express line service from Beijing started, with the quickest travel time option ringing in at 4 hours and 18 minutes (G17/G22). Additionally, there are a number of fast night sleeper trains running daily. These trains have D-prefix codes, take just over 10 hours from Shanghai to Beijing. Fare is around ¥730 for a soft sleeper lower berth or ¥655 for upper berth; the trains are clean and the four-person cabins are comfortable. Two-person rooms are also available on some of these trains, the price is about ¥1470 for a lower berth or ¥1300 for an upper. Two-person rooms on D trains do not have private baths. In the same new train, normal second-class seats are available for around ¥327. For a regular normal sleeper in a standard train, which takes 13 hours from Shanghai to Beijing, expect to pay ¥306 to ¥327 for a hard sleeper or around ¥478 to ¥499 for a soft one. Two-person sleepers are available on T-series trains, with private bath and a sofa, price is ¥881 for upper berth or ¥921 for a lower. But tickets for these cheaper normal sleepers are usually very tight.\n**Hong Kong** (香港) — The high-speed G99/G100 day trains run daily between West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong and Shanghai Hongqiao station, taking about 8 hours to complete the journey. Tickets cost about ¥1008 one way in economy class. Overnight high-speed sleeper services, numbered G899/G900 run on the same route 4 times a week and take about 11 hours. Both mainland Chinese and Hong Kong immigration procedures are conducted at the station in Hong Kong. The old conventional sleeper trains from Hung Hom station have been terminated.\n**Lhasa** (拉萨) — The train to and from Lhasa, Tibet runs every day from Shanghai Railway Station. It takes just under 50 hours to arrive at Lhasa. A hard seat costs ¥406 and a hard sleeper priced around ¥900, soft sleeper costs around ¥1300. Oxygen is available for each passenger in the Golmud–Lhasa section. A Tibet travel permit is required for non-Chinese citizens.", "word_count": 349}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk022", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get in", "text": "The new fast (200+ km/h) CRH trains from Shanghai go southwest to Nanchang and Changsha, or north to Beijing, Zhengzhou and Qingdao. These are very comfortable and convenient. Train route codes begin with D in this instance. High-speed trains (300+ km/h) to Nanjing and Hangzhou have a G prefix.\n\n### By car\n\nGood modern highways link Shanghai to nearby cities in East China, including Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Ningbo. Other highways, many of them as good, go to more distant cities anywhere in the country. It only takes about an hour to reach Shanghai from Suzhou, 2 hours from Hangzhou or 2½ hours from Ningbo, the latter via the 36 km long Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the world's longest sea-crossing bridge.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are several long-distance bus stations in Shanghai. You should try to get the tickets as early as possible.\n - Beiqu Long-distance Passenger Station\n\n- Hengfeng Road Express Passenger Station\n\n- Zhongshan Beilu Long-distance Passenger Transport Station\n\n- Xujiahui Passenger Station\n\n- Pudong Tangqiao Long-distance Passenger Station\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are ferry services from Kobe and Osaka (Japan) weekly.\n - MV Jianzhen", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk023", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Shanghai has an excellent public transport network with the one of the world's most extensive metro (subway and elevated train) systems as its backbone and buses that go more-or-less everywhere else. Taxis are plentiful, and cheap by international standards, and getting around on foot is often practical. Metro, taxi and walking will be the main means of transport for most travellers. The city is huge (24 million), though, and all transport methods sometimes have problems with congestion.\n\n### Metro cards\n\nInternational credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, JCB) including mobile payment apps can now be used to \"tap to pay\" on all Shanghai metro lines. They are *not* accepted by buses or most taxis.\n\n#### Shanghai Jiaotong Card\n\nIf you intend to stay in Shanghai for more than a few days, a **metro card** — also called a Shanghai Jiaotong Card (上海公共交通卡) or Shanghai Public Transportation Card — is a must. You can get these cards at any metro station, as well as some convenience stores like Alldays and KeDi Marts.\n\nYou can load the card with money and **use it in buses, the metro and even taxis**, saving the hassle of buying tickets (sometimes with long queues) and keeping change for buses and taxis. Also, the card allows you to change lines at some stations where without the card you would need to get another ticket, and gives a ¥1 discount for each bus↔bus or metro↔bus transfer.\n\nThese cards do not require contact with the card reader to work. It is quite common to see someone just pass a purse, wallet or shoulder bag over the reader without taking the card out, and this almost always works. The card can be used once after it runs out of money; up to a ¥8 \"overdraft\" is allowed.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk024", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cards come in several sizes — regular (credit card size), mini, and \"strap\" (for hanging on mobile phones) — and special editions with interesting pictures are available for each. New machines that can load money to any size of card are replacing older machines, but they do not take cash, generally only accepting Alipay or UnionPay/Discover cards. Service counters in most metro stations will recharge any type of card in multiples of ¥10, but a few stations are no longer staffing their service counters, while others are experimenting with requiring recharges to be done at the self-service machines, so it is advised to make sure sufficient funds are available for your return trip if you are going to a less-populated part of town.\n\nThere is a ¥20 deposit for the card; regular-sized cards can be returned for a deposit refund, but mini or strap sizes cannot. For any card type, the balance on the card can be immediately returned if it is less than ¥10. If the balance is between ¥10 and ¥2,000, an invoice should be taken to ask for the return of money; however, a 5% handling fee will be charged. Some metro stations have special offices for returning the cards. These stations include:\n Line 1 - Hanzhong Rd, Hengshan Rd, Jinjiang Park;\n Line 2 - Jiangsu Rd, E Nanjing Rd, Century Park, Songhong Rd;\n Line 3 - Dongbaoxing Rd, Zhenping Rd, Caoxi Rd, North Jiangyang Rd;\n Line 4 - Yangshupu Rd.\nYou can also use the Shanghai Public Transportation Card Service Center, No 609, Jiujiang Rd, M-F 09:30–18:30, Sa Su 09:30–16:30.\n\nShanghai Public Transportation Card may also be had in Apple Pay.\n\n#### China T-union", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk025", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "As of 2024, you can now use your **China T-union** card. China T-union covers all bus, metro and ferry lines in Shanghai, as well as taxis. Like the Jiaotong Card, you save the hassle of buying tickets (sometimes with long queues) and keeping change for buses and taxis. Also, the card allows you to change lines at some stations where without the card you would need to get another ticket, and gives a discount for each bus↔bus or metro↔bus transfer. However, non-local cards are no eligible for discounts (10% off) after you accumulated expenses of 70 yuan in a calendar month.\n\nChina T-union tickets are **not** valid on high-speed rail lines, the Shanghai Maglev, regional trains, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.\n\n### By metro\n\nShanghai Metro is one of the largest and busiest metro systems in the world. As of mid-2024, there are over 800 km (500 miles) of line and over 500 stations. Usage is over 10 million rides on a typical weekday.\nthumb|400px|Map as of January 2022\n\nIn general the network is great — clean, fast, cheap (¥3-10 depending on distance), air-conditioned, and fairly user-friendly with signs and station arrival announcements in both Mandarin and English, while announcements on Lines 16 and 17 are trilingual in Shanghainese, Mandarin and English. However, station counter staff rarely speak English, though they may still try to help you by using translation apps on their phones.\n\nThe drawbacks are that trains are packed during rush hour, trains do not run late at night (the last train is usually around 22:30, with some lines going until around midnight on Friday and Saturday nights), and the network does not go everywhere yet, though it is continually being expanded.\n\n#### Metro lines", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk026", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A Line 10 station, coloured lavender to indicate the line.\nEach metro line has a particular colour on all maps and signs, and often in station decor. As of mid-2024 lines , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and are in service.\n\nThree of the most important lines are line north-south, line east-west, and line which encircles all of the city centre.\n\nIn central areas most lines (but not lines and ) run underground. Out in the suburbs, most are above ground and many on elevated tracks.\n\nMany metro lines (, , , , , , , , , , ) run through downtown.\n\nLines and meet at People's Square in Huangpu District, and Line also goes there. This is one of the busiest metro stations on Earth and is often considered **the center of Shanghai**.\n\nLines that do not come downtown are line which serves the southern suburb Minhang, line which runs from Hongqiao Railway Station to the western suburb Qingpu, and lines , and whose routes are across the river in Pudong New Area.\n\n#### Metro stations\n\nImportant metro stations include:\n\n#### How to use", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk027", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "The most convenient way to **pay** is with a metro card; see previous section. There are also one-day cards available which can be purchased for ¥18, good for 24 hours after their first use. Single-use tickets can be bought at automatic ticket-vending machines using cash, WeChat Pay or AliPay. They have instructions in English and can give change. Most stations on lines , , will also have staff selling single-use ticket cards, but on the newly-completed lines , , and ticket-purchasing is all done by machine, with staff there only to assist in adding credit to cards or if something goes wrong. With the single-use cards, you select your destination and pay by distance, then swipe before boarding and insert the ticket into a machine when you exit. If you live in China, you can also use WeChat Pay or Alipay. Metro faregates are equipped with QR code scanners that can scan a QR code generated by the WeChat or Alipay app on your smartphone.\n\nIf there are seats available, then be prepared for a literal **mad dash** as passengers shove and wrestle for the available seats. You can try to do the same, but bear in mind that everyone else will have a lot more experience than you! Also, be mindful of pickpockets who may use this rush to their advantage.\n\n**Transfers** between lines can involve a very long walk in some stations. In most places you can transfer between lines freely with a single ticket. But there are exceptions, where two or more lines have stations with the same name, but the stations are separate so you need a second ticket for the second train (unless you have a metro card).", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk028", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "The separate stations with the same name are:\n Shanghai Railway Station - lines / and line are separate stations\n West Nanjing Road Station - lines , and are in separate stations a few minutes apart from each other.\n Pudian Road (Pudian Lu) - lines and ; these stops are on the same street but are not close to each other. Use the free transfer one stop in either direction (Century Ave or Lancun Road) instead.\n\nMost stations include some retail facilities; in many, these are limited to a few snack vendors, but some (e.g. Xujiahui and People's Park) have substantial food courts and shopping areas right in the station. From many stations — including Xujiahui, South Shaanxi Road, Nanjing Road East and Zhongshan Park — you can walk directly into large department stores or malls without going outdoors. For stations with souvenirs and cheap clothing, see below.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|A typical Shanghai public bus\nThe bus system is cheaper and much more extensive than the metro, and some routes operate after the closing time of the metro (route numbers beginning with 3 are the night buses that run past 23:00). It is however slower in general, and all route information at bus stops is in Chinese, but here is a handy list of bus routes and stops in English. Once inside the bus, there are English announcements.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk029", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some rural bus services in Shanghai are not numbered, and are instead referred as **XX line** (XX线), in which XX are the initial of the origin and destination. Rural bus services referred as **XX special line** (XX专线) are usually faster services. Other special bus services are numbered with a descriptive Chinese word, or a description of the origin and destination and a Chinese number, such as \"Bridge line 1\" (大桥一路), \"Tunnel line 2\" (隧道二路), or \"Shanghai-Chongming line 3\" (申崇三路).\n\nSome buses have a conductor; get on, sit down and he or (more often) she will come around; pay him or her and you'll get a paper ticket and change, if any. Fares depend on distance and conductors rarely speak any English, so you must either know your destination and be able to pronounce it in Chinese, or have it written down in Chinese characters.\n\nOther buses do not have a conductor, only the driver; there is a fixed price for the route, usually ¥2 if the buses are air-conditioned and ¥1.5 on increasingly rare routes running on old buses without. Check the bus itself as on some routes the fare varies from bus to bus; typically there is a sign showing the fare on the outside next to the door and/or on the fare box. Exact fare is required unless you have a Public Transportation Card; prepare exact change beforehand and drop it into the box next to the driver.\n\nIf you change buses with a Public Transportation Card, you get a ¥1 discount on your second bus fare and all subsequent transfers. There is a 90-minute window to do this. So if you're not spending too much time at the destination, the discount will apply to the start of your return journey, too.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk030", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Several companies offer **sightseeing buses** with various routes and packages covering the main sights such as the Shanghai Zoo, Oriental Pearl Tower, and Baoyang Road Harbor. Many of these leave from the Shanghai Stadium's east bus station. You can also pick one up downtown on Nanjing Road near the park between People's Park and Nanjing Road West metro stops or at the Shanghai History Museum. The buses usually have an audio guide in the world's major languages. The company that has the lowest tariff offers a one-day ticket for ¥60, covering the main attractions in downtown Shanghai and Lujiazui (AKA Central Pudong).\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|A Shanghai taxi\n\nTaxi (\"出租车\" chūzūchē or *choo-tzoo-chuh*) is a good choice for transportation in the city, especially during off-peak hours. It is affordable — ¥14 (or ¥16 for larger vehicles) for the first 3 km during the day, ¥18 after 23:00, ¥2.4/km up to 10 km, and ¥3.5/km after; when wheels aren't rolling, time is also tracked and billed but the first 5 min. are free; a ¥1 fuel surcharge is also applied. Going from the centre out to Pudong Airport costs around ¥200.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk031", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi drivers typically do not speak any English, so unless you speak Mandarin, be sure to have your destination written in Chinese characters to show the driver. Get a business card for your hotel or any restaurant or shop you like; that makes it easy to return there. As Shanghai is a huge city, try to get the nearest intersection to your destination as well, since even addresses in Chinese are often useless. If you have a mobile phone, you can also use the phone number displayed in the back of the taxi. Dial the number and tell the agent in English where you want to go. Hand the phone to the driver and the agent will tell him in Chinese where you wish to go. The agent will even find out the addresses of bars and other spots for you if required.\n\nTry to avoid using ¥100 notes to pay for short journeys; either use a metro card or have change available; taxi drivers are not keen on giving away their change. Also, the ¥50 note is a favourite of counterfeiters and a foreigner unfamiliar with the money is an obvious person to foist a bad one on, so you should try to avoid getting a fifty in your change. Additionally, one trick used by unscrupulous drivers is to claim you passed them a bad ¥100, when you in fact gave them a good ¥100 and they swapped it for a bad one. To avoid hassles of change, virtually all drivers accept WeChat and AliPay.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk032", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are very hard to come by during peak hours and when it's raining, so be prepared to wait for a while or walk to a busy pick-up location. Foreign visitors might be surprised at the almost compete lack of courtesy or lines while waiting for a taxi, so don't be afraid to \"jump in\" and get one — it's first come, first served. There are some taxi stops where attendants maintain a well-ordered line; this may be the fastest way to get a taxi in a busy part of town, but there are few of them, so expect a long walk to find one.\n\nDrivers, while generally honest, are sometimes genuinely clueless and occasionally out to take you for a ride. The drivers are very good about using the meter but in case they forget, remind them. It's also the law to provide a receipt for the rider, so if your fare seems out of line, be sure to obtain one as it's necessary to receive any compensation. If you feel you have been cheated or mistreated by the driver, you (or a Chinese-speaking friend) can use the information on the printed receipt to raise a complaint to the taxi company about that particular driver. The driver will be required to pay 3x the fare if ordered by the taxi company, so normally they're very good about taking the appropriate route. The printed receipt is also useful to contact the driver in case you have forgotten something in the taxi and need to get it back.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk033", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you come across a row of parked taxis and have a choice of which one to get in to, you may wish to check the driver's taxi ID card, posted near the meter on the dashboard. The higher the number, the newer the driver, so there may be more chance that the driver will not know where he or she is going. Those with numbers between 10XXXX and 12XXXX are the most experienced drivers; a number above 27XXXX indicates a new driver who may get you lost somewhere. Another way is to check the number of stars the driver has; these are displayed below the driver's photograph on the dashboard. The number of stars indicates the length of time the driver has been in the taxi business and the level of positive feedback received from customers, and range from zero stars to five. Drivers with one star or more should know all major locations in Shanghai, and those with three stars should be able to recognize even lesser-known addresses. Remember that it takes time to build up these stars, and so don't panic if you find yourself with a driver who doesn't have any — just have them assure you that they know where they are going and you should be fine.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk034", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you need to cross from one side of the Huangpu River to the other by taxi, especially from Pudong to Puxi, you may want to make sure your driver will make the trip, and knows where he or she is going; some drivers only know their side of the town and may become lost once they cross the river. Taxis are notoriously difficult to get on rainy days and during peak traffic hours, so plan your journeys accordingly. As the crossings between Pudong and Puxi are often jammed with traffic, taking a taxi may be more expensive and slower than the metro. It may be better to take the metro across the river and then catch a taxi.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk035", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi colors in Shanghai are strictly controlled and indicate the company the taxi belongs to. Turquoise taxis operated by *Dazhong* (大众), the largest group, are often judged the best of the bunch. Other good companies include *Qiangsheng* (强生), uses gold-colored taxis and *Jinjiang* (锦江), which uses white taxis. Watch out for dark red/maroon taxis, since this is the 'default' color of small taxi companies and includes more than its fair share of bad apples. There are also privately owned taxis (easily recognized as they have an 'X' in their number plate and may not be the standard Volkswagen Santana used by most taxi companies). The dark red/maroon taxis will also go \"off the meter\" at times and charge rates 4x-5x the normal rate — especially around the tourist areas of the Yuyuan Gardens. Bright red taxis and blue taxis, on the other hand, are unionized and quite OK, furthermore there are more 3-star and above taxi drivers working for these companies. The bright orange taxis cover suburban areas only and are not allowed within the \"city\" area, but their meters start at ¥11 and count at ¥2.4/km no matter how long the journey, so they're somewhat cheaper if you're not trying to get downtown (rule of thumb — if you're trying to go somewhere within the Outer Ring highway, don't get one, but if your journey ends just within it you may be able to find a driver willing to bend the rules).", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk036", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Using the *Smart Shanghai* app (about £2.00 from App Store) or the Smart Shanghai website will help you take taxis. Find the sight, restaurant, hotel or bar you are looking for on the app or website and click on the 'Taxi Directions' button for the address written in Chinese. Just show this to the driver and you'll be on your way!\n\n### On foot\n\nShanghai is a good city for walking, especially in the older parts of the city such as the Bund, but be aware this city is incredibly dynamic and pavements can be obstructed or unpleasant to walk through when near construction areas. If there is a metro entry at a busy street, the station can usually be used as a pedestrian underpass to another metro exit across the way.\n\nSome distances in Shanghai are huge, so you will need to use other means of transportation at some point. However, quite a few people navigate well with just a metro pass plus their feet and perhaps the occasional taxi.\n\nSee below for some suggested walks that combine shopping and sightseeing.\n\nThe Bund \"sightseeing tunnel\" is very strange, and doesn't actually show you any sites of the city at all. It is an unusual (*albeit pricey*) way to get across the river however. See Shanghai/Huangpu for details.\n\nAs with all of China, right-of-way is effectively proportional to weight: vehicles trump motorbikes, which trump pedestrians. Motorbikes and bicycles rarely use headlights and can come from any direction. They are the main users of curb-cuts for sidewalks, so don't stand at these. Avoid unpredictable movements while walking and crossing streets: the drivers see you and predict your future location from your speed. See Driving in China for further discussion.\n\n### By ferry", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk037", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "A useful ferry runs between the Bund (from a ferry pier a few blocks south of Nanjing Road next to the KFC restaurant) and Lujiazui financial district in Pudong (the terminal is about 10 minutes south of the Pearl TV Tower and Lujiazui metro station) and is the cheapest way of crossing the river at ¥2 per person. Cyclists pay 2.8 and motorcyclists pay 4 yuan. Buy a token from the ticket kiosk and then insert it into the turnstile to enter the waiting room — the boats run every 10 minutes and take just over 5 minutes to cross the river. This is a great (and much cheaper) alternative to using the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. However, some of the ferry stations are not directly connected to public transport so you need to walk a bit.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|Cyclist pedalling past cars stopped by impromptu maintenance\n\nFor locals, bicycles are slowly being eclipsed by electric scooters. But they still remain an easy means of transportation for visitors who may be hesitant to communicate with drivers or board crowded mass transit — or simply want to soak up some sunshine. Beware of the driving habits of locals: the biggest vehicles have the priority and a red light does not mean you are safe to cross the street. Bicycles and mopeds are not allowed on many major roads (signs designate this), or in the tunnels and on the bridges between Pudong and Puxi (the only way to cross is by ferry).", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk038", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some hostels have bikes for rent and many department stores sell them, starting around ¥200. Alternatively, go to Baoshan Metro station and get a vintage bicycle for about ¥300. Bikes for sale are also easily found on the street around Suzhou Creek or in the residential part of the old town.\n\nThere is a city-operated system of free bicycles, but the stands are card-operated and as of 2012 the cards were available only to registered Shanghai residents; even migrant workers from other parts of China were excluded. There are many stands around town, each with a few dozen bikes; with a card, you can take one. If you return it to any stand within four hours, there is no charge.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk039", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "However, since around 2017, commercially-run dockless rideshare bikes have surged in popularity and are now basically ubiquitous. Many locals, especially the younger generation, no longer own bikes and instead prefer these shared bikes due to their \"start anywhere, park anywhere, leave and forget\" nature. As of 2020, two major operators have a quintessential duopoly on the market: the yellow bikes backed by Meituan, and the blue bikes backed by Alipay. Both require a phone app to use. The initial setup could be a little tedious - you have to download the app, register, and most likely pay a deposit around ¥200, but afterwards it's a simple scan of a QR code and the bike will unlock. Dockless rideshare bikes combine particularly well with Shanghai's extensive metro system. You can often find many bikes at the metro station, and just take one to cover the last kilometre to your final destination. Therefore it is highly recommended for anyone who intends to stay longer than a few weeks. Each ride will cost you ¥1-2 which is certainly not a lot, and you can even purchase a weekly or monthly pass for very cheap and enjoy unlimited rides.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk040", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving is definitely not recommended in Shanghai for a variety of reasons, even for those with driving experience in the country. Drivers have to cope not only with a very complex road system and seemingly perpetual traffic jams, but also with Chinese driving habits and ongoing construction. In addition, parking spaces are rare and almost impossible to find. Bicycles, scooters and pedestrians are also all over the place — it is not unheard of for cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians to suddenly dash in front of a car without any warning. In short, do not drive if you can help it and make use of Shanghai's excellent public transportation network instead.\n\n### By motorcycle and scooter\n\nWhile motorcycle rental is practically non-existent, for long-term visitors **e-bikes and scooters** are a cheap, fast, practical way of getting around. E-bikes don't require a driving license and are cheaper, but only have a short battery range (about 50 km) and a low top speed, and are a frequent target of thieves. A cheap e-bike can be picked up from any major supermarket — expect to pay around ¥1500-2500 for a new model. Small shops also sell converted e-bikes (motor scooters converted to run on electricity) which are more expensive but are faster, more comfortable and have longer battery ranges. 50cc motorcycles require registration but don't require a drivers license, whilst anything bigger will require a driving license. Motorcycles can be bought from used-bike dealers mostly located in residential working-class neighbourhoods — a used 50cc moped will be about ¥2000 whilst a 125cc will cost much more depending on condition and mileage. If you plan to ride a motorcycle, stick to automatic transmission scooters as they are much easier to ride in dense traffic than a manually-geared bike.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk041", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Get around", "text": "For motorcycles above 50cc, a special yellow license plate and drivers license is required, both of which is independent from a car's licenses. These motorcycles are subject to the same laws that apply to cars and ride in car lanes, but with additional restrictions. All elevated roads, tunnels, and bridges crossing Huangpu River ban motorcycles with the exception of Nanpu Bridge, Xupu bridge, and Fuxing Road Tunnel. Motorcycles can also use ferries.\n\nMotorcycles below 50cc are expected to use the bicycle lane and cross intersections via pedestrian traffic lights, which is often quicker when car traffic reaches a standstill. Be careful, particularly at night, of people riding with their headlights off or riding on the wrong side of the road — remember that e-bikes don't require any driving license and therefore drivers often flout traffic laws and take creative but dangerous paths through traffic. Parking is easy — most sidewalks serve as bike-parking, although in quiet streets your bike may be stolen, so use a couple of good locks. At busy places, attended bike parks charge around ¥0.5-1 per day.\n\n**Vintage motorbikes with sidecars** are used by mainly by expats and tourists. Most expatriates and Shanghainese are too embarrassed to use what many consider a particularly \"uncool\" form of transport.\nChangjiang sidecars were used by the Chinese army until 1997. There are a few sidecar owners clubs in Shanghai (Black Bats, People's Riders Club), shops (Yiqi, Cao, Fan, Jack, Jonson, Leo) and a tour operator (Shanghai Sideways) which are worth checking out. See also Driving in China — Sidecar rigs.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk042", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "Where to go in Shanghai depends largely on available time and your interests. For the areas with most of the main tourist attractions, see the Downtown and Pudong sections above and the district articles they link to. If you read Chinese well, the Meituan app, Amap, or Baidu search engine may also be helpful.\n\nMany of Shanghai's main tourist sights are in Huangpu District:\nthumb|Teahouse in the old town\n The **Old City** (老城厢; Lao Chengxiang, also known as 南市, Nanshi) is the original Chinese city going back about 1000 years, now a major tourist area. The center of that area is **Yuyuan Gardens**.\n **The International Settlement** and '''the Bund'''\n - [[Shanghai/Huangpu#People.27s Park|People's Square]]\n\nthumb|Jing'an Temple, Jing'an District\n**Nanjing Road** was the main street of the old British Concession; today it is a major upmarket shopping street. Line runs under it for some distance and has four stations along it; listed east-west they are Nanjing Road East, People's Square, Nanjing Road West and Jing'an Temple. The road extends across two districts.\n **Nanjing Road East** in Huangpu District extends from the Bund to People's Park, and most of it is a very busy pedestrians-only strip.\n **Nanjing Road West** is the continuation into Jing'an District. Part of it runs along the north side of People's Park. A landmark beyond the park is **Jing'an Temple**, a beautiful ancient building with a metro station named after it.\n\nIf your taste runs more to very modern architecture, remarkably tall buildings and enormous shopping malls, the prime districts for skyscrapers are Pudong and Jing'an.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk043", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "Other major sights are in the former **French Concession**. This has always been a fashionable area—even in the colonial period, many famous Chinese lived there—and it remains so today with much of Shanghai's best entertainment and shopping. We treat it as a single district and give it its own article. Within it are:\n\n**Xujiahui**, the center of Xuhui District, with a metro interchange (lines , and ), major roads, huge malls including many electronics stores, and high-end residential and office buildings. \n **Huaihai Road** is an upmarket shopping street which many Shanghai people prefer over Nanjing Road.\n\nOverall, the French Concession is Shanghai's best area for boutique shopping, small galleries and craft shops, and interesting restaurants.\n\n### Art galleries", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk044", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "The gallery areas are rather scattered, many of them away from the center and in former industrial buildings that have been renovated and re-purposed.\n **M50 art district** is Shanghai's main center for contemporary Chinese art, with dozens of studios and galleries. It is in a former factory in Putuo District.\n **1933 Shanghai** is in a former abattoir; it has a theatre, shops, cafés and studios. See Hongkou for details.\n The **Power Station of Art** is on the Huangpu River, in an old power plant converted first to a pavilion for Expo 2010, and then the first state-run contemporary art museum in China. It is in Huangpu.\n The **Shanghai Propaganda Poster and Art Centre** is on the west side of the French Concession. A fine collection of Mao-era posters and other memorabilia, a bit hard to find but worth the effort.\n The **Shanghai Gallery of Art** is a commercial gallery in a shopping center called 3 on the Bund.\n The Tianzifang area in the French Concession has many galleries and studios.\n The West Bund in the French Concession is one of the city's newest art districts. In 2019, French art museum Centre Pompidou established its first Chinese outpost here at the **West Bund Museum**.\n\n### Classical Gardens\n\nAs a city known for its modern skyscrapers and vibrant energy, Shanghai preserves precious gems of traditional Chinese garden art.\nthumb|Yuyuan Gardens\nYuyuan (豫园)\nGuyi Garden (古猗园)\nQiuxia Garden (秋霞圃)\nQushui Garden (曲水园)\nZuibai Pond (醉白池)\n\n### Early Modern Architecture\n\nFor a taste of 1920s Shanghai, with much classic Western-style architecture, head for the stately old buildings of the Bund and nearby parts of Huangpu:\n- [[Shanghai/Huangpu#The Bund|The Bund]] and the International Settlement\n\n- Shikumen Buildings\n\n- Garden Villas\n\n### Museums", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk045", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Shanghai Museum\n Huangpu has the **Shanghai Museum** and the **Shanghai Urban Planning Museum**, on opposite sides of People's Square, and the **Bund Historical Museum**, in a park at the north end of the Bund.\n The **Shanghai Railway Museum** is near Shanghai Railway Station in Zhabei.\n The **Chinese Martial Arts Museum** is on the campus of Shanghai Institute of Physical Education; see the Yangpu District article for details.\n There is a **Yuan-Dynasty Water Sluice Museum** in Putuo District, an interesting example of medieval engineering.\n The **Shanghai Municipal History Museum** is across the river, below the Pearl Tower in Pudong. Pudong is also home to the **China Art Museum**, housed in what was the China Pavilion of the 2010 World Expo, and dedicated to modern Chinese art. The main highlight of the China Art Museum and is a digital animated version of China's most famous painting, Along the River During the Qingming Festival (清明上河图 *Qīngmíng Shànghé Tú*).\n The **Shanghai Natural History Museum** is in Jing'an District next to the metro station named after it on Line .\n\n### Performing Arts\n\n- Huju\n\n- Shanghai-style Pingtan\n\n**Yue opera**\n (越剧 *yuèjù*) is the second most popular style of traditional Chinese opera nationwide after Beijing opera, and the most popular style in Shanghai. While it originated in the nearby city of Shengzhou, Shanghai played an important role in the development of the genre, and was instrumental in popularizing it nationwide and internationally. Today, it is widely considered to be the representative traditional Chinese opera style of the entire Jiangnan region.\n\nThe is home to one of China's premier Yue Opera troupes that often tours the nation, and sometimes performs internationally as well. Besides Shanghai, nationally-renowned Yue Opera troupes can also be found in the nearby cities like Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Nanjing and Wenzhou.\n\n### Skyscrapers", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk046", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "**Lujiazui**, on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River in Pudong, is Shanghai's premier financial district dominated by a striking cluster of super tall buildings, including the 632m **Shanghai Tower** (China's tallest) and the iconic **Oriental Pearl Tower**. You can explore these buildings in three ways: taking a river tour, strolling around the area, and visiting a skyscraper's observation deck for panoramic skyline views.\nthumb|Lujiazui, back when Shanghai Tower was still under constructionLujiazui is highly pedestrian-friendly, with a connected network of footbridges that provide unobstructed views for photographing the tall buildings; however, the footbridges are crowded (still safe!) during peak tourist seasons, and passers-by may easily appear in your photos if you stand far from the railings.\n\n### Temples\n\nthumb|Confucian Temple\nShanghai many temples, churches, mosques and synagogues.\n\n**Jing'an Temple (静安寺)** is a large Buddhist temple in Jing'an District, next to the metro stop (Lines and ) named after it.\n **Longhua Temple (龙华寺)** is a Zen Buddhist temple down on the southern edge of the French Concession.\n The old town has both the Taoist **Temple of the Town God** (*Chenghung Miao*) and the **Shanghai Confucian Temple** (*Wen Miao*).\n **St. Ignatius Cathedral** is a major Catholic church built by the French near Xujiahui.\n **Holy Trinity Church** is an Anglican cathedral on the east side of People's Square in the old British district.\n **Jade Buddha Temple** is in Putuo, a small Buddhist temple with some fine statues.\n **Xiaotaoyuan Mosque** is Shanghai's largest mosque, with a separate women's mosque next door. It is in Huangpu.\n\nOf course there are many smaller religious buildings—Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, Muslim and Christian—scattered around the city.\n\n### Water towns", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk047", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Zhujiajao\nThere are **water towns** in the Western suburbs, popular with both Shanghai residents and visitors. They are quite scenic with canals as the main method of transport and many traditional-style bridges and buildings.\n **Zhujiajiao** is right out at the Western edge of the municipality in Qingpu district, and can be reached on Line from Hongqiao Railway Station, or by bus. It is quite popular with Shanghai residents, both Chinese and expatriates. There are some bars run by expats.\n **Qibao** is closer to downtown in Minhang district, and can be reached by metro line , Qibao station, then walk a block south). It is smaller than Zhujiajiao and gets a higher proportion of tourists.\n **Fengjing** in Jinshan district has many artists, even its own fairly well-known \"Jinshan peasant\" style of painting. Metro line will get you to Jinshan, but you will need a local bus or a taxi to reach Fengjing.\n\nThis type of town is found all over the Yangtze Delta area. In particular, there are several in the Suzhou and Hangzhou regions as well as in Shanghai.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk048", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Do", "text": "The municipal government runs the Shanghai Cultural Information website which has good **listings of current events** (special exhibits at museums and galleries; shows such as acrobatics at the circus, touring musicians, and plays; sporting events).\n\n### Shopping\n\nIf you like **shopping or window shopping**, a walk along either of Shanghai's major commercial streets takes an hour or two (or up to several days if you visit many stores and explore side streets) and can be quite interesting:\n Nanjing Road, starting from the Bund (Nanjing Road East metro station, line or ) and heading west toward People's Park, Jing'an Temple and perhaps beyond\n Huaihai Road in the French Concession, starting at South Huangpi Road metro station on Line and heading west. At the cross street just past the Changshu Road station, turn left (past the Starbucks) to reach a whole district of bars and restaurants along Hengshan Road to end your journey in comfort.\n\nSee below for more on these streets and nearby areas.\n\n### Parks\n\nAlmost every district in Shanghai has some parks. Some of the major ones are:\n People's Park, very central and with a major metro interchange below it (lines , and )\n Jing'an Park, across the street from the temple and metro station (lines and )\n Fuxing Park in the French Concession\n Lu Xun Park in Hongkou is named for a famous writer. It has kids' rides and a lake with boats for rent.\n Gongqing Forest Park in Yangpu also has rides and boats. (Hongkou Stadium station, line and )\n Zhongshan Park in Changning. (Zhongshan Park metro station, lines & )\n Daning Tulip Park, north of the railway station in Zhabei\n **Shanghai Expo Park** is in two parts, the larger in Pudong and the smaller in Puxi, toward the south of Huangpu. The Power Station of Art (listed under ) is in the Puxi part of the park.\n Jinjiang Action Park, an amusement park in the southern part of the French Concession. Has a large Ferris wheel with a good view over much of the city. Metro line to Jinjiang Park Station.\n\nIf you play the game called *wei qi* in Chinese, or \"Go\" in English, you are likely to find locals playing it in Fuxing Park or Jing'an Park.\n\n### Theme parks\n\n ** Shanghai Disney Resort**\nShanghai Disney Resort sits in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. The park is home to many one-of-a-kind attractions, such as the TRON Lightcycle Power Run. \n\n### Other\n\n **Drink at a tea house**. Visit one of Shanghai's many tea houses. Be careful not to order amazingly expensive teas or too much food. Beware of friendly-seeming strangers wanting to take you to a tea house or bar; this may be a scam.\n **Take a boat on the river**. Many companies operate river tours. Look for one of the cheaper ones. This is a great way to see the striking Shanghai skyline and river banks and shoot some good photos. Some of the boat companies offer sightseeing tours lasting several hours and covering quite a bit of the river and/or Suzhou Creek. A cheaper, but less scenic, alternative is to take one of the many ferries that cross the river for a couple yuan.\n **Double-decker buses** run through much of downtown and can be boarded anywhere on their route.\n - China Odyssey Tours\n\n **Formula One**. Grand Prix motor-racing is in April at the International Circuit in Jiading district.\n **Shanghai International Film Festival**. The event takes place during a period of ten days in June with a showing of 400 Chinese and international films in cinemas across many districts of Shanghai.", "word_count": 596}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk049", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Universities\n\nShanghai has at least a dozen universities, many with several campuses. Most employ foreign English teachers and many have foreign students.\n\nTwo are part of the C9 League, a group prestigious universities, roughly the Chinese equivalent of the \"Ivy League\" in the US. These two are generally considered to be behind only Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing as the most prestigious universities in China.\n**Fudan University** (复旦大学 *Fùdàn Dàxué*) is among China's top general universities. The main campus is in Yangpu.\n**Shanghai Jiatong University** (上海交通大学 *Shànghǎi Jiāotōng Dàxué*), also known by its shortened name 交大 (*Jiāodà*), is among the best for technical subjects. It has five campuses in different districts, and has over 40,000 students including about 24,000 graduate students. The new main campus is in Minhang. The original campus in the French Concession is now used mostly for continuing education; it has an MBA program and Chinese-language courses. Metro line has a Jiaotong University Station, at the original campus.\n\nThere are also many non-C9 universities:\n East China Normal University (ECNU) also has its main campus in Minhang, next to Jiaoda.\n New York University in Shanghai is a joint venture between the American school and ECNU, with its campus in Pudong.\n Zhabei has the main campus of Shanghai University.\n Baoshan has another Shanghai University campus.\n Yangpu has four universities: Fudan, Tongji, Finance & Economics, and Physical Education; the last has a martial arts museum.\n Fengxian has Shanghai Business School.\n Sonjiang has an entire University town with many universities\n Nanhui has eight campuses with around 100,000 students.\n Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong has a Fudan campus and the Shanghai Tech University (opened in 2016).\n\nMost of these have substantial contingents of foreign students, and some employ foreigners as English teachers or in other faculty roles. All of them have nearby areas with cheap food, bars and shops that cater to a student market; these can be among the best places in Shanghai to look for low costs and lively nightlife with a young crowd.\n\nSome universities have metro stops named for them, Jiao Tong University and Tonji University stations on line , Shanghai University on line , and Sonjiang University Town on line .\n\n### Other classes\n\nThere are also schools for various Chinese arts or crafts including cooking, martial arts and painting. Many are in the French Concession, though other districts have some.\n\nThere are also schools offering training in the Chinese language. Several of the universities provide such courses and there are other possibilities:\n - Mandarin House\n\n - LTL Mandarin School Shanghai\n\n - Meizhi Mandarin", "word_count": 430}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk050", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Work", "text": "Shanghai had over 200,000 foreign residents as of the 2020 census, most of them working, and the range of jobs and professions is huge. The largest groups are English teachers and expatriate employees sent by foreign companies to work in Chinese branches or factories, or to deal with suppliers or partners. There are also significant numbers of other teachers at every level from kindergarten to university, foreign employees of Chinese companies, contractors doing design work on anything from clothing to automobiles, diplomatic staff at the various consulates, artists and musicians, independent professionals such as lawyers and architects, and people running their own export businesses or even factories.\n\nAs a general rule, the English teachers are paid less than the other groups, though still quite well by local standards. To some extent the range of Western bars and restaurants reflects this; some of the high-end places cater mainly to expatriates with high salaries or generous expense accounts. These places also get some tourists and wealthy Chinese, but the typical foreign teacher (let alone most Chinese or low-budget backpackers) cannot afford them.\n\nSee below for information on visa extensions if required.\n\nSee Working in China for additional information.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk051", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "Much of the shopping in Shanghai is either downtown or (mostly for big malls) across the river in Pudong. Many clothing shops are downtown, but others are scattered citywide; see for details. There are also many shopping opportunities in the big malls of Pudong, and all the suburban areas have malls as well. Two of the largest malls on the Puxi side of the river are:\n **Cloud Nine** shopping center in Changning district has nine floors above ground (hence the name) and two below. \n **Wanda Plaza** in Yangpu is the favorite entertainment spot for university students and locals on the north side.", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk052", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "With those exceptions, most of the shopping is downtown\nthumb|Nanjing Road East on a fairly busy day\n **Nanjing Road** in Huangpu is Shanghai's best-known shopping street, and probably China's. Nanjing Road starts on the riverside at The Bund and goes about west from there to Jing'an Temple. It continues beyond the temple, gradually changing from intensively commercial to more office and residential use. The park divides Nanjing Road into two parts:\nNanjing Road East (*Nanjing dong lu*) in Huangpu District, mostly pedestrians-only and a major shopping area since the mid-19th century. It is a 1-km long pedestrian boulevard running inland from the Bund, lined with busy shops. The wide boulevard is often packed with people on weekends and holidays. The shops are often targeted to domestic tourists, so the prices are surprisingly reasonable. The Nanjing Road East station (lines and ) is near the center of that pedestrian area. The People's Park station (lines , and ) is at the inland end, furthest from the Bund. Beyond that station the road is no longer pedestrian-only; it runs along the north side of People's Park (人民广场), which is often considered the center of Shanghai.\n For high-end international brands, go to Nanjing Road West (南京西路 *Nanjing xi lu*) near Jing'an Temple station (line or ). Several large shopping malls (Plaza 66 aka Henglong Plaza, Citic Plaza, Meilongzhen Plaza, and others being built) house boutiques bearing the most famous names in fashion.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk053", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "The French Concession is another major shopping area. Huaihai Road is a busy boulevard with upscale stores; well-off locals tend to shop there in preference to the more touristy Nanjing Road. For boutique shopping, head to the smaller streets just off it — Xinle Lu (新乐路), Changle Lu (长乐路) and Anfu Lu (安福路) — starting from east of Shaanxi Lu (陕西路); the nearest Metro station is South Shanxi Rd on Line . This area of low-rise buildings and tree-lined streets bustles with small boutiques of clothing and accessories, where young Shanghainese seek the latest fashion shops. A renovated but still picturesque older area called Tian Zi Fang also has boutique clothing, plus much arts and crafts.\n\nThe Bund is mainly office buildings but does have some hotels, restaurants, and a few multi-storey high-end shopping centers. No. 3 on the Bund has, among other things, Giorgio Armani's flagship store in China. No. 18 has many stores including an art gallery.\n\nYuyuan Bazaar in the old town is well provided with Chinese crafts and jewellery. See Shanghai for other tourist shopping areas.\n\n### Books, CDs and DVDs\n\nFuzhou Road runs from the Bund on the east to People's Square on the west, and is the first major street south of Nanjing Road. In colonial times it was Shanghai's main red-light district; today it is the best place to look for books and is also a good street to wander around and find stationery and art supplies, especially for Chinese calligraphy and painting. Some of the art is sold there as well.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk054", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "Shanghai Foreign Languages Bookstore (Shanghai Book Traders) at 390 Fuzhou Rd offers many books in English and other major languages, especially for learning Chinese. Just around the corner at 36 South Shanxi Rd is a small but well-stocked second-hand foreign-language bookshop. If you're searching for computer or business related books, head to the biggest store in Fuzhou Rd: Shanghai Book Town (上海书城). You'll find special editions targeted at the Chinese market. The only difference to the original version is the Chinese cover and the heavily reduced price.\n\nThose interested in music CDs or DVDs of movies and television shows have a wide variety of options. The bookstores all carry some, people sell DVDs out of boxes on street corners, and there are local DVD shops in most neighborhoods. Costs go from about ¥6 per disk to about ¥40; you pay a bit more for DVD-9 format disks. See also discussion in the China article.\n\nThere are also some shops popular with the expatriate community; these tend to have English-speaking staff and a better selection of merchandise appealing to Westerners, though sometimes at slightly higher prices. One is the Ka De Club with two shops: one at 483 Zhenning Rd and the other one at 505 Da Gu Rd (a small street between Weihai and Yan'an roads). Another popular DVD shop is on Hengshan Road about halfway between two expat bars, Oscar's and the Shanghai Brewery. There are several more along Jiaozhou Road, which runs north from Jing'An Station.\n\nPerhaps the best way to score a deal with a shop is to be a regular. If you provide them repeat business they are usually quite happy to give you discounts for your loyal patronage. It is also worth asking for a cheaper-by-the-dozen discount if you are making a large purchase.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk055", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Antiques\n\nThere are a number of markets in the city selling antiques, jade and Mao-era China memorabilia:\nthumb|240px|Porcelain at Dongtai Road Market\n **Dongtai Road Antique Market** in the French Concession is the largest antique market in the city, and the cheapest provided you bargain *hard*.\n Yuyuan Gardens is another good option for antiques and all manner of cheaply made and priced souvenirs (teapots, paintings, \"silk\" bags, etc.) Walk a few hundred meters East from Dongtai Road.\n There are more upmarket antique markets between Fuzhou Road and the pedestrian part of Nanjing Road.\n\nAs with any market in China, don't be afraid to haggle; it is usually the only way to get a fair price.\n\nExporting anything made before 1911 is now illegal. See the China article for discussion.\n\n### Electronics\n\nShanghai offers the opportunity to buy electronic products, and you may be able to find exotic gadgets and phones that are only available in China. Foreign electronics are expensive with a high sales tax. It can be helpful to buy online with clear cheaper prices and with delivery often possible the same day with payment in cash on delivery. Games consoles are expensive and import restrictions extensive.\nXujiahui is the place to go if you're after computer accessories and other electronics, but the mobile phone selection is a bit lacking. Try to go during the week; it is hectic on weekends.\n\n**Bu Ye Cheng Communications Market** in Zhabei near the Shanghai Railway Station is the one of the best-known open-style markets for mobile phones in Shanghai. The selection is a mixed bag; you'll find Chinese off-brands mixed with reliable big-name brands as well as cutting-edge Japanese phones.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk056", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is a giant electronics mart at the Baoshan Road line / station, which offers a huge range of miscellaneous electronics and mobile phones, however some are fake. Be sure to bargain hard. If you want to buy a mobile phone here, make sure you have a SIM card before you purchase, and test the SIM card in the phone by making a call, perhaps to the vendor, since some of the phones are non-functional but still turn on. It's best to negotiate as low as possible first, and then try out your SIM card.\n\n### Photo equipment\n\nShanghai is rather an odd market for photo equipment. As in any major city, more-or-less everything is available somewhere, including high-end items of interest mainly to professionals and unusual things that only a collector might want. China was relatively isolated for decades, from the Japanese invasion in 1937 until the \"reform and opening up\" of 1978, so imported items from that period are not common. However Shanghai was a very prosperous and cosmopolitan city in the 1920s and early 30s so some collectors' items are in good supply.\n\nAs a general rule, prices on photo equipment in Shanghai are roughly comparable to US prices and a bit higher than Hong Kong, but there are various exceptions including some real bargains and some seriously overpriced items. Check prices abroad before making any major purchases.\n\nFor consumer products such as point-and-shoot cameras or low-end interchangeable lens devices, Xujiahui is a shopper's paradise. Any of the large consumer electronics stores scattered around the city, and many of the general department stores, will have these as well, but selection and price are usually better at Xujiahui.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk057", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "For more specialised needs, there are two large buildings full of camera stores in Shanghai. Both have plenty of consumer products, usually at good prices. However they also have lots of products for the enthusiast and professional markets, services such as printing or camera repair, and a large selection of used equipment from cheap-and-usable to collectors' items.\n\nOne is **Huanlong Photographic Equipment City** (环龙照相器材) on the 2nd through 5th floors of a building near the Shanghai train station in Zhabei District. Exit the station into the South Square, and the building is diagonally left. Fast food on ground floor. Second floor and above is mostly camera shops. The higher you go, the more used equipment you see.\n An even larger clump of shops is **Xing Guang Photographic Equipment City** (星光摄影器材城) 300 Luban Lu, corner of Xietu Lu. Metro Line to Luban Road South, go out exit 1, turn left onto Luban Lu, and you are walking North. Xietu Lu is the first cross street. The camera center is on the NW corner. It has 7 floors. The top one is offices, the bottom two mostly new cameras. One floor is mostly studio equipment—lights, reflectors and so on—and includes some unusual cameras such as 4x5-inch view cameras and 6x17 cm Chinese-made panoramic cameras. Another is mostly wedding studios, wedding clothes rental, etc. Used equipment is from 2nd to 6th floors and dominates a couple of floors. One camera repair shop, a few accessories shops—memory, bags, tripods, etc.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk058", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are two newer buildings next to the main one. In the main building, the bottom two floors are nearly all shops selling new cameras, with much specialisation by brand. At least one shop with nothing but Canon, some only Sony, one only Nikon & Manfrotto, two mainly Pentax. Olympus and Panasonic are fairly common, but no shops sell only those. Voigtlander is visible here and there. The Leica specialists are on higher floors.\n\nThese two groups of shops are on Line so it is easy to visit both in a day. However, Line 4 is roughly circular and they are on opposite edges (Railway Station on North, Luban Lu on South) so it is a fairly long ride between them.\n\n### Clothing\n\nShanghai has a number of markets which combine cheap clothing (including lots of knock-offs of famous brands) with tourist stuff like souvenir T-shirts and higher-grade Chinese stuff like silk (?) scarves and robes. Nearly all of these also have a few stores selling luggage, and many have some consumer electronics as well. In any of them there are quite a few touts; just entering the buildings can bring a horde of people upon you trying to sell you bags, watches, DVDs and all sorts of goods. You also need to haggle to get good prices in any of them. Dodging touts and haggling can be fun, but those sensitive to the pressure might want to steer clear.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk059", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "Rather than pursuing knock-offs of Western brands, one of the more interesting things to do in Shanghai is to check out the small boutiques in the French Concession area. Some of these are run by individual designers of clothing, jewellery, etc., so the items on sale can truly be said to be unique, and the area is generally free of touts. Both prices and quality are generally higher than in the markets described below.\n\nMany visitors from overseas encounter problems finding larger sizes in China. Also the sizes may be different; one Canadian reports that he takes XL at home but needs XXXL in China. This will be less of a problem in tourist areas, and the many fine tailors can make garments to fit anyone, often at attractive prices.\n\nthumb|Qipu Road\nThe horrendously crowded **Qipu Lu** clothing market (Tiantong Road metro station on line one stop North of Nanjing Road East, and line ) is the main place where Shanghai people look for cheap clothing. It is a mass of shops — including a huge number of small ones, many about 18 m2 (200 ft2) — jammed into several multi-storey warehouse-sized buildings; exploring even one would take the casual stroller most of a day. You can walk into the basement of one building from inside the subway stop. You'll find the cheapest clothes in the city here, but even the trendiest styles are clearly Chinese. Bargain hard, in Chinese if you can, and make friends with the shop owners. Many of them have secret stashes of knock-offs in hidden rooms behind the stall \"walls.\" *Avoid this place on weekends at all costs*.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk060", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "While Qipu Lu is best known for cheap clothing, and that is indeed the market most shops target, it also has some rather fine upmarket shops. For example, the top floor of the building by the subway has a women's clothing place specialising in silk dresses and tops, including many with good embroidery. Prices start around ¥300, high but not outrageous by Chinese standards. Compared to prices in Western countries they are a real bargain.\n\nAnother large market is next to the **Shanghai Science & Technology Museum** (上海科技馆) metro station on line in Pudong; there are actually two markets, one on each side of the station. The place has more foreign customers than Qipu Lu, and the asking prices for clothes are higher. However, there is a wider selection here of other products: software, games, electronics, etc. This market also has a number of **tailor shops** for made-to-order clothing.\n\nA smaller but more accessible market with similar merchandise (but no tailors) is attached to the largest and most central metro station in town, People's Park. This is less hectic than either Qipu Lu or the Science & Tech Museum, and probably has enough variety for most travellers.\n\nIt is fairly common for travellers to stop at either the Science & Tech or the People's Park market to pick up gifts just before flying out of Shanghai, since both are on line which goes to both airports, and both are all on a single level so it is moderately convenient to wander about with luggage in tow. Prices may not be the best in town but they are generally much better than airport shops and selection is good.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk061", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "The area around Yuyuan Gardens in the old town has similar merchandise, with more emphasis on souvenirs and handicrafts rather than clothing, and often with somewhat higher asking prices.\n\nAnother option is the **Pearl Plaza** located on Yan'an Xi Lu and Hongmei Lu (line , get off at Longxi Rd stop, go south on Hongmei Lu out of the station past Yan'an elevated road). See Minhang for more on that area. Another, more for day-to-day clothing than anything fancy or touristy, is near Shanghai Ikea; take line to Cao Xi Road, walk toward Ikea and it will be on your left.\n\nThe largest group of **tailor shops** is at Shanghai South Bund Material Market: 399 Lujiabang Rd (陆家浜路), open 10:00-18:00. Three floors of tailors and their materials including silk, cashmere, and merino wool. Have items measured, fitted and finished within two days or bring examples, samples or pictures. Prices here or in the smaller cluster of such shops at Science & Tech are often better than at standalone shops in town because the competition for customers is fairly intense, but you should bargain for the best price.\n\nYou can take bus #802 or #64 from the Shanghai Railroad Station and stop at the final stop: Nanpu Bridge Terminal or you can take metro line to the Nanpu Bridge (南浦大桥) Station (exit from gate #1, make a left from the exit and then left again on the light. You will see it to your right after walking about 200 to 250 m.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk062", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "For high-end clothing that is (mostly) not Chinese knock-offs, generally at somewhat higher prices than outside China, the main areas to look are Nanjing Road right downtown and Huaihai Road in the French Concession. Both have many stores with trendy styles and major international brands. See the Shopping in China article for discussion of difficulties buying brand-name goods in the country, but note that the high-end Shanghai shops are probably less risky than anywhere else.\n\n### Groceries\n\nMajor supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Metro, Auchan, Tesco and Walmart are scattered around the city and have cheap groceries and household products, and are generally crowded at weekends. The most centrally located 'big chain' supermarket is Carrefour located in floors B1 and B2 of Cloud 9 shopping mall (metro: Zhongshan Park, lines , and ). Tesco has a store in Zhabei district close to the main railway station and there is a huge Lotus supermarket in Top Brands mall in Liujiazui (Liujiazui, line ). There is also a large supermarket with much imported food at Xujiahui (lines and ); leave the station via at exit 12, which puts you in the basement of a major mall, then walk all the way across the open space at that level.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk063", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Buy", "text": "Whilst many stores around the city sell imported products at fairly high prices, Metro Cash'n'Carry is by far the cheapest place to buy imported goods. There are two stores:\n The Pudong store is at Longyang Lu, Lines , , and Maglev.\n The Puxi store is at the intersection of Zhenbei Rd and Meichuan Rd, reachable by bus #827 from Line Beixinjing station, Line Shuicheng Rd station or Jiaotong University station, or bus #947 from Line Zhongshan Park station and lines and Jinshajiang Rd station. Alternately, it is a five-minute walk from Jinjiang Park station on line .\nAs Metro caters primarily to businesses, you will either need a Metro membership card or take a temporary guest pass from reception when entering the store (Puxi store offers no guest passes but most members are willing to lend their membership card at the check-out line). Some items are available only in large packages or are much cheaper bought that way; for example, 1-kg (2.2-lb) packs of New Zealand cream cheese or 5-kg (11-lb) blocks of Irish cheddar are about half the cost per gram of small quantities.\n\nCity Shop has a number of locations around Shanghai, plus an online store. Prices are mostly noticeably higher than Metro, but their selection is good and locations are often convenient.\n\nUbiquitous FamilyMart 24-hour convenience stores can be found around the main central districts and inside major metro stations — these stores sell magazines, snacks, drinks and Japanese-style hot bento-boxes although prices are high by Chinese standards. Chinese chains such as KeDi and C-Store can be found in residential districts and are marginally cheaper and also stock cigarettes. 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores are less common but can be found around the Nanjing Road area.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk064", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Many food options in Shanghai are much as anywhere else in China. A lot of the street food is cheap and interesting; roasted sweet potatoes are a common and low-risk item. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants, especially West-of-China Muslim noodle places or spicy Sichuan places, often have good cheap food as well. The local bakeries are generally reasonably priced and the coffee houses have Western-style baked goods for not much more.\n\nFor excellent Sichuan food in classier surroundings, Spicy Joint on Huaihai Road is *extremely* popular; do not go at a peak time unless you are willing to wait for a table.\n\nWhile there are some good Indian and Thai places, there are also many *Japanese* curry places in Shanghai. A popular chain is Coco Ichibanya with about a dozen locations from Pudong to Suzhou, mostly downtown. One is in the mall attached to Jing'an Temple metro station, another in Metro City mall at Xujiahui, and another on Huaihai Road.\n\nThe Wagas chain has restaurants offering coffee and a mostly western menu—mainly light choices like sandwiches, soups and salads—at mid-range prices and \"Baker & Spice\" places which combine a café and bakery. They offer free WiFi and are a popular spot for locals and digital nomads working on laptops as they sip coffee. Downtown Shanghai has at least one Wagas location in each of the eight covered in this article, including at least two in Jing'an. The ground-level strip of restaurants behind Grand Gateway Mall at Xjiahui has a Wagas with a Baker & Spice shop next door.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk065", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are plenty of places with various sorts of international cuisine, mostly at higher prices than those mentioned above. The largest group are in the French Concession, mostly along Hengshan Road or streets running off it, but there are also many in Jing'an, Huangpu and Pudong, and some elsewhere.\n\nAs anywhere in China, Brazilian all-you-can-eat barbeque restaurants are common; one is on Hengshan Road. There is also an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet above the Dutch department store on Huaihai Road.\n\nHuanghe Rd (黄河路), off Nanjing Road has upmarket Chinese-style seafood.\n\nMuch western fast food is available: McDonald's, Starbucks and KFC are ubiquitous, while Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts and Burger King are fairly common. Shanghai has a few you might not find (yet?) in smaller cities, such as a Papa John's Pizza on Hengshan Road and a Carl's Jr. burger place at Xujiahui.\n\n### Shanghai cuisine\n\nShanghai's cuisine, like its people and culture, is primarily a fusion of the forms of the surrounding Jiangnan region, with influences sprinkled in from the farther reaches of China and elsewhere. Characterized by some as **sweet and oily**, the method of preparation used in Shanghai emphasizes **freshness and balance**, with particular attention to the richness that sweet and sour characteristics can often bring to dishes that are otherwise generally savoury.\n\nthumb|Shanghai street food\nthumb|Cookie shop, Huaihai Road\nThe name \"Shanghai\" means \"above the sea\", but paradoxically, the local preference for fish often tends toward the freshwater variety due to the city's location at the mouth of China's longest river. **Seafood**, nonetheless, retains great popularity and is often braised (fish), steamed (fish and shellfish), or stir-fried (shellfish). Watch out for any seafood that is fried, as these dishes rely far less on freshness and are often the remains of weeks-old purchases.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk066", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Shanghai's preference for meat is unquestionably **pork**. Pork is ubiquitous in Chinese cooking, and in general if a mention refers to something as \"meat\" (肉) without any modifiers, the safe assumption is that it is pork. Minced pork is used for dumpling and bun fillings, whereas strips and slices of pork are promulgated in a variety of soups and stir-fries. Here are some of Shanghai's representative pork-based specialties:\n *hóng shāo ròu* (红烧肉, lit. red-cooked pork), a traditional dish throughout Southern China with the added flair of anise and sweetness provided by the chefs of Shanghai. \n *táng cù pái gǔ* (糖醋排骨, lit. sugar and vinegar pork ribs), a common Shanghai appetizer that features the typical sweet-sour flavor balance of local dishes.\n *zhá zhū pái* (炸猪排, lit. fried pork chop), a beloved snack made of breaded pork chop deep-fried until golden. It is crispy outside and tender inside, often served with Worcestershire sauce.\n *xiǎo húntùn* (小馄饨, lit. small wontons), a light Shanghai staple with thin wrappers and fresh pork filling. It is usually served in clear soup, with a delicate and refreshing taste.\n *dàpái mián* (大排面, lit. big chop noodle), a hearty noodle soup with a large braised pork chop. The pork chop is soft and tasty, and the savory soup makes it a filling meal.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk067", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Chicken** takes the honorable mention in the meat category, and the only way to savour chicken in the Chinese way is to eat it whole (as opposed to smaller pieces in a stir-fry). Shanghai's chickens were once organic and grass-fed, yielding smaller but tender and flavourful birds. Today most chickens are little different from what can be found elsewhere. Still, the unforgettable preparations (drunken, salt-water, plain-boiled with dipping sauce, etc.) of whole chickens chopped up and brought to the table will serve as a reminder that while the industrialization of agriculture has arrived from the West, the preservation of flavour is still an essential element of the local cooking.\n\nthumb|Shanghai hairy crab\n*Dàzhá xiè* (大闸蟹), or *Shànghǎi máo xiè* (上海毛蟹; Shanghai hairy crab), a type of small freshwater crab famed for its taste. Best eaten in the winter months (Oct-Dec) and paired with Shaoxing wine to balance your yin and yang. Roe and meat from this type of crab goes into the famous *xiaolongbao* and *shengjian* (below). This prized crab and its golden crab roe form the heart of many other beloved local dishes:\n *xièfěn shīzitóu* (蟹粉狮子头; lit. crab meat pork meatballs), found in various Yangzhou- and Zhenjiang-style restaurants, such as the **Yangzhou Fandian** located near Nanjing Road.\n *xièfěn bàn miàn* (蟹粉拌面, lit. crab roe noodles), a popular noodle dish mixed with fresh crab roe and fragrant oil. The noodles are smooth and chewy, and the crab roe gives the dish a strong umami flavor.\n *xièfěn dòufu* (蟹粉豆腐, lit. crab roe tofu), a soft home-style dish made with silken tofu and fresh crab roe. The tofu is tender and mild, and the crab roe adds a fresh and savory taste to it.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk068", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Those looking for lower-cholesterol options need not fret. Shanghai lies at the heart of a region of China that produces and consumes a disproportionately large amount of soy. Thinking **tofu**? There's the stinky version that when deep-fried, permeates entire blocks with its earthy, often offensive aroma. Of course there are also tofu skins, soy milk (both sweet and savory), firm tofu, soft tofu, tofu custard (generally sweet and served from a road-side cart), dried tofu, oiled tofu and every kind of tofu imaginable. There's also vegetarian duck, vegetarian chicken and vegetarian goose, each of which looks and tastes nothing like the fowl after which it is named but is rather just a soy-dish where the bean curd is expected to approximate the meat's texture. Look out also for gluten-based foods at vegetarian restaurants. If you are **vegetarian**, do be conscious that tofu in China is often regarded not as a substitute for meat (except by the vegetarian Buddhist monks) but rather as an accompaniment to it. As such, take extra care to ensure that your dish isn't served with peas and shrimp or stuffed with minced pork before you order it.\n\nShanghainese people have 4 special preferences for **breakfast dishes** (or rather to say dishes, just those simple and quick-to-eat) which are given the name *sì dà jīn gāng* (四大金刚, lit. four heavenly kings, a term in Buddhism). They are the followings:", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk069", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "*dà bĭng* (大饼, lit. large pastry). A kind of large flat bread. Fried dough in oil-greased frying pan with water (which eventually evaporates). A variation of this is *cōng yóu bĭng* (葱油饼, lit. green onion oil pastry), which has green onion and salt and pepper on the surface of the dough before frying.\n *yóu tiáo* (油条, lit. oily strips). Stretchy while crispy fried hollow strips. Often served with some sugar to dip on.\n *cí fàn* (粢饭). Glutinous rice and Japonica rice mixed and steamed, then used to wrap up a *yóu tiáo*.\n *dòu jiāng* (豆浆, soybean milk). Simply soybean milk, often sweetened with sugar. Best when served with *yóu tiáo*.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk070", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Some **other Shanghainese dishes** to look out for:\nthumb|xiǎolóngbāo\n *xiǎolóngbāo* (小笼包, lit. buns from the little steaming cage; fig. steamed dumpling). Probably the most famous Shanghai dish: small steamed buns — often confused for dumplings — come full of tasty (and boiling hot!) broth inside with a dab of meat to boot. The connoisseur bites a little hole into them first, sips the broth, then dips them in dark vinegar (醋 cù) to season the meat inside.\n *shēng jiān mántóu* (生煎馒头, lit. raw, fried buns), or simply *shēng jiān*. Unlike steamed buns, these larger buns come with dough from raised flour, are pan-fried until the bottoms reach a deliciously crispy brown, and have not made their way to Chinese menus around the world (or even around China). Still popular with Shanghainese for breakfast and best accompanied by vinegar, eat these with particular care, as the broth inside will squirt out just as easily as their steamed cousins.\n *xūn yú* (熏鱼, lit. smoked fish), a classic cold dish made by frying fish and soaking it in a sweet and savory sauce. It has a crispy outer layer and tender fish meat, with a rich and mild sweet taste.\n *cōngyóu bàn miàn* (葱油拌面, lit. scallion oil noodles), a simple classic Shanghai noodle dish tossed with fragrant scallion oil. The noodles are chewy, and the scallion oil brings a strong, savory aroma.\n\n### Western food", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk071", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Having been home to concessions of various European countries and the United States for much of the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries, Shanghai has developed its own unique style of Western food known as **Haipai cuisine** (海派西餐 *hǎipài xīcān*). It is broadly divided into five different styles, namely German, French, Italian, Russian and British. Among the more popular Haipai dishes include Shanghai-style borscht (罗宋汤 *luósòng tāng*), fried pork chops (炸猪排 *zhá zhūpái*), potato salad (土豆色拉 *tǔdòu sèlā*) and baked clams (烙蛤蜊 *lào gélí*).", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk072", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Drink", "text": "Most of the places mentioned under above also serve booze, and the rest have coffee and tea.\n\nThe traditional alcoholic drink of choice for the Shanghainese is **Shaoxing rice wine**, and this can still be found in most restaurants.\n\nPrices of drinks in **cafés and bars** vary like they would in any major metropolis. They can be cheap or budget-busters, with a basic coffee or beer costing ¥10-40. In a high-end hotel bar, one basic beer may cost as much as ¥80. Western-style cafés and bars have also become commonplace. There are internationally-known chains, like Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, as well as popular domestic and local java joints to satisfy those looking to relax. Hong Kong-style tea cafés are also common, as are Asian \"pearl milk tea\" or \"bubble tea\" bars. Some traditional tea houses can still be found, especially in the Old City.\n\nTsingtao, Snow and Pearl River **beer** are widely available. Major foreign brands are produced domestically and smaller brands are typically imported. There is also a local brew known as REEB (beer spelled backwards). A large bottle (640 ml) of any of these costs anywhere from ¥2-6.\n\nShanghai is filled with amazing **nightlife**, complete with both affordable bars and nightclubs that pulsate with urban energy. There are plenty of bars in all areas, with the biggest concentration in the French Concession. Xintiandi in particular has many upmarket bars and nightclubs, many with live music. Gay bars are concentrated in the French Concession and the Xinhua Road Residential District in neighboring Changning district.\n\nThere are many **magazines for expats** available at hotels and expat eateries, listing and reviewing events, bars, clubs and restaurants in Shanghai. The most popular are That's Shanghai, City Weekend, and Time Out. Shanghai also has an English newspaper, Shanghai Daily, and an English-medium TV channel, International Channel Shanghai or ICS; most expats find these better than the corresponding national media outlets, People's Daily and CCTV channel 9.\n\n - Shanghai Pub Crawl", "word_count": 330}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk073", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Shanghai can be rivaled by few cities in China, in terms of both variety and services. There are establishments for all types of travelers, from backpacker options for the weary to top-of-the-line hotels and serviced apartments for those wishing to be spoiled. Puxi has both new and old hotels with classy architectural styles and charm, some of them described in stories when Shanghai may have been the only place in China known to much of the rest of the world, while modern amenities commonly found in Pudong rival many hotels in Asia and beyond.\n\nFor clean, safe, budget accommodation, three reliable options are the Jin Jiang Star (website in Chinese), Motel 168 (website in Chinese) and Motel 268 chains, all of which have locations in most districts of Shanghai.\n\nFor long-term accommodation, be prepared to splurge as Shanghai's real estate prices are among the highest in the world, rivaling even those of major Western cities.\n\nIf your budget allows it, all the downtown districts except the Old City have high-end hotels, and Pudong across the river has many others. Prices are near international levels, anywhere from around ¥700 a night to several times that. Most of the big international chains have at least one location in Shanghai, and many have hotels in both Pudong and central Puxi; Hilton has those plus a third one at Hongqiao Airport. Many of these hotels are in very convenient locations; Les Suites and Hyatt are on the Bund, Le Meridien is just off Nanjing Road, and Radisson is on People's Square; see Huangpu for listings. In Jing'an, the Shangrila is right next to the temple and metro station, and in the French Concession, the Langham Xintiandi is close to Xintiandi and the old town.\n\nShanghai also has some grand old hotels built in the art deco style during the city's glory days (1840s-1930s). The Peace Hotel and Astor House are on the Bund and the Park Hotel is across from People's Park on Nanjing Road; all are listed in the Huangpu article. These are often somewhat cheaper than the newer luxury hotels.\n\nQuite a few low-priced and mid-range places are in the area north of Jing'an Temple, in Jing'an, Zhabei and Putuo districts. For a more central location the Captain's Hostel is a backpacker place just off the Bund. Backpacker dorms are under ¥100 in most places, while many hostels and most of the plainer hotels can provide private rooms with private shower in the ¥250-600 range.", "word_count": 415}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk074", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Shanghai, despite its size, is a very safe city, and violent crime is incredibly rare; it is generally not a problem for women to roam the streets alone at night. Petty crimes like pickpocketing and bike theft can sometimes occur, though they are not as common as they used to be with the ubiquity of CCTVs these days. Sexual harassment occasionally occurs on crowded public transport. Pay extra caution before the Chinese New Year (in Jan or Feb depending on lunar calendar), as thieves may be more active in looking for new-year money.\n\nAlthough **pickpocketing** is not as rampant as in major European cities, it pays to be prudent, especially in crowded public transport and the main shopping streets. Pickpockets often work in groups, sometimes including women carrying babies.\n\nBeware of this **taxi scam**: first you agree on price (e.g., ¥300 for a taxi shared with someone else from Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou) then after a short taxi ride they ask to get out and a group of people say that you need to pay agreed money right now. Then you are transferred to a shared bus where other people cheated like yourself wait until the bus departs, then the bus finally gets to its destination. Most taxis belong to a taxi company, with the company telephone number printed in the taxi that you can call in English. There is also a common Shanghai help-line number that can help you, call 962288, with English service.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk075", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The notorious **tea house scam**, long practised in Beijing, is unfortunately spreading to Shanghai as well. Be cautious of overly friendly strangers, probably well-dressed, speaking good English, and look innocent like a student. They will invite you to an art gallery, tea shop or karaoke bar, and after accepting they will leave you to foot a large bill. In this case, you should call 110 (emergency hotline). The con artists may tell you that calling the police does not work and claim to have connections with police, but the police in China tend to be helpful in these cases, especially when innocent foreigners are involved. These scams can be found around People's Square near the entrances/exits of the museums and art galleries. Actual physical harm to yourself is unlikely. Just walk away.\n\nA **temple scam** in various big cities and also Tibet is when your guides may ask you to make a wish and burn a stick of incense which ends up costing a hundred to more than a thousand. Another trick is to ask you how much you want to \"donate\". After you said ¥10, they will tell you that ¥10 is for a one-day blessing but the monk has already turned an incense to bless you for 1 year, so you have to pay 365 x ¥10. This scam has caused significant backlash because of blasphemy since no legitimate temples in China ever charge followers in this way.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk076", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Male travellers may attract attention from female **sex workers** at nightspots. Remember that prostitution is illegal in China, so you could face potential legal consequences should you partake. Around the Old Town and the Science Museum in Pudong, **hawkers** are sometimes also eager to sell. Saying *wǒ búyào* (\"I don't want it\") may help. Also be cautious of people who approach and offer to **polish your shoes**. Make sure both of you agree on the price before anything is put on your shoes. The same rule also applies to the commercial **photographers** at the Bund area. They will offer to take your picture with the scenic background (and sometimes with costumes) for ¥50, but once you have contracted their services, several cohorts will arrive to \"assist\" the photographer. They may force you to buy all the snapshots and try to gather crowds to increase pressure.\n\nDon't rush into or out of **Shanghai metro** trains at the last moment. Despite the safety barriers on the platform, the train doors sometimes close before all passengers have boarded; people squeezed between closing doors is a common sight. Apparently, the failsafe that is supposed to block trains from running with open doors isn't foolproof: In 2010 a woman died after being smashed against the safety barriers as she was hanging half out of the closed doors of a train leaving Zhongshan Park Station.\n\nBy Chinese law, foreigners are required to show their **passports** when requested, although this is rarely enforced. Most hotels will help you keep the passport in the safe, and then you can carry a photocopy along with your hotel's name card.\n\nSee the **Chinese Money Counterfeiting** article for details about fake notes that you may encounter.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk077", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "*See the '''Chinese Stay Healthy''' article for general health and food advice.*\n*See the '''Chinese Smog''' article for information about issues relating to air pollution*\n\nDo not drink Shanghai's **tap water** unless it is boiled or goes through a reverse-osmosis filter. Drinking the water is relatively safe when it has been boiled; however, tap water is also said to contain high amounts of heavy metals which are not removed by boiling. When buying **bottled water** you will come across a whole range of foreign and domestic mineral water brands, with the cheaper domestic brands costing ¥1–2.50 available in all convenience stores and from street vendors. Most hotels provide domestic mineral water for free in your room.\n\nIndividuals with asthma or respiratory issues should be prepared when visiting due to the air pollution.\n\nPublic hospitals in Shanghai are generally not up to the standard that foreigners from Western countries would be used to, and most of the doctors and nurses working there are unable to communicate in English. Ambulance services are unreliable, and in the event of an emergency, the quickest way to get to a hospital would usually be to take a taxi. Many private hospitals and medical clinics around the city mainly cater to foreigners and expatriates. The doctors and nurses working at these places will be able to speak English, and the standard of care is usually on par with what you may be used to at home, though their services are usually very expensive. Many of these medical services will take travel insurance if your insurance company is partnered with the hospital. Generally speaking you will likely have to pay ahead of time, however these facilities tend to be far superior in equipment and cleanliness to the ones that Chinese locals are forced to deal with.\n\nA popular chain of western medical clinics is Parkway Health. There is a 24-hr hotline in English (6445 5999) to arrange an appointment in the clinic nearest you. This service is expensive: basic medical consultations start at ¥1,200. Check with your insurance beforehand to see if you are fully or partly covered.\n\nNote that because these services are pay services, they are paid more when they conduct more tests. Furthermore, Chinese doctors, even Western-trained ones, tend to be overly thorough compared to Western doctors. However since you are a customer, they are not usually too insistent on unnecessary tests. Use your common sense to determine if you need the ordered tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays etc.).\n\n - International Medical Care Center of Shanghai First People's Hospital", "word_count": 425}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk078", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Connect", "text": "Shanghai's area code for landlines is **21**, adding a \"0\" at the beginning if calling from outside of the city. For international calls add 86, the country code for China.\n\nMost of the bars that cater to the expatriate community and many of the foreign-based fast food chains — Starbucks, KFC, Dunkin Donuts and likely others — offer free WiFi.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk079", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Media\n\n- Shanghai Daily\n\n- Shanghai International Channel\n\nExpatriates generally find these Shanghai-based media outlets preferable to the China-wide People's Daily and CCTV-9.\n\nThere are also several English-language papers consisting mainly of listings, reviews and advertisements for restaurants and nightlife. These are given away free in most of the Western-style bars and some restaurants and hotels.\n\n### Operator assistance\n\nAn amazingly helpful resource for visitors and expats alike is the Shanghai Call Center. Established prior to the Expo and maintained as a public service, the call center is a free-of-charge phone number that provides information regarding bus, metro, and taxi directions, business hours, attractions, and can even be utilized as a free translation service. If you are having trouble communicating with your taxi driver or a vendor, don't hesitate to call the number and pass the phone back and forth, having the operator translate.\n\nThe so-called \"Magic Number\" can be reached at 962288 from Shanghai cell phones. Chinese cell phones from other cities should dial 021 962288, and international phones should dial +86 021 962288. A short message in Mandarin will greet you, followed by a set of English instructions. Service is available in several European languages such as English and Spanish.\n\nThe service itself is free of charge, but you pay the cost of the phone call.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk080", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Cope", "text": "According to Smart Shanghai, the city has another English-language help hotline that offers almost the same services as the Shanghai Call Centre. For anyone seeking English-language assistance, call 12345, then for English press 7; you will be asked to press the 'number sign', which means the pound key (#). Services are only offered in Chinese and English, however, they claim to be able to connect to volunteers speaking French, German, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Russian and Arabic. The hotline is run by the city government as a service for residents to help with anything related to either public or civil services, while also answering general questions about the city such as how to deal with registrations and licenses, as well as the opening hours of venues.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nSee the China article for discussion of some Chinese behaviours that may irritate visitors, but note that most of these are less problematic in Shanghai than elsewhere.\n\nCrowding in, rather than queuing, is a problem you are likely to encounter; indeed this can be worse in busy Shanghai than elsewhere. Whether at a ticket booth, at a busy fast food counter, or even at the grocery store, everyone jockeys for position by crowding around a staff member, and will do whatever possible to get in first, and get out. If at all possible, avoid the situation in the first place; for example, recharge your metro card a bit early if you see a quiet ticket counter.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk081", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Cope", "text": "Pushing in the metro is normal, especially at the chaotic People's Square Station. Just dig in and push; don't feel sorry. However, compared to public transport in other Chinese cities, the Shanghainese are better at letting people alight first and the mad rush for empty seats is not quite so bad — your behaviour should follow the situation: if the station is crowded then pushing is acceptable, but if not then you are more likely to be looked upon as an 'uncivilised foreigner'. Also, outside of busy times you should stand to the right on escalators, to allow people to pass.\n\nNote that Shanghai Metro drivers will close the train doors and depart when the schedule says so, even if people are still boarding. When you hear the 'door closing' alarm (usually a series of beeps), stand back from the doors (particularly on the old Line 1 and 2 trains as the doors close very quickly and may not re-open if blocked).\n\n### Work permits and visa extensions\n\nPlease refer to Working in China for general information about Chinese work visas. For specific information on the process in Shanghai, see the article for Pudong where the Entry and Exit Bureau is located.\n\n### Consulates\n\nMost consulates can be found in the Jing'an area of Shanghai.\n\n- Australia\n\n- Belgium\n\n- Brazil\n\n- Canada\n\n- Finland\n\n- France\n\n- Germany\n\n- Greece\n\n- Hong Kong\n\n- India\n\n- Indonesia\n\n- Ireland\n\n- Jamaica\n\n- Japan\n\n- South Korea\n\n- Malaysia\n\n- New Zealand\n\n- Pakistan\n\n- Peru\n\n- Philippines\n\n- Romania\n\n- Singapore\n\n- South Africa\n\n- United Kingdom\n\n- United States", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "shanghai::chunk082", "doc_id": "shanghai", "section": "Go next", "text": "Several other major cities are near Shanghai and conveniently reachable on the new CRH high-speed (over 300 km/h) trains. These are comfortable and reasonably priced and, except at holidays, are not too crowded since other trains are cheaper. Look for the separate ticket windows with \"CRH\" on the signs.\n\n Hangzhou — 45 minutes away by high-speed train, is one of China's top domestic tourist destinations, featuring the famous West Lake, a fine silk market, and Buddhist caves. The popular times of year to go are spring and fall. An information booth at the train platform exit provides a useful booklet with maps.\n Suzhou — a historic town half an hour away from Shanghai by high-speed train, is also a major destination for Chinese tourists. Traditionally a city of scholars and poets with many fine classical Chinese gardens and enough canals that it has been called the \"Venice of the East\". It has also become a major center of hi-tech manufacturing.\nThere is a Chinese saying along the lines *The sky has heaven; the Earth has Suzhou and Hangzhou.*\n Nanjing — about 1.5 hours away by high-speed train, is a great place to get a Chinese history lesson. Nanjing was the capital of China under several dynasties, and of the Nationalist government in the early 20th century. From the city walls to the Presidential Palace, it's a walkable, friendly place with a variety of hotels for all budgets. Well worth the effort. It is also home to the tombs of three prominent figures in Chinese history.\n Wuxi — roughly halfway between Suzhou and Nanjing, known for the Grand Canal, Lake Tai, the giant Buddha at Lingshan, and delicious local cuisine.\n Ningbo — is two and a half to three hours away from Shanghai, across the 36 km-long Hangzhou Bay Bridge. The train, via Hangzhou, is faster.\n\nThere are places that serve as the somewhat rural escapes for Shanghai residents. These are near cities mentioned above, and probably neither would seem at all rural to someone from a less densely populated country.\n\n Mount Putuo, a very scenic island with an important Buddhist temple, near Ningbo. One of China's \"Four Great Mountains of Buddhism\".\n\nSee East China for other cities and attractions in the area around Shanghai.", "word_count": 372}
diff --git a/corpus/shanghai/metadata.json b/corpus/shanghai/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f367f99e9cfc7f1bfb6294317d2b353d8e749578
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/shanghai/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "shanghai",
+ "title": "Shanghai",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Shanghai",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East China"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "CRH",
+ "Hangzhou",
+ "Suzhou",
+ "Nanjing",
+ "Wuxi",
+ "Grand Canal",
+ "Lake Tai",
+ "Ningbo",
+ "Mount Putuo",
+ "East China",
+ "Beijing",
+ "Zhenjiang"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 20939,
+ "listing_count": 50,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 83,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/siberia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/siberia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..db3aec58e4e6447a50e36e81ef7d166127958d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/siberia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk000", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Siberia** (Russian: Сиби́рь *see-BEER'*) is a region in Russia. Though the term Siberia sometimes includes all of the Asian part of Russia, with the Urals and the Russian Far East, this article only covers the Siberian Federal District.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk001", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|250px|Lake Kutserla in the [[Altai Republic]]", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk002", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": ". The pearl of Siberia. It is the deepest and one of the purest lakes in the world.\n. Biggest and deepest lake on Altay mountains.\n One of the longest historical routes from Tsar Russia times spanning 8888 km from Moscow or Veliky Novgorod to Beijing.\n One of the most picturesque old mountain roads of Russia. Historical part starting from Biysk ending in Mongolia.\n Circle mountainous road from Abakan to Kyzyl, Ak-Dovurak, Abaza ening in Abakan.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk003", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|250px|Despite its reputation, Siberia is not just about cold snow! Frozen over Ob, near Novosibirsk.\n\nThe name is of Turkic origin, \"su\" (water) and \"bir\" (wild land). With an area of nearly 10 million sq km., Siberia is vast. While the popular view of Siberia is of howling Arctic wastes dotted with penal colonies, the truth is more complex. The west of Siberia is covered by a swampy plain, the central plateau is heavily forested, and the east has mountains soaring to above 3,000 m. Only the extreme north is true tundra, with permafrost and temperature means that don't get over even in July, but all of Siberia has cold winters.\n\nThe indigenous Siberians, like most indigenous Asian Russians, are more closely related to Turkic peoples or to the Inuit than to ethnic Russians. However, during Imperial Russian and Soviet times the government gave Europeans many incentives to settle in Siberia. Today the population of Siberia is majority ethnic Russian, though rural areas remain largely populated by the indigenous Siberians.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk004", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Talk", "text": "As with anywhere else in Russia, Russian is the dominant language in Siberia. However, there are also many indigenous languages that are spoken by their respective ethnic groups, particularly in rural areas. Almost everybody speaks Russian regardless of what their native tongue is, but learning some phrases in the indigenous languages can help ingratiate you to the locals.\n\nEnglish is spoken by few even at a very basic level, and other foreign languages by fewer than in Western Russia. Knowing Russian is essential.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk005", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By train\n\nthumb|250px|Krasnoyarsk station, near the midpoint of the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]]\n\nThe **Trans-Siberian Railway**, connecting Moscow to Vladivostok, is by far the most famous method of transportation in Siberia. Covering a distance of 9,289 kilometres, making it one of the longest railways in the world, the full trip takes over 6 days and crosses 8 time zones. Its branches the Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian connect to Beijing in China, the first directly, the second via Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.\n\nLess famed is the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM), a northern line running parallel to the Trans-Siberian for 4,234 km. Completed only in 1991 and built mostly for military reasons, further away from the border of China, the BAM is less popular with tourists.\n\n### By car\n\nThe Trans-Siberian Highway, an unofficial grouping of seven Russian federal highways, open the path for a 11000km cross-country journey from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Vladivostok. The last section, the Amur Highway, was paved in 2010.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk006", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are local air companies like S7, Krasavia, Nordavia and Iravia connecting all major destinations in the region also many remote places. Trains are great option to visit minor destinations. Scheduled buses can be found on almost every direction. Carpooling is also well represented. Taxy could be hauled via YandexGo app or some intercity directions serviced by private companies. Hitchhiking is possible and quite effective in every season in any direction, but please have at least proper clothes and tent. Every major regional city has private renting services where you can book and rent desirable vehicle.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk007", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|Cold ostriches in Siberia\nPrimarily natural attractions.\n\n **Mountainous Altai** *(Gorny Altai)* — this region of Siberia is very popular among eco tourists. Mountaineering and mountain rivers' rafting are wide spread here. The area is famous for its stunning scenery. The mountains straddle the border between Altai Krai and the Altai Republic.\n is a large region of volcanic rock, originating in supervolcano activity 250 million years ago, continuing for 1–2 million years and causing extinction of most species of life. With an area of it covers much of Siberia.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk008", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Milky way from Seminsky pass\n\nWith its vast areas of wilderness, Siberia is a challenging destination for outdoor life.\n\n Mushroom picking\n Hot and mineral springs in Siberia are numerous and offer services from wild stone bath to luxury resorts\n Hiking\n Tour cycling\n Downhill snowsports\n Cross country skiing\n Kayaking and rafting, both in white water and in flat water, have official sports associations and informal clubs\n Dog sledding\n Ice skating on Baykal\n Nature observation – birdwatchers number are steadily growing\n Astrophotography and observations of the sky – Siberia due to its vastness and scarce population mostly has zero light pollution.\n Enduro touring by motorcycle in Siberia offers nearly endless possibilities with many rent stations and almost no restrictions on offroad activities", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk009", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are more than 35 indigenois nations originating in Siberia so in Siberia there is not only Russian cuisine. In total there is more than 120 nations living in Siberia. Every nation has its own national cuisine. Some you can taste in big cities, others you need to go far and visit local people. Megapolises like Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk has many restaurants with great variety of local cuisine.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "siberia::chunk010", "doc_id": "siberia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Vodka (водка) and tea (чай)", "word_count": 5}
diff --git a/corpus/siberia/metadata.json b/corpus/siberia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6f7944fbd6b81eed55a03c4e116be6f66f06b8c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/siberia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "siberia",
+ "title": "Siberia",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Polar / Special",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Siberia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Russia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 909,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 11,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sicily/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sicily/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2c10336ea65ab32c26c16b80e0fdd48f95918681
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sicily/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk000", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|right|300px|Mount Etna, the iconic symbol of Sicily.\n**Sicily** (Italian: *Sicilia*) is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and an autonomous region of Italy, located just off the \"toe\" of the Italian peninsula. Known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture, Sicily blends Greek, Roman, Arab, and Norman influences.\n\nThe island offers ancient ruins, volcanic landscapes, baroque towns, pristine beaches, and unique cuisine. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, and the historic cities of Palermo, Syracuse, and Catania.\n\nSicily is a year-round destination with sunny summers, mild winters, and easy access by air or ferry from mainland Italy and beyond.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk001", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Regions", "text": "Sicily is divided into nine administrative areas corresponding to the former provinces. While three are now officially designated as metropolitan cities, the province-based divisions remain useful for travellers and are used here for clarity.\n\n### Archipelagos\n\nSicily’s nearby archipelagos are listed separately due to their distinct geography and travel appeal, though they are administratively part of mainland provinces.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk002", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Cities", "text": "The most visited towns and cities in Sicily, listed for their cultural, historical, or scenic appeal.\n\n – Sicily’s vibrant capital, known for its historic markets, palaces, and mix of Arab-Norman architecture.\n – Hilltop city on the southern coast, home to the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples.\n – Bustling Baroque city at the foot of Mount Etna, with lively markets and black-lava architecture.\n – The gateway to Sicily from the mainland, with a famous astronomical clock and busy ferry port.\n – Hilltop baroque city famed for its dual centres, Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore, and UNESCO-listed architecture.\n – Ancient city on the southeast coast known for Greek ruins, Baroque architecture, and the island of Ortigia.\n – Cliffside town with views of Mount Etna, ancient Greek theatre, and boutique-lined streets.\n – Coastal city famous for its historic centre, salt pans, windmills, and ferries to the Egadi Islands.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk003", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Notable archaeological sites, nature reserves, and cultural landscapes in Sicily that lie outside the main cities and towns.\n\n – Mountainous reserve east of Palermo with charming villages, hiking trails, and biodiversity.\n – Europe’s highest active volcano, with craters, lava flows, and cable cars near Catania.\n – Ancient Phoenician settlement on an island in the Stagnone Lagoon near Marsala.\n – Volcanic island closer to Tunisia than Sicily, known for thermal springs, dammusi houses, and capers.\n – Vast necropolis with thousands of rock-cut tombs, set in a scenic gorge near Syracuse.\n – Well-preserved Doric temple and theatre in a bucolic setting.\n — Iconic archaeological park of ancient Akragas, featuring remarkably preserved Greek temples; a .\n\nSee also: Piazza Armerina for the mosaics of the UNESCO-listed **Villa Romana del Casale**; Porto Empedocle for the dramatic white cliffs of **Scala dei Turchi**; and Noto, Modica, Ragusa, and Scicli for the baroque towns of the UNESCO-listed **Val di Noto**.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk004", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Understand", "text": "Sicily is one of the country's 20 regions, and it is separated from the mainland region of Calabria by the 5-km **Straits of Messina**. \n\nSicily has a long history of foreign domination, from the Phoenicians to the Greeks and the Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Catalans.\n\nThe result is a mixed culture where every single domination left something to see, to taste, and to hear. One of the most recognizable cultural symbols of Sicily is the Triskelion, also known as the Trinacria, which appears on the island’s flag.\n\nThe emblem depicts a three-legged figure radiating from a central head, traditionally identified as Medusa, and is often accompanied by ears of wheat symbolizing fertility and agricultural abundance. The design reflects Sicily’s triangular shape and its ancient Greek heritage.\n\nThe tourist season peaks in the summer months, although people visit the island all year round. It can get very hot during the summer, so it is better to visit during spring and autumn, while it is still quite pleasant during winter.\n\nThe Sicilians are a proud people. Though most are somewhat conservative, they are open-minded to visitors.\n\n### Climate\n\nBeing the overall hottest region in Europe, Sicily has a **Mediterranean climate**, with very hot, long and dry summers and very mild to warm winters. Sicily is very sunny, even in winter. Most cities only receive 40 days of precipitation throughout the year (with the exception of the quite rainy Messina) and when it does rain, it usually happens in winter. Humidity is generally low.\n\nThe only exception to the stereotyped climate of Sicily is the little city of Enna (as well as some villages in the mountains), which is foggy and relatively cold in winter. This is due to the altitude of the city, the highest in Italy for a provincial capital (931 m). Enna is also the foggiest city in Italy, with about 140 foggy days a year on average.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Visit Sicily website\n\n### Talk\n\nNatives of Sicily speak **Sicilian**, an ancient Romance language that is a separate language from Italian (even if it's called *dialetto*). The official language is **Italian**, and almost all Sicilians speak it, often with a strong Sicilian accent.\n\n**English** is taught in all schools but few people can speak it. People who are more likely to speak English are the ones who work in the touristy areas; also, young and educated people usually can speak at least basic English, but with a funny pronunciation and a strong accent. That's because in most schools the teachers focus on grammar rather than pronunciation. People who study languages in university generally have a good pronunciation. Most people above 50 never studied English in schools and they are extremely unlikely to know more than a few words.\nthumb|right|400px|Panoramic view of Palermo from the cable car, with the city sprawling toward the sea.", "word_count": 474}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk005", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nSicily is served by two major international airports:\n\n **Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)** – The island’s busiest airport, with flights to major cities across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including seasonal intercontinental connections. It is a major hub for low-cost and charter airlines.\n **Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO)** – The second-largest airport, offering a wide range of European connections, mostly on budget carriers.\n\nThere are also two smaller international airports:\n **Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS)** – Served by Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, mainly with connections to Italy and central Europe.\n **Comiso Airport (CIY)** – A small airport near Ragusa, with a few seasonal European flights.\n\nFor island access:\n **Pantelleria Airport (PNL)** and **Lampedusa Airport (LMP)** have regular flights to Palermo and Trapani.\n\n### By train\n\nSicily is connected to mainland Italy by train via the Straits of Messina. Trains from Rome, Naples, and northern Italy travel directly to Messina by ferry, then continue to Palermo, Catania, and Syracuse.\n\nIntercity and overnight trains offer sleeper options. Travel times from Rome are about 9–10 hours. Major routes include:\n InterCity (IC) and night trains to Palermo and Syracuse\n Seasonal express services from Milan, Turin, and Venice\n\nTimetables: Trenitalia\n\n### By boat\n\nSicily is accessible via ferry from several ports across mainland Italy and beyond:\n\n **Palermo** – Regular ferries from Naples, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno, and Cagliari (Sardinia).\n **Trapani** – Ferries from Tunis and nearby islands.\n **Catania** and **Messina** – Ferries from Naples, Salerno, and Malta.\n **Pozzallo** – Catamarans from Valletta, Malta (90 minutes).\n\nThe main crossing from mainland Italy is:\n **Villa San Giovanni to Messina** – Frequent car and train ferries (operated by Caronte & Tourist).\n\nCruise ships frequently call at Palermo, Messina, Catania, and Trapani.\n\n### By bus\n\nSeveral long-distance bus companies operate direct routes between Rome, Naples, and major Sicilian cities like Palermo and Catania. Buses usually take longer than trains but can be cheaper and run more frequently.\n\nCheck orariautobus.it or individual operators like SAIS Autolinee and FlixBus for schedules.\n\nthumb|right|400px|Panoramic view of Catania with Mount Etna rising in the background.", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk006", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around Sicily is possible by car, train, bus, and ferry. Car is the most flexible option, but public transport connects all major cities and towns.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving is the most convenient way to explore the island, especially if you want to visit rural areas or the interior.\n\n Sicily has four main motorways (autostrade):\n A18 – Messina to Catania (*toll*)\n A19 – Palermo to Catania (*free*)\n A20 – Messina to Palermo (*toll*)\n A29 – Palermo to Mazara del Vallo, with a branch to Trapani (*free*)\n\nSmaller roads through the countryside and mountains can be scenic but slow. Parking in city centers may be limited, so check ZTL (limited traffic zone) regulations. Snow chains are required around Mount Etna in winter (Dec–Mar).\n\n### By train\n\nTrains are comfortable and affordable between major cities like Palermo, Catania, Messina, and Syracuse. The network is managed by Trenitalia.\n\n Regional trains (*Regionale*) connect smaller towns but can be infrequent and slow.\n InterCity (*IC*) trains offer faster service on long-distance routes.\n Tickets must be validated at yellow machines before boarding.\n\nSome scenic but slow routes include Palermo–Agrigento and Syracuse–Ragusa.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe bus network is extensive and often more efficient than the train for reaching inland towns and remote villages.\n\n Major operators include SAIS, Interbus, and AST.\n Buses are affordable and frequent between cities, but may run less on Sundays and holidays.\n Long-distance buses connect regional hubs like Palermo, Catania, and Trapani to smaller towns.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerries and hydrofoils link Sicily to nearby islands:\n\n From Milazzo to the Aeolian Islands\n From Trapani to the Egadi Islands and Pantelleria\n From Porto Empedocle to Lampedusa and Linosa\n From Palermo to Ustica\n\nOperators include Siremar, Liberty Lines, and Caronte & Tourist.\n\n### By plane\n\nFlights connect Sicily to the Aeolian Islands, Pantelleria, and Lampedusa. These are useful for saving time but not essential for mainland travel.", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk007", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|400px|Temple of Concord, Agrigento\nSicily’s layered history is visible everywhere — from vast ancient ruins and elegant Baroque towns to atmospheric hill villages and bold contemporary art. Whether you’re following in the footsteps of the Greeks, wandering medieval lanes, or admiring sculptural landscapes, the island offers cultural experiences as rich and varied as its terrain.\n\n### Archaeology\n\nSicily boasts some of the most significant **archaeological sites** in the Mediterranean. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is home to soaring **Greek temples**, while Selinunte and Segesta showcase other sprawling ancient cities. In the east, Syracuse and Akrai preserve **classical theatres** and sanctuaries, while the Neapolis Archaeological Park holds layers of Greek, Roman, and early Christian ruins.\n\nFurther inland, the Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina is famed for its vast **Roman mosaics**. The **cliff-carved necropolis** of Pantalica (Syracuse), the **Phoenician island city** of Mozia (Trapani), and **prehistoric cave dwellings** like Grotta Mangiapane (Custonaci) illustrate Sicily’s continuous human habitation stretching back millennia.\n\n### Architecture\n\nEach wave of conquest and rebirth has left its own distinct imprint on Sicily's landscape and culture. **Norman-Arab cathedrals** in Palermo, Cefalù, and Monreale blend **Islamic and Romanesque** motifs and are UNESCO-listed masterpieces. The island’s post-1693 reconstruction gave rise to the spectacular **Baroque towns** of the Val di Noto, including Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, Noto, and Palazzolo Acreide — a theatrical fusion of light, stone, and town planning.\n\nMedieval towns like Erice (Trapani), Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania), and Troina (Enna) preserve **fortified castles** and **Gothic churches**, while rebuilt towns like Gibellina (Trapani) showcase **avant-garde architecture** and monumental **land art** after earthquake devastation.\n\n### Borghi\n\nthumb|right|400px|Scenic view of Cefalù, with its historic old town and dramatic coastal setting.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk008", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "See", "text": "Sicily’s *borghi* — historic towns and villages — offer an intimate, timeless window into the island’s identity. Scattered across hilltops, valleys, and coasts, many are officially recognised by *I Borghi più belli d’Italia* (The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) for their architectural harmony, cultural richness, and authentic character.\n\nAmong them are Erice, a medieval hill town above Trapani renowned for its **labyrinth of cobbled streets**, ancient ramparts, and breathtaking sea vistas; Cefalù, the **charming coastal borgo** where a majestic Norman cathedral presides beneath the dramatic Rocca; and Novara di Sicilia, a **medieval gem** in the province of Messina perched among the Nebrodi Mountains, celebrated for its stonework, historic churches, and cultural traditions.\n\nFurther enriching the island’s borgo tapestry are Savoca and Montalbano Elicona in the northeast, where **medieval and baroque layers** meld in timeless hilltop villages; Geraci Siculo and Gangi in the Madonie range, offering rugged charm; and Monterosso Almo and Ferla in the southeast, showcasing **elegant stone architecture** in tranquil settings. From Sambuca di Sicilia’s **arabesque alleys** to Castiglione di Sicilia and Sutera, these borghi together weave a rich portrait of Sicily’s diverse geography, deep history, and enduring spirit.\n\n### Museums\n\nFrom regional **archaeology** to **contemporary art** and **folklore**, Sicily’s museums reflect its cultural complexity. The Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi in Syracuse and the Agostino Pepoli Museum in Trapani are among the most important collections of their kind. The Whitaker Museum (Mozia) and Museo del Satiro Danzante (Mazara del Vallo) preserve rare **Punic and Hellenistic artefacts** recovered from land and sea.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk009", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "See", "text": "Contemporary culture thrives too: the town of Gibellina is a landmark for **modern art**, home to the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Ludovico Corrao, the Fondazione Orestiadi, and the stark white expanse of Burri’s Cretto, built over earthquake ruins. Along the northern coast, the Fiumara d’Arte **sculpture park** turns a string of remote villages into an open-air gallery, blending art with the landscape.\n\n### Greenspaces\n\nthumb|right|400px|The Parterre, a formal terrace garden at the Balio Gardens in Erice.\nWhile Sicily is known for its wild nature reserves and dramatic coastlines, it also offers a wealth of cultivated greenspaces — elegant botanical gardens, shady town parks, and panoramic terraces tucked into historic centres. These gardens often blend natural beauty with cultural heritage, offering welcome pauses from the sun and crowds.\n\nIn Palermo, the grand 18th-century Orto Botanico and nearby Villa Giulia form one of Europe’s most important **historic garden** complexes. Catania’s refined Villa Bellini and the seafront Giardino Comunale di Acireale provide similar **green refuges** in the east. Messina offers **palm-lined promenades** like the Passeggiata a Mare, while nearby Taormina boasts one of Sicily’s most **celebrated gardens**, the romantic Villa Comunale designed by Lady Florence Trevelyan.\n\nSmaller towns have their own treasures: Giardino Ibleo in Ragusa Ibla, with its **ridge-top views**; Villa Comunale in Modica and Scicli; and the **leafy parks** of Piazza Armerina and Enna. Even hilltop villages like Erice maintain picturesque retreats such as the Giardino del Balio, a **terraced garden** created by Count Pepoli with sweeping views over the countryside and coastline.\n\nWhether you're looking for shade, views, or just a quiet bench among palm trees and fountains, Sicily’s greenspaces offer a gentler way to experience the island’s beauty.\n\n### Performance", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk010", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|400px|Interior of Palermo's Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy.\nSicily offers a rich mix of live performance, from grand opera to folk puppetry, that visitors can still experience today. In Palermo, the Teatro Massimo — one of the largest **opera** houses in Europe — stages regular performances of opera, **ballet**, and **classical music** in a stunning neoclassical setting. The Teatro Bellini in Catania is another impressive venue worth visiting, both for its architecture and its full cultural calendar.\n\nFor something more traditional and uniquely Sicilian, look for a show of the Opera dei Pupi, a form of **puppet theatre** featuring tales of knights, battles, and medieval chivalry. Recognised by UNESCO, this lively storytelling tradition is still performed in dedicated puppet theatres in Palermo, Catania, and a few other towns.\n\nSicily's dramatic settings and strong visual identity have also made it a favourite for **filmmakers**. Towns like Savoca and Forza d’Agrò doubled as Corleone in *The Godfather trilogy*, while Palazzo Adriano and Cefalù featured in *Cinema Paradiso*. *The White Lotus* (Season 2), the TV series *Makari*, and Netflix’s *Il Gattopardo* (The Leopard) have showcased Sicily’s landscapes, architecture, and atmosphere to global audiences. Film lovers can join tours to filming locations from *The Godfather* and *The White Lotus*, and visit Erice, whose dramatic setting inspired scenes in *Aquaman*.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk011", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hiking\n\nthumb|right|350px|Trekking along Sicily’s dramatic coastline, where land meets sea.\nSicily is one of the best hiking destinations in southern Europe, offering trails through volcanoes, forests, canyons, and along spectacular coastlines. For **volcanic adventures**, Mount Etna (Catania) and the Aeolian Islands (Messina) are top picks. Inland, the Madonie and Nebrodi mountain parks (Palermo, Messina, Enna) offer forested ridges, wildlife, and **village-to-village hikes**, including parts of the **long-distance Sentiero Italia CAI** and the **Via dei Frati** pilgrimage route.\n\nIf you're interested in **coastal walking**, head to the dramatic sea cliffs and coves of the Zingaro and Monte Cofano reserves (Trapani), or stroll through the quiet lagoons and dunes of Vendicari (Syracuse). Canyon lovers should explore the steep limestone gorges of Cavagrande del Cassibile and Pantalica (Syracuse), or the atmospheric Cava d’Ispica (Ragusa). For **forest hikes** near hill towns, head for Erice or try Monte Bonifato in Alcamo (Trapani). There are also oak woods at Bosco della Ficuzza (Palermo).\n\nMost trails are scenic and peaceful, but signage varies, so carry a GPS map and avoid hiking in the midday summer heat.\n\n### Skiing\n\nthumb|right|350px|Skiing on the slopes of snow-covered Mount Etna.\nSicily may not be known for skiing, but in winter, Mount Etna offers a truly unique experience: skiing on an active volcano with views of the sea. There are two small **ski areas**, both typically open from January to early March, depending on snow and volcanic conditions.\n\nThe southern slopes Etna Sud (Messina) are accessed via Rifugio Sapienza, where you'll find chairlifts, gear rental, and cafés. The northern side Etna Nord, (Messina) is based at Piano Provenzana, a quieter area surrounded by forests and lava flows, also offering **cross-country skiing** and **snowshoeing**.\n\nBoth areas are best reached by car. Snow cover varies, so check conditions locally before planning a trip.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk012", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Do", "text": "### Fishing\n\nFishing in Sicily is more than a sport — it’s a way of life that still shapes many of the island’s coastal communities. Visitors can experience this culture firsthand by joining local fishermen for **boat-based excursions**, learning traditional techniques, or simply casting a line from the shore.\n\nThe west coast, particularly around Trapani and the Aegadian Islands, offers some of the most authentic experiences, including **net fishing** and seafood lunches aboard small boats. On the southeast coast, villages like Marzamemi and Portopalo di Capo Passero (Syracuse province) offer relaxed outings and connections to old tuna fisheries (*tonnare*). Along the Ionian coast, Aci Trezza and Acireale (Catania province) provide **scenic fishing** trips near lava cliffs and marine reserves.\n\nCasual **shore fishing** is possible almost anywhere, especially at dawn and dusk, while **spearfishing** and trap use are regulated. Inland fishing is limited but possible in a few **lakes** in Enna and Caltanissetta.\n\n### Cycling\n\nCycling in Sicily offers a rewarding mix of coastal roads, quiet inland loops, and mountain climbs. While dedicated bike paths are limited, rural roads and varied landscapes make the island ideal for touring and gravel riding — especially in spring and autumn.\n\n**Cross-provincial routes** are common in the southeast, with **scenic loops** connecting baroque towns like Noto, Modica, and Scicli. Inland provinces such as Enna and Caltanissetta offer peaceful **hill rides**, while coastal stretches in Ragusa, Syracuse, and Trapani provide **flatter terrain** and sea views.\n\nMore experienced cyclists head for the **climbs** of Mount Etna or the Nebrodi and Madonie ranges, where **long-distance routes** pass through forests and ridgelines. Cycling parks like Monte Cofano (Trapani) and forest reserves such as Bosco della Ficuzza (Palermo) also offer mapped **gravel trails**.\n\nBike rental is available in most cities and tourist hubs, and e-bikes are recommended in hillier areas.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk013", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Do", "text": "### Beaches\n\nthumb|right|350px|Cala Tonnarella dell’Uzzo in the Zingaro Nature Reserve\nSicily’s coastline offers something for every type of beachgoer — from long sandy stretches and family-friendly resorts to wild coves, volcanic rock pools, and protected nature reserves. With over 1,000km of coast, you’ll find beaches facing every direction, making it possible to swim in calm water almost any time of year.\n\nFor iconic **sandy beaches**, head to Trapani's San Vito lo Capo and Spiaggia di San Giuliano in Erice, Fontane Bianche near Syracuse, or Marina di Ragusa in the southeast. Rugged beauty and excellent snorkelling await in spots like the Zingaro Nature Reserve, the lava-rock shores of Aci Trezza (Catania), and the cliffs near Cefalù in Palermo province. Nature lovers will appreciate the **wild dunes** of Torre Salsa (Agrigento) or the **unspoiled coves** inside Vendicari Nature Reserve near Noto.\n\nThe Aeolian Islands, especially Lipari, Salina, and Vulcano, offer a mix of **pebble beaches** and **volcanic black sand**, while the southern tip near Portopalo di Capo Passero sees the Ionian and Mediterranean seas meet — a favourite for more **remote escapes** and water sports.\n\nMost provinces offer both **public beaches** (*spiagge libere*) and serviced **beach clubs** (*lidi*), with umbrellas, cafés, and facilities. Summer weekends are crowded, but spring and autumn are ideal for quieter seaside stays.\n\n### Watersports\n\nthumb|350px|Kitesurfer on the Stagnone Lagoon near Marsala\nWith warm seas, reliable winds, and a diverse coastline, Sicily offers watersports for every level — from **snorkelling** and **SUP** to **kitesurfing** and **scuba diving**. The island’s mix of sandy shores, rocky coves, and protected marine areas creates ideal conditions for aquatic adventure.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk014", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Do", "text": "Kitesurfers and windsurfers head to the Stagnone Lagoon near Marsala (Trapani) or the southern tip near Portopalo (Syracuse), both known for steady wind and shallow water. For snorkelling and diving, highlights include the Plemmirio Marine Reserve (Syracuse), the Cyclops Coast near Aci Trezza (Catania), and the caves and reefs off the Zingaro Nature Reserve and Aegadian Islands (Trapani). The Aeolian Islands (Messina province) also offer excellent diving, **sea kayaking**, and coastal **boat tours**.\n\nCloser to the cities, Mondello near Palermo and La Playa in Catania offer **paddleboarding**, **windsurfing**, and rentals with full facilities. For rocky coves and snorkelling, head to Capo Gallo, Milazzo, or Scopello.\n\nMost coastal provinces have watersport centres and rental options, especially in summer. Spring and early autumn offer milder temperatures, fewer crowds, and good sea conditions across the island.\n\n### Adventure\n\nSicily’s dramatic terrain makes it an ideal destination for adventure seekers. From soaring over ancient ruins to exploring lava caves beneath active volcanoes, the island offers a wide range of outdoor thrills.\n\n**Paragliding** is available in several provinces — with scenic tandem flights over Monte Erice (Trapani), the Madonie Mountains (Palermo), the coast of Cefalù, and even the cliffs near San Vito lo Capo and Taormina. In Catania, adventurous travellers can explore the slopes of Mount Etna by jeep or on foot, often including guided visits to lava tubes and craters.\n\n**Ziplining** and **high-rope courses** can be found at Erice Adventure Park in Trapani and at Parcallario in the Iblei Mountains (Syracuse). For those seeking more water-based excitement, **body-rafting** in the Pantalica Gorge (Syracuse) or **canyoning** near Ragusa and Enna offer immersive natural experiences.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk015", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Do", "text": "**Horseback rides**, **quad-bike tours**, and **4×4 excursions** are available across the island’s inland provinces, including Ragusa, Caltanissetta, and Enna, often through olive groves, forest trails, or volcanic landscapes. Occasionally, **hot air balloon** flights over Segesta are scheduled during special events — a rare but unforgettable way to see western Sicily from above.\n\nMost activities run from spring through autumn and should be booked in advance. Paragliding, ballooning, and canyoning are weather-dependent, while guided tours typically include gear and safety briefings.\n\n### Wellness\n\nSicily offers a broad spectrum of wellness experiences, from **sea-view spas** and **yoga retreats** to **thermal springs** and **open-air sports**. Along the coast, resorts in places like Mondello, Marina di Ragusa, Fontane Bianche, and San Vito lo Capo offer everything from massages and saunas to **beachside fitness** and group yoga. Inland, agriturismi and mountain lodges — particularly in the Madonie, Nebrodi, and Iblei ranges — offer forest walks, hammams, and **wellness weekends** set in quiet rural landscapes.\n\nMajor cities like Palermo, Catania, and Syracuse feature **hammams**, spas, tennis clubs, and wellness centres, while smaller towns like Noto and Castelbuono have become hubs for boutique retreats. Thermal bathing has a long history here, with sites like Sciacca and Vulcano still offering **sulphurous treatments**. For more active travellers, public parks, promenades, and **sports gardens** (like the vast *Giardino dello Sport* in Erice) offer space for running, racket sports, or outdoor gym circuits.\n\nWellness in Sicily blends rest and movement, ancient tradition and modern luxury — all set against the backdrop of sea, sun, and stone.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk016", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Fish market at Syracuse\n\nMaking the most of its island coasts, Sicily has one of the world's best cuisines to offer. Much of the island's food is made with creatures of the sea. Unlike in the northern parts of Italy, cream and butter are hardly used for typical dishes in Sicily. Instead, the natives usually substitute tomatoes, lard (rarely) or olive oil. The cuisine uses many spices, and has a number of unique flavours. Sicilians cultivate a uniquely Sicilian type of olive tree, which they affectionately call the \"saracena\". The food is typically Mediterranean but there are strong hints of Arabic and Spanish flavour (Sicily was conquered by many peoples during its long history). Sicilians like spices and have particular affinity for almond, jasmine, rosemary, mint and basil.\n\nSicilians notoriously have a sweet tooth and are among the best dessert-makers in Italy. Try 'cannoli' (tubular pastries filled with sweet ricotta cheese), 'granita' (ices mixed with real crushed fruit and juices), and their most famous export, 'cassata' (Arabic-inspired cake). Make sure to try the very popular pine-nut and almond biscuits.\n\n'Arancini' (sometimes *Arancine*), fried rice balls with fillings, is a Sicilian fast food that is relatively cheap. They can be hard to find outside Sicily, so try them while you're there.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk017", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|300px|Vineyards of Cantine Settesoli near Menfi, where coastal breezes and rolling hills shape the character of Mandrarossa wines.\nSicily has a rich and evolving wine culture. The island is home to more vineyards than any other Italian region and has transformed its wine industry in recent decades—from mass-market production to a focus on quality, terroir, and native varietals.\n\nWine in Sicily is broadly divided into three key regions:\n\n **Val di Mazara Wine Region** – A rural and coastal district that includes the historic wine zones around Marsala, Menfi, Salaparuta, Erice, and Trapani. Known for its DOC vineyards, agrotourism, and pioneering producers. Marsala wine originated here, alongside robust reds like Nero d’Avola and crisp whites such as Grillo and Catarratto.\n **Val Demone Wine Region** – Vineyards stretch along the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, where the elevation and lava-rich soils produce some of Italy’s most complex wines. Look for minerally whites from Carricante and structured reds from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio.\n **Val di Noto Wine Region** – Around Noto, Ragusa, and Vittoria, the sun-drenched southeast produces elegant wines, including the DOCG-rated **Cerasuolo di Vittoria**, a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato. The area is also known for late-harvest Muscat from Noto.\n\n**Notable wines and grapes:** Marsala, Nero d'Avola, Bianco d'Alcamo, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco, Grillo, Frappato, Carricante, Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria), Malvasia, Inzolia.\n\nSicilians also enjoy regional liqueurs such as lemony **Limoncello**, sweet **Amaro Averna** (from Caltanissetta), and locally produced digestifs flavoured with herbs, citrus, and almonds.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk018", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Most of Sicily's small/middle-sized cities and villages are completely safe. Big cities like Palermo, Catania and Messina are also safe but you should be aware of pickpockets and scammers in touristy areas. Some suburbs of Palermo (Zen, Brancaccio, Borgo Nuovo) and Catania (San Cristoforo, Librino) are quite dangerous, but are almost never visited by tourists.\n\nThe well-known mafia, which is also present in most parts of Italy, is almost never involved in crimes against visitors.\n\n**Driving habits** in Sicily (and in most of the south of Italy) are very different from what you may be accustomed to, especially in big cities. Turn signals are not used, and parking is haphazard. Driving outside the big cities is OK, especially in highways (*Autostrade*) and in the main roads in general. Provincial roads in the interior of the island can be in bad condition.\n\nOn trains, especially during the night, keep your wits about you, and try to stay with other passengers.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk019", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Respect", "text": "Even if it's constantly decreasing, the **Mafia** is still active in some parts of Sicily, causing many problems and damaging the region's economy. Most Sicilians know that and are very upset about it; they are also very aware of the mafia-related crimes that have happened in the region. Many organisations, like AddioPizzo and Libera, have been founded specifically to fight the mafia. *Do not* make jokes about the mafia, and *never* say that all Sicilians are \"mafiosi\", even if it's a joke.\n\nIn general Sicilians are quite conservative and religious, although most young and educated people are becoming fairly liberal, especially in big cities. However public displays of affection between LGBT couples are best avoided: even in big cities, stares and whispers are almost always guaranteed, and sometimes something more can happen.\n\nShorts and clothes showing much skin are OK everywhere but in churches.\n\nAlthough quite common in the centre and north of Italy, **blasphemy** is definitely not cool in Sicily. Most people in Sicily are Catholic and expect visitors to respect their religion.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "sicily::chunk020", "doc_id": "sicily", "section": "Go next", "text": "Why not explore neighbouring Sardinia? You have the chance to visit the second-largest island in the Mediterranean. \n\nYou can also explore more of what Southern Italy has to offer.", "word_count": 29}
diff --git a/corpus/sicily/metadata.json b/corpus/sicily/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..35e83be3aa2e68f16f80d855b4b9cbf59ebfd735
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+{
+ "doc_id": "sicily",
+ "title": "Sicily",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sicily",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "yoga",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Italy"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Sardinia",
+ "Southern Italy"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4843,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 15,
+ "chunk_count": 21,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
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new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0444e8efd9df36ddb106e565001d6f86ce37ca82
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+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk000", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Overview", "text": "The town of **Siem Reap** (សៀមរាប), in northern Cambodia, is the primary access point for the Angkor Archaeological Park, just north of the city. It is quite laid-back and a pleasant place to stay while touring the temples. It is a nice compromise between observing Cambodian life and enjoying the amenities of modern services and entertainment, thanks to a large foreign community.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk001", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|French colonial architecture still dominates the streetscape.\n\nThe name \"Siem Reap\" literally means \"Siam Defeated\", commemorating a (possibly apocryphal) victory over invading Thais in 1549. These days, however, the only rampaging hordes are the tourists heading to the Angkor Archaeological Park. This once quaint village has become a major tourist town, full of things to do, places to eat and drink. New high quality tarmac roads and beautiful wide paved sidewalks have replaced the red dirt pot holed roads that were muddy in wet season, and dusty in dry season. The building boom is mostly over, and it's now a very pleasant town with lots of beautiful shady trees, especially along the riverbanks and roads around Angkor Wat.\n\nCheck out the ConCERT tourist office, a local NGO committed to raising the standards of responsible tourism and eco-tourism activities and providing information on the causes and effects of poverty in Cambodia, volunteering opportunities and eco-tours.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk002", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n### By bus\n\nBus is a common way for getting around Cambodia with a range of bus companies serving Siem Reap, with several daily departures and arrivals (especially from Phnom Penh). Premium operators includes Giant Ibis and VET Air Bus Express, while companies such as Larryta, Seila Angkor Express, E-Booking, Mey Hong and others offer economy options with Air Conditioning. Try to book at least the day before travel. Booking online is easier with BookMeBus and Cambotickethttps://www.camboticket.com, as you can board with e-ticket with either of their services. Travel agents and guesthouses will do this for a US$1-2 fee per ticket. Buses tend to leave in the morning or early afternoon. There are also night buses on some routes.\n\nMany buses terminate at an out-of-town bus station to the east of Siem Reap, from where travellers will need to take a tuk-tuk into town. This should cost no more than US$2, or maybe US$3 if you're not keen to drive a hard bargain. If arriving **from the west**, consider getting off the bus as it passes through town on National Road 6, say as it crosses the bridge over the river, before it reaches the bus station. If arriving **from the east** you have little choice but to face the touts.\n\nthumb|At a bus terminal\n\n#### Domestic services", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk003", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get in", "text": "Domestic services are frequent — for instance Phnom Penh is served by a dozen companies some of which have a departure every half hour during the day. The bus trip from the capital is 6-8 hours and tickets are around US$10 depending on the company. This is a well traveled route by both locals and tourists, but often an uncomfortable trip, as buses make many stops and go slow. A more expensive, but far more comfortable option is by Wi-Fi-equipped minibus (US$15 from Giant Ibis or US$12 from Mekong Express, 2020). The trip by minibus takes only 4-5 hours.\n\nFrom\nCompany (comments)\nDeparts\nHours\nUS$\n Phnom Penh\n Mekong Express (air-con, snack, water, guide)\n07:00 08:30 12:30 14:25\n6\n12\nApsara Khmer Travel (air-con, water)\n07:00 09:00 13:30 15:30\n5\n9\nGold VIP (air-con, snack, water)\n07:00 08:30 13:30 14:30 20:00 24:00\n5-6\n9\nSelia Angkor (air-con, snack, water)\n07:00 09:00 14:00 15:00\n5\n9\n Virak Buntham\n11:30 (5 hr) 18:00 20:00 24:00 (6 hr)\n\n9\nSok Sokha (cold towel, air-con, snack, water)\n07:30 08:30 12:30 13:30\n6\n8\nCapitol (air-con)\n06:15 07:30 08:30 10:15 12:00 13:30 14:30\n6.5\n7\nPhnom Penh Sorya (air-con)\n07:00 07:45 08:45 11:30 12:45 15:15\n7\n7\n\nOther places with services include Kampong Cham, Soung, Battambang (US$6-8), Sisophon, Poipet (for Aranyaprathet, the main route from Thailand), Preah Vihear (US$12) and Anlong Veng (for Ban Pakard in Thailand). Destinations further away include Koh Kong (via Phnom Penh, a long journey), Sihanoukville (US$15-25) by a 10-12 hour overnight sleeping bus or daytime sitting bus that should be booked at least 1 day in advance, Banlung (US$24), Mondulkiri (US$18-24.50), Stung Treng (US$20) and Kratie (US$24).\n\n#### International services\n\n##### Laos", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk004", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are buses from Don Det in the 4,000 Islands region (US$25-29), the Lao border (US$25) nearby and Pakse (US$30). Direct buses from Vientiane don't seem to be available as of February 2019.\n\n##### Thailand\n\nBuses in general start in the morning, though there are also night buses on this route. The journey takes about 8-11 hr including the time it takes to pass through immigration and customs at the border.\n\nStarting from Bangkok, agents in Khao San Road offer tickets to Siem Reap from 300 baht. In the other direction tickets cost US$11. The ticket is valid for the whole journey but you will change buses in Poipet.\n\nIf traveling independently to the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border, see those towns' articles for advice on how to reach the border, survive immigration and avoid the \"Government\" bus scam.\n\nThere are also some more expensive services; the government bus daily direct service from Bangkok (Mo Chit bus station) to Siem Reap and back. The trip is US$28 per direction, but is scam-free and fast. The Cambodian side of the company is named Nattakan. Giant Ibis direct bus to **Bangkok**: the Cambodian premium transport company Giant Ibis offers daily direct transport for US$43, departure time 07:45 (Nov 2024). The buses have free WiFi, power supply and generally good service, including free pick-up from partner hotels and hostels in Siem Reap.\n\n##### Vietnam\n\nHo Chi Minh City (US$18-27) 12 hr on a sleeping bus. If you use this in the other direction, have your Vietnam visa ready (if your nationality needs one) and valid before taking this trip. Visas for Vietnam are not available at a land border even if you have visa on arrival.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk005", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get in", "text": "A more expensive and more time consuming option from Battambang (US$20-25, 5 hr) is to take a Soviet-style hydrofoil across Tonle Sap Lake. These can be fantastic trips giving you the opportunity to view life on the lake, floating houses, working fishermen, and to get a suntan if you choose to sit on the roof of the boat. However, the trip can be ruined due to bad weather. Remember to use sunscreen and take a waterproof jacket. You may not be able to access your luggage during the journey (sometimes the baggage is available, sometimes it is not). If you have the time, it is better to visit the floating villages as day trips from Siem Reap rather than see them from the boat.\n\nFerries from Phnom Penh are suspended since COVID.\n\n### By shared taxi\n\nThe quickest method of getting from the Poipet border to Siem Reap is a **shared car**. A four-seater car costs US$25-45, depending on your bargaining prowess, and takes 2-3 hr. Even if you're travelling solo, it shouldn't be too hard to find others to share the expense. Walk past the roundabout to negotiate a cheaper taxi fare, otherwise you will pay more by being in the police controlled pricing cartel area. Do not get on the \"government approved\" tourist bus unless you want to pay more for taxis minibus, etc.\n\n### By private transfer\n\nFamily or group of tourists can book a private transfer to Siem Reap. It is comfortable, but expensive way. Comfort-class transfer from the Poipet costs US$65-75.\n\n### By helicopter", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk006", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get in", "text": "Helicopters can be chartered to go nearly anywhere in the country. They seat 5-6 people. Prices start at US$1,000 for trips to some of the temples north of Angkor Wat. Companies include Helicopters Cambodia and Helistar Cambodia. Helicopter transport is also available from other cities, e.g. from Battambang (US$1,600/helicopter) or Phnom Penh (US$4,700/helicopter).", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk007", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get around", "text": "*Travel to and around the Angkor Archaeological Park is extensively covered in its own article. The following is a discussion of travel inside Siem Reap.*\n\n### On foot\n\nThe city centre is fairly compact and flat, now with good quality and often wide, paved sidewalks. Though in places you can find them doubling up as motorbike and car parking lots. However, as Siem Reap has grown, many interesting neighborhoods have popped up that are further outside of the main downtown business district, and are a bit out of the way for pedestrians.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nSiem Reap is a popular place to cycle, with some scenic cycle paths painted green, or trails in forests near roads leading to and around Angkor Wat. There is also a green cycle path running along side the river, often in the shade of large trees, starting at the Hard Rock Cafe, then heading north. Bicycle rental shops around town mostly don't open earlier than 07:00, so if you want to ride to Angkor Wat early in the morning, rent one the day before. Some guesthouses also rent bicycles. One day rental varies between $1 to $8, depending on the quality of the bike. Discounts available for longer rentals. Guided electric mountain bike tours are also available in Siem Reap, offering pedal-assist bikes that make the Angkor circuit more manageable in the heat, with access to jungle trails not accessible by tuk-tuk or bus.\n\n### By motorbike\n\nMotodops (motorbike taxi) abound and will make sure you know where they are. Rides within town should only cost US$0.50 or 2,000 riel, although prices can double at night or during bad weather. Agree a price first. Full day can be arranged for ~US$10. Helmets for passengers are rare though may materialize if requested in advance.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk008", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting motorbikes is not prohibited any longer. There are plenty of options available from the ubiquitous gasoline-driven scooters (starting at ~US$8 per day), small electric scooters for one with a top speed of 25 km/h (~US$10) to larger ones for two people going up to 60 km/h (~US$15). It can also be possible to rent a motorbike only for half a day, so you will pay only half the daily rate. You may need to leave either your passport or US$100-300 as a collateral, while some places only take a photo of your passport and don't take any deposits. Driving inside the city isn't very stressful (as well as going to Angkor), especially in comparison with huge Asian cities (for example Bangkok) or countries with more chaotic driving approach like Vietnam.\n\nWear a helmet, both for your safety and because the police will stop you at checkpoints and fine you US$15 if you don't. Some restaurants will let you charge the battery.\n\n### By tuk-tuk\n\nthumb|Tuk tuks wait for customers at Pub Street\nTuk-tuks or Cambodian style Remorques (two-wheeled carriages pulled behind a motorbike), hang out on street corners, or you can summon one on your phone with Grab or PassApp.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk009", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get around", "text": "A typical short trip within Siem Reap should cost about US$1.25 (5000 riel) regardless of how many people pile on. Most 3-wheeled tuk-tuks can carry two or three people, or a Remorque can carry four people comfortably, though the extra weight can make the low-powered bikes go slower. Some modern Remorques are being made even bigger and more luxurious, for extra comfort or to carry 6 people pulled by a more powerful motorbike and wider sporty car style chariot wheels. The iconic looking Remorques are slowly disappearing in many parts of Cambodia, such as Phnom Penh, as the cheaper to buy bog-standard tuk-tuks replace them, but in Siem Reap, Remorques are still very popular with tourists, as they are more comfortable, fun, and give a better view, especially for larger sized people, than the smaller, cramped 3-wheeled tuk-tuks. Their drivers tend to speak a higher level of English, as they transport mostly tourists.\n\nThere are also electric tuk-tuks, by a company called TADA, and they use their own booking app of the same name.\n\nPrices can go up at night or during bad weather. It's also possible to hire a tuk tuk driver for a full day to explore Angkor, it can cost ~US$20, a bit more if you go early for sunrise or stay late for sunset.\n\nEnsure you and the driver are in crystal clear agreement on the destination and total fare before departure. Payment is made on arrival and doesn't increase if the driver got lost or had to take a circuitous route.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk010", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cars with drivers can be hired for single or multiple days. While all drivers are familiar with the area and happy to suggest good routes, most speak little English and are not actual tour guides. Licensed tour guides charge US$45-50 per day for a driver and English speaking guide. Drivers will likely ask for US$5-10 extra for trips to further temples such as those of the Big Circuit, Banteay Srey and more for remote sites like Beng Mealea.\n\n- Siem Reap Transport Service\n\n'''Siem Reap Private Driver'''. This service run by two brothers Sa and Sout who offer transportation in luxury cars. They can also arrange for guides with drivers.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk011", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|The reclining Buddha at Wat Preah Prom Rath\nMost people come to visit **Angkor Archaeological Park**, which is thoroughly covered in its own article. The town has some worthwhile attractions and a number of beautiful modern Buddhist temples.\n - Angkor National Museum\n\n - APOPO\n\n - Angkor Botanical Garden\n\n - Lotus Silk Farm\n\n - Angkor Eye\n\n - Flying Foxes\n\n### Temples\n\n - Wat Bo\n\n - Wat Damnak\n\n - Wat Preah Prom Rath\n\n - Wat Thmei Temple & Stupa Memorial to the Killing Fields\n\nthumb|Traditional musicians at a temple\n\n### Cultural performances\n\n - Apsara Theatre\n\n - Phare The Cambodian Circus\n\n### Nearby\n\n- Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre\n\nthumb|right|Butterfly Paradise's giant caterpillar\n- Butterfly Paradise\n\n - Kampong Phluk Floating Village\n\nthumb|300px|Piles of mines, Landmine Museum\n - Landmine Museum\n\n- Phnom Bok\n\n- Phnom Krom\n\n - War museum", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk012", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Do", "text": "### Activities\n\n - Angkor Pottery Center\n\n - Samatoa Experience\n\n - Pottery Classes & Painting classes\n\n### Activities for children\n\n - Kameng Leng ~ Daycare, Playground & Restaurant\n\n - Kids Playground\n\n### Adventure\n\n - Wake Park\n\n - KKO - Off Track Mountain Bike Tours\n\n - Sabai Motorbike and Jeep Adventures\n\n### Cooking classes\n\n- Beyond Unique Cooking Class\n\n### Festivals\n\n- Angkor Photography Festival: Photography for Change\n\n- The Annual Street Puppet Festival\n\n- The Water Festival\n\n### Massage\n\nThe Khmer believe that Thai massage is derived from Khmer massage and that it is more relaxing as it requires less twisting and turning. The numerous Khmer-style massage shops mostly offer genuine massage and are not a front for sexual services. Contrary to common belief, blind massage services do offer \"special massages\" too.\n\n - Fish Massage\n\n - Frangipani Spa\n\n - Lemongrass Garden\n\n### Orphanage visits\n\n*Children are not tourist attractions*, and especially orphaned children. Some visitors feel visiting an orphanage is a good way to make a positive contribution to Cambodia, while others feel that orphanage tours do more harm than good. The largest child protection group in the country has asked that tourists *not to visit orphanages*. The great majority of Cambodian children in orphanages have living parents, who rent them to the orphanages. Most are scams and have histories with severe child abuse. It is strongly encouraged that you do not support this 'business'.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk013", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nInternational **ATMs** in Siem Reap are plentiful and most banks will do cash advances from credit cards. Two *Sacombank* ATMs can be found along *Sivutha Boulevard* west of the tourist hotspot aka Pub Street — see Cambodia. ABA Bank, which is owned by a Canadian bank, and Canadia Bank, have a big, modern branch in the center of town. They have several modern ATMs, where you can withdraw up to US$500 with a fee of $5, dispensing notes usually in a mix of denominations of 50s and 20s. As of 2024, the ATMs no longer have the tendency of only allowing you to withdraw $100 bills, and will instead give you the opportunity to withdraw $20s or in Cambodian Rial. \n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|The night market\nMost things in Siem Reap are overpriced wherever tourists are frequent, head further away from the center or bargain (at markets).\n\nThe **Heritage Watch** non-profit organisation supports business that promote Cambodia's arts, culture, heritage and development. Certified businesses display either a gold or silver Heritage Friendly logo.\n\n#### Arts and crafts\n\n- Artisans d'Angkor\n\n - Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre\n\n - L.A. Bookshop\n\n - Theam's House Gallery\n\n#### Beverages\n\nthumb|Hand-painted bottles of Sombai liqueur\n\n - GIVE Kefir - Probiotic Brewery\n\n - Sombai Cambodian Liqueur Shop & Workshop\n\n#### Markets\n\n - Angkor Trade Centre\n\n - Central Market\n\n - Old Market\n\n - Morning Market", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk014", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|A grilled insect food cart\nEating options span the full spectrum of tastes and budgets from the rudimentary Asian staples and pizza to authentic Khmer and sophisticated fine-dining featuring exotic local ingredients. The highest assortment of restaurants are in few blocks north of the old market, but there are appetizing alternatives along Wat Bo Rd and hidden in the surrounding neighbourhoods.\n\n### Old Market area\n\nThough **Pub Street** is better known for its bars, a handful of places serve great food, many with seating upstairs so you can escape the partying milieu on the street below. Crammed along **The Alley** is a wider selection of restaurants that offer a generally quieter and more intimate experience. The local restaurants lining **Phsar Chas** have extensive, yet near identical, menus of cheap fried rice and Westernised approximations of Khmer dishes. At dusk the Kindergarten on the corner of Street 8 and 11 becomes a jumble of small BBQ stalls, replete with billowing smoke, noise, and the persistently entreating peddlers. The *phnom pleurng* here is the cheapest you will find.\n\n - The Red Piano\n\n - Viva\n\n - Williams Fish and Chips\n\n### Kandal Village\n\nNestled in the leafy central neigborhood north of Pub Street and south of the Old French Quarter you'll find Siem Reap's rising arts and culture precinct.\n\n - Common Grounds Restaurant\n\n### Taphul Rd\n\nFurther west of Kandel Village you will find this pleasant street with wide flat pavements full of nice restaurants including those below and Buribo Burgers, EASTanbul, Fresh Fruit Factory, Golden Pumpkin and Madam Moch. \n\n - Bong Srey Mith Laor\n\n - My Little Cafe\n\n - The Source Cafe\n\n - Try Me Restaurant\n\n### Wat Bo Village\n\nAcross the river from the main city center, along Wat Bo Rd that runs parallel to the riverside road and the side roads connecting them both, there are some trendy restaurants, cafes serving the most authentic Khmer food and International food. Some have relocated from the more crowded Pub Street area across the river, to this more tranquil and upmarket area.\n\n - the muffin man\n\n - Peace Cafe\n\n - Viroth's Restaurant\n\n### Wat Damnang Village\n\nJust south of Wat Bo Village this is an up and coming area competing with its more upmarket area to its north. Lots of nice and often cheaper eateries etc to be found here. \n\n - Haven\n\n - Molop Wat Damnak Restaurant\n\n - Joe's Burger Bar & Grill\n\n### Budget\n\n - Shrimp noodles and spring rolls\n\n### Mid-range\n\nthumb|[[Cambodia\n - Angkor Herb\n\n- L'Annexe French restaurant\n\n - Curry Walla\n\n- Neary Khmer Restaurant\n\n### Splurge\n\n - L'Angelo\n\n - Cafe D’Angkor (Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor)\n\n- Cuisine Wat Damnak\n\n - The Dining Room (Park Hyatt Hotel)", "word_count": 447}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk015", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee\n\nCafes with bookshelves with books for both kids and adults, and sometimes games, include footprint cafe, Sister Srey Cafe (upstairs), Source Cafe and Aris Café. \n\n - Sister Srey Cafe\n\n - footprint cafe\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|Pub Street\n\nThe majority of bars and pubs of Siem Reap are concentrated in on a strip called **Pub Street** and its surrounding alleys. Although peaceful during the day, the streets in the Pub Street area which is just a block away from the historic Psah Chas (Old Market), comes alive with lights and music. A range of international tourists start pouring into the bars and pubs and give the streets almost a nightly street party scene.\n\nStarted in the late-1990s by a local business called Angkor What? Bar and followed by its rival, Temple Bar, from the across the street, Pub Street is often recommended as a must-see attraction in Siem Reap, but there is little to experience that is not already implied by its name. \nthumb|Pub Street at night\nThe distinction between eating and drinking establishments is fairly blurry as even the most humble of restaurants can have an extensive cocktail list on their menu. Nonetheless, a vibrant drinking scene concentrated along Street 8, aptly dubbed \"Pub Street\", is where serious drinkers head for cheap beer, loud music and the sweaty backpacking hubbub scene akin to Bangkok's Khao San Road. The biggest and most well-known Pub St bars, Angkor What?, The Red Piano, Temple Club and Le Tigre du Papier, are easy to find, with Angkor What? and Temple Club engaged in a running battle playing pop music across the street at very loud volumes.\n\nTravelers looking for more subdued place to appreciate a quiet drink can seek out some of the smaller places along \"The Alley\", \"The Lane\" and the adjoining streets. A few drinking holes offer a bit more than cheap drunkenness.\n\nMost places have draught Angkor beer for US$0.50 or US$0.75 and cans of other beers for US$1-2. Cocktails and spirits go for as little as US$2. Imported red and white wine, generally from the less prestigious wine producing countries, is widely available and cheaper than you would expect. Better quality Australian and French wines are available in more upmarket establishments at a correspondingly premium price.\n\nBeer cans tend to be cheaper than bottled beer and are better for the environment too. \n\n### KTV\n\nThese are hostess clubs popular with the locals, room charges are about US$5-10 per hour, beer is US$2-4. Most of these places are fronts for prostitution. Many of these places have two menus. One for Cambodians, which has cheaper prices, and one for foreigners, which have higher prices. If you see that the beer is US$4, they probably gave you the foreigner price.\n\n### Bars\n\nPub Street features two main late night bars, that turn into night clubs with loud music and dancing, as the night progresses, but there are others now, the original one, Angkor What? and Temple Club, which are directly across from each other. Sadly the former has closed as of late 2025.\n\n - Khmer Pub Street Beergarden KTVs\n\n - Angkor What?\n\n- Banana Leaf\n\n- X Bar\n\n - Miss Wong Cocktail Bar", "word_count": 531}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk016", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A seemingly inexhaustible range of sleeping options from upmarket hotels, down to $3 dorm beds in backpacker hostels, with many guesthouses, boutique rooms, bungalows, concrete cells, wood huts and French villas in between, make finding a place to sleep one of the easiest things you will do on your trip.\n\nHotels are spread over the entire city but most larger hotels line national highway 6 to the west of the city centre, cheap backpacker hostels tend to surround the old market area and stylish boutique hotels a nestled in the trees along Wat Bo Rd. Small Khmer run hotels and guest houses, especially in the low season, can be surprisingly good value if you are willing to do a bit of hunting for one that hasn't been overrun by the guidebook-toting hoards.\n\nAccommodations at every price point generally offer hot showers, cable TV, Internet and airport or bus pickup. Some may include free breakfast, though don't expect much more than an egg on toast and a coffee.\n\n### Budget\n\nthumb|Sunset over the Siem Reap river\n - Baphuon Villa\n\n- Forest King Hotel\n\n- Riversoul Residence\n\n - Mad Monkey Hostel\n\n - Sam So Guesthouse\n\n - Seven Candles Guesthouse\n\n - Siem Reap Boutique Villa\n\n - Tropical Breeze Guesthouse and Restaurant\n\n - Cheathata Angkor\n\n### Mid-range\n\nthumb|The Wat Bo temple\n\n - Central Boutique Angkor Hotel\n\n - Angkor Panoramic Boutique Hotel\n\n - The Cockatoo Nature Resort & Spa\n\n - Men's Resort & Spa\n\n - Mom's Guesthouse\n\n - Shining Angkor Boutique Hotel\n\n - Ta Phrom Hotel\n\n - Tanei Angkor Resort and Spa\n\n - Kouprey Hotel\n\n - Cheathata CTS Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Heritage Suites Hotel\n\n - The One Hotel\n\n - Prince D'Angkor\n\n - La Residence d'Angkor\n\n - Sokha Angkor Resort\n\n - Starry Angkor Hotel\n\n- Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa\n\n - Anantara Angkor Resort\n\n - Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk017", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Policeman in Pub Street\n\n### Scams\n\nMost locals are decent people just trying to make an honest living, but a few shady characters try every trick to take advantage of travelers' good will. Be alert to deceptive dealers but don't let suspicion ruin your trip.\n\n**Convenience stores** have been known to give incorrect change and pocket the rest. Check your change before you walk out of the store and point out any short changing. Most likely they will admit to their \"mistake\" and give you the right change.\n\n**Street vendors and beggars** in competition for generous travellers' handouts have developed cunning, if underhanded, techniques to get your attention (and money). The \"beggar army\" of young children will come up to you in the crowd and grab your hands, leading you to a shop where they will then try to have you buy food, baby milk or water for them. Baby milk powder seems to be a popular one. It might sound like a more humanitarian way to help than giving them money, but once you leave the store the goods you bought for them are sold back to the shop owners or to other locals and the cash goes to an adult. Young women with babies cradled in a krama perform a similar trick.\n\n**Donation-collectors for orphanages** may approach you in the street claiming to be volunteer workers, showing you convincing photos of themselves in the orphanage and a clipboard listing the generous donations made by foreign visitors. Though these young adults may be well groomed and speak excellent English it's possible that your donation will go directly into their pockets. A donation (either of money, or your time) to a recognised charity might be a better way to help.\n\n**Dollar bills** need to be checked, as you will find out that you won't be able to change bills with any tiny cut. Fake dollar bills are also wide spread, and can even be issued from ATMs.\n\n**NGO safari** should be avoided. Do not schedule any orphanage visit unless this is the main purpose of your trip.\n\n### Underage sex\n\nObviously, no-one should be having any form of sexual or other inappropriate contact with children. Foreign tourists have been arrested and charged with child sex offences. To avoid suspicion, do not stay alone with young people (room, temple, school, countryside, stadium, car), and do not respond to any favour they ask of you (transport, phone call, help, use your toilet or a glass of water).", "word_count": 415}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk018", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "For general information on health in Cambodia, see the article on Cambodia.\n\n - Royal Angkor International Hospital\n\n - 777 Siem Reap polyclinic", "word_count": 22}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk019", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\nWifi is available in all the usual places and most Cambodians and visitors buy a local sim card with a 4G / 5G data plan from as little as $1 per week.\n\nMost hotels will have cable TV with many international channels such as BBC and CNN as well as those from surrounding countries. There are several FM radio stations, which include international broadcaster Radio France International on 92.0 MHz.\n\n### Post office\n\n - Cambodia Post Office", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk020", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Cope", "text": "The going rate for **laundry** is US$1/kg, US$3/kg for 3-hour service (Feb 2020).", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "siem-reap::chunk021", "doc_id": "siem-reap", "section": "Go next", "text": "Banteay Chhmar - the forgotten Angkorian complex in neighboring Banteay Meanchey Province. A bit ambitious for a day trip by tuk-tuk but makes for a wonderful excursion by helicopter (about US$2,200).\n Battambang - Cambodia's second largest city with Buddhist temples, shrines and statues.\n Koh Ker - the ancient capital, much less touristy than Angkor.\n Kampong Thom - a gateway to the world heritage listed ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk.\n Phnom Penh - the modern capital, with the Royal Palace and sites related to the gruesome Khmer Rouge regime and the Cambodian genocide.\n Thailand - the border crossing at Poipet is a couple hours away, and there are several daily buses to Bangkok\n Tonle Sap Lake - Southeast Asia's biggest lake with floating villages and a rich biodiversity.", "word_count": 127}
diff --git a/corpus/siem-reap/metadata.json b/corpus/siem-reap/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9825b6b10739ca8dcd830aa37da2f1f33520478e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/siem-reap/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "siem-reap",
+ "title": "Siem Reap",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Siem_Reap",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "North-western_Cambodia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Banteay Chhmar",
+ "Battambang",
+ "Koh Ker",
+ "Kampong Thom",
+ "Phnom Penh",
+ "Thailand",
+ "Poipet",
+ "Bangkok",
+ "Tonle Sap Lake"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4717,
+ "listing_count": 106,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 22,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/simien-mountains/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/simien-mountains/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0735f1f1515e1395daa9ede1ae897654f3178d33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/simien-mountains/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk000", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Simien National Park**, also known as **Simien Mountains National Park**, is in the Amhara region in northern Ethiopia. It was one of the first sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. It features spectacular scenery viewed from its peaks and escarpments and fascinating gelada monkeys and other wildlife. The park headquarters are outside the park in Debark, the nearest town, on the main road between Gondar (to the south) and Shire and Axum (to the north).", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk001", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Get in", "text": "Buses travelling between Gondar and Shire/Axum pass through Debark, which is the main starting point for the national park. Debark is about 3 hours from Gondar on a paved road. It is 5-7 hours from Shire over a road that is being improved and paved (as of 2014), but while the roadworks are going on it can be extremely rough and dusty.\n\nMinibuses to and from Gondar are available; however there are no buses that start in Debark and head to Shire/Axum, and those that pass through Debark are usually full by the time they arrive in town. The best options are either to go back to Gondar and find a bus to Shire/Axum from there, or have someone else go to Gondar and reserve tickets on your behalf. This latter option can usually be done by hotel staff, or can be arranged by your tour organizer if you happen to be trekking in the Simien Mountains through an organized tour.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk002", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Go to the park office in the south end of Debark – if coming from Gondar, this is on the left just after reaching the town. They will arrange permits and the mandatory scout, and take fees. Hikes can be arranged and, if desired, they can find an official guide, cook, mules and a muleman. They have gear for rent, though it is low quality. The scout, guide, and muleman may expect you to feed them, so take sufficient food.\n\nThe fees are:\n\n1. Entrance fee for foreigners, 90 birr; plus 10 birr per day for camping (Dec 2014).\n\n2. Guide fees:\n 400 birr, regardless of the number of people. (July 2019)\n\n3. Game scout: 150 birr per day (Dec 2014)\n\n4. Cook (Dec 2014):\n 1-3 people – 300 birr\n 4-10 people – 450 birr\n 11+ people – 600 birr\n\n5. Mules: 200 birr per day per mule, and mule man also 200 birr per day (Dec 2014).\n\n6. Vehicle transfers – one-way, either direction. The two most popular are below, but there are transfers from Debark to other places in the park as well.\nAs of July 2019: USD60 total from Debark to Simien lodge and back, during a rainy (=low) season.\n\nThe only required fees to be paid are the entrance fee and game scout fee, so hiking through the park can be quite cheap, especially if you can avoid the rather exorbitant transfer fees (there are mixed reports on being able to flag down local vehicles or otherwise negotiate with the official cars). There are very basic \"community lodges\" available throughout much of the park, though they are more expensive than camping.\n\nA lot of people will hassle you in Debark. If you are going to hire a guide, make that one of your first tasks, since your guide will get rid of unwanted people following you around and can help you sort out any last minute details or concerns. Do not hire an unofficial guide off the street – travellers frequently complain about their experience with unofficial guides.", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk003", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|upright=1.4|Simien Mountains\nA road runs from Debark through the park and accesses some of the campsites and villages. 4x4s and lorries go through Sankaber, Geech and Chenek, but tourists are prohibited from using them and most visitors use mountain hiking paths to get around. As a tourist, the only way into the park are to hire a 4x4, walk or go with a tour company.\n\nBe sure to arrange transport out of the park before entering. There are no working phone lines in the park, so you can't call headquarters for a 4x4 once you're in. Buses and trucks aren't allowed to pick up hikers. They'll ask for upwards of USD200 to overlook this rule.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk004", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "See", "text": "The park contains Ethiopia's biggest and most spectacular mountain range, the Simien Mountains. **Ras Dashen** at 4,553 m is the country's highest peak, although the views from the Northern Escarpment may be a bigger attraction, with rock faces falling away thousands of feet from summits like Inatye (4,070 m) and Imet Gogo (3,960 m).\n\n Wildlife is an attraction of the park, including birds and some mammals. Troops of grass-eating geladas, a close relative of baboons, are a common sight on hikes and will come close to tourists, scouts and guides, but not so close to the villagers who live and graze stock in the national park. The rare walia ibex is found in higher parts of the ranges. If you're really lucky, you may see one of the rare Ethiopian wolves (sometimes called jackals or foxes) found here and in a few other mountain ranges in Ethiopia. With only a few hundred of the species remaining, these are the world's rarest canid and Africa's most endangered carnivore, and feed mainly on mountain rodents.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk005", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Do", "text": "Nearly all visitors to the Simien National Park come to hike through the spectacular mountain scenery. You can do a 5-day trek from Debark to Sankabar Camp to Geech Camp to Chenek Camp and back to Debark via Sankabar (skipping Geech) and see all the main sights. You need 9 days to trek to Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia, and back without transport.\n\n The park website provides information on the most popular routes, along with useful tips on visiting the area.\n\nA number of companies offer fairly standard fully organized trips (incl. guide, scouts, food, cook, and camping gear) starting at 2 days (~USD150pp) up to 17 days (Debark to Lalibela). Trips directly from Gondar can be easily arranged through a company such as Simientrek. They are very professional and provide everything but the price is not less than USD100 per day per person (Mar 2020).\n\n A less expensive option would be to arrange a 3 night trip: travel to Debark the day before your trip and organise a guide and scout at the office. **Day one** get a bajaj to Buyit Ras or thereabouts and walk a couple of hours to Sankabar. Best to bring your own water to Sankabar. There are plenty of community lodges so a tent is not required but a good sleeping bag is as its shirtsleeve weather during the day and below zero at night. Sankabar is on the main road. **Day two** walk to Geech camp, there is a good stream about mid morning where you can swim and wash clothes. The locals drink the water without boiling or sterilising it. There is no road access to Geech camp. One passes giant lobelia on the way but Geech camp itself is above the treeline. There are community lodges at Geech camp so no need for a tent. **Day three** walk to Chenek, on the way the stunning Imet Gogo is passed with the best views of the walk and shortly thereafter the high point of the walk at a little over 4,000 m. Chenek is on the main road, there are community lodges so no need for a tent. There is a small stream at Chenek but the water definitely will need boiling or sterilising. **Day four** return to Debark. It may be possible to catch a public bus but otherwise it's a 40km walk along the road to Debark. A bajaj might be prepared to travel to Sankabar to pick you up but the road is far too rough after Sankabar for anything but 4WD and heavy vehicles. This walk traverses the best of the Simien scenery and there is the possibility of sighting the famed walia ibex.", "word_count": 448}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk006", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Buy", "text": "The essentials are usually bought in Debark. A woven *gabi*, a thick shawl, is useful for the cold mountain nights and can be purchased at the market (around 300-500 birr, depending on quality). Maps are available at the park headquarters.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk007", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Eat", "text": "In Debark, the Simien Park Hotel on the main road offers reliable Ethiopian food. A few shops sell tinned food and bread. Food suitable for trekking is available in Debark, but it is cheaper to buy it in Gondar or Axum where there is a much better selection.\n\nIn the mountains, live chickens and eggs can be bought from villagers. Otherwise, the only alternative to your own supplies is the Simien Lodge at Buyit Ras, a few hours hike from Debark.", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk008", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Drink", "text": "Both hotels mentioned serve St. George beer and delicious Ethiopian coffee, even if you are not staying.", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk009", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The main hotel in Debark is the Simien Park Hotel on the main road south of the bus station. There are a few other decent places nearby if the Simien Park Hotel is full.\n\nIn July 2019 you could get a simple room for 2 people (two single beds) for 300 birr total (shower and toilet outside, not very clean).\n\nGiant Loblia Hotel - 400 birr (July 2019) for a double room. Make sure you go directly to the reception, instead of having someone \"help\" you get there since then you will get charged more (this extra money will go to your helper, but naturally you can approach the reception by yourself). \n\nIn the mountains, the Simien Lodge, self-proclaimed \"highest hotel in Africa\" at 3,260 m, offers upmarket accommodation in tukels, or huts. A dorm bunk costs USD31, a two-person tukel USD135 and a four-person tukel USD183. \n\nLimalimo Lodge opened in 2016 and offers great views, food, service and facilities. It was developed by the local community and is 15 minutes' drive from Debark.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "simien-mountains::chunk010", "doc_id": "simien-mountains", "section": "Go next", "text": "Gondar and its royal castles to the south. Minibuses leave from the bus station and cost 75 birr. They also charge 25 birr/50 birr for small/big luggage but it is unsure if this is legitimate, i.e. if they also charge it to locals. \nAxum with its stelae and other historic structures to the north", "word_count": 54}
diff --git a/corpus/simien-mountains/metadata.json b/corpus/simien-mountains/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d29609d5db6319549edf58955977c2d48e67839c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/simien-mountains/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "simien-mountains",
+ "title": "Simien National Park",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Simien_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northern Ethiopia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Gondar",
+ "Axum"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1680,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 11,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/singapore/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/singapore/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f435c85f55384084329514aec98155e6b6a2ced2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/singapore/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk000", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Singapore** (Chinese: 新加坡; Malay: *Singapura*; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர்) is a city-state in Southeast Asia. Modern Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819, and since independence, it has become one of the world's most prosperous countries and boasts one of the world's busiest ports. Singaporean food is legendary, with bustling hawker centres and 24-hour coffee shops offering affordable food from all parts of Asia. Combining the skyscrapers and shopping malls of an affluent modern city with a medley of different Asian cultures and a tropical climate, good shopping and a vibrant nightlife scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region.\n\nThe country has a partly deserved reputation for its sterile predictability. Nevertheless, the \"Switzerland of Asia\" is for many a welcome respite from the chaos, dirt and poverty of much of the rest of Southeast Asia. If you scratch below the squeaky clean surface and get away from the tourist trail you'll soon find more than meets the eye in one of the few remaining city-states in the world.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk001", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Districts", "text": "Sometimes referred to as the *Little Red Dot* (originally coined as a pejorative by the former Indonesian president B. J. Habibie) or the *Lion City* (a literal translation of the original Sanskrit name), Singapore is a small country on a small island with six million people. It is a fairly crowded city and in fact, it is second only to Monaco as the world's most densely populated country. However, Singapore has over 50% of its area covered in greenery and with over 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves, it is an enchanting **garden city**. Large self-contained residential towns have mushroomed all over the island, around the clean and modern city centre.\n\n### Singapore CBD\n\nThe **CBD** (Central Business District) is in the south of the island.\n\n \n \n\n### Outer Singapore\n\nThere's more to see outside the main city centre of Singapore, from the HDB (*Housing and Development Board*) heartlands where hawker food is king, to the Singapore Zoo. Or chill out in the parks and beaches of the East Coast and Sentosa.\n\n### Addresses\n\nIn the centre, Singapore's addressing system is fairly similar to other English-speaking countries (such as 17 Orchard Rd), but the new housing developments on the outskirts may appear more intimidating: a typical address might be \"Blk 505 Bedok Nth Ave 3 #19-315\". Here, \"Blk 505\" is the housing block number (Blk = Block), \"Bedok Nth Ave 3\" is the street name & number, and \"#19-315\" means floor 19 apartment 315. The first digit of both housing block and street number is the neighbourhood's number (in this case 5), making it easier to narrow down the right location. There are also 6-digit postal codes, with the last three digits corresponding to exactly one building. For example, \"Blk 181 Bedok Nth Rd\" is \"S'pore 460181\". Finally, you will also encounter Malay terms in addresses: the most commonly used are **Jalan** (*Jln*) for \"Road\", **Lorong** (*Lor*) for \"Lane\", **Bukit** (*Bt*) for \"Hill\" and **Kampong** (*Kg*) for \"Village\".\n\nUseful tools for hunting down addresses include **StreetDirectory.com**, **GoThere.sg** and **OneMap.sg**. The \"Blk\" and unit number can and should be omitted when entering addresses into these sites: \"505 Bedok Nth Ave 3\" will do.", "word_count": 362}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk002", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The Singapore CBD skyline\nSingapore is a microcosm of Asia, populated by Chinese, Malays, Indians and a large group of workers and expatriates from all around the globe, in a country that can be crossed in barely an hour. Having celebrated its 50th birthday in 2015, Singapore has more often than not chosen economic pragmatism over social concerns, encouraging constant reuse and redevelopment of land with huge projects like the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa integrated resorts as well as becoming a significant Asian financial hub, but there has also been a growing push-back to preserve local heritage in Balestier and elsewhere; just one of the many decisions to balance for the country's future.\n\n### History\n\nThe first mentions of Singapore in historical records date back to the second and third centuries, in Greek and Chinese texts. According to legend, Srivijayan prince Sang Nila Utama landed on the island in the 13th century and, catching sight of a strange creature that he thought was a lion, decided to found a new city he called *Singapura*, Sanskrit for **Lion City**. Alas, there have never been any lions anywhere near Singapore or elsewhere in Malaya, so the mysterious beast was more probably a tiger or wild boar. Other records indicate that the island was settled earlier and was an important port for various kingdoms for centuries. However, Portuguese raiders destroyed the settlement in 1613 and Singapura faded into obscurity.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk003", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "The story of Singapore as we know it today began in 1819, when **Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles** made a deal with a claimant to the throne of the Sultanate of Johor: the British would support his claim in exchange for the right to set up a trading post on the island. Though the Dutch initially protested, an Anglo-Dutch treaty was signed in 1824 separating the Malay world into British and Dutch spheres of influence (resulting in the current Malaysia-Indonesia and Singapore-Indonesia borders). The Dutch renounced their claim to Singapore and ceded their colony in Malacca to the British, in exchange for the British ceding their colonies on Sumatra to the Dutch.\n\nRaffles' master stroke was to declare Singapore a **free port**, with no duties charged on trade. As traders flocked to escape onerous Dutch taxes, the trading post soon grew into one of Asia's busiest, drawing people from far and wide. Along with Penang and Malacca, Singapore became one of the **Straits Settlements** and a jewel in the British colonial crown. Its economic fortunes received a further boost when palm oil and rubber from other parts of Malaya were processed and shipped out via Singapore. In 1867, the Straits Settlements were split off from British India and made into a directly ruled Crown Colony.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk004", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "When World War II broke out, **Fortress Singapore** was seen as a formidable British base, with massive naval fortifications guarding against assault by sea. However, not only did the fortress lack a fleet - as most ships were tied up defending Britain from the Germans - but the Japanese wisely chose to cross Malaya by bicycle instead. Despite hastily turning their artillery around, the British were not prepared for an attack from the north, and on 15 February 1942, with supplies critically low after less than a week of fighting, Singapore ignominiously surrendered. The colony's erstwhile rulers were packed off to Changi Prison, and tens of thousands of Singaporeans perished in the subsequent brutal occupation. The British returned in 1945, but it was clear that their time was coming to an end.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk005", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "Granted self-rule in 1955, Singapore briefly joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 when the British left, but was expelled in the aftermath of two bloody racial riots in 1964, because the Chinese-majority city was seen as a threat to Malay dominance. Consequently, when the island became independent on 9 August 1965, Singapore became the only country in the history of the modern world to gain independence against its own will. The subsequent 25 years of iron-fisted rule by the late prime minister **Lee Kuan Yew** saw Singapore's economy boom, with the country rapidly becoming one of the wealthiest and most developed in Asia despite its lack of natural resources, earning it a place as one of the four **East Asian Tigers**. The ruling **People's Action Party** (PAP) continues to dominate the political scene with a supermajority in Parliament. Societal restrictions have been loosened up though, with the government trying to shake off its staid image, and it remains to be seen how the delicate balancing act between political control and social freedom will play out.\n\n> But if you are a troublemaker... it's our job to politically destroy you.\n\nIn modern times, Singapore has tried to position itself as a neutral state balancing the interests of major world powers such as the United States and China. This has made Singapore a popular alternative to Switzerland for diplomatically sensitive talks between foreign leaders, such as the meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou in 2015, and the meeting between American president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018.\n\n### People", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk006", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "Singapore prides itself on being a multi-racial country and has diverse cultures despite its small size. Singaporeans make up two-thirds of the population. The largest group are the Chinese (about 75%), in which the largest subgroups are the Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese, with Mandarin acting as the *lingua franca* of the community. Malays, who are descended from Singapore's indigenous inhabitants and migrants from throughout the Malay Archipelago comprise 14% of all Singaporeans. Indians, which in Singapore refers to anyone of South Asian descent, form about 9% of residents. Among the Indians, Tamils form the largest subgroup by far, though there are also other subgroups such as the Malayalees, Punjabis and Sindhis. The remainder are a mix of many other cultures, most notably the Eurasians who are of mixed European and Asian descent, and also the Peranakans or Straits Chinese, who are of mixed Chinese and Malay descent. Other smaller communities include the Parsis, Hadhrami Arabs and Baghdadi Jews. thumb|The Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Flyer\n\nSingapore has always been an open country and at least a third of its population has arrived from elsewhere. They range from Burmese to Japanese to Thais and many others. There's also a large number of Filipinos, many of them working in the service industry or as domestic helpers. Throngs of happily smiling and chattering Filipinas may be seen in public spaces, one of which is a shopping mall named *Lucky Plaza* situated along Orchard Road, on Sundays when they take their only day off.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk007", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "Singapore is by some measures the most religiously diverse country in the world with no religious group forming a majority, and religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution. Buddhism is the largest religion with about one-third of the population declaring themselves Buddhist. Other religions which exist in significant numbers include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Taoism. In addition to the \"big five\", the other officially-recognised religions are Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, the Baha'i Faith and Jainism. About 17% of Singaporeans are irreligious (known in Singapore as \"free thinkers\").\n\n### Climate\n\nAs Singapore is 1°17' north of the Equator, its tropical weather is usually sunny with little in the way of distinct seasons. Rain falls almost daily throughout the year, usually in sudden, heavy showers that rarely last longer than an hour. However, most rainfall occurs during the northeast monsoon (November to January), occasionally featuring lengthy spells of continuous rain. Spectacular thunderstorms can occur throughout the year, any time during the day, so it's wise to carry an umbrella at all times, both as a shade from the sun and a cover from the rain.\n\nBetween May and October, forest fires in neighbouring Sumatra can also cause dense haze, although this is unpredictable and comes and goes rapidly: check with the National Environment Agency for up-to-date conditions.\n\nThe temperature averages around:\n daytime, at night in December and January.\n daytime, at night for the rest of the year.\n\nSingapore's lowest temperature ever was , recorded in 1934, with its highest temperature ever being , recorded in 2023.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk008", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "The high temperature and humidity, combined with the lack of wind and the fact that temperatures stay high during the night, can take its toll on visitors from colder parts of the world. Bear in mind that spending more than about an hour outdoors can be very exhausting, especially if combined with moderate exercise. Singaporeans themselves shun the heat, and for a good reason. Many live in air-conditioned flats, work in air-conditioned offices, take the air-conditioned metro to air-conditioned shopping malls connected to each other by underground tunnels where they shop, eat, and exercise in air-conditioned fitness clubs, only venturing out early in the morning and at night. Follow their example if you want to avoid discomfort in the searing heat and humidity of Singapore.\n\n### Units of measure\n\nSingapore is for the most part fully metricated, but two holdovers from the British imperial system are the measure of property sizes, which are still advertised in square feet, and clothing sizes, which are still advertised in inches.\n\n### Politics\n\nOften described as a \"guided democracy\", Singapore has notionally free and fair elections, but the People's Action Party (PAP) has ruled uninterrupted since 1959 and keeps it that way through tight control of the media, complicated gerrymandering, and liberal use of legal proceedings against opponents who step out of line. The largest opposition party is the centre-left Workers' Party (WP), but they have never won more than 10 out of 97 seats in Parliament. The prime minister, to date always Chinese, wields actual power while the president is largely a ceremonial figurehead.\n\n### Holidays\n\nSingapore is a secular city state but due to its multicultural population, Singapore celebrates Chinese, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian holidays.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk009", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "The year kicks off with a bang on 1 January and **New Year**, celebrated in Singapore just as in the West with a fireworks show and parties at every nightspot in town. Particularly famous are the wet and wild **foam parties** on the beaches of resort island Sentosa.\n\nDue to the influence of the Chinese majority, the largest event by far is **Chinese New Year** (农历新年) or, more politically correctly, **Lunar New Year**, usually held in late January or early February. While this might seem to be an ideal time to visit, many smaller shops and eateries are closed for 2–3 days during the period, though convenience stores like 7-Eleven, supermarkets, department stores, cinemas, fast-food restaurants and high end restaurants will remain open. The whole festival stretches out for a full 15 days, but the frenzied build-up to the peak occurs just before the night of the new moon, with exhortations of *gong xi fa cai* (恭喜发财 \"congratulations and prosper\"), red tinsel, mandarin oranges and the year's zodiac animal emblazoned everywhere and crowds of shoppers queuing in Chinatown, where there are also extensive street decorations to add spice to the festive mood. The two following days are spent with family, and then life returns to normal ... except for the final burst of **Chingay**, a colourful parade near the Singapore Flyer, held about ten days later.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk010", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "On the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, the **Dragon Boat Festival** (端午节) is celebrated to commemorate a Chinese folk hero. As part of the celebrations, rice dumplings (肉粽 *bak chang*), which in Singapore are sometimes wrapped in fragrant *pandan* leaves instead of the original bamboo leaves, are usually eaten. In addition, dragon boat races are often held at the Singapore River on this day. The seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar — usually August — starts off with a puff of smoke, as \"hell money\" is burned and food offerings are made to please the spirits of ancestors who are said to return to earth at this time. This is the **Hungry Ghost Festival** (中元节), when the living get together to stuff themselves and watch plays and Chinese opera performances. Following soon afterwards, the **Mid-Autumn Festival** (中秋节) on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (Sep/Oct) is also a major event, with elaborate lantern decorations — particularly at Gardens by the Bay and Jurong's Chinese Garden — and **mooncakes** that are typically filled with lotus paste, nuts, and more consumed merrily.\nalt=Singapore Geylang Serai Ramadan Light-Up 2024|thumb|Ramadan light-up at the Geylang Serai district\nThe Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, known locally as **Deepavali**, is celebrated around October or November and Little India is brightly decorated for the occasion. In January or February is the celebration of **Thaipusam**, a Tamil Hindu festival in which male devotees carry a *kavadi*, an elaborate structure which pierces through various parts of their body, walking in procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. Female devotees usually join the procession carrying pots of milk instead. About one week before Deepavali is **Thimithi**, the fire-walking festival where male devotees walk on burning coals at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown.", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk011", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan with fast-breaking festival **Hari Raya Puasa** (Eid-ul-Fitr) is a major occasion in Malay parts of town, particularly Geylang Serai on the East Coast, which is lit up with extensive decorations during the period. Another festival celebrated by the Malays is Eid-ul-Adha, known locally as **Hari Raya Haji**, which is the period when Muslims make the trip to Mecca to perform in Hajj. In local mosques, lambs contributed by the faithful are sacrificed and their meat is used to feed the poor.\n\n**Christmas Day** is also a major festive occasion in Singapore, and Orchard road is extensively lined with street decorations for the occasion. Christian families in Singapore usually celebrate the occasion with a variant of the traditional British Christmas dinner, with ham, turkey and a Yule log or a Christmas fruit cake. However, the Eurasian community has its own unique Christmas meal tradition, which incorporates numerous uniquely Eurasian dishes such as devil's curry. Since 2011, at the request of the local rabbi, a menorah has also been installed along Orchard Road alongside the Christmas decorations every December for Hanukkah.\n\n**Vesak Day**, celebrating the Buddha's enlightenment, and **Good Friday**, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus, round out the list of holidays.\n\nA more secular celebration occurs on 9 August, **National Day**, when fluttering flags fill Singapore and the National Day Parade is held to celebrate independence.\nalt=Singapore Little India Deepavali Light-Up|thumb|Deepavali light-up at the Little India historical district\nalt=Singapore Orchard Road Christmas Light-Up|thumb|Welcoming Christmas in Singapore\n\n### Events\n\nSingapore holds numerous events each year. Some of its famous festivals and events include the **Singapore Food Festival**, the **Singapore Formula One Grand Prix**, the **Singapore Arts Festival**, the **Chingay Parade**, the **World Gourmet Summit,** **Light to Night Singapore**, **i Light Singapore**, **Singapore Night Festival**, and **ZoukOut**.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk012", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Christmas** is also widely celebrated in Singapore, a season where the city streets and shopping malls along its famous shopping belt, Orchard Road, are lit up and decorated in vibrant colours. In addition, the **Singapore Jewel Festival** attracts numerous tourists every year, and is a display of precious gems, famous jewels and masterpieces from international jewellers and designers.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nvisitsingapore.com", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk013", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|A sign in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil\nMalay is enshrined in the constitution as the \"national language\", but in practice, the most common language is English, the primary language for half the population and spoken by almost every non-elderly Singaporean with varying degrees of fluency. However, the distinctive local patois, **Singlish**, may be hard to understand at times, as it incorporates slang words and phrases from other languages, including various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Tamil as well as English words whose pronunciation or meaning have been changed. Additionally, it has an odd way of structuring sentences, due to the original speakers being mostly Chinese, resulting in most Singlish sentences having Chinese grammar. Complex consonant clusters are simplified, articles and plurals disappear, verb tenses are replaced by adverbs, questions are altered to fit the Chinese syntax and non-English particles (especially the infamous \"lah\") appear:\nSinglish\nEnglish\n*You wan beer or not? -- Dunwan lah, dring five bottle oreddi.*\nDo you want a beer? -- No, thanks; I've already had five bottles.\n*Later wan go mall lepak abit? -- Ok, steady lah!*\nDo you want to chill at the mall for a while later? -- Ok, good!\n*He today taiko, kena tekan by his boss, so jialat.*\nHe was 'lucky' to be scolded by his boss today, seeming very much in trouble.\n\nThanks to nationwide language education campaigns, most younger Singaporeans are, however, capable of speaking what the government calls \"good English\" when necessary. To avoid unintentional offence, it's best to start off with standard English and shift to simplified pidgin only if it becomes evident that the other person cannot follow you. Try to resist the temptation to sprinkle your speech with unnecessary Singlish words. You'll get a laugh if you do it right, but it sounds patronising if you do it wrong.\n\nSingapore's other official languages are Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, mostly spoken by the Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups respectively. Governmental offices are required by law to provide all services in all four official languages. Like English, the Mandarin spoken in Singapore has also evolved into a distinctive creole and often incorporates words from other Chinese dialects, Malay, and English. All Singaporean Chinese are taught standard Mandarin in school, but many still have trouble speaking or understanding Mandarin on a conversational level. Various Chinese dialects (mostly Hokkien, though significant numbers also speak Teochew and Cantonese) are also spoken between older ethnic Chinese of the same dialect group, though their use has virtually died out among the younger generation; most people born after 1980 cannot speak them unless they were raised by their grandparents. Other Indian languages, such as Punjabi among the Sikhs, are also spoken.\n\nThe official Chinese script used in Singapore is the simplified script used in mainland China. As such, all official publications (including local newspapers) and signs are in simplified Chinese, and it is simplified Chinese that is taught in schools.", "word_count": 489}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk014", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Immigration\n\nAll visitors to Singapore must have a passport that is valid for at least **6 months** from their date of arrival.\n\nCitizens of Australia, the European Union, New Zealand, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa for stays of 90 days or less.\n\nHolders of a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) may visit Singapore for up to 60 days without a visa.\n\nCitizens of **most other countries** can stay without a visa for 30 days or less, so that's the case if your country is not named here.\n\nCitizens of the following countries have to apply for a visa in advance, and can do so online, through a local contact in Singapore or at a Singaporean embassy or consulate: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Moldova, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.\n\nCitizens of several former Soviet countries (Georgia, Ukraine, and the Commonwealth of Independent States) are eligible for **visa-free transit** for up to 96 hours if you have an onward plane ticket to a third country. You may enter Singapore by any mode of transport, but must depart by air. A similar scheme is available for citizens of India who have a valid visa or residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States (Schengen visas issued by other countries do not count), and have an onward plane, ferry or cruise ticket to a third country. Indian citizens visiting Singapore under the scheme may enter Singapore by any mode of transport, but must depart by air or sea.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk015", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "No visa is required for transit at Changi Airport as long as you don't leave the secure area and your connecting flight leaves within 24 hours. See Sterile transit.\n\nAll travellers entering Singapore, including Singapore citizens, are required to complete a '''SG Arrival Card''' online no *earlier* than 3 days before your arrival date. If you have not done this before you get off the aeroplane, you may complete this form using the computers near the immigration desks. Once completed, you will receive an e-mail containing a barcode that you can scan at the immigration counter or you can use a screenshot of the confirmation page.\n\nAll visitors to Singapore can use the automated clearance gates, with no pre-enrollment required. Manual counters are still available for families with children under 6. Singapore no longer stamps passports for visitors: you will receive your terms of entry at the email address you provided in the SG Arrival Card.\n\nCitizens of African and South American countries, and travellers who have recently been to Africa or South America, require a **yellow fever vaccination certificate** for entry into Singapore.\n\nSingle women from poorer countries planning long stays for tourism may be denied entry, due to suspicions that they might be intending to engage in unlicensed prostitution. Hippie types may expect a little extra attention from Customs, but getting a shave and a haircut is no longer a condition for entry. High-profile political activists are also often denied entry.\n\nMales who enter Singapore illegally or who overstay their permits by more than 14 days face a mandatory sentence of at least three strokes of the cane.\n\n### Customs", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk016", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "Singapore has **very strict drug laws**, and drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty that is applied to everyone including foreigners. Even if you are only on sterile transit while in possession of drugs, you would still be subject to Singaporean law and capital punishment. **Poppy seeds** are also prohibited, as they contain morphine and are hence classified as a controlled substance. A positive urine test or a positive swab test of your belongings is sufficient grounds for you to be denied entry to Singapore and deported, even if no drugs are found in your possession.\n\nBringing in explosives or firearms without a permit is also a capital offense in Singapore. The importation of some types of weapons such as shuriken, nunchaku, switchblade knives, butterfly knives and chain whips is prohibited, and permits to import these will not be issued under any circumstances. In general, do not bring any type of weapon into Singapore.\n\nBring prescriptions for any **prescribed medicines** you may have with you. If you are bringing in more than 3 months' supply of any medication or if you are bringing in any sedatives (e.g. Valium/diazepam), strong painkillers (e.g. codeine ingredients), or cannabidiol (CBD)-containing medication you need to apply to the Singapore Health Sciences Authority for approval at least 10 working days before your expected arrival in Singapore.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk017", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "Duty free allowances for alcohol are one litre each of wine, beer and spirits, though the 1 L of spirits may be replaced with 1 L of wine or beer. Travellers entering from Malaysia are not entitled to any duty free allowance. Alcohol may not be brought in by persons under the age of 18. You *cannot* bring **tobacco products** such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes (vapes) into Singapore; failure to declare and dispose of them at customs could potentially result in hefty fines and imprisonment. Importing non-medical **chewing gum** is illegal, but in practice customs officers would usually not bother with a few sticks for personal consumption.\n\nThere is no restriction on the amount of money that can be brought in or out of Singapore. However, you are required to declare to customs if you are carrying more than $20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency in or out of Singapore. The declaration can be made when you are filling in your Singapore Arrival Card, or through this website. Not declaring exposes you to arrest, heavy fines and possible imprisonment.\n\n**Pornography**, **pirated goods**, and **religious publications** by the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Unification Church may not be imported to Singapore, and all baggage is scanned at land and sea entry points. In theory, all entertainment media including movies and video games must be sent to the Board of Censors for approval before they can be brought into Singapore, but that is rarely if ever enforced for original (non-pirated, non-copied) goods, and it's very unlikely that your hard drives will be searched.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk018", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "Singapore is one of Southeast Asia's largest aviation hubs, so unless you're coming from Peninsular Malaysia or Batam/Bintan in Indonesia, the easiest way to enter Singapore is by air. In addition to its flag-carrier, **Singapore Airlines**, regarded as one of the world's best airlines in terms of customer service, Singapore is also home to low-cost carrier **Scoot**.\n\nIn addition to the locals, every carrier of any size in Asia offers flights to Singapore, with pan-Asian discount carrier **AirAsia** operating a dense network from Singapore. There are also nonstop services to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and South Africa. Singapore is particularly popular on the \"Kangaroo Route\" between Australia and Europe, with **Qantas** and **British Airways** using Singapore as their refuelling stop between London and Sydney.\n\nIn addition to the local airports, travellers from Malaysia or Indonesia can consider flying into Johor Bahru (), Batam () or Tanjung Pinang () instead, as flights to those airports are usually cheaper than to Changi or Seletar. The downside is that you'll have to pass through customs and immigration twice, and there are no direct public transportation links between those airports and Singapore, meaning that you will have to arrange your own transportation. If you have a lot of time, flying to Kuala Lumpur (), which is served by more destinations than the aforementioned three airports, can also save you some money. Coaches from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore take about 5 hours.\n\n#### Changi Airport\n\nthumb|The Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport\n\n*Main article: Singapore Changi Airport*", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk019", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "() is the main airport and serves all commercial jet flights. It regularly shows up in \"Best Airport\" rankings and is big, pleasant, and well-organised, with remarkably fast immigration and baggage distribution. The airport is split into four main terminals (T1, T2, T3 and T4). The famous Rain Vortex is essentially an indoor park surrounded by a shopping mall, that isn't the worst place to hang out for a few hours before your flight.\n\nGrab/Gojek rideshare or taxis are the fastest way to the city, and will cost about $20–30 including a $5 airport surcharge ($3 for off-peak hours). An additional 50% surcharge applies 1–6AM. On the MRT, it takes about 45 minutes to town with an easy cross-platform transfer at Tanah Merah. Paper tickets are no longer available, and visitors will need to use a credit/debit card or purchase an EZ-link card at the ticket office. An adult fare to City Hall costs $2.14, with trains running from 5:31AM (5:59AM on Sundays and bank holidays) to 11:18PM. See Singapore Changi Airport for the full scoop.\n\n#### Seletar Airport\n\n() serves all turboprop flights and general aviation. Completed in 1928 and first used for civil aviation in 1930, it was Singapore's first airport. The only commercial flights to Seletar are Firefly services from Kuala Lumpur's Subang Airport (a smaller airport closer to the city centre, not the main international airport of Kuala Lumpur) and Berjaya's \"scheduled charters\" to Redang. Bus 102 runs from Hougang MRT (North-East Line) directly to the airport, but most travellers opt for a taxi instead. A $3 surcharge applies for trips from the airport.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk020", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "Once the southern terminus of Malaysia's **Keretapi Tanah Melayu** (Malayan Railway or KTMB) network, the central has been decommissioned and KTMB trains now terminate at the JB Sentral railway station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The station is expected to be integrated into a future MRT station, but as of 2026, it is derelict and cordoned off.\n\nThe *Shuttle Tebrau* connects the last Singaporean station, with JB Sentral. One-way tickets originating in Singapore costs $5 while the reverse costs RM5. From Woodlands, immigration formalities for both countries are carried out before boarding. From Johor Bahru, Malaysian immigration checks are conducted at JB Sentral before boarding, and Singapore immigration checks upon arrival at Woodlands. Taking immigration into account, allow 30-60 minutes for the full journey. This service is expected to be terminated after a new cross-border rapid transit link opens in 2027.\n\nShuttle trains leave at irregular intervals throughout the day. Check the timetable. Tickets are released for sale 6 months in advance and **sell out quickly**, especially towards Singapore on weekday mornings and towards JB on weekday evenings, when commuters snap up seats.\n\nFor JB Sentral-Woodlands, at JB Sentral there are turnstiles installed at the departure gate (Gate A); scan the barcode or QR code on your ticket (can be one stored on a mobile device) to activate the turnstile. For Woodlands-JB Sentral, tickets bought online must be exchanged at the KTMB ticket counter before departure. For trains beyond Johor Bahru, see Johor Bahru and Malaysia for details.\n\nDon’t confuse Woodlands Train Checkpoint with the neighbouring . Take a bus from Kranji, Marsiling or Woodlands MRT to Woodlands *Train* Checkpoint (not Woodlands Checkpoint), and double-check with the driver since they've been known to skip the train stop in heavy traffic.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk021", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "Ferries link Singapore with the neighbouring Indonesian province of Riau Islands, and the Malaysian state of Johor. Singapore has two terminals that handle international ferries: near Sentosa and near Changi Airport.\n\nHarbourFront Ferry Terminal is located inside HarbourFront Centre shopping mall, not to be confused with the adjoining VivoCity. Alight at HarbourFront MRT station.\n\nTanah Merah Ferry Terminal is located south of Changi Airport. Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station and proceed to Exit B. From there, take bus 35/35M to the ferry terminal. Alternatively, alight at Bedok MRT station and proceed to the adjacent Bedok Bus Interchange, where the two bus services originate from. If you are arriving *at* Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, getting a taxi can be very difficult due to the remote location and 200 other people hailing them simultaneously; it's often faster to take bus 35/M a few stops to the nearest MRT station and try your luck there. If you are arriving on a weekday and hence taking the 35, check the destination carefully. The bus calls twice in its route at the ferry terminal and visitors must pre-register to enter the logistics park ALPS. A shuttle service also connects Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal with Changi Airport, costing $4 each way.\n\n#### From Indonesia\n\nFerries to Indonesia are operated by an ever-changing cast of operators with constantly changing schedules. The Singapore Cruise Centre maintains a real-time schedule service showing current services that can be helpful for ferreting out what's actually operating.thumb|Batam Ferry**From Batam:** Ferries from Batu Ampar, Sekupang and Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba) use **HarbourFront** Ferry Terminal. Ferries from Nongsapura use **Tanah Merah** Ferry Terminal. Ferries from Batam Centre use both ferry terminals.\n - Indo Falcon\n\n- Horizon Fast Ferry\n\n- Dino/Batam Fast\n\n- Majestic Fast Ferry\n\n- Sindo Ferry\n\n- Batam Fast", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk022", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "- Majestic Fast Ferry\n\n- Sindo Ferry\n\n**From Bintan:** Ferries from Bintan use **Tanah Merah** Ferry Terminal. For Tanjung Pinang, there are four or five departures per day at $30 one-way including taxes and surcharges.\n - Majestic Fast Ferry\n\n- Sindo Ferry\n\n- Bintan Resort Ferries\n\n**From Karimun:** Ferries from Karimun use **HarbourFront** Ferry Terminal. For Tanjung Balai, there is one daily departure *on even days only* at $50 one-way including taxes and surcharges.\n\n- Sindo Ferry\n\n#### From Malaysia\n\nFerries to Malaysia are surprisingly limited. In particular, there are no services at all to Borneo. The on-demand \"bumboats\" that used to shuttle between Changi Point and Pengerang no longer operate.\n\n**From Johor:** Ferries from Johor use **Tanah Merah** Ferry Terminal.\n\n- Batam Fast\n\n#### Cruises\n\nSingapore is a popular stop for round-the-world and major regional cruises. Many of those cruises embark/disembark passengers here during all-day or over-night port visits, while others stop for perhaps just a day. Check with cruise companies and sellers for details. Cruise ships use the Singapore Cruise Centre (which HarbourFront Ferry Terminal is part of) and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|A Singapore-Johore Express bus\nThere are long-distance coaches from Kuala Lumpur and many other destinations in Malaysia through the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Second Link at Tuas, and even from as far as Hat Yai in Thailand. Coaches to Singapore take about 3 hours from Malacca, 5 hours from Kuala Lumpur, 10 hours from Penang and 13 hours from Hat Yai. There is no central bus terminal and different companies leave from all over the city. Major operators include:\n\n- Aeroline\n\n- First Coach\n\n- NiCE\n\n- Transnasional\n\n- Transtar\n\nMost other operators have banded together in three shared booking portals.\n\n- redbus\n\n- Easybook\n\n- Bus Online Ticket", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk023", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "In general, the more you pay, the faster and more comfortable your trip. More expensive buses leave on time, use the Second Link, and do not stop along the way; while the cheapest buses may not be punctual, use the perpetually congested Causeway and might make more intercity stops. Book early for popular departure times like Friday evenings (heading from Singapore to Malaysia) and Sunday evenings (heading from Malaysia to Singapore), Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, etc., and factor in some extra time for the expected congestion at the border; congestion can be assessed from the traffic cameras on the OneMotoring website.\n\nAn alternative to taking a direct \"international bus\", would be making the short hop to Johor Bahru and board domestic Malaysian long-distance express buses to various Malaysian destinations from in Johor Bahru. Besides having more options, fares are also much lower as you will be paying for a domestic fare in Malaysian ringgit, instead of the identical nominal amount in Singapore dollars. The downside is the time-consuming hassle (at least an additional hour of travelling time) of first getting to Johor Bahru and then getting to Larkin terminal on the outskirts of town. Another downside would also be the lack of domestic bus seats during festive seasons.\n\nthumb|A Causeway Link bus bound for Kranji MRT", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk024", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are also regular public buses that ply between Johor Bahru and Singapore. The main operators are SBS Transit (Singapore) and Causeway Link (Malaysia), and by far the most popular route is from Kranji MRT to JB Larkin terminal, served by routes CW1 (Causeway Link) and SBS 170. Most buses cross via the Causeway, but Causeway Link runs a few services across the Second Link to Iskandar Puteri as well. Fares are around $2-5 depending on route length. EZ-Link is accepted by Singaporean buses and Malaysian buses *from* Singapore, but not in the other direction.\n\nAll buses make two stops at Singapore immigration and at Malaysian immigration. At both immigration points, *you must disembark with all your luggage* and pass through passport control and customs, then board the next bus by showing your ticket. Expect a minimum of 30 minutes to clear both checkpoints during non-peak periods, with the expectation of an average clearing time of 1 hour during peak periods, 2 hours at the ends of extended holiday periods. There is no need to board the same bus as the one you arrived on.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk025", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Johor-Singapore cross border taxi\nWhile normal Singaporean taxis are not allowed to cross into Malaysia and vice versa, specially licensed Singaporean taxis permitted to go to Larkin bus terminal (only) can be booked from Johor Taxi Service , $80 one way), while Malaysian taxis, which can go anywhere in Malaysia, can be taken from the taxi terminal at Ban San St ($60 to charter, or $15/person if you share with others). In the reverse direction, towards Singapore, you can take Singaporean taxis from Larkin to any point in central Singapore ($60), while Malaysian taxis can only bring you to Ban San St (RM120). The main advantage here is that you do not need to lug your stuff (or yourself) through Customs at both ends; you can just sit in the car.\n\nPrivate \"limousine\" transport services offer point-to-point services from anywhere in Singapore to anywhere in Malaysia. These services are unlicensed and authorities crack down on drivers periodically, but it is not illegal to ride in one as a passenger. The standard fare is $100 for Singapore to Johor Bahru for a 4-passenger Toyota Innova.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|The Causeway, with [[Johor Bahru]] on the other side\nSingapore is linked to Peninsular Malaysia by two land crossings:", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk026", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "The is a very popular and thus terminally congested entry point connecting Woodlands in the north of Singapore directly into the heart of Johor Bahru. By some measures the busiest border crossing in the world, with 350,000 travellers on an *average* day, the Causeway usually experiences severe congestion on Friday evenings (towards Malaysia), Sunday evenings (towards Singapore) and around extended holiday periods. The Causeway is crossed by trains, buses, taxis, cars and motorcycles. The only reliable way to avoid jams is the train, see , but the most flexible and most popular option is to take one of the many bus services, see .\n\nA second crossing between Malaysia and Singapore, known as the , was built between Tuas in western Singapore and Iskandar Puteri in western Johor. Much faster and (usually) less congested than the Causeway, it is primarily used by the express bus services from Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang. It is more convenient than the Causeway for travellers coming from further up the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, but a major detour if you are just coming from Johor Bahru. Bus services across are not as numerous as those that service the Causeway, and you cannot legally use this crossing via a taxi (although this does not stop unlicensed operators from doing so).\n\nDriving into Singapore with a foreign-registered car is complicated and expensive. If you have your own wheels and insist on using them, see Driving in Singapore for details.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk027", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Cycling into Singapore** is possible only across the Causeway. You can take the motorcycle lane and process your entry at the manual motorcycle counters. Once you have cleared Singapore immigration and customs, make sure you avoid the ramp heading onto the expressway, which will be indicated as BKE (short for Bukit Timah Expressway) on road signs. As the Second Link is served by expressways on both sides, bicycles are legally unable to use it.\n\n### On foot\n\n**Walking into Singapore** is possible only across the Causeway. Be prepared for a very long walk as Malaysia's customs and immigration complex is now inland. Unlike the previous checkpoint, the current Malaysian immigration checkpoint was not set up for pedestrians, meaning that there are no pedestrian footpaths on the Malaysian side, and you will have to walk on the road alongside potentially dangerous and fast-moving vehicular traffic. Pedestrians are not allowed on the Second Link; not that there would be anything within walking distance on either side anyway.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk028", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|upright=1.5|Geographic map of MRT lines in the city centre\nGetting around Singapore is easy: the public transport network is extremely easy to use, affordable, and covers populated areas extensively. Furthermore, taxis/rideshares are reasonably priced and easy to hail via apps. CityMapper Singapore, Google Maps, and Apple Maps are all capable of figuring out the fastest route by rail and bus and even estimating taxi/rideshare fares between any two points.\n\n### Fares\n\nFares are charged based on distance and mode of transport.\n\nThe easiest way to pay for all public transport is to use a contactless **Visa, Mastercard or American Express**, which you can use to tap in to and out of any train or bus, including the Sentosa Express. **Mobile phones** with Visa, Mastercard or American Express stored in Apple Pay or Google Pay work as well. Foreign-issued cards are charged an additional $0.60/day handling fee, but for short stays (i.e. up to eight days over a five-year period) this still works out cheaper than an EZ-link/NETS prepaid card. Journey history is available with a TransitLink SimplyGo account.\n\nAlternatively, pick up an **EZ-link** or **NETS** prepaid card at any train station or 7-Eleven store. The EZ-link prepaid card costs $12 ($5 for the card itself and $7 stored value) whilst the NETS prepaid card costs $10 ($5 for the card itself and $5 stored value). The cards can be topped up using cash or Singapore-issued credit or debit cards at ticketing machines located in train stations, by cash at convenience stores, or online through the EZ-link app. If you are leaving Singapore and you have some money on your card, you can go to any TransitLink ticket office for a refund, minus a $5 processing fee. The cards are valid for five years.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk029", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **Singapore Tourist Pass (STP)** gives you unlimited rides for $17/24/29 for 1/2/3 days respectively, plus some discounts for attractions. However, given that most trips only cost $1.00-2.50, you would need to use the public transport system often during your stay for the STP to be worthwhile.\n\nCash is not accepted on the MRT/LRT. More expensive cash fares are available on buses but no change is given. Children under seven years old travel free. If your child is above 0.9m in height they need a Child Concession Card to travel.\n\nRemember to tap your device or card against a reader before you exit a bus. Otherwise, if you are on any line that charges a distance-based fare, you may find that you are charged the maximum fare. The bus operator has no idea where you got off and assumes that you rode to the end of the line.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|upright=1.9|MRT and LRT system map\nThe **MRT** (Mass Rapid Transit) and **LRT** (Light Rail Transit) are the backbone of Singapore's transit system. They are a cheap, fast and reliable mode of transportation, and the network covers most points of interest for the visitor. The stations are clean and equipped with free toilets and platform barriers for safety.\n\nThe North-East Line, Circle Line, Downtown Line, Thomson-East Coast Line and all upcoming lines run underground and are fully automated without a driver. It's worth walking up to the front of the train to check out the view of the tunnel ahead.\n\nEating and drinking (even water) is strictly **prohibited** in the stations and trains, with offenders being liable for a $500 fine. When using escalators, **stand on the left** to allow those in a hurry to pass on the right.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk030", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Locals refer to the underground metro system as the \"MRT\". The terms \"Metro\" or \"Subway\" are not widely used or understood.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|right|Bumboat\n\nTourist-oriented **bumboats** cruise the Singapore River, offering point-to-point rides starting from $3 and cruises with nice views of the CBD skyscraper skyline starting from $13.\n\nBumboats also shuttle passengers from **Changi Point Ferry Terminal** to Pulau Ubin ($4 one-way), a small island off Singapore's northeast coast which is about as close as Singapore gets to unhurried rural living. These boats are the only way to get to Pulau Ubin without your own vessel. Ferries to the southern islands of Sisters' Islands, Kusu Island and St John's Island depart from **Marina South Pier**, next to the MRT station of the same name. Pulau Hantu is also open to the public, though there are no scheduled ferries there; you will need to charter a boat from either Marina South Pier or West Coast Pier.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Singapore bus\n**Buses** connect various corners of Singapore, but are slower and harder to use than the MRT. On a long-distance bus, frequent stops and slow speeds may mean your journey could take two to three times as long as the same trip via MRT. Their main advantage is you get to see the sights rather than a dark underground tunnel, partly if you can snag a front seat on a double-decker, which make up a relatively huge percentage of buses in Singapore. Moreover, since there are a lot more bus stops than MRT stations, buses can often get you closer to your destination, which makes a big difference in the equatorial heat and humidity. All public buses in Singapore are air conditioned and wheelchair accessible.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk031", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Buses in Singapore **stop on request only**. Flag the bus if you want to board, press the stop button if you want to alight. As buses can come at irregular frequencies due to traffic conditions, it is advisable to use Bus Arrival Timing applications in order to know when the next bus arrives and plan your journey. The most popular apps include '''MyTransportSG''' and '''Singabus'''. Most trunk bus services have a frequency of between 10 and 15 minutes, while express bus services which have 3 digits and start with 5 (e.g. 502) or end in e (e.g 851e) normally have a frequency of 20 minutes or more - note that these charge a higher fare. Feeder bus services normally arrive every 5 to 15 minutes.\n\nThe four bus operators in Singapore are SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, Tower Transit and Go-Ahead.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Taxicabs in different colours\n**Taxicabs** use meters and are reasonably priced and honest. Outside weekday peak hours, trips within the city centre should not cost you more than $10 and even a trip right across the island from Changi to Jurong will not break the $35 mark. If you are in a group of 3 or 4, it's sometimes cheaper and faster to take a taxi than the MRT. ComfortDelgro, the largest operator, has a **CDG Zig** booking app that lets you order and pay for your taxi rides ridehail-style, including the option of a \"ComfortRide\" fixed price instead of running the meter, or you can call the unified booking system at . Hailing a taxi on the street or at a taxi stand lets you avoid the $2.30-3.30 booking fee though.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk032", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi pricing is largely identical across all companies at $4.40-$5.00 as a flag down rate (depending on the type of vehicle used), which lasts 1 km before increments of $0.26 per 400 m (for the first 10 km) or $0.26 per 350 m (after the first 10 km). Watch out for surprises though: on weekdays, trips before 9:30am or after 5pm incur a 25-50% tariff, and on weekdays a 25% tariff is applicable between 10am and 4pm. Extra fees ($3-8) may be added for trips starting at airports, popular attractions, and ferry terminals. Electronic Road Pricing surcharges or City Area fees may also apply at peak hours, which may add a substantial amount to your taxi fare. All such charges are shown on the bottom right-hard corner of the meter, recorded in the printed receipt and explained in tedious detail in a sticker on the window; if you suspect the cabbie is trying to pull a fast one, call the company and ask for an explanation. There is no surcharge for trips *to* the airport, only from. While all taxis are equipped to handle (and are required to accept) credit cards, in practice many cabbies do not accept electronic payment. Always ask before getting in. Paying by credit card will incur an additional surcharge of 10%, or $0.30 using other cards or app-based payments. As usual in Singapore, tips are not expected. In the Central Business District, taxis may pick up passengers only at taxi stands (found outside any shopping mall) or buildings with their own driveways (including virtually all hotels). Outside the centre, you're free to hail taxis on the street or call one to your doorstep.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk033", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Virtually all Singapore taxis are equipped with navigation systems that will get you where you want to go. Some cabbies may ask you which route you want to take; most are satisfied with \"whichever way is faster\".\n\n### By rideshare\n\nRideshare apps have largely supplanted taxis in Singapore. The two biggest players are '''Grab''' and **Gojek**. Rides are generally reasonably priced, with most off-peak rides in the city centre clocking in around $10-20, although during busy periods (Friday nights, when it rains, etc.) surge fares can be much higher. Most international credit/debit cards are accepted on their apps, and cash payments are also accepted. Other ride sharing apps include **Ryde** and **Tada**. For the best fare, download a few apps and check the cost of your journey between them, as the cheapest company may change by the time-of-day.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving is not a popular option for visitors to Singapore, as public transport covers virtually the entire island and it's generally cheaper to take taxis all day than to rent. You will usually be looking at upwards from $100 per day for the smallest vehicle from the major rental companies, although local ones can be cheaper and there are sometimes good weekend prices available. This does not include petrol at around $3/litre or electronic road pricing (ERP) fees, and rentals often charge extra or prohibit driving to Malaysia.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nAlthough Singapore is mostly flat and there're only a few locations to climb, commuting on bicycle is challenging. There are few dedicated bicycle lanes on public roads, and road courtesy towards cyclists from motorists is sorely lacking. You may cycle on the road, cycling paths, shared use paths, and footpaths, with each having its own challenges.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk034", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bikes are permitted on public roads, provided you wear a helmet, and your bike is equipped with front white and rear red lights when cycling at night. You must keep to the left most lane. Bike lanes are only found on Tanah Merah Coastal Road and West Camp Road. There is no speed limit for bicycles on the roads. Bicycles are prohibited from expressways, road tunnels and the Tuas Viaduct.\n\nRed cycle paths may be found beside the footpath; these paths frequently turn into shared use paths indicated by a dotted red box. You **must** use these where available - it is illegal to do otherwise. There is also a network of off-road walking and cycling paths, such as the **Park Connector Network (PCN)** and the **Rail Corridor**. The speed limit is 25km/h in dedicated cycling paths, and 10km/h in shared paths with pedestrians. Bicycle parking is found near MRT stations and shopping malls. A map of cycle paths can be found here.\n\n**Electric bicycles** are only permitted on cycle paths, shared use paths and roads. They are not permitted on the footpath.\n\nShared bicycles can be rented with mobile apps such as HelloRide.SG or Anywheel, at designated parking spots, typically indicated by a bright yellow rectangle on the ground. Scan the QR code on the ground to park your bike. Foldable bicycles not exceeding 120cm by 70cm by 40cm when folded can be brought onto public transit all day.\n\n### On foot", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk035", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "Singapore is very pedestrian-friendly. In the main business district and on main roadways, pavements and pedestrian crossings are in good shape and plentiful, and by Asian standards drivers are generally careful and willing to give way at marked crossings. Jaywalking is illegal and punished with fines of $25 and up to three months in jail, but this is rarely enforced.\n\nAn unavoidable downside, though, is the tropical **heat and humidity**, which leaves many visitors sweaty and exhausted, so do as the locals do and bring along a little towel, a bottle of water and even an umbrella to protect against the searing heat. Also, afternoon thunderstorms are fairly common during the monsoon season. It's best to get an early start, pop into air-conditioned shops, cafes and museums to cool off or take shelter from rain, and plan on heading back to the shopping mall or hotel pool before noon. Alternatively, after sundown, evenings can also be comparatively cool. On the upside, the fact that the sun is often covered in clouds and shaded by trees and greenery along roads means that you won't get as easily sunburnt as otherwise at these latitudes. Nevertheless, it is advisable to wear linen or polyester-made clothing which wick away sweat faster, as cotton-made clothing is usually soaked with high amounts of sweat that were a result from the high heat and humidity.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk036", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Get around", "text": "A useful tip to combat the tropical weather is to look out for air-conditioned underground pedestrian crossings. These climate-controlled walkways are plentiful and often between shopping malls and high-rise office buildings. In addition, look out for the pedestrian walkways connecting to underground MRT stations. Some stations can have up to 25 different walkways connecting to different entrances/exits in the area, creating an extensive network of walkways around the downtown core that gives one the impression of a city underneath the city.\n\nClassic walks in Singapore include walking down the river from the Merlion through the Boat and Clarke Quays, walking around the entire perimeter of Marina Bay, trekking along the Southern Ridges Walk or just strolling around Chinatown, Little India, Bugis or Orchard.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk037", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "See", "text": "Sights in Singapore are covered in more detail under the various districts. Broadly speaking:\n\n *Beaches and tourist resorts*: Head to one of the three beaches on Sentosa or its southern islands. Other beaches can be found on the East Coast.\n *Culture and cuisine*: See Chinatown for Chinese treats, Little India for Indian flavours, Geylang Serai for a Malay experience or the East Coast for Eurasian and Peranakan culture and delicious seafood, including the famous chilli and black pepper crab.\n *History and museums*: The Bras Basah area east of Orchard and north of the Singapore River is Singapore's colonial core, with historical buildings and museums. All government-run museums in Singapore are free admission for Singapore citizens and permanent residents except for temporary exhibits, but visitors will be charged an admission fee.\n *Nature and wildlife*: Popular tourist attractions **Singapore Zoo**, **Night Safari**, **Jurong Bird Park** and the **Botanic Gardens** are all in the North and West. For something closer to the city, visit the futuristic **Gardens by the Bay** in the Marina district, behind the Marina Bay Sands. Finding \"real\" nature is a little harder, but the **Bukit Timah Nature Reserve** (in the same district as the zoo) has more plant species than in the whole of North America, and is also home to a thriving population of wild monkeys. **Pulau Ubin**, an island off the Changi Village in the east, is a flashback to the rural Singapore of yesteryear. Red junglefowl (often called wild chickens) can often be seen in many grassy areas around the city, even in downtown areas. City parks full of locals jogging or doing tai chi can be found everywhere. See Botanical tourism in Singapore for details on where to see trees and plants.\n *Skyscrapers and shopping*: The heaviest shopping mall concentration is in Orchard Road, while skyscrapers are clustered around the Singapore River, but also check out Bugis and Marina Bay to see where Singaporeans shop.\n *Places of worship*: Don't miss this aspect of Singapore, where Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism all exist in sizeable numbers. Religious sites can be easily visited and welcome non-followers outside of service times. Particularly worth visiting include: the vast **Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery** near Ang Mo Kio/Bishan, the colourful Hindu **Sri Mariamman Temple** in Chinatown, the psychedelic **Burmese Buddhist Temple** in Balestier and the stately Masjid Sultan in Arab Street.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n Three days in Singapore — A three-day sampler set of food, culture and shopping in Singapore, easily divisible into bite-size chunks.\n Southern Ridges Walk — An easy scenic 9 km stroll through the hills and jungles of southern Singapore. Highlights of the trail include a 36 m high Henderson Waves pedestrian bridge providing a stunning view of the sea beyond the jungle. thumb|Henderson Waves", "word_count": 461}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk038", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "While you *can* find a place to practice nearly any sport in Singapore — golfing, surfing, scuba diving, even ice skating and snow skiing — due to the country's small size your options are rather limited and prices are relatively high. For watersports in particular, the busy shipping lanes and sheer population pressure mean that the sea around Singapore is murky, and most locals head up to Pulau Tioman, Sibu Island (Malaysia) or Bintan (Indonesia) instead. On the upside, there is an abundance of dive shops in Singapore, and they often arrange weekend trips to good dive sites off the East Coast of Malaysia.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|Esplanade Theatres by the Bay|315x315px\nOn the cultural side of things, Singapore has been trying to shake off its boring, buttoned-down reputation and attract more artists and performances. The star in Singapore's cultural sky is the **Esplanade** theatre in Marina Bay, a world-class facility for performing arts and a frequent stage for the **Singapore Symphony Orchestra**. For traditional Chinese music, its counterpart is the **Singapore Chinese Orchestra**.\n\nMost any big-ticket musician or band touring Asia will perform in Singapore, see Ticketle for a one-stop shop listing of upcoming events. In May or June, don't miss the yearly **Singapore International Festival of Arts** (formerly the **Singapore Arts Festival**), featuring a programme of art exhibitions/performances and artist conversations over several weeks. Advance tickets for almost any cultural event can be purchased from **SISTIC**, either on-line or from any of their numerous ticketing outlets, including the Singapore Visitor Centre on Orchard Rd.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk039", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "Going to the **movies** is a popular Singaporean pastime, but look for \"NC16\" (age 16 and above only) or \"M18\" (age 18 and above only) or \"R21\" ratings (age 21 and above only) if you like your movies with fewer cuts. The big theatre chains are **Carnival Cinemas**, **Golden Village** and **Shaw Brothers**. For a taste of Singapore through film, Jack Neo's popular comedies showcase the foibles of Singaporean life, while directors like K. Rajagopal, Boo Jun Feng, and Tan Pin Pin are ushering in a new wave of contemporary film art in Singapore.\n\n**Wayang** is a Chinese street opera, performed in open-air theaters by troupes. It combines a wide variety of traditional art forms with singing, mime, dancing, acrobatics and martial arts. It is now a dying art form as dialect proficiency among the younger generation continues to decrease, so catch it while you still can. They are generally most common during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. A closely-related and equally endangered genre is **traditional Chinese puppetry**, which is also often performed in open air street theatres during the Hungry Ghost Festival.\n\n### Gambling\n\nSingapore has two massive casinos, always referred to with the euphemism \"integrated resort\", which pull in nearly as much revenue as the entirety of Las Vegas. **Marina Bay Sands** at Marina Bay is the larger and swankier of the two, while **Resorts World Sentosa** at Sentosa aims for a more family-friendly experience. While locals (citizens and permanent residents) have to pay $150/day to get in, foreign visitors can enter for free after presenting their passport.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk040", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "Besides the casino, there are other forms of legalised betting which are more accessible to the locals. This includes football (soccer) betting and several lotteries run by the **Singapore Pools**. Horse racing in Singapore was terminated in October 2024, but you can bet on foreign races through the Singapore Pools.\n\n**Mahjong** is also a popular pastime in Singapore. The version played in Singapore is similar to the Cantonese version, but it also has extra \"animal tiles\" not present in the original Cantonese version, as well as several scoring differences. However, this remains pretty much a family and friends affair, and there are no (legal) mahjong parlours as the operation of gambling dens is illegal.\n\nGambling in public (e.g. playing poker or blackjack at a park) is illegal and punishable with fines and imprisonment.\n\n### Golf\n\nDespite its small size, Singapore has a surprisingly large number of golf courses, but most of the best ones are run by private clubs and open to members and their guests only. The main exceptions are the **Sentosa Golf Club**, the **Sembawang Country Club** and the Sime Course of **Keppel Club**, though they charge much higher fees than for members. See the Singapore Golf Association for the full list; alternatively, head to the nearby Indonesian islands of Batam or Bintan or across the Second Link to Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia.\n\n### Races", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk041", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The Singapore Grand Prix takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit\n **Singapore Grand Prix** is an on-street Formula One motor-race held in the streets of Marina Bay in Sept / Oct. Book well in advance for the tickets, because they get sold out within minutes. Preferably book a seat on the main strait because that is where many overtakes and a lot of action happens. \n **Singapore Polo Club** near Balestier is also open to the public on competition days.\n\n### Spas\n\nSingapore has experienced a 'spa boom', and there is now plenty of choice for everything from holistic Ayurveda to green tea hydrotherapy. However, prices aren't as rock-bottom as in neighbours Indonesia and Thailand, and you'll generally be looking at upwards of $50 even for a plain one-hour massage. Premium spas can be found in most 5 star hotels and on Orchard, and Sentosa's Spa Botanica also has a good reputation. Alternatively, do what many locals do and head across the border to Johor Bahru for cheaper options.\n\nThere are also numerous shops offering traditional Chinese massage and foot reflexology, which are mostly legitimate, although some sketchier \"health centres\" (actually a front for illegal prostitution) do remain.\n\nWhen looking for beauty salons on Orchard Road, try out the ones on the fourth floor of Lucky Plaza. They offer most salon services like manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and hair services. A favourite of flight crews and repeat tourists due to the lower costs as compared to the sky high prices of other salons along the shopping belt. Shop around for prices, some of the better looking ones actually charge less.\n\n### Swimming", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk042", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "Forget your tiny hotel pool if you are into competitive or recreational swimming: Singapore is paradise for swimmers with arguably the highest density of public pools in the world. They are all open-air 50 m pools (some facilities even feature up to three 50 m pools), accessible for an entrance fee of $1–1.50. Some of the visitors don't swim at all. They just come from nearby housing complexes for a few hours to chill out, read and relax in the sun. Most are open daily 8AM-9PM and all feature a small cafe. Just imagine swimming your lanes in the tropical night with lit up palm trees surrounding the pool.\n\nThe Singapore Sports Council maintains a list of pools, most of which are part of a larger sports complex with a gym, running track, tennis courts etc., and are near the MRT station they're named after. Perhaps the best is in Katong (111 Wilkinson Road, on the East Coast): after the swim, stroll through the villa neighbourhood directly in front of the pool entrance and have a look at the luxurious, original architecture of the houses that really rich Singaporeans live in. If you get bored with regular swimming pools, head to the **Jurong East Swimming Complex** where you get the wave pool, water slides and Jacuzzi at an insanely affordable entrance fee of $1.50 on weekdays and $2 on weekends. For those who feel richer, visit the **Wild Wild Wet** water theme park or the **Adventure Cove Waterpark** and get yourself wet with various exciting water slides and tidal wave pools.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk043", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Do", "text": "For those who don't like pools, head out to the beaches. The **East Coast Park** has a scenic coastline that stretches over 15 km. It's a popular getaway spot for Singaporeans to swim, cycle, barbeque and engage in various other sports and recreational activities. **Sentosa island** also has three white, sandy beaches - Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach - each with its own distinct characteristics, and also very popular with locals.\n\n### Water sports\n\nCanoeing and dragon-boating are popular water-sports in Singapore, and there are many beautiful reservoirs and rivers where one can partake in such physical activity. Check out the MacRitchie Reservoir, Kallang River and Marina Bay for reasonably priced options. Besides these more regular water sports, Singapore also offers water sports fans trendy activities such as cable-Skiing and wave surfing in specially created environments.\n\n### Snow sports\n\nBeing just one degree north of the equator, it is obviously not the best place on earth for skiing, but sunny Singapore still has a permanent indoor snow centre. **Snow City** offers visitors a chance to experience winter. Visitors can escape from the hot and humid tropical weather to play in snow or even learn to ski and snowboard with certified professional instructors.\n\nIce skating is also possible in Singapore, in **Kallang Ice World** at Leisure Park Kallang.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk044", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Singaporean currency is the **Singapore dollar**, denoted by the symbol **S$** or **$** (ISO code: **SGD**). It is divided into 100 cents, denoted **¢**. There are coins of 5¢ (bronze or gold), 10¢ (silver), 20¢ (silver), 50¢ (silver) and $1 (2nd series: gold; 3rd series: silver with gold rim). Notes are in denominations of $2 (purple), $5 (green), $10 (red), $50 (blue), $100 (orange), $1,000 (purple) and $10,000 (gold). The lower three denominations are issued entirely in polymer, the rest of the denominations are issued in paper. The latter two denominations are no longer issued but remain legal tender, very rarely seen and useless outside of luxury boutiques, casinos, and department stores — travellers would be wise to avoid them.\n\nUnless it includes other initials (e.g., US$ to stand for U.S. dollars), the \"$\" sign used in the island-nation (and in this guide) refers to Singapore dollars.\n\nThe Brunei dollar is pegged at par with the Singapore dollar and is legally \"customary tender\" that can be used interchangeably. In practice, it's very rare to see Brunei notes in Singapore, and if you try to use one, many smaller merchants, being unaware of the peg, will reject it initially. To avoid additional hassle, show the official website about the peg to the merchant, or consider changing your Brunei dollars to Singapore dollars before use. All banks are legally required to exchange Brunei notes for free.\n\n#### Currency exchange", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk045", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Currency exchange booths can be found in every shopping mall and usually offer better rates, better opening hours, and much faster service than banks. Exchange rates at Changi Airport and ferry terminals are worse than in town, but not outrageously so. For large amounts, ask for a quote, as it will often get you a better rate than displayed on the board. For small amounts, make sure you're getting at least what it says on the board to avoid surprise fees.\n\nBesides the major world currencies, many Asian currencies that are difficult to exchange elsewhere can be exchanged quite easily in Singapore, including the Malaysian ringgit, Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht, Vietnamese dong and New Taiwan dollar. Mustafa in Little India accepts almost any major currency at very good rates and many obscure currencies as well, as do the fiercely competitive small shops at or surrounding the aptly named Change Alley (next to Raffles Place MRT). For countries that have larger foreign worker communities in Singapore, look for places where they congregate to get the best rates for their respective currencies. For instance, you will generally find the best rates for Philippine pesos at Lucky Plaza, for Myanmar kyats at Peninsula Plaza, for Chinese yuan in People's Park (Chinatown) and for South Asian currencies such as the Indian rupee, Sri Lankan rupee and Bangladeshi taka at Mustafa.\n\nWhile many department stores accept major foreign currencies, their rates are usually terrible. Major hotels also offer currency exchange services, but at terrible rates.\n\n### Goods and Services Tax (GST)", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk046", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most retailers and service providers in Singapore are required to levy a 9% GST. Merchants are lawfully required to publish the GST-inclusive prices (i.e. you don't need to do further maths) except for hotel and some restaurant (eat-in) prices whereby GST (and service charge) are added right before payment (see *Tipping* and *Sleep* sections). Merchants are also required to state the amount of GST in receipts.\n\n### Payments\n\nSingapore has adopted cashless payments in a big way and it's possible that you won't see cash during your entire visit.\n\n**Credit cards** are widely accepted in stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. Contactless payment (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) is common, just ask to \"tap\". The most widely accepted credit cards in Singapore are Visa and MasterCard, and many shops also accept American Express. Discover, JCB and UnionPay cards are also accepted in some shops that primarily cater to tourists. Although credit card surcharges are not usually allowed in Singapore (with one notable official exception made for taxi companies), many small merchants often disregard this rule and might either impose a minimum transaction amount for cards or offer discounts over the listed price if you pay in cash. You can pay for public transport fares with a Visa or MasterCard (including those in Apple Pay and Google Pay). EZ-Link and NETS cards are accepted for payment in some convenience stores and fast food chains.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk047", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Singapore is one of the largest financial centres in the region, so there are numerous banks to choose from. The main local banks are DBS, UOB and OCBC, whose **ATMs** can be found in every shopping mall or MRT station, and all of which let you withdraw money via the Plus/Cirrus networks. For most foreigners, opening a bank account in Singapore is *not possible* unless you have a long-term residence pass (work, student, etc.), though there are some exceptions for high-net-worth individuals.\n\nThere is a plethora of **mobile payments** applications. GrabPay is the easiest for tourists to sign up, with only a phone number and no personal details needed, you can top up via Visa or MasterCard. Regional players FavePay and Chinese players (Alipay, WeChat Pay) are also common. PayNow is a mobile payment network set up by a consortium of local and international banks that allow you to both pay local merchants and do peer-to-peer funds transfer between Singaporean bank accounts by scanning a QR code, but you will need a Singapore ID to sign up for this. However, PayNow has inter-operability agreements with Malaysia's DuitNow, Thailand's PromptPay, and India's UPI. Even hawker centres and food courts have started to accept mobile app payments (although they may not support your home country's payment app).\n\nTravellers cheques are generally *not* accepted by retailers, but can be cashed at certain limited number of exchange booths or banks.\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk048", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is generally *not* practised in Singapore. However, it is common for hotels and restaurants to levy a 10% service charge before GST, the local Goods and Services Tax. Restaurants and hotel room rates often display prices like $19.99++, which means that service charge (10%) and GST (9%) are not included and will be added to your bill. \"Nett\" prices already include all taxes and service charges.\n\nBellhops and hotel porters still expect $2 or so per bag. Tipping is not expected in taxis, who usually return your change to the last 10 cents, or round the fare down by that amount in your favour, if they can't be bothered to dig for change; congestion or Electronic Road Pricing charges are often already included in the final fare. All taxis must advertise a hotline to call if the customer feels dissatisfied. Tipping is prohibited at the airport.\n\nDo *not* under any circumstances offer a tip to any government employee, especially police officers, as this is regarded as bribery, and would almost certainly get you arrested and pressed with criminal charges relating to corruption.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk049", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Singapore is expensive by Southeast Asian standards, but cheap compared to Western countries: $50 is a perfectly serviceable daily backpacker budget if you are willing to cut some corners, though you would probably wish to double that for comfort. Food in particular is a steal, with excellent hawker food available for under $5 per meal for a generous serving. Accommodation is a little pricier, but a bed in a hostel can cost less than $30 and a cheap hotel room can go for under $150, while branded business hotels would be in the $200-500 range. At the top end of the market you're probably looking at over $500 a night, with places like Raffles and Capella often pushing $1,000.\n\nAs rough rules of thumb, prices in Singapore are about twice as high as in Malaysia and Thailand and 3-5 times as high as in Indonesia and the Philippines.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|Sim Lim Square, Singapore's computing and electronics mecca\n\nShopping is second only to eating as a national pastime, which means that Singapore has an *abundance* of shopping malls, and low taxes and tariffs on imports coupled with huge volume mean that prices are usually very competitive. Singapore's most famous shopping area is Orchard Road, where you can find most of the top end luxury brands. Most residential neighbourhoods have at least one shopping mall, often next to a bus interchange or MRT station, but these are primarily designed to cater to the basic needs of local residents, and rarely sell anything that would stand out to a tourist.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk050", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Buy", "text": "Goods are generally of reasonably good quality and shopkeepers are generally quite honest due to strong consumer protection laws. Most stores are open daily 10AM-10PM, although smaller operations (particularly those outside shopping malls) close earlier — 7PM is common — and perhaps on Sundays as well. Mustafa in Little India is open until 2 AM every day, 365 days a year.\n\nFor purchases of over $100 per day per participating shop, you may be able to get a **GST refund**. See GST refund for details.\n\n### Souvenirs\n\nThe most popular souvenir from Singapore is **food**. Bee Cheng Hiang's *bak kwa* smoked pork, Irvins salted egg chips, Prima Taste meal kits, and cakes, cookies and *kueh* from Bengawan Solo are all delicious, made in Singapore, and can be found in any larger shopping mall (or the airport).\n\nThe vast majority of Merlion keychains, \"Singapore: It's A Fine City\" T-shirts and similar are made outside China, and so are many of the imitation versions of the Singapore original brands listed above. For non-food inspiration, see the Shopping in Singapore article.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk051", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Singapore is a melting pot of cuisines from around the world, and many Singaporeans are obsessive gourmands who love to *makan* (\"eat\" in Malay). You will find quality Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Italian, French, British, American and other food in this city-state.\n\nEating habits run the gamut, but most foods are eaten by **fork and spoon**: push and cut with the fork in the left hand, and eat with the spoon in the right. Noodles and Chinese dishes typically come with chopsticks, while Malay and Indian food can be eaten by hand, but nobody will blink an eye if you ask for a fork and spoon instead. If eating by hand, **use only your right hand** to handle your food, as Malays and Indians traditionally use their left hand to handle dirty things. Take note of the usual traditional Chinese etiquette when using chopsticks, and most importantly, *do not* stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. If eating in a group, serving dishes are always shared, but you'll get your own bowl of rice and soup. It's common to use your own chopsticks to pick up food from communal plates, but serving spoons can be provided on request. When eating at Western restaurants, traditional European dining etiquette generally applies.\n\nKeep an eye out for the **Singapore Food Festival**, held every year in July.\n\n### Local delicacies\n\nSingapore is justly famous for its food, a unique mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western elements. The following is only a brief sampler of the most popular dishes.\n\nFile:Chilli crab-02.jpg|A plate of chilli crab\nFile:Food KatongLaksa.JPG|Laksa, with chilli paste and chopped laksa leaf in a spoon\nFile:Satay 2.jpg|Satay with peanut sauce, onions and cucumber\nFile:Durian Ice Cream Burger.JPG|An \"ice cream burger\", durian ice cream wrapped in bread", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk052", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "#### Peranakan/Nonya cuisine\n\nThe most identifiable cuisine in the region is **Peranakan** or **Nonya** cuisine, born from the mixed Malay and Chinese communities of what were once the British colonies of the Straits Settlements (modern-day Singapore, Penang and Malacca).", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk053", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Ayam buah keluak** is a dish made by cooking pieces of chicken in a rich and spicy sauce made with the black seeds of the *Pangium edule* or kepayang tree. The seeds contain cyanide and are deadly to humans if not prepared correctly, making it a very labour intensive dish to prepare.\n **Babi pongteh** is pork belly stewed in a salty fermented bean sauce.\n **Chilli crab** is a whole crab ladled with oodles of sticky, tangy chilli sauce. It's spicy at first, but the more you eat, the better it gets. Notoriously difficult to eat, so don't wear a white shirt: just dig in with your hands and ignore the mess. The seafood restaurants of the East Coast are famous for this. For a less messy but equally tasty alternative, ask for **black pepper crab**.\n **Kaya** is a jam-like spread made from egg and coconut, an odd-sounding but tasty combination. Served on toast for breakfast, canonically accompanied by runny eggs and strong, sweet coffee (*kopi*). Exists in two distinctive styles; the greenish Nonya version, coloured with pandan leaf, and the brownish Hainanese version.\n **Laksa**, in particular the **Katong laksa** or **laksa lemak** style, is probably the best-known Singaporean dish: slippery rice noodles in a creamy, immensely rich coconut-based curry broth, topped with cockles or shrimp. The common style found in hawker centres is very spicy, although you can ask for less/no chilli to dial down the heat. The Katong style is much less spicy and is generally found only in Katong itself (see the **East Coast page**). Despite sharing the same name, the dish bears almost no resemblance to the varieties found in neighbouring Malaysia.\n **Mee siam** is rice flour noodles served in a sweet-sour soup (made from tamarind, dried shrimp and fermented beans), bean curd cubes, and hard boiled eggs. Though the Chinese, Malays and Indians all have their own versions, it is the Peranakan version that is most popular with Singaporeans. You will largely find this at Malay stalls.\n **Rojak** means a mixture of everything in Malay, and there are two very different types. **Chinese rojak** is a salad of pineapple, white turnip, cucumber, *tau pok* (fried bean curd) with thin tiny slices of *bunga kantan* (torch ginger flower buds), tossed in shrimp paste sauce and sugar, then sprinkled with crushed peanuts. **Indian rojak** consists of mainly fried fritters made from flour and various pulses with cucumber and tofu, dipped into sweet & spicy sauces.\n **Ice cream** is just as it is in Western countries. However, in Singapore, there are various local flavours such as durian and red bean which are not available outside the region and are certainly worth a try. To impress the locals, try asking for ice cream in *roti* (bread).", "word_count": 456}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk054", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Besides these dishes, the Peranakans are also known for their *kueh* or snacks, which are somewhat different from the Malay versions due to stronger Chinese influences.\n\n#### Malay cuisine\n\nthumb|''Nasi lemak'' with ''otah'' (spiced fish paste), fried chicken wing, cucumber and fiery ''sambal'' chilli sauce\n\nThe Malays were Singapore's original inhabitants and despite now being outnumbered by the Chinese, their distinctive cuisine remains popular to this day. Characterised by heavy use of spices, most Malay dishes are curries, stews or dips of one kind or another and **nasi padang** restaurants, offering a wide variety of these to ladle onto your rice, are very popular.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk055", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Mee rebus** is a dish of egg noodles with spicy, slightly sweet gravy, a slice of hard boiled egg and lime.\n **Mee soto** is Malay-style chicken soup, with a clear broth, shredded chicken breast and egg noodles.\n **Nasi lemak** is the definitive Malay breakfast, consisting at its simplest of rice cooked in light coconut milk, some *ikan bilis* (anchovies), peanuts, a slice of cucumber and a dab of chilli on the side. A larger *ikan kuning* (fried fish) or chicken wing are common accompaniments. More often than not, also combined with a variety of curries and/or *sambal*\n **Otah/Otak** is a type of fish cake made of minced fish (usually mackerel), coconut milk, chilli and various other spices, and grilled in a banana or coconut leaf, usually served to accompany other dishes like nasi lemak.\n **Rendang**, originally from Padang in Indonesia, but considered a traditional Malay dish in Singapore, and occasionally dubbed \"dry curry\", is meat stewed for hours on end in a spicy (but rarely fiery) coconut-based curry paste until almost all water is absorbed. Beef *rendang* is the most common, although chicken and mutton are spotted sometimes.\n **Sambal**, originally from Javanese cuisine, is the generic term for chilli sauces of many kinds. **Sambal belacan** is a common condiment made by mixing chilli with the shrimp paste *belacan*, while the popular dish **sambal sotong** consists of squid (*sotong*) cooked in red chilli sauce.\n**Sambal stingray** is prepared by barbecuing stingray with a fiery *sambal* spice paste spread on top. Stingray flesh is surprisingly meaty, closer to chicken than fish, and often a hit even with visitors who are not huge seafood fans.\n **Satay**, originally from Javanese cuisine, are barbecued skewers of meat, typically chicken, mutton or beef. What separates satay from your ordinary kebab are the spices used to season the meat and the slightly spicy peanut-based dipping sauce. The *Satay Club* at Lau Pa Sat near Raffles Place is one popular location for this delicacy. There is also a local Hainanese version of the dish, which unlike the Malay original often uses non-halal meats such as pork, and adds a pineapple puree to the dipping sauce.\nthumb|Curry puffs, pastries stuffed with chicken curry\n **Curry puffs** are the Singapore take on samosas, pastries usually stuffed with mild chicken curry and potatoes, although there are countless variants. Portable, filling and delicious.", "word_count": 390}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk056", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Malay desserts, especially the sweet pastries and jellies (*kuih* or *kueh*) made largely from coconut and palm sugar (*gula melaka*), bear a distinct resemblance to those of Thailand. But in the sweltering tropical heat, try one of many concoctions made with ice instead:", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk057", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Bubur cha-cha** consists of cubed yam, sweet potato and sago added into coconut milk soup. This can be served warm or cold.\n **Chendol** is made with green pea noodles, kidney beans, palm sugar and coconut milk.\n **Durian** is not exactly a dish, but a local fruit with a distinctive odor you can smell a mile away and a sharp thorny husk. Both smell and taste defy description, but eating garlic ice cream next to an open sewer comes to mind. If you are game enough you should try it, but be warned beforehand — you will either love it or hate it. The rich creamy yellow flesh is often sold in places like Geylang and Bugis and elsewhere conveniently in pre-packaged packs from around $10. This 'king of fruits' is also made into ice cream, cakes, sweets, puddings and other decadent desserts. You're not allowed to carry durians on the MRT and buses and they're banned from many hotels, so some stalls have seating so you can devour it then and there.\n **Ice kachang** literally means \"ice bean\" in Malay, a good clue to the two major ingredients: shaved ice and sweet red beans. However, more often than not you'll also get *gula melaka* (palm sugar), grass jelly, sweet corn, attap palm seeds and anything else on hand thrown in, and the whole thing is then drizzled with canned evaporated milk or coconut cream and coloured syrups. The end result tastes very interesting — and refreshing.\n **Kuih** (or **kueh**) refer to a plethora of steamed or baked \"cakes\", mostly made with coconut milk, grated coconut flesh, glutinous rice or tapioca. They are often very colourful and cut into fanciful shapes, but despite their wildly varying appearance tend to taste rather similar. **Ondeh-ondeh**, little green balls dipped in coconut shavings and filled with cane syrup that bursts in your mouth, are worth keeping an eye out for.\n **Pisang goreng** is a batter-dipped and deep-fried banana.", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk058", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "#### Chinese cuisine\n\nFile:Bak Kut Teh, Singapore.JPG|''Bak kut teh'' with rice and ''you tiao'' fritters\nFile:Chatterbox ChickenRice.JPG|Hainanese chicken rice\nFile:Newton HokkienMee.JPG|Fried Hokkien ''mee''\nFile:Food PorkRibPrawnMee.JPG|Prawn ''mee'' and pork rib soup\n\nChinese food as eaten in Singapore commonly originates from southern China, particularly Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan. While \"authentic\" fare is certainly available, especially in fancier restaurants, the daily fare served in hawker centres has absorbed a number of tropical touches, most notably the fairly heavy use of **chilli** and the Malay fermented shrimp paste **belacan** as condiments. Noodles can also be served not just in soup (湯 *tang*), but also \"dry\" (干 *gan*), meaning that your noodles will be served tossed with chilli and spices in one bowl, and the soup will come in a separate bowl.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk059", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Bak chor mee** (肉脞面) is essentially noodles with minced pork, tossed in a chilli-based sauce with lard, *ikan bilis* (fried anchovies), vegetables and mushrooms. Black vinegar may also be added.\n **Bak kut teh** (肉骨茶), lit. \"pork bone tea\", is a simple-sounding soup of pork ribs simmered for hours in broth until they're ready to fall off the bone. Singaporeans prefer the light and peppery Teochew style (\"white\"), but a few shops offer the original dark and aromatic Fujian kind (\"black\"). *Bak kut teh* is typically eaten with white rice, *mui choy* (pickled vegetables) and a pot of strong Chinese tea, hence the name — the broth itself doesn't contain any tea. To impress the locals, order some *you tiao* fritters from a nearby stall and cut them up into bite-sized chunks to dip into your soup.\n **Char kway teow** (炒粿条) is the quintessential Singapore-style fried noodle dish, consisting of several types of noodles in thick brown sauce with strips of fishcake, Chinese sausage, a token veggie or two and either cockles and shrimp. It's cheap ($2–3/serve), filling and has nothing to do with the dish known as \"Singapore fried noodles\" elsewhere. (And which actually doesn't exist in Singapore.) It is fried with a type of caramelised soy sauce, thus making it somewhat sweeter than the Penang version.\n **Chee cheong fun** (豬腸粉) is a favourite breakfast consisting of lasagna-type rice noodles rolled up and various types of fried meats including fishballs and fried tofu. The dish is usually topped with a generous amount of sauce.\n **Chwee kway** (水粿) is a breakfast dish consisting of rice cakes topped with *chai po* (salted fermented turnips), usually served with some chilli sauce.\n **Economy rice** (菜饭) is white rice with a variety of Chinese-style meat and vegetable dishes to choose from at affordable prices, hence the name. The classic working class Chinese meal in Singapore.\n **Fishball noodles** (魚丸面) come in many forms, but the noodle variety most often seen is *mee pok*, which are flat egg noodles. The noodles are tossed in chilli sauce and accompanied by a side bowl of fishballs in soup.\n **Hainanese chicken rice** (海南鸡饭) is steamed (\"white\") or roasted (\"red\") chicken flavoured with soy sauce and sesame oil served on a bed of fragrant rice that has been cooked in chicken broth and flavoured with ginger and garlic. Accompanied by chilli sauce made from crushed fresh chillis, ginger, garlic and thick dark soy sauce as well as some cucumber and a small bowl of chicken broth. Despite its name, only the method of preparing the chicken originated in Hainan, while the method of cooking the rice was actually invented by the Hainanese immigrants in what is today Singapore and Malaysia.\n **Hokkien mee** (福建面) is a style of soupy fried noodles in light, fragrant stock with prawns and other seafood. Oddly, it bears little resemblance to the Kuala Lumpur dish of the same name, which uses thick noodles in dark soy, or the Penang version, which is served in very spicy prawn soup.\n **Kway chap** (粿汁) is essentially sheets made of rice flour served in a brown stock, accompanied by a plate of braised pork and pig organs (tongue, ear and intestines).\n **Mala xiangguo** (麻辣香锅), originally from Sichuan but hugely popular in Singapore, is a stir-fry of your choice of ingredients with a powerfully spicy and numbing sauce made from chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Start with \"little spicy\" (小辣 *xiao la*) and work your way up if you dare!\n **Mooncakes** (月饼) are traditionally eaten for the Mid-Autumn festival, with the Cantonese style, made with a lotus seed paste filling and salted egg yolk being the clear favourite among Singaporeans. Some traditional bakeries and restaurants may also sell the traditional styles of the other Chinese dialect groups, and the modern Hong Kong-style snow skin mooncakes are also popular in Singapore, though though one with a uniquely Southeast Asian filling is the snow skin durian mooncake.\n **Popiah** (薄饼), or spring rolls, come fresh or fried. They consist of a filling of boiled turnip, fried tofu, pork, shrimp with a slew of condiments, wrapped in a thin crepe smeared with sweet dark soy sauce and eaten like a fajita. They are related to the *lumpia* and *runbing* of other Chinese communities in Asia.\n **Prawn noodles** (虾面, *hae mee* in Hokkien) is a dark-brown prawn broth served with egg noodles and a giant tiger prawn or two on top. Some stalls serve it with boiled pork ribs as well. The best versions are highly addictive and will leave you slurping up the last MSG-laden (probably from the shrimp heads) drops.\n **Rice dumplings** (粽子) are traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival; by far the two most popular versions in Singapore are the Hokkien-style *bak chang* (肉粽) and the Peranakan-style *nyonya chang* (娘惹粽), the latter of which consists of pork marinated in a slightly sweet seasoning and is wrapped in fragrant pandan leaves instead of the more traditional Chinese coconut leaves. Some restaurants and bakeries also sell the traditional styles of the other Chinese dialect groups, and there is also a sweet type of rice dumpling eaten as a dessert known as *kee chang* (碱粽), which is made using alkaline water and dipped in sugar.\n **Satay bee hoon** is rice vermicelli (*bee hoon*) served with the same peanut and chilli sauce used for *satay*, hence the name. Usually cockles, dried squid and pork slices are added.\n **Steamboat** (火锅), also known as **hot pot**, is do-it-yourself soup Chinese style. You get a pot of broth bubbling on a tabletop burner, pick meat, fish and veggies to your liking from a menu or buffet table, then cook it to your liking. When finished, add in noodles or ask for rice to fill you up. This usually requires a minimum of two people, and the more the merrier.\n **Tau huay** (豆花), also known as **beancurd**, is probably the most common traditional Chinese dessert, a bowl of tofu curds in syrup, served either hot or cold. An innovation that has swept the island is a delicious custard-like version (\"soft tau huay\") which includes no syrup and is extremely soft despite being solid.\n **Wonton mee** (云吞面) is thin noodles topped with *wantan* dumplings of seasoned minced pork. Unlike the soupy Hong Kong version, it is usually served 'dry' in soy sauce and chilli.\n **Yong tau foo** (酿豆腐) literally means \"stuffed tofu\", but it's more exciting than it sounds. The diner selects their favourites from a vast assortment of tofu, fish paste, assorted seafood and vegetables, and they are then sliced into bite-size pieces, cooked briefly in boiling water and then served either in broth as soup or \"dry\" with the broth in a separate bowl. The dish can be eaten by itself or with any choice of noodles. Essential accompaniments are spicy chili sauce and sweet sauce for dipping.", "word_count": 1137}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk060", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "#### Indian cuisine\n\nThe smallest of Singapore's big three ethnic groups, Indians have had proportionally the smallest impact on the local culinary scene, but there is no shortage of Indian food even at many hawker centres and most neighborhoods have at least a couple of **mamak** (Indian Muslim) shops, often open 24 hours. Delicious and authentic Indian food can be had at Little India, including south Indian typical meals such as *dosa* (*thosai*) crepes, *idli* lentil-rice cakes and *sambar* soup, as well as north Indian meals including various curries, *naan* bread, *chapati*, tandoori chicken and more. In addition, however, a number of Indian dishes have been \"Singaporeanised\" and adopted by the entire population, including:\n\n**Fish head curry** is, true to the name, a gigantic curried fish head cooked whole until it's ready to fall apart. Singapore's Little India is the place to sample this. There are two styles: the fiery Indian and the milder Chinese kind.\n **Nasi briyani** is rice cooked in turmeric, which gives the rice an orange colour. Unlike the fiery Hyderabadi original, it's usually rather mild, although specialist shops do turn out more flavourful versions. It is usually served with curry chicken and some Indian crackers.\n **Roti prata** is the local version of South Indian *parotta*, flat bread repeatedly flipped against a flat surface to thin it out, then folded onto itself, rapidly pan-fried, and eaten dipped in curry. Modern-day variations can incorporate unorthodox ingredients like cheese, chocolate and even ice cream, but some canonical versions include *roti kosong* (plain), *roti telur* (with egg) and *murtabak* (stuffed with chicken, mutton, beef or fish). Vegans beware: unlike Indian *roti*, roti prata batter is usually made with eggs.\n **Putu mayam** is a sweet dessert composed of vermicelli-like noodles topped with shredded coconut and orange sugar.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk061", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "File:Fish Head Curry at Banana Leaf Apolo.jpg|Fish Head Curry\nFile:Roti Prata Curry Large.JPG|''Roti kosong'' (left) and ''roti telur'' (centre) with a side order of chicken curry\nFile:Mutton Biryani, Singapore.jpg|Nasi biryani\n\n### Hawker centres\n\nthumb|A typical hawker centre\n\nThe cheapest and most popular places to eat in Singapore are **hawker centres**, essentially former pushcart vendors directed into giant complexes by government fiat. Prices are low ($3–5 for most dishes), hygiene standards are high (every stall is required to prominently display a hygiene certificate grading it from A to D) and the food can be excellent. Ambience tends to be a little lacking though and there is no air-conditioning either, but a visit to a hawker centre is a must when in Singapore, if you wish to experience authentic local food culture in the heartlands themselves. However, be leery of overzealous pushers-cum-salesmen, especially at the Satay Club in Lau Pa Sat and Newton Food Centre at Newton Circus: the tastiest stalls don't need high-pressure tactics to find customers. Touting for business is illegal, and occasionally a reminder of this can result in people backing off a bit.\n\nHawker centres are built for volume and ordering from a popular hawker speaking in rapid-fire Singlish can be confusing. First stake out your territory by *choping* (reserve) a space by parking a friend at the table, or do what the locals do: place a packet of tissue paper on the table. If ordering from a stall *not* marked \"self-service\", note down the table number so they can deliver. The best places always have queues, so line up, and once asked place your order by stating the dish and portion size you want: \"Fishball noodles, four dollars.\" Expect to get some or all of the following questions:", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk062", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "*\"Have here or take away?\"* Reply \"have here\" to eat in, or any of \"take away\", \"packet\" or *ta pao* (打包) to take away.\n *\"Container?\"* If doing takeaway, some stalls will offer a choice between a free plastic bag (impractical unless you have a bowl/plate to eat out of) or a styrofoam box (around 20 cents extra). Disposable utensils are always included.\n *\"Soup or dry?\"* Many noodle dishes are available either \"dry\" (干 *kan*), with broth on the side, or \"soup\" (汤 *tang*), mixed with broth.\n *\"What noodle?\"* Any self-respecting noodle stall has at least four types on offer, ranging from yellow *mee* (thick wheat noodles) to *bee hoon* (thin rice vermicelli). Point and choose from the glass cabinet.\n *\"Chilli?\"* If you say yes, the often fiery *sambal* paste will be mixed in, so it may be safer to opt out and add your chillies by yourself from the sauce on the counter.\n\nOnce you are finished, drop your tray along with any eating utensils off in the tray return rack; this being Singapore, you may be fined up to $300 if you don't. There are separate tray return tracks for halal and non-halal stalls.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk063", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Every district in Singapore has its own hawker centres and prices decrease as you move out into the boonies. For tourists, centrally located **Newton Circus** near (Newton MRT Exit B), **Gluttons Bay** (near Esplanade MRT Exit D) and **Lau Pa Sat** (near Raffles Place MRT Exit I, the River), are the most popular options — but this does not make them the cheapest or the tastiest, and the demanding gourmand would do well to head to Chinatown or the heartlands instead. A dizzying array of food stalls with a large South Indian representation can be found in the bustling **Tekka Centre** at the edge of Little India. Many of the best food stalls are in residential districts off the tourist trail and do not advertise in the media, so the best way to find them is to ask locals for their recommendations. Good examples closer to the city centre include **Old Airport Road Food Centre** (near Dakota MRT Exit B) and **Tiong Bahru Market** (near Tiong Bahru MRT), both of which are sprawling and home to a number of much-loved stalls.\n\n### Coffeeshops and bubble tea", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk064", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Despite the name, coffeeshops or *kopitiam* sell much more than coffee — they are effectively mini-hawker centres with perhaps only half a dozen stalls (one of which will, however, sell coffee and other drinks). The Singaporean equivalent of pubs, this is where folks come for the canonical Singaporean breakfast of *kopi* (strong, sugary coffee), some *kaya* (egg-coconut jam) toast and runny eggs, and this is also where they come to down a beer or two and chat away in the evenings. English proficiency can sometimes be limited, but most stall owners know enough to communicate the basics, and even if they don't, nearby locals will usually help you out if you ask. Many coffee shops offer *zi char/cze cha* (煮炒) for dinner, meaning a menu of local dishes, mostly Chinese-style seafood, served to your table at mid-range prices.\n\nThe usual Starbucks and other local cafe chains such as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf can be found in any shopping mall but an iced coffee or tea can set you back $5 or more, whereas a *teh tarik* (\"pulled\" milky tea) or *kopi* coffee runs closer to $1 at any hawker centre or coffeeshop. While exploring, you're also likely to come across a good number of independent cafes offering gourmet coffee, pastries and cakes, which have mushroomed across the city centre over the last decade.\n\nLast but not least, the Taiwanese invention of **bubble tea** (aka boba tea, pearl tea) has taken Singapore by storm and every self-respecting shopping mall has numerous outlets hawking variants of sugary, milky tea with chewy tapioca pearls, jazzed up with increasingly inventive ingredients ranging from cream cheese foam to smoky, intense black sugar syrup. Liho and Koi are the largest chains.\n\n### Food courts\n\nthumb|''Food Republic'' retro theme food court", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk065", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Found in the basement or top floor of nearly every shopping mall, food courts are the air-conditioned version of hawker centres. The variety of food on offer is almost identical, but a dish that would be $3-5 at a hawker centre or coffeeshop will be $5-10 at a food court. Locals will also grumble that the dish also tastes worse, because food court stalls are mostly franchised operations instead of mom & pop shops pouring their heart and soul into the food.\n\n### Fast food\n\nInternational fast food chains like McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, MOS Burger, Subway etc. are commonly found in various shopping malls. Prices range from $5 for a basic burger to upwards of $15 for a set meal. All restaurants are self-service and clearing your table after your meal is strongly encouraged. In addition to the usual suspects, look out for these uniquely Singaporean brands:\n\n- Bengawan Solo\n\n- BreadTalk\n\n- Jollibean\n\n- Killiney Kopitiam\n\n- Mr Bean\n\n- Old Chang Kee\n\n- Ya Kun Kaya Toast\n\n### Restaurants\n\nSingapore offers a wide variety of full-service restaurants as well, catering to every taste and budget.\n\nAs the majority of Singapore's population is ethnic Chinese, there is an abundance of Chinese restaurants in Singapore, mainly serving southern Chinese (Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan) cuisines, though with the large number of expatriates and foreign workers from China these days, cuisine originating from other parts of China is also not hard to find. True local Chinese restaurants generally serve dishes little seen in Chinese restaurants internationally and in China, due to the combination of their southern Chinese roots and local influences.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk066", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Depending on where you go and what you order, prices can vary greatly. In ordinary restaurants, prices usually range from $15-35 per person, while in top-end restaurants in luxury hotels, meals can cost $300 per person when they involve delicacies such as abalone, suckling pig and lobster. As with Chinese restaurants anywhere, food is eaten with chopsticks and served with Chinese tea.\n\nBeing a maritime city, one common speciality is **seafood restaurants**, offering Chinese-influenced Singaporean classics like **chilli crabs**. These are much more fun to visit in a group, but be careful about what you order: gourmet items like Sri Lankan giant crab can easily push your bill up to hundreds of dollars. Menus typically say \"market price\", and if you ask they'll quote you the price per 100 g, but a big crab can easily top 2kg. The best-known seafood spots are clustered on the East Coast, but for ambience, the riverside restaurants at Boat Quay and Clarke Quay can't be beat. Again, always enquire about the prices when they aren't stated in full, and be wary of touts.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk067", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Singapore also has its share of good Western restaurants, with British- and American-influenced food being a clear favourite among locals. Most of the more affordable chains can be found in various shopping centres throughout the island, and prices for main courses range from $14-22. A uniquely Singaporean variant is **Hainanese Western food**, which traces its origins to the Hainanese migrants who worked as cooks for European employers during the colonial period, and most hawker centres will have a Western stall or two selling dishes like \"chicken cutlet\" (deep-fried breaded chicken) with baked beans, coleslaw and chips, usually for under $10. You may also encounter **Hainanese curry**, which was adapted from Indian curries by Hainanese cooks to suit the palates of their British employers, with the spice level dialed down drastically, and typically served with rice and some side dishes such as a deep fried breaded pork chop, braised cabbage and braised pork belly.\n\nOne British import much loved by Singaporeans is **high tea**. In the classical form, as served up by finer hotels across the island, most famously the Raffles. This is a light afternoon meal consisting of tea and a wide array of British-style savoury snacks and sweet pastries like finger sandwiches and scones.\n\nMost hotels also offer lunch and dinner buffets. **Champagne brunches** on Sundays are particularly popular, but you can expect to pay over $150 per head and popular spots, like Mezza9 at the Hyatt on Orchard, will require reservations.\n\nSome restaurants put small side dishes (usually braised peanuts or prawn crackers) and wet paper towels on the table without asking. You will be charged a dollar or two for them unless you ask to take them away.\n\n#### Fine dining", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk068", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Singapore has no fewer than 44 Michelin-starred restaurants, ranging from French degustations at 3-star Odette in the National Gallery to the eponymous $5 bowl at Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. The opening of the two casinos in Marina Bay and Sentosa has led to several of the world's top chefs opening local branches of their restaurants. Prices are generally what you would expect for eating at a fine dining restaurant in the West, with $400 per person or more not unheard of for a tasting menu with drinks.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nthumb|A vegan ''thali'' platter in [[Singapore/Little India|Little India]]\n\nSingapore is an easy place to eat for almost everybody. Many Indians and small groups of Chinese Buddhists are **vegetarian**, so Indian stalls usually have a number of veggie options and some hawker centres will have a Chinese vegetarian stall or two, often serving up amazing meat imitations made from gluten. Larger Buddhist temples will sometimes have a vegetarian restaurant on site, while others will sell vegetarian food on Buddhist festivals to raise money for charity, and these are a good option too. The **Singapore Buddhist Lodge** provides free vegetarian meals to the public every day, and people of all faiths are welcome, but donations are certainly appreciated if you can afford to do so. Chinese vegetarian food traditionally does not use dairy products and is thus typically **vegan**, though be careful as some Chinese vegetarian hawker stalls do serve eggs. Indian vegetarian food, however, often employs cheese and other milk products. Be on your guard in ordinary Chinese restaurants though, as even dishes that appear vegetarian on the menu may contain non-vegetarian products like oyster sauce, salted fish or lard — check with the waiter if in doubt. Some restaurants can be found that use \"no garlic, no onions\".", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk069", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most Muslim-owned eating establishments are Malay, although you can also find Indian Muslim eateries and few Chinese ones as well. Look out for **halal** certificates issued by MUIS, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. Many Western fast-food chains in Singapore use halal meat: look for a certificate around the ordering area, or ask a manager if in doubt. A few restaurants skimp on the formal certification and simply put up \"no pork, no lard\" signs; it's your call if this is good enough for you.\n\nKosher-observant Jews, on the other hand, will have a harder time as **kosher** food is nearly unknown in Singapore. There is a kosher grocery store on the grounds of the **Maghain Aboth Synagogue** on Waterloo Street, as well as a kosher branch of Coffee Bean nearby; check with the Jewish Welfare Board for details. There are two kosher restaurants in Singapore: Awafi a casual restaurant on the grounds of the Maghain Aboth Synangogue, and Aniba, an Israeli fine dining restaurant.\n\nAwareness of **allergies** is generally limited. Severe **shellfish allergy** is particularly problematic for local food, since shrimp paste (*belacan/hae bi*) is very commonly used in both local Chinese and Malay cooking and many soup stocks are flavored with prawns. **Soy allergy** is also severely limiting, since tofu & soy sauce are so common. \nFor both, Indian cuisine is worth exploring, since the South Indian style that is common in Singapore rarely uses either ingredient.\n\n**Peanuts** are not quite as ubiquitous, but still very common in desserts and pastries, found in some savory dishes like satay, and peanut oil is also popular. If cross-contamination is a concern, you're best off avoiding hawker food entirely.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk070", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Coeliac disease** is relatively unheard of in Singapore, so don't expect to find information on menus about whether dishes contain gluten or not. Gluten awareness is spreading in Singapore as well, and many upmarket restaurants will have internationally trained chefs who can cater to your needs. Gluten-free products are available in most **Cold Storage** and Marketplace supermarkets. You can also treat yourself to many naturally gluten-free regional specialities, such as Hainanese chicken rice (be sure to ask for chicken without sauce) and Indian *masala dosa* rice/lentil crepes.", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk071", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|upright=1.5|Clarke Quay by night\n\nSingapore's nightlife isn't quite a match for Patpong, but it's no slouch either: some clubs have 24 hr licences and few places close before 3AM. Singapore's nightlife is largely concentrated along the **three quays** — Boat, Clarke and Robertson — of the Riverside, with the clubs of Sentosa giving party animals even more reason to dance the night away and the casino on Marina Bay also entering the fray. Any artists touring Asia are pretty much guaranteed to stop in Singapore, with superclub **Zouk** (Clarke Quay) in particular regularly clocking high on lists of the world's best nightclubs and **Marquee** at Marina Bay Sands drawing big names. Hipsters congregate in **Kampong Glam/Arab St** near Bugis, while gay bars are concentrated around **Neil Road** in Chinatown.\n\nFancy cocktail bars cluster near the aptly named **Club St** near the CBD and **Keong Saik Road** in Chinatown. The legal drinking age is 18, and while this is surprisingly loosely enforced, some clubs have higher age limits. If you are asked for identification, the only acceptable forms of identification are a Singapore-issued identity card or a passport.\n\nFriday is generally the biggest night of the week for going out, with Saturday a close second. Sunday is gay night in many bars and clubs, while Wednesday or Thursday is ladies' night, often meaning not just free entrance but free drinks for women. Most clubs are closed on Monday and Tuesday, while bars generally stay open but tend to be very quiet.\n\nOutside the city centre, large concentration of bars can also be found in **Geylang**, Singapore's largest red-light district, as well as along **Joo Chiat Road**, both on the East Coast. These bars cater to a more local working class clientele, and you are likely to stand out as a tourist.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk072", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Drink", "text": "For a night out Singapore style, gather a group of friends and head for the nearest **karaoke box**. Major chains include **Party World** and the family-friendly \"no alcohol, no surprises, no frills\" **Teo Heng**. Room rental ranges from $30/hour and up, drinks and snacks extra.\n\nAt the other end of the karaoke spectrum are various non-chain, glitzy (or dodgy) looking, neon-covered **KTV lounges**, in which attractive female hostesses flirt and drink with male patrons in exchange for tips. These are typically much more expensive than the family-friendly establishments. Perhaps unique to Singapore is the **Thai disco** (*siam diu*), where patrons compete for the affections of attractive female entertainers — who, despite the name, can be from anywhere in the region as well as Singapore itself — by purchasing expensive drinks and \"flowers\" (garlands or sashes) for anywhere from $50 to $10,000 or more. Unlike some neighboring countries, there's no nudity or sex involved: your money buys the chance to chat with them, nothing more, and there's enough non-obvious social etiquette involved that these places are best visited with a Singaporean guide or not at all.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|upright=0.6|The original Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel\nAlcohol is widely available but expensive due to Singapore's heavy sin taxes. You can bring in up to one litre of liquor and two litres of wine and beer if you arrive from countries other than Malaysia. Careful shopping at major supermarkets will also throw up common basic Australian wine labels for around $20.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk073", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Drink", "text": "Public drunkenness is socially frowned upon in Singapore, and misbehaving under the influence of alcohol will certainly not gain you any respect from Singaporean friends. Do not allow any confrontations to escalate into fights, as the police will be called in, and you may face prison and possibly caning. Many Singaporeans, including most but by no means all Muslims, abstain from alcohol entirely.\n\nPublic drinking is prohibited outside licensed venues between 10:30PM and 7AM, with additional restrictions in Little India and Geylang that prohibit public drinking during weekends and public holidays. While most bars, nightclubs and restaurants are licensed, as are coffeeshops that sell alcohol, supermarkets and liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol late at night.\n\nPrices when drinking out vary. You can enjoy a large bottle of beer of your choice at a coffee shop or hawker centre for around $7 (and the local colour comes thrown in for free). On the other hand, drinks in any bar, club or fancy restaurant remain pricey, with a basic drink clocking in at $10–15 while fancy cocktails would usually be in the $15–25 range. On the upside, happy hours and two-for-one promotions are common, and the entry price for clubs usually includes several drink tickets. Almost all restaurants in Singapore allow *bringing your own* (BYO) wine and cheaper restaurants without a wine menu usually don't even charge corkage, although in these places you'll need to bring your own bottle opener and glasses. Fancier places charge $20–50, although many offer free corkage days on Monday or Tuesday.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk074", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Drink", "text": "Tourists flock to the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel to sample the original **Singapore Sling**, a sickly sweet pink mix of pineapple juice, gin, Peter Heering, D.O.M., Cointreau, Angostura and lime juice invented at the Long Bar in 1915, but locals rarely touch the stuff. The tipple of choice in Singapore is the local beer, **Tiger**, a refreshing if unexciting lager, but a microbrewery boom has led to outlets such as **Brewerkz** (Riverside Point), **Paulaner Brauhaus** (Millenia Walk) and **Pump Room** (Clarke Quay) offering interesting alternatives.\n\n### Tobacco\n\nthumb|Smoking is allowed only in designated areas\n\nTobacco is heavily taxed, and you are not allowed to bring cigarettes into Singapore from abroad. **Vaping** is illegal and you will be fined and any e-cigarettes or liquids confiscated if caught. **Shisha (hookah)** is also illegal.\n\nThe legal smoking age is 21, and shops selling cigarettes may ask for identification before selling you some. Most public places including hawker centres have restrictions on smoking, and it is prohibited in public transport as well. There is a total ban on smoking in all air-conditioned places (including pubs and discos), and strict limitations on where you can smoke outside as well (e.g., within 5 metres of bus stops and building entrances, parks, covered walkways and shelters, playgrounds are off limits). The designated zone should be marked with a yellow outline, and may have a green garbage can with an ashtray and/or have a sign reading \"smoking zone\". The list of places where smoking is prohibited and the (much shorter) list of where it is allowed is published on a government website.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk075", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Singapore is expensive by South-East Asian standards. Particularly in the higher price brackets, demand outstrips supply and during big events like the F1 race or some of the larger conventions it's not uncommon for pretty much everything to sell out. Lower-end hotels and hostels, though, remain affordable and available throughout the year.\n\nUnless you're a shopping maven intent on maximizing time in Orchard Road's shopping malls, the Riverside is probably the best place to stay in Singapore.\n\nYou will notice that hotels within certain parts of the Riverside area are much more expensive than others. Those hotels are inside the boundary of the Electronic Road Pricing area. The ERP tolls become part of their business overhead which they build into their nightly rates.\n\nGST and Service charge are generally not included in the advertised rates. Therefore, when considering how much to allocate for accommodation, don't forget to add 19% to the advertised price (10% for the service charge then add 9% GST of the amount including the service charge).\n\nAs it is a crime to harbour illegal immigrants, hotels will need to check the passports and electronic visit passes of all guests at check-in to ensure that they are in the country legally; make sure you have a working mobile data connection or have your visit pass saved offline as you won't be able to check in without it. Likewise, for long-term accommodation, your landlord will need to check your passport and long-term visit pass (e.g. work permit, student pass, etc.); if they do not, this is a red flag, as they might be using their property to conceal illegal vice activities.\n\n### Budget", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk076", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Backpackers' hostels can be found primarily in Little India, Bugis, Clarke Quay and the East Coast. Backpacker hostels cost from $20–40 for a dorm bed. There seems to be a bedbug epidemic among many of the very cheapest hostels — read the reviews carefully before booking.\n\nCheap hotels are clustered in the Geylang, Balestier and Little India districts, where they service mostly the type of customer who rents rooms by the hour. Rooms are generally small and not fancy, but are still clean and provide basic facilities such as a bathroom and television. Prices start as low as $30 for \"day use\" of a few hours and $60 for a full night's stay. The three major chains, with hotels throughout the island, are:\n - Hotel 81\n\n- Ibis Budget\n\n- Fragrance Hotel\n\n**Camping** is only allowed at designated campsites, and you must apply for a camping permit a least 14 days in advance. Depending on who owns the campsite, you can obtain the permit from either the National Parks Board or the Singapore Land Authority. The permit is free, but you will need someone with a Singapore ID to apply on your behalf.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nMuch of Singapore's mid-range accommodation is in rather featureless but functional older hotels, with a notable cluster near the western end of the Singapore River. There has, however, been a surge of \"boutique\" hotels in renovated shophouses here and in Chinatown, these can be pretty good value, with rates starting from $200/night.\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|Raffles Hotel", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk077", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Singapore has an extensive selection of luxury accommodation, including the grand old **Raffles Hotel** and all the usual multinational brands. You will generally be looking at upwards of $600 per night for a room in a five-star hotel. Hotel rates fluctuate quite a bit: a large conference can double prices, while on weekends in the off-peak season heavy discounts are often available. The largest hotel clusters can be found at Marina Bay (good for sightseeing) and around Orchard Road (good for shopping), but if you're looking for a tropical beach resort feel, check out Sentosa.\n\n### Vacation rentals\n\nShort-term home or room rentals (of 6 months or less) such as provided by platforms such as Airbnb are *illegal* in Singapore. Advertising rooms or houses on such platforms is *not* illegal, so don't be surprised to find a handful of Singapore listings on Airbnb. Although enforcement of the law has been lenient so far, immediate action will be taken if there is any complaint by the neighbours. In case this happens, the guests will not face any adverse consequences other than having to find another place to stay at relatively short notice, but the host may be subject to legal action.\n\n### Long-term\n\nHousing in Singapore is expensive, as the high population density and sheer scarcity of land drives real estate prices through the roof. As a result, you would generally be looking at rentals on par with the likes of New York and London.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk078", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Apartment hotels in Singapore include **Ascott**, which also operates under the **Somerset** and **Citadines** brands, and the many tentacles of **Far East Hospitality**, which has both regular hotels and serviced apartments. Prices are competitive with hotels but quite expensive compared to apartments. It is illegal to offer short-term rentals (under 3 months) in Singapore without a hotel licence.\n\nRenting an apartment in Singapore will require a work or student visa. While over 80% of Singaporeans live in government-subsidised **Housing Development Board** (HDB) flats, their availability to foreigners is very limited. Most expats thus turn to private housing blocks known as **condos**, where an average three-bedroom apartment will cost you anything from $4,000 per month for an older apartment in the suburbs to $20,000 for a top-of-the-line deluxe one on Orchard Road. Most condos have facilities like pools, gyms, tennis court, car park and 24 hr security. As the supply of studio and one-bedroom apartments is very limited, most people on a budget share an apartment with friends or colleagues, or just sublet a single room. Landed houses, known as **bungalows**, are incredibly expensive near the city centre (rents are commonly tens of thousands) but can drop if you're willing to settle outside the city centre — and remember that you can drive across the country in 30 minutes.\n\nOne or two-month security deposits are standard practice and you usually need to pay the agent a commission of 2 weeks per year of lease. Leases are usually for two years, with a \"diplomatic clause\" that allows you to terminate after 1 year. Singapore Expats is the largest real estate agency geared for expats and their free classifieds are a popular choice for hunting for rooms or apartment-mates.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk079", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Malaysians and Indonesians who work or study in Singapore often choose to live across the border in Johor Bahru and Batam respectively, where housing costs are much cheaper, the obvious downside being that this results in a very long commute.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk080", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Learn", "text": "Singapore's universities are generally well-regarded and draw exchange students from near and far.\n - National University of Singapore (NUS)\n\n - Nanyang Technological University (NTU)\n\n - Singapore Management University (SMU)\n\n - Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)\n\n - Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)\n\nA number of foreign universities, business schools and specialised institutes have also set up their Asian campuses in Singapore.\n\n - SP Jain School of Global Management (SPJ)\n\n - INSEAD\n\n - University of Chicago Booth School of Business\n\n - DigiPen Institute of Technology\n\n - ESSEC\n\n### Cooking\n\n - at-Sunrice\n\n - Cookery Magic\n\n - Palate Sensations\n\n- D'Open Kitchen", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk081", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|Banks in Marina Bay\n\nAs one of the most vibrant economies in South-east Asia, supported by a highly educated population of locals and expats from every corner of the world and some of the lowest personal and corporate income tax rates in the world, Singapore is a natural choice for multinational companies who wish to have a presence in the region and has many employment opportunities for skilled workers. However, you must have a work permit (WP) or an employment pass (EP) to work in Singapore, including for volunteer work. These require that you have a firm job offer and the sponsoring company applies on your behalf. There is also a **Working Holiday Programme** for recent university graduates who want to live in Singapore for up to 6 months.\n\n**Work permits** are mostly intended for menial, low-skilled labourers. To be eligible for an **employment pass**, you will generally need to have a minimum salary of at least $4,500 per month and hold at least a bachelor's degree from a reasonably reputable university. There is also an intermediate known as the **S pass**, which is usually granted to mid-skilled workers who have been promoted to positions of junior leadership such as a work site supervisor, and would require you to have a minimum salary of at least $2,500 per month as well as your employer's recommendation. Employment pass and S pass holders with a monthly salary of at least $6,000 are allowed to bring in their family members on a dependent pass.\n\nThe government is also highly supportive of entrepreneurship in the country, with an ever-changing array of governmental schemes that offer working visas and preferential taxation for startups and investors, but you will need both a strong track record and funding to qualify. Consult with the Economic Development Board for the latest.\n\nIf your employment is terminated, you will get a social visit pass (a visitors visa with no employment rights) which allows you to stay for 30 days. You can look for another job during this time, but don't overstay your visa, and do not think about working without the right papers; this will result in a short stay in the local prison, with added fines, possibly caning, certain deportation and being banned from re-entering.\n\nOnce you have been legally working in Singapore for a few years on an EP/S-Pass, applying for **permanent residence** (PR) is fairly straightforward, although these are no longer handed out like candy. If granted — and the rule of thumb is, the higher your salary, the more likely you are to get it — you can stay in Singapore indefinitely (as long as you can show some income every 5 years) and can change jobs freely. Work permit holders are generally not eligible to apply for permanent residency.\n\nThose gaining permanent residency through the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or Investor Scheme are not required to report for the national service (conscription), but male second-generation PRs are required to register and report for enlistment once they attained the specified ages.", "word_count": 507}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk082", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|upright|Forbidden items in the MRT trains and stations\n\nSingapore is one of the safest major cities in the world by virtually any measure. Most people, including female travellers, will not face any problems walking along the streets alone at night. But as the local police say, \"low crime does not mean no crime\" — beware of pickpockets in crowded areas and don't forget your common sense entirely.\n\n### Crime\n\nThe **Singapore Police Force** is responsible for law enforcement throughout the country, and you can recognise police officers by their distinctive dark blue uniforms. Most visitors will find Singaporean police officers to be professional and helpful, and you should report any crimes that you encounter to them as soon as possible: timely police reports often result in the apprehension of criminals within *hours*.\n\nIf you get arrested, Singaporean police have broader powers than their Western counterparts. While you are entitled to have a lawyer represent you at trial, the police will not allow you to speak to a lawyer until after they have finished their interrogation. You do not have the right to silence and are required to answer the police's questions truthfully. You should always disclose all facts in your defence during your interrogation, as failure to do so could result in the judge not believing you should you raise them for the first time at your trial.\n\nSingapore's squeaky cleanliness is achieved in part by strict rules against activities that are tolerated in other countries. For example, jay-walking, spitting, littering and drinking and eating on public transport are prohibited. Locals joke about Singapore being a \"fine city\" because heavy fines are levied if you're caught committing an offence. Enforcement is sporadic at best, though, and it's not uncommon to see people openly litter, spit, smoke in non-smoking zones, etc.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk083", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Chewing gum**, famously long banned, is now available at pharmacies for medical purposes (e.g., nicotine gum) if you ask for it directly, show your ID and sign the register. While importing gum is still officially an offence, you can usually bring in a few packs for personal consumption without any problem.\n\nthumb|Police officers in Singapore\n\nFor some crimes, most notably **illegal entry** and **overstaying your visa**, Singapore imposes caning as a punishment for male offenders. Other offences which have caning as a punishment include vandalism, robbery, molestation and rape. Having sex with a girl under the age of 16 is a crime under Singapore law even if she consents to it. Strokes from the thick rattan cane are excruciatingly painful, take weeks to heal and scar for life. Crimes such as murder, kidnapping, unauthorised possession of firearms and drug trafficking are punished with death.\n\nLong criminalized under a colonial-era statute, male homosexuality was legalized in January 2023, while female homosexuality has always been legal. While attitudes towards gays, lesbians and transgender people still often leave much to be desired, especially among the Muslim and Christian communities, unprovoked violence is almost unheard of, and you are unlikely to get anything beyond drawing stares and whispers. Under Singapore law, transgender people may change their legal gender and use public toilets accordingly – *after* undergoing sex reassignment surgery. The closest Singapore comes to a \"gaybourhood\" is Tanjong Pagar near Chinatown, and **Pink Dot** is Singapore's largest LGBTQ organisation; they hold an annual pride rally every June in Hong Lim Park, though foreigners are not allowed to participate.\n\n**Begging** is illegal in Singapore, but you'll occasionally see beggars on the streets. Most are not Singaporean – even the \"monks\" dressed in robes, who occasionally pester tourists for donations, are usually bogus.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk084", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Singapore's constitution pledges \"freedom of expression\", but in practice this right is severely curtailed, as a glance at the neutered domestic press will show. Police will not arrest you for expressing anti-government opinions in casual conversation with your friends, but foreigners in Singapore are not allowed to engage in any sort of political activity, including participating in protests, regardless of the subject.\n\nIt is illegal to display the **flags or emblems of foreign countries or territories** in public unless you are a diplomat representing that country, or have otherwise received special permission from the government. The government usually grants permission for spectators at major international sporting events, but do double-check with the organisers beforehand.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nSingapore is virtually immune to **natural disasters**: there are no fault lines nearby, although slight tremors from Indonesia's earthquakes can sometimes be felt from the upper storeys of buildings. Other landmasses shield it from tsunamis, and the local conditions are not conducive to the formation of typhoons and tornadoes. Flooding in the November–January monsoon season and flash-flooding from heavy rainfall is an occasional hazard, especially in low-lying parts of the East Coast, but any water usually drains off within a day and life continues as normal.\n\n### Drugs\n\nSingapore treats **drug offences** *extremely* severely. The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15 g of heroin, 30 g of morphine, 30 g of cocaine, 250 g of methamphetamine, 500 g of cannabis, 200 g of cannabis resin and 1.2 kg of opium, and possession of these quantities is all that is needed for you to be convicted.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk085", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Drug consumption can result in up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $20,000, or both. Possession of drug paraphernalia can result in up to 3 years' imprisonment, a fine of $10,000 or both, even if you test negative and no drugs are found in your possession. First-timers are usually sent for a six-month stint at the Changi Drug Rehabilitation Centre, which is jail in all but name.\n\nCentral Narcotics Bureau plainclothes officers are often stationed undercover at bars and nightclubs, and have the right to search anywhere without a warrant for drugs, as well as subject you to a drug test. You can be charged as long as drugs are found in your possession, even if they aren't yours and regardless of whether you're aware of them. Drug consumption outside Singapore is *not* a crime for visitors, but you can still expect to be deported if you test positive.\n\nIf you must bring **potentially forbidden medicines**, check with the Singapore Health Sciences Authority to find out, and (as needed and allowed) obtain written permission to bring them.\n\n### Bribery\n\nSingapore is generally considered to be relatively free from corruption in both public and private life. **Bribery** is a very serious offence penalised with long jail terms together with fines. Do *not*, under any circumstances, offer a bribe to a police officer or any other public servant, since that is likely to result in your immediate arrest. It is a crime for public servants to accept gifts from anyone they have official dealings with, even if no favours were given in exchange. While the laws governing private sector employees are not as strict, presenting a gift during business negotiations could raise suspicions over corrupt intent, which may lead to legal issues.\n\n- Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk086", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Racial and religious discrimination\n\nSingapore has made great efforts to ensure a peaceful integrated society; making disparaging remarks against *any* ethnicity or religion is a crime that carries a prison term. Bloggers have been arrested and imprisoned for making racist remarks on their blogs, and religious leaders have also gotten into trouble with the law for insulting other religions in their sermons.\n\nJehovah's Witnesses is banned for locals in Singapore (due to their avoidance of military service) but this generally does not affect tourists so long as they do not proselytise.\n\n### Prostitution\n\nProstitution is legal in designated red-light districts. While the **age of consent** in Singapore is 16, a higher minimum age of 18 applies to prostitutes (ignorance is no excuse). The industry keeps a low profile, and you are unlikely to run into it unless you go looking for it. Prostitutes soliciting business in the street are unlicensed, thus illegal and not screened for STDs; some of them may be victims of human trafficking or underaged.\n\nBe sure to avoid the street vendors peddling sex enhancement drugs. These are unlicensed, and people have been hospitalised or even died from consuming these drugs.\n\n### Emergency numbers\n\n- Police\n\n- Police\n\n- Police\n\n- Ambulance / Fire Services\n\n- Ambulance / Fire Services\n\n- Non-emergency ambulance\n\n- Singapore General Hospital\n\n- Drug & Poison Information Centre", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk087", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tap water** is safe for drinking with very high sanitation standards. The hot and humid climate means that drinking plenty of water is advisable.\n\nMalaria is not an issue, but dengue fever is endemic to the region and there are occasional cases of Zika virus. Singapore maintains strict mosquito control (leaving standing water around will get you fined), but the government's reach does not extend into the island's nature reserves, so if you're planning on hiking bring along mosquito repellent.\n\n### Medical care\n\nThe standard of medical care in Singapore is uniformly excellent, and Singapore is a popular destination for medical tourism and medical evacuations in the region. Despite the lower prices, standards are usually as good as those in the West at both public and private clinics and hospitals, making this a good place to get your jabs and tabs if heading off into the jungle elsewhere. You'll still want to make sure your insurance is in order before a prolonged hospitalisation and/or major surgery.\n\nFor minor ailments, head down to the nearest suburban shopping mall or HDB shopping district and look for a general practitioner (GP), or do a search in SingHealth's comprehensive Find-a-GP directory. They usually receive patients without appointment and can prescribe drugs on the spot or refer you to specialists, and the total cost of a consultation, medicine included, rarely exceeds $30. Public polyclinics, while cheaper for locals, are usually more expensive at unsubsidised rates (from $50) and generally have longer waits. All clinics, private or public, are generally only open during business hours Monday-Friday and Saturday mornings.\n\n - RESCU\n\nFor urgent problems, head to a hospital emergency department or call **995** for an ambulance. The ambulance is free in the event of a genuine medical emergency, but you will be charged a $274 callout fee and refused transport otherwise. Public hospitals are heavily subsidised by the government for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, but will charge the full rate for visitors. They are legally required to provide emergency medical care regardless of your ability to pay, but you will be billed at a later date.\n\n'''Raffles Hospital''', '''Raffles Medical Group''' (near Bugis MRT station). [Tel: +65 6311 1111 +65 6311 1111]. 585 North Bridge Road. Singapore's largest homegrown private healthcare provider. Raffles Medical Group is the only private medical provider in Singapore that owns and operates a fully integrated healthcare organization comprising of a tertiary hospital, a network of family medicine and dental clinics, insurance services, Japanese and traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and a consumer healthcare division. Raffles Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department is fully equipped and staffed to manage high-risk injuries and critical medical conditions.\n- Gleneagles Hospital\n\n- KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital\n\n- Mount Elizabeth Hospital\n\n- Singapore General Hospital\n\n- Tan Tock Seng Hospital\n\n- National University Hospital\n\nAlternatively, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are widespread in Singapore. **Eu Yan Sang** runs a chain of over 20 clinics, while the **Singapore Chinese Physicians' Association** offers a directory of TCM physicians.\n\n### Toilets\n\nNearly all shopping centres, hotels, MRT stations, bus interchanges and hawker centres are likely to have clean public toilet facilities available. The vast majority are free but those at hawker centres may charge 10 or 20 cents per entry. If there's no toilet paper in the stall, take a look around, as it's sometimes provided on a shared giant roll outside. Most toilets have bowls, but there is usually one squatting cubicle in every public toilet. Being free, McDonald's toilets are popular and the staff do not make a fuss.", "word_count": 593}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk088", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Respect", "text": "Singaporeans care little about formal politeness. What would be decent behaviour at home, wherever home might be, is unlikely to offend anyone in Singapore. In Singapore, unlike much of southeast Asia, women wearing revealing clothing or men wearing shorts and slippers are perfectly acceptable and only the fanciest bars and restaurants, government institutions (e.g. parliament and the courts), and some private clubs, enforce dress codes.\n\nThat said, Singaporeans tend to be more socially conservative than Westerners, meaning that public display of affection is still frowned upon: holding hands is fine, but making out in public is considered to be impolite. Toplessness for women is not acceptable anywhere, even on the beach. Most places of worship require visitors to be conservatively dressed - no bare shoulders or midriff, and no shorts or skirts above the knee-cap. The major touristy places of worship will have shawls and sarongs so visitors can cover up before entering. Many places of worship also require you to remove your shoes before you enter.\n\nThe local dialect with its heavy Chinese influences may appear brusque or even rude, but saying \"You want beer or not?\" is in fact *more* polite in Chinese than asking if you want beer; after all, the person asking you the question is offering you a choice, not making a demand.\n\nTake dietary restrictions into account when inviting Singaporean friends for a meal. Many Indians and some Chinese are vegetarian. Most Malays, being Muslims, eat only *halal* food, while most Hindus (and a few Chinese) abstain from beef. If unsure, ask beforehand.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk089", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Respect", "text": "When visiting Chinese temples, do not point at the statues of deities with your index finger, as this is considered to be very rude. Use your thumb or an up-facing open palm instead. If you want to watch a street performance during the Hungry Ghost Festival, do not sit in the first row as it is traditionally reserved for the spirits of the deceased.\n\nSwastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist and Hindu temples and altars. This is an ancient religious symbol that has nothing to do with Nazism.\n\n### Sensitive topics\n\nSensitive issues in Singapore include immigration, politics, race, religion, and LGBT rights. In a country where only 60% of the population are citizens, **immigration** is particularly sensitive, and while few Singaporeans are explicitly xenophobic, many resent the influx of \"foreign talents\" (once the government's term, now heavily loaded with sarcasm) competing for jobs while not integrating into society or having to fulfill obligations like military service.\n\n**Singapore is not China**, and despite being a majority of the population, most ethnic Chinese identify themselves as Singaporeans instead of Chinese nationals, who are commonly referred to as \"PRCs\" or \"Ah Tiong\". That said, anti-China sentiment is generally less prevalent than in Hong Kong, Taiwan or overseas Chinese communities in the West. There is similar tension between Singaporeans of Indian descent and recent Indian immigrants, dubbed \"CECA\" after an unpopular free trade agreement.\n\nLike in many other Asian countries, **saving face** is very important in Singaporean culture. You should generally not point out other people's mistakes in order not to cause major embarrassment, and it is considered poor taste to flaunt your wealth in front of your less well-to-do peers. Bragging about your achievements will also in general not be well received.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk090", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Respect", "text": "The **Israeli-Palestinian conflict** is a deeply divisive issue, with most Jews and Christians supporting Israel, and most Muslims supporting the Palestinians. Tread carefully when discussing it with locals. Due to this sensitivity, all protests concerning this issue have been banned. While police will not arrest you for expressing your views on social media or in casual conversation with your friends, be careful not to run afoul of Singapore's strict anti-hate speech laws.\n\nSingaporeans have a tense relationship with their cultural identity. On the one hand, Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was reportedly proud of being called \"the best bloody Englishman east of Suez\"; on the other, there is an understandable desire to display a pride for genuinely Singaporean cultural aspects including food. One area in which this tension manifests is the use of Singlish, which is officially discouraged by the government through its \"Speak Good English Campaign\", but is often employed deliberately by all strata of society as a means to display \"Singaporean-ness\". Tread lightly in these fields and be respectful.\n\n### Visiting homes\n\nIf invited to somebody's house, always remove your shoes before you enter as most Singaporeans do not wear their shoes at home. Socks are perfectly acceptable though. Some households may provide slippers in the bathroom, but these are generally not meant to be worn anywhere else.\n\nBeware of taboos if bringing gifts. Any products (food or otherwise) involving animals may cause offence and are best avoided, as are white flowers (usually reserved for funerals). Knives and clocks are also symbols of cutting ties and death, respectively, and some Chinese are superstitious about the number four. Many Singaporean Muslims and some Hindus abstain from alcohol. Nicely packaged cookies or cakes are a safe bet, as is a bouquet from a local florist.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk091", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Respect", "text": "In Singapore, it is considered rude to open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you. Instead, wait until the person has left and open it in private.\n\n### Business\n\nthumb|Singapore skyline\nSingaporeans are punctual, so show up on time. The standard greeting is a firm handshake. However, conservative Muslims avoid touching the opposite sex, so a man meeting a Malay woman should let her offer her hand first and a woman meeting a Malay man should wait for him to offer his hand. If they opt to place their hand on the heart and bow slightly instead, just follow suit. Singaporeans generally do not hug, especially if it is someone they have just met.\n\nFor men, standard business attire is a long-sleeved shirt and a tie, although the tie is often omitted, the shirt's collar button opened instead. Jackets are rarely worn because of the hot weather all year round. Women usually wear Western business attire, but a few prefer Malay-style *kebaya* and *sarong*, Chinese-style *cheongsam*, or Indian-style *sari*.\n\nBusiness cards are often exchanged when people meet for business for the first time: hold yours with *both hands* by the top corners, so the text faces the recipient, while simultaneously receiving theirs. (This sounds more complicated than it is.) Never give out or receive a business card with only one hand, as it is considered to be very disrespectful. Study the cards you receive and feel free to ask questions; when you are finished, place them on the table in front of you, *not* in a shirt pocket or wallet, and do not write on them (some may find it disrespectful).", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk092", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Respect", "text": "Business gifts are generally frowned on as they may equate to bribery, and government employees are strictly forbidden from accepting gifts. Small talk and bringing up the subject indirectly are neither necessary nor expected. Most meetings get straight down to business.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk093", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nThe international telephone country code for Singapore is **65**. Phone numbers in Singapore have the format +65 XXXX XXXX where \"65\" is the country code for Singapore. Due to the small area of Singapore, there are no area codes. Any number starting with 8 or 9 is a mobile phone, while numbers starting with 3 or 6are fixed lines (businesses and residential). Toll free numbers start with 800 or 1800, followed by 7 digits, and usually cannot be dialed from outside the country.\n\nSingapore has four mobile telecommunication providers with their own networks: **Singtel**, **Simba**, **StarHub** and **MobileOne (M1)**. They have generally excellent coverage throughout the island, which is blanketed with both 4G and 5G. There are many minor virtual operators operating off these networks but are generally unavailable to short-term travellers. Travellers can obtain prepaid SIM cards from 7-Eleven convenience stores, telecommunication shops, currency exchange counters, and at Changi International Airport. An international passport or Singapore ID is required to register for the SIM card. Basic plans including 1 GB of data start from only $4 for 30 days. If you're planning to continue to nearby countries, every carrier has their own options for international roaming, some more affordable than others. Starhub is the roaming-friendliest; their Happy Roam policy means that domestic data plans can be used in any of their Happy Roam destinations at no extra cost. Additionally, all of these carriers now have starter packs that include a small allowance of roaming data in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as certain countries beyond (check with the carrier you're purchasing from).", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk094", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Connect", "text": "In northern parts of Singapore near Malaysia (e.g. Woodlands, Sungei Buloh, Pulau Ubin), your phone may automatically switch to a Malaysian network, incurring international roaming charges even though you haven't physically left Singapore. Check the operating network (or switch to manual network selection) before you call or browse, disable roaming on your device, or pay a little extra at the beginning for a SIM that includes some roaming allowances.\n\n### By net\n\n**Free Wi-Fi** is standard at paid accommodations, and public Wi-Fi is common but not everywhere. Many, but not all, free public Wi-Fi networks require you to register your phone number and receive a verification text message (SMS) - they do not require a Singapore number, so if your phone has roaming service from another country this might still work. Some networks ask for your phone number or email but do not require you to verify it. For free public Wi-Fi without a complicated sign-in, try local shopping centres (though not all have it) and the Gardens by the Bay.\n\nSingapore has a nationwide free **Wireless@SG** system, with hotspots at many public locations like MRT stations. The network can be used even without a SIM card, but it does require signing up and downloading the official Wireless@SGx app.\n\n**Internet cafes** charging around $2/hr are sparse and slowly dying off since almost all residents have broadband Internet access at home, work, and/or school. Head to Chinatown or Little India if you need to get on-line, or check out the top floors of many suburban malls, which feature Internet cafes doubling as on-line gaming parlours. Alternatively, all public libraries offer cheap Internet access ($0.03/min or $1.80/hr), but you need to jump through registration hoops to get access.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk095", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Internet censorship** is generally restricted to pornography, gambling and copyright violating websites. In addition, Singapore has laws that ban online contents deemed as fake news and foreign interference by authority. From time to time, you may see mandatory corrective notices placed on social media posts or articles deemed as containing falsehoods by authorities if accessed from within Singapore.\n\n### By mail\n\n**SingPost** has offices throughout the island, generally open M-F 8:30AM-5PM, 08:30-13;00 Sa 8:30AM-5PM, closed Sundays. The Changi Airport T2 (transit side) Post Office is open daily 6AM-midnight, while the 1 Killeney Rd branch is open M-F until 9PM and Su 9AM-4PM. Service is fast and reliable; domestic mail usually gets delivered by the next business day if posted before the collection time indicated on the postbox. A postcard to anywhere in the world costs 50 cents, and postage labels can also be purchased from the self-service SAM machines found in many MRT stations.\n\nSmall packets up to 2 kg cost $3.50/100 g for airmail, or $1/100 g for surface mail. For larger packages, DHL, FedEx or UPS may offer competitive rates.", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk096", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nSingapore uses the British BS 1363 three-pin rectangular socket (230 V/50 Hz). Plug adaptors are available at any hardware store.\n\n### Embassies and High Commissions\n\nSingapore is a good place to obtain regional visas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a complete searchable database of diplomatic institutions. Many more countries serve Singapore through their embassies in Bangkok, Beijing, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi or Tokyo.\n\n### Hair cuts\n\nSingaporeans are particular about their hair and there is no shortage of fancy hair salons charging from $20 up for the latest Chinese popstar look. If you are willing to splurge, there is Passion Hair Salon at Palais Renaissance with celebrity hairstylist David Gan (hairstylist of Zhang Ziyi and other famous celebrities) doing the haircut. Le Salon at Ngee Ann City offers haircuts up to $2,000. The middle range hair salons in town or in the heartlands, offer haircuts with hair wash as well as other frills. Chains include Reds Hairdressing, Supercuts, Toni & Guy salons that are all over Singapore. For a more backpacker-friendly price, almost every shopping mall in Singapore has a branch of **EC House** or one of its many imitators, offering fuss-free 10 min haircuts for $15, although the hairdressers are mostly happy to spend as long as necessary on your hair, within reasonable limits. Most HDB estates have barbershops which charge $5 to $10 for adults and less for students and children.\n\n### Laundry", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk097", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Cope", "text": "Hotels often provide a one-day laundry service (at a price), whereas hostels often have communal self-service washing machines. Full-service laundry and dry cleaning shops can be found in every shopping mall; unfortunately turnaround times are usually upwards of three days unless you opt for express service. There are also self-service laundromat chains and franchises with various outlets located within the business district and around the country:\n\n- Wonder Wash Self-service Laundromat\n\n- DIY Laundry\n\n### Photo processing\n\nPractically every shopping mall has a photo shop that will print digital pictures and take passport photos. Many pharmacies and supermarkets also have self-service kiosks which print digital photos from CD, SD-card, USB drive, etc.\n\n### Sports\n\nThe **Singapore Sports Council** runs a chain of affordable sports facilities, often featuring fantastic outdoor 50 m pools (see Swimming for a list). Facilities are somewhat sparse but the prices are unbeatable, with e.g. swimming pools charging $1 for entry and access to ClubFITT gyms only $2.50. The main downside is the inconvenient location of most facilities out in the suburbs, although most are close to an MRT station and can be reached within 10-20 min from downtown. The gyms also have a total ban on bringing in any reading material (aimed at students but enforced blindly).\n\nMajor private gym chains include '''Anytime Fitness''', **Fitness First**, **Gold's Gym** and **True Fitness**. Facilities are better and locations more central, but the prices are also much higher as non-members have to fork out steep day pass fees (around $40). If you are a member of Anytime Fitness in your home country, you may be able to access any of the franchise's gyms in Singapore.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk098", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Cope", "text": "Some of the **parks** offer rental of bicycles and inline skates ($3–6/hr, open until 8PM). You can either rent skates, attend a skate class or send the children off to a skate camp at major parks like West Coast and East Coast Park. Especially rewarding for skaters and cyclists is the 10 km long stretch along East Coast Park with a paved track and lots of rental shops, bars and cafes around the McDonald's. There are toilets and showers along the track. Furthermore, every park has a couple of fitness stations.\n\n### Television\n\nFree-to-air digital terrestrial televisions (DTT) are readily available at all sides of Singapore, though most houses and hotels have cable or internet protocol TV that enable them to get more channels. The four official languages of Singapore each gets at least one TV station, and the main news at night for each language is always subtitled to the respective languages. All free-to-air TV channels are owned by the state-owned Mediacorp, as such news contents, especially from Singapore, generally do not differ much between channels. Satellite TV is illegal in Singapore.\n\nDue to its proximity to Indonesia and Malaysia, antennas can also receive channels from both countries. Foreign news channels such as the BBC, CNN and CNBC are available with a pay TV subscription. The main pay TV operators in Singapore are Starhub TV and Singtel TV.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk099", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Cope", "text": "DTT channels include:\n**CNA** (formerly Channel NewsAsia), round-the-clock English news channel focusing on stories from Singapore and Asia.\n**Channel 5**, general entertainment in English, with a combination of local programmes and American series. News broadcasts at 9PM daily. Kids entertainment in the 6AM-noon and 3PM-6PM block.\n**Channel 8**, Mandarin general entertainment channel broadcasting locally produced dramas & documentaries, and news at 1PM on weekdays, 6:30PM and 10PM daily.\n**Channel U**, Mandarin channel with more famous Asian dramas.\n**Vasantham**, Tamil general entertainment channel, locally produced dramas and Bollywood or Kollywood movies. News broadcasts at 8:30PM daily.\n**Suria**, Malay general entertainment channel from local productions, Malaysia, and Indonesia. News broadcasts at daily at 8PM.\n\n### Newspapers\n\nSingapore regularly scrapes the bottom of press freedom rankings, and all local newspapers in Singapore are published by the state-owned Singapore Press Holdings. That being said, they generally do provide reasonably balanced coverage of hard news. The main English-language newspaper is **The Straits Times**, which is published every Monday to Saturday, with **The Sunday Times** filling in on Sunday. **Business Times** focuses on business and financial news. Papers are also available in Singapore's three other official languages, with **Lianhe Zaobao** (联合早报) being the main Chinese newspaper, **Berita Harian** (or **Berita Minggu** on Sunday) being the main Malay newspaper, and **Tamil Murasu** (தமிழ் முரசு) being the main Tamil newspaper.\n\n### Weather", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk100", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Cope", "text": "If you are travelling to Singapore, be sure to carry the following:\n **Sunglasses** - Singapore is usually bright and sunny.\n **Umbrella** - Be sure to carry an umbrella in your luggage, as there is some precipitation throughout the year. However, the rain usually does not last long.\n **Sun block/sun screen** - If you plan to go out during the day, it is advisable to apply sun block as it is mostly sunny throughout the year. The ultraviolet index (UVI) is usually very high in the afternoon when it is sunny. Please see NEA's website on ultraviolet index for more information.\n **Shorts/Half Pants** - Singapore can get real warm. Although air-conditioning is available in all public transports and almost all internal areas, it is advisable to carry some light clothing. Some places of worship may require visitors to dress conservatively.\n **Cotton or dri-fit shirts** - Wear comfortable shirts that can let the air flow through.\n **Slippers** - Singaporeans love to wear slippers (called \"flip-flops\" in the United States, \"thongs\" in Australia or \"jandals\" in New Zealand). Be sure to carry a pair, just to blend in. Try sandals if you're not used to flip flops, but beware that in some formal establishments (e.g. the theatre, concert hall, and recital studio at the Esplanade), no flip flops, sandals, or shorts are allowed.\n **Sweater** - In cinemas, shopping malls, and museums, air conditioning can be relatively colder than expected, though this is likely to be a welcome relief from the heat.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "singapore::chunk101", "doc_id": "singapore", "section": "Go next", "text": "Singapore makes a good base for exploring South-East Asia, with nearly all of the region's countries and their main tourist destinations — including Bangkok, Phuket, Angkor Wat, Ho Chi Minh City and Bali — under 2 hr away by plane. Thanks to budget carriers, Singapore is an excellent place for catching cheap flights to China and India. Singapore also has direct flights to many of the smaller cities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, which can be convenient points of entry if you wish to skip the ever-present queues and touts at their main airports.\n\nFor day or weekend trips from Singapore, the following are popular:\n Batam — The nearest Indonesian island to Singapore, just a short ferry trip away. Mainly industrial and infamous for its vice trade, but has some resorts.\n Bintan — Indonesian island just 55 min away by ferry, offering both high-end resorts and the \"real Indonesia\" experience.\n Johor Bahru — Malaysian city just across the Causeway. Just 20 min by bus 950 from Woodlands Bus Interchange. Not much to look at, but popular for cheap eating, shopping, spa experiences and Legoland Malaysia.\n Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia's vibrant capital. 45 min by plane, 4–5 hr by bus or 10 hr by train.\n Malacca — Once one of the three Straits Settlements, now a sleepy colonial town and a . 3–4 hr by bus, although it might take a little longer due to border congestion.\n Pulau Tioman — The nearest of Malaysia's East Coast paradise islands, reachable by bus & ferry.\n\nFor those who can afford more time to travel, here are several destinations that are popular long weekend (i.e. when a weekend coincides with a public holiday) trips for Singaporeans:\n Bali — One of Indonesia's biggest tourist draws with its nice beaches and good food. About 2.5 hr away by plane.\n Bangkok — Thailand's capital and considered a food, shopping, and clubbing paradise by many Singaporeans. It is less than 2 hr flight away, or 2 nights by train, assuming you don't stop off in Kuala Lumpur or Butterworth (for Penang).\n Phuket — One of the largest islands in Thailand, is another popular destination for Singaporeans. It offers a great weekend getaway and is less than 2 hr flight away. Relatively cheaper than Singapore, it is a great destination to hang around.\n Ipoh — The capital of the Malaysian state of Perak with many well-preserved colonial buildings, it is famous among Singaporeans for its food. 7–8 hr away by coach, or 1 hr by plane.\n Langkawi — An island in the Malaysian state of Kedah, just south of the Thai border, famed for endless beaches. Just over an hour by plane.\n Penang — One of the Straits Settlements, with a rich history and fabulous food. Its capital George Town is a . About 12 hr away by coach, or 1 hr if you choose to fly. Also popular for its medical tourism.\n Hong Kong — A business hub and often regarded as a rival of Singapore. About 3 1/2 hours away by flight, and a popular shopping and dining destination for Singaporeans.", "word_count": 499}
diff --git a/corpus/singapore/metadata.json b/corpus/singapore/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2927b8cdacf751e7187ed58543e104107b446ea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/singapore/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "singapore",
+ "title": "Singapore",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Singapore",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "food-tour",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "star",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Southeast Asia",
+ "Bangkok",
+ "Phuket",
+ "Angkor Wat",
+ "Ho Chi Minh City",
+ "Bali",
+ "Malaysia",
+ "Indonesia",
+ "Thailand",
+ "Batam",
+ "Bintan",
+ "Johor Bahru",
+ "Kuala Lumpur",
+ "Malacca",
+ "Pulau Tioman",
+ "East Coast (Malaysia)",
+ "Bali",
+ "Bangkok",
+ "Kuala Lumpur",
+ "Penang",
+ "Phuket",
+ "Ipoh",
+ "Langkawi",
+ "Penang",
+ "George Town (Malaysia)",
+ "Hong Kong"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 26837,
+ "listing_count": 173,
+ "marker_count": 10,
+ "chunk_count": 102,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/slovenia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/slovenia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e35f5cf07605488ca7de3210edc48e357c5fa088
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/slovenia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk000", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Slovenia** (Slovenian: *Slovenija*) is a country in central Europe that lies in the eastern Alps, at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. It is sometimes considered to be a Balkan country. Despite its small size, Slovenia has a surprising variety of terrain, ranging from the beaches of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Julian Alps and the rolling hills of the south. Slovenia is also home to some of the finest scenery in the \"New Europe\". The transition from socialism to the European common market economy has gone well and serves as a model for other nations on the same track to follow.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk001", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|Celje\n – The picturesque capital\n – A romantic mountain lake complete with its own castle and island\n – One of Slovenia's oldest cities\n – A lovely Venetian city, largest on Slovenian coastline\n – Slovenia's second largest city\n – The city on the border with Italy\n – A gorgeous Venetian port\n – The site of the gigantic Postojna caves\n – One of Slovenia's oldest cities", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk002", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "– Less commercial than Postojna but similarly impressive, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n – Home to national symbol Mt. Triglav and mythical golden chamois Zlatorog.\n – Soča river, with its emerald colour, is one of the most beautiful European Alpine rivers.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk003", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nthumb|240px|Tartinijev trg/Piazza Tartini in Piran/Pirano.\nSlavic ancestors of Slovenians came from eastern parts of Europe and inhabited territory north of present Slovenian territory in the 6th century AD. They established a state called Caranthania (*Karantanija* in Slovene), which was an early example of parliamentary democracy in Europe. The ruler (*knez* in Slovene) was elected by popular vote. The Caranthanians were later defeated by Bavarians and Franks, who subjugated them. They were Christianized, but they preserved many rituals of their pagan religion, and above all, they preserved their native language. The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria under the Habsburg dynasty until 1918, when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new south-Slavic state ruled by Serbian Karađorđević dynasty called the **Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians** (\"Kraljevina Srbov, Hrvatov in Slovencev\" in Slovene), renamed **Yugoslavia** in 1929. In WWII, Slovenia was invaded and occupied by Germans, Italians and Hungarians, leading to a parallel civil war between pro-communist liberation forces (Partizani) and axis-sponsored anti-communist reactionary factions (\"Belogardisti\" and Domobranci). The victory of the Allies and consequently the Partizans resulted in a violent mass exodus of those who had fought with the occupying forces, including most of the native German and Italian minorities.\n\nAfter World War II, Slovenia became a republic in the reestablished Yugoslavia, which made small territorial gains from Italy. Although communist, Yugoslavia left the Soviet bloc in 1948.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk004", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Slovenia was already more economically advanced than nations behind the Iron Curtain prior to European integration. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power in Belgrade, the Slovenes gained their independence in 1991 with minimal bloodshed. Following independence and the transition to democracy, Slovenia experienced rapid economic growth, and is today widely regarded as having advanced to developed country status, having been classified as an \"advanced economy\" by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 2007, the only former Yugoslav country to have this distinction as of 2021. In 2004, Slovenia joined the European Union and NATO. In 2007, Slovenia adopted the euro, completing a quick and efficient accession to Europe and the EU.\n\n### Culture\n\nSlovenia lies at the tripoint of the Germanic, Latin, and Slavic cultures, and Slovenes are fiercely proud of their culture. Two names you will run into over and over again are national poet **France Prešeren** (1800-1849), who penned (among other things) the Slovenian national anthem, and the architect **Jože Plečnik** (1872-1957), credited with Ljubljana's iconic *Tromostovje* bridges and, seemingly, half the modern buildings in the country. It was the monks of the Catholic Church that kept Slovene alive over the centuries of relentless Germanization from the north. As a result Slovene survived in its unique form different than Serbo-Croatian to the south. Part of both the countryside and city architecture in the Julian Alps shares a lot in common with neighboring Austria, including countless roadside shrines and pretty baroque steeples, giving the interior of the nation a truly Alpine flavor. One could easily mistake parts of mountainous Slovenia for Tyrol, Salzburg or Bavaria. In modern times, industrial band **Laibach** (see box) has served to put Slovenia on the map. In the decades before them, Slavko Avsenik and his **Oberkrainer** (as known in German) did the same.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk005", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Climate\n\nMediterranean climate on the coast, mountain climate in the Alps with mild summers and freezing winters and continental climate with hot summers and freezing winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.\n\n### Terrain\n\nthumb|250px|right|Predjama Castle in Karst\n\nA short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an Alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east and Pannonian Basin in northeast. Central Ljubljana valley with Ljubljana marshes in the southern part. In the southwest there is the Karst (*Kras* in Slovene, *Carso* in Italian) (where the name for karst topography as a whole actually comes from). The Karst region is a barren but beautiful limestone region directly north of the Italian city of Trieste.\n *Natural hazards* – flooding and earthquakes\n *Highest point* – Triglav (2,864 m)\n *Lowest point* – Adriatic Sea (0 m)\n\n### Visitor information\n\nSlovenia Info", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk006", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Slovenian**, the national language, is spoken as the mother tongue by 91% of the population, but there are also small Italian (concentrated on the Primorska coast) and somewhat bigger Hungarian (in Prekmurje to the northeast) minorities. Historically, and prior to the end of World War II there was also a significant German speaking minority. Conversely, Slovenian is spoken in border regions of neighbouring countries.\n\nEnglish is widely spoken by younger adults who grew up after the fall of Yugoslavia. People who grew up during the Yugoslav era, on the other hand, usually speak no English. Many people you come into contact with as a tourist will speak English, and may have some functional knowledge of German, in particular in Eastern Slovenia, and of Italian in the coastal region where Italian is a co-official language. Serbo-Croatian is very closely related to Slovenian and widely understood.\n\nThe Slovenian school system heavily promotes the teaching of foreign languages from primary school onwards. Children study two foreign languages (most commonly English and German) by the time they get to grammar school. A typical grammar school often teaches an optional third foreign language, Spanish, Italian, or French. Many speak English well with older people speaking German. Some older people may speak Russian as it was a compulsory second language in schools for a few years after the World War II.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk007", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Ljubljana's train and bus station\nThe **Ljubljana Bus Station** (*Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana*) provides composite information about international and airport bus services.\n\nConnections between the Italian city of Trieste and nearby Koper and Piran are frequent on weekdays. There's also a daily bus between Trieste and Ljubljana. In addition, services between Gorizia (Italy) and its twin town of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) are at least hourly throughout the day although the journey is easily walkable. This offers an ideal connection between the Italian and Slovene railway networks or an alternative entry point from Trieste's Ronchi Airport or the city of Venice.\n\n### By plane\n\nLjubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is Slovenia's primary international airport.\n Maribor has Slovenia's second busiest airport, even if it had less than 10,000 passengers in 2016.\n\nThere are other options worth exploring in neighbouring countries. There are three Croatian airports within close proximity of the Slovene border: Zagreb () is a worthwhile point of entry to consider if you want to visit the eastern parts of Slovenia, while Pula () and Rijeka () are within a one-hour drive from most towns in southern and south-western Slovenia. In Italy, a convenient gateway, especially to western Slovenia, is the airport of Trieste (), a rapidly growing regional airport within an hour's drive from Ljubljana via super highway. Further away in Italy, Venice and Treviso () offer a vast array of destinations around the world. They can be good for day trips, though bus and railway connections between these airports and Slovenia are lackluster. Finally, the Austrian airports of Klagenfurt () and Graz () are also options for Northern Slovenia, though the flight offerings are limited.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk008", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Slovenia is well connected to Austria, Croatia and Hungary by train. The most popular routes connect from Vienna or Villach in Austria (in good weather, this journey past the Julian Alps is spectacular), from Budapest in Hungary, and from Zagreb in Croatia. All lines converge on the capital Ljubljana.\n\nItalian Railways operate a daily Trieste - Ljubljana train, and a daily Udine - Trieste - Ljubljana train. A 2nd class ticket costs €8 for Trieste-Ljubljana, and €15.60 for Udine-Ljubljana.\n\nSlovenia Railways (SŽ) is the national railway company. There are many international routes, and special offers exist for some destinations, so you should consider informing yourself about that in advance. There are destinations, which have tickets on contingency basis, meaning that they could run out fast, but are usually a lot cheaper, such as Ljubljana - Prague line (cooperation between SŽ and Czech railways), €58 for a return ticket (compared to a normal price of €200). For return trips originating in Slovenia, \"City Star\" tickets, which are open-dated, but usually require a weekend stay, are often the cheapest choicehttps://potniski.sz.si/en/international-travel/. Also, be aware that you also receive a discount with the Euro<26 youth card\nhttp://www.euro26.org on most international lines (of course the discount does not stack up if you already have a special deal). The same card also applies for all domestic lines, with a 30% discount.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk009", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "The quality and comfort of the trains on international routes varies significantly. The unwritten rule is that everything heading up north from Ljubljana has a pretty good standard. The trains usually have restaurants on board, with clean and modern toilets. The same can not be guaranteed for the lines heading south (such as Belgrade, Sofia, Skopje or Thessaloniki), so be sure to carry a supply of food and beverages on board (water and coffee is available in every sleeping compartment), when heading to or from Ljubljana from the Balkans, with the train. However, the express services which run to Zagreb (usually starting in Munich, Germany) are very high quality - but the price shows this.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Motorway A2 in Jesenice, near the Austrian border\nSlovenia has an excellent highway network connected to neighbouring countries. Slovenia demands that all vehicles with a permissible weight of up to 3.5 tons buy a vignette (road tax) before using motorways or expressways. For passenger vehicles, the vignette costs €15 for a week, €30 for a month, or for a year. For motorcyclists, this costs €7.50 per week, €25 for 6 months and for a year. Using motorways without a vignette will result in a fine of €300 or more. Vignettes are sold at the border, please remember to ask (the border agents are supposed to give you a flyer advising you to buy one, but they don't always do that. The posted signs advising you to buy a vignette are in Slovene only).\n\nTo drive from neighbouring countries, you can:\n\nvia A59 from Graz, Austria through Sentilj\n via SS14/NSA362 from Trieste, Italy\n via M7 from Nagykanizsa, Hungary \n via E70 from Zagreb, Croatia\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk010", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is a fast ferry between Venice and Izola, running with an irregular schedule mainly during the summer season (for the timetable see http://www.kompas-online.net/pages/CruisesFerries/prince.aspx ). The journey takes 3 hours.\n Venezialines run one fast ferry per week between Venice and Piran.\n During the summer months, there is a fast craft service operated by Trieste Lines between Trieste (Italy), Piran (Slovenia), Poreč (Croatia) and Rovinj (Croatia). The portion of the journey between Piran and Trieste lasts 30 minutes, which is pretty much the same as the same journey in a car.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk011", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|240px|Cyclists tour the region of Upper Carniola.\nSlovenia is a relatively small country and getting around is generally quick and painless. However, the explosive growth in car ownership has meant tougher times for public transport, and bus schedules in particular have been slashed, so some planning ahead is required. Services are sparse on Saturdays and very limited indeed on Sundays. A handy online planning tool for intercity public transportation is www.simo.si https://www.simo.si.\n\n### By train\n\nSlovenia's train network, operated by '''Slovenske železnice''' (SŽ) will get you to most destinations in the country, although there are some annoying gaps in the network and routes can be circuitous, so going from anywhere to anywhere usually requires a change at Ljubljana. Trains are, however, some 30% cheaper than buses and return discounts are available on weekends. Buy tickets before you board, as there's a surcharge for any tickets bought from the conductor—except if tickets are not sold at the station. A €1.50 surcharge also applies to any InterCity trains. Bicycle ticket is €1.5 (€3.5 for E-bicycle) and it is valid for whole calendar-day.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk012", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Quite a bit of money and effort has been put into modernizing the system and the newest trains are as nice as anything you'll find in Western Europe, and although rural stations are often quite basic, most stations are extremely well kept with flowers decorating the platforms throughout summer months. In particular, the name of the station is typically only visible on a single sign on the station building itself, so figuring out where you are means craning your neck a lot. Newer trains do have a voice announcement system that tells you to which station you are approaching. Trains are punctual (except some international ones), so check the expected arrival time and some previous station names to be sure where to get off. For figuring out your next train from a station; electronic signboards are a rarity (outside Ljubljana), but printed schedules are always available: *odhod* (yellow) means departures, while *prihod* (white) is arrivals, although this is usually indicated in both English and Slovene.\n\nMost of trains have free Wi-Fi.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses fill in the gaps, and are usually a better option for some towns not directly served from Ljubljana by train (e.g. Bled, Piran). Some bigger stations have handy electronic search engines for schedules and fares. Slovenia's leading long-distance bus companies are Arriva Slovenija and FlixBus.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|right|Standard speed limits in Slovenia\nTraffic is Slovenia's biggest safety risk. Accidents are caused by excessive speeds on motorways, excessive speeds on smaller roads, reckless overtaking and the narrowness of mountain and coastal roads combined with driving habits. The winter tyre ban is in force from 15 November to 15 March. The drink-driving limit is 0.5. Traffic police in Slovenia are not very visible.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk013", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Slovenia's roads are for the most part well maintained and well signposted, and you won't have a problem if you drive or hire a car. Having a car certainly does add a level of mobility and self-direction that you won't get by train or bus.\n\nThere are a number of car rental and taxi businesses in Ljubljana. The big international companies are all represented, but if you are on a budget, the local companies have some nice offers if you do not mind using a car which is a few years old.\n\nSlovenian railways also offer Motorail on some routes where you can take your car on the train and save the stress of driving.\n\nPhysical toll stickers have been replaced by the e-vignette. You must register your license plate online before entering the highway system.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk014", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "See", "text": "Slovenian cities leave no doubt about historic influence played by Austrian and Italian architecture: Ljubljana is not unlike Prague and Piran could be easily mistaken for a small Italian town. While cities are far from boring, the real Slovenian must-see is its diverse and unspoiled nature.\n\n250px|thumb|right|Ljubljana's Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square at night\n\n Visit the alpine resort of Bled and its romantic lake with an island, but continue towards Srednja vas to see some traditional villages, or hitch a ride to Pokljuka mountain, a good starting point for hikes into Julian Alps.\n Enjoy the 5.3 km ride through Postojna caves, the longest publicly accessible depth of any cave system in the world, with massive stalactites and stalagmites.\n After visiting the lively coastal town of Piran, a trip to the serene salt works of nearby Sečovlje will feel like stepping out of this world.\n Soča river is said to be one of the few rivers in the world to retain their emerald green color throughout its length. The Trenta valley, through which it flows before crossing to Italy, is also well worth seeing.\n Slovenian pint-size baroque capital Ljubljana is nice in any season but especially popular in December due to its abundant but tasteful decoration.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk015", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Hiking in Triglavski Narodni Park\n\nThere are many great opportunities for activity holidays in Slovenia: The mountains and rivers of the Julian Alps provide the perfect location for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and kayaking. The southern part of Slovenia is an area of numerous caves. You can enjoy different spa resorts in the eastern part, take a dive in the Adriatic Sea, experience the Slovene cities, go skiing, or enjoy in the countryside tasting Slovene cuisine and local wine. Since Slovenia is a small country, you can discover it in a few days. Therefore you can visit Ljubljana (the capital city), the Julian Alps, Karst region, alpine lakes within several days. A more detailed look at the country, however, requires much more time.\n\n **Adrenaline adventures** in the Posočje area, you can stay in Ljubljana and, in a short distance away, discover the amazing North-Western area of Slovenia called Posočje and Triglav National Park—canyoning (soteskanje), rafting and para-gliding are available. Because of the relatively new appearance of Slovenia on the national stage of extreme sports, these are much less expensive to participate in than other European countries, such as the UK or Switzerland. These activities are particularly prevalent in Bohinj, Bovec, Kranjska Gora, and other north-western cities.\n There are more than 8,000 known **caves** in Slovenia, including the tourist area of Postojna and the UNESCO listed Škocjan Caves.\n Take advantage of beautiful nature in the Alps and go **hiking**, **cross-country skiing**, **Nordic walking**, or **mountain biking**, weather permitting. If you do so, it may be worth investigating in a membership in the Slovenian Alpine Association (PZS), which gives a discount for accommodation at mountain huts run by member associations and includes an accident and rescue insurance.\n Visit of one many **spa resorts** in Slovenia.\n Visit the Slovene **seaside** and swim in the Adriatic Sea. Try local **seafood** and visit the towns of Piran and Portorož.\n Visit one of the golf courses in Slovenia.\n **Skiing** in the Julian Alps is popular in the winter. More popular ski resorts are: Kranjska Gora, Krvavec, Vogel, Rogla, Cerkno, Kanin, and Mariborsko Pohorje.\n Observe the magic of **Christmas**, characterized by dazzling lights, outdoor markets, seasonal food and a variety of cultural events, especially in historic towns.", "word_count": 370}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk016", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe euro replaced the Slovenian tolar (SIT).\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs are available countrywide, and it is generally good to have a card from providers like Visa or MasterCard. In smaller towns or villages ATMs become more sparse.\n\nHere are ATM fees of local banks for euro withdrawals:\n *Addiko Bank* – \n *Deželna banka Slovenije* – \n *Intesa Sanpaolo* – \n *UniCredit* – \n *skbbanka* – \n *NLB* – \n\n### Prices\n\nPrices are high compared to most of Eastern Europe (except Croatia), but lower compared to Italy or Austria. Although prices do vary quite a bit, it really depends on the location. For example, a beer (0.5L) in a pub in \"Stara Ljubljana\" (literally \"Old (Town) Ljubljana\") would cost you around €3, while a beer outside Ljubljana would cost around €1.80. A budget minded traveller can hold his own, if they are smart. For example buying your groceries in a large store (supermarket), such are Mercator, Tuš, Spar, Lidl, Hofer, E.Leclerc etc., will be likely cheaper than buying on the market, or in a small store, etc.\n\nA value-added tax (VAT) of 22% (with a reduced rate of 9.5% usually applied to food, including some soft drinks) is charged on most purchases—this is always included in the price displayed. Note that if you are not an EU resident, you are entitled to VAT tax return for purchases over a certain value. Ask the cashier to write down your name on your bill (*račun*, pronounced rah-CHOON) and show this bill when you leave Slovenia through Jože Pučnik (formerly Brnik) airport.\n\n### Tipping\n\nMost Slovenians do not feel that tipping is obligatory. They might round-up the bill to the next euro for convenience or, occasionally, tip for a truly exceptional service, but generally tipping is not practised.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk017", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "People from Slovenia's northern neighbour Austria come to Slovenia just for the food; with a mixture of Subalpine, Italian, Austrian, Hungarian and Balkan cuisine, most people will find something to their liking, unless they're strict vegetarians. Many claim that the pizza here is as good as or even better than in neighboring Italy.\n\n### Cuisine\n\nGenerally speaking, Slovenian food is heavy, meaty and plain. A typical three-course meal starts with a soup (*juha*), often just beef (*goveja*) or chicken (*piščančja*) broth with egg noodles (*rezanci*), and then a meat dish served with potatoes (*krompir*) and a vinegary fresh salad (*solata*). Fresh bread (*kruh*) is often served on the side and is uniformly delicious.\n\nCommon mains include cutlets (*zrezek*), sausage (*klobasa*) and goulash (*golaž*), all usually prepared from pork (*svinjina*), lamb (*jagnjetina*) and game (*divjačina*), but there is a large choice of fish (*ribe*) and seafood even further away from the coast. Popular Italian imports include all sorts of pasta (*testenine*), pizza (*pica*), ravioli (*ravioli*) and risotto (*rižota*). A major event in the countryside still today is the slaughtering of a pig from which many various products are made: blood sausage (*krvavica*), roasts (*pečenka*), stuffed tripe (*polnjeni vampi*), smoked sausage (*prekajena salama*), salami (*salama*), ham (*šunka*) and bacon (*slanina*). Recipes for the preparation of poultry (*perutnina*), especially turkey (*puran*), goose (*gos*), duck (*raca*) and capon (*kopun*), have been preserved for many centuries. Chicken (*piščanec*) is also common. Squid is fairly common and reasonably priced.\n\nUniquely Slovenian dishes are available, but you won't find them on every menu, so here are some to look out for:", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk018", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "*Kraški pršut* – Air-dried ham, similar to but not the same as Italian *prosciutto*\n *štruklji* – Dumplings which Slovenians prepare in 70 different ways stuffed with sweet fillings, meat or vegetables\n *žganci* – a type of porridge, usually from buckwheat, served with milk and pig cracklings\n *žlikrofi* – Potato dumplings similar to gnocchi, specialty of the Idrija region\n *jota* – A type of soup made of beans, sauerkraut, potatoes, bacon, spare ribs, and the main seasoning is garlic.\n\nSome Slovenian desserts can also be found:\n *potica* – A type of nut roll for holiday occasions also prepared with the widest variety of fillings.\n *prekmurska gibanica* – A very heavy cakelike pastry of poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, raisins, cheese etc.\n\n### Places to eat\n\nthumb|240px|A typical ''gostilna'', [[Kamnik]]\nAt the top of the food chain is the *restavracija* (restaurant), which could be a fancy restaurant with waiters and tablecloths or just a typical Chinese restaurant. More common in the countryside are the *gostilna* and *gostišče*, rustic inns serving hearty Slovene fare. Lunch sets (*dnevno kosilo*) cost around €7 for three courses (soup, salad and main) and the large portions are usually well worth the paltry cost.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk019", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Fast food is, invariably, cheap, greasy and (more often than not) terrible. It's best to steer clear of the local mutation of the hamburger, which is served up in grills and snack bars known as *okrepčevalnica*. There is no real Slovenian fast food, but Slovenians have adopted greasy Balkan grills like *pleskavica* (a spiced-up hamburger patty) and *čevapčiči* (spicy meatballs) are ubiquitous, but one of the more tasty if not healthy options is the Bosnian speciality *burek*, a large, flaky pastry stuffed with either meat (*mesni*), cheese (*sirni*) or apple (*jabolčni*), often sold for as little as €2. Many fast food places make *döner kebabs*, and they are among the most popular fast foods in Slovenia. It's very difficult to find a bad kebab in Slovenia, and they are sold in many places nationwide.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nSlovenia is not the best of destinations for a vegetarian, although even the smokiest inn can usually whip up a decent fresh salad (*solata*) and fried vegetables on request. Lacto-ovo vegetarians will have it easy in Slovenia, while strict vegans won't find more than a handful of vegan restaurants in the country (most of them in Ljubljana). It is wise to know that even the smallest store has its healthy food shelves with many non-animal alternatives. Many restaurants offer a \"vegetarian plate\", which includes potatoes, fresh or boiled vegetables and soya \"steak\", which is usually suitable for vegans.\n\nIn coastal cities, there is a paradise for pescetarians and seafood lovers. Local specialties are fish, squids, mussels, and octopus.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk020", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Drink", "text": "In proper Slovene style, all bases are covered for drinks and you can get very good Slovenian beers, wines and spirits. Tap water is generally drinkable.\n\n### Coffee and tea\n\nIn Slovenia, coffee (*kava*) usually means an espresso, and cafes (*kavarna*) are a common sight with a basic cup costing €1–1.50. One can also order coffee with milk (*kava z mlekom*) or whipped cream (*kava s smetano*). Coffee culture is widespread in Slovenia, and one can see Slovenes with friends sitting in the same café for hours. When invited to a cup of coffee at someone's home, expect Turkish coffee. Tea (*čaj*) is nowhere near as popular, and if they do drink it (mostly in the winter), Slovenes prefer all sorts of fruit-flavored and herbal teas over a basic black cup. Tea is served with honey and lemon by request.\nthumb|199x199px|Laško beer is everywhere\n\n### Beer\n\n**Beer** (*pivo*) is the most popular tipple and the main brands are **Laško** and **Union**. **Adam Ravbar** beer is good quality and is usually hard to find anywhere except in their small brewery (located in Domžale, a town about 10 km north of Ljubljana). A bottle or jug will cost you €2.50 in a pub (*pivnica*). Ask for *veliko* (large) for 0.5L and *malo* (small) for 0.3L. Also try \"Union Radler Grapefruit\", a refreshing mixture of beer and grapefruit juice.\n\n### Wine\n\nDespite what you might think if you've ever sampled an exported sickly sweet Riesling, Slovenian **wine** (*vino*) can be quite good — as in Germany, they keep the best stuff for themselves. Generally, the Goriška brda region produces the best reds and the drier whites (in a more Italian/French style), while the Štajerska region produces the best semi-dry to sweet whites, which cater more to the German/Austrian-type of palate. Other local specialities worth sampling are **Teran**, a very dry red from the Kras region, and **Cviček**, a red so dry and light it's almost a rosé. Wine is usually priced and ordered by the decilitre (*deci*, pronounced \"de-tsee\"), with a deci around €1 and a normal glass containing about two deci.\n\n### Spirits\n\nA Slovene brandy known as *žganje* or (colloquially) *šnops*, not unlike the Hungarian *palinka*, can be distilled from almost any fruit. *Medeno žganje* also known as *medica* has been sweetened with honey. *Vodka* is, as in most of Slavic nations, also very popular, especially among the younger generation.", "word_count": 399}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk021", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Mountain hut at Petrovo Brdo\nSlovenia has a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from five star hotels to secluded cottages in the mountains.\n\n### Hostels\n\nThere are hostels in all of the tourist destinations in Slovenia. The average price for a basic bed in a dorm is €10-20. Quite a few student dormitories (*dijaški dom*) are converted into hostels in the summer, but these tend to be poorly located and somewhat dingy.\n\nMountain Huts can be found in Triglav National Park, and they are very warm, welcoming and friendly. Information about these huts can be found at tourist information offices who will also help you plan your walks around the area and phone the hostels to book them for you. The only way to get to the huts is by foot, and expect a fair bit of walking up hills, as the lowest huts are around 700 m up. There are clear signs/information around stating how long it will take to travel to/between all the huts indicated in hours.\n\n### Tourist farms\n\nTourist farms can be found around Slovene countryside and usually they offer wide selection of traditional food, local wine, different sport activities etc. They also offer opportunities to experience real traditional countryside life.\n\n### Camping\n\nCamping is not permitted in the national parks of Slovenia, but there are various designated camping grounds. It's advisable to take a camping mat of some sort, as nice, comfortable grass is a luxury at camp sites and you're much more likely to find pitches consisting of small stones.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk022", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Learn", "text": "Slovenia has four universities, located in Ljubljana, Maribor, Koper, and Nova Gorica as well as several independent colleges (eg BSA Kranj, Bled).\n\nThe university in Ljubljana is the oldest, largest and most well-respected teaching institution in the country. The University of Ljubljana also contains 3 art academies: Theatre and Film; Music; Fine Arts. Various recognized international charts list the University of Ljubljana in the top 3% of universities worldwide.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk023", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Work", "text": "If you are a citizen of a country that is a part of the European Union or the EFTA, you may work in Slovenia without any restrictions whatsoever. Everyone else requires a work permit to work in the country. \n\nFinding work in Slovenia is a difficult endeavour, even for the Slovenes themselves. The labour market is so competitive that many Slovenes often move abroad for work. In addition, Slovenia isn't exactly thought of as a destination for building a career since it has a small population and a small economy. \n\nIt's possible for English-speaking graduates to get work in a Slovene school teaching English for around a year in a scheme similar to Japan's JET programme.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk024", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Mounted police in Ljubljana\nSlovenia is one of the safest countries you can visit, but be aware of your surroundings in parts of Ljubljana.\n\nThe nationwide emergency number is 112. To call police, dial 113. There are emergency telephones interspersed along the main motorways. You can find the closest SOS-phone by the arrows on the reflection posts.\n\nPeople may get a bit aggressive in crowded bars and discothèques, and it is not uncommon to be grabbed or groped.\n\nPetty theft can occur everywhere. Don't worry about it, just don't leave your watch on the car seat while you go kayaking.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk025", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "There are no unusual health concerns in Slovenia. Hygiene standards are high and **tap water** is potable.\n\nWhile in nature, always use tick repellents, due to the Borreliosis and Meningitis danger. Borreliosis is very widespread in the country.\n\nThere are two species of venomous adders in the Julian Alps. You are unlikely to be bitten, but if you are, you should seek medical help as antiserums are available (although actually seldom administered). In the forests in the south, you may encounter a bear; Slovenia contains the highest bear population in Europe, but attacks are very rare. Normally, in countries that have been domesticated for several thousand years, the indigenous wild fauna will be either very skittish or very comfortable with humans. It depends on the area you are in, of course, but use your head. If you go camping in the Julian Alps and bring a lot of sausage and bacon, chances are you will attract some unwanted visitors.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk026", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Slovenians are generally open and friendly, so don't hesitate to address people as those younger than 50 understand English and will be eager to help you. You will impress them if you try using some basic Slovenian words. Slovenian is rarely spoken by foreigners, so your effort will be appreciated and rewarded.\n\nSlovenians will insist when offering something, as \"no\" doesn't always mean \"no,\" they just think it's polite for you to refuse, and polite for them to insist. Don't worry unnecessarily, but still you should take some normal precautions to study your host first.\n\nSlovenians are proud for having preserved their national identity (especially the language) in spite of the pressures from neighboring nations in past centuries. Due to their economic success as well as historical and contemporary cultural bonds to Central Europe, they usually don't like their country to be described as part of \"Eastern Europe\". While Slovenian is closely related to Serbian and Croatian, it is not the same language. Another common misconception is that Slovenia was part of the Soviet Bloc, while it was in fact the northernmost country of Yugoslavia, which was neutral during the Cold War. You can, however, freely discuss these topics; just be aware that you can hear contrasting sides of the story, depending on who you talk to and his/her political affinity. There is still a strong division among leftists and rightists. Be careful if entering a discussion on open territorial issues with Croatia or on the Slovenian civil war during WWII and its aftermath. Consider these controversial topics a taboo.\n\nDue to Slovenia's history as part of Yugoslavia, resentment towards Serbia and Russia is high. Try to avoid being overly enthusiastic about either country, as it can quickly arouse strong emotions among locals. Also try not to get Slovenia mixed up with the similar-sounding Slovakia, as it can lead to embarrassment.\n\nThere is an active lesbian and gay scene in Slovenia. As elsewhere in this part of Europe, homosexuals are generally safe, although there have been a few reported attacks in the past. Be cautious in the evening and during the night, especially in cities. Women/girls holding hands are considered normal and a sign of friendship. Gay marriage was legalized in 2022.\n\nPractical advice:\n If you are invited to dinner at someone's home, bring a bottle of good wine. It's expected to give a compliment to a cook. Do it before you are asked if you liked the meal!\n Slovenians generally wear slippers at home, so take your shoes off when you enter. They will offer you slippers or insist you keep the shoes on. They'll normally be very gracious, knowing that you are a visitor and don't know all of their customs, but try not to be ignorantly callous.\n It's normal to shake hands when introduced to someone. Don't try to make a kiss when introduced, though in the younger generation, kissing and hugging is not uncommon between friends.\n The Slovenian Alps (especially the highest peak Triglav, named after a Slavic god) are a national symbol. Slovenia is the only country to have its highest peak on the national flag.\n It's common to greet people with *Dober dan* (Good day) when you meet in the mountains, and to say *Srečno* (Good luck) when you depart. There is a strong spirit of camaraderie in the mountains.\n It's also polite to say *Dober dan* to people passing by in small towns and villages.", "word_count": 572}
+{"chunk_id": "slovenia::chunk027", "doc_id": "slovenia", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumb|Internet cafe in Ljubljana\n\n### Telephone\n\nThe international calling code for Slovenia is 386, and the prefix for international calls is 00; the area code prefix is 0. Some number blocks are reserved for special use: 080 are toll-free numbers and 090 are commercial services, which are usually expensive.\n\nMobile networks use the common European frequencies (900 and 1,800 MHz for GSM/LTE and 2,100 MHz for 3G; 800 MHz is planned for LTE). Two major Slovenian mobile companies, Mobitel and Simobil, provide an excellent coverage in GSM and 3G, but 3G can be unavailable in mountainous regions. Roaming between European phone companies is becoming cheaper due to the EU regulation setting a maximum of €0.29 per minute for calls made and €0.09 for calls received, while calls to or from non-EU providers remain expensive. Slovenian pre-paid SIM cards are also available in supermarkets and gas stations.\n\nTelekom Slovenije operates around 3,500 phone booths. They unfortunately do not accept coins but require the use of cards costing €3–15.\n\n### Internet\n\nSlovenia is generally well covered by inexpensive broadband internet due to fierce competition between multiple companies. Internet cafes are thus common in cities and internet access is offered by most hotels and hostels.\n\nA free wireless internet network is also being set up in some cities by volunteers (Ljubljana, Maribor, Nova Gorica). You can use it if you have a computer or a WiFi enabled phone.\n\n### Postal Services\n\nThe offices of Pošta Slovenije are ubiquitous. Look for French horn-like signs on dark yellow background. Delivery takes one day within Slovenia, a few days within Europe and (usually) less than two weeks worldwide. DHL is also available.\n\n#### Postal rates\n\nInland postcard: **€0.69** (value of the **\"B\"** stamp)\n\nInland letter (up to 20 g): **€0.55** (value of the **\"A\"** stamp)\n\nInternational postcard / international letter (up to 20 g): **€1.22** (value of the **\"C\"** stamp)\n\nInternational airmail postcard / international airmail letter (up to 20 g): **€2.19**\n\nNewsagents or shops selling postcards usually sell stamps, too. If this is not the case, you can always buy them at a Post Office.\n\nFor airmail, you will have to go to the Post Office and ask for *prednostno*. You can pay directly at the counter or attach proper stamps.\n\nRates correct as of January 2021.", "word_count": 382}
diff --git a/corpus/slovenia/metadata.json b/corpus/slovenia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b224717d26defc322faa675b90b8644ee149a162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/slovenia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "slovenia",
+ "title": "Slovenia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Slovenia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Europe"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 6239,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 28,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/solomon-islands/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/solomon-islands/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8aa21f213ffe61a203d2dd98eba366b6e9a9d380
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/solomon-islands/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk000", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Solomon Islands** are a South Pacific archipelago east of Papua New Guinea. They sit in the sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea. There are six major islands and over 900 smaller islands. The Solomons offer all the great attractions of Melanesia. Idyllic island scenery with perfect sandy beaches and splendid nature —in their rainforest, lagoons and waterfalls. For those who like to dive, underwater life is as stunning as that above. There's an abundance of wildlife to discover and amazing, colourful cultural traditions to see.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk001", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nThe Solomon Islands are believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. It is believed that Papuan-speaking settlers began to arrive around 30,000 BC. Austronesian speakers arrived circa 4,000 BC, bringing cultural elements such as the outrigger canoe. It is between 1,200 and 800 BC that the ancestors of the Polynesians, the Lapita people, arrived from the Bismarck Archipelago with their characteristic ceramics.\n\nThe first European to visit the islands was the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, coming from Peru in 1568. The people of Solomon Islands were notorious for headhunting and cannibalism before the arrival of the Europeans. Missionaries began visiting the Solomons in the mid-19th century. They made little progress at first, because \"blackbirding\" (the recruitment of labourers through coercion, deception, or kidnapping for plantations in Queensland or Fiji, where they were paid poorly, if at all) led to a series of reprisals and massacres. The evils of the labour trade prompted the United Kingdom to declare a protectorate over the southern Solomons in June 1893.\nthumb|300px|View from Fenualoa towards Tinakula", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk002", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "Fierce fighting between the Americans and the Japanese took place in the Solomon Islands during World War II, including notably the Battle of Guadalcanal. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II took place on the islands between 1942-45. The impact of the war on islanders was profound. The destruction caused by the fighting and the longer-term consequences of the introduction of modern materials, machinery and western cultural artefacts, transformed traditional isolated island ways of life. The reconstruction was slow in the absence of war reparations and with the destruction of the pre-war plantations, formerly the mainstay of the economy. Significantly, Solomon Islanders' experience as labourers with the Allies led some to a new appreciation of the importance of economic organisation and trade as the basis for material advancement.\n\nSelf-government was achieved from the British Protectorate in 1976, and independence granted two years later on 7 July 1978. The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch, Charles III, as the head of state, and a governor-general representing the King in his absence, as well as a locally elected Prime Minister.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk003", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1998, rising civil unrest, violence, crime, and governmental corruption upended the stability of society. Waring groups fought for political power, access to jobs, land, and other resources centered in Honiara. In early 1999 long-simmering tensions between the local Guales (people from Guadalcanal) and more recent migrants from the neighbouring island of Malaita erupted into violence. In June 2003, an Australian-led multinational force, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), arrived and restored peace, disarmed ethnic militias and attempted to improve civil governance. Australia committed the largest number of peacekeeping personnel, but substantial numbers also came from other South Pacific countries such as New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. The military part of RAMSI began to withdraw in 2013, however, RAMSI only finalized their operations in the Solomon Islands as of 30 June 2017.\n\nThe bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. However, severe ethnic violence, resource mismanagement, the closing of key business enterprises, and an empty government treasury, and corrupt Ministers have led to serious economic disarray, nearing collapse. Tanker deliveries of crucial fuel supplies (including those for electrical generation) have become sporadic due to the government's inability to pay and attacks against ships. Telecommunications are threatened by the nonpayment of bills and by the lack of technical and maintenance staff, many of whom have left the country.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk004", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 2019, the Solomon Islands severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognised the People's Republic of China instead. This has re-ignited inter-island tensions, with the strongly pro-Taiwan province of Malaita declaring their intention to secede. Things came to a head in 2021 when pro-Taiwan protesters from Malaita rioted and burnt down Honiara's Chinatown, with the Australian military having to be called in to restore order. In 2022, in a move strongly opposed by the United States and Australia, the Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with China that allowed China to deploy their military at the request of the Solomon Islands government to perform policing duties.\n\n### Geography\n\nThe Solomon Islands is a wide nation: distance between the westernmost and easternmost islands is about 1,500 km (930 mi). The Santa Cruz Islands (of which Tikopia is part), are situated north of Vanuatu and are especially isolated at more than 200 km (120 mi) from the other islands. Bougainville is geographically part of the Solomon Islands, but of Papua New Guinea for now, although it is set to become independent by 2025.\n\nThe Solomon Islands archipelago is part of two distinct terrestrial ecoregions. Most of the islands are part of the Solomon Islands rain forests ecoregion. These forests have come under great pressure from forestry activities. The Santa Cruz Islands are part of the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion, together with the neighboring archipelago of Vanuatu. More than 230 varieties of orchids and other tropical flowers brighten the landscape. The islands contain several active and dormant volcanoes with Tinakula and Kavachi being the most active. The highest point is Mount Makarakomburu, at 2,447 metres. Many low lying coral atolls dot the region.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk005", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "The country is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the point of collision of several tectonic plates. There are a number of active volcanoes, and eruptions are frequent. Earthquakes are relatively common, sometimes accompanied by tsunamis.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe islands' ocean-equatorial climate is extremely humid throughout the year, with a mean temperature of 27 °C (80 °F) and few extremes of temperature or weather. June through August is the cooler period. Though seasons are not pronounced, the northwesterly winds of November through April bring more frequent rainfall and occasional squalls or cyclones. The annual rainfall is about 3050 mm (120 in).\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVisit Solomon Islands website", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk006", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Talk", "text": "The islands are home to roughly 68 indigenous Melanesian languages, with most citizens speaking Pijin as a lingua franca. English is the official language, but spoken by only 1 or 2% of the population.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk007", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Yellow: visa on arrival; green: visa free access\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nthumb|Entry stamp\nEveryone needs a passport, onward ticket, and sufficient funds to cover their stay in the Solomon Islands. Since October 2016, EU citizens do not require a visa.\n\nCitizens of the following nationalities can get visitor's visas on arrival:\nAmerican Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, French Polynesia, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.\n\nCitizens of China (mainland only) may visit the Solomon Islands without a visa for up to 30 days, and may spend no more than 90 days in total \nin the Solomon Islands in any 180-day period.\n\nCitizens of other countries except Belarus, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Montenegro, Palestinian Territories, Serbia, South Africa, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Vatican, Zimbabwe can obtain a visa on arrival if they have a confirmation that a visa has been approved before departure. \n\nIf you have a visitor's permit, you are not allowed to engage in work, business, religious vocations, or professional research. If you wish to do any of those things, you must get a business permit.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe Solomon Islands has two major airports. **Honiara International Airport** is 11 km (7 miles) east of the capital, Honiara. Scheduled flights depart from Brisbane, Australia most days. There are also flights between Port Vila, Nadi, Port Moresby, and Sydney.\n\nThere is also **Munda Airport** in the Western Province, next to the town of Munda.\n\n### By sea\n\nCruise ships occasionally visit Honiara.\n\nIt is also possible to travel from southern Bougainville in Papua New Guinea by boat into the Solomon Islands western province, as locals routinely travel between the Solomons' Shortland Islands and Bougainville.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk008", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Auki Ferry\n\nThis runs most days from Honiara Wharf to Auki on the island of Malaita across the Slot from Honiara. In 2012 the fare as SI$300 one way or SI$580 return. The ferry travels through the Florida Islands channel which is worth seeing and there's a high chance you'll see plenty of flying fish if you look off the front or sides of the boat. The catamaran ferry is a former Auckland Harbour ferry so is not designed to be ocean-going. This means that when it's rough, it's rough so be prepared. The ferry has plenty of comfortable seating, air conditioning and a big flat screen which shows films during the journey. You can buy drinks and snacks on the ferry although it's best to buy this on the way out from Honiara as supplies run low once the boat is heading back. There is a toilet.\n\nBoarding is at 07:30 for an 08:00 departure. Buy your ticket from a vehicle parked outside the jetty gate in the wharf car park. It'll be the one swamped with people getting tickets at 07:30. Boat stops in Tulagi (09:30) in Florida Islands and leaves ten minutes later for Boromole (arr. 10:30) which has a beautiful beach and water. It reaches Auki at 12:30 and leaves to return to Honiara via the same route at 14:00 (boarding from 13:30). Return to Boromole is 15:30 and Tulagi at 04:30 before arrival in Honiara at sunset or around 18:00.\n\n### Fly\n\nSolomon Airlines offers numerous flights around the islands.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk009", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|300px|Children in Tuo Village, Fenualoa\n\nHighlights include the lovely and huge **Lake Te'Nggano**, dramatically surrounded by high cliffs, once the reefs around this old lagoon. \n\nEven more famous is the **Langa Langa Lagoon**, whose waters are brown rather than bright blue, life here is slow and peaceful, with locals working on their traditional handicrafts and classic canoes making their silent way through the water.\n\nIt's also one of the places where you can see the **artificial islands** this country is known for. Some date back to the 16th century, but new ones are created even now, using stones and coral materials. \n\nFollow the slightly challenging but beautiful path to the bubbling mud of the **Reoka hot springs** or, for serious hikers, consider a 2-day hike to the top of the volcano **Kolombangara**. Easier but more beautiful is the path to the **Mataniko Falls**, with underlying caves that served as a hide-out for soldiers in World War II, and the **Tenaru Falls**. They are close to **Honiara**, the country's capital, and also home to the **National Museum and Culture Centre**. \n\n'''East Rennell''' is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n\n**Skull Island** is a tiny islet is accessible from Lola Island, which is one of the most sacred areas in the Solomon Islands. It is visited by tourists, and offers an insight into the history of headhunting. It also has a shrine which houses the skulls of vanquished Rendovan chiefs.\n\nThe Solomon Islands were used as a battleground between Japanese and American forces during the Pacific War. Most of its **war relics** can still be seen on land and underwater, including tanks, plane wrecks, shipwrecks and guns.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk010", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Do", "text": "- Ontong Java Atoll", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk011", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of the country is the **Solomon Islands dollar**, denoted by the symbol \"**SI$**\" (ISO currency code: **SBD**). The currency is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes are issued in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, and coins issued in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2, with only the 5 cent coin being absent.\n\nATMs are available in Honiara. Australian dollars are accepted at some hotels and resorts, and in some cases, preferred as it was once the official currency before 1977.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk012", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Eat", "text": "Allow SI$35 for a meal in the basic restaurant. Tips are not customary.\n\nThe archipelago's food differs little from that of other South Pacific islands. There's poi, fermented taro and the usual tropical fruit mix. An important source of starch is cassava. The tuna caught here, also an important export product, is often served with chillies and pasta or rice. Especially in the shops in the country you often only find canned spam or tuna.", "word_count": 75}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk013", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Drink", "text": "The local brewery is *Solbrew*, which is made near the capital.", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk014", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|300px|Coral reef by Gizo\n\n**Earthquakes**\n\nThe Solomon Islands are located along the Pacific \"Rim of Fire\" and prone to **earthquakes**—including some rather large quakes! An **8.1 magnitude** quake in 2007 off Ghizo Island (in the New Georgia Islands) resulted in a tsunami up to 12 m, killing 52. An **8.0 magnitude** quake in 2013 near the Santa Cruz Islands resulted in a 1 m tsunami (fortunately, the epicenter was deep enough underground that a large tsunami wasn't generated) that killed fewer than 10 people. Quakes above a magnitude 7.0 occur rather frequently (every year or two). Should you experience an earthquake, immediately seek higher ground.\n\n**Crime**\n\nWhile not as bad as neighbouring Papua New Guinea, crime rates in the Solomon Islands are high. Travel after dark is dangerous, especially in Honiara. Muggers have been known to target tourists at the Japanese War Memorial on Mt Austin even in broad daylight.\n\n**Ethnic tension** between Guales (residents of Guadalcanals) and Malaitans, as well as between Islanders and the Chinese, continues to simmer. Australian troops have been in place since 2003 to keep things in check, but this did not prevent violent rioting in Honiara in 2006 from destroying large parts of the city.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk015", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Malaria** is the biggest health issue in the Solomon Islands. Travellers to the area should take anti-malarial pills before, during and after their stay.\n\n**Saltwater Crocodiles** are relatively common (in comparison to other islands in the South Pacific) in the Solomon Islands and great care should be taken while in or near **any** body of water. Knowledge is the best defense for yourself and for the protection of the crocs themselves. While by no means anywhere even close to crocodile levels in Northern Australia and New Guinea, the population is still considered relatively healthy on the Solomons in comparison to much of the species' Southeast Asian range. This is especially true of the islands closest to New Guinea, which hold the highest populations in the Solomons.\n\nVisitors are advised not to drink the **water** straight from the tap. Boil it first or drink bottled water.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "solomon-islands::chunk016", "doc_id": "solomon-islands", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are 2 cellular providers on the island Our Telekom and Bmobile. More info here. Since it's a nation of islands all internet is routed through satellite making connections slow. There is Wi-Fi at some hotels and restaurants.", "word_count": 38}
diff --git a/corpus/solomon-islands/metadata.json b/corpus/solomon-islands/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..295627b2481e9dd38caa60057748120da62911e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/solomon-islands/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "solomon-islands",
+ "title": "Solomon Islands",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Solomon_Islands",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Melanesia"
+ ],
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+ "go_next": [],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
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diff --git a/corpus/south-africa/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/south-africa/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6134be553dd7a2450343408e6dc13a470b642cff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-africa/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk000", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Overview", "text": "**South Africa** is a superb destination rich in culture, fauna, flora and history. Africa's southernmost country is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 12 official languages, and an equally diverse population and is often known as the \"Rainbow Nation\".", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk001", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Regions", "text": "South Africa is divided into 9 provinces:\n\n### Territories\n\n , more commonly known as Marion Island (the largest of the two) - two small islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean. Access is restricted to research and conservation management.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk002", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|Kimberley and the Big Hole\n\n – the administrative capital of the country. Home to numerous embassies as well as three universities.\n – the legislative capital and seat of Parliament. A world-class city named for its proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. Also within a stone's throw of South Africa's winelands. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, nestled between the sea and Table Mountain, it is a popular summer destination by domestic tourists and those from abroad. The heart of the Cape Coloured and Cape Malay communities.\n – the judicial capital, home to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters.\n – largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, third largest in South Africa, the heart of South Africa's Indian community, and a popular coastal holiday destination for South Africans.\n – the economic heart of South Africa and the most common entry point into Southern Africa.\n – capital of the Northern Cape Province. Famous for its diamonds and the \"Big Hole\".\n (formerly known as *Pietersburg*) – capital of Limpopo and a good jump off point for visits to the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and Zimbabwe.\n – coastal city in the Eastern Cape with Port of Ngqura (a deepwater harbour) and Addo Elephant National Park located close by.\n – located in the arid Northern Cape province, this city is a good base when exploring the Kalahari desert and the national parks located in the Northern Cape.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk003", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "### National parks\n\nthumb|Rhino on a private reserve in Mpumalanga\n\nSouth Africa is a paradise for anyone interested in natural history. A wide range of species (some potentially dangerous and endangered) may be encountered in parks, farms, private reserves and even on the roads.\n is an exceptionally well managed and favourite tourist destination.\n in the heart of the Kalahari desert with wide open spaces and hordes of games including the majestic 'Gemsbok'. This is the first park in Africa to cross international borders.\n There are also a large number of smaller parks, like the , , , or the .\n\nSee African Flora and Fauna and South African National Parks for additional information. There are hiking trails available in almost all the parks and around geographical places of interest, Hiking in South Africa contains information on those.\n\n### [[UNESCO World Heritage List#South Africa|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]]\n\n The near Johannesburg is a must see for anyone interested in where it all started. A large collection of caves rich in hominid and advanced ape fossils.\n just off the coast from Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.\n The Cape Floral Region in the Western Cape\n \n Mapungubwe Kingdom in the North-West\n Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape in the Northern Cape\n for its landscape, biodiversity and rock art.\n Dome, remnants of the largest and oldest meteorite impact crater.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk004", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "If you want to travel in southern Africa then South Africa is a good place to start. While you can fly into any country in southern Africa, most flights will route through South Africa anyway. South Africa is also a good place to get used to travelling in the region.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk005", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although some rural parts of South Africa remain among the poorest and the least developed parts of the world and poverty in certain areas of townships can be appalling and squatter camps can grow overnight, progress is being made. The process of recovering from apartheid, which lasted almost 46 years, is quite slow. In fact, South Africa's United Nations Human Development Index, which was slowly improving in the final years of apartheid, has declined dramatically since 1996, largely attributed to the AIDS pandemic, but also due to maladministration and squandering of state resources which led to an increase in the poverty rate and ever-widening income disparity between rich and poor. South Africa boasts a well-developed state and privately funded infrastructure and keeps up to date with all the modern amenities and technologies. National quality standards of construction, roads, technologies, goods manufacture, medicine and hospitals, communications and IT, aeronautics, banking, brokerage and investment, beverage and food chain quality are on a par with the best worldwide. The government is stable, although corruption has become prevalent in certain areas such as immigration officials at land border posts demanding a fee for stamping any passports or home affairs personnel dealing with visas and permits, traffic enforcement officers trying their luck and crime syndicates buying their way out of trouble. Bigger business may bribe high placed government. The government and the primary political parties generally have a high level of respect for democratic institutions and human rights while the press is free and uncensored and the judicial system and constitutional court are fully independent.\n\nDespite structural governance problems the country faces, South Africa remains the strongest and most diversified economy in Africa, and is the only African country to be a member of the elite G-20 group of major economies.\n\n### Economy", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk006", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "South Africa is renowned for its wines and fruits. Its agriculture output keeps the nation roughly self-sufficient in food, with maize, sugarcane and sunflower oil being major crops. Sea fishing and processing are increasingly important. It is the world's largest producer of platinum and its family group metals and a major producer of gold, iron, coal, diamonds, nickel, chromium, aluminium, stainless steel and uranium, among others. It also manufactures many industrial products and is a pioneer in the production of synthetic fuels. It maintains sizable armed force and is an influential player in African politics.\n\nAll that said, the economy has more potential than has been realised, as reflected in a 35% unemployment rate, which many South Africans and foreign observers agree is due to mismanagement and corruption. However, the new administration, in power since early 2018, campaigned on cleaning up governance and management and has already taken concrete steps to do so. Another important challenge the state is trying to tackle is a \"brain drain\" which has worsened since 2000 and includes all types of skilled professionals from doctors and engineers to artisans and teachers.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk007", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). It is a relatively dry country within the interior and the Kalahari Desert proof of this, particularly in the Northern Cape and north west Atlantic region. The two major river systems are the Limpopo, running easterly along the northern border and the Orange river, running roughly from the central regions southwestwards to the Atlantic Ocean. The Drakensberg Mountain range runs from the lower Eastern Cape to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini with elevations exceeding 3000 metres (Mafadi is 3450m). The Highfelt and Platterland regions of Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Northwest, range between 1200 and 1800 metres altitude and is home to some of the best wildlife conservation reserves in the world. The coastal areas from the southern Cape and farmland region, up the Indian Ocean seaboard all the way to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eswatini and Mozambique borders, provide the country with the densest green regions.\n\n### History", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk008", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The tip of Africa has been home to the **Khoikhoi** (*collective name for Hottentot **(derogatory)**), **Bushmen** (San)* and **Bantu** people for thousands of years. **Khoisan** or according to the contemporary Khoekhoegowab orthography **Khoesān** (pronounced: [kxʰoesaːn]), is an artificial catch-all name for the so-called \"non-Bantu\" indigenous peoples of Southern Africa**,** combining the *Khoekhoen*(formerly \"Khoikhoi\") and the *Sān* or Sākhoen (also, in Kitchen Dutch: *Boesmans*, or in English: *Bushmen).* Rock art believed to be of Khoisan tribes can still be found in many places throughout the South Africa. It is thought that Bantu tribes may have started to slowly expand into the northernmost areas of what is today South Africa more than 2,500 years ago the different cultural groups as we know them today had been established in the areas to the north, east, east central and south east of South Africa. The desert and semi-desert areas of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, as well as the western parts of the Eastern Cape province remained unsettled by the Bantu as the arid climate, limited seasonal rainfall, sparse vegetation, scarcity of natural resources and water could not sustain large migrations of people and herds of cattle.\n\nNguni Cattle were the primary livestock reared by the Bantu and fulfilled numerous cultural and economic functions within the tribal society while growing numbers of Bantu populations settled within green fertile areas. Cattle remains to this day a status symbol and served as a rudimentary currency and basic unit of exchange with a mutually agreeable value between bartering parties, thus fulfilling the function of money.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk009", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The regions of the Karoo, Cape Peninsula, the Kalahari, Namaqua, Graqua and Bushman land gradually become \"Khoisan\" territory in South Africa. In these mostly dry areas, the \"Khoisan\" being already semi-nomadic, are believed to have not permanently settled as conditions of searching desert game and dwindling water sources during winter months, consequently determined their own migration. Not until the Boer \"Voortrekkers\" keen to avoid conflict with the Bantu (see next paragraph) came into these areas and established boreholes and containment ponds, could any permanent settlements be established in these regions.\n\nIn the southeast, the Zulu Kingdom would grow into a powerful kingdom under King Shaka, who ruled from 1816-1828, and was also known for being a brilliant warrior and military commander.\n\nToday, with more reliable sources of water and modern methods of water conservancy, the agricultural activity remains limited mainly to sheep and ostrich ranching as these animals are better suited to the sparse feed and limited water.\n\n#### Colonialism", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk010", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The [[Port Elizabeth]] City Hall was built between 1858 and 1862 by the British. \nThe Portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Dias is the first known European to have rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. 10 years later, Vasco da Gama made his first voyage to India, but the Portuguese ignored the Cape of Good Hope as a stopover base; the first permanent European settlement was built at Cape Town by the Dutch East India Company in April 1652. In the late 1700s, the *Boers* (*the settling farmers*) slowly started expanding first westward along the coastline and later upwards into the interior. By 1795, Britain took control of the Cape, as a consequence of the Napoleonic wars on the Dutch, and in 1820, a large group of British settlers arrived in the region, disrupting the Dutch Boers way of life. In 1835, large numbers of *Boers* known as the \"Voortrekkers\" (pioneers) started out on the *Groot Trek* (the great migration) northwards into the interior after becoming dissatisfied with the British rule. In the interior, they established their own internationally recognized Oranje Free State and Transvaal republics. Meanwhile, the British would defeat the Zulu Kingdom in the Anglo-Zulu War 1879, thus establishing colonial rule over the Zulu people.\n\n#### Modern history", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk011", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the discovery of large deposits of diamonds in Kimberley and gold in the Transvaal, two wars for control over the region were orchestrated by English investment interests to cause the fight between the *Boer Republics* and the British in 1880 and 1899, to alienate control of the mineral resources from the \"Boers\" hands. The second war occurred after British settlers flooded into the area surrounding Johannesburg known as the \"Witwatersrand\" (white water escarpment) in response to the discovery of gold in 1886. The Second Boer War (Afrikaans: *Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog* or 'Second War of Independence') was particularly brutal, as the British administration imprisoned the Boer civilian population in concentration camps, resulting in one of the earliest recorded genocides. With the victory at any cost and scorched earth policy, most Boer farms, livestock, crops and homesteads were also largely destroyed. Ironically, this war was the first to be captured on motion pictures, with the resulting screenings causing public opinion in the UK to turn against the British Army's inhumane treatment of prisoners in the camps.\n\nAfter peace was restored by the 1902 Treaty of Vereeniging, the *Union of South Africa* was formed in 1910, consolidating the various *Boer* republics and British colonies into a unified state as a member of the British Commonwealth, contributing significantly to World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, with raw materials, arms production and soldiers. In 1961, the Republic of South Africa under the apartheid regime, was formed and SA exited the Commonwealth. Non-Europeans were largely excluded from these political changes as they had received sovereign lands in which to live under self-rule, in accordance with their own tribal legal system and hierarchical form of government.\n\nthumb|Nelson Mandela's prison cell on [[Robben Island]]", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk012", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1948, the National Party came to power. The NP introduced numerous *apartheid* laws to give a national/tribal, independent and sovereign \"homeland\" to each of the various tribes within South Africa, who were frequently engaged in raids and border wars against each other. The laws also implemented a system of institutionalised, or systematic, racial segregation and discrimination, and ensured a continuation of white minority rule over the black majority, and over Indian, Coloured and other minority groups. This move was welcomed by the majority of the different tribal kings and chieftains, as most of the tribes sought self-governance. But soon, apartheid became practically synonymous with racism and oppression as millions of non-white people were forced to leave their homes under housing policies that enforced racial segregation. The African National Congress (ANC) was banned and forced into exile for conducting and plotting terrorist activities. Other political parties that were considered 'dangerous' and 'subversive' were also banned by the South African government during this time, while free-thinking individuals and unaffiliated anti-apartheid activists of all races were also harassed, ostracised, imprisoned or murdered. Meantime, the refining of the apartheid system became insidious and very efficient, as victims won small legal battles in court, the regime used its parliament majority to pass new laws to close legal loopholes, creating a vicious circle of moving judicial goal posts to suit their objectives, therefore, tying up sympathetic high officials and judges hands to keep everything \"legal\". South Africa in its attempt to keep apartheid going, used the cold war and communist danger as an excuse to bypass UN sanctions and violently suppress civil disobedience within and on the former German colony of \"South West Africa\" (Namibia), invaded Angola, supported UDI Rhodesia and aided anti-government armed insurrections in post-colonial Mozambique and Angola.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk013", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Republic, despite experiencing rapid infrastructure development and strong economic growth until the late 1980s, also experienced frequent domestic uprisings in response to the apartheid laws. During this time the international community also increased political pressure mechanisms and trade embargoes against South Africa, and banned its athletes from competing in the Olympic Games and most other international sporting competitions.\n\nBy the late 1980s, many white citizens began to recognize that change was inevitable, seeing as international sanctions and internal strife were beginning to take a severe toll on South Africa. Thus, moderates within the security services, armed forces and the National Party followed the white liberals' lead and began quietly reaching out to ANC leaders to negotiate how to dismantle apartheid, which started with the freeing of political prisoners in 1990.\n\nPolitical violence worsened during the early 1990s as extremists of all kinds attempted to derail ANC-NP peace talks in favor of their own visions of the future of South Africa. In 1992, 73% of the eligible white population voted in a referendum to have the *apartheid* system abolished. This was quickly followed by a new constitution in 1993 and the nation's first truly all-inclusive democratic election set for April 1994, in which all voting-age South African citizens were allowed to vote regardless of their ethnic and cultural background. Former political prisoner Nelson Mandela became the country's first democratically elected president. The ANC won a 63% majority and proceeded to form a Government of National Unity with the NP.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk014", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Despite much hope for a \"rainbow nation\" as Nelson Mandela envisioned following the end of apartheid, South Africa's economy began to take a turn for the worse after Mandela stepped down in 1999 and Thabo Mbeki succeeded him. Mbeki would invite controversy by calling into question the causal relationship between HIV and AIDS, instead believing that AIDS was caused by poverty. Mbeki banned anti-retroviral drugs from South African hospitals, leading to countless premature deaths of HIV-positive patients. Mbeki would be forced to resign in September 2008, and he would eventually be succeeded by Jacob Zuma in May 2009. As Zuma grew up in poverty and never received any formal education, the masses of poor black South Africans were initially hopeful that he could empathise with them and enact policies to alleviate poverty. However, Zuma's tenure would be plagued with massive corruption scandals, and he was forced to resign in February 2018. Zuma was succeeded by Cyril Ramaphosa, who has promised to fight corruption, revitalise the economy and close the massive wealth gap, though whether or not his policies will prove successful remains to be seen.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk015", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "While affirmative action policies have resulted in the formation of an elite black upper class, much of the black population continues to live in poverty with no access to proper sanitation facilities or good schools. This has caused significant racial tensions, with some extremists in the black community proposing depriving the white community of their properties without compensation for re-distribution to black people as restitution for the atrocities committed under colonialism and apartheid. On the other hand, many right-wing whites blame the black majority for mismanaging the country after power was handed over to them. The Indian and Coloured communities, who were also discriminated against under apartheid but to a lesser extent than the black community, also harbour some degree of resentment for not being eligible for affirmative action policies, often using the moniker \"not white enough then, not black enough now\". Similarly, the Khoisan people, despite having settled in South Africa long before the arrival of the black Bantu peoples, have been largely left out of the post-Apartheid affirmative action policies, resulting in some degree of resentment against the Bantu-dominated government.\n\n### People", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk016", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "Modern South Africans are very diverse, with many different ethnicities making up the population numbers. Nevertheless, besides the Xhosa, Venda, Shangane, Sotho, amongst others, the Zulu people constitute the largest group with approximately 20% of the total. There are also two main ethnic groups among white South Africans; the Afrikaners, who are descended from Dutch settlers and form the majority of white community, and Anglo-South Africans, who are descended from British settlers. South Africa is also home to the largest Jewish community in Africa, mostly Ashkenazi Jews of Lithuanian ancestry. This melting pot of people also includes sizable numbers of other Africans, Asian and European descendants, with Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, Malawians, Middle Eastern, Indians, Malays, Chinese, Portuguese, Greek, English, Italian and many mixed peoples, to name a few contributing to a true rainbow nation. The existence and survival in Southern Africa of the ancient Khoikhoi and San peoples, their culture, language and traditions, provides a window into a way of life largely gone unchanged for more than 10,000 years. By and large, the vast majority of its people irrespective of background, colour or creed, are friendly, helpful and a bit curious about visitors while good manners and respect go a long way towards an enjoyable rapport.\n\n### Retirement destination", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk017", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The South African immigration regulations provide a special *temporary residence permit* system that after some years can be elevated to a *permanent residence status*. This allows older or retired foreigners in an otherwise good health condition, with a certain level of legally obtained steady income or pension and in possession of a clean criminal record certificate, to settle down and buy property locally in their retirement. Such an opportunity may be attractive to Northern Europeans seeking sunny mild weather in a country that offers the best of both worlds by being very cosmopolitan and at the same time, keeping African traditions very much alive, and with a much lower cost of living, given the advantageous exchange rates while being in approximately the same time zone of country of origin. Such permit holders are treated like all South Africans nationals from a legal stand point, thus, subjected to all laws and regulations governing the nation.\n\n### Place names\n\nMany region, city, street and building names in South Africa have been changed after the end of apartheid and some of them are still being changed today. These changes can sometimes lead to confusion as many of the new names are not yet well known. This travel guide will use the official new names, but also mention the previous names where possible.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate in South Africa ranges from desert and semi-desert in the north west of the country to sub-tropical on the eastern coastline. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, except in the Western Cape where the rains come in the winter. Rainfall in the Eastern Cape is distributed evenly throughout the year. Winter temperatures hover around zero, summers can be very hot, in excess of 35 °C (95 °F) in some places.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk018", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The South African Weather Service provides up to date weather information, forecasts and radar imaging.\n\n### Sport\n\nFootball, cricket, rugby union and track and field athletics are the most supported and participated national sports. South African swimming, cycling and tennis produce some world-class athletes from time to time. In 2010, South Africa hosted the first FIFA World Cup to be held on the African continent. South Africa was also host of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the only edition of that tournament to be held in Africa.\n\n### Public holidays\n\nThe public holidays in South Africa are:\n **New Year's Day** (1 January)\n **Human Rights Day** (21 March)\n **Easter weekend** A 4-day long weekend in March or April consisting of \"Good Friday\", \"Holy Saturday\", \"Easter Sunday\" and \"Easter Monday\", the dates are set according to the Western Christian tradition.\n **Freedom Day** (27 April)\n **Workers Day** (1 May)\n **Youth Day** (16 June)\n **Woman's Day** (9 August)\n **Heritage Day** (24 September)\n **Day of Reconciliation** (16 December) - *see Bloodriver*.\n **Christmas Day** (25 December)\n **Day of Goodwill** (26 December)\n*If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the following Monday will also be a public holiday.*\n\nThe school year is divided into four terms. School holidays occur early December to the middle of January, early in April, middle June to the middle of July and in late September. Most South Africans go on leave during these times and accommodation will be harder to find. The main holiday period is in mid-summer (December-January).\n\nthumb|The Protea is the national flower of South Africa\n\n### Tourism information\n\nSouth African Tourism operates a number of offices in other countries. Check their website, or contact the office in your country for any additional information or assistance.\n - Angola\n\n- Australia\n\n- China\n\n- France\n\n- Germany\n\n- India", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk019", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Understand", "text": "- Italy\n\n- Japan\n\n- Netherlands\n\n- United Kingdom\n\n- United States", "word_count": 12}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk020", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Talk", "text": "South Africa has 12 official languages, namely Afrikaans, Southern Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Swazi, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, English and Sign Language.\n\nAfrikaans is the mother tongue of the majority of the white and Coloured population, a first language of 14% of the population, spoken by 30%. Referring to this language as 'African' is very incorrect as South African corresponds with the native African languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, etc. (and of course, there are thousands of languages in Africa, so no single language can be called 'African'). Afrikaans has roots in 17th-century Dutch dialects, so it can be understood by Dutch speakers and sometimes deciphered by German speakers.\n\nOther languages with many speakers are Zulu (23/46%; mainly in KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa's largest single linguistic group) and Xhosa (16/33%; mainly in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape), Pedi (9/23%), Tswana (8/20%), Sotho (8/20%) and Tsonga (5/10%).\n\n**English** is the *lingua franca* and spoken as a second language by most urban South Africans, but as a first language only by a minority of the white community (over all: 10%/33%). English proficiency can be limited in rural black communities. South African English primarily follows British spelling and vocabulary choices, but is also heavily influenced by Afrikaans and, to a lesser extent, other South African languages.\n\nA few words you may encounter are:\n *eish* — as in, \"eish, it's hot today\", \"eish, that's expensive\" or \"eish, that's too far to drive\"\n *lekker* — nice, enjoyable\n *howzit* — how is it? (generally a rhetorical question)\n *yebo* — yes\n *boet*, *bru*, *china* or *ou* — brother or man (equivalent to *dude* or *bro*)\n *koppie* — a small hill (can also mean a cup)\n *Madiba* — Nelson Mandela\n *Molo* — Hello (in Xhosa)\n *robot* — traffic light\n *tannie* — (auntie) respectful term for an older woman\n *oom* — (uncle) respectful term for an older man\n *tinkle* — phone call\n *just now* — sometime soon (from Afrikaans \"net-nou\")\n *now now* — sooner than just now! (from Afrikaans \"nou-nou\", pronounced no-no)\n *braai* — barbecue.\n *cheers* — used for saying good-bye, as well as saying thank you and for the occasional toast.\n *heita* — hello\n *sharp* — (usually pronounced quickly) OK\n *sure-sure* more pronounced like sho-sho — correct, agreement, thank you\n *ayoba* — something cool\n *zebra crossing* …. a crosswalk. named for the white & black stripes that are generally painted on crosswalks.\n *bakkie* — pick-up truck (from Afrikaans)\n*Ekse* — what's up", "word_count": 405}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk021", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of South Africa, with countries in green having visa-free access\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nForeign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter South Africa **visa-free**:\n For up to **90 days**: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania (maximum 90 days in 1 year), Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia (maximum 90 days in 1 year) and Zimbabwe\n For up to **30 days**: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey\n\nOther nations require a visa application to enter South Africa. The country has trialed an e-visa system for the following nationalities with 90-day entry and the obligation to enter through O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, China, Philippines, Republic of Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Uganda. Countries not eligible for e-visa must apply for a visa on paper at a South African embassy or consulate.\n\nIf needed, you can extend your visa in South Africa. With an extension the total amount of time you are allowed to stay is 6 months. Additional information as well as Visa application forms can be found at the Department of Home Affairs, ph +27 012 810 8911.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk022", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Department of Home Affairs does not handle visa applications directly: VFS.Global, a separate office deals solely with immigration services, visa applications and processing. The VFS.Global portal provides information regarding offices in the country and online services available. The Johannesburg, Sandton office is in Rivonia Boulevard next to the ShopRite Checkers Supermarket. Make sure to apply for visas and visa extensions as early as possible. A way to 'extend' your visa while avoiding bureaucracy is by leaving and re-entering South Africa via Mozambique. A 30-day visa cannot be 'reset' when leaving and re-entering South Africa from the bordering countries of Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. You will *not* get a new visa. For example, when you have a 30-day visa, and exit South Africa and enter Lesotho or Eswatini after 5 days of validity, then re-enter South Africa after 5 days, you are only allowed to stay the remaining 20 days of the original visa for South Africa and will not be given a \"new\" 30-day visa. However, if you fly back to Europe or go to Mozambique, and then re-enter South Africa, you will be issued a new 30-day visa.\n\nMake sure you have *2 blank pages* back to back in your passport and that it is valid for at least 30 days after your intended date of departure, or you will be sent back! Make sure you have a return ticket available or they will send you back. If you need to pick up a ticket at the airport have the flight number and details handy and speak with the customs officer, they should check your story out and let you in (be firm). Be wary of arriving with a damaged passport as new security measures might trip up your entry.\n\n#### With children", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk023", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get in", "text": "South Africa had the world's strictest laws about traveling into and out of the country with children to combat child trafficking. However, this has changed in 2019. From 2019 on, all foreign children are allowed to enter South Africa without carrying additional supporting documents such as birth certificates and consent letters.\n\n#### Document safeguard\n\nWithin South Africa, if you plan to spend time traveling around, like touring with a vehicle, you can use copies of documents to safeguard originals. Such copies of important papers like passports, ID cards and drivers licences, must be authenticated (for free) at any Police Station. Just bring the original and the copies and ask the agents on duty to help you. In case of passports, the relevant pages showing the visa and entry stamps must also be copied and placed together with the personal details page. These authenticated copies are only recognized within the national borders.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|[[O.R. Tambo International Airport]], Africa's busiest\n\nSouth Africa is a major hub for air travel in the Southern African region. The country's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has an extensive global and pan-African network of connections, some of which are operated by its short-haul subsidiary SA Airlink.\n\nSouth Africa has 10 international airports. The primary intercontinental hub is the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg; the secondary one is Cape Town International. They serve as gateways for tourists and foreign visitors, and hubs for travel within South Africa and Southern Africa in general.\n\nO.R. Tambo International Airport has direct flights from major European centres, the Middle East, Asia, a few U.S. cities, Brazil, and Australia.\n\nDurban International Airport is the third biggest airport with regular flights from cities in Africa.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk024", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get in", "text": "Baggage theft at airports is common especially at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg so avoid putting valuables in your main luggage if you can. Since these thieves have only a window of a few seconds to steal, you can make it harder for them by using plastic quick-tie straps in all zippers, even if there are metal locks already and having your luggage wrapt up in cling wrap. The cling wrap can be done at the airport for R80 per item or you can buy a large roll of the stuff in any supermarket and DIY for a fraction of the cost.\n\n### By car\n\nShould you be entering from one of the other countries in Southern Africa you might want to do so by car. South Africa operates a number of land border posts between itself and immediately neighboring countries. The more commonly used ones are:\n\n**Botswana border**\n - Skilpadsnek\n\n**Lesotho border**\n - Maseru Bridge\n\n- Ficksburg Bridge\n\n- Sani Pass\n\n**Mozambique border**\n - Lebombo\n\n- Kosi Bay\n\n**Namibia border**\n - Nakop\n\n- Vioolsdrift\n\n**Eswatini border**\n - Oshoek\n\n**Zimbabwe border**\n - Beit Bridge\n\nOpen times are often extended during South African holidays..\nFor a full list of entry ports or any additional information see the South African Border Information Service or contact them on +27 086 026-7337.\n\n### By boat\n\nMost of the larger cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises offer Cape Town as one of their destinations, but other routes exist.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk025", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nSouth Africa has a well-established domestic air travel infrastructure with links between all major centres. There are multiple daily flights to all the major airports within the country. Contact any of the airlines for details. It is worth comparing low cost airlines like Mango with the SAA rates as they usually have online specials which can be cheaper than the \"low cost\" carriers.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving can be a practical way of getting around in South Africa, for instance national parks are some of the country's foremost attractions but they are rarely served by public transport. Visitors hiring or buying a car is fairly common.\n\nMajor roads are in general in good condition, though South Africa still has a high rate of road accidents. Traffic rules including speed limits are not always respected, and in the countryside animals (wild and domestic) next to or on the road are not an uncommon sight.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are scheduled bus services between all the big cities (with stops in between), as well as connections to neighbouring countries. The main bus companies are:\n - Greyhound\n\n- Intercape Mainliner\n\n- City to City\n\n- Intercity Xpress\n\nSmaller services include **City Bug** and **Lowveld Link.**\n\nAn alternative is the **Baz Bus** . It offers a regular hop-on-hop-off service on some of the most interesting routes for the tourist (Cape Town to Port Elizabeth via the Garden Route). Baz Bus picks you up and drops you off at many hostels along the route, so you don't have to hang around at a downtown bus stop at night.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk026", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you're really in a pinch, you can use minibus *taxis*. They are poorly maintained and rarely comply with safety standards. They also require patience as they make many detours and changeovers at the *taxi rank* (hub) where the driver will wait for passengers to fill up the bus. But they cover many routes not covered by the main bus service and are quite cheap (25 cents per kilometre per person on the main routes).\n\nWarning: Many buses are removed from service by the police, due to lack of legal road-worthiness. Seek up-to-date advice on which companies are more reputable. Occasionally, the driving can be rather wild, and if you're prone to motion sickness, be prepared.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|350px|Shosholoza Meyl passenger train routes as they used to be before Covid.\n\nThe '''Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa''' (PRASA) is the national rail operator. There were budget passenger services between major South African cities (known as **Shosholoza Meyl**) and luxury services (known as **Premier Classe**) between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. But as of December 2025, only two routes are now operated by **Shosholoza Meyl** (Johannesburg-Durban and Johannesburg-East London) and trains are not frequent (less than a departure monthly). So travelling by train in South-Africa is almost not an option any more (unless you taking the expensive luxury trains, see below).\n\nThere are also commuter trains in larger cities (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth and East London); these are run by MetroRail. Most services are perfectly safe, but certain routes are overcrowded and not always safe.\n\n#### Luxury trains\n\n- The Blue Train\n\n- Rovos Rail\n\n### By taxi\n\nRide-hailing is available in South Africa and the following are the most anticipated providers:\n\n### By thumb", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk027", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking in South Africa is not so hard, but most people will think you are catching a ride with the local taxis and thus expect you to pay. You may want to tell them you are looking for a free ride before climbing aboard. The main issue is **crime**: some drivers may hijack you and your belongings. Hitchhiking is generally frowned upon and considered unsafe. Drivers are also wary of potentially criminal hitchhikers. Never hitchhike at night. It is unwise to be outside at night, if you are in an area considered unsafe. Remember, most middle-class homes are protected with walls and armed guards; they have this for a reason.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nCycling is probably the best way to experience the country, as you really get to admire the views and get the opportunity to mingle with the locals. It could be considered unsafe to cycle through the cities because of crime and reckless drivers. However, Cape Town is somewhat bicycle friendly with several bike lanes. There are many farm/dirt roads throughout South Africa. Locals and farmers are generally willing to provide you with food and a place to sleep, as long as you are willing to talk.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk028", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Red hartebeast in Addo Elephant National Park\nthumb|[[Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park]], known for extraordinary beauty as well as rock paintings of the San people\nthumb|Visits to townships are an increasingly common tourist activity\n\nHundreds of thousands of visitors come to South Africa every year to see the country's many natural and cultural attractions. From wild elephants to stunning landscapes, cave paintings, colonial heritage and bustling townships, South Africa is an enchanting land of contradictions and great beauty.\n\nSome of the best ways visitors can explore South Africa's natural scenic and cultural experiences, apart from private run enterprises, are provided by state-developed entities such as the various Provincial Park Boards and National Nature Reserves. Also available but less known by outsiders are government resorts mainly operated under the *Forever Resorts* brand for example. There are more than 20 of these resorts nationwide. They provide a mix of activities to be enjoyed by small or large groups of people. Activities such as thermal water spas, leisure, kids activities, hiking, camping, mountain biking and guided game viewing are all catered for. Accommodation available in these resorts is reasonably priced outside school holidays or long weekends and consists of a choice between, 3- or 4-star hotel, bungalows, cottages, thatched rondavels, caravan park and camping grounds, accommodation is priced per unit, therefore, making a six-sleeper bungalow or four sleeper cottage, a very affordable proposition. The resorts provide all amenities within and you are free to go to the restaurants or cater for yourself. Bring in your own supplies, as wine, beer, whisky and soft beverages and food items like meat, butter, cheese, coffee, can be substantially more expensive bought inside than from outside supermarkets.\n\n### Wild animals in their natural habitat", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk029", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "See", "text": "South Africa is the most popular **safari** destination in the world and for many visitors a glance at the \"Big Five\" and other wildlife is a must. The iconic **Kruger National Park** in Mpumalanga is surely the most famous place to have that glance, but **Addo Elephant National Park** in the Eastern Cape is another popular pick. The vast dry plains of the **Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park** with its migratory herds of wildebeast covers parts of both South Africa and Botswana. Along the border with Mozambique another transfrontier park, the **iSimangaliso Wetland Park**, offers very different landscapes and fauna. For scuba divers, South Africa's underwater wildlife has a lot to offer, with the annual **sardine run** being a highlight. The popular seaside town of **Hermanus** is probably the best place in the world to go whale watching, with cage diving opportunities with great white sharks for the truly adventurous.\n\n### Areas of natural beauty and botanical interest", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk030", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "See", "text": "South Africa's landscapes are grand and diverse, varying from flat desert scrublands to lush green coastal areas and high peaks. The view from the famous, flat-topped **Table mountain** is a classic Africa experience. Also in the Cape Town region, the beautiful **beaches** attract thousands of sun lovers. The green coastal **Garden Route** is a great natural experience, passing countless lagoons, several interesting towns and the beautiful **Tsitsikamma National Park**. The **Augrabies Falls National Park** boasts a 60-m-high water fall. Close to the Kruger Park is **God's Window** and **Blyde River Canyon**, the largest green canyon in the world, not far from there are the high peaks of the **Drakensberg** mountain range. The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is one of the country's 8 Unesco World Heritage sites for its exceptional natural beauty and the many cave paintings found there. The **Namaqualand** transformation from a dry monochromatic landscape into a colourful myriad of flowering during spring season, is a sight to behold, but there are many others including areas of the **Kalahari** desert, where stubborn endemic life forms defy the harsh environment and thrive.\n\n### Cultural heritage", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk031", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|[[Cape Town]] City Hall with Table Monutain in the background and the Grand Parade in the foreground.\nLarge numbers and some of the oldest hominid fossils have been found in South Africa, especially in the **Cradle of Humankind**, another World Heritage Site. Over 30 different caves held important fossils, but the caves of **Sterkfontein** are perhaps the most important one at the site. Far more recent, the 17th-century **Castle of Good Hope** in beautiful **Cape Town** is one of the cultural heritage sites from colonial times. **Robben Island**, where Nelson Mandela was famously imprisoned, has become a major destination. For more insight in the Apartheid times, visit the **District Six Museum** in Cape Town or the **Apartheid museum** in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites is a including 14 sites related to Mandela's life and career.\n\n### Other attractions", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk032", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "See", "text": "Although regularly criticized, visits to the infamous **townships** are increasingly popular. Some say such trips turn poverty into entertainment while others think they benefit all those involved. In any case, a township tour is an experience that will stick.\n**The Cango Caves** near Oudtshorn is an extensive and complex cave system within the Swartberg Mountains, containing many unique natural limestone formations. Management of the site falls under the Western Cape Parks Administration and is open to visitors. The shorter \"standard tour\" is available for everyone and lasts about an hour, however, the \"adventure tour\" is only open to experienced *cavers*, as it can last 4 to 6 hours and requires a high degree of physical fitness to belly crawl through tight spots and nooks to reach the various chambers spread over 4 km.\n**Soweto**, in Johannesburg, is particularly well known.\nSouth Africa has gained world-wide fame as a wine country, and if you're interested, a visit to one of the over 800 **wineries** can be a great addition to your trip. Head to the **Cape Winelands** around Stellenbosch for some of the best picks.\n**Rand Airport** in Germiston, near Johannesburg, is a regional airport serving mostly private pilots, small air service operators and flying schools. It also houses several well kept and maintained vintage aircraft such as the privately owned World War II \"Harvard Squadron\" usually quite active on weekends. Helicopter sight seeing and nostalgic air tours, specifically flying on a \"Dakota DC3\" and a wind in the face \"Tiger Moth\" biplane, are also available.\n Don't be astonished that South Africa is a republic run by a democracy, but it is possible to visit dozens of non-sovereign **kingdoms** governed by their own traditional rulers.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk033", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hot air ballooning**, the \"Cradle of Mankind\" in Gauteng near Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape offer some spectacular balloon safaris. Booking arrangements can be made through a variety of operators easily found online.\n **Dive**, see Diving in South Africa for details.\n **River rafting:** The Orange River on the border to Namibia is a popular destination for rafting tours. Several tour operators launch 4–6 day trips in blow-up boats from Vioolsdrif with camping under the stars.\n**Hiking** and mountaineering are very popular in the Highlands of KwaZulu-Natal and in certain areas of the Eastern and Western Cape. Advance bookings may be essential to secure a place as some eco-sensitive places allow only a limited number of people to visit per year.\n**Rugby union**, **cricket** and **soccer** are all popular spectator sports, traditionally associated with Afrikaner, Anglo-South African and black South African culture respectively, although this has changed since the fall of Apartheid, and the Springboks (national Rugby union team) has had a lot of black fans at least since the 1995 World Cup, hosted in South Africa, when South Africa won with Nelson Mandela (then president) in attendance wearing a Springbok jersey. In 2019, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup for the third time, this time with a multi-racial team and a black captain, and repeated the feat in 2023.\n**Friends of the Rail** are based in Pretoria. This non-profit preservation society looks after steam locomotives and period rolling stock. Steam train outings are organized regularly departing in the morning from their own station in Hermanstad, Pretoria, and arriving in Cullinan for an extended stop over allowing sufficient time for lunch or a picnic before returning to base in the afternoon.\n**The Magaliesberg steam train** is another vintage steam train trip, operated by South African Railways (Transnet). It departs Johannesburg's main Park Station in the morning once or twice per month, offering a day long scenic tour through the nearby Magaliesberg Mountains. A packed lunch or picnic basket is essential.\n**Battle sites**: Many well documented Zulu-Indigenous, Boer-Indigenous, Zulu-British and Boer-British war sites are well kept, easy to access and worthwhile a visit. Mostly found in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, The War Museum in Johannesburg can provide maps and literature to help one plan a tour of where to go.\n**Self-driving tours**: Due to the size of the country and well developed extent of the national road network, a practical and fulfilling way of seeing the country is by driving through. The natural beauty of areas like \"Golden Gate\", \"God's Window\", \"The Garden Route\", \"The Wild Coast\", \"St. Lucia and Cape Vidal\", offer the leisurely vacationer unskeptic to mingle with locals or stay in farmsteads, a wide variety of tinkling sensations not experienced any other way.\n**Motor racing** in Gauteng is a regular calendar event, with Kyalami and Swartkops raceway facilities being among others, the main backdrops for all sorts of top notch national and regional two and four wheel competitions.", "word_count": 490}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk034", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the **rand**, denoted by the symbol \"**R**\" (ISO code: **ZAR**). It is divided into 100 cents (c). Notes are in denominations of R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Higher value notes are slightly larger in physical size than small value notes. All notes have a metallic security strip and a watermark. Two series of banknotes are in circulation and are legal tender in South Africa, the \"Big Five\" series (current version issued in 2005) and the \"Nelson Mandela\" series (introduced in 2012).\n\nCoins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. Production of 2c and 1c coins was suspended in 2002 although those still in circulation remain legal tender. All transactions are rounded down to the nearest lower 5c, so as not to require the use of 2c and 1c coins. There are two types of R5 coins in circulation: one is a silver-coloured coin while the other is silver-coloured with a copper insert. Both are legal currency.\n\nSouth Africa is part of the *Southern African Common Monetary Area* and the rand can be used in Namibia (where it is an official currency along with the Namibian dollar), and in Lesotho and Eswatini (where it is widely accepted, but not an official currency). The currencies of each country are tied to the rand at the rate of 1:1.\n\n#### Foreign exchange\n\nThere are barriers to exchanging currency:", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk035", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "It is common practice, even at banks to charge a commission over and above the posted exchange rate. Some foreign currency service providers will charge both a percentage based commission and a flat rate commission. Due to these practices, you may lose 10% or more of the value of your cash as compared to exchange rates found online, even when converting to and from major foreign currencies such as the US Dollar.\n Many banks that offer currency exchange will either not provide their services to tourists or may require going through a time consuming process of setting up an account to do the exchange. There are private currency exchange businesses, though they may offer worse exchange rates than banks.\n Except at major international airports, if you are trying to convert Rands to another currency, you will be unable to convert the currency without proof of how you obtained the currency, such as an ATM receipt or a receipt from the money changer where you obtained the Rands. If converting from Rands to another currency at an international airport, you will need to show proof that you have an airline ticket to depart South Africa.\n Be aware that currency converters require identification and in the case foreigners, it must be a passport. The currency converters will make a copy of the identify page.\n\n#### Making payments\n\nHaving a credit card is important in South Africa, as they are the primary way of making purchases in South Africa. Some businesses will not accept payment in cash.\n\n**Credit cards** from Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere. American Express and Diners Club are also accepted, but not as widely.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk036", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most retail stores accept credit cards and PIN-based debit cards as payment. South Africa has moved towards a chip-and-PIN credit card system like Europe. Thus, credit card users from countries also on that system (like the United States and Canada) will have no problem using their credit cards in South Africa, provided that they have notified their bank in advance of their travel plans.\n\n**Traveller's cheques** are a safe way of carrying money around. You can exchange them at all banks (which are found throughout the country even in rural areas) and you will get a refund if they are stolen. The disadvantage is that you cannot pay with them and you will need change when exchanging them into rand. Use ATMs instead if possible.\n\n**Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)**, linked to all major international networks, are available throughout the country and will generally dispense money in a mixture of denominations between R200 and R10, with about 80% of the value requested being high value notes and the rest in smaller denominations. You can use any Cirrus or Maestro card and all major credit and debit cards at the ATMs. South African bank ATMs charge fees in addition those levied by your own financial institution: e.g., R50 by Nedbank, or R75 by ABSA, as of March 2023\n\nIt is best to use only ATMs that are inside a mall or other building. Always be careful to make sure no one is watching you enter your PIN, and be vigilant about scams (e.g. machines that seem to eat your card and won't give it back after you enter the PIN). Do not accept help from strangers when withdrawing money at an ATM. If you are approached and offered unwanted help, cancel the transaction immediately and go to a different ATM.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk037", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "The till points at some major retail stores (*such as Pick 'n Pay*) also act as ATMs; simply tell the checkout clerk that you would like to withdraw money. Transaction costs will be less than at ATMs.\n\n**VAT** (Value Added Tax) is levied at 15% on almost all products in South Africa. Government legislated bread (rectangular loaf) and basic food stuff like uncooked meats, fresh milk, raw and unprocessed fruit and vegetables, are all tax exempt. By law, advertised prices should be inclusive of VAT except when explicitly stated otherwise. Foreign passport holders may claim back the VAT only on material products that were bought in South Africa and are being taken out of the country, provided that the total value of the goods exceeds R250, but not for things like accommodation and food costs or car rental. Full details of the procedure to follow are available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and their new TAX Refund for tourists site. **VAT Refund** Administrator's offices are available at both Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) and Cape Town International Airports. Refunds will be credited to a Travelex Visa card that you will be given, denominated in U.S. dollars or euros, the fees in conversion associated with this card can leave you with up to 10% less than you thought you were getting. The cards can only be used outside of South Africa.\n\n### Costs\n\n#### Petrol and diesel\n\nLiquid fuel prices in South Africa are regulated and are fixed by region monthly. In general, petrol is cheaper near the ports (Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth). A litre of petrol will cost around R17 (2018).", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk038", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Tyre punctures** and small vehicle repairs can be done in garages almost anywhere. Private or chain/franchise tyre shops are easily found and charge around R90/120, including puncture repair kit, new air valve and wheel rebalancing. Although prices for things like new radiator hoses or air and oil filters, new batteries, aircon gas refills and so on, may be wise shopping around for better prices, these services are also carried out while you wait.\n**Windscreen chipping** can often occur both on South African asphalt or dirt roads. Major urban centers have specialists in windscreen repairs able to invisibly and permanently fix small chips and cracks while you wait for about R500. If not found online, any proper garage or windscreen agent will be able to recommend someone near you. If a crack results from someone else's vehicle and you are insured, record the date, time and location, plus the other vehicle's registration plate number, colour and make to give your insurer.\n\n#### Toll roads\n\nThe most expensive toll gate in South Africa is the Swartruggens toll plaza on the *N4* between Swartruggens and Zeerust, cost is R71 for a normal car. In total, road tolls between Pretoria and Mbombela or between Johannesburg and Cape Town will cost you just under R100. If travelling from Beitbridge to Cape Town, down the N1, expect to pay as much as R270.\n\n#### Food", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk039", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can buy a McDonald's Big Mac for around R39,90 (2020)\n A sit-in lunch at an average restaurant will cost you about R120 per person (2018).\n A dinner at a restaurant in a fancy or posh area may cost R200 R500 p/person (without drinks).\n A basic 30-cm pizza will cost about R85 (2018), however, known chains offer bulk buy specials.\n Beverages of all kinds in most restaurants tend to be too overpriced. Unlicensed establishments may charge a \"corking\" fee, ranging from cheap to questionably high.\n\n### Shopping\n\nPrices in shops are fixed, but prices in open markets or from street vendors are open to barter.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk040", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "South Africa may not be the best place to find bargains for most goods. For example, most ordinary consumer goods, electronics, and appliances are manufactured in China nowadays, while most luxury goods are manufactured in Europe. In any case, by law, everything has to specify its place of origin/manufacture in addition to, in the case of garments, accessories and shoes, the various types of materials used and the respective percentages. Nevertheless, the South Africa garment and shoe industry has begun a new chapter by reviving some dormant factories and in partnership with new brilliant local fashion designers, combining to produce very attractive high quality affordable shoes and clothing items made from nationally sourced top grade raw materials, like leather, wool and mohair. The *Young Designers Forum* label is an example of this development and Cape Town leads the way, while others can be found on the web. On the electronic goods market, prices need double checking: a simple GPS navigator for your car will cost about R2000 - more than double the cost in the US or Europe! Nevertheless, in major urban centers like Johannesburg and Cape Town, retail parks with direct to public factory outlets offer very discounted prices on well known global brands in clothing, sports shoes and equipment, accessories, home entertainment and electronics.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk041", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "However, South Africa is a superior destination for buying African art, curios, and souvenirs which are far more difficult to obtain outside of Africa. In Johannesburg particularly, the Jewellery Council of SA and Diamond Board of SA certified diamond and coloured gemstone dealers and jewellers make jewellery in gold or platinum, available from reputable manufacturers at much better prices than on high street. Much of these business are concentrated in *Jewel City*, Main St., Jhb. or *The Hamlet*, Ridge Rd., Parktown, Jhb. All of these business provide the necessary documentation for a full VAT refund when leaving the country.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is the norm in restaurants. Indeed, most of these businesses pay their staff the legal minimum-wage, relying on customer tips to bring staff incomes up to live-able levels. Tips of around **10%** of the bill are considered the norm but you may refuse to tip if the food and/or service were below par. Please note some restaurants management shares all \"official\" tips, you may want to rather give an actual cash tip to the waiter involved, instead of adding it to the bill being paid by cr/card.\n\nA small amount, usually around R5 or more, is given to petrol station attendants for additional services, such as cleaning one's windscreen. Toilet cleaners at service stations along major road routes are sometimes tipped when they provide good service and keep the facilities clean. \"Car guards\", who claim to \"look after\" one's parked car are often given a small tip if they are in uniform and authorized; however those without uniforms are usually regarded as a nuisance, and tipping them is not compulsory, despite the fact that they often harass motorists looking for payment.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk042", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Buy", "text": "The 10% tipping rule also applies when taking a taxi. As most cabs work with cash only, it's better to ask how much you'll be expected to pay for your journey before getting in. This will ensure that you always have enough to give the driver as a tip.\n\nLastly, when checking into your hotel, it is customary to tip your porter as well. The generally accepted rule is to give them R5 per bag they handle.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk043", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Braaivleis\n\n### Cuisine\n\nSouth African cuisine is just as diverse as its cultures, with influences from British, Dutch, German, Indian, Malay, Portuguese, Greek, Italian and of course the native African influences.", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk044", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Braaivleis**, meat roasted over an open wood or charcoal fire, is very popular and generally done at weekend social events. The act of roasting the meat as well as the social event is referred to as a *braai*.\n **Pap**, a porridge made with corn meal. *Slappap* (runny porridge), is smooth and often eaten as a breakfast porridge, *Stywepap* (stiff porridge) has a doughy and more lumpy consistency and is often used as a replacement for rice or other starches. \"Krummel\" pap also called umphokoqo (crumby porridge) is drier, resembles couscous and is often served at a *braai* covered in a saucy tomato and onion relish called *sous*.\n **Potjiekos**, a meat and vegetable stew made in a cast iron pot over an open fire. A favorite at *braais*.\n **Boerewors**, a spicy sausage. *Boerewors Rolls* are hotdog buns with *boerewors* rather than hotdogs, traditionally garnished with an onion and tomato relish.\n **Biltong and Droëwors**, seasoned meat or sausage that has been dried. Beef, game and ostrich meat is often used. A favourite at sports events and while travelling.\n **Bunny chows**, half a loaf of bread with the inside replaced by lamb or beef curry, a speciality of the Indian community in Durban.\n **Bobotie**, meatloaf with a Cape Malay influence, seasoned with curry and spices, topped with a savoury custard.\n **Morogo**, a wild spinach on its own or with potato. Sometimes served with *pap*.\n **Waterblommetjiebredie**, mutton and indigenous water lily stew.\n **Masonja**, for the culinary adventurer, fried Mopanie worms.\n **Melktert**, \"milk tart\", a milk-based dessert.\n **Koeksisters**, a deep-fried sticky dessert.\n **Vetkoek**, deep fried dough ball made from flour, served with curry mince or apricot jam.\n **Umvubo**, sour milk mixed with umphokoqo, commonly eaten by the Xhosa people.\n\n### Fast food", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk045", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Eat", "text": "You will find the usual array of international fast food outlets. **McDonald's**, **KFC**, **Domino's Pizza** and **Wimpy** are found throughout the country.\n\nLocal franchises worth mentioning are **Black Steer**, **Spur** and **Steers** for the best burgers and **Nando's** peri-peri chicken. **Chicken Licken** is also a very popular choice for the locals, especially for their hot wings.\n\nPizza delivery is available in most urban areas whereby food can be ordered online with places such as **Domino's Pizza ** and Debonairs.\n\nIf you want to keep to a budget and not bother with cooking, everywhere all supermarket chains have a deli, bakery and kitchen sections providing a wide range of ready to eat meals and sandwiches or you can choose yourself from the hot buffet or salad bar. These items are sold by weight at reasonable prices.\n\n**Seafood** franchises like **Ocean Basket** and **Fishaways** specialise in seafood, either to eat in or take away. Inland, due to the distances from the coast, fresh fish dishes are not easily found. However near rivers, some establishments offer what's regionally available. In coastal cities and towns, the situation is reversed with Cape Town and Durban being particularly good in having a choice of excellent seafood establishments at their respective waterfronts.\n\n### Special diets", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk046", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Vegetarian and Vegan** fast food and sit in outlets or restaurants are quite popular in urban South Africa, the **Kauai** franchise usually present in shopping malls and CBDs amongst other places, lead the way in variety, quality and keen pricing. Another source of affordable ready made such meals, can be found at supermarket chains like **Fruit&Veg**, **Woolworths**, **Pick & Pay**, **Spar** or **Checkers**, while a growing number of regular restaurants will also cater for such diets.\n**Kosher and Halal** dietary requirements are well known in SA. In areas with reasonable to high concentration of Jewish and Muslim populations, is quite easy to find restaurants, butcheries and supermarkets catering for these needs. In other areas, it may require searching to ascertain their existence or a Jewish or Muslim person can always contact their nearest respective religious place of worship or organization for enquires.\n\n### Smoking\n\nMost restaurants and even pubs have been declared \"smoke-free\" areas. However, this is often ignored. In some restaurants you will find a dedicated smokers area where children are not allowed. Rule of thumb is to check for an ashtray on your table. You will, however, in all probability be greeted at the door of the establishment with a \"smoking-or-nonsmoking\". Check as smoking in non-designated areas is not permitted and you'll be met with some rude gestures.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk047", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Drink", "text": "Municipal tap water is usually safe to drink. In some areas such as Hartebeespoort Dam, it is advisable to boil your water before drinking.\n\nMilk is widely available at most supermarkets, but bottled orange juice not-from-concentrate is much, much harder to find than in North America. Most South African retailers carry only orange juice reconstituted from concentrate or orange juice blended with other juices or milk. Soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are widely available, though.\n\nThe legal age to purchase and drink alcohol in South Africa is 18. Almost all restaurants are licensed to serve liquor.\n\nWitblits or Mampoer are locally distilled under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, and allocated a manufacturers' licence. They are safe and enjoyable to consume and does not resemble the names for *moonshine* or *firewater*. The alcohol content is controlled by the Department, so is the quality.\n\n### Beer\n\nthumb|Different beers at a beer festival\n\nLocal beer production is dominated by **SABMiller** with Castle, Hansa, Black Label and Castle Milk Stout being most popular brands. There are also Micro Breweries all over South Africa. Imported beers such as Stella Artois and Grolsch or Laurentina, are also widely available. The Namibian Windhoek brand beers are also popular and generally available.\n\nPrices can vary widely depending on the establishment. Expect to pay R25 for a 0.5 L beer (July 2017).\n\n### Wine\n\nSouth Africa has a well established wine industry with most of the wine produced concentrated in the Cape Winelands in the Western Cape and along the Orange River in the Northern Cape. Wine is plentiful and affordable throughout the country, a 750ml bottle of a really good red starts at R100, a Chardonnay at R90. Good quality wines are also available in 5L and 3L cartons. A 3L of good red will cost about R110 and a 3L Chardonnay, about R95. Since prices are not fixed, it pays to shop around.\n\n### Liquors\n\n**Amarula Cream** is made from the marula fruit. The marula fruit is a favourite treat for African elephants, baboons and monkeys and in the liqueur form definitely not something to be passed over by humans. Pour over crushed ice and enjoy. The taste, colour and texture is very similar to Baileys Irish Cream.\n*Cape Velvet* is a favourite in and around Cape Town.\n\n### Tea and coffee\n\nThe local **Rooibos** tea, made from a herb from the Cederberg Mountains is a favorite for many South Africans.\nYou will find coffee shops in most shopping malls, such as Mugg&Bean and House of Coffees.\nCoffee shops similar in concept to Starbucks, like Seattle Coffee Company and Vida e Caffe (Portuguese themed), are becoming commonplace.", "word_count": 443}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk048", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Establishments in South Africa can have themselves graded by the *Tourism Grading Council of South Africa * on a 5-star basis. Many establishments make use of this service and you will see the star grading displayed on most advertising material. An inconsistent pricing system that sees many establishments offering a \"per person\" price instead of a \"per room\" rate, should be made aware of. Also, not everyone makes it very clear if breakfast is included or not and if not, how much extra will be.\nIf you are budget sensitive, in the last few years, accommodation costs at many greedy establishments, in big or small towns alike, have been going up far out of sync with actual inflation, making it unwise to pre-book without doing a thorough search. In certain instances, a global brand or comparable hotel will cost much less in Europe or America than in SA. One of the excuses for this is the exchange rate, so shop around. Another anomaly is the inconsistency within the star rating. A three or four star guest house, B&B or hotel, maybe better kitted out, more spacious, better maintained and run than a five star establishment in the same area, therefore, rendering the system a rough guideline indicator and not a systematic reliable set of standards. Similarly, in game reserve areas for example, is not uncommon to spot a slightly above average establishment charging just a slightly cheaper rate than the nearby ultra luxurious game lodge, but offering nothing comparable in quality or variety to its seven star counterpart, so, beware. For the price conscious and average tourist, the game reserve experience is better done within game camps under the control of the Provincial Parks Authorities or National Parks Board. There, prices for accommodation, food and guided safaris are very reasonable.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk049", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "1 star - Clean, comfortable and functional.\n 2 star - Good: Quality furnishings, service and guest care.\n 3 star - Very good: Better furnishings, service and guest care.\n 4 star - Superior: Excellent comfort and very high standard furnishings, service and guest care.\n 5 star - Exceptional: Top of the line quality and luxurious accommodation to match the best international standards. Flawless service and guest care.\n\n### Backpacker lodges\n\nBackpacking lodges or hostels are widespread all over the country. Most establishments offer great value tours and activities in the areas. There is a great network of transport around the country making it suitable for single and younger travellers. Some lodges provide meals especially in the more remote areas. Most have self-catering facilities and shared bathrooms although en-suite bathrooms are also common.\n\n### B&Bs\n\nBed and Breakfast establishments are becoming very popular. The accommodation is usually provided in a family (private) home and the owner/manager lives in the house or on the property. Breakfast is usually served. Bathroom facilities may be en-suite. In general, the guest shares the public areas with the host family.\n\n### Self-catering\n\nA house, cottage, chalet, bungalow, flat, studio, apartment, villa, houseboat, tent or similar accommodation where facilities and equipment are provided for guests to cater for themselves. (This can include a fridge, oven, stove, and microwave.) The facilities should be adequate to cater for the maximum advertised number of residents the facility can accommodate.\n\n### Guest house", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk050", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A guest house is a converted house or manor adapted to accommodate overnight guests or it may be a purpose built facility. A guest house is run as a commercial operation and is often owner-managed. A guest house has areas which are for the exclusive use of the guest. The owner/manager either lives off-site, or in a separate area within the property.\n\n### Camping and caravaning\n\nthumb|A small caravan park on the Gamtoos River\n\nCaravan parks can be found in most towns that are holiday destinations. Most caravan parks also offer camping sites where you can pitch a tent (double check because sometimes tents are excluded).\n\nThe parks generally have central ablution facilities.\n\nAlso see the By motorhome and By offroad vehicle sections for additional camping options.\n\n### Timeshare\n\nThere are many timeshare resorts in South Africa; most participate in international exchange agreements.\nMany timeshare owners also rent their time when they can not make use of it.\n\n### Long-term\n\nMany real estate agents in South Africa also offer rental services. The rental properties are mostly available on unfurnished long term lease, but you will also find furnished properties on offer with 1 to 12-month lease agreements\n\nYour local branch of an international estate agent with a presence in South Africa might also be able to assist you.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk051", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|University of South Africa.\n\nNon-South African citizens need to be in possession of a *study permit* to study inside the country. You should apply for one at a South African High Commission, Embassy, Consulate or Trade Mission in your country of origin, or in the nearest country, should there be no South African representation is available in your country. Government form BI-1738 needs to be completed for the application.\n\nYou will need to do some preparation to gain a *study permit*. At a minimum you will need acceptance by a South African University, repatriation guarantees, return air ticket and proof that you can cover living expenses while in South Africa, including cover or insurance for the eventuality of medical need, before a permit will be issued. Having a SA family relation or friend with good social standing, does make such matters easier to deal with. The cost for obtaining a study permit is R425 and applications take about 6 weeks to process.\n\nExpect to spend at least R6,000 per month on general living expenses (*accommodation, food, travel, etc*) in addition to tuition fees.\n\nThere are many secondary and tertiary education centres in South Africa. The University of Cape Town is the top-ranked university in Africa, placing 198th in the world, according to the 2007 Times Higher Education ranking. The Universities of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch, Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal also routinely appear in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Top 500 rankings.\n\n**PPL and Boat Skipper**: South Africa is also an excellent venue to learn new skills such as flying, sailing and scuba diving since costs are generally far lower than in more developed countries while quality of training will be equal or better.\n\n**Commercial diving**: South Africa is quite popular for commercial diver training as the qualification is internationally recognised by the International Diver Recognition Forum, and the Department of Labout is a member of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). A South African Department of Labour certification as a Class I or Class II diver is acceptable for offshore work in many other parts of the world, including the North Sea and Nigerian offshore oilfields.", "word_count": 354}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk052", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Work", "text": "Due to the high levels of unemployment in South Africa, there are limited work opportunities for foreigners.\n\nNon-citizens are only allowed to work in South Africa if they are in possession of a *work permit*. Students in Canada can apply for a work visa through SWAP, although costs are high the service is helpful and well organized.\n\nThe process of applying for a work permit is similar to applying for a study permit, contact a South African High Commission, Embassy, Consulate or Trade Mission in your country of origin, or in the nearest country, should there be no South African representation is available in your country. Government form B1-159 (A&C) needs to be completed for the application. Processing of the application will take 8 to 12 weeks.\n\n#### Scarce skills and work permit quotas\n\nThere are some skills that are in short supply in the country and the Department of Home Affairs has a *Quota Work Permit* program aimed at sourcing these skills from abroad. A list of skills in demand and set quotas for each of those skills are published yearly. Applicants with formal qualification and work experience in the required fields may apply for a quota work permit. This permit costs around R1600 and applications will take between 6 and 8 weeks to process. If the application is approved one will have a 90-day period (*from the time of entering the country*) to find employment in the field that the permit was issued for. Once employed, the permit will stay valid as long as one is employed within the same field of work (*changing employers is allowed*). More information, as well as the skills and quotas list for the current year, can be found on the Department of Home Affairs homepage.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk053", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "*Up-to-date safety advice for visitors is published regularly by the British Government and the United States Government.*\n *See also the warning about security at O.R. Tambo International Airport.*\n\nThe main safety issues in South Africa are **violent crime**, including gun crime, and **HIV**. You should be aware of the risks, but you can still have a safe and pleasant trip as millions of other people have each year.\n\nMost crime is concentrated around certain specific townships or perpetrated by specialised criminal organizations connected to specific trades not much affecting travellers, as long as you keep away from such dealings.\n\nTo avoid opportunistic attacks like robberies, avoid unsafe neighbourhoods and never walk around in deserted areas at night. Don't mix with low life characters or ventures into seedy joints. Most embassies and tourist organizations have lists of known areas to avoid.\n\nDon't ignore common safety advice, such as to have a separate purse for routine shopping, not to carry valuables around more than necessary and keeping them out of sight, and to stay vigilant. You should avoid standing out as a tourist or as somebody wealthy and generally keep a long profile. Do not accept offers from friendly strangers.\n\nTo avoid carrying your passport, have an authenticated photocopy of it for showing in the bank and when otherwise needed. To get documents authenticated free of charge, take the original and copies to any South African Police station and ask the officer on duty to help you. The papers will be good for 90 days from police stamp date.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk054", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taking an evening stroll or walking to venues after dark can be very risky. It is *not* part of the culture there, as it is in Europe, North America or Australia. It is best to take a taxi (a metered cab, not a minibus taxi) or private vehicle for an evening out.\n\nCar theft and burglaries are quite common. Apply common safety measures. When sitting down with bags, try to hook them under a table or chair leg to prevent them from being snatched.\n\nCrime rate is significantly higher during blackout periods, as cameras and home security systems are often disabled, and even police lines may be down. Finding a rental or hotel that utilizes private security may be ideal, although this is almost always the case for the more prosperous parts of the country.\n\nVisiting the townships is possible, but don't go alone unless you really know where you're going. Some townships are safe while others can be extremely dangerous. Go with an experienced guide. Some tour companies offer perfectly safe guided visits to the townships.\n\n### Driving safety\n\nAs a foreigner, don't pick up hitchhikers or offer assistance at broken-down car scenes. It is best to ignore anyone who appears to be in distress at the side of the road as it could be part of a scam. If you want to help, still keep going until you see a police station and tell them about what you have seen.\n\nYou'll notice some bad road behaviour. However inconsiderate it may be to you, just ignore it and make sure there isn't a road rage incident.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk055", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not leave your valuables in plain sight when driving in your car, as \"smash and grab\" attacks sometimes occur at certain hot spot intersections, and keep your car doors locked and your windows open less than half way. Know where to go so that you avoid getting lost or needing a map: that will avoid signs.\n\nTake extra care when driving at night. Unlike in Europe and North America, vast stretches of South African roads, especially in rural areas, are poorly lit or often completely unlit. This includes highways. Be extra careful as wildlife and people often walk in the middle of the road in smaller towns (not cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, or Cape Town). You must also take extra care because of the risk of carjackings.\n\nIf you are driving a car with an \"out-of-town\" numberplate, you will draw attention to yourself. If possible, use a car that is registered in the town or province where you are using it. If this is not possible, be extra vigilant.\n\nPolice who stop you and notice you have a foreign licence may want to get a bribe by asking whether 'you got written permission from [random government department] to drive in our country?' or something similar. Stay calm, polite and courteous and stand your ground – see Driving in South Africa for this scam.\n\n### Important telephone numbers\n\nthumb|Road signs will remind about emergency numbers\n\n- The National Tourism Information and Safety Line\n\n- The National Sea Rescue Institute\n\n#### From a fixed line\n\n**107** - Emergency (in Cape Town, only from fixed lines)\n **10111** - Police\n **10177** - Ambulance\n\n#### From a mobile phone\n\n**112**- All emergencies\n\n#### International calls at local rates", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk056", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Step 1: Dial: **087 150 0823** from any mobile or landline\n Step 2: Dial destination number and press #\n e.g. 00 44 111 123 4567 #\n Countries: USA, UK (landline), India, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong and many more.\n Supported on: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and Neotel\n\n### Wildlife\n\nthumb|Meerkats are on the lookout at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve\n\nOne of the main reasons travellers visit South Africa is to experience the outdoors and see the wide range of wildlife.\n\nWhen driving in a wildlife reserve, always keep to the speed limits and stay inside your car at all times. On game drives or walks, always follow the instructions of your guide.\n\nDo not drive too close to elephants. Be prepared to back up very quickly if they charge at you. Elephants are strong enough to roll many small cars. They can destroy small cars by sitting on them (which means they blow out all tires and windows and bend the frame beyond repair) while you scream for your life inside.\n\nEnsure that you wear socks and boots whenever you are walking in the bush; do not wear open sandals. A good pair of boots can stop snake and insect bites and avoid any possible cuts that may lead to infections.\n\nIn many areas you may encounter wildlife while driving on public roads, monkeys and baboons are especially common. Do not get out of the vehicle to take photos or otherwise try to interact with the animals. These are wild animals and their actions can be unpredictable.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk057", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Sometimes you might find yourself in the open with wild animals (*often happens with baboons at Cape Point*). Keep your distance and always ensure that the animals are only to one side of you, do not walk between two groups or individuals. A female baboon may become upset if you come between her and her child.\n\nAlways check with locals before swimming in a river or lake as there may be crocodiles or hippos.\n\nMost major beaches in KwaZulu-Natal have shark nets installed. If you intend to swim anywhere other that the main beaches, check with a local first.\n\nShark nets may be removed for a couple of days during the annual sardine run (*normally along the KwaZulu-Natal coast between early May and late July*). This is done to avoid excessive shark and other marine life fatalities. Notices are posted on beaches during these times.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk058", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Emergency and medical assistance\n\nThere are a number of independent emergency assist companies in South Africa\n\n - Netcare 911\n\n - Travel Insurance\n\n - ER24\n\n### Hospitals\n\nIt is best to avoid public hospitals where possible. Private hospitals are of world class standard.\n\n### Pharmacies\n\nThe major pharmacy chains found at shopping centres catering to tourists (e.g., Sandton City, V&A Waterfront) is Clicks and Dischem. Some supermarket chains like Checkers have in-store pharmacies.\n\nSouth African pharmacies are generally comparable to their counterparts in Europe and North America. However, the retail shelves of South African pharmacies tend to have a smaller selection of drugs than their North American counterparts, and a more dietary supplements. South African pharmacies do carry many OTC drugs, but if you don't see them on the shelf, you'll have to ask for them at the counter when the pharmacist is in.\n\n### Water\n\nMunicipal **tap water** is usually safe to drink throughout the country. In the Western Cape mountain water is safe, even if it has been stained brown due to vegetation. A strong risk of bilharzia exists for still-standing water.\n\n### Sunburn\n\nMany activities in South Africa are outdoors, see the sunburn and sun protection travel topic for tips on how to protect yourself.\n\n### HIV and AIDS\n\nSouth Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates world-wide. 5.4 million people out of a population of 48 million are HIV-positive.\n\nThe HIV infection rate in the total population older than 2 years varies from around 2% in the Western Cape to over 17% in KwaZulu-Natal, and all together 18.8% of South Africans over 15 years of age are HIV-Positive. One in four females and one in five males aged 20 to 40 is estimated to be infected.\n\n### Malaria\n\nthumb|Dawn in Kruger National Park\n\nThe north-eastern areas of the country (including the Kruger National Park and St. Lucia and surrounds) are seasonal malaria zones, from about November to May. The peak danger time is just after the wet season from March to May. Consult a physician regarding appropriate precautions, depending on the time of year you will be travelling. The most important defences against malaria are:\n using a DEET-based mosquito repellent\n covering your skin with long-sleeved clothing, especially around dusk; and\n using mosquito nets while sleeping.\n\n*Tabbard* and *Peaceful Sleep* are commonly used mosquito repellents and can be bought almost anywhere.\n\nAlso read the Malaria and Mosquitoes travel topics.\n\n### Smoking\n\nSmoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, these include airports, pubs, shopping malls and theaters. However, this is largely ignored.\n\nMost restaurants do have smoking sections, either ventilated indoor areas or outdoor open areas.", "word_count": 441}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk059", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "South Africans are generally polite, friendly and accommodating to tourists.\nTalking slightly loud outdoors is quite normal, as South Africans tend to be a free thinking and exuberant bunch of people and such behaviour is ok amongst friends and acquaintances. Strangers should observe general protocols of politeness at first and if accepted, \"when in Rome, do like Romans do\". Smiling and acknowledging strangers is normal behaviour and a slight head nod or hand wave common practice. Striking an occasional chat with complete strangers in places like bus stops, supermarkets, bars, government buildings, public transportation, petrol stations, shops, etc., also happens regularly.\n\nPublic behaviour is very similar to what you might find in Europe. Heterosexual displays of affection in public are not frowned upon unless you overdo it. Homosexual displays of affection may generate unwelcome attention although they will be tolerated and respected in the more gay-friendly and cosmopolitan areas of Johannesburg (Sandton, Rosebank and Parkhurst), Cape Town (Greenpoint, Clifton and De Waterkant) and Durban. South Africa is the first and only African nation where the government recognizes same-sex relationships and homosexual marriages are recognized by law.\n\nMen generally greet with a firm handshake, while women will do the continental kiss on the cheek.\n\nExcept for designated beaches, nude sunbathing is illegal, although topless sunbathing for women is acceptable along Durban and Umhlanga beaches, and Cape Town's Clifton and Camps Bay beaches. Thong bikinis for ladies or swimming trunks for men (speedos if you really have to) and regular swimming costumes are the norm, otherwise, you may be openly stared at.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk060", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "Eating is generally done the British way with the fork in their left hand and the tines pointed downward. Burgers, pizzas, bunny chows and any other fast foods are eaten by hand. It is generally also acceptable to steal a piece of *boerewors* (sausage) from the *braai* (barbecue grill) with your hands. Depending on which cultural group you find yourself with, these rules might change. Indians often eat *breyani* (rice-based) dishes with their hands, a white person of British descent might insist on eating his pizza with a knife and fork or a black person might eat *pap-and-stew* with a spoon. Be flexible, but don't be afraid to also do your own thing; if really unacceptable, people will generally tell you so rather than take offence.\n\nSouth Africans are proud of their country and what they have achieved. Although they often complain about the problems and shortcomings that still exist, you should try not to criticise the country's history; it can cause offence. South Africans know more about their country than you do.\n\nAlthough mannerisms vary from ethnic group to ethnic group, South Africans, in general, are **direct communicators**. A South African is likely to tell you exactly what they think or disagree with you on the spot, and at times, they may come across as blunt or even assertive. However, keep in mind that South Africans generally don't intend to cause offence.\n\n### Race and apartheid", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk061", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "Those who are more accustomed to North American racial terminology should understand that words that are familiar to them have different meanings in South Africa, and the rules for what terms are polite or not are different. There are many South Africans that think classification according to skin colour or appearance in general, whether for political or social reasons, is inappropriate and would prefer to be referred to as simply South African irrespective of what you think they look like.\n\nUnder apartheid the citizens were legally divided into four groups:\n *Black*: the indigenous Bantu peoples\n *Coloured*: a mixed-race cultural group with white and African ancestors from the early colonial period, mostly Afrikaans speaking. Under Apartheid, the indigenous Khoisan peoples, the Cape Malays and the ethnic Chinese community were also classified as \"coloured\", but these groups generally don't identify as such and are nowadays usually not included in the term.\n *White*: the South Africans of European heritage (traditionally either Afrikaans or English speaking) and the Japanese\n *Indian*: people whose ancestors came from India during the British colonial period\n\nAlthough you probably will hear those terms, it might be better to avoid using them yourself altogether. For the indigenous, think of Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, etc. instead. For the non-Bantu, the old exonyms are problematic or worse. Khoisan is the umbrella term commonly used for them all, both the Khoekhoe peoples and the San peoples. At least the San prefer the names of their individual nations.\n\nMost people with foreign ancestry identify as South African, not Dutch, Indian, Malay or Chinese — most have family who have lived in South Africa for centuries, and the only continent they can call home is Africa. Calling somebody Dutch, for example, can be taken as an insult. Also the term Boer is considered pejorative.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk062", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "It is wise to avoid racial or political remarks while in South Africa if you don't have a good understanding of South African history, because the country's very diverse cultural disposition means that \"putting your foot in it\" is easy. However, you will encounter many South Africans who lived through the apartheid period and are willing to talk about their experiences of the time. It can be very interesting to speak with them about their experiences, and if you have an open mind and willingness to listen, you can avoid offence. New criminal laws have been enacted to punish people who insist on publicly using racist language.", "word_count": 107}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk063", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "South Africa is now in its fourth decade since the end of *apartheid* — a very sensitive issue for everyone — in 1990, but it is always easier to change laws than people. You will occasionally still hear overtly racist remarks, which can come from members of any racial group in South Africa. This is more common from the older generation than the younger ones. The best thing to do is simply ignore it; leave the responsibility for enlightening lectures to other South Africans, who know the subject better than any foreign traveller, as they have lived it. South Africans of different races generally treat each other politely at a personal level. Broadly speaking, non-white South Africans have shown a very high degree of mental toughness, endurance, intelligence, tolerance and forgiveness to their former oppressors, with younger generations of all races mingling and socializing with one another and finding more common ground and a sense of national identity, while some older generations of all races may long for \"the good old days\" when time seemed to stand still and strict law and order enforcement ruled the day. Political movements are another matter, and political parties have been aligned along the racial fault lines of the society although there is starting to be a move toward better integration. Although politically there's growing racial integration and overlapping, the majority of black South Africans vote for the African National Congress (ANC), and the majority of white and Coloured South Africans vote for the liberal centrist Democratic Alliance (DA). The third major party, supported by a minority of black South Africans, is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left nationalistic party that advocates for the expropriation of white people's property without compensation, and for material compensation to be given to black people for the losses and suffering endured under colonialism and apartheid. It also wants criminal prosecution reinstated against surviving perpetrators of the apartheid regime for crimes against humanity. Politics in South Africa can be a touchy issue, and it's best to talk about it with care and empathy.", "word_count": 345}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk064", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Respect", "text": "Interracial marriages are becoming quite common, and, except for possibly some of the older generation, people no longer take offence if you and your partner are not the same colour.\n\n### Religion\n\nGenerally speaking, South Africans tend to be more religious than Westerners, and most South Africans attend church regularly. By far the dominant religion in South Africa is Christianity, though South African Christians belong to a wide range of different denominations, with no denomination forming a majority. It is common for South Africans to invite new acquaintances to their church, though no offence will be taken if you decline. Islam is practised by most of the Cape Malays and Hinduism by many of the Indians, while there is also a small community of Ashkenazi Jews, most of whom are descended from 19th and early 20th century immigrants from Lithuania. Generally speaking, freedom of religion is respected in South Africa, and you should not run into any problems regardless of what faith you profess.\n\n### Fair Trade Tourism (FTT)\n\nFair Trade Tourism (FTT) is a non-profit organization founded in South Africa that promotes sustainable and ethical practices in the tourism sector through a worldwide certification program.\nSome FTT-certified organizations include :\n\nUthando South Africa, a community development project.\n Stormsriver Adventures, an adventure tourism provider with a focus on social responsibility.\n Zuid-Afrika Reizen, the first Western European travel agency to receive FTT certification.\n !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre, which promotes and preserves the culture of the San people.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk065", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Phone\n\nSouth Africa's country code is 27.\n\nPhone numbers within South Africa are of the format 0XX YYY ZZZZ.\n\nLarge cities have area codes 0XX (Johannesburg is 011, Pretoria 012, Cape Town 021, Durban 031, Port Elizabeth 041, East London 043, Kimberley 053, Bloemfontein 051) while smaller towns may have longer area codes (0XX Y for example) with shorter local numbers.\n\nWhen dialling a South African number from outside the country, one should dial +27 XX YYY ZZZZ.\n\nDialling within the country one should use all 10 digits, 0XX YYY ZZZZ.\n\nTo dial out of South Africa, dial 00 followed by the country code and the rest of the number you are trying to reach.\n\nPay phones are available at airports, shopping malls and some petrol stations. The number of pay phones in open public areas have been reduced, but you should still be able to find one when you need one. Pay phones use either coins or prepaid cards that are available at most shops and petrol stations; **coin** phones are generally blue while **card** phones are usually green.\n\nGenerally, mobile network and data costs are not very cheap. However, consumer lobby groups are trying to influence the government to act in this regard by firstly, removing expiry dates on paid for but unused data or air time and secondly, in view of the very high profit margins consistently shown by the mobile network operators, to substantially reduce consumer costs and enable wider use by everyone, as it can help reduce poverty, create new small business opportunities and improve learning on a much bigger scale.\n\nthumb|MTN Tower in Jeffrey's Bay\n\n### GSM", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk066", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Connect", "text": "South Africa has an extensive GSM network, working on the same frequency as the rest of Africa and Europe. There are five cell phone providers in South Africa: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Virgin Mobile and Telkom.\n\nThe networks support GPRS countrywide and LTE, 3G, EDGE and HSDPA support is available in larger urban areas.\n\nDo not assume you will not have network coverage just because you can not see a GSM tower. Many of the towers have been built to look like trees (*Vodacom*) or other structure (*MTN*) in order to better blend into the surroundings and not be an eyesore. In some rural areas, GSM towers still look like towers because of problems with animals damaging them when they look like trees.\n\nSIM card prepaid starter kits are available for around R1. You will need a passport and a proof of residential address and it has to be registered before you can call or receive calls. If you call into a Vodacom or MTN store with a passport and drivers licence, you can be all connected on the spot. You can buy credit for prepaid phones just about everywhere, remembering you will usually need cash to do so from service stations.\n\n### Internet\n\nThere are plenty of Internet cafes and access rates are cheap.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk067", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Connect", "text": "Even cheaper and more mobile would be to buy a prepaid cell phone starter pack (less than R10) and access the Internet with GPRS or 3G. Generally R2 per MB for out of bundle data from most providers (50c for Virgin Mobile), but it becomes a lot cheaper if you buy a data bundle. Vodacom prices range from 38c per MB on a 500MB bundle to 19c per MB on a 1GB bundle. MTN prices range between R1 per MB on a 10MB to 39c per MB on a 1GB bundle. Mobile data connections are always charged per MB as opposed to per second (as is popular on many European networks). State run Telkom Mobile, offers very advantageous and competitive contracts and \"pay as you need\" packages, but the lack of sufficient customer service centers may be a hindrance, however, once the initial process in completed, top up data is available online or most major retail outlets and supermarkets.\n\nNeotel offers CDMA coverage in the larger metro areas with prepaid packages starting at R800 for 24GB (*usb device included and data valid for 12 months*) or R400 for the device and R0.20 per MB with the purchase of recharge vouchers. Coverage is still limited, so make sure to check the coverage map first.\n\nADSL1 is popular for residential use and are available in speeds of 384kbit/s, 1Mbit/s and 10Mbit/s. Due to the Telkom monopoly on last-mile infrastructure, operators can get away with labeling 384kbit/s as \"broadband internet\" simply because there are almost no viable alternatives, and users are usually limited to 1GB to 3GB per month on an account. The average cost of ADSL data is R70/GB.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk068", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Beggars\n\nAs is the reality with many developing countries, beggars are rife in South Africa. There are also many children and mothers with babies begging on the streets. People are discouraged by social services from giving children and mother-with-baby beggars money, as there are a number of children's homes available and giving them money keeps them on the street and often feeds a drug or drinking habit. However, if you encounter a particularly friendly beggar, there's nothing stopping you from giving them a few rands or some food. Just be aware that muggers and con-artists are also rife in South Africa, so be wary at all times.\n\n### Loadshedding\n\nSouth Africa is infamous for its ongoing energy crisis, which has resulted in daily blackouts. Known by the locals as 'loadshedding', the failure of the public energy grid has become a fact of life to many South Africans, but poses as an unexpected roadblock to many travellers.\n\nLoadshedding times are classified into 'stages'. The higher the stage, the more blackouts there will be per day and the longer they will last. For winter 2025, only stage 2 load shedding for 21 days is anticipated, so the electricity grid will be much more reliable than in previous years. The current schedule and stage can be viewed on the public energy supplier Eskoms website by typing in your local municipality. Blackouts can be as often as once or twice a day lasting 2½ hours each at stage 1–2, and at the higher stages it can be up to 3–5 times a day sometimes lasting up to 4½ hours each. Some days there may only be a few hours of power available.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk069", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Cope", "text": "The stage can unexpectedly increase and decrease without warning, often 4–5 times a week. However, most hotels, malls and restaurants have in-built inverters and solar panels and at the very least Wi-Fi hooked up to a battery, so some utilities can be expected in more affluent places. It is advisable to bring your own phone charging battery as you may not be able to charge your device during some parts of the day.\n\nThe City of Cape Town uses its own facilities to reduce the impact of loadshedding on areas purchasing electricity through the City of Cape Town. The impact is generally one stage lower than the rest of the country. Private industry and business usually have backup power to keep them running through loadshedding, but most government offices and state owned organisations do not function when loadshedding is active. Some areas of Cape Town get power directly from Eskom, and they get the full loadshedding schedule. In some places the hospitals are exempt, as may be anyone else getting power from the same substation.\n\n### Embassies and consulates\n\n- Australia\n\n- Austria\n\n- Belgium\n\n- Brazil\n\n- Canada\n\n- France\n\n- Germany\n\n- Greece\n\n- India\n\n- Ireland\n\n- Japan\n\n- Netherlands\n\n- Portugal\n\n- Romania\n\n- Russia\n\n- Taiwan (Taipei Liaison Office)\n \n - Turkey\n\n- Ukraine\n\n- United Kingdom\n\n- United States of America\n\nIf your country is not listed here, have at look at the list provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs .\n\n### Funerals", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "south-africa::chunk070", "doc_id": "south-africa", "section": "Cope", "text": "For many South Africans, funerals are major community events that are attended by all family members, neighbors, and friends, as well as anyone with any connection to the family or community. Local businesses may close and lesser events may be postponed until after the funeral is over. If you are attending a funeral, dress respectfully in your best black clothes – never anything casual.\n\n### International banks\n\nA number of international banks operate branches in South Africa.\n\n### Stay legal\n\nThere are some laws that the average tourist might not be aware of\n If you intend to do any angling (fishing), either freshwater or at the coast, you will require an *angling licence* for the province you are in. These can be obtained at any Post Office and the price depends on the province, but is generally under R50. Fishery and environments officials do from time to time check if anglers are in possession of a licence and you can expect to be fined if you are caught fishing without a licence. Also pick up a booklet from the nearest angling shop that will tell you what the size limits for each species of fish is.\n Except for specific areas, clearly indicated by notice boards, it is illegal to drive a vehicle onto any beach.\n Boat skippers need a licence to pilot a craft on all water courses, fresh or saltwater, within South Africa.\n\n### Photography\n\nLarger shopping malls have dedicated photography shops where you can buy cameras and lenses or have a camera repaired. Most major camera manufacturers are well represented.", "word_count": 262}
diff --git a/corpus/south-africa/metadata.json b/corpus/south-africa/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..39bbe45a340393855d86142294349842fee2af9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-africa/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "south-africa",
+ "title": "South Africa",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/South_Africa",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 17011,
+ "listing_count": 52,
+ "marker_count": 22,
+ "chunk_count": 71,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/south-georgia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/south-georgia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ba83bf0f21c7740e853af6c2f226bed133fea244
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-georgia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk000", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**South Georgia Island** is a sub-Antarctic island administered by the United Kingdom as part of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It lies 1390 km southeast of the Falkland Islands and 2150 km from South America, and is 170 km long by 35 km wide with a mountainous interior. Its bays and islets are home to vast numbers of birds and marine life, but there is no permanent human population, and South Georgia's remoteness makes it a rare destination for tourists.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk001", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb | 300px | King Penguins in St Andrew's Bay\n, a former whaling station, is the port of entry to South Georgia. In season it hosts the Fishery Research base, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) and the British Antarctic Survey.\n\nThere is no airstrip on the island, so the only access is by boat. There is of course no ferry service and tourists arrive on large cruisers or smaller expedition cruisers, often combined with a tour of the Antarctic Peninsula. Research, support and official staff arrive on polar support vessels across a wild heaving ocean. Whatever the size of ship, even the gnarliest old sea-goer can expect sea-sickness.\n\nSee Antarctica for companies that sail here - all the companies that visit South Georgia also visit the Antarctic Peninsula, but not vice versa. It's the wrong side of the world for those cruising out of New Zealand to the Ross Sea.\n\nYou don't need a visa but you do need prior permission to land: see SGSSI for the rules and fees. The cruise operator or expedition leader is responsible for organising this.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk002", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are no roads on the island, so all travel is by boat or on foot. The island is mountainous and covered by massive glaciers, so travel by land requires appropriate gear and backcountry travel skills.\n\nThe SGSSI Government lists 49 sites that may be approached by small-to-medium sized ships of up to 200 passengers. That's plenty to go at, the others are unsafe or restricted, and even the listed sites may be closed in breeding season or not suitable for landing. They're all on the north coast except Haakon Bay on the dangerous south coast. Grytviken is one of the six sites where larger ships are permitted.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk003", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb | 300px | Lenticular clouds \n is accessible only by a hazardous landing onto a rocky cliff, followed by a steep ascent over rock and through tussocks. It's home to massive numbers of black-browed, grey-headed and light-mantled sooty albatross, as well as macaroni penguins. The islet just east is Vaughan Island, the larger one east is Trinity, then the little ones further east are the Verdant Islands. \n is a research area for the British Antarctic Survey and you may not land. The birds include wandering albatross and giant petrels.\n is a mainland cove where it's almost impossible to land Dec / Jan with the vast numbers of grumpy fur seals that overrun the beaches. At other times of the year it's home to elephant seals, gentoo penguins, king penguins, sheathbills, and grey-headed albatross.\n is a bight on the north coast where cruise ships often stop. The Southern Right Whale *Eubalaena australis* is baleen, a filter feeder, and got its name because it was \"the right whale to hunt\" - hence the island's stations. Elephant seals and a small colony of king penguins throng the area Sept-Nov then thousands of fur seals take over the beach through February.\n is another enormous king penguin rookery, and hosts vast numbers of other penguins and seals.\n **Albatross Island** 3 km off Salisbury Plain has limited numbers of wandering albatross. You may not land here. \n **Prion Island** another 5 km east is smaller than Albatross Island but has more of these birds, and parts of it may be visited. There's a boardwalk from the landing point to make access easier whilst protecting the fragile vegetation.\n or Port Leith is an abandoned whaling station within Stromness Bay, in operation 1905-1965. It was established by Christian Salvesen Ltd, and named for their home port in Edinburgh. In 1982 it ignited the Falklands War when 50 Argentines landed, supposedly contractors come to remove scrap metal from the old station; but they arrived mob-handed and a similar landing was made at Grytviken. Within a month both groups were ejected by the Royal Navy whereupon Argentina, realising that Britain would now reinforce in this region, precipitated their invasion of the Falklands. There are gun emplacements and a cemetery, but much of the station is derelict and unsafe. \n **Stromness** is another old whaling station 3 km southwest of Leith Harbour, separated by a sharp ridge with no track between. This was where Shackleton, Crean and Worsely finally staggered to safety in 1916 to bring help to their crew. Again, it's mostly derelict and unsafe. \n **Grytviken:** see the separate page for the island's main settlement. There's a museum, charming old church, and grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton. The settlement is on what's now called Thatcher Peninsula, which divides the glacial fjords of Cumberland East and West Bay. \n has astronomical numbers of king penguins, plus thousands of elephant seals and fur seals occupying the sands along the water. The sights, sounds and smells of this bay will not soon be forgotten.\n thumb | 300px | Port Leith \n , sheltered (somewhat) by Cooper Island, has South Georgia's most accessible macaroni penguin colony.\n is a steep-walled inlet with a small rookery of Weddell seals, normally only found in Antarctica. Glaciers and spectacular scenery make this a common destination for cruise ships. \n is the fjord on the south coast where Shackleton and five others landed their frail boat after their epic journey from Elephant Island. The entire south coast of South Georgia is a raging lee shore which even modern ships stay clear of. The men knew they were wrong side of the island, but their boat was in no shape to return to the open sea; so they sailed to the head of the fjord and made camp. Shackleton, Crean and Worsley set off inland - the other three were in no fit state. They crossed to Possession Bay on the north coast, famously tobogganing blind down a very steep slope to escape a night on the bare mountain, then across more glaciers and mountains to Fortuna Bay where they heard the Stromness whaling station's morning hooter. Their route is recreated in an arduous organised trek, though the distance varies from 35 to 50 km depending on the condition of the glaciers.\n is the only sizable island off the south coast, 8 km from the mainland. Being isolated and lacking landing points, it has always been free of rats; 500 pairs of wandering albatross are among the ground-nesting birds here. Its highest point is Olstad Peak, 650 m. \n **Pickersgill Islands** are a craggy archipelago 24 km southeast of Annenkov. The largest, Tanner Island, is only about 500 m by 200 m.", "word_count": 776}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk004", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb | 300px | Grytviken Church \n **Hike:** The Shackleton Traverse is the 41 km route that Ernest Shackleton took across the island to bring help to his crew marooned on Elephant Island. It's arduous and hazardous across glacier, and demands mountaineering skills. Visiting parties usually just do the last low-lying 6 km from Fortuna Bay to Stromness. \n **Wildlife** spotting and photography is the main attraction here. \n **Report a rat.** Rats arrived in the 19th century as sealer and whaler ships put in for fresh water and established camps, and the rats set about the island's bird life in much the same way that humans were setting about the seals and whales. Birds here have no trees to nest in, and the ground is too hard for burrows, so they nest on open ground where eggs and chicks are easy prey. The pipit and the pintail were wiped out on the mainland and survived only on a few islands that rats couldn't reach; penguins and other birds were also greatly harmed. In 2011 a huge eradication effort began, involving helicopter drops of poisoned bait, though at the cost of some \"collateral damage\" to non-target species such as skuas. Three seasons of this, plus extensive searches with dogs, led to probable eradication in 2015, and after two more seasons with no further sightings the island was declared rat-free. So if you think you see one, report it - a photo will help, but don't try to whack it yourself.\n **Don't introduce reindeer.** Rabbits into Australia, wallabies into Herm in the Channel Islands, when will they learn? The rats were an early accidental introduction but in the early 20th century reindeer were deliberately introduced as a source of meat and target for recreational shooting. The first herd was released on Barff peninsula across the bay from Grytviken, where they were seldom bothered, and bred and bred. Herds were wanted closer to the whaling stations: a second herd near Leith harbour was squished by an avalanche but a third became the \"Busen herd.\" These latter were kept in check while whaling continued but grew from the 1960s. The Barff and Busen herds (separated by glacier) reached densities ten times what would be considered sensible in their home terrain in the far north of Norway. They chomped on the vegetation and trod on nests, and the decision was taken to eradicate them by herding for slaughter and by shooting stragglers. This was conducted 2013-2015 with 7000 reindeer killed.", "word_count": 413}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk005", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb | 300px | Shackleton drew this map of King Haakon Bay \nUnless permitted for an expedition, no food may be taken ashore, and fishing and hunting are prohibited.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk006", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Visitors sleep on their boat, it's by far the most comfortable and safe. Staying ashore overnight anywhere in SGSSI makes it an expedition, which requires special approval and an extra fee of £1000 per group.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk007", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Mail can be sent from Grytviken, and is picked up approximately every two weeks. The only other means of communicating with the outside world is via satellite phone, which most boats make available for between US$2 and US$5 per minute. There is no publicly available internet access.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "south-georgia::chunk008", "doc_id": "south-georgia", "section": "Go next", "text": "In short, wherever the boat that brought you is going next. That might be the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands, or a South American port such as Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.", "word_count": 31}
diff --git a/corpus/south-georgia/metadata.json b/corpus/south-georgia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..64387ec55340fb2175286b956d1d197028ec79a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-georgia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "south-georgia",
+ "title": "South Georgia Island",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Polar / Special",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/South_Georgia_Island",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "climbing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Antarctic Peninsula",
+ "Falkland Islands",
+ "Ushuaia",
+ "Punta Arenas"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1709,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 9,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/south-korea/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/south-korea/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ed95d93882797ab152c60323bea4a68c822e87b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-korea/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk000", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Overview", "text": "**South Korea** (Korean: 한국, 韓國 *Hanguk*), officially the **Republic of Korea** (대한민국, 大韓民國 *Daehan Minguk*), is a country in East Asia.\n\nKnown as the \"Land of the Morning Calm\", Korea has served as a cultural bridge between its neighbors, China and Japan, for a long time. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, South Korea emerged from the shadows of its turbulent past and achieved impressive economic growth, making it one of the world's most affluent countries today. South Korean pop culture, especially K-pop, is incredibly popular worldwide, driving higher levels of tourism to this nation. Despite their modernity and love for high technology, Koreans also take great pride in their history and traditions, and there many well-preserved historical sites that can give history buffs a glimpse into the ancient past.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk001", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Regions", "text": "South Korea is divided into nine provinces as listed below, with their commonly used Korean abbreviations in parenthesis. The largest cities are separate government areas, but Wikivoyage includes them in the most relevant province.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk002", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Cities", "text": "(서울) — the dynamic 600-year-old capital of South Korea, a fusion of the ancient and modern\n (부산, 釜山) — the second city and main beach destination\n (춘천, 春川) — capital city of Gangwon province, surrounded by lakes and mountains and known for local dishes, dakgalbi and makguksu\n (대구, 大邱) — a cosmopolitan city, rich with ancient traditions and sights\n (대전, 大田) — a large and dynamic metropolis in Chungnam province\n (광주, 光州) — the administrative and economic centre of the area, the largest city in the province\n (경주, 慶州) — the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom\n (인천, 仁川) — second busiest port in the country, location of the country's largest international airport\n (전주, 全州) — once the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty, now a leading center of the arts filled with museums, ancient Buddhist temples, and historical monuments", "word_count": 140}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk003", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "(설악산국립공원) — spread out over four cities and counties, the country's most renowned national park and mountain range\n (안동시) — historically rich in Confucius traditions and home of living folk village\n (안산시) — a city in Gyeonggi province on the coast of the Yellow Sea\n (판문점) — the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality\n (여수시) — one of the country's most picturesque port cities especially at night. Famous for its seafood and beaches, you can visit some of the islands in Hallyeo Ocean Park with cruise or watch sunset from its fabulous Dolsan Bridge or romantic cafes near marinas.\n (진도) — commonly associated with the dog native to that area, the Jindo, every year people flock to the area to witness the parting of the sea and participate with the accompanying festivities\n (울릉도) — scenic remote island off the east coast of peninsula\n (평창군) — the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk004", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Positioned on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is a country of dazzling scenic landscapes and a mixed representation of centuries-old traditions and contemporary society. It boasts a recorded history extending more than 5,000 years.\n\n### History\n\n#### Early history and founding of a nation\n\nthumbnail|Daegu and the mountain Palgongsan\n\nArcheological finds of prehistoric toolmaking on the Korean Peninsula date back to 70,000 BC, and the first pottery is found around 8000 BC. Comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500–2000 BC.\n\nLegend has it that Korea began with the founding of **Gojoseon** (고조선, 古朝鮮, also called **Ancient Chosun**) by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BC. Archaeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th–4th century BC. The Chinese Han Dynasty eventually defeated Gojoseon, and its territories were governed as four commanderies. The political chaos following the fall of the Han Dynasty in China allowed native tribes to regain control of Korea and led to the emergence of the **Three Kingdoms of Korea** (삼국시대, 三國時代), namely Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Silla (신라, 新羅) and Baekje (백제, 百濟). Despite repeated attempts by China, namely the Sui Dynasty and later the Tang Dynasty, to conquer the Korean Peninsula, northern-based Goguryeo managed to repel them. Eventually, Baekje and Goguryeo both fell to a Silla-Tang alliance, and unified Korea under the **Silla Dynasty**. A later invasion by the Tang was repelled by Silla forces, thus maintaining Korea's independence. The remnants of Goguryeo would go on to found another kingdom known as **Balhae** (발해, 渤海) in what is now Northeast China, which would last until 926 AD when the Khitans conquered it.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk005", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Unified Silla was replaced by the **Goryeo Dynasty** (고려, 高麗, also called **Koryo**), from which the modern name \"Korea\" derives. One highlight of the Goryeo dynasty was that in 1234 the world's first metal movable type was invented by a Korean named Choe Yun-ui (200 years before Gutenberg's printing press). Goryeo was replaced by the **Joseon Dynasty** (조선, 朝鮮, also called *Chosun*), after a coup by one of its generals. The Joseon dynasty ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, being one of the longest actively ruling dynasties in world history. During the early part of the Joseon dynasty, Korean technological inventions such as the world's first water clock, ironclad ship, and other innovations took place. During the rule of King Sejong the Great, the world's first rain gauge was invented, and the Korean alphabet, known as *hangul*, was created.\n\n#### Japanese occupation and division\n\nthumbnail|The light blue conference rooms at the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom\nKorea was invaded by the Japanese, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century, who was eventually defeated by an alliance between the Joseon dynasty and China's Ming dynasty. This defeat and the untimely death of Hideyoshi forced the Japanese to pull out of Korea.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk006", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Later, Korea's status as an independent kingdom under the Chinese sphere of cultural influence (사대 *sadae*) ended in 1895 after China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Under the treaty's terms, China recognized the severing of their several-centuries-old suzerainty over Korea, whereby Korea would pay regular tributes to China as a symbol of submission. Although Chinese suzerainty was a voluntary diplomatic formality assumed by Joseon's rulers to receive the benefits of advanced Chinese culture and trade, its end was significant because it put Japan in a position to take possession of Korea without fear of Chinese intervention. In 1910, with the support of pro-Japanese collaborators, Imperial Japan annexed and colonized Korea. Despite assassinations, armed rebellions and intellectual and cultural resistance by the Koreans, Japan maintained control of the peninsula and advanced a cultural assimilation policy. During World War II, many Korean women were forced to serve as \"comfort women\" in Japanese military brothels, an injury which continues to be a major bone of contention in diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk007", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "After Imperial Japan's defeat in World War II, Soviet forces occupied the northern half of Korea while U.S. forces occupied the southern half. North and South Korea each declared independence as separate states in 1948. Kim Il-Sung established a communist regime with the support of the Soviet Union in the north, and Syngman Rhee established a capitalist regime with the support of the United States in the south. After antagonism from both sides, North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, starting the Korean War which destroyed much of the country. The U.S. and other U.N. forces intervened on South Korea's side, while the Soviet Union and China supported the North. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone after the war had reached a stalemate with no significant territorial gains made by either side. However, as no peace treaty has ever been signed, the two Koreas officially remain at war, although without any ongoing combat.\n\n#### Republic of Korea\n\nDespite being economically outperformed by its northern rival at first, South Korea eventually emerged from the ashes of the Korean War. It achieved rapid modernization and economic growth starting in the 1960s under the iron-fisted rule of President Park Chung-hee. After Park was assassinated in 1979, a coup led by Chun Doo-hwan established another military dictatorship in 1980 and suppressed democratic movements at that time; perhaps one of the most notorious events is the **Gwangju massacre** that caused at least 200 deaths among protesters.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk008", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "As one of the East Asian Tigers, the South Korean economy's industrialization and modernization efforts gained traction in the 1980s and 1990s. Per capita income rose to 20 times that of North Korea. In 1996, South Korea joined the OECD. Today, South Korea is an industrialized and developed economy with some of the world's leading high technology corporations, such as Samsung and LG.\n\nDemands for greater freedom of speech and human rights led to nationwide demonstrations that led to democratic elections in 1987, just prior to the South Korean capital of Seoul hosting the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.\n\nSouth Korea is now a liberal democracy and an economic powerhouse. The peace process with the North is still underway at a glacial pace, with little sign that the status quo will change anytime soon. In 2012 the country elected its first female president, Park Geun-hye. However, she was dramatically ejected from power in 2017 and subsequently convicted of corruption and abuse of power after widespread demonstrations over corruption that involved personal connections and Korea's largest corporations.\n\nThe cultural phenomenon known as the **Korean Wave** (한류 *hallyu*) took much of Asia by storm at the turn of the millennium as South Korean film, television, music, food, and other aspects of culture became immensely popular. It has since spread to the West, with Psy's Korean-language song \"Gangnam Style\" topping the charts in many Western countries in 2012, and K-pop bands BTS and Blackpink achieving mainstream success in the United States in the 2020s.\n\n### People\n\nthumb|240px|Namdaemun Gate, [[Seoul]]", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk009", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with over 95% of the population identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language. However, the demographics are changing, with immigrants having passed the one million mark for the first time in history. The largest minority are the Chinese, numbering around 440,000, though the majority of them are Chinese citizens of Korean ethnicity. There is a smaller community of local-born Han Chinese residents numbering just over 26,000, mostly descended from early 20th-century immigrants from Shandong, known as *Hwagyo* (화교) in Korean. There are also workers from Mongolia, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world. A community of 20,000 English teachers from anglophone nations are spread out throughout the country. A long-standing 30,000 American military personnel are stationed here. South Korea's large and growing economy has attracted people from all over the world. Seoul's leading financial center has brought many financial workers from North America, Europe, and Japan. Rural areas have seen farmers seek out wives from other countries such as China, Vietnam, and the Philippines to address the general shortage of Korean women in the countryside, and these communities can be seen in even the smallest towns nowadays.\n\nSouth Korea has the world's lowest birth rates of only 0.7 children per woman (as of 2023), and with it a rapidly aging and declining population. How the country will deal with this demographic problem is unclear, with little change to policies to address the general resistance to immigration, traditional expectations that women give up their careers after motherhood, increasing costs of housing and living as well as the very high effort of raising even one child in the ultra-competitive education system. If trends continue then South Korea's population will fall by 50% as soon as 2100.\n\n### Government and politics", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk010", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "South Korea today is a full, vibrant and relatively stable democracy, with executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. While it was established in 1948 as a democracy, the country had experienced political repression, military coups and effective dictatorships. Since the sixth republic was declared in 1987, it has had stable democratic government.\n\nThe president is both the head of government and head of state, and is elected for just one five-year term. Party composition and naming changes frequently in South Korean politics, although conservative, liberal, and progressive platforms are usually represented. In general, left-wing parties tend to support reconciliation and more cooperation with North Korea, while right-wing parties tend to support closer ties with the United States, whilst taking a tougher stance against North Korea.\n\nThe legislative branch is known as the National Assembly (국회 *Gukhoe*), consisting of one house whose members are popularly elected through a mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system. The judicial branch is topped by two separate courts; the Supreme Court which is the highest ordinary court, and the Constitutional Court that only handles constitutional matters, including impeachment trials of senior government officials.\n\nAlthough the military remains a powerful force in Korean politics (not surprising given that Japan, China, and North Korea surround the country), it is widely considered that another military coup is unlikely. President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup on 3 December 2024 by proclaiming martial law, but was quickly foiled when legislators scrambled and voted to overturn the proclamation within hours, and he was subsequently impeached and removed from office.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|240px|Decoration of a royal palace, Changdeokgung, [[Seoul]]", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk011", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Having been in the cultural sphere of China for much of its history, substantial Chinese influences are evident in traditional Korean culture. Nevertheless, many fundamental differences remain, and Korea has retained a distinct cultural identity from its larger neighbor. Koreans are fiercely proud of their heritage and their resistance to outside domination.\n\nDuring the Joseon dynasty, Korea's dominant philosophy was a strict form of Confucianism, perhaps even stricter than the Chinese original. People were separated into a rigid hierarchy, with the king at the apex, a nobility (양반 *yangban*) comprising of the elite civilian and military officials below him, a middle class of petty civil servants (중인 *chungin*) below them, and then a vast population of commoners (상민 *sangmin*) below that. There was another smaller caste below the commoners, known as the *cheonmin* (천민), who held jobs considered \"unclean\" such as butchers, prostitutes and slaves. The educated were superior to the uneducated, women served men, and everybody stuck to a defined role or faced severe consequences. Korea adopted its version of the imperial examination system invented by and used in China to select officials, creating somewhat of a premodern meritocracy for the government like its Chinese counterpart, though, unlike the Chinese version, the Korean version was largely restricted to the *yangban* and *chungin* classes. Buddhism was suppressed mainly due to the widespread corruption and greed of monks and temples during the waning stages of the Goryeo dynasty. While the Joseon dynasty ceased to exist in 1910, its legacy lives on in Korean culture: education and hard work are valued above all else, employees are expected to be unquestioningly obedient to their bosses, and women still struggle for equal treatment.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk012", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Koreans believe that the things that set them the most apart from other Asian cultures are their cuisine, language, and Hangul script. Outsiders will note their extreme modernity, tempered by a well-developed artistic and architectural joyfulness. Nothing goes undecorated if it can be helped, and they have a knack for stylish interior design. South Korea also has a vibrant film and TV industry, and the country is one of only a few in the world where local films have a larger market share than Hollywood films.\n\nSouth Koreans firmly hold on to many ancient traditions that go back thousands of years, yet paradoxically, they are often obsessed with the latest technology. Consumer devices with amazing advanced technology developed in Korea are often several years ahead of the rest of the world.\n\nSouth Korea has a significant number of Christians (18% Protestants, 11% Roman Catholic) and Buddhists (23% practicing, 47% non-practicing), and churches can be found in the towns and temples, and monasteries on hills. Over a third of the country professes to follow no particular organized religion. However, most people (including Christians) are still strongly influenced by traditional Korean Buddhist and Confucian philosophies that seeped into the Korean cultural background. Islam and several religions of Korean origin also have a few followers in parts of the country.\n\nThe game of Go, called *baduk* in Korean, is a traditional pastime and some of the world's strongest players are Korean.\n\n#### Holidays", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk013", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Korea's traditional holidays mostly follow the lunar calendar and therefore fall on different days each year from the perspective of the Western Gregorian calendar. The two biggest, Lunar New Year and *Chuseok*, are family holidays where everybody returns to their hometowns *en masse* and all forms of transport are absolutely packed. It is worth planning your itinerary around these dates, as well as realizing that your best eating options may be noodle packets from a 7-Eleven! On the other holidays, you will not notice too much difference, however, all banks and government offices will be closed.\nthumbnail|On Buddha's birthday temples are decorated by colored lanterns", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk014", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "**New Year's Day** (신정 *Sinjeong*) — January 1\n**Lunar New Year** (설날 *Seollal*, also known as \"Korean New Year\" or 구정 *Gujeong*) — 1st day of 1st lunar month (January–February) — Families gather together, eat traditional foods, especially *tteokguk* (떡국), and perform an ancestral service. The public holiday lasts for three days, which includes the eve and second day. Many shops and restaurants close for three days, so it is not ideal for visiting.\n**Independence Movement Day** (삼일절 or 3·1절 *Samiljeol*, lit. \"3-1 Day\") — March 1 — In commemoration of the March 1st resistance movement against the Japanese colonial administration in 1919.\n**Children's Day** (어린이날 *Eorininal*) — 5 May — It is a celebration of the value of children's personality and the pursuit of their happiness.\n**Buddha's Birthday** (부처님 오신 날 *Bucheonnim Osin Nal* or 사월 초파일 *Sawol Chopail*) — 8th day of the 4th lunar month (April–May) —A legal holiday in South Korea commemorating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha(석가모니).\n**Memorial Day** (현충일 *Hyeonchung-il*) — June 6 — Commemorates Koreans who gave their lives to the nation.\n**Constitution Day** (제헌절 *Jeheonjeol*) — July 17 — National Day of the Republic of Korea, commemorating the enactment and promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea (Constitution) on 17 July 1948.\n**Liberation Day** (광복절 *Gwangbokjeol*) — August 15 — This day is actually the end of World War II with the official Japanese surrender to the Allied forces, which also meant Korea gaining independence after many decades of Japanese colonialism.\n***Chuseok*** (추석, often translated as \"Korean Thanksgiving\") — 15th day of 8th lunar month (September–October) — Koreans celebrate by eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called *songpyeon* (송편) and playing folk games. The public holiday lasts for 3 days and much like Lunar New Year, everything shuts down which makes visiting rather boring.\n**National Foundation Day** (개천절 *Gaecheonjeol*) — October 3 — The holiday's name means \"day of the open sky,\" hence the name. In celebration of the first formation of the nation of ancient Korea.\n**Hangul Day** (한글날 *Hangeulnal*) — October 9 — Anniversary for the Korean alphabet\n**Christmas** (크리스마스 *Keuriseumaseu*, 기독탄신일 *Gidoktansinil*, or 성탄절 *Seongtanjeol*) — December 25 — A full public holiday mostly celebrated by young couples spending a romantic day together. Although about 30% of the country is Christian, there is very little public religious celebration in the media or on the streets.", "word_count": 398}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk015", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Climate\n\n**Spring** is an excellent time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm, but not hot, and there's not too much rain either. However, spring is also when yellow dust storms blow over from China, making the air horrible to breathe. However, in May, temperatures are often closer to summer than spring.\n **Summer** starts with a dreary rainy season (장마철 *jangma-cheol*) in June and turns into a steambath in July–August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 35 °C. Best avoided unless heading to the beaches.\n **Autumn**, starting in September, is perhaps the best time to be in Korea. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and the justly renowned **fall colors** make their appearance.\n **Winter** is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, and the Korean invention of *ondol* (온돌, floor heating) helps defrost any parts that froze outside. However, January and February can be bone-biting cold due to Siberian winds from the north. The south of the country (including Busan and Jeju) are relatively mild compared to the north (Seoul) during this season.\n\n### Electricity\n\n180px|thumb|Power plug and socket used in South Korea\nSouth Korean households and hotels use the same dual round sockets for their electrical outlets as most of Continental Europe. Some hotels may provide an adapter for you to use; ask for one at the reception desk.\n\nSouth Korean electrical outlets accept appliances with a voltage rating of 220 V at 60 Hz. If your appliance has this rating that includes 220 V (Such as 100-240 V that most laptop chargers now accept), you will be able to use the appliance with only a plug adapter. If it falls below or above this rating, you must purchase a transformer or a voltage adapter before leaving your country.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk016", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some very old buildings and very new hotels and apartments are dual wired and have 110 V outlets (identifiable by the smaller dual flat sockets) and the regular South Korean variety, built specifically to accommodate the Japanese and Americans.\n\n### Read\n\nA long and complicated relationship between the Western world and the South Korean nation has led to a plethora of literature on the country.\n\nBooks focused on Korean history:\n*Battle for Korea: The Associated Press History of the Korean Conflict* by Robert J. Dvorchak (1993) — Great journalistic photography accompanied by short descriptive narratives\n*Korea Old and New: A History* by Carter Eckert and Lee Ki-Baik (1991) — Simply stated writing, good overview of Korea's history\n*Korea Witness: 135 Years of War, Crisis and New in the Land of the Morning Calm* by Donald Kirk and Choe Sang Hun (2006) — Compilation of articles from foreign correspondents starting from 1871, notably from Jack London, a war correspondent from 1903–'04\n*True Stories of the Korean Comfort Women* by Keith Howard (1996) — Unflinching look at the atrocities committed during the Imperial Japanese occupation period\n\nBooks about Korean culture:\n*The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies* by Michael Breen (1999) — Anecdotal accounts and insights of a British journalist on the country he spends half the year in; informative and entertaining\n*Social Change in Korea* published by Jimoondang (2008) — Compilation of articles written by academic experts on Korea\n*The Discovery of Korea: History-Nature-Cultural Heritages-Art-Tradition-Cities* by Yoo Myeong-jong (2005) — Amazing scenic views on Korea\n\n### Watch\n\nSouth Korea has a substantial film industry, considering the size of the country. Many films can give you a good background to the country, and almost all DVDs will have good English subtitles.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk017", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "The list below could include hundreds of films. However, the selection below will give you a good taste.\n*Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War* (태극기 휘날리며) — A story of two brothers serving as soldiers during the Korean War.\n*Joint Security Area* (공동경비구역) — A rather haunting movie about soldiers on opposite sides of the Demilitarized Zone who strike up a tenuous friendship.\n*May 18* (화려한 휴가) — Until 1987, South Korea was effectively a military dictatorship. This film is a historical drama set during the infamous Gwangju massacre when military dictator Chun Doo-hwan ordered the shooting of protesters in that city.\n*5th Republic* (제5공화국) — Another history TV drama covering Chun Doo-hwan's rise to power and administration. The drama portrays historical figures at that time well, and some scenes and quotes have since became memetic in neighbouring countries.\n*Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring* — A film set completely at an isolated lake in the mountains, which shows each season as a stage in the lives of a Buddhist monk and his adopted boy.\n*Secret Sunshine* (밀양) — A contemporary film about the nature of forgiveness set in the country town of Miryang.\n*My Sassy Girl* (엽기적인 그녀) — Romantic comedy that is often seen as a quintessential Korean movie experience, and especially well regarded by people from other Asian countries.\n*The Host* (괴물) — Monster horror film around the lives of a family in Seoul. A lot of footage of the Han river that flows through the middle of the city.\n*Parasite* (기생충) — Multi-award-winning film tackling themes of class in Korea.\n* Roaring Currents* (명량) — It is based on the naval battle of Myeongnyang, which took place at the beginning of the Korean War against Japan.\n* International Markets* (국제시장) — The movie depicts a generation fleeing the Korean War and trying to make ends meet.\n* Train to Busan* (부산행) — A zombie movie from South Korea. Unlike conventional zombie movies, these zombies are very fast!\n* Snowy Train* (설국열차) — It's an old favorite of director Bong Joon-ho, who made Parasite. Set on a train, it shows a very fresh and unconventional sense of class and direction.\n*Assassination* (암살) — Set in 1933 during the Japanese occupation of Korea, it shows the oppression of the country and the independence fighters who resisted it.", "word_count": 388}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk018", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Visitor information\n\nVisit South Korea website", "word_count": 7}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk019", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|240px|Handwritten ''hangul'' in an advertisement\n\nSouth Koreans speak **Korean**, and knowing a few words of this will come in very handy. The language is rather drastically different from any Western language in its grammar, and pronunciation is rather difficult for the English speaker to get right (though not tonal). Depending on which part of the country you go to, different dialects are spoken, though standard Korean, which is based on the Seoul dialect, is understood and spoken by almost everyone. Most notably among the dialects, the **Gyeongsang dialect** spoken around Busan and Daegu is considered to be rather rough and aggressive compared to standard Korean, and the **Jeju dialect** spoken on Jeju Island is known for being almost incomprehensible to speakers of standard Korean.\n\nThe Korean writing system is deceptively simple. Although it looks at first glance to be as complex as Chinese or Japanese, it is a unique and simple alphabetic writing system called **hangul** (한글 *hangeul*) where letters are stacked up into blocks that represent syllables. It was designed by a committee and looks like simple lines, boxes, and little circles, but it is remarkably consistent, logical, and quick to pick up. A royal document from 1446 describing hangul said that \"A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over; a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days.\"\n\nLearning to read hangul before you arrive in Korea will make traveling easier, as many signs and menus are written in hangul only. Furthermore, the Korean words for many common products are often English loan words, but will be written in hangul, such as 주스 (*juseu*, \"juice\") or 컴퓨터 (*keompyuteo*, \"computer\"). If you can read hangul, you'll find surviving in Korea surprisingly easy.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk020", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Talk", "text": "Korean words can sometimes be written with much more complex Chinese characters, known as *hanja* (한자, 漢字) in Korean; these were largely abolished in 1968, but occasionally appear in restaurant menus, signs and advertising as an aesthetic choice, and a few basic characters are still widely understood. Nowadays, hanja are mainly used for disambiguation if the meaning is ambiguous when written in hangul; in such instances, the hanja is usually written in parentheses next to the hangul. Hanja are also used to mark Korean chess pieces, country names in some newspaper headlines, and personal names in some legal documents.\n\nThe transliteration of Korean words in Roman letters can be quite inconsistent, and adjacent signs for the same place such as *Gwangalli* and *Kwanganri* are common. In 2000, the government standardized the Revised Romanization system also used in Wikivoyage, but you will frequently encounter older McCune–Reischauer spellings and just plain weird spellings. Notably, words beginning with *g*, *d*, *b*, *j* may be spelled with *k*, *t*, *p*, *ch* instead, and the vowels *eo * and *eu* may be spelled *o* and *u*. The letters *l*, *r* and *n* also get swapped often, and the vowels *i* and *u* are sometimes written as *ee* and *oo* respectively. In foreign words imported into Korean, *f* turns into *p*, so a cup of *keopi* (\"coffee\") or a round of *golpeu* (\"golf\").\n\nMost South Koreans will have learned some level of **English** at school, and many younger adults can work with the basics. Increased tourism from around East Asia means that basic English is the common way to communicate in shops and restaurants. However, it is less common to find locals conversant in English, and you may have difficulty with advanced queries even in hotels and airports. Generally reading and writing comes much easier.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk021", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Talk", "text": "A typical experience for Western travelers in South Korea is to be approached by children interested in practicing their English skills. They will often take a picture of you for their school class as proof that they really talked to you.\n\nOlder folks may also still speak some Japanese. The city of Busan, being a short trip from Fukuoka in Japan, has more Japanese speakers per capita, and the dialect in Busan is more similar to Japanese in the same way that the Japanese dialect in Fukuoka also has a strong Korean influence. However, many Koreans (especially older ones) still resent the Japanese for the atrocities committed during the occupation, so you should always try English first, and only use Japanese as a last resort. Thanks to the Korean Wave (*hallyu*) of Korean pop music and soap operas throughout East Asia, many shopkeepers in touristy areas speak some Japanese, Mandarin, or Cantonese.\n\n**Korean Sign Language** (한국 수화 언어 *Hanguk Suhwa Eoneo*, or just 수화 *suhwa*, \"signing\") is an official language of South Korea since 2016, equal in status with spoken Korean. It is mutually intelligible with Japanese and Taiwanese Sign Languages, but not with Chinese Sign Language, Auslan, American Sign Language, or others.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk022", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "Nationals of 112 countries and territories can enter South Korea without a visa. While these visa-free nationals are supposed to apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), 67 of these countries including EU, US, UK, Australia etc have been \"temporarily\" exempted until December 2026. To find out if you're exempted, try to apply for a K-ETA, and you'll get a popup informing you if you are.\n\nIf you do not have a K-ETA, you need to fill out a free e-Arrival Card online.\n\nAvoid bringing in snack foods that contain poppy seeds. While washed poppy seeds contain only trace amounts of opioids, they will probably be confiscated under the same laws that ban the importation of illegal drugs.\n\nDo not bring North Korean biographies, books, stamps, postcards, or anything with North Korean propaganda into South Korea. They will be confiscated on sight and you may be fined or jailed.\n\n### Entry requirements", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk023", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|450px|Visa policy of South Korea{{legend|\nCitizens of Canada are allowed visa-free entry for up to 180 days.\nCitizens of the European Union (except Cyprus, Portugal, and French territory of New Caledonia), Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United States/American Samoa (Except Guam), Uruguay, and Venezuela can visit visa-free for up to 90 days.\nCitizens from Lesotho, Portugal, and Russia can visit visa-free for up to 60 days.\nCitizens of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cyprus, Eswatini, Fiji, Guam, Guyana, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, F.S. Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates, and Vatican City can stay visa-free for up to 30 days.\nCitizens of China (mainland) may visit South Korea for up to 15 days without a visa provided they join a group tour organized by a designated travel agency, with a minimum group size of 3.\n\nIf you are not from an exempted country, you need to apply for a K-ETA least three days before travel. The K-ETA will cost ₩10,000 and is valid for two years.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk024", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Jeju** is an autonomous island province with looser visa requirements, although K-ETAs are still required unless exempted. Entry is permitted for everyone *except* citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Yemen for up to 30 days. If you enter Jeju without a visa and subsequently leave for the mainland, you will need to have a valid visa for the rest of South Korea.\n\nFor citizens of most countries, a notice of visa issuance printed on ordinary paper will be returned. You must keep a copy of this and present it to airline staff and border officers when requested.\n\nSouth Korea is really good at keeping electronic track of everyone coming and going, so do not overstay your visa. Violations will likely result in you being banned from re-entering, and prosecution is a possibility.\n\nMilitary personnel traveling under the U.S.–South Korea Status of Forces Agreement do not require a passport for entry, provided they hold a copy of their travel orders and a military ID. Their dependents, however, must have a passport and A-3 visa.\n\nMost foreigners staying longer than 90 days must register with the authorities within 90 days of entry and obtain an Alien Registration Card.\n\nThe Korean Immigration Service collects the biometric data (digital photos and fingerprints) of foreign visitors at ports of entry (international airports and seaports). Entry will be denied if any of these procedures is refused. Children under the age of 17 and foreign government and international organization officials and their accompanying immediate family members are exempt from this requirement.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk025", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "South Korea has many international airports; however, only a few have scheduled services. South Korea has experienced an airport building frenzy over the last decade. Many large towns have dedicated functioning airports that handle only a handful of flights a week.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk026", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Incheon International Airport** (), about 1 hour west of Seoul, is the country's largest airport and is served by many international airlines. There are many options for flying there from locations throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and even routes to South America and Africa. It is also frequently rated as \"the best run and best designed airport in the world\". There are direct inter-city buses that travel from just outside the international arrival hall to many locations throughout South Korea. The airport has a metro line (express AREX 43 min and all-stop subway 56 min) that goes directly to both Seoul–Gimpo airport and Seoul Station.\n Seoul's **Gimpo Airport** () offers domestic flights to most South Korean cities, and the international \"city shuttle\" services from Tokyo–Haneda, Beijing, Shanghai–Hongqiao and Taipei–Songshan are quite convenient. It is more centrally located to Seoul than Incheon. You can connect from Incheon airport either by train or by limousine bus.\nBusan's **Gimhae International Airport** () has international connections from East and Southeast Asia, as well as Vladivostok, Guam, and Saipan. Gimhae also has a few flights a day directly from Seoul–Incheon, which is much more convenient than changing to Seoul–Gimpo airport after a long international flight. This service is intended for connecting passengers only and cannot be booked separately. The airport has a light rail line connecting Gimhae and West Busan.\n**Jeju** () has flights from many South Korean cities and international flights from Kuala Lumpur and major Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese cities. The Seoul (Gimpo)—Jeju route is the busiest flight corridor in the world, and the island is well-served from other Korean airports.\n Airports at Daegu, Muan (close to Gwangju and Mokpo), Cheongju (close to Daejeon and Sejong), Yangyang also have international connections to major Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese airports.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk027", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "Flag carrier **Korean Air** (대한항공 *Daehan Hanggong*) and **Asiana ** (아시아나 항공 *Asiana Hanggong*) are the principal full-service carriers from South Korea that fly around the world. Korean airlines' safety records have improved dramatically since the 1990s, and they are now just as safe as any Western airline. Several low-cost airlines offer domestic flights to Jeju from every airport in South Korea and international flights across Asia.\n\nAfter a fire accident caused by power banks, the Korean government has issued a very strict restriction on power banks and E-Cigarettes on flights to Korea from March 2025. You can carry five power banks under 100Wh and two power banks with approval from airlines between 100-160Wh at most. Power banks over 160Wh are not allowed. All power banks' charging port also must covered with electrical tape or a zipper storage bags, and carry it with them at all times or place it in the airplane pocket.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are no train services across to the North, and rail (and road) connections with North Korea were destroyed in October 2024.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe services listed here may change frequently, and English language websites may not be updated with the current information. Verify before traveling.\n\nthumbnail|The Beetle hydrofoil from Japan\n\nBusan's **International Passenger Terminal** is the largest seaport in the country and offers ferry rides mostly to and from Japan. The New Camelia operates daily between Busan and Fukuoka, taking 5.5 hours. All other links are slower overnight ferries, such as Pukwan Ferry Company's services from Shimonoseki. A Busan–Osaka ferry is operated by Panstar Line Co., Ltd.. There are also multiple services from nearby Tsushima.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk028", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get in", "text": "Incheon's **International Ferry Terminal** (연안부두 *Yeonan Budu*) has services from several cities in China, such as Weihai, Dandong, Qingdao and Tianjin. The largest operator is **Jinchon**, but Incheon Port has full listings on their website.\n\nPyeongtaek Port has several connections to cities in Shandong province, as well as cargo hopping options. There are multiple operators, but information is provided in the port authority's website.\n\nGunsan **International Passenger Terminal** has daily ferry connections from Shidao in Shandong province (Korean website).\n\nThere are also weekly departures from Vladivostok and Sakaiminato to Donghae operated by DBS Cruise Ferry Co.\n\n### By land\n\nDue to the political and military situation with North Korea, **entering South Korea overland is not possible**. The border between North and South Korea is considered the most heavily fortified border in the world, and while some unauthorized crossings have occurred at the truce village of Panmunjeom, an attempt to cross the border anywhere would risk your life and the lives of soldiers on both sides.\n\nIf your North Korean tour includes a visit to Panmunjeom, you can briefly cross into South Korea within the confines of one of the conference rooms straddling the border. However, the southern door will guarded by a soldier, and you will not be allowed to proceed any further.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk029", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Rush hour on the subway in Seoul\nSouth Korea is fairly compact, and you can get almost anywhere very fast by train. The exception to this is Jeju; the Seoul-Jeju route being the busiest air route in the world. Subways are present in six cities, including metropolitan Seoul. Travel by bus or taxi is readily available, although bus services are far more economical.\n\nAs South Korean national security laws mandate that navigation processing be done only on local servers, **Google Maps does not give driving or walking directions in South Korea** and can also be not up to date for some regions, lacking information on recent infrastructure changes such as bridges. It is advisable to install **Naver Map** and **KakaoMap** on your mobile phone for English language searching and directions. Unfortunately, the desktop web sites are in Korean only. Note that while Naver Map has more English in its interface, KakaoMap generally has better detail and path finding. Both require a login for basics like saving points of interest.\n\n### Smart cards", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk030", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "The most widely used transportation smart card is known as **T-money** (티머니 *Ti-meoni*) card. This can be used on local buses and subways throughout the country and taxis displaying the T-money logo. Fares and transfers up to 30 minutes are calculated automatically; tap on and tap off when riding on buses and trains. (In some buses in the countryside, you only need to tap on; watch locals to see what they do.) It even gives you a ₩100 discount on bus and subway rides, which is even more reason to use it. As of 2025, the card costs ₩5,000 for the regular version or ₩4,000 for the limited \"Visit Korea Card\". It can be purchased at convenience stores displaying the T-money logo and at some ticket vending machines in subway stations, as well as newsstands near subway stations. However, to buy and top-up the card, usually only cash is accepted. You can get back your credit in cash afterwards, less a ₩500 fee. Some retail shops may also accept payment by T-money, look for the logo. Out of all the smart cards, T-money has the largest network of stores where it can be used. T-money is also usable on the public transportation systems throughout the country, so it is a good option for traveling around South Korea. T-money cannot be used onboard inter-city buses, but it can be used at city bus stations to buy bus tickets to other cities. It also cannot be used on the KTX network.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk031", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are other types of smart cards as well, including Cashbee, Wowpass and Namane. Cashbee is basically the same as T-money, though harder to find in Seoul. Being a product of the Lotte group, its main advantage is it can be used for purchases in any Lotte stores, of which there are many, in addition to city buses, subways, and convenience stores. The main advantage of the Namane card is that it can be used on KTX services. On the whole, T-money is the most useful smart card for the vast majority of visitors, but they are so cheap, there is no harm in getting more than one kind.\n\nIn addition, cities may have their own public transportation smart cards, such as Busan's **Hanaro Card**. Unlike T-money, these cards are often not usable outside their respective metropolitan areas, making them less useful for visitors travelling around the country.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumbnail|right|Korean Air is the country's largest carrier.\nSouth Korea is a relatively small country with a fast and efficient train service, so flying is not the fastest way to get places unless you are going to the island of Jeju.\n\nNevertheless, plenty of airlines fly between the main cities at rates comparable to the KTX train. Most flights are with **Korean Air** or **Asiana**, however many new options exist with budget airlines such as **T'way Air**, **Air Busan**, **Eastar Jet**, **Jin Air** and **Jeju Air** (which despite the name also serves the busy Seoul–Gimpo to Busan route). Service is similar between full service and low-cost airlines on domestic flights; low-cost airlines offer free soft drinks and 15 kg of checked luggage.\n\n### By train\n\n240px|thumb|KTX train at Daejeon Station\nthumb|Mugunghwa-ho", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk032", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "National train operator **Korail** (**KR**) connects major cities in South Korea. A large amount of money has been plowed into the network, and trains are now competitive with buses and planes on speed and price, with high safety standards and a good deal of comfort. For booking, there is a clunky but usable iPhone app that supports English.\n\nSouth Korea's flagship service is the high speed **Korea Train eXpress** (**KTX**) with services from Seoul to Busan, Yeosu, Mokpo, Masan, and Gangneung. The competing **Super Rapid Train** (**SRT**) also offers services on the core Seoul-Busan/Mokpo routes.\n\nKTX and SRT trains use French TGV technology and Korean technology to travel at more than 300 km/h. The fastest non-stop trains travel between Busan and Seoul in just over two hours. There are vending machines on board that serve drinks and snacks and earphones, and cell phone chargers.\n\n+ Seoul to Busan by train\n Type Time Price\n KTX First Class 2-2½ hr ₩83,700\n KTX Standard 2-2½ hr ₩59,800\n *ITX-Saemaeul* (express) 4 hr 45 min ₩42,600\n *Mugunghwa* (semi-express) 5½ hr ₩28,600\nAll prices off-peak (M-Th), small surcharges apply for peak (F-Su)", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk033", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "Non-KTX trains are poetically ranked as *ITX-Saemaeul* (ITX-새마을, \"New Village\"), *Mugunghwa* (무궁화, \"Rose of Sharon\", which is the national flower of Korea) and *Tonggeun* (통근, \"commuter\"), corresponding roughly to express, semi-express and local commuter services. All ITX-Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains can travel at up to 150 km/h. ITX-Saemaeul trains are a little pricier than buses, while Mugunghwa are about 30% cheaper. However, ITX-Saemaeul trains are incredibly comfortable, having seats comparable to business class seats on airplanes. Since the introduction of the KTX, there are much fewer ITX-Saemaeul and Mugunghwa services, but they are worth trying out. Tonggeun are cheapest of all, but long-distance, unairconditioned services have been phased out, and they're now limited to short regional commuter services in Gwangju.\n\nAlso, there is a *ITX-Cheongchun* service between Seoul and Chuncheon. It's a special version of ITX at that line.\n\nSaemaeul and some Mugunghwa trains are equipped with power plugs on laptop seats.\n\nSmoking is not permitted on any Korean trains or stations (including open platforms).\n\nTickets are much cheaper than in Japan but more expensive than other Asian countries — although the damage can be lowered by traveling on local trains rather than KTX. Buying tickets is fairly easy: self-service terminals accepting cash and credit cards are in multiple languages and are very simple to use. Station staff can usually speak basic English. Most stations are clean, modern, and have good signposting in Korean and English, and compared to China or Japan, Korea's rail system is very user-friendly.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk034", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "Pre-booking any train tickets a day prior (be they KTX, *ITX-Saemaeul*, or *Mugunghwa*) is recommended for weekend trips, as all trains can be booked up for hours on end. On Sunday in particular, all but local trains may regularly be completely booked up. If you don't reserve tickets in advance when departing busy hubs such as Seoul or Busan, you may see your options reduced to \"unallocated seating\" on the slowest local trains (sitting on the floor in the un-air-conditioned space *between* carriages, or standing in the toilet for much of the trip). You are, however, free to sit on any seat that seems free until someone with the ticket to that seat shows up. If you are confident in your Korean, you can ask to reserve seats on available sections and travel standing up the rest of the way.\n\nThere are also many tourist trains that let you go to rural and scenic parts of Korea.\n\nSeoul also has an extensive commuter train network that smoothly interoperates with the massive subway system, and Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju and Incheon also have subway services.\n\n#### Korail Pass", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk035", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **Korail Pass** is a rail pass only for non-resident foreigners staying less than six months in Korea, allowing unlimited travel for a set period on any Korail train (including KTX) and including free seat reservation. The pass is *not* valid for first-class or sleeping cars, but you can upgrade for half the price if you wish. The pass must be purchased **at least five days before travel** (preferably before arrival in Korea). It's not cheap as it needs a substantial amount of travel (e.g., Seoul–Busan round trip) to pay off and severe limitations on usage apply during Korean holidays and peak travel periods, including Lunar New Year and *Chuseok*. Prices as of May 2015 are for a 1-day pass ₩66,900, 3-day ₩93,100, 5-day ₩139,700, 7-day ₩168,400, and 10-day ₩194,400, with discounts for youth (age 13–25), students and groups.\n\n#### Rail cruises\n\nKorail Tourism Development provides a rail cruise called *Haerang*, which enables customers to travel to all the major sightseeing destinations in Korea with just one luxury train ride.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Express Bus\nthumb|Interior of Udeung buses\nBuses (버스 *beoseu*) remain the main mode of national transport, connecting all cities and towns. They're frequent, punctual, and fast, sometimes dangerously so, so fasten the belts you'll often find in the seats. Korean buses don't have toilets, and rest stops are not standard on trips of less than 2 hours, so think twice about that bottle of tea at the terminal. Unlike trains, bus terminal staff and drivers are less likely to speak or understand English, and even signage is often only in Korean. Having your destination written down in *hangul* will be helpful.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk036", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is a somewhat pointless division of long-distance buses into **express buses** (고속버스 *gosok beoseu*), which use toll expressways and are thus slightly faster but also more expensive, and **intercity buses** (시외버스 *si-oe beoseu*), which are a bit slower but go more places. Timetables, fares and tickets are available on their respective websites, which are Kobus and TxBus respectively. Whichever one you pick, you'll need to choose in advance, since in larger cities they depart from different terminals.\n\nFor additional comfort, look for *udeung* buses (우등 버스, glossed \"Excellent\" on the Kobus website) which have just three seats across instead of the usual four; these cost about 50% extra. However, some intercity buses use *udeung* buses without extra fares on highly competitive lines such as Seoul–Andong routes.\n\nIn addition, local **inner-city bus** (시내버스 *si-nae beoseu*) networks often connect directly neighboring cities, and Incheon Airport has its own dedicated network of airport limousine buses.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerry boats surround the peninsula and shuttle out to Korea's many islands. The main ports include Incheon, Mokpo, Pohang, and Busan. The most popular destinations are Jeju and Ulleungdo.\n\nThere are mostly undiscovered and scenic islands near Incheon that can seem almost deserted.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk037", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Cars on a highway in Seoul\nAn International Driving Permit (IDP) may be used to drive around South Korea. In general, road conditions are good in South Korea, and directional signs are in both Korean and English. Car rental rates start from ₩54,400/day for the smallest car with a week's rental. South Korea drives on the right in left-hand-drive cars. South Korea also follows the American practice of allowing cars to turn right at red lights as long as they (in theory) yield to pedestrians. In contrast, **left turns on green lights are *illegal*** unless there is a blue sign pointing left saying 비보호 or green left arrow.\n\nIf you are traveling in the big cities, especially Seoul or Busan, driving is not recommended as the roads often experience heavy traffic jams, and parking is expensive and difficult to find. Many drivers tend to get reckless under such conditions, weaving in and out of traffic. Drivers often try to speed past traffic lights when they are about to turn red, and several cars (including fully-loaded public transit buses) will typically run through lights after they have turned red, whether pedestrians are in the crosswalk or not.\n\nKoreans consider driving rules as guidelines only and don't expect to be punished for parking illegally or cutting through a red light. This means that if you want to drive, you will need to do so **assertively** by pushing yourself into an intersection and forcing other cars to yield.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk038", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "A GPS is highly recommended while navigating Seoul or Busan. Lanes end or turn into bus lanes with little to no warning, and it may not always be obvious where turns are allowed. A good rule of thumb is to **stay in the middle lane** as cars will often illegally park in the right lane while the left lane will become a turning lane with little warning. However, **Google Maps and Apple Maps cannot be used for navigation in South Korea** due to national security laws prohibiting the distribution of mapping data to other countries. You should use Naver Map or Kakao Map instead.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumbnail|Typical Korean Taxi\nTaxis are convenient, if a somewhat pricey way of getting around the cities, and are sometimes the only practical way of reaching a place. Even in the major cities, you are extremely unlikely to get an English-speaking taxi driver, so it will be necessary to have the name of your destination written in Korean to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card to show the taxi driver in case you get lost.\n\nAlthough doing so is illegal, cab drivers, particularly the cheaper white cabs on busy Friday or Saturday nights, may deny service to short-distance fares. A very handy technique to counter this is to have your destination (hotel name, or the district (구 *gu*) and neighborhood (동 *dong*), in Korean of course) written in thick black ink on a large A4 sheet of paper and hold it to the traffic. Passing cab drivers responding to long-distance call outs, or with space in their cab in addition to an existing fare in that direction will often pick you up en route.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk039", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Get around", "text": "In particular, when hailing a cab, ensure you follow the local custom and wave it over with your hand extended but all your fingers extended **downwards** and beckoning as opposed to upwards in the Western fashion (this style is reserved for animals).\n\nAs of Nov 2023, it is illegal to refuse a short ride in a taxi, and it is also illegal to ride in a taxi while it is operating. By using apps such as Kakao Taxi, I.m Taxi, and uber, you can book a taxi without language difficulties and without worrying about being overcharged.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk040", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Tea fields in Boseong\nthumb|Busan by night\nthumb|A village man drinking tea in Hahoe Folk Village\nAsian tourists have long discovered South Korea as a prime shopping, culinary and sightseeing destination. It is a relatively new travel destination for the Western world, but has gained popularity fast. And for good reason, as South Korea offers a most pleasant combination of ancient Asian features and all the amenities you would expect from a modern, high-tech nation. Despite its compact size, it boasts a broad range of fine attractions, and excellent infrastructure makes getting around easy.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk041", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "See", "text": "**Seoul** Most journeys begin in the nation's capital that never sleeps. This ancient place has seen centuries and wars come and go but seems to have come out stronger than ever. Popularly called the \"Miracle on the Han River\", it's one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world. It's the country's industrial epicenter, the birthplace of K-pop, a hotspot for South-Korean nightlife and fine dining and home to countless museums. The fabulous history and art collection of the **National Museum of Korea** (국립중앙박물관) reigns supreme and a visit there is a day well spent. The city has been rediscovering its historical treasures and improving city parks, adding to its charm. Downtown Seoul, where the **old Joseon Dynasty city** was, is where you'll find most of the **palaces**, **Gyeongbokgung** (경복궁), **Changdeokgung** (창덕궁) and **Gwanghwamun** (광화문). It is surrounded by a **Fortress Wall**, with the famous **Namdaemun**, one of the eight gates, being perhaps the main attraction. The **Banpo bridge** (반포대교) turns into beautiful colours at night, and the **Yeouido Island** (여의도), apart from the famous 63 Building has splendid parks for rollerblading/biking. Other sights are the **Secret Garden** (비원), **Seodaemun** (서대문), or the **Seoul Tower** (서울타워). To get away from the buzz, follow the locals to **Cheonggyecheon** (청계천), one of the urban renewal projects and a popular public recreation space, or enjoy an afternoon tea in a traditional teahouse in **Insadong**.\n **Busan** is the country's second city and most significant port. Called the nation's summer capital, Koreans flock to this city's fine beaches, seafood restaurants and festivals. **Haeundae** beach (해운대) in Busan is the most famous in the country, with an atmosphere is comparable to southern France or California in the summer.\n **Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)** On July 27th 1953, The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established as a cease-fire agreement with a boundary area of 2km between North and South Koreas. **Panmunjeom** aka Joint Security Area (**JSA**) is the ‘truce village’ of the DMZ where tourists can view North and South Korea without much hostility. Here you can also enter one of the buildings that are located on the border aka Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which means you can actually cross into the North when entering those buildings. The border is indicated by a line where North and South Korean soldiers face each other coldly. The tour includes the nearby bridge of no return that used to be the main controlled crossing point between the countries. Also, the **Third Tunnel of Aggression**, created by North Korea (1.7 km long, 2 m high and about 73m below ground), was discovered in 1978. This tunnel is not more than an hour or 44 km away from Seoul.\n **Bukhansan** is just a stone's throw north of Seoul and one of the most visited national parks in the world. Some 836 meters high, Mount Bukhansan is a major landmark visible from large parts of the city and the park is home to the beautiful **Bukhansanseong Fortress**. The popular hike to get up there is well worth it, as you'll be rewarded with great views of the metropolis. The country has over 20 national parks, mostly mountainous such as Seoraksan National Park, but some also focus on marine and coastal nature. The lush green **tea fields of Boseong** offer an equally nice and peaceful get-a-way.\n **Jeju Island** If you don't mind the crowds, this volcanic and semi-tropical island offers a spectacular scenery and numerous natural sights, a relaxing and warm (especially in winter) atmosphere and plenty of activities. Don't miss the **Lava tubes**, **Seongsan Ilchubong**, **Loveland**, and South Korea's highest mountain **Hallasan** (1,950 m).\n **Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites** is a World Heritage and home to a significant part of all the dolmen in the world. Apart from the impressive megalithic stones, it has brought forward a highly important collection of archaeological finds.\n **Gyeongju** Once the nation's capital, it boasts numerous royal burial and World Heritage cultural sites, as well as relaxing resorts.\n **Folk villages** If you'd like to see a bit of Korean folklore, **Hahoe Folk Village** near Andong, Yangdong, the living museum-like **Korean Folk Village** in Yongin or **Hanok Village** in Jeonju are among the best.\n **Festivals** Korea is a country of festivals. No matter where you go, there's likely something happening close by. Watching or even joining in the bustling celebrations is often a fabulous and colorful experience. The **Boryeong Mud Festival** (보령머드축제) is a popular pick, when participants drench themselves in mud and take part in everything from mud wrestling to body painting. The nearby beach becomes something of a party apocalypse.\n **National Treasures** South Korea retains multiple state-owned intangible treasures, which make them popular tourist attractions.\n **Coasts** The coastline of South Korea dominates three seas, including both East and West. Its waters range from rugged beauty to subtropical beach resorts, including Busan.", "word_count": 803}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk042", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Taekkyeon, one of Korea's older martial arts\nFor a definite list of activities refer to individual cities. However, some of the best ones are:", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk043", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Do", "text": "**Hiking** With the country being covered in mountains, Korea is a fantastic destination with numerous hiking opportunities. Try Jirisan (지리산), Seoraksan (설악산) or go to South Korea's highest peak, the dormant volcano Hallasan on Jeju island. They offer great views, 1- to 3-day tracks, English sign posts/maps, huts (most of them heated), and can be organized easily. In autumn the leaves turn into beautiful colours, so the best seasons to go there are autumn and spring.\n**Jjimjilbang** Koreans love public baths and saunas! If you can get past everyone being naked, then this is an excellent way to feel refreshed after a hard day sightseeing. Even small towns will have one. They can also be used to stay overnight — this is especially convenient if you missed to make a reservation for an accommodation, everything is full or you are looking for a cheap accommodation. Weekends are extremely busy with families.\n**Hot springs** In common with their Japanese and Taiwanese neighbors, Koreans love their hot springs (온천 *oncheon*), and resorts can be found throughout the country. At some more traditional establishments, bathers are expected to be nude, but others are full-fledged water theme parks with co-ed pools that require a bathing suit. Many places also have saunas connected.\nthumb|Relaxing on Songjeong beach in Busan**Snowboarding/Skiing** The Gangwon province offers ski decent opportunities in winter, which is very beautiful when it snows.\n **Eat** Perhaps you have had Korean BBQ in your home country. The reality of Korean food is so much more diverse and tasty. Try something new delicious every each day! (Seafood, meat or vegetarian)\n **Winter surfing** Owing to local tidal conditions, the best surf is in the winter! Pohang and Busan are two places you can try this\n **Karaoke/Singing Rooms** Noraebang (노래방) is the same as Japanese Karaoke palors, popular and hard to miss wherever you go in metropolitan cities.\n **Martial arts** Learn martial arts such as the famous Taekwondo (태권도), and lesser-known ones like Hapkido (합기도), and the dance-like martial art Taekkyeon (택견). You can also go and watch a competition or performance — for instance cultural festivals may feature traditional martial arts.\n **Temple Stay** Spend a few days meditating and learning about Buddhism at a Korean monastery.\n **Water amusement parks** are plentiful in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, such as Caribbean Bay in Yongin, Ocean World in Hongcheon, with a more Ancient Egyptian setting, and Ocean 700 in Pyeongchang. Tourists and locals usually go there in the summer.\n **Yeondeunghoe(연등회)** is a traditional festival held during Buddha's birthday when the streets are hung with colorful lotus lanterns and can also involve celebratory parades.\n The board game Go, called *baduk* in Korean, is quite common and several of the world's top professional players are Korean.", "word_count": 455}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk044", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Do", "text": "### Sports\n\n**Baseball** was brought to Korea by American missionaries in 1904 and is the most popular sport in the country. Most cities have a team and the biggest are sponsored by the largest South Korean companies, and many South Korean players have become famous Major League Baseball players in the United States. The top baseball league in South Korea is the **KBO League**, featuring 10 teams from 8 cities. The South Korean national baseball team is also regarded as one of the strongest in the world, finishing second at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.\n\n**Soccer** is becoming more important to South Korea over time, and is a sport shared by North and South. South Korea is one of the strongest teams in Asia and some of their players work have had successful careers in the top European leagues. The sport gained an incredible amount of short term popularity when the South Korean national team reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002, and even today the country stops for World Cup matches. Unfortunately the enthusiasm for domestic and friendly international games is extremely low, and stadiums are usually mostly empty.\n\nOther popular sports include golf and basketball. Badminton, table tennis and bowling are also popular and facilities for the public are widely available in cities. Korean martial arts such as ***taekwondo*** (태권도) are also popular. **Golf** particularly has a strong following, with membership fees for Korea's top golf clubs being more expensive than those in neighboring Japan or the United States. Many of the world's top female golfers are from South Korea or of Korean descent. **Archery** is also a popular sport, with South Korea dominating the archery events at the Olympics.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk045", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Do", "text": "As for winter sports, **speed skating** (especially short track) and **figure skating** are extremely popular due to the repeated success of South Korea in the Winter Olympics, with South Korea dominating the short track speed skating events. The city of Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.\n\n### Traditional performing arts\n\nKorea was traditionally home to two types of theatre: **talchum** (탈춤) and **pansori** (판소리).\n\nTalchum is a traditional type of dance performed by people wearing masks, often accompanied with singing. It originated in Hwanghae province in what is now North Korea, though it has since spread around the country. Traditional Hwanghae-style talchum is also performed in the South, often by North Korean refugees and their descendants.\n\nPansori is a type of musical storytelling involving a lone female storyteller dressed in a hanbok and accompanied only by a single drummer, with the storyteller usually expected to use their voices and facial expressions for dramatic effect. Following contact with Western styles of drama, pansori evolved into **changgeuk** (창극) in the early 20th century, which is essentially Korean opera, with actors and an accompanying orchestra, and uses more elaborate sets in contrast to the minimalist staging of pansori.\n\n***Gisaeng*** (기생) or *kisaeng* are the Korean equivalent of the Japanese geisha (or more accurately, courtesans known as *oiran*), and were historically sex workers trained in the arts of poetry, calligraphy and music, entertaining clients with their skills and conversation. While the tradition has largely died out in modern South Korea, *gisaeng* are often featured in Korean historical dramas, and many of their traditional arts are now being revived.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk046", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumbnail|South Korean bills and coins\n\nThe currency of South Korea is the **South Korean won**, denoted by **₩** (ISO code: **KRW**) and written 원 (*won*) in the Korean language.\n\nBills come in denominations of ₩1,000 (blue), ₩5,000 (red), ₩10,000 (green) and ₩50,000 (yellow). The ₩50,000 is very practical if you need to carry around a reasonable amount of cash, however it can be hard to use on goods or services with a value of less than ₩10,000. The ₩50,000 can be hard to find and often only provided by ATM's that display a picture of the yellow note on the outside.\n\n₩100,000 \"checks\" are frequently used, and some of the checks go up to ₩10,000,000 in value. These checks are privately issued by banks and can be used instead of cash for larger purchases, such as hotel rooms.\n\nCoins mainly come in denominations of ₩10, ₩50, ₩100 and ₩500. Very rare ₩1 and ₩5 coins do exist.\n\nYou may occasionally see prices in single and double-digits or with decimal places - these prices are in thousand wons (e.g. if you see 3.5 on a price tag or menu item, it means the price is ₩3,500).\n\n### Banking and payment\n\nMake sure to bring your passport whenever you exchange money. This also applies at automated machines that dispense Korean won and T-money smart cards.\n\n**Credit card** acceptance in shops, hotels and other businesses on the other hand is very good, and all but the very cheapest restaurants and motels will accept Visa and MasterCard. Even small purchases such as ₩4,000 for a coffee are okay. This works well since credit cards have good exchange rates, however if you are using a foreign card then you should ensure with your bank that there isn't a fee for this foreign transaction.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk047", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "**ATMs** are ubiquitous, although using a foreign card with them is rather hit and miss. There are however many special **global ATMs** which accept foreign cards. They can generally be found at Shinhan/Jeju Bank, airports, in areas frequented by foreigners, in major cities, some subway stations, and in many Family Mart convenience stores — most of the time indicated by the \"Foreign Cards\" button on the screen. Some banks, such as Citibank, have a fee of ₩3,500 for foreign cards. **Before heading to the countryside** where foreign cards are less likely to be accepted, be sure to have cash or another source of money.\n\n**T-money smart cards** are an alternative source of payment accepted widely, especially for public transportation. (See *§ Smart cards*.) Some other cities have their own smart cards, and topping up T-money outside of Seoul can be a problem but at **Shinhan/Jeju Bank** it should always be possible. You may need to ask the local cashier for help due to the Korean-only menus/buttons.\n\nIf you plan on staying in South Korea for a longer time, you'll probably want to set up a **bank account** at a Korean bank such as Woori Bank, which can then be used at the bank's ATMs throughout the country. (Even some non-local accounts can do this, e.g. Woori Bank accounts setup in China come with an ATM card that can be used with all its ATMs in South Korea.) Many banks will even allow you to open an account on a tourist visa, though the services you will be able to access will often be very limited. Some of the larger banks may have English-speaking staff on hand at their major branches.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk048", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "South Korea is fairly expensive compared to most Asian countries, but cheaper compared to other modern developed countries such as Japan and most Western countries. A frugal backpacker who enjoys eating, living and travelling Korean-style can easily squeeze by on under ₩60,000/day, but if you want top-class hotels and Western food even ₩200,000/day will not suffice. Seoul is more expensive than the rest of the country, and has become particularly expensive competing in many ways with Tokyo.\n\nGenerally speaking it is rare to buy or be charged anything valued less than ₩100.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is *not* expected anywhere in South Korea and is not practiced by Koreans. It could be considered an insult between Koreans as it is regarded as giving someone charity, although people generally know of American tipping culture and would be understanding of a foreigner doing this.\n\nMany hotels and a few tourist restaurants add 10% service charge on their bills. Bellhops, hotel maids, taxi drivers and bars frequented by Westerners will not reject any tips that you care to hand out.\n\nRestaurants sometimes provide complimentary food or drinks to customers as a sign of generosity or to reward customer loyalty. Just as in Japan, this is colloquially known as \"service\".\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk049", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Namdaemun market in Seoul\nMany products sold in South Korea will have 10% VAT added. However, foreign visitors can claim a refund on this tax when departing South Korea. At retail outlets with a \"Tax Free Shopping\" or a \"Tax Refund Shopping\" sign, you can ask for a tax refund receipt. Some stores, such as Olive Young, let you show your passport (copies not accepted) and you do not have to pay the tax at all. Note stores employing this method may charge a small fee. Otherwise, a VAT refund section will be added to your receipt. It will show how much VAT you paid on individual items between ₩30,000 and ₩200,000, and with a total limit of ₩1 million. When you leave South Korea go to the \"Global Refund Korea\" or \"Korea Tax Refund\" counters near the duty-free shops. However, to get a refund you must leave within 3 months of purchase. The refund counters give you a cash refund, in your choice of Won, Yen, Yuan or USD only.\n\n**Bargaining** is common at outdoor markets and applies to everything they may have to offer. However, do not state a specific monetary amount. Instead, say \"*ssage juseyo*\" (싸게 주세요, \"Cheaper, please.\"). Doing this once or twice will suffice. However, you will rarely be discounted more than a few dollars.\n\nKorea is the **ginseng** (인삼 *insam*) capital of the world. Widely considered to have medicinal properties, it can be found in special mountain areas throughout Korea. A thick black paste made from ginseng is popular, as is ginseng tea and various other products. There are many grades of ginseng, with the best grades potentially fetching millions of US dollars at auctions. A good place to check out the different types of ginseng would be Gyeongdong Herbal Medicine Market in Seoul.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk050", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "Medicines made from **Korean red pine** are also popular as it can treat and manage major ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes. They can go for up to thousands of US dollars if bought directly from companies specializing in producing this medicine.\nthumb|Myeongdong shopping district is also in Seoul\nVisitors looking for **traditional items** to bring home can find a wide variety of choices. You can find a blue-jade celadon from the Goryeo Dynasty, handmade traditional costumes, paper kites and ceramic pieces that depict human emotions in their designs at the numerous markets and souvenir shops. Insadong in Seoul would be the first place to shop around. After a while one store might start to look like every other store but chances are you'll find what you need.\n\nKeeping up with the latest **fashion** trends, shoppers and boutique owners alike flock the streets and markets every weekend. Centered largely in Seoul with popular places such as Dongdaemun, Mok-dong Rodeo Street and Myeongdong, fashion centers can be divided into two large categories; markets and department stores. Markets are affordable and each shop will have trendy similar type clothing that appeal to the masses. Also, be aware that you **cannot** try on most tops. So better to know your size before shopping there. Though department stores will have areas or floors that have discounted items, they are considered overpriced and catering mostly to an older, wealthier crowd.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk051", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "The traditional Korean garment known as the ***hanbok*** (한복), which is still worn by South Koreans for special occasions and historical re-enactments, and can be found in various garment markets. While a traditional hanbok requires visiting a specialist shop and customized fittings, making it rather expensive, more casual versions that are more practical for daily use and significantly cheaper can also be found. A popular place to get a traditional hanbok is the second floor of Gwangjang Market in Seoul, where you can find many traditional hanbok tailors, each with a wide array of fabrics to choose from. When wearing a hanbok, it should always be wrapped left over right; doing it the other way round is a major faux pass as that is only done when dressing the dead.\n\nFor all things considered **antique**, such as furniture, calligraphic works, ceramics and books, you can go to Jangangpyeong Antique Market in Seoul. **Items over 50 years old cannot leave the country**. Check with the Art and Antique Assessment Office at +82-32-740-2921.\n\n**Electronics** such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets are widely available, especially in larger cities like Seoul and Busan. For the most part these same devices are available in most Western countries and the warranties may not be honored outside of Korea. You would also probably have to contend with having the instruction booklets and functions being written in Korean. Korean **Rice Cookers** are very popular with visitors from East Asia - with many more models and at a cheaper price than abroad - just be aware that 'voice activated' cookers may require you to speak Korean to them!", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk052", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumbnail|BTS, the first K-pop band to be invited to the White House\n**K-pop** is a large element of the Korean Wave (*hallyu*) phenomenon that took much of Asia by storm at the beginning of the 21st century, and spread to the West in the 2020s, so you might want to stream the latest Korean music by popular K-pop singers and groups — and discover some of the lesser-known ones. K-pop artistes are signed by talent agencies and record companies at a very young age, and typically train arduously for many years before they are allowed to debut. These days, K-pop singers are recruited not just from South Korea, but also from across East Asia such as China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, and overseas Korean-American and Korean-Australian communities. Controversially, aspiring K-pop artists are made to sign contracts that give them little control over their private lives, often banning them from dating in order to maintain the illusion of \"availability\" to their fans. In terms of shopping, there are plenty of opportunities to buy merchandise — such as posters, t-shirts, mobile phone cases. Most music is now consumed as digital downloads, but there are still some music shops selling CD's to be found. And if you want to see them **live**, there is of course no better place than South Korea.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk053", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Buy", "text": "**K-dramas** are massively popular in Asia and streaming a drama will certainly last you many rainy afternoons. It is possible to visit many famous K-Drama locations and possibly buy related merchandize there. Many tourists like to hire traditional costumes from historical dramas and recreate the scenes. These days it is possible to stream recent K-Dramas around most of the world, although it is still possible to buy a series box set on DVD if you look hard enough (note that Korean DVD's will be locked to DVD region 3 and may not have foreign subtitles).", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk054", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|240px|Example of a Korean meal: ''bibimbap'' with (from left) pickles, ''eomuk jorim'' sauteed fishcake, ''kimchi'', ''pajeon'' pancake, a pot of ''gochujang'' and ''doenjang'' soup\n\nKorean cuisine is becoming increasingly popular outside of Korea, especially in other parts of East Asia and the U.S. It can be an acquired taste, with lots of spicy and fermented dishes, but it's addictive once you get used to it and Korean food is definitely in a class of its own, mixing spicy chilies and copious amounts of garlic with delicate ingredients like raw fish. Although Korean food is quite low in fat, a fact attested to by the observation that very few South Koreans are overweight, those with sodium-limited diets should beware, as Korean cuisine can be heavy in salt.\n\nA Korean meal is centered around **rice** and **soup** and likely a fish or meat dish, invariably served with a vast assortment of **small side dishes** known as *banchan* (반찬). The humblest meal comes with three types while a royal banquet may well feature twenty types of banchan. In addition to kimchi, typical side dishes include bean sprouts (콩나물 *kongnamul*), spinach (시금치 *shigeumchi*), and small dried fish.\n\nThe ubiquitous **kimchi** (김치 *gimchi*), made from fermented cabbage and chili, accompanies nearly every meal and ranges from mild to roaringly spicy. In addition to the common cabbage type, kimchi can also be made from white radish (깍두기 *ggakdugi*), cucumbers (오이 소박이 *oi-sobagi*), chives (부추 김치 *buchu gimchi*) or pretty much any vegetable that can be pickled. Many different dishes are made using kimchi for flavoring, and kimchi is served as a side dish as well. It is not uncommon to find Korean tourists carrying a stash of tightly packed kimchi when travelling abroad.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk055", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "Two more condiments found in almost every dish are ***doenjang*** (된장), a fermented soybean paste akin to Japanese *miso*, and ***gochujang*** (고추장), a spicy chili paste.\n\nWhile many of these dishes can be found throughout Korea, every city also has its own regional specialties, such as *dakgalbi* (닭갈비) in the city of Chuncheon.\nthumb|Fried chicken at Kyochon with seasoning packet and radishes\nA common perception among Koreans is that foreigners don't like **spicy food**, so you might have to spend some time convincing people otherwise if you really want to eat something hot. And while Korean food undoubtedly has the neighboring bland-dieted Japanese and northern Chinese breathing fire, if you're accustomed to, say, Thai or Mexican food, you may wonder what the fuss is about.\n\nForeign food restaurants are also popular, albeit usually with a Korean twist. If you want to eat some **Korean fried chicken** straight from the source (hey it should be fresher in Korea, right?) you can't go wrong with chains like Kyochon, Puradak, Chicken Bus and Kkanbu Chicken. Pizzas are also ubiquitous although you may wonder quite where the inspirations behind the toppings came from. Vietnamese and Mexican food appeals to Koreans as well. Japanese restaurants of all varieties are very common. Strangely enough, authentic Chinese food is somewhat hard to come by, and Koreans often think of Korean Chinese dishes such as *jajangmyeon* (자장면, noodles topped with a thick brown sauce, derived from a northern Chinese dish) with *tangsuyuk* (탕수육, sweet and sour pork) as Chinese dining.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk056", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "One problem area for travellers is the difficulty of getting breakfast or brunch, because most restaurants and cafes only open at around 10:00. Koreans, much like the Japanese, eat breakfast at home, and brunch culture does not exist. Before 10:00, the only places open are the ubiquitous hole-in-the-wall chain coffee shops that only do take-away, and the similarly ubiquitous take-away bakery chains like Paris Baguette. For Koreans, sit-down cafes are not for getting coffee or food on the way to work, but they are for socialising later in the day. This is the reason why cafes are usually open until 17:00 and beyond, and locals use them for lunch or a snack with friends.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nthumbnail|Chopsticks Korean style - made out of metal\nKorean utensils (수저 *sujeo*) consist of a spoon (숟가락 *sutgarak*) and **chopsticks** (젓가락 *jeotgarak*). Unique in Asia, Koreans use chopsticks made of *metal*, which don't burn when used over a hot grill and are easier to wash and reuse. Restaurants typically provide stainless steel chopsticks, which unfortunately for the chopstick learner, are very difficult to use! These thin and slippery sticks are not as easy as the wooden or plastic chopsticks but you'll still manage with some fumbling.\n\n**Spoons** are used to eat rice, soup, and porridge. (Koreans find it strange that their Asian neighbors eat rice with chopsticks.) *Dongaseu* (돈가스, Japanese-style *tonkatsu* or fried pork cutlet) is eaten with a fork and knife. Many Korean restaurants may also offer Western cutlery to a Westerner.\n\nWhen eating as a group, communal dishes will be placed in the center and everybody can chopstick what they want, but you'll still get individual portions of rice and soup. Unless you are eating royal cuisine, most dishes are served family style.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk057", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "In many traditional households, children were taught that it is **impolite to speak during meals**. Don't be surprised if there's complete silence while eating. People, particularly men, will use mealtimes to quickly eat up and move on to other things. This can be attributed to the short mealtimes during military service that most young Korean men must perform.\n\nSome etiquette pointers:\n Do not leave chopsticks sticking upright in a dish, especially rice. This is only done when honoring the deceased. Similarly, a spoon sticking upright into a bowl of rice is also not a good sign.\n Do not pick up your chopsticks or start eating until the eldest at the table has begun to eat.\n Do not lift any plates or bowls off the table while eating, as Koreans consider this to be rude.\n Do not make noises by hitting your utensils on the food bowls and plates.\nthumb|Typical bunsik fare: tteokbokki and gimbap. Cheap and delicious!\n\n### Restaurants\n\nGoing hungry in South Korea would be difficult. Everywhere you turn, there is always somewhere to eat. Korean restaurants can be divided into a few categories:", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk058", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "***Bunsik*** (분식) are snack eateries that have cheap, tasty food prepared quickly. You can get a good meal for US$5.\n ***Kogijip*** (고기집), literally meaning \"meat house\", are where you'll find grilled meat dishes and fixings.\n ***Hoejip*** (회집), \"raw fish house\", serve slices of fresh fish akin to Japanese *sashimi*, known as *hwe* in Korean, and free side dishes. You'll normally find these restaurants cluttering the shores of any waterway.\n ***Hansik*** (한식) serve the full-course Korean meal (한정식, *hanjeongsik*), a Korean *haute cuisine* that originated with banquets given at the royal palace. Traditionally served all at once, restaurants today will serve courses separately. The meal starts with a cold appetizer and *juk* (죽, porridge). The main dish includes seasoned meat and vegetable dishes that can be either steamed, boiled, fried or grilled. After the meal, you are served traditional drinks such as *sikhye* or *sujeonggwa*.\n **Department stores** have two types of food areas: a food hall in the basement and full service restaurants on the top levels. The food hall areas have take-away as well as eat-in areas. The full service restaurants are more expensive, but typically have the advantage of picture menus and good ambience.\n\n### Barbecues\n\nthumb|''Galbi'' on the grill and the fixings around it", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk059", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Korean barbecue** is probably the most popular Korean dish for Westerners. In Korea, it's split into ***bulgogi*** (불고기, thin cuts of marinated meat), ***galbi*** (갈비, ribs, usually unmarinated), and a few other categories. In these, a charcoal brazier is placed in the middle of the table, and you cook your choice of meats, adding garlic to the brazier for spice. A popular way of eating it is to wrap the meat with a lettuce or perilla leaf, adding shredded green onion salad (파무침 *pa-muchim*), raw or cooked garlic, shredded pickled radish (무채 *muchae*) and *ssamjang* (쌈장, a sauce made from *doenjang*, *gochujang*, and other flavorings) to your liking.\n\nThe cost of a barbecue meal depends largely on the meat chosen. In most Korean restaurants that serve meat, it is sold in units (usually 100 grams). Pork is by far the most common meat ordered; it's much cheaper than beef and according to diners tastier. You'll rarely see filet mignon; instead, common cuts of meat include ribs, unsalted pork bacon (삼겹살 *samgyeopsal*) and chicken stir-fried with veggies and spicy sauce (닭갈비 *dak-galbi*). Unmarinated meats tend to be higher quality, but in cheaper joints it's best to stick with the marinated stuff.\n\n### Rice dishes\n\n***Bibimbap*** (비빔밥) literally means \"mixed rice\", which is a pretty good description. It consists of a bowl of rice topped with vegetables and usually shreds of meat and an egg, which you mix up with your spoon, stirring in your preferred quantity of *gochujang*, and then devour. Particularly tasty is ***dolsot bibimbap*** (돌솥비빔밥), served in a piping hot stone bowl (watch your fingers!) that cooks the rice to a crisp on the bottom and edges.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk060", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "Another healthy and tasty option is ***gimbap*** (김밥), sometimes dubbed \"Korean sushi rolls\". *Gimbap* contains rice, sesame seed, a Korean variety of spinach, pickled radish, and an optional meat such as minced beef or tuna, all neatly wrapped in dried seaweed, topped with sesame oil and sliced. A single roll makes a good snack or a whole meal depending on your appetite, and they travel well. What differentiates Korean *gimbap* and Japanese *sushi* is how they prepare rice: *gimbap* usually uses salt and sesame oil to flavor the rice, while *sushi* uses sugar and vinegar. Also, *gimbap* usually does not feature raw fish.\n\nMore of a snack than a meal is *tteokbokki* (떡볶이), which resembles a pile of steaming intestines at first sight, but is actually rice cakes (떡, *tteok*) in a sweet chili sauce that's much milder than it looks.\n\n**Fried rice** (볶음밥 *bokkeum-bap*) is also popular in South Korea, often as an add-on at the end of a meal that is cooked on a tabletop stove (like bulgogi or dakgalbi). It can also be ordered as a standalone dish in some places; **kimchi fried rice** (김치볶음밥 *gimchi-bokkeum-bap*) is a popular comfort dish for South Koreans.\n\n### Soups and stews\n\nthumb|''Samgyetang'' chicken soup with ginseng\n\nSoups are known as ***guk*** (국) or ***tang*** (탕), while ***jjigae*** (찌개) covers a wide variety of stews. The line is fuzzy, and a few dishes can be referred to with both (e.g. the fish soup-stew *dongtae jjigae/dongtaetang*), but in general, *jjigae* are spicier and thicker while *guk/tang* are milder. Both are always eaten with plenty of white rice on the side. See Korean cuisine for common types.\n\n### Noodles\n\nthumb|''Naengmyeon'' cold buckwheat noodles", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk061", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "Koreans love noodles, and the terms ***kuksu*** (국수) and ***myeon*** (면) span a vast variety of types available. They're often sold in fast-food noodle shops. Wheat-based noodles are a staple of Korea. See Korean cuisine to learn about the varieties available.\n\n### Seafood\n\nthumbnail|Hoe: raw fish, Korean style\nSince Korea is a peninsula, you can find every type of **seafood** (해물 *haemul*), eaten both cooked and raw. Restaurants where you pick your own fish — or bring it from the fish market next door — are popular, but can be very expensive depending on what you order.\n\n***Hoe*** (회, pronounced roughly \"hweh\") is raw fish Korean-style (similar to sashimi), served with spicy *cho-gochujang* sauce (a mixture of *gochujang* and vinegar). ***Chobap*** (초밥) is raw fish with vinegared rice, similar to Japanese sushi. In both dishes, the bony parts not served raw are often made into a tasty but spicy soup called *meuntang* (매운탕).\n\nAnother cooked specialty is ***haemultang*** (해물탕), a spicy red hotpot stew filled crab, shrimp, fish, squid, vegetables and noodles.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk062", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "Whale meat is available in a few restaurants in the cities and at festivals in smaller coastal towns, but is not easy to find and unlike Japan is not considered part of national culture. The city of Pohang has a long history of whaling, and its seafood market still openly offers whale. South Korea has outlawed whaling following the International Whaling Commission international moratorium in 1986, although makes an exception for whales caught by accident during regular fishing. Whale meat sourced from Japan has been sold in some restaurants, which is illegal (although the law is usually ignored). Whale restaurants are easy to identify, with pictures of whales on the outside leaving you in no doubt. If you choose to eat whale then you should understand that the species in question could be endangered and therefore a decision left to your own moral compass.\n\n### Other\n\n*Jeon* (전), *jijimi* (지짐이), *jijim* (지짐), *bindaetteok* (빈대떡) and *buchimgae* (부침개) are all general terms for Korean-style **pan-fried pancakes**, which can be made of virtually anything. ***Pajeon*** (파전) is a Korean-style pan-fried pancake laden with spring onions (파 *pa*). ***Haemul pajeon*** (해물파전), which has seafood added, is particularly popular. ***Saengseonjeon*** (생선전) is made of small fillets of fish covered with egg and flour and then pan fried, and ***nokdu bindaetteok*** (녹두빈대떡) is made from ground mung bean and various vegetables and meat combined.\n\nIf barbecued meat is not to your taste, then try Korean-style beef tartar, known as ***yukhoe*** (육회). Raw beef is finely shredded and then some sesame oil, sesame, pine nuts and egg yolk are added, plus soy and sometimes *gochujang* to taste. It's also occasionally prepared with raw tuna or even chicken instead.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk063", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "***Sundae*** (순대, pron. \"soon-deh\") are Korean blood sausages made from a wide variety of ingredients, often including barley, potato noodles and pig blood. *Sundae* is very tasty in spicy sauce or soup.\n\nA squirmy delicacy is **raw octopus** (산낙지 *sannakji*) — it's sliced to order, but keeps wiggling for another half hour as you try to remove its suction cups from your plate with your chopsticks. **Sea squirts** (멍게 *meongge*) are at least usually killed before eating, but you might be hard-pressed to tell the difference as the taste has been memorably described as \"rubber dipped in ammonia\".\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nVegetarians will have a **hard time** in Korea. As in most of East Asia, \"meat\" is understood to be the flesh of land animals, so seafood is not considered meat. Spam can also be confused as not being meat, so be specific in explaining what you do not eat. If you ask for \"no *gogi* (고기)\" they will probably just cook as usual and pick out the big chunks of meat. One good phrase is to say you are \"*chaesikjuwija*\" (채식주의자), a person who only eats vegetables. This may prompt questions from the server, so be prepared! It is probably best to have a very explicit list of foods you do and do not eat in Korean on a card or piece of paper to show restaurant servers and cooks. (See *Korean phrasebook § Eating*.) Or look for *namul* (나물), a variety of Korean-style edible grass and leaves dishes.\n\nMost stews will use fish stock, especially *myeolchi* (멸치, anchovy). This will be your bane, and outside of reputable vegetarian restaurants, you should ask if you are ordering any stews, hotpots, or casseroles.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk064", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "Spicy (red) kimchi will almost certainly have seafood, such as salted tiny shrimp, as an ingredient. Since it disappears into the brine, you will not be able to visually identify it. It is possible to find vegan spicy kimchi, as it is made by some Buddhist temples, but you will have to spend some effort to seek it out. Another type of kimchi called *mulgimchi* (물김치, \"water kimchi\") is vegan, as it is simply salted in a clear, white broth with many different vegetables. If you are willing to eat something flavored with brine shrimp, then kimchi will certainly take you a long way in Korea.\n\nFor **lactose intolerant** people, avoiding dairy products is straightforward as they are uncommon in traditional Korean cuisine.\n\nAs per Korea's Buddhist tradition, **vegans and vegetarians** are safe at Korean **temple cuisine** (사찰음식 *sachal eumsik*) restaurants, which use no dairy, eggs or animal products, except perhaps honey. In addition, it avoids the \"five fetid vegetables\" (onions, garlic, shallots, chives and leeks), as they are believed to have aphrodisiac effects that inhibit one's ability to meditate on the Dharma. This cuisine has been in vogue, but it is considered to be a form of fine dining and tends to be rather expensive. Temple stays usually include vegetarian meals as part of the package.\n\nThere is an increasing number of vegetarian restaurants in Korea — most are in the larger or medium-sized places. Some of these are run by Seventh-Day Adventists or Hindus.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk065", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Eat", "text": "When out and about, the following vegetarian and vegan food is relatively easy to find and safe to order:\n Many of the *banchan* side dishes served with most meals are vegetarian, although the kimchi usually is not.\n *Bibimbap* (비빔밥) is a great vegan option of mixed rice and vegetables and found pretty much everywhere! Still, be careful because it is occasionally offered with ground beef, and often with a fried egg.\n *Somandu* (소만두) are Korean dumplings with vegetable and glass noodle filling. Stay clear of almost any other kind of dumpling.\n *Japchae* (잡채) are cold glass noodles in a vegetable broth, often with ice, but ensure that beef chunks are not added. Delicious in summer.\n *Gimbap* (김밥) are Korean sushi rolls with rice and pickled vegetables, and can be found everywhere. There are many varieties, but you should look for the ones without Spam or fishcake in the middle.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk066", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A typical chilled alcohol section in a Korean supermarket\n**Drinkers rejoice** — booze is cheap and Koreans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. Due to the strict social norms in effect at the workplace, the drinking hall tends to be the only place where inhibitions can be released and personal relationships expressed. Significant business deals are closed not in the boardroom, but in the bar. Promotions, grants, and other business advancements are secured over drinks at singing rooms, late night raw fish restaurants, and restaurant-bars. Many Korean men are what would be considered heavy drinkers in the west, and as alcoholism is being recognized as an ailment, public moves have begun to attempt to curb alcohol intake. Don't be surprised to see businessmen in suits lying around sleeping it off, and be careful not to step in the puddles of vomit common on the sidewalks in the mornings.\n\nAlcohol is widely available, even in convenience stores and pharmacies. Drinking on the street is legal but if you start causing a nuisance, the police will get involved.\n\nThe drinking age in South Korea is **19**.\n\n### Nightlife", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk067", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "Compared to Western drinking habits, Koreans have adopted slightly different ways to enjoy their night out. Sure, you can find Western style bars easily, but going to a Korean style bar can be an interesting experience. **Hofs** (호프 *hopeu*, from German *Hof*, \"court\" or \"yard\" as in *Hofbräuhaus*) are just normal beer places, which serve beer and side dishes. The ***pojangmacha*** (포장마차), often shorted to just ***pocha*** (포차), is a roadside stall with a tent over it, serving soju along with numerous popular Korean comfort dishes to go with it. Customers are generally expected to order some side dish to go along with their drinks at most drinking establishments in Korea. Due to growing competition, many hofs have started to install various gadgets for entertainment.\n\n**Booking clubs** are the Korean version of night clubs. What makes them interesting is the \"booking\" part of the name. It's basically a way to meet new people of the opposite sex by introduction of the waiters (who usually bring women to visit tables of men, but increasingly vice-versa). Booking clubs are slightly more expensive than normal bars and hofs, but can be extremely fun. These can be different from American-style clubs, in that in addition to a cover charge, you are pretty much expected to order booze and side dishes (which can be quite pricey in ₩200,000-₩500,000 range and up). But other than that, the dancing and atmosphere is about the same.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk068", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "One of the customary things to do at a booking club is to \"dress-up\" your table or booth by purchasing expensive liquors and fruit plates, which signals your \"status\" to the other patrons of the club (especially your gender of interest). Scotch whisky is especially marked up a great deal in Korea, so don't be surprised to pay very high prices for that innocuous bottle of Johnnie Walker. On the other hand, it is a better value overall to buy a bottle of liquor or a \"liquor set\" than to purchase drinks individually.\n\nOn the other end of the spectrum, many locals go out to drink and eat with their friends at the many Korean grillhouses found throughout the city. It is not uncommon for people to consume several bottles of *soju* each, and mixing beer and hard liquor is encouraged. Group bonding over liquor and food is a cultural feature across South Korea.\n\nFor those who love singing as well as drinking, **karaoke** is popular and therefore widely available in South Korea, where it's called ***noraebang*** (노래방). In addition to Korean songs, larger establishments may include some Chinese, Japanese and English songs.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nThere are a few etiquette rules to observe when drinking with Koreans. **You're not supposed to fill your own glass**; instead, keep an eye on others' glasses, fill them up when they become empty (but not before), and they'll return the favor. It's considered polite to use both hands when pouring for somebody and when receiving a drink, and to turn your head away from seniors when drinking.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk069", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "Younger people often have a difficult time refusing a drink from an older person, so be aware when asking someone younger than you if they want to drink more as they will often feel unable to say no to you. Of course, this works both ways. Oftentimes, if an older person feels you are not keeping up with the party, he may offer you his glass, which he will then fill and expect you to drink. It is considered polite to promptly return the empty glass and refill it.\n\n### ''Soju''\n\nthumbnail|Soju\nThe national drink of South Korea is ***soju*** (소주), a vodka-like alcoholic beverage (usually around 20% alcohol by volume). It's cheaper than any other drink — a 350 mL bottle can cost slightly over ₩3,000 at bars (as little as ₩1,100 at convenience stores!) — and also strong. It's usually made by fermenting starch from rice, barley, corn, potato, sweet potato, etc., to produce pure alcohol which is then diluted with water and other flavors. The manufacturing process leaves in a lot of extraneous chemicals, so be prepared for a four-alarm hangover in the morning, even after drinking a comparatively small amount.\n\nTraditionally, soju was made by distilling rice wine and aging it, which created a smooth spirit of about 40%. This type of traditional soju can still be found, for example *Andong Soju* (안동 소주) — named after the town of Andong — and *munbaeju* (문배주). These can be expensive, but prices (and quality) vary considerably.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk070", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "Historically, there were numerous brewers throughout the country until late Chosun dynasty and before Japanese colonization. However, by the Japanese colonization and the oppressive and economy-obsessed government in the 1960-'70s, using **rice** for making wine or spirits was strictly prohibited. This eliminated most of the traditional brewers in the country, and Korea was left with a few large distilleries (Jinro 진로, Gyeongwol 경월, Bohae 보해, Bobae 보배, Sunyang 선양, etc.) that basically made \"chemical soju\". Brewery distribution and markets were regionalized, and until the 1990s it was difficult to find a Jinro soju anywhere else than Seoul (you would have to pay premium even if you found one), Gyeongwol soju outside Gangwon, or Sunyang outside Chungcheong.\n\nAlso, there are soju cocktails such as \"socol\" (soju + Coke), *ppyong-gari* (soju + Pocari Sweat, a Japanese isotonic drink like flavorless Gatorade), *so-maek* (soju + beer), etc., all aimed at getting you drunk quicker and cheaper.\n\n### Rice wine\n\nTraditional unfiltered rice wines in Korea are known as ***takju*** (탁주), literally \"cloudy alcohol\". In the most basic and traditional form, these are made by fermenting rice with *nuruk* (누룩), a mix of fungi and yeast that breaks down starch in rice into sugar and then alcohol over 3–5 days. Then this is strained, usually diluted to 4–6% and imbibed. However, as with the case of traditional soju, unless explicitly stated on the bottle most *takju* are made from wheat flour and other cheaper grains. ***Makgeolli*** (막걸리) is the simplest *takju*, fermented once and then strained, while in ***dongdongju*** (동동주) more rice is added once or more during the fermentation to boost the alcohol content and the flavor. Typically you can find a couple of rice grains floating in *dongdongju* as a result.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk071", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "***Yakju*** (약주) or ***cheongju*** (청주) is filtered rice wine, similar to the Japanese rice wine *sake*. The fermentation of rice is sustained for about 2 weeks or longer, strained, and then is kept still to have the suspended particles settle out. The end result is the clear wine on top, with about 12–15% alcohol. Various recipes exist, which involve a variety of ingredients and when and how to add them accordingly. Popular brands include *Baekseju* (백세주) and *Dugyeonju* (두견주).\n\nThose with an interest in the wine production process and its history will want to visit the Traditional Korean Wine Museum in Jeonju.\n\n### Ginseng wine\n\nOne expensive but tasty type of alcohol you can find in Korea is **Korean ginseng wine** (인삼주 *insamju*), which is believed to have medicinal properties and is particularly popular among the elderly. It is made by fermenting Korean ginseng, just as the name implies.\n\n### Beer\n\nWestern-style lagers are also quite popular in Korea, with the three big brands being **Cass**, **Hite** (pronounced like \"height\") and **Terra**, all of which are rather light and watery and cost around ₩1,500 per bottle at a supermarket. Hofs serve pints of beer in the ₩2,000-5,000 range, although imported beers can be much more expensive. You are expected to order food as well, and may even get served grilled squid or similar Korean pub grub without ordering, for a charge of ₩10,000 or so.\n\n### Tea\n\nthumb|''Yujacha'' and the yuzu jam it's made from", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk072", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "Like their Asian neighbors, Koreans drink a lot of **tea** (차 *cha*), most of it **green tea** (녹차 *nokcha*). However, the label *cha* is applied to a number of other tealike drinks as well:\n *boricha* (보리차), roasted barley tea, often served cold in summer, water substitute for many household\n *insamcha* (인삼차), ginseng tea\n *oksusucha* (옥수수차), roasted corn tea\n *yujacha* (유자차), yuzu jam with hot water, sweet and fragrant\n *yulmucha* (율무차), a thick white drink made from a barley-like plant called Job's tears\n\nLike Chinese and Japanese teas, Korean teas are always drunk neat, without the addition of milk or sugar. However, Western-style milk tea is available at Western restaurants and the usual American fast-food chains.\n\n### Coffee\n\n**Coffee** (커피 *keopi*) is an obsession in South Korea and widely available.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk073", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Coffee shops** can be seen virtually everywhere in the country. There are a large number of chains such as Cafe Bene and Angel in Us as well as Starbucks, where a cup of milk-based coffee costs around ₩5,000. Do note that you are mostly paying for the cafe atmosphere rather than the quality of the coffee. It is worth to hunt out smaller independent coffee shops that take great pride in their coffee and charge a more reasonable price. Even in small countryside towns, the ubiquitous bread shops **Tous le Jours** and **Paris Baguette** will give you a decent latte for around ₩2,000. Aside from coffee, these cafes will usually sell food such as sandwiches, toasties, paninis and quesadillas as well as sweet options such as *bingsu* (Korean shaved ice), Korean-style toast, pastries and a wide variety of cakes, some even vegan. They tend to have much longer opening hours than their western counterparts and can be found open late into the night. 24-hour establishments can be found in the larger cities.\n\nYounger South Koreans, in particular, drink a lot of iced Americano ('아이스 아메리카노' or commonly just '아아'/'Ah-Ah'), even during the coldest winter days! It's usually two shots of espresso with water and ice.\n\nStreetside vending machines that will pour you a cupful of instant coffee mix for as little as ₩300, usually sweet and milky, but there is often a plain option. 24-hour self-service cafes (with no staff) with regular coffees and lattes are becoming common as well.\n\n### Other drinks", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk074", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Drink", "text": "Some other traditional drinks worth keeping an eye out for:\n ***Sikhye*** (식혜), a very sweet, grainy rice drink served cold\n ***Sujeonggwa*** (수정과), a sweet, cinnamon-y drink made from persimmons served cold\nIt is worth keeping in mind that in South Korea, soft drinks are called \"ades\", as in lemonade.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk075", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There's plenty of accommodation in all price brackets in South Korea. Prices in Seoul are typically about twice that of anywhere else in the country.\n\nSome higher-end hotels offer a choice of Western-style and Korean-style rooms. The main feature of Korean rooms is an elaborate floor-heating system known as ***ondol*** (온돌), where hot steam (or, these days, water or electricity) heats stone slabs under a layer of clay and oiled paper. There are no beds; instead, mattresses are laid directly on the floor. Other furniture is typically limited to some low tables (you're also expected to sit on the floor) and maybe a TV.\n\n### Motels\n\nSome of the cheapest accommodation in South Korea are in what are called **motels** (모텔 *motel*) or ***yeogwan*** (여관), but a more accurate name would be **sex hotels**. Since Koreans often live with parents and extended family, motels are generally very cheap hotels targeted at young couples aiming to spend personal time together, complete with plastic beds, occasionally vibrating, with strategically placed mirrors on the ceiling, as well as a VCR and a variety of appropriate videos. However, for the budget traveller, they can simply be inexpensive lodging, with rates as low as ₩25,000/night.\n\nThe easiest way to find a motel is to just look for the symbol \"♨\" and gaudy architecture, particularly near stations or highway exits. They're harder to find online, as they rarely if ever show up in English-language booking sites.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk076", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In some motels picking your room is very easy, as there will be room numbers, lit pictures and prices on the wall. The lower price is for a \"rest\" (휴식 *hyusik*) of 2–4 hours, while the higher price is the overnight rate. Press the button for the one you like, which will go dark, and proceed to check-in. You'll usually be expected to pay in advance, often to just a pair of hands behind a frosted glass window. English is rarely spoken, but the only word you need to know is *sukbak* (숙박, \"staying\"). You may or may not receive a key, but even if you don't, the staff can usually let you in and out on request — just don't lose your receipt!\n\n### Hotels\n\nFull-service hotels can be found in all larger towns in Korea. Cheaper hotels blend into motels with rooms from ₩40,000, while three and four-star hotels are ₩100,000-200,000, and five-star luxury hotels can easily top ₩300,000. Outside peak season you can often get steep discounts from the rack rates, so be sure to ask when reserving.\n\n### ''Hanok''\n\n*Hanok* (한옥) are **traditional Korean houses**. Once considered to be old-fashioned and an impediment to modernization, many of these houses dating back to the Joseon dynasty are being renovated and opened to paying guests, operating similar to B&Bs or Japanese *ryokan* or *minshuku*. Amenities range from very basic backpacker-style to over-the-top luxury, with prices to match. Higher-end establishments typically provide the option of having a traditional Korean dinner, as well as a choice of either Western or traditional Korean-style breakfast. Guests would usually sleep on mattresses on the floor. Hanok accommodation can typically be found in old towns such as Bukchon in Seoul, as well as historical towns and cities such as Hahoe and Gyeongju.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk077", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Hostels and guesthouses\n\nWhile not as common in South Korea as in other parts of Asia or the world, hostels and guesthouses can be found. Major cities, such as Seoul, will have a few dozen, while smaller cities may have a handful. Prices can vary widely, even within one hostel. In Seoul, mixed dorms average ₩15,000-25,000 per person; private rooms with a shared toilet and shower average ₩20,000-30,000 per person; and private ensuite rooms average ₩25,000-40,000 per person. Many hostels will have a common room with free TV, games, computers, and internet; some will have a public full kitchen and other amenities.\n\n### ''Minbak''\n\nIn rural areas in and near national parks, you can find a ***minbak*** (민박). Most of these are just a room or two in someone's home — others are quite fancy and may be similar to motels/*yeogwan* or hotels. Generally, they have *ondol* rooms with maybe a TV and that's about it. You don't usually get your own bathroom in your room, although some of the fancier ones do have an *en suite.* Minbak usually run around ₩20,000 off-season, though the price may go up quite a bit during high season.\n\n### Homestay\n\nVery similar in concept to a minbak, these aren't limited to just rural areas or near national parks. Since the World Cup in 2002, many families around the country have opened their doors and hearts to foreigners looking for a great place to sleep and a breakfast included in the price. These can run between ₩30,000 and ₩35,000 per night.\n\n### Pension", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk078", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A fancier and costly version of rural minbak. Most of them are European-style detached bungalows, equipped with private shower/bath, TV, air conditioner, private kitchen and camping grills. Pensions usually run around ₩60,000-150,000 off-season and over ₩200,000 peak season depending on the size of the house. Pensions near Seoul (Gyeonggi, Incheon) usually costs twice or more the price.\n\n### ''Jjimjilbang''\n\nthumbnail|Inside a jjimjilbang\nFor the budget traveller, **public bath houses** known as ***jjimjilbang*** (찜질방) can offer a great way to sleep, besides a relaxing bath and sauna. Koreans who get off work late or who just spent a night out drinking often crash here for the night, particularly if public transport has already shut down, as it is usually more economical than taking a taxi home. (Some Korean spas don't offer overnight stay, like the \"Spa Land Centum City\" in Busan, and some can be limited in time, but they are exceptions.) Some smaller ones are single-sex, but larger ones will admit both men and women. Entrance costs around ₩5,000-12,000, and includes a robe or T-shirts/shorts (for mixed facilities and sleeping hall) to wear. However, when you leave, you have to take everything with you and pay to get back in.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk079", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The facilities can be expansive, including showers, public baths, body scrubs, steam rooms, saunas, restaurants, computer/video game rooms, a room with DVD movies, and a warm hall to sleep, mostly with mattresses and sometimes soft head rests available. Usually, the bathing area and steam bath are sex segregated and require bathers to be nude, but the dry saunas and restaurants will be in the co-ed area and require patrons to wear their robes. These places are generally used by families or couples during the weekend, as well as Korean working men on weekday evenings, but travellers are welcome. A jjimjilbang is no more awkward than any Western public bath — so go ahead.\n\nThe restaurant will typically sell typical Korean comfort food, but there are two dishes that are popularly associated with jjimjilbang among South Koreas: *sikhye* (식혜), a sweet rice drink made with malt, and stone-baked sauna eggs.\n\nBefore using any of the facilities, you *must* wash yourself in the shower area and rinse off all foam. Not doing so is a major faux pas even if you are a foreigner. If you have long hair, make sure you tie it up neatly before entering the baths.\n\nUsually two lockers are provided, one for the shoes (at the entrance) and one for your clothes and everything else (near the bath entrance). A very large backpack may not fit, although you can usually leave it at reception.\n\nJJimjilbang have been negatively impacted by COVID, and quite a few large and popular ones closed down during the pandemic. The surviving ones may have slightly reduced amenities, such as selling only instant noodles instead of freshly-cooked hot meals at the restaurant, but the obligatory *sikhye* and sauna eggs will still be available.\n\n### Temples", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk080", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Sleep", "text": "South Korea offers many **temple stays** in all parts of the country. The basic idea is that you stay for one or more days living with the monks and participating in some of their rituals.\n\n*Jogye* (조계), Korea's largest Buddhist sect, runs a popular temple stay program where visitors get to spend 24 hours living at a Buddhist temple. The program is set up for English-speaking visitors, and knowledge of Korean is not necessary (but will certainly be appreciated). You will be expected to do some chores at the temple, and get up at 03:00 or 04:00 to participate in morning prayer with the monks. In exchange for two to three meals (vegetarian only) and a basic bed for the night, a donation of ₩50,000-80,000 is expected. Reservations are necessary and can be made at the Temple Stay site or via Korea Travel Phone (+82-2-1330).", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk081", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Learn", "text": "Education is taken *very seriously* in South Korea, often to the point of obsession, and the country is home to several world class universities. For a country that has limited natural resources, Koreans believe that the only way to become competitive in a global world is to absorb knowledge. This militant drive for educational excellence and success is exactly why South Korea became a developed country in less than a century.\n\nWhile this may sound impressive, the South Korean educational system does have its drawbacks. The brutally competitive nature of the system means that Koreans are faced with a lot of pressure from their parents and peers to succeed academically, and the system is often blamed for the country's high suicide rate and high underemployment rate.\n\nThe most prestigious general universities, collectively known as SKY, are **Seoul National University (SNU)**, **Yonsei University** and **Korea University**, the former of which is widely regarded as the undisputed number one university in South Korea. **Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)** and **Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)** are regarded as the top universities specializing in science and engineering. Admission to these universities are fiercely competitive for South Koreans, but considerably easier for foreigners if your Korean language ability is up to scratch. Admission to the SKY universities is even more desirable than to top American universities like Harvard and MIT for South Korean students unless they want to emigrate, while overseas study in top American universities is usually desirable only for postgraduate studies under company or civil service sponsorship.\n\n### Others\n\nthumbnail|Gate to Kukkiwon in Seoul, home of the World Taekwondo Academy\n **Taekwondo** (태권도 *taegwondo*, literally \"the way of kicking and punching\") — The quintessential Korean martial art that is also an Olympic sport, and you can study at any of the numerous schools all over the country.\n **Cooking** — Most major cities will offer Korean cooking classes to foreigners. Some temple stays may also include vegetarian cooking classes with the monks or nuns.\n **Kimchi** — Many tourist packages nowadays include learning how to make a Korean staple dish kimchi.\n ***Changgeuk*** (창극) or ***pansori*** (판소리) — If you like music, this will be good for you. It's a unique traditional Korean form of singing. If you want to learn about pansori through film, *Seopyeonje* (서편제) (1993) would be an excellent choice.\n **Korean language** — Seoul National University, Korea University, Sogang University, and Yonsei University (in Seoul) provide Korean language programs. You can meet people from all over the world while studying Korean.\n **Korean traditional dance** — You can go to a dance studio and learn Korean traditional dance. You will wear *hanbok*, Korean traditional clothes.\n ***Baduk*** (바둑) — Korean name for the ancient Chinese board game called Go in English and Japanese. Many Koreans play the game, and among them are some of the world's finest players. There are professional tournaments and even schools that specialize in baduk.\n ***Janggi*** (장기) — Also known as Korean chess, a board game similar to Chinese chess, with which it shares its origins, though the rules of the two games have diverged significantly.", "word_count": 519}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk082", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Work", "text": "Working in Korea can be a great way to experience the country. For English teachers the hours and pay are reasonable, however for other professions bear in mind that South Korea has some of the **longest working hours globally**, and **frequent obligatory after-work drinking** can be demanding. In addition, Korea isn't yet really set up to make entering the job market easy for foreigners. Reading and speaking Korean will definitely open up many more opportunities for you.\n\nForeigners must obtain an **Employment Visa** in order to legally work in South Korea, and will usually require a company based in South Korea to sponsor your application. For prospective teachers the school will almost always arrange this on your behalf. Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan may apply for a one-year **Working Holiday Visa** which allows for short term employment whilst on holiday in Korea.\n\nThe work culture is extremely **hierarchical and formal**. You are expected to wear suits (for men) or business dresses (for women) and be unquestioningly loyal to your superior(s) — ask them for permission before you do anything, obey orders from them without hesitation, arrive before they come to work, leave only after they have left, and work on weekends when they ask you to. Korean authority figures take any attempts to challenge their authority **extremely seriously** and will not hesitate to put you in your place if you say or do anything that makes them feel challenged.\n\nKorean companies prioritise group efforts (collaboration and cohesiveness) over individual efforts. If you are managing a team of Korean workers, know that you are expected to demonstrate and exhibit good morals and good leadership qualities; they expect you to be a guide to them.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk083", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Work", "text": "Korean workers are also expected to go out for food and drinks with their colleagues after work multiple times a week, which means getting home only when it is *really* late.\n\nAlthough the situation is gradually improving, career progression opportunities can be limited for women in South Korea, as they are generally expected to resign from their jobs and become full-time mothers once they get married. This is unlikely to affect you if you are posted to the South Korean office of a foreign company as an expatriate, but it is something to keep in mind if you are applying for a job with a South Korean company.\n\n### Teaching\n\nWork as an **English teacher** is the most common type of work available to foreigners from English speaking countries, with the requirements of being able to speak English and a minimum level of education being a bachelor's degree. Schools prefer native English speakers and many prefer North American accents. In most instances, native English speakers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the United Kingdom are the only applicants that are usually considered.\n\nThe main employer of native English speaking teachers are private academies called ***hagwon*** (학원). Many parents enroll their children in order to catch up or overtake their peers, and therefore scheduled classes are often in the evenings and Saturdays. People interested in these teaching positions often find them via professional recruiters. There are pros and cons to teaching ESL in the hagwon system. On the plus side the money can be quite good. As of 2016, the average monthly salary is approximately ₩2,000,000 and basic housing is usually provided. It's often possible to live comfortably on half of one's salary and to save the rest.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk084", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Work", "text": "On the negative side, hagwon are privately run and strictly for profit, and may only operate for a few years. As such it is important to research and evaluate each prospective employer before accepting an offer, since there are plenty of horror stories of unscrupulous academy owners and incompetent directors. Although you will have full employment rights in South Korea, there is practically very little you can do when an issue or dispute arises. The majority of English teachers have a good experience through the hagwon system.\n\nUniversity employment is also possible. Those who have a graduate-level degree, preferably in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second or Other Language), may find professional opportunities at the post secondary level preferable to teaching in private academies.\n\nSome of the best positions are in the public sector, although in Seoul and Busan, schools have been phasing out foreign English teachers and replacing them with English-speaking South Koreans. Still, year-long public school positions are available through the government-funded EPIK Program in most provinces and the rapidly contracting GEPIK Program in Gyeonggi, with a few also handled by recruiter companies. Alternately, the TALK Program runs 6-month rural public school positions for non-graduates.\n\nFor more information about teaching English in Korea through the private-sector, visit Eslcafe, Worknplay, Eslstarter and Englishspectrum. For the public-sector, see the aforementioned EPIK program.\n\nDaejeon full-time public elementary school positions stand apart from most in the country in that they consist of multiple part-time support positions at different schools. Most public school and university positions start at the beginning of March or September, however these are the more desirable jobs and must be applied for months before the start date.\n\nSouth Korean Immigration is constantly changing the visa regulations for E-2 visa holders, so keep abreast of updates.\n\n### IT", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk085", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Work", "text": "South Korea is often promoted as the world's most wired country, and as such has a massive IT infrastructure. There is plenty of IT work if you can speak Korean, although local rates are much lower than in western countries.\n\n### Engineering\n\nSouth Korea has a lot of opportunities for engineers, and often doesn't have a requirement for Korean language. Port cities such as Busan, Ulsan and Geoje have a demand for marine engineers.", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk086", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nSouth Korea is a very safe country, with crime rates much lower than in the U.S. and most European Union countries. Crime rates are comparable to other safe places such as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, and it is generally safe for women to walk around the streets alone at night. For the most part, the only foreigners who encounter trouble in South Korea are drunken ones that provoke fights at bars or nightclubs.\n\nIf you do happen to encounter any trouble, police stations are located in every district, usually in walking distance from subway entrances and bus stops. While most police officers won't understand English, they do have interpreters on-call that can assist you.\n\nEspecially in Korea, there is a ritual of not touching other people's things, so if you go to a cafe or on the street, you may see people leaving their expensive laptops and cell phone bags on the seats to use the restroom.\n\nBe careful when picking up lost items dropped on the street, since the legal system here can regard that as theft.\n\n### Racism\n\nSouth Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world, and for many South Koreans, this is a point of pride. Racism in South Korea is systemic and gets featured in the news from time to time. There is **no anti-discrimination legislation** whatsoever, and non-Koreans and half-Koreans are often subjected to abuse and discrimination. A few businesses, typically bars, nightclubs and saunas, have been known to ban foreigners (although in areas where American soldiers are based, this is often just to avoid the possibility of fights). Negativity aside, South Korea is gradually changing.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk087", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In South Korea, lighter skin has historically been associated with beauty, purity, and higher social status. This is precisely the reason why fair-skinned people will receive better treatment — for instance, easy access to employment and teaching opportunities from Koreans, whereas darker skinned people may be treated with a degree of derision and suspicion.\n\nMost visitors to South Korea are extremely unlikely to encounter any problems at all. If you do experience racial abuse then you can call on the police to help, although realistically if no other offense has been committed then they will at most just try to reason with the abuser.\n\nPeople from North Korea also experience discrimination in society, partly out of suspicion (North Korea has sent assassins and spies disguised as refugees) and partly out of the difficulty of integrating themselves into a vastly different society. Ethnic Koreans from China are also often regarded poorly due to being associated with ‘low economic status and crime’. People from Southeast Asia and South Asia are also discriminated against and are regarded as being ‘poor workers’\n\nSouth Asians may be refused entry at restaurants and other establishments.\n\nIf you feel strongly about having been racially discriminated against, then you can register a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. This is an official government agency, although with limited enforcement powers.\n\n### Traffic\n\nthumb|right|Motorcycles not in emergency service are banned from Expressways in South Korea.\nWith one of the highest rates of traffic deaths, South Korean motorists will speed through pedestrian crossings, jump red lights and come within a hair-width distance to pedestrians and other cars alike. Even when the light turns red, drivers will not stop. Motorcyclists are particularly reckless weaving in and out on crowded sidewalks. It is up to you to avoid them.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk088", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There is a lot of discussion about the reason for this, although it basically comes down to Koreans regarding traffic laws as guidelines that are nice ideas rather than rules to be obeyed.\n\nPedestrian crosswalks stay green for a very short period of time. When the walk signal is flashing and you are still at the curb, **do not cross**. Instead, you should wait and be ready for the light to turn green. The moment it turns green, wait for about 3 to 5 seconds and see if other pedestrians start to cross, and if all the traffic has indeed stopped, *then* walk briskly to cross safely. It is safer to take underground passageways at busy intersections. Most mopeds prefer to weave through pedestrians rather than wait with the rest of the traffic.\n\nThere are plenty of marked pedestrian crossings in Korea, and they are essentially ignored by all drivers. As a foreigner you can use them by stepping onto the crossing and directly staring down any approaching cars and they will usually yield. It is important for you to stay alert while crossing the roads. Taxis, buses, freight trucks, and delivery scooters are more likely to ignore traffic rules, since many of them are pressured to ignore rules by harsh timetables or their customers.\n\n### Illegal taxis\n\nIllegal taxis are a problem and run even from the airport. Each Korean city has a different taxi scheme with a specific car color, so check out your destination city's taxi scheme before you arrive. At the airport, ignore anyone asking if you want a taxi at arrivals and head out to the official taxi rank.\n\n### Civil unrest", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk089", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In the heart of the political center of Seoul, near Gwanghwamun and City Hall, you may witness political activists of one sort or another in the city center and demonstrations can grow to tens of thousands. You'll have to use discretion as violence during political demonstrations can happen, often with water cannons and tear gas, and also large crowds may pose safety issues. Fighting is always between the demonstrators and police, and foreigners are not targeted. South Korean law prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activity, which includes participating in protests.\n\n### Local laws\n\nSouth Korea has a draconian **National Security Act** (국가보안법, *Gukga Boanbeop*) that restricts any unauthorized contact with North Korea and its citizens. North Korean slogans, symbols, stamps, propaganda, websites, and literature are strictly prohibited in the country. Foreigners are not exempted from this law — a Chinese student who expressed pro-North Korean views on the Internet was prosecuted and deported from South Korea in 2014.\n\n### Gambling\n\nGambling is illegal for South Korean citizens, although a limited number of casinos are available for foreigners only in Seoul, Busan and Jeju island. You will need to bring your passport to enter these establishments.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nthumbnail|Asian Giant Hornet\nThe **Asian giant hornet** (장수말벌, *jangsu malbeol*) or \"commander bee\" is usually seen around summer time; it is about long and can sting repeatedly and painfully. A hornet defending its nest or feeding spot will make a clicking sound to warn away intruders; if you encounter one, retreat. If you are stung, receive prompt medical attention, as prolonged exposure to the venom could cause permanent injury or even death.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk090", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are very few other animals that can be dangerous in Korea. The Siberian tiger is sadly no longer found on the Korean Peninsula. Large wild boars can sometimes be found in forested areas and can be very dangerous if they attack. If you see a boar with piglets then keep well away since the mother will not hesitate to protect them.\n\nLarge sharks including the great white and hammerhead are being sighted more frequently off the coast of South Korea. To date there has never been a recorded attack on swimmers, although a few abalone divers have been killed in the past 20 years. The most popular beaches are closely monitored, and this is unlikely to be a real risk to you.\n\nStray cats are still common, and it is advisable to avoid them - they can scratch and bite.\nthumb|Disaster rescue gear can easily be found in subway stations\n\n### Natural hazards\n\nSouth Korea is considerably less prone to natural disasters than its neighbors. Earthquakes are rare occurrences, though minor ones occasionally occur in the southwest of the country. Tsunamis are a recognized hazard in coastal areas, although Japan's strategic position prevents most tsunamis from ever reaching Korea. While **typhoons** do not occur as often as in Japan, Taiwan or the Philippines, they are nevertheless an almost yearly occurrence, and are occasionally known to be deadly and cause major property damage.\n\n### Homosexuality", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk091", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although same-sex relationships are not recognized by the government, there are no laws against homosexuality in South Korea. Gay clubs and bars exist in the larger cities, though openly displaying your sexual orientation in public is still likely to be met with disapproval. South Korea has a large number of Evangelical Christians who generally strongly disapprove of homosexuality. Nevertheless, verbal and physical attacks against gay people are rare.\n\nConversely, platonic displays of physical affection between same-sex friends are very common, particularly when alcohol has been consumed, and holding hands with a same-sex romantic partner may be viewed in this light.\n\n### Illicit drugs\n\n**Drug laws** in South Korea are considerably stricter than in the West, and there is a strong stigma against drug use in South Korean society. Consumption of cannabis carries a penalty of up to **5 years' imprisonment**, while consumption of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine can result in up to **life imprisonment**. Foreigners caught taking drugs are likely to be deported and permanently banned from visiting the country after finishing their jail terms. Police have the right to subject you to a random drug test, and refusal is treated as an admission of guilt under South Korean law. South Korean citizens who consume drugs abroad may also be prosecuted when they return home.\n\nAlthough smoking marijuana is illegal, some cannabidiol (CBD)-containing medications are legal under very strict conditions. These medications are not available for purchase from regular pharmacies, and the procedure for obtaining them legally is a major bureaucratic hassle; consult a South Korean doctor for advice. Foreign prescriptions for such drugs are not recognized in South Korea.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk092", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Drug trafficking in theory carries the **death penalty**, though it has not been carried out since the late 1990s. Nevertheless, life imprisonment is a common sentence handed down to drug traffickers.\n\nForeigners teaching in South Korea are required to undergo a drug test in order to renew their work visa.\n\n### Conflict with North Korea\n\nAn understandable concern about traveling to South Korea is the possibility of war. However, while war has remained a distinct possibility ever since the end of the Korean war over 70 years ago, the North Koreans appear to have become very skilled at saber-rattling and limited provocations that are never allowed to escalate into out-and-out warfare. This is not to say that miscalculations could not spiral out of control, but simply that the odd missile launch, or loudly publicized border closure does not mean war is nigh.\n\nIf a full-scale war did break out between the North and South, it would almost certainly result in many casualties, military and civilian alike. If this were to happen when you are visiting Seoul, it would definitely be life-threatening. There was a great deal of brinkmanship following the appointment of Kim Jong-un as North Korea's leader, and open conflict seemed to become more likely. However, no big conflagration has broken out, and it is safe to say that the possibility of all-out war is very low, though it would be reasonable to weigh the risks when planning to visit South Korea.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk093", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There isn't really much you can do to mitigate the risk of military action. Find out the contact details of your embassy and be aware of the current situation when traveling. Most embassies will have an evacuation strategy for their nationals in the case of war. Also be aware that Seoul's Incheon International Airport is relatively close to the North Korean border, so therefore it may not be advisable to run there looking for a flight out.\n\nBe extra careful when visiting the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Any attempt or pretence to cross the border line into North Korea may put your life, the lives of your tour group members and the lives of military personnel on both sides at risk.\n\n### Emergency numbers\n\nPolice: **112**\n*Non-emergency* police enquiries: **110**\nFire and ambulance services: **119**\nEmergency-service English interpreters are available 24 hours a day.", "word_count": 143}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk094", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "South Korean healthcare is known for its excellence in both research and clinical medicine, and most towns will be able to offer a high quality of healthcare. The sheer number of hospitals and specialized clinics in the country will also offer you a greater amount of choice. Healthcare is subsidized by the government and is relatively cheap compared to most western countries. Expatriate workers who have the required medical insurance card will experience further discounts. South Korea also promotes medical tourism where quality operations can be had for a fraction of the price of many other developed countries.\n\nSouth Korea is especially known for having a thriving **plastic surgery** industry, and the vast majority of South Korean celebrities have undergone cosmetic surgery to one degree or another. It is also common for parents who can afford it to pay for their daughters to go under the knife to achieve the \"perfect look\". The downside is that seeing the top plastic surgeons is usually very expensive.\n\nMost South Korean doctors can communicate well in English, being the most highly educated in the country. (Indeed, many have achieved their medical qualifications in the United States.) However, you may find them a little difficult to understand due to their Korean accent, so do ask them to slow down and go through things with you clearly. On the other hand, nurses will very rarely speak much, if any, English.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk095", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Traditional Chinese medicine**, along with traditional Korean medicine (한의학 *hanuihak* or 향약 *hyangyak*), is highly regarded in South Korea and involves many traditional methods including acupuncture, heating and herbal medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has deep roots and practitioners must undergo strict government certification in order to practice. Typically Koreans use Oriental medicine for chronic ailments such as back pain and Western medicine for sudden injuries. Due to the holistic nature of Oriental medicine (i.e. treating the whole body rather than a specific ailment) it is very hard to measure its effectiveness, but nevertheless it is a widely trusted part of the Korean medical system. Western medicine, however, does not generally recognize the effectiveness of the procedures in Oriental medicine.\n\nthumb|A Korean pharmacy, with the word 약 (Yak) prominently displayed\n\n**Pharmacies** are available everywhere, and are indicated by one very large word **약** (*yak*). As hospitals in South Korea are not allowed to dispense take-home prescriptions there will almost always be a separate pharmacy available there.\n\nAlthough there are no official **vaccinations** that are required or recommended for visitors, Hepatitis A is known throughout the country and attacks the liver after the host ingests contaminated food or water. Once infected, time is the only cure. The Center for Disease Control designates the prevalence of infection in South Korea to be *intermediate*. A vaccine is available for Hepatitis A, so you might want to consider getting vaccinated before you travel to be safe.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk096", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tap water** in South Korea is perfectly safe to drink, although you may want to follow the local habits of boiling and filtering if only to get rid of the chlorine smell. Bottled mineral water from Jeju Island is also very popular. Fresh mountain spring water is available directly in wells around the country (especially Buddhist monasteries), and although these are generally safe, the water has not been treated in any way and could be unsafe.\n\n**Spring water** Koreans are especially fond of drinking mountain spring water when hiking through mountains or at monasteries, although this water is completely untreated. If you see plastic (or metal) ladles provided that are obviously in use, then the water is probably safe. Some places in Korea have communal wells set up that supply fresh water, and in theory the local government will test it from time to time in order to certify the safety. The certification (or warning) will be in Korean, so you may not know if a particular water source is safe.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk097", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Media\n\nSouth Korea has several English language media sources for daily news and other information, such as the Yonhap News Agency.\n\nDaily newspapers in English include the Hankyoreh, The Korea Times, The Korea Herald and The Chosun Ilbo.\n\nFor television, there is an English-language channel called Arirang TV available throughout the world on some cable subscriptions. AFN Korea is available to U.S. military community or via cable.\n\nThere are some English-language radio stations in South Korea such as TBS e-FM (101.3 FM) and AFN channel (1530 AM and 102.7 FM in Seoul).", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk098", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "Coming from a land of strict Confucian hierarchy and etiquette, Koreans are regarded as reserved and well-mannered. As a visitor, you will not be expected to know every nuance, but making an effort will certainly be appreciated. The further you are away from metropolitan areas the more conservative the people are. Nevertheless, most South Koreans are welcoming towards foreign tourists, and as long as you show a modicum of respect towards their culture, will do their best to make your visit a pleasant one. American visitors can expect a particularly warm welcome, as most South Koreans admire American culture.\n\n### Social etiquette and breaches", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk099", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "Much like their neighbours, Koreans place a solid emphasis on \"saving face\", thus, Koreans are generally **indirect communicators**. That being said, they tend to be a bit more straightforward and assertive than people in other East Asian countries. A \"yes\" doesn't mean \"yes\"; you have to read between the lines to figure out what someone means. \n Gestures and facial expressions are not commonly used when conversing, giving some the impression that Koreans are \"stern\". \n **Personal appearance** is very important. Korean women and men generally pay very close attention to their physical appearance. To get the most amount of respect, dress smartly and conservatively and groom yourself well.\n Koreans **bow** to each other to show their respect when they meet. They may also shake hands. (When shaking hands, particularly with someone older, support your right arm with your left hand.) However, with people you know well, a quick nod of the head and a simple \"*Annyeonghaseyo*\" (안녕하세요, \"Hello\") should suffice.\n It is very important to **remove your shoes** when entering many places in Korea. You are always expected to take off your shoes in someone's home. It is also required in many good restaurants (especially family-run ones), smaller hospitals, medical clinics and dentists. Leave your shoes by the front door; indoor slippers may be provided.\n It's common for Koreans to ask you personal questions. If you feel a question is too personal, answer indirectly.\n Koreans respect their elders and authority figures. If anyone in a position of authority (policeman, your superiors at work, a teacher) requests you to do something, you are expected to respect them and do it. In public transportation, you are always expected to give up your seat to someone older than you (the phrase \"실례합니다, 여기 앉으시겠습니까?\"{Sillyehabnida, yeogi ahnzusigetsupnikka?}, which means, \"Excuse me, would you like this seat?\", might come in handy). Remember to compose yourself and behave maturely around those much older than you; elders and authority figures generally don't take kindly to being spoken to or addressed inappropriately.\n When **picking something up or taking something** from somebody older, always use two hands. If you have to use one hand, you can support your right arm with your left hand.\n South Korean households often have strict rules about **recycling**: for example, one bin may be for paper only and another in the kitchen may be for food/drink containers. Each district in Korea has its own unique recycling scheme. Garbage bags must be purchased from a supermarket and must be of the type designated for your local community.\n Never pour your drink when dining with Koreans, but always take the initiative to pour for others. When dining with Koreans, the oldest or most senior should always eat first.\n It is common to hear people talking loudly in restaurants as a sign of being happy and enjoying the food.\n Do not be surprised or taken aback if your Korean counterpart subtly denies praise or compliments coming from you. Koreans believe that denying a compliment shows humility and modesty. If you compliment a Korean, expect them to say \"*anieyo*\" (아니에요, \"No\"), \"*geureon malsseum maseyo*\" (그런 말씀 마세요, \"Please don't say that\"), or a variation thereof. Don't say \"thank you\" to a compliment, as that will come off as arrogant.", "word_count": 540}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk100", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Sensitive issues\n\n**Pride in the nation** forms one of the key pillars of Korean culture. Saying what you like about the country might get you on someone's good side, while criticism of the country by a foreigner is likely to elicit a hostile response from Koreans.\n\nKoreans are neither Chinese nor Japanese; they are a separate people with a unique culture, and will be deeply offended if you confuse them for anything else.\n\n**Avoid talking about North Korea**. Relations between the two Koreas are incredibly tense: praising or talking positively about North Korea will engender strong reactions from people. On the other hand, do not criticize North Korea either, as its people are ultimately still considered fellow Koreans, and you are a foreigner.\n\nThere is significant ongoing friction with **Japan** because of the country's wars with and occupation by Japan, especially with the status of comfort women. Most Koreans do not, however, resent ordinary Japanese visitors (or indeed people who have been to Japan) as long as they are respectful enough about the issues.\n\nCultural and historiographical disputes with **China** can be a sensitive issue, and South Koreans often accuse China of appropriating Korean history and culture, such as cuisine and clothes. This is further complicated by the fact that China today has territory that was part of historical Korean kingdoms, and a large ethnic Korean minority. Protests about these are generally less vocal than contemporary issues with Japan however.\n\n### Business etiquette", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk101", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Business cards** (명함 *myeongham*) in particular are treated very respectfully and formally. How you treat someone's business card is seen as representing how you will treat the person. Make sure to pack more than you'll need, as not having a business card to present is a serious faux pas. There's a lot of nuanced etiquette, but here are some basics:\n When presenting a business card, orient it so it's readable by the person you're giving it to, and use both hands to present or receive one. Juniors give their cards to seniors first; people of equal rank can exchange simultaneously using your right hand to give yours and left hand to receive theirs. Take the time to read the card and confirm their name and job title. (Korean business cards are often bilingual, sometimes on opposite sides of the card.)\n You can ask permission to write notes on the back of a card if you need to. It's disrespectful to fold a card or place it in your back pocket (where you'll sit on it!). Instead, you should arrange cards on the table (in order of seniority) to help you remember who's who. When it's time to leave, then you can pack the cards in a nice case to keep them pristine; if you don't have one, hold on to them until you're out of sight before pocketing them.\n\n### National issues", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk102", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "Given the long history of unwanted intervention in Korea by foreign nations, Koreans are understandably rather sensitive about **political discussions**. You should avoid discussing the following topics since they are never going to achieve anything but getting you onto someone's bad side:\n Japan's annexation and brutal colonization of Korea until 1945. In particular, do not display the Rising Sun Flag, such as on your t-shirt or badge on your backpack; this is equivalent to displaying the Nazi flag in the West.\n Japan's lack of sufficient recognition and apology over the sexual enslavement of Korean \"comfort women\" during World War II\n Japan's recurring territorial claims over the South Korean-ruled island of Dokdo\n The Korean war and anything to do with North Korea\n Misconduct of American soldiers in South Korea\n Any deference of the South Korean military towards the United States military\n Any international sporting controversies where South Korean athletes are involved\n Do not refer to the sea east of South Korea as the \"Sea of Japan\" (even though this is by far the most accepted name internationally). Always refer to it as the \"East Sea\" (동해 *Donghae*).\n Domestic politics — Korean politics is bitterly divided between left and right. Many of the ideological issues are however quite different from those you may be familiar with in your home country, and Koreans generally do not take kindly to foreigners commenting about their domestic politics, even if your views happen to align with theirs.\nShould your hosts bring these topics up, it is best to just listen and avoid any debates.\n\n### Religion", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk103", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "Religion in South Korea has changed a great deal over time, with today's main religions, Buddhism and Christianity, having been oppressed over the past centuries. Today just under half of Koreans state that they have no religious affiliation. There are practically no tensions at all between the different groups, with religion being usually regarded as a personal choice.\n\n**Buddhism** was historically the main religion in Korea (albeit often suppressed in favor of Confucianism), and Buddhist temples are major tourist attractions throughout the country. As in India, China, and other countries there are Buddhist swastikas representing good luck on display at religious buildings. You will notice they are drawn in reverse to the one used in Nazi Germany, and they in no way represent antisemitism. When visiting Buddhist temples you should be respectful by not making too much noise, eating or drinking. You'll sometimes face fake monks in the streets playing their wooden bells for donation, but this practice was abolished a very long ago by the most Buddhism communities, meaning that those monks will probably be a scam.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk104", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "South Korea has a high proportion of **Christians** (18% of the population are Protestant and 11% are Roman Catholic) and dozens of churches can be found in absolutely every major city. Protestants in South Korea tend to be strongly conservative and frequently highly evangelical, sending a large number of missionaries abroad (rivaling the United States in this regard). Catholics often combine elements of Buddhism, Confucianism and Korean shamanism into their faith. South Korea is also home to a myriad of new religions based on Christianity (such as the Unification Church), which may be deemed as controversial sects or cults or as apostasy or a heresy by others. It is common for both strangers and acquaintances to ask you to come to their church, although offense will not usually be taken if you decline.\n\n**Korean Shamanism**, also known as Muism, is the indigenous religion of the Korean people since ancient times. Although it is professed by less than 1% of South Koreans today, its practices and beliefs are known to most and to some extent still practiced by many people, having been incorporated into both Christian and Buddhist rituals.\n\n**Confucianism** was often promoted as the state ideology during Korea's history, and although it is not as strictly adhered to as in the past, the majority of Koreans will be familiar with its teachings and practices, and even today government officials are still required to sit Confucian examinations.\n\n### Smoking", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk105", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Respect", "text": "While smoking in South Korea is not quite as popular as in Japan or China, many Korean men and an increasing number of South Korean women smoke, and it's fairly cheap compared to much of Europe and America. A pack of twenty costs around ₩5,000 and cigarettes can be bought from all convenience stores. Koreans favor mild cigarettes (around 6 mg tar) so Korean-made cigarettes may taste bland and flavorless compared to those from America or Europe, and even the South Korean-produced Western cigarettes are much lighter than the originals (e.g., full-strength Marlboro Reds in South Korea have only 8 mg tar, the same as Marlboro Lights in the U.S.). If you prefer stronger cigarettes, it's wise to bring some duty-free cigarettes with you.\n\nSmoking is forbidden in public buildings, public transport and restaurants. Various establishments will tacitly allow smoking despite the ban, although they will never explicitly tell you that you can smoke, for fear of legal repercussions. Smoking in public is also banned, but this is largely unenforced and designated smoking areas are sparse.\n\nDedicated smoking rooms can be found around transport hubs and other large buildings.\n\nFemale smokers may give a negative impression to some Koreans, as smoking is not considered feminine here.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk106", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nFor calls to South Korea, the country code is **+82**. International dialing prefixes in South Korea vary by operator. Google Maps navigation does not work well here. Use **Naver Map** or **KakaoMap** for accurate walking and driving directions.\n\n#### Mobile phones\n\n4G LTE is available in Korea. While 5G is also becoming available, providers have only so far made it available to select postpaid plans or inbound roaming agreements; prepaid users purchasing a local SIM in South Korea will not have access to 5G (as of August 2021).\n\nThe country has three service providers: **KT**, **SK Telecom** and **LG U+**. They offer prepaid mobile phone services (\"pre-paid service\" or \"PPS\"). Incoming calls are free. Phones and prepaid services can be acquired at any retail location found on any street (for Koreans). Second-hand phones are also available at selected stores in Seoul.\n\nMobile phone coverage is generally excellent, with the exception of some remote mountainous areas. SK Telecom has the best coverage, followed by KT and LG U+.\n\nAs a foreigner without Korean residency your choices are:\n Buy a prepaid SIM card from a KT Global or airport provider store\n Rent a phone from an airport (expensive — best for short visits)\n Using roaming on your phone if available from your home provider\n Borrow a phone from a Korean resident\n Have a Korean resident acquire another SIM card and lend it to you\n Use Internet telephony (e.g. WhatsApp, FaceTime) on the many Wi-Fi spots available", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk107", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Connect", "text": "You should be able to get a prepaid SIM card at one of the KT Global locations. Due to a loosening of the regulations, there is no longer a requirement that you have been in the country for 3 days already; you can apply for a prepaid SIM immediately upon arrival. The fee for a prepaid SIM card is ₩5,500, and you have to charge at least ₩10,000 at the spot. You must also have a compatible phone. All modern iPhones (3GS and later) should work.\n\nSK Telecom and LG also offer mobile phone rental services, and some handsets also support GSM SIM roaming. They have outlets at the Incheon, Seoul–Gimpo and Busan–Gimhae airports. You can find service centers for KT SHOW and SK Telecom at Jeju airport as well.\n\nYou can rent a 4G WiBro device between ₩5,000–10,000 a day for unlimited access, although coverage is not always available outside larger cities and in enclosed areas.\n\nThe 1330 Korea Travel Phone service is a very useful service provided by the Korea Tourism organization. It is a 24-hour service and offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. The operator will answer questions on bus schedules, accommodation, museum hours, etc.\n\nTo connect with locals, use the native app **KaKaoTalk**. Signing up for an account can also connect you with other native services like KakaoMaps. KakaoTalk may sometimes be the only way to connect, since internationally popular apps like WhatsApp are not popular in South Korea.\n\n### By Internet", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk108", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumbnail|A PC bang in Seoul\nSouth Korea is the **world's most wired country** and Internet cafes, known as **PC *bang*** (PC방), are ubiquitous through the country. PC shops are becoming more than just a place to go online and play games, they're becoming a place to eat. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find a food item you don't want to order, whether it's ramen, snacks, or burgers, as well as rice bowls, grilled pork belly, tonkatsu, or tteokbokki. You usually top up your card with a voucher for a PC through an unmanned terminal, and for food, you order through a message installed on your computer. Nowadays, you can also use Kakao Pay to pay with a QR code.\n\nIn addition, smoking is not allowed in PCCs, and you can only smoke in designated smoking rooms.\n\nollehWiFi is one of the most common Wi-Fi hotspots available and requires payment. The service is fast (30Mbit/s+) and prices are cheap at ₩1,100/hour or ₩3,300/day. You can buy the service on your device by credit card, or by cash or card in most convenience stores. ollehWiFi is available at most convenient stores, coffee shops, some marts, restaurants, intercity buses, and on all subways and subway stations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.\n\nThe Starbucks Coffee chain also offers Wi-Fi, however you will require a South Korean phone number to use it. Many other coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi with no registration required. ollehWiFi should also be available in all Starbucks stores.\n\nSouth Korean websites frequently require Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer, especially those involving online payment. As elsewhere in Asia, a lot of services are becoming available primarily for mobile phones, with Kakao Talk being the most popular.\n\nFree public Wi-Fi is available everywhere, thanks to wireless routers installed on public transportation.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "south-korea::chunk109", "doc_id": "south-korea", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By mail\n\n**Korea Post** is fast, reliable and reasonably priced. Postage for a postcard anywhere in the world is ₩660, while letters and packages start from ₩480. If you want actual traditional stamps, be sure to ask for them, or else you will just get a printed label. On request, fancy \"tourist\" cancellations (*Gwangwang Tongsin Ilbuin*) for your stamps are available at selected post offices without additional charge. Korea Post accepts Visa and MasterCard for purchases over ₩1,000.\n\nFrom October 01, 2014, it was changed from an old address unique to a \"Road or Street Name\"(**Road Addresses**) address. \"**Postal Code Finder by Korea Government Finder Site**\", Most post offices are open only M-F **09:00-18:00**.\n\nLarger post offices also open Saturday mornings, and central offices in the main cities stay open late and are open on Sundays as well.", "word_count": 139}
diff --git a/corpus/south-korea/metadata.json b/corpus/south-korea/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..120bd7dd931bd8f03a21c72f8251e46ca17201f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/south-korea/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "south-korea",
+ "title": "South Korea",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/South_Korea",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 26160,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 110,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/spain/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/spain/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ce8e5123591f6eff196acfe2369be86c6c628649
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/spain/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk000", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Spain** (Spanish: *España*) is famous for its friendly inhabitants, relaxed lifestyle, its cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and world-famous folklore and festivities, and historically the core of the vast Spanish Empire. It has the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites after Italy and the largest number of World Heritage Cities.\n\nWith great beaches, mountains, campsites, ski resorts, superb weather, varied and fun nightlife, many cultural regions and historic cities, Spain is a popular tourist destination in Europe for any kind of trip.", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk001", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Regions", "text": "Spain is a diverse country with contrasting regions that have different languages and unique historical, political and cultural traditions. Because of this, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities (*comunidades autónomas*), plus two autonomous cities. As a result, some even describe Spain as a \"federation without federalism\". Some of the autonomous communities—notably the ones which have other official languages alongside Spanish—have been recognised as \"historical nationalities\" that have a unique historical identity. These include the Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, the Valencian region, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Aragon and the Canary Islands.\n\nSpain's many regions can be grouped as follows:", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk002", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|At the heart of [[Madrid]]'s business district, the '''Four Towers Business Area''' are the tallest in Spain\nSpain has hundreds of interesting cities. Here are nine of the most popular:\n — the vibrant capital, with fantastic museums, interesting architecture, great food and nightlife\n — Spain's second city, full of modernist buildings, a vibrant cultural life, festivals, and beaches\n — former industrial city, home to the Guggenheim Museum and other cultural features; main Basque city\n — Also called Cordova, The Grand Mosque ('Mezquita') of Cordoba is one of the world's finest buildings\n — stunning city in the south, surrounded by snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada, home of La Alhambra\n — the heart of flamenco with the beaches of the Costa del Sol\n (Spanish: Sevilla) — a beautiful, verdant city, and home to the world's third largest cathedral\n — paella was invented here, has a very nice beach\n — also called Saragossa. The fifth largest city of Spain that held the World Expo in 2008", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk003", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|The majestic Castilian Alcázar has soared above [[Segovia]] since the twelfth century\n — 200 km of white coast with plenty of beaches and small villages\n — the rugged coast with plenty of seaside resorts\n — the sunny coast in the south of the country\n — known as \"a continent in miniature\" due to its many different climates and landscapes\n — a Balearic island; one of the best places for clubbing, raving, and DJs in the entire world\n — the largest island of the Balears, full of amazing beaches and great nightlife\n — the highest mountains on the Iberian Peninsula, great for walking and skiing\n — offers lush forests, exotic fauna and flora, deserts, mountains, volcanoes, beautiful coastlines and spectacular beaches", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk004", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "Spain shares the Iberian Peninsula with Andorra, Gibraltar, and Portugal.\n\nA country of large geographic and cultural diversity, Spain may come as a surprise to those who only know of its reputation for great beach holidays and almost endless sunshine. There is everything from lush meadows and snowy mountains to huge marshes and deserts in the south east. While summer is the peak season, those who wish to avoid the crowds should consider visiting in the winter as not only is it normally mild and sunny, but attractions such as the Alhambra Palace in Granada and La Gran Mezquita in Cordoba will not be overcrowded. However the ski resorts of Sierra Nevada do get very crowded. The Mediterranean climate that predominates in Southern and Central Spain is noted for its dry summers and (somewhat) wet(ter) winters, so visiting in the winter or spring brings the added benefit of the vegetation looking much more healthy. Northern Spain (e.g. Asturias) on the other hand gets quite a bit of rain year round and is ripe with lush green vegetation even in August.\n\n### History\n\nSpain historical travel topics:**Roman Empire → Goths → Al-Andalus → Spanish Empire → Spanish-American War → 20th-century Spain**\n\nSome of the earliest known remains of *Homo* of any kind *in Europe* have been found in Spain (see Prehistoric Europe). Spain is also thought to have been the last refuge of the Neanderthals, and one of the few places that were inhabitable and inhabited throughout the ice ages.\n\n#### Early Spain and Roman Era", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk005", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "The earliest inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula we have any profound knowledge of were Iberians, Celts (related to the Gaulish, Britannic and Central European Celts in language and culture) and Basques. As most of these groups had little to no written records we only know of them due to the descriptions of the Greek, Punic and later Roman settlers and conquerors, who colonised Spain from the South starting in the 3rd century BC. Roman culture lasted on the peninsula for roughly half a millennium, when in the age of migrations the Visigoths conquered the Roman province of *Hispania*.\n\n#### Visigoth Spain\n\nMost inhabitants of the area kept speaking Latin or rather Latin-derived languages/dialects and only a handful of Germanic words entered the Spanish language (*\"ganso\"* being the most commonplace). Soon after their conquest, the Visigoths formed a number of rival \"kingdoms\" and petty noble states in almost constant conflict in ever-shifting shaky alliances with or against one another, giving rise to constant wars.\n\n#### Muslim conquest and \"al-Andalus\"", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk006", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|Alhambra and the city of Granada\nIn 711 one Visigoth ruler apparently called for the Umayyad Muslims to help in his fight against a rival. (Which one is unclear, as the historical records for this era in Spain are scarce and there are for example no contemporary Muslim sources whatsoever.) This proved more successful than he could have imagined, and by the end of the 8th century most of the peninsula was in Muslim hands. While the almost 800 years of divided rule by Christian and Muslim rulers on the Iberian peninsula was by no means peaceful, the modern narrative of a somehow concerted effort to \"regain\" the \"lost lands\" for Christendom was never the first, second or any priority for the majority of the Christian rulers. As a matter of fact, many times Christian rulers entered into alliances with Muslim rulers against other Christian rulers and vice versa. While the situation for Muslims in Christian lands and vice versa and Jews in either depended very much on the mood of the ruler and could lie anywhere on a range from benevolent ignorance to murder and expulsion, religious minorities had it a lot better in Spain than in most of the rest of Europe at that time. In fact the Sephardi Jews (named after the Hebrew word for Spain) were at that time not only one of the most important groups inside Spain in terms of science and education, but also dominant among the Jewish people, worldwide. During that time an estimated 90% of Jews were Sephardi. (In the 19th century, on the other hand, roughly 90% of Jews were Ashkenazim [German and Eastern European, and primarily Yiddish-speaking].)", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk007", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "However, this period ended when through conquest and marriage the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon as well as a couple of minor Christian lands were united and their rulers started a war of conquest against the Muslim rulers. The union of the numerous Christian kingdoms is commemorated in the modern Spanish coat of arms, which is an amalgamation of the coats of arms of the four main kingdoms prior to the union, namely the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, León and Navarre. In the process of re-conquering Spain, many of the great mosques and synagogues were desecrated and converted into Christian churches.\n\nSome of the most glorious historical attractions in Spain date from the period of Muslim rule, including **The Mezquita**, built as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the **Medina Azahara**, also in Córdoba and now in ruins but still visitable as such and built as the Madinat al-Zahra, the Palace of al-Andalus; and the **Alhambra** in Granada, a splendid, intact palace. There are also two synagogues still standing that were built during the era of Muslim Spain: **Santa María la Blanca** in Toledo and the **Synagogue of Córdoba**, in the Old City.\n\n#### Reconquista and Imperial era", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk008", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "This so-called \"reconquista\" was completed in 1492 with the fall of Granada, and all Jews were forced to leave Spain or convert that year; by 1526, all Spanish Muslims had suffered the same fate. 1492 also marks the point when Spain started to become the world's strongest empire with territories in North, Central and South America, Africa, and the Philippines (named after Spanish king Felipe II). The \"new Christians\" as they were called were often not sincere in their largely forced conversions and to ensure religious \"purity\", the notorious Spanish inquisition was set up. Genetic studies made in modern times suggest that a large percentage of modern Spaniards have at least partial Jewish and/or Muslim ancestry, which might surprise some, as the concept of being a \"true Christian\" (rather than a \"converso\") soon began to get hereditary overtones, with the expulsion of all the descendants of forced converts from Islam in 1609.", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk009", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "Under the House of Habsburg, Spain became a personal union with the Austrian Empire, and reached its height of power in Europe during the 16th and early 17th centuries, controlling much of Benelux and Italy. Spain was weakened as the House of Habsburg lost the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Spain was further weakened by ineffective governance, religious intolerance that drove out the erstwhile prosperous and productive Jewish and Muslim minorities and hampered free inquiry and - paradoxically - Latin American gold and silver that devalued the currency and still couldn't cover war expenses. The Spanish Habsburgs - prone to marrying inside the family, thus accumulating inheritable diseases - died out when Charles II was unable to produce an heir, which like many of his other afflictions was likely a result of incest. Most powers of Europe fought for the possibility to put one of their own on the Spanish throne, with the House of Bourbon doing it. The Bourbons would attempt a reform of their many domains gaining some successes but enraging those who had held onto old privileges of local autonomy or feudal rights.\n\nThe colonisation of Central and South America and of Mexico was particularly profound, with the deaths of millions of native people through disease, war and outright murder as the Spanish sought riches in these 'undiscovered' lands. Today many of the countries in this area are defined by Hispanic language and culture (Spanish is today the world's second most spoken native language after Mandarin and before English, and Catholicism dominates throughout the former Spanish colonies).\n\n#### Crises of the 19th century", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk010", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "With the death of Charles III in 1788, Spain lost its last monarch with will, energy and capability for a long time at a crucial juncture - the French Revolution would break out the next year. His successor Charles IV tried at first to maintain some of his father's policies but ultimately saw more fun in hunting than politics. Soon politics in Spain would come to be dominated by Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy who was rumored to have an affair with the queen. Meanwhile, Charles' son, Ferdinand VII was chomping at the bit to replace his father as king, which earned him the contempt of the latter. In 1808 Ferdinand seemed to have briefly succeeded in replacing the hated Godoy and his father but Napoleon Bonaparte invited the two quarrelling kings to Bayonne under the pretext of mediating but forced both to abdicate in favor of his brother Joseph Bonaparte. Many among Spain's elites were having none of it and set up *Juntas* to maintain a government nominally loyal to Spanish monarchy. The liberal constitution of Cadiz 1812 was drafted in those years and as Ferdinand was willing to promise everyone everything to return to the throne, he came to be known as \"the Desired One\", with high hopes that he would rule as a liberal citizen-king under the constitution of Cadiz. Ferdinand never intended any such thing and his heavy-handed policies brought the wrath not only of his Spanish subjects but even of those *Juntas* in Latin America that had been set up without making up their mind whether to support a restoration of Bourbon rule or independence - only certain that they would oppose Napoleon and his regime.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk011", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "When Ferdinand died in 1833 he left a nominally absolute monarchy with an unhappy population which had lost most of its colonies to a not-yet three year old Isabella II. Immediately some hyper-conservative elements but also those in the Basque country who wanted back the old *fuero* autonomy refused to back Isabella's claim on account of her being female, giving birth to the \"Carlist\" movement.\nThe 19th century saw independence movements fight back against the kingdom of Spain, with leaders such as Simón Bolívar and Augustín de Iturbide successfully creating new independent nations throughout Latin America. By 1898 Spain lost the majority of its remaining territories during the Spanish-American War: it lost Cuba and then sold Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam to the United States. The war of 1898 was a huge shock to Spanish culture and shattered Spain's self-image of a first-rate power, and it thus inspired a whole literary movement known as the generation of '98. For much of this time, Spain was not really *one* realm so much as *several* realms which shared a monarch. While the monarch had broad powers, there was no such thing as \"absolute\" monarchy in Spain and the various regions - notably the Basque country - had numerous special privileges and autonomies granted either to \"the people\", a local lord or \"free men\". This proved complicated to resolve when Spain became a Republic and it is still an issue with which Spain is grappling in the 21st century.\n\n#### The 20th century", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk012", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi masterpiece in the [[Barcelona/Eixample|Eixample]] region of [[Barcelona]]Spain experienced a devastating civil war between 1936 and 1939 that killed half a million Spaniards and ushered in more than 30 years of dictatorship under Generalissimo Francisco Franco. The civil war began from a mostly failed coup in Spanish North Africa (today part of Morocco) against Spain's left-wing republican government supported by the popular front (a popular front was in those days a regime including communist, socialist, liberal, Christian Democrat and even conservative parties and originated in France as a response to fascism, though the parties in power in July 1936 were Izquierda Republicana and Unión Republicana, two centre-left wing republican parties, supported by PSOE; the communist party had just 17 seats). The fascist side was led by a group of generals; however, some of them soon died in plane crashes or were pushed to the side by Franco.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk013", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although the League of Nations (a precursor of today's United Nations) attempted to make intervention impossible, Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany ignored this by aiding the nationalist (Franco) side, while the Soviet Union and to some extent Mexico provided aid to the Republican (popular front) side. The Republican side called for volunteers in the so-called \"international brigades\", and around 20,000 Brits, Americans, Frenchmen and even Germans joined the fight on their side. However, the Republican side was plagued by lack of weapons and ammunition (some of their rifles were produced in the 19th century), by infighting between communists and anarchists, and by Stalinist purges ordered by the super-paranoid supporters of Republican Spain in Moscow. As many people of that generation fought in the Spanish Civil War or covered it as – often blatantly biased – war correspondents (including George Orwell, Ernest Hemingway and later German chancellor Willy Brandt) there is a lot of well-written literature (and some films), which while not always historically accurate, manage to perfectly capture the spirit of vain idealism that made many of the interbrigadistas go to Spain in the first place. Just as the American Civil War gave a breakthrough for photojournalism, World War I for news radio and World War II for the newsreel, the Spanish Civil War made its mark on journalism, literature and arts. The Reina Sofia museum in Madrid has an exhibition for artistic expressions of the war, with Picasso's *Guernica* – produced for the republican Spanish pavilion at the 1937 world exhibition in Paris – as its centrepiece.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk014", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "The war was won for Franco through superior fire-power and with military aid from the Nazis (including the war-crime of bombing Guernica). Franco managed to unify the not at all homogeneous nationalist forces behind his less-than-charismatic leadership and hold onto power through the Second World War (in which he stayed neutral) until his death. He was succeeded by King Juan Carlos. The Spanish Civil War is still in some sense an open wound as it was hardly ever talked about during the days of Franco's regime. To this day, conservatives and Catholics (the Republicans were pretty anti-clerical) are sometimes apologetic about Franco and the \"necessity\" of the war. Franco's legacy was that the historically important regional identities and languages (such as Catalan and Basque) were brutally suppressed and a policy of strong national identity under the Spanish/Castilian language was promoted. Many Republican soldiers and supported continued fighting until the mid 50s in the so-called maquis, in 1944 there was even an attempt to invade Spain from France through the Vall d'Aran in 1944 which was quickly suppressed by the Guardia Civil. Violent groups such as ETA (see below) started their activity in the 1960s during Franco's time, there was also an increasing protest movement in the last years of franquism. Franco oversaw Spain's rapid economic expansion with its industrialisation in the 1960s. Spain's messy divorce from its African colonies in the last years and days of Franco's life is also one of the reasons for the conflict in Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk015", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "Franco named Juan Carlos as his successor in 1969, with Juan Carlos being crowned king shortly after Franco's death. Shortly after King Juan Carlos – to the surprise of many – insisted on the country becoming a parliamentary democracy with a figurehead king as nominal head of state, right-wing generals tried to overthrow the nascent democracy on 23 February 1981 in what is now known as 23F. One of the most striking images of the coup was the general Tejero storming into the Congress of Deputies at the head of 200 Guardia Civil members and interrupting the vote to replace centre-left Adolfo Suarez with centre-right Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo for Prime Minister. The coup failed mostly due to lack of popular support and because the king – in his capacity of commander-in-chief – appeared on television in full uniform to order the soldiers back into their barracks, thus throwing his lot in with democracy. This resulted in a lot of support for the king personally even among otherwise republican-inclined Spaniards for most of his reign. However, the monarchy is rather unpopular among the autonomist or independist movements of Catalonia or the Basque Country. Spain entered NATO (though not the EU or any of its predecessors) in 1982, which Calvo-Sotelo. The ruling centre-right party UCD under Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo badly misjudged the Andalusian desire for regional self-government and thus lost the 1982 election, in one of the biggest popular vote landslides in any modern democracy, to the leftist PSOE. This led to the formation of Partido Popular (PP) from the rubble left behind by the temporary collapse of the centre-right. PSOE was led at that time by the relatively youthful Andalusian Felipe González and enjoys a strong basis of support in Andalusia to this day.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk016", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "With the peaceful transition to democracy after Franco's death, the restrictions on regional identity were lifted, with autonomy granted to several regions, and the regional languages gaining co-official status in their respective areas. The nature of the transition meant that there was little justice for those who had suffered under the Franco dictatorship and divisions still remain.\n\nThe Basque Country in Spain's north that had begun violent resistance in 1959 against Franco continued its campaign of bombings and assassinations into the democratic era with the terrorist ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna; Basque for Basque Country and Freedom) group, despite the region having been provided with a high degree of autonomy. The group declared a ceasefire in 2011 and the armed struggle appears over for the time being. Even in the \"democratic\" 1980s, (under longtime Prime minister Felipe González [PSOE 1982–1996]) the Spanish government responded with methods that are now known to have included \"death squadrons\" to combat terrorism.\n\n#### 21st century\n\nIn the 2000s there was more economic expansion and a housing price boom that subsequently collapsed, leaving Spain with high unemployment and economic difficulties. The economically important Catalan region has become louder in its demands for independence. In 2017/18 this conflict erupted as the central government had worked to annul key aspects of a more extensive statute of autonomy while parts of the Catalan parliament held an independence referendum, deemed \"illegal\" by opponents of independence. The central government cracked down heavily on the independence movement and several people involved in the referendum were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.\n\n#### Migration\n\nSpain holds a historical attachment to its neighbours on the Iberian Peninsula, Andorra and Portugal, to its former colonies, to former citizens and their descendants, and to a special category of former citizens, namely Sephardic Jews.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk017", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Understand", "text": "The population of Spain is growing in large part due to migration by people from relatively poor or politically unstable areas of Latin America, such as Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador Nicaragua, Peru or Venezuela; other parts of Europe, especially Eastern Europe; and Africa and Asia, particularly areas that have a historical or linguistic attachment to Spain. There is also an important segment of immigration that consists mainly of retired people, and people running businesses for them and foreign tourists, coming from wealthier European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Benelux and the Nordic countries, established all along the Mediterranean shore, especially in the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, particularly in the summer months.\n\nInternally there have always been migrations from poorer rural areas (such as Andalusia) to the cities and to jobs in construction and tourism. Due to the economic crisis of the 2000s and 2010s, youth unemployment has risen to unbearable levels in the 50% range and quite a number of young people have semi-permanently fled the country to other European Union countries such as Germany to study, work or do internships either until things get better in Spain or forever. In the latter half of the 2010s there were tentative signs of economic improvement with some economic emigrants returning to Spain.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nTourist information website of the Spanish government.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk018", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official and universal language used in Spain is Spanish (*español*) which is a member of the Romance family of languages (others include Portuguese, Italian, French, and Romanian). Many people, especially outside Castile, prefer to call it **Castilian** (*castellano*).\n\nHowever, there are a number of languages (Catalan, Basque, Galician, Asturian, etc.) spoken in various parts of Spain. Some of these languages are dominant and co-official in their respective regions, though most people will be bilingual in their local language and Spanish. Catalan, Basque and Galician are recognised as co-official languages according to the Spanish constitution, and you will often see bilingual road signs in their respective regions. With the exception of Basque, the languages of the Iberian Peninsula are part of the Romance family and are fairly easy to pick up if you know Castilian well.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk019", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Catalan** (Catalan: *català*, Castilian: *catalán*), a distinct language similar to Castilian but more closely related to the Oc branch of the Romance Languages and considered by many to be part of a dialect continuum spanning across Spain, France, and Italy and including the other langues d'oc such as Provençal, Beàrnais, Limousin, Auvernhat and Niçard. Various dialects are spoken in the northeastern region of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Valencia (where it is often referred to as *Valencià*), east of Aragon, as well as neighbouring Andorra and southern France. To a casual listener, Catalan superficially appears to be a cross of Castilian, French and Portuguese and though it does share features of all three, it is a separate language.\n **Galician** (Galician: *galego*, Castilian: *gallego*), very closely related to Portuguese, Galician is spoken in Galicia and the western portions of Asturias and León. Galician predates Portuguese and is deemed one of the four main dialects of the Galician-Portuguese language family group which includes Brazilian, Southern Portuguese, Central Portuguese, and Galician. While the Portuguese consider it a dialect of Portuguese, Galicians consider their language separate.\n **Basque** (Basque: *euskara*, Castilian: *vasco*) is spoken in the three provinces of the Basque Country, on the two adjacent provinces on the French side of the Spain-French border, and in Navarre. Basque is considered a language isolate unrelated to any Romance, Indo-European, or even any known language, save for a weak theory that Basque could be related to Aquitanian.\n **Asturiano** (Asturiano: *asturianu*, Castilian: *asturiano*, also known as *bable*), spoken in the province of Asturias, where it enjoys semi-official protection. It was also spoken in rural parts of León, Zamora, Salamanca, in a few villages in Portugal (where it is called Mirandes) and in villages in the extreme north of Extremadura. While the constitution of Spain explicitly protects Basque, Balearic-Catalan-Valencian under the term Catalan, Galician, and Castilian, it does not explicitly protect Asturian. Still, the province of Asturias explicitly protects it, and Spain implicitly protects it by not objecting before the Supreme Court.\n **Aragonese** (Aragonese: *aragonés*, Castilian: *aragonés*, also known colloquially as *fabla*), spoken in the north of Aragon, and is not officially recognised. This language is close to Catalan (specially in Benasque) and to Castilian, with some Basque and Occitan (southern France) influences. Nowadays, only a few villages near the Pyrenees use the language vigorously, while most people mix it with Castilian in their daily speech.\n **Aranese** (Castilian: *Aranés*, Catalan/Aranese Occitan: *Aranès*), spoken in the Aran Valley and recognised as an official language of Catalonia (not of Spain), alongside Catalan and Castilian. This language is a variety of Gascon Occitan, and as such is very closely related to Provençal, Limousin, Languedoc, and Catalan.", "word_count": 445}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk020", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Talk", "text": "In addition to the native languages, many languages such as English, French, and German are commonly studied in school. However, Spaniards are not known for their proficiency in foreign languages, and it is very rare to find locals conversant in foreign languages outside of tourist establishments or major international hotels. Most establishments in Spain's important tourist industry, however, have staff members who speak a decent level of English, particularly in popular beach resorts such as those in the Costa del Sol where you will find people who are fluent in several languages, the most common ones being German and French. As Portuguese and Italian are closely related to Spanish, if you speak either of these languages, locals would be able to puzzle you out with some difficulty. German is spoken in some areas frequented by German tourists, such as Mallorca. In general, people who speak two national languages (e.g. Basque and Castilian or Catalan and Castilian) are more likely to speak a foreign language than monolingual Spanish speakers.\n\nCastilian Spanish differs from the **Latin American Spanish** varieties in pronunciation and grammar, although all Latin American varieties are easily understood by Spaniards and vice-versa. While the differences in spelling are virtually non-existent, the differences in vocabulary and pronunciation between Castilian Spanish and \"Latin American Spanish\" are arguably bigger than those between \"American\" and \"British\" English.\n\nFrench is the most widely understood foreign language in the northeast of Spain. The Basque region and northern Catalonia in particular have sizable populations that speak French.\n\nLocals will appreciate any attempts you make to speak their language. For example, know at least the Castilian for \"good morning\" (*buenos días*) and \"thank you\" (*gracias*).", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk021", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nIn addition, citizens of Andorra may enter and reside in Spain indefinitely without a visa.\n\nEU, EEA and Swiss nationals who enter Spain on a national identity card, who are under 18 years old and travelling without their parents are required to have written parental consent.\n\nCitizens of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Seychelles are permitted to work in Spain without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90-day visa-free stay. However, this ability to work visa-free does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.\n\nA stay of longer than 90 days for non-EEA or Swiss citizens almost invariably requires an advance visa. If one stays for longer than 6 months, a residence permit (**Titulo de Residencia**) must be obtained within the first 30 days of entering Spain.\n\nThere are a number of ways to get into Spain. From neighbouring European countries, a drive with the car or a train ride is feasible; from a number of Mediterranean countries more or less regular ferry connections are available; visitors from further away will probably be using air travel.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Control tower of [[Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid-Barajas]]\nSpain's flag carrier is **Iberia**, and its two other main airlines are **Vueling** and **Air Europa**. There are many airlines connecting from most European countries, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Virtually all European low cost carriers provide frequent services to Spain including: **TUI Airways**, **EasyJet**, **Ryanair**, **Wizz Air** and **Jet2.com**.\n\nThe busiest airports are Madrid–Barajas Airport, Barcelona El Prat, Palma de Mallorca and Malaga, followed by Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, Alicante and Santiago de Compostela.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk022", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get in", "text": "For mainland Spain, Madrid Barajas (), Barcelona () and Malaga () are your most likely ports of entry, as they have by far the highest number of international flights. For the islands, you will most likely directly arrive at an airport on the island, without connecting through another Spanish airport. If your destination does not have a direct flight, you can make use of Iberia's rail air alliance with Renfe. Searching for your destination directly on the Iberia website will give you flights with a connecting train service automatically.\n\nYou can also enter Spain by using an alternative airport not far away from the land border:\n\nTo the mainland's west: Porto ()\n To the mainland's south-west: Gibraltar () and Faro ()\n To the mainlands's north: Biarritz () and Perpignan ()\n To Ceuta: Tangier () and Tétouan ()\n To Melilla: Nador ()\n To Lanzarote's south: Fuerteventura ()\n To Fuerteventura's north: Lanzarote ()\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|AVE in Spain (Spanish High Speed)", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk023", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get in", "text": "The train system in Spain is modern and reliable, most of the trains are brand new and the punctuality rate is one of the highest in Europe, the only problem is that not all the populated areas have a train station; sometimes small towns don't have one, in those cases you need to take a bus. Another issue with the Spanish Rail network is that the lines are disposed in a radial way so almost all the lines head to Madrid. That's why sometimes travelling from one city to another geographically close to it might take longer by train than by bus if they are not on the same line. Always check whether the bus or the train is more convenient. The Spanish high speed rail system is, however, more reliable than that of - say - Germany, because the gauge of traditional and high speed trains is different and thus high speed lines are only used by high speed passenger trains meaning fewer delays due to congested lines or technical problems.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk024", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get in", "text": "All lines that cross the border into France have either a break of gauge (thus making changing train or a lengthy gauge change necessary) or are high speed, thus making the high speed trains the vastly preferable option to cross the border. Trains between Barcelona and France are operated jointly by **SNCF** and **renfe** and both sell tickets for any international train on that route. Spain has numerous rail links with neighbouring Portugal, none of them high speed. There are only three rail links with France, one at Hendaye on a traditional line requiring a break of gauge, a connection used for local traffic near Latour de Carol (this is the closest rail line to Andorra) and one near Figueres for high speed trains. The former two see the occasional sleeper train while the latter sees the vast majority of passenger travel and all high speed trains. The former link through the Pyrenees near Canfranc has been abandoned but the former border station at Canfranc is still served from the Spanish site and worth a visit if you're a railway enthusiast or history buff.\n\nLike many European countries there has been a separation between running trains and running infrastructure (including stations). The infrastructure company is called adif and their website has train operator independent information about their stations including platform and departure times. They also have a more travel focussed smart-phone app. Note that local trains and regional/longer distance services are listed separately.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk025", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get in", "text": "German player Flixbus offer international routes to/from Spanish destinations. Spanish operators with international connections include Alsa and Linebus. Generally speaking the buses will be reasonably safe and may even have WiFi or electric outlets at your seat, but if your main concern is anything but cost, opt for a train or plane instead as the former is both vastly more comfortable and faster and the latter is still a lot faster and can even be cheaper, if you manages to travel on carry-on only. Buses generally have greater luggage allowances than the airlines, but then again, you'd have the same advantage taking the train.\n\n### By boat\n\nSpain is a popular cruise destination. Some of its main cruise ports are Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Cádiz, Palma de Mallorca and Malaga.\n\nFrom the UK, Brittany Ferries offers services from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and from Portsmouth to Bilbao. The journey time from Portsmouth to Santander is approximately 24 hours.\n\nSpain is also well connected by ferry to Northern Africa (particularly Tunisia and Morocco) and the Canary Islands which are part of Spain. Routes are also naturally available to the Spanish Balearic islands of Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera.\n\nOther popular routes is from Barcelona to Genoa, Rome or Sardinia", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk026", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By train", "word_count": 3}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk027", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Spain's rail network. Green is narrow gauge, red is Iberian gauge and blue is standard gauge - all standard gauge lines are high speed\n **adif** is the operator of most rail stations in Spain. Their website has information about stations, departure times & platforms. They have a useful smartphone app. They do not run any trains.\n **renfe** is the Spanish national rail carrier. Long-distance trains always run on time, but be aware that short-distance trains (called *Cercanías*) can have some delays, from ten to twenty minutes. To be safe, always take the train before the one you need. It also runs Cercanias narrow-gauge trains which mainly run near the northern Atlantic coast (from Ferrol to Bilbao). Buying tickets online with a foreign credit card is usually possible, however, those with a PayPal account may find it easier to pay using the website. Renfe also operates the **AVE** high speed trains, whose network radiates out of Madrid to the major cities along the coasts - Spain boasts the second-longest high speed network (behind China) and has constructed a lot of new lines until the economic downturn at the end of the 2000s. The AVE is easily the fastest option wherever it goes (faster even than flying in most cases) but can be on the expensive side. Tickets of long distance high speed train (AVE) follow a dynamic pricing system similar to airline tickets, and the price can vary greatly. **Intercity** trains are slower but often substantially cheaper, and much more comfortable than the bus. Tickets don't go on sale until 30 days before departure, and few discount tickets are available. \n Renfe also have a separate '''avlo''' low cost division.\n **ouigo** are low cost high speed services operated by the French state rail operator SNCF. Routes include Madrid to Barcelona; Valencia; Alicante with more destnations to be added.\nThe following operators run both train services and stations:\n **FGC** operates several local routes near Barcelona. On these places where both Renfe and FGC operate, usually FGC provides more trains per hour, has better punctuality records and stations are closer to the city centres; on the other side, trains are slower and single fares are more expensive.\n **FGV** provides local services in Valencia area uncovered by Renfe and a tram service in Alicante.\n **Euskotren** operates affordable services from Bilbao to Gernika, Bermeo and San Sebastian plus a line connecting San Sebastian with Irun and Hendaye (France). The Bilbao - San Sebastian trip is about 2hr 40min while buses connect the cities in around just an hour, although bus tickets cost about twice as the train. All but the whole Bilbao - San Sebastian line run twice an hour with extra trains on peak hours.", "word_count": 450}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk028", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\nThe least expensive way to get around most parts of Spain is by bus. Most major routes are point to point, and very high frequency. There are many companies serving within certain autonomous communities or provinces of the country on multiple routes or on a single route going from a major city to several surrounding villages and towns. The following operators serve more than a single region:\n - ALSA\n\n- Grupo Avanza\n\n- Socibus and Secorbus\n\nAt the bus station, each operator has its own ticket counter or window and usually a single operator from here to a particular destination. Therefore, the easiest is to ask the staff who will be happy to tell you who operates which route and point you to a specific desk or window. You can also see what is all available on Movelia.es or see \"By bus\" under \"Getting in\" or \"Getting Around\" in the article for a particular autonomous community region, province or locale. It is usually not necessary or more advantageous to book tickets in advance as one can show up and get on the next available bus. Most bus companies can be booked in advance online. however English translation on their websites is patchy at best.\n\n### By boat\n\nRegular **ferries** travel from mainland Spain to the Balearic Islands (3-7h) and Canary Islands (36-40h). The major port serving Mallorca is Barcelona, while for Ibiza it is Denia. The Canaries are served from Huelva and Cadiz.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk029", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "With a **private yacht** you can enjoy gorgeous scenery and distance yourself from the inevitable crowds of tourists that flock to these destinations. May is a particularly pleasant time to charter in the regions of Costa Brava, Costa Blanca and the Balearic Islands as the weather is good and the crowds have yet to descend. The summer months of July and August are the hottest and tend to have lighter winds. There is no low season for the Canary Islands, as the weather resembles springtime all year round.\n\nIf you would like to bareboat anywhere in Spain, including the Balearic or Canary Islands, a US Coast Guard License is the only acceptable certification needed by Americans to bareboat. For everyone else, a RYA Yacht Master Certification or International Certificate of Competence will normally do.\n\nAlthough a skipper may be required, a hostess/chef may or may not be necessary. Dining out is strong part of Spanish custom and tradition. If you are planning on docking in a port and exploring fabulous bars and restaurants a hostess/cook may just be useful for serving drinks and making beds. Extra crew can take up valuable room on a tight ship.\n\n### By car\n\nIn major cities like Madrid or Barcelona and in mid-sized ones like San Sebastian, moving around by car is expensive and nerve-wracking. Fines for improper parking are uncompromising (€85 and up). Access by car has been made more difficult by municipal policies in Barcelona and Madrid in the 2010s. The positive effects on the urban fabric of those policies have proven widely popular, so expect more of this.\nthumb|Spanish network of motorways\nHaving a driving map is essential - many streets are one-way; left turns are more rare than rights (and are unpredictable).", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk030", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around by car makes sense if you plan to move from one city to another every other day, ideally if you don't plan to park overnight in large cities. It also doesn't hurt that the scenery is beautiful and well worth a drive. With a good public transport network that connects to (almost) all points of interest for travellers, you might ask yourself whether driving is really worth the cost and the hassle, as you are often much faster by train than by car.\n\nThere are two types of highway in Spain: *autopistas*, or motorways, and *autovías*, which are more akin to expressways. Most autopistas are toll roads while autovías are generally free of charge. In some autonomous communities whether a highway is tolled depends on whether the central or regional government built and operates them. To a foreigner the system can seem rather confusing. Tolls often work out to \"odd\" Euro amounts leading you with a lot of copper coins if you pay cash. Speed limits range from 50 km/h (30 mph) in towns to 90 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on roads and 120 km/h (75 mph) on autopistas and autovías. Starting from May 2021 all roads with only one lane per direction inside built up areas will have a blanket speed limit of .\n\nSpaniards are somewhat notorious for seeing traffic infractions such as speeding, second row parking or red light infractions as \"minor\", but the government is increasingly cracking down on this kind of behavior and police will have a field day writing a ticket to a foreigner who doesn't speak the language.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk031", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "Gasoline/petrol costs in the range of €1.60/L in Dec 2023, and diesel costs €1.55/L. Filling procedure for gas stations varies from brand to brand. At Agip, you first fill the tank yourself, and then pay inside the shop.\n\nMotorcycling is very popular with Spaniards and the country is served by a superb network of road and off road motorcycling routes making it a popular destination for European motorcyclists. Spain is possibly the most motorcycle friendly country in Europe. Touring infrastructure for motorcyclists is very well developed and it is common for owners of hostelry establishments to provide secure parking for motorcycles. Driving while wearing flip-flops or going barefoot is considered unsafe and carries a fine of up to €200.\n\n### By thumb\n\nSpain isn't a good country for hitchhiking. Sometimes you can wait many hours. Try to speak with people at gas stations, parking lots, etc. They are scared and suspicious, but when you make them feel that they don't need to be afraid, they gladly accept you and mostly also show their generosity.\n\nIn the south of Spain, in and around the Alpujarras, hitchhiking is very common and it is also very easy to get a ride. As long as you can speak a bit of Spanish and don't look too dirty or frightening, you should be able to get a ride moderately easily.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|Bike rental station in Valencia\n\nSpain is a suitable country for cycling, and it is possible to see many cyclists in some of the cities. Cycling lanes are available in a large part of North-Easter Catalonia, and elsewhere in mid-sized and large cities, although they are not comparable in number to what you can find in for example central Europe.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk032", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "Depending on where you are in Spain, you could face a very mountainous area. Much of central Spain is very flat, though elevated, but towards the coast the landscape is often very hilly, especially in the north. Consider using an E-bike if your visit involves going by hilltops and you aren't used to that kind of biking or don't like the effort needed.\n\nThere are several options for touring in Spain by bicycle: guided or supported tours, rent bicycles in Spain or bring your own bike, or any combination. Supported tours are ubiquitous on the web. For unsupported tours a little Spanish helps a lot. Shoulder seasons avoid extremes of temperature and ensure hotel availability in non-tourist areas. Good hotels are €35–45 in the interior, breakfast usually included. *Menú del día* meals are €8–10 eating where the locals eat. Secondary roads are usually well paved and have good shoulders, and as a rule Spanish drivers are careful and courteous around touring cyclists. Road signs are usually very good and easy to follow.\n\nMost municipalities in Spain, towns and cities are modernising their streets to introduce special lanes for bicycles. Bike share systems with usually quite reasonable prices are also being installed in cities throughout the country.\n\n### By e-hailing\n\nSeveral cities in Spain are covered by Uber, Cabify, Bolt, Free Now and Pide Taxi\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk033", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Get around", "text": "All the major cities in Spain are served by taxis, which are a convenient, if somewhat expensive way to get around. That being said, taxis in Spain are more reasonably priced than those in say, the United Kingdom or Japan. Most taxi drivers do not speak English or any other foreign languages, so it would be necessary to have the names and/or addresses of your destinations written in Spanish to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card to show your taxi driver in case you get lost.\n\nAll taxis should have a visible fare table. You may be offered a fixed price to go from an airport to a city, but in most cases, the taxi driver will be earning more money than with the metered fare.\n\nMany taxi drivers will demand a tip from foreign customers and for airport drives. The tip is in no way mandatory. You may round up to the nearest euro though, see also Tipping below.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk034", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "The most popular beaches are the ones along the Mediterranean coast, in the Balearic Islands and in the Canary Islands. Meanwhile, for hiking, the mountains of Sierra Nevada in the south, the Central Cordillera and the northern Pyrenees are the best places. You can also visit some of the National Parks in Spain\n\n### Historic cities\n\nthumbnail|Mezquita in Córdoba\nthumbnail|Segovia aqueduct\nHistorically, Spain has been an important crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, between North Africa and Europe, and as Europe began colonising the New World, between Europe and the Americas. The country thus is blessed with a fantastic collection of historical landmarks — in fact, it has the second largest number of UNESCO Heritage Sites and the largest number of World Heritage Cities of any nation in the world.\n\nIn the south of Spain, Andalusia holds many reminders of old Spain. **Cadiz** is regarded as one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in western Europe, with remnants of the Roman settlement that once stood here. Nearby, **Ronda** is a beautiful town atop steep cliffs and noted for its gorge-spanning bridge and the oldest bullring in Spain. **Cordoba** and **Granada** hold the most spectacular reminders of the nation's Muslim past, with the red-and-white striped arches of the Mezquita in Cordoba and the stunning Alhambra palace perched on a hill above Granada. **Seville**, the cultural centre of Andalusia, has a dazzling collection of sights built when the city was the main port for goods from the Americas, the grandest of which being the city's cathedral, the largest in the country.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk035", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "Moving north across the plains of La Mancha into Central Spain, picturesque **Toledo** stands as perhaps *the* historical centre of the nation, a beautiful medieval city sitting atop a hill that once served as the capital of Spain before Madrid was built. North of Madrid and an easy day-trip from the capital city is **El Escorial**, once the centre of the Spanish empire during the time of the Inquisition, and **Segovia**, noted for its spectacular Roman aqueduct which spans one of the city's squares.\n\nFurther north in Castile-Leon is **Salamanca**, known for its famous university and abundance of historic architecture. Galicia in northwestern Spain is home to **Santiago de Compostela**, the end point of the old Way of St. James (*Camino de Santiago*) pilgrimage route and the supposed burial place of St. James, with perhaps the most beautiful cathedral in all of Spain at the heart of its lovely old town. Northeastern Spain has a couple of historical centres to note: **Zaragoza**, with Roman, Muslim, medieval and Renaissance buildings from throughout its two thousand years of history, and **Barcelona** with its pseudo-medieval Barri Gòtic neighbourhood.\n\nBe prepared to have your luggage scanned airport style at the entrance of most museums. There's usually a locker where you can (or must) leave your bags.\n\n### Art museums", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk036", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|L'Hemisfèric, in The City of Arts and Sciences (Spanish: Ciudad de Las Artes y Las Ciencias) (Valencia)\nSpain has played a key role in Western art, heavily influenced by French and Italian artists but very distinct in its own regard, owing to the nation's history of Muslim influence, Counter-Reformation climate and, later, the hardships from the decline of the Spanish empire, giving rise to such noted artists like El Greco, Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya. In the last century, Spain's unique position in Europe brought forth some of the leading artists of the Modernist and Surrealist movements, most notably the famed Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.\nthumb|Guggenheim Museum with Salve Bridge in the foreground (Bilbao)\nToday, Spain's two largest cities hold the lion's share of Spain's most famous artworks. Madrid's Museum Triangle is home to the **Museo del Prado**, the largest art museum in Spain with many of the most famous works by El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya as well as some notable works by Italian, Flemish, Dutch and German masters. Nearby sits the **Reina Sofía**, most notable for holding Picasso's *Guernica* but also containing a number of works by Dalí and other Modernist, Surrealist and abstract painters. The Prado goes back to the former royal collection and the Reina Sofia Museum is named for King Juan Carlos' wife, in practice the dividing line between the two is largely one of era, with anything made roughly after the birth of Picasso found in the Reina Sofia and everything else in the Prado.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk037", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "Barcelona is renowned for its stunning collection of modern and contemporary art and architecture. This is where you will find the **Picasso Museum**, which covers the artist's early career quite well, and the architectural wonders of **Antoni Gaudi**, with their twisting organic forms that are a delight to look at.\n\nOutside of Madrid and Barcelona, the art museums quickly dwindle in size and importance, although there are a couple of worthy mentions that should not be overlooked. Many of El Greco's most famous works lie in **Toledo**, an easy day trip from Madrid. *The Disrobing of Christ*, perhaps El Greco's most famous work, sits in the cathedral, but you can also find work by him in one of the small art museums around town. Bilbao in the Basque Country of northern Spain is home to a spectacular **Guggenheim Museum** designed by Frank Gehry that has put the city on the map. A day trip from Barcelona is the town of Figueres, noted for the **Salvador Dalí Museum**, designed by the Surrealist himself. Málaga in the south is Picasso's city of birth, and is also home to two museums dedicated to his life and works.\n\n### Archaeological sites", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk038", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "Ampurias, excavations of a Greek and Roman town, Roman basilica, temples of Asclepios and Serapis, (between Gerona and Figueras, Catalonia)\n Antequetera, La Menga and Viera dolmens,\n Calatrava la Nueva, well preserved medieval castle,\n Calatrava la Vieja, remains of the Arab town, castle of the order of Calatrava,\n Clunia, Roman town with forum, shops, temple, public bath houses and Roman villa,\n Fraga, Roman villa, Bronze Age settlements,\n Gormaz, Arab castle,\n Italica, Roman town with amphitheatre, city walls, House of the Exedra, House of the Peacocks, Baths of the Moorish Queen, House of the Hylas, temple complex (near Sevilla),\n Mérida, Roman city, Roman bridge, Amphitheatre, Hippodrome, House of the Amphitheatre, House of the Mithraeum with mosaics, aquaeducts, museum\n San Juan de los Banos, Visigoth church (between Burgos and Valladolid),\n San Pedro de la Nave, Visigoth church (near Zamora),\n Santa Maria de Melque, Visigoth church,\n Segobriga (Cabeza del Griego), Roman town, Visigoth church, museum (between Madrid and Albacete)\n Tarragona, Roman town with “Cyclopean wall”, amphitheatre, hippodrome, form and triumphal arch,\n\n### Sports\n\n#### Football", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk039", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "See", "text": "Spain's **La Liga** is one of the strongest association football leagues in the world, boasting world-class teams like **Real Madrid** and **FC Barcelona** that play to sold-out crowds on a weekly basis. The rivalry between the two aforementioned clubs, known as ***El Clásico***, is undoubtedly one of the most intense in the world as a result of the long history of political conflict behind it. Other noteworthy clubs include Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla. The Spanish national team is also one of the strongest in the world, being able to draw the best players from its league. It long had a reputation of always failing to win big games, but this reputation has been pretty much shattered by its wins in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships as well as the 2010 World Cup.\n\n#### Basketball\n\nSpain also has a strong basketball tradition, with Spanish clubs generally doing well in European competition, and the Spanish national team also being one of the best in Europe. Many of the top football clubs in Spain also have basketball teams, and as with their football counterparts, both Real Madrid Baloncesto and FC Barcelona Bàsquet are among Europe's most successful basketball teams.\n\n#### Handball\n\nSpain is among the most successful Handball nations on earth, although it may not always reach the level of play of some Nordic or ex-Yugoslavian countries or Germany. The Liga Asobal, Spain's national handball league is among the toughest in the world.\n\n#### Cycling\n\nSpain is home to one of the three grand tours on the international cycling calendar, the **Vuelta a España**.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nVia de la Plata Route Historic 800-km route from Gijón to Sevilla.\n Way of St. James\nFrench Way\nCatalan Way of St. James\nEbro Way of St. James", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk040", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Do", "text": "### Festivals\n\nSpain has a lot of local festivals that are worth going to.\n\n- Semana Santa", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk041", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Do", "text": "**Córdoba en Mayo** (Cordoba in May) - great month to visit the Southern city\n **Las Cruces** (1st week in May) - big flower-made crosses embellishing public squares in the city centre, where you will also find at night music and drinking and lot of people having fun!\n **Festival de Patios** - one of the most interesting cultural exhibitions, 2 weeks when some people open doors of their houses to show their old Patios full of flowers\n **Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles** - great wine tasting in a big tent in the city centre during one week in May\n **Dia de Sant Jordi** - The Catalan must. On 23 April Barcelona is embellished with roses everywhere and book-selling stands can be found in the Rambla. There are also book signings, concerts and diverse animations.\n **Fallas** - Valencia's festival in March - burning the \"fallas\" is a must\nthumb|Falla of the Town Hall Square 2012 (Valencia)\n **Málaga's August Fair** - flamenco dancing, drinking sherry, bullfights\n **San Fermines** - July in Pamplona, Navarra.\n **Fiesta de San Isidro** - 15 May in Madrid - a celebration of Madrid's patron saint.\n **Carnival** - best in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Cádiz\n **Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos** (Three wise men parade) - on the eve of Epiphany, 5 January, the night before Spanish kids get their Christmas presents, it rains sweets and toys in every single town and city\n **San Sebastian International Film Festival** - held annually in San Sebastian, a gorgeous city in the Basque Country, towards the end of September\n **La Tomatina** - a giant tomato fight in Buñol\n **Moros y Cristianos** (Moors and Christians, mostly found in Southeastern Spain during spring time) - parades and \"battles\" remembering the fights of medieval ages\n In **Galicia** 85 festivals take place throughout the year from wine to wild horses.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk042", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Do", "text": "### Holidays\n\n**New Year eve**: \"Nochevieja\" in Spanish. There's a tradition in Spain to eat grapes as the clock counts down the New Year, one grape for each of the last 12 seconds before midnight. For this, even small packs of grapes (exactly 12 grapes per pack) are sold in supermarkets before New Year.\n\nLa Puerta del Sol, is the venue for the New Year's party in Spain. At 23:59 sound \"los cuartos (In Spanish)\" some bells announcing that it will begin to sound the 12 chimes (campanadas in Spanish). While sounding \"los cuartos\", moves down from the top chime of the clock, with the same purpose as \"los cuartos\" sound will indicate that \"las campanadas\". That will sound at 24:00 and that indicate the start of a new year. During each chime must eat a grape, according to tradition. Between each chime, there is a time span of three seconds.\n\n\"Las Campanadas\", are broadcast live on the main national TV channels, as in the rest of Spain, people are still taking grapes from home or on giant screens installed in major cities, following the chimes from the Puerta del Sol in Madrid.\nthumb|Start the New Year in La Puerta del Sol (Madrid)\nAfter ringing \"las campanadas\", starts a fireworks extravaganza.\nThis is a famous party in Spain and is a great time to enjoy because show is secured in the centre of the capital of Spain.\n\n### Outdoor activities", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk043", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Do", "text": "**Canyoning**: see Spain section in the Canyoning article\n **Climbing** in: Los Mallos (Aragon) and Siurana (near Barcelona)\n **Football** (soccer): The most popular sport in Spain, with both the Spanish league and national team being among the strongest in the world.\n **Whitewater sports** in: Campo, Murillo de Gallego (Aragon)\n **Hiking** in Galicia\n **Downhill skiing**: There are a lot of downhill skiing resorts in Spain.\n\nSkiing in the northern region of Spain\n\n### Scuba diving\n\nFor a treat, try Costa Brava and the world renowned Canary Islands.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk044", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Work", "text": "If you are a citizen of an EEA country, Switzerland or Andorra, you may work in Spain without any restrictions whatsoever (see European Union). Everyone else requires a work permit to work in Spain.\n\nEmployment matters are highly sensitive in Spain, especially for Spanish citizens. The country has a high level of unemployment (13.5% as of March 2022) and for a developed country, Spain's economy is notoriously fragile. The country has long suffered from high levels of unemployment and many Spaniards have emigrated to other countries in search of better opportunities.\n\nTourism is the country's most important economic sector, and foreigners may be able to find jobs there, but it was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nSpain has a sunny climate and is one of Europe's largest agricultural exporters. Farmers are often looking for temporary workers, but this means really hard work and miserable pay.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk045", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\n€500 banknotes are not accepted in many stores—always have alternative banknotes.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nthumb|Bank of SpainDo not expect anybody to accept currencies other than euros, or to be willing to exchange currency. Exceptions are shops and restaurants in airports, which will generally accept at least US dollars – at a bad exchange rate.\n\nBanks are the main places to exchange money. However, some banks may only exchange money for those with an account there.\n\nCurrency exchanges, once a common sight, have all but disappeared since the introduction of the euro. Again, international airports are an exception to this rule; another exception is tourist districts in the large cities (Barcelona, Madrid).\n\n#### Credit and debit cards\n\nCredit and debit cards are widely accepted.\n\nSome Spanish stores will ask for ID before accepting your credit card. Some stores may not accept a foreign driving licence or ID card, and you may need to show your passport. This measure is designed to help reduce credit card fraud.\n\n#### ATM\n\nMost ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card. There is a fee in addition to what your bank charges you of about €2-7 (Feb 2023), except with Unicaja Banco machines. Ibercaja either charges a small fee or it's for free. After advising you of the fee, you may choose whether to continue. ATMs are abundant: You can just check the fees of 2-3 ATMs around and pick the one with the lowest fee.\n\nBanc Sabadell - €4.5 (2025-02)\n BBVA - €7 (2025-03)\n Caixabank - €7 (2025-02)\n Santander - €7 (2025-03)\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk046", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping, or \"propina\" in Spanish is not mandatory nor considered customary in Spain. As a result, you may find that waiters are not as attentive or courteous as you may be used to since they don't work for tips.\n\nIn restaurants tipping is not expected at all for simple menus or in simple establishments. In the mid-range or splurge segment you can give 5-10% if you feel that the service was exemplary. Should you decide to tip, make sure you hand it to the waitstaff in cash instead of charging it to your credit card.\n\nIn very touristy cafés and bars some tourists give a tip. In major resorts tipping may be common. Other service providers, such as taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel personnel may expect a tip in an upscale setting.\n\nIn very touristy environments, US-Americans may be expected to tip as service staff in these locations are aware that it's customary in the US to leave a tip for every drink or meal.\n\n### Business hours\n\nMost businesses (including most shops, but not restaurants) close in the afternoons around 13:30/14:00 and reopen for the evening around 16:30/17:00. Exceptions are large malls or major chain stores.\n\nFor most Spaniards, lunch is the main meal of the day and you will find bars and restaurants open during this time. On Saturdays, businesses often do not reopen in the evening and almost everywhere is closed on Sundays. The exception is the month of December, where most shops in Madrid and Barcelona will be open as per on weekdays on Sundays to cash in on the festive season. Also, many public offices and banks do not reopen in the evenings even on weekdays, so if you have any important business to take care of, be sure to check hours of operation.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk047", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Buy", "text": "If you plan to spend whole day shopping in small shops, the following rule of thumb can work: a closed shop should remind it's also time for your own lunch. And when you finish your lunch, some shops will be likely open again.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|Gran Vía of Madrid, is a perfect place for shopping\n\n#### Designer brands\n\nBesides well-known mass brands which are known around the world (Zara, Mango, Bershka, Camper, Desigual), Spain has many designer brands which are more hard to find outside Spain—and may be worth looking for if you shop for designer wear while travelling. Some of these brands include:\n - Custo Barcelona\n\n#### Chains\n\n- El Corte Ingles\n\n- Casas", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk048", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "Spanish cuisine may not enjoy the prestige that French or Italian cuisine does in the Anglosphere, but it has skyrocketed in popularity in the 21st century, driven in no small part by the large number of Spanish celebrity chefs who have been making waves around the fine dining world.\n\nSpaniards are very passionate about their food and wine. Spanish food can be described as quite light with a lot of vegetables and a huge variety of meat and fish. Perhaps owing to the inquisition trying to \"find out\" lapsed *conversos* pork (religiously prohibited in both Judaism and Islam) is easily the most consumed meat and features prominently in many dishes. Spanish cuisine does not use many spices; it relies only on the use of high quality ingredients to give a good taste. As such, you may find Spanish food bland at times but there are usually a variety of restaurants in most cities (Italian, Chinese, American fast food) if you would like to experience a variety of flavors. If you are familiar with Latin American cuisines, keep in mind that many Spanish dishes may have the same name as several Latin American dishes, but actually refer to completely different dishes (e.g. *tortilla*, *horchata* and *mazapán* refer to completely different things in Spain and Mexico).\n\nLike much of Europe, Spain's top tourism destinations are full of tourist-trap restaurants that serve overpriced and mediocre food. If you want a good and reasonably-priced meal, it's generally best to go to restaurants with a primarily local clientele. However, as it is rare to find English-speaking waiters in such establishments, be prepared to have to speak some Spanish.\nRestaurants are legally required to offer tap water ('agua del grifo') for free upon request. You do not have to buy bottled water.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk049", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Breakfast, lunch and dinner times\n\nSpaniards have a different eating timetable than many people are used to.", "word_count": 18}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk050", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "The key thing to remember for a traveller is:\n breakfast (**desayuno**) for most Spaniards is light and consists of just coffee and perhaps a *galleta* (like a graham cracker) or *magdalena* (sweet muffin-like bread). Later, some will go to a cafe for a pastry midmorning, but not too close to lunchtime.\n \"el aperitivo\" is a light snack eaten around 12:00. However, this could include a couple of glasses of beer and a large filled baguette or a \"pincho de tortilla\".thumb|\"Pinchos\" in Barcelona\n lunch (**comida**) starts at 13:30-14:30 (though often not until 15:00) and was once typically followed by a short siesta, usually at summer when temperatures can be quite hot in the afternoon. This is the main meal of the day with two courses (**el primer plato** and **el segundo plato** followed by dessert). *La comida* and siesta are usually over by 16:00 at the latest. However, since life has become busier, there is no opportunity for a siesta.\n dinner (**cena**) starts at 20:30 or 21:00, with most clientèle coming after 21:00. It is a lighter meal than lunch. In Madrid restaurants rarely open before 21:00 and most customers do not appear before 23:00.\n there is also an afternoon snack that some take between *la comida* and *la cena* called **merienda**. It is similar to a tea time in England and is taken around 18:00 or so.\n between the lunch and dinner times, most restaurants and cafes are closed, and it takes extra effort to find a place to eat if you missed lunch time. Despite this, you can always look for a *bar* and ask for a *bocadillo*, a baguette sandwich. There are *bocadillos fríos*, cold sandwiches, which can be filled with ham, cheese or any kind of *embutido*, and *bocadillos calientes*, hot sandwiches, filled with pork loin, *tortilla*, bacon, sausage and similar options with cheese. This can be a really cheap and tasty option if you find a good place.", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk051", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "Normally, restaurants in big cities don't close until midnight during the week and 02:00-03:00 during the weekend.\n\n### Breakfast\n\nthumb|\"''Chocolate con churros''\"\nBreakfast is eaten by most Spaniards. Traditional Spanish breakfast includes coffee or orange juice, and pastries or a small sandwich. In Madrid, it is also common to have hot chocolate with \"churros\" or \"porras\". In cafes, you can expect varieties of *tortilla de patatas* (see the ''Spanish dishes'' section), sometimes tapas (either breakfast variety or same kind as served in the evenings with alcohol).\n\n### Tapas\n\nthumb|Spanish Tapas\nThe entry level to Spanish food is found in bars as **tapas**, which are a bit like \"starters\" or \"appetisers\", but are instead considered side orders to accompany your drink; in some parts of Spain, a drink is still accompanied automatically by a free tapa, but in places where it's not, ask for *tapa y caña* to order a beer and a tapa. Some bars will offer a wide variety of different tapas; others specialise on a specific kind (like seafood-based). A Spanish custom is to have one tapa and one small drink at a bar, then go to the next bar and do the same. A group of two or more individuals may order two or more **tapas** or order **raciones** instead, which are a bit larger in order to share.\n\n### Types of dishes\n\n**Seafood** (*mariscos*): on the coast, fresh seafood is widely available and quite affordable. In the inner regions, frozen (and poor quality) seafood can be frequently encountered outside few highly reputed (and expensive) restaurants. In coastal areas seafood deserves some attention, especially on the north Atlantic coast.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk052", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "Quality seafood in Spain comes from Spain's northwestern region of Galicia. So restaurants with the words *Gallego* (Galician) will generally specialise in seafood. If you are feeling adventurous, you might want to try the Galician regional specialty *Polbo a Feira (Fairground Octopus)* commonly known in the rest of Spain as *Pulpo a la Gallega*, which is boiled octopus served with paprika, rock salt and olive oil. Another adventurous option is *Sepia* which is cuttlefish, a relative of squid, or the various forms of *Calamares* (squid) that you can find in most seafood restaurants. If that isn't your style you can always order *Gambas Ajillo* (garlic shrimp), *Pescado Frito* (fried fish), *Buñuelos de Bacalao* (breaded and deep fried cod) or the ever-present *Paella* dishes.\n\n**Meat products** are usually of very good quality, because Spain has maintained quite a high percentage of free range animals.\n\nOrdering beef steaks is highly recommended, since most come from free range cows from the mountains.\n\nPork cuts which are also highly coveted are those known as *presa ibérica* and *secreto ibérico*, an absolute must if found in the menu of any restaurant.\n\n**Soups**: the choice of soups beyond gazpacho is very limited in Spanish restaurants.\n\n### Restaurants\n\n**Water** (*agua*) is frequently served without a specific request, and is normally charged for, unless it's included in your *menu del dia*. If you would like free tap water instead of bottled water, ask for *agua del grifo*. However, not all restaurants will offer this and you may be forced to order bottled water.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk053", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Appetisers** such as bread (*pan*), cheese (*queso*), and other items may be brought to your table even if you didn't order them. You may still be charged for them. If you do not want these appetisers, politely inform the waiter that you do not want them.\n\n**World-famous restaurants**: There are several restaurants in Spain which are destinations in themselves, becoming a sole reason to travel to a specific city. One of them is *El Celler de Can Roca* in Girona.\n\n#### Fast food\n\nFast food has not yet established a strong grip on the Spaniards and you will find McDonalds and Burger King only in bigger towns in the usual places. That said, Madrid and other large Spanish cities are often the first place for North American chains to dip their toe into the European market and you'll find Taco Bell, TGI Friday's or Five Guys there but not or only rarely in central European cities. The menu can be a surprise since it has been customised to appeal to the locals and beer, salads, yogurt (primarily Danone), and wine are prominent. Pizza is increasingly popular and you will find some outlets in bigger towns but it can be their own homegrown franchises, such as TelePizza. In spite of beer and wine on the menu, fast food is often seen as \"kiddie food.\" American franchises generally charge higher prices than in the United States, and fast food is not necessarily the cheapest alternative for eating out.\n\n#### Service charges and VAT\n\nNo **service charges** are included in the bill. A little extra tip is common and you are free to increase that if you are very pleased. Obviously you don't have to tip a lousy waiter. You would typically leave the small change after paying with a note.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk054", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Eat", "text": "#### Menú del día\n\nMany restaurants offer a complete lunch meal for a fixed price – *menú del día* – and this often works out as a bargain. Water or wine (*vino*) is commonly included in the price.\n\n#### Non-Spanish cuisine\n\nThings like schnitzel, full English breakfast, pizza, döner, and frozen fish are largely available in tourist destinations. In most cities you can also find international cuisine such as Italian, Chinese, French, Thai, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, and Argentinian. The bigger the city, the more variety you can find.\n\nUnlike some northern European countries, Spain received very little immigration until after the death of Franco and the 1980s economic boom and as such there may be less variety of immigrant-owned restaurants in small- and medium-sized towns, but this is of course changing with particularly Latin American and Middle Eastern immigration to Spain leaving their mark on the restaurant scene.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk055", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Tea and coffee\n\nSpanish people are very passionate about the quality, intensity and taste of their coffee (*café*) and good freshly brewed coffee is available almost everywhere.\n\nThe usual choices are **solo**, the milk-less espresso version; **cortado**, solo with a dash of milk; **con leche**, solo with milk added; and **manchado**, coffee with lots of milk (sort of like the French *cafe au lait*). Asking for *caffee latte* will likely result in less milk than you are used to—it's always OK to ask for extra milk.\n\nRegional variants can be found, such as **bombón** in Eastern Spain, solo with condensed milk.\n\n**Starbucks** is the only national chain operating in Spain. Locals argue that it cannot compete with small local cafes in quality of coffee and visited only by tourists. It is not present in smaller cities.\n\nIf you eat for €20 per dinner, you will never be served a good tea; expect Pompadour or Lipton. It takes some effort to find a good tea if you spend most time of the day in touristy places.\n\n**Horchata** is a milky non-alcoholic drink made of tiger nuts and sugar, and very different from drinks of the same name found in Latin America. Alboraia, a small town close to Valencia, is regarded as a best place where horchata is produced.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nThe drinking age in Spain is 18. People under this age are forbidden to drink and buy alcoholic drinks, although enforcement in tourist and clubbing areas is lax. Drinking in the streets has been banned (although it is still a common practice in most nightlife areas). A \"dry law\" bans supermarkets from selling alcohol after 22:00.\n\nTry an absinthe cocktail (the fabled liquor was never outlawed here, but it is not a popular drink in Spain).\n\n### Bars", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk056", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Drink", "text": "Probably one of the best places to meet people in Spain is in bars. Everyone visits them and they are always busy and sometimes bursting with people. There is no age restriction imposed to enter these premises, but children and teenagers often will not be served alcoholic drinks. Age restrictions for the consumption of alcohol are clearly posted at bars but are enforced only intermittently. It is common to see an entire family at a bar.\nthumb|The Spanish drink a lot of pale lagers\nIt's important to know the difference between a pub (which closes at 3-03:30) and a club (which opens until 06:00-08:00 but is usually deserted early in the night).\n\nOn weekends, the time to go out for *copas* (drinks) usually starts at about 23:00-01:00 which is somewhat later than in North and Central Europe. Before that, people usually do any number of things, have some tapas (*raciones*, *algo para picar*), eat a \"real\" dinner in a restaurant, stay at home with family, or go to cultural events. If you want to go dancing, you will find that most of the clubs in Madrid are relatively empty before midnight (some do not even open until 01:00) and most won't get crowded until 03:00. People usually go to pubs, then go to the clubs until 06:00-08:00.\n\nFor a true Spanish experience, after a night of dancing and drinking it is common to have a breakfast of *chocolate con churros* with your friends before going home. (*CcC* is a small cup of thick, melted chocolate served with freshly fried sweet fritters used for dipping in the chocolate and should be tried, if only for the great taste.)", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk057", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Drink", "text": "Bars are mainly to have drink and a small *tapa* while socialising and decompressing from work or studies. Usually Spaniards can control their alcohol consumption better than their northern European neighbours and drunken people are rarely seen at bars or on the streets. A drink, if ordered without an accompanying tapa, is often served with a \"minor\" or inexpensive tapa as a courtesy.\n\nSize and price of tapas changes a lot throughout Spain. For instance, it's almost impossible to get free tapas in big cities like Valencia or Barcelona, excluding Madrid where there are several Tapa Bars although some are a bit expensive. You can eat for free (just paying for the drinks), with huge tapas and cheap prices at cities like Granada, Badajoz or Salamanca.\n\nThe tapa, and the related pincho, trace their existence in Spain to both acting as a cover (\"Tapa\") on top of a cup of wine to prevent flies from accessing it, and as a requirement of law when serving wine at an establishment during the Middle Ages.\n\n### Alcoholic beverages\n\nSpanish **lager** is well worth a try. Most popular brands include San Miguel, Cruzcampo, Mahou, Ámbar, Estrella Galicia, Keller and many others, including local brands at most cities; import beers are also available. Spaniards often add lemon juice (Fanta limón, or lemon Fanta) to their lagers. Particularly on hot summer days people will drink a refreshing \"clara\" which is a light beer mixed with lemon/lemonade.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk058", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Cava** is Spanish sparkling wine. The Spanish used to call it *champan*, but the French argued that champagne can be made only from grapes grown in the Champagne region. Nevertheless, Cava is a very successful sparkling wine, with 99% of the nation's production coming from the area around Barcelona. **Cider** (Sidra) can be found in the Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and País Vasco.thumb|Cheap vermouth and red wine at a supermarket in [[Catalonia]]Spain is a country with great '''wine'''-making and drinking traditions: 22% of Europe's wine growing area is in Spain, however the production is about half of what the French produce. For red wine in a bar, ask \"un tinto por favor\", for white wine \"un blanco por favor\", for rose: \"un rosado por favor\". **Wine bars** proper are more and more popular. In short, a wine bar is a sophisticated tapas bar where you can order wine by the glass. You will see a blackboard with the wines that are available and the price per glass.\n\n**Sangria** is drink made of wine and fruits and usually is made from cheaper wines. You will find sangria in areas frequented by tourists. Spanish prepare sangria for fiestas and hot summer, and not every day as seen in tourist regions like Mallorca. Sangria in restaurants aimed for foreigners are best avoided, but it is a very good drink to try if a Spaniard prepares it for a fiesta!\n\nThe pale **sherry** wine around Jerez called \"fino\" is fortified with alcohol to 15 percent. If you would like to have one in a bar you have to order a *fino*. Manzanilla is bit salty, good as an aperitivo. Amontillado and Oloroso are a different types of sherry where the oxidative aging process has taken the lead.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk059", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are many types of tourist accommodation, ranging from hotels, pensions, rented villas and vacation homes, to camping and even monasteries.\n\n\"7% VAT is not included\" is a common trick for mid-range guesthouses and hotels: always check the small print when you choose your place to stay. VAT is IVA in Spanish.\n\n### Small villages\n\nBesides the coasts, Spain is rich in small tourist-friendly *inland* villages, like Alquezar: with narrow medieval streets, charming silence and isolation, still good selection of affordable restaurants and accommodation.\n\n### Casa rural, the [[bed and breakfast]] of Spain\n\nFor a more homely sort of accommodation consider the casa rural. A casa rural is the rough equivalent to a bed and breakfast or a gîte. Not all houses are situated in the countryside, as the name implies. Some are situated in the smaller towns, and they are in virtually every province.\n\nCasas rurales vary in quality and price throughout Spain. In some regions, like Galicia, they are strictly controlled and inspected. Other regions are not so thorough in applying their regulations.\n\n### Hotels\n\nMany foreign visitors stay in hotels that have been organised by tour operators who offer package holidays to the popular resorts on the costas and islands. However, for the independent traveller, there are hotels all over the country in all categories and to suit every budget. In fact, due to the well developed internal and foreign tourism markets Spain may well be one of the best served European countries in terms of numbers and quality of hotels.\n\n### Paradores", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk060", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A ''parador'' is a state-owned hotel in Spain (rating from 3 to 5 stars). This chain of inns was founded in 1928 by the Spanish King Alfonso XIII. The unique aspects of paradores are their location and their history. Found mostly in historical buildings, such as convents, Moorish castles (like La Alhambra), or haciendas, paradores are the exact opposite of the uncontrolled development found in coastal regions like the Costa del Sol. Hospitality has been harmoniously integrated with the restoration of castles, palaces and convents, rescuing from ruin and abandonment monuments representative of Spain's historical and cultural heritage.\nthumb|Parador de Santo Estevo, in the province of Orense (Galicia)\nFor example, the parador in Santiago de Compostela is located next to the cathedral in a former royal hospital built in the year 1499. Rooms are decorated in an old-fashioned way, but nevertheless have modern facilities. Other notable paradores are in Arcos de la Frontera, Ronda, Santillana del Mar (Altamira cave) as well as more than one hundred other destination all over Spain.\n\nParadores serve breakfast (about €10) and often have very good local cuisine typical of their region (about €25).\n\nAccommodation prices are good value, when you consider that the hotels are often found in the heart of scenic areas, varying from €85 for a double room to €245 for a twin room (like in Granada). Two of the most beautiful paradors are in Léon and Santiago de Compostela.\n\nThere are some promotions available:\n Over 60 year-olds can enjoy a discount.\n Youngsters under 30 can visit the paradors at a fixed rate of €35 per person.\n Two nights half board have a discount of 20%.\n A dreamweek of 6 nights is cheaper.\n 5 nights at €42 per person.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk061", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The promotions do not always apply, especially in August they are not valid, and may require advance bookings.\n\n### Hostels\n\nThere are plenty of hostels. Prices vary from €15 to €25 per night. Spanish \"hostales\" are not really hostels, but more like unclassified small hotels (with generally no more than a dozen rooms). They can vary in quality from very rudimentary to reasonably smart.\n - Independent-hotels.info Spain\n\n- Xanascat\n\n### Apartment rental\n\nShort-term, self-catering apartment rental is an option for travellers who want to stay in one place for a week or more. Accommodations range from small apartments to villas.\n\nThe number of holiday rentals available depends on the area of Spain you are planning to visit. Although they are common in coastal areas, big capitals and other popular tourist cities, if you plan to visit small inland towns, you will find casas rurales more easily.\n\n### Camping\n\nCamping is the least expensive lodging option.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk062", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "As per rest of the European Union, all emergencies can be reported to the toll-free number **112**.\n\n### Police\n\nThere are four kinds of police in Spain:", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk063", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Police car of the National Police*Policía Municipal* or *Local* (municipal/local police), In Barcelona: Guardia Urbana. Uniforms change from town to town, but they usually wear black or blue clothes with pale blue shirt and a blue cap (or white helmet) with a checkered white-and-blue strip. Local police keeps order and rules the traffic inside cities, and they can help in case you are lost and need some directions. Although you can't directly report crimes to them, they will escort you to the local *Policia Nacional* headquarters if required, and they will escort the suspects to be arrested also, if needed.\n *Policía Nacional* (National Police) wear dark blue clothes and blue cap (sometimes replaced by a baseball-like cap), unlike Policía Municipal, they do not have a checkered flag around their cap/helmet. Inside cities, all offenses/crimes should be reported to them, although the other police forces would help anyone who needs to report an offense.\n *Guardia Civil* (Civil Guard) keeps the order outside cities, in the country, and regulates traffic in the roads between cities. You would probably see them guarding official buildings, or patrolling the roads. They wear plain green military-like uniform; for ceremonial duties, officers wear a black hat (*tricornio*) resembling a toreador cap, a tradition dated back to the 19th century, but most of them use green caps or white motorcycle helmets. The Guardia Civil likes to project a \"tough guy\" image and they are sometimes accused of excessive use of force.thumb|Police car of the Guardia Civil\n Given that Spain has a high grade of political autonomy granted to its regional governments, four of them have created regional law forces: the Policía Foral in Navarre, the Ertzaintza in the Basque Country, the Policía Canaria on the Canary Islands or the Mossos d'Esquadra in Catalonia. These forces have the almost the same competences as the Policía Nacional in their respective territories. Additionally there is BESCAM (Brigadas Especiales de Seguridad de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid) in the Madrid region which sit somewhere between local police and a fully autonomous police of an autonomous region but carry their own uniforms and livery on vehicles.", "word_count": 353}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk064", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "All kinds of police also wear high-visibility clothing (\"reflective\" jackets) while directing traffic, or in the road.\n\nSome thieves have been known to pose as police officers, asking to see wallets for identification purposes. If approached by someone claiming to be a police officer only show only your ID after the person has presented theirs; do not show your wallet or other valuables.\n\nIf you are a victim of crime call 112. You can ask for a copy of the “denuncia” (police report) if you need it for insurance purposes, or to apply for replacement documents. Make sure that it is a “una denuncia” not a sworn declaration (una declaración judicial), as the latter may not be accepted as evidence of the crime for insurance purposes, or when applying for your new passport.\n\n#### Making a police report\n\nYou can make a police report in three different ways:\n\n1. In person. A list of police stations in the different regions of Spain is available here. English language interpreters are not always available at short notice: it may be advisable to bring a Spanish-speaking person with you.\n\n2. By telephone: You can make a police report by phone in English . The English language service is available 09:00-21:00, seven days a week. Once you have made your report, you will be instructed to pick up a signed copy of the report at your nearest police station. However, some crimes, particularly more serious crimes or those involving violence, can only be reported in person.\n\n3. Online: You can also make a police report online, but in Spanish only. Some crimes, especially more serious crimes involving physical violence, must be reported in person.\n\n### Permissions and documentation", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk065", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Spanish law strictly requires foreigners who are in Spanish territory to have documentation proving their identity and the fact of being legally in Spain. You must have that with you all the time because you may be asked by the Police to show those at any moment. If you don't carry it with you, you may be escorted to the nearest police station for identification.\n\n### Safety\n\nSpain is a safe country, but there are certain security risks specific to Spain.\n\nLarge cities like Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, and Sevilla, in particular, report many incidents of pick-pocketing, mugging, and violent attacks, some of which require the victim to seek medical attention. Although crimes occur at all times of day and night and to people of all ages, older and Asian tourists seem to be particularly at risk.\n In Madrid and also in Barcelona, criminals often target people from East Asia (especially China, S. Korea, Japan, and Taiwan), thinking they carry money and are easy prey.\n\nthumb|View of Barcelona", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk066", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Beware of pickpockets and thieves, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.\n Theft from rental vehicles is high. Be vigilant in service areas on the highways along the coast. Avoid leaving any luggage or valuables in the vehicle and use secure parking facilities.\n Avoid women offering rosemary, refuse it always; they will read your future, ask for some money, and your pocket will probably be picked. Some women will also approach you on the street repeating \"Buena suerte\" (\"good luck\") as a distraction for another woman to try to pickpocket you.\n More foreign passports are stolen each year in Spain than anywhere else in the world, especially in Barcelona. Ensure that your passport is protected at all times.\n In the event of a road-related incident, exercise extreme caution and do not accept help from anyone other than a uniformed Spanish police officer or Civil Guard in a marked vehicle. Thieves in Spain have been known to fake or provoke a flat tire on their own vehicles, and when a motorist stops to help them, the thieves steal the motorist's car or belongings. The reverse scenario has also occurred, whereby a fake Good Samaritan stops to help a motorist in distress, only to steal the motorist's car or belongings. There have been reports of thieves damaging rental cars departing major cities (especially Barcelona) in order to induce flat tires in rural areas where tourists can be more easily attacked.\n\n### Scams\n\nSome people could try to take advantage of your ignorance of local customs.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk067", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In Spanish cities, all taxis should have a visible fare table. Do not agree a fixed price to go from an airport to a city: in most cases, the taxi driver will be earning more money than without a preagreed tariff. Many taxi drivers will also demand a tip from foreign customers or even from national ones on the way to and from the airport. You might round up to the nearest euro when paying though.\n In many places of Madrid, especially near Atocha station, and also in the Ramblas of Barcelona, there are people ('trileros') who play the \"shell game\". They will \"fish\" you if you play, and they will most likely pick your pocket if you stop to see other people play.\n Before paying the bill in bars and restaurants, always check the bill and carefully scrutinise it. Some staff will often attempt to squeeze a few extra euros out of unsuspecting tourists by charging for things they did not eat or drink, or simply overcharging. This is true in both touristy and non-touristy areas. If you feel overcharged, bring it to their attention and/or ask to see a menu. It is also sometimes written (in English only) at the bottom of a bill that a tip is not included: remember that tipping is optional in Spain and Spanish people commonly leave loose change only and no more than a 5%–8% of the price of what they have consumed (not an American-style 15–20%), so avoid being fooled into leaving more.\n Many tourists have reported lottery scams whereby they are contacted via the Internet or fax and informed that they have won a substantial prize in the Spanish lottery (El Gordo), when in fact they have never participated in the lottery. They are asked to deposit an amount of money in a bank account to pay taxes and other fees before collecting the prize or coming to Spain to close the transaction.\n There have also been reports of a scam whereby a person is informed that he or she is the recipient of a large inheritance, and that funds must be deposited into a Spanish bank account so the inheritance can be processed.\n In another common scam, some tourists have received a bogus email purportedly sent from an individual well known to them and claiming that he or she is in trouble and needs funds.", "word_count": 396}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk068", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Other things you should know", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk069", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Spanish cities can be **loud at night**, especially on weekends, but the streets are generally safe even for women.\n All businesses should have an official **complaint form**, in case you need it. It is **illegal** for a business to deny you this form.\n In some cases, police in Spain may target people belonging to ethnic minorities for **identity checks**. People who are not \"European-looking\" can be stopped several times a day to have their papers checked on the pretext of \"migration control\".\n There has been an increase in political action and **public demonstrations** on a rolling basis throughout Spain. Demonstrations occur and have sometimes turned violent, mostly to police officers. Avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings, follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media. Strikes may occasionally lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. When a demonstration is planned or in progress you should seek advice on and avoid the routes marchers plan to take. You should also ensure to check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain.thumb|Evening rush in Madrid\n **Driving** in Spain can be dangerous due to traffic congestion in urban areas, although driving is not particularly aggressive with the exception of common speeding. Be cautious when driving in Spain. Night driving can be particularly dangerous. The use of a mobile phone without a hands-free device can result in a fine and you being banned from driving in Spain. All drivers are required to carry, in the vehicle, a reflective vest and to use a reflective triangle warning sign if they need to stop at the roadside.\n Be cautious when approached by someone who **claims to be a police** officer. On the road, you will always be stopped by an officer in a uniform. Unmarked vehicles will have a flashing electronic sign on the rear window which reads *Policía* or *Guardia Civil*, and either *Ertzaintza* if in the Basque Country, or *Mossos d'Esquadra* if in Catalonia, or *Foruzaingoa/Policía Foral* in Navarre. Most times they will have blue flashing lights incorporated into the headlights. In non-traffic-related matters police officers may be in casual clothes. Police officers do not have to directly identify themselves unless you ask them to. Should they request identification, they should be shown photographic ID. Your passport or your driver's licence will do, or your national ID card if you are from the European Union, though a passport is always preferred. You can get in trouble or be fined for not having any identification on you. If in any doubt, drivers should converse through the car window and contact the Guardia Civil on 062 or the Spanish National Police on 112 and ask them to confirm that the registration number of the vehicle corresponds to an official police vehicle.\n Using soap or shampoo at public beach showers is prohibited in most regions to prevent chemical pollution of the sea.", "word_count": 482}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk070", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Drugs\n\nYou can smell marijuana smoke at many street corners in major cities with police apparently unperturbed by it. Still, if you don't know local customs, it is quite possible that the police make a show of enforcing the law on you.\n\nThe consumption of alcoholic beverages in the street, or when it seriously disrupts public tranquillity is fined up to €600.\n\nThese rules are actively enforced.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk071", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Healthcare\n\n Pharmaceuticals are not sold at supermarkets, only at *farmacias* (pharmacies/chemists), identified with a green cross or a Hygeia's cup. Nearly every city and town has at least one 24-hour pharmacy; for those that close at night, the law requires a poster with the address of the nearest pharmacy, possibly in one of the nearby streets or towns.\n People from the European Union and a few more European countries can freely use the public health system, if they have the appropriate European Health Insurance Card. The card does not cover treatment in private hospitals. Agreements are established to treat people from a few American countries.\n Do not hesitate to **go to any healthcare facility** should you be injured or seriously ill, as it would be illegal for them not to treat you, even if you are uninsured. You (or your country if Spain has a treaty on the matter) will pay for the service later.\n\n### Climate\n\n Although many visitors travel to Spain for the warm climate, it can be cold in winter, especially in the Central Region and in the North, and in some places it is also rainy in summer. Remember to travel with adequate clothes.\n In summer, avoid direct exposure to sunlight for long periods of time to prevent sunburn and heatstroke. Drink water, walk on the shady side of street and keep a container of sun cream (suntan lotion) handy.\n\n### Water\n\nThe **tap water** in Spain is safe and of a drinkable quality. The water in some southern regions of the country, however, is sometimes sourced from salt water which can have a high mineral content. This can cause upset stomachs in those not used to this. While high mineral content water is safe to drink regardless, locals in these areas will often drink bottled water instead as it tastes better. Bottled water is readily available to buy in most areas and in a variety of brands.\n\n### Smoking\n\nSmoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces and places of work, in public transportation, and in outdoor public places near hospitals and in playgrounds. Smoking is also banned in outdoor sections of bars and restaurants. Smoking is banned in television broadcasts as well.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk072", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "Generally speaking, Spaniards are widely regarded as welcoming and friendly.\n\n#### Culture and identity\n\nSpaniards are generally **neutral communicators**. They're comfortable with expressing their opinions and emotions on something, and they expect the same from you. While this may give you the impression that Spanish people are confident and sociable, you should make every effort to be tactful with your words as they are sensitive to being beckoned directly.\n\nIn conversational settings, it is common for people to interrupt or talk over one another. Shouting to make oneself heard is common, as is the use of swear words. You may also find that it is common for people to give you advice on all kinds of things. For instance, you can expect people to tell you what to see and where to go. At first, this may come across as annoying, but the information that Spaniards provide is meant to help you in a good way, not lay traps for you.\n\nFamily values are important to many Spaniards. Passing unwarranted comments and/or criticisms about someone's family members is considered rude.\n\nSpaniards, especially the young, generally feel a linguistic and cultural connection to Latin America. However, most will be quick to point out that Spain is a European nation, not a Latin American one and that all Spanish-speaking countries are different and have particularities of their own.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk073", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "Spaniards are not as religious as the media sometimes presents them, and modern Spanish society is for the most part rather secular, but they are and always were a mostly Catholic country (73% officially, although only 10% admit practising and only 20% admit being believers); respect this and avoid making any comments that could offend. In particular, religious festivals, Holy Week (Easter), and Christmas are very important to Spaniards, and the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Catholic. Tolerance of all religions should be observed, especially in large urban areas like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville or Malaga (where people and temples of all beliefs can be found) or different regions in southern Spain, which may have a sizable Muslim population (which accounts for almost 4% of the country's population).\n\nthumb|The rainbow flag on Madrid's city hall\nDespite being a Catholic majority country, **homosexuality** is quite tolerated in Spain and public display of same-sex affection would not likely stir hostility. A 2013 Pew survey of various countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East found that Spain had the highest percentage of people who believed homosexuality should be accepted by society, at 88%. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005 and the government provides legal benefits to same-sex couples. However, this does not always necessarily mean that all Spaniards are friendly to gays; while homophobic aggressions are rare, they still happen. Cities are more tolerant of homosexuality than rural areas, Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country are much more tolerant but overall Spain is gay-friendly. As in any other place, elderly people do usually have far more conservative points of view. The Madrid pride parade is one of the largest in the world. Overall, Spain is one of the safest countries for LGBT tourists.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk074", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "Avoid talking about the former colonial past and especially about the \"Black Legend.\" Regardless of what you may have heard Spain had several ministers and military leaders of mixed race serving in the military during the colonial era and even a Prime Minister born in the Philippines (Marcelo Azcarraga Palmero). Many Spaniards take pride in their history and former imperial glories. People from Spain's former colonies (Latin America, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines, Western Sahara and Northern Morocco) make up a majority of foreign immigrants in Spain (58%) along with the Chinese, Africans and Eastern Europeans. Equally, Spain is one of the main investors and economic and humanitarian aid donors to Latin America and Africa.\n\n**Bullfighting** (Spanish: *Tauromaquia*) is seen by many Spaniards as a cultural heritage icon, but the disaffection with bullfighting is increasing in all big cities and obviously among animal activist groups within the country. Many urban Spaniards would consider bullfighting a show aimed at foreign tourists and elderly people from the countryside, and some young Spaniards will feel offended if their country is associated with it. To illustrate how divided the country is, many Spaniards point to the royal family: former king Juan Carlos and his daughter are avid fans, while his wife and son King Felipe VI do not care for the sport. Bullfights and related events, such as the annual San Fermin Pamplona bull-runs, make up a multi-million euro industry and draw many tourists, both foreign and Spanish. In addition, bullfighting has been banned in the northeastern region of Catalonia as well as in several towns and counties all over the country.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk075", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "Take care when mentioning the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975 as well as the Civil War of 1936–1939. This was a painful past as Franco ruled Spain with an iron fist, executing many Spaniards who violated the anti-democratic laws of the regime. It was also a notable period of economic growth in the final years of Franco's regime, and some older Spaniards may have supportive views of him. The Republican flag (red, yellow, purple, either with or without a coat of arms) can be seen hanging from balconies and bought at some souvenir shops. However, it is not an uncontroversial symbol and associated with leftism, often showing up at leftist demonstrations. No symbols from the Franco era are officially forbidden, but using or displaying them is associated with far right extremists.\n\nThe possibilities of **Catalan** independence, **Basque** independence, and **Galician** independence are extremely sensitive issues among many in Spain. You should avoid discussing them where possible. If anything surrounding these subjects is brought up by someone, it's best to stay neutral.\n\nVirtually everyone in Spain, regardless of region, is able to speak **Castilian Spanish**, albeit not always as a mother tongue. In Catalonia, some Catalans prefer to not speak Spanish at all, and will reply to Spanish-speaking interlocutors in Catalan; this is usually a political statement, rather than a lack of Castilian language ability. Foreigners are given a bit more leeway, but there are still some Catalans who'd rather have a conversation in English than Spanish if those are the only options for communication. While many Spaniards from Castilla consider Catalan to be a dialect of Spanish, Catalans consider it to be a separate language in its own right.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk076", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "The political status of Gibraltar is a particularly sensitive issue. Most Spaniards consider Gibraltar to be Spanish sovereign territory that is illegally occupied by Britain. Most Gibraltarians on the other hand are both proud Brits and proud Europeans - a situation made infinitely more awkward by Brexit which passed against near unanimous Gibraltarian opposition.\n\nAvoid discussing the Spanish monarchy. Many are generally opposed to the Spanish royal family, although there are some who are staunchly monarchist. Due to the Bourbon dynasty's identification with centralism, supporters of Catalan and Basque independence often don't have a good word to say about them.\n\n#### Socialising\n\nIt is customary to kiss friends, family, and acquaintances on both cheeks upon seeing each other and saying goodbye. Male-to-male kisses of this sort are limited to family members or to very close friends; otherwise a firm handshake is expected instead (as is the same in France or Italy).\n\nSpaniards are keen to maintain physical contact while talking, such as putting a hand on your shoulder, patting your back, etc. These should be taken as signs of friendship done among relatives, close friends and colleagues.\n\nSpaniards will probably feel comfortable around you more quickly than other Europeans and you may even be receive an offensive comment or even an insult (*cabrón*) for a greeting shortly after meeting someone in an informal environment, especially if it is a young person or a male. You should not feel offended by this, as it is interpreted as proof that you have such a close relationship that you can mess with each other without repercussions.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk077", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "You should reply with a similar comment (never anything serious or something that will genuinely hurt the person) or just greet them. Do not go around insulting people, though, as you will also find people who do not like it. It is recommended that you never do this first as a foreigner and just wait until you get it. Generally, your instinct will be able to distinguish between a joke and a genuine aggression.\n\nWhen in a car, the elderly and pregnant always ride in the passenger's seat, unless they request not to.\n\nSpaniards are not as punctual as Northern Europeans, but generally you are expected to arrive no more than ten minutes late, and being punctual will always be received positively. It is especially important to be punctual the first time you meet with someone. As a rule of thumb, you should expect people to be more punctual as you go north and less punctual as you go south.\n\nIf you are staying at a Spaniard's home, bring shoes to wear inside such as slippers. Walking around barefoot in the house is viewed as unsanitary. Walking in socks may be acceptable in a close friend's house, but you should always ask first.\n\nIt is acceptable for women to **sunbathe topless** in beaches, but full nudity is only practised in \"clothing-optional\" or nudist beaches.\n\n#### Eating and drinking\n\nDuring lunch or dinner, Spaniards do not begin eating until everyone is seated and ready to eat. Likewise, they do not leave the table until everyone is finished eating. Table manners are otherwise standard and informal, although this also depends on the place you are eating. When the bill comes, it is common to pay equally, regardless of the amount or price each has consumed (*pagar a escote*).", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk078", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Respect", "text": "When Spaniards receive a gift or are offered a drink or a meal, they usually refuse for a while, so as not to seem greedy. This sometimes sparks arguments among especially reluctant people, but it is seen as polite. Remember to offer more than once (on the third try, it must be fairly clear if they will accept it or not). On the other hand, if you are interested in the offer, politely smile and decline it, saying that you don't want to be a nuisance, etc., but relent and accept when they insist.\n\nSpaniards rarely drink or eat in the street. Bars will rarely offer the option of food to take away but \"tapas\" are easily available. Taking leftovers home from a restaurant is uncommon but has somewhat less of a stigma than it used to. One asks for \"un taper\" (derived from \"Tupperware\") or \"una caja.\" Older Spaniards are still likely to frown on this. Appearing drunk in public is generally frowned upon.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk079", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Cope", "text": "One odd legacy of the Franco era is that Spain has been on Central European Time since 1940, even though much of the country sits directly south of the United Kingdom and Ireland. This explains why among Spaniards, lunch time is usually between 13:00 and 14:30 (it could be as late as 15:15) while dinner time is between 20:30 and 21:30. At special celebrations, dinner can be as late as 22:00. Lunch is considered the biggest and most important meal of the day.\n\nIf you see a restaurant serving breakfast at 7:00, lunch at 12:00 and dinner at 18:00, it may be a tourist trap targeting British and American tourists. The same can be said for restaurants serving paella for dinner, since the dish is traditionally served for lunch.\n\nAlmost all small businesses close between 14:30 and 17:00, so plan your shopping and sight-seeing accordingly. Shopping malls and supermarkets, however, are usually open from 09:30 to 21:00 or 22:00, and in the larger cities several shops are open 24 hours daily, usually owned by Chinese immigrants.\n\nSpanish cities can be noisy in some areas; you might want to check before booking a room.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "spain::chunk080", "doc_id": "spain", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Wi-Fi\n\nWi-Fi points in bars and cafeterias are available to customers, and most hotels offer Wi-Fi connections (at least in common areas) for their guests.\n\nBe conscious of security when using a laptop, tablet or phone in an outdoor location.\n\n### Phone numbers\n\nSince 1998, the area code prefix is included in Spanish telephone numbers, so can be called as . Numbers without an area code can be called similarly, with the domestic number just prefixed with +34. The prefix for international calls from Spain changed to 00 (with mobile phones, just use \"+\"). Some premium rate and freephone numbers are unreachable from abroad.\n\nThe dispute on Gibraltar numbers ended in 2007; now Gibraltar can be reached with the prefix +350 like from everywhere else.\n\nThe prefixes 80x and 90x, where x≠0, are for possibly expensive (premium rate) numbers. The prefix 807 is for professional services (such as legal or medical advice) paid on the phone bill. The prefixes 901 and 902 are used by many large businesses, but they are often expensive, especially 902, as they aren't covered by the flat rates most operators apply. They are blocked by some operators. 800 and 900 are prefixes for freephone numbers. 90x and 80x can not be reached from outside Spain.\n\n### Mobile phones and SIM cards\n\nCheap mobile phones (less than €50) with some pre-paid minutes are sold at any phone operator's shop and can be purchased without many formalities (ID is usually required). Topping-up is then done by buying scratch cards from the small stores \"Frutos Secos,\" supermarkets, vending points (often found in tobacco shops) or kiosks – recharging using the Web or an ATM does not work with foreign credit cards.\n\nFor supported unlocked phones, a local SIM or an eSIM is another alternative.\n\nThe three mobile phone networks in Spain are Vodafone, Movistar, Orange, and Yoigo.\n\n### Discount calling\n\n\"Locutorios\" (call shops) are widely spread in bigger cities and touristy locations. In Madrid or Toledo it's very easy to find one. Making calls from \"Locutorios\" tend to be much cheaper, especially international calls (usually made through VoIP). They are usually a good pick for calling home. Prepaid calling cards for cheap international calls are widely available in newsagents or grocery stores around the city. Ask for a \"tarjeta telefonica\".", "word_count": 383}
diff --git a/corpus/spain/metadata.json b/corpus/spain/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a63891956ed8596781fd6198ddfc8b356982768e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/spain/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "spain",
+ "title": "Spain",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Spain",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Iberia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 18708,
+ "listing_count": 9,
+ "marker_count": 17,
+ "chunk_count": 81,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sri-lanka/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sri-lanka/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e3eac8b024196253b648c28619554a63398155a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sri-lanka/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk000", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Sri Lanka** (Sinhala: **ශ්රී ලංකා** *Śrī Laṃkā*; Tamil: **இலங்கை** *Ilaṅkai*), formerly known as *Ceylon*, is in South Asia. In the Indian Ocean just south of India, Sri Lanka is an island known for its natural beauty. Sri Lanka has stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Its cultural landscape includes the (mostly Buddhist) Sinhala and the (mostly Hindu) Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk001", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Regions", "text": "Sri Lanka is divided into 9 administrative provinces:", "word_count": 8}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk002", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Cities", "text": "(Sinhala: කොළඹ; Tamil: கொழும்பு) — commercial capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka. Hotels, cafés, restaurants, night clubs and shopping.\n (Sinhala: ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ; Tamil: ஶ்ரீ ஜெயவர்த்தனபுர கோட்டை) — also known as *Kotte*, new capital of Sri Lanka\n (Sinhala: අනුරාධපුරය; Tamil: அனுராதபுரம்) — ruins of ancient capitals (partially restored). UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n (Sinhala: මඩකලපුව; Tamil: மட்டக்களப்பு) — a city built on a lagoon. Beautiful shallow beaches, paddy fields, historical places.\n (Sinhala: ගාල්ල; Tamil: காலி) — famous Dutch fort. Host city of the Galle Literary Festival. UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n (Sinhala: යාපනය; Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம்) — northern capital. On display is the rich heritage of the Tamil-speaking community.\n (Sinhala: මහනුවර; Tamil: கண்டி) — spiritual heart of the country, home to a tooth of the Buddha. UNESCO World Heritage Site.\n (Sinhala: මීගමුව; Tamil: நீர்கொழும்பு) — beautiful landscape and great blue oceans.\n (Sinhala: නුවර එළිය; Tamil: நுவரேலியா) — cool weather, Victorian architecture, top hats, tails and fascinators on race days.", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk003", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|right|Morning mist in Sinharaja rainforest\n\n (Sinhala: ආරුගම් බොක්ක; Tamil: அறுகம் குடா) – southeast-coast beach town with several top surfing spots\n – famous for its high red stone fortress and palace ruin, the ancient city of Sigiriya. Nearby, Dambulla with its famous cave temple (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), and Habarana in close proximity of Minneriya National Park\n (Sinhala: හෝර්ටන් තැන්න ජාතික වනෝද්යානය; Tamil: ஓட்டன் சமவெளி) – A cloud forest in the central highlands with many endangered fauna and flora and endless hikes\n (Sinhala: කිතුල්ගල; Tamil: கித்துள்கலை) – known for pristine nature and white-water rafting - 4 hours from Colombo\n (Sinhala: මිරිස්ස) – beach village and party hotspot on the south coast close to Matara with two good surfing spots\n (Sinhala: පාසිකුඩා; Tamil: பாசிக்குடா) – famous beach resort on Sri Lanka's east coast with white sand beaches and upscale hotels\nthumb|crocodile enjoying the sun in [[Kumana National Park]].\n (Sinhala: සිංහරාජ වනාන්තරය; Tamil: சிங்கராஜா வனம்) – Largest rainforest in Sri Lanka, also a . Extremely diverse fauna and flora. It is home to almost all the endemic species of birds in Sri Lanka. Open at 06:00 onwards.\n (Sinhala: උණවටුන) – beach resort on the south coast very close to Galle\n (Sinhala: යාල ජාතික වනෝද්යානය; Tamil: யால தேசிய வனம்) – Wildlife safari in Hambantota. Yala national park is a very large animal sanctuary. There are a wide range of animals that roam around the park, including the rare **Sri Lankan Leopard**. If you are lucky enough, you would be able to spot them near a watering hole.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk004", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nThe indigenous inhabitants of the island are the Vedda people. Groups ancestral to the modern Veddas most likely as far back as 40,000 years ago. Today, Vedda people are a tiny minority and their languages and culture are on the verge of extinction due to cultural assimilation.thumb|The Tooth Temple in Kandy\nSri Lanka has more than 2,500 years of continuous written history, beginning with the historical epic *Mahawansha*, and was also mentioned in several ancient Indian texts. One of the most famous is the *Ramayana*, in which the island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the king Ravana, who captured the wife of Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu. Legend has it that Hanuman the monkey flew over to Lanka and destroyed the capital by setting it on fire, while Rama and his remaining troops later crossed over from the mainland by building a land bridge across the sea.\n\nThe island's dominant ethnic group, the Sinhalese, arrived in Sri Lanka in the late 6th century BC, probably from Bengal or Maharashtra. Buddhism came to the island from the middle of the 3rd century BC, and a great civilization developed in cities like Anuradhapura (kingdom from c. 200 BCE to c. 1000 CE) and Polonnaruwa (c. 1070 to 1200). The oldest of Buddhist monuments date to the Anuradhapura period. It was a period where Sri Lanka traded with other civilisations in Asia and Europe, including the Roman Empire. Most notably Sri Lanka exported cinnamon to the rest of the Old World. Other later famous kingdoms are the Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Gampola, Kandy and Jaffna Kingdoms.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk005", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Understand", "text": "The second-largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, the Tamils, began to arrive shortly after the Sinhalese, and their influx was accelerated by the British. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796.\n\nWith the capture of India, during the rule of king Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe (ශ්රී වික්රම රාජසිංහ), there were disputes between the king and his subjects, which provided the British an opportunity to invade the Kandyan Kingdom and gain power over the country. The British made a new set of laws and turned Ceylon (as the island was called in those days) into a crown colony in 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.\n\nSri Lanka was engulfed in a bitter civil war for thirty years between the government and the Tamil Tigers, who were fighting for an independent state for the Tamil-speaking minority. The war resulted in the estimated deaths of 100,000 people and destroyed many parts of the country, most seriously the north and east. The war ended in May 2009 with victory for the government, but the consequences persist, and heavy emigration is still slowing the population growth.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk006", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Understand", "text": "After 2009, the economy recovered from the ruins of the civil war under the oligarchic administration of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family. However, the government heavily relied on foreign debt to develop the country. The combination of an anti-fertilizer policy that destroyed agricultural production, unbalanced economic structure, corruption and long running economic mismanagement, devastated the economy. In 2022, year-long mass protests resulted in the collapse of the Rajapaksa government, and elections in 2024 swept an opposition centre-left alliance into power. However, the nation's many problems are yet to be solved, and the economic crisis is continuing as of 2025.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|The mountainous south-west is much rainier than the north and east of the island\nSince Sri Lanka is a tropical country, you can expect the rain anytime of the year in most parts. However, there are **two major rainy seasons**, each affecting different parts of the island.\n\nThe main southwest “Yala” monsoon drenches the west, southwest, and the hill country from April to July. The less severe northeast “Maha” monsoon hits the east coast from November to March. Also worth noting is the generally unsettled weather throughout the country in October-November. This is especially the case for the hill country, which is at its sunniest from January-March.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk007", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Understand", "text": "As a result of the two non-overlapping monsoons, **there's always good weather somewhere in Sri Lanka.** The climate of also changes dramatically from one part of the country to another. For example, at Nuwara Eliya, in the hills of Central Sri Lanka, has a temperature around -5 to 20°C throughout the year, whereas Hambantota, in the dry zone, has a temperature consistently around 30-35°C. The island can roughly be divided into wet and dry zones. The mountains in the south-west capture moisture from the prevailing westerly winds, creating a wet zone. The north is flatter and dryer, and by the time the winds reach the east coast, they have lost most of their moisture.\n\nIn general, Sri Lanka also has very hot temperatures all year long, which is why most local men wear sarongs while women dress lightly with a long dress.\n\n### Religion\n\nReligion is largely divided along ethnic lines, with the Sinhalese majority being almost entirely Buddhist, while the Tamil minority is mostly Hindu, but with significant Christian and Muslim minorities.\n\n### Terrain\n\nMostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior.\n\nHighest point: Pidurutalagala, 2,524m.\n Second highest peak: Kirigalpoththa (Horton Plains) 2,388m.\n Third highest peak: Thotupola Kanda (Horton Plains) 2,357m.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nSri Lanka Travel website", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk008", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|A typical trilingual Sri Lankan sign: Sinhala up top, Tamil in the middle, English at the bottom\n\nSinhala, spoken by the majority Sinhalese, and Tamil, spoken by the minority Tamils, are Sri Lanka's two official languages. English is commonly used in most cities, especially Colombo, Kandy and Galle, and by government and tourism officials. But while most of the people in Colombo can speak English, don't expect everyone, everywhere to be able to speak it fluently. In tourist areas you will have no problem with English. Most people in rural villages, however, cannot speak any English, beyond a few simple words.\n\n**Sinhala language** The greeting in Sinhala is *āyubōvan*. It means \"May you live longer\"; 'Thank you' is *sthūthiyi* and \"how are you\" is *kohomədə*.\n**Tamil language**: The greeting in Tamil is *vanakkam*; 'Thank you' is *nandri*.\n\nSinhala script is curvy while Tamil script is blocky with lots of straight lines. They are easy to distinguish between. Note that Sinhala is the language, while Sinhalese refers to the majority ethnic group. \n\nGiven the history of sectarian tensions, **language is a sensitive issue in Sri Lanka**, and some Tamils may find it offensive to be addressed in Sinhala.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk009", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Sri Lanka, with countries in gold having visa on arrival with an Electronic Travel Authorization\n\n### Visa rules\n\nNationals of most countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online, except for nationals of Maldives, Seychelles, Czech Republic and Singapore, who do not need to get an ETA. It allows a stay in the country for *30 days* and is valid for six months. Application should be done before entering the country and via the official government website. After this, the applicant will receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Visa charges are US$20 for SAARC countries (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) and US$50 for others (2025), plus $2 processing fee. ETA is supposed to be ready in 2 days, though in practice they can be issued in only 10-20 minutes after the payment is received. Transit visas for up to 48 hours are issued free.\n\nAlternatively, a tourist visa can be obtained without getting a prearranged ETA right at the Bandaranaike International Airport (at a visa desk in the arrival zone before customs) for US$60. Therefore, online visa is not a pre-condition to board a flight/vessel to Sri Lanka.\n\nAs of 2025, the required return ticket, as noted in the visa instructions, was not checked for most (if not all) Westerners arriving at the airport. Even if it was and you didn't have one, you should be able to book one ad-hoc using the airport's WiFi.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk010", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Important**: immigration authorities at Colombo airport are very demanding with respect to the accuracy of the passport number on your electronic travel authorization obtained online. A single digit mistake is taken as a reason to force you to buy a new visa and refer you to some obscure government office in Colombo for refunds of your online payments. Be careful about 1 vs. I and 0 vs. O. The number should exactly match the machine-readable section of your passport, and not anything else (for example, Russian passports have a non-alphanumeric symbol that should be completely excluded).\n\nA lengthy discussion on the Sri Lankan visa situation can be found here.\n\n#### Visa extension\n\nThe ease at which you received the original ETA suddenly turns into a bureaucratic nightmare when it comes to visa extension. Be advised, it is probably best to use an agent and save yourself some frustration. If you want to do it yourself, extensions can be made at the Department of Immigration, +94 11 532–9000; M-F 09:00-16:30, \"Suhurupaya\", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla. It should also be possible to apply online, but most tourists report that they never received any payment order and had to appear in person. Hence, it's best to sort out the extension right after you arrive while you are still in Colombo.\n\nA visa extension gives you an additional 1–6 months in the country beyond the initial 30-day entry visa. You can apply any time from immediately after entering the country until the expiry of your visa. Extensions beyond this are at the discretion of the department, and incur a Rs15,000 fee plus the extension fee. See above for fees for the first 90-day extension.\n\nthumbnail|Visa Extension Fees", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk011", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "The department sets the cost in US dollars, but you pay in Sri Lankan rupees, Rs 10,000 as of 2025. To process the extension, the immigration office requires your passport and an onward ticket. Your proposed stay in Sri Lanka must end at least two months before the expiry date of your passport.\n\nThe immigration office begins processing visa extensions Monday through Friday a bit before 08:30 in the morning. However, a worker usually starts to give out queue numbers and forms some time between 07:00 and 07:30, so arrive early to be among the first processed.\n\nBased on several extensions done in summer 2015, total time is about 2½ hr if you arrive by 07:00: get a ticket around 07:15, submit documents at 08:30, pay at 09:00, get passport back around 09:30. If you arrive at 08:30, the room usually has started to fill and it could be around 3-4 hours. Arriving after 09:30, it'll be full and will take at least 4 hours. Arriving after 11:30 is usually not worth it, because the payment counter closes at 14:30; if they haven't finished the pre-processing necessary to get you to the payment stage before 14:30, you'll have to return the next day.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk012", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "Agents can do the visa extension for you: they take your passport and documents, wait in line, pay the fees, etc., then return the passport to you. Larger tour groups often use these agents for extensions. The agents know the system: they arrive early and get the first queue numbers. Because of this, being behind one local agent representing a group of 25 foreigners needing extensions could make your wait time significantly longer. Best advice as an independent traveller is to get your queue number *before* the local agents: arrive before 07:00, immediately stand waiting at the wooden desk which is on the left just after the entrance, and don't let the agents cut in front of you.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Colombo Airport\nAs of 2025, Sri Lanka has two active international airports. The main and by far most useful airport is **Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport** (), the journey to Colombo (35 km) will take about an hour by taxi. **Jaffna International Airport** in the country's far north has two daily flights from Chennai and one daily flight from Tiruchirappalli. This makes sense given that both these destinations are in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the north of Sri Lanka has a large Tamil majority. **Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport** (Hambantota International Airport,), in the southern part of the country, is rather a white elephant and isn't served with regular international flights.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk013", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Sri Lankan Airlines** is the flag carrier, operating flights from cities throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. SriLankan also flies to nearby destinations such as Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Bengaluru and the Maldives. If you have to transit here for 8-48 hours between Sri Lankan Airlines flights, the airline will provide free transit accommodation and meals (as of July 2023 the accommodation is the Full Moon Hotel near the airport) and also a place on a free group van tour of Colombo if requested. This is subject to some conditions, and you need to contact the airline to request it at least 48 hours in advance. Free transit accommodation will not be provided if not booked beforehand.\n\n**Emirates Airlines**, **Etihad**, **Qatar Airways**, and **Oman Air** connect many major European cities and others worldwide to Colombo via UAE, Doha, and Muscat.\n\n**FlyDubai** connects to Dubai, **Air Asia** to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok, **IndiGo** to many cities in India, and **Royal Jordanian** to Amman.\n\n#### From North America", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk014", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are no direct flights that reach Sri Lanka from cities outside Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. From the American West Coast, the distance is almost half the globe. Depending on your preferences and how much spare time you have, you can consider a stopover in Europe, SE Asia/E Asia or Melbourne or take a non-stop flight over the North Pole to New Delhi or Mumbai from Chicago, Newark, New York City (JFK), or Toronto. In many cases, this may be the fastest route, but check if an Indian transit visa is required. Another fast and easy idea is to use Middle Eastern airlines from the US with stopovers in either Qatar, Bahrain, or the UAE (no transit visa required). For example, the Dubai-based Emirates offers daily flights from SFO, LAX, Houston (IAH), and Toronto (YYZ) with a very short stopover before the short flight to Colombo. Emirates Airlines offer non-stop service to Colombo two to three times daily from Dubai. SriLankan Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance which allows through ticketing with American Airlines, and several Asian, European, and Middle Eastern airlines.\n\n### By boat\n\nAs of 2025, Sail Subham operates a regular ferry service between Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu (India) and Kankesanturai in northern Jaffna, Sri Lanka. As of April 2025, ferries run multiple times a week and depart from Nagapattinam Port (located near the lighthouse) at 07:30, arriving in Kankesanturai by around 11:30. Travelers are advised to arrive at the port by 06:00 to complete immigration, security, and customs procedures. The ferry is in good condition and air-conditioned, offering a comfortable journey.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk015", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get in", "text": "As of April 2025, a one-way ticket costs ₹4,500, which can be purchased online via credit card or UPI. Arrival into Sri Lanka at Kankesanturai Port with Sri Lanka ETA was smooth and quick, with immigration and customs handled efficiently. Traveling with significant luggage, including bicycles, appeared to be permitted, though additional fees may apply depending on size and weight.\n\nThe older Tuticorin (India) – Colombo passenger ferry service remains suspended indefinitely. According to customs officials in Tuticorin, it is illegal for cargo ships to transport passengers from the Tuticorin Port to Sri Lanka.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk016", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A red public bus and a blue private bus as seen from the back of a train near Jaffna\nSri Lanka has a strong public transport network linking nearly all tourist destinations, making independent travel very easy. Roads can be terrifying due to local driving traditions — see . Together with occasional massive crowds (especially on holidays), often lacking luggage space, buses may not seem like the most appealing way of travel for some. Yet, they offer great opportunities for interaction with locals, are cheap, plentiful and have different price points (express/local, public/private). Harassment of women travelling alone was frequent in the past, but Sri Lanka seems to have grown up since then.\n\n### By bus\n\nBus travel in Sri Lanka is **cheap**. For those on a budget, buses are everywhere, although their safety and ease of use are questionable. As a foreigner you may be overcharged — simply ask for a ticket to your destination to get the correct fare, or ask a local beforehand. After a few days you will get a feel for the correct prices. As a guideline, the price for a normal local bus should be about Rs 5–10/km, the farther the cheaper (5 km ~ Rs 50, and 40 km ~ Rs 200), everything way beyond that is an indication of you getting overcharged. Buses run late, especially in cities, with services ending around 22:00. Google Maps displays incomplete information regarding bus routes and timetables on listings for bus stops. The best bus timetable information on Google Maps appears at bus depots; roadside stops typically have no routes indicated. Check the reviews, as sometimes reviewers attach photographs of the timetables available at the bus stop.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk017", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are three categories of buses in Sri Lanka: Public, Private, and Luxury. **Public buses** are run by the Sri Lanka Transport Board, and are basic, plain, red-painted buses. Routes and timetables for the public bus network can be searched, with difficulty, here. **Private buses** are much more common on the roads. They are still basic, usually painted blue instead of red, but are often highly decorated. These are usually owner-operated and have a reputation for driving dangerously, fast, and packing in as many passengers as possible, in order to make more money. Both public and private buses have the same type of route signage above the windscreen.\n\nIf you are planning on splashing out (relatively speaking), **luxury buses** (aka private A/C buses) run on some (especially tourist) routes for twice the price, which offer online booking, air-conditioning and a guaranteed seat. However, they are still a bit uncomfortable. Luxury bus companies include '''Superline''' and '''NCG Express'''. Many companies' buses can be booked on the Bus Seat website. These buses can also be booked on 12GO but at a 10-20% mark-up.\n\nInformation on the country's bus network is difficult to find. The nation-wide National Transport Commission website is an atrocious mess. Things are further complicated by the provinces running their own bus networks, so there is no central, up-to-date bus route database. The official price regime enforced by the government can be viewed online (in Sinhala) but private buses sometimes go even cheaper. As well, you can find the most important routes here. When paying your bus fare, the conductor can sometimes pocket whatever note you give him and not give you a ticket or any change. All passengers are required to have tickets. Insist on a ticket, and ask what the fare is and try to give exact change.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk018", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bus stations are confusing places, but almost everyone will be delighted to practise their English and help you. Also, when travelling by bus, it is local etiquette to give up the front passenger seats to any monks or priests who board the bus.\n\nBus travel can be made easier if you arrive early and travel light. If you are carrying a lot of luggage, consider purchasing a seat for your backpack if you don't want to keep it on your lap or under your feet. Tickets are cheap enough for this to be feasible!\n\n### By train\n\n**Cyclone Ditwah**\n\nIn November/December 2025, Cyclone Ditwah damaged 70% of the Sri Lankan railway network.\nRepair work is ongoing (as of February 2026), but several lines are still out of service:\n Trains from Badulla and Ella travel as far as Ambewela but don't continue to Kandy or Colombo.\n There are no trains from Colombo to Kandy, Matale, Ella or Badulla: These trains only travel as far as Rambukkana\n The lines are still open from Colombo to Galle/Beliatta, Chilaw, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Jaffna.\nFurther information on Sri Lanka Railways' website.\n\n300px|thumb|Sri Lanka Railway map\nSri Lanka has an extensive railway system serving all major towns and cities in the island except for the North. Trains are reasonably comfortable (1st and 2nd class) and inexpensive if you can buy the tickets directly. You can always buy 3rd class tickets at any station without reservation, also 2nd class is often available.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk019", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "1st and 2nd class tickets only go on sale 30 days in advance each morning at 10:00 local time and often sell out within minutes to third parties that on-sell them at many times the original price to foreigners. Even if you manage to buy these tickets directly online, you will need to convert your emailed receipt to an actual ticket which can only been done at certain stations.\n\nThe railway system in Sri Lanka is picturesque when entering the hill country because of the winding tracks along the mountains. Travel by train is itself a journey to remember, be it travelling to Central Sri Lanka or travelling on the coastal line is just amazing. Preferably choose the express trains, and try to get a reservation beforehand, if you can. There are special Observation cars for tourists to take in the scenery. Trains can be slower than buses, depending if you are on a line that offers an express train or not, but more comfortable and even cheaper than buses.\n\nYou can look up train schedules and prices online — only direct connections between stations are shown. Trains in the mountains are often delayed, but there may be additional trains — ask at the station! There is a slightly more user-friendly website that will give you fares and distances.\n\nThere are three classes of railway cars, although 1st and 2nd class are only available on some Intercity and Express trains. Travelling 3rd class is not as bad as it may sound. Often the difference between 3rd and 2nd class is only a missing armrest between seats. Intercity and Express trains have reserved cars which can be booked online in advance on the official website.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk020", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Trains are sometimes crowded, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Also, observation car seats for the lines popular with tourists (like the Colombo-Kandy line) are often booked out several days in advance in the high season. So whenever possible you should get a reservation beforehand: see Sri Lanka Railways and Train travel in Sri Lanka for more information.\n\nTrains offer good alternatives when they are available, and the standard trains are only slightly more expensive than the private buses, if at all. One of the advantages is that 1st and 2nd class train tickets can be reserved several days in advance. Sri Lankan Railways has a useful website in English. There is no official smartphone app but there is a somewhat useful unofficial one.\n\nThe train ride between **Kandy** and **Badulla** is especially famous for its spectacular views — particularly between **Nuwara Eliya** and **Ella**. If you can, sit on the right side of the train when going in the direction of Badulla, as it offers the better view.\n\nPrivately owned train services no longer run. Exporail and Rajadhani Express used to operate air-conditioned and serviced first-class railway cars to certain destinations.\n\n### By three-wheeler\n\nthumb|Three-wheelers waiting for fares at Nuwara Eliya\nOne common mode of transport in Sri Lanka is via a three-wheeled automobile appropriately referred to as a **three-wheeler** (*tri-shaw*) or **tuk-tuk**. These operate in a manner similar to taxis, and in many situations are a convenient and cost-efficient way to get around. Road safety is a concern however, as none of them have seat belts and they are open to the sides. They are **not** permitted at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, so don't let a tuk-tuk driver talk you into hiring him on your departure.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk021", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Three-wheelers are ubiquitous in Sri Lanka. On any given street, you'll hardly have to wait more than a few minutes without one going by that you can wave down. If you're travelling with luggage, there are slightly larger three-wheelers with more space for your bags that you can look for. While it may be the most novel way to get around, it may not be the most cost-efficient in every situation. Public transport is cheaper by far, and most three-wheel drivers tend to over-charge foreigners. So, never agree to the first price given, or use an app mentioned below. The best price you can get is about Rs 70–100 per km. If you come across a metered tri-shaw make sure the meter is switched on. Taxis are slightly more expensive but much safer. However, you have not experienced everything Sri Lanka has to offer until you travel in a three-wheeler.\n\nThree-wheelers can be hailed via various apps: As of 2025 *PickMe* and *Uber* are the most popular. They are also great for estimating prices and bargaining with other drivers. For tourists it's probably best to just rely on these apps, everything else is just a constant hassle regarding the price.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are a better way of getting around Colombo than three wheelers, and they often turn out to be cheaper because they (should) use the meter. Rates are about US$0.55 and they have full day packages (ca. 8 hr and 80 km) for around US$40. They will also take you outstation for around US$0.30-0.35 per km with no waiting charges. You can also set up your own itinerary and travel around that way as opposed to whatever the tour operator tells you.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk022", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Alternatively to the meter, there is always Uber and PickMe. Use it to avoid the hassle!\n\nYou can also **hire a driver** with car for a day or for your whole holiday. Some drivers and guides are government-licensed; some are extremely knowledgeable and multilingual, specialising in historical and cultural knowledge, and environmental/natural history for your visits to the ancient sites and the natural reserves.\n\nOf course, if you're not on a budget and especially if you're pressed for time, renting a car with driver for the whole or part of the journey can be a convenient way to follow your itinerary, and will in some cases allow you to see two sites on one day.\n\n### By thumb\n\nWhile not common at all, hitchhiking is very easy in Sri Lanka. The only challenge can be to find a suitable vehicle, because most are tuktuks, motorbikes, tour buses, and regular buses. However, there are enough trucks, regular cars, or vans on the road, so you often don't have to wait longer than 15 min.\n\nWhile you will easily find buses in most places, for very remote destinations it can be more efficient to just hitch a ride instead of waiting 1 hr for the bus.\n\nLocals usually don't demand money for a ride, unless you happen to catch a tout, but the bus fare (Rs 5-10/km) is a fair compensation if anyone is going to ask. Never pay a tuktuk or taxi fare – demanding such amounts would require a licence.\n\n### By rental", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk023", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A tourist renting a tuk-tuk\nYou can also **rent a tuk-tuk** from various companies. Some of these companies offer more services than others. For example, some companies offer help with getting a Sri Lankan licence, free repairs, unlimited kilometers, and tuk-tuk features such as bluetooth speakers, an esky, lockable storage, and 24 hour phone support. Do your research.\n\nWhile an international driving license is recommended in practise the police will not ask for it. The rule of the administration seems to be not to bother tourists too much and shield them from any corruption-related topics.\n\n**Rented cars** are less prone to road accidents, which Sri Lanka is badly known for. Daily rates vary between Rs 5,000–10,000 per day excluding fuel, depending on the kind of car you want and whether you book via a hotel or travel agency that will take a commission.\n\nYou will need to bring your international driving license and get it validated by the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka to be able to drive on your own. You can opt to pay an agency to do this for you in advance. Otherwise, you must do it in Colombo, and it will take a day. You will find international car hire agencies in Colombo Airport and some local companies in Negombo's beach area.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk024", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic is on the left. Some of the main roads are in good condition, but other roads are still narrow and bumpy, especially in the interior. Cyclists, pedestrians and animals are among the cars on the roads, don't expect them to pay any attention to you. Local driving habits are very different from those in the West and traffic is dangerous. Accidents and injuries are common. If you cannot tell whether another driver has seen you, or if you spot a potentially dangerous situation, honk your horn. It is better to honk more than less.\n\nthumb|An amphibious Cinnamon Air Cessna\n\n### By air\n\nAs of 2025, there are three domestic airlines connecting destinations around the island with light aircraft or helicopters. They are Senok Air, Helitours, and Cinnamon Air. Of these, Cinnamon Air is the only airline with scheduled flights. They use both land-based and amphibious Cessnas in their operations, meaning they can land on some of the picturesque lakes and tanks (reservoirs) around the island.\n\nRatmalana Airport () is a small domestic airport 15 km from central Colombo. Senok Air and Helitours operate charter helicopter services from this airport.\n\n### By tour operator", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk025", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tour operators are happy to get you a van and a driver who will take you all over the island but beware, the roads are bumpy and slow. If you book off-the-cuff when you arrive, ask to be shown on a map where you are going before agreeing to any 'tour' of the island and research before you arrive so that you have a clear idea of where you might like to travel. Senseless backtracking to lengthen the trip and increase the cost is a real danger, as is a driver's wish to take you on unwanted shopping expeditions in an effort to gain commission. Travel websites specialising in Sri Lanka are easily found and have greatly increased the choice that is readily available to independent travellers seeking tailor-made tours. The best of them will produce clearly-stated travel itineraries and some are flexible enough to make late changes to itineraries. Ask to see their booking conditions and anti-fraud policies.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk026", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Ruwanwelisaya stupa in Anuradhapura\nAdmission fees for foreigners to many of the tourist sites are up to ten times those for locals. And nowadays even the remotest Buddha statue or waterfall charges Rs 300 or more.\n\nTemple of the sacred tooth relic (Dhaladha Maligawa) is a historical structure built around the 16th century to treasure the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. It was built as a palace for the kings of Sri Lanka. which was later turned into a temple. This structure has been reconstructed many time after demolition, including by a terrorist attack during the 1983-2009 civil war.\n\nSome popular sights in Sri Lanka are:\n\n Lagoons such as Mannar and Jaffna, alongside marshes in these areas.\n Beautiful English-style villages in Nuwara Eliya. There are many tea estates and Hakgala gardens too.\n The beaches of Unawatuna, Galle, Weligama, Bentota and northern areas are well known, but there are many quieter beaches like Dikwella, Kalpitiya or SK Town.\n The unexplored Sri Lanka in Jaffna and the islands in the Northern Province (such as Neduntheevu AKA Delft).\n The ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa (not temples)\n Chilaw sandpits (great for bird watching)\n Pinnawala elephant orphanage\nThe rainforests of Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Knuckles Mountain Range and Sinharaja Forest Reserve.\n\nWith a recorded history of more than 2,500 years, Sri Lanka has a rich cultural and natural heritage and its World Heritage Sites are among the absolute highlights in the country. With eight recognised entries, Sri Lanka has the second most listed World Heritage Sites in South Asia (only India, with 30, has more). The vast Central Highlands (including three highland parks: Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles Mountain Range and the Peak Wilderness Protected Area) were inscribed in 2010. Other than these, Sri Lanka has identified two prospective World Heritage Sites: Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara and Seruwila to Sri Pada (Sacred Foot Print Shrine), an ancient pilgrim route along the Mahaweli river.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n World Heritage Sites Tour in Sri Lanka", "word_count": 329}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk027", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Do", "text": "### Surfing\n\nthumb|Surfers at Panama Beach, south of Arugam Bay\nFrom November to April you can surf on the western and southern coast. Best place for the beginners is Weligama on the southern coast. Arugam Bay is famous for surfing.\n\n### Kitesurfing\n\nYou can kitesurf on the eastern coast. The best place for the beginners is Kalpitiya (Sethawadi and Kappaladi lagoons), where you can find kite schools and the best conditions in Asia.\n\n### White water rafting\n\nWhite water rafting is done in tropical rain forests, where the rowers, use an inflatable raft which is sent down small waterfalls. Places like kitulgala are famous for this outdoor activity.\n\n### Snorkeling\n\nOff the coral a sanctuary near Hikkaduwa is a popular spot to see turtles.\n\n### Hiking\n\nHorton Plains National Park offers a nice hiking opportunity to the spectacular view at World's End — quite pricey though.\n\nLikewise Knuckles Mountain Range offers many guided hikes and campsites. Go to nearby Meermure if you are an individual traveller — at least two hikes and some climbing can be found here.\n\nAround Adam's Peak many trails can be found, if you look properly — of course beside the peak itself. In addition, Delhousie (the base camp for Adam's Peak) connects to Gartmore Falls, which also have many trails, waterfalls and river pools in their proximity.\n\nAnother great destination is Dolukanda Mountain for an exciting day-hike with IG-finish.\n\nBesides that, around Ella there is Ella Rock (Rs 1,000, but there are many free alternatives) and the popular railway tracks hiking.\n\nthumb|Sunset in [[Mannar]]\n\n### Bird watching\n\nThere are over 400 bird species in Sri Lanka, and over 30 of them are endemic. Bird watching is an excellent activity to take on during a visit to the island. The only requirement would be a binocular and a field guide which you can easily purchase from local bookshops and Plazas (When buying field guides, publications of Ceylon bird club and FOGSL (Field ornithology group Sri Lanka) are highly recommended.)\n\nThe best place for birdwatching is Kumana National Park, which is known for its multitude of vagrants and migrants. Places like Mannar and Chilaw are filled with migratory birds (mostly waders) during migrating seasons. If you want to see birds from deep forests, the best place for that is the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the home to almost all the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. Another good place is Bundala National Park near Yala National Park.\n\n### Whale watching\n\nThis can be done from Mirissa with many companies providing whale watching tours from the harbour. Expect the seas to be heaving, the boat to be lurching, the whales to be few and far between with dozens of whale-watching boats chasing them down and stressing them out.\n\n### Sightseeing\n\nSri Lanka has a history of over 2500 years and many ancient ruins can be seen around the country. If you like archaeology, sightseeing might be a great choice. The suggested places are in the Central Province, places such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are the most famous for sightseeing.\n\n### History and culture\n\nAnytime is good for a cultural trip, but August is ideal for the famous Esala Perehera pageant. Explore ancient relics and World Heritage sites that still captivate despite the years. For cultural insights, check out Love Sri Lanka.", "word_count": 551}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk028", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the Sri Lankan rupee, denoted by the symbol \"**රු**\" or \"**Rs**\" (ISO code: **LKR**). There are coins in denominations of 1 (old version is big and silver, new version is a much smaller with a little change in design), 2 (silver), 5 (gold and silver), 10, (silver) and 20 rupees (seven-sided and silver). Banknotes of Sri Lanka are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 rupees. Coins that are more than a few years old are typically in quite bad condition. Banknotes that are ripped, defaced or written on are not accepted in stores, nor are wet or balled up bank notes. Be alert when accepting change you will come to know that our money is in good condition as the slightest tear or ink stain might mean that they are worthless. \nthumb|Spice shop at Kandy Market\nSri Lankan bank notes have telltale anti-forgery markings that travellers should familiarise themselves with. These include a watermark on the left hand side, raised threads of the left and right edges of the note, and a shiny hologram strip down the middle of the note.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs are common in the cities and suburbs, especially at bank branches, less so in the countryside. You can withdraw using debit cards too (Cirrus, Maestro, Visa Electron, etc.) where the logos are displayed. Not every ATM accepts international cards, but many do. Most ATMs will dispense up to Rs 100,000 at once. Only Peoples Bank and Bank of Ceylon (BOC) seem to charge **no fee for withdrawals**.\n\n#### Credit cards and banking services\n\nBe careful of using credit cards, as fraud is on the rise in Sri Lanka. You can't send money by Western Union or Money Gram from Sri Lanka abroad. One can only receive money via international money transfer while in Sri Lanka.\n\n### Costs\n\nAccommodation in Sri Lanka is a little more expensive than Southeast Asia. However, food is comparable: local street food costs around €1, a meal in a local restaurant, €2-5, and a bottle of the local Lion beer is €1. All across the country there are simple accommodations, hostels and homestays. As is common in developing countries, the cheapest homestays have no online presence and so cannot be booked online. Prices for such places are generally around €25 per night. On the coast many small boutique hotels have opened up with prices of €30-60 per night.\nthumb|This bottle of water has a printed MRP of Rs 90\n\n### Shopping\n\nColombo is the shopping capital, with many malls and plazas selling items of both modern and cultural origins. Rural areas tend to sell handicrafts: reed, cane, cotton, paper, leather, wood, clay, metal, and gemstones are transformed into batiks, toys, curios, jewellery and other hand-made treasures. When out in the more rural areas, you will encounter shops selling low-quality but cheap toys, hats, sunglasses. Counterfeit sunglasses may look good but may not protect your eyes from UV light like the real thing. Many packaged goods are stamped with the **Maximum Retail Price (MRP)** including taxes. Retailers are not supposed to charge more than this. Although most vendors stick to this rule, you may be charged more than the MRP at tourist destinations or remote places.\n\nGems (mainly sapphires and moonstones) are mined in the country. Both unset stones and finished jewellery are easily found and often well priced. See Colombo.", "word_count": 569}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk029", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Kiribath, rice cooked in coconut milk\nthumb|Kottu Roti with chicken\nthumb|Hoppers\n\nSri Lanka and South Indian food share a lot in common, and many local restaurants describe their menus as *Sri Lankan & South Indian*. There are several uniquely Sri Lankan dishes, though, such as the different types of hopper, devilled meat and/or fish, cuttlefish, etc., and the common fiery addition to any curry, *pol sambol* made of grated coconut, red chilli powder and lime juice.\n\nThe variety of Sri Lankan food is not very wide. Most places sell the same stuff, fried snacks, the same baked goods, kottu, roti, curry, and from time to time you will find a dosa place. Otherwise, there are Chinese and Western restaurants.\n\nSri Lankan food is generally spicy; you can always ask for less spicy options if you prefer, but it will still be spicy. Sri Lankans **eat with their right hands**; every eatery can provide cutlery if you can't eat otherwise. But try the Sri Lankan way (tips of fingers only); it's harder than it looks but strangely liberating.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk030", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Eat", "text": "Food is generally very cheap, with a cheap meal costing about US$1. The most expensive tourist-orientated places seldom charge more than US$10. The staple food of Sri Lankans is **rice and curry** (Rs 300–500), which is a massive mound of rice surrounded by various curries and delicacies. If you want to eat a cheap lunch you can follow the locals and try crowds at any of the numerous small restaurants, confusingly called 'Hotels'. These normally sell a rice and curry packet, as well as 'short eats', a collection of spicy rolls and samosas filled with potato, fish or chicken. This is ideal for backpackers and those who want to get past the touristy hotels selling burnt chicken and chips; you're charged by how much you eat, and unless you're absolutely ravenous it probably won't cost over a US dollar.\n\nIf you are taking road trips outside Colombo, there are endless options for places to stop on the road for lunch. Rest houses and hotels along major roads throughout the country have good restaurants that offer both Sri Lankan and Western menus. If you are less adventurous, you can easily get good sandwiches and soups at these restaurants. These places have excellent rice and curry dishes, and you will be served many different types of curries over an extremely generous portion of rice.\n\n**Kottu (Kothu) Roti** (a medley of chopped roti, vegetables and your choice of meat) is a must-have (approx Rs. 1000 as of 2025). It is uniquely Sri Lankan and tastes best when made fresh by street vendors. However, several kottu roti restaurants have been closed down due to their use of stale and old roti, which made some patrons sick. Use caution, and even better, talk with the locals to determine which are the best kottu roti restaurants.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk031", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Eat", "text": "Other foods that you should try include **String Hoppers**, **Hoppers**, **Pittu** and **Kiribath**.\n\nAs of 2025, indicative prices for various edibles are:\n\nSri Lankan breakfast (hoppers, tea/coffee): Rs. 1200\n Western breakfast (avocado toast, coffee): Rs. 2500\n Chicken kothu roti: Rs. 1000\n Devilled fish and rice: Rs. 1500\n Fish & chips: Rs. 2000 and up\n Seafood share platter: Rs. 5000 and up\n Pizza: Rs. 3000 and up\n Burger: Rs. 1500 and up\n\nThere are many upscale restaurants to choose from in the city of Colombo. There are several fine dining restaurants at the 5-star hotels which offer both local and international cuisine. These establishments are found largely in western Colombo (along Galle Road), though more are around Colombo and other major cities.\n\nFast-food outlets such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and Burger King can be found in major cities.\n\nSnacks such as 'Wade' (wah-dei) can be bought from local stores along with other Indian-based food items such as pouri and hoppers. Most of these food items are prepared with flour and oil. They mostly act as dinner meals and can be found in most Mannar restaurants. String hoppers are mostly seen in these areas, and are quite fulfilling. Most of these products are made to be enjoyed with a type of curry such as \"pol sambol\" or dhal. Seafood is present in some of these restaurants. Crabs, lobsters, fish are all fine choices and can be usually found in inns and hotels rather than streetside restaurants.\n\nRitzbury and Kandos are the main brands of chocolates, Kandos products are higher quality but pricier. Other Sri Lankan-made snacks include Munchee and Maliban brand biscuits.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk032", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Eat", "text": "Ice cream can usually be found in local supermarkets. Two common Sri Lankan-made brands are elephant house and magic. You can also buy ice creams from carts which drive past beaches. The cheapest ice cream is a popsicle called \"Captain Cool\" which normally costs 20 Rupees. Ice cream should be of recognised brands as others may not be up to adequate standards. Some districts have ice cream three-wheelers that roam around playing a tune. Purchasing your ice cream from a three-wheeler is the second best option as they provide items that are manufactured by the aforementioned brands. You can also find a substitute for popsicles known as \"ice packets\", though these are generally considered to be unhygienic since they are manufactured by unofficial companies. This item a frozen beverage that you drink by biting off the corner edge of the polythene sheet that coats the contents and sipping from the hole. The packets are uncomfortable to consume, however, they are cheap (Rs. 20) and refreshing.\n\nAlthough there are many supermarket chains the best ones are **Cargills, Keels** and **Laugh**.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk033", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Drink", "text": "In Sri Lanka, **tap water** is not safe to drink. Bottled water is cheap (1 litre for Rs. 150 in January 2025) and available everywhere. The more trustworthy brands have the SLS (Sri Lanka Standard Institute) label on the bottle, so look for it.\n\n**Fresh milk** spoils easily, due to the climate, and so is often very expensive. Powdered or UHT milk is often substituted.\n\n**Thambili**, the juice from king coconut, is very refreshing. It's sold at the side of streets throughout the island, the coconut is cut open in front of you and it's cheaper than bottled drinks at about Rs. 30 each. The standard international soft drinks are available everywhere. Also ubiquitous are soft drinks from the local producer, Elephant House, which makes a wide range of products - try the ginger beer and cream soda. \n\nThe most common local beer is **Lion Lager:** big bottles in restaurants and bars go for around Rs. 1000 in 2025. If you like dark beer, try **Lion Stout**. It has a smooth, dense body, chocolatey finish, and high alcohol content! Other brews include **Three Coins**, which is brewed by the Mt Lavinia hotel chain, allegedly to a Belgian recipe.\n\nThe traditional spirit is **Arrack**, which costs about Rs 4000 a bottle, and is often drunk with club soda. The quality can vary depending on how much you want to pay. A widely recommended brand is \"Old Reserve\" which is worth the premium price. Other locally-produced spirits include Ascot Dry Gin, which is fairly good and costs Rs. 5,670 a bottle (2025). Local rum goes for around Rs 4000 a bottle. Imported spirits are very expensive.\n\nSale and public consumption of alcohol is forbidden on **Poya Days**, which generally fall on the date of the full moon, but occasionally it falls a day either side. If you really want to drink on these days, plan ahead.", "word_count": 314}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk034", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Sri Lanka has been transformed. What would be recognised as the modern tourist industry began in the 1960s with traditional beach hotels built on the west coast which were aimed primarily at the package holiday crowd and traditional travel operators. But the past decade has brought a major change, with the growth of villas, boutique hotels, and independent properties offering a huge array of choice.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk035", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Learn", "text": "**Buddhist studies and Pali language**. The universities of Peradeniya and Kelaniya offer a variety of Buddhist studies and Pali language courses in English.\n**Meditation**. You may find monasteries and meditation centres that offer meditation courses (generally free of charge) in the Buddhist Publication Society guide.\n**Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery** is a good place to learn about Buddhism.\n**Dancing** Sri Lankan traditional dance has three categories: Udarata, Pahatharata and Sabaragamu. There are dance studios around the country where those interested can learn.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk036", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nViolent crime is not usually any more serious a problem for tourists in Sri Lanka than it is anywhere. There has been an increase in violent crimes involving tourists in the 2020s, but it is still very rare. Exercise the same care and attention as you would at home. Locals will greet foreigners with a smile and are generally helpful. It is recommended to avoid going alone after dark. Pickpocketing on public transport is uncommon, but take standard precautions.\n\n### Road safety\n\nUnfortunately, Sri Lanka's road fatality rate is among the worst in Asia. On average eight people die each day in road accidents. Most accidents happen when overtaking, driving recklessly, or speeding. Bus drivers are known for their especially aggressive and dangerous driving, due to their time constraints, with blind overtaking being very common.\n\nIf you rent a tuktuk or motorbike, drive carefully and always leave enough space. When walking along the street, watch for traffic from both directions. Always look both ways when crossing the street. It is best to face oncoming traffic when walking along the roadway.\n\n### War and terrorism\n\nSri Lanka's lengthy and bloody civil war ended in 2009, when the government forces finally defeated the Tamil Tigers, committing war crimes against civilians in the process. However, there are still land mines in rural areas, and the northern and eastern cities are still being rebuilt. Sri Lanka aims to have cleared all land mines by 2028, but it is a lengthy and labour-intensive process for which international funding is uncertain. It is very unlikely that you will encounter land mines, but if you notice anything suspicious, dial **114** to report it to authorities.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk037", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|A crumbling colonial-era building is wedged between two newer ones in Pettah, Colombo\nTerrorists linked to the Islamic State co-ordinated a series of bombings around the country killing hundreds of people on Easter 2019. However there were no follow-up attacks and the country rapidly returned to normal.\n\n### Women's safety and LGBT rights\n\nIn general it is comparatively safe to travel as a woman alone in Sri Lanka, but follow some rules for your own safety. \n Do not take public transportation late at night. \n In rural areas, try to avoid being on the street past nine and if you have to, cover your shoulders and knees. \n At the beach try to stay in groups or in tourist areas.\n\nUnder colonial-era laws which are still in place, homosexual activity between consenting adults is punishable by fines. LGBT travellers should exercise discretion.\n\n### Con artists and touts\n\nCon artists and touts are a serious problem throughout all tourist areas, even in 2025. Using the services of a tout for accommodation, travel or shopping will increase the price and open the door to more scams and touting. Tour guides and tuktuk drivers for example can without hesitation be considered touts and must be treated cautiously. First time travellers to Sri Lanka will may find themselves the victim of scams, however seasoned travellers to Sri Lanka are very rarely scammed and it is simple to avoid becoming a victim of scammers by taking precautions:", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk038", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not believe anyone who claims to be in charge of a location (like a bus terminal) without proof.\n Be on guard for anybody trying to help you by giving you unsolicited directions or (travel) advice. Don't trust any advice from taxi and tuktuk drivers, especially if they tell you the place you want to go to is closed, dangerous, non-existent, etc. If you are unsure, check a map or ask an uninvolved local. If you have been told your hotel is closed or full, that's mostly BS and not true in times of Booking.com.\n Be on guard when a stranger starts a conversation with you. Sri Lankans are shy people, the only reason they pro-actively talk to Westerners is to push some sale, service or donation they make money from. It usually starts with \"Where are you from?\", \"Where are you going?\", and \"First time Sri Lanka?\", which most of the time leads to touting. \n If you are a first time visitor to Sri Lanka, *do not admit it* as it marks you out as someone who does not know the prices of goods and services in the country.\n Unless you absolutely have to, **do not hire the same driver or guide for more than a day**. They are a dime a dozen in each city and the whole country is so small that you will not have trouble getting between towns via bus, train, tuk-tuk or another driver if you have to. Even though you agree on a daily or hourly rate, the drivers will all generally attempt to make more commission out of you by forcing you to visit one of their *brother's* or friends' businesses (e.g., spice garden, carving or gem shops). Calmly and firmly say you are not interested and if they continue to force you to go then leave them behind and find another driver — they are very common and you will have no problem finding another one.\n Never take the service of another \"recommended\" person or \"friend\". This will inflate your final price significantly. If you really want to help, rather give that money to one of the poor souls begging along the street.\n Never feel guilty about disappointing anyone, this is what touts prey on and they will try to play on your feelings of guilt to get you to pay inflated prices for goods or services.\n If you pay for a service or a tour, demand what you negotiated and don't let yourself get sidetracked to other places and things not agreed upon. Stand your ground and threaten not to pay if the situation escalates.\n If you get scammed, leave a review with the place that originally caused you ending up with that scam, e.g. your guest house. It is important for other guests to know about this situation, e.g. overpriced or bad tours, dinners or taxi services, so they don't fall into the same trap. Guest house owners are well aware of their behaviour, it's not helping, it's touting.\n Always demand proper and printed tickets when visiting official sights and tourist attractions run by public institutions. No ticket means you don't have to pay! The money paid when no ticket is issued goes straight into the pockets of the ticket seller. This means the government doesn't get this money and cannot maintain the place properly. Don't get fooled by being presented with an empty stack of ripped or used ticket stubs — again, no ticket means you don't have to pay! (Police will be on your side if you want to escalate the situation.) This is especially true for when you use a tour guide. He might claim he does take care of the tickets while actually him and the ticket seller will just split the money between themselves instead of making sure it goes into public funds. This is corruption, do not take part in it and play your role as a responsible traveller!", "word_count": 656}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk039", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Vaccinations** are recommended for Hepatitis A+B and Tetanus. Typhus vaccination is also recommended for travellers heading outside of tourist areas especially in the wet season. The CDC also recommends vaccination against '''Japanese encephalitis'''.\n **Dengue fever**: During the rainy season use mosquito repellent. When head and joint aches occur see a doctor. There are two vaccines available: Dengvaxia and Qdenga.\n Chikungunya disease: this mosquito-borne viral infection has been reported by travellers in Galle as recently as October 2025. Its symptoms are painful and long-lasting. Wear DEET-based insect repellent and cover your skin where possible.\n **Malaria**: since 2016 Sri Lanka is declared malaria free zone by WHO\n **Yellow fever**: Sri Lanka, like the rest of Asia is free from yellow fever, but a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.\n **Aggressive dogs** are a problem in Sri Lanka — stray dogs can be found virtually anywhere in this country. While during the day they are too exhausted to pose a threat, at night they can become a serious issue — best to carry a stick at night for protection if you walk through badly light neigbourhood. Getting a **Rabies** vaccination could make sense, especially if you stay longer.\n Visitors should not drink tap **water**. Stick to bottled water for drinking and tooth-brushing.\n Although **snake bites** are extremely rare among tourists (comparable to being struck by lightning), anyone bitten should seek prompt medical care. This is true even if the bite doesn't result in any pain and swelling. The National Emergency number is 119. In Colombo, dial either 119 or if you want an emergency ambulance - 110.\n There are tiny little **flies** that live in the sand (inland only, not on the beaches). Any contact with the dry sand usually results in bites and subsequent painful itching.\n Outside of Colombo, tampons are hard to find. Bring enough for your trip.\nAs always, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Government hospitals are not free for tourists, regardless of what you may read online. Government hospitals are cheaper than private hospitals, but they take cash only, and do not accept travel insurance like private hospitals do.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk040", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Cope", "text": "thumb|Distribution of major religions in Sri Lanka (2012)\n\n### Tour guides\n\nSome tour guides may take you to shops where they receive a kickback from the owner for any purchases you make. You can protect yourself from paying these inflated prices by keeping an eye on the prices of items of interest in other shops.\n\n### Religion\n\nSri Lanka has many cultures and religions. Religions contribute to the country's architecture. Temples, kovils, mosques and churches are common points of interest and gathering-places for the community. 70% of Sri Lankans practice Theravada Buddhism as of 2012. Sri Lanka takes its religions seriously; any disrespectful words or actions in public may lead to arrest.\n**Buddhism** — Arrived in Sri Lanka in the 3rd Century AD, now it is the most common religion in Sri Lanka, by far the dominant religion among the Sinhalese, and part of its 2000 years of history. \n**Hinduism** — Sri Lanka's second largest religion can be found scattered across the country, and is the majority religion among ethnic Tamils.\n**Islam** — Arrived at the country via Arab traders; now practised by a significant minority of Tamils, and by the Sri Lankan Malays.\n**Christianity** — Introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese, and practised by a significant minority of Tamils. Most Sri Lankan Christians are Roman Catholics.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk041", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Buddha statues at the Gangarama Temple in Colombo\n\nThere are several customs that, especially for Western travellers, will take a bit of getting used to.\n\n It is customary to **remove shoes and wear respectful attire** (i.e., no miniskirts, tank tops, short pants) when visiting **temples**. It is also the custom to remove shoes before entering a **home**, though this is not as strictly followed as in places such as Japan.\n **Never touch or pat** Buddhist monks, including younger monks and children who practice at a temple.\n Do not display **tattoos that depict the Buddha**. They can be regarded as highly insulting in Sri Lanka, even if acceptable in other Buddhist regions. Arrest and deportation are realistic scenarios, although this last happened in 2014.\n Do not **turn your back** to a Buddha statue while within a reasonable distance. This includes posing for photos, where you **should not** make arm or body contact with the statue. It is advisable to photograph a Buddha statue with all persons facing towards it (as observing it), rather than posing alongside.\n **Public nudity** is illegal in Sri Lanka – nude or topless sunbathing and skinny dipping should be avoided, except in the private beach resorts which allow it.\n Although much latitude is given to tourists, it is more polite to **use your right hand** when handing money and small objects, etc. Of course you can use both hands for something big or heavy.\n **Be respectful to monks/elderly/disabled.** There's no particular etiquette, but do what you'd normally do like giving them a seat on a crowded bus. Likewise, show respect to the poverty-stricken individuals who roam the streets of large cities\n It is highly controversial to discuss **politics**, particularly the Sinhalese/Tamil divide or the LTTE. The 26-year civil war which ended in 2009 saw thousands of attacks throughout the country, including suicide bombings and massacres which have killed scores of politicians and civilians on both sides.\n **No photography** of sensitive locations (inside and outside), and inside of shopping malls and tea factories (outside OK). Be especially careful in Fort, Colombo (except on the beach). If soldiers are guarding something, it probably shouldn't be photographed. Don't rely on signs alone, as sometimes they are old or missing. For example, one end of a bridge may have a \"No Photography\" sign, but not the other.\n Seemingly innocuous **public displays of affection** between lovers such as kissing and/or hugging may be culturally frowned upon as it is considered to be private behaviour, but it is acceptable in functions and establishments designated for adults such as nightclubs, casinos and beach parties. Much lenience is given to foreigners and holding hands and public affection between parents and their children is not frowned upon.", "word_count": 451}
+{"chunk_id": "sri-lanka::chunk042", "doc_id": "sri-lanka", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Phone\n\nThe country code for Sri Lanka is **94**. Remove the intercity prefix (**0**) before the area code when dialling internationally into the country (i.e., 0112 688 688 becomes +94 112 688 688) when dialling from abroad. The two next numbers after 94 represents the area code, they are different for every district for more information see Telephone numbers in Sri Lanka.\n\n### Mobile and data\n\nAs of 2025, there are the following network providers: Dialog, Airtel, Mobitel and Hutch.\n\n4G coverage on the island is good, sometimes slightly depending on the provider. People say Dialog is the best, and indeed Mobitel seems sometimes lacking proper connection.\n\nAs of 2025, packages (at the airport) including data go for around €9 including 50-60GB for 30 days, with unlimited social media, calls and messages. Airtel has an offer of Rs 1,188 for 12GB data for 30 days, and unlimited social media and calls. Airtel and Mobitel offer 15GB data for only Rs 1,000. Mobitel has a 1GB/day incl. calls and messages and unlimited social media for Rs 1,390 per 29 days.\n\n### Internet\n\nMost restaurants and guest houses have free WiFi.", "word_count": 190}
diff --git a/corpus/sri-lanka/metadata.json b/corpus/sri-lanka/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7c50a2e4d9c3f27f6e90c5b67b08d911bfe4b6b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sri-lanka/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sri-lanka",
+ "title": "Sri Lanka",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "surfing",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 10846,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 43,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/stockholm/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/stockholm/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..893dc5dfa5085dbd7a774bf8bf9ca4cb6ff34026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stockholm/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk000", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Stockholm** is Sweden's capital and largest city, with nearly a million inhabitants in the city, and 2.4 million within Stockholm County (as of 2021). The inner city is made up of 14 islands across Lake **Mälaren** and three streams into the brackish **Baltic Sea**, with the Stockholm archipelago with some 24,000 islands, islets and skerries. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways, and another 30% is made up of green areas. Air and water are said to be the freshest of any European capital. Stockholm hosts the Nobel Prize ceremony and has around 70 museums.\n\nStockholm is the hub of most Swedish rail and bus traffic and has two of the country's busiest airports nearby, so it is a good starting point for visiting other parts of Sweden.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk001", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Districts", "text": "Stockholm's suburbs sprawl out across most of Stockholm County. Stockholm's administrative division may be perplexing - municipal borders might cut right through neighbourhoods.\n\nThis article describes areas that are geographically close and easy to visit together as districts; the administrative borders of districts and municipalities may differ. The outer parts of the county consist of Norrtälje, Sigtuna, Norrort, Stockholm Archipelago, Södertörn and Södertälje.", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk002", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|The Royal Guard on parade at the Royal Palace\n\nDue to the post-glacial rebound, Stockholm is slowly rising from the sea. Mälaren was a bay of the Baltic Sea throughout the Viking Age of the 9th and 10th centuries; today's Stockholm was the waterway for the first Swedish cities; Birka, Uppsala, and Sigtuna. As Sigtuna was sacked by pirates in AD 1187, the Swedes needed to fortify the strait.\n\nAs the rising land cut off Mälaren from the sea in the 13th century, Stockholm became an important trading post. The city is said to be founded by Birger jarl (*jarl* is a title corresponding to British *earl*), who had a fortress built on an island later known as Gamla Stan. The first known written records that mention Stockholm date from 1252; this is the considered year of foundation. In the 15th century Stockholm replaced Uppsala as the effective capital. Stockholm was an associate of the Hanseatic League, and since its liberation from Denmark by King Gustav Vasa in 1523, Stockholm has remained Sweden's most important center of commerce, although Gothenburg later became the largest international port. During the 17th century, Stockholm was the base of the Swedish Empire, with a land area twice the country's current size, nearly encircling the Baltic Sea.\n\nMuch of the inner city plan was laid out in the 19th century, and the inner city still contains buildings from all ages since the 15th century. Like the rest of Sweden, Stockholm was largely untouched by the World Wars, but, particularly between 1955 and 1975, hundreds of old buildings in Norrmalm were demolished in a large-scale modernization process, emulating similar projects in other European cities.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk003", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since 1901, Stockholm has hosted the annual Nobel Prize ceremony for all categories except the peace prize, which is handed out in Oslo. In the 20th century, metropolitan Stockholm sprawled out across most of Stockholm County, with the development of the Stockholm Metro, famous for its contemporary art. 1950s suburbs such as Vällingby became a model for suburban development in other cities. While most of the attractions are in the inner city, a majority of the citizens live in the suburbs.\n\nOtherwise a safe and calm city, Stockholm is also known for the term *Stockholm Syndrome,* which was coined to describe a hostage's sympathy for a captor during a bank robbery in Norrmalm in 1973.\n\n### Sustainable technology\n\nAs of 2023, Stockholm is striving to become a world-leading city in sustainable engineering, including waste management, clean air and water, carbon-free public transportation, and energy efficiency. Lake water is safe for bathing, and in practice for drinking (though not recommended).\n\nSome new neighbourhoods with state-of-the-art technology in this field are Hammarby Sjöstad, Norra Djurgårdsstaden and Hagastaden. See Stockholm environmentalist tour.\n\n### Climate\n\nDespite its northern location, Stockholm has fairly mild temperatures throughout the year. The city sees a dramatic seasonal variation in sunlight, from more than 18 hours of daylight around Midsummer (03:30–22:00), to around 6 hours of daylight around Christmas (08:45–14:45). Stockholm has an average of nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. Average yearly precipitation is 539 mm (21.2\"), with July and August slightly the wettest months. Snowfall can occur from late November to early April, but the amount of snowfall and snow on the ground varies greatly from year to year, and through the winter. No date is a safe bet for snow in Stockholm; for real Scandinavian winter, visit Dalarna or Norrland.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk004", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Understand", "text": "In other words, May to September tend to have the most comfortable weather. From Midsummer to the end of July, most inhabitants leave the city, and some venues close for summer, making the city more dominated by tourists. Summer temperatures average around for lows and for highs. Some warmer and hotter days can see temperatures rise to above during the day.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Stockholm Tourist Center", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk005", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nStockholm () is served by several international airports; Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (; near Sigtuna) being the dominant one. Stockholm-Bromma () is the only airport within the city. The airports in Skavsta (; near Nyköping) and Västerås () also receive some international flights.\n\nthumb|right|With the simple decor, geometric shape, generous use of wood and glass and a slightly last-century style, Arlanda welcomes you with everything you would expect of Stockholm\n\n#### Arlanda Airport\n\n() 40 km north of the city is Sweden's largest airport, and the destination for most flights to Sweden.\n\nthumb|Arlanda Express is by far the fastest transfer to central Stockholm, though airport coaches and regular trains are cheaper.\n\nThere is a dedicated train every 15 minutes from the Arlanda terminals to Stockholm Central Station (20 min; 175–350 kr/person depending on group size, youth 160 kr). Also regular trains (270 kr; much cheaper fares can be had in advance) and SL commuter trains (180/90 kr) serve the airport.\n\nThe cheapest ride – unless you have an SL day card and don't use the airport's train stations – is by the FlixBus buses (45 min; 70–80 kr, cheaper in advance). With SL, you can take the commuter train or a bus to a station with more frequent services to the city. There are also airport coaches (45 min).\n\nTaxis and rental cars are available.\n\n#### Bromma Airport\n\n, () in Västerort is a smaller airport 8 km west of central Stockholm. Bromma has been under threat of closure for many years and as of 2025 the only remaining operator is NyxAir to Trollhättan–Vänersborg Airport near Göteborg.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk006", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Bromma, it's easiest to take tram 31 from to . At , you can change onto the green line of Stockholm's metro, which will connect you to T-Centralen, the central hub of Stockholm's public transit. Alternatively, to get to Sundbyberg and Solna, you can change trams at heading towards Solna station with line 30. Getting to T-Centralen takes just shy of 30 minutes, with tramline 31 departing from Bromma every 20 minutes.\n\n#### Skavsta Airport\n\n() is 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Stockholm, at the outskirts of Nyköping, making this airport's branded name \"Stockholm-Skavsta\" rather far-fetched. As of 2023, the airport is only used by Wizzair and Norwegian, with flights from Tirana, Sofia, Budapest, Skopje, Gdansk, Kraków, Warsaw, Bucharest, Belgrade, Alicante and Malaga. Budget air travellers landing here might find the transfer costing more time and money than the flight.\n\nThe most practical option is the **airport coaches** to the City Terminal in Stockholm (80 min; 199 kr online). A sometimes cheaper option is to take the local bus 515 or 715 to Nyköping's rail station (*alight at Nyköping Centralstation*), from where SJ regional trains (timetable, direct services run to stations marked in white) on the Norrköping–Nyköping–Stockholm route connect to Stockholm (from 100 kr, cheaper on select days). Tickets can be bought the following two ways:\n Buy an SL combined ticket from Skavsta to Stockholm, valid on both the local bus and the regional train.\n Pay for the local bus on board with your VISA or MasterCard (cash is **not** accepted) and buy the train ticket at Nyköping's railway station.\n\nTravel time to Stockholm Arlanda Airport from Skavsta is 100 minutes.\n\n#### Västerås Airport", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk007", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "() is 100 km west of Stockholm in Västerås, and serves Ryanair flights to/from London (Stansted). Like Skavsta, Västerås can be reached in two ways: **Airport coaches** go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. 139 kr one way, 249 kr round trip, takes about 80 minutes. Alternatively you can take the public **taxi shuttle** (order can be made online, but the site is as of 2016 in Swedish only) that runs between the airport and Västerås rail station in 6–7 minutes, departing from outside the terminal 20 minutes after each flight arrival and costing 50 kr one way. From there regional trains on the Stockholm - Västerås - Örebro - Hallsberg - Göteborg route (timetable, M-F = Monday-Friday, L = Saturday, SoH = Sunday and holidays) connect to Stockholm in 53 min at a price of 59 kr, resulting in a total fare of 10 kr. Total travel time Västerås Airport - Stockholm is 65 minutes, but this option is as much as 25 minutes faster, since the airport coach departs 10 minutes later from the airport and arrives there 10 minutes earlier.\n\n### By train\n\n*See Stockholm/Norrmalm for details on the Central Station.*\n\nthumb|Stockholm Central Station\nthumb|When entering Stockholm from the south, by road or rail, be sure to enjoy the view from the bridges.\n\nThe main station, (Norrmalm), serves both commuter and long-distance routes. It is in lower Norrmalm, connected to **T-Centralen**, the central hub for the Stockholm Metro, and **Cityterminalen**, the long-distance bus station. The national rail company **SJ**, has a store inside the station and a travel planner with ticket booking service on its web page. The train companies '''Snälltåget''', '''VY''' and **Flixtrain** serve the city.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk008", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "Internationally, there are services from Copenhagen (Denmark) (5 hr) and Oslo (Norway) (4½-5 hr) with several direct connections daily. A daily sleeper train is available from Narvik (14 hr). From Trondheim, a quick change in Storlien and Sundsvall is needed (10 hr). Both the national railway company SJ as well as the private Snälltåget seasonally operate daily overnight trains from Berlin and Hamburg taking 12–14 hours.\n\nThere are direct domestic services to Stockholm from most major cities. There's high-speed *SJ 2000* and *SJ 3000* services from Gothenburg (3 hr), Malmö (4½ hr), Sundsvall (3½ hr) and Östersund (5 hr); conventional trains mostly follow the same routes running slightly slower and can slash prices considerably. Most other mid-sized cities have a train connection with Stockholm. Malmö has an overnight service, as do the northern cities of Luleå, Kiruna and Umeå, the latter service originating in the far northern Norwegian town of Narvik and offering spectacular views of Lapland along its journey to Stockholm.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe is the main bus terminal, wall to wall with Stockholms Central, and the T Centralen metro station. There are multiple daily departures to most other cities in Sweden, as well as a few international routes. **FlixBus** operates routes to Copenhagen and Oslo with several daily departures, and a twice-weekly service to Berlin. FlixBus also offers connections with Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne, Wuppertal and Berlin among other cities. NetBuss has a route to Oslo. Tapanis Buss has a route between Tornio, Finland and Stockholm running through road E4.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|Kornhamnstorg, a waterfront square in the Old Town", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk009", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "Stockholm is served by international luxury cruise ships (see cruising the Baltic Sea), and the local **Baltic Sea ferries** (\"ferry\" is quite a misnomer, most are giant ships). The Baltic Sea ferries link Stockholm to Helsinki, Mariehamn and Turku (these ships are locally known as *finlandsbåtar*, \"Finland boat\"), Riga and Tallinn every day. They are by far the cheapest way to travel between these cities. Even if you intend to use the boats to travel to or from Stockholm, it is almost always cheaper to book a round-trip cruise (*kryssning*), which can be as cheap as 80 kr (!) for a full 4-person cabin and rarely (even for a weekend cruise in high season) exceeds 400 kr for the cheapest 4-bed cabin. A one-way ticket for a cabin, in comparison, usually exceeds 1000 kr.\n\nThere are three cruise ship terminals:\n\nIn northern Östermalm there are and , one kilometre to the east from the former. These two are used by Tallink; Frihamnen for ships from Riga, Värtahamnen for ships from all other destinations (Turku, Helsinki, Tallinn, Mariehamn)\n\nVärtahamnen is 400 metres from the **Gärdet** metro station; the route is signposted. You can also use bus 76 from Kungsträdgården. For Frihamnen, go to T-Karlaplan, take bus 72 from the avenue to Filmhuset, and then bus 76 to Magasin 3, which is outside that terminal. If you have a lot of luggage, or if your cruise ship is docked at Magasin 9, you may want to consider other means of transport.\n\n, *Stadsgården*, is in Södermalm, with an astounding view of the inner port area. Most importantly, it's used by **Viking Line** for ferries to Mariehamn, Helsinki and Turku and their 22-hour cruises to Mariehamn.\nIf you travel on a \"real\" cruise ship, such as **Holland America Cruises** you will probably also dock here.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk010", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are direct bus lines from Stockholm centre to Stadsgården, lines 53 from nearby T-Centralen and line 2 from Kungsträdgården. To get there from the city centre by subway, go to T-Slussen and go for the bus terminal. Take the 401–422, 442–449 or 471 bus *one single stop* to Londonviadukten and the port will be on your left. Alternatively normal town buses 53 and 71 link Slussen and the Viking Line terminal, albeit via the backstreets. Public transport tickets are not sold on board buses, but the tourist office in the terminal sells them (at least day passes). Alternatively, you can walk to Slussen (it's little more than a kilometre) and buy the tickets you need there.\n\nYet another convenient but more expensive alternative is the shuttle buses operated by Flygbussarna that go directly from the terminal to the central bus station (Cityterminalen) in the city centre. The price for a ticket on these are 55 kr (single) and 90 kr (return) and tickets are sold on board, at Flygbussarna's and Viking Line's booths in the bus station, and if you want to buy the ticket on the bus you can do it but only pay with a credit card. There are multiple departures from the port 15–60 minutes after the ferry arrives and from the station 1–3 hours before the ferry departs. If you are driving to the boat, follow the signs to *Slussen*, then *Stadsgårdsterminalen* (Slussen is confusing even for locals, so don't feel embarrassed if you end up spinning in the intersection a few times) and then *Finland/Viking Line*.\n\nSome cruise ships call at **Nynäshamn** 50 km south of Stockholm. The ferry terminal is served by SL commuter train line 43. There are also buses which are slightly faster, costing 109 kr for adults.\n\n### By yacht\n\n### By car", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk011", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get in", "text": "European routes E4, E18 and E20 converge in Stockholm. The few north-south bridges across lake Mälaren tend to be congested around rush hour. Roads in and around Stockholm are a toll zone (more exactly, \"congestion tax\"), and also foreign-registered vehicles are required to pay it – see more in By car below.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk012", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "Stockholm is easy to access by public transport, and on bicycle during the warm season. Travelling by car is suitable outside built-up areas.\n\n### By public transport\n\n** SL** (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) runs an extensive metro, commuter train and bus system, as well as some light rail and ferry services. They serve Stockholm County, with Sigtuna and Norrtälje in the north, and Södertälje and Nynäshamn in the south, with extensions to Uppsala, Gnesta and Bålsta for an extra fee (see below).\n\nThe SL website has detailed ticket and price information in English, and a journey planner. It is always updated.\n\n#### Tickets\n\nthumb|Platform ticket machines accept credit cards, and are the best way to pay for single trips.\n\nThe simplest way to pay for tickets is to simply use your credit card to pay for tickets, by tapping at entry gates and electronic readers. Tickets **cannot be bought on buses** by cash. As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular validators in the front of the vehicle (you should hear a beep and see a green light).\n\nAll SL services use an integrated ticket system with an RFID card, which triggers entry gates and other electronic readers. The card costs 20 kr to purchase and can load all SL tickets.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk013", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are two forms of ticketing, passes and coupons. Passes and coupons are bought at **SL Center** (in different stations, including central station and t-central), at all *Pressbyrån* stores, most supermarkets and some smaller kiosks. Passes are available for 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 30 days, and allow unrestricted rides on all buses, trams, T-bana, and commuter trains (outside of Arlanda Central and stations north of it), as well as the Djurgården ferry. A coupon ticket allows unlimited travel for 75 minutes including changes. A discount is offered if tickets are purchased for two or more passengers travelling together.\n\nThere is an SL app which can be used to buy single tickets and passes, which must be validated before use in the app (once validated the ticket appears as a large QR code). Alternatively coupons can be downloaded to the SL Access card, *reskassa*., as well as paper tickets from vending machines, ticket booths and rail conductors.\n\nChildren under 12 travelling with adults travel free from mid-day Friday to midnight Sunday. Children under 7 ride for free with a paying adult.\n\nSL tickets are **not** valid on airport coaches, Arlanda Express and regional trains.\n\n#### Stockholm Metro\n\nthumb|right|Artwork at the Tekniska Högskolan metro station.\n\nStockholm has a rapid transit system called the **Tunnelbana** [ˌtɵnəlˈbɑːna] (sometimes abbreviated **T-Bana** or just **T** on signs). With 100 stations, it serves most of the inner city, as well as many inner suburbs. Trains run from 05:00 to 01:00 on weekdays, and around the clock on weekends. Night buses replace the trains on weeknights. It is in most cases the fastest mode of transportation.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk014", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "Stockholm's metro system is known for its art installations, with nearly all stations offering some form of artwork on display. The art on the **blue line** in particular is of note.\n\nDirections in Stockholm are often accompanied by the name of the closest metro stop, using **T** as an abbreviation for \"Tunnelbana\", e.g. \"*T Gamla Stan*\". This practice is followed below when appropriate.\n\n#### Commuter rail\n\nStockholm has a **commuter rail network**, *pendeltåg*, reaching 53 stations, including Uppsala, Knivsta and Bålsta in Uppsala County, plus Gnesta in Södermanland County. Stations are marked by a **J** sign. All city centre-bound trains now pass through the Stockholm City station which is across the street from the main Central Station.\n\nSL tickets are valid on commuter trains, with the exception of Knivsta and Uppsala on line 38, which employ Uppsala's local transport fares, and Arlanda Airport (see above).\n\n#### Light rail\n\nthumb|right|Nockebybanan at Alvik Station\n\nStockholm has several tram lines:\n **Tvärbanan** connecting Västerort to Söderort.\n **Lidingöbanan** connects *Ropsten* in Östermalm to Lidingö. Several archipelago ferries call at *Gåshaga brygga* at the east terminus.\n **Nockebybanan** in Västerort connects the district of **Nockeby** to **Alvik** on the **green line** of the Tunnelbana.\n **Spårväg City** is a city tram connecting the Central Station to *Waldemarsudde* (Djurgården).\n\n#### Buses\n\n**Buses** serve most populated areas where metro, rail or tram does not reach. Four inner city main lines numbered from 1 to 4 are operated by large blue buses (weekdays every 3–10 minutes), the other, generally less frequent lines (weekdays 7–20 minutes), by red buses.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk015", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "The blue bus lines are:\n line 1 - from *Frihamnen* in Östermalm via Hötorget in Norrmalm and through Kungsholmen to the island of *Stora Essingen* in the latter district.\n line 2 - from Vasastan through western Norrmalm and the Gamla Stan to *Sofia* in eastern Södermalm\n line 3 - from Karolinska Institutet through eastern Vasastan, Kungsholmen, eastern Norrmalm and the Gamla Stan to western Södermalm\n line 4 - from Vasastan through Kungsholmen directly to Södermalm\n\nApart from those four, several lines running through outer districts and suburbs of Stockholm are designated as blue buses - apart from the colour, they are distinguished by the middle 7 in their three-digit line number.\n\n#### Passenger ferries\n\nThere are also ferries to Djurgården and Skeppsholmen. Travel with the Djurgården ferry is included with any 24- or 72-hour pass, 7-day pass as well as the monthly pass.\n\nSL passes are good on these passenger ferries:\n Sjövägen (80) : Nybroplan–Allmänna gränd (Djurgården)–Saltsjöqvarn–Finnboda hamn–Kvarnholmen–Nacka Strand–Blockhushudden (Djurgården)–Dalénum–Frihamnen – hourly rides from Nybrokajen (Norrmalm), calling at several docks in Nacka, and Lidingö, ending in Ropsten (Östermalm). Some tours carry on to the small suburban islands Tranholmen and Storholmen. Standard SL fare. The ferry has a cafeteria with tea, coffee, snacks, beer and wine, and gives a great view of the inlet of Stockholm.\n Djurgårdsfärjan (82): Slussen (dock at southeast Gamla Stan)–Skeppsholmen–Allmäna gränd (Djurgården) – short ride between the old town and the garden island.\n Pendelbåt (83 and 83X): Strömkajen–Slussen–Nacka strand–Vaxholm–Grenadjärbryggan: long route (1.5 to 2 hours, 83X is faster) to Stockholm archipelago. Wi-Fi and café, possible to carry cycles if there is enough space.\n Pendelbåt (89): Klara Mälarstrand–Lilla Essingen–Ekensberg–Kungshättan–Tappström (Ekerö): long ride, return by bus 176 or 177 and metro 17, 18 or 19, stopping over at Drottningholm Palace.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk016", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycling is an attractive option during warm seasons, and there are many bike lanes. A bike ride across the inner city takes no longer than 30 minutes, and can be faster than travelling by metro or car. There are cycle paths along most major streets and drivers are generally considerate towards cyclists. In winter, when paths can be covered by ice, extra care should be taken. Bike paths may have a bicycle painted on the ground instead of the ordinary sign. Make sure you bike on the right hand side of the street, just as the cars.\n\n#### Bike rentals\n\n- RideMovi\n\n- BikeSweden AB\n\n- Cykel- & Mopeduthyrningen\n\n- Djurgårdsbrons Sjöcafé\n\n- Gamla Stans Cykel\n\n- Servicedepån - Cykelstallet\n\n### By electric kick scooter\n\nIt is possible to rent Swedish Voi, German Tier, American Lime, American Bird and Estonian Bolt electric kick scooters for use in the centre. Install the smartphone app, check where the nearest scooter is, check price, unlock with the app, drive, park it in some sensible location in the allowed area (mind the vision impaired) and release it with the app. The scooters have a top speed of , which is plenty; acquaint yourself with the scooter and its controls somewhere safe. Rules are the same as for bikes, but minimum age (imposed by the companies) is 18. In some areas the scooters enforce a lower speed (5–6 km/h). The companies aim to keep the scooters available also in winter, conditions permitting, but the vehicles are not ideal in snowy or slippery conditions.\n\nIn 2023 Italian RideMovi offers rental of electric kick scooters and e-bikes.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk017", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|'''Warning: Never''' step into a taxi without checking the yellow price sign on the rear window first! Taxi drivers are legally allowed to charge rip-off prices as long as they are stated clearly on the sign. The taxi to the left is twice as expensive as the one to the right. The price tag should say around 300 kr for a Stockholm cab.\n\nTaxis are rather expensive. Even worse is the fact that some small dodgy operators charge even higher prices. The antidote is to always check the **black and yellow price sticker** on the rear window. The price shown in large digits is the maximum (for instance during night hours) fare for a 10 km, 15-minute journey and reputable companies charge around 300 kr for this. The price can legally be up to 499 kr; if the sticker shows a much higher price, stay away or be ripped off. The taxi market is deregulated, making it considerably easier to find a taxi, but the downside is that the rip-offs aren't even illegal, just \"supply and demand\"! Taxis aren't exempted from the congestion tax and add it to your fee when applicable.\n\nAs long as you check the sticker you'll be fine, but if you're still nervous choose the major companies **TopCab** (), **Taxi Kurir** () **Taxi 020** ( and **Taxi Stockholm** (). Many minor companies use \"Stockholm\" in their names to mimic the last one, so look for the phone number \"15 00 00\", which appears below the logo on all Taxi Stockholm cars.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk018", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "Authorized taxis have yellow license plates. Late at night in the city centre, you may be offered a ride with an illegal taxi, *svarttaxi* (literally \"black taxi\"), usually by discreet whispering of \"taxi\". Illegal cabs are associated with other crime and don't save you a lot of money, and legal cabs are usually available.\n\n- Bolt Stockholm\n\n- Cabonline\n\n- Uber Stockholm\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Congestion fee sign\n\nAs central Stockholm has good public transit, a car is only needed for freight, or for visiting outer suburbs, or the countryside.\n\nCars driving into or out of central Stockholm between 06:30 and 18:29 are charged a congestion tax of 11 to 35 kr. Some car rental companies charge their customers separately for the cost of toll passages, while others do not. Foreign-registered vehicles are not exempt from tax (you'll receive an invoice). Taxes are not charged in most of July, on holidays (such as Sundays) or on the day before a holiday (such as Saturdays).\n\nParking is restricted and expensive in the inner city, and free parking is scarce even in the suburbs, except at external shopping centres.\n\nThe congestion tax, parking fees and fuel prices make driving costly around Stockholm.\n\nWhile traffic congestion is not as bad as in other cities of similar size, the north-south divide is a chokepoint at rush hour; especially the *Slussen* area between Gamla Stan and Södermalm. In general, commuting south to north is slowest in the morning, while north to south is slowest in the afternoon.\n\nAs of 2019, many streets (especially in Norrmalm) are under reconstruction, with rerouting and limited capacity.\n\nRemember to yield for pedestrians, who often cross smaller streets in front of cars even when they have red light.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk019", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Get around", "text": "For SL ferries, mostly serving the city itself, see Passenger ferries above.\n\nFor the city area, there are two hop-on/hop-off boat tours that run loops between various sites in Stockholm. Each costs approximately 100 kr for a day long pass and has approximately 8 stops, including the cruise terminal, Gamla Stan, the Vasa Museum, Skansen, and Skeppsholmen.\n\nThe larger Stockholm archipelago is served by two major shipping companies:\n **Waxholmsbolaget** runs inexpensive public transit ferries, slowed down by stops at several different docks. Waxholmsbolaget also runs two steamboats, that offer even slower, but genuine, round-trips with classical Swedish cuisine.\n **Strömma** is a private company, aimed at international tourists, with fast boats and audioguides.\n\n### By foot\n\nStockholm is a walking-friendly city if snow is not present and getting from one place to another by foot is safe and otherwise hassle-free, at least in the inner city. Stockholm's suburbs, on the other hand, are rather spread out.\n\nDrottninggatan, Västerlånggatan and Götgatan is a shopping and dining walk through the city.\n Stockholm history tour tells the history of Stockholm from Vikings to tech startups.\n Södermalm hill tour provides the greatest panorama photo views, as well as the arts and crafts scene.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk020", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "See", "text": "### Buildings and structures\n\nthumb|The Royal Palace, ''Stockholms slott'', in [[Stockholm/Gamla Stan|Gamla stan]]\n\nUntouched by wars for a long time, Stockholm has some great old architecture to see. The exception would be Norrmalm, where much was demolished in the 1950s and 1960s to give place to what was then more modern buildings. Looking at it the other way around, if interested in this kind of architecture this is the place to go.\n\nStockholm's '''Old Town''' (''Gamla Stan''), is the beautifully preserved historical center, best covered on foot, dominated by the **Stockholm Palace** (Stockholms slott). Other highlights include **Storkyrkan**, the cathedral of Stockholm, which has been used for many royal coronations, weddings and funerals, and **Riddarholmskyrkan**, a beautifully preserved medieval church, which hosts the tombs of many Swedish kings and royals, surrounded by former mansions.\n\nthumb|Stockholm's Old Town with the Tyska Kyrkan (German church)\n\nAs a matter of fact, there's not only one royal palace in and around Stockholm but several others, **Drottningholm** (on Ekerö) and **Haga** (in Solna) being the most famous. Here visitors can get in close contact with traditions of the Swedish monarchy. The Drottningholm palace, a , is where the royal family lives; still much of it is open to the public. The surroundings are well worth a walk as well. In summer, there is a regular boat service from Stadshuskajen (the City Hall Quay) to Drottningholm.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk021", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "See", "text": "Stockholm has several interesting churches, from medieval times to the 20th century. Most of them are in active use by the Church of Sweden. There is also a synagogue in Östermalm and a mosque on Södermalm. The Woodland cemetery, *Skogskyrkogården*, in Söderort is one of few UNESCO World Heritage sites from the 20th century. Also in Söderort is **Avicii Arena**, known as **Globen** (\"Globe\"), a white spherical building used for hockey games and as a concert venue. Occasionally, at least at game nights, it is lit by coloured lights. The Globe is the heart of the Sweden Solar System, the world's largest scale model of any kind. With the Globe as the Sun, models of the planets are displayed at Slussen (Mercury), the Royal Institute of Technology (Venus), the Natural History Museum (Earth and Moon), Mörby Centrum (Mars), Arlanda Airport (Jupiter) and Uppsala (Saturn).\n\n### Viewpoints\n\nThe heights of northern Södermalm give a great view of central Stockholm, especially from the street Fjällgatan, the Fåfängan mountain just east of to Stadsgårdshamnen, and bars and restaurants such as **Gondolen**, **Herman's**, **Himlen**, and the penthouse lounge of **Sjöfartshotellet**. Further south in Söderort there's **Hammarbybacken**, a semi-artificial ski slope, walkable around the year, great during summer and Skyview on the top of the Ericsson Globe (130 kr).\n\nOn Skansen there's the 19th century tower of Bredablick offering views. The Stockholm City Hall (*Stockholms stadshus*) on Kungsholmen is famous for its observatory tower, and for the Nobel Prize dining hall.\n\nDrones are prohibited above Gamla stan, Norrmalm, and parts of Östermalm and Kungsholmen. Södermalm and Djurgården are recommended for drone flight.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|The Vasa Museum\nthumb|Nordic Museum", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk022", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "See", "text": "Stockholm has more than 70 museums, ranging from those large in size and scope to the very specialized, including the Butterfly Museum, the Spirits Museum, and the Dance Museum. As of 2016, many of them have free entrance. A brief selection:\n\nÖstermalm: **The Natural History Museum** at *T-Universitetet* has extensive exhibits for all ages, and an Omnimax cinema. **The Army Museum** displays Sweden's military history, with frequent wars from the Middle Ages until 1814, then followed by two centuries of peace. The **Swedish History Museum** features an exhibition on Vikings.\n The **Museum of Modern Art** (Skeppsholmen).\n\nDjurgården: The **Vasa Museum** displays the *Vasa*, a 17th-century warship that sunk in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage, and authentic objects from the height of the Swedish Empire. **Skansen** is an open-air museum in Djurgården, containing a zoo featuring Swedish fauna, as well as displays of Sweden's cultural heritage in reconstructed buildings. **Nordiska Museet** displays Swedish history and cultural heritage. The **Swedish Music Hall of Fame** features **ABBA The Museum**.\n Millesgården, Lidingö an open-air sculpture museum.\n Fotografiska Södermalm a photo gallery opened in 2010.\n **Birka** (Ekerö) – For the real Viking buff, there's **Birka**, the site of a former Viking city on Björkö. A replica of the old city has been built up. Boats to Björkö are operated by Strömma Kanalbolaget. Birka can also be reached by public transport to Rastaholm, and boarding a boat.\n\nthumbnail|The \"Sun Dog Painting\", the oldest depiction of Stockholm, can be seen in the [[Stockholm/Gamla Stan|Stockholm Cathedral]]\n\n### Art\n\nBeyond the art museums mentioned above, Stockholm has a vivid art scene with many art galleries, exhibition halls and public art installation. Some of the galleries are **Galleri Magnus Karlsson**, Fredsgatan 12 (Norrmalm), **Lars Bohman Gallery**, Karlavägen 9 (Östermalm), **Galerie Nordenhake**, Hudiksvallsgatan 8 (Vasastan) and **Magasin 3**, Frihamnen (Östermalm).", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk023", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "See", "text": "The **Royal Institute of Art** (Skeppsholmen) and the **University College of Arts, Crafts and Design** (Söderort) hold regular exhibitions.\n\nThe **Stockholm Metro** has plenty of artistic decoration in its stations, and promotes itself as \"the world’s longest art exhibition\". Some stations worth to mention are the moody dark blue cave of *Kungsträdgården* (Norrmalm), the giant black and white \"drawings\" by Siri Derkert at *Östermalmstorg* (Östermalm) and the celebration of science and technology at *Tekniska Högskolan* (Östermalm). *Rissne* (Solna) has a fascinating timeline of human history on its walls. A written description in English to the art in the Stockholm Metro can be downloaded for free from the SL website. See public transportation in Stockholm County for more information.\n\n### Fiction\n\nStockholm has been the setting of many books and films, including some of Astrid Lindgren's works and Nordic Noir works such as *Millennium* and *Beck*.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk024", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Restaurant Gondolen at Katarinahissen\n\n### Tours\n\nThere is a wide selection of guided tours available, by boat, by bus and on foot.\n\n#### By boat\n\n- Hop On - Hop Off Boat\n\n- Under the bridges of Stockholm\n\n- Royal Canal Tour\n\n- Historical Canal Tour\n\n- Stockholm Grand Tour\n\n#### By bus\n\n**City Tours** and **Open Top Tours** (also divisions of the Strömma group) offers bus tours:\n\n- Stockholm Panorama\n\nThe **Hop-on Hop-off Bus** is a tour with open top double decker buses that allows you to get on and off the bus as often as you want at bus stops along the route. The tour passes some major sights, but only in the central and eastern part of the city. 24-hour travel pass from 270 kr.\n\n**Stockholm Excursions** also has a few specialized bus tours.\n\n#### By taxi\n\n**Taxi Stockholm**, +46 8 15 00 00, offers a multimedia guided tours, allowing up to 3 people for a flat fare of 950 kr to explore sites and experiences in Stockholm linked to some poignant historic moments of its past, usually the dark ones, like the assassination of Olof Palme.\n\n#### By bicycle\n\n**Talk of the town** offers self-guided bike tours in six languages.\n\n- Talk of the town\n\n- BikeSweden\n\n### Swimming\n\nthumb|Flottsbrobadet in [[Södertörn]], one of several public beaches in the area\n\nThere are several beaches in inner Stockholm, as well as in the suburbs. The water in central Stockholm is mostly clean, even though it looks dark. The quality of the water is monitored by local authorities, and the reports for all the beaches in the city are available online. If there is a problem with the water, signs will be posted at the beach. During summer, the inner town beaches are rather crowded.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk025", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "The Stockholm archipelago has enough beaches and rocks for everyone, and the right to access allows bathing nearly everywhere, unless there is a notice of the opposite. As in the rest of Sweden, public adult skinny-dipping is not explicitly illegal, but frowned upon. The only sanctioned nudist beach is in Ågesta (Söderort)\n\nIf the open water is too cold for your tastes, Stockholm has several outdoor and indoor swimming pools and spas. Besides the public baths, the more luxurious ones are **Centralbadet** (Norrmalm), **Sturebadet** (Östermalm), **Eriksdalsbadet** (Södermalm) and **Yasuragi spa** (Nacka).\n\n### Spectator sports\n\nThe most popular spectator sports are **football** (soccer) and **ice hockey**. Also, **bandy** has a cult following. Tickets for games are best bought at each club's official website.\n\nThe Swedish National Men's **football (soccer)** team plays international games on **Strawberry Arena** (formerly Friends Arena) in Solna. The Swedish top football league, *Allsvenskan*, is weaker than most of its Western European sister leagues, but the fans are very faithful. The season runs from April until October. *AIK* plays on Strawberry Arena. **Tele2 Arena** (Söderort) hosts *Djurgårdens IF* and *Hammarby*. These three clubs are in constant rivalry, and the decision to share one stadium was not easy.\n\nThe Swedish top **ice hockey** league is the *Svenska Hockeyligan* (SHL; \"Swedish Hockey League\"), and the season goes from September to April. Stockholm has had no team in the SHL since the 2021–22 season; the city's two main clubs, AIK and Djurgårdens, play in the second level, *HockeyAllsvenskan*, as of 2023. Both clubs play home games at **Hovet** (Söderort).", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk026", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "**Bandy** is played from November to February. Dress warm, as the game is played outdoors in two 45-minute halves. Stockholm has only one team in the top men's bandy league: **Hammarby**. The final of the Swedish League takes place on Strawberry Arena (Solna) or Tele2 Arena (Södermalm).\n\nThese stadiums also host frequent concerts and stage shows; see Stockholm Live for calendar and tickets.\n\n### Doing sport\n\nthumb|[http://vikingarannet.com/en/ Vikingarännet], an annual ice-skating race from Uppsala to Stockholm.\n\nThere are many opportunities to do sport in Stockholm.\n\nStockholm has many short slopes for downhill snowsports: *Hammarbybacken* (Söderort), *Ekebyhovsbacken* (Ekerö), *Ekholmsnäsbacken* (Lidingö), Flottsbrobacken (Södertörn), etc. with lifts and equipment rental when weather allows. The height is modest, but most hills have a great view, well worth a hike any season. Tracks for cross-country skiing are available throughout Stockholm; the ground is usually, but not always, covered by snow in January–February.\n\nThere are many **open fields** in Stockholm. Gärdet (*T Karlaplan* or *T Gärdet*) is good for outdoor sport. There are also **horse riding** venues and many **golf** courses open for visitors in the inner region.\n\nIf you would rather compete in an event, one of the most visible sporting events is the **Stockholm Marathon**, held annually on a Saturday in late May or early June, when some 18,000 participants run two laps around the inner city. Another one is the *Lidingöloppet*, a 30 km cross-country race branded as the world's most attended, and a part of the Swedish Classic Circuit, on Lidingö in early September. For hardcore swimmers, **Ötillö** (literally *island to island*) is an all-day swim-run race where teams of two swim between and run across many islands in the Stockholm archipelago.\n\n### Arts", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk027", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Hötorget, with The Stockholm Concert Hall at Hötorget ([[Stockholm/Norrmalm|Norrmalm]]), where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place.\nStockholm's national stages, the **Royal Dramatic Theatre** and the **Royal Opera** stage classic and modern plays, operas and ballets. There are many other playhouses, such as the **Stockholm City Theatre**. The theatre season generally runs from late August until the beginning of June. In the summer the **Parkteatern** stages free-entrance plays and monologues in the parks of Stockholm. During September–May, a range of international and local musicals, as well as other shows, are provided at the many theatres.\n\n**Cinema** films are not dubbed, but subtitled. Except the multiplexes (most of them THX certified), a few classic cinema theaters remain: *Rigoletto*, *Grand Sveavägen*, *Saga*, and *Skandia* (Norrmalm) *Park* (Östermalm) and *Victoria* (Södermalm). While SF has a de facto monopoly for mainstream film, there are some independent cinemas.\n\nA couple of large cultural events are arranged every year. **Culture Night Stockholm** takes place annually in springtime, with free admission to several museums, special performances around the city, from 18:00 until midnight. In August the Stockholm Culture Festival takes place, in tandem with the Ung 08 youth festival in Kungsträdgården. During this time of the year, the Stockholm International Film Festival also hosts an open-air cinema in the *Tantolunden* park during one week in August. The major **Stockholm International Film Festival** takes place in November, and draws large international crowds.\n\nStockholm has a growing scene for standup comedy in Swedish and English. *The Big Ben Bar* (Södermalm), Folkungagatan 97, has a free-entrance comedy club in English each Thursday at 20:00. *Skrattstock* is an annual comedy festival organized every summer.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk028", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "The live music stage in Stockholm is something else. There are never any signs of anyone playing but a few posters in specific areas. Although a lot of the cities bars have live music, the most common place to find it is around Södermalm. There you will find places like Debaser, Hornhuset and Trädgården. Besides Södermalm both Norrmalm and Vasastan have a few interesting venues.\n\nOn Sunday evenings from September to May at Skeppsholmen there is live Swedish folk music at **Folkmusikhuset**. Go to listen or to dance Swedish folk dances. Free entrance.\n\nStockholm hosts many expos and conventions. The two largest facilities are **Stockholm International Fairs** (Söderort) and **Kistamässan** (Västerort).\n\n### Amusement park and children's activities\n\nthumb|Gröna Lund seen from the water\n\nStockholm's main amusement park, **Gröna Lund** is on Djurgården (accessible by *Spårväg City*, by the ferry to **Djurgården** or by bus 44). There are all sorts of rides including rollercoasters and during the summer the park hosts a large number of concerts by famous artists and groups, as well as popular dancing evenings. Opening times for the amusement park vary across the year. Check the website before visiting. The park generally is very crowded during weekends and concert days.\n\nOn Djurgården you can also find **Junibacken**, a theme park centered on children's books, especially Astrid Lindgren's stories. **Skansen**, Stockholm's zoo, is also on the island.\n\n### Gambling\n\nThere are regular horse races at **Solvalla** (Västerort).\n\n### LGBT events\n\nAttitudes towards homosexuality and transgender expressions are generally tolerant. In the summer (generally late July/early August), there is an annual LGBT pride festival, **Stockholm Pride**, which is the largest in Scandinavia. The national LGBT organization, **RFSL**, can provide information on other events and venues.\n\n### Outdoor life", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk029", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Tyresta National Park, a virgin forest 20 km south of central Stockholm.\nThere are many forests and lakes within commuting distance of Stockholm, with good chances to see wild animals such as moose, deer and boars. Much of outer Östermalm consists of forest and farmland within a walk from the metro.\n\nIn Södertörn, one can find Nackareservatet, Tyresta National Park and Bornsjön.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk030", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Learn", "text": "With about 80,000 university students at more than 20 universities and university colleges, Stockholm is the largest Nordic university city. The largest institutions of higher education are **Stockholm University** (Stockholms universitet), the **Royal Institute of Technology** (Kungliga tekniska högskolan), and **Södertörn University College** (Södertörns högskola). **Karolinska institutet** is a world-class medical university. There are also several fine arts university colleges. Study in Stockholm has information about university studies in Stockholm.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk031", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Buy", "text": "As in the rest of Sweden, VISA and MasterCard are accepted by nearly all stores, and ATMs are readily available. Stockholm, like the rest of Sweden, is very much a card-oriented place and quite a few smaller venues do not accept cash. Even fewer accept foreign currencies, such as euros or US dollars.\n\nIn contrast to many other European cities, most shops in Stockholm (except the small independent ones) are open all week, including Sundays; only closed down for a few major holidays a year. Closing time tends to be rigid, though.\n\n### Fashion\n\nPopular Swedish clothing brands that you can find in several major stores include *Acne Jeans*, *WESC*, *Cheap Monday*, *J Lindeberg*, *Whyred*, *Tiger* and *Filippa K*. There has been an explosion of young designers starting their own small labels. Many of these can be found in the small shops in the SoFo area on Södermalm (see below). Examples are *Nakkna*, *Jenny Hellström*, *Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair* and *The Stray Boys*.\n\n### Glassware\n\nThe large department stores **Åhléns** and **NK** in Norrmalm all have a wide selection of glassware.\n **Duka**, several locations: Västerlånggatan 78 (Gamla stan), Sveavägen 24-26 and Kungsgatan 41, (Norrmalm). Duka is a Swedish chain selling both cheaper household items and a limited selection of glassware in several stores in central Stockholm.\n **Nordiska Kristall**, several locations: Kungsgatan 9 (Norrmalm), Österlånggatan 1 (Gamla stan), also in Strand Hotel, Grand Hotel and City Hotel. Nordiska Kristall is a high-end shop for crystal design glass. The Kungsgatan store has an art-glass gallery.\n\n### Furniture and design\n\nSweden is internationally known for its design, and Stockholm has many stores where you can find Swedish-designed clothes, textiles and interior decoration items. Hand-made and hand-painted glassware is also a famous Swedish speciality.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk032", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Buy", "text": "**DesignTorget** at Sergels Torg (Stockholm/Norrmalm) and Götgatan 31 (Stockholm/Södermalm), a design store specializing in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric.\n **Asplund** furniture store, is an upscale store with world-class design. *T Östermalmstorg*.\n **Room** is another great furniture and design store locaded in the Pub mall, *T Hötorget*.\n **Illums Bolighus** is a high-end furniture, home decoration and glassware store specializing in Danish design. (*T Centralen*, Hamngatan 27)\n Many antiquities shops are close to *T Odenplan*. Good place to stroll around.\n If second-hand is an option many *Stadsmissionen* and *Myrorna* (The Salvation Army) have fun vintage products, and contribute to a good cause. Especially Stadsmissionen Stortorget (*T Gamla stan*) has hand-picked design and classical furniture.\n\n### Major places for shopping\n\n#### Norrmalm\n\nthumb|Drottninggatan retail therapy.\n**Drottninggatan** is dominated by major brands down at the **Sergels Torg** end before giving way to smaller and more specialised shops further north. Tourist shops occupy the southern end.\n\nAlso connected to Drottninggatan is the square of **Hötorget** (*T-Hötorget*). Here is a daily fresh food market outside as well as Hötorgshallen, an indoor food market.\n\n**Mood Stockholm** on Norrlandsgatan opened in 2012. This mall contains a lot of interesting boutiques not represented elsewhere in the city. **Hamngatan**, **Biblioteksgatan** and **Birger Jarlsgatan** have a collection of high end shops including Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton among others. **NK**, is a classical department store on **Hamngatan** (Norrmalm).\n\n#### [[Stockholm/Östermalm#Buy|Östermalm]]\n\n**Östermalmstorg** has a well-reputed grocery hall, **Östermalmshallen**. Sturegallerian is an upmarket shopping mall at Stureplan, with some eateries. **Fältöversten** is a shopping mall at Karlaplan.\n\n#### Suburban malls", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk033", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are a number of shopping centers and malls in the major suburban centers – see the district articles for details. While different in size, they all have a similar profile, with cheap restaurants, supermarkets and major fashion, electronics and interior design chain stores, as well as some smaller shops.\n**Kista Galleria** in Västerort has generous opening hours; from 10:00 to 21:00 all week. It is reached by the blue metro line with destination Akalla, get off the train at **Kista**.", "word_count": 81}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk034", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Zum Franziskaner, a restaurant from the 1840s\n\nStockholm features a large variety of restaurants, and the dining scene has markedly improved since the turn of the century, both in terms of quality and variety. However, dining in Stockholm can be expensive if you aim for something else than the fast food bars, the run-of-the-mill British-style pubs or the ethnic restaurants that dominate the budget bracket. Be prepared to pay around 175–250 kr or more for most main courses at quality restaurants. If you are on a tight budget, self-catering is a good option.\n\nMost hotels and hostels have a good breakfast buffet, in many cases included with the room.\n\nA lot of restaurants have \"*dagens rätt*\" – a lunch offer, normally including a lower- or non-alcoholic drink, bread, butter, salad and coffee – usually M–F 11:00–14:00. Expect to pay around 100–150 kr, generally more in the centre and less in the suburbs. Many Asian, Indian and fast food restaurants offer rather cheap \"all you can eat\" lunch buffets.\n\nMany restaurants' kitchens close at 22:00 even on weekends, so don't get out too late. A glass of house wine costs in the range 60– kr, 400–700 kr for a bottle. Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs, restaurants and enclosed areas.\n\nQuite a few restaurants are closed for vacation for a few weeks in July or early August. In December, many restaurants offer a Christmas buffet (*julbord*), a variation of the classic Swedish *smörgåsbord* with traditional Christmas dishes, including Christmas ham, pickled herring and stockfish from cod or ling, prepared with lye (*lutfisk*). This is a great way to sample a traditional Swedish festive meal for about 300–600 kr; you need to book in advance.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk035", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Eat", "text": "In this cosmopolitan city, traditional Swedish cuisine, known as *husmanskost* (\"every man's food\"), can be hard to get by. Many fine diners have a not-too-expensive *husmanskost* course: some other places to eat Swedish are the *Nystekt strömming* wagon at Slussen (Södermalm), *Ät gott* (S:t Göransgatan 74, (Kungsholmen)) and *Tennstopet* (Dalagatan 50, (Vasastan)).\n\n*Guide Michelin* recognizes ten Stockholm restaurants: three-star *Frantzén*, two-star *Oaxen Krog* and one-star *Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren*, *Ekstedt*, *Gastrologik*, *Operakällaren*, *Sushi Sho*, *Restaurang Volt *, *Aloë* and *Agrikultur*.\n\nSince 2016 Stockholm has a fish auction for seafood, and local catch can be found at many supermarkets and restaurants.\n\nWhile the traditional Nordic cuisine is heavy on meat and fish, Stockholm has a strong vegetarian community. Most restaurants have at least one lacto-vegetarian option. For vegan food, look for the café chain *Blueberry* or Asian spots such as Ki-Mama and EatNam. The convenience chains Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven dotted around the city centre stock vegan sandwiches.\n\nStockholm has a fleet of **food trucks**, with meals around 70–120 kr. See Hittatrucken for schedules.\n\n### Cafés\n\nTaking a break for coffee and a biscuit is a Swedish tradition, commonly called ***fika*** in Swedish, and there are many coffee-bars around the city. You also have a great number of the more traditional pasttiseries.\n\nTraditional Swedish filter coffee is relatively strong when compared to American, but a far cry from the Italian espresso. Espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino and other varieties of Italian coffee are generally available. If you prefer tea, many cafés only offer a few flavours, but generally some black, red and green teas.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk036", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Eat", "text": "Don't miss the traditional Swedish cinnamon bun with your coffee. If you visit in January–March you also will have the possibility to try a *semla*, a popular local pastry with wheat bread, almond paste and cream. In November–December you can try one of the saffron buns, known as *lussebulle*.\n\n**Starbucks** competes with Swedish coffee shops: **Wayne's Coffee**, **Robert's Coffee** and **Espresso House** are the most common names here - that are strikingly similar in design. The small local cafés offer a more personal experience, and often better coffee. Expect to pay 25 kr and upwards for a cup of regular black coffee.\n\nDon't hesitate to ask for a refill (*påtår*) at self-service cafeterias, as it is often free.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk037", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Retail drinks\n\nDrinking retail alcohol is allowed in most public areas. Among the exceptions are schools, playgrounds, indoor malls, some city squares, and public transport areas. In some parks, drinking is prohibited from 22:00 or midnight. Map of dry areas\n\n - Systembolaget\n\n- Drottninggatan\n\n- Klarabergsgatan\n\n- Regeringsgatan\n\n- Vasagatan\n\n- Nybrogatan\n\n- Folkungagatan\n\n### Bars and nightclubs\n\nthumb|The Ice Bar at Nordic Sea Hotel, [[Stockholm/Norrmalm|Norrmalm]].\nThe cost for drinking out in Stockholm varies a lot. Expect to pay around 30 kr in the cheapest pub (55-75 kr in a trendier club or pub) for a beer or cider, and at least 95-150 kr for a long-drink or cocktail in a club. Bars usually have no cover charge, but may have an arbitrarily set (and arbitrarily enforced) minimum age limit (usually 21 or 23, sometimes as low as 18, other times as high as 27), while clubs usually charge 50-200 kr at the door (or more at special performances). Long, and very slow moving lines tend to form outside most popular clubs - expect having to wait as much as 1 hour or more if going to a trendy place after midnight, even if raining or snowing. Don't forget to **bring an ID**, as bouncers will (almost) always ask for identification at the door in both pubs and clubs.\n\n**Stureplan** is a district dominated by dancefloor nightclubs, at the crossing of *Birger Jarlsgatan*, *Kungsgatan* and *Sturegatan*, (*T Östermalmstorg*). The mushroom-shaped rain shelter is a common meeting point. High entrance fees (200 kr or more) and long lines.\n\n**Södermalm** is a district with many smaller bars and nightclubs focusing on art and electronic music. Look in nightlife magazines for places around Hornstull (such as Strand), Mariatorget (such as *Sidetrack*, *Marie Laveau*), Slussen (such as *Debaser*, *Kolingsborg*), Skanstull (such as *Trädgården*, *Under Bron*).\n\nMajor bar streets are **Götgatan** (where most places are rather cheap pubs) and **Bondegatan** (with a younger and more trendy crowd), both on Södermalm, **Rörstrandsgatan** in western Vasastan (also rather trendy, but drawing a slightly older crowd) and the area around the **Rådhuset** and **Fridhemsplan** metro stations on **Kungsholmen** (with many small and relaxed places). Beer is usually really cheap in suburban pubs.\n\nMost restaurants and bars close at 01:00, larger clubs usually at 03:00, and a handful at 05:00. More trendy clubs might have a long queue from midnight till closing time. Get out early (at least before midnight). Most late-night clubs (especially at Stureplan) have an informal or outspoken dress code, *vårdad klädsel*. Loudness and drunkenness are other common reasons to reject waiting guests. Drinking in the queue is a no-no, bribes are even worse.\n\nIf you can read Swedish, you can get more information about Stockholm's nightlife in the free monthly magazine *Nöjesguiden*, the newspaper *Dagens Nyheter* on Thursdays, the free *QX* gay magazine for LGBT events and the free *Metro* on Fridays.", "word_count": 473}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk038", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Långholmen Prison ([[Stockholm/Södermalm|Södermalm]]) is converted to a hostel.\nStockholm is primarily a business city, so beside the Grand Hôtel (Norrmalm) and a few other luxury venues, Stockholm has several business (typically 4-star) hotels, which charge 900-1200 kr for a single room. They usually have vacancies during weekends and summers, and might give special offers for tourists.\n\nMany hotels have basement rooms without windows, often smaller and more austere than the regular rooms, and significantly cheaper, especially the singles. The hotels make no secret of the fact that this room category has no window, but do make sure to read the description of your room carefully before you book to avoid unpleasant surprises.\n\nThe cheap bunks are in short supply. Look for hostels at Svenska Turistföreningen and SVIF. Advance booking is usually needed, especially in summer, and for those in the inner city. Stockholm has some spectacular hostels, such as **af Chapman** (Skeppsholmen), **Långholmen** (Södermalm) and **Jumbostay** at Arlanda.\n\nThe lowest cost per bed can be found on the Baltic Sea ferries.\n\nHospitality exchange and home exchange options can be useful for Stockholm. The apartment rental market is strictly regulated, with waiting times over a decade.\n\nWhen it comes to long-time accommodation, Stockholm has a harsh housing situation, with several years' waiting time for a rental apartment. Newcomers are dependent on the unreliable second-hand rental market. For consultants and other business visitors, a long-time hotel stay might be the most practical option.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk039", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumb | 300px | Stockholm Public Library\nAs of Sept 2021, central Stockholm has 5G from all Swedish carriers, but this hasn't rolled out across the city, which mostly gets 4G. Wifi is widely available in public places.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk040", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "For its size, Stockholm is a safe city by international standards. Still, travellers should use common sense to avoid crime.\n\nWhile police officers can be spread thin, Stockholm has patrolling security guards (*ordningsvakt*) in central neighbourhoods. These are usually helpful to visitors. Security staff at nightclubs might be more harsh, especially at intoxicated patrons. Drunkenness is less accepted in bars and clubs than in smaller towns, and could lead to the security staff forcibly ejecting the trouble-maker. Bouncers in Stockholm are stricter than in other European cities, and you may be kicked out for no reason.\n\nMost crimes against travellers are crimes of opportunity, such as pickpockets, bicycle theft, auto theft, and auto vandalism. As always, do not leave valuable items in your car, and watch your bag in crowded places. Most shops and all major taxi companies accept credit and debit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash.\n\nStockholm's road traffic is not too dangerous. Use common sense, and beware of slippery roads when temperature is around zero (which can happen from November to March). Animal collisions are a risk factor even in the inner suburbs; watch out for deer in particular.\n\nTaxis are required to post pricing information in the rear side window. The comparison price is for a 15 km ride and *not* the maximum price, which could be a lot more when venturing outside the inner city. While some independent driver charge the maximum allowed (499 kr), major cab companies (**Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir**, **Taxi 020**/**Sverigetaxi** and **Topcab**) are around 300 kr. With these cabs, you also have a better chance of having belongings lost in the car returned to you.\n\nDuring summer, groups of street gamblers try to scam their audience in other touristed areas, by planting a few of their own in the crowd. Don't play, you will lose.\n\nThough Sweden has an extensive welfare system, and Stockholm has far fewer homeless and impoverished people than other cities of similar size, homeless people can be seen begging around the city; several of them from other parts of the European Union. A responsible way to address their situation is to buy the street paper, *Situation Sthlm*, for 50 kr. Buying food or water for someone begging is also a good way of helping. While organized crime does exist, lawful visitors are unlikely to be affected.\n\nStockholm is friendly to sexual minorities. Homophobic and transphobic attitudes will be met with outright hostility from many Swedes. Same-sex couples will have no trouble living openly in Stockholm, which includes holding hands or kissing in public around the city.", "word_count": 431}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk041", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Respect", "text": "When using **escalators**, stand on the right and reserve the left side for walking. Standing still on the left side might annoy people. On train and metro platforms, passengers should be allow to leave the car before passengers who want to board. When **waiting in lines**, be patient and polite. Swedes never jump queues - but make sure you actually stand in the line. If unsure, ask.\n\nAvoid walking in the cycle lane. Dedicated cycle paths are clearly marked, but sometimes run directly next to the sidewalk. Stockholm cyclists are subject to a comparatively hilly landscape and are unwilling to slow down and lose momentum.\n\nAs most other Nordic people, Swedes value privacy and usually do not start unprompted conversations in public, especially in public transport. This means people are unlikely to approach a confused tourist to offer help on their own, but most will gladly help you if you ask for assistance or directions. If you are lucky enough to be invited to someone's home, you will discover that Swedes behave very differently and will be very social.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk042", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Pack\n\n*See also Sweden.*\nStockholm is best experienced on foot, so bring comfortable shoes. An umbrella or a raincoat for wet weather is also a good idea. Expect the temperature to be well under freezing during the winter months (add to that windchill and humidity), so if you plan to visit then, warm clothes in good materials are certainly recommendable. Long johns/stockings under your pants/skirt will keep you warm without looking like you wear your ski-outfit).\n\nEating out is generally rather expensive. If on a budget, supermarket food is a good alternative to restaurants.\n\n### Getting cash\n\nCredit and debit cards are widely accepted even for small amounts, so you may not need much cash – many places don't take cash at all. Most places accept identification and a signature, but PIN-transactions are preferred.\n\nThere are many ATMs in the city, but some foreign card-holders, such as a Canadian, have reported trouble in using them, even when they purport to be connected to international networks their banks are part of, so consider doing some research before you arrive.\n\nThe main currency exchange is Forex, but they charge a whopping 50 kr commission on top of their buy-sell spread.\n\n### Toilets\n\nthumb|A public toilet booth. Can be clean or messy.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk043", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Cope", "text": "Finding a good toilet in Stockholm can be tricky. Many department stores and fast-food restaurants have clean toilets, often for the charge of 5–10 kr. That is also the cost of public toilet booths found in most city squares (though these might be messy and are usually card-only). Restaurants' toilets are often reserved for customers, and might be messy depending on the establishment. Some good, clean toilets are found in *Max* at Norrmalmstorg, and in the bar Sturehof (at Stureplan – the establishment is too big for crew to keep track of people borrowing the toilet). Urinating in town is illegal, but urinals are often free even if you have to pay for a WC. Libraries, museums, and government buildings often have free, clean toilets.\n\nMost major hotels have clean lobby toilets. Some of them might be reserved for house guests and require an access code, but travellers can often get access to them on request.\n\n### Laundry\n\nSince Swedish apartments either have a washing machine or access to a communal laundry room, there are virtually no self-service laundries to be found in Stockholm, with one exception:\n - Tvättomaten\n\nMost youth hostels have washing machines. Some dry cleaners offer to wash shirts and bed linen as well, but this tends to be quite expensive.\n\n### Health\n\nSwedish healthcare is generally of high quality, although there may be long waits in emergency rooms. How quickly one sees a doctor will depend on medical priority; money, name or title won't bypass the queue.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk044", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Cope", "text": "EU/EEA citizens with a European Health Insurance card pay the same (rather low) fee for emergency and necessary care as a local citizen. Others must pay the whole health care cost (which can be between 1,700 and 2,200 kr for a doctor’s visit at an emergency care unit at a hospital). More information on hospital fees can be found at 1177 Vårdguiden.\n\nIn an **emergency**, always **call 112** for SOS Alarm, for ambulance, police, fire service, air and sea rescue, mountain patrol, or priest on call. English-speaking operators are available.\n\nThere are two hospitals with 24-hour emergency care units in the inner city:\n - S:t Görans Sjukhus\n\n- Södersjukhuset\n\nFor less serious illnesses and ailments, getting in touch with a local clinic, *vårdcentral*, is a much better option than the hospital emergency rooms. The Stockholm County healthcare hotline (+46 8 320 100) can give medical advice and help you find a doctor. While information is officially given in Swedish only, the doctors can often speak some English.\n\n#### Pharmacies\n\nCertified pharmacies (*apotek*) have a green cross sign. You can buy over-the-counter medicine in most supermarkets and convenience stores. Strong painkillers are only sold at pharmacies, though.\n\n- Apoteket C W Scheele\n\n- Apotek Hjärtat\n\n### Embassies\n\n- Albania\n\n- Algeria\n\n- Armenia\n\n- Angola\n\n- Argentina\n\n- Australia\n\n- Austria\n\n- Azerbaijan\n\n- Bangladesh\n\n- Belarus\n\n- Belgium\n\n- Bolivia\n\n- Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n- Botswana\n\n- Brazil\n\n- Bulgaria\n\n- Canada\n\n- Chile\n\n- China\n\n- Colombia\n\n- Croatia\n\n- Cuba\n\n- Cyprus\n\n- Czech Republic\n\n- Denmark\n\n- Dominican Republic\n\n- Ecuador\n\n- Egypt\n\n- El Salvador\n\n- Eritrea\n\n- Estonia\n\n- Ethiopia\n\n- Finland\n\n- France\n\n- Germany\n\n- Greece\n\n- Guatemala\n\n- Honduras\n\n- Iceland\n\n- India\n\n- Indonesia\n\n- Iran\n\n- Iraq\n\n- Ireland\n\n- Israel", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk045", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Cope", "text": "- Italy\n\n- Japan\n\n- Kenya\n\n- Kosovo\n\n- Korea, Democratic Republic of\n\n- Korea, Republic of\n\n- Kuwait\n\n- Laos\n\n- Latvia\n\n- Lebanon\n\n- Libya\n\n- Lithuania\n\n- Malaysia\n\n- Mexico\n\n- The Netherlands\n\n- Norway\n\n- Pakistan\n\n- Poland\n\n- Portugal\n\n- Qatar\n\n- Romania\n\n- Russian Federation\n\n- Saudi Arabia\n\n- Serbia\n\n- Slovakia\n\n- Spain\n\n- Syria\n\n- Switzerland\n\n- Taiwan (Taipei Mission in Sweden)\n\n- Turkey\n\n- United Arab Emirates\n\n- Ukraine\n\n- United Kingdom\n\n- United States", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "stockholm::chunk046", "doc_id": "stockholm", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Stockholm County\n\nthumbnail|The [[world heritage]] Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö, just outside Stockholm's city limits\nOutside the metropolitan area, **Stockholm County** contains cultural heritage as well as great nature, all within reach of the SL public transport network; most in less than an hour.\n Stockholm archipelago consists of thousands of islands scattered into the Baltic Sea. While many of them can be reached by road, others need a ferry. Many of those ferries call at central Stockholm.\n Ekerö is a less-known freshwater archipelago in Lake Mälaren, with two World Heritage Sites: Drottningholm Palace (the residence of the Royal Family) and Viking Age settlement Birka. Drottningholm is 10 km from central Stockholm, and can be reached by public transportation within 30 minutes, or a 1-hour ferry trip.\n Sigtuna is Sweden's first capital, a quaint town near Arlanda Airport, 40 km north of Stockholm.\n Norrtälje contains the northern part of the archipelago, and vast forests.\n Stockholm's northern suburbs have many opportunities for outdoor life, including three slopes for downhill skiing, and Viking Age heritage.\n Södertörn contains forests and lakes, especially the Tyresta National Park, and the Nynäshamn port city.\n Södertälje is a quaint port city.\n\n### Uppsala County\n\n**Uppsala**, the seat of Uppsala County, was the political, cultural and religious centre of Viking era Sweden. Uppsala also hosts Sweden's first university and Uppsala Cathedral is the largest in the Nordic countries, and the seat of the Church of Sweden. 80 km north of Stockholm, it is a gratifying day trip destination, where many historic sites dating even farther back than some in Stockholm are within walking distance from the central station.\n\nTo get there, there are two rail options:\n SJ offers fast hourly service from Stockholm C to Uppsala, with a sporadic service to Gävle also calling at Uppsala. This option takes 30-38 minutes and costs 82 kr for adults (26 or older).\n SL offers a stopping half-hourly service from Stockholm C to Uppsala, taking 55 minutes and costing 110 kr (65 kr for people under 20), possession of an SL travel card (even 24- or 72 hour) will reduce the fare to 60 kr (35 kr for people under 20 or over 65).\n\n### Farther away\n\n **Gävle** is a town and a county seat with several museums, and the famous straw goat during December.\n **Södermanland County** has some destinations for day excursions, such as **Strängnäs and Mariefred** and **Trosa**.\n **Gotland** is an exotic island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, reachable by plane from Bromma Airport, or by ferry from Nynäshamn.\n **Åland** is an autonomous Swedish-speaking island between Sweden and Finland, served by most Baltic Sea ferries.\n '''Turku''' is Finland's oldest city, reached by day or overnight ferry.\n '''Helsinki''' is Finland's capital, reached by overnight ferry or airplane.", "word_count": 451}
diff --git a/corpus/stockholm/metadata.json b/corpus/stockholm/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b182a81aaeec2c9c4fdeb4085d195892ab102ce2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stockholm/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "stockholm",
+ "title": "Stockholm",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Stockholm",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "skiing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Stockholm County"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "world heritage",
+ "Stockholm County",
+ "Stockholm archipelago",
+ "Ekerö",
+ "Sigtuna",
+ "Norrtälje",
+ "Stockholm's northern suburbs",
+ "Södertörn",
+ "Södertälje",
+ "Uppsala",
+ "Uppsala County",
+ "Gävle",
+ "Södermanland County",
+ "Strängnäs and Mariefred",
+ "Trosa",
+ "Gotland",
+ "Södertörn",
+ "Åland",
+ "Baltic Sea ferries",
+ "Turku",
+ "Helsinki",
+ "Helsingborg",
+ "Norrköping",
+ "Södertälje",
+ "Sundsvall",
+ "Solna",
+ "Uppsala",
+ "Oslo",
+ "Enköping",
+ "Turku",
+ "Norrtälje",
+ "Gothenburg",
+ "Södertälje",
+ "Tallinn"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 11044,
+ "listing_count": 109,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 47,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/stone-town/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/stone-town/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..162b79f1a86abfcbba750b0b6bd3d2d36c06d81a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stone-town/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk000", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumbnail|The Palace Museum\n**Stone Town** is the main city on Zanzibar. It is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, with a unique mixture of Moorish, Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk001", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n**Zanzibar International Airport** () is the only airport on the island and accessible by many domestic and international destinations.\n\n### By boat\n\nBoats to Stone Town can be boarded from Dar es Salaam or Pemba. For more information see the Zanzibar article.\n\n### By Dalladalla\n\nMost dalladalla leave from the Creek Road at the Darajani Market . All have destinations signboards and numbers, what makes it quite easy to handle.\n\nNungwi=116; Kiwenga=117; Matemwe=118; Chwaka=206; Uroa=214; Unguja Ukuu=308; Jambiani=309; Makunduchi=310; Bewejuu=324; Kizmkazi=326; Amani=501; Bububu=502; Airport(U/Ndege)=505", "word_count": 87}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk002", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "See", "text": "- Old Fort\n\n- Palace Museum\n\n- House of Wonders\n\n- Livingstone's House\n\n- Old Dispensary\n\n- Anglican Cathedral\n\n - Malindi Mosque\n\n- Hamamni Persian Baths\n\n- Forodhani Gardens\n\n - Freddie Mercury Museum\n\nThere are a number of historically important (and frankly, just plain beautiful) buildings in Stone Town, like **The House of Wonders** and **The Arab Fort**. It is easy to arrange a simple walking tour with a local guide who can teach you some history.\nThe **market** in Stone Town is one of the largest, most vibrant open-air markets anywhere. Here, you can find several varieties of bananas, \"elephant garlic\" unique to the island, the largest avocados you'll probably ever see, and more. Prices are extremely reasonable. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing food, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.\n Visit **Slave Market**, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.\n - Changuu Island\n\n - St. Joseph's Cathedral", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk003", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Do", "text": "Have **dinner on the wharf** near Blue's Restaurant in Stone Town. Every evening, for just a few dollars, you can sample local fish, food, drinks, and hear local music.\n- Tangawizi Bistro Cooking Classes", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk004", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Mitus Spice Tour\n\n- Halai's\n\n A curio market can be found next to the **Forodhani Gardens** food market. *Do not* buy the first thing you see. First take a walk through the market, and you will see prices get progressively less. You must *always* haggle and bargain with the vendors or try to set the prices off against each other. This is their way of doing business and it also ensures that you get the best price.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk005", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Eat", "text": "- Mercury's Restaurant\n\n- House of Spices\n\n- Tatu\n\n- Beyt al Chai Restaurant\n\n- The Silk Route\n\n- Mtoni Marine Restaurant\n\n - Hurumzi\n\n - Kidude\n\n - Forodhani Gardens\n\n - Passing Show Restaurant", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk006", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Mercury's Restaurant\n\n**Tatu** — see listing under Eat.\n - Serena Hotel\n\n - Botanic Country Resort\n\n - Lukmaan\n\n**Africa House** Ice cold beer and a huge balcony that overlooks the ocean - great at sunset.\n**Taarab Square** At the Botanic Country Resort, Tunguu Central Region offers reasonably priced spirits and drinks compared to most of the bars on the island. Live sports bars and the only outdoor cinema showing Indian, African and English movies, discotheque over weekends and live music on public holidays.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "stone-town::chunk007", "doc_id": "stone-town", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The cheapest budget hotels start from US$14 for a dorm bed. normal budget hotel prices range TSh 45,000 to 90,000 and that's during the low season, where several hotels actually stay closed due to lack of customers. The quoted prices are after bargaining: low-season is a good time to do so and not having your bags with you when doing so, will also give you a boost.\n\nDuring high-season, hotels in Stonetown will often offer their rooms on multiple online platforms (Airbnb, booking.com, etc.) and double book rooms. Be aware that your room may be given away to someone else with no apology or care by the hotel owner. One way to avoid this is to ensure you pay in advance, or to book directly with the hotel and contact them confirming your arrival.\n\n### Budget\n\n- Zanzibar Lodge (Njila guest house)\n\n - Coco del mer\n\n - Flamingo Guest House\n\n- Funguni Palace Hotel\n\n - Pearl Guest House\n\n- Malindi Guest House Hotel\n\n - Annex of Abdullah\n\n - Jambo Guest House\n\n - River Man Hotel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Dhow Palace Hotel\n\n**Tausi Palace Hotel**, Baghani St, is in the middle of Stone Town, 15 min by foot from the Harbour (or TSh 1,000 by taxi). Rooms are nice but without luxury. Double beds, 2 single or 3 single beds are available, all with air conditioning and mosquito drapes. Breakfast is small (it's better to eat around the corner) but the cheap hotel is on the roof of the hotel and offers nice views of Stone Town. Rate for a room with double bed US$90 incl. breakfast and taxes (10% charge when you pay by credit card). +255 779 958 684\n- Kisiwa House\n\n- Kholle House\n\n - Island View Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Africa House Hotel\n\n### Uncategorized\n\n- Tembo House Hotel\n\n- Clove Hotel Zanzibar\n\n- Serena Inn\n\n- Manch Lodge Zanzibar\n\n**Bottoms Up!**, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.\n\n### Outside Stonetown\n\n - Pongwe Beach Hotel\n\n**The House Of Changes** in Tunguu, central region (behind the new Tanzanian House of Parliament) is a great option for budget travellers who have had enough of the beach. A night for two people goes for US$40/night which includes a tasty breakfast. Nights are cool and it is a mosquito-free environment in the countryside of Zanzibar. +255 777 844 417.\n- Dhow Inn\n\n - Fontaine Garden Village\n\n- Pearl Beach By Sansi\n\n- The Zanzibari\n\n- Teddy´s Place\n\n- Mustapha´s Place\n\n- Milele Villas", "word_count": 416}
diff --git a/corpus/stone-town/metadata.json b/corpus/stone-town/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4c53b4782d6e93408a3f6271d3573a618b01558c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stone-town/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "stone-town",
+ "title": "Stone Town",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Stone_Town",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "museums",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Zanzibar"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 985,
+ "listing_count": 55,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 8,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/stonehenge/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/stonehenge/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5593362c5c8ff5d0a5b77fb0d740fed2d5c07fe7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stonehenge/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk000", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Overview", "text": "400px|thumb|Stonehenge\n\n**Stonehenge** is a Neolithic and Bronze Age stone monument in a on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The WHS is quite large and contains many other structures from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk001", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Understand", "text": "Stonehenge is in a World Heritage Site of over 2000 hectares that is considered one of the most archaeologically rich megalithic structures in Europe. It is home to some of the most important Neolithic and Bronze Age finds and structures in the UK, and contains some 200 scheduled monuments. It is also the site of one of the biggest Chalk grassland reversion projects in the world.\n\nStonehenge is owned by the nation and is administered by English Heritage. Much of the World Heritage Site land is owned by local farms, but a third is owned and managed by the National Trust who are spearheading the grass regeneration scheme.\n\nA new visitor facilities is now open, part of a new joint approach by English Heritage with the Salisbury Museum and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes.\n\n### History\n\nEvidence indicates that the area around Stonehenge has been occupied since around 8000 BC, but it was during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods that the vast majority of the monuments around it came to be built. Early work at Stonehenge itself began in 3000 BC when an outer ditch and embankment was constructed, and standing timbers erected. From about 2500 BC, Neolithic and Bronze Age man started to bring bluestones and Sarsen stones from Wales and the Marlborough Downs. It was not until 1600 BC that Stonehenge was completed. Most of the other monuments in the area such as Durrington Walls and Woodhenge date from the same period. A nearby hill fort was built during the Iron Age, and there is evidence to suggest that the area was extensively settled by the Romans. The nearby town of Amesbury was later settled during the Saxon reign in 979 AD.\n\nStonehenge and the land immediately around it was bought for the nation in 1918. Being on the edge of the military training area Salisbury Plain, a large number of military facilities have also been constructed in the area, including military barracks, a light railway and an aerodrome built within a stone's throw of Stonehenge (most of which has now been removed). Since then the National Trust has acquired some 850 hectares around Stonehenge, and the area was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1986.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe Stonehenge landscape is one of the best preserved areas of readily accessible chalk downland in the UK. On the edge of Salisbury plain it features several rolling hills and dry river valleys that allow for pleasant walks without too much trouble. Surrounding farmland is ideal for crops and animal grazing.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nChalk grassland is a very rich environment allowing for a diverse range of animals and plants. Thin free draining soil restricts competitive species, but allows lime loving plants and trees to flourish. Knapweeds, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Yellow rattle are among several downland floral plants well established in the area. The thin soil also traps heat quickly and is ideal for a wide range of insects, such as the rare Chalkhill and Adonis Blue butterflies. The skylark (a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) red list species) is also common in the area, and lent its name to the nearby military garrison Larkhill. The RSPB own a reserve on Normanton Down, just south of the stones, that has provided an ideal habitat for the Stone Curlew.", "word_count": 554}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk002", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visitors should first go to the visitors' centre then take the bus or walk from there to Stonehenge.\n\nIf you are carrying heavy luggage, you may have to carry it around the entire landscape. So plan wisely.\n\n### By car\n\nFrom London take the M3 and A303 to Amesbury. At the A303 Countess roundabout go south to visit Amesbury for food and accommodation, north to visit Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, or continue west to reach Stonehenge at the centre of the UNESCO site. A mile past the roundabout you can see Stonehenge from Kings Barrow Ridge, at the A360 roundabout go north to the visitor centre car park. From Salisbury and the South, take the A360, and from the north just follow the A360 south from Devizes. Stonehenge and Woodhenge are well signposted from Amesbury on the A345.\n\n### By train\n\nThe nearest practical stations are Andover and Salisbury which can be reached from London Waterloo on a direct service. From here you can catch a bus (below), or if there are several in a group (or you are travelling with luggage), the easiest thing to do is hire a taxi at the train station. The going rate for a round-trip with an hour stop at Stonehenge is £35. An hour is enough time to see the main Stonehenge circle (but not the other nearby sites).\n\nThere are no luggage drop facilities at the Salisbury station. It may be a good idea to talk to a hotel beforehand to help you drop off heavy luggage, if you are carrying any.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk003", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Get in", "text": "Local bus service is provided by **Salisbury Reds**. Routes begin or end in Salisbury. However, no \"regular\" bus routes serve the main entrance to Stonehenge.\n The main \"bus\" option is \"The Stonehenge Tour\" (see next section). It's essentially an expensive bus that only serves Stonehenge.\n The town of Amesbury is served by three routes - \"x5\" from Swindon, \"activ8\" from Andover, and \"x4\". From Amesbury, it's a walk across the countryside to Stonehenge. Along the route are some other prehistoric structures.\n Route 2 stops at Shrewton, from which Stonehenge is a 2-mile walk along a road (A360) without a pedestrian pavement. The 2 bus ends in Devizes.\n\nAlso check the Wiltshire bus information.\n\n### By tour\n\n#### From London\n\nSeveral tours take in Stonehenge when travelling from one destination to the other. Most start from London and visit Stonehenge on their way to Salisbury or Bath. These tours usually allow only 30 minutes at Stonehenge, which gives you time to see only the stones and not time to appreciate the surrounding area. For tours starting from London, the price starts from around £85 for adult, including entry fee and pick-up service in your London hotel.\n\n'''Stonehenge Tours from London''' offer small group and private guided tours departing London to Stonehenge, Avebury, West Kennet, the Roman Baths or Salisbury, in an air-conditioned bus.\n\n**Archaeologist Guided Tours** are a tour company offering tours to Stonehenge and beyond with a qualified archaeologist guide.\n\n#### From Salisbury", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk004", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Get in", "text": "**The Stonehenge Tour** is a tourist-oriented bus service from Salisbury to Stonehenge (on the return trip, it stops at Old Sarum near Salisbury). Tickets cost £16 (adults)/£11 (children) for tour only, or £33 (adults)/£22 (children) for the tour and entry to Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral. The double-decker tour bus picks up at Salisbury train station (outside the station and to the left) and Salisbury centre. The ticket is valid all day long. It runs between every 30 minutes and every hour, depending on time of day and year. Tickets can be purchased online, or from the driver. While you ride, a high-quality audio commentary about your surroundings is played (available in ten languages, headphones are provided).\n\nIf there are three of you, negotiate a trip with a taxi driver, and you will pay only marginally more and they will store your luggage while at Stonehenge. If there are 4 or 5 of you, a taxi is much cheaper. However, you won't get the audio commentary.\n\n### By foot\n\nIf on a budget, you can view the stones for free from the access land a short distance away on the north side. The access land also contains various tumuli (burial mounds) nearby. Doing this will inevitably involve a bit of a walk; it is just over 2 miles from either the car park at Woodhenge or the bus station at Amesbury.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk005", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you want to walk from Amesbury, make your way to Countess Roundabout (served by the Salisbury Reds X5 route, just north of the High Street area), then walk north until you see a wooden sign for Stonehenge on your left. The sign points you to a network of country trails that will take you through old burial mounds, the Stonehenge Cursus, the Avenue, and (with a bit of a detour) Woodhenge on your way to the stones. This isn't the most direct route to the stones – about 3.5 miles/6 km, or more if you take the detour to Woodhenge – but it's worth it if you're interested in seeing the other earthworks amid the quiet green and yellow fields. Bring a map, or an app with good walking coverage like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.", "word_count": 135}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk006", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Get around", "text": "The stones themselves can be reached by bus (cost covered by entrance fee) from the visitors centre along the old course of the A344, but for those wishing to explore, the local landscape is best enjoyed on foot or by bicycle. Several bridleways and footpaths criss-cross the area, and the National Trust allows access to a large amount of its land that is being reverted to chalk grassland.\n\nThe path around the stones is wheelchair-accessible.\n\n### Walking\n\nThe National Trust has opened some 260 hectares of its land to walkers so that they can access some of the monuments around the area. Several recommended walking tours are available on their website, and dogs are welcome on some of the paths as long as they are kept under control. Visitors have the option of parking at Stonehenge, Woodhenge, or Amesbury, and touring some of the ancient monuments from there. Care should be taken around the A303.\n\nOpenStreetMap, and apps that use it such as OsmAnd or Mapy.cz, have reasonably good coverage of the walking paths in the Stonehenge Landscape. Google Maps does not.\n\n### Bicycle\n\nSeveral quiet back roads and bridleways make access to the monuments quite easy, and for the hardy cyclist, Stonehenge can be combined with a larger tour around Amesbury and the Woodford Valley on the way to Salisbury. It is not advisable to cycle on the A303, but it can be avoided for most of its route anyway.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk007", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "See", "text": "Aside from the plentiful wildlife and nature available, the UNESCO site is considered one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Britain. The landscape boasts several outstanding Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments that can be reached on foot a short distance from the famous Stonehenge. See interactive map.\n\n### Stonehenge\n\nUnlike the other monuments in the area, there is an entrance charge (when entering from the ). Entry fees start at £25 for adults and £16 for children (2025) but dynamic pricing is in force so for a short notice visit these can rise to £40 for adults. The fee includes an audio guide. Tickets are cheapest on Mondays to Fridays and when purchased on-line before visiting. You need to specify a time for your visit, but except at peak times there is some flexibility once you arrive. There is no access to the stone circle itself - visitors are guided around the monument by roped pathways and on-site attendants. The audio guide is available in several languages, and if you listened to all available material it would take an estimated 30–60 minutes.\n\nIt is not usually possible to walk among themselves, but English Heritage and some tour operators from Salisbury can arrange early morning or evening visits allowing you to do this.\n\nIf you'd rather avoid the entry fee, the stones can be seen from public access land very close by – you won't get quite as close as the paying visitors, but you can still see the stone circle clearly.\n\n### Other sites\n\nThe **Stonehenge Landscape** is dotted with other ancient monuments, which are almost deserted with very few visitors compared to Stonehenge itself. Some are from hundreds of years before or after the time Stonehenge was built; evidently this area was important to ancient Britons for many generations.\n\n - Stonehenge Cursus\n\n - The Avenue\n\n - Winterbourne Stoke Barrows\n\n - Normanton Down\n\n - King Barrows Ridge\n\nthumb|Durrington Walls seen from Woodhenge\n\n - Woodhenge\n\n - Durrington Walls", "word_count": 328}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk008", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Do", "text": "Take the opportunity to explore the countryside and monuments surrounding Stonehenge instead of just viewing the stones and leaving. The National Trust offer excellent guided tours of the landscape (see site). Additionally, a great deal of information can be gained from the information boards around the area that isn't available from the Stonehenge centre.\nVisit Stonehenge on the **Summer Solstice** (21 June), **Winter Solstice** (21, 22 or 23 December), or the Spring and Autumnal Equinox, in order to gain free entry to the stones (and sometimes walk among them), and to venerate nature with the neo-pagans and druids who gather here at these dates.\nTake the opportunity to find out more about Stonehenge at the two nearby museums that have nationally important collections - Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum. See finds from Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, as well as gold from the time of Stonehenge.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk009", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Buy", "text": "Souvenirs are available to paying visitors at the English Heritage shop at Stonehenge, although a wider range of merchandise can be obtained from Salisbury. For those wanting something a little different, Stonehenge Lamb is available to buy from local farmers.", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk010", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Eat", "text": "There is a well stocked cafeteria at the English Heritage centre, but those wishing for a more satisfying meal would be best advised to visit the nearby towns of Amesbury or Durrington which have several pubs, cafes and restaurants.\n\nA good bet is Kingfish Fish & Chips Restaurant & Takeaway located on Bulford Road, Durrington (Adjacent to Tesco express, enter via the Tesco car park) where you can eat in or grab a portion of your favourite traditional fish & chips to take out.\n\nAlso in Amesbury is Amesbury Chippy, Flower Lane, in the centre of town near to Bath Travel, who provide traditional fish and chips freshly served.", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk011", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Drink", "text": "Hop Back Brewery based in Salisbury and Stonehenge Ales produce several fine ales that are served in most of the local pubs.", "word_count": 22}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk012", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Visits to Stonehenge can easily be combined with a visit to Salisbury where many hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels are available. There are several options locally however:\n\n### Lodging\n\nThere is a Holiday Inn business hotel next to the A303 in Solstice Park, but be warned that rooms start at around £150. For rooms under £50/night, consider the George Hotel, Antrobus Arms or Fairlawn Hotel in Amesbury, or one of the many charming B&Bs in the area.\n\nThere is also a rather drab Travelodge on the A303 roundabout outside Amesbury.\n - Stonehenge Inn\n\n### Camping\n\nCamping is prohibited on the open land around Stonehenge, but campsites are available outside Old Sarum in Salisbury (8 miles), Upavon to the north (10 miles), or Stonehenge Touring Park near Shrewton (4 miles).", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk013", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although the Stonehenge landscape is relatively small and civilisation is never too far away, care should still be taken when out touring the area. Sensible shoes are recommended as some of the ground is uneven. Mobile phone reception is usually good, and generally the area is easily accessible by emergency services. Animals often graze on the National Trust open grassland, including cattle. There are some busy roads between the monuments, and care should especially be taken if crossing the A303.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "stonehenge::chunk014", "doc_id": "stonehenge", "section": "Go next", "text": "A trip around the Stonehenge landscape and Stonehenge itself is best combined with a trip to Avebury to the north (which has an even bigger stone circle, with fewer restrictions, and far fewer tourists), or Salisbury to the south. It would be a push to visit all three and be able to fully appreciate them all in one day. Two days would be a better time-frame to consider.", "word_count": 68}
diff --git a/corpus/stonehenge/metadata.json b/corpus/stonehenge/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8e4bc978558c4f64aeb377920923f5b082a2a196
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/stonehenge/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "stonehenge",
+ "title": "Stonehenge",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Stonehenge",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "archaeological",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Wiltshire"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Avebury",
+ "Salisbury (England)",
+ "Exeter",
+ "Gillingham (Dorset)",
+ "London",
+ "Andover (England)"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2625,
+ "listing_count": 8,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sumatra/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sumatra/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6fd30f9f336fdf2919e560f3ddb121ef9c20e654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sumatra/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk000", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Sumatra** (also *Sumatera*) is a region of Indonesia and the sixth largest island in the world. Wild and rugged, Sumatra has great natural wealth.", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk001", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Regions", "text": "Sumatra is divided into ten provinces:", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk002", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the major city in the far north \n — boats to Java and access to Krakatoa\n — a pleasant mountain town\n — the land of Rafflesia, with great beaches and access to Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park\n — important archaeological sites and gateway to rainforests\n — big, chaotic city in the north, gateway to Lake Toba\n — gateway to Kerinci Seblat National Park and offshore surfing islands\n — large city in the south, and former capital of the Srivijaya Kingdom\n — big oil city", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk003", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— orangutans at Bukit Lawang and much else; a UNESCO World Heritage Site\n — a nature area which is located halfway between Pekan Baru and Bukit Tinggi. Rice fields are dwarfed by cliffs.\n — site of Mount Kerinci, Sumatra's highest peak and the highest volcano in Indonesia\n — site of the most famous Indonesian volcanic eruption\n — beautiful highland lake very much on the back-packer circuit\n — beaches and surf in the far north\n — surfing heaven\n — surfing second heaven\n — important national park in the central east", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk004", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|A rare Sumatran Orangutan at Bukit Lawang\n\n### History\n\nPeople who spoke Austronesian languages first arrived in Sumatra around 500 BC, as part of the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan to Southeast Asia. With its location in the India-China sea trade route, several trading towns flourished, especially in the eastern coast, and were influenced by Indian religions and the Srivijaya Buddhist monarchy in particular. \n\nThe Srivijayan influence waned in the 11th century and Sumatra was then subject to conquests from Javanese kingdoms. At the same time Islam made its way to Sumatra through Arabs and Indian traders in the 6th and 7th centuries. Marco Polo visited the island in 1292. The powerful Aceh Sultanate ruled from this time into the 20th century. With the coming of the Dutch, the many Sumatran princely states gradually fell under their control. Aceh, in the north, was the major obstacle, as the Dutch were involved in the long and costly Aceh War (1873–1903).\n\nSumatra came under the control of the Dutch East Indies and became a major producer of pepper, rubber, and oil. In the early and mid-twentieth century, Sumatran academics and leaders were important figures in Indonesia's independence movements before full independence was gained in 1945. \n\n#### The 2004 Tsunami\n\nThe Great Sumatran fault runs the entire length of the island along its west coast. On 26 December 2004, the western coast and islands of Sumatra, particularly Aceh province, were struck by a tsunami following the Indian Ocean earthquake. More than 170,000 Indonesians were killed, primarily in Aceh. Major earthquakes involving fatalities struck Sumatra in 2002 and 2007 and 2009.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk005", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nMedan, as the largest city on the island, has the most flights including many international services to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Silangit International Airport near Lake Toba, Batam, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Padang and Banda Aceh also have international services. Other airports such as Bengkulu, Bandar Lampung, Tanjung Pinang, Pangkal Pinang, Jambi, Tanjung Pandan are served by domestic flights from Jakarta.\nthumb|A sleeper bus on the Medan - Banda Aceh route\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are bus services from Java to various parts of Sumatra. Whilst most originate from Jakarta, there are services from Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Malang.\n\nMost of the buses are in good condition and passengers are provided with blankets as trips take more than a day and the air conditioning can be freezing cold. As domestic low-cost carriers are not as cheap for long-distance trips, some passengers combine flights with a bus trip, such as flying from Jakarta to Pekanbaru, and then taking the bus to Medan. Luxury buses and sleeper buses are also available in the Banda Aceh - Medan route (Rp. 220,000 and up as of 2025).\n\n### By boat\n\nThe ferry between the port of Merak on the island of Java ( west of Jakarta) and Bakauheni in the far south of Sumatra (Lampung province) takes 1.5/3 hours (express/regular). Some passengers choose to travel by night, when it is cooler.\n\nIn addition, there are numerous ferry services connecting Sumatra to Malaysia as well as other Indonesian islands. The main port is Dumai in Riau, which is a visa-upon-arrival point and has direct links to Port Klang (3 hr), Port Dickson and Malacca (2.5 hr and costs 550,000 Rp (2024)) in Malaysia, as well as to the Indonesian island of Batam near Singapore. Other ports that have ferry service to Malaysia are Batam, Tanjung Balai Asahan, Bengkalis and Karimun.\n\nThere are round-the-clock ferry services from Singapore to Batam, Bintan, and Karimun.", "word_count": 319}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk006", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nThe **Trans-Sumatran Highway** (*Jalan Trans-Sumatera*), a road, connects the entire island of Sumatra from north to south. It passes through most major cities like Banda Aceh, Medan, Pekanbaru and Bandar Lampung. If you are not familiar with the routes, rent one with a driver. Driving yourself is dangerous, although the roads are well-paved, as sharp curves are not signed adequately. Night driving is not advisable.\n\nThe **Trans-Sumatra Toll Road** (*Jalan Tol Trans-Sumatera*) is a network of toll roads connecting the major cities and ports of Sumatra. Construction of the network began in 2014, with most of the network supplanting the Trans-Sumatra Highway when completed; until 2014, the only toll road in Sumatra is around Medan. As of 2025, parts of the network are open to traffic, such as between Bandar Lampung and Palembang and between Tanjung Balai, Medan and Binjai, with some partially completed segments opened around Jambi and Pekanbaru. The network also includes some partially-completed spur routes which serve the cities on the Indian Ocean coastline to the south such as Bengkulu and Padang.\n\n### By train\n\nThe only useful railway service runs from Bandar Lampung in the very south of Sumatra to Palembang (400 km) and to Lubuklinggau. From Medan there a few trains a day to Pematangsiantar, Tanjungbalai and Rantau Prapat. There are also a few train services around Padang, including one line connecting with the airport.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk007", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "See", "text": "Nature is the primary attraction of Sumatra. There are jungles, volcanoes and lakes. The rainforest of this island is so important that, in 2006, 25,000 km² was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as *The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra*. This area comprises three distinct national parks, the Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. \n\nPerhaps the most notable specific attraction is the endemic Sumatran Orangutan (smaller and rarer than the only other species of orangutan which is endemic to Borneo). These are restricted to the northern parts of the island and perhaps the easiest place to see them is at Bukit Lawang in the Gunung Leuser National Park.\n\nRarer still are the tiny populations of critically endangered Sumatran Tiger and Sumatran Rhinoceros. The chances of casual visitor glimpsing one of these are slim, but you never know.\n\nthumb|centre|600px|Lake Toba, or rather a very small part of it\n\nAlso in the north, Lake Toba is the world's largest volcanic lake and a popular stop on the backpacker trail.\n\nIn a nation of active volcanoes, Mount Kerinci in Kerinci Seblat National Park, is the highest of them all at some 3,805 metres.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk008", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Do", "text": "**Trekking** is an obvious attraction, with countless peaks to scale and real opportunities to get right away from it all.\n\nOffshore, Sumatra has some of the best **surfing** anywhere on earth with the Mentawai Islands and Nias being especially notable.\n\nFurthermore Pulau Weh up north is a paradise for divers.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk009", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Eat", "text": "Sumatra's most famous contribution to Indonesian cuisine is **nasi padang** white steamed rice served with numerous curries and other toppings. It was created in Padang, but has been assimilated throughout Indonesia.\n\nAs well as being a popular and delicious option in nasi padang, **rendang** is a dry beef curry-type dish. It is prepared by slowly cooking the beef in coconut milk and spices for several hours until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the spicy condiments. It is typically served with steamed white rice.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk010", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Locals drinking Tuak\nBeer is widely available in all areas except Aceh Province. Spirits are not widely available. The locals drink tuak, which is the fermented fruit of the palm tree. It is an acquired taste to say the least but local men drink it by the bagful.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk011", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be careful if you take the Trans-Sumatra road, as there are pirate-style robbers known as *Bajing Loncat* (lit. jumping squirrels), especially at night. They will jump to your vehicle from the trees or their vehicle to carjack or steal some stuff from your vehicle, even if it means they have to kill you.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk012", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The whole of Sumatra is a malaria zone; talk to a doctor about whether you need to take medication.\nDrink only **bottled water**, and to be totally safe also use only bottled water when you brush your teeth.\nIn the dry season, local farmers often set fire to the forest to clear land for farming, often resulting in a thick **haze**. This may cause problems for those with respiratory diseases.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "sumatra::chunk013", "doc_id": "sumatra", "section": "Go next", "text": "Java can be accessed by ferry from the port of Bakauheni in Lampung.\n Ferries run from Dumai in Riau to Port Klang, Port Dickson and Malacca in Malaysia.", "word_count": 28}
diff --git a/corpus/sumatra/metadata.json b/corpus/sumatra/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f752a7e16a227e617da8ff87c4d119bca3c1fc0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sumatra/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sumatra",
+ "title": "Sumatra",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sumatra",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Indonesia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Java",
+ "Dumai",
+ "Port Klang",
+ "Port Dickson",
+ "Malacca",
+ "Malaysia"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1557,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 14,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/suva/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/suva/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9260cf532deb42f01429e864e0dcf71096004ab5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/suva/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk000", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|Cumming Street in central Suva\n**Suva** is the capital of Fiji with a population of 94,000 in the city proper and 185,000 in the metropolitan area.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk001", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Understand", "text": "Suva is on the southeast coast of the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. Suva became the capital of Fiji in 1877. Fiji's tallest building, the Reserve Bank of Fiji Building, is in downtown Suva, also known as the Central Business District (CBD).\n\nThe Fiji School of Medicine and one of the three campuses of the University of the South Pacific are in Suva.\n\nSuva tends to be the major commercial and political centre of Fiji, whereas Nadi (pronounced \"NAN-dee\") is the major tourist centre.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n - Information Centre", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk002", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Get in", "text": "Suva is accessible by airplane, bus, car and boat.\n\n### By plane\n\n \nFiji Airways (Fiji majority owned) provides national and international flights to Suva.\n\nThe closest airport is the (), about 23 km (30 minute drive) away, in Nausori. The airport can be reached by public buses from Suva, however that will require a change in Nausori center. Although Nausori International Airport caters mostly to the domestic market, connecting Suva with Fiji's other international airport in Nadi, it also serves some smaller international aircraft to New Zealand, Samoa and Vanuatu.\n\n### By bus and car\n\nthumb|Suva Bus Network\nBuses connect Suva to all major cities in Viti Levu, arriving at the . People can take normal buses or mini-buses. Tourists are strongly not advised to use the mini-buses.\n\nThree major roads exit Suva and lead to different parts of Viti Levu. Kings Highway leads east from Suva; the next major towns to the east are Nausori and Korovou. Queens Highway leads west from Suva, passing Lami; the next major towns to the west are Navua, Pacific Harbour, and Sigatoka. It takes approximately 4 hours by bus from Nadi to Suva via the Queens Highway. Princes Highway goes north from Suva, through Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, and eventually connects to Kings Highway in Nausori at the Rewa Bridge, the longest bridge in Fiji and the longest bridge of its type in the South Pacific.\n\nSuva is one of Fiji's major harbors and is home to a fishing fleet and major port. Cruise ships also stop in Suva. Several boat companies cooperate with bus companies to permit travelers to visit other islands by taking a bus from Suva, using a roll-on/roll-off (or RO-RO) ferry, and continuing to the town destination on the island. One example if this bus/boat combination is the trip from Suva to Levuka (Fiji's former capitol) on the island of Ovalau.\n\n### By ferry\n\nYou can take a ferry from Taveuni via Savusavu to Suva.", "word_count": 325}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk003", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Get around", "text": "Downtown Suva can be explored on foot. Tourists and residents often use taxis as they are affordable, plentiful and easy to access. People can also take a bus to travel around Suva and to major cities and towns for an even more affordable price.", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk004", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Entrance to the Fiji Museum\n- Fiji Museum", "word_count": 8}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk005", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Do", "text": "Unfortunately, there are no tourist-quality beaches in Suva. The closest tourist-quality beach to Suva is at Pacific Harbour. The beach at Apted Park (at the bottom of Laucala Bay Road) and the kitesurfing-friendly beach (on Queen Elizabeth Road, near the National Stadium) are often frequented by locals despite the high levels of trash and fecal coliform found in the water.\n\nLocal rugby and soccer matches can be exciting events and are free of riots. Rugby matches are most often held in , across from the Suva Lawn Bowls club. Soccer matches are often in the National Stadium on Laucala Bay Road. International hockey (field hockey) matches are at the National Hockey Stadium, near The University of the South Pacific and the National Stadium.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk006", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Suva Municipal Market\n\n - Municipal Handicraft Centre\n\n - Suva Fish Market", "word_count": 12}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk007", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Indian influence from the significant population in Suva is evident in the food. The Indian food in town is authentic, tasty, and good value.\n\nFor something upscale, try a restaurant inside one of the fancier Suva hotels, such as the Tanoa Plaza, the Southern Cross, or the Holiday Inn. For a quick economical meal in pleasant surroundings, go to the food court upstairs at the Harbour Centre and choose from a great variety of local and Chinese dishes (and you get to look before you buy) and sit and enjoy the view, or get a sack of fish and chips and sit by the waterfront or at the botanical garden.\n\nMany international fast food outlets are found in the city including McDonald's and Nando's.\n\n- Singh's Curry House\n\n- Ashiyana\n\n- Scott's\n\n- Palm Court Bistro\n\n - Zam Zam Resaturant\n\n - BSP Central Food Court", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk008", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Fr or Fringing Reef", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk009", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Grand Pacific Hotel\n - Holiday Inn Suva\n\n - Rainforest Eco Lodge\n\n - Tanoa Plaza Suva Hotel\n\n - Colonial Lodge\n\n- 5 Princes Hotel\n\n- Grand Pacific Hotel", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk010", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Suva is a friendly city, but there are some pickpockets and thieves. Avoid people who approach you asking for your name and country. They often want to lead you to a shop and then try to sell you overpriced souvenirs they might have hand-made themselves. Goods sold by these people are very overpriced -- tourists are strongly not advised to purchase anything from these places.\n\nDo not let anyone lead you off to another location to see something such as a ship from your country as this is a scam to isolate you and put you in a weak position. You may later encounter something such as a robbery. Offers of anything free are probably not, even in friendly Fiji.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk011", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies\n\n - China\n\n - Greece\n\n - United States", "word_count": 9}
+{"chunk_id": "suva::chunk012", "doc_id": "suva", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Nadi** is 3 hours drive away towards the west of the island. **Coral Sun** run air-conditioned buses twice a day between Suva and Nadi (7:30AM and 4PM) also stopping by request at the resorts along the way. Buses depart outside the Holiday Inn in Suva and from the airport in Nadi. Costs $20 one way. Ph. +679 672 3105\n **Pacific Harbour** is a 45-minute drive from Suva (towards Nadi). This is the adventure capital of Fiji offering scuba diving, snorkeling, cultural tours, etc. There are shops, cafes, a championship golf course, a man made beach called the Tiki pools and a big cultural centre. There is a range of accommodation here including private villas, backpackers and apartments. \n **Ovalau** and **Levuka** are a 4½-hour bus and boat trip from Suva. Levuka is the former capital of Fiji. Patterson Brothers Shipping (+679 3315 644, patterson@connect.com.fj) has a daily bus and ferry service from Suva to the island of Ovalau, with bus service terminating at the town of Levuka. The bus for Patterson Brothers Shipping departs opposite the flea market at 1PM and arrives at Natovi at 3:30PM. The ferry departs from Natovi jetty at 4PM and arrives at Buresala jetty (Ovalau Island) at 4:50PM. The connecting bus departs Buresala at 5PM arrives at Levuka at 5:45PM. The ferry back to Suva departs Buresala jetty (Ovalau) at 5:45AM. You can also take your own car on this ferry service. Bookings should be made (for any trip, car or not) at least four days in advance, as the ferry and bus can become sold-out.", "word_count": 260}
diff --git a/corpus/suva/metadata.json b/corpus/suva/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8110fd01ace0e27ad7da642f87e479041bc56fbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/suva/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "suva",
+ "title": "Suva",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Suva",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 1,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Viti_Levu"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Nadi",
+ "Pacific Harbour",
+ "Ovalau",
+ "Levuka"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 1196,
+ "listing_count": 21,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/svalbard/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/svalbard/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0440fb57fc1284b0077af0e94bebabd97015f7a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/svalbard/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk000", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|boat tour\n\n**Svalbard** (Russian: , *Shpitsbergen* or , *Grumant*) is a group of islands located between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. The area is sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the main island with all the settlements. The islands are directly north of Norway, and have been under Norwegian rule since 1920. Svalbard's settlements are the second most northerly permanently-inhabited spots on the planet, after the Canadian military base at Alert.\n\nSvalbard is a unique place because of its nature, the extreme northern location and its legal status as neutral Norwegian territory. There is virtually no infrastructure outside a handful of small settlements. About 60% of the area is covered by glaciers, 30% is barren rock and only 10% is covered by vegetation. Svalbard has midnight sun from late April to late August, while winter darkness (polar night) lasts from late October to February. Seven national parks and 23 nature reserves cover 70% of the islands. Because of the delicate nature and threat from polar bears, movement outside settlements is strictly regulated. \n\nWeather is generally cold and above freezing for only a couple of summer months, but relatively mild for such a northern latitude. There is so little precipitation that parts of Svalbard are similar to a desert. Longyearbyen airport is the northernmost airport with regular, civilian traffic.\n\nSvalbard covers about the same area as Ireland and is notably wider than Switzerland, but has less than 3,000 residents in two small towns. There is no infrastructure outside the settlements.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk001", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Towns", "text": "thumb|350px|Map of Svalbard\nthumb|350px|Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean\n\nAll settlements in Svalbard are on the main island of **Spitsbergen** (or *Vest-Spitsbergen*).\n\n (Баренцбург) – sole remaining Russian settlement, population 400\n – Polish research station, population 10 in winter, around 20–30 in summer.\n – the \"capital\" and main Norwegian settlement with a population of 2,100\n – the most northerly civilian settlement in the world, population under 100\n\nThe other islands of Svalbard are uninhabited and, as they are all nature reserves, generally inaccessible without special permission. The islands can be divided into two groups: the Spitsbergen group of **Barentsøya**, **Edgeøya**, **Nordaustlandet** and **Prins Karls Forland**, and the more remote islands of **Bjørnøya**, **Hopen**, **Kong Karls Land** and **Kvitøya**.\n\nthumb|House in abandoned Grumant mine", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk002", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "### Mining towns\n\n — abandoned Russian settlement, now a tourist cruise destination with a solitary hotel\n - Sveagruva\n\n### National parks\n\n – a large bird sanctuary\n – protects the inner part of Wijdefjorden, Svalbard's longest fjord\n – another large fjord but on the west of Spitsbergen\n – home to Svalbard's largest ice-free valley\n – contains the world's northernmost hot springs\n – protects many glacially-carved valleys\n – Norway's largest national park", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk003", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Understand", "text": "Svalbard is the northernmost tip of Europe and, a few military bases aside, its settlements are the northernmost permanently-inhabited spots on the planet. Located between the 76° and 81° parallels, they are far more northerly than any part of Alaska and all but a few of Canada's Arctic islands. In fact, they would be permanently locked in by ice if not for the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, and it is this comparative warmth that makes them habitable. The islands cover 62,050 km² (smaller than Iceland, about twice the area of Belgium), the largest of which are Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Austfonna glacier on Nordaustlandet is 8,492 km² and the widest glacier in Europe, slightly ahead of Vatnajökull in Iceland. Austfonna glacier alone covers an area about 3–4 times wider than Luxembourg. Spitsbergen is the fifth-widest island in Europe and covers an area about the size of Switzerland.\n\nWhile Svalbard has never had an indigenous population, the islands are inhabited today by fewer than 3,000 people, nearly all of them in the main settlements of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg on Spitsbergen.\n\nThe islands are governed by *Sysselmesteren på Svalbard*, literally if slightly awkwardly translated into English as the **Governor of Svalbard**. The Governor is a single person appointed by the government of Norway, but the *Sysselmestre* administration they run is responsible for policing, rescue, environmental policy, visas, weapon licences and basically all public services on the islands.\n\nNorway's welfare system mostly does not apply to Svalbard. Residents are mostly working age (20 to 70) and most have permanent residence on the mainland; working on Svalbard does not qualify you for Norwegian residence or citizenship. There are no old people and in principle it is forbidden to die at Svalbard.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk004", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Understand", "text": "All man-made objects older than 1946 are protected by law and cannot be touched by visitors. For this reason, the area around Longyearbyen, and several other parts of the archipelago, are littered with interesting artifacts including disused mining equipment, bits of rope and shovels. Human graves are often shallow and human remains are in some cases visible on the ground. Remains of animals such as whales and polar bears of any age are also protected.\n\n### History\n\nThe islands were supposedly discovered by Viking explorers in the 12th century. However the first recorded voyage here was by the Dutch in 1596, landing on the northwest of Spitsbergen. The first permanent settlement was the international whaling base, which was active during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognised in 1920; five years later it took over the territory. However, the Svalbard Treaty gives \"absolute equality\" to other nations wishing to exploit mineral deposits, and Russia continues to maintain a significant population on the island. Although part of Norway, Svalbard remains a neutral territory.\n\n### Economy\n\nthumb|300px|Remains of an abandoned coal mine, [[Longyearbyen]]", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk005", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Understand", "text": "Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although American, British, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard were essentially company towns. Barentsburg still exists as such, while Longyearbyen has begun to resemble a 'normal' mainland town. The Norwegian state-owned coal company is responsible, both directly and indirectly, for approximately half of the working hours in Longyearbyen. There is also some trapping of seal, fox, and walrus. Tourism has become increasingly important and now powers the economy of Longyearbyen, changing it significantly. Nonetheless, the place is not often swarming with tourists. The third main industry on Svalbard is scientific research and education. UNIS, the University Centre on Svalbard, offers tertiary and postgraduate courses in Arctic sciences, and many countries also run research stations on the archipelago.\n\n### Geography\n\nthumb|Svalbard from above\n\nSvalbard is barren, rugged and desolate. Its mountains look like giant, precipitous slag heaps: steeply-piled stacks of rubble, eroded by rain with peaks jutting out at improbable angles. Higher mountains are permanently covered in snow and many valleys are filled with glaciers. There are no trees on the islands and the most common vegetation is a brownish green moss, the colour of dead grass, that sprouts patchily up the mountainsides. However, many Arctic flowers bloom here during summer.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|300px|Blue ice, Esmarkbreen", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk006", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Understand", "text": "Svalbard literally means \"cold edge\", an apt name for this northern land. The climate is Arctic, tempered by the warm North Atlantic Current. Summers are cool (July average 6.1°C) and winters are cold (January average -15.8°C), but **wind chill** means that it usually feels colder. The North Atlantic Current flows along the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year. The peak travel season for cruises is during Svalbard's brief summer, from June to August, when it's light and not *too* cold outside. The \"light winter\" period (March-May) is the high season for fly and stay guests, when there is both sunlight and snow. This period is also increasingly popular for winter sports. March is still one of the coldest months with an average of -15°C in Longyearbyen, though temperatures can drop to -40°C. Summer months are just above freezing on average and temperatures occasionally climb to 15°C.\n\nWeather is often cloudy but Svalbard is typically a very dry area. Fog is common, with April and May being the least foggy months. Annual precipitation is typically around 200–500 mm making Svalbard one of the driest areas of Europe. Some places in Svalbard get less than 100 mm annually, similar to or less than the driest places in Spain. A few places in Svalbard get 1000 mm annually. Precipitation mostly falls from low clouds and depends on the landscape.\n\nSvalbard features the **midnight sun** from 20 April to 23 August. Conversely, the sun stays under the horizon during the **polar night** from 26 October to 15 February. In northern mainland Norway there is twilight midday during the polar night, but on Svalbard it is fully dark at least all of December.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk007", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Understand", "text": "Norwegian and Russian public holidays apply in their respective settlements, but there are a few local festivals of interest:\n\n**Polar Jazz**, end of January. 4-5 day jazz, blues, and bluegrass festival.\n **Solfestuka**, around 8 March. 'The sun festival week', a celebration of the end of the polar night.\n **Dark Season Blues**. Blues festival at the end of October. An appropriately-themed way to mark the approach of winter.\n **KunstPause Svalbard**, around 14 November. An arts festival timed to match the beginning of the polar night.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk008", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Get in", "text": "Getting in is relatively expensive and time-consuming, but less so than other destinations at nearly the same latitude, e.g., in Greenland and Canada. Svalbard has no border controls, and citizens of the 41 signatories of the Svalbard treaty (including such unlikely countries as Afghanistan and the Dominican Republic) need no visas or other permits to visit – or even work – in Svalbard. However, most scheduled flights to Svalbard depart from Norway, and as Norway considers Svalbard a domestic destination, you'll need to pass through Norwegian immigration first. In the other direction, Norway reserves the right to check the passports of passengers coming from Svalbard. Svalbard is not inside the Schengen area. People who need a visa to the Schengen area will need a multiple-entry visa to go to Svalbard since returning to mainland Norway counts as entering the Schengen area again. People from the Nordic countries need a passport to visit Svalbard even if they do not normally need it inside the Nordic countries.\n\n### By plane\n\n**Longyearbyen** has the largest airport on the islands (), the only one suitable for passenger flights from outside Svalbard. **SAS** has scheduled flights from Oslo and Tromsø, **Norwegian** from Oslo only. There are charter flights from various European destinations.\n\nSAS considers flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo or Tromsø domestic, so an SAS EuroBonus award ticket from anywhere in Scandinavia to Svalbard costs just 10,000 EuroBonus points in SAS Go, and 20,000 in SAS Plus. This little loophole is well-known by SAS frequent flyers and award availability is quite limited, so book well in advance if planning to use this. SAS flights can also be bought over the Internet either direct from SAS or via certain meta agents.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk009", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Get in", "text": "While flights to Svalbard were long rather expensive, fares can be in line with other intra-European flights these days, but early booking and flexibility with dates will help you get the cheapest tickets.\n\n### By boat\n\nA number of operators offer **cruises** around Svalbard in the high season. These are the only practical means of visiting the more far-flung bits of the archipelago like Ny-Ålesund, but they don't come cheap: a typical 3-day cruise starting from Longyearbyen may cost you from (cheapest cabin, twin sharing). There are also longer cruises, some starting all the way from Oslo, with rates going up to for a 12-day trip.\n\nThere are countless cruise operators, but they all seem to book on the same boats. Spitsbergen Travel runs **MS Fram** and the **MS Nordstjernen** (1956), formerly Norwegian Hurtigruten ships. Other small ship favorites are the Antarctica Dream, Ocean Adventurer, MV Plancius, Ortelius, Akademik Vavilov, Ioffe and the Polar Pioneer. Most of these vessels have been designed to plow the icy waters of the Antarctica and have comfortable facilities. While none of these can be described as \"luxurious\", other vessels such as the Le Boreal, Sea Spirit, and Le Diamant are larger and designed to cater to the luxury traveller. Some operators specialize in small ship cruise options and land safaris, such as Adventure Life. If you want a full-fledged cruise ship, P&O usually also calls a few times a year on two-week trips.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk010", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Get in", "text": "Passenger services to Svalbard are very limited. In the summer there is a cargo ship service from Tromsø once a week. The journey takes 2-3 days and prices are generally at least as steep as flights, but this cannot be considered as a usual measure of transport, as passengers are usually not allowed onboard. Very seldomly, cargo ships also operate from Murmansk to Barentsburg. There is also the Polish sailing yacht **Eltanin**, which provides supplies for research stations. It sails once a year from Gdynia (usually May); however, the journey takes about 3 weeks.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk011", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most of Svalbard is protected as national park or nature reserves. There is no infrastructure outside Longyearbyen. Visitors can in general not go around on their own out of Longyearbyen, also for safety reasons.\n\nThe only \"highway\" links Longyearbyen Airport to the Mine 7 via Longyearbyen. It is for the most part unsealed and anyway very short. There are paved streets in the settlement of Longyearbyen and many of the local residents tend to have cars. Snowmobiles are common transportation in wintertime. Visitors don't need a car. \n\nTravel between islands and settlements can be done by plane or helicopter any time of year. \n\nBoats can be used in summer. MS Polargirl runs a mail service several times a week between Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Pyramiden and passengers are taken on these trips. Many people go with an expectation of seeing a polar bear on a **boat safari**. This is possible, but by no means guaranteed.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk012", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language is Norwegian. However, nearly everyone speaks English. In Barentsburg, Russian and Ukrainian are spoken.", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk013", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "See", "text": "Svalbard's visitors come mostly to experience **Arctic nature** at its rawest and most powerful. The islands have untouched glaciers and craggy mountains, but also polar bears, caribou, a peculiar short legged reindeer, polar foxes, whales, seals and walruses. Svalbard is renowned for its variety of birds, including Arctic Terns, Arctic Fulmar and Puffins. Whales can be spotted off the coastlines particularly during late summer. Humpback whales, Orcas, Beluga whales, and Narwhals all frequent the ocean waters near Svalbard.\n\nDuring the short summer, the melting snow in the milder parts of the islands gives place to vast stretches of tundra vegetation, sometimes dotted with delicate flowers. \n\nAlthough it is possible to prepare your own excursion while on Svalbard, the lack of infrastructure, the necessity of carrying (and knowing how to use) a rifle outside the settlements, and the harshness of the environment even during the summer make organized activities with professional guides a necessity for most visitors. Activities can be booked online or in Longyearbyen.\n\nLongyearbyen has a couple of museums and the world's northernmost church. The Soviet-era settlements of Barentsburg, still running fitfully, and Pyramiden, abandoned in the 1990s but open to visitors on tours, make offbeat attractions, being home to (among other things) the world's **two northernmost Lenin statues**. Both can be visited by cruise or snowmobile from Longyearbyen.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk014", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Buy", "text": "The currency is the Norwegian krone (kr), and this is also accepted in the Russian settlements. Svalbard is a tax free zone so a number of shops in Longyearbyen display various items for sale at prices well below mainland Norway.\n\n### Costs\n\nSvalbard is by most measures **very expensive**; most things cost even more than in mainland Norway. Accommodation in cheap guesthouses costs around /night and sit-down meals are close to each; both can easily be double if you want to stay in a full-service hotel. Guided activities start at about per day (e.g., trekking and kayaking) but can be more than for tours requiring specialist equipment. \n\nOne way to cut costs significantly is to camp and self-cater, bringing all your supplies from the mainland. There is a full service grocery store in Longyearbyen. Frozen and dry goods are on par with or even a little cheaper than in Norway, while perishable items arrive via air freight and consequently are more expensive.\n\nSvalbard's **duty-free** status means that alcohol and sports clothing, etc. are much cheaper than on the mainland.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk015", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Eat", "text": "Food on Svalbard is expensive for most visitors, as it is anywhere in Norway. Local specialities include seal and reindeer, served at restaurants in Longyearbyen. Sometimes polar bears are shot (see Stay safe below) and served to tourists. It is generally accepted that they don't taste particularly good, but the novelty value keeps them on the menu.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk016", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Drink", "text": "Alcohol is duty-free on Svalbard. If you've arrived from Norway, the bars will seem refreshingly cheap, but are still equivalent to London prices. In Barentsburg, Russian vodka can be cheap. The local alcohol store Nordpolet, in the same building as Svalbardbutikken, keeps a good variety of national and international alcoholic drinks, including fine wine and craft beers, but if interested, keep the airplane ticket you got onto Svalbard with for the entirety of your visit, otherwise purchases from the store might not be possible; the ticket is signed to track your purchase quota, which is so high it shouldn't bother any normal drinking visitor.\n\nA popular party trick for glacier cruises is drinks served with **glacier ice**, purified by natural processes over thousands of years.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk017", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Sleep", "text": "A range of accommodation is available only in Longyearbyen, which offers camping, guesthouses and luxury hotels. The camping site is located 300 m from the airport and is the only place where camping is permitted in relatively close proximity to Longyearbyen. For visitors looking to bring the cost down it is much cheaper to camp than pay for guesthouses, and the camp site is free to use outside season, although the service buildings are locked meaning facilities such as toilets are unavailable. Rules therefore apply to how to deal with urgent toilet purposes, and strict rules are applied to waste disposal. In season the camp site is serviced and facilities available, and it is possible to rent tents. Warm showers cost extra.\n\nBarentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and Pyramiden each have one hotel.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk018", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|The University Centre in Svalbard in May 2025\n\n **The University Centre in Svalbard** (UNIS). A private foundation run by four Norwegian universities, offers university-level courses in Arctic biology, geology, geophysics and technology. Several hundred students, half of them exchange students from outside Norway, attend yearly.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk019", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Work", "text": "Citizens of Svalbard Treaty signatory countries need no permits to work on Svalbard; you can even set up your own mine if so inclined. In practice, work opportunities are rather more limited, although there is some seasonal tourist industry work available during the summer if you have the requisite skills and language abilities (Norwegian will come in handy). The Governor of Svalbard does, however, have the right to boot you off the island if you cannot support yourself.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk020", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|300px|Polar bear (safely stuffed), [[Longyearbyen]]\n\nThe biggest threat on Svalbard is **polar bears** (*isbjørn*), some 500 of which inhabit the main islands at any one time. Seven people have been killed by polar bears since 1973, the most recent in August 2020, so if travelling outside settlements you are required to **carry a rifle at all times** to protect yourself. They can be rented for about and up per day, but starting 2009, a valid gun license is now required; those without a gun license can apply for temporary permission to rent a rifle: all that is required is to fill out an application form and a certificate of good conduct (i.e. proof of no criminal record) which can be e-mailed to the Svalbard Police Department. Processing may take up to 4 weeks, but has been known to work even on the same day with some luck. However, for most people, it's better to stick to guided tours. Do not underestimate the speed of polar bears (you cannot outrun one). Polar bears can be extremely unpredictable and are far more dangerous than European brown bears. You are not allowed to kill polar bears unless it is an immediate threat to your life.\n\nThe harsh Arctic environment also poses its own challenges, particularly in winter. Beware of the danger of **frostbite** in the face (nose and cheeks), fingers and toes, particularly in low temperatures with wind (such as high speed on snowmobile). Crossing glaciers and rivers can be hazardous and travelling with local guides is strongly recommended. If heading out on your own, informing the Governor of Svalbard about your route and expected duration is highly advisable. For any trips outside central region of Spitsbergen, you *must* notify the Governor, and may be required to purchase insurance or put up a large deposit to cover possible rescue costs.\n\nSvalbard has virtually no crime, except occasional drunken brawls.", "word_count": 316}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk021", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Tap water on Svalbard is drinkable, but surface water may contain **tapeworm eggs** from fox feces and should be boiled before consumption.\n\nThere is a pharmacy in Longyearbyen and you can buy some non-prescription drugs in the supermarket (Svalbardbutikken). Longyearbyen also has a hospital for treating emergencies.\n\nAs there are no maternity clinics on or near Svalbard, women in late-stage pregnancy are discouraged from visiting.", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk022", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Respect", "text": "In most of Svalbard's buildings, including some hotels and shops, you are expected to **take off your shoes** before entering. In public buildings this will be obvious as a shoe rack covered in dirty walking boots will be prominent at the entrance. Alternatively you may be invited to put on overshoes (effectively plastic bags) over ordinary footwear.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk023", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Connect", "text": "Normal 4G/LTE phones generally work in close proximity to Longyearbyen and have a good potential to work in big parts of Adventdalen and Isfjorden as well through the operator Telenor Svalbard. As of summer 2024, 3G is no longer available. 2G however is, but is also being phased out. EU/EES roaming agreements should work, if you have a cell phone plan in this zone. Telenor also serves the towns of Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and the former mining community Sveagruva. \n\nPrivate wilderness expeditions will likely have to rely on an Iridium-based satellite communicator as no other network has good coverage this far north. \n\nThe Internet connection in Svalbard is top class because NASA rents bulk capacity on undersea fiber optic cables running at seabed to mainland Norway for its experiments. \n\nWhile mail from Svalbard to mainland Norway and the outside world uses regular Norwegian stamps at regular Norwegian prices, philatelists may be interested in the **Lokalpost** system used for intra-Svalbard mail. Stamps, first-day covers and more are available at the post offices in Longyearbyen and Barentsburg, as well as at Longyearbyen's Svalbardbutikken.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "svalbard::chunk024", "doc_id": "svalbard", "section": "Go next", "text": "Svalbard is a popular staging point (at least in relative terms) for launching expeditions to the North Pole. For more experiences of the Arctic north, you can visit Ellesmere Island or northern Greenland, where the world's northernmost land is located.\n\nFairly close to Svalbard is Franz Josef Land, a largely uninhabited group of islands, which belongs to Russia.\n\nIf you want to explore extreme Norwegian lands, see also Jan Mayen in the Arctic and Bouvet Island in the Antarctic.", "word_count": 79}
diff --git a/corpus/svalbard/metadata.json b/corpus/svalbard/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..66a0c8befcdfb205ebe500169d9ee6835deea9c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/svalbard/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "svalbard",
+ "title": "Svalbard",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Polar / Special",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Svalbard",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "sailing",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Norway"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "North Pole",
+ "Ellesmere Island",
+ "northern Greenland",
+ "Franz Josef Land",
+ "Jan Mayen",
+ "Bouvet Island"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3861,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 25,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sweden/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sweden/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2e2867373f696372d461a890083a9a70c8d5197b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sweden/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk000", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Sweden** (Swedish: *Sverige*) is the largest of the Nordic countries by area and population. Visitors can experience deep forests and many lakes, the heritage from the Viking Age and the 17th-century Swedish Empire, the glamour of the Nobel Prize, and the country's successful pop music scene. Sweden has 270,000 islands with many open to visit through the right to roam.", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk001", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Regions", "text": "The three traditional lands of Sweden, **Götaland**, **Svealand** and **Norrland**, are further divided into 25 provinces (*landskap*), which largely define Swedish people's cultural identity.\n\nThe provinces mostly coincide with the 21 counties (*län*), the mid-level political entities. The 290 municipalities (*kommun*), are the bottom-level political entities, typically consisting of a town or a city, and the surrounding countryside, including small villages. Some municipalities used to hold city (*stad*) privileges, and still style themselves as such, though there is no legal distinction. Most municipalities have their own visitor centre.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk002", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Cities", "text": "is Sweden's capital and largest city, spread out over several islands.\n (Swedish: *Göteborg*) is Sweden's largest port and industrial centre, second in population.\n is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the base for Sweden's navy since the 17th century.\n has a large university, and is the birthplace of Sweden's aviation industry.\n is a lively pretty university city with a Viking Age heritage.\n, with a quarter million inhabitants, is connected to the Danish capital Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge.\n is the largest city in Norrland, known for its silver birches and university.\n, once the centre of Viking era Sweden, is home to the largest cathedral and oldest university in the Nordic countries.\n is the only city on the Gotland island, a Hanseatic League centre of commerce with an impressive city wall.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk003", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "is the traditional heartland of Swedish metallurgy and mining.\n is a freshwater archipelago with the Royal family's residence Drottningholm, and Viking Age settlement Birka.\n (Swedish: *Höga kusten*) is the most scenic area along the Norrland coast.\n (Sami: *Giron*) at Sweden's northernmost edge is known for a large mine, a space flight centre, the Jukkasjärvi ice hotel and Abisko national park.\n is Western Europe's largest wilderness, in the Arctic.\n is an archetype of Swedish folk culture in central Dalarna.\n (Swedish: *Stockholms skärgård*) consists of islands all shapes and sizes.\n is one of Sweden's largest ski resorts, with 44 lifts.\n is Sweden's second largest island, with long beaches.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk004", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Understand", "text": "The \"Nordic model\" of economics and social policy was largely developed by Swedish social democrats and liberals during the early 20th century. The foundation is a strong welfare state, combined with market economics. Swedish society, as it has become through this policy, is often described as \"folkhemmet\", comparing solidarity in the society with that in a family:\n> The Home's foundation is community and unity. The good Home knows no privileged or expelled ones, no favourites or step-children. There, no one looks down on one another. There, no one tries to get an advantage at another's cost, the strong does not oppress or plunder the weak.\n\n### History\n\nIn ancient times, Sweden was inhabited by the Suiones (*svear*) in Svealand and the Geats (*götar*) in Götaland. Some of these participated in Viking expeditions (see Vikings and the Old Norse), and are said to have founded the first kingdoms in Russia. Written sources from the Viking Age are few and short.\n\nAround AD 1000, Christianity replaced Norse paganism, Suiones and Geats united under one king (probably Olof Skötkonung), and the first cities were founded; among them Sigtuna, Uppsala and Skara. With Christianity came written chronicles and stone architecture, which have provided the afterworld with better historical detail than earlier remnants. Swedish kings Christianized and annexed Finland. During the 14th and 15th century, Sweden was a subject of the Kalmar Union with Norway and Denmark. Gustav Vasa liberated Sweden from Danish rule, was elected king in 1523, and is regarded the founder of modern Sweden. He also reformed the church to Lutheran-Protestant. Today, the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Lutheran, though contemporary Swedish society is largely secular, with only a minority of Swedes going to church regularly.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk005", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Understand", "text": "During the 17th century Sweden rose as a Great Power, through several successful wars (such as the Thirty Years' War), where kings such as Gustavus Adolphus and Charles X annexed Scania, Halland and Bohuslän from Denmark, as well as temporary possessions in the Baltic countries and northern Germany. In the early 18th century, an alliance of Denmark, Poland and the Russian Empire defeated Swedish king Charles XII, marking the end of the Swedish Empire. In 1809, Sweden was again defeated by Russia, which annexed Finland. During the 19th century, more than 1 million Swedish people emigrated to North America. Sweden is a monarchy by constitution, but King Carl XVI Gustaf has no executive power.\n\nSweden is a developed post-industrial society with an advanced welfare state. The standard of living and life expectancy rank among the highest in the world. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, but decided by a referendum in 2003 not to commit to the European Monetary Union and the euro currency.\nSweden has a strong tradition of being an open, yet discreet country. Citizens sometimes appear to be quite reserved at first, but once they get to know who they are dealing with, they'll be as warm and friendly as you'd wish. Privacy is regarded as a key item and many visitors, for example mega-stars in various lines of trade, have many times realized that they mostly can walk the streets of the cities virtually undisturbed.\n\nSweden houses the Nobel Prize committee for all the prizes except the peace prize, which is hosted in Oslo, a memento of the Swedish-Norwegian union that was dissolved in 1905.\n\nIn the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and joined NATO in 2024.\n\n### The year in Sweden", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk006", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Understand", "text": "> Swedish summer is the most beautiful day of the year.\n\nthumb|The [[Gävle]] Goat, a Christmas decoration known to be targeted by arsonists.\n\nThe weather in Sweden is typically cool or cold from October to April, but in the summer (late May to early September) temperatures lie around 20 °C. If you like snow, go to Norrland or Dalarna in January to April. In Sweden there are no earthquakes or volcanoes to be worried about. There are seasonal storms though, mostly in the early spring and in the autumn. Occasional heavy rainfall makes the many rivers swell and in some cases cause flooding. During dry summers counties may issue warnings or even bans on the use of open fire.\n\nDaylight varies greatly during the year. In Stockholm, the sun sets at 15:00 in December. In June and July, however, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun around Midsummer and the Arctic night in midwinter.\n\nThe major holidays are Easter (*påsk*), National Day of Sweden or Swedish Flag Day (*nationaldagen* or *svenska flaggans dag*, June 6), Midsummer (*midsommar*, celebrated from the eve of the Friday between June 19–25), Christmas (*jul*, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are all considered holidays). Most celebration happens on the **day before** the holiday proper; Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve etc. Expect everything to be closed in the countryside during the National Day and Midsummer.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk007", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are three periods of the year when Swedes traditionally have their vacations. To avoid fully booked venues, heavy traffic and crowded tourist resorts in the summer, you should either book in time or stay clear of July and the first two weeks of August. These six weeks are weather-wise usually the most enjoyable for a summer vacation in all of Sweden. Winter vacation (*sportlov*) is usually a week in February or March depending on when kids have time off from school. This time of year is high season for tourism in all of Lappland, Dalarna and some winter resorts in Southern Sweden. Autumn vacation (*höstlov*) is a week around the end of October and the beginning of November. This period has become a time of reading and reflection, so people tend to stay at home getting used to the dark winter evenings.\n\n### Electricity and utilities\n\nSweden uses 230 V 50 Hz electricity with the F/Schuko outlets (compatible with the euro plug). Supply is reliable, though the countryside might have blackouts during severe storms. Electricity is available everywhere except at the most remote cabins.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Visit Sweden", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk008", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|The Rök runestone in [[Östergötland]] is the world's largest of its kind. It was erected in the 9th century and written in Old Norse, the predecessor of the Swedish language.\n\n**Swedish** (*svenska*) is the national language of Sweden. It is closely related to Danish and Norwegian, and mutually intelligible with those languages to a certain degree — especially in written form. While Finnish (the largest minority language) as well as the less spoken Sami, Meänkeäli, Yiddish and Romani languages are officially recognized, practically everyone born in Sweden speaks Swedish. Regardless of what your native tongue is, Swedes appreciate an attempt to speak Swedish, and beginning conversations in Swedish, no matter how rudimentary your level is, will help to ingratiate you to locals.\n\n**English** is widely spoken in Sweden, and most younger adults have near native proficiency. If you're trying to speak Swedish and it does not sound native, do not be surprised if locals respond in English. Do not take this personally; they are not trying to be rude, but just trying to make communication less awkward. In case your English is also rudimentary you can expect the communication to end or the locals trying to find someone that can help them to communicate.\n\n**Hej** (*hey*) is the massively dominant greeting in Sweden, useful on kings and bums alike. You can even say it when you leave. The Swedes most often do not say \"please\" (**snälla** say SNELL-la), instead they are generous with the word **tack** (*tuck*), meaning \"thanks\". If you need to get someone's attention, whether it's a waiter or you need to pass someone one in a crowded situation, a simple \"**ursäkta**\" (say \"OR-sek-ta\") (\"excuse me\") will do the trick. You will find yourself pressed to overuse it, and you sometimes see people almost chanting it as a mantra when trying to exit a crowded place like a bus or train.\n\nSome things get English names that do not correspond to the original English word, such as **light**, which is used for low-calorie products, and **freestyle**, which means \"walkman\".\n\nSweden uses the metric system. Two **units** may be confusing: Swedish miles, *mil* (10 km), are commonly used in spoken language for distances such as between cities (if you hear 'mile', make sure it indeed refers to international miles), and some foodstuff is sold by hectogram For dates, the ISO 8601 standard (yyyy-mm-dd) is in wide use, in parallel with the more traditional d/m yyyy and dd.mm.yyyy. The decimal separator in Swedish is the comma, thus 1.000 is a thousand and 1,000 is one, and Swedish uses the long scale, thus *en biljon* is a trillion, not a billion (which is *en miljard*).\n\nForeign television programmes and films are almost always shown in their original language with Swedish subtitles, with only children's programmes dubbed into Swedish.", "word_count": 467}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk009", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|The Öresund Bridge connects Sweden to [[Denmark]].\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nNordic citizens can stay indefinitely regardless of the purpose of their stay.\n\nVisitors coming in from other Schengen countries (such as Norway and Finland) can usually enter Sweden without any inspections, in a land vehicle, on foot, or by boat, as long as they do not carry goods to declare. The ferries from Finland may however want to check your ID (which should state your nationality) – and there are usually \"temporary\" border controls when coming from Denmark.\n\nRestricted goods include but are not limited to cash in the equivalence of €10,000 and more, pets, firearms, as well as wholesale commodities. These must be declared at a toll station. The Swedish Customs (*Tull*) is a law enforcement agency, which is entitled to arrest people using due force.\n\nIf you use ferries with duty-free shopping (those via Åland), there are customs checks even if you don't leave the EU. If you carry more tobacco or alcohol than may be imported freely, make sure you have evidence (such as the receipt) that you have already paid the taxes in an EU country. Also note that exporting *snus* from Sweden to other EU countries is restricted.\n\nPets need to be declared at customs. If you travel from within the EU, you can declare them in advance on the web. Check requirements.\n\n### By plane\n\nFor arrival and departure times, and for lots of other information about flights and airports in Sweden, visit **Luftfartsverket** (Swedish Airports and Air Navigation Services).\n\nMost airports can be reached by the airport coaches of **Flygbussarna** for around 70–120 kr, but some are well served also by normal public transport.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk010", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get in", "text": "Major airports:\n **Stockholm Arlanda** () is Sweden's main airport, from the centre of Stockholm, with flights departing from all over Europe, but also from North America, the Middle East, China, Japan, Thailand, and Ethiopia. It is a base for flag carrier Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) but also for Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Ryanair.\n **Göteborg Landvetter** (), from Gothenburg in southern Sweden, has flights from most major European airports.\n **Copenhagen Airport** (), on an island between Copenhagen and Malmö, is Scandinavia's largest air hub, served by most major airlines, and the main hub for SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Direct rail line from the airport to southern Sweden allows it to serve most of the region conveniently.\n **Oslo Airport, Gardermoen** () in Norway can be considered for destinations in western Sweden, especially to Värmland.\n\nSmaller airports:\n **Stockholm Skavsta** () is mainly served by budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair, with many connections to Europe, especially the Balkans. In Nyköping, quite a distance (about 100 km) from Stockholm.\n **Stockholm Bromma** (), 6 km west of central Stockholm, has been under threat of closure for many years and, as of 2025, few flights remain.\n**Stockholm Västerås** () — international flights from Copenhagen and London. Also about 100 km from Stockholm.\n **Malmö-Sturup** () — serves domestic flights and low fares flights. It's about 30 km from Malmö.\n **Jönköping Airport** () connects to Stockholm, Visby, Frankfurt and destinations in southern Europe.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Sleeper trains run to [[Åre]], a ski resort in [[Jämtland]]\n\nYou can reach Sweden by train from neighbouring countries, and some more distant ones:", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk011", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Denmark**: Trains depart Copenhagen and Copenhagen's airport for Malmö every 20 minutes, and cost only about 100 Swedish kronor (\"Öresundståg / Øresundstog\" regional trains). The train goes over the magnificent *Öresund Bridge* to get to Sweden in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore direct trains (SJ) leave from Copenhagen to Stockholm. Tickets are purchased in machines, or for SJ also on the web. Danish Rejsekort can also be used if your destination is one of the three stops in Malmö. Be aware that the two operators do not recognize each other's tickets. The Helsingør-Helsingborg connection, known as one of the busiest ferry routes in Europe, might also be used (local trains from Copenhagen, change to ship).\n **Finland**: The Torneå/Muonionjoki river valley has seasonal train service on the Finnish side (up to Kolari, by Pajala). From the station in Tornio the station in Haparanda is within easy reach. There are no direct train connections, as Finland and Sweden use different rail gauges. Haparanda has some trains, but you can also take the bus to Luleå or Boden, with night train connection to Stockholm. Interrail tickets are valid on that bus, otherwise tickets are purchased from the driver. Off season you can use the year-round daily connections to Kemi, with bus to Tornio.\n **Norway**: Main connections between Oslo and Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as connections on the lines Trondheim–Åre–Östersund and Narvik–Kiruna–Boden–Stockholm. The railway service between Oslo and Gothenburg sees seasonal service to Malmö. \n **Germany**: Direct overnight trains run daily from Berlin to Stockholm via Hamburg and Malmö, operated by SJ, along with a competing service operated by Snälltåget. The latter service is extended to Dresden on select dates, but does not run in the winter. There are also several trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, just across the Öresund strait from Malmö.\n **Austria**: Weekly overnight trains are offered winter and summer from Austrian ski resorts via Hamburg and Munich to Malmö, operated by Snälltåget.", "word_count": 323}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk012", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\nthumb|The Svinesund bridge connects southern Sweden to [[Norway]] (E6).\n\nFrom western and central Europe via Copenhagen by **Flixbus** or '''Nettbuss'''.\n\nBuses from and to the Western Balkans are also operated by '''Toptourist''' . Call + 46 (0 ) 42 18 29 84 for more information.\n\nThere are buses from Tornio in Finland, and, e.g., from Oslo, Bodø and Mo i Rana in Norway.\n\n### By car\n\nFrom Norway and northern Finland there are many border crossings. Norway is not part of EU, so visit customs. Nearly all the ferries to Sweden take cars.\n\nFrom Germany, a car ferry is needed when going directly to Sweden or via the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. See how to get in by boat.\n\nThe exception to the rule is to take the Great Belt Bridge in combination with the Öresund Bridge as a ferry-free drive via Denmark to Sweden (Autobahn 7 to the Danish border — Motorway E45 to Kolding — Motorway E20 to Malmö, Sweden). This is however a 170-km detour, and the bridges have heavy tolls. Going via the Danish isles to Sweden is also possible (Autobahn 1 to Puttgarden — Scandlines car ferry to Rødby — Motorway E47 to Helsingør — Scandlines car ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden) or a combination of the two routes switching from E20 to E47 or vice versa on Zealand.\n\nBefore you decide on the route, do check out the prices on the ferries going directly from Germany to Sweden, since they can be much cheaper.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|The [[Baltic Sea ferries]] have the cheapest accommodation in Scandinavia, [[duty-free shopping]], and a view of the [[Stockholm archipelago]].", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk013", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get in", "text": "Before the Öresund Bridge was opened in July 2000, the Scandinavian peninsula could only be reached by boat, unless going very far north. Still, boat traffic is very important to Sweden.\n\n#### Belgium\n\nFrom Ghent to Gothenburg by DFDS Torline (cargo line with limited passenger capacity)\n\n#### Denmark\n\nFrom Grenå to Halmstad by Stena Line.\n From Frederikshavn to Gothenburg by Stena Line.\n From Helsingør to Helsingborg by Scandlines and Sundsbusserne. The latter does not take motorised vehicles.\n\n#### Estonia\n\nFrom Tallinn to Stockholm (via Helsinki) by Viking Line.\n From Tallinn to Stockholm (direct connection) by Tallink.\n\n#### Finland\n\nFrom Helsinki to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.\n From Naantali to Kapellskär by Finnlines.\n From Turku to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.\n From Vaasa to Umeå by Wasaline.\n\n#### Latvia\n\nFrom Riga to Stockholm by Tallink (temporarily suspended).\n From Ventspils to Nynäshamn by Stena Line.\n\n#### Lithuania\n\nFrom Klaipėda to Karlshamn by DFDS Seaways.\n From Klaipėda to Karlshamn and Trelleborg by TT-Line.\n\n#### Germany\n\nFrom Travemünde to Trelleborg by TT-Line.\n From Travemünde to Malmö by Finnlines.\n From Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line.\n From Rostock to Trelleborg by Scandlines and TT-Line.\n Via Denmark\n From Puttgarden to Rødby in Denmark by Scandlines. Continue via the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, or the bridge to Malmö.\n From Rostock to Gedser in Denmark by Scandlines. Continue via the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, or the bridge to Malmö.\n\n#### Norway\n\nFrom Sandefjord to Strömstad by Color Line\n\n#### Poland\n\nFrom Gdańsk to Nynäshamn by Polferries.\n From Gdańsk to Visby by Polferries.\n From Gdynia to Karlskrona by Stena Line.\n From Świnoujście to Ystad by Polferries.\n\n#### Russia\n\nFrom Saint Petersburg to Stockholm by St. Peter Line.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk014", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|The X40 train, used on many regional routes, has an upper deck, which gives a good view of the Swedish scenery.\n\nThe ancient **right to access** (*allemansrätten*) grants everybody a right to move freely on most land on foot, swimming, by horse, by ski, by bicycle or by boat, even on privately owned property – but not through private yards. With the right comes an obligation to respect the privacy of people and the integrity of nature. It is important to understand the limitations.\n\n### By plane\n\nDomestic flights are mainly for travellers with more money than time, and for the vast distances of Norrland. There are low-price tickets, but they must be bought well in advance.\n\nThe most important domestic airlines:\n\n**SAS** — the international airline, and flag carrier, has many domestic routes as well.\n**Norwegian** — several domestic and international destinations.\n**BRA** — several regional flights to most domestic airports.\n**Amapola** — several domestic routes and also flights to Norway.\n\n### By train\n\nSweden has an extensive railway network. Most long-range lines are operated by the government-owned company **SJ**. To buy a railway ticket, or to obtain information, call +46 771 75 75 75, check their website, or download their mobile app. '''VR''' also operates several trains between Gothenburg and Stockholm. Because point-to-point tickets are quite expensive, for more train journeys, a (single-country) Interrail/Eurail pass may be cheaper. Tickets bought online in advance are usually cheaper, at the expense of flexibility. Students (ISIC Card required) or travellers under 25 benefit from reduced prices and special last-minute tickets (ca 20% reduction) that go live 24 hours before the trip.\n\nThe national public transport carriers operate an alliance service called **Resplus** for multiple-leg travel. See Resrobot for an interactive journey planner.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk015", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "Regional public transport typically has a carrier per county. For instance, when travelling regionally in the province of Scania (*Skåne* in Swedish), one should refer to '''Skånetrafiken'''. For travelling in the region of Mälardalen (the \"Lake Mälaren Valley\"), you can check all train and bus operators at **Trafik i Mälardalen**. This regional traffic cooperation includes many of Sweden's major cities, such as *Stockholm*, *Uppsala*, *Västerås*, *Linköping*, *Norrköping*, *Örebro* and *Eskilstuna*.\n\n### By bus\n\n**Flixbus** and '''Nettbuss''' runs a number of bus lines in the southern third of the country, Götaland and Svealand. They tend to cost less than going by train, if you can't take advantage of SJ's youth discounts. **Y-buss **, **tapanis**, and **Härjedalingen** operate between Stockholm and Norrland.\n\nFlixbus also operates from Stockholm and Göteborg to Oslo. At the county or *län* level, buses are a good method for travelling short distances from town to town, as they are more frequent and cheaper than trains. It is best to check with the local transportation authority for routes and schedules.\n\n'''Bus4You''' is a high-comfort carrier.\n\n#### City buses\n\nCity buses are operated by the counties' public-transport companies.\n\nIf you plan to use city buses, check out the local arrangements for how to obtain tickets. In many Swedish cities it is not possible to buy tickets for the city buses at the bus. In this case neither cash nor bank or credit cards are accepted. Instead you need an electronic bus card, a special card for each region, that sometimes also has to be filled with a minimum amount of money, typically 100 kr. This bus card can sometimes be obtained only at dedicated ticket offices, not at the bus, but can often be filled with money for travel at local shops or refill machines that are found at public places.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk016", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "On long distance buses, passengers can normally buy tickets from the driver.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Swedish highways range from monotonous to spectacular. ''[[Höga kusten]]'' in [[Ångermanland]] is an example of the latter.\n*See also: Driving in Sweden and Winter driving*\nSvealand and Götaland can be crossed by car within a day, but distances in Norrland tend to be larger, and settlements can be tens of kilometres apart. When available, air or rail travel are often faster. Travelling by night can be dangerous due to wild animals on the roads, and the cold nights during the winter. See E4 through Sweden and E6 through Sweden and Norway for two of the main highways. While traffic is less aggressive than in Denmark or Central Europe, traffic jams are common around Stockholm and Gothenburg.\n\nCar crash rates in Sweden are among the lowest in Europe. Wearing a **seatbelt** is mandatory for everyone in the car. Driving tired is illegal and is treated the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Animal collisions with moose, deer and boar are a major danger; these animals are commonly on the road, especially around dawn and dusk. The moose is a big and heavy animal (up to 700 kg and 2.1 m shoulder height) so a collision can be lethal.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk017", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "Drunk driving is a serious crime, the laws are strictly enforced, and the punishments are harsh by international standards. The legal limit of 0.02% is lower than in most other western countries and as little as **one beer may put you over the limit**. Violations carry a hefty fine and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months, while serious violations of 0.1% and higher carry a guaranteed prison sentence of up to 2 years. Be sure to either bring a designated driver, take a taxi or make use of public transport if you plan on drinking. The Stockholm port at Frihamnen has *alcogates*: an automated breathalyzer which reports drunk drivers to police.\n\n#### Scenic routes\n\nthumb|Road sign for scenic routes.\n\nSweden has a small but growing network of designated scenic routes, they are often minor roads with limited traffic and speeds not exceeding 80 km/h.\n\n### By ferry\n\nRoad ferries (ferries that constitute part of public roads) are yellow, run by **Färjerederiet**. An online map service showing all available road ferries and their daily schedule can be found on Trafikverket's website.\n\nThe Swedish archipelagoes have boat services provided by the local county transport authority, in Swedish called *skärgårdstrafik*.\n\n**Destination Gotland** runs domestic ferry lines from Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn to Visby, Gotland.\n **Ölandsfärjan** runs a domestic ferry line in the summer season (mid-June to mid-August) between Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok on Öland.\n **Ventrafiken** runs a domestic ferry line between Landskrona and Ven in Scania.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk018", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|300px|'''Taxi price info:''' Never step into a Swedish taxi without checking the yellow price sign on the rear window first. It tells the price for a typical 10 km, 15-minute journey, with the max rate written in larger numbers. The large number should be around 350 kr for a Stockholm cab. It rarely exceeds 499 kr, because if it does the driver is obliged to give passengers a binding price statement for the journey before it starts.\n\nTaxis are generally comfortable and, in the larger cities, easy to find. Check the price info on the rear window before entering, and do use the seat belt. If you are travelling with a toddler call in advance to get a cab with a proper child seat, or the driver may refuse you. Outside the bigger cities it makes sense to note the contact information of one or a few companies with decent pricing and enough presence in the city you are visiting.\n\n### By thumb\n\nSweden has a reputation for being a pretty difficult country to hitch in, though it's still quite possible to hitch-hike. Ordinary people are often reluctant to pick up strangers. However, given a location with sufficiently much traffic, you will often find the one or other helpful driver.\n\nBus stops are common places to attract attention, position yourself before the actual bus stop so the vehicle can stop at the stop. This works best if the road is widened at the bus stop, allowing cars to pull off easily. Also the beginning of motorway or major road ramps is a good location, or right after a junction. Avoid any location where cars are able to drive 80 km/h and above (even if it's a bus stop), or where there is no space for cars to stop.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk019", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Get around", "text": "Unless for shorter trips, you will want to avoid minor side roads. While you can find rides there, they are often just 30-50 km, and it will take ages to arrive. Motorways and major roads is the best way forward. Note, pedestrians are prohibited from accessing motorways.\n\nTruck drivers are probably likely to pick up hitch-hikers, so ask at gas stations — anywhere else they will have a hard time to stop.\n\nLook polite, friendly and trustworthy (see clothes), try to catch the drivers eyes and have a smile on your lips even if cars don't stop — in the end it is a social game.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nMost Swedish cities have excellent bicycle paths, and renting a bike can be a quick and healthy method of getting around locally. Some cities have bikes for borrowing. Inter-city cycling is a good option for the experienced cyclist. While cycling is not allowed on motorways, most of them have a parallel old road without the heavy traffic.\n\nNote that most long-distance trains don't take bikes. A foldable bike or combining regional trains may be viable although cumbersome options.\n\n### On foot\n\nCars are by law required to stop at any unattended crosswalks (zebra stripes in the road without red-lights) to let pedestrians cross the road. But keep in mind that you are required to make eye contact with the driver so that they know that you are about to cross the street.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk020", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "See", "text": "As modern as its society is, Sweden is a country full of seemingly untouched nature and ever-present history. The first stop for many visitors is historic and compact **Stockholm**, full of heritage, home to the **Vasa Museum** and gateway to the **Stockholm Archipelago**. There's the canals and cobblestoned streets of **Gothenburg**, with its famous botanical garden, or the modern architecture of **Malmö**. For more history, head to the port town of **Visby**, a recognized Unesco World Heritage Site, or the medieval town of **Ystad**, famous through the Kurt Wallander novels that are set here and for **Ales stenar**, one of the ancient iron-age burial monuments in the country.\n\n### Palaces\n\nSweden has more palaces and castles (*slott*) and manors (*herrgård*) than other Nordic countries. Eleven of them belong to the Swedish monarchy; most of them are open to the public. **Stockholm Palace** (Stockholm/Gamla Stan), **Rosendal** (Stockholm/Djurgården), **Haga**, **Gustav III:s pavilion** and **Ulriksdal** (Solna), **Drottningholm** and **Kina** (Ekerö), **Tullgarn** (Södertälje) and **Rosersberg** (Sigtuna) are within greater Stockholm. **Gripsholm** (Mariefred) and **Strömsholm** (Hallstahammar) are further away. The farmland areas are full of noble and bourgeois manors from the 17th century and onwards; many of them are used as hotels today.\n\n### Industrial heritage\n\nWhile the Bergslagen district, Roslagen and other parts of Sweden became world-leading in mining and metalworking during the 17th century, the full industrialization of Sweden lagged behind the rest of Europe until the 20th century, when Swedish product brands such as **Volvo**, **Ericsson**, **SAAB**, **SKF**, **AGA**, **IKEA**, **Tetra Pak** and **Atlas Copco** conquered the world. During the last decades, most of the Swedish workforce has moved on to high technology and the service sector, converting many of the mines, factories and waterways to museums. Among industrial heritage sites are Göta Kanal from the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic, the copper mine in Falun, and the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.\n\n### Folk culture\n\nSwedish folk culture includes folk music and dance (see Nordic music), folk costumes, folk art, handicraft (*slöjd*, *hemslöjd*) and traditional farming. Local identity used to be based on the *socken* (parish) and the *province* (landskap). With the 19th century industrialization and urbanization, folk culture had to be preserved, and today survives through different institutions. Most provinces have an open-air museum with buildings, workshops and sometimes livestock and wild animals on display; the oldest one being Skansen in Stockholm. **Hembygdsförening** is an organization for local folk culture, usually based on an old farm, *hembygdsgård*. Among traditional farming methods, the *fäbod*, a seasonally used livestock shed, can be found in particular in Dalarna, Värmland and Norrland. **Folkets hus och parker** is a cooperative for local community centres; *bygdegård* is a rural community centre.", "word_count": 444}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk021", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Besides [[association football]] and [[Ice hockey in Europe|ice hockey]], bandy is a major spectator sport in Sweden, with the 26th of December as a traditional game day. The stands are usually outdoors, so the audience needs to dress warm.\n\n### Nature\n\nSweden's landscape includes dense forests to crystal clear lakes, waterfalls and rolling mountains, with opportunities to see Eurasian wildlife.\n\nIn total, Sweden has 29 '''national parks'''. The stunning but rugged wilderness of **Sarek National Park**, called \"Europe's last wilderness\" by some, is a challenging but highly rewarding area to explore. It was the first of a list of 29 established national parks and is part of the vast and Unesco protected terrains of **Laponia**, together with the national parks **Padjelanta**, **Stora Sjöfallet** (with its snowy peaks) and the taiga and ravines of **Muddus National Park**. Set out to spot elk/moose, wolverines and more Swedish **wildlife** or visit in winter for a chance to see the magical **Northern Lights**. **Kosterhavet** maritime park is the place to go for lobster or seal safaris.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk022", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Do", "text": "During the summer Kungsleden in northern Sweden attracts lots of visitors who enjoy a solitary hike between cabins or camp sites in the beautiful mountains. The Swedish Right to access gives anyone the right to walk over other's land, as long as you do not destroy nor disturb it. This means that you can go sailing or canoeing and put up a camp on islands in the Stockholm Archipelago, you can go hiking and put up a camp almost wherever you want, however it is illegal to make a campfire on a rock surface. Sceneries of nature, less populated than most of Europe. Ice and snow during winter. The west coast has plenty of small towns like Marstrand, Skärhamn, Mollösund and Lysekil that are worth exploring with their distinct architecture and cuisine, best experienced during summer.\n\nSome outdoor life opportunities are winter sport, hiking, canoeing, sailing, horse riding and berry- or mushroom-picking depending on season. The ultimate test of aerobic fitness is the Swedish Classic Circuit; four annual races of cross-country skiing (Vasaloppet, from Sälen to Mora), running (Lidingöloppet), cycling (Vätternrundan starting from Motala) and swimming (Vansbrosimningen).\n\nBoating in Sweden can be done on a sailing boat, a motor boat, or a canoe.\n\nDiving in Sweden is challenging because of the cold waters. Still, the Baltic Sea is full of well-preserved shipwrecks.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk023", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Do", "text": "If you want to document your experiences in Sweden with an unmanned aerial vehicle (a **drone**), there are some regulations you need to adhere to. The open category of flying drones does not require certification or a permit. The basic restrictions for the open category is: You are not allowed to fly out of sight, no higher than 120 meters, nor in a way that poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, the environment or property. Drones are also not allowed to weigh more than 25 kg. For more information see the Transportstyrelsen website.\n\nSweden is rich on mineral deposits and ancient cultural artifacts. If you intend to bring a **metal detector** you need a permit from the county board (*Länsstyrelsen*) of the county you want to visit. You also need a permit from the landowner since the freedom to roam does not include the use of metal detectors. For more information see the Swedish National Heritage Board's website.\n\n### City life\n\nStockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö have great nightlife and shopping opportunities, while far from the cheapest places in Europe.\n\nGambling in Sweden is offered by the state (Svenska Spel), and a few privileged organizations.\n\n**Horse racing** is a pastime in many Swedish cities. The most widespread class is harness racing, *trav*, with race tracks in many towns. Bookmaking is operated through ATG with on-line agents at the tracks, and in most towns. Several bars and restaurants have gambling tables and slot machines.\n\n### Music", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk024", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Do", "text": "Swedish popular music is world-famous, with names such as *ABBA*, *Roxette*, *Swedish House Mafia* and others. Sweden hosts dozens of music festivals with international acts, as well as stars-to-be, most of them during summer. **Sweden Rock Festival** (Sölvesborg) and **Way Out West** (Gothenburg) to mention only two. There are also several festivals for folk, classical and jazz music.\n\nLive concerts, music galas, DJs and music shows organized during Christmas events.\n\n**Choir** (*kör*) music is big in Sweden, with regular performances even in smaller towns, not least the weeks before Christmas.\n\n**Dansband** (a type of dance orchestras) music is popular, and is performed live at social dancing venues such as dance pavilions (often in what is called a \"folkpark\"), community centres and some dance restaurants. While disco may be popular in cities, these venues provide a more traditional way to get together. Most dancing nights the music played suites the smooth Swedish swing dance *bugg*, which together with foxtrot and one-step is the dance most commonly danced there. Some nights there is *gammeldans*, when older ballroom dances are played and danced, such as waltz, schottische, polka, mazurka, perhaps snoa, and sometimes also foxtrot and tango. Some of the dansband have also these genres in their repertoire (sometimes with a modern touch), others don't. The culture at dance pavilions is generally a bit less formal than in Finland: there may be no well-established rules on asking people to dance or on how many dances to dance at a time with the same partner.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk025", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe national currency is the Swedish **krona** (plural,: *kronor*), denoted by the abbreviation \"**kr**\" (ISO code: **SEK**). Swedes may call the currency \"crowns\" when speaking English. Don't confuse it with the Norwegian krone, Danish krone, Icelandic króna, nor the Czech koruna.\n\nOne krona equals 100 *öre*, but 1 krona is today the smallest coin. Ören remain in use only in electronic transactions; when payment is done in cash, prices are rounded to the nearest full krona.\n\nCoins of Sweden are produced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 kronor. Banknotes of Sweden are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kronor.\n\nSweden is notorious for invalidating old money, so don't save any for future visits. Banknotes and coins older than 2017 are no longer valid, except for the latest type of the 10 kronor coin (year 1991 to 2009). Invalid banknotes can be redeemed only via the Swedish National Bank. You might be able to exchange old Swedish currency for a foreign one that you will need (such as euro) – the exchange bureau will then do the visit to the national bank. Counterfeit Swedish money is very rare, and you are very unlikely to receive already obsolete money.\n\nDon't expect stores to accept foreign currency, apart from close to the borders, where usually only the neighbour currency is accepted (i.e. Danish krone, Norwegian krone or euro). Larger stores in Stockholm and at larger airports and railway stations often accept payment in Euro, typically at unfavourable rates.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk026", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Money exchange** is best done at companies that have specialized in this, since many commercial banks are cashless on foreign currency. **Forex** has branches all over most of Sweden, but they may be expensive. **X-change** has branches in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. **Tavex** has branches in and around Stockholm.\n\nThat said, Sweden is one of the world's most **cashless countries** and a **card-centric country**. There are a lot of automated vending machines that only accept payment cards, and businesses that don't accept cash at all, or where paying with cash is complicated, are common. Electronic payments with **credit cards** and **debit cards** (*kontokort*, *bankkort*) are very common, as is the Swedish payment app Swish. It is entirely possible to live one's life in Sweden without ever using cash or seeing cash except in a museum – and as a foreigner you will need cash mostly where Swedes would use Swish. Actually, getting rid of your cash may require some effort.\n\nTickets for transport, events and attractions can often be bought online (on the web or by dedicated app), using a payment card, avoiding the need to buy them on-site, and without having to print the tickets on paper – just make sure that your phone doesn't go flat, and that you can show the ticket even if the local network is oversaturated (perhaps through a screenshot).\n\n#### Card", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk027", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most stores, restaurants and bars accept all major credit cards. You might need an ID card or a passport when shopping with a credit card, though not in supermarkets and such where the PIN code is king. PIN-pads are widely used instead of signatures (even for credit cards), so make sure to get a PIN for your card and to memorise it. If you don't have a credit card, you can buy a **Paygoo** Mastercard gift card (from + activation fee) at any Pressbyrån or 7-Eleven outlet, found at major airports, train stations, and coach stations; it will be accepted in the same way as any other MasterCard in most places. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are accepted for payments with credit cards and debit cards where you see a contactless icon on the reader.\n\nThe domestic payment smartphone app **Swish** is commonly used, but it requires a Swedish bank account. If you travel through the countryside, some small vendors like cafés, gift shops, farm shops (*gårdsbutik*), and antiques shops offer only *Swish* or cash as payment options. To be prepared, you might want to withdraw a smaller amount of cash at an ATM.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nThe most used Swedish word for automated teller machine is *Bankomat*, although this is a trademark of the Trade Bank Consortium, much like the term *cash point* in the United Kingdom, and therefore not used by several banks. A more generic word would be *Uttagsautomat*; *Uttag*, *Minuten* and *Kontanten* are other trademarks that have become part of normal speech. Nearly all machines regardless of operator will accept the MasterCard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron and American Express. You can withdraw up to per use. During a seven-day period you can withdraw a maximum of .", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk028", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "You have three attempts to enter the correct PIN code. If you fail a third time, the machine retains the card and closing it. In order to facilitate the visually impaired have the keys on the machines equipped with Braille. You may have spoken guidance, press the TALK button. In some ATMs you can withdraw euros if you have a card issued by a Swedish bank. You may take up the maximum per use. You can make multiple withdrawals after the other but a maximum per week applies.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping, known as *dricks* in Swedish, is not customary in Sweden, but sometimes a tip is left as a sign of appreciation for good service, usually by rounding up the bill but truly exceptional service may be rewarded with a tip of 5–10%. Tipping is strictly voluntary and should be given only as a token of real appreciation for the service. Be aware that the tips will most often be split between the waiters and the kitchen. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, any extra service (such as carrying bags) will be listed on the receipt according to rate. The only area where tipping might be expected are walking tours advertised as \"free\", which are common in cities that are quite walkable. Bar entertainers such as musicians and comedians might request a voluntary tip instead of a cover charge.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk029", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "Sweden is a rather **expensive** country to live in, though still somewhat cheaper than Norway and Denmark; many Norwegians living near the border drive into Sweden to purchase groceries. Sundries like a 33 cl bottle of Coca-Cola cost about , a beer in a bar will cost you around , the average price of hotel accommodation is around , a room in a hostel varies between and , a public transport ticket in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö will set you back around , one meal will cost you around , 1 litre of petrol fuel costs about , and a pack of 19 cigarettes will cost you . If you are a bit careful about your expenses, a daily budget of around will be enough (2015 prices). House prices outside metropolitan areas are probably among the lowest in Western Europe, and discount stores such as *Lidl*, *Netto* and *Willys* offer a wide range of items at a low cost. Accommodation and dining out are cheaper in Stockholm than in most other West European capitals.\n\n### Taxes\n\n> Paying tax is awesome.\n\nSweden has three levels of value-added tax (*moms* or *mervärdesskatt*). Price tags always include tax, except in a business-to-business context (wholesale stores, etc.), so the consumer need not worry about it. Having said, knowing the amount of VAT paid could be useful is when claiming VAT refunds on eligible purchases (something done upon your exit from the European Union).", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk030", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "Financial transactions, gambling, healthcare, dentistry and prescription medication are exempt from VAT. The 6 per cent level applies to passenger transport, books, newspapers, sport events, performances, zoos and museums. The 12 per cent level applies to travel accommodation and food (including restaurant meals and soft drinks, but not alcoholic beverages). Everything else has 25 percent VAT; that includes clothing, alcohol, tobacco, non-prescription medication, cosmetics, hair and beauty services, appliances, souvenirs, amusement parks, nightclubs, office supplies, electronic services, vehicles (including rental), and fuel.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|right|200px|Dala Horses\n\nBargaining is not a common habit in Sweden, in some areas it is even frowned upon. It might work in some instances, especially for more expensive products, flea markets, street vendors, and antique shops after some small talk of interest. The act of haggling is called *pruta* in Swedish. A more enticing way of haggling to Swedes is to ask for a discount (*rabatt*), and then haggle for the size of the discount.\n\nMost shops, at least major chains in central areas, are open all week, even on Sundays, although they do close on Christmas Day, Midsummer's Eve afternoon and all of Midsummer's Day. Closing times are rigid, most often on the minute.\n\nAt grocery stores and supermarkets it is considered good practice to place each product on the conveyor belt so that the barcode faces either towards you or upwards so they can be scanned more quickly by the cashier. Do not stack items on top of each other; place them one by one on a line, and remember to place the divider on the conveyor belt when you are done. Stores charge for plastic and paper bags (usually for plastic and double for paper), and you have to bag your goods yourself.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk031", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Buy", "text": "An unofficial national symbol, the **Dala Horse** (Swedish: *dalahäst*) is the souvenir of souvenirs to bring from Sweden. Named after their origin, the province of Dalarna, these small wooden horses have been around since the 17th century. They are normally painted orange or blue with symmetrical decorations. They are fairly expensive: expect to pay around for a very small one or several hundred kronor for bigger versions. The horses can be bought in souvenir shops all over Sweden. If you want to know more about how the horses are made, visit Dalarna and the municipality of Mora where the horses are carved and painted in workshops open for tourists. And if driving towards Mora from Stockholm, keep your eyes open when you pass the town of Avesta where the world's largest (13 meters high) Dala Horse overlooks the highway.\n Swedish **glass** is world famous for its beauty. Several skilled glass artists have contributed to this reputation through innovative, complex (and expensive) art creations, but mass-produced Swedish table glass has also been an international success. Part of the province of Småland, between the towns of Växjö and Kalmar, is known as the **Kingdom of Crystal**. 15 glassworks are packed into this small area, the most famous being *Orrefors*, *Kosta* and *Boda*. Tourists are welcome to watch the glass blowers turn the glowing melt into glittering glass, and you can even give it a try yourself.\n High-end imported wines from Systembolaget.\n Swedish design, spanning from furniture to jewelry, is known for function, efficiency and minimalism. Designtorget is a chain of stores with a wide range of everyday products; Lagerhaus is another. Svenskt Tenn is another store with beautiful items by designers such as Josef Frank.\n There are some items for the home that are invented by Swedes that might be fun to bring home such as safety matches, adjustable spanners or adjustable wrenches, paraffin cooking stove (Primuskök) or a good old Celsius thermometer.\n With a long tradition of woodwork, and the absence of wars in modern times, Sweden has plenty of antique furniture. Furniture made industrially in the early 20th century mimicking older styles (*stilmöbler*) can be found cheap.\n **Flea markets** are literally translated as *loppmarknad* or *loppis*, and one of few places where haggling is accepted.", "word_count": 375}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk032", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Eat", "text": "*See Nordic cuisine for an in-depth description of Swedish food.*\nSwedish food is typical of Nordic cuisine, based on meat (notably pork and game), fish, dairy products, potatoes and bread, together with berries and wild mushrooms. Fresh fruit and vegetables are rather recent additions to the menu.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk033", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|Meatballs with mashed potatoes and a glass of milk\nTraditional everyday dishes are called *husmanskost* (pronounced whos-mans-cost). Some of them are:\nPickled **herring** (*sill*) is eaten with bread or potatoes for summer lunch or as a starter on the *smörgåsbord*, at traditional holidays.\nMany forms of **salmon** (*lax*), especially cured salmon (*gravlax*).\n**Meatballs** (*köttbullar*), the internationally most famous Swedish dish. Served with potatoes, **brown sauce** and **lingonberry jam**.\n**Hash** (*pytt i panna*) consisting of meat, onions and potatoes, all diced and fried. Sliced beetroots and a fried or boiled whole egg are mandatory accessories.\n**Pea soup** (*ärtsoppa*) with diced pork, followed by **thin pancakes**, is traditionally eaten on Thursdays.\n**Blodpudding**, a black sausage made by pig's blood and flour, eaten with lingonberry jam.\nthumbnail|Falukorv in a supermarket fridge\n**Falukorv**, a big baloney from Falun.\nSweden has many varieties of **bread** (*bröd*). Many of them are whole-grain or mixed grain, containing wheat, barley, oats, compact and rich in fiber. Some notable examples are *tunnbröd* (thin wrap bread), *knäckebröd* (hard bread - might has a bland taste, but is nearly always available), and different kinds of seasoned loaves. Bread is mostly eaten as simple sandwiches, with thin slices of cheese or cold cuts. Some spreads typical to Sweden are **messmör** (whey butter) and **leverpastej** (liver pâté).\n **Reindeer**, *ren*, traditionally herded by the Sami people. *Renskav* is sliced, sautéed reindeer meat, preferably eaten with wild mushrooms, lingonberries and potatoes.\n**Tunnbrödrulle**, a fast food dish, consisting of a bread wrap with mashed potatoes, a hot dog and some vegetables.\n**Kroppkakor** Potato dumpling stuffed with diced pork, reminiscent of the German Klöße. Originally from Småland, there is also a variant from Piteå up north, known as pitepalt.\n**Hard cheese** (*ost*): In an ordinary food market you can often find 10 to 20 different types of cheese. The most famous Swedish hard cheese would be Västerbotten, named after a region in Sweden.\n **Milk** (*mjölk*) is commonly drunk during meals. **Filmjölk** is a Nordic yoghurt, eaten with breakfast cereal.\n **Rose hip soup** (*nyponsoppa*) and **bilberry soup** (*blåbärssoppa*), for recovery of heat and energy during winter sports.", "word_count": 349}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk034", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Eat", "text": "Other Swedish favorites:\nthumbnail|Messmör - available in tubes or boxes\n **Raggmunk**, wheat flour, milk, egg, and shredded potatoes fried like thin pancakes served with fried pork (bacon) and lingonberries.\n**Soft whey butter** (*messmör*), breadspread with a sweetish, hard-to-describe taste.\n**Caviar**, not the expensive Russian or Iranian kind but a cheaper version made from cod roe, sold in tubes and used on sandwiches. The most famous brand is *Kalles Kaviar*.\n**Julmust**, stout-like Christmas soft drink. Available during Easter as well, by then known as Påskmust.\n**Crayfish** (*kräftor*), hugely popular around August, when Swedes feast on them at big crayfish parties (*kräftskivor*). Silly paper hats and lots of alcohol included.\n**Surströmming**; the world's stinkiest dish. See Nordic cuisine for details for how to eat it without disgusting oneself or the surroundings.\n**Semla**, a cream-filled pastry traditionally eaten on Tuesdays in February and March, starting on Fat Tuesday.\n **Rabarberkräm/Rabarberpaj** rhubarb cream or rhubarb pie with vanilla sauce (other cakes or pies on fresh blueberries, apples, or just strawberries with cream or ice cream are also very popular in the summer)\n**Spettekaka** A local cake from Scania in south Sweden, made of eggs, sugar, and potato starch.\n **Smörgåstårta** A cold Sandwich layer cake, often with salmon, eggs, and shrimps. (Also often with tuna or roast beef) Swedish people often eat it at New Year's Eve, or birthdays and parties.\n *Lösgodis* candy from boxes that you mix on your own, sold by weight, is one of the most popular candy among this candy-loving nation. A choice of chocolate, sours, sweet and salty liquorice are always offered.\n Swedish cookies and pastries like *bondkakor*, *hallongrottor*, *bullar* or cakes like *prinsesstårta* are widely popular. It used to be tradition to offer guest 7 different cookies when invited over for coffee. If you have a sweet tooth you should try *chokladbollar*, *mazariner*, *biskvier*, *rulltårta* or *lussebullar*.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk035", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Eat", "text": "As Sweden is stretched out between central Europe and the Arctic, there are many regional specialties. Among the more exotic are\n *Surströmming*, a stinky canned fish popular along the Norrland coast.\n *Spettekaka*, a meringue-like cake from Scania.\n\nA specialty of the Raggare sub-culture (Swedish greaser culture) is hot dog with shrimp salad as topping. Some fast food vendors, especially in the countryside, has this dish on their menu.\n\nthumb|The world-famous furniture retailer '''IKEA''' has stores at the outskirts of 15 Swedish cities. Their diners serve basic Swedish meals for as little as {{SEK|49}}, and the store exit usually has a café selling hot dogs for as little as 5 kr. (They hope that you spend some money on shopping too.) Expect crowds at rainy weather.\n\nAs in most of Europe, inexpensive **pizza** and **kebab** restaurants are ubiquitous in Swedish cities, and are also to be found in almost every small village. **Sushi** and **Thai** food are also quite popular. The local hamburger chain **Max** is recommended before **McDonald's** and **Burger King**, for tasteful Scandinavian furnishing, clean restrooms, no trans fats and free coffee with meals. In parts of Norrland it is customary to eat hamburgers with a knife and fork - available at Max. Another Swedish chain **Frasses** offers apart from all kinds of meaty burgers a tasty vegetarian alternative - a quornburger. Another type of fast food establishment is the *gatukök* (\"street kitchen\"), serving hamburgers, hot dogs, kebab and tunnbrödrulle (se above).\n\nHighway diners, *vägkrogar*, have generous meals, but might be of poor quality, greasy and overpriced. If you have time, a downtown restaurant is preferable. Gas stations sell decent packed salads and sandwiches.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk036", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Eat", "text": "You can get a relatively inexpensive lunch if you look for the signs with \"**Dagens rätt**\" or just \"**Dagens**\" (*Today's special* or literally *meal of the day*). This normally costs between and , and almost everywhere includes a bottle of water; soft drink; or light beer, bread & butter, salad bar and coffee afterwards. Dagens rätt is served Monday to Friday.\n\nIf you're on a tight budget, self-catering is the safest way to save your money. There are a few nationwide supermarket chains such as **Coop**, **ICA**, **Willy:s**, **City Gross** and **Lidl**. As a rule of thumb, the Coop stores are usually most expensive with ICA as a runner up. Willy:s and Lidl are considered discount. City Gross used to be discount but is now catering more for local produce in meat and vegetables.\n\nVegetarian and vegan lifestyles are accepted in cities, less common in the countryside, where fishing and hunting are a national pastime. You should be able to find a falafel in any medium-sized town; or you may negotiate a price to only access the salad bar, as all well assorted eateries have one.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk037", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee\n\nSwedish consumption of coffee (*kaffe*) is among the highest in the world. Drinking coffee at home or in a café, an act called *fika*, is a common Swedish social ritual, used for planning activities, dating, exchanging gossip or simply spending time and money. Swedish coffee is filtered and usually stronger than American coffee - but still not the espresso of France or Italy. Italian varieties (espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte) are available at larger city cafés. Sweden has several domestic café franchises (Espresso House, Wayne's Coffee, Coffeehouse by George) with an international atmosphere, and a broad selection of coffees, sandwiches, and cakes.\n\nOne cup is around , often including a refill, *påtår*. Many retailers sell coffee at their cafés for a cup.\n\nThe traditional Swedish café is called *konditori*, and every city and town has at least one. They offer warm beverages as coffee, tea and cocoa, and an assortment of cookies, pastry and perhaps also *smörgås*, the Swedish open sandwich, and *fralla*, the Swedish closed sandwich. The sandwiches offered can vary a lot depending on where you are in Sweden.\n\n### Alcoholic beverages\n\nthumb|''\"Crayfish demand these beverages! You have to forego crayfish unless you vote '''no''' on August 27.\"'' Hard liquor have long been an integral part of the Swedish cuisine, under different regulations. In 1922, the first Swedish referendum narrowly rejected a total prohibition. Today, the sale of alcohol remains regulated and heavily taxed.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk038", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "The most famous Swedish alcoholic beverage is **Absolut Vodka**, one of the world's most famous vodkas. There are several brands of distilled, and usually seasoned, liquor, called *brännvin*. *Brännvin* does not have as high requirements on distilling as for Vodka and it is distilled from potatoes or grain. Liquor seasoned with dill and caraway is called *akvavit*. When brännvin is served in a shot glass with a meal it is called *snaps* (not to confuse with the German \"Schnapps\"). It is part of custom to drink snaps at occasions such as midsummers eve, Crayfish party, Christmas, student parties, etc. Often it is done together with a *snapsvisa* to every drink (a typical snapsvisa is a short, vigorous song; its lyrics usually tell of the delicacy and glory of the drink, or of the singer’s craving for snaps, or about anything in a cheeky way).\n\n*Punsch* (not to be confused with punch) is a traditional sweet liqueur made from a combination of water, lemon, sugar, spirits and arrack, unique for Sweden and Finland. It can be served both warm and cold, usually has 25% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 30% sugar, and is by tradition often served at Thursdays together with pea-and-pork soup and pancakes. It grew very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, generating a strong punsch culture with numerous special punsch drinking songs, and maintains a strong presence in Swedish student culture.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk039", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "If visiting Sweden in December or January a typical hot drink is *glögg* (similar to mulled wine or Glühwein). It is often served together with ginger bread and *lussebullar* or at the *julbord* (Christmas buffet). The main classic ingredients are red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit, or brandy. There is also non-alcohol *glögg*.\n\nSweden does produce some outstanding beers, and there has been a rise in the numbers of microbreweries. Some of them are *Slottskällans*, *Nils Oscar*, *Närke kulturbryggeri*, *Jämtlands ångbryggeri* and *Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri*. You may have some trouble finding them, unless you go to a bar with a wide range of beers, or a well-stocked *Systembolaget*, but you will find a few of them in every major city. Despite this the most common beer is the rather plain \"international lager\". The beer you get in supermarkets is called *folköl* and has 2.8 or 3.5% alcohol. You are able to find a variety of different brands of beers in food stores, Swedish, English and even Czech beer. Sweden has a seasonal beer for Christmas, *julöl*. It is sweeter than normal beer and usually seasoned with Christmas spices, mostly it is ale. All Swedish breweries make at least one type of julöl. Wine is popular, but the Swedish production is very modest.\n\nDrinking alcohol in parks and public spaces outdoors is generally allowed, with some obvious exceptions (playgrounds, school yards, etc. and places were a prohibition is posted). Drinking your own is also prohibited in shopping centres and the like and on public transport and in associated areas; there may be licensed restaurants or bars.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk040", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "Establishments with permission to serve alcohol (those allowed to sell strong drinks usually advertise it as *fullständiga rättigheter*, \"full rights\") are usually not permitted to sell alcohol to be consumed outside the establishment.\n\nBeer and lager up to 3.5% ABV is readily available in supermarkets at 10–15 kr a bottle, but strong alcoholic beverages are, as in Norway, Finland and Iceland available over the counter only from the state-owned retailer, **Systembolaget** (also sometimes referred to as *Systemet* or *Bolaget*). Its stores are usually open M–W 10:00–18:00, Th F 10:00–19:00, and Sa 10:00–15:00, with long queues on Fridays and Saturdays, closing at the minute no matter how long the queue outside the store is, something the Swedes themselves joke about. They are always closed on Sundays. Most shops are of supermarket style. The assortment is very good, and the staff usually has great knowledge. Systembolaget does not serve customers already intoxicated or under the age of 20, and will most likely ask for identification from customers looking younger than 25. This also applies to any companions, regardless of who is making the actual purchase.\n\nBeverages are heavily taxed by content of alcohol, some liquor is very expensive (vodka is around 300 kr a litre at Systembolaget), but the monopoly has brought some perks – Systembolaget is one of the world's largest bulk-buyers of wine, and as such gets some fantastic deals which it passes on to consumers. Mid-to-high-quality wines often cost less in Sweden than in the country of origin; sometimes even less than if you were to buy the wine directly from the vineyard. This does **not** apply to low-quality wines or hard liquor, due to the alcohol-content based tax.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk041", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "All brands are treated equally and there is no large-pack discount. Therefore, microbrews cost largely the same as major brands, and might be a more interesting choice. Beverages are not refrigerated.\n\nSince 2025, alcohol manufacturers can sell beverages on site to customers who participate in an educational activity.\n\n**Moonshine** (*hembränt*) is popular in the countryside, though illegal. Though some shipments can be as good as legal vodka, most are disgusting and some may be hazardous, so you should stick to the real thing.\n\n### Bars and nightclubs\n\nThe minimum age requirement is 18 to get into bars and to buy regular (3.5% ABV or less) beer in shops (to prevent teenage drunkenness, some shops have decided to enforce a minimum age of 20 for 3.5% beer as well), and 20 in Systembolaget. Many bars have an age limit of 20, but some (especially on weekends in those in the centre) have age limits as high as 23 or 25, but this rule is arbitrarily enforced. Bring passport or ID.\n\nSome high-end nightclubs mandate dress code, *vårdad klädsel* is casual dress; this is also arbitrarily enforced. For male guests, proper shoes (not trainers or sandals), long-legged trousers (not blue jeans) and a dress shirt is almost always good enough.\n\nAge and dress requirements are not rigid, and doormen have the right to reject any patron for any reason except gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability or race, which is illegal discrimination. Still, some nightclubs are infamous for rejecting \"immigrants\", especially men of African or Middle Eastern origin, on pretexts such as \"members only\", \"too drunk\", or \"dress code\". Getting into a club is easier for patrons who dress and behave well, and arrive fairly early.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk042", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Drink", "text": "Sweden has enforced **non-smoking** in all bars, pubs and restaurants, save outdoor areas such as terraces, and designated smoking rooms (where drinks are not allowed).\n\nThe prices at clubs and bars are among the more expensive in Europe: a (0.4 L) glass of draft lager, *stor stark*, usually costs 45–65 kr (although some dive bars advertise it for as little as 29 kr early evenings). A cocktail costs around 80–180 kr. For that reason many Swedes have a small pre-party (\"förfest\") before they hit the town and go to nightclubs.\n\nLarge clubs can require a cover charge, usually about 100 kr, more at special performances. They usually offer a rubber stamp on your hand so you can re-enter as you like without having to pay again.\n\nBe aware that you often have to stand in line to get into a bar or a club. Many places deliberately make their customers wait in line for a while, since a long queue indicates a popular club. At the very fanciest places in the major cities, the queue is often replaced by a disorganized crowd, and the doorman simply points to indicate who gets in and who does not (to be sure to get in either be famous, very good-looking, a friend of the doorman – or a regular).\n\nMost bars that close at 01:00 or earlier will have a free entry policy. Most bars and clubs that remain open until 03:00 will charge an entrance fee. There are some clubs in the largest cities that remain open until 05:00. Their entrance fee will usually be around 200 kr and their entry policy will generally weigh less favourably for the non-rich, non-well-moisturised, non-Swedes, non-friends and non-regulars.\n\nThe club's wardrobe (or coat-checking) fee is often mandatory, usually around 40 kr.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk043", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Car camping is convenient and cost-efficient, as you can stay overnight nearly anywhere.\n\n### Camping\n\nThe right to access (*Allemansrätten*) allows anyone to camp in uncultivated areas (including private property away from houses) without asking. There are certain limitations; for instance you are only allowed to stay at a certain spot for one night, before you have to move on. If you are travelling to Sweden in the summer, check out the local conditions when it comes to camp fires. Forests in Sweden can get very dry and temporary bans on lighting fires are not unusual.\n\nCheck with SMHI, the meteorological agency, for up-to-date weather forecasts, including fire risks and other weather-related warnings, such as storms, floods and blizzards.\n\nIf you prefer camping a bit more organized, most towns have campsites with showers and electricity. Expect to pay around 100–150 kr for a tentsite, but for two or three busiest weeks prices can go as high as 400 kr. Camping.se is the booking site of the national campsite organisation SCR. The leading campsite chain is called First Camp – comfortable, but can be expensive (they use dynamic price calculation), so check for local-led alternatives which can be cheaper (i.e. plain price). Campsites seem to be mainly for people with campers, who tend to prepare food at their campers. Therefore, places in service buildings, where one coming from a poorer country would expect a kitchen, have just sinks to wash dishes and a burner to cook food (but no kitchen utensils nor table).\n\n### Hostels\n\nthumb|One of the more famous hostels is ''af Chapman'', a clipper ship anchored in central [[Stockholm]].", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk044", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Sleep", "text": "The Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen or STF) is by far the most important operator of hostels, *vandrarhem*, in Sweden, with a network of more than 300 hostels around the country. Membership for foreigners is 175 kr, and if you plan to stay four nights or more at hostels in Sweden you should join, since non-members pay an additional 45 kr per night. STF is affiliated with Hostelling International or HI, and if you are a member of any HI organisation you are considered a member of STF.\n\nSTF offers beds for the night in dorms or single and double rooms. The concept is standardized throughout Sweden, and only includes the price of the bed or room, with access to common kitchen facilities, common bath rooms and showers. Some hostels have double rooms with bath room and shower en suite.\n\nSveriges vandrarhem I förening (SVIF) is another nation-wide hostel confederation.\n\n- Swedish Tourist Association\n\n- Sveriges vandrarhem i förening (SVIF)\n\nThe price per night per person in a hostel is 80-280 kr depending on where the hostel is located and how classy or tacky it is. Sheets are required (just a sleeping bag is not enough) and if you don't bring any you have to purchase at the hostel for around 50 kr. You are expected to clean out your room when leaving. Cooking equipment is normally available at all hostels for those who want to self-cater.\n\nSome hostels are more spectacular than others; for instance Jumbostay at Arlanda Airport, located inside a decommissioned Boeing 747, and Långholmen Hostel in Stockholm, that used to be a prison.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk045", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Apartments and B&B:s are not the same thing, but Swedish online booking agencies tend to think so. Renting an apartment may be an interesting option if you plan to stay for a few nights in one of the major cities and want more privacy than a hostel offers.\n\nRoad signs with the word ***Rum*** don't show the way to the nearest drinking den for pirates - rum in Swedish means \"room\", and that sign points to a B&B.\n\n### Hotels\n\nthumb|The Ice Hotel in [[Jukkasjärvi]].\nNormal Swedish hotels tend to be clean, not-so-interesting and fairly expensive. A single room can easily set you back 1000 kr. Most towns, even smaller ones, still have a traditional *stadshotell*, *Statt*, (town hotel) somewhere in the city center, which usually contains the town's largest restaurant and/or nightclub. On a more positive note, breakfast buffets at Swedish hotels are often impressive with plenty to choose from - try not to be in too much of a hurry in the morning! Major hotel chains include Scandic and First.\n\nIt doesn't matter how many circumflexes Stockholm's Grand Hôtel uses, or how many celebrities stay there, the coolest hotel in Sweden is the **Icehotel**. Located in the village of Jukkasjärvi in the far north, it is a hotel built from snow and ice. It melts in spring and is rebuilt every winter. Ice hotels are built in several other countries, but the one in Jukkasjärvi is the original. One night in a single room is 2850 kr, book in advance.\n\nThere are an increasing number of hotels in Sweden that are \"cashless\" which means cash may no longer be used to settle payments. Thus, make sure you have a debit/credit card or try to settle your accommodation payment before you start your trip.\n\n### Vacation homes", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk046", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Sweden has 680,000 vacation homes. Many of those are old farmhouses, or simple cabins from the early 20th century. Most vacation homes (except the most isolated ones) have electricity. Countryside or island houses usually have no public water supply, and rely on a local water pump, and an outhouse.\n\nWhile dwellings in holiday hotspots such as the Stockholm archipelago, Åre or Visby can cost as much as an urban home, woodland farmhouses in Småland or far-off parts of Norrland can be bought for a token sum of money. As Sweden is a high-income country, carpentry and other home improvement services are costly.\n\n### Rental homes and hospitality exchange\n\nAs Sweden has strong rent control and tenant protection, a rental contract is difficult to get in and near the largest cities. The most common apartment ownership in Sweden is *bostadsrättsförening*, a condominium-like organization.\n\nHospitality exchange services such as Airbnb can be found in Sweden, but rooms are much fewer than in other European countries, due to regulations.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk047", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|[[Uppsala]] has had a university since 1477.\nSweden is well-known for its high-quality education system. The country strongly emphasises equal and accessible education for all its citizens and is home to some of Europe's most prestigious universities. \n\nAll education in Sweden is free for residents. Although the government has subsidized schools and classes, a few private alternatives exist where a tuition fee is required. Students' Union membership is optional, but the union fee of around 500 kr/year can give several perks, such as mediation of dorm rooms or entrance to union parties and events.\n\nIf you are a non-EU/EEA citizen wishing to study at a Swedish university or other schools of higher education, you will need to pay tuition fees. Regardless, you must pay for housing, food, literature, etc.\n\nMost undergraduate courses are taught in Swedish, though many postgraduate courses are taught in English. Many universities also conduct lessons for foreigners who wish to learn Swedish.\n\n**Some important university cities**:\n Uppsala\n Lund\n Gothenburg\n Stockholm\n Linköping\n Umeå\n\nMost universities follow the custom known as an \"academic quarter\", where classes and most academic events will begin 15 minutes past the hour. At some schools after 18:00, this becomes a \"double quarter\" where events commence 30 minutes past the hour. Students are expected to be punctual and show up at the appropriate time.\n\nThe **KTH Royal Institute of Technology** (*Kungliga Tekniska högskolan*) is the country's largest and most prestigious technical university.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk048", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|[[Sandhamn]] in February\nSweden has a strong welfare system, a high standard of living, and a robust economy. Working in Sweden can be a great opportunity for those seeking to work in a dynamic and innovative environment.\n\nCitizens of the Nordic countries, the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland have the right to enter, reside, and work in Sweden freely. Everyone else, however, needs a work permit to work in Sweden. More information about the paperwork required is found on the government website Sweden Abroad.\n\nWith an unemployment rate of 7.6% (as of 2023), finding a job in Sweden can be a competitive affair. A decent knowledge of Swedish will significantly enhance your employment opportunities. \n\nThe government runs a job agency named *Arbetsförmedlingen*, but most jobs are provided through other channels.\n\nThe average hourly wage was 188 kr in Dec 2022 \n, and is typically paid once per month.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk049", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Swedish police car\nthumb|Swedish security officers\n\nSweden is generally a safe place to travel. Avoid drunk brawls on weekend nights as you would in most parts of the world, look out in the traffic and, if driving, look out for wildlife crossing the road, and you'd be quite safe. Also mind ice safety and the advice for any potentially risky activity you are going to engage in, including boating and hiking.\n\nIn metalworking districts such as Bergslagen, mining holes are a particular risk factor.\n\n### Crime and law enforcement\n\nRoad traffic is generally safe, though common sense should be used. Most Swedes trust that cars will stop at zebra crossings, or even wherever they choose to cross a street. Still, do watch out yourself.\n\nViolent gang crime has been an issue since the 2010s, making headlines abroad, and causing an intense debate in Sweden. However, gang crime is very unlikely to affect travellers, as violence is mostly motivated by drug trade and other illegal markets, and concentrated to some low-income suburban neighborhoods of large cities (*utsatta områden*).\n\nAlthough there is a significant police presence in the city centres, especially on weekend nights, the countryside is quite weakly policed; especially Norrland, where the nearest patrol car – and the nearest ambulance – might be a hundred kilometres away.\n\nPickpockets usually work in tourist-frequented areas, such as airports, rail stations, public transportation, shopping areas and festivals. Most Swedes carry their wallets in their pockets or purses and feel quite safe while doing it. If you have a bike, do lock it or you may lose it.\n\nAuthorized security officers carry a grey uniform labelled *ordningsvakt*, and have the authority to use force. They patrol nightclubs, shopping malls, festivals and city centres. Security staff without special authority have the badge *väktare*.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk050", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "While Swedish police and security officers are helpful to well-behaving people, **detention** laws are rather harsh, and do not allow bailout. Police can detain overly intoxicated people overnight if they endanger others or themselves, and relocate people who behave disorderly, even without suspicion of crime. A suspect of crime can be jailed until trial, if the court sees a risk of flight (which is often the case for foreigners).\n\nThe **age of consent** is 15 or, towards people under ones care, 18. Consent has to be clearly expressed: if one part is passive, the case may be considered a rape (even if there is no penetration). Although being a prostitute is not illegal in Sweden, hiring one is a crime.\n\n**Knife**-carrying in public areas is criminalised (except blunt or very small knives) unless needed for work, outdoor life, or other activities. Packing down a knife with camping equipment is no problem. Likewise, **tear gas** or **pepper spray** require authorization to be carried in Sweden, and you will probably not have use for them either way, due to the country's low rate of violent crime.\n\n### In case of emergency\n\n**112** is the emergency phone number to dial in case of fire or medical or criminal emergency. It does not require an area code, regardless of what kind of phone you're using. The number works on any mobile phone, with or without a SIM card, even if it's keylocked (without SIM, you will be asked to press \"5\" before the call will be answered).", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk051", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Swedish police are stretched thin across the country. Officers are rarely on patrol, and might be too busy to head out for minor crimes. To report a theft or getting in contact with the police in general, there is a national non-emergency phone number **114 14** that will bring you in contact with an operator at a police station (usually nearby, but not always).\n\n### Predators\n\n**Brown bear** (*brunbjörn*), **wolf** (*varg*), **lynx** (*lo*) and **wolverine** (*järv*) roam the Swedish wilderness, though they are unusual to sight. Bears are most likely to attack if they are injured, provoked by a dog, going to hibernate or protecting their cubs. Bears in Sweden have killed no more than a handful of people since 1900. Though wild wolves might attack pets and livestock, they avoid people.\n\n### Animal collisions\n\nAnimal collisions are a serious risk factor on the road, especially at dusk. Elk (*älg*), deer (*hjort*) and wild boar (*vildsvin*) are common, the latter only in southern Sweden. Reindeer (*ren*) are common in Lapland. Many national roads (*riksväg*) and most European routes (*europaväg*) have long sections with wildlife fences (*viltstängsel*) to keep large animals away. A traffic sign usually warns when the wildlife fence ends with the text: *Viltstängsel upphör*. In mountainous Lapland it is common that herds of reindeer take up the road, and it is not uncommon that a rock ptarmigan (*fjällripa*) suddenly decides to cross the road.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk052", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Certified pharmacies carry a green cross sign and the text **Apotek**. For small medical problems the pharmacy is sufficient. Major cities carry one pharmacy open at night. Many supermarkets carry non-prescription supplies such as band aid and antiseptics, but strong painkillers and other actual medicines are sold only at pharmacies, even those that don't require a prescription.\n\nSwedish **health care** is usually of high quality, but can be quite challenging for foreigners to receive. Most medical clinics are run by the public sector, and their accessibility varies. Therefore, getting a time within a week at some medical centres could prove difficult. In case of a medical emergency, most provinces (and of course, the major cities) have a regional hospital with an around-the-clock emergency ward. However, if you are unlucky you can expect a long wait before getting medical attention. Call **112** for emergencies, and **1177** for non-emergency medical consulting, as well as directions for open medical clinics. Bring your European Health Insurance Card, if you are eligible to one.\n\n**Tap water** in Sweden is of great quality, and contains close to zero bacteria. Water in mountain resorts might contain rust, and water on islands off the coast might be brackish, but it is still safe to drink. There is no real reason for buying bottled water in Sweden. Also, there is bottled water that doesn't meet the requirements to be used as tap water in Sweden.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk053", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "There are few serious health risks in Sweden. Your primary concern in winter will be cold weather, particularly if hiking or skiing in the northern parts. Northern Sweden is sparsely populated and, if heading out into the wilderness, it is imperative that you register your travel plans with a friend or the authorities so they can come looking for you if you fail to show up. Dress warmly in layers and bring along a good pair of sunglasses to prevent **snow blindness**, especially in the spring. In snowy mountains, **avalanches** might be a problem.\n\n### Pests\n\n**Mosquitoes** (*myggor*) are a serious nuisance particularly in the north and during wet summers. While they do not carry diseases, their bites are itchy and their distinctive whining sound can get highly irritating. As usual, they are most active around dawn and sunset – which, in a land of the Midnight Sun, may mean most of the night in summer. Supermarkets have many types of mosquito repellents (*myggmedel*).\n\nOther summer nuisances are **gadflies** (*bromsar*), whose painful but non-venomous bites can leave a mark lasting for days, and **wasps** (*getingar*) whose stings in very rare cases can be deadly for allergics. Use mosquito repellent, ensure your tent has good mosquito netting, and bring proper medication if you know that you're allergic to wasp stings.\n\n**Ticks** (*fästingar*) appear in summer, especially in tall grass. They can transmit Lyme's disease (borreliosis) and TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) through a bite. The risk areas for TBE are mainly parts of Götaland and Svealand (map and list of municipalities with high risk of TBE). Wear bright clothes, and check your body (and your pets) after outdoor trips. You can buy special tick tweezers (*fästingplockare*) from the pharmacy.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk054", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "There's only one type of venomous **snake** in Sweden: the European adder (*huggorm*). The snake is not very common, but lives all over Sweden except for the northern mountains. Its bite is hardly ever life-threatening (except to small children and allergic people), but people bitten should promptly seek medical assistance. All reptiles in Sweden, including adders, are protected by law and must not be harmed.\n\nThere are no really dangerous marine animals in Sweden, although when bathing in the sea one should watch out for Greater weevers (*fjärsing*); a small fish hiding in sand, with several venomous spikes on its back. The venom is about as dangerous as that of the European adder. There are also venomous jellyfish, bright blue or red, in the sea. The venom is not lethal, but it hurts.\n\nStinging nettles grow in wet and nitrogen-rich places (especially where people urinate outdoors), but getting stung is generally not dangerous, only locally hurting for a few hours.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk055", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|The [[Stockholm]] Pride Festival is held annually in June/August. Same-sex marriage is legal in Sweden, and homosexuality is nearly universally accepted.\n\n> I never said, \"I want to be alone.\" I only said, \"I want to be let alone!\" There is all the difference\n\nMany Swedes have **liberal, cosmopolitan, secular, egalitarian and environmentalist values** by international standards, similar to other Nordic countries. This spares Western tourists from some cultural clashes that might be imminent in other countries. However, some strict rules of etiquette are almost unique to Swedish people. There are also intolerant circles.", "word_count": 94}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk056", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Respect", "text": "Though some people in Sweden use **narcotics**, most Swedes, old and young, are strongly **opposed** to them. Possession and intoxication of non-medical drugs (including cannabis) lead to a fine and a note in the criminal record. The police can force a suspected drug user to produce a urine or blood sample.\n When it comes to **alcohol**, Swedes are as double-natured as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Before work or driving, one beer is one too many. However, drunkenness can be a regular part of many Swedish traditions (e.g. Midsommar, Valborg, etc.) – keep this in mind if you abstain from alcohol. Some Swedes frown on people being sober at a party and reject excuses other than driving or pregnancy.\n Swedish people want and expect **privacy** and personal space. Salespeople, waiters and other service employees are usually less attentive than their colleagues in other countries, to respect customers' privacy, except a short \"hej\" to entering customers. Customers are supposed to call for attention. When entering a bus or another form of public transportation it is often considered impolite to sit next to another person if there is another twin seat available. This also applies to international A-list celebrities, who can generally walk around the streets without being bothered by the general public; approaching a celebrity outside official fan events is extremely disrespectful in Swedish culture.\n In most homes it is customary to **remove your shoes**. If you just assume that you are to take them off upon entry, in most cases you will have done the right thing, but you could check whether other guests have left theirs by the front door. If you are dressed up and feel undressed without shoes, bring *indoor shoes*, like many of the guests will. At more formal parties also wearing outdoor shoes *may* be acceptable. Indoor shoes may also be brought for warmth (especially to cottages and the like): most Swedish homes have wood flooring; wall-to-wall carpets are uncommon.\n Despite rumours of the \"Swedish sin\", Swedish people are generally not accepting of public nudity except at designated nudist beaches. Don't go skinny-dipping in public beaches if you are more than about four years old. Female toplessness is accepted at public baths, but uncommon. Public **breastfeeding** is a consolidated right at any place, even at business meetings and high-end restaurants. Male toplessness is accepted in the countryside and at the beach, but might be frowned upon in urban areas.\n Greetings between men and women who know each other (e.g., are good friends, relatives) are often in the form of a **hug**. Swedes don't cheek-kiss to greet but are aware that other cultures do. If you are a visitor from France and do cheek-kiss a Swede, they will attempt to return the favour but probably feel a bit awkward doing so.\n **Show up on the minute** for meetings and meals, preferably five minutes before the set time. There is no \"fashionably late\" in Sweden. However, showing up early at a private invitation is considered rude. If it's acceptable to arrive late, it's usually mentioned specifically (e.g., \"...arrive after 1700\") or there are established rules (some universities apply an \"akademisk kvart\", an academic quarter hour, within which it is acceptable to arrive to lectures).\n Sweden is quite tolerant about **homosexuality**. Same-sex marriages have legal standing in Sweden. The chance of facing extreme criticism or homophobia is low in Sweden, as the country has anti-discrimination and hate crime laws. Violence against gays and lesbians is very rare.\n Sweden is a **multicultural country**. Do not make assumptions based on peoples' appearance. Outward displays of racism, sexism, or homophobia are often met with hostility. Even slight preferences may be noticed and noted. That being said, there has been a rise of racist instances towards Swedes of colour, particularly with immigrant backgrounds. Do not be afraid to call the police if you feel like you are in danger. \n As of the 2020s, **beggars** from the Balkans can be seen in most towns or cities. Homeless Swedes beg as well; while there can be many of them in city centres, the transactions usually take place without nuisance. Loitering outdoors, begging, and handing money to beggars is not illegal in Sweden. Many municipalities, though, have made it compulsory for beggars to file for a permit to beg in public, which indirectly has curbed the trend; the social services are supposed to take care of those in need. \n A sensitive topic in Sweden is hunting and wildlife management, especially when it comes to the population of **wolves** and other predators. People in the countryside have strong opinions on the subject.\n Swedish decision-making processes are based on **consensus**. Swedes are generally raised to concentrate on what unites, rather than on what divides. For a foreigner it may seem odd that it can be very difficult for a Swede to counter your opinion with a plain \"no\" or \"never\". Most Swedes will try to counter your opinion with something positive – to create consensus, or will say nothing at all. This does not mean they do not have an opinion of their own. Have this in mind when trying to get to know Swedes. Approach them with questions and queries that can be answered in a positive way – and you will break the ice. The less positive truth comes out when Swedes will trust you in consuming alcoholic beverages with them.\n **Gender neutrality** is an important part of Swedish culture, and most parents aim to raise their children in a gender-neutral way. For instance, toy manufacturers are required to market their products in a gender-neutral way, and Swedish schools aim to treat boys and girls equally; check with the family before bringing a Barbie doll as a present. Both sexes work in all trades and positions.\n**Local pride** is strong in Sweden for each county, province or municipality. There is also a cultural gap between the capital Stockholm and the rest of the country. Stockholmers are perceived as arrogant know-it-alls by non-Stockholmers, and people from outside Stockholm, especially from Scania, are perceived by Stockholmers as yokels and backwards-thinking. This cultural gap stems to a degree from a historical background, inasmuch as governors (*landshövding*) were appointed by the king, and they nowadays are appointed by the national government in Stockholm as leaders of the counties, a bit like lord-lieutenants in Britain.\n**Money** is a taboo topic in Sweden, and many Swedes are more comfortable talking about their sex lives than their personal finances.\n**Queueing**, standing in line for something, is very organised in Sweden. Always look for the dispenser with the numbered queue slips (*kölapp*, *nummerlapp*). Expect to be reprimanded by staff or bystanders if you approach without a queue slip or with the wrong queue slip.\nAlthough 52.8% of Swedes are members of the Church of Sweden (as of 2022), an Evangelical Lutheran church, Sweden is by and large a **secular country**, and only a minority of Swedes go to church regularly. Freedom of religion is generally respected, but most people are uncomfortable discussing religion with people they are not very close to.", "word_count": 1178}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk057", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Cope", "text": "thumb|Rod [[fishing]] is generally allowed in seawater and the largest lakes. Fishing in small lakes or rivers, as here in Klarälven, [[Värmland]], usually requires a license.\n\nAround payday, on the 25th of each month, stores and bars can get very crowded.\n\nCarry your passport or official ID, as you will frequently be asked to prove age or identity – for instance when using your credit card, when buying alcohol, when renting accommodation or when entering bars and clubs. You will also need it to register a prepaid phone account (see \"Connect\"). Driving licences are sometimes accepted, especially the EU ones. Banks accept only Swedish identity documents. Swedish bureaucracy is efficient but rigid.\n\n### Tobacco\n\nSmoking is not allowed in restaurants, bars or any other indoor establishments (except outdoor terraces and designated smoking rooms). Smoking in someone's home is usually out of the question; if you ask kindly you might be allowed to light up on the balcony or the porch. Relatively few Swedes smoke daily, but some men and women use \"**snus**\" (snuff), a tobacco pouch inserted into the upper lip. It comes in a wide variety of different styles and flavours and in both loose and portion form. Portions are more popular and generally recommended for public events, as loose snus can be very messy when removed. Unlike American oral tobaccos, it is not usually necessary to spit if the snus is properly placed. Most bars and clubs will have snus receptacles instead of ashtrays on the tables. Be warned, however, that snus can seem very harsh to first time users, with a nicotine level several times that of cigarettes. If you want to carry some out of the country, check regulations.\n\n### Clothing", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk058", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Cope", "text": "Bring warm **clothes** and extra shoes. Weather in Sweden is unpredictable. It can get cold and wet, but almost never too hot. Most buildings have sufficient heating; air conditioning is however mostly found in commercial buildings, rarely in private homes.\n\nIf you plan on staying in Sweden for an extended period of time, pack some rain clothes. If you don't own any, they can be bought in many stores across Sweden – but can be somewhat expensive.\n\n### Toilets\n\nThe availability and standard of public toilets varies a lot. Except gas stations, they are available at most rest areas. Public toilets in cities and at rail stations might be scarce, and often require a fee (which can be as high as 12kr in the more upscale shopping centres). Toilets in city restaurants are usually for guests only. There are approximately 270 public rest areas (*rastplats*) along the roads in Sweden (map); there should be one for every 40–80 minutes of driving, i.e. every 50–100 km. They should have at least a toilet, an information board, some benches and a waste management system, all accessible by the disabled. Some are well-planned and nice.\n\nUrinating behind a tree at a countryside road is acceptable; in a city street it is criminalized and might lead to a fine.\n\n### Pets\n\nPets have rights according to Swedish law. One of these rights stipulates that a dog or a cat must be offered water at least every six hours. At many restaurants that serve outdoors a bowl of water is placed outdoors to accommodate pets. They also have the right to be walked.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk059", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Cope", "text": "In many municipalities it constitutes a breach of the environmental act to leave dog faeces (*hundbajs*) in public places. Since it is legal to film people littering for the sake of filing legal charges, walking the dog might get expensive if their droppings are left unattended. Plastic bags for dog poo (*hundbajspåse*) are for sale at almost any supermarket. The droppings, packed, should be left at a dedicated litter bin, found in green areas in these municipalities.\n\nFrom 1 March to 20 August special attention is required when walking a dog in the wild. Dogs are not allowed to roam freely where game lives. In practice, this means that they should be leashed unless you manage to keep them at a similar distance without. During the rest of the year, the dog must be leashed or within sight and command, at all times. When entrance is permitted for dogs to national parks and nature reserves, they must always be leashed. The dog owner is always legally responsible for their dog, and subject to damages even if not criminally guilty. Specific rules apply when a dog is with a hunting party.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk060", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Mail\n\nthumb|Post box in Sweden\n\nThe national postal service in Sweden is run by **PostNord** and is considered efficient and reliable. Postal service points (*serviceställe* or *postombud*) sells postage stamps and can be found in many supermarkets and grocery stores all over the country. Post boxes are yellow with the postal logo, and are emptied once every workday. Domestic mail is delivered every second workday. Parcels are delivered every workday, in some places even on Saturdays. An unregistered priority (airmail) postcard or letter with a weight of less than 50 grams is for all international destinations (as of January 2025).\n\nAlternatively, packages can be sent within Sweden and to international destinations with **DHL** or within Sweden and the European Union with **DB Schenker**. The latter website is in the Swedish language only, and you might need the help of a local to book and send a package.\n\n### Telephone and Internet\n\nSweden's international calling code number is +46. Public pay phones ceased to exist in 2015. Sweden is the world's second most Internet-connected country (after Iceland).\n\nSweden has widespread 4G/LTE coverage on band 3 (1800 MHz) and 20 (800 MHz), even in rural areas, except in the central and northern interior parts of the country - there the partly state-owned Telia is your best bet and a phone supporting band 28 (700 MHz) might be of importance to get the best coverage. 4G/LTE-phones must have VoLTE to enable voice calls.\n\nSwedish traditional 2G/GSM operates on the 900 MHz band and only Telia has it; it will be shut down in 2027. 3G has already been completely shut down by all operators. 5G is being deployed in major urban areas, expected to reach maximum coverage by all providers in 2025.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk061", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Connect", "text": "The major operators are **Telia**, **Tele2**, **Telenor** and **3 (Tre)**. The major operators have discounted services via their affiliated brands – **Halebop**, **Comviq**, **Vimla**, and **Hallon**. Some operators may require a Swedish personnummer (or samordningsnummer) to get a number, although all operators (except Hallon!) that sell prepaid will allow you to get it without any \"personnummer\" (Tele2 and 3 do not sell prepaid, so they are not linked here)\n\nIf you already have a SIM from another EU/EEA country, you may be able to continue using it in Sweden, subject to any fair-use limits imposed by your home provider. Roaming with a non-EU/EEA provider is probably much more expensive than buying a local prepaid SIM. UK providers may or may not offer cheap roaming.\n\nPrepaid SIM cards (*kontantkort*) and refills are sold at the Pressbyrån outlets, as well as at most supermarkets and tobacco stores. They have fairly generous mobile data allowances. Check the registration process:\n\nSince 2022, all Swedish prepaid SIMs need to be registered to a person with a Swedish personnummer, a BankID, or valid photo ID (passport or identity card) before they can be used. The procedure varies depending on the provider. Telia and Halebop require you to bring the SIM to a Telia store for registration, and requires a form that has to be sent off to the central support desk for processing. This can take a few hours before you can start purchasing plans to use. Telenor SIMs can be registered by yourself online here and are ready to load and use immediately after the necessary data is uploaded. Hallon SIMs can **not** be registered without BankID, so avoid their SIMs.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "sweden::chunk062", "doc_id": "sweden", "section": "Connect", "text": "Prepaid USB 4G/LTE modems, or data-only SIMs for a modem you already have, can be bought in many stores. They are a good alternative to Wi-Fi, costing relatively little (300kr a month will get you depending on provider, and a couple of providers even offer unlimited data for a slightly higher price). Alternatively, these days, all providers allow tethering, meaning that a phone's data connection can be shared to any other devices within Wi-Fi range without having to purchase a separate device. Fast food chains, libraries, hotels, cafés and malls and others may offer free Wi-Fi access. Fixed terminals where you can pay for internet access exist as well, although many libraries can provide the same service for free.\n\nIf you are planning on continuing to use your SIM in another EU/EEA country after leaving Sweden, it is important to familiarize yourself with each provider's EU roaming policy and purchase a SIM with that in mind. Halebop limits EU roaming to 10 GB a month. Comviq has fair-use limits in place that vary by plan. Only Telenor and Telia allow full use of their prepaid plans across the entire EU/EEA without any extra charge. It is, however, not possible to buy refill vouchers for these products outside Sweden in general (although Telenor and Telia will both accept foreign credit cards for refills online).", "word_count": 223}
diff --git a/corpus/sweden/metadata.json b/corpus/sweden/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..64d77bbacda03a4c28eb57c56273b6953190f74f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sweden/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sweden",
+ "title": "Sweden",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sweden",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "northern-lights",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Nordic countries"
+ ],
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+ "go_next": [],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
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+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk000", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Switzerland** (German: *Schweiz*, French: *Suisse*, Italian: *Svizzera*, Romansch: *Svizra*), is a mountainous country known globally for its neutrality, democracy, and almost-legendary affluence: Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and prices to match.\n\nSwitzerland is known for its mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the northwest) but it also has a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. The highest point is Dufourspitze at 4,634 m (15,203 ft), while Lake Maggiore is only 195 m (636 ft) above sea level, and the temperate climate varies greatly with altitude.\n\nSwitzerland is intrinsically more culturally diverse than perhaps any other European country. It has four national languages which have historically been dominant in various regions, or *cantons*. German, French and Italian are spoken in the regions bordering the respective country, and Romansch — a Romance language of Swiss origin — is spoken in the mountainous area of Graubünden. \n\nSwitzerland also has one of the proportionally largest expat/immigrant populations – literally every fourth resident of the almost 8.5 million inhabitants is a foreign national – consisting of almost all of the world's nationalities and ethnic groups. \n\nSwitzerland can be a glorious whirlwind trip whether you've packed your hiking boots, snowboard, or just a good book and a pair of sunglasses.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk001", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Regions", "text": "Politically, Switzerland is divided into 26 **cantons**, but the traveler will find the following regions more useful:", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk002", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Cities", "text": "(*Bern*) — as close as the nation gets to having a capital, with an amazingly well-preserved old-town and arcades along almost every street; great restaurants and bars abound\n — has an exceptional medieval centre, on the orthogonal bend of the river Rhine arriving from the east and leaving towards the north. Can also be used as a gateway to the Black Forest (Germany) and Alsace (France).\n (*Genève*) — this centre of arts and culture is an international city home to around 200 governmental and non-governmental organisations, and is also the birthplace of the World Wide Web at CERN and the International Red Cross\n — the outdoor and action sports capital of Switzerland, with everything from skydiving and bungee jumping, to hiking, white-water rafting, and canyoning\n — scenery, dining, dancing, boating and the Swiss wine country are the draws\n (*Luzern*) — main city of the central region with direct water links to all of the sites of early Swiss history\n — a gorgeous old-town on a pretty lake; much *Italianatà* combined with Swiss seriousness\n — main city of north-eastern Switzerland, renowned for the Abbey of St. Gall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it also functions as the gate to the very special Appenzell region\n (*Zürich*) — Switzerland's largest city is a major centre of banking and culture, with numerous restaurants, a thriving nightlife, and a lakeside setting.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk003", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— large ski resort where the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum takes place\n — the classic resort at the foot of the Eiger\n — a region of terraced vineyards on the shore of Lake Geneva and a UNESCO cultural heritage site\n — glitzy ski resort in the Engadin valley in south-eastern Switzerland\n — a protected area around the largest glaciated area in the Alps; this high Alpine park offers stunning views and is also a UNESCO natural heritage site\n — famous mountain resort at the base of the mighty Matterhorn\n The Swiss Alps stretch through the regions of the eastern part of Lake Geneva, Valais, Bernese Highlands, the southern part of Central Switzerland, almost the entirety of Ticino except for the most southern part, the southern part of Northeastern Switzerland, and Graubünden.", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk004", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "A landlocked country with an area of 41,285 km², Switzerland is a land of picture-perfect Alpine ranges and verdant greenery. The country offers a range of old towns, diverse cultures and outdoor adventure-related activities.\n\nIt sits at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. It has borders with France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.\n\nIt is officially known as the Swiss Confederation in English. Its abbreviation \"CH\" comes from Latin, *Confoederatio Helvetica*, which is often used internally to avoid giving preference to any of the country's official languages.\n\n### History\n\nSwitzerland has a history reaching far back into the Roman Empire times, when the tribes inhabiting it were called \"Helvetians\" by Roman sources. You can find many references to \"Helvetia\" or \"Helvetic\" in the naming of Swiss organisations and companies, and on postage stamps. A quarrel between Julius Caesar and the Helvetians is one of the first things to be described in detail in Caesar's *De Bello Gallico*, which is still read by Latin students all over the world.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk005", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Helvetians and their successors have adopted various forms of democracy and devolution to govern their lands, rather than feudalism or autocracy prevalent in the rest of Europe, thus conserving and in a sense modernising Germanic traditions otherwise only found in the Nordic countries. Functioning as a (initially very loose) confederation for centuries, the country has grown to become one of the most diverse in Europe, while also vividly celebrating their national and local identity and the direct democracy employed to make a wide range of civic decisions. Swiss independence was a gradual process and for a long time the only document *all* cantons had signed was an alliance with France, but by 1648 after the Westphalian Peace, the Holy Roman Empire officially acknowledged that it had lost any right to sovereignty over the territory of the Swiss Confederacy (as well as that of the Dutch Republic), and Swiss fortunes started to diverge from those of other Alemannic states in southwestern Germany or Alsace. Swiss romantic nationalism of the 19th century would project a unity only really achieved after the 1848 Sonderbundskrieg backwards and mythologize the \"Rütlischwur\" an oath of mutual aid supposedly sworn on the Rütli meadow by representatives of the first three cantons: Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. While the exact date is not known, tradition associates it with a document from 1291 which supposedly documents this first act of Swiss unification. The tale of Wilhelm Tell (also converted into a stage play by German playwright Schiller) who rebelled against Habsburg overlordship is also dated to this era.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk006", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland has not been involved in any international war since Napoleonic times and has been at peace internally since the 1850s. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbours. However, the country did not become a UN member until 2002 and maintains a more or less neutral position in foreign relations. Unlike all of its neighbours (bar Liechtenstein), Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, but is strongly integrated with it, in particular by being part of the Schengen Area.\n\nthumbnail|right|The Swiss linguistic diversity is best reflected in multilingual signage — often in three or four Swiss languages, and English added for the international visitors' convenience\n\n### Climate\n\nThe Swiss climate is temperate, but varies significantly with altitude in the Alps – on average about 6.5° C every 1000 m – and among the four major climatic regions : the northeastern and western parts of the Central Plateau, southern Switzerland, and within the Alps.\n\nThere are four clearly defined seasons which bring changes mainly in temperature and time of sunshine: rainy or snowy cold winters with short days from December till February, snow-melting and flower-blowing springs from March till May, moderately warm to sometimes hot, but also occasionally quite rainy summers with long days from June till August, and colourful and often quite dry, sometimes still astonishingly warm, but sometimes also already quite cold and foggy Autumns from September till November with days getting shorter and shorter. And each season or month can be quite different year by year .", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk007", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Switzerland has cold, on the low Central Plateau often cloudy, rainy or snowy winters, and moderate to warm summers with very changeable weather which can change quite quickly, especially on hot summer days and in the mountains; in extreme cases within minutes. In some years you can experience cloudy, rainy, humid summer days, however on other days or even the next year very sunny, or sometimes even hot summer days with only occasional showers. Approximately every third day throughout the entire year is a rainy day with either a short shower, or constantly drizzling rain throughout the whole day. And a rainy period can endure from less than one hour to three weeks whatever season. Weather forecasts for more than six days ahead are scientifically fundamentally unreliable.\n\nThe most convenient and therefore the most visited months are from late May till early October with a particular, often overcrowded high from July to August. You can enjoy its fabulous landscapes either on a hike, a cruise, a train, or a bike ride. You will be able to discover the High Alps, its blacknose sheep, and glaciers. The summer season allows to combine the supposed incompatible, namely beach holidays on the lakes and some, though limited summer skiing. In winter, tourists and locals extensively enjoy many kinds of winter sport, and an enchanting Christmas atmosphere before, and a funny carneval season after the end of the year.\n\n### Diversity", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk008", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Switzerland showcases three of Europe's most distinct cultures. To the northeast is the clean and correct, 8-to-6-working, more stiff Swiss-German-speaking Switzerland; to the southwest you find the wine drinking and laissez-faire style known from the French; in the southeast, south of the Alps, the sun warms cappuccino-sippers loitering in Italian-style piazzas; and in the center: classic Swiss alphorns and mountain landscapes. Binding it all together is a distinct Swiss mentality. Switzerland is sometimes called a \"nation of choosing\" as the Swiss are one nation not because of ethnicity or language, but because they want to be a nation and want to be distinct from the Germans, Italians and French around them. Even though conflict sometimes arises between the different groups, the common Swiss identity is usually stronger than the dividing factors.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk009", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "While most of the cantons, save for the small Romansch-speaking regions, use languages in common with neighbouring countries, the language spoken there is not necessarily just the same as across the national border. In particular, Swiss German is very different from any of the variations of German spoken in Germany or Austria, with its own peculiar pronunciation and vocabulary. Even fluent speakers of standard German (*Hochdeutsch*) may have a hard time understanding the regular Swiss-German spoken on the street or in mass media. Fortunately for visitors, most German-speaking Swiss are perfectly capable of speaking *Hochdeutsch*, English, and at least one other national language (e.g. French). Even in its written form, Swiss Standard German differs notably from its German and Austrian counterparts, though most differences are minor and the one you are most likely to notice is the fact that Switzerland doesn't use the letter \"ß\", replacing it with \"ss\", which however doesn't affect pronunciation. Swiss French and Swiss Italian differ only lexically from their counterparts spoken in other countries. Romansch is, however, only spoken in remote Alpine communities, where most people speak at least one other Swiss language as well.\n\n### Economy\n\nthumb|300px|[[Berne]], seat of the federal institutions\n\nSwitzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labour force, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most of the big European economies. The Swiss, long recognised for financial expertise, have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness, and ensure smooth trade with their biggest trading partner, the EU.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk010", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Both of these have been called into question, as the Swiss franc has risen to almost parity with the euro due to being seen as a \"safe haven\" and the famous Swiss bank secrecy is more and more under attack from fiscal offices in America, Germany and elsewhere, with many high profile cases of tax evasion via Swiss banks ending up in court. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average. This together with the exchange rate (especially to the euro) make Switzerland one of the priciest destinations in the world. Switzerland is also known for its relatively low income tax rates, making it a popular tax haven for the world's richest people.\n\n### Public holidays\n\nPublic Holidays are regulated on a cantonal level (except for the First of August) and may vary greatly. However, these are the ones observed (almost) everywhere (excluding the ones always taking place on Sundays):\n\n**New Year's Day** (1 January)\n**Good Friday** (2 days before Easter, not a public holiday in the cantons of Ticino and Valais)\n**Easter Monday** (1 day after Easter, legally not recognized holiday in Valais)\n**Ascension** (39 days after Easter)\n**Whit Monday** (1 day after Pentecost, legally not recognized holiday in Valais)\n**Swiss National Day** (1 August)\n**Christmas** **Day** (25 December)\n**St Stephen's Day** (26 December, not a public holiday in the cantons of Geneva, Jura, Valais, Vaud and parts of the canton of Solothurn)", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk011", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "**General Holidays** observed by timetables by public transportation companies, in particular by SBB CFF FFS and PostBus, are: **1 and 2 January**, **Good Friday**, **Easter Monday**, **Ascension**, **Whit Monday**, **1st August**, **25 and 26 December**. Business times of local offices and timetables of local transportation companies will sometimes also follow local holidays.\n\n### Politics\n\nthumb|right|300 px|alt=Swiss cantons|Political divisions: Swiss cantons\nSwitzerland has a federal system of government, and is divided into 26 cantons, with each canton having its own constitution, government and police force. The federal government is in its *federal city*, Bern.\n\nThe Federal Assembly serves as Switzerland's federal legislature, with each canton also having its own legislature. The Federal Council with its seven members is Switzerland's federal executive branch. Unlike other countries, Switzerland does not have a single person as head of state or head of government; rather, the entire Federal Council fulfills both roles collectively. The position of President of the Swiss Confederation rotates among the seven councillors on a yearly basis, with the year's vice president becoming next year's president. Apart from being the ceremonial chair of Federal Council meetings, though, he or she is a *primus inter pares*, having no power above and beyond the other six councillors.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk012", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Swiss citizens normally vote four times a year on many different issues on each of three different political levels: federal, cantonal, and municipal. Between January 1995 and June 2005, Swiss citizens voted 31 times on federal only issues, to answer 103 federal questions besides many more cantonal and municipal questions (during the same period, French citizens participated in only two referendums). The populace can request any issue, including constitutional laws, or contradict any parliamentary decision. The most frequent themes are social issues (e.g. welfare, healthcare, and drug policy), public infrastructure (e.g. public transport and construction projects) and environmental issues (e.g. environmental and nature protection), economics, public finances (including taxes), immigration, asylum, and education, but also about culture and media, state systems, foreign affairs, and military issues — again on any of the three political levels! Perhaps not surprisingly for a country called to the polls so often, turnout is not always all that high by Central European standards.", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk013", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some major instruments of this system known as popular rights include the right to submit a federal initiative (initiated by private people, public groups, or political parties) and raise constitutional or legislative referendums on any issue, both of which may overturn any parliamentary decisions. The results are always binding on the governments — \"The populace has the final decision!\" This gives Switzerland a very high degree of popular input on all political levels leading to some calling it \"the world's only direct democracy\". However, more than once an initiative which was later seen as an embarrassment even by some of those who voted for it was \"creatively interpreted\" or even outright revoked by a later referendum. There are some sub-national jurisdictions that have similar levels of \"popular legislation\" to Switzerland, and Switzerland, while not an EU member, is bound by many bilateral treaties with the EU, which are however subject to the same possibility of referendum as any other law.\n\nThe richness of Swiss democracy is also expressed in its many, more than thirty political parties, of which 12 parties delegate members to the two federal parliament chambers, the National Council and the Council of States, and the four largest parties collaboratively executing the seven-head Federal Council. Swiss politics has been free of *Putsch* (originally a Swiss-German word) and political violence since 1848 when the conservative-catholic cantons forming a \"Sonderbund\" lost a short civil war against the liberal majority. Since that time, there has been a tendency to make political decisions not by mere majority vote but by compromise. For example the composition of the federal government — for decades made up of the same parties — is determined by a \"magical formula\" which did not change from the 1950s to the early 21st century.\n\n### Tourist information", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk014", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Understand", "text": "- My Switzerland website", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk015", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|500px|Map of languages in Switzerland\n\nSwitzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Many Swiss people are multilingual. \n\n**German** is spoken by almost two-thirds of the population and you can find a German speaker almost everywhere; it has official status in 21 cantons, making it the most useful of the country's four official languages. **Swiss German** (*Schweizerdeutsch*), which is used in most informal contexts, is not one language, but rather a group of Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland. Although picking up Swiss German is rather easy for speakers of German or another Germanic language, mastering Swiss German can be difficult. Some dialects of Swiss German – for example, **Zurich German** (Züritüütsch) – differ so much from standard German that even native speakers of German have a hard time understanding them. If you don't know any of the local Swiss German dialects, do not worry: all Swiss-Germans learn Standard German in school and it is widely used in spheres such as commerce, media, government, and writing. \n\n**French** is spoken by almost a quarter of the population and you are likely to encounter a French speaker in Western Switzerland, Berne, or Valais. The language has official status in 7 cantons. **Swiss French** (français de Suisse) is similar to Standard French, although there are a few vocabulary differences. For instance, the Swiss French word for \"70\" is *septante*, not *soixante-dix*. Speakers of French should have no difficulties with speaking to French-speaking Swiss. \n\n**Italian** is the primary language of nearly 10% of the population and it has official status in 2 cantons: Ticino and Graubunden. **Swiss Italian** (italiano svizzero) is very similar to Standard Italian, although there are a few loanwords from French and German. Speakers of Italian should have no difficulties with speaking to Italian-speaking Swiss. \n\n**Romansh** has official status in one canton: Graubunden. You're unlikely to come across a speaker of Romansh, as most Romansh people are also fluent in German and are outnumbered by native speakers of languages such as English, Portuguese, Albanian, and Serbo-Croatian.\n\n**English** is widely spoken and studied in Swiss schools. The number of English-speakers in the country has grown since 2000. One national survey conducted in 2020 revealed that English is the primary language of nearly 6% of the population. English often serves as a \"lingua franca\" to communicate with people from different linguistic backgrounds. As a general rule, younger Swiss are more competent in the language than their seniors.", "word_count": 405}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk016", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nSwitzerland is *not* a member of the EU, however. Therefore, travellers entering Switzerland from the EU are subject to customs controls even if there are no immigration controls, and persons travelling elsewhere in the Schengen Area will also have to clear customs. On the other hand, Switzerland maintains a customs union with Liechtenstein, and there are no customs controls when travelling between the two countries.\n\n*As a tourist*: Personal goods worth a total of more than Fr.5,000 and cash and all cash equivalents in excess of Fr. 10,000 have to be declared. Also some amounts of foodstuffs, alcohol and tobacco. The importation of animal products coming from countries other than EU states and Norway is prohibited. When you enter Switzerland, personal effects, travelling provisions and fuel in the tank of your vehicle are tax and duty-free. For other goods being carried, VAT and duty will be levied depending on their total value (over Fr. 150) and according to the quantity. Also take care if you want to travel with your pets. And generally comply with bans, restrictions and authorisations regarding protected species, plants, cash, foreign currency, securities, weapons, pyrotechnic articles (fireworks), narcotics and drugs, transfer of cultural property, product piracy, counterfeits, medicines (medicinal products) and doping, radar warning devices, and citizens' band radio (CB radio).\n\n**Unaccompanied minors** (travellers under the age of 18 years) are strongly advised to have a note of consent from their parents/guardian, as well as a copy of the parents' or guardian's valid passport or ID card. For more information, visit the FAQ section of the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (under the 'Border-crossing/Travel documents' heading).\n\nthumbnail|Zürich Airport is the main aerial gateway to Switzerland, enjoying excellent connectivity both in the air and on the ground\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk017", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumbnail|The ''Cointrin'' airport in [[Geneva]] also sees many connections from around the globe due to the international importance of the city. It is also a gateway to the Swiss and French Alps.\n\nMajor international **airports** are in Zurich , Geneva and Basel (for the Swiss part: ), with smaller airports in Lugano and Berne . Some airlines fly to Friedrichshafen, Germany which is just across Lake Constance (the Bodensee) from Romanshorn, not too far from Zurich.\n\nBasel airport is a peculiar case, as it also serves neighbouring Mulhouse and Freiburg and has three different IATA codes, as well as different customs procedure (and sometimes even airfares) depending on whether you fly to \"Basel\" or \"Mulhouse\". The airport also has an area code for the \"metro-area\" that should get you flights for both destinations.\n\nAlmost all major European airlines fly to at least one Swiss airport. The flag carrier of Switzerland is **Swiss International Airlines**, a member of Star Alliance and the Lufthansa Group. Together with their subsidiaries, charter/holiday airline Edelweiss Air, they offer connections to most major airports across Europe, as well as many intercontinental destinations.\n\nAdditionally, some smaller Swiss-based airlines also offer connections to Switzerland: Etihad Regional mainly from Geneva and Lugano, Helvetic Airways from Zurich and Berne.\n\nThe major European low-fare airlines, however, have very limited presence in Switzerland, usually offering a single flight from their home hub to either Zurich or Geneva. The exception is EasyJet, which has a dedicated subsidiary, EasyJet Switzerland, and offers flights to Basel, Geneva and Zurich within its usual low-fare business model. Ryanair flies to Basel.\n\nIn the winter season, many airlines specialising in charter and holiday flights offer connections to Swiss airports to cater to the skiing and winter sport markets.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk018", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "Depending on where you want to go to in Switzerland, it can make sense to fly to an alternative airport:\n\nTo the north: Friedrichshafen (), Memmingen (), Munich Airport (), Stuttgart (), Strasbourg () and Baden-Baden ()\n To the west: Lyon (), Chambéry () and Grenoble ()\n To the south: Milan airports and Turin ()\n To the east: Bolzano () and Innsbruck ()\n\nDue to the excellent train connections (see below) you might also conceivably fly into Frankfurt Airport () and take the train from there.\n\n### By train\n\nSwitzerland boasts the world's densest public transportation system. The Swiss Travel System features a rail network of 29,000 km, including several popular rail lines. Trains arrive from all parts of Europe. Some major routes include:\n\nthumb|Central departure board in Lausanne also announcing that timetables will change in a few days (always happening on the second Sunday in December)!\nthumb|Arrival screen in Basel SBB / Bâle CFF", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk019", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "The '''''TGV''''' ''Lyria'' (*Train à grande vitesse*, French/Swiss high-speed railway connection), with several trains daily from/to Paris, Dijon, Lyon, Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Antibes, and Nice.\nExamples of travel time: *Paris*-Geneva 3 hr, -Lausanne 3½ hr, -Basel 3 hr, -Bern 4 hr, -Zurich 4 hr;\nand *Geneva*-Lyon 2 hr, -Avignon 3 hr, -Marseille 3½ hr, -Nice 6½ hr;\nand Basel-Marseille 5 hr\nHourly *EuroCity* (**EC**) trains to/from Milan with connections to all parts of Italy.\nExamples of travel time: *Milan*-Bern 3 hr 12 min, -Basel 4 hr, -Geneva 4 hr, -Zurich 3 hr 36 min;\nonce a day: *Milano Centrale*-(Simplon Tunnel)-Brig 2 hr, -(Lötschberg Base Tunnel)-Spiez 2½ hr, -Bern 3 hr 25 min, -Basel 4 hr 25 min, -Freiburg i.B. 5 hr, -Karlsruhe 6 hr, -Mannheim 6 hr 45 min, -Frankfurt a.M. Hbf 7½ hr;\nonce a day: *Frankfurt a.M. Hbf*-Mannheim 45 min, -Karlsruhe 1 hr 12 min, -Freiburg i.B. 2 hr 15 min, -Basel 3 hr, -Luzern 4 hr 15 min, -(Gotthard Base Tunnel)-Bellinzona 5 hr 48 min, -Lugano 6 hr 18 min, -Milano Centrale 7½ hr\nRegular ***ICE*** (*InterCity Express*, German high-speed trains) from Chur, Zurich / Interlaken via Berne, Basel to Freiburg i.B., Offenburg, Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt a.M. (main railway station or airport) in Germany, many continuing toward Cologne and Dortmund, or Hannover and Hamburg, or Berlin, or Amsterdam.\nExamples of travel time: *Frankfurt Airport*-Basel 3 hr; *Frankfurt a.M. Hbf*-Berne 4 hr, -Interlaken 5 hr, -Zurich 4 hr, -Chur 5 hr 24 min;\nor *Interlaken Ost*-Bern 52 min, -Basel 2 hr, -Freiburg .i.B. 3 hr, -Frankfurt a.M. Hbf 5 hr, -Berlin Hbf 9½ hr (twice a day)\n2-hourly ***IC*** trains between Zurich and Stuttgart, travel time 3 hr\nRegular *EuroCity* (**EC**) trains between Zurich and Munich, travel time 4 hr\nRegular *RailJet* (**RJ**) trains between Zurich and Innsbruck (3½ hr), Salzburg (5½ hr), Vienna (8 hr) in Austria, and further to the east\n Sleeper trains operated by ÖBB under the brand name Night Jet\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk020", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "Flixbus, which have all but cornered the German domestic market, also provide service to Switzerland as well as through Switzerland to neighboring countries. Flixbus is prohibited by law from carrying passengers domestically in Switzerland and you cannot book domestic routes with them or alight inside Switzerland when you board inside Switzerland.\n\nThere are several bus companies serving the Bosnian diaspora, which provide a cheap way of getting here from the Balkans. Turistik Prošić runs from various destinations in the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina to Switzerland.\n\n### By car\n\nAny Swiss city and many common tourist destinations within Switzerland are quite easily reachable by car, e.g. Geneva from central eastern France, and Zurich from southern Germany. However, some tourist destinations, especially some smaller, quintessentially Alpine villages such as Zermatt or Wengen are car-free.\n\nAlthough Switzerland is now part of the Schengen agreement, it is not part of the EU customs/tariff union. Therefore EU/Swiss border posts will focus on smuggling, etc., and checks on roads on or after the border stay in place. Delays are usually short but cars may be stopped and no reason needs to be given, even for searches inside Switzerland.\n\nthumbnail|The top of the Furka mountain pass is almost 2.5 km (1.6 mi) above sea level", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk021", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some delay may be caused by congestion at busy times and there are often queues lasting hours to use the tunnels under the Alps from Italy such as Mont Blanc, St. Gotthard etc. Swiss motorway vignettes (40 Swiss Francs) can and should be purchased at the border if your car does not already have a valid one for the current year and you intend to use the Swiss motorways which is almost unavoidable. Most cities do not have free parking; expect to spend Fr. 25-40 for a day's parking. Some cities are entirely off-limits to cars but easily reachable by public transport, so strongly consider arriving by train instead if your final destination is one of these places.\n\nWhen using **mountain roads**, bear in mind that they are also used by buses – most relevant on hairpin bends, which they will occupy entirely in order to get around. And most mountain roads are frequently used by the yellow Swiss *PostAuto* bus. If you see a postal bus, or hear it approaching a bend by its distinctive three tone horn, hold right back (before the bend!) and let it pass, they *always* have priority and their drivers count on your cooperative driving (see also mountain road hints)!\n\nFrom Italy: There are two main routes:\n Direction Zurich / Lucerne / Basel / Bern: A8 Milano-Chiasso, then A2 towards Gotthard\n Direction Lausanne / Geneva: A5 Aosta-San Bernardo Tunnel, then cantonal road to Martigny and A9 motorway\n\nThere is a third possibility that serves the Canton of Valais and passes from the A26 to Gravellona Toce, then along the Statale 33 and the Simplon Pass to Brig. The pass is always open and is a wide three-lane road. From Iselle there is a shuttle service with the train that takes you directly to Brig.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk022", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By tram\n\nThe Basel tramway system extends across the border into Germany (Weil am Rhein) as well as into France (Saint-Louis). The lines are popular with locals who shop across the border, and as Switzerland is *not* part of the EU customs area, there may be customs spot checks, so don't carry anything in excess of allowed imports. Similarly the Geneva tram system also extends into neighbouring France. There are plans for further cross border extensions of both tram networks, including a possible link to EuroAirport from Basel.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk023", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around Switzerland is quick and easy albeit sometimes on the expensive side, no matter which mode you choose. The country has had a love affair with railways for over a century now, despite having been something of a late bloomer in railway construction. The few places not served by trains are served by the \"Postauto\" bus system and everything is seamlessly integrated, meaning you'll never have to wait long. Should you wish to drive a car, there are excellent highways throughout the country and many mountains are bypassed with tunnels. Hiking paths across the Alps have existed for centuries and are usually well blazed and maintained. Switzerland is also making an effort of marketing itself as bicycle friendly under the slogan \"Veloland Schweiz\".\n\n### By plane\n\nAs Switzerland has probably the most well-developed public transportation system in the world, and the country's airports are not that far apart anyway, there is very limited domestic air traffic. The connections offered by Swiss International Airlines and Etihad Regional include Zurich-Geneva, Zurich-Lugano and Geneva-Lugano. In most cases taking the train, sometimes combined with bus or other means, will be a cheaper option, and often it may prove just as fast and convenient as flying. If you arrive on an international flight to Flughafen Zürich (in Kloten) or Genève Aéroport (in Cointrin), you may take a direct train or bus from stations integrated into the airport terminals. From there, easy connection with several means of transportation including only one or two swift transfers will bring you to many destinations\n\n### Public transport\n\nthumbnail|Railway network in Switzerland ([https://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_explanations/pdf-Dateien/2017/kb1.pdf see also])\nthumb|Wengernalp railway", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk024", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Swiss will spoil you with fantastic transport – swift, disturbingly punctual trains, clean buses, and a half dozen different kinds of mountain transport systems, integrated into a coherent system. The discount options and variety of tickets can be bewildering, from half-fare cards to multi-day, multi-use tickets good for buses, boats, trains, and even bike rentals. In general there's at least one train or bus per hour on every route; on many routes trains and buses run every 30 or even 15 minutes. Inner-city transit often runs every 5-7 minutes during rush hour, but less frequently during weekends, particularly on Sundays and public holidays in more sparsely populated areas.\n\nAuthoritative information, routes, fares and schedules for almost all public transport can be found online on Swiss Federal Railway's ('''SBB CFF FFS''') nation-wide coherently integrated '''timetable''', or from posters and screens at any stop, or from a ticket window in any railway station. This timetable is also available as a free smart phone app. At any railway station of any provider you can get information and tickets (at manned ticket counters) for any of the many members of the '''''railway network of Switzerland''''' and most bus systems, in particular '''PostBus Switzerland''' which provides online '''timetable''' as well with the same data.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk025", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bus and train are legally not allowed to compete each other in Switzerland, rather quite the opposite, they are complementary to each other – besides being coordinated timetable-wise. That way, almost all inhabited village and town in Switzerland can be reached by public transport. This is actually constitutionally demanded by the *Public Service* regulations of the Swiss Confederation; *Public Service* is a particular Swiss term loosely referring to all kinds of laws, acts, and ordinances, which define the basic supply of public services and infrastructure in particular concerning postal services, telecommunication, electronic media, public transport and road infrastructure.\n\nThere are about twenty '''regional fare networks''' throughout the country, which incorporate many kinds of public transport (city bus, tram, metro, any kind of train, PostBus, boats, funiculars and others) by many different providers around urban centers into '''one single fare system''', such as ''ZVV'' in the canton of Zurich, or ''unireso'' (see also: Geneva's ''tpg'') in the canton of Geneva and its French adjacent area, or ''mobilis'' around Lausanne in the canton of Vaud at the northern shore of Lake Geneva, ''passepartout'' in the cantons of Lucerne, Nid- and Obwalden (keyword: *Titlis*). Usually these networks sell zone-based tickets valid for a particular time frame (instead of point-to-point tickets) for journeys within their fare network borders. Many of these networks and transit operators provide their own free smartphone apps; sometimes to be found at the major city's transit company website.\n\nEven if there is no train or city transit available, the comprehensive '''PostAuto/CarPostale/AutoPostale network''' gets you there. Where applicable, PostBus Switzerland is part of regional fare networks. You find all timetable information on SBB's online timetable, but PostBus Switzerland also provides their own free app with the same information as by SBB as well as many additional features.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk026", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Further information about the railway network in Switzerland and the Switzerland-wide countryside bus network is also available.\n\n### Hiking and cycling\n\nthumb|A Swiss hiking trail signpost\n\n#### Hiking\n\nAs good as the Swiss train system is, if you have a little time, and you only want to travel 1-320 km, you could try downloading the free swisstopo-App with the '''world's best footpath maps''' (paper copies can also be purchased) and walk 16-31 km a day over some of the most wonderful and clearly-marked paths, whether it is in a valley, through a forest, or over mountain passes. There are more than 60,000 km of well maintained and documented **hiking trails and cycling routes**.\n\nThe trails are well-planned, easy to follow, and the yellow trail signs tell you accurately (this is Switzerland after all) how far away the next hamlet, village, town or city is — usually given in terms of time, not distance. Once you've figured out how many kilometres per hour you walk (easy to determine after a day of hiking), you'll know how to adjust these times for your own pace.\n\nThere are plenty of places to sleep in a tent; but don't pitch one on a seemingly pleasant, flat piece of ground covered by straw – that's where the cows end up sleeping after a lazy day of eating, and they'll gnaw at your tent string supports and lean against your tent sides. And definitely don't do this during a rainstorm!, lots of huts on mountain tops, B&Bs on valley floors, or hotels in towns and cities. You could even send your luggage ahead to the next abode and travel very lightly, with the necessary water and Swiss chocolate!\n\n#### By bicycle\n\nCycling is a popular, everyday means of transport in Switzerland.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk027", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Since there is a network of straightforward cycling routes around Switzerland, it is a good place for cycling whether you're going cross-country or travelling around one of the cities. You can get information about cycling routes from *Swiss Singletrail Maps* and *Veloland Schweiz*.\n\nCycling in cities is safe and very common, and includes plenty of options like electric vehicles and free \"rentals\". If you decide to cycle in a city, understand that you will share the road with public transport. Beware of tram tracks which can get your wheel stuck and send you flying into traffic, and of course keep an eye out for the trams themselves and the buses, which make frequent stops in the rightmost lane and always have right of way.\n\nAccording to Swiss traffic law, a bicycle is considered as a road vehicle, therefore it is prohibited to cycle on sidewalks and foot paths, except for when explicitely indicated otherwise! As a bicycler you have to follow the same rules (and rights) as any other traffic member, such as cars and lorries. Therefore make sure you know the extensive Swiss traffic rules and traffic signs.\n\n#### Inline skating", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk028", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "Besides the main types of transport, the adventurous person can see Switzerland by in-line skating. There are three routes, measuring over a combined 600 km (350 mi) designed specifically for in-line skating throughout the country. They are the Rhine route, the Rhone route, and the Mittelland route. These are also scenic tours. Most of the routes are flat, with slight ascents and descents. The Mittelland route runs from Zurich airport to Neuenburg in the northwest; the Rhine route runs from Bad Ragaz to Schaffhausen in the northeastern section of the country. Finally, the Rhone route extends from Brig to Geneva. This is a great way to see both the countryside and cityscapes of this beautiful nation. Information about the routes can be found in the skating section of SwitzerlandMobility\n\n### By car\n\nIf you like cars, Switzerland can seem like a bit of a tease. It offers some of the greatest driving roads in the world, but you can literally end up in jail for speeding, even on highways. Traffic rules are strictly enforced. If you stick to the road rules and especially the speed limits, the back roads/mountain roads will still be a blast to drive on, while making sure you are not fined or arrested. Driving can be a good way of seeing the country and the vista from some mountain roads makes it worth the cost and hassle.\n\nDriving on mountain roads requires special skill: be sure to read the \"mountain road tips\" in the Driving in Switzerland article.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk029", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Get around", "text": "The usual **speed limits** in Switzerland are 120 km/h (75 mph) on motorways, 100 km/h on expressways, 80 km/h (50 mph) on main roads outside towns and in tunnels, and 50 km/h (31 mph) limit in villages and towns. You may see different speed limits signposted, including 30 km/h (19 mph) and 20 km/h (12 mph) in built-up areas.\n\nMost drivers will need to buy a '''vignette''', a sticker which costs Fr. 40 that allows you to use motorways and expressways as much as you like for the entire year.\n\nMotorists in Switzerland are required to switch on their headlights or daytime running lights at all times while driving or risk a Fr. 40 fine. Using any app with a 'speed camera warning' function (including Google Maps/Waze features) is illegal. Disable these alerts immediately upon entering Switzerland to avoid heavy fines.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk030", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "See", "text": "### The seven wonders\n\nthumbnail|Chateau de Chillon\n\nThe : a castle near Montreux\nThe : on the shore of Lake Geneva\nThe : in the southern canton of Ticino\nThe \nThe : a \"village\" with a post office on the 3,500-metre-high Jungfraujoch above Wengen\nThe : a 285-metre-high dam, south of Sion\nThe : on the railway between Chur and St. Moritz\n\n### The seven natural wonders\n\nthumbnail|Matterhorn\n\nThe : seen from Schwarzsee, the Gornergrat or simply from the village of Zermatt\nThe : two of the most celebrated mountains in the Alps, they can be seen from the valley of Lauterbrunnen or from one of the many surrounding summits that can be reached by train or cable car\nThe : the longest in Europe. The Aletsch forest sits above the glacier, which is best seen from above Bettmeralp\nThe : in one of the highest inhabited valleys in the Alps near the Piz Bernina, the lakes can all be seen from Muottas Muragl\nThe : seen from Pilatus above Lucerne\nThe : a mountain lake above Kandersteg\nThe : the largest in Europe; you can take a boat to the rock in the middle of the falls", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk031", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|The road crossing the Furka mountain pass between the cantons of Uri and Valais\n\nSwitzerland is renowned the world over for **downhill skiing**, and the country is also great for many other outdoor activities, including **hiking** and **mountain biking**. Mountain climbing from easy to very hard can also be found in Switzerland and there is hardly a place with a longer tradition for it. Some routes, like the North face of the Eiger (\"Eiger-Nordwand\" in German) have become near-mythical due to the hardships, sacrifice and even deaths suffered by the first people to climb them. And because of the breathtaking views, travelling from one place to another by car, bus, train or bike along Alpine roads and railroads is often an experience in itself.\n\n**Tour de Suisse** is an on-road cycle race over nine days, regarded as a proving event for the Tour de France. The next is 12-19 July 2022 visiting Aesch, Quinto, Brunnen, Moosalp, Novazzano, Visp and Vaduz.", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk032", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nSwitzerland's currency is the **Swiss franc** (or *Franken*, or *franc*, or *franco*, depending on which language area you are in), denoted by the symbol \"**Fr.**\" or sometimes \"**SFr.**\" (ISO code: **CHF**) It is divided into 100 Rappen, centimes, or centesimi. However, some places – such as supermarkets, restaurants, tourist attraction ticket counters, hotels and the railways or ticket machines – accept euro bills (but no coins) and will give you change in Swiss francs or in euro if they have it in cash.\n\nSince Switzerland is surrounded on all sides by the eurozone and cross-border commuting is common, euros are also widely accepted and many price lists contain prices both in francs and in euros. Usually in such cases the exchange-rate is the same as or very close to official exchange-rates, but if it differs significantly you will be notified in advance. Money can be exchanged at all train stations and most banks throughout the country, and all ATMs accept foreign cards, so getting cash should not be a problem.\n\nSwitzerland is more cash-oriented than many European countries, but credit/debit card payments are common and you can easily travel for days without ever needing cash (e.g. even access to paid toilets can be done using a debit or credit card). If you do opt for cash, it is perfectly acceptable to use Fr. 200 and even Fr. 1000 banknotes.\n\nBanknotes are found in denominations of 10 (yellow), 20 (red), 50 (green), 100 (blue), 200 (brown), and 1000 francs (purple). They are all the same width.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk033", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "File:CHF 10 9 front.jpg|Fr. 10, front\nFile:CHF 10 9 back.jpg|Fr. 10, back\nFile:CHF 20 9 front.jpg|Fr. 20, front\nFile:CHF 20 9 back.jpg|Fr. 20, back\nFile:CHF 50 9 front.jpg|Fr. 50, front\nFile:CHF 50 9 back.jpg|Fr. 50, back\nFile:CHF 100 9 front.jpg|Fr. 100, front\nFile:CHF 100 9 back.jpg|Fr. 100, back\nFile:CHF 200 9 front.jpg|Fr. 200 Front\nFile:CHF 200 9 back.jpg|Fr. 200 back\n\nAs of April 2021, only the ninth series banknotes *(pictured above)* are legal tender. If you have older notes, they can be exchanged at face value at the Swiss National Bank head offices in Zurich and Berne as well as designated cantonal bank agencies in major cities.\n\nCoins are issued in denominations 5- (brass coloured), 10-, and 20-Rappen/centimes, ½-, 1-, 2-, and 5-francs (all silver coloured). One-Rappen/centime coins are no longer legal tender, but may be exchanged until 2027 for face value. Two-Rappen/centime coins have not been legal tender since the 1970s and are, consequently, worthless. Most exchange offices do not accept coins and the biggest coin (5 francs) is worth roughly about US$5 or €5, so spend them, give them to charity before leaving or keep them as a souvenir.\n\nA few Swiss establishments may print your *entire* **credit card number** on the receipt, raising identity theft concerns. Using your credit card you should check this and discard the receipts safely.\n\n### Banking", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk034", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "Switzerland has been renowned for its banking sector since the Middle Ages. Due to its historical policy of banking secrecy and anonymity, Switzerland has long been a favourite place for many of the world's richest people to stash their assets, sometimes earned through questionable means. Although current banking secrecy laws are not as strict as they used to be, and anonymous bank accounts are no longer allowed, Switzerland remains one of the largest banking centres in Europe. Opening a bank account in Switzerland is straightforward, and there are no restrictions on foreigners owning Swiss bank accounts – except for US citizens. Since the latest sanctions by the US, many Swiss banks refuse to open a bank account to US citizens or anyone having connections to the US (e.g. US residents). In some cases, even existing accounts have been closed.\n\nThe largest banks in Switzerland are **UBS** and **Credit Suisse** (since June 2023 a brand of UBS).\n\nCash machines (*bankautomat*) are available in most places. The practice of charging fees varies per machine operator and will be in addition to charges imposed by your card issuer.\n\n### Tipping\n\nSwiss service personnel enjoy a relatively highly set minimum wage compared to other countries, so tips are rather modest. By law, a service charge is included in the bill. Nevertheless, if you feel satisfied, especially in restaurants, you may round up the bill and add a few francs with a maximum of 5–20 francs depending on the kind of establishment, regardless of bill size. If you were not happy with the service, you needn't tip at all. If you just drink a coffee, it is common to round up the bill to the nearest franc, but some people are still quite generous. Tipping is always your personal contribution and never legally requested.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk035", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Costs\n\nSwitzerland is an **expensive** country with prices comparable to Norway. Apart from soft drinks, electronics and car fuel, many things cost more than in the neighbouring countries, particularly groceries, souvenirs, train tickets and accommodation. In fact, many Swiss people who live near the borders drive into neighbouring countries to purchase fuel and groceries, as it is usually significantly cheaper, a trend that has only increased with the franc soaring in exchange rate compared to the euro. Whilst there are no systematic immigration controls thanks to the Schengen agreement, there are random custom checks, even inside the country, since Switzerland is *not* part of EU Customs Union, so you must clear customs. Therefore make sure you comply with Swiss custom regulations for importing goods.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk036", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most items sold in Switzerland are subject to a value-added tax (VAT) of 8.1%. Foreign visitors can claim a refund on the VAT if they spend at least CHF 300.00 (after tax) in a single transaction, and depart Switzerland with the items within 30 days of making the purchase. You will need to show your ID card (for EU/EEA citizens) or passport to the cashier and obtain a Tax Free Form from them. When you depart Switzerland, look for the customs office and present the Tax Free Form along with the items for them to inspect; if you are departing by air, make sure you do this before checking in your bags if any of the items have to be checked in. After your Tax Free Form has been stamped by customs, go to the Refund Office to receive your refund, usually located after airport security, which can be paid out either in cash or to your credit card. If departing by land, you must use a manned border crossing, and must depart during office hours of the customs office at the border crossing in question.\n\n### \"Swiss-made\": souvenirs and luxury goods\n\nthumbnail|A Rolex watch\n\nSwitzerland is famous for a few key goods: watches, chocolate, cheese, and Swiss Army knives.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk037", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Watches** — Switzerland is the watch-making capital of the world, and \"Swiss Made\" on a watch face has long been a mark of quality. While the French-speaking regions of Switzerland are usually associated with Swiss watchmakers (like Richard Mille, Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe), some fine watches are made in the Swiss-German-speaking region, such as IWC in Schaffhausen. Every large town will have quite a few horologists and jewellers with a vast selection of fancy watches displayed in their windows, ranging from the fashionable Swatch for Fr. 60 to the handmade chronometer with the huge price tag. For fun, try to spot the most expensive of these mechanical creations and the ones with the most \"bedazzle!\"\n**Chocolate** — Switzerland may always have a rivalry with Belgium for the world's best chocolate, but there's no doubting that the Swiss variety is amazingly good. Switzerland is also home to the huge Nestlé food company. If you have a fine palate (and a fat wallet) – you can find two of the finest Swiss chocolatiers in Zurich: **Teuscher** (try the champagne truffles) and **Sprüngli**. For the rest of us, even the generic grocery store brand chocolates in Switzerland still blow away the U.S. chocolate bars. For good value, try the **Frey** brand chocolates sold at Migros. If you want to try some real good and exclusive Swiss chocolate, go for the **Pamaco** chocolates, derived from the noble Criollo beans and accomplished through the original, complex process of refinement that requires 72 hours. These are quite expensive, though: a bar of 125 g (4 oz) costs about Fr. 8. For **Lindt** fans, it is possible to get them as cheaply as half the supermarket price by going to the Lindt factory store in Kilchberg (near Zurich). Factory visits are also possible at **Frey** near Aarau, **Läderach** in Bilten and **Cailler** in Broc.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk038", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Cheese** — many regions of Switzerland have their own regional cheese speciality. Of these, the most well-known are Gruyère and Emmentaler (what Americans know as \"Swiss cheese\"). Be sure to sample the wide variety of cheeses sold in markets, and of course try the cheese fondue! Fondue is basically melted cheese and is used as a dip with other food such as bread. The original mixture consists of half Vacherin cheese and half Gruyère but many different combinations have been developed since. If you're hiking, you will often come across farms and village shops selling the local mountain cheese (German: Bergkäse) from the pastures you are walking across. These cheeses are often not sold elsewhere, so don't miss the chance to sample part of Switzerland's culinary heritage.thumb|Likely the most typical Swiss souvenir\n**Swiss Army knives** — Switzerland is the official home of the Swiss Army knife. There are two brands: Victorinox and Wenger, but both brands are now manufactured by Victorinox since the Wenger business went bankrupt and Victorinox purchased it in 2005. Collectors agree Victorinox knives are superior in terms of design, quality, and functionality. The most popular Victorinox knife is the Swiss Champ which has 33 functions and costs about Fr. 78. Most tourists will purchase this knife. The \"biggest\" Victorinox knife is the Swiss Champ 1.6795.XAVT- This has 80 functions and is supplied in a case. This knife costs Fr. 364 and may be a collector's model in years to come. Most shops throughout Switzerland stock Victorinox knives, including some newsagents, and they make excellent gifts and souvenirs. Unlike the tourists' knife, the actual \"Swiss Army Knife\" is not red with a white cross, but gray with a small Swiss flag. The Swiss Army issue knife is also produced by Victorinox. It is distinguished by having the production year engraved on the base of the biggest blade, and no cork-screw because the Swiss soldier must not drink wine on duty. Swiss Army Knives cannot be carried on board commercial flights and must be packed in your hold baggage.", "word_count": 341}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk039", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Buy", "text": "Ski and tourist areas will sell many other kinds of touristy items: cowbells, clothing embroidered with white Edelweiss flowers, and *Heidi*-related stuff. Swiss people love cows in all shapes and sizes, and you can find cow-related goods everywhere, from stuffed toy cows to fake cow-hide jackets. If you have a generous souvenir budget, look for fine traditional handcrafted items such as hand-carved wooden figures in Brienz, and lace and fine linens in St. Gallen. If you have really deep pockets, or just wish you did, be sure to shop on Zurich's famed **Bahnhofstrasse**, one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the world. If you're looking for hip shops and thrift stores, head for the Niederdorf or the Stauffacher areas of Zurich.", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk040", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|A pot of Fondue, pieces of bread and fondue forks\n\nWhile Switzerland has had long culinary exchange with the cuisine of its neighbours, it has several iconic dishes of its own.\n\nSwitzerland is famous for many kinds of cheese like *Gruyère*, *Emmentaler* (known simply as \"Swiss cheese\" in the U.S.), and *Appenzeller*, just to name a very few of the about 450 kinds of cheese of Swiss origin. Two of the best known Swiss dishes, **fondue** and **raclette**, are cheese based. Fondue is a pot of melted cheese that you dip pieces of bread into using long forks. Usually fondue is not made of one single type of cheese, but instead two or three different cheeses are blended together with white wine, garlic and kirsch liqueur with regional variations. The most popular blend of cheese varieties is called *moitié-moitié* and consists of equal parts Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP. Traditionally fondue is eaten during cold periods at altitude with one pot for the whole table, served with hot black tea and hardly any additional side dishes - not surprising, since it used to be a cheap and often the only dish for a herdsman high up in the mountains far away from civilization with only basic equipment. However you can now get fondue for one person during the summer time in tourist-oriented restaurants. Another cheese dish, *raclette*, is made by heating a large piece of cheese and scraping off the melted cheese, which is then eaten together with boiled potatoes and pickled vegetables. Cheese-lovers should also try **Älplermakkaronen**, Alpine herdsmen's macaroni with melted cheese and potato served with apple compote which is another very simple but very tasty dish originally from central Switzerland.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk041", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "Another typically Swiss dish is **Rösti**, a potato dish quite similar to hash browns, but usually with some Emmentaler cheese added into the mix. Originally from the German-speaking part of Switzerland, it gives its name to the colloquial political term *Röstigraben* (lit.: Rösti ditch), which refers to the quite different political preferences and voting habits of the German-speaking and the French-speaking parts of Switzerland.\n\nthumb|Three very Swiss sausages: milky white St. Galler bratwurst, smoked Schüblig, and Cervelat\n\nProbably the best known meat dishes are the incredibly common sausage known as **Cervelat**, usually grilled on a stick over an open camp fire, and the speciality of region around Zürich, **Zürcher Geschnetzeltes** (or in the local dialect: *Züri Gschnätzlets*), sliced veal in a mushroom sauce usually accompanied by Rösti. Very typical for Lucerne is the **Luzerner Kugelpasteten** (or in the local dialect: *Lozärner Chügelipastete*), is *Brät* (less expensive meat, minced, mixed with water and egg) formed as small balls, served in puff-pastry baskets, and poured with a ragout made of meat, agaricus mushrooms and raisins. In French-speaking Switzerland you will find the **saucisse aux choux** and **saucisson vaudois** and around Basel the liver dish **Basler Leber(li)** (or in the local dialect: *Baasler Lääberli*). Bern is known for the **Berner Platte** (lit.: Bernese Plate), a dish comprising various pork products, boiled potatoes, *Sauerkraut* (cabbage), and dried beans, besides others. This was traditionally an autumn dish, since the slaughter historically used to happen when weather was cold enough again to prevent any spoiling of the meat. The slaughter season and their dishes are called **Metzgete** in the German part of Switzerland and are still prominent on the menus of rural restaurants during this season.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk042", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you instead prefer fish to meat, Swiss restaurants often serve the freshwater fish found in the many rivers and lakes. The most common fish dishes among the 55 kinds of **Swiss fish** include trout, European perch, or the whitefish known as *(Blau-)Felchen*, *corégone/féra*, or *coregone blaufelchen* respectively, cooked in a variety of ways. However, you will also find many imported fish on Swiss menus, since the domestic business (fished or bred) can never fulfill the strong demand for fish. Also, because the fish haul has become about a third smaller than 30 years ago, exclusively due to the much better quality of water nowadays; from this point of view, Swiss water is too clean!\n\nIn autumn, after hunting season, you will find many fabulous **game** and **mushroom** dishes. Many traditional game dishes come with **Chnöpfli** (lit.: diminutive of knobs; a soft egg noodle), red cabbage or Brussel sprouts, cooked pears and are topped with mountain cranberry jam. However, nowadays the game (venison, roe, chamois, boar, rabbit) mainly originates from farms in order to fulfill the high demand.\n\nthumb|Various Swiss cured meats\n\nThe mountain region of Graubünden has a distinctive culinary repertoire, including **capuns** (rolls of Swiss chard filled with dough and other ingredients), **pizokel** dumplings, the rich and creamy barley soup **Gerstensuppe**, and a sweet dense nut pie called **Bündner Nusstorte**. Also from this region is a thinly-sliced cured meat known as **Bündnerfleisch**. Most mountain areas in Switzerland produce their own cured and air-dried meats and salamis which are highly recommended.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk043", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "The canton of Appenzell in eastern Switzerland is known for various sausage dishes, including **Appenzeller Siedwurst** and **Appenzeller Bauernschüblig**. Another favorite meat delicacy are **Appenzeller Mostbröckli**, a type of spiced, cured and smoked beef. The local cheese is branded as **Appenzeller Käse** and is supposedly made from a secret recipe. On the sweet end of the spectrum, **Appenzeller Bärli-Biber** is a soft gingerbread with an almond filling, and **Landsgmendchrempfli** is a sugar and egg based pastry filled with hazelnut paste.\n\nthumb|''Vermicelles'' chestnut paste, served with whipped cream\n\nIt is very easy to come by high-quality Italian cuisine in Switzerland, but when in Italian-speaking Ticino be sure to try the local specialities based around **polenta** (a corn dish), **risotto** (the rice of the same name is exclusively cultivated in Ticino and northern Italy), and many kinds of **marroni** (chestnuts) dishes in autumn, either as part of a cooked meal, or simply roasted during very cold winter days in the streets, or as a special sweet dessert called **vermicelles**.\n\nSwiss chocolate is world famous and there is a large range of different chocolate brands.\n\nThe well-known breakfast dish *Müesli*, actually originally called **Birchermüesli**, comes from Switzerland and is well worth trying – oats soaked in water, milk, or fruit juice and then mixed with yoghurt, fruits, nuts and apple shavings.\n\nOf course, there are many more local and traditional dishes and meals to be found, which can not all be listed. There is a whole site dedicated solely to the Culinary Heritage of Switzerland by canton, though it is only available in one of the official Swiss languages.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk044", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "Like most other things, eating out is **expensive** in Switzerland. One way to reduce food costs is to eat in the cafeterias of department stores such as Coop, Migros, and Manor. These cafeterias are usually considerably less expensive than stand-alone restaurants. Coop and Manor also offer beer and wine with meals while Migros does not. Smaller department store outlets might not have a cafeteria. Kebab shops and pizza restaurants abound in urban Switzerland, and these are often cheap options. In the major cities, more exotic fare is usually available - at a price.\n\n### Supermarket chains\n\nSwiss employment law bans working on Sundays, so shops are closed. Shops in railway stations are exempt from this requirement. To find open shops on Sunday, go to the nearest big railway station or try to find a family-owned shop such as a bakery.\n\nSwiss supermarkets can be hard to spot in big cities. They often have small entrances, but open out inside, or are in a basement, leaving the expensive street frontages for other shops. Look for the supermarket logos above entrances between other shops. Geneva is an exception, and you usually don't have to go very far to find a Migros or Coop.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk045", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "The most important supermarket brands are:\n**Migros** — This chain of supermarkets (a cooperative) provides average-to-good quality food and non-food products and homeware. However, they do not sell alcoholic beverages or cigarettes. Brand name products are rare as the chain does their own brands (quality is good). Migros stores can be spotted by a big, orange Helvetica letter \"M\" sign. The number of \"M\" letters indicates the size of the store and the different services available - \"M\" is usually a smaller grocery store, \"MM\" may be larger and sells other goods like clothing, and a \"MMM\" is a full department store with household goods and possibly electronics and sporting goods. Offers change weekly on Tuesdays.\n**Coop** — Also a cooperative. Emphasis on quality as well as multi-buy offers, points collection schemes and money off coupons. Sells many major brands. Come at the end of the day to get half-priced salads and sandwiches. *Coop City* is usually a department store with a Coop grocery store inside, a multi-floor layout provides space for clothing, electrical items, stationary, paperware as well as beauty products and perfume. Offers change weekly (some exceptions - fortnightly), on Tuesdays.\n**Denner** — A discount grocery store, noticeable for their red signs and store interiors. Relatively low-priced. Offers change weekly, usually from Wednesday. Denner is owned by Migros.\n**Coop Pronto** — a convenience store branch of Coop, usually open late (at least 20:00) seven days a week. Usually has a petrol, filling-station forecourt.\n**Manor** — the Manor department stores often have a grocery store on the underground level.\n**Globus** — in the largest cities, the Globus department stores have an upscale grocery store on the underground level.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk046", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Eat", "text": "Coop offers a low-price-line (Coop Prix-Garantie) of various products, and in Migros you can find the corresponding \"M-Budget\" products. Sometimes it's exactly the same product, just for a cheaper price. They also offer cheap prepaid mobiles, some of the cheapest call rates.\n\nThe German discounters **Aldi** and **Lidl** are also present in Switzerland. The prices are a little lower than at the other supermarket chains, but still significantly higher than in Germany.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk047", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Absinthe, the long-banned \"Green Fairy\" of Switzerland\n\nVirtually all tap water – including that in households or hotel rooms – is perfectly drinkable, thoroughly and frequently monitored, and of excellent quality. About 85% of Swiss residents drink tap water daily; there is no need to buy drinking water. There are many drinking water fountains to be found, especially in towns and villages, e.g. in Zurich more than 1200, or in Basel about 170. The few exceptions, such as in train toilets, are clearly signed with \"Kein Trinkwasser\" (German), \"Non potable\" (French), or \"Non potabile\" (Italian). Temporarily installed troughs on mountain meadows used to water the cattle are also not suitable for drinking.\n\nSoft drinks in supermarkets are one of the few things that aren't notably more expensive than elsewhere in Central Europe. Local specialties are the lactose-based soft drink **Rivella** and the lemon-flavoured **Elmer Citro**.\n\nThe drinking age for beer, wine and cider is 16, except in Ticino where the age is 18, while the age for any other alcohol (e.g. spirits, \"alcopops\", etc.) is 18. The public consumption of alcohol in Switzerland is legal, so do not be alarmed if you see a group of teenagers drinking a six-pack on public property or on public transport; this is by no means out of the ordinary and should not be interpreted as threatening.\n\nSwitzerland produces a surprisingly large amount of **wine**, with the climate and soil well-suited to many grape types. Very little of this wine is exported, and it is very reasonably priced in the supermarkets, so it is well worth trying! The Lake Geneva region is particularly famous for its wines, and the picturesque vineyards are worth visiting for their own right. However, wines are made throughout the country in Valais, Vaud, Ticino, Neuchâtel, the Lake Biel region, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, Schaffhausen and even on the hills around Zurich and Basel.\n\n**Beer** is also popular in Switzerland. Mass-produced German-style lagers from **Feldschlösschen, Calanda** and **Cardinal** are available throughout the country, but many locals prefer small, local breweries producing more interesting beers, and Brauerei-Kommpass (German only) is a good way to find these.\n\n**Kirsch** is a clear, colorless and strong (typically 40-50% ABV) traditional Swiss liquor made by double-distilling cherries. A relative of the German *Schnapps*, traditional kirsch is not sweet and in fact retains virtually no cherry taste. It is typically drunk neat as a *digestif* after your meal.\n\nLast but not least, while **absinthe** is often thought of as a French drink, it actually originates from Neuchâtel and only liquors produced in the surrounding Val-de-Travers region are allowed to use the name. Sickly green when poured, turning a milky white when water is added, this anise-flavored spirit flavored with wormwood is drunk with elaborate rituals involving slotted spoons and sugar cubes and was the favorite tipple of many artists including Vincent van Gogh. Notorious for its reputed psychoactive properties, it was banned across Europe for years, but it became legal again in 2005, and Kübler Absinthe is the best-known local brand.", "word_count": 504}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk048", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumbnail|Stern und Post in Amsteg, a typical Swiss town hotel\n\nMost accommodation in Switzerland can now be found and booked through the major internet booking sites, even hotels and huts in remote areas. Even so, most tourist areas in Switzerland have a tourist office where you can call and have them book a hotel for you for a small fee. Each town usually has a comprehensive list of hotels on their web site, and it is often easier and cheaper to simply book directly with the hotel. Some hotels will request that you fax or email them your credit card information in order to secure a reservation. In general, hotel staff are helpful and competent, and speak English quite well.\n\nAs in most European countries, Switzerland offers a wide range of accommodation possibilities. These go from 5-star hotels to campgrounds, youth hostels or sleeping in the hay. Types of hotels in Switzerland include historic hotels, traditional hotels, inns located in the country, spas and bed and breakfasts.\n\nCompared to other European countries, accommodation in Switzerland is in general amongst the more expensive. Hotel rates in Switzerland can get quite expensive, especially in popular ski resort areas and major cities.\n\nThe following prices can be used as a rule of thumb:\n 5-star-hotel: from Fr. 350 per person/night\n 4-star-hotel: from Fr. 180 per person/night\n 3-star-hotel: from Fr. 120 per person/night\n 2-star-hotel: from Fr. 80 per person/night\n Hostel: from Fr. 30 per person/night\n\nThe Swiss hotel stars are issued by the **hotelleriesuisse Swiss Hotel Association**. All members of hotelleriesuisse must undergo regular quality tests to obtain their hotel stars. On **swisshotels.com** you can find information on hotel stars, infrastructure and specialisations.\n\nTips are included with all services. For special efforts, a small tip, usually by rounding up the sum, is always welcome.\n\nThere is also a hostel network in Switzerland for students, the prices of **Swiss Youth Hostels ** are on the usual European level.", "word_count": 322}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk049", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Learn", "text": "Bear in mind that living costs are very high. The Swiss authorities expect that you are able to spend Fr. 21,000 per year, and usually require respective approval in order to accept a visa application. While this is a lot, you will still live a very moderate student's life with this amount only.\n\nSwitzerland has some universities of world renown, like ETH in Zurich, IHEID in Geneva, University of Lausanne or the University of St. Gallen (also known as the HSG). If you can't speak either French, German or Italian, take a language course first — many courses require a very good command of the local language. Although there are a few courses taught in English, particularly at the Masters level, Bachelor's degree courses are almost all taught in the local language. If you're a foreigner and you want to go for popular subjects, you may have to pass entry tests.\n\nIf you like cheaper learning, go to Migros Klubschule, who offer language courses in almost every language as well as a lot of different courses for many subjects. You may also want to try the different \"Volkshochschule\", which offer a large variety of subjects at very reasonable fees (such as the one in Zürich).\n\nTo learn French in Switzerland, in addition to the above, ALPADIA Schools (formerly ESL Schools) and extensive network LSI] (Language Studies International) offer courses for adults and children.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk050", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Work", "text": "Switzerland has long been regarded as a top destination for employment and career development. Foreign nationals make up a quarter of the population in Switzerland, and many of the world's most reputed companies and international organisations are based in the country. The Swiss government is keen to attract skilled immigrants and tackle staff shortages.\n\nAlthough all that sounds impressive, Swiss **immigration laws are very strict** and stress the importance of integration into Swiss society. You are expected to adhere to local laws and customs, demonstrate some involvement in the community, and work towards having a good knowledge of the official language(s) of the canton you're residing in. Swiss society tends to take a dim view of foreigners who don't try to integrate. Getting citizenship is hard.\n\nEU and EEA citizens have a legal right to work in Switzerland, and do not require any additional permits.\n\nGenerally speaking, it is **difficult** for a third country national ― a citizen of a country that isn't a part of the EEA ― to take up employment opportunities in Switzerland; a work permit will not be granted to them unless they can demonstrate that their background, skills, and professional experience can benefit the country's economic interests. Since Brexit, citizens of the United Kingdom are considered third country nationals. \n\nThe high level of Swiss salaries reflect the high costs of living; when you negotiate your salary, count on spending a lot on accommodation and food. In general, you nominally work 42 hours/week and have 4 weeks of paid holidays.\n\nSwitzerland has no general legal minimum salary. The salary depends on the industry you work in; e.g. the restaurant and hotel industry pays a minimum of Fr. 3134 gross for a full-time job (purchasing power parity US$2100, August 2016) per month. This is not far above the official poverty level. Overtime work is usually paid for low-level jobs, if not agreed otherwise in contract.\n\nSwiss employees are heavily organised in trade unions SGB and always keen to help you. Should you have a problem with your employer, the respective union is a good place to look for help. They can also be consulted beforehand, to check the average salaries by industry or make sure you get paid the right amount. \n\nIn February 2014, the Swiss people narrowly approved a referendum that requires the government to control immigration by use of quotas. Switzerland had previously made agreements with the European Union that allowed citizens of (almost all) EU states to work in the country. Following the referendum, Switzerland and the EU agreed to a scheme that allows for certain jobs in certain regions to be made available first to residents of the country, no matter whether they are Swiss or foreigners. Therefore little in practice has changed following the referendum.", "word_count": 463}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk051", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world as far as crime goes, but any place that attracts Rolex-wearing bankers and crowds of distracted tourists will also bring out a few pickpockets. Keep an eye on belongings, especially in the midst of summer crowds. Generally, you are safe anywhere at any time. If, for any reason, you feel threatened, seek a nearby restaurant or telephone booth. The emergency phone number in Switzerland is 112, and operators generally speak English.\n\nSwitzerland has a reputation for orderliness and adherence to rules. If you see a sign or if you encounter an authority figure telling you not to do something, it's in your best interest to comply.\n\nWomen travelling alone should have no serious problems. The younger Swiss tend to be very open with public displays of affection – sometimes too open, and some women may find people getting too friendly especially in the wee hours of the club and bar scene. Usually the international language of brush-offs or just walking away is enough.\n\nLGBT+ safety in public space is assumed, though explicit LGBT+ identifiers are not common outside of urban centres and dedicated spaces.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk052", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Swiss police take on a relatively unobtrusive air; they prefer to remain behind the scenes as they consider their presence potentially detrimental to the overall environment. Unlike some more highly policed countries, officers will rarely approach civilians to ask if they need help or merely mark their presence by patrolling. However, police are indeed serious about traffic violations. Jaywalking or crossing a red pedestrian light, for example, will be fined on the spot. The upside to stringent traffic rules is that car drivers are generally very well-disciplined, readily stopping for pedestrians at crossings. Football games are the only notable exception: due to the potential threat of hooligan violence, football games (especially in Basel or Zurich) are generally followed by a large contingent of police officers with riot gear, rubber bullets and tear gas.\n\nDo not attempt to bribe a Swiss police officer; bribery is an extremely serious offence that will land you in prison. Switzerland has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.\n\nSwitzerland has very strong Good Samaritan laws, making it a civic duty to help someone in need, although without unduly endangering oneself. People are therefore very willing and ready to help you if you appear to be in an emergency situation. The same applies to you if you witness anyone in danger. The refusal to help a person in need can be punishable by law as \"Verweigerung der Hilfeleistung\", i.e. refusal of aid. The general reservation of Americans to avoid entanglement with strangers due to possible future civil liability does not apply in Switzerland; it would be practically impossible to wage a civil suit against anyone providing aid.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk053", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In mountain areas, be sure to inquire about weather conditions at the tourist information office or local train station as you head out in the morning. They should be well-informed about severe weather conditions and will advise you about possible avalanche areas.\n\nThere have been problems with police assuming that any Black, East European or Arab person without an ID card or passport is an illegal immigrant, and treating them accordingly. That could be a considerable problem if you are travelling alone. Police have the legal right to ask you for your identification on any occasion, and, if you cannot show an ID card or passport, they are allowed to take you to the police station for identification purposes. So do as every Swiss does: have your ID card (or passport) with you, even though you are legally not obliged to.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk054", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Generally there is no problem with food and water in Switzerland. Restaurants are controlled by strict rules. **Water** is drinkable everywhere, even out of every tap, especially so of public fountains, unless explicitly marked with \"Kein Trinkwasser\", \"Non potable\" or \"Non potabile\". Do not drink from temporarily installed trough on a meadow in order to water the cattle served by the close-by brook.\n\nSwitzerland has a dense network of hospitals and clinics, and public hospitals will admit you in an emergency. There are also some 24 hour \"permanence\" clinics at major railway stations including Zurich, Basel and Lucerne which can provide treatment for non-urgent illness without an appointment. Treatment costs may quickly mount up, so you will require a travel insurance with a good level of coverage if you cannot pay these fees out of pocket.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk055", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Respect", "text": "> Do you know nothing about the Swiss? Discretion is kind of our thing. That’s what we do. Tough luck.\n\nthumbnail|Street sign in Geneva asking partygoers to keep their voices down at night\n\nThe Swiss adhere to a robust set of values. They value and cherish cleanliness, integrity, world peace, organisation, and responsibility.\n\nCommunication styles vary from canton to canton, but generally speaking, the Swiss are comfortable with expressing their thoughts and ideas openly and clearly. German-speaking Swiss people tend to be more direct and formal than their French-speaking, Romansh-speaking, and Italian-speaking counterparts.\n\nThe Swiss are known for their **privacy** and the country has robust privacy laws. They are one of many reasons why many celebrities flock to Switzerland; their right to privacy is guaranteed.\n\nNosiness is not appreciated in Swiss culture. Do not ask a Swiss person about their background, personal convictions, or both unless you're well acquainted with them. Friendships and relationships are seen as serious affairs and the journey from acquaintanceship to friendship is often a long one.\n\nWhile Switzerland is brimming with dazzling, majestic sights, it is both impolite and illegal to record or take pictures of someone unless they have given you permission. Be mindful of where you point your camera, always.\n\nThe Swiss value transparency and clarity. To them, your word is your bond. Don't say something if you don't mean it. Don't make promises you will not keep. Try not to give evasive answers such as \"maybe\", \"later\", \"I'll see what I can do\", or variations thereof; this all demonstrates unreliability, which is frowned upon in Swiss culture.\n\nSunday is considered a \"rest day\" in Switzerland. On Sundays, many shops and businesses close down. Try not to be very noisy or disruptive.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk056", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Swiss underscore the importance of rules, structure, and order. For instance, Swiss municipalities have designated quiet hours and Swiss condominiums often have detailed house rules (e.g. permitted noise levels) that must be meticulously followed. Showing respect to the community is something the Swiss value a lot, so try to follow suit.\n\nEnglish is widely spoken in Switzerland, but any attempt to speak the local language is appreciated, even if you are replied to in English. It is always polite to ask if they speak the language before starting a conversation in English. Make an effort to at least learn \"hello\", \"goodbye\", \"please\", and \"thank you\" in the language of the region you will be travelling in. \"I would like…\" is also a phrase that will help you.\n\nGerman, French, and Italian all have formal and informal forms of the word *you* which change the conjugation of the verb you use, and sometimes phrases. For example, the informal phrase *don't worry about it* in French is *ne t'en fais pas* and the formal is *ne vous en faites pas.* The formal is used to show respect to someone who is considered to be a superior, or simply any non-acquaintance. The informal is used with children and close friends and relatives. As a general rule, you should not use the informal with someone you do not know well unless they ask you to, or you are talking to a small child.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk057", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Respect", "text": "Friends kiss each other on the cheek three times – left, right, left – and it is a common custom when being introduced to someone in the French and German speaking parts. If it is a business related meeting, however, you just shake hands. Don't be shy – if you reject the advance it may appear awkward and rude on your part. You don't have to actually touch your lips to the skin after all, as a fake \"air\" kiss will do.\n\nLittering is seen as particularly anti-social. In some cantons, there are fines for littering (about Fr. 40 to 80), and there are plans to make littering generally illegal, including heftier fines. Make sure that you put your recyclable litter in the correctly labelled bin, as some have special containers for paper and PET plastic. Some municipal bins have restrictions on the times they should be used to avoid excess noise!\n\nBe punctual. That means no more than one minute late, if that! Unsurprisingly for a country that is known for making clocks, the Swiss have a near-obsession with being on time – the railway network even depends on a degree of punctuality some other countries would consider unachievable.\n\nGerman-speaking Swiss tend to have negative views of Germany and Germans. In Switzerland, Germans are seen as loud, arrogant, impatient, and unwilling to integrate into Swiss society.\n\nUse a polite circumlocution (for example, \"please\") when making a request; Swiss people consider it good manners.\n\nIt is disrespectful to assume a Swiss person's nationality based on their language or use terms that stereotype them. For example, do not call an Italian-speaking Swiss person an \"Italian\" or compare them to Italians in Italy.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "switzerland::chunk058", "doc_id": "switzerland", "section": "Connect", "text": "Many of the internet cafes that have emerged in the 1990s have closed because Switzerland has one of the highest rates of high-speed internet connections in homes in the world, but there may be a few internet terminals in some large train stations. The tourist office should be able to direct you to the nearest one. The usual rate is Fr. 5 for 20 minutes. \n\nThe Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) are now offering free Wi-Fi in some of their stations (usually the bigger ones) but you will need to verify your identity by receiving an SMS on your phone, which will then authenticate you for 12 months. Some providers will not work but a local SIM card can be used instead. The access is for 60 minutes and resets every two hours. On long-range trains, there should either be Wi-Fi or an option to connect with an App called SBB FreeSurf, but it requires a data plan compatible only with some Swiss providers (inside trains, the 60 minutes restriction decays).\n\nAlso, you can send email, SMS (text messages to cell phones) or short text faxes from just about every public phone booth for less than one franc. Some public phone booths allow you to browse the internet. There are many shopping centers and cities (Lausanne and Vevey for example) that offer free wireless internet access: ask the young locals; maybe they know where to go. \n\nThe public phones are surprisingly cheap, and have no surcharge for credit cards. Some are even free to use (for example, in the city center in Zürich)\n\nIf you stay for some time, it may be advisable to buy a pre-paid cell phone card that you can use in any phone that supports the GSM standard on the 900/1800 MHz bands - they usually cost around Fr. 10-40 and are obtainable in the shops of the mobile service providers Swisscom, Salt or Sunrise in most cities. Mobile network coverage is close to 100% by area, even in the mountainous, non-populated areas.\n\nThere are also a lot of cheap prepaid cards for local calls from other providers. The prepaid cards of the big supermarket chains Migros (M-Budget-Mobile) and Coop (Coop Mobile ) for example cost around Fr. 20 and include already Fr. 15 airtime. The cheapest prepaid card for calls within Switzerland is Aldi Mobile: Fr. 0.14/min Switzerland fixed and Aldi mobile, Fr. 0.34/min other mobiles. The cheapest prepaid card for international communication is Yallo: Fr. 0.39/min within Switzerland and to all European and many more countries (to the mobile and fixed networks). This includes the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. SMS cost Fr. 0.10. The prepaid cards can be bought online (30 Fr. with Fr. 30 airtime inclusive), in most post offices (Fr. 29 with Fr. 20 airtime inclusive) or Sunrise shops (Fr. 20 with Fr. 20 airtime inclusive). Another prepaid card with cheap rates offers Lebara Mobile (sister company of Sunrise). The prepaid card is available for Fr. 5 with an equivalent talk time and recharge vouchers offer the talktime equivalent to the price of the voucher.\n\nDue to a law introduced in 2018, a copy of an identity card/passport is required for buying or activating a local SIM card.", "word_count": 540}
diff --git a/corpus/switzerland/metadata.json b/corpus/switzerland/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c47bd24aef787716307c7c975376151755755713
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/switzerland/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "switzerland",
+ "title": "Switzerland",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Switzerland",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central_Europe"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 14021,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 29,
+ "chunk_count": 59,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/sydney/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/sydney/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c109ee13cf62daee2b2ac0b31274d851ba4c0233
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sydney/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk000", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Sydney** is the Harbour City, and is the oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and livable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design, it is set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. The gateway to Australia, it lies on the deepest natural harbour in the world and stretches for 140 kilometres.\n\nSydney is a major global city and an important finance centre in the Asia-Pacific region. The city is surrounded by nature and national parks, which extend through the suburbs and right to the shores of the harbour.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk001", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Districts", "text": "Sydney has a compact city core surrounded by sprawling suburbs, forming a vast metropolitan area. The city central is shaped roughly like a stubby palm-up left hand: the heel of the thumb as City South, the thumb as the district Darling Harbour, the first finger as The Rocks, the palm with the second and third fingers as City Centre - CBD and the rest as City East.\n\n### Sydney CBD\n\n### Greater Sydney\n\nGreater Sydney, the sprawling suburbs in the vast city metropolitan area surrounding Central Sydney spread for up to 150 km westward from the CBD. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, hidden gems and the many national parks within the metropolitan area.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk002", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nthumb|right|250px|Giraffes at Taronga Zoo, Mosman\nWhile originally settled 60,000 years ago, Sydney is the oldest European settlement in Australia, having been established as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788 by Arthur Phillip. This day is now celebrated as *Australia Day* to mark the establishment of a new nation, although also regarded by many as *Invasion Day* that marked the beginning of the British appropriation of Aboriginal land. The settlement was named \"Sydney\" after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, who was the British Home Secretary at that time.\n\n### People\n\nSydney is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, with a bit less than one third of its population born overseas. European settlement rapidly displaced the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area with colonists largely coming from England, Ireland and Scotland. The Australian gold rush attracted more immigrants, including a significant number of Chinese, with about one in six Australians with convict descent also having some Chinese ancestry. In the early 20th century, Sydney continued to attract immigrants - mostly from the UK and Ireland, with the White Australia Policy preventing non-European peoples (and even Southern Europeans) from settling. Australia's immigration patterns, and consequently, that of Sydney, changed significantly after World War II, when migrants began to arrive from countries as diverse as Italy, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, China, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, Poland, Lebanon, Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. Sydney's culture, food and general outlook well reflect these contributions to the majority Anglo-Celtic institutions and social establishment.\n\nSydney is recognised worldwide for its vibrant LGBT community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated on the first weekend in March, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk003", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Understand", "text": "Sydney was the centre of the world's attention in September 2000 when the city hosted the Summer Olympics - announced by the IOC Chairman at the closing ceremony to be \"the best games ever\". The Olympics saw a major building and renovation program take hold of Sydney, positioning it as one of the great world cities of the 21st century.\n\n### Climate\n\nSydney enjoys over 300 sunny days each year, and it's a year-round destination. Avoid the hottest days for energetic outside activities.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk004", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Summer** (December to February) is the best time to enjoy Sydney's beachside outdoor lifestyle. Daytime temperatures average around in the CBD; but areas further inland in the west are hotter with daytime averages around . While the CBD averages only 3 days a year in excess of , inland areas further west can see temperatures climbing up to . Overnight lows average around in the summer, but on exceptionally hot and sweltering days, can remain at or above all night long. Summer days can be humid, and sometimes have searing dry winds, but hot days frequently end with a \"southerly buster\", a cold front sweeping up from the south, bringing a clearly noticeable drop in temperature, as well as rain and thunder. Within hours, the storm can pass and the evening continues cooler. Hot, windy days can create a risk of bushfire, and on days of severe risk national parks and walking trails may be closed. Occasionally low pressure systems drift down from the tropics, giving periods of more unstable weather. You won't need to pack much more than T-shirts to visit Sydney in summer, but remember your hat and sunglasses. Daylight lasts from 5:45AM up to almost 8PM.\n **Autumn** (March to May) is still warm with mild nights. There can be good days for the beach in March, but you can't count on it. It is a good time for visiting attractions, going to the zoo, and catching ferries around the harbour without the summer crowds. You may need a warm top for the evenings, especially for May.\n **Winter** (June to August) is cool, not cold, except in July. Average July maximum temperatures are 17°C, and daytime temperatures rarely drop below 14°C, but night-time temperatures can fall to below 10°C. Most rain falls as a result of a few off-shore low pressure systems, which usually result in two or three rainy weeks during winter. The *Bondi Icebergs* will be in the ocean doing their morning laps, but most of Sydney will be well away from the beach. It does not snow in the lower parts of Sydney (but it does snow in the Blue Mountains), and unless you intend spending long periods outside, you can usually get by with just a warm top. Sydney is a year-round city, and only the outdoor water-parks close for the winter. If the beach isn't your scene, and you don't like the heat, winter may be your time to visit. Daylight lasts from 7AM to just before 5PM. Do note that Sydney buildings are a lot colder in winter compared to the US.\n **Spring** (September to November). Spring days are great for exploring Sydney's attractions, bushwalking, cycling, and the outdoors. Beaches are generally patrolled from the end of October, and Sydneysiders start flocking to the beaches in November.", "word_count": 465}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk005", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Understand", "text": "Sydney's Western Suburbs, which lie away from the coast, tend to be hotter during the day, colder during the night and not receive as much rain. They miss the afternoon sea breezes and the night-time warming effect of the ocean.\n\nMost public buildings like shopping centres are climate controlled inside. Sydney has a fascination with year-round alfresco dining, where you can find yourself dining mid-winter outdoors with a heater a few tables away. Around 90% of public transport has heating and cooling. For the other 10% climate control consists of an open window. Carry water on a hot day.\n\nSydney climate and weather information is available online at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.\n\n### Architecture\n\nthumb|250px|The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is an excellent example of British colonial influence on Australian architecture\nSydney’s skyline is large and widely recognisable. Sydney also possesses a wide diversity of modern and old architectural styles. They range from the simple Francis Greenway's Georgian buildings to Jorn Utzon’s Expressionist Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has many Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The most architecturally significant structures include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Skyscrapers in Sydney are also large and modern. The tallest building is the 300-m-tall Sydney Tower, seen rising clearly above the rest of the Sydney skyline and can even be seen from distant Wentworthville.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk006", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are also pockets of architecturally significant housing dotted around Sydney's suburbs. The inner-eastern suburb of Paddington is known for its terrace houses, while several inner-west suburbs contain streets lined with so-called federation houses (built around the time of Australian federation in 1901). A well preserved example of federation houses in Sydney is in the Inner West suburb of Burwood. Appian Way is a circular street built around a lawn tennis courts complete with pavilion house. The large houses are all architecturally unique and built on large expanses of land featuring old trees and lovely gardens. Further away on the lower North Shore, Castlecrag is a unique garden suburb, being planned by the architect Walter Burley Griffin in the 1930s.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nWalking tour of Sydney - mainly around Central Sydney. Please see separate listing for detailed information.\n One week in Sydney - some ideas on how to spend a week in and around Sydney, exploring different areas\n\n### Visitor information\n\nSydney Tourism website", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk007", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "250px|thumb|right|Sydney Airport with city skyline in background\n\n### By plane\n\n*Main article: Sydney Airport*\n**Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport** () is Australia's busiest airport and the main gateway to eastern Australia. It is 9 km from the City centre in Southern Sydney on the northern shores of Botany Bay. Sydney Airport is the oldest continually operated commercial airport anywhere in the world. There are direct flights to Sydney from all the other inhabited continents, as well as some sight-seeing flights over Antarctica. The main ways to get into the city are by train (about $17 one-way on the Airport & East Hills line), or by taxi ($40-50 to the Rocks).\n\n**Western Sydney Airport** () will open in October 2026 and flights to Singapore are already on sale, with domestic destinations on Qantas/Jetstar expected to follow suit. As the name suggests, it's in far western Sydney about 20 km from Penrith, but over 50 km and a solid hour's drive from the city in good traffic. At opening, only buses to key stations like Leppington, Liverpool and St Marys will be available, running every 30 minutes from 5AM to 10PM daily (with the St Marys shuttle being free). The M2 metro link is scheduled to open in 2027, but it will connect only to St Marys, still an hour away from Central.\n\nFor general aviation, you are highly advised to use **Bankstown Airport** () or **Camden Airport** () instead, as they are less congested and far accommodating to private planes than Kingsford Smith.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk008", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is around nine hours to drive from Melbourne or from Brisbane. If you're not used to driving long distances on boring roads, you may like to break up the trip over two or more days. Adelaide is around fifteen hours drive; it is usual to allow three days for the drive from Adelaide. The Hume Motorway/Highway between Sydney and Melbourne is a dual-carriageway high-quality road. The same applies for the Brisbane drive as well (except for two 12-km stretches). While it has high-quality sections, it also has two points that stick out like thumbs; Hexham and Coffs Harbour, and also carries high traffic volumes.\n\nMelbourne–Sydney: 862 km via Albury-Wodonga (Hume Motorway/Highway/Freeway) (M31).\n Adelaide–Sydney: 1422 km via Mildura (A20) or 1659 km via Broken Hill (A32) or 1377 km via Ouyen (A20/B12).\n Brisbane–Sydney: 873 km via the coast (Pacific Highway/Motorway) (M1/A1) or 961 km via Armidale (New England Highway/Hunter Expressway/Cunningham Highway) (M15/A15). The Pacific Highway passes through more towns, attractions, and has more facilities compared with the New England Highway, but it can get congested moving through the towns around holiday times. Although the Pacific Highway route follows the coast, you won't see the ocean as the entire route is motorway standard. There are rivers all the way up the coast, and the river mouths are wide, causing the road bridges and the towns to be a little inland. If you have time, look for the tourist route diversions to see more of the Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers on the way down (the beaches will be less crowded than Sydney!)", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk009", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are renting a car, check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply when driving from less popular destinations to major cities. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies, or at smaller, less conveniently located, cheaper companies.\n\nRide-sharing can be arranged with other travellers. You can find a wide range of carpool offers on the Internet or in hostel noticeboards, etc. Usual warnings apply.\n\nThere are tolls applicable to most motorways in Sydney, but there are no toll gates where you can pay. See \"Tolls\" section below.\n\n### By bus\n\nCoach companies operate to Sydney from all capital cities, and many New South Wales regional centres. The Sydney coach terminal is adjacent to Sydney Central train station in the City South. Follow the signs.\n\nCoach travel to Sydney is usually quicker, cheaper and more frequent than train travel. Online and advance booking specials are usually available.\n\nGreyhound Coaches has the most extensive bus network in Australia, but there are a few others.\n Priors Scenic Express operates a coach service from Parramatta, Liverpool and Campbelltown stations to the Southern Highlands, Kangaroo Valley and the South Coast\nLocal buses run from the Blue Mountains and Wollongong to Sydney’s borders. You may have to change buses to continue your journey.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk010", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|250x250px|Sydney Central Station\nTaking long distance trains from any other major city in Australia to Sydney is not a popular option, with flying or driving often being preferred for being faster and cheaper. Nevertheless Australia does have a functioning, albeit slow, network that may be worth considering if you are not in a hurry or want to get to some remote locations, and taking the NSW TrainLink sleeper services linking Sydney with Melbourne and Brisbane can be cost and time effective, by avoiding an extra hotel stay, and making the most of your days at either end. Unlike the Indian Pacific, these are not luxury trains, but part of the regular state run network, so fares are generally competitive with flying once taxes/fees and getting to and from the airport are factored in.\n\nThe New South Wales long distance train service **NSW TrainLink Regional**, (13 22 32 within Australia) runs at least daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of New South Wales including the Mid-North Coast, New England, the Central West and the Southern Highlands. It also services Broken Hill weekly. Travelling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours. Fares range between $50 and $120 for standard class seats and tickets should be purchased in advance either online or by phone. Tickets are only available from larger stations, though it's advisable to book online. The tracks in NSW are often slow and twisty, and generally travel by road is faster, though invariably more stressful, particularly on the Pacific Highway during the summer holidays, when Sydneysiders head up the coast in vast herds of SUVs and caravans.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk011", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "One way to make efficient use of travel time is to use the NSW TrainLink sleeper services between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. These leave every evening and allow you to save on a hotel stay at the other end, along with losing no days to travel. Sleeper cabins have two berths in a bunk layout (full bedding is included), and each has a hot shower, sink and toilet (shared between two adjacent cabins), as well as a buffet car with hot meals and a continental breakfast (which can be ordered to your cabin). Food is \"no nonsense\", affordable and perfectly fine, if not a gastronomic adventure. Regular seating cars are also available on overnight services, but are not recommended if you actually want a good nights sleep and arrive ready for a day of activities. Sleeper berths cost $234 (adult full fare - there are numerous concessions available so check when booking) and need to be booked by phone on 13 22 32 within Australia. Single occupancy is available if you purchase the second bunk.", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk012", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "The **Indian Pacific** (13 21 47 within Australia or +61 8 8213 4592 internationally) is a luxury train service run by private company Journey Beyond (formerly Great Southern) and runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide. Adult fares from Perth start from around $2,100 p.p. during the low season. Children get 20% off when travelling with an adult. Note that Journey Beyond has partnered with the Qantas frequent flyer program, and it's possible to redeem Qantas points for reward seats on Journey Beyond trains. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. The train is more expensive than flights from Perth or Adelaide, and takes longer than driving yourself, so this journey is really for rail enthusiasts who want to see the interior of Australia at a leisurely pace while travelling in luxury. See Across Australia by train for more information.\n\nAll long distance (NSW TrainLink and Great Southern Railway) trains to Sydney terminate at Sydney's **Central Station** in the south of the CBD area. Travellers can transfer to Sydney Trains, light rail, city buses, and taxis. It is also easy to transfer to other long distance trains and coaches. There is short term metered parking so you can meet the trains on the platform. There are ATMs, a small choice of food outlets, cafes open until late, and a railway heritage society display and bookshop in the terminal.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk013", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "The **NSW TrainLink Intercity** run fairly frequent services throughout the day from close regional areas: Newcastle and the Hunter Valley via the Central Coast, Goulburn via the Southern Highlands, Bomaderry via the Illawarra and Bathurst via the Blue Mountains. Intercity trains do not require a reservation, and the opal card is still valid. The core routes as far as Lithgow (Blue Mountains line), Newcastle (Central Coast line) and Kiama (South Coast / Illawarra line) run hourly or half hourly late into the night, and start early morning. Fares are very competitive, but onward bus connections from smaller stations are often very poor, especially in the Blue Mountains and parts of the Illawarra. Bikes are accepted on trains (but be considerate, especially around peak times and busy weekends), and can be a good solution to the onward travel problem. Core routes are all operated using double decker electric trains. Travel onto some of the outer lines requires a transfer to a (rather cramped) diesel railcar service. This is true for the Southern Highlands line (change at Campelltown), on the Illawarra/South Coast line for all stops south of Kiama, and for the Hunter Line (change at either Hamilton or Newcastle Interchange). The timetables are usually lined up fairly well to allow for easy interchange. Trains through to Bathurst are extremely irregular (2–3 a day), and most journeys require a change at Lithgow to a connecting bus service. **Note that there is no catering whatsoever on Intercity services**, and that journeys can be up to three hours, even though the distance might seem short on the map, so bring food and drink with you.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk014", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|250px|Cruise ship sailing under Harbour Bridge\nCruise ships visiting Sydney generally dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at the White Bay Cruise Terminal.\n\n**Circular Quay** is a spectacular place to dock, right by the Harbour Bridge and across Sydney Cove from the Opera House, and you can walk off the ship into the city at The Rocks and then to the City Centre.\n\n**White Bay** in the Inner West is not easy walking distance to anywhere. On cruise days there is a ferry operating to Darling Harbour, as well as taxis and transfer services organised by the cruise companies (usually to the city and airport). Cruisers embarking from White Bay have a spectacular sail away, first going under the Harbour Bridge and then passing by the Opera House.\n\nAt peak times some cruises can be anchored off Taronga Zoo (Athol Buoy, west of Bradleys Head). If this happens to you, you will be tendered to Circular Quay passenger terminal to complete immigration, etc.\n\nSydney cruise ship information", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk015", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By public transport\n\nThe public transport system consists of train, metro, light rail, ferry, and bus services, and can get you virtually anywhere in the city as well as the outer regions. Public transportation in Sydney can be complicated, even when travelling solely in the CBD and inner suburbs. For short distances in the CBD it can be faster to walk than taking public transport.\n\nSmartphone applications such as Google Maps, TripView, Moovit and Arrivo Sydney use live transit information for all modes of transport are very useful for public transport trips within the Sydney region. Tripview is best for a known route that you want the latest times. Moovit or Google Maps are best if you don't know the route, and need timing and stop-by-stop information. These apps are available on iOS and Android.\n\nAt all of Sydney's public transport stations/stops, you will see a lollipop sign with a single capitalised letter and a coloured background that indicates the type of transport service available. The sign \"T\" in orange means train, \"M\" in teal means metro, \"L\" in red means light rail, \"F\" in green means ferry, \"B\" in blue means bus, and \"C\" in purple means coach. Some bus stops also might say \"T-way\", referring to a name for bus rapid transit (BRT) lines.\n\nMany train stations are easy access, with lifts to all platforms and ramps operated by station staff to allow wheelchair access to trains. All metro stations are fully accessible with lifts and level access between platforms and trains. All light rail stops are wheelchair accessible via an on-board ramp. Some ferries and buses have disabled access. Wheelchair friendly buses, stations, and routes are indicated on the timetable, and in the real time apps.\n\n#### Fares\n\nthumb|Opal card reader\nthumb|Opal card machine", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk016", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Sydney's public transport fare system is called **Opal**. The fare system covers all train, metro, light rail, ferry and bus services in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the surrounding regions. There are three ways to pay for your journey:", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk017", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Contactless credit or debit card**. Visa, Mastercard or American Express is accepted, including those in a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. All the same benefits apply to using a contactless card as apply to using an Opal card.\n **Opal card**. A reloadable travel card that can be obtained at most newsagents and convenience stores or wherever you see the logo. The card costs $20 for adults and $10 for children, the value of which can be used for travel. The card cannot be purchased at public transport stops (except the airport stations) unless the stop includes a retail outlet. Adding credit to an Opal card is known as 'topping up'. All Opal retailers provide top-up facilities. Top-up machines are available at most railway stations, some light rail stops, and all ferry wharves. All machines accept credit and debit cards (Visa/Mastercard with PIN), some also accept cash. You can also top up with a credit card on the web, or with the Opal app, but you must allow an hour before you travel to allow the top-up to reach the Opal card reader. The card can only be refunded to an Australian bank account. No refunds can be made by cash or credit card.\n **Single trip tickets**. You can obtain a single trip ticket at some top-up machines in train stations and ferry wharves. Tickets are 20% more expensive than a free reloadable Opal or contactless card and you get none of the caps and discounts that are on offer. You need to buy a ticket for every trip you make (i.e. you need to buy a second ticket at the start of a return journey), so these are best avoided unless you are making a limited number of trips.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk018", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "To travel, simply hold your card up to a reader to tap-on at the start of your trip, and tap-off at the end of your trip. This applies to all transport except for the Manly ferry, whereby you only need to tap-on. You must tap on before you board a train, metro, light rail, or ferry. Not all stations, stops and wharves have ticket barriers, so you'll need to remember to tap on or off at the readers or you'll be charged the maximum fare for your route. For buses, the readers are located by the entry and exit doors. The readers on buses activate as you are approaching the stop, or soon after the bus has halted. You can check how much credit is remaining on your card every time you tap on or off, just look at the screens attached to the ticket barriers or readers. If you're using a contactless card you can check your fares online the following day.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk019", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Daily fares are capped at $18.70 from Monday to Thursdays and $8.90 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (June 2025). There is no need to worry about zone boundaries or having the right fare because the system will automatically calculate the fare for each trip. Other benefits include weekly caps, and off-peak discounts for trains, buses, and light rail (on Fridays, weekends, and between 10AM and 3PM/after 7PM on weekdays). No off-peak discounts apply for ferries. Any trip made within 1 hour of the previous trip is considered a continuation of a journey. No matter how much you travel, you will never be charged more than $50 in any Monday to Sunday week (not including the Airport Station access fees, and other OpalPay services). If you change modes of transport during your journey (e.g. from train to bus) the system will provide a $2 discount on the fare of the second and subsequent trips. Children aged 15 years and under are entitled to a discount on most public transport. Children 3 years and under travel free.\n\n#### By train", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk020", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Sydney has a vast suburban rail network operated by **Sydney Trains**, covering 882 km of track and 176 stations. The train network will take passengers to most of the metropolitan area. Trains service every station in the metropolitan area at least every 30 minutes. Frequency is higher in the city, and major centres (Chatswood, Parramatta, Bondi Junction, the Airport, etc) usually see a train every 10 minutes or so. Peak times (7-9:30AM and 4:30-7PM) have more frequent and also crowded trains, as well as some express services that skip more stations. Expect congestion around Central and Town Hall.\nthumb|Sydney's iconic double-decker suburban trains\nYou may get a clean modern train, comfortable seating and clear station announcements. Alternatively, you could get a train full of people packed in like sardines, with station announcements that are barely audible. Prepare yourself with your smartphone network map, just in case. All Sydney Trains are air-conditioned.\n\nMost train services do not stop at every station and do not travel to the furthest extent of the line. Look at the departure screens at the station concourse which indicate when the next train will arrive, its destination, the platform it will depart from, and the stations it will stop at. Alternatively, you can also listen to announcements that will regularly play before and when a train arrives at the platform. Or simply download an app that gives you platforms and times (with real time updates if you have mobile internet).", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk021", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Outside of operating hours, between midnight (1AM on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5AM, NightRide buses run at least every hour. NightRide buses stop at most stations and a few additional stops, but they do not travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a NightRide bus home, check the NightRide route map. Buses can be crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.\n\nExercise caution whilst travelling on trains after 8PM, particularly if the carriage is mostly deserted and if travelling to western and south western Sydney, as it is not uncommon for undesirables to be found on trains during these times. 99% of the time they will not cause you any more trouble other than being loud, vulgar and obnoxious, but it is best to avoid them as unwanted altercations may follow. Moving to other carriages would be a good idea. The more modern trains have Emergency Help Points in every carriage, allowing contact with the train guard. Otherwise, travel in the middle carriages, near the guard's compartment (marked with a blue light). The guard has contact with police and the driver if there is any trouble on the train. Emergency Help Points are also available at every station.\n\nCheck for track work before leaving for the station; Sydney Trains shut down part of the network most weekends and will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed. The process may add half an hour or more to a typical journey. Track work is usually on weekends or late at night on weekdays and the track work timetable is available on the Sydney trains website several months in advance (check before you leave home for the days you are visiting).\n\n#### By metro", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk022", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Metro at Castle Hill\nAs of 2025, **Sydney Metro** only has one line (M1), which runs from Tallawong in far northwestern Sydney through Chatswood, North Sydney, Barangaroo and Central. Services operate on automated driverless trains at a turn up and go frequency with similar operating hours to the rest of the rail network. Services are marked with a teal-coloured 'M' in a roundel at stations and on the rail network map. The line is integrated with the suburban train network and you can interchange between the services at Epping, Chatswood, Martin Place, Central and Sydenham stations.\n\n#### By light rail\n\nthumb|Sydney light rail at Central Chalmers Street\nThere are four light rail lines operating in Sydney.\n\nThe ** Dulwich Hill Line** runs from Central to Dulwich Hill. This line is useful for travelling between Sydney City and western Darling Harbour, the casino, the Fish Markets, Pyrmont, and the Inner West. Be aware that the light rail to Darling Harbour and the Casino can get extremely crowded, even on Sundays. If you're only going a short distance (Central to Paddy's Market, for example), it'd be faster to walk instead. Beyond the casino is a spacious ride through the inner west.\n\nThe ** Randwick Line** runs down George St, connecting Circular Quay to Central, before continuing on to Surry Hills, Moore Park, and Randwick.\n\nThe ** Kingsford Line** branches off from the at Moore Park and heads to Kingsford.\n\nThe **** **Westmead and Carlingford Line** winds its way through the various hospital precincts in Westmead, past Parramatta CBD, before following the old Carlingford line to Carlingford.\n\nUnlike buses, the Opal card readers are located at the stops and not on the trams themselves, so don't forget to tap on and off before and after your ride.\n\n#### By ferry\n\nthumb|Sydney ferry", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk023", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "The **Sydney Ferries** central hub is at Circular Quay at the north edge of the CBD. Ferries run up the Parramatta River via Balmain and Olympic Park, around to Darling Harbour, across to Luna Park, across to Taronga Zoo, out to Manly, and out to Watsons Bay. They also go to Cockatoo Island. They run only within Sydney harbour, so you can't get a ferry to Bondi. Ferries run to most destinations at least every hour, with additional peak services, and half hourly services to Manly and Barangaroo/Pyrmont Bay.\n\nAt Circular Quay and Barangaroo, each wharf has a large screen showing ferry departures and general information. Find your destination on the screen, which shows when your ferry service is departing and from which wharf. Note that at Circular Quay, it will show the services for all nine lines, however, in Barangaroo, only , and are shown.\n\nMore than just a utilitarian means of transport, ferries are a great way to view Sydney Harbour. The best ferry excursion for visitors is the Circular Quay eastward to Manly or, for a shorter and slightly cheaper trip, the to Watsons Bay. Be prepared to take photographs of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as you leave Circular Quay. Ferries from Circular Quay westward to Balmain and Barangaroo offer great excuses to experience sailing under the Harbour Bridge. The Taronga Zoo ferry line is also an experience for some, and offers a direct ferry line from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo, the iconic zoo of Sydney.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk024", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Manly and inner-harbour (, , , ) ferries can get busy, but it is very rare that they reach capacity. Opal offers half-price daily caps ($9.65 as of March 2026) on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. This deal is popular, especially on sunny 'beach' days, with the viewing decks becoming tightly packed and the queuing chaotic. If you're only in Sydney a short time, then you may wish to spend the extra to travel on a weekday and avoid the associated hassles with crowds on popular days.\n\nAt peak periods, the and Parramatta River ferries can and do fill to capacity, and you should ensure that you have an alternative way for completing your trip. Passenger counts are strictly enforced and there is no effective queue, meaning that missing one ferry is no guarantee you will get on the next. The main peak period is on sunny weekend afternoons returning from Parramatta and all pickup points along the river, and during the Vivid festival heading towards the city. School holidays and weekdays 4PM–6PM at Barangaroo heading to Parramatta can be busy too (you are okay if you board at Circular Quay where the ferry originates) as commuters, tourists, and day trippers compete to get home. Cockatoo Island is an awkward place to be stuck, so allow enough time to get the ferry the other way and back if you need to.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk025", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Captain Cook Ferries and Manly Fast Ferries also run ferry services complementing and competing with the government-contracted Sydney Ferries. Manly Fast Ferries runs a service between Circular Quay and Manly. Captain Cook ferries run a Darling Harbour to Circular Quay, Barangaroo to Manly and services around the Harbour and to Harbour Islands. They also run a Zoo Express to Taronga Zoo wharf, with a combined entry pass the same price as the Sydney Ferries ferry. You'll get a nicer ferry and commentary on the way. They also run a Manly to Watsons Bay ferry that offers a significant time saving over the ferry via Circular Quay. For Manly Fast Ferries, you can tap your Opal Card or credit card to pay. Opal benefits (such as daily and weekly caps) are included.\n\n#### By bus\n\nthumb|A typical city bus in Sydney\nthumb|350px|Map of bus routes that mostly use busways/T-way corridors.\nSydney has an extensive bus network. Some buses run from distant suburbs such as those on the Northern Beaches and North West all the way to the city, but there are also shorter feeders to suburban rail stations from surrounding suburbs.\n\nIt is a good idea to plan your bus trips in advance where possible. Transportnsw.info has a helpful trip planner feature to assist you, as well as route maps and schedules to print. Most bus stops have timetables posted, as well as a route map for the routes servicing that bus stop.\n\nYou must flag down buses with an outstretched hand if you want them to stop for you and you must press the STOP button on board to disembark. They will not automatically stop unless they are signalled to do so.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk026", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "On most buses there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are at. There are no poster maps on the bus either. If you're heading into unfamiliar territory, either take a paper timetable to track your route, or make sure you have an app downloaded to track your route and stops (Tripview/Moovit, etc). Also, if you take a bus marked \"Limited Stops\" or \"Express\" (often the route number may contain an E, L, M or an X), make sure that the bus stops where you want it to. Limited stops services stop only at major stops so they may make you walk around 750 metres or so if they skip your stop. However, express services can run very far from the city without stopping at all, before resuming a normal stopping pattern (express buses only operate during peak hours). All normally numbered buses stop at all stops, so missing your stop or getting off one stop early is a less serious mistake. Route numbers starting with M are longer route, cross city buses, running at 10- to 20-minute frequencies during their operational hours.\n\nThere are two main bus termination points in the CBD, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are separated by a one-stop commuter train trip. You will need to make this trip if connecting from buses arriving from north of the Harbour Bridge to buses heading east or west, or vice versa. There are bus information centres at Wynyard and Circular Quay. During peak hours some buses from the south and west terminate at Town Hall to avoid congestion in the CBD.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk027", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "All buses are GPS-equipped, so you can use an app like TripView, Google Maps or Citymapper to track arrival times in real time. There are few transport apps available that indicate from 0 to 3 how crowded a bus is. If you want to go a long distance and can see the next bus is full, you can consider waiting for the next one.\n\nA few trunk routes run to the Eastern Suburbs and to Newtown 24 hours a day. Additional services operate late Friday and Saturday night to the Northern Beaches and to the North West.\n\n### By boat\n\nCharter a boat on the Harbour to get you across the water. Lots of services are available around the Harbour, with self-drive boat hire, luxury boat hire and more. Around New Years Eve, and Australia day the Harbour is at its busiest so take care to organise ahead of time.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumbnail|A taxi in Sydney\n\nTaxis in Sydney are expensive and notorious for various scams and ripoffs, ranging from mysteriously broken meters to fictitious surcharges and scenic detours, but they can also be the only transport option available to some locations late at night when the trains and regular buses stop. It is almost always faster, cheaper and more convenient to use rideshare services instead.\n\nThere are numerous operators. 13cabs is the largest and offers an Uber-style app with tracking and fixed fares. You can also hail cabs off the street: if the light is on, it is available for hire; if the light is off, the cab is occupied. By law, taxi drivers have to take you where you want to go, regardless of your destination, but particularly at busy times like Friday evenings many will refuse rides in the \"wrong\" direction.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk028", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are **two meter rates**: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3.30, a distance rate of $1.99/km, a \"waiting\" rate of $0.85/min, and a booking fee of $2.50; and a night rate (rate 2 – applicable to journeys commenced between 10PM–6AM), which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it is set to 2, it is using the night rate. The so called \"waiting\" rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25 km/h. For trips in congested traffic, it is possible for large parts of the trip to be charged at the \"waiting\" rate. All Sydney taxis are metered and taxi drivers hailed at the kerb are supposed to charge the metered rate, with any charges for tolls added automatically during the journey.\n\nPassengers are required to pay all tolls for their trip. Drivers will usually take the toll roads unless you ask them not to, and with some tolls approaching $10 a pop, this can get expensive fast. Tolls are added automatically by the meter as incurred during the journey.\n\nTaxis accept all major credit cards, although credit card terminals are improbably often \"broken\". They charge an extra 5% on top of the fare for this. Many of the taxi companies have their own apps. Tipping is not required or generally expected. However, rounding up a taxi fare to the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, if the driver rounds the fare *down* to the nearest dollar, accept with grace.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk029", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you need a child seat, a wheelchair taxi or are traveling with a large group, you can call ahead for **maxicab**, which can fit up to 10 people. The airport has a maxicab rank.\n\nScams such as taxi drivers refusing fares, deliberately not using a meter or overcharging is **illegal but rife** and scams are known to affect both local Sydneysiders and visitors. If you have been scammed, immediately file a report at pointtopoint.nsw.gov.au or contact . It's likely you will get a portion of your fare refunded. Make sure you take as many photos documenting your experience if it is safe to do so; also try to get the taxi driver's ID and license plate if possible.\n\n### By rideshare\n\nUber and Didi offer a convenient alternative to taxis (Lyft isn't available in Sydney), and considerable cost savings when there is no surge, with Uber somewhat more expensive than its competitors. Ubers will nearly always take the fastest route (including tolls when necessary) unless you tell them to take another way. They are every bit as common as taxis in the city and most suburbs, and for most travelers, there's little if any reason to ever take a taxi; the main exception is if you have children under 7, who cannot legally ride without a child seat (which rideshare companies rarely if ever offer). Rideshare drivers also cannot legally use bus lanes, while taxis can.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk030", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are spending time in the CBD, and visiting near-by attractions like Manly, Bondi (and the Eastern suburbs), Pyrmont or the Inner West, then a car may be more hassle than it's worth, with congestion, complex one-way schemes, and expensive and time-restricted parking. However if you are keen to explore the northern beaches, outer suburbs or travel further afield, a car may be the best option for travelling. Check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply when driving from less popular destinations to major cities. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies or at smaller, cheaper companies.\n\nSydney traffic is always busy, but outside of peak weekday times travelling by car is usually at least as quick as any method of public transport. Congestion can be expected on roads to the city 6:30AM-9:30AM, and roads away from the city 4:30PM-6:30PM. Allow double the normal travel time during these periods - longer if you are using motorways. Congestion is considerably worse and longer in both directions during the Friday afternoon peak. Some roads experience congestion at other times and roads heading to shopping, sports, parks and beaches can be heavily congested on weekends also - particularly on Saturday mornings and Saturday evenings. Roads around Bondi Beach and the other eastern suburbs beaches experience gridlock on summer weekends, with buses often caught in the same traffic as cars. Travel times from the city centre to the Sydney outskirts can take around 45 minutes in good traffic.\n\nRoads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route, and all (except freeways) have road names. A handful of cross-city roads are signposted by alphanumeric code. The airport is signposted from many major routes with an aeroplane symbol.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk031", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### Tolls\n\nSome motorways, tunnels and bridges charge tolls between $2 and $8 depending on the road and distance. There is no logic behind which ones charge and which ones don't - the reasons are all historical and political. Toll roads are indicated by the word *TOLL* or *TOLL E-e* on the signboard when joining the road. Tolls are charged on the:\n\nM1/A4 Harbour Bridge and Tunnel (southbound)\n M1 Eastern Distributor (northbound only)\n M2 Hills Motorway\n M2 Lane Cove Tunnel\n Cross City Tunnel\n WestLink M7\n M5 South-Western Motorway east of Liverpool\n M5 East (note that the toll is different from the M5 South-Western Motorway), east of Beverly Hills to Brighton-le-Sands\n M4 Western Motorway (east of Church Street), including the M4–M8 link\n Westconnex M8, including the M4–M8 link\n M11 Northconnex\n A8 Falcon Street entrance to the M1 Warringah Freeway northbound\n\nIf you want to plan a toll-free route, you can avoid the Cross City Tunnel, M2, M4, M5, M7, M8 or A8 Falcon Street on-ramp fairly easily. However, it is hard to avoid the harbour crossings if you are going to the CBD from Manly, the Northern Beaches or the zoo by car. If you're using a GPS check the toll-free routes, because outside of peak some toll roads offer little time saving.\n\nAll rental cars come with a way to pay tolls. They each charge their own service fees that can be a daily flat fee, or an administration fee and tolls. Some rental car companies register the licence plate, so you have no option other than to use their toll service.\n\nIf you are managing the tolls yourself you need to have a **pass** or a **tag**.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk032", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "A **pass** (also called an **e-pass**) is the simplest way to pay tolls. You can pay with a pass up to 48 hours after your travel on a tollway. Depending on the provider, you can register your licence plate on the website, or you can download an app and pay as you travel. Pass providers charge additional fees on top of the actual toll. All provider passes work on all toll roads - pick the one that works for you.\n A **tag** (also called an **E-tag**) is a transponder stuck to the inside of your windscreen. This may involve an upfront payment or deposit and/or monthly fees. You will also need to apply and have the tag posted to you in advance of travel. The advantage is that there is often no surcharge applied to the actual toll itself, so it would likely only make sense for extended stays.\n\nThe Sydney Motorways website provides links to all tag and pass providers.\n\nNot paying a toll within three days of driving on a toll road will incur a $15 administration fee in addition to the toll. If you are in a rental car, the rental car company will charge an additional fee for this to your credit card.\n\n#### Parking\n\nParking in and around the city requires some consideration. Much of the available parking space in Sydney's centre and suburbs is time limited, and fees can apply.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk033", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Parking your car in the City Centre in parking stations is always possible but can be *very* expensive if you don't plan properly. Expect to pay up to $90 for three hours at some central parking lots if you just drive up. Prices generally reduce significantly on weekends however with some car parks charging $15-20 flat fee for full day parking. Reduced parking charges are also made on weekdays for early-bird parking, where you must enter and leave within prescribed times. For example you can park all day at the Opera House for $16 as long as you enter before 10AM and leave 3PM-7PM. There is no grace period, so you cannot get out even one minute before 3PM, and you will be charged the day parking rate of $42 if you are 10 seconds late. Most city parking lots offer reduced flat fees (around $15-$25) for evening and weekend parking. Booking parking online in advance can offer dramatic savings, with offers as low as $10 for all day parking sometimes available.\n\nStreet parking in the CBD is generally only possible before 8AM and after 6:30PM on weekdays and, even then, is almost invariably metered until 10PM at $2.20-3.30 per hour. On weekends, most parking spaces have a 4 hour limit, again metered at $1.10-2.20 per hour. All day street spots are sometimes available in the Domain/Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Hickson Road, but these spots are often taken up by commuters, and, since they are metered, an early bird deal may work out cheaper than the metered rate. Parking meters accept credit card payment. Similar prices are charged in North Sydney.\n\nCity hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk034", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots. Usually parking within easy walking distance of these centres has a time limit restriction - often 2-3 hours. Shopping centre car parks usually have a similar restriction, with fees applying after an initial free period.\n\nSome train stations have all day free commuter parking. At major stations, this can be full before 8AM. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. On weekends it is easy to find a spot in the commuter parking lots. The stations with commuter parking are marked on the Sydney Trains maps.\n\nParking at some beaches, on summer weekends, can often be almost impossible. Some beaches are in suburban neighbourhoods, without large car parking facilities. Check the appropriate destination guides for more information.\n\nParking fines in Sydney are $108 if you exceed the allowed parking time or don't pay the fee in a legitimate parking space. Reloading the meter or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine. Parking in a no stopping zone will cost you over $200 (indicated by signs or a solid yellow line near the kerb). If you park illegally and wait with your car, you may find you have the licence place photographed and fined before you have the chance to move on - don't expect a warning. If you park illegally in a disabled spot, the fine is $541. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day so you might as well enjoy your parking spot.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk035", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Clearways are no-stopping zones on main roads during peak periods, marked with clearway signs and a broken yellow line on the kerb. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunities if you want to park just after 10AM.\n\n#### Speeds\n\nSpeed limits can change frequently, even on the same road. Speed limits drop for areas of pedestrian activity, schools (40 km/h or 30 km/h 8AM-9:30AM and 2:30PM-4PM on school days), roadwork, as well as driving conditions. Some roads have variable speed limits that change during busy traffic times. Every road in Sydney has a signposted speed limit and the only way to be sure of the limit is to pay attention to the signs. You cannot tell the speed limit just by looking at the road. The speed limit is usually 50 km/h on residential streets, 60 km/h to 100 km/h on main roads, and sometimes higher on motorway sections with a max at 110km/h.\n\nSpeed limits are extensively enforced, and penalties are severe. Enforcement is mainly by fixed speed cameras, but also by mobile speed cameras (from a speed-camera equipped vehicle parked at the roadside), hand-operated speed \"guns\" operated by police, and by police highway patrol cars. Speed cameras are installed at many traffic-light controlled intersections, and these cameras also enforce the \"stop at red lights\" by taking two pictures, the first of the car crossing the stop line (painted on the road) while the light is at red, and the second as the car passes through the intersection (thus proving that it was not simply a case of the car stopping a metre or so past the stop line).", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk036", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "Breaking the speed limit by 10 km/h or less attracts a fine of $116, by 11-20 km/hr a fine of $269, by 21-30 km/h $462, by 31-45 km/h $884, and over 45 km/h $2,384 with immediate on-the-spot confiscation of driver's licence (as of 2018). Penalties are higher for inexperienced drivers, and in school zones during enforcement hours on school days. In addition, scaled \"demerit points\" are given to Australian licence holders, resulting in an automatic non-appealable 3 month or 6 month licence suspension when a pre-determined number of demerit points are accumulated by a driver within any 3 year period. Demerit point penalties are doubled during school holidays and during public holiday weekends.\n\n### By bike\n\nthumb|right|A cyclist in Sydney CBD\nIf you are a fit and experienced urban cyclist, used to riding on multi-lane roads in heavy traffic, then just get on your bike. Cyclists are permitted just about everywhere on Sydney's roads, except for some freeway tunnels where bicycle signs will usually direct you to the alternative route. Kerbside lanes are often narrow, so ride assertively, be seen, and take the full lane when you know there is insufficient room to be passed. Bikes are permitted in bus lanes (like the city streets), but not bus only lanes (like the Harbour Bridge, and T-ways).\n\nThe city centre is not particularly cyclist friendly traffic-wise. It is not flat either - you can expect regular hills but no marathon uphill climbs. The weather is, however, usually good for cycling.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk037", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are looking for a quieter ride, a number of quiet on-road and shared pedestrian/cycle paths are available, but can be hard to find. A good place to start is at Sydney Olympic Park where you can get your cycle legs on the extensive off-road trails; then, if you want to, you can follow the Parramatta River to Parramatta or following the Cooks River to Botany Bay in Southern Sydney. The Harbour Bridge has a dedicated cycle lane, suitable for all ages, but as soon as you get off the bridge (and down the steps!) you are back onto urban streets in Milsons Point.\n\nThe Bourke St cycleway is a north–south route in the City East and a cruisy place to cycle between Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. Lots of shade and cafes to break the trip. Some other separated cycleways have opened in the CBD, but they are yet to form a cohesive network, and your trip may easily end up on a busy and unforgiving city road if you haven't planned well in advance.\n\nOther cycleways are often just converted footpaths, so be on the lookout for bollards, street signs, roots and branches strategically placed across cycle paths - as well as pedestrians. If cycling at night ensure you have lights bright enough to light your path.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk038", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is illegal to ride bicycles on footpaths unless cycling with children under 12. In reality this is fairly weakly enforced out in the suburbs, but it is common for people to be fined for cycling through pedestrian malls in the city like Pitt St Mall or Martin Place. Out in the suburbs you can often follow quiet streets, and hop onto the footpath for a short stretch if things get too hairy. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night.\n\nBicycles can be taken on all trains, ferries and the metro for no cost. But catching a train in the CBD or close to the city in the peak may mean waiting for several services to find one you will fit. Check trackwork schedules on weekends, when buses replace trains and make taking bicycles more challenging.\n\nSydney centre now has Mobike dockless bike share scheme and Lime e-bikes if you don't feel like you've got your hill-legs. Simply download the app, pay a refundable deposit, and you can grab your closest bike. Park it anywhere you like. Longer term bike hire is available in many locations in Sydney. Unfortunately, bike hire for two bikes for a day usually costs more than hiring a small car and petrol for the day (around $50 per bike). However, for shorter periods some places may be reasonably priced (for example Sydney Olympic Park) charges $15 per hour. Also, you have to consider the additional cost if the bikes are stolen or damaged. However, they are much easier to park, are greener and can be more fun. See the district articles for bike hire listings.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk039", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you want to join in a longer ride, most bicycle user groups around Sydney organise weekend rides for various levels of fitness. There is usually no charge to join in.\n\n### By foot\n\nSydney is quite pedestrian friendly, and as always you will see a lot more when moving around on foot than by wheels. On sunny days a long sleeved shirt, sunglasses, sunscreen and maybe even a hat is advisable. It takes some 45 minutes to walk from Central Station up through the CBD to the Opera House. For details on a self guided walking tour in Central Sydney, see Walking tour of Sydney. Even some more distant destinations are walkable if you have the time, fitness and inclination. It's less than 2 hours to walk through the exclusive eastern suburbs to Bondi Beach, or south through part industrial, part hipster Alexandria to the airport.", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk040", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Harbour Bridge hiding behind the Opera House\n\nMost of the Sydney landmarks can be seen in the City Centre with the iconic **Sydney Opera House** as well as visiting the **Art Gallery of New South Wales**, **Sydney Tower**, **St Mary's Cathedral**, **Royal Botanic Gardens** and the **State Library of New South Wales**.\nthumbnail|Art gallery of New South Wales\nRight next to the centre is the historic district of The Rocks where you see Sydney's heritage as well as walk across the **Sydney Harbour Bridge**.\n\nDarling Harbour is west of the City Centre and offers plenty of attractions such as the **National Maritime Museum**, **Sydney Fish Market**, **Sydney Wildlife World**, **Sydney Aquarium** and the **Powerhouse Museum**.\n\nCross the Harbour Bridge to reach the Lower North Shore where you can visit **Luna Park**. **Taronga Zoo** can be reached by a dedicated ferry from Circular Quay.\n\nTake the ferry further out to Manly where you can visit the famous **beach** and walk to Middle Head passes many coastal artillery fortifications built into the cliffs of Sydney Harbour during the late nineteenth century.\n\nthumb|La Perouse\nHead out in the sun to visit the Eastern Suburbs where you can find the world famous **Bondi beach**, as well as many other beaches and **La Perouse**.\n\nSydney offers many opportunities to discover **indigenous heritage**, with rock carvings, dancing and art galleries to explore.\n\nSydney is known for its dozens of vibrant suburbs, which reflect upon the beauty and diversity of the city all because of its character.\n\n### Sydney Harbour\n\nthumb|250px|right|Yachts in Sydney Harbour; business district in background\nSydney's world-famous beauty is defined by Sydney Harbour that can be easily viewed from the city and many areas around it. The large natural harbour was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the area, near what is now known as Circular Quay.\n\nAn excellent way to see both the harbour and Sydney attractions is to take any ferry from Circular Quay. These are very reasonably priced and a favourite with tourists who can see most of the harbour from the various routes offered. Heading to Manly on the ferry makes for a great 30 minute trip at a fraction of the price of a commercial harbour cruise.\n\nThe world famous **Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race** begins every year on Boxing Day, on Sydney Harbour. Thousands of spectator craft take to the water to farewell the yachts as they set off on their gruelling journey to Hobart. Seaworthy craft can follow the yachts through the Sydney Heads into the open ocean. You can also see the race from a harbour vantage point like Watsons Bay. where you can see them sail towards you across the harbour, and then cross to the gap to see them sail down the coast.", "word_count": 463}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk041", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "### Beaches\n\nthumb|Bondi Beach\nSydney's beaches are the perfect place to spend a warm summer day, where you can **swim** or **lie on the sands** to your heart's content. The most popular are **Bondi**, **Manly**, **Cronulla** and **Coogee**, although many others have their own charms. They might not be miles of golden beaches like Queensland, but there's a great variety, ranging from ocean beaches nestled between towering headlands in the Eastern Suburbs to quiet bays facing the harbour in Mosman. Bondi and Coogee are backpacker haunts while Manly and Cronulla feel like separate seaside towns. Soak in the crowded atmosphere amongst the other sunseekers in the eastern beaches, or be one of the few enjoying the solitude in the Northern Beaches and the Royal National Park. Brave the ocean waves, or splash about in the shallower rock pools. Even in winter, you can join the hardy souls keeping to their exercise regime in the cold waters.\n\n**Surf** at one of Sydney's many surf beaches, a quintessentially Australian experience. The major beaches (Bondi, Manly, Cronulla) have surf schools and places where you can rent surfboards. Locals have their own secret favourites in the Northern Beaches and Maroubra, and can be fiercely territorial.\n\n### Kayak and canoe\n\nSydney's waterways offer great canoeing and kayaking, and you can explore Sydney's bushland, history, and exclusive waterfront properties. There are lots of places to hire them from, or to even go on a guided tour.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk042", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "The Spit or Manly to kayak the harbour.\n Lane Cove National Park and the Royal National Park have canoes and kayaks by the hour - see turtles and birdlife as you paddle\n You can paddle on the Georges River from Woronora, or the Port Hacking river from Bundeena.\n You can hire canoes at Rose Bay, a little bit east of the city.\n You can also hire a canoe and have a BBQ at Lake Parramatta; 15-30 minutes by car from Parramatta.\n\n### Fish\n\nSydney offers decent fishing although it is not recommended to fish in Sydney Harbour to the west of the Harbour Bridge due to pollution and the fish are tainted with dioxin which is harmful to humans. You will nevertheless see local residents fishing on the harbour.\nYou can sign up with a fishing charter to take you out of the Harbour into open water, Middle Harbour or Pittwater is a rewarding experience. You'll likely catch something of decent size and even if you don't, being out on a boat in Sydney is one of the great Sydney experiences in the warmer months.\n\n### Walk\n\nthumb|Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens\nthumb|right|Talk a stroll through The Domain\nSydney has a huge amount of green space, much of it beside the sparkling harbour or ocean, so walking is a great way to experience the city's parks, reserves and remnant bushland. There are also great walks through the more built-up areas, allowing you to check out the city's modern architecture and its colonial heritage. The following are just a few of the better-known routes.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk043", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "**Circular Quay and surrounds**. Start underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, then walk with the harbour waters on your left, down through The Rocks, across Circular Quay, up to and around the **Sydney Opera House**, down through the **Royal Botanic Gardens**, and up to the magnificent view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge at **Mrs Macquarie's Chair**. Some variation of this spectacular walk is, for many, the epitome of the Sydney experience. For detailed information about a walking tour of the city centre, covering these sights (in the opposite direction) and other major sights, see Walking tour of Sydney.\n **Across the Harbour Bridge** from The Rocks on the south side to Milsons Point on the north side (or vice versa).\n **Coogee Beach to Bondi**. Following the eastern coastline past several of Sydney's beautiful beaches - stop off for a swim if you get too hot.\n - Manly to Spit Bridge Walk\n\n- Bradleys Head\n\nFor quieter trails with a rural feel, the best choices would either be Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park or Garigal National Park, both which are not too far away from Sydney CBD.\n\n### Sports fixtures\n\n#### Rugby/Footy in Winter\n\nThe winter rugby football season generally begins with trial matches in February, before the season proper kicks off in March and runs to late September or early October. Sydney's most popular football code is **rugby league** (often just called 'football' or 'footy' by locals — although never just 'rugby', which refers to rugby union). Nine teams from the national competition are based in Sydney and the sport is an important part of the city's culture - many teams play at least some of their games at intimate grounds in their suburban heartlands, and this can be a good way to experience the traditional heart of the sport.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk044", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "#### Cricket in Summer\n\nSydney's primary summer sport is **cricket**, which you'll find being played (in somewhat modified form) on beaches and in backyards across the city. The professional stuff is largely based at the Sydney Cricket Ground close to the CBD: the traditional New Year's Test, between the Australian team and whichever foreign team is touring at the time, commences around the 3rd of January and runs for four to five days. Later in the summer, international one-day and/or Twenty20 matches are held at the SCG. The primary domestic tournaments, contested between Australian state teams, are the Sheffield Shield (first-class), Ford Ranger Cup (one-day) and is the home ground for Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in KFC Big Bash (Twenty20): they are usually sparsely attended and so are much cheaper to attend than internationals. Some one-day and Twenty20 matches are played at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park rather than at the SCG, but the cavernous stadium is far inferior to the grand old ground if you really want to get a feel for cricket culture.\n\n### Bike and skate\n\nthumb|right|Bondi skate park\n**Cycle** around Centennial Park in the Eastern Suburbs or Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park. Or **mountain bike** on the challenging hills around the parks, forests and waterways surrounding Sydney and through some spectacular countryside.\n\nSydney has many **skate** parks and bowls in its suburbs, and one of the most popular is the one next to Bondi Beach. Sydney has **ice skating** centres, with the Macquarie Ice Rink in the Macquarie Park-Ryde area. Canterbury Olympic Icerink is *closed* and being renovated (Feb 2024).\n\n### Performing arts\n\n#### Stage", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk045", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|right|Capitol Theatre\nSydney has three major commercial theatres which show the big international musical productions, the **Capitol Theatre** in Haymarket, the **Theatre Royal** under the MLC Centre in the CBD and the **Lyric Theatre** in The Star casino complex at Pyrmont Bay.\n\nThe **Sydney Theatre Company** (artistically directed until 2013 by Cate Blanchett and now by her husband Andrew Upton) is the biggest professional theatre company in the city. It produces a large annual program using The Sydney Theatre and the two Wharf Theatres in Walsh Bay in The Rocks and sometimes the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre as well.\n\nThe **Belvoir St Theatre** in Surry Hills in City East has long been the smaller cousin to the Sydney Theatre Company, a place where young actors and directors cut their teeth in the associated Company B troupe before going on to bigger things. It stages a number of plays every year and you can wander the foyer before the show and see how many Hollywood names you can pick out from the old production posters.\n\nThe **Ensemble Theatre** at Kirribilli in the Lower North Shore (just over the Harbour Bridge) is Sydney's oldest surviving professional company and also produces a full program of plays every year, often featuring Australia's locally famous thespians.\n\nThere are also a number of small drama theatres with companies in Sydney including the **New Theatre** in Newtown in the Inner West, the **Griffin Theatre Company** at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross in City East and the **Darlinghurst Theatre** in Potts Point in City East.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk046", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Seymour Centre** (part of Sydney University just off Broadway on City Road) is a complex of several medium sized theatres hired by many independent and touring productions through the year. It is also the home of the University Revues, usually around August to September, a series of comedy sketch and musical shows put on by the students of each faculty in the University. Sometimes a place to spot future talent, famous past writers and performers in the reviews have included Clive James and Germaine Greer.\n\nAmateur theatre, especially musical theatre, proliferates in Sydney, with over 30 amateur musical theatre companies providing a fun night of theatre for around $20 per ticket out in the suburbs. Check the **Riverside Theatre** in Parramatta, the **Zenith Theatre** in Chatswood on the Lower North Shore, the **Sutherland Entertainment Centre** in Sutherland and the **Glen Street Theatre** in Belrose in the Northern Beaches. Most of these theatres also feature occasional travelling professional productions.\n\n#### Classical Music\n\nFor classical music fans, the **Sydney Symphony Orchestra** produces a large annual season and plays primarily at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall but sometimes also at the Angel Place Recital Hall.\n\nThe **Australian Chamber Orchestra** also produces a large annual program, mostly at the Angel Place Recital Hall but sometimes also at the Sydney Opera House.\n\nThe **Sydney Conservatorium of Music** in Macquarie Street often hosts performances on a smaller scale in the Verbruggen Hall within the conservatorium.\n\nIf you're in Sydney in the summer month of January look out for the major outdoor concerts held by both the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia in The Domain as part of the annual **Sydney Festival**. These free concerts are often attended by over 60,000 people.\n\n#### Opera", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk047", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "**Opera Australia**, the national Opera company based in Sydney, performs an annual season at the Sydney Opera House in the City Centre.\n\n#### Ballet\n\nThe **Australian Ballet** is the Australian national ballet company. Although based in Melbourne it splits its annual season between that city and the Sydney Opera House.\n\n#### Jazz\n\n**The Basement** nightclub near Circular Quay is Sydney's oldest and most pre-eminent jazz venue. It features other styles of music as well but has a reputation as the place all the big jazz acts perform when they're in town.\n\nThe Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) features regular jazz in **The Sound Lounge** venue within the Seymour Centre (part of Sydney University just off Broadway on City Road). **Venue 505** in Surry Hills features live jazz 6 nights a week and **Foundry616** in Ultimo is another dedicated venue. Many of the small bars across the inner Sydney feature small jazz performances on any given night.\n\n#### Gig Guide\n\nThe major guide for performing arts in Sydney is the *Spectrum* liftout, which you'll find in the Sydney Morning Herald's voluminous Saturday edition. It contains reviews and features on all things cultural as well as comprehensive listings towards the back.\n\nSydney Music provides an online gig-guide which is updated weekly and provides comprehensive listings of shows at smaller venues around the city.\n\n### Cinema", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk048", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "Sydney has mainstream movies showing on multi-screen cinema complexes all around Sydney, including the City Centre and Moore Park. The two main operators are Event Cinemas and Hoyts. For arthouse, or more obscure movies, try the Chauvel, Verona and Academy Twin cinemas on Oxford Street in the City East, or the Dendy near the Opera House in the City Centre or in Newtown, or Cinema Paris at the Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios at Moore Park in the City East. Many of the larger cinema complexes offer premium seating and services for a premium price.\n\nFor a different experience, look out for open-air cinemas in the Royal Botanical Gardens or Centennial Park. There is one drive-in movie left open in Sydney, at Blacktown in the Outer West.\n\nThe **IMAX Theatre**, which provides a movie experience with the largest cinema screens in the southern hemisphere in Darling Harbour.\n\n### Drag shows\n\nAs one of the biggest and most famous gay capitals of the world, Sydney is the place to catch a drag show. If you’ve never experienced the glitz and glitter of professional drag acts, then you really shouldn’t leave town without heading to one of the top drag clubs in the city.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk049", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Do", "text": "In Darlinghurst, drag queens like **Polly’s Follies** in the Stonewall Hotel or the spectacular **Disgraceland** in Nevermind are some of the best acts in town and you’ll marvel at the costume changes and the sheer amount of make up. However, make up aside, the transformation from men into women is incredible and these ladies sure know how to entertain. Drag shows are popular with hen nights and birthday parties, but really they’re great fun for anyone who wants a night of pure unadulterated entertainment. Some drag acts are part of cabaret clubs, so there's a wide variety of acts throughout the evening. Other clubs are solely dedicated to drag performances and it’s a whirlwind of costume changes, make-up and incredible dance moves.\n\n### Festivals\n\nSydney is home to a number of major and minor festivals and calendar events each year. Listed chronologically these are:\n\n#### January\n\n- Sydney Festival\n\n- Big Day Out\n\n- St. Jerome's Laneway Festival\n\n#### February\n\n- Chinese New Year\n\n#### March\n\n- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras\n\n- Sydney French Film Festival\n\n- Cockatoo Island Festival\n\n#### April\n\n- Royal Easter Show\n\n- Sydney German Film Festival\n\nthumb|The lights of Vivid Sydney\n\n#### May\n\n- Vivid Sydney\n\n- Biennale of Sydney\n\n#### June\n\n- Sydney Film Festival\n\n#### July\n\n- Arabic Film Festival\n\n- The Rocks Aroma Festival\n\n#### September\n\n- Sydney Fringe Festival\n\n- Lavazza Italian Film Festival\n\n- Sydney Underground Film Festival\n\n#### October\n\n- Crave Sydney\n\n- Musica Viva Festival\n\n#### November\n\n- Sculpture by the Sea\n\n#### December\n\n- Carols in the Domain\n\n- New Year's Eve\n\nthumb|Happy New Year's festival in Sydney", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk050", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Learn", "text": "You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, or take computer or business classes at City of Sydney Library, where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their café as well.\n\n### Universities\n\nUnsurprisingly as Australia's second-largest city, Sydney is home to many universities. Two of these universities, the **University of Sydney** and the **University of New South Wales** are part of the prestigious \"Group of Eight\". There are opportunities for international students to enroll in these universities, either in their degree programs or through exchange agreements with foreign universities. These provide foreigners with an excellent opportunity of live in Sydney for an extended period.", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk051", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Buy", "text": "See the Sydney District Pages for things to buy in the CBD, and other Sydney districts.\n\nMost stores will accept VISA/Mastercard credit cards, and only a few take only cash. American Express is generally accepted only at larger stores.\n\n### Currency exchange\n\nAs with the rest of Australia, currency exchange offices operate in a free market, and the small convenient exchange booth you pass on George Street, by the Opera House or at the airport can charge 15% or more over the best rate you can obtain elsewhere. As always, check rates and commission carefully. Know today's rate and be prepared to walk away if the amount of money they calculate isn't what you would expect. Banks typically offer much better rates, but are only open business hours on weekdays.\n\nYou may find it better to pay by credit card and use ATM withdrawals and have the certainty of getting the rate and fees provided by your bank.\n\n- KVB Kunlun\n\n### Opening hours\n\nMain department stores and specialty stores open around 8 or 9AM and close around 6 or 7PM, staying open until 9PM on Thursday. On Sunday expect them to open around 10AM in the suburbs, and around 11AM in the CBD, and to close at 5PM. There are a few locations where you will find shops opening a little later, such as Darling Harbour which is open until 9PM every weeknight.\n\nLarge supermarkets will be open from 6AM until midnight.\n\nMany convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and petrol stations within the Sydney metro area are open 24 hours a day.\n\nBanks will usually only open weekdays, with only an occasional branch opening Saturday morning. Travel agents (not including booking agents in tourist areas) close on Sundays.\n\n### Souvenirs", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk052", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Buy", "text": "Those quintessential Aussie souvenirs - stuffed koalas and kangaroos, various \"Australiana\" knick-knacks - can be found in any souvenir store around the city, as well as in airport shops. Authentic Aboriginal/indigenous arts and crafts, such as traditional paintings, hand-made didgeridoos, are expensive, and the range in Sydney is much smaller than in Alice Springs. For those who only wish to take home a replica, as a memento of their trip to Australia, head to Paddy's Markets in the Haymarket area of the southern end of the city. The markets also sell a huge range of souvenirs at much better prices than regular souvenir stores. Dollar shops (see \"Food and Essentials\" below) also sell souvenirs at bargain-basement prices, albeit at a much reduced quality.\n\n### Fashion\n\nthumb|right|Interior of the Queen Victoria Building\nthumb|right|The Strand Arcade\nAustralia's unique style and creativity means Sydney is developing on the international fashion circuit, as designs from Australians such as Wayne Cooper, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho, Oroton and Easton Pearson are seen around the globe. In fact, around 60 Australian labels are export their designs to boutiques and department stores in Asia, Europe and the United States.\n\nThe greatest concentration of clothing and accessories stores are to be found in the northern half of the CBD, starting from the Town Hall precinct, neat the Queen Victoria Building.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk053", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Queen Victoria Building** – in the City Centre, a renowned, beautifully maintained, 19th century sandstone building, home to over 400 stores. The stores in the building are laid out in a hierarchical style- literally. The basement level has cheap, casual-fashion stores with a food court, the street level mid-range brand-name chains and level 3 is where various Australian designers, some European labels and Italian shoe stores are located. It is one of Sydney's more photogenic pieces of architecture. It's on George St adjacent to Town Hall and Pitt St Mall.\n\n**The Strand Arcade** – In the City Centre, remains a majestic beauty in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Sydney's CBD. Many retailers including The Nut Shop, Elie's Leather Repair and Strand Hatters have traded for decades, becoming well known Sydney institutions. Today the centre is a unique mix of Australian and International designer fashion (including Alex Perry, Akira, Lisa Ho and Alannah Hill) and specialty stores catering for a discerning, sophisticated clientele.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk054", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Castlereagh Street** in the City Centre is lined by many of Sydney's most expensive European-label boutiques and jewellery stores. It is also home to the flagship store of Australian department store chain David Jones.\n **Department stores**. There are only two of these in the City Centre, Myer and David Jones, which are practically next door to each other near the Pitt Street Mall, and joined by an above-ground covered pedestrian walkway. Both offer your standard department-store range of goods.\n**Pitt Street Mall** is a pedestrian mall in the City Centre. It is one block long between Market Street and King Street and is one of the world's most expensive shopping streets. The entire east side of the block comprises the Westfield Sydney mall (including Sydney Tower) and the west side is also a series of shopping centres.\n**Oxford Street** just east of the city is lined with shops, bars and nightclubs. The section between Taylor Square and Queen St, Woollahra is particularly good for mid-high end Australian fashion designers and boutiques. Some of these boutiques and other fashion retailers sell at Paddington Markets, which are held in the grounds of the Paddington public school every Saturday from 10am.\n**Queen Street** in Woollahra also east of the city is an upmarket shopping destination with high-end boutiques, food and homewares stores.\n**King Street, Newtown** in the inner west is a long strip of inexpensive boutiques, and the odd chain store, with plenty of places to stop for a coffee or wine along the way!\n Shopping malls – There are several large shopping malls around Sydney in Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Parramatta, Macquarie Park, Hurstville and Miranda, as well as Warringah Mall. The Bondi Westfield offers the most upmarket experience, with many European fashion labels available.\n**Factory outlets**. Birkenhead Point and DFO in the Inner West have brand name fashions at discount prices. Market City in Chinatown also has a few smaller factory outlets.", "word_count": 320}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk055", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Food and essentials\n\nMany city corner shops call themselves \"supermarkets\", but are just overpriced convenience stores. It is worth seeking out **actual supermarkets**, which can be found even in the CBD: the main two are Woolworths and Coles. Aldi is a cheaper alternative, but confined to the suburbs.\n\n### Postcards\n\nPostcards are least expensive at post offices (75c) or discount stores. Convenience and souvenir stores may sell a wider range of (more expensive) postcards, but generally they do not sell stamps. An overseas stamp for a postcard costs $2.60 http://www.auspost.com.au/pac/.", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk056", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "Prices in Sydney's restaurants vary. Breakfast at a standard cafe (food plus a coffee or juice) can cost anywhere up to $20 for a full English breakfast or other substantial meal. A main meal in a mid-range restaurant is around $25 - $35. Upper mid-range averages around $35 - $45. At the real top-end places a dinner for two with wine can run up to $400-500 and beyond.\n\nFor the more budget-conscious, Sydney's multicultural demography means plenty of quality ethnic cuisine for cheap eats, particularly Asian restaurants in Chinatown where rock bottom priced food (but no less tasty) can be found. Plonk down at a laminate table shoulder to shoulder with hungry locals for some bubble tea and a sizzling plate of delicious Asian food. Many restaurants in the city will also offer \"lunch specials\". For example, a good Korean \"set lunch\" can be found for less than $15. A bowl of noodles in Chinatown will run you $8 or $9. Some Thai curry with rice at any of the many restaurants all over Sydney will cost about $10.\n\nNewtown in Sydney's inner-west (approx 4km from the CBD) is renowned for its inexpensive cafes and restaurants on King St, in particular Thai food. It is highly popular among students from the nearby University of Sydney.\n\n### Fine dining", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk057", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "Sydney is also home to some of the world's best restaurants and their chefs. But if you want to try Sydney's finest rated restaurants during your visit, a booking must usually be made well in advance. There's Est in the City Centre, Marque in the City East and Flying Fish Restaurant & Bar in Pyrmont. Another famous Sydney celebrity chef is Neil Perry, who runs Rockpool at The Rocks, as well as the Rockpool Bar and Grill in the city, not far from Circular Quay, with Spice Temple downstairs.\n\nIf you want to splurge on the location, try Quay in The Rocks or Matt Moran's Aria, both of which have harbour and bridge views.\n\nFor fine dining away from central Sydney, try Jonah's in the far Northern Beaches - go for lunch, the view is stunning.\n\n### Takeaway\n\nTakeaway (takeout) food in Sydney can be as cheap as buying the ingredients and making it yourself, and many stores specialise in take-away food. There will usually be a picnic table, park or beach nearby to eat whatever you can select. Quintessential Aussie takeaways include the meat pie (minced beef with gravy sauce in a crusty pastry shell), sausage roll (sausage mince in a puff pastry casing), usually topped generously with tomato sauce/ketchup, and fish and chips (inherited from the British to be sure but loved by all Australians).\n\nMost restaurants will do take-away food as well, but almost certainly at a premium to the cost of buying food from a take-away. Outside of the city an occasional restaurant may offer a 10% discount for take-away. There are a few online services like Menulog that allow users to order food online from the variety of restaurants and take away in a particular area.\n\n### Eat streets", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk058", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "Just about every suburb in Sydney has a restaurant or two, a cafe or coffee shop, and a place that sells takeaway food. However, there are a number of places in Sydney where you can window shop through many restaurants and make your choice.\n\nAll of Darling Harbour is like this, there are restaurants of every variety all along the waterfront. East Circular Quay in the City Centre is similar, along with the International Passenger Terminal on the west of Circular Quay - however many of the restaurants in this area are expensive and loved more for the view than the quality of the food. There are (pricey) exceptions, such as Cafe Sydney, Aria and Sailors Thai.\n\nIn the east of the city, Victoria Street in Darlinghurst and Crown Street in Surry Hills (between Oxford and Cleveland Streets) has a large range of funky cafes, small bars, pubs, patisseries and restaurants. Darlinghurst and Surry Hills has it all, from cheap Asian take-aways to high end restaurants. Many trendy restaurants in this area don't take bookings; often you wait at the bar for a table. These suburbs are popular with hipsters, yuppies and the gay community.\n\nJust east of the city is Woolloomooloo Wharf which boasts a fantastic view across the harbour and several upscale restaurants, including excellent steak, Chinese, Italian and seafood restaurants. Perfect for lunch on a sunny day.\n\nKing Street, Newtown, centred on the railway station, has a constantly changing selection of good value restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars. You can find many various types of cuisine here; mainly cheap Thai, but also Vietnamese, Italian, Turkish, Japanese and modern Australian. This area isn't touristy, but popular with students from the nearby Sydney University. The area has its own alternative style, which makes for great people watching.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk059", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "On the Lower North Shore, Willoughby Road at Crows Nest has consistently good Indian, Japanese, Thai, steak, and a handful of small bars. Military Road through Cremorne and Neutral Bay have a smattering of decent restaurants, mostly Japanese. Kirribilli has a few nice cafes and restaurants, and a short after dinner stroll will take you by some of the best views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.\n\nIn Macquarie Park, Rowe Street in Eastwood has built a reputation for some of the best East Asian food in Sydney. With everything from cheap eat Chinese noodle stands, smokey Korean BBQ houses and posh Japanese restaurants, Eastwood has something for every taste and budget. On Saturday nights there is a night market in the plaza with a number of stalls selling street food style snacks and treats.\n\nParramatta, to the west, has an eating strip, many with alfresco options. Harris Park nearby is Sydney's Little India with a good number of very affordable, authentic Indian restaurants.\n\nIn the North West district, Castle Hill has many restaurants on Terminus St as well as at \"The Piazza\" which is adjacent to Castle Towers shopping centre and features a pleasant, lively atmosphere with a fountain in the centre of the ring of restaurants.\n\n### Modern Australian\n\nthumb|Oysters at Sydney Fish Market\nThanks to Sydney's (or rather, Australia's) multicultural mix, \"modern Australian\" is usually characterised by a fusion of cuisines. Think entrees spiced with a Thai-inspired chilli dressing, mains with a hint of a Chinese-style ginger-based marinade or sunny Tuscan flavours- all in the same menu. Many of Australia's celebrity chefs are of ethnic backgrounds, and many have trained overseas, bringing with them a world of experience back home.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk060", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "Visit the **Sydney Fish Markets** in Pyrmont (within walking distance of Darling Harbour) for a lunch of fresh seafood of almost any description. Sadly the cooked seafood on offer is overpriced, greasy and frankly an embarrassment. Avoid. For a proper seafood lunch at the fish markets, bypass these shops and go directly to one of the many fishmongers. Pick out the best freshly shucked oysters, cooked Balmain Bug or lobster tails, glistening prawns and sashimi. Take it out to tables outside and enjoy getting your hands dirty. Otherwise, head upstairs to Fisherman's Wharf Chinese Restaurant for some wonderful Cantonese seafood or yum cha.\n Hit a **steakhouse** and try Australia's world-famous prime Angus beef. Easily accessible upmarket Sydney city steakhouses include I'm Angus at Darling Harbour, Prime and Kingsley's in Woolloomoolloo in the City East. For a truly top end experience of some of Sydney's very best steak and seafood in luscious deco setting, try Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar and Grill in the CBD. Dress up and bring your Amex.\n\nAlternatively, many CBD pubs offer $6 to $10 steak \"meal deals\", provided that you also order a particular alcoholic drink at the same time. You can also go to Phillip's Foote at The Rocks to cook your own steak on a BBQ.\n\n### Multicultural", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk061", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "For those who are after authentic multicultural culinary experiences, there are unique \"food districts\" scattered around the greater city. The range of food available is huge and isn't necessarily expensive. It is usually possible to find a restaurant of any nationality, specialising in almost any cuisine.\n **Assyrian** in Fairfield and Fairfield Heights, in Greater Western Sydney, in Ware Street and Smart Street.\n **Chinese** (Cantonese) in Chinatown, Chatswood on the North Shore. For more northern Chinese flavours, including Shanghainese and Pekingnese, head to Ashfield and Burwood. Some outer suburbs are particularly known for their Chinese restaurants - recommended examples are Eastwood in Macquarie Park, Parramatta (west) and Hurstville in Sydney's southern suburbs which all have a number of restaurants offering more home-style Chinese food. They are all accessible by public transport. There are also good options to be found in Kingsford near the University of New South Wales.\n **Indian** in one of the many restaurants in the Outer West with all types of Indian cuisine (North Indian, South Indian, vegetarian, meat, etc).\n **Indonesian** in Anzac Parade, Kensington, Kingsford & Maroubra.\n **Italian** in one of the restaurants in Leichhardt's Norton Street, or nearby Ramsay Street, Haberfield in the Inner West. Or in Stanley St in East Sydney - a walk from the CBD.\n **Japanese** in Neutral Bay or Crows Nest in the Lower North Shore and Eastwood in the Macquarie Park district.\n **Korean** in Liverpool & Pitt St in City, Strathfield, Eastwood and Campsie.\n **Kosher** in Bondi. Many great restaurants throughout the area.\n **Lebanese** in Cleveland Street. Baba Ghanouj, Lahem Begin and Baclawa here. For the very best Lebanese, head out to the Middle Eastern enclaves of Greenacre or Lakemba.\n **Nepalese** in Glebe Point Road, Glebe, in the Inner West.\n **Portuguese** in Petersham in the Inner West.\n **Spanish** in Liverpool Street in the city.\n **Thai** in one of the many low priced Thai outlets in Newtown's King Street in the Inner West although Thai can be found anywhere in Sydney. Although for some reason where ever Indian food dominates, the Thai food does not tend to be very popular.\n **Turkish** in Auburn. Closer to the city, there try Enmore Rd Enmore / South King St Newtown in the Inner West. Get your Sucuklu and Pastirmali here.\n **Uyghur** on Dixon Street, Haymarket (Chinatown)- fiery, flavour-bursting food originating from the Turkic regions of Central Asia.\n **Vietnamese** in Marrickville. The most authentic Vietnamese can be experienced in Cabramatta or Bankstown. If you have the time, Cabramatta particularly is a fascinating and worthwhile day trip. So awash is the suburb with Vietnamese restaurants, groceries, butchers, craft shops, clothing stores and restaurants - not to mention Vietnamese people - you'd swear you were walking around Saigon rather than Sydney.\n **Yum cha** in Chinatown is very good, arguably even better than Hong Kong since many of their best chefs moved to Sydney in the 1990s. Yum cha is an entire meal comprising many small dishes called \"dim sum\" (Mandarin: dian xin). The food moves in roving, heated trolleys around the restaurants, although some places have now abandoned the trolleys and instead give you a menu to tick your items which will be brought to your table. Some only have trolleys for specials or on weekends. Expect queues on weekends and brusque service all days - it's all part of the charm of yum cha.\nMany of the areas mentioned above also sell produce related to the original nationality of the locals.", "word_count": 573}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk062", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Food festivals\n\nthumbnail|Lion dancing during the Sydney International Food Festival\nIt always seems like there's a food festival occurring every weekend in one of the suburbs of Sydney. Usually the idea is that restaurants take part, providing smaller portions of their signature dishes around $7-$12 a plate. Some also focus on ethnic cuisine — a great opportunity to sample unfamiliar food. Look out for the Sydney International Food Festival, a major festival which showcases Sydney's food culture. It's held in October, and includes the night noodle markets operating in Hyde Park in the City Centre.\n\n### Vegetarian and special diets\n\nVegetarians are well catered for. Every restaurant will usually have at least one vegetarian dish. Indian restaurants can be relied upon to provide a wider selection. The trendy East Sydney and Inner West suburbs have many choices, Cabramatta in the western suburbs have many Asian Buddhist cuisine restaurants that are vegan and vegetarian.\n\nThere is an awareness of gluten-free and dairy-free diets in Sydney, and again the more trendier inner city suburbs are more likely to cater for these diets.\n\n### Customs\n\nCafés serving breakfast start opening at 6AM and breakfast is usually served until 11AM, or occasionally all day. Orders for lunch start at about noon and continue until about 3PM. Many cafes will start closing late afternoon, although a few may remain open for dinner.\n\nRestaurants usually open for dinner around 5PM-6PM and while there are exceptions (usually concentrated in areas with active nightlife), last orders for dinner are typically taken around 10PM. Restaurants in business areas open for lunch as well. It is common for restaurants in suburban locations to sometimes be closed on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday nights.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk063", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Eat", "text": "It is more expensive to get a sit down meal in the evening, than it is for lunch.\n\n### Dress codes\n\nAustralians are casual. While most people make an effort to dress up for fancier restaurants, there is no requirement and both restaurants and diners alike are relaxed about dress standards. There are no restaurants in Sydney that require jackets for men for instance (not true there are a few exclusive restaurants and clubs that do require jackets), and jeans (nice - no holes) are common in even the most expensive and posh Sydney restaurants. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.\n\n### Publications\n\nThe Good Food Guide, published by the Sydney Morning Herald, is a well-regarded restaurant guide on the Sydney food circuit. The guide uses a reviewing and scoring system similar to the Michelin publications overseas. While the majority of restaurants included are in Sydney, a number of regional NSW restaurants are also included. The GFG can be picked up at any good book store and is also available for download as an iPhone application, with monthly or yearly subscription options.\n Timeout Sydney has a regular section on eating out in Sydney, with emphasis on affordable destinations. There is a paper publication as well as a web site.\n For the well-heeled and truly gourmet, the glossy pages of Gourmet Traveller magazine cover the latest in Sydney food fashion and the upmarket restaurant scene.\n Eatability.com and Urbanspoon are websites similar to Yelp! in the USA, containing reviews and rankings of restaurants by the masses.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk064", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|The Lord Nelson Hotel in [[Sydney/The Rocks|The Rocks]], one of several claimants to be the oldest pub in Sydney\n\nSydney has an enormous number of places to drink and party. There is a burgeoning scene for quirky and unique small bars, and the city's cultural life has enjoyed a refreshing growth in night-time choices. There's a litany of clubs and venues for entertainment, and as with most Australian cities, Sydney has a strong live music scene. The majority of pubs and smaller clubs close before 3AM and some as early as midnight, particularly if there are nearby residents. A limited number of venues have 24-hour licenses.\n\nBusy venues will have door staff checking photo identification to determine that you are over 18. Admission is also commonly refused to those who seem visibly drunk. More popular venues have discriminatory door practices, the most common of which is refusing entry to groups of men who are not accompanied by women. Some pubs and most clubs will admit children accompanied by adults as long as they don't approach the bar or enter an area where there is gambling, particularly earlier in the evening. Check with staff at the venue. Some pubs don't provide a nice environment for children some nights.\n\nMany places have at least a basic dress code, enforced all hours in the city, and usually after 7PM in the suburbs. For most generic pubs, men should wear closed toe shoes (not running sneakers), full-length pants, and a shirt with sleeves (not a singlet). For clubs, men should don neat business-style shoes. In almost all cases, women can dress more freely, but a small number of places require closed shoes or dressy sandals or high heels.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk065", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Drink", "text": "Many pubs are called hotels, but only very few can ever offer you a place to sleep. Hotel pubs are usually found on a street corner with at least one ground-floor bar, and are usually a few floors high (though not all floors may be open to the public).\n\nEntry charges for live music or DJs are usual and range from $5 to $30 depending on clientèle. Entry charges are rare if you're going into a pub for a drink.\n\nThere is a taxi shift change at 3AM, and it is notoriously difficult to catch a taxi anywhere between 2:30AM and 3:30AM, but Ubers are out in force at this time of night.\n\nSome types of nightlife are concentrated in particular areas:", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk066", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Backpackers** drink near the hostels, and will find a lot of fellow budget travellers in pubs in the Eastern Suburbs Beaches like Bondi Beach and Kings Cross in the City East\n In some ways **Irish pubs** are a global phenomenon, but they've certainly taken Sydney by storm. Irish pubs are concentrated in both The Rocks area and the southern area of the city. They are outrageously popular on the 17th March for St Patrick's Day.\n Sydney's large **gay scene** is concentrated on Oxford Street in City East although it still has a large range of pubs and clubs for all ranges of sexuality and is a prominent nightspot for many party-goers. Sydney's queer community also can often be found on King Street in Newtown which offers a more relaxed place to gather and far fewer yobs.\n Sydney's **bohemians**, **artists**, and **students** mostly hang about in the Inner West. King Street in Newtown is littered with great joints. Try the Midnight Shift or Corridor for awesome music and a low key vibe. Bloodwood is a must for killer Bloody Marys. The Courthouse is everyone's local, either that or the Town Hall Hotel, which is open the latest on the strip. Hook round to Erskineville Rd. for even more choice of unique places. A meal at The Rose on a sunny afternoon is a must. Opposite the Hive Bar will have eccentric DJs spinning rare dub 45's. Surry Hills is also a hot spot, with many of the larger venues that host bigger events. The Oxford Arts Factory and The Standard, both on Oxford St., are two great venues where you'll catch larger touring bands and other acts. Yulli's on Crown St have excellent drinks. The Flinders host local bands and has an American dive bar flavour. Try student bars Manning at Sydney Uni, the Roundhouse at UNSW and the Loft at UTS which all offer pleasant, hassle free environments, and no one checks if you're a student. Manning Bar is also great for a meal as they have their Manning BBQ. The Clare opposite UTS on Broadway, though very ratty looking, is a similarly popular place for students. There are many great bars and pubs on Broadway, such as the Lansdowne Hotel which also offers cheap lunch meals for $5-6 on some days of the week.\n **Nightclubs** are mostly found in the Kings Cross area. This is the central party district for late club nights. There are also clubs in the CBD, Surry Hills (along Oxford St.), and Darling Harbour. Try The Kings Cross Hotel for many levels of local bands and DJs. Nearby the World Bar is a must for more great entertainment. Frankie's Pizza in the CBD absolutely has the best vibe and music in town.\n Sydney has a big scene for microbreweries, including The Lord Nelson (The Rocks), The Schwartz Brewery (City), Young Henry's (Newtown) and the Local Taphouse (Surry Hills).\n **Business pubs** also cater to the city crowd: lawyers, financiers and brokers and are very busy Friday nights when the city workers are let loose for the week.", "word_count": 511}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk067", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are many great nightclubs in Sydney, but they are very spread out so it would be a good idea to get an idea of where you want to go. Check guides in Friday's newspapers, or the free guides available in music stores and youth clothing stores.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk068", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Crown Sydney, Sydney's tallest building and home to one of its most expensive hotels\n\nSydney has hundreds of accommodation options in the central Sydney area to consider, from backpackers hotels to five star hotels with harbour and Opera House views. However, there are options out of the CBD too.\n\nIf you are travelling on business, there may be business style accommodation near to where you are working, and there is usually no need to stay in the city. There are options around the commercial areas at the airport in Southern Sydney, around Macquarie Park in the North West, and at Parramatta.\n\nIf you are travelling with a car, then finding a place to park, and getting into and out of the city can be a hassle. The Hume Highway in Sydney's South West has the standard roadside motels where you can park by your room, with the service station or fast food outlet next door.\n\nIf you are into camping, the closest camping to the CBD is on the Cockatoo Island in the harbour. You can pitch a tent in Lane Cove National Park, less than 10 km from the CBD, around 750m from the train station at North Ryde.\n\nIf you are into the beach, Manly and Bondi are the two obvious places to consider. From Manly 25 minutes on the ferry has you right in the centre of Sydney. Some of the lesser known suburbs have accommodation options. Cronulla has beachfront accommodation, facilities and is the only beachside suburb of Sydney with a train station (45 minutes from downtown).\n\n### Budget\n\nSydney has a wide range of backpackers' hostels - popular districts for these include the southern half of the CBD and Haymarket, Glebe and Kings Cross, the Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Coogee) and the Northern Beaches (Manly).\n\n### Mid-range\n\nYou find many mid-range accommodation providers within the CBD (mostly in the southern Haymarket end), and within a short distance of the city by public transport, including in North Sydney, the Inner West and the North Shore. Sometimes cheaper motel style accommodation can be obtained on the roads leading into Sydney, particularly in South Western Sydney\n\n### Splurge\n\nLuxurious hotels can be found all over Sydney. The most expensive hotels are generally located in the CBD and the Rocks district, near the business hub of Sydney, close to many restaurants, often featuring spectacular harbour views. Some other high quality hotels are in Darling Harbour. You may check the list below for specific locations.\n\nPlease visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.\n\n### Serviced apartments\n\nServiced, short-term apartments are widely available throughout Sydney and are available for stays as short as one night. Amenities typically include kitchen, washer and dryer, and separate bedrooms. A range of properties exist from budget to five-star.\n\nPlease visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.", "word_count": 492}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk069", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Read", "text": "**Robert Hughes**, *The Fatal Shore* - The early chapters in this fantastically evocative treatment by a born and bred Sydneysider is a real eye-opener to Sydney's convict beginnings. Highly recommended.\n **John Birmingham**, *Leviathan* - *The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney* - A history of Sydney from its beginnings as a penal colony to contemporary times. Non-fiction, it discusses incidents and themes in an anecdotal fashion. Definitely not your usual historical work.\n **Peter Carey**, *30 Days in Sydney* - A short \"travel\" novel from one of Australia's most esteemed authors. Utilising the fitting theme of \"the elements\" (earth, fire, wind & water), Carey retells stories of the \"Rum Corps\", near-death experiences (both on the water and in the inhospitable Blue Mountains) and even blatant police corruption. A compelling read for anyone wishing to appreciate the city, its peoples and their remarkable way of life.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk070", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "*See also staying safe in Australia*\n\nThe Australia-wide emergency number is **000**, with the ambulance service, fire department and police being available through this number.\n\n### Theft\n\nBe on the lookout for the usual big city petty crime problems. Lock your car, and keep valuables safe or hidden. People begging may ask for money or cigarettes, but they are generally harmless. They will often make up the usual stories about needing a train fare etc. Simply say \"Sorry mate\" and they will usually leave you alone.\n\n### Violent crime\n\nSydney has some of the violent crime issues that plague major cities. However, in general, no special precautions are required visiting the typical tourist areas during the day.\n\nMost assaults in Sydney take place in or near pubs and nightclubs at night, and involve alcohol. Most involve young males as perpetrators and victims. Most robberies occur in nearby quiet laneways, or parks close to pubs and nightclubs at night. The most common perpetrators or robberies are drug addicts. For this reason, take care around Kings Cross, The Rocks, Oxford St, and in George St between Town Hall and Central Station, especially late at night on Fridays and Saturday nights. Avoid Redfern station late at night. Even changing trains late at night is best done at Central rather than Redfern. Women should take extra care at bars and keep an alert companion at hand, especially in the central hostel area, and take precautions against spiked drinks.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk071", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Some areas of south-western and western Sydney have a reputation, generally gained by news reports of motorcycle and other gang related violence. However, if you want to venture out into these areas during the day, there is no exceptional risk. If you're planning to head way off the tourist trail to some suburban pub or nightclub for a night out, seek some local advice. It may be a nice pub, but it pays to be informed. Areas around railway stations tend to be hang-outs for youth gangs in Western Sydney, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Stay in company, and don't engage.\n\n### Public transport after dark\n\nAfter 9PM, smaller outer suburban stations can be very quiet, and many are totally unstaffed after this time. The trains can also be empty when they get towards the end of the line at this time. Don't expect a taxi to be waiting at every station - only the major ones will have a well patronised taxi rank. Drunk people are common on trains late at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. In the CBD, trains tend to be busy into the evening, and obnoxious behaviour is more common than any actual danger.", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk072", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "For your safety, travel in the carriage closest to the guard's compartment, which is marked with a blue light on the outside of the train. If you ever feel concerned for your safety on any train, or even if you encounter anti-social activity, you can call 1800 657 926 to speak with security, who can sometimes arrange for a transit patrol to board the train and provide assistance. You can also seek assistance from the guard. In more modern trains, you can press the button in the entry area to contact the guard. Every train station has an orange emergency help point monitored by CCTV that connects to security, usually towards the centre of the platform.\n\nNightride buses, which replace trains after midnight, can arrange for a taxi to meet you when you get off. Ask the driver.\n\n### Beachgoing\n\nthumb|Bondi Beach - Australia's most famous beach\nIf you are going to the beach, take the same precautions as you do anywhere in Australia. See Australia beach safety.\n\nThe main thing to remember when swimming at any beach is to swim between the yellow and red flags. These flags are placed by the lifeguards and indicate the safest place to swim at the beach away from dangerous currents.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk073", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Sydney has no really dangerous jellyfish. Bluebottles (Portuguese Man-Of-War) are blueish-purple stingers that hit the Sydney beaches a couple of days every summer, when the wind direction is right. They have an air-bladder that floats on the water, and stinging tentacles. Often the air-bladder can be no bigger than a coin. You will see the evidence of them with their air-bags washed up on the beach if they are present. They can give a painful sting - even when on the beach - but it won't keep everyone out of the water. Apply a heat pack if you can, or ice, or salt water. The best way to remove the pain is to run the affected area under the hottest water you can stand. Vinegar is useless. Sometimes small transparent jellyfish appear in the harbour and estuaries. You can usually avoid any groups of them, but they are mostly harmless. More rarely larger purple jellyfish are in the harbour and other estuaries. If you see these in the estuaries, best to stay out of their way. Probably more of an issue to water skiers than to swimmers.\n\nSydney ocean beaches all have shark mesh nets around 100 metres out to sea, and are regularly patrolled by air for sharks. A shark alarm will sound if any are sighted, and you should get out of the water. The risk of shark attack swimming on a patrolled beach between the flags is low. Shark attacks are rare on Sydney beaches, but they have occurred. Advice is to avoid swimming in murky water after storms, or at dusk or at dawn, and to swim in the netted enclosures within the harbour and other estuaries.\n\n### Scams", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk074", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Tourist scams are relatively uncommon in Sydney as is the case throughout Australia, but a common scam is for people posing as Buddhist monks to give you a piece of paper with religious symbols on it, and as soon as you have touched it, they will ask you for money which they claim is to help build their temple – this is particularly prevalent in the CBD. However, many of them will back away if you verbally confront them, though.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk075", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "If you need an ambulance, call **000**.\n\nMedical centres with general practitioners are available for minor ailments without an appointment around the city and suburbs. Expect to wait around an hour or so to see a doctor. Upfront charges are usually around $75 for a standard 15-minute consultation, and most centres accept credit cards. Many medical centres remain open until 10PM or so, and a few remain open 24 hours. Those with an Australian Medicare card will find many medical centres in Sydney that \"bulk-bill\".\n\nMost hospitals in Sydney have emergency departments, but check before attending as some do not. Those emergency departments are open 24 hours. See the Australia article for more details on health charges.\n\nMany pharmacies stay open after normal business hours, often in proximity to medical centres, and there are a few that stay open 24 hours. You can call to find the location of your closest after hours pharmacy.\n\n### Smoke haze\n\nRelatively speaking, Sydney has low levels of pollution compared to other major world cities. There are however regular burn-offs of vegetation around Sydney and its surrounds during cooler and dry periods in order to reduce the risk of bush fires through summer, and these can lead to heavy smog over the greater Sydney area. Asthmatics and others with respiratory problems should take care not to spend too much time outside during these days. Wearing a P2 or N95 mask is a must during days of high pollution levels.\n\nSydney sometimes experiences high levels of smoke due bushfires, the most recent being December 2019. It was enough to warrant (temporary) inclusion in the world's top 10 polluted cities and the smoke was severe enough to prevent most outdoor activities. Although widespread bushfires are not a regular occurrence, scientists point to more happening in future due to global heating.", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk076", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Connect", "text": "See the Sydney district guides for local information, or the Australia guide for broader options.", "word_count": 15}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk077", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Consulates\n\nAll embassies are in the nation's capital of Canberra, however consulates in Sydney generally have most of the facilities that a traveller could need:\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Egypt\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Japan\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Papua New Guinea\n\n - Romania\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Taipei Economic and Cultural Office\n\n - United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland\n\n - United States of America\n\n### Other services\n\n - Custom Luggage Repair Centre\n\n **Newspapers.** Sydney has two major dailies: The Sydney Morning Herald, which is considered the city's newspaper of record, and a populist, generally right-leaning tabloid, The Daily Telegraph. Leafing through the Herald can be a good way to get an idea of what's happening in the city, and of attempting to understand the complicated morass that is Sydney politics. Newsagents also stock The Australian, a right-leaning national broadsheet, and The Australian Financial Review, as well as one or more local suburban papers (usually weekly, although larger ones publish more often).", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "sydney::chunk078", "doc_id": "sydney", "section": "Go next", "text": "There are a number of good one or two day trips from Sydney:\n\n Drive across the B59 Bells Line of Road over the Blue Mountains to the **Western Plains**. Buy produce (apples, pears, chestnuts and berries) from the orchard vendors at the side of the road if driving over in autumn. A few of these orchards also offer pick-your-own. Towns to stop by include Lithgow, which is at the foot of the mountains; Bathurst, home to the Mount Panorama motor racetrack, and Orange (3 hours from Sydney), a beautiful rustic town with a great (cold climate) wine district and several fantastic restaurants by eminent chefs, and which is fast becoming a wine-and-foodie region of New South Wales to upstage the Hunter Valley.\n Travel up into the wilderness area of the **Blue Mountains**. There are a number of good day walks in the Katoomba area, or you could tour **Jenolan Caves**.\n**Royal National Park**, in the south of Sydney and accessible by train has nice 1 to 2 day walks.\n Newnes Glen in **Wollemi National Park**.\n **Kanangra Boyd National Park**.\n Take a tour of the **Hunter Valley wineries**.\n **Wollongong** is a lovely small city south of Sydney, accessible by driving south down the A1/M1 (Princes Mwy) or taking an hourly train.\n Head up to **Gosford** or **Woy Woy** for some quieter, but picturesque beaches. Both of these towns are accessible by the **Central Coast and Newcastle** train.\n Head up to the regional city of **Newcastle** by train and take in some of the Victorian architecture and fantastic city beaches.\n\nOr if you are moving on:\n\n Melbourne - Australia's cultural and sporting capital. See also: Sydney to Melbourne by car for itinerary information.\n Auckland - It's 1,000 km closer and often cheaper to get to Auckland than it is to get to Perth.\n Alice Springs - 3,000-km drive. At least a 3 night trip, stopping at Hay, Adelaide & Coober Pedy.", "word_count": 319}
diff --git a/corpus/sydney/metadata.json b/corpus/sydney/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..26d2a53f8fade7f8d502edee5d737885269c6076
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/sydney/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "sydney",
+ "title": "Sydney",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sydney",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "New South Wales"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Blue Mountains",
+ "Jenolan Caves",
+ "Royal National Park (New South Wales)",
+ "Wollemi National Park",
+ "Kanangra Boyd National Park",
+ "Hunter Valley",
+ "Wollongong",
+ "Gosford",
+ "Woy Woy",
+ "Newcastle (New South Wales)",
+ "Melbourne",
+ "Sydney to Melbourne by car",
+ "Auckland",
+ "Auckland",
+ "Perth",
+ "Alice Springs",
+ "Hay",
+ "Adelaide",
+ "Coober Pedy",
+ "Sydney",
+ "Adelaide",
+ "Bathurst (New South Wales)",
+ "Lithgow",
+ "Mittagong",
+ "Albury",
+ "Central Coast (New South Wales)",
+ "Newcastle (New South Wales)",
+ "Wollongong",
+ "Kiama"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 19403,
+ "listing_count": 43,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 79,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tahiti/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tahiti/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c936104a56916ae2e59923d6a3b7d9687a11d7c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tahiti/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk000", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Overview", "text": "300px|thumbnail|View from Tahiti Iti towards the Taravao isthmus and Tahiti Nui\n**Tahiti** lies in the South Pacific. It is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls that comprise French Polynesia. Tahiti is in the Society Islands, an archipelago which includes the islands of Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine and Moorea, and has a population of 190,000 people (2017), about 83% of whom are of Polynesian ancestry. The legendary name 'Tahiti' not only identifies this island but also the group of islands that make up French Polynesia.\n\nTahiti is composed of two volcanic mountain ranges. In the shape of a 'turtle', it is made of Tahiti Nui (the larger part) and Tahiti Iti (the peninsula). The two islands are linked by the isthmus of Taravao and skirted by black beaches.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk001", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Towns", "text": "is the capital, and the administrative centre. Once sleepy, today its harbour is busy with cargo freighters, copra ships, luxury liners and ocean-going yachts. There are cafes, shops overflowing with French fashions, shell jewellery and handicrafts and a wide variety of restaurants serving Tahitian, French, and Asian cuisine. Not an attractive city, there are many small shops selling black pearls, small goods, souvenirs. The marche draws many shoppers for local produce (including fish) or souvenirs. Popular cafe with Wi-Fi on second floor. Don't expect many stores to be open after 18:00. What is open are the food trucks by the harbour, some restaurants and bars, and lei vendors. Convenience stores outside the city centre at service stations are open.\n has the international airport built on the lagoon. Apart from the airlines check-in counters, there is an information counter, a snack bar, a restaurant and vehicle rental offices and shops. Nearby, in a special Tahitian-style house, artisans sell flower leis and shell necklaces. A fairly large, often grungy area. Home to the *centre commercial* (i.e., the shopping centre) south of the airport on the main highway and anchored by a Carrefour.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk002", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tahiti and her islands are some of the most beautiful in all the South Pacific. Tahitians are very respectful, generous and kind. To hear random people say 'hello' on the street to strangers or even passersby is not uncommon. Many of the Tahitian children are into rap and hiphop, performing or practicing in the streets or in public squares.\n\nThe philosophy of the people, 'aita pea pea' (not to worry), is the Tahitian way of life. Be patient and polite to them and you will get anything you ask for, including a large smile. They are very warm and welcoming people.\n\nYour trip to Tahiti may be a one-time but unique experience due to its high price. Though not legally binding, more and more couples are renewing their marriage vows and will be bedecked in pareus, flowers, shells and feathers. The groom approaches the beach in an outrigger canoe. His bride, carried on a rattan throne, awaits him on the white-sand beach. A spectacular sunset, Tahitian music and dancers add to the ambiance. A Tahitian priest \"marries\" the couple and gives them their Tahitian name and the Tahitian name of their first-born.\n\n### History\n\nThe generally accepted theory states that Polynesians first settled in the Pacific around 4,000 years ago. Using wooden double-hulled sailing canoes lashed together with natural fibers and applying their knowledge of the wind, currents and stars, the first intrepid navigators sailed eastward, settling the central island groups of the Cook Islands and French Polynesia between 500 BC and 500 AD.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk003", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Understand", "text": "Other great expeditions undertaken around 1000 AD established the Polynesian triangle consisting of Hawaii (to the north), Easter Island (to the east), Samoa (to the west) and New Zealand (to the south-west.) The various languages derived from the ma'ohi that are spoken in these islands testify to the common origin of their peoples.\n\nIn the 16th century, Magellan reached the Tuamotu Islands and the Marquesas. However, the name of Englishman Samuel Wallis is the one most often associated with the European discovery of **Tahiti** in 1767. The following year, the French navigator Antoine de Bougainville named it 'New Cythera'. A year later, it was the English Captain James Cook's turn to land and take possession of the Society Islands.\n\nAt that time, Tahiti and her islands were divided into several chiefdoms and kingdoms. Around 1797, one of the chiefs succeeded in affirming his supremacy and established the 'Pomare dynasty' with the help of the Europeans. During the First and Second World Wars, many islanders left to fight alongside French troops. In 1958, the EFO (French Establishments of Oceania) became French Polynesia. The 1960s marked a turning point when the establishment of CEP (Center for Experimentation in the Pacific) in 1963 rapidly propelled them into the modern age. This was characterized by the influx of people from outlying islands to Tahiti, the growth of local businesses and an increase in the standard of living.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe weather is ideal! The climate is tropical. The average ambient temperature is 80°F (27°C) and the waters of the lagoons average 79°F (26°C) in the winter and 84°F (29°C) in the summer. But do not worry, most resorts and hotel rooms are air conditioned or cooled by ceiling fans.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk004", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Understand", "text": "Summer with a warmer and more humid climate is from November to April, and winter is from May to October, when the climate is slightly cooler and drier. When you step out of the airplane, you'll immediately notice that the air is warm and humid. Consequently, besides your camera and your extra memory cards, do not forget to pack lightweight cotton clothes, sunscreen lotion and a baseball cap or a wide brimmed hat. Synthetic fabrics can get hot and sticky in the tropics.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n- Tahiti Tourisme", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk005", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Get in", "text": "Tahiti is served by Faa'a International Airport (), which is close to the main city of Papeete (Papy - et - tay). All international flights will land in Tahiti. The national airline carrier then operates flights to all of the other islands.\n\nJust a little over 8 hours non-stop flying time from Los Angeles and 12 hours from New York, Tahiti is located halfway between the US and Australia.\n\nTahiti is regularly served by Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, Air New Zealand and LATAM. Expect to be greeted by a small band, ladies handing out flowers any time of the day or the night.\n\nIn case of a late arrival time, you will probably need to book accommodation that night unless you are part of a package group, as hotels typically don't permit very early check-in.\n\nIf your flight arrives after 20:00, your dining and grocery shopping opportunities may be greatly limited for that evening.\n\n### Visas\n\nHolders of a passport from the EU, and most countries of North or South America don't need to apply for a visa for a stay of up to one month. French Nationals only require a National Identity Card. However, a passport is necessary in case of transit via Chile, New Zealand and the USA.\n\nExcept for nationals of the European Union and aliens holding a 10-year residence card for metropolitan France, all foreigners entering French Polynesia must have a return ticket.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk006", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\nThe most common form of transportation around Tahiti is \"le Truck\". It is a rickety public open-air bus with wooden passenger cabins that will stop on the side of the street and serve different cities. Prices are inexpensive, normally set around 100 to 200 F (francs) per person and most will end up in the centre close to the market. Other means of transportation include scooters or private cars. Most rental cars cost around 9,000 F per day. There is a multitude of bikes to rent cheaply. This is especially a good idea on Sundays as everything is closed so you may wish to explore the islands.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis can take you anywhere on the island of Tahiti, for a price. Fares start at 1000 F, plus 130 F/kilometre 06:00-20:00 (230 F/km at night) anywhere on the island. During the day, the furthest destinations on the island will cost 8000 F (Jan 2019). Prices are posted at the taxi stands, including the one at the Fa'a Airport.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe ferry or catamaran will take you to Moorea and other adjacent islands. It now takes about half an hour by catamaran to go from Tahiti to Moorea.\n\nFerries (sometimes combined cargo and pax boats like the Aranui) travel between most islands. Catamarans and ferry boats cross between Tahiti and Moorea several times a day. Schooners and cargo boats serve all the inhabited islands from Papeete. Rotations vary according to the destinations: from three times a week to the Society Islands to once monthly to the Island of Mangareva.\n\nTwo cruise ships ply the islands: the *Paul Gauguin*, which does a regular 7-day trip around the Societies, with occasional trips out to the Tuamotus, Marquesas and Cook Islands; and the *Tahitian Princess* which does similar itineraries. A great way to see the islands, unless you're on a tight budget.\n\nThe Bora Bora Cruises is a more intimate vessel based in the Leeward Islands. For more adventure, embark on the *Aranui III*.\n\n### By plane\n\nAir Tahiti operates regular flights between 46 islands from Tahiti. It will take you about 10 minutes to go to the sister island of Tahiti, Moorea.", "word_count": 365}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk007", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Aorai Mount\nFrench and Tahitian are the most spoken languages, but English is widely understood in the tourist areas, but not in less frequently visited areas (such as the remote islands of the Tuamotus). As Tahiti is a part of France, most signs are in French, very few of them in Tahitian.\n\nBrush up on your Tahitian and French:\n\nTahitian:\n Iaorana (E-yo-or-ahna) = Hello\n Mauruuru (ma-rou-rou) = Thank you\n Vahine (vah-heen-ney) = Woman\n Tane (tah-ney) = Man\n Nana (nah-nah) = Goodbye\n Maeva (ma-ay-va) = Welcome\n Fare (fa-ray) = House/bungalow\n\nMany Tahitians end up mixing up words in French and Tahitian. An example would be a Tahitian asking where his \"vini\" is instead of using the French word for cellphone. \"Où est mon vini?\" \"Where is my cellphone?\" This is very common.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk008", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Statues in Marae Arahurahu\nthumbnail|Sunset at Moorea\nThere are many things to do in Tahiti and a lot to see and take pictures of. Should you embark on a circle island trip (of around 70 miles/112 km), some of the must see things would include:\n\n - Le Marché\n\n **The Arahoho blowhole** on the north side of Tahiti Nui. An area where a blowhole in the shore has formed on the road and whose waves crash inside the rock cliff.\n **Les Trois Cascades**. Three beautiful waterfalls inside the island of Tahiti Nui. \n **Tomb of King Pōmare the Fifth**. The tomb of the only king of Tahiti, when it was a monarchy.\n **Pointe Vénus Lighthouse**. Black sand beach and clear blue water by a fishing reef. Popular with young Tahitians.\n **Botanical Garden/Gauguin Museum**. At Papeari, on the west coast, the botanical garden made by Harrison Smith lies alongside the Gauguin Museum in the magical setting of the Motu Ovini.\n **The Olivier-Bréaud Golf Course**. You can admire the wonderful layout of this golf course set in the magnificent Atimoana complex which was a sugar cane farmland rum in the 19th century.\n **'Ārahurahu Marae**. A restored religious site containing various stone block structures dedicated to the old gods and where important ceremonies used to take place.\n**Museums**. It is interesting to visit the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands which has a rich collection of very old pieces and reconstructed historical scenes. The Black pearl museum as well as the Gauguin museum are fun to see if you want to get out of the heat.\n **To'ata**. A square with small restaurants (*see \"Eat\"*) but also the place to be for the July celebrations with dance and traditional music, the Heiva I Tahiti.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk009", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Mt. Aorai\n All **nautical activities**: surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling (most resorts will provide you with the equipment for free), canyoning, water sports, deep sea fishing, kitesurfing. Use reputable dive company for diving, those with the far out websites are reportedly a bit low on ethics and safety, not well prepared and do not go far past the marina.\n On land you also have the possibility of for example hiking, 4WD safari and golf.\n Deep sea fishing has been curtailed on Tahiti and is difficult to find.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk010", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Buy", "text": "There are many of the shops around the centre near \"Notre Dame\".\n\nIf you are dreaming of a **tattoo**, those available in Tahiti have unique patterns which are said to reflect the spirit of the island. There are lots of places to get tattooed around Papeete including the market. You may also want to buy a **black pearl**, and available at good prices in the market.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk011", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Tipping** is not a custom in Tahiti. It is beginning to be seen in some of the restaurants and hotels on the larger islands, but in general Tahitians do not expect your tip.\n\n\"**Roulottes**\" (snack shops on wheels) are especially popular on Friday nights to get some great Chinese food, crepes, and French-style dishes. You won't miss it since it is located along Papeete's waterfront. Unbelievably delicious meals at bargain prices in a fun and local atmosphere. When possible eat here as a meal for two can cost 1000-1500 F (Feb 2019), which is much less than a hotel meal (plus you get plenty of food).\n\nThe main island dish to try is the \"poisson cru\" (\"raw fish\" in French.) It is a fresh fish marinated with lime juice and coconut mixed with vegetables. Many varieties can be found all over including Poisson Cru Chinois (Chinese style), Poisson Cru Ananas (pineapple style). Parrotfish, ahi, mahi mahi, and other fresh fish are divine in a light sauce made from Tahitian vanilla and coconut milk. Do not miss the exotic tropical fruits.\n\nBaguettes are found all over the island at a *very* reasonable price. As well as baguettes, Tahitians have created the \"baguette sandwich\" (casse-croûte) where everything from fish to french fries to chow mein are stuffed into.\n\nMake sure you also try the very popular Chinese *ma'a tinito* (which is a mixture of pork, kidney beans, Chinese cabbage and macaroni.)\n\nFamily occasions and celebrations are the time for a huge *tamara'a Tahiti* (Tahitian-style feasts) where a meal consisting of suckling pig, fish, breadfruit, yams and fe'i bananas is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed in an earth-dug oven over layers of hot rocks.\n\nIf you are looking for fine dining try Paea south of Papeete to Chez Rémy or Le Carré at Le Méridien. Pricey, but fantastic meals, large French menu and best wine and drinks selection, and very friendly, relaxed staff who also spoke perfect English. The papaya dessert is delicious. US$28–45 per person. The Italian restaurant near the Le Méridien entrance is also good, especially stone oven baked pizza and the Anchovy-Caper-Olive Spaghetti.\n\nTips: get French creamed cheese at breakfast on your crepes.\n\nAlso, plan for your meals. Many restaurants don't open until 19:00. Some of the hotels have multiple restaurants that serve different menus at different times of the day, and changes by day, which made for limited selections and inability to order something you saw the day before. Some restaurants and businesses on the island close from 12:00-13:00, some until 15:00, which can make shopping and eating on a whim difficult. (Can't blame them, it's hottest then.)", "word_count": 440}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk012", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Drink", "text": "Bottles of water are readily available. Being a French territory, wine is common and easy to find. As this is a tropical island, a multitude of **fruit juices** from pineapple juice to coconut milk are to be found everywhere. It is sometimes better to crack open your own coconut yourself and drain it for lunch. If you're a fan of **beer**, the Hinano Beer will be one to taste, and perhaps bring a few cans home.\n\nMusic and dancing tell the story of the Tahitian people. Most hotels feature evening entertainment. Club dancing is also available in central Papeete but close at 03:00. You will probably not even get out that late, so tired that you will be from spending so much time in the sun discovering the island.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk013", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Tahiti can run from the most luxurious 5-star hotels like The Brando Resort or Tahiti Intercontinental, with overwater bungalows, a bar, a pool, to small family pensions. Bring insect repellent if you're staying in a pension. Much of the accommodation in Tahiti is of older style from the early 1970s.\n\nSeveral international groups are present: InterContinental, Sofitel, Novotel, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Orient Express, Club Med and Radisson. Two local chains, Maitai and South Pacific Management, complete the hotel scene. Although complying with international standards, the overwater bungalows are decorated in Polynesian-style with the use of pandanus, bamboo and shell light fixtures. Some bungalows are fitted with glass-bottomed tables for watching the fishes without ever getting your feet wet. The Radisson is quite a way from the airport and is perfect if you want to relax, but makes getting into town difficult (either a limited hotel shuttle or an expensive taxi ride).\n\nFamily hotels are ideal for travellers preferring both simplicity and local experience. Family hotels are divided into four categories:\n\nBed and Breakfast: furnished bungalows limited to four dwelling units per home and able to accommodate 12 people, equipped with bathrooms either private or shared.\nHoliday family homes: furnished bungalows limited to nine dwelling units and able to accommodate twenty-seven persons, equipped with bathrooms and kitchenette.\nFamily-run guest houses: same as the above + breakfast and dinner service.\nFamily hotels: offers full board meal service and à la carte food menu.\n\nStay outside of Papeete if you want a quieter, more pleasant smelling experience. Traffic is heavy in Papeete and so is the smell of it.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk014", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Connect", "text": "Many resorts have business centers from where you can have high-speed Internet access.\n\nPapeete's Central Post Office is open weekdays from 07:30 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 17:00 or 18:00. Saturdays from 07:30 to 11:30.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk015", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Tahiti has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its territories. However, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occurs.\n\nMedical treatment is generally good. Two major hospitals as well as several private clinics provide 24-hour medical service.\n\nAs an overseas territory of France, defence and law enforcement are provided by the French Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and Gendarmerie.\n\nBe sure to bring jelly-type sandals for walking amidst coral in the water and along the beaches or either old sneakers so you don't cut your feet on the coral or don't step on a stonefish.\n\nEncounters with sharks in the lagoon will be most likely when scuba diving or even snorkeling but they are totally inoffensive. So are stingrays. However, be aware of moray eels which hide deep in the corals and whose bite can cause serious injury.\n\nNo vaccines are required.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "tahiti::chunk016", "doc_id": "tahiti", "section": "Go next", "text": "People often know about **Tahiti** and **Bora Bora** but the following are other wonderful islands that should absolutely be visited:\n**Moorea**\n**Maupiti**\n**Tetiaroa**\n**Huahine**\n**Raiatea**\n**Tahaa**\n**Fakarava**\n**Nuku Hiva**\n**Rangiroa**\n**Manihi**\n**Tikehau**\nIt is no longer possible to take a direct flight from Tahiti to Easter Island.", "word_count": 47}
diff --git a/corpus/tahiti/metadata.json b/corpus/tahiti/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2aea7b62c9207459c10f34b27fa127857fd60419
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tahiti/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tahiti",
+ "title": "Tahiti",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tahiti",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Society_Islands"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bora Bora",
+ "Moorea",
+ "Maupiti",
+ "Tetiaroa",
+ "Huahine",
+ "Raiatea",
+ "Tahaa",
+ "Fakarava",
+ "Nuku Hiva",
+ "Rangiroa",
+ "Manihi",
+ "Tikehau",
+ "Easter Island"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3188,
+ "listing_count": 2,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 17,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/taipei/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/taipei/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e3366dff0ed974a5666bcb6baa68d97b21ff0f3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taipei/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk000", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|Ximending, Taipei\n**Taipei** (; Tâi-pak in Taiwanese, Táiběi in Mandarin) is the capital of Taiwan and a major global city. Located in the north of the island, nestled in a basin between the Yangming and Central Mountains, Taipei serves as the financial, cultural, and political heart of Taiwan. The city is a vibrant blend of Chinese heritage infused with strong Japanese and American influences—distinct in character yet refreshingly unhurried by global urban standards.\n\nBeyond well-known attractions like Taipei 101 and Ximending, the city offers a rich cultural landscape that includes traditional tea houses, art galleries, bustling night markets, and historical landmarks. Green spaces abound, from inner-city parks to nearby natural areas easily reached by public transit or car.\n\nHighly livable and remarkably accessible, Taipei boasts an excellent public transportation system that connects visitors to its diverse neighborhoods as well as tranquil escapes like Maokong. Its dining scene is equally inclusive, catering to all tastes and dietary needs. Whether you're sampling affordable, high-quality street food in local markets, browsing night market delicacies, or dining at international restaurants, Taipei offers something for everyone.\n\nThe city’s neighborhoods are striking in their variety—some may remind travelers of Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok, or Beijing, yet each retains a uniquely Taiwanese character. Taipei also serves as an ideal base for day trips to nearby hot springs, former mining towns, and national parks in northern Taiwan.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk001", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Districts", "text": "Taipei is a fast-growing city, but despite the pressure on land, a park is never far away, especially in the suburban areas. The downtown area is culturally divided into East and West. The west side, with its narrow streets and road side vendors, is considered the bastion of old Taipei life, whereas East Taipei, with its bustling supermalls, chic boutiques, stylish restaurants and classy cafes, reminiscent of those found in Tokyo, Seoul, Paris or New York City represents its metamorphosis.\n\nThe Greater Taipei metropolitan area beyond Taipei City boundaries includes the surrounding New Taipei City () and Keelung (), representing the largest urban cluster in Taiwan with nearly 7 million people, though run by three different government authorities.\n\n### Central districts\n\n### Suburban districts", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk002", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|400px|An evening in Taipei from Elephant Mountain in 2017.\nIn 1884, Liu Mingchuan, the Qing dynasty governor of Taiwan, moved the prefectural capital to Taipei. As officials arrived and government buildings were constructed, the city began to transform from a quiet market town. When Taiwan became a province in 1887, Taipei was named its capital and continued to hold that status. Its position in northern Taiwan — closest to Japan — also supported its growth after the island was ceded to Japan in 1895.\n\nDuring Japan’s fervent modernization campaign, much of Taipei’s traditional Chinese architecture was swept away, including the historic city walls. However, several Qing-era structures, such as the old North Gate, the former Provincial Administration Hall, and a number of temples, survived. The Japanese colonial period also left a lasting mark on the city’s architectural landscape, with prominent landmarks such as the Presidential Palace and National Taiwan University built during this time.\n\nTaipei underwent another dramatic transformation after 1945, when the Kuomintang (KMT) government relocated from mainland China. To accommodate the massive influx of mainland refugees, temporary housing spread rapidly across the city. These were later replaced with utilitarian concrete apartment blocks, which defined Taipei’s urban aesthetic for decades. Many of these buildings still stand, but beginning in the 1980s, Taiwan’s economic boom fueled a new phase of development. Modern neighborhoods took shape, tree-lined boulevards were introduced, and stylish cafés, restaurants, and high-quality apartment buildings began to emerge, signaling Taipei’s urban renewal that continues to this day.\n\nToday, Taipei ranks among the world’s wealthiest and most innovative cities. It is known for its friendly locals, clean and safe streets, and exceptional quality of life. Although it may not top most travelers’ bucket lists, Taipei is in fact a fascinating city to visit and live in. Its rich culinary scene has rightfully earned its place among the world's finest. Remarkably, the city has no neighborhoods considered unsafe, even at night — a rarity for any major metropolis and one of Taipei’s most underrated appeals.\n\n### Climate\n\nTaipei has a semi-tropical climate characterized by hot and humid weather. The most comfortable season to visit is the fall, when the rainfall is at its lowest and the temperatures average a pleasant mid 20 °C. February to April are particularly damp with little sunlight, while the summers can be very hot and humid, but often punctuated by heavy thunder showers. Taipei is prone to typhoons from May to October, though the highest concentrations are in August and September. \n\nSummer temperatures average around during the day, sometimes climbing up to or higher, and typically around at night, with some nights around . The humidity can make these summer temperatures feel much hotter, it typically feels like during the day and under average humidity levels. The hottest, most humid days of the summer can feel like and at night, in cases of extreme humidity and heat.\n\nWinters can be quite chilly, with temperatures occasionally falling below at night, though snowfall has never been known to occur except on very rare occasions at higher elevations in Yangmingshan National Park. Winter sunrises and sunsets occur at 06:40 and 17:05 respectively, but extend up to 05:05 and 18:45 in the summer months.\n\n### Tourism\n\n**Taiwan Tourism Bureau** – The official Tourism Bureau website.\n**Taipei Travel Net** – The official travel guide from the Taipei City Government.", "word_count": 558}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk003", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Talk", "text": "Taipei is a city of people from many different origins, most of the Chinese population can be divided between those whose families arrived in Taiwan during the 17th to 19th centuries, and those who came over with the ROC government after the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s and 1950s. While **Mandarin** is the *lingua franca*, and is spoken and understood by most people under the age of 60, other Chinese languages can be commonly heard as well. Among the earlier immigrant groups, while speakers of Taiwanese form the majority, there is also a significant number of Hakka-speakers living in Taipei.\n\n**English** is compulsory in all Taiwanese schools, and most people under the age of 40 will have at least a basic grasp of English. Learning some Mandarin and/or Taiwanese will make your trip much smoother. **Japanese** is widely spoken in hotels and the main tourist areas due to the large number of Japanese tourists. Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian are also spoken by some service staff in the main tourist areas.", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk004", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport\n\nthumb|280px|Taoyuan Airport arrival hall", "word_count": 12}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk005", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "The **Taoyuan Airport** **MRT** rail is the fastest travel option fo/from the airport.\n Between 06:00 and 23:00, two trains run every 15 minutes in each direction, one Express, one Commuter. The journey to Taipei by the Express Train takes roughly 38 minutes and the fare is NT$160 for either train type (NT$150 if paid by EasyCard). The train terminates at Taipei Main Station (on the red and blue MRT lines), and there is also an underground walkway to Beimen MRT Station (on the green MRT line). For passengers heading to Taipei, it is best to wait for the Express Train, as the Commuter Train stops at every station.\n At Taipei Main Station, some airlines (China Airlines, EVA Air and their subsidiaries) allow you to check-in and check your bags ahead of time, which are also then sent to the airport on the MRT. However, you must do this between 6 hours and 3 hours before your flight departure time. Follow the signs for “In-Town Check-in” on the upper levels of the Taipei Main Airport MRT station.\n The platform at Taipei Main Station is some 300 meters from Taipei MRT platforms.\nOther options, listed from cheapest to most expensive:\n**Express airport buses** cost between NT$120-150 depending on the bus company, 50–70 minutes depending on traffic and there are stops at both terminals. Most Taipei routes are divided into West and East, with each company operating a service every ten to fifteen minutes on each route. The western line bus terminates at Taipei Main Railway Station and also makes a stop at Yuanshan MRT Station on the Xindian line. (The Airbus company buses on the western line meander through local towns before joining the freeway and therefore take much longer than the blue and white Guoguang buses which enter the freeway directly.) Buses plying the eastern route terminate at the Taipei Grand Hyatt Hotel and make a stop at Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT Station on the Nangang and Muzha lines. There is also a bus connecting to the domestic Songshan Airport. Ticket counters display route maps showing all stops. In addition, there are some **non-express buses** which are slightly cheaper, but pass through towns such as Taoyuan (), Nankan () or Kueishan () before arriving in Taipei.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk006", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "When returning to the airport, express buses can be caught at various stops throughout the city. One major one leaves every 15–20 minutes from adjacent to Taipei Main Railway Station (near MRT exit M5 and underground mall exits K12 and Z3). Another is at the terminal at the Songshan Domestic Airport (). Other stops are outside major hotels and also in front of Minsheng MRT Station. For people taking early morning flights, the earliest available buses to the airport leave at around 04:00 from the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel () (201 Dunhua South Rd Section 2).", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk007", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is also easy to get to from the airport. You can take the MRT rail line there (previously, you had to take a bus). From there, you can catch one of the HSR trains to Taipei Main Station (where it is easy to take a taxi or MRT to your final destination). The bus is NT$30 and the train is NT$165. The total journey time takes 5–15 minutes waiting time, 18–25 minutes on the bus, and 19 minutes to Taoyuan HSR; roughly 1 hour in all. On the way back, there are check-in counters at the station for China Airlines, EVA Air flights.\nA one-way **taxi** fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$900 (generally NT$1,000-1,200 from the airport). In Taipei, don't make the mistake of asking a taxi driver to take you to the Taipei airport (Songshan) if you actually mean Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. The international airport is actually about an hour's drive from Taipei, while Songshan is in downtown Taipei.\nA one-way **pre-arranged car** fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$1,300-1,500. Generally these sedans are pre-arranged through your hotel and the car company or driver will meet you as soon as you exit baggage claim. Since the price is not much more than taking a taxi, it is usually recommended that you ask your hotel if they offer this service. This is a more comfortable half-hour ride to the hotel.\nDirect **bus connections** between the airport and other cities in Taiwan are also available. U-bus also runs shuttle buses every 15 min from both terminals to THSR Taoyuan station (15 min away), from where you can continue your journey by high-speed train.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk008", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is a **night service**, although it's really hard to find information about it. Best source is the airport website. As of February 2012 there is overnight bus service to Taipei Railway station at the following times 01:30, 03:00 for Terminal 1 (exit B5), add 10 mins for Terminal 2 (bus station, 1819 stand). Ticket can be purchased from the driver - NT$165. Another bus at 04:00, Wednesday & Saturday at Terminal 2, is unconfirmed. From the Taipei Railway you can take overnight train to connect to other cities or bus from the adherent bus station. It takes about 55 min from the airport to the city (at night).\n\n#### Songshan Airport\n\nthumb|right|280px|Songshan Airport\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|280px|Taipei Railway Station\nAll inter-city trains, operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration () and Taiwan High Speed Rail (), arrive at and depart from on Zhongxiao West Road, Sec 1 - opposite the 53 story Shinkong Mitsukoshi Building (). Taipei Main Station is a vast complex facility. Ticket counters are on the ground floor, while the train platforms are on B2. The station also features a food court on the second floor and several underground shopping malls. It connects directly to the Taipei Metro's Taipei Main Station, served by the Tamsui (Red) and Bannan (Blue) lines. In addition to ticket counters, the ground floor houses a tourist information office, a post office, shops selling aboriginal handicrafts, and several booths offering head, neck, and full-body massages (typically around NT$100 per ten minutes).", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk009", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are also three other train stations in Taipei city. Wanhua Station () is in the south-western part of the city and is within walking distance of MRT Longshan Temple Station and is only served by local trains. Songshan Station () is close to Raohe Street Night Market and all trains operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration stop at the station. Nangang Station () is on the eastern end of the city and is served by local trains and some express trains. It is directly connected to Nangang Station on Taipei Metro's Bannan (Blue) line and the Taiwan High Speed Rail is expected to operate into the station by the beginning of 2015.\nAll train stations in Taipei city accept Easy Cards to enter the station in addition to tickets bought at the vending machines or counters.\n\nThe THSR stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible car (wider doors, ample space, accessible bathroom). The official English guide for online reservations distinguishes between \"senior or disabled tickets\" and \"handicap-friendly seats\"; while it's possible to buy a ticket for the former online (\"correct passenger ID\" required), a ticket for the latter has to be reserved by calling the ticketing office on the phone.\n\n#### Baggage storage\n\nLockers of different sizes are available at the Taipei Main Station. NT$20-50 per 3 hours, maximum 3 days.\n - Taipei Railway Station carry-on baggage center\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|280px|Taipei Bus Station", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk010", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get in", "text": "Intercity buses arrive and depart from the , which is on Chengde Road, behind Taipei Main Station. Generally speaking, the buses operated by private companies are more comfortable and sport such amenities as wide reclining seats and individual game and video monitors. The government run buses are blue and white and are called *guóguāng hào* (). All intercity buses are known as *kèyùn* () and can be distinguished from the local city buses called *gōngchē* () by the fact that they do not have a route number, but only the name of the destination.\n\n### By boat\n\nCSF operates fast ferries (about 3 hr) from Pingtan in mainland China to Taipei (actually Bali District in New Taipei) and back. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger services remain suspended as of Jan 2026.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk011", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By metro\n\nthumb|300px|Taipei MRT\nTaipei City has a very clean, efficient and safe Mass Rapid Transit system known most commonly as the **MRT**, but also called **Metro Taipei** (). Fares are between NT$20 and NT$65 for one-way trips around town. It has been widely lauded as one of the most reliable and efficient systems in the world, and is often cited as a gold standard to which Metro systems around the world should aspire to. Stations are clearly identified in English as well as Chinese. All stops are announced in four languages: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. All stations have information booth/ticket offices close to the ticket vending machines. There is no eating or drinking while in the stations or on the trains. There are priority seats. If you need a seat, there are stickers offered at the information booth that allow passengers to identify those in need. Trains generally run from 06:00 to 00:00, with convenient bus connections outside the stations.\n\nWomen and/or children traveling at night can benefit from the **Safe Zones** - sections of platforms that are under heavy surveillance - in some of the subway lines. Stations and trains (including the monorail) are wheelchair-friendly, but when there are multiple exits from a single station, usually only one of these is equipped with a lift. All trains have **priority seats** ( *bó ài zuò*) that have a dark blue colour distinct from that of the other seats; these are reserved for the elderly, disabled people, pregnant women and women carrying young children. Do not sit in them unless one of those situations applies to you.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk012", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|200px|MRT Station in Taipei\nYou can use credit cards to tap in and out at the barriers, or you can purchase single journey tickets or the EasyCard (or *youyouka*, as in 'yo-yo-ka', also ) from a vending machine. The vending machines do not accept credit cards. EasyCard vending machines charge $500 for a card including $400 of ride credit and a $100 non-refundable card fee. Unused credit can be refunded at the end of your trip. EasyCard vending machines do not accept notes greater than $500 and do not give change. Single journey vending machines only give change as coins. One advantage of using EasyCard is it gives you a 20% discount on all MRT rides, and if you transfer from the MRT to an ordinary city bus, or vice versa, within an hour, the bus ride is only NT$7. The discount is automatically calculated when you leave the MRT station. It is also possible to buy day cards just for the metro system for NT$200 (refundable deposit of NT$50) and for NT$180 you can buy a card that works on both the metro and buses. Alternatively, the Taipei Pass costs NT$250 (no deposit) and covers travel on the metro and Maokong Gondola for one day, which is cheap and convenient if you take at least six trips.\n\nOften limited-edition cards are issued by the transit authority depicting artworks, famous characters, landscapes, etc. These are quite collectible and are perfect souvenirs for your trip. Single-journey tokens are recycled when you exit the stations, so if you want to keep a particular one you should purchase an extra.\n\nIf you're coming from southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung's iPass can be used interchangeably with the EasyCard in Taipei.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk013", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "When using escalators, be sure to *stand on the right* so people in a hurry can pass you on the left.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|200px|Taipei City Bus\nTaipei City has a very efficient bus service, and because all buses display information (destination and the names of stops) in English, the system is very accessible to non-Chinese speaking visitors. Payment can be made by cash (NT$15) or EasyCard (see Taiwan) for each section that the bus passes through. For local buses (all local buses have a number, so do long-distance buses) the maximum will be two sections with a total cost of NT$45. The confusion, however, arises by not knowing where the section boundaries are, and the fact that there is often a buffer zone to prevent people who get on one stop before the boundary from overpayment. Besides that, if you are transferring from the MRT to a bus within one hour, there is a discounted bus fare when using the EasyCard, and vice versa, see .\n\nRiders paying by cash must always pay when boarding the bus. No change is provided. Riders paying by EasyCard must tap *on and off* when entering/exiting the bus. The EasyCard system will automatically calculate the number of zones travelled and deduct this from your card balance. Failure to tap your EasyCard upon exiting the bus will not lock your card; however, you will not receive the MRT, bus, or YouBike transfer discount.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|200px|Taxis in Taipei are usually of the colour yellow for ease of recognition on the road.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk014", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are the most flexible way to get around, and are extremely numerous. They are expensive in comparison to mass transit, but are cheap compared to taxis in the rest of the world. Taxis are metered, with the meter starting at NT$80 (an additional NT$20 is added at night). Most taxi drivers cannot speak English, and non-Chinese speakers will need to have their destination written down in Chinese. **Tipping** is neither necessary nor expected.\n\nAll passengers are required to buckle their seatbelt. Women or children traveling at night are advised to use one of the reputable taxi companies. The toll free taxi hotline is 0800-055850 (maintained by Department of Transportation).\n\nTaiwanese taxi drivers tend to be more honest than in many other countries. They are notorious for their strong opinions on politics. A large majority of them support Taiwan independence as they spend all day listening to talk radio. They will probably be unable to share any of this with you if you do not speak Chinese. Avoid any potential political discussion.\n\nLone women traveling at night should not hail a random taxi from the street. It is best to have the number of one of the bigger taxi companies and to call for a cab.\n\n### By rideshare\n\nUber operates in Taipei, but only taxi license holders are allowed to drive for Uber, making it no cheaper than taking regular taxis. It is, however, an excellent way to avoid the language barrier.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk015", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|250px|Some pavements/sidewalks in Taiwan have this sign to allow bicycling.\nEven though motorized traffic is very heavy in Taipei, bicycles are still legitimate vehicles to get around. There are long cycle paths beside most rivers in the city. Bicycles can also be carried on the Taipei metro but only at Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays and via some stations. Bicycles aren't permitted in larger interchange stations such as Taipei Main Station and Zhongxiao Fuxing, and bicycles are only permitted in the first and last carriages. Properly packaged folded bicycles are exempt from the restrictions upon ordinary bicycles. There are not many segregated bike lanes but on some busy streets cycling on the pavement (sidewalk) is permitted where signed or marked, as in Japan.\n\nTaipei has a great bike sharing system: **YouBike**. It is very cheap if you register through their site or via large touch panel screen at major parking stations but you need a local mobile number to have a 4 number code sent to it to prove it's yours. The first half hour is NT$5, which is enough for most every ride you need, then additional half hours are charged at NT$10. You use **EasyCard** or **iPass** (the same as for the subway and buses) to rent them. It's all very easy and the bikes are modern and convenient. Check each bicycle for defects before you use them; bike seats are turned backwards to signal some form of maintenance is required. You can't take another bike from the same parking station for 15 minutes after parking. A very useful smart phone app called **bikefriend** shows where each Youbike bike station is located and how many bikes or parking spots are available.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk016", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting a car is not only unnecessary, but not recommended in Taipei unless you are planning to head out of the city. Traffic tends to be frantic, and parking spaces are expensive and difficult to find. Most of the main tourist destinations are reachable by public transport, and you should use that as your main mode of travel.\n\n### Address system\n\nThe Taipei address system is very logical and user-friendly. The hub of the city is the corner of the east–west running Zhongxiao () and north–south running Zhongshan () Rds, however while the north–south divide is made at Zhongxiao here, further east it is made instead at Bade () Rd, something which confuses even people who have lived in Taipei for years. All major roads are identified by their direction in relation to these roads. For example, all sections of the north–south running Fuxing () Rd north of Bade are called Fuxing North Rd (). Likewise, those sections to the south are called Fuxing South Rd (). Those that cross Zhongshan road are similarly identified as either east or west. Section (; duàn) numbers begin at 'one' near the two defining roads and increase at intersections of major highways. For example, Ren'ai () Rd (which has only an east location and therefore does not have a direction suffix), Section 1 will be close to Zhongshan South Rd. The section number will increase as one moves further away from Zhongshan Rd. So, for example, when Ren'ai Rd reaches Dunhua South Rd () far in the east of the city, a typical address could be: 7F, 166 Ren'ai Rd, Section 4. The house and lane numbers begin at zero every section. Lanes (; xiàng) lead off roads (; lù) and streets (; jiē), while alleys (; lóng) branch off lanes.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk017", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "See", "text": "Those who take the time to visit and look around will soon find that Taipei is just as vibrant as any other major city, and is full of a certain charm which makes it unique in its own right. Just spend a day wandering around Taipei's streets and you will start finding many surprises.\n\n### Landmarks\n\nthumb|280px|Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall\nSeveral memorial halls like the **Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall** in Zhongzheng District and **Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall** in Xinyi commemorate the most recognized leaders of the Nationalists to the lesser known war dead in the **Martyrs' Shrine** in Zhongshan District. All three have honor guards which change at set hours, demonstrating military precision and solemn respect for the ROC leaders and soldiers before them. Built in the middle of large parks, the memorial halls are also good places for some quiet reflection.\nthumb|280px|Longshan Temple\nWhile Taipei is largely secular, the elaborate Taoist and Buddhist temples such as **Longshan Temple** and **Bao'an Temple** in the older districts of Wanhua and Datong still draw locals who maintain the old rituals and traditions. On the glitzier side of town, **Taipei 101** may have relinquished its tallest building status but remains a very popular attraction for its architectural style and observation deck. On New Year's Eve, Taipei 101 becomes a beacon of lights and fireworks.\n\n### Museums and galleries", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk018", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "See", "text": "Anyone with even the slightest interest in Chinese history should visit the **National Palace Museum** in Shilin, which holds the singular best collection of historical artifacts from China, expertly curated by its staff. It is large enough that only one percent of what it owns is displayed at any one time, chief among them ancient paintings, scrolls, books and ceramics that span over 5000 years. The **National Museum of History** in Zhongzheng also holds valuable relics. There are other quirky little private museums such as the Miniatures Museum (Adult NS$200) and Museum of Drinking Water for more off-beat exploration.\n\nArt in classical and contemporary forms can be appreciated too, in the **Taipei Fine Arts Museum** and the **Taipei MOCA**. Local artists have gathered in various artist villages to find inspiration and cultural centers like **Huashan Cultural Center** are interesting informal spaces for a creative spark. Taiwanese auteurs dream of becoming the next Ang Lee, displaying their independent films in the Spot-Taipei Film House. All these can be found in Zhongshan.\n\n### Parks and outdoors\n\nthumb|280px|228 Peace Park\nIf the cityscape gets a little dreary, there are plenty of parks to escape to. **Daan Park** is one of the largest in the city, earning the moniker of Taipei Central Park. **228 Peace Park** in Zhongzheng was named to remember the bloody 228 Incident of 28 February 1947 and also holds the National Taiwan Museum and the 228 Memorial Museum. A few green spaces can also be found along the banks of the Keelung River, such as Zhongshan District's Dajie Riverside Park.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk019", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "See", "text": "Visit the **Taipei Zoo** in Wenshan to see giant pandas, brown bears and gorillas for a low, low price. It's more akin to a walk in a leafy park, where animals are free to roam around in their open enclosures. Combine it with a ride up on the **Maokong Gondola**, which has a few special glass-floor carriages, to relax further in the hilltop teahouses.\n\n### City gates\n\nthumb|280px|Taipei North Gate\nEven though very little ancient architecture remains in Taipei, four of Taipei's five original city gates still stand. The city walls which surrounded the old city and the West Gate were demolished by the Japanese to make way for roads and railway lines. Of the four gates still standing, the Kuomintang renovated three of them in its effort to \"sinicize\" Taipei and converted them from the original South Fujian style architecture to northern Chinese palace style architecture, leaving only the **North Gate** (*beimen* or more formally **Cheng'en men** ) in its original Qing Dynasty splendor today. Long obstructed by a busy elevated freeway, the freeway was decommissioned and removed in 2016, and a park has been built around the gate.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk020", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hot springs\n\nthumb|280px|Wulai Hot Springs\nHot springs () come in various brands in Taipei, ranging from basic natural pools, to plush spas at five star hotels. The three main places to have a soak in the Greater Taipei area are: **Beitou** (), **Wulai** () and **Yangmingshan National Park** (). The basic free 'rub and scrub' type public baths are run by the city. Most hotels offer the option of a large sex-segregated bathing area that generally consists of several large baths of various temperatures, jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath and also private and family rooms. Some hotels also have outdoor baths (), which offer restful views over the surrounding countryside. Prices range from around NT$300 to NT$800.\n\nThe law in Taiwan states that for safety reasons, individuals are not allowed to bathe in the private rooms, and there must be at least two people. Etiquette requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering public baths, do not wear clothing (which includes swimwear, though this is not the case for mixed-sex public areas) and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water. Finally, people with high blood pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the baths.\n\n### Hiking", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk021", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|280px|Qixingshan in Yangmingshan National Park\nThe mountains around Taipei make hiking a popular exercise in the city. The main hiking spot closest to the city is the **Four Beasts Mountain** which border Xinyi and Nangang. One of the most rewarding walks is on **Elephant Mountain**, where steep steps lead up to several different viewpoints that give a striking contrast between Taipei 101 and its neighboring low-rise buildings, especially against the orange hues of sunset. Continuing on separate trails will head towards the remaining 'beasts' of Leopard, Lion and Tiger, and Nangang mountain and Jiuwufeng beyond them.\n\n- [[Yangmingshan National Park]]\n\n### Theme parks\n\nthumb|280px|Taipei Water Park Entrance\nThere are a few amusement parks around Taipei. One is the **Taipei Children's Amusement Park** in Shilin, great for younger kids. The **Taipei Water Park** near Museum of Drinking Water in Gongguan is also a good place to spend time during summer, with its water slides and swimming areas.\n\n### Festivals and events", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk022", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Do", "text": "Taipei hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, but as many follow the lunar calendar the dates according to the Gregorian calendar are inconsistent. Check the Taiwan Tourist Bureau's events section before planning to attend an event.\nthumb|280px|Lantern Festival in CKS Memorial Hall\n **The Lantern Festival** is a dazzling display of lanterns and lasers which runs for several days around the fifteenth day of the lunar new year. While the main city event is held at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and Taipei City Hall grounds, Renai Road perhaps offers the most elegant display, with the whole tree-lined boulevard transformed into a delicate tunnel of lights. Pingxi in New Taipei City celebrates the festival with the release of huge lanterns that float serenely across the night sky, carrying with them the dedications and aspirations of those who release them.\n **Dragon Boat Festival** commemorates the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The festival is marked by races of colorful dragon boats held at various locations throughout the island, with one of the best places to view a race in the Taipei area being the **Bitan** River in Xindian. Special sticky rice balls called *zongzi* (pronounced like \"dzongdz\") are also eaten on this day. The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.\n - Golden Horse Chinese Language Film Festival\n\n- Taipei Film Festival\n\n- Taipei Pride Parade", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk023", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Buy", "text": "It has been said that Los Angeles has no center. In contrast, one could say that Taipei is all center, and as such it has been given the epithet - \"the emporium without end.\" Basically, however, the main shopping area can be divided into two districts: East and West. West Taipei is the old city and is characterized by narrow streets packed with small shops. East Taipei boasts wide tree lined boulevards and the biggest shopping malls are in this area.\n\n### Shopping areas\n\nThe busiest part of **East Taipei** is in between MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua Station and MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station (Bannan Line). The axis of this shopping area is **Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 4**, which is surrounded by numerous department stores. SOGO has three branches in this area, mainly sales various of boutique. Another notable one is Mingyao Department Store which has the flagship store of Uniqlo in it. East Taipei is also famous for the small stores inside the alleys. On the other hand, **Daan Road** in the other side of the area, has more elegant clothing shops.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk024", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Miramar Entertainment Park\nXinyi is arguably the premier shopping area in Taipei, if not all of Taiwan, and is anchored by a number of department stores and malls. Key among them is **Taipei 101 Mall**, as part of the larger Taipei 101 complex, and the massive Xinyi branch of the **Shin Kong Mitsukoshi** departmental store chain, which is the largest department store in Taiwan. **Eslite Mall** is an upscale market-style shopping center with a 24-hour bookshop (with a good English selection) on the second floor and ethnic music store in basement. For absolute luxury, try **Bellavita Shopping Mall** or **Breeze Center**. Also in the East District at near the Zhongxiao Fuxing Metro station is the flagship store of the **Far Eastern Sogo** department store chain, consisting of two separate buildings. Songshan has some shopping malls with distinctive architectural features, such as the **Miramar Entertainment Park**, which sports a giant Ferris wheel along with an IMAX theater.\n\nthumb|Ximending, the area with youth\nFor trendier fashion catering to youths, check out **Ximending** () in Wanhua just west of Downtown. If it's pink, plastic, and imported from Japan, you can probably find it on sale in a store. Sneakerheads will also find shoe stores with the latest limited releases here in sneaker-crazy Taipei, though you need to get a number and wait in a queue buzzing with anticipation. Several night markets don't just sell food but also have a large variety of clothing, handbags and more, like **Shida Night Market** near the university areas in Gongguan and **Shilin Night Market**.\n\n### Electronic goods", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk025", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Buy", "text": "As the sales headquarters for many homegrown multinational electronics manufacturers (including Asus, Garmin and Acer among others), good bargains and unique models can be found in Taipei. Those interested in picking up inexpensive electronic goods and cameras should wander the lanes and alleys around Kaifeng Street and Zhonghua Road, as well as the malls connected to Taipei Main Station.\n\nComputer buffs will enjoy a visit to **Guanghua Digital Plaza** (). Specializing in computer and electronic goods, this market has the largest number of stalls selling hardware and software under one roof in Taiwan, and all at very competitive prices. Along with it is **Syntrend Creative Park** () opened in 2015, specializes in electronics of all kinds and is a location for large companies such as Asus, Samsung, BenQ, and Acer to showcase their newest products. The **Taipei Zhongshan Metro Shopping Mall (Easy Mall)** is a long underground shopping area that houses several stores selling all manner of items, not necessarily limited to electronics. A few stores in the Easy Mall carry current and vintage video games, hardware and software.\n\n### Specialty items\n\nFor jade, flowers and jewelry in one central location, check out the **Jianguo Holiday Market** in Daan. There are actually three different markets, the Weekend Jade Market, Weekend Flower Market and Weekend Handicrafts Market in this same location. As the names suggest, they are open only on weekends until 18:00. The **Chinese Handicraft Mart** in Zhongzheng is also good for handicrafts.\n\nWanhua's Dihua Street, Bopiliao Old Street and Snake Alley night market are throwbacks to the older days of Taipei, back when **herbal remedies** and aphrodisiacs were extremely popular. Pottery enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Yingge in New Taipei City. Its old street is a crescent of beautiful **pottery shops** interspersed with coffee shops and tea houses.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk026", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Zhongshan North Road** () is a tree-lined boulevard featuring numerous international and local brands. Gucci and Louis Vuitton are among the brands who operate stores along this street. This road, particularly along the second section, is also famous for its numerous **wedding picture studios and gown boutiques**. It is possible to find a great deal for wedding portraits here as competition is stiff.\n\nGo to just north of the junction with Zhongxiao West Rd on Zhongshan North Rd, sec 1 (west side of the road) for **trekking and backpacking** stores selling a wide range of high quality equipment, and you'll be ready for all the outdoor hiking that Taipei and Taiwan offers.\n\n### Books\n\nthumb|Eslite Bookstore Xinyi Store\n\nTaipei has great **book shops**, and roads such as **Chongqing South Road** are packed with stores specializing in Chinese language books. The **Station Front Area** () is a section of downtown Taipei just south of the Taipei Railway Station. It is a bustling area filled with shops and stores of all kinds, but it is particularly well known for its high concentration of bookstores due to the bloom of bushibans (also known as cram schools).\n\nThe following book stores all have good selections of **English** titles:\n - Eslite\n\n**Caves Books** () has two branches (54-3 Zhongshan North Road, Sec 2, near Yuanshan MRT Station. tel +886 2 2599-1166). This is a temporary location, while the old store is demolished and rebuilt. The other branch (5, Le 38, Tianyu St, Tianmu. Tel: +2 886 2874-2199) is one of the original book stores in Taipei specializing in English titles. And, although it has been surpassed by the newer arrivals, it is still a good place to pick up a popular novel and English language textbooks.\n - Lai Lai\n\n- Crane Publishing Company", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk027", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Bookman Books\n\n- Mollie Used Books\n\n**NB**: In order to protect the environment, a government policy rules that plastic bags cannot be given freely at stores in Taiwan, but have to be bought (NT$1) - bakeries being an exception as the items need to be hygienically wrapped. Re-usable canvas and nylon bags are sold at most supermarkets.", "word_count": 58}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk028", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Eat", "text": "Taipei is a foodie's paradise. Almost every street and alley offers some kind of eatery. Although Taiwanese cuisine is primarily based on the cuisine of southern Fujian, the huge influx of Kuomintang refugees from mainland China after losing the Chinese Civil War means that Taipei is also one of the best places in the world to sample regional cuisines from all over China, with many of these also having been given a unique Taiwanese twist. In addition, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Italian cuisines are also popular. Basically, East Taipei, especially around Dunhua and Anhe Roads, and also the expat enclave of Tianmu are where to clash chopsticks with the rich and famous, whereas West Taipei offers more smaller, homey restaurants. Convenience stores are open 24/7 and are extremely useful for travelers. You can buy cheap meals, withdraw cash, and buy toiletries.\n\n### Night markets\n\nthumb|Innocent-looking stinky tofu\nThere are several night markets () in each district. Some are open during daytime, and all are open until around midnight. Night markets consist of restaurants and stores at the permanent locations and little booths along the center. Every night market has a huge variety of food, so a visit to any one is a good bet for good food.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk029", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Eat", "text": "A lot of Taiwanese street food didn't actually originate in Taipei, but any popular *xiaochi* (small snack) eventually makes their way up to the capital. Some of the best known night market snacks are: **oyster vermicelli** (; ô-á mī-sòa), **oyster omelet** (; ô-á-chian), **fried chicken fillet** (; jīpái), **stinky tofu** (; chòudòufǔ) and **aiyu jelly** (; ài-yù-bīng) among a long list of others. Because of the vast selection, the recommendation is to go with a few people and share the food. Otherwise, honestly the best way to eat is to join the longest queue in the market, or just buy whatever catches your eye! Vendor food is generally safe to eat, but use common sense though if you have a sensitive stomach.\n\nthumb|Tianbula ({{lang|zh-TW|甜不辣}}; tiánbúlà) Literally \"Sweet, not spicy\", is a Taiwanese version of Satsuma-age (referred to as Tempura in some regions of Japan)\nThe most famous one in Taipei is the **Shilin Night Market** (). It is easily accessible via the MRT at either the Jiantan () or Shilin () stations. Locals in Taipei view Shilin as touristy, with food catering to the tastes of mainland visitors. Another excellent option is **Ning Xia Night Market** () in Datong near the **Taipei Circle** () and accessible via the MRT at Zhongshan () station. **Raohe Street Night Market** () is also a viable option. It is a mere stone's throw away from the Songshan () railway station.\n\n### Restaurants", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk030", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Eat", "text": "While it might be possible to spend all your dinners at night markets, Taipei also has plenty of sit-down restaurants with more substantial dishes. For upmarket Taiwanese cuisine, which revolves around the mild yet flavorful trio of basil, garlic and chili, in addition to white rice or sweet potato congee (no wheat-based products for example), try **Ching-yeh Aoba** in Zhongshan or **Shinyeh Table** in Daan. But for more down-to-earth experiences, don't forget to go to one of the many \"hot fry\" () restaurants in Taipei where the locals go to eat Taiwanese food and drink beer and kaoliang. Be prepared for a noisy atmosphere, tiny seats, lots of empty beer bottles and excellent food at a low price.\n\nthumb|Din Tai Fung Restaurant - Taipei 101 branch\n\nThe influx of KMT refugees makes Taipei one of the easiest places to sample a quality spread of regional Chinese cuisines. *Xiaolongbao* () or soup dumplings is a Shanghainese dish made famous by **Din Tai Fung**, whose first storefront at Xinyi Road remains heavily patronised by fans of the world-wide franchise. They have many branches all over the city too, though their branch at Taipei 101 is also extra crowded. Around the corner from Xinyi Road is **Yongkang Street**, which boasts quite a mix of old and new restaurants like **Kaochi** or **Jin Ji Yuan**. Both serve *xiaolongbao*, along with other dishes such as fried chicken, good alternatives for when the queue to Din Tai Fung is an hour long.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk031", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Beef noodle soup** is a national icon; Taipei even holds a yearly judging event every September to appraise competitors. There are two main types: *hongshao* (), a strongly flavored dish derived from Sichuan spicy bean paste and soya sauce braised beef, and *qingdun* (), a clear light broth, derived from the cuisine of Shandong, although there are even tomato varieties popping up around the city. On Yongkang St alone, there're already two beef noodle shops, **Yongkang Beef Noodle** and **Lao Zhang**, which have their own regulars. Those more game to get to hard-to-find places can reward themselves at Lin Tung Fong in Zhongshan or the one at Taoyuan Street near Ximending.\n\nAnother popular dish in Taipei is **ginger duck** ()，which originated in Quanzhou, but has undergone its own unique evolution in Taiwan. It is only eaten in the winter, and shops selling this dish close for the summer months. Ba Wei Ginger Duck () is a famous shop selling this dish, and while its main branch is in Sanchong, it also has many branches throughout the city.\n\n### Vegetarian", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk032", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vegetarian food () is also common fare, with the city boasting more than two hundred vegetarian restaurants and vendor stands. Another Taipei specialty is **vegetarian buffets**. They are common in every neighborhood, and unlike the 'all-you-can-eat' buffets listed below (which charge a set price, usually ranging from NT$250-350 including dessert and coffee/tea), the cost is estimated by the weight of the food on your plate. Rice (there is usually a choice of brown or white) is charged separately, but soup is free and you can refill as many times as you like. NT$75-120 will buy you a good-sized, nutritious meal. Many of these veggie restaurants are Buddhist in nature and so meals do not contain garlic or onion (which traditionalists claim inflames passion).\n\n**Minder Vegetarian**. This is a restaurant chain offering the above-mentioned vegetarian buffet. Aside from the usual line of vegetarian dishes, contemporary cuisine such as rice rolls, tempura and a range of desserts, all entirely vegetarian, are offered as well. Major branches in Taipei are available at **Taipei Main Station 2F, Breeze Taipei Branch**, No. 3, Beiping North Road, **Eslite Bookstore B2, Xinyi Branch**, Xinyi District, No. 11, Songgao Road and **Eslite Bookstore B1, Dunhua South Branch**, Da-an District, No. 245, Dunhua South Road, Sec. 1.\nFor a special Taipei street experience, check out the **veggie vendor** outside No. 30, Lane 216, Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 4 (in the alleys behind the Dunhua South Road Eslite Mall and book store). The rice noodles are especially delicious and cheap and a plate of their dougan (dried tofu) makes a great side dish.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk033", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Drink", "text": "The nightlife in Taipei runs from boisterous night markets to equally exuberant clubs and bars, and indeed the city comes alive with glittering lights after the last rays of the sun leave the grey buildings.\n\n### Bars and clubs\n\nthumb|A cold can of Taiwan Beer\nXinyi is where the biggest and most flashy clubs are, especially the **ATT4FUN Building** which has an excellent view of Taipei 101, while smaller shophouses around the Taida and Shida university areas host live music gigs (although lessened after noise complaints). The \"Combat Zone\" in Zhongshan used to be the go-to district for US soldiers in the Vietnam War and remains fairly gritty with quite the collection of dive bars. The area around Red House Theater near Ximending has a large number of gay bars. Visit the **Taiwan Beer Bar**, also known as Taipei Brewery, in Zhongzheng if you fancy trying cheap and fresh brews of the local favorite Taiwan Beer.\n\nCover charges are usually required for entry, but these will include a free drink at the very least, with some places even offering free flow of house pours for the whole night after payment. Wednesday nights are ladies' night in most venues.\n\n### Tea houses\n\nTaiwan's speciality teas are *High Mountain Oolong* (, a fragrant, light tea) and *Tieguanyin* (, a dark, rich brew). The hills south of Taipei are known for *Baozhong* (, a light, almost-floral tea).\n\nTea stores are scattered throughout the city. Most will invite you to sit down for an extended sampling of their tea. Some are relaxed, as if running the shop was an excuse for the owner to chat and drink all afternoon, others are excited to share with you the best tea in all of Taiwan. The tastings are free, but there is an expectation to buy if you find something you like. Tea houses operate more like cafes, with menus to order from and open or semi-private seating. Tea houses are easiest to find near Yongkang Street and Dihua Street.\n\nThe mountainous **Maokong** area of Muzha in the Wenshan district of the city has dozens upon dozens of teahouses, many of which also offer panoramic views of the city. It's especially spectacular on a clear evening. A **Maokong Gondola** (cable car) system services the Taipei Zoo MRT station to Maokong. The S10 bus comes up from the Wanfang Community MRT station.\n\n### Cafes\n\nWhile traditionally a nation of tea drinkers, the Taiwanese have really embraced the cafe culture, and all the usual chains can be found here in abundance. For cafes with more character, roam the back streets near National Taiwan University between Xinsheng South Road and Roosevelt Road in Gongguan. More cafes are in the area around Renai Road, Section 4 and Dunhua South Road. There are also some interesting and characterful places between Yongkang Park and Chaozhou Street, and in the alleys around Shida Road. However, for a particularly impressive range of styles, visit Bitan in Xindian, where all the cafes offer restful views over the river and mountains beyond (though can be noisy during weekends).", "word_count": 512}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk034", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Taipei offers an important number of various accommodations ranging from basic dorms to 5-star luxury hotels. See the districts articles to read detailed listings.\n\nTourists sleeping one night in Taipei might want to stay in Zhongzheng, near the Main Train Station, where many budget accommodations can be found. Hostels can be found in the old Taipei area. Hotels around the Ximending area would be convenient for those wanting to eat, shop and party all in one area. Business travelers would probably prefer to stay in Xinyi, the financial district, where many luxury hotels are found. The Grand Hotel in Zhongshan, built back when Chiang Kai-shek decided there wasn't a suitable hotel in which to welcome foreign dignitaries, may appeal to those interested in classical Chinese architecture and history. 10% service fee and 5% VAT are usually not included in the top end hotel rates.\n\nIf you're staying a bit more long-term in Taipei, do as some daily commuters do and get cheaper rooms outside city boundaries, in places such as Xindian and Yonghe, which are still somewhat accessible through the Taipei MRT network.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk035", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Buddhism\n\nThe internationally acclaimed Chan (Zen) Master Sheng-yen (who passed away in Feb 2009) has a monastery in Beitou where there are regular meditation meetings with instruction given in English. See Beitou page for more information.\n**Tibetan Buddhism** has become very popular in Taiwan, and the Taipei area alone boasts more than fifty centers. So, on any given night there will be teachings and rituals being held in the city. Taipei has become a regular port of call for many of the well known rinpoches. While most teachings are given in Tibetan with translation into Chinese, some are given in English. For information on teachings, check notice boards at vegetarian restaurants. (For purchase of Buddha statues and other Buddhist artifacts, see 'Potala' under listings for 'Buy')\nThe international Buddhist foundation **The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation** has its headquarters in Taipei. The foundation publishes books on Buddhism in various languages (including English) which it offers for free. For detailed information check the foundation's web site.\n\n### Universities\n\nthumb|250px|National Taiwan University\n - National Taiwan University\n\n - National Taiwan Normal University\n\n - National Taiwan University of Science and Technology\n\n### Language\n\n - Mandarin Training Center\n\n - International Chinese Language Program National Taiwan University\n\n - Mandarin Daily News Language Center\n\n - Maryknoll Language Service Center\n\n### Taichi\n\nUnless you have a recommendation, the best way to find a good teacher is to visit a park at sunrise and check out the scene for yourself. If you spot a group that impresses you, approach one of the students and inquire about joining them. Most teachers will be happy to have a new student, though some old masters may 'play hard to get.' In the latter case, persistence is required. Most teachers will expect some sort of fee for their tuition. However, as it is considered impolite to directly ask the teacher this question, use a fellow student as mediator. Furthermore, when offering the money on the allotted day, place it in a red envelope (*hongbao* - available at all convenience and stationery stores) and slip it to the teacher subtly. Offering cash openly to a teacher of a traditional art or religion is considered undignified and demeaning. Most parks host tai'chi groups, but the most popular places are the grounds of the **Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall** (nearest MRT station - CKS Memorial Hall) and **Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall** (nearest MRT station - SYS Memorial Hall) as well as **228 Peace Park** (formerly known as New Park - nearest MRT station - National Taiwan University Hospital).\n\n### Cooking\n\n - The Coriander Cooking Studio\n\n - Jodie's Kitchen Cooking School\n\nMany community colleges, such as Zhongzheng Community College and Tamsui Community University offer weekly cooking courses. These include Chinese, Italian and Thai cooking, for example. The classes are in Chinese or Taiwanese language only. The prices are quite low because the colleges are government-funded.", "word_count": 480}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk036", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Work", "text": "Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is perhaps the easiest way to work in Taiwan. Work permits will be hard to come by and will take time. Consult your local Taiwan consulate/embassy/representative as far in advance as possible.\n\nAnyone staying in Taiwan for an extended period of time can *find* English teaching work, albeit illegally. Many people teach English (or other languages) for pay without a permit in Taipei and elsewhere in Taiwan.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk037", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Hospitals\n\n- Chung-shan Hospital\n\n- Buddhist Tzu-chi Hospital\n\n- Mackay Memorial Hospital\n\n- National Taiwan University Hospital\n\n- Taiwan Adventist Hospital\n\n- Yang-ming Hospital\n\n### Internet\n\n#### WiFi\n\nThe free *iTaiwan* is available all over the city – for more information read the country article. You need to (freely and easily) register to use it. There are other large free WiFi networks, like ''TPE-Free''. The once-pervasive public WiFi coverage has declined since 2020, as the increasing capabilities of mobile networks have led to decreased WiFi usage, and many partners have neglected to maintain their access points.\n\n#### Internet cafés\n\nInternet cafés are plentiful, especially in the maze of alleys between Taipei Main Station and Peace Park. However, you may have to wander around (and look up and down as many are on higher floors or in the basement) before finding one. Some computers are coin operated. Internet cafes are known as *wang-ka* in Chinese (a combination of *wang*, the Chinese word for 'net', and *ka* an abbreviation of 'cafe'). Below is a list of a few recommended internet cafes:\n \n - Aztec\n\n- LHH Cyber Cafe\n\n- Skywalker Multimedia Entertainment Center\n\n### Major airlines\n\n**Cathay Pacific** () – *+886 2* 2715 2333\n**China Airlines** () – *+886 2* 2715 1212\n**EVA Airways** () – *+886 2* 2501 1999\n**KLM Asia** () – *+886 2* 2711 4055\n**Delta** () – *+886 2* 2772 2188\n**Singapore Airlines** () – *+886 2* 2551 6655\n**Thai Airways** () – *+886 2* 2509 6800\n\nFor up-to-date information on cheap flights, check the advertisement pages of one of the three local daily English newspapers (see 'Media' section below).\n\n### Media", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk038", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Connect", "text": "Taiwan has a very free and liberal press. As of November 2023, there is one daily local newspapers available in English, the ***Taipei Times*** (founded in 1991). Its two former English-language competitors, ***The China Post*** (founded in 1952) and ***Taiwan News*** (founded in 1949 as *China News*) are no longer available on paper. *Taiwan News* continues to exist online. The website of *The China Post* was closed in 2021. Most media in Taiwan has a political slant. The *Taipei Times* largely supports the pan-green political alliance.\n\nFree news and information are available from the following:\n\n***Centered on Taipei*** is a free monthly designed for expats living in Taipei, but it is also very useful for visitors. It can be found in many of the major hotels throughout Taipei, and also in many businesses in the Tian Mu area.\n***This Month in Taiwan*** is a free magazine that lists events and has an exhaustive directory of useful numbers in Taiwan. It can be found at tourist offices and major hotels.\n ***FTV English Edition*** – This show is an hour of English news shown on Channel 53 (2005) on the local TV station Formosa TV (FTV) at 23:00 every night. The program features 30 minutes of local news, as well as cultural events. The show is archived online.\n**ICRT** (short for \"international Community Radio Taipei\") is an English-language radio station available across Taiwan on FM 100. The programming consists mostly of popular music. There are news bulletins every hour on the hour M-F between 07:00 and 20:00, and Sa between 10:00 and 18:00.\n\n### Telephone", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk039", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Connect", "text": "Mobile phone coverage is relatively good in Taipei. Among the major providers are **Chunghwa Telecom** (), **Taiwan Mobile** (), and **Far EasTone** (). Taipei has both 4G and 5G networks and roaming might be possible for users of such mobile phones, subject to agreements between operators. Most payphones work with telephone cards () which are available at all convenience stores. Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased ranging 300NT~1000NT depending on use cases with a passport. The cheapest available data rated SIM is 280NT for 2.4GB(16 days), and 300NT for unlimited 4G(5 days). 5G packages tend to be more expensive than their 4G counterparts. The prices are competitive enough that all the major companies provide roughly the same rate.\n\n### Tourist and emergency numbers\n\nTourist Information Office: 9F, 290 Zhongxiao East Road., Sec. 4. TEL:2349-1500 – There is also a branch tourist office next to the ticket purchasing counters at Taipei Main Station, and near exit 16 in the Metro Mall underground shopping plaza that runs between MRT the Zhongxiao-Fushing and Zhongxiao-Dunhwa Stations.\nTourist Information (emergency number) - .\n\n### Printing documents\n\nAll 24-hour convenience stores, such as 7-11 and Family Mart, have a flat screen monitor. With a USB, this monitor can be used to print documents on the store's photocopy machine.\n\n### Reservations\n\nAll 24 hour convenience stores offer a reservation service. A flat screen monitor (usually near the check-out) has lists of trains, theater, and movie screenings. Once a reservation has been confirmed, payment can be made at the check-out in exchange for a ticket.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk040", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taipei is one of the safest cities you will ever visit, and violent crime is extremely rare. Most people, including female travellers, will not encounter any problems roaming the streets alone at night. However, while not as rampant as in major European cities, pickpockets operate in crowded areas, so you should be vigilant of your belongings, particularly in night markets. Homeless people tend to congregate near Taipei Main Station. While most of them are harmless and will not bother you, you may want to avoid the area late at night if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Walking while smoking can result in a penalty fee.\n\nLocal police are a resource you can turn for help, and many officers speak at least basic English.\n\n **Central Weather Administration** – In addition to giving a seven-day forecasts for Taiwan(including districts in Taipei), this website also has detailed maps showing the path of an approaching typhoon and up-to-the-minute information of earthquakes, giving their location and magnitude.\n - Taipei City Police Department Foreign Affairs Division\n\n - Taipei City Police Department Foreign Affairs Service Station\n\n Emergency numbers:\n Police: **110**\n Ambulance, Fire brigade: **119**", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk041", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Cope", "text": "thumb|Presidential Office Building\n - National Immigration Agency\n\n### Foreign missions\n\nAs the People's Republic of China (PRC) does not allow other countries to have diplomatic relations with both itself and the ROC on Taiwan, many of the world's nations do not have official embassies or consulates in Taiwan. However, as the PRC allows recognition of Taiwan as a separate economy, many nations maintain a \"Trade Office\", \"Institute\" or something of a similar name in Taipei. These missions serve as *de facto* embassies that perform consular activities, such as issuing visas.\n\n - Argentina: Argentina Trade and Cultural Office\n\n - Australia: The Australian Office Taipei\n\n - Austria: Austrian Office Taipei\n\n - Belgium: Belgian Office, Taipei\n\n - Brazil: Commercial Office of Brazil to Taipei\n\n - Brunei: Brunei Darussalam Trade and Tourism Office in Taipei\n\n - Canada: Canadian Trade Office in Taipei\n\n - Czech Republic: Czech Economic and Cultural Office\n\n - Denmark: The Trade Council of Denmark\n\n - Finland: Finland's Trade Office in Taipei\n\n - France: Bureau Français de Taipei\n\n - Germany: German Institute Taipei\n\n - Hungary: Hungarian Trade Office, Taipei\n\n - India: India-Taipei Association\n\n - Indonesia: Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei\n\n - Israel: Israeli Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei\n\n - Italy: Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Office\n\n - Japan: Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association\n\n - Luxembourg: Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office, Taipei\n\n - Malaysia: Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei\n\n - Mexico: Mexican Trade Services Documentation and Cultural Office\n\n - Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Trade and Economic Representative Office in Taipei\n\n - Myanmar: Myanmar Trade Office (Taipei)\n\n - Netherlands: Netherlands Trade and Investment Office\n\n - New Zealand: New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office Taipei\n\n - Nigeria: Nigeria Trade Office in Taiwan R.O.C.\n\n - Oman: Commercial Office of the Sultanate of Oman in Taiwan\n\n - Philippines: Manila Economic and Cultural Office\n\n - Peru: PromPerú in Taiwan\n\n - Poland: Warsaw Trade Office in Taipei\n\n - Russia: Representative Office in Taipei for the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission on Economic and Cultural Cooperation\n\n- Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Trade Office in Taipei\n\n - Singapore: Singapore Trade Office in Taipei\n\n - Slovakia: Slovak Economic and Cultural Office Taipei\n\n - Somaliland: Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan\n\n - South Africa: Liaison Office of South Africa in Taiwan\n\n - South Korea: Korean Mission in Taipei\n\n - Spain: Spanish Chamber of Commerce\n\n - Sweden: Business Sweden\n\n - Switzerland: Trade Office of Swiss Industries\n\n - Thailand: Thailand Trade and Economic Office (Taipei)\n\n - Turkey: Turkish Trade Office in Taiwan\n\n - United Kingdom: British Office Taipei\n\n - United States: American Institute in Taiwan\n\n - Vietnam: Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office\n\n### Embassies\n\nThe following countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan and have embassies in Taipei.\n\n - Belize\n\n - Eswatini\n\n - Guatemala\n\n - Haiti\n\n - Holy See\n\n - Marshall Islands\n\n - Palau\n\n - Paraguay\n\n - Saint Kitts and Nevis\n\n - Saint Lucia\n\n - Tuvalu", "word_count": 470}
+{"chunk_id": "taipei::chunk042", "doc_id": "taipei", "section": "Go next", "text": "Taiwan's excellent rail system makes day trips easy, and there's lots to see around the New Taipei and Keelung.\n\n Tamsui, an old port town northwest of Taipei, is the main scene of the Taiwanese movie-**Secret** by Jay Chou. It's very popular with tourists.\n Jiufen is a former gold mining town on the northeast coast and now a popular tourist destination.\n Banqiao is a town and administrative capital of the other city in the Taipei Metro Area, New Taipei City.\n Fulong is on the eastern coast of New Taipei City. There you will find a coastal town with an excellent beach. Every July, there is the three day **Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival** which is a must-see.\n Yingge is famous for its high concentration of potters and ceramic makers.\n\nIt's even possible to travel to anywhere along the west coast of Taiwan all the way to Kaohsiung and back within a day, although at the price of a high-speed rail ticket. The eastern parts are a little harder to get to, and Taroko Gorge warrants more than a night's stay anyway.\n\n Taroko Gorge – Here, the Liwu River cuts through 3,000-foot marble cliffs. The area around the gorge is also designated as **Taroko Gorge National Park**.\n Hsinchu is a city with an old heritage and modern science park.\n Shei-pa National Park spans mountains and rivers and is in Hsinchu County has great hiking trails. Hsinchu County is also home to **Leofoo Village Theme Park**, Taiwan's most popular amusement park.\n Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County is a crystal clear lake embedded into lush mountains.\n Tainan for a laidback atmosphere and in-depth look into the history of Taiwan.", "word_count": 274}
diff --git a/corpus/taipei/metadata.json b/corpus/taipei/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..95be1b6ddfb2277ffce8f575a8e22e0ed6f3412d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taipei/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "taipei",
+ "title": "Taipei",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Taipei",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "food-tour"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Northern Taiwan"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "New Taipei",
+ "Keelung",
+ "Tamsui",
+ "Jiufen",
+ "Banqiao",
+ "New Taipei City",
+ "Fulong",
+ "Yingge",
+ "Kaohsiung",
+ "Eastern Taiwan",
+ "Taroko Gorge",
+ "Taroko Gorge",
+ "Hsinchu",
+ "Shei-pa National Park",
+ "Hsinchu County",
+ "Sun Moon Lake",
+ "Nantou County",
+ "Tainan",
+ "Hsinchu",
+ "Taoyuan",
+ "Keelung",
+ "New Taipei",
+ "Taoyuan",
+ "New Taipei",
+ "Keelung",
+ "New Taipei",
+ "Taoyuan",
+ "New Taipei",
+ "New Taipei",
+ "Yilan",
+ "New Taipei"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 10630,
+ "listing_count": 87,
+ "marker_count": 4,
+ "chunk_count": 43,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/taiwan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/taiwan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cd664d7a68de443dfca92c70a3e9c3e6f4bace63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taiwan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk000", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Taiwan** (Traditional Chinese: or , *Táiwān*) is a self-governing group of islands off the coast of China. It is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. Taiwan is home to a large number of impressive scenic sites, and Taipei is a center of culture, entertainment and leisure activities. The island is also a center of Mandarin-language pop culture with a substantial entertainment industry.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk001", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|Taipei at night\n ( or ) – the national capital of Taiwan and one of the world's major global cities, as well as the center of commerce and culture. Taipei is also home to Ximending and Taipei 101.\n () – The main center of Hakka culture in Taiwan.\n () – Near Taroko Gorge and considered one of the most pleasant of Taiwan's cities.\n () – A former gold mining town on the northeast coast visited for its quaint streets and picturesque views.\n () – The third-largest city on the island. It has one of the busiest sea ports (the Port of Kaohsiung) in the world and the island's second-largest airport.\n ( or ) – The second-largest city on the island. In the center-western region of Taiwan, and famous among the Taiwanese for its pastries such as sun cakes and pineapple cakes.\n () – At the geographical center of the island, making it a good base for exploring the central mountains and Sun Moon Lake.\n ( or ) – The oldest city and former capital of Taiwan. It is famous for its historic buildings, and as the unofficial culinary capital of Taiwan.\n ( or ) – On the southeastern coast, a laid back city that is known for beautiful scenery and large indigenous population.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk002", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|240px|Mountain trail in [[Alishan]]\nPeople tend to think of Taiwan as a small, crowded island filled mostly with electronic factories, and if you stay in Taipei or along the west coast you might indeed maintain that impression. However, the island is also home to high mountain ranges, great beaches and stunning national parks, many with hot springs. Taiwan is approximately 60% forested, and most of that forest is natural. \n\n () – Misty forests of giant cypresses and amazing sunrises at the center of the island, reached by a scenic narrow-gauge train\n () – At the extreme southern tip of the island, this park is famous for its beaches and lush vegetation.\n () – A park spanning mountains and rivers in Hsinchu County—great hiking trails\n () – Nestled at 762 m (2,500 ft) in lofty mountains in Nantou County, this lake is famous for its clear sparkling blue water and picturesque mountain backdrop.\n () – A historic logging area and one of Taiwan's most scenic spots. Located in Yilan County.\n ( *Tàilǔgé*) – An impressive gorge off the east coast\n () – Spanning a mountain range overlooking Taipei\n (Jade Mountain/) – At 3,952 m the highest mountain in not just Taiwan, but in the entire eastern ⅔ of East Asia\n () – In Taoyuan County, \"Lala\" means \"beauty\" in the indigenous Atayal language. Mt. Lala is one of natural protection zones in Taiwan. There are some 500–2,800-year-old \"divine\" trees including the No. 5 divine tree, which is reputedly even older than Confucius. Lalashan is best known for its peach trees, and peach season (July–August) is the most beautiful time to visit Mt. Lala.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk003", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Taiwan is home to more than 24 million people (2022). Although the vast majority of the population is ethnically Han Chinese, the indigenous Austronesian inhabitants maintain their own cultures, and the legacy of Japanese colonial rule still pervades much of Taiwanese life.\n\nJapanese, Hongkongers and Southeast Asians enjoy taking short trips to Taiwan to enjoy its neighborly hospitality. Taiwan is home to some well-known international companies such as Acer, MSI, Asus, HTC, TSMC and Giant Bicycles, whose technologies are some of the most advanced in the world.\n\n### History\n\nTaiwan was first populated 30,000 years ago by an Australo-Melanesian group known as the Negrito. The Negrito were eventually assimilated and displaced 5,000 years ago by Proto-Austronesians who arrived from the east coast of mainland China, predominantly from what is now Fujian province. It has been suggested that these people were the ancestors of Austronesian speakers across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and even Madagascar. Recorded history began with the partial colonization of Taiwan by the Dutch and then the Portuguese in the early 17th century. (The old name of Taiwan, *Formosa*, comes from the Portuguese *Ilha Formosa* for \"beautiful island\".) Many pro-independence Taiwanese consider the establishment of Dutch colonial rule in 1624 to be the birth of the Taiwanese nation.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk004", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Han Chinese immigrants arrived in significant numbers with the onset of European trade. The Ming loyalist Koxinga defeated the Dutch garrisons and set up Taiwan as a rump Ming Empire with the hope of reconquering Qing China. His grandson surrendered to the Qing in the late 1600s. Although contact between China and Taiwan dates back thousands of years, it was not until larger numbers of ethnic Han residents arrived during the Qing dynasty that Taiwan was integrated into China as part of Hokkien (Fujian) province. It became a separate province in 1887. The years of Han Chinese settlement during the Qing Dynasty were marred by conflict between the Han settlers and the indigenous people, between the Minnan and Hakka speakers among the Han settlers, and between the Quanzhou and Zhangzhou immigrants among the Minnan speakers. All these resulted in Minnan speakers largely occupying the fertile lowlands along the coast, the Hakkas being forced to occupy the middle elevations in the mountains, and the indigenous people being forced to higher elevations in the mountains and the more typhoon-prone east coast.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk005", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Defeated by the Japanese, the Qing Empire ceded Taiwan to Japan under the terms of the treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. Japan ruled the island until the end of World War II in 1945, and exerted profound influences on its development. The island's entertainment and pop culture was and still is heavily influenced by that of Japan. Much of the infrastructure built by the Japanese can still be seen on the island, and has been in continuous use up to the present day (e.g. railway crossing gates, administrative buildings, and the old port at Kaohsiung). During World War II, many Taiwanese, both indigenous and Han Chinese, served in the Imperial Japanese Army, many of whom have been enshrined in the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Like their counterparts in Korea and other occupied territories, many Taiwanese women were forced to serve as \"comfort women\" (i.e. sex slaves) in Japanese military brothels.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk006", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Upon the resumption of Chinese rule, the *Kuomintang* (KMT, ) under Chiang Kai-shek, also known as the Nationalists, was suspicious of the locals in Taiwan, because many Taiwanese had served in the Japanese military and civil service during World War II. Moreover, the Japanese had sought to turn Taiwan into a model colony. Despite having been discriminated against, many locals had seen their standards of living improve under Japanese rule, and were disillusioned by the corruption and incompetence that plagued the Kuomintang at that time. Tensions between the new Kuomintang government and the locals culminated in the **228 incident** on 28th February 1947, when many locals revolted against Chinese rule, and the Kuomintang responded with a brutal crackdown, massacring thousands of pro-independence protesters and Japanese-educated intellectuals. Taiwan was placed under martial law following the incident, which was not lifted until 1987; this period is known to the Taiwanese as the \"White Terror\" (). Discussion of the incident was banned under the years of martial law, but was brought back to the fore once again following democratization in the 1990s, and it remains a key impetus behind the Taiwan independence movement.\nthumb|Ximending in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan\nthumb|Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall\nIn the early 20th century, the Nationalists and Communists fought a bloody civil war in mainland China. Although the two sides briefly united against Japan during World War II, they quickly began fighting again after the war was over. The Communists emerged victorious in 1949. The Nationalist government, remnants of their army, and hundreds of thousands of supporters then fled to Taiwan, but also retained control of several offshore islands of Fujian. From Taipei, they continued to assert their right as the sole legitimate government of all China. Initially very repressive, the government began to loosen control in its fourth decade under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Ching-kuo. Taiwan also experienced rapid economic growth and modernisation under the leadership of Chiang Ching-kuo, becoming one of the world's richest and most modern economies and earning it a place as one of the East Asian Tigers. Today, Taiwan is generally regarded as a modern, developed economy, and is the world's largest producer of semiconductor chips. Democratization began in earnest through the 1980s and 1990s, culminating with the first direct presidential elections in 1996, and the first peaceful transition of power between two political parties in 2000.", "word_count": 397}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk007", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Taiwanese politics remain dominated by the issue of relations between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China (PRC), which still claims Taiwan as a \"renegade province\" and regularly threatens military action if Taiwan attempts to break away from the awkward **One China** status quo, whereby both sides agree that there is only one Chinese nation, but disagree on whether that one nation should be governed by the PRC or the Republic of China (ROC). To summarize a *very* complex situation, the **Pan-Blue** () group spearheaded by the KMT supports eventual unification with the mainland when the political climate is right, while the **Pan-Green** () group led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supports eventual formal independence under the name \"Republic of Taiwan\".\n\nAlthough mainland China has been Taiwan's most important trading partner since 2008, many Taiwanese were fearful that deepening economic ties would lead to the Chinese Communist Party using this economic dependence to coerce democratic Taiwan into unifying with mainland China under communist rule. Things came to a head when student protesters stormed the Legislative Yuan on 18th March 2014, forcing the government to abandon ratification of a trade deal with mainland China, marking the first time the Taiwanese legislature had been occupied by civilian protesters. The protests, popularly known as the **Sunflower Movement**, are today considered a watershed moment in Taiwanese political history, as they led to the political awakening of much of the formerly apolitical younger generation, galvanized a distinct Taiwanese identity, and united most of the younger generation behind the pro-independence camp.\n\n### Government and politics", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk008", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Taiwan is a presidential republic modelled after the American system of government, with influences from the traditional Chinese system of government as envisioned by Sun Yat-sen, the founding president of the Republic of China. It has a separation of powers into five branches of government instead of three, as is typical in Western presidential republics. The President is popularly elected every four years for up to two terms, and is the head of state. The President has the sole authority to appoint members of the executive branch, known as the Executive Yuan, whose leader, known as the Premier, serves as the head of government.\n\nThe legislative branch is known as the Legislative Yuan, often referred to as the \"Parliament\", which is elected every four years in parallel with the presidential elections. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy known for its exceptionally dramatic parliamentary sessions, with physical fights between legislators on the floor being a regular occurrence.\n\nThe other branches of government are the Judicial Yuan, which serves as Taiwan's constitutional court and leads the judiciary branch, the Examination Yuan, which administers civil service examinations, and the Control Yuan, which is responsible for auditing the government.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk009", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "The three main parties in Taiwanese politics are the **Kuomintang** (KMT), the **Democratic Progressive Party** (DPP), and the **Taiwan People's Party** (TPP). Generally speaking, the main distinction between the three parties is their attitude toward China: While the KMT, which professes Chinese nationalism, favors friendlier ties with China, the DPP, which professes Taiwanese nationalism, takes a tougher stance against China and favors closer ties with Japan and the United States. The TPP attempts to sidestep the China issue by instead focusing on bread and butter issues and populist agendas. The older generation is politically split between the KMT vs the DPP, while the younger generation is split between the DPP vs the TPP. Typical \"left-right leaning\" supporters in the West may exist in any party.\n\n### People\n\nTaiwan was first populated by indigenous peoples ( *yuán zhù mín*) that spoke various Austronesian languages, which are related to Malay, Tagalog, Indonesian and most languages of the Pacific island nations. Today the remaining indigenous peoples make up only about 2% of the population, while the other 98% are considered ethnically Han Chinese. The Han Chinese are further split into Taiwanese ( *běn shěng rén*, lit. \"people of our province\"), who make up about 84% of the population and whose ancestors migrated to Taiwan during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and mainlanders ( *wài shěng rén*, lit. \"people of other provinces\"), who make up about 14% of the population and whose families fled to Taiwan from the mainland after the communist takeover in 1949. Among the Taiwanese group, Hoklo (Minnan) speakers form the majority, which is about 70% of the population, while the remaining 14% are largely Hakka speakers.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk010", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "In modern times, Taiwan is also home to immigrants from elsewhere, especially other Asian countries such as Malaysia (most of whom are ethnically Chinese), Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. The post-1949 Chinese immigrants come from every province and include many non-Han residents.\n\n### Culture\n\nTaiwanese culture is largely based on traditional Chinese culture, particularly that of Fujian province, because most Taiwanese are Han Chinese whose ancestors migrated to Taiwan from that region. However, in the 20th century, Taiwanese culture diverged from that of mainland China. Substantial Japanese influences can be seen in modern Taiwanese culture because of 50 years of Japanese rule, and this can be seen in its cuisine and in its pop culture. In addition, the Japanese introduced baseball and hot-spring bathing to Taiwan, and these remain popular pastimes for the Taiwanese to this day. Kuomintang refugees fleeing the mainland in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War also brought their cultures with them, and their influence is most visible in Taiwan's cuisine. As Taiwan was spared from the Cultural Revolution, the Taiwanese have also retained some elements of traditional Chinese culture that have been lost in mainland China.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk011", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Indigenous Austronesian or \"Formosan\" culture has greatly suffered under multiple different waves of colonial rule. It is having a resurgence today, and efforts are being made to revive the culture through the introduction of the Formosan languages into the school curriculum. However, many aspects of it have been lost forever, which is evident in how the majority of the Formosan languages are extinct or moribund. Numerous indigenous Taiwanese have had successful careers in the entertainment industry, perhaps the most famous example being the singer Kulilay Amit, better known by her Chinese name Chang Huei-mei, who is of Puyuma ethnicity. The indigenous people of Taiwan are separated into Lowland groups who lived on the plains and Highland groups who lived in the mountains. The Lowland groups were the first to come in contact with the Dutch while the Highland groups were only truly subjugated by the Japanese. The Lowland groups receive limited indigenous recognition today due to having largely culturally assimilated into the Han Chinese, and suspicion from Highland groups on whether they truly qualify as \"indigenous\".\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|240px|Taroko Gorge suspension bridge\nLowland Taiwan has a marine tropical climate during the summer, with sweltering, humid weather (above 30 °C, 86 °F) from Jun-Sep. In the winter the weather is influenced by the nearby continent, and in the northern areas the temperature can go as low as 8 °C at night. The best time of year to visit is from Oct-Dec, although even then occasional typhoons can spoil the fun. Spring is also nice, although it rains more than during autumn. During the typhoon season, the east coast bears the brunt of the damage as it is facing the Pacific Ocean.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk012", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the mountainous regions you will encounter more temperate conditions. Rapid weather change can endanger unprepared visitors, so advice on proper preparation should be obtained before visiting those areas. In fact, it snows every year on Taiwan's highest mountains and occasionally even on mountains like Alishan.\n\n### Taiwanese calendar\n\nThe *Minguo* (, ROC) calendar, counting years from the establishment of the ROC (1911), is commonly used in Taiwan. To convert a *Minguo* date to A.D., just add 1911. is Minguo . Months and days are according to the standard Gregorian calendar for almost everything except traditional holidays and religious matters, which use the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.\n\n### Festivals\n\nAs Taiwan is majority Han Chinese, traditional Chinese festivals are celebrated in Taiwan. Among the most notable are:", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk013", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Chinese New Year** (). This is the most important festival for the Taiwanese and many shops and restaurants close on the first three days so it is not an ideal time to visit. However, the days leading up to the festival and the fourth to fifteenth days are ideal for soaking up the atmosphere and listening to Chinese New Year songs.\n**Tomb Sweeping Day** (Ching Ming Festival, ). This is when many Taiwanese pay respects at their ancestors' graves, do maintenance on those graves, and generally have a day long picnic in the cemetery. \n**Dragon Boat Festival** (). This festival honors Qu Yuan, a patriotic official from the state of Chu during the Warring States period of Chinese history who committed suicide by jumping into a river when Chu was conquered by Qin. To prevent the fishes from eating his body, villagers threw rice dumplings into the river to feed the fishes and rowed dragon boats with drums being beaten on them to scare away the fishes. Since then, dragon boat racing has been carried out on this day and rice dumplings are also eaten.\n**Hungry Ghost Festival** (Ghost Month, ). This festival runs throughout the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the gates of hell open during this period and hungry ghosts are allowed to roam freely into our world. In order to appease the ghosts and prevent misfortune, many Taiwanese offer food and burn joss paper for them. In addition, traditional Chinese performances such as Chinese opera and puppet shows are held to appease these wandering spirits.\n**Mid-Autumn Festival** (Moon Festival, ). Legend has it that on this day, a woman known as Chang E swallowed some divine pills to prevent her power hungry husband from becoming immortal. Afraid of being killed by her husband, she fled to the moon and it is believed that the moon shines brightest on this day. This is when many lanterns are put up for decoration in various parks and shops, which is quite a beautiful sight. Mooncakes are also eaten on this day so it would be an ideal time to try some. Many Taiwanese have barbecue with family or friends as part of the celebration.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk014", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Terrain\n\nthumb|Cliffs meet the eastern coast of Taiwan, Hualien County\n\nTaiwan is largely mountainous with a chain of mountains running from north to south at the center of the island. The west coast is largely plains and unsurprisingly is where most of the population is concentrated, and is where all the larger cities like Taichung and Kaohsiung are located. The east coast also has some plains but they are more sparsely populated due to the higher typhoon risk, but is also home to the cities of Hualien and Taitung with significant populations.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nTaiwan Tourism", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk015", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Talk", "text": "Taiwan's official languages are four varieties of Chinese — **Mandarin**, **Taiwanese** (a dialect of Minnan), **Hakka**, and **Matsu dialect** — as well as the **indigenous Austronesian languages**. All announcements in public transportation on the main island are announced in Mandarin, English, Taiwanese and Hakka. In Matsu Islands, announcements are made in Mandarin and the local Matsu dialect.\n\nMandarin is the *lingua franca*, but Taiwanese is the mother tongue of about 70% of the population (although fluency in Taiwanese is declining among the younger generation). In the North where there is a large concentration of so-called \"mainlanders\" (those whose families came to Taiwan from mainland China in the 1940s as refugees of the Chinese Civil War), most people speak Mandarin as their primary language (although Taiwanese is spoken in abundance), but in the South of the island, Taiwanese is far more common. Hakka is the main language at the middle elevations of the mountainous parts of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli. Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka are all tonal languages, and are difficult for most foreigners to master. Indigenous languages can mostly be heard on the East Coast and its offshore islands, as well as at higher elevations in the mountains. The Matsu dialect is a variant of the Fuzhou dialect (also known as *Hokchiu* or *Foochow*), and is almost exclusively concentrated in the Matsu islands located close to Fuzhou in mainland China.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk016", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Talk", "text": "Chinese is written using **Chinese characters** (, *hànzì*, lit. \"Han characters\"). Unlike an alphabet that represents individual sounds without any inherent meaning, each Chinese character represents a meaningful syllable: a specific word or part of a word. Although they look impenetrable at first, there is some method to the madness: most characters are composed from base components combined with other characters (often giving clues to both pronunciation and general meaning). The same characters are used in Japan and Korea with usually similar meanings, albeit different pronunciations. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and many overseas Chinese still use the **traditional characters**, whereas since the 1950s mainland China has used simplified characters, such as instead of . Cursive forms of Chinese characters, often used for effect in logos, range from \"looks familiar if you squint\" to \"impenetrable scribbles\".", "word_count": 135}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk017", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Talk", "text": "There are multiple ways of romanizing Mandarin Chinese, but **pinyin** ( *hànyǔ pīnyīn*) is the most useful for a visitor to learn. It's a fairly logical system, although it has a few idiosyncrasies, including using some letters in ways that are different from English (such as *q* which is similar to English \"ch\" and *x* which is like English \"sh\"). (However, people in Taiwan are more familiar with a phonetic alphabet called Zhuyin ( *zhùyīn*, written using Zhuyin as ㄓㄨˋ ㄧㄣ), commonly known in English as **bopomofo** (named after the first four letters, ㄅㄆㄇㄈ), which is used for language education and typing.) All dialects of Chinese are also **tonal**, meaning each syllable has to be pronounced with the correct tone — high, rising, falling-rising, falling, or neutral — to be understood; Mandarin tones are marked in pinyin using diacritics that graphically mimic the tones patterns (as in *mā*, *má*, *mǎ*, *mà*, and *ma*). With just a few hours of practice, you can learn to pronounce Mandarin words accurately using pinyin. However, as Chinese has many homophones, pinyin is useful for pronunciation but not practical for communicating meaning; for something like a street address, you need to use Chinese characters.\n\nAlthough Chinese is *written* nearly the same around the world, **spoken Chinese** has a huge array of **dialects**. Verbally, Chinese dialects are as different from each other as English and Dutch, or French and Italian — related, but not mutually intelligible. Two people who speak different Chinese dialects would read and write the same, but they would pronounce the written text differently, and couldn't carry on a spoken conversation with each other.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk018", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Talk", "text": "Although standard Mandarin in Taiwan is nearly identical to standard Mandarin in mainland China (with differences mostly in technical and translated terms invented post-1949), most people in practice speak a distinctly accented version known as Taiwanese Mandarin. For example, Taiwanese Mandarin tends to not differentiate between the \"S\" and \"Sh\" or the \"f\" and \"h\" sounds in Mandarin. All people schooled after 1945 are generally fluent in Mandarin, though older people from rural areas often have a very thick accent. Mandarin is fairly popular with young people. Some elderly people do not speak Mandarin as they were schooled in Japanese or not at all. Most Taiwanese are very accepting of foreigners and react with curiosity and admiration for trying the local tongue. Generally, most people in Taiwan converse using a combination of Mandarin and Taiwanese by code-switching.\n\nThe Taiwanese dialect is a variant of Minnan, which is similar to the dialect spoken across the Taiwan Strait in South Fujian. Unlike in South Fujian, Taiwanese Minnan has some loan words from Japanese as a result of 50 years of Japanese colonization. Taiwanese Minnan and Xiamen Minnan are both mixtures of the Zhangzhou and Quanzhou accents, so as a result, Taiwanese Minnan sounds very similar to Xiamen Minnan. There is also dialectal variation in Taiwanese between different parts of the island; the Tainan dialect is generally considered to be the prestige dialect. An increasing number of pro-independence Taiwanese are opting to speak Taiwanese exclusively and shun Mandarin as a political statement, though they completely understand if foreigners are not able to speak Taiwanese.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk019", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Talk", "text": "Although **English** signage is common in places frequented by tourists such as public transportation, tourist attractions and shopping malls, most Taiwanese have a fairly poor command of the language. That said, people who deal with foreigners regularly such as hotel, airport and tourist attraction staff usually speak at least basic English. So be patient, and use English-to-Mandarin translation software to communicate if necessary.\n\nQuite a few people, especially in Taipei, are proficient in **Japanese** due to the high number of Japanese visitors and the history of colonial rule. Staff at tourist attractions such as the Taipei 101, museums, hotels, popular restaurants and airport shops speak Japanese in addition to English, Mandarin and other local languages. In fact, if you are a visitor of East Asian descent who cannot understand Chinese, a worker may try speaking to you in Japanese before trying English.\n\nThere has been an increasing usage of **Korean** by tourism boards due to the large number of Korean people visiting Taiwan. Thus, there are many signs across Taiwan written in Korean. An enthusiasm for Korean-language education is also gaining momentum due to the popularity of South Korean dramas and pop music.\n\nDue to the increasing number of Southeast Asians visiting or working in Taiwan, **Indonesian**, **Thai** and **Vietnamese** are spoken by some staff at immigration departments, tourist attractions, and certain places where Southeast Asian foreign workers gather (such as Zhong Shan North Road in Taipei, or ASEAN Square in Taichung).\n\n**Taiwan Sign Language** is the language of the deaf community. It has partial mutual intelligibility with Japanese Sign Language and Korean Sign Language, but not with Chinese Sign Language or Hong Kong Sign Language.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk020", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\nthumb|450px|Visa policy of Taiwan{{legend|\n\n#### Visas\n\nForeign nationals of the following countries can enter Taiwan **visa-free** as a *visitor* provided that their passports are valid for at least 6 months upon entry:\n\n**For up to 90 days:** All 27 **European Union** member states, Andorra, Australia, Canada, El Salvador, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia (until 31 March 2025), Norway, Palau, Paraguay, San Marino, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City.\n\n**For up to 30 days:** Belize, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Singapore.\n\n**For up to 14 days:** Brunei, Philippines and Thailand (until 31 July 2025 for all three). Visa-free entry for Russian citizens has been suspended.\n\nCitizens of the above countries presenting an emergency or temporary passport will be required to apply for a visa on arrival by supplying a passport photo and paying a fee of NT$2,400, or NT$800 for citizens of countries with reciprocal agreements. The visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 30 days. It is issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which has offices in Taipei and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Visitors landing at Taoyuan can apply for a visa on arrival at the airport. If landing at other airports, a temporary entry permit will be issued, and holders must apply for a visa on arrival in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Citizens whose place of birth is listed as mainland China must have lived outside China for over four years.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk021", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Citizens of Turkey can apply for a **free** visa on arrival. However, Turkish citizens whose place of birth is listed as mainland China must prove that they reside in the passport-issuing country (i.e., Turkey) and are not citizens of mainland China. Apart from these requirements, the general rules for a visa on arrival apply to Turkish citizens.\n\nCitizens of Japan need only present a passport with at least 3 months' validity (rather than 6 months' validity) upon entry. Citizens of the United States can enter Taiwan on a passport with less than 6 months' validity on the date of arrival by supplying a passport photo and paying a fee of NT$5,600.\n\nCitizens of Canada and the United Kingdom can extend their stay for an extra 90 days (i.e. a total stay of up to 180 days) free of charge. More information is available on this Bureau of Consular Affairs information sheet.\n\nHolders of a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) *except* those issued by mainland China or Hong Kong may visit Taiwan for up to 90 days without a visa.\n\nCitizens of India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos who have a visa that has expired less than 10 years prior to the date of arrival in Taiwan or permanent resident card issued by a Schengen country, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival after making an online application.\n\nAll foreigners age 14 and older (except those on government business and certain permanent residents) are electronically fingerprinted and photographed as part of immigration entry procedures. Entry will be denied if these procedures are refused.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk022", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Detailed information about visas is available at the website of the **Bureau of Consular Affairs**. Taiwan does not have formal embassies in most of the world's countries (due to the 'One China Principle' of mainland China forcing each country to renounce diplomatic relations with Taiwan if it chooses to have diplomatic relations with much its much larger neighbour). Instead, Taiwan operates a \"Taipei Representative Office\", \"Taipei Economic and Trade Office\", or something of a similarly ambiguous name in most major countries, and these act as *de facto* embassies and consulates that can issue Taiwanese visas.\n\nNo visa is required if you are connecting between international flights so long as you do not leave an airport's secure area. However, **mainland Chinese citizens are not permitted to transit through Taiwan**. You will be denied boarding for your flight should you attempt to do so.\n\n#### Citizens of Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau\n\nCitizens of Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau must apply for a Taiwan Entry Permit (), a de facto e-visa issued by Taiwan, to enter Taiwan. For Mainland Chinese citizens, they also need a Taiwan Travel Permit () with a corresponding permission to leave Mainland China. As of December 2024, travel permission are not issued by Mainland authorities to Mainland Chinese citizens. They may, however, apply for permission to visit for business, education or family visits. Mainland Chinese citizens residing in Fujian residents can travel to Matsu for tourism.\n\nCitizens of mainland China residing in Hong Kong, Macau or overseas, can apply for the entry permit online for multiple purposes including tourism. Citizens of mainland China residing anywhere may transit through Taiwan from either Nanchang, Chongqing, Kunming or anywhere outside the mainland with only Mainland Chinese passport required.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk023", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "For example, a Mainland Chinese citizen who studies in the United States, had returned to Shanghai and plans to visit Taiwan during the stay in Shanghai. A valid travel plan is to buy a flight ticket from Shanghai to Taipei with a connection to a third country or territory (Hong Kong, in this case). When leaving Shanghai, show your Hong Kong and Macao Travel Permit to the immigration officer and declare your destination is Hong Kong. When entering Taiwan, present your Taiwan Entry Permit to Taiwanese immigration officer.\n\nHolders of valid passports from **Hong Kong** (HKSAR or BN(O)) and **Macau** who were born in either of these territories, may apply for a 30-day entry permit online (free) or on arrival (NT$300). Holders of these passports born outside these territories may also apply for these permits if they have been to Taiwan previously as a Hong Kong/Macau resident. (If they last visited Taiwan before 1983 they need to supply the travel document used then or first apply for their travel records from the Immigration Agency.)\n\nHong Kong and Macau residents born outside of these territories and have not been to Taiwan before HK/Macau residents must apply for a permit online before traveling to Taiwan (NT$600). Hong Kong and Macau residents who also have another passport (except BN(O) or a Portuguese passport obtained before the handover) must use the other passport (and apply for the correct visa, if required) to enter Taiwan and not their Hong Kong/Macau passport. Macau residents using a Portuguese passport may enter visa-free like other Portuguese passport holders.\n\n#### Arrival card", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk024", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Arrival cards can be filled online before your arrival. Traditional paper versions are still available at ports of entry and on incoming flights. Hong Kong and Macau residents who have an online entry permit are exempt from filling arrival cards.\n\n#### eGate\n\nForeigners aged 10 and above with a Taiwanese residence permit, as well citizens of Australia, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, as well as United States citizens with membership in Global Entry, may register to use the eGates, which allows you to skip the queues at immigration on subsequent visits to Taiwan on the same passport.\n\n#### Customs\n\nFresh fruit and meat may not be brought into Taiwan, and airport staff may check your bags. If you are carrying anything prohibited, though, they might let you eat it before you go through immigration.\n\nImporting pork products (including jerky and cup noodles with meat bits) carries a fine of NT$200,000. Detection dogs are everywhere.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk025", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport** **(Taipei)** (, formerly *Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport* ) () is the primary international airport of Taiwan. Located 40 km west of Taipei, it has good connections to neighbouring countries and North America, and decent connections to Europe and Oceania. It is a major air hub for people travelling between North America and Southeast Asia. The airport has a MRT (metro/subway) connection to Taipei, and direct buses to Taipei, Taichung and other nearby cities. Alternatively, the MRT train and U-Bus company shuttles reach HSR Taoyuan station () for high-speed train connections to other cities; and to Zhongli Station () for mainline TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration ) train and southbound bus connections to Tainan, Hsinchu () etc.\n '''Kaohsiung International Airport''' (, also known as *Siaogang Airport* ) () is the largest airport in southern Taiwan near downtown Kaohsiung, with decent connections to neighbouring countries and domestic destinations. The airport has a MRT (metro/subway) connection to Kaohsiung to HSR Zuoying station () and TRA Kaohsiung station ().\n '''Songshan Airport''' () () is a smaller airport in downtown Taipei which serves mostly domestic flights with some flights to mainland China, Tokyo Haneda Airport, and Seoul Gimpo Airport.\n '''Taichung Airport''' (, also known as *Ching Chuan Kang Airport* ) () is the only airport in central Taiwan. It is in Shalu (), a suburb area in Taichung. It serves domestic and international flights to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, South Korea, and Vietnam. The only public transportation connection to downtown Taichung is buses.\n **Hualien Airport** () () located on the eastern coast of Taiwan which serves mostly domestic routes, but also an international flight from South Korea.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk026", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main Taiwanese full-service carriers are '''EVA Air''' (), flag carrier '''China Airlines''' (), and '''Starlux Arilines''' (). While China Airlines used to have a poor safety record, things have improved greatly since 2003, and today, it is just as safe as the major Western European airlines. The only Taiwanese low-cost carrier is '''Tigerair Taiwan''' () under the China Airlines Group.\n\n### By boat\n\nAs of 2024, there are no regular ferries between Taiwan and Japan. However, local travel agencies in Taiwan and Japan can book some regular cruises between Keelung and Okinawa. Consult them if considering cruises.\n\n#### To Matsu\n\nFrom Fuzhou (), China, there are two daily ferries to the Taiwan-controlled Matsu () islands. Take bus 69 from Fuzhou train station to Wuyilu, then bus 73 to the end station Mawei harbor (). The ferry costs RMB350 from China and NT$1,300 from Matsu. The trip takes two hours. You can check the Matsu tourism website for updates on the schedule.\n\nThere is a cheaper (NT$650) ferry between Matsu's northern island and the nearest point of mainland China, on the Huangqi peninsula, but because of limitations to immigration facilities, it apparently only accepts Taiwan/ROC citizens as passengers at this time (schedules and fares).\n\nFrom Matsu, there the *Taima Star* ferry runs daily to Keelung in Taiwan (Official website / English information). NT$1,050 includes a bed, as the trip takes 10 hours. Regular seats are available for NT$630 only when the sleeping cabins are full (official fare table). Schedules can be found at this link. Bookings can be made at +886 2 2424 6868 or online.\n\n#### To Kinmen", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk027", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are also several ferry services between Xiamen and Quanzhou on the mainland and the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen (). There is no ferry from Kinmen to the main island of Taiwan, though flights may be reasonably priced.\n\n#### Direct to the main island of Taiwan\n\nAll direct ferries are indefinitely suspended. Two companies operated services prior to 2020 which might resume at some point, though no such resumption has been announced as of July 2025.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk028", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "### ''IC Cards''\n\nTaipei's **EasyCard** ( Yōuyóukǎ) and Kaohsiung's **iPass** () are the main public transportation smart and electronic payment cards, and replace the need to buy separate tickets for most national, regional and city buses, metro (MRT), as well as train services (TRA) all over Taiwan, and they can be used at retail establishments that display the respective sign, like convenient stores (7Eleven, Family Mart), parking lots and some restaurants and shops. Though originally accepted only in their respective cities, the two cards can now be used interchangeably at most (but not all) locations.\n\nBesides saving you the hassle of having proper change ready for your ticket, it mostly always gives discount on the chosen journeys. For instance, the price for any train (TRA) is calculated based on the price of a local train and a 10% discount. Thus, you can even take the faster trains with it (but not THSR) like the Tzu-Chiang limited express. The only disadvantage is that you will not have a reserved seat, which however is not an issue except on Saturday morning/noon and Sunday afternoon. The EasyCard also provides discounts on Taipei's public transportation network, and likewise with the iPass on Kaohsiung's network.\n\nThe EasyCard can be bought at the airport, in any of stations of Taipei MRT and most convenient stores. As of 2025 the price was NT$500, consisting of a non-refundable fee of NT$100 and NT$400 in electronic cash. If you want to add money onto the card, you can do so in MRT stations (including Kaohsiung MRT), TRA stations, and the common convenient stores. The card can hold amounts up to NT$5,000. Student IC cards with even deeper discounts are also available for purchase, but only upon request at a desk and a recognised student ID like ISIC.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk029", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Whether the card needs to be tapped only once or twice on city buses (on entry or on exit, see below) depends on which city you are in and sometimes how far you travel. Do not forget to tap twice (on entry **and** exit) when necessary, especially on regional and national buses outside of cities (and some unstaffed railway stations). Otherwise, your card will be blocked with \"incomplete journey\" (for all bus companies), and you will have to settle this issue with the responsible bus company. This can be a problem, because bus companies only serve certain regions. When leaving that region, e.g. by train, which is still possible with a (bus) locked card, no-one will be willing to unlock your card, even though also other bus companies are able to do so. Be insistent and with the help of the tourist information center tell them that you cannot go back to fix the problem, or that you tried and they did not solve the issue even though they told you so. Make sure that it is really unlocked (with a different bus company) and do not just trust them – it seems some cannot operate their machines properly. If you forget to tap the second time, you will only be charged a small initial fee instead of the whole journey, but unless you are at the end of your vacation to Taiwan or possess a second card, you should avoid having your card blocked. That said, most bus drivers and railway staff pay close attention to the tapping, so it is hard to miss.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk030", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "It costs NT$14 to get in and out of the same railway station within an hour, in case you instead decide to take the bus. At the end of your travel, do not put too much money onto your card, because it can only be given back and cashed-out at certain locations, like some THSR stations. In addition to the NT$100 purchase fee, there is a NT$20 fee for returning the card within 3 months.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Taiwan High Speed train\nthumb|Map of Taiwan High Speed Rail\n\nTaiwan's train system is excellent, with stops in all major cities. Train stations are often in the centers of most cities and towns and serve as a convenient hub for most types of transportation. In addition, the train system allows you to bypass the highways, which can become extremely crowded on weekends and national holidays. The main downside is the lack of cross-island routes between the East Coast and West Coast; for instance, there is no rail line from Taichung to Hualien, so you will have to either drive, fly, or take a major detour via Taipei or Kaohsiung.\n\n#### THSR", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk031", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The new train backbone is '''Taiwan High Speed Rail''' (THSR, *gāotiě*), a high speed train based on Japanese *Shinkansen* technology that covers the route on the West Coast from Taipei to Zuoying (Kaohsiung) in 90 min. Other stops on the route are Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan, but many THSR stations have been built a fair distance from the cities they serve (e.g. a taxi from downtown Tainan costs up to NT$400, but there's a free shuttle bus). Taipei, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung (Zuoying) stations are connected with metro. Taichung station is built next to a railway station, convenient to transfer to the city center. Hsinchu and Tainan stations are connected to the city center with branch railway lines, as is Zuoying station to downtown Kaohsiung. Other stations can only be reached by bus. A one-way ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung costs NT$1,630 in economy or NT$2,140 in business class, but economy seats have plush seats and ample legroom, so there's little reason to pay extra, though business class passengers are offered a complimentary drink and snack. All signage and announcements are in English as well, making navigation a snap. Bookings are accepted online and via phone up to two weeks in advance at +886-2-6626-8000 (English spoken), with payment required only when you pick up the tickets. Credit cards are accepted.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk032", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bookings can be easily made by internet, and you can pay online or pay and pick up your tickets at almost every FamilyMart and 7-Eleven. You can also avoid the queues for long-distance tickets at major stations by buying your tickets from the automated ticket machines. The English prompts on the automated machines are hard to spot but they are present, usually in the top left corner of the screen. The stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible car (wider doors, ample space, accessible bathroom).\n\nNotice the difference between accessibility services and \"senior or disabled tickets\" - while THSR provides good accessibility service for senior or disabled passengers, the \"senior or disabled tickets\" with 50% off are special tickets for Taiwanese citizens only. A foreign senior or disabled person cannot buy the ticket. If you need accessibility services such as finding handicap-friendly seats, consult the staff by online chat, phone, or on-site station desks.\n\nEarly Bird tickets are sold from 28 days before the day, and the discount is up to 35% off.\n\nAll high-speed trains consist of two seating classes; **economy class** and **business class**. Although economy class is already clean and comfortable by international standards, paying extra for business class snags you a slightly wider seat, more leg room, as well as a complimentary non-alcoholic drink and snack.\n\nAll trains also provide **non-reserved seats**, in which holders can take any train to the specified destination with no assigned seating in a day. Holders of non-reserved seats can only sit in non-reserved seats, usually in car 9-12. All non-reserved seats are same as economy class. Non-reserved seats are cheaper than regular seats, but not so much. If you are unsure of your train or time, such ticket can be very useful.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk033", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "All train announcements are made in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English.\n\n##### Passes\n\nThe Taiwan High Speed Rail issues a **THSR Pass** for use on the high speed rail trains. These cost NT$2,400 for a regular 3-day pass, or NT$3,200 for a flexible 3-day pass. While a regular 3-day pass must be used in 3 consecutive days, the 3 days in a flexible 3-day pass may be spread out over any 7-day period. The 5-day joint passes allow for unlimited rides on the high speed rail for 2 days within a 5 day period, and unlimited rides on TRA lines within the same 5-day period. These cost NT$2,800 for a standard pass, which does not allow you to ride on Tzu-Chiang trains, and NT$3,600 for an express pass, which allows you to ride on all TRA lines. The THSR passes may only be used by foreigners who are in Taiwan on tourist visas (or visa exemptions), and must be purchased from travel agents overseas *before* you arrive in Taiwan.\n\n#### TRA", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk034", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Mainline trains are run by the separate '''Taiwan Railway Administration''' (TRA, ), whose services are generally efficient and reliable. Reserving tickets well in advance is recommended when traveling with the train on weekends, especially for long distance travel. Slower (but more frequent) commuter trains without reserved seating are also available. Train timetables and online booking (up to 2 weeks in advance) are available on the TRA website. Booking and payment can be made online. You can also pay for the tickets you reserved at your local train station or post office to actually receive it. You can also buy the tickets of TRA in convenient stores now (you can reserve first and take the tickets in convenient stores). The way to buy tickets is same to high speed rail's. Children under 115 cm (45 in) height go free, and taller kids shorter than 150 cm (59 in) and under 12 years of age get half-price tickets. If you get return tickets there is a small discount depending upon travel distance. There are also vending machines at the larger stations.\n\nThe fastest train is Tzu-Chiang (limited express), and the slowest is Local. There is often little to choose between prices and destination times for adjacent train classes, but the gap can be quite large between the fastest and the slowest.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk035", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Tze-Chiang** ( *zìqiáng*): The fastest (and most expensive). Assigned seating. Standing-only tickets are also available on some trains. There are **Taroko Express** ( *Tàilǔgé Hào*) and **Puyuma** ( *Pǔyōumǎ Hào*) running from Taipei to Hualien and Taitung, which only sell reserved tickets.\n **Chu-Kuang** ( *júguāng*): Second fastest. Assigned seating. In western Taiwan, it is as slow as a local train; in eastern Taiwan, it is still a fast, convenient train.\n **Local Express** ( *qūjiān)*: Short to medium distance commuter train which skip some stations. No assigned seating. \n **Local Train** ( *qūjiān*) : Short to medium distance commuter train, stops at all stations. No assigned seating.\n\nOnly on Saturday morning/noon and Sunday afternoon faster trains are packed, and it might make sense to buy a more expensive reserve-seat ticket, if you do not want to stand for 3 hr, depending on your destination. Otherwise, you can freely use the EasyCard for fast connections without worrying (except for THSR).\n\nFor travel to nearby cities, you can travel on local commuter trains. These arrive very frequently (about once every ten to fifteen minutes). In addition, \"standing tickets\" may be purchased on trains with assigned seating that have no available seats. Standing tickets are 80% the original ticket price and may be useful for last-minute travelers. However, you will be required to stand for the duration of your trip if there are no free seats.\n\nStation announcements are made in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and English.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk036", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "A popular holdover from the Japanese colonial era is the **railway bento** tradition, known in Taiwan as the **Taiwan Railway Bento** ( *tái tiě biàn dàng*). These are sold at most major TRA stations, and on board most long distance TRA trains. Both meat and vegetarian options are available, with the pork chop bento being particularly famous and iconic. Some smaller towns that do not have TRA bento stalls at in their stations have privately-owned shops selling bentos near to the railway station, and these often feature some local specialties. The towns of Fulong and Chishang are particularly famous for their local versions of the railway bento.\n\n##### Passes\n\nSimilar to Japan and South Korea, Taiwan also offers several rail passes to foreign tourists for unlimited train travel within a stipulated period. The **TR Pass** can be used by foreigners for unlimited travel on TRA lines for a stipulated period of time. The TR Pass can be bought at railway stations in Taiwan. The TR pass also allows you to reserve seats for free on trains that have assigned seating. **The TR pass is not valid on the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)** as those trains are not operated by the TRA.\n\n+Ticket types/prices (NT$)\n **3 Days**\n **5 Days**\n full price reduced price 4-person-group full price reduced price 4-person-group\n 1800 900 4200 2500 1250 7000\n\nThe 4-person-group ticket must be used by four people simultaneously. Validity has to be for consecutive days. Reduced price applies to children (age 7-12), senior citizens (age 65+) and disabled people.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk037", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "TR Pass Student: The student version of the TR Pass is significantly cheaper than the general version, though unlike the general version, it is *not* valid for use on Tzu-Chiang limited express trains, and also cannot be used to ride in train cars with reserved seating. In order to qualify for this pass, you will need to show your passport and a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC)\n\nTicket types and prices:\n 5-day ticket: NT$599\n 7-day ticket: NT$799\n 10-day ticket: NT$1,098\n\n#### Alishan Forest Railway\n\nThe **Alishan Forest Railway** is an 86 km narrow gauge railway running from Chiayi to Alishan, with branch lines running from Alishan to Chushan and Shihou. Built by the Japanese for logging in 1912, it is today operated as a heritage railway for tourists, taking about 5 hours to get from Chiayi to Alishan and 4 hours for the return journey. One of the intermediate stations, Fenqihu, is famous for its local version of the railway bento.\n\n### By bus\n\nTaiwan has an extensive bus network, run mostly by private bus companies. Traveling by bus is generally cheaper than by train, especially for long-distance trips. However, on holidays, travel time may be much longer and tickets are more likely to be sold out. There are two categories: intercity buses () and local buses ().\n\nTaiwan Tourist Shuttle is a set of distinctly branded bus routes (some intercity, some local) that serve tourist sites, and are generally easier to use than regular routes. The official website offers route maps, timetables and recommended itineraries, but is somewhat confusing to navigate. There is, however, a toll-free number for inquiries. There are also information desks at major transport hubs.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk038", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Older bus stop sign in Taipei\nMany cities have local buses. They are managed by local governments, therefore information can generally be found on the websites of the respective transportation bureaus. Drivers are usually happy to help, but may not speak English or any other foreign language. Route maps at bus stops are mostly in Chinese. For visitors, it may be helpful to have your hotel or accommodation host suggest some routes for you and circle your destination on a map, then show it to the bus driver to make sure you're on the right bus. Announcements are in English, but hopefully the driver will remember to tell you when to get off in case you miss it. Most buses accept either cash (no change) or IC cards (like the EasyCard). Minor cities and towns do not have local buses, but have intercity routes that make frequent stops. These can be found using the method in the previous paragraph.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk039", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Occasionally a bus driver might stop a bus away from the curb at a bus stop. Sometimes it is due to a vehicle illegally parked at a bus stop. (Taiwanese traffic law and regulation prohibit vehicles from stopping or parking within 10 m (33 ft) of a bus stop.) However, a bus driver might stop a bus away from the curb just because he or she does not want to wait for overtaking traffic while leaving a bus stop. Therefore, be *much more careful* when getting on or off a bus stopped away from a curb, as many motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles will definitely be tempted to overtake on the right side of the stopped bus where people get on and off! (As traffic drives on the right side of the road in Taiwan, buses have doors on the right side.) In Taiwan you need to hail the bus you are taking as you see it coming—much like hailing a taxi. Be assertive when hailing the bus, otherwise it may not stop. The terminal stop of the route is listed on the front of the bus in Chinese and sometimes English, so it is important to make sure the bus you get on is going the right direction.\n\nFor city buses, sometimes you pay when boarding, sometimes when alighting, sometimes both (whether with cash or an IC card). As you get on the bus there will be an LED sign indicating that, opposite the entrance. Sometimes it's only in Chinese: means on boarding, means on alighting (or just watch other people). In some cities such as Kaohsiung and Taichung, failing to swipe your card correctly will result in a locked card.\n\n#### Navigation", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk040", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Google Maps is a quick way to find a route to your destination, but is not always reliable, especially for trips with changes and for longer distance (like in the south and southwest). Often it will highly overstate bus travel times, because it will consider each stop while the bus might only stop at every third or fourth. Hence, a trip from Kaohsiung or Pingtung to Kenting will be stated with 3-4 hr, even though it will just take 1 hr. Therefore, it will also often suggesting the wrong connections and transfers. However, it gives a very good indication on the possible route, vehicle number(s), frequency, availability and price of buses and trains.\n\nBesides, the *Bus+* app (Android/iOS) is quite reliable with schedules. You can find bus numbers on it, and it will list its (live) route. This is much easier than reading the Chinese bus stop signs. In combination with Google Maps route search it is quite handy.\n\n### By metro\n\nthumb|Taipei MRT\n\nThe following areas are served by metro, also known as MRT:\n Taipei and New Taipei by Taipei Metro\n Linkou Plateau, New Taipei, Taoyuan International Airport and Zhongli District in northeastern Taoyaun City from Taipei Main Station by Taoyuan Metro. Separate access points from the Taipei Metro at the Taipei Main Station.\n Taichung by Taichung MRT\n Kaohsiung by Kaohsiung MRT\n\nIt is prohibited to eat, drink or smoke in all metro systems past the fare gates. If multiple journeys are to be made, one can purchase a rechargeable IC card. There are 4 cards: EasyCard (), iPASS (), icash and HappyCash. For basic MRT transport purposes there is little difference between them.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk041", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "All metro systems are reliable, safe, clean and accessible. Disruptions are rare. The Taipei Metro in particular is widely lauded as one of the world's most reliable and efficient, and is often held up as a gold standard for other Metro systems around the world to emulate. Nearly all stations have toilets, elevators and info desks. There are also special waiting areas that is monitored by security camera for those who are concerned about security late at night.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are very common in major Taiwanese cities. You do not need to look for a taxi, they'll be looking for you. The standard yellow taxis scour roads looking for potential riders such as lost foreigners. It is possible but generally unnecessary to phone for a taxi. To hail one, simply place your hand in front of you parallel to the ground. But they'll often stop for you even if you're just waiting to cross the street or for a bus. In less heavily trafficked areas further out from the transit hubs, taxis are always available by calling taxi dispatch centers or using mobile apps.\n\nDrivers generally cannot converse in English or any other foreign language (such as French, German, Japanese, etc.) or read Westernized addresses (except for special Taoyuan airport taxis). Get the hotel staff or a Taiwanese friend write out your destination in Chinese, and also take a business card from the hotel. Show the driver the Chinese writing of where you are going.\n\nTaxis are visibly metered (starting point priced at NT$70), and taxi drivers are strictly forbidden from taking tips. A maximum of four people can ride in one cab, and for the price of one. Compared to European or American taxis, those in Taiwan are inexpensive.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk042", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Although taxi drivers in Taiwan tend to be more honest than in many other countries, not all are trustworthy. An indirect trip might cost you half again as much. A cab driver using night-time rates during the daytime will cost you 30% more (make sure he presses the large button on the left on his meter before 23:00). Avoid the especially overzealous drivers who congregate at the exits of train stations. Also, stand your ground and insist on paying meter price only if any driving on mountain roads is involved. Some drivers like to tack on surcharges or use night-time rates if driving to places like Wenshan () or Wulai (). Such attempts to cheat are against the law.\n\nFrom Taoyuan Airport (TPE), buses are a much more economical option but if you want a direct route Taoyuan airport drivers are the best choice. They're quite comfortable and get you to your destination as quick as possible. All the TPE taxi drivers are interlinked by radio so they could be forewarned if there are police. Sometimes, if there are traffic jams and no police around, the driver will drive in the emergency lane. Taxis from TPE to destinations in Tao Yuan, parts of Taipei county and some other destinations are 'allowed' to add an additional 50% to the meter fare.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk043", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The badge and taxi driver identification are displayed inside and the license number marked on the outside. You must also be wary that the driver turns on his meter, otherwise he might rip you off. In such a case, you aren't obliged to pay; but make sure you can find a police officer to settle the matter. If there are stories of passengers boarding fake taxis and being attacked by the driver, it is best not to be paranoid about it. Drivers may be more worried about passengers attacking them!\n\nIf you do call a taxi dispatch center, you will be given a taxi number to identify the vehicle when it arrives. Generally, dispatch is extremely rapid and efficient, as the taxis are constantly monitoring dispatch calls from the headquarters using radio while they are on the move. This is also the safest way to take a taxi, especially for women.\n\nTaxis are also a flexible although relatively expensive way to travel to nearby cities. They have the advantage over the electric trains in that they run very late at night. Drivers are required to provide a receipt if asked, though you might find them unwilling to do so.\n\nTaxi drivers, as elsewhere in Asia, are not keen on exchanging large notes. Try to keep some smaller denomination notes on hand to avoid the hassle of fighting with the driver for change.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk044", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi drivers are known for their strong political opinions. Many are supporters of the pan-green coalition and Taiwanese independence, spending all day listening to Taiwanese political talk radio. Drivers also have negative connotations as being former prisoners. Be careful about your opinions on sensitive political subjects (including, but not necessarily limited to cross-strait relations); also be careful of describing your destination which may be perceived politically (such as the President's Office or Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial Hall). Also watch out for drivers who discriminate against other cultures such as taping \"No Korean passengers\" on their cars. This is sometimes unavoidable as some drivers provoke such discussion. In addition, if you see what looks like blood spewing from the driver's mouth, or him spitting blood onto the street—not to fret–it's merely him chewing betel nut (see box). Keep in mind, however, that betel nuts are a stimulant.\n\nTaxi drivers are generally friendly towards foreigners, and a few of them take the opportunity to try their limited English skills. They are most likely to ask you about yourself, and are a patient audience to your attempts at speaking Mandarin. If you are traveling with small children, don't be surprised if they are given candy when you disembark.\n\nWomen are sometimes warned not to take taxis alone at night. This is not an extreme risk, although there have been incidents where women have been attacked. To be more safe, women can have the hotel or restaurant phone a cab for them (ensuring a licensed driver), have a companion write down the license number of the driver (clearly displayed on the dashboard), or keep a cell phone handy. Do not get in if the driver doesn't have a license with picture clearly displayed in the cab.\n\n### By scooter or motorcycle", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk045", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Scooters with an engine size of 50cc require a license to drive, and should be insured and registered in the owner's name. Foreign nationals with stay less than 30 days do not have an easy way to get a scooter license. Until 2003 it wasn't possible to get a scooter above 150cc. Many of the scooters within cities are only 50cc and incapable of going faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). The more powerful versions known as *zhongxing* (, heavy format) scooters are now quite common and can be rented for short-term use, or found for sale at English In Taiwan if you're going to need it for a while. They are **not** allowed on freeways even if they are capable of going faster than 100 km/h (62 mph) unless used for certain police purposes, but that just means you have to take the scenic route.\n\nIf you're just learning to drive a scooter on the streets of Taiwan, it would be a good idea to practice a bit on a back road or alley until you have a feel for the scooter. Attempting to do so in the busier cities could easily be fatal. Certainly, things can get pretty hairy on Taiwanese roads and Taipei in particular has narrower more congested roads than many other cities. However, if you know what you're doing, it's the perfect way to get around in a city.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk046", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "It should be possible to rent a scooter by the day, week or month, depending on the city in which you're staying. One Taipei motorcycle and scooter rental service with English language service is Bikefarm, which is run by a very friendly and helpful English guy called Jeremy. In Taichung, Foreigner Assistance Services In Taiwan **F.A.S.T** offers a rental service for foreign visitors. Otherwise, scooters are generally easy to rent in most major cities, with many such places being near railway or bus stations. Most usually require some form of identification even if, in some cases, it consists of your expired Blockbuster video card! The average price you may expect is NT$400 for 24 hours, this includes one or two helmets.\n\nAnother option is to rent a motorcycle. Many foreigners swear by their 125cc Wild Wolf () motorcycles, and a trip around the island on a motorcycle can be a great way to see the island up close.\n\nIt is to be mentioned that since 2007, scooters and motorcycles over 550cc are allowed to go on expressways providing that they have a red license plate. They are however to be considered as cars, and as such cannot be parked in scooter parking spaces.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|View of Yushan Scenic Highway\nAn international driving license is required for driving in Taiwan and may be used for up to 30 days, after which you'll need to apply for a local permit. Some municipalities may impose additional restrictions, so check ahead with the rental shop. VIP Rentals in Taipei is quite happy to rent cars to foreigners, and will even deliver the car to a given destination. A deposit is often required, and the last day of rental is not pro-rated, but calculated on a per-hour basis at a separate (higher) rate.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk047", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The numbered highway system is very good in Taiwan. Most traffic signs are in international symbols, but many signs only show the names of places and streets in Chinese. All road directional signs are written in both Chinese and English, though the non-standardized Romanization means that English names can vary between road signs, making it rather confusing. The highways are in excellent shape with toll stations around every 30 km (19 mi). Tolls are charged electronically and you pay the rental company when you return the car. Traffic moves on the right in Taiwan.\n\nParking in cities is generally charged. An attendant will put a payment slip under your windscreen wiper, you can pay at convenience stores.\n\nWhile driving may be the best way to get around the countryside, in larger cities, traffic jams are a problem as is the difficulty of finding a good parking space, especially during the rush hour and traffic tends to get chaotic. In Taipei and Kaohsiung, you can better off relying on public transport. Other larger cities, such as Taichung, can be a tricky case - while the downtown traffic may as chaotic as in Taipei and Kaohsiung, their public transport, which usually relies on buses, isn't as convenient as in Taipei and Kaohsiung. For such cities, a scooter, or public transport with rental bicycles is a choice in downtown. In the suburbs, a car is a better choice than public transport.\n\n### By thumb", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk048", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "While Taiwanese themselves don't generally hitchhike, foreigners will have it very easy to find a hitch. However, in rural areas people may not recognize the thumb in the air symbol, and you may try pointing your hand to the ground and waving towards you. It is very easy to flag down a car in rural and mountain regions. So, instead of waiting for that one bus a day that goes by, just hitch a ride.\n\nFlagging down a car might work on a country lane with little or no public transportation, but doing so on a major road might lead to confusion, with the driver assuming that you are in trouble. A sign, especially one in Chinese, would therefore be of great help. The East coast around Hualien and Taitung enjoys a reputation for being especially good for getting rides. Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful, so striking up a conversation with someone at a transport café or freeway service station may well see you on your way.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nAlthough Taiwan is known for being a major player in the bicycle industry (through companies such as Giant and Merida), bicycles used to be considered an unwanted reminder of less prosperous times. This has changed, and bicycling is again on the rise, both as a tool for commuting and recreation, and support infrastructure is slowly being put into place. Several bike paths have been built, and recreational cycling has become quite popular amongst locals, especially on weekends. However, you should also be aware that local drivers have a well deserved reputation for recklessness. As such, you should exercise extreme caution when cycling outside of designated bicycle lanes and trails.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk049", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "The government has been promoting bicycling as a method of clean recreation. Several designated bicycle paths have been built throughout Taiwan (especially along riverside parks). Additionally, long distance rides, including through the Central Mountain Range, and along the coastline around the main island have become popular. The government maintains web-site dedicated to long-distance cycling in which you can search for trails, the centrepiece of which is the Taiwan Cycle Route No. 1 () that circumnavigates the entire island, covering about 968km. For long distance trips, bicycles can be shipped using the standard freight service from the Taiwan Railway Administration between larger stations. Non-folding bicycles may also be transported aboard the Taipei and Kaohsiung rapid transit systems if loaded at specific stations, during off peak hours (usually 10:00-16:00 on weekdays, check with your local station personnel to confirm).\n\nTaipei MRT Route Map, bicycles may be loaded at designated stations\n Kaohsiung MRT Bicycle Information (passengers traveling with non-folding bicycles are assessed a flat rate NT$60 fare irrespective of distance)\n\nGiant Bicycles Corporation operates a large network of bicycle retail stores that offer **rentals** for as little as NT$100 per day, if requested one week in advance. Generally, the day rate is around NT$300 for a modern bicycle. Also, rented bicycles can be picked up at one station and given back another station. This can be convenient if you want to go down the quiet east coast with a bicycle and back up the busy west coast with the train/bus. A one week finesse bike including bags costs as little as €100.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk050", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Public shared bicycles are also available for rent at automated kiosks in most Taiwanese cities. Rental fees are usually paid using the rapid transit EasyCard or iPass system. There is YouBike in Taipei, which are available all over the city and even 30 km out – see Taipei for more details.\n\nAdditionally, many local police stations provide basic support services for cyclists, such as air pumps, and as a rest stop.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Domestic plane, Taiwan\nDomestic air travel in Taiwan is primarily for outlying islands, as Taiwan is fairly compact with a modern and efficient rail network. There are also routes that connect the east and west coasts, since there is a geographical barrier between the two. There are no longer any west coast only routes as high speed rail has made them redundant.\n\nThe main carriers are **Mandarin Airlines**, a subsidiary of China Airlines; and **UNI Air**, owned by EVA. Fares for domestic flights are not too expensive. The domestic airport in Taipei is Songshan Airport, which is in the north of the Taipei and easily reached by MRT or taxi. Other domestic airports include those in Taitung, Hualien, Makung (Penghu/Pescadores), Kinmen, Taichung, Nangan and Beigan. Travelers heading to Kenting can use the direct and frequent bus service from Kaohsiung airport that connect with flights arriving from Taipei.\n\nIf you want to visit Taiwan's smaller islands, the plane is still the best option, and is the only practical option for traveling to Kinmen and the easiest method of reaching Penghu and Matsu. For travel to Green Island and Orchid Island, the plane from Taitung saves several hours over taking the ferry which is notorious among Taiwanese for its rough ride.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk051", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Ferries connect the main island of Taiwan with some of the outlying islands. There are ferries from Keelung to the Matsu islands, from Kaohsiung to the Penghu islands, and from Taitung to Orchid Island and Green Island. There are no passenger ferries from the main island of Taiwan to Kinmen.\n\n### On foot and navigation\n\nTaiwan is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, providing many interesting and picturesque trails in its mountainous center, or just northeast of Taipei. For reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download additional GPX or KML files through the same link.)", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk052", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "See", "text": "Perhaps due to its political ambiguity and lack of global presence, Taiwan has traditionally not been a significant destination for Westerners, though this is changing. Nevertheless tourists from Japan and Hong Kong have been visiting Taiwan in droves for a long time, and they are being joined by an increasing number of Koreans and Southeast Asians. The island is home to many cultural attractions, with an excellent selection right in the capital. Taipei is a bustling and modern metropolis, with ancient yet lively streets, and world-famous landmarks like **Taipei 101**. However, it's also home to the **National Palace Museum**, **Zhongshan Hall**, **Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall** and the beautifully restored **Bao'an Temple**. Bao'an is just one of many striking temple complexes worth a visit. For more, try the **Zushi Temple** in Sanxia or the **Mazu temple** in Makung. The large **Longshan Temple** in Lukang and the **Confucian Temples** of Changhua and Tainan are fine choices too. Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and therefore full of historic sites, especially colonial buildings, and including the Anping \"Tree House\" that's being slowly reclaimed by banyan trees. If you're looking for some deeper insights in Taiwan's history and culture, there's a wide range of **museums** to be explored, pretty much wherever you go.\n\nThis island is home to bustling cities with modern, high-tech infrastructure, and good transportation infrastructure means that getting around is easy. For those who have grown weary of the hustle and bustle of cities, Taiwan also offers some very impressive scenery and charming historical villages in its rural areas.\n\n### Nature\n\nthumb|200px|Taroko Gorge, Taroko National Park\nSome people think of Taiwan as a grimy, densely populated industrial island full of hard disk factories, and you may well maintain this perception if you only stick to the densely populated West Coast. However, for those who take time to venture to the more sparsely populated East Coast will quickly find that Taiwan is actually home to some stunning landscapes. The Taroko Gorge () near Hualien in particular is very impressive, and should not be missed, with a side trip to the rugged shores at *Shihtiping* () as a worthwhile detour. **Hehuan Mountain** and **Sun Moon Lake** are beautiful natural attractions near Nantou, while the huge and ancient trees in **Lalashan** make for great hikes near Taoyuan. In fact, most of Taiwan is covered with mountains which offer breathtaking views, so hiking opportunities are very diverse.", "word_count": 403}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk053", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hot Springs\n\nTaiwan's geographical location between an oceanic trench and volcanic system makes it an ideal hot spring ( *wēnquán)* vacation spot. There are several hot springs destinations throughout the country, including Beitou (), Wulai () and Yangmingshan (). Hot spring bathing was introduced by the Japanese during the colonial period, and remains firmly entrenched in the local culture to this day. At traditional establishments segregated by sex (often lablled *dàzhòng luǒ tāng*) you will be required to bathe nude. However, many other places, particular those geared for foreigners, are unisex and require a bathing suit. If you do not feel comfortable getting naked in front of strangers, some hot spring resorts may offer private baths at an extra cost, where you and your group have the entire bath to yourselves. Many Taiwanese hot spring resorts also offer traditional Chinese massage, which will cost extra on top of the admission fee.\n\nAll hot springs will have shower areas where you *must* wash yourself and rinse off all the foam before entering the pool; not doing so is a major faux pas even if you are a foreigner.\n\n### Hiking\n\nTaiwan is an island of huge mountains (more than two hundred peaks over 3,000m) and there are many hiking opportunities. Taroko Gorge is popular for its incredible scenery, and serious hikers can trek Yushan or Wuling Sixiu, among many others. Even in Taipei and New Taipei there are a variety of trails to suit hikers of any level.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk054", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Do", "text": "Serious trekking is rather complicated due to an advance booking requirement (usually 7 days) and lodging lottery—see http://np.cpami.gov.tw/{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. Permits are required for many trails, especially remote or multi-day hikes and some (though not all!) in national parks. Nevertheless, there are also many trails available that do not need an application. They are mostly day hikes, but you can always put together your trip sections as preferred—consult apps that use OpenStreetMap, like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. They have comprehensive and reliable tracks available.\n\n### Shrimping\n\nthumb|alt=William Lai, Hsiao Bi-khim, and a foreign ambassador are shrimping|Even politicians enjoy shrimping!\nPopular locally, and gaining traction with foreign tourists due to YouTube and travel bloggers, is the pastime of indoor **shrimp fishing** (釣蝦). For an hourly rate (around NT$300/hr), you will be provided with a fishing rod and a seat at an indoor shrimp pool that is regularly stocked with large live Thai prawns. While drinking beer and enjoying the laid back environment, you will be afforded an opportunity to catch dinner with locals. Almost all locales have a few indoor shrimp fishing pools to seek out. Almost all double as restaurants with tables and ovens available for use, allowing you to cook your catch on-site and order additional dishes as needed.\n\n### Sports", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk055", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Baseball** was brought to Taiwan by the Japanese during the colonial period. Its popularity rose greatly when the Taiwanese baseball team finished second in the Japanese national championships. Today, baseball retains a strong following and remains by far the most popular spectator sport in Taiwan. Several Taiwanese players have also gone on to successful careers in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) and Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the Taiwanese national team is considered to be one of the strongest in the world. The top baseball league in Taiwan is the **Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL)**, which features six teams. CPBL teams are sponsored by and named after large Taiwanese and Japanese corporations.\n\nBesides baseball, basketball also has a sizeable following in Taiwan and is quite popular among teenagers. When classes are over, the basketball courts inside schools are not only open to students but also the public.\n\nBilliards is another popular sport in Taiwan. It's easy to find billiard rooms throughout the country and there are also many championship-winning players in Taiwan, most of whom started training when they were still teens.\n\nOther sports which are popular include taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, tennis and golf.\n\nIn international sporting competitions, such as the Olympic Games, Taiwan is called \"Chinese Taipei\" () for political reasons.\n\n### Events\n\n- Awaken Music Festival", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk056", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Do", "text": "**Buddha's Birthday** () – Colorful but simple ceremonies are held at Buddhist monasteries that generally consist of washing a statue of the Buddha and a vegetarian feast. It is appropriate to make offerings to the monks and nuns at this time, though it is not mandatory. Lunar Calendar 8th day of 4th month.\n **Dragon Boat Festival** () – A festival to commemorate the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (25 June 2020), and is marked by races of colorful dragon boats at various locations throughout the island.\n **Cherry Blossom Season** () – Every spring, in Yangmingshan ().\n **Mazu Festival** () – Festival commemorating the traditional birthday of Mazu, a traditional Chinese goddess who is popularly worshipped in Taiwan. The biggest celebration is an eight-day long \"inspection tour\" of a Mazu statue from the Zhenlan Temple in Taichung to the Chaotian Temple in Beigang and back, though many other temples throughout Taiwan's main island and the outlying islands also conduct their own festivities. Lunar Calendar 23rd day of 3rd month.\n **Taiwan Music Festival** () – It is usually held in April in Pingtung.\n\n### Traditional pastimes\n\nGenerally speaking, traditional Chinese games such as Go ( *wéiqí*) and Chinese chess ( *xiàngqí*) are popular in Taiwan too. Both games are played at the professional level in Taiwan, and there are numerous tournaments that visitors may watch.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk057", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Do", "text": "While gambling is illegal in Taiwan, **mahjong** (Mandarin: *májiàng*; Taiwanese: *moâ-chhiok*) remains popular. The Taiwanese version of the game derives from the Fujianese form, which differs significantly from the better-known Cantonese and Japanese versions, most notably because a hand consists of 17 tiles instead of the 14 used in other versions. Mahjong in Taiwan is mostly a family and friends affair, and is usually played at social gatherings in people's houses. Mahjong clubs generally cater to groups of friends or family members looking to play together, though they can often assist in helping you find other players if you show up alone. While playing for money is not allowed at mahjong clubs due to Taiwan's anti-gambling laws, they will often allow you to exchange the points you win for various prizes.\n\n### Performing Arts\n\n**Glove puppet shows** () originated in Fujian province on mainland China, and were brought to Taiwan by the first Han Chinese immigrants. Nevertheless, they have since been somewhat modernised and taken on some uniquely Taiwanese characteristics.\n\nAnother traditional Taiwanese type of performance is **Taiwanese opera** (), which originated in Yilan based on traditional Chinese opera styles.\n\nTaiwan had long been a major centre of Chinese **pop culture**, but this has diminished significantly since the 2010s, as most of the top Taiwanese singers and actors have relocated to mainland China where they can make a lot more money. Nevertheless, Taiwan continues to have a substantial local entertainment industry, though these days it tends to have more of a niche following, including numerous political works that would not pass the censors in mainland China.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk058", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Taiwan is the **New Taiwan dollar**, denoted by the symbol \"**NT$**\" ( or , ISO code: **NTD**, but also referred to as TWD). The NT dollar is known locally as *yuán* ( or more formally ) when written in Chinese or colloquially in Mandarin as the *kuài* (). One unit is known colloquially as the *kho͘* () in the Taiwanese dialect. One dollar is divided into 100 cents, known as a (*fēn*) in Chinese. 10 cents is formally known as a (*jiǎo*), and colloquially as a (*máo*) in Chinese. Any **$** sign you see in Taiwan or this article refers to NTD unless it includes other initials (e.g. US$ for U.S. dollars).\n\nBanknotes come in denominations of NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000 and NT$2,000, while coins come in denominations of NT$½, NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20 and NT$50. The NT$½ coin is rarely seen or accepted because of its low value, and the price of raw materials used to make the coin is more than the face value of the coin. The NT$20 coin, the NT$200 banknote, and the NT$2,000 banknote are not as common as others. The 20, 200, and 2000 are legal currencies that should be accepted, but stores that are unfamiliar with them sometimes do not accept them.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk059", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Taiwanese currency is fully convertible. However, to prevent money laundering, you can only take cash under $100,000 NTD, $20,000 RMB, *and* (currencies calculated independently) $10,000 USD into or out of the island. Currency exchange is possible internationally, although you will get a much better rate if you wait until you arrive at the airport to exchange currency at the 24-hour window. Most banks in Taipei and Kaohsiung will exchange money or offer cash advances on credit or debit cards. Should you bring American currency, bring newer bills as the banks and exchange centers (such as in department stores) will only accept the newer notes (notes from 1996 and 2003 are not accepted at most places, due to a high proportion of forgeries bearing these years).\n\nNotes which are torn or damaged will probably not be changed, and old-style small-bust notes are not accepted, including the US$2 bill no matter when it was printed. Taiwan National Bank will take older bank notes and bank notes that are wrinkled or torn for exchange. Department stores will not exchange notes older than 1997. Don't forget to show your passport!\n\n#### ATMs\n\nTaiwan has abundant ATMs to withdraw cash from using the Plus or Cirrus systems. Certain banks' ATMs will even tell you your available balance in your own currency or in NT$. There is a per transaction limit of NT$20,000 for ATM cash withdrawals (HSBC Global Access customers may withdraw NT$30,000 from HSBC ATMs). Post office ATMs will *not* accept cards without an EMV chip. Banks that don’t charge an ATM fee (as of Oct 2023): Cathay United, Changhwa, Far Eastern, Huan Nan, Mega, and Union. Banks that charge an ATM fee: China Trust, Taishin.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk060", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "However, sometimes ATMs may be out of cash, especially in remote (mountain) regions. So, make sure you stock up on cash early enough. 7-Eleven ATMs charge NT$100 per transaction, whilst those in Family Marts do not charge a fee.\n\n#### Credit/debit cards\n\nMost hotels and department stores accept credit and debit cards, generally Visa, MasterCard, and JCB. Diners Club and Discover cards are usually not accepted. American Express and UnionPay are between Visa and Diners Club, but they are close to the Diners Club situation.\n\nSome stores, particularly convenience stores, only accept certain credit cards (such as those from *certain* Taiwanese banks) even if Visa, MasterCard, or JCB issue the cards. These stores sometimes do not accept credit cards issued outside Taiwan.\n\nMany restaurants and most small stores do not accept cards, and cash is the main form of payment. Because street crime is rare, it is common for people in Taiwan to carry large amounts of cash with them.\n\n##### Mobile wallets\n\nUnlike mainland China, QR code based mobile wallet payments are not quite ubiquitous or essential to the point that a visitor would have a hard time without one. In addition, Taiwan's mobile wallet apps generally require foreigners to register with an ARC, limiting the ability of visitors to use it. However, LINE Pay, one of the most popular, is cross-compatible with its counterparts in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, meaning that if you already have a LINE Pay account from one of those countries, it can be used with any linked credit or debit card to make payments at stores in Taiwan that take LINE Pay.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk061", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Your card will be directly charged NT$; LINE Pay does not automatically convert to your account currency. This can reduce the amount of cash you need to carry around as some shops that otherwise do not take card payments will take LINE Pay and other mobile wallets.\n\n#### Banks\n\nIf you are planning on staying in Taiwan for a longer time, you should consider opening a Taiwanese bank account. While many of the large foreign banks such as Citibank and HSBC have branches in Taiwan, they often require huge deposits in order for you to open an account, so you might wish to consider one of the major local banks such as the Bank of Taiwan instead. You will need to bring your passport and UI number in order to open an account. The UI number is the number on the Alien Residence Card for those on long-term visas. Short-term tourists can obtain a \"UI No. Basic Information Form\" for free from the local Immigration Agency office, but it is not accepted by all banks. The larger banks will often have English-speaking staff available to assist foreigners. However, unlike other companies in the private sector, which are dynamic, Taiwan's banking system is still very much rooted in the days of martial law and is extremely conservative and to complete the simplest task requires copious amounts of patience and reams of documents to be signed and countersigned. In fact, most large businesses prefer to do their banking outside of Taiwan due to the restrictive nature of the system on the island.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk062", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Costs in Taiwan are generally lower than in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, but higher than in Southeast Asia and mainland China. For a budget traveler on a bare-bones budget, NT$2,000 will get you by for a day (as of 2026), but you'll probably want to double that for comfort. A meal at a street stall may cost NT$50-75, a meal at a Western fast food restaurant will run you NT$150-250 and at the fanciest restaurants, you can expect a bill in excess of NT$1,000. On the high end of the spectrum, hotel rooms at a swanky hotel might cost NT$5,000 or more. Costs diminish significantly the further you go out of the big cities. Taxis are quite reasonable and are metered starting at about NT$100 at flag fall. To some destinations there may be a set costs so ask and haggle if possible.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is generally **not** practiced in Taiwan. Bellhops in high end hotels and porters at airports are an exception and should be given NT$50 per bag. Also, tipping to show appreciation for exceptional service is not uncommon. Tipping is also not expected in taxis and drivers would usually return your change to the last dollar.\n\nIn place of tips is a 10% service charge when dining at most full-service restaurants which is automatically added to the bill.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|A typical night market in Taiwan may sell anything from food to clothing to fortune telling services", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk063", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "As in many Asian countries, night markets are a staple of Taiwanese entertainment, shopping and eating. Usually, they are open-aired on a street or alleyway, with vendors selling all sorts of wares on every side. In larger cities, you will have a night market every night and in the same place. In smaller cities, they are only open certain nights of the week and may move to different streets depending on the day of the week.\n\nEvery city has at least one night market; larger cities like Taipei may have a dozen or more. They are crowded, so remember to watch out for your wallet! Shops selling the same items tend to congregate in the same part of the city. If you want to buy something, ask someone to take you to one shop and there will probably be shops selling similar things nearby.\n\nThere are many shopping centers in Taipei where prices are usually fixed and goods are genuine. Otherwise, shopping streets in larger cities like Kaohsiung and Taichung can also easily get you what you want. And of course, there is the trendy Ximending () in Taipei, where you can find pretty much anything associated with the youth at fixed prices. Computer chain shops and department stores normally have fixed prices, but at least in department stores, you may get a \"registered member discount\" if you're shopping a lot.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk064", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Prices at smaller stores and even some hostels are normally cash prices. If you like to use a credit card, the seller normally wants to add anything up to 8% to the price as a \"card fee\" etc. The fee consists actually of the credit company's commission and also the local sales tax/VAT. If you pay cash, you might not get an official receipt, as then the seller would have to report and pay their taxes in full. If you ask for a Unified Invoice (, *tongyi fa piao*), you will get it but you may need to pay 3-5% more.\n\nLarger stores (and, in fact, some very profitable small shops) usually provide a Unified Invoice with a big, unique number on it. The numbers can be used for the Uniform Invoice lottery, an award encouraging people to ask for the invoices so the government can collect taxes. The drawing has been held on the 25th of every odd-numbered month for the past two months (for example, March 25th for invoices provided in January and February). Donating to local charities is fine if you don't need them, but if some strangers ask for them, treat it as begging. In addition, people can apply for an E-Invoice (, *dianzi fa piao*) on a carrier (, *zai ju*). Stores offer Unified Invoices, therefore, will ask if you have a carrier on E-Invoice by saying \"\" (*fa piao yao cun zai ju ma?*). If you don't have one, say no and take a paper invoice.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk065", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "Many stores also ask customers for a GUI number (, *tongyi bianhao*, or , *tongbian*), a unique number for companies in Taiwan so employees can declare expenses to their companies. If local companies pay your fee and they need a Uniform Invoice with a GUI number, give the GUI number to the store.\n\nForeign visitors may claim a VAT refund if they spend a minimum of NT$2,000 per day per participating store. To do this, you will need to show your passport and obtain a tax refund application form from the store. When departing Taiwan, bring the form to the tax refund counter or automated kiosk and follow the relevant instructions. You can either get your refund in cash, or to your credit card. If choosing to get your refund in cash, you will be issued a receipt that you will need to bring to the bank counter after your have cleared departure immigration to receive your refund.\n\nKeep your receipts! Every receipt is a lottery ticket with a chance to win cash prizes drawn every two months\n\n### Bargaining\n\nWhilst bargaining was OK in the past and expected in night markets as well as smaller stores, nowadays most prices are fixed. Taiwan has become a sophisticated and wealthy country where most Taiwanese, especially from the cities, generally do not request discounts and any such are likely to receive a friendly *No*. Nevertheless, you will encounter different prices, e.g. cut fruits will cost NT$30 at the Night Market, but NT$80 in tourist areas.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk066", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "However, it is possible to get a discount of NT$20-100 when renting a motorbike/bicycle, searching for accommodation or such, depending on the circumstances and time of day. While you might miss a general bargaining culture and be bewildered by the general bargain inflexibility of Taiwanese, it can on the other hand be calming to know that no one will try to rip you off as it is common in other less-developed Asian countries.\n\n### What to buy\n\nPopular things to buy include:", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk067", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Jade**. Although it can be hard to know for sure if the item you're buying is real jade or not, some beautiful objects are sold. Most cities have a specific jade market dealing in jade and other precious stones. Taiwan produces some jade domestically, especially in the area around Hualien, but the most prized jades are imported from Myanmar\n **Computers**. Taiwan designs and produces a lot of desktops, laptops, and PC peripherals. Travelers might be interested in visiting the large Information Technology Market at Taiwan for the best prices. Desktop computers and components tend to be the same price in Taiwan as in other areas of the world, though peripherals such as cables and adapters tend to be noticeably cheaper. If you're buying domestic, it's best to go to tourist hangouts to buy your stuff as you might be saddled with Chinese documentation otherwise. Also, laptops are typically only available with a Chinese Bopomofo and English keyboard.\n **Lingzhi** (). A type of bracket fungus that is often used as a Chinese herb. It supposedly has many health benefits with an apparent absence of side effects, earning it a high reputation in East Asian countries and making it rather expensive. Taiwanese lingzhi is particularly famous for being of the highest quality.\n **Tea**. Taiwan is particularly famous for its oolong tea () due to the island's predominant Fujianese culture; it is available at many tea shops. Tea tasting in Chinese culture is akin to wine tasting in Western culture and you will find many grades of this same type of tea, with different methods of treating the tea leaves.\n **Iron eggs** () irresistible delicacy", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk068", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Buy", "text": "In order to protect the environment, a government policy rules that plastic bags cannot be given freely at stores in Taiwan, but have to be bought (at a flat rate of NT$1)—bakeries being an exception as the items need to be hygienically wrapped. Re-usable canvas and nylon bags are sold at most supermarkets.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk069", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Taiwanese beef noodle soup\nthumb|Lemon ''aiyu'' jelly\n\nTaiwan is a food lover's paradise, and a popular culinary tourism destination for East and Southeast Asian tourists. While not as highly regarded as the food from Hong Kong due to the traditionally high status Cantonese cuisine holds in Chinese culture, Taiwanese food has become more respected.\n\nGenerally speaking, the foods of Taiwan are derived from **mainland Chinese cuisines**. Because most Taiwanese trace their ancestry to Fujian, it comes as no surprise that much of Taiwanese cuisine was derived from the cuisine of Fujian. It is also possible to find Sichuan () food, Hunan () food, Dongbei () food, Guangdong () food and almost every other Chinese cuisine on the island, because many famous chefs from the mainland fled to Taiwan after the communist victory in 1949, and many of the Nationalists brought their family recipes with them when retreating from the mainland. That being said, the mainland Chinese cuisines found on Taiwan are not necessarily \"authentic\" as Taiwanese cuisine has absorbed substantial local influences, and significant Japanese influences because of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule, giving it a unique character that distinguishes it from its mainland Chinese counterparts. The Taiwanese are also passionately in love with eggs and seafood. Fruits are another famous part of Taiwanese food. A wide range of fruits can be found at local fruit shops and stations. The subtropical climate allows different fruits to grow nicely.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk070", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Taiwan also has many of its own **local specialties**. A few found island wide include:\n **Beef Noodles** ( *niúròu miàn*) – Noodle soup with chunks of meltingly soft stewed beef and a dash of pickles, which traces its origins to the Kuomintang refugees from mainland China who retreated to Taiwan, and comes primarily in two distinct styles; **Red-Braised Beef Noodle Soup** () comes in a dark brown and slightly spicy broth and traces its origins to the refugees from Sichuan, while **Clear Broth Beef Noodle Soup** (), as the name suggests, comes in a lightly-coloured but flavorful broth, and traces its origin to the refugees from Shandong.\n **Oyster omelette** ( *ó āh jiān* – This is the Taiwanese name, as its Chinese name only exists in characters, but not in oral Mandarin), a dish made from eggs, oysters, sweet potato flour and the leaves of a local chrysanthemum, topped with sweet red sauce. The local version in Kinmen differs quite considerably from the version on the main island, and is closer to the versions served in mainland China's Fujian province.\n **Aiyu jelly** ( *àiyù*) – Made from the seeds of a local fig and usually served on ice — sweet, cool and refreshing on a hot day\n **Taiwan Sausage** ( *xiāngcháng*) – Usually made from pork, it is a modified version of the Cantonese *laap cheong* () which has been emulsified and is much sweeter in taste. Unlike *laap cheong*, which is almost always eaten with rice, Taiwanese *xiangchang* is usually eaten on its own with some garlic.\n **Taiwanese Orange** ( *liŭdīng*) – A type of citrus fruit which is similar to usual oranges, except that the skin and flesh tend to look more yellowish like lemon. Unlike lemon, it is usually quite sweet.\n **Taiwanese Porridge** ( *zhōu* in Mandarin, *beh* in Taiwanese) — Rice porridge, sometimes cooked with sweet potato. Eaten all across China, but most commonly in Fujian. It is usually eaten with several different dishes as a starch base, often for breakfast.\n **Braised pork rice** ( *lǔ ròu fàn*) – Rice topped with pork belly that has been stewed in dark soy sauce and other spices and chopped into tiny pieces. A classic Taiwanese comfort dish. For a less fatty version, ask for (*ròu zào fàn*), which uses minced pork instead.\n **Three-cup chicken** ( *sān bēi jī*) – A succulent and savory chicken dish with three sauces: soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil. Served with rice.\n **Muah chee** ( or ), often called **mochi** in English — Refers to both the traditional South Fujian dessert made of glutinous rice flour and flavored with sesame and/or peanuts, and Japanese-style mochi. Both are considered variants of the same dish in Taiwan, with the former being regarded as more traditional, and the latter being regarded as more modern. There is also a variant that mixes in ground foxtail millet with the glutinous rice flour as well, and is a specialty of the indigenous people in southern Taiwan.\n **Railway Bento** ( *Tái tiě biàndang*) — A national culinary icon and Taiwanese train tradition, this takeaway dish, based on the Japanese *ekiben*, is a holdover of the Japanese colonial era, and celebrated in Taiwan. The most popular bento is the braised pork cutlet bento. You can find this dish at major TRA train stations throughout Taiwan (though locals compare the quality of railway bento on a station-by-station basis), and adaptations are sold by various restaurants across Taiwan. Towns famous for their local versions of railway bentos include Fulong, Chishang and Fenchihu.\n **Pineapple cake**( *fènglísū) —* A sweet traditional Taiwanese pastry and dessert containing butter, flour, eggs, sugar and pineapple paste or slices. Taiwan pineapple cake brands include Xiao Pan () and SunnyHills (). There are subtle differences in the ingredients used for each brand of pineapple cake.\nMost cities and towns in Taiwan are famous for special foods because of the Taiwanese passion for food and influences from many different countries. Yonghe (), a suburb of Taipei, is famous for its freshly made soy milk () and breakfast foods. Taichung is famous for its sun cakes ( *tàiyáng bǐng*), a kind of sweet stuffed pastry. In Chiayi, it's square cookies, also called cubic pastry (), crispy layered cookies cut into squares and sprinkled liberally with sesame seeds. Tainan is particularly famous among the Taiwanese for its abundance of good food and should be a stop for all gourmands. The most famous dish is arguably the *coffin bread* (). Virtually every city has its own famous specialities; many Taiwanese tourists will visit other cities on the island simply to try the local foods and then return home.", "word_count": 775}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk071", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Taiwan also has remarkably good **bakery items**. Most specialize in sweet Chinese pastries or Western pastries adjusted to local tastes, but look out for *We Care* bakeries which also offer Western options such as whole wheat loaves, sour breads and ciabatta.\n\nVegetarians are better catered for in restaurants and variety than in most other countries.\n\nMichelin publishes a guide to restaurants and covers major cities in Taiwan. That said, many locals take the Michelin guide with a pinch of salt because of a gap between the guide and the locals. For example, Tainan, *the* city known for delicious foods, has no Michelin star restaurants there yet. As of January 2025, there are 3 three-starred Michelin star restaurants in Taiwan.\n\n### Places to eat\n\nIf you're on a budget, the cheapest food can be found in back-alley noodle shops and night market stalls, where you can get a filling bowl of noodles for around NT$35-70.\n\nMost Taiwanese people enjoy their breakfast in **breakfast bars** (), which are almost everywhere. They can provide various foods for an enjoyable breakfast - from traditional *shaobing youtiao* with soy milk to American hamburgers with cola. **Soy milk restaurants** (), which sell soy milk and foods that can match soy milk, are a popular variant of breakfast bars, but they usually open from night to morning. While prices may vary depending on the region or type of food, NT$100 can generally buy a meal in breakfast bars.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk072", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Taiwanese love to snack and even many restaurants advertise *xiaochi* (), literally \"small eats\", the Taiwanese equivalent of Cantonese *dim sum*. There are also the standard **fast food** places such as McDonalds (a standard Big Mac Meal costs NT$140), KFC and MOS Burger. In addition, there are large numbers of convenience stores (such as 7-Eleven and Family Mart) that sell things like tea eggs, sandwiches, bento boxes () and drinks.\n\nNight markets are also a good place to try some delicious local Taiwanese fare at attractive prices. Examples would be the Shilin Night Market () in Taipei and the Ruifeng Night Market () in Kaohsiung, each of which has its own special dishes not to be missed.\n\nAlso consider **buffet** () restaurants, which, unlike in the West, are *not* fixed-price all-you-can-eat restaurants (which are called \"\", meaning \"eat until you are full\", in Taiwan). Such restaurants are self-service, with the dishes laid out in a common area, and customers are given a pair of tongs to pick dishes from the spread to accompany some rice. Prices are usually not displayed; after you have finished picking your dishes, you go to the cashier, and the boss will estimate by eye and charge you based on the quantity of each dish that you pick. These are popular with working-class Taiwanese, and typical prices for a meal should fall between NT$100-150; you can save some money by picking only vegetables, while picking fish/meat will drive the price up. Prices also tend to increase during and just after a typhoon due to the increased cost of ingredients.\n\n### Etiquette", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk073", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "As with Chinese cuisine elsewhere, food in Taiwan is generally eaten with chopsticks and served on large plates placed at the center of the table and shared among multiple people. Oftentimes, a serving spoon or pair of communal chopsticks ( *gōngkuài*) accompanies the dishes and guests do not use their own chopsticks to transfer food to their plates.\n\nThe usual traditional Chinese taboos when eating with chopsticks apply in Taiwan as well. For instance, do not stick your chopsticks straight up or into your bowl of rice. This is reminiscent of incense sticks at a temple, and has connotations of wishing death upon those around you. When putting down chopsticks, either place them on the provided porcelain chopstick rest (at fancier restaurants) or rest the chopsticks across the top of your bowl. Also, do not use your chopsticks to spear your food or move bowls and plates.\n\nSee Chinese table etiquette for more details. Although there are minor differences between Taiwanese and mainland Chinese etiquette, much of traditional Chinese table manners apply to Taiwan too.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\n#### Vegetarians\n\nthumb|The characters {{lang|zh-TW|素食}} signal the availability of vegetarian food\nAll Mahayana Buddhists, which account for the majority of adherents in Taiwan, aspire to be pure **vegetarian** in deference to the Buddha's teaching of non-violence and compassion. So, vegetarian restaurants (called *su-shi* *tsan-ting* in Mandarin, and often identified with the symbol, in this context a Buddhist symbol) can be found in abundance all over the island, and they run from cheap buffet style to gourmet and organic. Vegetarian buffet restaurants () will typically cost you NT$90-120 for a good sized, nutritious meal.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk074", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "However, if you cannot find a veggie restaurant, don't fret. Taiwanese people are very flexible and most restaurants will be happy to cook you up something to suit your requirements. The following sentences in Mandarin might be helpful: (*Wǒ chī sù*) - I'm vegetarian, (*Wǒ bù chī ròu*) - I don't eat meat. However, as Mandarin is a tonal language, you might need to say both, plus practice your acting skills to get yourself understood. Good luck! NB: If a restaurant refuses your order, don't push the issue. The reason will not be an unwillingness to accommodate your request, but because the basic ingredients of their dishes may include chicken broth or pork fat.\n\nTaiwanese vegetarianism isn't simply vegetarianism, for there is a notion of \"plainness\" to it. In most cases, it excludes the \"five pungent vegetables\", namely onion, garlic, chives, leeks and spring onion. Mahayana Buddhists consider these items \"un-plain\" because they potentially cause physical excitement, which could hinder the meditative process. Thus, when offering food to a strict vegetarian, be aware that they may not eat food containing these.\n\nAlthough vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan do not aspire to **vegan** principles, almost all non-dessert dishes at Chinese-style veggie restaurants will actually be vegan because the Taiwanese do not have a tradition of eating dairy products. Ensure that your dish does not contain eggs, however.\n\n#### Allergies", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk075", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Eat", "text": "Awareness of **food allergies** () is limited in Taiwan. If you can speak Chinese, you can ask restaurant staff whether the food contains common allergens like peanuts or shellfish, and depending on the chef, they may be able to make some adjustments to accommodate you. Don't expect that level of accommodation from night market stalls though. A serious **soy** allergy is basically incompatible with Taiwanese cuisine due to the prevalence of soy sauce as an ingredient, and **gluten-free** diets are very difficult to come by due to the very low incidence of celiac disease in Taiwan. **Dairy** is not commonly used in traditional Taiwanese cuisine, so avoiding it should be straightforward for lactose-intolerant people.\n\n#### Religious diets\n\nthumb|alt={{lang|zh-TW|清真中國牛肉麵}}|A ''halal'' beef noodle restaurant in Taipei. Note the Arabic script on the cow logo\nFor Buddhists, see the vegetarians section above. In short, Buddhist diets are readily available.\n\nDue to the increase in Southeast Asian visitors or workers in Taiwan, many of them Muslims, you can find *halal* (, *qīngzhēn*) food with some patience, despite pork being a main part of Chinese cuisine. In fact, some convenience stores have created *halal* food corners for Muslims. Your best bet for *halal* food is restaurants or stores serving the Southeast Asian community. There are many *halal* certification bodies in Taiwan, but the Chinese Muslim Association certifies most *halal* stores; Muslim visitors can contact them for more information. In addition, the Taiwanese government provides a detailed list where one can find *halal* food and accommodations.\n\n*Kosher* food for Jews is rare, so contact the Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association for information.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk076", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Drinks vending machine in Taiwan\n\nAs Taiwan is a subtropical island with the southern part in the tropics, it cannot hurt to drink a lot, especially during the summertime. Drink vending machines can be found virtually everywhere and are filled with all kinds of juices, tea and coffee drinks, soy milk and mineral water.\n\nBringing a **water bottle** is helpful in Taiwan for drinking. Water dispensers/fountains are ubiquitous in Taiwan, allowing you to refill your water bottles. Many drinking shops also provide at least NT$5 off for filling their drink with your water bottles to encourage people to use fewer disposable drink bottles.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nTaiwan's legal age to consume alcohol is 18 years of age. Minors caught drinking can face fines ranging from NT$10,000-50,000. Traditional alcoholic drinks in Taiwan are very strong, although the Taiwanese themselves are fairly light drinkers compared to the rest of East Asia.\n\n**Kaoliang** () from Kinmen, a type of Chinese baijiu, is Taiwan's national liquor. A distilled grain liquor, it is extremely strong, usually 140 proof or more, and often drunk straight.\n\nTaiwan also produces many types of **Shaoxing** (), rice wine, which are considered by many as being some of the best in the world.\n\nWhile a relatively newcomer to the scene, Taiwanese **whisky** () has been making waves in the 21st century, with local whiskey brand Kavalan having emerged from obscurity to win numerous prestigious international awards.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk077", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Taiwanese people enjoy beer on ice. A wide variety of imported beers are available, but the standard is **Taiwan Beer** (), produced by a former government monopoly. It is brewed with fragrant penglai rice in addition to barley giving it a distinctive flavor. The beer is served cold and recognized as an especially suitable complement to Taiwanese and Japanese cuisine, especially seafood dishes such as sushi and sashimi.\n\nTaiwan Beer has won international awards, including the International Monde Selection in 1977 and the Brewing Industry International Awards in 2002.\n\nBeer on tap is uncommon in Taiwan, and most places serve beer in bottles. For a special and rare treat, ask for the Taiwan Draft Beer (), which comes in a plain green bottle. This has a 2-week expiration, so it can only be found at the breweries (there are a few scattered around Taiwan) or at select stores and restaurants in the vicinity.\n\nA typical place for Taiwanese people to have drinks with friends is known as ***rè chǎo*** (), literally \"hot stir fry\", an informal restaurant serving mostly wok-fried Taiwanese dishes along with beer to go with the dishes.\n\n### Tea and coffee\n\nthumb|Pearl milk tea and pudding milk tea, [[Chiayi]]", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk078", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Taiwan's specialty teas are **High Mountain Oolong** (, *Gao-shan wulong*), a fragrant light tea, and **Tie Guan-yin** (), a dark, rich brew. Enjoying this tea, served in the traditional way using a very small teapot and tiny cups, is an experience you should not miss. This way of taking tea is called *lao ren cha* (), 'old people's tea', and the name is derived from the fact that only the elderly traditionally had the luxury of time to relax and enjoy tea in this way. Check the small print when visiting a traditional tea house though: in addition to the tea itself, you may be charged a cover (, literally \"tea-water fee\") for the elaborate process of preparing it and for any nibbles served on the side. Taiwan is an excellent place to experience the elaborate **Gongfu tea ceremony** (), a tradition it shares with the South Fujian and Chaoshan regions across the strait in mainland China.\n\nOne should also try **Lei cha** (; léi chá) a tasty and nourishing Hakka Chinese tea-based dish consisting of a mix ground tea leaves and rice. Some stores specialize in this product and allows one to grind their own lei cha.\n\nAs is true elsewhere, Chinese teas in Taiwan are always drunk neat, without the use of milk or sugar. However, Taiwan is also the birthplace of pearl milk tea, which uses sugar and milk.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk079", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Pearl milk tea** ( *zhēnzhū nǎichá*), aka \"bubble tea\" or \"boba tea\", is milky tea with chewy balls of tapioca added, drunk through an over-sized straw. Invented in Taiwan in the early 1980s and a huge Asia-wide craze in the 1990s, it's not quite as popular as it once was but can still be found at nearly every coffee or tea shop. Look for a shop where it is freshly made. There are two cafes that maintain rival claims to having invented the drink: **Chun Shui Tang** () in Taichung and **Hanlin Tea Room** () in Tainan.\n\nThe **cafe culture** has hit Taiwan in a big way, and in addition to an abundance of privately owned cafes, all the major chains, such as Starbucks, have a multitude of branches throughout major towns and cities.\n\n### Soft drinks\n\nTaiwan is a great place for fruit drinks. Small fruit-juice bars make them fresh on the spot and are experts at creating fruit-juice cocktails (non-alcoholic, of course). *zong-he* (mixed) is usually a sweet and sour combination and *mu-gwa niou-nai* () is iced papaya milk. If you don't want ice (though it is safe in Taiwan, even at road side vendors) say, *chu bing* () and no sugar (*wu tang* ()). Winter melon punch () is a popular unique local drink in Taiwan.\n\n**Soy milk**, or *doujiang* (), is a great treat. Try it hot or cold. Savory soy milk is a traditional Taiwanese breakfast dish. It is somewhat of an acquired taste as vinegar is added to curdle the milk. Both sweet and savory soy milk are often ordered with you-tiao (), or deep fried dough crullers.\nThere are a lot of pseudo health drinks in Taiwanese supermarkets and convenience stores. Look out for asparagus juice and lavender milk tea for example.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk080", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|250px|The Grand Hotel, Taipei\n\n### Types", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk081", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "For the budget-minded, there are **hostels** in Taipei and most other sizable cities. Some hostels are under table which mean they don't have valid license.\n **Motels** () can be easily found in suburbs of major cities. Despite the name, these have little if anything to do with the cheap functional hotels that use the name elsewhere; in Taiwan, motels are intended for **romantic trysts** and can be quite extravagant in decor and facilities. Many feature enormous baths with massage jets, separate massage showers, marble tiles, and so forth. Suites come with flat screen TVs and centrally controlled sound systems. During the daytime, most offer \"rests\" () of a few hours, and indeed check-in times for overnight stays () can be as late at 22:00. Taichung is considered the motel-capital of Taiwan.\n Taiwanese **hotels** range in quality from seedy to very luxurious. Most Western hotel chains, such as Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, operate in Taiwan, as do Asian chains Mandarin Oriental, Okura Hotels and Shangri-La, and local Taiwanese chain **Evergreen Hotels**. Independent hotels not part of any chain can often provide better rates, but their quality varies widely; do some research before you book. \n A uniquely Taiwanese form of accommodation is known as the **minsu** ( *mínsù*), small family-run operations where guests are personally served by the owners, similar to Bed and Breakfast in the UK. Many are designed around a specific theme (like fairy tale castle, nature lodge). Accommodation at a minsu typically includes breakfast the next morning, and some may also include dinner, often featuring local specialities. The downside is that most minsu are either in the suburbs, smaller towns or the countryside, meaning that transportation is typically less convenient than at more centrally-located hotels, and the availability of wi-fi can be hit-or-miss. In addition, most minsu advertise in Chinese only, and the hosts may not be proficient in English. However, as the hosts are usually locals from the area, if you can get past the language barrier, they are usually an excellent resource to learn more about the local culture and lifestyle. Typically, you and your party will get your own bedroom, but other facilities like the living room and dining room will be shared with other guests. If you want the entire house/unit to yourself, look for minsu that advertise (*bāodòng*).\n **Camping** does not seem to be an issue in Taiwan and is available in many areas, even in national parks like Kenting National Park. Although, in Taroko Gorge (National Park) you will have to pay for the camp ground. In general, a small fee may apply at official camp grounds. Inquire with the local tourist information center where it is possible to camp and where not. Also, be aware there are \"poisonous snakes and wasps\" signs all over the country. So, make sure you know where you are camping, and how to keep out \"unwanted guests\". Consult a map like OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz, use, to find existing camp grounds or good locations.\n Some **Buddhist temples** provide accommodation to pilgrims, but you will be expected to follow a strict schedule and participate in the temple activities while you are there. Chinese language ability is usually required, as most monks and nuns are unable to speak English, but one place that is set up to accommodate foreign pilgrims with English-speaking monks and nuns is the **Fo Guang Shan Monastery** near Kaohsiung.", "word_count": 569}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk082", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Remarks\n\nNowadays, **walk-ins** are often more expensive than online bookings, especially with bigger hotels. It often seems, they cannot even beat their own online prices and you might need to book online instead of paying in cash on-sight—they will even courteously offer their WiFi for you to do that. Either way, it is advisable that you know what is the actual price online, which gives you a good bargaining ground. Sometimes they will quote a higher price, sometimes they will give you NT$50 less, but often it is just the online price. If you are still in need of a discount, send the ho(s)tel an email or WeChat/Line message quoting the online price. Some will give you 10 % discount on the online price this way, especially for same day short notice bookings. Generally, short notice bookings will give you a better price, since hotels are trying to sell their stock at a bargain price last-minute. However, do not try this for Saturday/Sunday or Holiday/Holiday bookings, this will leave you with bad or no options.\n\nMany hotels in Taiwan have both Chinese and Western names, which can differ radically. Find out and bring along the Chinese name (in Chinese characters), as locals will usually not be able to identify the English ones.\n\nHotel beds in Taiwan are generally much harder than in the West because of the old Asian tradition to sleep on a wood board. Modern mattresses can be found in most hotels, but only in the most upscale Western style hotels will you find beds in a real western style.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk083", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Many accommodations are not staffed 24/7, but they will leave a contact at their door. Often this will be a **LINE** (a Japanese messaging app similar to Whatapp) contact. You should download and set up an account on LINE before traveling to Taiwan.\n\nAgoda seems to list more accommodation options than Booking for Taiwan. However, Agoda's way of claiming additional fees and stating dorm bed availability is a little dodgy. It often says \"1 person in a dorm\" but then \"Occupancy: 2 adults\". So, better to book each person separately just in case. Also, never choose the option to get charged in you credit card's home currency (€, US$, or so). This will give you a very bad exchange rate. Always select \"TWD\" as charged currency—in this case your home bank is indeed your friend. **Or** just get the displayed address/GPS, which is always fully displayed, and walk into the hotel.\n\nm²Starting 2025, hotels are legally banned from providing single-use amenities (toothbrushes, razors) in rooms. Bring your own toiletries or purchase them at the front desk.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk084", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Learn", "text": "Taiwan is home to several good universities, many of which have exchange agreements with various foreign universities, and these are a good way to experience life in Taiwan. The most prestigious university in Taiwan is the **National Taiwan University** (), and admission to it is fiendishly competitive for local students, but considerably easier for foreigners if your Mandarin is up to scratch.\n\n### Mandarin Chinese\n\nSome universities in Taiwan have Chinese Promoting Programs () that offer Chinese lessons to foreigners who wish to live in Taiwan or to learn Mandarin Chinese as their second or foreign language. The romanisation system taught here nowadays is Hanyu Pinyin (), whereas in the past they taught Zhuyin (), or BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). The writing system taught is Traditional Chinese and the form of Mandarin is based on the Beijing dialect but the Taiwanese accent is quite noticeable.\n\n### [[Martial arts]]\n\nThere are many styles of **kung fu** () taught in Taiwan, largely by masters who came here with the Kuomintang in the late 1940s.\n\nStyles include Ba Gua (), Tai Chi (), Wing Chun (), Praying Mantis (), Shway () Shiao and various weapons systems. Many of the students are westerners in these classes, which has led to the rise of several , and Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Russian Sambo, Japanese Aikido and Taekwondo.\n\nSome of the more famous teachers will provide you with the paperwork needed to extend a student visa twice.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk085", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|Kaohsiung skyline\nThe majority of travelers who work in Taiwan pick up temporary jobs teaching English. Jobs teaching other languages (mainly European or Japanese) do exist but have a much smaller proportion of the market. In finding employment with a language school, experience, teaching qualifications and references are not required but obviously help.\n\n### Paperwork\n\nIt is illegal to work without a **work permit** and an ARC (or Alien Residency Permit), and legal work requires a university degree and usually a long (over two month) application process. Alternatively, if you have a lot of money, you can obtain an **investor visa** by investing a large sum of money in a local business, which allows you to work for that company in a management capacity.\n\nIllegal employment is easy to find with employers willing to pay under the table for short durations. If caught or reported, you risk criminal charges and could be deported. The government tends to waver from being very lax on this issue under one administration to suddenly taking action under the next, but it only takes one disgruntled student to report you and have you fined and deported. Consider your options carefully!\n\nThe **rules for getting an ARC** do change often and each administrative part of Taiwan has its own ways of handling them, so it is best to check the pages of the website Forumosa and find out what the experiences of others are in your area.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk086", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Work", "text": "Keep in mind that you can only get an ARC for English teaching if you are a 'citizen of a native English speaking country'. Taiwan's government defines these countries to be only the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. Almost all teachers apply for an ARC through their employers only after starting work and it is tied to their ongoing employment with that school. Therefore, if the teacher wishes to leave their employment, they will have to quickly find an alternative employer or lose their ARC and hence be required to leave Taiwan. Also, very few schools will arrange an ARC without at least a year-long contract being signed. Frankly, with all this inflexibility, it's no wonder so many teachers opt for the non-legal route. That and tax evasion.\n\nCitizens of Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland and Canada aged 18–30 can apply for a **working holiday visa**. For more information, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.\n\nAfter living in Taiwan continuously for 5 years, you may apply for **permanent residency**. If granted, it allows you to live and work in Taiwan indefinitely without restrictions.\n\n### Discrimination in language teaching\n\nEmployers of English teachers are notorious for racial discrimination. White people are much more likely to get better offers than those of other races, regardless of ability - On paper, a big issue is also made about accents, with the North American English accent being heavily favored over British, Australian and South African accents in many language schools' sales marketing. In practice, many schools that advertise 'American English' and claim that their teachers are all from Canada or the United States, actually employ teachers from anywhere. Age is a factor, with applicants in their 20s seemingly being preferred.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk087", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Work", "text": "More than anything, appearance is probably the major factor in finding employment with most schools— Do you 'look Western'? — and reliability and turning up on time for work are the major factors for keeping your job. Therefore, if you look the part, it is very easy to find a school willing to take you on for at least a few days. The 'look Western' point has quite a bearing. Unfortunately, Taiwan is hardly a great promoter of **equal opportunities**. In many schools, there is a prejudice against teachers applying for jobs who are not of white appearance, seen as the typical Western appearance in Asian countries. This is independent of whether or not the teacher has relevant teaching ability and citizenship of one of the permitted ARC countries. Many parents who send their children to schools to be taught English expect the teacher to look like they are from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, and so on, and so the decision on the part of the school managers is mainly about economics.\n\nFor those affected by this, it's a sad fact of Taiwan that is unlikely to change shortly. Good employers without such prejudiced requirements do exist, but greater perseverance is needed when looking for them.\n\n### Private teaching\n\nA lot of the illegal teaching work that the majority of English teachers partake in is simply through **private student** tuition with payment being cash-in-hand. You can find a lot of private students around universities with a Chinese teaching department — look for the areas where all the foreign students are and check the noticeboards.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk088", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Work", "text": "Because most adult private students want to practice English conversation, you don't need Chinese-speaking ability. However, it is definitely a selling point, and Chinese speaking ability is worth mentioning in any advertising of your services. Also, once you have some regular students, remember that in Taiwan, as in most Asian countries, connections, or rather, *guanxi*, are very important. If your students like you, they will likely recommend you to their family and friends.\n\nTeaching English in Taiwan can be lucrative, as the **salaries** are very high compared to the cost of living, typically ranging NT$500-650 per hour before deductions in most language schools, with anything between NT$500-1,000 per hour being negotiable for private students. In the past few years, the flow of would-be teachers into Taiwan has increased dramatically, resulting in stiffer competition for jobs and a general drop in wages, and this trend may continue.\n\n### Other\n\nAside from English teaching, **other common kinds of employment** available for mainly native English-speaking travelers include such tidbits as small acting parts for TV and film, voice talent (video games, dubbing tracks, etc.), editing and even writing educational materials. Many of these jobs are advertised on billboards in Chinese language-teaching institutes and universities, where there are likely to be many foreign students.\n\nLow-paying jobs are also available, common fields are production and elder care. Usually, labour-exporting countries' agents - mostly in Southeast Asia - will arrange the business, but direct hiring provided by the Taiwanese government is also available.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk089", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Work", "text": "If after traveling and living there, you find you are **serious about working in Taiwan**, the most lucrative employment to be had is if you are employed by a multinational company, perhaps in a high-paying country like the UK, U.S. or Australia, and you are sent across to their office in Taiwan. Many foreigners end up doing the same job as their colleagues who were employed in the Taiwan office but for perhaps 3 or 4 times their pay.", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk090", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nTaiwan is very safe for tourists, even for women walking down the street alone at night. This is not to say, however, that there is no crime, and you should always take the usual precautions. In crowded areas such as night markets or festivals, for example, pickpockets are a known problem, but violent crime and muggings are very rare. In addition, it is also very unusual to see drunks on the street, day or night.\n\nLike anywhere else in the world, women should be cautious when taking taxis alone late at night. Although they are generally safe, it's a good idea to arrange to have a friend call you when you get home and to be seen making the arrangements for this by the cab driver. It also helps if a friend sees you being picked up as taxis have visible license numbers.\n\nthumb|A police station in Taiwan\nPolice departments in most jurisdictions have a Foreign Affairs Police unit staffed by English-speaking officers. When reporting a major crime, it is advisable to contact the Foreign Affairs unit in addition to officers at the local precinct. Police stations are marked with a red light above the door and display a sign with the word \"Police\" clearly printed in English. For more information see the National Police Agency website.\n\nForeign victims of a major crime in Taiwan are also advised to report the matter to their government's representative office in Taipei.\n\nAlso, remember that you call 110 for police in Taiwan, and 119 for fire department or medical help. Most of the public telephone booths allow you to call 110 or 119 for free. See the \"Emergency Phone Numbers\" section below.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk091", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taiwan is home to many triads (Chinese organized crime syndicates), although they almost never target the average person in the street, and most tourists will not encounter them. They are mostly involved in the drug trade, prostitution, illegal gambling and loansharking; avoid these and they will not bother you.\n\nPhone fraud is an issue in Taiwan, but scammers only target Chinese speakers. Be careful about receiving any unfamiliar calls, even if they call themselves law enforcement. Do not send your money to someone else in any way unless you are *very* certain who is sending for and what you are doing. If you are not sure, call 165 to confirm.\n\n### Illicit drugs\n\nthumb|A sign at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport warns arriving travelers that drug trafficking is a capital offense in the country.\nTaiwanese drug laws are far stricter that what most Westerners might be used to back home. Recreational use of all drugs, hard or soft, is a crime, and even smoking marijuana can result in a prison sentence of up to 3 years. Drug trafficking is a serious offence that could result in the **death penalty**.\n\nWhile smoking marijuana is illegal, the cannabis product cannabidiol (CBD) is legal provided you have a doctor's prescription, and it contains no more than 10 ppm (0.001%) tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component that gives you the \"high\".\n\nE-cigarettes are **banned** in Taiwan. Importing them can incur up to a NT$50 million fine.\n\n### Military exercises", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk092", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Evacuated streets during Wan-an Exercise.\nThe Taiwanese military organizes regular civil-defense exercise, known as Wan-an Exercise (). Air raid sirens are activated for 30 minutes during the exercise, and you are required to follow any evacuation orders made by the military and police.\nIf you are in a building, you should close all windows and doors and turn off lights.\nIf you are driving, you must **pull over your vehicle and make a complete stop**. Vehicles must not enter any motorways, but must leave the motorway and pull over your vehicle in exits. Traffic police will give proper instructions to drivers and regulate traffic flow.\nIf you are taking a train/metro, you must not enter the train or leave the station, and should follow evacuation orders given by railway staff, the military and the police.\n\nFailure to comply with instructions can result in a heavy fine.\n\n### Emergency phone numbers\n\n**Police**: 110\nScam enquiry: 165\n**Fire/Ambulance**: 119\n\nThe police and fire/ambulance offer service in English.\n\nImmigration and foreigner assistance can be reached at . The hotline provides 24-hour Mandarin, English and Japanese service, as well as Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and Khmer service from 9AM to 5PM on working days.\n\n### Natural hazards\n\nTaiwan often experiences **typhoons** () during the summer months and early fall, especially on the East Coast. Heavy monsoon rainfall also occurs during the summer. Hikers and mountaineers should be sure to consult weather reports before heading into the mountains. A major hazard following heavy rainfall in the mountains is falling rocks () caused by the softening of the earth and there are occasional reports of people being killed or injured by these.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk093", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taiwan is also on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means that **earthquakes** are a common occurrence. Most earthquakes are barely noticeable, though the effect may be slightly amplified for those in higher buildings. While the local building codes are extremely strict, general precautions should still be observed during an earthquake, including opening the door to prevent it from being jammed, taking cover and checking for gas leaks afterwards. While most newer buildings have been built according to strict codes that enable them to withstand major earthquakes, some of the older buildings were not constructed to such high standards and therefore are vulnerable to serious damage or collapse in the case of a strong tremor.\n\nTaiwan's wild areas are home to a variety of **poisonous snakes**, including the bamboo viper, Russel's viper, banded krait, coral snake, Chinese cobra, Taiwan habu, and the so-called \"hundred pacer\" (). Precautions against snake bites include making plenty of noise as you hike, wearing long trousers and avoiding overgrown trails. Most snakes are scared of humans, so if you make noise you will give them time to get away. Walking quietly means that you may suddenly startle them around a corner when you appear, and trigger an attack. The Russel's viper, one of the most dangerous snakes in Taiwan, is an exception: it generally prefers to take a stand against threats.\n\n### Traffic", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk094", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Local drivers have a well-deserved reputation for reckless driving. It is possible (even normal) to obtain a driving license in Taiwan without ever having driven on the roads, and this may be a reason (along with the overcrowded roads) why courteous or defensive driving is definitely not the norm. The guiding principles seem to be that the right of way belongs to the larger vehicle, i.e. trucks have the right-of-way over cars, cars over motorcycles, motorcycles over people, etc. Despite traffic's chaotic appearance, it is viscerally intuitive to yield the right-of-way to a much larger vehicle barreling towards you. It is advisable to use slow and smooth movements over quick or sudden ones. Local drivers regularly cut in front of moving traffic into spaces that seem too small, try to change lanes regardless of the fact their destination is already full, etc. Be aware that during busy traffic (i.e., nearly always) two-lane roads will spontaneously become three-lane, an orange light will be interpreted as 'speed up', and the smallest moment's pause in oncoming traffic will result in *everybody* that's waiting trying to turn across it. Drivers routinely enter a junction when their exit is blocked, and are therefore frequently still there long after the lights change, blocking traffic traveling in other directions. Many motorcycle riders also have a tendency to zip through any space, no matter how tiny. Also be aware that motorcycles often travel through areas typically considered pedestrian-only spaces, like the night-markets.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk095", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you drive a car or a motorcycle, the obvious rule is that if someone turns in front of you, you should be the one to adapt. To avoid collisions, drivers need to be extremely vigilant for other vehicles creating hazards and always be willing to adjust speed or direction to accommodate. Do not expect drivers to yield way, or respect traffic lights in many areas, especially in central and southern Taiwan. Sounding the horn is the usual way a Taiwanese driver indicates that they do not intend to accommodate a driver trying to encroach on their lane, etc., and does not necessarily imply the anger or criticism, as it does in other countries.\n\nBe extra careful when crossing the road, even to the extent of looking both ways on a one-way street. When crossing at a pedestrian crossing at a T-junction or crossroads, be aware that when the little green man lights up and you start crossing, motorists will still try to turn right, with or without a green feeder light. Even on roads where traffic is infrequent and the green light is in your favor, bike riders are still strongly advised to check the opposite lane.\n\nIn Taiwan most traffic lights have countdown timers to alert drivers when light will change from red to green.\n\n### Homosexuality", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk096", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Taiwan is generally a safe destination for gay and lesbian travelers. There are no laws against homosexuality in Taiwan and unprovoked violence against gays and lesbians is almost unheard of. Same-sex marriage was legalised in Taiwan on 24 May 2019, making it the first Asian jurisdiction to do so. However, for gay and lesbian foreigners to get married in Taiwan, they either must be marrying a Taiwanese, or both partners must be citizens of countries where same-sex marriage is legal. Same-sex marriage between a mainland Chinese and a Taiwanese is also forbidden.\n\nTaiwan is also the first East Asian jurisdiction to have enacted anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of education and employment. There is an annual gay pride event called Taiwan Pride. Taipei is home to a vibrant gay scene, and there are also gay bars in some of Taiwan's other cities like Taichung and Kaohsiung.\n\nAcceptance among the Taiwanese public tends to be measured, and homosexuality is still considered to be somewhat of a social taboo, particularly by the older generation. Openly displaying your sexual orientation in public is likely to draw stares and whispers from some people. Nevertheless, attitudes are changing and homosexuality tends to be more accepted by the younger people.\n\n### Dogs\n\nthumb|A stray dog warning sign in Kenting\nThey can be a problem in remote and rural regions, although they are far less numerous than in Thailand and Myanmar. If they get too close to you, picking up a stone or having a big stick is usually a sufficient deterrent. Indigenous Taiwanese hold dogs in higher regard than Han Chinese do. Many indigenous communities have dogs freely running around their communities.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk097", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Pollution\n\nAir pollution can be significant with the highest ratio of scooters per person in the world and a high west coast urban density. You can check air quality real time monitoring on this page. For reference the USA standard for fine particles (PM2.5) over 24 hours should be below 35 µg/m³. It is a good idea to use a mask that can filter fine particles (how to choose a mask), especially when traveling with the elderly or children.\n\n### Water\n\n**Water** quality in Taiwan varies depending on location and time. According to the sole water company of Taiwan, tap water is in general safe to drink. However, most locals prefer to boil the tap water before drinking in order to eliminate residual chlorine and bacteria.\n\nTaiwan is prone to typhoons and earthquakes, which adversely affects water quality. Some buildings, particularly older ones, may have poorly maintained water towers and/or pipes, resulting in poor quality that is beyond the control of the water company. Depending on the severity, one might either filter the water in addition to boiling or avoid the taps altogether. Alternative options include buying bottled water or going to a \"water station\" where water is sold through a metered tap. Water from these sources is licensed to be safe for drinking. Bottled water can be bought in 24 hour convenience stores.\n\nWater quality in Kaohsiung used to be very poor. As a result, most people today use alternative sources. However, there is little evidence that this is necessary today as the quality has improved drastically. In addition, the mentioned alternative sources today are mostly filtered tap water and do not circumvent the historical source of contamination.\n\n### Healthcare\n\nMedicines are available for minor ailments at drug stores. You may also find common drugs requiring a prescription in the west (like asthma inhalers and birth control pills) cheaply available from drug stores without a prescription.\n\nTaiwan has both Chinese physicians and Western doctors, both of which are taken equally seriously. However, as a foreigner, the assumption would generally be to direct you to a Western doctor. The quality of the hospitals in Taiwan is excellent and on par with, if not better than those found in the West. Taiwan's healthcare system is considered to be one of the best in the world. Legal residents with a National Health Card can avail themselves of the very convenient and efficient national health service, which covers treatment and medication using both Western and traditional Chinese medicine. However, this service is not available to short term visitors on tourist visas; nor does it cover major hospitalization expenses. Still, hospital visits and medicine in Taiwan tends to be far less expensive than in Western countries. Most Taiwanese doctors are able to communicate in at least basic English, and in fact, many of the top ones have obtained their medical qualifications in the US and are able to speak English fluently. However, you may find the nurses to be more of a challenge.\n\n### Hiking\n\nWatch out for mosquito bites when hiking in the mountains. Especially in the summer, the humid and hot weather makes mosquitos very active. Most mosquito bites only cause skin irritation and itching, but in some areas of Taiwan it's possible to contract dengue fever or Japanese Encephalitis (though they are both rare in Taiwan). Mosquito/insect repellent spray can be found at convenience stores (such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart) and local pharmacies. If you are bitten by mosquitos, apply a small amount of ointment for irritation relief.", "word_count": 587}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk098", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Taiwanese are generally a warm and polite people, having been strongly influenced by Confucianism. As Taiwanese culture places a strong emphasis on respect for elders, elderly visitors will find most Taiwanese to be very helpful and accommodating.\n\nNaming customs and modes of address are generally the same as in mainland China. See the Respect section of that article for details.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk099", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Pagoda in Kaohsiung\nTaiwan shares several cultural taboos/guidelines with other East Asian nations:\n When giving and receiving business cards, always do it using *both hands* and with a slight bow of the head. Giving or receiving a business card with only one hand is very disrespectful.\n Some Taiwanese are superstitious about anything connected with dying – unlucky things should never be mentioned. The number 4 (four, pronounced 'si') sounds like the word for death in Mandarin.\n Do not write people's names in red. This again has connotations of death. When writing someone's English name, this is not a problem, but avoid writing Chinese names in red.\n Do not whistle or ring a bell at night. This is an \"invitation to ghosts\".\n Do not point at cemeteries or graves. This is disrespectful to the dead.\n Unlike in some other parts of East Asia, bowing to greet people has fallen out of custom as handshakes and waves have become more common.\n There are numerous taboos dictating that certain objects shouldn't be given to others, often because the word for that object sounds like another unfortunate word:\n Clocks. The phrase \"to give a clock\" ( *song zhong*) in Mandarin has the same sound as the word \"to perform last rites.\" If you do give someone a clock, the recipient may give you a coin in return to dispel the curse.\n Shoes. Never ever offer shoes as a gift to old people, as it signifies sending them on their way to heaven. This is acceptable only if by mutual arrangement it is nominally sold, where the receiving party gives a small payment of about NT$10.\n Knives or sharp objects, as they are made for or could be used to hurt the person.\n Umbrellas, which in Mandarin sound the same as the word for \"break up\". Friends should therefore never give friends umbrellas. Instead, friends will euphemistically \"rent\" each other umbrellas for a tiny amount (NT$1, for example).\n The Taiwanese are certainly not puritanical and enjoy a drink, especially the locally brewed Taiwan Beer and Kaoliang. However, Taiwan does not have a culture of heavy drinking like in Northern China and it is rare to see anyone drunk on the streets. While over indulging in alcohol is not a social taboo as such (and some people do so at weddings), it is considered a sign of lack of self-confidence and immaturity, and doing so certainly won't gain you any respect among Taiwanese friends.\n Like in most other East Asian countries, you are expected to remove your shoes before entering a house. You will find some slippers to be worn by visitors next to the entrance door. It is likely to be the same ritual for bathrooms and balconies where you will be expected to remove your slippers to wear a pair of plastic sandals (though it is less shocking not to use the sandals by then).\n As you will get along with Taiwanese people, you are very likely to receive small presents of any sort, such as drinks, food or little objects. These are a very convenient way to lubricate social relations for Taiwanese people, and are especially common between friends in their 20s. You should reciprocate any such presents with something similar, but it does not need to be immediate or specially tailored to that person (i.e., keep it simple). As a teacher you are not expected to offer anything in return, as long as the relationship stays formal. However, beware of the sometimes overly generous parents who can go as far as offering presents running in the thousands of NT$ and who will then expect you to take special care of their child (understand that their expectations will be considered fair in Taiwanese culture).\n You are not expected to tip in hotels, restaurants and taxis, though bellhops may still expect NT$50 or so for carrying your luggage.\n Much like the mainland Chinese, \"saving face\" is also a major value in Taiwanese culture. In general, you should avoid pointing out other people's mistakes in order to avoid causing major embarrassment and if you really have to, call the person to one side and do it in private, and try to do it in a polished manner.\n If you should need to use a temple's washroom, bow to any statues of deities you see on the way whether or not you believe in them. While most people will not mind you using the temple's washroom, they expect you to treat their place of worship with respect. If you plan to offer gifts (such as simple fruits) to the statues of deities in the temple, it is expected that you wash the fruits and your hands prior to offering. In addition, upon entering and leaving a temple, do take and avoid stepping directly on the raised threshold: always try to step over it. You should also never point to the status of deities with your index finger; use your thumb or an up-facing open palm instead.\n You will often see **priority seats** () on public transportation in Taiwan. These are reserved for the elderly, disabled people, pregnant women and women carrying young children; do not sit in them unless one of those situations applies to you.\n **Cultural identity** is a complex and sensitive issue in Taiwan. While most Taiwanese people are ethnically Chinese, many people, especially the youth, seek to distance themselves from China with a distinct Taiwanese identity. Many Taiwanese are of the view that Taiwanese culture was violently suppressed by Chiang Kai-shek, who then proceeded to forcibly impose Chinese culture on Taiwan, in an act of cultural genocide.\n Eating, drinking, or chewing gum is strictly prohibited in MRT stations and trains after passing the ticket gate. Fines are enforced.", "word_count": 955}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk100", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Religion\n\nMost Taiwanese people follow a mix of traditional Chinese folk religions and Buddhism, and it is common to visit temples to offer prayers during important festivals or life events. That said, contemporary Taiwanese society is largely secular in daily life, and religion in general does not play a significant role in people's work or political affiliations. Nevertheless, you are still expected to dress and behave respectfully when visiting temples.\n\nAs in other Asian countries, swastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist temples as a religious symbol. They emphatically do *not* represent Nazism or anti-Semitism.\n\nWhen visiting temples, be sure to enter using the right gate and exit using the left gate (facing inwards). The larger middle gate is traditionally reserved for deities and the Emperor of China, a bit like the central archway of London's Admiralty Arch. Also be sure to avoid pointing at the statues of deities with your index finger, as it is considered to be very disrespectful. Use your thumb or an up-facing open palm instead.\n\nThe most popular traditional Chinese deity in Taiwan is Mazu, a Fujianese shamaness who is believed to have ascended to godhood and now protects sailors, as the Fujianese were largely a seafaring people.\n\nChristianity is the dominant religion among the indigenous Taiwanese, with Presbyterianism and Roman Catholicism being the main denominations. There is also a small Christian minority among the Han Chinese.\n\nTaiwanese people are generally tolerant of different religions, and people of all faiths can usually practice their religion without any major problems. The Falun Gong religion which is banned in mainland China is allowed in Taiwan, though attitudes towards them from the local Taiwanese people tend to be very mixed.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk101", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Although there are some correlations, it is highly unwise to assume anything about a particular person's political beliefs based on what you think you know about their background. Also, this very brief sketch of Taiwanese politics obscures a large amount of complexity. Traditionally, mainlanders, indigenous people, Hakka people and people from Kinmen and Matsu tended to be strongly pan-blue, while Taiwanese speakers from Central and Southern Taiwan tended to be strongly pan-green, though this distinction has largely disappeared among the younger generation, who overwhelmingly identify as \"Taiwanese\" rather than Chinese although they are still generally in favor of the status quo rather than outright independence.\n\nUnless you know your listener well, it is unwise to say anything (either positive or negative) about the current government, about historical figures in Taiwanese history, about Taiwan's international relations, or about relations with mainland China. Some political figures such as Sun Yat-sen (who is also popular in the PRC and with the Chinese government) and Chiang Ching-kuo are generally seen positively, but others (Chiang Kai-shek, Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, and Ma Ying-jeou) arouse very polarized feelings.", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk102", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "Some Taiwanese will get very offended if you imply that Taiwan is part of China. Others will get very offended if you imply that Taiwan is not part of China. Referring to the PRC as \"mainland China\" ( *zhōngguó dàlù*) rather than simply China will tend not to offend anyone, as the term is generally used to exclude Hong Kong and Macau as well, making it less subjective. Referring to the Republic of China as a whole as \"Taiwan Province\" will draw a negative reaction from most Taiwanese. \"Greater China\" may be used in certain business contexts. Keep in mind, however, that there are so many subtleties and complexities here that if you are talking about these things, you've already wandered into a minefield.\n\nHowever, simply referring to the island as \"Taiwan\" is fine, as that is the name used by the locals, regardless of their political persuasion. Titles such as \"Republic of China\" are reserved for official matters only. People from Kinmen and Matsu do not identify as Taiwanese and instead identify as Kinmenese/Matsunese or simply Chinese. When in Kinmen or Matsu, you should call the country the \"Republic of China\", and use \"Taiwan\" only to refer to the island of Taiwan.\n\n**Relations with mainland China**, as well as the **Hong Kong protests**, are sensitive issues; tread carefully on these topics.\n\nDespite the deep mistrust many Taiwanese have of the communist Chinese government, most locals bear little to no animosity towards individual mainland Chinese visitors. As long as you avoid political discussions and behave yourself properly, you should not run into any problems.\n\n### Japanese occupation", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk103", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Respect", "text": "In contrast to other Asian countries, Taiwanese feelings towards the Japanese occupation (1895-1945) are generally positive, and most Taiwanese regard the legacy of Japanese colonial rule as an integral part of their national and cultural identity, though there are exceptions. People who lived through the period of Japanese rule often bear a certain degree of nostalgia for that time, although there was strong resistance, and massacres of both Han Chinese and indigenous people were carried out throughout the occupation. Nevertheless, many Taiwanese bear a sense of gratitude towards the Japanese for modernizing Taiwan, and Japanese colonial rule is generally regarded more favorably than the subsequent Kuomintang rule under Chiang Kai-shek.\n\nJapanese visitors can expect a particularly warm welcome as most Taiwanese admire Japanese culture, and modern Taiwanese culture continues to be heavily influenced by that of Japan. In particular, many shops and tourist attractions are based on a theme of colonial nostalgia.", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk104", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\n#### Wifi\n\nWifi is almost everywhere in large cities and widely available in rural areas. ***iTaiwan*** is Taiwan's free, convenient and widespread WiFi, and an answer to today's mobile-dependent population. It is available in almost all public places in Taiwan, such as stations (railways, MRT, and HSR), post offices, and public libraries. You don't need to register to access *iTaiwan*.\n\nLarge chain stores and restaurants, on the other hand, use other Wifi services such as ***.1.Free Wi-Fi*** that require clicking an advertisement to get online. Other free Wi-Fi services are also available, but they might have problematic security. In addition, most in-house eateries, shopping centres, and restaurants have free Wi-Fi for customers, especially restaurants that take orders from mobile phones by scanning a QR code.\n\n#### SIM cards\n\nIf you want an Internet connection to your smartphone, you can purchase a prepaid 4G unlimited data sim card from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, or Far EasTone at a cost of NT$300 for 3 days, or NT$500 for 7 days (other periods are available as well). Just walk into any official shop to apply (also at all international airports). They need your passport and identification documents of your country of origin, driving license or identification card.\n\nYou can also buy an eSIM in advance from companies like Nomad or Airalo. You may have to manually select the network and APN.\n\nKeep in mind they do offer special promotions on their standard prepaid plans from time to time, and for travellers continuing elsewhere after Taiwan, FarEasTone offer a lineup of reasonably priced \"travel SIMs\" for travel around Asia, Europe, and North America, while Taiwan Mobile offers flat-rate international data roaming on its standard prepaid SIMs.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk105", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Connect", "text": "If you are going to China, travel SIMs or Taiwan Mobile's roaming plans do not censor data there as a local SIM would.\n\n#### Gaming cafés\n\nNot that relevant and widespread anymore, Internet cafés, aka gaming cafés. These are often found on the first or second floor of buildings and equipped with very comfortable chairs and large screens. Although some people do surf the Internet, most people primarily go there for a smooth experience of online gaming. Each hour of Internet access/game play is cheap, coming in at around NT$20. Some machines in the Internet cafés are coin-operated.\n\nPolice sometimes inspect gaming cafés to make sure teenagers are not developing unhealthy gaming habits or using drugs. Tourists are mostly fine with inspection, but may need to show their identification to the police.\n\n### Telephone\n\nthumb|Payphones in [[Taichung]]\nThe standard prefix for international calls from Taiwan is 002, though some other companies may use alternative prefixes at lower rates. Check with your telecom operator for more details. Calls to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau require international dialling. The country code for calls to Taiwan is +886. Most payphones work with telephone cards (), which are available at all convenience stores.\n\nNumbers Starting With 0800 are commercial toll-free numbers, just like the 1-800 numbers in North America.\n\n**Mobile phone** coverage is generally excellent in Taiwan, except in some remote mountainous areas. Among the major providers are Chunghwa Telecom (), Taiwan Mobile (), and Far EasTone (). Taiwan has both 5G and 4G networks, and inbound roaming agreements are in place between most international providers and at least one of these four (but check with your operator before departure). The last 3G networks were shut down in February 2025.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk106", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Connect", "text": "The internationally popular messaging app WhatsApp is not popular in Taiwan. Most Taiwanese use the Japanese messaging app **LINE** instead.\n\n### Media\n\nTaiwan has a very free and liberal press. Taiwan's main newspapers are the Chinese-language *Liberty Times* (), *China Times* () and *United Daily News* (). *Liberty Times* is pro-independence, while *China Times* and *United Daily News* are pro-reunification. The *Economic Daily News* () and *Commercial Times* () focus on financial and business news.\n\nThe sole English-language print newspaper is the *Taipei Times* (founded in 1991). Its main competitor *Taiwan News* (founded in 1949 as *China News*) is no longer available in print, and now is exclusively published online. Both newspapers have adopted a pro-independence editorial stance.\n\nOther news sources:\nCentral News Agency\nTaiwanPlus\nTaiwan Today\nThe News Lens\nTaipeiNews.net\nTaiwan Sun\n\nFree magazines:\n*Taiwan Fun* (*Compass*) - A life magazine. You can use it to find delicious food and interesting activities in Taiwan.\n\nRadio:\n ICRT (short for \"International Community Radio Taipei\") is an English-language radio station available island-wide on FM 100. The programming consists mostly of popular music. There are news bulletins every hour on the hour 07:00–20:00 M–F and 10:00–18:00 on Sa.\n\n### Printing\n\nEvery 7-Eleven and Familymart has cloud printers available for printing documents and even pictures. But for the latter you might be better off with a professional shop. The instructions are in Chinese or English. Costs: NT$1 per document page, plus NT$1 processing fee.\n\n### By mail\n\nTaiwan has an efficient and reliable postal system run by **Chunghwa Post**.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "taiwan::chunk107", "doc_id": "taiwan", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nFor electrical sockets, Taiwan uses the same Type A two-pin and Type B three-pin electrical sockets as the United States and Japan. Electricity is supplied at 110 V at 60 Hz.\n\n### Embassies and foreign missions\n\n*See Cope section in Taipei guide*", "word_count": 44}
diff --git a/corpus/taiwan/metadata.json b/corpus/taiwan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ee8e4609f9b795fd359b9bdf890eb97a4adcfa59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taiwan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "taiwan",
+ "title": "Taiwan",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Taiwan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 27087,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 108,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/taj-mahal/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/taj-mahal/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taj-mahal/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk000", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Agra** (Hindi: आगरा *Āgrā*, Urdu: آگرہ *Āgrā*) is a city around 200 km from Delhi, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is home to two s: the **Taj Mahal** and the **Agra Fort**. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire, as well as the abandoned city of **Fatehpur Sikri** outside town, itself a World Heritage Site.\n\nBesides these three World Heritage Sites, the city has little else to recommend it. Similar to Delhi, pollution is rampant in Agra, especially smog and litter. Visitors are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, besides the inner Taj Mahal which, once you are in, is free of scams and touts. The sites are some of the wonders of the world, and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj. For the vast majority of visitors, a single day in Agra is more than enough.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk001", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|The Taj Mahal as seen from Mehtab Bagh, across the Yamuna River.\n\n### Name\n\nWhile the heyday of Agra (ahg-rah) was as the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1526 and 1658, the city was founded much earlier. There has been much debate regarding the origin of the city's name. The most commonly-held theory is that it comes from the Hindi-Urdu word *agar* (अगर), meaning \"salt pan\", referring to the region's brackish soil; salt was once made in the area by evaporation. Others derive it from the ancient epic, the Mahabharata, claiming that the name comes from Sanskrit *agravana* (अग्रवन), meaning \"grove forest\", indicating the first of the many small forests where Krishna frolicked with the gopis of Vrindavan.\n\nIn the Mughal era, Agra was also known as **Akbarabad**, which was given by emperor Shah Jahan to honour his grandfather Akbar.\n\n### History\n\nThe recorded history of Agra begins around the 11th century, and over the next 500 years, the city changed hands between various kings, both Hindu and Muslim.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk002", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, moved his capital from Delhi to Agra. His son Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, as he was defeated in 1526 by Babur, the first Mughal ruler, in the battle of Panipat. Agra fell too, and became the capital of the Mughals, whose rule over Agra was uninterrupted except for a brief period between 1540 and 1556. In 1540, Sher Shah Suri overthrew Humayun and became the ruler of much of North India, including Agra. After Sher Shah Suri's death, his descendants proved unequal to the task of ruling the kingdom, and Hemu, a Hindu general of Suri, became the effective ruler who would later crown himself King Hemachandra Vikramaditya just as the kingdom was facing an assault from the reinvigorated Mughals. In 1556, Hemu was defeated and killed in the second battle of Panipat, and the Mughals regained Agra.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk003", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mughals were great builders. Babur built the **Aram Bagh** (garden of relaxation) modelled after the garden of paradise, where he was eventually buried after his death. His grandson Akbar refurbished the **Agra Fort** and built the **Fatehpur Sikri**, an entire city just on the outskirts of Agra. Akbar's grandson Shah Jahan would give Agra its most famous monument, the **Taj Mahal**, which is the mausoleum of his beloved wife, **Mumtaz Mahal**. The Taj is constructed in white marble. It took 20 years to construct, and it is now universally known as a monument to love. Legend has it that Shah Jahan wanted a replica of the Taj constructed in black marble that would be his final resting place. There is no support for this theory, but even if it were true, it would have been unlikely to be undertaken. His son Aurangzeb was austere and pious, and had no time or inclination for the ostentation of his forefathers, preferring to spend his money on wars in South India. In any case, even during Shah Jahan's reign, which was the period when the Mughal empire was at its height, the construction of the Taj put a strain on the resources of the empire and caused a mini-famine around Agra. Shah Jahan was eventually buried in the white Taj, next to his beloved Begum.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk004", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Shah Jahan, in addition to giving Agra its greatest claim to fame, was also responsible for beginning its decline, as he decided to shift his capital to Shahjahanabad, which is now known as Old Delhi, in 1658. Though Aurangzeb ordered a move back, this too was short-lived, as he moved his headquarters down south to Aurangabad (present-day Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) to focus on his wars. Agra declined, and so did the Mughal Empire. The city was eventually captured by the Marathas, who renamed it Agra. In 1803, it came under the British, who situated the Agra Presidency there, and when India gained independence, the city was incorporated into the state of Uttar Pradesh, and did not gain even the limited honour of being the state's capital, that distinction going to Lucknow, further east. It is now a tourist town, known for the Taj and a couple of other monuments.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate is similar to, but not identical, to the one of Delhi. Similar to Delhi, Agra is also notorious for their thick winter fog, which reduces visibility to almost zero. On the other hand, the city becomes scorchingly hot during late spring and early summer.\n\n### Read\n\n*Beneath a Marble Sky* by John Shors. A novel based on the remarkable story behind the Taj Mahal. It is an international bestseller and is being made into a film by Hollywood.\n *The Taj* by Colin De Silva.\n\n### Local information\n\nOfficial websites:\n Agra District", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk005", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|300px|The walls of the Agra Fort\nAgra is 200 km southeast of Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-Delhi-Jaipur. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations, and thus suitable for a day trip from Delhi or as a part of a larger itinerary.\n\n### By plane\n\nIndira Gandhi International Airport () is the nearest major airport with direct flights from more destinations.\n\n### By train\n\nAgra is on the main railway line between the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai routes, and many trains connect Agra with these cities every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) are also available.\n\nThere are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and at least three or four to Mumbai and to Chennai. In late December and early January (the fog season), because of the reduced visibility, all trains slow down and travel time goes up. The Bhopal Shatabdi, for example, may arrive in Agra well after 10AM, and might return to Delhi well after midnight. From a safety point of view, it is always preferable to travel by train during the winter. *If you travel during the high season, you must book your tickets a few days to a few weeks in advance if you wish to make it a day trip*, i.e. travelling early in the morning and coming back at a reasonable time at night.\n\nTrain tickets can be booked online through the Indian Railways website, paying by debit or credit cards, although those issued by foreign banks are often declined. For more information on how to book tickets online, visit the article Rail travel in India.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk006", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are several railway stations in Agra, but tourists only need to be concerned about Agra Cantonment, Agra Fort and Idgah stations as almost all mainline trains call here.\n\n#### Agra Cantonment\n\nthumb|Agra Cantonment\n\n#### Agra Fort\n\n#### Other stations\n\n#### Services\n\n**Delhi to Agra** — Close to 20 trains connect Delhi and Agra each day with journey times varying from 2-5 hr. The best options include the *Rani Kamalapati Vande Bharat Express* (fastest), *Rani Kamalapati Shatabdi Express* (departs New Delhi at 6:15AM arriving Agra Cantt at 8:12AM; departs Agra Cantt at 8:30PM arriving New Delhi at 10:30PM, daily except Friday; meal and water included in air-con carriage) and the *Taj Express* (departs Hazrat Nizamuddin at 7:15AM arriving Agra Cantt at 10:07AM; departs Agra Cantt at 6:55PM arriving Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10PM, daily).\n **Agra to Jaipur** - The journey to Jaipur (station code: JP) takes around 4 hr by train no. 2988 which leaves Agra Fort at 6:25PM and reaches Jaipur at around 10:20PM.\nAlso train number 2965 from Agra Cantonment to Jaipur at 5:40PM. The train arrives at 10:15PM. ₹300 air-con carriage.\n The **Luxury train** — *Palace on Wheels* stops at Agra on its 8-day round trip of tourist destinations in Rajasthan and Agra.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Red Taj, tomb of William Hessing at Roman Catholic Cemetery\nThere are several buses to Agra originating from Jaipur, Delhi, Ajmer, Lucknow etc.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk007", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "The highways between Delhi and Agra have tolls, so most buses do not take it. Rather, they take the local roads, which makes the trip significantly longer than the express trains (4-5 hr). It is possible to make it by bus and minibus to Agra by the smaller roads, however you must ask around where the buses to Agra depart from, preferably from a trusted local or the staff at your hotel or hostel. Indian bus stations are, most of the time, either large pavement areas situated under flyovers, very crowded and without no further indications of which bus goes where or stands of private bus companies, which will offer a more comfortable trip at a higher price. This option is for those who feel adventurous, as your journey can be halted by a sudden breakdown of the bus or a road closure due to a local protest or other form of gathering. Note that this is by far the cheapest way to get to Agra, as it should not cost more than ₹60 for the normal \"bus\" and ₹200 for a more coach-type bus.\n\nIf you wish to travel with these government-run buses, **you must insist to your rickshaw driver that they get you there**. If you only ask for the buses to Delhi, they will probably take you to a private bus company, from which they get a cut. It will be slightly more expensive for you, and these buses tend to stop at random places and drop you at random places as well, as these buses are not direct.\n\n#### Stations\n\nThere are two interstate bus stands:\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk008", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can either book a taxi from the hotel or book one directly outside the railway station. There is usually a government-authorised taxi stand; however, it may be hard to find, and the locals present at the station (looking for gullible tourists) will not help you find it. ₹1500/day for 8 hours. It may be more costly to book through a hotel as hotels do have their in fares. It is better to negotiate with the driver directly or book through an online car rental portal.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk009", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "**From Delhi**:\n **Yamuna Expressway** — Connects the 210 km distance from Greater Noida to Agra. The drive is typically 3.5 hours. The highway has a toll.\n **NH 44** — The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH 44 via Tughlaqabad. While the highway is divided, it is important to keep an eye out for trucks, cars, and bullock carts heading the wrong way.\n In both cases, it is possible to hire a car with a driver (a big car for five persons from/to the Delhi airport costs ₹3500). Moreover, both online and offline options are available for tourists. But beware, if you need to get from Agra to the airport in order to catch a flight, ensure you have plenty of time for the trip, as traffic conditions may increase the drive time significantly. Also, it is wise to know your driver. There are situations when he may take over five hours to cover the distance, and you cannot force him to drive any faster than an auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk).\n **From Jaipur**: National Highway 11, a four-lane divided highway, connects Agra with Jaipur via the bird sanctuary town of Bharatpur & Fatehpur Sikri. The distance of around 255 km can be covered in around 4 hours.\n **From Lucknow**: The **Agra-Lucknow Expressway** connects the 302 km distance from the state capital Lucknow to Agra. The drive is very smooth and takes 3 hours. It is a tolled highway.\n **From Kanpur**: **NH 19** continues to Kanpur (285 km, 5 hours) and from there to points east ending in Kolkata.\n **From Gwalior**: A distance of around 120 km, takes around 1.5 hours on the Agra-Mumbai Highway.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk010", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get in", "text": "Agra is connected to Etawah by a long bicycle path.", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk011", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Get around", "text": "Metro, electric buses, tongas (horse-drawn carriages) and e-rickshaws are readily available and the best way to get to the Taj Mahal. As polluting vehicles are banned around the Taj, you need to use a tonga or an electric auto while travelling in the vicinity. Camels are also available.\n\n### By metro\n\nthumb|Agra Metro\nThe Yellow Line () of the **Agra Metro** conveniently connects the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal with the Agra Fort. Tickets are ₹30 and trains run from 6AM to 10PM.\n\n### By rickshaw\n\nAuto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available everywhere. Remember to agree on fares clearly in advance. Foreigners should bargain everywhere and bargain hard. Generally, things are available at 40% of the initially quoted fares. Normally, charges for e-rickshaws are ₹150-200 per e-rickshaw, which can accommodate up to 4 people. As a guide, an auto rickshaw from Agra Cantonment station to the Taj is about ₹200 (at least in off-season), and a cycle rickshaw from the Taj to Agra Fort is ₹40.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) operates some non-air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses, but they run only on specific routes.\n\n### On foot\n\nThe best way to experience the city is to take a walk on the Mall Road (Sadar). The street is full of handicraft and leather goods shops. You will also find plenty of food items quite unique to the city. You can also walk between the Taj and Agra Fort in about 30 minutes.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk012", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "Agra's top two sights by far are the incomparable **Taj Mahal** and **Agra Fort**.\n\n### Taj Mahal\n\nthumb|300px|The Taj Mahal\n- Taj Mahal\n\nThe **Taj Mahal**, an immense mausoleum of white marble, is one of the most well-preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world. Built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, literally the \"Ornament of the Palace\", the Taj is one of the masterpieces of the Indo-Islamic architecture. It has a life of its own that leaps out of marble once you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it \"a teardrop on the cheek of eternity\", while the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold said it was \"[n]ot a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones\".\n\nThere is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the Yamuna River. His plans were said to be foiled by his son, Aurangzeb, who murdered three of his elder brothers and then overthrew and imprisoned his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is instead buried alongside his wife inside the Taj.\n\nAnother urban legend is that the ruler chopped off the hands of the construction workers after building the Taj, so that they could not build another such mausoleum. However, there's no evidence to support this myth. Instead, he provided them accommodation and facilities for their wellbeing at the \"Taj Ganj\" in front of the complex.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk013", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "Although it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actually seeing it in person is awe-inspiring. Photos fall short of capturing the real beauty. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework.\n\nExpect a queue to get into the grounds. There are three gates: The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people visit on weekends and public holidays and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days. A government-issued photo ID, such as your passport, is sometimes requested to be shown to the security guards at the entrance.\n\nOnce inside, expect long queues to enter the mausoleum. There are two queues depending on the type of ticket that you've purchased. At the base of the monument, turn to your right for general (Indian) entry and turn to your left for high-value (foreigner) tickets. The general queue can wrap around the building several times by the afternoon, whereas the foreigner queue is typically empty. Helpful guards can direct you if you get lost.\n\nGet there as early as possible to beat the crowds, and plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building.\n\nThe attractions inside the Taj complex include:\n - Charbagh\n\n- Darwaza-i-Rauza\n\n- Naubat Khana\n\n- Taj Museum\n\n- Mosque and Jawab\n\n#### Tickets", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk014", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|250px|Darwaza-i Rauza, the large gate to the Taj Mahal complex\nEntry to the Taj Mahal complex costs ₹50 for Indians and ₹1100 for foreigners/NRI (Non-resident Indians). To get into the mausoleum, you must pay an additional ₹200 (March 2024).\n\nThe ticket fee for foreigners includes a small bottle of water, and disposable shoe covers for entering the mausoleum. You may also enter the mausoleum barefoot, so consider refusing the disposable shoes covers and going in barefoot. There are shoe racks to keep your shoes just outside the mausoleum.\n\nYou can buy tickets from 3 entrances: the south, east and west gates. The west gate (opens 6AM) is typically the busiest (you could be queueing for hours) but closest to the city. The south gate is less busy but opens later at 8AM. The East gate (opens 6AM) is the furthest from the city but also generally the least busy. The Indian government also provides online ticketing for the Taj Mahal at its official website.\n\nEntry tickets are valid for only **3 hours**. If you stay longer, you will be charged an extra fee at the exit gate.\n\n#### Night view\n\nThere are night viewing of Taj Mahal sessions on the nights of a full moon and the two days before and after (so five days in total). Only hand-held cameras and binoculars are allowed for night viewing of the Taj Mahal. However, the night view is likely not worth it as the visitors are kept far from the Taj Mahal (nearly away), and there is not sufficient light for viewing or photography.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk015", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "Tickets cost ₹510 for Indians and ₹750 for non-Indians; tickets can only be purchased online at Archeological Survey of India website and are usually sold out very quickly. Opening times: 9PM-midnight; attendance is split into 30-minutes slots, 50 visitors group for each slot. A visitor must arrive 30 min prior to viewing hours for a security check at the Taj Mahal ticket kiosk at the East Gate.\n\n#### Tour guides and audio guides\n\nOfficial guides are available for Agra for ₹1200 for a half day, including both the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Ask at your agent for details. Any guide that charges less than that is probably an unlicensed tour. Most unlicensed touts have fake IDs and focus more on taking you shopping rather than on presenting accurate information. You can book a local government-approved guide by logging into the [www.tajtourguide.com Taj Tour Guide] website or online search.\n\nYou can purchase a self-guided audio tour (allows two to a device) from near the ticketing booths. Cost is ₹100 in English and foreign languages and ₹60 for Indian languages.\n\nYou can also consider downloading a free audio guide such as the CaptivaTour Travel Audio Guide, which has a reasonable free 45-minute audio guide for the Taj Mahal.\n\n#### Notes\n\nMosquito repellent is advisable in the warmer months.\nKnives are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.\nTobacco, alcohol, chewing gum and food are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.\nAvoid touching and scratching the walls and surfaces of the monument as these are old heritage sites that need special care.\nWheelchairs for disabled persons and first aid boxes are available at ASI office inside the Taj Mahal complex for a ₹1,000 refundable deposit.\n\n##### Clothing", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk016", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "The Taj Mahal is a religious site. It is best to dress conservatively when visiting the Taj Mahal complex, not only because the Taj Mahal itself is a mausoleum, but also because there are mosques inside the Taj Mahal complex. Walking inside the Taj Mahal mausoleum in the shoe covers provided might be quite dangerous, as the marble floors are very slippery.\n\n##### Electronics\n\nHeadphones are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.\nBringing a keyboard from a tablet is forbidden. Moreover, the cloakroom at Taj Mahal may refuse to take the keyboard without a bag or a backpack, and also refuse to take the backpack with a tablet. \nMobile phones are allowed but must to be kept switched off. Mobile phones are banned for the night viewing of the Taj Mahal.\n\n##### Luggage\n\nAvoid carrying big bags and books as this will mean the guards will take longer to search through them. The guard may require you to check even medium-sized backpacks. Lockers are available at the gates to keep your belongings (of course, at your own risk). Memorise the number on your luggage ticket before you return it to the guard, who, incredibly, may proceed to tear it into tiny pieces, throw it away and then stare blankly at you as the other guard asks for your ticket.\n\n##### Photography\n\nPhotography is prohibited inside the main mausoleum.\nTripods are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.\nBecause the Taj is white, your camera may underexpose your photos. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.\n\n### Agra Fort\n\nthumb|Entering the palace within Agra Fort\n - Agra Fort", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk017", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "Emperor Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power, built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. The emperor added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of its masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.\n\nYou can get to the fort by rickshaw from the Taj Mahal for around ₹45-50. Entry to the Fort is ₹600 plus a levy of ₹50 if you have not already paid for the Taj Mahal.\n\nThere are *left luggage services* at the Fort where you can store your bags at no cost. A fine of ₹5,000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket. Eating is not allowed.\n\nThere are also audio guides available at the Fort, which you can rent for a cost of ₹100 in English and other foreign languages (German, French, Spanish) or ₹60 in Indian languages such as Hindi or Bengali.\n\nThe Agra Fort buildings include:\n - Diwan-i-Am\n\n- Diwan-i-Khas\n\n- Jahangiri Mahal\n\n- Mina Masjid\n\n- Moti Masjid\n\n- Musamman Burj\n\n- Nagina Masjid\n\n- Shah Jahani Mahal\n\n- Sheesh Mahal\n\n- Tomb of John Russel Colvin\n\n### Cemeteries, tombs and memorials\n\nthumb|Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah\nthumb|Chini Ka Rauza\n - Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah\n\n- Chauburji\n\n- Chini Ka Rauza\n\n- Jaswant Singh ki Chatri\n\n- Mariam's Tomb\n\n- Roman Catholic Cemetery\n\n- Sikandra\n\n- Tomb of Firoz Khan Khwajasara\n\n### Gardens\n\nthumb|Water Chanels and pavilion of Aram Bagh\n - Aram Bagh\n\n- Khan-i-Alam Bagh\n\n- Mehtab Bagh\n\n- Shahjahan Garden\n\n- Soami Bagh\n\n### Places of worship\n\n- Guru ka Tal\n\n#### Churches\n\n- Akbar's Church\n\n- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception\n\n- St John's Church\n\n#### Muslim sites\n\n- Great Idgah", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk018", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "See", "text": "- Hazrat Ahmad Shah Bukhari Rahmatullah Aleh Dargah\n\n- Jama Masjid\n\n#### Temples\n\n- Dayal Bagh Temple\n\n- Mankameshwar Temple\n\n### Others\n\n- Battis Khamba\n\n- Gyarah Sidhi", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk019", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Do", "text": "**City Walks**: Other than the monuments visits, one can also stroll in the local markets in old city area. It's a nice experience to have a walk in one of the oldest parts of the city.\n - Adlabs Multiplex\n\n - Taj Nature Walk\n\n - Yamuna River\n\n### Parks and lakes\n\n - Keetham Lake\n\n - Paliwal Park\n\n### Events\n\n \n\n### Sports\n\n - Agra Golf Course\n\n - Eklavya Sports Stadium", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk020", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Buy", "text": "Agra has many shops selling stone products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill ones are rather pretty. Agra is also famous for its leather goods. Consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and cheap food. These markets have gemstones, both precious and semi-precious, cut and polished but unset, and finished jewellery. You can also find chic boutiques, classy leather goods, culturally-designed clothing, and marble markets.\n\nBeware of being overcharged. Do not let *anyone* lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission, typically 50%. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away, you can nearly always get the same items in another shop or order items you liked during your visit over the Internet after you return. Expect to encounter petty and greedy shopowners who will resort to every lie in the book to make a sale (with initial markups of 1,000-10,000%).\n\nThere are many local markets: Sadar Bazar. a sophisticated market, Raja ki Mandi market, Sanjay Place for all the offices, Shah Market for electronics. All of these markets are situated along the M G Road. Hospital Road Market and Subhash Bazar for clothes situated near Agra Fort railway station. Rawatpara market is for spices. Besides these there are many branded shops along the M G Road.\n\nMany wholesale marble products are available at Gokul Pura Market near Raja Mandi on M. G. Road which can be easily reached by auto rickshaw, the price of most items are nearly 25% in the retail market.\n\nBe careful when buying jewels: lots of stones are fake and the price is comparatively high.\n - Taj Ganj", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk021", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Eat", "text": "Agra specialities are *petha*, a type of very sweet candy, and *Dal Moth*, a spicy lentil mix. Both are also popular souvenirs.\n\n **Chaat** - Agra is a heaven for any Chaat lover. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall, especially popular places like Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores. You'll find quality Bhallas and Panipuri at Sadar and Belangunj. Samosa and Kachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city. Some typical chaat items are Aloo Tikki (made by roasting mess made out of boiled potatoes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori, etc. If you want to savour the typical Agra breakfast have a bite of one of those spicy *Berahi* and round it off with sweet *Jalebies*.\n **Sweets** - There are quite a few good sweets shops. The best for the famous petha of Agra are at Hari Parwat, a short distance from Agra Fort. Amongst the well-known shops are Panchi's, Bhimsain BaidyaNath and The Pracheen Petha store. There are many types of petha available but, for the authentic experience, try either the plain one (ivory white) or Angoori flavoured (rectangular and yellow pieces soaked in sugar syrup). Other shops in Agra include: Bikanervala, Deviram, Munnalal Petha, Gopaldas, and Ajanta Sweets, Kamla Nagar. You can round off your meal with a Joda (pair) of Pan unique to the city.\n There is also an abundance of Korean food.\n There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying around the Taj Mahal.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Joney's place\n\n - Manoj Restaurant\n\n - Treat Restaurant\n\n - Yash Cafe\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Tea’se Me\n\n - Berco's Tajganj Agra\n\n### Splurge", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk022", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Drink", "text": "A bottle of Indian beer costs around ₹70-100 in a hotel, but there is virtually no nightlife in Agra outside of cultural shows at some of the larger hotels and restaurants. After getting off the streets of Agra and into your hotel, you will not want to go back anyway.\n\n - Amar Vilas Bar\n\n - Downing Street Bar\n\n - Mughal Bar", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk023", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\n- Col Lamba Indian Home Stay\n\n - Shahjahan\n\n - Dayal Lodge\n\n - Friends Paying Guest House\n\n - Hotel Amba Inn\n\n - Hotel Jaiwal\n\n - Hotel Kamal\n\n - Hotel Neel Kanth\n\n - Hotel Raj\n\n - Hotel Sheela\n\n - India Inn\n\n - Rhine Hostel\n\n - Saniya Palace\n\n - Shanti lodge\n\n - Youth Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Harshit paying guest house\n\n - Hotel Clarks Shiraz\n\n - Hotel Mandakini Villas\n\n - Hotel Priya\n\n - Hotel Taj Resorts\n\n - Laurie's Hotel\n\n - N.Home Stay\n\n - Rajmahal hotel\n\n - Tajview\n\n### Splurge\n\nThanks to heavy competition, Agra's five-star hotels are good value compared to most other cities in India.\n - Holiday Inn Agra MG Road\n\n - ITC Mughal\n\n - The Oberoi Amarvilas Agra\n\n - Radisson Hotel Agra\n\n - The Trident Agra", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk024", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Don't leave cash or any valuables in the hotel room. Cross check all hotel, restaurant and lounge bills for errors.\n Never pay anyone for anything upfront, including taxi drivers.\n Beware of pickpockets.\n If you decide to purchase anything, beware that most items are cheap replicas of original items and not likely to last long. The toys are really poorly put together so do not buy them!\n During the winter season, the weather of Agra is unpredictable and temperature may go as low as freezing; be well prepared.\n Some unscrupulous dealers of carpets use the classic 'bait and switch'. If you buy something, insist on carrying it yourself else what arrives in the post might not be what you bargained for. A carpet shop named 'Kanu carpets' is particularly infamous for this. It is prudent to steer clear of shady looking establishments.", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk025", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Connect", "text": "There are several Internet cafés for sending email or uploading digital photos.\n **Sify Iway** also offers broadband connectivity at different locations spread all over the city.\n\nMany cheap cafés, such as the Taj Café, offer free Wi-Fi.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk026", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Hospitals\n\nThere are only a handful of hospitals in Agra compared to Delhi. Refer to the hospitals in Delhi in emergency.\n\n - Agra District Hospital", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "taj-mahal::chunk027", "doc_id": "taj-mahal", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri\n\n **Bharatpur** is about 56 km from Agra and houses the famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including **Siberian Crane**. The Lohagarh Fort remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 km from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens.\n **Fatehpur Sikri** ghost city is a UNESCO world heritage site about 40 km from Agra. Built in the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, the \"City of Victory\" was the capital of the Mughal Empire for a brief decade and was abandoned in 1586 due to inadequate local water supplies and proximity to the Rajputana areas in the North-West, which were increasingly in turmoil. It includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. Full of well preserved palaces and courtyards, it is a must see for anyone visiting Agra. In order to get a full idea of this site it is better to take a guide (₹450 for 2h for its free entry part) or have a good printed guide. Entry to the site of the mosque (even to the yard) is only without wearing footwear. The vehicle parking is about a kilometre away and Agra Development Authority (ADA) runs some rickety non air conditioned buses to the site entrance, fare is ₹10 per person one way. Entry to the fort area where the palaces are located is ₹610 for foreigners.\n **Mathura** is said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. There are many beautiful temples in Mathura, including the one built at Shri Krishna's birthplace.\n **Nandgaon** was the home of Shri Krishna's foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan, which is half-way up the hill. Nandgaon springs into action every year around March for the festival of Holi, when many tourists flock to the city for the famous \"lath mar holi\".\n **National Chambal Sanctuary**, (70 km away) is a natural sanctuary and the home of the endangered Indian *gharial* (a relative of the crocodile) and of the Ganges River Dolphin (also endangered).\n **Vrindavan** is also a religious place around 50 km from Agra, and quite close to Mathura. There are many temples here devoted to Lord Krishna, a few of the more famous of which are Banke Bihari and the Iskcon Temple.", "word_count": 425}
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index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9d1ab3f8e87802f7ea7d9047875711af7da72875
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+ "doc_id": "taj-mahal",
+ "title": "Agra",
+ "type": "cultural",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Agra",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
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+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Braj"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bharatpur",
+ "Fatehpur Sikri",
+ "Mathura",
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+ "Vrindavan",
+ "Mathura"
+ ],
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new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..98b28160321a42d6ed2ae97552fd56593dc6c2ae
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+++ b/corpus/tanzania/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk000", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Tanzania** is the largest country in East Africa. From the picture-perfect coasts of Zanzibar to the world-renowned wildlife of the Serengeti, from the snowy slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to the coral houses of Mikindani, Tanzania is the heart and soul of East Africa. Tanzania has several national parks and game reserves, where you can see some of the finest African flora and fauna.", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk001", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the capital\n – Arusha is a city at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru.\n – largest city and cultural capital with a mix of African, colonial, and Indian Ocean influences\n – city on Lake Tanganyika and gateway to Gombe Stream National Park\n – Mbeya is a city in southwest Tanzania. It sits at the base of soaring Loleza Peak, between the Mbeya and Poroto mountain ranges\n – \n – \n – \n –", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk002", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Ngorongoro landscape\n – includes Mount Meru, a 4,562 m active stratovolcano\n \n – Africa's highest peak and the world's highest freestanding mountain, which you can climb with a guide\n – includes the Ngorongoro Crater and the Olduvai Gorge", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk003", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nTanzania is probably one of the oldest known continuously inhabited areas on Earth; fossil remains of humans and pre-human hominids have been found dating back over two million years. Later, Tanzania is believed to have been populated by hunter-gatherer communities, probably Cushitic and Khoisan speaking people. About 2,000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people began to arrive from western Africa in a series of migrations. Later, Nilotic pastoralists arrived, and continued to immigrate into the area through to the 18th century.\n\nTravellers and merchants from the Persian Gulf and Western India have visited the East African coast since early in the first millennium CE. Islam was practised on the **Swahili Coast** as early as the eighth or ninth century CE. The Swahili Coast eventually grew to encompass several wealthy city-states, which included Zanzibar and Kilwa Kisiwani. Zanzibar in particular became the main centre of the Arab Slave Trade, the former slave market in its capital, Stone Town, has now been converted to a tourist attraction commemorating slavery, and with the Anglican cathedral having been built on the site of the former whipping post.\n\nIn the late 19th century, Imperial Germany conquered the regions that are now Tanzania (minus Zanzibar), Rwanda, and Burundi, and incorporated them into German East Africa. The post-World War I accords and the League of Nations charter designated the area a British Mandate, except for a small area in the northwest, which was ceded to Belgium and later became Rwanda and Burundi).", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk004", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Understand", "text": "British rule came to an end in 1961 after a relatively peaceful (compared with neighbouring Kenya, for instance) transition to independence. In 1954, Julius Nyerere transformed an organization into the politically oriented Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). Nyerere became Minister of British-administered Tanganyika in 1960 and continued as Prime Minister when Tanganyika became independent in 1961. After the Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the Arab dynasty in neighboring Zanzibar, which had become independent in 1963, the island merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the nation of Tanzania on 26 April 1964.\n\nIn the 1970s, Tanzania repelled an Ugandan invasion waged by tyrant Idi Amin. The Tanzanian military fought back and ultimately overthrown Amin's government with Ugandan dissidents, but mass mobilization and war damages means Tanzanian economy took a turn for the worse. Tanzania also aligned with China, seeking Chinese aid. The Chinese were quick to comply, but with the condition that all projects be completed by imported Chinese labor. From the mid-1980s, the regime financed itself by borrowing from the International Monetary Fund and underwent some reforms. From the mid-1980s Tanzania's GDP per capita has grown and poverty has been reduced.\n\nthumb|Team of climbers at Africa's highest point\n\n### Geography\n\nA large central plateau makes up most of the mainland, at between 900 m and 1800 m. The mountain ranges of the Eastern Arc and the Southern and Northern Highlands cut across the country to form part of the Great Rift Valley.\n\nA land of geographical extremes, Tanzania houses the highest peak (Mount Kilimanjaro), the lowest point (the lake bed of Lake Tanganyika), and a portion of the largest lake (Lake Victoria, shared with Uganda and Kenya) on the African continent.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk005", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tanzania's weather varies from humid and hot in low lying areas, such as Dar es Salaam, to hot during the day and cool at night in Arusha. There are no discernible seasons, such as winter and summer -- only the dry and wet seasons. Tanzania has two rainy seasons: The short rains from late-October to late-December, a.k.a. the Mango Rains, and the long rains from March to May.\n\nMany popular resorts and tourist attractions on Zanzibar and Mafia Island Marine Park close during the long rains season, and many trails in the national parks are impassable during this period. For that reason, in most cases tours are restricted to the main roads in the parks. Travellers should plan their trip accordingly.\n\nDuring the dry season, temperatures can easily soar to above 35°C in Dar es Salaam. You should seek shelter from the sun during the midday heat and use copious amounts of sunblock, SPF 30+.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk006", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Understand", "text": "Best times to visit are:\n**June to August:** This is the tail-end of the long rainy season and the weather is at its best at this time of year -- bearable during the day and cool in the evening. However, this is not necessarily the best time of year for safaris, as water is plentiful in the parks and animals are not forced to congregate in a few locations to rehydrate, as they do in the middle of the dry season right after Christmas.\n**January to February:** This is the best time to visit the Serengeti. It is usually at this time that huge herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Buffalo migrate to better grazing areas. At this period you could observe some of the 1.5 million Wildebeest that inhabit the Serengeti undertake their epic journey. This is most likely the hottest time of year in Tanzania, when even the locals complain about the heat. You've been warned!\n\n### People\n\nTanzanians form more than 120 ethnic groups. Besides the native Africans, there is also a significant Indian community who are descended from colonial-era immigrants.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nTanzania Tourism website", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk007", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Tanzania, with countries in green having visa-free access\n\n### Visa\n\nNo visa is required for stays of less than 3 months for citizens of Namibia, Romania, Rwanda, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and all commonwealth member states (**except** Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Nigeria, India.) A Tourist Visa on arrival costs US$50 or US$100 for a three-month single entry and a multiple entry visa (valid 3 to 12 months), respectively. Bring crisp USD cash for this. You will receive a stamp in your passport and a payment receipt. Holders of a U.S. passport can only obtain the multiple-entry visa.\nIf on a tourist visa, visa duration can be extended for a month without any extra charge at the Tanzania immigration office in Dar es Salaam.\n\nTanzania has extra requirements for anyone who is not visiting for tourism purposes. Any sort of business visit requires a specific business visa which costs US$250 and can also be applied for through the electronic visa system.\n\n#### E-Visa\n\nThe visa can be applied for online through the government electronic visa application system. Please note that online visa holders can enter Tanzania only at specific ports of entry as defined in the official guidelines. As of October 2021, these include\n Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA);\n Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA);\n Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA);\n Namanga border (Kenya)\n Tunduma border (Zambia)\nMost travelers planning to enter Tanzania by land (e.g. from Uganda or Zambia) will therefore have to apply for a visa on arrival.\n\n#### Visa on arrival (VOA)", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk008", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visa on arrival can be obtained upon landing in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, and other ports of entry such as land borders. At land borders, the visa fee is to be paid in cash. It is a good idea to have the exact amount of US$ at hand!\nAt airports, the wait for visas on arrival can be especially long if your flight arrives at the same time as other international flights. Visas are valid for the duration from the date of issuance.\n\n#### Land borders\n\nWhen crossing by ground at the *Namanga border* crossing (e.g. travelling from Nairobi, Kenya to Arusha, Tanzania), you will need to cross the border on foot. Scammers in the no man's land between the border control offices of Kenya and Tanzania will try several scams, including offering outrageously poor currency exchange rates and pretending to be officials selling Tanzania visa stamps. Those attempting to sell the Tanzania visa stamps will act official and ask to see your passport, then they will place an item (a small Tanzanian bank note) in your passport, close the passport, and request the visa-on-arrival fee. Only do business with the immigration offices and adjacent banks, located in established government buildings. Do not stop or interact with people in the no-man's land in between.\n\n### By plane\n\nThere are two major airports; one in Dar es Salaam, **Julius Nyerere International Airport** () (formerly known as Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere International Airport and Dar es Salaam International Airport), and one in Kilimanjaro, '''Kilimanjaro International Airport''' (), which is halfway between Arusha and Moshi.\n\nTanzania is served **internationally** from", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk009", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "Europe by\nKLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam), +255 22 213 9790 (Dar) & +255 27 223 8355 (Arusha). Daily flights with stopover in Kilimanjaro.\nSwiss International Air Lines (Zurich), +255 22 211 8870. 5 flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) with a stopover in Nairobi.\nTurkish Airlines (Istanbul). Daily flights.\n\nMiddle East and Asia by\nEmirates (Dubai), +255 22 211 6100. Daily flights.\n Qatar Airways (Doha), +255 22 284 2675, 1019, Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Daily flights.\nOman Air.\nEtihad airways.\nFlydubai.\nAfrica by\nFast Jet, a low-cost airline.\n South African Airways (Johannesburg), +255 22 211 7044. Twice daily flights.\n Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa), +255 22 211 7063. Daily flights (except for Monday) with a stopover in Kilimanjaro.\n Kenya Airways (Nairobi), +255 22 211 9376 (Dar) & +255 24 223 8355 (Zanzibar). Three daily flights with some stopping in Kilimanjaro.\nEgypt Air.\nAir Seychelles.\nComores Aviation.\n Carriers originating from Malawi, Mozambique also maintain regular flights to Dar es Salaam.\n\nAnd **domestically** by\n Air Tanzania, +255 22 211 8411, bookings@airtanzania.com.\n Precision Air, +255 22 212 1718, Along Nyerere/Pugu Road, P.O Box 70770, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, info@precisionairtz.com or pwreservations@precisionairtz.com also flights to/from Kenya.\n Coastal Aviation, +255 699 999 999, P. O. Box 3052, 107 Slipway, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reservations@coastal.co.tz.\n ZanAir, +255 24 223 3670, P.O.Box 2113, Zanzibar, Tanzania, reservations@zanair.com.\n Regional Air provides almost daily service to all major cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, Zanzibar, and most national parks.\n\nDomestic flights are often late but generally reliable.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Train in Kigoma\nThe Tanzania - Zambia train service, known as **TAZARA**, operates trains twice a week between New Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, and Dar es Salaam, leaving from Dar es Salaam on Tuesdays and Fridays.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk010", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "A domestic **Tanzania railways** network links Tanzania's major cities, including Kigoma, Mwanza, Dodoma, Tabora, and Dar es Salaam. The domestic train service is usually reliable, and ticket prices are affordable. Ticket prices differ, however, according to 'class', typically first, second, and third. First and second classes offer cabins with two and six beds, respectively. Third class is open seating. Hot meals and beverages are usually available from the dining car. It is not uncommon for the train kitchen to purchase fresh produce at many of the stopping points along the way. You can also buy fruit and snacks directly from local vendors who frequent the many train stations on each of Tanzania's many train routes.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe bus is a great way to get into Tanzania. Fly to a place like Nairobi, then you can catch a bus down to Arusha -- a great base for Mount Meru and Ngorongoro Crater. Also, you should not forget the south central part of Tanzania, away from tourist hawkers. Roads in Tanzania aren't in good condition; there are no highways, and there are very few multiple lane segments along main roads. Buses slow down or stop in most villages because of traffic, police, and speed calming tools. For your reference, the trip from Dar es Salaam to Iringa takes at least 6 hours in a private vehicle. It's mostly a two-lane road, rebuilt by the Chinese, so it's in good condition for the most part.\n\nWestbound and northbound buses leaving from Dar ply the same road (A7) until you get to Chalinze, which is about halfway, less than two hours, between Dar and Morogoro.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk011", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are going to Arusha, the bus will veer north on the A17. Other notable destinations along this route are Saandani National Park, Pangani, Tanga, Lushoto, Kilimanjaro, and Moshi. From Arusha, you can also take a bus to Mwanza and Kigoma, but once you've past the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the roads are in extremely poor condition, and you are in for a bumpy ride.\n\nIf you continue on past Chalinze you'll pass by Morogoro (also the turn off for Dodoma), the entry point into the Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park, the old main gate to Udzungwa Mountains Parks, and Iringa, which is the turn off for Ruaha National Park.\n\nIringa is the place to explore the southern circuit, with a new campsite at the Msosa gate to the Uduzungwas (the Iringa side of the park) and the gateway to Ruaha (possibly Tanzania's best park). It is a great place to stay for a few days.\n\nAfter Iringa, you'll either go west, to Mbeya, or south, to Songea. Head to Mbeya if you want to either visit Lake Tanganyika, enter into Malawi, or head north to Kigoma. North of Mbeya, the roads aren't sealed, so it will be a long and very unpleasant trip. If you want to see Lake Nyasa (a.k.a. Lake Malawi), take the bus to Songea. Although you are within a stone's throw of Mozambique, there are no official entry points into Mozambique.\n\nFinally, if you're headed south of Dar, then you'll take the B2. This is the main route to the Selous and the Rufiji River. Along the way, you can also stop in Kilwa, Lindi, and, finally, Mtwara. The road isn't sealed the whole way, so, again, bring on a cushion.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk012", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "Outside of the roads connecting Nairobi, Arusha, and Dar es Salaam, roads between other cities and villages are in very poor condition, although they are slowly being improved. For instance, traveling from Arusha to Dodoma is slow. It can be faster to return to Chalinze and then board a bus to Dodoma. This is pretty much the case for any travel between cities that are not located along the road to Dar.\n\nThe border town of Namanga is a hectic outpost that epitomizes much of Africa. The bus even waits here for you to cross the border. You can even get off on the Kenyan side, walk across the border, and get on the bus again on the Tanzanian side.\n\nFrom Dar by bus it is also possible to travel to Malawi, Uganda, and Rwanda.\n\nUseful information on the Dar es Salaam bus stand (\"Ubungo\") and some specific bus lines can be found in the Dar es Salaam article.\n\nBe sure to go to the proper ticket sales desk to buy tickets, especially in larger cities. Also, show up at the proper ticket sales desk well before the bus is scheduled to the depart, to ensure that you are directed to the correct bus and check in your luggage with the actual bus driver. In Arusha's bus terminal, there is scam where people will attempt to impersonate the bus ticket sales people and the bus drives.\n\n#### Bus lines\n\nSee specific cities for more information about the bus lines that serve them.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk013", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Tahmeed Buses** connect Mombasa with Tanga and Nairobi through Arusha and Dar in Tanzania.\n **Royal Coach** travels to Arusha, and is one of the nicest buses available.\n **Dar Express** services many cities, including Nairobi, Kenya.\n **Sumry**, **Sutco**, and **Upendo** connect the beautiful southern part of Tanzania, Iringa and Mbeya to Dar and further southwest.\n **Taqwa Coach Company** have buses to and from Dar to Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.\n**Kilimanjaro buses,** travels Arusha -Moshi to Dar es salaam.\n**Abood buses,** travels Dar es salaam to Morogoro\n\n### By boat\n\nAzam Marine and Fast Ferries connect Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. It's about 90 minutes sailing.", "word_count": 104}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk014", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus and mini-bus\n\nthumb|Street in [[Stone Town]]\nThe bus is the most common way to travel around in Tanzania. Most buses have a simple design, and the roads are poor, although 1st class air-con buses are available on the Dar-Moshi-Arusha route (Dar Express - ticket office on Libya Street downtown or office no. 45 at Ubungo). Nearly all buses go in and out of Dar es Salaam. The main bus station in Dar (where all buses go), Ubungo, is 8 km west of the city center. A number of the better \"intercity buses\" provide you with complimentary drinks and biscuits.", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk015", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Dar, minibuses called Dala-Dalas can be taken cheaply to most places within the city. The fare is written on the front next to the door - it's usually TSh 250 for adults (2011) except for longer distances. The route of the bus is also stenciled on the front and sides of the bus, e.g. 'Posta-Mwenge' and there's a colour coding system. Posta (outside the central post office on Azikiwe/Maktaba Street) is the main downtown daladala hub. Others are Kariakoo, Mwenge, Buguruni, and Ubungo. Hop on the daladala, take a seat if there is one, and pay the conductor ('konda') when he shakes his pile of coins at you in a meaningful way. The konda shouts the names of the stops - if you don't know where you are, or don't know the name of your destination stop, it'll be hard to know where to get off. If possible, it's worth asking someone at your destination, since the stops sometimes have no signs at all - people 'just know' that certain street corners are the daladala stop and the names are not obvious (e.g. 'Sudani' on the Masaki-Posta line - near the Sudanese ambassador's residence on Toure Drive). When you hear or see your stop and want to get off, shout 'Shusha!' (let me off), the konda will knock on the chassis twice, and the driver will immediately swerve to the side and stop. The daladalas don't run very late; on the east side of town the latest ones are the Msasani and Mwenge routes.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk016", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are also three-wheeled tuktuks/baby taxis/CNGs/bajajis that zoom around. They are cheaper than a taxi, and can get past traffic jams. It's probably not the safest option. You can negotiate the fare in advance, but sometimes the driver doesn't know your destination (there's no Dar es Salaam 'knowledge') and won't know how much to charge. Drivers generally quote pretty fair prices (maybe with a reasonable 'skin tax' for white people) at the destination and if they're trying to rip you off you can usually tell by the leer. It may be handy to know 'right' and 'left' in Swahili: *kulia* (right), *kushoto* (left), *moja kwa moja* (straight), *simama* (stop), *asante kaka* (thanks brother).\n\nModern Coast\n\n### By train\n\nTanzania Railways Corporation has a route between Dar es Salaam and Morogo. Tickets can be bought online.\n\n### By taxi\n\nPrivate **taxis** are also a convenient choice, but be sure to negotiate the price before you use them. Fellow travellers might be able to offer advice about a reasonable fare. Some places (e.g. Dar es Salaam Airport) have a strong taxi cartel and post fixed prices.\n\n**Little** ride hailing app works in Tanzania.\n\n### By plane\n\nIf you can afford it, flying around Tanzania is faster and safer. See Tanzania section above. Even the busiest roads are in poor condition, and bus drivers are not known for their patience or great driving skills. Road accidents claim more lives in Tanzania than any other cause of death.\n\n### By car\n\n***Warning:** It's not advised to drive in Tanzania, or throughout most of Africa, unless you have already experienced the driving conditions in developing countries. Nonetheless, here is some useful information for those thinking to undertake the challenge.*\n\n**Drive on the left side of the road**", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk017", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tanzanians drive on the left (like in the UK, India, Australia, Japan, and other countries), as opposed to driving on the right, like in North America and most European countries. Experienced drivers from \"right-hand drive\" countries will need about half a day of driving around before adjusting to the change. Although the gear shift, windshield wipers and turn signal activators are reversed, luckily, the pedals are not. Just follow the traffic. However, even with some practice, you should always be vigilant, as you could easily find yourself disoriented, which could put you at risk of a head-on collision or hitting a pedestrian, if you are used to driving on the opposite side of the road.\n\n**Choice of vehicle**\n\nIf you're hiring a car when you get here, your best option is a 4x4 sport utility vehicle with good road clearance, especially if you plan on going on safari in any of the national parks. Look for the Land Cruiser, Hilux Surf (4Runner), and Range Rover vehicles. Avoid mini-SUVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV, because they can't always negotiate the poor road conditions in most of Tanzania's national parks. Another issue is 4-wheel drive options. Vehicles with always-on 4x4 are not the best choice for off-road driving. These vehicles were designed for driving in the snow on paved roads or through small mud holes. What you encounter in national parks in Tanzania is quite different and demands a proper 4-wheel drive vehicle capable of traversing large mud holes and sandy roads. Even then, you may still get stuck.\n\n**Navigation**", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk018", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Nelles Maps of ''Tanzania, Rwanda & Burundi''** is the best map. They've taken the time to locate the smallest of villages along the routes, which is great for navigating places where landmarks are scarce.\nThere are markers and white concrete pillions along the main roads. They identify the next major city or town along the route and how many kilometers remain.", "word_count": 61}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk019", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Driving in the city**\nthumb|Car accident in Dar es Salaam\nThis only applies to Dar es Salaam, since all other cities and towns are relatively small and easy to get around in. The city center is extremely congested from 9AM-6PM, Monday to Friday. There are few traffic lights, and the streets are very narrow. It's a dog-eat-dog kind of place, so offensive driving skills are a must, as no one will let you pass if you just sit and wait at stops signs. Streets are crowded with parked and moving cars, SUVs, lorries, scooters, and very muscular men pulling insanely overloaded carts. People can spend hours stuck in traffic jams, especially around Kariakoo Market.\nThere are a few roundabouts in downtown, which the locals call \"keeplefties\" because they thought that the sign advising drivers to \"Keep Left\" when entering the roundabouts named this fascinating Mzungu invention. **Mzungu** is the Swahili word for \"white\" foreigners. It is not derogatory, and it's more along the lines of calling a white person a Caucasian.\nWhen parking on the street in Dar, find a spot to park, then lock your doors and leave. When you return, a parking attendant wearing a yellow fluorescent vest will approach you for payment. The fee is Tsh 300 for two hours. The attendant should either hand you a ticket, or the ticked will already be on your windshield. **Do not** leave without paying if there is a ticket on your windshield. The attendant will most likely be forced to make up for the missing money, as he probably earns, at best, Tsh 3000 a day.\nCarjacking is uncommon but opening doors or jumping through open windows to steal valuables is not. Keep your windows closed and the doors locked. When vehicles are stopped at traffic lights or parked on unattended locations, thieves have been known to steal mirrors, paneling, spare tires, and anything that is not either engraved with the license plate number or bolted into the vehicle's body. Choose your parking spots carefully and don't leave valuables in plain sight. You can either offer the parking attendant a small tip to watch your vehicle, Tsh 500-1000, or find a secured parking lot, especially if you are leaving your vehicle overnight.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk020", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Routes**\n\nThe two main roads are the **Dar es Salaam to Mbeya** road (A7/A17), which takes you to the Southern Highlands through the towns of Morogoro, Iringa, and Mikumi National Park, and near the Selous and Ruhaha National Parks. The other road is the **Dar to Arusha and the Serengeti** road (B1), which takes you to the Northern Circuit by the towns of Tanga and Moshi, and Mount Kilimanjaro, Saadani, Tanrangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks.\n\n**Dangers and annoyances**", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk021", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tanzanians drive very fast and won't hesitate to overtake in a blind curve. Also, most commercial vehicles are poorly maintained and overloaded, and you'll see many of them broken-down along the main highways. **Never** assume their brakes are working or that the drivers have fully thought through the dangerous maneuver they are undertaking.\nMost roads in Tanzania are poorly maintained and littered with potholes and dangerous grooves formed by overloaded transport vehicles. All main roads cut through towns and villages, and often traffic calming tools (a.k.a. speed or road humps) ensure vehicles reduce their speed when passing through. Unfortunately, few are clearly marked while most are hard to see until you are right upon them, and if you are coming too fast, you could be thrown off the road. **Slow down** when entering any town, or you might not be able to avoid these and other hazards. This defensive driving attitude is also prudent because animals and children often bolt out into the street.\nIf you are involved in an accident with a pedestrian, drive to the nearest police station to advise them. *do not* exit your vehicle and attempt to resolve the situation, even if you are sure it was not your fault. Tanzanians are some of the nicest people you will ever meet in Africa, but they have been known to take matters into their own hands. This is largely due to their mistrust of the police and the belief that anyone with money, e.g. rich foreigners, can buy their way out of a problem.\nIf you encounter a convoy of government vehicles, move out of the way. They have priority, although this is debatable, and will not hesitate to run you off the road if you don't give way. You could also be fined by the police for your failure to give way.", "word_count": 306}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk022", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Tanzania, you can determine vehicle registration by the license plate colours. **Yellow** plates, starting with \"T\" and followed by three numbers, are privately owned vehicles. Official Tanzanian government plates are also yellow, but they display only letters and usually start with \"S\" (the fewer the letters, the higher up in the food chain the owner is). **Green** plates are diplomatic; **Red** are international development agencies; **Blue** are UN and similar organizations; **White** are taxis, buses and commercial (safari) vehicles, and **Black** are the military and the police. This coding does not apply in Zanzibar and Pemba.\n\n**Passing etiquette**\n\nDrivers following you will activate their **right** turn signal light to indicate they wish to pass you. If the road is clear, activate your **left** turn signal; if not, activate your **right** turn signal. Look for this when attempting to pass.\n\n**What to bring**\n\nA large jerry can (20 litres) with emergency fuel. (Don’t enter a national park without a full tank of gas.)\n A shovel, a machete (\"panga\" in Swahili), and tow rope.\n Good road maps\n First-aid kit\n Drinking water, at least 5 litres, and non-perishable emergency food supplies.\n\n**Car hire - rent a car for private use.**\n\nCar hire in Tanzania is affordable and there are many reliable 4WD jeeps like Landcruisers and Landrovers available for hire. 4WD cars are comfortable and can withstand all weather road conditions in Tanzania. When you want to travel comfortably anywhere in Tanzania, being rural areas or National parks, choose private travel in a Landcruiser or Landrover.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk023", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are several local tour operators (like http://carhiresafaristanzania.zoomshare.com/) which have fleet of cars for hire in major airports like Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, major cities and all towns which are peripheral to tourist destinations like Moshi, Mwanza, Arusha, and Karatu around Ngorongoro.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk024", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "Safaris in Tanzania can be put into two categories, the Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Tarangire) and the Southern Circuit (Selous, Mikumi and Ruaha). This is an oversimplification though and does not include other interesting, but harder to reach, parks such as Katavi and Gombe, to name just two. For tourists, the first two groupings are more accessible, as a variety of packages are offered by several tour companies.\n\n### Safari prices\n\nthumb|Lion cub in rock cleft\nThe cost of a safari can range from the basics (fly-tents, self-catering and guides with vehicles) to smaller parks like Manyara and Tarangire, to luxury lodges and tented camps in the Serengeti which can cost anywhere from US$250 to US$1,500 per person per night. You can use your own vehicle, provided it's a 4x4 with adequate clearance. There is a benefit to hiring a guide and a vehicle as safari vehicles are equipped with open rooftops which provide a much better vantage point for animal viewing. Also, many park will require that you hire a certified guide before you enter the park, even if you're using your own vehicle. Guides can cost around US$35 a day plus tip. Guides are good to have since they know the park and can help you locate some of the more sought after animals such as lions, leopards, rhinos, cheetahs and hyenas.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk025", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "Some of the more popular safari companies are Warrior Trails, Ranger tours & Leopard tours. Other popular companies rated by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators include Ajabu Adventures, Bush2Beach Safaris, Bushmen Expeditions, Fay Safaris and Tanzania Tour Company. Serena and Sopa are popular lodging spots and have facilities throughout the Northern Circuit. However, don't discount using smaller tours and lesser known lodging facilities which are just as good if not better than the larger tours and lodges.\n\nFor better prices and some of the most beautiful parks avoiding the traffic jams of safari vehicles, head for the southern circuit, particularly Ruaha National Park where the range of wildlife is much greater and the scenery spectacular. Iringa is a great place to base yourself to explore this area and sort out your safari trips.\n\nFor any of the following tours, by looking online, you can find reputable companies that are reasonably priced and make the trip enjoyable and stress-free.\n\n### Wildlife viewing", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk026", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Vervet monkey in Serengeti\n **Serengeti National Park**, made famous by numerous Discovery Channel specials, hosts a wide range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippopotamuses, elephants, zebra, buffalo, water buck, crocodiles, gazelle, warthogs, and wildebeest. One major attraction is the wildebeest migration, which occurs continuously between the Serengeti and Masai Mara (Kenya). A guide with a 4-wheel drive vehicle is required. If the migration is your main purpose for visiting the Serengeti, you should advise your tour company as this may require travel much further afield and could be more costly.\n **Ngorongoro Conservation Area** also hosts an abundance of wildlife, particularly in the Ngorongoro crater. Formed by the same volcanic activity that generated Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley, Ngorongoro consists of the highlands around the crater (rich in elephants) and the crater itself (similar animals to Serengeti, but at higher densities and with a small population of black rhino).\n **Ruaha National Park** and **Selous Game Reserve** are far less popular but very enjoyable. You will find much greater variety of wildlife than you would in the Serengeti, if you're looking for a destination with fewer tourists these parks are for you. Ruaha is known for having the largest elephant and giraffe population of any park in Africa and often goes by the name 'Giraffic Park', it is also a good place to see large prides of lion and the elusive and rare hunting dogs. Selous is the only other place besides Ngorongoro where you may see a rhino. You can also visit the Uduzungwa Mountains Park for a truly wilderness hike through unspoiled and spectacular scenery. There are few places left in the world like this one. With new gates opened up on the Iringa side of the park with great camping it is a great addition to any visit to Tanzania.\n **Tarangire National Park** is in the northern circuit of Tanzania and was named after the Tarangire river flowing within the park. The park area is approximately 2,600 km2. Similar to Serengeti, the park has a high concentrations of wildlife during the dry seasons. Also, over 570 bird species have been identified, and the place is surely a birdwatchers' paradise. Safari accommodation is available in quality safari lodges and campsites.", "word_count": 372}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk027", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "When visiting wildlife parks be sure to stay as close to the viewing areas (center of the parks) as possible and leave as soon as you can in the morning as animals are typically most active soon after sunrise.\n\n### Islands", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk028", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Mafia Island harbour\n Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania and includes the island of Pemba. Zanzibar has beautiful beaches and a historical Stone Town. Zanzibar is great for scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming with dolphins. Other attractions include spice tours and the Jozani Forest, which shelters a small population of red Colobus monkeys.\n **Mafia Island Marine Park** is south of Zanzibar and boasts some fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling. You may also get to swim with whale sharks, as this is one of the few areas in the world where they congregate annually.\n **Bongoyo Island** is easy to get to with a boat from Slipway. It has a remarkable beach with excellent snorkeling in clear water, although you may be better off taking your own snorkels as renting is costly. The island is not tide dependent, therefore you can swim at any time. There is a resident price and a 'muzungu' price' but still quite reasonable.\n ** Sinda Island** is a small uninhabited island of ínner sinder' and outer sinder'.\n ** Mbudya Island** can be accessed from Silver Sands hotel. The water is amazing although it looks clear you cannot snorkel in it as it is surprisingly murky underneath the surface.\n **Lazy Lagoon** There are 12 rooms on the private 9 km-long white sandy island with deserted beaches. It boasts swimming at all tides in clear azure blue water, ideal for snorkelling to be mesmerized by the shoals of iridescent tropical fish hiding among the pristine coral gardens that protect the island. The island is accessed from the mainland, just south of Bagamoyo town 70 km north of Dar es Salaam. It is home to bushbabies, wild pigs, genets, baboons, duiker, and Suni antelope. The bandas were well appointed and have solar-powered hot water, a large shady verandah with spacious rooms and big windows.", "word_count": 307}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk029", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "See", "text": "### Mountains\n\n**Mount Kilimanjaro** is the highest peak in Africa and one of the highest freestanding mountains in the world. Many people travel to Tanzania just to climb this mountain. Does tend to be crowded with tourists. You can either organize your trek up the mountain from your home country through a travel agency, but you'll pay a lot more for this convenience, or, if you've got a bit of time, hop on plane and save some money by organizing it in Arusha or in Dar. There are as many incompetent and dishonest trek organizers as there are good ones. Make sure your guide will deliver on his promises.\n **Mt Meru** is an active stratovolcano located 70 km (43 mi) west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nation of Tanzania. At a height of 4,565 m (14,977 ft), it is visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the ninth or tenth highest mountain in Africa, dependent on definition. Much of its bulk was lost about 8,000 years ago due to an eastward volcanic blast, similar to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington. Mount Meru's most recent minor eruption was in 1910. The several small cones and craters seen in the vicinity probably reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk030", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Dhow and anchor, [[Zanzibar]]\n There are loads of **National Parks** for those wanting to watch Tanzania's wildlife. You can gain entry for around US$100 and benefit from a tour (and perhaps a night's accommodation). The better parks, though packed with tourists, are found in the north of the country. Ruaha National Park is the best in the south (locals actually say this is the best park, especially if you want to see wild animals as opposed to semi-tame ones in the northern parks). Don't just be sucked into the tourist circuit in the north; the south offers great parks and towns (base yourself in Iringa), and you will feel less of a tourist and more of a guest if you travel this way.\n **Scuba diving** in and around Pemba and Zanzibar is another good experience.\n You can also visit numerous historical **Slave Trade sites** located in **Bagamoyo**, which could make for an interesting, if a little depressing, excursion.\n **Beaches**: Tanzania has some of the best, most unspoiled beaches in the world. They are stunning, with their white sand, palm trees, and cool Indian Ocean water!\n Kayak the beautiful coastal waters with a tour operator.\n Tanzania has two of the best **Stone Age sites** in the world: Isimila Gorge (near Iringa) and the earliest known examples of human art among the rock paintings, near Kolo, north of Kondoa, Dodoma -- some of which are reckoned to be around 30,000 years old.\n **Kilimanjaro** is one of Tanzania's main attractions. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. Many visitors come to Tanzania to summit this great mountain. The main peak is estimated to be 5895 m high, making it a real challenge for mountaineers.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk031", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Talk", "text": "Swahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania. Swahili however is the dominant language of society, with English largely limited to commerce and higher education. Over 100 different languages are also spoken by individual ethnic groups, though Swahili is almost universally spoken across the country.\n\n**Time of day**\n\nThis is where a little knowledge of Kiswahili can cause some inconveniences. Tanzanians don't function on the same time as Westerners. This doesn't mean Africa time, which is the notion that appointments are flexible and people can arrive when they please. For Tanzanians, it's illogical that the day would start in the middle of the night.\n\nSince sunrise and sunset happen pretty much at the same time all year round, 6AM and 6PM, the day starts at 6AM which is 0 hours. So when telling time in Kiswahili, Tanzanians always subtracted 6 hours for western time. 11AM is 5AM to a Tanzanian. To avoid any confusion, a Tanzanian will tell time in English if they want to use the western standard and in Kiswahili if they use local standard.\n\nIn Kiswahili, if you say **Saa kumi na moja asubuhi** (11AM), instead of **Saa tano asubuhi** (5AM), you'll end up waiting for 6 hours if the person arrives on time, plus however long it takes to arrive fashionably late!", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk032", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Tanzania is known as the **Tanzanian shilling**, denoted by the symbol \"**TSh**\" or by \"**/=**\" or \"**/-**\" following the number (ISO code:**TZS**). There are five denominations of notes and four of coins in circulation in Tanzania:\n\nNotes: 10,000 (red), 5,000 (violet), 2,000 (brown), 1,000 (blue) and 500 (green; now changed to coins) shillings.\n Coins: 500, 200, 100 and 50 shillings.\n\nNotes and coins vary in size and colour. In descending size order, TSh 10,000 is the largest note, and 500 is the smallest.\n\nTanzanian currency exchangers usually have a different exchange rate for different US$ denominations, larger and newer bills having a better exchange rate than older and smaller bills. The difference in exchange rate between $1/$5 bills and $50/$100 bills may exceed ten percent. Older US$100 notes are no longer accepted in Tanzania, and any note older than 2003 will most likely be refused everywhere. Also, it's best to avoid attempting to exchange notes with pen marks or any writing on them. If you withdraw a large amount of money, in the range of US$400, you'll have to carry over 40 notes around!\n\nThe TSh 10,000 and 5000 notes can be difficult to break when shopping in small shops, a.k.a. **dukas**. In Tanzania, it's usually the customer's responsibility to provide exact change. But if they do agree to provide change, you could be left with several 1000 and 500 notes of very poor quality. However, you won't have such problems in the large hotels and restaurants catering to foreigners.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk033", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most stores and restaurants expect payment in Tanzanian shillings. On the other hand, travel visas, safaris and Kilimanjaro treks are generally priced in US dollars, and entry fees to national parks must be paid in US dollars by non-residents. On Zanzibar, prices are generally in US dollars (including the ferry fare from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar), and non-residents are required to pay for hotels with foreign currency (although the hotel will change Tanzanian shillings for you). Hotels on the mainland expect payment in Tanzanian shillings.\n\nMost hotels will exchange US dollars, euros and British pounds for Tanzanian shillings. Other currencies, such as Canadian or Australian dollars, may be accepted but at rates far below the going rate.\n\nATMs are mostly located in the city centre and on the Msasani Peninsula. If you have a PIN code for your credit card, almost all Tanzanian banks with ATMs will allow **cash advances** on credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Union Pay, JCB, Diners Club, Discover cards. If the ATM reports your home balance in TSh, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you're a \"shillionaire\".\n\n̈'**Ecobank**, **GT Bank**, **KCB**, **I&M**, **DTB**. have no **ATM fees** for overseas bank cards at their ATMs.\n\n̈̽'**Absa bank**, **Stanbic**, **Bank of Africa** charges a US$5 fee for all overseas cards. Similarly most local banks will charge fees around TSh10,000–15,000 per withdrawal. **Some ATMs don't even disclose the fees beforehand (e.g. *TCB*, *Mkombozi bank*)!'**local banks **Exim**, **NMB**, **CRDB** ATMs take mastercard but with a 15,000 fee.\n\nTraveller's cheques have become impossible to cash in. use your ATM card.\n\n**Credit cards** can be used in big supermarkets, malls, large hotels, resorts and with certain travel agents – and to get cash from ATMs.\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk034", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Market in [[Arusha]]\nThere are many markets in tourist cities that sell standard \"African\" goods. Beaded jewellery, carved soapstone, and Masai blankets make interesting gifts. Most \"ebony\" wood is fake (shoe polish) - the exception being in the far south-east of the country, where the Makonde tribe of Tanzania and Northern Mozambique create masks and other carvings from ebony and mpingo wood. Be prepared to bargain for everything. Masks are not typical of most East African groups, and the ones you find in the markets are either imported from West Africa or are strange things made just for tourists, with the exception of the Makonde masks.\n\nTinga Tinga paintings, named after the painter who originated that style, are for sale everywhere. Their distinctive style and colors make for attractive souvenirs. A standard size painting can be had for TSh 5,000-10,000. There is a Tinga Tinga school in Dar es Salaam, where you can purchase paintings from the artists themselves.\n\n### Air freight\n\nIf you happen to buy too many goodies during your travels, it is possible to send them home air freight. Many airlines will allow you to check additional parcels when you fly, for a fee, which probably makes the most sense if you're going straight home. But if you're continuing on, air freight might be the way to go. Many listed rates do not include 20% VAT, or a \"fuel surcharge\" of 13.5% as of 2008.\n\n- DHL\n\n- KLM\n\n- EMS\n\n- Fedex", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk035", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Tanzanian (Dar es Salaam) [[street food]]\nProduce is often of very high quality. Meat and milk can prove difficult for western taste and diets, so be sure that all meat is cooked through. At hotels, you won't have any trouble, but if you venture into small villages, make sure that all water is filtered or boiled before drinking and all fruits and vegetables are peeled before eating.\nLocal dishes include **Mtori** - cooked beef and bananas - and **Mchicha**, a vegetable stew with meat or fish in it.\nIf there is anything that can be called Tanzania's national dish, then **Ugali** would most likely win out. A polenta-style dish made with corn flour, it accompanies cooked meat and a variety of stews, and it's eaten with your hands. Recipes vary from village to village, and everyone has their own way of making it. Many foreigners find it bland and unappealing, but it's worth a try, and some upscale establishments serve it.\nStreet food is also cheap and plentiful. Barbecued corn on the cob is very nice, as are the chips (fries), cooked over a roaring fire.\n**Mandazi** is a sweet doughnut-styled food that is mostly made fresh each morning. Great with coffee in the morning, it makes an ideal snack.\nTanzania's large South Asian community ensures that a great variety of restaurants offer cuisine from all parts of that region of the globe. All eateries near Hindu temples (particularly in Dar) are a good bet. Just watch where the local Indians go to eat, and you won't be disappointed. Most of the food is cooked in large amounts of Ghee, clarified butter, which can be hard for some people to digest.\n**Chipsi Mayai** (chips cooked in an omelet) are served at nearly every African food stand in Tanzania and are considered a Tanzanian specialty. They're quite good with pili pili (hot sauce).", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk036", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Konyagi** is a wonderful gin-like beverage, sold only in Tanzania.\n Domestic beers are **Kilimanjaro**, **Serengeti, Balimi, Pilsner, Kibo** and **Safari**, which are western-style and very good. Imports include Tusker, Stella Artois, and Castle.\n Locally produced banana-beer is also available at times, but questionably safe to drink. Traditionally, you will drink this out of a hollowed gourd. First drink the guests, who then pass it to the elders. In some parts of Tanzania, fermented bamboo juice (Pombe) is the common tipple.\n Passion fruit, mango, and orange juices are available in many restaurants, and excellent when the fruits are in season.\n **Soft drinks** are widely available; **Stoney Tangawizi** (ginger ale - tangawizi means 'ginger', in Swahili) is one of the most popular besides Fanta and Co.\nMbege, a locally made drink made up of ripe bananas and finger millet, commonly in the northern Tanzania from the chagga community in the Kilimanjaro region.\n Other popular beverages include **lassi** (a sweet or salty yogurt drink) and **Chai Maziwa** (chai with milk) which is well worth trying if you can handle the large amounts of sugar added to this drink. (Milk) tea is a much more common drink than coffee in Tanzania.\n Northern Tanzania has a number of great coffee plantations. Although coffee does not have the same popularity in Tanzania as it has in Ethiopia, with a bit of searching you can find a decent cup of java, instead of the instant \"Africa\" coffee that is served in most restaurants. All large hotels in Dar make good coffee. If you want to brew your own cup, **Msumbi Coffee Shop**, +255 22 260 0380, Sea Cliff Village, sells Tanzanian coffee beans ground or whole, roasted on the premises.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk037", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In bigger cities be sure to avoid touts. If you are travelling as a couple, a good idea is for one person to sit in a lobby or restaurant with the bags, while the other scopes out rooms. You are likely to get a cheaper price without the bags, and not be targeted by sneaky touts that will raise the price US$5-10 for you for their commission.\n\nAs of 2021 **budget travelers** will find guest houses to offer simple rooms in the TSh8,000-20,000 price range even in smaller towns or villages. They often come with a private bathroom, a fan and a condom hidden discretely somewhere in the room. Typically these accommodations cannot be booked online and it is rare to run into any Western tourists here.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk038", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Learn", "text": "Various schools and volunteer programs offer courses ranging from Beginners Swahili to Economic Development. Dar es Salaam also has a well-established university, which has exchange programs with several universities in the US and other countries.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk039", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Work", "text": "There is a wide assortment of volunteer organisations sending volunteers and interns to Tanzania to do work in health care, orphanages, education, and development projects. Finding a paying job may be more of a daunting task, taking more time and making use of local connections, but a job could be certainly obtainable when sought hard enough.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk040", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Theft\n\nAs in many impoverished countries, caution should always be exercised, particularly in tourist areas, such as Arusha, Stone Town (Zanzibar), and Dar es Salaam. Violent crime against foreigners is not uncommon, particularly against those walking alone at night, which is not recommended. Pickpocketing and con artists are also common. Pickpockets work crowded markets, like Kariakoo, and bus stations. Don't be fooled by small children who are often forced into a life of crime by older kids or parents -- never carry anything of value in your pockets and don't let expensive camera equipment dangle from your neck. Don't leave bags unattended or even out of your sight when on the beach.\n\n*See specific area or city articles for details. *\n\nIn general, avoid isolated areas, especially after dark. Travelling in large groups is safer. If there are many people or security guards around (e.g. city center areas) you should be relatively safe.\n\nThe safest way to travel is by taxi with a driver you know, especially when it's dark out (late night or early morning). Although it's uncommon, taxi drivers have been known to rob tourists. Get the number for a taxi you trust, from your hotel or a local.\n\nBuses have infrequently been stopped by robbers on long-distance (often overnight) routes. If you have to travel a long distance by bus, it might be better to break it into multiple day-only trips, or to travel by plane or train.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk041", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In the event of an incident, the police may or may not make a strong effort to identify the culprits, but obtaining a police report is necessary if you plan on filing an insurance claim later, or if important documents are stolen. Make sure the police report indicates if your papers were stolen; otherwise you may have difficulty leaving the country. You should immediately contact your local embassy or consulate in the event that your passport is taken.\n\n### Walking\n\nthumb|Zanzibar sunset\nThere are very few sidewalks in Tanzania, always pay careful attention to the traffic and be prepared to move out of the way, as vehicles do not make much effort to avoid pedestrians. In Tanzania, cars have priority.\n\nThe best way to avoid touts, sellers, dealers etc., when they inevitably come up to you and say \"jambo\" is to either say nothing, or to say \"thank you\" or \"asante\", and to keep moving. Some may be offended by 'no', and persistent touts will be encouraged by any kind of interaction at all.\n\n### Corruption\n\nTanzania, like many developing countries, suffers from corruption. Police are poorly paid - many make less than US$40/month. You may be solicited for a bribe by an official willing to turn a blind eye to your infraction, fabricated or otherwise. Some travellers are very much averse to paying bribes to anyone, especially in a country with so many needy but honest citizens.\n\nFraudsters are known to impersonate police, sometimes in the guise of an \"immigration official\" who identifies a problem with your documents. They will flash official-looking papers at you. But there are many plainclothes officers as well. And if you are confronted with someone in uniform, they will almost certainly be an actual officer.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk042", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**On-the-spot-fine** is one term used for a bribe. Those words are meant to initiate a conversation about money. You may be told that the real fine is TSh 40,000 or more and that for TSh 20,000 or 30,000, paid immediately, you can be on your way and avoid a trip to the police station to pay a higher fine.\n\nIf you are certain you are in the right, and do not want to pay a bribe, some strategies are:", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk043", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Involve other people**. Fraudsters or corrupt officials are unlikely to pursue their schemes near an audience. You can ask bystanders for help on the pretext of not understanding the officer.\n **Invoke higher powers**. Insisting on going to the local police station is a good way to make an illegitimate issue go away. Suggesting a visit to your country's embassy (e.g. to have an official there help translate the conversation, due to one's poor knowledge of the local language and laws) is also effective. At this point, they usually have a look of horror on their face, since they don't want any real officials involved. Asking for bribes is illegal, and there is an office of corruption where they can be reported.\n **Play dumb**. Politely explain to the person that you don't understand the nature of the infraction, even if you do. Tanzanians are not direct, and prefer to imply what they want, instead of asking outright. Tell them you've only just arrived in the country, even if it's your 100th visit. If you know some Kiswahili, don't let on. It may only make things harder.\n **Insist on getting a receipt with an official stamp** -- a request that is most likely to be met with confusion and concern. The idea is to show that you don’t know that this is actually a bribe and that you simply wish to play by the rules. Hopefully, after 10 or 20 minutes of a circular, but always polite, conversation, they may send you on your merry way. **A word of caution about this approach:** corrupt officials have become wise to this and in one case a person requesting a receipt was told the cashier's office was closed and would not open until the next morning. The options were to pay the fine or spend the night in prison. It appears this was not a bluff on the part of the officer. The fine was paid and no receipt was issued. The game is constantly changing.", "word_count": 332}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk044", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Also:\n\nDiscussing money or negotiating the fine may encourage the perception that you understand the nature of the conversation (i.e. you are willing to pay a bribe).\n Directly accusing the officer of corruption is likely to be counter-productive; it is important that you allow the officer to save face.\n If you insist on going to the police station, you may be expected to give the officer a ride. If you are alone, and especially if the \"officer\" is plainclothes, this may not be a good idea. If you are approached by multiple people and are alone, under no circumstances get in their vehicle - insist on taking a taxi. And once you get to the station, just pay whatever fine is quoted and insist on a receipt. This may end up costing you more than the bribe, but at least this cop won't get any money out of you, and he/she may think twice before flagging down other foreigners. Also, demonstrate respect for their authority, never raise your voice, and never swear or insult them. Whether you are right or not does not matter at that point.\n\nFinally: incidents of excessive force involving tourists are rare, but that doesn’t mean it cannot happen. For instance, police have been known to be drunk on the job, which can seriously inhibit their ability to reason. As in any situation where someone is trying to get money out of you, by force or threat of force, it's better to be safe than sorry; it's only money.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk045", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Bottled water** is cheap and widely available throughout the country. You shouldn't drink the tap water unless you have no other option, and it must either be filtered with a high quality filter and purifier or brought to a boil before consumption. Tests on tap water have found it contaminated with e-coli bacteria.\n\n### Illnesses and diseases\n\nAs in most African countries, the AIDS/HIV infection rate is high. Tanzania's **HIV/AIDS** infection rate was 5% among ages 15-49 according to a 2015 UNAIDS estimate http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/unitedrepublicoftanzania. This figure is deceiving, however, since several distinct segments of the population, such as artisanal miners, itinerant fisherman, truck drivers, and sex workers, have HIV infection rates significantly higher than the national average. Do not have unprotected sex in Tanzania or anywhere else, for that matter.\n\nAfter food-borne illnesses, **malaria** should be your greatest concern. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and is endemic to Tanzania. You may find yourself at risk in almost every part of the country, although this risk is diminished at altitudes above 2000 m. Care should always be taken between sunset and sunrise, especially during the rainy season. Always sleep under a treated net; wear trousers and closed footwear, and use an effective repellent. Many large hotels don’t automatically install mosquito nets in their rooms. However, a call to the reception requesting one is seldom ignored. In some cases, the nets have several large holes, but a bit of adhesive tape or tying a small knot to cover the hole should do the trick.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk046", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Prior to leaving for Tanzania, you may also wish to consult a physician about taking some anti-malarial medication -- before, during, and after your trip. If, in spite of your best efforts, you do contract malaria, it is usually easily treated with medication that is readily available throughout most of the country. If you plan on being in isolated locations, you may wish to drop by a clinic and purchase a batch. Symptoms associated with malaria can take up to two weeks before manifesting themselves. The rule of thumb for ex-pats living in Tanzania is this: Any fever lasting more than a day should be cause for concern and necessitate a trip to the clinic for a malaria test. Upon your return home, should you show signs of a possible malaria infection, notify your doctor that you’ve visited a malaria-infected country.\n\nOther major illnesses to avoid are **typhoid** and **cholera**. In theory, typhoid can be avoided by carefully selecting food and drink and by avoiding consumption of anything unclean. Typhoid infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is marked by 'persistent, high fevers...headache, malaise, anorexia, splenomegaly, and relative bradycardia.'", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk047", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Cholera infection is marked by vomiting and sudden, uncontrollable bowel movements, which can dehydrate and ultimately kill the sufferer within 48 hours. It is important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Cholera is more or less a seasonal phenomenon in Zanzibar, where outbreaks frequently occur during the rainy seasons. Vaccines and/or oral prevention are available for both typhoid and cholera.\nthumb|Pugu Hills Forest\n**Yellow fever** is an acute viral disease transmitted through the bite of a particular mosquito. Although not as common as malaria, it is nonetheless a serious disease, and travelers to Africa should consult a physician about being vaccinated against it. If you plan on traveling to other countries after your stay in Tanzania, some countries, such as South Africa, may require proof that you’ve been vaccinated against Yellow Fever before allowing you to enter the country. If you aren’t or can’t prove it, you will be offered two options: 1) receive the Yellow Fever vaccination at the airport, and 2) immediately leave the country. The Yellow Fever vaccine (as any vaccine) can have side effects for some people, so you may wish to get the vaccine in your home country, under controlled conditions. Most physicians will not administer the Yellow Fever vaccine to children under the age of 1 year, and a letter from a physician explaining this will ensure that your infant child will not receive the vaccine at the airport.\n- People travelling to Tanzania from India, There is acute shortage of the yellow fever vaccine in India so please get yourself vaccinated at the airport in Dar-es-Salaam as soon as you land there.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk048", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Gastrointestinal Distress**, a.k.a. traveler’s diarrhea, is the result of one, some, or all of the following factors: Unhygienic food preparation and storage, changes in diet, fatigue, dehydration, and excessive alcohol consumption. Prevention is your best defense. Eat only raw vegetables and fruits you can peel and which have been rinsed in clean water. Avoid street or restaurant food that appears to have been left in the open for an extended period of time. Eat only freshly fried or steamed food. You should drink only bottled water, which is available throughout the country. You should even brush your teeth with it. If you must drink tap or well water, boil it for a minimum of 10 minutes or use a high quality filter.\n\n**Rift Valley Fever:** In January 2007, there was an outbreak of RFV in the Kilimanjaro area. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and improperly cooked meat from infected cows led to a number of deaths in the area. Following the deaths, beef sales dropped sharply all over the country, despite the limited scope of the infection. In general, meat served in upscale restaurants is of superior quality. However, care should be taken when indulging in street foods or when eating in remote areas.\n\n### Insects and animals\n\nTanzania has its fair share of venomous and deadly insects and animals, such as Black and Green Mambas, scorpions, spiders, stinging ants, lions, sharks, and others. You should take care when walking through high grass; when visiting national parks, or when shoving your hand under rocks or into dark holes -- unless you know what you are doing. In actuality, the likelihood of encountering these and other similar dangers is remote.\n\nThe insect/animal most residents fear is the mosquito.\n\n### Medical facilities", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk049", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Hospitals and dispensaries in Tanzania do not meet western standards. If you require surgery or any complex medical procedure you will have to be evacuated to Kenya, South Africa or Europe. You should ensure your medical insurance covers such expenses. Outside of Dar es Salaam, and especially outside of the larger cities and towns, you will be hard pressed to get even basic medical help as many doctors are poorly trained and/or have limited equipment and medication. You should ensure you have your own medical kit to hold you over in case of an emergency. Misdiagnoses are frequent for even common ailments such as malaria, as high as 70% of the cases.\n\nDar es Salaam is served by a few clinics staffed by western trained physicians. However, some surgical procedures still require evacuation out of Tanzania.\n\n**IST Medical Clinic:** Just off Haile Selassie Road past the Chole Road intersection, behind the International School of Tanganyika, Msasani Pinensula, Tel: +255 22 260 1307, Emergency: +255 754 783 393.\n**Premier Care Clinic Limited:** 259 Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, Namanga, Kinondoni, P.O. Box 220, Dar es Salaam, Tel: +255 22 266 8385, Mobile: +255 748 254 642.\n**Aga Khan Hospital:** Corner of Ocean Road & Sea View Road, Tel: +255 22 211 5151.\n\n#### Government hospitals\n\n**Bugando Hospital**, Mwanza, Tanzania Tel: +255 68 40610. The University College of Health Sciences at Bugando Medical Center is established as a Catholic college having four schools: Medical, Nursing, Pharmacotherapy and Dental.\n**Muhimbili National hospital,** located in Dar es Salaam\n Mbeya Referral Hospital, PO Box 419, Mbeya Tel: +255 65 3576.\n Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, PO Box 338, Zanzibar Tel: +255 54 31071.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk050", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Other Government run hospitals used for electives:\n Hindu Mandal Hospital, PO Box 581, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 51 110237/110428.\n Agha Khan Hospital, PO Box 2289, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 51 114096.\n Nachingwea District General Hospital, Nachingwea, Lindi, South Tanzania\n Teule District Designated Hospital, Muheza, Tanga Region.\n\n#### Mission hospitals\n\nBerega Mission Hospital, Berega, Morogoro, Tanzania.\n St Anne’s Hospital, PO Box 2, Liuli (via Songea) (connected via USPG charity).\n St Francis Hospital, Kwo Mkono, Handeni District.\n A flying doctor service is based in Arusha, Tel: +255 2548578.\n\n**For any medical issues, contact**: Ministry of Health, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 51 20261 Fax: 51 39951\n\nIn Moshi Municipality (Kilimanjaro Region) there is the renowned **KCMC**, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, which is in the foothills of the snow-capped, Mount Kilimanjaro.", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk051", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Respect", "text": "In general, tourists should wear modest or conservative attire, especially in Zanzibar, which is a conservative Muslim society. Western women should not wear clothing that reveals too much skin. 'Kangas', brightly-colored wrap-around cloth, are affordable, available throughout the country, and can serve as a discreet covering.\n\nThe Masai people, with their colorful clothing, are tempting targets for any tourist with a camera. However, they expect to be paid for it, and you should always ask before taking pictures.\n\nIt is common practice among Swahili-speakers to use 'shikamoo' (pronounced 'she ka moe' and literally meaning, 'I hold your feet') when greeting elders or superiors. The usual response from an elder will be 'marahaba'. In Zanzibar, the equivalent of 'shikamoo' is 'chei chei'. The traveler will get along very well when using these verbal expressions of respect. In addition, a title after the 'shikamoo' is also a useful indicator that you are not just a dumb tourist -- 'shikamoo bwana' for the gents, and, when addressing a female elder, 'shikamoo mama'.\n\nTanzanians will also comment if you are doing any work while they are not, with the phrase \"pole na kazi\". It literally means \"I'm sorry you have to work\". A simple \"asante\", or \"thanks\", will suffice in reply.\n\nMany Tanzanian sellers are persistent and, ordinarily, a simple head shake, accompanied by \"asante sana\", should settle it. However, as a last resort, a firm \"hapana\", meaning \"no\", will do the trick. Tanzanians find the word \"hapana\" quite rude, so please don't use it casually -- only as a last resort. Whatever you plan to do, do not tell someone you will come back to buy from them later when you have no such intention; better to be honest and say 'no' than having to avoid someone for days. They somehow have a funny way of finding you when you promised to visit their stall or shop!\n\nThe most polite way to refuse something is to say \"sihitaji\" (pronounced see-hih-tah-jee)- \"I don't need it\".", "word_count": 331}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk052", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Connect", "text": "Keeping in touch while traveling in Tanzania is rarely a problem. You can get decent mobile phone reception even in some national parks.\n\n### Telephone calls\n\nThe \"Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd\" (TTCL) is the state owned telecom, operating all pay phones and landlines in Tanzania. As it is the case with most developing countries, telephone fixed-lines are not affordable for many ordinary people. However, the mobile network has blossomed throughout Africa in the past years, and this is equally true of Tanzania. With many used mobile phones for sale and the very low cost of getting a SIM card, this is the popular choice of most Tanzanians. For many, a mobile phone is the first large purchase when they get a job. The major mobile service providers operate all over the country, even in some of the most remote areas, although service interruptions are common.\n\nIf you find a taxi driver or tour guide that you like, ask for their mobile number. This is often the best way to reach them.\n\n**Using a mobile phone**\nIf you have an \"unlocked\" **GSM 900/1800MHz frequency** mobile phone (the same frequency as used in the rest of the world, apart from USA and Canada), you can purchase a local SIM card for 500 Tsh from a series of Tanzanian service providers. The most popular are **Airtel**, **Vodacom**, and **Tigo**. **Zantel** is a new arrival on the mainland and, through the **national roaming agreement** with Vodacom, has the largest network coverage.\n\n**Air time**\nYou can top up your \"prepaid\" mobile phone account by using \"scratch-cards\", which are available everywhere. Just look for shops or even small tables set up along the road, with posters for the various mobile service providers. Those cards typically come in the denominations from Tsh500-50,000. If you plan on making frequent calls outside of Africa, you will need at least a Tsh10,000 card.\n\n Making calls within Tanzania to a mobile phone Dial *\"0 & (telephone number)\"* or *\"+255 & (telephone number)\"*\n Making calls within Tanzania to a landline Dial *\"0 & (city code) & (telephone number)\"* or *\"+255 & (city code) & (telephone number)\"*\n Telephone codes for the Tanzanian cities (These numbers are only used when calling landlines) Dar es Salaam (22), Morogoro & Mtwara (23), Zanzibar & Pemba (24), Mbeya (25), Iringa (26), Arusha & Tanga (27), and Mwanza (28).\n Making international calls Dial *\"+ & (country code) & (area code, if any) & (telephone number)\"* or *\"000 & (country code) & (area code, if any) & (telephone number)\"*\n\nInternational telecommunications have low capacity, and can be unreliable\n\n### Internet\n\nWith the advent of Internet-equipped cell phones, internet cafés are dying out throughout Tanzania. They used to be easy to find in major urban areas, like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, and may persist.\n\nAs of 2021, all mobile providers are offering mobile internet service. Zantel, Vodacom, Tigo, Airtel and Halotel are the main providers. 4G coverage is available in many areas of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar town and other cities in the country. A 8GB/month data bundle costs around Tsh10,000, SIM card included.\n\nWireless (WIFI) is also provided by some providers mainly Powernet (Bibi Titi Mohammed Road, Elia Complex) 0658769376, 0787769376, 0757769376, 0777769376, Unlimited Internet Access anywhere in the Urban Areas of Dar-Es-Salam costing Tsh 30,000 (US$20).\n\n### Emergency\n\n Emergency Services: **112** - If you can, it's probably better to go straight to the nearest police station, instead of dialing 112.", "word_count": 574}
+{"chunk_id": "tanzania::chunk053", "doc_id": "tanzania", "section": "Go next", "text": "The East African Islands including Madagascar, with nature and culture very different from the African mainland", "word_count": 16}
diff --git a/corpus/tanzania/metadata.json b/corpus/tanzania/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..998bfaa5b5a7570bd37c013735ec13445b62f86a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tanzania/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tanzania",
+ "title": "Tanzania",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tanzania",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "sailing",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East_Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "East African Islands",
+ "Madagascar"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 11770,
+ "listing_count": 4,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 54,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/taroko/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/taroko/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..eb922a375750a0bac57465998c2e6baec69318eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taroko/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk000", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Taroko Gorge** (太魯閣: *Tàilǔgé*) is a deep, rocky, tree-lined canyon with a boulder-strewn, blue-green river at the bottom. Its magnificent scenery makes it an incredible place for hiking, and it welcomes visitors with trails ranging from flat and leisurely to strenuous and heart-pumping. The 19-km-long canyon near Taiwan's east coast is protected as **Taroko National Park** (太魯閣國家公園; *Tàilǔgé gúojiā gōngyuán*).", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk001", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Taroko Gorge is composed mainly of metamorphic rocks, such as *marble*, *gneiss*, and *schist*. The name, **Taroko**, means the \"magnificent and splendid\" in the language of **Truku**, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area.\nthumb|View from Swallows Grotto\n\nThe nearest town is **Xincheng** near the entrance to the national park, which has a train station and a handful of hotels, restaurants, shops, and even a night market serving the steady flow of tourists. The **visitor center** is near the entrance to the park, and **Tianxiang**, a village of sorts with not-that-great restaurants and a couple of stores, is located deep in the gorge past most of the main hiking trails. Alternatively, many visitors go to Taroko National Park as a day trip from Hualien.\n\n### History\n\nWhen Taroko National Park was established in 1986, it was of special significance for the environmental protection movement in Taiwan: it showed that the public and the government agencies had realized despite the nation's four decades of extraordinary economic success, serious damage was being done to its natural resources.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThe most phenomenal aspect of the park is the amazing relief. In a single afternoon you can travel from rugged coastal cliffs through a maze of subtropical forested canyons to high elevation sub-alpine coniferous forests. In about 60 km the landscape rises from sea level to some of the tallest peaks in Taiwan at over 3400 m. That's steep!\n\nThe force behind the steep valleys and narrow canyons is a (geologically speaking) relatively fast rate of uplift combined with ample water. Over the last 70 million years, these two forces collaborated to form the world's deepest marble canyon. The slot canyons here are remarkable with narrows sections 300 m high and only a dozen meters apart, reminiscent of the Virgin River in Zion National Park in Utah, USA. Ignore the fact that Zion is in the desert, and made of sandstone and Taroko is subtropical and comprised of marble, and these two gorges have a lot in common.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nright|thumb|300px|Taroko\nThe park has 144 species of birds, 10% of which are indigenous to Taiwan. It also hosts over 30 large species of mammals, including deer, boar, and bear. Monkeys can be seen if you're on a quiet trail and keep your eyes and ears peeled. 251 species of butterflies, 32 species of reptiles and 18 species of fish have been identified, but considering the rugged terrain of the park, this is probably only a fraction of the species that actually live in the park.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe climate is subtropical and generally mild. Rainfall is abundant year round so be prepared and be especially cautious about entering the gorge during typhoons or periods of extended heavy rain due to the danger of landslides and rockfall.\n\nThe weather in the gorge can often be surprisingly well with open and blue sky, even when it is raining in Hualien.\n\nAccording the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, average temperatures at low elevations in the park range from 14°C in January to 27°C in July. At higher elevation it is much cooler with winter temperatures at 2000 m being about 5.5°C in the winter and 17.5°C in the summer and at 3400 m at the top of Hehuan, temperatures average -3°C in January and 9°C in July.", "word_count": 553}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk002", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Get in", "text": "The nearest major city is Hualien. Flights and trains are available from Taipei and most major cities.\n\n### By bus\n\n \n - Regular buses from Hualien\n\nThe Visitor Center offers free maps of the area. They can also provide you with up-to-date information on which trails are closed, as the weather and earthquakes may make them unsafe.\n\n### By train\n\nA journey by train from Taipei to Hualien takes 2 hr by express train (NT$440) and 3-4 hr by local trains. The trains are cheap, reliable and comfortable. Station names are announced in English and Chinese so you should have no problem identifying your stop.\nThe closest train station to the park entrance is (新城). From there, you can use the before mentioned shuttle or regular buses, or there is the choice of one way taxi rides for about NT$200 or a taxi day tour for about NT$2,000.\n\n### By taxi\n\nA taxi from the Hualien train station to Tianxiang (town in Taroko National Park, where the Grand Formosa hotel is located) costs about NT$1200 and takes about 1 hour.\n\n### By scooter\n\nYou can rent a scooter near the train station in Hualien. It takes around 30 min to reach Taroko Gorge. However in some cases you may need a local drivers license to do so.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk003", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Entry to the park is free but if you want to go to some of the wilderness or into areas designated as Eco-protection areas or restricted mountain areas, you will need an entry permit. Be sure to apply for the permits early (at least 1 week before) as some permits are limited by a small number per day. Refer to the official Taroko National Park information website for application procedures:\n\n - Taroko National Park", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk004", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many tunnels can also be traversed on foot, if you want to get from one to another just nearby sight.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe **shuttle bus** and **regular buses**, see above.\n\nFurthermore, there are numerous **bus tours** visiting the gorge every weekend. And, while the buses are comfortable and air-conditioned, the tours tend to have a tight itinerary (including, of course, the obligatory stop at some local gift shop), leaving little time for extended hiking. Tour buses leave from the Hualien visitor information center and cost about NT$988 per person for a whole day tour.\n\nRegular bus lines are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the gorge and avoid the need to look for parking, though they can be very crowded. You can use Taipei's EasyCard to ride the buses with a 90% discount—tap when you get on and when you get off. If you pay with cash no change is given.\n\nBus lines through the gorge include the 302, 1126, 1129, 1132, 1133, 1133A, and 1141. They run pretty frequently from early morning to early evening, but at inconsistent intervals, and different lines stop at different places, so get ahold of a schedule to plan your transportation. The buses are often late and sometimes even a few minutes early, so don't take the schedules too seriously. Major stops served by most of the buses include:\n\n Hualien Station 花蓮火車站\n Xincheng Station 新城火車站\n Taroko Arch Gate 太魯閣\n Taroko Visitor Center 太魯閣遊客中心\n Shakadang 砂卡礑\n Swallow Grotto 燕子口\n Tunnel of Nine Turns 九曲洞\n Lushui 绿水\n Tianxiang 天祥\n\nThe 7-Eleven in Tianxiang is useful for reloading your EasyCard.\n\nDon't miss the last bus back in the evening!\n\n### By car\n\nRenting a car in Hualien is definitely an option, though be very cautious; the roads through the gorge are extremely narrow with numerous bends. In addition, there are pedestrians, scooters, cars and massive tour buses all vying for the tight space.\n\n### By scooter\n\nThe Gorge is not the best place for a first scooter experience. However, it's a fantastic place to ride for those with experience. Scooters are available to rent in Hualien. If you run low on fuel, the locals often stock a small supply that they'll part with for a miraculously uninflated price. There is also a gas station 50 km passed Taroko on the number 8 road (around km 118). The drive there climbs to an impressive 3 km altitude. Bring warmer clothes and rain gear. Also make sure to get a helmet with a rain visor.\n\nYou can rent a scooter from Pony near the train station in Hualien (around NT$400/day).\n\n### By bicycle\n\nFor the truly adventurous, cycling is a wonderful way to traverse the park. You can rent a bike in front of the entrance of the Taroko national park. It costs NT$250 for a day.\n\n### On foot\n\nIf you do not have any of the above you can see some parts of the national park by foot. The closest hiking trail to the park entrance is the Shakadang Trail, which departs from the road after the first tunnel approximately 1 km from the park headquarters. The eternal spring shrine is only 1.4 km further through the tunnels. Taking this tour takes 4-5 hr, don't forget to take enough water with you.\n\n### By thumb\n\nAlthough Taiwan is not a hitchhiking paradise, it is pretty easy to hitchhike in the Taroko gorge and, more generally, on Highway 8, especially if you are a foreigner.", "word_count": 576}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk005", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "See", "text": "The following sights will be encountered in a westward order from the entrance of the park, though starting early in the morning at Baiyang Waterfall trail and heading eastwards will lead to far less crowds.\nthumb|Shakadang River\n - Shakadang Trail\n\n - The Eternal Spring Shrine\n\n - Buluowan\n\n - Xiaozhuilu Trail\n\n - Swallow Grotto\n\n - The Tunnel of Nine Turns\n\n - Xiangde Temple\n\n - Lushui Trail\n\n - Dekalun Trail\n\n - Huoran Pavilion Trail\n\n- Cave of Water Curtains / Baiyang Trail", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk006", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Bridge to Jhuilu Old Trail (foot access of the bridge is not possible without trail permission)\n\n### Hiking\n\nTaroko national park features a lot of different hiking trails. For most of them solid sneakers are enough, if you want to leave the well prepared paths you need to get permission of the park administration. Don't forget to take enough water with you when hiking. Also, ask the information centre about the weather. At certain times of the year there is predictable heavy rainfall about the same time everyday and you want to make sure you aren't hiking at those times. Often rains start around 15:00, in which case you need to get an early start to do a couple of hikes in a day.\nthumb|Stairs on the Dali Datong Trail\n\n - Lushui-Heliu Trail\n\n - Dali Datong Trail\n\n - Lushui-Wenshan Trail\n\n - Zhuilu Old Trail\n\n### River tracing\n\n - Sanjhan", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk007", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Buy", "text": "Various local aboriginal handcrafts are for sale in the gorge as well as some local liquor. On the road from Hualien to the park entrance are lots of roadside stands selling whatever fruit is in season.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk008", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Eternal Spring (Chang Chun) Shrine\nRestaurants are in short supply in Taroko Gorge, and those at the service centers in Buluowan and Tianxiang are generally bad with inflated prices. The Visitor Center has a restaurant and a (relatively limited, compared to the average convenience store) choice of bottled drinks. The closest real convenience store is a 7-Eleven in Taroko Archway, about 10 minutes walking downhill from the Visitor Center; another 7-Eleven is in Tianxiang. A packed lunch may serve as the simplest option for a day trip to the Gorge. For breakfast and dinner, there are tasty options in the nearby town of Xincheng.\n - Tianxiang\n\n - Shakadang Trail\n\n### Xincheng\n\nthumb|Stinky tofu at the Xincheng Night Market\nXincheng has several restaurants. There are also little shops selling sandwiches, which make a good breakfast or part of a packed lunch. Vegetarian options are not a problem.\n\n - Xincheng Night Market\n\n - Ban Tian Hong", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk009", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In the gorge are several options in Tianxiang (Tienhsiang), from the top-end five-star Silks Place Hotel and the Leader Village Hotel (more like motel) to budget hostels. However, most tourists choose to stay in Hualien, where there's a greater range of accommodation albeit with a time trade-off.\n\nright|thumb|250px|Tianxiang\n\n### Budget\n\n - Youth Activity Center\n\n If you head 50 km further into the mountains, e.g. with a regular bus, there is the **Kuan Yun Youth Activity Center** for NT$1100 .\n\n### Mid-range\n\nright|thumb|250px|Silks' rooftop pool - they have a big open fire at night\n - Taroko Xincheng Streets Of Old Homestay\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Silks Place Taroko\n\n### Backcountry\n\nBackcountry hiking is technical and requires permits from the authorities.", "word_count": 118}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk010", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Rock fall**. It is advised not to enter the gorge during or just after periods of prolonged heavy rainfall. There are several signs in English marking the more dangerous areas and hard hats are provided at the Tunnel of Nine Turns.\n**River activities**. The river that passes through the gorge is extremely swift and dangerous. Care is especially required after heavy rainfall.\n**Snakes**. There are numerous signs up warning visitors of poisonous snakes. Whilst snake sightings in the gorge are uncommon some of Taiwan's snakes can be deadly and hence all unrecognised snakes should be treated with caution. Most snakes are shy so to minimise the likelihood of encountering a snake make plenty of noise whilst walking to alert them of your approach.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "taroko::chunk011", "doc_id": "taroko", "section": "Go next", "text": "Hualien - The biggest city in East Taiwan.\nHualien Ocean Park - Hualien's biggest man-made tourist attraction.\nLishan Village - while it is administered by Taichung, it is more easily reachable by bus from Taroko Gorge. Well known for its apple farms and nearby Dayuling tea.", "word_count": 46}
diff --git a/corpus/taroko/metadata.json b/corpus/taroko/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..32e93a684329838a5649ba12922ac061b4238739
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/taroko/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "taroko",
+ "title": "Taroko Gorge",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Taroko_Gorge",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Hualien County"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Hualien",
+ "Taichung"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2185,
+ "listing_count": 25,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 12,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tasmania/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tasmania/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e18aff3b5bec9ece1df0def583ffa5ed03c73169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tasmania/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk000", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Overview", "text": "*\"TAS\" redirects here. For other users, see Tas. For the airport, see Tashkent.*\n**Tasmania** (palawa kani: *lutruwita*) is the island state of Australia, southeast of the mainland. Tasmania encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th largest island in the world, and over 1000 smaller islands, both inhabited and uninhabited. It is the smallest state in Australia by both area and by population, with just over 500,000 permanent residents. Over 45% of Tasmania is protected by national parks and world heritage sites, and it features diverse climates, flora and fauna, many of which are found nowhere else in Australia, and a rich heritage, both Indigenous and post-colonial.\n\nYou'll find the inhabitants notably more polite, friendly and helpful than in big cities on the mainland such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.", "word_count": 130}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk001", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Regions", "text": "### Other\n\n **Macquarie Island** is a Subantarctic island around south-southeast of Tasmania. While it's administered as part of the Huon Valley, it's geologically, physically, and ecologically closer to many other Subantarctic islands, particularly the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk002", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Cities and townships", "text": "– the state capital and largest city located in the south of the island\n – beach town on the east coast\n – the fourth largest city in Tasmania\n – home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, third largest city\n – gateway to southern Tasmania\n – the second largest city\n – historic mining town on the west coast\n – home to many old buildings dating back to the 19th century as well as the oldest bridge in use in Australia\n – one of the most isolated (and beautiful) parts of Australia and the largest centre in western Tasmania.", "word_count": 97}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk003", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|250px|Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, a World Heritage site\n250px|thumb|Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park\nTasmania has some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery not just in Australia but also the world. Over 45 percent of Tasmania is protected in national parks so you can't make a visit here without checking at least a couple of national parks out. The UNESCO World Heritage site **Tasmanian Wilderness** covers about a quarter of Tasmania. There's a park for every season and for every person. Discover spectacular landscapes from highlands carved by glaciers, including the only fjords in Australia, to quiet solitary beaches, from cool and silent rainforests, to colourful alpine wilderness wild flowers. Tasmania's 19 national parks encompass a diversity of unspoiled habitats and ecosystems which offer refuge to unique, and often ancient, plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.\n\n – mountain with a ski resort.\n – perhaps Tasmania's most visited offshore island\n – one of Tasmania's most iconic landmarks and contains the Overland Track, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness .\n – part of the Tasmanian Wilderness , home to several waterfalls. It is Tasmania's second largest national park.\n – known for its beaches and bay.\n – another mountainous national park, just one hour away from Hobart\n – one of the more visited national parks in Tasmania, and a popular skiing area\n – former convict settlement and a \n – Tasmania's largest national park in the southwest of the island, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness . It is a good place to spot the Southern Lights.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk004", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nTasmania has been inhabited by humans for approximately 60,000 years. Between around 6,000 BCE, sea levels rose and Aboriginal Tasmanians were entirely isolated from the rest of the human race, until the first contact with Europeans in 1777.\n\nThe first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on 24 November 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Captain James Cook landed at Adventure Bay in 1777. Matthew Flinders and George Bass first proved Tasmania to be an island in 1798–99.\n\nThe first European settling of Tasmania was by the British at Risdon Cove on the eastern bank of the Derwent estuary in 1804. Penal settlements were established at Sullivans Cove (Hobart), Maria Island, Sarah Island, and Port Arthur. The colony changed its name from \"Van Diemen's Land\" to \"Tasmania\" in 1856. The Colony of Tasmania existed from 1856 until 1901, when it federated with the five other Australian colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia.\n\n### Geography\n\nthumbnail|Tasmanian devil\n\nLocated in the Southern Ocean separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait and from New Zealand by the Tasman Sea, Tasmania is Australia's smallest state, with an area of 68,400 km² (26,410 square miles). It is comparable in size to the Canadian province of New Brunswick or the country of Ireland. It's within the range of the notorious \"Roaring Forties\" winds that encircle the globe.\n\nTasmania's population is focused in the southeast and north in the regions around the cities of Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk005", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Midlands (the area between Hobart and Launceston) is the driest region of Tasmania and is primarily used for cattle and sheep grazing. The Huon Valley and the area between Launceston and Burnie is used for both agriculture and horticulture. The Central Highlands, the West Coast and the Southwest Wilderness are all mountainous forested areas, a majority of which are protected inside national parks.\n\nTasmania is very mountainous: while its tallest mountain, Mount Ossa, at 1,617 m (5,305 ft) is not that high compared to global standards, the mountains are what characterise Tasmania. Much of Tasmania is densely forested, with Southwest National Park and neighbouring areas home to some of the last pristine temperate rainforests in the Southern Hemisphere.\n\n### Politics\n\nTasmania is one of the six founding members of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is separated into 29 smaller local government areas.\n\nLike all other states except for Queensland, Tasmania has a bicameral parliament; the Parliament of Tasmania consists of the Legislative Council (upper house) and the House of Assembly (lower house). In state elections, there are 5 electorates, each consisting of 7 members each (as of March 2024).", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk006", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are four influential political parties in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Liberal Party is the state's centre-right party and is a division of the Liberal Party at the federal division. Tasmanian Labor is a centrist/centre-left party and a branch of the Australian Labor Party, of which it shares many similar values. The Tasmanian Greens, a branch of the Australian Greens, is a minor party, is a left-wing environmentalist party and is considered to be the successor of the United Tasmania Party, the world's first Green party; this was the first time that an environmentalist party had some success in politics. The Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) is another minor but populist/right-wing party with a strong regional focus on Tasmania and Tasmanians.\n\n### Climate\n\n250px|thumb|Hellyer Gorge Reserve\nTasmania typically has more rainy days than anywhere else in Australia, with \"four seasons in a day\" being often the norm. The southwest and West Coast in particular receive a great amount of rainfall - so much of it that it is considered uninhabitable. Both cold waves from Antarctica and heatwaves from the mainland can reach the island anytime. The sea temperature is rather low throughout the year, even in the north.\n\nTasmania has a cool temperate climate, comparable with that of northern Europe and/or Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, with the following seasons:\n\n**Spring** from September to November, with frequent snowfalls at higher elevations.\n **Summer** from December to February. It has about 15 hours of daylight from 5:30AM to 8:30–9:30PM.\n **Autumn** from March to May. Changeable weather.\n **Winter** from June to August. High areas receive a good amount of snowfall. It has the least daylight with about 9 hours a day from 8AM to 4:30PM, but sometimes even earlier, especially in the Huon and Far South.\n\n### Economy", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk007", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Understand", "text": "250px|thumb|Lavender Farm, Tasmania\nTasmania's main industries are mining (including copper, zinc, tin, and iron), forestry, agriculture, fresh produce (fruit & vegetables, dairy, seafood, beer and wine), and tourism. The economy is affected by the Bass Strait, and how the freight and transport issues of goods into and out of the island are costed and subsidised, at times there are more Tasmanian-born people in Melbourne, than there are in Tasmania, due to the nature of the Tasmanian job market.\n\n### Holidays\n\n**National public holidays** can be found in the main Australia article.\n\n**Statewide public holidays**\n\n8-Hour Day (Labor Day): Second Monday of March (Eight Hours Day)\n Recreation Day: First Monday in November (Except areas that observe Royal Hobart Regatta)\n\n**Regional public holidays**\nThese apply to smaller areas of Tasmania:\n\nWednesday not earlier than fifth and not later than eleventh day of January: Devonport Cup (Devonport only)\n Last Wednesday of February: Launceston Cup (Launceston and surrounds)\n Second Monday of February: Royal Regatta Day (Southern Tasmania only)\n First Tuesday of March: King Island Show (King Island only)\n The Friday nearest the last day of November: AGFEST (Circular Head only)\n The Friday before the first Saturday of October: Burnie Show (Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast)\n Thursday before the second Saturday of October: Royal Launceston Show (Launceston and surrounds)\n The Friday before the third Saturday of October: Flinders Island Show (Flinders Island only)\n The Friday before the third Saturday of October: Royal Hobart Show (Southern Tasmania only)\n The Friday nearest the last day of November: Devonport Show (Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe only)\n\n### Time zone", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk008", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tasmania follows the same time zone as New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory: **Australian Eastern Standard Time** (UTC+10). Like the two southeastern states, Tasmania also observes daylight savings and follows the **Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time** (UTC+11) between the first Sunday of October and April.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nDiscover Tasmania website", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk009", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|250px|The not-so-large Hobart International Airport\nThere are no international scheduled flights to Tasmania, except seasonal flights from New Zealand. All other flights must come through mainland cities. There are seasonal flights over Antarctica.\n\n Flights to Hobart from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast as well as Auckland.\n Flights to Launceston from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.\n Flights to Burnie and Devonport from Melbourne.\n Flights to King Island and Flinders Island from Melbourne.\n\nSee the local guides for more information.\n\n### By ferry\n\nThere is only one ferry route, which are the two '''Spirit of Tasmania Ferries''' from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Geelong and arrive at Devonport. See the Devonport article for the details of the ferry. It takes a full night (or the full day during peak summer periods) for the crossing and takes vehicles, bikes, foot passengers and pets.\n\nThe crossing can be a little choppy at times, but provides beautiful sunsets and costs around $200–300 each way (excluding the cost bringing a vehicle). You have the option of booking one of a range of a cabins or a reclining chair for the journey.\n\nCrossings can also be part of cruise ship itineraries.\n\nRental car companies usually do not allow you to take their vehicles onto the ferry to Tasmania. If you have rented a car on the mainland and need one in Tasmania, it's best to drop the car off in Geelong, Victoria; rental cars are available at the Devonport terminal, but make sure you reserve your car in advance. The consequences of not having a car available when you arrive are that you don't get around at all.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk010", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nthumb|A low-clearance bridge in the Central Highlands\nthumb|Watch out for wildlife\nTasmania is perhaps Australia's most car-centric state: driving is not just the most convenient way to get around, but it is also the most practical. Cars can be brought into Tasmania from Geelong on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, or hired upon arrival through the major operators typically found on the mainland. Car rentals typically do not permit taking the car on the ferry crossing. Car rentals also generally prohibit driving on unsealed roads, which are very common in Tasmania, unless you rent a four-wheel-drive.\n\nTasmania's speed limits are more liberal than the three states on the mainland's East Coast. By default, the maximum urban limit is 50 km/h, 80 km/h on gravel roads and 100 km/h on rural roads. However, on most rural roads, the government has practically adopted a \"drive to conditions approach\" by setting a 100 km/h limit on even the windiest of roads with few to no slow or overtaking lanes. In practice, if you're new to the area, you may struggle to even travel 80 km/h on these roads, but the limit is for those who are experienced with such road conditions. Remember, if you are not comfortable driving 100 km/h on \"100 km/h changing road conditions\" roads, *you do not have to drive 100 km/h*. You may also encounter 110 km/h limits on the Midland, Bass and Tasman Highways.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk011", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tasmania has four main road classifications: National Highway, A-routes, B-routes, and C-routes. The only national highway is Tasmanian National Highway 1 comprising of the Brooker, Midland and Bass Highways between Hobart and Burnie. A-routes (numbered between 2 and 10) connect major regional centres, B-routes (numbered between 10 and 85, in addition to 110) connect minor towns to major regional centres or highways, while C-routes (numbered between 101 and 854) are smaller roads that typically connect B-routes to an even smaller destination. A route number does not necessarily reflect the road quality: until 2019, the A5 (Lake Highway) through the Highland Lakes was unsealed, and other A-routes such as the A3 are more windier than many B-routes in the north.\n\nMany major roads, even A-routes, wind their way through mountain passes and along coastlines, narrow and with few overtaking lanes, and some sections of remote roads may be in need of repair. Direct roads on the maps may take longer than you think. Take care on some of the winding or secondary roads, since some ute drivers and locals may try to overtake on dangerous stretches of road or tailgate you if you aren't travelling fast enough. Some local drivers, especially in suburban and semi-open areas (e.g. Bass Highway), will also tailgate and attempt dangerous manoeuvres to pass or overtake you, especially if they see you are driving a hire car.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk012", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be especially careful driving between dusk and dawn as this is when the wildlife is most active: keep on the lookout for wallabies, devils, possums and others. Tasmania has the unfortunate distinction of being the \"roadkill capital of the world\". Wallabies and wombats can make a mess of your vehicle if hit. The Tasmanian government generally advises you drive 65 km/h between dusk and dawn and 45 km/h in some places like the Tasman Peninsula (Tasman Island).\n\nExploring the forests can often lead to a maze of forest roads. A GPS can come in handy for finding your way out, although they are not always up to date.\n\n#### Driving with an overseas or interstate licence\n\nSimilar licence conditions apply in Tasmania as with the rest of Australia if you're driving with an overseas licence (except NZ), provided your licence is in English (if it is not in English, you will need an IDP or a translation – see Transport Tasmania). Interstate and New Zealand licence holders may drive in Tasmania for six months.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk013", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Overseas learner and provisional drivers may also drive in Tasmania; however, they must follow Tasmanian learner or P1 (red P) licence conditions. For learners, this includes always being supervised, *never exceeding 90 km/h* even when the speed limit is 100 or 110 km/h and yellow L plates visible from both the front and the back of the car. Overseas provisional drivers must *never exceed 100 km/h*, even when the speed limit is 110 km/h and display red P plates visible from both the front and back of the car. Both overseas learner and provisional drivers must not use a mobile phone, even via Bluetooth (no Apple Carplay or Android Auto) and maintain a blood alcohol content of 0.00. This doesn't apply to interstate learner and provisional licence holders – who follow the restrictions of your state.\n\n### By campervan\n\nHiring a campervan is by far the most flexible and rewarding way to explore Tasmania. It allows you to travel at your own pace, wake up by the beach or beneath a forest canopy, and experience the island’s wilderness up close without being tied to fixed schedules. Campervans come in various sizes and comfort levels, and most include essential amenities like beds, cooking gear, and power systems.\n\n'''Tasvanlife''': Locally owned and operated, Tasvanlife offers premium, self-contained campervans designed and built in Tasmania. Each van includes a complimentary access to a Tassie Hidden Gems Map. Pick-up and drop-off hours are flexible, and the focus is on comfort, design, and local expertise.\n\n'''Wicked Campers''': A budget-friendly option for travellers prioritising low cost over luxury. Vans are often older models with basic fittings, suitable for short trips or backpackers. Expect fewer inclusions and limited off-grid capabilities.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk014", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "'''Camplify''': Australia’s largest campervan-sharing platform connecting private owners with travellers. Offers everything from budget vans to luxury builds across Tasmania. Insurance and inclusions depend on the individual listing, so always read the details carefully.\n\n'''Apollo''': A large Australian brand with depots in Hobart and Launceston. Apollo offers a broad range of vehicles from basic campers to larger motorhomes. Prices vary by season, and add-ons like insurance upgrades, camping gear, and one-way fees can increase costs.\n\n'''Maui''': Maui targets the luxury end of the market, offering modern motorhomes with ensuite bathrooms, well-equipped kitchens, and generous living space. Available from major Tasmanian cities, though daily rates and bond amounts are typically higher than local operators.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses can be an option if time is on your side, but otherwise aren't a feasible way of getting around. Planning is advised since services can be infrequent. Kinetic Tasmania and Tassielink are the main long distance bus companies, with population centres serviced by Metro Tasmania for Burnie, Hobart and Launceston and Kinetic, formerly Merseylink that provide services to Devonport and Latrobe. If you are not in a major town (e.g., Hobart, Launceston and Burnie), bus services can be infrequent, expensive and hard to rely on. Make sure you have a copy of the timetable with you. Tasmanian Government bus timetable page.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk015", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Kinetic Tasmania** destinations include:\n Derby, Scottsdale and Bridport (to and from Launceston)\n Low Head and George Town (to and from Launceston)\n Dodges Ferry and Sorell\n **Tassielink** bus lines include:\n Coles Bay, Bicheno and Swansea (to Hobart)\n Hobart to Huon Valley (via Kingston, Ranelagh, Cygnet, Geeveston, Dover)\n Hobart to Campania (via Cambridge and Richmond)\n Dunalley, Tasman Peninsula, Eaglehawk Neck, Port Arthur, Nubeena\n Launceston to Cressy (via Evandale, Perth, Longford)\n Strahan to Burnie (via Queenstown)\n **Metro Tasmania** connects different suburbs in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston.\n **Kinetic** routes are:\n Route 170, 171: West & North Devonport\n Route 172, 173, 174: South Devonport & Miandetta\n Route 175: East Devonport\n Route 176: Ambleside\n Route 178: Latrobe (via Tarleton & Spreyton)\n Route 180, 182: Ulverstone to West Ulverstone & Devonport\n Route 183: Port Sorell (via Hawley & Shearwater)\n Route 184: Devonport-Sheffield via Railton\n Route 708: North West Express\n\nTransport Tasmania, a government-run bus service, has infrequent buses to Queenstown, Strahan, Burnie, Coles Bay, St Helens, and other towns.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are no public train services. The many railways seen are used for freight only. The only passenger railways in Tasmania are heritage services that use vintage equipment. The **West Coast Wilderness Railway**, a tourist train which runs between Strahan and Queenstown on the West Coast, is perhaps the best known, passing through some incredibly scenic areas. The trip takes about 3 hours with lunch included (very slow compared to the 30-minute car journey).\n\n### By plane\n\n**Par Avion** offer scenic flights across the state and services into Melaleuca in Southwest National Park.\n **Airlines of Tasmania** offer flights between Launceston and Cape Barren Island.\n **Sharp Airlines** offer flights to Flinders Island from Launceston and flights to King Island from Launceston and Burnie.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk016", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bicycle touring is a popular way to see cities in Tasmania, but riding on rural roads can be dangerous. Bicycle rental companies can be found in major cities and towns.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk017", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "See", "text": "### Wildlife\n\nthumbnail|Pademelon\n\nIf you spend any time in the bush you are very likely to see:\n **Kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons** are everywhere throughout Tasmania.\n **Wombats** can be found in many national parks and mostly come out at night.\n **Ringtail and brushtail possums** only come out at night.\n\nLess common wildlife include:\n **Echidnas** are rarely seen in the bush. They're more easily spotted when crossing roads.\n **Bandicoots and Potoroos** are at the small end of the jumping marsupial scale.\n **Platypus** are very elusive. If you are persistent and very quiet and still you may find one rummaging at the bottom of a creek.\n **Eastern and Spotted-tail Quolls** very rarely seen.\n **Tasmanian devils** are rarely seen in the wild. They can sometimes be spotted along roadsides eating roadkill at night and sometimes on the edge of rural towns.\n\n### Landmarks\n\n**kunanyi / Mount Wellington** is a large mountain that rises above Tasmania's capital city. Visitors can drive to the top, where a viewing lookout is located, and well maintained walking tracks are located in the foothills. A coffee van operates at the Springs, a picnic area mid way up the mountain.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk018", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "See", "text": "**Bay of Fires** is one of Tasmania's most popular tourist destinations, located between Eddystone Point and Binalong Bay. Bay of Fires has beautiful blue water, red rocks, and sandy white beaches. Enter through Binalong Bay which is 10 minutes from St Helens. This area offers a wide range of activities including camping, boating, bird watching, fishing, swimming, surfing, and walking along the coastline.\n**Cataract Gorge** is a unique, natural formation within a two-minute drive from central Launceston known to locals as The Gorge. After walking 15 minutes from central Launceston along Tamar River into Gorge, you then follow the pathway along the cliff face looking down onto South Esk River. On the southern side, called the First Basin, there is a cafe, swimming pool, and Launceston's beach. The northern side, known as the Cliff Grounds, there is a kiosk, restaurants, swimming pool, and a chairlift across the river. The Cataract Gorge Reserve is one of Australia's most fascinating urban parks.\n**Hastings Caves** include Newdegate Cave, the largest cave in Australia open to tourists. Tour magical chambers of flowstones and shawls, then relax in a thermal pool. Formations in the cave are spectacular and include flowstone, stalactites, columns, shawls, straws, stalagmites and the unusual helictites tendrils of calcite that grow in all directions in tiny filaments.\n**Mole Creek Karst** Tasmania's only national park featuring caves. Among many features are the King Solomon and Marakoopa Caves, both of which can be viewed with Tasmania Park Service guides leading you. The two caves are distinctly different and a separate entry ticket is required for each. Tour times are staggered throughout the day.\nFive world heritage listed convict sites are located in Tasmania, in the northeast and south of the island. The best known is likely Port Arthur.\n250px|thumb|[[Port Arthur (Tasmania)|Port Arthur]]\n**Port Arthur** is the best preserved convict site in Australia. Many years ago, this site played a key role in the colonial system of convict discipline. During your experience, you will have the chance to take guided tours of the Commandant's House, Parsonage, Trentham Cottage, Junior Medical Officer's quarters, historic buildings and ruins of the Penitentiary, Barracks, Guard Tower and military precinct, Hospital, Paupers' Depot and Asylum. Port Arthur is surrounded by beautiful bushland and trails available to explore the land around you.\n **Ross** is another convict town, but is not listed as a world-heritage site. It's known for its convict-built bridge and its old female factory, both of which are popular stopover destinations for those travelling on the Midland Highway between Hobart and Launceston.\n**Salamanca Place** in Sullivans Cove, is Hobart's favourite hang out. Salamanca is lined with a long row of sandstone buildings built in the 1830s. You can wander under the heavy stone arches to find craft and design shops, jewellers, coffee shops, restaurants, bookshops, fashion boutiques, and the Salamanca Arts Centre and artists’ galleries. Every Saturday there’s the Salamanca Market, where you can buy anything from a handmade wooden toy or a hand-spun, hand-knitted sweater to fresh fruit and vegetables or a 50-year-old china plate.\n**The Nut** is located at the historic village of Stanley, in far north-west Tasmania. The Nut, a sheer-sided bluff is all that remains of an ancient volcanic plug. A walking track climbs to the summit of The Nut, or you can take the chairlift, with spectacular views across Bass Strait beaches and over the town. There is accommodation and an excellent campground in Stanley, and the town is a good base for exploring the forests and coastlines further west.", "word_count": 586}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk019", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Do", "text": "**Trout fishing**. Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania Incorporated (TGALT) is the industry body, that was voluntarily formed in 1981 as the Tasmanian Professional Trout Fishing Guides Association. Its primary purpose was to provide anglers with a source of guides that they could be assured, would provide a safe, appropriate and professional service. During 1995 the Association was expanded to specifically include trout fishing lodges as full members.\nThe **Great Tasmanian Bike Ride** - held in early February.\n**Bicycle touring and mountain biking** - there are some great places to ride your bicycle in Tasmania.\n**Scuba diving** - Tasmania is home to some of the best temperate diving in the world. Along with its giant kelp forests and numerous shipwrecks, the waters reefs also offer an array of unique marine plants and animals. There are many dive sites along the coast, the most popular sites are at Bicheno, Bay of Fires, Flinders Island, Fortescue Bay, Tasman Peninsula and Maria Island.\n**Off road touring** - Tasmania is a very rugged and heavily forested region, tourists happen to miss out on some incredible places if they do not have a vehicle with four-wheel-drive. Visitors can explore these trails with an experienced operator or either form or tag along with a group. Before exploring, make sure you have a current map of the area. In 2003, Tasmania changed the co-ordinate system used for all maps from AGD 66 to GDA 94. Also, ask the local land manager for the latest information on the condition of the area you plan to use and permits.\n**Wildlife watching**. Because of its separation from mainland Australia, Tasmania is home to animals and plants that are rare or even extinct in other areas around the world. If visitors are watchful, they are very likely to witness these species on trails or near streams. Tourists can also be by a tour guide to point out these animals so you won't miss them! Some of these rare mammals include the Tasmanian Devil, Platypus, Echidna, Sugar Glider, Eastern Quoll, and Forester Kangaroo.\n**Hang gliding and the Flying Fox**. Hollybank Treetops Adventure takes visitors across treetops and gives them the experience of seeing Tasmania's forests in a whole new way - bird's-eye view! These canopy tours last for 3 hours and are led by highly trained professionals. Not only do guests take part in this unique adventure by soaring across about a kilometre of cable but they also learn about the forests below them.\n**Kayaking**. After landing in Hobart's Airport, you are a mere 20-minute drive away from beginning your kayaking experience. Visitors can explore Tasmania's beautiful coastlines and search out secret coves by kayaking. There are professional kayak guides based in Hobart, Kettering, Port Arthur, Coles Bay, Launceston, and Strahan. Kayak travel through Tasmania's beautiful landscape offers relaxation and exhilaration that tourists will not want to miss out on.\n Adventure activities including abseiling, all-terrain vehicles, bicycle touring, caves and caving, diving, jet boats, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, sky diving, swimming, surfing and whitewater rafting.", "word_count": 504}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk020", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hiking\n\nNo trip to Tasmania is complete without hiking. While many of the state's important natural attractions have since been linked by road, many photogenic locations still require you to hike or walk the very least, even if it's just for a few hundred metres (which wouldn't be considered hiking by most Australian standards).\n\nContrary to the mainland, the vegetation seen on hikes is starkly different – and the temperate forests here tend to be more well-preserved. Conservation laws in Tasmania are stronger, so you may not find anything more than a boardwalk in some remote trails.\n\nIf long-distance hiking isn't your gist, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has created the *60 Great Short Walks*. See Hiking and bushwalking in Australia § Tasmania for more about trails, and Tasmanian national parks § Hiking about the grading system.\n\nOn some trails, you *must* register before you hike. In many cases, this can as simple as writing your name and phone number on a book inside a mountain hut, but the entire purpose of this is for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure that you come home safely. Weather can rapidly change and it's easy to become stranded in the Tasmanian Wilderness. It is better to be safe than sorry.\n\nPopular trails and/or trails that Wikivoyage has an article on:\n**Overland Track**: the iconic bushwalk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Bookings are essential during the main walking season (November to April).\n**South Coast Track**: the bushwalk along the south coast of Tasmania, from Melaleuca, to Cockle Creek. Fly in by aircraft and take a 6-day walk back home.\n**Three Falls Circuit**: a 7.5-km hike covering three impressive waterfalls in Mount Field National Park", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk021", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Buy", "text": "One of Tasmania's most famous products is **leatherwood honey**, and there are numerous honey farms on the island in which you can purchase this.\n\nLike elsewhere in Australia, tipping can be considered very unusual, however, most of the time, it's well appreciated. Most Tasmanian's wages are well below the mainland so don't be surprised if the people here are a lot more grateful. On the other hand, unlike in the US, you probably won't be frowned upon at if you don't - because tipping in Australia is quite unusual.\n\nTasmanian businesses no longer give out free plastic bags. Most local government areas also ban single use plastics for takeaway food.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk022", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Eat", "text": "Tasmania has a wide variety of culinary offerings. Tasmania produces a wide range of cuisines, both quintessentially Australian foods, and a wide range of international offerings. Tasmania has a diverse immigrant community which has contributed to a colourful range of cuisines. Tasmanian produces much of its own food, including many crops you wouldn't expect, such as saffron, tea, truffles and wasabi. Many regions of Tasmania have particular specialties, for example King Island produces gourmet cheeses and beef and the Huon Valley is most famous for apples.\n\nBeing surrounded by the sea, it is no surprise that Tasmania also has a strong seafood culture, with many dedicated seafood restaurants offering salmon, abalone, scallops, oysters, mussels and crayfish. Curried scallop pies are a particularly well known Tasmanian specialty.\n\nThere is a list of vegetarian and vegetarian friendly eateries in Tasmania.", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk023", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Cascade Brewery, Hobart\nTasmania has many exceptional world class beers, whiskies & wines.\n\nThere are two major breweries in Tasmania; Cascade Brewery in Hobart and J. Boag & Sons Brewery in Launceston, which each offer tours. A number of boutique beer makers and distillers are spread around the state.\n\nYou can tour the Tasmanian Wine Routes easily by car or on guided tours. The island's Wine Routes include the Tamar Valley, north of Launceston along both sides of the Tamar River and east to Pipers River; the Derwent, Coal River and Huon Valleys (together comprising the Southern Wine Route), an easy drive from Hobart; and the growing wine regions of the North West and the East Coast.\n\nTasmania is the centre of Australia's craft whisky industry, and there are numerous distilleries throughout the state. Due to the similarity of Tasmania's climate to that of Scotland, Tasmanian whiskies are primarily based on Scotch whiskies. Unlike in other areas, there is no large-scale commercial whisky distillation in Australia, and the industry is dominated by small boutique distilleries. Two of Tasmania's most important distilleries are **Sullivans Cove** in Cambridge, and **Lark** in Hobart, both of which have won prestigious international awards.\n\nTasmania also has a strong cider culture, with a number of small to medium boutique cider producers including Willie Smiths, Pagan Cider, Franks Cider and Lost Pippin. The Tasmanian cider industry operates a Tasmanian Cider Trail for those who want to undertake a self-guided tour, and Willie Smiths celebrates an annual Mid Winter Fest, including traditional wassailing - the pagan practice of scaring the evil spirits away from the apple trees. \n\nTasmania is also home to several craft vodka and gin distilleries. There are also a wide range of local non-alcohol beverage producers. Tasmania has several well-regarded tea companies - the Tasmanian Tea Company, Tassie-T and the Art of Tea - whose drinks can be found in local restaurants and boutique grocers. Hartz and Juicy Isle both produce local sodas and cordials, and Westerway Farms and Juicy Isle continue to produce Tasmania's famous blackcurrant cordial, once made by Cascade.\n\nThe legal drinking age is *18 years*. It is illegal either to purchase alcohol for yourself if you are under 18 years of age or to purchase alcohol on behalf of someone who is under 18 years of age. The only legally acceptable proof-of-age documentation are an Australian drivers licence, state-issued proof-of-age card, Keypass card or a passport, and it would be wise to carry one if you want to purchase alcohol or tobacco and look under 25 - vendors will frequently ask for ID for anybody who looks to be 25 or younger. In Tasmania, foreign drivers licences and foreign ID cards are *not* legally acceptable as proof of age documentation, and people who are unable to produce a passport or valid Australian ID will be refused service. Only actual ID documents will be accepted; photographs or photocopies will *not* be accepted.", "word_count": 490}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk024", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There is a variety of accommodation options available across the state, from camping through to 5-star luxury. Tasmania is particularly renowned for its hosted bed and breakfast accommodation where you can experience a different way of life in a whole range of different properties, including heritage listed and more modern properties in stunning locations.\n\nThere are four YHA (Hostelling International) branded hostels in Tasmania and a number of independent operators spread around the state. Prices range anywhere from $10-30.", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk025", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Respect", "text": "Tasmanians are generally more laid-back and friendly than their mainland counterparts. They are usually very willing to help you out or give advice when asked. \n\nYou should also mind that it is never a good idea to bring up the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre (the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history), even when you are outside Port Arthur as it may be a sensitive issue to some, even if they were not present at the scene. On the contrary, Tasmanians are very laid back when talking about the island's convict history, people here are unlikely to be offended by it.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk026", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### In the bush\n\nBushwalking can be a truly breathtaking experience in Tasmania, but be sure to obtain the right gear, local advice and maps. Always sign the logbook at the beginning and end of each walk. Mobile coverage is limited in wilderness areas. The main dangers of bushwalking are getting lost and/or suffering from hypothermia. Tasmania's weather is notoriously changeable. Be sure to take a good raincoat and warm clothes with you even on a sunny day because an hour or two later it could be pouring with rain. If undertaking more serious bushwalking a map and compass is a must, as is a good sleeping bag and tent for multi-day walks.\n\nMosquitoes are present all year round. There are no mosquito-born viruses. A good repellent is advisable if going into the bush.\n\nthumb|''Lowland Copperhead snake, Austrelaps superbus''\n\n### Wildlife\n\nThere are three species of snake in Tasmania: copperhead, white-lipped, and tiger. The tiger snake is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, but don't let that deter you. No one has died from a snake bite in Tasmania since 1977. All three use the same anti-venom so identification of the snake is not important. Most snakes will slither away as soon as they hear you coming.\n\n### Water\n\nWhile in wilderness areas the water may be good to drink, but it is still highly recommended that you boil before consumption. If in touristy areas, such as The Overland Track, always boil your water or risk gastro.\n\n### Bushfires\n\nDuring the Tasmanian bushfire season, which runs from roughly October to March, be vigilant and keep aware of local news. Bushfires can start and spread rapidly, even in urban areas. Many Tasmanian towns have just one exit, so it is worth planning ahead - even if a bushfire is hours away, it may be too late to leave if you wait.\n\nIn times of high fire danger, it may be worth reconsidering any activities that take you too deep into the bush. Check the Bureau of Meteorology website to assess the fire rating before going. The Tasmanian Fire Service provides an incidents list on its website, but this may be several hours out of date at times. ABC Local Radio (936 AM in Southern Tasmania, and a variety of frequencies in Northern Tasmania) is often the most up to date with emergency information, and can also be accessed online or on your phone.", "word_count": 405}
+{"chunk_id": "tasmania::chunk027", "doc_id": "tasmania", "section": "Go next", "text": "Geelong and Melbourne are obvious next destinations, with the former easily reachable by ferry and the latter by plane.\n Antarctica from Hobart has scheduled flights during summer months", "word_count": 28}
diff --git a/corpus/tasmania/metadata.json b/corpus/tasmania/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..73ac75fe6c97974770d5a38fe122619f918359ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tasmania/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tasmania",
+ "title": "Tasmania",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tasmania",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Australia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Geelong",
+ "Melbourne",
+ "Antarctica",
+ "Hobart"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 6221,
+ "listing_count": 30,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 28,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low",
+ "listings_source": "curated_from_article_md"
+}
diff --git a/corpus/thailand/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/thailand/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9c8f1c454c5c6a2804aab706c959dbc7b3cbec24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/thailand/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk000", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Thailand** (Thai: ประเทศไทย *Prathet Thai* or เมืองไทย *Mueang Thai*) is among the most visited countries on Earth, and for good reason. You can find thick jungle as green as can be, crystal blue waters that feel more like a warm bath than a swim in the ocean, and food that can curl your nose hairs while tap dancing across your taste buds. Bustling, yet safe; cheap, and equipped with every amenity you need, there is something for every interest and every price bracket, from beachfront backpacker hostels to some of the best luxury hotels in the world.\n\nDespite the heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential identity, with a culture and history all its own and a carefree people famed for their smiles and their fun-seeking *sanuk* lifestyle. Many travellers come to Thailand and extend their stay well beyond their original plans, and others never find a reason to leave.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk001", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Regions", "text": "Thailand can be divided into five geographic and cultural regions:", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk002", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Cities", "text": "(กรุงเทพมหานคร) — Thailand's bustling, frenetic capital, known among the Thai as Krung Thep\n (พระนครศรีอยุธยา) — a historical city, UNESCO World Heritage Site and old capital of Siam (full name is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya)\n (เชียงใหม่) — de facto capital of Northern Thailand and the heart of Lanna culture\n (เมืองเชียงราย) — gateway to the Golden Triangle, ethnic minorities and mountain treks\n (หาดใหญ่) — the largest city in Southern Thailand, near the Malaysian border, and home to an eclectic mix of Southern Thais, Thai-Chinese and Malay Muslims\n (กาญจนบุรี) — home of the Bridge over the River Kwai and numerous World War II museums\n (นครราชสีมา) — largest city of the Isaan region, also known as Khorat.\n (พัทยา) — one of the main tourist destinations, known for its wild nightlife\n (สุโขทัย) — Thailand's first capital, still with amazing ruins", "word_count": 135}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk003", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "(Thai: เขาสก) — one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Thailand\n (Thai: เขาใหญ่) — take a night time Jeep safari spotting deer or visit the spectacular waterfalls\n (Thai: เกาะช้าง) — once a quiet island, now undergoing major tourism development\n (Thai: เกาะหลีเป๊ะ) — small island in the middle of Tarutao National Park, with great reefs and beaches\n (Thai: เกาะพะงัน) — site of the famous Full Moon Party with miles of quiet coastline\n (Thai: เกาะเสม็ด) — the nearest island beach escape from Bangkok\n (Thai: เกาะสมุย) — comfortable, nature, and entertainment hippie mecca gone upmarket\n (Thai: กระบี่) — beach and water sports mecca in the south, includes Ao Nang, Rai Leh, Ko Phi Phi, and Ko Lanta\n (Thai: ภูเก็ต) — the original Thai paradise island, now very developed but with some still beautiful beaches", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk004", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Garlanded statue, [[Bangkok/Rattanakosin|Wat Rajanadda]], [[Bangkok]]\n\nCalled the \"Land of Smiles\", Thailand is the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland. It has relatively good infrastructure, with Bangkok being an intercontinental flight hub, and the country is the gateway to the region for most foreign visitors. The country is extremely well developed for tourism, and yet outside the backpacker hubs and expat hangouts, you'll find an underlying soul, culture and kindness that will leave you with a lifelong and perhaps life-changing impression. Whatever your cup of tea is, they know how to make it in Thailand.\n\nThis is not to say that Thailand doesn't have its downsides, including the considerable growing pains of an economy where an agricultural labourer is lucky to earn 100 baht per day while the *nouveaux riches* cruise past in their BMWs. Bangkok, the capital, is notorious for its traffic jams and rampant development has wrecked much of once-beautiful Pattaya and Phuket. In heavily touristed areas, some lowlifes, both Thai and farang, have made scamming tourists into an art form.\n\nFinally, despite being relatively economically developed, Thailand still suffers from problems that afflict most Southeast Asian countries, such as new towns and neighbourhoods built haphazardly and with no concern for architectural beauty, the lack of accessibility and pedestrian-friendliness in large cities, and often, presence of trash and litter in both cities and rural areas.\n\n### History", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk005", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "The earliest identifiable Thai kingdom was founded in Sukhothai in 1238, reaching its zenith under King Ramkhamhaeng in the 14th century before falling under the control of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, which ruled most of present-day Thailand and much of today's Laos and Cambodia as well, eventually also absorbing the northern kingdom of **Lanna**. Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 by the Burmese, but King Taksin regrouped and founded a new capital at Thonburi. His successor, General Chakri, moved across the river to Bangkok and became King Rama I, the founding father of the **Chakri Dynasty** that still rules as a constitutional monarchy.\n\nKnown as **Siam** until 1939, Thailand is Southeast Asia's oldest independent country and the only one never to have been colonised by a foreign power, and the country's inhabitants are fiercely proud of that fact. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. During World War II, while Japan conquered the rest of Southeast Asia (see Pacific War), only Thailand was not conquered by the Japanese due to smart political moves. Allied with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a U.S. ally following the conflict. Thailand was a base of U.S. air operations during the Vietnam War, and was also a popular place for American soldiers fighting in Vietnam to have their R&R, thus kickstarting Thailand's world famous tourism industry. There was a communist insurgency, with little success, that only ended in 1983. After a string of military dictatorships and quickly toppled civilian prime ministers, Thailand stabilized into a fair approximation of a democracy and the economy boomed through tourism and industry.\n\nOn December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a tsunami to hit Thailand's western coast, causing tremendous damage and killing thousands of people, especially at the seaside resorts.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk006", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "In September 2006, a swift and bloodless military coup overthrew populist tycoon **Thaksin Shinawatra'**s democratically-elected but widely criticized government, exposing a fault line between the urban elite that has ruled Thailand traditionally and the rural masses that supported Thaksin. Thaksin went into exile and a series of unstable governments followed, with the successors of Thaksin's *Thai Rak Thai* party and the royalist-conservative *People's Alliance for Democracy* duking it out both behind the scenes and, occasionally, out in the streets, culminating in Bangkok's airports being seized and shut down for a week in Nov 2008.\n\nA new party led by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, won the 2011 elections, but while like Thaksin, she maintained popularity in the Central Thai countryside, the North and Isaan, and among Muslims in the South, powerful people in the Thai military and the Bangkok establishment never accepted the legitimacy of her government, and on May 7, 2014, Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered her and her cabinet to step down. On May 22, 2014, the Thai army staged a bloodless coup, declared a nationwide curfew, and went about arresting members of Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party. The curfew was lifted on June 13, 2014, but the basic elements that have led to the conflict are still unresolved.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk007", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the death in late 2016 of **King Bhumibol Adulyadej** (**Rama IX**), the world's longest-reigning monarch and a deeply loved and respected figure of near-mythic proportions, his son **King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun** (**Rama X**) ascended the throne. King Vajiralongkorn does not have anything close to the popularity that his father had enjoyed, and his reign has been marred by youth-led protests calling for the abolition of the monarchy. A general election was held in March 2019 under a new 2017 Constitution. However, the new constitution gives the military the exclusive right to appoint senators, and also gives senators a vote in selecting the prime minister, thus granting the military substantial influence in Thai politics.\n\nThailand has grown into the main economic centre of the region, and today attracts many migrant workers from its much poorer neighbours Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 141}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk008", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "Thailand lies north of the equator and comprises an area of 513,120 km², making it slightly larger than Spain. The country features a landscape of varied topography including mountain ranges, fertile river plains and plateaus. Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula. The central plain, comprising about ⅓ of the country, is a lowland area drained by the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, the country's main river system, which drains into the sea at the Bay of Bangkok. In the northeast, the Khorat Plateau is a region of gently rolling hills and shallow lakes. The Mekong river forms much of the border between Thailand and Laos. These river systems provide the water for farming Thailand's staple crop: rice. Of note for tourists, the country has a 3,219 km long coastline featuring 1,430 offshore islands. Of these, it is estimated that less than 50 are inhabited.\n\n### Politics\n\nThe **Kingdom of Thailand** (ราชอาณาจักรไทย *Ratcha-anachak Thai*) is a constitutional monarchy, with the king as head of state. The Thai parliament is bicameral, consisting of a military-appointed upper house known as the Senate, as well as a popularly-elected lower house known as House of Representatives. The prime minister is the head of government, and is voted in by the members of both houses of parliament.\n\nIn practice, the king's role is largely ceremonial, with the prime minister holding the most authority in government. However, the king and the royal family are still protected by strict *lèse-majesté* laws, which stipulate long jail terms for anybody convicted of insulting the king or any other members of the royal family.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Beach on [[Ko Tao]]", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk009", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "Thailand is largely **tropical**. It's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range (82-95°F), a degree of relief provided only in the mountains in the far north of Thailand. There are, however, three seasons:\n\n**Cool**: From Nov to the end of Feb, it doesn't rain much and temperatures are at their lowest, although you will barely notice the difference in the south and will only need to pack a sweater if hiking in the northern mountains, where temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This is the most popular time to visit and, especially around Christmas and New Year's or at Chinese New Year a few weeks later, finding flights and accommodation can be expensive and difficult.\n **Hot**: From Mar-Apr, Thailand swelters in temperatures as high as 40°C (104°F) and heat indices in the 50s°C (122-140°F), with April generally being the hottest month. Pleasant enough when sitting on the beach with a drink in hand, but not the best time of year to go temple-tramping in Bangkok.\n **Rainy**: From May-Oct, although it only really gets underway in Sep, when tropical monsoons hit most of the country. This doesn't mean it rains non-stop, but when it does it pours and flooding is not uncommon.\n\nThere are local variations to these general patterns. In particular, the Central Gulf Coast of Thailand (including Ko Samui) has the rains reversed, with the dry peak season being May-Oct and the rainy off-season in Nov-Feb.\n\n### Demographics\n\nThailand is among one of the most diverse countries in the world.\n\n#### Ethnic groups\n\nNative **Tais** [sic] are the largest ethnic group in the country. Tais speak a set of related languages, including not only Thai but also Lao, a dialect of which is spoken by the Isaan people in Northeast Thailand.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk010", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Khmer** people, who make up the majority of the population across the border in Cambodia, are numerous in Thailand, as well.\n\nThailand is home to the largest ethnic **Chinese** population outside Greater China. They are well represented in all levels of Thai society; many of the country's largest businesses, banks, and conglomerates were founded by them, and quite a number of them have served as prime minister. Most Thai-Chinese people are of **Teochew** descent. There is a great deal of intermarriage between Chinese and Tai people, facilitated by the traditional commonality of both groups being Buddhists. Thai-Chinese have assimilated into Thai society over the generations. There is also a second group of later Chinese arrivals in villages near the Myanmar border, comprising of Kuomintang soldiers from Yunnan who took refuge in Thailand after losing the Chinese Civil War and their descendants.\n\n**Malays** are mainly concentrated in Southern Thailand, with a sizeable community in Bangkok as well.\n\nThailand is home to a large community of **Indians** and they are mainly concentrated in Bangkok. Thai Indians own and operate many of the country's textile businesses, have started and set up various factories around the country, and are major players in the jewelry trade. Most Thai Indians are of Punjabi descent.\n\nNorthern Thailand is home to many **hill tribes** such as the Karen, the Mon, and the Hmong. Each hill tribe adheres to a unique set of customs and values.\n\nThailand is home to a sizeable **Burmese** community. Most Burmese people come to Thailand as refugees, fleeing political instability and violence in their home country. Burmese people in Thailand tend to work in a wide range of menial jobs.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk011", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "There's a sizable **Pakistani** community in Thailand. A lot of Pakistanis in Thailand are Pakistani Christians. Many of them have come to Thailand as asylum seekers seeking a safe haven from religious discrimination and violence in Pakistan.\n\nMany **Jews** from Iraq, Iran, Israel and Afghanistan emigrated to Thailand during the 1950s.\n\nThere's a sizable **Russian** community in Thailand. Many Russians are based in Phuket. Since 2022, many Russians have come to Thailand as refugees seeking a safe place to express themselves.\n\n#### Religion\n\nThailand is, by law, a secular state. That being said, most Thai people are religious and consider religion to be an important part of their lives.\n\nThe following religions are officially recognised by the government: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism.\n\nThe overwhelmingly dominant religion in Thailand is **Theravada Buddhism** and is practiced by virtually all Thais.\n\nA significant minority of Thais are **Muslim**, mainly concentrated in the southern provinces. Most Thai Muslims are Sunni Muslims.\n\nA small number of Thais are **Christian**. Christianity was introduced to Thailand by European missionaries in the 16th century. Most Thai Christians are Catholic, although there is a sizeable Protestant community.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|240px|Wat Doi Suthep, [[Chiang Mai]]", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk012", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mainland Thai culture is heavily influenced by **Buddhism**. However, unlike the Buddhist countries of East Asia, Thailand's Buddhists follow the Theravada school, which is arguably closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism. Thai temples known as **wats** — resplendent with gold and easily identifiable with their ornate, multicolored, pointy roofs — are ubiquitous. Becoming an orange-robed monk for a short period, typically the three-month rainy season, is a common rite of passage for young Thai boys and men. That being said, there are also prominent Mahayana Buddhist temples, most of which were built in Chinese architectural styles to serve the ethnic Chinese community.\n\nOne pre-Buddhist tradition that still survives is the **spirit house** (ศาลพระภูมิ *saan phraphuum*), usually found at the corner of any house or business, which houses spirits so they don't enter the house and cause trouble. The grander the building, the larger the spirit house, and buildings placed in particularly unlucky spots may have very large ones. Perhaps the most famous spirit house in Thailand is the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, which protects the Erawan Hotel (now the Grand Hyatt Erawan), built in 1956 on a former execution ground, and is now one of the busiest and most popular shrines in the city. It and several other popular shrines pay homage to *Hindu* deities. Hinduism was once the dominant religion in Thailand prior to the spread of Buddhism, and many traditional Thai arts continue to draw their inspiration from Hindu mythology.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk013", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some traditional arts popular in Thailand include traditional Thai dancing and music, based on religious rituals and Court entertainment. There is a vibrant popular music scene with *morlam* and *lukthung* not at all overshadowed by Western style pop. Famously brutal **Thai boxing** (*muay Thai*), derived from the military training of Thai warriors, is undoubtedly the country's best known indigenous sport.\n\nIn addition to the mainland Thai culture, there are many other cultures in Thailand including those of the \"hill tribes\" in the northern mountainous regions of Thailand (e.g., Hmong, Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Akha), the southern Muslims, and indigenous island peoples of the Andaman Sea. The ethnic Chinese population has been largely assimilated into Thai culture, though vestiges of their Chinese heritage can still be found in Bangkok's Chinatown. The Chinese have, however, left a huge impact on Thailand's culinary scene, and many dishes of Chinese origin, such as noodles, roast pork and steamed buns, have been widely adopted and are now seen as an integral part of Thai cuisine. The Thai-Chinese can generally be divided into two groups: those that migrated to Thailand as traders and labourers during the 19th and early 20th centuries, who mainly came from Fujian, Guangdong or Hainan and settled in the larger cities like Bangkok, Hat Yai and Phuket; and some groups of Kuomintang soldiers who fled China in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War, who mainly came from Yunnan and settled in remote mountain villages along the Burmese border like Mae Salong and Ban Rak Thai. It is customary to remove your shoes before entering a private home, and often in certain traditional accommodations or temples.\n\n### Calendar", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk014", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Understand", "text": "In addition to the Gregorian calendar, Thailand also uses the Thai solar calendar, the Thai version of the Buddhist calendar, which is 543 years ahead of the common era calendar. Thus, Thai year corresponds to the Western year . Thai dates in English are often written as **B.E.**, short for \"Buddhist Era\".\n\nSome Thai holidays are based on the Thai lunar calendar, so their dates change every year in the Western calendar.\n\n### Holidays\n\nthumb|300px|Wat Phra Si Sanphet, [[Ayutthaya]]\n\nThailand has many holidays, mostly related to Buddhism and the monarchy. Nobody celebrates all of them, except for banks, which seem to be closed a lot.\n\n- Chinese New Year\n\n- Makha Bucha\n\n- Songkran\n\n- Coronation Day\n\n- Loy Krathong\n\n- King's Birthday\n\n### Tourist information\n\nTourism Thailand website", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk015", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language of Thailand is **Thai** (ภาษาไทย *phaasǎa Thai*). It is a tonal language, so it can be difficult for native English speakers to learn quickly, but everyone will appreciate any attempt you make. Thai is a language with many dialects, though the Bangkok dialect, also known as Central Thai, is used as the standard and is taught in all schools. Language schools can be found in all larger Thai cities, including Bangkok and Phuket.\n\nIn the Muslim-dominated south, dialects of Malay that are largely incomprehensible to speakers of standard Malay/Indonesian but essentially the same as Kelantanese are spoken. Unlike in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, the Roman alphabet is not used to write Malay in Thailand, and Thai-Malays use the Arabic-based Jawi script exclusively.\n\nVarious dialects of Chinese are spoken by the ethnic Chinese community, with Teochew being the dominant dialect in Bangkok's Chinatown. Down south in Hat Yai, Hokkien is also widely understood due to the large number of tourists from Penang. Some people in villages near the Burmese border in the North are descended from Kuomintang refugees from Yunnan and hence, speak the Yunnan dialect of Mandarin. The eastern Isaan dialects are closely related to Lao and there are dozens of small language groups in the tribal areas of the north, some so remote that Thai speakers are few and far between.\n\nthumb|Bilingual street sign, showing Khao San Road as it is spelled locally\nPublic signage is generally bilingual, written in both Thai and English. There is also some prevalence of Japanese and Chinese signs. Where there is English, it will usually be fairly phonetic - for example \"Sawatdee\" (meaning *hello*) is pronounced just as it reads: sa-wat-dee. There is no universal agreement on how to transcribe Thai letters into English (RTGS however, is a kind of semi-official system), so Khao San Road for example is also commonly spelled Kao Sarn, Kao Sahn, Khao San, Koh Saan, Khaosan, and many other variations. And ถนน can be *transcribed* as **Thanon** before the name, or *translated* as **Road** or **Street** after the name. Maps with names in both Thai and English make it easier for locals to try to help you.\n\nAlthough **English** is taught in Thai schools, proficiency is generally poor. Some may even deny that they know it; Thais are generally self-conscious about their language skills. Try to be patient, understanding, and encouraging. That said, most well-educated upper and middle class Thais speak at least a basic conversational level of English.\n\nMost \"front desk\" people in the travel industry speak at least enough English to communicate, and many are relatively fluent; some also speak one or more other languages popular with their clientèle, such as Chinese, Japanese, German, etc.", "word_count": 452}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk016", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "Starting 1 May 2025, foreigners entering or transiting Thailand need to **fill in a Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of arriving**. The form includes questions about your reason for travelling to Thailand, where you will stay, when and how you will arrive and depart and so on. It is possible to fill this digital arrival card upon arrival but there may be a long queue in peak hours.\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nthumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Thailand, with countries various shades of green having visa-free access; and countries in yellow having visa on arrival\n\nCitizens of the following countries may enter Thailand for tourism **visa-free** for up to the following number of days:\n\n14 days: Myanmar (for entry *by air* only).\n 60 days: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China (mainland) (limited to a total of 90 days in any 180-day period), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Fiji, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. \n 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea.\n\nCheck the latest information from the *Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa*. The visa exemption is only granted up to twice per calendar year if entering by land or sea.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk017", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "Citizens of the following countries may apply for a **visa-on-arrival** for a stay of up to 30 days: Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu.\n\nThe visa-on-arrival costs 2,000 baht. Travellers using the visa-on-arrival facility need to provide more documentation than visa-free travellers, and are only allowed to use specific entry points (which includes all international airports and the major land border crossings). You will need to present a passport-sized photograph taken within the last 6 months, a confirmed ticket out of Thailand, a confirmed accommodation booking in Thailand, and show evidence of sufficient finances to cover your stay (at least 10,000 baht per individual or 20,000 baht per family).\n\nThose with passports from countries not widely known, including European city-states, or that have problems with document forgery, should obtain a visa in advance from the nearest Thai embassy. This is true even if visa on arrival is permitted. There are reports of tourists being detained using valid passports not commonly presented in Thailand. In addition, ask for a business card from the person or embassy which granted the visa, so they may be contacted on arrival, if necessary. Anyone whose nationality does not have its own embassy in Bangkok, should find out which third country represents your interests there, along with local contact information.\n\nThose arriving via air from most African and South American countries are required to show yellow fever certificates and receive a stamp on their entry forms from the onsite health centre prior to clearing immigration.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk018", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Proof of onward travel**, long happily ignored by Thai immigration, has been known to be strictly applied in some instances. Also airlines, which have to pay for your return flight if immigration doesn't let you in, are rigorous about checking for it. A print-out of an e-ticket on a budget airline is sufficient to convince the enforcers, but those planning on continuing by land may have to get a little creative. Buying a fully refundable ticket and getting it refunded once in Thailand is also an option. Land crossings, on the other hand, are a very straightforward process and no proof of onward journey required (unless the border officials decide otherwise).\n\nWhether you are allowed to enter, pulled aside for questioning, deported or worse depends on the border official. In any case, it’s safer to be apologetic to avoid escalating the situation: **your freedom may depend on this**. This applies especially if you have spent significant time in Thailand, but in a less likely scenario may happen to an infrequent traveller, particularly at immigration checkpoints of airports in Bangkok. Border officials are known to:", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk019", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "Refuse entry unless the traveller books an onward travel ticket at the border.\n Disregard visas, work permits, visa or visa-exempt stay extensions in passports (such as those granted by the Thai government earlier in the COVID pandemic), or any other paperwork that one would assume proves a history of legal stay and legal basis for current entry, by assuming those may be fake.\n From a traveller who upon questioning informs officials about working remotely while being in Thailand, require evidence they don’t work for Thai businesses (such as a freelancing portfolio, supporting documentation listing former customers, and so on).\n Inform travellers that they’ve violated the \"maximum of 90 days within the last 6 months\" rule (even if the passport issuing country is not listed in the relevant category above).\n Subject travelers to impolite and informal treatment, such as calling them rude names.\n\n**Overstaying** in Thailand is risky. If you make it to Immigration and are fewer than 10 days over, you'll probably be allowed out with a fine of 500 baht per day. However, if for *any* reason you're caught overstaying by the police you'll be carted off to the notoriously unpleasant illegal immigrant holding pens and may be blacklisted from Thailand entirely. For most people it's not worth the risk: get a legal extension or do a visa run to the nearest border instead. Now that the number of visa exemptions at the land borders is limited it is even more attractive to visit an immigration office to extend your visa or visa exemption with 30 days.\n\nThai immigration officers at the land border with Malaysia are known to ask foreigners for bribes of about RM2/20 baht per person before they stamp your passport. Immigration officers at airports generally do not ask for bribes.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk020", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "It is controversial whether you must carry your passport with you at all times, but police are known to have tried to extort bribes for this. In some situations it has proven to be enough to carry a photocopy of the passport ID page and the page with the latest entry stamp.\n\n### Customs requirements\n\nYou can legally import up to 1 liter of alcohol, and one of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of loose tobacco duty-free. Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal.\n\nYou can generally bring in a 30-day supply of prescription medicines for personal use, but narcotic drugs require a permit in advance from the Narcotics Control Division. Penalties for smuggling in illegal drugs are *extremely* harsh.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumbnail|Thai Airways Airbus A380\n\nThe main international airports in Thailand are at **Bangkok** () and **Phuket** (), which are well-served by intercontinental flights. Practically every airline that flies to Asia also flies into Bangkok, meaning that there is plenty of competition to keep ticket prices down. Bangkok has two major airports: **Suvarnabhumi Airport** () which is the main airport and serves most full-service carriers, and the older and smaller **Don Mueang International Airport** () which primarily serves low-cost carriers.\n\nInternational airports are also located at **Hat Yai**, **Krabi**, **Ko Samui** and **Chiang Mai**, though these are largely restricted to flights from other Southeast Asian countries. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore make excellent places to catch flights into these smaller Thai cities, meaning you can skip the ever-present touts and queues at Bangkok. During the winter high season, there are also many chartered services directly from European cities to beach destinations like Phuket and Krabi, but they can usually be booked only via travel agencies as part of a packaged tour.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk021", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "The national carrier is the well-regarded **Thai Airways**, with **Bangkok Airways** filling in some gaps in the region. Bangkok Airways offers free Internet access while you wait for boarding to start at your gate. In addition, Malaysian discount carrier **AirAsia** has also set up a subsidiary in Thailand, and is often the cheapest option for flights into Thailand.\n\nFor a full at-a-glance list of all Thai-based carriers, see the **Thai airlines** section (below).\n\n### By road\n\nAs traffic moves on the left in Thailand, but moves on the right in all the neighbouring countries except Malaysia, you will generally need to change sides of the road when crossing an international border into Thailand.\n\n**Cambodia** - six international border crossings. The main crossing is the **Poipet-Aranyaprathet** border crossing on the main road between Siem Reap and Bangkok. However, the queues at Poipet are notoriously long, and the crossing is also a hotbed of corruption and scam artists; the other crossings like Koh Kong / Hat Lek on the southern route from Sihanoukville to Trat are much quieter and less stressful. The land borders close for the night. Bus companies often charge a \"service fee\" for crossing the border, in which case company staff will take your passport and process you through immigration and customs, with any potential bribes already included in the service fee.\n\n**Laos** - the busiest border crossing is at the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong between Nong Khai and the Lao capital Vientiane. It's also possible to cross the Mekong at Chiang Khong / Huay Xai, Nakhon Phanom / Tha Khaek, Mukdahan / Savannakhet, Ban Pangmon / Ban Huak and elsewhere.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk022", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "Vientiane / Udon Thani - A bus service runs from the Morning Market bus station in Vientiane to the bus station in Udon Thani. The cost is 80 baht or 22,000 kip and the journey takes two hours. The Udon Thani airport is 30 minutes by tuk-tuk from the bus station and is served by Thai Airways, Nok Air, and Air Asia.\n\n**Malaysia** and **Singapore** - driving up is entirely possible, although not with a rented vehicle. The main crossing is the **Bukit Kayu Hitam-Sadao** border crossing at the northern end of Malaysia's North-South Expressway, connecting to the main road to Hat Yai on the Thai side. Other crossings (with the name of the town on Malaysian side in brackets) are at Wang Prachan (Wang Kelian) in Satun Province, Padang Besar (Padang Besar) in Songkhla Province, Betong (Pengkalan Hulu) in Yala Province, and Sungai Kolok (Rantau Panjang) in Narathiwat Province. There are regular buses from Singapore to the southern hub of Hat Yai and vice versa. Thai immigration at the Malaysian border has long been known to demand a bribe of 20 baht/RM2 per person to stamp you in or out, though there has been a crackdown on this. Instead, there is now an official fee if you are crossing the border at peak times (05:00-08:30, 12:00-13:00 or 16:30-21:00 on weekdays, and all day on weekends and both Malaysian and Thai public holidays); this is 25 baht for the driver and 5 baht for each passenger if crossing the border by car, and 10 baht for the rider and 3 baht for the pillion if crossing by motorcycle. No fee is payable if you are walking across the border.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk023", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Myanmar** - Four border crossings with Myanmar open to foreigners are located at **Mae Sai/Tachileik**, **Mae Sot/Myawaddy**, the **Three Pagodas Pass (Sangkhlaburi/Payathonzu)** and **Ban Phunamron/Htee Kee**. Just make sure that both your Thai (if required) and Burmese visas are in order, as no visa-on-arrival is available at the border. Land travel to or from Yangon may or may not be possible depending on the security situation.\n\n### By train\n\n**Malaysia**: Overnight trains to Bangkok run from the Malaysian border town of Padang Besar, where you can connect from Malaysian services from Butterworth (for Penang), Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. There are two Padang Besar stations, one in Malaysia and one in Thailand; both Malaysian and Thai immigration are located at the Malaysian station, which is also where transfers between Malaysian and Thai trains take place. Tickets are cheap even in first class sleepers, but it can be a slow ride. What is a 2-hour flight from Singapore will take you close to 48 hours by rail, as you have to change trains three times. The luxury option is to take the **Eastern & Oriental Express**, a refurbished super-luxury train that runs from Singapore to Bangkok once per week, with gourmet dining, personal butler service, and every other colonial perk you can think of. However, at around USD1,000 one-way just from Bangkok to Butterworth, it is approximately 30 times more expensive than an ordinary first-class sleeper!", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk024", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Laos**: A daily overnight sleeper service runs to Bangkok from Khamsavath Station near Vientiane, stopping at Nong Khai for Thai border formalities (Lao border formalities are conducted before boarding at Khamsavath), along with a shorter day train from Vientiane that terminates at Udon Thani. The old Thanaleng Station has been closed to passenger traffic. The Kunming-Vientiane railway line from China, which was completed in 2021, is being extended to Bangkok but completion is still years away.\n\n**Cambodia**: While you can't get to Cambodia by train, you can get very close, with a railway line from Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk station in Aranyaprathet at the Cambodian border, where you can cross into Poipet on foot.\n\n**Myanmar**: There are no rail services across the border, but the Thai part of the infamous Burma Death Railway is still operating near Kanchanaburi.\n\n### By boat\n\nIt is possible to travel by ferries in high season (Nov-May) from Phuket and island hop your way down the coast all the way to Indonesia.\n\nThis can now be done without ever touching the mainland,\n\n**Phuket (Thailand) to Penang (Malaysia), islands en route:**\n\nKo Phi Phi\nKo Lanta\nKo Ngai\nKo Mook\nKo Bulon\nKo Lipe— Ko Lipe being the hub on the border between Thailand and Malaysia having a Thai immigration office.\n Langkawi- Malaysian immigration here.\nPenang\n\nThe Thai portion can be done in a day.\n\nFerries cross from Satun in southern Thailand to the Malaysian island of Langkawi, while over in Narathiwat Province, a vehicular ferry shuttles between Tak Bai and Pengkalan Kubur, near Kota Bharu in Malaysia's Kelantan state.\n\nThere are also occasional cruises from Malaysia and Singapore to Phuket and Bangkok, however the main operator Star Cruises collapsed in 2022.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk025", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get in", "text": "Small wooden longtail boats shuttle between Kawthoung in Myanmar and Ranong. There is no fixed schedule. You negotiate directly with the boat operator, and leave once a price has been agreed upon. Be sure to bargain hard, or you might get ripped off. Boat operators may try to hustle you onto the boat before you find the immigration office but **do not let them do so**, as you will be departing the country illegally. Ensure you get stamped out before getting on the boat.", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk026", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Thailand is a large country, but the good news is that there are plenty of affordable and comfortable ways to get around. Domestic flights are a good option for lengthy trips like Bangkok to Phuket or Chiang Mai, with very competitive fares on the main routes if booked in advance, while plush VIP intercity buses ply the highways to every city of any size and there's a reasonable train network as well.\n\nRenting a car or motorbike to drive yourself is a more questionable proposition, since while the road network is quite good, Thailand's traffic safety record has a lot of room for improvement and large cities, especially Bangkok, are snarled in perpetual traffic jams. Nevertheless, rentals for a step-in 125/150cc bike start from about 1000 baht/week including helmet, making this an attractive option to get around and explore nearby areas. Most any hotel or lodging will be more than happy to help you arrange a rental.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|A Bangkok Airways plane", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk027", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "If sitting in a bus for 11 hours is not your idea of a fun time, you may well want to consider domestic flights, which can whisk you from Bangkok to anywhere in the country in an hour. Never terribly expensive to begin with (at least by Western standards), the deregulation of the industry has brought in a crop of new operators: with a little research, it's possible to fly pretty much anywhere in the country for less than 2,000 baht. On highly competitive routes like Bangkok to Phuket it is possible to fly for less than a bus ticket if you book in advance. Various taxes and (often hefty) surcharges are invariably added to advertised prices. Don't forget to bring the credit card you used to book the ticket, as these are sometimes required when checking in.\n\nWhile most flights still lead to Bangkok, popular regional hubs like Chiang Mai and Phuket are well connected to the entire country. The budget airlines are also selling 'flights' that are actually packages combining flights with ferry and bus transfers to extend their reach to destinations without usable airports. Few airlines limit themselves to domestic operations; you are likely to find that some budget airline offers better connections to Myanmar or China. The numerous airlines and changing routes make flight price comparison websites useful as long as you buy tickets directly from the airline; you are not going to get Thai budget airline tickets cheaper through a third party.\n\n#### Thai airlines", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk028", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Pan-ASEAN low-cost carrier **AirAsia** has great coverage of international and domestic routes in Thailand and offers steeply discounted tickets if booked well in advance; however, prices rise steadily as planes fill up. It's often the cheapest option, sometimes even cheaper than bus or train, if booked at least a week or two in advance. They fly their A320s from Bangkok to a number of places domestically, and to Cambodia, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. Their website displays \"all-inclusive\" prices during booking (which, however, still do not include optional surcharges such as baggage fees). On-line booking is straightforward and can be done even using the mobile phone, but must be done at least 24 hours in advance; ticket sales at the check-in desk close one hour before the departure time.\n\n**Bangkok Airways** promotes itself as \"Asia's Boutique Airline\", and has a monopoly on flights to its own airports at Ko Samui (now shared with Thai Airways), Sukhothai, and Trat. Quite an expensive and \"posh\" option, although the fares are \"all-inclusive\" with no need to pay extra for baggage, meals and even airport lounge access, which is afforded to all Economy Class passengers.\n\n**Nok Air** took to the skies in 2004 sporting lurid paint schemes with a bird's beak painted on the nose. Owned mostly by Thai Airways, they compete with Air Asia on price and, with a fairly comprehensive domestic network, are a pretty good choice overall. They ran into some serious turbulence in 2008, cutting their flights by two-thirds, but now seem to have recovered.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk029", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Thai Airways International** is the most reliable, frequent, and comfortable Thai airline, but usually more expensive than the alternatives (look for their promotions). Travel agents often sell only Thai Airways (and Bangkok Airways) tickets; you can also book on-line. Thai Airways is a member of Star Alliance; all domestic flights, except some promotional fares, give at least 500 Star Alliance miles, which may (partially) compensate the price difference.\n\n**Thai Lion Air** is a budget airline as an offshoot of the Indonesian Lion Air. It still runs aggressive price promotions on most popular routes but you may have to fly very late or very early with inconvenient airport transfers.\n\n**Thai VietJet Air** operates flights on behalf of the Vietnamese VietJet Air using Suvarnabhumi as its hub.\n\n### By train\n\nframe|SRT railway network\n\n**State Railway of Thailand** (SRT) has a 4,000-km network covering most of the country, from Chiang Mai in the north all the way to (and beyond) the Malaysian border in the south. Compared to buses, most trains are relatively slow and prone to delays, but safer. You can pick up fruit, snacks and cooked food from vendors at most stations. With the arrival of new carriages, the railway's premier intercity and sleeper trains are the most comfortable way to travel around Thailand if time is not an issue; First Class accommodation is in high demand at least between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and must be booked well in advance.\n\nPoint-to-point fares depend on the type (speed) of the train and the class of the carriage. There are three classes of service:", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk030", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "**First class** (*chan neung*) 2-berth sleeping compartments with individually regulated air conditioning are available on some trains, but prices are sometimes matched by budget airfares. On the popular Bangkok to Chiang Mai route, these sleeping compartments sell out as soon as tickets go onsale. \n **Second class** (*chan song*) is a good compromise, costing about the same as 1st class bus tickets and with a comparable level of comfort. Second class is divided into four different subclasses - non-air-conditioned seating, air-conditioned seating, non-air-conditioned open-section sleeper berths and air-conditioned open sleeper berths, with each subclass having different fares and not all of them being available on every train. Seats are made into beds by your attendant. Purchasing an upper berth ticket is always about 10% cheaper than a lower berth ticket. This is because the upper berth is narrower and does not have a window. Also included in this category are the Express Diesel Railcar services, fully air-conditioned day-trains with reclining seats and airline-style meals included in the fare; unlike all other Thai passenger trains, they can match buses for speed, but cannot carry bicycles.\n **Third class** (*chan saam*) is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand, with virtually nominal fares, and can be great fun. As a *farang* (foreigner) you're guaranteed to be the centre of attention, so be prepared. Some 3rd class trains have wooden seats, others are upholstered; some services can be pre-booked, others cannot; refreshments are available from hawkers who roam the aisles. No air-conditioning, but since there are fans in the ceiling and the cars are lined with huge, wide-open windows, so there's plenty of wind. It's only really hot under the midday sun and when the train is stopped.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk031", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tickets may be purchased on-line from the official SRT ticketing site D-Ticket or various resellers such as 12go. Tickets may be purchased from 60 days in advance to two hours before departure. Within Thailand, the 24-hour SRT hotline is 1690 and they have English-speaking operators. Reserved tickets must be paid for at one of the larger train stations in Bangkok by 22:00 the next day. This service is not available outside of Bangkok. The official D-Ticket website is not easy to use: tourists report problems with incomplete translations on the English version of the website, as well as with registering an account and setting up payment methods. If you search for Bangkok on D-Ticket, no trains will be found (January 2023). This is because from 19/01/23, SRT trains leave Bangkok from the new Krung Thep Aphiwat station, so use this name to search for Bangkok trains. As a result, some tourists prefer to buy from agents like 12go, that have easy-to-use websites and English-speaking customer service. Agents all charge extra fees for their services.\n\nYou can ship your motorbike on the same train on which you travel. All trains do not have baggage cars, so check with the ticket office. Shipping costs for motorbikes are roughly equivalent to the price of a first-class ticket on the same train. You can take your bicycle on any train for a fixed fee of 90 baht. You can change tickets at the station (not less than 1 hour before your original train's departure) for a small fee. Tickets are also refundable: the fee for refunding a ticket more than 3 days prior to departure is 20% of the ticket price; the fee for refunding between 3 days and 1 hour before departure is 50%.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk032", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Full information regarding routes, timetables and up-to-date ticket costs along with interesting videos can be found at seat61.com.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses travel throughout the country and the government's bus company **BKS** (บขส *Baw Kaw Saw*), known in English simply as the **Transport Company**, has a terminal in every province of any size.\n\nGenerally speaking, BKS buses are a good option for both price and comfort. There are also private buses sanctioned by BKS, which operate on the same routes from the same terminals with the same fares, and these are also fine. The ones to watch out for are the illegal bus companies, which operate from tourist areas (especially Khao San Road) and subsidize slightly cheaper tickets with worse amenities, schedules and safety. In particular, beware of non-government \"VIP\" buses, which often turn out to be cramped minivans - and you'll only find this out after paying in advance.\n\nThe basic BKS bus types, from the most luxurious to the most basic, are:", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk033", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "**VIP** - Blue and white/silver with a pink stripe, 32 seats or less, reclining seats (typically 135 degrees) with good legroom. Generally take the most direct routes and make very few stops. Always air-conditioned, freshly laundered shrink-wrapped blanket, water and a snack provided. On overnight trips, a Thai meal at a long (25-30 minutes) stop in the middle of the night is normally included, a small separate ticket (written entirely in Thai) is often given at the start of the journey for that purpose; if not, just follow the other passengers. Toilet on board for all but the shortest services. Somewhat (25-30%, which amounts to 100-180 baht for a typical overnight route) more expensive than the first class. Available only on more busy routes, like Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Phuket.\n**First class** (ชั้น 1 *chan neung*) - Blue and white. As fast and almost as comfortable as VIP buses, with otherwise identical services, but packs in around 40 seats with a little less recline, sometimes up to 60 on double-decker services. Good enough and often the best class available for medium- to long-distance trips.\n**Second class** (ชั้น 2 *chan song*) - Blue and white with a prominent red stripe, usually 45-48 seats per bus, air conditioned (some provide blankets, some do not). Often takes a less direct route than 1st class/VIP and has more stops. Most have no on-board toilet, although the frequent stops mean this isn't a problem. Not much (10-20%) cheaper than the First class, and significantly slower, worth using if there's no better choice available to your destination.\n**Express** (*rot duan*) - Identifiable by their orange/red colour. Despite the name, these are slower than any of the options above, and only barely faster than local buses. Size varies, with the largest having around 65 seats (five seats per row) as well as an open space across the width of the bus by the back door for you to sling your backpack, bicycle, sack of rice, live chickens, etc. Not air conditioned.\n **Local** - Very slow, can be cramped when full (nevertheless there's always room for one more), and stop at every village and cowshed along the way. Many are of larger ***songthaew*** flavour. Not suitable for long-distance travel, but may be the only cheap way to get around locally.", "word_count": 383}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk034", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "File:VIP Bus Thailand Bangkok to Phuket.jpg|On board a VIP bus from Bangkok to Phuket\nFile:Changtu-thailand-Bangkok-Krabi.jpg|1st class intercity bus in Krabi\nFile:2nd class intercity bus in Rayong.jpg|2nd class intercity bus in Rayong\nFile:ChiangSaen Bus Outside.JPG|Local bus in [[Chiang Saen]]\nA particular bus *always* operates on the same route, so the route is often painted onto the bus itself. While signage up front may be only written in Thai, especially on local services, on BKS buses the destinations are always stenciled onto the side in English as well. Some buses may have TVs and sound systems blaring, so earplugs are well worth having, just in case. On long-haul buses, if your ticket allocates you a front seat, you may have to switch seats if a monk boards.\n\nIf you are travelling a long distance on a daytime bus, take a minute to figure out the sunny side and the shady side of the bus. For example, going from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on a 09:00 bus (south), seats on the right side will be bathed in sunlight all day (curtains are provided), so the left side is preferred by most.\n\nTickets for BKS buses can be booked online directly at the official website. For other companies, travel agencies and online ticketing systems such as 12go.asia can be useful. Other reputable tour bus companies include:", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk035", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Green Bus Co. (Chiang Mai-based).\nNakhonchaiair Co., Ltd.\nPhetprasert\nSombat Tour Co., Ltd.\nA word of warning: travel agencies, particularly those on Bangkok's Khao San Road, are keen to sell you **VIP** bus tickets. Despite the name, these private buses are often inferior to the public ones: it's not uncommon to end up in some cramped minivan and have to change several times along the way, and theft can be a problem as well. It's better to do as the Thais do and stick to public buses, but if you must, keep your valuables with you and don't put anything you can't afford to lose in the storage under the bus.\n\n### By songthaew\n\nthumb|A typical rural ''songthaew'', [[Mae Salong]]\n\nA **songthaew** (สองแถว) is a truck-based vehicle with a pair of bench seats in the back, one on either side — hence the name, which means \"two rows\" in Thai. In English tourist literature, they're occasionally called \"minibuses\". By far the most common type is based on a pick-up truck and has a roof and open sides. Larger types start life as small lorries, and may have windows, and an additional central bench; smaller types are converted micro-vans, with a front bench facing backwards and a rear bench facing forwards.\n\nSongthaews are operated extensively as local buses (generally the most economical way to travel shorter distances) and also as taxis; sometimes the same vehicle will be used for both. Be careful if asking a songthaew to take you to someplace if there is nobody in the back, the driver might charge you the taxi price. In this case, check the price of the ride before embarking.\n\n### By ride hailing", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk036", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "The main ride hailing app is **Grab**, which took over Uber's former South-east Asian operations, including that of Thailand. Grab is generally available in larger cities and beach destinations. Grab fares are typically up to 2x as expensive as taxis, but prices are fixed, navigation is easy and you can easily pay by credit card.\n\n**Note**, many tourist routes and popular destinations have highly inflated, fixed prices. Instead of inquiring a direct ride there, try choosing a nearby destination, maybe 300-500 m away, and you will often see the price drop from 400 baht to just 40 baht. Likewise, walk away from any touristy place in case you only get highly inflated quotes in the app. Just play around a little with pickup and dropoff point, and you will get a feel for how quickly and considerably prices change.\n\nOther ride hailing apps include **Bolt** and **inDrive**. These are typically cheaper than Grab, but are available in fewer cities, and drivers often refuse fares from them as they can make more money off Grab.\n\n### By tuk-tuk\n\nthumb|Tuk-tuks on the prowl, [[Bangkok]]\n\nThe name **tuk-tuk** is used to describe a wide variety of small/lightweight vehicles. The vast majority have three wheels; some are entirely purpose-built (e.g., the ubiquitous Bangkok tuk-tuk), and others are partially based on motorcycle components (primarily engines, steering, front suspension, fuel tank, driver's seat). A relatively recent development is the four-wheeled tuk-tuk (basically a microvan-songthaew) as found in Phuket.\n\nTuk-tuks are small, noisy, and perhaps dangerous; but possibly the worst thing about them is that, as a passenger, you cannot see anything due to the low roof line. To catch even a glimpse of the passing scene you will find yourself practically supine.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk037", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "You will often find yourself at the mercy of the tuk-tuk driver when it comes to pricing as you will likely have no clue as to the acceptable *raa kaa Thai* (\"Thai price\") and will probably have to cough up a *raa kaa farang* (\"farang price\"). Even if you do know the Thai price, the driver may just not bother to accept it on principle. If you pay with a larger denomination bill, it is also probable that the driver will whine that no change is available. If this happens, try to break the note in a nearby shop.\n\nIn Bangkok, it is possible to hail shared electrical tuk-tuks using the MuvMi app. This app will let you order routes between pre-defined pick-up and drop-off points in the same neighbourhood. This is very convenint to join the nearest MRT or BTS station.\n\n### By taxi\n\nMetered taxis are ubiquitous in Bangkok and starting to become more popular in Chiang Mai, but rare elsewhere in the country. When available, they are an excellent means of transport - insist on the meter. Beware of taxis which idle around touristy areas and wait for people. They are looking for a tourist who will take their taxi without using a meter. Instead, try to flag down a taxi moving down the street, or use a taxi stand where the locals are queueing. Always insist on the meter, and use another taxi if the driver refuses to turn it on. Most drivers do not speak English, so be sure to have your hotel staff write the names of your destinations in Thai to show the driver.\n\n### By minivan", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk038", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Minivan services are ubiquitous, although under the radar as minivans typically are anonymous grey Toyota vans with no company markings. They serve shorter routes, such as Krabi to Phuket, about 180 km or Bangkok to Hua Hin, about 200 km. The purported advantage of taking a minibus is speed, as they move quickly once they get going. Disadvantages are that they are expensive compared with standard bus travel, they can be uncomfortable as they are usually crammed full, and they offer little room for luggage. Take minivans from bus stations. Do not take minivans that offer to pick you up at your hotel. They will pick you up, but then you will spend the next hour driving to other hotels to pick up more passengers. You will then be driven to an aggregator where all the collected passengers will disembark to wait for the minivan to their respective destinations. Then you will likely be driven to a bus station to change to a third and final minivan. Better just to sleep in, then go to bus station to book your (cheaper) minivan ticket, thus saving 2 hours of pointless discomfort.\n\n### By road", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk039", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Thailand's roads are head and shoulders above those of its neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, and have seen major improvements since the late 2010s. However, driving habits are still quite dangerous. **Drunk driving**, **speeding** and **reckless passing** are common, and bus and taxi drivers (especially for private companies) work inhuman shifts and often take drugs to stay awake, with predictable and tragic results. Lately, road blocks and strict policing are being implemented quite often in an attempt to address the situation but it may still take same time for the results to start bearing fruit. There are an estimated 24,000 fatalities on Thai roads annually. It's common for motorbikes — even police! — to drive close to the curb **on the wrong side of the road**. Death tolls sky-rocket around major holidays, especially Songkran, when bystanders often throw water on passing cars and bikes. Many drivers forget to switch on headlights at night, multiplying risks, and it is wise to **avoid or minimize overnight travel** by road.\n\nUnlike in its neighbours (except Malaysia), traffic moves on the left side of the road in Thailand and Thai cars are generally right-hand drive. Most official road directional signs are bilingual and written in both Thai and English.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk040", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Renting a car to explore on your own is a cost-effective way of getting off the beaten track if you are with a 4-person group, and will avoid the constant hassle of haggling with local taxi/tuk-tuk drivers. Most major roads are marked in both Thai and English and traffic culture is not as bad as some might lead you to believe. Keep a sharp lookout in both mirrors from passing traffic including 18-wheelers and scooters. If you travel with one companion and have a motorbike license, it's worth it exploring the possibilities of using small automatic gearbox 125/150cc step-on bikes to do shorter local excursions and use other mass means of transport for longer travel distances between cities and towns. It's quite safe to use these bikes and it allows one to appreciate the landscapes, if you stick to moderate speeds and keep to the left hand side of the road, like the local bikers do.\n\nTraffic on major highways moves at 100-120 km/h, while smaller highways are generally 80 km/h. Gas stations are common and most Thai are more than willing to give directions in spite of any language barriers.\n\nDrive very defensively at first and watch what the locals do. Of course, it helps if you are accustomed to driving on the left side of the road, which in itself could be enough to distract some Western drivers.\n\nDriving under the influence of alcohol is illegal and dangerous, and driving at night also increased the risk of accidents — even if you're sober, many others aren't.\n\n### By motorbike", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk041", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "As is the case throughout virtually all of Southeast Asia, motorcycles (*motosai*) are the most common form of transport overall; the most popular type are the 100 cc-125 cc step-through models. However, according to the WHO *Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013*, Thailand in 2010 had 38.1 road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants. This is the second highest in the world. 74% of those fatalities involved \"motorized two or three wheelers\". Motorcyclists (including passengers) are required to wear crash helmets and to keep their headlights switched on at all times.\n\n**Motorcycles can be rented** without difficulty in many locations. Rates start at around 125 baht/day for recent 100-125 cc semi-automatic (foot-operated gear change, automatic clutch) step-through models, 150 baht/day for fully automatic scooters; larger capacity models can also easily be found, although the rates reflect the risks: up to around 2,500 baht/day for the very latest model high capacity sport bikes, such as the Honda CBR1000RR. In all cases, lower prices will apply if paying upfront for more than a week or so; in some cases, long-distance travel may be prohibited. Motorcycle rentals do not include insurance, and both motorcycling accidents and motorbike thefts are common.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk042", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many places will rent to you without requiring a **license**, but legally speaking you **must** have a valid Thai license or International Driver's Permit. Often a deposit will be required; sometimes a passport photocopy, or even the passport itself will be requested (Don't do this. Bargain to leave some baht instead). An International Driver's Permit may be used for a maximum of 90 days; having one might lead to requesting your passport to see the entrance stamp, another reason not to leave your passport at the renting company. Helmets are normally included, but are usually ultra-basic models with very flimsy chin-strap fasteners. If you're intending to travel by motorcycle and have a good quality helmet at home, then bring it with you. If supplied a helmet with a chin-cup (many cheap rental helmets are), slide the cup up the strap out of the way and securely fasten the bare strap directly under the jaw, as this is much safer.\n\n**Insurance** is usually not included (or even available), so try to ensure in advance that the insurance you leave home with is going to cover you; alternatively, arrange cover with an insurance broker locally in Thailand. If you rent a vehicle without insurance and it's damaged or stolen (take photos of the bike at the time of rental!), the bottom line is that you will be required to **pay in full** the cost of repairing or replacing it. Furthermore, some travel insurance policies will only provide medical cover in the event of an accident if you hold a motorcycle license in your home country.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk043", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Police enforcement** varies widely in sense of quantity and arbitrariness, but in tourist areas spot checks for helmets and/or licenses are commonplace. However, even if everything is in place, police might try to extort money from you. If you are sure you are in the right, stand your ground. Otherwise, most tourist will just happily pay the fine to continue their travels and avoid any hassle. Fines are light (typically 500 baht), and usually you will get a ticket allowing you to continue driving for another 3 days before you can be fined again. While you might feel like it's worth standing your ground, the inconvenience can be considerable as offender's vehicle and/or driver's license is impounded until the fine is paid, and the queue at the police station can be lengthy. There exist many blogs and groups on the internet dedicated to up-to-date information regarding checkpoint locations. But in addition, it will help if you don't look like the typical tourist if you want to avoid being stopped, i.e. wear long and inconspicuous pants and sleeves, a helmet with darkened visor, and avoid having a large backpack on your back.\n\nSome **border crossings** allow motorcycles through. At those which do, documentation including proof of ownership must be produced (with the possible exception of day visits to Payathonzu, Myanmar via Three Pagodas Pass).\n\n### By rental car\n\nDriving your own car in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted, and many rental companies can supply drivers at a very reasonable price. Prices without insurance for a self-driven car start from around 800 baht/day for small cars, and from as little as 600 baht/day for open-topped Jeeps. Cars with insurance start at just under 1,000 baht/day, and come down to around 5,600 baht/week or 18,000 baht/month.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk044", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most international companies can be found in Thailand. Also check guides to particular cities for reputable local car rental companies, which are often a little cheaper. You can choose among international companies such as Budget, Avis or you can choose to book with local company like www.thailandcarsrentals.com. Check the documentation and make sure that everything is done according to rules. Perform required checks and notify the car company about any damage before using the vehicle.\n\nDriving is (usually, but not always!) on the left hand side of the road. Fuel at large petrol stations is 37-45 baht/litre. Small kerbside vendors who pump by hand from drums and/or pour from bottles charge a few baht more.\n\nCars can be rented without difficulty in many locations. It's worth paying a little more than the absolute minimum to use one of the international franchises (e.g. Avis, Budget, and Hertz) to minimize the risk of hassles, and to ensure that any included insurance is actually worth something.\n\nMore reputable agencies require that valid licences be produced. Foreigners who do not have a Thai driving licence **must carry a valid International Driving Permit** unless their licence is from an ASEAN country and written in English. Even if you manage to rent a car without an IDP, not having one will invalidate the insurance and count against you in the event of an accident.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk045", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "A common rental scam involves the owner taking a deposit, and then later refusing to refund it in full on the basis that the customer is responsible for previous damage; the Tourist Police (dial 1155) may be able to help. Another common scam involves the owner having someone follow the rented vehicle and later \"steal\" it, using a set of spare keys. Always report thefts: a \"stolen\" vehicle may mysteriously turn up as soon as the police become involved.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|240px|Long-tail boats, [[Ao Nang]], [[Krabi Province|Krabi]]\n\nOne of the Thais' many names for themselves is *jao naam*, the Water Lords, and from the river expresses of Bangkok to the fishing trawlers of Phuket, boats remain an indispensable way of getting around many parts of the country.\n\nPerhaps the most identifiably Thai boat is the **longtail boat** (*reua hang yao*), a long, narrow wooden boat with the propeller at the end of a long \"tail\" stretching from the boat. This makes them supremely manoeuvrable even in shallow waters, but they're a little underpowered for longer trips and you'll get wet if it's even a little choppy. Longtails usually act as taxis that can be chartered, although prices vary widely. Figure on 300-400 baht for a few hours' rental, or up to 1,500 baht for a full day. In some locations like Krabi, longtails run along set routes and charge fixed prices per passenger.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk046", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Get around", "text": "Modern, air-conditioned speedboat services, sometimes ferries (departure every 30 min) also run from the Surat Thani to popular islands like Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. Truly long-distance services (e.g., Bangkok to any other major city) have, however, effectively ceased to exist as buses, planes, and even trains are faster. Safety measures are rudimentary and ferries and speedboats do sink occasionally, so avoid overloaded ships in poor weather, and scope out the nearest life jackets when on board. As of November 2018, ferry service is available between Hua Hin and Pattaya, a 2.5-hour journey for 1,250 Thai Baht on a catamaran with a maximum capacity of 340.\n\nAlso, the Seahorse Ferry runs between Sattahip and Songkhla, but it has been in \"annual conditioning\" since July 2023. Supposedly, it will resume service as quickly as possible.\n\n### By thumb\n\nThailand is an easy country to hitch-hike in and a great way to experience the non-touristy side of the country. While train is generally quite cheap, compared to other modes of (tourist) transport this can be a good way of travelling on a shoe-string. Sometimes you won't even have to out up you thumb, locals seeing some Westerners walking in the scorching sun the Buddhist attitude will often have them stopping and trying to help.\n\nIn general, you should avoid large highways though where it is hard for people to stop. Also, it seems two people (even guys) are more likely to be picked up than one.\n\nNote, it is not unusual for people to invite you to ride on their (sometimes dirty) pickup's load area and you will see many Thais doing the same. If this is an issue for you, it's better not to hitch-hike in Thailand.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk047", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "See", "text": "### Historical and cultural attractions\n\nBangkok is at the start of many visitors' itineraries, and while a modern city, it has a rich cultural heritage. Most visitors at least take in the Grand Palace, a collection of highly decorated buildings and monuments. It is home to Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand that houses the Emerald Buddha. Other cultural attractions include Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Jim Thompson's House, but these are just a fraction of possible sights you could visit.\n\nThe former capitals of Siam, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, make excellent stops for those interested in Thai history. The latter could be combined with a visit to Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Khmer architecture is mostly found in Isaan, with the historical remains of Phimai and Phanom Rung being the most significant.\n\nIn the northern provinces live unique hill-tribe peoples, often visited as part of a trek. The six major hill tribes in Thailand are the Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong, Mien and Lisu, each with a distinct language and culture. Chiang Mai makes a good base for arranging these treks, and has some cultural sights of its own, such as Wat Doi Suthep.\n\nKanchanaburi has a lot of sights related to World War II. The Bridge over the River Kwai, popularised by the film of the same name, is the most famous one, but the museums in its vicinity are a lot more moving. \"The Dead Railway\" (tang rod fai sai morana) is the railway constructed by captive allied soldiers during World War II. This railway has a nice view all along its route.\n\n### Beaches and islands\n\nthumb|350px|[[Chaweng]] beach, [[Ko Samui]]", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk048", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "See", "text": "Thailand's beaches and islands attract millions of visitors each year from all over the globe. Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest beach resort, made famous by King Rama VII in the 1920s as an ideal getaway from Bangkok. Things have considerably changed since then. Pattaya, Phuket, and Ko Samui only came to prominence in the 1970s, and these are now by far the most developed beach resorts.\n\nKrabi Province has some beautiful spots, including Ao Nang, Rai Leh and the long golden beaches of Ko Lanta. Ko Phi Phi, renowned as a true island paradise, has been undergoing massive development since the release of the film *The Beach* in 2000. Ko Pha Ngan offers the best of both worlds, with both well-developed beaches and empty ones a short ride away. It is also where the infamous \"Full Moon Party\" takes place.\n\nKo Chang is a bit like Ko Samui used to be. It has a backpacker vibe, but is fairly laid-back and there is accommodation in all price ranges. If you're looking for unspoiled beaches, Ko Kut is very thinly populated, but also difficult to explore. Ko Samet is the closest island beach to Bangkok, but its northern beaches are quite developed and hotels are pretty much sold out on weekends and public holidays.\n\n### Natural scenery\n\nWhile not as beautiful as Malaysia or Indonesia, Thailand does have its fair share of **tropical forest**. Khao Yai National Park, the first national park of Thailand, is the closest to Bangkok. Wild tigers and elephants are increasingly rare, but you can't miss the macaques, gibbons, deer, and species of birds. The stretch of jungle at Khao Sok National Park is probably even more impressive, and you can spend the night in the middle of the jungle.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk049", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "See", "text": "**Waterfalls** can be found all over Thailand. The Heo Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park and the 7-tiered Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi are among the most visited, but the Thee Lor Sue Waterfall in Umphang and the 11-tiered Pa La-u Falls in Kaeng Krachan National Park are equally exciting. Finally, the gravity-defying **limestone formations** of the Phang Nga Bay shouldn't be missed by anyone who stays in the region.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nChiang Mai to Chiang Rai in 3 days — three-day tour through parts of Northern Thailand that are largely undiscovered by tourists.\n Mae Hong Son Loop — A journey through mountainous Mae Hong Son Province.\n Northern Thailand Loop Tour — Explore the heart of rural northern Thailand.\n One day in Bangkok — if you have just one day to spare and want to catch a feel for the city.\n Rattanakosin Tour — a quick tour along Bangkok's famed historic district.\n Samoeng Loop — a 100 km loop popular with bicyclists and motorcyclists through the mountains starting and ending in Chiang Mai.\n Yaowarat and Phahurat Tour — a full-day walking tour through this multicultural district.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk050", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Do", "text": "### Golf\n\nGolf arrived in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V one hundred years ago. It was first played by nobles and other high society elites, but since then, things have certainly changed. Over the past decade or so, the popularity of golf in Thailand has escalated; it is now popular with Thais and visiting tourists and expatriates.\n\nCatering to the needs of an average of 400,000 foreign golfers coming to Thailand annually, golf in Thailand has turned into a huge local industry with new courses constantly being churned out. Golf alone annually brings 8 billion baht into the local economy. Thailand offers over two hundred courses with high standards. Internationally renowned courses can be found in tourist-spots like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket.\n\nThere is an abundance of reasons why golf in Thailand has become so popular. First, if you compare the cost to most golfing countries in the world, membership and course fees are exceptionally low. The general low cost of travel in Thailand itself makes the country ideal for cost-efficiency minded tourists. Also, many of the golf courses in Thailand have been designed by top names in the game such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman.\n\n- Thailand Golf Courses Association\n\n### Outdoors", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk051", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Surfing in Phuket\nThailand's a big enough country, the size of Spain, that you can find a place to practice almost any outdoor sport. Ko Tao is becoming one of Asia's great **scuba diving** centres, with Ang Thong National Marine Park near Ko Samui and the Similan Islands off Khao Lak also drawing crowds. One of the newest hot spots for diving is Ko Lipe, a small island that is relatively unspoiled with great reefs and stunning beaches. **Snorkelling** can be done at pretty much every beach, but the coral reefs of the Similan Islands stand out as particularly worthwhile.\n\nWhile Thailand does not match surf paradises like Bali, **surfing** does have its place. The waves are generally small, good for **longboarding** and those wanting to learn to surf. Khao Lak and Phuket's west coast beaches are among the better ones, but the best waves are to be found at the relatively unknown Ko Kradan on the west coast of Trang Province. Other surf-spots include Rayong and Ko Samui, but the waves of the Gulf Coast are less reliable.\n\nPhang Nga Bay's gravity-defying limestone formations are usually seen with boat tours, but if you go **sea-canoeing**, you can get into areas unexplored by the tourist masses. The limestone cliffs of Rai Leh are among the best in the world for **rock-climbing**.\n\n### Pampering", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk052", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Do", "text": "Traditional **Thai massage** has a history of more than 2,500 years. Practitioners of Thai massage operate on the belief that many invisible lines of energy run through the body. The masseur uses his or her hands, elbows, feet, heels and knees to exert pressure on these lines, releasing blockages that may exist, allowing a free flow of energy through the body. Many Thais believe that these massages are beneficial both for treating diseases and aiding general well-being. You're supposed to feel both relaxed and energised after a session.\n\nAlthough **spas** weren't introduced here until the early 1990s, Thailand has quickly become one of the highest ranking spa destinations in the world. Besides traditional Thai massage, there is a phenomenal variety of international treatments, including aromatherapy, Swedish massage and many others. There is usually an option for every budget, varying from extravagant wellness centres in luxury hotels to the ubiquitous little massage shops found on many street corners.\n\n### Traditional games\n\n**Makruk** (หมากรุก) - also known as **Thai chess**. The most popular chess variant in Thailand, where its popularity even eclipses international chess. While it shares the same origin as international chess in the Persian game of shatranj, the rules of makruk are much closer to the original Persian game. You can find people playing the game in the street all over the country, and there are even national tournaments where the best from around the country gather to compete for the title of national champion.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk053", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Thailand is the **baht**, denoted by the symbol \"**฿**\" (ISO code: THB), written in Thai as บาท or บ. Wikivoyage uses \"baht\" in its articles. It is divided into 100 *satang* (สตางค์). There are six coins and six notes:\n25 and 50 satang (cent, copper colour) coins - nearly worthless and only readily accepted (and handed out) by buses, supermarkets and 7-Elevens\n1, 2 (in 2 versions: silver and gold), 5 (silver colour) and 10 baht (silver/gold) coins\n20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1,000 (grey-brown) baht notes\n\nThere are at least three versions of most bills in circulation, some paper, some polymer, with various portraits of various Thai kings. All retain the same color scheme and all are universally accepted. Be careful accepting 1,000 baht notes, as **counterfeits** are not uncommon: feel the embossing, look for the watermark and tilt to see colour-changing ink to make sure the note is real.\n\nThe most useful bills tend to be 20s and 100s, as many small shops and stalls don't carry much change. Taxi drivers also like to pull the \"no change\" trick; if caught, hop into the nearest convenience store and make a small purchase.\n\n**Under no circumstance should you ever mishandle Thai coins and banknotes as they have a portrait of the King.** Avoid stepping on them (not even to stop coins from rolling), writing near the king's portrait, throwing them in anger, or folding them improperly. These are considered disrespectful and you may be liable under *lèse-majesté* laws (see Stay Safe section).\n\n#### Cash advance", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk054", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "While carrying a lot of cash (US dollars, euros, etc.) for currency exchange is generally not a great idea, and ATM withdrawals in Thailand are one of the most expensive ones around the world, *cash advance* (i.e. withdrawing money via the bank counter) seems to be the most economical and reasonable way forward in Thailand, given you have the right credit card. As of Feb 2024, an advantageous German credit card (bank slogan: \"Free withdrawals worldwide\") allowed cash advance at no extra fee and at interbank exchange rate. Also, N26 does not charge for cash advance.\n\nOnly Bangkok Bank seems to universally accept this type of withdrawal, including some of their and other \"Exchange\" booths. Beware though that many card issuers (i.e. your home bank) do charge significantly more for this operation than for ATM withdrawals, e.g. when using a debit card. Also, make sure that when going with money exchangers that they don't charge your card in your home currency at a very bad rate, see Money.\n\nYou will need your credit card and passport to withdraw the money over the counter. The bank's operating hours apply — many, but by no way all, branches are also closed on weekends and public holidays.\n\nDon't worry about getting too much cash — any leftover baht can easily be exchanged for hard currency at the Airport Rail Link's last station in Bangkok at excellent rates, see there.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nAny of the major currencies can often be exchanged at competitive rates at 0.1-0.2% markup (especially larger notes and mostly in Bangkok).", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk055", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "One notable money exchanger is SuperRich (not to be confused with the similarly-named Superrich Thailand), with dozens of branches in Bangkok including at Silom, Ratchadamri, Khao San Road and Chatuchak. No fees are charged and the exchange rate, especially for major currencies, is just 0.1-0.2% off the interbank exchange rate, often better than what your bank offers when you withdraw money from an ATM.\n\nTheir success caused a host of competitors to emerge, some of these closely imitating SuperRich, including in the major cities outside of Bangkok, though the rates outside Bangkok are usually not as good. For the best rates, go to the head office (for chains that operate multiple branches across Thailand or Bangkok), present the largest banknote denominations you can (e.g. $100 for U.S. dollars, £50 for pound sterling, ¥10,000 for Japanese yen), and ensure they are in as pristine condition as possible.\n\nBanks also offer reasonable rates, though normally not as good as the exchangers mentioned before. However, they are less picky about the quality of the notes.\n\nMany hotels and guesthouses will change money for guests, but hefty commissions and poor rates may apply. US dollars in small bills (US$1, 5, and 20) are invaluable for onward travel to neighbouring countries other than Malaysia, but are only useful in Thailand for exceptional purchases (e.g., paying visa fees for Cambodia).\n\nThai baht are difficult to exchange outside the neighbouring countries, so try to get rid of your excess baht before you leave.\n\n#### Credit cards", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk056", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "Cards are widely accepted in the tourist industry such as in restaurants, shopping malls and shops catering to tourists. Fraud is common though, so use them sparingly and tell your bank in advance, so your card doesn't get locked down because *you* are using it. Some businesses add a surcharge (usually 2-3%) if you're paying by credit card; in this case, it can turn out cheaper to pay them in cash.\n\nJust as with ATM withdrawals, you may occasionally be offered the option to have the transaction charged directly into your home currency or Thai baht. In this case, always choose to be charged in Thai baht as the rate offered by the merchant will be less favourable to you.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs are everywhere, and international withdrawals are not a problem, besides the fee. An ATM will typically provide a much better exchange rate than many money exchangers, especially if you have a card that does not charge a transaction fee for overseas withdrawals. However, note that there are some money exchangers (especially in Bangkok) that have highly competitive rate, even better than ATM. Thus if you plan to use cash for low-volume transactions, it is better to bring foreign cash with you and exchange them for Thai Baht at the money changer.\n\nThere is a 250 baht surcharge as of March 2026 for using foreign cards in most ATMs, you will mostly be notified about this fee in any ATM which charges it beforehand. Aeon, which charged only 150 baht before, doesn't seem to accept foreign cards anymore.\n\nMost ATMs have a limit of 20 notes, that is 20,000 baht; Bangkok Bank typically dispenses 25 notes at once, and a few other banks including Krungsri, TMB and CIMB may dispense 30 notes.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk057", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "The more important thing to watch for is that some ATMs (Krungsri, SCB and a few others are known for that) will offer you to exchange your money to Baht for you, charging your card in USD or your home currency. What you will get if you agree is a very lousy rate (-5% if not more from the mid-market level). So, always refuse and choose to be charged in Thai Baht only, not USD or your home currency. Read more on **Dynamic Currency Conversion**.\n\nVery (very!) remote areas (including smaller islands) do not have banks or ATMs, so entering those places with cash is essential.\n\n### Tax refund and VAT\n\nForeign visitors (with a few exceptions) have the benefit to receive a 7% VAT refund on luxury goods purchased from shops that participate in the 'VAT Refund for Tourists' scheme. When you see a 'VAT Refund for Tourists' sign, you can receive a 7% refund of the VAT levied on goods at the shop. However, certain conditions apply, and you won't be able to claim your refund until you depart Thailand from an international airport.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk058", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "The goods must be purchased from participating shops that display a \"VAT Refund For Tourists\" sign. You may not claim VAT refund for services or goods that you use or \"consume\" while in Thailand; such as hotel or restaurant expenses. On any one day, the goods purchased from any one individual participating shop must be at least 2,000 baht including VAT. When you purchase the goods, ask the sales assistant to complete a VAT refund form, known as the P.P.10, and attach the original tax/sales invoices to that form. Each P.P.10 must show a value of 2,000 baht or more. You will need to show your passport to the sales assistant when you purchase the goods, to allow her to fill in the above mentioned form. When you exit the country, the goods must be inspected prior to check in and your completed P.P.10's stamped. Since you must give away the original receipts it is a good idea to take photos or make copies in case you need to prove the value of your purchases to customs officers when going home.\n\n### Tipping\n\n**Tipping is not common in Thailand** and the Thais themselves don't do it. Thais do round up (or down) the taxi fare to get it to an amount that is easier to pay for (such as from 59 or 61 to 60 baht). Sometimes they also leave the change in restaurants, but even this is a rare occurrence.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk059", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "You don't have to feel odd if you don't tip at all, as that's what the locals do, but the presence of many foreign visitors have changed some expectations. Tipping is now common in many high-end hotels and tourist restaurants. Don't go overboard when tipping — never give more than 50 baht. In some tourist places, especially along Khao San Road, there are even restaurants hinting for a tip. This is not common (and even rude) in Thai culture, so you can easily ignore it.\n\nDo not tip when a customer service charge is applied, as this is supposed to be the tip, applied only in luxury restaurants and hotels.\n\n### Costs\n\nThailand is not as cheap as it used to be, with Bangkok being named the second most expensive city in SE Asia behind Singapore. However, budget travellers who are careful with what they spend will still find that 600–1,000 baht will get a backpacker a dorm bed or cheap room, three square meals a day and leave enough for transport, sightseeing, and even partying — dorm beds start at 250–300 baht and meals at 50–60 baht, even in Bangkok. Doubling that budget will let you stay in decent hotels, and if you're willing to fork out 5,000 baht per day or more you can live like a king.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk060", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "Bangkok requires a more generous budget than upcountry destinations, but also offers by far the most competitive prices for shoppers who shop around. The most popular tourism islands such as Phuket and Ko Samui tend to have higher prices in general. It is common for tourists to be charged several times the actual price in tourist areas of other places as well. If you want to have an idea what the real Thai prices are, consider visiting malls like Big C, Tesco, or Carrefour where locals and expats routinely shop. Those are available in major cities (in Bangkok, there are dozens of them) and on larger islands such as Phuket or Ko Samui. Tax hikes have made alcohol clearly more expensive than in some neighbouring countries.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|Racks of clothing at [[Siam Square]], [[Bangkok]]\n\nThailand is a shopper's paradise and many visitors to Bangkok in particular end up spending much of their time in the countless markets and malls. Particularly good buys are **clothing**, both cheap locally produced street wear and fancy **Thai silk**, and all sorts of **handicrafts**. Electronics and computer gear are also widely available, but prices are slightly higher than in Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Kuala Lumpur.\n\nA Thai speciality is the **night markets** found in almost every town, the largest and best-known of which are in Bangkok and the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. Here a variety of vendors from designers to handicraft sellers have stalls selling goods which cannot normally be found in malls and day markets. Most night markets also have large open air food courts attached.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk061", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Buy", "text": "You can also find marvellously tacky modern clothing accessories. Witness pink sandals with clear plastic platform heels filled with fake flowers. Night markets along the main roads and Bangkok's Mahboonkrong (MBK) Mall, near the Siam Skytrain stop, are particularly good sources. Not to be left out is what is often touted as the world's biggest weekend bazaar - **The Chatuchak Weekend Market** or known to locals simply as \"JJ\" Market. Chatuchak sells a myriad of products ranging from clothes to antiques, covers over 35 acres (1.1 km²) and is growing by the day!\n\nHaggling is the norm and often market and road-side vendors will try to charge you as much as they think you can afford to pay. It's not uncommon to buy something, walk outside, and find somebody who bought the same item for half or one third what you paid (or even less). Try to figure out the item's rough value first. Adjacent stalls, government-run fixed price shops and even hotel gift shops are a good starting point. You'll find that prices drop drastically when the seller realizes you have some idea of what it costs.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk062", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|250px|Meditating Thai Buddhas\nLearning opportunities are abundant in Thailand. There are many good schools (local and international) and universities in Thailand, and the cost of education is relatively affordable. Chulalongkorn University, for example, charges between per semester. \n\nThe Thai educational system emphasises the importance of being connected to Thai language and culture, which are thought of as essential pillars of Thai national identity. While that sounds impressive, the quality of the Thai educational system is best described as poor. High levels of inequality, high levels of teacher debt, and inadequate management contribute to the poor state of the Thai educational system. \n\nDue to the poor state of the Thai educational system, many Thai families (mainly upper-class Thais) often try to get their children enrolled in one of Thailand's many English-speaking international schools. However, it is next to impossible for them to access such schools, as each international school in Thailand has a strict quota on the number of Thai students they can enrol. In addition, students registered as Thai nationals at international schools are required to study Thai for the duration they are there.\n\n### Universities\n\nThailand has many universities and institutions of higher learning. Many of them conduct classes in English, and the country's top universities are situated in the capital, Bangkok. \n\nUniversity uniforms are standard throughout Thailand and each university has a dress code that must be followed at all times by all students. Women are normally required to wear a white blouse and a black skirt, and men are normally required to wear a white shirt, a necktie, and black trousers. The status of university uniforms is controversial in some circles; some campaign for the abolition of university uniforms. \n\nThe most notable universities in Thailand:\n**Chulalongkorn University**. Thailand's most prestigious university.\n**Thammasat University**. \n**Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University**. Thailand's oldest institution of higher learning specialising in Buddhism and religious studies. It focuses mainly on training people to be Buddhist monks, priests, and scholars.\n**Mahidol University**.\n**Assumption University**. Thailand's most prestigious private Catholic university. Offers courses in English. \n**Bangkok University**.\n\n### Thai language schools\n\nBangkok has many language schools for studying Thai:\n\n **AUA (American University Alumni) Language Center Bangkok** AUA uses a non-traditional method where all teaching is done in Thai without books or any use of English. Students learn by looking and listening and eventually after a certain number of hours are expected to begin to speak Thai \"naturally\".\n **Duke Language School Bangkok** Duke Language School is conveniently located near BTS Nana station and has a very high success rate.\n **Chulalongkorn University Intensive Thai classes** Intensive Thai courses with an emphasis on learning to read and write academic Thai at a university level.\n **Jentana & Associates Thai Language School**\n **Piammitr (Plenty of Friends) Language School** Near BTS Asok http://www.piammitrschool.com/ Courses are 60-hours of class time and last one month.\n **My Thai Language School** On Ratchada Rd, you can apply for a student ed Visa\n **Walen School**\n **Thai Language** Reference documents, interactive lessons, dictionary, and forums for learning Thai", "word_count": 498}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk063", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Work", "text": "Thailand has long been known as a top destination for employment and career advancement. Foreigners from all over the world live and work in Thailand. It's common for well-paid expatriates to hire maids, nannies, and helpers, and the cost of living is more or less affordable. Working and living in Thailand is not as simple as it may seem; there's *a lot of* misinformation about working and living in the country on the internet.\n\nSome of the main employment opportunities for foreigners in Thailand are teaching English, teaching in either local or international schools, and working as a dive instructor. However, all of these opportunities are very competitive, and dive masters in particular are often underpaid.\n\nEmployment is broadly defined in Thailand. In simple terms, any duty – such as modelling, being a paid volunteer, being an extra in a movie, being a paid intern, or working for a company based in Thailand – that results in monetary compensation *is considered employment* and you are required to obtain a work permit to take up such duties. While working without a work permit was a common practice in the past, the authorities are clamping down on illegal workers and migrants.", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk064", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Work", "text": "Obtaining a work permit as a foreigner can be a bureaucratic hassle; a lot of paperwork – for instance, a copy of your university degree, proof you're working for a company, and so on – is needed to apply for one and you're normally required to earn a high wage to obtain one. Teachers are exempt from the wage requirement. If you plan to work for a company based in Thailand, the company you intend to work for has to be willing to sponsor you. Some unscrupulous employers will skip the process and instead ask you to make regular visa runs to the nearest border. You should *decline* job offers from such employers and report them to the authorities, as you can be denied entry and blacklisted from the country if caught at immigration.\n\nSeveral occupations are off-limits to foreigners. For example, foreigners may not provide legal services (except arbitration), provide accounting services, work as tour guides, or work in a variety of menial jobs. Civil engineers and architects cannot work in the country unless they can prove to the government that they are licensed.\n\nForeigners working in Thailand are, by law, required to report to the immigration authorities every **90 days**. Your company can assist with this process, or if you like, you may choose to do this yourself.\n\nTry to acquire some proficiency in Thai. Doing so will open many doors for you, since most Thais cannot converse in English.\n\nThere are dozens of diving shops that provide training and internships. Ko Tao (Turtle Island) in particular is a great place to work as a diving instructor.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk065", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Work", "text": "One way to start working as a teacher is to gain a TESOL/TEFL Certificate. One of the largest TESOL schools in the world is head quartered in the small village of Ban Phe, Rayong. Other provinces in Thailand offer TEFL/TESOL Certification Courses. In Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai University has a comprehensive teacher training program located on its main campus.\n\nThe Thai work culture is hierarchical and formal. What this means is that you should always show respect to your superiors. If your superior asks you to do something, do it.\n\n### Volunteering\n\nVolunteering is a great way to meet locals and experience the culture and traditions of Thailand. There are many worldwide organizations that offer volunteer work on such projects as community development, conservation, wildlife sanctuary maintenance & development, scientific research, & education programs. Here some organisations you can volunteer at:\n\n- Child's Dream Foundation\n\n- Foundation for Education and Development\n\n- Isara Foundation", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk066", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|A platter of ''miang kham'' (leaf wrap) ingredients\nthumb|Green curry (''kaeng khiao wan'') with chicken, served with ''roti''\nthumb|A classic [[Isaan]] meal: ''som tam'' papaya salad, ''larb'' meat salad and sticky rice\n\nThe food alone is really reason enough for a trip to Thailand. Curries, fruit shakes, stir fries, noodles, fresh fish made a zillion ways - and that's just the beginning. Food in Thailand can be as cheap and easy as 25 baht *pad Thai* (ผัดไทย, Thai fried noodles) cooked at a street stall or as expensive and complicated as a USD100 ten-course meal by a royal chef served in one of Bangkok's luxury hotels.\n\nSince most backpackers will be sticking closer to the first than the second, one of the great things about Thailand is that food from stalls and tiny sidewalk restaurants is usually quite safe. Unlike some Asian countries, travellers should worry more about overeating or too much curry spice than about unclean kitchens and bad food. In fact, street restaurants, where you can see what you'll get and everything is cooked on the spot can be a safe option.\n\nYelp or Tripadvisor are generally not popular in Thailand, and reviews there are usually posted by tourists, not locals. Instead, **Wongnai** is the go-to directory for restaurant reviews among Thais. While the interface is available in English, the downside is that almost all reviews are in Thai.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nThai food is most commonly eaten with **fork and spoon**. Hold the spoon in your right hand and use it to eat, and reserve the fork for piling food onto your spoon. Chopsticks are *only* employed for noodle soups and East Asian-style dishes. Sticky rice, common in the northeastern Isaan region, is eaten with your right hand, but regular jasmine rice is not.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk067", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Eat", "text": "Thai food is meant for **sharing**. Everybody gets their own plate of rice and tiny soup bowl, but all the other dishes are laid out in the centre of the table and you're free to eat what you wish. Though some people believe that taking the last piece from a shared plate is considered slightly unlucky, and you may hear people make wishes for *others* to compensate for their own misfortune. A popular wish is that \"may my girlfriend/boyfriend be good-looking!\"\n\nFood is also generally brought out a dish at a time as it is prepared. It is not expected of diners to wait until all meals are brought out before they start eating as is polite in Western culture. Instead they should tuck into the nearest dish as it arrives.\n\n### Thai cuisine\n\nThai cuisine is characterized by balance and strong flavours, especially **lime juice**, **lemon grass** and **fresh coriander**, the combination of which gives Thai food its distinctive taste. In addition, Thai food has a deserved reputation for being **spicy**, with hot little torpedo-shaped chillies called *phrik khii nuu* (พริกขี้หนู, lit. \"mouse shit chillies\") making their way into many a dish. Thais are well aware that these can be more than Westerners can handle and will often ask if you like it hot (เผ็ด *phet*). Answer \"yes\" at your own risk! Another condiment that features prominently in Thai cuisine is **fish sauce** (น้ำปลา *naam plaa*), a pungent and very salty sauce that is used to flavour a wide variety of dishes. See Thai cuisine for a primer.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk068", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Eat", "text": "Thai food outside Thailand is almost always from the central Thai tradition predominant around Bangkok, but the North, the South and the northeastern Isaan regions also have their own regional dishes that are well worth exploring. Chinese influences also pervade much of Thai cuisine, with many of the most famous street food stalls in Bangkok and other cities throughout the country being owned and run by ethnic Chinese.\n\n### Dietary restrictions\n\nthumb|The \"vegetarian\" sign, a stylized version of the characters เจ\n\n**Vegetarians** won't have too many problems surviving in Thailand, with one significant exception: **fish sauce** (น้ำปลา *naam plaa*) is to Thai cuisine what soy sauce is to Chinese food, and keeping it out of soups, curries and stir-fries will be a challenge.\n\nThailand is a Buddhist country and vegetarianism is a fairly well-understood concept, especially among Thai-Chinese (many of whom eat only vegetarian food during several festivals). Look for vegetarian restaurants adorned with the distinctive yellow and red เจ sign.\nTofu is a traditional Thai ingredient and they aren't afraid to mix it up in some non-traditional dishes such as omelettes (with or without eggs), submarine sandwiches, and burritos. Since Thai dishes are usually made to order, it's easy to ask for anything on the menu to be made without meat or fish. Bangkok features several fantastic veggie and vegan restaurants, but outside of big cities make sure to check that your idea of \"veggie\" matches the chef's. As Thai-Chinese cuisine traditionally does not include dairy products, most non-dessert dishes at vegetarian restaurants are essentially **vegan**, but make sure your dish does not contain eggs.\n\nSome key phrases for vegetarians:\n\n*phom kin je* (m) / *di-chan kin je* (f) ผม(ดิฉัน)กินเจ \"I eat only vegetarian food\"\n *karunaa mai sai naam plaa* กรุณาไม่ใส่น้ำปลา \"Please don't use fish sauce\"", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk069", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Halal stall in [[Chiang Mai]]\n\nThailand has a significant Muslim minority (around 5%), mostly concentrated in Southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. You can still find **halal** food (อาหารมุสลิม *ahaan Muslim*) throughout the country, especially in larger cities, typically clearly labeled with green crescents and the Arabic word \"halal\". **Kosher** food is virtually unknown in Thailand; if you keep kosher, contact **Chabad Thailand** for assistance well in advance of your trip.\n\nTravelling in Thailand if you have significant **allergies** is challenging. Labeling and awareness in general are very low, and traditional Thai food uses many common allergens like soy, fish sauce, shrimp paste and peanuts. While you can ask restaurant staff in Thai, a request to remove the offending ingredients is hardly heard of, and you never know what oil they use for cooking. Another safe bet is to do gradual immunotherapy before your trip, starting preferably **one year** in advance.\n\n### Restaurant chains\n\nThailand has a large number of indigenous restaurant chains offering much the same fare as your average street stall, but with the added advantages of air conditioning, printed menus (often in English), and clean storefronts. All the chains are heavily concentrated in Bangkok, but larger cities and popular tourist spots may have an outlet or two.\n\n- Coca '''and''' MK\n\n- Fuji\n\n- Kuaytiew Ruea Siam\n\n- S&P\n\n- Yum Saap\n\n- After You\n\nAnd yes, you can find the usual McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Komalas etc. if you insist. If you do end up at McDonald's, at least try the un-Maclike fried chicken with McSomTam (green papaya salad). For those craving American-style pizza, try the ubiquitous The Pizza Company, which is a less expensive and (arguably) tastier local chain.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk070", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Go-go bar in Soi Cowboy, [[Bangkok]]\n\nThailand is infamous for its nightlife, which ranges from acoustic guitar and smoking perfectly legal blunts at a beachside hut to superstar DJs and fancy cocktails at hip nightclubs. The Full Moon Party in Ko Phangan draws backpackers all around the world, every Thai beach resort has its nightlife area, and the offerings in Bangkok run the gamut from smoky jazz clubs to enormous open-air beer gardens where *kuk thung* and *mor lam* country music singers from Isaan croon nightly.\n\nThailand also has a large **sex industry**, which to tourists is most visible in the flashy go-go bars of Bangkok, Pattaya, and Patong (Phuket), which are very much targeted at visitors. While these are thinly disguised fronts for prostitution, legally a grey area in Thailand with all the risks that entails, it's generally OK to visit them only for drinks and the show.\n\nIn 2022, **cannabis** was completely legalized and over 10,000 retailers sprouted up overnight. In 2025, the government tightened up the rules and medical marijuana prescriptions are now required, although they're straightforward even for visitors to obtain. There are restrictions on where you can smoke, and almost all other drugs remain strictly banned, with draconian penalties. See Drugs for details.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nDrinking alcohol in Thailand, especially if you like Western tipples, is actually comparatively expensive, but still very affordable by Western standards.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk071", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "Retail sales of alcohol in supermarkets and multi-national convenience stores, are limited to between 11:00-00:00. (The earlier bizarre ban on afternoon sales, originally designed to stop government employees from tippling during work hours, was finally lifted in 2025.) Restaurants and bars are not affected, and smaller, non-chain stores rarely observe this rule. 7-Eleven is a stickler for following this rule. Convenience stores at gas stations are not permitted to sell alcohol at any time.\n\nThere are also occasional days throughout the year when alcohol can't be sold anywhere, even the small mom & pop shops normally adhere to the rules on these days, and most bars and pubs do too (although you can probably find a beer somewhere if you're desperate enough). Upmarket hotel bars and restaurants are probably the only places that are realistically likely to be exempt. Religious holidays and elections are normally the reason for these restrictions.\n\n#### Beer", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk072", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "Western-style beer (เบียร์ *bia*) is a bit of an upmarket drink in Thailand, with the price of a small bottle hovering between 40 and 100 baht in most pubs, bars and restaurants. Thais like their lagers with relatively high alcohol content (around 6%), as it is designed to be drunk with ice, so the beer in Thailand may pack more of a punch than you are used to. However, if you're from Europe or Australia, you will find this normal.\nleft|thumb|Thai craft beer can only be bought from their breweries\nIf you ever find yourself wondering why you can't find any smaller local beer brands in Thailand, it isn't because of lack of demand. The government, according to its Liquor Control Act, only licences breweries that produce over ten million litres of beer yearly. Because setting up a brewery of this capacity would cost over 1 billion baht, the only local beers you can buy are brewed by two large Thai companies: ThaiBev (Chang, Archa) and Boon Rawd Brewery (Singha, Leo). Smaller, independent breweries are legally forbidden from selling their beer in shops, bars and restaurants off the brewery premises, which prevents their growth. To get around this, some \"Thai\" craft beers are brewed overseas and are thus categorised as \"foreign\" beers, which are allowed to be sold in shops as normal. While the Thai Finance Ministry argues that such restrictions are necessary to ensure quality control, there is growing pressure in Thailand to remove this restriction on independent breweries.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk073", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A bottle of Chang in Bangkok**Local brews**: For many years the only locally brewed beer was **Singha** (pronounced just *Sing*) but it has lost market to cheaper and stronger **Chang**. Both are pretty strong (Chang especially, being 6%, and Singha 5%), but for those who prefer something a bit lighter, both local brands have introduced low-alcohol versions of their beers. **Singha Light** comes in at 3.5%, **Chang Draught** is 5% and **Chang Light** is 4.2%. There are also some cheaper local beers - **Leo** (very popular, and 10-20% cheaper than Singha) and **Archa** (the very cheapest, and with its lack of flavour, you won't find it in bars, but is available in almost any 7-Eleven) being among the most popular. \n **Premium brands**: The two most popular premium brands are **Heineken** and **Tiger**, but **San Miguel**, **Federbrau** and other Asian beers such as the Japanese **Asahi** are also fairly commonplace. The premium beers tend to be a bit weaker than the full-strength local beers, and are about 10-20% more expensive.\n **Imported beers**: Most upmarket pubs in touristy areas will have at least a couple of imported beers available along with the usual local brands, either on draught, in bottles or both. Belgian and German beers can often be found, as well as Irish stouts and ales such as **Guinness**, British bitters such as **John Smiths** and the light Mexican beer **Corona** is gaining in popularity. Regional favourite **Beerlao** has also started to make an appearance in bars and pubs around the country. All imported beers (with the exception of Beerlao) are very expensive though, being about twice the price of locally sourced beers, due to alcohol import tariffs.\n **Other non-beers**: The usual range of \"alcopops\" is available in Thailand, with **Bacardi Breezer** enjoying the lion's share of the market. **Spy** wine cooler (of about 10 varieties) is also popular. **Cider** is harder to find, although some pubs have started to stock **Magners** and **Bulmers**.", "word_count": 323}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk074", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "#### Imported drinks\n\nImported liquors, wines and beers are widely available but prohibitively priced for the average Thai. A shot of any brand-name liquor is at least 100 baht, a pint of Guinness will set you back at least 200 baht and, thanks to an inexplicable 340% tax, even the cheapest bottle of wine will set you back over 500 baht. In cheaper bars (especially the go-go kind), the content of that familiar bottle of Jack Daniels may be something entirely different.\n\n#### Rice wine\n\nThai rice wine (สาโท *sato*) is actually a beer brewed from glutinous rice, and thus a spiritual cousin of Japanese *sake*. While traditionally associated with Isaan, it's now sold nationwide under the brand **Siam Sato**, available in any 7-Eleven at 25 baht for a 0.65L bottle. At 8% alcohol, it's cheap and potent, but you may regret it the next morning! The original style of brewing and serving *sato* is in earthenware jars called *hai*, hence the drink's other name *lao hai* (เหล้าไห). These are served by breaking the seal on the jar, adding water, and drinking immediately with either glasses or, traditionally, with a straw directly from the pot.\n\n#### Whisky/rum\n\nthumb|Saeng Som rum with soda water (แสงโสม โซดา ''saengsom sohda''), a common local drink. Mosquito coil optional.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk075", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "The misnamed **Thai whisky** (*lao*) refers to a number of liquors. The best known are the infamous **Mekhong** (แม่โขง *Maekhong*) brand and its competitor, the sweeter **Sang Som** (แสงโสม *Saengsom*), which are both brewed primarily from sugarcane and thus actually rum. Indeed, the only resemblances to whisky are the brown color and high alcohol content, and some people liken the smell to nail polish remover, but the taste is not quite as bad, especially when diluted with cola or soda water. This is also by far the cheapest way to get blotto, as a pocket flask of the stuff (available in any convenience store or supermarket) costs only around 50 baht.\n\nThe \"real\" Thai whisky is *lao khao* (เหล้าขาว \"white liquor\"), which is distilled from rice. While commercial versions are available, it's mostly distilled at home as moonshine, in which case it also goes by the name *lao theuan* (\"jungle liquor\"). White liquor with herbs added for flavor and medical effect is called *ya dong* (ยาดอง). Strictly speaking, both are illegal, but nobody seems to mind very much, especially when hill-tribe-trekking in the North you're likely to be invited to sample some, and it's polite to at least take a sip.\n\n### Iced drinks\n\n**Coconut water** (น้ำมะพร้าว *naam ma-phrao*), iced and drunk directly from a fresh coconut is cheap, delicious and healthy. Available at restaurants and also from fruit juice vendors.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk076", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "Fruit juices, freezes and milkshakes of all kinds are very popular with Thais and visitors alike. Most cafés and restaurants charge 20-40 baht, but a bottle of freshly squeezed **Thai sweet orange juice** (น้ำส้ม *naam som*) — which really is orange in colour! — can be sold on the street for 15-30 baht. Thais often add salt to their fruit juices, an acquired taste that you might just learn to like. Thais also like to have basil seeds in their iced fruit juice sold on the road. They look like small jelly balls down in the bottle.\n\n### Tea and coffee\n\nthumb|Thai iced tea\n\nOne of Thailand's most characteristic drinks is **Thai iced tea** (ชาเย็น *chaa yen*, lit. \"cold tea\"). Instantly identifiable thanks to its lurid orange colour, this is the side effect of adding ground tamarind seed (or these days, artificial colour) during the curing process. The iced tea is always very strong and very sweet, and usually served with a dash of condensed milk and evaporated milk; ask for *chaa dam yen* to skip the milk. A popular variant among locals that is typically sold at markets in the morning is **Thai hot tea** (ชาร้อน *chaa rorn*), often served with Chinese-style *youtiao* (油條) fritters, known in Thai as *pathongko* (ปาท่องโก๋).\n\n*Naam chaa* and *chaa jiin* are weak and full-strength Chinese tea, often served in restaurants for free. Coffee (กาแฟ *kaafae*) is also widely available, and is usually served with condensed milk and lots of sugar. Ask for *kaafae thung* to get traditional filtered \"bag\" coffee instead of instant.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk077", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Drink", "text": "Starbucks is present in Thailand, but for the moment local competitors **Black Canyon Coffee** and **S&P** still have the edge in market share. These are the places to look for if you want that triple-mocha latte with hazelnut swirl and are willing to pay 100 baht for the privilege.\n\n- Black Canyon Coffee\n\n### Energy drinks\n\nThailand is the original home of the Red Bull brand energy drink - a licensed and re-branded version of Thailand's original *Krathing Daeng* (กระทิงแดง, \"Red Bull\"), complete with the familiar logo of two bulls charging at each other.\n\nThe Thai version, however, is syrupy sweet, uncarbonated and comes packaged in medicinal-looking brown glass bottles, as the target customers are not trendy clubbers, but Thailand's working class of construction workers and bus drivers in need of a pick-me-up. And a pick-me-up it most certainly is; the caffeine content is higher even than Western-style Red Bull, and packs a punch equivalent to two or three shots of espresso coffee. Krathing Daeng and its many competitors (including M150, Shark, .357 and the inevitable *Karabao Daeng*, \"Red Buffalo\") are available in any convenience store for 10 baht a pop, although in some places you can now buy imported Red Bull for five times the price.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk078", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|[[Khao San Road]] is likely the best place in Bangkok to find budget accommodation\n\nThailand has accommodation in every price bracket. Always take a look at the room (or better still several rooms, sometimes owners offer the cheaper rooms first) before agreeing a price. In smaller establishments also do ask for the agreed price in writing to avoid problems during check out.\n\nAirbnb is illegal in Thailand except for stays of more than 30 days.\n\nThe best prices (30-50% off rack rates) for accommodation can be found during Thailand's low season, which is during May-Aug, which not surprisingly also coincides with the region's monsoon season. The peak season is during Dec-Feb.\n\nThe prices listed are average for the country, and vary depending on the region and season. Smaller provincial towns will not have fancy hotels or resorts, while on popular island beaches it may be hard to find something cheaper than 300-400 baht even during the low season.\n\nAnother issue for westerners to be conscious of, is the unusual bathroom set up found almost everywhere, except perhaps in the four and five star hotels. In Thailand as in other Asian countries as well, the bathrooms even in many new and well kitted out establishments, tend to have the shower system without any kind of water isolation, be it a curtain or door or whatever, to prevent water splashing all over the place. To most, this is quite irritating as a simple floor water containment and drainage with some shower curtain would make everything much better, but it seems, proprietors don't see the logic, therefore, requiring guests to be very tolerant of the unusual bathroom layouts and trying to become adept.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk079", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Homestays** are common in rural areas. Typically, what this means is that you will be staying at your host's home, or on the host's property in something less than a commercial lodging. Usually, meals are included.\n\n**Guesthouses** are usually the cheapest option, basic ones cost 500 baht per room per night (100 or less for a dorm bed). This gets you a room with a fan, a squat toilet (often shared), shower (shared or private), and not much else. Better guesthouses, especially in towns with significant amount of foreign guests, have more amenities (European-style toilet, 24 hour hot shower, bigger room or even a balcony, free Wi-Fi, sometimes TV, everyday room service, fridge), with prices, subsequently, in the range of 200-500 baht. This makes them close to Thai hotels. The difference is they're more oriented to a Western clientèle, and as such, often offer various tours (sometimes overpriced), computers, and/or in-room Internet access, or even have a ground floor restaurant.\n\nIf you're satisfied with the guesthouse of your choice and plan to stay there for more than several days (especially during the low season or in the places with abundant accommodation options such as Chiang Mai), ask for a discount; this may not be offered everywhere, but if it is, the weekly rate may be 25% less or so, and for monthly rates it's not uncommon to be half as much. Normally, you'll have to pay for the entire period asked, but if something changes and you have to check out early refunds are not customary in Thailand. As such, if an early departure is possible (but unlikely enough to pay a week/month in advance), you should discuss this option with the owner/manager beforehand.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk080", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Hostels** are also an option, mainly in the big cities and major tourist destinations. However, given the abundance of budget accommodation and the fact that hostels are unfamiliar to Thais and, as such, purely Westerner-oriented, the price for a private room in a guesthouse will be almost the same, or even cheaper, than for a dorm bed in a hostel. You may get a bit more Westernised and hotel-like interiors, but at the cost of privacy.\n\nthumb|Luxury villa in [[Ko Samui]]\n\n**Thai hotels** start around 500 baht and go up to around 1500 baht. The upper-end of this range will be air-conditioned, the lower end will not. The primary difference is that with a hotel room, your bathroom should be private, bed linen, and towels will be provided, and there may be a hot shower. The guests are mostly Thais. TVs are available except at the lower end; Internet access, though, is less likely to be present than in guesthouses; and is even less likely to be free or in-room.\n\n**Tourist hotels** are generally around 1,000 baht and offer the basics for a beach vacation: swimming pool, room service, and TV.\n\n**Boutique hotels**, 2,000 baht and up, have mushroomed during the past few years, they provide a limited number of rooms (10 or fewer) and more personalized service. While these can be excellent, quality varies widely, so research is essential.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk081", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Business and luxury hotels**, 4,000 baht and up, offer every modern amenity you can think of. International chains are well represented, yet tend to be largely indistinguishable from hotels anywhere else in the world. Some others, notably Bangkok's **The Oriental**, **The Sukhothai** and **The Peninsula** are among the world's best hotels. The most luxurious **resorts** also fall in this price category, with some of the very best and most private adding a few zeros to the price.\n\n**Camping** in Thailand is an adventure and gets you off the beaten track and into some places where tourists rarely go. Camping is a great way to stay in national parks, which uniformly charge 80 baht for a campsite. You can also rent everything you need from the park rangers, if you don't have it yourself. There are also private campsites. Camping is also the cheapest way to see the islands. You can camp right on the beach in places like Ko Tarutao.\n\nCamping does present extra challenges in Thailand. For one thing, the aggressive monkeys found in Southern Thailand may ransack your tent. Never leave food in it. Another issue can be finding camping gear if you did not bring it from home. For example, butane stoves are common in Thailand, and the isobutane hiking stoves so common in Western countries are unknown in Thailand. Other camping items are only available at large outdoor stores like Decathlon (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pattaya, & Phuket) or the Central World mall in Bangkok.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk082", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The number one cause of death for visitors to Thailand is **motorcycle accidents**, especially on the often narrow, mountainous and twisty roads of Phuket and Samui. Drive defensively, wear a helmet, don't drink and avoid travel at night.\n\nViolent crime is in general rare, and the foreigners who get into trouble are typically those that get into drunken fights.\n\nE-cigarettes and vapes are strictly illegal. Being caught with one at the airport or in the city can lead to large fines, deportation and even imprisonment.\n\nSunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate is banned in all marine national parks to protect coral reefs. Violators face a fine of 100,000 THB.\n\nUnder the Playing Cards Act, possessing more than 120 playing cards without a government seal is illegal and can lead to imprisonment.\n\n### Political unrest\n\nthumb|The \"Hunger Games\" protest gesture\n\nThailand has a long history of political turbulence, with 12 successful military coups since 1932. Tourists are rarely impacted, much less targeted, although in 2008 one anti-government group took over both of Bangkok's airports for a week, causing immense disruption to tourism and the Thai economy.\n\nFrom 2014 to 2023, Thailand was ruled by a military junta. The blatantly rigged elections of 2019 led to widespread youth-led protests calling for the restoration of democracy, the ousting of the military-led government, and the abolition of the monarchy, perhaps best symbolized by a raised hand with the three middle fingers pressed together. Stay clear of any protests, as the authorities have been known to deal with them in a heavy-handed manner. As there is also a strong anti-China sentiment driving the protests, mainland Chinese visitors in particular should be especially careful to avoid the protests.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk083", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A **border conflict** with Cambodia flared up into fighting in July 2025 and again in December 2025. As of March 2026, a fragile ceasefire prevails, but it would be wise to avoid all travel within 20-50 km of the Cambodian-Thai border, and pay attention to any updates on the current situation. The border with Myanmar is also volatile due to the ongoing civil war there, although there have been no attacks on Thai territory.\n\n### Lèse-majesté\n\nIt's illegal to show **disrespect to royalty** (*lèse-majesté*), a crime with a mandatory punishment of 3 to 15 years' imprisonment. Do not make any negative remarks or any remarks which might be perceived as disrespectful about the King, any members of the Royal Family, or anything related to them (such as their pets or appearance). This will usually land you in prison and your embassy/consulate will be of little help in getting you out. Since the King is on the country's currency, don't burn, tear, or mutilate it, especially in the presence of other Thais. If you drop a coin or bill, do not step on it to stop it — this is considered rude, since you are stomping on a picture of the King. Also, anything related to the stories and movies *The King and I* and *Anna and the King* is illegal to possess in Thailand. Almost all Thais, even those in other countries, feel very strongly when it comes to any version of this story. They feel that it makes a mockery of their age-old monarchy and is entirely inaccurate.\n\nThe hand gesture of raised up hand with three middle fingers pressed together (described in the previous section), which is often used as a protest symbol in the 2020 protests, is also deemed disrespectful of the royalty.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk084", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Although it's mainly Thais who are prosecuted for lèse-majesté (sometimes as a political weapon), a few foreigners *have* been charged and even jailed for it, in some cases for publishing remarks that would not even ruffle feathers in the Western press. Pleading guilty and seeking a royal pardon is generally seen as the quickest path to freedom, and even that would not spare you from months of pretrial detention and jail time.\n\n### Corruption\n\nWhile not as bad as in neighbouring Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia, corruption is unfortunately still fairly common in Thailand. Traffic police in Thailand often request bribes of 200 baht or so from tourists who they stop for seemingly minor traffic infringements. Immigration officers at the Malaysian border have been known to ask for a bribe of about 20 baht per person before they stamp your passport, though those at airports do not ask for bribes.\n\n### Scams\n\nThailand has more than its fair share of scams, but most are easily avoided with some common sense.", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk085", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "More a nuisance than a danger, a common scam by touts, taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers in Thailand is to wait by important monuments and temples for Western travellers, telling them that the site is closed for a \"Buddhist holiday\", \"repairs\" or a similar reason. The \"helpful\" driver will then offer to take the traveller to another site, such as a market or store. Travellers who accept these offers will often end up at out-of-the-way markets with outrageous prices - and no way to get back to the centre of town where they came from. Always check at the front gate of the site you're visiting to make sure it's really closed.\nthumb|Tuk-tuks in Phuket\nSome tuk-tuk drivers might demand much higher price than agreed, or they might take you to a sex show, pretending they didn't understand the address (they get commissions from sex shows). For the same reason, avoid drivers who propose their services without being asked, especially near major tourist attractions. Generally, as a foreigner, it is cheaper to take a metered taxi than a tuk-tuk.\n\nDon't buy any sightseeing tours at the airport. If you do, they will phone several times to your hotel to remind you about the tour. During the tour, you will be shortly taken to a small temple, without a guide, and then one shop after another (they get commissions). They might refuse to take you back home until you see all the shops. On your way back, they pressure you to buy more tours.", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk086", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Easily identified with practice, it is not uncommon in tourist areas to be approached by a clean cut, well dressed man who will often be toting a cellphone. These scammers will start up polite conversation, showing interest in the unsuspecting tourist's background, family, or itinerary. Inevitably, the conversation will drift to the meat of the scam. This may be something as innocuous as over-priced tickets to a kantoke meal and show, or as serious as a gambling scam or (particularly in Bangkok) the infamous **gem scam**. Once identified, the wary traveller should have no trouble picking out these scammers from a crowd. The tell-tale well-pressed slacks and button-down shirt, freshly cut hair in a conservative style, and late-model cellphone comprise their uniform. Milling around tourist areas without any clear purpose for doing so, the careful traveller should have no difficulty detecting and avoiding these scammers.\n\nMany visitors will encounter young Thai ladies armed with a clipboard and a smile enquiring as to their nationality, often with an aside along the lines of \"please help me to earn 30 baht\". The suggestion is that the visitor completes a tourism questionnaire (which includes supplying their hotel name and room number) with the incentive that they just might win a prize - the reality is that everyone gets a call to say that they are a \"winner\"; however, the prize can only be collected by attending an arduous time-share presentation. The lady with the clipboard doesn't get her 30 baht if you don't attend the presentation; also that only English-speaking nationalities are targeted.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk087", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "A serious scam involves being accused of shoplifting in the duty-free shops in the Bangkok airport. This may involve accidentally straying across ill-defined boundaries between shops with merchandise in hand, or being given a \"free gift\". Always get a receipt. Those accused are threatened with long prison sentences, then given the opportunity to pay USD10,000 or more as \"bail\" to make the problem disappear and to be allowed to leave Thailand. If you end up in this pickle, contact your embassy and use *their* lawyer or translator, not the \"helpful\" guy hanging around.\n\n### Fake monks\n\nTheravada Buddhism is an integral part of Thai culture, and it is customary for Buddhist monks to roam the streets collecting alms in the morning. Unfortunately, the presence of foreign tourists unaware of local Buddhist customs has led to some imposters preying on unsuspecting visitors. Genuine monks only go on alms rounds in the morning, as they are not allowed to eat after noon, and are also not allowed to accept or touch money. Alms bowls are solely for the purpose of collecting food. If you see a \"monk\" soliciting monetary donations, or with money in his alms bowl, he is fake.\n\nImpersonating a monk is a serious offence in Thailand, so you can report any fake monks you see to the police.\n\n### Robbery on overnight buses", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk088", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Thailand is quite safe for tourists. However, there have been reports about people getting drugged and robbed while traveling on overnight buses. To avoid this, steer away from cheapish and non-government buses, make sure you have all your money stored safely in a money belt or another hard-to-reach place and always check your valuables before getting off. Warning your travel companions about this danger is also advised. If you are robbed, firmly refuse to get off the bus, tell everyone about the situation and immediately call the police. It may not be possible to stay on the bus, as your refusal may prompt the staff to unload your checked luggage onto the street and then continue to drive the bus without your luggage, forcing you to disembark or lose it.\n\n### Prostitution\n\nProstitution is illegal in Thailand, though enforcement is inconsistent and commercial sex is widespread. Travellers should be aware that Thailand has a high rate of STD infection including HIV/AIDS, and condoms are readily available at convenience stores and pharmacies throughout the country.\n\nBe aware that relationships initiated in bar or nightlife settings are often transactional in nature. Cases of visitors forming emotional attachments and suffering significant financial losses as a result are common.\n\n### Vaping\n\nThailand has extremely harsh laws regarding e-cigarettes — possession can theoretically carry a sentence of up to 10 years. In practice, enforcement against foreigners appears rare and usually results in an on-the-spot fine. Vaping is visibly common in tourist areas, and vapes are sold openly in Bangkok and Pattaya despite being illegal. There are virtually no reports of problems with customs when bringing a personal vape into the country.\n\n### Drugs", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk089", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "250px|right|thumb|A \"cannabis café\" in [[Ko Samui]]. Although restricted, recreational cannabis usage is legal in Thailand. Cafés that sell marijuana are usually found in red-light districts and near nightlife, and often use English-language advertising to attract tourists.\nLong infamous for its extremely strict drug laws, Thailand did a drastic U-turn in 2018 when it became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise medical **cannabis** (กัญชา *ganchaa*). As of 2026, dispensaries require a medical prescription called a Phor Thor 33 (ภ.ท.33) card, which is valid for 30 days at a time and easily obtained from clinics partnering with dispensaries. While extracts of cannabis including all edibles are limited to under 0.2% THC, there are no limits on the potency of plant parts like flowers, leaves or stems. Consumption in public is *not* permitted, but is legal in private homes and any spaces like cafes and bars that choose to allow it. Vaping, importing and exporting all remain illegal.\n\n**Kratom** (ต้นกระท่อม *ton krathom*), a local plant whose leaves are chewed for their mildly stimulant effects, was also fully legalized in 2021.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk090", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Thailand continues to maintain an **extremely hard line on all other drugs**, particularly methamphetamine (ยาบ้า *ya ba*, \"crazy medicine\"), which is a major social problem. Your foreign passport is not enough to get you out of legal trouble. Possession and trafficking offenses that would merit traffic-ticket misdemeanors in other countries can result in life imprisonment or even death in Thailand. Police frequently raid nightclubs, particularly in Bangkok, with urine tests and full body searches on all patrons. Ko Pha Ngan's notoriously drug-fueled Full Moon Parties also often draw police attention.\n \nPenalties for drug possession in Thailand vary in harshness depending on the following: category of drug, amount of drug, and intent of the possessor. If you do take the risk and get arrested on drug-related charges, you would do well to immediately contact your embassy as a first step. The embassy cannot get you out of jail but can inform your family back home of your arrest, and can often give you a list of lawyers and translators you can contact.\n\nThe Thai legal system limits the amount of the defending and the usefulness of a lawyer. For minor offences, the penalty can be something like a 2,000-baht fine and deportation. However, to actually get this sentencing, someone not familiar with the system would need external help, translations, bail posted, etc. Stay clean, so you won't have to worry about penalties.\n\n### Civil conflict and terrorism", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk091", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Fishing Village in Narathiwat\nIn 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala burst into violence. All are off the beaten tourist trail, although the eastern rail line from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok (gateway to Malaysia's east coast) passes through the area and has been disrupted several times by attacks. The violence was at its worst 2004–2015 and is now dying down.\n\nHat Yai (Thailand's largest city in the South) in Songkhla has also been hit by a series of related bombings; however, the main cross-border rail line connecting Hat Yai and Butterworth (on the west coast) has not been affected, and none of the islands or the west coast beaches have been targeted. There is usually a strong Thai military presence in the major towns and cities to keep things in order, and the vast majority of foreign visitors do not encounter any problems.\n\nIn 2015, Uyghur Islamist separatists also carried out a terrorist attack in Bangkok the Erawan Shrine, a site popular with Chinese tourists. This is, however, largely regarded as an isolated incident, and the odds of it happening again are regarded as remote.\n\nWhile Thailand's deep south provinces remain under emergency law, as of 2022 there is no elevated risk to tourists visiting these areas. Military checkpoints still exist and soldiers are still posted in public places and on trains, but they do not bother tourists.\n\n### Identification\n\nIn accordance with Thai law, everyone is required to carry a form of identification with them at all times.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk092", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Make a photocopy of your passport and the page with your visa stamp. A picture of your passport, shot from your phone, will work as well. Always keep your passport or the photocopy with you (the law requires that you carry your actual passport at all times, but in practice a photocopy will usually suffice). Many night clubs insist on a passport (and ONLY a passport) as proof of age. It is not required that you leave your passport with a hotel when you check in.\n\nMotorcycle rental places are likely to ask for you passport as collateral. Leaving another document (drivers license, int. drivers licence, second passport, ID card) might be the better option. Or consider offering a cash deposit instead.\n\n### Security\n\nCarrying your own **padlock** is a good idea, as budget rooms sometimes use them instead of (or as well as) normal door locks; carry a spare key someplace safe, like your money belt, otherwise considerable expense as well as inconvenience may result should you lose the original. Also consider some type of cable to lock your bag to something too big to fit through the door or window.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nThailand has a few dangerous animals. The most common menace is **stray dogs**, which frequent even the streets of Bangkok. The vast majority are passive and harmless, but some carry rabies, so steer clear of them and do not, by any means, feed or pet them. If they try to attack you, don't run, as this will encourage them to chase you as if you were prey. Instead, try to walk away slowly.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk093", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Monkeys** may be cute and friendly, but in any area where unaware tourists have corrupted them, they expect to get food from humans. They can be very sneaky thieves, and they can bite. As with dogs, you won't want to get bitten, as they carry diseases and viruses. Most urban areas do not have \"stray\" monkeys, but Lopburi is famous for them.\n\nVenomous **snakes** can be found throughout Thailand, hiding in tall brush or along streams. You're unlikely to ever see one, as they shy away from humans, but they may bite if surprised or provoked. The best course of action when confronted with an unknown snake is to stay still until it leaves. The **Siamese crocodile**, on the other hand, is nearly extinct and found only in a few remote national parks.\n\n**Monitor lizards** are common in jungles and can sometimes be found in urban areas (Bangkok in particular). Despite their scary looks, they are generally afraid of people and normally try to avoid them. Monitor lizards are protected species, i.e., it is illegal to hunt them, injure them, and keep them as pets. Opinions on monitor lizards vary in Thailand; some people believe that they are auspicious, while many others do not like them, viewing them as dirty, unclean animals. A superstition that some Thai people believe in: if a monitor lizard enters your home, good luck will come your way.\n\n### Racism", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk094", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Thailand is, by and large, a homogeneous country. Large parts of Thailand are not that frequented by foreigners, and interactions between Thais and non-Thais are not that common. People with non-Asian looks are more likely to stand out in areas and places less frequented by foreigners (e.g. public markets, public schools) and may attract curious stares from young children and adults. This *does not* indicate hostility.\n\nYou are *unlikely* to encounter or experience racial abuse in any way, shape, or form; Thai people generally consider it shameful to treat foreigners poorly.\n\nWhile Thailand is known for its hospitality, many Thai people are of the impression that foreigners are not interested in staying in Thailand long-term and integrating into Thai society. People with non-Asian looks may be assumed to be tourists or temporary residents, even if they've stayed here for a long time or are naturalised Thai citizens.\n\n### Fights\n\nFights and brawls are **not uncommon** in areas − bars and entertainment venues in particular − frequented by tourists and foreigners. The majority of fights normally involve alcohol. It is not uncommon for multiple people to get involved in a fight, and weapons are usually involved.\n\n**Do not** get into public arguments or shouting matches with Thai people, even if they've done something wrong; this can cause a Thai person to lose face and may provoke a violent confrontation. In 2019, an Irish tourist was thrashed by ten people at an entertainment venue after getting into a public argument with a local.\n\n### Earthquakes & tsunami", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk095", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Southern Thailand is seismically active, with earthquakes and tsunami. The chief culprit is the Indian tectonic plate (carrying the Indian ocean & subcontinent) which, like a skidding truck, is barrelling northwards while spinning anti-clockwise. In this region it collides with the small Burma plate, which carries the Andaman Sea. When the plates grind past each other (a “slip-strike” collision), they cause earthquakes. But the Indian plate is also being subducted – forced beneath the Burma plate – which lifts the sea-bed, displaces the water, and sets off a tsunami. A most violent event occurred on 26 Dec 2004, when along 1000 miles of fault line the sea-bed was suddenly jacked up by several metres. Two hours later, tsunami hit the west coast of Thailand in three waves 20 min apart, and over 8000 people were killed.\n\nThere was, and is, no effective local warning system, as (unlike the Pacific) major tsunamis in the Indian Ocean are seen as a once-in-a-century event: “Not since Krakatoa in 1883” is the stock refrain. But memory of the 2004 tragedy remains strong. Expect frantic fleeing from the coast if an earthquake is felt, with gridlock and traffic casualties. Your decision will be whether to rush out of the building before it collapses, or rush indoors to try to get above the third floor.\n\nThe Burma plate is in turn being shunted against the Sundah plate, which carries the Peninsula mainland and eastern sea. This movement is less violent, but this fault line lies right under the western coastline, so these earthquakes have more local impact and tsunami could strike immediately. Central and Northern Thailand are less quake-prone but the 2014 Mae Lao earthquake, centred on Chiang Rai, caused one death.\n\n### LGBT travellers", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk096", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Thailand is one of the most tolerant countries in Asia for the LGBT community. Same-sex marriage is legal and LGBT tourism forms a big part of the Thai economy. There is no shortage of gay bars and gay-friendly establishments in the main tourist areas. Transgender cabarets are also a major tourist attraction. Whilst Thailand is one of the world's largest centres of medical tourism for sex reassignment surgery, Thais themselves are not yet able to change their legal gender.\n\n### Landmines\n\nAlthough nowhere near as prevalent as in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, some parts of Thailand, especially near the borders with Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, are contaminated with landmines left behind from the days of the communist insurgency. As you get closer to the borders, be sure not to venture beyond well-established roads and footpaths unless you have a guide who knows the area well.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk097", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Being a tropical country, Thailand has its fair share of exotic tropical diseases. Malaria is generally not a problem in any of the major tourist destinations, but is endemic in rural areas along the borders with Cambodia (including Ko Chang in Trat Province), Laos, and Myanmar. As is the case throughout Southeast Asia, dengue fever can be encountered just about anywhere, including the most modern cities. The only prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. Wear long pants and long sleeves at dusk in mosquito areas and use repellent (available at any corner shop or pharmacy).\n\nFood hygiene levels in Thailand are reasonably high, and it's generally safe to eat at street markets and to drink any water offered to you in restaurants. Using common sense — e.g., avoiding the vendor who leaves raw meat sitting in the sun with flies buzzing around — and following the precautions listed in our article on travellers' diarrhea is still advisable.\n\n**Tap water** is usually *not* drinkable in Thailand outside of Bangkok. In many places in Bangkok however, particularly in new buildings, drinking tap water is perfectly safe. However, if you don't want to chance it, buying a bottle of water is the obvious solution. Bottled water (น้ำเปล่า *naam plao*) is cheap and ubiquitous at 5–20 baht a bottle depending on its size and brand, and drinking water served in restaurants is always at least boiled (น้ำต้ม *naam tom*). **Ice** (น้ำแข็ง *naam khaeng*) in Thailand usually comes packaged straight from the factory and is safe; there is only reason to worry if you are served hand-cut ice. You can buy a large package of ice in most 7-Elevens for 7 baht, too. Diarrhoeal diseases, however, are uncommon, and cholera or any severe disease is extremely rare and virtually unknown outside of the Myanmar border.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk098", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Mainly in residential areas, machines selling water into your own bottle (1 baht/L, or 50 satang (0.5 baht/L) if paid more than 5 baht) are often available, located in some (Thai mostly) hotels, local shops, or just on the street near one. This is a clean (the water is cleaned and UV-treated on the spot) and extremely cheap option, also, this way you'll avoid making unnecessary plastic waste from empty bottles.\n\nThe sun is harsher than at higher latitudes. A couple of hours in the sun with unprotected skin will result in redness and a painful night *even on a cloudy day*.\n\n### HIV\n\nThailand has a high rate of HIV. The estimated adult (15-49) HIV prevalence was 1% of residents in 2021, which is double the global average and more than 10 times the rate in countries like Australia. Other sexually transmitted diseases are common, especially among sex workers. Condoms are sold in all convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc. Avoid injection drug use.\n\n### Pharmacy\n\nThere's a pharmacy on every block in Thailand and most are happy to sell you anything you want without a prescription. However, this is illegal, and police have been known to bust tourists occasionally for possessing medicines without a prescription, even innocuous stuff like asthma medication.\n\n### Healthcare", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk099", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Thailand is a popular destination for medical tourism, and is particularly well-known for sex reassignment surgery. Public hospitals in Bangkok are usually of an acceptable standard and have English-speaking doctors available, though they tend to be understaffed and overcrowded and consequently, waiting times are long. The top private hospitals, on the other hand, are among the best in the world, and while vastly more expensive than public hospitals, are still very much affordable by Western standards. Hospitals are staffed by both foreign and Thai doctors, trained either in Europe or the United States.\n\nIn tourist areas, most doctors speak English. Access to a doctor is usually quick and the prices are reasonable by Western standards. Prices vary and should be checked locally. Please note that there is often a separate charge for each test and procedure, as well as for the medicine. Most doctors specialise in a particular field. It may not be easy to find a general practitioner. The quality of healthcare and availability of English-speaking medical staff can fall sharply once you leave Bangkok and head into the smaller cities and rural areas. In non-tourist areas, only basic health care is available.\n\nMost major cities in Thailand have at least one private hospital that is used by Western expatriates, and while they are more expensive than public hospitals, they provide a higher standard of care with English-speaking doctors and nurses, and are still reasonably priced by Western standards. The **Bangkok Hospital** chain is generally of a high standard, with hospitals throughout the country (in addition to Pattaya and Phuket, for example in Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Rayong).", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk100", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "In larger towns and cities, it is common for doctors working in the hospitals to have an after-hours consultation in a small private clinic. In these clinics, you can usually get treatment quickly and easily. Treatment in a small clinic is also often cheaper than in a large private hospital.\n\nIf you are travelling to Thailand, you should definitely take out comprehensive travel insurance. Repatriation in case of illness is expensive and difficult to arrange without private travel insurance. Treatment is often not started until a pre-payment is made or until the insurance company has confirmed that it will pay for the treatment. In hospitals, payment is often made in cash. Private and state hospitals usually accept credit cards. Insurance documents (insurance card) should always be carried with you when you travel.\n\nDental services in Thailand are generally of a good standard. For example, there are many good large dental hospitals and clinics in Bangkok. Dental care is also usually available in the regular hospitals, both private and public. There is usually a queue on the general side. Dental care is also available at very different levels and prices. In Bangkok, high quality dental clinics include BIDH (Bangkok International Dental Hospital) and BIDC (Bangkok International Dental Clinic).\n\n### Air quality\n\nThe \"burning season\" across central and northern Thailand occurs every January-April, where farmers burn off the remnants of their crops in the dry season. Dry air and forest fires also contribute to cause significant air pollution, especially in Northern Thailand. If you have respiratory trouble, reconsider travelling in Northern Thailand during these months. N95 masks can help, and air quality around Thailand can be monitored on the Air4Thai website.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk101", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "Thai people in general are friendly and polite people.\n\n### General", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk102", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "As is the case throughout Asia, Thais are indirect communicators and they are tempered by the need to \"save face\" — much like their neighbours — and will normally avoid saying anything construed as judgemental or critical to people. Among close friends, however, communication is more direct. \n One common misconception about Thai people is that \"they are easy to win over\". Just because a Thai person is cheerful in a conversation or appears to agree with whatever you're saying *does not* mean they agree with or understand whatever you say. They're most likely doing it to save face. Sometimes you must read behind the lines and ascertain how someone is feeling. \n Although Thai people may not say so, transparency and openness are valued and appreciated by them.\n Thai people often take words at face value. It's important to be clear, and upfront about what you intend to say, as euphemisms and idiomatic language may be misunderstood or taken out of context. Even saying something as simple as \"the world is your oyster\" may be interpreted literally rather than figuratively.\n There is a prevalent misunderstanding that Thai people are hesitant to interact with foreigners. This could be attributed to the language barrier; Thai people in general are quite conscious about their English skills and fear that their English proficiency might be evaluated by others. You can quickly bridge the gap by demonstrating some understanding of Thai and Thai customs. \n Friendships between Thais and non-Thais are not that common. If you end up befriending a Thai person, chances are, *you* may be the first foreign friend or acquaintance they have ever had. \n As a foreigner, it is common to be asked questions like \"why do you work here\", \"do you have any plans to go back to your home country\", \"how long have you lived in Thailand\", and variations thereof. \n Approaching strangers or making contact with strangers is uncommon unless there's an emergency (car accident, asking for directions, etc.). \n Do not be surprised or upset if nobody appears to show interest in you immediately; friendships and relationships are seen as serious affairs in Thailand, and the journey from acquaintance to friend is often a long one.\n Thai people, in general, are connected to their **families** and it's common for them to spend vacations with their family members. \n Thais have a near-obsessive fascination with the **lottery**. It's the most popular form of gambling in the country and even foreign nationals are allowed to participate in the lottery. Collecting lottery tickets is a popular hobby among Thai people. \n Thai people have a relaxed view of time. It's completely acceptable and normal to show up 15-30 minutes late to something. \n Thai people tend to believe in a wide range of **superstitions**. Evil spirits play a huge role in Thai culture.\n Thai people generally are not that interested in global and current affairs. This is attributed to two factors: the poor quality of the public educational system and a lack of focus about current affairs in Thai media. Talking about such subjects may confuse rather than intrigue the Thais.", "word_count": 513}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk103", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "### What to do\n\n**Respect for elders** is important, and it is customary to use **honorifics** with people you are unfamiliar with. The most common way of addressing someone you don't know or someone senior to you: use the term *Khun* followed by the person's first name (applicable to both men and women).\n **Show respect to monks**. Monks are highly respected in Thai society, and the importance of showing respect to them cannot be overstated. It is customary for Thai men to spend some time living as a monk at least once in their lifetime. If you cross paths with a monk in public, lower your head a little and greet them with the 'wai' gesture. If you are on public transportation, give up your seat for them. You do not have to be a practising Buddhist to acknowledge a monk; just be polite. \n Ask questions about someone's vocation and education. Thai people do this to ascertain how they should address and interact with you.\n Attempt to learn the local language. Thai people know that Thai is difficult to learn, and they will very much appreciate your efforts to speak it, even if your knowledge of the language is rudimentary. Demonstrating that you can read and write Thai will very easily wow and win over many people. \n Try to experience the local cuisine and learn more about Thai culture. Thai people appreciate the few foreigners attempting to learn more about their culture and way of life. Doing this will allow you to strike up friendships with Thais. \n Share food and snacks with people you're close to. In an office setting, this is common and expected. \n When meeting people, exchange gifts. This is common and expected.\n\n### What not to do", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk104", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Don't exhibit this gesture in Thailand.\n Do not say or do anything that can be misconstrued as irreverence or disrespect towards the Royal Family. For example, this includes stepping on a coin with a portrait of a Thai king, even if you are doing this to stop the coin from rolling away. See the caution regarding the *Lese Majeste* laws in the Politics section above. \n **Frankness is not appreciated**. Thai people are remarkably sensitive to strongly worded comments, and making someone lose face or feel unappreciated is a quick ticket to making yourself an enemy. \n Thailand has strict **libel laws**, and you can find yourself in legal hot water for making strongly worded comments about someone or something online. Defamation is punishable by up to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of .\n Do not raise your voice, lose your cool, or use swear words in a conversation. Thai people consider these coarse manners.\n **Privacy** is highly valued in Thailand. Do not inquire about someone's salary, family, or standard of living unless you know them well. Do not expect an invitation to someone's home unless they know you well. \n Do not exhibit the crossed-fingers gesture; exhibiting this gesture means that someone is lying to you. Clarifications may help prevent misunderstandings. \n Do not be loud in public; Thai people consider this extremely rude manners. \n Do not rest your feet on a table; this is impolite.\n Do not touch someone's head; the head is considered sacred in Thailand. \n **Do not show disrespect to monks.** They are accorded a great deal of respect in Thai society. \n If you are a woman, **do not touch a monk**. It is strictly forbidden for a monk to touch a woman, even by accident. \n If you are a woman, do not pass anything directly to a monk. Put down what you want to give to a monk, and allow him to pick it up, or hand it to a man so he can pass it to the monk for you.\n Do not sit or stand higher than a monk. Sit below them (if they are on a raised platform) or kneel before them. \n If you are seated when a monk or nun enters a room, stand up to show respect.\n Do not cross your legs in front of a monk. Kneel instead.\n Do not take pictures of a monk or a nun unless they've given you permission.", "word_count": 401}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk105", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "### The ''wai''\n\nthumb|Ronald McDonald showing how a wai is done\n\nThe traditional greeting known as the ***wai***, where you press your hands together as is in prayer and bow slightly, is derived from the Hindu cultural influence from India, and still widely practised. Among Thais, there are strict rules of hierarchy that dictate how and when the wai should be given. In brief, subordinates salute superiors first. You should not wai service people or street vendors. The higher your hands go, the more respectful you are. You will also often see Thais doing a wai as they walk past temples and spirit houses.\n\nAs a foreign visitor, you are not really expected to know how to wai properly, nor to reciprocate when wai'd to; while you're unlikely to cause offense if you do, you may well look slightly strange. If somebody makes a wai to you, a slight bow alone is more than sufficient for ordinary occasions, and for business, most Thais will shake hands with foreigners instead of waiing anyway.\n\n### Dress\n\nthumb|Dress code for Wat Phra Kaew\n**Personal appearance** is very important in Thailand as a measure of respect to other people. You will find that dressing appropriately means that you are shown more respect in return. This translates in many ways, even sometimes lowering initial offering prices at markets. While some allowance is made for the differing customs of foreigners, Thais respond more positively to well-dressed Westerners.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk106", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "While the most touristy parts of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket are exceptions, traditionally, Thais are modest and conservative dressers. At a minimum your clothes should be neat, clean, and free from holes or tears. Except at the beach or at sacred sites, normal western dress is acceptable for both men and women, except that you should avoid clothing showing much skin. Long pants are preferable to shorts, and you should always cover your shoulders. If you are a woman, you should not expose your cleavage. Outside of the major temples and royal palaces, men wearing shorts is generally acceptable.\n\nIt is **absolutely unacceptable** to walk around topless in public. Foreign men have been arrested for walking around topless, so cover yourself up! Your abs or dad bod might not be the key to winning over the hearts of the ladies on the street.\n\nalt=entrance to a building with many people's shoes scattered in front of the doorway|thumb|Remove your shoes before entering homes and most buildings\nTaking off your shoes at temples and private homes is mandatory etiquette, and this may even be requested at some shops. Wear shoes that slip on and off easily. Flip-flops, hiking sandals, and clog-type shoes are usually a good pragmatic choice for traveling in Thailand; only in the most top-end establishments are shoes required.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk107", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "It is best to play it safe with wats and other sacred sites in Thailand: your dress should be unambiguously modest and cover your entire torso and most of your limbs. For men, ankle-length pants are mandatory; on top, t-shirts are acceptable, though a button-front or polo shirt would be best. Many recommend that women wear only full length dresses and skirts; you should make sure that your clothing covers at least your shoulders and your knees; some places may require that you wear ankle-length pants or skirts and long-sleeved tops. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are highly inappropriate at sacred sites, as are short skirts. The rules are even more strict for foreign visitors, so even if you see a local in shorts, it's not OK for everyone.\n\nTopless sunbathing is common by Western women at many tourist beaches. At beaches which have primarily Thai visitors, however, this is not advised.\n\n### Religious etiquette\n\nthumb|Buddhist prayer flags, [[Bangkok/Rattanakosin|Wat Arun]], [[Bangkok]]\nYou're unlikely to cause offence by having a discussion about religion; for the most part, Thai people love to talk about it! It's also okay to discuss your religious convictions with someone, so long as you don't make the discussion competitive.\n\nProselytising, or anything hinting at it, is neither welcomed nor appreciated in Thailand. Similarly, try not to be overly enthusiastic about your religion, as it can make people feel uncomfortable and uneasy. At best, Thai people will either smile at you or laugh it off.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk108", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "Although the laws are nowhere near as strict as they are in neighbouring Myanmar, try not to show any form of disrespect to Buddhism. For example, do not wear a T-shirt with Buddha or Buddhist imagery on it, and do not get a Buddha tattoo (if you already have one, cover it up as best you can). Furthermore, it is illegal to take a Buddha statue out of the country without a licence from the Fine Arts Department (a government agency).\n\nMonks are an integral part of Buddhism in Thailand, and Thai men are generally expected to spend a certain amount of time living as a monk at least once in their lifetime.\n\nBuddhist monks are meant to avoid sexual temptations, and in particular they do not touch women or take things from women's hands. Women should make every effort to make way for monks on the street and give them room, so they do not accidentally make contact with you and then have to undergo a lengthy purification ritual. Women should avoid offering anything to a monk with their hands. Objects or donations (which should not be cash) should be placed in front of a monk so he can pick it up, or place it on a special cloth he carries with him. Monks will sometimes be aided by a layman who will accept things from women merit-makers on their behalf.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk109", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "Theravada Buddhist monks are also supposed to avoid material temptations and as such, are not allowed to touch money, so offering money to a monk is considered to be a sign of disrespect in most Theravada Buddhist cultures. Therefore, should you wish to donate to a monk, you should only offer food, and put your monetary donation in the appropriate donation box at the temple. Those monks that accept money are fakes.\n\nAs in neighbouring countries, the swastika is widely used in Thailand as a Buddhist religious symbol. It pre-dates Nazism by 2,500 years and has no antisemitic connotations.\nalt=The person kneels on both knees, with toes on the ground and buttocks resting on the heels|thumb|Traditional way to kneel\nWhen entering temple buildings, always take off your shoes before you do so, as entering a temple with footwear is considered to be a major faux pas. As doorway thresholds are considered a sanctuary for spirits, it's important not to step on a raised threshold, but rather to step over it.\n\nWhen sitting on the floor in a temple, make sure you kneel or cross your legs under you \"mermaid-style\" so your feet do not point at any person or statue. Do not pose alongside a Buddha statue for a photo and certainly don't clamber on them. (It's OK to take photos of a statue, but everyone should be facing the statue.)\n\nA sizeable Muslim minority (about 5%) is also present, mainly concentrated in the southern provinces, but also with a significant community in Bangkok. Most Thai Muslims are ethnic Malays, though there are also substantial numbers of Muslims who are ethnically Thai, or descended from Indonesian, Cambodian Cham or South Asian immigrants.\n\n### Animal abuse", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk110", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Elephants** may be a large part of Thailand's tourist business, but many people are unaware of the mistreatment they are subjected to. They're usually forced to work long hours, endure all kinds of psychological, verbal, and physical abuse, and denied food and water.\n\nOnce a depressingly common sight, you may run into **elephant beggars**. During night hours, mahouts (trainers) with lumbering elephants approach tourists to feed the creatures bananas or take a photo with them for a fee. The elephants are brought to the city to beg in this way because they are out of work and are mistreated and visibly distressed under the conditions of the city.\n\nIf you intend to go on an **elephant ride**, purchase an **elephant painting**, or \"use\" elephants for other activities, you may want to take their mistreatment into account. There are a few ethical animal tourism operators in Thailand such as Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai or the Wildlife Rescue Centre and Elephant Refuge near Bangkok.\n\nDrugged animals such as lizards and birds are sometimes used by touts as photo subjects. These touts are often seen plying the main tourist beaches of Thailand. The tout will take a photo with you and the doped up animal and then demand payment.\n\nRare and endangered species are often sold at markets as pets, and many other animal products are sold as luxury items. Do not buy rare pets, leather, ivory, talons, dried sea creatures (such as starfish), fur, feathers, teeth, wool, and other products since they are most likely the result of illegal poaching. Buying them contributes to animal endangerment and abuse.\n\n### Other", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk111", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Respect", "text": "When answering the phone, it is common for Thais to say *khrab* (male) or *kha* (female). These two words mean \"yes\". Thai people proficient in English will normally say \"yes\" when picking up the phone. This should not be construed as rude manners. \n When answering the phone, some Thai people might say *waa*, which literally means \"what is it\" or \"tell me\". Again, this may be seen as rude manners in other parts of the world, but Thai people *do not intend* to be rude; this is simply a matter of culture. \n The head is considered the most exalted part of the body, feet the lowliest. Never touch or pat a Thai on the **head**, including children. If you accidentally touch or bump someone's head, apologize immediately or you'll be perceived as very rude. Similarly, do not touch people with your feet, or even point with them. If someone is sitting with outstretched feet, avoid stepping over them, as this is very rude and could even spark a confrontation. Squeeze around them or ask them to move. Even if the person is sleeping, it is best to go around, as others are likely to notice.\n Thais are conservative compared to Westerners. Public displays of affection are rarely seen, even handholding by married couples, and are generally considered to be distasteful, though due to the dependence of the Thai economy on tourism, Thais grudgingly tolerate such displays by foreigners. Don't make out in public. You'll embarrass yourself and inflame Thai sensibilities.\n It is considered impolite and disrespectful to visibly sniff food before eating it, particularly when eating in someone's home (this is true even if the sniffing is done in appreciation).\n Do not audibly blow your nose in public, especially not at the dinner table, but it is perfectly acceptable to pick your nose at any time or place.\n In Thailand, expression of **negative emotion** such as anger or sadness is almost never overt, and it is possible to enjoy a vacation in Thailand without ever seeming to see an argument or an unhappy person. Thai people smile often compared to Western people. A smile does not necessarily express happiness. When Thai people smile in a conversation they give the signal that they are civilized and intend to behave with civility, even or especially in a case of conflict. Do not interpret a smile as a sign of weakness. \"Saving face\" is a very important aspect of Thai culture and they will try to avoid embarrassment and confrontation.\n In public places (such as large markets) the **national anthem** is played over loudspeakers at 08:00 and 18:00. When this is played, everyone will stop what they are doing and stand still for the duration. You should do the same. The royal anthem (not national anthem) is played in cinemas before the film, and everyone must stand. It lasts about a minute, then everyone will continue where they left off. In MRT and SkyTrain stations in Bangkok, the escalators will also lurch to a halt to prevent a large human pile-up.\n When giving and receiving **business cards**, always use your right hand with the palm facing up, and your left hand supporting your right elbow. As the left hand is traditionally reserved for dirty things, handling business cards with the left hand is considered to be very rude.\n As a reaction against smokers littering beaches with cigarette butts, there is a **complete smoking ban in effect since 1 February 2018 on 24 popular beaches** around the country. If caught smoking at one of these beaches, you might be fined up to 100,000 baht and/or be sentenced to up to one year in jail.", "word_count": 610}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk112", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Cope", "text": "thumb|Floating market in Hat Yai\nIf you're sticking to major cities and tourist areas, don't worry too much about under-packing; you can get hold of any essentials such as swimming costumes and umbrellas.\n\nYou will only need a couple of changes of clothes since you can get washing done anywhere cheaply. Sandals for when your hiking shoes are too hot can be bought cheaply in Thailand, although large sizes for women are harder to come by. If female and anything above a size 2 (US), size 6 (UK & IRL), size 36 (rest of EU), busty, or tall, it is often difficult to find clothes that will fit you in any of the Thai shops. If you are male and have a waist more than 38\" you will have trouble finding pants. You will largely be limited to backpacker gear (the omnipresent fisherman pants and \"Same Same\" t-shirts) or Western imports in Bangkok malls, for the same prices as back home or more. While laundry is cheap, it is useful to bring a few changes of clothes, as you may sweat your way through several outfits a day in the Thai weather.\n\nTake enough padlocks for every double zipper to stop wandering hands and lock up your belongings, even in your hotel room. Lock zippers through the lower holes, *not* the upper ones on the pull tabs. Take earplugs for when you're stuck in a noisy room or want to sleep on the bus.\n\nIf you have prescription glasses, it is a good idea to bring a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses plus a copy of your prescription.\n\nInto the toiletries bag throw sun screen and insect repellent. Mosquito coils are also a good idea. A small pocket size torch or flashlight will come in handy when the electricity goes out or for investigating caves. Passport photos come in handy for visas.\n\nIf you plan to travel long distances by motorbike, purchase a good quality helmet, which you can do in Thailand. Last but not least, pack your stuff in plastic bags to stop them from getting wet, especially when travelling in the rainy season or on boats.\n\nAside from the above, the following are recommended:\n Prescriptions for any prescription medications being brought through customs\n Travel insurance\n Blood donor/type card\n Details of your next of kin\n A second photo ID other than your passport\n Credit card plus a backup card for a separate account\n\n### Electricity\n\nElectrical power in Thailand is 220 V, 50 Hz. There is a mix of plug types in use. Most typical is the standard ungrounded North American two-bladed plug. Caution: appliances from North America, Japan, and Taiwan meant for only 120 V will overheat and be destroyed without a transformer. Most outlets are ungrounded. Connecting your laptop to mains power will in many cases require that you use an adapter for a two-bladed outlet. They are widely available, even in shops like 7-Eleven. See the article electrical systems for more information.\n\nElectrical safety might be lacking, mostly in more rural areas. RCCB protection devices are available, but not common. This fact, together with often insufficient grounding, might increase the risk of electric shock. The famous \"in shower water heater\" are an exception, as they all come with an integrated RCCBs. Press the test button, and do not use it if the test fails.\n\n### Newspapers\n\n - Bangkok Post\n\n - The Nation", "word_count": 568}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk113", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nThailand's country code is **+66**. Mobile phones in Thailand have 10 digits, including the leading zero, while land-line telephones have 9 digits, including the leading zero.\n\nMobile phones are ubiquitous in Thailand, with fast speeds and low prices. The main mobile network operators are:\n\n AIS\n DTAC (Tourist eSIM available)\n TrueMove\n National Telecom\n\nPrepaid SIM cards can be bought in any convenience store for as little as 50 baht, and you can charge up as you go. You must provide your passport details when buying a SIM card. The passport registration system only works during the day (usually until 9 PM) for most stores, but the counters at Bangkok airport can register your passport and activate service 24/7, and speak English as well. The one drawback is that airport carrier service counters can only sell special and overpriced \"tourist SIMs\", which are limited to being reloaded with special tourist plans in the future and may not roam if you are continuing to another country after Thailand.\n\nIf you'd rather pay \"local pricing\", you can generally get a non-tourist SIM from many convenience stores (7-eleven) in the airport terminal or in the city if you arrive during the day. E.g. as of Nov 2025, 7-eleven sells SIM cards including **30GB of data valid for 30 days at 199 baht** for DTAC and True.\n\nCoverage is very good throughout the country, all cities and tourist destinations (including resort islands) are well covered. If you're planning to travel deep in the countryside, AIS generally has the best network, but is slightly more expensive.\n\nIf you plan to visit Thailand (or even Asia in general; see below) at least once a year for short visits, you have a couple of options to save a SIM for later. Long-validity SIMs have largely been phased out, so you will have to put some effort in (or pay) to keep your SIM alive. The new standard across all SIM types and carriers is that each top-up, no matter how small or large, will extend the validity of the SIM by 30 days, with a maximum of 365 days from day of top-up. Sites like Thai Prepaid Card or Mobile Top Up can help you keep your Thai SIM active while out of the country.\n\nFor short-term visitors, international roaming onto Thailand's GSM networks is possible, subject to agreements between operators. In the other direction, Thai operators offer very good roaming packages in neighboring countries. These may need to be activated in advance either via a mobile app or in person at a company outlet.\n\n### Internet\n\nThe Thai government actively censors Internet access. 2010 estimates place the number of blocked websites at 110,000 and growing. Roughly 77% are blocked for reasons of lèse-majesté (content that defames, insults, threatens, or is unflattering to the king, including national security and some political issues), and 22% for pornography, which is illegal in Thailand. Some web pages from BBC One, BBC Two, CNN, Yahoo! News, the *Post-Intelligencer* newspaper (Seattle, USA), and *The Age* newspaper (Melbourne, Australia) dealing with Thai political content are blocked. Wikileaks is blocked.\n\n**Wi-Fi** is commonly available in accommodations, cafes and restaurants serving Westerners.\n\n**Whatsapp** is not popular in Thailand, and most Thais instead use the Japanese messaging app **LINE**. However, many accommodations will have WhatsApp.", "word_count": 549}
+{"chunk_id": "thailand::chunk114", "doc_id": "thailand", "section": "Go next", "text": "Thailand borders Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. Vietnam is beyond Cambodia and Laos, and southern China, Singapore and Indonesia are also in the overall region. Budget airlines offer flights from Bangkok to destinations as far away as Japan and Australia.", "word_count": 40}
diff --git a/corpus/thailand/metadata.json b/corpus/thailand/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ecefbe83e9e6a4de802b6044df4b9d5a29bba74b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/thailand/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "thailand",
+ "title": "Thailand",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Thailand",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "food-tour",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 5
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Malaysia",
+ "Burma",
+ "Cambodia",
+ "Laos",
+ "Vietnam",
+ "China",
+ "Singapore",
+ "Indonesia",
+ "Bangkok",
+ "Japan",
+ "Australia"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 29137,
+ "listing_count": 19,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 115,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tibet/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tibet/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..104169d5703517f2ac34096e65e8c57d88f30eb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tibet/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk000", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|250px|Yak at Yumtso Lake\n**Tibet** (Tibetan: , *Bod*, Mandarin: 西藏, *Xīzàng*), officially known as **Xizang Autonomous Region**, is sometimes described as the \"roof of the world\"; the entire region is on a high plateau and there are many large mountains. The area has its own unique culture, and most travellers will find some of the plants, wildlife and domestic animals quite exotic as well. When you enter Tibet you will feel as though you've found an entirely different world.\n\nPolitically, Tibet is part of China, one of five autonomous regions for minority ethnic groups. There is an active independence movement and even a government-in-exile headed by the former ruler, the Dalai Lama. For discussion, see the Understand section below. Travellers who disagree with the current political situation may think they have an ethical dilemma because if they go to Tibet they feel they are implicitly supporting the Chinese regime, with some of their money going to the Chinese authorities. However the Dalai Lama encourages foreigners to go, so that they can see the situation for themselves and because Tibetans welcome their presence.\n\nTibet is becoming a more and more popular travel destination among the Chinese themselves. Many Chinese are attracted by the natural scenery of Tibet and claim that they \"must go to Tibet once in their life\", and some people think that going to Tibet can purify their mind.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk001", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Regions", "text": "There are seven prefectures in the Tibet Autonomous Region:\n\nSeveral regions outside the TAR are culturally close to Tibet; see our articles on the former Tibetan Empire, on the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Yunnan, Sichuan and Gansu, on the Indian regions of Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti, and Sikkim, on the Pakistani region of Baltistan and on the independent states of Bhutan and Nepal.\n\nThe Chinese government also claims much of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of Tibet, but because it is under the effective control of the Indian government, we cover it as part of India on Wikivoyage.", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk002", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Cities", "text": "- the capital of Tibet, and traditional seat of the Dalai Lama, the most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Lhasa is the starting point for most travel within the region. \n\n (*Chamdo*)\n (*Shigatse*) - the second largest city in Tibet, and traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism\n - traditional seat of the Kamarpa, the third most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk003", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- a sacred mountain revered by both Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus.\n - the Tibetan side of Mount Everest\n containing the world's largest canyon, the Yalung Zangbo Canyon.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk004", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Tibetan Autonomous Region\nThis article covers only the **Tibetan Autonomous Region** (TAR). There are also Tibetan autonomous prefectures and counties located in the provinces of Qinghai, southwest Gansu, western Sichuan and northwest Yunnan, covered in the articles on those provinces. See List of Chinese provinces and regions for an explanation of the terms \"autonomous region\" and \"autonomous prefecture\" if required.\n\nThe Tibetan Empire was once much larger than the current borders, and various areas outside the TAR are culturally, historically and linguistically Tibetan to varying degrees. In contemporary China, and in general English usage today, the term \"Tibet\" refers only to the TAR. However, the term \"Tibetan Regions\", with its focus on all of ethnographic Tibet is becoming more widespread amongst Chinese in China as well. The Dalai Lama's Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala continues to claim the entirety of the former Tibetan Empire.\n\nThe Tibetan Plateau is the world's largest and, with average heights of over 4,000m, also the world's highest, plateau. It includes all of the TAR, most of Qinghai, and parts of Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu. Parts of the region (northwestern region) are so remote they remain uninhabited to this day.\n\nIndia and the rest of Asia are on separate continental plates which are colliding; that collision is what raised the plateau to its current height. Most of the world's highest mountains are in the Himalaya range along Tibet's southern border, along the line of the subduction zone where one plate goes under the other. Mount Everest, the highest of all, is on the border between Tibet and Nepal.\n\n### Politics and government\n\nTibet is officially known as the **Tibetan Autonomous Region** (Mandarin: 西藏自治区, *Xīzàng Zìzhìqū*; Tibetan: བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས།, *Poi Ranggyong Jong*). It is one of five autonomous regions within the People's Republic of China.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk005", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "Under Chinese law, autonomous regions are entitled to more rights and privileges — such as implementing their own economic policies and declaring additional official languages — but they have no legal right to secede.\n\n### People\n\nBecause of its harsh and rugged terrain and high altitude, the Tibet Autonomous Region has the lowest population density among all the provinces in the People's Republic of China. This is one region where Han Chinese are a minority.\n\n**Tibetans** are the largest ethnic group in the region and they make up **90%** of the population. Most Tibetans (70-80%) are adherents of Vajrayana Buddhism, which has been the main religion in Tibet since the 8th century. A significant number of Tibetans are followers of Bon, a shamanic religion that was once the main religion in Tibet prior to the arrival of Buddhism.\n\n**Han Chinese** make up **8%** of the population and they are the second largest ethnic group in the region. Most Han Chinese in Tibet are economic immigrants, and are concentrated in the major cities.\n\n### History\n\nTibet has a long and complicated history, at times an empire, at times warring with China, and at times a tributary of China or the Mongol Empire. It first came under common rule with China when the Mongols conquered both around 1300. Tibet became independent once more after the Mongols were expelled from China and the Ming Dynasty was established in the 14th century, but would subsequently be conquered by the Manchu-Chinese Qing Dynasty under the Kangxi Emperor in 1720.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk006", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "For most of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Tibet was nominally part of the Chinese empire, but in practice the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama (high-ranking religious figures) actually ran things, with a Qing official called an Amban stationed in Lhasa to keep a watchful eye on them. Pre-modern Tibet was a feudal theocracy with a caste system, with an upper class nobility and monastic elite who owned most of the land, and a vast population of commoners who mostly worked as serfs for the nobility and monasteries, though the new Dalai Lama would usually be selected from a commoner family when the old one died. While Chinese sources claim that the traditional Tibetan system of government was an oppressive regime built on slavery, most Western sources, the Dalai Lama and his followers reject this view, instead contending that while there was some truth to the feudalism claim, its oppressiveness has been grossly exaggerated by the Chinese government in order to justify its continuing occupation of Tibet.\n\nBritain sent a force to Lhasa in 1904/05, but the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907, widely seen as the end to the Great Game (a competition for influence in Asia between those empires that lasted most of the 19th century), stipulated that neither country would interfere in Tibet, leaving it in China's sphere of influence. In 1910, Qing China sent a military expedition of its own to Tibet for direct rule.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk007", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "However, after the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911, Tibet declared independence under the authority of the 13th Dalai Lama. Tibet was an isolated *de facto* independent nation for almost forty years, controlling most of what is now the TAR. The Chinese government, however, never accepted their claim to independence, though they were powerless to do anything due to being tied down by internal problems within the Han Chinese heartland.\n\nthumb|The Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in [[Lhasa]], a heavily guarded memorial to the 1950 invasion\n\nAfter the retreat of the Nationalists to Taiwan and the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, the Communists turned their attention towards Tibet as they wished to consolidate control over all former Qing territories. In 1950, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) invaded Tibet. In the UN Security Council, the Nationalists (who still had China's seat) vetoed a motion that would have censured the invasion; they too considered Tibet part of China.\n\nIn 1951 an agreement was signed that annexed Tibet into China, giving Tibet — on paper — full autonomous status for governance, religion and local affairs. The current (14th) Dalai Lama was even made a vice-secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in the early 1950s. However communist reforms and the heavy-handed approach of the PLA led to tensions. After a failed Tibetan Uprising in March 1959, the Dalai Lama and many of his followers went into exile in India, setting up a government-in-exile in Dharamsala. Each side accuses the other of failure to live up to the 1951 agreement. The CIA assisted the uprising and Chinese propagandists still mention this often.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk008", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tibet's isolated location did not protect it from the terror of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), and large numbers of Tibetans were killed or imprisoned at the hands of the Red Guards. Tibet's rich cultural heritage as well as much of neighboring Chinese ancient culture were reduced to ruins. After the end of that era, the rise of Deng Xiaoping and China's \"reform and opening up\" policies since 1978, the situation in Tibet has calmed considerably, though it remains tense. Monasteries are slowly being rebuilt, traditional culture has been allowed to come back to some degree, and a semblance of normality has returned to the region. Despite this, Tibet still suffers from independence-related civil unrest from time to time. The Chinese authorities often close Tibet to foreign tourists, usually in March, the anniversary of the 1959 uprising.\n\nWhen the 10th Panchen Lama died in 1989, the Dalai Lama selected a new one, as was customary in Tibetan tradition. The Chinese government, however, did not accept this and instead installed a different boy as their officially-recognised Panchen Lama. The Dalai Lama's appointee disappeared shortly after, and has never been heard from since.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk009", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "To a considerable extent, the issues in Tibet are the same as for indigenous peoples anywhere, such as Uyghurs in China's western province Xinjiang, or the indigenous peoples in the Americas, Australia and the Asian part of Russia. The government points proudly to development work such as mines, railways and highways; locals complain that those facilities are all owned by outsiders, outsiders get most of the good jobs while locals do most of the heavy work, and environmental consequences are often ignored. The government say they are improving education; locals complain that the system aims at forcing assimilation by using a language foreign to them. Immigration is encouraged and sometimes subsidized; locals complain of an influx of outsiders who do not want to adapt to local culture and often do not even bother to learn the local language. When the locals get really agitated, the government does not hesitate to send in troops to \"restore order\"; generally the locals see this as vicious repression, but the government claim they are only dealing appropriately with \"hostile Indians\", \"reactionary elements\" or whatever.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk010", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Understand", "text": "The question of Tibetan sovereignty is a hot-button issue in China. The party line is that Tibet has always been part of China and foreigners have no business meddling in internal Chinese affairs. There was no invasion in 1950, only the central government asserting its authority over a province to liberate it from a severely oppressive feudal system, a corrupt medieval theocracy with slavery. (That part makes a lot of sense to Chinese, liberated from their own feudal system in 1911.) Western powers are being extremely hypocritical since they roundly condemn theocracy (rule by priests) in Iran and simultaneously support it in Tibet. Most Chinese people agree with the government position, and some will ask foreigners about Tibet then firmly \"correct\" their \"errors\". Avoiding such discussions is a good policy.\n\n### Holidays\n\nIn addition to the national public holidays that are observed throughout China, Tibet observes two more public holidays, namely ***Losar*** (Chinese: 洛萨, Tibetan: ལོ་གསར་) or **Tibetan New Year** (Chinese: 藏历新年) in February or March, and the ***Sho Dun Festival*** (Chinese: 雪顿节, Tibetan: ༄༅། ཞོ་སྟོན།) in the summer, usually mid-August.\n\n### Read\n\n*Eight Years in Tibet* by Peter Aufschnaiter and Martin Brauen \n *Dialogues Tibetan, Dialogues Han* by Hannü: Tibet through the Tibetans with a Han traveller \n *Tears Of Blood: A Cry for Tibet* by Mary Craig", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk011", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|The ''Om mani padme hum'' mantra in Tibetan\n\n *See also*: Tibetan phrasebook and Amdo Tibetan phrasebook\n\nThe main language of Tibet is **Tibetan**, which is co-official with Mandarin within the region. Many Tibetans, especially young people, are basically able to speak Mandarin, while those who can only speak Tibetan are mostly elderly. Tibetan is closely related to Burmese and much more distantly to Chinese. Several dialects of Tibetan exist, and not all of them are mutually intelligible; standard Tibetan is based on the Lhasa dialect. Depending on the dialect of Tibetan spoken, it may be tonal or non-tonal. In the cities people speak Chinese fluently; in the villages it may not be understood at all. Han Chinese people, on the other hand, normally don't know any Tibetan at all. Signs in Tibet, including street signs, are at least bilingual — in Chinese and in Tibetan — plus a major local language when there is one. There are also local television and radio stations that broadcast in Tibetan.\n\nIt makes Chinese a more useful language for travellers in many ways. Many Tibetans view Chinese as a useful *lingua franca* and a few Tibetan pleasantries are enough to befriend Tibetans. Tibetans from different regions converse in Chinese since Tibetan dialects vary so much that they are not immediately mutually intelligible. If you as a foreigner speak Tibetan to Chinese police you may raise suspicions that you are in Tibet to support Tibetan Independence, though all police stations and government offices within the region are required by law to have Tibetan-speaking staff on duty.\n\nTibetan is, however, an extremely difficult language to learn, and most foreigners who claim to know Tibetan can hardly get by. When it comes to writing, a focus on Mandarin in the education system means that even the Tibetans themselves have difficulties and many are in fact illiterate.", "word_count": 309}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk012", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Requirements\n\nalt=|thumb|A typical Tibet Entry Permit\nUnless you are a citizen of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), *travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region is only possible by joining an organized tour lasting the entire duration of your time in Tibet*. This requires going through an approved Chinese travel agency, who will apply for your **Tibet Entry Permit** (外国人进藏许可证 *wàiguórén jìn zàng xǔkězhèng*) and arrange a mandatory guide and car to take you around. Many tour guides are ethnic Han Chinese and even the ethnic Tibetan guides have to sit exams in Chinese and learn the official Chinese perspective on Tibet in order to gain and keep their tour guide licence. Some sensitive occupations (e.g. press, professional photographers, diplomatic personnel and foreign government officials) can only obtain the permit from the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region.\n\nAs you need to pay for all this, the cost of travel in Tibet is far higher than anywhere else in China, with barebones group rates *starting* around US$120/day and going up if you want a private tour, decent accommodation, etc. Demand also far exceeds supply in the summer high season, with flights and train tickets into Tibet very difficult to get, not just for foreigners but Chinese as well. For these financial, ethical and logistical reasons, some travellers opt to travel to other Tibetan regions of China instead: Qinghai, Northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk013", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you do opt to go, *you must start your paperwork well in advance*. Regulations may change and permits to Tibet may be halted at short notice: for example, the *entire month of March* is off-limits every year due to sensitive anniversaries, and Norwegians were not permitted to enter for several years after Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. If you are caught by authorities in Tibet without the appropriate permits, you will either be sent back (at your own expense), have your visa cancelled, be deported, or in extreme cases banned from ever re-entering China. There are even reports of foreigners being imprisoned for breaking travel bans.\n\nYou must have a Chinese visa before the agency can apply for your Tibet entry permit, but Chinese visa applications that mention travel to Tibet are *routinely rejected*. The usual workaround is to apply for your Chinese visa without mentioning Tibet — travel agencies may even offer certified but fake itineraries to help you do so!\n Once the visa has been granted, the agency will apply for the Tibet entry permit. The permit can only be applied for 20 days before your trip, and usually takes 8-9 days to issue. The permit *must list all places you intend to visit*, so make sure your itinerary is locked down, or negotiate with your tour provider to ensure that all places you *may* want to visit are listed.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk014", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some parts of Tibet also require an **Aliens' Travel Permit** (ATP), which is issued by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in major Tibetan cities like Lhasa, Shigatse and Ali. The list of regions that require ATPs changes constantly, so enquire locally. Lhasa's PSB has a poor reputation, while Shigatse and Ali are said to issue permits without any unnecessary difficulties. If your papers are in order, the permit can be issued in several hours for ¥100.\n\nFinally, some remote areas also require a **military permit**. These are only available in Lhasa, where processing takes several days, and are only granted for an appropriate reason.\n\n### Agencies", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk015", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "The following is a partial list of well-recognized tour companies licensed to host foreigners in Tibet:\nChina Highlights, well-connected pan-China agency specializing in tailored tours; expensive but may be worth it\nExplore Tibet, Tibet based Tibet Travel Agency who offers the smallest group tours in the industry\nI-Tibet Travel & Tours, A Tibetan Travel agency in Tibet\nTouch Tibet Tour Lhasa based local travel agency, offering a wide range of tours in Tibet. \nTibet Highland Tours, well connected, custom trips.\nTibet Ctrip Travel Service, local longstanding Tibetan travel service\nTibetan guide small group tour by group of local Tibetan guides.\nTibet China Tibet, local travel agency in Lhasa\nTravel China Guide, the largest online tour operator in China, operating trips throughout China.\nTibet Focus Travel & Tours, a local Tibetan travel agency in Tibet.\nTibet Nature Tour, Tibet based local travel agency.\nTibet Universal Travel & Tours, Tibetan travel agency founded in 1997\nTibet Vista, managed by local Tibetans and operated by CITS, the tourism and travel agency of the government of the People's Republic of China.\nWindhorseTour, An experienced inbound local travel agency specializing in customized tours for families and small groups to Tibet.\n\n### By plane\n\nYou can fly directly to Lhasa, which is well connected with most major Chinese cities and has a few flights to Kathmandu, but flying in from a much lower altitude city puts you at **high risk of altitude sickness** because of the quick transition. Most other larger Tibetan cities including Shigatse and Ali also have airports, but flights are very limited.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk016", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "Safest is to follow the Yunnan tourist trail to Zhongdian (Shangrila) and fly from there to Lhasa. If you spend a night or two each in Kunming (2,000m), Dali (2,400m) or Lijiang (2,400m), and Zhongdian (3,200m) to acclimatise, you should be able to fly to Lhasa (3,650m) with little risk. You can also travel from Zhongdian to Lhasa overland; see overland to Tibet.\n\nIf you are in Sichuan or nearby and aren't satisfied visiting the many ethnically Tibetan areas to the east of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, flying from Chengdu (500m) is the easiest option, but the rapid increase in altitude risks altitude sickness. It is safer to travel overland from Chengdu to Zhongdian via Panzhihua, or take a train or plane to Kunming and follow the Yunnan tourist trail from there.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|The hard sleeper berths on Beijing-Lhasa train with oxygen supply devices\n\nThe Qinghai-Tibet (Qingzang) Railway from Golmud to Lhasa started operating in July 2006, and was extended to Shigatse in 2014. The journey from Beijing to Lhasa takes just under 48 hours, costing ¥360 in the cheapest hard seat class and ¥1144 for a soft sleeper. Direct trains to Lhasa originate from Beijing, Xining, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu. For a hard sleeper from Chengdu with 6 bunks in each compartment, the cost is ¥692 per person.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk017", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main advantage for this mode of transportation is often claimed to be that you can gradually acclimatise to high altitudes instead of the sudden shift if you were to take a plane. However, in reality the high-altitude parts of the journey are all covered within the last 12 or so hours and this does not offer enough time to acclimatise. Some thus opt to acclimatize for a few days in Xining (2,300 m), which can be reached by overnight trains from most major Chinese cities and is near several points of interest like Lake Qinghai (Koko Nor) and Kumbum Monastery. Golmud (2,900 m) is the last city of any size on the railway before Tibet, but it's an unattractive industrial town with no sights of significance.\n\nBe warned that the lower classes in these trains are not for the faint-hearted and the less adventurous type: they do not have Western-styled toilets and bunks are relatively cramped. Soft sleeper class is recommended, and here you will mix with middle-class Chinese tourists or business people.\n\nThe trains to Tibet are available from any major city in mainland China though not all have daily service and some routes involve changing trains part way. See the main China article for information on how to book.\n\nA new direct railway line from Chengdu, Sichuan to Lhasa via Nyingchi is under construction, but will not be ready until around 2025.\n\n### By road", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk018", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are four roads into Tibet, roughly corresponding to the cardinal directions. Foreigners on any of these routes are rare, so make sure you have all the necessary permits and tour guide accompaniment for these trips. On the other hand, road trip is rather common for Chinese travellers owing to increasing automobile proliferation.\n**North**: National Highway 109 from Golmud is the easiest legal overland route with beautiful scenery, but it is deserted compared to the east and there is very little food and accommodation, so it is advisable to bring your own food. The Tanggula Pass near the Qinghai-Tibet border is over 5,000 metres above sea level and altitude sickness can easily be exacerbated. As the road is mainly built on permafrost, it fluctuates greatly and is potholed. Moreover, the road is relatively straight, and it is easy to drive too fast, causing accidents. Therefore, you should pay attention to your speed.\n**East**: The other main approach to Tibet is from Sichuan (National Highway 318) and Yunnan (National Highway 214), starting from Zhongdian (Shangri-La). The road is much improved, but still requires a 4WD and has multiple passes over 5,000 m. The route is difficult as it passes through a number of large mountains, but there are plenty of places to eat and accommodation along the way.\nThe overnight intercity bus service from Chengdu to Nyingchi is terminated with effect from 30 September 2025.\n**West**: From Kashgar, National Highway G219 is more than a thousand kilometres with villages and water few and far between. It passes through many sensitive border areas and requires a slew of additional permits. The advantage of this route is that it passes through a more inhospitable and stunning landscape than the rest, including the famous Mount Kailash. You should be very well prepared to travel this way and take everything you would need for independent trekking: camping equipment suitable for freezing temperatures even in the summer, a good tent and some food (there are some food and accommodation points along the way, but not always when you want them). Expect the trip to take two weeks or more. From Kashgar it's much farther to go to Lhasa via Urumqi and Golmud but the better transport (trains and good paved highways) make it no more time consuming to travel this way. There are many interesting things for the tourist to see on the way and it is worth considering travelling this way instead of via Mount Kailash.\n**South**: From Nepal, the only option to get to Tibet is to book a tour with a travel agent in Kathmandu. In addition, you cannot use a normal Chinese visa, but need to apply specifically for a \"Group Tourists Visa\" (团体签证 *tuántǐ qiānzhèng*) in Kathmandu, which will only be granted once you have a confirmed and paid tour. The drive from Kathmandu to Lhasa takes a couple of days and is very rough, but sceneic.\n**Southeast**: The Nathu La pass to Sikkim, India — a part of the historic Silk Road — is open only to Indian citizens who obtain a permit in Gangtok.", "word_count": 515}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk019", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get in", "text": "Due to Tibet's highly mountainous and rugged terrain, there are no roads to Tibet from Bhutan and Myanmar, and this is likely not going to change for a long time. There is, however, a road to Tibet from Nepal that you may use if you have arranged it as part of your Tibet tour. Nathu La Pass is the sole official border crossing between China and India, connecting Tibet with Sikkim, but it can only be crossed by local traders, not tourists. Road conditions are significantly worse than those of typical Chinese national highways owing to permafrost, less finance and heavy truck traffic. Even newly-built expressways are notorious for subsidence and require speed reduction. Frequent potholes, traffic jams and accidents should be expected.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk020", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Get around", "text": "Due to Tibet's immense size, mountainous geography, and low population density, the quickest way to get around the whole region is by car. Even though China has poured large amounts of money into improving infrastructure, meaning that there are now modern four-lane highways connecting major towns, travel off the beaten track remains *very* rough.\n\nGood road maps of Tibet are common in China, including the Baidu Maps app, but they are only in Chinese. Beware that Chinese names can be very different from those used by Tibetans. Tibetmap.com has a free downloadable set of maps covering much of Tibet with detail almost good enough to use for independent trekking.\n\nWhile Chinese citizens may travel freely around Tibet, foreigners are required to join a guided tour, and the tour company will take care of all your transportation arrangements.\n\n### By plane\n\nTibet Airlines has limited services connecting Lhasa to regional towns.\n\n### By train\n\nThe train line from Lhasa to Shigatse opened in 2014, and is open to non-Chinese tourists *if* they have arranged this as part of their organized tour. The trip takes about 3 hours and is the most comfortable way to travel between the two cities. A further extension to Gyirong on the Nepali border is planned to open around 2030, but construction of the Nepali side of the link to Kathmandu has yet to begin.\n\nA second train line to Nyingchi opened in 2021, bringing travel time down to 3.5 hours. This line will eventually extend this across eastern Tibet all the way to Chengdu in Sichuan, opening around 2030 if all goes well.\n\n### By bus\n\nCentral Tibet has a reasonable public bus network. However, non-Chinese tourists cannot make use of it since even with travel permits they cannot generally buy a ticket.\n\n### By jeep\n\nJeep tours are a popular way of getting around Tibet, while not cheap, the tour operator will sort out all the necessary paperwork, and they offer you a reasonable chance of sticking to a schedule.\n\nYour driver will likely be an indigenous Tibetan who can speak Chinese. He'll get to eat and sleep for free wherever you go (he'll often be treated like a king), and he'll often need to stop for a smoke or a pee by certain vendors on the road. ¥4500 will get a jeep that can seat 4 people and luggage comfortably for 4 or 5 days.\n\n### By hitching\n\nHitchhiking used to be a good way to get around Tibet for someone who is flexible and has a lot of time. However, tighter regulations and enforcement introduced since 2008 have made this **almost impossible** in practice, with frequent police checkpoints and heavy punishments for both hitchhikers and their drivers.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nThere are a surprising number of Chinese tourists travelling to and around Tibet by bicycle, but foreigners can only do this by joining an organized tour. The roads vary from rough dirt tracks to good quality paved roads. There are restaurants, truck stops and shops scattered around often enough so that you don't need to carry more than a day's worth of food (with the important exception of the west of the country). The roads are often well graded, being built for overloaded trucks. 26-inch wheels would be preferable as 700-cm (ISO 622) are almost unknown in China. Good mountain bikes are available in large cities of China or in Lhasa.", "word_count": 568}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk021", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "See", "text": "The **Potala Palace**, a , and the home of successive Dalai Lamas is in Lhasa\nThe **Jokhang Temple** in Lhasa was built in 647 AD by Songtsen Gampo and is one of the holiest sites in Tibet.\nThe **Barkhor** in Lhasa is the name for the ring of streets of traditional Tibetan buildings surrounding the Jokhang Temple.\nThe '**Norbulingka** (Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama) is located in Lhasa, about 1km south of the Potala.\n**Samye Monastery** - constructed in 779 AD, Samye was the first Buddhist Monastery established in Tibet, and is located near Dranang, Shannan Prefecture, 150 km south-east of Lhasa.\n**Tashilhunpo Monastery**, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas, the second highest office in Tibet after the Dalai Lama. It was constructed in 1447 and is located in Shigatse.\nThe **Rongbuk Monastery**, one of the highest monasteries in the world, from which the view of the Mt. Everest is just amazing.\n**Tsurphu Monastery** in Doilungdêqên about 70 km from Lhasa, is the traditional seat of the Kamarpas, the third highest office in Tibet after the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk022", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Do", "text": "**Trekking** is a major draw in Tibet, with Mount Kailash (Lake Manasarovar) and Everest Base Camp (5200m) in Qomolangma being the best-known attractions. Both are remote and challenging, generally requiring at least ten days in Tibet to complete.\n\n### Festivals\n\n**Tibetan New Year** (*Losar*), a traditional folklore activity popular in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. Tibetan New Year is a traditional festival of the Tibetan people. It begins on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar and ends on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, lasting for 15 days. Because all the people believe in Buddhism, the festival is filled with a strong religious atmosphere, and it is a national festival that entertains both gods and people, and celebrates and prays.\n **Sho Dun Festival** is a national festival of the Tibetan people. It is celebrated from the 29th day of the 6th month to the 1st day of the 7th month of the Tibetan calendar. \"Sho Dun Festival\" is a festival of eating yoghurt according to the Tibetan language. Because there are Tibetan opera performances and Buddha basking ceremonies during the Sho Dun Festival, some people also call it the \"Tibetan Opera Festival\" or the \"Buddha Exhibition Festival\".\n **Dharma Festival** is a traditional festival with more than 600 years of history and unique Tibetan characteristics. From the 10th to the 28th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, it is the traditional festival of the people of Gyangtse, the Dharma Festival, which means horse-racing and archery in Tibetan. At that time, the Tibetans of Gyantse gather at the foot of the Dzong Mountain to celebrate the Dharma Festival with a variety of colourful sports performances and sports competitions, and the celebration generally lasts for a week.", "word_count": 304}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk023", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tibet is known for its Tibetan carpets, with the city of Gyantse being home to Tibet's most famous traditional carpet factory. Other traditional Tibetan handicrafts can be purchased in the numerous local markets and souvenir shops.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk024", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Clockwise from top: ''tingmo'' steamed bread, ''thenthuk'' noodle soup, ''momos'' in soup and vegetable gravy, with condiments in center\nthumb|A bowl of ''tsampa'' in the process of having yak butter tea blended in\n\nTibet is not an area people visit for the cuisine. Due to the harsh climate, only a limited variety of foodstuffs can be produced locally. The traditional Tibetan diet is largely limited to barley, meat (mutton or yak) and dairy products, with very few spices or vegetables, although brutally hot chili sauce may be served on the side. Even good Tibetan food is very monotonous with most Tibetan restaurants serving nothing other than *thukpa* (noodle soup) and tea. A selection of popular Tibetan fare:\n ***Momos*** - dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, steamed or fried\n ***Tingmo*** - bland, nearly tasteless steamed bread\n ***Thukpa*** - a hearty noodle soup with veggies or meat\n ***Thenthuk*** - *thukpa* with handmade noodles\n **Yak butter tea** - salty tea churned with butter, a Tibetan staple and a rather acquired taste for most Westerners (see Drink)\n ***Tsampa*** - roasted barley flour, a common travel food and temple offering, usually eaten by mixing it with butter tea to create dumplings or porridge", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk025", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "Restaurants in Tibet can broadly be categorized into three groups:\n Tourist restaurants catering to non-Chinese, which have near-identical English menus of foreigner-friendly Tibetan fare, some Nepali dishes, and varyingly successful attempts at Western food like pizza, spaghetti and hamburgers. While comparatively few, in Lhasa you will likely eat most of your meals in these, because your tour guides will inevitably take you to them: not only is the food \"safe\", but they pay the best commissions too.\n Chinese restaurants catering to ethnic Chinese, serving authentic but often delicious Chinese food (fearsomely spicy Sichuanese is prominent) and Chinese-friendly Tibetan fare like yak hotpots. Some travellers feel that Hui (ethnic Chinese Muslim) places are cleaner because of halal food laws; they can be recognised by the green flags and crescent moons (and because they do look cleaner).\n Tibetan restaurants/tea shops catering to Tibetans, serving drinks and a very limited range of Tibetan food, often just *thukpa* noodle soup.\n\n### Vegetarian food\n\nDespite being a predominantly Buddhist region, Tibet is not particularly vegetarian-friendly - the altitude being the main justification for this. In rural areas, vegetarians need to be prepared to compromise or live on very simple diets. Even if a *thukpa* is without meat, you can bet the broth they use is a meat broth.\n\nHowever, monastery restaurants and some large towns do offer restaurants serving vegetarian food and even some Tibetans observe a vegetarian diet on particular days of the religious month. So it is worth asking. One key term to look out for is དཀར་ཟས་ (literally, \"white food\" - *kar zey*) which you will see, for example, on some monastery restaurants or in Lhasa, where there are Tibetan vegetarian restaurants. In spoken Tibetan, vegetarian food is also simply referred to as \"without-meat-food\" ཤ་མེད་ཁ་ལག *sha mey kha la**.\n\n## Drink", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk026", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Relaxation Tibetan style: a thermos of salty, butter tea and nice comfy chair at a tea house in [[Lhasa]]\n\nTea houses are an important social venue in Tibet, and offer a chance to sit down and relax. The tea houses in the larger towns and cities offer sweet milk tea, salted black tea or salted butter tea; in the villages you may only have the option of salt tea. The line between a tea house (ཇ་ཁང་ *cha khang*) and a restaurant (ཟ་ཁང་ *za khang*) is blurred and many tea houses also offer *thukpa* noodle soup.\n\n### Tea\n\n**Tibetan butter tea** (བོད་ཇ *pö cha*, Chinese 酥油茶 *sūyóuchá*) is a must try, though it may not be a pleasant experience for all — even the Dalai Lama famously said that he's not a fan of the stuff! It is a salty mixture of black tea and Tibetan butter. Traditionally it is churned by hand with a thick rod in a long upright wooden container. However, when electricity came to the city, modernized Tibetans turn to use electric mixers to make their butter tea. The Tibetan butter is not rancid as commonly described, but has a cheesy taste and smell to it, close to blue cheese or Roquefort. Think of it as a cheese broth rather, that you will appreciate particularly after a long hike in cold weather.\n\nAn alternative to Tibetan butter tea is **sweet milk tea** (*cha ngar mo*) which is more familiar to western palates. Sweet tea drinking was introduced by merchants returning from India, first among well-off Tibetans, since sugar was a luxury on the Plateau, then when sugar became more available among the general public. Unlike Indians, Tibetans do not use spices (clove, cinnamon, cardamom) to flavour their tea.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk027", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Salted black tea** (*cha thang*) is another alternative, refreshingly free from milk or butter!\n\nWhen ordering tea in a teahouse, the price is usually for a full thermos bottle of the stuff, not a single cup.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|''Shigatse Chang'', Tibet's answer to Budweiser\n\n***Chang***, or Tibetan beer made of barley, has a lighter flavour than a Western-type, bottled beer, since they do not use bitter hops. Often home-brewed and with as many taste and strength variants as industrial beers, but the blue cans of *Shigatse Chang* sold in restaurants and shops around Lhasa are quite mild-flavored and low in alcohol (around 1.5%).\n\nWhile a comparatively recent import, Western-style beer is also widely available, particularly the rather light/bland locally brewed *Lhasa Beer*. Various Chinese-style *baijiu* spirits are also sold, often with herbs of dubious medicinal value blended in.\n\n## Stay safe\n\nPerhaps the biggest danger travellers face is altitude sickness; give your body enough time to acclimatize before going higher. This is important both when getting in, and when ascending within Tibet. Be prepared to adjust your plans, descend or spend a few extra days acclimatizing if it proves necessary. Wear protective clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, and sunscreen, especially if it gets very hot.\n\nThere are numerous stray dogs in and around Tibet, and in the countryside, villagers and nomads keep large guard dogs for security, (usually chained up). A modest level of caution is enough to prevent you from being bitten, as the strays usually run in packs.\n\nAlthough they are unlikely to occur, avoid political protests. The authorities do not look too kindly on visitors trying to participate in, support, and/or take photographs of protests. The same principles apply for those trying to initiate political discussions.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk028", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "Given Tibet's location between the Eurasian and Indian plates, Earthquakes are likely to occur.\n\n## Respect\n\nthumb|Smile! You're being watched.\n\nAs in the rest of China, **do not get involved in anything political'''. This includes the Dalai Lama, the Chinese government, and the Tibetan government-in-exile.\n\nBe respectful and cooperative when your papers are checked or bags inspected, which they will be, often many times a day. That said, foreigners are rarely if ever hassled and your tour guide will take care of the vast majority of the paperwork.\n\nWhen you are communicating with Tibetans, you can say \"Tashi delek\", which is typically enough to make the locals friendly.\n\nDo not touch people's heads, including those of young children, as Tibetans consider this to be very offensive. Touching people on the head is typically reserved for elder family members and senior monks only.\n\nReligion is extremely important to the majority of Tibetans, and travelers should endeavor to respect their customs and beliefs. Always walk around Tibetan Buddhist religious sites or monasteries in a clockwise direction, and when in a monastery do not wear a hat, smoke or touch frescoes. In addition, refrain from climbing onto statues, *mani'' stones or other sacred objects.\n\nDo not take photographs of police, military, checkpoints, etc. Don't photograph people without permission; photography inside temples and palaces is generally prohibited unless you pay fees ranging from reasonable to extortionate. Sky burial sites are obviously off-limits.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk029", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Eat", "text": "Tibetan Buddhism and its impact on Tibetan culture is a major draw for tourists. Funds used to pay entry fees at major religious sites will probably go into the coffers of the local Communist Party and its Chinese members. Funds donated directly to individual monks and nuns and left on altars will remain and be used to maintain and support the local religious infrastructure. Appreciate the work of the monasteries and those within and help support these great institutions with non-monetary donations and by attending the festivals and just spending a little time getting to know the monastic community.\n\nSupporting the Tibetan economy by purchasing from Tibetans is a great way to help. Pay a fair price while bargaining. Beware that some vendors may try to swindle tourists by selling at very high prices.\n\nHelp protect Tibet for future generations by not purchasing products made from wild animals. Many items are made from endangered species. Remember to leave only footprints and take lots of photographs while visiting Tibet. Take the initiative and pack out trash and recyclables you see around while travelling outside of urban Tibet. The ecosystem in the Himalayas is very fragile due to the weather being so cold, so be careful of where you hike and try to keep erosion down.\n\nWhen visiting temples, monasteries or shrines you may wish to leave a donation, which will help their upkeep. It is best to leave it on the altar or give it directly to a monk or nun. This will ensure it stays in the temple. You may also wish to give a small donation to pilgrims from rural Tibet.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "tibet::chunk030", "doc_id": "tibet", "section": "Go next", "text": "You can travel into Nepal or to other parts of China. The border crossings with India are open to local traders only and cannot be crossed by tourists.", "word_count": 28}
diff --git a/corpus/tibet/metadata.json b/corpus/tibet/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b4f85a115afba9113240a422c21dfa4c8e04f284
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tibet/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tibet",
+ "title": "Tibet",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Polar / Special",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tibet",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southwest China"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Nepal",
+ "China",
+ "India"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 7020,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 31,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tokyo/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tokyo/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9c3699f546a9f0b222940fb55199b199f258276f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tokyo/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk000", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|240px|The bulk of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, [[Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinjuku]]\n*Tokyo can be broadly divided into the \"23 special wards\", \"Tama region\" and \"Islands\". This article is about the 23 special wards of Tokyo, which corresponds to what many think of as the \"city of Tokyo\". For information on Tokyo as a prefecture, Tama region and Islands, see Tokyo Metropolis.*\n\n**Tokyo** ( *Tōkyō*) is the enormous and wealthy capital of Japan, and its main city, overflowing with culture, commerce, and most of all, people. As the most populated urban area in the world, Tokyo is a fascinating and dynamic metropolis that mixes foreign influences, consumer culture and global business along with remnants of the capital of old Japan. From modern electronics and gleaming skyscrapers to cherry blossoms and the Imperial Palace, this city represents the entire sweep of Japanese history and culture. Tokyo truly has something for every traveller.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk001", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Districts", "text": "The capital of Japan is not a city, but is actually **Tokyo Metropolis** (東京都 *Tōkyō-to*), which apart from the name is indistinguishable from a prefecture: it's equal in status with the other 46 prefectures, and is about as big (containing large suburban and even rural areas to the west, as well as islands as far as south). Even more strangely, there is no such thing as the \"city of Tokyo\". What most people, both foreigners and Japanese, are thinking of when they hear \"Tokyo\" is the **special wards of Tokyo** (特別区 *tokubetsu-ku*), sometimes just called the **23 wards** (23区 *nijūsan-ku*). They're somewhat like the boroughs of London or New York, except there's no \"city government\" banding them together. The wards refer to themselves as \"cities\" in English (since they behave as such, each having its own mayor and council), but to avoid confusion, most people prefer to call them \"wards\".\n\n**This article is about the 23 special wards, while the western suburbs and the islands are covered in Tokyo Metropolis.**\n\nThe geography of central Tokyo is defined by the JR Yamanote Line (see Get around). The center of Tokyo — the former area reserved for the Shogun and his samurai — lies within the loop, while the Edo-era oldtown (下町 *shitamachi*) is to the north and east. Sprawling around in all directions and blending in seamlessly are Yokohama, Kawasaki and Chiba, Tokyo's suburbs. Together, the entire metropolitan area has a population of over 40 million, making it the most populated urban area in the world.\n\n### Central Tokyo\n\n \n \n\n### Old Tokyo (''Shitamachi'')\n\n### Suburbs", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk002", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Understand", "text": "Over 500 years old, the city of Tokyo was once the modest fishing village of **Edo** (江戸 - literally *Gate of the River*) due to its location at the mouth of Sumida-gawa. The city only truly began to grow when it became the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603, who decided to set up a new seat of power far away from the intrigues of the imperial court in Kyoto. After the Tokugawa Shogunate collapsed in the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and his court moved here from Kyoto, and the city was renamed to its current name, Tokyo, literally the \"Eastern Capital\". The metropolitan center of the country, Tokyo is the destination for business, education, modern culture, and government. (That's not to say that rivals such as Osaka won't dispute those claims.)\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|[[Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinjuku]] at night\n\nTokyo is **vast**: it's best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown together. Tokyo's districts vary wildly by character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda, from the hyperactive youth culture hub of Shibuya to the pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next station, and you will find something entirely different.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk003", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Understand", "text": "The sheer size and frenetic pace of Tokyo can intimidate the first-time visitor. Much of the city is a jungle of concrete and wires, with a mass of neon and blaring loudspeakers. At rush hour, crowds jostle in packed trains and masses of humanity sweep through enormous and bewilderingly complex stations. Don't get too hung up on ticking tourist sights off your list: for most visitors, the biggest part of the Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe, poking your head into shops selling weird and wonderful things, sampling restaurants where you can't recognize a single thing on the menu (or on your plate), and finding unexpected oases of calm in the tranquil grounds of a neighbourhood Shinto shrine. It's all perfectly safe, and the locals will go to sometimes extraordinary lengths to help you if you just ask.\n\n### Expenses", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk004", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Cherry blossom picnic at Tamagawadai Park in [[Tokyo/Ota|Ota ward]]\nThe cost of living in Tokyo is not as astronomical as it once was. Deflation and market pressures have helped to make costs in Tokyo comparable to most other large cities in the developed world. Visitors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Sydney, Toronto and Dublin will not find it any more expensive than back home. Rent will be significantly cheaper than big Western cities like NYC, London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Travelers should budget a similar amount of money for their stay in Tokyo as they would for any other great city in Europe, North America or Australia. Locals will know the bargains, but experienced cheapskates from anywhere in the world can get by with a little ingenuity. Tokyo is one of the most popular places to live in Japan. Rent for a single's apartment could range from US$500 to US$1,000 a month. Tokyo is so overwhelmingly crowded that many people live in apartments no bigger than 16 square meters (175 square feet). That being said, with excellent transportation throughout Tokyo and its outskirts, living five minutes further away from central Tokyo could mean hundreds of dollars less for living expenses each month or allow for larger housing. Many parts of Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, or even Ibaraki prefectures may allow the feeling of \"living in Tokyo\". Still, nothing compares to Tokyo itself in regards to waking up and stepping outside instantly into metropolitan life.\n\n### Climate\n\nTokyo is classified as lying in the humid subtropical climate zone and has five distinct seasons.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk005", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Spring** kicks off with plum blossoms in late February, followed by the famous cherry blossoms (*sakura*) in March–April. Parks, most famously Ueno, fill up with blue tarps and sozzled salarymen.\n **Rainy season** (*baiu* or *tsuyu*) in late May to June means a month of overcast skies and drizzle punctuated with downpours, with temperatures in the twenties.\n **Summer** really kicks off in July, with clear skies and brutal steam bath humidity. Daytime maximums tend to average around with some days around or higher, but the humidity can make those temperatures feel like and , respectively. Overnight lows average around with some nights at or higher, but even those temperatures given the humidity can feel like and . A short walk outside will leave you drenched in sweat, so this is probably the worst time of year to visit, and is best avoided if you have a choice. The one bright spot is the plethora of **fireworks**, most notably the epic pyrotechnic extravaganza of the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival on the fourth Saturday in July. Sunrises occur before 04:30, and sunset is always before 19:00, save for a week in late June.\n **Fall** from September onwards means cooler temperatures and fall colors. While southern Japan is regularly battered by typhoons this time of year, they mostly (but not always) veer clear of Tokyo.\n **Winter** is usually mild, with temperatures generally ranging from 0-10 °C, though occasional cold spells can send temperatures plummeting below zero at night, and indoor heating can leave much to be desired. Snow is rare, but on those rare occasions once every few years when Tokyo is hit by a snowstorm, much of the train network grinds to a halt. Sunsets occur before 16:30 in December, and sunrise is always before 07:00.\nTokyo is hotter than surrounding areas due to urban heat island effect.", "word_count": 303}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk006", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Visitor information\n\nGO>TOKYO is a well-maintained sightseeing guide site for foreigners by the government. The site includes a search page for restaurants with multi-language menus.", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk007", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Talk", "text": "It's possible for English speakers to navigate their way around Tokyo without speaking any Japanese. Signs at subway and train stations include the station names in *romaji* (Romanized characters), and larger stations often have signs in Chinese and Korean as well. Though most people under the age of 40 have learned English in school, proficiency is generally poor, and most locals would not know more than a few basic words and phrases. Some restaurants may have English menus, but it does not necessarily mean that the staff will speak much English. Reading and writing comes much better though; many people can understand a great deal of written English despite not being able to speak it. That being said, staff at the main hotels and tourist attractions generally speak a decent level of English. While it is possible to get by with only English, it will nevertheless make your trip much smoother if you can learn some basic Japanese.", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk008", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get in", "text": "In Japan, all roads, rails, shipping lanes and planes lead to Tokyo.\n\n### By plane\n\nTokyo ( for all airports) and the Kanto Region are served by two major airports. **Narita International Airport** () is Tokyo's main airport for international flights, but also serves a handful of domestic flights, particularly on low-cost carriers, and is convenient as a transit airport for those travelling between North America to most major East and Southeast Asian cities. **Tokyo Haneda Airport** (), which is much closer to central Tokyo and thus much more convenient and economical for getting into Tokyo and vicinity, is the main airport for domestic flights, but has also become a major hub for international flights as of the 2020s, particularly on routes that see heavy business traffic. There is also **Ibaraki Airport** () for some low-cost carriers, and the **Chōfu Airfield**, serving turboprop flights to the Izu Islands.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|right|The restored exterior on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station\n\nFor all trains on the northern route, you can get off at Ueno, while trains on the western route call at Shinagawa. Most non-Shinkansen services usually stop at Shibuya and Shinjuku stations as well. Ueno and Ikebukuro stations connect to the northern suburbs and neighboring prefectures.\n\nThere are multiple departures every hour from Hakata station in Fukuoka to Tokyo, passing through Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya, with three types of shinkansen trains. The *Nozomi* is the fastest, with trains taking just about 5 hours from Fukuoka and 2½ hours from Osaka. The *Hikari* makes more stops and takes 3 hours from Osaka, and the *Kodama* is the slowest, making all stops and reaching Tokyo from Osaka in 4 hours. The *Nozomi* trains require you to pay a supplement if you are using the Japan Rail Pass.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk009", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Multiple cities from the north offer direct Shinkansen services to Tokyo, including Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Hakodate, Kanazawa, Morioka, Nagano, Nagoya, Niigata, Sendai, Toyama, Yamagata and Yuzawa. All trains from these cities converge at Ōmiya in Saitama, then run south to Ueno and Tokyo stations.\n\nAlthough Japan is dominated by fast Shinkansen trains there are still a couple of sleeper trains left: The *Sunrise Izumo* (サンライズ出雲) runs daily to Tokyo from Izumo while *Sunrise Seto* (サンライズ瀬戸) connects with Takamatsu, the second largest city on the Shikoku island. Both trains run coupled together between Tokyo and Okayama.\n\n### By car\n\nWhile you can drive into the city, it is really not recommended as the city can be congested, signs may be confusing and parking fees are astronomical. One option that should be considered is cheaper 24-hour parking lots in cities bordering Tokyo. For example, Yashio city's train station in Saitama (prefecture) has hundreds of spaces at ¥500 per day, and is just minutes from Kita-Senju or Akihabara. A car of people can travel by highway at a fraction of the price of each person traveling by train, and can take the last leg by the cheapest train ticket into Tokyo.\n\nFor groups of 3-5 tourists traveling in Japan, a **rental car** to or from Tokyo to be returned at the agency counter in another city may prove to be a major chance for savings compared to train or air travel.\n\n### By thumb\n\nHitchhiking into Tokyo is pretty easy, but hitchhiking out is considerably more difficult. It's definitely possible for determined cheapskates though, see Hitchhiking in Japan for a detailed list of tested escape routes from the city.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk010", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get in", "text": "Highway bus services link Tokyo to other cities, resort areas and the surrounding prefectures. There are JR and private bus companies. Bus service may be cheaper, but the train is probably more convenient, especially with the JR pass.\n\nLong-distance buses use a number of terminals scattered throughout the city. At Tokyo Station, the main boarding point for buses is at the **Yaesu Exit** (八重洲口) on the east side. Some buses lines, including Keisei Bus, have moved to the new **Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu** (バスターミナル東京八重洲) which is across the street and can be accessed by underground passage from Tokyo Station. In Shinjuku, nearly all services use the new , abbreviated *Busta Shinjuku* (バスタ新宿), which is above the JR tracks at Shinjuku Station.\n\n**The JR Bus Group** - A major operator of bus services to and from Tokyo. Seat reservations for JR Buses can be made at JR Bus counters in Tokyo and Shinjuku stations, and in JR train stations at the same \"Midori-no-Madoguchi\" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. **JR Bus Kanto** (JRバス関東) and **JR Tokai Bus** (JR東海バス) offer online bookings for their buses in English.\n **Willer Express** - A company that has nightly bus services to and from Tokyo. Its bus services link many cities in Japan. Online booking available in English.\n **Kokusai Kogyo Bus** (国際興業バス)\n **Keisei Bus** (京成バス)\n **Keikyu Bus** (京急バス)\n **Keio Bus** (Japanese Website) (京王バス)\n **Kanto Bus** (関東バス)\n **Nishi Tokyo Bus** (Japanese Website) (西東京バス)\n **Odakyu Bus** (Japanese Website) (小田急バス)\n **Odakyu Highway Bus** (小田急ハイウェイバス)\n **Seibu Bus** (西武バス)\n **Tobu Bus** (Japanese Website) (東武バス)\n **Tohoku Kyuko Bus** (東北急行バス)\n\n### By boat\n\nOne of the great ports of the world, Tokyo also has domestic ferry services to other points in Japan. However, none of the regular international ferries to Japan call at Tokyo.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk011", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main long-distance ferry terminal is , on an artificial island adjacent to Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The nearest station is Tokyo Big Sight on the Yurikamome line, but it's still a bit of a hike. You can also take a direct bus from Shin-Kiba station on the Metro Yurakucho line. The main services from this terminal are:\n\nFerries to the Izu and Ogasawara Islands leave from **Takeshiba Terminal** (竹芝客船ターミナル), adjacent to Takeshiba station on the Yurikamome line. Cruise liners tend to use the **Harumi Terminal** (晴海客船ターミナル), best accessible on bus 都05-1 (To-05-1) from Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit. International ferries and cargo ferries that also take passengers can leave from other terminals too, enquire with your shipping company.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk012", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|350px|The JR Yamanote loop line, with major connecting JR lines. The Tokaido Line is now connected to the Joban, Utsunomiya and Takasaki lines.\n\nInstead of getting a headache from the many options for getting around in Tokyo, try Google Maps for navigation – it will show you various options and fares, so you can choose between the cheapest, the most convenient, or the quickest option, depending on your preferences. If you have a map of all metro and train stations, it might be quicker and cheaper to mainly go through them and ignore taking smallish bus rides to and from them, which will easily cost ¥200 per ride.\n\n### By train and subway\n\nTokyo has one of the most extensive mass transit systems in the world and is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides. It is clean, safe and efficient – and confusing. The confusion arises from the fact that several distinct railway systems operate within Tokyo – the JR East network, the two subway networks, and various private lines – and different route maps show different systems. Avoid rush hours if possible; trains get overcrowded very easily.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk013", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "The defining rail line in Tokyo is the JR **Yamanote Line** (山手線 *Yamanote-sen*), which runs in a loop around central Tokyo; being inside the Yamanote loop is synonymous with being in the core of Tokyo. Almost all inter-regional JR lines and private lines start at a station on the Yamanote. JR's lines are color-coded, the Yamanote is light green . The JR **Chuo Line** (orange ', 中央線 *Chūō-sen*) and **Chuo-Sobu Line** (yellow , 中央・総武線 *Chūō-Sōbu-sen*) run side-by-side, bisecting the Yamanote loop from Shinjuku on the west to Tokyo Station on the east. JR's other commuter lines, the Saikyo and Keihin-Tohoku, run off the rim of the Yamanote loop to the north and south. JR East has a good English information line, 050-2016-1603 or 03-3423-0111.\nthumb|350x350px|Subway lines\nTokyo has an extensive **subway** network, the oldest one in Asia dating back to 1927, with frequent trains, and these are primarily useful for getting around within the Yamanote loop. The **Tokyo Metro** runs nine lines: Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku and Fukutoshin lines. **Toei** operates the Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, and Oedo lines. While the JR Yamanote Line is not a subway line, due to its importance as a major transportation artery in downtown Tokyo, it is usually featured on subway maps. In addition, there is a largely underground Rinkai Line, a private line which is operated by **Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR)**, that passes through the island of Odaiba.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk014", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "The eight main **private commuter railways** radiate from the Yamanote loop out into the outlying wards and suburbs, and almost all connect through directly to subway lines within the loop (though many services terminate at stations on the Yamanote loop). The private lines are useful for day trips outside the city, and are usually slightly cheaper than JR. In addition, there are a number of smaller private and \"third-sector\" (public-private partnership) lines - among these, the most well-known is arguably the **Yurikamome** which offers great views on the way to the island of Odaiba.\n\nAnnouncements and signs are usually bilingual in Japanese and English, though in some areas frequented by tourists, signs in Korean and Chinese can also be seen. That said, staff working at the stations rarely speak much, if any English.\n\nKeep in mind that it is **impolite to speak on the phone** while aboard the train. Instead, you should send text messages while switching it to silent mode. It used to be a rule of etiquette to \"stand on the left so people in a hurry can pass you on the right when using the escalator\", however the current etiquette is to stand on both sides of the escalator without walking, because walking on the escalator can cause injuries.\n\n#### Fares and hours\n\nright|thumb|200px|A Yamanote Line train\nMost tickets and passes are sold from automated vending machines. These machines are **cash only** but give change. At many JR stations, there are purple-colored reserved seat ticket vending machines where you can purchase tickets for JR lines using a credit card. **JR trains are free with a Japan Rail Pass**.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk015", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Smart cards**, instead of tickets, are convenient and highly recommended, because they allow you to ride trains without having to read the sometimes Japanese-only fare maps to determine your fare. The two smart cards sold in the Tokyo region are **Suica**, which is sold by JR, and **PASMO**, which is sold by the subway and private railway operators. Both cards can be used interchangeably, but refunds can only be processed by the respective operators that sell them. Smart cards from Japan's other regions can be used in Tokyo too; see Japan/Get around/Smart cards and Japan/Money/Smart cards for more details.", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk016", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Otherwise, the following day passes are available:\n **Tokyo Subway Ticket**: 24-hr (¥800), 48-hr (¥1200), and 72-hr (¥1500) passes are available along with other combos.\n The **Tokunai Pass** (都区内パス) is a one-day pass good for travel on JR lines anywhere in the 23 wards of Tokyo (including the entire Yamanote Line and many stations surrounding it). It costs ¥760, making it economical if you plan to make five or more train hops in one day. A variant is the **Tokunai Free Kippu** (都区内フリーきっぷ), which also includes a round-trip into Tokyo from stations in the surrounding prefectures. The **Monorail And Tokunai Free Kippu**, which is good for two days and includes a round-trip from Haneda Airport to central Tokyo, costs ¥2,000.\n The **Tokyo Free Kippu** (東京フリーきっぷ) covers all JR, subway and city bus lines within the 23 wards. It costs ¥1,600 for one day and covers a number of areas that are not served by JR, such as Roppongi and Odaiba.\n The **Holiday Pass** (休日おでかけパス) covers the entire JR network in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and west Tokyo. It costs ¥2,720 for one day, and is only available on weekends, national holidays and during the Golden Week (Apr 29 to May 5), summer vacation (July 20 through Aug 31) and New Year (Dec 29 to Jan 3). But you will barely ever hit such high daily costs when travelling on Tokyo's public transport — you will want to spend your time sightseeing and shopping, not sitting in the train.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk017", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "If you are paying *à la (smart) carte*, subway and train fares are based on distance, ranging from ¥110 to ¥310 for hops within central Tokyo. As a rule of thumb, Tokyo Metro lines are cheapest, Toei lines are most expensive, and JR lines fall somewhere in the middle (but are usually cheaper than Metro for short trips, i.e. no more than 4 stations). Many of the private lines interoperate with the subways, which can occasionally make a single ride seem unreasonably expensive as you are in essence transferring to another line and fare system, even though you're still on the same train. E.g. changing between Metro subway line and Tokyu private line amounts to paying the sum of each fare: minimum fare Metro ¥160 + minimum fare Tokyu ¥120 = ¥280. In addition, several patterns of transfer are listed as \"Transfer Discount\", and the most famous one is ¥70 discount, that applies to a transfer between Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines. When using Suica or PASMO, you can get all transfer discounts automatically. At some transfer stations, you may need to pass through a special transfer gate (both for paper tickets and PASMO/Suica) which is coloured orange – passing through the regular blue gate will not get you your transfer discount and if you have a paper ticket, you won't get it back. At some transfer points (e.g. Asakusa station) you may actually need to transfer on street level as the two stations (Metro Ginza Line and Toei Asakusa Line) are not physically connected and are about one block apart.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk018", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "It pays to check your route beforehand. The **Tokyo Subway Navigation for Tourists** by the Tokyo Metro, is a mobile app that allows you to plan subway and train travel from point A to point B, based on time, cost, and transfers. This app provides information for Tokyo only. For other apps or sites which cover the whole country, see the Japan page.\n\nIf you can't figure out how much it is to the destination, you can buy the cheapest ticket and pay the difference at the Fare Adjustment Machine (*norikoshi*) at the end. Most vending machines will let you buy a single ticket that covers a transfer between JR, subway and private lines, all the way to your destination, but working out how to do this may be a challenge if you are not familiar with the system. When transferring between systems, whether paying with tickets or smart cards, use the **orange transfer gates** to exit. Otherwise, you'll be charged full fare for both separate parts of your trip, instead of the cheaper transfer fare.\n\nMost train lines in Tokyo run 05:00–01:00. During peak hours they run about once every three minutes; even during off-peak hours it's less than ten minutes between trains. The only night when regular passenger services run overnight is for the New Year's Holiday on select lines.\n\nFor additional information for train travel in Japan generally, refer to the By rail section in the Japan article.\n\n### By taxi\n\n200px|thumb|A typical Tokyo taxi\nTaxis are very pricey, but may be a value for groups of three or more. Also, if you miss your last train, you may not have another choice.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk019", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Fares were revised in 2022 in an effort to make taxis more attractive for short-distance trips, though longer trips are still very expensive. The fare for the standard taxis starts at ¥500 for up to , and goes up ¥100 every and for every 95 seconds in stopped or slow traffic. A 20% night surcharge is tacked on from 22:00-05:00, and tolls are added for any trips using the expressway.\n\nHere are some daytime fare examples based on Nihon Kotsu's taxi fare estimates (actual fares may vary):\n Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station – , ¥1,600\n Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station (Bus Terminal) – , ¥4,300\n Tokyo Station to Haneda Airport Terminal 1 – , ¥10,200 including expressway fare\n\nTaxi rear left passenger doors are operated by the driver and open and close automatically. Don't open or close them yourself.\n\nDo not count on your taxi driver speaking English—or knowing more than the best-known locations, though most taxis have GPS \"car navi\" systems installed. The best and easiest thing to do is to prepare a map marked with where you want to go, and point it out on the map to the taxi driver. If you are staying at a hotel, they will provide a map. If possible, get a business card, or print out the address in Japanese of any specific places you wish to go. However, because in Japan streets are often unmarked, if the taxi driver does not have GPS he may not be able to do more than take you to the general vicinity of where you want to go. Also, taxis can get caught in traffic jams. No tips are expected or given.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk020", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Nihon Kotsu** has a 24-hr English telephone number and e-mail to call for a Nihon Kotsu taxi within Tokyo. There is a booking fee payable to the driver at the end of the trip: ¥500 for an immediate hail or ¥1000 for an advance booking. If you already have a destination (or a few) in mind, the receptionist will electronically transmit the information to the driver so that you don't have to tell the driver yourself. If you are hailing a taxi right away, the English receptionist will inform you about your assigned taxi by color, company name and taxi number.\n\nA growing number of companies in Tokyo also offer taxi hails and ride requests by mobile apps including GO Taxi, DiDi and Uber. Your hotel's front desk can also call a taxi for you, subject to the same booking fees.\n\n### By ride hailing\n\nYou can use **Uber** to hail limousines and taxis for a ¥500 surcharge, which may be worth it to bypass both the language barrier and potential payment hassles.\n\nStarting in April 2024 the Japanese government is planning to allow limited ride-sharing services under the supervision of taxi companies.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk021", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tokyo is a gigantic warren of narrow streets with no names, with slow-moving traffic and extremely limited and expensive parking. In this city with such an excellent mass transit system, you would need a good reason to want to drive around instead. While renting a car can make sense in Japan in some contexts (e.g., visiting a rural onsen resort), in general it is neither convenient nor economical to rent a car to get around metro Tokyo. Taxis are much more convenient if your budget allows it; walking or public transportation is much less expensive and given the difficulties of navigation and finding parking in popular areas, probably easier too.\n\nIf you do decide to plunge in and drive around by car, the main expressway serving Tokyo is the Shuto Expressway, abbreviated to **Shutoko** (首都高). The C1 Loop Line forms a circle around central Tokyo, similar in fashion to how the Yamanote Line does it by rail. But whereas the Yamanote Line charges ¥140-200 for a single trip, driving a car onto the Shutoko in Tokyo costs **¥1320** *every time* you enter the system (compact cars slightly cheaper), with additional tolls collected at various other locations. Vehicles equipped with Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) tags pay a cheaper rate based on the distance driven.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk022", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving on the Tokyo Expressway at night can be a pleasant and beautiful experience as you whiz through and around the Tokyo nightlife. When driving at night you should **exercise caution** and obey speed limits: **Street racing** over the Shutoko at night became popular in the 80s and 90s and still happens today, albeit on a less frequent basis. Street racers often concentrate their driving on the C1 Loop Line and the Bayshore (more popularly known as the Wangan) Line. \"Competitors\" sometimes hang out at parking and service areas on the Shutoko, especially the large Daikoku Parking Area at the intersection of the Bayshore Line and the K5 Daikoku Line in Yokohama.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk023", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "200px|thumb|Toei buses like this operate most of Tokyo's local bus routes.\nThe few areas within Tokyo that aren't easily accessible by train are served by various bus companies. Buses operating within 23 wards of Tokyo have a fixed fare regardless of distance (¥210 on Toei buses and ¥220 on other private bus companies), which is paid upon boarding from the front door. The fares are not transferable; however most buses do accept **Suica** or **PASMO** fare cards (see above). Compared to the trains, the buses run much less frequently, carry fewer passengers, and are much slower. This makes them amenable to the elderly residents of Tokyo, but rather inconvenient for travelers, who will also have to deal with lack of information in English and sometimes very well hidden bus stops. Bus routes can be fairly complicated and are often not listed in detail at the bus stops; signs on the buses themselves often list only two or three main stops in addition to the origin and destination. Inside the bus the next stop is usually announced several times, sometimes by a taped voice and sometimes by a mumbling driver. Taped announcements in English are used on some lines, but are still rare. Nevertheless, north–south routes are useful in the western side of the city since train lines (Odakyu, Keio, Chuo, and Seibu) tend to run east–west.\n\nIn an attempt to provide some information about their buses to foreign visitors/residents, Toei Bus has a web site that shows some of the main bus routes used to go to certain destinations in Tokyo. This information is provided in English and several other languages. You can download English route maps and apps at this site.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk024", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "In addition, most private railway companies are accompanied by bus companies with corresponding names. They serve the areas outside of Yamanote Line loop, around their railway lines.\n\n#### Sky Hop Bus\n\nWiller Express operates a hop-on, hop-off bus service called the **Sky Hop Bus**, which bills itself as \"the first open-top double decker bus in Japan\". At a charge of ¥1,800 for a 24-hour pass and ¥2,500 for a 48-hour pass (children half price), you can ride these buses and hop on and off as often as you wish. There are three bus routes that operate, all from the Marunouchi Building next to Tokyo Station: One route serves Asakusa and Tokyo SkyTree, the second runs to Roppongi and Tokyo Tower, and the third runs to Odaiba. The service only runs hourly, with departures from the Marunouchi Building between 10:20 and 18:30.\n\n### By boat\n\n250px|thumb|The Leiji Matsumoto-designed ''Himiko'' ferry\nThe Tokyo Cruise Ship Company operates a series of '''Water Bus''' ferries along the Sumida River and in Tokyo Bay, connecting Asakusa, Hinode, Harumi and Odaiba. The ferries feature a recorded tour announced in English as well as Japanese and a trip on one makes for a relaxing, leisurely way to see the waterfront areas of Tokyo. The super-futuristic Himiko ferry, designed by anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, runs on the Asakusa-Odaiba Direct Line. You might want to arrive well before the departure time just in case tickets on the Himiko sell out!\n\nTokyo Mizube Line (東京水辺ライン) also operates short routes starting from Ryogoku-Asakusa area.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk025", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bicycles are very commonly used for local transport, but amenities like bicycle lanes are rare, drivers pay little heed to bikes and traffic can be very heavy on weekdays, so if you use a bicycle, do not be afraid to cycle on the sidewalk (everyone does). Parts of Tokyo are surprisingly hilly, and it's a sweaty job pedaling around in the summer heat. Central Tokyo can still be covered fairly comfortably by bike on the weekends. Tokyo Great Cycling Tour offers a one-day guided tour for biking around major tourist spots in Tokyo, like Marunouchi, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji, Odaiba, Tokyo tower, Imperial palace and so on.\n\nParking your bicycle becomes a challenge in Tokyo, especially in the downtown area where you need to pay for parking and cannot simply leave the bike by a store/restaurant/shrine entrances on the sidewalk. Keep this in mind with renting a bicycle in dense urban areas of Japan.\n\nRenting a bike is possible from some youth hostels, particularly around Asakusa, although it's not common. However, buying a simple single-speed roadster is fairly cheap, and comes complete with a built-in bicycle wheel lock system (this is what most Tokyoites use). An imported multiple-geared bike will be much more expensive so get a good lock, as bike theft is a common threat, although the problem is nowhere near as serious as in other countries.\n\nBicycle rentals are common around all of Japan and increasingly so in the more rural areas at train stations.\n\nFor rentals in the Tokyo area GS Astuto cycle shop has a full range of rental bikes geared at regular cyclists who primarily ride road bikes. GS Astuto can also deliver bikes to your hotel where you will stay.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk026", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Get around", "text": "Another option is to choose a cycling tour with a company. This can be a great way to get on a bike and see the best parts of Japan by bicycle. Within Tokyo Soshi's Tokyo Bike Tour, Tokyo Great Cycling Tour, and Bicycle Tours Tokyo offer day tours of popular sites within central Tokyo by bike. For an escape into the rural edges of Tokyo Bike Tour Japan takes guests on week long cycling adventures in the countryside just 1-2hrs from central Tokyo.\n\n### On foot\n\nIn this large city with such an efficient public transportation system, walking to get from point A to point B would seem a bit stupid at first glance. However, as the city is extremely safe even at night, walking in Tokyo can be a very pleasant experience. In some areas, walking can be much shorter than taking the subway and walking the transit (the whole Akasaka/Nagatacho/Roppongi area in the center is for instance very easily covered on foot). If you have the time, Shinjuku to Shibuya via Omotesando takes roughly one hour, Tokyo Station to Shinjuku would be a half a day walk, and the whole Yamanote line Grand Tour takes a long day.", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk027", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Sensoji Temple, [[Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa]]\nthumb|Koishikawa Korakuen Park, [[Tokyo/Bunkyo|Bunkyo]]\nthumb|right|The Tokyo Skytree, the third tallest structure in the world\nTokyo has a vast array of sights, but the first items on the agenda of most visitors are the temples of Asakusa, the gardens of the **Imperial Palace** (in Chiyoda) and the **Meiji Shrine** (明治神宮 *Meiji-jingū*, in Harajuku).\n\nTokyo has many commercial centres for shopping, eating and simply wandering around for experiencing the modern Japanese urban phenomenon. Each of these areas have unique characteristics, such as dazzling Shinjuku, youthful Shibuya and upmarket Ginza. These areas are bustling throughout the day, but they really come to life in the evenings.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk028", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "See", "text": "If you are looking for a viewing platform, Tokyo has plenty of options:\n The **Tokyo SkyTree** is Tokyo's latest attraction in Sumida, not to mention it's also the third-tallest structure in the world at 634 m above the ground. However, its location away from downtown means the view is a distant jumble of buildings.\n The more familiar **Tokyo Tower** in Minato is still around, and it is not as expensive as the latter and newest rival, but neither is the view as good as some alternatives.\nthumb|Tokyo tower at night\n For a view that is light on your wallet, head to the **Tokyo Metropolitan Government Center** (in effect, Tokyo's City Hall) in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and offer a great view over Tokyo and beyond.\n Another equally light-on-your-wallet option is the **Carrot Tower** in Setagaya, just 3.2 km west of Shibuya Station. It has a restaurant on the 26th floor with views to the west and south (Yokohama) — the views can be enjoyed without having to eat at the restaurant.\n **Tokyo City View** in Roppongi has an observation deck with great views of Tokyo Bay and downtown Tokyo including the nearby Tokyo Tower — admission is a steep ¥1,800-2,300 though, but includes admission to the **Mori Art Museum**.\n The **Rainbow Bridge** linking Tokyo to Odaiba is another good option, if you don't mind traffic noise and smell. The bridge's pedestrian walkways (open until 20:00) are free, and the night-time view across Tokyo Bay is impressive. Odaiba Rainbow Bus starting at Shinagawa and Tamachi stations is a cheap way (\\220) to enjoy the view.\n The **Bunkyo Civic Center** next to the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo, dubbed by one newspaper as a \"colossal Pez candy dispenser\", has a free observation deck on the 25th floor offering an iconic view of Shinjuku against Mount Fuji on a clear day.", "word_count": 314}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk029", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "See", "text": "The city is dotted with museums, large and small, which center on every possible interest from pens to antique clocks to traditional and modern arts. Many of the largest museums are clustered around Ueno. Though, at ¥500–1,000 or more, entrance fees can add up quickly.\n\n**Yanaka** is Tokyo's most traditional and quaint district. It retains its pleasant atmosphere and old town ambience and offers a sightseeing opportunity from different parts of the city's metropolitan area.\n\nRiding **Sky Bus Tokyo**, an open-top double-decker operated by Hinomaru Limousine (hourly 10:00–18:00), is a good option to take a quick tour around the city center. The 45-min bus ride on the \"T-01 course\" will take you around the Imperial Palace via Ginza and Marunouchi district, showing the highlight of Tokyo's shopping and business center. The fare is ¥1,500 for adults of 12 years old and over, and ¥700 for children between 4 and 11 years old. You can borrow a multi-language voice guide system free of charge upon purchasing a ticket, subject to stock availability. Four other bus courses are offered, including a night trip to Odaiba, but those trips are conducted in Japanese with no foreign language guidance.\n\nTokyo offers some great spots to catch stunning views of **Mount Fuji**, Japan's highest summit, even though it's about 100 kilometres away from the city.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk030", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Do", "text": "See the **tuna auction** at the Toyosu Market and eat a **sushi breakfast** at the former Tsukiji Fish Market.\nTake a boat ride on the **Sumida River** from Asakusa.\nLose yourself in the dazzling neon jungle outside major train stations in the evenings. Shibuya and east Shinjuku at night can make Times Square or Piccadilly Circus look rural in comparison — it has to be seen to be believed.\nEnjoy a soak in a local \"**sento**\" or public bath. Or one of the onsen theme parks such as **LaQua** at the Tokyo Dome (Bunkyo).\nGo to an amusement park such as Tokyo Disney Resort, which consists of **Tokyo Disneyland** and **Tokyo DisneySea** which are Asia's most visited (in Urayasu City Chiba) and second most visited theme parks respectively, or the more Japanese **Sanrio Puroland** (in Tama), home to more Hello Kitties than you can imagine.\nJoin and bar hop or pub crawl along with events groups in Roppongi,\nCheck out the hip and young crowd at Harajuku's **Takeshita-Dori** (Takeshita Street) or the more grown up **Omotesando**.\nIn the spring, take a boatride in Kichijoji's lovely **Inokashira Park**, and afterwards visit the Ghibli Studios Museum (well known for their amazing movies, like Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke), but you will need to buy tickets for these in advance at a Lawson convenience store.\nTake the *Yurikamome* elevated train across the bay bridge from Shimbashi station to the bayside Odaiba district, and startle at the scenery including a giant Unicorn Gundam robot statue.\nWatch a baseball game, namely the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome, or the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium. Nearby Chiba hosts the Chiba Lotte Marines.\nTake a stroll through the Imperial Palace's East Gardens (open to the public daily at 09:00, except Fridays and Mondays).\nHave a picnic in a park during the cherry blossom (Sakura). Unfortunately Sakura only lasts for about 10-14 days in Spring. But be warned, parks are usually very crowded during this time.\nJoin a local for a short lunch or dinner homestay with Nagomi Visit's home visit program or participate in their cooking classes.\nRaising a glass in this colourful nightlife at Shinjuku district.\nJoining the Harajuku's eccentric fashion tribes as they shop.\nLosing yourself in the vestiges of the old area Yanesen (**Ya**naka-**Ne**zu-**Sen**dagi).\nAkihabara — Venturing into the belly of pop culture beast.\n\n### Festivals\n\n **Sanja Matsuri** (三社祭), third weekend in May. Tokyo's largest festival, held near Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, this three-day extravaganza sees up to 2 million people turn out to watch the parade of portable shrines (*mikoshi*) with music, dancing and geisha performances.\n **Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival** (隅田川花火大会 *Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai*), fourth Saturday in July. Huge fireworks competition that sees up to a million people line the banks of the Sumida River.", "word_count": 463}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk031", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Learn", "text": "The curious can study traditional culture such as **tea ceremony**, **calligraphy**, or **martial arts** such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo. There are also many language schools to help you work on your Japanese. Several universities in Tokyo cater to international students at the undergraduate or graduate level.\n\n### Universities\n\n **Keio University** (慶應義塾大学 *Keiō Gijuku Daigaku*) — Japan's top private university (unless you ask a Waseda student). Established in the samurai days of yore and has a stuffier rep than Waseda, with alumni including former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Main campus in Mita.\n **Sophia University** (上智大学 *Jōchi Daigaku*) — A prestigious private, Jesuit university well known for its foreign language curricula and large foreign student population. Main campus in Yotsuya.\n **Institute of Science Tokyo** (東京科学大学 *Tōkyō Kagaku Daigaku*) — Formed through the merger of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan's top technical university, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University in October 2024. Its main campus is the former Tokyo Institute of Technology main campus in Ookayama.\n **University of Tokyo** (東京大学 *Tōkyō Daigaku*) — Japan's uncontested number one university, especially strong in law, medicine and literature. For locals, passing the entrance exams is fiendishly difficult, but it is considerably easier for international students provided your Japanese language ability is up to scratch. Five campuses are scattered around the city, but the main campus is in Hongo. Colloquially known by the shortened form 東大 (*Tōdai*).\n **Waseda University** (早稲田大学 *Waseda Daigaku*) — Japan's top private university (unless you ask a Keio student), famous as a den of artists and partiers. It has produced the second most number of prime ministers of Japan, after the University of Tokyo, including former prime minister Fumio Kishida. Main campus in Waseda.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk032", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Work", "text": "Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is still the easiest way to work in Tokyo, but the city also offers more work options than other areas of the country: everything from restaurant work to IT. Certain nationalities are eligible for working holiday visas: for others, work permits can be very hard to come by without a job offer from a Japanese company. Consult your local Japanese consulate/embassy as far in advance as possible.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk033", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Kitsch-o-rama at the Nakamise arcade, [[Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa]]\n\nTokyo is one of the fashion and cosmetic centers in the Eastern world. Items to look for include electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimono, as well as specialty items like Hello Kitty goods, anime and comics and their associated paraphernalia.\n\nCredit cards are widely accepted by major retailers, and there is a major government push to move towards cashless means of payment, including subsidies of 2-5% for doing so. \"Cashless\" here includes credit cards, transport cards like Suica/PASMO, Google/Apple Pay on your phone and a plethora of local apps. That said, **cash remains king** and many smaller shops and street stalls are still cash only. ATMs usually give out only ¥10,000 notes, but retailers are generally happy to make change. Most major bank ATMs now allow withdrawals from overseas banks with your usual ATM card. Japan Post ATMs are bilingual and will allow you to withdraw money at the day's exchange rate without charging you any special fees.\n\nThe crime rate is very low, so don't be afraid of carrying around wads of cash as the Japanese do. The average Japanese citizen will carry a month's worth of expenses on them (around ¥40,000 give or take). See *Buy* under Japan for general caveats regarding electronics and media compatibility.\n\nThere are numerous convenience stores throughout Tokyo (such as Seven-Eleven, Lawson, and Family-Mart), which are open around the clock and sell not only food and magazines, but also daily necessities such as underwear and toiletries. Supermarkets are usually open until 22:00, while drugstores and department stores usually close at 21:00.\n\n### Anime and manga", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk034", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Buy", "text": "Akihabara, Tokyo's Electric Town, is now also the unquestioned center of its *otaku* community, and the stores along Chuo-dori are packed to the rafters with *anime* (animation) and *manga* (comics).\nAnother popular district for all things manga/anime is the Nakano ward and its Broadway Shopping arcade. Check out the Mandarake shop for loads of used and rare mangas.\n\nThere has been an \"otaku boom\" in Akihabara. A lot of attention in particular was paid to the town thanks to the popular Japanese drama \"Densha Otoko\", a (true) love story about an otaku who saves a woman from a molester on a train and their subsequent courtship. Girls in maid costumes can be seen standing along the streets in Akihabara handing out advertisement fliers to passers by for *maid cafes*.\n\nIf you like a specific anime or character, Tokyo has no shortages of official stores dedicated to a specific character or anime series.\n\n### Antiques\n\nSerious collectors should head for the **Antique Mall** in Ginza or the **Antique Market** in Omotesando, which are collections of small very specialist shops (samurai armor, *ukiyo-e* prints, etc). However, the prices tend to be very high.\n\nLess wealthy shoppers can venture over to Nishi-Ogikubo, which sells scrolls of calligraphy (and some other similar items) for a few thousand yen.\n\nThe **Antique Festival** (全国古民具骨董祭り) is held over the weekend about 5-6 times a year at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center, on the Tokyo Monorail line, and is well worth a visit.\n\n### Books\n\nJinbocho is to used books what Akihabara is to electronics. It's clustered around the Jinbocho subway stop.\nThe Blue Parrot is another shop at Takadanobaba on the Yamanote line, just two stops north of Shinjuku.\n\n### Cameras and electronics", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk035", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Buy", "text": "Ever since Sony and Nikon became synonymous with high-tech quality, Tokyo has been a favored place for buying electronics and cameras. Though the lines have blurred since the PC revolution, each has its traditional territory and stores: Akihabara has the electronics stores, including a large number of duty-free shops specializing in export models, and Shinjuku has the camera stores. Unfortunately, local model electronics are not cheap, but the export models are similar to what you'll pay back home. You can sometimes find cheap local models if you avoid big shops and check smaller retailers. It's also surprisingly difficult to find certain things e.g. games machines.\n\n### Fashion\n\nShibuya and neighboring Harajuku are the best-known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. Almost without exception, clothes are sized for the petite Japanese frame.\n\nDepartment stores and exclusive boutiques stock every fashion label imaginable, but for global labels prices in Tokyo are typically higher than anywhere else in the world. The famous Ginza and Ikebukuro's giant **Seibu** and **Tobu** department stores are good hunting grounds. **Roppongi Hills** and the adjacent **Tokyo Midtown** have emerged as popular shopping malls for high-end shopping, with many major global and local Japanese brands. Other department stores in Tokyo are **Isetan**, **Mitsukoshi**, **Marui** (OIOI), **Matsuzakaya**, **Matsuya** and **Takashimaya**. Mitsukoshi/Isetan group is Japan's biggest department store chain. Mitsukoshi's anchor store is in Nihonbashi, and is particularly known for its premier kimono department. **Marui Men** store in Shinjuku has eight floors of mid to high-end fashion for men only.\n\n### Kitchenware", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk036", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Buy", "text": "The district for this is **Kappabashi Street** near Asakusa, also known as “Kitchen Town.” The street is lined with stores selling all kinds of kitchen wares — this is where the restaurants of Tokyo get their supplies. It's also a great place to find **cheap Japanese ceramics**, not to mention plastic food!\n\n### Music\n\nOchanomizu is to the guitar what Jinbocho is to used books. There, you'll find what must be the world's densest collection of guitar shops. Plenty of other musical instruments (though not traditional Japanese ones) are also available.\n\n### Souvenirs\n\nFor touristy Japanese knickknacks, the best places to shop are **Nakamise** in Asakusa and the **Oriental Bazaar** in Omotesando, which stock all the kitschy things like *kanji*-emblazoned T-shirts, foreigner-sized kimono, ninja outfits for kids and ersatz samurai swords that can be surprisingly difficult to find elsewhere. Both also have a selection of serious antiques for the connoisseur, but see also Antiques above.\n\nTokyo has more than 50 **satellite shops** (called \"antenna shops\" in Japan) for other prefectures and smaller municipalities around Japan - you can buy foods and souvenirs of rural areas without actually going there. Some of these shops have local cuisine restaurants too. They have an official multilingual site searchable by region and shop location in Tokyo.\n\n### Street markets\n\nBustling open-air bazaars in the Asian style are rare in Tokyo, except for Ueno's **Ameyoko**, a legacy of the postwar occupation. **Yanaka Ginza** in the Shitamachi Taito district, a very nice example of a neighborhood shopping street, makes for an interesting afternoon browse.\n\nThere are often small flea and antique markets in operation on the weekend at major (and minor) shrines in and around Tokyo.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk037", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Red lanterns beckoning customers in [[Tokyo/Chuo|Tsukishima]]\nVisitors from Western countries may be surprised to find that despite its justified reputation for being an expensive city, eating out in Tokyo can be surprisingly affordable. While fine dining establishments in Tokyo can be some of the most expensive in the world, at the budget end of the spectrum, it is fairly easy to find a basic rice or noodle joint serving up meals starting from ¥400; a price that is unmatched even by McDonald's or other fast food chains in the West.\n\nTokyo has a large quantity and variety of food. Department stores have food halls, typically in the basement, with food which is comparable to top delicatessans in other world cities (though mostly Japanese and Japanized foreign food). Some basements of train stations have supermarkets with free taste testers. It's a great way to sample some of the strange dishes they have for free.\nTokyo has a large number of restaurants, so see the main Japan guide for the types of food you will encounter and some popular chains. Menus are often posted outside, so you can check the prices. Some shops have the famous plastic food in their front windows. Don't hesitate to drag the waiting staff out to the front to point at what you want. Always carry cash. Many restaurants will not accept credit cards.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk038", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Tokyo has tens of thousands of restaurants representing many cuisines in the world, though sometimes adjusted for local tastes, but it also offers a few unique local specialties. Within Japan, Tokyo cuisine is best known for 3 dishes: sushi, tempura, and unagi (freshwater eel). *Nigirizushi* (fish pressed onto rice), known around the world simply as \"sushi,\" in fact originates from Tokyo, and within Japan is known as *Edo-mae zushi* (Edo-style sushi). Another is *monjayaki* (もんじゃ焼き), a gooey, cabbage-filled version of *okonomiyaki* that uses a very thin batter to achieve a sticky, caramelized consistency. It is originally from the Tsukishima area of Chuo and today there are many restaurants near Asakusa offering monjayaki.\n\n### Budget\n\nthumb|Stand-and-eat (''tachigui'') noodle shop with ticket vending machine\n\nGo to a **convenience store** (*konbini*), there is one on every second corner. Really, the options may surprise you. You can get rice balls (*onigiri*), bread-rolls, salads, prepared foods (like *nikuman* and *oden*), and drinks (both hot and cold) for ¥100-150, *bentō* lunch boxes for around ¥500 and sandwiches for ¥250-350. At most convenience stores, microwaves are available to heat up your food for no additional cost. **Supermarkets** (*sūpā*) are usually cheaper and offer a wider choice, but are more difficult to find. (Try Asakusa and the sidestreets of Ueno's Ameyoko market for local—not big chain—supermarkets.). Supermarkets are a good place to buy discount food after 20:00. Also, **¥100 shops** (*hyaku-en shoppu*) have become very common, and most have a selection of convenient, ready to eat items. There are ¥100 shops near most minor train stations, and usually tucked away somewhere within two or three blocks of the big stations. In particular, look for the green and red \"Lawson 100\" signs; these chains are essentially small grocery stores.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk039", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Also, look for *bentō* shops like Hotto-Motto (ほっともっと) and Kitchen Origin (キッチンオリジン) which sell take-out lunch boxes. They range in quality and cost, but most offer good, basic food at a reasonable price. This is what students and office workers often eat. In addition, COVID-19 forced many restaurants to sell takeaway lunchboxes to survive and the custom has stuck, adding more options to choose from.\n\nNoodle shops, curry shops, and bakeries are often the best option for people eating on the cheap. They are everywhere. The **noodle bars** on every corner are great for filling up and are very cheap at ¥300–1000. You buy your meal ticket from a vending machine at the door with pictures of the dishes and hand it to the serving staff. The one question you will typically have to answer for the counterman is whether you want **soba** (そば) (thin brown buckwheat) or **udon** (うどん) (thick white wheat) noodles. Some offer standing room only with a counter to place your bowl, while others have limited counter seating. During peak times, you need to be quick as others will be waiting. Pseudo Chinese-style **ramen** (ラーメン) (yellow wheat and egg noodles) are a little more expensive and typically sold in specialist shops, with prices starting from ¥400, but are typically served in very flavourful pork or chicken broth that has been boiled overnight. Tokyo is generally known among the Japanese for **shoyu ramen**, in which soy sauce is used to add flavour to the pork broth.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk040", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Fast food is available just about everywhere, including many American chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Subway and KFC. But if you are visiting Japan from overseas, and wish to sample Japanese fast food, why not try MOS Burger, Freshness Burger, Lotteria, or First Kitchen? If you're looking for something more Japanese, try one of the local fast food giants, **Matsuya**, **Yoshinoya**, and **Sukiya**, which specialize in donburi: a giant bowl of meat, rice, and vegetables, sometimes with egg thrown in for good measure, starting around ¥450 for the flagship *gyūdon* (beef bowl). Another good option is *oyako don* (chicken and egg bowl, literally “mother and child bowl”), which the somewhat smaller chain *Nakau* specializes in. Drinking water or hot **ocha** (Japanese green tea) is usually available at no extra cost. There are also a number of tempura chains, with some budget options. More upscale but still affordable and rather more interesting, is **Ootoya**, which serves up a larger variety of home-style cooking for under ¥1000. **Yayoi-ken** is a chain of eateries serving *teishoku*, complete set meals: buy a ticket from the machine, and you'll get miso soup, main course (fish or meat, often with vegetables), rice (bottomless, just ask for refills), a small hunk of fresh tofu, pickles and tea, and still be left with some change from your ¥1000.\n\nRaw fish enthusiasts are urged to try *kaitenzushi* (conveyor belt sushi), where the prices can be very reasonable. Prices do depend on the color of the plate, however, and some items are very expensive, so be sure to check before they start to pile up.\n\nA great option for a quick bite or for groups is *yakitori* (grilled chicken) – individual skewers are often below ¥150.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk041", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Many of the larger train and subway stations have fast, cheap eateries. Around most stations, there will be ample choices of places to eat, including chain coffeeshops (which often serve sandwiches, baked goods, and pasta dishes), yakitori places, and even Italian restaurants.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nThere are a great many excellent and affordable lunch choices in busier neighborhoods like Shibuya and Shinjuku, especially during the week – expect to spend about ¥1000 (without drinks) for a meal.\n\nBy tradition the basement of almost any department store, including Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, or Isetan, is devoted to the *depachika* (デパ地下), a huge array of small shops selling all kinds of prepared take-out food. You can assemble a delicious if slightly pricey picnic here – or, if you're feeling really cheap, just go around eating free samples! The very largest department stores are Tobu and Seibu in Ikebukuro, but Shibuya, Ginza and in fact any major Tokyo district will have their fair share. Shinjuku Station is home to several famous department stores, such as the Keio and Odakyu department stores. Many stores begin discounting their selections at about 19:00 each night. Look for signs and stickers indicating specific yen value or percentage discounts. You will often see half-price stickers which read 半値 (*hanne*). This discounting is also common at supermarkets at the smaller stations, although the quality may be a notch or two down from the department stores, it's still perfectly edible.\n\nThe ubiquitous *izakaya*, a cross between a pub and a casual restaurant, invariably serve a good range of Japanese dishes and can be good places to fill up without breaking the bank: in most, an evening of eating and drinking won't cost more than around ¥3000 per person. See Drink for details.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk042", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "There is a great variety of restaurants serving Tokyo's world-famous sushi at every price point, with fish fresh from Toyosu, the world's largest fish market. It is possible to get sushi for as little as ¥100/piece or less (at chain stores), or spend upwards of ¥10,000 (at elegant Ginza restaurants), but a typical spend is ¥3000–4000, depending on selection (drinks extra). Usually *omakase* (chef's choice) gives a good deal and selection, to which you can add a piece or two à la carte if desired. A popular choice with tourists is a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, former home of the fish market, particularly for one's jet-lagged first morning, or after a night out partying. Most sushi shops in the outer market of Tsukiji open at 8 or 9AM, though there are some 24-hour shops, and particularly popular are two small stores in the inner market that open before 6AM and feature market ambience and very long queues; see Chuo: Mid-range dining.\n\nThe best-known tempura chain is Tsunahachi, where depending on the store you can pay from below ¥1000 for lunch to over ¥6000 for dinner.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk043", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "A classic modern Japanese dish is *tonkatsu* (“pork cutlet”), and there are good Tokyo options; the fattier loin (ロース “roast”) is generally considered tastier than the leaner fillet (*hire* ヒレ). The most famous restaurant is Tonki, right by Meguro station (1-1-2 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo), serving a standard meal at about ¥1600, dinner only (from 16:00). While it is an institution with a loyal clientele (and frequent lines), and decidedly has atmosphere (similar to an established New York deli), the food gets mixed reviews, and is less succulent than other options – an interesting experience, however. Next most famous is the chain Maisen (まい泉), which serves delicious if somewhat expensive tonkatsu (various varieties and seasonal options) at many locations in Tokyo, most notably at their flagship shop in Aoyama by Omotesandō station (Jingumae 4-8-5, closing at 19:00). The top-end dish is Okita Kurobuta (Berkshire pork by Mr. Okita), at ¥3,800 for a meal, though they have cheaper options. A modern option is Butagumi, at Nishi-Azabu 2-24-9 (west of Roppongi station), serving a variety of premium pork brands expertly prepared.\n\nTokyo also has a large number of Korean restaurants, generally midrange, and many *yakiniku* (grilled meat) restaurants are Korean-influenced.\n\n### Splurge", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk044", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Eat", "text": "Tokyo has the world's highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants, with prices to match. For upmarket Japanese eats, Ginza is guaranteed to burn a hole in your wallet, with Akasaka and Roppongi Hills close behind. Top-end restaurants are primarily Japanese, with a few French. Tokyo is widely regarded as the spiritual home of a fine style of sushi known as *edomae-zushi* (江戸前寿司). Besides sushi, Tokyo's fine dining scene also includes Japanese contemporary, tempura and *kaiseki*. You can limit the damage considerably by eating fixed lunch sets instead of dinner, as this is when restaurants cater to people paying their own meals instead of using the company expense account. However, Tokyo's fine dining scene is notoriously inaccessible to foreign visitors, as most establishments do not accept reservations from new customers; you will need to be introduced by one of their regular diners in order to dine there. That said, it is possible to book a spot at some of these establishments through your hotel concierge if you do so many months in advance, though only the most expensive luxury hotels will have the necessary clout to do this. Also keep in mind that many fine dining establishments do not accept credit cards, and you will be expected to pay for your meal *in cash*.\n\nThere are four 3-star sushi restaurants in Tokyo, of which the most famous internationally is Sukiyabashi Jiro, due to the movie *Jiro Dreams of Sushi;* reservations must be made on the 1st day of the preceding month, as they book up that day, and dinner is from ¥30,000. The cheapest of these top sushi restaurants is Saitō Sushi (+81 3 3589 4412), where a small lunch can be had for as little as ¥5,000.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk045", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|240px|[[Tokyo/Roppongi|Roppongi]] at night, with Tokyo Tower in the distance\n\nThe party never stops in Tokyo (at least in the karaoke bars), and you will find good little bars and restaurants everywhere.\n\nThe most Japanese way to spend a night out as an individual or in a small group would be at Japanese-style watering holes called *izakaya* (居酒屋), which offer food and drink in a convivial, pub-like atmosphere (see Japan for details). Cheaper chain *izakaya* like **Tsubohachi** (つぼ八) and **Shirokiya** (白木屋) usually have picture menus, so ordering is simple, even if you don't know Japanese – but don't be surprised if some places have Japanese only touchscreen ordering systems.\n\nAnother common option, which is often unbelievable to non-Japanese ears, is “all you can drink” (*nomihōdai,* 飲み放題), where you can drink all you want from a fixed menu for 90 minutes or 120 minutes. This is aimed at group parties, and is generally paired with a meal, often “all you can eat” (*tabehōdai,* 食べ放題), often in a private room. Receiving the items ordered will depend on how often your servers decide to bring out these items, which means you may be \"throttled\" to an extent, and may feel less than a true \"all you can drink/eat\" experience. This depends on the establishment. There are also a number of cheap bars where you can get a drink for ¥300 or even cheaper.", "word_count": 229}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk046", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Drink", "text": "Tokyo's most distinctive drink is Hoppy (*hoppi,* ホッピー), a virtually non-alcoholic beer-flavored drink (0.8% alcohol), which is drunk by mixing with shōchū (at 25%) at a 5:1 ratio, yielding an about 5% alcohol drink, essentially a substitute beer. This is available in older izakaya and has experienced a retro revival of late, though it is not particularly tasty. Another distinctively Tokyo drink is Denki Bran (電気ブラン, “electric brandy”), a herb-flavored brandy available (to drink in or in bottles) at the Kamiya bar (神谷バー) in Asakusa, right at the main intersection by the metro station.\n\nThe major brands of beer are widely available, typically ¥500–800 per glass or bottle, but microbrews and foreign beer are only rarely available and often very expensive. You're generally better off getting bottles of microbrews at speciality stores. Popeye in Ryōgoku is a rare exception, with 70 beers on tap! Another popular choice is Beer Station at Ebisu, serving a variety of Yebisu beers and matching German food.\n\nFor a splurge on a beverage or two, Western Shinjuku's Park Hyatt Tokyo houses the New York Bar on level 52. Providing stunning views day and night across Tokyo, it was also the setting for the movie *Lost in Translation*. Cocktails here start around ¥1400 – single malt whiskies are upwards of ¥2000. Amazing cocktails, served in “tasting flights” of 4 or 6 drinks, are made by Gen Yamamoto at his bar in Azabu-Jūban, at about ¥6000 for 6 drinks (a la carte cocktails are available in larger pours for ¥1600–1800).\n\nVisiting clubs and western-style night spots can get expensive, with clubs and live houses enforcing weekend cover charges in the ¥2000–5000 bracket (usually including a drink coupon or two).", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk047", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Drink", "text": "If you're new in town, Roppongi has establishments which specialize in serving foreigners – but it's also overflowing with foreigners, hostesses, and 'patrons' who will continually hassle you to visit their gentlemen's clubs, where drinks cost ¥5000 and up. Many Japanese and foreigners avoid this area, preferring the clubs and bars in Shibuya instead, or trendy Ginza, Ebisu, Shinjuku or Ikebukuro.\n\n**HUB and 82 Ale House**, a chain of British-style cash-on-delivery pubs, has branches near most major stations and is reasonably priced and popular among foreigners and Japanese alike. Other British/Irish pubs can be found in Roppongi, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Expect to pay around ¥1000 a pint, although happy hours can reduce this by a few hundred yen.\n\nIn Shibuya, the bar area behind 109 and next to Dogenzaka (\"Love Hotel Hill\") has a large number of clubs. Unlike those in Roppongi, these clubs have entrance fees, but clubs without entrance fees often hassle you all night to buy drinks which ends up just as expensive and without people who are actually there to enjoy the music. Shinjuku is home to Kabukichō, Japan's largest red-light district. Also in Shinjuku is the gay bar district of Shinjuku-nichome. A little further from the city center are Shimokitazawa, Koenji and Nakano, full of good bars, restaurants and \"live houses\" offering underground/indie music popular with students and 20/30-somethings.\n\nTaito is where Yoshiwara, the infamous red-light district of feudal Edo, was located. However, it is today a shadow of its former self as most of the sex trade has shifted elsewhere, and all that remains is a few soaplands (brothels disguised as bathhouses).", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk048", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|A typical business hotel in Tokyo: charmless and cramped, but clean and convenient\n\nThere are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the high end and the low end almost everywhere. Many Western-style hotels, especially those affiliated with American hotel chains, have English-speaking staff.\n\nLong a great deal by world standards, Tokyo hotel prices have skyrocketed since Japan's post-COVID opening in 2022 due to the ongoing tourist boom plus inflation. Anything under ¥10,000 is cheap (and usually for a reason), cramped business hotels are ¥20,000 and up, and luxury accommodation can easily go over ¥100,000/night.\n\nFor long-term accommodation, be prepared to splurge as Tokyo's real estate prices are among the highest in the world, and apartments in the area are typically very cramped. Many locals actually live in the neighbouring cities and commute to Tokyo for work every day due to the astronomical rents in Tokyo, and one-way commuting times can often last more than 2 hours.\n\n### Budget\n\nMuch of Tokyo's budget accommodation can be found in the Taito area, especially Asakusa and Ueno. Beware that many have curfew times around 22:00 to 23:00, so double-check if you plan to party all night.\n\nCapsule hotels are generally the cheapest option. They may be reluctant to play host to foreigners as there are quite a few rules of behavior which may be difficult to explain; see the Japan article for the full scoop. Most capsule hotels are men-only. **Akihabara Capsule Inn** is among the very few to have women-only floors.\n\nSee Japan for a run-down of emergency options like all night internet cafes (manga kissa), karaoke boxes, camping in parks, etc.\n\n### Mid-range", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk049", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There is a wide range of choices in hotels while at Tokyo, most of the hotels are rated 3 stars or more. In Tokyo, as in most Japanese cities, the most common mid-range option is a **business hotel**. The rooms are usually tiny, but they are near stations and rates start from around ¥15000. Staff may speak minimal English, but it's not too hard to figure out. These are the best options for solo travelers. Affordable chains found throughout Tokyo include **Tokyu Stay**, which offers free internet access and breakfast, **Toyoko Inn**, **Chisun** and **Sunroute**.\n\nTokyo has some self-proclaimed *ryokan* (Japanese inns) that cater largely to foreign tourists, mostly concentrated around Ueno and Asakusa. While not as opulent as the real thing, they offer a sample of Japanese home life at affordable rates.\n\nJapan's infamous **love hotels** can be a reasonable (and interesting) option in Tokyo. Shibuya's Dogenzaka (\"Love Hotel Hill\") offers the widest selection in the city. If you're really going to spend the night, be sure to check in for a \"stay\" rather than a \"rest\". Be warned that some love hotels (at least around Shinjuku) have a 'No Japanese, no stay' policy, presumably to avoid confusion over billing; others lock you into your room until you pay into a slot by the door to leave.\n\n### Splurge\n\nYou can spend a fortune on accommodation in Tokyo. Most of the high-end international chains are well represented. Particular concentrations of luxury hotels can be found in western Shinjuku (including the Park Hyatt Tokyo, featured in *Lost in Translation*), near Tokyo Station and Marunouchi (including the legendary Imperial Hotel) and in Akasaka.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk050", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Beware of hotels marketing themselves as being at \"Tokyo Bay\". At best, this means you'll be in or near the Odaiba district, built on reclaimed land half an hour away from the city center; at worst, you'll end up somewhere on the coast of the adjacent prefecture of Chiba, which is handy for visiting Tokyo Disneyland but quite inconvenient for touring Tokyo itself.", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk051", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Connect", "text": "Getting a SIM card in Japan requires jumping through some hoops, so the easiest place to do this is on arrival at Haneda or Narita airport.\n\nFree wifi is not particularly common in Tokyo, with registration typically required even if you can find it.\n\n**Tokyo Metro** About 100 metro (not JR) stations have free Wi-Fi, with SSID \"Metro_Free_Wi-Fi\" or \"Toei_Subway_Free_Wi-Fi\", email registration necessary.\n**FreeSpot** FreeSpot offering free wireless Internet access, check out their maps of service areas\n**Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect** app for free Wi-Fi spots all over Japan.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk052", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Tokyo is probably one of the safest cities you will ever visit, and Japan in general is one of the safest countries in the world. Most people, including female travellers, would not encounter any problems walking along the streets alone at night. Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night. However, **\"little crime\" does not mean \"no crime\"**, and common sense should still be applied as anywhere in the world. Often the biggest risk is travellers taking Japan's visibly apparent lack of crime too close to heart and doing things they would never do back home.\n\nThe most common crime is sexual harassment on crowded trains, pressed up against each other, hands wander. This is more of a local problem as westerners are considered more aggressive and would stick up for themselves. The best way to deal with any wandering hands is to yell \"*Chikan!*\" which is the Japanese term for \"pervert\". There are railway police offices inside major railway stations in Tokyo, and their locations can be found here. You may alternatively dial the police at to report sexual harassment.\n\nTokyo's main slum area is the San'ya (山谷) area, near Minami-Senju station, with large numbers of mostly male homeless people. It is well off the main tourist trail, but has been gaining popularity among backpackers for its cheap accommodation. However, as many of these hostels are designed for homeless day labourers, the hygiene conditions are often less than satisfactory. While violent crime is still rare, sexual harassment of women is more common than elsewhere in Tokyo, so women might want to avoid travelling there alone.\n\nSmall police stations, or ***kōban*** (交番), can be found every few blocks, and provide community policing. If you get lost or need assistance, by all means go to them; it's their job to help you! They have great maps of the surrounding area, and are happy to give directions. They may, however, have difficulties with English, so some knowledge of the Japanese language helps. Staffing of kōbans is usually limited, and should you need to report a crime, you should lodge them at your nearest police station (警察署), which are marked with a circle with a cross on maps and signs.\n\nTake usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas and trains. Also, theft is more likely to occur in hangouts and bars popular with travellers and non-residents.\n\nThe red-light and nightlife districts can be a bit seedy, but are rarely dangerous. Some small, back-street drinking establishments in red-light districts have been known to charge extortionate prices. Similar problems exist in the seedier clubs in Roppongi, where it may be wise to check cover charges and drink prices in advance. Never follow touts, as they are likely to lead you to dodgy establishments that charge extortionate prices. Touting is illegal in Japan, so you can call the police if they get persistent.\n\nSmoking on the street is strictly prohibited in many areas. Use designated smoking zones to avoid fines.\n\nStill in a jam? Call **Tokyo English Life Line**, tel. 03-5774-0992, daily 09:00-23:00.\n\nIf you make it as far out as the Izu Islands, visitors to Miyakejima Island are required to carry a gas mask, due to volcanic gases. Those in poor health are advised against travelling to the island. In addition, Tokyo, like the rest of Japan is at risk for earthquakes.", "word_count": 558}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk053", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Addresses\n\nIn Tokyo, like other Japanese cities, a place's address is nearly useless for actually getting there. Most roads have no name. Addresses are written in order from largest to smallest; an example address written as 丸ノ内1丁目5-6 or 丸ノ内1-5-6 would be the neighborhood of Marunouchi (丸ノ内), district (*chōme*) 1, block 5, house 6. (Addresses are usually written in English as \"Marunouchi 1-5-6\", or \"1-5-6 Marunouchi\".) Additional numbers may be appended for the floor or room number.\n\nNumbering for districts, blocks, and houses is often not sequential; numbers are usually assigned as buildings are built, chronologically, or based on distance from the city center. Small signs near street corners display the ward/neighborhood and district in Japanese (such as 丸ノ内1丁目, Marunouchi 1-chōme); they often include the block number, but sometimes not, in which case the signs are very unhelpful since a district could be a dozen or more blocks. A building's entrance will usually show the block and house number (such as 5–6, sometimes written 5番6号), but not the district.\n\nTo find your address, make your way to the ward, then start looking for the signs near street corners. The *chōme*s may be numbered in a logical way — *chōme* 4 next to *chōme* 3, or they may not be. Once you locate the correct *chōme*, start looking for your block. Again, block 5 may be close to block 4. Then walk around the block looking for building 6. *Ganbatte*! (Do your best and good luck.)\n\n### Healthcare centres\n\n - Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center\n\n - Emergency Translation Services (for Medical Institutions)\n\n### Babysitting\n\n - chezvous\n\n - Kinder-Network\n\n - Babysitters\n\n### Accessibility\n\nTokyo is the most accessible city in Japan with over 90% of the train stations being wheelchair accessible, along with most tourist attractions. Crowding on trains can be difficult for some people, but wheelchair spaces are available.\n\nFinding accessible restaurants can be hard to access since they often have steps or are very small. Department stores often have accessible restaurants on the top floors.\n Accessible Japan - general information, list of hotels with accessible rooms, tourist attractions\n Japan Guide: Basic Guide to Accessible Travel in Japan - general info\n\n### Embassies\n\n Diplomatic missions\n list \n\n - Albania\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Angola\n\n - Antigua & Barbuda\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Armenia\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Azerbaijan\n\n - Bahrain\n\n - Bangladesh\n\n - Belarus\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Belize\n\n - Benin\n\n - Bhutan\n\n - Bolivia\n\n - Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n - Botswana\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Brunei\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Burkina Faso\n\n - Cambodia\n\n - Cameroon\n\n - Canada\n\n - Central African Republic\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Congo (Democratic Rep)\n\n - Costa Rica\n\n - Cote d'Ivoire\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Cyprus\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Djibouti\n\n - Dominican Republic\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - Egypt\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - Eritrea\n\n - Estonia\n\n - Ethiopia\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Georgia\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Iceland\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Luxembourg\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Morocco\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Panama\n\n - Peru\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Romania\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Singapore\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Tajikistan\n\n - Tanzania\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Tunisia\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Uganda\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Arab Emirates\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Uzbekistan\n\n - Venezuela\n\n - Vietnam\n\n - Yemen\n\n - Zambia\n\n - Zimbabwe", "word_count": 571}
+{"chunk_id": "tokyo::chunk054", "doc_id": "tokyo", "section": "Go next", "text": "From Tokyo, the entire surrounding Kanto region is your oyster. Particularly popular destinations nearby include:\n\n Hakone — for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji, Ashinoko Lake.\n Kawagoe — Old historical town also called \"Little Edo\". Its main street and castle can take you back in time. 60 min train ride from Tokyo station.\n Kamakura — home to dozens of small temples and one Big Buddha, once the seat of the Kamakura shogunate.\n Nikko — grandiose shrine and burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu\n Odawara — houses the only Japanese castle in greater Tokyo area\n Yugawara, Manazuru — for hot springs and coastal resort, eating *sashimi* and *mikan*, views of *Manazuru Peninsula*, some festivals (Matsuri).\n Tokyo Disney Resort — with **Tokyo Disneyland** (just like the ones everywhere else) and **Tokyo Disney Sea** (an only-in-Japan theme park which includes some unique rides and some imported rides from Disney parks outside of Japan)\n Yokohama — Japan's second-largest city and a suburb of Tokyo\n\nThe Tokyo area also has some less-famous destinations that are easy day trips from central Tokyo:\n Ashikaga — historical hometown of a famous shogun clan, first school in Japan, top flower park in Japan, and beautiful nature\n Kiryu — famous historical silk town with museums and bountiful nature for hiking and cycling lovers looking to get a taste of small town Japan\n Hachioji — a refreshing climb up Mt. Takao through a forest to a shrine and beer garden\n Kawasaki — home to the Nihon Minka-En park with 24 ancient farmhouses (more interesting than it sounds), not to mention the annual Festival of the Iron Penis (Kanamara Matsuri)\n Kinugawa — Onsen town in Nikko, home to **Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura**, a theme park set in the Edo period with shows, ninja, samurai, geisha, et al., in a beautiful mountain setting\n Fujino — a small town popular with locals and foreigners alike who are interested in the arts and enjoy beautiful scenery\n\nAnd don't forget the islands to the south of Tokyo:\n Izu Islands — easily accessible seaside and hot spring getaways\n Ogasawara Islands — away from big-city bustle, for whale watching, diving and those who want to get away from it all", "word_count": 363}
diff --git a/corpus/tokyo/metadata.json b/corpus/tokyo/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f963e63dd82ab3381daddcf6c251e2b7e9f24f54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tokyo/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tokyo",
+ "title": "Tokyo",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tokyo",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano",
+ "whale-watching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Tokyo (prefecture)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Kanto",
+ "Hakone",
+ "Mount Fuji",
+ "Kawagoe",
+ "Kamakura",
+ "Nikko",
+ "Odawara",
+ "Yugawara",
+ "Manazuru",
+ "Tokyo Disney Resort",
+ "Yokohama",
+ "Ashikaga",
+ "Kiryu",
+ "Hachioji",
+ "Kawasaki",
+ "Kinugawa",
+ "Nikko",
+ "Fujino",
+ "Izu Islands",
+ "Ogasawara Islands",
+ "Niigata",
+ "Saitama",
+ "Aomori",
+ "Saitama",
+ "Osaka",
+ "Yokohama",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "Hachioji",
+ "Narita",
+ "Ichikawa",
+ "Iwaki",
+ "Misato (Saitama)",
+ "Nagaoka",
+ "Tokorozawa",
+ "Aomori",
+ "Saitama",
+ "Nagoya",
+ "Kawasaki"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13485,
+ "listing_count": 97,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 55,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/toronto/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/toronto/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2d609473c12ed77039a0456196dc53fc7e258c57
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+++ b/corpus/toronto/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk000", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Toronto** is a diverse, energetic and liveable city, home to many tourist attractions, and seemingly endless dining, shopping and entertainment possibilities. It's the most populous city in Canada, the centre of the country's financial sector, and the provincial capital of Ontario.\n\nToronto is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in the world: more than 80 ethnic communities are represented, and over half of the city's residents were born outside Canada.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk001", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Districts", "text": "Toronto is made up of varied and unique neighbourhoods. Covering more than , Toronto stretches some along the shores of Lake Ontario. The city is laid out on a very straightforward grid pattern. Streets rarely deviate from the grid, except when topography interferes, such as the curving Don River Valley, and to a lesser degree the Humber and Rouge valleys at opposite ends of the city. Some main thoroughfares intersect the grid at angles. For travel purposes, we have divided Toronto into twelve districts:\n\n#### Central Toronto\n\nThe dense urban core of Toronto. It includes many of the city's attractions and hotels.\n\n#### Outside Central Toronto\n\nThese are the older suburbs that ring the downtown followed by an outer ring of post-war suburbs. There are fewer attractions here, but if you have the time, some of the neighbourhoods are well worth visiting.\n\n#### Outer suburbs and Greater Toronto Area\n\nAlthough there are fewer attractions, there are ethnic enclaves with ethnic foods and other activities that may be of interest to a traveller in the newer, outer suburbs of Toronto. For example, Markham's population is 48% Chinese and has a lot of interesting shops, businesses, and restaurants. For travel information for the newer suburbs, see the Greater Toronto Area article.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk002", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Understand", "text": "Toronto has an estimated population of over 3.2 million people as of 2024, and is the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which has 7.1 million people. It also anchors the Golden Horseshoe region, which wraps around Lake Ontario from Toronto to Niagara Falls, home to over 11.1 million residents, approximately a quarter of Canada's entire population. Toronto is the fourth largest city and fifth largest urban agglomeration in North America.\n\nDistances between cities in the area can be great as it sprawls along, outward and even wraps around the western end of Lake Ontario; public transit is not always effective enough to make it a quick or seamless trip. Many suburban residents rely on private cars to get around.\n\nToronto is also known as \"the 416\" after its first area code (although now 647 and 437 area codes are also used); or since 2014, \"the 6\", a term coined by the rapper Drake, which represents the area code).\n\nOutlying suburbs are also known as \"the 905\" after *their* area code, although this code is also used in the Hamilton and the Niagara Peninsula, stretching from Cobourg and Colborne in the east to the border in Niagara Falls to the southwest.\n\nMore than half of its residents were born outside of Canada, and as a result the city is fortunate to host many vibrant bustling neighbourhoods with street signs in several languages.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk003", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Understand", "text": "A popular urban myth has it that the United Nations rated Toronto as \"the most multicultural city in the world\". While the UN and its agencies are not in the habit of rating cities, it remains a fact that Canada is a nation of immigrants, and Toronto demonstrates this abundantly. A UN agency lists Toronto as second only to Miami as the city with the most foreign-born residents, as about half the city's residents were born outside of Canada. This has been true since the early 20th century, meaning that new waves of immigrants from diverse places have arrived. Toronto's residents represent far more cultural and language groups than Miami, which may be a better measure of multi-culturalism. Most immigrants either pass through Toronto on their way to other parts of the country or stay in Toronto permanently. Many people born abroad consider themselves Canadian as much as native-born Canadians and will be offended if treated otherwise. Within Toronto, most ethnic groups have worked their way into the fabric of Canadian society but retain their distinct ways such as language, dress (if only for special occasions), customs, and food.\n\nToronto is home to many ethnic festivals throughout the year, several radio stations that broadcast in various languages, and two multilingual television channels. The City of Toronto provides services in 16 different languages while its public transit helpline provides service in 70 languages. Even large department stores such as The Bay in downtown Toronto advertise service in 9 languages. The *lingua franca* of Toronto, however, remains English.\n\nWhile older tourist promotional material may claim the Toronto means \"meeting place\", the city most likely takes its name from the Mohawk word Tkaronto, meaning \"where there are trees standing in the water.\"\n\n### History", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk004", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Understand", "text": "Spawned out of post-glacial alluvial deposits and bluffs, the area was populated at different times by Iroquois and later Wyandot (Huron) peoples.\n\nEuropean settlement began in the mid-1700s when, drawn by the natural harbour formed by the Toronto Peninsula (now the Toronto Islands), the French built a seldom-occupied fort (Fort Rouillé) near today's Exhibition Place. The city then grew out of a backwoods English trading post established as York in 1793 (it was re-named \"Toronto\" in 1834). During the War of 1812, Fort York was an important base for the British, and was destroyed during a major battle.\n\nIn the 1960s and 1970s, Toronto overtook Montreal as the financial and economic powerhouse of Canada.\n\nIn 1998, the cities of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and York and the Borough of East York amalgamated to form the current City of Toronto.\n\n### Climate\n\nToronto's climate is on the whole on the cool side, and variable conditions can be expected.\n\nCome prepared for winter: winters are cold (temperatures average -3.8°C (25°F) in January), mostly cloudy, at times snowy and uncomfortably windy. However, the type of extreme cold experienced further north in Canada usually lasts for no more than a couple of days at a time. Sometimes during the winter, severe storms can slow down transportation and activities in the city for a day or two. Daylight hours are short and run from 7:45AM to 4:45PM.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk005", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city experiences warm and humid summers, but still milder than many US cities. Average daytime highs are around and for overnight lows in July/August, with many muggy evenings but rarely extreme heat. On average, the temperature exceeds only 12 days per year, but hotter air masses often arrive with moderately high humidity levels. This can raise the humidex to around 38°C or even higher (equivalent to a heat index of ); and increase overnight lows to or above on particularly sweltering days. In the summer, thunderstorms occur from time to time, most lasting less than an hour. Summer days are long, with the sun up as late as 9PM, and sunrises around 5:45AM.\n\nLate spring/early summer and early fall are generally considered to be the best times to visit for weather and less crowds, mid-summer is the peak tourist season, but visitors will find that Toronto's vibrancy extends through the winter with outdoor skating rinks and bundled up club-goers, etc. Toronto's public buildings are nearly all air-conditioned and fully heated.\n\nAreas closer to the downtown core are generally 1 to 1.5°C warmer in winter due to the urban heat island effect. For the rest of the year, areas close to Lake Ontario are warmer by about 1°C due to the moderating effects of the lake. This is especially prominent in March and November when the city receives rain while areas just north of the city receive snow.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n- Ontario Travel Information Centre\n\n- Destination Toronto", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk006", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### Toronto Pearson\n\nthumbnail|right|Pearson International sees the most traffic and connections of all airports in Canada\n, in Mississauga, is 30-50 minutes by car (depending on traffic) or 25 minutes by train from downtown Toronto and is served by most major international carriers. There are two terminals: Terminal 1 hosts all Air Canada flights and a few other international (mostly Star Alliance) carriers while Terminal 3 hosts all other airlines. When travelling from Toronto International (and other major Canadian airports) to the United States, travellers will go through United States immigration and customs pre-clearance in Toronto, and should leave some extra time to account for this. The airport has free WiFi internet access.\n\nThe main article describes ground transportation to and from Toronto Pearson.\n\n#### Billy Bishop Airport\n\nthumbnail|right|Porter Airlines offers a network of connections across eastern Canada and northeastern US from their base at Billy Bishop Airport.\n\n#### Airlines at Billy Bishop Airport\n\n- Porter Airlines\n\n- Air Canada\n\n- Propair\n\n#### Ground transit from Billy Bishop Airport\n\nOne of the main benefits of flying into Billy Bishop is its proximity to the downtown core. Upon landing, you can be downtown within ten minutes. A pedestrian tunnel under the channel takes you to the city. A free ferry service also makes the short crossing: it is just 121 metres, the world's shortest regularly-scheduled ferry route. It operates between TCCA and the mainland every 15 minutes: see full schedule. Once on the mainland, a free shuttle bus connects the terminal with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, across the street from Union Station.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk007", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "TTC streetcars are available within a short walk from the mainland ferry terminal:\n Route 509 Harbourfront travels east along the waterfront (Queens Quay) to Union Station. Streetcar stops are at the corner of Queens Quay & Bathurst; 4 minute walk.\n Route 511 Bathurst provides service north along Bathurst, to Bathurst subway station. Stops are near the corner of Fleet St & Bathurst St; 6 minute walk.\n Both of these routes also travel a short distance to the west, terminating at Exhibition Place.\n Route 510 Spadina travels north along Spadina Ave to Spadina subway station. It's a bit of a longer walk (900m; about 15 minutes along Queens Quay to Spadina Ave) but can be a good choice if your destination lies along Spadina Ave.\n\nThat said, the most convenient connection to TTC subway and GO Transit services remains the free shuttle bus to Union Station.\n\n#### Other airports\n\n**Hamilton International Airport**, (), about from downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls, is served by WestJet along with seasonal service by Air Transat and Sunwing to sun destinations. See section on John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport for ground transportation including buses to Toronto.\n\nFor frugal travellers coming from the United States, **Buffalo-Niagara International Airport**, (), is another option. Flights to Buffalo tend to be significantly cheaper than to Pearson, but then you still have to get to Toronto. **Megabus**, the airline-type coach service with varying prices and required early booking, runs a daily bus that takes 3 hours, including the border crossing. Several private livery agencies will drive you there for a fee (usually in the $200 range, give or take), or rental cars are available at the airport if you prefer to do the drive yourself.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Bus terminals", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk008", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main bus terminal is in downtown Toronto adjacent to Union railway station:\n\nHere is a list of minor terminals and stops in various parts of the city. Check the Wikipedia link for a list of bus routes serving each terminal.\n \n \n \n \nSee also Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ground Transportation, for more intercity bus routes.\n\n#### Bus operators\n\n- FlixBus\n\n- GO Transit\n \n - Intercity Bus\n\n- Megabus\n\n- Ontario Northland\n The following routes travel to Toronto:\nTo Toronto from North Bay including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from North Bay is 5.75-6 hours, from Huntsville is 3.25-4 hours, from Barrie is 1.25 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Cochrane, Kirkland Lake, Ottawa, and Timmins.\nTo Toronto from Sudbury including stops in Parry Sound, Orillia (some trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from Sudbury is 5.5-6.5 hours, from Parry Sound is 3.5-3.75 hours, and from Barrie is 1-1.5 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Ottawa, Sault Sainte Marie, and Timmins.\nTravel to Toronto from Winnipeg involves timed transfers between bus routes at Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury. To reach Toronto from Winnipeg is 1 day 9 hours.\n- Onex Bus\n\n- Orléans Express\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Union Station", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk009", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "The following are the railway services operating out of Union Station:\n- Amtrak\n Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Travel time to Toronto from Niagara Falls (Ontario) is 2 hours, from Buffalo is 4.25 hours, from Syracuse is 6.75 hours, from Albany is 9.5 hours, and from New York City is 12.5 hours. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.\n- GO Transit\n\nThe Barrie line serves Vaughan, Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Barrie daily.\nThe Kitchener line serves Brampton, Georgetown, Acton, Guelph and Kitchener daily.\nThe Lakeshore West line operates daily serving Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. \nThe Lakeshore East line operates daily serving Pickering, Ajax, and Whitby and Oshawa.\nThe Stouffville line operates daily serving Markham.\nOther GO rail destinations have only rush-hour, peak-direction service.\n- Union Pearson Express", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk010", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "- VIA Rail Canada\n See Rail travel in Canada for more details. Train routes operating to Toronto:\nBetween Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval, Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Montreal is 5.25-5.5 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.\nBetween Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Ottawa is 4.25-4.75 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.\nBetween Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga. Travel time to Toronto from Sarnia is 5 hours, from London is 3.75 hours, and from Kitchener is 1.5 hours.\nBetween Vancouver and Toronto on The Canadian, which operates several trips per week. Travel time to Toronto from Vancouver is 3 days 20.5 hours, from Kamloops is 3 days 10.25 hours, from Jasper is 3 days, from Edmonton is 2 days 16.75 hours, from Saskatoon is 2 days 5.5 hours, from Winnipeg is 1 day 14 hours, and from Sudbury is 9.75 hours. Stops between Sudbury and Toronto include Parry Sound (5.75 hours from Toronto) and Washago.\nBetween Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, and Oakville. Travel time to Toronto from Windsor is 4.25-4.5 hours, from London is 3.25-3.5 hours, and from Brantford is 1.25 hours. There are no direct trains from Chicago, but you can catch Amtrak's *Wolverine* service from Chicago to Detroit, then transfer onto one of VIA Rail's trains after crossing the border into Windsor by public transport.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk011", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Major highways leading into Toronto are the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), the 404, the 401, the 400, and the 427. Toronto is the largest city in Canada, so signs pointing you to Toronto are common. Traffic on incoming highways can be extremely heavy especially during rush hours. In the downtown core there are many turn restrictions, particularly from main thoroughfares to other main thoroughfares (e.g. Yonge to Dundas Streets).\n\nThe main streets in Toronto are laid out in a grid pattern that makes it one of the easiest cities to get around in by car. Getting from point to point anywhere in the city can be achieved with only a few turns. Parking in the downtown core can be expensive and hard to find, but tends to be plentiful and inexpensive or free in the outer districts of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Although there is an extensive grid of local bus routes, travel by automobile may be faster and more convenient in the outer districts.\n\n#### Transit bylaws\n\nToronto follows some bylaws related to the transit system (especially streetcars) that often confuse or surprise visiting drivers:", "word_count": 187}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk012", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get in", "text": "Yield to public transit buses signalling to merge left into traffic from a bus stop.\n Stay out of reserved public transit lanes during the rush hours, except to make a right-hand turn at the next cross street. A few transit lanes have restrictions from 7AM-7PM. While the restrictions are in effect, only transit vehicles, taxis and bicycles may use these lanes. Newer bus only lanes are painted red and may only be used by TTC vehicles or bicycles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except when making a right turn). \n Avoid King Street between Jarvis and Bathurst streets as no through automobile traffic is allowed; such traffic must turn right after travelling a few blocks as per signage. Through traffic in this zone is allowed only for streetcars (trams) and bicycles.\n Never pass a streetcar running in your direction that is stopped in the middle of the street with its doors open. Passing is illegal and dangerous for passengers boarding or leaving the streetcar. Also, you should yield to people entering the street to board an approaching streetcar. Continue only after the streetcar doors close. Exception: You may pass a streetcar where there is a boarding platform between the streetcar and traffic lane, but watch out for pedestrians walking between the platform and the sidewalk.\n Give wide berth to streetcars turning at a street intersection; streetcars have a wide overhang on curves, which is indicated on the road by dashed white lines. If your car is stopped too close to a streetcar curve, you may be forced to back up or squeeze more to the right.\n Give wide berth to emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing red lights, and pull over to the side of the road safely but quickly.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk013", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Toronto is huge, and most roads run for very long distances. Streetcar rail, subway rail, and intercity rail services are clean and efficient, and it's entirely possible to get around Toronto without a car, especially downtown. You may find it quicker and easier to drive, but the highways regularly backup during rush hour (7AM-10AM and 4PM-7PM). Toronto has plentiful parking garages downtown, but they are very expensive.\n\nMany in Toronto travel by bicycle (especially in the warmer months) and this mode is very convenient for getting around the downtown district. Not all motorists will give way to cyclists, and not all cyclists comply with the rules of the road; caution is recommended.\n\n### By car\n\nGetting around by car is the easiest method to get around outside of the downtown area. Roads are wide, have many lanes, and parking is free and plentiful. Arterial roads are generally laid out apart, although they are closer in the west and east ends of the city.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk014", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are many freeways within Toronto.\n**Highway 401** *(locally, the four-oh-one)* crosses the north side of the city and is very busy. Highway 401 has a collector-express system. The express lanes of the highway have fewer exits, while the collector lanes generally have all the exits. After every 3 or 4 exits, there is an interchange between the collectors and express lanes, so motorists who need to exit can get into the collectors, and those travelling a longer distance can go into the express lanes. When there's a lot of traffic, it is possible for the collectors to be jammed, but not the express, and vice versa. It is best to listen to traffic reports in order to avoid traffic in this case. AM 680 on your radio has traffic and weather reports every 10 minutes (on the 1's). \n**Highway 427** crosses the west side of the city. It begins at the QEW/Gardiner Expressway interchange and ends in Vaughan. It also has a short express-collector system near the airport; be sure to follow the signs in order to get where you need to go.\n**Highway 400** has a short stub in Toronto and ends at Highway 401. Highway 400 goes north into the suburbs and later to Barrie.\n**Allen Road** is a short freeway that was supposed to be part of a longer Spadina Expressway. The rest of the expressway was cancelled and Allen Road was the short stub that remained. Allen Road begins at Eglinton Avenue, and ends north of Highway 401 and becomes Dufferin Street. Traffic going south is usually backed up because the freeway ends abruptly at a signalized T-intersection at Eglinton.\n**Highway 404** also has a short stub in Toronto, and goes north to the suburbs, such as Aurora and Newmarket. Highway 404, after interchanging with Highway 401 when going south, becomes the Don Valley Parkway.\n**Don Valley Parkway** (DVP) is a freeway that connects northern Toronto to downtown Toronto. Exits on the DVP require motorists to slow down more than you would on other Ontario expressways, due to the nature of the terrain. The DVP begins at the Gardiner Expressway in downtown and ends at Highway 401 in the north, then contines as Highway 404.\n**Gardiner Expressway** is a freeway serving downtown Toronto. It begins at QEW/Highway 427 interchange and crossing downtown Toronto, ending at Don Valley Parkway. Half of the route is elevated, making for great views of the city.\n**Highway 409** is a short freeway designed to connect directly with Toronto Pearson International Airport. It begins at Highway 401, interchanges with Highway 427, and ends at the airport.", "word_count": 435}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk015", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Getting around in downtown Toronto by car is a lot harder, however, and perhaps taking transit might be better. Parking is scarce and could be expensive, depending on where you park and whether you park on the street or on private lots. Driving on downtown streets also takes a lot more patience as speeds are slower, and hazards are more numerous.\n\nIdeally, avoid driving in downtown areas as parking fees are high. Ride-sharing services are widely available and a stress-free alternative.\n\n### By public transit\n\n- Toronto Transit Commission\n\n#### Fares\n\nThe following are the fares effective August 15, 2023:\n Cash fare: adult (20-64) $3.35, senior (65+) $2.30, youth (13-19) $2.40\n Contactless credit or debit card: adult fare only, $3.30\n Presto card: adult $3.30, senior $2.25, youth $2.35\n Presto ticket: adult fare only, one-ride $3.35, two-ride $6.70, day pass $13.50\n Children (12 or younger): free.\n\nChild, youth and senior riders must be prepared to show proof of age for reduced fares on request.\n\n##### Paying by Presto\n\nPresto is an electronic fare payment system used on the TTC where riders pay fares by tapping a contactless **credit or debit card**, Presto card or Presto ticket on a Presto fare reader. The Presto fare system is used by most public transit services in the Greater Toronto Area, including the TTC, GO Transit and UP Express.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk016", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "right|thumb|The Presto machine on the right sells Presto cards & tickets. Both can upload funds to a physical Presto card.\n**Presto card** is a multiple-use, electronic fare card with a stored balance. Unless you are eligible for reduced senior/youth fares, it is simpler to use a credit or debit card instead of a Presto card. Physical Presto cards can be obtained for $4 from the Presto vending machines at TTC, GO and UP stations (cash, credit cards and debit cards are accepted at the large black machines) at most Shoppers Drug Mart and select Loblaws stores across the city, while digital Presto cards via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet can be installed onto a compatible smartphone or smartwatch for free. All physical and digital Presto cards are automatically configured to deduct the regular adult fare by default. For reduced senior/youth fares, the customer must have the card's fare type changed by seeing a physical agent at an authorized in-person Presto customer service outlet (not a vending machine); proof of age may be required. Presto card holders are entitled to discounts or offers for certain attractions in the Greater Toronto Area.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk017", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Presto tickets** are single-use, paper-disposable electronic tickets with no stored balance which must be used within 90 days of purchase (unused tickets can be exchanged for up to one year past expiration by mailing them in to TTC). If you are paying a single-ride fare with a credit or debit card, you do not need Presto tickets. They can only be used for TTC services, (they are accepted at all TTC stations regardless of whether they are located in Toronto or York Region, and on surface routes/vehicles within the City of Toronto limits and for TTC buses going to and from Pearson Airport). They are sold from Presto vending machines at all TTC stations at most Shoppers Drug Mart and select Loblaws locations across Toronto and come in three varieties: one-ride, two-ride and day pass. The TTC Presto day pass allows one person unlimited travel on the day of use from first tap until 3AM the next morning.\n\nUsing Presto, you must tap your credit card, debit card, Presto card or Presto ticket on the Presto fare reader located on top of TTC station faregates, on the streetcar or bus doors, or the on-street platforms for Lines 5 and 6. To avoid accidental double charging, keep any unused credit and debit cards away from the Presto reader, and always tap the same card or ticket during your trip. If travelling as a group, each rider must use a separate card or ticket.\n\nCustomers paying a single-ride TTC fare with a credit, debit or Presto card, or a 1-ride Presto ticket are entitled to two hours of unlimited travel on all TTC services, allowing unlimited stopovers or a round trip.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk018", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "For riders paying by credit, debit or Presto card, free or discounted transfers are available between the TTC and the following transit operators: GO Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Oakville Transit, MiWay (Mississauga), Brampton Transit, York Region Transit and Durham Region Transit. For such trips, riders pay only one fare instead of paying multiple fares when transferring from one transit operator to another. If transferring to or from GO Transit, only the GO fare is charged by the end of the trip. Such trips must be completed within two hours, or three hours if using GO Transit. This free or discounted transfer is **not** available to riders paying by cash, Presto ticket or using UP Express trains operating between Union Station and Pearson Airport.\n\n##### Paying by cash\n\nIf you pay by cash, exact cash (no change provided) is required. You must request for paper transfer (also called a POP ticket) to serve as proof of payment and to transfer to another TTC vehicle at designated transfer locations. Paper transfers are valid for a one-way continuous trip and stopovers and return trips are not permitted (unlike paying by credit, debit or Presto card). Unstaffed automated subway entrances do not accept exact cash fares or paper transfers. If you are paying the adult cash fare, Presto tickets are a better alternative than paying exact cash.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk019", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "The procedures for cash payment vary by vehicle mode:\n At subway stations, there is at least one staffed entrance where you can deposit exact cash into a fare box. After passing the fare gates, obtain a transfer from a red machine labelled \"transfer/POP\". \n On buses, pay exact cash fare at the front door of the vehicle, and ask the driver for a paper transfer.\n On streetcars, there are cash payment machines near the second and third doors of the vehicle. After you insert exact cash fare into the vending machine, it will give you a paper POP/transfer.\n For Lines 5 and 6, underground stations have at least one staffed entrance where you deposit exact cash into the fare box, after passing through the fare gates obtain a paper transfer from the red transfers machine. At on-street stops, there is a cash payment machine on the platform where you deposit exact cash into the vending machine and obtain a paper POP/transfer.\n\n#### Subway and light rail\n\nTrains operate M-Sa roughly 6AM-1:30AM, and Su 8AM-1:30AM.\nthumb|Toronto subway system\n\nAs of Feb 2026, the subway and light rail system has five lines:\nLine Yonge-University runs in a 'U' shape, travelling from North York south along Yonge Street, through the downtown area to Union Station, then travelling north through North York to Vaughan.\nLine Bloor-Danforth runs east-west along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue.\nLine Sheppard runs east from Line 1 along Sheppard Avenue to Fairview Mall at Don Mills Station.\nLine Eglinton runs east along Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis and Kennedy Stations.\nLine Finch West runs west from Line 1 at Finch West Station along Finch Avenue West to Humber College.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk020", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Much of Lines 5 and 6 run on the surface in the middle of a street. Before boarding a Line 5 or 6 train on the street, remember to pay/validate your fare *before* boarding the train. Note: Buses will replace Line 5 & 6 trains after 10PM until late spring 2026. A number of underground stations on Line 5 are several levels deep with elevators and escalators only at the main entrance; to avoid an exhausting climb, do not use the secondary entrances.\n\nLine Scarborough is no longer in service. Until the extension of the Line 2 underground subway opens (estimated 2030), the service has been replaced by interim bus services including the 903 Kennedy-Scarborough Express running between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations, and 8 other TTC bus routes. These routes have been extended from Scarborough Centre to operate as express services to Kennedy station. (All TTC bus routes that depart from Platform B at Kennedy station service Scarborough Centre station before continuing along their respective routes.)\n\nSections of the subway and light rail system often close on weekends or late evening for maintenance, with buses replacing each closed section. The TTC gives notice of such closures a few days in advance. Expect a longer travel time during such closures; staff will be on hand to direct passengers.\n\n#### Streetcars\n\nthumb|[[File:Tram-Logo.svg|20px]] (2016)\n\nTTC Subway and Streetcar Map, omitting most streetcar diversions\n Streetcar Service Changes, explaining diversions and bus replacements by route with maps", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk021", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Toronto is one of the few cities in North America (and the only city in Canada) to have kept any of its streetcar routes. Most streetcar lines serve the south, central part of the city. Note the following:\n The TTC often diverts streetcars around construction projects potentially resulting in a substantially changed route for several months. Maps posted on the TTC website, in stations and in waiting shelters generally do not reflect such diversions. Ideally, riders should check the *Streetcar Services Changes* link above for diversions to avoid ending up in the wrong place.\n Buses replacing all or part of a streetcar route will bear the streetcar route number and route name.\n When getting on and off streetcars, make sure that the traffic is stopped in the lane next to the streetcar. Also, be aware of pickpockets in crowded rush hour situations.\n\n#### Other services\n\nFrom roughly 1:30AM to 6AM (8AM on Sundays), the subway system and all day-time streetcar and bus routes are replaced by the '''Blue Night Network'''. Night bus and streetcar routes are all numbered in the 300-series, and use the same fares as day-time routes. Night route 320 Yonge replaces the subway line 1 and offers frequent service. Most other night routes have 30-minute frequency.\n\n'''Express bus routes''' (numbered in the 900 series) often follow local bus routes but with fewer stops, stopping mainly at transfer points. The 900 Airport Express goes to Toronto Pearson Airport. Some express routes operate all day, every day; others may run only during rush hours. Fares are the same as on other TTC routes.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk022", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis are plentiful and safe, but not cheap. The base rate is $4.25, with an average trip costing $13. As with most big cities, driving a car downtown can be annoying; parking is often hard to find and expensive, and traffic along certain streets can make vehicle travel slower than mass transit. However, traveling longer distances, when not close to subway lines is often significantly faster by car or taxi.\n\n### By ride hailing\n\n- Lyft\n\n- Uber\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|''Bike Share Toronto'' rack near the Toronto City Hall.\nToronto is trying very hard to become a bike-friendly city, with dedicated bike lanes being added all the time. There are many casual cyclists out all the time. And it is fast: door to door, in all of downtown Toronto, a bike beats a car or transit nearly every time.\n\nThere can be hostility between automobiles and cyclists. Generally speaking, if you are on the road, you are expected to obey the same laws as cars, and you are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk.\n\nThe city is predominantly flat, aside from a general climb away from Lake Ontario and the deeply indented, forested Don Valley and Humber River Valley. Post-and-ring locking posts are present throughout the city. There are many bike-only lanes on major roads and threading through various neighbourhoods and parks. The city publishes a cycling map, available on the city website.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk023", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bike Share Toronto provides a public bike system with over 10,000 bikes available at 1,000 stations throughout the city. Subscriptions start at $15 for 24 hours and allow you to use a bike for 90 minutes or less, as much as you like (usage fees apply for trips longer than 90 minutes). It operates 24 hours a day, all year long (but see the warning below about winter biking). Several businesses also offer bicycle rentals.\n\nIt is a provincial law that cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet, and all riders must have a bike with reflectors and a bell. This tends to only be enforced when the police go on their annual \"cycling blitz\".\n\nSome dangers:\n\nBeware of parked cars - often accidents are not caused by moving cars, but rather by careless drivers or passengers who unexpectedly open their driver's side door.\n Be cautious of streetcar tracks as bike wheels can be easily caught and cause a spill.\n Although you will certainly see many locals riding the streets year-round, biking in the winter months is enjoyable only with proper equipment and reasonable skills; winter weather is cold, it can be quite windy, and snow removal is often imperfect.\n\nSome recommended cycling routes:", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk024", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Get around", "text": "By far one of the most popular bike paths is the Martin Goodman Trail, the east-west route that hugs Lake Ontario, spanning the city from Etobicoke to the eastern ends of the city. This path is also often used by pedestrians and rollerbladers.\n The Don River trail system begins at the lake (near Queen and Broadview) and travels very far north and east. During or after heavy rains, avoid lower sections of the trails.\n A special treat for bikers of all levels is a tour through Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie St Spit) to the lighthouse and bird sanctuaries (no cars!), which is open on weekends only. Start at Queen and Leslie and head south.\n A visit to Toronto Islands from the ferry docks at the southern end of Bay Street is a great way to spend a bike-friendly, relaxed afternoon by bike. There are no private cars on the Toronto Islands.\n\n### By ferry\n\nThe trip to the Toronto Islands from the downtown core (Bay St and Queens Quay) is a pleasant 15-minute ferry ride, with frequent summer service and the best views of the Toronto skyline.\n\nThere are also guided sailing vessels that take tours of the inner and outer harbours, and circumnavigate Toronto Islands. Ticket booths are found behind Harbourfront Centre in the Harbourfront district.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk025", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "See", "text": "### Museums\n\nthumbnail|The Royal Ontario Museum\nthumbnail|Casa Loma\nthumbnail|CN Tower viewed from Rogers Centre\nthumbnail|Toronto City Hall at night\n **Art Gallery of Ontario**. The largest art gallery in Canada. It has a great Canadian paintings exhibit and the world's largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures. The European paintings exhibit has a few excellent pieces including Ruben's *The Massacre of the Innocents*.\n '''Bata Shoe Museum'''. This offbeat museum is devoted to shoes and footwear from cultures all over the world.\n '''Black Creek Pioneer Village''' is a recreation of life in 19th-century Ontario and consists of over 40 historic buildings, decorated in the style of the 1860s with period furnishings and actors portraying villagers.\n '''Casa Loma''' is a step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The museum has decorated suites, secret passages, a 250-m-long tunnel, towers, stables and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens.\n '''Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art'''. Dedicated to ceramics in an exquisite contemporary building.\n '''Hockey Hall of Fame''' is both a museum and a hall of fame dedicated to the history of ice hockey.\n '''Royal Ontario Museum''' is a museum of art, world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America, and the largest in Canada.\n '''Spadina House Museum''' is in a historic mansion dating from the 1860s. The grounds contain a beautiful garden.\n **Textile Museum of Canada**. Shows drawn from a 13,000-piece collection of textiles from around the world and from other collections.\n\n### Landmarks\n\n '''CN Tower'''. At 533 metres tall, the CN Tower is the third tallest free-standing structure in the world, and the tallest in North America.\n **Rogers Centre** is a large multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.\n '''Toronto City Hall'''. Two buildings forming a semi-circle overlooking Nathan Phillips Square. Architecturally stunning, and next door to '''Old City Hall''' (now a court house) which has a more classical architecture.\n\n### Parks\n\n '''Toronto Zoo''' is Canada's premier zoo showcasing over 3,000 animals and over 300 species.", "word_count": 340}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk026", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "### Outdoors", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk027", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "Toronto is \"the city within a park\", with miles and miles of parkland following the streams and rivers that flow through the city. **Edwards Gardens** and the **Toronto Botanical Gardens** in the neighbourhood of North York might just be the place to start exploring this natural environment.\n The City of Toronto has designated various **Discovery Walks** which highlight the natural and human history of the region. These can be found with brown circular signs along the route and highlight other regions such as the Belt Line, Garrison Creek and the Humber River as well as the downtown core.\n **Beaches**. Toronto has three main sections of beach along Lake Ontario. The most popular of these is in the aptly-named Beaches neighbourhood. A less popular alternative is the beaches in the western end of the city in the Parkdale neighbourhood; this was once Toronto's Coney Island, with an amusement park and numerous beach-style attractions; however in the 1950s the city built the Gardiner Expressway along the lakeshore, effectively separating the beaches from the city and causing the demolition of the amusement park; over the years attempts have been made to re-energize this area, but the Gardiner remains a major barrier, as well as a source of noise and pollution to keep away would-be beach-goers. On the plus side, the beaches are largely empty most of the time, providing solitude for those who seek it. The third major beach area in the city runs along the south shore of the Toronto Islands. This area is pleasantly secluded, with most of the islands covered with parkland and a small amusement park. Hanlan's Point Beach on the western shore of the islands is the City of Toronto's only officially recognized clothing optional beach, and a popular gay hangout. Despite these options, many Torontonians prefer to leave the city for beach trips; the most popular beaches are those in the Georgian Bay area north of Toronto, Wasaga Beach in particular is very popular during the summer.", "word_count": 330}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk028", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "### Arts & entertainment\n\n**Comedy**. World-renowned Second City comedy/improv theatre has a location in Toronto. See great improv and situation comedy performed live with audience participation over dinner and drinks in the heart of the club district of downtown Toronto.\n **Theatre**. Toronto has a great theatre scene for every taste and budget. Check out the big theatres on Yonge Street for the big splashy shows. Small theatres in the Annex and elsewhere offer smaller productions that range from original Canadian works, avant-garde, experimental theatre, small budget musicals to British murder mysteries. A variety of theatre festivals such as the New Ideas, Rhubarb and Fringe festivals are the seed for many commercial success such as *The Drowsy Chaperone*. Also try to check out the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the home of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. The Toronto Symphony plays in the acoustically renovated Roy Thomson Hall.\n\n### Annual events\n\n- Canadian National Exhibition\n\n- Doors Open\n\n- Fan Expo Canda\n\n- Pride Toronto\n\n- Toronto Black Film Festival\n\n- Toronto International Film Festival\n\n- Inside Out LGBT Film & Video Festival\n\n- Toronto International Festival of Authors\n\n### Exploring neighbourhoods", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk029", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Crowds along Chinatown, on Spadina.\nthumbnail|Pedestrian streets in Koreatown.\nToronto has so many eclectic neighbourhoods that a random walk is fascinating in its own right. You might start in the Downtown area and then try other neighbourhoods around the city. Here are a few suggestions of neighbourhoods to visit. More details and more examples are found in the district articles.\n '''Distillery District'''. The former Gooderham & Worts distillery lands have been rejuvenated into a pedestrian-only village dedicated to the arts and entertainment. It has fantastic restaurants, festivals, and art galleries housed in its 19th-century distillery buildings.\n '''Harbourfront''', Toronto's former industrial port, is today largely parkland with biking and walking trails and excellent views of the harbour. Harbourfront Centre is situated right by the lake, and is home to numerous cultural events of which most are free or relatively inexpensive. Take in some of the worlds most critically acclaimed performing arts productions, or enjoy one of the many world festivals that take place every weekend.\n '''Toronto Islands'''. A short inexpensive ferry ride from the foot of Bay Street and you leave the bustle of the city behind. Visually, the views of the skyline from the islands are stunning, and for cycling, walking, picnics or just relaxing, the Toronto Islands are hard to beat. There is even a small amusement park for kids, Centreville. On hot summer days, temperatures here will often be about 2-3C lower than the mainland providing relief. By mid-summer the water is warm enough to swim at Hanlan's Point or for the more adventurous, a nude beach is nearby.\n '''Little Italy''' is the spot to get a sense of the Western Mediterranean. Sit at one of the many coffee shops and watch the world go by on the weekends. A great time to visit is during the men's FIFA World Cup competition (in football/soccer), regardless of where in the world it is actually being held as local communities face off and rivalries reach a fever pitch. Support can be passionate and even in adjacent communities and it is not unusual to see them draped in a mind-numbing variety of flags once every four years.\n **Toronto's Chinatown** is a great way to sample a tiny bit of cities like Hong Kong, without spending the airfare. Vast crowds crush the sidewalks as vendors sell authentic Chinese and Vietnamese food, and not-so-authentic knock-offs. It is one of North America's largest Chinatowns, and with many shops aimed at tourists, it is a good place to pick up some unusual and inexpensive souvenirs. The area is also home to a growing number of Korean and Vietnamese shops and restaurants. Toronto's multicultural mosaic never stops evolving. For a complete tour, travel along Spadina (north/south) starting at College Street in the north or Queen Street in the south. However, those looking for good, authentic Chinese food may be disappointed, and most of the restaurants here are tourist traps; these days the best Chinese food can be found in the suburbs of Markham and Richmond Hill.\n '''Kensington Market''' was once a centre of Jewish life that has morphed into the centre of Toronto's bohemian scene. Visitors will be assaulted by sounds and smells unlike anywhere else in the city, as narrow streets bustle with immigrants, punks, and yuppies alike. Stores include surplus shops, coffee houses, small restaurants (including vegetarian), clothing vendors, and record stores. Fish and fruit markets are also present in great numbers, and the area is experiencing a boom of South American food stalls of late.\n '''Koreatown''' has many Korean retail businesses and restaurants where Korean is as prominent as English in the signage. (There is also another Koreatown in North York.\n '''Gerrard India Bazaar (Little India)''' If you want to get a sense of Toronto's vibrant South Asian community, this is where you want to be; not only is Indian culture represented - visible Pakistani and Afghan communities are also alive along the street.\n The **501 Queen streetcar** has been recognized in *National Geographic* magazine for being the longest streetcar route in North America (one of the longest in the world). The journey from one end to the other takes a couple of hours and passes through a wide range of ethnic and cultural neighbourhoods.", "word_count": 702}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk030", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "### Sports teams & arenas\n\nToronto has several major league and minor league sports teams:\n\n**Toronto Argonauts** - Canadian Football League, playing at BMO Field on the Exhibition Place grounds.\n **Toronto Blue Jays** – Major League Baseball, playing at the Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome, and still generally called such by locals).\n **Toronto Maple Leafs** – National Hockey League, playing at the Scotiabank Arena (formerly known as Air Canada Centre).\n **Toronto Raptors** – National Basketball Association, playing at the Scotiabank Arena.\n **Toronto Rock** – National Lacrosse League, playing at the Scotiabank Arena.\n **Toronto Football Club** (also known as Toronto FC or TFC) – Major League Soccer, playing at BMO Field.\n **Toronto Sceptres** – Professional Women's Hockey League, playing at the Coca-Cola Coliseum (formerly the Ricoh Coliseum).\n **Toronto Marlies** – American Hockey League (Toronto Maple Leafs farm team), also playing at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.\n **York United FC** – Pro soccer team in the Canadian Premier League. They play home games at York Lions Stadium on the campus of York University in North York, but have long-term plans to build their own stadium in the York Region.\n **Toronto FC II** – MLS Next Pro (Toronto FC reserve team); as of 2024, TFC II shares York Lions Stadium with York United. A couple of home games are played at BMO Field as part of a doubleheader with the parent club.\n **Toronto Wolfpack** – Rugby league team playing in Super League, the top level of England's rugby league pyramid, which also includes 10 teams from England and one from France. The Wolfpack play at Lamport Stadium in the Liberty Village neighbourhood.\n In 2026, Coca-Cola Coliseum will also become home to the **Toronto Tempo**, a WNBA team.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk031", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Scotiabank Arena**, 40 Bay St. It was called the Air Canada Centre (or \"the Hangar\") until 2018.\n\nThe **Rogers Centre **, 1 Blue Jays Way. Most often referred to by its original \"SkyDome\" name.\n\nThe **Maple Leaf Gardens**, 60 Carlton Street. Historic arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District; now converted into a Loblaws supermarket and an athletic centre for Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens.\n\nThe **Sobey's Stadium** (formerly Aviva Centre), 1 Shoreham Drive. A tennis complex that serves mainly as a training facility, but also includes a main stadium court that frequently hosts seasonal concerts. The most notable use of the complex is for the annual Canadian Open (sponsored as the National Bank Open formerly Rogers Cup), a high-profile event on both the men's ATP Tour and women's WTA Tour. The Aviva Centre hosts the ATP event in even-numbered years and the WTA event in odd-numbered years, alternating with Montreal in both cases.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk032", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Buy", "text": "Toronto has ample opportunities for shopping, and nearly any section of the city has unique places to shop:\nthumb|right|250px|Interior view of the Toronto Eaton Centre.\n **Toronto Eaton Centre** – At Yonge-Dundas Square. Over 285 shops and services, including most of North America's most popular brands, and two food courts catering for every taste.\n - The 'PATH' System\n\n '''Mink Mile'''. If you head west from the corner of Yonge and Bloor, you are in the most upscale of Toronto's shopping districts, easily accessible from the Bloor-Yonge or Bay subway station. Bloor Street between Yonge and Avenue is regarded as Toronto's version of Fifth Avenue, with upscale names such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton, and the flagship Holt Renfrew department store.\n '''Yorkville'''. This high-end shopping district just north of Bloor Street and west of Bay Street is home to many designer boutiques. It also has many galleries selling art.\n '''Kensington Market''' provides a bohemian shopping experience especially along the southern end of Kensington Avenue. The houses lining both sides of the street have been turned into shops with racks of clothes displayed in the front yard.\n There are many local, neighbourhood shopping districts in the inner city. These are mostly along major thoroughfares lined on one or both sides with shops in low-rise buildings. A few examples are **Queen Street West** (especially east of Spadina Avenue and extending westward into the West End), **Uptown Yonge** north of Eglinton Avenue on Yonge Street, and **Roncesvalles Village**. There are many more areas with store-lined streets within the inner city but few in suburban districts such as Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough which tend to prefer malls. Consult the district articles.\n - Yorkdale Shopping Centre\n\n### Money\n\n**Changing money** at a recognized bank or financial institution is best; there are a few specialized *bureaux de change* in Toronto's financial district and in Mississauga in the airport terminals. Some hotels, souvenir shops and tourist offices exchange money, but their rates won't put a smile on your dial. Many places in Toronto accept US dollars for small transactions – with a rough 1:1 exchange rate – and it is advised to obtain some Canadian dollars if you will use cash. US coins are often mixed in with Canadian coins at stores since they are similar in appearance.\n\n**Travelex** (www.travelex.com/ca) has branches in the Financial District (+1 416-304-6130; First Canadian Place, Bank of Montréal, 100 King St W; M-F 8AM-5PM) and at the airport in Mississauga.\n**Calforex Currency Services** (290 Queen St West) give good rates for cash, buying and selling GBP, USD, EUR; on substantial sums can be as little as 1% from interbank rates.\nAmerican Express branches in Toronto only function as travel agencies and don't handle financial transactions.\nCheque-cashing firms such as Money Mart (+1 416-920-4146, multiple locations) can usually exchange US to CAD, but the rates tend to be worse than at other financial institutions.", "word_count": 481}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk033", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Toronto is generally considered to be one of North America's top food cities. It has the same variety as New York or San Francisco and the compact and safe downtown keeps them closer together. As one of the most (if not the most) multicultural cities in the world, Toronto has authentic ethnic cuisine like no other city in North America. It is easy to eat out in Toronto and have a superb meal for cheap.\n\nA few of these cheap (i.e., can be easily procured for less than $20 or, in many instances, $10), iconic dishes are must-try meals for any visitor to Toronto—and represent the diversity that makes this city so special.\n\n### Roti\n\nRoti (never plural, and make the effort to pronounce the \"T\", like \"row-tee\") is probably the city's most iconic dish. Originating in Trinidad and Guyana, roti is essentially a curry wrapped in a roti shell, i.e., a thin paratha or dhalpuri flatbread. Typical curries found in roti include goat, chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp and a range of veggie options (channa, spinach, pumpkin, cabbage, potato). Occasionally you can find duck and oxtail options, if you're lucky. While the best roti is found in the outer suburbs of Scarborough and Brampton, a handful of shops persist in the city proper, including:\n\nPam's (Bloorcourt)\n Ali's West Indian Roti Shop (Parkdale)\n Island Foods (West Queen West)\n Paul's Roti Shop (Cabbagetown)\n Randy's Roti and Doubles (Bloor/Yonge)", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk034", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "A second variety of roti is a true Toronto original, despite the constituent ingredients being from India. Enterprising Indian cooks in the city saw the popularity of the Caribbean/West Indian-style wrap and adapted it to their own curries; the East Indian variety is now much more easily found than the West Indian original, but it must be said the quality ranges from divine to barely tolerable. Classic choices include butter chicken, matar paneer, channa and lamb korma. Your best bets for consistently excellent Indian roti:\n\nRoti Mahal (Queen West)\n Matha Roti (Harbord Village)\n Mother India Roti (Parkdale)\n\n### Jerk chicken\n\nToronto's home to one of the largest Jamaican populations outside of Jamaica, and with that comes a dazzling array of incredible jerk chicken options in nearly every corner of the city. This spicy-sweet-savoury chicken is usually served with rice and peas (kidney beans) and coleslaw; ask for extra oxtail gravy for the true taste. Meals can be had for $10–15, often with lunch specials. Little Jamaica, along Eglinton Ave., has about a dozen or so exceptional options; some classics closer to the core of the city include:\n\nThe Real Jerk (Gerrard East—they filmed the music video for Rihanna's \"Work\" ft. Drake here!)\n Allwyn's (Queen West)\n Fahmee Bakery (Little Portugal)\n Chubby's (King West—a more expensive but supremely delicious version)\n Tasty's (Chinatown)\n Jerk King (numerous locations including Chinatown, the Annex and Bloor/Dufferin)\n Mr. Jerk (Cabbagetown)\n Diner's Corner (Yonge/Wellesly)\n Albert's (St. Clair)\n\n### Patties (or \"Jamaican patties\" or \"beef patties\")", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk035", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Patties are a flaky-crust pastry usually filled with seasoned ground beef and can be purchased from Jamaican restaurants, convenience stores, and even a couple subway stations. Vegetable and chicken versions can be found with a little effort as well; for a huge range of fillings (shrimp curry, callaloo, goat, ackee and saltfish), head to Golden Patty in Kensington Market.\n\n### Doubles\n\nDoubles are the \"little snack that fill you up big\"—curried chickpeas in a fried, doughy flatbread, often with some tamarind sauce and hot sauce thrown in for good measure. Originating in Trinidad and Tobago, these can be found pretty much wherever you can find Caribbean roti, and typically will cost you under $5. Randy's and Ali's make particularly great doubles.\n\n### Italian veal sandwiches\n\nBring your appetite for these massive sandwiches. A Toronto Italian classic, veal sandwiches usually feature two or three breaded veal cutlets in tomato sauce with cheese, onions and peppers, all served on an Italian roll. Most veal sandwich shops also offer chicken cutlets and eggplant options as well for those looking for something somewhat lighter. More easily found around the West End than anywhere else in town, put yourself in a food coma at one of these shops:\n\nCalifornia Sandwiches (Little Italy)\n Bitondo's (Little Italy)\n San Francesco Foods (Little Italy)\n Tony and Nick's (Little Portugal)\n Papamio (Annex/Seaton Village)\n Uno Mustachio (St. Lawrence Market)\n\n### Portuguese tarts", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk036", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Toronto has one of the largest Portuguese populations of any city outside of Portugal or Brazil, which means you can find excellent pasteis de nata—flaky custard tarts—at bakeries all over the city. While gentrification of the traditionally Portuguese areas of Toronto's West End has resulted in the closures of many iconic bakeries since the 2010s, options still abound. Many bakeries will put their own spins on the tarts, with chocolate and nutella being popular options. Check out these bakeries for quality pasteis:\n\nNova Era (multiple locations, including Dundas, St. Clair and Dupont)\n Golden Wheat (Little Italy)\n Caldense (Little Portugal)\n Brockton Village Bakery (Little Portugal)\n Bom Dia (Parkdale)\n Progress Bakery (Dovercourt Village)\n\n### Street meat\n\nLike any proper North American city, Toronto has a distinct regional spin on the hot dog, albeit one that is much less fussy than you would find in Montreal, Chicago, Tucson or Detroit. \"Street meat\" carts are found all over downtown, with many options clustered along Front Street near the Rogers Centre as well as near Nathan Phillips Square. Most carts will offer four sausage options: hot dog, Italian sausage, Polish sausage and veggie; hot dogs will run you ~$4, with sausages going for a dollar or so more. You dress the dogs yourself, with common toppings including ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, sauerkraut, pickles, banana peppers and bacon bits. There's no agreed-upon \"standard\" set of toppings; just do what feels right!\n\n### Farmer's markets", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk037", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "Surrounded by the extensive fertile farmlands of Southern Ontario, Toronto has an abundance of farmer's markets - one is happening, in season, almost every day. Several markets are year round, while others are seasonal, generally running from May to October.\n '''St. Lawrence Market''': The larger main building has over 50 specialty vendors, with a large seafood section, a dozen butchers, several bakeries, and three very extensive cheese shops. In the basement, there is a specialty area for handcrafters, and an extensive foodcourt. The temporary building is home to a Farmer's Market, open Saturdays year round. It features fresh vegetables in season, preserves, spices and herbs, honey direct from the beekeeper or maple syrup from the people who tapped and boiled it, and quality Ontario wines. \n **Riverdale Farm** in Downtown East is a working farm with an onsite store.\n\nSeasonal farmers' markets are held at City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square, in the Yonge-Dundas area, East York Civic Centre in the East End, Etobicoke Civic Centre in Etobicoke, North York Civic Centre at Mel Lastman Square, Scarborough Civic Centre in Scarborough, Dufferin Grove Park in the West End, and Green Barn Market in the West End\n\n### Interesting food districts", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk038", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Kensington Market** is a historic market near Chinatown with food and drink options of all kinds. These days, Latin food (especially Mexican tacos and South American empanadas) is particularly well represented, but Caribbean, Italian, Middle Eastern and Canadian food are all found in abundance, along with coffee shops, bars, food stores and vintage stores. \n **Cabbagetown** is a designated Historic District in the eastern half of the downtown core.\n **University District**: small section of Baldwin Street (*east of Spadina, north of Dundas*) has many small outdoor cafes ideal for summer lunches.\n **Chinese food** can naturally be found in Chinatown, but these days many ethnic Chinese residents will tell you that the suburbs of Markham and Richmond Hill, not Chinatown, have the best Chinese food in the Toronto area. Other areas with a good selection of Chinese food include the suburbs of Scarborough and North York, as well as the neighbourhood of East Chinatown, about 4 km east of the original Chinatown.\n **Chinatown** also has many Vietnamese and Thai restaurants.\n **Hakka food** is a style of Chinese food that originated in India with the migrant Chinese of Kolkata. Also known as Indian-style Chinese food, outside of India and certain Southeast Asian countries, Toronto is the only city in the world to have such a variety of Hakka restaurants.\n **Little Jamaica** along Eglinton is home to countless jerk chicken restaurants as well as options for beef patties, ital (vegan) food and more.\n **Little India** along Gerrard Street East features a wide range of Indian and Pakistani cuisine with plenty of options for vegetarian diners.\n **Koreatown** along Bloor West between Bathurst and Christie Pits has dozens of Korean restaurants at every price point, as well as Korean karaoke bars and an incredible Korean grocery store, the P.A.T. (don't skip the fish waffles!).\n **Little Tibet** in Parkdale is home to more than 20 Tibetan restaurants, one of the largest such communities outside of Tibet. Wherever you go, try the momos (dumplings with hot sauce)!\n **Greektown** along the Danforth features plenty of places for souvlaki, meze, gyros and glorious dips of all kinds.\n **Little Portugal** along Dundas West has gentrified considerably but there are a few remaining bakeries with pasteis de nata (custard tarts), bifana (pork sandwiches) and the like.\n King Street between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue has many restaurants appealing to theatre goers.\n Queen Street East between Empire and Leslie has a number of casual, trendy restaurants that match the vibe of Leslieville.\n College Street to the west of Bathurst has a cheaper set of eclectic restaurants popular with university students from nearby University of Toronto.\n Bayview Avenue south of Eglinton is the location of some of Toronto's best French pastry shops.\n Bloor Street to the west of Spadina in the Annex has a similar set of restaurants to College St, with a particularly heavy concentration of budget-friendly Korean and Japanese restaurants. Most restaurants tend to be very laid back.\n **Yorkville**: it's more about being seen than actually eating but there are a few hidden gems, and this area is famous for sightseeing celebrities. Restaurants often charge a premium for otherwise mediocre meals.\n The city's largest newspaper, the *Toronto Star*, once chose the Downsview Park Flea Market food court as the best in the city. Although it is open only on weekends and rather remote, it offers a variety of authentic food from Afghan to Trinidadian and lacks the chain restaurants that dominate the city's food courts. It is north of downtown, but is accessible from the Downsview subway station on the Spadina line and shares space with over 400 independent retailers.", "word_count": 598}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk039", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Cafés\n\n*Check the district articles for independent coffee shops.*\n - Aroma Espresso Bar\n\n- Balzac's\n\n### Vegetarian\n\nSome districts with vegetarian restaurants are Kensington-Chinatown, The Annex, and Chinatown East.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk040", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Drink", "text": "Historically, the majority of nightlife in Toronto has been centred on the appropriately named Clubland and in the Fashion District on Queen Street West. Nearly everywhere is packed to the brim with pubs and bars, but none so much as Adelaide and Queen Street in those districts. Clubs tend to operate on Richmond and Adelaide streets (both run east-west, 1 block apart); names change frequently, but the district keeps on going. John Street between Adelaide and Richmond is always a hub of activity, especially after Blue Jays games, and is a convenient spot for those staying downtown. Two other clubs of note outside this district: the (long-lasting) Phoenix (on Sherbourne) and Rebel (literally operating on part of Toronto's commercial port, but this place has an outstanding view of the city on warm summer nights, and boasts an extensive entertainment complex).\n\nSome of Toronto's newest and hottest nightclubs have opened up in the King Street West/Liberty Village area. This area tends to attract a more mature (25 years and older) crowd; however this comes at a cost as drinks and admission into the venues are typically a bit more expensive here than in Clubland.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk041", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Drink", "text": "Hip art and music oriented crowds tend to gravitate towards Parkdale (Queen West past Bellwoods Park). The hipsters hangout in the wide array of bars, galleries and clubs that dot the area, including the Rhino, Happy Wine Bar, Tammy's, Motel, Pharmacy Bar, Danu, Food & Liquor, the Grand Trunk and the Drake and its poor cousin Gladstone Hotels. The same folks also frequent the Annex, Dundas West and Kensington Market areas of the city at night for club nights, casual drinks and art and music events. One of the main \"corsos\" of the city is *Little Italy*: College Street, between Bathurst and Ossington flows over with music, sidewalk cafes and excellent food and a crowd that enjoys the summer heat and the offerings. College Street, east of Bathurst, is home to many student hangouts, including Sneaky Dee's which is famous among locals for its nachos. The legal minimum drinking age is 19.\n\nDundas West has emerged as the preferred stretch of bars and restaurants catering to the taste-making proclivities of West Enders. From Bathurst until Dundas hits Roncesvalles, you will come across all kinds of bars at all kinds of price points: high-end cocktail bars (the aptly named Cocktail Bar, Rhum Bar, Northern Belle, Bluebird), dive-ish bars (Wasted Youth, Lucky Shrike, Hank's Liquor, Swan Dive), wine bars (Tommy's, Milou, Grapewitches, Midfield), cozy date spots (Communist's Daughter, Bathurst Local, Black Dice, Archive, Loveless), live music venues (the Garrison, Lula Lounge, the Dakota); you name it, you can find it.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk042", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Drink", "text": "Ossington between Dundas and Queen has cemented its status as a nightlife hotspot with more than a dozen bars, packed sidewalks and bustling restaurants. While there are certainly a few trend-chasing spots catering to 905ers and basic Millennials, there are some real gems along this stretch, including Sweaty Betty's, Reposado, Bellwoods Brewery and Painted Lady.\n\nBloor Street West from Christie Pits Park until Lansdowne is also home to a great stretch of bars, including Civil Liberties, Paradise Grapevine, Hurricane's, Grey Tiger, Burdock Brewing, Three Speed, Bar Neon and many, many more. These cater more to the millennial crowd than some of the younger-oriented bars further south but are where you'll find a more authentic expression of what 2020s Toronto is all about.\n\nToronto has over a dozen **microbreweries**. One popular microbrewery is Steam Whistle Brewing (south of the CN Tower in the Entertainment District) which offers tours of its brewery in a former locomotive roundhouse. Unlike Steam Whistle, most microbreweries in Toronto are **brewpubs** serving in-house brews with pub fare. About half of the brewpubs are in the West End district. Other districts having a brewpub are Harbourfront (Amsterdam BrewHouse), Distillery District (Mill St. Brew Pub), Midtown (Granite Brewery) and East End (Left Field Brewery).", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk043", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Drink", "text": "As of 2023, craft breweries have consolidated in two general areas: the East End, mostly along Queen East (Eastbound, Radical Road, Avling, Rorschach, Saulter Street, Black Lab) and Gerrard (Left Field, Godspeed); and the West End, particularly near Bloordale/Junction (Steadfast, Henderson, Halo, Indie Ale House, Junction Craft, Burdock, Bandit, Woodhouse, High Park). A few other neighbourhood breweries worth exploring include Bellwoods Brewery (Ossington, near Trinity-Bellwoods), Blood Brothers (Geary Ave.), Kensington Brewing (Kensington Market) and Mascot (Downtown core). For an exceptional beer bar, visit either Bar Volo (near Bloor/Yonge) or its sister shop, Birreria Volo (College near Bathurst).\n\nToronto has long been a beer and whiskey town, and while it lacks a drinking identity like that of Philadelphia or Boston, asking a bartender for a blackbird shot (Montenegro and Wild Turkey) will endear to you many. Some bars will offer a shot of Jameson + bottle of beer for $10 or so; Wasted Youth and Lucky Shrike on Dundas being two such examples.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk044", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Most hotels and hostels are situated directly outside the downtown core. Prices for rooms generally range from $150 for a standard hotel, $60–80 for a motel, and $20–40 for a bed in a hostel.\n\n### Hotels\n\nToronto has a wide variety of hotels that can suit every budget. Many are located in the Entertainment and Financial Districts and Yonge-Dundas areas.\n\n### Hostels\n\nToronto has several youth hostels, including ones in the downtown area, such as **HI-Toronto Hostel** at the foot of Church Street.\n\n### Bed & Breakfast\n\nAnother popular alternative for over nighters are bed & breakfasts, of which Toronto has hundreds, many of them in the downtown core. Prices range from $60 to several hundred dollars depending on the house and amenities offered.", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk045", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|University College at the University of Toronto\nInternational students often prefer to study in Toronto because of its safety, proximity to other tourist destinations, and favourable exchange rates and visa policies. However, despite its status as the largest city in the country and Canada's economic centre, it is surprisingly under-served by universities. This lack of post-secondary education has led to the development of major universities in the mid-sized cities that surround Toronto: the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, the University of Guelph in Guelph, McMaster University in Hamilton, Brock University in St. Catharines and Trent University in Peterborough. The universities in Toronto remain some of the best in the country:\n\n **The University of Toronto**. Canada's largest university, is spread out all over the city (including the main downtown campus, an east-end Scarborough campus, and University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) in the neighbouring city of Mississauga). This university is consistently rated among the top three in the country and is part of the \"Canadian Ivy League.\" Due to its size, the University of Toronto's downtown campus, known as the St George campus, after the street that runs through it, has its own \"sphere of influence,\" turning the surrounding neighbourhoods into miniature college towns, with plenty of bars, restaurants, bookshops, grocery stores and cheap take-out joints. Click the link for a guide to the U of T campus.\n **York University**. The third largest university in Canada, York University has two campuses - the Keele Campus near Keele Street and Steeles Avenue West at the northern border of the city, and the original Glendon College at Lawrence Avenue East and Bayview Avenue. York University station on subway Line 1 Yonge–University is within the Keele campus. Buses 124 and 162 connect Lawrence Station (also on Line 1 Yonge–University) to Glendon College.\n **Toronto Metropolitan University** (TMU – formerly Ryerson University). In the heart of the downtown core. It was once a polytechnic, but is now Toronto's third university. The university is particularly well known for its school of management, and for its journalism program. Its campus is centred on the Kerr Hall, which forms a square around a central quad, it fills the block bounded by Gould, Gerrard, Victoria and Church streets. TMU also has buildings throughout this section of the city, including the Ted Rogers School of Management, at Bay and Dundas streets.\n **OCAD University**. The university focuses exclusively on art and design. The campus is on Dundas Street West near Spadina.\n **Seneca College**. Canada's largest college is spread out over the city with over 16 campuses of varying sizes.\n **George Brown College**. Three campuses: St. James (downtown), Casa Loma (midtown) and Waterfront (Harbourfront).\n **Humber College**. Two campuses: Lakeshore and North.\n\nToronto, like other Canadian cities, also has dozens of **English as a Second Language** (ESL) schools. The largest association of private English and French language schools is the Canadian Association of Private Language Schools.", "word_count": 486}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk046", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Calling**\n\nFor life-threatening emergencies or crime in progress, dial **9-1-1** on any landline, mobile or pay phone (toll-free).\n\nLocal calls at pay phones cost 50 cents. Toronto's local calling area extends roughly from Oakville to Ajax; Oshawa, Hamilton and their adjacent suburbs are long-distance. Local calls are not metered, so you can talk as long as you want. Due to the popularity of cellphones, there are fewer pay phone booths than in previous years, so they can be difficult to locate. Most large public facilities still have ample pay phones to use. In malls, pay phones are usually between the inner and outer doors at the entrances. Payphones are also routinely provided in TTC subway stations, including on the platforms, as a safety feature. 5G cellular service is available in all subway stations, and coverage is now rolling out in the tunnels with completion expected by late 2026. In other underground areas, such as the lower levels of malls and in the PATH, reception is generally available, if somewhat weaker.\n\nIn addition, many public facilities (such as shopping malls) now also have phones which provide free local calls, which are funded by advertisements run on colour LCD screens. Watch for large, wall-mounted ovals in high-traffic areas.\n\nToronto has four area codes: 416, 647, 437, and 942. These area codes are all associated with the same geographic area. The suburban areas outside of the city have three overlapping area codes: 905, 289, and 365. As a result, Toronto has **10-digit local dialling**. You must always dial the area code as part of the number you are trying to reach.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk047", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Connect", "text": "International calling cards are widely available to many countries for reasonable rates. As coin-paid long distance calls are overpriced (Bell payphones charge nearly $5 in the first minute and a lower rate thereafter, competitors are $1 for three minutes), if you must place toll calls from telephone booths, it's best to buy prepaid cards.\n\n### Internet\n\nMost coffee shops, chain restaurants, shopping centres and public buildings provide free Wi-Fi. Major attractions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, the Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre provide free Wi-Fi to guests.\n\nWi-Fi and free internet access is available on computers at **Toronto Public Library** branches. Computer access requires a library card, but the library offers a card for in-library services for non-residents without an annual fee.\n\nAll TTC subway stations have 5G mobile phone coverage, but free Wi-Fi is no longer offered since the TCONNECT network was shut down in December 2024.\n\n### Mail\n\nGenerally stamps are purchased and parcels are weighed and shipped at a postal outlet in a retail store such as a variety store or a drug store such as Shoppers Drug Mart. Postal outlets may sell philatelic items (recent issues only).\n\n### Newspapers\n\n**The Toronto Star**, a broadsheet daily newspaper, politically left of centre, covering local, national, and world news. Superman co-creator Joe Shuster, who once delivered this paper, used the Old Toronto Star Building (no longer extant) as inspiration for \"The Daily Planet\" newspaper.\n **The Toronto Sun**, a tabloid daily newspaper, politically conservative, covering local, national, and world news.\n**The Globe and Mail**, a broadsheet national daily with local edition, published in Toronto. Extensive business and stock market coverage, politically centrist.\n**The National Post**, a broadsheet national daily, moderately conservative.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk048", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Connect", "text": "Depending on where you go in Toronto, you will be able to find locally printed newspapers in a variety of languages. For example, in Chinatown, you will find Chinese newspapers. In \"Little Italy\", you'll find Italian newspapers. You'll also find newspapers in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Persian, Arabic, Tagalog, Greek, Urdu and more.", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk049", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Crime\n\nThe overall violent crime rate in Canada, and particularly in Toronto, is lower than that found in major cities in the United States. Petty crime is generally not a serious problem in Toronto, but be vigilant with your possessions. Car and bike theft are comparable to other large North American cities.\n\nThere are neighbourhoods which are known in the media and on the street as being more dangerous, though police statistics are not commonly used to justify these beliefs. Nevertheless, while assaults and other crimes can happen anywhere, especially late at night when few people are around, it is reasonable to avoid certain areas (again, generally late at night). These areas include in the old city and inner bouroughs: Crescent Town, Regent Park, parts of Parkdale, parts of St. Jamestown, Moss Park, Alexandra Park, Flemingdon Park/Victoria Village and Weston-Mount Dennis. Outer areas: Jane and Finch (\"Jane Corridor\"), Lawrence Heights, the Peanut (i.e., Don Mills and Sheppard), Rexdale/Jamestown Crescent, Malvern, Kingston and Galloway, Steeles-The Amoureaux, Dorset Park, Westminster-Branson and Eglinton East-Kennedy Park. Stay away from dodgy looking areas, where drugs, prostitution and violent crime such as armed robberies can occur. These neighbourhoods become noticeably worse from a visual standpoint, giving ample warning to turn around.\n\n### Homeless\n\nToronto has a visible homeless population, many of whom will ask you for money. Beggars in Toronto have been known to ask for handouts on the pretext that they need TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) fare. Homeless people can also be seen in many subway stations and sleeping across multiple seats in subway cars. Cases of open drug use in the subway are also not uncommon. \n\nThere have also been instances in the past with \"squeegee kids\" who would jump into intersections when traffic is stopped at lights and solicit money for cleaning windshields. This is becoming less common as this form of interference with vehicle traffic is expressly illegal under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and may be reported to police.\n\n### Pedestrians\n\nBe careful when getting off the streetcars and always look to your right before leaving the car. Although vehicles are supposed to stop when the streetcar doors open, some motorists and cyclists will ignore this and keep going.\n\nThe proliferation of mobile phones has led to \"multitasking\" in a large percentage of the pedestrian population of this city. If driving, cycling, or even walking, in Toronto do not forget to keep an eye open for a pedestrian who may be more focused on his or her device.\n\n### Weather\n\nAvoid river/creek banks or bridge underpasses during periods of excessive rain, during/after heavy thundershowers or melting snow. Flooding can soften soil and cause it to suddenly collapse into the water under any weight.\n\nOccasionally, Toronto will be hit with a severe winter storm accompanied by significant snowfall (quite often mixed with freezing rain/ice/sleet). Avoid driving during and immediately after the storms if at all possible. This is especially true for those unfamiliar with winter driving and controlling a car in a skid. Take public transit, walk, or stay inside.", "word_count": 508}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk050", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Cope", "text": "**The Office of International Relations and Protocol** manages the Government of Ontario’s interaction with the largest consular corps in Canada (and one of the largest in the world). Approximately 100 countries are represented in Toronto.\n\n### Consulates\n\n Diplomatic missions\n list \n\n - Afghanistan\n\n - Angola\n\n - Antigua and Barbuda\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Bahamas\n\n - Bangladesh\n\n - Barbados\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Bhutan\n\n - Botswana\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Cambodia\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Comoros\n\n - Republic of the Congo\n\n - Côte d'Ivoire\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Dominican Republic\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - El Salvador\n\n - Eritrea\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Ghana\n\n - Greece\n\n - Grenada\n\n - Guinea\n\n - Guyana\n\n - Haiti\n\n - Hungary\n\n - Iceland\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iraq\n\n - Israel\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Italy\n\n - Jamaica\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kazakhstan\n\n - Kenya\n\n - South Korea\n\n - Kosovo\n\n - Lebanon\n\n - Lithuania\n\n - Luxembourg\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - Mali\n\n - Malta\n\n - Mexico\n\n - Monaco\n\n - Mongolia\n\n - Montenegro\n\n - Morocco\n\n - Nepal\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - North Macedonia\n\n - Norway\n\n - Pakistan\n\n - Panama\n\n - Peru\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Poland\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Saint Kitts and Nevis\n\n - Saint Lucia\n\n - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines\n\n - San Marino\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Seychelles\n\n - Singapore\n\n - Slovakia\n\n - Slovenia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sri Lanka\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Tanzania\n\n - Thailand\n\n - Trinidad and Tobago\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Uganda\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States\n\n - Uruguay\n\n - Uzbekistan", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk051", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Go next", "text": "Toronto is a great starting point for exploring southern Ontario. There are many golden **sand beaches** along the clean fresh waters of the Great Lakes that are ideal for hot summer days. Popular beach destinations within 1½-2½ hours of Toronto include Wasaga, Sauble Beach, Sandbanks, Grand Bend, Long Point, and Turkey Point.\n\n### Golden Horseshoe", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk052", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Niagara Region** — A lush region known primarily for its orchards and vineyards as well as the thundering waterfalls at Niagara Falls and the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. On the American side of the Falls are several outlet malls. 1-1½ hours south along the QEW; a few tour buses make the same-day return trip. It is one of the principal Wine Regions of Ontario, and several companies do wine-tasting tours by bus from Toronto, starting at $125 (tax included), such as Niagara Airbus.\n**Main Street Unionville**, in the suburban city of **Markham** north of Toronto, is a historic village developed in the 1840s. As typical of a small village, it has many quaint period buildings in an idyllic surrounding.\n**Waterloo Region** — This area 1-1½ hours west of Toronto has large university campuses, rolling farm hills and Mennonite culture.\n**The Niagara Escarpment** — A world biosphere, protected by UN mandate running from the Niagara Falls west to Hamilton then northward to Georgian Bay. It is covered by forest with high cliff views along the Bruce Trail bordering the western edge of the Greater Toronto Area, at its closest point it is about a ½-hour drive from the western end of Toronto.\n**Newmarket** has its attractive Main Street Heritage Conservation District and many heritage buildings within a walkable area.\n**Canada's Wonderland** is a popular, seasonal theme park operated by Cedar Fair in Vaughan. It is a 20-minute drive away without traffic, and there are buses from downtown in the summer.\n\n### Ontario", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk053", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Muskoka**, **Georgian Triangle** and **The Kawarthas** — All 1½–2 hours north are cottage country areas with more rocky and hilly terrain speckled with hundreds of lakes and waterways. Muskoka and the Kawarthas are known for their country inns, cottages, spas/resorts, provincial parks, and a wealth of outdoor activities including camping, fishing/hunting, snowmobiling, nature viewing, and hiking set among natural beauty. The Georgian Bay area is where the hilly terrain and cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment meet its shores, the area has renowned ski facilities frequently blasted with high snowfall amounts but beaches Wasaga Beach, wineries and golfing are the choices in summer.\n **Stratford** — This cute town 2 hours west of Toronto is host to the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival (April–November).\n\n**Thousand Islands** and **Kingston** — This scenic area and its nearby historic city are 3 hours east, on the way to Ottawa\n **Ottawa** — The Canadian capital is about a 4½-hour drive from Toronto.\n **Windsor**, **London**, and **Sarnia** are at the southwestern corner of Ontario, and the southernmost point of Canada. It is a 3-hour drive.\n\n### United States\n\n**Buffalo** — Gorgeous early 20th-century architecture including some Frank Lloyd Wright work and excellent museums are a 1½-hour drive from Toronto.\n Across the Detroit River from Windsor is **Detroit**, offering Motown music, automobile museums, historic buildings, museums, and theatres. It is 4 hours away.\n The city that never sleeps, **New York City**, is only 8-10 hours away without traffic, via I-90 and I-87. You can also take Amtrak or a 2-hour flight there.\n Also an 8- to 9-hour drive away, **Chicago** is home to blues music, Millennium Park, windy weather, and deep-dish pizza.\nIf you are into history and want to see the capital of the United States, **Washington, D.C.**, you have to drive 8-10 hours.\n\n### Elsewhere in Canada", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "toronto::chunk054", "doc_id": "toronto", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Montreal** is a 6- to 7-hour drive to the east, or a 4½-hour train ride. Bilingual Montreal is home to French-Canadian culture, nice architecture, and the **Laurentians** are not far away.\n You can hop onto a VIA rail train to many parts of Canada, including **Winnipeg**, **Edmonton**, and **Vancouver**.", "word_count": 49}
diff --git a/corpus/toronto/metadata.json b/corpus/toronto/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..257b964982a827bbe02e0dc1aa58b5580ed26ed7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/toronto/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "toronto",
+ "title": "Toronto",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Toronto",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Greater Toronto Area"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Ontario",
+ "Great Lakes",
+ "Sauble Beach",
+ "Niagara Peninsula",
+ "Niagara Falls (Ontario)",
+ "Niagara-on-the-Lake",
+ "Wine Regions of Ontario",
+ "Unionville (Ontario)",
+ "Markham",
+ "Region of Waterloo (Ontario)",
+ "Hamilton (Ontario)",
+ "Newmarket (Ontario)",
+ "Canada's Wonderland",
+ "Vaughan",
+ "Muskoka",
+ "Georgian Triangle",
+ "Kawarthas",
+ "Wasaga Beach",
+ "Stratford (Ontario)",
+ "Thousand Islands",
+ "Kingston (Ontario)",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Windsor (Ontario)",
+ "London (Ontario)",
+ "Sarnia",
+ "Buffalo",
+ "Detroit",
+ "New York City",
+ "Chicago",
+ "Washington, D.C.",
+ "Montreal",
+ "Laurentians",
+ "Winnipeg",
+ "Edmonton",
+ "Vancouver",
+ "Winnipeg",
+ "Washago",
+ "Kitchener",
+ "Mississauga",
+ "Montreal",
+ "Ottawa",
+ "Oshawa",
+ "London (Ontario)",
+ "Oakville (Ontario)",
+ "Niagara Falls (Ontario)",
+ "Oakville (Ontario)",
+ "Barrie",
+ "Vaughan",
+ "London (Ontario)",
+ "Mississauga",
+ "Kingston (Ontario)",
+ "Pickering (Ontario)",
+ "Newmarket (Ontario)",
+ "Markham",
+ "Vaughan",
+ "Mississauga",
+ "Hamilton (Ontario)",
+ "Mississauga"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13718,
+ "listing_count": 131,
+ "marker_count": 1,
+ "chunk_count": 55,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/torres-del-paine/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/torres-del-paine/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ba38de1324b54003ab0f7e3c3f96b9146ecdf76c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/torres-del-paine/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk000", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Torres del Paine** is a national park in Chilean Patagonia. It is in the southern tiers of the Andes and features mountains, lakes, and glaciers. The rocky *Torres del Paine* (meaning \"Blue Towers\" in a mixture of Spanish and local indigenous languages) give the park its name. Other attractions include the *Cuernos del Paine* mountains, Grey Glacier, Lago Grey, Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjöld, and Lago Sarmiento.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk001", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Cuernos del Paine from Lake Pehoé\n\n### Geology\n\nThe towers are eroded remains of an uplifted region, this created by granite plutons that uplifted overlaying sedimentary layers of which the lowest is a dark red shale. On the southern side the overlying materials have been completely eroded, leaving only several tall, rounded granitic towers - these are the actual towers of the park. On the northern side, some of the original materials remain and as these have different slope and color, form the tips of the \"horns\" seen in the image above. At times in the distant past the area was extensively glaciated; some glaciers remain on the eastern side of the uplift (to the left in the image) and form icebergs that flow some distance into the large and scenic Lake Pehoé.\n\n### History\n\nAccording to the studies made to the Paleo-Indian artifacts found in the surroundings of the park, the area must have been inhabited some 12,000 years ago. The Tehuelche Indians, descendants of the Paleo-Indians gave the name of Paine to the Massif, which meant \"blue\" in their language.\n\nLady Florence Dixie, in her book published in 1880, gave one of the first descriptions of the area and referred to the three towers as *Cleopatra's Needles*. She and her party are sometimes credited as being the first \"foreign tourists\" to visit the area that is now called Torres del Paine National Park.\n\nSeveral European scientists and explorers visited the area in the following decades, including Otto Nordenskiöld, Carl Skottsberg, and Alberto María de Agostini.\n\nThe park was established in 1959 as *Parque Nacional de Turismo Lago Grey* (Grey Lake National Tourism Park) and was given its present name in 1970.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk002", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Understand", "text": "In 1976, British mountaineer John Gardner and two Torres del Paine rangers, Pepe Alarcon, and Oscar Guineo pioneered the Circuit trail which circles the Paine massif.\n\nIn 1977, Guido Monzino donated 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) to the Chilean Government when its definitive limits were established. The park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978.\n\n### Fires\n\nright|thumb|250px|Los Cuernos del Paine\nIn 1985, a tourist started a fire that burned about of the park. The blaze affected the areas east and south around Lake Pehoé.\n\nIn February 2005, an accidental fire started by a Czech backpacker, which lasted for about ten days, destroyed of the park, including about 2 km² of native forest. The Czech government offered aid after the fire and donated US$ 1 million to reforestation efforts.\n\nIn late December 2011 through January 2012, a fire blamed on an Israeli backpacker burned about of the reserve, destroying about 36 km² of native forest and affecting most of the areas around Lake Pehoé and the western areas around Lake Sarmiento, but moving away from the Cordillera del Paine, the park's centerpiece. The Israeli government sent reforestation experts to the zone, and has committed to donate trees to replant the affected areas.\n\nNevertheless, paleoenvironmental studies performed within the park indicates that fire have been a frequent phenomena at least during the last 12,800 years.\n\n### Landscape\n\nBeside the astonishing Paine massif and its beautiful peaks, azure lakes, trails that meander though emerald forests, roaring rivers you are to cross on rickety bridges and radiant blue glaciers, not to mention the vast openness of the steppe to rugged mountain terrain topped by looming peaks.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nFauna include abundant guanacos, flamingos, pumas, ñandu, gray fox and andean condors.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk003", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Understand", "text": "According to the Köppen climate classification, the park lies in the “temperate climate of cold rain without a dry season.\" The meteorological conditions of the park are variable due to the complex orography. But you have to be prepared for harsh weather. Wind and strong sun are also issues, and the weather can go through a full four seasons in the course of a day, as locals say.\n\n#### Temperatures\n\nThe zone is characterized by cool summers, with temperatures lower than 16 °C (61 °F) during the warmest month (January). Winter is relatively cold, with an average high temperature in July of 5 °C (41 °F), and an average low of −3 °C (27 °F).\n\n#### Precipitation\n\nThe rainiest months are March and April, with a monthly average rainfall of 80 mm. This represents double the July–October (winter) rainfall, which are the drier months. A study of the exact chemical components of the precipitation in the park has been carried out.", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk004", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Get in", "text": "right|thumb|250px|Cycling in Las Torres del Paine\n\n### By car\n\n**Warning**: The nearest guaranteed gas/petrol stations are in . \n\nThere are four main entrances (*porterías*) to the park.\n **Ruta Y-156:** – The main entrance to the park, located closest to the Las Torres complex.\n **Ruta Y-150:** – The least visited entrance located near the banks of Lago Sarmiento.\n **Ruta Y-160:** – The northernmost entrance to the park, mostly used by those renting horses for the trails located nearby.\n **Ruta Y-290:** – The most direct route to Puerto Natales (approximately 90 kilometers, 1.5 hours, only partially asphalted) and the closest to administration building and visitor center.\n\nIt is also possible to enter the park via Ruta Y-180/Portería Laguna Verde. However, the road ends here and it is only possible to further enter into the park on foot or on horse. This entrance is more an option for those reentering the park on an already paid pass, as entrance fees are not collected at Laguna Verde.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses run daily from Puerto Natales (two hours), the main connection to civilization. All normal buses pass through Laguna Amarga, where entrance fees are collected and official Conaf maps are given out, before continuing to Pudeto which is the departure point for the catamaran to Paine Grande. At Pudeto those wishing to continue on to the administration building/visitors' center will change to a different bus, regardless of bus company.\n\nThe following bus companies in Puerto Natales make twice daily trips to the park in the high season, and all follow the same schedule. Note that all buses leave from the bus terminal in Puerto Natales (at the corner Avenida Santiago Bueras and España). Tickets can be purchased either at the bus terminal or at the addresses listed below. Tickets may include an open return, so don't lose the return ticket stub.\n+ Bus schedule (October–March)\n Puerto Natales\n Laguna Amarga\n Pudeto\n Administration\n 07:30 09:45 10:45 11:45\n 14:30 16:30 17:30 18:00\n Administration\n Pudeto\n Laguna Amarga\n Puerto Natales\n 13:00 13:30 14:30 17:00\n 18:00 19:00 19:45 22:00\n\n **Buses Fernandez**, Armando Sanhueza 745, +56 61 242313.\n **Buses Gomez**, Arturo Prat 234, +56 61 415700.\n **Buses María José**, Av. España 1455, +56 61 2 410951.\n **JBA Patagonia**, Arturo Prat 258, +56 61 410242.\n\nIn the shoulder seasons (April and September) there is only one departure and return daily (07:30 departure from Puerto Natales and the 1PM return from the administration building), and the public buses do not run in the low season (May–August). It is avisable to confirm with the bus companies ahead of time.\n\nFrom the park there are no direct buses for El Calafate but many tour operators offer them, in particular Chalten Travel. It is thus possible to go directly from El Calafate to the park and even return another day, although this is expensive (US$80 return, US$40 when returning another day).", "word_count": 475}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk005", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "There was a significant raise of the fees in 2020. No reduced low seasons fees are available anymore and an extra longterm fee (>3 days) was established. Foreigners have to pay 25,000 pesos (35,000 pesos >3 days) and Chilean citizens and residents 7,000 pesos ((10,000 pesos >3 days). If you are in Chile as an exchange student or working for a period of time, just show your *Cédula de Identidad* (Identity card given by the Civil Registry and Identification Service *(Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación)*) to pay the resident entry fee.", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk006", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Trail status** can be accessed via the *informe diario* (Spanish only) on the official park website. The main trails at lower elevations are generally open year-round. However, the backside of the Paine Massif Circuit (between Laguna Amarga and Refugio Grey, counter-clockwise) is closed in the wintertime (May–October) due to the absence of park rangers and the difficulty of the terrain. Parts of the W trek (the Francés Valley, the Base of the Towers lookout, for example) are regularly closed in the wintertime due to snow accumulation, even if it is not snowing in other sectors of the park. It is advisable to check the website for the most up to date information.\n\nGenerally, most visitors to the park access the main trails (that comprise the \"W\" trek and the Paine Massif Circuit) either by catamaran from Pudeto to Paine Grande or on foot/by shuttle to Hotel Las Torres from the Laguna Amarga entrance. The main trails can also be accessed from the administration/visitor center on foot to Paine Grande, passing Campamento Las Carretas on the way (colloquially called the \"Q\" trek).\n\nThe catamaran *Hielos Patagónicos* operated by Hipsur runs between Pudeto and Refugio Paine Grande. One-way and tickets cost 23,000 pesos for Chilean citizens and US$35 for foreign citizens respectively, backpack and luggage transport costs an additional 4,000 pesos and must not exceed 50 kilograms. From Laguna Amarga a van runs to and from Hotel Las Torres four times a day in order to connect the Las Torres to the main bus route. The price is 3,000 pesos one way. The shuttle typically leaves at 14:00 to get passengers back to their buses by 14:30 to return to Puerto Natales. Backpackers can wait at the Refugio Central and get a hot lunch or relax while waiting.\n\nThe Grey II runs between Hostería Lago Grey and Refugio Grey and must be booked in advance (70,000 pesos single ticket for adults in high season).\n\nThe rest must be done by foot.", "word_count": 329}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk007", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Glacier Grey and a tour boat\n - Torres del Paine\n\n - Valle Francés\n\n - John Gardner Pass\n\n - Glacier Grey\n\n - Lago Sarmiento", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk008", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Do", "text": "Torres del Paine is world-renowned for trekking, with routes ranging from short day walks to multiday circuits. Detailed stage descriptions can be found in Hiking in Torres del Paine.\n\n W Trek - The classic 4–6 day route visiting Grey Glacier, the Francés Valley, and the Torres del Paine viewpoint. \n O Circuit - A 7–10 day full circuit around the massif, including remote valleys and the dramatic John Gardner Pass. \n Day hikes - Shorter options include viewpoints near the Administration area (Mirador Cóndor, Salto Grande, Cuernos, Nordenskjöld), the Laguna Amarga / Las Torres approach to the towers, the Pudeto catamaran with trails around Paine Grande, and boat trips to Grey Glacier.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk009", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Buy", "text": "In the park, Hotel Las Torres has a gift shop. There is another one at Pehoé Camping, 30 minutes walk south of the Pudeto bay on the shores of Pehoé lake.", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk010", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Eat", "text": "Refugio Paine Grande has the only combination bar/restaurant on the W trek. Provisions can be expensively restocked at Refugio Grey, Refugio Chileno, and Refugio Los Cuernos. There is a small kiosk at Hotel Las Torres at the beginning of the trek to Las Torres. At Pudeto a small cafeteria is available and convenient to those awaiting the catamaran departure.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk011", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Drink", "text": "All of the refugios along the trek have at least a selection of local beer, wine, and pisco sours for sale to both guests of the refugio and passing hikers.", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk012", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In October 2016, the park implemented a rule requiring reservations for lodging at both private and public CONAF campsites and refugios. This is not at all necessary to enter the park, but rangers will check your reservations when passing ranger stations between campsite and get you turned around if you have no reservation. However, if you arrive after 21:00 to a CONAF campsite that's far from other campsites, the rangers will generally let you stay.\n\nYou can make the free reservations for the CONAF campsites at the Torres Del Paine Official Park Website.\n\n### Lodges\n\nThere are several basic lodges in the park called *refugios*. Make reservations well in advance if you plan on staying in these. The cost for a dorm bed is about 85,000 pesos.\n\nright|thumb|250px|Camping site at Refugio Pehoe\n\n - Refugio Torres\n\n - Refugio Chileno\n\n - Refugio Los Cuernos\n\n - Refugio Paine Grande\n\n - Refugio Grey\n\n - Refugio Vértice Dickson\n\n#### Reservation agencies\n\n - FantásticoSur Lodges\n\n - Vertice Patagonia\n\n '''Howlanders''': hello@howlanders.com. Independent agency with extensive experience in both the W Trek and O Circuit. We work with both accommodation providers to offer you the best combination at the best price.\n\nFantasticoSur and Vertice will ask for credit card information and charge it two weeks before arrival. There appears to be no cancellation penalty before that. Usually the two companies do not answer email and the best is to arrange bookings at their office in Puerto Natales.\n\n### Camping\n\nThere are several campsites. Camping near a refugio costs 6,000 pesos or 10,000 pesos the other campsites run by CONAF (called *campamentos*) are free but reservation in advance is mandatory. All campsites have at least basic toilet facilities (bring your own toilet paper) and refugios have hot showers. Travelers are supposed to be restricted to camping for only one night at each CONAF campsite, but this seems to be relatively unenforced.\n\n### Backcountry\n\nHiking and camping outside of designated areas is **forbidden**, and will result in immediate expulsion from the park if caught.\n\n### Hotels\n\n - Hotel Las Torres", "word_count": 340}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk013", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Foxes have been known to steal food and belongings, and to bite people, particularly small children. Even among the normally temperamental weather typical in Patagonia, the weather in the John Gardner Pass can be particularly tricky.", "word_count": 36}
+{"chunk_id": "torres-del-paine::chunk014", "doc_id": "torres-del-paine", "section": "Go next", "text": "Bernardo O'Higgins National Park - just west and northwest of Torres del Paine, it's remote, big (about the size of Taiwan), and accessible by boat or helicopter. You will have to backtrack through Puerto Natales.\n Los Glaciares National Park - just north, on the Argentinian side and not far away as the crow flies. In practice this entails a drive of several hundred kms; you have to backtrack through Puerto Natales, cross the border, drive or ride a bus along Ruta 40 to El Calafate (or fly from Puerto Natales) and enter from there.\n Punta Arenas - Chile's and one of the world's southernmost proper cities and an access point to far southern Patagonia and Antarctica.", "word_count": 116}
diff --git a/corpus/torres-del-paine/metadata.json b/corpus/torres-del-paine/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ef9f35bee2d2644e72e5b562a963be6823379296
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/torres-del-paine/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "torres-del-paine",
+ "title": "Torres del Paine National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Torres_del_Paine_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Patagonia (Chile)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Bernardo O'Higgins National Park",
+ "Taiwan",
+ "Puerto Natales",
+ "Los Glaciares National Park",
+ "Ruta 40",
+ "El Calafate",
+ "Punta Arenas"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2443,
+ "listing_count": 14,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 15,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/transylvania/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/transylvania/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..134f07ddf82d0cccbb03ddf07779150e712863d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/transylvania/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk000", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Overview", "text": "160px|thumb|Transylvania's location in Romania\n**Transylvania** (German : Siebenbürgen) is the largest region of Romania and probably the best known one. When you visit Transylvania you dive into a mix of cultures, nature and history. Transylvania is a diverse region: it is worth trying to observe the differences that exist within the region, both culturally and naturally. This region is a place with abundant history and multicultural convergence. All over Transylvania the cohabitation of Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons and Roma is the leading theme. Transylvania is rich in myth and misty medieval sites: there about 100 castles and fortresses and about 70 fortified churches. Romania's greatest and best preserved castles and fortresses are to be found here. But for the more curious traveler, there are many small villages with old houses and fortified churches. As Transylvania is circled by the Carpathian mountains there are a lot of mountain forests and hiking or climbing possibilities. All over the Carpathians there are great national parks. In the center of Transylvania there are green hills and rivers. Most big cities are very western Europe like, and the infrastructure is generally good, making it easy for travelers.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk001", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Cities", "text": "right|300px|thumb|The Saint Michael's church in the centre of [[Cluj-Napoca]]\n — an ancient city with a small, 14th-century citadel \n — home to a massive baroque fortification built in the 18th century, with a medieval Catholic cathedral\n — a modern industrial city with a well-preserved Old Town\n — the biggest city in Transylvania, also called \"The heart of Transylvania\"\n — a compact city with German flair, medieval charm, excellent views of the surrounding landscapes, great food, and stunning parkland\n — a small medieval fortified city, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site\n — one of the oldest cities in Transylvania, it is a centre for the Hungarian-speaking people of the region\n — famous for its Art Nouveau buildings, Târgu Mureș is the cultural and economical centre of the Székely Land of the Hungarian minority", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk002", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— home to a restored Saxon fortress from the 14th century, and to many old Saxon houses\n —Huedin and surrounding villages, an agrotourism and ecotourism hotspot, as they offer wonderful scenery, secluded areas, great Romanian social and rural experiences\n — the highest mountain resort in Romania\n — one of the most beautiful parks in Romania\n — Târgu Secuiesc, Miercurea Ciuc, are home to the Szekler people, also known as Szekely, who are a Hungarian-speaking people of Transylvania\n — visit the former Salt mine, now a tourist attraction and amusement park \n — a remote mountain community, where you can experience farming, forestry and shepherding", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk003", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Understand", "text": "Although some people may only associate the name with tales of bloodthirsty vampires (it is the home of the title character in Bram Stoker's novel *Dracula*), Transylvania is one of the most beautiful natural regions in Europe, dotted with picturesque, medieval fortress towns and monasteries. Lively cities with stunning baroque architecture offer modern tourism services at a price far below that of, say, Germany or France. Here you can find some of the most developed cities in Romania, but also old villages where people live as they did a hundred years ago. Transylvania is surrounded by the misty Carpathian mountains and is home to rare fauna (bears, wolves) and flora (orchids and other plants).\n\nTransylvania has all the history and multi-ethnic culture you could want. The history of Transylvania is much disputed: once it was an integral part of the Kingdom of Hungary (950-1526), then an independent Principality (1526-1690) before being reabsorbed by the Habsburg Empire. It was united with Wallachia and Moldovia to form Romania after the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved in the Treaty of Trianon, which saw the conclusion of World War I. This complex history explains the many cultural differences between Transylvania and the rest of Romania. For much of this history the Romanian majority had few rights and were ruled by minorities such as the Hungarians and Saxons. Other minorities included Roma, Jews and Armenians. After World War I, Transylvania became part of Greater Romania, and many local Hungarians fled across the new border to Hungary. Following the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II, many of the local Germans fled to Germany. The Communist era was a harsh time for ethnic minorities, especially for those of whom many had been small business owners (Hungarians and those Jews who had survived the war) before the new totalitarian regime came to power. After the revolution in 1989, most of the remaining Saxons moved to Germany (having settled in Transylvania, at that time part of the Kingdom of Hungary, in large numbers during the 13th century), and many of the remaining ethnic Hungarians also left. The relations between the ethnic minorities and majority have known tense times, but there has never been a serious conflict. Although attitudes of individuals can still be closed towards other groups, Transylvania is an example of different ethnic groups living together in relative peace. However, as with Europe in general, the Roma ethnicity is still seriously discriminated against and their culture is little understood.\n\nToday Transylvania is the most developed region in Romania, partly because of tourism and partly because of a stronger capitalist tradition prior to World War II. The presence of the German and Hungarian minorities has been a catalyst for Western influences in Transylvania since 1989. It is interesting to observe the differences within this small region: the South and South East are dominated by Saxon culture, the East and North East are more influenced by Hungarian culture, the North is more Slavic, and the South West different again. Try to visit a few older villages, where the people are generally very friendly.", "word_count": 515}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk004", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Talk", "text": "Nowadays, almost everyone in Transylvania speaks Romanian, though for many of the ethnic Hungarians -- about 20% of the population, but far more in certain areas -- Hungarian is their first language. Few native German-speakers remain, but in any sizable town you should easily be able to find people who speak at least moderately good English, French, or German.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk005", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Get in", "text": "Transylvania is relatively easy to access, due to its relative economic prosperity, tourism industry and proximity to Central Europe.\n\n### By plane\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n### By train\n\nright|300px|thumb|International trains at [[Cluj-Napoca]]\nright|200px|thumb| A Regio train at Balotesti station.\nThere are several daily international trains:\n**Dacia Express** -links Vienna with Bucharest (via Budapest); it passes through various cities in the southern part of Transylvania (Deva, Alba Iulia, Mediaş, Sighisoara, Brasov);\n**Ister Express** -a faster night train that links Budapest with Bucharest and has the same route as above;\n**Pannonia Express** -links Prague with Bucharest (passing through Bratislava and Budapest) and reaches the same cities in southern Transylvania as the above trains;\n**Corona Express** -a night train that links Budapest with Brasov going through Cluj and the eastern parts of Transylvania;\n**Hargita Express** -links Budapest with Brasov going through Cluj-Napoca and the eastern parts of Transylvania (from Cluj-Napoca two coaches are going to Târgu-Mureş);\n**Ady Endre Express** -links Budapest with Cluj-Napoca (leaves from Cluj-Napoca early in the morning, gets to Budapest around noon and then gets back to Cluj-Napoca, arriving in the evening);\n**Maros/Mureş Express** -links Budapest with Târgu-Mureş;\n**Máramaros/Maramureş Express** -links Budapest with Sighetu Marmaţiei going through Cluj-Napoca (leaves from Budapest in the morning, gets to Sighetu Marmaţiei at evening, the schedule back to Budapest is the same.);\n\nVery frequent trains link cities in Transylvania with Bucharest and major cities in all other regions of Romania. Check timetables on infofer.ro http://infofer.ro/.\n\nThere are three kind of trains.\n\nRegio - This is the slowest but cheapest way to go somewhere. The Regio trains stop at every station.\nInterRegio - The InterRegio trains is much faster than the Regio. Due to the fact that it is very comfortable many international trains are InterRegio. The ticket is more expensive than the Regio ticket but affordable.\nInterCity - The fastest and the most comfortable way to travel but the ticket is very expensive.\n\nThe cheapest way to travel is the train even for four of you. On a few routes you can find private companies, they offer cheaper tickets.", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk006", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Get around", "text": "Transylvania Triangle Train Tour\n\nTransylvania is a must see destination for people travelling in this part of Europe.\n\n**Trains** are usually the best way to travel between major Transylvanian cities and tourist destinations. However, many of the region's landmarks lie hidden from major transportation routes, so it is recommended you either rent a car or take buses to those places. You can find information about trains from infofer.ro and Căile Ferate Române.\n\nYou can find great and detailed **road maps** in any fuel station throughout the country, in train stations and in most newsstands. These detailed road maps can lead you anywhere, without much guidance needed. Be careful though for secondary and tertiary roads are not clearly marked, so sometimes you have to ask for directions. People are usually very friendly and will help you get to the destination of your choice.\n\n**Buses** are becoming a popular means of transportation in Transylvania. Usually, they leave from train stations in major cities, and stop in the central area of smaller ones.\n\nAs in all eastern Europe, **hitchhiking** is common and even a preferred way of transport for some locals. It is polite to leave the one who drives you some money, about 10-15 lei/100 km. However, people won't get mad if you don't leave anything and they might turn your money down anyway. Choosing the right spot for hitching increases your chances drastically- try to ask people on the street where to stand.\n\n**Bicycles** are a very convenient and eco-friendly way of getting around in Transylvania and this way you can observe the natural beauty and even visit the smallest and remotest of villages. Beware though that most circuits include large elevations, so you should be used to climbing hills. In remote villages you can always find locals who will sell you very cheaply some fresh produce: fruits, vegetable, dairy products, or even invite you for lunch. Racing bikes with narrow tires are not recommended though, even major roads have many defects and in the more remote areas you will travel on dirt roads, so a robust mountain bike is preferred.", "word_count": 350}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk007", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "See", "text": "Due to the salt and gold found under the ground, Transylvania was a rich country in the medieval age. Therefore can be found a lot of castles, fortresses (ruins) and beautiful towns. For those who love nature, Transylvania is a good choice. There are beautiful mountains, forests and even animals.\n\nTransylvania has several **UNESCO World Heritage sites**; the Historic Centre of Sighişoara, the \"Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains\" consisting of eight fortresses in the southwest of Transsylvania, and the \"Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania\" consisting of over 150 sites.\n\n### Cities and towns\n\nright|400px|thumb|The cityscape of Cluj from near the Citadella.\nIn Transylvania you should see some cities or towns. Probably that most of the tourists are going to see Sighişoara the beautiful Saxon town (the people say that Dracula was born here). For those who like mountains the best choice is Braşov. There you can find a citadel, a beautiful church with history, large squares and mountains. Citadels can be found in other cities like Cluj-Napoca. At Cluj-Napoca you can find old churches, historical buildings, a citadel (with beautiful panorama), bastions, monuments (like the statue of Matthias Corvinus) and even Roman ruins.\n\n### Castles and fortresses\n\n **Bran castle** near Râşnov dates back to the 14th century and is often associated with Vlad Țepeș and Dracula. Even though the castle's architecture can evoke associations with blood-sucking monsters, there is hardly any proof that Vlad Țepeș ever visited it. Today the castle is a museum. Due to its reputation as \"Dracula's castle\", its exhibits deal with various aspects of folk beliefs, including vampires, and Vlad Țepeș. \n **Râşnov castle** was built in the 13th century. The impressive complex with living houses (unusual for such fortresses) and small streets is located on a mountain in the outskirts of Râşnov. Transfer from the car park at the foot of the mountain to the castle and back is about 8 lei. But one can easily walk the way in 15 minutes. The entrance fee for adults is 10 lei.\n\n **Fortified churches** are all over the region, and some are s. Maps are available in tourist offices in Sibiu and other cities. Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania: , , , , , \n\n### Salt mines\n\nDue to the salt and gold found under the ground Transylvania was a rich country in the medieval age. Unfortunately some of the mines collapsed. But a few mines, like the mine of Praid or Turda, survived. For those who have asthma is very healthy to spend some hours in these mines for several days.\n\n### Nature\n\nright|250px|thumb|The Hășmaș (Hagymás) Mountains\nright|250px|thumb|Piatra Craiului mountains\n60% of all bears and 50% of wolves in Europe (except Russia) are found in Romania and the majority of them in Transylvania. Despite this it is still unlikely that you will see any.\n\nTransylvania is located in a mountainous region and is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains.", "word_count": 485}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk008", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Do", "text": "Bear watching, to spot the bears living in the region. There are several bear watching hides in Transylvania.\n Drive the 2 main mountain passes, but watch for seasonal closures.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk009", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Eat", "text": "### Romanian dishes\n\nSarmale - meat in grape or cabbage leaves\nMici - a symbol of Romania. To some locals it is like the sword to a samurai (but tastier).\nCiorba de Burta - tripe (cow stomach) soup. Tastes better than it sounds!\nBulz - cheese with polenta (only in Transylvania).\nPapanasi - desert: try it, love it.\n\n### Hungarian dishes\n\nBean soup in bread - you will be amazed from serving to licking your plate\nGulash\nCabbage soup\nLentil soup\nKurtos Kalacs - dessert, can be found around tourist attraction or in Hungarian zones on the road\n\n### Saxon dishes\n\nThere aren't many Saxon restaurants, but if you find one you can explore it and post some info here.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk010", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Drink", "text": "Ursus Black beer – a medium-bodied, dark lager arguably ranking among Eastern Europe's premier drinks\n Bergenbier – a rich, German-style lager extremely popular throughout Romania\n Stejar beer – a 7% strong beer with a distinct taste\n Lacrima Lui Ovidiu – a nice, sweet Romanian wine, available in supermarkets for around 20 lei.\n Dracula Beer – a kitsch beer sold to foreign tourists, around Bran Castle and in supermarkets, noted for its remarkably unsavory flavor.\n Ciuc beer – one of the best beers part of the Group Heineken\n Wine from a local wine cellar – You will find these in any town, just ask for \"crama\" (krahmah)\n Horinca de Bihor, or other Țuică – This is a local brandy. Many locals brew their own natural and tasteful brandy. You can find it at locals' houses (they will be happy to have you taste theirs) and in wine cellars.\n Remark : Most local beers are in the meantime taken over by international companies, keeping old taste.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk011", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Transylvania is not a land of dangers lurking around each darkened corner. It houses a relatively large number of police headquarters, so that if anything goes wrong on your journey, help will be close by.\n\nOn the other hand, especially in heavily touristed towns like Sinaia, there will be some con men out to prey on tourists. Beware of the \"maradona\". You should also watch out for pickpockets around busy tourist attractions.\n\nPolice corruption has been reduced significantly and you would be better off being nice and friendly to police officers, rather than offering them money. If you feel like you are being mistreated by a police officer, ask for his superior.\n\nAlcoholism is quite prevalent in the area, and bar fights are not unheard of.", "word_count": 126}
+{"chunk_id": "transylvania::chunk012", "doc_id": "transylvania", "section": "Go next", "text": "Maramureș in the north, Banat in the south west and Crișana in the west are historically tied to Transylvania and can be a good extension of your trip to Transylvania.\nMoldavia is popular for its monasteries and small villages.\nDobrogea is where you can go to the Black sea coast.\nBucharest is the capital of Romania and about 3 hours away from Brașov.\nIn the south of Romania you can see the green Oltenia and the fieldy region of Muntenia.", "word_count": 80}
diff --git a/corpus/transylvania/metadata.json b/corpus/transylvania/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..60f0b6c8ad0417337e6addd0544768c143276dac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/transylvania/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "transylvania",
+ "title": "Transylvania",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Transylvania",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "archaeological",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Romania"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": null,
+ "go_next": [
+ "Maramureș",
+ "Banat",
+ "Crișana",
+ "Moldavia",
+ "Northern Dobruja",
+ "Bucharest",
+ "Brașov",
+ "Oltenia",
+ "Muntenia"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 2697,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 21,
+ "chunk_count": 13,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/triglav/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/triglav/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2f2ef0c4cc00397e42bfba56dc6e35fca7b06921
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/triglav/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk000", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Triglav National Park** (*Triglavski Narodni Park*) covers nearly all of the Slovenian section of the Julian Alps, a total of nearly 85,000 hectares and is centered on **Mount Triglav** (2864m). It is popular for its outdoor adventure possibilities, numerous gorges and waterfalls, and the spectacular **Lake Bohinj**.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk001", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Understand", "text": "Triglav National Park borders Italy in the west and Austria in the north. It attracts over two million visitors annually. The park includes 25 settlements, with a total population of 2,352, most in the town of Ribčev Laz. Tolmin Gorges are the lowest and southernmost access point to Triglav National Park and an extraordinary natural feature.Triglav National Park is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. The park also has several cultural attractions, including the Triglav Lakes Valley and the Vintgar Gorge. \n\n### History\n\nThe first proposal to protect the area around Triglav came from Prof. Albin Belar in 1906. However, it was not until 1924 that the Alpine Conservation Park was established in the valley of Triglav Lakes. In 1961, the Triglav National Park was founded and in 1981, the borders were expanded to their current locations. In 2003, Triglav National Park was included in the UNESCO MaB (Man and Biosphere) network.\n\nThe park is home to many plants and animals. The park's most revered animal is the chamois, of which only 2,000 exist. Legend tells of the **Zlatorog**, the golden-horned chamois that live on the mountains. Other wildlife includes ibex, marmot, golden eagles and the brown bear, although most animals stay away from humans and animal sightings are rare. Common plant life includes the Julian poppy and the purple Zois bellflower. Most plants are protected.\n\n### Tourist office\n\n**Tourist Office Dovje-Mojstrana** in Mojstrana, tel/fax +386 45891 320 Tourist Office - Infos http://www.mojstrana.com\n - Tourist Office Kobarid\n\n - Tourist Office Tolmin", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk002", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bus\n\nBuses run hourly from Ljubljana, through Kranj and Bled, to **Bohinjska Bistrica**, and terminating at , in the southeastern corner of the park. The 30-km journey from Bled takes 45 minutes or 120 minutes from Ljubljana. Schedules are available.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are around 6 trains a day each way between and other stations to Nova Gorica. From Nova Gorica there are onward connections to every city in Italy and other parts of Slovenia. The train is cheap and the stations along the way are very picturesque with flowers adorning the station platforms and most of the journey offers impressive views of the turquoise Soca (Isonzo) river.\n\nOn some weekends during the summer there is a steam train service between Nova Gorica and Bled. The tickets include a return journey and lunch at Bled Castle.\n\nMany of the outdoor adventure agencies based in Bled run sports-based excursions to the park.", "word_count": 154}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk003", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By bus\n\nDuring the summer months, local bus routes run throughout the Bohinj area, connecting the towns to various trailheads and points of interest. Purchase a day pass in advance. The hourly bus from Bled and Ljubljana also makes local stops.", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk004", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|240px|Vintgar Gorge, near [[Bled]]\n\n - [[Bled]]\n\n - Vintgar Gorge\n\n - Lake Bohinj\n\n - Pokljuka Ravine\n\n - Savica Waterfall\n\n - Peričnik Waterfall\n\n - The Source of the Soca River\n\n - Kluže Fortress\n\n - Mostnica Gorge\n\nthumb|240px|Lake Bohinj In Summer\n\n - Church of St. John the Baptist\n\n - Migovec Caves\n\n - Boka Waterfall\n\n - Jasna Lake\n\n - Planica ski-jump and Tamar valley\n\n - Zelenci\n\n - Vitranc\n\n - Ciprnik\n\n - Hike along Pišnica\n\n - Lake Kreda\n\n - Lakes of Fusine\n\n - Vršič pass\n\n - Monte Santo di Lussari\n\n - Mangart saddle", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk005", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Do", "text": "- Climbing Mount Triglav\n\n - Dom Planika\n\n - Vogel Cable Car Ride\n\n Other medium height mountains include:\n - Jelovica\n\n - Pokljuka\n\n - Mežakla\n\n - Mala Mojstrovka\n\n - Tromeja\n\n - Monte Canin\n\n - Canyoning\n\n - Rafting\n\n - Log Koritnica\n\n - HourAway\n\n - Escape museum in Rateče\n\n - Lake Predil\n\n### Festivals\n\n - Kravji Bal", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk006", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Eat", "text": "In Ribcev Laz, many of the hotels have restaurants.\n\n - MK Pizzeria\n\n - Gostilna Rupa\n\n - Gostilna Mihovc\n\nOutside of the settlements, the mountain huts usually sell simple meals and refreshments.\n\nThe region is known throughout Slovenia for its locally-produced alpine cheeses. These are sold from the farmers, typically in half-kilogram wedges, in the small villages scattered throughout the valley and in many of the mountain huts below the treeline.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk007", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Better accommodation options are located in the nearby towns of Bled, Dovje-Mojstrana, Kranjska Gora, and Bovec.\n\n**Mountain huts** offering simple meals and accommodation are scattered about the national park. Reservations are strongly advised in peak season. Camping is prohibited in the park.\n\n#### Stara Fužina\n\n - Apartments Bohinj - Mavrica\n\n#### Bohinjska Bistrica\n\n - Bohinj Hotel\n\n#### Ribčev Laz\n\n - Hotel Bellevue\n\n - Hotel Jezero\n\n - Pension Kristal\n\n - Hotel Pod Voglom\n\n - Pension Rozic\n\n - Hotel Zlatorog", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk008", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Cope", "text": "As in all of Slovenia people generally speak a high level of English. Knowledge of Italian and German is also common although locals always like to see foreigners try out some Slovene phrases.", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk009", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "When hiking, always check weather conditions. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. In case of storms, seek shelter in mountain huts. You should have proper equipment for hiking, including hiking shoes, helmets, clothes (with warmer clothes in backpack even in summer!) Use of ropes and belays is advisable for ferratas.\n\nSnakes and bears can be found in Slovenia although it is very rare to encounter them.\n\nIn case of emergency, call 112 or contact nearest mountain hut.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "triglav::chunk010", "doc_id": "triglav", "section": "Go next", "text": "Dovje-Mojstrana\n Uskovnica\n Bled\n Bovec\n Ljubljana\n For those traveling by car (or with shoe leather to burn), the crossing from Kranjska Gora to Bovec via the delightfully named has some awe-inspiring scenery.", "word_count": 31}
diff --git a/corpus/triglav/metadata.json b/corpus/triglav/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ca97a6b7cf83008167507947b85cfdfcccbe1625
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/triglav/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "triglav",
+ "title": "Triglav National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Triglav_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "museums",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Julian_Alps"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Dovje-Mojstrana",
+ "Uskovnica",
+ "Bled",
+ "Bovec",
+ "Ljubljana",
+ "Kranjska Gora",
+ "Bovec"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 929,
+ "listing_count": 52,
+ "marker_count": 6,
+ "chunk_count": 11,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tunisia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tunisia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b3a6b7aaa868082b5f9be22cdd2e472eb526b009
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tunisia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk000", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Overview", "text": "*\"TN\" redirects here. For the Indian state, see Tamil Nadu; for the US state, see Tennessee.*\nThe Republic of **Tunisia** (Arabic: تونس *Tūnis*), is a country in North Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Tourist infrastructure is well developed, and there are several ways to enjoy the loveliness of Tunisia, including spending time on the gorgeous Mediterranean beaches, viewing its ancient ruins, living its thriving desert culture, or sampling its delicious cuisine.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk001", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|The Ribat at Sousse, a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]\n — the laid-back capital of Tunisia with easy access to Carthage and a very authentic souk\n — large town on the east coast, mostly a rail and bus transit point\n — a major site for Islamic pilgrimage\n — Byzantine and Ottoman architecture in this small town in the northwest\n — being former capital, mahdia is a Tunisian coastal city with 76,513 inhabitants, south of Monastir and southeast of Sousse.\n — ancient city with a history back to Phoenician times; these days it is home of the main charter flight airport in the country\n — historic town with a great old kasbah; also access to the Kerkennah Islands\n — a for its architecture and a popular beach resort\n — the \"Gate of the Desert\", a Saharan city known for its date tree plantation and Saharan tourism", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk002", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— Phoenician colony, biggest trade metropolis of the antique world; famously razed by the Romans; remnants now encased in a museum; site easily reached by train from Tunis\n — a Mediterranean island in the south which is popular with sun-seekers, and home to a historic synagogue that is one of the last remaining active ones in the Arab world\n — impressive ruins of a remote Roman city\n — one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world\n — a large Saharan National Park with impressive dunes and rock formations\n — remnants of the sole untouched Punic settlement which is a UNESCO World Heritage site\n — on the edge of the sand desert, the Saharan oasis known for its hot spring and old Roman fort\n — berber village of cave abodes, where *Star Wars*' Tatooine was set\n — get aboard the restored Red Lizard vintage train snaking through scenic gorges and hills\n (*Sbeitla*) — a fairly well preserved Roman settlement in the mid-west area of Tunisia\n — surrounded by various historic forts (*ksar*) and another filming location of *Star Wars*", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk003", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nTunisia has a rich cultural history, ever since antiquity. The Carthaginian Empire, Rome's archenemy, was centred in Tunisia. Its capital, Carthage, is now a suburb of Tunis. Founded by Phoenician settlers from Tyre and Sidon (modern day Lebanon), Carthage was an ancient Mediterranean powerhouse. Three wars between Rome and Carthage (known as the Punic wars) were waged in the first few centuries before the birth of Christ. These culminated with the decimation of Carthage in 146 BCE by the Roman general Scipio, who is said to have wept at its destruction.\n\nBetween the destruction of ancient Carthage and the Arabic conquests of the 7th century, many cultures have made Tunisia their home. Carthage enjoyed a new period of prosperity under the Roman Empire until its collapse in the 5th century. Roman rule was replaced briefly by the Vandals, who made Carthage the capital of their kingdom. Carthage was then absorbed temporarily by the Byzantine Empire, until the rise of Islam in the 7th century.\n\nAfter the dissipation of the Arabic Caliphates, the Ottoman Empire's Turkish Pashas ruled Tunisia. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia eventually fell under the sway of European Imperialism, as a French Protectorate, along with neighbouring Algeria.\n\nFollowing independence from France 20 March 1956, President Habib Bourguiba established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. Bourghiba was quietly replaced in 1987 by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. His forced resignation was carried out under the pretext that he was unfit to carry out his duties as president, due to his ailing mental and physical state as a result of extreme old age. Nonetheless, Bourghiba is still credited with the birth of the modern state of Tunisia, for which he fought his entire life. Ben Ali took a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.\n\nHowever, this changed in late 2010. Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor set himself on fire in protest of the confiscation of his wares and police harassment. This became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution, as well as the **Arab Spring**. After massive street protests, Ben Ali was forced out of power in January 2011. For several years after the revolution, Tunisia has taken the path towards democratization of political and civil life. However, president Kais Saied launched a self-coup during the COVID-19 pandemic, and passed a constitution that favors his administration, causing uncertainties to future Tunisian politics.\n\n### Climate\n\nTemperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south.\n\n### Terrain\n\nMountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara desert.\n\n### Public holidays\n\n **Independence Day**, 20th March - a time when hotel rooms are completely booked. Plan accordingly.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Discover Tunisia website", "word_count": 485}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk004", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|250px|A map showing the visa requirements of Tunisia, with countries in green having visa-free access\nTunisia depends a lot on tourism; therefore, many people can visit the country without a visa. \n\n### Visa\n\nCitizens of Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vatican City do not require a visa to enter and stay for up to 3 months.\n\nCitizens of Canada do not require a visa to enter and stay for up to 4 months.\n\nIf you're not a citizen of any of the countries listed above, you must apply for a visa in advance at a Tunisian embassy. \n\nthumb|The remarkably well preserved Roman amphitheater at El Jem\n\n#### Visa application requirements\n\nVisa requirements vary from country to country; however, you're normally required to submit the following to apply for a Tunisian visa: \n\n A copy of your passport (must have a validity of more than six months)\n Proof of your legal status in the country you're living in \n A letter of invitation from your host in Tunisia (a hotel reservation will suffice)\n The first page of your passport \n\nThe Tunisian embassy in the United States states that the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior vets all tourist visa applications and may take up to **21** days to process any visa.\n\n### By plane\n\nTunisair is the national airline of Tunisia.\n\n Tunis-Carthage International Airport near Tunis is Tunisia's main international airport for scheduled flights.\n Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport is Tunisia's second airport which is served by low-cost charter flights from all over Europe. Monastir is nearer to most of the holiday destinations.\n Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport is third of the top three airports in the country.\n\nThe other airports that serve national and international flights are: Sfax Thyna Airport , Tozeur Nefta International Airport , Gafsa Airport , Tabarka–Aïn Draham International Airport , and Djerba International Airport . \n\nCharter flight companies can arrange flight and hotel, many that waive a visa to enter. There are also some agencies that have tours for groups and private travellers.\n\n### By boat\n\nFerry services link Tunis to Malta, Trapani and Palermo (Sicily, Italy), Naples (Italy), Genoa (Italy) and Marseille (France).\nTravelling boats generally leave from La Goulette port (near Tunis).\nOther commercial ports are also available (Rades, Gabes, Sousse, Sfax, Zarzis)\n\n### By train\n\nThere is a train operating three times per week between Tunis and the Algerian city of Annaba.", "word_count": 511}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk005", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By plane\n\nTunisair express is the domestic airline branched off of TunisAir. You can fly between Tunis and Tozeur, Djerba and Gabes, as well as flights to Malta and Napoli. French-only website, booking is available online or through agencies Tunisair Express.\n\n### By car\n\nTunisian highways resemble US Interstate or the highways of Europe with a dual carriageway: A-1 runs from Tunis south heading to Sfax, A-4 runs from Tunis north heading to Bizerte, and A-3 runs from Tunis West heading to Oued Zarga. Tunisian highways speed limit is 110 km/h. It is possible to maintain that speed on that road very easily. The routes shown on some maps have a planned extension to Gabes then Ras Jedir (Libya Frontiers) in the South as of 2011-2014 and to Ghardimaou (Algerian Frontiers) in the West, but several years later. The remaining highways have single carriageways, with traffic round-abouts at major intersections, which follow the European model (those in the roundabout have the right of way). Consequently, on roads other than the A-1,4,3 it can be difficult to maintain an average speed of more than 75 km/h most of the time as the speed limit is 90 km/h. Almost all road signs are in Arabic and French.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk006", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Like most developing countries, road accidents are the leading cause of death and injury in Tunisia. Tunisians are aggressive, poorly skilled and discourteous drivers. They are unpredictable in their driving habits, jumping traffic lights, seldom signaling when changing lanes, often ignoring traffic lights and stop signs, driving at very high rates of speed regardless of the quality of the roads or condition of their vehicles, and stopping at almost any location even though it may block other cars or potentially cause an accident. Because of the lack of sidewalks, pedestrians walk on the roads often without regard for cars or their own safety. Sadly, Tunisians seldom secure their children in appropriate car seats and these tiny passengers often bear the brunt of most accidents.\n\nAlthough police are visible at many major intersections, they seldom enforce traffic rules or stop bad drivers unless it is to solicit bribes.\n\nPeople unfamiliar with driving in developing countries are best to use public transportation or hire a driver.\n\nDriving in Tunis is further compounded by narrow streets and limited parking spots. To see the Medina of Tunis, it would be best to park some distance from the Medina, and take the light rail (called TGM) in from Marsa/Carthage, the green tramway (called Metro) downtown, or perhaps a taxi in from the nearer outskirts.\n\nRental cars are fairly easy to find, but somewhat expensive, at DT100 or so a day, for a medium-sized car such as a four-door Renault Clio.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk007", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Private taxis are reasonably priced even for long-distance travel, just be sure to agree on the fare before you set off. Sample fares for a four-seater are €40 for Tunis-Hammamet or €50 for Monastir-Hammamet. When taking the taxi within bigger towns such as Tunis, there are meters installed. Make sure it is started when you leave and in the corresponding mode (night, day, etc). A green light indicates that the taxi is already taken, a red that it is free.\n\nThe following ride-hailing apps are available in Tunisia:\n inDrive\n Forus Taxi\nAs of 2025, the Bolt app no longer functions in the country.\n\n### By train\n\n250px|thumb|Tunisian rail network\nThe national train company **SNCFT** runs trains from Tunis south to Sousse, Sfax and Monastir. There are three classes of service, namely *Grand confort* (deluxe 1st), 1st and 2nd, but none are very comfortable due to a general state of disrepair. Example fares from Tunis to Sousse are DT 10.3/7.6 in 1st/2nd class. Although tickets are issued with wagon/seat numbers marked on it, that is largely ignored by locals. So if you are travelling with more people, try to get onboard quickly to find adjacent seats.", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk008", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "A good thing to do is to buy a *carte bleue* (blue card). It costs DT 40 for a week 2nd class, DT 56 1st class, DT 60 Confort and you can travel all around the country using the banlieue (short distance train) and grande ligne (long distance) (June 2025). For the long distance you will have to make a reservation and pay a small fee (DT 1 to DT 2.1 depending on the distance). These passes can also be bought to cover 14 or 21 days and simply cost double or triple the 7-day version. There are rarely queues at the booking office and a little bit of French goes a long way. Trains go also to Tozeur and Gabes in the south where it is easy to access the Sahara and Ksour regions respectively. In some stations where the frequency of trains is small (e.g. Tozeur), the ticket booth will remain closed for most of the day and reopen around the time of the departure of the next train.\n\nContrary to what you might expect in other countries, trains are the least timely mode of transportation in Tunisia: delays and cancellations are common and the wait for your train is often longer than bus or louage, even if you check the schedule and come to the station \"on time\". As of 2024, the information screens at stations don't work. At bigger stations, ask around which train is yours.\n\nA light railway (called TGM) also connects Tunis northward to Carthage, La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said. One-way light railway tickets will cost approximately DT 1 (June 2025).\n\nthumb|Louages (shared taxis) are ubiquitous in Tunisia\n\n### By louage", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk009", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Locals use *louage* or long-haul shared taxis where there is no train or bus. There are no timetables, but they wait in the louage station (which is generally near a train station if your destination is accessible by train) until 8 people turn up. The wait is never too long in major cities, most of the time less than half an hour. They are nearly as cheap as the walk up train fares and operate with fixed prices so you won't get scalped. e.g. Douz to Gabes (120 km) for 7 dinars. While louages are very cheap, they can also be stifling hot during the summer months (although the windows are left open during the ride and that helps!) and tourists may be hassled, if only rarely - most locals will keep to themselves.\nFurthermore, louages have the reputation to drive at a fast pace, and to be less safe than other transportation, so be aware of that.\n\nLouage departures are very frequent; a louage departs as soon as the seats are filled. It is acceptable to pay for an empty seat to leave earlier.\n\nAll louage cars are white, with a side stripe showing the coverage area.\nLouages between major cities are recognizable by their red stripe, louages within region are recognizable by their blue stripe and louages serving rural areas are recognizable by their yellow strips (the Rural Louage can be yellow with blue stripes, or a van fully painted in brown color).\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk010", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Long distance bus (called *car*) is also a safe and economic way to travel between major cities such as Tunis, Nabeul, Hammamet, etc. You will generally find a station in each major city offering many departures per day (every 30 minutes between Tunis and Hammamet). Some of the bus locally called \"car comfort\" offer higher standards (TV, air conditioner) at cheap prices.\n\nIntercity buses are operated by the national transport authority, SNTRI and various local transport authorities around the country. SNTRI has schedules online, many local operators don't. In any case, the tickets have to be bought offline at the bus station. However, buses are rarely full, so there's no need to worry about advance booking.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk011", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Arabic** is the official language of Tunisia. \n\n**Tunisian Arabic** (also known as **Tounsi**), the local vernacular, is spoken natively by almost everyone. It is most closely related to Maltese and has loanwords from French, Turkish, Italian, and so on. Tunisian Arabic is used primarily in informal and spoken communication and is not typically used for formal or written communication. If you don't know the local dialect, do not despair; all Tunisians learn **Modern Standard Arabic** at school, so you should have no problems communicating in major cities.\n\nAs is the case in Morocco and Algeria, **French** is widely spoken and is a second language for a lot of Tunisians. The language is held in high regard; French is used in many avenues such as business, government, and commerce. French is often used to transliterate Arabic words. For example, the name \"Yusuf\" is transliterated as \"Youssef\". \n\nEnglish is seldom spoken and is mainly spoken in tourist areas. Code-switching is a common practice in Tunisia.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk012", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Byrsa Hills, some of the remains of Carthage\n\n### History and archaeology\n\nAlthough Tunisia is best known today for its beach resort holidays, the country has an amazing heritage with some exceptional archaeological remains to be explored.\n\nLittle remains of **Carthage**, but what does is relatively well presented compared to the rest of the ruins in Tunisia. This great city of the Phoenician and Punic periods dates from the 6th century BC and was the base of a hugely powerful empire spanning the entire south Mediterranean. Its most famous general was Hannibal who crossed the Alps to battle the Romans. Hannibal suffered his first significant defeat at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, and after over 50 years of being watched closely by Rome, Carthage was attacked in the 3rd Punic War and completely destroyed. The city was redeveloped by the Romans a century later, and Carthage became the capital of the Roman province of Africa. What we see today are the remains of that era.\n\n**Dougga** and **Kerkouane** are two other must see s that have amazingly well preserved ruins, but are sadly less informative with little to no signboards.\n\nBoth **Monastir** and **Sousse** are well known as beach resorts amongst sun-worshiping Europeans, but they are also towns with great historical heritage. Monastir has a history back to the time of Hannibal, an especially notable museum and a wonderful ribat (fortified monastery). Sousse is a for its authentic medina and souk, which should not be missed.\n\n**El Kef** has a splendid Byzantine kasbah rising out of the old medina with both Byzantine and Ottoman architecture evident. At **El Jem** you will find exceptional remains of a Roman amphitheater, yet another Tunisian .\n\n### North of the desert\n\nIn the northwest, Jugurtha's Table is a large mesa with a moon-like surface and deep crevasses and is normally accessed from the town of El Kef.\n\n### The desert\n\nTunisia has some of the most accessible, beautiful Saharan desert scenery. George Lucas fans will recognise the village of Matmata. The troglodyte dwellings here were used as the set for the young Luke Skywalker's home of Tatooine. The central western desert towns of Tozeur (with the film set of Mos Eisley) and Douz are surrounded by beautiful Saharan dune scenery. Since 2009 the oasis Ksar Ghilane is accessible by tarmac road.\n\nthumb|The Ribat at Monastir", "word_count": 393}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk013", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Do", "text": "### Beaches\n\nBeach resort holidays in Tunisia are extremely popular, especially with Europeans. The main resorts are on the east coast from La Goulette (close to Tunis) south to Monastir. The southern island of Djerba is an alternative. Many water sport activities are widely available or you can just relax, taking advantage of the almost relentless sunny climate.\n\nAll of Tunisia can be proud of its beaches, you just have to know where to find the \"undiscovered\" ones. There is a beach not far from Sousse called Chott Meriam. The beach is clean with white sand and beautiful clean sea. The best beaches of Tunisia can be found in Kelilbia, Djerba, Ghar El-Melh, Rafrafbeach, Sidi El Mekki, Sounine, Sousse and Zarzis.\n\nA few tour organizations organize day trips from Tunis to beaches in Bizerte and around the area for a price of about DT25 per person, with a meal included. These events can be found mainly on Facebook.\n\n### The desert\n\nTreks into the desert are an increasingly popular part of a visit to Tunisia, and the towns of Douz and Tozeur are good starting points. Close to Tozeur is the small town of Metlaoui, and this is the starting point of a great train journey. The beautifully-restored wagons date from 1904, and the luxurious train takes you into a truly stunning desert mountain landscape. Agencies organizing such treks include Libre Espace Voyage and Au Coeur du Desert.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk014", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nthumb|All current Tunisian coins (with the exception of the 5 millime coin). From the top left, left to right, the values are: 5, 1, 0.50, 0.10, 0.05, 0.02 and 0.01 DT.\n\nThe national currency is the **Tunisian dinar** (دينار), denoted by the symbol **د** or \"**DT**\" (ISO code: **TND**). Typical banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 DT. There are two series of notes in circulation, with notes before 2008 now demonetized.\n\nThe dinar is a **non-convertible closed currency**, meaning it is a **criminal offence** to import or export it. Keep your receipt for buying/withdrawing dinars, since you will need it for exchanging it back into foreign currency. On leaving Tunisia, Customs is known to do spot inspections and confiscate any dinars left in your possession.\n\nThe dinar is divided into 1000 *millimes*, with typical coins being 5 DT (Silver with copper insert), 2 DT, one dinar (large and silver in colour), 500 millimes (smaller, silver colour), 200, 100 and 50 millimes, (large brass), 20 and 10 millimes (smaller brass) and 5 millimes (small aluminium). It is prohibited to bring dinars in and out of Tunisia, so you have to change your money locally.\n\nPrices are typically marked in dinars and milliemes, with a decimal point like: 5.600 or 24.000 or 0.360 sometimes with DT. Markets typically sell items by the kilogram. So tomatoes may have a sign \"480\" on them which means 480 millimes per kilo. Good cheese will be marked something like 12.400 DT or about US$7 a kilo. Most self-serve supermarkets expect you to put your purchases in the flimsy plastic bags they provide and then bring them to the nearby scales where a worker will weigh them and apply a price sticker.\n\nYou can withdraw local cash with a Mastercard or Visa card at many ATMs all over Tunisia.", "word_count": 309}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk015", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Eat", "text": "Tunisian cuisine has similarities with Middle Eastern cuisine, and mainly builds on the Northern African Maghreb tradition, with *couscous* and *marqa* stews (similar to the Moroccan *tajine*) forming the backbone of most meals. Distinguishing characteristics are the fiery *harissa* chili sauce, the heavy use of tiny olives which are abundant in the country, and the Tunisian *tajine* which, unlike the Moroccan dish of the same name, refers to a type of omelette-like pie prepared with a ragout of meat and/or vegetables mixed with herbs, legumes and even offal, enriched with eggs and cheese and baked in a deep pie dish until the eggs are just set, somewhat like an Italian *frittata*. Lamb forms the basis of most meat dishes and local seafood is plentiful. Pork and pork products are not widely available but can be found in some supermarkets and in some hotels in tourist areas.\n\nthumb|A fiery plate of Harissa\n\n *Harissa*: very hot spicy chili paste (sometimes made more mild with carrots or yogurt), served with bread and olive oil as a starter at almost any meal.\n*Shorba Frik*: lamb soup\n*Coucha*: shoulder of lamb cooked with turmeric and cayenne pepper\n*Khobz Tabouna* (pronounce *Khobz Taboona*): traditional oven baked bread\n *Brik* (pronounce *Breek*): very crispy thin pastry with a whole egg (*Brik à l'œuf*), parsley and onions and sometimes meat like minced lamb or tuna (*Brik au thon*). Very tasty as an inexpensive starter. Eat it very carefully with your fingers.\n *Berber Lamb*: Lamb cooked with potatoes, carrots in a clay pot.\n *Merguez*: small spicy sausages.\n *Salade tunisienne*: lettuce, green pepper, tomato, onions, olives, radishes mixed with tuna.\n *Salade méchouia*: puréed grilled vegetable salad seasoned (often with *harissa*) and served with olive oil and sometimes tuna.\n *Fricassé*: small fried sandwich with tuna, harissa, olives and olive oil.\n *Tunisian cakes*: sweets related to Baklava.\n *Bambaloni*: fried sweet donut-like cake served with sugar.\n Tunisian \"fast food\": sandwiches, makloubs (folded pizzas), \"libanais\"...\n\nRegrettably, Tunisia has a very underdeveloped restaurant culture, and most food prepared in restaurants, outside of Tunisian homes or souks is disappointingly bland and carelessly presented. These characteristics tend to apply across the price scale, though one can occasionally eat tasty couscous or \"coucha\" stew in some low-priced restaurants. One's best hope for good eating in Tunisia is to be invited as a guest in someone's home or eat at a food stall in a souk.", "word_count": 396}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk016", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Being a progressive Muslim-majority country, alcohol availability is restricted (but not greatly) to certain licensed (and invariably more expensive) restaurants, resort areas and *Magasin Général* shops. Large department stores (Carrefour at Marsa/Carthage and Hammamet) and some supermarkets (e.g. Monoprix) sell beer and wine, and some local and imported hard liquors, except during Muslim holidays. Female travelers should be aware that, outside resort and areas of significant tourist concentration, they may find themselves with a beer in a smoky bar full of men drinking in a rather dedicated fashion. Some bars will refuse to admit women, others may ask for a passport to check nationality. Look around a bar before you decide to imbibe!\n\n *Beer*: Celtia is the popular local brand, but some places also carry imported pilsner beers. Locally brewed Löwenbräu is decent, and Heineken has entered in the Tunisian market in 2007. Celtia \"En Pression\" (On Tap) is good. Celestia is a non-alcoholic beer which is also popular.\n *Wine*: Most places that serve alcohol will have Tunisian wine, which is quite good. Tunisian wine always was produced by French oenologists. Most of it was exported to France till the 1970s. Wine cooperatives were left and produce 80% of the wine which is served mostly to tourists. Since the privatisation of some parts of these cooperatives the international taste of wine entered the market in Tunisia. The small companies like Domaine Atlas, St. Augustin, Ceptunes etc. have successfully established the new generation of Tunisian wine. Importation of wine is extremely difficult because of very high taxes. Some high-end hotel restaurants can make French or Italian wines miraculously appear at a price.\n *Boukha*: is a Tunisian spirit made from the distillation of figs.\n *Coffee*: served strong in small cups. Tunisian cappuccino is also served strong in small cups. \"Café crème\" is available in many tourist areas and may even appear in an \"American Cup\". Local favorites include the *capucin* (espresso macchiato) and the *direct* (latte).\n *Tea*: is generally taken after meals. Sometimes served with pine nuts floating in the tea.\n *Mint Tea*: very sweet peppermint tea that is taken at any time of the day.", "word_count": 354}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk017", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are lots of fine hotels in Tunisia. Many smaller hotels can be found in major cities, tucked into most roads. Hotel star ratings are not at par with European and US standards - a 4-star Tunisian hotel is the equivalent of a 3-star hotel elsewhere.\n\nYou can also rent a furnished apartment. Some private people offer their own apartments for rent especially in summer.\n\nIt is advisable to organise your accommodations online or by phone prior to your arrival. Other than pricier hotels, most accommodations don't seem to have a website. French would be handy when booking accommodations.\n\nthumb|The Tunisian Desert", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk018", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Work", "text": "Finding work in Tunisia is **difficult**, even for Tunisian nationals. Tunisia has a high unemployment rate − 16.1% as of May 2023 − which, as obvious as it sounds, is as good as saying that there's not enough work for anyone. Most of Tunisia's unemployed are university graduates, and many Tunisians move abroad in search of better opportunities. \n\nUnemployment has long been a problem successive Tunisian governments have dealt with, and it was one of the factors that ignited the Tunisian Revolution. Since the end of the revolution in 2011, the government has largely failed to create enough employment opportunities for Tunisia's university graduates. A major terrorist attack in 2015, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, dealt a big blow to the country's tourism industry. \n\nOne seldom manages life in the country effectively without knowing either Arabic, French, or both, so try to acquire the necessary language skills. Doing so will open many doors for you.\n\nWhile pick-up restaurant and handyman jobs are common in other countries, these positions are much less likely to present themselves in Tunisia because of local competition. It's better to arrange for a job before coming to Tunisia.\n\nAverage wages in Tunisia are low compared to Western nations.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk019", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "### Violence\n\nDemonstrations occur from time to time, and are sometimes violent or broken up brutally. So consult your foreign office to check on current conditions before traveling to Tunisia, and do your best to steer clear of any large demonstrations that may occur while you are there.\n\nIn 2015, Islamist terrorists targeted tourists in Tunisia. In March 24 people were killed at the Bardo Museum in Tunis and in June a terrorist shot dead 39 tourists at a beach and a hotel in Sousse. The tourist coastal areas are considered safe. However, the border areas with Libya and in parts Algeria are still not safe areas.\n\n### Female travellers\n\nIt is apparently not considered rude for a man to stare at a woman's body which indicates that modesty will attract less attention. Women can expect to be the target of frequent catcalls (\"Gazelle\" seems to be especially popular). If you travel as part of a couple, stay together as much as possible as the female traveller should not wander around on her own if she doesn't want to be pestered. The pestering usually amounts to nothing more than bizarre words and the occasional touch but it can be extremely persistent and annoying.\n\nTunisian women often wear outfits that would normally be seen on the streets of any major world city (tight jeans, slinky top), but they do so while showing traditional modesty by exposing virtually no skin. Arms are covered down to the wrists, collars go to the neck (cleavage is non-existent) and a head scarf may be worn. Western women visiting can minimize attention by selecting clothing that minimizes skin shown. V-necks are fine if another layer with a higher collar is worn underneath.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk020", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "In most towns, there are outdoor cafes around squares and on the streets, but they are only for men; even when accompanied by men, women are not welcome. Prices are much cheaper in these cafes than mixed gender cafes and tearooms found in Tunis.\n\n### Money and scams\n\nTravellers report problems being pestered either to buy something or for other purposes. Persistence is a major complaint. Some say that a refusal often results in a bad reaction, \"being hissed at\" is one example, but those who have been advised to refuse politely with a smile rarely complain. \"Non, Merci\" is a very good response, with a smile. This seems to be borne out by the reports of sole female travellers who you would expect to receive the most attention, but who often report the least problems (from an admittedly small sample), perhaps because they are more cautious than accompanied females. It certainly seems to be the case that sole female sea bathers attract a good deal of unwelcome attention (even molestation) until a male friend arrives.\n\nTheft of belongings, even from hotel rooms and room safes, is widely reported and the usual caveats apply - keep valuables in a secure place (e.g. supervised hotel safe deposit), do not flash too much cash, and keep wallets, purses and other desirable items where pick pockets cannot reach them. A good recommendation is only to carry enough cash for your immediate requirements and only one credit or bank card, provided you can be assured of the security of your reserves. Besides, most of the Automatic Bank-notes distributors are available and foreign credit cards are accepted. You can take cash (in equivalent Tunisian dinars) directly from your bank account with a small extra fee (bank transaction from €1 to €2).", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk021", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Theft is also reported at airports. Keep your belongings under your direct supervision all the time.\n\nWhen it's time to settle the bill in a Tunisian cafe or restaurant, it's advisable to ensure that you are presented with an actual paper, itemised copy of a bill before handing over any money. Frequently, your waiter will claim to have calculated your total amount due in their heads and this will always be more than you actually owe. Also, check prices on menus before ordering. Some establishments will claim to have no menus, they usually have wall mounted menus. Tunisian workers are extremely low paid (£300 per month approx) and will frequently try to take advantage of tourists without their wits around them.\n\nThe export of Tunisian currency is forbidden and searches of wallets and purses can, and do, occur at Tunis airport. You are not permitted to take Tunisian currency out of the country, but the money exchanges at the airport will generally refuse to change your Tunisian currency to foreign currency. If you proceed through immigration and are found with more than DT20 - 30, you will be invited to return landside to change them. The problem is that this \"invitation\" will come after you have already been through passport control and handed in your exit card; therefore it is not practical. You will then be invited to hand some or all of your Tunisian money (which in any case cannot be spent in the duty free shops) to the uniformed official. Arguing will get you nowhere and a request for a receipt will be met with an outright refusal. Judging from the way the money is swiftly palmed, you will have almost certainly just paid a bribe.", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk022", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Customs agents may approach you as soon as you have checked in, to ask how much foreign currency you have with you. You may then be escorted a private office where two or more agents count the money, note the amount, and then return it to you. Be sure to check that they have returned the correct amount as there are reports of substantial discrepancy between the amount you gave and the amount that was returned.\n\n### Tunisian dual nationals\n\nTunisia has recognised multiple citizenship since 1975.\n\nIf you are a Tunisian citizen – being a dual citizen of Tunisia, having a Tunisian parent, or being a naturalised citizen – possessing another passport will not grant you consular access and protection in the event you get detained or arrested.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk023", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Saharan sun\n\n### Health care\n\nTunisia, especially in tourist destinations and major cities, has hospitals of international standard. The quality of medical care is generally better and more accessible in the capital Tunis and other major cities. Public health services in the larger cities are reasonably functional, but often suffer from a lack of resources.\n\nThere are several private clinics of international standard in the Tunisian capital and tourist centres. Private clinics operate in a hospital-like manner and perform a wide range of procedures. The availability of specialised health care services can be limited. International clinics are staffed by English-speaking doctors, but other staff, especially on the public side, often speak only Arabic or French. Ambulance services are limited outside urban areas.\n\nA few clinics in the capital Tunis include Clinique Internationale Hannibal, Les Cliniques El Manar, Clinique Saint Augustin and Polyclinique Les Berges du Lac.\n\nDental care in Tunis is provided by DENTYSS (Montplaisir).\n\nIn Soussé, some hotels have their own doctors who will make medical visits if necessary. Other clinics in the town include Clinique Essalem and Clinique Les Oliviers.There is also a private clinic in Hammamet, Polyclinique Hammamet.\n\nFor more information on public health care prices, visit the Tunisian Ministry of Health website in French. Prices should be verified separately on the spot.\n\nIt is highly recommended that you have comprehensive travel insurance when travelling to Tunisia. Without insurance, medical fees can often be quite high. Health care providers often require a cash advance. Most places do not accept payment commitments from certain insurance companies, and only some accept credit cards.\n\nPharmacies in Tunisia are easy to find and are usually open late. The contact details of the pharmacy on duty can often be found on the doors or windows of pharmacies.\n\n### Tips\n\n - Please remember that the sun is frequently your biggest enemy and frequently apply a high (factor 30 or better) sun screen. It is usually cheaper in your local super market than at the holiday destination.\nBe careful what and where you eat and drink (remember the ice cubes too); diarrhea is a common complaint from incautious travellers. The **tap water** in the high-end Tunis-Carthage-Marsa area seems to be safe (2006).\n\n### Vaccinations\n\nAlways check with your doctor 4-8 weeks before traveling (the 4-8 weeks is important, as some vaccinations take weeks to become effective, and with polio you can be contagious for a while too):\n\n is required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas.\n**Hepatitis A** is usually recommended Two Havrix injections, given 6 months apart, provide 10 years of Hep A protection\n**Typhoid**\n**Polio**\n**Hepatitis B** - Highly recommended if likely to have intimate contact with locals or if visiting for more than 6 months.", "word_count": 460}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk024", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Tunisia is a Muslim-majority country, and one should be mindful of the dress code depending on the region. Whilst a lot of skin (even topless) is tolerated on beaches and within hotel complexes, a modest amount of exposed skin may be frowned upon outside these areas. That said, the country is also home to long-established Christian and Jewish minorities who are free to practice their religions, but may not proselytize to Muslims.\n\nBe aware that the further south one travels, the more conservative Tunisia becomes. While most women wear western-style clothing in the Capital (which is a mix of Mediterranean, European and Middle Eastern cultures), Southern Tunisia is more conservative and far more traditional.\n\n### Ramadan\n\nAt least one Tunisian tourist website says that after the revolution the 2011 Ramadan was more strictly observed, and the same for the following years. For three days at the end of July 2012, the vast majority of shops were closed during the day, although the Tunis medina was mostly open. Virtually all of the restaurants were closed. Beyond a few tourists drinking coke, not a single person was eating or drinking during the day, even at the touristy cafes at Sidi Bou Said.\n\nIn Tunis, on the Ave Habib Bourgiba, all of the cafes had their tables put away until after iftar (the breaking of the fast) at sunset, around 19:30. After that many people were out, and you could order food at some cafes, and coffee and desserts at others. Just before the iftar, Ave Habib Bourgiba is completely devoid of life and other-wordly. At smaller cafes, like 3 Etoiles on Rue Mustapha M'Barek, you can see families and men sitting around tables full of food, waiting for sunset.\n\nAt night, though, the medina comes alive - huge crowds are out and throng the street, which is definitely something to experience! Shops and supermarkets are often open till midnight.\n\nBe prepared for a somewhat unique experience if you choose to visit Tunisia during Ramadan. During the daylight hours, eat and drink (even water), very discreetly. Buy bread and focaccia from the street vendors in the evening for lunch the next day, or find one of the local shops that is still open to buy something to tide you over. Virtually no one drinks alcohol, and your best bet (at least in Tunis) might be the Hotel Africa.", "word_count": 395}
+{"chunk_id": "tunisia::chunk025", "doc_id": "tunisia", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nThere are three mobile GSM operators, private Ooredoo, private Orange, Tunisia state-owned Tunisie Telecom all offering wide mobile coverage (including some oasis in the Sahara). Rates tend to be quite low for domestic calls, but very high for international calls (around DT 1,500/minute). Ask for a *carte prépayée* for a prepaid SIM card.\n\nEmergency Call\n\n*197* Police emergency number - general emergency\n*198* Health emergency number - Ambulance SAMU\n*1200* Telephone information\n\n### Internet\n\nPublic internet access is available in many cities and towns, usually using the *Publinet* logo. Look for a large purple sign with the Publinet logo. Access is usually 0.8DT/hour, and speeds tend to be quite low (1024 kbit/s is the norm in Sousse and 4096 in Tunis). Home internet (ADSL) is not as expensive as it used to be, you can have 1 year ADSL of 4096 kbps speed, for just DT400 per year. You can also have 3G internet access through any cell phone carriers (Tunisie Telecom, Orange Tunisia or Tunisiana),FTP and peer-to-peer access is available anywhere in Tunisia, there is no access restriction by the government anymore. USB keys for internet are rather popular and can be found for varying periods, even for short stays.\n\n### Post\n\nLa Poste Tunisienne is quite efficient and fast. Post restante is offered in certain (bigger) offices. A stamp for international letters costs DT 0,600.\n\nRapide Post is the Poste's service for sending mail and packages quickly. Once a Rapide Post package enters the US it is handled by FedEx. It is the best and most secure way to send things in Tunisia.", "word_count": 267}
diff --git a/corpus/tunisia/metadata.json b/corpus/tunisia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5f6ecf52dd265e021583b2971e6bd81172b7726c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tunisia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tunisia",
+ "title": "Tunisia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tunisia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "North_Africa"
+ ],
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+ "go_next": [],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
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+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/tuscany/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/tuscany/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2f13d995a4555292e63a3a3311c63cfd4d1ca455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tuscany/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk000", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Tuscany** (Italian: *Toscana*) is a region on Italy's west coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is one of the most popular places to visit in a country that is itself one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are several reasons to visit Tuscany: some of the most important ones are seeing Renaissance art in Florence, eating Tuscan food and tasting the excellent local wines, and after all this enjoying a day at the beach in Viareggio.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk001", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Regions", "text": "### Provinces\n\n### Other regions\n\nThe wine growing region of Chianti\nThe ecogreen area of Casentino\nMaremma, a less populated region, in south Tuscany and North Latium", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk002", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Cities", "text": "(Italian: *Firenze*) – a cultural, artistic and architectural gem that was the centre of the Renaissance; it is a \n\n — a mediaeval city with a 16th-century fortress and a Roman amphitheatre\n — one of the 12 members of the Etruscan League, it has an important museum of Etruscan artifacts\n — has a well-preserved mediaeval centre and city walls\n — a hilltop town known for its wine\n — a Gothic town and UNESCO World Heritage site that was entirely redesigned to the specifications of a pope who was a native son\n — a city known worldwide for its Leaning Tower but with other marvellous attractions\n — a pretty mediaeval walled city, famous for its historic centre with beautiful towers\n— its *centro storico*, a , is extremely picturesque, and from high towers, you can see the beautiful countryside that still largely surrounds the city", "word_count": 143}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk003", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Except for the recent introduction of large-scale sunflower cultivation for oil, the Tuscan countryside in many instances looks quite similar to what you see in Gothic Florentine and Sienese paintings\nThere are many hot springs in Tuscany, which have been prized since ancient Roman times, if not earlier.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk004", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Understand", "text": "Tuscany has three very diverse faces; the art cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa, the countryside, and the coastal and islands region.\n\nThe small towns, villages, castles, villas and vineyards of Tuscany make a welcome change from the traffic and noise of some of the larger Tuscan cities.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Visit Tuscany website", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk005", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|The Ponte Vecchio, [[Florence]], at dusk\n\n### By plane\n\nInternational flights commonly come in to Milan or Rome, where one can rent a car and do the three-hour drive to Tuscany.\n\nFlorence and Pisa have important airports. Every major city has a railway station.\n\n (), 1.5km (1 mile) south of Pisa city centre.\n (), four kilometres from the centre of Florence.\n\nDelta Air Lines (US carrier) has a direct flight from New-York JFK to Pisa, offering a cheaper, alternative to flying into Florence.\n\n### By train\n\nFlorence, Pisa, and Grosseto are important rail destinations. Florence has two major rail stations, Santa Maria Novella (SMN) in the city centre and Campo di Marte (CdM) a bit further away.\n\nConnections to Florence from the rest of Italy by train are generally fast and frequent and EuroStar Italia services are available. For example, there are easy connections found from Milano, Orvieto, Rome, Bologna and Ravenna.\n\nNight train services are available to Florence from Zurich, Munich, Siracusa, Salerno, and others.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk006", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|370px|Adoration of the Magi by the Florentine Gothic painter, Gentile da Fabriano, on display at the Uffizi in Florence\n\n### By train\n\nFrom the central station of Florence you can easily reach most places in Tuscany, including:\n\n Siena (1.5 to 2 hours)\n Pisa (1 to 1.5 hours)\n San Gimignano (by train to Poggibonsi, 1 hour ride, and then a bus that runs every 30-40 minutes, 25-minute ride)\n Volterra (also reachable by bus from Poggibonsi)\n Lucca\n Arezzo\n\n### By bus\n\nMobilitá has a useful website for bus routes and schedules in Tuscany. The site is mostly in Italian, but is simple to use. (The Tuscan bus companies Siena Mobilitá, Tiemme, and Toscana Mobilitá seem to be affiliated.)\n\nLocal services for several cities are marked *urbano*. The interurban services are all under the tab *servizio extraurbano*.\n\nGoogle maps identify bus stops throughout Tuscany for both local and interurban routes. If you click on the bus stop symbol, you can get a list of bus routes serving that stop. Using Google Streetview, you can often identify which side of the road the stop is situated and hence which direction of travel is served by the stop.\n\nBus users should purchase their bus tickets before boarding the bus. Most *Tabacchi*-shops (tobacconists) sell bus tickets. Sometimes newsstands and bars may also sell tickets. You must tell the ticket seller your destination so that your ticket will be valid for the correct fare zones. After boarding the bus, stamp your ticket in the machine located behind the driver.\n\nBeware that many routes have either reduced or no service on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Schedules indicate reduced service as *festivo* while the regular work day schedule is *feriale*. Many bus stops have posted schedules.\n\nBlue-coloured buses are for interurban service while orange-coloured buses are for local service. Interurban buses can serve local stops along the route.", "word_count": 309}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk007", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Campo dei Miracoli, [[Pisa]]\n\nTuscany is world-famous for its churches, including the Duomo and Baptistery, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, San Miniato al Monte and several others in Florence; the Duomo and Baptistery in Siena; and the Duomo and Baptistery in Pisa.\n\nTuscany is also known for its great museums, especially the Uffizi in Florence but also the Bargello and Accademia, the Musei dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence and Siena, the museum in the Palazzo Pubblico and the Pinacoteca in Siena, and the Museo Archeologico in Arezzo, among many others.\n\nThe small town of San Gimignano deserves special mention because while none of its churches or museums are very large, it contains so much beauty in such a small area. The town of Pienza is itself practically a museum in the round, as its foremost claim to fame is its architecture. There are many other beautiful small towns with great art, including Cortona.\n\nWhich segues into the other great draw of a trip to Tuscany: The beauty of the countryside. In order to understand Tuscan painting, you need to see the Tuscan countryside, which except for the relatively recent introduction of sunflower cultivation is still similar to what you can see in paintings by great Gothic painters like Giotto (Florentine), Simone Martini and Duccio (Sienese).\n\n### Parks\n\n - The National Park of the Tusco-Emilian Apennines\n\n - The National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago\n\n - The National Park of the Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna\n\n - The Maremma Regional Park\n\n - The Park of Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli\n\n - The Montioni nature park\n\n - The Livorno Hills Park\n\n - The Archaeological Park of Poggibonsi\n\n - The Parks of the Val di Cornia\n\nthumbnail|Medici Villas and Gardens, [[Fiesole]]\n\n - The Zoological Park of European Fauna in Poppi\n\n - The Pinocchio's Park\n\n - Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk008", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|[[Siena]]\nBesides wandering in beautiful cities and looking at Renaissance art, there are many other things you can do in Tuscany. For example, you can learn to cook or just taste Tuscan food, do trekking, golf or go to a health spa.\n\n*See also: Wine tourism*\n\nMost of the important traditional wine producers are located along the axis formed by Florence and Siena. The most famous region is Chianti along with neighboring Montalcino and Montepulciano. The white wines are less famous than the reds, but as an exception the Vernaccia of San Gimignano is recognized as a DOCG wine. The Tuscan wine industry has evolved a lot during the last 30-40 years, and the result is what is called *Super Tuscan* wine, famously produced in Bolgheri but also in Maremma and many other parts of Tuscany.\n\nTuscany offers great biking opportunities, especially the central part. The hills and small cities give a pleasant variation, but it is rather strenuous, as July and August can be very hot.\n\n**Thermal Springs**: Terme di Saturnia Saturnia", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk009", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|The Duomo of [[Lucca]] and the hills beyond\nTuscan food is known for its relative simplicity and its reliance on the high-quality ingredients from its many farms.\n\nA small selection of the rich regional Tuscan cuisine comprises:\n ribollita — bread soup with vegetables\n zuppa di verdure — green vegetable soup\n pici — thick spaghetti\n pasta e fagiolli — pasta with beans\n bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak)\n prosciutto Toscano — a dry cured ham that legally can only be called such if it is produced in Tuscany using traditional methods. Unlike the better-known prosciutto di Parma and prosciutto di San Daniele, which are cured using only sea salt, prosciutto Toscano is cured using a special mixture of sea salt with various local spices, thus giving it a unique flavour.\n desserts\n panforte, a unique dense Sienese fruit and nut cake\n cavallucci - Sienese Christmas cookies, made with almonds, candied fruit and also spices like anise and coriander that presumably date back to the time when Siena had a monopoly on trade with the East\n ricciarelli - almond paste cookies, also a speciality of Siena\n biscotti di Prato, also called cantuccini - the almond biscuits most travellers to Italy are already familiar with originated in the Tuscan town of Prato and are still manufactured there\n\nIn addition, Tuscany has its own traditional cheeses, including Pecorino Toscano, a much milder cheese than the better-known Pecorino Romano and a great accompaniment to prosciutto and melon or just to eat with fresh bread, and Pecorino di Pienza, perhaps an even better appreciated local sheep cheese.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk010", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Drink", "text": "The question about what to drink in Tuscany is easy to answer. The region is famed for its wines, most notably the *sangiovese* reds *Chianti*, *Brunello di Montalcino* and *Vino Nobile di Montepulciano* and the white *Vernaccia di San Gimignano*. Of these, Chianti can be anything from inexpensive, drinkable plonk to, when it comes to the best examples of *Chianti Classico*, a world class wine. The wines of Montalcino and Montepulciano are generally of a high standard, and in particular Brunello regularly receives lots of awards (something reflected on the price as well). If you are not prepared to pay a fortune for your wine but would still like something a bit nicer, both Montalcino and Montepulciano have the common man's version of their wines, *Rosso di Montalcino* and *Rosso di Montepulciano*.\n\nOf these traditional wines perhaps only Brunello has the power to accompany a big Florentine steak, *bistecca alla fiorentina*. For something fleshier, you have to turn to the *Super Tuscan* wines. These commonly use *cabernet sauvignon* to complement or to completely replace the traditional grapes. Famous examples are *Sassicaia* and *Tignanello*.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk011", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Piazza delle Erbe, [[San Gimignano]]\nThere are loads of hotels in the cities that are major tourist attractions, including Florence and Siena, and there are also plenty of agriturismo spots and villas in the countryside. If you are seeking less expensive accommodation, you are more likely to find it closer to railway stations in cities like Florence, but some other cities' railway stations are outside the city walls, and some major destinations such as San Gimignano don't have any railway station at all. You may also try your luck at local tourism agencies, which may have a list of relatively inexpensive accommodations, such as apartments for rent by the day or week and pieno pensioni (boarding houses that provide 3 meals a day).", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "tuscany::chunk012", "doc_id": "tuscany", "section": "Go next", "text": "Umbria, to the east, shares Tuscany's rolling hills but is further inland and higher up; it is also less densely populated, and has an equally good but distinctive cuisine that features black truffles and mushrooms.\nLazio, to the south, was the heart of both ancient Rome and the Papal States, and though it, too, has beautiful countryside, it is above all the region of Rome.\nEmilia-Romagna, to the north, is another region traditionally known for its great food (especially in Bologna) and rich in history, including the extraordinary and very well-preserved Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna.\nLiguria, up the coast to the northwest, contains the Italian Riviera and the historic port city of Genoa.\nThe Marche, which shares a short, mountainous border with the eastern side of Tuscany, is a lesser-known region, but one that also has quite a long history including the hill city of Urbino and also features the spectacular Grotte di Frasassi (Frasassi Caves).", "word_count": 156}
diff --git a/corpus/tuscany/metadata.json b/corpus/tuscany/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..184c50c3cc05e3f299240a2c7581849ba5c40a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/tuscany/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "tuscany",
+ "title": "Tuscany",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tuscany",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
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+ "summary": "",
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+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central_Italy"
+ ],
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+ "go_next": [
+ "Umbria",
+ "Lazio",
+ "Rome",
+ "Emilia-Romagna",
+ "Bologna",
+ "Ravenna",
+ "Liguria",
+ "Genoa",
+ "Marche",
+ "Urbino"
+ ],
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+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/uae/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/uae/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8e5c66ed79c07a03cff8f8887ffb09352821f988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uae/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk000", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **United Arab Emirates** (Arabic: الإمارات العربية المتحدة *al-ʾImārāt al-ʿArabīyah al-Muttaḥidah*) or simply the **Emirates** (الإمارات *al-ʾImārāt*) is a country rich in history and culture at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Boasting attractions ranging from the glittering and cosmopolitan cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to the vast and unforgiving desert landscapes of the Empty Quarter, it makes an easy starting point for travels in the Middle East.", "word_count": 69}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk001", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Regions", "text": "The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (*imarat*, singular: *imarah*):\n\n \n\nThe largest of these *by far* is Abu Dhabi, while probably the best known is Dubai.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk002", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Cities", "text": "The United Arab Emirates has multiple cities, towns, and villages across the country. The eponymous capitals of the seven emirates constitute the major city and transport hub in each respective emirate.\n\n (Arabic: أبو ظبي) – The nation's capital, filled with major museums and monuments.\n (Arabic: دبي) – The financial capital and commerce center and largest city of the UAE.\n (Arabic: الشارقة) – The nation's cultural hub famous for its Arabic and Islamic architecture.\n (Arabic: عجمان) – The smallest emirate, one of the quiet destinations with a relaxed atmosphere.\n (Arabic: أم القيوين) – A peninsular town extending into the gulf with multiple beach resorts.\n (Arabic: راس الخيمة) – An adventure hub of the Middle East, with the highest mountain in UAE and many thrill activities.\n (Arabic: الفجيرة) – Popular tourist and stay-cation destination on the gulf of Oman. Nicknamed as *The Bride of the Eastern Coast*.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk003", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Other famous destinations include the following:\n\n (Arabic: العين) – Once a small oasis and now a major town close to the Omani border town of Buraimi. \n (Arabic: حتا) – Once a mountainous village, but now a major adventure destination for kayaking and hiking.\n (Arabic: خورفكان) – A town set on a picturesque bay with multiple historical watch towers and a traditional Friday's Market.\n (Arabic: واحة ليوا) – A crescent of farms around an oasis on the edge of the Empty Quarter. Provides an easy access to the Empty Quarter and famous for off road adventures across sand dunes.\n (Arabic: الرويس) – An industrial and energy town located in the western region in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk004", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "Located on the coastlines of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the United Arab Emirates covers an area of 83,600 km², slightly smaller than Austria. As a tribal federation, the country is like a visionary fairy tale of the *One Thousand and One Nights*; however, in recent times, it has developed into an international financial centre.\n\nEven well into the 20th century, the UAE was not on anybody's tourist itinerary. But investment of its fabulous oil and gas wealth, as well as a comparatively liberal interpretation of Islam (if you are a wealthy foreigner, that is), have changed that in a big way – megaprojects including artificial islands, gargantuan malls with everything on offer for those with wallets large enough, and the tallest building in the world have created a lot of buzz around the Emirates. The rapid expansion of the UAE's aviation industry in the 21st century, in large part due to the explosive growth of Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, has arguably turned the UAE into the center of the world. The less well-known side of the UAE includes remote, magnificent desert dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter and awe-inspiring wadis and mountains in the northeast emirates bordering Oman.\n\nBeneath the glittering façade, however, there is a vast underclass of poorly-paid migrant workers who are often horribly mistreated, not to mention a rather authoritarian set of ruling families who won't brook criticism from anyone – not even \"unruly\" members of their own families.\n\n### History\n\nThe arrival of envoys from the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 630 heralded the conversion of the region to Islam. After Muhammad, one of the major battles fought at Dibba resulted in the defeat of the non-Muslims and the triumph of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk005", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "Historically as a collection of port towns on the coast and oases in the desert, the Emirates is a collection of seven tribal affiliations ruled by Sheikhs who joined hands to form one federal state. The Sheikhs of the different emirates decided to form a union and pooled their resources to counter other tribal expansionism which was dominant in Arabia then and around the surrounding region, particularly the Saudi's and Omani's expansionism. The Sheikhs of the 7 emirates agreed to become a British protectorate in 1820, and were known as the Trucial States. The United Arab Emirates declared independence from the United Kingdom on 2 December 1971 when the Sheikhs of Abu Dhabi and Dubai met and Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi proposed forming a union with Sheikh Rashid of Dubai. Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain, and Fujairah all accepted the invitation and agreed to the union. Ras Al Khaimah agreed to join a couple of months later on 10 February 1972. Sheikh Zayed was seen as the driving force of creating the UAE and is credited with the formation of the state as its founding father. Sheikh Zayed and the rest of the Sheikhs of the emirates are all referred to as the UAE's founding fathers.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk006", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "The country is mostly desert, however, other terrains can also be found. In multiple emirates, particularly Ras Al Khaimah, mountains and wadis can be seen everywhere. The different landscape gives the northern emirates their own distinct features. Water dams and local wildlife can be experienced around the country. Several mangrove swamps are present around the coast, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Umm al Quwain where you may be able to kayak around them. Inside major cities, you will almost forget that you're in the desert as the cities are decorated with greenery, parks, and wide grass fields.\n\n### Culture\n\nThere are three different groups that have influenced the Emirati cultural landscape. The first is the traditional Islamic Bedouin culture including the traditional items of clothing. Men wear white garments called kandora, while women wear black clothing called abaya. Slavery was integral to this society, and its legacy survives in the second group: many poorly-paid immigrants (mostly from South Asia and the Philippines) make up a large underclass, serving their Emirati and Western masters. This third group, the \"Westerners,\" are often used to project an appearance of modernity and progressivism onto the UAE, but it's all for show: the glitzy shopping malls, high degree of English proficiency, and luxury items serve to whitewash the exploitation that this autocratic society is built upon. Naturally, these three groups tend to clash, sometimes glaringly, but for the most part, the native Emiratis are content to participate in the fossil fuel wealth and ignore all but the most blatant \"un-Islamic\" practices of wealthy foreigners as long as they keep the tourism and shopping going. However, in some off-the-beaten-path places, the locals still live a more traditional lifestyle and expect behaviour in accordance with it.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk007", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "Nightlife is evident in major cities such as Dubai. The nightlife continues into the night in all emirates (except maybe in small villages or towns). Illumination isn't turned off. Most restaurants, retail shops, malls, and other services continue to operate till approximately 10PM during weekdays and sometimes midnight during weekends. Alcohol is widely available at many restaurants and bars in all emirates except for Sharjah, although liquor stores are few. A license to buy alcohol may be needed. The alcohol license is proof that the bearer is a non-Muslim; a passport will not suffice. However, you can purchase alcohol duty-free at the airport to bring into the UAE. Sharjah emirate is almost completely dry. An alcohol license is required in the emirates of Dubai, Sharjah (for bringing your own and for drinking in private), and Ajman; the remaining emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm al Quwain do not require any type of license. The requirement is sometimes overlooked at certain stores.\n\n### Politics\n\nthumb|Dubai skyline. The tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, can be seen in the background.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk008", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, each of which is an absolute monarchy headed by its own sheikh. Each emirate retains considerable autonomy, each with its own laws. Each emirate's sheikh is the driving force for its emirate's most well-known attribute. For example, Dubai is progressive and has become more cosmopolitan and a major tourist destination as the result of its sheikh's vision for Dubai to be a tourist hub. The ruling sheikh of Sharjah is more conservative and a big advocate of education as well as Arabic literature and architecture, thus Sharjah hosts multiple universities, has many Abbasid and Ummayyad architectural buildings, and alcohol is not served anywhere in the city. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the Emirates and has the Presidential Palace (called Qasr al Watan), all the major country's national institutions, and all foreign embassies. Abu Dhabi also hosts many monuments, museums, and has more of a political atmosphere. In theory, the President and Prime Minister are elected by the Federal Supreme Council, which is composed of the sheikhs of each of the seven emirates. In practice, the sheikh of Abu Dhabi is always elected President while the sheikh of Dubai is always elected Prime Minister.\n\n### Infrastructure", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk009", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "The infrastructure in the UAE is all modern and well-developed. Most buildings are brand new. Lights shine on almost all streets, potholes are almost non-existent, crime rates are very low, no homelessness can be seen, telecommunication signals can be found everywhere, and road signs with bilingual Arabic and English languages are well placed in all cities. Date palm trees are the symbolic tree of the country and can be seen lining almost all roads. The country is fairly new, so a lot of things change rapidly and new buildings sprout out of nowhere. It's almost like Sim City on steroids.\n\nThe roads and other public facilities are modern if, at times, extremely crowded. Supermarkets offer a vast assortment of products from Europe and the US, depending on the shop, along with local and regional items. Major international chains such as Ikea, Carrefour, and Géant have a presence and fast-food chains (nearly all major chains) such as McDonald's and KFC operate widely. On the other hand, there are still a few crowded traditional *souks* filled with products from around the world and rug stores. These can be hard to find for the average traveler, as the malls tend to gain an overwhelming amount of attention. The souks are usually present in the old historic districts of the cities, which are usually the most crowded as well as the most culturally appealing areas.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk010", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "The country's climate is extraordinarily dry, getting only a few days of rain a year. Water usage is however very high, with broad swaths of grass in the major public parks and often extensive landscaping in the resorts or other public places. Most of this water comes from desalination. The weather from late October through mid-March is quite pleasant, with temperatures ranging from highs around to lows around . Winters can get a bit chilly where you might require a warmed jacket or sweater but nothing annoyingly cold (the desert tends to be freezing cold though). It is almost always sunny. Rain can fall between November and February, and can cause road hazards when it does. In the summer, temperatures soar and humidity is close to unbearable. The average temperature for July ranges from to . Temperatures may rise above and in extreme cases even . The highest recorded temperature is and was recorded in 2017.\n\n### People\n\nThe population is incredibly diverse. Only 20% are native Emiratis; the rest come from the Indian subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka (50%); other parts of Asia, particularly the Philippines and Malaysia; and Western countries (Europe, Australia, North America, 5–6%), with the remainder from everywhere else. On any given day in Dubai or Sharjah, for example, you can see people from every continent and every social class. With this diversity, one of the few unifying factors is language, and consequently, nearly everyone speaks some version of English. All road or other information signs are in English and Arabic, and English is widely spoken, particularly in the hospitality industry.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk011", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "As a result of its substantial oil wealth and high GDP, the United Arab Emirates provides its citizens with one of the world's most comprehensive welfare states despite not levying any income tax on them. However, this welfare state does not cover the country's large and often poorly-paid migrant workforce.\n\n### Holidays\n\nThe weekend in the UAE for most government and public services as well as businesses runs from **Friday to Saturday**; for many, Thursday may be a half day (although most often work all day on Saturdays). In nearly every city, commercial activity will be muted on Friday mornings, but after the noon services at the mosques most businesses open and Friday evenings can be crowded.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk012", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Understand", "text": "The major exception is during the fasting month of **Ramadan**, when the rhythm of life changes drastically. Restaurants (outside tourist hotels) stay closed during the daylight hours, and while most offices and shops open in the morning from 8AM to 2PM or so, they usually close in the afternoon while people wait (or sleep) out the last hours of the fast. After sundown, people gather to break their fast with a meal known as *iftar*, often held in outdoor tents (not uncommonly air-conditioned in the UAE), which traditionally starts with dates and a sweet drink. Some offices reopen after 8PM or so and stay open well after midnight, as many people stay up late until the morning hours. Just before sunrise, a meal called *sohoor* is eaten, and then the cycle repeats again.\n***New Year's Day*** (1 January)\n***Prophet's Ascension*** (Based on Hijri calendar; date varies in Georgian calendar)\n***Eid al-Fitr*** (Based on Hijri calendar; date varies in Georgian calendar)\n***Eid al-Adha*** (Based on Hijri calendar; date varies in Georgian calendar)\n***Islamic New Year*** (Based on Hijri calendar; date varies in Georgian calendar)\n***Mawlid*** (Based on Hijri calendar; date varies in Georgian calendar)\n***Commemoration Day*** (30 November) – Commemorates the date of the first fallen Emirati soldier.\n***National Day*** (2 December) – The date of the union and formation of the UAE.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nUAE Tourism", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk013", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language is **Arabic**, although the majority of the population do not speak it. Expatriates from Iran, India, the Philippines and Western countries far outnumber Emirati citizens, particularly in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. **English** is the *lingua franca*, and the great majority of Emiratis know how to speak it. All traffic, shops, and destination signs are written in both Arabic and English, and most retail staff are Indians or Filipinos, not Emiratis. Speaking in English to anyone in the Emirates should be fine, and you will not have to learn any Arabic to get around. But if you can learn to speak some Arabic, it will certainly impress the locals.\n\nAs Arabic is the official language, government documents may be written in Arabic only, though English translations or versions are usually available for those that are of interest to foreigners. Emiratis speak the Gulf dialect of Arabic.\n\nThe UAE has a very diverse population; many languages and communities exist. Languages with large numbers of speakers in the UAE include Hindustani (Hindi & Urdu), Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, Farsi (Persian), and Tagalog (Filipino). Most people have at least a basic command of English, though it is not uncommon to meet people whose English is limited. As a major hub for Arabs, Middle Easterners, and Asians who do not speak the English language as a mother language, expect their English to be in a beginner or an intermediate level. In this Muslim-majority country, expect to be greeted with the Arabic phrase of *as-salām `alaykum* (\"Peace be upon you\") – even if you are not a Muslim. The proper response would be to state *wa-`alaykumu s-salām* (\"Peace be upon you too\").", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk014", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "### ''Entry requirements''\n\n#### Visa-free or visa on arrival\n\nCitizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) do not require a visa and may stay in the UAE indefinitely with no restrictions including on employment. They do not require a passport and may use their National ID Cards to enter the UAE.\n\nCitizens of Mexico may visit for up to 180 days without a visa.\n\nCitizens of Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay may visit for up to 90 days without a visa\n\nCitizens of Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, China (mainland), Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom (British citizen only), United States and the Vatican City may visit for up to 30 days without a visa.\n\nCitizens of India may obtain a 14-day visa-on-arrival for 120 dirham if they are legal permanent residents of the United States, the United Kingdom or any European Union country, or they hold a valid tourist visa for the United States. The residence permit or visa must be valid for at least 6 months from their date of entry into the UAE. They may extend their stay for another 14 days for 250 dirham.\n\nNote, if you exit the country through one the automated passport gates in the airport, you won't receive any exit stamp, contrary to the entry stamp. This is of course not a problem.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk015", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "Everyone else needs to obtain a visa in advance.\n\n#### Obtaining a visa\n\nAll other nationalities not exempt from visa are required to apply for a visa in advance. You will require a sponsorship by an Emirati airline, hotel or tour operator to be able to apply for a visa. Each UAE airline offers visa services when you fly with them. Apart from that, travel agents and hotels can also arrange a tourist visa for you. The cost of a visa as of 2015 is 250 dirham plus travel agency fee for 30 days single entry, and there are no extensions available anymore. The new visa tariff and rule is to avoid letting tourists look for work in UAE. Transit visas are sponsored by the airlines, and cost 100 dirhams, allowing you to stay for up to 96 hours.\n\nUnlike many countries in the region, the UAE and Israel have established diplomatic relations, with regular flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Israelis and Emiratis may enter each other's countries visa-free.\n\nIf you are a citizen of India or Pakistan and you're traveling from your country of citizenship, and you have the ECR stamp in your passport you will require to get 'OK to Board' approval. You will also require this if you are a citizen of Sri Lanka or Bangladesh traveling outside of India or Pakistan. Most of the time it is arranged by your travel agent or airline. If it isn't, as soon as you get your visa, take it, your passport and ticket to your airline office and get the stamp of 'OK to board'. Without this you might not be allowed to travel to the UAE.\n\nPassports must be valid for 6 months from date of arrival.\n\n#### Immigration control", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk016", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "The UAE now has smart gates at several airports including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. If you are a foreigner from a country that is not part of the Gulf Cooperation Council and this is your first visit to Dubai, you cannot use the smart gates. You must present your passport to an immigration officer of the UAE's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs. Once the officer allows you to enter, he will take a digital photograph of your face and stamp your passport with a visa-on-arrival (if you did not already obtain a visa in advance).\n\n#### Customs regulations\n\nEach non-Muslim adult can bring in **four items of alcohol**, e.g. four bottles of wine, or four bottles of spirits, or four cases of beer (regardless of alcohol content).\n\nThe UAE takes an infamously strict line on **medicines**, with many common drugs, notably anything containing **codeine**, **diazepam** (Valium) or **dextromethorphan** (Robitussin) being banned unless you have a *notarized and authenticated* doctor's prescription. The UAE, Dubai in particular, is used by drug traffickers as a gateway to ship drugs from the east to the west and hence laws regarding drug possession or use are strict. Visitors breaking the rules, even inadvertently, have found themselves deported or jailed. The government online portal maintains instructions, advice, and a list of controlled substances that are prohibited.\n\nSome drugs that are used and tolerated around neighboring countries are also prohibited. Using khat/qat (a flowering plant that contains an alkaloid called cathinone), which is popular e.g. in Yemen, is highly illegal. Cannabis and CBD-related products are illegal.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk017", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "The main international airports are:\nthumb|230px|Inside Dubai International Airport (DXB) Terminal 3.\n **Dubai International Airport** () – This airport is served by several major airlines, most notably Dubai's flag carrier **Emirates**. Dubai has direct flights from Durban, Johannesburg, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Karachi, Tehran, Riyadh, Mumbai (BOM), Kolkata, Hong Kong, Paris (CDG), Zurich, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid Barajas, Chicago (ORD), New York City (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco Airport, Seattle, São Paulo (GRU), Toronto (YYZ) and many other major cities in Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa. Chances are carriers from your country will offer flights to Dubai.thumb|230px|Passport control in Abu Dhabi International Airport\n **Zayed International Airport** () near Abu Dhabi – This airport has the next best international connections after Dubai. Abu Dhabi's flag carrier **Etihad Airways** now offers direct flights from Chicago (ORD), New York, Toronto and many other airports in Europe and Asia. Other major airlines serving Abu Dhabi include **WizzAir** from many cities in Eastern Europe, British Airways from London-Heathrow, KLM from Amsterdam Schiphol and Lufthansa from Frankfurt.\n **Sharjah International Airport** () – It is the home of the low-cost carrier **Air Arabia**, which has connections with various Middle East and Indian Subcontinent cities. Also, **Air India Express** connects most larger airports in India to Sharjah – a good way to fly into smaller places directly, like Leh in Ladakh, instead of going through Delhi first.\n **Al Ain International Airport** () – A small airport with a few flights from Kozhikode and Cairo.\n\n#### Low-cost airlines", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk018", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "For low-cost flights, try the following:\n **Air Arabia** – Set up its hub at Sharjah airport (which is very close to Dubai), and flies there from many cities in Africa, Europe, Middle East and India.\n **Air India Express** – Connects Sharjah with many larger and smaller cities in India.\n **Cebu Pacific** – Connects Dubai and Manila (Philippines) with fares from as low as US$150.\n **Fly Dubai** – Connects Dubai to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and India.\n **Pegasus Airlines** – Connects Dubai with Turkey and many cities in Europe via there.\n **WizzAir** – Connects Abu Dhabi and Dubai with some cities in Europe.\n **Smartwings Airlines** – Connects Dubai and Abu Dhabi with many cities in Europe, some however only as part of package tours.\n\n### By car\n\nThere is road access to the United Arab Emirates from Saudi Arabia in the south and Oman in the east. All highways in the UAE are in excellent condition and installed with street lights. There is a huge amount of traffic between Sharjah and Dubai during rush hour. All the emirates are connected through highways with multiple gas stations, food and rest stops, and highway police. The longest highway connects the city of Abu Dhabi to the city of Ras Al Khaimah. The highway extends from Abu Dhabi to connect to Ruwais and then to the border with Saudi Arabia.\n\nMultiple electronic toll gates system are used in roads in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A toll of 4 dirham is charged to cross the Salik toll gate in Dubai. A prepaid Salik Tag is required for this. A toll gate system which charges 4 dirham during rush hours and 2 dirham during off peak hours is also required to access Abu Dhabi island in the capital city Abu Dhabi.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk019", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "As of November of 2022, you can drive through the Mazyad / Batha al Ashkar border crossing from Oman as a foreigner.\n\n### By bus\n\nFrom Oman to the UAE private operators as well as the Omani state owned Mwasalat operate regular buses.\n\nMwasalat operates from Muscat and Sohar to the following destinations:\n Sharjah - twice daily, 10 rials or 95 dirham as of December 2025. The bus goes to Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah which is accessible by bus to Dubai (frequent city buses go to Union metro station in Dubai. You need the Dubai transport card to use the bus. The fare is 12 dirham)\n Al Ain - daily\n Abu Dhabi - daily with a transfer in Al Ain, 11,5 rials as of December 2025. The bus from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi is operated by Capital Express and goes to the Central Bus station of Abu Dhabi.\n Kalba (near the city of Fujairah) - twice daily to the bus stop Kalba Fort.\n\nThe border crossing buses of Mwasalat approach several bus stops in Muscat. The timetables are integrated into Google Maps. The website of Mwasalat is a bit tricky: If the booking does not work with a certain browser, try another one. As of January 2026 it does not work to book via the app.\n\nOne private operator is Al Alkhanjry. There are three departures every day from Muscat and Sohar to Dubai. Tickets can be booked through their website. It’s 90 dirham (Jan 2026) from Muscat to Dubai.\n\n### On foot\n\nCrossing the border by foot is **not allowed**. If you want to take one bus to the border and another on the other side, you need to have a taxi licensed to cross the border, or somebody else willing to drive you across.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk020", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are not a GCC National, you cannot cross the border in between Al Ain and Buraimi. You must go to the border crossing of Khatam Al Shukla which is 20 km away from the bus station of Buraimi and it's where the bus from Muscat to Al Ain will cross.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere's a twice-weekly ferry service from Bandar Abbas in Iran to the port of Sharjah by the Iranian shipping company Valfajre-8. It's an overnight ferry taking 10-12 hours, departing early evenings on Sundays and Thursdays. Prices start at 160 dirham for economy class.\n\nApart from regular services, there is a large network of traditional *dhow* trading routes which transports goods throughout the Gulf and even to India. It may be possible to buy passage on one of these boats. Depending on which dhow you end up on they can call at all coastal cities in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk021", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get around", "text": "Distances in the UAE are relatively short and are all connected with lighted roads, highways, and abundant transportation methods. The UAE is not very walking friendly to get around mainly due to the hot weather, strong sun, and relatively spaced out attractions. Transportation is increasingly being expanded with a train connecting all the emirates being built, as well as a functioning massive network of public transportation network which can transport you to any place in the UAE with ease.\n\n### By public transport\n\nPublic transportation within cities is widely available and advanced, with bus stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah offering shaded air conditioned bus stops to protect people from the sun and hot weather in the summer. The transportation is provided by the **Roads and Transport Authority** (RTA) by each emirate. There is an extensive metro system in Dubai that connects various parts of the city, as well as a monorail in Palm Jumeriah and a tram in Dubai Marina area. All public transport systems across all the cities in the UAE are connected, either by a taxi, bus, metro, monorail, or tram. Inter-city buses are also numerous with buses taking you as far as Muscat in Oman. Intercity bus services are fast, comfortable and reasonably frequent.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk022", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get around", "text": "The transport systems of Dubai (Dubai RTA), Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi RTA) and Sharjah (Sharjah RTA) are widely overlapping. You need the nol card (transport card of Dubai) for the public transport inside of Dubai and between Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as between Dubai and Sharjah. For using the public transport inside Abu Dhabi and Sharjah you need to use the transport card of the respective emirate. In Sharjah it's additionally possible to pay in cash in the city buses. Check timetable and journey planners under the links provided above.\n\n### By taxi\n\nIn all cities of the UAE, taxis are widely available and relatively affordable. Local ride share apps such as **Uber** and **Careem** are also common in the UAE; however, the prices are relatively the same compared to taxis as not to create a disparate market competition prices. Do note that in Dubai there are different grades of taxi (e.g. standard taxi v limo) with different prices; the differences between the taxi types may not be enough for some travellers to be worth the higher prices, so do be mindful when getting into a taxi.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Group of off-road cars going for a desert safari around the desert in Dubai.\nthumb|A sandstorm in the UAE. Sandstorms are generally uncommon but may occur sometimes.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk023", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get around", "text": "The UAE has a modern road infrastructure with right sided traffic. Renting a car or driving in the UAE requires an international driver's license, which is simply a translation of your standard license and can be acquired at a local automobile association. If you are a resident, you will need to obtain a local driver's license as an international drivers license use cannot be used if you are a resident. If you have a driving license from a different country you may be able to exchange it for an Emirati driving license. This is a simple process and can be done in twenty minutes but only if you are from a specific list of countries. If you are from a country which is not exempt, you have to undergo 40 classes at a local driving school and get through a pretty tough license exam. This is changing, though, and license exchange may apply to all nationalities soon so check the UAE government official online Portal - Transportation to see if your country is among the countries eligible to convert your alien driving license. Car rentals are slightly cheaper than in North America. There is a flat fee per day for renting a car, based upon the car's size. Petrol (gasoline) is, by international standards, inexpensive. The road system is based on European standards, with many roundabouts and highly channeled traffic. Signs are all bilingual (Arabic and English) and are readily understandable and are, in most places, clear and coherent. The speed limits are all documented in western Arabic numerals. Gas stations are available all around highways as well as inside cities. Tesla superchargers are also available and are being increased in number.\n\n#### Driving laws", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk024", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A warning traffic sign for camel crossings.\nOvertaking is performed from the left. If you are driving slowly on the most left side lane, expect to be \"flashed\" by light from a faster incoming car behind you. It is a courtesy in this case to move from the left lane and allow the car behind you to overtake. If you ignore such signal, this is considered offensive and you may encounter a road rage. Do not use the left most lane if you are driving slow, neither should you make any insulting gestures while driving. Using insulting gestures is forbidden by law and considered a form of verbal assault, and you may find yourself in police custody or in court.\n\nMost roads have a solid yellow line on their margins, which serve as shoulders for emergency, breakdown, and stranded vehicles after accident. Do not cross the yellow line in any other case, as you will be fined.\n\nThe third-highest cause of death in the UAE is from traffic accidents (after cardiovascular diseases and cancer). People in the UAE drive *extremely* fast, and some are completely reckless. As a result, most of the roads are highly monitored and adhere to strict speed limit laws. The speed limit has a margin of about 20 km/h (except in Abu Dhabi where there is no margin). Most roads are monitored through speed traps. Speeders will receive the ticket through a message in your phone (if your phone is tied to the car in registration) and you will be required to pay all traffic fines you encounter before leaving the UAE. Drones also monitor the highways and roads in rural areas.\n\n#### Desert safaris", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk025", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Get around", "text": "Desert safaris and dune bashing are good attractions in the vicinity of all the emirates, but great care needs to be taken while choosing a hired vehicle; it should be a four wheel drive. Desert safaris are also generally designed with travel agents and can give you good deal as well on quantity. Do not attempt to enter the desert using one car or alone. As a general rule of thumb, more than two four wheel drive cars should enter the desert together so that if one of them gets stuck, the other can pull it out. Desert driving is a hard skill to learn. Safaris and tour groups usually take you for a desert safari and you may even be able to dune bash yourself if you desire.\n\nFour wheel drives such as the Toyoto Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol and trucks such as the Ford Raptor are popular in the Emirates due to the natural desert terrain and necessary off-roading in some areas. Most cars are tinted black for both privacy and to keep the hot sun rays from entering the car, hence providing a cooler temperature in the car. While driving to the desert, make sure to pay attention to any camels that may be crossing the roads.\n\n### By train\n\nUnited Arab Emirates is constructing a national railway system, with passenger trains starting service sometime around 2026. Travel times between the two major cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai is expected to be around 45-50 minutes.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk026", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Qasr al Sarab in Liwa Oasis.\nthumb|Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah.\n\nThere are plenty of things to see in the United Arab Emirates, both in terms of the Earth's natural wonderful landscape as well as the best of human's constructed attractions. From the world's largest tower in Dubai to the world's largest contiguous sand desert in the world in Liwa Oasis (which was the film set of planet Jakku in Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Most of the United Arab Emirates lies on the coast of the Persian Gulf, except for Fujairah which lies on the Gulf of Oman, offering both experiences of beautiful beaches in both gulf waters. The western side of the UAE's landscape is a sand terrain, with the Empty Quarter desert forming the south side of the UAE and containing some of the largest sand dunes in the world. The golden sand dunes form a wonderful sight and offer great adventurous safari rides into the wilderness of the desert. The northeastern side terrain is mountainous, offering mountain climbing activities in Ras Al Khaimah as well as the world's longest zip line that shoots from the tops of a mountain.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk027", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "See", "text": "The UAE was initially a collection of small fishing villages with Eastern Arabian culture which has boomed significantly after the unification of the seven emirates. Hence, in every emirate's capital you will find an old district with old buildings consistent of mostly windcatchers and military forts that were common in the region then, and more progressive glass skyscrapers that signify the advanced progression of the emirates. Archealogical sites from the Umm Al Nar period are scattered across the emirates, with distinctive cultural variations found in the Hajar Mountains in the northeastern emirates. In the western side of the UAE, oases are common across vast majority of desert landscape as they formed the major population centers in these areas such as Al Ain city (once only an oasis, now an entire city) and Liwa Oasis. Although outdoors in UAE may seem dull and uninteresting to the knowledgeable traveler, there are actually amazing natural destinations in the UAE - the difficulty is in knowing where to find them! There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils, even freshwater lakes.\n\nOther than the natural beauty of the Arabian desert and mountainous regions of the Hajar Mountains which may seem dangerous due to the rough surrounding environment, the UAE offers tourists a whole new experience in terms of comfortable living with tall skyscrapers and skylines and enormous malls and huge indoor theme parks as well as an entire indoor ski resorts in the middle of the desert!", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk028", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "See", "text": "There are also multiple islands around cities in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is surrounded by natural islands with green mangroves surrounding the city. The water surrounding Abu Dhabi is light blue in color and is considered one of the biggest coral reefs in the entire Persian Gulf region. In Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, there are man-made islands that extend from the desert into the sea such as Palm Jumeriah and Murjan Island, allowing people to live in close proximity to the sea and green landscape while surrounded to a rough desert in Dubai and rough mountains in Ras Al Khaimah just south of these two respective cities.\n\n### Attractions\n\nThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers a diverse range of captivating attractions for visitors to enjoy. It presents an intriguing blend of contemporary urban marvels and culturally significant sites.thumb|Dubai's skyline", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk029", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "See", "text": "**Burj Khalifa** – The world's tallest skyscraper since 2009 extending to 828 meters and is located in Dubai. It is the easiest sighted landmark once you land in Dubai and a major tourist attraction site. You can see the vast desert outside Dubai and the sheen and progressive buildings that form Dubai from the top. You can also see planes flying from the top!\n **Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque** – One of the most beautifully created mosques in the world. The architecture and designs of the mosque is a marvel and attracts tourists from all over the world to this magnificent religious site. The mosque is open to non-Muslims and allows people of all faith to visit and explore the structure.\n **Hajar Mountains** – In the south and easily distinguished by the rough and rugged landscape that pop out of suddenly from the desert. Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain is an accessible peak that is considered the outline of the Hajar Mountains. The rough mountainous landscape forms a major hiking, trekking, and bird-watching opportunities, while the vast amount of picturesque wadis in the area are fun to explore. It offers a different landscape than just the desert found mainly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.\n **Museums** – From Islamic museums in Sharjah to international and global museums in Abu Dhabi, the UAE offers voyagers a great deal of museums that dig into the area's historical past as well as displays the historical artifacts of the empires surrounding the region. Most popular museums are the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Arts museum, and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. Of course, each emirate has its own national museum which showcases the emirates original history and displays iconic eastern Arabian items such as dhows, khanjars, and other aspects of earlier life such as clothing and vocation.\n **Jebel Jais** – The highest accessible mountainous peak in the UAE and a great site for major hiking, trekking and mountain climbing, and for camping in the winter. In Ras Al Khaimah.\n **Al Bidyah mosque** – This is the oldest mosque in the UAE, located in Fujairah. The mosque and its surroundings are a major archaeological site. This is a great attraction for history and archaeology fans. Although the mosque is very simple and modest in size, many excavations of pottery and metal artifacts are found in this area.\n **Palm Jumeirah** – An artificial island in the shape of a palm tree, Palm Jumeirah is a famous luxury destination in Dubai. It's home to upscale hotels, resorts, and private residences. Visitors can enjoy beautiful beaches, water sports, and fine dining while staying in one of the world's most unique man-made developments.\n **Ferrari World** – An indoor amusement park, located in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. A paradise for thrill-seekers. It features exciting roller coasters, including the world's fastest one, inspired by Ferrari cars. The park also has interactive exhibits about the history of the brand.\n **Desert Safari** – For those seeking adventure, a desert safari is a must-do activity. Visitors can experience the exhilaration of dune bashing, ride camels, try sandboarding, and enjoy traditional Arabian entertainment and cuisine in a desert setting.\n **Dubai Mall** – As one of the largest shopping mall in the world, Dubai Mall is a paradise for shoppers and entertainment seekers. Apart from an array of international brands, it features attractions like an indoor ice rink, an indoor waterfall, an aquarium, and even an indoor theme park, making it a heaven for families and visitors of all ages.\n **Ski Dubai** – Within the mall of the Emirates in Dubai, Ski Dubai offers an indoor skiing and snowboarding experience. It has real snow and multiple slopes for varying skill levels. Visitors can also interact with penguins and enjoy snow-based activities in the middle of the desert.\n **Barajeel** - These are a type of square-shaped windcatcher, being a common sight in the UAE. Its towers are used as a design to cool homes for natural ventilation and passive cooling in traditional homes, especially in sweltering climates.", "word_count": 671}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk030", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The turquoise waters surrounding the Islands of [[Abu Dhabi]] along the Corniche.\nthumb|Fujairah fort in Fujairah.\n\nOne of the main focuses of tourist life (other than shopping) is the **beach**. The waters of the UAE, although cloudy due to heavy coastal construction, are still, for those from less torrid climes, remarkably warm, clean, and beautiful. There are long stretches of white-sand beaches, ranging from completely undeveloped to highly touristed (even in cities like Dubai). The snorkeling and diving can be magnificent, especially along the eastern (Indian Ocean) coast. Vast swaths of desert stretch to the south of the major urban areas, offering dramatic views and terrifying rides in fast-driven safaris. The mountains are dramatic, steep rocky crags, and a visit to them (for example, the town of Hatta) is well rewarded with amazing views. Women wearing bathing suits will draw unwanted attention at the public beaches; it is advisable to pay for a one-day entry pass to a private beach at a hotel.\n\nThere are plenty of man-made wonders to enjoy as well. Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi is the world's largest indoor theme park, and as the name suggests, is centered around experiencing the world of Ferrari and includes the fastest rollercoaster in the world, accelerating from 0 to 149 mph (240 km/h) in 4 seconds. This is alongside the Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. The Yas Marina Circuit is widely known as the most technologically advanced circuit on the planet, and, along with Formula One, hosts various national and international racing series, including the GP2 and GP3 series, and V8 Supercars. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world, and visitors can travel up it to a viewing station situated near the building's peak to enjoy stunning views of the city and beyond. Wild Wadi and Aquaventure are two world class water parks that cater to the whole family. Those looking for proper retail therapy can visit Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, and also the location of the world's largest dancing fountain, with multiple shows starting after sunset, and one of the world's largest indoor aquariums, Dubai Aquarium.\n\nSki Dubai in Dubai Emirates Mall is the world's third largest indoor ski slope, measuring 400 m and using 6000 tons of snow. Ski Dubai resort is the first UAE indoor ski slope to open, and more are planned. All equipment, except for gloves and a hat, are provided—skis/snowboards, snowsuits, boots and socks are all included in the price (the socks are disposable). The adjoining ski store sells equipment, including gloves. A ski slope in Ra's al Khaymah is also in the works.\n\n\"Desert safari\" trips can be a fun experience for tourists. They can be booked ahead, but can often be booked as late as the day before, and most hotel receptionists can arrange this for you. Trips normally start late afternoon and end late evening. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Most packages include a heart-pumping drive over the dunes, a short camel ride, an Arabic buffet and a belly dancer. Another option would be renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the UAE, which are varied and each carry their own different flavour: ad4x4, uaeoffroaders, etc. They offer a free learning experience for all newcomers with scheduled weekly trips to suit all levels of driving skills. Some of them have over 2,000 members from many nationalities.", "word_count": 590}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk031", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency is the **United Arab Emirates dirham** denoted by the symbol \"** د.إ**\" or \"**dh**\" (ISO code: **AED**). It is pegged to the US dollar at 3.67 dirham for $1. Two sets of notes are in circulation in the United Arab Emirates, the paper and polymer series and are issued in denonimations of 5 (paper and polymer), 10 (paper and polymer), 20 (paper), 50 (paper and polymer), 100 (paper and polymer), 200 (paper), 500 (paper and polymer), and 1,000 (paper and polymer) dirhams. There are coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and 1 dirham, although the former two denominations are rarely found in circulation (and provide an excuse for traders to 'short change').\n\nCash and travellers' cheques can be changed at exchanges located at the airports or in all the major shopping malls. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. They accept all the major chain cards: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, etc.\n\nATMs are numerous and generously distributed. Withdrawing money is for free for example at Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic Bank, HSBC and ADIB. While it costs about 20 dirhams at the ATMs of ADCB, Mashreq, DIB and Ajman Bank.\n\n#### Enforced dynamic currency conversion\n\nIf you pay with an overseas credit or debit card, a few merchants may attempt to apply dynamic currency conversion, charging several percent more than the card issuer conversion would have cost. Generally, a credit card terminal will offer the choice of whether the conversion should be accepted, but a few merchants may not ask you about this, and will choose to accept the conversion. It is always better to be debited in the local currency instead of accepting this conversion into your home country's currency; just say to the cashier \"in dirham\".\n\n### Costs\n\n### Shopping\n\nOne of the things the UAE is most famous for is shopping, but it is very difficult to find any real bargains as the standard of living is high. Dubai and Abu Dhabi both boast an incredibly array of luxury shopping malls where you can shop to your heart's content, and every city has at least one traditional souk where you can shop for Middle Eastern handicrafts.\n\nMost purchases in the UAE are subject to a 5% value-added tax (VAT). Foreign tourists may request a VAT exemption when making purchases at a participating shop provided the cost exceeds 250 dirhams in a single transaction, and you depart the UAE with the goods within 90 days of making the purchase. To do this, you will need to present your passport or GCC National ID card to the cashier when making your payment, and you will be given a receipt and a tax-free tag. When departing the UAE, go to the VAT refund kiosk with your passport/GCC National ID, receipt and tax-free tag before checking in your bags, as they will need to verify that you are bringing the goods out of the country with you.", "word_count": 492}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk032", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|240px|Popular Emirati dessert called Lugaimat.\nthumb|240px|A fancy Arabic-cuisine mixed grill. Clockwise from top: lamb ''kofta'', chicken ''shish tawuk'', beef ''shish kebab'', ''pilaf'' (Arabic rice), vegetables.\n\nThe UAE's traditional cuisine is the Emirati and Eastern Arabian cuisine; however, the country also offers a global cuisine. The more than 165 nationalities residing in the Emirates have made the country a destination which offers and caterers to all cuisines or religious compliant food for everyone.\n\n### Eastern Arabian cuisine", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk033", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "Eastern Arabian cuisine forms the major traditional food in the UAE. Emirati cuisine is sampled and widely marketed as the traditional food of the state. However, traditional Emirati cuisine is somewhat difficult to find in restaurants due to the fact that Emiratis are a minority in their own country. Al Fanar restaurant is a famous and common Emirati-style restaurant that was established to offer an authentic Emirati experience for foreigners wishing to experience the country's traditional cuisine. Emirati food is typified by platters of fragrant rice topped with lamb, camel meat, chicken or fish that has been slow-roasted in a pit. If you have Emirati friends, being invited to their homes would generally be the best chance you have to sample the local cuisine. Arabic coffee, camel milk, and dates form the staple food which Emiratis have lived on for generations. Camel milk is widely available in supermarkets and is a common sight in Emirati grocery stores. There are even chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry camel milk. Camel milk or date-flavored milkshakes are common in the UAE. Chocolate made of camel milk is also available. The UAE has established companies that use camel milk and camel meat as a major alternative to the regular chicken, lamb, and beef that are commonly available worldwide. Camel milk and meat are commonly available and inexpensive in the UAE, so a visit to the Emirates is a good opportunity to try some. Lugaimat (called Luqaimat in standard Arabic) is a famous Emirati dessert. It is offered at almost all Emirati gatherings and is sold in a lot of restaurants and outlets as well. Ramadan is a great time to be invited to an Emirati house to experience a lot of their traditional foods for *iftar*.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk034", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Tourists in Dubai being presented with Emirati food and taught about the eating etiquette.\n\n### Global cuisines\n\nAbu Dhabi and Dubai and, to a lesser extent, the other emirates, all offer a vast spread of food from most of the world's major cuisines. By Western standards most restaurants are quite affordable, though it is easy to find extremely expensive food too. Most high-end restaurants are located in hotels. South Asian (e.g. Indian or Pakistani) restaurants are also widely available and can be found in every corner. Arabic cuisine such as Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian cuisines are also available. Persian cuisine is also available due to the proximity of Iran, with the restaurant at the Iranian Club in Dubai being popular among Iranian expatriates. African cuisines are not as widespread, but can still be found. Chinese restaurants are also increasing in number due to the growing Chinese community in the country. There's even a North Korean restaurant in Dubai.\n\nPork is sold in some supermarkets, albeit in a specifically designated location marked \"For Non-Muslims\".\n\n### Restaurants", "word_count": 175}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk035", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "Famous restaurant chains have also established branches in the country. Restaurants by the world's most famous chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes, Guy Fieri, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, and Salt Bae all operate restaurants around the country. In fact, some of the world famous chefs, such as Salt Bae, primary restaurant and base of operation is in Dubai such as Salt Bae's Nusr-Et restaurant in Four Season Hotel in Jumeriah (Visited by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, among others). Other international food chains such as Cheesecake factory, Texas Fried Chicken, Red Lobster, PF Chang's, Chili's and many more all operate branches throughout the country. Fast food is also common, with many chains such as McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Popeye's, Hardee's, and Wendy's are almost found everywhere. The major ice cream chain is Baskin Robbins, but other ice cream brands such as Cold Stone Creamery, Marbles Lab, Moishi, and Amorino are all available. Local branches of gelato and other desserts are also common. Pakistani and Indian restaurants are also very common. South Asian food in the UAE is more authentic than the food found in Europe or elsewhere due to the proximity of India and Pakistan to the Emirates. Indians, Pakistanis, Malayalis, Malabaris and Sri Lankans can be found everywhere and form the majority of the population in the Emirates. The UAE is a favorite destination for Keralites outside of Kerala, and proper authentic eastern Asian restaurants are found all over the Emirates.\n\nDuring Ramadan, many restaurants serve elaborate *iftar* meals after sunset, but be sure to make your reservations well in advance as these are extremely popular with the locals.\n\n### Etiquette\n\nthumb|240px|An Emirati Majlis. A majlis can be way larger depending on the event or who's invited.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk036", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "In public, general global and mostly western etiquette is required to be adhered. If you are invited to an Emirati's house for food, it depends on how cultural the family is. You may be required to sit on the ground, eat with your hands, or share the same plate with everyone. It is not uncommon for Emiratis to present a feast in one big platter, and everyone sits around it and eats with their hands. The key thing to remember when doing so is to **use only your right hand**, as the left hand is traditionally reserved for handling dirty things. Being invited to break bread or share a platter with Emiratis is a considered a huge sign of respect and fondness. Young Emiratis are however, very understanding if you choose to have your own plate or eat with utensils, and some Emiratis don't even adhere to the traditional floor sitting and eating with hands style of cultural eating etiquette. A more modern etiquette is to sit on the ground with everyone having their own plate, spoon, fork, and knife while eating the food in front of you or politely asking someone next to you to serve the food away from you. Do not get up and attempt to move to the place where a certain type of food is placed.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk037", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you are invited to a Majlis (a traditional and common gathering commonly men-only or women-only), you will be presented with dates and Arabic coffee (called gahwa). The majlis is a big room or a tent with places to sit where people talk and converse. A person will rotate around the maljlis and offer you dates, dessert, or Arabic coffee. If you eat dates, remember to take them in odd numbers (1 or 3, etc..). Taking dates in even numbers is not a problem but it's preferred to take them in odd numbers to adhere to the Arabic culture. If you are presented with Arabic coffee the person who rotates to pour the coffee will continue to pour you coffee until you shake the cup while presenting it to him. This signals that you do not want more coffee and he will take the cup from you. In a traditional setting, if you are entering a majlis you'll be required to move to the chair closest to your right and shake hands with the person starting from there until you shake hands with everyone. If you're sitting in a chair and someone is coming to greet you, you will be required to stand up and shake hands with that person before sitting down. If there is a Sheikh in the majlis, it's customary to greet him first before going back and shaking hands with everyone else. Arabic men from the same tribe perform a nose kiss (also called Eskimo kiss). It may also be performed by very close friends. In a non-traditional majlis, it's not customary to do any of that and simply going in and goofing around with your friends is totally fine.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk038", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you are presented with food in an Emirati house, it's customary to eat. It's considered disrespectful if you do not eat anything. If you're full, eating small amounts is better than rejecting the food entirely. You will be presented with a lot of food if you visit an Emirati house for lunch or dinner, as Emiratis consider generosity a virtue and you'll be disrespecting them if you don't eat or touch any food they present you with.\n\n### Religious diets\n\nVirtually all food in the UAE is halal. Kosher food is also increasingly available. Companies and restaurants such as Kosher Arabia and Eli's Kosher Kitchen, which is supervised by Chief Rabbi of the UAE Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, are also available. Vegetarian restaurants are also widely available due to the major presence of Hindus in the country. Finding your local, favorite or religiously compliant cuisine should not be a problem in the Emirates.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk039", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|300px|Fast Track Lobby Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital Abu Dhabi.\nThe legal drinking age in the UAE is 21.\n\nDubai has a burgeoning nightlife scene and even formerly straitlaced Abu Dhabi has loosened up and tried to catch up. Alcohol is available in alcohol stores, 5-star hotel restaurants and bars in all emirates except Sharjah. Sharjah is a dry emirate, but it is legal for non-Muslims to bring in alcohol purchased elsewhere for consumption in private.\n\nAs a tourist, you do not need a license to purchase alcohol, but will need to present your passport with the immigration entry stamp. If you are a foreign resident, you may need a license to purchase alcohol depending on what emirate you are in; Abu Dhabi does not require a license, while Dubai requires one that can be applied for free-of-charge at any liquor store. Public drinking outside licensed venues is illegal in the UAE.\n\nDuring Ramadan, no alcohol is served during daylight (fasting) hours. Dubai and Abu Dhabi permit bars to serve alcohol at night, but bands stop playing, background music is off or quiet, no dancing is allowed and nightclubs are usually closed. On certain holy days in the Islamic calendar, no alcohol is served publicly in any of the UAE.\n\nDo *not* under any circumstance drink and drive in the UAE. If by chance you are in an accident, this becomes a card for going directly to jail — especially during Ramadan. Taxis and ride-share apps such as Uber are widely available if you have been drinking and are a much safer and wiser option given the insane driving habits in the region.\n\n### Coffee and tea\n\nthumb|Arabic coffee with ''luqaimat'' sweets\n\nCoffee (قهوة *qahwah*) is extremely popular in the UAE. While it's easy enough to find Starbucks and competitors, it's worth seeking out Arabic coffee, often flavored with cardamom and served black and strong in tiny little cups. The coffee is unfiltered, so sip carefully or you'll get a mouthful of grounds! Tradition demands that your cup be refilled as long as you keep drinking.\n\nTea (شاي *shay*) is also popular, typically served strong, dark and with sugar. *Suleimani* tea adds a dash of spice, often cinnamon or fresh mint leaves. A uniquely UAE twist is *karak chai* (\"hard tea\"), made with evaporated milk; it's originally a subcontinental import, but has been adopted across the country.", "word_count": 401}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk040", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb |upright=1.5 |Palm Jumeirah in Dubai\n\nFor the visitor, the UAE has one of the most spectacular ranges of tourist accommodations in the world. There are staggeringly beautiful, modern hotels, which can be expensive. However, more modest housing is also available. Hotels and accommodation in the Emirates are always available - in fact, hotels are a major revenue source for investors in the UAE. The hotels and accommodation throughout the Emirates are stunning and extraordinarily luxurious because of the high luxury standards in the Emirates (particularly in Dubai) as well as the relatively new buildings and skyscrapers. Some of the most famous lodging destinations that are famous for being portrayed in movies are the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi also serves as a lodging destination for foreign head of states or diplomats visiting the capital city Abu Dhabi.\n\nAlmost all hotels serve alcohol with the notable exception of hotels in Sharjah. Most hotels also have various bars, night clubs, and meeting hot spots. Most resorts are built on artificial made islands such as the Palm Jumeriah in Dubai and Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Beach access and amenities are a given when booking a resort or a hotel on a beach.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk041", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|250px|University City Hall in University City, Sharjah.\n\nPer the Times Higher Education (THE) and the QS World University rankings in 2019, the highest ranking universities in the UAE are:\n1- Khalifa University\n2- United Arab Emirates University\n3- American University in Sharjah\n4- American University in Dubai\n5- University of Sharjah\n6- Abu Dhabi University\n7- Zayed University\n8- Ajman University\n\nThe UAE has government-sponsored universities that are limited only to citizens or high achieving non citizens only. The four local government-sponsored universities are Khalifa University, the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, the Higher Colleges of Technology with various campuses throughout the UAE, and Zayed University with campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.\n\nIn addition to the local universities, the UAE also hosts branches of several well-known American and European universities. These are primarily concentrated in the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Examples of global universities with campuses in the UAE include New York University Abu Dhabi, Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, London Business School, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and University of Exeter.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk042", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Work", "text": "You will need a work visa to be allowed to work in the UAE, and receiving one requires a local company or sponsor to apply on your behalf. 10-year, 5-year, and 6-month visa schemes are also available for investors, entrepreneurs and outstanding students. The UAE government official online portal has all the details to apply for visas or long term visas.\n\nQualifying investors, entrepreneurs, professional talents, researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and outstanding students are offered a permanent residency scheme called the Gold Card.\n\nObtaining UAE citizenship is only possible for foreign women who are married to Emirati men (but *not* for foreign men married to Emirati women), but is otherwise next to impossible for other foreigners. A foreign woman must be married for 7 years with at least one child or 10 years with no children to be eligible for citizenship. Citizenship may also be granted by a decree from the president if a person has done extraordinary accomplishments for the country.", "word_count": 166}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk043", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Emirati men wearing traditional attire while performing the Emirati weapon dance Razfah\nEmiratis share a common culture with the rest of the Arab world, so what would be good manners in other Arab countries would generally be good manners in the Emirates too.\n\nEmiratis are proud but welcoming people and, when not in their cars, are generally extremely civil and friendly. Their culture can be very conservative, but they are quite attuned to the ways, customs, events, media, and manners of the world.\n\nLocal men usually wear a \"Kandoura\", a long robe (typically white), and ghutra, a red-checked or white headdress. Local women wear a black robe-like garment (abaya) and a black head scarf (shayla).\n\nTravelers should be aware and respect the more traditional outlook in the UAE, but Western travelers will find most of the UAE quite comfortable.\n\nLike other Arab countries, Emirati society is very tribal, with a strong emphasis on family honour. Do not speak badly of someone's family member.\n\nAlthough women are not legally required to wear the *hijab*, revealing fashions such as tank tops and shorts are discouraged. Hijab and modest clothing are necessary to visit mosques or religious sites. Some mosques such as the Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi provide modest clothing for tourists visiting the site. Short skirts and shorts might incur stares. There are quite a few tourist- or expatriate-dominated zones where even \"provocative\" dress may be seen, although not welcomed, and swimwear such as bikinis can be worn. These include many areas of the Emirate of Dubai and, for example, beach resorts in Ajman or Fujairah. Public nudity anywhere is strictly forbidden. Sharjah is the most conservative of the Emirates with public decency statutes forbidding overly revealing clothing including certain kinds of beach wear, with varying enforcement.\n\nPublic display of affection towards a spouse is considered impolite or ill-mannered to the Emirati population. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for Emirati men or women to show physical affection to persons of the same sex; Emirati men often kiss one another's noses in greeting, and women greet one another with cheek kisses and may hold hands or link arms. Doing this in public as a non-heterosexual may be risky; the Emirates are not LGBT-friendly. However, discretion is the key: like many things in Emirati society, what happens behind closed doors just happens.\n\n**Business cards** should be given and received using only your **right hand**. Using the left hand is very disrespectful as it is considered unclean.", "word_count": 417}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk044", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Dubai Police uses a fleet of super-cars. The super cars police patrols are found in tourist hot spots and allows tourists to take pictures with the officers.\nThe UAE is one of the safest countries in the world with regard to crime. However, there is a very high rate of **automobile accidents**, so you should take extra care when driving a vehicle or crossing the road. Also, the law enforcement is harsh, with severe punishments for what in most places would pass as just inappropriate behaviour or at most a misdemeanor.\n\n**Homosexuality** is illegal in the UAE, and it may carry the penalty of death or life in prison, so gay and lesbian tourists should be discreet and avoid any public displays of affection.\n\nSex outside marriage is illegal, but the penalty is not enforced unless it results in pregnancy. Public displays of affection are also illegal and punishable by fine or jail regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Caution is definitely advised. Public sex, nudity, and any form of **sexual activity** conducted in public is illegal.\n\nThe UAE has extremely strict laws on **drug usage**; the punishment for possession is typically 4 years in prison, and tourists have been arrested and sentenced under this law for having microscopic specks of drugs or even drug ingredients on their clothing without their knowledge. Another trap for the unwary is that if you are suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a blood test can be taken, and if it shows evidence of substances that are illegal in the UAE, then you will probably end up in jail even if the substances were ingested abroad. In addition to testing your blood, they will likely check your belongings. \n\nSome common **painkillers**, like codeine, are illegal narcotics in the UAE. Don't bring any with you unless you carry a copy of your prescription or you may join others who have received jail sentences. In contrast, antibiotics are freely available over the counter at pharmacies. If you receive a prescription for controlled drugs in the UAE, such as some painkillers and antidepressants, be sure to keep the copy of the prescription with you when traveling out of the country.\n\nUnder **cyber-crime laws**, if a person makes or has made a defamatory statement about someone in the UAE on social media, even if a number of years ago in another country, they can be jailed or fined.\n\nThe UAE is a Gulf State and may be affected during times of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and there is often a heightened risk when travelling to or being within UAE, during times of **crisis**. It is important to keep up to date with the latest news and updates from local authorities. Take shelter when told to. UAE hosts U.S bases and may be a target, in times of crisis. \n\n**Terrorist attacks** have been threatened on Gulf countries and cannot be ruled out, especially threats to carry out attacks on Western interests.", "word_count": 498}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk045", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "General **medical care** in the Emirates is quite good, with clinics for general and specialized care widely available, including some which are now open 24 hours. Hospitals in the major centers are well-equipped to deal with any medical emergencies. There is an ambulance system in all major population centres; however, coverage can be patchy in the more remote areas. Ambulances are designed for transportation rather than providing care as first responders, so don't expect top-flight on-site care. Emirati citizens are provided with free healthcare under the welfare state, but this does not cover foreigners, who are required to purchase health insurance as part of their visa conditions.\n\nThe main government hospital in Abu Dhabi is quite good; as is the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, now managed by Cleveland Clinic.\n\nIn Dubai, the government hospitals are Rashid hospital, which has a new Trauma Centre and Dubai Hospital which are very good. Welcare Hospital International Modern Hospital American Hospital Zulekha Hospital NMC Hospital, and Belhoul Hospital in the private sector all have a good reputation. The country is free of malaria and prophylaxis is not needed. In Sharjah, the Kuwaiti (government) Hospital accepts expatriates. The private hospitals in Sharjah are the Zahra hospital, Zulekha Hospital and Central Private Hospital. Prices including healthcare are generally cheaper in Sharjah and although all hospitals meet the Ministry of Health standards the Central Private Hospital and Zulekha Hospitals are considered more affordable.\n\nAl Ain is served by modern hospitals and care centers: Tawam Hospital, now managed by Johns Hopkins, and host to the UAE University Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Al Ain Hospital (also called Al Jimi Hospital as it is in the district of Al Jimi), now managed by the Vienna Medical University; and the private Oasis Hospital, previously known as Kennedy Hospital, which was founded and run by Christian missionaries, and which was the first hospital in the city.\n\nThe **water** is safe to drink in the UAE, although most people prefer bottled water for its taste. The food is clean and in most restaurants is served to Western standards, particularly in tourist areas; however, hygiene can be an issue in some establishments outside, particularly roadside stalls. That said, food poisoning does happen, so use your common sense!\n\nThe **heat in summer** can reach 50°C (122°F), so avoid outdoor activity at the height of the day and watch out for signs of heat stroke. Be sure to drink lots of water as dehydration happens easily in such heat. If travelling off road (most of the country is desert), ensure you carry sufficient water to allow you to walk to the road should vehicles become bogged.\n\nAlthough the UAE is somewhat more accommodating to **travellers with disabilities** than other countries in the Middle East, it would nonetheless be a difficult country to navigate in a wheelchair. Curbs are high and there are few, if any, ramps or other accommodations. This includes an almost complete lack of handicapped-friendly bathrooms.", "word_count": 494}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk046", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nThere are two providers who have their own cellular network: e& (etisalat) and du. The coverage of both throughout the country is about the same. 4 GB for 28 days costs 49 dirham (Jan 2026) at both providers with the SIM card for free. The eSIM provider Airhub offers 1 GB for 1 week for US$1.89 (Jan 2026).\n\nAs of January 2026, tourists passing through passport control are given a free SIM card valid for one day, and tied to their passport identity. This is an initiative of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) to welcome new tourists. As this is only a 24-hour SIM card, you may still want to organise an eSIM for data access on a compatible phone before your travel: vendors of these can be found online.\n\nThe country code is 971. The mobile phone network uses the GSM technology (as in Europe and Africa) and use is widespread. The format for dialing is: +971-#-### ####, where the first \"#\" designates the area code. Key area codes include Dubai (4), Sharjah (6) and Abu Dhabi (2). Calls to mobile phones use the operator's area codes: (50/56/58) for Etisalat and (52/55) for Du. Like many other countries, when dialing locally, \"00\" is used to access an international number (and followed by the country code) and \"0\" is used to access a national number (followed by the area code).\n\n### By Internet", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk047", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Connect", "text": "UAE Internet service providers and Wi-Fi operators ban pornography, politically sensitive material, anything against the perceived moral values of the UAE, certain web archiving services, and certain cryptocurrency news sites (while others are allowed). Making **voice or video calls** on many popular apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are blocked, although messaging and \"corporate\" video call tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams work fine.\n\nMost people use a VPN service to bypass local Internet restrictions, but VPN usage is formally illegal, especially if used to conceal committing a crime. Also, most common and commercial VPNs are blocked, so you will really need a company VPN or a personal VPN with dedicated but unknown IP. Foreign SIMs (used in roaming) may enable VoIP access.\n\nInternet cafés are fairly common in the larger cities.\n\n### By post\n\nthumb|A postal stamp from Abu Dhabi in 1967.\n\nThe United Arab Emirates has a fairly efficient postal system run by the **Emirates Post**. There are dozens of post offices scattered across the major cities. It costs 4.50 dirham at standard rates to send a standard letter weighing 29-30 gr (1 oz) locally and between the emirates within the country; 5 dirhams to neighboring Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain); 9 dirhams across the gulf to Iran; and 11 to 13 dirhams to most other countries. Mailing to nearby conflict zones (Iraq, Syria, Yemen) can only be sent on the premium rate starting at 165 dirhams. Sending parcels can get costly, being counted per kilogram and by distance. As the rates depends on the type of item you post and where you send it, you can get estimated rates by weight and distance from the Emirates Post official website.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk048", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Connect", "text": "All mail sent within and to the country are sent only to PO Boxes without zip or post codes. Therefore, addresses should be formatted as:\nName of recipient\nName of company or organization if relevant\nPO Box xxxx\nNAME OF EMIRATE\nCOUNTRY IF MAILING FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY\n\nSuch as:\nJohn Doe\nRaffles World Academy\nPO Box 122900\nDUBAI\nUNITED ARAB EMIRATES\n\nIf sending by private courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc) to a physical address be sure to confirm the delivery address with recipient and provide the recipient's telephone number on the package so that the delivery driver can call to clarify the location if necessary as physical addresses are vague and inconsistent. Such as:\nJohn Doe\nRaffles World Academy\nAl Marcup Street Umm Suqeim 3\nJumera 3\nDUBAI\nUNITED ARAB EMIRATES\n\nMany expats working in the UAE typically use their employer's PO Box to receive personal mail. But, there is no concept of 'privacy' and mail can be opened by the employer, especially after the employee has left the company. Therefore, it is recommended that anybody staying long term to establish their *own* mailing address than to have personal mail sent to them via their employer.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "uae::chunk049", "doc_id": "uae", "section": "Go next", "text": "The land border can be crossed to Oman and Saudi Arabia. There are ferries to Iran.", "word_count": 16}
diff --git a/corpus/uae/metadata.json b/corpus/uae/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2ba2d245ca3f517bc00dfd936969c8919d807d94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uae/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "uae",
+ "title": "United Arab Emirates",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "skiing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Middle East"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Oman",
+ "Saudi Arabia",
+ "Iran"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 12689,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 12,
+ "chunk_count": 50,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/ubud/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/ubud/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..19367b855f4f36d16f897c65109cd7540724f5d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ubud/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk000", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|right|400px|Puri Saren Agung (''Water Palace'') in central Ubud\n**Ubud**, a town in central Bali of around 75,000 people (2020), is far removed from the nightlife bikini scene in Kuta, and is regarded as the cultural centre of Bali. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists' workshops and galleries. There are some remarkable architectural and other sights to be found, and a general feeling of well being to be enjoyed, all thanks to the spirit, surroundings, ad climate of the place.", "word_count": 95}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk001", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Understand", "text": "While Ubud seems to outsiders like one small town, it is in fact fourteen villages, each run by its own *banjar* (village committee). Ubud has grown rapidly, and some central parts are creaking under the strain of coping with the number of visitors. That said, most development is sympathetic to the zeitgeist, if not designed specifically in the local style. Growth continues apace, but there are still terraced rice fields along the rivers, and away from the town centre, regular, quiet village life carries on relatively undisturbed.\n\n### History\n\nIn many ways, the history of the Ubud *area* (not so much the modern day town) is the history of Bali.\n\nUbud has a known history back to the eighth century, when the Javanese Buddhist priest Rsi Marhandya came to Bali from Java, and meditated at the confluence of the two Wos rivers at Campuan, just west of the modern day town centre. A shrine was established and later expanded by Nirartha, the Javanese priest who is regarded as the founder of Bali's religious practices and rituals as we know them today. At this time the area was a centre of natural medicine and healing, and that is how the name Ubud originated: *Ubad* is ancient Balinese for medicine.\n\nFurther temples and monasteries were established over the next 400 years or so. The temple complex at Gunung Kawi, and the cave temples at Goa Gajah (just east and northeast of Ubud), are architectural remains from this period. Many of the dances, drama and rituals still practised in Ubud today, originated at this time. King Airlangga ruled all of Java and Bali in this era, and his seat of government was located in what is now the village of Batuan, just southeast of Ubud.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk002", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Javanese Majapahit kingdom conquered Bali in 1343, and the key final victory was against the Pejeng Dynasty centred at Bedulu, just to the east of Ubud. A great flowering of Balinese culture followed, and the ancestry of Ubud's current day aristocratic families can be traced back to this period. In the sixteenth Century, there was a total transplantation of the Majapahit Kingdom to Bali as the Islamisation of Java forced them eastwards. Power flip-flopped between various dynasties and feudal lords, but the Ubud area remained a very important cog in the various regencies which ruled the island.\nthumb|right|250px|Goa Gajah originates from the 9th century\n\nIn 1900, Ubud became a Dutch protectorate at its own request, and the colonialists interfered little, allowing the traditional arts and culture of the area to remain relatively unchanged. The modern era of Ubud perhaps began in the 1930s, when foreign artists were encouraged by the royal family to take up presence in the town. From their Ubud base, the likes of Walter Spies and Rudolph Bonnet were instrumental in promoting an understanding of Balinese art and culture worldwide. From the 1960s onwards, travellers started to arrive in earnest, mostly intrepid types as the infrastructure was still very limited indeed. Since then, Ubud has developed rapidly into a high-profile, top-class international destination, whilst still maintaining its integrity as the centre of Balinese art and culture.\n\n### Orientation\n\nOrienting yourself in Ubud is fairly straightforward. The town sprawls for several kilometres in all directions, with all of the small villages within a five km radius of the central market being loosely referred to as \"Ubud\". If you choose a reasonably central place to stay, it is easy enough to get around on foot.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk003", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Understand", "text": "Central Ubud has three main streets: Jl Raya Ubud, Jl Monkey Forest and Jl Hanoman. At the intersection of Jl Raya and Jl Monkey Forest are Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, and a bus station — unsurprisingly, there's also a near-permanent traffic jam here.\n\nJl Monkey Forest, which runs south through town to the Monkey Forest, is a built-up area, and home to a wide array of accommodation, art galleries, and cafes, as well a number of local services such as schools, a sports field, pharmacies, and travel agents. Jl Hanoman, which runs parallel to Jl Monkey Forest just to the east, is a bit quieter and makes for more pleasant walking.\n\nTo the immediate west and northwest are the villages of **Campuan** (*Tjampuhan*, *Campuhan*) and **Kedewatan**, home to some of the most upmarket hotels in the whole of Asia, with views over valleys sculpted by the Ayung and Wos rivers.\n\nDirectly to the south, past the Monkey Forest and still within a twenty minute walk of the central market, is **Padang Tegal** which then runs into the southern villages of **Nyuh Kuning** and **Pengosekan**, about three km from central Ubud. Directly to the east is the village of **Peliatan**, and then **Teges** and **Bedulu**, home of the ninth century *Goa Gajah* (Elephant Cave).\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk004", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Understand", "text": "Due to its elevation at about 200 m above sea level, Ubud enjoys cooler temperatures than the coast, and it is sometimes necessary to bring a pullover for the evening. The midday sun can still be scorching though and the humidity often relentless; a murderous combination for an outing of 'temple tramping' which, in hilly Ubud, usually requires climbing up and down staircases. (Head out early to beat the heat and the crowds.) If there is a time to avoid, it would be the depths of the wet season in January and February — when it rains in Ubud, it *really* rains.\n\n### Tourism information office\n\n- Bina Wisata", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk005", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By bemo\n\nThere are regular public bemos from Denpasar's Batubulan terminal to Ubud which cost Rp50,000 and take about an hour. Most bemos run in the early morning, and in the later of the day it is getting difficult to find a bemo leaving and drivers try to pursue tourist to hire entire vehicle for Rp200,000-300,000, and you will not find any after 16:00. In the opposite direction, bemos depart every morning from the central market (northern entrance) in Ubud.\n\n### By taxi or car\n\nIf you want to take a taxi to Ubud from South Bali, it is best to charter the vehicle for a return trip, otherwise, you'll be hit with a 30% fee for going out-of-town. Metered fares, one-way and *not* including surcharge, are around Rp150,000 from Denpasar and Rp200,000 from Kuta. You can also rent a car in Kuta for a day in some local rental company around US$15-25, will be also useful to explore the extended vicinity.\n\n### By bus\n\nPerama offers transfers to Ubud from Sanur, Lovina, Kuta, Bedugul, Candidasa, and Padang Bai, some daily, some on-demand. When coming from Ngurah Rai International Airport you need to take a taxi to Perama's Kuta branch first, when going *to* the airport direct transfers exist. There are Perama buses from Ubud to Kuta and airport three times a day (08:30, 12:00, 16:00) and it costs Rp100,000 (Kuta) and Rp110,000 (airport). The Perama website restricts that you cannot reserve tickets for current day and you must reserve tickets for next day before 3pm, while on the Perama terminal there are no such restricts. Rather less conveniently, the Perama terminal is not located in the centre of Ubud, but about two km south in Padang Tegal, on Jl Hanoman just south of the intersection with Jl Monkey Forest. From Kuta to Ubud cost Rp60,000.\n\nYou can go to the \"official Tourist Information\" (just in the middle of town, on the big crossroad, opposite the market at Monkey Forest Road/Jalan Raya Road) and buy your ticket there (official outlet, same price) and Perama will pick you up there, to transfer to the Perama Bus Hub out of Town.\n\n### By public bus\n\nTrans Metro Dewata (Rp 4,400, May 2024): the corridor 04 serves the route Terminal Ubung in Denpasar to Monkey Forest Central Parking with numerous bus stops. About an hour, every 7-10 min. Does not accept cash, either use bank transport card, either qris qrcode payment.\n\n### From Bedugul\n\nFrom Bedugul / Candikuning, multiple options starting with cheaper (as of May 2024):\n Take bemo from main road (next to lake) to Terminal Ubung in Denpasar (about Rp 40,000, duration ~1 hr 15 min), bus K3B to RS Dharma Yadnya Selatan (Rp 4,400, ~20 min), last bus K4B to Ubud (if centre, Pura Dalem Puri Pelatian stop; Rp 4,400, ~50 min). While cheaper (less than Rp 50,000), it's lot slower (3-4 hours) depending on traffic in Denpasar and Ubud.\n Take bemo to Sembung (likely Rp 40,000 too as it seems the minimum price) and car-hailing app motorbike ride after (bike ~Rp 50,000, car rp 100,000-130,000). It is not known if bemo between Sembung and Ubud and likely not cheaper.\n Full route by car-hailing app: bike ~Rp 110,00-130,000, car Rp 260,000-320,000\n Perama tour bus: Rp 150,000, duration ~1 hr 30 min, daily 14:00, from indomaret, not perama bus shop.\n Private car: ~Rp 300,000", "word_count": 564}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk006", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Get around", "text": "Central Ubud can be covered on foot, but you will need some form of transport to explore the extended vicinity.\n\nCentral Ubud is overrun with tourists and touts, and traffic is terrible—cars are frequently stuck in traffic, pedestrians have to dodge motorcycles, and everyone has to deal with the noise and smell from so many vehicles in a small area. The nearby villages are much quieter. The sidewalks are often blocked by motorbikes, or a collapsed section necessitates a step off the sidewalk potentially placing you in the path of traffic. That traffic could be a tricycle or a truck, so keep your wits about you.\n\n### By bemo\n\nBemos ply the main routes in and around Ubud, and the main stop and gathering point is Ubud market at the junction of Jl Monkey Forest and Jl Raya Ubud. Most bemos stop running in the late afternoon, and are always more frequent in the morning.\n\n### By taxi\n\nNo metered taxis operate in Ubud, and any you see will be dropping off passengers from further afield.\n\nYou may however encounter many locals offering a taxi, who sometimes are very persistent. These are not actual taxis, but \"local cars\" (see below).\n\nIf you do not need a taxi, it's best to avoid eye contact with those offering a ride, as they may follow you with offers of tours of the area, etc. If you are continually being harassed, a polite \"no thank you\" (or \"tidak terima kasih\", the Indonesian equivalent) may work.\n\n### By local car\n\nMost local transport comes in the form of SUVs or minivans that can be hired with a driver for specific trips. Look for the circular yellow \"E\" logo on the windshield certifying them as Ubud Transport Association members. You can (and should) haggle a bit over the price, and pay less than for the equivalent journey in a metered taxi. A short trip should be less than Rp20,000, and drivers will be glad to wait for you for a return fare.\n\nAlso, there are guys on motorbikes who will also offer bike rides (*ojek*) and are about half the price of those in a car.\n\n### By hotel car\n\nMany hotels are out of town, and are happy to offer regular, complimentary drop-off and pick-up services to central Ubud. Expect to pay higher than taxi prices if you are intending to go further afield.\n\n### By motorbike\n\nAs elsewhere in Bali, motorbike rental is widely available, and you will not be short of options. Expect to pay between Rp40,000 and 80,000 per day for a late model motorbike in good condition. Look for rental agencies on all the main streets, or ask your hotel to organise for you. Navigation can be confusing, as signage is limited and all the roads look pretty much the same at first, but take it easy and stop to ask for directions if (when) you get lost.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nYou can rent bicycles for about Rp20,000-30,000 per day. There is a large selection available at the corner of the football field on Jl Monkey Forest. Beware though: Ubud is very hilly, so cycling can be hard, sweaty work. Traffic on the main roads is heavy and drivers rarely pay heed to cyclists.\n\n### By ride hailing app\n\nThere are lots of signs in Ubud saying taxi apps (like Grab, Blue Bird, and Gojek) are prohibited. You may or may not have success calling one anyway if you try.", "word_count": 579}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk007", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "See", "text": "Ubud is so crammed with attractions it can almost seem like a visual assault at times. Try to make sure you allocate at least a week for your visit here, and take your time to explore properly. Visitors who jump up to Ubud for just two or three days of their Bali holiday, stand little chance of understanding much of what is going on around them.\n\nThe key historical sites are located out of town, some as far as 20 km away, and you might find it worthwhile joining a tour to visit these. If you do visit attractions such as Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Pura Kehen and Tirta Empul under your own steam, try to find a knowledgeable guide when you get there. Whilst you will certainly appreciate the beauty of these places, their cultural and spiritual significance may be lost without a guide.\n\n### Temples and historical sites\n\n- Goa Gajah\n\nthumb|right|300px|Gunung Kawi, Tampaksiring\n\n- Gunung Kawi\n\n- Pura Kehen\n\n- Puri Saren Agung\n\nthumb|right|220px|Hot springs at Tirta Empul, Tampaksiring\n\n- Tirta Empul\n\n- Yeh Pulu\n\n- Chapel of Mother Goddess, Rajarajeshwari Tripurasundari\n\n- Saraswati Temple\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\n- Agung Rai Museum of Art\n\n- Blanco Renaissance Museum\n\n- Museum Puri Lukisan\n\n- Museum Rudana\n\n- Neka Art Museum\n\n### Landscape\n\nthumb|right|300px|Rice terraces near Ubud\n\nThe area around Ubud is characterised by gently rolling **rice paddies**, and these create an impression of greenness which can be quite startlingly beautiful. This is especially true to the south and southeast of the town. Any visitor approaching from the south will appreciate this and it is worth a stop just to absorb the gentle beauty of it all.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk008", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "See", "text": "Far more off the beaten path is to explore the rice fields immediately north of town. A good route is to take Jl Raya eastwards from the town centre and turn north up the small road immediately adjacent to the BCA Bank building. Proceed up this road through the village of Kutuh and just keep going, turning where you feel like it. This is a very gentle, rural area with some lovely landscape. A great way to explore is by bicycle as there are no steep hills to negotiate here.\n\n200px|right|thumb|Typical Ubud river valley scenery\n\nOn the opposite side of town in the **Campuhaun**, **Sanggingan**, and **Kedewatan** areas, the landscape changes dramatically as great gorges have been carved out of the limestone land base by the Ayung and Wos rivers. It's no surprise that so many five star hotels have made their home in these lush, dramatic valleys. Opportunities for viewing these gorges are many. You can just find your own way and explore by motorbike (it is very hard work by bicycle as the hills are steep). Head west out of town over the Campuhan Bridge and just start exploring. The main road here is Jl Raya Sanggingan, and if you continue heading away from town you will reach the junction with Jl Raya Kedewatan. From that point you can turn in either direction and just keep exploring. Alternatively, you can stop into a hotel or restaurant, have a drink or lunch, and gaze out in very civilised surroundings. If your pockets are deep, the restaurant at the Four Seasons in Sayan probably has the best views of all of the Ayung Gorge. A more budget conscious option is the lovely Indus restaurant in Sanginngan, with tables facing out to the Wos River.\n\n- Tegallalang\n\n### Others", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk009", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Conservation of critically endangered endemic Bali myna at Bali Bird Park.\nthumb|The monkeys at the Monkey Forest are not afraid of humans.\n - Bali Bird Park\n\n- Botanic Garden\n\n- Monkey Forest\n\n- The White Herons of Petulu", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk010", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Do", "text": "As a centre of the arts, Ubud has dance and shadow puppet performances every night. There are also plenty of spas for resynchronising your chakras, and all manner of spiritual classes and treatments, some distinctly less genuine than others.\n\nthumb|right|300px|Puram Dalem dance performance\n\n### Art courses\n\n - Bali Center for Artistic Creativity (BCAC)\n\n### Cooking classes\n\n - Payuk Bali Home Cooking Class\n\n- Paon Bali Cooking Class\n\n - Pemulan Bali - Balinese Farm Cooking School\n\n - Ubad Ubud Bali Cooking Class\n\n### Cultural performances\n\n - Barong Dance\n\n - Pura Dalem\n\n - Puri Saren & Puri Saraswati\n\n### Spas\n\n - Bali Healing\n\nthumb|right|300px|Legong dance performance\n - Bamboo Bali Spa\n\n - Sang Spa\n\n - SenS Spa\n\n - Ubud Sari Health Resort\n\n - Verona Spa\n\n - Tamarind Spa\n\n - Pertenin Body Care\n\n### Canyoning activities\n\n - Adventure & Spirit\n\n### Whitewater rafting and other outdoor activities\n\nThere is good rafting available on the Ayung River at Sayan, just west of Ubud. Almost as good as the rafting itself is the wonderful experience of being right down inside the Ayung gorge. This is the domain of high-end resorts like the Four Seasons and Amandari, and it is a very scenic area indeed. The rapids are Class II and Class III, and best during the rainy season as the river can run a bit dry from June to September. There are two well established operators, both with offices on the main road in Sayan, close to Amandari, however other operators have sprung up.\n\nCycle tours are an increasingly widespread and popular option.\n\n - Bali Countryside Cycling\n\n - Bali Bintang Tour\n\n - Bali Budaya Eco Tours\n\n - Bali Bike Adventures\n\n - Bali Hai Adventures Specialist\n\n - Bali Adventure Tours\n\n - Sobek Bali Utama\n\n### Yoga studios and meditation centers\n\n - Ubud Yoga Centre\n\n - The Yoga Barn\n\n - Alchemy Yoga and Meditation Center\n\n - Radiantly Alive Yoga\n\n - Intuitive Flow\n\n - Anand Ashram@Ubud\n\n - Bali Yoga School\n\n - Firefly Yoga Retreat\n\n - Taman Hati Yoga and Meditation Center\n\n - Bali Yoga Teacher Training Center", "word_count": 338}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk011", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|300px|Inside Ubud Market\n\nUbud has a vast assortment of art and jewelry shops. Head for the boutique type stores on Jl Monkey Forest and Jl Raya Ubud for higher quality goods (with appropriately higher prices), or down to the market for bulk-produced cheapies. Be prepared to bargain.\n\n - Ubud Market\n\n### Craft villages between Ubud and Sanur\n\nThe 25-km road to Ubud from Sanur in the south passes through a series of small towns and villages which specialize in the production of particular arts and crafts. The towns are **Batubulan/Singakerta** for stone carvings, **Celuk** for silver jewellery, **Batuan** for paintings, and **Mas** for wood carvings. The whole area is sometimes referred to as the \"craft villages\" of Bali, although it is all a bit more built-up and congested than one might infer from the term \"village.\"\n\nThis is the best area to see and buy a wide variety of Balinese craftwork in a short period of time. There are many large showrooms where arts and crafts in the Balinese style are offered for sale. Nearly all organised day-tours of central Bali stop at one or more of these showrooms (and the tour operators usually have a financial tie-up with the places where they stop, collecting a commission on purchases.) Be careful, many of these shops specialise in pricing based on huge commissions to the drivers and tour busses.\n\n### Other shops and markets\n\n - Ganesha Bookstore\n\n - Pondok Pekak Library & Learning Centre\n\n - Sukawati Art Market\n\n - Threads of Life", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk012", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Eat", "text": "Ubud is renowned in Bali for its wide range of restaurants, and is probably second only to Seminyak in terms of the quality of the offerings. Travelers on a budget will not be short of options, as there are many simple warungs serving up the standard Indonesian staples.\n\n### Budget\n\nthumb|right|300px|Babi Guling is a very popular dish for Balinese as well as tourists, and you can find it at most traditional markets and at roadside eateries as well.\n\nIf you are looking more for the low-budget one-dish meal aka Rp 15,000-25,000, it’s easier to go on Jalan Cok Gede Rai and around (Ayam goreng prambanan, Mr Kebab Martabak, Burger Bangor Express Ubud…). You can occasionally find mobile street food like bakso but it seems less common in centre.\n\n - Bubu Warung\n\n - Dewa Warung\n\n- Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka 1\n\n - Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka 2\n\n- Pizza Bagus\n\n- Sawah Indah Resto Ubud\n\n - Sari Bamboo\n\n - Dapur Bunda\n\n - Warung biah biah\n\n - Warung Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku\n\n - Warung Sen San\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Alchemy\n\n- Kafe Batan Waru\n\n - Bakmie MG Ubud\n\n - Clear Cafe\n\n - Cafe des Artistes\n\n - Casa Luna\n\n - China Moon\n\n - Murni's Warung\n\n - Naughty Nuri's Warung and Grill\n\n - Nomad\n\n - Taco Casa\n\n - Uma Resto\n\n - Wild Vegan\n\n### Splurge\n\nMany of the five-star hotels in and around Ubud have top class restaurants, with the Four Seasons Resort and Maya Ubud being of special note.\n\n - Bebek Bengil\n\n - Cascades Restaurant\n\n - Mozaic\n\n - Apéritif Restaurant", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk013", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Drink", "text": "Ubud is emphatically *not* party town: there are a few places for a quiet drink, but the strictly enforced local regulation that all live performances and loud music must end by 22:30 puts a bit of a clamp on the local nightlife. More often than not, visitors have a quiet drink with their evening meal, and call it a night.\n\n### Pubs\n\n- The Melting Pot Game Room and Pub\n\n### Coffee shops\n\n - Bali Pulina\n\n - Seniman Coffee Studio", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk014", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Many visitors prefer to avoid the crowded town centre and instead stay in nearby rural areas (Penestanan Village pictured).\nUbud has a vast selection of lodging for all budgets. Many visitors prefer to avoid the noisy, congested, and crowded town centre and instead stay out in nearby rural areas, ideally with views of the famous rice terraces, but this can make it a little difficult to get around. As in most of Bali, in all but the grandest of hotels, check-in and check-out times are a bit of a moveable feast. It is safe to assume about 14:00 and 11:00.\n\n### Budget\n\nUbud has many homestays which are the cheapest form of lodging, a good way to meet the locals, and the natural replacement for hostels on the backpacker circuit. If you want to stay in town, the area around Jl Monkey Forest is generally the most expensive little more expensive (from Rp80,000-100,000 per night). If you want cheaper prices try the areas around Jl Hanoman, north of Jl Raya Ubud and further out in Peliatan. In the low season especially, bargains can be had by those willing to bargain. Jn Kajeng, close to the centre, is a peaceful, mostly pedestrianised street with many small budget to mid-range homestays - those on the west side have views at the rear towards the river, waterfall or nearby rice fields.\n\n- Dewi Antara Homestay\n\n- Family Guest House\n\n- Gustis Garden Bungalows\n\n- Jati Home Stay\n\n- Bali Traditional Homestay\n\nthumb|right|300px|There are lots of them in Ubud\n\n- Melati Cottages\n\n- Narasoma Homestay\n\n- Nyoman Murjana Homestay\n\n- Rumah Roda Homestay and Restaurant\n\n- Shana Homestay\n\n- Raka's House\n\n- The Onion Collective\n\n- Ayuk Guest House\n\n- Sunarta House Homestay\n\n- Cucu House\n\n- Aru house Ubud\n\n- Nua house", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk015", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Mid-range\n\n- Anom Cottages\n\n- Bucu View Resort\n\n- Dewa Bungalows\n\n- Dewa Bharata Bungalows\n\n- De Munut Resort\n\n- Bali T House Village\n\n- Inata Monkey Forest Hotel\n\n- Jiwa Damai Bali Retreat\n\n- Munari Resort and Spa Ubud\n\n- Oka Kartini Bungalow\n\n- Puri Asri Villa & Spa\n\n- Puri Padi Hotel\n\n- Puri Saraswati Bungalows\n\n- Sania's house\n\n- Sri Aksata Ubud Resort\n\n- Sri Ratih Cottages\n\n- Suastika Bed and Breakfast\n\n- Taman Indrakila\n\n- Ubud Terrace Bungalows\n\n- Uma Sari Cottages\n\n- Hibiscus Cottages\n\n- Villa Indah\n\n- Villa JJ & Spa Ubud\n\n- Pondok Pundi Village Inn\n\n- Taman Harum Cottages\n\n- Murni's Houses and Tamarind Spa\n\n- Bali Dream Resort & Spa\n\n- Ayu Duwur Beji\n\n- Alam Dania Cottage\n\n- Bale Bali Inn\n\n- Desak Putu Putera Cottages\n\n- The Pari Sudha\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|right|350px|The quite remarkable Four Seasons Hotel in the Ayung Valley, near Ubud\n\n- Taman Rahasia\n\n#### Resorts\n\nSeveral of the leading luxury resorts anywhere in Asia are located in Ubud. Expect superb standards, with prices to match.\n\n- Amandari\n\n- Amori Villa\n\n- Barong Resort and Spa\n\n- Como Shambhala Estate\n\n- Four Seasons Resort at Sayan\n\n- Komaneka at Bisma\n\n- Maya Ubud\n\n- Natura Villa Resort and Spa\n\n- Naya Ubud\n\n- Pertiwi Resort and Spa\n\n- Pita Maha Resort and Spa\n\n- The Purist Villas & Spa\n\n- Santi Mandala Villa and Spa\n\n- Ubud Hanging Gardens\n\n- Viceroy Bali\n\n- Waka Namya Resort and Spa\n\n- Wapa Di Ume Resort & Spa\n\n- Villa Sabandari\n\n### Private villas\n\nThe following are private, individual villas which only take a single group of customers at a time.\n\n- Agung Khalia Villa\n\n- De Ubud Villas & Spa\n\n- Kajane Mua Private Villa and Mansion", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk016", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Sleep", "text": "- Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa & Spa\n\n- Villa di Abing\n\n- Jendela di Bali", "word_count": 15}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk017", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Ubud is a safe town to visit and few problems will ever be encountered.\n - Police Station\n\nBe wary around the **monkeys** that occupy the Monkey Forest. They are experts at stealing possessions like glasses, earrings, cameras and even handbags, and have been known to attack people that are carrying food. Rabies is also a concern in Bali, and the likelihood is that these monkeys could carry the disease. No matter how cute they look, feeding them is just asking for trouble.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk018", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Dengue fever outbreaks are not uncommon, so be diligent with mosquito repellant.\nUbud does not have a fully fledged hospital and the nearest is about 20 km to the south in Denpasar. There are a number of reasonable clinics, though, which are used to treating typical traveller ailments.\n\n - Toya Medika Clinic\n\n - Ubud Clinic", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk019", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\nMost dedicated internet cafes provide computers with fairly low speed access at a low price, Rp6,000 per hour being the current standard. There is only one truly high speed location, Highway on Ubud Main Road, but be prepared to pay a lot more than in other places.\n\nIn cafes and restaurants free wifi for customers is increasingly widespread. If you have your own laptop and don't need high speeds that's probably the best way to go, but beware of the hours internet is available can be fewer than the hours a restaurant is open. KAFE for example has excellent and uncommonly fast internet in a great environment but internet is only available from opening until 12:00 and from 15:00-18:00.\n\n - Highway\n\n - Hubud\n\n### Post\n\nThere is a refreshingly old-fashioned main post office at the Jl Raya Ubud end of Jl Jembawan. If you are staying in Ubud for any length of time, you can use this as a poste-restante office. Make sure you have your passport with you when you want to collect any mail or parcels.\n\n - Kantor Pos\n\n### Telephone\n\nThe area code for Ubud is 0361. +62 361 XXXXXX for international callers.\n\nAll of the major Indonesian mobile telephone networks have full coverage of the Ubud area. If you need to make an international landline call, there are many public phone shops (*wartels*) in the town. As with the rest of Bali, the few public telephones that exist are extremely unlikely to be in working order.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "ubud::chunk020", "doc_id": "ubud", "section": "Go next", "text": "Ubud is well located for moving on to other areas of Bali.\n\nIf you are heading east, the road to Candidasa and beyond via Klungkung is often busy with trucks, but a nice one hour drive nonetheless.\n Bedugul has a traditional fruit market, a splendid botanical garden, and the **Ulun Danu Bratan** temple, about one hour north by car.\n The region around Tabanan has **Mount Batukaru** and the Batukaru Temple, as well as the rice fields around **Jati Luwih**, about one hour north by car.\n Lovina is an easy-going black-sand beach, about two hours north by car.", "word_count": 97}
diff --git a/corpus/ubud/metadata.json b/corpus/ubud/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5a0961f25e1c3780bbd3c0b6700cecfd38d7b2cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/ubud/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "ubud",
+ "title": "Ubud",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ubud",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "rafting",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "yoga",
+ "temples",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central Bali"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "star",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Candidasa",
+ "Klungkung",
+ "Bedugul",
+ "Tabanan",
+ "Lovina"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4783,
+ "listing_count": 169,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 21,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/uganda/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/uganda/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5d83971c391ef74e801125c65d4a878a209bb95b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uganda/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk000", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Uganda** was Nicknamed the \"**Pearl of Africa\"** by Winston Churchill. It is home to one of the most diverse and concentrated ranges of African fauna including the highly endangered mountain gorilla and the endangered common chimpanzee.\n\nUganda's accessibility and affordability make it an attractive destination for budget-conscious travelers. Although it may not have reached the same level of tourism development as more established destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, this actually works in Uganda's favor. The country's raw and authentic character offers a unique experience with less predictability, giving visitors a taste of the real Africa. \n\nFrom the bustling city of Kampala to the picturesque villages and subsistence farms, Uganda is a place of stark contrasts that can be both delightful and frustrating. The country is renowned for its rare wildlife, especially the critically endangered mountain gorilla (50% of the world's mountain gorillas are resident in Uganda), but there are other primate species, birdwatching opportunities, Murchison Falls, trekking in the Rwenzoris, and white water rafting at the River Nile's source that all contribute to the country's diverse attractions.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk001", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Regions", "text": "thumb|right|500px|Map of Uganda with regions colour-coded", "word_count": 6}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk002", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Cities and towns", "text": "— the country's bustling capital\n — a city in the West Nile region that features the Ajai wildlife reserve\n — famous for being the location of Uganda's only international airport, Entebbe is a prosperous city that contains a slew of government offices on the shores of Lake Victoria, including the State House, which is the official residence of the President of Uganda\n — on Lake Victoria at the source of the Nile, East of Kampala. A colonial-era industrial town and home to several tourist sites like Buwosoko Falls.\n — a clean and well-organised highland City surrounded by extensive tea plantations, a number of fine colonial buildings and a superb Rwenzori backdrop, also home to Tooro Kingdom's headquarters\n — the de facto capital of Northern Uganda.\n — a southwestern City en route several national parks in Western Uganda.\n — a town in the far south of the country near Lake Bunyonyi\n — in the extreme southwest corner of Uganda next to the borders with Rwanda and DR Congo, it is the closest large town to Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk003", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- fairly small reserve on the east bank of the Albert Nile\n - with half of the world's population of mountain gorillas, this is the main place to see them\n - a bit off the beaten track, this park is home to the beautiful Virunga Mountains as well as to its own gorilla troop and a range of other wildlife\n - located in the extreme NE corner of Uganda on the South Sudan border. Incredible wildlife here that comes right up to the Apoka Lodge. Elephant, zebra, nile buffalo, kob often visit the lodge.\n - along the river Nile, this excellent park offers great wildlife and bird watching and is home to the striking and powerful Murchison Falls.\nthumb|300px|Lions in a fig tree, Queen Elizabeth National Park\n has several parts to it, but the main section between Lake Edward and Lake George is a more concentrated version of East African parks as far as animals are concerned, although with less splendid vistas unless the mist-shrouded Ruwenzori Mountains are visible. The Ugandan Kob is an endemic antelope (and is on the coat of arms along with the crested crane, including on currency). Worth considering is a drive among volcanic crater lakes on the south edge of the Ruwenzori Range. Kazinga Channel has the greatest concentration of Hippos in Africa in this park and the park is home to the famous tree climbing lions.\n near the town of Fort Portal is famed for chimpanzee tracking and is highly recommended. Twitchers will know that some of the best birding in central Africa is here too. The Kasese Crater Lakes are in the area.\n is a mountain range in south-west Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is 120 km (75 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) wide with its highest peak at Mt Stanley (5109 m/16,761 ft). The range was first described in the 2nd century by ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy as the \"Mountains of the moon\", and first ascended in 1896 by Italian explorers. By the end of 2006, its ice cap has retreated from 6.4 km² (2.5 sq mi) a century ago, to less than 1.28 km² (0.5 sq mi). In the Rwenzori Mountains near Fort Portal you find Mitandi. The place represents a unique opportunity to explore the mountains and get to know the culture of the local Bakonzo mountain people.\n is a beautiful stretch of islands on Victoria Lake with isolated beaches and a bit of jungle. Jungle walks you could easily manage on your own, spending half a day.\n is probably one of the deepest lakes in Africa. Its twenty nine islands offer a variety of accommodation including backpackers and swimming is popular due to the small numbers of *bilharzia* parasites and absence of hippos and crocodiles. The lake is 25 km (15.5 mi) long and 7 km (4.3 mi) wide and lies at an altitude of 1,950 m (6,437 ft).\n*See also*: African National Parks", "word_count": 473}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk004", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Understand", "text": "upright=1.4|thumb|Fishermen at Port Belle on Lake Victoria\nThe term for whites (or other White foreigners) is **muzungu** (plural Bazungu), and visitors should get used to hearing it shouted out by children in every corner of the country. It is not a derogatory term as such (it means something on the lines of \"one who is searching\"), so smile and wave in reply - if you can, do this over and over again. Otherwise, ignore.\n\n### History\n\nEvidence of humans living in what is now Uganda stretches back to at least 50,000 years ago, and possibly up to 100,000 years ago, based on stone tools recovered in the area. These people were hunter-gatherers. Between 1,700 and 2,300 years ago, Bantu-speaking populations migrated from central and western Africa to the southern parts of Uganda. The Empire of Kitara in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was the earliest forms of formal political organization, which was followed by the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom, and in later centuries, Buganda and Ankole.\n\nArab traders moved inland from the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa in the 1830s and were the first to bring Islam to the country. They were followed in the 1860s by British explorers searching for the source of the Nile. Protestant missionaries entered Uganda in 1877 and were followed by Catholic missionaries in 1879. The United Kingdom placed the area under the charter of the British East Africa Company in 1888, and ruled it as a protectorate from 1894. As several other territories and chiefdoms were integrated, the final protectorate called Uganda took shape in 1914. From 1900 to 1920, a sleeping sickness epidemic killed more than 250,000 people.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk005", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Understand", "text": "Uganda achieved independence from Britain in 1962, with the first elections held on 1 March 1961. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party became the first Chief Minister. Uganda became a republic the following year, maintaining its Commonwealth membership. In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state vied with those in favour of a loose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political manoeuvring climaxed in February 1966, when Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the constitution and assumed all government powers, removing the positions of president and vice president. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms.\n\nOn 25 January 1971, Obote's government was ousted in a military coup led by the commander of the armed forces, Idi Amin Dada. Amin declared himself \"president\", dissolved the parliament, and amended the constitution to give himself absolute power. Idi Amin's eight-year rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations. The Acholi and Langi ethnic groups were particular targets of Amin's political persecution because they had supported Obote and made up a large part of the army. The ethnic Indian community, long resented for their perceived economic clout, were also targeted by Amin and expelled from Uganda in 1972. In 1978, the International Commission of Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been murdered during Amin's reign of terror; some authorities place the figure as high as 300,000.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk006", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Understand", "text": "In October 1978, Tanzanian armed forces repulsed an incursion of Amin's troops into Tanzanian territory. The Tanzanian army, backed by Ugandan exiles waged a war against Amin's troops and the Libyan soldiers sent to help him. On 11 April 1979, Kampala was captured, and Amin fled with his remaining forces. This led to the return of Obote, who was deposed once more in 1985 by General Tito Okello. Okello ruled for six months until he was deposed after the so-called \"bush war\" by the National Resistance Army (NRA) operating under the leadership of the current president, Yoweri Museveni, and various rebel groups, including the Federal Democratic Movement of Andrew Kayiira, and another belonging to John Nkwanga.\n\nYoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986. In the mid to late 1990s, he was lauded by the West as part of a new generation of African leaders.\n\n### Geography\n\nUganda is mostly plateau with a rim of mountains and rainforests in the west and savanna in the north. It lies on the southern edge of Lake Victoria and includes many islands.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|Lake Bunyonyi\nAlthough generally equatorial, Uganda's climate is not uniform as it varies by altitude, proximity to Lake Victoria and rainfall. Southern Uganda is wetter with rain generally spread throughout the year. At Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, most rain falls from the March to June and November to December period. Further to the north a dry season gradually emerges; at Gulu about 120 km from the South Sudanese border, November to February is much drier than the rest of the year.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk007", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Understand", "text": "Northeastern Uganda has the driest climate and is prone to droughts in some years. Rwenzori in the southwest on the border with DR Congo receives heavy rain all year round. The south of the country is heavily influenced by one of the world's biggest lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands. It prevents temperatures from varying significantly and increases cloudiness and rainfall.\n\n### People\n\nUganda is home to several ethnic groups including the **Baganda**, the largest ethnic group, who comprise just over 15% of the population. The country had a sizable community of 80,000 Indians before they were expelled by Idi Amin in 1972, though some have returned since Amin's overthrow.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nUganda website", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk008", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Uganda\n\n### Visa requirements\n\nUgandan visas are issued online at visas.immigration.go.ug or at embassies and High Commissions. The Uganda Visa Policy uses the principle of reciprocity: those who hold passports of countries that require visas for Ugandans must get visas to visit Uganda.\n\nThe only way to get a Ugandan visa is via **online E visa** which cost US$51 single entry. or US$101 for a multiple-entry East Africa visa.\n\n**E-Visa fees as of Jan 2023**:\n Single Entry good for 90 days US$51.\n Inland Transit US$51.\n *East Africa Multiple entry tourist visa* valid for 90 days US$101.\n\nBecause multiple-entry visas are expensive and must be obtained from Uganda's diplomatic missions abroad, tourists may want to consider the ''East Africa Tourist Visa'' first issued in 2014 that allows travel between Kenya, Rwanda'and Uganda with multiple entries in a 90-day period for US$101 and without \"restrictions on country of origin\". You buy this visa online (or when you get to Kenya or Rwanda if that is your first port). However, since some airlines may refuse to board you without the assurance of a visa, Rwanda has established an webpage on-line website to issue these, which means that some tourists may want to first land at Rwanda's capital airport of Kigali rather than Entebbe or Nairobi since this visa must be issued by the country that you first plan to visit (similar principle to *Schengen* visas in the EU).\n\nCountries exempted from visas:\nAngola, Antigua, Bahamas, Botswana, Barbados, Belize, Comoros, Cyprus, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Tonga, Vanuatu, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.\n\n### Visa extension", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk009", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can get a **free one-month visa extension** at immigration offices in Kampala, Fort Portal, Jinja and Mbarara.\nHowever, you can not get a visa extension on a 90-day East African tourist visa, but only on a 90-day single entry Uganda visa.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|[[Entebbe]] International Airport\n**Entebbe International Airport** is the hub for Ugandan air travel. Many flights to cities in Africa take place from here.\n\n**Uganda Airlines** flies directly from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Mogadishu, Juba, Bujumbura, Mombasa and Kilimanjaro.\n**South African Airways** has daily flights direct from Johannesburg.\n**Turkish Airlines** has daily flights from its Istanbul hub with onward connections to Europe and Asia.\n**Emirates** offers daily flights from Dubai on Boeing 777-200LR with onward connections to Europe, North America, and Asia.\n**Ethiopian Airlines** offers a daily service from Addis Ababa on Boeing 737s, with onward connections to many African countries, Europe and Asia.\n**Qatar airways** flies daily from Doha with connections from Europe and Asia.\n**KLM** fly daily from Amsterdam either via Nairobi or direct.\n**Kenya Airways** flies from Nairobi four times a day.\n**Brussels Airlines** flies from Brussels.\n**Egypt Air** flies from Cairo with connections from Europe.\n**Fly Dubai**, a low-cost airline. Flights from Dubai, with connections from many Asia countries.\n**RwandAir** flies from Kigali, Nairobi, Juba.\n**Fly-Sax airlines** flies from Nairobi.\n**Air Tanzania** flies from Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.\n**Precision Air** flies from Dar es Salaam.\n**Jambojet** flies from Nairobi.\n\n### By car\n\nIn theory, visitors with their own vehicles should be able to enter Uganda at any of the border crossings which lie on a main road, such as the roads from Kenya through Busia and Malaba. A *carnet du passage* is required for private vehicles, including motorcycles, while a single entry tourist visa should be easily obtained for US$100.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk010", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By international bus\n\nUganda is well served by a number of reputable international bus companies. Several bus companies offer direct routes from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kigali, Bujumbura, Goma, Bukavu Juba, Kisumu, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Harare to Kampala. All of these buses will, in theory, allow travellers to alight at main towns along the route, e.g. in Jinja if coming from the Kenyan border to Kampala. A typical journey between Kampala and Nairobi lasts approximately 12 hours, including the border crossing. the bus ride from Kampala to Kisumu takes 7 hours and costs USh 43,000 on Easy Coach.\n\n**Simba Coaches** goes all the way to Kampala from Harare Zimbabwe via Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Lusaka Zambia.\n**Easy Coach** has three buses a day to Kampala from Nairobi via Kisumu 06:30 and 14:00 and 18:00 USh 43,000/65,000.\n**Trinity Transporters** has buses to Kampala from Kigali for USh 40,000. Goma DRC for US$14. Bukavu DRC for US$17.\n**Jaguar Executive coaches** has two buses a day to Kampala from Kigali for USh 40,000.\n**Mash Poa bus company** has buses from Nairobi three times a day. Fares from USh 65,000 and a bus to Kigali USh 40,000\n**Modern Coast Express** have three buses a day from Nairobi via Kisumu USh 50,000/65,000, and Kigali USh 40,000.\n**Dreamline Express Ltd** have a bus at 05:30 to Kampala from Nairobi USh 65,000\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are ferries going to Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria. Uganda has some brilliant island resorts.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk011", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By boda-boda\n\nIn Kampala and some other towns, the *boda-boda* is a good way to get from place to place. These are small mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles or scooters with cushions on the back and are cheap transport as used by locals. If using a boda-boda, be extremely careful as they are frequently involved in accidents; however, in spite of this, they are a fun and fast way to get around. If you advise the driver that you want him to drive slower and safer, he may actually listen to you.\n\nMake sure you agree on the price before you get on the bike. They will try to charge more claiming it was further than thought. Some may get aggressive, say you will call the police and they will calm down. Always be polite and non aggressive.\n\nMake sure you tell them to drive slowly. Many foreigners and locals are injured and killed on Boda Bodas in Uganda.\n\n300px|thumb|Great Rift Valley\n\n### By bus\n\nUganda has a decent bus system. There are two classes of buses. The \"taxis\" (also called \"takisi\") are actually minibuses or commuter vans, which run fixed routes (see below).\n\nThere are also real buses which run less frequently, usually leaving Kampala early in the morning. There are many companies most of which leave from the same general area. For example, Postbus has safe, comfortable and reliable buses going to most towns in Uganda. They depart from Kampala General post office from 07:00/08:00. The buses fill up, so if you get on mid-trip, you'll be spending some time standing or sitting in the aisle before somebody gets off and you can get a seat.\n\nBoth buses and taxis run along most roads between cities, paved (sealed) or dirt.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk012", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get around", "text": "Domestic bus travel is cheap and reasonable between major centres, and is a good choice for backpackers with time, but may not run reliably on schedule. A trip from Kampala to Masindi takes about 4 hours and costs approximately USh 12,000.\n\nBuses and \"taxis\" do not run on fixed schedules. Rather, they leave their terminal stop when they are completely full. On heavily travelled routes, they fill up within minutes and this is not a problem. However, on less travelled routes (or if getting on a large bus), be prepared to wait a while before departure.\n\n**Link Bus Services** have buses going to and from Kampala to Fort Portal, Kasese, Hoima, Masindi, Masaka.\n**Post bus Uganda** has big red 67 seat buses going to 1. Gulu, 2. Kabale via Masaka and Mbarara. 3. kisoro via Masaka and Mbarara and Kabale. 4. Lira via Jinja and Mbale. 5. Kitgum via Gula. the fare from Kampala to Kabale is USh 25.000. Masaka 10,000. Mbarara 15,000. Kisoro 30,000. Lira 30,000. Mbale 15,000. Jinja 5,000. Gula 25,000. Kitgum 30,000. (Nov 2015)\nModern Coast\n\n### By taxi\n\nThe best way to get around Kampala and the neighbouring towns is by using minibus-type taxis called \"taxi\". This is the most efficient and cost-effective method of transportation in urban areas, but try not to get ripped off by the conductors as they sometimes try to overcharge tourists. They usually take 14 passengers plus a conductor, though in smaller country towns overcrowding still occurs. Minibus taxis are relatively cheap, frequent (in Kampala), and may make lots of stops along the way.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk013", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get around", "text": "They run along fixed routes, picking up and dropping off people anywhere along the route. If you want to get on, stand at the side of the road and wave your arm. To get off, say \"stage\" and the driver will pull over and let you off at the next boda boda waiting area. You can also just say \"Driver, please pull over at X\". They're not marked with destinations unless you are at the central taxi parks, so you'll have to listen to the destinations that the drivers are yelling out the window. If you're not sure where to catch a taxi going to your destination (especially at Kampala's two taxi parks, which are huge!), just ask a nearby driver or conductor, and they'll probably be able to point you in the right direction.\n\nPrivate taxis - those which you can hire for yourself only, are called *special hire taxis*, and are available in most every decent sized town. Fares are negotiable over long distances as there are no meters.\n\n**Little** ride hailing app works in Uganda.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk014", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|\"Banana bike\" in Uganda\nThe roads in Uganda are comparable to many in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the main roads are tarmaced, although the condition of them can deteriorate in patches. Some become extremely pot holed. Many of the minor roads and side roads are made of hard packed earth (murram) and, when graded, are quite quick and reasonable. However, the conditions can vary from season to season and they will deteriorate in heavy rains and wash boarding frequently occurs. The best way to deal with the wash boarding is not to slow down, but to find a speed sympathetic to the road surface and effectively skip from ridge to ridge. Untarred roads, if wet, may be impassable in the mountainous regions of the south-west. Commercial drivers of buses and trucks compound the danger, as do pedestrians, livestock, cyclists, dogs and the odd police roadblock. Plan on 60 km/h as a typical rate of travel, although the speed will vary. The best advice is drive cautiously and stay totally alert.\n\nWhen planning a journey, it is best not to ask how far it is but to ask how long it will take. Local drivers normally have a good idea of how long journeys will take.", "word_count": 204}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk015", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Get around", "text": "As going around with public transport may not suit the safari-going tourist, as it is hard to reach the national parks, opting to hire a car can be a budget friendly alternative. A sensible choice is to hire a 4x4 with a driver given that you will need local language assistance and expertise should something happen on the roads. Most places have accommodation and meals for drivers as this is common among travelers. A cheap option is likely to leave you stranded somewhere remote and that can mean days of your itinerary lost. Unless you are comfortable paying cash in advance without a signed contract and no network to help you get out of a breakdown, the best recommendation is to go to one of the major agencies. Nevertheless, Uganda is a country which is suitable for self-drive, taking the above described conditions into consideration, as it is safe,\n\nThere are several companies in Kampala that offer car hire, with and without a driver.\n\n### By train\n\nAs of late 2021, limited rail services are available in and around the capital Kampala, mainly aimed at commuters. National operator '''Uganda Railways Corporation''' has stated that some intercity passenger trains will return in 2023-2024 but it is unclear which routes are affected. Kampala to Malaba (Kenya border) via Jinja and Tororo.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk016", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Talk", "text": "English is widely spoken as the *lingua franca*, though to varying degrees of fluency. British English is used by the most educated, but Ugandan English often takes on a life of its own. Dozens of African languages are spoken in Uganda, the most common being Luganda, which is almost universally understood in Kampala. Swahili may come in handy in places, especially the North and East. Although many Ugandans do not speak Swahili at all, it is a common trade language that has become another *lingua franca* in the East African region.\n\nA few words or stock phrases in the various dialects are very easy to learn and most locals will be delighted to help you learn the highly ritualised greeting, and, in turn, every person that you greet in this way will be delighted to meet you.\n\n oli otya (olio-tia) = How are you?\n bulungi/gyendi (bulunji/jiendi) = I am fine\n kale (kal-eh) = ok\n nyabo = madam; ssebo = sir\n muzungu = European (but used more commonly to refer to all foreign and, especially, all white people)\n\nYou will hear lots of ecstatic children waving, jumping, hopping and singing \"mzungu\" as you drive past.", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk017", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Tree climbing lions can be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park\nthumb|Murchison Falls\n\nUganda does not lack for accessible travel highlights. Dubbed by Winston Churchill as the **Pearl of Africa**, Uganda is celebrated for its beautiful nature and its hospitable people. Still one of the poorest countries in the world, and still recovering from some very dark years, Uganda is nowadays an accessible country to visit and experience sub-Saharan Africa in its full capacity. Tourism is growing, yet still authentic, and Uganda does not lack in tourist facilities. Though, it is not the place to go for great architecture or an abundance of urban sights, instead, its riches lie in its amazing variety of wildlife, landscapes and culture. With half of the remaining **mountain gorillas** and all of the **Big Five** living in the countries stunning national parks, **wildlife watching** is by far the main attraction.\n\nWith wide, dry savannah in the north, thick rainforest in the centre and lush, snow-peaked mountain landscapes in the east, natural beauty comes in many ways here. Unesco listed **Rwenzori Mountains National Park** is home to the tallest mountain range of the continent, covered in thick jungle on the lower slopes and frozen moorlands on higher ones. Several of its highest peaks are covered year round in snow and glaciers. The highest mountain is **Mt. Stanley**, third highest in Africa. Head to the gorgeous **Lake Bunyonyi** and rise early to see the morning fog draw out. Watch fishermen at work from the shores of the **Victoria Lake**, the largest lake in Africa; the white beaches of Kalangala make for an excellent spot. Also on Lake Victoria are the **Ssese Islands**, great for some beach time.\n\n**Bwindi Impenetrable National Park**, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a unique safari spot in the world. The Bwindi population of 340 wild mountain gorillas, half of the total remaining number of this critically endangered primate, is a major draw. The park is home to a total of 10 primate species and some 110 other mammal species (including African elephants), over 350 bird species and some 200 butterflies, and 220 tree species, the dense forests here are one of the most divers ecosystems in Africa. The most accessible and therefore also most popular safari spot is **Queen Elizabeth National Park**, with dozens of large animals commonly seen. Of particular interest is the population of **tree climbing lions** living here, lion behaviour seen only here and in Tanzania. Your best chance of seeing the wide variety of wildlife in this area comes with an early morning visit to the plains around the **Kazinga channel**, which attracts animals of all kinds year round.\n\nUganda's diversity of **bird life** is spectacular. While good birding options can be found in most of the national parks, **Kibale Forest National Park** is an especially good pick and also famous for its chimpanzee tracking. Impressive **waterfalls** can be found in **Murchison Falls National Park**\n\nUganda's urban life has a limited number of attractions to offer, but the twin cities of Kampala and Entebbe do make for an interesting stop. Just some 35 km apart, these two towns are remarkably different in character. The only true city in Uganda, Kampala is safer and less chaotic than most of its African counterparts, and the **Kasubi Tombs** (while damaged) and **National Museum** are worthwhile sights. Much smaller and prettier is the former capital, Entebbe. Its lovely location on the shores of Lake Victoria and the lush **National Botanical Gardens** make this a pleasant place to stay if you're flying in or out.", "word_count": 596}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk018", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Mountain gorilla in Bwindi\n Go gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You'll need to buy a permit which must be booked a long time ahead due to limited availability (only a few tourists are taken near the gorillas a day, in order not to disturb them). With a permit you are allowed one hour at very close hand to a group of the highly endangered mountain gorilla in their natural habitat. Uganda Wildlife Authority handles the sale of permits which cost US$700 each (Sep 2023), or you can book via a tour operator who will organise the permits and other aspects of your gorilla safari for you. Tracking takes place from four different start points, to up to 11 different habituated gorilla families, so it's important to check the permit availability against your transport and accommodation plans.\nRafting on the Nile. Uganda is a world class rafting destination and several companies arrange trips down the Nile - from half a day to 2-day trips, from peaceful family trips to very adventurous grade 5 rafting. A rafting adventure with transport from Kampala, including food & drink, will cost about US$125.\nQuad biking. Near the Spring of the Nile you can rent quad bikes (a 4-wheeled motorbike - also known as All Terrain Bike) for a speedy (and dusty) sightseeing trip with a local guide.\nDo horse riding safari around the Nile and local villages.\n Go on a safari. For reputable tour operators to suit a variety of budgets, check out the Association of Uganda Tour Operators.\n Go to Sipi, about 1 hour from Mbale. It's a beautiful little town on top of a hill, sporting fantastic views on and hikes to waterfalls. It is worth paying for a local guide - many members of the local community support their family this way and it is worth the fee just to stop everyone tailing you, trying to offer their own guiding services, if you set off without one. Great place to stay over night in Sipi is the Crow's nest with amazing views onto the waterfalls. Crows nest is alright but do not expect hotel quality service, and because of their slow service and bad food bringing our own food is recommended.", "word_count": 371}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk019", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Learn", "text": "Makerere University in Kampala is a world class institution.", "word_count": 9}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk020", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe national currency is the **Ugandan shilling**, sometimes written as \"**USh**\" or \"**Shs**\" (ISO code: **UGX**). You'll also see this notation: 5,000/-. There are banknotes in denominations of USh1000-, 2000-, 5000-, 10,000-, 20,000 and 50,000 and coins in denominations of USh50-, 100-, 200 and 500 (10, 5, and 1-, 5 and 10 shillings coins but are rarely used). *Do not accept banknotes from the 1987 series of notes*: they are not valid, and you cannot exchange them at banks.\n\nSome bigger hotels and restaurants accept US dollars as payment, and safaris and rafting activities are often priced in USD. These activities can be paid in Ugandan shillings, but a poor exchange rate is often offered. Also, there is often an extra fee (typically around 5%) on the use of credit cards. This means that it can be useful to bring USD to cover these activities. The obvious trade-off is that you must carry a large amount of USD.\n\n### ATMs\n\nATMs accept debit and credit cards throughout the country. Mastercard and Visa card branded cards are accepted by most ATMs. DTB, Stanbic, Ecobank, Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, GT Bank, UBA, I&M Bank ATMs are the best ones to use. Different ATMs allow for different maximum withdrawals of USh 400,000-2,000,000, though the usual amount is USh 1000,000. There are many ATMs at Entebbe Airport; given that it is impossible to buy Ugandan shillings outside of Uganda and in countries bordering Uganda, withdrawing shillings from the airport ATMs is the easiest option. ATM withdraw fees are from 3400-12100 per use.\n\n **DTB** have no withdraw fees at all at their ATMs in Uganda for overseas Mastercards or visa cards cards.\n\nATMs may close due to lack of money or system problems. In Kampala, watch out for pickpockets who follow tourists from one bank's ATM to another when cards are not accepted.\n\nCredit cards are accepted at businesses, usually the larger hotels, airlines, supermarkets and shops in big shopping malls.\n\nAmerican Express, Union Pay, JCB, Diners Club, Maestro, and Discover cards can be used to get cash at any Equity Bank ATMs of which there are many all over Uganda.\n\nTravellers cheques are no longer accepted in Uganda. \n\n### Costs\n\nFood and goods are cheap. On a shoestring you can get by on Ush75,000 a day, excluding park visits and other expensive activities.\n\nMake sure you bargain for everything you buy around town except in the bigger stores and malls. Never pay face value when buying from the local vendors. Hotels can be costly, so if you are a student it would be a good idea to look for a hostel in Kampala.\n\nMost people have to buy a visa when they arrive at the airport; in July 2016 this cost US$50 (single-entry 3-month). Bills must be newer than 2003. Most people get the 90-day East African visa for US$100 which is valid for Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda.\n\nTipping is not part of Ugandan culture and not expected, but that doesn't mean it will not be appreciated.", "word_count": 503}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk021", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Traditional meal consisting of Sima/ Ugali (cooked white mealie meal) with Chapati (thin rounded roti), Matoke (mashed green bananas), sugar beans, mboga (green vegetables) and goat meat steamed in and served in a bowl wrapped around green banana leaves.\nSample the luwombo, which is meat or groundnut sauce steamed in banana leaves. It has a tantalising aroma, and is always served with \"food\", which in Ugandan parlance indicates any carbohydrate. The staple \"food\" varies from region to region, with the plantain matooke in the south, millet in the north, and potatoes in the west. Cassava, posho (made from ground maize), sweet potatoes and rice are other common \"foods\". The whole fried fish is succulent, though mostly available at the beach, and usually served with chips/French fries. \n\nOther common options around Kampala include the traditional matooke, binyebwa (groundnut sauce), chapati, and meat stew. For the less adventurous, toasted sandwiches or omelets can be found in many places. If this does not appeal, it is best (and far more interesting) to stop at roadside stands or markets to purchase fresh produce—fruits and vegetables abound and are very affordable, to say nothing of the roasted chicken or goat on a stick. There are also a number of fast-food places, such as Nando’s, Steers, Domino’s Pizza, and Hungry Lion, all in the city centre. The Ugandan Rolex is popular all over the country, made with a combination of an egg, onions and vegetables omelette rolled up in a chapati.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk022", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Coffee** is one of the best products from Uganda, but the British hooked the locals on tea, so finding a decent cup of native coffee is nearly impossible, especially outside of Kampala. In Kampala, try the coffee house **1000 Cups** on Buganda Road. The **Source Cafe** in Jinja sells Ugandan coffee at the airport, Banana Boat stores, and many hotels. The coffee is marketed under the name Kiira Kawa (River Coffee). Good African Coffee and Cafe Pap are good restaurants for food or coffee in the Kampala area. In Jinja, the **Source Cafe** has incredible cappuccino, or when you are in the west at Hotel Mountains of the Moon in Fort Portal\n\n**Chai tea** is available widely, and is best in the rural areas near the tea plantations. You will see signs posted on shops and kiosks where it can be purchased.\n\nLower-end **South African wine** is available in some restaurants, but stick with the **beer**. Any of the four major brands are acceptable, though the Pilsner brand is the only one made without added corn sugar for those who care about such things.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk023", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|250px|Forest in the Ruwenzori mountains\nThere are many hotels in Uganda. If you go on the higher end you will pay high prices, over US$100 per night. Standard traveller Guest houses, Lodges and Inns will have simple rooms with shared bathrooms for USh 15,000-30,000.\n\nFor the real budget traveler there are various **backpackers' hostels** in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Masaka, Fort Portal, Kabale to choose from and to base yourself at, including Kampala Backpackers, Entebbe backpackers, Masaka backpackers, Yes hostel Fort portal, Jinja backpackers, Kabale backpackers. Some are better than others, and may suit different preferences, so it's best to explore the reviews on Trip Advisor to assess what would be best for you. A stay in one of these will cost USh 9,000-18,000 a night, depending on whether you camp or stay in a dorm. They also offer private rooms or safari tents, and some have self-catering cottages which are great for long stay/groups. These are most frequently used by Truck tours which are popular with the less independent traveler.\n\nThere are also Bed & Breakfast establishments to make you have a homely feel at the lowest rates.\n\n### National parks\n\nThe options provided in the national parks by UWA are generally basic, but inexpensive compared to alternatives. They vary in amenities and price, and the cheapest can be as little as US$5 or less per person per night.\n\nFew moderately priced options are available, and the high end, while expensive, are substandard compared to the high end options of Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and other mature tourist destinations in Africa. Unfortunately, few alternatives are available. There are some notable exceptions, but best to go either highest end or stay in the UWA budget accommodations and spend more on a better vehicle.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk024", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Uganda has been home to some of the more gruesome atrocities in modern African history since its independence in 1962, particularly under the heinous dictator Idi Amin, but in the years since 1987 things have consistently improved. Today, Uganda is stable after 30 years of stereotypically 'strong man' rule by Yoweri Museveni. Kampala has changed into a major centre of East African trade.\n\nIn the 2010s, female tourists have been victims of attacks and sexual assaults, and are advised never to walk alone at night.\n\nTravel north to Murchison Falls National Park and Ajai Game Reserve is safe. Overlanders from Tanzania and Kenya regularly make the trip routing through Jinja.\n\nthumb|Central Kampala\n\nAs in any urban area, Kampala can be dodgy. One is well advised to remain in tourist areas, but sensibly garbed visitors not dangling the latest cameras, flashy jewellery or bulging bags are not likely to draw unwanted attention to themselves. Some jihadist groups have threatened the country due to its counter-jihad activities in Amisom (the UN force in Somalia).\n\nHowever, any non-blacks walking in the street stand out and are likely to be stared at openly, which may cause discomfort to those unaccustomed to travelling in Africa. Individuals of East Asian appearance will be assumed to be Chinese, and often will be subjected to \"ni hao\" or imitations of Chinese languages (e.g. \"Ching chong\"). While potentially offensive to Asians raised in Western countries, it is not necessarily intended to be rude and is almost never a sign of anti-Asian hostility.\n\nWhat little begging exists is some of the most polite and inoffensive you will find in African cities, and not worse than anywhere in the West. Small children are sadly becoming a nuisance in some rural spots frequented by tourists doling out sweets and coins but it is nowhere near the swarming throng one can attract in many cities around the world.\n\nSince an incident in the late 1990s in the gorilla tracking region of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all groups are accompanied with armed guards. There is a visible security presence in the region.\n\nSome jihadists have engaged in retaliatory activities in protest at the counter-jihad policies of Museveni.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nUganda is among the most dangerous destinations for gay and lesbian travellers. In 2023, the Uganda government passed homophobic laws which punishes same-sex sexual activity with life imprisonment or even death, promoting homosexuality with 20 years of imprisonment, and failing to report suspected homosexuals with six months of imprisonment.\n\nMost Ugandan civilians view homosexuality and transgender identity with **absolute abhorrence** and consider being LGBT immoral.\n\n### Emergency contact numbers\n\nUganda has national emergency contact numbers, but don't expect to get a response.\n\n Ambulance: 911\n Police/Fire: 112 or 999. The Uganda Police Force has a longer list of numbers, including regional and local offices.\n\nBesides the national numbers, you can also try calling local police or medical services, but this is not guaranteed to be any more effective, especially during off hours.", "word_count": 509}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk025", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "The healthcare system is incredibly underdeveloped and is well below western standards. \n\nThe **HIV/AIDS** infection rate is very high (although it is lower than in neighbouring countries). *Do not have unprotected sex.*\n\n**Ebola** and **Marburg** haemorrhagic fevers have been endemic within certain regions of the country. The vectors of these viruses are unknown, but have been thought to be linked with bats. Therefore, visitors should avoid (or be extremely cautious when) entering any caves. If you are bitten by an animal, assume that the animal was infected by a disease and seek prompt medical attention.\n\nTake precautions against **malaria**. Malarial mosquitoes are present throughout most lower lying areas of the country. It is worth seeking out a packet of Artenam while you are in Kampala if you are travelling up-country. Artenam is a reliable treatment and works on chloroquine-resistent malaria strains too.\n\nDiarrhoea and intestinal worms are also a concern and visitors should be careful what they eat or drink. Carry hand sanitizer to use before meals. Be sure to wash fresh produce well before eating and avoid raw foods in restaurants. As a precaution, visitors should secure ciprofloxacin before they exit their home country because it can be used as a cure.\n\nMany of the lakes have **Schistosomiasis**. Check with the locals and do not paddle on the lake shore if you're not sure.\n\nDrink **bottled water**, usually called **mineral water** in local restaurants. Water flowing from taps is not treated.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk026", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Mosque in [[Jinja]]\n\nUganda has a fairly conservative Christian/Muslim-based society. It is generally not considered acceptable for women to wear skimpy clothing or to overtly display their sexuality. The only exception is in certain night life situations in Kampala. Most Ugandans go to church/mosque regularly and consider religion an important part of a moral society. \n\nNever criticise religion or speak about religion from a secular or agnostic point of view, as it might result in puzzled, confused stares or looks.\n\nYou will not be taken seriously if you wear shorts outside the obvious tourist destinations and most Ugandan adults would never wear shorts except if playing sport. Use a pair of light trousers to blend in better. Most women wear skirts in rural areas, but trousers are acceptable in cities and larger towns.\n\nIn central Kampala, women can dress pretty much like in any big western city. Women dressing smartly in tight sleeveless tops, tight jeans, or dresses or skirts that do not cover the knees is a very common sight there. As a foreigner you do not need to avoid dressing up, although for safety reasons it is wise to avoid wearing expensive jewellery or similar accessories.\n\nA handshake is the most common form of greeting. If your hands are wet or dirty you may offer your wrist instead of your hand.\n\nDon't be surprised if you see two men holding hands. This is not a sign of homosexuality, which is forbidden by law, but rather of friendship.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "uganda::chunk027", "doc_id": "uganda", "section": "Connect", "text": "**Mobile phone** network coverage is available in most parts of the country (over 80%), but geography can cause trouble in the mountainous regions. SIM cards are cheaply available everywhere in 'starter packs' but need to be registered before use.\n\n**Internet cafes** can be readily found in Kampala and Jinja and In all towns with more than about 20,000 people you'll find internet cafes running off of either VSATs or mobile phones. The Internet connection bandwidth is very low and can be frustrating for those who are used to a high speed internet connection.\n\n**Mobile broadband** (4G, 3G, HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA+ [21mbps]) is available in most places. **Africell and Airtel** has mobile broadband available in larger places. In the more rural areas, a slower (EDGE) connection might be available. If a mobile broadband connection is desirable on a computer, a good option could be to bring a phone that can set up a Wi-Fi network providing internet access, or one that allows USB tethering. USB broadband modems are also available. but might be more expensive but also need to be registered before use.\n\nOther networks include **MTN**, **UTL Uganda Telecom** and **Vodafone Uganda**.\n\nAs of 2021, the registration process for new SIM cards is rather arduous: besides digital copies of your passport, a photo of you holding the SIM card is taken, and even your fingerprint is taken electronically!\n\nSome examples of price for mobile broadband on a phone through:\n**Africell** can get a (free sim card) for there mobile broadband. 1GB cost USh 34,500 good for one month, and 3GB cost USh 59,500 good for one month. Africell Unlimited Internet for one month is USh 299,000.\n**Airtel**: in 2021 a SIM card costs about USh 2000. Add another USh 16,000 for 4.5GB of data (no expiry date).", "word_count": 294}
diff --git a/corpus/uganda/metadata.json b/corpus/uganda/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c378c02d468cb94bd87bb352d9d62d500b6f65c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uganda/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "uganda",
+ "title": "Uganda",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Uganda",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 7406,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 19,
+ "chunk_count": 28,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/uruguay/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/uruguay/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..01d910f25cb851f5e4eb1b83a48b2683e3dfff32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uruguay/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk000", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Uruguay** is the second-smallest country in South America, wedged between two of the world's largest countries ― Argentina and Brazil. \n\nKnown for its colonial-era historic districts in Colonia and Montevideo, amazing beaches on the Atlantic Coast, its socially progressive society, and beef production, Uruguay is a true gem among South American nations, as it boasts a level of stability that few countries on the continent can match.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk001", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Regions", "text": "Uruguay is divided into 19 departments, which can be very roughly grouped into the following four general regions. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is its own department. Each of the other departments has a capital city, which sometimes has the same name as the department. This can occasionally lead to confusion—if someone says they're going to (for instance) Tacuarembó, you might have to ask whether they mean Tacuarembó the city or Tacuarembó the department. There's another bit of terminology that may be confusing to outsiders: Uruguayans use the word \"interior\" to refer to the whole country except Montevideo, not just the inland area.", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk002", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Cities", "text": "– Uruguay's capital and largest city. A third of the country's population lives here and it is replete with stunning architecture, as well as beaches, museums, and festivals. \n – a super-popular beach resort town known as the \"Monaco of the South\". \n (Colonia del Sacramento) - a well preserved old colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site\n – a beach resort, a bit more laid back than Punta del Este\n – a hilly city in the north, right on the border with Brazil\n – another summer beach town\n – across the river from Argentina, with hot springs, riverside beaches, and more\n – located on the border with Argentina and known for its hot springs and historic buildings", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk003", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "National parks protect the country's natural resources and sometimes historical or cultural sites, such as old forts or indigenous settlements\nBeaches on the **Atlantic Coast** – in addition to the major beach towns mentioned above, there are some quieter spots worth a visit:\n \n \n \n , including the colonial fortress *Fortaleza de Santa Teresa*\n – \"Ravens' Gorge\", a protected landscape of rolling hills and a deep gorge\n Remains of precolumbian settlements in **Flores Department**\n **Sierra de las Ánimas** – a mountain range including one of Uruguay's highest peaks\n **Cerro Pan de Azúcar** – the third highest peak in Uruguay, topped with a large cross, near Piriapolis\n\n### Itineraries\n\n **Along the coast of Uruguay** – a tour of Uruguay's coast, including the most popular tourist destinations and beaches galore\n **La Redota** – retracing the 1811–12 journey of national hero José Artigas", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk004", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Understand", "text": "Uruguay is formally known as the **Oriental Republic of Uruguay** (*República Oriental del Uruguay*).\n\nThe name Uruguay means *river of the colorful birds*. It is related to the name Guyana: Arawak Guayana, land of many waters.\n\nOften called the Switzerland of South America not for geographical features, but for a stable democracy and social benefits such as free education. In 2002, Uruguay faced one of its biggest economic crises which had very negative effects on safety due to the rise in crime, and although the activity levels in 2008 were at pre-crisis levels, crime is still relatively high, but still low for the region. Long a desired country for immigration, Uruguay has been suffering from high levels of emigration for almost four decades, mainly of highly trained workers and people with high level studies (brain drain) seeking better opportunities abroad.\n\nUruguay has a rich agricultural and civic history. It has more than three times as many cattle as people (the highest ratio of any country in the world by far). The dominant pre-20th century live stock driving techniques are still utilized in some areas, and are less visited tourist attractions than the pleasant beaches and city centers. The country has a mostly low-lying landscape. Cerro Catedral, the country's highest point, is high.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk005", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|Leaves falling in May, Colonia\nUruguay is the only South American country located entirely in the temperate zone. The country is flat grassland and all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts and forceful winds as there are no high mountains that could act as shields. As Uruguay is located south of the Equator (approximately at the same latitude as Johannesburg and Sydney), summer and winter are reversed compared to the Northern Hemisphere. In the winter temperatures under freezing are rare but not unheard of.\n\n### People\n\nUruguay, like many countries in the Western Hemisphere, is a melting pot of cultures. Most Uruguayans are descendants of Spanish and Italian immigrants who migrated to the country centuries ago.\n\nUruguay has one of the largest Italian communities in the world ― it is believed that 44% of the population are of full or partial Italian descent.\n\n### History\n\nthumbnail|Inside the Artigas mausoleum in Montevideo\nthumbnail|Calle de los Suspiros in the old town of Colonia del Sacramento\nUruguay was discovered by Spanish Adelantados in the late 16th century, and was part of the United Provinces of the River Plate until 1811. (Although *plata* literally means \"silver\" in Spanish, \"plate\" is the traditional and correct translation as it was used as a synonym for precious metals up until the 19th century.) Originally, Uruguay was simply known as the Banda Oriental, or Eastern Band, of colonies along the eastern edge of the Uruguay and Plate Rivers.\n\nWhen Buenos Aires expelled the last Viceroy, Baltasar Cisneros, the capital moved to Montevideo. The rebel navy sailed from Buenos Aires in an attempt to overcome the Spanish troops in that city, aided by the local rebel troops.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk006", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Understand", "text": "When Montevideo was finally freed from Spain, Uruguay intended to secede from Buenos Aires, only to be invaded by the Brazilian Empire, which started the Argentine-Brazilian war in 1813. After a variety of confusing twists, the war ultimately ended in a stalemate. With the assistance of mediation by the British government, both warring countries agreed to end their territorial claims on the Banda Oriental in 1828, thus giving birth to the new Eastern Republic of Uruguay. A constitution was subsequently drafted and adopted in 1830. British assistance in the creation of Uruguay led to a long history of British influence (including the habit of driving on the left), which ended only with World War II.\n\nThe Argentinian Civil War which ravaged that country during the 19th century was not a stranger to Uruguay, which soon gave birth to two opposing parties, the Whites (liberals) and the Reds (traditionalists) that eventually also led to a Uruguayan Civil War that went on in various hot and cold phases until the beginnings of the twentieth century. The story goes that the parties' colors originally came from armbands allegedly torn from the Uruguayan flag, but the conservatives switched to red armbands when they realized that red faded less quickly in the sun than blue.\n\nHowever, the simmering tension between the left and right wings of Uruguayan politics persisted. From 1954 to 1967, Uruguay tried an unusual solution borrowed from Switzerland: a collegiate Executive Office in which a different member was designated President every year. In this way, Uruguay became the \"Latin American Switzerland\" for a while, acting as model of democracy and banking liberties until a military coup ended all this.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk007", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Understand", "text": "A Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president Juan María Bordaberry to \"agree\" to military control of his administration in 1973. (They returned the favor by firing him from his job in 1976 and appointing the first of several puppet presidents.) By the end of 1974 the rebels had been brutally crushed (and Tupamaro leader and future president Jose Mujica was imprisoned at the bottom of a well), but the military continued to expand its hold over the government, by engaging in widespread torture and disappearances of alleged insurgents and anyone unfortunate enough to be perceived as opponents of the regime. Civilian and democratic rule was not restored until 1985.\n\nIn 1986, major economies of the world gathered in Punta del Este, Uruguay to negotiate a trade agreement, commonly known as the Uruguay Round. After 7.5 years, negotiations concluded in Marrakesh, Morocco in 1994 where the World Trade Organization was established.\n\nToday, Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the most free on the continent. It ranks 18th in the Democracy Index. In 2004, a center-left to left-wing coalition (the *Frente Amplio* or Broad Front) which included the Tupamaros won elections which left them in control of both houses of congress, the presidency, and most city and regional governments. In 2009, former guerrilla leader Mujica was elected president.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk008", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Understand", "text": "Culturally the country is closest to its neighbors Argentina and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, with which it shares its traditional elements of *gaucho* (South American cowboy) culture. In Montevideo and on the coast the *gaucho* is more of a national symbol than a part of daily life, but in the north (cities like Rivera and Bella Unión) you'll see modern-day gauchos going about their lives, riding horses in traditional clothing.\n\nUruguay also has Lusitanian influences, like the large Rio-like carnivals in the first months of the year in many cities, the historical old town of Colonia — a 17th-century Portuguese outpost and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as *portuñol*, a mix of Spanish and Portuguese spoken near the Brazilian border. Amerindian traits can be found in Uruguayan culture, from cuisine to vocabulary, but there is no Amerindian population left. Finally the Uruguayans share the passion for association football/soccer with Argentina and Brazil and the very first FIFA World Cup was actually held in Montevideo in 1930 — won by the host nation.\n\n### Holidays\n\n**January 1** - New Year's Day\n **January 6** - Wise Men's Day\n **Carnival** (moveable)\n **Holy Week** (officially Tourism Week; moveable)\n **April 19** - Landing of the 33 Patriots Day\n **May 18** - Battle of Las Piedras\n **June 19** - Birthday of José Gervasio Artigas\n **July 18** - Constitution Day\n **August 25** - Independence Day\n **December 25** - Christmas (officially Family Day)\n\n### Visitor information\n\nTourism website", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk009", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Uruguay: countries in blue have visa-free access with a passport, and countries in yellow have visa-free access with a passport or ID card.\n\n### Visa requirements\n\nCitizens of Mercosur member states ― Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru ― enjoy freedom of movement in Uruguay. They can just enter with their National ID card.\n\nCitizens of the following countries can enter without a **visa**:\n\n**Up to 90 days**: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.\n\n**Up to 30 days**: Malaysia and Mongolia.\n\nIf you're not a citizen of any of the countries listed above, you must apply for a visa at a Uruguayan embassy.\n\nIf you want to stay longer than 90 days as a tourist, you'll need to either leave the country and re-enter with a fresh stamp for another 90 days (Buenos Aires and Chuí are popular and convenient options for these \"visa runs\"; see below for others), or bring your passport to the appropriate government office to get an extension.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk010", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get in", "text": "Travellers from other countries should contact the local consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But usually Uruguay has its borders open to tourists and visitors from all countries and it is quite easy to get in or out.\n\n#### Visa application requirements\n\nIf you need a visa to visit Uruguay, you're normally required submit the following documents:\n\nA completed visa application form\n A copy of your passport (must have a validity of more than six months) \n A passport-sized photograph\n A letter of invitation from your host in Uruguay (a hotel reservation will suffice)\n Round-trip tickets to Uruguay\n\nNote:\n Some embassies may require you to submit a health certificate\n Some embassies may require you to submit a bank statement\n\n**Incomplete visa applications will be denied**, so get everything you need.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumbnail|Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo\nThe country's largest airport and primary hub is , east of Montevideo. Carrasco is a relatively small airport and most travelers outside Latin America will have to connect at least once or twice to get there.\n\nFrom Carrasco there are flights to several destinations in Argentina and Brazil, Buenos Aires and São Paulo having direct connections to many major airports on other continents. Other Latin American destinations include Santiago, Asunción, Santa Cruz, Lima and Panama. Moreover there are flights to Miami, Madrid and Paris.\n\nOther airports in the country exist, but they have just a one or two flights to Montevideo or Buenos Aires a week — given the short distances and affordable and frequent bus transportation these airports are of marginal use for most travelers. If you are heading to western Uruguay, consider flying into Buenos Aires and continuing by bus or ferry.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk011", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some airlines demand a return or onward travel ticket when checking in for a flight into Uruguay, like AirEuropa and American Airlines. Inquire with your airline whether this is needed or hold something ready. However, a convincing fake copy might do, since airport staff will not really be able to verify any such proof.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are no international train lines to Uruguay.\n\n### By car\n\nThe main border crossings from Argentina and Brazil are (from south to north):\n\nfrom **Argentina**: Fray Bentos/Gualeguaychú, Paysandú/Colón, Salto/Concordia\n from **Brazil**: Chuy/Chuí, Río Branco/Jaguarão, Aceguá/Aceguá, Rivera/Santana do Livramento, Artigas/Quaraí, Bella Unión/Barra do Quaraí\n\nSome ferries between Buenos Aires and Colonia also carry vehicles. However, taking the land border crossing can be convenient for a more complete route including Salto, Paysandú and Carmelo and the cities on the Argentinian side on your trip between Argentina and Uruguay.\n\n### By bus\n\nTerminal Tres Cruces is Montevideo's main hub. Travel by bus is very safe. International services are available to Montevideo from Porto Alegre and Florianópolis (Brazil), most of the Argentinian provinces (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, Entre Rios), Asunción (Paraguay) and Santiago. There are also buses to Punta del Este from Porto Alegre and Florianópolis. The service is catered and buses have an outstanding level of service, much better than the average European service.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk012", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get in", "text": "Coming from Brazil, it is also possible to take a bus to a border town (Chuí and Santana do Livramento are the most popular), walk across the border, and continue on a domestic bus within Uruguay. If you go this route, make sure you remember to get your passport stamped on both sides of the border. The passport controls on each side are sometimes located some distance from the border, but if necessary, the bus driver should stop at them for you if you ask. (On international buses, the bus company will handle the border formalities without you needing to ask.)\n\n**Note** after pandemia a very useful app to travel Uruguay by bus ('''URUBUS''' ) is available to buy tickets online of all companies at the same price than Terminal Tres Cruces.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumbnail|The ferry between Buenos Aires and Colonia\nThe **Buquebus** ferry service operates between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and both Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, Uruguay. Some services continue from there to Punta del Este. For the Buquebus-Ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento there are two options. One takes three hours and the other one hour to get there. The fast Buquebus catamaran ferry (one hour) costs around US$70 return (when booked in advance) and around US$110 when booked the day prior and is usually quite crowded with day tourists and travel groups.\n\n**Colonia Express** operates between Buenos Aires and Colonia by one hour ferry and then by bus to Montevideo. Ticket prices to Montevideo or Colonia are between US$25–50, depending on the day of week and time.\n\n**Seacat Colonia** operates as well between Buenos Aires and Colonia by one hour ferry and then by bus to Montevideo and Punta del Este.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk013", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get in", "text": "Another and potentially cheaper possibility is to take a boat from Tigre (north of Buenos Aires) through the scenic waterways of the river to **Carmelo** in Uruguay. From Carmelo, transfer via Colonia or head north. Great landscape and also drops off kids from school along the way. AR$500 as of Feb 2018.\n\nMake sure you book in advance for weekends and the peak season (late November until the end of February).\n\n**Note** that there is also the directferries.com/.co.uk Website, which offers all those trips and ferries, at a however inflated price. In addition, it sometimes requires you to book business seats, which adds even more to the bill. In the end prices can easily be threefold for a simple one way ticket.", "word_count": 122}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk014", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By train\n\nThere are limited **commuter train** services around Montevideo, provided by the **Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado**. As of Jan 2025, the commuter train is inactive due modernization of the tracks. There are some **tourist trains** which do not have a fixed schedule. You need to find announcements for them at the Montevideo train station, located at the corner of Nicaragua and Paraguay. There is, except a slow train connection between Taucarembó and Rivera in the far north, no regular **long distance train** service. The most usual means of public transport is the bus (local buses inside Montevideo and from Montevideo to other main cities of the country).\n\n### By bus\n\nUruguay has an **extensive internal bus system**, in practice the only way of getting around between cities if you aren't driving. From Montevideo interdepartmental buses leave from the Tres Cruces station which also serves the international buses. There are often several companies serving the routes and the buses are frequent, safe, comfortable and affordable. Buses generally depart right on time.\n\nDepending on the company, tickets can usually be bought online, at bus stations and on board the buses themselves. If you buy tickets before departure you will get a reserved seat, otherwise you can sit at seats that don't happen to be occupied (otherwise there's place to stand in the aisle). Usually, there is a separate inspector on board selling and checking tickets. The inspector may ask you where you're getting off; if you're planning to get off at your destination's bus terminal, you can just say \"*terminal*\".\n\nCompanies offering long-distance bus transport include COT (Compañía de Ómnibus Turismo), COPSA (Compañía Oriental de Transportes S.A.), Rutas del Plata, Turil, Turismar, Rutas del Sol, Buquebus, Agencia Central, Nossar, Tata, Copay, Nuñez and Chadre.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk015", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "Several cities also have local bus systems; Montevideo's is naturally the largest. It can be hard to find information online about local bus routes, especially for cities other than Montevideo, but if you ask a local they'll usually know which routes go where.\n\nFor both local and interdepartmental buses, you can flag them down at a bus stop by stretching your arm out horizontally to your side, perpendicular to the road, as if pointing to the other side of the street.\n\nOne-day bus strikes (*paros*) are not uncommon, resulting in limited service or none at all. Often they are just for interdepartmental buses while local buses run with no disruption.\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis in Uruguay are safe and fairly affordable, costing about US per km. All taxis in Montevideo use meters and have fixed costs. Some meters do not display the price of the trip in pesos but in \"fichas\" (tokens) which have to be converted into pesos according to a chart that should be shown to the passengers. Taxis in some smaller cities may not use meters.\n\nUber is available in Montevideo and Punta del Este.\n\n### By car\n\nThe main highway is the one that goes from Montevideo to Punta Del Este (main tourist city of Uruguay), it is double lane from both sides. However this is the exception and most of the highways are single lane and therefore you should take precautions when driving long distances (a \"long distance\" in Uruguay is 500 km max), trying to pass another car. Always keep your distance from the car in front of you.\n\nIn the central areas of major cities, and on most major highways, the roads are good, but if you go a little off the beaten path, be prepared for potholes and dirt roads.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk016", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "#### Car rentals\n\nTo rent a car in Uruguay, residents of many countries need only their driver's license, passport, and credit card; only residents of certain countries must obtain an International Driver's Permit. Vehicle imports and gasoline are both heavily taxed. Therefore, most Uruguayans prefer to buy cars with fuel-efficient manual transmissions, which in turn means that vehicles with automatic transmissions are rarer and much more expensive. If you can drive a manual transmission, you are looking at about US/day and up, while those who can only drive automatic transmissions are looking at US/day and up for a car rental.\n\nIt will cost US and up to fill up the gas tank just on a regular small sedan like a Chevy Aveo. Traditionally, the sole gasoline retailer in Uruguay was the state-owned monopoly, ANCAP. (ANCAP is the \"National Administration\" for \"combustibles,\" alcohol, and Portland cement, hence the name.) Today, ANCAP competes with Petrobras and Esso. All gas stations are full service, so you will need to know enough rudimentary Spanish to tell the attendant to fill it up.\n\n#### Driving", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk017", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumbnail|National Route 1\nDriving in Uruguay is very similar to European driving, but with less traffic lights and lots of roundabouts. North Americans accustomed to wild big-city driving (New York or Los Angeles) will not find it too difficult to adapt to. As in many developing countries and parts of Europe, Uruguayans have a tendency to split lanes or make their own lane. Since manual transmissions take longer to spin up, Uruguayans like to watch for the cross-traffic's yellow light and then jump the green about a second in advance, which means you should *never* run yellow lights if you can brake safely. Many intersections are marked only with yield signs. If you don't see a sign, treat it as a yield. If you see a stop sign (\"Pare\"), it means stop, *please stop*, probably because it's a blind intersection and someone was killed there.\n\nYou should have the \"carta verde\" licence to drive in Uruguay, you can find it in the embassy. The legal limit of alcohol concentration is 0.0%—do not drive after drinking.\n\nDrive on the right just like in most of the rest of South America.\n\nUruguay has not yet implemented sensor loops, so all traffic lights are on timers and you will have to sit there regardless of whether the cross-street has traffic. (Some local drivers will just run the red after sitting for a few minutes if cross-traffic is nonexistent.) Right turns on red after stop are not allowed. Headlights must be turned on at all times while moving.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk018", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "Like much of Latin America, Uruguay has a fondness for giant speed bumps at the edge of towns the road passes through, this is true also for major roads. These are signed well in advance and require drivers to brake to or less; failure to brake in time will send one's car flying.\n\nUruguayan law requires drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel while moving, which means you cannot use a handheld cell phone while driving.\n\nThe speed limit ranges between on most intercity highways, with standard on most stretches, but it's not enforced. Uruguay does not have any long-distance freeways or expressways. Some short stretches of Routes 1 and 5 to the west of Montevideo have been upgraded to freeways.\n\nLook out for pedestrians and slow-moving traffic in the roadway, especially in rural areas and poorer suburbs. Because automobiles are so expensive, many Uruguayans get around solely by foot, taxi, scooter, motorcycle, or bus. Like many developing countries, Uruguay lacks the resources to properly maintain sidewalks in poor neighborhoods, so sidewalks often have cracks, potholes, or worse. Therefore, you will see pedestrians frequently walking in the street even when there appears to be a sidewalk or footpath next to the road.\n\n#### Navigation", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk019", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumbnail|Toll booth at Ruta Interbalnearia between Montevideo and Punta del Este\nUruguayan national highways are well-maintained, well-designed, easy to drive, and in excellent condition; they are maintained by the private Highway Corporation of Uruguay (CVU) under the supervision of the National Highway Directorate (DNV). CVU charges a standard toll (U$90 for a regular auto) to traffic in both directions at toll plazas strategically sited throughout the country near bridges over major rivers (where it is difficult to find a toll-free detour). Transitions between CVU/DNV and local department highway maintenance are always marked with large signs (if the jarring change in the quality of the pavement doesn't already make it obvious). Roads under local maintenance tend to vary widely in terms of quality.\n\nThe most important long-distance highway in Uruguay is the Ruta Interbalneria (IB) linking Montevideo to Punta Del Este, which is a four-lane road with a broad median. Note that the IB was built as what people from western North America call an expressway; that is, cross-traffic still crosses at-grade at intersections rather than at interchanges with overpasses and underpasses. Most other highways are two-lane highways.\n\nIt is nearly impossible to obtain paper road maps of Uruguay outside of the country. Fortunately, ANCAP sells an excellent map package at all its gas stations which, as of 2012, includes three maps. Two are large foldable sheet maps. One is an overview-level highway map, which has the entire Mercosur bloc on one side and all of Uruguay on the other. The other is a detailed street map of Montevideo. The third map is a booklet with detailed street maps of all departmental capital cities and several other major cities, including Punta del Este.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk020", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "Google Maps, Bing Maps from Microsoft, and OpenStreetMap all have excellent coverage of Montevideo, and the first two also have good coverage of the rest of the country. Although there are now mobile apps available which enable users to download OpenStreetMap data in advance to one's mobile phone, OpenStreetMap's coverage of areas outside of Montevideo and Punta del Este is still incomplete.\n\nAnother important quirk to keep in mind is that *only* online map services accurately depict the one-way streets common in Montevideo and other Uruguayan cities and towns. Virtually all Uruguayan paper road maps (including the ANCAP maps and the official maps from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport) lack arrows to show the direction of one-way streets.\n\n#### Emergencies\n\nTake notice of the emergency phone numbers prominently posted on the highways and keep them in mind. Uruguay is not a dangerous country, but since it is mostly agricultural and very sparsely populated between the towns, if your car breaks down it can take you a long time to walk to the nearest pay phone. It is recommended to carry a cell phone with you. Antel is the state company and the main provider.\n\n### By motorbike\n\nMany Uruguayans use motorbikes as their preferred mode of transport. These are also available for rent to tourists in many larger cities. For motorbikes there is no road toll.\n\n### By thumb\n\n*Also, read the general guide on hitchhiking.*", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk021", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Get around", "text": "In rural areas hitchhiking is fairly common and as safe as hitching is anywhere. Uruguay has the lowest level of violent crime in the Americas, outside Canada. If you are female don't hitchhike alone. Play it safe but it's more likely that the car is going to crash (1 in 100 chance) than something bad is going to happen. Always use your seatbelts, while drivers that take you along the way can be very open, they can also be a little reckless in driving, kind of related probably.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk022", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Spanish** is the country's official and national language. \n\nThe pronunciation and the use of the *vos* pronoun instead of *tú* is practically the same as the Spanish variety spoken in Argentina, also known as *Rioplatense Spanish*. However it is remarkably different from the Spanish spoken in Spain when it comes to pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. If you are not familiar with the local dialect, be prepared to regularly having to ask people you're talking with to repeat themselves.\n\nAlthough most Uruguayans have studied **English** at school, they do not actually speak or use it. However, some Uruguayans have studied English at private institutes, so they can speak it well. Outside Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este, there are few English speakers. In most tourist spots (shopping centers and in Punta del Este), there is someone who is proficient in English and upscale restaurants and those that cater to tourists often have someone on staff who speaks English. In practice, knowledge of basic Spanish is *indispensable* for independent travel in Uruguay.\n\nIf you try to communicate in Spanish or with gestures, most Uruguayans will try to help you out. Those who can speak English will often single you out and begin a conversation themselves, eager to try out their English. People are kind and helpful, and they will be glad to meet with a foreigner.\n\nIn major tourist spots and anywhere near the Brazilian border, you can get by with **Portuguese**. Don't be surprised if you talk to someone in Portuguese and they just respond in Spanish, figuring that if you speak Portuguese you can understand enough Spanish to get what they're saying. Near the border, you may also hear **Portuñol**, a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish.\n\nThe deaf community in Uruguay uses **Uruguayan Sign Language** (*lengua de señas uruguaya*).\n\nIf you want to study Spanish in a language academy, you may want to check out the Grupo de Turismo Idiomático, a private sector initiative supported by the Ministry of Tourism.", "word_count": 330}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk023", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "See", "text": "thumbnail|Castillo de Piria\n\nWhile there are interesting things to see all over Uruguay, the main sights of interest are concentrated on the coastline. Perhaps unsurprisingly the largest concentration of things to see is the capital, Montevideo. There the \"father of Uruguayan nationhood\", general Jose Artigas rests in a mausoleum under an equestrian statue of himself in the middle of Plaza Independencia surrounded by buildings iconic to the capital such as Palacio Salvo, the old and new presidential palaces, the city gate and the Edificio Ciudadela. Passing through the city gate one will arrive in the old town of Montevideo hosting several museums, old buildings that once were the residences of wealthy families as well as the Puerto del Mercado. Other points of interest not to be missed in Montevideo include the neoclassical parliament building Palacio Legislativo, the Centenario Stadium and the adjacent football museum and the 22 km long beach promenade Rambla stretching along the Atlantic shore with several sights next to or nearby it.\n\nA two and a half hour bus trip west takes you to Colonia del Sacramento, a city established in 1680 by the Portuguese. While the modern part of the city isn't much of a tourist attraction, the well-preserved colonial *barrio histórico* is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As it is located a mere one hour from Buenos Aires by catamaran, it is also a popular day trip for visitors to the Argentinian capital.\n\nEast of Montevideo is Punta del Este, a beach resort popular among the rich and famous and the city where the Los Dedos sculpture and the Casa Pueblo resort museum are located. Just north of Punta del Este is the city of Maldonado with the lighthouse of José Ignacio. Closer to the capital is the city of Piriápolis where you can visit the Castillo de Piria.\n\nFurther off the beaten path, check out Uruguay's industrial history in Fray Bentos, where a former meat processing plant is also a World Heritage site. And of course that meat had to come from somewhere—Uruguay also has a strong history of agriculture, and visitors can tour *estancias* (ranches) dotted throughout the country's interior. In the northern interior, you're sure to encounter *gauchos*: Uruguayan cowboys who still wear traditional clothes and ride horses alongside the highway.", "word_count": 379}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk024", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Beach in Punta del Este\n One of the best experiences to have during your stay in Uruguay is to **watch a football game** between Nacional and Peñarol, the two most followed football teams in the nation, but be careful with the radical fans of both teams, since they can engage in fights and violence.\n **Sunbathing, surfing and swimming** at the beaches of the Atlantic coast. The most important beaches are in Punta del Este, Piriapolis, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo and Santa Teresa (national park and campground).\n **Stargazing** at places mentioned by the project Mirá las Estrellas by Fefo Bouvier\n **Birdwatching** at Rocha's tourist \"estancias\".\n\n### Events\n\n Llamadas de Reyes - candombe drums - January 6 in Montevideo\n Desfile de Llamadas - candombe parade - first Friday of February in Barrio Sur, Montevideo\n Concurso de Carnaval - popular stage-productions divided in different styles: murgas, revistas, humoristas, parodistas and lubolos - February in Montevideo\n Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha - celebrating gaucho culture - first week of March in Tacuarembó\n Noche de la nostalgia (Nostalgia Night) - August 24, the night before Independence Day, when the nightclubs play oldies music and Uruguayans party the night away", "word_count": 199}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk025", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Uruguayan currency is the **peso** (ISO code: **UYU**). Prices are quoted using the *U$* symbol, which may be easily confused with the US dollar symbol.\n\nPrices on costlier goods and services (over US$100, generally speaking) are often quoted in American dollars instead of pesos, and US dollars are surprisingly widely accepted even at some fast food restaurants. Places that cater to foreign visitors often also accept Argentinian pesos or Brazilian reals. All of these currencies use the symbol \"$\", so check which currency the prices are in if you're unsure.\n\nCoins in Uruguay come in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos Uruguayos. Banknotes in Uruguay come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 pesos Uruguayos.\n\n### Banking\n\n#### Cash, ATMs and credit cards\n\nCredit cards are not as widely accepted as in North America or Europe - smaller establishments often accept only cash (*efectivo*). Try to have more or less exact change as they even in a mid-size supermarket can have some problems giving you change back if you are paying for U$600 worth of purchases with a U$1000 bill. You can exchange a large bill for smaller change without paying a commission at **Abitab**, a one-stop shop with branches all over Uruguay that offers all kinds of services, including paying bills, buying tickets for performances, and adding money to transit cards.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk026", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Buy", "text": "Many Uruguayan ATMs can dispense US dollars in addition to pesos. You can find ATMs by looking for signs saying \"BanRed\" or \"RedBrou\". RedBrou has lower fees, but many of their machines are deposit-only. Alternatively, head for a branch of Banco República, which usually has ATMs; they state a fee of US$0.75-1.50, which however apparently does not apply to certain cards, e.g. some German credit cards that offer free withdrawals worldwide. So, best to try once, then you know.\n\nYou can bring euros but exchange rates are usually 5-10% off the official rate, whereas many credit card rates only are 1% off plus the usual card fee of 0-3%. So, coming from Europe probably cards are to be preferred considering their safety and convenience. US dollars however can be exchanged at highly competitive rates, inheriting a fee of often just 1% or less. Cambios (aka *Bureau de change*) are numerous and widespread; wherever you have a bank or a (Red)Brou, there will most likely also be a Cambio in town.\n\nExchanging euros at the airport is expensive with rates about 20% off the official interbank rates.\n\n### Shopping", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk027", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumbnail|Portones shopping mall, Montevideo\nUruguay is like many developing countries in that the retail industry is still dominated by small specialized shops, small supermarkets, and small, crowded shopping malls. There are no true department stores in the country remotely comparable to the giant stores found in New York or Paris. Even the shopping buildings along Avenida 18 de Julio in central Montevideo are not department stores but collections of 10-20 smaller stores. In the entire country, there is only *one* true hypermarket, Géant (operated a joint venture between local chain Disco and the French chain Géant), that constitutes a reasonably decent facsimile of hypermarkets elsewhere (down to the huge parking lot, high ceiling and wide aisles). Uruguay does not have the big box \"category killer\" stores for which the U.S. is famous (and which have been copied to a lesser extent in Australia and Europe).\n\nOne quite widespread supermarket chain is Ta-ta. These relatively small supermarkets sell a wide range of products from food and household items to clothes and even things you can bring home as souvenirs. If you've forgotten to bring something for your trip you can probably find it there. Most of them are open seven days a week.\n\nDay stores such as **Ta-Ta**, **Devoto**, **Tienda Inglesa** and **Disco** do close early, commonly at 21:00, but essential goods can be bought at **gas stations** that remain open 24/7 all over the country.\n\nThere are several so-called shopping centers, four of them located in the capital: **Montevideo Shopping Center**, **Punta Carretas Shopping Center**, **Portones Shopping**, **Tres Cruces Shopping** (which also serves as a long-distance bus station), and the newly opened **Nuevo Centro**.\n\n### Products", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk028", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Buy", "text": "Uruguay does not manufacture most consumer goods locally. Most items in the stores have either been imported from China, or from Argentina or Brazil. Even worse, Uruguay charges high import tariffs and high value-added tax (IVA) of about 22% on virtually everything. Accordingly, imported goods cost as much as in Australia, Canada, or Europe. Uruguayan products on the other hand - chiefly comprised of food and leather products - can be very affordable.\n\nSome parts of Uruguayan stores feature numerous high-quality brands familiar to any North American, like Dove soap, Colgate toothpaste, Listerine mouthwash, Del Monte canned fruit, and so on. There are other brands with familiar logos but strange names; for example, Coca-Cola's South American juice brand is del Valle, which has a logo similar to Coca-Cola's North American juice brand, Minute Maid.\n\nHowever, Uruguay is not a major priority for most other brands found in the developed world, which means their products are (luckily!) rare or nonexistent here. Locally available brands (as noted, imported mostly from China) tend to be of poor quality. Because the Uruguayan market is so small and most Uruguayans are still relatively poor compared to consumers elsewhere, Uruguayan retailers lack the bargaining power of their North American or European counterparts. In turn, Chinese factories often sell their highest-quality product lines to the dominant First World markets and send their mediocre-quality product lines to Uruguay and other small developing countries. For example, while American and European consumers are accustomed to advertisements for luxury bedding made of more than 700 thread count textiles woven from Egyptian or pima cotton, luxury bedding in Uruguay consists of more than 250 thread count textiles woven from cotton/polyester blends.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk029", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Buy", "text": "Popular items to buy include **yerba mate** gourds, antiques, wool textiles, and leather goods: jackets, purses, wallets, belts, etc. With regard to textiles and leather goods, although the prices may look like great bargains, one must keep in mind that local designs are inferior to designs elsewhere. Uruguay is still decades behind other countries when it comes to the quality of metalworking, which is a serious problem since leather goods like purses and belts have metal parts like clasps and buckles.\n\n### Tipping\n\nTipping is not mandatory. Usually 10% in restaurants will be enough. Tipping taxi drivers is entirely optional.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk030", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|Asado, traditional barbecue\nUruguayan cuisine is typical for temperate countries, high on butter, fat, and grains, low on spice. It has an important Italian influence due to the strong Italian immigration. If you are from the Mediterranean or Mexico, you will find it bland, but if you come from the Northern Europe, Russia or the US, you won't have trouble getting used to it.\n\n### Prices\n\nAs of May 2014, breakfast for 4 people (a liter of fruit juice and two packages of biscuits) can cost as little as U$100 in a supermarket, a serving of fast food costs about the same while meals in sit down restaurants generally speaking start from U$300. Many restaurants have a cover charge.\n\nRestaurants and some other services give discounts if you pay with a foreign credit card. (The discount, which was established by the government to encourage tourism, is a reduction in value-added tax.)\n\n### Specialties\n\nThere are many public **markets** where you can get a hundred varieties of **meat**. **Vegetarians** can order **ravioli** or other **pasta** just about anywhere, but check to make sure the sauce doesn't contain meat. **Vegans** may have trouble as meat and dairy are nearly ubiquitous; restaurants with good vegan options exist, but they're few and far between.\n\n**Empanadas** (hand-sized meat or cheese pies) make an excellent portable, inexpensive, and delicious snack or lunch. You can find them easily at many corner bakeries.\nthumbnail|Chivito al plato\nUruguay has traditionally been a ranching country, with cattle outnumbering people more than two-to-one, and therefore features excellent (and affordable) **steaks**. One dish that should not be missed is **chivito**, a heart-attack-on-a-platter sandwich (some guidebooks call it a \"cholesterol bomb\") that is made of a combination of grilled tenderloin steak, tomato, lettuce, onion, eggs (hard-boiled and then sliced), ham, bacon, mozzarella cheese and mayonnaise and fries. There are two versions of chivito. *Al pan* means it's served \"on bread\", this is the classic variant and it looks like a hamburger served on a plate. If it is served *al plato* it is like a hamburger minus the bread and often with more vegetables.\n\n**Asado** is a typical Uruguayan barbeque, consisting of a variety of grilled meats (beef short ribs, sausage, blood sausage and sweetbreads and other offal) over wood coals. Almost all Uruguayans know how to make it and its variations appear on most restaurant menus. For a traditional experience, try it at the \"Mercado del Puerto\" market, in Montevideo's port area. As many of the European immigrants to the area around Rio de la Plata a century ago came from Italy, **Italian dishes** have a special place in the local cuisine, often with a local twist. The Central European *schnitzel's* local relative **Milanesa** is made with beef instead of pork and is also available as a sandwich.\n\n**Bizcochos** are popular pastries that can be bought at local bakeries among with other local confectioneries and sandwiches such as the **sandwich olímpico**, which can also be found at most supermarkets.\n\n**Tortas fritas** (a sort of fried pancake), **pasteles** and **garrapiñada** (sugar-roasted peanuts) among with **hamburgers** and **choripanes** are commonly sold on the street.\n\nUruguay, with its long shoreline, also enjoys an excellent variety of **seafood and fish**. The flavor of the most commonly offered fish, *brotola*, may be familiar to people from North America, where it is called hake.\n\nFor desserts, **dulce de leche**, a kind of caramel made with sweetened milk, is found in all manner of confections, from ice cream to **alfajores** (dulce de leche-filled cookie sandwiches), **Ricardito** and **chajá** (available in all supermarkets).", "word_count": 593}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk031", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumbnail|Thermos bottle, gourd with mate and bombilla\n**Mate** (*MAH-teh*) – Mate is derived from the *yerba mate* plant that was originally used by the indigenous Guarani living near the *Rio de la Plata*. This traditional drink is ubiquitous—you will see more people carrying a mate gourd and thermos bottle on the streets of Montevideo than people with take-away coffee in New York. However, it can hardly be ordered in restaurants; as young and old go around with their own cup and thermos bottle on the street, there would likely be no-one ordering it in a café or restaurant if they offered it. You may have to buy a package at a supermarket and make your own. The drinking gourds are widely available and range from economical to super-deluxe silver and horn. Most Uruguayans prefer to drink their mate without sugar, called a *Mate amargo*. Gourds and horns are constantly being refilled with the brew from sun-up to sun-down. But as everyone prepares their own mate, *cafés and restaurants seldom serve it.* Mate is a social drink. If you are with a group of Uruguayans they will probably offer you some, do be mindful, it will be hot and may taste somewhat bitter. If you try some it will make everybody happy.\n**Salus** – A mineral water bottled in Uruguay. If you're a little apprehensive about drinking tap water, this is a great way to go!\n**Tutti Frutti** — A mix of delicious freshly squeezed fruit juice with ice.\n**Beer** – Alcohol is relatively inexpensive. Beer is often sold in 1L bottles. You basically have a selection of typical lagers. The most commonly found are Patricia or Pilsen, with Zillertal also often available. You can also order a chopp, which is a draft beer (and if not specified, it is normally Patricia). Uruguayan beers can be bought at U$80 in supermarkets. The rise of craft brewing has been warmly embraced in Uruguay, particularly in Montevideo, where you will find at least a dozen craft breweries producing a wide range of artesanal beer styles.\n**Uvita** – A specialty of Bar Fun Fun, raisin-flavoured liquor served in a shot glass.\n**Medio y Medio** – A special mix of drinks made by \"Roldós\", in the **Mercado del Puerto**\n **Paso de los Toros** (an exotic pomelo-based soda)\n **Whisky** – The most common strong alcohol beverage is surprisingly whisky, even many famous brands such as Johnnie Walker being manufactured in Uruguay under license. A 1l bottle of the cheapest brands can be bought for U$250 in a supermarket.\n **Grappa** – Even cheaper strong alcohols are the locally distilled *grappas* and *cañas* that can be bought at most supermarkets and also can be tasted in many pizzerias where they also sell *grappa con limón*, the same liquor flavoured with lemon.\n Compared to Brazil the coffee served in both cafés and hotels is reportedly rather tasteless, however in the ice cream café chain Freddo they do have good coffee.", "word_count": 491}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk032", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Nightlife** goes late in Uruguay. Nightclubs often waive the cover charge for \"early\" arrivals until midnight, and it's not uncommon for a concert or a night of partying to end around dawn.\n\n### Wine\n\nUruguay is acquiring a reputation for its fine wines, especially red wines made from the Tannat grape. The \"VCP\" label (*Vino de Calidad Preferente*) identifies qualify wines, in contrast to table wines (*vinos de mesa*). A bottled mix of wines called **medio y medio** can be found at most stores.\n\nMost of Uruguay's wineries can be found between Montevideo and the small city of Canelones, with a number of vineyards scattered just east of this area in Canelones Department, which is by far the largest wine producing area of the country, although small wineries can be found throughout the country. About 180 wineries operate in Uruguay, many of which are family-run businesses that have been handed down through generations.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk033", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumbnail|Landscape in San José department in the southern part of the country\nFor nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those seeking a respite from the fast-paced world, there are many \"estancias\" in serene and peaceful environments, surrounded by many species of native and migrating birds, which offer a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature.\n\nThere are many more beach houses to rent along the coast than actual hotel rooms. They are plentiful, and outside the high season affordable. During the first two weeks of January it's impossible to find anything, every cottage and hotel room is booked months in advance.\n\nIn addition, **camping** is possible in many places (free or including amenities), especially near the beach. However, consider that many grounds are private property, so you should not camp here. Consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use, to find places which have been tagged by other people as possible camping sites.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk034", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Learn", "text": "Uruguayan society underscores the importance of education and the country has one of the highest literacy rates and most respectable educational systems in South America. Educators are generally well-respected members of Uruguayan society; they take their duties very seriously, there's virtually no corruption in the educational system, and teachers are expected to play a vital role in shaping the future of the country. \n\nHowever, Uruguay isn't a hugely popular destination for foreign students and the country has a moderate number of universities. Most universities conduct classes in Spanish; therefore, having an excellent knowledge of Spanish is essential to unlock the full range of learning opportunities in the country. \n\nThe **University of the Republic** is the country's oldest and most prestigious university, with over 150,000 students.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk035", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Work", "text": "Finding employment in Uruguay can be a competitive affair; the small size of the economy and an oversupply of educated labour mean that there's not enough work for people and these factors prompt many Uruguayans to seek employment opportunities abroad. \n\nThere are numerous English language schools which are looking for native speakers as teachers. They can arrange papers or pay teachers under the table. The pay is not good, but enough to live on in Montevideo. Work permits are not particularly difficult to obtain and Uruguay lets you convert a tourist visa to a work visa without leaving the country. Residency visas without permission to work simply require you prove access to US$500 a month.\n\n**Volunteering** (and learning Spanish at the same time) is big in South America—check out the general information in the South America article.", "word_count": 137}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk036", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Cope", "text": "Facebook has a Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay Backpacker / Traveler group where you can find other travellers and up-to-date information on the country. In general, also see South America.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk037", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|Night view of Plaza Constitución in Montevideo's old town\n\nHistorically, Uruguay used to enjoy a **low rate of violent crime compared to some of its neighbors.**\n\nHowever, this does not mean that Uruguay is crime free. The major differences are that most Uruguayan crimes are either nonconfrontational or do not involve the gratuitous use of firearms. Montevideo in particular has seen its crime rate gradually rise since the severe 2001-2002 financial crisis, and now has moderately high levels of theft, burglary, and robbery similar to those found in major U.S. cities. Fortunately, Punta del Este and most rural areas continue to enjoy relatively low crime levels. In Montevideo, take precautions: use a money belt and/or hotel safe for valuables, look alert, keep out of obvious slums, and avoid wandering around unfamiliar or iffy neighborhoods at night.\n\nIn a security emergency, call **911** or **999**. For firefighters, call, **104**. For ambulance, call **105**.\n\n**Cannabis** is one of the most widely used drugs in the country and legal as well. Uruguay is the first country in the world where the sale, growth and distribution of cannabis is legal. Regarding the legality of marijuana, possession for personal use is not penalized if it concerns minor quantities (a few grams), either Uruguayan or foreign. **Possession of major quantities** (for example, one kilogram) **is illegal and punishable by law**. The 2013 legalization of this drug for personal use (medicinal or recreational), sale or storage of the plant (~480 grams per year) is only for Uruguayan citizens of 18 years and above (natural or legal citizenship) with legal capacity. Likewise with alcohol, driving under the influence of marijuana is not allowed, and such breach may carry a fine.\n\n**Stray dogs** can be found all over Uruguay. They might follow you around a bit hoping for food, but they are rarely aggressive. If they come too close for your taste, (pretend to) pick up a stone and they will understand.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nUruguay is vulnerable to **floods**. If it rains too much, roads can become impassable and riverside houses may need to be evacuated. \n\nUruguay is also vulnerable to **tornados** and is part of the **South America Tornado Corridor**, the second most tornado-prone area in the world (behind the United States Tornado Alley). Monitor local media notices and if you see that the sky is dark, the light take on a greenish-yellow cast or a loud sound that sounds like a freight train, this could be an indication of a tornado. Find shelter immediately. Refer to the tornado safety article for analysis of the issues here.", "word_count": 430}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk038", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Uruguay has one of the best healthcare systems in South America; most medical facilities are comparable to US standards and the country has one of the highest life expectancies on the continent. \n\n**Tap water** is safe to drink in all major cities, though most locals prefer to drink bottled water. That said, if your hotel or host tells you to drink bottled water, you should follow their instructions—some houses have water storage tanks that may not be completely clean.\n\nThe Hospital Britanico (British Hospital), SUMMUM and BlueCross & BlueShield Uruguay have European-quality service and they are clean and efficient. Asociación Española, Medica Uruguaya and CASMU are the largest healthcare companies in Uruguay and they have European-quality level. Just don't make any unwise alcohol drinking decisions.\n\n**Tropical diseases** are not a major concern in Uruguay; the malaria and dengue present in parts of nearby countries are absent here. Vaccines are generally recommended for Hepatitis A and typhoid, though.\n\nIn the Southern Hemisphere winter you won't encounter many insects in Uruguay, but in the summer there are some mosquitoes, especially after big rainstorms.", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk039", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumbnail|Supporters of the samba school Los Academicos in Artigas\nUruguay is a socially progressive country. Women got the vote in Uruguay 12 years before France. Uruguay is a secular state unlike Argentina, Chile or Paraguay; the Uruguayan state has not supported any religion since 1917. Even national holidays are officially referred to with secular names—the week before Easter is officially \"Tourism Week\" and December 25th is \"Family Day\"! The population is mainly Catholic, but not very practicing.\n\nUruguay is considered to be safe and welcoming to **gay and lesbian visitors**: it is ranked 12th in the world in the Spartacus Gay Travel Index. It was the first Latin American country to pass a civil union law, and same-sex marriage was legalized in mid-2013. Even in rural areas, gay travelers experience little overt discrimination. There are a few gay and lesbian bars in Montevideo and in Punta del Este. The only public monument to sexual diversity is in Ciudad Vieja (the old city) in Montevideo. On the last Friday of September, Montevideo celebrates \"Diversity Month\" with a parade on 18 of July in the center of the city.\n\nLike in other Latin American countries, it's common to greet people with a kiss on the cheek. But unlike most other countries, where this is only done between two women or between a woman and a man, in Uruguay it's not uncommon for men to greet each other this way too! (Those men who prefer not to kiss another man on the cheek will shake hands instead.) As in many countries, these kisses are really more of a cheek-to-cheek touch with a kiss in the air.\n\nPunctuality is not essential here – meeting a few minutes late is not uncommon nor considered rude.\n\nUruguayans normally keep their shoes on when entering a house; conventional wisdom here is that walking around your house barefoot makes it easier to catch a cold.\n\nDespite their strong resemblance to neighboring Argentina, Uruguayans are a proud people and will make it clear to you that they are not like the \"porteños\" (a nickname for Buenos Aires residents). Therefore, keep in mind that any comments like \"Montevideo is a suburb of Buenos Aires\" will upset the locals.\n\n### Body language\n\nThe \"OK\" sign (thumb and index finger in a circle) is an exceptionally offensive gesture. Do not exhibit it. A thumbs up is okay and not offensive. \n\nBrushing the back of your hand under your chin means \"I don't know\" or \"I don't know what you're talking about\". \n\nDo not put your feet on a chair, desk, or table.", "word_count": 430}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk040", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumbnail|Antel pay phone in Montevideo\n\n### Telephone\n\nThe national landline telephone monopoly is Antel, which provides all public pay phones and is also the sole provider of landline Internet service.\n\nAlthough Antel pay phones only take Antel's proprietary magnetic cards (that are difficult if not impossible to obtain), it is possible to use international calling cards to call home by taking the phone off the hook, waiting for a dial tone, and dialing the correct access code. However, note that many public pay phones are not properly maintained. If you do not hear a touch tone emitted for each key, that means the phone is defective and you must try another one.\n\nUruguay's country code is +598. Montevideo and suburbs have landline numbers beginning in 2, while the rest of the country has landline numbers beginning with 4.\n\n#### Cell phone\n\nAntel also operates a cell phone network, and competes with two private companies, Movistar and Claro. All three have numerous kiosks and stores throughout the country. Both the European (1800 MHz) and North American (1900 MHz) frequencies are used.\n\nSome hostels in tourist areas, such as Colonia or the Atlantic Coast during summer, offer free SIM cards, and the operators usually sponsor big events, in which free SIM cards might also be given out. As of 2023, free Antel SIM cards are given at the Carrasco airport information desk. \n\nAll three companies offer GSM, 3G HSPA and 4G LTE connectivity. As of early 2018, Claro charged a flat rate of U$15 a day for mobile data use, and also had many other packs available. Antel charges per data usage, and local knowledge has it that U$200 is enough for a month.\n\n### Mail\n\nThe national postal service is Correo Uruguayo. Most of their post offices are very hard to find and are open M-F 09:00-17:00; some are open Sa 09:00-12:00.\n\nLetterboxes for depositing outbound mail are made out of cheap blue translucent plastic and are extremely difficult to find outside of post offices. Some post offices have three boxes: one for the local city, one for domestic mail (\"interior\") and one for international (\"exterior\").\n\nUruguayan letterboxes are designed only for indoor use. Keep in mind that Correos licenses many retailers, such as pharmacies, as postal agents, and letterboxes can sometimes be found around those agents' premises as well.\n\n### Internet\n\nAntel is the *only* provider of landline Internet service, while Dedicado is the main provider of fixed wireless Internet service. WiFi is ubiquitous and can be found in virtually all decent hotels as well as many restaurants, cybercafes, and shopping malls.\n\nAntel WiFi hotspots are normally available only to Antel landline Internet subscribers, unless you are in a place with free service like Carrasco International Airport, in which case a public username and password for free access are prominently posted and always username: antel password: wifi. Dedicado WiFi hotspots are free for everyone.\n\nSome public parks also have free (but unreliable) WiFi provided by the government—look for a network with a name like \"Ceibal\" or \"Ceibalwifi\".", "word_count": 507}
+{"chunk_id": "uruguay::chunk041", "doc_id": "uruguay", "section": "Go next", "text": "Uruguay borders Argentina to the west and Brazil to the east. Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is just a ferry ride away, and Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil, has deep cultural connections with Uruguay.\n\nThe border of Paraguay, the next closest country, is about 500 kilometers away from the extreme northwest of Uruguay. Its capital, Asunción, can be reached most conveniently by plane or most cheaply by bus from Montevideo.", "word_count": 75}
diff --git a/corpus/uruguay/metadata.json b/corpus/uruguay/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..628e994f58619a8f798712aa1e9700f8a291ab1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uruguay/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "uruguay",
+ "title": "Uruguay",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "South America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Uruguay",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "surfing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [
+ 2,
+ 11
+ ],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "South_America"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Argentina",
+ "Brazil",
+ "Buenos Aires",
+ "Rio Grande do Sul",
+ "Paraguay",
+ "Asunción",
+ "Montevideo"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 9968,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 14,
+ "chunk_count": 42,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/uzbekistan/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/uzbekistan/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8080b587cb024af57cac082349f6fb9a38e5734e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uzbekistan/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk000", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Uzbekistan** (Uzbek: Ўзбекистон *Oʻzbekiston*) is the most populous country in Central Asia and is rich in history, culture, and diversity. It has been a part of numerous empires and was once a key part of the Silk Road, making it an excellent destination for the history buff. Although Uzbekistan is often overlooked as a tourist destination, there is plenty to see and do in this beautiful country. Moreover, Uzbekistan is well known for heart, hospitality, and being widely regarded as the cheapest country in the world.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk001", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the modern capital and largest city.\n — Uzbekistan's fourth largest city, right in the heart of the vibrant but combustible Ferghana Valley.\nthumb|Bukhara\n — a legendary Silk Road capital, 2,500 years old, the historical center of which is a filled with magnificent examples of monumental, medieval Islamic and Central Asian architecture.\n — site of the Itchan Kala, a magnificent old town.\n — the third largest city, at the northern edge of the Ferghana Valley.\n — the capital of Qaraqalpaqstan on the Amu Darya is the home of the avant-garde painting collection of the Savitsky Gallery, and is surrounded by a region devastated by the environmental degradation wrought by the drying of the Aral Sea.\n — the nation's second largest city, the whole of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the most famous Silk Road attraction of them all, the Registan.\n — a small city, whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its impressive monuments from the Timurid Dynasty.\n — the southernmost city near the border with Afghanistan.\n\nSeveral of these were once great trading cities on the Silk Road.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk002", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a lesson in the perils of environmental degradation, the drying of the Aral Sea has ravaged a region roughly the size of Germany with disease, birth defects, agricultural and economic devastation, and one-time cargo ships lying on their side in the dust.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk003", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "The meaning of the name *Uzbek* is disputed. One version is that it is derived from Turkish 'uz/öz' ('good' or 'true') and 'bek' ('guardian'). Unlike the neighbouring Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, but like their close cousins the Uyghurs, the Uzbeks were mostly a sedentary people, building impressive cities along the old Silk Road\n\nThere is a large population of people in Uzbekistan that speak Tajik (or other dialects of Persian), owing to historic communities in the region. Some of those people consider themselves *Uzbek* while others consider themselves as *Tajik/Persian and living in Uzbekistan*. There are also plenty of people who come from mixed Uzbek-Tajik families.\n\n### History\n\nThe earliest people in what is now Uzbekistan (that we have names for) are the Saka/Scythians, an Iranian-speaking nomadic peoples that controlled the western steppes from Dobruja to Tocharia from the 9th-3rd centuries BCE. Eventually, Iranian peoples settled down in the region, founding the great cities of Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara. These cities served as the northernmost border cities of the different Persian empires, although Irainian-speaking nomads still roamed the steppes to the north. Samarkand (then known as *Maracanda*) was conquered by Alexander the Great during his campaigns against the Achaemenids (Persia under Cyrus the Great), and the cities of Cyra and Khujand (now both in Tajikistan) were the furthest north Alexander ever got.", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk004", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "With the death of Alexander, his empire split as different satraps (regional warlords) fought for total control. Eventually, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom emerged in the region, so named because it was a fusion of Hellenic and Bactrian cultures. Buddhism was introduced to the region about the same time that Alexander's empire crumbled (around 125 BCE), and it was through Uzbekistan that Buddhism spread into China and further east. Many Sanskrit words and place names are still found in Uzbek (the city of Bukhara is Sanskrit for \"abbey\"), which is a testament to the influence Buddhism had in the region. It was also in the Greco-Bactrian kingdom that many artistic elements of modern Buddhism (such as the robed figure and the top-knot hairstyle) took hold.\n\nThe Greco-Bactrian kingdom eventually collapsed from nomadic invasions (the Hephthalites or White Huns) and its cities were (re)conquered by later Persian and Indo-European states, including the Samanids, the Kushans, and Sasanians. By this time Christianity and Judaism had spread to Central Asia, and Bukhara became famous for its sect of Judaism. Nestorianism, a sect of Christianity, was dominant here, and spread into China and Mongolia before dying out with the arrival of Islam.\n\nIslam was introduced by Arabs in the 8th-9th century. For the Iranian peoples, Islam was introduced as Arab conquests conquered the Sasanian Empire. At the same time as the Persians were being introduced to Islam, nomadic Turkic peoples became dominant on the steppes. The Battle of Talas (751 CE) between the Arab Caliphate and Tang China in modern-day Kyrgyzstan introduced Islam as a religion of victory for the Turkic peoples and reinforced Islam as a dominant religion in Central Asia (the battle itself was a stalemate otherwise).", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk005", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Eventually, Arab dominance over Central Asia fell to local rulers, the largest of which was the state of Khworezmia (modern-day Turkmenistan and SW Kazakhstan). Unfortunately for everyone in the region (especially the occupants of Merv), the leader of Khworezmia, Shah Mohammed II, deliberately went to war with the rising Chinggis Khan, and the Mongols invaded. With Mongol victory, Central Asia was forever changed. No longer were Persian peoples politically dominant in the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva - they were still heavily Persian-populated, but they were now ruled by Mongolian or Turkic peoples. With the splitting of the Mongol Empire, the region became part of the Chagatai Khaganate, and Turkic peoples became more politically dominant. It was about the same time that the Uzbek people became more sedentary, and they mixed with local Persian peoples in most of the cities that are now in Uzbekistan.\n\nThe most famous leader to come from Uzbekistan is Timur (*Tamerlane* in the West) who was born in Shahrisabz south of Samarkand in 1336 CE. He quickly overthrew the Chagatais and went on to conquer most of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and parts of Iran and India. His descendants were unable to support his empire (except in India where Babur founded the Mughal dynasty), and by the rise of European colonialism what is now Uzbekistan was composed of three main khanates: Khiva, Bukhara, and Kokand. With the rise of eastward Russian expansion into Siberia, the Russians became more involved in Central Asia. There was a traditional slave trade in the region (especially in Khiva), and Russian desires to prevent their people from being carted off as slaves led to further and further Russian conquests. Eventually, Russia outright annexed Samarkand and the Khanate of Kokand, and turned Khiva and Bukhara into \"protectorates\".", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk006", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "With the October Revolution in 1917, the Soviet Union was born, bringing communism to Central Asia. The Basmachi Revolt (1916-1934) kept communism out of the region for a while, but was eventually harshly repressed by the victorious Bolsheviks. As punishment (or paranoia), the protectorates of Khiva and Bukhara were formally annexed and Stalin carved Central Asia into the borders we have today, to deliberately weaken the power of any one Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR). Ostensibly, these SSRs were drawn to reflect the ethnic populations inhabiting them, but in reality this meant carving the historically-Persian-dominated cities of Samarkand and Bukhara out of the Persian Tajik SSR and into the Uzbek SSR.\n\nSoviet rule brought about both good and bad things to Uzbekistan. Poverty levels decreased while education levels increased rapidly, and women had more social and political freedom than before. But the anti-religious bent of the ruling Soviets kneecapped Central Asian Islam (many imams and muftis were executed then), and planned monoculture agribusiness destroyed the Uzbek environment. During the Soviet era, intensive production of \"white gold\" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. The redirection of the Amu Darya into the Turkmen Canal has been the main source of the Aral Sea's depletion.\n\nUzbekistan gained independence in 1991, following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Between 1991 and 2016, the country was ruled by Islam Karimov and his government was widely criticized for its poor human rights record. Corruption was rampant during the Karimov years, and Uzbekistan was practically isolated from the rest of the world.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk007", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "After the death of Karimov, newcomer Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected president. Under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has started opening up to the world and it would appear that his government is actively trying to improve Uzbekistan's global image and reputation. Whether or not this is genuine is yet to be seen.\n\n### Climate\n\nUzbekistan is very hot and sunny most of the year. There is an inland temperate subtropical climate. the climate is similar to the climate of northern Greece, central Italy or northern Spain or southern France, central Turkey or the climate of Nevada, Colorado or northern California.\n\nThe hottest months in this country are June, July and August. July is especially hot, and the temperature is considered normal from +45 to +55. Nevertheless, such temperatures are easier to tolerate here, since the air here is very dry, and not humid, as for example in India, Malaysia and similar countries. The most comfortable is to visit this country from mid-May to early June or from August to early September, when it is not cool as in winter, but also not very hot as in summer peak.\n\nDuring April to May and September to October, rainy, cloudy and windy days are common. There will definitely be no rains and cloudy days only in the summer months. It may snow in Uzbekistan in winter, but it usually melts in a few days, remaining only in mountainous areas.\n\nThe hottest regions are Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Navoi and Bukhara Vilayats, and the coldest (meaning in winter) are Khorezm Vilayat and Karakalpakstan.\n\n### Geography\n\nthumb|Aral Sea bed\nUzbekistan measures 1450 km West to East and 930 km North to South.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk008", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) and Zarafshon; Ferghana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west.\n\n**Syr Darya** crosses the Ferghana Valley and runs on the North East edge of the Kizil Kum Desert. It is 2212 km long (3019 km including its source Naryn). In antiquity, it was called *Jaxartes*. Syr Darya flows into the (smaller) Northern part of the Aral Sea.\n **Amu Darya** rises in the Hindukush and has a length of 2540 km. It was called *Oxus* in antiquity. It can be a rapid river in spring and is called *Dsaihun* (suffering from rabies) in Arabic. The river has changed its course several times. Konye Urgench in Turkmenistan, the capital of the old empire of Chwarezm, was situated on the banks of the Amu Darya. Today the distance between the river and the old city is about 40 km. Amu Darya flows into the (bigger) Southern part of the Aral Sea.\n\nUzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; all their neighbours are landlocked. Although Uzbekistan has the southern shoreline of the Aral Sea, and a couple of its neighbours border the Caspian Sea, both \"seas\" are (or, were, in the case of the Aral) actually huge lakes and do not connect to the oceans.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk009", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Understand", "text": "**1 Jan** – New Year (*Yangi Yi Bayrami*)\n**8 Mar** – International Women's Day (*Xalqaro Xotin-Qizlar Kuni*)\n **21 Mar** – Navroz (Persian New Year) (*Navro'z Bayrami*)\n **9 May** – Remembrance Day, Peace Day or Liberation Day (*Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni*), remembering that Uzbek troops participated in the Soviet army and that 500,000 Uzbek soldiers were killed in World War II.\n **1 Sep** – Independence Day (*Mustaqillik Kuni*), remembering the proclamation of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991\n **1 Oct** – Teachers' Day (*O'qituvchi va Murabbiylar Kuni*)\n **8 Dec** – Constitution Day (*Konstitutsiya Kuni*), remembering the proclamation of the first constitution of independent Uzbekistan in 1992.\n\nHolidays in accordance with the lunar year: the dates of these holidays vary according to the lunar calendar.\n *Kurban Kait* (Qurbaon Hayit)\n **Ramadan** (*Ramazon Hayit*)\n\n### Read\n\nColin Thubron, The Lost Heart of Asia, 1994, Penguin\n\n### Visitor information\n\nuzbekistan.travel (official tourism website)", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk010", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official state language of Uzbekistan is **Uzbek**, a Turkic language. The majority of citizens (over 85%) are ethnic Uzbeks and speak it as their native language, although due to its history as part of the Soviet Union, many (especially in Tashkent) also speak **Russian**, which is still a mandatory second language in all schools, and is the de facto second official language and used for interethnic communication. Local Russian has been strongly influenced by Uzbek, and many Uzbek speakers often use Russian words and terms in their everyday conversations (especially in cities), although there are very few Russian words and terms in the official register (for example in television, mass media, books and newspapers). The official script of the Uzbek language has been the Uzbek Latin alphabet since 1993, but the Cyrillic alphabet, introduced during the Soviet period, is actively used de facto in parallel (simultaneously) with the Latin alphabet. Uzbek speakers will easily understand the Uyghur language, they generally understand Turkish and Azerbaijani, they have a little difficulty understanding Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Crimean Tatar and Bashkir, as well as many other Turkic languages.\n\nThere are also significant numbers of ethnic Tajiks and Kazakhs in Uzbekistan, primarily speaking their native tongue as a first language. In Samarkand and Bukhara, for instance, one is just as likely to hear Tajik being spoken as Uzbek. Russian is widely spoken especially in the cities. In Tashkent the majority of the population speak Russian as a first language and one is just as likely to hear it being spoken as Uzbek. Identity may or may not be tied with language, depending on who you ask; it is equally as likely to find someone speaking Tajik who identifies as Tajik as it is to find someone speaking Tajik who identifies as Uzbek.\n\nIn the semi-autonomous region called the \"Republic of Karakalpakstan\" in western Uzbekistan, ethnic Karakalpaks (over 33% in Karakalpakstan) speak their native language, which is closely related to Kazakh and Kyrgyz. Karakalpak and Uzbek have equal rights as an official language here. Many Karakalpaks also speak Russian and Uzbek and understand Kazakh and Kyrgyz well, having three or even four or five languages.\n\nIn cities, more and more people speak **English**, especially in the field of hotel business and catering. In tourist cities (for example, in Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand or Khiva) and establishments you will not encounter problems with English. English has become compulsory to study (along with Russian) in schools starting from the first grade (previously, English was studied only from the third grade and Russian from the first grade), and in May 2021, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that graduates up to the university level must be proficient in at least two foreign languages. As a result, English has become an increasingly popular language of study. However, this does not mean that any passerby (even young age) will be able to speak English proficiently, especially given the relative rarity of well-trained English teachers in the country. The generation born after 1995 speaks English better than others, while the older generation, who studied in Soviet schools, learned **German** as a foreign language, and remember a few German words.", "word_count": 526}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk011", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Uzbekistan, with countries in shades of green having visa-free access; and countries in blue having e-visa.\n\n### Entry requirements\n\nCitizens of most western countries (including the United States since January 2026), as well as CIS countries, China, and various others, can visit the country without a visa.\n\nSome other countries' citizens are eligible for an \"e-visa\" which is applied for online and easier than a regular visa. The eVisa can be applied for on a government website. As the website can be quite finicky (e.g. very specific but poorly explained requirements for passport photos, unclear error messages), soliciting other's experiences in navigating the application is useful. Some people resort to paying a third party to complete the e-visa application, or even opting for the regular visa because they cannot get the e-visa website to work.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk012", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "To apply for a regular visa, complete the application form from here, print out the resulting PDF and take to your printed form, together with some photos and a photocopy of your passport to your nearest Uzbek embassy. They will then ask the MFA in Tashkent for permission to issue a visa, which takes 7-14 days. Once this permission is granted you can pick up your visa. To avoid two trips to the embassy you can get a Letter of Invitation (LOI) in advance (by email) and once approval has been granted you can pick up your visa from your chosen embassy in only 1 visit - this is handy for people travelling who want to pick up a visa 'on the go'. An LOI can be obtained from travel companies when a hotel booking is made. Talk to your local travel agent in your own country. The LOI will typically cost US$30-40 for a short stay. For the latest information see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\n\nWhen you enter Uzbekistan you might find fairly lengthy immigration and passport procedures (or not), but these are fairly painless. As of March 2026, arriving at Tashkent airport, it was a simple \"what is the purpose of your visit\" and standing for a photo, taking about 1 minute.\n\n*Travel permits* are required for the mountain areas near the border to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, including great parts of the *Ugam-Chatkal National Park* and *Zaamin National Park*.\n\n#### Registration", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk013", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visitors to the country are officially required to register their lodging at least every three days. As of March 2026, for western visitors, this is apparently not being enforced upon airport departure (no guarantees!). Some hotels are no longer bothering, at least by default. A trend seems to be that departure by plane is less likely to require the registration slips than at land borders.\n\nMost established hotels will (or used to) register you by default for free.\n\nTo comply with registration: Make sure you ask your hotel to give you a copy of the registration slip - you could have to show them to the border guards when you leave the country. If you stay at a house, you will face a lot of bureaucratic paperwork in order to register yourself. Make sure that it is done, else you risk a 100-dollar fee when you depart. (The US embassy claims that the fines range from $1,000 to $12,000! It also states that since 2017, these rules have been frequently changing.)\n\nWhile the official rules for registration are quite clear , the necessity of providing documentation of registration upon exiting the country are vague. The minimum effort you can get away with will depend on the border crossing, how harmless you look, and the whimsy of any given customs officer. Still, they aren't so strict now on the whole \"re-registration every three days\" business. You can likely get away with registering a couple of times in a month (even not at all) and making a few excuses at your exit point. Sometimes they don't even ask. Keep overnight train tickets for this. Probably a good idea to register once or twice though just for the sake of a smooth crossing. Online registration is an expensive effort.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk014", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Tashkent Airport\nThe main airport of Uzbekistan is the\n\nThere are airports at Andijan, **Bukhara**, **Ferghana**, Karshi, Namangan, Nukus, **Samarkand**, **Tashkent**, Termez and **Urgench**. In addition to Tashkent, also several others (in bold) are also served by international flights from Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.\n\nThe smallest international airports are served only by flights from elsewhere in Central Asia and/or Russia.\n\n### By train\n\nUsable passenger services only exist to Kazakhstan and via Kazakhstan to Russia. These include the following trains:\n\nTashkent - Moscow (3 times weekly): Train 6 *Uzbekistan* leaves Moscow on M W and F at 23:15 and arrives in Tashkent at 22:35 on W F and Su. The distance from Moscow to Tashkent by rail is 3,369 km. Some Moscow-bound trains run to/from Andijan.\n Tashkent - Ufa (3 times weekly)\n Tashkent - Chelyabinsk (once weekly)\n Tashkent - Novosibirsk (every 4 days)\n Nukus - Tashkent - Almaty (once weekly)\nThere are also railway lines linking Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, but they are used only by transit trains, therefore inaccessible for people to/from Uzbekistan. See respective countries for details.\n\n### By car\n\nGenerally, Uzbek border posts are open during normal business hours (usually 9am - 6pm), although some busier ones can be open 24/7. It is relatively easy to take a (shared) taxi to the border, walk across, and find a (shared) taxi on the other side to take you to your final destination. Driving your own or rented car across a border necessitates more paperwork and includes some import costs.\n\n#### From Afghanistan\n\nthumb|The Friendship bridge\nThe Friendship Bridge, 10 km south of Termez, links Afghanistan with Uzbekistan.\n\n#### From Kazakhstan\n\nThere are only two border crossings between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan:", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk015", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "*Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka)* between Shymkent and Tashkent is the main road crossing between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan . A shared taxi or marschrutka from Kolos bus stop at Shymkent to the border costs about US$4. The trip takes about 1 hour. The border is open 07:00 to 21:00 (Tashkent time). You will have to walk over the border and to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent, which will cost about 6000 som. There are reports of waiting times up to 6 hours at the border.\n There is another crossing between *Beyneu* in Western Kazakhstan and *Kungrad* in Uzbekistan.\n\n#### From Kyrgyzstan\n\nBuses from Bishkek to Uzbekistan stop at *Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka)* border. You will have to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent for 6000 som. A transit visa for Kazakhstan is required.\n You can take a taxi or minibus from *Jalal Abad* to *Khanabad* (20 som) and walk over the border.\n You can take a taxi (50 som) or minibus (5 som) from *Osh* to *Dustlyk (Dostyk)* and a shared taxi from there to Andijan in Uzbekistan\n\n#### From Tajikistan\n\nIt is about 55 km from Dushanbe to the border at Denau. Taxis depart from Zarnisar Bazaar in Dushanbe. A seat in a taxi will cost about С8 and the trip will take about 90 minutes. There are minibuses from the border to the town of Denau. From there you will have to take a shared taxi to Samarkand.\n\nYou will have to take a shared taxi from Panjakent to the Tajik-Uzbek border (С10, 22 km) and another one, and a marshrutka (20,000 Som), from the border to Samarkand (about 50 km).", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk016", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get in", "text": "If traveling west from the Tajik portion of the Ferghana Valley, the most commonly used (and most reliably open) border crossing is between Bekobod in Uzbekistan and Qushtegirmon in Tajikistan. Taxis and marshrutkas run from Khujand (TJ) to the border, and you can pick up taxis or minibuses from Bekobod to Tashkent.\n\nTraveling north from Tajikistan, and the closest border point between Tashkent and Khujand (TJ), there is a border crossing at Oybek in Uzbekistan and Buston in Tajikistan. There are shared taxis on both sides of the border.\n\nTraveling east from Tajikistan, there are two border crossings at Konibodom (TJ), and both go to Kokand. The border crossing at Ravot (Равот) is normally only open for citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, whereas the crossing at Patar (Патар) is open to citizens of all nationalities.\n\n#### From Turkmenistan\n\nThere are three main crossings from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan that foreigners can use: Farap-Alat (connecting Bukhara and Türkmenabat), Shavat-Dashoguz (connecting Khiva/Urgench and Dashoguz), and Hojayli-Konye Urgench (connecting Nukus with Konye Urgench). If traveling from Uzbekistan into Turkmenistan, make sure all of your paperwork (especially your visa) is taken care of before you cross the border.\n\n### By bus\n\nWhen land borders are open, buses run to all neighboring countries.\n\n### By boat\n\nApart from the southern section of the inland Aral sea, Uzbekistan is land-locked: it's one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, the other being Liechtenstein.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk017", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Maps\n\nIf you prefer a paper map, look in your home country for one made by Reise Know-How or Gizi Map.\n\nYandex Maps is superior to Google Maps in this part of the world. OpenStreetMap (with various apps) is also better than Google Maps here.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Train in Bukhara\nThe most comfortable way to travel between the major tourist cities in Uzbekistan is by train. The main line Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara is served once a day in each direction by two express trains named \"Afrosiob\" and \"Sharq\": The Afrosiob is a Talgo-250-type train that takes 2.5 hours for Tashkent to Samarkand and it even meets most definitions of high speed rail at top speed. Afrosiob is Central Asia's only high-speed rail service. The \"Sharq\" takes less than 7 hours for the 600-km-journey Tashkent - Bukhara (with intermediate stop in Samarkand). A daily overnight train to and from Tashkent to Kungrad offers the possibility to travel during the night and so a day is not lost travelling. Comfortable sleeping carriages allow a good sleep.\n\nThe timetable is available online. The server is often down, but you can use the Russian Railways website to see timetables. Tickets can be booked from the Uzbekistan Railways website.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk018", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Unlike to ordinary local trains the express trains have three classes: The economy class (2nd) with 36 persons per carriage and still plenty of space and comfort, the business class (1st) and the VIP class (expect some free drinks and snacks). The Afrosiyob is the fastest and most expensive train which costs from Tashkent to Samarkand for Economy / Business class 270000 / 396000 soms as of February 2025. Doing the same trip with the Sharq will cost you around 179250 soms (~ $14), but increases the travel time by more than an hour.\n\nOvernight trains also run from Tashkent via Samarkand to Kungrad (7 times weekly), so it's also possible to travel to Khiva (30 kilometres from Urgench, taxi/bus available) or to the Aral Sea (Moynaq, 70 km from Kungrad) by train. On Thursdays, there is an overnight train in Urgench that also stops in Bukhara.\n\nThere are four types of sleepers:\n**miagki vagon (soft wagon)** - 2 berth compartments\n**kupeiny vagon** - 4 berth compartments\n**platskartny vagon** - closely packed beds in a commonspace\n**obshi vagon** - as above but beds used in the seating configuration, therefore used for day trips\n\nTrain tickets can be purchased online up to 45 days in advance. Booking in advance is recommended; booking on the day of departure is sometimes not possible as trains can get full or due to computer problems. If you buy the ticket in person, you'll have to show your passport. Some basic Russian can come in handy as well.\n\n#### By commuter electric train", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk019", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tashkent is the only city in Uzbekistan with a suburban train network called prigorodnykh poezdov (Russian: Пригородных Поездов, commuter trains). The suburban electric trains connect Tashkent to various surrounding areas. Popular destinations include Guliston and Xojikent. However, finding an up-to-date timetable online can be challenging. You can check this outdated timetable for reference, but it is best to validate the schedule directly at the station.\n\nTickets for the suburban electric trains are only sold at the station on the day of travel, and pre-purchase is not possible. Tashkent’s two main stations have special counters labeled \"ПРИГОРОДНЫХ\" where these tickets are sold. Usually, the queue at these counters is much shorter than at the long-distance counters (as of 2024 it is not required to take a number for the queuing system at Toshkent-Shimoliy station, at Toshkent-Janubiy the counter and entrance are near the overpass). If there is no counter at smaller stations, just board the train and buy the ticket from the attendant.\n\n### By shared taxi\n\nThe second best option, and an experience. Don't be put off as these are pretty safe as far as the people go, although the roads may be a different story. But for getting between Nukus and Khiva, or Khiva to Urgench to Bukhara, this is the only realistic way to go.\n\nThe taxi driver will have a destination city: so at the ranks ask around for the city you're headed to. If you match, you then negotiate a rate. Ask around beforehand, you can quite easily get ripped off, because each passenger negotiates separately with the driver, so he can charge locals normal rates and take you for all you have.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk020", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Once you've done that, you wait. The car only leaves when full, or when the driver gets bored. If possible, get the front passenger seat. Don't be polite about this as you do *not* want the middle seat. When it's over 50°C in the middle of the desert, with no air conditioning (you pay extra for a car with that), you want to be as close to a window as possible, and with only one person sweating against you!\n\nAlso, some roads are slow and sometimes of very poor quality. It takes 6-8 hours from Urgench to Bukhara if you're lucky. When you do this section you'll understand why you don't want to risk the bus.\n\n10,000 som per hour in a shared taxi between cities is a good rule of thumb, depending on your haggling skills.\n\n### By bus\n\nIf you travel any distance on a bus in Uzbekistan, take toilet paper with you and be careful what you eat at stops along the way. However, ticket officers and bus drivers do not speak any language that is not Uzbek.\n\nIntercity buses are uncomfortable. No more uncomfortable than other intercity buses in this part of the world, but the constant hooting, bickering locals, tinny Russian music videos and ever-present smell of sausages can make for an irritating journey.\n\nOn the bright side, if you're lucky you might be offered some sausages.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Entering Tashkent region\nDrive on the right. International driving permit required. Minimum age: 17. Speed limit: 60 to 80 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on highways.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk021", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "Traffic is dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. Cars are often in poor condition and traffic rules are rarely followed. The country has a seat-belt law, but compliance is haphazard. The use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited.\n\nIn remote areas, roads are often poorly surfaced and poorly lit. Outside the metropolitan area, petrol stations are scarce and fuel quality can vary. Access to spare parts can be difficult.\n\nThere are several paved highways with two lanes in Uzbekistan:\n **AH5** from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent, Syrdaria, Samarkand, Navoi and Bukhara to Alat on the border to Turkmenistan (680 km),\n **AH7** from the border to Kyrgyzstan via Andijon, Tashkent and Syrdaria to Xovos/Khavast on the border to Tajikistan (530 km),\n **AH62** from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent, Syrdaria, Samarkand and Guzar to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (380 km),\n **AH63** from Oazis on the border to Kazakhstan in the North West of Uzbekistan via Nukus and Bukhara to Guzar (950 km paved road, 240 km unpaved)\n **AH65** from Uzun on the border to Tajikistan to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (180 km)\nThere are also a number of European routes in Uzbekistan, like the **E005**, connecting G‘uzor and Samarkand, and the **E123** that has an international link to Russia, however, none of these E-routes have been signposted in Uzbekistan.\n\n### Others\n\nYou can travel by private taxi, minibus or normal bus. While there are official taxis, most cars will become taxis if you wave them down. Meters are rare, so agree the price beforehand.\n\n### Urban transport", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk022", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Get around", "text": "During the day the metro (underground train) is the good option. After midnight you are recommended to use taxi services. It is better to call the taxi (car-service) to pick you up in advance. Some car-services can serve the foreign speaking tourists. You can get more information in the hotel.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk023", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "See", "text": "Uzbekistan, a republic in the former Soviet Union, is one of the cradles of culture in the Central Asia region. The country offers an array of semi-arid landscapes and ancient sites, steeped with a history along the Silk Road.\n\n### Architecture\n\nthumb|Detail of Al Bukhari mausoleum, Samarkand\nUzbekistan has preserved a rich architectural heritage. The construction of monumental buildings was seen as a matter of prestige, emphasizing the power of the ruling dynasty, leading families and higher clergy. The external appearance of towns was determined to a great extent by their fortifications. The walls were flanked at regular intervals by semicircular towers and the entrances to towns were marked by *darwazas* (gates). These gates usually had a high vault and a gallery for lookout and were flanked by two mighty towers. The doors were closed at night and in case of danger. Along the main streets were rows of shops, specialized in different goods, and many skilled craftsmen had their workshops in these stalls. The most important covered markets are called *tag*, *tim* or *bazaars* (shopping passages) and *charsu* (crossroads, literally \"four directions\"). In big cities the *ark* (fortress) was the administrative center. It contained the emir's palace, chancellery, treasury, arsenal and the jail for high-ranking prisoners. The towns also had large public centres, consisting of a *maydan* (open square) surrounded by large buildings for civil or religious purposes.\n\n#### Religious buildings", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk024", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "See", "text": "The **Friday Mosque (Masjid Al Jumu'ah)** is located in the town. It had a spacious courtyard with a surrounding gallery and a *maqsura* (screened-off enclosure) in the main axis. A typical example is the *Kalan Mosque* at *Bukhara*.\n The **Oratory Mosque (Namazgah)** is situated outside of the town. Prayers at two important Muslim festivals were conducted in public. The worshippers gathered in an open space in front of the building where the *minbar* (imam's pulpit) stood.\n The **Neighbourhood Mosque** was smaller in size and consisted of a covered hall with the *mihrab* and an exterior gallery with columns. They were built from donations of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and are often richly decorated. An example of this type is the *Baland (Boland) Mosque* at *Bukhara*.\n The **Madrasa** is an institution for higher education of *ulama* (Islamic scholars). The madrasa has a courtyard with two or four aywand (arched portals) on the axes which were used as classrooms in the summer, a row of cells on one or two floors, *darsakhanas* (lecture rooms) in two or four corners and a mosque for daily prayer. The main facade has a high portal with two or four minaret-like towers at the corners of the building. Madrasas from the 16th and 17th centuries that have been preserved are *Madar-Khan*, *Abdullah Khan*, *Kukeldash*, *Nadir Divan Begi* and *Abdul Aziz Khan* at *Bukhara*, *Shir-Dor* and *Tilla-Kari* at *Samarkand*, *Kukeldash* and *Baraq Khan* in *Tashkent*, *Said Ataliq* at *Denau* and *Mir Rajab Dotha* at *Kanibadam*. Madrasas built in the 18th and 19th century include *Narbuta Bi* at *Kokand*, *Qutlugh Murad Inaq*, *Khojamberdybii*, *Khoja Moharram*, *Musa Tura* and *Allah-Quili Khan* in *Khiva*.\n The **Khanaqah** was originally a guest house for travelling Sufis near the residence of their *pir* (spiritual masters). Under the Timurids they became meeting places of the followers of a Sufi order, attended by representatives of the ruling elite and often a *zikr-khana* (room for exposition and Sufi rites) was added. Examples of khanaqas from the 16th and 17th century include *Zaynuddin*, *Fayzabad*, *Bahaudin* and *Nadi Divan-Begi* at *Bukhara*, *Mulla Mir* near *Ramitan*, *Qasim Shaiykh* at *Karmana* and *Imam Bahra* near *Khatirchi*.\n **Memorial buildings** were erected in the 14th and 15th centuries git *Temur* and his family, e.g. *Gur-Emir* and *Shah-i Zinda* at Samarkand and at *Shakrizabs*. In the 16th and 17th centuries fewer mausoleums were built. An example from this period is the *Qafal Shashi Mausoleum* in *Tashkent*. Monumental buildings were often erected near holy tombs. At *Bukhara* a monumental kanaqah was built near the founder of the Naqshbandi order, *Bahauddein* and at *Char Bakr*, the family necropolis of the powerful Juybari shaykhs. From the 16th century onwards, mausoleums for rulers were no longer built. The rulers were interred in madrasas, the *Shaybanids* of *Samarkand* in the *Abu Said Mausoleum* on the *Registan*, *Ubaydullah Khan* from *Bukhara* in the *Mir-i Arab Madrasa* and *Abdul Aziz Khan* in the *Abdul Aziz Madrasa*.", "word_count": 487}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk025", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "See", "text": "#### Civic architecture\n\nthumb|Ak Sarai in [[Shakhrizabz]]\n **Market buildings (Charsu, Tim, Taq)** form the very heart of an oriental town. The *charsu* is a building covered by a central dome, standing at the crossroads, surrounded by shops and workshops covered by small domes. The *tim* is a trading passage and the *taq* a domed building on a smaller scale built at the intersection of major streets. At *Bukhara* the *Taq-i Zargaran (Goldsmiths' Dome)* has an octagonal central space covered by a dome set on 32 intersecting arches. Shops and workshops around the central space are topped by small domes.\n **Caravanserais** played an important role along the trade routes. According to the traditional plan a caravanserai is a rectangular building with a large courtyard, galleries for animals and baggage, lodgings for the travellers and a mosque. The outer walls were high and thick, the entrance was well guarded and at the corners there were towers for defense. The best exampla is at *Rabat al-Malik*. A small number of caravanserais have survived, party in ruins, e.g. the caravanserai near the *Qaraul Bazar* on the road from *Bukhara* to *Karshi*, the *Abdullah Khan caravanserai* on the road from *Karshi* to *Termez*.\n **Bathhouses** from the 16th and 17th centuries have been preserved at *Samarkand*, *Sahrh-i Sabz*, *Bukhara* and *Tashkent*. They are heated by a system of channels under the floor, distributing the heat uniformly through the whole building. Some of them have rooms for disrobing, hot and cold rooms, a massage room or a water closet. Bathhouses are covered with domes which give them their characteristic external appearance.\n\n#### Architectural Ensembles\n\nThe **Pay-i Kalan (Pedestal of the Great** at *Bukhara*,\n The **Kosh Madrasa** at *Bukhara*,\n The **Lab-i Hauz** at *Bukhara*,\n The **Registan** at *Samarkand*\n The **Char-Bakr Complex** at Sumitan, outside of *Bukhara*", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk026", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "See", "text": "### Nature Reserves\n\n- Jeyran Ecological Centre\n\n- Kitab State Geological Reserve\n\nthumb|Cattle in Kyzyl Kum\n- Kyzylkum Tugai and Sand Reserve\n\n- Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve\n\n- Ugam-Chatkal National Park", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk027", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Do", "text": "- Camel trekking\n\n- Bird watching\n\n- Trekking\n\n- Rafting\n\n- Skiing\n\n - Yillar", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk028", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of the country is the **Uzbekistani so‘m**, denoted in Cyrillic as \"**сўм**\" (ISO code: **UZS**).\n\nThere is **no longer** a need for black market currency exchange. The official rate is the same as the real rate.\n\nCoins in Uzbekistan are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 so‘m (silver ring with yellowish gold center) but are rarely if ever used as they are so worthless. Banknotes in Uzbekistan are issued in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 so‘m.\nthumb|The obverse of a 5000 so‘m banknote issued in 2013 shows the National Assembly building.\n\nThe \"thousand\" is sometimes omitted. You can be sure that a price of \"8\" or \"200\" means 8k or 200k, respectively.\n\n1,000 som notes are no longer made and not very common. Expect prices to be rounded *up* to the next 2,000 if you don't have the exact amount. This is trivial since 1,000 som = US$0.08 at last check.\n\nAs of March 2026, at the exchange counter, you will get 100,000 som notes. ATMs will generally give 50,000 som notes. However, it is somewhat hard to use 50,000 or larger to pay for small things, so try to break them when you get a chance.\n\nThe US dollar used to be the foreign currency of choice, but nowadays the euro is also accepted everywhere although at a worse rate.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk029", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Buy", "text": "It is **illegal** to **exchange money** outside official currency exchange offices, which are found only in banks and some expensive international hotels. In particular, the money exchange at Chorsu Bazaar has stopped, although you might find yourself being asked by one or the other person on the market if you want to exchange currency with them. This is done right in front of police so evidently it is tolerated. Their exchange rate can be much worse than the official one. Perhaps look for a group of men hanging out by an \"Aviakassa\" (this may be outdated).\n\nIn March 2026, it was possible to exchange all sorts of foreign currency at the official exchange offices, even very small bills. The exchange of US dollars and euros appeared to be done at almost the market rate, while Russian rubles were exchanged at extremely bad rates like +/- 50% from the market rate. Sometimes black market money changers will give a better rate for exchange of rubles. In major cities (and Tashkent airport), exchange machines can also be found, often near ATMs. These look similar to ATMs but are for specifically for exchanging currency. When they actually work, they can serve as an alternative to a bank for exchanging money.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk030", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Buy", "text": "**ATMs** (or Bankomats as they used to be known) can be found in larger cities (Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Termez and apparently there is one in Nukus). All provide som, and some can also provide USD. There is a surcharge of 1–1.5%. Visa and MasterCard are accepted at ATMs and often Union Pay too. ATMs can be found in many places in Tashkent and Samarkand. Be careful of withdrawing a large number of dollars and then leaving Uzbekistan with more money than you declared when you entered. You have to declare foreign currency above 100,000 som (about US$8,000) at the airport upon arrival. You are not allowed to exit the country with more than US$8,000 (without having declared it upon entry, anyway). If you have large amounts of paper (even books...) seen on the X-ray, they may search your bag looking for excess banknotes.\n\n**Credit cards** are increasingly accepted at restaurants, retail outlets including supermarkets and entertainment venues. *Visa* is more accepted than MasterCard. As of 2026, *Discover* is supposedly the most accepted of all, thanks to a new integration with the domestic UZCARD network. There is often a ~1% surcharge added for paying by card.\n\n**Expensive items** such as carpets, artwork, or pricier hotel stays, are priced in US Dollars. If payment is made in som, the business will use a calculator and the latest exchange rate to determine the amount in som.\n\n### Costs\n\nUzbekistan is cheaper than neighbouring Kazakhstan, but probably a little more expensive than Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. A street snack costs about US$0.80. A comfortable double room is US$40.\n\nPrices are fixed in department stores only. In bazaars, private shops and private souvenir stores *haggling* is part of the game. As a tourist, you can expect to negotiate about 20% off.\n\n### Bazaars", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk031", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Buy", "text": "In Uzbekistan people traditionally buy goods at **bazaars**. Bazaars are the best place to observe the daily life of the locals. The *Alayski Bazaar* is one of the oldest and most famous bazaars of Central Asia. You will find beautiful rugs, silk, spices, handicrafts and traditional clothes in the *Eski Djouva* and *Chor Su* bazaars in the Old City of Tashkent.\n\nTypical souvenirs are:\n **babaichik**, figurines,\n **tubeteika**, traditional Uzbek caps and\n **Shiljait**, Shilajit means \"Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness\". It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an herbal rejuvinator, nerve tonic and natural stimulant.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk032", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Eat", "text": "When you go to restaurants, always ask for menu or price if they do not provide one. While some of the well-established restaurants provide surprisingly good value by European standards, some of the random or less popular restaurants try to take advantage of tourists by overcharging up to five times the normal price.\nthumbnail|Plov\n\n **Bread** - Uzbeks eat lots of bread (*non* in Uzbek). Round bread is called *lepioshka* in Russian. You can buy it anywhere, in the bazaar it costs around 1,000-2,500 som. It is delicious when freshly baked and makes a good snack by itself. Samarkand is very famous for its bread. The characteristic Samarkand bread *obi-non* is traditionally baked in clay furnaces. Bread is served with every meal.\n **Chocolate** - Not something you associate with Uzbekistan, but the country produces some very good chocolate cake. A slice of rich moist cake can cost 10,000 to 25,000 som in a cafe or restaurant. However, if you purchase in a cake shop expect to pay 4,000 to 5,000 som per slice. A slice can cost even less if you are able to charm one from a seller in the wholesale section of the market. Individually wrapped chocolates are also available by the kilogram from mix and match bins in the markets and also in some convenience stores.\n **Chuchvara** - similar to ravioli and stuffed with mutton and onions (aka 'pelmeni' in Russian).\n **Lagman** - thick soup with meat, potatoes, spices, vegetables and pasta. By right, it should include 50 ingredients. Often carrot, red beet, cabbage, radish, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and onions are added. The noodles should be very thin.\n **Manti** - lamb and onion filled dumplings, often with onions, peppers and mutton fat.\n **Osh (also known as plov, palov or pilaf)** is the national dish. It's made of rice, carrots, onions, and mutton, and you will eat it if you go to Uzbekistan. Each region has its own way of cooking plov, so you should taste it in different places. According to legend plov was invented by the cooks of *Alexander the Great*. Plov can also be made with peas, carrots, raisins, dried apricots, pumpkins or quinces. Often spices such as peppers, crushed or dried tomatoes are added.\n **Shashlik** - grilled meat. Usually served only with raw onions. Veal or mutton is marinated in salt, peppers and vinegar and eight to ten pieces of meat are grilled on a spit over the open fire.\n **Somsas**, which are pastry pockets filled with beef, mutton, pumpkin or potatoes. In spring, \"green somsas\" are made from *yalpiz*, mint or pennyroyal growing wild in the mountains and rural areas. And the amazing thing is people just pick them up for free and make tasty somsas. You can find somsas being cooked and sold on the streets.\n- Mastava\n\n- Shurpa\n\n- Bechbarmak\n\nBeing a historic crossroads and part of numerous empires, Uzbek food is very eclectic in its origins. Indian, Iranian, Arab, Russian, Chinese and even Korean influences all contribute to Uzbekistan's unique cuisine.", "word_count": 501}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk033", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Drink", "text": "There are two national drinks of Uzbekistan: tea and vodka (result of more than a century of Russian domination of the land).\n **Tea** is served virtually everywhere: home, office, cafes, etc. Uzbek people drink *black tea* in winter and *green tea* in summer, instead of water. If tea is served in the traditional manner, the server will pour tea into a cup from the teapot and then pour the tea back into the teapot. This action is repeated three times. These repetitions symbolize loy (clay) which seals thirst, moy (grease) which isolates from the cold and the danger and tchai (tea or water) which extinguishes the fire. If you are being served tea in an Uzbek home, the host will attempt at all times to make sure your cup is never filled. If the host fills your cup, it probably means that it is time for you to leave, but this occurs really rarely, because Uzbeks are very hospitable. The left hand is considered impure. The tea and the cups are given and taken by the right hand.\nA mind-numbing variety of brands of wine and **vodka** are available almost everywhere.\nthumb|Uzbekistan is probably not the first country you'll think of when you hear \"wine\", but it's certainly produced here\n\nSince the Republic of Uzbekistan is a secular state, the sale/purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages are allowed and absolutely free, as for example in Turkey or Russia. Previously, alcohol was sold in any stores, but now the laws allow selling alcoholic beverages only to those stores that have a license and are several hundred meters away from schools/kindergartens and religious sites.\n\n **Wine** produced in Uzbekistan has won numerous international prestigious awards for a high quality. Although Uzbekistan is predominantly Muslim, for the most part the Islam practiced there tends to be more cultural than religious.\n **Beer** is available in every shop and is treated as soft drink and does not require any license to sell. There are special licensed shops selling Vodka, Wine and other Drinks. Russian made vodka is available in only few shops.\n **Kumis** is fermented mare's milk, which is alcoholic.\n\n### Nightlife\n\nIn Tashkent there are various night (dance) clubs and restaurants. They usually work till late night/early morning. Take enough cash because drinks and snacks are much more expensive than in daytime restaurants.\nAlso you can find overnight Uzbek \"chill-out\" restaurants where you enjoy traditional food laying on large wooden sofas (tapchans/suri).\nIt is not recommended to hang out on the street or parks after 11PM; even if you do not face problems with criminals, you will definitely attract unwanted interest from local police (militsiya) patrolling the area.", "word_count": 443}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk034", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Hotels\n\nThere are many hotels in the country. In Tashkent, accommodations can cost US$30 or more, depending on your preferred level of luxury.\n\n### Yurt stays\n\n *Nurata Yurt Camp*, about 500 km (7 hours drive) from Tashkent, 250 km /3 hours drive) from Samarkand and Bokhara, near Aydakul Lake, US$60 per person incl. full board and camel trip. The Yurts can accommodate 8 to 10 people.\n *Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp*, about 100 km from Khiva, 70 km from Urgench, 450 km from Bokhara and 150 km from Nukus. phone 2210770, 2210707, 3505909, fax 53243–61. Access from Khiva and Urgench is via a pontoon bridge over the Amu Darya River. The yurts are on a hill about 30 meters high, near the archaeological site of Ayaz Kala. The ancient fortresses of Ayaz Kala are nearby. US$60 per person including three meals. The yurts can accommodate 20 to 25 persons.\n *Aydar Yurt Camp*, in the Navoi region in the center of the Kyzyl Kum desert, 10 km from Lake Aydar Kul. The Aydar Yurt Camp is famous for camel safaris.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk035", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Work", "text": "The economy of Uzbekistan is experiencing an acute shortage of highly qualified and simply qualified personnel after the country's opening to the outside world and the transition to a full-fledged market economy after the fall of Islam Karimov's dictatorship in 2016. If you are highly qualified or just a qualified specialist, then it is not difficult to get a work permit now. They are issued by your employer. For simple professions, it is more difficult to get a permit if you are not a citizen of one of the CIS member countries, since the state wants to provide simple professions primarily to its citizens. There is an IT visa for IT specialists.\n\nIn the early 2020s, many IT specialists from sanctioned Russia and Belarus, as well as from war-torn Ukraine, have begun to move to Uzbekistan to work because of the cheapness of the country and the similar mentality and lifestyle of the inhabitants of these countries. Uzbekistan also has a lot of qualified expats from the USA, European countries (mainly citizens of Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Latvia, Spain, Balkans), Turkey, Iran, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan and Malaysia. There are a lot of labor migrants and just immigrants from neighboring Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Mostly migrants from Afghanistan (a lot of them live and work in Termez) work in low-paid jobs.\n\nNevertheless, there is a lot of unemployment in simple professions in the country, as the market is oversaturated with cheap labor by the residents of Uzbekistan themselves. In addition, wages for ordinary occupations on average does not exceed $250 per regions and $350 in Tashkent, which the citizens of Uzbekistan's go to work (mostly just a profession) mainly in Russia (it employs no less than 4 million migrants from Uzbekistan) and Turkey (400-450 thousand), and in Kazakhstan, the USA, South Korea, to a lesser extent in European countries (mainly Germany, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal, Czech Republic and Poland), and in Israel, UAE, Japan, Malaysia, Canada, China.\n\nThe working week in Uzbekistan usually lasts 5 or 6 days (respectively, Sunday or Saturday/Sunday are days off), and usually starts at 8-9 in the morning and lasts until 5-7 in the evening. The culture of working relations is similar to Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, with a pinch of Muslim culture and the culture of working relations in East Asia.", "word_count": 400}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk036", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Learn", "text": "If you want to learn Persian or find yourself with native speakers, and you don't have the opportunity to get to Iran, Afghanistan or Tajikistan, then you need to go to Uzbekistan, to the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, where there are many Persian speakers.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk037", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Uzbek police in Samarkand\nThe areas of Uzbekistan bordering Afghanistan should be avoided for all but essential travel. Extreme caution should also be exercised in areas of the Ferghana Valley bordering Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. There have been a number of security incidents in this region, as well as several exchanges of gunfire across the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border. Some border areas are also mined. Travellers should therefore avoid these areas and cross only at authorized border crossing points.\n\nFor the most part, Uzbekistan is generally safe for visitors, perhaps the by-product of a police state. There are many anecdotal (and a significant number of documented) reports of an increase in street crime, especially in the larger towns, particularly Tashkent. This includes an increase in violent crime. Information on crime is largely available only through word of mouth - both among locals and through the expat community - as the state-controlled press rarely, if ever, reports street crime. As economic conditions in Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate, street crime is increasing.\n\nNormal precautions should be taken, as one would in virtually any country. Especially in the cities (few travellers will spend much time overnight in the small villages), be careful after dark, avoid unlighted areas, and don't walk alone. Even during the day, refrain from openly showing significant amounts of cash. Men should keep wallets in a front pocket and women should keep purses in front of them with a strap around an arm. Avoid wearing flashy or valuable jewellery which can easily be snatched.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk038", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Scams are not unheard of. One of the most common (and one that is not limited to Uzbekistan) involves a stranger coming up to the victim and saying they have found cash lying on the street. They will then try to enlist you in a complicated scheme that will result in you \"splitting\" the cash - of course only after you have put up some of your own. The entire scenario is ludicrous, but apparently enough greedy foreigners fall for it that it continues. If someone comes up to you with the \"found cash\" routine, tell them straight away that you are not interested (in whatever language you choose) and walk away.\n\nAlso beware of locals you don't know who offer to show you the \"night life.\" This should be completely avoided, though some visitors seem to leave their common sense at home.\n\nWhile all of these precautions should be observed during travel virtually anywhere in the world, for some reason many tourists in Uzbekistan seem to lower their guard. They should not.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk039", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "It is also possible that you will be asked by police (Militsiya) for documents. This doesn't happen often, but it can, and they have a legal right to do so. By law, you should carry your passport and visa with you in Uzbekistan, though in practice, it is better to make a color scan of the first two pages of your passport and your Uzbek visa before you arrive. Carry the colour copies with you when you're walking around, and keep the original documents in the hotel safe. The scanned documents will almost always suffice. If not, make it clear to the Militsiya officer that he will have to come to your hotel to see the originals. Unless they have something out of the norm in mind (such as a bribe) they will almost always give you a big smile and tell you to go along. Always be polite with the Militsiya, but also be firm. While almost all of them take bribes, they take them from locals. For the most part, they understand that going too far with a foreigner will only cause them problems, especially if the foreigner is neither being abusive nor quaking with fear.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk040", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "One note about locals offering to show you around: It is common for younger Uzbeks (usually male) who speak English to try to \"meet\" foreigners at local hotels and offer to serve as interpreters and guides. This is done in daylight and in the open, often in or near some of the smaller but better hotels. This can be rewarding for both the local and the visitor. The local is usually trying to improve their English or French (occasionally other languages, but usually English) and to make a few dollars/euros. If you are approached by a clean-cut person offering such services, and you are interested, question them about their background, what they are proposing to do for you and how much they want to charge you (anywhere between $10 and $25 a day is realistic depending on their services and how long they spend with you). Most of the legitimate offers will be from young people who have studied in the West on exchange programs and/or studied at the University of World Diplomacy and/or Languages in Tashkent. If everything seems to fit, their language skills are good and they seem eager and polite, but not pushy, you may want to consider this. They should offer to show you museums, historical sites, cafés, bazaars, cultural advice, generally how to get around, etc. They should ask you what you want to see and/or do. Often this works out well. However, for your and their protection, do not attempt to engage in political discussions of any type.\n\nAgain, if they are proposing \"night life\" (or related) services, do *not* take up their offers.\n\nKeep every 'Registration Slip' given by hotels until you exit the country. Border guards often demand the physical paper slips to verify your stay, despite digitalization efforts.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk041", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Uzbekistan's health care is not up to Western standards. There is often a shortage of medicines and medical supplies. Travellers should take the necessary medicines (including prescriptions, see section on laws and practices) and supplies with them. Local hospitals should be used with caution.\n\nDrink only bottled water. Tap water should be boiled before drinking and ice cubes should be avoided. Hygiene should also be taken into account when preparing food and peel fruits and vegetables.\n\nAir quality in the Karakalpakstan and Xorazmi regions is particularly poor due to salt, dust and toxins emitted from the Aral Sea.\n\nUzbekistan has not implemented a no-smoking policy in bars and restaurants, unlike many Western countries. Consequently, enclosed spaces can be very unpleasant for non-smokers, especially in the cold weather.\n\nFruits and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Avoid drinking home-brewed vodka and brandy. These are highly likely to contain methanol, the risk of which should not be taken lightly. One moderately famous and high-quality vodka is Qarataw.\n\nVisitors should consider **tap water** to be unsafe to drink in regions, while in capital of Uzbekistan the water is safe for drinking. In any case drinking bottled water is advised.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk042", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Respect", "text": "In Uzbekistan, and in Central Asia in general, elderly people are greatly respected. Always treat the elderly with great respect and be deferent to them in all situations.\n\nAlso be polite with females. Traditionally it is not welcomed to flirt openly with women. If you are a male and there is an option to address a male with the question instead of female, choose it. But likewise use caution if seeking out a same-sex conversation on a romantic level, as LGBT rights aren't a thing in Uzbekistan but rather still criminalized.\n\nThis might strike you as a quirk, but it really is not: bread is sacred in Uzbekistan. Do not waste it, and if you do: do not do so visibly. Don't worry, you are not obliged to eat all the bread you get served in the restaurant, but if you are carelessly throwing away a half a loaf in the street you will get some mean looks. Either way, Uzbek bread is among the best in the world, so you'll probably enjoy it until the last crumb.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "uzbekistan::chunk043", "doc_id": "uzbekistan", "section": "Connect", "text": "Mobile connection works in most parts of Uzbekistan and the services are cheap. The mobile service providers are Beeline, Mobiuz, Ucell, UzTelecom (a.k.a. UzMobile). Also Perfectum, which mostly uses CDMA technology, useless for visitors as of March 2026. In Tashkent only, they have 5G.)\n\nGlobal or third party eSIMs essentially all use the Beeline network only (as of March 2026, despite some claiming additional ones), which is fine in cities but not as great coverage elsewhere.\n\nIn the Tashkent airport arrivals area (before customs), there are kiosks for several networks - Beeline, Mobiuz, Ucell, UzTelecom - where you can get a **SIM or eSIM**.\n\nGenerally, a foreigner can get a SIM card after showing his passport. For activating the cell phone connection a person has to be registered. Some vendors are not aware of the law and refuse to sell to foreigners. (In the airport this would not be a problem.)\n\nIf you plan to travel around to the countryside, the Ucell network has the best coverage according to locals (2024). You can get the SIM, with 24 Gb, calls and some SMS for 40k per month in the official shop at the center of Tashkent. There are bigger packages available; an eSIM is available for an extra 500, as of May 2024.\n\nYou can find **Internet cafés** in most of the cities. Speeds can sometimes be fast but generally speed is relatively slow.\n\nSome restaurants offer WiFi.", "word_count": 238}
diff --git a/corpus/uzbekistan/metadata.json b/corpus/uzbekistan/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a5a5be3075c21c54e6ea8a0e643b949903be871c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/uzbekistan/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "uzbekistan",
+ "title": "Uzbekistan",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Uzbekistan",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "skiing",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "birdwatching"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Central_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 10375,
+ "listing_count": 14,
+ "marker_count": 10,
+ "chunk_count": 44,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/vancouver/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/vancouver/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b48271d6366d35e2aa91a1027fe67c10be4f1275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vancouver/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk000", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|View of Lions Gate Bridge from the [[Vancouver/West End|Stanley Park]] Seawall path.\n**Vancouver** occupies an enviable spot in the world. Blessed with miles of coastline, lush vegetation and crowned by the North Shore Mountains, it's hard to be there and not stop at some point and be amazed by what you see.\n\nBut scratch beneath that setting and you find a cosmopolitan city of many faces. It is a mix of old and new, a stopping place for immigrants that have infused the city's neighbourhoods, festivals and food. On one hand, Greater Vancouver is the third largest metropolitan area in Canada, the second biggest destination for visitors to the country and the economic hub of British Columbia. A modern **city of glass towers** with a variety of festivals, cultures and attractions, it has also been host to world events like the 1986 World Exposition and the 2010 Winter Olympics. To others, it's **Vansterdam**, the laid-back socially progressive city with the laissez-faire attitude to marijuana. With its Asian heritage and relative proximity to China and Japan, some see it as the **gateway to Asia**; often called **Hongcouver** due to the large number of immigrants and political refugees from Hong Kong living in the area. And with all that nature minutes from your door, Vancouver is a **haven for outdoor enthusiasts**. It's one of those rare places you could ski in the mountains, hit one of the many sandy beaches and play a round of golf all in the same day. Vancouver is one of the most culturally diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the world, with just under half its residents born outside Canada.\n\nAll of this makes it easy to be a local. Walk the Seawall. Spend a day in one of the parks. Indulge in food and treats from around the world at a neighbourhood restaurant. Or just grab a spot at the beach or on a patio and watch it all go by – Vancouver is, after all, one of the most beautiful spots in the world.", "word_count": 338}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk001", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Districts", "text": "Vancouverites broadly split the City of Vancouver in three: the Westside, the Eastside (or East Van) and city centre. This split is simply geography: everything west of Ontario St is the Westside, everything east is East Vancouver and everything north of False Creek is the city centre. Each of these areas have their own attractions and neighbourhoods, so time permitting, explore as many as you can. This list covers only the City of Vancouver. For the rest of Greater Vancouver, see Lower Mainland.\n\n### City Centre\n\n### Outside the city centre", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk002", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Understand", "text": "While Vancouver is a comparatively young city, founded in 1867, its history begins long before. The Coast Salish indigenous peoples (First Nations) have lived in the area for at least 6,000 years. The present city's namesake Captain George Vancouver sailed through the First Narrows on 13 June 1792, naming Burrard Inlet after his friend Sir Harry Burrard. The first settlement on the downtown peninsula was **Granville**, on the spot of today's **Gastown**. In 1867, the year of Canada's confederation, a saloon was built on this site and gave birth to a small shantytown of bars and stores, adjacent to the original mill, on the south shore of what is now the city's harbour. A seemingly endless supply of high-quality lumber was logged and sold through the ports of Gastown and Moodyville, across the inlet. Some of the trees were gigantic beams which were shipped to China to construct Beijing's Imperial Palace. One account maintains that the world's windjammer fleets could not have been built without the trees of Burrard Inlet.\n\nVancouver's first City Hall was little more than a hand-painted sign nailed to a wooden tent post. The arrival of the transcontinental railway, a few years later, spurred growth even more, and by 1892 the area had over 20,000 residents. 18 years later, this figure was over 100,000.", "word_count": 218}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk003", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Understand", "text": "Factor in constant growth every year since (many in the double digits), and Greater Vancouver today is Canada's largest metropolitan area west of Toronto by far, with more than 2,600,000 residents, more than half of British Columbia's population as a whole. It is also the fastest growing part of Canada. During the 1980s and 1990s, Vancouver received a large number of immigrants from Hong Kong fleeing the impending handover to China. Greater Vancouver is today one of the most ethnically diverse metropolitan areas in the world, home to the second largest Chinese population in North America after the San Francisco Bay Area, and with about half its population being born outside Canada. It is also home to a large and influential Sikh community, and one of the main centres of the Khalistan movement that advocates for the carving out of an independent Sikh nation from India.\n\nFor many, Vancouver truly \"arrived\" in 1986, when the city hosted the Expo 86 World's Fair. Media attention from around the world was consistently positive, though many saw the resulting gentrification of poorer areas as being harmful to Vancouver's lower-class citizens, as many residents of the Downtown Eastside were evicted from their homes. Vancouver also hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, which was largely seen as another success, though it brought some similar criticisms.\n\nVancouver is perhaps best known for its scenic beauty, and the opportunities afforded by its natural environment. Vancouver is one of those rare places where you could theoretically ski in the mountains, windsurf in the ocean, and play a round of golf all in the same day. Surrounded by water on three sides, and crowned by the North Shore mountains, Vancouver is a great destination, and a great starting point for discovering the area's many outdoor activities.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk004", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Understand", "text": "Vancouver is a major sea port on the Pacific Ocean, and a base for many Alaska cruise ships in the summer. It has the same name as another city in the region, Vancouver, Washington (United States).\n\nVancouver is believed to be the inspiration for the fictional setting of Adventure Bay, in the animated children's television series *PAW Patrol*.\n\nVancouver's residents enjoy a high standard of living, and the city is consistently ranked among the most livable on Earth.\n\n### Climate\n\nDepending on who you talk to, or perhaps, *when*, Vancouver's climate is either much maligned or envied. Late fall and winter are typically damp with clouds smothering the sky like a wet grey blanket (there's a reason Vancouver is sometimes referred to as the \"Wet Coast\"). But there *are* benefits to all that rain: it's usually not snowing (unlike most of the rest of Canada) and it leads to a gorgeous display of colour with the start of spring in early March. And that's where Vancouver really shines – the spring and summer. Springs can still be wet, but it gets warmer and the shrubs, blossom trees and flowers put on a pretty show. Summer days are long and usually sunny with little humidity. Summer daylight lasts from 5:15AM to as late as 9:15PM in late June.\n\nSummer temperatures from mid-June to early-Sept are mostly comfortable. Temperatures peak in late July and early August with an average daytime highs around and overnight lows around . Some particularly hot days can see temperatures climb upwards to and not go below at night. Daytime summer highs increase the further east you go, with eastern areas of the city having average daytime highs around , climbing around to or even exceeding on exceptionally hot days.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk005", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Understand", "text": "Spring and fall are cooler and wetter, so packing a mix of cool and warm weather clothing is recommended. If visiting Vancouver between November and March, be prepared for wet weather and cool temperatures. Daytime highs are typically around 5-8°C (40-50°F) while overnight lows will get close to 0°C (32°F) and sometimes colder. December and January are the coldest months, with the most rain and a chance of snow. While Vancouver's winters are not as harsh as those in other major Canadian cities, the city does get a few days of snow in the winter months every year. Sunrises in winter are after 8AM, with darkness setting in prior to 4:15PM in December.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nDestination Vancouver no longer has a traditional visitor centre, but keeps a free information telephone line, at +1 604-683-2000. As of June 2025, it operates between 08:00 and 16:00. There is still a small mobile booth which offers maps, brochures and other information for visitors, which as of June 2025 is located at Canada Place, the East building of Vancouver's Convention Centre, next to the convention centre's information kiosk (with a blue tablecloth).", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk006", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n#### Vancouver International Airport\n\nYVR is the second busiest airport in Canada, with frequent flights from cities in British Columbia, the rest of Canada, other North American countries, Asia, and Europe. It is also the only Canadian airport to have direct flights to Australia and New Zealand because of its westerly location.\nthumb|Artwork inside [[Vancouver International Airport]]\n\nTransLink's **SkyTrain** (**Canada Line**) provides direct service to downtown Vancouver in 25 minutes. The fare from YVR to Vancouver is (), which includes the two-zone base fare of plus a surcharge (the \"YVR AddFare\") incurred only for departures from the airport. Bus N10 runs overnight to Vancouver when the Skytrain service is closed. Route C92 connects the South Terminal with Bridgeport station on the Canada Line during limited daytime hours.\n\nThe typical travel time from the airport to downtown by taxi is 20-30 minutes. Fares for a taxi ride *from the airport to* Vancouver or Richmond are fixed and vary depending on the zone of the destination. The zone map and fixed rates are posted at YVR Taxis. Metered fares apply for all trips going to the airport, and for trips from outside the zones. All taxis that serve the airport are required to accept credit cards.\n\n#### Seaplane\n\nThere are floatplane facilities about 300 metres south of YVR's South Terminal and in downtown Vancouver at:", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk007", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "These floatplane facilities offer frequent flights to downtown Vancouver and/or YVR. Flight to downtown Vancouver from Comox (50 minutes, summer), Nanaimo harbour (20 minutes), Powell River (40 minutes), Tofino (1 hours, summer), Victoria's Inner Harbour (35 minutes), Whistler (45 minutes, summer) the scenic Southern Gulf Islands and other local destinations. Some float plane operators also offer spectacular tours of the central city and nearby attractions starting at about $80-100 per person. A great way to see a panoramic view of downtown. A quick search of Google will bring up websites for most of these float plane operators. See Vancouver International Airport for seaplane flights that land at that airport.\n\nSeaplane airlines operating to downtown Vancouver:\n\n- Harbour Air\n\n- Seair Seaplanes\n\n#### Helicopter\n\nThere are heliport facilities at YVR's South Terminal, though most flights operate to:\n\n#### Other nearby airports\n\n### By car\n\nThe main highway into Vancouver from the east is **Highway 1** (Trans-Canada Highway). This road skirts the eastern edge of Vancouver, so if you want to get into the city, you will need to exit off it at Grandview Highway (exit 28A), 1st Avenue (exit 27) or Hastings Street (exit 26). Most major highways from interior British Columbia converge at Hope, east of Vancouver, then following the Trans-Canada Highway west into Vancouver.\n\nFrom the U.S./Canada border south of the city, **Highway 99**, which links up with U.S. Interstate 5, runs north to Vancouver. The freeway ends after the Oak Street Bridge, turning into Oak Street heading north. Drivers with a downtown destination will need to get onto Granville Street (parallel to Oak St to the west), or Cambie Street (parallel to the east), in order to get on the Granville Street or Cambie Street bridges which cross False Creek into the downtown peninsula.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk008", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are coming from the North Shore or other points further north, the only way into Vancouver is by bridge. Your options are the **Lions Gate Bridge** (Hwy 99) which brings you into Stanley Park and Vancouver's West End or the **Second Narrows Bridge/Ironworkers Memorial Bridge** (Hwy 1) which brings you into the neighbourhoods of East Van.\n\n### By bus\n\nMany bus services reach the Vancouver area, most of which terminate at Pacific Central Station (see \"By train\" below for the location and directions). A number of bus services also have additional pick-up and drop-off stops at hotels in downtown Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, White Rock and in a number of places in the surrounding areas as well as from the airport. Not all bus lines serve the Pacific Central Station either. Buses cross the U.S./Canada border at an alternate crossing point (for trucks and buses) 5 mi/8 km east of the Peace Arch Park (BC Hwy 99/I-5) along BC Hwy 15/WA Hwy 543. Below are examples of bus lines with scheduled routes that reach the Vancouver area from various places nearby and afar in Canada and the United States:\n - BC Ferries Connector\n\n- BC Transit (Central Fraser Valley Transit System)\n\n- Cantrail\n\n- Epic Rides\n\n- FlixBus\n\n- Greyhound Lines\n\n- Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service\n\n- Perimeter Transportation\n\n- Quick Coach\n\n- Red Arrow\n\n- YVR Skylynx\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Pacific Central Station\n\nTaking the train to Vancouver is unlikely to be the cheapest option, but it is a scenic one. Train stations:\n\nTrain options include:\n - Amtrak", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk009", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Amtrak Cascades** operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany. Travel time to Vancouver, BC from Portland is 8 hours, from Tacoma is 5.5 hours, from Seattle is 4 hours, and from Bellingham is 2 hours. There is one round trip daily between Vancouver and Portland, and one round trip between Vancouver and Seattle. Over the whole route, there are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene. No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach. Connections to additional **Amtrak trains** are in Seattle. When traveling on the Amtrak Cascades, border control takes place at Pacific Central station both for departing travelers to the United States and arriving passengers from the United States.\n - VIA Rail Canada", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk010", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "Operates *The Canadian* up to three trips per week between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops. This route can offer a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies, depending on the train schedule, as the train operates day and night. Travel time to Vancouver from Toronto is 4 days 1.25 hours, from Sudbury is 3 days 18 hours, from Winnipeg is 2 days 10.5 hours, from Saskatoon is 1 day 22.25 hours, from Edmonton is 1 day 9 hours, from Jasper 23.5 hours, and from Kamloops is 11 hours. This service connects with another route that travels between Jasper and Prince Rupert.\n\nthumb|Rocky Mountaineer station in Vancouver\n\n### By boat\n\n#### By ferry\n\n- BC Ferries\n To reach the Vancouver area from other coastal communities, travellers need to reach either of the following ferry terminals:\n , in West Vancouver. Ferries travel between this terminal, and Bowen Island (Snug Cove) in 20 minutes, Nanaimo (Departure Bay) in 1 hour 40 minutes, and the Sunshine Coast (Langdale) in 40 minutes. See West Vancouver for more information.\n , in south Delta. Ferries travel between this terminal and Nanaimo (Duke Point) in 2 hours and Victoria (Swartz Bay) near Sidney on Vancouver Island in 1 hour 35 minutes. Ferries also connect this terminal with five of the Southern Gulf Islands. See Delta for more information.\n\nthumb|Canada Place\n\n#### By cruise ship\n\nthumb|A cruise ship passing under Lions Gate Bridge\nPort Metro Vancouver is the home port for the popular Vancouver-Alaska cruise. From late April to early October, more than 3/4 million visitors pass through the cruise ship terminal in Port Metro Vancouver.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk011", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get in", "text": "**US passport holders** may be able to participate in \"Onboard Check-in” and “US Direct\" to streamline processing at the cruise ship and the airport. **US Direct** allows passengers arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to transfer directly to a same-day-departing cruise ship by participating in expedited immigration and customs clearance process. **Onboard Check-in** allows passengers arriving on a cruise ship and flying out of YVR on the same day to transfer directly to YVR by participating in an expedited immigration and customs clearance process.\n\nThese programs do not apply to passengers who are planning a pre- or post-cruise stay in Vancouver. Not all cruise lines participate, so check with your cruise line to see if you can take advantage of the Onboard Check-in/US Direct program.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk012", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Vancouver is one of the few major cities in North America without a freeway leading directly into the downtown core (freeway proposals in the 1960s and 1970s were defeated by community opposition). As a result, development has taken a different course than in most other major North American cities resulting in a relatively high use of transit and cycling, a dense, walkable core and a development model that is studied and emulated elsewhere.\n\n### By public transit\n\n- TransLink\n\n**TransLink's** website and customer information line both offer trip planning and information about fares, where to buy tickets and the refund policy. A regional transportation map is widely available at convenience stores and on TransLink’s website. TransLink does not have a mobile app, but Google Maps, Transit and Citymapper all have access to TransLink's GPS data to show current route information and estimated arrival times.\n\n#### Fares and zones\n\nthumb|TransLink fare zone map\nTransLink breaks Metro Vancouver into three fare zones; your fare depends on the number of zones you travel in. The standard adult fare is for all bus trips across Metro Vancouver and SkyTrain travel within the City of Vancouver (Zone 1). It also covers all travel system-wide at off-peak times: weekends, holidays, and weekday evenings after 6:30PM. Travel out of Vancouver on the SkyTrain or SeaBus crosses fare zone boundaries and costs to on weekdays before 6:30PM.\n\nAfter paying fare, you can transfer or re-board an unlimited number of times at no extra charge for 90 minutes. Compass Card and Compass Ticket users have no restrictions on transferring between modes of transit, but bus riders paying cash fare can only transfer to other buses.\n\nContactless credit and debit cards can be used directly at ticket gates, eliminating the need to buy a separate ticket.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk013", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Upon final tap-in within the 90-minute window, Compass Card and Compass Ticket users have an additional 120 minutes to tap out at their final destination. Tapping out after this time will result in another fare being charged.\n\n+ Standard transit fares for the City of Vancouver ()\n Number of Zones What it covers Adult Fare Concession Fare\n 1 Zone Travel within the city of Vancouver \n 2 Zones Travel between Vancouver and North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Richmond \n 3 Zones Travel between Vancouver and all other destinations\n\nFares paid using Compass Card (see next section) are discounted and cost between and for an adult fare.\n\n**Concession fares** are available for youth (13-18) and seniors (65+), with ID. Children age 12 or younger are free.\n\n#### Paying for your fare: Compass\n\n**Compass** is the electronic fare system for buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus and the West Coast Express. Buses still accept cash when you board, but fare gates at SkyTrain and SeaBus station only accept Compass. There are two Compass choices:\n**Compass Ticket** — A white ticket that is good for one trip. The DayPass – unlimited travel on bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus across all zones for one day – can also be purchased as a Compass Ticket; and\n**Compass Card** — A reusable smart card that can store value, load passes and offers discounted fares. Blue cards are for adult fares, orange cards are for concession fares. See the infobox for more information.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk014", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Compass Tickets and Adult Compass Cards can be purchased from the Compass Vending Machines in SkyTrain and SeaBus stations and some London Drugs locations. All types of cards and tickets may be purchased over the counter at some 7-Eleven, Safeway, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart locations, and the TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront station. TransLink's website has a handy map showing the locations of Compass retailers and Compass Vending Machines. The vending machines accept cash, Interac debit cards, and Visa or MasterCard credit card. American Express can only be used to buy a card or ticket from a retail location.\n\n**The purchase of a Compass Card requires a $6 deposit.** The deposit is refundable if you return your Compass Card to or mail a Refund Request form to the Compass Customer Service Centre, but if your remaining cash balance is above $20, the only way to get back the balance is to have a cheque mailed out, so make sure to use up your balance before you do so.\n\n**Tap in** with your Compass Card or Ticket at the start of every trip on any vehicle, and **tap out** every time you exit through a fare gate. Bus riders do not tap *out*. Doing this lets the system calculate the right fare.\n\nIf you're travelling in a group, Compass Tickets and Cards cannot be shared between group members. Each person will need their own ticket or card to tap in and out of the fare gates.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk015", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Mastercard and Visa credit cards can also be used at Compass readers/fare gates for an adult fare. When you tap-in, your card will be pre-authorized for a three zone fare. When you tap-out, the fare will be calculated according to the zones travelled. Mobile wallets (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay) also work, just make sure your phone will have enough battery so you can tap-out at the end of your journey. Debit cards still work at Compass vending machines, but not at Compass readers.\n\nFind out how to pay fares and where to buy passes and TransLink's refund policy.\n\n#### Passes and stored value\n\nIf you are going to make heavy use of the transit system, passes can be loaded onto a Compass Card.\n A **DayPass** is a money-saving option for travellers who will use public transit heavily for one day. For (or concession) (), it offers unlimited travel across Metro Vancouver on bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus until the end of the service day, late at night.\n **Monthly passes** can save you money if you will be using transit almost daily for a month. They cost between and (or concession) depending on the number of zones.\n\n#### Buses\n\nthumb|450px|Vancouver's rapid transit network\nThe **bus** service covers the widest area and travels along most major streets in the city. Many of the routes within the City of Vancouver are electric trolley buses, powered by overhead wires.", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk016", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "A limited stop express bus line called the **RapidBus** serves, not only Vancouver, but the entire lower mainland (Metro Vancouver) RapidBus gets a priority lane in traffic, There are 6 different RapidBus Routes. When boarding the RapidBus, It's all door-boarding, and passengers must either tap in with their Compass Card or Compass Ticket, buy a ticket with cash, (exact change required, coins only), or present a ticket to the driver. To buy a ticket with cash, passengers must enter through the front door. The 6 RapidBus Routes are:\n**R1 King George Blvd** (operates in Surrey)\n**R2 Marine Drive** (operates in North Vancouver and West Vancouver)\n**R3 Lougheed Highway** (operates in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge)\n**R4 41st Ave** (operates in Vancouver's UBC and South Vancouver areas)\nthumb|An electric trolley bus in Vancouver**R5 Hastings Street** (operates in Vancouver's central business district, Gastown-Chinatown and East Van, and in Burnaby)\n**R6 Scott Road** (operates in Surrey)\n\nSimilar to RapidBus, is the **99** **B-Line**, which is a limited stop express bus route that travels along Broadway Avenue (operates in Vancouver's UBC, Kitsilano, Mt Pleasant, and East Van). The portion of this route east of Arbutus St is to be replaced by an extension of the Millennium Line opening in 2027.\n\nCash fare on any bus to anywhere at any time is a flat . Because of this, Compass Card users only tap *in* when boarding the bus, and never tap *out* when stepping off, unlike with all other modes of transit.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk017", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Every bus stop in Metro Vancouver has a unique five-digit bus stop number (the yellow number at the top of the bus stop sign). Send an SMS with that stop number to **33333** to get the next six scheduled bus arrival times. Standard text messaging rates apply. TransLink does not operate an app, but many third party apps (such as Google Maps) can be used to get transit times, additionally a mobile website is available. Many popular bus stops include a digital display with estimated bus arrival times. The stops for the RapidBus, have an electronic, real time, bus schedule.\n\n#### SkyTrain\n\nthumb|The driverless SkyTrain at Rupert stationThe **SkyTrain** is a mostly elevated, fully automated rapid transit system connecting downtown Vancouver with some of its suburbs to the south and east. Trains depart frequently throughout the day, on tracks separated from other traffic at up to 80 km/h.\n\nThe **Expo Line** runs from Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver through Burnaby and New Westminster to Columbia Station, where it splits with some trips going to King George Station in Surrey and the other track going to University/Production Way station in Burnaby. An eastern extension to Langley is expected to open in 2029.\n The **Millennium Line** runs east-west from VCC-Clark in East Van through northern Burnaby to Lougheed Station, and then continues on to Port Moody and Coquitlam via the Evergreen Extension. A western extension along Broadway to Arbutus St is expected to open in 2027.\n The **Canada Line** runs from Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver south to Bridgeport Station, where it splits with some trips to Richmond's city centre and some trips to Vancouver International Airport's domestic and international terminals.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk018", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Key SkyTrain stations include:\n **Commercial-Broadway** – accesses restaurants and shopping on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver and transfer point to the 99 B-Line bus to UBC. Meeting point for the Expo Line and Millennium Line.\n **Burrard** and **Granville** – the most central stations in the central business district. You can also connect to the R5 Hastings Street RapidBus route at Burrard station.\n **Waterfront** – meeting point for Expo Line and Canada Line, the SeaBus, numerous commuter and rapid bus routes, and the commuter rail West Coast Express. It also accesses Gastown and is right next to the Canada Place Convention Centre/Cruise Ship Terminal facilities.\n\nThe fare on SkyTrain depends on how many zones you travel through and what time you're travelling. The City of Vancouver is Zone 1. Close-in suburbs like Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, and North Vancouver are Zone 2. Farther-out suburbs south of the Fraser River or east of Burnaby are Zone 3. At peak times, Compass Card users pay between and , and riders paying cash fare pay to (all fares are standard adult fare). At off-peak times, passengers pay the one-zone.\n\nCompass Card users tap in and out each time they pass through the fare gates. If you forget to tap in or out, you will be charged the maximum fare. People choosing not to use Compass Cards can buy single-use Compass Tickets instead.\nthumb|SeaBus\n\n#### SeaBus\n\nThe **SeaBus** is a passenger ferry that connects Waterfront Station downtown to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. It generally runs every 15 minutes until the 9:16PM departure, after which it runs every 30 minutes until last sailing (M-Sa 1:22AM, Su 11:16PM).", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk019", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "During peak times, two-zone fare is required. That is for passengers with Compass Cards and () for those with Compass Tickets. At off-peak times, passengers pay one-zone fare.\nthumb|False Creek Ferries\n\n### By ferry\n\nPrivate operators have scheduled ferry service to destinations around False Creek. A quick trip across on a cute little-boat-that-could ferry can be the most fun, traffic-free, and convenient way to get around between the following destinations (from west to east):\nMaritime Museum in Vanier Park on the south shore in Kitsilano (False Creek Ferries)\nAquatic Centre at Sunset Beach on the north shore in the West End (False Creek Ferries)\nHornby St on the north shore in the city centre (Aquabus)\nGranville Island and its famous Public Market on the south shore (Aquabus / False Creek Ferries at different docks)\nthumb|AquabusYaletown/Davie St. on the north shore (Aquabus / False Creek Ferries)\nStamp's Landing/Monk's and Spyglass Place on the south shore in the False Creek area (Aquabus / False Creek Ferries)\nPlaza of Nations and Edgewater Casino on the north shore in Yaletown (Aquabus / False Creek Ferries)\nScience World, the geodesic dome at the south-east end of False Creek (Aquabus / False Creek Ferries)\n\nService is offered by:\n\n- False Creek Ferries\n\n- Aquabus\n\nThe two ferries run slightly different routes, and their docks on Granville Island are on either side of the Public Market. As of Jan 2017, prices for adults are $3.25 for short routes, $5.50 for long routes, or $15 for a day pass. For seniors and children, the prices are $2, $3.75, and $11-13. Aquabus offers a 25-minute \"mini-cruise\" around False Creek for $8 per adult and $4 per child or senior.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk020", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Vancouver's **road network** is generally a grid system with a \"Street\" running north-south and an \"Avenue\" running east-west. Arterial roads follow the grid fairly well (although not perfectly), but side streets frequently disappear for blocks at a time and then reappear. Most of the \"Avenues\" are numbered and they always use East or West to designate whether it is on the east side or the west side of Ontario Street. Some of the major avenues use names rather than numbers (Broadway would be 9th Ave, King Edward Ave would be 25th Ave).\n\nDowntown Vancouver has its own grid system and doesn't follow the street/avenue format of the rest of the city. It is also surrounded by water on three sides, so most of the ways in and out require you to cross a bridge. This can cause traffic congestion, particularly at peak times (morning and evening commutes, sunny weekend afternoons, major sporting events), so factor that into any driving plans, or avoid if possible.\n\nOne of the best ways to avoid traffic congestion is to listen to **traffic reports** on AM730. This station reports only about traffic and can be quick to report any accidents and congestion, as well as B.C. ferry reports, bridge and tunnel updates, border wait times, and other information pertaining to getting around the city and its many suburbs. It also posts frequent weather updates and local news.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk021", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "A unique feature of Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia is intersections with flashing green traffic signals. These *do not* indicate an advance left turn as it would in many other parts of North America. Instead, a flashing green light indicates a traffic signal that can be activated only by a pedestrian or a cyclist on the side street, but not by a motor vehicle. When the signal turns red, traffic stops as at any traffic signal. Any side street traffic must obey the stop sign on the side street and must yield to any pedestrians crossing the side street, even if traffic is stopped on the main street.\n\n#### Parking\n\nthumb|Parking meters deployed by City of Vancouver that accept coins and credit card. Telephone payment is also accepted for pre-registered payment account. Rate vary depending on location and are stated on the top side, under the timer or on a screen at the top of the meter.\nParking downtown generally costs $1-2.50/hour or $12-20/day. Commercial areas will typically have meter parking on the street, with meters accepting Canadian and American change only (American coins accepted at par value). Residential streets may allow free parking, but some will require a permit.\nIf you do not have cash with you, most meters allow you to text the lot and stall number to PayByPhone, allowing payment through Visa or Mastercard. Each meter will specify if available.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk022", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Easy Park** lots (look for an orange circle with a big \"P\") rank as the most affordable of the parkades, but generally the cost of parking will not vary greatly among parkades within a certain area. Most will accept payment by credit card, as well as coins. Beware of scammers hanging around in some parkades, trying to sell parking tickets for less than their face value — typically, they have purchased the tickets with stolen credit cards. Also be careful parking overnight, as vehicle break-ins are not uncommon.\n\nCity meters and parking regulations are enforced regularly. Meter-related offenses will result in fines. Violations in private lots are generally unenforceable, but may result in your car being towed. If your vehicle is towed on a city street, you can recover it at the city impound lot at 425 Industrial Ave.\n\nSome new meters at private parking lots throughout the city no longer accept cash, make sure to also have a credit card with you. Most parking facilities also accept payment using the PayByPhone app.\n\n#### Car sharing\n\nVancouver is often referred to as the car share capital, with over 2,000 available vehicles. Car sharing which allow vehicle rentals by the hour and minute. With the departure of Car2Go and Zipcar, the only companies left in this space are Evo and Modo. If you are a BCAA member, you can get a free Evo membership through their website. To sign up for Modo, if your licence was issued from outside BC, you will need to put down a $750 damage deposit or provide a copy of your driving records from your home country (including a translation to English made by an approved translator if it is not already in English.)\n\n### By taxi\n\n- Black Top Cabs\n\n- MacLures Cabs", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk023", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "- Vancouver Taxi\n\n- Yellow Cab\n\n- Signature Black Car & Chauffeur Service\n\n### By ride hailing\n\nApps legally permitted to operate in the Vancouver area include:\n\n- Kabu\n\n- Lyft\n\n- Uber\n\n### By bicycle\n\nthumb|Vancouver Mobi bike share near BC Place stadium in Downtown Vancouver|alt=Vancouver Mobi bike share near BC Place stadium in Downtown Vancouver.jpg\nVancouver is a very bicycle-friendly city. In addition to the extremely popular seawall bicycle routes along Stanley Park, False Creek and Kitsilano, there is a network of bicycle routes that connect the whole city, with many of the downtown bike lanes separated from traffic. The City of Vancouver provides a map of the bicycle routes that is available at most bike shops or online. Also, all buses have bicycle racks on the front to help riders get to less accessible parts. North American visitors will find that drivers in Vancouver are more accustomed to sharing the road with cyclists than many places.\n\nThe city of Vancouver operates a **bike share** program called **Mobi**. A 24-hour pass costs $19 for an unlimited number of 30-minute trips, with each additional minute costing 25 cents. Monthly passes are available for $39 (30-minute trips). Trips on a monthly pass that take longer than the allowed time will be charged an extra 25 cents per minute. Bike stations are spread across downtown, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown and False Creek, Granville Island and Kitsilano. Bikes are unlocked via a user code and PIN that are provided after you complete registration on Mobi's website. It's highly recommended that visitors complete registration before their visit, as you cannot do it at bike share stations.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk024", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Get around", "text": "Longer term **bike rentals** are available at a number of independent shops, where you can rent bicycles by the hour, day or week. Many places also rent tandem bikes. Shops can be found in the central business district, the West End, Yaletown and near Granville Island. Alternatively, buy a used bicycle and either sell it on or donate it to someone in more need of it at the end of your stay.\n\n### By scooter\n\nRenting a scooter is a good compromise between a bike and a car. Scooters are not allowed on the famous bike path, but it is possible to travel in the inner roads, park and walk at all the attractions.\nAverage cost is ~$80 for 24 hours + gas.\n - Cycle BC\n\n**VanEcoRide** Escooter & Ebike Rental 1020 Mainland St unit 26 +1 778-683-7711\n - Vancouver Scooter Rental", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk025", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "See", "text": "While Vancouver is still a young city, it has a variety of attractions and points of interest for the visitor.\n\n### Landmarks and historic buildings\n\nMany of the city's landmarks and historical buildings can be found in the central business district. **Canada Place**, with its distinctive sails, the nearby **Olympic Cauldron**, the intricate Art Deco styling of the **Marine Building** and the old luxury railway hotel of the **Hotel Vancouver** are in the central business district. **Stanley Park** (the city's most popular attraction), along with its neighbouring Coal Harbour walkway and the Vancouver Aquarium are in the West End. Gastown, the original town site of Vancouver, has a number of restored buildings and its steam clock is a popular spot to visit. Modern architecture worth visiting also includes Shangri-La, the tallest building in the city, and the Sheraton Wall Centre, both located in central business district. Another popular city landmark, the bustling markets and shops of **Granville Island**, is just to the south of downtown in an area called South Granville.\nthumb|Museum of Anthropology at [[Vancouver/UBC-Point Grey|UBC]]\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\nIf you're looking to learn about the people of the Northwest Coast and some of its history, one good spot is the impressive **Museum of Anthropology** at the University of British Columbia, which houses several thousand objects from BC's First Nations. The museum is also home to significant collections of archaeological objects and ethnographic materials from other parts of the world.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk026", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "See", "text": "The **Vancouver Art Gallery** in the central business district combines local with international through a variety of exhibitions and a permanent collection that focuses on renowned British Columbia artist, Emily Carr.\nthumb|Central Library location of the Vancouver Public Library in the [[Vancouver/City Centre|City Centre]]\nThe **Central Library location of the** **Vancouver Public Library**, in the central business district at Homer and Robson Streets, is modelled after the Roman Colosseum, and houses the city's largest library.\n\nAnother sight in the central business district is the small **Contemporary Art Gallery** on Nelson Street, which features modern art. Also nearby, on the east side of False Creek is the shiny geodesic dome of the **Telus World of Science** (commonly known as Science World), which has a number of exhibits, shows and galleries aimed at making science fun for kids.\n\nAnother great spot to check out is the **BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum** at Gate A of BC Place Stadium in Yaletown. The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum preserves and honours BC's Sport heritage by recognizing extraordinary achievement in sport through using their collection and stories to inspire all people to pursue their dreams.\n\nThere are also some smaller sights in Kitsilano, including the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver, and H.R. Macmillan Space Centre.\nthumb|A portion of the Seawall within Stanley Park with Lions Gate Bridge in the background\n\n### Parks", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk027", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "See", "text": "The city has a wealth of parks and gardens scattered throughout. The most famous is **Stanley Park** at the tip of the West End. Its miles of trails for walking and cycling, beaches, magnificent views and the attractions (including totem poles) within the park gives it something for everyone. The most popular trail is the **Seawall**, a paved trail that runs around the perimeter of Stanley Park and now joins with the seawalls in Coal Harbour and Kitsilano, 22 km in length. The **Vancouver Aquarium** is in Stanley Park. **Other notable parks and gardens** include VanDusen Botanical Garden in South Vancouver and Queen Elizabeth Park near South Main, the Nitobe Memorial Garden (commonly known as the Nitobe Japanese Garden) and UBC Botanical Garden at the University of British Columbia and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Chinatown.\n\nAdmission to Vancouver's various attractions can range from $10 to up to $30 per person. There are a variety of attractions passes available that help visitors save on retail admissions such as the **See Vancouver Smartvisit Card**.\n\n### Nature\n\nFinally, a trip to Vancouver wouldn't be complete without a glimpse of the **skyline** and the Coast Mountains rising above the city (clouds permitting, of course!). Popular spots to view it include Stanley Park in the West End, Harbour Centre in the central business district, Spanish Banks and Jericho Beaches in Point Grey, and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. Other interesting views can be seen from City Hall at 12th and Cambie in Mt Pleasant, Queen Elizabeth Park in Mt Pleasant, and East Van's CRAB Park.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk028", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Dragon Boating\n\n### Culture and festivals\n\nVancouver isn't all about the outdoors. It offers a variety of theatre, concerts and other cultural events. There are symphony and opera venues in the central business district and much of the city's live theatre can be found in South Granville, particularly on Granville Island with its thriving arts scene.\n\nThe city's Chinese heritage comes alive during **Chinese New Year**. Chinatown, in the east side of downtown, is awash in colour and has many festivities, including a parade. June sees the annual **Dragon Boat Festival** on False Creek.\n\nThere is no shortage of festivals around the city, with many local ones particular to a neighbourhood. The festival that draws the largest crowds is the **Honda Celebration of Light**, a three-night extravaganza of fireworks over English Bay in late July. Countries compete with 20-30 min displays choreographed to music. The fireworks start at 10PM and are best viewed from Sunset Beach in the West End or Kits Beach/Vanier Park in Kitsilano. It is *strongly* recommended to take public transit and to get there a few hours early as the crowds are huge. Roads in the vicinity of English Bay are typically closed from 6PM onwards.\n\n**EAT! Vancouver - The Everything Food + Cooking Festival** takes place every year. The festival takes place in early November. Celebrity chefs, popular local restaurants, wineries, food & beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans, & many others from the culinary world come together for a 6-day event.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk029", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "Other notable festivals include the **Vancouver International Film Festival** that runs in Sept-Oct; the **Fringe Festival** that presents live theatre in a variety of styles and venues; **Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival** that runs May - September at Vanier Park in Kitsilano; and the three day **Folk Fest** on the beach in Kitsilano that features a large selection of current and upcoming folk, roots and world music acts. Another notable event is Vancouver's annual **Vancouver Pride Parade**, in early August, which attractsover 600,000 spectators.\n\nthumb|Views from the Seawall in [[Vancouver/West End|Stanley Park]]\n\n### Laugh\n\nVancouver is also home to an enormous stand-up comedy scene. With 3 dedicated clubs, and more than two dozen venues hosting regular events, the Lower Mainland plays host to nearly 10,000 improv, stand-up, and open mic shows a year, such as by the '''Improv Centre''' on Granville Island. Catch touring comics, well-seasoned locals, or up and coming newbies at shows from theaters to pizza joints and experience some of the local, underground culture.\n\n### Live music\n\nVancouver has lots and lots of live music venues ranging from BC Place (over 60,000 seats) to local bars, pubs and coffee shops. There are also a plethora of festivals especially throughout the summer months. The '''Vancouver International Jazz Festival''' runs for two weeks in late June and early July and attracts big name jazz and avant garde acts.\n\n### Outdoor activities", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk030", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "Vancouverites love the outdoors and one of the most popular things to do is to walk, jog, bike or rollerblade the **Seawall**. It starts at Canada Place downtown, wraps around Stanley Park and follows the shoreline of False Creek through Yaletown, Science World and Granville Island to Kits Beach in Kitsilano. The most popular sections are around Stanley Park and along the north shore of False Creek. Bike and rollerblade rentals are available from a few shops near the corner of Denman & West Georgia in the West End if you prefer wheeled transportation over walking. If the weather's nice, go out to Granville Island, rent a speedboat and take a boat ride on the waters around Stanley Park and Coal Harbour. Golf courses are also abundant in the city, along with more cost-conscious pitch-and-putt courses.\n\nIf you'd rather lie in the sun than play in the sun, Vancouver has a number of **beaches**. While certainly not glamorous and lacking waves, there's sand, water and lots of people on sunny summer days. Kitsilano has a string of beaches, the most well known being Kitsilano Beach, Jericho and Spanish Banks. Kits Beach is the most popular and has beach volleyball, Spanish Banks is a bit quieter and popular with skimboarders. There are a few beaches on the south and west sides of downtown, with English Bay Beach (near Denman & Beach in the West End) being the largest and most popular. Finally, no discussion of Vancouver beaches would be complete without mention of Wreck Beach at the tip of Point Grey in UBC. As much rock as it is sand, it holds a place in the Vancouver identity and is the only city beach where you can bare it all. https://www.nudebeachmap.com/places/wreck-beach/", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk031", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "For many, Vancouver is synonymous with **skiing and snowboarding**. While there are no ski hills within the city itself, there are three \"local\" hills (Cypress, Grouse Mountain and Seymour) across the harbour on the North Shore. And of course, Vancouver is the gateway to Whistler, the biggest and one of the most highly rated snow destinations in North America.\n\n### Spectator sports\n\nWhen you tire of doing stuff outdoors, or prefer that someone else do the hard work, you can always grab a seat and take in the local sports teams.\nthumb|Vancouver Canucks playing in their the blue uniform\n\n#### Hockey\n\nThe biggest draw in town is hockey (the variety played on ice, not a field) and the local professional team is the **Vancouver Canucks**. The team plays at Rogers Arena in Yaletown and the season lasts from October to April (and possibly longer when they make the play-offs). Tickets are pricey and the concessions are even worse, but it's a good game to watch live. The local junior hockey team, the **Vancouver Giants**, offer a cheaper but no less exciting experience, but play in the Langley Events Centre some distance from Vancouver.\n\n#### Football\n\nThe **BC Lions**, the city's Canadian Football League team (think American football with 12 players a side, three downs, a slightly larger field, and much larger end zones) plays during the summer and fall at BC Place in Yaletown.\n\n#### Soccer", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk032", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Vancouver Whitecaps FC**, the third team to bear the \"Whitecaps\" name, began play in Major League Soccer in March 2011, becoming the second MLS team in Canada (they have since been joined by a third Canadian team). They have played at BC Place since September 2011, when that venue reopened after post-Olympics renovations. The Whitecaps initially planned to build a new stadium of their own near the waterfront, but local opposition led the Whitecaps to make BC Place their long-term home.\n\n#### Rugby\n\nBC Place also hosts the **Canada Sevens**, an annual event in the **World Rugby Sevens Series** (marketed as the **HSBC SVNS**), a worldwide series of tournaments for men's and women's national teams in rugby sevens, a variant of rugby union featuring 7 players per side instead of 15 (on the same full-size field) and halves of 7 minutes instead of 40. In the current schedule, the event is held on the last weekend of February as part of a North American swing that also includes an event in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California.\n\n#### Roller derby", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk033", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Do", "text": "The **Terminal City Rollergirls** are Vancouver's first female roller derby league and are members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. Created in 2006, the league now has four full teams (Faster Pussycats, Bad Reputations, Public Frenemy, and Riot Girls) as well as an All-Stars team made up of the best players in the league. The players are a diverse group of women, from nurses to construction workers, graphic designers, television producers, teachers, stay-at-home moms, PhD students and aspiring rock stars. The bouts are exciting and fun (there is usually an entertaining half-time show). If you're thinking about attending a bout and know nothing or very little about flat track roller derby, check out the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association's (WFTDA) explanation. Bouts are generally held April to September and at various arenas around Metro Vancouver, although the PNE Forum in East Van has been a popular venue.\n\n#### Baseball\n\nVancouver has a single A baseball team, the **Vancouver Canadians**, who play out of Nat Bailey Stadium in the Mt Pleasant area.\n\n#### University sports\n\nThe two major universities in the Vancouver area both have comprehensive athletic programs, though not at the high profile of similar institutions south of the border:\n - Simon Fraser Red Leafs\n\n- UBC Thunderbirds\n\n### Tours\n\nIf you want to orient yourself in the city, there are a variety of tours – bus, walking, hop-on, hop-off – based out of the City Centre that will regale you with Vancouver lore while taking you to many of the main attractions.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk034", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Learn", "text": "Vancouver is a city with a rich assortment of educational institutions offering programs on nearly every possible occupation or avocation. There are two main universities (Simon Fraser University, and University of British Columbia). Polytechnic institutions offer degrees in addition to certificates and diplomas. Vancouver is also a popular destination to learn English: expect to see many learners from Asian countries, such as South Korea, and from Brazil.\n\nPlaces of study within the city of Vancouver include:\n\n thumb|Clock tower in the [[Vancouver/UBC-Point Grey|University of British Columbia]]The **University of British Columbia (UBC)**, is ranked as one of the world's 30 best universities and is the largest university in western Canada. It is publicly funded and has the highest student enrollment of any university in British Columbia. More than 50,000 full-time and part-time students in numerous disciplines are enrolled at the main campus in the UBC-Point Grey area. UBC also has a downtown campus in Vancouver at Robson Square in the city centre area. This location is geared more towards adult learning, business people and foreign students. Course calendars are readily available at Robson Square or on UBC's website. \n**Langara College** is publicly funded and in South Vancouver. It offers a number of programs in the arts, humanities, business and technology, as well as continuing education and ESL classes.\nThe **Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design** is publicly funded and in East Van. It offers a number of programs focused primarily on design and the visual arts.\n\n The **Centre for Digital Media (CDM)** is publicly funded and in East Van. It is a collaborative university campus environment put together with the help of all of the major local universities, focusing on arts, technology, and the environment.\n **Vancouver Community College (VCC)** is publicly funded and has two campuses: Broadway in East Van, and downtown. VCC offers a number of different certificate and diploma programs.\n **University Canada West** is a private, for profit university that offers undergraduate and graduate business degrees.\n The **Vancouver Film School** is a private institution in downtown Vancouver.\nPlaces of study in suburbs outside of the city of Vancouver include:\n **Simon Fraser University (SFU)**, is publicly funded and is the second highest enrollment of any university in British Columbia. With over 30 000 full-time students, SFU is consistently ranked as the best Comprehensive University in Canada by Macleans. Its main campus on the top of a mountain in Burnaby with spectacular views. SFU also has the largest post-secondary presence in the city centre area, with the Beedie School of Business, the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU Harbour Centre and SFU Woodwards, not to mention a satellite campus in Surrey.\n The **British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)**, is publicly funded and a technical college based in Burnaby. It has a satellite campus in downtown Vancouver.\n The **Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC)** is publicly funded and is a post-secondary institution focusing on public safety vocations. Its main campus is in New Westminster.\n **Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)** is publicly funded with campuses in Richmond, Surrey, and Langley. It offers over 120 programs, including career, vocational trades and technology certificates, diplomas, and degrees across numerous disciplines.\n **Douglas College** is a publicly funded and offers degrees with campuses in New Westminster and Coquitlam.\n **Trinity Western University (TWU)** is a private Christian university with undergraduate and graduate studies programs. Its main campus is in Langley and it has a smaller campus in Richmond.", "word_count": 570}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk035", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Work", "text": "Traditionally, much of Vancouver's industry has centred around its port facilities and the forestry and mining sectors. Although these industries are still important to the economy, Vancouver's largest employers are now the various hospitals and educational institutions in the area and companies with head offices in Vancouver such as Telus Corp and the Jim Pattison Group. Vancouver however has expanded as a centre for software development and biotechnology, while streets provide a backdrop for an active film industry. Many jobs exist in the varied small and medium sized businesses that operate in the region. As with many cities, jobs are posted on-line or in the newspaper, but it helps if you have some contacts within the industry that can point you to the jobs that are open but not posted.\n\nAs with any tourist centre, there are a number of service jobs available. The attractions, restaurants and hotels downtown frequently need staff. Other areas to consider are Granville Island and the North Shore with its ski areas and Grouse Mountain.", "word_count": 170}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk036", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Buy", "text": "*This is only a sample of things you can look for in Vancouver. Visit the separate district pages for other info.*\n\n**Tip** - There are two local taxes that are charged on the vast majority of goods, the **7% PST (Provincial Sales Tax)** and the **5% GST (Goods and Services Tax)**.\nThe PST does not apply to restaurants, motor fuel, food (including non-alcoholic drinks), vitamins, books, newspaper, magazines, bicycles, and children's clothing.\n\n- Robson Street\n\n- Pacific Centre\n \n\nthumb|250px|right|[[Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown|Gastown]] - the original townsite of Vancouver and now the best place to find Vancouver kitsch\n - [[Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown|Gastown]]\n\n- [[Vancouver/Yaletown-False Creek|Yaletown]]\n\n- [[Vancouver/Kitsilano-Granville Island|Granville Island]]\n\n- Kerrisdale\n\n- Commercial Drive\n\n- Main Street\n\n- East Hastings\nthumb|Vancouver's [[Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown|Chinatown]]\n - [[Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown|Chinatown]]\n\n - Punjabi Market\n\nThere are some unique shopping areas in Kitsilano and East Van. In Kits you can visit the first store of Vancouver-born and based athletic retailer, Lululemon Athletica, sporting popular yoga-inspired apparel. Gore-tex jackets are ubiquitous in Vancouver and the best place to buy them is at Mountain Equipment Co-op, Taiga Works or one of the other outdoorsy stores clustered together on the east-west main drag called Broadway (equivalent to 9th Avenue, running between 8th and 10th) between Cambie St. and Main St., just east of the Kitsilano area.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk037", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Eat", "text": "Where to begin? There is something for everyone in this cosmopolitan city, and the variety of cuisines and price points have been described as a foodie's delight. In particular, you will find many different kinds of Asian food available. If you fancy sushi many places offer \"all you can eat\" lunches for $12, which offers food of a wildly varying quality. In general, the city is up there with some of the best cities in North America when it comes to food. If you can do without alcohol, you can usually have a pretty reasonable meal for under $12, and at one of the more expensive restaurants in the city, $70 will get you a four course feast with exquisite service.\n\nThe highest density of restaurants is in Kitsilano or the West End. The central business area has many of the high end restaurants either along Robson Street or associated with the many hotels in the downtown area. East Van tends to have many authentic ethnic restaurants.\n\nVancouver is also famous for its Cantonese restaurants, in particular because it received a huge number of top chefs from Hong Kong fleeing the impending handover back to China in the 1980s and 1990s. Because of this large diaspora from Hong Kong, the price and quality of dim sum, siu mei and other Cantonese dishes here is among the best in the world, with many even claiming that Vancouver's Cantonese food is better than that of Hong Kong and Guangdong. However, Vancouver's Chinatown is now a shadow of its former self, with most of the remaining restaurants being tourist traps serving mediocre food. These days, the best Chinese food can be found in the suburb of Richmond, with a majority of its inhabitants being ethnically Chinese. Restaurants are all over the place on No. 3 Rd, Westminster Hwy, Alexandra Rd, and on the many side streets just east of Richmond Centre.\n\nVancouver has become a lot more vegetarian and vegan friendly. For exclusively veg-fare, there is Indigo Age downtown, the Naam in Kits, the Acorn on Main St, MeeT (Gastown, Main St, and Yaletown), Kokomo in Chinatown, Roots + Fruits in Strathcona, Eternal Abundance on the Drive, and Chomp in Hastings-Sunrise- to name only a few.\n\nMany Vancouver restaurants recommend you have a reservation, the majority of them use OpenTable, or other similar software; however, some require you to phone. Check on the restaurants website or Yelp page before you go to be sure you will be seated in a timely manner.\n\nFor budget travellers, pick up a *Georgia Straight* (a free local paper available all over the place), and clip two-for-one coupons from the food section.\n\nEvery January, the city holds a food festival with over 270 local restaurants, which offer prix-fixe menus. The program, Dine Out Vancouver, runs over 17 days and includes the cities new eateries, neighbourhood favourites and award-winners. In 2017, to will be held from January 20 to February 5.\n\nAlthough the vast majority of stores around Vancouver accept credit cards, small family-owned Chinese businesses and restaurants, more often than not, accept only cash. Very few businesses in the city accept cheques.\n\nVancouver is also known for its gourmet ice cream shops, with some of the more notable chains including **Rain or Shine Ice Cream**, **Earnest Ice Cream** and **Bella Gelateria**. While in Vancouver, make sure you try the \"London fog\" flavour, which is earl grey tea with fresh milk.\n\nFood safety inspection reports are available online from the local health authority, Vancouver Coastal Health.", "word_count": 587}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk038", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Drink", "text": "Most of the nightclubs are in the central business district, especially along the Granville Street strip, south of Robson and along Water Street in Gastown. There are a number of good local pubs in the various quieter neighbourhoods of the city, such as along Main Street or Broadway. Closing times for most of these pub-like establishments begin at 1AM; nightclubs close between 2AM-3AM with a very small number operating after-hours. Nightclubs with music, a DJ and a dance floor usually charge an entrance fee. Be aware that many nightclubs often have long lineup queues on weekends, which are usually self-imposed regardless of whether or not the establishment is near capacity to attract business. Flexibility and willingness to go early is key should nightlife become part of your travel plans.\n\nLiquor stores by 11PM at the latest close, while many are closed by 9PM, and there will exist no other legal options apart from drinking at an establishment beyond this time.\n\n### Coffee", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk039", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Drink", "text": "On Robson and Thurlow, there used to be two Starbucks kitty-corner to one another, hardly surprising as Starbucks is the most dominant of the three coffee shop chains found in Vancouver and it is claimed there are more **Starbucks** per capita in Vancouver than anywhere else. The other chains, **Caffe Artigiano** and **Blenz**, are found throughout downtown. **JJ Bean** is favoured among the locals and it's a great place to spend a few minutes to a few hours nursing a coffee and one of their ginormous muffins; there are ten locations scattered throughout the city. **Bean Around the World** is a popular coffee house chain with ten locations. **Waves Coffee** is popular with students for its 24-hour operations, and free Wi-Fi internet. For independent chains try **Mario's** on Dunsmuir and Howe; they have a unique feel and a slower pace than other coffee shops. Make sure not to miss **Trees' cheesecakes** and its roasted on-site organic coffees.\n\nVancouver has seen a rise of new independent coffee shops in the past three years, most of which focus on single-origin beans and a simpler approach to delicious coffee devoid of syrups and flavourings. Examples include: **Matchstick**, **Kafka's**, **Revolver**, **49th Parallel**.\n\n### Tea\n\nA distinctive local drink in Vancouver is called the **London fog**, which is similar to a latte except that it uses a shot of earl grey tea instead of espresso coffee. It is available at virtually every coffee shop in Vancouver.\n\nBubble tea (or boba tea) is also a popular drink among the Vancouver youth. There are countless tea houses throughout Vancouver, the most notable being Dragon Ball Tea House on West King Edward Ave and Oak St.\n\n### Beer", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk040", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Drink", "text": "Vancouver offers a number of destinations for beer drinkers. The largest is the **Granville Island Brewery** on Granville Island (tours are available). Other microbreweries are housed in brewpubs, popular ones include the **Yaletown Brewing Company** in Yaletown and **Steamworks** at the entrance to Gastown. The **Alibi Room**, near Gastown, specializes in beers by Northwestern microbreweries as does the **Cascade Room** in South Main. **Portland**, also in South Main, is another craft beer venue that specializes in beers by Oregon based microbreweries.\n\nEast Vancouver, near Commercial Drive and E Hastings St, has become a hot spot for smaller craft breweries. This area is popular with locals who like to hit up a few different breweries, sampling beer and eating snacks like pepperoni sticks. There are over 10 breweries within walking distance of each other. Check out **Storm Brewing**, **Callister Brewing**, and **Parallel 49 Brewing Company** to name a few. $6 for a flight of 6 samples is standard, though some breweries such as **Storm Brewing** provide samples by donation. A pub with a great selection of craft beer is **St. Augustine's** near the Commercial/Broadway station.\n\nOlympic Village, in False Creek, is another craft brewing hot spot, with multiple craft breweries within walking distance of eachother, including **33 Acres Brewing Company**, **Brassneck Brewery**, **Main Street Brewing Co**, and more. All of these breweries are easily accessible by public transit.\n\nIf you fancy a short journey outside of Vancouver proper, Port Moody is easily accessible by Skytrain and has another great strip of small local breweries. North Vancouver, a 15 min SeaBus ride from downtown, offers another cluster of breweries, cider mill, distillery, winery, and braggotery along their newly developing \"Brewery District\".", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk041", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In general, accommodations in Vancouver are on the expensive side. Most upscale hotel rooms begin at $200-250/night, although you can find reasonably priced ones in the $100-180 range quite often. Most motel rooms cost somewhere between $80-150/night. If you are lucky to find hostel accommodation, the cheapest of these will cost around **$30**/night, more reasonably between $35-50.\n\nThe City Centre is centrally for attractions and has the bulk of Vancouver's accommodation, including most of the high-end hotels and backpackers hostels. If you don't mind getting away from the chain hotels, there are a number of smaller boutique hotels outside of the central business district but still close to the action that are cheaper than the four and five star options downtown. Backpacker hostels are another cheap option with beds starting at $25 if you don't mind sharing a room.\n\nStaying outside the City Centre area may give you a wider choice of affordable accommodations. There are a few budget hotels/motels along Kingsway in East Van and Broadway in South Granville. A number of B&Bs and AirBnB rentals are also scattered throughout the city in each district. If you want/need to stay close to the airport, Richmond has a number of hotels with varying degrees of luxury and price.\n\nFinally, if you don't mind driving or commuting in to see Vancouver, the suburbs also have some cheaper options. North Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster all have easy access to Vancouver via the public transit system. The closest Provincial Parks with campgrounds are near Maple Ridge (Golden Ears Provincial Park), Chilliwack, and Squamish.\n\nCamping in city parks is prohibited under Vancouver’s by-laws. Travellers may hear a claim that it is legal to camp overnight in city parks in Victoria and Abbotsford; (due to court cases that permit the homeless to do); but whether this would also apply to Vancouver or extend to travellers looking to free camp is unknown. That said, a small number of mostly homeless people do camp in city parks and it seems the bylaw is not always enforced. If you decide to do this, avoid the Downtown Eastside (Gastown-Chinatown and points directly east), don’t be disruptive, don’t light fires and be aware of the risks of free camping/sleeping rough.", "word_count": 371}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk042", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Connect", "text": "In an **emergency, dial 9-1-1** from any phone, even mobile phones with no service. If you're subscribed to Rogers for mobile service, or you're roaming on their network, they support 1-1-2 as well as 9-1-1. All other carriers only support 9-1-1.\n\nThe telephone area codes 604, 778, and 236 overlap Vancouver and the surrounding area. This means the Lower Mainland requires ten-digit dialing, so you must dial the area code when making a local call. Calls out of the region (east of Langley, or north of Squamish, including to Whistler) require a 1 before the area code.\n\nAt payphones, local calls cost a flat 50 cents each. Be aware that many public phones have been removed, especially in the suburbs, due to the rise of cell phones. Downtown payphones are often broken, but the payphones at the downtown SkyTrain stations are almost always in service. Payphones can be used to call 911 free of charge.\n\nFree Wi-Fi is available at most hotels, cafés, and restaurants, as well as practically everywhere downtown. The city operates over 500 free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city. A full list of the city operated wireless hotspots can be found here. Some Translink buses, skytrains, seabuses, as well as some stations and terminals also provide free Wi-Fi for transit passengers. Internet cafés are not as popular as they once were, but several remain in Vancouver, charging hourly with all-day passes available.\n\n### By mail\n\n - Vancouver Main Post Office", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk043", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Vancouver is a great place to visit if you use common sense like keeping an eye on your possessions, knowing where you are going and avoiding alleys and unfamiliar areas at night should keep you out of trouble. Unless involved in illegal activities (such as the drug trade), it is highly unlikely you will fall victim to any sort of violent crime. If you need emergency help, dial **911**.\n\nLike any major metropolitan city, Vancouver has areas that should be travelled with caution. The most notable is the Downtown Eastside (specifically Hastings Street between Abbott and Gore). This neighbourhood is infamous for homelessness, drug-use, and prostitution. As a result of these conditions, violence is quite a common problem. If you do accidentally stroll into the Downtown Eastside it is not difficult to find your way out, but if you get lost or feel uncomfortable the best thing to do is approach a police officer. Tourists exploring Gastown and Chinatown can easily wander into the Downtown Eastside unwittingly. Chinatown turns into a ghost town in the evening, and is mainly filled with homeless people, so you should avoid the area at night.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk044", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "It's also wise to exercise caution in the Granville Mall area (Granville St between Smithe St and Hastings St) in the central business district on Friday and Saturday nights. As Vancouver’s bar and nightclub district, the sheer volume of people combined with alcohol consumption make disorderly conduct and rowdy behaviour fairly common. But this shouldn't act as a deterrent - if you're not looking for trouble, you probably won't find it, and there is a strong police presence. The streets at night in the Granville Mall area are usually (and quite literally) clogged with people at night time. Such an enormous mix of people and alcohol can be a dangerous mix if you are not cautious.\n\nSome parts of the city have high rates of property crime. Theft from vehicles is especially problematic and parked cars with foreign or out-of-province plates are frequently targeted. The best thing is to not leave any money and valuables in plain view. Many of the locals use steering wheel locks to prevent vehicle theft.\n\nWhile using public transit, if you feel unsafe, approach a Transit police officer (usually at SkyTrain stations). For non-emergency requests, you can call .\n\nPanhandling is common in some parts of downtown, but is unlikely to pose a problem. Don't be rude, as there may be negative consequences.\n\n### Drugs\n\nCannabis can be purchased from private dispensaries or the government-run BC Cannabis stores, which also offer online sales. It's legal for adults over 19 to consume and possess up to 30 grams of cannabis. It is not permitted to smoke or vape cannabis anywhere tobacco use is prohibited.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk045", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There are serious penalties for driving under the influence of THC, which include fines and vehicle seizure. Also, while Washington State has legalized recreational cannabis at the state level it remains illegal to bring any cannabis products over the border in either direction. Do not buy cannabis in Canada and attempt to take it into Washington State, or vice versa, not even at out of the way crossings like Point Roberts.\n\nThe province of British Columbia is the first jurisdiction in the world to decriminalize possession of hard drugs. Possession of up to 2.5 grams of cocaine (crack and powder), methamphetamine, MDMA, and opioids (including heroin, fentanyl and morphine) is no longer a criminal offence. In some areas such as\nDowntown Eastside, the government provides safe injection sites where you can safely dispose off needles after injecting yourself. The exemption is scheduled to last until Jan 31, 2026.\n\nDriving while under the influence of drugs is a crime. Anyone caught selling drugs or trafficking them will still face criminal penalties. Possessing hard drugs at airports and many other locations remains illegal.", "word_count": 181}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk046", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Publications\n\n - Vancouver Sun\n\n - The Province\n\n - Georgia Straight\n\n - The Tyee\n\n- Vancouver Observer\n\n- Vancouver Is Awesome\n\nOther free weeklies include the Vancouver Courier, Westender, and Xtra West (gay and lesbian bi-weekly newspaper).\nFree dailies include 24 Hours and Metro.\n\n### Wireless\n\nThere are a number of wireless network providers in BC's lower mainland, all with store locations throughout Vancouver, including Telus/Koodo, Rogers/Fido/Chatr, Bell/Virgin, and Freedom Mobile. Another option is Public Mobile, which operates mostly online only, but SIMs can be purchased at London Drugs and generally costs less than other providers. Many wireless carriers offer out of country travel plans; inquire with your carrier regarding pricing before your trip.\n\n### Religious services\n\n Anglican (Episcopal): - Christ Church Cathedral\n\n Buddhist: - Tilopa Kadampa Buddhist Centre\n\n Muslim: - Masjid Omar Al-Farooq\n\n Presbyterian: - Central Presbyterian Church\n\n Protestant: - St. Andrew Wesley United Church\n\n Roman Catholic: - Holy Rosary Cathedral\n\n Seventh-day Adventist: - Oakridge Adventist Church\n\n Sikh: - Akali Singh Sikh Society\n\nthumb|One of Vancouver General Hospital's several buildings\n\n### Hospitals\n\n- Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)\n\n- BC Children's Hospital\n\n- St. Paul's Hospital\n\n- Mount Saint Joseph Hospital\n\n- UBC Hospital\n\nThere are also a number of walk-in clinics around Vancouver. Unfortunately waits are usually around 30-45 min for an appointment.\n\n### Consulates\n\n - Australia\n\n - Brazil\n\n - China (People's Republic of)\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Japan\n\n - Korea (Republic of)\n\n - Mexico\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Romania\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Thailand\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk047", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Nearby municipalities\n\nThere are a number of things to see and do just outside of Vancouver's borders. Some of the most popular are listed below. All of these places are accessible by public transit, or if you have a car, within an hour's drive.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk048", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Go next", "text": "North Vancouver - Take in the views from Grouse Mountain (The Peak of Vancouver), go for a walk on a suspension bridge or enjoy one of the many outdoor recreation opportunities -- hiking, mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, kayaking -- on offer. The most popular summer activity in the area is hiking the 'Grouse Grind', a 2.9-km, 853-m elevation gain hike up the side of Grouse mountain.\n West Vancouver - A municipality north of the Lion's gate bridge, en route to Whistler. Home to many beaches, coves, parks and expensive real estate, where breathtaking views of Vancouver can be scoped by driving its higher altitudes.\n Burnaby - Shop till you drop at Metropolis at Metrotown, the largest shopping mall in British Columbia, or relax at one of the large regional parks. Also home to Simon Fraser University's main campus (notable for its brutalist architecture), on top of Burnaby mountain.\n Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody (the Tri City area) - Half hour drive down Hastings street to the Barnet Highway will bring you to Port Moody, locally known as the City of the Arts.\n Richmond - City with a large Asian influence with many options for Chinese, Japanese and Korean dining and shopping, one of the largest Buddhist temples in North America and the historic seaside Steveston towards the south offers a quieter, small-town type atmosphere.\n Surrey/White Rock - A 45 minute drive away from Vancouver, famous for its moderate climate and sandy beaches. Surrey is also the place to go for South Asian shopping and watching Bollywood movies.\n Fort Langley - Village with unique shops, restaurants and the site of one of the first forts built in British Columbia.\n New Westminster - Small city on the banks of the Fraser River that was once the capital of British Columbia.\n Delta - Made up of three communities separated by farmland; North Delta, Ladner, and Tsawwassen. Ladner has a quaint village-like atmosphere which has attracted several movies to be shot there and is the home of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Tsawwassen has Boundary Bay Regional Park with its walking trails and bird watching opportunities.", "word_count": 354}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk049", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Day trips\n\nBowen Island is a popular day trip or weekend excursion offering kayaking, hiking, shops, restaurants, and more. This authentic community is in Howe Sound just off Vancouver, and is accessed by ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.\n For those who enjoy outdoor activities, a trek up the Sea to Sky corridor is essential. Squamish has branded itself the \"Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada\" and with an incredible amount of quality rock climbing, mountain biking, white water rafting, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, fishing, golf, walking trails and more, it certainly deserves the title. Squamish is about half way between Vancouver and Whistler. Whistler (1.5-hour drive from Vancouver) is expensive but well-known because of the 2010 Winter Olympics. In the winter, enjoy some of the best skiing in North America, and in the summer try some authentic mountain biking.\n Another good spot for outdoor activities is Mount Baker across the border in Washington. Driving time is about three hours, but border line-ups can add anywhere from a few minutes to several hours onto your trip.\n The nearby Fraser Valley has a number of parks and lakes that are nice for fishing, hiking or relaxing. A popular lake beach destination is in Harrison Hot Springs.\n A geopolitical oddity: Point Roberts, a village that's part of the United States but can only be reached by land through Delta, BC.\n\n### Further afield", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "vancouver::chunk050", "doc_id": "vancouver", "section": "Go next", "text": "Vancouver Island is a good spot to move on to from Vancouver. Victoria, British Columbia's capital, is a relaxing place. Tofino is a pretty spot on the island's west coast, good for whale and storm watching and has some of Canada's best surf (if you can brave the cold water). The island is reached by ferry, seaplane and bus.\n The Southern Gulf Islands are also a short ferry ride or float plane flight away. The Southern Gulf Islands are known for their artist communities, wineries, fromageries and farms. These islands also boast incredible opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.\n The Okanagan is a four to five hour drive east, with a large number of wineries, water activities in the summer and skiing in the winter.\n The scenery of Banff, Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains is a long day's drive (8-9 hours) east.\n To the south, in the United States, Seattle is a two and a half hour drive and Portland is a five hour drive (excluding any border line-up).", "word_count": 181}
diff --git a/corpus/vancouver/metadata.json b/corpus/vancouver/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a0db8a4208db47720c1e0cd14456f6258cf263eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vancouver/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "vancouver",
+ "title": "Vancouver",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vancouver",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "surfing",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "wine",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Lower Mainland"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "North Vancouver",
+ "West Vancouver",
+ "Burnaby",
+ "Port Coquitlam",
+ "Coquitlam",
+ "Port Moody",
+ "Richmond (British Columbia)",
+ "Surrey (British Columbia)",
+ "White Rock",
+ "Fort Langley",
+ "New Westminster",
+ "Delta (British Columbia)",
+ "Bowen Island",
+ "Sea to Sky",
+ "Squamish",
+ "Whistler",
+ "Mount Baker",
+ "Washington (state)",
+ "Fraser Valley",
+ "Harrison Hot Springs",
+ "Point Roberts",
+ "Delta (British Columbia)",
+ "Vancouver Island",
+ "Victoria (British Columbia)",
+ "Tofino",
+ "Southern Gulf Islands",
+ "Gulf Islands National Park Reserve",
+ "Okanagan",
+ "Banff",
+ "Banff National Park",
+ "Rocky Mountains (Canada)",
+ "Seattle",
+ "Portland (Oregon)",
+ "Edmonton",
+ "Mission (British Columbia)",
+ "Abbotsford",
+ "Seattle",
+ "Bellingham (Washington)",
+ "Nanaimo",
+ "North Vancouver",
+ "Hope (British Columbia)",
+ "Burnaby",
+ "Hope (British Columbia)",
+ "Burnaby",
+ "Interstate 5",
+ "Whistler",
+ "West Vancouver",
+ "Seattle",
+ "Victoria (British Columbia)",
+ "Richmond (British Columbia)",
+ "Mission (British Columbia)",
+ "Port Moody"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 12854,
+ "listing_count": 80,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 51,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/vanuatu/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/vanuatu/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9ac4e8991bfe630a10d96ad714bda77a84a4465f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vanuatu/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk000", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Vanuatu** (previously known as the **New Hebrides Islands**) is an archipelago nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The archipelago more than 80 islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk001", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Understand", "text": "Vanuatu is one of the smallest of five independent Melanesian countries in the southwest Pacific. The archipelago of 83 or so islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving. While a poor, developing country where the majority of the population still lives off subsistence farming, it was famously declared the **world's happiest country** in the Happy Planet Index in 2023 and 2024.\n\n### History\n\nThe prehistory of Vanuatu is obscure; archaeological evidence supports the commonly held theory that peoples speaking Austronesian languages first came to the islands some 4,000 years ago. Pottery fragments have been found dating back to 1300–1100 BC.\n\nThe first island in the Vanuatu group discovered by Europeans was Espiritu Santo, when in 1606 the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós working for the Spanish crown, spied what he thought was a southern continent. Europeans did not return until 1768. In 1774, Captain Cook named the islands the **New Hebrides**, a name that lasted until independence.\n\nDuring the 1860s, planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Samoa Islands, in need of labourers, instigated a long-term indentured labor trade called \"blackbirding\": essentially slavery. At the height of the labor trade, more than one-half the adult male population of several of the islands worked abroad. Fragmentary evidence indicates that the current population of Vanuatu is much lower than that of pre-contact times.\n\nthumb|Coat of arms of the Condominium, which couldn't agree even on a single flag\n\nThe British and French agreed in 1906 to an **Anglo-French Condominium**, popularly known as the \"Pandemonium\" because of absurd duplication and confusion this entailed: there were two police forces with their own laws, including road laws, two health services, two education systems, two currencies, and two prison systems.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk002", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Understand", "text": "Challenges to this form of government began in the early 1940s. The arrival of some 50,000 Americans during World War II, with their informal demeanor, relative wealth and at least comparatively equal African-American soldiers was instrumental in undermining the colonial regime and the rise of nationalism in the islands. The belief in a mythical messianic figure named John Frum was the basis for an indigenous cargo cult (a movement attempting to obtain industrial goods through magic) promising Melanesian deliverance. Today, John Frum is both a religion and a political party with a member of Parliament.\n\nIn 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the islands became independent as the **Republic of Vanuatu**. During the 1990s Vanuatu experienced political instability which eventually resulted in a more decentralized government. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group, attempted a coup in 1996 because of a pay dispute, briefly holding the president and deputy prime minister hostage but releasing them unharmed a few hours later.\n\nVanuatu sustained extensive damage due to Cyclone Pam in March 2015. While the island of Espiritu Santo was unscathed, destruction on many outer islands was severe. Port Vila was also hit hard by an earthquake in December 2024.\n\n### Climate\n\nWith such a large north-south area, Vanuatu has all the tropical variances possible. From hot and humid in the north, to mild and dry in the south. The capital Port Vila on Efate can expect 27°C in July to 30°C in January. Nights can drop to 12°C. Humidity from December to February is around 82% and 70% around July.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk003", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Understand", "text": "Rainfall from January to April is around 300 mm per month, for the rest of the year around 200 mm per month. The Banks Islands in the top North can receive above 4,000mm of rain in a year, yet the southern islands may receive less than 2,000 mm.\n\nCyclones are natural phenomena to understand and respect. Mainstream tourism facilities are solidly built and experienced in cyclone management. Cyclones appear (in varying degrees with plenty of warning) on an average every couple of years from December to March. By following instructions given by the local authorities, you will be in no danger.\n\nYachties commonly avoid cyclones from Nov through April. There are no effective cyclone holes for any size of ship in Vanuatu. Yachties typically leave to the north of the equator, New Caledonia, New Zealand or Australia. There is a small boatyard in Port Vila with haulout facilities for yachts.\n\nTourism peaks from July to December. January to June is quietest. Experienced travellers take advantage of these tourism troughs to travel, as airlines, accommodation providers and other tourism-related businesses discount heavily during this period.\n\nJanuary to June is a little more humid, but cooled by the occasional tropical downpour. The added bonus is that in this period, tourism numbers are low. You have more opportunities to mingle with locals and aimlessly do your own thing instead of being rushed by the crowd (except when cruise ships are in port).\n\n### Culture\n\nVanuatu retains a strong diversity through local regional variants and foreign influence. In the north, wealth is established by how much one can give away. Pigs, particularly those with rounded tusks are considered a symbol of wealth throughout Vanuatu. More traditional Melanesian cultural systems dominate in the central region.\n\n### Holidays", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk004", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Understand", "text": "**1 January**: New Year's Day\n **21 February**: Father Lini Day\n **5 March**: Custom Chief's Day\n **Easter** (in accordance with the Gregorian calendar)\n **30 July**: Independence Day\n **5 October**: Constitution Day\n **29 November**: Unity Day\n **25 December**: Christmas Day\n **26 December**: Family Day\n\n### Visitor information\n\nVanuatu Travel website", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk005", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Regions", "text": "The 83 islands of Vanuatu are grouped into six geographic provinces, the names formed by combining the first syllables or letters of the major islands in each.\n\nMatthew and Hunter are uninhabited islands southeast of Aneityum. Aneityum people believe that the islands are in their historical territory. Aneityum appears to have provided the ancestors of the people of New Caledonia and there are cultural links particularly with the Loyalty Islands.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk006", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Towns", "text": "There are only two recognized municipalities in Vanuatu.\n\n - Vanuatu's pint-sized capital (pop. 50,000) is the country's main tourism hub and arguably the prettiest city in the South Pacific\n (Santo) - Vanuatu's second city and main port, the few travellers who make it here are mostly scuba diving enthusiasts", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk007", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "- Vanuatu's biggest island, and popular with divers. It boasts shipwrecks for scuba diving, delightful beaches, coconut plantations, jungle and traditional villages where young men still engage in age-old rituals to celebrate their coming of age, and where women are provided with special places to stay for the time they menstruate. Champagne Beach can compete with any other beach in the South Pacific, and is therefore one of the most popular places to visit.\n - A good place to dive into the divers' cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of Vanuatu. This is a place where stories of cannibals and spirit caves come to life and a good chance to watch the ritual kastom dances of the locals, in this case, the Small Nambas and Big Nambas people.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk008", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Vanuatu, with countries in green having visa-free access\nthumb|Funeral masks used in Malakula\n\nVanuatu is a long way from everywhere except the east coast of Australia, with Brisbane a 2½ hour flight away. In an average year less than 300,000 visitors make their way to the archipelago, the vast majority of them Australians, and two-thirds of that figure are day-tripping cruisers. The rest mostly stay in resorts around Port Vila, with only a tiny fraction exploring the other islands.\n\n### Visas\n\nA long list of countries are exempted from visas, which includes all Commonwealth and EU member countries. All visitors must have a passport valid for 6 months on arrival, an onward ticket and confirmed accommodation. On arrival, you will be allowed an initial stay of up to 30 days, extended one month at a time for up to 4 months.\n\nIf you need a visa in advance, you can apply by mail to the Vanuatu Immigration Service in Port Vila; you do not need to mail your passport, just a certified copy of key pages. Tourist visas cost 5,150 VT (around US$44), payable by bank transfer, and are valid for up to 4 months.\n\n### By plane\n\nIf you're flying in, odds are high you will arrive via the main international airport in Port Vila (). There are connections from Australia (Brisbane, Sydney), Fiji (Nadi), Solomon Islands (Honiara) and New Caledonia (Nouméa).\n\nThere is another international airport in Luganville () on Espiritu Santo. As of 2025, it offers a single flight per week to Honiara and Brisbane.\n\nFlag carrier Air Vanuatu, notorious for frequent cancellations and hemorrhaging money, declared bankruptcy in 2024. While it has resumed limited domestic flights, as of 2025 it no longer flies internationally.\n\n### By boat\n\nVanuatu's main ports are Port Vila on the island of Efate and Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.\n\nCruises are a very popular way of visiting Vanuatu, and many cruise lines including Carnival and P&O Australia operate regular cruises through Vanuatu waters. 8-11 day cruises depart from Brisbane or Sydney and often stop in New Caledonia as well, with the primary destinations in Vanuatu being the uninhabited \"Mystery Island\" and Port Vila. Only a few cruises go beyond to Santo, Tanna or the Banks Islands.", "word_count": 384}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk009", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Port-Vila Harbour\n\nGetting around Vanuatu is always an adventure. Leave plenty of room in your plans.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe only scheduled domestic flights are operated by Air Vanuatu. However, the carrier's 2024 bankruptcy means schedules, always sparse, are now more skeletal than ever with only the \"trunk routes\" between Port Vila, Luganville and Tanna having regular flights. Online bookings are no longer available, you have to call, email or visit an Air Vanuatu office in person. As of 2025, fares are fixed at 19,320 VT for Port Vila to Santo (Luganville) and 17,600 VT to Tanna (Whitegrass).\n\nMost visitors who travel between islands do so on package tours operated by charter airlines like Unity Airlines and Air Taxi Vanuatu. These are more reliable but expensive: a typical day trip from Port Vila to Tanna to see Mt Yasur costs around 80,000 VT (A$1000) per person.\n\n### By boat\n\nVanuatu's 83 islands are woven together by a web of passenger and cargo ferries. Operators include Vanuatu Ferry (tel. 26872, all major islands), Big Sista (Port Vila-Malekula-Luganville) and Tanna Ferry (Port Vila-Tanna). Services run roughly weekly but departures are irregular and prone to delays. Check the Facebook pages for updates and call directly to book. A journey from Port Vila to Santo or Tanna takes around 24 hours and costs around A$100, payable on vatu cash only. Creature comforts on board vary from minimal to non-existent, so bring your own food, water and a sleeping mat.\n\n### By bus\n\nPublic buses, really shared taxis that take passengers point to point, operate within and around Port Vila and Luganville only. There are no long-distance buses.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|The ring road on Efate: this is about as good as it gets\n\nRenting your own car is the most flexible option for getting around Efate, which has a 140 km paved ring road around the island. Rates start from about 10,000 vatu/day and driving is (mostly) on the right. Foreign licenses are accepted for a period of up to 3 months, after which you'll need to convert to a Vanuatu license.\n\nHowever, the state of Vanuatu's roads leaves much to be desired, with plenty of potholes, pedestrians, pigs and chickens to dodge, and hiring a taxi for the day is not much more expensive than driving yourself. In addition to the usual international chain suspects, local competitor World Car Rentals is worth checking out, they have 24/7 counters at Port Vila airport.\n\nOutside Efate, Espiritu Santo also has a rudimentary road network with about 60 km of paved road from Luganville to Port Orly. The rest of the network, and basically all roads on the other islands, are rough gravel or dirt tracks.", "word_count": 449}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk010", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|Trilingual signs in Vanuatu\nThere are three official languages in Vanuatu: English, French and Bislama. French is spoken by 35% of the population, but proficiency is declining while English is in the ascendant, particularly in tourist hub Port Vila.\n\nBislama is a pidgin language that fuses Melanesian grammar with largely English vocabulary (around 85%). It was created as a means of communication for speakers of various languages. In rural areas, it's a second language for most speakers, but in urban areas there is an increasing number of people who speak it as a first language, making it a creole. The name has nothing to do with Islam: it comes from the French *bêche de mer* or sea cucumber, formerly a major trade item.\n\nthumb|Don't come inside! Look out for the dog, who will ''kaikai'' (eat) man\n\nNative English speakers will find simple Bislama signage straightforward to parse and at times amusing, but understanding the spoken language, much less speaking it, is another matter: the language's grammar is quite different to English and the pronunciation and meaning of words often diverge considerably. For example, *save*, from the French *saver* (to know), is pronounced \"sah-veh\" and is used much like the English verb \"can\", as in *Mi no save tok Bislama*, \"I can't speak Bislama\".\n\nBislama is the only language that can be understood and spoken by the whole population of Vanuatu, and you'll want to brush up on the basics if you intend to travel beyond Port Vila. See Bislama phrasebook for a quick primer. An excellent Bislama dictionary is available from good bookshops: *A New Bislama Dictionary*, by the late Terry Crowley.\n\nIn addition, 113 indigenous languages are still actively spoken in Vanuatu. The density of languages per capita is the highest of any nation in the world, with an average of only 2,000 speakers per language. All of these vernacular languages belong to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family.", "word_count": 321}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk011", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Champagne Beach, [[Espiritu Santo]]\nthumb|Celebrations around the annual land jumping rituals at Pentecost\nVanuatu is not on many peoples' destination wish list, except perhaps for those with a love for scuba diving, as divers have discovered the **underwater treasures** of this South Pacific archipelago a long time ago. However, even if you don't plan on touching this country's bright blue waters, it's a colourful mix of traditional Melanesian culture, friendly people, beautiful tropical beaches, active volcanoes and all the modern day facilities you'll need to have a great time.\n\nThe many islands rimmed with perfect sandy beaches offer lovely Pacific views. The **Bank Islands** boast great beaches combined with rugged terrain. On the largest of the Banks Islands, Gaua, you'll find the **Siri Waterfall**, which gets its water from the country's biggest crater lake: **Lake Letas**. Head to the island of **Tanna** to see Mount Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano. A tourist favourite, Tanna is also home to waterfalls and men in penis sheaths and grass skirts. If you get the chance, stay to witness one of their ancient festivals or rituals.\n\n**Efate** is the place where most visitors begin their encounter with Vanuatu and home to the country's friendly little capital, **Port Vila**. It strives to bring the best of the archipelago together and is the go-to place for fine wining and dining. \n\nOther places well worth visiting include **Aoba Island** (known for the crater lakes on top of the large volcano that defines the islands) and **Pentecost** (the spiritual birthplace of bungee jumping). Last but not least, the active volcanoes, lava lakes and local villagers' artwork are a good reason to stay in one of the traditional style bungalows on **Ambrym**.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk012", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Do", "text": "Scuba diving is a major attraction, with the wreck of the *SS President Coolidge* at a depth of just 21 meters in Espiritu Santo in particular drawing many divers.", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk013", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe local currency is the **Vanuatu vatu** (ISO code: **VUV**), abbreviated **VT**. There are notes for 200 VT, 500 VT, 1000 VT, 2000 VT, 5000 VT, and 10,000 VT while coins include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 VT pieces. The current series of vatu banknotes is printed entirely on polymer. Two series of vatu coins are in circulation, the post-independence (1982) issues and the new 2015 issues.\n\nThe vatu is a small and unstable currency that's very difficult to exchange outside Vanuatu, and you'll take a hit on exchange even in the country: cash spreads are around 7% for the Australian dollar and higher for anything else. Exchange only what you need.\n\nCredit cards and debit cards on the major networks (Cirrus, Maestro, etc.) are accepted by many businesses in Port Vila, but rarely elsewhere. Expect to pay a 3-5% processing surcharge.\n\nThe main banks are National Bank of Vanuatu (NBV), Bank of the South Pacific (BSP), BRED and ANZ. NBV has a branch at Port Vila's airport and is open for all flight arrivals. Otherwise, banking hours are from 08:30 to 15:00.\n\nATMs are available in Port Vila and Luganville. All banks charge a flat 700 VT fee for withdrawals with foreign cards. Wanfuteng Bank only supports Chinese networks like UnionPay.\n\nThanks to the prevalence of Australian tourists, some places in Port Vila accept Australian dollars, but the exchange rate is rarely in your favor. However, some hotels offer to settle the bill in Australian dollars in cash or paid to an Australian bank, which can save you a bundle if this is an option for you.\n\n### Costs", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk014", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Buy", "text": "Vanuatu is very much a two-tier economy. Goods and services produced by and for locals are cheap but extremely limited: tropical fruits and root vegetables, public bus rides, local beef and seafood. *Everything* else is imported for tourist use and charged accordingly at Australian prices. Typical costs in 2025 are around 2000 VT (A$25) for a basic burgers-and-fries type meal and 20,000+ VT (A$250) for a night at a mid-range resort.\n\n### Souvenirs\n\nright|frameless|200px\n\nLook for the \"Vanuatu Made\" logo to find goods produced in Vanuatu from local ingredients.\n\nThe most popular souvenir from Vanuatu is probably kava (see ), and vacuum-packed bags of ready to use kava powder are widely sold, including at the airport. You can legally import up to 4 kg for personal use to Australia. Beware that kava is considered a drug in some jurisdictions, so do your homework before bringing it elsewhere, even in transit.\n \nWoven grass bags and mats are widely available and very attractive.\n\nCoffee from Tanna is well regarded. Locally made chocolate is also available, as is rum for several distilleries.\n\n### Tipping and gifts\n\nTipping is not expected in Vanuatu, nor is haggling or bargaining; it is not the custom and only encourages a \"master-servant\" relationship. However, gifts are very appreciated and the exchange of gifts for services rendered fits well into the local traditions. Western governments have a hard time coming to terms with this practice as it is interpreted as bribery and corruption. But in the Melanesian culture, this practice is a normal way to do business... well before the European colonisers introduced money.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk015", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Buy", "text": "A bag of rice to a village chief may be received with gratitude and dignity, but to offer triple the value in cash may be regarded as patronising, plus it will artificially inflate the price for the next visitor; set a wrong expectation, and rapidly destroy the genuine spontaneous friendship so easily given to you.\n\nA nice gesture is to give phone cards or a T-shirt, or school pads, pens, etc. for the children.", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk016", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Curry of Vanuatu beef with taro boiled in coconut milk and island vegetables\n\nThere are many restaurants and eateries in Port-Vila, ranging from up-market places catering to tourists and expats, with French food particularly common, to more low-key establishments. In a sit-down restaurant, the approximate cost of lunch would be around 1500-2000 VT, depending on where and what you eat. Some examples of prices:\n\nsandwiches, around 450-600 VT\n bacon and eggs, 750 VT\n burger with fries or salad, around 1500 VT\n main meal, e.g. steak or seafood, 2000-3000 VT\n large, fresh-squeezed fruit juice, around 500VT\n\n### Traditional cuisine\n\nthumb|Lap-lap\nthumb|Bunya\n\nLike much of the Pacific, traditional food (*kakae*) in Vanuatu revolves heavily around tropical tubers like yams, manioc (cassava/tapioca), taro and sweet potato (*kumala*). In the islands where subsistence farming prevails, this still forms the core of the diet, supplemented with locally caught seafood, the odd can of tuna or Spam, and on feast days, pork.\n\n**Lap lap**: Vanuatu's national dish is a steamed root vegetable cake called *lap lap*. Essentially this is shaved into the middle of a banana leaf with island cabbage and sometimes a chicken wing on top. This is all wrapped up into a flat package and then cooked in hot stones underground till it all melts together into a cake. The best place to buy some is at food markets, where they cost about 200 VT.\n\n**Tuluk** is a variation of lap lap with the cake rolled into a cylinder with meat in the middle. It tastes a lot like a sausage roll. You can find these again in the market, served from foam boxes to keep them warm.\n\n**Simboro** is the vegetarian version of this, flavored with coconut milk and wrapped in edible taro leaves.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk017", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Bunya** is a feast dish prepared by wrapping fish or meat with vegetables and coconut milk in a bundle of banana leaves, then steaming it with hot stones for several hours.\n\n### What to eat\n\nthumb|Breakfast Vanuatu style: slices of pomelo, passionfruit, banana, papaya, lime and Vanuatu raspberries\n\n**Steak**: Vanuatu's meat is renowned in the Melanesian region. At the airports, you will see signs reminding you to pack the 25 kg of meat permitted to other nearby island nations. The reason the meat tastes so good is that the livestock are naturally reared, with no feedlots or other mass production methods used in some Western countries. This results in a steak that is very good indeed.\n\n**Seafood**: As you may expect from an island nation, seafood is a common option and the quality is generally excellent. Reef fish are commonly found in restaurants, along with many varieties of prawns and lobster. Snapper, known as *poulet fish* (literally \"chicken fish\"), is particularly common.\n\n**Tropical fruits** are cheap, delicious and can be picked up at roadside stands and markets. In addition to the usual bananas, pineapples and papayas, look out for local fruit like ambarella (*naus*), Pacific lychees (*nandao*), dragon plums (*nakatambol*) and Vanuatu raspberries (*frombwas*, from the French *framboise*). The last of these is related to but not the same as a Western raspberry, being smaller, seedless and tarter in taste.\n\n**Coconut crabs** are the world's largest terrestrial crab, with a \"wingspan\" up to 1 meter wide, whose claws are supposedly strong enough to crush coconuts. It has been declining in numbers so rapidly that it is now a protected species in most areas, and there is a minimum legal size of 9 cm for the carapace (body).", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk018", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Eat", "text": "Last and probably least, **flying fox**, a type of giant fruit bat, is available in some restaurants, most commonly in a French-style red wine stew called *civet de roussette*. It's bony and the taste can charitably described as gamey.", "word_count": 39}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk019", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|''Nakamal'' on [[Pentecost]]\nthumb|Vanuatuan Kava in bottle form|173x173px|left\n\n### Kava\n\nKava is a local drink, made from the roots of the plant *Piper methysticum*, a type of pepper. Kava is intoxicating, but not like alcohol. Its effects are sedative.\n\nKava is consumed in private homes and in local venues called ***nakamal***. Traditional nakamals are communal gathering places, traditionally thatched huts, where only men are allowed. Commercial nakamals in larger town, which are also known as *kava bars*, cater to all paying customers. Some of the resorts also offer kava on occasion for visitors to try.\n\nVanuatu kava is almost always prepared from the fresh root of the plant, which makes it much stronger than the dried, powdered variety found on other Pacific islands such as Fiji, where it is comparatively mild. Four or five large shells in a typical kava bar will leave the inexperienced drinker reeling (or worse) after a couple of hours, and it can take a day to recover. The cheapest variety is known as *tudei* (two-day), thus named for the length of the resulting hangover.\n\nKava is served in a coconut shell or small bowl. Drink the whole shell-ful down steadily, then spit. It's handy to have a soft drink on hand to rinse with afterwards, as the taste of kava is earthy, bitter, and not very pleasant. Nakamals often have snacks like fruit on hand. It takes about 20-30 min for the effects to kick in, starting with a numbing sensation around your mouth.\n\nGood advice to experience kava as pleasantly as possible is to go with an experienced drinker and follow their lead, take the small shells, and stop after an hour and a half. It's quite easy to find a local kava drinking buddy, just ask around your hotel and you'll find volunteers, maybe at the cost of a shell or two.\n\nThe kava served in local nakamals can be less than hygienic. Traditionally, the roots are prepared by chewing and spitting out into a pot, although these days mechanical grinders are more common. The water kava is mixed with can be suspect, and some unscrupulous kava bars mix in yesterday's leftovers. \n\nNakamals/kava bars are normally quiet, dark places with very dim or no lighting at all. Conversation should be kept no louder than a whisper and cameras, especially flash photography, is banned. In Port Vila, though, you can find more touristy bars that may even serve alcohol on the side; mixing the two, though, is highly unadvisable.\n\n### Alcohol\n\nthumb|160px|Tusker, ''bia blong yumi''\n\nAlcoholic beverages are also widely available. Resorts, bars and restaurants serving tourists serve a wide range of drinks. The local beer is Tusker. Take-away alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays.", "word_count": 451}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk020", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Port Vila has a good choice of accommodation in all price brackets. Tanna and Santo have a few hotels and resorts catering to tourists. Elsewhere you will largely be limited to basic guesthouses.\n\n### Budget\n\nthumb|One-star luxury awaits at the Motel Nemo, [[Luganville]]\n\nWhen visiting other islands or villages outside of the cities, there are many small guest houses that charge around 2000 VT per night and offer full service (meals, laundry, etc.)\n\nMany of the motels in Port-Vila and Luganville also fall into the budget category, with prices around 2000 VT per night.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nthumb|Warwick Le Lagon, Vanuatu's largest hotel, in [[Port Vila]]\n\nPort Vila has a number of Western branded holiday resorts with rooms in the A$200-400 range. Good deals may be available if booked as a package tour or traveling in the off season.\n\n### Splurge\n\nMany resorts and villas around Port Vila cater to the honeymoon set and charge accordingly, with A$1000+ per night in high season quite common. Many are adults only.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk021", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Work", "text": "Many people from overseas work in Vanuatu, either running their own businesses or employed by others.\n\nGenerally speaking, work permits are only available for positions where there are not enough ni-Vanuatu to meet demand.", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk022", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Police on Espiritu Santo\nVanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative, though crime rates are said to be increasing, particularly in Port Vila at night. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else.\n\nThere are no seriously venomous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles may remain on the eastern coast of Vanua Lava, but the likelihood of an attack is minimal.\n\n### Natural disasters\n\nVanuatu is frequently struck by cyclones. The cyclone season runs from November to April, but out-of-season cyclones are not uncommon.\n\nVanuatu is on the Ring of Fire, so earthquakes are common, with the most recent one in December 2024 causing major damage to the capital Port Vila. Major hotels are built to earthquake-resistant standards, smaller ones may not be.\n\nMany islands, notably Ambrym and Tanna, also have active volcanoes, although those on Efate are all dormant.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk023", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "It is advisable to be immunised against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before visiting Vanuatu.\n\n**Malaria** is endemic within some areas of Vanuatu, but not Port-Vila. If you are venturing outside the resort areas, check with your doctor before you travel. Malaria may not be endemic but you may come in contact with mosquito carriers and visitors from outer islands who have malaria - particularly in the wet season and at the hospital.\n\nDengue fever is also mosquito vectored in Port-Vila and elsewhere particularly in the wet season. Be familiar with the symptoms as there is no cure all for dengue and malaria symptoms are intermittently leading to misdiagnosis. Many local clinics in the outer islands can test you for malaria.\n\nMalaria preventative drugs have side effects which can cause problems in the sun, scuba diving, general stability and digestion.\n\n**Tap water** in Port-Vila is clean and potable, but is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities. Fizzy drinks but not beer may be available outside the main cities. Giardiasis after using local water is rare. Tourism, cattle raising, and the rapidly rising population are placing stress on municipal water supplies.\n\nDoctors used to treating common travel ailments are available in Port-Vila and Luganville. Any more serious problems may require some form of medical evacuation.\n\nBe careful of any small cuts, scratches, or other sores you receive while travelling in Vanuatu. As in most tropical areas, small sores can easily become infected if you don't practice proper hygiene. Most of these things require common sense. Protect the wound with a sterile dressing and keep it dry.\n\nAsthmatics beware: in the dry season, it is common to burn agricultural waste and rubbish, casting a **smoky pall** over the islands.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk024", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|Day of the Dead at Port Vila cemetery\nThroughout Vanuatu, and especially outside of Port-Vila in the villages, life is strongly influenced by \"kastom\", a set of traditional customs and taboos that apply to all kinds of matters. Be aware of this, and respect locals' requests with regard to \"kastom\".\n\nWhen visiting villages, women should dress modestly, wearing clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.\n\nChristianity is very strong. It is common to invite and welcome visitors to attend local church services on a Sunday.\n\nRevealing and sexy clothing (especially wearing beachwear in the capital) is not advisable, as over 100 years of missionary work has had its effect on the perception of what is considered as respectable attire in the islands. Regardless, it's considered disrespectful to the local people and can be interpreted by some indigenous inhabitants as an invitation for sex.\n\nAs Vanuatu is not a fashion conscious place no-one will notice or care if you were wearing the latest trends or not. You are best off bringing a practical tropical wardrobe such as light cotton summer clothes that are easy to hand wash, a pullover and a lightweight waterproof wind jacket. If planning to go to the outer islands, bring a good torch (flashlight) with spare batteries, lightweight, walking shoes, sandals or good thongs (flip-flops or crocs) for wet weather and old clothes.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk025", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Respect", "text": "When exploring the outer islands take all the older clothes you can carry, wear them and give them away to the islanders when you are finished wearing them. You and your children will be aptly rewarded in other ways. Instead of dumping your worn clothes in a charity collection bin at your local shopping centre, your children will interact with the very people who would be the recipients of those clothes (most Ni-Vanuatu people buy these second-hand clothes from shops in Port-Vila).\n\nSharing and giving is a natural course of daily life in Vanuatu. The T-shirt you give to one person will be worn by all his friends as well. Three T-shirts on top of each other will be their winter outfit. You will provide them things that are hard for them to obtain, save them the expense of buying clothes (basic wages are quite low in Vanuatu) and you will depart with priceless memories, plus have more in your luggage for purchased local arts and crafts.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk026", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Respect", "text": "**Communicating with Ni-Vanuatu people**:\nIn Vanuatu, the display of anger, displeasure or irritability at a person or situation will reduce the recipient to a stony silence with a lack of co-operation or empathy to your point of view. Please be patient as it is a waste of time complaining. It will have no bearing on the outcome. And if you are verbally abusive, you will generate one of three responses: smiling, subdued laughter, or a fist in your face.\nDon't ask a question with the answer built into it. Locals will always agree in order not to contradict you. \"Is this the road to X?\" will generate a Yes. Try: \"Where is the road to X..?\", and you might get a different answer.\nDirect eye contact or raised voice level contact may be interpreted as intimidation. A local person's voice level combined with body language may be directly opposite to Europeans. He or she may nod agreement with everything you say in order not to offend you but may not have understood a word you have said.\nIf you're in a bus and people on the footpath are turning their backs to you, don't be offended: they're simply letting the driver know that they don't require him to stop. There are few bus stops in Vanuatu, and those that exist don't get much use.\nIf you see men or women holding hands, it's not what you may think. Men hold hands with other men, or women with women, because there is no sexual connotation attached to it. However, you will very rarely see a man holding a woman's hand in public because this would be considered as a public exhibition of sexual relations.\n\n### Photography", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk027", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Respect", "text": "The Vanuatu people are a delight to photograph, friendly, co-operative and photogenic especially the children who are simply gorgeous. Yes, they love to be photographed but do not offer to pay to photograph local people as this will quickly discourage spontaneity and encourage commercialisation. Always ask before taking photos of local people.\n\nIn some cases, some people may be reluctant to be photographed for reasons that you may never know. It is prudent to enquire as to the fee for photographing cultural festivities as they are sometimes very high. The reasoning behind this is they put on the show, people take photos and make money selling these photos of their show, so they want to be paid accordingly. Shooting an exploding volcano at night calls for at least 800 as a setting and a tripod is essential for good images.", "word_count": 140}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk028", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumb|Nanda Blue Hole on Santo\n\n### Telephone\n\nThe international country code for Vanuatu is +678. To dial overseas from within Vanuatu dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.\n\nEmergency phone numbers: Ambulance (22-100); Fire (22-333); and Police (22-222).\n\nVanuatu has GSM mobile coverage in Port-Vila and most GSM mobile phones roam seamlessly. You can buy special visitor SIM cards from TVI, which offer considerable discounts over roaming charges. Available at any post office.\n\nInternational roaming from New Zealand and Australia is available. Telecom Vanuatu has a package called ‘Smile Visitor' which consists of a sim card with a pre-purchased credit. This can be purchased at the Vanuatu Telecom Office in town. Telephone: +678 081111. Email: info@smile.com.vu\n\nDigicel is giving Telecom some overdue competition. Digicel offer a range of packages, and are widely available.\n\n### Radio and television\n\nMany international radio stations such as Radio Australia, BBC World Service, Radio France International and China Radio International can be heard on FM radio in Port-Vila and in some other locations. \n\nThe national broadcaster, Radio Vanuatu is mostly broadcast in Bislama, but sometimes is in English and French. It is also available on AM and SW. \n\nDistant AM broadcasts from Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji may also be heard.\n\nLocal and international TV broadcasts are available, but the national broadcaster 'Television Blong Vanuatu' is the only free-to air option. \n\nOther broadcasts can be found on Telsat's Digital Pay TV service or via satellite.\n\n### Internet\n\nInternet cafes can be found in Luganville & Port-Vila. You may also find that some post offices will also provide some kind of Internet facilities, and can be found on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville as well as on Espiritu Santo.\n\n### Postal services\n\nPostal services to mainland Europe can take up to 7 days. You can send letters and postcards from mailboxes in the streets, however the incoming postal service can be patchy, especially for parcels, so don't rely on people sending you things while you're staying in Vanuatu.", "word_count": 338}
+{"chunk_id": "vanuatu::chunk029", "doc_id": "vanuatu", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nthumb\n\nVanuatu has 230V/50 Hz electricity with the same type I plug (angled live/neutral pins with a straight earth) as Australia.\n\nOnly about 30% of the country is wired to reliable mains power. Off-grid solar power is increasingly common.", "word_count": 41}
diff --git a/corpus/vanuatu/metadata.json b/corpus/vanuatu/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3789296c6374cc618158588f8cf0a5f9f174bfb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vanuatu/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "vanuatu",
+ "title": "Vanuatu",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Oceania",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vanuatu",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "sailing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest",
+ "volcano"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Melanesia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 6203,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 30,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/varanasi/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/varanasi/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..cb30ebc9cbf66c309d399d7d43806fa8cc16cf88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/varanasi/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk000", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Varanasi** (Hindi: वाराणसी *Vārāṇasī*), once known as **Benares** or **Banaras** and **Kashi**, is a city at the banks of the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh, India. Being the most sacred city in Hinduism and Jainism, and important in the history of Buddhism, Varanasi is India's most important pilgrimage destination. It was home to 1.2 million people as of 2011.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk001", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Hindu priest saluting the sun in the Ganges\n\nVaranasi (vah-rah-nnuh-see) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back to the 11th century BCE. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation (variously termed as *moksha*, *mukti* or *nirvāṇa*) and so they make the trip to the city when they realise that they are close to death. For some, the culture shock of the burning corpses in plain view and the raw sewage flowing into the Ganges can be a bit overwhelming. However, the scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganga at sunrise set against the backdrop of the centuries-old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe city can be scorchingly hot in the summer months so instead, if possible, time your visit between October and March, and bring something warm to wear for chilly days and nights.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Varanasi tourism information", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk002", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Get in", "text": "Varanasi is well connected by plane, train, and bus. Varanasi is mostly on the west bank of the Ganges. The on the north and on the south connect the city to the eastern parts of India.\n\n### By plane\n\n### By train\n\nThere are multiple daily services to cities including Delhi (13 hours), Agra (13 hours), Lucknow (7 hours), Mumbai (25-27 hours), Kolkata (12-14 hours) and Siliguri (14-16 hours).\n\nVaranasi is served by three major railway stations:\n \n \n - Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction\n\nHere is a list of useful trains to reach Varanasi:\n\nTrain Number\nTrain Name\nYou may board at\nYou may alight at\n22436\nVande Bharat Express\nNew Delhi\nVaranasi Junction\n12424\nRajdhani Express\nNew Delhi\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction\n12436\nRajdhani Express\nNew Delhi, Lucknow\nVaranasi Junction\n12560\nShivganga Express\nNew Delhi\nVaranasi Junction\n12165\nLokmanya Tilak (T) - Varanasi Express\nLokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)\nVaranasi Junction\n12336\nLokmanya Tilak (T) - Bhagalpur Express\nLokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction\n12333\nVibhuti Express\nHowrah\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Varanasi Junction\n12307\nHowrah-Jodhpur Express\nHowrah\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction\n12669\nGanga Kaveri Express\nChennai Central\nVaranasi Junction\n12295\nSangamitra Express\nKSR Bengaluru City, Chennai Central\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction\n17091\nSecunderabad-Patna Express\nSecunderabad Junction (Hyderabad)\nPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Varanasi Junction\n14854\nMarudhar Express\nJaipur, Agra Fort\nVaranasi Junction\n14864\nMarudhar Express\nJaipur, Agra Fort\nVaranasi Junction\n\n### By bus\n\nthumbnail|Morning prayer\n\n \n\n#### Arriving from Nepal\n\nBuses are available from major cities in Nepal to the border city of Sunauli. From the Sunauli bus station, take a rickshaw (₹200) to the border crossing, get your passport stamped on the Nepali side then walk through the border. After 100 m of walking through no-man's land, you will find the Indian immigration office hidden away on the left-hand side of the road. After going through Indian immigration, walk 300 m and find the bus stop on the right-hand side. From there, take the government bus to Gorakhpur, not the private lines which are far less comfortable and stop everywhere. The bus trip between the border and Gorakhpur takes 4 hours and costs ₹60. To reach Varanasi from Gorakhpur, you can either take a train from Gorakhpur Junction (5-7 trains per day, 5.5-7 hour journey, ₹200-800 cost) or a bus (hourly, at least 8-hour journey, ₹130 cost).\nBudhha Air has also some packages for devotees visiting Varanasi.\n\nThe cheapest option is perhaps to take the bus in Kathmandu from the Monkey Temple to Birganj/Raxaul for about ₹700, and take a train from Raxaul to Varanasi- but you risk not making the border by 10PM because of breakdowns and the Raxaul-Varanasi train doesn't run often.\n\n#### Arriving from nearby cities\n\nThere are buses run by state government from Lucknow (8 hours, ₹160), Gorakhpur (8 hours or more, ₹130), Khajuraho (12 hours, ₹250), Kanpur (9 hours - ₹195), Faizabad (7 hours, ₹105), Bodh Gaya (7 hours, ₹600) and Prayagraj (3 hours - ₹107 for AC, ₹60 w/o AC).", "word_count": 503}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk003", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Traffic in Varanasi.\n\nMany streets are too narrow to be reached by cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, and car and therefore, you may have to walk a bit to reach your destination.\n\n### By foot\n\nWalking is the only way to see the waterfront and the ghats - but be ready to be hot, sweaty, and lost - locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. The names of ghats and signs pointing to restaurants and hotels are often painted on the walls in Roman letters. For better orientation, walk into any bookstore and pick up a small guide/map book that will have the list and description of all the ghats. \n\n### By rickshaw\n\nThe chaotic streets of Varanasi are sometimes too much to handle on foot. Therefore, it will often be convenient to travel by cycle rickshaw or auto-rickshaw. A short journey of a few kilometres should cost under ₹50, while a longer journey within the city, such as between the ghats and the train station, will cost ₹100. Further journeys, such as to Sarnath (10 km), cost ₹500 there and back (with a one- to two-hour waiting period) or ₹300 one way by auto-rickshaw.\n\nThere is a pre-paid auto-rickshaw stand at .\n\n### By car or taxi\n\nWhile taxis and cars-for-hire do exist, you can hire them for airport/railway/bus station transfers and for major city tour specially for BHU,Sarnath and Ramnager tour. You Can travel from other cities to varanasi by Car as its well connected by major cities of country.\n - Big Cab Varanasi\n\n### By bicycle\n\nBicycle rental is available from many vendors. Inquire at your hotel.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk004", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Rajghat, Varanasi\nVaranasi is not a city with distinct tourist destinations; the experience is in watching the spectacle of life and death on the river and meandering through the alleys of the old city.\n\n - Jantar Mantar\n\n - Ramnagar Fort\n (entry 200 rupies - updated October 2024)\n - Rajghat\n\n - Rani Laxmibai Janmasthali\n\n### Ghats and the Ganges\n\nthumb|Harishchandra Ghat (burning ghat)\nthumb|Ratneshwar Temple, Manikarnika Ghat\nThe Ganges is the most sacred river in the world for Hindus, and you will see traditional rituals and bathing occurring at all times of the day. On the Eastern banks, the Ganges is flanked by a 300-m-wide sand belt, beyond which lies a green belt, a protected area reserved for turtle breeding. The western crescent-shaped bank of the River Ganga is flanked by a continuous stretch of 84 **ghats**, or series of steps leading down to the river, stretching for 6.8 km. These ghats were built by Hindu kings who wanted to die along the Ganges, and they built lofty palaces along the river, most of which are now hotels, to spend their final days. You can walk along the river and see all of the ghats, but the best option for viewing the ghats is to charter a boat and see them from the river.\n\nHindus consider it auspicious to die in Varanasi, so some ghats are known as **burning ghats**, where over 200 corpses per day are cremated in full view before their ashes are eased into the Ganges.\n\nSome of the most popular ghats, from north to south:\n\n - Panchganga Ghat\n\n - Manikarnika Ghat\n\n - Dashashwamedh Ghat\n\n - Rana Ghat\n\n - Kedar Ghat\n\n - Narad Ghat\n\n - Harishchandra Ghat\n\n - Hanuman Ghat\n\n - Shivala Ghat\n\n - Tulsi Ghat\n\n - Assi Ghat\n\n### Religious buildings\n\nthumb|Tomb of Lal Khan\n\n#### Mosques and tombs\n\n - Lal Khan Tomb\n\n - Alamagir Mosque\n\n - Gyanvapi Mosque\n\n#### Temples\n\nthumb|Kashi Vishwanath Temple\nthumb|New Vishwanath Temple, BHU\n\n - Bharat Mata Temple\n\n - Durga Temple\n\n - Gauri Matha Temple\n\n - Kaal Bhairav Temple\n\n - Nepali Hindu Temple\n\n - Kashi Vishwanath Temple\n\n - Tulsi Manas Temple\n\n - Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple", "word_count": 353}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk005", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Men praying between boats in the Ganges\nthumb|Varanasi alleyways\nthumb|Varanasi street scene by the Ganges", "word_count": 15}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk006", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Do", "text": "**Bathe in the Ganges** - Over 60,000 people come to the ghats every day to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganga, most notably at sunrise. This is a fantastic sight to see. However, due to the municipal sewage drains that discharge raw sewage into the river, along with sunken corpses, there is a risk of infection from numerous diseases such as hepatitis and bacteria such as e-coli. Reports have shown that the Ganges water has a faeca coliform MPN of 88,000 per 100 ml, compared to a desirable faecal coliform MPN of 500 per 100 ml.\n**Walking tours** are operated by many companies, walking tours are a great way to see some of the harder-to-find sights such as the Flower Market and Ayurvedic Herb Market\n **Boat rides** - Very popular, especially at sunrise and sunset. Boats can either be rowboats or motorboats. The most popular sunset ride is to start at Dasaswamedh Ghat or one of the many ghats along the river and head up to Manikarnika Ghat to see the cremations, then down to Dasaswamedh just after sunset to watch the evening *aarti* ceremony from the boat. Sunrise is another magical time for a ride, when the ghats are filled with Hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in India. You can bargain the price of the boat ride to around ₹50/person per hour. During the boat ride, other boats, usually manned by children, will float up to your boat to sell bowls with flowers and a candle to be offered to the river (₹10) or masala chai (₹10), or various trinkets that are overpriced. It is recommended to avoid polluting the river further by 'offering' non-biodegradable objects to the river. At Nishadraj Ghat, a few minutes walk from Assi Ghat, you can find a boat driver named Bhomi, a local singer renowned for his incredible voice and charming, beautiful songs; during the boat ride he sings anything from local folk songs to modern film songs and old devotional ones, and often improvises lyrics over his own songs to communicate with you and the various people gathered on the ghats.\n **Explore the alleyways ** - The network of historical lanes and alleys behind Dasaswamedh, Man Mandir, Tripura Bhairavi, and Meer Ghat are not to be missed. In the main alley behind Dasaswamedh Ghat (entrance to the left at the top of the stairs), there are hole in the wall chai and lassi shops, silk merchants, western-style cafes, a small perfumery, a traditional instrument store, and a number of handicraft stalls. Sadly, though, other than the notable exceptions of Gangtok and Shimla, Indian cities refuse to ban bikes, regardless of how narrow an alley may be, and Varanasi is no exception. So the opportunity to savour the unique atmosphere of an ancient Indian city is somewhat destroyed by having to avoid bikes and listen to the sound of constant honking of horns. Still, despite this drawback, the lanes are a must for any traveller visiting Varanasi.", "word_count": 506}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk007", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Do", "text": "### Festivals\n\n**Chhath Pooja** (November) - The four day festival for the sun god, Dala aka Surya. Rituals include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and aragh (water) to the setting and rising sun.\n **Deepavali**, or **Diwali** (October–November) - The five day festival of lights. The special decorations, ceremonies at the temples, and *aarti* ceremony at the ghats are spectacular. After Diwali there is a day known as Dev Deepavali. On this day all the ghats have oil lamps lit on the ghat steps which is a very pleasant sight to watch. Use the boat ride if you are not with any local. Avoid walking through the ghat on that day.\n **Maha Shivaratri** (February) - A Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva, who lived in Varanasi according to Hindu mythology. On this day, the streets of Varanasi are filled with pilgrims and parades dedicated to Shiva occur all day. Entrance to temples will require long queue and the temples will be extremely crowded. The day of Shivaratri is also the last day of the Dhrupad Mela, a festival of \"Hindustani\" (a form of Indian classical music) that goes on night and day for about 72 hours.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk008", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Learn", "text": "### Yoga classes\n\nYoga classes are very popular among visitors to Varanasi.\n\n - Siddharth Yoga Centre\n\n - Yoga Training Centre\n\n### Ayurveda treatment classes\n\nAyurveda treatment is common in Varanasi and you can take classes to learn the techniques:\n - Punarnava Health\n\n### Language classes\n\n - Hindi Language Center\n\n - Pragati Hindi", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk009", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Buy", "text": "Varanasi is famous for its fine **silk** - it's on offer everywhere, but shop around and haggle!\n\n### Markets\n\n - Gowdalia Chowk\n\n - Shri Khatu Ji wholesale Bazar\n\n### Books\n\n - Harmony Books\n\n - Kashi Annapoorna Book House\n\n### Clothes and handicrafts\n\n- Dirty Laundry\n\n- Loan Arts & Crafts\n\n - Mehrotra Factory\n\n - Pratha\n\n- Sri Guru Perfumers\n\n- The Bed Silk and Pasmina\n\n - Wow India", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk010", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumbnail|Potatoes and Puri, the Indian fried bread\n\n*Banarasi Khana*, or local delicacies, are known for their flavours. Many dishes here are flavoured with asafoetida, ginger, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and/or dried fenugreek leaves.\n\n*Benares Dum Aloo* is different from the dum aloo cooked elsewhere in India because the potatoes are stuffed with and cooked in gravy that includes jaggery, fennel, and chilli paste.\n\nVaranasi is also known for its street food and chaat vendors. *Aloo chaat* is very common.\n\n*Varanasi Paan* is famous all over India. Paan is an assortment of flavours wrapped in a betel leaf. There are two versions: One that includes tobacco, and one that includes only sweet flavours. The exact ingredients depend on how much you offer, which can be as little as ₹10 or as much as ₹300. To eat the sweet version, shove the entire leaf in your mouth at once and chew until you swallow!\n\n*Lassi* from Pahalwan Lassi at Ravidas Gate in Lanka. Age-old shop for delicacies like Lassi, Malaiyyo and Rabri.\n\n*Rabri Malai Balai* is a popular dessert in Varanasi that includes milk, sugar, almonds, and pistachio nuts. You can find it served in hole-in-the-wall or sweet shops.\n\nThere are plenty of food outlets with a very dynamic range in quality. The restaurants closer to the ghats cater more to foreign tourists, with variable success.\n\n### Local delicacies", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk011", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Kashi Chat Center**: (near Godowlia Crossing) Good assortment of exotic chats. Try out the Aloo Tikia Chat.\n **Lotus lounge**: (at mansoravor ghat) through the alleys, great food a must for every visitors.\n**Madhur Jalpan**: The best place for laddoos and other famous sweet delicacies is 'Madhur Jalpan', a shop that has been frequented by more than two prime ministers of India! Madhur Jalpan is on Baradev - next to the Kainiya Chitra Mandir. Again, on a small alleyway, but the sweets are to die for.\n **Shiv Lassi Bhandar**: (near the main gate of RamNagar Fort) Lassi with layers of Malai and Rabri. Superb Stuff.\n\n### Budget", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk012", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "**A C Shahi Restaurant** & **Kesari Restaurant** near Dasashwmedh ghat in Godaulia and **Shahi Restaurant** near Rathyatra crossing serve very good vegetarian north and south Indian dishes.\n **Cozy Corner Restaurant (CCR)** Homely, healthy and hygienic is the motto of CCR. They specialise in Indian, South Indian and Chinese and serve fantastic dosas and chole bhature. It's a nice cozy place to hang out and the service is superb. Located just down the street from Assi Ghat. Turn left on Dumrao Bagh (first street when walking from the ghat) and walk about 50 m, just past Open Hand. Phone +91 9369305877.\n**Diamond Hotel** and **Jaika Restaurant** near Vijaya Talkies Crossing in Bhelupur serve very good north Indian dishes.\n **Dosa Cafe**, (*in the main alley behind the ghats, north of the main ghat*) serves delicious South Indian dishes for a good price.\n **Leela Paying Guest House**, (*in the center of the city 1.5 KM from River Ganges*) +91-7080881639. A very nice place to eat ,right in the middle of the city, very close to river Ganges and Golden temple.The food is very nice but it takes a little time but with that beautiful view you would like to spend more time sitting there even without food.\n - Ganga View", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk013", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Karki's Restaurant** If you're in** Assi Ghat** this place is a great oasis with a rooftop restaurant that serves cheap but great quality Nepalese & Italian food among others. Highly recommended are the Nepalese Thali and Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta (only Saturday & Sunday). It's on the main road down to Assi Ghat on the left, look for the green roof as it's upstairs and has a small entrance. Say hi to Karki and his gorgeous daughter who loves to poke faces at guests.\n **Mona Lisa Cafe**, (*just south and opposite Shiva Cafe*). Another good and popular cheapie, with a good range of things on offer, notably a thali for ₹20, and some Japanese and Korean dishes thrown in for good measure.\n - Nice cafe\n\n**Shiva Cafe and German Bakery**, D 26/4 Narad Ghat, (*near Himalaya Lodge*). In the main little alleyway that runs parallel to the river between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat, this place is deservedly popular. The food takes time, but that's because it's prepared fresh, and you'll be happy you waited when the food arrives. Staffed by enterprising Nepalis this has authentic pastas, sandwiches etc. Healthy food. Favourite among long stay residents.\n - Spicy Bites\n\n**Suryoday**, (*in the alley behind the ghats, a few minutes walk South of Kedar ghat*) small but delicious menu in a clean little spot by Kedar Ghat.\n - Yogik's Cafe\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Brown Bread Bakery\n\n- Dolphin Restaurant\n\n- Filocafe\n\n**Flavours Cafe**, Lanka, (*above axis bank*). Great coffee and desserts. Strong filter coffee and lightly accented lattes with a quiet ambiance make for a needed break from the city. Free wireless is also a plus.\n - Madhur Milan Cafe", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk014", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Megu Cafe**, Kalika Gali (near Meer Ghat), has excellent vegetarian Japanese food made by a Japanese woman who settled in Varanasi a number of years ago. All dishes are ₹85 or less. Closed on Sundays. [December 2011] Menu prices of all items have increased and expect to pay around ₹100-130 for a vegetarian and around ₹180-200 for non vegetarian main meal.\n **Moti Mahal Delux** restaurant - in Sigra, 3rd Floor, IP Mall, in the heart of the city. +91 542–2220555. One of the best Indian and mughlai restaurant in the city with a unique fine dining experience. Also provides free delivery of your meal at any location in the city. Also serves authentic Chinese and continental.\n **Zaika** restaurant - in Shivala, opposite Hotel Broadway. Good Indian / Chinese dishes; try the sweet-corn-pakoras.\n\n#### Middle-Eastern food", "word_count": 135}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk015", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Eat", "text": "Possibly due to a high influx of tourists from Israel, a number of Middle Eastern restaurants have opened in Varanasi, all of which serve very similar food, cater to a predominantly tourist clientèle, and charge a little over ₹100 for a thali.\n **Haifa Cafe**: Assi Ghat, (*in Hotel Haifa*). Most popular for its Middle-Eastern cuisine such as the thali (delicious!), but has a wide range of Indian and continental dishes and is also popular at breakfast. The Jordanian brothers aren't here anymore. Now it is just a regular hotel. The food is awful too with the Jordanians gone.\n **Hayat mediterreian'**: near Assi (new location= behind dumraon bag colony park), managed by middle-easterners from Jordan. Try the labanha (dry yoghurt), or the baba ghanSoush (aubergine / eggplant) with pita. The feta is a tad high in salt. The restaurant has a tent-like lounge atmosphere that gives it a cult presence. Ask for \"hello to the queen\" and see smiles. Very good quality, pleasant open air magnetosphere.\n **Phulwari / Sami Cafe**: near the Vishwanath Temple crossing, you sit beside a religiously near-defunct but architecturally gorgeous Mahadev temple, and sip on iced teas and nanas. Some locals still consider this a holy site and aren't too happy about the cafe being so close. This temple has been usurped by thugs who sponsor this restaurant. Perhaps avoid on ethical grounds. No other heritage Indian temple has a restaurant in its courtyard.\n\n### Splurge\n\n- Hotel Clarks\n\n- Radisson Hotel\n\n- Varuna", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk016", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Coffee\n\nCoffee is not as common in Varanasi as it is in the bigger and more cosmopolitan cities, and is often just available as the instant variety, served black or white. Even in those cafes that serve real coffee, it is still hit or miss whether it is of standard taste. All the cafes listed here at least sell the real stuff.\n\n - Aum Cafe\n\n - Brown Bread Bakery\n\n - El Cafe 80\n\n - Imok\n\n - Mona Lisa Cafe\n\n - The Mark Cafe\n\n### Tea\n\nWhile chai shops are found throughout the city, a few are worthy of special note:\n \n - Engineer Chai Wala\n\n### Alcohol\n\nAlcohol is available at a few restaurants and hotels, such as the Radisson and Taj. There are several wine shops in the old city but they don't offer any sitting arrangement. You can buy whatever you want and bring it to your hotel room.\n\n - Radisson Hotel Varanasi\n\n### Other drinks\n\n**Bhang** is a potent, powdered form of marijuana often mixed into \"special\" lassis, simply called *bhang lassi*. The drink is especially popular on holidays as Varanasi is a major centre of Shiva worship as it is offered to the lord in form of *Prashad*. Caution should be taken as it can be quite intoxicating and the effects last hours; tourists have been known to be robbed after consuming bhang.\n\n**Thandai** is a cool, milk-based drink made with pistachios, almonds and saffron, topped off with a large dollop of *malai* (cream). Bhang is often added to thicken the concoction, though it can be made without it. Many Thandai stores are located near the main Godowlia, and most also serve lassi.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk017", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|right|Guesthouse or \"rest\" house?\n\nThe most interesting area to stay is around the ghats, which are the main attractions for foreigners and are close to the religious attractions. However, this area is extremely noisy and many accommodation choices here are subpar, so do some research before you book. An alternative to staying in Varanasi is to stay near the main railway station (Varanasi Junction). This area has some very nice places and is about 10 minutes away on a tuk-tuk. Another alternative is the much quieter Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, but it takes more than 75 minutes each way to reach Varanasi by tuk-tuk (₹200).\n\nSome budget accommodations advertise free morning and evening boat rides along the river. However, the boat will take you up the river and then let the passengers know that for the return trip, there is a fee of ₹60 per person. Those who do not want to pay can get out of the boat and walk back.\n\nVaranasi, particularly during summer, is prone to many hours of power outages a day. It is best to double check that your fan or air-con is run from a backup generator, or you may not have it for much of the day.\n\n### Budget\n\nCheaper hotels and hostels can be found around the \"Assi ghat\" and train station areas, check hot water and wifi for yourself.\n\n#### Hostels\n\n - Ganges Nirvana Free Hostel\n\n- International Travellers' Hostel\n\n - Ram Bhawan / Kautilya Society Residence\n\n - Stops Art Hostel\n\n - Zostel Varanasi\n\n#### Guesthouses\n\n - Bhadrakali Guest House\n\n - Ganga Fuji Home\n\n - Golden Lodge\n\n - Hotel River View\n\n - Kedar Guest House\n\n- Maa Vaishno Guest House\n\n - Marigold P. Guest House\n\n - Mishra Guest House\n\n- Monu Family Paying Guest House\n\n - Radiant YMCA Tourist Hostel\n\n - Sahi Riverview Guest House\n\n - Shiva Kashi Guest House\n\n - Sita Guest House\n\n - Tiwari Guest Lodge\n\n - Vishnu Rest House\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Diamond Hotel\n\n - Gautam Hotel\n\n - Hotel New Temple's Town\n\n - Hotel Ganga Kaveri\n\n### Splurge\n\n - A Palace on the River, Rashmi Guest House\n\n - Brijrama Palace\n\n - Hotel Surya\n\n - Radisson Hotel Varanasi\n\n - Ramada Plaza JHV\n\n - Taj Ganges\n\n - Taj Nadesar Palace", "word_count": 371}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk018", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Violent crime is rare, but still do be careful in the lanes after dark.\n\n### Power outages\n\nCarry a light or phone; power outages are now rare, but due to sleeping cows and broken paving stones, the alleys are hard enough to navigate in daylight, let alone in pitch dark.\n\n### Stray dogs\n\nThough generally well behaved, packs of stray dogs can become aggressive at night\n\n### Rickshaw and taxi scams\n\nRickshaw and taxi scams are common in Varanasi, and the driver will inevitably tell you that the hotel that you wish to go to has burned down, is flooded, or closed. Don't believe him. Drivers receive commission from hotels for bringing in new guests, and this is one way to trick newcomers to going to these places. Don't get annoyed, but see the exchange as playful banter and part of the Varanasi experience. However, if the driver continuously refuses to follow your instructions, threaten to get out of the rickshaw. If after all this you still end up to a different place, just refuse to pay until you arrive at your hotel. The same procedure will need to be followed when sight seeing, as drivers will inevitably try to take you to handicraft stores, from which they receive commission. If calling for a pickup from a more respectable hostel, be wary that other taxi drivers may listen in to your phone conversation then tell another taxi driver who will pick you up pretending to be your hostel, then take you to a commission charging hostel.\n\n### Cremation ghat scams\n\nAs you approach Manikarnika Ghat, you will be approached by touts posing as cremators or volunteers in a local hospice. These people will explain the cremation process and even lead you to a good viewpoint. They will then take advantage of your emotions by asking you to pay for some wood to burn the body of someone who can't afford it. They will usually insist on receiving ₹500; if you offer less, it will initially be declined. This is a scam. Either tell him you have no money or that you don't feel comfortable donating.\n\n### Air pollution\n\nVaranasi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Many websites show air quality readings taken in the early morning, when pollution is at its lowest. Hourly air quality data is available here. Keep an eye on air quality data and consider wearing a (certified) mask, especially if you are spending an extended period of time in the city.", "word_count": 419}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk019", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb|right|300px|Priest praying to a hairless monkey in the Hanuman Monkey temple\n\n### Cremation ghats\n\nThere is, rather understandably, some resentment at tourists tresspasing up to the cremation ghats for raucous sightseeing at the funeral ceremonies of loved ones. Behave respectfully and ***do not*** **take photographs** of cremations, even from the river. You can take photographs if it is from a distance; most do not mind. There are touts who for a fee will \"stop minding\". Note that if it is the family that objects then you have to respect it but not if local touts object in the interest of extracting money. Offer the money and if they seem ready to accept, withdraw it and photograph. Call the police if necessary.\n\n### Temples\n\nSince this city is full of temples you will have to take off your shoes or sandals at every point, so wear flip-flops which are easy to take off.", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk020", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Connect", "text": "BSNL, Jio, Vi and Airtel are the most popular **cell phone** services in the region. If you bring your GSM cellphone from home, you can buy a SIM card and call within India and abroad. You will need your passport and a passport photo to buy a SIM card.\n\n**Wi-Fi** is available at just about every hotel or restaurant that caters to foreign tourists. **Internet Cafes** are common, especially in the lanes between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat. Usually, the shopkeepers will record your passport information before giving you access to the Wi-Fi.\n\nCalling abroad is cheap from Iway branches.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "varanasi::chunk021", "doc_id": "varanasi", "section": "Go next", "text": "Agra - the next point on the tourist \"Golden Triangle\". Buses and trains, including overnight trains, leave several times a day.\n Bodh Gaya - the place where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment, and the most sacred place to Buddhists - 6 to 7 hours by bus\n Delhi - The capital can be reached via a 13-hour train journey.\n Gaya - One of the most sacred places to do Pind Dan (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased). A 4+ hour drive from Varanasi.\n Jaunpur - The district just northwest of Varanasi. Primarily a rural area.\n Khajuraho - South of Varanasi. A number of 1,000-year-old Hindu and Jain temples. A little remote, but worth the effort to get there.\n Lucknow - The capital of Uttar Pradesh. Known for its refined cuisine. A convenient place to break a journey to Delhi or Rishikesh.\n Chunar - Located 55 km away Chunar is known for its gigantic fort overlooking the Ganges. The town is also known for Mughal era tomb and dargha along with a British era Christian cemetery.\n Prayagraj (Allahabad) - Another spiritual city along the Ganges, Prayagraj can be reached via a 3-hour bus journey.\n Sarnath - The place where Buddha gave his first teaching after his enlightenment, and one of the four main pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. 10 km from Varanasi (ghat area) - 1 hour by auto. Rates from Assi Ghat: Auto - ₹400 one way - ₹700 return, including an hour waiting time. Taxi - over ₹1,500 for a return journey, including one hour waiting time. (updated March 2023)", "word_count": 263}
diff --git a/corpus/varanasi/metadata.json b/corpus/varanasi/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a47bca7a57f1483475a17b67ff50c6967129029f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/varanasi/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "varanasi",
+ "title": "Varanasi",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Varanasi",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "spa",
+ "temples"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Purvanchal"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Agra",
+ "Bodh Gaya",
+ "Delhi",
+ "Gaya",
+ "Jaunpur",
+ "Khajuraho",
+ "Lucknow",
+ "Rishikesh",
+ "Chunar",
+ "Prayagraj",
+ "Sarnath"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4984,
+ "listing_count": 94,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 22,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/vatnajokull/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/vatnajokull/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b23d2d8751ceeaed51d22bb6bd9caa18d5d10797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vatnajokull/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk000", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Vatnajökull National Park** in Iceland is the second largest national park in Europe (the largest is Yugyd Va in Komi, Russia) and a natural world heritage site. The park was founded on 7 June 2008 and includes the former Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur National Parks. Containing , the park covers about 14% of the surface of Iceland. At 2,106 metres, the park is home to Iceland's highest mountain (Hvannadalshnúkur), largest glacier (Vatnajökull), and Europe's most powerful waterfall (Dettifoss). The former Jökulsárgljúfur park is covered in its own article, in addition to the area around Jökulsárlón, a large glacial lake.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk001", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Skaftafellsjökull\nThe park lies on the west side of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. Skaftafell is the name of the hill that runs along one of the glacier fingers and between the mountains. There is a visitor centre (open till 16:00) and campsite (open mid-May) with full amenities and disability access.\n\n### History\n\nSkaftafell is mentioned early in the Saga of Burnt Njal (a popular Icelandic Saga). It is home to some of the best fertile land in the country and so has a long history of farming. Unfortunately, it also has a history of severe flooding, when volcanoes under the Vatnjökul glacier cause mass melting and flooding of the low lands. As a consequence, farmers abandoned their lush lowland farms and moved to higher ground. \n\n### Landscape\n\nLowland, rivers, black sand, a very big glacier, some picturesque mountains, hills, waterfalls, quicksand, quiet brooks — what more could you ask for?\n\nThe Skaftafell is the hill where farmers settled to avoid the floods from the giant glacier. There are well established hiking paths up the hill where you can access viewpoints that look across the glaciers, several stunning waterfalls, and a mixture of fauna and bird life. The high point of the hill is around 600 m and takes around two hours to reach the highest point. One of the highlights of the trek is Svartifoss (Black Falls), with stunningly beautiful black basalt columns around the falls. There is a road that goes to quite near the top allowing disabled access to the stunning views.\n\n250px|thumbnail|Breidamerkurjökull\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\n### Climate\n\nThe eastern side of Iceland is the leeward side, getting less precipitation than the western side. Consequentially, this sea-level area is part of the low desert in Iceland, the high desert being represented by the area East of Mývatn.\n\n### Visitor information centre\n\n - Snæfellstofa Visitor Centre", "word_count": 308}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk002", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Get in", "text": "Skaftafell information centre is open everyday all year round, from at least 10:00–16:00 (longer in summer).\n\nFree toilets, expensive shop, very expensive Internet (including Wi-Fi), about 1000 kr/hour.\n\nThe staff may not always be aware of the current state of the tracks and paths, despite what they say.\n\nFree parking.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk003", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Free entrance to the park.", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk004", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Get around", "text": "The only way to get around is by hiking only.", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk005", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "See", "text": "- [[Jökulsárgljúfur]]\n\n Ice caves and tunnels\n - [[Jökulsárlón]]\n\n - Morsárfoss\n\n - Múlagljúfur Canyon", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk006", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|right|Tourists riding Icelandic horses\nIcelandic horse riding tours in Skaftafell.\nJanuary-March, find a guide to ski Hvannadalshnúkur.\nHike up the hill and see all the waterfalls and great views.\n - Glacier Guides\n \n - Bergmenn Mountain Guides\n\n- Adventure tours on Vatnajokull\n\n- Icelandic Mountain Guides\n\n - Melrakki Adventures", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk007", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Eat", "text": "There is a small road side service station around 5 km east of the park, opposite the Skaftafell Hotel. The food is good and reasonably priced, but the choice is limited. There is also a mini supermarket within the service station, where you can buy many things from tea to soap at high prices.\n\nFosshotel Nupar has a restaurant open for lunch and dinner. À-la-carte dishes and group menu are offered. There is also a bar.\n - Glacier Goodies", "word_count": 79}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk008", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\n - Hostel Hvoll\n\n - Fosshotel Nupar\n\n - Fosshotel Vatnajökull\n\n### Huts\n\nSeveral huts are in the area. All of the huts have cooking facilities and a bathroom. Some huts have showers. Camping facilities are available nearby.\n - Dreki\n\n - Dyngjufell\n\n - Botni\n\n - Bræðrafell\n\n - Þorsteinsskáli\n\n - Heilagsdalur", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "vatnajokull::chunk009", "doc_id": "vatnajokull", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Stick to the paths and don't venture onto the glacier without a guide - danger of death.\nThere are few gas stations in the area. One is located a few kilometers east from the Skaftafell National Park entrance, on the Ring Road #1.", "word_count": 43}
diff --git a/corpus/vatnajokull/metadata.json b/corpus/vatnajokull/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..dc9a45697f75387651f31b67c807662ca619d4aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vatnajokull/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "vatnajokull",
+ "title": "Vatnajökull National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vatnajökull_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "desert",
+ "glacier",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "East Iceland"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 704,
+ "listing_count": 20,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 10,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/venice/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/venice/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c060479c180191d7f34e7e000e5b728a190554ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/venice/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk000", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Venice** (Italian: *Venezia*; Venetian: *Venexia*) is a sanctuary on a lagoon that is virtually the same as it was 600 years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. Venice has decayed since its heyday and suffers from overtourism, but the romantic charm remains. It is also known as the birthplace of composers Tomaso Albinoni and Antonio Vivaldi, and of the poets and opera librettists Apostolo Zeno and Carlo Goldoni. Venice and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage site. It used to be an independent republic, and remains one of Italy's most important cities, with a quarter million inhabitants. Venice is also known as the home of the world's first international film festival, founded in 1932.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk001", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Districts", "text": "Many visitors also pay a visit to **Mestre** (mainland Venice) and some of the neighboring islands in Metropolitan Venice during their stay.\n **Burano** — Popular with artists and known for its many small, brightly painted houses.\n **Murano** — Filled with quaint shops and restaurants, Murano is known far and wide for its high quality glass making.\n **Lido** — Venice's long skinny beach, Lido offers a respite from more touristy and expensive areas.\n **Torcello** — Sparsely populated and accessible by *vaporetto*, this island offers a unique window into Venetian life.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk002", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|upright|Bell tower of Saint Mark\n\n### Orientation\n\nMetropolitan Venice has nearly a million inhabitants, and includes coastal and inland towns such as Bibione, Chioggia and Eraclea.\n\nThe *comune* (municipality) of Venice lies at the coast of northern Italy. It is made up of many islands in the Venetian Lagoon and a stretch of *terraferma* (mainland). The comune is divided into six boroughs, the most famous of which (known as *Venezia Insulare*) comprises the historic city of Venice as well as the islands of Giudecca, Murano, Burano, Torcello, Mazzorbo and Sant'Erasmo. Lido and Mestre are other popular areas of the comune.\n\nThe historic city is divided into six *sestieri* (districts): Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and finally San Marco, where the main monuments and sights are. Each sestiere uses separate house numbers, however they are *not* allocated in a specific pattern.\n\n### History\n\nThe **Most Serene Republic of Venice** dates back to 827, when a Byzantine Duke moved its seat to what is now known as the Rialto, and for the following 970 years, it prospered on trade (especially from the Silk Road) and under the rule of a Roman-style Senate headed by the **Doge**. Eventually, the Republic of Venice grew into a powerful city-state, and the cradle of Italian Renaissance. In the late 15th century, the Ottoman Empire's expansion around the Mediterranean, new routes on the high seas shifted commerce to the Atlantic, demoting Venice's political status.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk003", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city remains a centre for the arts. One of the significant events in the history of Venice was the opening of the first public opera house in 1637, which allowed members of the general public (those who could afford to pay for the tickets) to enjoy what was once court entertainment reserved for the aristocracy, thus allowing the genre of opera to flourish. Venice was an important destination of the Grand Tour from the 17th century. In 1797, the city was conquered by Napoleon, a blow from which it never recovered. The city was soon absorbed into Austria-Hungary, then ping-ponged back and forth between Austria and a nascent Italy, but Venice is still a monument to the glory days of the Renaissance, and historical culture still throbs powerfully in the old Italians' veins.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk004", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Understand", "text": "Venice has a humid-subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters. For those who don't enjoy the heat, July and August may be the worst time to visit: it's sometimes very hot and often humid, there are mosquitoes and occasional infestations of flies, and there are a *lot* of tourists and large crowds. Mid to late spring and early to mid autumn are probably best, a compromise between temperature (expect 10-25°C) and the tourist load. Between November and January, you may manage to feel you have Venice all to yourself, an interesting experience. Beware of the weather during the winter months: it can be quite chilly, windy, and damp. Fog is an additional hazard if you are driving in or out, doubly so in the unlikely chance that you will pilot a boat. But if you've never been to Venice, it's better to go in summer than not to go. You won't regret it. Many cities are far worse in summer. Although Venice has no cars, diesel motors used by boats contribute to less than stellar air quality.\n\n***Acqua alta*** (high water) has become a fact of life in Venice. The lagoon water level occasionally rises above the level of the squares and streets, flooding them. This can happen several times a year, at irregular intervals, usually in the colder months. *Acqua alta* usually lasts a few hours and coincides with high tide. You'll see raised walkways in side alleys ready to be pulled out when *acqua alta* hits. When the city begins to flood, sirens will sound to warn residents and businesses. If you speak fluent Italian, tune into news programs since their predictions of the times the flood begins and ends are usually accurate. Normally, the tide rises and falls in six-hour cycles.", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk005", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Understand", "text": "You can get an *acqua alta* map at the tourist offices either at the railway station or St Mark's Square. This will show you the higher, dry routes and the ones with walkways set up during the various flood alerts. There is a tide measuring station at the Rialto vaporetto piers, and a noticeboard at the base of the Campanile in the Piazza San Marco that shows a live tide reading and predictions for the next few days.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nVenice tourism website", "word_count": 84}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk006", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "Water plays a crucial role in transportation, as Venice is on a lagoon. Whichever way you arrive, the last part of your journey will be on foot from the nearest waterbus/watertaxi jetty. Bear this in mind when choosing your hotel location and route to it, especially if you need to carry bags along the narrow streets. (The sound of hard suitcase wheels on cobblestones is annoying, and they can damage marble steps.) A lot of the higher priced hotels will offer complementary water boat transfers from the airport. Day-trippers visiting the city on peak days must pay an **Access Fee** (€5) online in advance. Overnight guests are exempt but must register.\n\n### By plane\n\nMarco Polo Airport and Treviso Airport serve the city. If no flight suits you, check flying to nearby **Bologna** or **Verona**. From both cities trains and buses depart to Venice.\n\n#### [[Venice Marco Polo Airport|Marco Polo Airport]]\n\n- Marco Polo Airport\n\nThere are direct flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol, Atlanta Airport, Barcelona El Prat, Basel, Belfast, Berlin, Bilbao, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Brussels, Casablanca, Chisinau, Cologne-Bonn, Copenhagen Airport, Doha, Dubai, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Frankfurt Airport, Geneva, Glasgow, Hamburg, Istanbul, Leeds, Le Havre, Lille, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Manchester, Mars Alam, Marseilles, Metz, Montreal, Moscow, Munich Airport, Mykonos, Nantes, New York. Newcastle, Nice, Oslo, Paris, Philadelphia, Prague Pristina, Riga, Southend, Saint Petersburg, Sharm el-Sheik, Stuttgart, Timisoara, Tirana, Toronto, Toulouse, Tunis, Vienna, Warsaw, Yerevan and Zurich as well as domestic flights to and from Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, and Rome.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk007", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can travel to and from Marco Polo airport by (expensive) taxi, express bus (ATVO), regular city bus (ACTV), long-distance bus (Flixbus), shuttle service (GoOpti), water lines (Alilaguna), or water taxi.\nNote that the ATVO and ACTV buses cost the same fixed fare from the airport, but see the ACTV section below for the least expensive option.\n\nAs of April 2022 the airport wifi service is free for 30 min without registration and a few hours with registration.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk008", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**ATVO** operates airport shuttle **expressbus 35** service from *Piazzale Roma* to *Marco Polo Airport* between 04:20 and 00:40 every day and from *Marco Polo Airport* to *Piazzale Roma* between 06:00 to 01:10 every day. The trip on a coach bus with luggage stowed underneath takes about 20 minutes. ATVO ticket price is €10 one-way and €18 return, luggage included. Tickets can be bought at the airport from the automatic ATVO ticket machine in the arrivals baggage hall, at the ATVO ticket counter in the arrival hall (open from 08:00 to 23:45, ) and from the automatic ATVO ticket machine outside the airport on the ATVO departure platform. In Venice, tickets can be bought at the ATVO ticket office in Piazzale Roma, near the Carabinieri station (), at automatic ATVO ticket machine outside the ticket office, at 'Chiosco di Pluff' newsagent in the center of the square 5 m from the departure point for the buses to San Marco Airport, at Botazzo Tobacconist's in Piazzale Roma, at the Novo Tour Agency in Piazzale Roma and at IEX Change Agency in St. Mark's Square under the Torre dei Mori. In Mestre, tickets can be bought at ATVO ticket office in Via Capuccina 183, near the railway station (), at automatic ticket machine outside the ticket office, at Bar Binario, situated near the ticket office, at ATAV - Associazione Turistica Albergatori Venezia, inside the railway station or at 365 Grandi Biglietterie Agency inside the railway station.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk009", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**ACTV** operates urban **aerobus 5** service between *Piazzale Roma* and *Marco Polo Airport* every day, all day except for a few hours overnight from about 01:00 to 04:00. The trip in a city bus takes about 23 minutes. The ACTV ticket price to or from the airport premises is €10 one-way and €18 return for a 75-minute trip by bus and/or water buses (vaporetti). One piece of hand luggage is included in the price. If you are willing to walk 1 km to save some euros, walk to the and catch the same bus 5 (or some other routes) for €1.50. The buses now have a tap-to-pay option for contactless credit cards or there is an AVM Venezia app to buy tickets: the ticket purchase option is confusingly labeled under \"Transport\" - \"Ticket Office\" - \"Automotive\" and the ticket must be activated before boarding the bus.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk010", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Alilaguna** operates three **water bus** lines from the airport. Such a direct water bus from the airport may be more convenient than taking the bus to the bus station and then changing to the local water bus. To reach the boat jetty, turn left on leaving the terminal and walk 10 minutes along the covered walkway.\n **Blue line (linea blu)** runs from the airport to the Cruise Terminal (Terminal Crociere) via Murano, Fondamente Nove, Ospedale, Bacini, Lido, Arsenale, San Zaccaria, San Marco, Zitelle, Zattere, and Giudecca Stucky. Boats leave from the airport every hour from 06:10 to 08:10 and from 20:15 to 00:15 and every 30 minutes between 08:45 and 20:15, boats leave from the Cruise Terminal every 30 minutes from 07:50 to 17:20. The boat trip from the airport to the city center (San Marco) takes about 90 min. This trip is very long and boring, so bring something to do. The trip from the airport to Murano takes 30 min.\n **Orange line (linea arancio)** connects the airport with Giglio via Madonna dell'Orto, Guglie, San Stae, Rialto, San Angelo and Ca' Rezzonico. Boats leave from the airport every 30 mins from 08:00 to 19:00. Boats leaving later in the evening go to Fondamenta Nove or San Marco only. Boats leave from Giglio from every 30 minutes from 6:48 to 19:48, later boats leave from San Marco only.\n **Red line (Linea Rossa)** goes from the airport to Giudecca Zitelle via Murano Museo, Certosa, Lido, and San Marco. This is a seasonal service and only operates between April and November. Boats leave the airport every hour from 10:30 to 18:30 and San Marco every hour from 09:05 to 19:05.\nThe ticket price from the airport to Lido, Venice, or Cruise Terminal is €18 one way (€10 IMOB smart card) and €32 return (as of Sep 2025). Airport to Murano costs €10 one way (€5 IMOB) and €18 return. There are also tourist tickets which are valid for 24 hours (€40), and for 72 hours (€80). All tickets can be purchased online. The water bus services from the airport are operated by a different company (Alilaguna) than the other public water bus services in Venice, so separate tickets will be required.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk011", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "It can take over an hour to get to the city, and during busy times you may have to wait for multiple boats, resulting in a multi-hour trip to reach your hotel. There are also restrictions on the amount of baggage allowed on board.\n\nFrom the same jetty, you can travel in style (and much faster) by hiring one of the speedy **water-taxis** (30 min) for about €150 (Sep 2025).\n\n#### Treviso Airport\n\nThe **Treviso Airport** (), located 25 km (16 mi) from Venice near Treviso, is relatively smaller but is busy as the main destination for Ryanair, Wizzair, and Transavia budget flights. There are flights to Treviso Airport from Bucharest, Charleroi, Chisinau, Cluj, Dublin, East Midlands, Eindhoven, Iasi, Malta, Paris Beauvais, Prague, Stockholm, Timisoara and Valencia. There are domestic flights from Alghero, Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Lamezia Terme and Palermo. Flights to and from Treviso Airport are operated by Ryanair +39 895 8958989, Wizz Air +39 895 895 3322.\n\nThe airport runs over-capacity with seating and facilities, and the security line can sometimes be very long during peak travel times. If you arrive at the airport and the line is moving too slowly, you can purchase local fast track service at **UFirst.com** for €10. This is official but poorly advertised at the airport. There is no express passport control if departing the Schengen area.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk012", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**ATVO** operates buses from Venice to Treviso Airport daily at 05:30, 07:10, 10:30, and 18:30 and from Treviso Airport to Venice daily at 07:45, 08:15, 13:10 and 21:20 plus others not connecting to the flights to and from Treviso Airport. Flights arriving earlier or later than scheduled may affect the departure from the airport. If flights are cancelled the bus service will be suspended. The bus has two stops in Mestre, one in Corso del Popolo in front of BNP Bank in the historic center and the other one near the railway station and the journey takes about 55 min. The bus stop in Venice is at Piazzale Roma and the journey takes about 70 min. Ticket prices are €12 one-way and €22 return (valid 7 days) and have to be validated before boarding the bus. Tickets can be bought at Treviso Airport at the automatic ATVO ticket machine in the arrivals baggage hall or at the ATVO ticket office in the arrivals hall, operating from 07:30 to 22:30 (). In Venice, tickets can be bought at the ATVO ticket office in Piazzale Roma, near the Carabinieri station (), at automatic ATVO ticket machine outside the ticket office, at 'Chiosco di Pluff' newsagent in the center of the square 5 m from the departure point for the buses to Treviso Airport, at Botazzo Tobacconist's in Piazzale Roma, at the Novo Tour Agency in Piazzale Roma and at IEX Change Agency in St.Mark's Square under the Torre dei Mori. In Mestre tickets can be bought at ATVO ticket office in Via Capuccina 183, near the railway station (), at automatic ticket machine outside the ticket office, at Bar Binario, situated near the ticket office, at ATAV - Associazione Turistica Albergatori Venezia, inside the railway station or at 365 Grandi Biglietterie Agency inside the railway station. There is free Wi-Fi on the buses.", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk013", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Barzi Bus Service** offers a bus service via the motorway from the airport to Mestre train station (about 30 min trip) and Venice Tronchetto (about 40 min trip). Ticket prices are €12 one way and €22 return (valid 10 days). Tickets can be bought at their desk in the arrival hall (), or on the bus. Tickets bought on Ryanair flights are *not* valid for this service. Barzi Bus brings you to Tronchetto, from there you can take vaporetto line 2 to the city center.\n\nIf you'd rather avoid the highway traffic and don't have bulky luggage, take the local **Mobilita di Marca bus no. 6** for €1.30 (€2.50 if bought on board). It will deposit you at the Treviso train station in about 10 minutes. There are 2-3 departures hourly from the airport between 06:00 to 22:00. Then it's about 30 minutes on Regionale or Regionale Veloce train to Venezia Santa Lucia (also 2-3 departures per hour). The ticket price is €3.95 for the train.\n\n#### San Nicolo Airport\n\nThe **San Nicolo Airport** (ICAO: LIPV, no IATA code) is an airfield directly on the Lido. It handles only small aircraft, as the runway (grass) is about 1 km long, and does not have any scheduled flights, but might be of interest to private pilots (arrivals from Schengen Agreement states only) due to its convenience to the city (it is a short walk to the vaporetto landing).\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|300px|A winged lion, the symbol of San Marco", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk014", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "Venice is well-connected with the domestic train network, Rome and Milan are only a few hours away. Freccia Bianca (White Arrow) trains to Trieste leave from Venezia Mestre several times a day and the trip takes about 1 hr 35 min. Regionale Veloce (Fast Regional) trains leave from Santa Lucia station frequently, the trip taking about 2 hr 5 min. Freccia Bianca (White Arrow) trains to Milan leave Santa Lucia station frequently, duration of the trip is about 2 hr 35 min. There several are Freccia Argento (Silver Arrow) trains to Rome leaving Santa Lucia, via Bologna and Florence arriving in Rome 3 hr 50 min later, and an Intercity Night train from Santa Lucia to Rome. Iitalo offers train services to Santa Lucia from Rome several times a day.\n\nDirect trains to Venice are available from many international destinations, there are both daytime and sleeper trains from Munich and Vienna operated by ÖBB as part of their Nightjet brand.\n\nAlso, Venice is the terminus for the luxurious **Venice Simplon Orient-Express**, a historical train that still makes the overnight journey from London and Paris in original 1920s coaches. There are departures at least once a week between March and November. As one of the most sumptuous journeys in the world, the trip is expectedly *very* expensive, starting at €2,900.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk015", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "Trains from the mainland run through Mestre on the mainland to the terminus Venezia Santa Lucia railway station on the west side of Venice; make sure you don't get it confused with the two stations on the mainland before the bridge. Many through trains only stop in Mestre, in that case just hop on to one of the very frequent trains to Santa Lucia (ticket €1.25). Also, ACTV has a ticket office at Mestre station, and queues might be shorter here. From the Santa Lucia station district, water buses (*vaporetti*) or water taxis can take you to hotels or other locations on the islands, but walking is usually the best option.\n\n### By car\n\nDistances to Venice: Rome 540 km, Milan 279 km, Padua 60 km, Vicenza 75 km, Udine 125 km\n\nCars arrive on the far western edge of Venice, but remain parked at the entrance to the city (Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, which is Europe's largest car park.) There are no roads past this point, and never were, even before cars.\n\n#### Parking\n\nCar parking is very very expensive here (€26/12 hr, €30/24 hr) and the tailbacks can be quite large. Tronchetto is about a 1 km from Piazzale Roma, the city's main entry point, but there is a shuttle train service, *People Mover*, at €1.50.\n - Parking Tronchetto\n\n- Autorimessa Comunale\n\n- S. Andrea Car Park", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk016", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "**An alternative** is to use the car parks on the mainland (terra firma) and catch a train or bus or vaporetto into Venice. Park near the Mestre railway station, and catch a train to Venezia St Lucia; there are many trains, it is very near (8–10 minutes) and quite cheap (€1.20). Don't bother searching for free parking near Mestre train station - there are no free parking spots near, except on Sunday (free parking is on the other side of the station, in Marghera). Free and safe parkings are also near Mogliano Veneto and Oriago railway stations. Besides, Venezia St Lucia is a good starting point to visit Venice. However drivers going to the Lido can use the car ferry from Tronchetto (vaporetto 17, frequencies vary), right hand lane off the Ponte della Libertà into the city.\n - Ca' Marcello Car Park\n\n- Terminal Fusina", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk017", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "Blue Line (Line Blu) runs from Fusina to Venice Zattere every hour from 08:00 to 19:00, also at 20:00 from Apr to Oct and during carnival and at 21:00 and 22:00 from Jun to Sept, travel time 25 minutes, return from Venice Zattere every hour from 08:30 to 19:30, also at 20:30 from Apr to Oct and during carnival and at 21:30 and 22:30 from Jun to Sept, ticket price one way €8, return €13\n Red line (line Rossa) runs from Fusina to Alberoni on Venice Lido in winter M-F at 07:30, every day at 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 and 17:30. travel time 35 minutes, return M-F 08:15, every day at 10:15, 12:15, 14:15, 16:15 and 18:45. Ticket price €7 one-way, €12 return.\n Yellow Line (Line gialla) runs from Zattere to Alberoni at 08:45, 10:45, 12:45, 16:15 and 18:15, return from Alberoni at 09:30, 11:45, 13:45, 17:00 and 19:00, tickets €7 one-way, €12 return.\n - Punta Sabbioni\n\n#### Car rental\n\nMost of the major rental car companies have outlets at Piazzale Roma, at the edge of the city. These are on the ground floor of one of the major parking stations. When you are dropping off your car, you need to find street parking and then walk to the rental car outlet and hand in the keys. Do not park in the parking station. There is a vaporetto stop across the road from the parking station.\n\n### By bus\n\nFor **bus** services between Marco Polo airport (VCE) and the Piazzale Roma bus station in Venice, see the By Place section. The is well served by vaporetti and water-taxis ... and of course, you can walk everywhere.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk018", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Mestre, you can take a bus to Venezia-Piazzale Roma. The ticket is €1.30, but if you buy it in the bus it will cost €2.50. You can buy bus tickets from specialized ticket kiosks and vending machines, as well as from tobacconists and newsstands. All of the city is connected to Venice by bus.\n\n### By tram\n\nThere is a tram connection from the mainland to Venice: Line T1 from Favaro to Piazzale Roma. One way/Single Ticket - 75 min €1.50. Ticket booklet - 10 tickets - 75 min €14. You can buy tram tickets from specialized ticket kiosks, vending machines, tobacconists and newsstands, and you can use the same ticket for buses and People Mover.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|360px|View of San Giorgio, in front of Venice\nShips arrive at the **Stazione Marittima** which is at the west end of the main islands, it is served by vaporetti and water taxis. *To Piazzale Roma*: take the **People Mover** operating every 3 minutes weekdays from 07:10 to 22:50, holidays from 08:10 to 21:50, price €1. *To Santa Lucia Railway Station* (distance 1 km): take the *People Mover* to Piazzale Roma, then walk or take the water taxi (, , or ). *To Venezia Mestre Railway Station* (distance ) take a taxi (Radiotaxi: ) or take the People Mover to Piazzale Roma and the bus line to Mestre. *To Marco Polo Airport* (distance ) take a taxi (40 minutes trip), a water taxi or take the People Mover to Piazzale Roma and then ACTV bus no 6 or ATVO buses.\n\n### Porters", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk019", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get in", "text": "'''Cooperative Trasbagagli''', offers porter services at the following rates: 1 or 2 pieces €25 Venice City, €40 Giudecca, San Giorgio, Riva 7 Martiri, €50 Lido, S.Elena, Giardini, S.Servolo, S.Clemente, and €60 Murano. 3 or 4 pieces €35 Venice City, €50 Giudecca, San Giorgio, Riva 7 Martiri, €60 Lido, S.Elena, Giardini, S.Servolo, S.Clemente, and €80 Murano, 5 or 6 pieces €45 Venice City, €60 Giudecca, San Giorgio, Riva 7 Martiri, €70 Lido, S.Elena, Giardini, S.Servolo, S.Clemente, and €90 Murano. There are porter stations at Ferrovia , Piazzale Roma , S.Marco Campo della Guerra , S.Marco Calle Vallaresso , S.Marco Bacino Orseolo , S.Marco Sant'Angelo , S.Zaccaria (Danieli) , S.Zaccaria (Jolanda) and Rialto (Imbarcadero Actv Rialto line 1 and 2) .", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk020", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "Venice, the world's only pedestrian city, is easily walkable, and the absence of cars makes this a particularly pleasant experience. However, walking and standing all day can also be exhausting, so it is best to pace yourself. The Rialtine islands – the 'main' part of Venice – are small enough to walk from one end to the other in about an hour, provided you don't get lost (a common occurrence).\n\nIf you want to get around a bit more quickly, there are numerous **vaporetti (water buses)** and **water taxis**. The vaporetti are generally the best way to get around, even if the service route map changes frequently. If you are going to be in Venice for a few days visiting, it is a lot cheaper to use vaporetti than private water taxis. If you want to have a romantic ride along the canals, take a gondola ride, although they tend to exist for more scenic purposes, rather than getting people from point A to point B.\n\nGPS navigation services such as Google Maps are notoriously unreliable in Venice. The density of stone buildings makes it fairly difficult to receive a proper GPS satellite signal. You can mitigate some of these navigation issues using the Live View function in Google Maps, which uses your camera to orient yourself relative to businesses and landmarks around you. However, as of February,2024, Google Maps has been reported as to be working well for pathway navigation.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk021", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "The one surprising way you can't get around in Venice is by bicycle. Bicycles are banned in the main city. You are allowed to carry your bike in your arms (not ride, not wheel/walk) from the pIazzale Roma to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station, and if you are traveling through Venice to reach Lido or Pellestrina, then you can carry a bicycle like any other large package on public transit. There is a €100 fine for riding a bicycle in Venice.\n\n### By public transport", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk022", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "**ACTV** runs the vaporetti and other public transport services in the lagoon and on land.\n **Line 1** runs from Piazzale Roma to Lido, passing the Railway Station (Ferrovia), Canal Grande, Rialto, S.Marco and S.Zaccaria and vice versa, leaving Piazzale Roma every 20 minutes from 05:01 to 06:01 and from 22:21 to 23:41, every 10 minutes from 06:21 to 22:01, leaving Lido every 20 minutes from 04:16 to 05:36 and from 21:46 to 23:06, every 10 minutes from 5:56 to 21:26. Notice that this service can be *very crowded* during the day as it passes through many sights along the Grand Canal.\n **Line N** is a night line, connecting Lido with Canal Grande, Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto, Canale and vice versa. Boats leave Lido every 20 minutes from 23:26 to 04:06 and Piazzale Roma every 20 minutes from 00:09 to 04:49.\n **Line 2** goes from S.Zaccaria over S.Giorgio, Giudecca, Zattere, Tronchetto, Piazzale Roma, Ferrovia, S.Marcuola, Rialto, S.Tomà, S.Samuele, Academia and S.Marco. Departure from S.Zaccaria every 20 minutes from 04:59 to 08:39 and from 20:49 to 23:09, every 10 minutes from 08:59 to 20:29. The route can be seen as a \"C\" running along the Grand Canal and Giudeca Canal, hugging the districts of San Polo, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro.\n **Line 4.1** runs from San Zaccaria (Jolanda) to Murano via Arsenale, Giardini, S.Elena, S.Pietro di Castello, Bacini, Celestia, Ospedale. Fondamente Nove and Cimiterio and from Murano to San Zaccaria (Jolanda) via Cimitero, Fondamente Nove, Orto, Sant'Alvise, Tre Archi, Gugle, Ferrovia, Piazzale Roma, S.Marta, Palanca, Redentore and Zitelle. Boats leave Fondamente Nove to Murano (Museo) from 06:14 to 21:34 and from 21:42 to 23:22, from Murano (Museo) to Piazzale Roma from 06:32 to 19:32, from Murano (Museo) to Fondamente Nove from 19:52 to 21:52 and from Piazzale Roma to San Zaccaria from 06:18 to 20:18 every 20 minutes.\n **Line 4.2** runs from San Zaccaria (Jolanda) to Murano via Zitelle, Redentore, Palanca, Sacca Fisola, S.Marta, Piazzale Roma, Ferrovia, Guglie, Crea, S.Alvise, Orto, Fondamente Nove and Cimitero, and return from Murano to San Zaccaria (Jolanda) via Cimitero, Fondamente Nove. Ospedale, Celestia, Bacini, S.Elena, Giardini and Arsenale. Boats depart at San Zaccaria from 06:13 to 20:33, from Piazzale Roma to Fondamente Nove from 06:56 to 20:56, from Fondamente Nove to Murano from 06:23 to 21:23, from Murano (Museo) to San Zaccaria from 06:43 to 20:43, and from Murano (Museo) to Fondamente Nove from 20:43 to 21:43 and from 22:07 to 23.47 every 20 minutes.\n **Line 5.1** runs anti-clockwise from Lido to Piazzale Roma via S.Pietro, Bacini, Celetstia, Ospedale, Fondamente Nove, Orto, S.Alvise, Tre Archi, Guglie, Riva de Biasio and Ferrovia and from Piazzale Roma to Lido via S.Marta, Zattere. S.Zaccaria, Giardini and S.Elenea. Boats leave from Lido from 06:20 to 20:20, from Fondamente Nove from 06:24 to 23:04, from Piazzale Roma from 06:08 to 23:48 and from S.Zaccaria from 06:38 to 00:08 every 20 minutes.\n **Line 5.2** runs clockwise from Lido to Piazzale Roma and back to Lido. Boats leave Lido from 5.52 to 20.32 and from 20:42 to 00:22, from S.Zaccaria from 06:06 to 20:46 and from 20:56 to 00:36, from Piattale Roma from 0626 to 21:06 and from 21:16 to 23:16 every 20 minutes.\n **Line 6** runs from Piazzale Roma to Lido via S.Marta, S.Basilio, Zattere, Giardini and S.Elena. Boats leave Piazzale Roma from 06:19 to 20:29, and Lido from 05:42 to 20:02 every 20 minutes.\n **Line 9** runs from Burano to Torcello, leaving Burno from 07:05 to 20:35 and Torcello from 06:40 to 20:10 every 30 minutes.\n **Line 10** runs from Lido to San Marco Giardinetti via S.Elena, Giardini, Arsenale and S.Zaccaria and return from San Marco Giardinetti to Lido via S.Zaccaria. Boats from 18:01 to 20:21 and from San Marco Giardinetti from 17:39 to 20:21 every 10 minutes.\n **Line 12** runs from Fondamente Nove to Punta Sabbioni via Murano Faro, Mazzorbo, (Torcello), Burano and Treporti and back. Boats leave Fondamente Nove from 07:10 to 19:40 and Punta Sabbioni from 07:56 to 20:26 every 30 minutes.\n **Line 14, 14L, 15** runs from San Zaccaria Pieta to Punta Sabbioni via Lido and back. Boats leave S.Zaccaria Pietà from 08:15 to 20:15 every 30 minutes, later at varying intervals, last boat at 23.45. Boats leave Punta Sabbioni from 08:30 to 17:00 every 30 minutes, later at varying intervals, last boat at 00:20 Some boats do not stop at Lido.\n **Line 17** is the Tronchetto to Lido (S.Nicoló) ferry. Ferry boats leave at Tronchetto at 00:10, 01:40, and from 06:40 to 23:20 every 50 minutes and Lido (S.Nicoló) at 00:55 and from 05:50 to 23:20 every 50 minutes.", "word_count": 761}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk023", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "Additional services for all lines in the early morning. Information for all ACTV services at Hello Venezia , daily 07:30 to 20:00. You can download a map of Venice water buses\n\nA **single ticket** (*biglietto solo andata*) costs €9.50, permitting the use of public transports for 75 minutes from the moment you validate the ticket including transfers heading in the same direction. If you board a boat without having bought a ticket, you have to buy one from the on-board collector. There are no return tickets.\n\nThere are **tourist travel cards** (*biglietto turistico a tempo*) that cost €25 for 24 hours, €35 for 48 hours, €45 for 72 hours and €65 for 7 days. There are other versions available, including those offering discounts for youth under 29 year of age. Current rates can be found here.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk024", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "Something you won't be told easily is that now anyone can purchase the **Venezia Unica City Pass** card (formerly **IMOB**) - the only difference is that in addition to its €10 cost for residents, foreigners need to pay a €90 extra \"transport activation\" fee. Unless you are in town for a couple of days and planning never to return, do it. It's a durable plastic card with your (webcam) picture, and once you have it, you are more or less a local, which means access to €1.50 single vaporetto tickets (save even more by recharging the card with 10 at once for €14), half-price discount on Alilaguna services, and even €0.70 traghetto crossings (instead of €2; flash the card to the gondolier). It is valid for 5 years from the month of issue. Register at the Venezia Unica site and pre-fill the application online, then go to one of the ACTV offices (not simply ticket points; probably the easiest location is at Piazzale Roma) and tell the clerk that you have a \"contratto precompilato\" - they'll pull it up, ask you to sign the privacy disclosures and issue the card on the spot (or you can fill the form at the counter, but it's in Italian). Moreover, if you happen to have a +39 Italian cell phone number, with it and your new Unica you can get a free code for use of the communal WiFi spots. If you lose the card, do not despair: it costs only €10 to get an immediate replacement, and the balance (along with your old photograph) is automatically transferred over.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk025", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Venice Connected website of the Comune di Venezia (now integrated into Unica site) makes possible to book online (at least 7 days in advance) most services controlled by the town administration (public transportation, access to the civic museums, access to public restrooms, car park tickets, entrance to the Casinò and access to the municipal WiFi network covering the entire historic centre); the online prices vary according to the projected number of visitors but are always cheaper than the current on-site prices (and cheaper than with a Venice Card).\n\nYou can also get a **Venice Card**, which has various options that you can choose when you buy it (public transportation, cultural attractions, toilet access, Alilaguna, etc.) There is a 'Junior' version of the Venice that is available at a slightly reduced rate for those between 5 and 29 years of age. A Venice Card is not recommended for those with less than 3 days in Venice, as most of the top attractions are not included in the Venice Card. If you'll be staying in Venice for a week - get the Venice Card and enjoy travelling from island to island and exploring the various museums and churches it offers access to.\n\nMaps are available at the vaporetto stops in the ticket booths. The map is quite reliable, and is free when getting a Venice Card (€2 otherwise) can be viewed on Internet.\n\nVenice Cards can be reserved on-line for a considerable discount. There are long lines when taking the Venice Card from the ticket booths. The Venezia St. Lucia ticket booth that offers Venice Cards is the one most on the right when you exit the train station.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk026", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "Venice vaporetto tickets can be also purchased online on many websites such as ElMoro.com that presents all the vaporetto's lines and information to get around by boat.\n\n### By foot\n\nthumb|Directions are all over the city\nOtherwise, **take a walk**! The city is not that big, and you can walk from one end to the other in a few hours if you stick to the paths conveniently marked with arrows in the direction of major landmarks. But it would take months for a fit person to discover every path in the city. Make sure to visit some of the smaller alleyways, as they can be very interesting. Along the way you will discover marvelous art, superb architecture and breathtaking urban landscaping. Exploring the city randomly by walking is well worth it, but also be prepared to get lost easily! Signs all over the city indicate the direction to the main attractions, \"Rialto\" and \"San Marco\", as well as the way back to the train station (\"ferrovia\") and the bus terminal (\"Piazzale Roma\"). These signs make it easy to have the \"get lost experience\" even as a one-day tourist. For a faster and safer walk, you should walk on the right side of every path.\n\nBe aware that addresses in Venice are of the form \"District Number\" (the Venetian word for district is \"Sestiere\"), not \"Street Number\". To find a specific place using a map, make sure you know which district it is in. The numbers are assigned at the start of the district and increase as they move farther away from the Grand Canal.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk027", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "Travellers with mobility impairments will need to plan their routes carefully and allow extra time. Although the city is nearly flat, moving from one section to another requires either getting on a boat or climbing stairs to cross a bridge. The water buses are generally wheelchair accessible, though a wheelchair user may not be able to board when they are crowded. A few bridges have temporary ramps, and the city plans to add permanent ramps to a few more. This should, hopefully by 2030, allow people to move between the most popular attractions in the city without climbing stairs, although some areas of the city will remain difficult to access.\n\n### By water taxi\n\nthumb|360px|right|Grand Canal from Rialto to SW\nWater taxis (*taxi acquei*) are operated by Coop. San Marco (), Coop. Veneziana (), Coop. Serenissima ( or ), Soc. Narduzzi Solemar (), Soc. Marco Polo (), Soc. Sotoriva (), Soc. Serenissima () and Venezia Taxi ().\n\nThere are water taxi ranks at Ferrovia (Railway Station) (), Piazzale Roma (S.Chiara) (), Rialto (), Lido () and at Marco Polo Airport ().\n\nIn the historic city centre there is a fixed tariff for water taxis of €15 at departure plus €2 per minute on urban routes. There are supplements of €5 for call services and customer pick-up outside the taxi ranks, of €10 for night services between 22:00 and 06:00, of €3 pieces of luggage exceeding 4 pieces and of €5 or €10 for every person exceeding a group of 4. Rates are fixed by a resolution of the Venice City Council.\n\nA water taxi service for persons with special needs is available at or directly through the website Book Taxi Venice.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk028", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Get around", "text": "'Normal' taxis can be called from Radio Taxi (). There are taxi ranks at *Piazzale Roma* () and *Lido* ().\n\n### By ''traghetto''\n\nThere are small gondola ferries crossing the Canal Grande at\n , M–Sa 07:30–20:00, Su and holidays 08:45–19:00\n , M–F 07:00–12:30, weekdays only\n , M–Sa 07:30–20:00, Su and holidays 08:30–19:30\n , M–F 07:45–12:30,\n , daily 09:00–18:00\n , daily 09:00–14:00\nTicket price €2 one way, €0.70 for Venice residents and IMOB card holders.\n\n### By tour\n\n**Alilaguna Green line (linea verde)**\nAlilaguna, , operates a 4 hours excursion tour to the island of Murano, Burano and Torcello with explanations in English, French, German and Spanish. Departure from imbarcadero San Marco Giardinetti, Minimum 4 participants. Boat starts in Apr, May and Oct at 09:30, 11:00 and 14:30, from Jun to Sept at 09:30, 11:00, 14:30 and 15:30, from Nov to Mar at 11:00 and 14:00. Ticket price €20 (free for holders of Alilaguna 72-hr pass).", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk029", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "Venice is packed full of sights, with something interesting to see around each corner. The most spectacular sights, such as the **Doge's Palace** and **Saint Mark's Basilica**, are in San Marco, the historic seat of power.\n\n'''Doge's Palace''' in San Marco: don't miss the guided tour named *Secret Itinerary*, which will let you discover the part of the palace where the city's administration worked, as well as Casanova's jail and the wonderful 500-year-old roof structure. A MUVE museum.\n '''Bell tower of St. Mark''' dates from 1912; an exact replica of the previous tower which collapsed in 1902. The top of the tower offers great views of Venice and the lagoon.\n The '''Clock tower''' has a restored astronomical clock which is now visible. The fascinating tour of the clock mechanism (and rooftop bell) can only be visited on a guided tour. A MUVE museum.\n '''Scuola Grande di San Rocco''' in San Polo is a masterpiece of Tintoretto. It is a guild house that is an exquisite example of Mannerist art at its best. Cycles of allegories, life and passion of Christ, scenes from the Old and New Testament.\n '''Jewish Ghetto''' of Venice in Cannaregio still has very active Jewish life, and is home to five synagogues. On Saturdays or late Fridays, shops, restaurants, and other Jewish places will be closed.\n '''Rialto Bridge''', connecting sestieri San Polo and San Marco across Canal Grande, has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons.\n\n### Churches", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk030", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|420px|The Basilica of San Marco\nA lot of churches charge an entry fee. There is a \"Chorus Pass\" for entry into some churches. If you plan to visit three churches or more, you are better off buying the churches pass. There is also a combined pass for museums, churches and transportation only available at the tourist information office, but it is relatively expensive.\n '''Saint Mark's Basilica''' is one of the highlights of a visit to Venice. It was begun probably in 1063 to express Venice's growing civic consciousness and pride. Its model was the 6th-century Church of the Holy Apostles in ConstantinopleTo convey the republic's wealth and power, the original brick façades and interior walls were embellished over time with precious stones and rare marbles. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople.\n '''San Giacomo di Rialto''' in San Polo was built around 421. It is possibly the oldest in Venice. It is most recognized for its 15th-century clock above the entrance, and for the red pillars and beautiful gold accents around the church.\n '''San Giovanni e Paolo''' in Castello is a fine, huge Dominican church with the tombs of many Doges. It shares its piazza with the fine Renaissance façade of the Scuola San Marco and an equestrian statue of the mercenary (condottiere) captain Bartolomeo Colleoni. \n '''Santa Maria dei Miracoli''' is a perfect jewel box church, simple in form but ornamented with fine exterior marble facings.\n '''Convento di S.Francesco del Deserto''' is an old Franciscan convent in one of the most beautiful islands in the Venice lagoon.\n '''Madonna dell'Orto''' in Canaregio has the grave and 10 paintings of *Tintoretto*.\n '''S. Maria della Salute''' in Dorsoduro. Because if its location between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, its dome was an important addition to the Venice skyline and soon became emblematic of the city, appearing in many artworks.\n '''Basilica di San Pietro''' di Castello was Venice's cathedral until 1807, when the see was transferred to San Marco.", "word_count": 339}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk031", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "### Museums\n\nthumb|420px|Venice and St. Mark's Basilica from the Campanile\nThe **Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)** (call center 848–08.2000) offers two museums passes for the San Marco Museums valid for 3 months at €16 (€8 reduced) granting admission to Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr, Museo Archaeologico Nazionale, Sale Monumentali della Bibliotheca Marciana, and another museum pass valid for 6 months for €24 (reduced €18) granting admission to the above mentioned museums plus Ca' Rezzonico, Mesue del '700 Veneziano, Palazzo Mocenigo, Casa di Carlo Goldoni, Ca' Pesaro, Museo del Vetro Murano, Museo di Merletto Burano and Museo di Storia Naturale.\n\n#### Art museums", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk032", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "'''Correr Museum''' has an interesting collection of globes, starting from the 16th century. There is also an only library hall, an archeological museum of Roman antiques and an important picture gallery. The museum offers a tour of Venetian history. Remarkable painting gallery with masterpieces of the 14th to 16th century from Venice, works of the Venetian sculpture Canova, studies on urban development and social life. A MUVE museum.\n'''The Peggy Guggenheim Museum''' in Dorsoduro includes a sculpture garden and works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Tanguy, Duchamp, Pollock, Dali, and Mondrian.\n **Ca' Pesaro**, in Santa Croce, includes the International Modern Art Gallery, with paintings of the 19th and 20th century, and the Museum of Oriental Art. A MUVE museum.\n '''Galleria dell'Accademia''' di Venezia in Dorsoduro is Venice's most significant art museum and one of Italy's best. Pre-19th-century art.\n '''Punta della Dogana''' is a former customs house, centre for contemporary art, permanent exhibition of works from the François Pinault Collection. Renovation by world renowned architect Tadao Ando.\n '''Galleria Giorgio Franchetti Ca' d'Oro''' in Cannaregio is a collection of paintings and statues in a former palace from the 15th century. One of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Venice, sculptures, bronzes, paintings of Mantegna, Giorgione and Titian, Flemish and Dutch paintings.\n\n#### Science and technology museums\n\n**Venice Lido Planetarium** (*Planetario di Venezia Lido*), Lido. A planetarium. \n '''Le Macchine di Leonardo a Venezia''' is an exhibition in the **Chiesa di San Barnaba** in Dorsoduro showing around 40 models of machines reproduced from Leonardo's codices. The church is an attraction in itself: it's the one under which Indiana Jones finds catacombs in *The Last Crusade*.\n\n#### Museums on religion", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk033", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|420px|Ceiling of the choir of the Baroque Chiesa di Ognissanti\n '''Jewish Museum''' in Cannaregio has objects related to the social life of the Jewish community, in two synagogues of the 16th century.\n '''Mekhitarist Monastery''' is a library on the small island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, near Lido, with historical manuscripts, collection of works, miniatures and documents of the Armenian history, Monastery Church. Tours in Italian, English, and Armenian.\n\n#### Other museums\n\n**Glass Museum** (*Museo del Vetro*). On Murano, the island so typical of its glasswork. A MUVE museum. \n '''Natural History Museum''' in Santa Croce has 11 exhibition halls with sections on palaeontology, explorations and nature. A MUVE museum.\n **Lace Museum** (*Museo del Merletto*). A MUVE museum. \n '''Naval History Museum''' in Castello has collection of relics from the Serenissima Republic of Venice, the Italian navy, and the ancient Arsenale shipyards, miniature models, uniforms and stadarts, collection of sea shells. \n '''Contarini del Bovolo''' is a cylindrical tower in San Marco with a spiralling series of arches, among the most characteristic examples of Venetian architecture at the period of transition from Gothic to Renaissance styles. From the top there are great panoramic views of the city.\n '''Music Museum''' in San Marco is a beautiful church, collection of musical instruments, Venetian Baroque paintings. \n '''Palazzo Grimani''' in Castello is a jewel of Renaissance architecture that has collections of paintings, archaeological collection of Greek and Roman artefacts, temporary exhibitions.\n '''Archaeological Museum''' in San Marco has a collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian artefacts.\n\n### Cemeteries", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk034", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "See", "text": "'''San Michele Cemetery''' on Isola di San Michele is part of the European circuit of monumental cemeteries. The Russian ballet dancer Serge Diaghilew, the Austrian physicist Christan Doppler, the American poet Ezra Pound, the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky and the German-Italian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari are buried here.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk035", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Palazzo Vitturi\n\n### Events\n\n**La Biennale di Venezia** is one of the most well-known culture institutions. Two events organised by Biennale are the Art and Architecture International Exhibitions happening alternately (Architecture Biennale in even years, Art Biennale in odd) but other fields are also covered: contemporary theatre, dance, music, cinema. Exhibitions take place mostly in two locations in Castello: Arsenale and Giardini. They are both worth visiting even when no event is scheduled. \n The '''Carnival of Venice''' (*Carnevale di Venezia*) is annual festival that takes place for 2½ weeks in January and February (dates vary). It is famous throughout the world for its elaborate costumes and masks.\n\n### Opera and concerts\n\nLa Fenice Theatre in San Marco is one of the best opera houses in the world. Together with its second house, Teatro Malibran in Canareggio, it stages seasons of opera, ballet, and symphony.\n\nFrequent Classical or opera performances are staged in churches and schools around the city at reasonable prices. In San Marco, look for the Scuola Grande di S.Teodoro, Ateneo San Basso, or Chiesa San Vidal. In Castello, you can hear Vivaldi's *Four Seasons* at the Chiesa della Pietà, where he taught and composed for 33 years.\n\n### Activities on a boat\n\nthumb|upright=1.6|Gondola\n\n#### Gondolas\n\nRiding a *gondola* along the canals with your own *gondoliere*, the oarsmen who symbolizes the city, is one of the major joys of being in Venice. It's also one of the most expensive, as gondolier-for-hire business licences are limited to just 430 to 455 oarsmen in Venice, making the market artificially scarce and inflating prices. The gondoliers trade is shaped by 900 years of tradition: most are born locals, and it wasn't until 2010 that Venice got its first licensed female gondolier.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk036", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Do", "text": "Short trips of 30 minutes to an hour cost upwards of €100. A small comfort is that the price is per ride, and not per person. Most gondolas can accommodate between three and four people. Make sure you reach an agreement on price and time before you start in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. There are many tips on how to negotiate prices in guidebooks; some are pretty wild and even include walking away and letting them chase you. Whatever method you choose, bargaining with the gondolieres *might* knock €20-30 off the price. However, there's an informal habit among the oarsmen to cut the most interesting and little-known parts from the journey path for \"discount\" customers. Reduced rate riders get less marvel in exchange for a moderate price drop, which may not be worth it.\n\n#### Vaporetto and traghetti\n\nIf you find spending hundreds of euros for a gondola to be a bit much, ride a *vaporetto* or *traghetto* instead. There are plenty of vaporetto lines that passe by interesting sights at a more manageable price of €5–10. Additionally, one can cross the canals on a traghetti, stripped down gondolas used as municipal ferries. In the 1950s there were as many as thirty, but now there are seven points to find them, with some only operating at rush hours. The length of any crossing is just a few minutes. Many visitors enjoy visiting the open air markets near the Rialto Bridge and there is a traghetto station there, at the **Pescheria** (fish market) joining the Santa Sophia church along the Strada Nova. You will notice that traghetti passengers tend to stand up, but if you are not comfortable doing so, sitting is possible, if you are careful.\n\n#### Rowing clubs\n\nVenice is home to several expensive rowing clubs.\n\n### Other", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk037", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|right|San Michele Cemetery Island, Cimitero stop\nTake a long and sunny walk along the Giudecca canal in '''Zattere''' in Dorsoduro, protected during winter time from cold northerly winds for being exposed to south and shielded by buildings. You might find interesting to see how a gondola is made, stopping by the **Squero** (Venetian for small ship yard) across the canal near San Trovaso Church.\n\nSpend a **day on the islands**, mainly Murano, Burano and Torcello. There are boat services to all these islands at scheduled times, including between the islands themselves. Be prepared for long lines and long waits for the boats between islands. The Glass Museum in Murano and the Lace Museum in Burano are certainly worth a visit. In Burano you will find some of the most picturesque streets and houses, with each house sporting a different pastel shade. Its really beautiful. Though there is not much to see in Torcello except for the old church, and the supposed \"Throne of Atilla\". However, the peace and tranquility of the island is not to be found anywhere else in Venice! Torcello is also home to a very expensive Cipriani restaurant. But just walking around on these islands is a nice enough experience. If you've had enough of the hype and the other tourists, hop off the vaporetto at 'Cimitero', Venice's graveyard for a peaceful walk. There are many famous tombs, and the section dedicated to deceased children is particularly haunting. There is also a free toilet there.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk038", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Do", "text": "While going through Venice, make sure you take in the beauty of it all. **Walk** through the alley ways, and take the water taxi to different parts of the island, sometimes at night you can just go sit in an open area and watch locals and tourists passing by. It is wonderful. There are many museums and churches that are around the city that allow tourists to go in a visit. They are many great sights to keep you busy throughout your visit.\n\nThe \"Secret Itineraries in '''Doge's Palace'''\" worth a visit, take the visitor into the most secret and fascinating rooms in the Palace. It's better to book in advance.\n\nBecause Venice is now pretty much only inhabited by tourists and people serving the trade, it gets very quiet by 21:00 and there is very little to do in the evening (outside of eating). There are a few exceptions, like some classical music **concerts,** which most probably only play Vivaldi.\n\nIf you would like to have a **guide** to show up the highlights of Venice, you can choose between many offers. There are walking or boat tours, focused on shopping or history or for art lovers, and many itineraries.\n\n**Take photos**, using your camera or phone on every corner of Venice will inspire you. And if you have taken good pictures, consider entering the photo competition \"OneDayInVenezia\", running all year round, awarding monthly winners, and dedicated to amateur photographers. The Grand Prize is a weekend in Venice, trip included.\n\nSend a **postcard** or even better, an entire **letter** dedicated to a loved one (the old \"snail mail\" one, not the electronic variety)! Venice has a long, celebrated tradition in postal services, paper and written communication in general (including one of the earliest medieval book printing houses).", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk039", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Do", "text": "Venice it's also **Riviera del Brenta** old canals. The Riviera del Brenta is famous for its extraordinary Palladian villas along the Brenta river, its museums and historical buildings and it is 40 km (25 miles) from Venice. This Riviera and its mainland include 7 small cities: Stra, Fiesso d'Artico, Dolo, Fossò, Mira, Oriago and Malcontenta.\nThese places are good for **cycling excursions** and to see antique Palladian Villas built on the Brenta river. In Stra village, there is the **famous gardens of Villa Pisani** and the **museum of the shoes** is in Villa Foscarini Rossi. In this last museum you can admire 1,500 models of Italian-made shoes created in local factories for major brands including Fendi, Genny, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Ungaro, Anne Kleyn, Richard Tyles and Vera Wang.\nIn Dolo village you can visit the square, old watermill (XI century) and big open air market.\n\n- Teatro San Gallo\n\n**Football:** Venezia FC were relegated in 2025, so they now play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo (capacity 11,000) is on Sant'Elena, connected by streets to the main east island.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk040", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Learn", "text": "Venice is home to two major (and expanding) public universities, **Università Ca' Foscari Venezia** and **Università Iuav di Venezia**. There are possibly hundreds of smaller schools in the city. Neither university exploits its name for merchandising, and \"Università degli Studi di Venezia\" sweatshirts for sale at stalls are not only unlicensed, but there is no single university in the city with that name to begin with.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk041", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|right|A Mask gift shop near Piazza San Marco\nthumb|Book store and antiquarian '''Libreria Acqua Alta'''\nVenice has always been a city of merchants. Consequently, most of the Venetians working in Venice still own or work at a shop. The pride of the Republic of Venice was the extreme diversity and quality of goods and services which could be found in Venice. These days, however, mass tourism led Venice to be populated with many shops selling low-quality souvenirs. The local shops are suffering a lot from this situation and it is not easy to identify them within the crowd of shops selling harmful imported goods. Buying from the **authentic local businesses** has never been more important, as it is essential to the future of the Venetians and guarantees you to get the real thing and to have a much better experience of Venice. It is not easy, though. Thankfully, there is a social enterprise in Venice that works closely with the Venetian business owners (shops, restaurants and bars included). They have a certification process where the local artisan shops attest and commit to be selling products both authentic and sustainable as well as to give a 10% discount to the customers carrying a **Venezia Autentica Friends' Pass** (buyable online for only ).\n\nEuronet runs the majority of ATMs within tourist areas, which carry both hefty ATM fees and extortionate exchange rates. To avoid the extortionate exchange rates, you should reject the first currency conversion offered to you, which will allow you to default to your bank's rate. When possible, you should use ATMs provided by actual banks and financial institutions. The Credit Agricole ATM machines are notable because they do not charge ATM fees or offer excessive currency conversion rates for most Visa Debit and Prepaid cards. \n\nIf you've come to Venice thinking that you won't be able to do a bit of designer shopping, think again. Just like in every major Italian city, you get the big fashion brand names. For label clothing shopping, the best area is that around the Piazza San Marco, where you can find Versace, MaxMara, Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Prada (and numerous more) big names. If you want to shop for clothing or accessories, though, you don't necessarily have to shop through the biggest names in fashion. In the Campo Santo Stefano and Calle della Mandola, you can get less famous or local boutiques, but you can find some excellent quality and/or unique items such as clothes, shoes, wallets or handbags.\n\nLook for the hand-made paper and the exquisite miniature buildings made by Moro. Watch out for fakes; Moro \"signs\" his name on the back. Also, beware of fakes and \"free\" trips to neighbouring Murano for its famous glass. (See article for details.)\n\nTourist traps: \"Coloured Pasta\" and \"Venetian Limoncello\" (not the original Napolitan one) are not Italian food, no Italian would ever eat them, they are particularly made for tourists. For typical regional Italian food in food shops, check the labels to discover where they have been made.\n\nDon't miss the **Rialto** market on San Polo, the smallest sestiere. The Rialto market is for shoppers. To the east is an area of small shops and restaurants; to the west is the Rialto farmers' market. Shopping is slightly less expensive than in the tourist-filled Piazza San Marco.", "word_count": 552}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk042", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|A plate of ''cicchetti'' and two glasses of prosecco, enjoyed al fresco.\nthumb|''Sepe al nero'', cuttlefish cooked with their ink lagoon, a traditional Venetian dish.\nthumb|A ''bacaro'' in Venice.\n\nVenice is home to a rich and distinct regional cuisine and there are numerous wonderful restaurants, including a few Michelin starred ones. However, the city is also home to many more mediocre eateries that will not shy away from serving you undercooked pasta for overinflated prices. This has led to it becoming widely regarded that the restaurants in Venice serve food of a quality and in quantities much lower than anywhere else in Italy. However, with a bit of caution and planning ahead you'll have many excellent experiences eating in Venice. Rule of thumb is that if there's a waiter outside pimping for business, it's probably best avoided!\n\nOne of Venice's trademark foods is *Sepe al nero*, cuttlefish and its ink. This intense black ink serves as a sauce and ingredient for polenta (corn meal), risotto (rice), and pasta. These dishes are normally indicated by the Italian words \"nella seppia\" (in cuttlefish), \"alla seppia\" (in the style of cuttlefish), or \"nero di seppia,\" (black of the cuttlefish). For example, Polenta Nella Seppia is fried corn meal with the black ink of a cuttlefish. Despite the intensity in color, the ink has a surprisingly mild taste. Other Veneitian dishes include *Fegato alla veneziana*, chopped liver, cooked with chopped onions and *Sarde in saor*: fried sardines, dipped in fried onion, raisins and pine nuts, spices and vinegar.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk043", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Eat", "text": "For snacks, Venice has its own version of tapas, the *cicchetti*. Often paired with wine you will find that most restaurants and bars serve some variant of it. There are also many '*bacaros* in Venice, a wine bar that serves a wide selection of cicchetti to go along.\n\nWhat Venice is not famous for is its pizza, Italy is a big country and pizza is generally more of a speciality in its southern parts. While there are restaurants serving it and some even do it acceptably, don't compare it to other parts of the country. If you really are craving for pizza, try the local chain '''Pizzeria Ae Oche'''. Meals are plentiful and prices reasonable, look to spend between €5-10 for a pizza depending on how exotic your selection is. For Americans, you can find a place called Quanto Basta pizza that serves an American-style pizza with pepperoni and french fries.\n\nBe careful when the prices are on a weight basis (typically by the \"etto\", abbreviated \"/hg\". or 100 g). One dish can easily contain 400g of fish or meat (almost a pound) - coming to 4 times the indicated base price! Restaurants might offer low prices for food on their menus that they advertise outside the entrance, but they will sometimes compensate this by charging high prices for drinks (which is naturally *not* advertised). €5 for 33 cl of beer is not uncommon. Le Bauta, an eatery on Fond del Gaffaro, is a good example. Also, please make sure that you get your change back after payment as sometimes it may be 'forgotten' by the waiters.\n\n### Budget", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk044", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Eat", "text": "To save money at lunch, eat standing up - that's what Venetians themselves do. Every cafe, trattoria, osteria, enoteca or whatever it chooses to call itself is stocked at lunchtime with cicchetti - Venetian tapas, including tramezzini (triangular sandwiches on white bread), bite-sized rolls with various cold cuts, polpette (fried balls of minced fish or meat) and assorted antipasti. Order by pointing at what you want on the glass shelves, and wash the whole thing down with a glass of wine (un' ombra) or a spritz (made with, in order of bitterness and alcohol content, Aperol, Campari or Select). Bear in mind that as soon as you allow yourself to sit at the table and be waited on, instead of ordering and consuming your food at the counter, the prices for the same items go up - you can end up paying double. If you look at the (government-mandated) chart of prices stapled to the wall near the bar, you'll see 2 columns of numbers, accommodating this arrangement. However, sitting is worth it if you plan on staying a while. Some places will also serve free bread and water for seated patrons, but then there is usually also a small charge (€1-3 per person) for \"pane e coperto\" (bread and cover charge).", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk045", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are a few supermarkets in the city, so if you are in the need to save some money, these are an option as they serve a wide array of prepared and semi-prepared food. On the main street from the station to the Rialto bridge there is a Coop and a Billa supermarket. There are still many small bakery shops and \"biavaroli\" where you can buy bread, cheese etc., particularly near the Rialto market area. For fresh fruit (including chilled coconut) watch out for the street market stalls. There is always a boat parked in the canal on campo San Barnaba selling fruit and vegetables into the late hours.\n\nIf you want to buy water (Venice has excellent free tap water easily accessible at the numerous fountains located outside throughout the city) it is usually cheapest to get it at the supermarkets: there are Billa or Co-op stores located throughout the city, though supermarkets are often \"disguised\" in nondescript buildings in Venice for space limitations.\n\nHead to the Dorsoduro area of Venice if you want to save a few euros. It is located on the south side of the city. It has the highest concentration of places where locals, especially students, go to eat. Generally staying away from the main squares will be the cheapest option. If you're willing and able to walk around the town, some back streets offer the best food for the lowest price. Seeing the city from this vantage point is a lot of fun too!\n\n### Mid-range", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk046", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Rialto food markets are an absolute must for fruit, vegetables and cheese, but most of all for the huge range of seafood, much of it fresh out of the lagoon and still moving! There are a variety of small stores around the city that sell fruits and vegetables, but tourists will be hard-pressed to find them. Anything else you will find in the one of the few supermarkets in the city.\n\n### Splurge\n\nThere are 6-7 Michelin star restaurants in Venice, with prices to match.\n\nNear the Rialto bridge there's a row of restaurants with tables by the canal, where you can have the quintessential Venice experience of dining by the canal lights. Although they do have waiters outside bugging you, some have pretty acceptable quality for price, which is almost always expensive anyway.\n\n### Ice cream\n\nYou will find ice cream all over the city, and you will hardly survive a hot summer day without it. Prices are €1.00-1.50 for one scoop, €2.50-3.50 for three scoops.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk047", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Aperol Spritz, a small cicheti and gorgeous Venetian backdrop.\nthumb|A classic ''Billini'', as served at Harry's Bar where it was invented.\n\nThe typical local drink loved by all Venetians is *Spritz*, which is a mix of liquor and Prosecco with sparkling water to top it off. Aperol Spritz is by far the most common but there are variants with Campari or Select too. Almost all bars in the city serves it with prices range from €5 to €12, depending on how close you are to the main tourist arteries. Spritz are usually paired with *cicheti*, the Venetian version of tapas.\n\nAnother famous drink is the **Bellini** was invented in Harry's Bar in Venice. It is a mix of white peach juice and Prosecco (the ubiquitous Venetian Champagne-like sparkling wine). Fermented at a low temperature Prosecco develops amylic aromas (fruit drops), though these perhaps mix better with fruit juices than does the more austere Champagne. Classic Bellinis should never be made with Champagne. Although by normal standards expensive, a Bellini in Harry's Bar (€17 for a 1.5 oz drink is obscene) is still much cheaper than on the terraces of similar '5-star' establishments in the city.\n\nA small **Grappa** is a common way to end meals, but be careful as it is brandy with 30 to 60 per cent alcohol.\n\n**Beer** in a small pub is about €5 for a pint (birra media).\n\n### Coffee\n\nthumb|right|A cafe in Piazza di San Marco.\n\nCoffee is everywhere in Venice, and both Venetians and the tourists avail themselves of the opportunities, usually by downing a quick dose at the counter (see warning about sit-down prices above). Rule of thumb: the bigger (and shinier) the espresso machine, the better the result. **Espresso**, the real Italian, is about €1 at the bar, €2 at a table.\n\n - E Rosa Salva\n\n### Nightlife\n\nThere are a number of fantastic bars in Venice, most are small places with lots of charm. Bars that stay open after 23:00 are clustered around a few late-night drinking areas in Venice. Notice that Piazza San Marco is not one of them, although it is very pleasant with many people wandering around late.\n\nThe actual late night scene is in either **Campo Santa Margherita**, where the student crowds from nearby the University Ca' Foscari in Dorsoduro hangs out; upscale **Erbaria** on the West side of the Rialto Bridge where the main vegetable market is held during the day and along **Fondamenta de la Misericordia** in Cannaregio. The bars along Fondamenta de la Misericordia is anchored by *Paradiso Perduto*, which features live music on most nights. There's usually youths cruising (in motor boats) along the canal, blaring Italian rap songs in Italian from the loudspeakers. \n\nPub crawls are best planned in advance, as there's a real risk of wasting an hour or two wandering aimlessly in search of a watering hole that's open, especially midweek. Most bars close at 01:00, so make sure you notice which ones are open until 02:00 or 03:00.\n\nThere's next to no night clubs in proper Venice, to get to those you have to follow the locals and head over the bridge into Mestre, or hop on the boat to Lido. Those looking for LGBT nightlife in Venice will be disappointed. Hop on the train to Padua instead.\n\n### Pubs\n\nThere are two Irish pubs in Venice. One is located along the **Strada Nova** in *Cannaregio*; the other one is the **Inishark** just before *Campo Santa Maria Formosa*.", "word_count": 579}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk048", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|The Palazzo Civran and Grand Canal at dusk. This 15th-century building that was substantially altered in the early 17th century now houses the Guardia di Finanza.\n\nDue to the historic city's constrained area and international popularity hotels are expensive. Bed and Breakfasts and guesthouses offer better rates. Real budget solutions (like camping and hostels) can be found in **Mestre ** (mainland Venice) and on the island of **Lido**. Alternative accommodation can also be found on the island of **Murano**. These are worth considering since the historic centre is quite well-connected with buses and ferries, so staying further from the centre is not such a big problem, as for example it takes only 11 minutes to travel from Mestre to islands of Venice by train.\n\nIn the last few years, holiday or short rentals apartments have increased in number and quality, now you can rent (minimum stay is usually 3 nights) a Palazzo on the Grand Canal as a little flat near Rialto.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk049", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of Sep 2021, Venice has 4G from Iliad and TIM, and 5G from Vodafone and Wind Tre.\n\nThe city has been steadily building out the municipal Wi-Fi network, which now covers almost the entire area around the Grand Canal and some of the larger squares in the center. You can buy guest access at approximately €5 per day at the same unified Venezia Unica site where the transport and museum passes are sold. However if you only need occasional access, it may not be worth buying this as you can get free wifi at most accommodations and at a lot of the museums in Venice.\n\nVenice has several internet cafes, but they are much more expensive than the rest of Europe with prices for an hour of access around €6. Wi-Fi is only available at some of them. There's a wonderful pub, Cafe Blue in Dorsoduro, which has free (password-protected) wi-fi. Buy a spritz and a panini and go to town.\n\nAt the Telecom Italia Future Centre in Campo San Salvatore (San Marco) you can browse for free for one hour, once registered with your ID card.\n\nTo use an Internet cafe, buy a mobile SIM card or get a contract for an Internet connection. Personal identification is needed by law in Italy. Internet cafes will not let you use computers without a passport or national ID card.\n\nCalle Delle Botteghe on San Marco 2970 Venezia is a pretty art gallery type internet cafe with a book shop. It is on the expensive side with €3 for 15 min but you can just go in and play chess with a glass of wine.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk050", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Venice is considered a safe city. You have to take the habitual travellers' precautions however. Keep your valuable items (like wallet and passport) close to you because there are pickpockets, especially in more crowded parts of the city.\nIn case of need, you can dial free of charge on any phone **112** (no area code needed) to contact Carabinieri or **113** (no area code needed) to contact the Police.\n\nSometimes, in the evening and night hours, Campo Bella Vienna and Campo Santa Margherita are places for violence, so be careful if you stay here.\n\nSince 2024-2025 there are a lot of pickpockets, so you should avoid highly crowded areas.", "word_count": 109}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk051", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Do not touch or swim in the extremely polluted water in the canals. Some of that water comes from the surrounding Venetian Lagoon, but the rest comes straight from toilets and kitchen sinks. Venice has begun to install septic tanks in buildings, but much of the city has not yet been upgraded and releases untreated sewage directly into the canals. Avoid bathing yourself, touching the water, immersing feet, etc. in the canals looking for refreshment in the hot season. Also, at night there is a risk of falling into the water, as there are many alleys which end in the water but have little or no lighting. In the warmest months, these conditions can sometimes generate foul odors. Choose other times to visit if they might ruin what should be a highly enjoyable stay.\n\nYou can reach the emergency medical service dialing free of charge on any phone **118** (no area code needed, conversation will be recorded) to have assistance and an ambulance sent to you.\n\nChemists' shops (Italian: *Farmacie*) are all around the town. They are open 24 hr a day, 7 days a week on a rotational basis: outside the shop there's always the list of operating ones with timetables, address and phone number. If you need a special drug you might be asked to book it in advance if it's not in common use. Note that the commercial name or brand of your prescription might differ from your country of origin, and make sure that the medication you want is available in the EU.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk052", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Respect", "text": "Much of Venice's famous architecture is extremely old and showing the effects of being mishandled by the flood of tourists, some small fraction of whom behave as if they were in a modern holiday resort complex instead of an ancient city. To preserve the wonder of this city for future generations, everyone needs to treat the city's infrastructure as if you were in a large, open-air art museum.\n\nThe city officials state that it is necessary to enforce rules that preserve the city's urban cleanliness and make sure visitors behave themselves. The following tips will come in handy: \n\n **Walk on the right side of the street**; especially on narrower streets, you'll contribute to making your and other's walk faster, safer, and tidier. Do it always, even if the street is empty: you never know if there is someone behind corner and you will end to hit him. Do not block the flow of traffic, especially on bridges.\n **Do not bathe, dive into, or swim in the canals**; it is dangerous and unhealthy (the canals are the city's ancient open-air sewage system, and you risk being hit by motorboat traffic). Violations are subject to fines up to €350 and being banned from the city for the next 48 hours, even if you have a prepaid hotel room and non-refundable tickets to events. More information is available on #EnjoyRespectVenezia website.\n **Do not walk around bare-chested or in swimwear**; this is punishable by a fine of up to €250.\n **Do not sit down or lie down** on the ground, on monuments, on steps, on bridges, on buildings (or even lean against them), or sit in public on anything else except chairs and benches made for this purpose, and especially **do not sit on the ground to eat**. Picnics are banned in all public areas. They are punishable by a fine of €100–200, and the police can immediately ban you from the area. If you need to rest or want to watch the people going by, look for one of Venice's bright red public benches to sit (but not lie down) on.\n **Do not camp or sleep in public areas**; the fine is €200, and the police will immediately ban you from the area.\n **Do not feed the birds** or other wildlife and **do not litter**; the fines go up to €500. It may seem strange that feeding the birds has a higher potential fine than disrespectful stunts like climbing on top of a monument, but the city is located inside a fragile wetlands ecosystem, so please exercise more than the usual care.\n\nThe municipality of Venice maintains an up-to-date list of rules and regulations in English and several other langues at their '''official website'''.", "word_count": 451}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk053", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Orientation\n\nThe unfortunate side-effect of the small alleys which make Venice such a delight to visit is that it is remarkably easy to get lost. Even maps provided by hotels are frequently inaccurate, and the maze-like structure of the city can become very confusing. The tight cluster of little islands that comprise Venice is completely surrounded by the Lagoon, so it is not possible, no matter how lost you become, to leave Venice on foot. Sooner or later you will come upon a piazza that you can locate on your map.\n\nOne tip: as you cross bridges, note the house numbers before and after. A small change probably means you are on the same island/district and have crossed a \"new\" canal. A major change means you are now on another island. Most maps clump islands together into their voting districts, there are many more islands than districts.\n\nOne piece of assistance is to look for directional signs. These will be marked \"Per\" and then with the name of a prominent location or bridge in the city, complete with an arrow pointing in the relevant direction. Hence, to get to the Rialto bridge, the signs to follow are marked \"Per Rialto\". Those to St Mark's Square read \"Per S Marco\", and those to the train station \"Per Ferrovia\" (there are some others as well). Having oriented yourself to the nearest landmark, direction-finding can thus become (slightly) easier.\n\nRemember, though, that the signs to read are the *official* ones. Graffiti will occasionally give other directions, frequently incorrect ones.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk054", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Cope", "text": "That said, some argue that getting lost in Venice is part of the experience of the city. The number of photogenic canals, hidden restaurants and shops where glass blowing is done almost guarantees that there is no such thing as a \"dull neighbourhood\". Additionally, the public transport means that it is relatively easy to arrive at the intended destination even after one has emerged from the web of alleys in a totally unexpected place.\n\n### Overcrowding\n\nWhile Venice may not get more tourists than other famous Italian destinations such as Rome and Florence, the narrowness of streets and open areas may at times make Venice feel *uncomfortably* crowded during (but not only) the peak seasons, at the San Marco *sestiere*, the surroundings of the Rialto bridge and the streets leading from Venezia Santa Lucia and Piazzale Roma to San Marco. Walking by itself can be difficult, let alone snapping a good photo, using a public lavatory, or sitting at a decent cafe or restaurant.\n\nTo avoid the worst of the crowds, unless it is winter, try to visit the San Marco and Rialto bridge areas during early morning and late evening. During the late morning and afternoon, stay away as far as possible from this area, for instance walking around west Santa Croce, north Cannaregio, eastern Castello and Giudecca. Alternatively, take day trips to places outside central Venice such as Burano, the Lido, Padua or Vicenza, or simply take the opportunity to refresh in your hotel.\n\n### Useful telephone numbers\n\n- Police (emergency call)\n\n- Carabinieri (emergency call)\n\n- First Aid (emergency call)\n\n- Venice Hospital\n\n- Medical Service on Duty\n\n- Tourist Information\n\n- Gondola Service San Marco\n\n- Gondola Service Rialto\n\n- Gondola Service Danieli\n\n- Airport San Marco Information\n\n- Airport San Marco Lost and Found Office", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk055", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Cope", "text": "- Railway information\n\n- Railway Lost and Found Office\n\n### Consulates\n\nMost of the consulates listed here are only honorary consulates, so can only offer limited consular services. If you need any serious help, try visiting Milan, where larger consulates can sometimes be found; however, it will usually be easier to visit the Italian capital, Rome, where most countries' embassies are found.\n - Australia\n\n- Austria\n\n- Belgium\n\n- Czech Republic\n\n- Denmark\n\n- Finland\n\n- France\n\n- Germany\n\n- Greece\n\n- Lithuania\n\n- Luxembourg\n\n- Malta\n\n- Mexico\n\n- Monaco\n\n- Netherlands\n\n- Norway\n\n- Portugal\n\n- Russia\n\n- Spain\n\n- Sweden\n\n- Switzerland\n\n- Turkey\n\n- United States\n\n### Post offices\n\nVenezia Centro: San Marco. Sottoportico delle Acque 5016\n Venezia 1: Cannaregio, Lista di Spagna 233\n Venezia 3: San Polo, Campo San Polo 2012\n Venezia 4: San Marco, Calle Larga de l'Ascension 1241\n Venezia 5: Castello, Calle Barbaria delle Tole 6674\n Venezia 8: Giudecca, Fondamenta Sant'Eufemia\n Venezia 9: Castello, Via Garibaldi 1641\n Venezia 10: Dorsoduro, Zattere Fondamenta al Ponte Longo 1507\n Venezia 11: Sant'Elena, Viale 4 Novembre 23/24\n Venezia 12: Santa Croce, Fondamenta Santa Chiara 411\n Venezia 13: Cannaregio, Calle dele Cooperative snc\n Murano: Fondamenta Navagero 48\n Burano: Fondamenta Terranova 162\n Lido di Venezia: Via Doge Domenico Michiel 1\n Malamocco: Campo Chiesa 1", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "venice::chunk056", "doc_id": "venice", "section": "Go next", "text": "Metropolitan Venice has many interesting destinations far from the Venetian crowds. Around the Venetian lagoon are other smaller islands, which have since been deserted but are worth a visit. There is also the Lido, which is a long narrow island with more modern buildings, hosting a youth hostel and a hotel.\n Burano — Island famous for lace, textiles and colorfully painted houses.\n Lido — The island of tranquility, a beach district 10 minutes by boat from San Marco, and where the Venice movie festival is held.\n Mestre — Town in the mainland, but still a part of Venice.\n Murano — Nearby island famous for its glassware.\n San Lazzaro — Nearby island with Armenian monastery and impressive art collection, some world class pieces.\n Torcello — Nearby island with a 7th-century basilica church and an archeological museum.\n Riviera del Brenta — Palladian villas around Brenta River, 20 minutes from Venice by car, or you can get there via biking tours with a local bike hire shop.\n Lake Garda — An easy day trip by train, it is Italy's largest lake and stunning in scenery.\n Po Delta — Peaceful and scenic marshy area southwest of Venice with bike trails.\n Eraclea — Typical for its pinewood and Laguna del Mort, 55 minutes from Venice by car or by boat.\n Jesolo — Jesolo is one of the most important beaches in Italy, just 45 minutes from Venice by car or by boat (ferry from Treporti to Venice).\n Padua (It. Padova) — 40 km west of Venice, home to the Basilica of St. Anthony, the Scrovegni Chapel, and the oldest Botanical Gardens in the world, among others.\n Cortina d'Ampezzo — Lovely alpine town, site of 1956 Winter Olympic Games. Great mountain scenery, might be very expensive. A couple of hours of car ride to the north of Venice, more than 3 hours by train and bus.", "word_count": 309}
diff --git a/corpus/venice/metadata.json b/corpus/venice/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..40f48567f3e55eba054ae351be7464d12fbff5b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/venice/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "venice",
+ "title": "Venice",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Venice",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q641",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 45.4375,
+ 12.33583333
+ ],
+ "summary": "Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the region of Veneto. It is built on a group of 126 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are linked by 472 bridges. \nThe islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay lying between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers (more exactly between the Brenta and the Sile). As of 2025, the city proper (comune of Venice) has 249,466 inhabitants, nearly 50,000 of whom live in the historical island city of Venice (centro storico), while most of the population resides on the mainland (terraferma), and about 25,000 live on other islands in the lagoon (estuario).\nTogether with the cities of Padua and Treviso, Venice is included in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE), which is considered a statistical metropolitan area, with a total population of 2.6 million.\nThe name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. ",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Metropolitan Venice"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Metropolitan Venice",
+ "Burano",
+ "Lido",
+ "Mestre",
+ "Murano",
+ "San Lazzaro",
+ "Torcello",
+ "Lake Garda",
+ "Po Delta",
+ "Eraclea",
+ "Jesolo",
+ "Padua",
+ "Cortina d'Ampezzo"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 13819,
+ "listing_count": 45,
+ "marker_count": 8,
+ "chunk_count": 57,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/vienna/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/vienna/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..529f289bf8a8f5c8d3efd2ce8f61a5f985d75725
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vienna/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk000", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Vienna** (German: *Wien*; Austro-Bavarian: *Wean*) is the capital of Austria and by far its most populous city, with an urban population of 2 million and a metropolitan population of 2.9 million (2023). It is the country's artistic, cultural, economic and political centre. It is known for its high living standards, relaxed yet elegant lifestyle and rich musical life.\n\nVienna, renowned as the former seat of the Habsburg court and its diverse empires, stands not only as a grand metropolis but also as a historical center that has perpetually thrived with a substantial population. This city's distinction lies in its privileged stature, fostering an environment that has nurtured numerous eminent artists, notably Beethoven, Haydn, Liszt, Mozart, Schubert, and Johann Strauss II, among others. It was long the largest German-speaking city in the world before being surpassed by Berlin. The large historic city centre of Vienna filled with monuments to its imperial past is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk001", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Districts", "text": "Vienna is broadly divided in inner (1–9) and outer districts (10–23). The 23 districts or wards each have a name and a number. They vary immensely in size and each has its own flair. These function subordinately to the city as decentralized administrative branches of the commune, and make local decisions.\n\nWikivoyage has divided the 23 official districts of Vienna into 13 here for travel purposes.\n\n \n\nthumb|right|New Castle ''(Neue Burg)'' of the Hofburg palace with National Library", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk002", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nthumb|Most of the historic core of Vienna has already been in place in early 1700s – do note the fortifications later replaced with the Ring.\nThe low-lying Danube plain in and around what is now Vienna has had a human population since at least the late Paleolithic (see Prehistoric Europe); one of the city's most famous artifacts, the 24,000-year-old **Venus of Willendorf,** now in Vienna's Natural History Museum, was found nearby. Vienna's own recorded history began with **the Romans,** who founded it in the 1st century CE as *Vindobona,* one of a line of Roman defensive outposts against Germanic tribes. Vindobona's central garrison was on the site of what is now the Hoher Markt (the \"High Market\" so-called because of its relative height over the Danube), and you can still see astounding excavations of its foundations there today.\n\nGiven its prestige, Vienna hosted the **Habsburg court** for several centuries, first as the Imperial seat of the Holy Roman Empire, then the capital of the Austrian Empire, and later of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which finally fell in 1918 with the abdication of the last Emperor Karl I. The court tremendously influenced the culture that exists here even today: Vienna's residents are often overly formal, with small doses of courtliness, polite forms of address, and formal dress attire. One distinguishable paradox of the quirky city is that its residents can be equally modern and progressive as they are extremely old-fashioned.\n\nthumb|right|Vienna existed even as early as the ancient Roman Empire – the ruins of what was then called ''Vindobona'' can be seen right in the city centre.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk003", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "The empires also served to make Vienna a very **metropolitan city** at an early time, and especially so through the years of industrialization and fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the turn of the 20th century. Imperial Austria and Austro-Hungary were multilingual, multi-ethnic empires and although the German speakers normally played the dominant role in Vienna there has long been ethnic and linguistic diversity in the city. Proof of **Jews** in the city dates back to 10th century. After World War II many of the city's minorities had been exiled or killed and much of the city lay in ruin. When Austria was given sovereignty after the post World War II occupation, it was eventually established that Austria would be neutral and not join the Eastern Bloc. So the city became more isolated from its previous ties to its Slavic and Hungarian neighbors; the east of Austria was surrounded by the Iron Curtain. Vienna had gone from being the well-established metropolitan city of Central Europe to the capital of a small, predominately German-speaking nation of states with strong regional identities. But when the Iron Curtain came down in the early 1990s an influx of immigrants and Yugoslav refugees came to Vienna. In 1995 Austria joined the EU and her neighbors to the east joined in 2004. In addition, Vienna became a business hub between Eastern and Western Europe due to its imperial past and location, with many multinational companies having offices and facilities in the city and many Austrian companies investing in Eastern Europe. These series of events helped the city rise from the ashes. Vienna once more sits at the heart rather than at the edge of Central Europe, with connections that had been severed for decades slowly but surely being re-established.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk004", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "Since the formation of the first Austrian Republic and the first mayoral election 1919, the Social Democratic Party of Austria has had the majority of representatives on the common council and controlled the mayoral seat. During the early years, the socialist **Red Vienna** (\"Rote Wien\") revolutionized the city, improving the extreme conditions that the industrial revolution and rapid urbanization had created. Most famously the city built many housing projects (housing estates or \"Gemeindebauten\"), and they also began to offer many social services and made improvements across the board in quality of life. The public housing that was built at that time is now famous for its distinctive style. To this day the city continues to build public housing and about a third of the city's residents live in it, some 600,000 people! Through this high percentage, the quality, and the integration of public housing across the city have kept it from becoming as stigmatized as in most cities. The Viennese are used to having the city government in their lives, and of course have a love-hate relationship with it. Vienna functions on its own as a federal state in the Austrian system (along with 8 other states) and the sense of local pride and home is more of being Viennese than being Austrian, many say.\n\nVienna was the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest, Europe's largest live televised event, in May 2015.\n\n### Culture", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk005", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|right|The majestic church in the ''Zentralfriedhof'' is a monument to the importance of death in Viennese culture\n**Traditional Vienna** is but one of the many façades of this city; the historic center, a UNESCO world heritage site, is sometimes begrudgingly compared to an open-air museum. But Vienna is also a dynamic young city, famous for its (electronic) music scene with independent labels, cult-status underground record stores, a vibrant Monday through Sunday club scene, multitudes of street performers, and a government that seems overly obsessed with complicated paperwork. However, people are willing to go out of their way or bend the rules a little if they feel they can do someone a favor.", "word_count": 112}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk006", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Viennese have a singular fascination with **death**, hence the popularity of the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery), where there are more graves than living residents in Vienna, as a strolling location and of Schrammelmusik - highly sentimental music with lyrics pertaining to death. Old-fashioned Sterbevereine (funeral insurance societies-literally translated \"death clubs\") provide members with the opportunity to save up for a nice funeral throughout the course of their lives. This service does not exist solely to save their children the hassle and expense - it is considered absolutely mandatory to provide for an adequate burial. Vienna even has the \"Bestattungsmuseum\", a museum devoted to coffins and mortuary science. The country’s morbid obsession may be correlated with its higher suicide rate when compared with the rest of Europe. Here too, the socialist Vienna has its hand, the city also offers a socialized undertaking service, with hearses branded in the same department of public works logo as the subway cars, and a link to the transit-planner on their website.\nthumbnail|right|Ever since the Polish king Sobieski gave Vienna the coffee acquired from his victory over the invading Turks, the ''Kaffeehauskultur'' is an integral part of the Viennese lifestyle\n\nVienna is also famous for its **coffee culture.** \"Let's have a coffee\" is a very commonly heard phrase, because despite incursions by Starbucks and Italian-style espresso bars, the Kaffeehauskultur is still the traditional way to drink a cup of coffee, read the newspaper, meet friends, or fall in love.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk007", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Opening ceremony of [[LGBT travel|EuroGames]] 2024 stage at Karlsplatz\nVienna is also known for relatively elaborate LGBT+ culture ranging from alternative/contemporary queer-feminist programs to casual and mainstreamed gay pop culture of clubs and bars. City is working strong to present itself friendly and attractive internationally, so in 2019 it hosted one of the biggest EuroPrides and in 2024 a big EuroGames - annual LGBT+ multi-sport championship.\n\n### Orientation\n\nthumb|right|1., An old street [[sign]] with abbreviated district name \"Innere Stadt\", which is the 1st district.\n\n**Addresses** in the Vienna articles are written with the street name following the district name. *Badgasse 26, Alsergrund* is Badgasse #26 in the 9th district. One can always tell what district you are in by the first number on street signs. Districts can also be made into a postal code by substituting the XX in *1XX0 Vienna* (0X for districts below 10), for instance 1090 Vienna for the 9th district and 1200 the 20th, and are sometimes referred to as such.\n\nCommon **points of reference** are often used in Vienna in addition to districts, most notably public transportation stops. Reference to *U1/U4 Schwedenplatz* or *Schwedenplatz (U1, U4)* means that something is near to the Schwedenplatz stop on the underground lines U1 and U4. Normally if the place is not directly at the subway stop you can ask around and find it easily.\n\nThe ** Vienna Tourist Board** operates information and booking booths at the airport Arrival Hall, 07:00-23:00 and the in the centre at 1., Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse (09:00-19:00). Information and free maps are also available from the ÖBB InfoPoints and offices at train stations.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk008", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city has a very centralized layout radiating from the historic first district with the Stephansdom and Stephansplatz at the centre of a bullseye. It is encircled by the *Ringstraße* (Ring Road), a grand boulevard. **Districts 2-9** are considered the core districts and are gathered within the *Gürtel* (Belt Road), which encircles the core districts as an outer ring concentric to the Ring around the first district, with the notable exception of Leopoldstadt (2). The outer 14 districts are largely less urban but are equally as diverse.\n\n### Climate\n\n**Spring** starts sometime in late March, normally it is very brief and summer-like weather sets in before the trees have had time to grow back their leaves.\n\n**Summer** in Vienna is usually warm. Weather in June is moderate and sunny with a light summer windy breeze. In July and August, there are some hot and humid days where it reaches 35°C (95°F), but overall, summer in Vienna is pleasant.\n\n**Autumn** starts around September, although an \"Indian Summer\" with warm and sunny days often occurs that month and it gets colder as it approaches November. A main disadvantage of the Viennese climate is that it is rather windy and usually overcast during these months.\n\n**Winter** in Vienna can be just above 0°C (32°F) and drizzling for days on end, or just below with dustings of snow that manage to melt again quickly. There is the occasional cold snap where it will stay below freezing for a week or two at a time. Due to Vienna's relative easterly position in the Central European Time Zone its daylight hours (if it's not too gray outside entirely) are relatively early during the winter.\n\n### Sunday closures", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk009", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Understand", "text": "The vast majority of shops, restaurants, and cafes are closed on Sunday. The main exceptions are shops and restaurants located in train stations, flea markets, a few small family-run outfits, and tourist oriented souvenir shops. Many museums and other attractions are also closed, and the public transportation system runs less frequently and keeps different hours. If you plan to visit anything on Sunday, be sure to check if it will be open. Besides visiting museums and churches, a stroll through the Prater or a hike in the Wienerwald are good Sunday activities.", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk010", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumbnail|right|Vienna International Airport sees direct flights to Europe, North America and Asia\n\n### By plane\n\n#### Vienna International Airport\n\nthumbnail|right|If you prefer a low-cost flight, choose Bratislava Airport and be prepared for an extra hour in transit\n\n#### Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport\n\nAnother option if you're flying to Vienna is Bratislava Airport () which is ~ 54 km (34 mi) from Vienna International Airport across the Slovak border and is the largest in the Slovak Republic. The budget airline Ryanair has the most flights. Additional carriers are Norwegian Air Shuttle to Oslo and Copenhagen; UTair to Moscow and Sun d'Or to Ben Gurion Airport (seasonal flights). Transfer options:\n\n- FlixBus\n\n- Postbus/Slovak Lines (Bus)\n\n- Train\n\n- Late arriving flights:\n\n- Early departing flights:\n\n- Rosenov Airport Transfer\n\n#### Alternative airports in the region\n\nBudapest and Munich Airports are at least 3 and 5 hours out, respectively. There is a direct albeit not so speedy shuttle van from **Budapest Ferihegy Airport** to Vienna Schwechat Airport, departing three times daily, for €36. It is cheaper and quicker to transfer via bus or train from Budapest city which can be reached easily from Ferihegy Airport. From **Munich International Airport** you should take the commuter train into the city and transfer to a high-speed RailJet train to Vienna at Munich's main station. ÖBB sells tickets for the entire journey from that airport to Vienna from €29.\n\nSome other smaller airports in the region are served by budget airlines: Linz (2 hours by train), Graz (2.5 hours by train), and Brno (2.5 hours by train or bus).\n\n### By train", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk011", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Wien Hauptbahnhof\nthumb|Platforms of Wien Hauptbahnhof\nthumb|Map of ''Railjet'' services in and around Austria\nThe station names of all stops in Vienna start with its German name \"Wien\". This is internationally recognized and helpful for buying tickets. The railways are managed by the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB. Read more about train travel within Austria and reaching Austria by train.\n\nThe city's main railway stations include:\n - Wien Hauptbahnhof\n\nAll of those stations are also served by the Wiener S-Bahn and are connected to U-Bahn stations.\n\nIt is best to check the schedules online. The ÖBB connection search allows to specify the exact train, subway or tram stop you are going to/departing from. Staffed ticket offices are available at all train stations with international services (Wien Hauptbahnhof, Wien Meidling and Wien Westbahnhof) and also at some larger domestic and local train stations. The automatic ticket machines have English input and allow cash or card payment (Visa, Maestro, etc.)\n\nThere are frequent trains (often at a regular interval) from and to all neighboring regions and countries. Night trains and quicker *EuroCity* trains arrive from virtually every city in Central Europe. High-speed *ICE* and *Railjet* trains arrive from places like Munich, Budapest and Zurich. There are frequent (at least hourly) regional trains to Czech, Slovak and Hungarian border regions. The special fare is named **Sparschiene** and must be booked quite in advance. It is available for long-distance trains and are bound to the specific train and time chosen (unlike most standard tickets, where some flexibility is available). Furthermore, they are also non-refundable.", "word_count": 259}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk012", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "When buying **tickets**, consider two domestic tickets instead of one international one, as it is often cheaper. Tickets can normally still be purchased to the border and from there to your destination in another country. In combination, they will have you covered for the entire international route without the need to change trains. Sometimes you can buy both tickets before departure, otherwise see with the ticket agents if the conductor will be able to issue you with a domestic ticket once you cross the border to Austria.\n\n#### From within Austria\n\nAs the capital of Austria, Vienna is well reachable from all corners of the country. Almost all major Austrian cities (Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt) have hourly or two-hourly direct *Railjet* connections, furthermore, private operator *Westbahn* also connects the cities along the western rail line from and to Vienna (called \"Westbahn\", hence the operator's name). Even some smaller regions offer direct connections, notably for example:\n\n**Vienna** - Graz - Klagenfurt - Bad Gastein - St. Johann in Pongau - Bischofshofen - Salzburg (*Railjet*, 4x daily in 2 hr interval)\n **Vienna** - Linz - Gmunden - Bad Ischl - Hallstatt - Bad Aussee - Stainach-Irdning (*Intercity* \"Salzkammergut\", once daily)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach - Spittal/Drau - Lienz (*Railjet* \"Lienzer Dolomiten\", twice daily)\n **Vienna** - Linz - Salzburg - St. Johann in Pongau - Zell am See - Saalfelden (- Kitzbühel - Wörgl) (*Intercity/Westbahn*, 4x daily)\n\nSometimes, if you're not in a hurry, it might be worthwile to take a look at the *D* trains, which are slower long distance trains, often added as extra capacity on some main lines. Tickets on those trains often come at a discount in comparison to *Railjet*, *ICE* or even *Intercity* trains.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk013", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are on a really tight budget, taking the seating car of a night train is often very cheap (often cheaper than buses), but prepare for some very ungodly hours on the train. Anything beyong shorter intercity hops is not recommended, if you value your sleep over spending a bit more for the couchette.\n\n#### From Germany\n\nVienna has many direct railway connections to German cities. Some of those daytime connections are:\n Frankfurt (6.5 hr) - six daily connections (DB/ÖBB)\n Munich (4.5 hr) - every two hours (DB/ÖBB and Westbahn)\n Berlin (8 hr) - two to three daily connections (DB/ÖBB)\n Nuremberg (4.5 hr), Passau (2.5 hr) - every one to two hours (DB/ÖBB)\n Stuttgart (6.5 hr) - two daily connections (Westbahn)\n\nThose cities are mostly either served by the OBB *Railjet* or DB *Inter-City-Express* (ICE) high-speed trains, or by the private operator *Westbahn* with double-decker units. Some of those services to Vienna also call at Cologne, Duesseldorf or Wiesbaden, as well as major stations in between, with lesser frequency than listed above. Some cities (such as Hamburg) are only served by night train. Both *Railjet* and *ICE* trains can accomedate bicycles, but an upcharge has to be paid and space is often limited.\n\nThe classic overnight train *Metropol* from Berlin was discontinued in December 2017, but returned as a '''ÖBB Nightjet''' train in December 2018, running via Prague and Dresden.\n\nVienna can be considered a hub for **night trains**, mainly due to being the home base of the *ÖBB Nightjet* service. The following *Nightjet* routes have stops and/or terminate in Germany (not all stops listed):", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk014", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Vienna** - Passau - Nuremberg - Kassel - Münster - Hamburg\n **Vienna** - Passau - Nuremberg - Kassel - Göttingen - Amsterdam\n **Vienna** - Munich - Cologne - Aachen - Liège - Brussels\n (Graz) - **Vienna** - Prague - Dresden - Berlin\n\nFurthermore, some *EuroNight* connections operated by neighbouring state operators (MÁV, PKP) stop in Vienna on their way to Germany. At some *Nightjet* connections, a paid motorail service is available.\n\n#### From Switzerland\n\nFour daily *Railjet* trains run from Zürich HB towards Vienna, taking around 8 hours, while two night trains run towards Zurich as well, taking between 9 to 11 hours (one is a *Nightjet* service, while the other is a *EuroNight* from Hungary).\n\n#### From Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia\n\nMultiple direct day and night trains exists from the above mentioned countries:", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk015", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Vienna** - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach - Udine - Pordenone - Treviso - Venice (*Railjet* day train, twice daily, 7 hr 10 min)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach - Udine - Trieste (*Railjet* day train, once daily, 6 hr 38 min)\n **Vienna** - Linz - Salzburg - Innsbruck - Bolzano/Bozen (*Railjet* day train, once daily, 7 hr, runs until end of 2026)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Maribor - Celje - Ljubljana (*EuroCity* day train, once daily, 6 hr)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Maribor - Celje - Zagreb (*EuroCity* day train, once daily, 6 hr 27 min)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Maribor - Celje - Zagreb - Split (*EuroNight* night train, every W F Su in the summer months, 15 hr 11 min)\n **Vienna** - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach - Bologna - Florence - Rome (*Nightjet* night train, once daily, 14 hr)\n **Vienna** - Linz - Salzburg - Villach - Udine - Pordenone - Treviso - Venice (*Nightjet* night train, once daily, 10:55 hr)\n\n#### From other Western European countries\n\nNo day trains run directly to other Western European countries, although there are two *Nightjet* connections towards Brussels (once daily from Su-Th, 15 hr 42 min) and Amsterdam (once daily, 14 hr 13 min).\n\n#### From Czech Republic", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk016", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are two companies operating trains between Prague (via Brno) to Vienna. Czech Railways (ČD) operate jointly with ÖBB a *Railjet* service every two hours with prices varying mostly between €15 and €30 (bookable online or at a ČD ticket office). After cheap tickets are sold out at ČD, there may be some more at ÖBB. Another option is to take a private *RegioJet* train, which links Prague and Vienna several times a day for a similar price but with a different concept of on-board services. In the Czech Republic, railjet trains are abbreviated as *rj* and RegioJet as *RJ*, Both ČD/ÖBB and RegioJet accept InterRail passes but they do not recognise each other's tickets.\n\nDirect international services from Ostrava and Bohumín are available towards Vienna via the trains coming from Poland (see later).\n\nThe ÖBB also sell one-way *Sparschiene* tickets from Brno (starting at ) and Prague (starting at ). It might be sometimes cheaper to buy a ticket to Brno and then buy an onward domestic ticket to Prague.\n\nDirect regional services from some Czech border towns (e.g. Znojmo, Breclav) are availabe, most of them calling at stops along the *Stammstrecke* (see later). A twice daily regional service runs to the small terminus Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof from Prague, mainly serving the smaller towns in between it (e.g. Tábor, Trebon on the Czech side).\n\n#### From Hungary", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk017", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Budapest-Keleti buy a discounted round-trip ticket, *kirándulójegy* (excursion or 4-day ticket) for €31. It includes the return within 4 days and is valid for all public transportation in Vienna for 2 days. So it's a deal even if you don't need a return ticket to Budapest. There are limited number of *Sparschiene* tickets each day for €13. All tickets are valid in all trains (including the high-speed *Railjet*). Trains confusingly depart from Budapest-East (Keleti pu), and stop at Hauptbanhof and Wien Meidling, from where they continue to Germany or Western Austria. Direct trains run every two hours or more. Otherwise transfer at Győr.\n\nTo Hungary, ÖBB offers tickets to Budapest (around 2 hr 40, starting at ), Mosonmagyaróvár, Győr, Tatabánya and Szombathely. MÁV (Hungarian Railways) do not allow combined domestic tickets when crossing the border and you are risking a severe fine if caught by conductors.\n\nPrivate operator *Regiojet* offers regular connections from and to Budapest and some towns in between. Furthermore, direct regional connections are availabe from Sopron (via REX6, 1 hr 14 min, hourly) and Fertöszentmiklós (via REX63, 1 hr 32 min, every two hours), operated by ÖBB and GySEV/Raaberbahn. Some night trains (mostly *EuroNight* services operated by MÁV) also stop in Vienna on their way towards the west.\n\nA daily train (EC149) towards Nyíregyháza via Szolnok and Debrecen exists, taking 6 hr 28 min. Furthermore, two day trains and one night train run directly through Szolnok and Debrecen towards Romania or Ukraine, while one night train runs through Szolnok and Bekescsaba towards Romania (see below).\n\n#### From Slovakia", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk018", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "From Bratislava the cheapest tickets start at (ÖBB), although ZSSK (Slovak Railways) might offer cheaper tickets. ÖBB also offers a \"*Bratislava-Ticket*\", which includes a return ticket from and to Vienna and a public transportation ticket for Bratislava at the first valid day for , valid for four days and including bicycle transport.\n\nBecause Bratislava is so close to Vienna, trains run very frequently. There is an hourly connection from *Bratislava hl.st.* (main station) and *Bratislava Petržalka*, combining into a half-hourly interval from Vienna. Furthermore, most trains run as regional trains, with a few exceptions running as *Intercity* or *Railjet*. Travel time is just shy of one hour, with some trains (e.g. *Railjet*) running faster due to not stopping in between.\n\nThe direct connection from Košice has been cancelled.\n\n#### From other Eastern European countries\n\nOther direct train connections from the following countries exist:", "word_count": 143}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk019", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Poland**: there are many direct trains from Poland:\nEC102/106: **Vienna** - Ostrava - Bohumín - Katowice - Warsaw (twice daily, around 8 hr)\nEC202/204/206: (Graz) - **Vienna** - Ostrava - Bohumín - Krakow (thrice daily, around 5 hr 30 min)\nEC202: **Vienna** - Ostrava - Bohumín - Wroclaw - Poznan (once daily, 6 hr 35 min)\nNight train EN40406/IC406 (Munich - Salzburg -) **Vienna** - Ostrava - Katowice - Warsaw (once daily, 8 hr 41 min)\nNight train EN40416/IC416 (Munich - Salzburg -) **Vienna** - Ostrava - Kedzierzyn Kozle - Katowice - Krakow - Tarnow - Rzeszow - Przemysl (once daily, 7 hr 56 min)\n**Ukraine**: The longest night train to Vienna is the one from Kyiv: night train D40347 runs daily towards the Ukranian capital (via Budapest - Szolnok - Debrecen - Nyíregyháza - Zahony - Lviv), taking almost 21 hours! Furthermore, a daily day train (EC143, 10 hr 57 min) runs towards Uzhhorod (via Budapest - Szolnok - Debrecen - Nyíregyháza - Zahony - Chop) as well.\n**Romania**: A direct daily night train (D347) runs via Budapest - Szolnok - Bekescsaba - Arad - Deva - Alba Iulia - Mediaș - Brasov - Ploiesti towards Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Journey time is 17 hr 30 min. Also, a daily day train runs (EC143) via Budapest - Debrecen - Satu Mare towards Baia Mare, taking 10 hr 26 min.\n**Serbia**: It has been announced that a direct train connection between Vienna and Belgrade is planned from Spring 2026 onwards. It is planned to run twice daily via Hungary and with a journey time of around 6 hours.\n**Turkey**: No direct trains run from Vienna to Turkey, although if you're in for an adventure, there is a train from Villach and Istanbul.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk020", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumbnail|right|A parking garage in Erdbergstraße\nOnly one in two Viennese households has a car and fewer than 1/3 of the trips taken within the city are by car. However, since parking space is scarce in the inner districts and parking fees apply to all inner and most of the outer districts, it is usually a good idea for visitors to leave their car parked somewhere in the periphery and use the city's excellent subway & tram system to get to the center. The **Park and Ride** is available at some subway and S-Bahn stations in the city periphery for per day. The weekly rates come with a discount if you add a public transport ticket for Vienna (Zone 100).\n\nFor using the Austrian highway system, you will need a toll sticker (\"Autobahnvignette\"), which you can buy at petrol stations and rest stops. There are stickers for 10 days, 2 months and 1 year. In Vienna, avoid the A23 Südosttangente at rush hour. Traffic jams are almost guaranteed there and throughout the city streets at rush hour.\n\n**Parking** is rarely free of charge in Vienna. Since 1st March 2022, almost all of Vienna is marked as a short-term parking zone (\"Kurzparkzone\"), with only small exceptions in rural areas or outside the urban area (e.g. *Kahlenberg* parking lot). Cars are restricted to a maximum of 120 minutes and parking rules apply M-F 09:00 - 22:00, costing /hour as of November 2025 (further info here). Restrictions may deviate at certain shopping streets. Beware of special parking restrictions, e.g. reserved for loading/unloading goods (\"Ladetätigkeit\") or residential parking (\"Anwohnerparken\").", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk021", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "The municipality provides detailed information on parking on their website in English. Fees can be paid for by using parking vouchers, which are available at e.g. petrol stations, post offices and tobacco shops (\"Trafik\")- see here. Alternatively, online payment is available by using a smartphone app (registration needed).\n\nCommercial parking garages (\"Parkhaus\" or \"Parkgarage\") are dotted across the city, the larger operators being WIPARK, APCOA, Best in Parking or BOE. They usually cost between per hour, with outliers in both directions possible. Parking a car for a whole day in a downtown parking garage may turn out very expensive; prices of over /day are not unheard of.\n\n#### Park-and-Ride garages\n\nAlternatively, you can find Park-and-Ride garages (P+R) in Vienna at following stations of the U-Bahn (Vienna Metro) and S-Bahn (Suburban-Train Vienna):\n\nLeopoldau, Aderklaaer Straße, Neulaa, Oberlaa\n Donaustadtbrücke\n Ottakring, Erdberg\n Hütteldorf, Spittelau\n Siebenhirten, Perfektastraße, Spittelau\n **Suburban-Train:** Wien-Hütteldorf (S45, S50, S80), Wien-Liesing (S2, S3, S4), Wien-Leopoldau (S1), Wien-Ottakring (S45)\nThey are a good option for those who want to park their car for a longer duration (>1 day) and/or want to avoid driving in the city centre; prices start at /day at certain garages. Beware that some of them are often full after the morning rush hour due to commuters parking their cars there. Park-and-Ride garages also exist further out in Lower Austria near S-Bahn stops.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is a slew of international bus services coming into Vienna daily. It is safe to assume that discounts are available (about 10% from Eurolines affiliates, about 15% on independent carriers) for those under 26 and over 60 on walk-up fares but not on discounted advanced purchase (\"promo\") tickets.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk022", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "Eurolines Austria, is the largest operator. Euroline's own vehicles have assured quality, but this is not the case of all of their international partners. Confusingly Eurolines Austria is doesn't always cooperate with an inbound Eurolines affiliate from another country, for instance there are two competing Eurolines services (Slovak and Austria) to Bratislava departing from separate stops. Always check the webpages of both the arrival and departure countries' Eurolines affiliated operator for the best price as well as checking for non-affiliated carriers.\n\nThere are two main bus stations in Vienna, and other locations where national and international services deposit passengers.\n**Vienna International Busterminal (VIB)** located adjacent to the subway stop Erdberg (U3) is overseen by the local Eurolines affiliate *Blaguss*, who publish timetables.\n**Waldmanngründe** on the southwest corner of **Südtiroler Platz**(U1, S-Bahn) is a stop with an office only for services to Bratislava, other operators have offices in the nearby streets or just operate curbside services.\n**Praterstern** on the (U1, U2 and S-Bahn) has two main bus stops, one in Lasallestraße for Tourbus services from the Czech Republic and one in Nordbahnstraße for Orangeways service to Hungary.\n **Busstation Westbahnhof-Felberstraße/Europaplatz Felberstraße**, 1150 Wien, stop of long distance-busses at the trainstation Westbahnhof.\n**Busterminal Vienna/Stadioncenter** on the east (Address: Engerthstraße 242-244, 1020 Vienna, near the metro station U2 Stadion) is a stop of the yellow Student Agency coaches.\n**Vienna International Airport** is served by nearly all buses to Bratislava, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, in addition to each bus line's city stop.\n\n#### Austria", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk023", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are few private domestic inter-city bus lines in Austria. Several regional services to Vienna operated by a mix of the federal government, the states of Lower Austria and Burgenland, local governments and coach operators. Sometimes the cash-price for these is marginally lower than the train, otherwise the normal VOR public transport rates apply. They are most useful for traveling to the countryside, though timing and different departure locations in Vienna can make them attractive for inter-city travel in certain cases. All routes are operated with high-quality coaches and regional buses.\n\n- Dr. Richard\n\n- Postbus\n\n- WESTbus\n\n- Wiesel Bus\n\n- FlixBus\n\n#### Balkans\n\nIf you are traveling from the Balkans there are plenty of buses daily. Some may not be advertised and tickets are often not for sale at the ticket counter, rather from the bus driver or attendant. Ask around the bus stations, most of them leave in the afternoon. Buses from non-EU countries may be subject to higher scrutiny at the border. Sometimes operators smuggle or transport goods to supplement their low fares and the Hungarian border guards are not afraid to accept bribes from non-EU operators. You will likely never be asked to participate monetarily, although a bus driver may ask to put a carton of cigarettes above your seat or in your luggage. Legally, you're transporting \"your own\" one-carton cigarette allowance across the border, so you will not get in any trouble for that. It is also okay to decline cooperation.\n\nMost buses from Serbia go to VIB Erdberg (U3) whie most buses from Kosovo and Albania go to Südtiroler Platz (U1). Bus lines from Bosnia and Croatia are split between the two bus stations.\n\nSlovenia\n - Turanus.Shuttles\n\n- FlixBus\n\nCroatia\n - Adria Reisen\n\n- Autobusni promet d.d. Varaždin\n\n- Croatiabus\n\n- WESTbus", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk024", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "Bosnia and Herzegovina\n - Autoprevoz Banjaluka\n\n- Biss-Tours\n\nSerbia\n - Fudeks\n\n- Feniks GiZ\n\n- Jovic Travel\n\n- Lasta\n\n- Niš-Ekspres\n\n'''DTours''' (VIB Erdberg). Niš via Belgrade F Su. €65 return.\n - Srbijatransport\n\n- Zoran Reisen\n\nGreece\n - Korona\n\nNorth Macedonia\n - EuroBus Macedonia\n\nBulgaria\n - Ecolines\n\n#### Baltics\n\n- Ecolines\n\n- Kautra\n\n#### Czech Republic\n\n- WESTbus\n\n- Student Agency\n\n- Tourbus, a.s.\n\nMinibuses, or shuttle vans to Český Krumlov and surrounds are common, but more expensive that EURegio train tickets, especially for round-trips. Buses take around 3 hours, while trains take upwards of 4 hours and often require two easy train changes. Minibuses may match their times to passengers needs.\n - Bean Shuttle\n\n#### Denmark\n\n- Bohemian Lines\n\n- Eurolines AT/Blaguss\n\n#### Germany\n\nMany companies offer Intercity buses in Germany, many of them also serving Vienna. Prices tend to be lower than on the train while travel times can be significantly higher.\n\n- Eurolines\n\n- Orangeways\n\n- FlixBus\n\n#### Hungary\n\n- Eurolines\n\n- Orangeways\n\n#### Italy\n\n- Kautra\n\n- Tourbus, a.s.\n\n- Student Agency\n\n#### Poland\n\n- Eurolines Polska\n\n- Ecolines\n\n- Jordan\n\n- Kautra\n\n- PolskiBus\n\n- Tatarczuk\n\n#### Romania\n\nIt can be cheaper, faster and the buses can be more frequent if you change buses in Budapest, for instance on Eurolines HU/Volanzbus or Orangeways, depending upon your destination in Romania.\n - Atlassib\n\n- Eurolines RO\n\n- Turanus.shuttle\n\n#### Slovakia\n\nBratislava:\nFor information on direct buses from Bratislava Airport see here.\n - Blaguss\n\n- Postbus/Slovak Lines\n\nNitra, Košice and the rest of Slovakia:\nThere are more frequent buses if you change buses in Bratislava, for instance on SlovakLines.\n - eurobus, a. s.\n\n#### Turkey\n\n- Varan\n\n#### Ukraine\n\n- Евроклуб\n\n#### Long-distance tours\n\n- Busabout\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk025", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumbnail|Take a Twin City Liner catamaran from Schwedenbrücke in Vienna to the Slovak capital of [[Bratislava]]\nRiverboats on the Danube include connections with Linz, Bratislava and Budapest, but are slower and more expensive than other options.\n - LOD\n\n- Twin City Liner\n\n- Mahart Passnave\n\n- Donauschiffahrt Wurm + Köck", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk026", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "### Public transportation\n\nVienna has a good public transportation system, which includes rail, commuter rail, underground, trams (trolleys), and buses. The underground is very efficient and will take you to within a few minutes walk of anywhere you are likely to want to visit. The subway alone has the second highest per-capita ridership in the world, and that is not accounting for the 27 tram lines, dozens of train lines or numerous buses.\n\nEnquiries for routes and timetables are possible with the mobile application *WienMobil*, that is supplied by the public transport operator. The app is available for Android, iOS and can be accessed without installation on the internet.\n\nTicket inspections are frequent. Ensure your ticket is validated (time-stamped) before your journey begins to avoid a penalty fare.\n\n#### Accessibility\n\nThe entire U-Bahn system has step-free access, but entering the platform is only allowed with a valid ticket. Buses are all low-floor, with lifts for full wheelchair accessibility. The tram system runs a mixture of older high-floor and modern low-floor trams. At tram stops with digital displays, it is indicated whether the next tram arriving is step-free accessible. Wiener Linien generally schedules the trams so you won't have to let more than one go by before a low-floor one comes along.\n\nAll U-Bahn stations have textured pavement on the platform to assist blind patrons in recognizing the platform edge. **Service dogs** can be taken anywhere on the system, but if they are not officially registered as such with the Austrian government, they must be muzzled (As a practical matter, the transit authorities will pretty much never question whether an obvious service dog is registered, though). Ordinary dogs can be taken almost anywhere on public transit, but must either be in an enclosed carrier or leashed and muzzled.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk027", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "More information about accessibility can be found online.\n\n#### Fares\n\nthumb|Vienna Ring Road with a tram\nthumbnail|right|Inside a vintage Viennese tram.\nPublic transportation within the city proper, including most everywhere you are likely to visit (the entire subway and tram network) is a single zone, the Vienna core zone (Kernzone Wien). Any transportation can be used: subway, any train – even high-speed ones – as long as you are traveling between two Vienna stations, trams, buses, night buses, most regional buses, and an interurban railway (the Wiener Lokalbahn) within the city limits.\n\nYou must validate (stamp) your paper ticket if the time and date is not printed on it, before entering the subway platform or train or as soon as you get on a bus or tram. Digital tickets are valid from a start time selected by the purchaser. You do not need to show your ticket to the bus or tram operator. Although there are not many spot checks, the fee for traveling without a ticket is €100.\n\nTickets are available at machines (Visa, MC accepted) and from counters at subway and rail stations as well as at tobacco shops (\"Tabaktrafik\"). They can also be bought online for printout or via a mobile app to present them via the mobile phone.\n\nFrom 1 January 2026 a new fare structure is in place.", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk028", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "*Digital Single Trip Ticket* €3.00: A single direction uninterrupted trip to anywhere, with as many transfers as needed.\n*Single Trip Ticket* €3.20: A single direction uninterrupted trip to anywhere, with as many transfers as needed.\n*Discounted Single Trip Ticket*: €1.60: For children between 6 and 15 years.\n*24-hour digital ticket* €9.70: Valid from selected start time.\n*24-hour ticket* €10.20: Valid from time stamped.\n*7 Days Digital Vienna/7 Tage Digital Wein* €25.20: Valid for seven days \n*7 Days Vienna/7 Tage Wein* €28,90: Valid for seven days\n\nChildren up to age six ride free. Children up to 14 do not need a ticket on Sundays, holidays and during Austrian school vacations. Children 15–23 are also exempt if they are enrolled in school in Austria.\n\nBicycles will be transported for free, but this is only permitted in the U-Bahn and from Monday to Friday only between 09:00 and 15:00, and after 18:30. On the weekends, you can take the bike on the U-Bahn 24 hours.\n\nIf you are staying for a few days and hope to do tons of sightseeing and/or shopping, the **Vienna Card** (*Wien Karte*) is a good deal. It costs €29 and is good for 72 hours of unlimited public transit within Vienna. The card also gets you discounts (typically €1 or €2 at the major museums and art galleries) to many attractions and shops. You can buy it at the airport, hotels, and underground stops. The Vienna Card allows one kid aged less than 15 to travel with the owner, possibly making it more attractive. One Vienna Card allows shop/museum rebates for the whole family.\n\nSee the Vienna International Airport for details on transfer to/from the airport.\n\n#### Network", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk029", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "The best rail (heavy rail and underground) transport map is displayed at all ÖBB stations. There are so many lines that maps are normally very simplified, and there are no maps of the tram network. It can pay to ask or check the best connection ahead of time. Major stations are well signed and connections are scheduled to match-up if service isn't frequent.\n\n#### U-Bahn\n\nthumb|Rail lines inside Vienna (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Lokalbahn and local trains)\nThe five **U-Bahn** lines are the most common way of getting around Vienna (the U5 line is under construction, and is expected to be completed by 2026). These underground, metro or subway lines have trains during the day every 1½–5 minutes and cover most of the important parts of the city and sights. The system is easy to understand; none of the lines branch or share track and the direction is indicated by the terminus station, so you'll need to glance at the map to see what those are. Most stations have digital displays on the platforms which tell you the wait time for the next train. On some lines, certain trains do not run all the way to the end, the platform display will tell you at which station the train is terminating. On Sunday nights, Saturday nights, and on the nights before public holidays in Austria, all lines are running also at night (all 15 minutes), you don't need a special ticket to use the nightline.\n\n#### Tram\n\nthumb|450x450px|Vienna's tramway network\nTram (*Bim*, *Straßenbahn*) lines have just a plain number or letter (*O*, *1*). There are 27 lines which stop locally, useful for taking things a bit slower and seeing more of the city.", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk030", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|270px|Tramway in Vienna: public-transport-tram on the right side, ''Vienna-Ring-Tram'' (VRT) sightseeing-tour on the left side\nIn 2009 the yellow tourist Vienna Ring Tram was established, which travels around the Ringstraße for €9 and has an audio guide in several languages. The famous 'ring lines' 1 and 2, however, will give you the exact same view (without, of course, the audio guide) and are covered by Vienna's normal fare zone. You can take tram 1 (bound for *Prater-Hauptalle*) from *Oper* to *Schwedenplatz* and take tram 2 (bound for *Ottakring*) from *Schwedenplatz* back to *Oper*.\n\n#### Bus\n\nBus lines are denoted by a number that ends in a letter (i.e. *3A*, *80B*). You are unlikely to need to take a bus, but it is safe to assume if you see one that you can get on and it will take you to some higher form of transportation like the U-Bahn. Cheaper tickets (€1) are available for most 'B' buses; regular tickets and passes are also valid.\n\n#### Rail\n\nVienna's suburban rail network is often overlooked by tourists. It comprises three types of trains: **S-Bahn** (S), which mostly serve inner suburbs and stop at all stations with few exceptions, **Regionalbahn** (R), which are generally more long-distant than the S-Bahn and make limited stops on parallel S-Bahn routes, but otherwise all stops, and **RegionalExpress** (REX), which mostly serve the outermost suburbs and make very limited stops in the inner suburbs (although not all RegionalExpress trains are suburban trains). The network also stretches over the borders of the neighbouring countries.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk031", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "The most important rail streches:\n**Stammstrecke** (*Meidling*–*Hauptbahnhof* (main station)–*Quartier Belvedere*–*Rennweg*–*Mitte*–*Praterstern*–*Floridsdorf*) trains run every 2–5 min. This is not a line itself but rather the result of the bunch of lines using the same stretch.\n**S45** runs in the northwest of the city every 10–15 min along a beautiful railway built by architect Otto Wagner.\n\nRail trips to the suburbs of Vienna (in Vienna city all rail stations start with \"Wien\") require an extra ticket. These are available as zones in VOR (Austria's Eastern Transit Region) or as point to point tickets from the railways. It is easiest to buy extra zones from the edge of the city. If you have a Vorteilscard a railway ticket will be cheaper; if you are planning to transfer to a bus the VOR-ticket is also valid for it, within the same zone.\n\n#### Interurban\n\nThe Wiener Lokalbahn (*WLB*) also referred to as the Badner Bahn is an interurban railway traveling from the Opera running as a tram on-street southwest through Vienna to Meidling station where it becomes a railway continuing onwards through the 23rd District and through suburbs and the rolling wine hills in Lower Austria to Baden. Within Vienna proper, it's covered by the same zone 100 ticket as the rest of the tram system, but you need an extra ticket to take it out into the suburbs.\n\n#### Night Services", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk032", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|NightLine Vienna\nThe regular trams, trains and buses run until about 00:30 (just past midnight). Most of the commuter rail is shut between 01:00 and 04:00. On Friday, Saturday and on nights before holidays, the entire U-Bahn network runs all night. Additionally, a dense network of night buses, called \"NightLiners\" is available every night of the year. All Regular tickets are valid. Most buses terminate at \"Kärntner Ring, Oper\", which allows for easy interchange. Intervals are 15 minutes (subway), 30 minutes (bus). Daytime service resumes at 05:00. The suburban-train lines S45 (Wien Handelskai - Wien Huetteldorf) and S2 between Wien Floridsdorf and Wien Liesing are also running on Friday nights, Saturday nights and on the nights before public holidays, the interval in 30 Minutes.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|right|Fiaker coachmen waiting for customers\nMotor taxis are plentiful and can normally be hailed on the street or found at a taxi stand. Fares are set to a meter price, but if you prefer, you can always negotiate a fare. Always negotiate when traveling to the airport or outside of the city limits as fares are not set to those places.\n\nHorse-drawn taxis, considered a symbol of the city, are also available in the 1st district, although these are more expensive than the motor-taxis.\n\n### By car\n\nAvoid driving a car within the central ring if possible. While cars are allowed on many of the streets there, the streets are narrow and mostly one-way. They can be confusing for a visitor and parking is extremely limited (and restricted during the day). Due to the comprehensiveness of the transit system, you most likely will not need a car within Vienna, except for excursions elsewhere.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk033", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "Furthermore, it might be a good idea to leave your car at home during rush hours. Vienna's streets can become a little clogged in the mornings and early evenings and the drivers are not really known for being especially polite and friendly.\n\nPedestrians have the right of way in crossing all roads at a crosswalk where there is no pedestrian signal present. If there is such a pedestrian crossing on an otherwise straight section of the road, there will be a warning sign: you are required to yield to any pedestrian on this crossing. Austrians accustomed to experienced local drivers will step out with little thought and force you to stop, so slow down here and be careful. When driving in a neighborhood this \"right of way to pedestrians\" is an understood rule at every intersection, although pedestrians will be more careful before they step out. Again, be on the lookout for this: if you see a pedestrian waiting to cross, you should stop at the intersection for him or her.\n\n*Be careful when parking near tram tracks.* Make sure the side of your car does not block the path of the tram. Otherwise the tram will be forced to stop and your car may be towed.\n\n### By bicycle", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk034", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|alt=Lime|Lime\nthumb|right|Bicycle stand pump at Siebensternplatz\nthumb|Citybike Wien\nCycling is another option for travelling within Vienna, although it is still seen more as a leisure activity. Vienna's compact size makes cycling attractive. On a bicycle you can reach most places of interest within half an hour. There are many bicycle paths and lanes along major streets, in parks, and by the rivers. However, it can be complicated to cross town because the lanes follow illogical routes. One major complaint is that bicycle facilities were an afterthought and this is very apparent, many stop lights and intersections are dangerously or annoyingly set for bicyclists and paths are very illogical: they are sometimes on-street sometimes off, sometimes shared with pedestrians, sometimes not, and can vary or end out of nowhere. You are required by law to use a bike lane or path if there is one, unless it is blocked, otherwise regular traffic laws apply. Lights are required at night as are independently functioning brakes.\n\nPay attention to tram tracks in the street, and when crossing them, approach them from as close to perpendicular as possible, otherwise your tires can get caught in the groove next to the rail.\n\nIf your destination is in the outer suburbs, or you want to take a relaxed ride to the countryside, you may consider taking your bike on the U-Bahn (prohibited at rush hour, and always in buses and trams) or on a train. You need a ticket for your bike in trains. On the U-Bahn (metro) it is free to transport your bike on workdays from 09:00-15:00 and after 18:30 and for the whole day on weekends.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk035", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Get around", "text": "**CityBike** runs a short-term shared bike system all over the Vienna city. There are many stations in the inner districts and you can register to borrow a bike with your credit card (€1/to register) or obtain a Touristcard (€2.50/day). The first hour is free, the next €1, the third €2, etc. So always return your bike as soon as you have finished riding. 15 minutes after you return it, you can rent another or the same bike with a new free hour. Foreign credit cards work fine in the machines - but you need one credit card per person. You can't hire two bikes with one card.\n **Pedal Power** offers guided bicycle tours and bicycle rental. They deliver to hotels or you can pick them up at the Prater for a discount.\n\n### On foot\n\nthumb|right|The busy shopping street ''Graben'' is a great starting point for a walk around Vienna\n\nWalking can also be very pleasant. The inner ring is quite compact with lots of pleasant cobblestoned and paved streets. It can be crossed in about 20 min.\n\nBring a comfortable pair of walking shoes as this is the most common way of getting around.\n\nMost of the old town is a pedestrian-only zone. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven cobblestone paths.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk036", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Talk", "text": "Most Viennese speak a range and mix of Viennese German and Standard German (\"Hochdeutsch\") as their mother tongue, unlike in most other parts of Austria where the local dialect is still more prevalent. The Viennese German is counted amongst the Austria-Bavarian dialects. It used to be specifically split by districts. It also had many Yiddish influences (\"Hawara\", \"Beisl\"). However, nowadays, basically everyone speaks Standard German as well, though the Austrian variety of German does differ in accent and somewhat in vocabulary (e.g. plastic bag is \"Plastiksackerl\", not \"Plastiktüte\") from Standard German as used in Germany. These differences are small enough that knowing Standard German is enough to get by.\n\nShould someone be so proud as to continue speaking in dialect and you don't understand, just ask the person to speak \"Hochdeutsch\" (standard German, literally \"high German\") and he/she generally will. Standard German is the sole official language and thus the main recognized written language.\n\nPeople in jobs dealing with foreign visitors are usually fluent in English, though English is not as universally spoken as in northern European countries, and signs (including descriptive signs in museums) don't as often include English translations as in some other European countries, so those who don't speak German may find a traveler's phrase book or bilingual dictionary useful in some situations.\n\nApart from German and Austro-Bavarian, there are sizeable minorities in Vienna, such as Serbian, Croatian, Turkish and Romanian, who use their own languages amongst themselves and might be helpful if you speak any of their languages and come across a person of that origin.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk037", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|Donauturm (Danube-Tower), viewing platform, restaurant and bar, open daily\nVienna has a rich history as the capital city of the monarchy, and thus, there is an abundance of historical buildings and museums. Most of these, including **Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral)** and the three most well-known museums, **Kunsthistorisches Museum** (Museum of Fine Arts), **Naturhistorisches Museum** (Museum of Natural History) and **Albertina**, are located in the Innere Stadt. The **Ring Road** (German: *Ringstraße*) is a circular road surrounding the Innere Stadt district of Vienna and is one of its main sights. Its architecture is typical of the eclectic, historicist style called Ringstraßenstil (Ring Road Style) of the 1860s to 1890s. Built in the style of the Renaissance according to plans by Heinrich von Ferstel, the **MAK- Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art** is the first museum building on the *Ringstraße*. The Schloss Schönbrunn palace, a part of the UNESCO World heritage list, is located in the Outer West area.\n\nProbably the best (and cheapest) way to get an overview of the city is on a tip-based \"free tour\": Good Vienna Tours offers daily two-hour walking tours in English, meeting at 10:00 and 14:00 in front of the Albertina.", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk038", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|right|There is hardly a more stylish way to greet the new year than at the Vienna Opera\n **Ball Season**: One thing you should not miss when you visit Vienna during the carnival season is to attend one of the many glamorous balls in the city, some of them in wonderful elegant locations like the Vienna Hofburg or the City Hall (Rathaus). The most widely known and elegant balls are the Opera Ball in the State Opera or the ball of the *Wiener Philharmoniker*. Many professional guilds have their own ball, e.g. the *Kaffeesiederball* by the Vienna Coffee house owners. A different twist is the famous Life Ball, an AIDS/HIV benefit which features celebrities and other attendees wearing outrageous costumes. The ball calendar can be found on the pages of the Vienna City Council\n **River and Canal tours** — The canal tours are horrible. All you see are trees and industrial buildings. It's a waste of money and time.\nThere are also a lot of other **open-air-film festivals** in summer, e.g. at Karlsplatz, the Vienna Turf Krieau, the Prater, the Arena, the rooftop of City Library on Urban-Loritz-Platz and Schloss Neugebäude.\nIn the summer, there is also **the ImPulsTanz Festival** for contemporary dance & performance. They are also good if you are interested in dance workshops.\n **Football:** international soccer matches are played at Ernst Happel Stadium on the riverbank in the Inner East district. The city has two club teams playing in the Austrian Bundesliga, the country's top tier: SK Rapid Wien play at Allianz Stadium in the Outer West, and FK Austria Wien play at Generali (or Viola) Arena in the Outer South. \n\n### Classical music\n\nthumb|Musikverein Vienna\nVienna is considered by many to be the spiritual home of European classical music, with many great composers such as Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss II spending a significant part of their careers in Vienna.\n\nFrom May to December you can attend concerts of the **Vienna Hofburg Orchestra** which take place in the Festival Hall and the Redoutensäle of Vienna's Hofburg Imperial Palace. The orchestra's program is composed of **Viennese waltz** and **operetta** melodies by Johann Strauss, Franz Lehár and Emmerich Kálmán along with opera arias and duets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Each year on the evenings of December 31 and January 1 the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra performs traditional Viennese New Year's Eve and **New Year's Concerts** in the Hofburg's festival halls. These concerts however, along with those that are from similar ensembles, are quite expensive for what they offer, and are intended for the entertainment of tourists.\n\nFor a more serious program, other concerts at the Musikverein and the Staatsoper can be attended for **as little as €3-4** (standing room). They feature some of the best musicians in the world, including of course, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. With concerts starting at almost the price of a cup of coffee, Vienna boasts a frequent and outstanding roster that is financially accessible to all. Much of the musical scene in Vienna is absent during the summer months, with the exception of the ensembles that cater to tourists. The solution would be to travel to Salzburg, where the Vienna Philharmonic resides during the summer.\n\nFor those who wish to watch opera, the Vienna State Opera is the most famous opera house in the city.\n\n### U-Bahn-Stars\n\nThe *Vienna U-Bahn-Stars* are free of charge music event, daily running in the subway stations Westbahnhof, Praterstern, Karlsplatz, Stephansplatz, Neubaugasse and Spittelau.", "word_count": 582}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk039", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|right|Innere Mariahilferstrasse\nStore hours are generally M-F 08:00 or 09:00 to 18:00 or 19:00, and Sa 09:00 to 18:00, closed Sunday. There are slightly longer hours at some malls. Credit cards are normally accepted at large and at high-end stores. All chains that you can find in the malls also have stores on the city's shopping streets, which tend to be more accessible and tourist friendly. Flea markets are usually can be found on Sundays, where one can buy items at very reasonable prices.\n\n### Outdoor markets\n\nthumb|right|Kraut on Naschmarkt\nThere are 21 **markets** with stands and small characteristically Viennese hut-like shops that are open daily (except Sunday). Additionally many of these have true farmers' markets, often on Saturday mornings. There is a large variety of sellers and markets, from the upscale to the dirt cheap. Each has several shops of different kinds (butcher, bakery, produce, coffee, etc.) There is another handful of weekly farmers markets around the city and seasonal markets like the Christmas Markets.\n\n#### Christmas markets\n\nthumb|Belvedere Christmas Market\nOpen from November 15 or 20 to December 23 or 24, most Viennese Christmas Markets (\"Christkindlmarkt\", \"Adventmarkt\" or simply \"Weihnachtsmarkt\") are not so much for shopping as for eating and drinking. From midday until the late hours of the night, people gather at Christmas markets to drink mulled wine, punch, and chat to one another and the occasional stranger. Entry to all of these markets is free. While Vienna can be a delightful place to visit during the Christmas season, on December 25 and 26 the city is largely shut down.\n\n - Rathaus\n\n - Spittelberg\n\n - Maria-Theresien-Platz\n\n - Schönbrunn\n\n - Belvedere\n\n **Resselpark/Karlsplatz** - A small, alternative and more rambunctious Christmas market in front of Karlskirche.\n - Freyung\n\nFurther afield a famous and overly bustling Christmas market may be found at Grafenegg castle. Entry is €7, children under the age of 12 are free.\n\n### Charity sales\n\nCharity auctions are common in Vienna. Some stores give their proceeds to social programmes (often second-hand store back-to-work programs similar to Goodwill, or other charity shops).\n\n### Groceries\n\nViennese **supermarkets** are not very large, especially compared with the hypermarkets covering the rest of Central Europe. However, there is practically one on every corner. They are open generally M-F 07:00-19:00, Sa 07:90-18:00, later on Sunday and on public holidays, few stores are open: three in train stations (in Westbahnhof to 23:00, in Praterstern and Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to 21:00), three at the airport (to 23:09) and one at the General Hospital (Allgemeines Krankenhaus, AKH). **Hofer**, **Penny**, and **Lidl** strive to be discount stores, whereas **Billa** and **Spar** as well as the larger **Merkur** tout selection and quality. There is not a major difference in prices. Most regular stores have a deli where the clerks make sandwiches for the cost of the ingredients you select. Although many products are Austrian none of the chains are actually Austrian-owned. If you want to support the local economy more you can do so by frequenting independent shops or visiting actual markets.\n\n**Upscale grocers** are not common in Vienna.", "word_count": 509}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk040", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|right|''Schnitzel'', a true Viennese mainstay\n\nViennese restaurant **menus** offer a bewildering variety of terms for dishes, most of which the visitor will never have heard of and many of which aren't in the brief lists of menu terms included in phrase books. However restaurants that have any foreign patrons at all usually have an English menu, though you may have to ask for it: the phrase \"English menu\" usually will be understood even by wait staff who don't speak English. A small bilingual dictionary will be useful for trying to decipher menu listings: at least it will enable you usually to determine what sort of food (chicken, beef, potato, etc.) is concerned, even if you can't tell how it's prepared. Not only savoury but also sweet main dishes are common in Austria.\n\nClassic Viennese dishes to try are the famous **Wiener schnitzel**, a thin veal cutlet lightly breaded and fried, and the perhaps less well known **Tafelspitz**, where a beef roast is simmered in a broth with root vegetables and herbs. Schnitzel made from pork (\"vom schwein\", also called \"schnitzel Wiener art\") is also popular. By law, restaurant menus are supposed to clarify if anything sold as \"Wiener schnitzel\" is made from something other than veal. As is common in much of eastern and central Europe, **mushrooms** are very popular, and when they're in season, you'll find a plethora of varieties on restaurant menus and for sale in markets, often for surprisingly low prices, at least if you're from North America. Chanterelles for €10/kg, anyone?", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk041", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Eat", "text": "Viennese restaurant **portions** tend to be large. Many restaurants now include vegetarian options. Most restaurants have daily specials listed on a chalk board or sometimes on a printed insert in the regular menu. These are usually the best bet, though they may not be on the English menu, so you may have to ask to have them explained or try to translate them yourself.\n\n**Bread** in Viennese restaurants is usually charged as an extra; if there is a basket of it on the table, you'll usually be charged by the piece only if you take some.\n\nHotel **breakfasts** vary, but typically consist mainly of a buffet with a variety of rolls, cold cuts, and cheese. Fruit, yogurt, muesli, and often other types of cold cereal are also typically available. Many places will cook some eggs if you ask, or sometimes, especially for guests that are American or British, will offer to do so, but that's mainly seen as something for foreigners, cooked breakfasts not being typically Viennese, and you're unlikely to find any cooked food besides eggs on offer. Still, while the overall style may be \"continental,\" Viennese breakfasts are often considerably more substantial than many other parts of Europe.\n\nVienna being a fairly cosmopolitan city, there is a wide variety of international cuisine available. Italian, Greek, and Japanese food are particularly popular, although any international food you can name is represented.", "word_count": 232}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk042", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Tipping customs** are similar to those in Europe and America though tips are slightly smaller; ten percent is usually sufficient in restaurants. Traditionally the way to tip a waiter is to mention the amount of the bill plus tip when you pay; for instance, if the bill is €15.50 you could give the waiter a €20 note and say \"siebzehn (seventeen),\" meaning he is to take out €15.50 for the bill, €1.50 for the tip, and so give you only €3 change. In this situation English numbers will usually be understood. Sometimes in less formal restaurants you can alternatively drop the tip into the money pouch the waiter usually carries.\n\n**Credit cards** aren't quite as commonly used in restaurants in Vienna as in Northern European countries, so ask if it's important to know beforehand.\n\nDon't expect \"service with a smile\" at a Viennese restaurant or cafe. While some servers are friendlier than others, most practice a level of reserved formality that can strike foreigners from more outgoing cultures as austere or even rude. It isn't intended that way, it's mainly a cultural expectation that service should be unobtrusive. So don't be offended if a server doesn't volunteer to discuss the specials or if they don't come to check on you while you're eating - the general expectation is if you want something, you'll get their attention and ask for it, otherwise they should leave you alone.\n\nthumbnail|right|Viennese food offerings go far beyond ''Wienerschnitzel'' - here is a selection of seafood sandwiches\n\n### Street food", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk043", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Eat", "text": "The traditional Viennese fast food is **sausage** in all shapes and sizes. You can buy hot sausages and hot dogs at snack bars called \"Würstlstand\" all over the town. The famous Wiener Würstel is known as \"Frankfurter\" in Vienna, but many inhabitants prefer Bosna (with onions and curry), Burenwurst, and Käsekrainer or \"Eitrige\" (with melted cheese inside). A würstlstand will typically give a choice of sausages served as a \"hot dog\" (not a North American hot dog, it just means any kind of sausage served in a bun) or \"mit Brot\" (\"with bread,\" i.e. cut into bite size chunks and served with a small disposable fork, with a roll on the side). You typically get a choice of mustard or ketchup and (rarely) other condiments, which the server will put on for you.\n\n**Roast chestnuts** (\"Maroni\") are a common snack during the colder months, and are sold from street stalls all over the city, especially near train and U-Bahn stations, and at Christmas markets.\n\nIn addition to this, the **local snack culture** also includes more ex-Yugoslavian and Turkish varieties of fast food, such as the Döner Kebap, sandwiches of Greek and Turkish origin with roasted meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and yogurt and/or hot sauce. Places that sell kebap often sell takeaway slices of pizza too. Good **kebaps** can be bought at the Naschmarkt. The lower end of the Naschmarkt (further away from Karlsplatz or city centre) is cheaper than the upper end (closer to Karlsplatz), and the right lane (facing away from the city centre) is reserved for mostly sit-down eateries. Another good place to find snacks (especially while going out) is Schwedenplatz.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk044", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Eat", "text": "By far the cheapest way to get a fast food meal in Austria (and probably the only meal available for just over €1) is buying an Austrian sandwich (sliced brown bread + ham/cheese + gherkin) from a supermarket. Supermarkets with a deli counter (Feinkostabteilung) will prepare sandwiches to take away at no extra charge. You only pay for the ingredients. There is usually a large selection of meat products, cheese, and bread rolls available here, too. You point at the combination you want, can also mention the max total you can pay, and then pay at the cash register. One of the favorites is the \"Leberkäsesemmel\", which is lightly spiced, very finely ground meat baked in a pan, sliced, and served on a roll. If you know a bit of German, you'll note that \"Leberkäse\" literally translates to \"liver cheese,\" but it contains no cheese and the Viennese version contains no liver. Freshness and quality at the grocery stores are normally better than at a sandwich stand on the street.\n\nAnother great way to eat on a budget is at one of Vienna's hundreds of bakeries. They sell anything from cinnamon rolls to pizza for a good price. It's also a great breakfast-on-the-run alternative because they also have coffee/espresso to go. However, most places do have a couple of tables and chairs where you can enjoy your food.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk045", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "### Cafés\n\nthumb|Café Central\nVienna's *Kaffeehäuser* (coffee houses) are world famous for their grandness and the lively coffee house culture. Skipping the *Kaffeehauskultur* is missing out a big part of Viennese culture. You should at least visit one of the countless traditional baroque 19th- or funky 20th-century coffee houses where you can sit down, relax, and enjoy refreshments.\n\nMost cafés also serve beer, wine and liqueurs. Many serve meals, especially at lunch, and these are often cheaper than in restaurants. Most have a fine selection of *Torten* (tortes or cakes), some offer other baked goods. In general some are more restaurant-like, some more café-like and some more bar-like.\n\n#### Coffee\n\nCoffee is obviously an important part of the coffeehouse culture. Vienna was not only the center of the Austrian Empire but also the center of a much larger coffee empire, and the local roasts were sold across Europe. Today many people are still familiar with the term *Vienna roast*.", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk046", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "Vienna prides itself in its dozens of varieties of different coffees, although the Italian style and names are better known by many youth than the Viennese, the cafés are keeping the traditions alive. Most commonly:\n**Kleiner Schwarzer** also known simply as a **Schwarzer** or as a **Mokka** is the Viennese version of espresso. It is made with a tick more water, a Viennese roast (the point between origin and roast flavor) and it is pulled slowly allowing it to oxidize.\n**Großer Schwarzer** is a double Schwarzer (similar to a double espresso).\n**Kleiner Brauner** is a mokka (espresso) with cream, often on the side.\n**Großer Brauner** is a double Mokka with cream.\n**Melange** is perhaps the most typical Viennese coffee. Similar to cappuccino but with the Viennese style mokka and more foamy milk in equal parts.\n**Verlängerter** is mokka (espresso) with extra hot water, similar to a small Americano.\n**Kapuziner** is a mokka (espresso) with a dollop of whipped cream on top.\n**Kaffee Verkehrt** (or in the more modern places **Kaffee Latte**) is the local version of a latte.\n\nthumb|Vienna Café newspapers\nAlso consider specialties like the *Kaisermelange* (coffee, milk, egg yolk and cognac) on the menu. Most cafés have a house specialty (for instance, \"Kaffee Central\" at Café Central). Many coffee houses have a huge selection of international newspapers.\n\n#### Coffee houses\n\n**Finding a café** is not hard in Vienna; Finding a particular café you are looking for is another story. Most of the baroque \"top\" coffee houses are on the Ring and main streets of the Innere Stadt, mostly cozier and often less formal 1970s or 80s modern-style coffee houses are hidden away on the Innere Stadt's backstreets, and distributed across the rest of the city (4th district, 7th district, 8th district, Outer West districts, ..).", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk047", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|right|The original ''Sachertorte'' at Cafe Sacher (see [[\n\n##### Chains\n\n- Oberlaa\n\n- Aida\n\n### Water\n\nRather unusually it is necessary to say some words about Vienna's drinking water.\n\nThe majority of Vienna's water comes from the three \"Hochquellwasserleitungen.\" Meaning \"high-(as in mountain) spring waterlines (as in aqueducts). Indeed the city's water flows through aqueducts from the mountains around 100 km south of Vienna (Schneeberg and Hochschwab). These were built during the reign of Emperor Franz Josef and supply Vienna with unchlorinated high-quality drinking water, with a considerably higher quality than many bottled waters.\n\nSo if you visit this city, it is not necessary to buy water. You can simply drink tap water here unless you prefer sparkling water.\n\nAnother speciality is that at typical coffeehouses a coffee is often accompanied by a glass of cold clear water. In most restaurants, you can get a glass of drinking water for free with any order, just specify tap water (\"Leitungswasser\").\n\n### Wine", "word_count": 161}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk048", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "New wine is usually enjoyed at a *Heurigen* (family-run vineyard bars allowed to the new vintage). Austria in general, but especially the area around Vienna, produces quite a large amount of wine each year. There are even many vineyards within the city in Döbling (19th District). The wine is not often exported and white is more common than red. Grüner Veltliner is a common tart and fresh white wine served almost everywhere. Officially the new wine season begins on November 11 (St Martin's Day), but as early as September, some partially-fermented new wine (called *Sturm* which is cloudy, because it has not been strained) is available around town at stands and in 2L green bottles (try the **Naschmarkt** – sometimes the vendors will have samples of this drink, which at about 4% alcohol is less strong than wine). Taverns can call themselves Heurigens whether the wine they serve is their own or not – for genuine in-house product look for a *Buschenschank*. This is a particularly Viennese Heuriger which can only be open 300 days per year or until their supply of house-made wine runs out. Heurigen can be found e.g. in Grinzing, Sievering (19th district) and Mauer & Rodaun (23rd district) areas, but also in almost every suburban area in Vienna. Even in the center, there are some *Stadtheurigen*. While the Heurigen of Grinzing are bigger and more famous with tourists, they are often a rip-off. If any of the year’s vintage lasts until next year, it officially becomes *Alte* (old) wine on the next Saint Martin's Day.\nThe Heurigen in the South of Vienna or in Perchtoldsdorf are much cheaper and serve the same quality as the Heurigen in Grinzing. Also in the Northern suburbs, you can find cheap and somewhat authentic Heurigen. Try the areas of Stammersdorf or Hagenbrunn, for example Karl Matzka, hard to reach by public transport.", "word_count": 312}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk049", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "After a long day, the perfect place to relax among Viennese are the Heurigen in the suburbs. Somewhat akin to a beer garden, except with wine, these tiny treasures are the only places authorized to serve new wine. New wine is made from the first pressing of the grape and can appear a little cloudy. Be careful, it's stronger than you might think! This is why it's served in very small glasses, 0.25L and up. Some Heurigen serve food, either elaborate Viennese specialties or very simple bread and cheese platters. No matter which one you choose, you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. Just hop on a convenient outbound tram line, take it to the very last stop, and look for buildings with large, evergreen foliage hung over the doors. Each one is unique, but all are a good bargain. Locals invariably have a favorite: ask around.\n\n**Glühwein** is hot, sweetened red wine with cinnamon and cloves, served from stalls at Christmas markets. Some markets have a peculiar system where you'll be asked for a deposit on the mug the wine is served in, and when you're finished, you can return it to any glühwein vendor at that market to get your deposit back - payments are worked out among themselves through some mysterious process.\n\n### Wine bars\n\n- Wein & Co\n\n### Bars and beerhouses\n\nthumb|right|Beer garden\n\n#### Microbreweries\n\n*See Vienna microbreweries*.\n\n### Nightlife\n\nDespite Vienna's stuck-up reputation don't be led to believe it is a quiet city. There are diverse cafés, bars, clubs, parties and festivals as well as thriving nocturnal scenes.\n\n#### Cafés and bars", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk050", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "The café scene often continues into the early hours, during the week and on weekends. Additionally there are many traditional neighborhood bars some which also have Viennese food. Most popular though, are bars (some with a nominal cover fee) with a DJ and small dance floor. These are quite comfortable and there are plenty to meet anyone's musical taste, many are open all night.\n\n#### Mainstream\n\nAlthough \"mainstream\" is hardly a majority of people in Vienna it is still referred to as such. Even here there is quite a bit of variance between places the conservative working class goes out and the conservative upper class tends to go.\n\n**Gürtel at Nussdorfer Straße** (U6) has a few mid-size cheap clubs like **Loco** and **Ride Club** around. They all have very cheap booze and cover if you arrive early.\n\n#### Alternative\n\n#### Queer\n\nAlthough gay nightlife in Vienna is not concentrated in one area, it's blossoming. It can be difficult to keep up with what's on offer, but luckily Vienna is fairly accepting and you can go out and meet other gay people in most venues. Austria is, however, a very conservative Catholic country, and during the day gay and lesbian couples might get some stares - especially from older people - but at night a younger, less conservative crowd heads out.\n\n- Why Not", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk051", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Heavan** every Saturday at the Camera Club (Neubaugasse U3) is a mostly younger crowd.\n **Meat Market** happens regularly at both the Pratersauna and on the Badeschiff (see above). It is more alternative and it's the hot major queer party in Vienna these days. The same people put on **Dem Schönen Frönen** which is similar but with a focus on minimal, instead of alternative music.\n **HOMO** is the other mainstream alternative gay party that happens every now and again, sometimes in Heavan @ Camera Club (see above).\n - Rosa Lilla Villa\n\n**Gumpendorfer Straße** in the 6th District has several very gay-friendly bars to meet most any taste, there is one every block or so.\n\n#### Indulgent\n\n**Brothels** are legal in Vienna, as is street prostitution. There are male and female prostitutes, many from Austria's neighboring countries (few from Austria), but also from Africa, Latin America and Asia offering their services. Brothels differ greatly from small to the point one-room operations to hokey grand parlors. There is no true red-light district, but there are many 'bars' located on the 'Gürtel' as well as in the 2nd District, but they can be found everywhere. Street prostitution areas exist but should be avoided due to the lack of regulation and high number of trafficked and unregistered workers. There are plenty of go-go clubs as well, though, that are not brothels. Some of these have male and female dancers dancing together and are frequented by men and women together.\n\nthumbnail|Viennese hotels provide an endless supply of \"revival\" furniture, wood panelling, gilded chandeliers and patterned carpeting", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk052", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Vienna is a major tourist hotspot and offers a complete range of accommodation options. Prices are relatively higher than in neighboring countries, or even in the rest of Austria. Many of the Viennese hotels, hostels and pensions, especially its centre, are housed in historic buildings dating from before the Second World War, most from the 19th-century *Gründerzeit*. This means that many of them offer relatively small rooms with sometimes compromised views, and rooms within the same property can vary widely, even at the same price.\n\nYou will probably find that Viennese hotels usually offer very traditional decor, bathrooms with bathtubs and, again, relatively space-limited quarters. There are very few \"modern design\" hotels, and those looking for American-style over 30m² rooms should do good research before booking and make sure their booked room matches the expectations. On balance, breakfasts in Vienna are usually relatively good, with a good variety of products, even at the less pricey establishments. Moreover, you can count on many local cafes to offer you breakfast should your booking not include one. A typical Viennese hotel breakfast is buffet-style and fairly substantial, and consists of bread and rolls (usually very good quality), a variety of cold cuts, and fruit, as well as muesli and other cold cereals, and juice and coffee.\n\nthumb|''Le Loft'' at the Sofitel is one of the few hotel restaurants with a view over Vienna - and an otherworldly ambiance afforded by its painted and lit ceiling\nIn **choosing an accommodation** it is important to know which part of the city you want to spend time in. Most accommodations claim to be centrally located, which for the Viennese would mean they should be in or next to the 1st District, few actually are. Many are even outside the core districts 2-9. Still, from the ones located within a 5-minute walk of an underground or at least a rail or tram station, you should be able to get to the center within 20 minutes or less on public transportation.\n\n**Smoking** rooms are relatively common. **Non-smoking** rooms are in limited supply, and hotels with non-smoking floors are less common. Sensitive non-smokers may be bothered that public areas of the hotel, including the hallways, are often heavy with tobacco smoke.\n\nDuring summer there can be several days where the temperature is over 30°C. There are very few hotels that have air conditioning. People who are used to sleeping in a cool environment should seek out hotels that have air conditioning or schedule their trips during those times of the year when the temperature will be cooler.", "word_count": 428}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk053", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of Sep 2025, the entire city and its approach roads have 5G from all three Austrian carriers.\n\nWifi is widely available in public places.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk054", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|right|The Austrian Parliament in Vienna at dusk\nVienna is potentially one of the safest cities in the world for its size. There are no slums or districts you should avoid. In general, you can visit any part of the city at any time of the day without taking many risks — just use your common sense. The Prater (fair grounds/amusement park area) is said by some locals to be less safe at night, though more in reference to pickpockets than anything else. The Praterstern railway station is a magnet for drunks, homeless people and drug addicts, but they generally do not bother passers-by. As a general rule of thumb, it's best to avoid train stations, parks (especially Reumannplatz) and some larger subway stations at night, but even then, nothing bad should happen to you.\n\nAs in any major city, watch out for **pickpockets** who grab and run when boarding the U-Bahn. Petty crimes (like jackets 'going missing') are more common and normally go unreported and won't get much sympathy. There have been a very few **racist assaults** in Vienna (even some by the police themselves). One runs the risk of being pickpocketed. Schwedenplatz, along the Ring, is sleazy in the evenings, but basically harmless; the Stadtpark, along the Ring, to the East, is a bit deserted at night and therefore best avoided.", "word_count": 222}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk055", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Prostitution** is legal, even on the street, and is common around the area of the Prater. Ironically, some of the areas are a stone's thrown from the UNODC Headquarters (the UN agency responsible for combating human trafficking) and are human trafficking hubs for all of Europe. Many of these prostitutes are not registered and a high number are known to be trafficked, so take care if seeking their services. It is safer for everyone involved to visit a brothel. Women dressed in a certain manner walking around these areas alone at night might feel uncomfortable being checked-out in a certain way but there is no real danger. (There is no male street-prostitution to speak of in Vienna.)\nthumbnail|right|Vienna has it all - and more! Even a musical toilet in the passage under the Opera (singing during usage not compulsory)", "word_count": 139}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk056", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There have been some reports of **fraud** around Karlsplatz and the Ring. The usual scenario is that someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other guys show up claiming to be police, showing a badge (must be fake). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other guy and then will ask for your passport and wallet for verification. When you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet. Best to tell them that you want to go to the police station — there is one at Karlsplatz U-Bahnstation. It's a minor annoyance, but it's better to be careful. In a different case of fraud they try to convince you that your money is counterfeit money and that they have to inspect it. As always use common sense: police are taught to approach you in a very distinctive way (you will notice if they do so), the badge must have *Polizei* ([ˌpɔlɪˈʦaɪ̯] police) and the Austrian coat of arms and/or the Austrian flag located somewhere on it, and they will be willing to bring you to the police station or a properly uniformed officer.\n\nViennese police officers are virtually always honest and polite, and will do their best to assist you if you need them, although many of them, mostly older officers, have limited to non-existent English skills. If you need to report a serious crime and don't speak German, they will usually manage to round up an English-speaking officer.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk057", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Do not walk on the **bike lanes** and cross them like you would cross any other road. Some bike lanes are hard to recognize (e.g. on the \"Ring\" in Vienna) and some cyclists bike rather fast. Walking on bike lines is not only considered impolite but it is illegal and you run the danger of getting hit.\n\nPay attention to the **tram tracks** in Vienna. Unlike other cities, Viennese trams move **very** **fast** and can easily kill you if they hit you. The modern Viennese trams are hard to hear as well. If you encounter tram tracks and you must cross the road, make sure to look both ways before crossing. If you park near tram tracks and you have to get off on the same side as the street, make sure to look both ways as well.", "word_count": 138}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk058", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you see people **gambling** on the streets (usually in popular tourists' destinations like Stephansplatz or Mariahilfer Straße), stay away! The modus operandi usually involves a guy playing the classic game of \"hiding the ball\". This involves covering the ball (or small trinket) with either a bottle cap or a match box and swirling it around with two other bottle caps asking people to guess the position of the ball. The game is set in a way that you can easily see the ball's position. This is done to lure the unsuspecting person into placing a wager. There are usually two main players and, between them, they will lose and win money back and forth to give the appearance that it is a fair game - do not be tricked! They are from the same gang. Once you get greedy and get lured in, you will surely lose your money! The person in control of the bottle caps will remove the ball from their position through sleight of hand and you will never see your money back. Besides the two or three other players involved, there are usually at least two lookouts - one on each side of 'stage'. Vienna has plenty of legal casinos if you care to try your luck.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk059", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumbnail|right|The French Embassy to Austria in Vienna\nIn crowded areas such as train stations or the city center, it is not uncommon be approached by beggars. Some sell \"Augustin\", a homeless' magazine for critical journalism and social work. If they wear a badge, they are reputable: They received training and are obligated to follow social norms; they do not try to trick you, and can be fun to talk to. However, if they do not have a badge or insist on handing you something (such as a rose or a magazine), dismiss them by walking away and/or shaking your head and saying \"Nein danke\" ([naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə] no thank you). Their typical ruse is to give you something and then demand payment for it. Similarly, it is best to ignore people asking for money for train tickets or the like. They can be obtrusive, but never violent.", "word_count": 146}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk060", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Laundry\n\n - Green & Clean\n\n### Emergency phone numbers\n\n Fire department: 122\n Police: 133\n Ambulance/Rescue: 144\n Mountain rescue: 140\n Medical assistance: 141\n Breakdown- or traffic accident help: 120 (OEAMTC), 123 (ARBOE)\n Lock for lost or stolen creditcards: 05 990 645 00 (PayLife)\n\n### Embassies\n\n Diplomatic missions\n list \n\n - Afghanistan\n\n - Albania\n\n - Algeria\n\n - Argentina\n\n - Armenia\n\n - Australia\n\n - Belarus\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Belize (Consulate)\n\n - Bosnia and Herzegovina\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Canada\n\n - Chile\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cuba\n\n - Cyprus\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Ecuador\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Georgia\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Hungary\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iran\n\n - Iraq\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Kazakhstan\n\n - Kenya\n\n - Democratic People's Republic of Korea\n\n - Republic of Korea\n\n - Kosovo\n\n - Macedonia\n\n - Malaysia\n\n - The Netherlands\n\n - Norway\n\n - Poland\n\n - Romania\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Turkey\n\n - Ukraine\n\n - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland\n\n - United States of America", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk061", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Vienna area\n\nVienna's metropolitan area is large, and its suburban rail takes you to suburbs so large that they are worth a visit in their own right. All of the following places are within the metropolitan area and reachable on an all-zone Vienna travelcard (and yes, this also applies to Sopron).", "word_count": 52}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk062", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Go next", "text": "Krems, a smaller and historic town at the entrance of the Wachau valley about 80 km east of Vienna. Reachable by rail from Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, Wien Spittelau (U4, U6) and Wien Heiligenstadt (U4) with suburban trains to \"Krems/Donau\". There are hourly connections and the travel time is about one hour. Krems is relatively small, so you can walk there or rent a bike.\n Baden bei Wien, is a smaller historic town 25 km south of Vienna. Famous for its bathes and thermal waters. It features many beautiful buildings and parks from the Biedermeier period. There is a direct tram line going from the Vienna Opera to Baden otherwise faster trains are available too.\n St. Pölten, the capital of Lower Austria, hosts many sights. One is the Dom zu St. Pölten, a baroque church which until 1722 served as a Roman basilica cathedral. The St. Pöltner Rathaus (city hall) and the Pottenbrunn Castle (which can only be seen from the outside) are also worth a visit. St. Pölten is accessible by an hourly suburban rail service from Westbahnhof station (*U-Bahn U3*) which takes 80 minutes to St. Pölten (*passengers for Pottenbrunn Castle should get off at Pottenbrunn, one stop before St. Pölten*). Total travel time from the city centre is 100 min.\n Wiener Neustadt also has a lot to offer for tourists: the cathedral, renovated in 1975-1999, the castle and the city museum to name a few. The city is reachable by suburban train from Wien Mitte station on the S-Bahn S6 (via Ebenfurth) and S9 (via Baden) routes, and the travel time is 75-80 min.\n Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland, hosts several large churches as well as the Esterházy castle which offers a wine cellar, gift shop, guided tours, and concerts in the famous Haydnsaal as well as the large garden on the back. There are two suburban rail connections: the direct service Hauptbahnhof - Eisenstadt - Wulkaprodersdorf - (Wiener Neustadt) which takes 67 min to Eisenstadt, and the Deutschkreutz-bound service from Meidling to Wulkaprodersdorf + connecting service on the Hauptbahnhof route (opposite direction, towards Hauptbahnhof) to Eisenstadt, which takes 1 hour from Meidling and is thus slightly faster. However, from the city centre both routes take 80 minutes so you might as well go with the direct service from Hauptbahnhof.\n Sopron, a historic town in Hungary which is also reachable by suburban rail: from Wien Meidling (*U-Bahn U1 to Südtiroler Platz and suburban train to Meidling*) the hourly service to Deutschkreutz takes you to Sopron in 70 min. Total travel time from the city centre is 90 minutes.", "word_count": 428}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk063", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Capitals or other places", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "vienna::chunk064", "doc_id": "vienna", "section": "Go next", "text": "Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria. Its \"Old Town\", with its world famous baroque architecture, is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. There are direct trains from Vienna taking 2½ hours.\n Graz is the second-largest city in Austria. The City of Graz including its historic centre and Schloss Eggenberg is a world heritage site. There are direct trains from Vienna taking 2½ hours.\n Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is 55 km from Vienna and reachable by two suburban rail routes: one runs to Hlavna stanica via eastern Vienna and the other one to Petrzalka via the southeast. The latter takes 57 minutes and the former 71 minutes. Both lines originate at Hauptbahnhof station (*U-Bahn U1 to Hauptbahnhof / Südtiroler Platz or suburban train to Hauptbahnhof*). *However, depending on your point of origin, taking U-Bahn U2 to Stadlau or U3 to Simmering and suburban train from either to Hlavna stanica may be faster than travelling via Hauptbahnhof*. Travel time from the city centre via Hauptbahnhof (to Petrzalka) or Stadlau (to Hlavna stanica) is 75 min. You may also consider making the journey by ferry: The Twin City Liner makes the journey through the Danube. It takes about 75 minutes and costs €20.\n Brno, a city of around 400,000 people in the Czech Republic with close historical links with Vienna, is 1½ hours from Vienna by fast train.\n Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a very well preserved medieval city. The city's historic buildings and narrow, winding streets are testament to its centuries-old role as capital of the historic region of Bohemia.\n Innsbruck, regional capital of Tyrol and largest city in the Alps.\n Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Danube. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural and architectural significance.\n Slovenia, a small but very beautiful country which offers a lot of tourist attractions (2012 European capital of Culture Maribor, charming Ljubljana, Julian Alps, gorges [Tolmin, Vintgar], caves [Postojna], coast [Piran] and amazingly beautiful Bled lake)", "word_count": 355}
diff --git a/corpus/vienna/metadata.json b/corpus/vienna/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8970a27b597c7487e1f8ec8c992c444912f92fd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vienna/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "vienna",
+ "title": "Vienna",
+ "type": "city",
+ "continent": "Europe",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vienna",
+ "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna",
+ "wikidata_id": "Q1741",
+ "coordinates": [
+ 48.2083,
+ 16.3725
+ ],
+ "summary": "Vienna ( vee-EN-ə; German: Wien [viːn] ; Austro-Bavarian: Wean [veɐ̯n]) is the capital, most populous city, and one of the nine states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. Its larger metropolitan area has a population of nearly 2.9 million, representing nearly one-third of the country's population. Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political centre of the country, the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union, and the most populous of the cities on the river Danube.\nThe city lies on the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), the northeasternmost foothills of the Alps, that separate Vienna from the more western parts of Austria, at the transition to the Pannonian Basin. It sits on the Danube, and is traversed by the highly regulated Wienfluss (Vienna River). Vienna is completely surrounded by Lower Austria, and lies around 50 km (31 mi) west of Slovakia and its capital Bratislava, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Hungary, ",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "cycling",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "desert",
+ "wine"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
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@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk000", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Vietnam** (Vietnamese: Việt Nam) is a country in Southeast Asia with great food and a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. Despite the turmoil of the Vietnam War (called the *American War* in Vietnam), Vietnam has emerged from the ashes since the 1990s and is undergoing rapid economic development, driven by its young and industrious population. It remains less developed as a tourist destination than Thailand.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk001", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Cities", "text": "(*Hà Nội*) — Vietnam's capital, a historic city with a wealth of cultural and historical sites\n (*Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh*) — Vietnam's largest and most cosmopolitan city, formerly known as Saigon (*Sài Gòn*) when it was the main commercial center of colonial Vietnam and then capital of South Vietnam\n (*Đà Nẵng*) — The largest city in central Vietnam\n (*Đà Lạt*) — A French colonial hill station in the highlands\n (*Hải Phòng*) — The \"port city\", a major port in north Vietnam\n (*Hội An*) — A well-preserved ancient port, near the ruins of My Son\n (*Huế*) — The former home of Vietnam's emperors\n — A burgeoning beach resort\n — The major city in north-central Vietnam with very nice Cua Lo Beach", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk002", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Con Dao — Islands off the Mekong Delta\n Cu Chi — The site of the Cu Chi Tunnels\n Cuc Phuong National Park — Home to some of Asia's rarest wildlife and the Muong hill people\n The DMZ — The ruins of old American military bases, spectacular mountain scenery and rugged jungles\n Ha Long Bay — Famous for its unearthly scenery\n Ninh Binh — Ha Long Bay-like karst scenery along the river\n Phu Quoc — An island just off the coast of Cambodia, known for its beaches, fish sauce and seafood\n Sa Pa — A region to meet native indigenous people in the hills by the Chinese border\n Phong Nha Caves – A World Heritage cave system in Quang Binh province.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk003", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Vietnam was ruled by an imperial dynasty until 1945, and has been a socialist state under an authoritarian system since reunification in 1976. The country has about 100 million inhabitants and provides a staggering variety of forest landscapes and a complex cultural history.\n\n### History\n\nVietnam's history is one of war, colonization and rebellion. Occupied by China no fewer than four times, the Vietnamese managed to fight off the invaders just as often. Even during the periods in history when Vietnam was independent, it was mostly a tributary state to Imperial China until the French colonization. Vietnam's last emperors were the **Nguyễn Dynasty**, who ruled from their capital at Hue from 1802 to 1945, although France exploited the succession crisis after the death of Tự Đức to *de facto* colonise Vietnam after 1884. Both the Chinese occupation and French colonization have left a lasting impact on Vietnamese culture, with Confucianism forming the basis of Vietnamese social etiquette, and the French influencing Vietnamese cuisine.\n\nAfter a brief Japanese occupation in World War II (see Pacific War), the Communist **Viet Minh** under the leadership of **Hồ Chí Minh** continued the war of independence against the French. The last Emperor Bao Dai abdicated in 1945 with a proclamation of independence following soon after. The majority of French had left by 1945, but in 1946 they returned to continue the fight until their decisive defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The Geneva Conference partitioned the country into two at the 17th parallel, with a communist-led North supported by the Soviet Union, and **Ngô Đình Diệm** establishing a capitalist regime and declaring himself President of the Republic of Vietnam in the South, supported by the United States.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk004", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Shortly after the partition of the country, the Viet Minh government pursued a campaign of land and economic reforms in North Vietnam that saw thousands of landowners and businesspeople killed and their property confiscated by the state. Alongside these reforms, persecution of Catholics and those suspected of being \"too influenced\" by Western culture resulted in the **Operation Passage to Freedom**, in which over a million North Vietnamese fled to the south with assistance from the U.S. and French governments. The resulting migration caused a massive brain drain that resulted in economic stagnation and the North Vietnamese state becoming reliant on the Soviet Union and China for aid throughout the state's existence.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk005", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "While South Vietnam experienced significant economic growth and improvements in standards of living through trade with the capitalist world, it too was plagued by numerous domestic problems, including corruption, nepotism and electoral fraud. Diệm, who was a Roman Catholic, enacted laws that discriminated against the Buddhist majority, which led to the Buddhist monk **Thích Quảng Đức** self-immolating in protest at a busy intersection in Saigon in 1963. U.S. economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew during the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the South Vietnamese government. This escalated into the buildup and dispatch of 549,000 American troops by April 1969 and what became known as the **Vietnam War** in the West (the Vietnamese refer to it as the **American War**). What was supposed to be a quick and decisive action soon degenerated into a quagmire, and U.S. armed forces withdrew following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, on April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank drove into the South's Presidential Palace in Saigon and the war ended. An estimated 3 million Vietnamese and over 57,000 Americans were killed. Vietnam's war against the United States was one of many that they have fought, but it was the most brutal in its history. Most of the nation's population was born after 1975. American tourists will receive a particularly friendly welcome in Vietnam, as many young Vietnamese are admirers of American culture. (See Indochina Wars for more on these conflicts.)\n\nthumb|right|The tank that ended the war, [[Ho Chi Minh City]]", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk006", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "After reunifying the country, the communist government proceeded to root out the remaining capitalist elements in the south. Many business owners were killed while others, known as the boat people, became refugees and attempted to escape to Western countries, resulting in the establishment of Vietnamese communities in many countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada. The ethnic Chinese, long resented by the ethnic Vietnamese for their perceived economic clout, were particularly hard-hit by the purges. Post-reunification Vietnam became a major Soviet ally during the Cold War, and due to the Sino-Soviet split, relations with neighbouring China quickly turned sour, if not bitter. The two countries fought a major war in 1979, and border skirmishes continued until the end of the Cold War.\n\nFollowing the collapse of the state-run economy, the government implemented market-oriented reforms and introduced capitalist elements in 1986 with a policy known as **đổi mới**. This policy has proved highly successful, as it spurred impressive economic growth and infrastructure development. Discriminatory laws against the remaining ethnic Chinese were repealed, and many have used their business acumen to contribute greatly to the revitalisation of the Vietnamese economy, also regaining some of their previous economic dominance in the process. Relations with the United States have thawed considerably, with formal defence ties having been re-established in 2016. Some former refugees or their descendants, most of whom were raised and educated in the West, have returned to Vietnam to take advantage of new economic opportunities. Today, Vietnam is widely considered to be one of the rising stars of Asia with a young population and vibrant economy.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk007", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "The **Socialist Republic of Vietnam** (Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam) is a one-party authoritarian state, with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam as the supreme leader, the president as the head of state and the prime minister as the head of government. The Vietnamese legislature is the unicameral **National Assembly**, from which the prime minister is selected. In practice, the president's position is only ceremonial, with the prime minister wielding the most authority in government.\n\n### Economy\n\nEconomic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult. After the failures of the state-run economy started to become apparent, the country launched a program of ***đổi mới*** (renovation), introducing elements of capitalism. The policy has proved highly successful, with Vietnam recording near 10% growth yearly (except for a brief interruption during the Asian economic crisis of 1997). The economy is much stronger than those of neighboring Cambodia and Laos. Like most Communist countries around the world, there is a fine balance between allowing foreign investors and opening up the market.\n\nThere used to be extreme restrictions on foreigners owning property or attempting to sell. However, a property regulation announced in 2015 allows foreigners to own and lease apartments in Vietnam.\n\nIt is very difficult for them to trade without negotiating 'fees'. Business can be done via local partnerships with all the attendant risks.\n\nPower and services is another issue. There are often rolling blackouts at times when there is not enough electricity. For this reason, many shops have portable generators.\n\nAccording to government estimates, Vietnam saw 12.9 million tourist arrivals in 2017. Just 5% of visitors to Vietnam return for another holiday, compared to Thailand's whopping 50% return rate.\n\n### People", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk008", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Most people in Vietnam are ethnic **Vietnamese** (Kinh), though there are many minority groups who tend to live in the highlands or big cities. The three biggest minorities are the Tay people, Thais and Muong. Others include the Khmers and Hmong. There is a sizable ethnic Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City, most of whom are descended from migrants from Guangdong province and are hence bilingual in Cantonese, Teochew or other Chinese dialects and Vietnamese. The Chams, who live in the southern coastal areas of the country, represent the bulk of Muslims in Vietnam.\n\n**Buddhism**, mostly of the Mahayana school, is the largest religion in Vietnam, with over 80% of Vietnamese people practising it to one degree or another, albeit usually syncretised with Taoism, Confucianism and Vietnamese folk religion. Christianity (mostly Roman Catholicism) is the second largest religion at 11%, followed by the local Cao Dai religion. Islam, Hinduism and local religions also share small followings throughout the southern and central areas.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|The country is famous for its food, and Phở is considered Vietnam's national dish.\n\nDue to its long history as a tributary state of China, as well as several periods of Chinese occupations, Vietnamese culture is strongly influenced by that of southern China, with Confucianism forming the basis of Vietnamese social etiquette. The Vietnamese language also contains many loan words from Chinese, though the two languages are unrelated. Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism continue to have an integral role in Vietnamese religious practices.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk009", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Nevertheless, Vietnamese culture remains distinct from Chinese culture as it has also absorbed cultural elements from neighboring Hindu civilizations such as the Champa and the Khmer empires. The French colonization also left a lasting impact on Vietnamese society, perhaps symbolised best by the Vietnamese fondness for baguettes and coffee. Southern and Central Vietnam, especially along the coast, have a much stronger Western influence, as compared to the North.\n\nThe division of Vietnam during what is locally called the American War has also resulted in cultural differences between northern and southern Vietnam that can be seen today. To this day, northern Vietnamese have a tendency to be more ideological, while southern Vietnamese tend to be more business-minded.\n\nVietnam is known for several traditional arts, with perhaps the most famous being **water puppetry**. In modern times, Vietnam has also jumped on the *cirque nouveau* bandwagon, with AO Show from Ho Chi Minh City perhaps being the best known example. Vietnam is also home to a vibrant pop music scene, with South Korean pop being the biggest influence on modern Vietnamese pop music.\n\nIt is customary to remove your shoes before entering a private home, and often in certain traditional accommodations or temples.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|right|300px|Van Long Nature Reserve in [[Ninh Binh]]\n\nVietnam is large enough to have several distinct climate zones.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk010", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "The south has three somewhat distinct seasons: hot and dry from Mar-Apr; rainy from May-Nov; and cool and dry from Dec-Feb. April is the hottest month, with mid-day temperatures of 33°C (91°F) or more most days. During the rainy season, downpours can happen every afternoon, and occasional street flooding occurs. Temperatures range from stifling hot before a rainstorm to pleasantly cool afterwards. Mosquitoes are most numerous in the rainy season. Dec-Feb is the most pleasant time to visit, with cool evenings down to around 20°C (68°F).\n The north has four distinct seasons, with a comparatively chilly winter (temperatures can dip below 15°C/59°F in Hanoi), a hot and rainy summer and pleasant spring (Mar-Apr) and autumn (Oct-Dec) seasons. However, in the Highlands both extremes are amplified, with occasional snow in the winter and temperatures hitting 40°C (104°F) in the summer.\n In the central regions the Hai Van pass separates two different weather patterns of the north starting in Langco (which is hotter in summer and cooler in winter) from the milder conditions south starting in Da Nang. Northeast monsoon conditions Sep-Feb often have strong winds, large sea swells and rain. This is a miserable and difficult time to travel through Central Vietnam by motorbike. Normally summers are hot and dry.\n\n### Read\n\n*Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam* by Andrew X. Pham (2000).\n *The Quiet American* by Graham Greene (1955). Set in 1950s Saigon. A love triangle with a historical backdrop. 2 film adaptations: 1958 & 2002.\n *The Lover* by Marguerite Duras (1984) (original title: *L'amant*). Film adaptation: 1992 starring Jane March, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.\n\n### Watch", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk011", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Indochine* (French, 1992), with Catherine Deneuve, directed by Régis Wargnier. Set in 1930s French Indochina. A good storyline with some interesting insights on the history and politics of the time. Set around Saigon.\n *Cyclo* (Vietnamese, 1995). Set in Saigon, a dive into the murky violence and poverty of 1990s Saigon.\n\n### Holidays\n\nBy far the largest holiday is **Tết** — the Lunar New Year — which takes place between late January and March. In the period leading up to Tết, the country is abuzz with preparations. Guys on motorbikes rush around delivering potted tangerine trees and flowering bushes, the traditional household decorations. People get a little bit stressed out and the elbows get sharper, especially in big cities, where the usual hectic level of traffic becomes almost homicidal. Then a few days before Tết the pace begins to slow down, as thousands of city residents depart for their ancestral hometowns in the provinces. Finally on the first day of the new year an abrupt transformation occurs: the streets become quiet, almost deserted. Nearly all shops and restaurants close for three days, (the exception being a few that cater especially to foreign visitors; and hotels operate as usual.)", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk012", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "In the major cities, streets are decorated with lights and public festivities are organized which attract many thousands of residents. But for Vietnamese, Tết is mostly a private, family celebration. On the eve of the new year, families gather together and exchange good wishes (from more junior to more senior) and gifts of \"lucky money\" (from more senior to more junior). In the first three days of the year, the daytime hours are devoted to visiting: houses of relatives on the first day, closest friends and important colleagues on the second day, and everyone else on the third day. Many people also visit pagodas. The evening hours are spent drinking and gambling (men) or chatting, playing, singing karaoke, and enjoying traditional snacks and sweets (for women and children.)\n\nVisiting Vietnam during Tết has good points and bad points. On the minus side: modes of transport are jammed just before the holiday as many Vietnamese travel to their home towns; hotels fill up, especially in smaller towns; and your choice of shopping and dining is severely limited in the first days of the new year (with a few places closed for up to two weeks). On the plus side, you can observe the preparations and enjoy the public festivities; pagodas are especially active; no admission is charged to those museums and historical sites that stay open; and the foreigner-oriented travel industry of backpacker buses and resort hotels chugs along as usual. Visitors also stand a chance of being invited to join the festivities, especially if you have some local connections or manage to make some Vietnamese friends during your stay. When visiting during Tết, it's wise to get settled somewhere at least two days before the new year, and don't try to move again until a couple of days after.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk013", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Lesser holidays include 1 May, the traditional socialist labor day, 2 September, Vietnam's national day, King Hung celebration on 10 March of Lunar Calendar, commemorating past kings, and Reunification Day on 30 April, marking the fall of Saigon in 1975. Around those times, trains and planes tend to be sold out, and accommodation at the beach or in Dalat are hard to find. Best to book far in advance.\n\n### See also\n\nVietnamese phrasebook\n Driving in Vietnam\n Trekking in Vietnam\n Vietnam by motorcycle\n Vietnamese cuisine\n\n### Tourist information\n\nVietnam Travel website", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk014", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language of Vietnam is **Vietnamese** (*Tiếng Việt*). Vietnamese is a tonal language that uses a change in pitch to inflect different meanings, and this can make it difficult to master. Travellers may still be surprised to learn that the basic grammar is pretty simple. Verbs are static regardless of the past or future and parts of speech are pretty straightforward. The major difficulties lie in the pronunciation of the various tones and some of the sounds. Vietnamese is an Austroasiatic language that is related to Khmer, though the two languages are not mutually intelligible.\n\nVietnamese consists of 5 main dialects: the northern dialect spoken around Hanoi, the north-central dialect spoken around Vinh, the central dialect spoken around Hue, the south-central dialect spoken around Phu Yen and the southern dialect spoken around Ho Chi Minh City.\n\nWhile the Hanoi dialect is the prestige dialect and widely used in broadcasting, there is no legally-defined standard dialect of Vietnamese. Northerners often think that the southern dialect is for \"hai lúa\" (country folk) and will always recommend that you stick to the northern dialect, but the choice of dialect should depend on where you plan to stay. If you are working in Ho Chi Minh City, the main economic centre of Vietnam, the southern dialect is what you will hear every day. The southern dialect is also more prevalent among Vietnamese communities in the West due to the southern origin of most of the Vietnam War refugees.\n\nVietnamese uses the Latin alphabet (with heavy use of diacritics), and the spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation. However, the pronunciation of the letters is often different from that in English, including some sounds that do not have a direct English equivalent.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk015", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Talk", "text": "Although Chinese characters are no longer used to write Vietnamese, the Vietnamese lexicon continues to be heavily influenced by the Chinese language. Some words are loanwords from Chinese like \"hotel\" (khách sạn), \"children\" (nhi đồng), \"communist party\" (đảng cộng sản); some are formed based on Chinese roots (characters), like \"representative\" (đại diện) or \"bird flu\" (cúm gà). Any knowledge of the Chinese language will make it much easier to learn Vietnamese. Chinese characters are sometimes still used for ceremonial purposes, such as in Buddhist and Taoist temples, but in general most Vietnamese are unable to read them. Vietnamese is also full of French and English loanwords. Nowadays, some English words are used directly in Vietnamese: camera, clip, internet, jeans, PC, sandwich, selfie, radar, show, smartphone, tablet, TV, etc.\n\nAlthough the Vietnamese people appreciate any effort to learn their language, most seldom experience foreign accents. Consequently, learners may find it frustrating that no one can understand what they try to say. Staff in hotels and children tend to have a more tolerant ear for foreign accents and it is not unheard of for children to effectively help translate your badly pronounced Vietnamese into authentic Vietnamese for adults.\n\nHo Chi Minh City is home to a sizeable ethnic Chinese community, many of whom speak Cantonese. The more remote parts of the country are also home to many ethnic minorities who speak various languages belonging to the Mon-Khmer, Tai-Kadai and Austronesian language families.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk016", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Talk", "text": "Most younger Vietnamese learn **English** in school, but proficiency is generally poor. However, most hotel and airline staff will know enough English to communicate. Younger upper and middle class Vietnamese generally have a basic grasp of English. Some road directional signs are bilingual in Vietnamese and English. Vietnamese people are much more adept at using 'Translate' Apps on phones than in neighbouring countries and will readily use these as means of communicating in English as well as other languages.\n\nAs a result of its colonial legacy, **French** is still spoken and taught in the country. Educated senior citizens comprise a significant share of French speakers, but those working in certain fields such as medicine and law may also use French as a working language. Nevertheless, English has supplanted French as the main foreign language among the younger generations, though it is often present in bilingual signage at attractions or businesses if English is not used (or is used alongside English).\n\nRussian is also spoken by some Vietnamese who have studied, worked, or done business in the USSR or Russia.\n\nIn the big cities, some of the big international luxury hotel chains will have staff who can speak other foreign languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean. At the more popular tourist sites, such as Hanoi's Temple of Literature, guides conduct tours in a number of foreign languages, including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean or Japanese.", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk017", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Entry requirements\n\n#### Visa-free entry\n\nAs of 2025, visitors from the following countries, with their passport validity being at least 6 months from the date of entry, do not require a visa and can stay for the following number of days:\n\n14 days: Brunei\n 21 days: Philippines\n 30 days: Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand\n 45 days (valid until 14 March 2028): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.\n 90 days: Chile, Panama\n\nNo specific waiting time is necessary between exit and re-entry on visa-free or visa-based visits to Vietnam. The visa-free period is calculated anew for every entry.\n\nFurther visa-free entries into Vietnam include:\n Any foreigner on a permanent or temporary residence permit.\n Any foreigner travelling in a border economic zone (e.g. Ha Tien) for no more than 15 days, or in a special administrative and economic zone or a coastal economic zone like Phu Quoc island, off of the southwestern coast, for no more than 30 days. In order to boost tourism, the Vietnamese government has made these changes for Phu Quoc. Phu Quoc International Airport () receives some direct flights from European airports such as Stockholm-Arlanda operated by Thomson, and flights from destinations in Asia. Also, those flying through Ho Chi Minh City (transit) or arriving by boat will not need to apply for a visa beforehand. Those wishing to travel elsewhere afterwards can apply for a proper Vietnamese visa at the local immigration office.\n Any foreign citizen of Vietnamese origin, who can apply for visa exemption that allows multiple entry for 3 months at a time which is valid for the duration of the passport.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk018", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "In all other cases a **visa** in advance is required to visit Vietnam — see below. The previous visa-on-arrival scheme has been terminated.\n\n#### E-Visa\n\nthumb|Cua Tung Beach\nAll visitors from countries and territories that are not visa-free are eligible for an electronic visa (e-Visa), which you apply for through the **official online portal** and print out yourself after approval (twice). You must never violate Article 21 (English) of the Law on foreigners' entry into, exit from, transit through, residence in Vietnam before. It costs US$25 (single-entry) or US$50 (multiple-entry), and is valid up to 90 days, depending on your nationality and type of visa as well. The E-Visa is normally processed in 3 working days after application fee has been paid. In case of the application to be further verified by Vietnam Police Department (The Ministry of Public Security), the process time is between 3 and 15 working days. There are some agencies that can get you a visa within a few hours, but this is usually highly expensive, costing hundreds of USD ad minimum.\n\nDon't forget to pay, which is a separate step after confirming your application, otherwise your visa application will be on hold! Also, the automatic email confirmation is not reliable and you have to note down the register code (e-visa application number) after payment, then check the application status online with your application number, email, and birthdate. You must print out *two paper copies* of your visa once it is approved. You will need to submit one copy to the immigration officer when entering the country, and submit the other one to the immigration officer when leaving. You may also need to show it when checking in for your flight.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk019", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "E-Visas are *valid at major airports and seaports, and most but not all land crossings*, e.g. not at the Oyadav–Lệ Thanh crossing between Banlung (Cambodia) and Pleiku (Vietnam). A full list of valid crossings is available on the e-Visa website, though many of them use obscure local names that can be difficult to find on maps.\n\nIn theory, entry and exit from the country should be from the same airport, seaport, or land crossing as stipulated on the e-Visa form, but in reality this is usually not enforced on the way out. However, you *must* enter at the place stipulated on the visa; you may be denied entry if you arrive at the wrong port of entry. You may also be denied entry if there are typos in vital data on your eVisa such as your name or birth date. Be extremely careful with this, as the OCR (Optical character recognition) on the government website is sometimes faulty, and can result in you being issued a visa with the wrong spelling on it. Double check everything before submission.\n\nMultiple entries and extended duration are available with additional documents and information required.\n\nVietnamese border officials will not stamp Chinese passports bearing a map that lays claim to disputed areas, and they will stamp on a separate piece of paper instead. Therefore, Chinese passport holders need to first get the separate piece of paper from a dedicated counter (in Hanoi Airport using the visa on arrival counter) with printed out e-visa and a physical portrait photo.\n\n#### Regular visa", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk020", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "Those not eligible for an eVisa can apply for a regular visa at most Vietnamese embassies and consulates abroad. The cost of applying depends on your nationality and the embassy or consulate you are applying at, but it will generally cost at least double the price of the eVisa. Check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or the country you are in, for details. Embassies are (oddly) reluctant to announce fees on their websites, as the relatively high visa costs are a tourism deterrent, but nevertheless a source of revenue. Email or, even better, call them to get up-to-date information on prices. Or if you are in the same city, walk in and ask in person.\n\nA regular visa may be required for people eligible for e-Visa, in case you want to enter at a remote border crossing that isn't included in the e-Visa system.\n\nIf your country does not have a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, a popular alternative would be to apply at the Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Bangkok, Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh. As of 2019, one of the reportedly cheapest places to get a visa are the Vietnamese embassy and consulates in Cambodia, starting at US$40 for a one-month, single entry visa. You may be able to apply for a visa and get it back later the same day; for example, at the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh. Make sure to inquire about the details, since if you don't complete the application before a certain time of day, you will need to wait until the next day to pick up the visa and your passport.\n\n#### Dual citizens", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk021", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you are a citizen of two foreign countries, you may be entering Vietnam on a different passport (Country A) than the one you have used to leave the previous country on your itinerary (Country B's passport) (e.g. because Country A's passport has a Vietnamese visa or offers a visa-free entry to Vietnam, while Country B's passport has a visa for the previous visited country). In this case, the Vietnamese immigration inspector will likely want to see the exit stamp and/or visa in your Country B passport as well. He may suggest putting the Vietnamese entry stamp into Country B passport as well, so that all your stamps would be in one place. *Don't* take him up on his offer; make sure that the Vietnamese entry stamp goes into the passport that either has the Vietnamese visa, or offers visa-free entry to Vietnam. Otherwise, you risk having problems when leaving Vietnam; the border control officers at your attempted exit point may declare your entry stamp \"invalid\" and send you back to your original point of entry to have the error corrected.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Temple ruins at My Son.\nVietnam's main international airports are located at **Hanoi** () and **Ho Chi Minh City** (). Both airports are served by numerous flights from major cities in East Asia and Southeast Asia, with some intercontinental services to Australia, Europe and the United States.\n\nInternational airports at **Da Nang**, **Vinh**, **Nha Trang** and **Phu Quoc** receive flights from neighboring Asian countries. As Da Nang is closer to the historical sites of Central Vietnam than the two main airports, it can make a convenient entry point for those who wish to visit those sites.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk022", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "The national carrier is **Vietnam Airlines**, which operates flights into Vietnam's two largest cities from various cities in Australia, Asia and Europe. Vietnam Airlines serves most capital cities of Southeast Asian countries . The largest low cost carrier is '''Vietjet Air''' which flies to regional destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Singapore and Yangon.\n\n### By train\n\nThere is a nightly sleeper train between Nanning in China and Hanoi, taking 12 hours, including a tedious 2+2 hours at the border — see Hanoi for details. Through service are also available from Beijing, but travellers will need to change railway coaches at Nanning.\n\nThe old metre-gauge Kunming-Hanoi line has closed, and the simplest work-around is to take the high-speed train from Kunming to Nanning to join the overnight train to Hanoi. Another option is to travel to Hekou North Station in China, walk across the border from Hekou to Lao Cai, then take a Vietnamese train from Lao Cai to Hanoi. Both sides have several trains a day, so a daytime train from Kunming to Hekou can be matched with an overnight train from Lao Cai to Hanoi.\n\nThere are no railway links between Vietnam and Laos or Cambodia.\n\n### By road\n\n#### Cambodia", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk023", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Regarding bribes**; this is still a problem as of 2023, however most people encounter no issues when entering Vietnam by land. Certain border crossings, like the *Bavet–Moc Bai crossing* between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, are known for demanding a 100,000–200,000 dong bribe from some people for giving the entry (but also exit) stamp — a claim is that this only applies to e-Visa. If you are one of the unlucky ones, try negotiating it down to 50,000 dong or be bold, put the 50,000 dong into your passport, walk up to the border officer desk in the VIP line, and hand over your passport. Check the reviews of the relevant border checkpoint on Google Maps to understand the situation and how to react. When travelling by bus, most likely the bus company will take care of the border formalities in exchange for a \"service fee\", so as to not get stuck at the border. Any potential bribe will already be included in this service fee.\n\nThe main crossing with Cambodia is the already above mentioned **Bavet–Moc Bai crossing** on the Phnom Penh–Ho Chi Minh City road. Buses between the two cities cost US$22–25 and take around 6–7 hr. Passengers are usually taken to a duty free shop for lunch while staff process them through immigration.\n\nThe **Phnom Den–Tinh Bien crossing** just north of Chau Doc. There is no regular boat service from Chau Doc onward towards Ho Chi Minh City or even other parts of the Mekong Delta, but you have to go by road.\n\nClose to the coast is the **Xa Xia–Prek Chak (Ha Tien) crossing**. The Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville issues 30-day tourist visas on a same-day basis. Buses run between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, and Ha Tien and even Phu Quoc in Vietnam.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk024", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "The **Tro Peang Plong–Xa Mat crossing** on the Kampong Cham–Ho Chi Minh City road is not well served by public transportation.\n\nThe **Oyadav–Lệ Thanh crossing** connects Banlung in North Eastern Cambodia and Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Vietnam e-Visas are *not* accepted for entering Vietnam at this border crossing. So, only visa-free nationalities or people with a traditional visa from an embassy/consulate can enter. The Vietnamese entry checkpoint closes to foreigners at 17:30.\n\n#### China\n\nThere are three border crossings between China and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners:\n Dongxing - Mong Cai (*by road; onward travel Mong Cai to Ha Long by sea or by road*)\n Hekou - Lao Cai (*by road and/or rail, but no international passenger train services*)\n Youyi Guan - Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Pass - *by road and/or rail*)\n\n#### Laos\n\nThere are six border crossings between Laos and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners (from north to south):\n Tay Trang (Dien Bien province, Vietnam) - Sobboun (Phongsali province, Laos)\n Na Mao (Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam) - Namsoi (Houaphanh province, Laos)\n Nam Can (Vietnam) - Namkan (Xiangkhouang province, Laos)\n Kaew Neua - Cau Treo (Keo Nua Pass)\n Lao Bao (Vietnam) - Dansavan (Laos)\n Ngoc Hoi (Kon Tum province, Vietnam) - Bo Y (Attapeu province, Laos)", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk025", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get in", "text": "Be wary of catching local buses from Laos to Vietnam. Not only are they often crammed with cargo (coal and live chickens, often underfoot) but many buses run in the middle of the night, stopping for several hours in order to wait for the border to open at 07:00. Whilst waiting, you will be herded off the bus (for several hours) where you will be approached by pushy locals offering assistance in getting a Laos exit stamp in exchange for money (usually US$5+). If you bargain hard (tiring, at 04:00) you can get the figure down to about US$2. The men will take your passports, which can be disconcerting, but they do provide the service they promise. It is unclear whether you can just wait for the border officials to do this. There is also a VIP bus from Savannakhet.\n\n### By boat\n\nBoats (4–5 hr) from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc run once a day — see Phnom Penh. They use the so called **Song Tien landport** border crossing on the banks of the Mekong River.\n\nThis journey between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City can also be stretched into a 2-nights/3-days **Mekong Delta tour** and provides a more insightful journey between the two cities, starting from about US$60–100. However, the only times on a boat with these tours will be the Phnom Penh–Chau Doc bit, a floating market morning boat tour from any of the overnight towns along the way, and the short Ben Tre–My Tho boat ride — the rest is by bus. For an actual boat tour of the Mekong Delta it will probably require several hundreds if not a thousand US dollars.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk026", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A train in Hanoi, Vietnam\nthumb|The Vietnamese are experts at transporting huge piles of goods on (motor)bikes.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Vietnam North-South Railway Timetable (effective from 26-01-2024 to 26-02-2024)\nTrains are undoubtedly the most comfortable and an exciting way to travel overland in Vietnam.\n\nDue to the steady increase of tourist bus prices, trains are now an inexpensive alternative to buses. While a night in a sleeper carriage is still more expensive than a sleeper bus, seat carriage prices are very competitive.\n\n#### Destinations\n\nThere is one major train line in Vietnam, the trunk between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), on which the **Reunification Express** runs. HCMC to Hanoi is more than 30 hours, and overnight hops between major destinations are usually possible, if not entirely convenient. It is a good way to see the countryside and meet upper-middle class locals, but unless you are travelling in a sleeper car it is no more comfortable than buses.\n\nIn addition, there are shorter routes from Hanoi leading northwest and northeast, with international crossings into China. One of the most popular of the shorter routes is the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (with a bus service from Lao Cai to the tourist destination of Sapa).\n\n#### Seats and carriages\n\nAir conditioned soft or hard sleeper berths are recommended for overnight trains. Otherwise air-conditioned soft seats are sufficiently comfortable to travel in them during the day. If you are sensitive to cigarette smoke try to book a seat closer to the middle of the carriage as people smoke in the areas at the end of the carriages and the doors are often left open.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk027", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "At least in the sleeper carriages, there are hot and cold water dispensers and paper cups — tea or instant coffee may be a great idea. Toilets in the seater carriages can be squatting ones, whereas toilets in the sleeper carriages are regular ones. So, if possible, head to one of the sleeper carriages if the passage is not locked. There is always a sink separate from the toilet with water to wash your hands, but only the sleeper carriages may have soap and a dryer.\n\nWhen buying a ticket, also check the sleeper carriages for availability. During day travel, some sleeper berths are priced almost as cheap as seats, the upper berth sometimes even cheaper. Note that the train personnel in Vietnam seems to enforce the bed selection and people are not sitting together on the lower seat during the day like in India. In the worst case, you will have to stay in sleeping position the whole trip, during the day. However, on the lower berth(s), two friends or on your own, with one or two pillows in your back, is a great way to chill and watch the landscapes fly buy. If the seater carriage is fully booked, be assured, so will be the sleeper soon. So, you will most likely have to stick to the selected berth, even if your side of the cabin was empty when you booked it. (In the 6-berth carriage, for more head space put the middle berth up half way and use the foot rest to keep it in that position.)\n\n#### Tickets", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk028", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "In high season, purchasing as early as possible is a good idea. However, you can simply check the ticket situation online by checking near-future trains (in the next couple of days) to understand how early you need to book.\n\nBooking online is possible through the **official Vietnamese Railways website**, which has an English version and accepts payments by international bank cards. The process is straight forward and works flawlessly — you will receive an e-ticket for download with a QR code in the end. Printing the e-ticket is not necessary if you got the QR code, but most larger railway stations will have a ticket printing machine anyways, just in case.\n\nBeware of the many websites that may look like they are the official Vietnam Railways website and that often appear at the top of Google search results. These websites usually list their fares in US dollars rather than VND, and their prices can easily be twice as high as if booking directly (and much higher than the well-known commercial websites mentioned below).\n\nPrices fluctuate a little, by 5% or so, but booking early except for assuring a seat is not necessary. Prices for holiday periods are generally higher.\n\nThere are commercial websites to book your train ticket with, like **Baolau** or **12go.Asia**. However, if the Vietnamese Railway website is working, there is no real reason to do so. Also, while they will assure you a seat on the train, they might lie about the type of seat, especially if the train is getting full. It happened to tourists in the past that they booked a regular seat but ended up with a sleeper berth, having to lie down the whole journey during daytime. It is best therefore to book directly, which will also ensure you the best price.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk029", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Booking at the train station itself is generally safe, but beware of scams by station staff. Prepare a piece of paper with the destination with date, time, no. of passengers and seat class, and, most importantly, know the price.\n\n(*It is unclear whether the following information is still relevant as of 2023.*) Popular berths and routes are often bought out by tour companies and travel agents well before the departure time. Being told the train is sold out at a station ticket window or popular tour company office does not mean there are no tickets available; they have simply been bought by another reseller. Unsold tickets can often be bought last minute from people hanging around at the station. A train is rarely sold out for real, as the railway company will add cars when demand is high. Commissions on these tickets will drop away as the departure time draws nearer. As of July 2018 tickets (now termed \"boarding passes\") do indicate the class of ticket, making scams with falsely promised seat classes less of an issue, although buying your ticket directly online or from the train station remains the best option.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Public bus (1964)\n**Public buses** travel between the cities' bus stations. In bigger places, you often have to use local transport to get into the city centre from there. Buses are generally in reasonable shape, and you have the chance to interact with locals.\n\nEvery major city will have a centralised bus station, and most of the major companies will have ticket offices at the stations. Bus stations are generally well organised, safe and easy enough to navigate even if you don't speak Vietnamese.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk030", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "As a foreigner, you are likely to get overcharged on local buses, where you pay a conductor during the journey. Find out what the right fare is by looking up the price (it is displayed somewhere, often next to the front door on the outside of the bus; take a photo if you can), or by talking to one of the local travellers. Give the right amount and be prepared to argue your case. Nowadays however, many conductors will issue tickets, making it harder or less interesting for them to overcharge you.\n\n**Long-distance buses** connect most cities in Vietnam. Most depart early in the morning to accommodate traffic and late afternoon rains, or run overnight. Average road speeds are typically quite slow, even when travelling between cities. For example, a 276 km (172 mi) journey from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City by bus will likely take about 8 hours.\n\nSo called **open tour buses** are run by a multitude of tour companies. They cater especially to tourists, including door-to-door service to your desired hostel. You can break the journey at any point and continue on a bus of the same company any time later, or simply buy tickets just for the stage you're willing to cover next. If you are not planning to make more than 3-4 stops, it might be cheaper to buy separate tickets as you go. Buses without the journey break option are just called **deluxe** or **inter-provincial buses**.", "word_count": 245}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk031", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A sleeper bus interior\nThere are **seater buses** available, especially during the day, **sleeper buses**, where instead of a seat, you get an angled-flat bunk bed that you can sleep on, and more expensive **VIP sleeper bus**, in which you get a wider bunk bed, your own cubicle for more privacy, and a personal TV system similar to those in aeroplanes.\n\nMost ho(s)tels and guesthouses can book buses for you. However, they will try to book a more expensive option, because their commission is bigger then. So, you are better off to shop around at travel agents and bus companies directly, as prices will vary considerably on any given ticket or bus company — some buses (even sleeper) are as cheap as a seater railway carriage, e.g. FUTA Bus or Son Tung Bus (Hue and south). Booking with the bus company directly may net you a commission-free fare, but most companies have fixed pricing policies, which can only be circumvented through a travel agent.\n\nIf you are **traveling with a bicycle**, negotiate the extra fee with the driver rather than the ticket counter before buying your ticket. The bicycle fee should be no more than 10% of the ticket price.\n\n#### Cope", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk032", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|A sleeper bus at night\nStop-offs are often at souvenir shops to give the bus company an extra income. You do not have to buy anything, but they always have toilets and drinks and water available for purchase. The estimated time for a bus trip will not be accurate and may be an additional couple of hours sometimes, due to the number of stop offs. Collecting the passengers at the start of the journey can also take quite a while too. Always be at least half an hour early to catch the bus. Try not to drink too much water, as rest stops, especially for overnight buses, may be just somewhere where there are a lot of bushes.\n\nVietnamese buses are made for Vietnamese people; bigger Westerners will be uncomfortable, especially on overnight buses. Also, many Vietnamese are not used to travelling on long-haul buses, and will sometimes get sick — not very pleasant if you are stuck on an overnight bus with several Vietnamese throwing up behind you.\n\nEven if you are sometimes bus-sick, it is advisable to book a seat at the middle rather than at the front of the bus. First, you will avoid viewing directly the short-sighted risks the driver is taking on the way. Second, you will somewhat escape the loud noise of non-stop honking (each time the bus passes another vehicle, that is about every 10 seconds).", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk033", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Although the bus company will usually be happy to collect you at your hotel or guest house, boarding at the company office will guarantee a choice of seats and you will avoid getting stuck at the back or unable to sit next to your travelling companions. The offices are generally located in or near the tourist area of town, and a short walk might make your trip that much more pleasant.\n\nThe long haul bus companies operate from north to south and back on the only main road (QL1). If you take a bus going further than your destination, the bus will drop you off at the most convenient crossroad for it and not as you may have expected at the bus terminal of your destination. For Hué, this crossroad is 13 km from the city centre; for Nha Trang 10 km. At these crossroads, you will find taxis or motorbike taxis to get you to your ho(s)tel.\n\n#### Stay safe\n\nA scam that you may encounter is that after arriving at your location, the guides will ask you whether you have booked a hotel. Even though you haven't, say that you have and prepare the name of a hotel. If you say you have not booked one, they will charter a taxi for you and probably drop you at a hotel which they can collect commission. If you decide not to stay, things may get a little ugly, as they will demand that you pay the taxi fare, which they may quote as several times the actual fare for a ten-minute ride.", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk034", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Be very careful of your possessions on the overnight bus, as people (including bus employees) have been known to look through passenger's bags and take expensive items like electronics and sell them on for profit. Do not fall asleep with your headphones in your ear, as the chances are your phone will be nowhere to be found in the morning. Get a padlock for your hand luggage and lock everything up in there before you go to sleep.\n\n### By plane\n\nFlights are the fastest way to traverse this long country. Flights between Hanoi and HCMC last only about 2 hours and start at €30–40.\n\nThere are many airports connecting with Hanoi and HCMC (north to south).\n\n**Northern Vietnam:**\n Điện Biên Phủ Airport () near Dien Bien Phu\n Van Don International Airport () near Cai Rong\n Cat Bi International Airport () near Hai Phong, including international connections with South Korea and China\n\n**Central Coast:**\n Vinh Airport () near Vinh\n Dong Hoi Airport () near Dong Hoi\n Phu Bai International Airport () near Hue\n Da Nang International Airport () near Da Nang, including international connections with South Korea, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan\n Chu Lai Airport () near Quảng Ngãi\n Phù Cát Airport () near Quy Nhon\n Tuy Hoa Airport ()\n Cam Ranh International Airport () near Nha Trang, including international connections with South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand\n\n**Central Highlands:**\n Pleiku Airport () near Pleiku\n Buon Ma Thuot Airport () near Buon Ma Thuot\n Lien Khuong Airport () near Da Lat, including domestic connections to Da Nang, Vinh and Hue\n\n**Southern Vietnam:**\n Rach Gia Airport () near Rach Gia\n Can Tho International Airport () near Can Tho\n Con Dao Airport () on Con Dao\n Phú Quôc International Airport () on Phú Quôc", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk035", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some airports are further away from the next major city or sight. Make sure to know how to get away from the airport without shedding another 500,000 dong for a taxi.\n\nThe full-service domestic airlines are flag carrier **Vietnam Airlines** operating some shorter flights, as well as privately owned **Bamboo Airways**. The main budget airlines are **Pacific Airlines** and **VietJet Air**.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nAdventurous travellers may wish to see Vietnam by cycling. Several adventure travel tours provide package tours with equipment. Most of the population get around on two wheels, so it's an excellent way to get closer to the people as well as off the beaten path.\n\nBicycles can be rented cheaply in many cities and are often a great way of covering larger distances. Good spots for cycling are Dalat, Hoi An, Hue and Ninh Binh. On the other hand, attempting to cycle in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is virtually suicide without proper experience of traffic rules (or lack thereof, 'proper experience' in this case means understanding that everyone around you could potentially change direction without signalling and at any moment). A general 'rule of thumb' when on a bicycle or motorbike is 'expect the unexpected'. It's like a school of fish traffic situation.\n\nIn cities like HCMC and Hanoi, parking bicycles on pedestrian areas is not allowed and you will have to go to a pay parking lot: 2,000 dong per bike, 5,000 dong for a motorbike.\n\n### By motorbike\n\nthumb|A roadside sign with a Zen message", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk036", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some choose to traverse the entire country this way while most are satisfied with a few local day trips — also see below. If you are not an experienced motorbike rider you should reconsider starting to ride here. Riding in the big cities is not advisable unless you are an experienced rider with a very cool head. Traffic is intense and chaotic; \"right of way\" is a nearly unknown concept.\n\nIn small towns and beach resorts where traffic is light, e.g. Pho Quoc, it's a delightful way to get around and see the sights, and much cheaper than taxis if you make several stops or travel any distance. Roads are usually decent, though it's advisable not to ride too fast and always keep an eye on the road for the occasional pothole.\n\nTwo main categories of motorbike are available for rent: scooters (automatic transmission); and four-speed motorbikes.\n\nMost places you would want to stop have **parking** attendants who will issue you a numbered tag and watch over your bike.\n\nIf you are in Vietnam during the **rainy season**, make sure to buy a poncho or a raincoat before you start. They are available for as little as 10,000 dong. However, the traffic doesn't stop, it just becomes more chaotic. If you are hesitant or have not driven in such conditions before, it might be prudent to park and wait.\n\nBeware of thieves: always keep your motorbike in sight or parked with an attendant. Look for rows of neatly-parked motorbikes or signs that say *giu xe*.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk037", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "It is illegal for foreigners to ride a motorbike in Vietnam without a **temporary Vietnamese motorbike license**, or an **International Driving Permit** (IDP) with a valid home country motorbike license. Nevertheless, many foreigners ride without a valid license. Make sure to check with your travel insurance company to see if you are even covered to ride. Driving a motorbike over 50cc requires a valid license. Most rental scooters are 110cc+, so driving them without a stamped IDP is illegal.\n\n**Crossing the border** into Cambodia with a Vietnamese license plate seems no issue as of Dec 2023.\n\n### By taxi\n\nNowadays, the taxi and **motorbike taxi** market is dominated by the **ride-hailing service ''Grab''** (Android, iOS), which took over Uber's former South-east Asian operations, including that of Vietnam. This means that the price and destination are set upfront and cash is not required; while cash is accepted, the driver may not have enough change should you hand them a large note, so preparing the exact amount is preferred. Depending on the route taken and time, prices will be slightly higher than for a taxi in most cases, but will sometimes be even cheaper. Outside of large cities, Grab arranges taxi rides according to metered rates, which are still paid through the app.\n\nEven if you don't use Grab for booking, the app will help you to get a feeling for the rough price ranges for rides in case you hail a taxi or motorbike taxi directly along the street. **Note** that there are cases where the Grab driver can charge additional money, e.g. in case he used a larger vehicle. Find out about those cases from Vietnamese people or the TOS so not to be surprised when it happens expecting some kind of a scam.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk038", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "As of 2023, **Xanh SM** is pushing persistently into the taxi aka ride-hailing market with its **EV fleet** of cars and motorbikes. According to industry insiders they are supposed to overtake Grab in 2024 on the car side. They often have specials to attract people, so it is a good idea to also download this app (for Android or iOS) and price–compare against Grab, especially for larger distances and prices.\n\n#### By metered taxi\n\nRegular taxis are still operating in places where ride-hailing may not be immediately available, like airports, railway stations, or around hotels. The smaller the taxi the lower the flag fall: so a small compact saloon or equivalent will have a flag fall of 5,000 dong, a mid range saloon 9,000 dong and an SUV 11,000 dong. The flag fall fare is for a shorter distance the smaller the car so the 5,000 dong flag fall takes you 500 m, whilst the 11,000 dong will last for 850 m so on journeys longer than 1 km the size of the vehicle makes no difference (somewhat complicated but after a few rides you will understand how the system works). In the evening these flag falls may rise by 1,000 dong.\n\nFew drivers speak more than a few words of English, so staff at your hotel write down the names of your travel destinations in Vietnamese to show the driver. Another option is to show them the destination in Google Maps on your phone. In that case, most drivers prefer to view the complete route instead of just the destination and may even end up using your phone for navigation. It helps to carry one of your hotel's business cards so you can return to the hotel without too much fuss.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk039", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "In the more touristy destinations such as Sapa and Cat Ba, it is much more difficult to get drivers to use their meters than in the big cities and beach centres. Be prepared to walk away if the driver refuses to use the meter.\n\nBeware of common **taxi scams**, such as drivers refusing to use the meter and quoting ridiculous fares, or rigged meters than jump at ridiculous rates. However, as long as the meter starts automatically after the vehicle has been rolling for a few metres or the driver switches it on manually, you shouldn't be scammed. To minimise your chances of falling for a scam, try to learn to recognise the reputable large taxi companies — see city articles.\n\nCarry small change and notes for paying fares, since drivers often are or pretend to be short on change.\n\nMany drivers have a good command of the geography of their city and the nearest most passengers will come to being scammed is that the driver may select a slightly longer route than is strictly necessary. Keeping Google Maps open during your journey often prevents this issue.\n\n#### By ''xe ôm''", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk040", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Motorbike taxis (*xe ôm*, literally \"hugging vehicle\") are a cheap and reasonable mode of transport for Vietnamese as well as tourists — provided you avoid getting scammed. It's generally not a good idea to grab a random one off the street, as you are much more likely to get scammed as a foreigner. Instead, use one of the before mentioned ride hailing apps if available or use them for negotiating the price, as you are much less likely to get scammed that way. About 10,000 dong should suffice for a 10-minute trip, which should get you anywhere within the city centre. Longer trips to outlying areas should cost about 20,000-30,000 dong.\n\nAll riders are now required to wear helmets, a rule that is strongly enforced. Make sure the driver supplies you with a helmet. If he doesn't, find another one, as you'll be the one stung for the fine.\n\nDrivers rarely speak English. As with most things, a tourist will often be quoted an above-market price initially, and you need to be firm, anything over 10,000 dong is a reason to walk away. Occasionally drivers will demand more than the negotiated price at the end, so it's best to have exact change handy. Then you can pay the agreed amount and walk away, end of discussion.\n\nIn some cases they will take you wherever they want (tourist attractions or shops you didn't request to go) and sometimes they will wait for you to come back (even if you don't want them to wait) and will ask you for more money for having been waiting. Even if you speak some Vietnamese, this is not useful, since they will cheat you anyway or they will act as if they don't understand even if they do. Again, be firm and walk away.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk041", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By cyclo\n\nthumb|Cyclo in [[Hue]]\nNot really an alternative to (motorbike) taxis, but an interesting way to see the city, **cyclo** pedicabs still roam the streets of Vietnam's cities and towns, especially the ones with many tourists. They are especially common in scenic smaller, less busy cities like Hue, where it's pleasant to cruise slowly along taking in the sights. Though the ride will be slow, hot and sometimes dangerous, you will generally need to pay *more* than for a motorbike for the equivalent distance. On the plus side, some drivers (particularly in the South) are very friendly and happy to give you a running commentary on the sights. Cyclos are slowly being supplanted by motorbikes though.\n\nCyclo drivers are notoriously mercenary and will always ask for a high price to start with. Sometimes they will also demand more than the agreed price at the end. Japanese tourists, especially women, are most often targeted with this scam since they are more responsive to the threat that the driver will call the police and make trouble for them if they don't pay as demanded. A reasonable price is about 20,000 dong for up to 2 km (1.2 mi), and if the driver disagrees, simply walk away — you won't get far before that driver or another takes your offer.", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk042", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Prices for a sightseeing circuit with intermediate stops are more complex to negotiate and more subject to conflict at the end. If you plan to stop somewhere for any length of time, it's best to settle up with the driver, make no promises, and start fresh later. Some drivers start with a very low rate to get you into their cycle and then if required to wait for you or otherwise vary the agreed price, bring out a typed up price list of their \"standard rates\" which are inflated beyond belief. If even slightly unsure ask the driver show you his list of charges. Then negotiate from that point or walk away.\n\nTo avoid trouble, it's also best to have exact change for the amount you agreed to pay, so if the driver tries to revise the deal, you can just lay your cash on the seat and leave.\n\n### By boat\n\nthumb|A ferry on the Perfume River.\nthumb|Tomb of Khai Dinh, [[Hue]]\nYou will be missing a big part of Vietnamese life if you do not spend some time on a boat. Do be careful though because many boats, although seaworthy, are not designed to first world standards. An example is the ferry from Phu Quoc to the mainland. This ferry has one tiny entrance for all passengers to board. When full, which it usually is, there are approximately 200 people on board. In the event of an accident, the chance of everyone getting out of the boat fast enough would be very small. The idea of an emergency exit does not exist there.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk043", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Tour boats can be chartered for around US$20 for a day's tour; but beware of safety issues if you charter a boat, make sure the boat is registered for carrying tourists and has enough life jackets and other safety equipment on board. Or you can book a tour through a tour company; but in Vietnam most Tour Agents charge whatever markup they want and therefore the tourist is often paying margins of 30-40% and the boat owner and operator (of anything from a van to a boat etc.) are paid very little of the total amount.\n\nHa Long Bay is a famous destination for one- to three-day boat trips among its scenic limestone islands. The problem is that all the boats seem to visit the same places - and with high prices, poor quality boats and service real value is hard to come by. Many boats have a US$10 corkage fee, and forbid BYO alcohol, while on-board alcohol and seafood is about the same price as in Europe in some places. If there is rain, mist or low cloud, you may not see much. Try to pick a clear day.\n\nDozens of small family-operated boats ply the river in Hue taking visitors to the imperial tombs southwest of the city. This journey is long because the boats are slow, taking about 4 hours or so to make the journey in one direction.\n\nSnorkel, fishing or lunch trips are available from Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Phu Quoc to nearby islands. In Central Vietnam northeast monsoon season limits many sea boat tours during the months Sep-Feb; other parts of Vietnam seem less affected.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk044", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "A 90-minute hydrofoil boat operates from HCMC to the seaside resort of Vung Tau for about 250,000 dong each way, the fastest way to reach the beach from the city.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|A provincial road (Yen Bai Provincial Route 163) in good condition, with a milestone (80 km from [[Yen Bai]] City)\nTraffic moves on the **right** in Vietnam.\n\nThe concept of renting a car to drive yourself is almost non-existent, and when Vietnamese speak of renting a car, they always mean hiring a car with a driver. (After a short time on local roads with their crazy traffic, you will be glad you left the driving to somebody used to it.) Vehicles for rent are widely available. Tourists can hire vehicles through hotels and tour agents found in every tourist area. International car brands have started to surface, offerint chauffeur-driven services. Few drivers speak any English, so make sure you tell the hotel or agent exactly where you want to go, and have that communicated to the driver.\n\n### On foot\n\nTraffic is made up of a staggering number of motorbikes and, since import duty was reduced when Vietnam's joined the World Trade Organization, an increasing number of private cars. However it's exceptionally rare to see a motorbike of more than 150cc, and the traffic rarely gets above 20–30 km/hr in central areas.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk045", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Get around", "text": "When crossing roads stay aware, and walk slowly and confidently. Motorbike riders are exceptionally good and will simply move to avoid you, just don't make any sudden erratic moves. Just look for a gap or seam in the traffic, and begin a slow, but steady movement. If you hear a beep coming your way it's likely a motorbike rider is about to enter your personal space. Be alert and prepared to stop putting your foot forward until he passes.\n\nAlways look both ways — don't assume traffic only comes from one direction. Give oncoming vehicles ample time to see and avoid you. **Never move hastily** between rows of waiting cars, often motorbike drivers will use the space between car rows to drive and they won't see you coming, since the cars block their sight.\n\nAdherence to traffic signals is not guaranteed. Drivers tend to use \"best judgment\". Just remember though that vehicles can always turn right at any time (regardless of lights). Motorbikes often drive in the wrong direction to take a short cut, even against the traffic flow. Crossing roads therefore maybe a challenge for Westerners used to traffic laws and traffic lights.\n\nFor **navigation** make sure to have good (offline) maps and GPS with you. For reliable maps, GPS navigation, comprehensive map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk046", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "See", "text": "Vietnam will show you sides of Asia that you've dreamed of. Lush rice fields at the bottom of stunningly gorgeous highlands, colourful water markets on the streams of the Mekong Delta and the endless bustling city life of Hanoi, where anything from school children to fridges and huge piles of vegetables are transported on the back of countless motorcycles. Although Vietnam's huge cities are rapidly transforming into modern Asian metropolises, traditional culture is never far away.\n\n### Architecture\n\nNumerous ancient buildings remain and are actively maintained in Communist Vietnam, like the old town of Hoi An, but so are the buildings of Communist history, like the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City. Also, the colonial history provides for many architectural delicacies.\n\nFurthermore, - Christianity in Vietnam\n seemed to have played a big role in the presence of the numerous churches that can be found all around the country. Even though just barely 10% of the Vietnamese are Christians, churches can be found in many towns and cities, providing for some interesting and almost surreal pictures when in an often flat landscape suddenly a sometimes Gothic, but often fully white or beige church rises in the middle of the town or from between the lush green background.\n\n### City life", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk047", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Hoi An street life\nHead to **Hoi An** with its **Venice-like canals** and beautiful old town for some top sightseeing. Enjoy the old **port**, wander through its endless winding alleys and take a pick from its countless **fine restaurants** and shops, or relax on the beach. Once a fishermen's village, this town's now well-protected by preservation laws and has turned into a major hot spot for visitors. **Hanoi** is of course the summit of Asian city life. It's an incredible myriad of ancient traditions, old and modern architecture, sounds, smells, bustling commerce and famously crazy traffic. It's chaotic and enchanting at once - a great place to discover both ancient and contemporary Vietnam. Most sights are in the **Old Quarter**, including the famous **Hoan Kiem Lake** and the beautiful **Bach Ma Temple**. Spend a day or two in **Ho Chi Minh City**, or Saigon, the country's largest city. Nowhere are contrasts between old and new more ubiquitous and alive than here, where you'll find ancient pagodas and traditional street life at the feet of giant skyscrapers. Top sights include the **Reunification Palace** and **Giac Lam Pagoda**. Also well worth visiting is the former imperial town of **Hue**, with its beautiful **Citadel** and the **Tombs of the Emperors** along the **Perfume River**. The largest beach city is **Nha Trang** which spreads out along the beach but also has an interesting city-scape.\n\n### Landscapes and nature", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk048", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Typical rice terraces\nFew countries are blessed with landscapes as captivating as those of Vietnam. For many, the country's awe-inspiring limestone scenery, perfect beaches, islands, mountain ranges, rice fields and lakes are its greatest treasures. One of Vietnam's top attractions, **Ha Long Bay**, boasts thousands of limestone pillars and islands topped with dense jungle vegetation. Among the bustling port life, you'll find floating fishermen's villages, caves, and island lakes. Neighboring **Lan Ha Bay** is as spectacular, but less busy. Head to **Sa Pa** and the Muong Hoa valley to get take in the views of local rice fields against a background of bamboo forests. Also in the north is **Tam Coc** near Ninh Binh. This area is famous for its karst scenery, rice fields, and caves and is best explored by hired boat.\n\n**Phu Quoc**, off the Cambodian coast, is the largest island in the country. Its delightful palm-lined beaches and tropical forests can compete with any in the world. Most famous in the south is of course the **Mekong Delta**. Here, the Mekong River empties into the South China Sea via a maze of smaller streams. It's a lush, green region and the source of half of Vietnam's agricultural produce. It offers scenic views of the rivers and rice fields as far as the eye can see. Here, natural landscapes and culture go hand in hand as life revolves around the water. The Mekong streams are a major means of transportation and host **floating markets**.\n\nSome best picks in terms of natural wonders can be found in the country's national parks. **Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park**, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its natural caves and grottos, with underground rivers and cave beaches as well as stunning stalagmites and stalactites. For wildlife, try **Cuc Phuong National Park**.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk049", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "See", "text": "### Museums\n\nFor better insight in Vietnam's ancient traditions, culture and history, visit one of the many museums, some with truly excellent collections. The **War Remnants Museum** in Ho Chi Minh City will leave a lasting impression, particularly the chilling collection of war photography. Although not exactly neutral in tone, there are English labels. The **HCMC Museum** is in a building worth seeing on its own, and gives a nice overview of the city's history. For a broader history collection, try the fine **History Museum**, which has artefacts from several Vietnamese cultures on display. In Hanoi, the **Vietnam Museum of Ethnology** is an excellent place to dive into the life of the country's tribal people. In the centre of town is the **Fine Arts Museum** has all kinds of arts on display, from high-quality wood and stone carvings to fabulous ceramics and textiles. Descriptions in English. For something completely different try the **Robert Taylor Museum of Worldwide Arms** in Vung Tau. This is one mans fascinating collection of arms and uniforms collected from around the world.", "word_count": 176}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk050", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Do", "text": "**Trekking Vietnam** is an ideal way to enjoy and experience beautiful nature of Vietnam, from the yellow farmers' terraces in harvesting season of the north (Sa Pa), to the off-the-beaten-path Central Highlands, or the frenetic activity of the Mekong Delta in the south.\n\n**Chinese chess** (*cờ tướng*) is a popular game in Vietnam, and you will often notice the elderly having games in the public parks. If you know how to play, this can be an opportunity to befriend the locals. A uniquely Vietnamese tradition pertaining to Chinese chess is human chess (*cờ người*), typically played at temple and village festivals during *Tết*. As the name suggests, the pieces are played by humans dressed in traditional Vietnamese costumes, usually with 16 teenage boys on one side and 16 teenage girls on the other, and a choreographed traditional martial arts fight between the two pieces always ensues whenever a piece is captured.\n\n**Retreats, spas, meditation and yoga** are popular in Vietnam, with Hoi An in particular becoming a hub for like-minded individuals.\n\n### Motorbiking\n\nEpitomized in an episode of “Top Gear” riding a motorbike in Vietnam has become a goal for many people visiting the country. While riding in Vietnam can be dangerous, it can also be a life-changing experience. You see things from the seat of a motorbike that you don't see while travelling in different type of vehicle.\n\nMotorbiking is popular with locals and tourists alike. Given that motorbikes are the main mode of transport in Vietnam, they can give a particularly authentic view of travelling through the country. **Renting or buying** a bike is possible in many cities.\n\nMajor roads between cities tend to be narrow despite being major, and full of tour buses hell-bent on speed, passing slow trucks where maybe they shouldn't have tried, and leaving not much room at the edge for motorbikes. But there are many good roads and beautiful sights to be seen with the freedom of your own motorbike.\n\n**Motorbike tours** are the newest addition to the motorbike hype in Vietnam. Three basic concepts exist for that:\n On the most simple \"tour\", your luggage is taken care of and you ride the distance, e.g. Hoi An to Hue by motorbike and visit all the sights on the way. Price-wise this comes up to the same as a bus ride for the same distance, which is why many people choose this interesting alternative.\n On **motorbike adventure tours**, you are guided on multi-day drives to remote regions of the country. Most tours include accommodation, petrol, helmets, drivers and entry tickets to local places of interest. Guides usually speak good English or French and offer customised tours if desired.\n **Motorbike sightseeing tours** are similar but have a more local range specific to one city or area and can focus on food, shopping or sightseeing.", "word_count": 469}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk051", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe national currency is the **dong** (*đồng*), sometimes denoted by the symbol \"**₫**\" (ISO code: **VND**). Prices are usually shown without a currency notation, e.g. as \"100.000\", \"100k\" or \"100K\", and in speech it's common to drop the thousands completely. Wikivoyage articles will use *dong* to denote the currency.\n\nNotes are available in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong. Smaller bills and coins in denominations up to 5,000 dong also exist, but are rarely seen. While they are legal tender, they are difficult to get rid of if you end up with some.\n\n#### ATMs\n\nATMs are common and can be found in most cities and every tourist destination. They will accept a selection of credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus and several other systems. Many ATMs charge a fee per withdrawal, but a few are free. Withdrawal maximums are a problem of the past and withdrawing 5–10 million dong is not an issue anymore. To ensure you get at least some smaller note sizes, withdraw for example 4.9 million instead of 5 million. If you withdraw 5 million, you will likely receive ten 500,000 dong notes.\nthumb|right|A TP Bank ATM\n\nThe ATMs of the following banks have **no withdrawal fee**:\n\n- VP Bank\n\n- TP Bank\n\n- ACB\n\n- HDBank\n\n- EXIMBANK\n\nThe ATMs of the following banks have the listed **fee per withdrawal**:\n\n- Agribank\n\n- ABBank\n\n- ANZ Bank\n\n- BIDV Bank\n\n- DongA Bank\n\n- HSBC\n\n- Techcombank\n\n- VIB\n\n- Vietcombank\n\n- Vietinbank\n\n- Sacombank\n\nCitibank has exited the retail banking market in Vietnam, with all its retail banking assets having been taken over by Singaporean bank UOB.\n\n#### Credit cards", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk052", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "Credit cards are now accepted more and more around the country, especially where there is a lot of tourists present. Credit card purchases are required by law to be charged in dong.\n\nA train ticket is easily payable with a credit card through the official government website for example.\n\n#### Cashless payment\n\nVietnamese seem to love cashless payment, and even the tiniest shop will have a QR code to submit the payment. It is unclear however whether foreigners can use this payment method.\n\nAt least the cashless payment hype is not yet at a stage where you will have problems paying with cash, like in India for instance.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nIf you choose to carry cash, **jewellery shops and gold shops** offer the best rates for all major and hard currencies (EUR, USD, AUD, SGD, GBP, etc.) and least bureaucracy. Weirdly their rates are sometimes even better than the official Interbank rate at XE.com, but generally they are very close and the procedure is straightforward. There is no form filling or passport required. Most don't advertise their service, just ask. This is vaguely illegal, but enforcement is minimal. The best place in many cities in Vietnam to find gold shops that will transact currency exchange is to head for the central food/clothing market. Try to bring the largest denomination banknotes possible (e.g. $100 for U.S. dollars, £50 for pound sterling) in as pristine a condition as possible, as you will usually get a better rate that way.", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk053", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "Unofficial exchange agents like **hotels and travel agencies** often have a considerable markup over the official Interbank exchange rate, and sometimes they have different rates for different services. Also, US$50 and US$100 notes get a higher exchange rate than notes of lower denominations. Official exchange counters however, e.g. at the airport or in the city centre, have quite competitive buy and sell rates with markups as low as 1–2%, depending on the currency. In Hanoi international arrivals hall it used to be so back in 2010s, but as of November 2024, once you exit the customs, numerous exchange offices will aggressively try to grab your attention (while also trying to sell you SIM cards), but their exchange rates are quite poor, 4-6% (1000-1500 dong per dollar) less than the actual one, even lower for small USD notes. An Agribank ATM (22,000 dong fee) located there might well be a lesser evil.\n\nWhen **leaving Vietnam**, on most land borders connecting to Cambodia, China and Laos there are freelance money changers to take care of your financial leftovers, but be assured they will get the better of you if you don't know the going rate. In Hanoi airport, there are no money changers after you clear immigration, so exchange your dong before you enter the departure hall unless you plan to shop.\n\nIt is difficult to find or exchange dong outside Vietnam, with some notable exceptions such as Singapore or Bangkok — if you are not heading to either of those places, you should get rid of any leftovers before leaving the country.\n\n#### Banking", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk054", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Traveller cheques** of well-known companies are accepted, but usually a small fee is charged. Fees might also be the only thing that would keep you from getting **cash advances** on Visa- or MasterCard at most banks. Through both ways you can also get hold of U.S. dollars, though there will be even higher fees. There are mentions in some popular travel books about Vietcombank not charging any commission fees to cash American Express travellers cheques. However, this is no longer true.\n\nThere are branches of **money transfer** companies like Western Union, but this is always one of the more expensive ways to get money. However, it's better for larger amounts. A US$800 transfer costs US$5 from America and the exchange rate is quite good. You may also transfer US dollars to\n\n#### Acceptance of other currency\n\nPrices are sometimes advertised in U.S. dollars, but payment is almost always expected in **dong only**, especially outside major tourist destinations. It is easier to bargain with dong, especially since dollar prices are already rounded. If paying with dollars, bills in less than perfect condition may be rejected. US$2 bills (especially those printed in the 1970s) are considered lucky in Vietnam and are worth more than US$2. They make a good tip/gift, and many Vietnamese will keep them in their wallet for luck.\n\n### Tipping", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk055", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not practised by the Vietnamese themselves and generally not expected, though tips will not be refused if offered. Some establishments which are used to serving Western tourists have come to expect tips, though it is still perfectly acceptable not to tip. In any case, the price quoted to you is often many times what locals will pay, so tipping can be considered unnecessary in most circumstances. To avoid paying an involuntary tip when a taxi driver claims he doesn't have small change always try to carry small denominations.\n\n### Shopping\n\n#### Tax refund\n\nForeign visitors may claim a VAT refund provided they make the purchase at a participating shop, and leave the country through specific ports of exit.\n\n#### Price discrimination\n\nAs you travel about, you will find there are clusters of shops all selling similar goods, such as 20 sewing machine shops together, then 30 hardware shops all together, 200 motorcycle repair shops in the same block. Prices are competitive.\n\nHowever, overcharging has long been an issue in Vietnam tourism, and it is an issue both for foreigners and for Vietnamese people whose accents identify them as being from another region. It can happen anywhere on anything from a hotel room, a ride in a taxi, coffee, a meal, clothing, or basic grocery stuff. Your coffee suddenly becomes 100% more expensive and a restaurant may present you an English menu with inflated prices. A friendly local who spent 30 minutes talking with you may also feel like overcharging you on anything.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk056", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "Vietnamese hold a diverse view on this issue, and the practice also varies somewhat from region to region, but in general it is more common in Vietnam than other neighboring countries to see it socially acceptable to overcharge foreigners. They may argue inflated prices are still cheap and they may blame the cheap cost of living which attracts a lot of backpackers with bare-bone budgets. According to this school of thought, if tourists complain about it, it's because they are stingy. Rich tourists should not have a problem being overcharged.\n\nIn general, in the south, while vendors have no qualms overcharging an ignorant foreigner, they will generally allow you to bargain prices down to the local price if you know what it is and insist on it. On the other hand, vendors in the north tend to hold more strongly onto the belief that foreigners should be overcharged, and they will usually refuse to sell items to you unless you agree to pay the grossly inflated foreigner price.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk057", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "The good news is that standard prices are much more common than in the early 1990s. You will absolutely spoil your trip if you assume that everyone is cheating you. Just try to be smart. In a restaurant, learn some names of common dishes in Vietnamese, insist that you need to read the Vietnamese menu, and compare it. If owners argue that the portion of dishes in the English menu is different, it's definitely a scam so move to another place. Learn some Vietnamese numbers and try to see how much a local pays a vendor. The old bargaining tactic of proposing a price, if you are sure that it is a fair and appropriate price that a local would get, and walking away often does the trick, if you are willing to actually walk away.\n\n#### Supermarkets\n\nShopping in supermarkets is much less common in Vietnam than in Europe and North America, or even in China or Thailand. Most grocery shopping for local still happens in traditional street markets.\n\nNevertheless, there exist supermarkets and convenience stores in most places, and they are constantly becoming more. Foreign companies are pushing into the market, like the Thai supermarket chain Big C, which also sells clothing items and household goods. Other supermarket chains are OK!, WinMart, Circle K, Family Mart, and Bách Hóa XANH — the latter, mostly available in the south and probably the most inexpensive one, popular for its evening fruit, meat and fish specials —, besides many smaller and privately run convenience stores.\n\nTraditional street and covered markets are still thriving though, especially for produces — much as they do in Thailand for example. Supermarkets are generally more expensive when it comes to produces, but can be cheaper for packaged products and beverages.\n\n#### Costs", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk058", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Buy", "text": "Vietnam is cheap by Western standards. A month's stay can be as cheap as €300–350 using basic rooms (100–140,000 dong), local food (100–150,000 dong) and public transportation (50,000 dong).", "word_count": 29}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk059", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|''Gỏi cuốn'' fresh spring rolls, ''cao lầu'' noodles (a specialty of [[Hoi An]]), ''nước mắm'' dipping sauce and local beer\nthumb|''Bánh mì'': French ''baguette'' stuffed with ''pâté'', herbs and pickles\n\nFood is at the very core of Vietnamese culture: every significant holiday on the Vietnamese cultural calendar, all the important milestones in a Vietnamese person's life, and indeed, most of the important day-to-day social events and interactions - food plays a central role in each. Special dishes are prepared and served with great care for every birth, marriage and death, and the anniversaries of ancestors' deaths. More business deals are struck over dinner tables than over boardroom tables, and when friends get together, they eat together. Preparing food and eating together remains the focus of family life.\n\nYelp and Tripadvisor are not widely used by locals in Vietnam, and reviews on those directories are usually posted by tourists. **Foody** is the go-to restaurant rating directory for the Vietnamese, and also functions as a food delivery and restaurant reservation app. While the interface is available in English, the downside is that almost all reviews are in Vietnamese.\n\nVietnamese cuisine varies from region to region, with many regions having their own specialties. Generally, **northern Vietnamese** cuisine is known for being subtle, **central Vietnamese** cuisine is known for being spicy, while **southern Vietnamese** cuisine is known for being sweet. There is also distinctive Vietnamese-Chinese cuisine to be found in Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk060", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "At the same time, the Vietnamese are surprisingly modest about their cuisine. (An old proverb/joke says that \"a fortunate man has a French house, a Japanese wife, and a Chinese chef.\") High-end restaurants tend to serve \"Asian-fusion\" cuisine, with elements of Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and occasionally French mixed in. The most authentic Vietnamese food is found at street side \"restaurants\" (A collection of plastic outdoor furniture placed on the footpath), with most walk-in restaurants being mainly for tourists. Distinct regional styles exist: northern, central, and southern, each with unique dishes. Central style is perhaps the most celebrated, with dishes such as mi quang (wheat noodles with herbs, pork, and shrimp), banh canh cua (crab soup with thick rice noodles) and bun bo Hue (beef soup with herbs and noodles).\n\nMany Vietnamese dishes are flavoured with **fish sauce** (*nước mắm*), which smells and tastes like anchovies (quite salty and fishy) straight from the bottle, but blends into food very well. (Try taking home a bottle of fish sauce, and using it instead of salt in almost any savoury dish: you may be pleasantly surprised with the results.) Fish sauce is also mixed with lime juice, sugar, water, and spices to form a tasty dip/condiment called *nước chấm*, served on the table with most meals. Vegetables, herbs and spices, notably **Vietnamese coriander** or cilantro (*rau mùi* or *rau ngò*), mint (*rau răm*) and basil (*rau húng*), accompany almost every dish and help make Vietnamese food much lighter and more aromatic than the cuisine of its neighboring countries, especially China.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk061", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vietnam's national dish is **phở** (pronounced like the *fu-* in *funny*, but with tone), a broth soup with beef, pork, chicken or seafood and rice noodles (a form of rice linguine or fettuccine). In the south, phở is normally served with plates of fresh herbs (usually including Asian basil), cut limes, hot chilies and scalded bean sprouts which you can add according to your taste, along with chili paste, chili sauce, and sweet soybean sauce, while in the north, it is usually served only with fried *quẩy* fritters and chilli sauce on the side. *Phở bò*, the classic form of phở, is made with beef broth that is often simmered for many hours and may include one or more types of beef (skirt, flank, tripe, etc.). *Phở gà* is the same idea, but with chicken broth and chicken meat, so is *Phở thit lon* with pork, *Phở tom* with shrimp, *Phở ca* with fish, and *Phở chay* with tofu and vegetable stock. Phở is the original Vietnamese fast food, which locals grab for a quick meal. Most phở places specialize in phở and can serve you a bowl as fast as you could get a Big Mac. It's available at any time of the day, but locals eat most often *Phở chay* for breakfast. Famous phở restaurants can be found in Hanoi. The phở served at roadside stalls or informal restaurants tend to be cheaper and taste better than those served in fancier restaurants.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk062", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "Street side eateries in Vietnam typically advertise *phở* and *cơm*. Though *cơm* literally means rice, the sign means the restaurant serves a plate of rice accompanied with fish or meat and vegetables. Cơm is used to indicate eating in general, even when rice is not served (i.e., An cơm chua? - Have you eaten yet) Though they may look sketchy, street side eateries are generally safe so long as you eat at places popular among the locals and avoid undercooked food. Many street food stalls do not display their prices; those outside tourist areas usually charge foreigners honestly, but \nask for the price before you order to be sure.\n\nIn rural and regional areas it is usually safest to eat the locally grown types of food as these are usually bought each day from the market. It is not uncommon that after you have ordered your meal a young child of the family will be seen running out the back towards the nearest market to purchase the items.\n\nMost restaurants/cafes in Vietnam will have a bewildering variety of food available. It is very common for menus to be up to 10-15 pages. These will include all types of Vietnamese food, plus some token Western food, possibly some Chinese-style ribs and maybe a pad Thai as well. It is generally best to stick with the specialty of the area as this food will be the freshest and also the best-prepared. As in other South East Asian countries, the menu is often more an indication of what a restaurant *can* cook and not all items may be available at any given time.", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk063", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "In restaurants it is common practice for the wait staff to place a plastic packet (stamped with the restaurant's name) containing a moist towelette on your table. They are not free. They cost 2,000–4,000 dong. If you open it, you will be charged for it. Also, peanuts or other nuts will be offered to you while you are browsing the menu. Those are not free, either. If you eat any, you will be charged.\n\n**Coffee**, **baguettes**, and **pastries** were introduced by the French colonisers, but they have been localised and remain popular. More on *cà phê* below, but coffee shops that also serve light fare can be found in almost every village and on many street corners in the bigger cities. *Bánh mì* are freshly baked baguettes, most commonly filled with grilled meats or liver or pork pâté plus fresh herbs and vegetables as *bánh mì thịt*, but there are countless variations filled with egg, beef, meatballs, pork skin etc. They are delicious and should be enjoyed at least once during a visit, and can easily be found from the *bánh mì* carts that are ubiquitous on the streets of Vietnam.\n\nVietnamese waters are in danger of collapse from over-fishing. Nevertheless, for the moment if you like **seafood**, you may find bliss in Vietnam. The ultimate seafood experience may be travelling to a seaside village or beach resort area in the south to try the local seafood restaurants that serve shrimp, crab, and locally-caught fish. Follow the locals to a good restaurant. The food will still be swimming when you order it, it will be well-prepared, very affordable by Western standards, and served in friendly surroundings often with spectacular views.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk064", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "Most restaurants' hours are 10:00-22:00, although places serving breakfast-type items like noodles will open and close earlier. In 24-hour restaurants, there will be two prices. Prices are normal from 06:00 to 22:00, then doubled from 22:00 to 06:00. For example, rice usually costs 10,000 dong, but if you order after 22:00, the price will be 20,000 dong. This policy is government-mandated, to discourage people from eating late. Some dishes are not served after 22:00.\n\nCuisines other than Vietnamese, as well as fast foods, are increasingly available in the larger cities in the South and Central regions, less so in the North. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Lao and other Asian restaurants are commonplace and Italian, French, German, Mexican, Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian restaurants can be found in most large cities in the South and Centre, as well as British, Irish an Australian food in bars and pubs. There is usually at least one Indian restaurant in most large towns and cities all over the country, many offering excellent quality food. Increasingly more affluent Vietnamese are sampling the different cuisines now available in their country so the chances of eating in a tourist ghetto are diminishing.\n\n### Dietary restrictions", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk065", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Vegetarian** food is quite easy to find anywhere in Vietnam due in large part to the Mahayana Buddhist influence, and all Vietnamese Buddhist monks are required to be vegetarian. Vietnamese Buddhist vegetarian food also avoids the \"five fetid vegetables\" (onions, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives), as these are believed to have aphrodisiac effects than inhibit one's ability to meditate on the Dharma. Vegetarian eateries range from upscale restaurants to cheap and basic street stalls. Any Vietnamese dish with meat can be made vegetarian with the addition of fake meats. Besides the Buddhist influence of two vegetarian days a month, Cao Dai people eat vegetarian for 16 days. Look for any signs with the word ***chay*** as a suffix, like *cơm chay* for vegetarian rice dishes, *phở chay* for vegetarian pho, or *bánh mì chay* for vegetarian sandwiches. The words *quán chay* and *nhà hàng chay* literally translate as \"vegetarian restaurant\". It is also helpful to remember the phrase \"*ăn chay*\", essentially meaning \"I am a vegetarian\". Even if you are not a vegetarian, a visit to a Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant will add a few new flavours that you won't find elsewhere. Also vegetarian food tends to be cheap which can help eke out the most hardened meat eaters budget. Be careful at regular stalls and restaurants though, as even dishes that seem vegetarian on the surface can sometimes make use of non-vegetarian seasonings such as fish sauce. As Vietnamese food traditionally does not use dairy products, vegetarian food in Vietnam is usually safe for **vegans**, but be careful to make sure it does not contain eggs.\n \n**Halal** food is rare in Vietnam due to the small size of the Muslim community. Halal restaurants are mostly concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, many of which are operated by immigrants from South Asia, Indonesia or Malaysia. The Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City are also home to Muslim Cham communities, some of whom operate food stalls serving halal versions of Vietnamese street dishes for their respective communities. **Kosher** food is nearly unknown; if you keep kosher, contact **Chabad Vietnam** well in advance of your trip for assistance.", "word_count": 358}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk066", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Drink", "text": "Drinking in a Vietnamese bar is a great experience. One of the interesting things is that during the day, it is almost impossible to see a bar anywhere. Once the sun goes down though, dozens appear on the streets out of nowhere.\n\nWatch out for ice in drinks. Factory-made ice is generally safe, but anything else can be suspect. Factory ice has a hollow, cylindrical shape. Avoid irregular chunks of ice as it may be unclean.\n\n### Beer\n\nThe main brews are light lagers with a strength of 4.5–4.9%. In supermarkets a 0.33L can of beer starts at 10,000 dong. Some cheap beers in plastic bottles (0.9L) can be had for 15–18,000 dong. \"Saigon\" in a 0.45L glass bottle starts at 11,000 dong, but sometimes a deposit of 3,000 dong is added. A beer in a bar starts at around 20,000 dong.\n\nThe most popular beer (draught, bottle or can) among the southern Vietnamese is **Saigon Do (Red Saigon)**. For the northern Vietnamese **Bia Hanoi** (Hanoi beer) is the most popular brand, whereas central Vietnamese prefer **Bière Larue** from Da Nang or **Bia Huda** from Hue. **333**, pronounced \"ba-ba-ba\" is a local brand, but it's somewhat bland; for a bit more flavour, look for **Bia Saigon** in the green bottle and a bigger bottle than Bia Saigon Special. Bia Saigon is also available as little stronger export version. Locally brewed foreign brands like Tiger and Heineken are also common.\n\nThe craft beer revolution has well and truly reached Vietnam and bottled IPAs, brown beers and stouts are available in the major cities. Ho Chi Minh boasts an increasing number of brew-pubs and microbreweries. These brews are available at a fraction of the price they cost in Thailand or Singapore.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk067", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Drink", "text": "Beer in Vietnam is usually served in glasses filled with (and is thus drunk with) ice. This means that the cans or bottles of beer need not be chilled. If you are drinking with Vietnamese people, it is considered polite to top up their beer/ice before re-filling your own drink. It is also considered necessary to drink when a toast is proposed: \"mot, hai, ba, do\" (\"one, two, three, cheers\"). Saying \"Trăm Phần Trăm\" (100% 100) implies you will empty your glass.\n\n### Coffee\n\nthumb|A Highlands Coffee outlet in [[Nha Trang]]\nCafés are ubiquitous all over the country. Chains like Highlands Coffee and Trung Nguyen can be found in major cities and urban areas with reasonable prices. They provide free Wi-Fi and people don't just drink coffee, they also sit around and work. They are also a good place to meet friends and conduct professional meetings. Smaller towns have local coffee shops, which make tasty coffee at cheap prices.\n\nthumb|''Cà Phê Sữa Nóng'' (with extra water)\n- Vietnamese (iced) coffee\n is one of the most famous drinks in Vietnam (and around the world), popular among locals and tourists alike. Vietnamese coffee beans are fried, not roasted, giving them a very distinctive taste.\n\nCoffee is usually served black (**Cà Phê Đen (Đá)**) or with sweetened condensed milk (**Cà Phê Sữa (Đá)**) — usually over ice (**Đá**). Ask for **(Cà Phê) Nóng** if you want your coffee hot without ice. Some people may add extra water with the hot version (see picture) to make the coffee less strong — the ice version gets less strong automatically. Also, locals tend to drink their *Cà Phê Đen* incredibly strong with up to 4 teaspoons of sugar. If you want black coffee without sugar, say so.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk068", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Drink", "text": "However, the slow dripping coffee through the metal filter seems distinct for tourist frequented places. Normal Vietnamese don't take or have the time to prepare nor wait that long. Hence, in less touristy places you will have a hard time finding the slow-filter version, they often won't have these filters and just serve already prepared coffee, often with the condensed milk already in the glass. If you want the milk separately, say so.\n\nTake-away coffee (*Cà Phê Mang Đi*) with ice in a plastic cup and straw along the street can already be had for 10–12,000 dong.\n\nEgg coffee (**Cà Phê Trứng**) is a local speciality In Hanoi. In case, your itinerary doesn't include Hanoi, it is available in other cities too.\n\nthumb|A fancy ''Cà Phê Muối''\nA late addition to the coffee culture of Vietnam and often served for take-away are **Cà Phê Muối** (salted coffee) and **Cà Phê Cốt Dừa** (coconut coffee), basically a *Cà Phê Sữa Đá* topped with a cool mountain of salty whipped cream or sweet fluffy coconut slush, respectively. These are especially popular with the younger generation, but also tourists enjoy them.\n\n### Soft drinks", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk069", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A coconut ready for drinking\n **Coconut water** directly from the coconut is popular all around the country. After drinking the water, let the seller open the coconut, ask for a spoon, and enjoy the sometimes jelly-ish inner coconut meat. (If the coconut is too mature, the meat will be very hard and you are out of luck using the spoon, but the seller will know.)\n **Nước Mía**, or **sugar cane juice**, is served from distinctive metal carts with a crank-powered sugar cane stalk crushers that release the juice.\n **Sinh Tố** is another fabulous thirst quencher, a selection of sliced fresh fruit in a big glass, combined with crushed ice, sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk. You can also have it blended in a mixer. You could place any fruit-type after the word **sinh tố**, e.g., **sinh tố bơ** (avocado smoothie) or **sinh tố dứa** (pineapple smoothie). If you prefer to have orange juice, you won't use the word **sinh tố** but **nước** (literally: water) or **nước cam** if you would like to have an orange juice. Juices are usually without condensed milk or coconut milk.\n **Chè Thái** (Thai tea), **Trà Trái Cây** (fruit tea), or **Trà Sữa** (milk tea) are tea-based (*chè*, *trà*) dessert mix drinks made with various jellies, assorted tropical fruits, crushed ice, and (condensed) milk — kind of an advanced bubble tea, refreshing and colorful with a variety of textures, but it can be quite sweet if you don't watch it. Various word combinations exist to denominate this kind of drink.\n\n### Wine and liquor", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk070", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Drink", "text": "Vietnamese \"rượu đế\" or rice alcohol (*rượu* means liquor or wine [not beer]) is served in tiny porcelain cups often with candied fruit or pickles. It's commonly served to male guests and visitors. Vietnamese women don't drink much alcohol, well at least in public. It's not recommended for tourists.\n\nDating back to French colonial times, Vietnam adopted a tradition of viticulture. Dalat is its centre, and you can get **red and white wine**. There is a better range and better quality red wines than whites as reds seem to appeal more to the Asian palate. Most restaurant wine is Australian and you will be charged Australian prices as well, making wine comparatively expensive compared to drinking beer or spirits. Vietnamese wine has hit the mass market and is available by the glass or bottle in many restaurants. The quality ranges from the just-about-drinkable Vang Dalat Classic to the more than palatable Vang Dalat Premium. In supermarkets a bottle of Classic can be bought for around 80,000 dong whilst Premium is around 120,000. In restaurants a bottle of Classic costs 120,000–150,000 dong. Premium is less widely available in restaurants and where it is costs around 200,000 dong a bottle.\n\nImported wines, mainly Australian, French and Chilean are also available in supermarkets and in mid range and high end restaurants at far more expensive prices.\n\nRice spirits and local vodka is cheap in Vietnam by Western standards. Local vodkas cost about US$2-4 for a 0.75L bottle. Russian champagne is also common. When at Nha Trang, look for the all-you-can-drink boat trips for around US$10-15 for an all-day trip and party with on-board band.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk071", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Night in Hanoi, over Hoan Kiem Lake\nLodging is not an issue in Vietnam, even if you are travelling on a tight budget. Accommodation in Vietnam ranges from 100,000-dong dorm accommodation in hostels to world-class resorts, both in large cities and in popular coastal and rural destinations. Even backpacking hostels and budget hotels are far cleaner and nicer than in neighboring countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos). And even cheap hotels that charge as little as 250,000 dong for a double room are often very clean and equipped with towels, clean white sheets, soap, disposable toothbrushes and so on.\n\nService in many of the very inexpensive hotels is quite good (since the rate that a person pays per night could equal a typical Vietnamese national's weekly pay), although daily cleaning and modern amenities like television may not be provided. In hotels costing a few dollars more (300,000+ dong, more in Hanoi) you can expect an en-suite bath, telephone, AC and television. As with hotels elsewhere in the world, mini-refrigerators in Vietnamese hotels are often stocked with drinks and snacks, but these can be horribly overpriced. You are much better off buying such items on the street. Adequate plumbing can be a problem in some hotels, but the standard is constantly improving.\n\nIt is a legal requirement that all hotels register the details of foreign guests with the local police. For this reason they will always ask for your passport when you check in. The process usually only takes a few minutes, after which they will return your passport. However, because non-payment by guests is by no means unknown, some hotels retain passports until check-out. If a place looks dodgy, then ask that they register you while you wait and take your passport with you afterwards. Few people have had a problem with this as it is routine across the country. You might find it helpful to carry some photocopies of your passport (personal data page and visa) which you can hand over to the hotel.\n\nHotels can be noisy, particularly when local families are staying. Vietnamese is one of the world's more vocal languages, and local tourists are happy to give full vent to it from 06:00 onward with scant regard for fellow guests. There are also a number of other sounds to be aware of when staying in Vietnamese hotels. Vietnam is a country under construction and the chance of the hotel being next to or very close to a building site is high. Also rooms in many small boutique hotels, guesthouses and home-stays are built fronting a central atrium or stairwell and the activities of the reception, common area and kitchen contribute more noises. Finally, there are the room-maids who start work soon after dawn and seem to think that you should be awake by then and consequently feel free to chat with each other at a loud volume and send and receive messages on mobile phones and walkie-talkies. If you are a light sleeper, bring a supply of earplugs.", "word_count": 500}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk072", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Learn", "text": "If you want to meet local people, stop by a school. In Ho Chi Minh City, visit the American Language School, where you'll be welcomed enthusiastically and invited to go into a class and say hi. You'll feel like a rock star. The Vietnamese love to meet new people, and teachers welcome the opportunity for their students to meet foreigners.\n\nAn excellent novel set in modern-day Vietnam is *Dragon House* by John Shors. It's the story of two Americans who travel to Vietnam to open a centre to house and educate Vietnamese street children.\n\nFormer BBC reporter in Hanoi, Bill Hayton, has written a good introduction to most aspects of life in Vietnam, the economy, politics, social life, etc. It's called *Vietnam, Rising Dragon*, published in 2010.\n\nVietnam also has numerous universities for people who wish to pursue higher education. The most prestigious among them is **Vietnam National University, Hanoi**, which was founded by the French as *Université Indochinoise* in 1906. Other notable universities include **Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City** and **Hanoi University of Science and Technology**", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk073", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Work", "text": "You can volunteer as an English teacher through many volunteer organizations. However, if you have a TEFL/TESOL qualification and a degree then it's very easy to find paid teaching work. Without qualifications it's also possible to find work, but it takes more patience to find a job, and often there are concessions to make with payment, school location and working hours (weekends). Most teaching jobs will pay US$15-20 an hour. There are also many you-pay-to-volunteer organisations which allow you to help local communities, such as Love Volunteers, I to I and Global Volunteers. (But you must avoid some organized fraud. Ex: V4D, VTYD, RAKI, VVN...) Vietnam also has a booming **tech startup** scene, so opportunities may be available for people with expertise in computer science or other closely-related fields.\n\nLegally, a work permit is required to work in Vietnam, although many foreigners do not bother, especially if the intention is to work for only a short period of time. Visa extensions are generally easy to obtain (your school will have to do this for you) although the immigration department will eventually insist on you obtaining a work permit before any more visas are issued. If your aim is to remain for a longer term, then it is possible to obtain a work permit although your school will need to do this for you. To apply, your employer will be required to submit the following: A contract and application letter from your school; a full, medical health check (done locally); a criminal record check (the criteria for this varies from province to province, some requiring a check from your home country, others, a check done solely in Vietnam); a copy of your TESOL/CELTA/TEFL and degree certificates; your 'registration of stay' form; a copy of your passport/visa. Sometimes, you may be asked to pay a small fee although the better schools will generally offer to do this for you. Work permits are valid for 3 years and are renewable for a period of up to 12 years.\n\nOnce you have a work permit, it is then a relatively simple process to apply for a temporary residence permit, which will alleviate your visa worries. The validity and procedure for renewal is the same as a work permit.", "word_count": 374}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk074", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Vietnam has made a huge leap forward in terms of economic development and tourism, and many of the most feared annoyances are minor concerns. Vietnam is still a poor country, though. Tourists are considered money mules, and milking them is no crime. Nevertheless, outside of tourist hotspots, crime and scams against foreigners are rare.\n\n### Unexploded ordnance\n\nAs a legacy of the Indochina Wars, much of Vietnam's countryside is still littered with unexploded bombs and landmines, and many locals are still killed or maimed by them. Be very careful about going off the beaten path in rural areas, and ideally do not do so unless you have a guide who knows the area well.\n\n### Crime\n\nVietnam is a relatively safe place for tourists, especially when travelling in groups. It will also depend on your nationality whether you may encounter issues — large western men are much more intimidating than smaller Japanese women, see cyclo scam.\n\nTourist areas are hotspots of petty crime. Violent crime towards foreigners is uncommon, but pickpockets and motorbike snatching are not uncommon in larger cities. Thieves on motorbikes snatch bags, mobile phones, cameras, and jewellery from pedestrians and other motorbike drivers. Don't wear your bag on your shoulder when riding a motorbike. Don't place it in the motorbike basket. When walking along a road, keep your bag on your inboard shoulder. If your bag is snatched, don't resist to the point of being dragged onto the roadway.\n\nReports of thefts from hotel rooms, including upmarket hotels, have been heard occasionally. Do not assume that your hotel room strongbox is inviolable.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk075", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Avoid fights and arguments with locals. Westerners may be bigger than Vietnamese, but if you're dealing with 5 or more Vietnamese guys then you're in serious trouble. Yelling is highly insulting to Vietnamese and may prompt a violent response. Vietnamese in general are placid and kind. As a visitor, you should respect local laws and customs. Altercations can be avoided easily by showing courtesy and tolerating cultural differences. Be on your best behaviour when drinking with Vietnamese men.\n\n### Corruption\n\nthumb|The infamous \"Hanoi Hilton\" prison is nowadays a museum\nThe international monitoring group Transparency International has rated Vietnam as one of the most corrupt nations in Asia. Locals are convinced that the police are not to be trusted.\n\nMotorcycle drivers may be stopped for a variety of reasons such as random checks of paperwork and licenses and will fine foreigners around US$20 for each offence (the average traffic fine for locals is around US$5-10). Be polite but resolute, and stand your ground. Traffic officers are required to write traffic violations in their notebook and must give you a receipt for your fine which must then be paid at the station (not to the officer). For some offences (especially missing paperwork relevant to the vehicle you are riding), officers have the right to confiscate and impound your bike. If you have a phone, you could threaten to call your embassy and he may back down, although in most cases, it is often best to prevent any further escalation of the situation by paying the fine.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk076", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "You generally won't encounter any problems with the police in more remote or rural areas because officers are likely to have a very poor command of the English language. The larger cities and areas that are frequented by tourists have more police who are proficient in communicating with tourists.\n\nImmigration officers at land borders are known to demand bribes to stamp you in or out of the country. Refusing to pay the bribe will usually mean you are denied entry or not allowed to leave. The reputable bus companies will often charge a \"border crossing fee\" for their international routes, staff usually process you through immigration while you wait on the bus, and any bribes are included as part of that fee.\n\nMost government offices will also require a small \"gratuity\" before processing paperwork. This is most commonly encountered when trying to obtain permits of residence for private accommodation, work or residence permits.\n\n### Prostitution\n\nDespite its seeming abundance, prostitution is illegal in Vietnam. The age of consent is 18. Vietnamese penal law levies penalties of up to 20 years in prison for sexually exploiting women or children, and several other countries have laws that allow them to prosecute their own citizens who travel abroad to engage in sex with children.\n\nUnder Vietnamese law, it is illegal for a foreigner to take a Vietnamese national to a hotel room. While this law is rarely enforced, you could find yourself in even deeper water if you report a crime disclosing that you shared a room with a Vietnamese national.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk077", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Vietnam, and many people go untreated due to the taboo nature of the disease. There is also a danger of theft when taking any unfamiliar woman back to a hotel or guest house. The tale of a man waking up to find his wallet, mobile phone or laptop missing is all too common. Stories also abound of Westerners being drugged while in a hotel room or being led to a dark, quiet place where they are relieved of their possessions by criminal gangs.\n\n### Scams\n\nMost scams in Vietnam involve transportation, hotel prices, or the two-menu system practised by some restaurants.\n\n#### Taxis\n\nIf you don't know what a reasonable fare is, it is generally a bad idea to agree on a price in advance. Rule of thumb to detect scammers: if the taxi doesn't have the fare charges written, or drivers name and photo on the dashboard, immediately ask the taxi to stop and get out. It is a definite scam.\n\nAs always, it is advisable to walk a hundred meters away from any tourist deposit point (bus arrival, train station etc.), as many taxi waiting here are either scammers or pay a commission to the cartel.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk078", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Many taxi drivers in Saigon and Hanoi try to overcharge newly arrived gullible travellers. When leaving the airport, the taxi driver may insist that you pay the airport toll. He might not be very forthcoming with the price, and if you give him cash, he will pay the toll and pocket the rest. The toll is 10,000 dong (July 2018) and having the correct money will avoid you getting fleeced. The toll is quoted along with the fare written on the dashboard of the taxi. You can confidently say \"airport toll only 10,000 dong\" and refuse to pay anything else such as parking (unless there were more toll roads in between).\n\nAsk your hotel or hostel to arrange taxi services for you. This will ensure that you get a flat quoted rate as well as a trusted driver. Many hotels will be happy to arrange pick up and drop off from airports if you ask. Nevertheless, this can be more expensive than if you arrange it directly yourself, because the hotel will always try to cut into the deal, earning a little extra.\n\nIn several other cities of Vietnam, such as Dalat, Hoi An, Nha Trang, etc., do *not* travel by meter from the airport. The airports are as far as 30–40 km from these places and meter will cost you from 500,000–650,000 dong. However, you can either take a bus from the airport to city centre, or pre-negotiate a rate with the taxi for 200,000–300,000 dong. Pay attention to sides of taxis. Usually a rate for the airport is written on the door. Around town in these cities, metered taxis generally work fine.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk079", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "If you ever get caught in a big taxi scam (such as rigged meter), you should get out of the vehicle and retrieve your belongings as if everything was all right, *then* refuse to pay the demanded price and threaten to call the police. Usually they will accept a more reasonable fare, but be prepared to face the driver's anger, so it is better to do this with a few witnesses around.\n\n#### Taxi and cyclo drivers\n\nTaxi and cyclo drivers may claim that they don't have change when accepting payment for an agreed-upon fare. The best way to handle this is to either carry smaller bills or be ready to stand your ground. Generally, the driver is only trying to get an extra dollar or so by rounding the fare up, but to prevent this scam from becoming more popular it is advised to stay calm and firm about the price.\n\nWhen you meet an over friendly cyclo driver who says, \"never mind how much you would pay\" or \"you can pay whatever you like at the end of the trip\". He may try to show you his book of comments from international tourists. This kind of driver has to be a scammer. If you still want to use his service you should make it clear about the agreed price and don't pay more than that. Just be clear what you are willing to pay. The cyclo drivers are just trying to make a living.\n\n#### Hotels", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk080", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Hotel owners may tell you that the room price is 200,000 dong. However, when checking out, they may insist that the price is US$20, charging you almost double. Another trick is to tell customers that a room is a few dollars, but following day they will say that price was for a fan room only and it's another price for an air-con room. These days, legitimate hotel owners seem to be aware of these scams and are usually willing to help by writing down how much the room is per person per day (in U.S. dollars or dong), if it has air-con or not. Staff of legitimate hotels also never ask for payment from a guest when they check in. Watch out if they insist that you should pay when you check out but refuse to write down the price on paper. Otherwise, just book online with one of the common reservations websites, which will guarantee you the right price, and leave a review if something goes wrong.\n\nAs of 2019 most of the dollar versus dong scams have ended as almost all hotels now quote in dong and accept dong. Keep your dollar stash hidden and deal only in dong. Also as of 2019 quite a few low- to mid-range hotels do require payment upfront and as long as you get an official receipt there is nothing to worry about in this.\n\n#### Restaurants\n\nSome restaurants are known to have two menus, one for local people and another one for foreigners. The only way to deal with it is to learn a few Vietnamese phrases and insist that you should be shown only the Vietnamese menu. If they hesitate to show you the local menu, walk away. This scam is very unusual.\n\n#### Hostels", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk081", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Some hostels in Vietnam will want you to leave your passport at the reception, insisting even. This is not a legitimate business practice. Never leave your passport as collateral for anything.\n\n#### Copycats\n\nBesides accommodation and transport, another big scam in Vietnam involves copycat tour companies and restaurants. Anytime a company gets famous, copycats will pop out. A very famous example is the dozens of Sinh Cafes (bus company), which popped up. The real company has since changed its name to TheSinhTourist.\n\n#### Fake monks\n\nBuddhism in Vietnam generally follows the Mahayana school, meaning that the monks are required to be vegetarian and generally do not go on alms rounds. Instead, the monks either grow their own food or buy their food using temple donations. Monks do not sell religious items (shops selling religious items are staffed by laypersons, not by monks) or ask people for donations. Instead, donations are to be placed in temple donation boxes. It is entirely up to an individual to decide whether or not they wish to donate, and how much they wish to donate, and genuine temples will never use high-pressure tactics to solicit donations. \"Monks\" who approach tourists for donations are imposters.\n\n### Traffic\n\nthumb|Traffic in Vietnam cities is notoriously daunting.\nthumb|Sơn La province landscapes.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk082", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The first discovery for many tourists who just arrive in Vietnam is that they need to learn how to cross a road all over again. You may see a tourist standing on the road for five minutes without knowing how to cross it. Traffic in Vietnam can be a nightmare. Back home, you may never witness the moment of crash, seeing injured victims lying on the road, or hearing a BANG sound. Staying in Vietnam for more than a month, you will have fair chance of experiencing all these.\n\nRoads are packed. Some intersections in main cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City have traffic lights patrolled by police; most are either non-functional or ignored.", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk083", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Crossing roads is an art in most of Vietnam, and there are no stop signals that will actually be followed by drivers. The art of crossing the road is fortunately very simple, though scary:\n There are some traffic lights and pedestrian crossings but they are by no means everywhere. \n If it is night time, and you are wearing dark clothes you should cross in a bright area or shine a torch towards the traffic\n If there is a bus, car or taxi, wait until it and its motorcycle entourage passes, as vehicles will not stop for pedestrians\n Ensure **you, your fellow travellers and every piece of your luggage** form an almost perfect line parallel with the traffic\n There is no 'ideal' time to start although you could pick a time with a little less traffic\n Step a little forward, a little more, and you will see motorcycle drivers to slow down a bit, or go to another way. Make your pace and path predictable to other drivers, don't change your speed or direction suddenly, and move forward until you arrive at your destination. Be aware that motorcycle drivers will swerve to avoid you *but might swerve into your path.*\nThe simplest and best way to cross streets is to make yourself known and be steady. This means spread your arms out and walk at a steady pace. The locals will route around you. They are extremely good drivers and will avoid hitting you; just be sure to walk at a steady pace.\n Cars, buses and trucks can do you far more damage than motorcycles where the odds are much or even. Wait for anything with four or more wheels to pass and then take on the motorcycles.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk084", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The simplest way, if available, is to follow a local, stand next to them on the opposite side of the traffic (if you get hit, he will get it first) and he will give you the best chance of crossing a road.\n\nIf you are injured, don't expect the local people to help, even by calling an ambulance, because it is not free. Make sure you tell the local clearly that you will pay the ambulance fee. Hospitals will also not admit you until you prove that you can pay the bill.\n\nHighways are risky, with an average of 30 deaths a day, and some locals will not even venture on them if not in a big vehicle (car or bus). Taking a bicycle or motorbike on highways is an adventure for risk takers, but definitely not for a family with children. Having said that, Vietnamese roads are no more dangerous than elsewhere in South East Asia.\n\n### Nightlife", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk085", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Petty crime in nightclubs is not unknown. Don't escalate an incident: avoid quarrelling with local people as drunks can be violent.\n Clubs are full of working girls trawling for clients. They may also be looking for wallets and mobile phones.\n Walking very late alone on the streets in the tourist areas is safe, but avoid unfamiliar women engaging you in conversation. They may try to touch you, sweet talk you, and then pick your pocket.\n Don't ask taxi drivers to recommend nightspots. Most taxi drivers earn commissions from bars and lounges to bring in foreign tourists. When you walk into one of these places, they will quote reasonable prices, but when you receive the tab, it may include extravagant charges. Do your homework beforehand, tell the taxi driver where you want to go, and insist on going to where you want to go despite their remonstrations. Most nightspots are reputable. Going to those with a mostly foreign clientele is a good practice.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nLittle wildlife remains, let alone anything dangerous to humans. Venomous snakes, such as cobras, may still be common in rural areas, but virtually everything else has either become extinct or exists in such small numbers that the chances of even seeing one are remote. Tigers may exist in very small numbers in remote areas, but this is unconfirmed.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nVietnam is generally a safe destination for LGBT travellers, and there are no laws against homosexuality in Vietnam. Transgender persons are allowed to change their legal gender after undergoing sex reassignment surgery. That being said, same-sex relationships are not recognised by the government, and the Vietnamese can be rather conservative, meaning that LGBT individuals can often be subject to some degree of prejudice. Fortunately, anti-LGBT violence is extremely rare.\n\n### Politics", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk086", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Insulting national heroes such as Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap is *illegal* in Vietnam, and many foreigners have been jailed for doing so.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk087", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "**Tropical diseases** such as malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are endemic in rural Vietnam. Malaria isn't as much a concern in the bigger\ncities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but always remember to take liquid mosquito repellent with you. It may be very useful, especially in the countryside and crowded neighborhoods.\n\n**Street food**, including blended ice drinks, and food in restaurants is mostly safe to be consumed due to much improved hygiene. Vietnamese are very clean people, there are bins everywhere and interiors/floors are mostly tiled. Use common sense and follow the tips under the Traveller's diarrhea article and you will be fine.\n\n**Tap water** is not safe to drink.\n\n**Contact lens solution** is seldomly sold by pharmacies. You will have to find to specialised lens store or an optometrist to get it.\n\n### Healthcare\n\nVietnamese hospitals are generally not up to Western standards. Hospitals are often short of medicines and other supplies, and waiting times can be long, even in acute cases. Outside Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, few doctors speak English. Private clinics in Vietnam, run by foreigners, are therefore recommended as the first port of call. These clinics have both Vietnamese and foreign doctors. In general, hospitals will only accept your case if you can demonstrate the ability to pay for their services.\n\nThere are private hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang that cater mainly to Western expatriates and provide excellent healthcare, with staff members who are able to speak English and French, though you would be paying a steep premium for their services. **Vinmec International Hospital** is a chain of expatriate-oriented private hospitals with locations in several of Vietnam's larger cities.\n\nIf you fall seriously ill while travelling, it is advisable to seek treatment in nearby Southeast Asian countries if possible. In serious cases, doctors may even order the patient to be flown to Singapore or Thailand for treatment. When travelling to Vietnam, it is very important to take out comprehensive travel insurance. Please read the terms and conditions of your travel insurance carefully.\n\nIn tourist destinations, you can ask for medical services at hotel reception desks or from your tour operator. In many cases, you may have to pay cash in advance to see a doctor. In larger cities, payment can usually be made by debit card. Keep receipts for insurance purposes.\n\nThe emergency number for ambulances in Vietnam is 115, but the emergency number usually does not serve in English. Public ambulances can be slow to arrive, so it is usually best to take a taxi, for example. If you call an ambulance, be prepared for a long waiting time. Paramedics do not usually speak English and ambulances are poorly equipped. In large cities, hospitals also have private ambulances, which are usually more efficient than public ambulance services.\n\nIn large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are a number of good quality pharmacies. Most private hospitals and clinics also have a pharmacy. Pharmacies are usually well-stocked and most medicines can be bought without a prescription.\n\nPharmacies in Vietnam are not strictly regulated. If you buy medicines from a pharmacy other than a hospital pharmacy, it is a good idea to check the expiry date of the medicine packs you buy. The packaging, the contents of the packs and any instructions for use should be checked carefully.", "word_count": 567}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk088", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "In traditional Vietnamese culture, elders are treated with great deference and respect. While expectations are more relaxed when foreigners are involved, it's a good idea to show politeness, respect and restraint towards those who look older than you.\n\nIt's common to be stared at by locals in some regions, especially in the rural areas outside of big cities, and in the central and northern parts of the country. Southerners are usually more used to foreigners. Wherever you are, though, expect some probing questions whenever a conversation starts: How old are you? Are you married? Do you have children? While these might seem nosy in the West, they're perfectly normal, good-natured questions here that help people determine how they should address you. The best thing to do is just play along. You probably don't know much about their culture; it's only fair that locals wouldn't know much about yours.\n\nAn Asian woman travelling with a non-Asian man may attract unwanted attention. As of April 2019 these prejudices have almost completely disappeared, but some assumptions linger — rooted partly in memories of the American War era — and she may occasionally be treated dismissively or spoken to rudely. A more common experience today is simply that locals will assume she is Vietnamese and address her in Vietnamese rather than English, regardless of where she's actually from.\n\nAll couples should be aware that public displays of affection are generally considered disrespectful in Vietnam, even among married couples, and it's advisable to show restraint in public.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk089", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "Vietnamese people tend to be dressed modestly and conservatively, though somewhat less so at bars and nightclubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where young locals can sometimes be spotted in sexy outfits. But generally, you should try to cover your shoulders and knees, as doing so will earn you a lot more respect from the locals.\n\n**Saving face** is very important in Vietnamese culture. You should generally avoid pointing out the mistakes of others no matter how minor they might be in order to avoid causing major embarrassment.\n\nAs in many other Asian countries, you are expected to **remove your shoes** before entering people's homes.\n\nWhen handing out and receiving business cards, always be sure to do it with **both hands**, as using only one hand is considered to be very disrespectful.\n\n### Politics\n\nRelations with China are a sensitive issue best not discussed with locals. Tensions boil over periodically over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, called the \"East Sea\" (*Biển Đông*) in Vietnam — using the former may offend locals by suggesting that you support China's claims. Possession of maps showing the nine-dash line is likely to elicit negative reactions from Vietnamese; this has also resulted in certain foreign movies and television series such as the 2019 animated film *Abominable* and the 2023 *Barbie* movie being banned in Vietnam.\n\nHowever, China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and source of international tourists, and individual visitors from mainland China should not face any major issues so long as they avoid political discussions. This animosity towards China also generally does not extend to ethnic Chinese from other countries. Generally speaking, anti-China sentiment is stronger in the south than in the north, as many northern Vietnamese are grateful for China's assistance in fighting the Americans during the Vietnam War.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk090", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "### [[Indochina Wars|The American War]]\n\nThe most surprising thing about the topic of the Vietnam War (the American or Reunification War, as it is called in Vietnam) is that most Vietnamese do not bear any animosity against visitors from the countries that participated, and in the South many Vietnamese (especially older Vietnamese involved in the conflict or with relatives in the war) appreciate or at least respect the previous American-led or French-led military efforts against the North. Two-thirds of the population were born after the war and are quite positive towards the West. Some attractions present an anti-American viewpoint on the war, whilst many are surprisingly restrained.\n\nBe sensitive if you must discuss past conflicts. Well over 3 million Vietnamese died, and it is best to avoid any conversations that could be taken as an insult to the sacrifices made by both sides during the wars. Do not assume that all Vietnamese think alike as some Vietnamese in the South are still bitter about having lost against the North.\n\nSouvenir shops in Vietnam sell lots of T-shirts with the red flag and portraits of \"Uncle Ho.\" Many overseas Vietnamese, particularly in the United States, Canada and Australia, are highly critical of the government of Vietnam, so you may want to consider this before wearing communist paraphernalia in their communities back home. A less controversial purchase if you are American, Canadian or Australian would be a *nón lá* (straw hat) instead.\n\n### Religion", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk091", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "Although the official census claims most Vietnamese are non-religious, you wouldn't know it to see them. Whether they attend services or not, most Vietnamese are in fact strong believers, incorporating a variety of religious traditions, beliefs and rituals into their daily lives.\nthumb|Miếu Nhị Phủ temple in Ho Chi Minh City\nAs in neighboring Southeast Asian countries, the most influential and widespread religion in Vietnam is Buddhism. Buddhism in Vietnam generally follows the Mahayana school, which is widespread in China, unlike the neighboring Southeast Asian countries which follow the Theravada school. This means that monks are required to be vegetarian, and pious individuals seeking a particular blessing will often forgo meat as well. Unlike in other Southeast Asian countries, it is not customary for monks to collect foodstuffs in the streets. Instead, they will either buy their food using temple donations, or grow their own food. Monks who hang out in tourist areas requesting donations are bogus. Similar to China and neighboring countries, Swastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist temples as a religious symbol; they are positive signs representing sacredness and blessing, and have no connection to Nazism or anti-Semitism.\n\nAlso, and more than in neighboring countries, Vietnam has a sizable proportion of Christians (11%; 9% Catholic, 2% Protestant). Christianity is especially prominent in major cities, where at least a few churches can be found. It is common for strangers and acquaintances to ask you to come to their church, although offence will not usually be taken if you decline.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk092", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "Much like the Chinese and other Southeast Asians, Vietnamese people place a strong emphasis on spirits and ancestor worship. You'll see at least one shrine in every Vietnamese home and place of business, where occupants burn incense to honor or placate certain spirits. These are often decorated with statuettes or pictures of sacred figures: for devout Buddhists, this might be Buddha or Bodhisattva; for Roman Catholics, a crucifix or the Virgin Mary; for \"non-religious\" people, depictions of various traditional deities or spirits. If you see someone's photograph featured on a shrine, it's most often that of a family member who's passed away. Burning joss sticks (sticks of incense) for the spirits of departed family members is generally a token of respect.\n\nMany temples require you to remove your shoes before you enter the temple buildings. As a general rule, you should always enter using the right gate and exit using the left gate (facing inward); the middle gate is traditionally reserved for the emperor and deities. Do not step on a raised doorway threshold when entering or exiting the temple; always step over it. Also be sure to dress conservatively when visiting temples; do not wear sleeveless shirts, and make sure your knees are covered.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk093", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Respect", "text": "Vietnamese are generally quite superstitious when it comes to death and the spirit world, and there are certain taboos you'll want to avoid. Some of these include:\n*Placing chopsticks upright in the middle of a bowl of rice*: Bowls of rice are arranged in this way next to the body of the deceased at funerals, so it reminds people of funerals. If you eat your rice with a spoon, place the spoon face down in the bowl, never face up.\n*Taking photos of an odd-numbered group*: The superstition goes that the person in the middle of a group will be singled out by evil spirits. Photos of even-numbered groups (2, 4, 6, or 8 people, and so on) are fine.\n*Sitting with your back facing a family shrine*: Considered disrespectful to the shrine, and to the spirits of the deceased.\n*Climbing onto altars to pose for photographs with the statues*: Considered very disrespectful to the deities being venerated.", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk094", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Electricity\n\nElectricity is delivered at 200 V, 50 Hz in Vietnam. Most Vietnamese sockets are compatible with the 2-pin American Type A, and the 2-pin European Type C, E and F plugs. Some sockets are also compatible with the 3-pin American Type B plugs.", "word_count": 45}
+{"chunk_id": "vietnam::chunk095", "doc_id": "vietnam", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nthumb|Phone wires in Da Nang\nLand-line numbers in Hanoi and HCMC have a sequence of eight numbers, others have seven.\n\n Vietnam international code: +84\n Hanoi area code: (24)\n Ho Chi Minh area code: (28)\n\n VoIP calls\n\nTelephone bills are 30% to 40% cheaper if dialed with 171 or 178 services.\n\n Domestic call: 171 (178) + 0 + Area code + Number.\n International call: 171 (178) + 00 + Country code + Area code + Number.\n\nSince hotels and guesthouses often charge higher for telephone calls, try to find a post office or any reliable public service.\n\n#### Mobile phones\n\nMobile numbers in Vietnam must always be dialed with all 9 or 10 digits (including a \"0\" prefixing the \"1nn\" or \"9nn\" within Vietnam), no matter where they are being called from. The **1nn** or **9nn** is a mobile prefix, not an \"area code\", as such and the second and sometimes third digits (the *nn* part) denotes the original mobile network assigned. As is the case with most mobile numbers, they can also be called within or outside Vietnam using the international format.\n\nThere are many mobile networks with different codes:\n\n MobiFone: 90, 93, 70, 76, 77, 78, 79\n Vietnamobile: 92, 56, 58\n Viettel: 98, 97, 96, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38\n Vinaphone: 91, 94, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85\n\nPhysical **SIM cards** from all the main providers can be purchased on arrival at the airport, though they are sold at a markup. Try holding off until leaving the airport to buy a SIM card, where prices will be lower. **eSIMs** are also available, which can be purchased online before arrival and activated instantly upon landing, avoiding the need to find a store after a long flight. Competition is fierce: Viettel offers tourist eSIMs for sale on its website, while MobiFone offers a free one-day eSIM plan for tourists with 8GB of data and unlimited access to Facebook, YouTube and TikTok included. Coverage is generally strong in cities and along major travel routes, with 4G and increasing 5G availability; speeds may be slower in rural or mountainous areas.\n\nPrepaid account charges vary from 890–1,600 dong per minute. Recharge cards are available in denominations of 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong. Phones may also be topped up online with credit or debit cards.\n\n#### Useful numbers\n\nPolice 113\nFire Brigade 114\nHospital 115\nTime 117\nGeneral Information 1080\n\n### Internet\n\n**Wi-Fi** is widespread in Vietnam and most hotels, restaurants and bars in the main tourist centres have free Wi-Fi. Ask for the password when you make your purchase. Sometimes the password is printed on the receipt or advertised near the counter. Otherwise, public plazas, most airports and many larger railway stations will also have Wi-Fi — wherever people or tourists frequent the place. Some Internet cafes are still available in tourist spots and rates are fairly cheap, ranging from 2,000-10,000 dong per hour. Connection speeds are high, especially in the big cities.\n\nUnlike in China, **Internet censorship** in Vietnam is only applied to a very small number of Internet services. Most foreign news sites like the BBC and CNN, as well as social media web-sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok are usually freely accessible in Vietnam, though they may be temporarily blocked during politically sensitive periods. It may be wise to use a VPN service, which seem to work with most Wi-Fis in Vietnam.", "word_count": 570}
diff --git a/corpus/vietnam/metadata.json b/corpus/vietnam/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1ad0cc6f0abbf74184efd683b8a849757cf8f081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/vietnam/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "vietnam",
+ "title": "Vietnam",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vietnam",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "desert",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southeast_Asia"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 23968,
+ "listing_count": 18,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 96,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/wadi-rum/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/wadi-rum/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..4a912a20acd2ddbfcc4f69018c5d3ecdf996e97e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/wadi-rum/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk000", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|Cliffs in Wadi Rum\n**Wadi Rum** is a spectacularly scenic desert valley (*wadi* in Arabic) in southern Jordan. It is also known as \"Valley of the Moon\" and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk001", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Understand", "text": "This area of Jordan is quite isolated and largely inhospitable to settled life. The only permanent inhabitants are several thousand Bedouin nomads and villagers. There is no real infrastructure, leaving the area quite unspoilt. Apart from the Bedouin goat hair tents, the only structures are a few concrete shops and houses and the fort headquarters of the Desert Patrol Corps.\n\nWadi Rum is less a sandy desert but more a mountain desert. Very good pictures can also be taken from the area north of the Turkish rail track parallel to the road from the Aqaba highway to Wadi Rum. The best time to visit is Spring or Autumn, to avoid the cold winter nights and hot summer days. Photography is most dramatic in Wadi Rum when it is a little clouded, so you can experience the beautiful game of light and shadow in the desert.\n\nT E Lawrence (of Arabia) spent a significant amount of time here during the course of the British-inspired Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War (1914–1918). Fans of the 1962 film *Lawrence of Arabia* will be familiar with the landscape, which is not so much sand dunes as it is a mass of soaring cliffs and sandstone and granite mountains (*jebel* in Arabic).\n\nWadi Rum has also been used for more recent films, such as 2009's *Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen*, where it stood in for part of Egypt. The distinctive reddish-orange sands that lend the area an otherworldly quality has brought the science-fiction films *The Last Days on Mars* and *The Martian* here to replicate the Red Planet on Earth, and the producers of the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's *Dune* to use as the desert planet Arrakis. The BBC documentary *The Face* follows two British climbers who pioneered routes in the canyons.\n\nAlso see the official site.\nthumb|rocks", "word_count": 310}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk002", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Wadi Rum seen from Desert Highway\nWadi Rum is a short detour from the Desert Highway between Amman and Aqaba. A side road, , leads 21 km to the entrance where you will find the , a police office and a lot of potential guides offering camel, 4x4 treks and camps. The cost to enter the Wadi Rum Protected Area is 5 JD per person (free with the Jordan Pass).\n\nMost buses that travel the highway between Aqaba and Petra/Amman should be able to drop you at the intersection to Wadi Rum, except the buses from Jett company. Once at the intersection, you can hitch hike (common in this part of Jordan, no problem for women alone) or take another minibus (1-2 JD, they seem to turn up quite regularly) to the Visitor's Centre where you can meet your guide or continue hitchhiking to (another 7 km). This final leg of the trip shouldn't cost more than 1-3 JD per person.\n\nAvoid the scammers in Petra who try to take you for a tour in the desert north to Wadi Rum for 80 JD. Ask specifically which sites they visit and whether it's in the reserve or not (there are no such things as \"Rum 1\" and \"Rum 2\"). However, some tourists are lodged outside of Wadi Rum, e.g. Disah, for more luxurious accommodation. Desert tours from camps outside of the reserve will be different from tours provided by companies and camps within Wadi Rum.\n\n### From Aqaba", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk003", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get in", "text": "You can get to Wadi Rum by catching any bus or minibus (1-3 JD) from the Aqaba bus station headed to Amman, Ma'an, or Petra and get off at the Wadi Rum turnoff. The turnoff is well-marked on the highway to Amman, about 40 km out of Aqaba. The buses run north every hour from 07:00-15:00, but another company (Afana) operates them until 22:00, perhaps at a slightly higher cost, however.\n\nThe Trust buses depart from its own stations, but basically all the other buses (including minibuses) depart from the main Aqaba bus station.\n\nThere is usually at least one direct bus from Aqaba to the Wadi Rum Visitor's Centre and the Wadi Rum Village per day. Be careful though if you plan to go to Wadi Rum on a Friday, it is very possible that these buses are not running (you should ideally go to the Bus Station and ask the drivers the day before). These buses:\n1) leave 2-3 times per day during the high season (Spring and Autumn). The last regular bus leaves at 13:00 (or possibly 15:00, according to this and this, but don't count on it).\n2) leave once per day during the low season (summer and winter). There is a daily minibus from Wadi Rum Village to Aqaba that leaves at 06:30 (or 07:30 as of 2011—there is some disagreement), and this returns to Wadi Rum when it is full or the driver feels like it. The minibus journey should cost around 3 JD per person.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk004", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get in", "text": "A private taxi from Aqaba will cost you 25-35 JD depending on where you are in the city (though 30 JD is the price almost universally quote to tourists, and you may be hard-pressed to get most of them down even to 25 JD), and will take you to the Visitor's Centre. If you decide to make round trip you can arrange with taxi driver to wait for you at Visitor's Centre for 3-4 hours and take back. It will cost 40 JD. Taxi drivers usually suggest to take you there at 13:00 and take back after sunset. Taxis from the Israeli border cost around 35 JD.\n\nMost camps within the Wadi Rum Protected Area offer a free pickup service from Rum Village or the Visitor’s Centre, provided you inform them in advance of your arrival time. This is the most convenient option if you arrive by public bus, simply coordinate with your camp before departure. Some camps also offer pickup directly from Aqaba for an additional fee, typically 20-30 JD one way (Mar 2026).\n\n### From Petra\n\nThere is one bus per day from Wadi Musa (Petra) that leaves at 06:00 and costs 7 JD. The trip generally takes 1.5 hr and tickets should be booked through your hotel at Petra, it will then collect you from your hotel directly in the morning. The bus stops at the Visitor's Centre and Rum Village and returns to Wadi Musa for visitors travelling on to Petra (departure at 08:00 or 09:00).\n\nTaxis from Petra cost 30-35 JD.\n\nA tour including a taxi ride from Petra, 4 hours in Wadi Rum, not including the 5 JD/person entrance fee, and a taxi ride to the Israeli border cost 130 JD.\n\n### From Amman", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk005", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get in", "text": "No bus goes directly from Amman, but regular buses head towards Aqaba or Ma'an. Again, you can get off at the Wadi Rum Intersection (see above). Expect to pay not more than 12 JD, usually only 7 JD. Service taxis will also stop here for you and are generally quicker than the buses. This is not a private taxi, so it will pick up other passengers and make detours as the other passengers require. Service taxis should cost 15-25 JD per person.\n\nA relatively easy, but more expensive way is to take the JETT bus from Amman (4 hr, departs hourly, 8.60 JD, Oct 2018) to Aqaba, then a taxi (1 hr, 25-30 JD) to the Visitors' Centre.", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk006", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get around", "text": "### 4x4\n\nPrivate vehicles are not prohibited past of the village of Wadi Rum. However, if you want to experience the grandeur that the Wadi has to offer, you will need to hire a guided camel or 4-wheel-drive (4WD) tour. Camels only move at walking pace so if you are on a short visit 4WD will allow a more comprehensive visit. The costs may vary based on the guide, the length of the trip, and your willingness and ability to bargain. You'd get the best price by contacting the local Bedouin directly. Most knowledgeable English speaking local guides are affiliated with family camps and contacting them in advance is advisable, you can research online to find a camp that suits your interests. The usual price is 50-75 JD per jeep for a 3-5 hr tour or 20 JD per camel/hour.\n\nThe 4x4 tours are basically driving around and stopping at several sights, taking short hikes, and having tea. Some tours are only going back and forth, taking 3 hr, for which 50 JD is quite expensive. So make sure, when booking your tour, to ensure a 4-5 hr round trip tour and understand which sites are included.\n\n### Hiking", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk007", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get around", "text": "The first camps are between 1-2 hr walking distance away from Wadi Rum village. So starting early, you might want to walk and check out 3 or 4 of these camps, and, if the prices do not fit you, walk back to go further to Aqaba or Petra. Walk out on either side of the valley along the wide truck tracks, depending on where you want to go, because the middle part of the valley is quite sandy and hard to walk on. Or book ahead knowing the name and location of your camp, by calling their number or through any of the common hotel websites. If you are good on foot, walking 10 km into Wadi Rum from the village for your tent is not a problem, but make sure to have a good map (not the one from the visitor's centre) and even GPS navigation.\n\nLocals will be willing to share sweet tea with you as you pass their tents but you should prepare adequate water and food for your journey. You can buy basic provisions in Wadi Rum Village where there are several shops.\n\nIf it is not too hot or you have enough water, you can also hike around instead of paying the 40-70 JD (per jeep) for a tour. You can even reach *Umm Fruth Rock Bridge* this way (20-25 km i.e. 5-6 hr round trip). It is likely to be picked up by one of the numerous trucks driving through the valley, saving you some distance.\n\n### Scams", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk008", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Get around", "text": "A **scam** in the area is that some taxi drivers in Aqaba or other places claim that they can arrange your tour to Wadi Rum. Actually they bring you to **Shakariya village** which is only a few kilometres away from Wadi Rum visitor centre. And the Bedouin there can also offer the 4x4 that drive you around the area just north of Wadi Rum Natural Reserve. The taxi driver profits from the ticket fee that they claim to pay to Wadi Rum and price difference between 4x4 in Wadi Rum. The scenery there is also very good, and the area also has something resembling the \"Seven Pillars of Wisdom\" and the rock bridge in Wadi Rum. But this is not Wadi Rum after all. Some tourists are not even aware that they actually have never been to Wadi Rum after the tour.\n\n\"Guides\" from Petra will try to take you for a tour in the desert north to Wadi Rum for 80 JD. Ask specifically which sites they visit and whether it's in the reserve or not (there are no such things as \"Rum 1\" and \"Rum 2\"). You will know you have entered Wadi Rum reserve when you purchase a ticket at Wadi Rum Visitor Centre.", "word_count": 206}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk009", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Umm Fruth Rock Bridge\nthumb|Lawrence's House\n - Abu Kashaba Canyon\n\n - Anfashieh Inscriptions\n\n - Burdah Rock Bridge\n\n - Jabal al Kharaz\n\n - Khaz'ali Canyon\n\n - Lawrence's House\n\n - Lawrence Spring\n\n - Mushroom Rock\n\n - Little Bridge\n\n - Red Sand Dunes\n\n - Seven Pillars of Wisdom\n\n - Umm Fruth Rock Bridge", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk010", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Red Sand Dune\nThe genuine attraction of Wadi Rum is the desert itself, best seen by **4x4**, on camel or foot. Some visitors only spend a few hours in the Wadi, but it's definitely worth staying overnight in Bedouin camps in the desert and taking a guided trip.\n\nThe quality 4-wheel-drive tour depends on Bedouin driver who serves as a guide, but often do not have much knowledge and poor English. Therefore, picking up a guide at the gate is a hit and miss affair and many of the best guides rely mainly on advance bookings. Many of the guides have websites, through which you can arrange your tour.\n\nThe desert landscapes and sandstone cliffs are themselves as much an attraction as any specific sites and the travelling between locations is often the highlight of the tours.\n\n**Hiking** is possible, especially in colder low season.\n**Climbing** is another popular activity and a number of guides are also trained climbers. **Scrambling** the ancient Bedouin Routes to the summits is another great option. Not quite climbing, but more rewarding than a simple hike and can often be combined with climbing or abseiling and/or camping on top of a peak.\n\nThe **Distant Heat Festival** is held every summer on the last Thursday of July which features trance and electronic music.\n\n**Hot Air Ballooning** is also possible for 100-150 JD. Various companies are available, search the Internet or try this one.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk011", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Eat & drink", "text": "thumb|Food being prepared at a Bedouin camp\n At the entrance to the park, a small tent-restaurant serves simple Jordanian fare of bread, yogurt and such. However, there has been one report of food poisoning here.\n When you arrive at the Village there are a couple of shops where you can buy water and other soft drinks. Note that almost all the fruit juices are actually labelled as \"fruit drinks\", with sugar as the main ingredient. You might be able to find some pure fruit juice, such as Tropicana, if you look closely.\nThe village has a number of basic cafes that have falafel, coffee and other basics.\n Many camps will provide traditional Bedouin meals. One speciality is chicken or goat cooked under the desert sand, generically known as \"zarb\" in the same way as we might say \"a roast\". This has a barbecue flavour, but is very moist and falls off of the bone: try to be nearby when they unearth it as the smell released is gorgeous!\n You won't be able to avoid the Bedouin tea, which is almost forcibly served in every tent you will visit. It's hot, very sweet and usually flavoured with mint and/or sage. It's surprisingly refreshing on a hot day and you may develop a slight addiction to it.", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk012", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are Bedouin camps are throughout Wadi Rum Desert and require 4WD for access. The Wadi Rum Rest House in Wadi Rum Village no longer offers accommodation and you will only find a few home-stays listed if you are looking to sleep overnight in the village.\n\n### Camping\n\nWadi Rum Visitor Centre can provide a map marking official camping areas that available to the public. You are required to leave with all your belongings and any rubbish accumulated during your trip. Note that it will get very cold at night in the desert, even in summer.\n\n### Camps\n\nthumb|Bedouin camp site\nThere are several sleeping options, from a more formal camp ground to riding out into the desert with a Bedouin guide and staying in a traditional Bedouin tent. As of Mar 2026, expect to pay 20-80 JD per person per night depending on the camp type. Budget Bedouin camps start from 20 JD and include dinner and breakfast. Luxury camps with private bathroom and air conditioning range from 50 to 80 JD per person. Bubble tent camps — transparent dome tents for stargazing — start from 35 JD per person and typically include a private bathroom and AC. Most camps include dinner and breakfast in the price. Pickup from the Wadi Rum Visitor Center is usually included or available for a small extra fee.", "word_count": 225}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk013", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Formal camps are the common appearance of accommodation in Wadi Rum. They are all pretty much similar, consisting of about 3-10 tents of 3x3m with beds, one big common area tent, regular toilet and even semi-warm shower, depending on the hours of sunlight. Power is provided most of the time (not just 5 h). These camps include dinner, breakfast and loads of tea. The standard price for them—assuming they already have at least 4 people there—seem to be 25 JD for a single, but if you are good at bargaining (in the middle of nowhere, or beforehand), you will get it down to 20 JD. This doesn't include transport. The price for two people occupying one tent should consequently be between 35-45 JD. Make sure to get the described conditions or research options before arrival, some people ended up in camps with less than that for pretty much the same price.\n\nApparently, on the usual booking sites such as Booking.com or Google Maps, you can even get a tent from 10 JD—in addition to a proper GPS location. The price however includes only bed and sometimes breakfast, expect to pay another 10 JD for dinner and 10 JD for one way transportation. If you book one of these very cheap options, it is advisable to contact them in advance to confirm . But, of course, this all depend on you negotiation skills.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk014", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Sleep", "text": "To find the below listed camps, try a combination of OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use and which has many camp sites listed, or TripAdvisor (includes the name) and Booking.com (allows booking and contact) to locate the camps, in case you want to organise the transport and hike yourself. Or just head to Booking.com or Google Maps, where you will mostly always also have a GPS location, but should be reconfirmed with host.\n\nSome camps are:\n - Abu Yousef Bedouin Camp and Travel Jordan Agency\n\n- Beduin history camp and trip\n\n- Arabian Nights\n\n- Bedouin Advisor\n\n- Bedouin Directions\n\n- Experience Wadi Rum\n\n- Jordan Tracks Camp\n\n- Lawrence Camp\n\n- Nawaf Faqeer's Bedouin Desert Camp\n\n- Rum Stars Camp\n\n- Sabbah Eid Wadi Rum\n\n- Sand Star Camp\n\n- Saleh Musa\n\n- Salman Zwaidh Camp\n\n- Suleman Abu Musalam and family\n\n- Wadi Rum Desert Eyes\n\n- Wadi Rum Desert Tours\n\n- Wadi Rum Nomads\n\n- Wadi Rum Nature Tours & Camp\n\n- Wild Wadi Rum\n\n- Wadi Rum Fire Camp\n\n- Wadi Rum Escape\n\n- See Wadi Rum\n\n- Khaled's Camp - Wadi Rum\n\n- The Legacy of Wadi Rum", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk015", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be cautious with anyone who seems interested in romantic entanglements, as incidents of foreign women being charmed by locals and then discovering that the \"romance\" was merely a cover to obtain sex, money, or other services are not uncommon and increasing. This seems especially true for young foreign travellers.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "wadi-rum::chunk016", "doc_id": "wadi-rum", "section": "Go next", "text": "Just as for getting in, the route out of Wadi Rum involves joining the Desert Highway that runs between Amman and Aqaba. Petra is two hours north, and Aqaba is half an hour south, and these are the most common destinations to travel on to after leaving Wadi Rum.\n\nThere are public minibuses that run every day at least to Petra and Amman, but these are pretty expensive (20 JD to Amman). Minibuses run mostly in the morning, ask at your camp to have a place booked. There are also numerous taxis waiting for tourists at the parking lot in the Wadi Rum village. Hitchhiking is the cheapest and often the fastest option to get somewhere else. A good way to hitchhike is to ask other tourists at your camp or at the parking lot to give you a ride in their rented car—you will probably find someone who is going to Petra or Aqaba.\n\n### To Aqaba\n\nThere is a daily minibus from Wadi Rum Village to Aqaba, it departs at 06:30, arriving about 07:30. 3 JD (2018).\n\nTaxis from Wadi Rum to Aqaba will cost around 20–35 JD, depending on your negotiation skills.\n\nTaxis from Wadi Rum to the Border Crossing (Israeli border) or Aqaba Airport should be similar priced based on the distance, but taxi drivers will try to charge you more due to the peculiarity of these destinations.\n\n### To Petra\n\nThere is a daily bus from the Wadi Rum Village to Wadi Musa (Petra) that departs around 08:30, takes around 2 hr, and costs 7.50–10 JD (Oct 2018) per person. Confirm the price with the driver in advance—including luggage which should not cost extra—to avoid any nasty surprises.\n\nTaxis from Wadi Rum to Petra cost 30–40 JD.\n\n### To Amman\n\nThere is a tourist minibus going from/to Amman everyday for 20 JD as of December 2018. Ask personnel at your accommodation to book you a seat.\n\nTaxis from Wadi Rum to Amman (and Queen Alia Airport) cost around 100–120 JD.", "word_count": 332}
diff --git a/corpus/wadi-rum/metadata.json b/corpus/wadi-rum/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3480c3cdf2a96ac445bd75198693e296175071af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/wadi-rum/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "wadi-rum",
+ "title": "Wadi Rum",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "Middle East",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Wadi_Rum",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "photography",
+ "spa",
+ "desert",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Desert (Jordan)"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Amman",
+ "Aqaba",
+ "Petra"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3412,
+ "listing_count": 37,
+ "marker_count": 3,
+ "chunk_count": 17,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/yellowstone/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/yellowstone/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7408cd563f9705ef08bc73a755388488a2f36dcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yellowstone/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk000", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Yellowstone National Park** is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world's first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area. The park contains , mostly within the northwest corner of Wyoming, but with portions extending into the states of Idaho and Montana.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk001", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|260px|The Grand Geyser, the largest predictable geyser in Yellowstone, can spout boiling water over {{convert|150|ft|m}} in the air.\n\n### History\n\nOn March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first *national park* reserve declared anywhere in the world, by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1978 it was designated a World Heritage Site. Although it is commonly assumed that the park was named for the yellow rocks seen in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the park's name comes from the Yellowstone River that flows through it, which is in turn named after sandstone bluffs found farther down its course in eastern Montana.\n\nLong before any recorded human history in Yellowstone, a massive volcanic eruption spewed an immense volume of ash that covered all of the western U.S., much of the Midwest, parts of the US east coast, northern Mexico, and some areas in Canada. The eruption left a caldera approximately . See volcanoes for background; Yellowstone is classed as a supervolcano and its last eruption is thought to have been a VEI-8 event with over 1000 km3 of ejecta, a thousand times more powerful than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The Yellowstone super volcano is believed to erupt every 600,000 to 900,000 years with the last event occurring 640,000 years ago. Its eruptions are among the largest known to have ever occurred on Earth, producing drastic climate change in the aftermath.\n\n### Landscape\n\nThey key feature of Yellowstone is the caldera of a supervolcano. Its last eruption was a stupendous (VEI-8) blast about 640,000 years ago.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk002", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Understand", "text": "With half of the earth's geothermal features, Yellowstone holds the planet's most diverse and intact collection of geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. Its more than 300 geysers make up two thirds of all those found on earth. Combine this with more than 10,000 thermal features comprised of brilliantly colored hot springs, bubbling mudpots, and steaming fumaroles, and you have a place like no other.\n\nYellowstone's hydrothermal features would not exist without the underlying magma body that releases tremendous heat. They also depend on sources of water, such as from the mountains surrounding the Yellowstone Plateau. There, snow and rain slowly percolate through layers of permeable rock riddled with cracks. Some of this cold water meets hot brine directly heated by the shallow magma body. The water's temperature rises well above the boiling point but the water remains in a liquid state due to the great pressure and weight of the overlying water. The result is superheated water with temperatures exceeding .\n\nThe superheated water is less dense than the colder, heavier water sinking around it. This creates convection currents that allow the lighter, more buoyant, superheated water to begin its journey back to the surface following the cracks and weak areas through rhyolitic lava flows. This upward path is the natural \"plumbing\" system of the park's hydrothermal features. Once it reaches the surface, the various colors of the pools are due to different types of bacteria growing in different temperatures.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nthumb|300px|It's not at all unusual to see many types of bears, like this black bear, near the roadways or up on the ridges of Yellowstone in the summertime, usually foraging for food.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk003", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Understand", "text": "The park is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems remaining on the planet, and as a result is an exceptional area for wildlife viewing.\n\nYellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Sixty-seven different mammals live here, including grizzly bears and black bears. Gray wolves were hunted to extinction by 1926, but reintroduced from Canada in 1995, and more than 100 live in the park now, making it one of the best places to see them in the wild. In addition, the park is also home to thriving populations of coyotes and red foxes. Wolverine and lynx, which require large expanses of undisturbed habitat, are also found in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Seven native ungulate species - elk, mule deer, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer live here. Non-native mountain goats have colonized northern portions of the park and numerous small mammals, including beavers, are found throughout the park.\n\nRecords of bird sightings have been kept in Yellowstone since its establishment in 1872; these records document 330 species of birds to date, of which approximately 148 species are known to nest in the park. The variation in elevation and broad array of habitat types found within the park contributes to the region's relatively high diversity.\n\nGlacial activity and current cool and dry conditions are likely responsible for the relatively small number of reptiles and amphibians found in the park.\n\nYellowstone is home to more than 1,350 species of vascular plants, of which 218 are non-native.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk004", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Understand", "text": "The weather in Yellowstone National Park can change very rapidly from sunny and warm to cold and rainy, so it's important to bring along extra layers of clothing which can be used as needed. Snow can fall in Yellowstone at any time of the year.\n\n**Summer**: Daytime temperatures are often in the 70s F (25 °C) and occasionally in the 80s F (30 °C) in lower elevations. Nights are usually cool and temperatures may drop below freezing at higher elevations. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons.\n **Winter**: Temperatures often range from zero to 20 °F (-20 to -5 °C) throughout the day. Sub-zero temperatures over-night are common. The record low temperature is . Snowfall is highly variable. While the average is per year, it is not uncommon for higher elevations to get twice that amount.\n **Spring & Fall**: Daytime temperatures range from the 30s to the 60s (0 to 20 °C) with overnight lows in the teens to single digits (-5 to -20 °C). Snow is common in the Spring and Fall with regular accumulations of 12\" in a 24-hour period. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes. Unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone's weather. Always be equipped with a wide range of clothing options. Be sure to bring a warm jacket and rain gear even in the summer.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nPark website", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk005", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|400px|Yellowstone National Park area map\n\n### By plane\n\nThe principal airport serving Yellowstone is **Jackson Hole Airport** (), in Grand Teton National Park, near Jackson, and the largest airport in Wyoming. United and Delta serve Jackson Hole year-round, from Denver and Salt Lake City respectively. These airlines plus American and Frontier provide seasonal flights from those cities and eight others across the US.\n\nOther airports with commercial services are at:\n\n **Bozeman** (Montana) (). From eight cities year round and more seasonally. During the winter only, Xanterra runs a once-a-day hotel bus from Bozeman; expect to pay $100 per person.\n **Cody** (Wyoming) (), Yellowstone Regional Airport. From Salt Lake City and Denver.\n **Idaho Falls** (Idaho) (). From six cities.\n **West Yellowstone** (Montana) (). From Salt Lake City, Jun–Sep only.\n\n### By bus\n\nSeveral bus companies provide service to the areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park, though direct bus routes into the park are limited. Here are some of the primary bus companies that operate in the region:\n\nGreyhound - Offers routes to nearby cities such as Bozeman, Montana, and Idaho Falls, Idaho.\nJefferson Lines - Provides service to several locations in Montana, including Bozeman, which is a gateway to Yellowstone.\nSalt Lake Express - Operates routes that connect Salt Lake City, Utah, to various locations in Idaho and Montana, including West Yellowstone.\n\nFrom these nearby cities, you can often find additional transportation options such as shuttle services or rental cars to enter Yellowstone National Park.\n\n### By car\n\nThe park has 5 entrances. The nearest cities to each entrance are given.\n\n - Accessed from Gardiner (Montana) via US Route 89, from Livingston. This entrance is open all year and leads to the park headquarters at **Mammoth Hot Springs**, inside the park boundary. The iconic **Roosevelt Arch** is at this entrance.\n - Accessed from Silver Gate and Cooke City via US Route 212 (Beartooth Highway). The entrance and road to Cooke City are open all year, but Route 212 past Cooke City is closed in winter (mid-October to late May).\n - Accessed from Cody, , via US Route 14/16/20. This entrance is closed in winter (early November to early May).\n - Accessed from Grand Teton National Park via US Route 89/191/287. This entrance is closed in winter (early November to mid-May). \n - Accessed from West Yellowstone via US Route 20/191/287, from Ashton, Idaho. This entrance is closed in winter (early November to late April).\n\n### By foot\n\nThere are an extensive number of trails entering the park on all sides including the Continental Divide Trail.", "word_count": 422}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk006", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "All vehicles and individuals entering the park must pay an entrance fee that is valid for seven days. Fees as of 2023 are:\n\n $20 - individual on foot, bicycle, etc.\n $30 - motorcycle or snowmobile.\n $35 - non-commercial vehicle.\n $70 - Yellowstone National Park Annual Pass, allows access to the park for one year for a private vehicle.\n\nWhile in the past entrance fees to Yellowstone also included fees for entering Grand Teton National Park, visitors planning to visit both parks will now have to pay separate entrance fees for each.", "word_count": 91}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk007", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|400px|Yellowstone National Park map.\n\nA useful way to orient yourself is to visualize the roads inside Yellowstone as making a \"figure-8\" shape. The lower loop, West Thumb - Old Faithful - Madison - Norris - Canyon - Lake Village - West Thumb, is about around. The upper loop, Norris - Mammoth - Tower-Roosevelt - Canyon - Norris, is about around. The park is *large*.\n\n### By car\n\nMost visitors use private vehicles to get around inside Yellowstone National Park. Roads can become very crowded whenever people stop to view wildlife; use pullouts, and be respectful of other motorists to help avoid *bear-jams*. When snow falls roads may be closed, and during winter months many park roads close permanently.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere is no public transportation available within the park. Xanterra Resorts provides bus tours within the park during the summer season. The Lower Loop Tour departs from locations in the southern part of the Park only. The Upper Loop Tour departs from Lake Hotel, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Canyon Lodge to tour the northern section of the park only. The Grand Loop Tour departs from Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to tour the entire park in one day. During the winter season snowcoach tours are provided from various locations. Call +1 307 344-7311 for information or reservations.\n\nIn addition, during the summer season, commercial businesses offer tours originating from many area towns and cities. During the winter season, some businesses provide snowcoach tours for most park roads or bus transportation on the Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City road.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nCycling in the park can be a very rewarding experience, but due to the great distances in the park some additional planning is necessary to ensure that lodging is available each night. The park reserves a number of campsites for cyclists, but during the busy summer season it is probably best to reserve sites in advance wherever possible.\n\n### By snowmobile or snowcoach\n\nWinter is perhaps the most tranquil time to visit the park when there are the fewest visitors. The winter use season of snowmobile and snowcoach travel begins in mid-December and ends in mid-March. Actual opening or closing dates for oversnow travel varies by entrance and will be determined by adequate snowpack and plowing schedules. Visitors wishing to visit the park on a snowmobile or in a snowcoach must either travel by commercial snowcoach or accompany a commercial guide on snowmobiles (private, unguided snowmobiles or snowcoaches are not allowed) which are available at most entrances. Best Available Technology snowmobiles are required, and there is a daily limit on snowmobile and snowcoach entries. Off-road use of snowmobiles and snowcoaches is prohibited.", "word_count": 447}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk008", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "See", "text": "Yellowstone is world-famous for its natural heritage and beauty - and for the fact that it holds half the world's geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples. Travelers to Yellowstone can view more than 300 geysers (such as \"Old Faithful\"), pools of boiling mud, and an amazing assemblage of wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk, all while standing on the surface of the Earth's largest known \"super-volcano\".\n\nThe park can be sub-divided into approximately eight major areas, which are organized below as they would be encountered by someone traveling the park in a clockwise direction, starting from the east.\n\n### Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge & Lake\n\nThese three regions are situated on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. Recreation options include boating, fishing, and a handful of thermal features.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Yellowstone Lake\n\n- Hayden and Pelican Valleys\n\n- Natural Bridge\n\n- LeHardy Rapids\n\n- Mud Volcano\n\n- Sulphur Caldron\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- Fishing Bridge\n\n- Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center\n\n- Lake Yellowstone Hotel\n\n- Lake Ranger Station\n\n- The Lake Lodge\n\n### West Thumb & Grant Village\n\nthumb|300px|Fishing Cone Geyser and Yellowstone Lake.\n\nThese two villages are on the western side of Yellowstone Lake and offer boating, fishing, and some interesting thermal features, including the \"Fishing Cone\", a hot springs that bubbles out directly into the lake. The area's name comes from the fact that with a little imagination, Yellowstone Lake looks like a left hand reaching southward, and this area would be the \"thumb\" of that hand.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Yellowstone Lake\n\n- West Thumb Geyser Basin\n\n- Heart Lake\n\n- Isa Lake\n\n- Red Mountains\n\n- Shoshone Lake", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk009", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "See", "text": "Historical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- West Thumb Ranger Station\n\n### Old Faithful\n\nthumb|300px|The Grand Prismatic Spring, viewed from above. For a closer view, there are raised boardwalks around the spring and nearby pools (viewable in the detail of the picture)\n\nOld Faithful is the image people think of when they think of Yellowstone, and the geyser erupts regularly (check the visitor center for estimated eruption times). This area is also home to the iconic and historic Old Faithful Inn, as well as a vast number of geysers and hot springs that are easily accessible via boardwalks.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Upper Geyser Basin\n\n- Lower Geyser Basin\n\n- Midway Geyser Basin\n\n- Lone Star Geyser Basin\n\n- Shoshone Geyser Basin\n\n- Firehole River\n\n- Kepler Cascades\n\n- Morning Glory Pool\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- Old Faithful Inn\n\n- Lower Hamilton Store\n\n### Madison\n\nMadison is midway between Old Faithful and the Norris Geyser basin and offers an array of thermal features.\n\n- Artists Paintpots\n\n- Gibbon Falls\n\n- Monument Geyser Basin\n\n- Madison River\n\n- Terrace Springs\n\n- Firehole Canyon Drive and Firehole Falls\n\n- National Park Mountain\n\n### Norris\n\nthumb|300px|Looking like an image from space, mattes of cyanobacteria thrive in the scalding waters of Biscuit Basin.\n\nSouth of Mammoth, the Norris area is a home to a vast array of thermal features, including Steamboat Geyser, the world's largest. The area was named after Philetus W. Norris, the second superintendent of Yellowstone, who provided the first detailed information about the thermal features.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Norris Geyser Basin\n\n- Roaring Mountain\n\n- Gibbon River\n\n- Virginia Cascades\n\n- Norris-Canyon Blowdown\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk010", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "See", "text": "- The Norris Soldier Station\n\n- The Norris Geyser Basin Museum\n\n### Mammoth\n\nthumb|300px|Hot pools and travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. The color in the rock is due to algae living in the warm pools that have stained the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.\n\nMammoth is home to the park headquarters and the impressive calcite terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. This area has numerous services and is a surprisingly good place to see elk grazing on the manicured lawns surrounding the park administrative buildings.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Mammoth Hot Springs\n\n- The Gardner River and Gardner River Canyon\n\n- 45th Parallel Bridge and Boiling River\n\n- Mt. Everts\n\n- Bunsen Peak\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- Fort Yellowstone\n\n- Roosevelt Arch\n\n- Kite Hill Cemetery\n\n- Yellowstone Archives\n\n### Tower-Roosevelt\n\nThe Tower area is one of the park's more rugged regions and is a good place for spotting wildlife. The Lamar Valley, east of Tower, is home to one of the park's more accessible wolf packs as well as elk, bighorn, and other large animals.\n\nThermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- Petrified Tree\n\n- Specimen Ridge\n\n- Tower Fall\n\n- Calcite Springs\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- The Buffalo Ranch\n\n- The Tower Ranger Station & Roosevelt National Historic District\n\n- The Northeast Entrance Ranger Station\n\n### Canyon\n\nthumb|The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls\n\nThe Canyon village is named after the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and offers access to this impressive natural landscape. Recreational opportunities include hiking and wildlife viewing - the Hayden Valley area is probably the best place in the park for seeing bison.", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk011", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "See", "text": "Thermal features and natural attractions in this area include:\n\n- The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone\n\n- The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone\n\n- Hayden Valley\n\n- Mt. Washburn\n\nHistorical and educational attractions in this area include:\n\n- Canyon Village", "word_count": 42}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk012", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|For a fee, classic buses will lead passengers on a guided tour of the Grand Loop Road\n\nMany visitors believe they can visit all 2.2 *million* acres or *thousand* km2 of Yellowstone in 1-2 days - all the while staying within sight of their car or tour bus. To truly appreciate this vast park, get off the park roads and paved tourist paths.\n\n### Park programs\n\n- Car Free Week\n\n - Ranger-led programs\n\n- Junior Ranger Program\n\n- Young Scientist\n\n### Activities\n\n - Wildlife viewing\n\n - [[Horseback riding]]\n\n - [[Wilderness backpacking]]\n\n - Photography\n\n - [[Fishing]]\n\n - Swimming\n\n - Boating\n\n - [[Mountain biking]]\n\n### Hiking\n\nThere are a huge number of day hikes available in the park, and since many visitors travel only to the most popular geyser basins these trails can provide an opportunity to see the park in a more natural setting.\n\n#### Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge & Lake\n\n - Natural Bridge\n\n - Pelican Creek\n\n - Storm Point\n\n - Elephant Back Mountain\n\n - Howard Eaton\n\n - Pelican Valley\n\n - Avalanche Peak\n\n#### West Thumb & Grant Village\n\n - West Thumb Geyser Basin\n\n - Lake Overlook\n\n - Duck Lake\n\n - Shoshone Lake (via DeLacy Creek)\n\n - Riddle Lake\n\n - Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop\n\n#### Old Faithful\n\nthumb|300px|Clepsydra geyser at play, Lower Geyser basin.\n\n - Observation Point\n\n - Mallard Lake\n\n - Howard Eaton\n\n - Lone Star\n\n - Divide\n\n - Mystic Falls\n\n - Mallard Creek\n\n - Fairy Falls\n\n - Sentinel Meadows & Queen's Laundry\n\n#### Madison\n\n - Purple Mountain\n\n - Harlequin Lake\n\n - Two Ribbons Trail\n\n - Gallatin Area\n\n#### Norris\n\nthumb|300px|Bison amble along a park road. Despite their docile appearance, bison are temperamental and can move extremely fast.They should be viewed from a safe distance through binoculars or telephoto lenses.\n\n - Grizzly Lake\n\n - Solfatara Creek\n\n - Ice Lake Trail (direct route)\n\n - Wolf Lake Cut-off Trail\n\n - Cygnet Lakes Trail\n\n - Artist Paint Pots\n\n - Monument Geyser Basin\n\n#### Mammoth\n\n - Beaver Ponds Loop\n\n - Bunsen Peak\n\n - Osprey Falls\n\n - Lava Creek\n\n - Rescue Creek\n\n - Blacktail Deer Creek/Yellowstone River\n\n - Sepulcher Mountain\n\n#### Tower-Roosevelt\n\n - Lost Lake\n\n - Garnet Hill\n\n - Hellroaring\n\n - Yellowstone River Picnic Area\n\n - Slough Creek\n\n - Mt. Washburn\n\n#### Canyon\n\nthumb|300px|Dead trees near the summit of Mt. Washburn. These trees are the victims of a massive forest fire in 1988 that burned through over 30% of the forest running through the park.\n\n - Howard Eaton Trail (to Cascade, Grebe, Wolf, and Ice lakes, and Norris)\n\n - Observation Peak\n\n - Cascade Lake\n\n - Grebe Lake\n\n - Seven Mile Hole\n\n - Mt. Washburn\n\n - Washburn Spur Trail", "word_count": 434}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk013", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Buy", "text": "Every major village within the park offers food, camping supplies, and souvenirs for sale, although these stores all close during the winter months.\n\nGasoline and automotive services are available in the following locations:\n\n - Canyon\n\n - Fishing Bridge\n\n - Grant Village\n\n - Mammoth\n\n - Old Faithful (Lower)\n\n - Old Faithful (Upper)\n\n - Tower Junction", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk014", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|230px|Vintage sign at Mammoth Hot Springs: There are a variety of restaurant venues scattered throughout the park.\n\nMost of the villages sell food supplies and may offer snack bars. The following restaurants and cafeterias are also available:\n\n - Canyon Lodge Dining Room\n\n - Canyon Lodge Cafeteria\n\n - Canyon Lodge Deli\n\n - Grant Village Dining Room\n\n - Grant Village Lakehouse Restaurant\n\n - Lake Lodge Cafeteria\n\n - Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room\n\n - Lake Deli\n\n - Mammoth Hotel Dining Room\n\n - Mammoth Terrace Grill\n\n - Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli\n\n - Old Faithful Inn Dining Room\n\n - Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria and Bake Shop\n\n - Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room\n\n - Old Faithful Snow Lodge Geyser Grill\n\n - Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room\n\n - Old West Dinner Cookout", "word_count": 128}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk015", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Drink", "text": "Cocktails can be purchased in the lodge restaurants, and lighter beverages can be obtained at the snack bars.\n\n - Seven Stool Saloon\n\n - Bear Pit Lounge", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk016", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|230px|A small cauldron bubbles in the Upper Geyser Basin across from Old Faithful Inn.\n\nWhile there are an abundance of hotels and campgrounds within the park, they fill quickly in the summer so visitors may also want to consider lodging options in the gateway towns of West Yellowstone and Gardiner.\n\n### Lodging\n\nLodging in the park fills quickly and should be booked in advance. Cancellations are common, so if a particular lodging option is unavailable it is a good idea to re-check frequently to see if it becomes available. Reservations for all lodges and cabins in the park can be made through Xanterra Parks & Resorts or by calling (307) 344-7311. All park accommodations are non-smoking and, reflecting the natural surroundings of Yellowstone, televisions, radios, air conditioning, and Internet hook-ups are not available. During the winter the only lodging within the park is the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hotel. Getting to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge requires traveling over snow-covered roads, which usually means reserving a seat on the snowcoach at a cost of about $150 per person.\n\n- Canyon Lodge and Cabins\n\n- Grant Village\n\n- Lake Lodge Cabins\n\n- Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins\n\n- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins\n\n- Old Faithful Inn\n\n- Old Faithful Lodge Cabins\n\n- Old Faithful Snow Lodge\n\n- Roosevelt Lodge Cabins\n\n### Camping\n\nthumb|300px|A trick of refraction, blue steam rises off the waters of Grand Prismatic Spring", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk017", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Campgrounds may fill by early morning, especially during peak season (early July - late August). Recreational vehicles over should make reservations since there is a limited number of RV sites available in Yellowstone. Large RV sites are at Flag Ranch, Fishing Bridge RV Park and West Yellowstone. Reservations should be made well in advance and/or campsites should be secured as early in the day as possible.\n\n- Xanterra Parks & Resorts\n\nIndian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall are operated by the National Park Service and do not accept reservations; all sites are first-come, first-served.\n\n- Bridge Bay Campground\n\n- Canyon Campground\n\n- Fishing Bridge RV Park\n\n- Grant Village Campground\n\n- Indian Creek Campground\n\n- Lewis Lake Campground\n\n- Madison Campground\n\n- Mammoth Campground\n\n- Norris Campground\n\n- Pebble Creek Campground\n\n- Slough Creek Campground\n\n- Tower Fall Campground\n\n### Backcountry\n\nPermits are required for all backcountry camping, and quotas are placed on the number of people that may use an area at a given time. The maximum stay per backcountry campsite varies from 1 to 3 nights per trip. Campfires are permitted only in established fire pits, and wood fires are not allowed in some backcountry campsites. A food storage pole is provided at most designated campsites so that food and attractants may be secured from bears. Neither hunting nor firearms are allowed in Yellowstone's backcountry.\n\nPermits may be obtained only in person and no more than 48 hours in advance of your trip, although backcountry sites may be reserved through the mail well in advance for a non-refundable $20 reservation fee. To reserve a site, download the reservation form from the Backcountry Trip Planner, call +1 307 344-2160, or by writing: Backcountry Office, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk018", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Sleep", "text": "During the summer season (Jun-Aug), permits are available 7 days a week between 8AM and 4:30PM at the following locations:\n\nBechler Ranger Station\n Canyon Ranger Station/Visitor Center\n Grant Village Visitor Center\n Lake Ranger Station\n Mammoth Ranger Station/Visitor Center\n Old Faithful Ranger Station\n South Entrance Ranger Station\n Tower Ranger Station\n West Entrance Ranger Station\n\nIn addition, permits may sometimes be obtained from rangers on duty at the East Entrance and Bridge Bay Ranger Station. However, these rangers have other duties and may not be available to provide assistance at all times.\n\nDuring the spring, fall, and winter seasons, ranger stations and visitor centers do not have set hours. To obtain a Backcountry Use Permit during these seasons, check the office hours posted at the nearest ranger station or visitor center.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk019", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Yellowstone has some hazards related to volcanic activity. There are also hazards from dangerous animals.\n\n### Wildlife\n\nThough many of the animals in the park are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. According to park authorities, **stay at least 100 yards/meters away from bears and wolves and 25 yards/meters from all other wild animals!** No matter how docile they may look, bison, elk, moose, bears, and nearly all large animals can attack. Each year, dozens of visitors are injured because they didn't keep a proper distance. These animals are large, wild, and potentially dangerous, so give them their space.\n\nIn addition, be aware that odors attract bears and other wildlife, so avoid carrying or cooking odorous foods and keep a clean camp; do not cook or store food in your tent. All food, garbage, or other odorous items used for preparing or cooking food must be secured from bears. Treat all odorous products such as soap, deodorant, or other toiletries in the same manner as food. Do not leave packs containing food unattended, even for a few minutes. Animals that obtain human food often become aggressive and dependent on human foods, and many can suffer ill health or death from eating a non-native diet. A short film about food safety is now mandatory before a back country permit will be issued.\n\n### Thermal areas\n\nthumb|300px|Fragile sinter crusts and ledges can give way, plunging a careless tourist into the boiling waters below", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk020", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "It is illegal to swim or bathe in thermal pools. There is a designated swimming area along the Firehole River near Madison Junction. Always stay on boardwalks in thermal areas. Scalding water lies under thin, breakable crusts; pools are near or above boiling temperatures. Every year visitors traveling off trail are seriously burned, and people have died from the scalding water. Park rangers can also issue $130 fines for being out of bounds, or much more if there is any geological damage. Serious violations can result in the visitor being banned from the park, or even facing criminal charges.\n\nIt's common to get sprayed with fine mist from the geysers, though. You don't need to worry about being burned, as the water has traveled a sufficient distance to cool down, provided you're within the designated areas. (Mist can't retain heat for more than half a second.)\n\nBeware, glass lenses (such as eyeglasses and camera lenses) may be *permanently damaged* by the high mineral content of the water in the mist. For cameras, clear glass filters can provide inexpensive protection for high-priced lenses (be sure to have some replacements). If water from a thermal feature gets on a vulnerable lens, it must be washed off immediately. If no clean water is available, you can try – no, this is not a joke – licking the lens. If you try to wipe off the geyser water with a cleaning cloth (without rinsing the lens first), you risk grinding the suspended minerals into the glass of the lens, and scratching it. For eyeglasses, use safety goggles over glasses. These are quite cheap, and available at hardware stores.\n\n### Yellowstone Lake", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk021", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "This is one of the largest high-altitude bodies of fresh water on the planet. The Lake is large enough to have its own weather effects, and conditions can change rapidly. More than a few fatalities have occurred on the lake, when boaters fell victim to weather conditions that went from calm and sunny to violent storm in a matter of minutes. East of West Thumb Geyser Basin, near Lake Village, there is a marina where boats are available for rental from a Park concessionaire.\n\n### Hiking\n\nKnow your 10 essentials when going on a hike, cell phones (mobile phones) won't work in most areas of the park, and may not be depended on in an emergency situation.\n Navigation\n Hydration & Nutrition\n Pocket Knife\n Sun Protection\n Insulation\n Ability to make fire\n Lighting\n First Aid\n Shelter\n Whistle\n\n### Weather\n\nThe weather can change rapidly and with little warning. A sunny, warm day can quickly become a cold, rainy or even snowy experience even in summer. Hypothermia can be a concern. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions by bringing along appropriate clothing. Lightning can and does injure and kill people in the park, so watch the sky and take shelter in a building if you hear thunder. If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes; it'll probably change.\n\n### Other concerns\n\nWhen camping, either filter, boil, or otherwise purify drinking water. Assume that even crystal clear waters may be polluted by animal and/or human wastes, and intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common. Iodine tablets are not as effective as other methods but are readily available at local stores and easy to bring on a hike.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk022", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Finally, with so many people visiting the park each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables, especially when leaving cars near trail heads or other areas where you might be away from your car for any length of time.\n\n### Law Enforcement\n\nAs a US National Park, Yellowstone is subject to US Federal Law. Generally, permits (such as for fishing) issued by surrounding States are not valid in the Park. If a visitor is cited for an offense while in the Park (such as speeding, feeding wildlife, failing to secure food in a campsite, *etc*), the fine **must** be paid immediately. The visitor is then free to make their case to the court at the Park Headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs.", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "yellowstone::chunk023", "doc_id": "yellowstone", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Grand Teton National Park** (WY). Yellowstone's southern neighbor is famous for its dramatic mountain vistas and its alpine lakes. The road connecting the two parks is closed during winter (early November to mid-May).\n **West Yellowstone** (MT). This town is most notable as a gateway to the park, with all the motels, services, and kitsch that park visitors require. West Yellowstone is the most convenient non-park lodging option for those planning to visit the Old Faithful area.\n **Gardiner** (MT). Just north of the park, Gardiner is another border town that provides lodging and service options. It is the most convenient non-park option for those wanting to be near the Mammoth area of Yellowstone.\n **Cody** (WY). About from the park's east entrance, this town offers a Wild West atmosphere in addition to lodging and service options. The Cody rodeo runs during the summer and the Buffalo Bill museum provides an excellent collection of old West artifacts and western art.\n **Virginia City** (MT). Historical gold mining town of the old west. About 90 min from West Yellowstone, and halfway to either Butte or Bozeman, Montana. In the town of Ennis, be sure to turn right at Main St. onto **Montana** Hwy 287, and stop following the US highway of the same number.\n **Idaho**. There are no roads in the small Idaho portion of the park, and very few visitors ever venture in. However, if you want to visit southern Idaho next, exit through West Yellowstone, and follow US Hwy 20. The first major city is Idaho Falls (just over ).", "word_count": 257}
diff --git a/corpus/yellowstone/metadata.json b/corpus/yellowstone/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..9c3ff0e9d8d132324209c105226eb1ad0de7e3f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yellowstone/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "yellowstone",
+ "title": "Yellowstone National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "geothermal",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 2,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Eastern Idaho",
+ "Yellowstone Country",
+ "Northwest Wyoming"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Grand Teton National Park",
+ "West Yellowstone",
+ "Gardiner (Montana)",
+ "Cody",
+ "Virginia City (Montana)",
+ "Butte",
+ "Bozeman",
+ "Idaho",
+ "Idaho Falls",
+ "Sheridan",
+ "Cody",
+ "Buffalo (Wyoming)",
+ "Cody",
+ "Idaho Falls",
+ "West Yellowstone",
+ "Casper",
+ "Cody",
+ "Livingston (Montana)",
+ "Gardiner (Montana)",
+ "Logan (Utah)",
+ "Grand Teton National Park",
+ "Bozeman",
+ "West Yellowstone",
+ "Rock Springs",
+ "Grand Teton National Park",
+ "Billings",
+ "Cooke City",
+ "Helena (Montana)",
+ "West Yellowstone",
+ "Rawlins",
+ "Grand Teton National Park"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 5496,
+ "listing_count": 176,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 24,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/yosemite/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/yosemite/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..192c0fbc2c2b131f87af5cfcd520f1efd26adbca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yosemite/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk000", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View\n\n**Yosemite National Park** is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sierra Nevada mountains in east-central California. Approximately four million visitors each year come to Yosemite to marvel at its spectacular granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, remote wilderness, massive sequoia trees, and high mountain meadows.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk001", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Understand", "text": "The park encompasses a massive , area and contains thousands of lakes and ponds, of streams, of hiking trails, and of roads.\n\n### History\n\nHumans may have first visited Yosemite as long as 8,000 years ago, and there is evidence that people have lived in the area for nearly 4,000 years. In 1849 the lives of the native Miwok population changed dramatically as the California Gold Rush brought thousands of miners into the region, resulting in a massive disruption to the way of life practiced by the existing people. By the 1930s the population of Native Americans had dwindled to the point that the last Indian village was disbanded, and by 1969 the last private Indian residences (by then solely inhabited by park employees and their families) were abandoned.\n\nThe beauty of Yosemite Valley inspired early visitors to the area and led to concern about exploitation by commercial interests. After prominent individuals advocated for its protection, on June 30, 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to the State of California as an inalienable public trust. This was the first time in history that the US federal government had set aside scenic lands for the purpose of preservation and public use. Following further lobbying by the conservationist John Muir, additional restrictions were put in place against grazing in the subalpine meadows surrounding Yosemite Valley, and on October 1, 1890 the area was declared America's third national park. However, as Mackinac River National Park in Michigan became a state park, Yosemite is the second oldest that still holds the \"national park\" title today.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk002", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Understand", "text": "Despite its national park status, California controlled the initial grant area until 1906. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that city began looking to Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley as a source of drinking water and hydroelectric power, and a bitter political struggle ensued between environmentalists and the city. In 1913, with the passage by Congress of the Raker Act, permission was granted to San Francisco to build the O'Shaughnessy Dam, allowing the Tuolumne River to flood the valley. Today, efforts to remove the dam and restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley continue.\n\n### Landscape\n\nYosemite is best known for its impressive granite cliffs and domes. These formations were born approximately ten million years ago when the Sierra fault began uplifting the Sierra Nevada mountains, forming relatively gentle western slopes and more extreme eastern slopes. Erosion, combined with at least four glacial periods, exposed the underlying granite and resulted in many of the cracked, rounded, and weathered formations that make the park famous. Streams cut deep, narrow valleys, while glaciers covered the area in up to of ice and generated wide, U-shaped valleys.\n\nThe Tuolumne and Merced rivers are the two major river systems in the park, carving canyons that are to deep. In addition, smaller rivers flow through the extreme elevations, generating some of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. In Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, at , is the tallest waterfall in North America, while Ribbon Falls has the highest uninterrupted vertical drop at .\n\n### Flora and fauna", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk003", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Understand", "text": "95% of Yosemite has been designated as wilderness, making it a haven for wildlife. In addition, over of the park is old-growth forest, having never been significantly altered by logging. The protected habitat, combined with the wide range of elevations, supports a wide array of animals. Over 400 species of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish live in the park, along with thousands of different plants.\n\nHerbivores in the park include the commonly seen mule deer and golden-mantled ground squirrels, and less commonly seen animals like mountain beavers, pika, yellow-bellied marmots, white-tailed hares, and the rare Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep that are found only around Tioga Pass. Predators include black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcat and gray fox. While once common, bear incidents have declined significantly in past years due to careful management, but be aware that while visitors are unlikely to see a bear, the animals are particularly active at night throughout the park, including in Yosemite Valley, and will seek out food sources that are available to them; heed all park regulations regarding storage of food items or items such as deodorants that have a smell that might interest a bear. Other animals found in the park include 17 species of bats, as well as over 150 species of birds such as great gray owls, spotted owls, white-headed woodpeckers, Steller's jays and northern goshawk. Reptiles are not common but include the mountain kingsnake and Gilbert's skink.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk004", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Understand", "text": "With elevations ranging from up to the park's vegetation zones range from scrub and chaparral communities at lower elevations to subalpine forests and alpine meadows at the higher elevations. Visitors will most commonly experience the park's extensive coniferous forest, but will also be drawn to the isolated groves of giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world. At elevations above beautiful subalpine meadows flower during July and August, while the treeline ends at and the vegetation is limited to hardy plants that bloom quickly during the few snow-free months.\n\n### Climate\n\nWeather can change rapidly during all seasons of the year, and will also vary greatly with elevation. When visiting it is wise to pack for any season with clothing that can be layered, ready to peel off or add on as conditions dictate. Always include some kind of rain gear; the park receives most of its precipitation in the winter months, but storms are common during the transitional spring and fall seasons, and spectacular thunderstorms may occur during summer.\n\nFor Yosemite Valley and Wawona (subtract 10-20°F (5-10°C) for Tuolumne Meadows), **average** weather is as follows:\n\n**Summer**: Typically warm and dry, with occasional thunderstorms; temperatures from 50°F (10°C) to the low 90°F (30°C) range.\n **Fall & Spring**: Highly variable, with typical high temperatures ranging from 50-80°F (10-27°C), with lows from 30-40°F (-1 to 4°C). Rain is less likely early in fall/late in spring and rain or snow is likely late in fall/early in spring.\n **Winter**: Snowy, rainy, or (sometimes) even sunny days are possible, with highs ranging from 30-60°F (-1 to 16°C) and lows in the high 20°F (-4 to 0°C) range. **Winter Storm Warnings** indicate a significant storm is impending or occurring.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nPark website\n - Yosemite Visitor Center", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk005", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|400px|Yosemite National Park roadmap\n\n### By car\n\n**Warning: There are no gas/petrol stations in the Yosemite Valley!**\n\nThere are four major entrances into the park. All of these routes are relatively winding mountain roads and appropriate time should be budgeted for them.\n\n**State Route 120 from the west** from Oakdale. This is the fastest route from locations west (Bay Area) and northwest (Sacramento). Route 120 is a bit steep, so RVs and trailers should consider Route 140 instead. In winter, snow makes the lower elevations of Route 140 more attractive.\n **State Route 140** west from Mariposa and Merced. This route mostly travels up the Merced River Canyon into Yosemite Valley and is the most scenic western entrance. RV and tour bus traffic used to congest this road a bit too much in summer, but the Ferguson rockslide in 2006 has caused restrictions to be imposed that prevent vehicles longer than . Highway 140 is now pleasantly less congested and the bridges afford an excellent view of the massive rock slide.\n **State Route 41** north from Fresno and Los Angeles/Southern California. Be sure to fill your gas tank in Oakhurst (several stations along highway), or pay dearly as you get closer to the park. Many businesses (including two more gas stations) are on the first half mile of adjoining **State Route 49** in Oakhurst.\n **State Route 120 from the east** (Tioga Pass Road) from Lee Vining and points east. This road is only open when free of snow (usually May - October) so check road conditions in advance.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk006", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get in", "text": "A secondary entrance exists to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir exclusively (no Yosemite Valley access) off of **State Route 120 from the west**. It requires taking a side road near the main Route 120 west entrance of Yosemite. Hetch Hetchy has restricted hours for access due to security for the Reservoir.\n\nDuring the snow season, usually November through March, snow chains may be required. Chain requirements are strictly enforced in Yosemite with potential fines being as much as $5,000, so chains should be carried during those months.\n\nDuring summer months traffic becomes heavily congested in Yosemite Valley, and parking can be nearly impossible to find. Summer visitors to Yosemite Valley are therefore strongly encouraged to use the YARTS shuttle system (see below) to get into the park.\n\n### By plane\n\nThere are no landing strips within the park. Airports in surrounding communities include:\n\nBay Area airports including San Francisco International Airport (), Oakland International (), and San Jose International () are much larger than any of the above airports and have more frequent flights to more destinations. Driving distance from the Bay Area is approximately four hours. However, landing at SFO requires crossing one of the San Francisco Bay bridges which are usually congested during the morning and evening rush hour. (Likewise for the return flight, and this direction includes a toll booth.) Sacramento International airport (), north of Sacramento, is another large airport option that is also about a four-hour drive from the park. Visitors arriving from the east may choose Reno/Tahoe International () in Reno, which is about 3½ hours (by car) from the Tioga Pass Entrance (summer only). Combining a flight to a major airport with an Amtrak or Greyhound ride can be an affordable and scenic option.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk007", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get in", "text": "Small private aircraft land at () about 5 mi/8 km northwest of the town of Mariposa on State Route 49. There is no control tower, and car rentals in the area are very limited. The YARTS shuttle (see below) is another possibility. Park entrance is an additional 27 mi/44 km via State Route 140.\n\n### By train\n\nAmtrak offers service to Yosemite by means of a motorcoach bus that meets its Gold Runner trains in Merced. The Gold Runner provides several departures each day along its route from Bakersfield in the south, Sacramento in the north, and the San Francisco Bay Area in the west. With ample motorcoach connections to and from the trains, this train service serves most of the state, allowing quick and easy access to Merced from most places within the state. The trip to/from San Francisco will take 6+ hours by public transport, compared to 5 hours via car.\n\n### By tour bus\n\nMany tour bus companies run tours from the Bay Area. Some will just take you to Yosemite Valley; others provide full tours to see the Giant Sequoias and/or Glacier Point.\n\n### By public bus", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk008", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) offers reasonably-priced transportation into Yosemite Valley from locations east and west of the park including Highway 41 (Fresno, Oakhurst, Coarsegold), Highway 140 (Merced - where you can transfer to Amtrak trains to/from San Francisco, Mariposa, El Portal), Highway 120 (Sonora, Jamestown, Groveland) and Highway 120/395 on the east side of the Sierras (Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes). Ticket price includes park admission, and adult tickets include a free ticket for one child 12 or under. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or from the shuttle driver, and round-trip fares are between $7 (from El Portal) to $36 (from Mammoth Lakes) into Yosemite Valley; reduced fares are available to seniors, disabled individuals, and children 12 and under. When combined with the free shuttle service that operates within Yosemite Valley, YARTS can eliminate many hassles for summer visitors.", "word_count": 143}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk009", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "**Entrance fees** are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2024 are:\n $20 for individuals age 16 or older on foot, bicycle, horse, or non-commercial bus.\n $30 for motorcycles (no per person fee).\n $35 for private vehicles (no per person fee).\n $70 Yosemite Annual Pass (allows park entry for one year)\n\nSince Yosemite is so popular, effective 2024 an additional **reservation** ($2) is required for all vehicles entering the park during the peak season (July-August) and for entry during weekends on holidays in the shoulder seasons (April-June, September-October). Reservations are valid for entry for three days. They are released in two tranches: one at the beginning of the year in January, and the second exactly seven days before at 8 AM PT. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk010", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get around", "text": "Yosemite has grown from a little visited, yet historically significant, park to one of the \"crown jewels\" of the US National Park System. With this stature comes difficulties; Yosemite is the third most visited national park in the United States, with an annual visitation of approximately 4 million, and a majority of those visitors are concentrated in the within Yosemite Valley (about 1% of the total park land).\n\n### By car\n\nWith most of the park visitors destined for Yosemite Valley, traffic and parking are significant problems during the busy summer season. As a result, while a car is a great way to tour the park, if visiting the Valley, taking YARTS and the shuttle bus may be a vastly better option. Be aware that the Tioga Pass Road and the road to Glacier Point are seasonal and close as soon as the first major snow falls. Other park roads may close during storms, but in general are always open. The speed limit in all areas of the park is fairly slow, and is strictly enforced by rangers with radar guns; the speed limits are for your own safety on the twisting mountain roads, as well as for the safety of pedestrians and the many animals that use the area.\n\nThe loop road through Yosemite Valley is now one-way. For many years this was a two-lane road, but motorists travelling slowly to admire the scenery often created a long backup of annoyed drivers, so the Park Service converted most of the roads in the valley into one-way roads to allow passing. As a result, when driving in the valley be aware that a wrong turn can send you on a one-way detour.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk011", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get around", "text": "The one-way routing affects those entering from Oakdale on Hwy 120 the most. You will have to cross over to Southside Drive at the Pohono Bridge. Likewise upon leaving the park, those taking the south exit on Hwy 41 to Fresno also cross the Pohono Bridge, backtrack , before turning right onto Wawona Road.\nthumb|280px|The road to Glacier Point\n\n#### Fuel stations\n\nThere are three fueling stations in Yosemite. Fuel may be paid for with a credit or debit card 24-hours a day. The stations can be hours away from your location in the park––if you are running even a little low on gas, it's advisable to fill up at the closest station despite regular wait times of 15-20 minutes or more.\n - Wawona\n\n- Crane Flat\n\n- Tuolumne Meadows\n\nThere are no stations in the Valley. The nearest to the Valley is Crane Flats, a drive from Yosemite Village so plan appropriately.\n\nFor disabled drivers, an attendant will assist with pumping gas during business hours.\n\n### By shuttle\n\nTo limit traffic congestion the park service normally runs several free shuttle buses throughout the park (these are *not* the YARTS system):", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk012", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Yosemite Valley**. Shuttles operate every 15 minutes from 7AM until 10PM in the eastern portion of Yosemite Valley year-round, stopping at or near all accommodations, shopping areas, and major sights.\n **Badger Pass Bus**. During the ski season a free bus travels twice daily between Yosemite Valley and the ski area.\n **Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle Bus**. During the summer season this bus provides access to points in and around Tuolumne Meadows.\n **Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus** (fee charged). This bus travels in summer between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, dropping hikers off along the way. To guarantee seating tickets should be purchased one day in advance by calling .\n **Glacier Point Hikers' Bus** (fee charged). This bus provides service between Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, making stops along the way. To guarantee seating tickets should be purchased one day in advance by calling .\n\nThe shuttle buses all have wheelchair lifts and tie-downs. Drivers provide assistance.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nYosemite Valley has a network of bicycle paths along its north and south sides. Bikes can be rented for the day at Curry Village & turn a thirty-minute walk into a five-minute ride.\n\n### By foot\n\nAlthough the road network covers the most popular sights in Yosemite, the vast majority of the park's area can only be accessed using the park's network of trails. Trails including the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail lead to areas outside of the park's north and south borders.", "word_count": 242}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk013", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|200px|Yosemite Falls\nthumb|Yosemite Valley, Mirror Lake\n\nIf you only have a single day to visit the park, a drive around Yosemite Valley is probably the best option. Longer visits provide options for hiking, visiting sites outside the Valley, and getting a fuller experience of what the Sierra Nevadas have to offer. Visiting in winter provides the opportunity to see dramatic winter landscapes in Yosemite Valley or to ski in Badger Pass, but much of the park will be inaccessible due to winter road closures. Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls at their strongest. During the summertime all park roads are open, and Tuolumne Meadows will be snow-free and full of flowers. The Fall offers a time with smaller crowds, cooler weather, and access to the entire park (unless there is an early snowstorm). The vast majority of tourists to Yosemite will spend almost all of their time in Yosemite Valley––returning visitors and experienced travelers alike would be well-served to avoid the valley and explore the rest of the park, which is considerably less developed and trafficked but equally, if not more, beautiful.\n\n### Yosemite Valley\n\nYosemite Valley is the reason why Yosemite was America's first place set aside by the federal government for its scenic beauty. The cliffs rise around the valley at impossibly vertical angles, waterfalls tumble down unimpeded from a thousand feet (300 m) above, and the Merced River meanders aimlessly along the valley floor. The Valley is also one of the most accessible places in the park, with roads open year-round and plenty of amenities including lodging and food (but no gas stations). During summer months traffic can make the valley highly congested, so consider using the shuttle to cut down on stress.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk014", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "Those entering the valley via Highway 41 will be treated to the spectacular viewpoint known as Tunnel View. Named for the tunnel that bores through the granite, the eastern side provides a dramatic view of Yosemite Valley with on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right and Half Dome in the center. Photographers should consider this area for pictures after storms, as many of the most famous pictures of the Valley have been taken from this spot as rough weather clears. There are two small parking lots that can get congested, so arrive early in the day if visiting during Summer to ensure a spot.\n\nThe sights in the valley include the granite monolith of , a mountain that looks like it was split in two, leaving only a vertical face and rounded granite summit behind. In reality Half Dome was formed in the same way that many of Yosemite's granite formations were created - long ago an intrusion of magma deep underground solidified to form a massive granite block, and that block was eventually exposed to the surface via a combination of erosion and uplift. Glaciers that flowed through Yosemite did the rest, carving out the wide, U-shaped valleys that are bordered by sheer vertical walls. These same forces created the wall of El Capitan, a mecca for rock climbers and another of the Valley's famous formations.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk015", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "Waterfalls in Yosemite Valley include , one of the highest waterfalls in the world at . Bridalveil Fall is another easily accessible waterfall, while Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall can be reached by those willing to do some hiking. While some water flows over the waterfalls year-round, by mid-Summer flows are significantly diminished - plan on visiting in the Spring to see these waterfalls at their grandest. Yosemite is one of two places in the US – the other is Cumberland Falls State Resort Park – where \"moonbows\", or faint nighttime rainbow produced by the moon's light, can be seen. When the water is flowing and the moon is near the full, you may be able to see one, if you're in the right spot and have sharp eyes. https://www.yosemitemoonbow.com/ has predicted days, times, and locations for these special moments.\n\n### Wawona\n\nthumb|260px|The California Tunnel tree in Mariposa Grove.\n\nWawona is the home to the historic Wawona Hotel, dating from the late nineteenth century. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center, a collection of historic buildings, is just over the covered bridge from the hotel. Wawona is accessible by car year-round.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk016", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "The is the largest of the three giant sequoias groves in the park (the Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove are the other two) and is home to over 500 mature trees. While not the tallest or oldest things on earth, by volume the giant sequoias are the largest living organism known to man. The grove is south of Wawona near the entrance station, with parking available in a lot located from the grove, and a shuttle bus available to bring visitors from the parking lot into the grove. Trails lead from the Lower Grove to the Upper Grove - traversing the entire route is a 3-4 mile (5-6 km) hike, depending on the paths chosen. Trees within a short walk of the lower parking area include the Grizzly Giant, a massive 1800 year old tree, and the California Tunnel tree, which was cut in 1895 to allow carriages to pass through. Further on, in the Upper Grove, is the Clothespin Tree, which has a natural tunnel in it created by fire that is large enough for a car to pass through, the Wawona Tunnel tree, another tree with a man-made tunnel in it that fell in 1969, and the Telescope Tree, a living tree that is hollow inside, allowing visitors to enter its trunk and stare upwards.\n\n### Glacier Point and Badger Pass", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk017", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite's high country, is generally regarded as the most spectacular viewpoint in the park. It is accessible by car from approximately late May through October or November. Driving time from Wawona and Yosemite Valley is about an hour, but during the busiest summer weekends delays of up to two hours are possible if the Glacier Point parking lot fills. From the parking lot a quarter mile long paved walkway leads to a viewpoint above the Yosemite Valley floor. From mid-December through March the road is usually closed, but cross-country skiers can experience this view after skiing 10.5 miles (17 km). The area is particularly popular late in the day to watch the light changing on Half Dome, and is also an excellent area for stargazing. Washburn Point, just south of Glacier Point, offers views of the southern side of Yosemite Valley.\n\nBadger Pass is the oldest ski area in California, and is along the road to Glacier Point. The road to Badger Pass is plowed year round, and this area is the starting point for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing during the winter. During winter months a free shuttle runs twice a day from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass.\n\n### Tuolumne Meadows\n\nthumb|280px|Sunset in Tuolumne Meadows", "word_count": 223}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk018", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "The Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) is an amazingly scenic route through Yosemite's high country that crosses the park from west-to-east and provides access to the Eastern Sierra and Mono Lake. This road is closed in winter and usually opens to vehicles only from late May or early June through the first snowfall in November. It offers a scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows through forests and past meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas. From Tioga Road all the way to the south of Mount Whitney, no other roads cross the High Sierra, making this the northern end of the largest contiguous roadless wilderness in the continental United States. The high point of the Tioga Road at Tioga Pass (elevation ) is the only place in the park where visitors might encounter the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.\n\nAlong the Tioga Road at elevation, Tuolumne Meadows is one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. The Tuolumne River meanders across the meadow while rugged mountain peaks and glacially carved domes surround it. During the brief snow-free summer season the meadow is the site of a massive wildflower bloom, making this an excellent area for day hikes and photography.\n\n### Crane Flat\n\nCrane Flat is a pleasant forest and meadow area (30 minutes) from Yosemite Valley. Crane Flat is accessible by car all year. Bears can be spotted in the meadows in this area regularly, so keep your eyes open and don't block traffic if you see one!", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk019", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "The Tuolumne Grove has about two dozen mature giant sequoias and is on the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. Sequoias are only visible after a hike with of elevation loss. (The hike back to the parking lot gains and is strenuous.) The drive takes about 1½ hours from South Entrance. Parking is limited.\n\nThe Merced Grove is on the Big Oak Flat Road east of Big Oak Flat Entrance and is home to about two dozen mature giant sequoias. Sequoias are only visible after a 1½-mile hike with of elevation loss. (The 1½-mile hike back to the parking lot gains and is strenuous.) The drive takes about 1½ hours from South Entrance. Parking is extremely limited.\n\n### Hetch Hetchy Valley\n\nthumb|300px|right|Hetch Hetchy\n\nUntil the completion of the O'Shaughnessy Dam in 1923, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was said to rival Yosemite Valley for beauty. The fight over the dam was a bitter battle between environmentalists including John Muir and the city of San Francisco, and efforts are still ongoing to remove the dam and restore the valley, though restoration of the habitat would likely take decades or more after the dam's removal. Today, the dam is used to deliver water from the Tuolumne River west to San Francisco. Even though Hetch Hetchy Valley is flooded, it is still home to spectacular scenery and is the starting point for many less-used wilderness trails. Although the road to Hetch Hetchy is open year-round, on a day-to-day basis it has restricted hours due to security for the reservoir. It may close periodically due to snow in winter and spring. Swimming and boating are not allowed in the reservoir.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk020", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "See", "text": "The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne lies upstream from Hetch Hetchy and is accessible to hikers. Hikers can also visit two of North America's largest waterfalls in the Hetch Hetchy Valley: Wapama Falls, at , and Tueeulala Falls, at .", "word_count": 40}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk021", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hiking\n\nYosemite is one of the world's most spectacular hiking destinations, and all visitors should consider at least a short hike. The Vernal Fall trail is a short and rewarding trek for valley visitors, numerous trails in the high country along Route 120 are suitable for brief trips to see alpine lakes or granite domes, and the sequoia groves all offer the option of short hikes that can easily be extended. More adventurous and physically-fit hikers might consider the Half Dome trail or any of the park's backcountry trails. Prior to hiking check with rangers for trail conditions; snow and hazards from falling rock close many trails in winter, and the cables on the Half Dome trail are only up from late May through early October (ascending Half Dome when the cables are not erected is possible but is dangerous and strongly discouraged). No permits are required park-wide for day hikes, with the exception of the Half Dome Summit.\n\n#### Yosemite Valley\n\nMany of the meadows have short trails, some of which are handicap accessible. For those staying in the valley, walking to get around is easy, scenic, and avoids the stresses of car travel in the valley.\n\nthumb|200px|The cables on the Half Dome trail\n\n- Lower Yosemite Fall\n\n- Bridalveil Fall\n\n- Cook's Meadow Loop\n\n- Mirror Lake/Meadow\n\n- Valley Floor Loop\n\n- Vernal Fall (Mist Trail)\n\n- Nevada Fall (Mist Trail)\n\n- Panorama Trail\n\n- Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point\n\n- Upper Yosemite Fall\n\n- Half Dome\n\n#### Glacier Point\n\n- McGurk Meadow, Bridalveil Creek, & Dewey Point\n\n- Ostrander Lake\n\n- Mono Meadow\n\n- Taft Point\n\n- Sentinel Dome\n\n#### Tuolumne Meadows\n\n- Soda Springs & Parson's Lodge\n\n- Dog Lake\n\n- Lembert Dome\n\n- Dog Lake and Lembert Dome\n\n- Glen Aulin", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk022", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Do", "text": "- Elizabeth Lake\n\nthumb|280px|Lower Cathedral Lake\n\n- Cathedral Lakes\n\n- John Muir Trail through Lyell Canyon\n\n- Mono Pass\n\n- Gaylor Lakes\n\n- Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Lake, and Pass\n\n#### Wawona & Mariposa Grove\n\n- Wawona Meadow Loop\n\n- Swinging Bridge Loop\n\n- Chilnualna Fall\n\n- Alder Creek\n\n- Wawona to Mariposa Grove\n\n- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias\n\n#### Hetch Hetchy\n\n- Wapama Falls\n\n- Rancheria Falls\n\n- Poopenaut Valley\n\n- Smith Peak\n\n### Rock climbing\n\nthumb|300px|Half Dome from Glacier Point\n\nThe Valley also offers some of the most challenging and spectacular rock climbing in North America, with vertical faces and more feet tall. Wilderness permits are not required for nights spent on a wall, but it is illegal to camp at the base of any wall in Yosemite Valley. Additional regulations:", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk023", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Do", "text": "Do not litter or leave anything behind, including food or water \"for future parties\". Pick up any litter you see, including tape wads and cigarette butts.\n Don't leave fixed ropes as permanent fixtures on approaches and descents. These are considered abandoned property and will be removed.\n Minimize erosion on your approach and descent. If an obvious main trail has been created, use it. Avoid pushing soil downhill and avoid walking on vegetation whenever possible.\n If an unplanned bivouac is necessary on a summit, fires are allowed only in an existing fire ring and building a new windbreak is prohibited. Make sure your fire is completely out before you leave.\n Clean extra, rotting slings off anchors when you descend. Bring earth-toned slings to leave on anchors.\n Check the Camp 4 Kiosk or the Mountain Shop for the current peregrine falcon closures.\n Minimize the impact of first ascents by choosing routes that minimize erosion, bolts, and loss of vegetation. \"Gardening\", e.g. killing plants, is illegal in Yosemite. Motorized drills are prohibited.\n\nCommercial guided climbing trips are also available:\n\n- Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service\n\n### Horseback riding\n\nThere are still commercial horseback-riding concessions in the Yosemite Valley, Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows areas.\n\n- Yosemite Mule & Horseback Rides\n\n- Yosemite Valley Stable\n\n- Wawona Stable\n\n- Tuolumne Meadows Stable\n\n### Golf\n\n- Wawona Golf Course\n\n### Water activities\n\n**Swimming** is allowed in most bodies of water in the park, but is either prohibited or strongly discouraged near waterfalls due to the extreme danger of being swept away - to cite just one tragic example, as of 2010 the total number of people who have died after underestimating currents and being swept over Vernal Fall stands at seventeen. Other places where swimming is prohibited include the following:", "word_count": 295}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk024", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Do", "text": "Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and within one mile upstream along any tributary (e.g., Rancheria Falls).\n Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River\n Emerald Pool and Silver Apron (above Vernal Fall)\n Lake Eleanor Reservoir (when posted)\n Wawona Domestic Water Intake (and upstream)\n\n**Rafting** is permitted on the Merced River between Stoneman Bridge (near Curry Village) and Sentinel Beach picnic area between 10AM and 6PM when the river stage (depth) is less than at Sentinel Bridge and the sum of air temperature and water temperature is greater than . All raft occupants must have a personal flotation device immediately available, and children under age 13 must be wearing one. Rafting is also allowed on the South Fork of the Merced River below Swinging Bridge (in Wawona).\n\n**Fishing** is allowed in streams and rivers from the last Saturday in April through November 15, with the exception of Frog Creek near Lake Eleanor, where fishing season does not open until June 15 to protect spawning rainbow trout. Fishing is allowed in lakes and reservoirs year-round. A valid California fishing license is required for anyone aged 16 or older. Fishing supplies, including fishing licenses, are available at the Yosemite Village Sport Shop and at the general stores in Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows.\n\nSpecial regulations that apply when fishing in the park include the following:", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk025", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Do", "text": "No live or dead minnows or other bait fish, amphibians, non-preserved fish eggs, or roe may be used or possessed.\n Fishing from bridges and docks is prohibited.\n In Yosemite Valley and El Portal (Happy Isles to Foresta Bridge):\n Rainbow trout are catch-and-release only.\n Brown trout limit is five per day or ten in possession.\n Only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks may be used; bait fishing is prohibited.\n Mirror Lake is considered a stream and is only open during stream fishing season.\n In the Tuolumne River from the O'Shaughnessy Dam downstream to Early Intake Diversion Dam\n Maximum size limit of in total length.\n Trout limit is two per day or two in possession.\n Only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks may be used; bait fishing is prohibited.\n\n### Arts\n\nthumb|View of Yosemite Valley\n\n- Yosemite Art Center\n\n### Winter activities\n\n- Badger Pass Ski Area\n\n- Curry Village Ice Rink", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk026", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Buy", "text": "Souvenir shops abound in Yosemite. Stores are run by the park concessionaire (Aramark), the Yosemite Conservancy, or the Ansel Adams Gallery, with a few smaller family stores. Aramark, YC, and the Ansel Adams Gallery offer some form of mail order. The Yosemite Conservancy stores specialize in educational materials about Yosemite, many of which are published by the organization; membership offers a 15% discount on most purchases.\n\nGas is available for purchase at Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona, and in towns outside of the park. Gas prices tend to be 60 cents to 1 dollar higher than communities like Fresno, Merced, and Modesto.\n\n### Yosemite Valley\n\n - The Ahwahnee Gift Shop\n\n - Ansel Adams Gallery\n\n - Curry Village Gift Shop\n\n - Mountain Shop at Curry Village\n\n - Habitat Yosemite\n\n - Housekeeping Camp Store\n\n - Museum Store\n\n - The Nature Shop\n\n - Village Store\n\n - Yosemite Valley Lodge Gift Shop\n\n### Other locations\n\n - Mariposa Grove Museum\n\n - Tuolumne Meadows Store\n\n - Pioneer Gift & Grocery", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk027", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|280px|The Grand Dining Room of the Ahwahnee Hotel\n\nGroceries can be purchased in Yosemite Village, Crane Flat, Curry Village, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows.\n\n### Yosemite Valley\n\n - The Ahwahnee Hotel Dining Room\n\n - The Mountain Room\n\n - Yosemite Valley Lodge Food Court\n\n - Degnan's Deli\n\n - Degnan's Loft\n\n - Degnan's Cafe\n\n - Village Grill\n\n - Curry Village Pavilion Buffet\n\n - Curry Village Taco Stand\n\n - Curry Village Pizza Deck\n\n - Curry Village Ice Cream & Coffee Corner\n\n - Happy Isles Snack Stand\n\n### Wawona\n\n - Wawona Hotel Dining Room\n\n - Wawona Lawn Barbecue\n\n - Wawona Golf Shop Snack Stand\n\n### Tuolumne\n\n - Tuolumne Meadows Lodge\n\n - Tuolumne Meadows Grill\n\n - White Wolf Lodge\n\n### Glacier Point\n\n - Glacier Point Snack Stand", "word_count": 121}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk028", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Drink", "text": "- The Ahwahnee Hotel Lounge\n\n - Mountain Room Lounge\n\n - Pavilion Bar\n\n - Wawona Hotel Cocktail Service", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk029", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|300px|Bear trap. Follow park rules regarding food in cars as bears will break into vehicles if they smell something interesting inside.\n\nDemand for lodging in Yosemite Valley in both the hotels and the campgrounds is extremely heavy during the peak season, so you need to book well ahead of time during the late spring, summer and early fall; vacancies are more common during the off-season. As an example, by mid-May in 2015 not a single reservation remained in any campground for any night during the summer season. Cancellations occur on a random basis, so it is also advised to call back frequently for a desired reservation date.\n\nCheaper and more abundant lodging can be found outside the park. The nearby towns of El Portal, Mariposa, Groveland, Fish Camp, and Lee Vining have lodging. In addition, the community of Yosemite West borders the park and offers numerous rentals; it is accessible only from within Yosemite and provides a convenient option to visitors planning to stay near Wawona or Yosemite Valley. Be aware that despite names like \"Yosemite View\", no lodging outside the park has a view of the Valley. Lodging is particularly close to the park near the Route 140 entrance and the Route 120 *East* entrance; for those approaching from the Route 41*South* entrance, there are many affordable lodging options in Oakhurst, but at the cost of a longer commute distance. In addition, Yosemite is surrounded by national forests that offer numerous campgrounds.\n\n### Lodging\n\n#### Park lodging\n\nThe following lodging options are operated by the National Park Service through a concessionaire.\n\n- The Ahwahnee Hotel\n\n- Curry Village\n\n- High Sierra Camps\n\n- Housekeeping Camp\n\n- Tuolumne Meadows Lodge\n\n- Wawona Hotel\n\n- White Wolf Lodge\n\n- Yosemite Valley Lodge\n\n#### Private cabins", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk030", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Sleep", "text": "In addition to the lodging operated through the park service, there are also a handful of private cabins within the park boundaries that can be rented.\n\n- The Redwoods in Yosemite\n\n- Yosemite Vacation Homes\n\n### Camping\n\nCamping is by far the cheapest way of staying within the park, but campgrounds fill quickly during summer months and may require making reservations months in advance. Reservations can be made through the National Park Service from 7AM-7PM Pacific time, or by calling or from outside the United States. Written reservation requests can be made by including desired location, type of equipment you will be camping in (i.e., tent, RV, etc.), as well as method of payment. Send written requests to NPRS, P.O. Box 1600, Cumberland, MD 21502.\n\nAll campgrounds offer bear-safe food storage containers, tap water (except where noted), and flush toilets. Pay showers and laundry are in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. During summer, showers are also available afternoons at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.\n\nFor backpackers, North Pines in Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne Meadows campground both have \"backpacker camps\". These are walk-in sites offered for people with valid wilderness permits to stay the night before and the night after their backcountry trips. For more information contact the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center or any park campground office.\n\n#### Yosemite Valley\n\nUse Southside Drive to get to the Pines Campgrounds. Do not cross the Sentinel Bridge, but make a right turn just before this bridge.\nIf staying in the North Pines, cross the river at Clark's Bridge. (The one-way roads in the valley have been reversed to make it easier to get to the campground.)\n\n- Camp 4\n\n- Lower Pines Campground\n\n- North Pines Campground\n\n- Upper Pines Campground\n\n#### Wawona\n\n- Wawona Campground\n\n#### Glacier Pass\n\n- Bridalveil Creek", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk031", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Sleep", "text": "#### Crane Flat\n\n- Crane Flat Campground\n\n- Hodgdon Meadow Campground\n\n#### Tioga Pass Road\n\n- Porcupine Flat\n\n- Tamarack Flat\n\n- Tuolumne Meadows Campground\n\n- White Wolf\n\n- Yosemite Creek\n\n### Backcountry\n\nBackcountry permits are free and are required year-round for all overnight trips into Yosemite's wilderness. Wilderness areas operate under a quota system that limits the number of people who may begin overnight hikes from each trailhead, each day. While permits may be reserved for $5 per party plus $5 per person, at least 40% of each trailhead quota is available on a first-come first-served basis the day of, or one day prior to, the beginning of your trip.\n\nPermits can be obtained in person from the wilderness stations in Yosemite Village, Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Badger Pass, Hetch Hetchy and Wawona. In addition, permits can be reserved up to 24 weeks in advance for a fee. There are three ways to reserve a wilderness permit, and forms for advance reservations can be found on the Yosemite wilderness permit web site:", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk032", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**By fax**. A fax sent to is the park service's preferred method of obtaining a wilderness permit. Forms can be found on the Yosemite wilderness permit web site. Faxes received before 7:30AM are processed before phone calls.\n **By phone**. Reservations for summer trips are accepted from 2 days to up to 24 weeks in advance by calling . Phones are staffed M-F 8:30AM-4PM, with extended hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day (M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-4PM). You must know your entry and exit trailheads prior to calling.\n **By mail**. Reservation requests for summer trips are accepted from 2 weeks to 24 weeks in advance by writing to Wilderness Permits, PO Box 545, Yosemite, CA, 95389. See Yosemite's web site for the reservation form to include with written requests. If your requested trailhead and dates are available, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail. A payment method must be provided with all written requests.\n\nAll backcountry campers are expected to leave the wilderness in the same condition as they find it; this means no trash, fire scars, or other evidence of a visit should be left behind. Backcountry campsites must be at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy or Wawona, or at least one trail mile from any road. Groups are limited in size to 15 people, including guides and small children. Pets, weapons, bicycles, strollers, and mechanized vehicles of any kind are not allowed in the wilderness areas, while fires are only allowed in existing fire circles, and are not allowed above elevation.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk033", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Bear canisters are required in all areas of the Park and *highly* recommended in areas close to Yosemite's borders. These canisters must be used for food storage, as well as for storing scented toiletries such as soap, deodorant and toothpaste, and should be stashed at least 100 m from your campsite. Canisters can be rented from the ranger station where you pick up your backcountry permit for $5, good for up to two weeks. Bear canisters are not just to protect hikers' food––they protect bears. There is no good excuse for conditioning bears to rely on human food.", "word_count": 98}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk034", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "For any emergency in Yosemite National Park, dial 911 from most phones (hotel and retail phones may require 9+911). Yosemite NPS runs its own dedicated emergency dispatch. If you dial from a cell phone, **first mention that you are in Yosemite** as many cell phones route to a call center in your number's area code.\n\n### Medical\n\n- Yosemite Medical Clinic\n\n### Wildlife\n\nOver the years the park's bears have become accustomed to scavenging trash and food left out by humans, and will even break into cars and tents to get it. While not the larger grizzly bears that once roamed California, black bears are strong enough to tear a door off of a car with ease. Luckily they usually prefer to avoid humans, so they'll most likely do their work on vehicles left at trailheads or in parking lots. Prevention is remarkably simple: **never** leave food or scented items (deodorant, air fresheners) in your car or bring them into your tent. Heed this advice! Leaving even just a tube of toothpaste or empty food wrappers in a car may result in thousands of dollars of damage to your vehicle should a bear choose to investigate the smell! Bear-resistant storage units are provided at park campgrounds and overnight parking areas: use them.\n\nTo avoid bear encounters while hiking, make noise so that the animal knows you are coming. This approach will also help to avoid encounters with mountain lions, which also inhabit the park. Other animals, such as the herds of deer which can be found in the park's meadows, can be equally dangerous; a young boy was killed by a deer in Yosemite Valley several years ago. Give all animals their space, and never feed any park wildlife.\n\n### Light", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk035", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Yosemite Valley Lodge (and possibly other accommodation areas) has no outside lighting. This is to reduce light pollution and allow the stars to shine down. If moving about the area at night (even to go to the reception office or restaurant) ensure that you have a flashlight (torch), as walking in the dark can be quite hazardous. In general, avoid long hikes after dark.\n\n### Weather\n\nOther natural dangers in the park come from the weather. Hypothermia can be a concern at higher elevations where temperatures can drop below freezing throughout the year. Dress in layers, and be prepared for storms and rapid changes in temperature. When storms are approaching avoid open areas such as the summits of the park's many granite domes; lightning strikes these areas regularly. If a storm does approach, get off of high, open ground. When hiking wear sturdy footwear and drink plenty of water - if you are thirsty that is an early sign of dehydration. Be aware that the sun can be intense at higher elevations and when reflected off of snow, so sunscreen is important. In the winter, take the weather term \"Winter Storm Warning\" very seriously as it means a significant storm is definitely coming.\n\n### Being prepared\n\nYosemite, because of its size, exposure, and cliffs, can be dangerous to those who fail to exercise basic precautions. While the park has amenities to aid tourists, Yosemite is huge and you can easily find yourself hours' drive away from potable water, emergency services, or a cell signal. Always do your homework before any hike. Remember to follow the basic safety guidelines for hiking:", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk036", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Understand the details of where you are going and plan ahead of time\nAlways bring enough food/water to last you longer than you expect to be on the trail and remember park amenities may be hours away––and even if you get to them, they may have long wait times at the high season.\n Don't camp in the backcountry if you don't know what you're doing.\n Set a time to turn around and never stay on a trail past sunset if you don't have access to heat and light.\nTell someone where you are going––if you don't, no one will know where to find you.\n\n### On the trails\n\nHikers should follow all posted signs - if a trail is closed due to ice, landslide, or some other reason do not ignore the closure as doing so endangers both the hiker and any area that must be traversed to go around the closure. On the Half Dome trail, hikers should *always* remain inside the cables for their ascent and descent. Hikers died on this section of trail in Summer 2009.\n\nThe park's waterfalls pose another potential hazard. Do not attempt to get close to the waterfalls, especially in the spring. This includes swimming above the waterfalls at a distance of less than 1 mile (about 1.6 km). The force of the water will easily sweep a person off their feet and over the falls, even if it appears to be flowing slowly. Being swept over any of Yosemite's waterfalls is invariably fatal. Even if you see other people bathing in the pools above certain water falls––and you will––do not get into the water.\n\n### Other concerns", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk037", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The greatest danger in the park comes from the thousands of park visitors. Petty thieves and traffic accidents are two issues to be aware of. Follow park speed limits, lock your vehicle, and be aware of your belongings, especially in Yosemite Valley. Violent crime is extremely rare in Yosemite, but given the numbers of people that visit you should expect that a few unsavory characters will be visiting too.\n\nThe National Park Service provides the primary law enforcement and fire protection in the park. NPS is supplemented by Aramark Security, who handle a number of calls for service on Aramark land assignments. Aramark Fire is paged out along with NPS Fire, and handles a large number of calls in Yosemite Valley.\n\n***Lost and found***\n\nThere are two major Lost and Found operations in Yosemite. One is run by the National Park Service. It can be reached at . The other is run by Aramark, and can be reached at . They coordinate as best as possible, considering they are a half-hour away from each other. They process thousands of items each year and surprisingly get a number of items back to the rightful owner. Because of the thousands of items lost or found, generally, you will not get a return call unless your item has been found and turned in correctly.\n\nItems that are found that cannot be returned to the owner are generally turned over to recognized charities. So, if you don't get your item back, and if it is turned in by the finder, at least you can rest easy that it will eventually go to a good cause.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "yosemite::chunk038", "doc_id": "yosemite", "section": "Go next", "text": "The towns of El Portal (west on SR140), Mariposa (west on SR140), Groveland (west on SR120), Fish Camp (south on SR41), Lee Vining (east on SR120) and Yosemite West (midway between Yosemite Valley and Wawona) are all within a few miles of the park border. Other nearby destinations include:\n\n **Devils Postpile National Monument**. This national monument protects a formation of lava basalt columns formed 80,000 to 100,000 years ago, and also provides an access point to the High Sierra wilderness. The monument is about south of Yosemite off of highway 395.\n **Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks**. The most extensive groves of the world's largest trees can be found approximately south of Yosemite. Sequoia and Kings Canyon are managed as a single unit and provide access to vast groves of giant sequoia trees as well as a huge network of trails that lead to some of the most pristine and remote areas of the High Sierra. Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of , is within the borders of Sequoia. There is **no** vehicle access to these parks via US Highway 395, though it's much easier to get a good view of Mt. Whitney this way. To enter, take State Highway 41 (south exit) to Fresno, then State Highway 180 (in downtown Fresno) to Kings or State Highway 198 (via Visalia) to Sequoia.\n **Tuolumne County**, California's historic gold mining country of the mid-1800s. Towns include Jamestown, Sonora, and Columbia. Take State Highway 120 west to State Highway 49 north (turn at Parrott's Ferry Rd. [E-18] for Columbia).\n **Mono County** - Yosemite's eastern gateway, remote and expansive Mono County is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is home to the Old West ghost town of Bodie, as well as Mammoth Lakes, a favorite winter skiing getaway. The gigantic Mono Lake is perhaps the county's premier attraction, a stopover for millions of migratory birds and thousands of tourists who explore its alkaline waters and bizarre tufa formations.\n **Manzanar National Historic Site** During World War II more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were interned in camps, the largest and best preserved of which is between the towns of Independence and Lone Pine off US Highway 395, about south of Yosemite. Manzanar is situated in one of the more isolated spots of California, and the climate can be quite extreme at times with heat, dust, and in the wintertime, cold (elevation ).", "word_count": 404}
diff --git a/corpus/yosemite/metadata.json b/corpus/yosemite/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..33eefbe13e18ef4e3195a4b85bd32fae18437475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yosemite/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "yosemite",
+ "title": "Yosemite National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "skiing",
+ "rafting",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "sailing",
+ "fishing",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "beach",
+ "glacier",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Sierra Nevada"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "star",
+ "go_next": [
+ "El Portal",
+ "Mariposa",
+ "Groveland (California)",
+ "Fish Camp",
+ "Lee Vining",
+ "Yosemite West",
+ "Devils Postpile National Monument",
+ "U.S. Highway 395",
+ "Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks",
+ "Mount Whitney",
+ "Tuolumne County",
+ "Jamestown (California)",
+ "Sonora (California)",
+ "Columbia (California)",
+ "Mono County",
+ "Old West",
+ "Bodie",
+ "Mammoth Lakes",
+ "Mono Lake",
+ "Manzanar National Historic Site",
+ "Independence (California)",
+ "Lone Pine",
+ "U.S. Highway 395",
+ "Fresno",
+ "Fish Camp",
+ "Manteca",
+ "Groveland (California)",
+ "Benton (California)",
+ "Lee Vining",
+ "Merced",
+ "El Portal"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 8595,
+ "listing_count": 110,
+ "marker_count": 5,
+ "chunk_count": 39,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7d3ae2636c69f4886027a40f2cba00258ce08893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk000", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Yucatán Peninsula** is a region of southeastern Mexico, consisting of the Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. The adjacent states of Tabasco and Chiapas are also considered part of the Yucatan region on Wikivoyage.\n\nThe Yucatán was the home of the Maya civilization before it was conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century. Much of the population is part or all of Maya descent, and in many places the Mayan language is still spoken, usually in addition to Spanish, the main language of business.\n\nUntil the mid-20th century, most of the Peninsula's trade with the rest of Mexico was by sea, and the culture, cuisine, and traditions developed different flavors from other parts of Mexico. Starting in the late 20th century the Yucatán has become more integrated into Mexico, especially such areas on the Caribbean coast as Cancún and Chetumal, where many people from other parts of the nation have moved to take advantage of the economic opportunities of development. The Mayan Riviera stretching south from Cancún has seen the most growth related to tourism and the Caribbean coast south of Sian Ka'an is now being referred to as the Costa Maya and is seeing interest from cruise lines as well as beach lovers seeking solitude (which can still be found in southern Quintana Roo, but for how long?).", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk001", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Cities", "text": "- moderately sized city with Spanish ruins\n - a city built in the 1970s as a resort; it is a modern tourist resort with pristine Caribbean beaches\n - capital of Quintana Roo, located on the Caribbean coast, close to the Belizean Border with a nice Mayan Cultural museum\n - small mostly Maya city with large colonial convent and remains of large Maya pyramids\n - small coastal town and cruise ship destination called the Costa Maya\n - colonial city, the metropolis of the Yucatán\n - was a nice fishermen's town, now has lots of resorts\n - port city with beaches and seafood north of Mérida\n - small colonial city", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk002", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Lol-Tun caves\n\n### Natural wonders\n\n - an island with beaches and ruins, popular base camp for scuba divers\n - the stretch of coastline between Cancún and Tulum (which includes Playa del Carmen), it is a quickly-developing resort area that still maintains a relaxed atmosphere in contrast to the city of Cancún\n - unique underground cave systems with unique snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities (another system of underground caves is at Lol-Tun)\n - huge coral reef system along the Mexican Caribbean coast, famous scuba diving and snorkling sites\n - mangrove swamps, salt marshes, islands, cenotes, beaches, and lots of wildlife\n\n### Archaeological sites\n\nExtensive **Mayan ruins** are found throughout the region, some of which are easily accessible by bus or car. Mayan sites include:\n\n **Becan** - large ruin in the lower center of the Peninsula, little restored\n **Calakmul** - large ruin in jungle preserve, off the tourist trail\n **Chichen Itza** - the largest, most restored, and most visited of Yucatán's Maya ruins\n **Coba** - large ruin that has undergone little restoration\n **Dzibilchaltún** - moderately sized ruin with only a few buildings restored, worth a look on the road between Mérida and Progreso\n **Edzna** - discovered in the 1950s, the well preserved site an hour's drive from Campeche\n **Kabah** - medium-sized ruin south of Uxmal\n **Mayapan** - historically important, and related to Chichen Itza culture\n **Oxkintok** and the **Calcehtok Cave** are about 40 km from Merida\n **Palenque** - dramatic ruins in the southwest of Mexico's Mayan region\n **Tulum** - the tropical beach backdrop is the main attraction of this picturesque, much-visited small ruin on the shore of the Caribbean Sea\n **Uxmal** - one of the most beautiful of all Maya ruins, a large, well-preserved site with fine architecture\n\n### Itineraries\n\n **Tren Maya** - route of the tourist train through the Yucatán Peninsula , with stops near beaches, archaeological sites, nature preserves, and cities", "word_count": 311}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk003", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Yucatán has a rich cultural history. Yucatán is famous for ancient Maya ruins such as Chichén Itzá. Contrary to what some people may think, Mayan culture never \"disappeared\" and is still very much alive, with most of the Yucatán still predominantly being ethnically Maya. Referring to locals as Mexican rather than Maya, may risk offending them. During colonial rule and after independence, the Yucatan remained culturally distinct from the rest of Mexico because of its isolation. With the first railway and highways only linking it with the rest of the country from the mid-20th century. Before that most trade was by sea with Cuba, Spain and the rest of Mexico.\n\nThe region has had a turbulent history. The Maya civilization flourished in the Yucatán Peninsula for more than a thousand years before the Yucatán was conquered by the Spanish in the 1500s. After the Spanish conquest, the region had a colonial caste system with Spanish-born Europeans on top of the social ladder, and pure Mayans coming last. Independence was declared in 1821 before joining Mexico in 1823. Independence was declared for the second time in 1841, with the region remaining independent for seven years, and even flirting with annexation by the United States (the bill even cleared the House of Representatives). In 1847, a caste war broke out between the Mayans and European-descended Criollos. After the war, an independent Mayan state controlled a large part of Quintana Roo, roughly stretching from Tulum to the Belize border. This area was reincorporated into Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century. \n\nThe Yucatan has a distinctive ecosystem as a vast limestone peninsula. Ecologically, it's very different from the rest of tropical Mexico, and more similar to Northern Guatemala and Belize, being all on the same peninsula and in geographical Central America. One of the unique features of the landscape are *Cenotes*. *Cenotes* are caves or pools of stagnant water that were formed by erosion of limestone. These can range from tiny water wells to huge natural caves. They were one of the few reliable sources of water for the Maya during their heyday. While their exact role is still open to some debate, objects and remains (both animal and human) found in some of them indicate an important religious role. While some Cenotes are closed due to their religious, cultural, or archaeological significance, there are many that you can swim or dive in, with or without guides.\n\nNear Merida is also the place of the Chicxulub meteor impact, that is (according to whom you ask) partly or entirely to blame for the end of the dinosaur age, 65 million years ago. While hardly anything of it can be seen today, the location of some *cenotes* (see below) is a good indicator for the size of the crater, as they still form a circle segment that, when followed to the ocean, gives you the full size of the impact crater.", "word_count": 488}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk004", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Talk", "text": "thumb|300px|El Castillo at Chichen Itza\n\nSpanish is the main language. English will be understood in most tourist locations and resorts. Knowing a few phrases of basic Spanish will help away from the main tourist resorts and can often help you find better deals. Yucatecos are generally tolerant of visitors who do not speak Spanish fluently but appreciate the effort to learn Spanish.\n\n**Maya** languages are spoken throughout the Yucatán peninsula as well as Central American countries to the south. There is not one single language that can be accurately called *Mayan* although speakers of Yucatecan Maya do call their language *Maya*. This site has a basic Yucatec Maya phrasebook, which may be useful in the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, but less so in Chiapas or Campeche where other Mayan languages and dialects are commonly spoken. (The most widely spoken Mayan language is K'ichi', which is mostly spoken in Guatemala.) Except in a few small villages, almost everyone will have at least a working knowledge of basic Spanish. \n\nMaya place names are usually accented on the last syllable, otherwise generally pronounced the same as in Spanish. The letter \"X\" in Yucatán is used for the sound in the Maya language that's the same as \"Sh\" in English. For example, \"Uxmal\" is pronounced \"Oosh-MAL\".", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk005", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nCancún (); Cozumel International Airport (), Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (Merida) (), and Tulum International Airport () are the most popular entry points to the Yucatan peninsula from all over Mexico. There are direct international flights from Canada, Cuba (handy for unofficial visits to Cuba), Europe, Central America, the United States and South America into Cancun and Tulum and only from the United States and Canada to Merida and Cozumel. There are also alternative airports with connections from Mexico which may be closer to your final destination in:\n Angel Albino Corzo Airport () in Tuxtla Gutierrez is the largest airport in Chiapas state closest to San Cristobal de las Casas, Comitan, Chiapas de Corzo and Cañón Sumidero. \n Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport () Smaller airport south of Campeche with domestic flights from Mexico City only.\n Chetumal International Airport () Smaller airport in Chetumal with domestic flights from Mexico City and international connections from Belize City with Tropic Air. It is also another transit point for onward travel to Flores, Guatemala (Tikal) and to Belize from Mexico City as it may be less expensive to fly to Chetumal from Mexico City (or elsewhere in Mexico) and continue by bus or shuttle to Belize City then flying into Belize City from Mexico City. \n Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport () in Villahermosa is the largest airport in the state of Tabasco and the nearest commercial airport to Palenque town and ruins which are 2-3 hr east of Villahermosa in the state of Chiapas. \n Tapachula Airport () Nearest airport to Tapachula, Puerto Chiapas and the Guatemalan frontier towns of Cd Hidalgo/Cd Tecun Uman; and Talisman/El Carmen. It is also another transit point for onward travel to Guatemala from Mexico as it may be less expensive to fly to Tapachula from Mexico City (or elsewhere in Mexico) and continue by bus or shuttle to Guatemala then flying into Guatemala City from Mexico or the U.S.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving is the least common way to reach the Yucatan Peninsula. From Mexico City, it is over 1,300 km to Merida and the drive takes 18 hours. Federal highway MEX-180 (MEX-180D toll road) is a good highway going the entire distance.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe following bus company serves the eastern and southeastern regions of the country in different route combinations and into Belize via Chetumal:\n \nIt is possible to take a bus all the way from Mexico City to the Yucatan, however most often this is not or only marginally cheaper than a flight and you'd be in for 20 hours or more of continuous travel. See Bus travel in Mexico for further information.\n\nThe following are first class (pullman) buses from Tapachula to Guatemala. Passengers transfer in Guatemala City to continue to other parts of Guatemala and to Honduras and El Salvador. Addresses and phone numbers given are from Guatemala City:\n \n \n- Trans Galgos Inter.\n\n### By train\n\nPassengers traveling on the *Ferrocarril Interoceanico* from Coatzacoalcos. Veracruz or Salina Cruz, Oaxaca can use the FA line to arrive at Palenque, where they can transfer to the *Tren Maya* for continuing service throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.", "word_count": 524}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk006", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nThe Yucatan is the easiest part of Mexico to drive around in. Aside from Cancun and Merida, there are few real urban areas. Car rentals are easy to arrange in major airports and resort areas, and the only real worry is making sure that you observe local traffic laws (especially speed limits).\n\n### By bus\n\nMany different class buses are available to/from all the major and many of the minor cities.\nMexican first class buses are excellent value and remarkably comfortable - comparable to European train services. Many cheaper services are also available - from second class (little noticeable difference really) to very basic minibus and truck services. Safety seems to decrease with price, however - second class and below may lack seatbelts. Major differences between first and second class is that first class use toll highways where available and make limited or no stops en-route. Second class buses operate on shorter routes along 'libre' highways through every hamlet, village, town and city; with stops anywhere along the road to pick up and drop off people. Beware of the excessive air conditioning that seems to be a feature on most services - the bus may be many degrees colder than the outside air, and being stuck on a twelve hour journey without adequate clothing can make a journey singularly unpleasant. Travelling second class is not recommended for taller people. As second class buses hold more seats than first class ones do, there is almost no leg room. The major first class bus line is Autobuses del Oriente (ADO). Most of the smaller lines (Mayab, for example), are owned by ADO.\n\n### By combi", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk007", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Get around", "text": "Combis are collective-taxis (*colectivos*) in form of mini vans (Toyota Hiace, Chevy Express, Ford Econoline, Ford Transit, Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter) offer services to many of the small towns & villages from a bigger town or city and between the small towns. Cheaper than a taxi and usually faster than a bus since it makes fewer stops.\n\n### By taxi\n\nAvailable for hire even in small towns. For long distances however, like the caves at Lol-tun, be sure to agree on a price before boarding, or you might get ripped off.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Route of the new Tren Maya high-speed rail line\nthumb|Tren Maya at the Vallodolid station\nThe Mexican government built an enormous high-speed train project called *Tren Maya* that operates a 1,525 km loop route through the Yucatan Peninsula, opening up fast, comfortable transportation between Mexico's most popular beach resorts and some of its largest Mayan archaeological sites.\n\nThe northern side of the loop runs from Palenque to Cancun. The entire northern leg was open in December 2023. The eastern side of the loop runs along the Quintana Roo coast through the Maya Riviera to Chetumal and the Belize border, where it loops westward via the southern leg. The section from Cancun to Playa del Carmen opened at the end of February 2024, Tulum opened in May, and additional stations opened by the end of 2024. Some supporting infrastructure remains to be finished in 2025 and services are expected to expand and improve. As of February 2024, the Tren Maya service is *not yet reliable*. Trains are frequently late and often canceled. Do not rely on the Train Maya if you are on a tight schedule, such as needing to catch a flight. Train service is likely to improve over time as the dust settles from its construction.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk008", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Get around", "text": "Some of the Mayan sites that opened up to visitors include Calakmul and the seldom visited Ruta Rio Bec sites, along with Izamal, Edzna, and the already popular Palenque. Increased tour services and bus transportation is planned between Palenque and sites at Yaxchilan and Bonampak. Although some of the sites are already popular among international travelers, the train will also boost attendance at Chichen Itza and Tulum, both of which will have stops on the route. Shuttle service will be available to Coba from the Tulum station.\n\nMajor cities on the train route will include Cancun, Merida, Chetumal, and Campeche.\n\nTickets can be purchased at ticket windows in stations or through the Tren Maya website. Ticket prices depend on distance, fare class, and residency. Local residents of the 5 Yucatan Peninsula states pay the lowest fare, Mexican nationals from other states pay a mid-tier fare, Foreign travelers pay the highest fare (roughly double the local price). As of early 2024, foreign visitors can buy tickets in *tourist class* or *premier class*. Sample fares are:\n *Cancun to Merida* - M$735 (Tourist class), M$1173 (Premier class)\n *Cancun to Palenque* - M$2123 (Tourist class), M$3391 (Premier class)", "word_count": 194}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk009", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "See", "text": "**Mayan archeological sites**. Yucatán is home of several famous Mayan archaeological zones. The best known and most widely visited by tourists is Chichén Itzá, the site of the Kukulcan Pyramid, the Maya Observatory, and the Sacred Cenote. A contrasting cultural style, more ornamental, can be observed at Mayan sites along the Ruta Puuc. The most famous Mayan sites in Quintana Roo are located at Coba and Tulum. thumb|250px|Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza\n**Equinox**: The period when the Earths sun is directly above the equator, about Mar 20 & Sep 23 of each year. Mayans were very dependent on astronomy as reflected in their art and Temples. At Chichen Itza, during sunset on the Equinox, the shadows of the serpent-god Kukulcan, moves down along the pyramid, a very impressive sight! Other structures have Equinox related events that take place on those days also, like Tulum. \n**Ecological parks**: The Yucatán Peninsula is site of several Ecological Parks, like Xcaret, Xel-Há and Garrafón; aimed for the conservation of the flora and fauna of the region, which serve as well as tourist attractions. At these parks you can know more about the Mexican culture, and also enjoy several activities as swimming with dolphins and snorkeling.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n **Cenotes of the Yucatán** are complexes of sinkholes and caves in the Karst geological landscape of the Yucatán. Some cenotes contain spectacular cave formations, while others are important archeological sites, and several were considered sacred by the Mayans. A few are open to the public for swimming and diving. The states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo have established a \"tourist corridor\" called **La Ruta de los Cenotes** along which many of the most spectacular or famous cenotes are situated.\n **Ruta Puuc** is an itinerary developed by the Mexican tourism department (SECTUR), which has placed signage along the highways in the Puuc region (Yucatan hill country) to guide travelers to the Mayan archaeological sites that best exemplify Mayan *Puuc architecture*.\n **Ruta Rio Bec** is an itinerary developed by the Mexican tourism department (SECTUR) that spotlights Mayan archaelogical sites that exemplify *Rio Bec architecture*. The route formally runs from Chetumal to Escárcega, but the sites cluster near the town of Xpujil", "word_count": 364}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk010", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Do", "text": "**Reef diving** and **snorkeling**. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest coral reef system in the world, lies offshore in the Caribbean east of the Yucatán. It extends all the way to the Bay Islands of Honduras.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk011", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Eat", "text": "Yucatecan food has its own culinary traditions developed from the long mix of native Maya and Spanish traditions. While some dishes can be very spicy, many others are not. Genuine Yucatecan salsas are prepared with habañero chiles and can be quite spicy. The ubiquitous *El Yucateco* brand is served throughout the region (and is exported to other countries). *Chiltomate* is a salsa prepared with fire-roasted tomatoes.\n\nCommon meats are turkey, chicken, pork, and deer. Yucatecan venison is quite good and not \"gamey\" tasting.\n\nTypical dishes include:\n **Pibil** dishes, such as \"cochinita pibil\" (suckling pig) and \"pollo pibil\" (the chicken version), rubbed with achiote (also known as annato), marinated with sour orange juice, wrapped in a banana leaf, then slow cooked in a pit barbecue. This is one of the region's emblematic dishes and is a recipe and process used by Mayan cooks since ancient times. Very tender and tasty. Typically served as a taco and topped with pickled red onion.\n **Poc Chuc** is another traditional Mayan dish that is still served throuighout the Yucatan Peninsula. It is lean pork, marinated in sour orange juice and then slow-roasted over charcoal coals. Served with red pickled onions, avocado and salsa or chitomate.\n **Sopa de lima**, tasty lime-based vegetable soup with bits of corn tortilla. This is another regional specialty that originates with the Mayan community. \n **Huevos Motuleños** are eggs on tortillas with black beans and cheese, often with other ingredients such as ham, peas, and tomato sauce. The dish originated in the town of Motul but is served everywhere in the Yucatan.\n **Pollo Motuleño**, a chicken dish cooked with orange juice, achiote and plantains. \n **Salbutes** - like a tostada, but with a fresh corn tortilla that's freshly fried then topped with cochinta pibil, a relleno (turkey topping available in black (negro) and white (blanco) variations, among other meats or toppings. Topped with salsa, avocado, cheese or anything you might normally put on a taco\n **Panuchos** - \"sopes\" with pork (cochinita pibil) or more commonly, black beans\n **Marquesitas** - popular dessert from street food vendors, a crispy crepe is filled with fruits, cream, cheese, cajeta or other sweet flavors. Chocolate and Nutella are popular flavors.\n\nSeafood is also very important, especially in Campeche. Pulpo (octopus), cazon (shark), camaron (shrimp) and various other tropical fish are very popular. Lobster is a widely available in the Yucatan. It is normally a spiny lobster, which is a smaller variety than the Maine lobsters preferred in the U.S.\n\nContrary to the advice of many guides, the food served in all-inclusive resorts may have been prepared in far less safe conditions than that available in local establishments away from the major tourist zones. Poor refrigeration, retaining food beyond safe time limits and poor hygiene have been reported from many resorts - whereas street vendors patronized by locals have little choice but to maintain high standards, as everything is on view and their business is dependent on their reputation, not passing foreign visitors. Street vendors cooking for a local clientele are also far more likely to adhere to authentic (often time-intensive) processes and far less likely to substitute cheap mass-market processed ingredients.\n\nA good approach for regular restaurants is to note those with a lot of locals and to patronize them.", "word_count": 542}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk012", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Drink", "text": "Tap water is not generally advised for drinking in Mexico, particularly for visitors. In many places (particularly backpacker-friendly resorts) water containers can be filled with drinking water for a few pesos - so a reusable container is both an environmentally and financially better option.\n\nThe water system in Mérida is unusually good for Mexico; for some visitors it is the only Mexican city where they will drink the tap water. Outside of this city the situation is different. In small towns the local water can be very bad, and bottled water is recommended.\n\nIt would be difficult for anyone visiting this area not to sample the Tequila, which should be used in moderation. For those more adventurous souls, Absinthe is legal in Mexico and also, moderation is suggested. Fresh fruit juice is very popular in The Yucatán and freshly squeezed OJ can be found in most markets. Dairy products, including cheese, should be avoided, unless you are positive they have been made with pasteurized milk.", "word_count": 165}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk013", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Respect", "text": "Away from beaches and tourist hotels going around in a bathing suit or short shorts is considered improper and rude.", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk014", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Strict drug possession policy exists in Mexico. Be very careful even with \"greens\". Local police are hopelessly corrupt and love to catch unwary tourists with small quantities of marijuana. Threatening long prison terms, whether this is a likely outcome is a moot point, their main aim seems, unsurprisingly, to exact bribes: in some areas a fairly standard 50% of all the traveller's money. \n\nThere have been several cases of young European and U.S. visitors getting shot when they approached local drug dealers to make a purchase. Yucatan is not a dangerous region, but stupid foreigners getting into trouble sometimes make it seem so.\n\nCaution is also advised on long bus journeys, particularly across state lines, as police or military checkpoints exist and passengers may be asked for identification or searched. In general, however, these checks seem to be aimed at locals, particularly in the Zapatista homeland in Chiapas.", "word_count": 148}
+{"chunk_id": "yucatan-peninsula::chunk015", "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula", "section": "Go next", "text": "Neighboring states are Quintana Roo to the east and Campeche to the west.\n\nThe Yucatán is a good launching point for going to Belize, Cuba and Guatemala.", "word_count": 27}
diff --git a/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/metadata.json b/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..525663a00f4bb6c2ea8e04c010f9b87abac49c60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/yucatan-peninsula/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "yucatan-peninsula",
+ "title": "Yucatán and the South",
+ "type": "region",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yucatán_and_the_South",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "wildlife",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "temples",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Mexico"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Quintana Roo",
+ "Campeche (state)",
+ "Belize",
+ "Cuba",
+ "Guatemala"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3941,
+ "listing_count": 1,
+ "marker_count": 14,
+ "chunk_count": 16,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/zambia/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/zambia/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3e1330b5990beffcbf9e3fe5fb9d8b9aa7f2c293
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zambia/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk000", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Zambia** offers travelers some of the world's best safari opportunities, a glimpse into \"real Africa\", and Victoria Falls, one of the World's Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk001", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Regions", "text": "Zambia can be divided into five geographic regions:", "word_count": 8}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk002", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the capital and largest city of the country\n — in the industrial Copperbelt region\n — provincial capital of Eastern Province\n — large town midway between Lusaka and Ndola\n — capital city of the Northern Province\n — mining city in the Copperbelt and Zambia's second largest\n — gateway to the Victoria Falls\n — administrative capital of the Copperbelt\n - biggest town in Zambezi Basin.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk003", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— very accessible, with lechwe, zebra and buffalo\n — largest national park of the country\n — excellent for bird watching\n — used to be the president's private game reserve, now pristine wilderness without mass tourism\n — open for day trips and safaris\n — was very popular in the 1970s but has declined since\n — one of Africa's great safari destinations\n — one of the world's largest waterfalls\n — the only one in Zambia covered by forest", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk004", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nThe territory of **Northern Rhodesia** was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, one party democracy and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Kenneth Kaunda, who led the fight for independence, instituted one party rule, which came to an end in 1991. Since then, Zambia has been a multi-party democracy.\n\n### Economy\n\nthumb|240px|Typical Zambian village\n\nMuch of Zambia remains **desperately poor**, with GDP per capita on the order of US$600/year, and the bulk of Zambia's population lives on subsistence agriculture. The economy continues to revolve around **copper**, but after decades of mismanagement the industry is now doing better thanks to higher commodity prices and investments made after privatisation. The country's **tourism** sector has benefitted from the misfortunes of its neighbour Zimbabwe as tourists have flocked to the northern side of the Victoria Falls and Zambia's safaris.\n\n### People\n\nAs can be seen even from the bizarre squashed-peanut shape of the country, Zambia is one of the stranger legacies of colonialism, agglomerating a large number of different ethnic groups (73, according to the official count) and languages (20, plus dialects). Fortunately, with a long history of coexistence, significant migration around the country and similar Bantu-family languages, they all seem to get along pretty well and Zambia has been spared the violent interethnic strife that has decimated countries like Rwanda.", "word_count": 262}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk005", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Understand", "text": "The **Bemba** are the largest ethnic group in Zambia, but they still form only about 20% of the population. The Bemba came from the Congo in the 16th century, and while their homelands are in the north and centre of the country, many have immigrated to Lusaka and the Copperbelt.\n\nThe **Chewa**, **Ngoni** and **Nsenga** tribes, all found in the east of the country, share the Nyanja language and form Zambia's second largest grouping with about 15%.\n\nThe **Tonga**, **Ila** and **Lenje**, known together as the *Bantu Botatwe* (Three Peoples), are a close runner-up with 15% of the population, concentrated in the west of the country in the Zambezi Valley and the plateaus to the north.\n\nThe **Lozi** in the far west (6%) are known for their craftwork, particularly basketry, and for a low-key (non-violent) secessionist movement calling for an independent Barotseland.\n\nOther tribes in Zambia's patchwork include the **Lala** and **Bisa** (5%), the **Kaonde** (3%), the **Mambwe** and **Lungu** (3%), the **Lunda** (3%), the **Lamba** (2.5%) and the **Luvale** (2%), and 57 more. Despair not: the differences are not crucial for travelers, and locals will be happy to explain their traditions when needed, notably at festivals.\n\nWhite Africans of English or Afrikaner descent (1.2%) are also visible, particularly in the more upscale areas of the major cities.\n\n### Festivals\n\nthumb|Zambian tribal dance during an event in Lusaka", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk006", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Understand", "text": "A highlight of any trip to Zambia is a visit to any of the many traditional **festivals** held throughout the country. Planning ahead can be tough though, as schedules are variable and not all are held yearly. Also, if you do manage to attend, bring along tolerance for heat, dust and crowds (increasingly drunk as the evening wears on) and patience for endless speeches by local functionaries like the Assistant Vice-Secretary for Fertilizer Co-operatives in Rutungu Sub-Province. On the plus side, any foreigners attending can usually sneak into the VIP stands, although you may get hassled for photo permits.", "word_count": 99}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk007", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Kazanga**, Kaoma [Central Western Zambia] (June - August). The Kazanga ceremony is considered Zambia's oldest traditional ceremony having been celebrated by the Nkoya people for over 500 years. The ceremony celebrates and maintains Nkoya traditions of music, dance and many other ancient practices.\n **Kuomboka**, Lealui/Limulunga (Western Province, around Easter (March-April). The most famous of Zambia's festivals, this is the ceremonial migration of the Lozi king (*litunga*) from his dry season abode at Lealui to his wet season palace at Limulunga. Wearing an elaborate Victorian ambassador's costume, the *litunga* is taken by a flotilla of barges down the river, with musical accompaniment and, of course, much feasting at the destination.\n **Ncwala**, near Chipata, 24 February. A Ngoni festival to celebrate the first fruit of the season, where the Ngoni chief ceremonially tastes the fruit of the land, then spears a bull and drinks its blood.\n **Kulamba**, near Chipata, August. A Chewa thanksgiving festival known for its *Nyau* secret society dancers.\n **Likumbi Lya Mize (August)** This is a popular August festival (The Day of Mize). This ceremony takes place at Mize, the official palace of Senior Chief Ndungu, about seven kilometres west of Zambezi Boma. People of the Luvale tribe gather to celebrate their cultural heritage, bringing displays of all types of handicrafts and spicing the event with traditional singing and dancing while the chief holds court. Mize is the official palace of Senior Chief Ndungu. The Makishi dancers recreate famous events from Luvale mythology, and local artists display their work.\n**Livingstone Cultural & Arts Festival** This was first held in 1994, this festival bring the traditional rulers from all the provinces of Zambia and visitors are also allowed with the knowledge of their culture in their tribe. This festival capture musicians, artist, poets, and dramatist.\n **Shimunenga ** is a ceremony to show devotion to ancestors. The ceremony takes place on a full moon on weekends in September and October. The Ba-lla tribe celebrate this ceremony at Malla on the Kafue Flats.\n **Umutomboko** ceremony of the Lunda people in Luapula Province is held at Mwansabombwe to depict the coming to Zambia by the Lunda and Luba people from Kola in now Congo DR. The ceremony is held in July and is graced by Mwata Kazembe who performs a dance to commemorate the occasion.", "word_count": 381}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk008", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Climate\n\nthumb|240px|Elephants crossing the Luangwa River, [[South Luangwa National Park]]\n\nIf you look at a map, Zambia appears to be squarely in the tropics, but thanks to its landlocked and elevated position it does have distinct seasons that run as follows:\n\n**Dry season** — May to August. The coolest time of the year, with temperatures 24–28°C during the day and sometimes as low as 7°C at night. Probably the best time of year to visit Zambia; come early in the dry season for birdwatching or to see Vic Falls at their biggest, or later when the bush has dried up for good game-spotting on safari.\n **Hot season** — September to November. Temperatures rocket up to a scorching 38–42°C and clouds of swirling dust make driving on dirt roads an asthmatic's nightmare. If you can take the heat, though, it's a good time for safaris as wildlife clusters around the few remaining watering holes.\n **Wet season** — December to April. Temperatures cool down to 32°C or so and, true to the name, there is a lot of rain – sometimes just an hour or two, sometimes for days on end. Unsealed roads become impassable muddy nightmares, and many safari lodges close.\n\nTemperatures do fluctuate based on the altitude, if you are in a valley (such as the Zambezi) it will be warmer and if you are higher up (Kasama) it will be cooler.\n\n### Holidays\n\n**January 1** — New Year's Day\n **March 12** — Youth Day\n **Easter** — moveable\n **May 25** — African Freedom Day\n **October 18** — National Prayer Day\n **October 24** — Independence Day\n **December 25** — Christmas\n\n### Tourist information\n\nZambia Tourism website", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk009", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visas\n\nthumb|375px|Map of visa requirements for Zambia. Countries in green have visa-free travel to Zambia, and countries in orange can get a visa on arrival\n\n**Most Western visitors no longer need a visa to enter Zambia**. Visa-free entry is also possible for some nationalities, including Malaysia, Singapore, Zimbabwe and South Africa. See the immigration department's web-site for the full list of visa-exempt nationalities. Current visa prices for anyone that needs a visa are US$50 for a single-entry and US$80 for a multiple-entry visa for all nationalities and is valid for 3 months;\n A day entry visa is available to any nationalities that need a visa at US$20, valid 24 hours\n Transit visas carry the same cost as a single entry visa, valid 7 days\n\n**There is also the 30-day US$50 Univisa which is good for both Zambia and Zimbabwe**. The Univisa can only be obtained at **Livingstone airport**, **Victoria falls land border**, **Kazangula Botswana border and** **Lusaka airport**.\n\nDo check with the nearest Zambian embassy for the latest information; the Zambian Embassy to the US has some information on their homepage, and getting the visa before arrival will reduce the uncertainty factor.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk010", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you require a visa to enter Zambia, you might be able to apply for one at your embassy or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Zambian diplomatic post. For example, the British embassies in Al Khobar, Amman, Belgrade, Budapest, Guatemala City, Helsinki, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kyiv, Prague, Pristina, Rabat, Riga, Riyadh, Rome, Sofia, Tallinn, Vienna, Warsaw and Zagreb accept Zambian visa applications (this list is **not** exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Zambian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Zambia require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Zambia can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.\n\nLusaka Airport Customs and Immigration is unprepared to deal with lots of tourists. There are four lanes, segmented by: Zambian passport holders; Residents; Tourists; and Diplomats. Tellingly, the lane for tourists is sometimes unstaffed. Although there are many immigration officers present, in the Tourist lane is often unstaffed. Be prepared for all other lanes to empty before being processed.\n\nFor those who would prefer to leave the hassle to someone else, specialist safari holiday companies can arrange immigration for you.\n\n### Clearing customs\n\nEvery country has its quirks, and one of Zamibia's is that you are not to possess even small amounts of a very common (and very safe) medication for treating allergy attacks: diphenhydramine. This is the active ingredient in Benadryl brand antihistamine pills, but it's also added to some other over-the-counter medications. Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested unwary tourists who had no idea that this everyday drug was restricted here.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Lusaka International Airport", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk011", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Zambia's main international gateway is Lusaka airport (), which has flights from\nIstanbul with **Turkish Airlines** . \nAddis Ababa and Harare with **Ethiopia airlines**\nDubai with **Emirates Airlines**\nNairobi and Harare with **Kenya airways**\nJohannesburg with **South Africa airways & Airlink**\nDar es Salaam with **Air Tanzania **\nKigali with **RwandAir**\nDoha with **Qatar airways**.\nLilongwe and Harare with **Malawi airlines**\n\nFor flights within Zambia, **ProFlight airlines** goes to Livingstone, near Victoria Falls, and Mfuwe, near South Luangwa National Park, Kasama, Ndola, Kitwe, Solwezi, and Lufupa in Kafue National Park.\n\n**Livingstone International Airport** has direct flights from\nJohannesburg with **Airlink**, **CemAir**, **Zambia Airways** and **Low-cost FlySafair**\nNairobi and Cape Town with **Kenya airways**.\n\n**Ndola International Airport** has direct flights from\nJohannesburg with **Airlink**\nNairobi with **Kenya airways**\nAddis Ababa with **Ethiopian airlines**\nDar es Salaam with **Air Tanzania**\n\n### By train\n\n**TAZARA** trains run between Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesdays and Fridays. According to the schedule, the trip takes 38 hours. a train ride between Dar es Salaam and Zambia is a beautiful way to see the countryside at a reasonable price (US$30 for a first class sleeper and $25 for second).\n\nthumb|View from the TAZARA", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk012", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Several important things to note about this trip, however:\nBring water.\nImmigration officials stamp passports *as soon as the train crosses the border* – probably in the middle of the night. Naturally, this is also when thieves work. If you are riding in a first- or second-class cabin, be *very careful* when opening your door.\nIf you miss the immigration official, they will either: turn you around and send you back to the border; or, arrange for a stamp, pending payment of a \"special tax.\"\nImmediately upon crossing the border, the crew no longer accepts the currency of the country you just exited. In other words, if you are travelling from Lusaka to Dar es Salaam, the moment you cross the border, your Kwacha is no longer legal tender; you must use Shillings. It is, therefore, a good idea to exchange money *before* the journey — blackmarketeers along the railroad offer poor exchange rates.\nDo not leave valuables near windows, especially at stops.\nNormally the trains have restaurant cars in the middle of the train and in the end or a train saloon car with a bar. However, some stages of the journey, the restaurant and bar may have run out of stock.\nReservations are not always honoured; someone may be sleeping on your bed already if you came onboard in the middle of the journey.\nIn first class cabins, women and men can stay in same compartment, but in 2nd class they are female and male only.\nTazara (Tanzania Zambia railways) were built with Chinese help and labour in the 1970s. Wagons were brought from China, therefore they are of a high standard, however. maintenance has been lacking somewhat in the last couple of decades.\nThe last stop in Zambia is in the middle of nowhere, a small town named Kapiri Mposhi. Plenty of minibuses are eager to carry you to Lusaka, it's about a 2-3 hour trip. The first town that deserves that name on the way to Lusaka from Kapiri is Kabwe (it is rated among 5 most polluted place on earth due to mining!)\nThe 2nd class sleeper train fare from Kapiri Mposhi to the Tanzanian Border at Tunduma is 135 Kwacha. The journey is 883 km *(549 miles)*.", "word_count": 373}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk013", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Via Zimbabwe/Victoria Falls: trains in Zimbabwe run from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls. You can take a taxi or hike 13 km across the border at the Victoria Falls Bridge to Livingstone station in Zambia and catch a Zambia Railways train to Lusaka and the Copperbelt connecting with the Tazara railway in Kapiri Mposhi.\n\n### By car\n\nVehicles drive on the left side of the road in Zambia.\n\nThere are many ways to get into Zambia by car, but the most popular include:\nthrough Livingstone (in the south) from Zimbabwe\nvia the Chirundu Bridge (in the south) from Zimbabwe\nvia the Kariba Dam (in the south) from Zimbabwe\nthrough Chipata (in the east) from Malawi\nthrough Chingola (in the Copperbelt) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo\nvia the Katima Mulilo Bridge from Namibia\nvia the Kazungula Ferry from Botswana\nthrough Tunduma and Nakonde from Tanzania\n\nCrossing international borders by car will incur a tax, depending on the size of the vehicle. The process can also take awhile as you will have to pay at different booths or offices, often not conveniently located. For a standard sedan, you can expect to pay the following:\nCarbon tax at K50, payable in kwachas only\nThird Party Insurance at approximately US$46, payable in rands, US dollars, or kwachas\nYou will also pay a toll fee of US$10, payable in dollars as there are no Toll Gates on the road in Zambia. You can get a $5 road pass if you are only going to certain locations with in the country e.g. Kazungula to Livingstone\nKazungula Ferry charges based on vehicular size approximately $10, payable in Kwacha. There are black market traders on the ferries but their rates are bad.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk014", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Border crossings are not without corruption and you are particularly vulnerable when travelling by car. Try to avoid arriving early in the day to avoid having to choose between paying a bribe or spending the night in the car at the border post.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are many international bus routes to Zambia. You can take a bus across the border from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia. Immigration might be painstaking, considering the large number of people requiring simultaneous processing .\n\n### By boat\n\nZambia is landlocked but borders on Tanzania's Lake Tanganyika, and there are regular international ferry services across the lake a few times a week. The ship, M/S Liemba was built in Germany in 1914, cut in pieces, shipped to Tanzania, carried by train to Kigoma (Tanzania) and reassembled there again. It is a charming ship of Titanic era, sunk twice, with reasonable services. This trip should be taken if you are not short of time. Also, if you enter Zambia through Namibia's Caprivi Strip, you will have to cross the Zambezi River. You will have 2 options:\nYou may ride on a ferry (for a dollar); or,\nYou may hire a local boy with a dugout canoe to carry you across (for 50 cents).", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk015", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Zambia is large and distances long, so budget plenty of time for getting around.\n\n### By plane\n\nDomestic flights on Proflight connect Zambia's major cities and tourist destinations. While undoubtedly the fastest and most comfortable way of getting around, they are quite expensive with an hour-long flight (say, Lusaka-Mfuwe) typically costing around US$150 one-way. Also note that planes are small and schedules sparse, but if you can rustle up enough people you can also charter planes for not much more.\n\n### By minibus\n\nthumb|240px|A minibus ready to battle traffic\n\nMinibuses — meaning vans outfitted with seats — are popular, but they are often irregular, dangerous, and uncomfortable. To maximise profits, a \"conductor\" will squeeze as many paying customers — and their luggage, or *katundu* (ka-TOON-doo) — into the bus as possible; whether or not the customers are comfortable is irrelevant. In terms of meeting locals, however, this method is among the best, and it can provide a traveler with a truly \"authentic\" experience. Payment is made during the journey — banknotes are passed down the bus to the conductor at the front, and change comes back via the same route.\n\n### By bus\n\nLarger, more sophisticated \"luxury coaches\" exist, too **Power Tools**, **Juldan Motors**, **UBZ**. These tend to be more reliable and safer; they depart on-time; they have dedicated space for guests and luggage; and tickets may be purchased in advance. Luxury coaches are much more comfortable and are virtually guaranteed to arrive, but they might seem \"generic\" to a seasoned traveler.\n\n### By car\n\nVehicles drive on the left side of the road in Zambia – at least most of the time.\n\nthumb|Dusty countryside road", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk016", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Car rental agencies exist in Zambia, but the costs are potentially great. Not only are rental rates high (US$100/day), but some of the main roads in Zambia are in **very poor** condition. Potholes often take up the entire road, and during the rainy season, large sections of the roads wash away. As you move away from city centres (possibly only a kilometre or so away) you will encounter dirt roads. Although they might look solid, the dirt is often loose, and the chances of an accident are huge if you do not keep to a reasonable speed. Although you are not likely to get lost driving in Zambia (there are only a few roads), you are likely to underestimate the destructive power of these roads and damage a rental vehicle, or worse, yourself! 4WD vehicles are recommended at any time and necessary on dirt roads in the rainy season, although some roads will become completely impassable then.\n\nRemember: there are no Roadside Assistance Packages, and very few ambulances, tow-trucks, or **emergency vehicles of any kind** in Zambia. Given the circumstances, bush mechanics can do an amazingly good job of patching up your vehicle, but patching up humans isn't so easy!", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk017", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Zambia is a big country (as big as France) and the public roads are pretty fair for a normal car. Sometimes there are deep potholes (holes in the road), but they are avoidable if you do not drive too fast. Most Zambians drive in a controlled way, sometimes a little too fast. Be especially aware for buses and trucks. They are wide and very long and drive far too fast. If you see a truck or bus approaching, then drive slower and keep left as left as you can. They tend to use your half of the road, pushing you off the road.\n\nIf you want to see more of Zambia, you will need a good 4x4 four wheel drive car. Especially from December until early April at times rain falls and the roads are wet and muddy.\n\nZambia is a wonderful country, lovely people, full of stunning nature and wildlife. The most well known parks in Zambia are Kafue (West of Lusaka) and South Luangwa (East of Lusaka). South Luangwa is known and acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful wildlife parks in all Africa.\nMost national parks in Zambia, like South Luangwa National Parl (SLNP), can be visited with your private car. However, to enjoy this to the full, you will need a 4x4 car.\n\n### By train\n\nYou can catch **TAZARA** trains between Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde at the Tanzanian border. The *Zambezi* train, operated by **Zambia Railways** runs between Livingstone and Kitwe via the capital Lusaka and Kapiri Mposhi every Wednesday. All trains are relatively reliable and safe, but slow. You might still consider them for the views and sense of adventure they provide, though.\n\n### By thumb", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk018", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking in Zambia is popular, although it can be extremely hit-or-miss as traffic density is low. Also note that, if picked up by a local, you will be expected to pay for the ride. Nevertheless, hitchhiking does not carry with it the same stigma in Zambia as it does in the United States; you are unlikely to be harmed, and you might make a great connection.\n\nIn Zambia, travellers do not \"thumb\" a ride. The proper method for flagging transportation is:\n Pile your luggage near the road.\n Sit in the shade.\n When you see or hear a vehicle, jump up.\n Rush to your luggage.\n From your shoulder, wave your entire arm up and down, palm open and facing the ground, as though you are fanning someone in front of you.\n Hope the vehicle stops.\n\n### By taxi\n\nIn the south the use of private taxis or cabs is easy enough. Cabs are a distinctive light blue, though not all have a taxi sign on top. Most drivers will negotiate a rate and are quite happy to drive between cities and often cross in Zimbabwe from Livingstone.", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk019", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Talk", "text": "Thanks to its former colonial status, **English** is Zambia's official language and the language most often spoken in schools, on the radio, in government offices, etc. However, there are over 70 different Bantu languages (including dialects) spoken throughout the country, the most important of which are:\n\n Bemba, spoken in the Copperbelt and the north;\n Nyanja, spoken in Lusaka; \n Tumbuka, spoken in the Muchinga and Eastern provinces;\n Tonga, spoken in the south and Livingstone; \n Lozi, which spoken in Western province; and\n Chewa, spoken in parts of Eastern Province\n Lunda and Kaonde, which are spoken in Northwestern Province.\n\nMany urban Zambians will speak at least passable English. As you move into the rural areas, though, expect communication to become more difficult. Nevertheless, do not be surprised to find a rural Zambian who speaks flawless English.\n\nThe most important thing to remember when speaking to Zambians is to greet them. When you first approach a Zambian, always begin by asking, \"How are you?\" even if you do not care. They will consider you very respectful. Sport, especially football (soccer) is a very good conversation topic with men; church is a good topic with either gender.\n\nWherever you happen to be in Zambia, it is a good idea to learn the local way of exchanging greetings, asking for something politely, and thanking someone. These simple phrases will help make life easier.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk020", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Victoria Falls\nthumb|Zambia's variety of wildlife is one of its greatest treasures.\n\nWith national parks all over the country, it's never hard to find a piece of postcard-perfect Africa in Zambia. The country offers excellent **safari** opportunities, and parks range from popular tourist destinations to seemingly unexplored wilderness. There's an amazing array of wildlife to spot, and elephants, giraffes, huge herds of grazers, lions and hundreds of kinds of birds are only the tip of the iceberg when talking about Zambia's fauna. **South Luangwa National Park** is surely the most famous one, and a travellers' favourite because of its dense and greatly varied population of wild animals. **North Luangwa National Park** is far less crowded and known mainly for the massive herds of buffalo and the large lion prides that roam its area. Even more off the beaten track - to the extent that even dirt roads are very limited - is **Lower Zambezi National Park**. The fact that it was the private hunting ground for the president ensured that development remained limited and the real, untouched African wilderness is all around. If you're around in October, head to **Kasanka National Park** to witness the enormous **bat migration**, with an estimated 8 million of the little creatures flying in the air above you. If you're fit enough, go canoeing down the **Zambezi river** as far as the gorgeous **Mpata Gorge**.\n\nApart from its great wildlife and African landscapes, the **Victoria Falls**, marking the border with Zimbabwe, are one of Zambia's major draws. No visit to the country is complete without a stop at one of the most stunning waterfalls in the world. An extra fascinating experience is a November dip in the **Devil's Pool**, a naturally formed basin, allowing for a few weeks of fairly safe swims right on the edge of the dramatically high drop.\n\nFor a more cultural experience, make sure to be part of one of the country's many colourful **festivals** and witness traditional ceremonies like the springtime **Ku'omboka** of the Lozi people. Visit the **Shiwa Ng'andu estate** near Mpika for a remarkable insight of Zambia's colonial past. Or, for a more urban vibe of modern Africa, spend a day strolling the colourful outdoor markets of bustling **Lusaka**.", "word_count": 371}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk021", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "Zambian safaris are amongst the best available in Africa; they offer top-quality viewing experiences with the continent's top guides. Zambia's national parks are not 'commercialised' as in other countries (e.g. Kenya and South Africa) and one will not see the ridiculous zebra striped game viewing buses, Land Cruisers, etc.\n\n### South Luangwa tour\n\nFor adventurous campers, the South Luangwa tour: Lusaka-Petauke-Malama-Mfuwe-Nsefu-Chipata-Lilongwe or Mpika. Very adventurous en scenic routes and campsites. Recommendable and for sure unforgettable. For 4x4 vehicles.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk022", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "The South Luangwa National Park is surrounded by the so-called GMA’s (Game Management Areas). You will find only limited habitation and you will be able to see an abundance of wildlife, like, lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, etc. A recommendable tour is from Petauke to Malama, on to Mfuwe and to the Nsefu sector (or the other way around). This route can only be done with a well equipped 4x4 car. You will see and enjoy to the full, the true rural Africa, the local people and their villages and wildlife.\nFrom Lusaka you take the road to Chipata (Great Eastern Road) and from that road (well before Chipata) take the junction to Petauke. Once you drove through Petauke you will go off the tarred road on a very fair gravel road. After 60km on this road, you turn left followed by a 120 km local rural road to Malama Chiefdom and Mfuwe. The road is really not too bad. On the way you will have to go over some steep hills, but you will manage. When you go under the electricity network cables (ZESCO Main Power Lines), you enter the Malama Chiefdom and will be 15 km away from the junction. This junction will lead (via the Malama Chief’s Palace) you either to the Lusangazi Gate of the National Park (left) or onwards direction Mfuwe (right). The junction is at a little village. If you are able and willing to do so: The people here and in the villages around the Chief’s Palace, are very friendly and helpful. Leave something for them. It will be highly appreciated because the local people are poor.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk023", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "If you head for Mfuwe, you will find a campsite after 9 km along the Luangwa River, called Malama Umoyo Camp. It is near (1.5 km after) the scouts training centre. This (basic) campsite is located at a stunning location overlooking the Luangwa River and a dry lagoon, most of the time filled with wildlife. Your hosts here are Menno en Virginie. From here it is also possible to make a day trip to the National Park.\n\nFrom Malama Umoyo Camp it is 42 km (2.5 hours drive) to Mfuwe. Mfuwe is a local but bigger than normal village. In the Mfuwe area you will find a lot of lodges, but also a good campsite. Recommendable is Croc Valley Camp. If you arrive from Malama and hit the tarred road, you turn left after 3km and after a few hundred metres right off the tarred road on to a gravelled road. Signposts will lead you further to Croc Valley Camp. Your hosts at Croc Valley Camp are Shaun and Milly. From here it is only a 5 minute drive to the main gate of the South Luangwa National Park (SLNP).\nEntry fee for the SLNP is US$25 per person per 24 hours and US$35 for a private car entering the park. At 06:00 the park is open and for private cars it is open until 18:00 hours.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk024", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "From Mfuwe/Croc Valley Camp you can proceed to the Nsefu sector. Do not forget to fill your fuel tank in Mfuwe. You follow the tarred road to Chipata and the local airport and after about 12 km from Mfuwe (the cropping it is called) you turn left (you will see a signpost and two palm trees). After about 12 km you will reach the gate of the National Park. If you are going to camp, then tell at the gate that you are on your way to Zikomo camp. Zikomo Camp is just outside the borders of the park. Right after the gate you turn left and follow the road (about 4 to 5 km) to Zikomo Camp. Your host at the camp is Demian Wallace. The Nsefu sector is part of the SNLP and considered by many as the most beautiful part of the park.\n\nAfter visiting Mfuwe, you can then return to Chipata (about 2 hours drive). Chipata is the capital of the Eastern Province and a good place to buy supplies and refuel. There are two supermarkets and lots of shops. Opposite Total fuel station you can find Afroc. Here you can refill camping gaz.\nFrom Chipata it is a 20 minutes drive to the Malawi border.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk025", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "Crossing the border will take about half an hour. When entering Malawi, you have to fill in a TIP form for your car and pay 5,000 Malawi kwacha. This will allow your car in Malwai for 30 days. Do not forget to insure your car for Malawi, because they check on it frequently. Just after the border there is an insurance company. Try to get Malawi kwachas before you enter the border post because they only accept Malawi kwachas and not US dollars or any other currency. At the border there are many money changers. Tip: take one US$100 note in your hand, put away your wallet, and change this for 100 x 180 Malawi kwacha. Be careful. These guys are quick and often give you less than they say. So you get 18,000 kwachas for US$100. You should a least get a 15% better rate than the official bank rate.\n\nIf you passed the border it will be another 125 km over a good tarred road to Lilongwe. Watch your speed, especially where it says you have to drive 50km.\n\nAlternative route:", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk026", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Do", "text": "From Mfuwe there is the possibility to go right through the park to the North. This is a really adventurous road. Do *not* drive this road when it is wet/raining! When you passed the northern gate, you will reach the escarpment and you have to drive up a very steep road. It can be done by good 4x4 drivers, but do it slowly. Once out of the Luangwa valley you will have a stunning view over the valley. You then can proceed to Mpika. In Mpika you can camp and get new supplies and fuel. From Mpika you can visit Kasanka NP (in November you will be able to see the daily migrations of millions of bats) or you can go up north. Recommended is to visit Shiwa Ngandu. A beautiful mansion built by an eccentric British gentleman (Stewart Gore Brown) a 100 years ago in the middle of nowhere. Camping you can near the hot water springs. The water is lovely and relaxing for at least a half hour dip. Mark Harvey and his wife are your hosts here. From here you can proceed for example to Tanzania (to Ruaha NP, also a place not to miss).\n\nWhen visiting Mfuwe, if you prefer a lodge for a good sleep, dinner and a warm shower: Thornicroft Lodge en Croc Valley are both recommendable (good value for money).", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk027", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency of Zambia is the **kwacha** – meaning \"sunrise,\" so-named to celebrate Zambia's independence – denoted by the symbol **ZK** (ISO code: ZMW).\n\nThe currency was re-denominated (dropping the last three zeros) in 2013, but you can occasionally receive change in both the new re-based currency and the old currency.\n\nCoins of Zambia come in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 ngwee, 1, 2 and 5 kwacha. Banknotes of Zambia come in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 kwacha.\n\nU.S. dollars are still commonly used for larger purchases (although it's illegal) and will be accepted by anybody dealing with tourists. It is not unusual to see all printed prices at a hotel restaurant in local currency, and then receive a bill in U.S. dollars. If you bring U.S. dollars, in Zambia only the \"big heads\" (new notes) are accepted in banks and bureaux de change, small heads are not accepted (if you are lucky you can change them in Livingstone). US$50 and US$100 notes are the best to bring, for smaller nominations you will get a poorer rate at the bureaux (5-10% less).\n\nChanging euros is difficult, especially up country: bureaux are giving a very poor rate (25% less than the market rate!) International banks will accept, but with commission charge. Finance Bank, Arcades Shopping Centre Lusaka is known to accept euros at a good rate and without commission charge. Bureaux and banks will only change a maximum of US$1000 (or equivalent) per person per day. Watch the rates as they can change overnight, fluctuations of 3-5% per day are common.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk028", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Buy", "text": "South African rand are exchanged relatively easily in major centres. Other second tier currencies like the Australian dollar are not worth bothering with. Expect blank looks from locals, and a mocking laugh from those in the tourist trade.\n\nIf you want to *sound like a local*, refer to 1000 kwacha as a *pin*, so for example 10,000 kwacha is \"ten pin\". In the 1990s, the kwacha devalued so rapidly that the government didn't have time to produce new, larger bank notes. To pay for things, Zambians often had to bundle — or \"pin\" together — large numbers of small bills.\n\n### ATMs\n\n**ATM**s may be found in all major towns and cities. Most of the ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard. Other international credit/debit cards (like American Express, Union Pay, Discover card, Diners Club, JCB) can also be used at some ATMs. Most supermarkets, shops and restaurants accept **debit** or **credit cards**, as do practically all high-end hotels and safari lodges. ATMs only dispense local currency. The big banks ATM networks which all take Mastercard and Visa Card are Access bank, Ecobank, Standard Chartered Bank, FNB, Zanaco, Stanbic, UBA and ABSA.\n\nTraveller's cheques are impossible to process in Zambia.\n\n### Shopping\n\nMost shopkeepers advertise fixed prices and are unwilling to negotiate, but this is not a given. On the other hand, most \"freelance\" salesmen – vendors selling curios; taxi drivers; etc. – who do not post their prices are usually willing to negotiate. As a (very) general rule of thumb, assume the first price they mention is at least double the amount they will accept. You should not be afraid to bargain – after all, Zambians bargain among themselves – but try not to get carried away with saving a few pennies.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk029", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not required – indeed, it was at one point illegal – but often expected. Porters expect US$0.50 or so per bag, and better restaurants typically add in a 10% service charge or expect an equivalent tip.\n\nFinally, keep in mind the Zambian custom of *mbasela* (em-buh-SAY-la) — giving a freebie when more than one item is purchased. If you buy a few small items, do not be shy about asking for your *mbasela*.\n\n### Costs\n\nZambia has about the same costs compared to its neighbours. A bare-bones budget traveler will be looking at a minimum of US$25 a day just for a dorm bed in a Backpackers hostel and three meals and transport. At the other end of the spectrum, all-inclusive safari lodges or Lusaka/Livingstone's five-star hotels will take care of all your needs but charge US$250/day and up for the privilege. Finding a middle ground between these two extremes can be difficult but there are safari operators who will offer 'DIY' camping for around US$10 to $95 and above – it pays to look around (see below).", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk030", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|240px|''Nsima'' with three relishes: rape and peanut (top left), cabbage (bottom left) and ''kapenta'' (bottom right)\n\nTraditional Zambian food revolves around one staple, **maize**, served in one form, ***nsima*** (n'SHEE-ma). Nsima is basically a type of thick porridge, rolled into balls with your right hand and dipped into a variety of stews known as **relishes** (*ndiwo*, *umunani*). Those who can afford them eat relishes of beef, chicken or fish, but the many who can't make do with beans, tiny dried fish (*kapenta*), peanuts, pumpkin leaves (*chibwabwa*) and other vegetables such as okra (*ndelele*), cabbage and rape. At breakfast, nsima can be served watered down into a soup, maybe with a little sugar. Local restaurants will serve nsima and relish for less than 5 kwacha.\n\nWestern food has also made major inroads, particularly in major cities, and in Lusaka or Livingstone you can find almost any food you like. Fast food – including chips and burgers, pizza, and fried chicken – is very popular in Zambia. Bakeries making cheap fresh bread are a common sight in towns, and rice from Chama provides an alternative staple if all the maize starts to get to you.\n\nFor sit-down meals, ethnic eateries are popular. In Lusaka, especially noteworthy is the Sunday brunch at **The Intercontinental**; and if you like Indian food, be sure to hit **The Dil.** Of course, game parks often cater to wealthy – usually foreign – visitors; therefore, high-quality Western meals can be found easily. Along the major roadways, you will find \"tuck shops\" featuring packaged cookies or take-away meals – meat pies or sausage rolls, for instance – which may or may not satisfy you.\n\nFinally, in terms of **hygiene** outside the major cities, you are unlikely to find a proper washroom with running water. You will probably be given a bowl of water, a piece of soap, and a (damp) towel. Therefore, some travellers bring small bottles of anti-bacterial hand soap with them.", "word_count": 324}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk031", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Drink", "text": "Tap water in Zambia is generally not drinkable, at least unless boiled. Bottled water is widely available in cities, but not necessarily in rural areas. It is advisable to carry chlorine pills to purify water, in case of emergency.\n\n### Soft drinks\n\nA traditional local drink worth trying is ***maheu***, a somewhat gritty and vaguely yogurty but refreshing beverage made from maize meal. Factory-produced maheu is sweet, comes in plastic bottles and is available in a variety of flavours including banana, chocolate and orange, while home-made versions are usually unflavoured and less sweet.\n\n**Coke** products are accessible and cheap but beware of the deposit system: in rural areas, you may have to return an empty bottle before they'll sell you a new one!\n\n### Beer\n\nZambia's best-known brew is **Mosi**, a clear 4% lager available everywhere. **Eagle** has more taste and more kick at 5.5%, while **Zambezi Lager** is a microbrew worth sampling if you run into it. The South African brand **Castle** is also bottled locally, and all of the above run around $1 in a store or $1-2 in a bar.\n\nIf you are near the borders, you are likely to find **Carlsberg** (good, from Malawi), **Simba** (excellent, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo), **Kilimanjaro** (nice lager, from Tanzania), and **Tusker** (strong, from Kenya). Other imports can be found in larger markets but will also cost more.\n\n### Local alcohol\n\nthumb|Distilling kachasu\n\nThe locals' drink of choice is ***masese*** (muh-SE-say) or ***ucwala*** (uch-WALA), also known as **Chibuku** after the biggest brand, made from maize, millet, or cassava and resembling sour porridge in texture and taste. If you want to try this, it's best to look out for the factory-made kind in milk-carton-like containers.\n\nIn rural areas, there are opportunities to drink local \"homebrews.\" A wide variety of homebrews exist in Zambia, from beers made from honey (in the Southern province of the country), to wine made from tea leaves (in the Eastern portion of the country).\n\nFinally, there is *kachasu* (cuh-CHA-suh), a spirit distilled from anything Zambians can get their hands on — including battery acid and fertiliser. For obvious reasons, therefore, it is better to avoid this moonshine.\n\nOn a final note, most men at bars are relaxing, while many women at bars are working. Therefore, if you are a single woman in a Zambian bar, be aware that you might be approached and offered the opportunity to do something you did not intend to do.", "word_count": 410}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk032", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Zambia runs the gamut. In Zambia, you can sleep in a top-notch hotel for a few hundred dollars per night (such as The Intercontinental); or you can stay in an independent hotel (like The Ndeke), for about $50; or you can opt for a budget experience, and spend about: $5 to $8 (camping) or $10/15 (dorm bed) or $10-30 (double room) at a one of about **7 backpackers hostels** around Zambia. These are only a few of the options. There are now many Budget Lodges in many towns from K 200 a night. You need to ask around when you get to a town.\n\nOutside the big cities or tourist areas, however, you might be hard-pressed to find quality accommodation. If your tastes run to the elegant — or even if you demand constant electricity — you might want to reconsider venturing too deep into the bush. However, if you seek an enjoyable, memorable, and authentic night at a local hotel, you might be pleasantly surprised.", "word_count": 168}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk033", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Learn", "text": "The University of Zambia is the official university. However, it is not affordable for most Zambians. There are also technical schools throughout Zambia, and teachers' training colleges are found in each provincial capital, providing two year's coursework for about US$300.\n\nNorthrise University is in Ndola. As a private university, it focuses on business, information technology and theological study.\n\nFor tourists, the biggest educational experiences would likely be:\nVisit a game park and learn as much as possible about the area's animals from the guides. Guides can be an incredible source of information. Remember to tip them.\nArrange for an overnight stay in a \"Traditional African Village\". Of course, because the locals have prepared for you, it is no longer 100% authentic, but you will get an idea of the hardships Zambians face.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk034", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Work", "text": "thumb|Victoria Falls footbridge\n\nUnemployment in Zambia was 8% in 2018, a considerable improvement compared to the decades before 2011. The agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries employ over 70% of Zambian workers. The legal minimum wage for non-unionised workers equates to around US$90 per month – one of the lowest minimum wages in the world. Most minimum wage earners supplement this through subsistence farming. In practice, almost all unionised workers received salaries considerably higher than the non-unionised minimum wage.\n\nAs for tourists, temporary work is likely to be difficult to secure. Although there is a substantial expat community in Zambia, most of these individuals are contracted by international agencies; by and large, they did not come to Zambia and *then* find work. Persistence and connections might pay off, but outside of the few hostels or Western-oriented bars, a tourist should not expect to find ready employment.", "word_count": 145}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk035", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Women should avoid going to bars alone. Furthermore, men should avoid purchasing drinks for Zambian women they meet casually in bars; this is an invitation to spend the night.\n\nThere is a 10PM curfew throughout most of the country. Avoid being found on the street after 10PM or risk being arrested.\n\nAs the Kwacha has been declining, it often takes fistfuls of cash to purchase items. Be careful about flashing money.\n\nWhile it's possible to get a good exchange rate from an *individual* money-changer on the street (although you really should use banks if you can), you should avoid changing money with *groups* of men. They are likely running a scam.\n\nGenerally, Zambians are friendly people. However — as with any location — be careful about walking at night, especially if you've been drinking. There are few streetlights, and many of the locals are very poor.\n\nCarjacking is also a potential risk while driving after dark.\n\nMany places of accommodation have electric fences, gates and guards for added security. You can check before booking.\n\nCorruption is endemic in Zambia. Don't expect the police to be of any substantial assistance to you. If you need to log a report for insurance purposes, you can expect to have to pay to do so. If you make an accusation or indicate a suspicion against a local, the person you lodge the complaint against may be interrogated and beaten by the police.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk036", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Drinking **tap water** in the cities is potentially risky, unless either (a) you have a strong stomach, or (b) you are at a restaurant or hotel that caters to foreigners. If neither of these conditions apply to you, you should probably stick with the bottled stuff, boiled water or chlorine tablets. Check bottles of water to make sure that they are sealed, as some local \"bottled\" water could be simply tap water poured into a used bottle.\n\n**The HIV infection rate among older teenagers and adults was estimated to be 11.6% in 2017 – and even higher among younger women. Do not have unprotected sex.**\n\nZambia is a highly malarial country. Especially at dusk, you should make every effort to cover exposed skin with clothing or insect repellent. In addition, using malarial prophylaxis is highly recommended.\n\nIn practice, yellow fever is not a problem in Zambia anymore, except perhaps in the extreme west along the Congolese borders. However, many countries will insist on a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they find out you've been to Zambia, so it's best to get a jab at least 10 to 14 days before arriving.\n\nTyphoid and Hepatitis B vaccines are advised for all travelers entering Zambia.", "word_count": 203}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk037", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Zambians follow a strict patriarchal society – men are afforded more respect than women, and older men are respected more than younger men. However, you might find that a white person, of either gender and any age, is granted the most respect of all. A holdover from colonial times, this might make a traveller uncomfortable, but this is largely a Zambian's way of being courteous. Accept their hospitality.\n\nZambians are a curious people. To a Western mindset, this might be interpreted as unnecessarily staring at you or talking about you in front of you. Be prepared to be greeted by kids yelling *mzungu, mzungu!* (literally, *white man*) and answer lots of questions about yourself.\n\nZambians love to shake hands, and you should oblige them. However, Zambians often like to *hold hands* for the duration of a conversation. This should not be interpreted as anything sexual; they are merely trying to \"connect\" with you. If you feel uncomfortable, simply pull your hand away. If you wish to be courteous or show respect then holding your right wrist or elbow with your left hand as you shake is acceptable. Do not expect a firm handshake as this is considered aggressive, likewise do not be too firm in yours.\n\nEye contact is also considered aggressive and disrespectful, you can make eye contact but do not hold it, slide your eyes away, but do not face away.\n\nWomen should not wear shorts or mini-skirts, especially as they travel away from Lusaka – thighs, to Zambian men, are huge turn-ons. Low-cut tops, while discouraged, are not nearly as provocative.\n\nPointing with the index finger should not be done, it is considered vulgar.\n\nFinally, when meeting a Zambian – even to ask a question – you should always say hello and ask how they are. Properly greeting a Zambian is very important. They are uncomfortable with the Western notion of simply \"getting to the point.\" Enquiries about children are generally welcome and are a good way to break the ice.", "word_count": 334}
+{"chunk_id": "zambia::chunk038", "doc_id": "zambia", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By mail\n\nThe Zambian mail service is slow and a little flaky (especially outside Lusaka), but not completely hopeless. Using a private courier service is still recommended if sending something important.\n\n### By phone\n\nthumb|Public telephone, Zambian style\n\nThe country code for Zambia is \"260.\" The city code for Lusaka is \"211\". For the city code for other towns, check the directory. However, **phone service** both within Zambia and into Zambia is very hit-or-miss. In large cities, you are more likely to get regular, dependable phone service, but it is by no means a guarantee. The farther you travel from Lusaka, the less likely you are to maintain a good connection. International calling rates can be as high as $3 per minute.\n\nZambia has a highly competitive market in mobile phones with three main operators: **Airtel** (0976,0977,0979), **Cell Z** (0955) and **MTN** (0966,0967). Generally speaking, Airtel has the largest network, while Cell Z is the cheapest. You can pick up a local SIM card for as little as 5,000K (US$1). Prepaid time is sold in \"units\" corresponding to dollars: figure on 0.4 units for an SMS or up to 1 unit/minute for calls, although as always the precise tariffs are bewilderingly complex. If you plan on roaming with your non-Zambian SIM, check first to see if your home operator has made any roaming agreements; Zambia is usually not on the top of their list. Also note that the roaming prices are very high and coverage in rural areas can be spotty.\n\nBooths labeled \"public telephone\" these days consist, more often than not, of a guy renting out his cellphone. Typical rates are 5K/min for domestic and 15K/min for international calls.\n\n### By internet\n\n**Internet cafes** are springing up in Zambia, but again, connections can be sporadic and *very* slow. Moreover, because constant electricity is not a guarantee, some Internet cafes operate backup generators, which can be extremely costly. Be prepared to see Internet cafe charges as high as 25 cents per minute. Most hotels and backpackers hostels will offer internet connections to their guests for free.", "word_count": 347}
diff --git a/corpus/zambia/metadata.json b/corpus/zambia/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..42f7cb6bb88024737f5a1773154f73624d1af366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zambia/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "zambia",
+ "title": "Zambia",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zambia",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "kayaking",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "shopping",
+ "spa",
+ "birdwatching",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 8746,
+ "listing_count": 0,
+ "marker_count": 18,
+ "chunk_count": 39,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/zanzibar/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/zanzibar/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..519fe8d63b0a73ca5e95d3e89171f191a78c1f76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zanzibar/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk000", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|A Zanzibar beach\n**Zanzibar** is an island off the coast of Tanzania famous for its history, culture, archeological sites, and stunning white sand beaches.\n\n**Zanzibar Province** includes Pemba Island to the north as well as many smaller islands in the Zanzibar archipelago. To distinguish the main island from the larger province, the island alone is sometimes referred to as *Unguja* or \"Zanzibar Island\".", "word_count": 63}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk001", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Cities", "text": "– the vibrant and somewhat enchanting capital.\n – a small fishing village by the sea.\n – fishing village stretching miles along the beach with lots of small hotels and guesthouses\n – a small fishing village a couple of miles from Nungwi, a great place for reading on the beach or scuba diving.\n – a small village on the south coast and starting point for dolphin tours\n \n – a popular small resort town on the northern tip of the island.\n – a small village on the east coast known for excellent kiteboarding conditions.\n – a small fishing village on the east coast, resorts on the northern and southern side.", "word_count": 108}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk002", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Understand", "text": "The island and the surrounding islets are divided into three regions. They are Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North and Zanzibar Urban/West. Zanzibar City, on the central west coast, is the capital and largest city of Zanzibar and the region of Zanzibar Urban/West. The population of Zanzibar Island was about 900,000 in 2016, with the most concentrated populations in the Zanzibar Urban Region.\n\nThe larger and more populated of the province's two larger islands, Zanzibar is separated from its northern neighbor Pemba by 48 km of open sea. The mainland of Tanzania, which lies to the southwest of Zanzibar and is separate from it by the Zanzibar Channel, is considerably closer, as is the major Tanzanian mainland port of Dar es Salaam. Smaller islands surround the coast, notably Tumbatu in the northwest, Uzi in the south, and Mnemba Atoll in the northeast. A considerable number of smaller islands and reefs lie off Zanzibar's southwest coast.\n\nMost of the province's main centres are on Zanzibar Island, and most of the province's economy is based here. Other than the capital, the island's major population centres include Mbweni, Mangapwani, Chwaka, and Nungwi. Tourism is a major industry.\n\n### History\n\nZanzibar is rich in history, with numerous archaeological sites dotting the island, most notably at Unguja Ukuu, just to the north of the causeway which links Zanzibar and the Uzi Islands.\n\nThe island has been deeply influenced by Arab culture for many centuries, and was part of the Sultanate of Oman starting in 1698. From 1890, the Sultanate of Zanzibar became a British protectorate. In 1896, Zanzibar was the location of the world's shortest war — anti-British elements surrendered to the British Army after 38 minutes.\n\nThroughout most of its existence, the Sultanate is an absolute monarchy, with the Arab ruled over the Black people. Simmering conflicts resulted in a revolution that deposed the sultan in 1964. Following the revolution, revolutionaries proceeded to negotiate a merger with neighbouring Tanganyika, thus forming modern Tanzania.", "word_count": 327}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk003", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By boat\n\nThere are many ferries and catamarans that can take you between Dar es Salaam and the Island. **Azam Marine**, **Sea Express**, **Sea Star**, **Seagull** **Kilimanjaro** and **Sepideh Megaspeed Liners** are among the nicest available. Some of these are run by Azam (2 hr, US$35 for non-residents, leaving Dar es Salaam at 07:00, 09:30, 12:30 and 15:45 and returning from Stone Town at 07:00, 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30, check with Azam for updates).\n\nDepending on demand, weather and condition of the boats additional ferries may run at different times. Arrive at the port at least 30 minutes in advance to allow for emigration, luggage security checks and to secure a good seat on the boat.\n\nFirst class is US$5 more expensive than economy and often not worth the money: While there’s good comfortable seating, you’ll stay in a freezing room with the A/C set to 18°C and foreigners are often allowed in first class anyways, since they already pay around 2½ times the local price. If you prefer to stay on the sundeck outside, choose economy.\n\nThe quoted US$ price may be more expensive when paid in local currency, so it may be a good idea to exchange money first.\n\n**Flying Horse** makes the same journey for US$20. However, it will take around 4½ hours. There are also evening departures on a slow night ferry. It runs towards the destination and anchors there until the morning before it enters the port. This has been reported to be a beautiful trip, but security is an issue and close attention to belongings must always be paid.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk004", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get in", "text": "You may be able to hire a private boat for cheaper, but the trip will take considerably longer and unless you know something about boats, you could be on a vessel that is not equipped for bad weather conditions or an emergency. Remember: you get what you pay for.\n\nWhile not advisable there are also *dhow* connections, e.g. to Bagamoyo (4-8 hr, TSh 5,000). Since you’re not arriving through official customs on this route you may need to pay a departure tax of US$5 on exit and face some questioning.\n\n#### Day trips\n\nFerry schedules allow you to do the return trip the same day. For instance leave Dar es Salaam at 07:30 and return from Zanzibar on the 15:45 ferry. That leaves plenty of time to explore the Stone Town, the museum and have a nice lunch. The trip is beautiful and lasts about 2 hours. However, if the weather is bad it can take much longer and the trip can be very unpleasant. If you suffer from seasickness you are advised to take some anti-seasickness pills prior to boarding. The on-board personnel give out seasickness bags at the start of the journey.\n\n#### Touts and annoyances\n\nThe \"porters\" at the Dar ferry terminal will hassle you for money, expect tips for referring you to \"the best boat\" or guide you to a ticket office that sells tickets at inflated prices. To avoid touts be forceful and head straight towards the ticket office of the ferry you intend to take.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk005", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get in", "text": "Touts will tell you anything to get you to use a service which pays them commission, and scam you in any way they can. They will say the company kiosk you are heading towards is closed, the ferry runs only later or only goes to mainland destinations (when they do service Zanzibar), they will say their service is a 90-min ferry (when it actually takes over 2 hours), they will quote you a price for first class tickets (but issue \"e/c\" economy tickets and pocket the difference), they will sell you a return ticket (leaving you to later find out it is actually only valid for return travel with a different, cheaper company and the seller has pocketed the difference). Watchout for pickpockets.\n\n#### Passport\n\nAlthough Zanzibar is part of the Union it maintains its own immigration service and you need to have a valid passport to enter, even if you come from mainland Tanzania. This farcically means you **must** fill out a Tanzania arrival card for your arrival in Stone Town, and a Tanzania departure card when you leave. Also note that immigration in Zanzibar may check your vaccination records for yellow fever.\n\n### By plane\n\nAirlines and destinations include Air France (Paris), Air Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), As Salaam Air (domestic), Auric Air (domestic), Coastal Aviation (domestic), Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa), Flightlink (domestic), Fly540 (Mombasa, Nairobi), Flydubai (Dubai), FlySafair (Johannesburg), Israir (Tel Aviv), Malawi Airlines (Lilongwe), Oman Air (Muscat), Precision Air (domestic & Nairobi), Qatar Airways (Doha), Regional Air (Arusha), Tropical Air (domestic), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Uganda Airlines (Entebbe), and ZanAir (domestic).\n\nAs of 2018 Precision Air sometimes offer promotional rates as low as US$50 one-way for flights to Dar es Salaam. Be sure to check the baggage allowance before boarding as most planes are fairly small.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk006", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get in", "text": "Zanzibar has 2 departure taxes: domestic flights TSh 5,000 (or US$5), and international flights US$30. In almost all cases, **this tax is incorporated into your flight ticket price**.\n\n#### Taxi\n\nThere are taxis waiting for passengers when you exit the terminal. Despite having a \"list\" of prices for the various tourist destinations on the island, prices are negotiable. Although you can arrange a pick up at the airport with your hotel or tour company, even a little negotiating will get you a better price than the inflated one quoted by most hotels. However, some Stone Town hotels do offer free shuttle service from the airport.\n\n#### Dala dala\n\nThere is a bus stop just outside of the airport gate. The dala dala is mainly used by locals, and can be very awkward if you have large bags or suitcases, but is manageable with a backpack. The buses run along creek road, TSh 200, 20 min (2018). For travel from Stone Town to the airport, look for buses marked Ndege (Airport in Swahili). These can be most conveniently caught at the crossroads just south of the market on Creek Road.", "word_count": 189}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk007", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Although **taxis** are available, you will probably want to **walk** through Stone Town. After all, most of the alleys are barely wide enough for a bike to pass.\n\n### By taxi\n\nJourneying outside Stone Town is most comfortably done with a **taxi** or a **private car**. The latter are essentially also taxis with drivers although they don't have the official taxi designation. They may however be a bit cheaper than a cab (10-20%) and your hotel receptionist can likely arrange one for you (the hotel may charge you a hefty commission Airport-Nungwi US$60 - compare below). Negotiate the price before and know the street price so you don't end up paying an overly high commission instead.\n\nSample fares include:\n Stone Town to Nungwi or Kendwa: 1½ hr, from TSh 69,789 and 62,810 return. \n Airport to Nungwi: Tsh 65,000\n Nungwi to Kizimkazi: 2 hr, from TSh 80,000\n Airport/Stone Town to Paje: 1 hr, from TSh 50,000\n\n### By daladala\n\nA network of *daladalas*, minivans, small buses and sometimes pickup trucks, exist which service all the major villages on the island at a very cheap price (any route on the island should be less than TSh 2,000 per person). The adventurous, armed with a phrase book and map, will experience a wonderful side of Zanzibar life, which all too often is just another photograph to the typical tourist zooming past. It will take you a good 2 hours to get to Nungwi, on the northern tip of the island. There’s no *daladala* service running north to south. Instead you’ll have to go via Stone Town again and change buses there.\n\n### By shared taxi", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk008", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get around", "text": "These cost US$10 per person for a trip anywhere on the island. Pick up and drop off wherever you choose; tickets must be booked online before travel from the Zanzibus.\n\n### By car\n\nDriving by yourself can be dangerous. Roads are sometimes in horrendous condition and all kind of obstacles (sudden bumps, animals, people) are to be expected at any time. Avoid driving at night if you can. Driving with the high beams on the whole time is a stupid but unfortunately common practice that you shouldn't imitate. It is enough that one person cannot see.\n\nThat said, a car will give you freedom to explore and may save you a lot of time. Even a one day and one way car hire may make sense, as the car can be delivered to and picked up from your hotels in the morning and evening, e.g. Nungwi to Stone Town (US$30 for a small 4x4 Escudo).\n\nPetrol is priced at TSh 2,210 per liter (Nov 2017) and gas stations are well distributed on the island. Don't take chance on running out of petrol though.\n\nThere are many police checks on the roads. So make sure you have your driving licence, the temporary Zanzibar drivers permit, and the car insurance sticker on the windscreen. Also check that the rental car is roadworthy and the police will wave you through with a kind jambo.\n\nThe temporary Zanzibar drivers permit can be obtained from local authorities. However, if you ask your car rental company in advance, they should be able to get it for you and deliver it with the car. They probably need a photocopy of your home driving licence (a photo sent via e-mail should also work). Expect to pay about TSh 16,000 for the licence.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk009", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hotels are happy to arrange a taxi or rental car for you although they might add some (sometimes: a lot) commission to the price.\n\nIt has been reported that police invent \"offences\" to get bribes. One scheme may involve to threaten to go to trial in a couple of days. They may even jump in your car on the grounds that you have to drive them to the police station. However, when they state \"How can we sort this out?\" Tsh 1,000-5,000 will be enough to forget the \"offence\".", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk010", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "See", "text": "**Jozani Forest** has excellent nature trails, featuring some very exotic (and large) trees. Even more interesting, though, are the Red Colobus Monkeys that live here. Native to the Island, these monkeys are now nearly extinct. They are very curious and playful and will likely pose for a picture. The entry fee (US$8) includes an optional visit to a beautiful mangrove forest which is highly recommended.\n**Stone Town**\n The **inner city** was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Blending Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African traditions and architectures, it is possible to spend days winding through Stone Town's labyrinthine alleys. That said, a day will give you plenty of insight. The inner city is small and can easily be explored by foot.\n While in Stone Town, you can shop for souvenirs, drink the occasional tea, or visit the few city's historic sites. Walking these streets is hot and thirsty work, so drink plenty of water.\n **The House of Wonders** It carries this name because it was the first house in East Africa to have electricity, running water, and an elevator.\n **Former Slave Market** (entry fee is TSh 11,500 - this fee includes a guide (June 2023), not including tip). This is the site of the old Slave Market. The museum only consists of slave chambers (one for 50 men and one for 75 women and children), a memorial, and an Anglican Church built on the site of the tree that served as whipping post. It provides only very limited information on the history of the building or slave trade in Zanzibar. Apart from the slave chambers nothing is left, as a hospital has been built into the old market. However, you can go into the holding chambers in the cellar to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. The property was purchased by Dr David Livingstone (one of the biggest proponents of the abolition of slavery) who wanted to turn the grounds into a haven after the atrocities committed there by the Oman Arab slave traders.", "word_count": 345}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk011", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Do", "text": "There are a lot of things to do on Zanzibar Island. It just depends on where your interests lie.\n - Spice tour\n\n - East Beaches\n\n - [[Kendwa|Kendwa Beach]]\n\n - Scuba diving and snorkeling\n\n - Dolphin tour\n\n - Ride on a local's ''dhow''\n\n **Sit and stare at the water** for hours on end.\n- Zanzibar Butterfly Centre", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk012", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Buy", "text": "Zanzibar currency is the Tanzanian shilling (Tsh). On the beaches, US dollars and shillings are accepted, but as US dollars receive much less than the official exchange rate. Best would be to trade some of your US dollars or euros for shillings, and use that to buy food. If you buy curios with US dollars and euros you will get a better deal, since the hawkers are more prone to bargaining when buying with foreign currency. You get a better exchange rate on US$50 and $100 notes, than on $20 and $10 notes. There are four ATMs on the island, all in Stone Town. A store that accepts credit card payment is a rarity. Don't rely totally on your bank card. Take extra cash.\n\nStone Town is a one-stop-souvenir-shopping for the traveller. You can find beautiful textiles, handmade jewelry, intricate wood or stone carvings, spices, knick-knacks, etc.\n\nBuy a cookbook and spices. Take the trip home with you! Many of the vendors sell fake saffron (appears waxy like a shredded red crayon).\n\n**Barclays bank** has a Visa Card/Mastercard ATMs at Zanzibar Main Karume Road Stone Town and Darajani.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk013", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Eat", "text": "Zanzibar cuisine offers a much greater variety than the mainland one.\nWhile the usual cheap eating stalls cater the same ubiquitous *chapati*, rice, chips and *Ugali* dishes, esp. in Stone Town a lot of great food can be found.\n - Forodhani Gardens\n\nNearly all beach hotels also include restaurants with typical western cuisine at varying degrees of quality. Mains usually start around Tsh 10,000.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk014", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Drink", "text": "While predominantly a Muslim community, small bars can be found everywhere in Zanzibar.\n The sugar cane juice and fresh coconut milk that are mainly available in Stone Town are not to be missed.\n Try the ginger beer (*tangawizi*, also available on the mainland) which is not a beer, but a soda with a spicy ginger flavor.\n\n**Beach bars** on the beaches will supply you with good local beer and cocktails. You must try a *Dawa*-cocktail!\n\nThe **Old Dispensary** has a basic \"top storey\" bar which offers nice views on the harbour and beaches (local beer: TSh 4000). Despite its location it is off the beaten track and you may find yourself with a few locals and a band sipping at quite some height.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk015", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Zanzibar does not offer much of cheap accommodation. The cheapest budget hotels in Stone Town start from TSh 25,000 for a double, and normal budget hotel prices range TSh 45,000 to 90,000 and that's during the low season, where several hotels stay closed due to lack of customers. The quoted prices are after bargaining: low-season is a good time to do so and not having your bags with you when doing so, will also give you a boost.\n\nAccommodation at the beaches is often more expensive, with the cheapest options starting at TSh 50,000.\nSee the individual articles for hotel listings: Stone Town, Jambiani, Kendwa, Kilombero, Kizimkazi, Matemwe, Nungwi, Paje.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk016", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Respect", "text": "Zanzibar is largely a Muslim community. Although they are used to Western ways, you should try to be respectful. This means:\nWomen and men should make an effort to cover their legs and arms (being in a bikini on the resort beach is fine though).\nIt is regarded as disrespectful to show public affection.\nBe discreet when drinking alcohol.\nDuring Ramadan -- the month of fasting -- travellers should avoid eating and drinking publicly during the daytime. Also, be sure not to smoke in front of people, nor chew gum, and it is polite to avoid talking about the nice lunch you had.", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk017", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Cope", "text": "In the tourist areas around the waterfront, Kenyatta Road and Shangani Road, you will be beset by all manner of *papasi*, touts and others wanting to offer you taxis, spice tours, music, gifts, etc. A polite but firm *No, thanks* usually doesn't do the trick, and can get exhausting. Best thing to do here is to keep walking and wander into the more residential alleys where you won't be disturbed.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "zanzibar::chunk018", "doc_id": "zanzibar", "section": "Go next", "text": "Pemba, the quieter island is a short flight or ferry ride away.\nDar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania is well connected by air and by ferry. See Get in by boat for details on the ferry.\nArusha, the gateway to the northern safari circuit can be reached by direct flights from Zanzibar or by a more than 12-hr bus trip from Dar es Salaam.", "word_count": 66}
diff --git a/corpus/zanzibar/metadata.json b/corpus/zanzibar/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a9ceb15e140861439a1c5fb3bfc2997247e0e0cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zanzibar/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "zanzibar",
+ "title": "Zanzibar",
+ "type": "island",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zanzibar",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "snorkeling",
+ "diving",
+ "safari",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Tanzania"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Pemba Island",
+ "Dar es Salaam",
+ "Arusha"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3283,
+ "listing_count": 8,
+ "marker_count": 9,
+ "chunk_count": 19,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/zhangjiajie/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/zhangjiajie/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d035db9fd4c3a3fb93344952cba0a897233fa294
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+++ b/corpus/zhangjiajie/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk000", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|364x364px\n\n**Zhangjiajie** (张家界 Zhāngjiājiè) is a small provincial city in northwestern Hunan Province, China. It is significant for its proximity to Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan.\nthumb", "word_count": 26}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk001", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Understand", "text": "Located in the Lishui upper reaches, is a Wuling mountains hinterland. It is one of the most important tourist cities in mainland China. Zhangjiajie City has jurisdiction over Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, Cili County, and Sangzhi County. Among them, Yongding District and Wulingyuan District are the two main urban areas. Tourists usually arrive in Yongding District before going to other places to visit.\n\n### History", "word_count": 65}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk002", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city has a recorded history dating back to 221 BC. Its name was **Dayong** (大庸) until 1994 when it was renamed to link it to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (itself named after a tiny village now known as Zhangjiajie village or Zhangjiajie Cun), which came within city borders after Dayong had become a prefecture-level city in 1988. This name was adopted to give the city more prominence after this site had been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The name Zhangjiajie is linked to the Han Dynasty general and minister Zhang Liang (died about 189 BCE). By some accounts he lived in seclusion on this mountain after retirement. During the Three Kingdoms period, in the sixth year of the Yong'an era (263 AD, the lunar year of Guiwei), Emperor Jing of Wu, Sun Xiu, observed that the cave entrance on Songliang Mountain opened wide and glowed mysteriously like a gate. Interpreting this as an auspicious sign, he renamed Songliang Mountain to Tianmen Mountain and also renamed Wuling Commandery to Tianmen Commandery. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, under the rule of Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song, in the first year of the Xiaojian era (454 AD, the lunar year of Jiawu), Tianmen was reassigned to the jurisdiction of the Governor of Ying Prefecture after being divided from Wuling Commandery in Jingzhou. In the third year of the Qinshi era of Emperor Ming of Song (467 AD), Wuling and Tianmen Commanderies remained part of Jingzhou. In the second year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty (1369 AD, the lunar year of Jiyou), Cili Prefecture was downgraded to Dayong County and placed under the administration of Lizhou. In the ninth year of the Hongwu era (1376 AD, the lunar year of Bingchen), Cili was reassigned to the jurisdiction of Changde Prefecture.", "word_count": 305}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk003", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Geography\n\nZhangjiajie City has complex and diverse strata, creating a local characteristic landscape. Zhangjiajie is at the junction of the uplift of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the subsidence area of Dongting Lake. There are mountains, karsts, hills, hills, and plains in the landforms. The mountainous area accounts for 76% of the total area. The central part is along the banks of the Lishui River in a north-easterly direction, and the southern mountains are descending towards the Yuanshui River. The rivers in the city are vertical and horizontal, and the water system is mainly Lishui and Lushui.\n\n### Nature\n\nZhangjiajie has a typical monsoon humid climate in the middle subtropical mountains, with four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, sufficient sunshine, a long frost-free period, and a short severe cold period. The average annual sunshine is 1440 hours, the average temperature is 16 degrees, the average annual precipitation is about 1400 mm, and the average frost-free period over the years is 216 to 269 days. Due to the influence of topography, landform, and other factors, the climate in the territory is complex and changeable, and natural disasters such as droughts, floods, strong winds, and hail are also frequent.\n\nZhangjiajie has a large temperature difference between day and night, and the temperature difference between the four seasons is relatively small. The temperature difference between the core scenic spots in Zhangjiajie and the urban area is about 5-10 ℃, the hottest time is 39 ℃ in the urban area, and about 30 ℃ in the scenic area. In summer, you need to bring sunscreen and sleep with a thin quilt at night, so it is best to bring long-sleeved clothing when staying at the top of the mountain at night. Spring and autumn are the best time to travel to Zhangjiajie.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk004", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Get in", "text": "Zhangjiajie is about 250 km (155 mi) northwest of Changsha.\n\n### By plane\n\n \nBe careful with the taxi drivers in the airport parking lot. They are likely unwilling to use the meter. They may claim that your destination is very far and attempt to charge you a \"parking lot fee\". Call your hotel or hostel to find out how much the trip should cost and ask them to speak with a taxi driver for you. It should cost only ¥20-40 total for a trip from the airport to Zhangjiajie city. Alternatively, you may take a local public bus (service number 4) to the city. The Airport Bus, or Bus 4, is a circular route that reaches the city or bus station. The fare is ¥1. It runs from 06:00 to 19:00 and the departure station is before the airport gate. Divided into two lines, the routes are as follows.\n\nLine A, in the direction of Nanzhuangping, reaches the Airport Hotel, Ziwu Road, Beizheng Street, the department store, the bus station, the pedestrian street, the railway station, and then back to the airport via Guanliping.\n\nLine B, the direction of Guanliping, goes through the railway station, the pedestrian street, the bus station, the department store, Xianglong International Hotel, Beizheng Street, Ziwu Road, the airport hotel, and back to the airport via Nanzhuangping.\n\n### By train\n\n \n \n\n### By bus\n\nIntercity buses from Changsha take 5 hours and are boarded at the Changsha West bus terminal (a fancy new building that resembles a shopping mall, next to the Wangchengpo subway stop). These buses run approximately hourly with the last bus departing around 19:00. Fare is about ¥120.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk005", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Get around", "text": "Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station operates minibusses that will take you next to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park's entrance. You do not need to buy a ticket at the Central Bus Station ticket window, simply go through security, keep to the left and make your way outside through Exit 1. The bus fare to the park is ¥12, and you pay the driver directly. Keep in mind that these are older minibusses that are used primarily by local commuters to their job sites. Many stops will be made to pick up and drop off people along the route. The terminus appears to be a partially constructed hotel or apartment complex about five minutes on foot from the park entrance. The trip is about 1hr 20min, and the roads are substandard as of Jan 2018. Once you are done in the park, return to the location you were dropped off at. Busses will be waiting to return you to the Central Bus Station. The minibusses depart in both directions about every 20–30 minutes. The first bus leaves the Central Bus Station at 06:30 the last one returns from the park around 18:00.\nthumb", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk006", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "See", "text": "### Zhangjiajie urban area\n\nthumb|Puguang Chan Temple (普光禅寺)\n - Puguang Chan Temple\n\n - Zhangjiajie Museum\n\n - Tujiafengqingyuan\n\n### Rural Zhangjiajie\n\n - [[Wulingyuan]]\n\n - Maoyanhejiutiandong", "word_count": 24}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk007", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb\nZhangjiajie is the entry point for trips to two stunning nearby sites: Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan Scenic Area. There are also some less prominent natural attractions in the area.\n - [[Zhangjiajie National Forest Park]]\n\n- Huangshizhai Scenic Area\n\n- Yuanjiajie\n\n- Golden Whip Stream\n\n- Yangjiajie\n\n- Tianzi Mountain\n\n- Wulongzhai\n\n- People’s Square Commercial Pedestrian Street\n\n- Tianzi Street Ethnic Tourism Mall\n\n#### Route", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk008", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Do", "text": "The general ticket of Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Scenic Area is valid for three days. If you want to have a more complete experience, you can refer to the following route:\n**Day 1**, take a bus from the central bus station in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie to the Forest Park Ticket Station in the morning. In the peak tourist season, since most tourists choose this entrance, the entrance is usually crowded at 8 or 9 in the morning. Buy a ticket to enter, walk a flat road for about 6 minutes, and come to the **Big Oxygen Bar Square**, where many tour groups and tourists gather, and it is also the first scenic spot after entering the park. At this time, you can choose to take an environmentally friendly car at the station on the west side (left) of the square for about 4 minutes to Huangshizhai for sightseeing, or you can go directly to Jinbianxi or Yaozizhai. To get to the **Huangshizhai**, you usually take the cable car (sit next to the place where you get off, and you can get a map of Huangshizhai at the cable car station) to the top of the village (the top of the village is relatively flat), and you will reach the top of the village after seven minutes. The tour route to the top of the village is circular, and you can go left or right when you exit the station. It takes about 100 minutes to go around the top of the village. It is basically a flat road with occasional ups and downs. Across the valley to the east of Huangshi Village is Yuanjiajie, and the valley below is Jinbian Creek. In the distance to the north is the southern edge of Yangjiajie. There are many tourists in Huangshi Village, with the most tourists in Liuqi Pavilion. If you choose to walk down the mountain, there are two lines, the front mountain and the back mountain. It takes about 1 hour to go down the back mountain and reach the lower station of the cableway; the front mountain is the route most people choose. It takes about 1 hour to go down the mountain, and go down the steps all the way to the big oxygen bar square. There are some kiosks selling things near the big oxygen bar square, but there are no restaurants. After that, you can continue to visit Jinbian Creek or Yaozi Village. Most people choose the former because the latter requires climbing, which is very far and steep, suitable for mountaineering enthusiasts. The \"Golden Whip Creek\" tour line is more than 4km long, and the whole journey is very pleasant. The stream next to it is very clear, and you can experience it by the water. The walk usually ends at around 4:00 p.m. on the first day. There is a fork called Shadaogou in the second half of the walk. You can reach the roadside west of Yuanjiajie by going up the mountain. The whole journey takes more than 1 hour. There is a rest area at Zicaotan, and another fork is separated from the river, namely \"Luanchuanpo\". \"Luanchuanpo\" also goes up all the way, with more than 2,000 steps, and you can reach the \"back garden\" scenic spot at the end of the Yuanjiajie tourist line. Travelers can choose to go to Yuanjiajie for sightseeing or take a sightseeing bus by Luanchuanpo, or continue to walk through Jinbianxi to \"Shuirao Simen\". Shuirao Simen has a great scenery. Zhang Liang's Tomb and the Geological Museum are located here, as well as shops and bus stops. There are two options after arriving at Shuirao Simen: take a bus out of the park from Shuirao Simen or take a bus to Bailong Tianti. If you live on the mountain and do not choose to take a bus in Yuanjiajie by Luanchuanpo, you can take the Bailong Tianti to the top of the mountain and then take a bus to your accommodation. There are many people queuing up at the peak time of the \"Bailong Elevator\", but there are few people taking the Bailong Elevator up at 16:00 or 17:00, and there is almost no need to queue. There is an observation deck next to the upper station of the ladder, and the view is similar to that seen on the Bailong Elevator. Walk west for 6 minutes to reach the Bailong Elevator Station, and you can only take a bus to the Mihuntai Station near Yuanjiajie. Walk along the road for 10 minutes to reach the Tianqiao Station, where you can continue to take the bus. The hotels on the mountain are all on the side of the road and can be reached by car. When taking the bus, just wave and it will stop as long as there is a vacant seat.", "word_count": 805}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk009", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Do", "text": "**The next day**, it is best to go to **Yuanjiajie** and **Yangjiajie**. Many people go directly down the mountain after visiting Tianzi Mountain. It is best to leave at around 08:00. It is very convenient to take a bus if you stay in Dingxiangrong Village. It takes more than ten minutes to take a bus from Sanchalukou Station to the Wulongzhai Station of **Yangjiajie**. There are vendors on both sides of the road next to it. Continue walking to reach the **Yangjiajie Cableway Station**. You can take the cable car down the mountain to the Yangjiajie ticket station. There is a road behind the cable car station to the \"Natural Great Wall\", which is recommended to be visited. The Natural Great Wall has the same scenery as the Tianbo Mansion, the highlight of Wulong Village (slightly different angles), which is very spectacular, and unlike Tianbo Mansion, the road is narrow and crowded. The viewing platform of the Natural Great Wall is large, with many photo locations. Back to the Yangjiajie cable car station, there will be a sign pointing to the road to Wulong Village, all the way down the mountain, there are many people here in the peak season. After the Golden Rooster Crowing (slanting above the woods on the side of the road, you may not notice it) go down to the Wulong Village rest stop, where there are restaurants and shops. Next to it is a T-junction. According to the sign, one road leads to Wulong Village and the other to One Step to Heaven. You can go to the main attraction - \"Wulong Village\" first, walk 10 minutes to the gate of Wulong Village, and then a long section of the road is carved out of the cliff, the road is narrow and thrilling. A short section of the road is located between two large rocks. It is very narrow. People who are slightly fat must squeeze through and risk being stuck. This section of the road is very easy to be blocked during the peak season. After that, there are two forks. You can choose either one. After 15-20 minutes, the two roads merge. Go up for 2-3 minutes to reach the \"top of Wulong Village\", which is a unique courtyard where you can rest. A road behind the courtyard leads to Tianbo Mansion. After walking for 2 minutes, there is a small viewing platform where you can see the \"Tianbo Mansion\" on the opposite side. Tianbo Mansion is a natural stone pillar next to the cliff. In front of it is an extremely broad and magnificent valley and stone peaks: the natural Great Wall. Go down the fork road next to the small viewing platform and walk up and down a semi-suspended steel frame ladder to reach the top of Tianbo Mansion. Halfway through, there is a small fork road that is not easy to detect, which leads to the cliff viewing platform slightly below the top of Tianbo Mansion. The road to Tianbo Mansion is very steep, about 80°. The top of Tianbo Mansion is very small, with a snapshot point, which is often crowded and there is no place to take photos (so some people choose to look at it opposite Tianbo Mansion and leave). There are several viewing platforms on the way back from the top of Wulong Village, all on the cliff, with magnificent scenery. Finally, we returned to the previous Wulong Village rest stop. Most people choose to return to Yangjiajie by the same route. Travelers can also choose to continue to Yibu Dengtian, which is a longer road and needs to plan their time. The way to Yibu Dengtian: Walk on the flat road for 4 minutes, then walk up the mountain for about 15-20 minutes to a fork road. Turn in and you can see \"Wulang worshiping Buddha\". From the fork road, go up and down the main road for 35 minutes to reach Yibu Dengtian. To get to \"Yibu Dengtian\", you need to climb a very steep hanging ladder, the scenery above is magnificent, and there are wide valleys all around. After the tour, continue walking forward, go down for 7 minutes, follow the signs, and go up the cliff plank road for 10 minutes to the \"Sky Corridor\" viewing platform. In front of you is the vast back mountain of Yangjiajie. Return by the original route. If you continue to go down the mountain from the fork road, you can reach the \"Lingshi Yaoshu\", and finally reach the Yangjiajie Cableway Lower Station and the \"Yangjiajie Ticket Station\" (it takes a very long way). Most people return by the original route. Next to the third commercial pavilion, the small fork road on the left can lead directly to the Wulongzhai Station on the highway. It is a shortcut (about 10 minutes walk). It is recommended to take this road when returning. There are several Tujia restaurants on the road, and the price of dishes is not cheap. You can take a bus to \"Yuanjiajie\" at the Wulongzhai intersection. There are many small shops next to the Yuanjiajie Tianqiao Station, including a McDonald's dessert station! The tour time of Yuanjiajie will not be too long. There is only one tour line, so you don't have to go back. During the peak season, the trails are often packed. The tour line of Yuanjiajie is located on the edge of the cliff, with many viewing platforms along the way. Scenic spots such as the No. 1 Bridge in the World, Qiankun Pillar (the prototype of the floating mountain in the movie Avatar), and Mihun Terrace are well-known. It takes less than an hour to visit Yuanjiajie. The downhill road at the west end is Luancuanggou, and you can also reach the back garden; there is also a branch road down the mountain between Wulongzhai Station and Tianqiao Station - Shadaogou, which is much longer than Luancuanggou.", "word_count": 987}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk010", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Do", "text": "- Huanglong Cave\n\n- Baofeng Lake\n\n### Tianmen Mountain\n\n- Tianmen Mountain\n\n### Cultural relics\n\n- Site of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base\n\n- Puguang Temple Ancient Buildings\n\n- Tian Family Courtyard\n\n- Shiyanping Ancient Buildings\n\n- Yuhuangdong Grottoes (including Fengquan Cave)\n\n- Liu Mingdeng Tomb Stone Sculpture Group\n\n- Old Courtyard\n\n- Longfeng Temple\n\n- Tianluo Mountain Ancient Castle\n\n- Bei Community Soviet Government Site\n\n- He Long Tomb (including He Long Bronze Statue)\n\n- Sanjiawan Village, Wangjiaping Town, Yongding District\n\n- Miaogang Village, Siduping Township, Yongding District", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk011", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are limited food options in the park, and what is available is offered at highly inflated prices. It is advised that you bring food and water with you to the park. Here is a selection of food in the city, which can be visited after a scenic tour.\n - Qindama\n\n - Yinmandou restaurant\n\n - Hushifu restaurant", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk012", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Drink", "text": "Zhangjiajie berry tea is a specialty of Zhangjiajie's Yongding District.\n - Maoyan meicha", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk013", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Learn", "text": "- Jishou university Zhangjiajie college", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk014", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "### Hospitals\n\n - Zhangjiajie People's Hospital\n\n - Zhangjiajie Hospital of Tcm", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk015", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Accommodation in Zhangjiajie is typically around ¥170. There are many options within walking distance surrounding the train/bus station.\nThere are many hotels and shops outside the Forest Park Ticket Station, which are very lively. Some tourists choose to live here, but it is not as convenient as living in the park.\n - Pullman Zhangjiajie Jingwu Hotel\n\n - Grand Hotel Zhangjiajie", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk016", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Connect", "text": "- Zhangjiajie City Public Security Bureau\n\n - Zhangjiajie Park Police Station\n\n - Zhangjiajie Tourism Magazine\n\n - Travel Complaints\n\n - Consumer Protection\n\n - Price Report\n \n - Zhangjiajie Price Inspection Institute\n \n - Zhangjiajie Railway Station Master Office\n\n - Zhangjiajie Airport Office\n \n - Zhangjiajie Aviation Inquiry", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk017", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Cope", "text": "Though Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan are major tourist attractions, perhaps 99% of their visitors are native Chinese. So you will find it surprisingly difficult to change foreign currency. There appear to be no currency exchange stores. Perhaps the only place to change money is a bank, such as the Bank of China (follow the main road north of the bus/train station area, it is at the first major intersection north of the river, about a 15-minute walk from the bus/train stations).\n\nWulingyuan, however, is rumored to have currency exchange stores.", "word_count": 90}
+{"chunk_id": "zhangjiajie::chunk018", "doc_id": "zhangjiajie", "section": "Go next", "text": "Changsha\n Fenghuang", "word_count": 2}
diff --git a/corpus/zhangjiajie/metadata.json b/corpus/zhangjiajie/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1468f0cac819ecb283e37ca7d9b13ad6b4dfed1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zhangjiajie/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "zhangjiajie",
+ "title": "Zhangjiajie",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "Asia",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zhangjiajie",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "museums",
+ "shopping",
+ "temples"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Hunan"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Changsha",
+ "Fenghuang"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 3405,
+ "listing_count": 49,
+ "marker_count": 0,
+ "chunk_count": 19,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/zimbabwe/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/zimbabwe/chunks.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..864067b5ccf504d185be17028dccec0caf298871
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zimbabwe/chunks.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk000", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Zimbabwe** is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. For those looking to travel in Africa, Zimbabwe is a great starting place. It is rich in fauna (being home to the big five) and flora and has numerous ancient stone cities including the largest in Africa south of the Sahara, Great Zimbabwe. Its border with Zambia is formed by the Zambezi River which when in full flood drops as the world's largest curtain of falling water at the mighty Victoria Falls which is a major tourist attraction.", "word_count": 86}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk001", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|Skyline of Harare, Capital of Zimbabwe\nZimbabwe has 4 large cities and several smaller ones.\n\n — the capital and the largest city in Zimbabwe, Harare is a vibrant city in a larger metropolitan province\n — the second largest city with historic Victorian, Edwardian and midcentury architecture. It is the second city, both by population and economic activity\n — Gateway to the Eastern Highlands\n — Located in the centre of the country close to the Danangombe ruins. Also the capital of the Midlands Province \n — a lakeshore holiday resort on border with Zambia \n — named (meaning \"ruins\") after the nearby Great Zimbabwe National Monument\n — the major city closest to the scenic Eastern Highlands and the Mozambique coast.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk002", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "is a popular tourist destination located in the western corner of the country. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the spray from waterfall waters a rainforest.\nthumb|Lion resting near a termite mound\n — Tucked in an isolated corner of Zimbabwe, much of the park remains pristine wilderness\n — The archaeological remains of an ancient city built of stone (the largest in Southern Africa), that was the capital of a vast empire known as the Munhumutapa Empire (also called Monomotapa Empire) covering the modern states of Zimbabwe (which took its name from this city) and Mozambique. The word 'Zimbabwe' means 'house of stone.'\n The Eastern Highlands include some of Zimbabwe's most beautiful views. The lush, cloud-hung mountains form the border with Mozambique. The regional capital is Mutare, and Chimanimani is a village popular with tourists and walkers.\n — The formidable Lake Kariba on the northern border of Zimbabwe is the result of a large damming project along the Zambezi River. Kariba is a popular tourist destination and affords visitors the opportunity to watch African wildlife in its almost natural environment. It is the biggest source of hydro-electric power for Zimbabwe. If you are travelling with friends or family consider hiring a houseboat for a few days to really experience everything the lake and the wildlife have to offer.\n (formerly Matopos) — This area southwest of Bulawayo in Matabeleland boasts exquisite rock formations, as if nature had been playing marbles. Rocks are found balancing in ways that defy logic, a situation created by the eroding winds blowing out the sand between. There are also ancient San cave paintings across the park (Bambata, Inanke, Nswatugi, Pomongwe caves).\n The rocks are home to the dassie, a small rodent-type animal known more formally as Rock Hyrax, the skins of which are used to make a blanket treasured amongst the local populace. Also present in great numbers are the brightly coloured lizards common to Zimbabwe. The area has two large dams and many smaller ones that become the scene of family picnics, and angling competitions on weekends. A game park is home to herds of sable antelope, an animal not seen further south. The National Park boasts self catering chalets with amazing views as well as camping sights.\n Matobo is also the sight of Cecil John Rhodes' grave and some exquisite cave paintings.", "word_count": 393}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk003", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nStone cities were built in many locations in present-day Zimbabwe. The most impressive structures and the best known of these, Great Zimbabwe, were built in the 15th century, but people had been living on the site from about 400 AD. The Khami Ruins just outside Bulawayo are also a wonderful example.\n\nThe population was overwhelmingly made up of Shona speakers until the 19th century when the Nguni tribe (in 1839-40) of the Ndebele settled in what is now Matabeleland, and then in 1890, the territory came under the control of the British South Africa Company under charter from the British Government.\n\nThe United Kingdom annexed the land, then called Southern Rhodesia, from the British South Africa Company in 1923, when the country got its own government and Prime Minister. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favoured whites in power. In 1965, this white supremacist government unilaterally declared independence as Rhodesia, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded voting rights for the black majority. UN sanctions and a guerrilla struggle finally led to free elections and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk004", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "Robert Mugabe became the first democratic leader of Zimbabwe. While initially lauded for his talk of reconciliation and his government's investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure, he slowly consolidated power from 1980-1987 as prime minister, and 1987-2017 as president. Starting in 2000, the government expropriated some very productive farms, which were in the hands of white Zimbabweans, as punishment for their support of the main opposition party, the MDC and handed them over to members of corrupt members of Mugabe's ZANU party, many of whom had no interest in farming, resulting in a drastic falloff in local food production. In 2005, he started a program which cleared slums, forcing hundreds of thousands of people onto the street.", "word_count": 117}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk005", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "Rigged elections and human rights abuses led to widespread emigration and international sanctions. Eventually, misrule and sanctions triggered massive, runaway inflation and a third of the population to choose to migrate. Elections were routinely marred by violence, directed by the ruling ZANU-PF party against opposition supporters. Following widespread protests, a power-sharing agreement was signed between President Mugabe and the leader of the main opposition party, Morgan Tsvangirai, in 2008. This briefly stabilized the political situation, but continued inflation led to the withdrawal of the Zimbabwe dollar from circulation in 2009; at the end, 100 trillion Zimbabwe dollars would not buy a loaf of bread. The defunct Zimbabwe dollar was replaced by a basket of currencies and ultimately adoption of the US dollar. The coalition government ended with Tsvangirai's 2013 electoral defeat in what was widely held to be a rigged election. By 2016 currency shortages were common, with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe directing banks to limit withdrawals to US$20-50/day or US$150/week. In November 2016 another toy currency (\"bond notes\") was introduced at par with the US dollar. US cash is king, however, and the bond notes often trade at a discount if they're accepted at all. Usability of credit cards is sporadic as businesses have trouble accessing hard currency to pay for imports.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk006", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mr. Mugabe remained President until November 2017 when, at the age of 93 with serious questions about his health, he failed in a brazen attempt to continue the family stranglehold on power by sacking the country's vice president as a first step toward installing his wife Grace as a presidential candidate for the 2018 election cycle. This led to an enraged military deposing him; most of the original veterans of the 1980 uprising against Rhodesia turned against Mugabe, with his own ZANU-PF party forcing his resignation by calling a vote in the legislature to impeach him. Mugabe was subsequently replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice president who he had sacked.\n\nMnangagwa remained President when he was elected in the 2018 general elections which like the 2013 elections were widely criticized for irregularities domestically and internationally. The current government has rolled back some of the excesses of Mugabe, and declared the country \"open for business\", as well as a proposal to re-join the Commonwealth, but his time in office has not been free of strife: in 2019, widespread protests that were held after the government announced a 130% rise in fuel prices were met by violence from the police and military. However, it is not all gloomy: the government has led the continent in its vaccine programme, besting its larger and wealthier peers.\n\n### Climate\n\nZimbabwe has an excellent subtropical highland climate that is moderated by altitude. The rainy season is in summer from November to March. Although there are recurring droughts, floods and severe storms are rare. Winter temperatures can drop below 5° Celsius whilst summers can be very hot, they rarely go over 32°C (90°F), with the exception of lower regions of the country such as the Zambezi valley.\n\n### Terrain", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk007", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld). There is a mountain range in east including the scenic Chimanimani mountains. The Lowveld is found in south eastern corner.\n\n**Elevation extremes** :\n*lowest point:* junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 meters\n*highest point:* Inyangani 2,592 m\n\n### Culture\n\nOwing to Zimbabwe’s ethnic diversity, varied geography, history and history of immigration, the country’s culture is rich and diverse. It has several regional variations, and despite being mostly unified by language and culture, some regions have distinct practices.\n\nMusic plays an important part in Zimbabwean identity. Styles like **sungura**, **jazz**, gospel, urban grooves and **Zimdancehall** are considered genuinely Zimbabwean. Sungura music is the national equivalent of roots music. Zimdancehall, which mixes several national styles with Jamaican dancehall and reggae and has become popular with the youth nationwide. New urban styles include dance music inspired by house music. Additionally, most Zimbabweans are familiar with and fans of Western popular music.\n\nZBC is the country's public broadcaster and somewhat analogous to the BBC in the UK. In addition, Zimbabweans increasingly have access to many other cable or satellite TV channels. Half of households have satellite TV, which is the most important source of information and entertainment for most Zimbabweans, however this trails the internet largely accessed via cell phone and accessible to most of the population, universally so in cities and among young people.\n\n### People", "word_count": 234}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk008", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Mbira dzavadzimu\nZimbabwe is a mix of different cultures with their own beliefs and ceremonies, including the Shona, Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group. The Shona people have many sculptures and carvings which are made with the finest materials available. Shona music is also deservedly famous. Probably the best-known Shona instrument is the mbira dzavadzimu, sometimes misleadingly called the \"thumb piano\" by non-Africans but actually meaning \"voice of the ancestors\". Mbira music contains harmony and can be a kind of shifting kaleidoscope of counterpoint and lively polyrhythms. It is very tuneful, and the mbiras are often accompanied by a rattle called a hosho. Mbira music is central to Shona culture and identity and is traditionally considered a form of worship of the ancestors.\n\nThe second largest group in the country are the Ndebele people, who are distantly related to the Zulu of South Africa, whose language is mostly intelligible with Zulu and partially so with the Xhosa language of South Africa. Although their numbers have fallen since the end of white minority rule, Zimbabwe still retains a substantial white population (mostly in and around Harare), largely of British descent, with notable minorities of Dutch, Portuguese, Jewish and Greek extraction. Other groups include Asians, coloureds (mixed race people) and immigrants from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, the Congo and their descendants, the majority of whom have assimilated into Zimbabwean society.\n\nZimbabwe also has a large diaspora mostly in South Africa, the UK, Australia, Canada, the US, Ireland and New Zealand, so don't be surprised if you run into a 'diasporan' with a Western accent and outlook during your visit, as they have become significant investors and visitors within the country's tourism and real estate sectors.", "word_count": 280}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk009", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "In general, Zimbabweans are a warm, easy going, open minded people. Friendship, family and hospitality are highly prized among Zimbos, and both family connections and social interactions are valued highly. To people they have met, or at least know by name, Zimbabweans are usually polite, friendly and sometimes quite generous. Zimbabweans are reputedly one of the most hospitable people in the world and foreigners are usually treated with respect and hospitality.\n\nWhereas the roots of Zimbabwean culture are African and proudly so, Zimbabwe is still a nation that is heavily influenced by the United Kingdom, and the middle class often look to London as a source of inspiration, especially given the poor and corrupt leadership in the country. Many Zimbabweans also display an ambivalent attitude to South Africa which increasingly dominates Zimbabwe's economy and whose ruling class is seen as enabling the corrupt Mnagagwa government.\n\nZimbabweans speak English natively and have the highest literacy rate in Africa. That said visitors will receive a very warm welcome if they try to start conversations in Shona or Ndebele. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Zimbabwe has faced an increasing wave of immigration from China, Congo, Malawi and Mozambique as well as an exodus of many residents to the UK, South Africa, Canada and Australia.\n\n### Economy\n\nOnce Africa's fastest growing economy and one of its most dynamic, with a large and confident middle class, especially by developing country standards, since 2000 Zimbabwe has undergone a dramatic economic collapse and since 2010 an uneven and sometimes volatile recovery.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk010", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Understand", "text": "There had been a few signs of improvement since the formation the Mnagagwa government in 2018, but the Zimbabwean economy remained plagued by high unemployment, deindustrialisation and a growing divide between a well connected and affluent elite and the rest of the population. The new government has claimed Zimbabwe 'is open for business' and though consumer goods are now widely available and certain industries have recovered (real estate, tourism and construction), the country lags behind its neighbors to the south, a far cry from its post independence heyday.\n\nA rebound in mineral prices, real estate and tourism and a continent-leading vaccine programme, allowed GDP to rebound by more than 5% in the 2020 according to the World Bank, but Zimbabwe remains a lower middle income country with a corrupt and affluent elite, a stretched middle class and a large unemployed youth population. Gross domestic product is lower than it was in 2000; with subsequent recovery slow and uneven. That said, the country still has decent infrastructure, especially for tourism (though upkeep can be very inconsistent), a large diaspora that invests in and remains committed to improving their home country and recent government efforts that made it easier to invest in tourism and to make it a more friendly and accessible destination.\n\n### Holidays\n\n**1 January**: New Year's Day\n **21 February **: National Youth Day or Robert Mugabe Youth Day\n **18 April**: Independence Day\n **1 May** - Workers Day\n **25 May** - Africa Day\n **22 December** - Unity Day\n **25 December** - Christmas\n **26 December** - Boxing Day\nIn Zimbabwe, if a holiday falls on Sunday, the next day (Monday) will automatically be observed as public day. Hence, it will be a holiday.\n\n### Tourist information\n\nZimbabwe Tourism Authority website", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk011", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Zimbabwe\n\n### Entry requirements\n\n#### Category A - no visa required\n\nPassport holders of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Zimbabwe for up to 3 months (unless otherwise noted): Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, DR Congo, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong (6 months), Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique (30 days), Namibia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.\n\n#### Category B - visa on arrival\n\nPassport holders of the following are eligible to get a visa on arrival to enter Zimbabwe for up to 3 months (for purpose of tourism) or for up to 30 days (for purpose of business): Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China (PRC), Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City and Venezuela.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk012", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get in", "text": "Visa fees as of July 2019 at the port of entry for Category B nationals are as follows: US$30 (single entry), US$45 (double entry), US$55 (multiple entry). Cash only. A valid passport, travel itinerary, and return or onward journey ticket must be presented. Note that Canadian citizens are only able to obtain single entry visas on arrival at a cost of US$75, whilst British and Irish citizens pay higher fees for a Zimbabwe visa on arrival (US$55 for single entry and US$70 for double entry).\n\n#### Category C - visa before arrival\n\nPassport holders of other countries must get a visa prior to arrival to Zimbabwe.\n\nCategory C citizens may apply for a visa (for business, holiday, conferencing or transit) online through the eVisa system of the Zimbabwe Department of Immigration. Visa fee can be paid online or on arrival. It takes an average of two working days to obtain an e-Visa, however the period may vary due to a number of factors. The e-Visa is valid for three months from the date of issue.\n\nVisas can be obtained at Zimbabwean embassies/consulates. The fees for a visa vary between US$30 and 180 and depend on the applicant's nationality.\n\nYou might be able to apply for a Zimbabwean visa at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Zimbabwean diplomatic post. For example, the British embassy in Amman accepts Zimbabwean visa applications (this list is not exhaustive). British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Zimbabwean visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Zimbabwe require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Zimbabwe can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.\n\n#### KAZA universal visa", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk013", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get in", "text": "Zimbabwe and Zambia introduced a universal visa on 28 November 2014 called KAZA Visa. This visa can be obtained on arrival and is valid for both countries for visits up to 30 days while remaining within Zambia and Zimbabwe (including day trips to Chobe National Park in Botswana at Kazungula). The fee is US$50 and is available at the following border crossings in Zambia: Livingstone Airport, Lusaka Airport, Kazungula Land Border (border with Botswana) and Victoria Falls Land Border; in Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls Airport, Harare Airport, Kazungula Land Border (border with Botswana) and Victoria Falls Land Border.\n\nEligible countries are: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.\n\n### By plane\n\nthumb|Harare International Airport\nHarare International Airport has a number of international flights, mainly to other African countries.\n\nWhen coming from Europe, you can fly via Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dubai, Addis Ababa, or Cairo.\n\nFrom South Africa you can fly with South African Airways, Airlink, British Airways, or Air Zimbabwe.\n\nEmirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Egypt Air fly to Harare from Europe.\n\nSAA operates to quite a few European and African airports and has flights from Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls to Johannesburg (South Africa). Air Botswana has flights from Harare and Victoria Falls to Gaborone. Malawi Airlines has flights from Harare to Lilongwe. British Airways flies from Harare via Johannesburg to Heathrow.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk014", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get in", "text": "Victoria Falls airport has daily service by South African Airways, South African Airlink and British Airways to and from Johannesburg.\n\nBulawayo also has an international airport, with flights from Johannesburg operated by SAA and Air Zimbabwe.\n\nFor domestic flights inside Zimbabwe, Harare to Victoria Falls there is Air Zimbabwe and Fly Africa.\nAir Zimbabwe also fly from Harare to Bulawayo and Harare to Kariba.\n\nLow-cost airline **Fastjet Zimbabwe** has one-way domestic fares from US$20, and international fares from US$50. Fastjet fly from Harare to Victoria Falls, Bulawayo. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lusaka, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam.\n\nThere is also low-cost airline **Fly Africa** which goes from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg, Harare to Johannesburg, and Victoria Falls to Harare.\n\n### By car\n\nZimbabwe is accessible by road from the countries that surround it. Contrary to past scenarios, the fuel situation has improved with prices now being quoted in US dollars. As fuel has to be imported from either Mozambique or South Africa, you can expect to pay more per litre than you would in most other Southern African countries.\n\nRoads in Zimbabwe vary significantly, from newly tarred and refurbished to completely dilapidated or untarred, and due caution should be taken when driving, especially at night, and in particular, during the holiday season when there are more vehicles on the road. In general major thoroughfares and affluent areas have better roads than poorer or rural regions. Potholes are a common occurrence so always drive with caution. When in doubt always ask for local advice.\n\n### By bus\n\nRegular deluxe bus services operate from Johannesburg to Harare.\nA number of buses also travel from Johannesburg to Bulawayo. Greyhound drives to both destinations. Tickets can be obtained directly from Greyhound or through the Computicket website.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk015", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get in", "text": "Several bus companies also operate direct buses from Harare to Blantyre, Malawi and Pretoria and Johannesburg\n\nNo public transport exists from Victoria Falls directly to Botswana - a taxi to the border will cost around USD40, or some hotels in Vic Falls can arrange transfers.\n\n### By train\n\n**National Railways of Zimbabwe** service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and remains suspended as of November 2025.\n\nAdditionally, the private company **Rovos Rail** runs a luxurious excursion train from Pretoria, South Africa to Victoria Falls several times per month. Matching the luxury, prices are extravagant with journeys costing thousand of dollars.", "word_count": 100}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk016", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Minibus stop\n\n### By bus\n\nBetween cities, you travel using luxury coaches like Pathfinder and Citilink. You can also get decent buses from RoadPort in Harare to other major cities including those in neighbouring countries like Johannesburg, Lusaka, Lilongwe.\n\nMinibus taxis are available for intra-city transport, and are relatively inexpensive by European standards. They provide a cheap, though a not necessarily comfortable way of seeing the true Zimbabwe. \n\n### By taxi\n\nThe taxi app in Zimbabwe is called Vaya, but you will need a Zimbabwean phone number to use it. Its exchange rate is fixed at Z$1 to US$1, so you will want to pay in Zimbabwean dollars (RTGS).\n\n### By train\n\n**National Railways of Zimbabwe** service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and remains suspended as of November 2025. \n\n### By car\n\nTraffic is the biggest danger because of the poor condition of cars and the driving culture. Driving after dark is not recommended, especially outside cities. \n\nCar hijackings are possible. At traffic lights, when refuelling and otherwise when stopping your car, be alert for anyone approaching. When driving, always keep doors locked and windows closed. Be prepared for occasional fuel supply problems. Motorists should be prepared by buying an extra can of fuel.\n\nThe condition of the roads in Zimbabwe seems to have improved considerably since the stabilization of the economy. Roads between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, Bulawayo and Masvingo (Great Zimbabwe) and Masvingo and Mutare are all in relatively good condition. \nThe highway between Plumtree and Mutare (passing through Bulawayo and Harare in between) is being resurfaced. \n\nAlmost no fuel station in Zimbabwe takes credit cards. Also road blocks are common but usually police just want to see your driver's licence and your Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Police can fine you if you do not have reflective reflectors on your car, red hazard triangles in your boot, a spare tire, or a fire extinguisher, so be sure to carry those items if you want to avoid a fine.\n\n### By hitchhiking\n\nHitchhiking is also a viable option, but tourists need to take care with whom they accept lifts from; hijackings and robberies of hitchhikers, especially within Harare, have been on the increase in the last few years. Be sure to bring some money along, as drivers very often expect some sort of fee to be paid up front.", "word_count": 391}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk017", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Talk", "text": "Zimbabwe has 16 official languages though in practice English, Shona and Sindebele/Ndebele are by far the most spoken. English, besides being traditionally used for official business, serves as a *lingua franca* between Zimbabweans of different ethnicities and will be the most useful for travelling throughout the country, though any attempts to speak the local language will greatly endear you to the locals or at the very least earn you a few laughs.\n\nSpeakers of non-native languages tend to be few and far in between and are mostly Portuguese by people with roots in Mozambique, Angola or Portugal or French largely spoken by Congolese migrants in parts of Harare and Bulawayo.", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk018", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Elephants crossing Zambezi River in Mana Pools National ParkFor many visitors, Zimbabwe as a country has the same appeal as the natural landscapes for which it's famous.\n\n### Urban life\n\nZim's large cities all bustle with life. The famous capital, Harare, is one of Africa's most pleasant cities. It's a city of contrasts, there's expensive cosmopolitan boutiques, buzzing nightlife and delicious ethnic cuisine. However, it's the classic, unpolished side of the city that makes it a charming destination. The central colorful neighbourhoods where crazy traffic sounds drown out distant dance tunes, the pleasant street-cafés and garden restaurants, busy outdoor markets and historic colonial architecture. Avondale and Mount Pleasant are pleasant, older neighbourhoods of the city and a good place to indulge in the city vibe of cafés, street markets, and antique markets in a garden suburban setting. The atmosphere is perhaps Harare's biggest attraction, but some of the main sights include the National Gallery of Art and the Museum of Human Sciences.\n\nZimbabwe's other cities share the energetic buzz of Harare, but have a distinct character of their own. Bulawayo is a lively yet laid-back city, characterized by broad avenues and Victorian architecture. It's famous as a 'heritage city' far beyond the borders of Zimbabwe and a perfect starting point for the country's game parks to the north. In the east, Mutare, is well known for its scenic setting and is also a good base for hiking and other outdoor activities in the Eastern Highlands. The city of Gweru has shaken off its agricultural roots and is increasingly a vibrant university city. Masvingo, hosts classic Victorian architecture and serves as the gateway to exploring the Great Zimbabwe ruins\n\n### Nature\n\n- Hwange National Park\n\n- Matobo National Park\n\n- Mana Pools National Park\n\n- Great Zimbabwe Ruins\n\n### Sport", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk019", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "See", "text": "Zimbabweans love sports and are justifiably proud of their country's achievements and how they have constantly punched above their weight on the international stage. The main five sports are: Association football, Rugby Union, Cricket, tennis and Golf. All of these sports attract a widespread following, both at matches themselves and on television; and it is very common to find televised coverage of them shown in pubs, hotels and bars. There are popular grounds to all these sports around the country: Rufaro (Harare), Bourbourfields (Bulawayo), National Sports stadium (Harare) and Ascot (Gweru) for football, Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Alexandra (Harare) for cricket, Police Grounds (Harare), Old Hararians (Harare) and Hartsfield (Bulawayo) for rugby, as well as the Royal Harare Golf Club for golf.", "word_count": 127}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk020", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "See", "text": "**Football** means association football or soccer. It is by far the most popular spectator sport, especially with the working class and is very widely played across the country at amateur and professional levels, with the highest competition being the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League and the best talent moving on to play in European leagues. Dynamos (nicknamed the Glamour Boys for their dazzling 'carpet soccer' are the toast of middle class Harare), CAPS United (has a more working class fanbase) and Highlanders ( the historic Bulawayo team) are the most supported teams in the country, with a derby between either side the highlight of the season.\n **Rugby** is invariably rugby union has 15 players per team, and is popular with the middle classes. While the Zimbabwean national team has not been to the World Cup in two decades, they have produced countless world class players many who've gone on to glittering careers abroad. The country's highest domestic team, the Zimbabwe Academy team, plays in South Africa's Currie Cup. Old Georgians and Old Hararians are two of the countries most prestigious clubs, the latter noted for their exciting 'champagne rugby' inspired by the passing French style of play. That said the standard of play is high up to the high school level and high school games are popular and cheap weekend affairs\n **Cricket** is played only in the summer, and tends to be most popular in the cities. Zimbabwe is a highly competitive, if often underdog side. Visiting tours by Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa are considered the highlight of the summer sporting season and are well worth a trip to one of the country's fine cricket ovals\n Zimbabwe has punched above its weight in **tennis**, particularly in doubles and at the Davis Cup, often the only African nation in the top tier division. Tennis is often played on hard court though grass courts are present in affluent areas like Borrowdale. Davis Cup games are the most popular and attract enthusiastic crowds. In **golf**, Zimbabwe forms part of the Sunshine tour with its neighbors, the third most prestigious after the PGA and European tours. The country has produced numerous golfers such as Nick Price and Mark McNulty and plenty of excellent golf courses are found in or near the larger cities\n Zimbabwe is also a respected competitor in **equestrian** activities, and several major events in the racing calendar are held at various venues. The most prestigious events on the horse racing calendar include the OK Grand Challenge and the Castle Tankard both held in Harare in the autumn and winter.", "word_count": 430}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk021", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Do", "text": "**Bungee jumping** at Victoria Falls. An incredible experience off the Victoria Falls bridge over the mighty Zambezi - 111 metres of pure adrenaline. \n Walk with the lions, swim with the elephants, ride a horse. and enjoy other game activities at **Antelope Park** near Gweru, between Harare and Bulawayo. \n An Authentic African Safari. Walking, canoeing or on a game drive in Hwange National Park or Mana Pools with African Bush Camps. \n **Harare International Festival of Arts**. (HIFA), every year in Harare (end of April) with some extension in Bulawayo. Music, Theater, and other shows sponsored by foreign embassies, it features top international and local artists,and also brings in town a great artcraft market. \n **Diving**: The only site accessible to recreational divers is Mutoroshanga Ethel Mine, a flooded asbestos quarry 120 km by road from Harare. Good visibility and beautiful surroundings. You need technical cave-diving skills to venture into Chinhoyi Caves, 120 km from Harare. The caves are mostly water-filled, and are more than 120 m deep. The full cave system has not yet been explored. No diving infrastructure, this is an expedition where you take everything.\n The excellent climate, combined with investments in the golfing infrastructure, has turned the country into a **golfing haven**. Fourteen of Zimbabwe's courses are rated in the top 100 best in Africa. Zimbabwe is also a great and cheap location to learn the game and perfect technique. Many resorts and clubs offer classes with rising players. Courses can satisfy the most demanding golfer, while newcomers won't be intimidated, unless they find the beautiful landscapes and stunning vistas distracting to their game. Though Zimbabwe has long punched above its weight in the golf world, the average local has mixed feelings about golf courses, namely due to the huge amounts of water required to maintain them but appreciate the revenue they generate.\n The countryside also offers a great deal of possibilities, although you will have to incite the travel guide's advice a little more than usual, as they tend to just sell safaris and trips to Victoria Falls. Cycling through the mountainous terrain of **Vumba** or white-water rafting in the affluents of the Zambezi is an exhilirating experience.", "word_count": 360}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk022", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nIn April 2024, Zimbabwe introduced a new currency, named **\"Zimbabwe Gold\" (ZiG)** (ISO code ZWG). Coins of the ZiG were issued in denominations of , , , 1, 2 and 5 ZiG. Banknotes of the ZiG were issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 ZiG.\n\nAs of June 2025, the black market rate was 20% higher than the official rate for US dollars. Trading currency on the black market is illegal.\n\nMost retailers and service providers are trading their products in U.S. dollars or pegging their prices in Zimbabwe currency using U.S. dollar black market rates. Some retailers and public transport operators no longer accept denominations lower than the Zimbabwe dollar coin. Wikivoyage articles generally quote prices in U.S. dollars.\n\nEveryone from street vendors to taxi drivers to supermarkets, restaurants, and activity operators operate in US dollars so there is no need to obtain Zimbabwean dollars. ATMs usually deliver crisp US$100 notes which then require changing into smaller denominations at stores and can sometimes be a challenge. Smaller USD notes are most useful and US$1 are difficult to find but the most used. Anything larger is unlikely to be accepted. If receiving change of less than US$1, you will receive Zimbabwean dollars.\n\nMany banks do not have enough bank notes due to a shortage of paper, so will only change U.S. dollars for Ecocash. Registering for Ecocash is recommended. You will need your ID to buy an EcoNet SIM card at EcoNet shops or other small phone shops. You can then register for EcoCash, but you will need to produce your ID again to activate your account. You can then load your account at a bank, and spend money in most shops using your PIN.", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk023", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Buy", "text": "A growing number of businesses accept Visa and MasterCard in Zimbabwe, however shop workers are often resistant to use them. Be careful what currency your card is charged in.\n\n**Credit cards**\n\nCredit and debit cards are used less commonly than in the United States or Europe. Many businesses in the city accept them and you can expect any major chain — supermarkets, fast food restaurants, clothing stores, etc. — to also accept them. The standard 10% tip in restaurant is often expected to be paid in cash, even when you pay the bill by credit or debit card. Bear in mind, tipping is not expected and may only apply to an establishment that does not already add a service charge.\n\nIf you use a debit or credit card, the checkout operator in places like supermarkets will often require you to present your card *and* a form of identification such as a drivers' licence. Present both at checkout and with confidence. A lack of confidence will lead to a request for your passport as identification.\n\nPIN cards have become the most common and should be accepted anywhere, as well as magnetic band cards. PINs should be accepted but if not, the shop attendant will ask you to sign the invoice. Contactless credit cards are not commonly accepted as of Nov 2020.\n\n**Traveller's checks**\n\nThey are rarely used and may be difficult to exchange, but some banks and exchanges may accept them . Also, Western Union will cash them with proper identification.\n\n**Tipping**", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk024", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Buy", "text": "There is no obligation to tip in Zimbabwe although any tip is welcome, given the volatile economy. Some nicer restaurants will add a service charge (10 percent). In these cases tipping is not expected. Sometimes rounding up or telling them to \"keep the change\" is enough on small checks, deliveries, petrol attendants, etc. Leaving at least a 10% tip is considered kind and polite at restaurants, cafes, hotels, beauty parlors, barbers, ushers and car-washes. Tipping bartenders is not customary but will be greatly appreciated. Leaving no tip when feeling unsatisfied is not an uncommon gesture, and will not likely make much of an impression. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.\n\nService fees are included in most upscale hotels and restaurants, usually around 10%. By law it is mandatory that this item is represented in the same text size as the rest of the menu items.\n\n### Costs\n\nDomestically produced things are very cheap (especially labour-intensive things), and curios are especially well made. However, for a tourist drinking Coke and eating pizza, prices are not that much lower than in South Africa.", "word_count": 183}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk025", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Meat, sadza, greens and sausages\n\nFor a sample of what Zimbabweans eat (in some form, nearly every day), ask for \"sadza and stew/relish.\" The stew part will be familiar, served over a large portion of sadza - a thick ground corn paste (vaguely like polenta and the consistency of thick mashed potatoes) that locals eat at for lunch and supper. It's inexpensive, quite tasty and *very* filling. There is a plethora of good Zimbabwean food- \"Mbambaira\" or sweet potatoes, \"chibage\" corn on the cob, for example. Fruits indigenous to the country like \"masawu\" for example. For foreigners, especially from the West, Zimbabwean meat is very tasty, especially the beef, because animals are raised and fed on a natural diet, mostly of grass. \n\nFood options in the cities tend to follow western conventions and British visitors in particular will find themselves right at home as numerous British staples - from pork pies, Cornish pasties and an English breakfast to tea with milk and baked beans- are a hallmark of Zimbabwean cuisine. Fast food is increasingly popular with Nando's and KFC available in most urban areas as well as local brands like Chicken Inn and Wimpy. \n\n### Specialities\n\nSpecialities worth sampling include **peri-peri chicken**, a Portuguese/Mozambican influence, **meat pies** (which make an excellent portable, inexpensive, and delicious snack or lunch and can be found easily at many supermarkets and bakeries.), **samosas** (Indian origin) **bream**, **sadza nedovi** (sadza with vegetables cooked in a peanut sauce), **boerewors** (spicy farmer sausages) and **vetkoek** (a delicious fried pastry), both South African in origin as the names suggest. \n\nZimbabwe has traditionally been a cattle rearing country, particularly in the south and west, and therefore features excellent (and affordable) beef. The **braai** is a typical Southern African barbeque that crosses all classes and ethnicities, consisting of a variety of grilled meats (steaks, beef short ribs, sausage, chuck and sometimes offal) and a peri peri or other sauce over wood fire grill. Drinks are served and it is a great way to socialise and meet new people. As in many countries with a similar meat culture, men tend to dominate the grilling, though women and children are always made to feel welcome. \n \nAdditionally, the restaurant and coffee-shop scene in Harare and Bulawayo are great by continental standards, with a wide variety of places and cuisines to choose from.", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk026", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Drink", "text": "A variety of domestic brews are made in Zimbabwe, mainly lagers with a few milk stouts. You may even want to try \"Chibuku\" a local brew popular among working class men that's based on a traditional beer recipe made from sorghum and/or maize (corn). It is generally sold in a 2-litre plastic bottle called a 'skud' or a more popular variety called \"Chibuku Super\" that comes in a disposable 1.25 litre plastic container and costs US$1. As with all alcohol, it's definitely an acquired taste!\nA more palatable beer is the pilsner like, Zambezi lager which is very refreshing on a hot day.\n\nQuality wines at restaurants and liquor stores tend to be South African or European in origin, though there are a few brands worth sampling, the standout being the Western Cape produced, **Kumusha Wines**, as well as the more established, Mukuyu. The South African creamy liqueur, Amarula, is a common delight. A common tradition across Southern Africa, is **the Sundowner**, a light aperitive style cocktail consumed at sunset just before dinner. It is usually fizzy, sparkling or citrus based, similar to a spritz in Europe \n\n**Non-alcoholic drinks** \n\nLike the UK, tea is widely drunk across Zimbabwe, especially at breakfast or during work lunch breaks. Most people drink white tea (hot black tea with milk), and some with sugar or honey. Tanganda is a cheap and common brand popular with working class residents. Finer restaurants, hotels and cafés sell a range of different teas, Earl Grey and Rooibos being popular blends, but by no means the only one. Herbal teas are available in affluent parts of town, and lemon may also be offered as an alternative to milk upon request.\n\nCoffee is historically less popular in Zimbabwe but is growing in popularity, and best experienced at the many independent cafes in Harare, Bulawayo or touristy regions like the Eastern Highlands. Alternatively South African chains like Mugg & Bean are increasingly popular with young people.\n\nIn Zimbabwe, **Mazoe orange crush** (pronounced \"mazo-way\", roughly) is highly regarded and has near legendary status. It is a condensed orange concentrate drink of a vivid orange colour, meant to be diluted with water, and is a prized by expats and Zimbabweans alike. Whilst anywhere selling drinks in Zimbabwe is highly likely to have Mazoe, it can be increasingly found at specialty and expat stores in South Africa, Canada, Australia and the UK.\n\nAn acquired taste, but worth it, are **Schweppes lemonade, ginger beer and cream soda** (not too dissimilar to US Root beer), which are locally produced and popular summertime beverages and can be obtained in large supermarkets.\n\nMineral waters can vary from expensive imported brands, through locally bottled waters, which are of a high standard and much more affordable. When travelling be sure to stock up on bottled water when it is available, as clean drinking water may not be available in remote parts of the country.", "word_count": 484}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk027", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Zimbabwe has a great number of tourist facilities, and offers a variety of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to guest houses, lodges, backpacker hostels and safari camps for all budgets. \n\nFor nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those seeking a respite from the fast-paced world, there are many \"lodges\" in serene and peaceful environments, usually on the fridges of the city or near game reserves, surrounded by many species of native and migrating birds, which offer a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature. \n\nIf you are on a safari tour there are tented camps, chalets and camping sites in most of the safari areas.\n\nMost places have a **backpacker hostel** with prices from US$10 a night.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk028", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Generally, Zimbabwe has a much lower crime rate than its neighbors, and Zimbabweans are well known for their unrivaled hospitality.\n\nMost crime that does occur is opportunistic in nature and travelers should take care with their personal belongings and follow local advice. It really is just a matter of common sense, which you should exercise no matter where you are.\n\nShortages of fuel and water can occur in parts of the country, so keep extra supplies with you in case they are unavailable for an extended period. Water and electricity supplies are frequently disrupted, so most homes in the cities are equipped with boreholes, solar power or generators.\n\nWhilst many locals will politely inquire about you and your country, remember, most Zimbabweans are still sensitive to foreigners' opinions of their country and its politicians, mostly due to years of negative press. In general, it is a wise idea to avoid political discussions or discussions pertaining to opinions of political leaders.\n\n### Police\n\nPolicing in Zimbabwe has improved markedly since the Mugabe era. On the whole, Zimbabwean police officers are professional and polite to tourists, but they are underpaid, which can lead to incidents of corruption or bribery. They are generally less aggressive than law enforcement agencies in many other nearby countries, particularly South Africa; however, this **does not** apply to political demonstrations or other politically motivated investigations, which have elicited very strong responses in the past. Tourists, expats and outsiders are strongly discouraged from attending political rallies or events. Bribery can occur at police checkpoints or border control but it is important to be firm and politely decline, as this behavior is not tolerated by senior authorities and harassment of tourists is considered a serious offence.\n\nWith local exceptions, such as airports, and national events, such as Independence Day parades, the vast majority of police officers in Zimbabwe do not carry firearms, and the only police officers allowed to carry firearms are those from specialist firearms units. \n\nMost officers will only speak English, Shona or Ndebele, though they will attempt to find an interpreter for people who can't understand questioning in English. You have the legal right to silence when arrested and to have an interpreter at the police station.\n\nPolice officers in Zimbabwe usually wear dark blue uniforms, although some wear tan or khaki uniforms. Front-line police (in uniform) are also generally required to have shoulder numbers. Most police are also required to carry a warrant card, and should under reasonable circumstances be willing to produce it, to confirm their authority.\n\nPrivate security guards do not generally have any \"police-style\" powers at all. There are a small number of non-police officials who have limited enforcement powers relating to specific local areas, or certain activities such as on-street parking or accessing some government buildings.\n\n### Road safety\n\nAlthough jaywalking is not an offence in Zimbabwe and common in the larger cities, crossing a road other than at a designated crossing should be taken with care. A number of traffic light crossings have a push button to change the 'man' from red to green. Pedestrians have right of way on zebra crossings, that are identified by white stripes on the road and yellow flashing lights. It is advisable to make eye contact with the driver before stepping into the road. Certain roads, such as the President's residence, prohibit pedestrians (and cyclists), this is often marked with signs in clearly visible locations.", "word_count": 570}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk029", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|Bulawayo\nDo your research about what is available. Take all medications that you need along with you. There are a number of private hospitals in the major cities that are very accessible. \n\n**HIV/AIDS** infection rate in Zimbabwe is the 5th highest in the world at around 13% infected. Though rates have declined from their peak in the 2000s, you should **never have unprotected sex**. If you form a serious relationship, consider both getting an HIV test before taking things further.\n\nMalaria is prevalent in lower regions of the country in the summertime, so unless you are going to stay entirely within Harare, Bulawayo or highland regions, anti-malarial drugs are advised. Drugs reduce the severity of the disease but don't prevent infection, so also consider precautions such as:\n sleeping under a mosquito net (lightweight travel nets are comparatively cool to use)\n using mosquito repellent on the skin or burning mosquito coils\n wearing long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, particularly in the evening\n\nBilharzia is present in some lakes. Ask locally before swimming.\n\nSnakes are common in the bush, and most bites are on the foot or lower leg. If walking, particularly in long grass, wear proper boots and either long, loose trousers or thick, concertinaed hiking socks. Shake out boots and shoes in the morning, in case you have a guest. These precautions also reduce the chance of scorpion sting. If you do get bitten or stung, *stay calm*. Try to identify the exact culprit, but get to medical assistance as rapidly as you can without undue exertion. Many bites and stings can be dangerous, so it is safer to seek treatment, which is very effective these days.\n\n**Tap water**, as a source of potable water, in general, should be boiled prior to consumption. Bottled water is also available.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "zimbabwe::chunk030", "doc_id": "zimbabwe", "section": "Respect", "text": "Visitors to Zimbabwe will find Zimbabweans incredibly welcoming, friendly, and hospitable. Many will go out of their way to help you and ensure you have a good time. You can freely approach the locals for advice and you can ask them specific directions to get somewhere.\n\nAs is the case throughout Africa, respect for elders is very important and it is customary to use honorifics with people you're not well acquainted with. Try not to ignore, contradict, or publicly disagree with someone older than you or in a position of authority. \n\nIn smaller towns and villages, especially on the road, if you walk past somebody it is customary to exchange pleasantries. They may also ask you \"how are you\", or another similar variation, is usually standard. A simple hello or \"how are you?\" or \"have a nice day\" will suffice. Learning similar phrases in Shona or Ndebele will go a long way with older and more rural inhabitants as well.\n\nUnlike many other African nations, Zimbabweans tend to be punctual and on time to events, especially for business, however, given the importance of public transportation, it's not uncommon to sometimes be a few minutes late to something. A simple apology or acknowledgement of one's tardiness is generally acceptable however, extreme lateness is considered rude and a waste of the other parties' time.\n\n**Zimbabwe is a** **multicultural** **country.** Do not make assumptions based on ethnicity or peoples' appearance. Outward displays of racism, discrimination or sexism, will be met with hostility or even land you in trouble with the law. Surprised comments at the presence of white or Asian Zimbabweans will be seen as incredibly ignorant.\n\nZimbabwean people are generally **easy going and have a** **live and let live attitude and will respect your privacy and personal space**. That said it is important to greet and acknowledge others when entering a space.\n\nWhen shaking hands or handing anything valuable to someone in more rural areas, it is polite to support the right forearm with the left hand (or vice versa), to signify the \"weight\" of the gift or honour. In practice this often means just touching the forearm, or even gesturing towards it. Outsiders are generally not expected to know local etiquette, a firm polite handshake is good enough, though attempts at such will be well appreciated\n\n**Discussions about politics are generally avoided by locals**. Opinions between individuals vary significantly, and while few Zimbabweans miss the volatility of the past few decades, few will voluntarily offer their opinions publicly and visitors are advised to do the same. Most Zimbabwean people of moderate views have grown accustomed to simply avoiding the topic in polite conversation, especially as speaking out against the government could attract harassment by the police and supporters of the government.", "word_count": 460}
diff --git a/corpus/zimbabwe/metadata.json b/corpus/zimbabwe/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ee11f874326e41a95e3253827610837c9c0303f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zimbabwe/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "zimbabwe",
+ "title": "Zimbabwe",
+ "type": "country",
+ "continent": "Africa",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zimbabwe",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "diving",
+ "kayaking",
+ "rafting",
+ "safari",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "fishing",
+ "museums",
+ "nightlife",
+ "spa",
+ "archaeological",
+ "beach",
+ "rainforest",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": null,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Southern_Africa"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+ "go_next": [],
+ "word_count": 8478,
+ "listing_count": 4,
+ "marker_count": 14,
+ "chunk_count": 31,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "low"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/corpus/zion/chunks.jsonl b/corpus/zion/chunks.jsonl
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+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk000", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|400px|Zion Canyon, viewed from Angels Landing\n\nEven among America's national parks, few can match the stunning beauty of **Zion National Park**. Situated between the Dixie and Canyon Country regions of southern Utah, the park protects a series of incredible rock formations and high sandstone cliffs, and is a favorite spot for hiking, backpacking, canyoneering and climbing. In fact, Zion has some of the most spectacular trails in the National Park System. Unlike many other parks in the American Southwest, where visitors look down from the rim of a canyon, visitors to Zion walk on the canyon floor and look *up*. In addition to the magnificent monoliths and cliffs, the park is known for its desert landscape of sandstone canyons, mesas, and high plateaus.", "word_count": 123}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk001", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nMormon pioneer Issac Behunin built the first log cabin in Zion Canyon in 1863, near the location of the current Zion Lodge. Behunin Canyon, a technical slot canyon, was named after him. During the remainder of the century, small communities and homesteads in the area struggled to survive. Pioneers gave the canyon the name \"Zion\", a Hebrew word meaning safety, or a place of refuge. Despite the name, the canyon offered little arable land, poor soil, and catastrophic flooding, making agriculture a risky venture.\n\nBy the first decade of the 20th century, the scenic qualities of southern Utah, and Zion Canyon in particular, had been recognized as a potential destination for tourism. In 1909, a presidential executive order designated Mukuntuweap National Monument. The new monument was, however, virtually inaccessible to visitors, since the existing roads were in poor condition and the closest railhead was a hundred miles away. The monument's name was changed to Zion National Monument in 1918, and in 1919 the monument was expanded and designated a national park. Visitation to the new national park increased steadily during the 1920s, and in 1930, the newly completed Zion-Mt Carmel Highway allowed motorists to travel through the park to Mount Carmel Junction, then on to Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. This highway was one of the greatest engineering feats of modern times, requiring the construction of a 5,613-foot tunnel, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, to negotiate the vertical sandstone cliffs of Zion. The switchbacks leading up to the tunnel proved to be an even greater task to accomplish. The Kolob Canyons section, near Cedar City was established as a National Monument in 1937 and added to Zion National Park in 1956.\n\n### Landscape", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk002", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Understand", "text": "Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States. The park is characterized by high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep, sandstone canyons and striking rock towers and mesas. The North Fork of the Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge in the park called the Zion Narrows. The canyon walls in some places rise 2000–3000 feet above the canyon floor. The southern part of the park is a lower desert area where colorful mesas border rocky canyons and washes. The northern sections of the park are higher plateaus covered by forests. To the east is amazing slickrock country and a vast array of unpaved trails, hidden canyons and peaks to explore.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nthumb|Sacred Datura\n\nAlthough Zion is in an arid desert climate, the park has almost nine-hundred native species of plants, 75 species of mammals, 290 species of birds including the California Condor, 44 species of reptiles and amphibians and 8 native fish.\n\nMammals commonly found within the park's borders include bats, jack rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, gophers, kangaroo rats, beavers, mice, porcupines, coyotes, gray fox, ringtails, skunks, mule deer and the rarely seen mountain lions. Peregrine falcons, rattlesnakes and numerous lizards are also species that visitors may recognize.\n\nThere is a wide variety of plant life in the park, seeing that the unique geology has created diverse environments such as deserts, canyons, slickrock, hanging gardens, riparian, and high plateaus. There are many beautiful wildflowers, including the Sacrad Datura, which is common in Zion and is often found along the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and on the canyon floor in Zion Canyon.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk003", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Understand", "text": "Weather in the park varies greatly with elevation, and even at the same elevation may differ by over between day and night. During the spring the weather is very unpredictable, with stormy, wet days common, although warm, sunny weather may occur too. Precipitation peaks in March. Summer days are hot (), but overnight lows are usually comfortable (). Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July through mid-September, making flash floods (if hiking in one) in the canyons a danger. Autumn days are usually clear and mild with cool nights. Winter storms bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow to the higher elevations such as the east side of the park, Kolob Terrace and Kolob Canyons. Clear days may become quite warm, reaching ; nights are often in the 20s and 30s °F (around 0 °C). Winter storms can last several days and cause roads to be icy, but the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway is owned by the park and the NPS keeps it in excellent condition even in the winter.\n\n### Orientation", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk004", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are sections of the park that are not connected by road; the Kolob Canyons area is in the park's northern area and offers interesting canyon views and hiking. The remote Kolob Terrace offers an uncrowded and scenic drive, spectacular slot canyons and hiking. The highly photographed \"Subway\" is found in this section of the park. The more popular (and more crowded) Zion Canyon area is in the southern portion of the park and contains many of the park's most famous scenic wonders such as Angels Landing and the Great White Throne. The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway runs from the south entrance of the park to the east entrance featuring magnificent landmarks and hiking along the way such as East Temple, Checkerboard Mesa and the Great Arch. The Zion Narrows and Orderville Canyon, two of the parks most popular canyons begin on the east rim of the park and end in Zion Canyon.\n\n### Visitor information\n\nPark website\n - Zion Canyon Visitor Center", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk005", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|350px|Zion National Park area map\n\n### By car\n\nZion Canyon, the most popular section of the park, is accessed by taking SR-9 from the east or the west. \n\n**From Salt Lake City area:**\nI-15 south to SR-17 at Anderson Junction (exit 27). Turn left at the traffic light onto SR-9 in the town of La Verkin.\n\n**From the west:**\nI-15 passes west of Zion and connects with SR-9 just north of St. George. From there SR-9 travels through the towns of Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin, and Springdale before entering Zion Canyon. Be aware of the very frequent changes of the speed limit.\n\n**From the east:**\nUS-89 passes east of Zion and connects with SR-9 (The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway) at Mount Carmel Junction. From there SR-9 travels through the park's east Entrance and into the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel before descending into Zion Canyon.\n\nThe Kolob Terrace road is accessed off SR-9 in the town of Virgin, west of Zion. The Kolob Canyons entrance is accessible from I-15, exit 40, near Cedar City.\n\nCars can be rented in Salt Lake City, Cedar City, St. George, and Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas offers rental cars that usually have good rates.\n\nVisitors driving RVs, pulling trailers, or with any vehicle that is over 7'10\" wide or over 11'4\" tall should be aware that due to the small size of the tunnel an escort is required to pass through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel; the fee for this escort is $15, valid for a round-trip. Most RVs, buses, trailers, 5th wheels, and some camper shells require an escort. Escorts are at the tunnel from 8AM-8PM during the busy season and arranged at the entrance gate in the winter. Semi-tractor trailers are not permitted in the park. See the park website for more information about permits and when they can be used.\n\nThe Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is accessible only by the Zion Canyon Shuttle the majority of the year, but from November until the end of March, private vehicles are allowed to drive into the canyon.\n\nParking inside the park is included in the entrance fee. However, the car parks fill up; to be assured a space, arrive well before 9am. Paid parking is available just outside the park near Zion Canyon Visitors Centre, for $30-40.\n\n### By plane\n\nSt. George () is the closest city with commercial airline service, which services the area with flights from Salt Lake City on Delta Connection and from Denver on United Express. Both routes are operated by SkyWest. Flying into Cedar City (30 miles / 50 km north of Zion National Park) from Salt Lake City on SkyWest is an additional option.\n \nThe nearest major airport is **Harry Reid International Airport** () in Las Vegas, about a three-hour drive to the park on Interstate 15.\n\nThe second closest major airport is in **Salt Lake City** (), about a five-hour drive on I-15.\n\n### By bus\n\nSunTran provides a public bus service from St. George to Springdale for access to the park. Tour buses can also be arranged through travel agencies, and Greyhound buses visit the cities of Salt Lake City, Cedar City, St. George, plus Las Vegas in Nevada. For Utah Greyhound information call +1 435 586-9465.", "word_count": 541}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk006", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Private vehicles which only visit Kolob Canyons still need to pay the entrance fee (good for the whole park). Fees as of 2020 are:\n\n $20 - Individual on foot/bike\n $30 - Motorcycle\n $35 - Private Vehicle\n $50 - Zion Annual Pass", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk007", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|350px|Zion Canyon map\n\nThe length of the road through the park (Utah Hwy 9) end to end including the tunnel is 11.5 miles (18.5 km). The tunnel itself is just over a mile (close to 2 km). Going west to east, you gain 1,850 feet (564 m).\n\n### By car\n\nThe majority of the park is accessible by car, although Zion Canyon is accessible only by the free shuttle from April through the end of October. Large vehicles, (7'10\" in width or 11'4\" in height), (RV's, buses, trailers, 5th wheels, and some camper shells) that wish to travel the length of the park, require an escort to be stationed at both ends of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Large vehicles have trouble staying in their lane while traveling through the tunnel. Escort costs are $15 per vehicle, valid for two trips through the tunnel during a seven-day period. Very large vehicles, including those taller than 13'1\", may be prohibited from entering the tunnel.\n\nDuring the winter Zion roads are plowed and sanded, except the Kolob Terrace road, which is closed. Be prepared for winter driving conditions, including potentially icy roads, from November through March.\n\n### By shuttle\n\nFrom mid-March through the end of October, Zion uses a shuttle system to eliminate congestion in the canyon. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to all private vehicles during this time (except those with a red pass that are staying at the Zion Lodge). Shuttles are fully accessible, with extra room for bikes, backpacks, and climbing gear.\n\nZion operates two different shuttle routes. One goes through the town of Springdale (see the Get around section on Springdale), and terminates at the Park entrance, within walking distance of the visitor center.", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk008", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Get around", "text": "The other route goes through Zion Canyon and has 9 stops: the Visitor Center, the Zion Human History Museum, Canyon Junction, Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Lodge, Grotto, Weeping Rock, Big Bend, and the Temple of Sinawava.\n\nFrequency of the Zion Canyon route depends on the time of day. In Spring and Fall the shuttle runs from 6:45AM-10PM every day, with 7-15 minute frequency. In the Summer (mid-May to early September) the shuttle runs from 5:45AM-11PM every day, with 6-15 minute frequency, and 30 minute frequency in the very early morning and late evening.\n\n### By foot\n\nthumb|300px|The Hidden Canyon Trail\n\nThe beautiful scenery of the park makes a hike practically a mandatory event. Some of the best hikes in the National Park System are in Zion, including Angels Landing and the Zion Narrows. The park offers trails of varying difficulty and length, suitable for twenty minute strolls or multi-day backpacking trips.\n\n### By bike\n\nZion is one of the most bike friendly parks in the National Park System. Bicycles are an excellent option for traveling the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Shuttle buses are equipped with bike racks for those wishing to ride only part of the way. Bicycles are permitted only on established roads and the Pa'rus Trail which goes from the Watchman Campground to Canyon Junction. If you're riding from the south entrance into Zion Canyon, take the Pa'rus Trail since it's safer than the main road.", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk009", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cyclists must obey traffic laws. Bicycles are not allowed on hiking trails (except the Pa'rus Trail) or off-trail. Ride defensively; automobile traffic can be heavy and drivers may be distracted by the scenery. Park shuttles will not pass bicycles, so use turnouts to allow them to pass. Riding through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel is prohibited; bicycles must be transported through the tunnel by motor vehicle. Usually the ranger (escort) at the tunnel will ask those driving a truck if bikers can hop in the back of their trucks. If you aren't bringing your own bike there are a few rental agencies in Springdale.\n\n### By guided tour\n\nA number of companies provide guided tours of Zion National Park that include transportation from the surrounding areas. Some companies will provide bus travel from nearby towns while others begin in Zion National Park. Some will provide just a tour with small stops, while others may take you on a hike, and arrange all your meals.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk010", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|350px|Looking up at the cliffs of Zion Canyon from the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway\n - Zion Human History Museum\n\n - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive\n\n - Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway\n\n - Kolob Canyons\n\n - Kolob Terrace", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk011", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hiking\n\nthumb|400px|The Court of the Patriarchs\n\nDriving through Zion is an incredible experience, but to enter Zion and not take at least a short walk would be foolish. The park is a hiker's mecca, with trails of varying difficulty and length, ranging from easy strolls to steep climbs or backcountry hikes. The park information desk provides detailed information and overview maps for the main day hikes and trails ranging from short strolls to strenuous hikes of several hours. Longer backcountry hikes with overnight camping have to be discussed with the park rangers in order to reserve spots for the limited back country camp sites in the park.\n\nThe most famous trail, and arguably the most spectacular, is the 2.5 mile (4 km) strenuous climb up to **Angels Landing**. Of the easy walks, **Weeping Rock** and the **Emerald Pools** Trails are classics. For those seeking a longer, full-day hike, the classic Zion hikes are along the **East and West Rims**. And for serious backpacking, the **Trans-Zion** route is the full 48 mile (77 km) hike across the entire park, from Lee's Pass in the west of the Kolob Canyons to the east entrance of the Park.\n\n#### Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and Zion Canyon trails\n\n- Pa'rus Trail\n\n- Court of the Patriarchs\n\n- Weeping Rock\n\n- Riverside Walk\n\nthumb|250px|The Narrows\n - The Narrows\n\n- Canyon Overlook\n\n- Lower Emerald Pool\n\n- Upper Emerald Pool\n\n- Watchman\n\n- Hidden Canyon\n\nthumb|350px|Angels Landing\n - Angels Landing\n\n- Observation Point\n\n- West Rim to Cabin Spring\n\n- West Rim Trail from Lava Point\n\n#### Kolob Canyon and Kolob Terrace trails\n\n- Timber Creek Overlook\n\n- Taylor Creek\n\n- Kolob Arch\n\n- Northgate Peaks\n\n- Wildcat Canyon Trail\n\n### Photography\n\nthumb|350px|Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk012", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Do", "text": "Zion offers the photographer a unique and incredible landscape with many opportunities to explore color, texture, and light. Animal life, while not as obvious as in some other parks, offers some opportunity for wildlife photography.\n\n### Horseback riding\n\nOn horseback permits are not required for day trips, but are required for overnight trips. The maximum group size for horseback trips is six animals. For overnight trips the maximum stay in any single location is one night. Stock must be hobbled or tethered to reduce damage to vegetation. To reduce the spread of noxious and exotic weeds all stock must be fed only certified weed-free hay one day prior to entering the backcountry, and when using park trails. When traveling by horseback on trail areas stock must remain on trails. Free-trailing or loose herding is not allowed. Animals must be kept at a slow walk when passing hikers. When standing, stock must be kept at least 100 feet from drainages.\n\nStock may be used in these areas:\n\nTrails: La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley Wildcat Canyon, West Rim (above Cabin Springs), East Rim (above rim, includes Cable Mountain and Deertrap trails), Sand Bench (November through February only).\n Off-trail areas: Coalpits Wash, Huber Wash, Scoggins Wash, Crater Hill.\n\nGuided trail rides can be arranged with park concessionaires:\n\n- Canyon Trail Rides\n\n### Rock climbing and canyoneering\n\nthumb|The Subway\nthumb|The Subway's only required rappel\n\nClimbing in Zion or entering technical slot canyons requires appropriate hardware and skills. Individuals interested in climbing or canyoneering should check for information at the visitor center and be aware that some routes may be closed when peregrine falcons are breeding or conditions are unsafe.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk013", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Do", "text": "Canyoneering is popular in Zion, but most canyoneers stick to easier canyons such as Orderville Canyon, Subway and even Keyhole and Pine Creek while others venture out to Behunin Canyon, Mystery Canyon, Lodge Canyon, Echo Canyon, Das Boot, Englestead Hollow, Spry Canyon, Icebox Canyon, Kolob Canyon and just outside the park Birch Hollow and Fat Man's Misery. Few attempt Imlay and Heaps, considered perhaps the most difficult technical canyons in the park.\n\nZion is a spectacular park for rock climbing, excellent routes for a wide range of ability levels. It is most noted for its long wall routes on amazing sandstone. There are many good entry-level grade IV's and V's like *Prodigal Sun*, *Touchstone Wall*, and *Moonlight Buttress*. There are also many challenging lines that will test the seasoned wall rat. There are plenty of short, one or two pitch routes for those who don't want to venture too high off the deck.\n\n### Ranger programs\n\n- Ranger Programs\n\n- Junior Ranger Program\n\n- Junior Explorer Program", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk014", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Buy", "text": "- Zion Lodge\n\n - Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA)\n\n - Zion Human History Museum\n\nNearby Springdale (outside the south entrance to the park) offers a large variety of gift shops, two small grocery stores, candy and specialty shops, most within walking distance of each other. On the east side of the park, Mount Carmel Junction is more rustic, but there are some quality gift shops and a small gift and grocery store right outside the entrance to Zion.", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk015", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Eat", "text": "The only food sold within the park is located at the beautiful Zion Lodge.\n\n - Red Rock Grill\n\n - Castle Dome Cafeteria\n\nThere are dining options at both entrances of the park. Springdale offers a nice selection of restaurants including pizza, oriental, American and Mexican food. There are also some good options on the east side of the park in and near Mount Carmel Junction. Buffalo seems to be a popular dish on the east side, and most of the food is American served with a western flair.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk016", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Drink", "text": "- Zion Lodge\n\n - Best Western\n\nAll water in Zion National Park should be treated by filtering or purifying before use. The *Giardia* parasite, which can cause a nasty and persistent gastrointestinal disturbance, is common in the water here. There is potable water available at the visitor center, museum, Grotto, and the campgrounds in the park.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk017", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nthumb|300px|Zion Lodge\nThere is only one lodge within the park. The towns of Springdale and Mount Carmel Junction are located just outside of the park and have numerous places to stay, as do further afield towns such as Hurricane and Apple Valley.\n\n - Zion Lodge\n\n### Camping\n\nAs free dispersed camping is permitted on Bureau of Land Management land, it's trivial to camp for free right outside the border of Zion. For example, Kolob Terrace Road--which is about 30km from Springdale just outside the park--has plenty of spots on BLM land. Just drive down that road and pay attention to the \"now entering Zion\" and \"now leaving Zion\" signs. The bits between the \"leaving\" and \"entering\" are mostly BLM land. There are many pull-offs on BLM land on this road where you can camp for free. As this road goes in-and-out of the park, there's also many trailheads along it.\n\n - Watchman Campground\n\n - South Campground\n\n - Lava Point Campground\n\n### Backcountry\n\nAll backcountry camping requires a permit, which is available for a fee at the visitor center. Maximum group size for backcountry usage is twelve people.\n\n**Walk-in permits** are issued the day before a canyoneering trip. **Backpacking permits** are issued up to three days prior to the trip date. Permits given out are limited and issued only when the backcountry desk at the visitor center is open. **Express Permits** allow participants to obtain a permit on-line. Sign-up every three years is required and must be in person and at the backcountry desk. Due to the popularity of the \"Subway\" and Mystery Canyon, a **lottery** has been setup to dole out permits for these two technical slot canyons.\n\nReservations can be revoked in the event of adverse environmental conditions such as flash flood danger. Hikers are required to obtain a permit in person at the backcountry desk the day before or day of a hike.\n\n**Pristine Zones** allow up to 12 people, and hiking/canyoneering in these zones usually requires technical gear and equipment: Mystery Canyon, Imlay Canyon, Kolob Canyon, Behunin Canyon, Heaps Canyon, Echo Canyon, Spry Canyon, Englstead Hollow, Bulloch Canyon, Ice Box, and the Upper Right Fork of North Creek.\n\n**Primitive Zones** allow up to 50 visitors: Orderville Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon, Keyhole Canyon, and the Subway.", "word_count": 380}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk018", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Weather conditions are posted at the visitor center, but flash floods can occur in the park without warning. The danger is not limited to just hiking in slot canyons. People have been washed off trails to their deaths during flash floods. Although it's gorgeous when the rain pours, it's not a safe time to be on the trails. Flood waters originate upstream, so a flood may occur when the weather does not seem bad overhead. If hiking in a narrow canyon and the water begins to rise even slightly or get muddy, begin looking for higher ground. The Virgin River water contains a toxic level of cyanobacteria, so do not drink it.\n \nBe careful of steep cliffs; people have died falling when they venture too close to the edge. Some trails are more hazardous than others and should be attempted only by experienced hikers without a fear of heights. Loose sand and pebbles on stone are extremely slippery. Be extra careful near the edge when using cameras or binoculars. Never throw or roll rocks; there may be hikers below. Stay on the trail, stay away from the edge, observe posted warnings, and if you have children with you, watch them carefully!", "word_count": 201}
+{"chunk_id": "zion::chunk019", "doc_id": "zion", "section": "Go next", "text": "Towns outside of the park offering amenities include:\n\n **Springdale** - Immediately outside of the park's south entrance, this is the closest town to Zion Canyon and has lodging and services to support visitors to the park.\n **Mount Carmel Junction** - 12 miles (20 km) east of the park's east entrance, this is a handy stopover on the way to other parks.\n **Hurricane** - 24 miles (39 km) west of the park's south entrance, this is a moderately sized town in the shadow of some spectacular cliffs and volcanic outcroppings.\n **Kanab** - 29 miles (47 km) from Zion's east entrance, this is a small town near the Arizona border and a stop on the way to the Grand Canyon or Lake Powell.\n **St. George** - 45 miles (72 km) west of Zion's south entrance, this is the nearest city to the park, with a small commercial airport, some historic attractions, red rock scenery, and many golf courses.\n\nZion National Park lies near the Canyon Country region of Utah. Other nearby parks are:\n\n **Bryce Canyon National Park** - 72 miles (116 km) from the east entrance, Bryce offers a colorful landscape of eroded orange and yellow pillars set among a natural amphitheater.\n **Cedar Breaks National Monument** - A spectacular national monument located off Highway 14 north of Zion.\n **Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park** - A fun state park on the east side of Zion, 11 miles (18 km) from Mount Carmel Junction. Views of Zion from the dunes are wonderful.\n **Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument** - Rustic and wild, the White Cliffs of the Grand Staircase loom in the distance from many of Zion's hiking routes.\n **Arches National Park** - 309 miles (497 km) from the east entrance via US Hwy 89 and I-70, then south on US Hwy 191.\n\nIn addition, other nearby destinations include:\n\n **Las Vegas** - 150 miles (240 km) west of the south entrance of the park along Interstate 15. Sin City generally needs no introduction, but for those not interested in gambling it can make a great meal stop, especially after a week or more of backpacking in the wilderness. Also, along the northern half of I-15 in Arizona is the Virgin River Gorge, which is similar to the scenery of Zion.\n Moab- 305 miles northeast of Zion, it’s a big city so it provides amenities to anyone going northeast from Zion. It also provides amazing hiking and mountain biking trails. It has a similar landscape to Zion, with big sandstone walls and desert. It is located only 6 miles from arches so it is also a great place for anyone doing The Mighty 5 national parks. \n **Gooseberry** - Excellent slick rock trails popular with mountain bikers, located to the southwest of Zion, east of Hurricane.", "word_count": 459}
diff --git a/corpus/zion/metadata.json b/corpus/zion/metadata.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7cfa744a56957b930a9fbe1b8b2d7f9686dd62a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/corpus/zion/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{
+ "doc_id": "zion",
+ "title": "Zion National Park",
+ "type": "park",
+ "continent": "North America",
+ "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zion_National_Park",
+ "wikipedia_url": null,
+ "wikidata_id": null,
+ "coordinates": null,
+ "summary": "",
+ "activity_tags": [
+ "hiking",
+ "climbing",
+ "wildlife",
+ "cycling",
+ "photography",
+ "museums",
+ "spa",
+ "temples",
+ "desert",
+ "volcano",
+ "camping"
+ ],
+ "best_months": [],
+ "price_tier": 2,
+ "is_part_of": [
+ "Utah"
+ ],
+ "wikivoyage_status": "star",
+ "go_next": [
+ "Springdale (Utah)",
+ "Mount Carmel Junction",
+ "Hurricane (Utah)",
+ "Kanab",
+ "Grand Canyon",
+ "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area",
+ "St. George (Utah)",
+ "Canyon Country",
+ "Bryce Canyon National Park",
+ "Cedar Breaks National Monument",
+ "Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park",
+ "Mount Carmel Junction",
+ "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument",
+ "Arches National Park",
+ "Las Vegas",
+ "Moab",
+ "Springdale (Utah)",
+ "Mount Carmel Junction"
+ ],
+ "word_count": 4326,
+ "listing_count": 40,
+ "marker_count": 2,
+ "chunk_count": 20,
+ "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+ "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+ "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/queries/workshop_queries.json b/queries/workshop_queries.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..841ca6abf1aa19fc839c81cd0d8b3b69f56a5540
--- /dev/null
+++ b/queries/workshop_queries.json
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+{
+ "schema_version": "1.0",
+ "description": "Workshop driving queries — used by notebooks 1-8 for retrieval evaluation, ground-truth comparison, and CRAG gap demonstration.",
+ "ground_truth_status": "Initial estimates. expected_relevant_doc_ids for queries B/C/E will be refined after Phase 2 (L1 build) once article content is known. D/G/H depend on L3 persona/conversation files written in Phase 5.",
+ "queries": [
+ {
+ "id": "A",
+ "text": "What's there to do in Iceland?",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [1, 2, 3, 4, 7],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [
+ "iceland",
+ "reykjavik",
+ "vatnajokull",
+ "iceland-westfjords"
+ ],
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "basic",
+ "narrative_role": "Easy baseline — naive RAG already works on a single, clearly-named destination. Establishes that the system is alive.",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L1.articles", "L1.chunks"]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "B",
+ "text": "Affordable destinations in Southeast Asia for snorkeling and vegetarian food in March",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [
+ "thailand",
+ "vietnam",
+ "malaysia",
+ "philippines",
+ "indonesia",
+ "cambodia",
+ "bali",
+ "ubud",
+ "phuket",
+ "koh-phi-phi",
+ "koh-samui",
+ "palawan",
+ "boracay",
+ "langkawi",
+ "gili-islands",
+ "khao-sok"
+ ],
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "graphrag",
+ "narrative_role": "Hard multi-aspect — combines geography (Southeast Asia), price (affordable), activity (snorkeling), cuisine (vegetarian), and season (March). Naive RAG returns shallow results; each notebook recovers more relevant docs. Main motivator for the entire arc.",
+ "data_dependencies": [
+ "L1.articles",
+ "L1.chunks",
+ "L1.metadata",
+ "L2.pricing",
+ "L2.seasonal",
+ "RAG.Entities",
+ "RAG.EntityRelationships"
+ ]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "C",
+ "text": "Where can I go for great hiking and excellent local food?",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [6],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [
+ "peru",
+ "sacred-valley",
+ "japan",
+ "japanese-alps",
+ "nepal",
+ "sagarmatha",
+ "tuscany",
+ "andalusia",
+ "dolomites",
+ "switzerland",
+ "patagonia",
+ "scottish-highlands",
+ "morocco",
+ "vietnam",
+ "bhutan"
+ ],
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "crag",
+ "narrative_role": "Mid-confidence ambiguous — CRAG's evaluator detects partial coverage and triggers enhanced retrieval (query rewriting + extra rounds) before answering. Contrasts with F (where CRAG refuses) and B (where graphrag wins outright).",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L1.articles", "L1.chunks", "L2.tips"]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "D",
+ "text": "What did I love most about my Bali trip?",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [8],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": ["bali", "ubud"],
+ "expected_relevant_persona_turns": "TODO — fill once L3 conversation seeds are written for persona 'me' in Phase 5",
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "basic",
+ "narrative_role": "Personal-corpus retrieval — answer comes primarily from the attendee's prior conversation history, with destination chunks as supporting context.",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L1.articles", "L3.persona", "L3.conversations"]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "E",
+ "text": "Find diving spots similar to the Great Barrier Reef",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [5, 7],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [
+ "great-barrier-reef",
+ "maldives",
+ "palawan",
+ "koh-phi-phi",
+ "okinawa",
+ "fiji",
+ "bora-bora",
+ "tahiti",
+ "galapagos",
+ "fernando-de-noronha",
+ "andaman-islands",
+ "komodo"
+ ],
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "graphrag",
+ "narrative_role": "Similar-to via graph traversal — uses entity relationships (same_type, near) that vector search alone misses. Vector retrieval may surface scuba/marine text but lacks the explicit 'reef destination' link.",
+ "data_dependencies": [
+ "L1.articles",
+ "L1.chunks",
+ "RAG.Entities",
+ "RAG.EntityRelationships"
+ ]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "F",
+ "text": "What does it cost to travel in New Zealand in October?",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [6, 7],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [],
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "crag",
+ "narrative_role": "Deliberate corpus gap — NZ excluded from L1, L2, and personas. basic retrieves nearest-neighbor noise (Australia, Tasmania, Tahiti) and the LLM fabricates a confident-sounding answer. CRAG's evaluator classifies disoriented and refuses. Side-by-side comparison is the hallucination-defense punchline.",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L1.articles", "L1.chunks"],
+ "is_corpus_gap": true
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "G",
+ "text": "Find a place that works for me and Sarah",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [8],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": "TODO — depends on the intersection of 'me' persona and 'Sarah' persona compatible_with fields; populate once Phase 5 personas are written",
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "basic_rerank",
+ "narrative_role": "Multi-persona intersection — merges 'me' and 'Sarah' preference profiles, reranks destinations against both compatible_with constraints. Demonstrates persona-as-filter.",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L1.articles", "L3.persona.me", "L3.persona.sarah"]
+ },
+ {
+ "id": "H",
+ "text": "Remind me what I told you about my dietary restrictions",
+ "used_in_notebooks": [8],
+ "expected_relevant_doc_ids": [],
+ "expected_relevant_persona_turns": "TODO — fill once L3 conversation seeds include dietary references for persona 'me' in Phase 5",
+ "expected_winning_pipeline": "basic",
+ "narrative_role": "Memory-only retrieval — answer comes purely from prior conversation turns. No L1 docs are relevant. Demonstrates that RAG over personal text is the same primitive as RAG over a document corpus.",
+ "data_dependencies": ["L3.persona", "L3.conversations"]
+ }
+ ]
+}